Recap of City Issues - November 20, 2009

Each year, effective with the November billing, the pass-through wholesale utility rates are updated to reflect increases or decreases in rates from the UTRWD, adjusted by a reconciliation of billed amounts compared to actual charges incurred previously. 

Since adopting this methodology in FY 2008, the total amount billed to residents through FY 2009 is within $3,000 of the $6.6M actual wholesale costs paid to the UTRWD.  However, increases from the UTRWD will result in a projected shortfall of $215,058 next year.  Thus, rates are to be adjusted to address this shortfall. (There is no markup associated with these charges).

Updated wholesale water will result in a 4.5% increase for an average bill (usage of 12,000 gal), while wholesale sewer charges will reflect a smaller increase of 1.6%, resulting in an average increase of 2.8%.

Change in Wholesale Rates

                                       Previous                       Updated

Whls Water                            

    Base Charge                 $16.30                       $16.72                    

     Volume Charge              .62 / 1000 gal             .75 / 1000 gal

Whls Sewer

     Base Charge                 $16.69                     $16.69

     Volume Charge                1.60 / 1000 gal         1.73 / 1000 gal

Change in Average Bill

Scott Kriston reports that the TX DOT FM 2499 project contractor is installing the Pedestrian tunnel north of the KCS Railroad, installing the 84-inch UTRWD water line casing north of the KCS Railroad, excavating the south bound lane at FM 2499 & Castlewood and is excavating the FM 2499 connection at FM 407.

Scott Kriston reports that the Highland Shores Paving project contractor is preparing to install the temporary pavement striping to allow continued two-way traffic from Remington West through the Briarhill intersection.  The contractor will begin pavement grinding early next week from Remington West to through the Briarhill intersection.  Due to the weather, new pavement is anticipated to be installed on the west bound lane from Highland Village Road to Remington west on Tuesday.  The contractor anticipates opening Highland Shores from Highland Village Road to Remington West to two-way traffic on Wednesday morning, weather permitting.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Sue Thompson and Laurie Mullens attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Highland Village/Lewisville Lake A-train Station on November 20th.  Mayor Dianne Costa gave the invocation and welcomed everyone to this historic event.  Members of City Council in attendance included Scott McDearmont, Charlotte Wilcox, Don Combs, Pat Davis and Bill Meek.  Several other dignitaries who spoke include Senator Jane Nelson, Representative Tan Parker, Charles Emery and Mayor of Lewisville, Dean Ueckert.  The Highland Village Mayor and City Council participated in the actual ground breaking along with the DCTA Board members and other elected officials.

Sue Thompson reports that Mayor Dianne Costa was the speaker at the monthly Lewisville Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee.  Mayor Costa provided information on the city's holiday pass marketing program, the groundbreaking for the Highland Village/Lake Lewisville A-Train station, and other topics of interest. Ms. Thompson provided an update on the recent HVBA Salute Our Veteran's luncheon, the construction of The District development, and invited everyone to Highland Village Women's Club "Our Village Glows" to be held Tuesday, December 1st at 6 PM at the Shops at Highland Village.  This is the 10th anniversary of "the Glow".  The City partners with the Highland Village Women's Club and the Shops to provide this great community event.

PUBLIC SAFETY (POLICE AND FIRE)

Fire:

Training/Meetings:

• The Fire Departments Annual Awards Banquet was held on Saturday at the Fire Station.  Firefighter Paramedic Tony Sorsby received Firefighter of the Year and Firefighter Paramedic Matthew Luttrell received Paramedic of the Year.  
• Chief Tatum met with representatives from CoServ Gas Distribution Facilities regarding Federal and State regulations for natural gas distribution lines.  CoServ Gas provides service to the busy FM 407 and FM 2499 area that include the Shops of Highland Village and Wal-Mart.  Their discussion included safety and mitigation of Pipeline ruptures, Fire, Explosion, Damage by outside Contractors and Natural Disasters.  
• Fire personnel attended Advanced Cardiac Life Support training this week.
• Firefighter Mel Harper conducted CPR / 1st Aid courses for a local Girl Scout Troop. A total of nineteen attended two separate days of training.
• Please welcome Rhett Rimmer, Scott Taylor and Mel Harper as the newest hires to the Fire Department. 

