City Connections - June Edition

Water Use Conservation / Drought Contingency Plan

PHASE ONE – SEASONAL CONSERVATION IS NOW IN EFFECT

Effective each year beginning May 1 and ending September 30.

1. No outside watering between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Hand watering of shrubbery allowed at any hour.
   
2. Variances to this regulation may be granted by permit only, available at the Municipal Complex (inspections/permits counter).
   
3. Users of private well water for irrigation are required to post a sign indicating so in a conspicuous location.
   
4. Hand washing of vehicles shall be permitted providing there is no wasteful runoff.
   
5. Wasteful runoff, by any means, shall be prohibited.

Mosquito Prevention is the Best Solution

Mosquito season is here!  City staff will be monitoring mosquito updates for the Denton County area.  Here are some tips to help prevent mosquito breeding habitat. 

• Empty out standing water from idle containers.
• Flower pots
• Buckets
• Cups, dog bowls
• Clean bird baths regularly.
  

Stormwater / Drain Maintenance

In response to citizen and/or staff notification, storm water issues are investigated by field crews.  If the issue is determined to be a City issue, City crews will add it to their schedule and restore appropriate stormwater flow as time & weather permits.  Some storm drain systems within the City were built many years ago and may not have sufficient capacity to handle stormwater runoff.  These systems are being identified and appropriate system upgrades will be recommended for inclusion in future Capital Improvement Programs as funding is available.

Water Your Landscape Wisely

A common misconception is that you must water your lawn daily or every other day.  The truth is, daily watering will WEAKEN your lawn.  Water deeply and infrequently.  Don’t be waterless, water less, water smart.

DCTA Finalizes Rail Vehicle Purchase

The Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) and Stadler Bussnag AG, a Swiss company, have reached an agreement for the purchase of eleven GTW 2-6 Diesel Multiple Units (DMU) for use as the next generation rail fleet for DCTA’s 21-mile corridor from Denton to Carrollton. DCTA Board was on hand yesterday to witness Jim Witt, DCTA President and Klaus Potocnik, Head of Project Management, Deputy CEO sign the $73,764,069 contract. Vehicle construction will commence in September 2010 and the first vehicle is schedule to arrive in Lewisville in August 2011. The final vehicle is scheduled for delivery in April 2012. Testing will continue through August 2012 with “fleet transition” scheduled for September of 2012.
Each GTW 2/6 can seat 96 passengers and has a total capacity of 200. Luggage racks, bike racks and space for wheelchairs are provided. The vehicle is 70% low floor, meaning level boarding is provided. Though up to three vehicles may be run as a unit, DCTA plans to run two coupled vehicles on 20 minute headways during peak service. Globally, there are over 430 GTW rail vehicles in operation.
A central element of DCTA’s service plan and heavily endorsed by Denton County residents, the A-train project includes single-phase construction of 21-miles of regional rail, five rail stations, a bicycle/pedestrian trail, and a regional rail operating and maintenance facility.  The immediate objective of the project is to have full service between Denton and Carrollton to interface with Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s light rail system by December 2010. This timing will coincide with DART’s opening of the northern section of its Green Line and will complete a 50 mile segment of regional passenger rail that is detailed in the Mobility 2030 plan.
The A-train is slated to begin service using RDC vehicles which were previously operated by the Trinity Railway Express (TRE). The Stadler DMUs or “new generation vehicles” are expected to go into operation after approximately eighteen months of the A-train being in service.
“The execution of this contract marks another major milestone in the A-train project and illustrates our agency’s commitment to bringing regional rail service to Denton County,” announced Charles Emery, DCTA Board Chairman and member of the Regional Transportation Committee. “We see this project as the platform for Stadler’s introduction of its fleet into future rail corridors in North Texas.”
“This is the last piece of the A-train puzzle,” stated Emery. “We recently received the funding from TxDOT and gave our CMGC notice to proceed. Today, we signed and sealed the deal for DCTA’s next generation of rail cars."

DCTA is a coordinated county transportation authority and currently provides fixed-route bus service to the member cities of Denton, Highland Village and Lewisville. The authority also provides paratransit service and a commuter bus service connecting Denton County to Downtown Dallas. The agency was formed in 2002 and carried two million passengers last year. For more information about DCTA and its services, please call 972-221-4600 or visit www.dcta.net.

Highland Village Business Directory

For the last five years, the City of Highland Village has published the Highland Village Business Directory.  The directory is delivered to every business and residence within the city, and included on our website for easy access. It is now time to publish the sixth edition of the directory. Once again, our goal is to include every business located in the City, including home-based businesses. If you wish to be included in the directory this year, please complete the form on the city web site and return to the City Manager’s office by June 15, 2009. Our publication goal is late July of this year, for distribution in August. As in previous years, no advertising will be included and the directory will once again be published and distributed free of charge.

