Goal #13

Increase community engagement for a Beautiful DeSoto

1. Conduct Fall and Spring Clean-Up Events

• Participate in the Great American Clean-Up

  • Create a fall and spring clean-up plan to coincide with the Great American Clean-Up | Parks Department | Start FY 2021 Q1 | Complete FY 2021 Q2
  • Conduct spring and fall clean-up events |Parks Department | Start FY 2021 Q2 | Complete FY 2021 Q4

2. Promote the Code Enforcement Eyes & Ears Program | Police Department | Start FY 2021 Q1 | Complete FY 2021 Q4

3. Create a public relations campaign for cleaning up city streets and neighborhoods | City Manager’s Office | Start FY 2021 Q1 | Complete FY 2021 Q2

4. Conduct a City-wide Arbor Day Event | Parks Department | Start FY 2021 Q1 | Complete FY 2021 Q1

5. Create a public relations campaign to double HOA involvement in the Adopt-a-Street Program | City Manager’s Office | Start FY 2021 Q1 | Complete FY 2021 Q2

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2nd Quarter Update
April 2021

A strategic public relations campaign to promote clean-up efforts in DeSoto is ongoing. Staff continues direct outreach to HOA’s promoting the Adopt-a-Street program and City clean-up activities in the January, March, and April City Lights newsletter. Staff are working to increase participation of HOA's in the Adopt-a-Street program through features in the newsletter and City Manager's Office Weekly Update. In March, emails were sent to HOA's inviting them to adopt an available street. Next, staff are working to develop a website that will feature all of the formally adopted streets in DeSoto. The Great American Clean-up was conducted in March. The event was a huge success with over 200 participating volunteers representing individuals and local organizations. The Fall portion of the Great American Clean-up will take place in September. The first meeting of the Code Enforcement Eyes and Ears Program for this fiscal year was held in January and had record attendance. The second meeting for this program is scheduled for June.

1st Quarter Update
January 2021

A strategic public relations campaign to promote clean-up efforts in DeSoto is underway. Articles featuring neighborhood groups cleaning up litter and City streets was included both the September and December City Lights Newsletters. Staff will continue to publicize and promote clean-up efforts on social media and newsletters. Seven DeSoto HOA's participated in the Adopt-a-Street program as of October 1, 2020. Articles encouraging Adopt-a-Street volunteers to resume collection efforts were featured in the December and January City Lights Newsletters. Beginning in late January, staff will send letters to all HOA’s inviting them to adopt a street. Staff identified Saturday, March 27 and September 4 as the official spring and fall city wide clean up dates. The Parks Department conducted an Arbor Day event on November 13. The next Code Enforcement Eyes & Ears meeting is scheduled for January 28 and additional publicizing of the meeting is occurring. The Keep DeSoto Clean Logo Competition was conducted on November 19, and a total 24 individuals participated. Department facility upgrades and monthly events are continually promoted on social media and the City newsletter.