[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6048823,"mediaKeyId","3513177-a9be2877afe2cc02b566cd0385d03945","parentId",3513177,"title","Police association urges council to end pay‑parity policy, cites recruitment, retention problems","audioSeconds",563,"startMs",5564385,"endMs",5001100,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3513177-a9be2877afe2cc02b566cd0385d03945&start=5564&end=5001","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3513177-a9be2877afe2cc02b566cd0385d03945/thumbnail_5564385.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6048823/Mesquite/Dallas-County/Texas/Police-association-urges-council-to-end-payparity-policy-cites-recruitment-retention-problems","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6048823-e180760062f1a3c92bfc3126fa46570e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157183&Signature=gzJ-Cz8AKyZOIwbjkH0jQOTvqQLOSdTJmCkiUErj3GCJHyZnOEMw2X92C9wAtphzl2kUuj2-uck9yWFmdqzRG0BmbmhRguFpeE2gWxAuSf2g830nbEhcTn9Tux0fEAdBdIE-TKMcSXoqRjyMGHpDEJz6FOWLJtqhjKH4gIUz~gfDcGSGVfEaPK9zwHjWHfbu680JpGOGmHgdvRtwVZO-YjE11gCNsHSaNmGjr8cJy1CQL1kBZqVisHNkNPy66XNiXJwMihBagYSkGxN7gS2YYzI3bg7u7DJKdvzppg5L3mV9QzEX9o9Ddla7Vx3UUSOpp59Mqvu6aXW~V0teBMTFcQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mesquite City","date","2025-05-05T00:00:00Z","article","Speakers during citizens forum pressed the City Council to remove the city’s pay‑parity policy that links police compensation to firefighter pay. Bruce Sales, speaking for the Mesquite Police Association, said the policy “artificially equates pay for two fundamentally different professions” and argued that Mesquite police are paid significantly behind comparable cities while firefighters are paid slightly above comparable averages. Sales asked council to place the policy on a council agenda for direct consideration and said the association had created a website (www.mesquitepa.com/parity) with statistics comparing the departments.

Sales told council officers now respond to a substantially greater volume of calls than the fire department and said that policing involves higher frequency of violent encounters and different psychological and legal risks. He said adjusting police pay would not require reducing firefighter pay and urged the council to address the underlying policy rather than waiting until the budget cycle is already underway.

Councilmembers responded that public safety pay is a top priority for the city. Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Kenny Burrows said the council had directed the city manager to provide a comprehensive review of public‑safety pay and that the topic would be part of budget workshops in June and July. Councilman D.W. Smith invited members of the public and public‑safety personnel to speak during citizens forum and reiterated that council cannot respond to matters not on the posted agenda but that formal budget discussion and data would be available during the budget process. There was no formal council vote on pay parity at the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Mesquite City Council May 05, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Representatives of the Mesquite Police Association urged the City Council during citizens forum to end a pay‑parity policy that links police pay to firefighter pay, saying the policy leaves police compensation behind comparable cities and hampers recruitment and retention.","taxTitle","Mesquite, Dallas County, Texas","taxId",2785,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6048833,"Council denies proposed 55+ townhome development at 2795 Clay Mathis Road after concerns about density, access and open space",2011,2796575,4808035,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3513177-a9be2877afe2cc02b566cd0385d03945&start=2796&end=4808","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3513177-a9be2877afe2cc02b566cd0385d03945/thumbnail_2796575.jpg","/articles/6048833/Mesquite/Dallas-County/Texas/Council-denies-proposed-55-townhome-development-at-2795-Clay-Mathis-Road-after-concerns-about-density-access-and-open-space","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6048833-5b69dafeee9c7b2e9115fc79396dc581/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157183&Signature=gYg2itTGwsXo9uo6xWp0DS8DLm6o1JNOduUDHiKtQw~jDOhlCKmwEzGezrKzknVJGPWIHbNd4x2pJpnUVVeNJ19DW1GyeMABZnrTMKoXy8AN9tXeL42FVoMx3aLEIo7sYDZsc7Xj~d8gNQ9QyBTVhpldH6gvbLix7-bIChdDhaQMLjFZPv5RnhmfusKKbMp2C96w9-7DmBIQp5dPXfrHdnwjQJhPtA9ZK66djvf8aFyQtg0KZ4bdh48SE842XIcF1UcW9bg4KTZDkA4W39FHKVK~BGdzdpOFcCQ1efJmzFLOtdX4acU6jkF5chp7dAS2asvXuyg7FqDaXQvAeKi3hw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mesquite City Council denied a zoning and planned‑development request for 2795 Clay Mathis Road after extended public and council discussion about density, open space, parking and access. Garrett Lankford with Planning and Development Services briefed the council that the application in the packet proposed 35 age‑restricted townhome units (55+), removed an earlier assisted‑living component, increased visitor parking and added amenities; the applicant later provided an alternate concept (not included in the packet) that reintroduced an assisted‑living facility and reduced unit count but that concept had not been re‑noticed and could not be considered at the public hearing.

