Recap of City Issues - February 27, 2009

Freese and Nichols is preparing to bring the Service Center/Interim Senior Center project documents forward to the Planning and Zoning Commission at their March 17th meeting. They have met with staff and compiled the final floor plans and site plan layout and now only need to bring the project forward for P&Z and Council approval. Subsequent to receiving those approvals, we can prepare the final bid documents for a summer bid letting. Construction will take approximately one year after contract award for both projects as we intend to construct them concurrently and continue operations at the current 948 Service Center while construction is ongoing. This will cause an increase in the bid price but that increase is expected to be far less than relocating our operations for one year in leased space elsewhere.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Sue Thompson reports that Highland Village hosted the monthly Precinct 3 Task Force meeting this week.  The meeting is chaired by Denton County Precinct 3 Commissioner Bobbie Mitchell for the purpose of providing updates on transportation projects.  Mayor Costa and Councilmember Don Combs, along with staff members, were in attendance.  Per the Task Force report, FM 407 from Briarhill to Chinn Chapel is eligible to let in September, 2009 and Section 4 of FM 2499 from FM 407 to FM 2181 is anticipated for completion in April, 2011. This week concrete paving was taking place on the east side of FM 2499 from the railroad tracks to FM 407.  Construction of the bridge columns in Poindexter Creek continued as well as construction of retaining walls throughout the project.

PUBLIC SAFETY (POLICE AND FIRE)

Police Communications Manager Jackie Cottongame and Chief Tatum conducted an Emergency Management update for Department Heads and key City Staff members.  The update included reviewing and revising the City's current Emergency Management Plan, EOC Activation, (NIMS) National Incident Management System requirements for City Employees and procedures for the activation of severe weather warning media (Connect CTY and Outdoor Warning Sirens.)

On Thursday the Texas Commission on Fire Protection dropped in for their unannounced State inspection.  During the inspection the State looks at our training records, self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) equipment and service records, department sop's to ensure they meet State requirements, certifications, protective clothing and TCLEOSE license for the personnel that are peace officers.  The inspection went very well with the only violation noted being the incompletion of annual testing of our protective clothing.  Although the testing has been started we still lack about 30 days completing all the test of our protective clothing.

The Highland Village Fire Department responded to 24 calls for service the week of Feb. 20-26.  This included: 15 medical emergencies, 3 mutual aid/structure fires, 2 commercial fire alarms, 2 structure fires, 1 motor vehicle accident and 1 assist to Lewisville Fire Department for a Dive Operation.   Fire Department Inspection Personnel completed 2 plan reviews for new businesses and 1 final inspection for IHOP.

Corporal April Roppolo conducted a station tour for nine toddlers and their parents this week.

Senior Animal Care Officer Michelle Burke conducted a training session at Flower Mound High School for a class of five girls.  There were very sweet and enjoyed asking questions about animal related jobs.

STREET / UTILITY DIVISIONS PROJECTS

The Street Division:

Cracksealed the following locations:

• Edgewood Street, Meadowbrook Drive and Village Tree Drive. Cracksealing will extend the life of the pavement and seal the cracks so that moisture will not cause the base to fail beneath the street.
• Continues to re-stripe the white lines on Willow Creek Estate along beside the street.
• Made an asphalt street repair in front of 226 Stone Canyon Drive due to a base failure.

Drainage Department:

• Removed dirt and debris in the 3000 block of Overlook to establish proper flow.
• Removed dirt & debris from creek channel at the Highland Hills area.
• Prepared 200 ft of gabion baskets in preparation for creek channel erosion project.
• Installed curb inlet protection to filter out debris in the 700 block of Ashley Court.

Scott Kriston, David Clark & Tim Bruedigam performed a final walk through for the Public Works improvements at the IHOP located in the Marketplace this week.

Matthew Kite and Scott Kriston met with BW2 Engineers, Inc this week to discuss the project status report.

Scott Kriston attended the TX DOT FM 2499 phase 4 weekly project meeting this week.  The TXDOT FM 2499 project status  is as follows:  The contractor is installing the pillar cross members for the proposed bridges at Poindexter Branch & installed some drill shafts on the Hickory Creek Branch of Lake Lewisville.  The contractor is installing retaining walls along the entire project.  The contractor completed the asphalt base on the north bound lanes from the KCS Railroad to FM 407.  They are currently pouring the concrete pavement.

Utility crews:

• Performed maintenance on well lots, lift stations, fire hydrants and the water distribution and wastewater collection system.
• Are expanding the equipment storage area located at the Lake Vista Well Lot in preparation for the proposed Municipal Service Center construction later this year.
• Finished the restoration of the yards on Windy Court from the sewer line replacement job that the Utilities crews did a few weeks ago.

PARKS DEPARTMENT

Parks staff at Pilot Knoll is busy putting a new roof on the day use restroom.

Pilot Knoll crew replaced damaged wood at the fishing dock at Village Park.

Staff also removed debris and old lumber from Wichita Forest.

The North crew relocated and replanted bedding plants at city hall this week.

The South crew applied infield conditioner to all baseball fields at Unity Park.  Wes Neinhuser aerated all athletic fields in the parks as well as municipal grounds.

Tony Palesano repaired irrigation heads at Victoria Park due to contractor damage. 

On Monday, Tuesday and Thursday the Highland Village Senior All Stars met for game days.

Senior Count

Monday - 24 - Game Day

Tuesday - 9 - Dominos/42 Lessons

Thursday - 32 Game Day

On Wednesday, 38 Highland Village Senior All Stars took their monthly trip to Choctaw casino in Oklahoma.

Our second and larger bus was delivered last Friday afternoon.  It's equipped with sixteen (16) ambulatory seats and two (2) wheelchair spaces.

HUMAN RESOURCES / STAFF TRAINING

Human Resources:

• On Thursday Jana Onstead, Jane Ponder and Vanesa Childers attended a client appreciation luncheon in Dallas hosted by United Healthcare.
• Martha Butz attended an Emergency Management meeting on Thursday morning at the Fire Station.

Fire Department:

• Chief Tatum & Assistant Chief Collier held the monthly Officer's meeting with Shift Captains Travis Nokes, Chip Willis, and Randy McCurley in attendance.
• Fire Department personnel gave a tour to a local Mommy Day Care Center this week. The tour provided an opportunity for toddlers, ages 2-4, to visit with the firemen, climb on the fire truck and sees the lights. The Mothers' wanted the children to experience the lights and sirens at an early age and to be aware of the role of the firefighter.

Police Department:

• Corporal Jered Cameron and Corporal Patrick Finley attended a Basic Police Instructor training school at COG in Arlington.

Parks Department:

• Wes Neinhuser attended turf maintenance classes at the Texas A & M Extension in Richardson this week.

Utility Department:

• Scott Kriston and Bobby Salmon attended the Denton County Mosquito Control meeting held in Lewisville this week. The DFW area is preparing for the mosquito season.

CITY MANAGER / CITY COUNCIL

Mayor Costa and Council Member Combs attended the Precinct 3 Task Force Meeting held on Monday in the Highland Village Council Chambers.

On Tuesday, Mayor Costa attended the Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Majestic Liquors, a new Highland Village business.

On Thursday evening, Council Member Calvin and his wife attended the Youth and Family Counseling 28 Years Celebration.  Later that evening, they were joined by Council Member Adams and his wife at an event held by Banana Republic at The Shops at Highland Village.