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Irving residents urge stronger enforcement, cleanup as downtown businesses report indecency and safety threats
Summary
Multiple downtown Irving business owners and residents told the City Council June 12 that chronic homelessness, public defecation and indecent exposure are harming businesses and threatening children; speakers urged increased patrols, trespassing enforcement, a local task force and sustained cleanup efforts.
Several Irving residents spoke during the public-comment period at the June 12 Irving City Council meeting to say chronic homelessness and associated public indecency in downtown Irving are harming businesses and posing safety risks to children.
Business owners and residents detailed repeated incidents of public urination and defecation, verbal assaults, drug paraphernalia and unwanted approaches to children. Steve Goen, owner of Glory House Catering, said he and his wife regularly find human waste and spend money repairing murals. “I average cleaning up defecation twice a week,” Goen said, and told the council he had documented incidents with photos and video.
Dr. Nikisha McDaniel, owner of Magnolia Chiropractic, described what she called biohazard conditions and said she and her patients have been accosted. “This is a biohazard,” McDaniel said. She praised an employee, Jason Lehi, for responsive help and urged the council to create a standing response for downtown problems, not just temporary fixes. “We need some type of task force down there, someone to call when this issue arises,” she said.
Junice Lowe, owner of 4 Hour Gymnastics, told the council she has seen people urinate and expose themselves behind her building during classes and that homeless people have entered or lingered near children. “Parents are asking if they should stop coming,” Lowe said. “The safety of our children has to come first.”
Residents Kimberly and Darnell Chestnut, who live at 618 North Delaware, said they have filed multiple online reports about dilapidated vehicles, trailers and overcrowded properties and have seen little enforcement follow-up. “Weve submitted multiple things online through the tools that the city has provided, but we haven't seen any changes,” Kimberly Chestnut said.
Speakers suggested a mix of immediate and systemic steps: more regular police patrols, clearer and enforced trespass ordinances, a dedicated downtown response team or task force, continued use of surveillance cameras, and more consistent code enforcement. Several commenters said short-term measures such as moving benches had produced temporary improvements but not sustained results.
Council staff and meeting announcements reminded speakers that the council cannot deliberate during public comment because of the Texas Open Meetings Act; staff indicated follow-up would be handled by the communications team or relevant departments. After the public comments, the mayor asked code enforcement director Shane Diller to speak with the Chestnuts about their concerns and to follow up.
No formal council action on new policy or funding was recorded during the meeting; comments were taken for later staff follow-up and potential administrative responses.
