1. Mr. Casper invited citizens and their pets to the Annual Doggie Splash Day event on Saturday, August 8, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to Noon, at Vanston Pool, 2913 Oates Drive. Pets can compete in lots of fun contests. Proof of current vaccinations will be required for all dogs, and pets must be accompanied by a responsible person age 16 or older. Lifeguards will be on duty. Visit www.cityofmesquite.com/DoggieSplashDay for details and admission prices. 2. Mr. Green stated that it’s almost time f

Staff Report & Agenda Item Details

1. Mr. Casper invited citizens and their pets to the Annual Doggie Splash Day event on Saturday, August 8, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to Noon, at Vanston Pool, 2913 Oates Drive. Pets can compete in lots of fun contests. Proof of current vaccinations will be required for all dogs, and pets must be accompanied by a responsible person age 16 or older. Lifeguards will be on duty. Visit www.cityofmesquite.com/DoggieSplashDay for details and admission prices. 2. Mr. Green stated that it’s almost time for the Epic Summer Experience. This is a free program for teens age 12 to 17. It’s a fun and safe way for young people to stay active, make friends, and enjoy their Summer break. Since launching this event in 2023, thousands of teens have taken part in the experience. This year’s event will be held on July 21st and 23rd, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Rutherford Recreation Center, 900 Rutherford Drive, and July 28th and 30th at Florence Recreation Center, 2501 Whitson Way. Each evening features free food, games, arts and crafts, open gym, inflatables, music and more. No registration is needed, just show up. Learn more at www.cityofmesquite.com/EpicSummerExperience. 3. Ms. Rodriguez-Ross announced that the Downtown Market is now the Night Market. It’s an effort to escape the brutal summer heat. The Night Market is held every Saturday, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., through August. You’ll find locally grown produce, baked goods, bath and body products, food vendors and much more. Also, the “Off the Rails” Concert Series, hosted by the Mesquite Arts Center, will provide live music while you shop. The music starts at 7:00 p.m., at Front Street Station, 100 West Front Street. 4. Mr. Hubacek stated that Summertime is very challenging time for the unsheltered. Many citizens want to help but the most effective way to do that is to work with the City. The City has staff, resources and partners available to arrange transportation to shelters for unsheltered individuals, connect them with support agencies, and help them reunite with family members or friends. Good intentions of giving cash or items directly to the unsheltered may actually cause the cycle of homelessness to continue and keep people from getting the long-term help they need. Please visit www.cityofmesquite.com/Homeless to find out how you can volunteer, donate and “Give Wisely.” 5. Mr. Smith stated that the Annual Spread the Love campaign is still in need of your help. The City and Sharing Life are asking for donations of jars of peanut butter and jelly so Mesquite kids can have nutritious meals over the summer. Some kids have nut allergies, so consider donating alternative butters such as sunflower seed butter and pumpkin seed butter. Visit www.cityofmesquite.com/SpreadTheLove to find donation sites and more. 6. Mr. Murden announced that the Mesquite Animal Shelter is once again participating in the National Clear the Shelters campaign. On Saturday, August 22, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., the Shelter will host a special one-day adoption event – waiving all fees. Besides the one-day event, the Shelter is offering a spin-the-wheel promotion for all available animals in August. After choosing the perfect pet, adopters can spin the wheel to see what the fee will be – ranging from $40.00 to $100.00. 7. Mayor Alemán stated that the City of Mesquite and Mesquite Independent School District have collaborated to create a leadership development program for citizens called Project LEAD. This is a great way to get involved and can be a path to civic leadership and provide additional ways to engage within the community. Project LEAD is a three-month program – from September through December – where participants meet monthly – and learn ways they can make a difference throughout the community. Applications are open through August. If you’re interested, visit www.cityofmesquite.com/ProjectLEAD