Fire Calls for Service

Fire Department personnel responded to 21 calls for service the week of Nov 13-19th.

• 12 Medical Emergencies
• 2 Mutual Aid Structure Fires
• 1 Residential Fire Alarm
• 2 Commercial Fire Alarms
• 1 Public Service Call
• 1 Odor Investigation
• 1 Motor Vehicle Accident
• 1 Medical Alarm
• Fire Personnel conducted one home safety inspection

Police:

This week, the police department responded to 142 calls for service, made 110 traffic contacts, made 2 arrests, responded to 2 traffic accidents and performed 407 community policing activities.

STREET / UTILITY DIVISIONS PROJECTS

Utilities:

Matthew Kite, P.E. & Scott Kriston met with Williams Scotsman on Wednesday to discuss tear down of the old Municipal Service Center office trailers.  Workers started the trailer separation portion of the tear down on Friday.  It is anticipated that the trailers will be moved offsite by Wednesday of next week, weather permitting.

Scott Kriston met with BW2 Engineers to discuss the AC water line replacement project and a proposed sanitary sewer line replacement project.

Utility Crews:

• Responded to two after hour call outs.
• Relocated SCADA from 948 to Doubletree.
• Installed water and sewer utilities for the Doubletree office trailers.
• Moved all necessary furniture, boxes and files to Doubletree office trailers.
• Verified the old 948 wireless networking equipment will operate at the Doubletree Ranch & is currently dismantling the tower at 948 and relocating it to the DT Ranch. 
• Cleared one sewer backup and repaired two water line leaks.
• Performed meter rereads, water turn on/turn offs, and leak checks.
• Performed maintenance on well lots, lift stations, fire hydrants and the water distribution and wastewater collection system.

Drainage Crews:

• Assisted in moving the Municipal Service Center to Doubletree Ranch.
• Cleaned various creek crossings and culverts to assure proper water flow from the recent rain event.
• Finished forming for concrete slabs for the material bins at 5001 Village Parkway .
• Is prepping for pool demolition at the Doubletree Ranch.

PARKS DEPARTMENT

Parks staff met with the Highland Village Women's Club and The Shops of Highland Village to finalize plans for this year's Our Village Glows tree lighting celebration.

Parks staff is in the process of meeting with various groups preparing for the Santa Parade on December 12th, the Resolution Run on January 16th and the Father/Daughter Dance on February 13th.

Parks staff started putting up Christmas lights at City Hall this week.

Tony Palesano and Wes Neinhuser installed equipment at Park sites for the new Calsense irrigation control system.

Staff planted fall color in various plant beds in the parks and municipal grounds. Staff replaced banners at City Hall and roadside sites.

Staff at Pilot Knoll Park has been involved in leaf mulching and debris clean up.

Wes Neinhuser has been involved in making weed control applications to several parks.

Pedro Miranda and his crew have been mowing and cleaning up areas at Doubletree facility.

The Highland Village Senior All Stars met on Monday (19 attendees) and Thursday (40 attendees) for game day.  Thursday was also the monthly potluck lunch.

Nine Senior All Stars met on Tuesday for open game time and the Helping Hands pillow heart project.

On Wednesday, 39 Highland Village Senior All Stars went on the Choctaw Casino trip.

HUMAN RESOURCES / STAFF TRAINING

Human Resources:

• Martha Butz attended a Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) subcommittee meeting in Addison regarding legislative changes.
• The American Cancer Society sponsors an annual event in November called "The Great American Smokeout."  This year it was on Thursday, November 19th and as part of the City's wellness initiative, information was shared with employees this week which included helpful tips to quit smoking.  Smoker survival kits were available in Human Resources for anyone that was interested in quitting. 

Police:

Sergeant Sheri Morrison attended the annual SOR Conference this week.

CITY MANAGER / CITY COUNCIL

Mayor Costa and Councilmember Wilcox attended the Seventh Annual New York Style Fashion Show benefiting PediPlace, CASA, The Sue Weaver C.A.U.S.E. and Children's Advocacy Center on Saturday, November 14th.

Members of Council and Staff joined Mayor Costa at the DCTA Groundbreaking for Highland Village/Lewisville Lake Train Station on Friday, November 20th.