Arts, Culture and Heritage staff and representatives of the DeSoto Texas Cultural Arts Foundation presented community survey results and next steps for a proposed Veterans Memorial tribute sculpture, showing majority support for the selected design and a recommendation to proceed to contract drafting and procurement once council provides concurrence.

Rolanda Brigham, arts, culture and heritage manager, and Dr. James McBride, president of the DeSoto Texas Cultural Arts Foundation, described the project background, the RFQ process and an outreach campaign that included a public presentation and a Qualtrics survey. Brigham said the survey and community meeting measured perceived appropriateness, preferred design elements and support for interpretive elements.

Presenters reported that 72% of survey respondents found the selected sculpture appropriate for the memorial and that 84% favored an eagle as the central figure. The foundation recommended adding a QR code to link to veteran stories and including three benches as part of the installation. Staff said the RFQ process produced artist renderings; the committee and public review process will allow for additional refinement of designs before a contract is executed.

Council members clarified that the presentation was informational and not an action item on the posted agenda; staff confirmed they were not seeking formal concurrence that night and that the council would see a recommended contract authorization on a later agenda (staff said the contract timeline anticipates work in fiscal year 2026 once procurement and contracting are complete). A councilmember asked whether the benches would include inscriptions; staff confirmed the benches would include verbiage and said the memorial area would also accommodate portable seating for ceremonies.

No action was taken; staff said they would return to council with an action item at a later date if council desired.