Recap of City Issues - July 31, 2009

This week the "Stop Signs" were removed from Double Tree Drive.  This was in no way intended to diminish the safety in your neighborhoods.  Our review was solely a matter of pending growth in our community, prompting us to evaluate the consistency of our placement of signage throughout our city.  When considering the signage used on all City Streets, it is important to understand that the original intent of a "stop sign" was not to modify speed, but to facilitate the safe flow of cross traffic (vehicle and pedestrian) at intersections.  Other options for messaging drivers of pending safety concerns related to road contours (hills, bends, dips, etc.) would be the placement of  "Curve Ahead", with a recommended 20 mph speed signs on approaches from both directions approaching the potential hazard.  This signage, "safety messages", in addition to education/awareness and enforcement are more appropriately intended to make drivers aware of potential hazards and adjust their driving behavior accordingly.

Scott Kriston attended the TXDOT FM 2499 project meeting this week.  The project status is as follows:  The contractor completed the concrete pours of the bridge spans on the north side of the lake water level for the Poindexter bridge.  The traffic barriers are yet to be built on the bridge.  The contractor will focus efforts to building the Hickory Creek bridge.  The contractor poured concrete on the FM 2499 intersections and opened several of them, they will continue to form and pour concrete cut outs, intersections and entrances.  The cut outs and intersections are anticipated to be completed over the next few weeks.  TXDOT anticipates the FM 2499 phase 3 contractor to move east / west traffic to the new concrete section of the FM 407 / FM 2499 intersection within the next week.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Sue Thompson reports that a ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the Highland Oaks subdivision located in the western portion of the City, west of FM 2499 and Village Park. The developer for Highland Oaks is Texas Land Development.  To kick off the ceremony the developer gave a short history of the property, recognized those who were a part of the development process, and introduced the builders prior to Mayor Dianne Costa cutting the ribbon. Refreshments were served in the model homes while those in attendance had an opportunity to tour the two models.  Members of Highland Village City Council, staff and businesses were represented for the event.

PUBLIC SAFETY (POLICE AND FIRE)

Highland Village Fire Department is greatly appreciative of a grant for $325,140 that they will soon receive under the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program.  U.S. Senator John Cornyn announced the good news yesterday explaining that this grant will help the fire department add firefighters and support the department's work.The SAFER grants support two specific activities--the hiring of firefighters and the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters. SAFER is part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants that is under the Office of Grants and Training of the Department of Homeland Security.  

Chief Tatum attended the ceremony for the dedication of the Lake Lewisville Toll Bridge.  It was a huge event with probably well over 200 people in attendance.  A tent was setup in the center of the bridge under the arches and guests were shuttled to the site.

Assistant Chief Collier held a meeting in the EOC on Thursday for the Denton County Training Officers.

Firefighters attended Tarrant County College continuing education classes held at the fire department on Thursday.

Highland Village Fire Department responded to 17 calls for service the week of July 24-30. This includes: 2 medical emergencies, 5 commercial fire alarms, 2 public assist, 1 mutual aid structure fire, 1 structure fire, and 1 fire station fill-in, 3 motor vehicle accidents, 1 grill fire, and 1 public service call.

This week the Police Department responded to 166 calls for service, made 26 traffic contacts, made 6 arrests, responded to 3 traffic accidents and performed 917 community policing activities.

Captain Mark Stewart acted as an assessor for the Best Practices Committee this week for Missouri City Police Department in Missouri City, Texas.

Auxiliary Renee Olsen and Corporal April Roppolo conducted a Station tour to seventeen children and four adults from the Highland Village Summer Kids Camp.

Kerry Payne (of North Texas Animal Control Authority) was contracted this week to take care of our Animal Services while Michelle Burke is on leave for August and September.

STREET  / UTILITY  DIVISIONS PROJECTS

The Street Division replaced school signs on Briarhill Boulevard and replaced street signs from Briarhill Boulevard to Norwood Drive on Highland Shores to be compliance with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA ) mandate.

The Street Division assisted the Parks Department installing a security fence at Doubletree Ranch to secure the equipment and tools.

The Street Division trimmed trees that obstructed vision for traffic and signs such as: Stop Signs, No Parking, Stopping and Standing Signs.

The Municipal Service Center Structures Demolition Project weekly progress.  The contractor is currently dismantling the tin storage facilities. 

Utility Crews:

• Issued several door hanger warnings.
• Repaired two service line leaks.
• Repaired one main break on Village Estates.
• Replaced damaged manhole lids.
• Replaced 12 yards of St. Augustine sod.
• Unstopped one sewer line back up.
• Responded to one resident emergency and three after hour call outs.
• Performed meter rereads, water turn on/turn offs, and leak checks.
• Located three areas of utility infrastructure for proposed franchise utility work.
• Power washed, painted and labeled 83 fire hydrants.
• Removed a damaged level transmitter and installed a new submersible level sensor at lift station #9.
• Assisted Layne Texas with the installation of the repaired Oak St well pump.
• Poured a sidewalk that was damaged during a line repair.
• Repaired a two-inch end of a water line blow-off.
• Are working in sewer basin #1 to verify sewer flow direction for the sewer line flushing program and to check for lines in need of repair.
• Continued installing fence and concrete blocks for material storage piles at the Southwood materials storage location.
• Performed maintenance on well lots, lift stations, fire hydrants and the water distribution and wastewater collection system.

Drainage Crews:

• Removed debris from the curb inlet in the 300 block of Northwood.
• Laid sod and poured sidewalk in the 100 block of Cedar.
• Flushed driveway culvert to reestablish flow in the 200 block of Tharp.
• Seeded the newly built birm behind the houses in the 300 block of Lake Vista to prevent flooding from park area.
• Cleared creek crossings, bar ditches, and flumes of debris after recent rain event.

PARKS DEPARTMENT

Parks staff erected a security fence around the buildings and service center at Doubletree Ranch this week. A contractor removed old paint, chlorine, and various other chemicals from the Doubletree this week.

All crews are busy with mowing cycles in the parks and medians. Tony Palesano made repairs to irrigation systems in several parks. The irrigation contractor for the Brazos median project began installing irrigation lines this week.

The Parks Department began renting practice facilities for soccer practice this week. Chinn Chapel fields are now available for soccer reservations.

Kids Kamp enjoyed trips this week to the Police and Fire Station, Dallas Aquarium, and swimming. Thank you for the police and fire staff for taking time out of their day to show the kids around.

The Highland Village Senior All Stars met on Monday (30 attendees) and Thursday (29 attendees) for game day.

Five Senior All Stars met on Tuesday for Bridge and Domino games.

On Saturday, 15 Highland Village Senior All Stars will take a trip to the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

HUMAN RESOURCES / STAFF TRAINING

Human Resources:

• The HR Department attended the early work session of the City Council on Tuesday. David Rodriguez, a representative from the Texas Municipal Retirement System, provided an overview of the structure of the system including the board, proposed funding investments and member benefits.
• Katherine Ray from Ray & Associates and Martha Butz are meeting with department heads this week. Ray & Associates will be preparing a report to update the organizational analysis previously completed in 2004. Resource allocation may have changed as we deal with growth, demographic change and build out.

CITY MANAGER / CITY COUNCIL

Mayor Pro Tem Combs and Councilmember Davis attended the monthly Precinct 3 meeting held in Flower Mound on Monday.

On Thursday, Mayor Costa, Mayor Pro Tem Combs and Councilmember Davis attended the Ribbon Cutting for the Highland Oaks Subdivision.