{"id":3009,"date":"2020-11-27T19:15:25","date_gmt":"2020-11-28T01:15:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/robertjsmithtx.com\/?p=3009"},"modified":"2020-11-27T19:15:25","modified_gmt":"2020-11-28T01:15:25","slug":"a-final-term","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robertjsmithtx.com\/index.php\/2020\/11\/27\/a-final-term\/","title":{"rendered":"A Final Term"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s hard to believe that four years have passed since I announced my first campaign. Since then we’ve gone through a city charter election, three mayors, a tornado, a pandemic, a bond program, and more slices of pie that I’d care to count. As members of the City Council are limited to three consecutive terms, this will be my last race.<\/font><\/p>\n

Every accomplishment is a team accomplishment. No elected official can do it on their own. Some of these I started, some I did the lion\u2019s share of work on, some I participated in, some were handed to us by previous councils, and some I only voted on. Here is a list of accomplishments that I\u2019ve had the privilege to be a part of since I took office in 2017.<\/font><\/p>\n


\n\u2022 2019 Bond Program<\/a> Passage
\n\u2022 Animal Services \u2013 analyzed operations<\/a> and proposed changes to improve adoption rate and quality of care
\n\u2022 Animal Shelter replacement
\n\u2022 Animal Sterilization Ordinance
\n\u2022 Carver Center Remodel and Re-dedication
\n\u2022 Makerspaces added to the GDC
\n\u2022 Changed water rates in the city to a Cost of Service model to distribute cost more fairly
\n\u2022 City Charter review and election<\/a>
\n\u2022 Requested a Cultural Arts Master Plan
\n\u2022 Cut the city\u2019s lobbying budget by 65%
\n\u2022 District 8 Published Agenda<\/a>
\n\u2022 Drafted the policy document on Non-Profit Use agreements
\n\u2022 EWS policy change<\/a> \u2013 allowed new homeowners to \u2018reset\u2019 their bulk collection count to zero
\n\u2022 Dog Park Completed
\n\u2022 Granger Center Rec Renovation
\n\u2022 Held semi-annual budget meetings with the public
\n\u2022 Held the semi-annual Town Hall meetings for the district
\n\u2022 Supported a homeless outreach officer and funding for crisis intervention and mental health training for police
\n\u2022 Kraft Plant and Epiroc Enterprise Zone Designations
\n\u2022 Lowered Water Rates in Perpetuity
\n\u2022 Naaman School Rd funding and rebuild
\n\u2022 OPEB (Other Post-Employment Benefits) Revamp and Cost Reductions
\n\u2022 Parkland Hospital satellite clinic expansion
\n\u2022 Professional review of all IT\/IT Security Audits
\n\u2022 Red Light Camera Study<\/a>
\n\u2022 Required all boards, commissions, committees, and other meetings to be recorded and available to the public
\n\u2022 Residential Parking Enforcement Program
\n\u2022 Restaurant Closures for repeatedly failing health scores
\n\u2022 Restaurant Parklets
\n\u2022 Restaurant posting of health scores in a prominent location
\n\u2022 Retirement Stability Benefit for First Responders
\n\u2022 Authored revamped rules for boards and commissions
\n\u2022 Senior and Homestead exemption annual rate review (and change in 2020), last adjusted 15-20 years ago
\n\u2022 SH78 Realignment History and Analysis<\/a>
\n\u2022 SH78 Landscaping Plan
\n\u2022 Shiloh Rd Rebuild
\n\u2022 Sidewalk Replacement and Cost Share Programs<\/a>
\n\u2022 Skate park under construction
\n\u2022 Authored the SLIM budget method – a soft sunset review and zero-base budget rebuild for all city departments every 10 years
\n\u2022 Streamlined City \u2018Commit to Wellness\u2019 Program
\n\u2022 Brought “The Wall That Heals” to Garland
\n\u2022 Tornado response and recovery in District 8
\n\u2022 VA Hospital \/ Medical District \/ TIF3<\/a>
\n\u2022 Visiting Dignitary policy author
\n\u2022 Winters Park Lighting Project
\n\u2022 Authored an Analysis<\/a> of Day Labor Center operations
\n\u2022 Fought for a steady, annual Youth Boxing Gym funding source
\n<\/font>
\nThere is still much to be done over the next two years. Today I’m asking for your support in order to finish the agenda we’ve started.
\n<\/font>
\nIn the next few weeks, we will be gathering the signatures needed for a place on the May 2021 ballot. This will be made more difficult by the necessary steps that we will need to take in order to keep ourselves and each other safe during the pandemic. We will be as innovative as possible to ensure your safety.
\n<\/font>
\nAs always, while financial contributions<\/a> are appreciated, your verbal support with friends and family, your petition signature, and your vote are the most important things. Be safe, be blessed, and I would be grateful for your support in 2021.
\n<\/font>
\n-RJS<\/font><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s hard to believe that four years have passed since I announced my first campaign. Since then we’ve gone through a city charter election, three mayors, a tornado, a pandemic, a bond program, and more slices of pie that I’d Read More …<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1821,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,24,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3009","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-council","category-district-agenda","category-election-2021"],"yoast_head":"\nA Final Term - Robert John Smith<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Re-elect Robert John Smith, City Council District 8, May 2021\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/robertjsmithtx.com\/index.php\/2020\/11\/27\/a-final-term\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Final Term - 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