Page 28 - ArlingtonFY24AdoptedBudget

Business Plan

average, this division handles 15,000 permits and 50,000 building inspections annually. The Building Inspection team aims to
complete all building inspections within 24 hours of request.

The department also handles sign permits and inspections as well as health services provided through food establishment and
childcare permits, inspections, and plan review. The Health Services team also manages the mosquito mitigation program,
responds to citizen’s health and COVID-19 complaints, and conducts annual hotel property inspections. The Gas Well team is
responsible for the land development, permitting, and inspections of gas well drilling and production in the City of Arlington.

Gincy Thoppil, the City of Arlington’s Planning and Development Services director,
was among 17 individuals recently honored by the Dallas Business Journal's 2023
Leaders in Diversity Awards program.

Thoppil, who has worked for the City of Arlington for 18 years and has served in her
latest role since 2018, was recognized for her efforts to foster a culture of inclusion
within the community as well as to create a positive work environment and to
develop a retention strategy to keep underrepresented talent within the 70-member
Planning and Development Services Department.

The Police Department (APD) is responsible for providing public safety services to nearly 400,000 residents and the
millions of visitors who come to Arlington each year to enjoy the city’s world class venues and amenities. The department
employs a geographic policing model, meaning patrol officers are assigned to specific areas, or beats, within the city that they
are responsible for. Not only does this create accountability for officers, it gives community members an opportunity to get to
know the officers working in their neighborhoods. APD also champions community policing, using a variety of outreach programs
and initiatives to help build trust and legitimacy with all segments of the population.

APD made several investments during FY 2023 that will help to improve public safety.

The department launched its new Real Time Crime Center (RTCC), which will expand its intelligence gathering capabilities and
provide critical information to officers more rapidly, improving response times and outcomes. RTCC oversaw the implementation
of the city’s Flock Camera System, which can help investigators identify and locate suspect vehicles within minutes of a crime
occurring – increasing the likelihood of taking the suspect(s) into custody. The unit will soon begin rolling out new software that
will equip not only RTCC, but all APD officers, with the ability to view live camera feeds and other real-time crime intelligence
data that will assist them in the field.

Recruiting remains a top priority for the department to ensure APD continues
meeting and exceeding the community’s expectations for public safety. The APD
Personnel & Recruiting Unit recently added a full-time recruiting officer to their staff
whose primary job is to speak with prospective candidates at hiring events in-state
and across the country. During FY 2023, the department also expanded its hiring
options, accepting military service in lieu of APD’s four-year college degree
requirement and creating a lateral academy for officers from other agencies who
wish to join APD. The department has started rolling out an aggressive marketing
campaign, strategically advertising in areas where Arlington may present financial
and / or lifestyle advantages to qualified candidates.

FY 2024 Adopted Budget and Business Plan 19 City of Arlington, Texas