Lankford told council that five property owners within the statutory notice area had submitted opposition and that, because the opposing properties comprised more than 20% of the notice area, state law requires a three‑quarters council vote to approve the request. Council members and several residents raised recurring concerns about density relative to adjacent single‑family neighborhoods, whether the proposed single‑car garages and shared driveways would push parking onto neighborhood streets, and whether emergency‑vehicle access was adequate. Staff and applicant said an emergency‑vehicle access easement across the adjacent Cornerstone Baptist Church property would be provided and would be recorded as an access easement required to run with the property.

Applicant Jason Shaw said the proposal had been revised several times after community meetings; he described the most recent concept as a compromise that reduced private units and retained some amenity space including a clubhouse and pickleball court, while the applicant said several smaller assisted‑living operators had expressed interest. Cornerstone Baptist Church’s pastor, Dan Brower, told council the church had been engaged in the project and that some church members supported it; nearby residents said the plan still left too little open space and worried about the size of any assisted‑living use.

After discussion Councilman Kenny Burrows moved to deny the application; Councilman D.W. Smith seconded. The motion to deny passed 5‑2. Council and staff noted the applicant may resubmit a revised and re‑noticed plan for future consideration; staff recommended tabling and re‑notice if council wanted to consider the applicant’s later concept that included an assisted‑living facility.","The council voted 5‑2 to deny a rezoning and planned‑development application for a proposed 55+ townhome project at 2795 Clay Mathis Road after members and residents raised concerns about density, parking, open space and emergency access.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6048838,"Council approves Main Event at former Sears in Towne East Mall",799,3579255,4378835,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3513177-a9be2877afe2cc02b566cd0385d03945&start=3579&end=4378","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3513177-a9be2877afe2cc02b566cd0385d03945/thumbnail_3579255.jpg","/articles/6048838/Mesquite/Dallas-County/Texas/Council-approves-Main-Event-at-former-Sears-in-Towne-East-Mall","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6048838-233eaa320a13e33048e3a2dfd146aebd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157183&Signature=EqUHC8ZPSawK6EQZEFvvYKDAfZemeZ3yJO4XF-nfV-H9H51kcXR1zDSKNK8wyEFoZkRsylMW~f5dFO2ciqNe6TXIuqSJSphOHTf2YRX4r1QlBZfCPkebiX4iSrN6M1A5VfEGb5U-Gd1u6FmiTaQIm1iMwwMvVx4nLskcUxtfzNIsk1ivgHP6ASvUVPtVYsu-WD79s7LLe6xs7HgMmcFisRUf08JCU1r~J83apLt-VzaFD4SFVlFN-R~ycpPLCjo7T8q7NG4H18sXRHitu5bJAQfPsa0DiPMhgKLL5sLBWdyvHMGgQ9wma5dUMzbz6OJ2p0XmhaJv75TsWXvZAYSjhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mesquite City Council voted unanimously to approve a conditional use permit (CUP) permitting Main Event to occupy roughly 58,000 square feet of the former Sears building at 1738 North Towne East Boulevard. Garrett Lankford, Planning and Development Services, briefed the council that Main Event would operate a full‑service restaurant, bowling lanes, laser tag, arcade games, party rooms and other entertainment uses; the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval.

Steve Meyer, representing the property owner SRB Mesquite LLC, said the company has begun interior demolition and is coordinating a broader redevelopment of the Sears site that will reconfigure parking, create green space and pursue additional pad‑site tenants along the mall ring road. Daniel Rebenstorf, regional representative for the operator, told council construction timelines remain to be finalized; Main Event estimated it would employ about 200 people and would operate typically from 11 a.m. to midnight with extended Friday and Saturday hours to 2 a.m.