Children at Play

Summer is quickly approaching and there will be more children out playing so parents are cautioned against allowing children to “play in the street.”  In addition, please take a few moments to re-emphasize the safety practice of “stopping and looking both ways” and proceeding cautiously when crossing streets.
City Ordinance Sec. 62-66 Sports, games and exercises on streets states:  “Any person who shall engage in any sport, game or exercise on or in any public street or highway within the city calculated to injure pedestrians or retard or interfere with the passage of vehicles shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor upon conviction.”

Going on Vacation?  You Fill Out the Form, We'll Pick It Up!

Residents of Highland Village have access to the free Vacation Watch service offered by the Highland Village Police Department.  When you are away you can request your home be placed on "Vacation Watch." 
When listed, patrol officers will periodically stop and check your home.  Officers may walk around and check your property for any signs of forced entry, damage or suspicious activity. 
To request a Vacation Watch:

• Call Police Dispatch at 972-317-6551 and request a Patrol Officer stop by and pick up your completed Vacation Watch form.  The officer while there can give you some helpful tips on securing your property and do a brief security survey.  You can download the VW form on our website by clicking on Vacation Watch under Police Department.
  
• Call Police Dispatch at 972-317-6551 and the dispatcher will complete the VW request for you.
  
• Fax your completed VW form to Police Dispatch at 972-899-5088, or drop it off at the PD anytime. 
  

Parents Who Host, Lose the Most: Don't be a Party to Teenage Drinking

Many well-meaning parents think that it is enough to take away car keys at their teen's parties so the teens can't drink and drive.  It is illegal, unsafe, and unhealthy for anyone under age 21 to drink alcohol. 
Parents who give alcohol to their teen’s friends under any circumstances are breaking the law.
Parents who knowingly allow a person under 21 to remain in their home or on their property while consuming or possessing alcoholic beverages can be prosecuted.
Parents can be sued if they give alcohol to anyone under 21 and they in turn hurt someone, hurt them    selves or damage property.
More information about “Parents Who Host, Lose The Most: Don’t be a party to teenage drinking” is available at http://www.DrugFreeActionAlliance.org.

Save a Life – Learn CPR

The Highland Village Fire Department conducts monthly CPR and Health Care Provider courses. This training covers Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for Adults, Infants and Children and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training.

Upcoming Class Dates:           Thursday, June 4   6:00-9:00 P
                                           Thursday, July 9   6:00-9:00 PMCPR Costs: $25 for residents, $45 for non-residents ~ HC Provider Costs:  $35 for residents, $55 for non-residents. A form of ID is required for address verification. Class size is limited; please contact Highland Village Fire Department at 972-317-0890 to sign-up.

Kids Kamp

Join us for a Summer of Fun! Kamp starts June 8 at Briarhill Middle School and ends August 14

 

Morning Kamp                        8 a.m. - 12 p.m.                        $65 per week

Afternoon Kamp                     12 p.m. - 6 p.m.                        $95 per week

All Day                                   8 a.m. - 6 p.m.                          $160 per week
Daily Rate                              8 a.m. - 6 p.m.                          $40 per day
Age: 6-12 years of age                       
Please call the Parks and Recreation Department at (972) 317-7430 for more information.
Sign up at Parks & Recreation beginning May 4, 2009

Senior All Stars

Choctaw Casino

Wednesday, June 17, 2009. Sign-Up NOW!
Space is limited; sign up by June 10, 2009
Cost is $5, includes $10 Casino play money, $10 Black Jack play money and a $5 food coupon.
Register at the Parks and Recreation Department at the Municipal Complex
The bus leaves from the City of Highland Village Municipal Complex, 1000 Highland Village Road, at 9:00 a.m. and leaves Choctaw at 4:00 p.m.
Contact the Parks and Recreation Department for more information at 972 317-7430

Ft. Worth Zoo

Wednesday, June 10, 2009
$5 to ride the bus, lunch on your own
Sign up by Monday, June 8
Visit Historic Downtown Grapevine and Botanical Garden
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
$5 to ride the bus, lunch on your own
Sign up by Monday, June 22

Highland Village Days Red, White & Blue Festival
Saturday, June 6, 2009

Morning Events at Unity Park
7:00 a.m.                   1K/5K Run – Sponsored by
                                 Marcus High School Cross Country and Track
                                 Register at www.getmeregistered.com
8:00 a.m.                    Run Begins
9:00 a.m.                    Family Fish Out
11:30 a.m.                  Arbor Day Proclamation

Evening Events at Copperas Branch Park
5:00 p.m.                   Gates Open
6:30 p.m.                   Micky and The Motorcars
8:15 p.m.                   Kevin Fowler
Grand Finale              Fireworks Extravaganza