City Connections - May 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.

Properly Dispose of Yard Waste

Residents and businesses are becoming more aware of the impact that improper disposal of yard waste has on their landscape, wallet, and local lakes, rivers, streams and creeks.  By leaving grass clippings and leaves on your lawn, you are supplying it with natural fertilizers and you spend less money on store-bought fertilizers.  A nearby storm drain may become clogged if grass clippings and/or leaves are swept or blown into the storm drain.  Clogged storm drains may cause flooding and requires that the City come out and clean the storm drain.  Yard waste in a local waterway depletes the oxygen level in the water, which is harmful to aquatic life.

What should you do with your yard waste?

Remove yard waste from streets, sidewalks and driveways.  Blow or sweep grass clippings or tree leaves back up into the yard where they can help provide additional nutrients to your lawn.
Don’t bag it.  Use grass clippings or fallen leaves as mulch or shred them and use them to fertilize the lawn and protect landscape plants from extreme weather.  Mulching mowers and blades make this easy.  If you have a compost bin, add the yard waste to that bin. If you hired a company to care for your lawn, educate them on proper lawn care.

Tips for Dealing with Pet Waste

• Attach a small bag or pouch to your dog’s leash so that you can always carry a supply of baggies.
• Be creative in re-using materials for picking up pet droppings! Save plastic bread bags, plastic newspaper sleeves, or plastic produce bags and use them as scooping baggies.
• When using a baggie or plastic bag, slip it over your hand like a mitt, pick up the droppings, hold a top corner of the bag with your other hand, and quickly flip it inside-out. Then, dispose of it in a trash can.
• Once a week, clean up droppings around your yard and either flush them down the toilet, or dispose of in the trash can. Pet waste composters are available commercially, check them out.

Attach a small bag or pouch to your dog’s leash so that you can always carry a supply of baggies.

Do Your Share for Cleaner Air

Ozone season is upon us and will run through August. Our region is designated as a “Non-attainment” area by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As a result of this designation, we need to be more aware of our actions and do our part to help reduce vehicle emissions. We can make a difference in the air quality of our region. Here are ways you can be a part of the solution:

• Brown Bag It! Take your lunch to work instead of driving to a restaurant or running through a drive thru.
• Ride your bike or walk instead of driving.
• Ride Connect RSVP or Connect to the grocery store.
• Park your car and commute to work using DCTA’s Commuter Express to Denton or Downtown Dallas.

Tell us how you are taking steps to help reduce vehicle emissions by logging your alternate ways of travel online at www.TryParkingIt.com. This information will not only provide us with great statistics for our region, but also gives you the chance to win $250 through the Commuter Challenge. Register on TryParkingIt.com, log your commute alternative each day and be reminded that the small changes you’ve chosen are making a big difference. One less commute, one less car, one breath of clean air. Do your share for cleaner air - take the challenge.

 

Spring Reminders from Code Enforcement

 

WEEDS AND GRASS

 

This is the time of year when grass and weeds grow, especially with all the rain that we have been getting lately.  However, City of Highland Village Ordinance, Section 28-24 (2) (a) restricts the height of weeds or grass to twelve inches.  Please help keep our city beautiful.  If you have any city code questions, please contact Rudy R. Lopez, Code Enforcement Officer at 972-899-5092 or rlopez@highlandvillage.org. 

FENCE CONSTRUCTION

Just a reminder that all fences require permits including existing fences to be replaced (minor fence repairs do not require permits), as per City of Highland Village Ordinance Section 105.1 of the International Residential Code. A homeowner can replace their own fence by securing a permit at the Permit Office at City Hall.  Contractors are required to be registered with the City with proof of insurance prior to securing a permit. 

When is a permit needed?  

All permits are available on the city website at www.highlandvillage.org  - just click on Home Improvement and Construction under the Resident section.

Highland Village Rotary Club to Hold Dog Walk

The Highland Village Rotary Club,  in partnership with Purina’s Rally to Rescue, presents the Capital One Top Dog event Saturday, May 9 and invites dog lovers and their furry companions to take part in a fun-filled paws for a cause gathering to benefit the Highland Village Animal Care Unit among other organizations.  Scheduled 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the K-9 event kicks off behind the Capital One bank at 3120 FM 407 in Highland Village.  Entry fee is $15 per canine companion.  Registration forms are available at Capital One Bank in Highland Village, or to request forms or additional information, contact Susie Refo with the Highland Village Rotary Club at (972) 978-0980 or via e-mail at advinadv@gmail.com. For additional information about Rotary International, visit www.rotary.org or contact Barb Ross, president of the Highland Village Rotary club at (972) 317-1377.

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. 

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, May 14   6-9 PM

CPR Costs: $25 for residents, $45 for non-residents ~ HC Provider Costs:  $35 for residents, $55 for non-residentsA 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, May 20, 2009. Sign-Up NOW!
Space is limited; sign up by May 13, 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

Trip to TWU and Lunch

Wednesday, May 13, 2009
$5 to ride the bus, lunch on your own

Perry Homestead, Asian Market, and Lunch

Wednesday, May 27, 2009
$5 to ride the bus, lunch on your own

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