Council members asked operational and site questions. Councilwoman Elizabeth Rodriguez Ross asked whether alcohol would be served; staff said the restaurant portion would seek standard Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) food and beverage certification and that Main Event would follow those rules. Councilman D.W. Smith asked whether lanes would meet professional bowling association standards; staff and the Main Event representative said the lanes would meet their operational standards and Main Event typically hosts leagues; there was discussion that larger televised PBA tournaments are not typically part of Main Event programming but are not impossible.

The applicant said some parking reconfiguration and a traffic‑impact analysis for later site phases remain to be worked out with the property owner and city staff. During the public hearing no written opposition within the statutory notice area had been received; one resident complimented the operator on security planning and Main Event representatives said they use on‑site security personnel and coordinate with mall and local law‑enforcement officers.

Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Casper made the motion to approve the CUP; Councilman Kenny Green seconded. The council voted 7‑0 to approve the conditional use permit for Main Event.","The City Council unanimously approved a conditional use permit allowing Main Event to occupy about 58,000 square feet of the former Sears building at Towne East Mall, authorizing bowling, arcade, laser‑tag and party space; the property owner and operator said construction and lease details are being finalized.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6048845,"Mesquite economic development unveils 'Spur Mesquite' small‑business plan; will seek FY25‑26 funding",2152,62430,2215360,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3513177-a9be2877afe2cc02b566cd0385d03945&start=62&end=2215","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3513177-a9be2877afe2cc02b566cd0385d03945/thumbnail_62430.jpg","/articles/6048845/Mesquite/Dallas-County/Texas/Mesquite-economic-development-unveils-Spur-Mesquite-smallbusiness-plan-will-seek-FY2526-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6048845-ab1d74228283d1860c2734ee9b227a5e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157183&Signature=LShTt3gyCPm6vxlPeJBpf2GuWwQRRq76NWQcQwOchsTMjCLqrIZuxVIjRHKKjJIRxlgKeeHZQFnwPYHF0b~4~qc5ktdqCeYB6dXxxWr7l1yF0gmSUKc9qcLK-SzMjG-VNBhtjHv4j5j~6JW78wKqkeXFSMc2VQa0~T788SM153u698KkaCPoKOD1huoZmdpJcwTGO469wgfc17HF0gqoP08TDLU0SrbHrGyQOTvawDyxv64DGAML1v95-digttaiKI4GoKGWSf4cZMIBcDj9yFSh6wYm4QiwnWGeUYi5igb9Ib4Cwz~2k4VcNbOgHo-FKjWreWHKqxDq5ekaLnwDOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kim Butler, Mesquite’s director of economic development, briefed the City Council on a proposed small‑business support package she called “Spur Mesquite,” saying the goal is to \"help Mesquite grow small businesses, to start them, grow them, and expand them.\" The presentation outlined a seven‑step plan that staff would roll out over three years and that will be submitted as part of the department’s fiscal year 2025‑26 budget request.

Butler told council members the program would centralize services in a single web page, simplify and relaunch the existing façade grant, add a property‑readiness matching grant for permanent building improvements, launch a $5,000 ‘‘boot camp’’ grant tied to required training, and create a phased marketing and mentor network to support startups. She said the city would begin the marketing and some program spending in FY25‑26 and expand services in later years.

The presentation used several local examples to illustrate the expected return on public investment. Butler said Mesquite has “landed over $1,100,000,000 in large project investment” in recent years and highlighted a local shopping‑center redevelopment (Northridge on Galloway) where Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD) values rose from about $1,500,000 in 2020 to $2,500,000 today; she said property tax receipts rose about 67% and sales tax receipts from that center rose roughly 177% (city sales tax from roughly $7,000 in one year to about $20,000 in a later year). She told the council that small business programs must be patient, that some projects take years to show a fiscal return, and that ancillary benefits are part of the city’s rationale for public support.

Council members responded with questions and ideas. Councilwoman Elizabeth Rodriguez Ross asked whether grease traps would be eligible under the property‑readiness grant; Butler confirmed they would. Councilman Kenny Green and others suggested temporary incubator uses — such as using vacant school buildings, creating a food‑truck/test kitchen yard near a park, or a modular container marketplace at Front Street Station — and urged consolidation of counseling and mentoring services. Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Casper and others praised the phased approach and emphasized tracking and sustainability; Butler said recipients of city funds would be required to report annually and staff would use key performance indicators to evaluate outcomes.

Butler said the programs will require ongoing funding and staff resources and that the city is legally able to make targeted investments. She closed by noting that the full program will be offered to the council later this summer as a budget request. The presentation produced no formal action; council members directed staff to include the proposal in economic development’s FY25‑26 budget offers and to return with policy details and performance tracking language.","City economic development staff briefed the City Council on 'Spur Mesquite,' a seven‑step small‑business program that would consolidate services, relaunch simplified façade and property‑readiness grants, offer $5,000 startup grants tied to training, and ask for marketing and initial funding in the fiscal year 2025‑26 budget.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6048828,"Council approves Gus Thomasson TIRZ amendment to fund corridor study and site work",1041,9642805,10684479,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3513177-a9be2877afe2cc02b566cd0385d03945&start=9642&end=10684","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3513177-a9be2877afe2cc02b566cd0385d03945/thumbnail_9642805.jpg","/articles/6048828/Mesquite/Dallas-County/Texas/Council-approves-Gus-Thomasson-TIRZ-amendment-to-fund-corridor-study-and-site-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6048828-1bfa35c40f9c83cc8a99e10a3751ea2e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157183&Signature=JbOM0rL0K3iNSc9FjgNF2K-w4sNY5Hb4aupzvAX6URjCCdQjecHr3y3LIFr4gB47zd1FDmTN~85-GFNwWyJIfm9mnLevTz13Tt8yUXAvtiqnQWS3sAHW-3hQYbERkR1zwaWgq3G6B1sK2-T6DTI9LfkfIm4AggneNwCvvU79t9Bd8XugSC--4bh2JLW00cJZlYtIiiE8-JC7HVw4fB-eebogv5vsFrKzoROHxXypV2CBz~Tjbb8di3Rd65Sjg4UpjEtd5ycwAanSGNUl7~RMUyOB47Mep-ymFmIXeApTdgwNpf~XcEorOV8j4jBVLDfRiOuCHQC0lLs9qGznD01Kiw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council unanimously approved a second amended project plan and financing plan for Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) No. 8, the Gus Thomasson zone. Ted Chen, the city’s finance director, told council the amendment increases the zone’s total estimated project costs by $185,000 to fund a North Gus Thomasson corridor study and to support potential development at a city‑owned site at 4545 Gus Thomasson; staff emphasized the amendment does not create a new tax but reallocates a portion of the incremental tax growth within the zone to pay for projects in the TIRZ.

Chen said the TIRZ was designated in 2015, expanded in 2017 and is a 20‑year financing district. The amendment keeps the zone’s participation rate at 75% and the city is the only taxing jurisdiction participating in the increment. Chen presented a conservative revenue projection that estimated incremental assessed value of about $134,000,000 over the life of the zone and projected total TIRZ revenues of approximately $10.6 million; he said the zone has collected about $1.5 million to date and that $3.2 million of project costs have already been identified, leaving roughly $7.3 million available for future projects. Chen also noted earlier zone expenditures, including a $138,000 incentive to a developer on I‑30 and a $50,000 demolition payment for an old car wash.

Council members asked timing and implementation questions. Councilmember Elizabeth Rodriguez Ross asked whether TIRZ funds could be used to study the Towne East/Motley intersection; Chen said such work would be an eligible project cost. Councilman Kenny Green moved approval of the amendment and Councilwoman Rodriguez Ross seconded; the council adopted the ordinance unanimously. Chen and council members described the corridor study as a step to test whether additional zoning or infrastructure changes could make the Gus Thomasson/Towne East area more attractive to private investment.","Mesquite approved a second amended project and financing plan for the Gus Thomasson Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 8, increasing project costs by $185,000 primarily to pay for a North Gus Thomasson corridor study and potential city‑owned property development; the zone remains 20‑year with a 75% tax increment participation rate (city only).","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Police association urges council to end pay‑parity policy, cites recruitment, retention problems

Council denies proposed 55+ townhome development at 2795 Clay Mathis Road after concerns about density, access and open space

Council approves Main Event at former Sears in Towne East Mall

Mesquite economic development unveils 'Spur Mesquite' small‑business plan; will seek FY25‑26 funding

Council approves Gus Thomasson TIRZ amendment to fund corridor study and site work