Recap of City Issues - March 5, 2010

On Friday Mayor Costa held her last Breakfast with the Mayor with the Highland Village Business Association. As the unique part of the breakfast, the Mayor asked everyone to introduce themselves and make any announcements they wanted to share. I announced to the group the hiring of our new Parks and Recreation Director, Linda Cornelius. We showed our State of the City video, The Even More Amazing Race. While the Breakfasts with the Mayor have been an HVBA event for several year, under the guidance and leadership of Mayor Costa the event has truly grown. We've moved from the Training Room at City Hall to the Council Chambers to accommodate the growing attendance. Our Highland Village businesses as well as businesses of the region come to the event to network and receive city updates from the Mayor and staff. Several attendees thanked Mayor Costa for her service to the city and the community and shared that their business has grown because of the involvement of Mayor Costa. A nice addition to this last Breakfast was the attendance of the Mayor's sister, Carmen, who is planning to move from San Antonio to Highland Village in the near future.

Highland Village Road Sidewalk/Lake Vista Trail Project

Lake Vista Trail is an 8' wide 240' long section if trail that connects City Trail to Lake Vista Road via the Lake Vista Well Lot property. Highland Village Road Sidewalk is a 5 ‘wide and .43mi. long sidewalk that intersects City Trail and Victoria Trail and heads south on Highland Village Road to the railroad tracks.  Construction of the Highland Village Road sidewalk will begin on Monday March 8th.  Axis Contracting, Inc. plans to complete the Highland Village sidewalk before constructing the Lake Vista Trail connection.  This project scheduled to be completed by the end of April 2010.

Scott Kriston reports that the TXDOT FM 2499 section 4 project contractor poured concrete on the south bound cut outs and driveway entrances and is in the process of barricade removal at the FM 2499 connection at FM 407.  TXDOT anticipates opening one north bound lane and one southbound lane of FM 2499 from Highland Shores to FM 407 to local traffic in a week, weather permitting.  They will then finish demolishing & pouring the concrete the cut outs, side walks and driveway connections on the outside lanes.

Scott Kriston reports that the Highland Shores Paving project contractor is cleaning up the site.  A final walk through was performed.   Contractor is finishing up the punch list items.  

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Last Thursday and Friday Laurie Mullens attended a regional 3CMA Conference in Grand Prairie. The main topic of the conference was Social Media. Sessions included a legal overview, a look at the generations and how each has and is communicating - pointing to the rise of social media as a major player in communication of today and specific sessions on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr. This information is useful at this time as Laurie is working with the Media Communications Committee on developing the City's social media tools. A presentation detailing the committee's recommendations will be made to Council at a future meeting.

PUBLIC SAFETY (POLICE AND FIRE)

Fire:

Assistant Chief Collier attended the monthly FIANT (Fire Instructors Association of North Texas) which was held on Wednesday.

The Tarrant County College Instructor & Ft. Worth Battalion Chief provided training on Fire Scene Investigation and Documentation. This training is part of an on going contract for the firefighters to receive updated periodic training from Tarrant County College.

Fire Calls for Service

Fire Department personnel responded to 16 calls for service the week of February 17- March 4.

• Medical Emergencies - 8
• Motor Vehicle Accidents - 3
• Public Education - 1
• Commercial Fire Alarm - 2
• Public Service - 2

Firefighter/EMT Mel Harper conducted CPR and 1st Aid Training for two North East Texas Girl Scout troops this week.  Mel also provided CPR, Healthcare Provider and 1st Aid Training to residents as part of our monthly CPR Classes offered.

Police:

This week, the police department responded to 104 calls for service, made 161 traffic contacts, made 4 arrests, responded to 1 traffic accident and performed 404 community policing activities.

One of our new Communications Officers, Candice Stinnett, adopted one of our shelter animals this week.  Coco seemed quite content with his new home!

Corporal April Roppolo and Corporal David Harney assisted with a Christa McAuliffe tour group this week.  There were approximately eighty students and five teachers that were escorted from the school in groups of three.  These groups toured the Fire Station, Police Department, and City Hall.  The Police Department was also assisted by the Police Auxiliary.

STREET / UTILITY DIVISIONS PROJECTS

Streets:

The Street Division made a concrete sidewalk repairs at 2270 Strathmore Drive to fix a tripping hazard.

The Street Division started making repairs to the  asphalt street and concrete flume repairs on Big Elm Street and will continue to make repairs to Big Elm Street through next week.

The Street Division made a concrete street repaired on Brighton Court due to a Utility sewer repair. The crew repaired half of the street and will repair the other half of the street next week.

Utilitiies:

Scott Kriston reports that the MSC project contractor is preparing the subgrade to pour concrete paving for the south side parking lot.  The framing and dry wall contractors continue to work inside the Parks & Rec building.  The framing contractor starting installing the wood framing to the slab for the Public Works building.  The fence contractor is finishing up on staining the fence along the perimeter of the lot.  The equipment building and storage building foundations subgrade is currently being laid out for a concrete pour as weather permits. 

Scott Kriston met with BW2 Engineering , Inc. & discussed the status of all open Public Works projects.

Matthew Kite & Scott Kriston met with Denton County, TXDOT, HNTB & ITS to discuss the FM 2499 / Northwood intersection redesign.  HNTB is working on a concept design to connect Northwood to FM 2499 while utilizing existing City right of way.

Utility Crews:

• Responded to two after hour call outs and two resident concerns.
• Excavated and repaired one water line at the intersection of Bluebonnet and Pecan.  Excavated and repaired three sewer lines; Bluebonnet, Gayle and Brighton.
• Unstopped one sewer main line backup.
• Located three areas of utility infrastructure.
• Flushed four sections of sewer lines and TV inspected five.
• Preparing the Lake Vista well lot for future City Trail connection.
• Made a repair on the Briarhill RR crossing automatic horn system.
• 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:

• Cleaned various creek channels of storm debris.
• Poured a concrete flume to eliminate erosion in the 300 Block of Rockland.
• Poured concrete on material bins.
• Installed Drainage pipe through curb to eliminate moss growing on curb in the 3000 block of Bentley.
• Clean and greased equipment.
• Met with resident about the drainage easement located in their backyard on Mayfair.
• Met with resident on the drainage easement located in their backyard on Trails End Court.

PARKS DEPARTMENT

On Monday, staff met with Calsense to discuss our need for wireless communication to our irrigation controllers.

On Monday, staff met with Dallas Automatic Gate to discuss the installation and operations of the self pay station that is going to be installed at Copperas Branch Park.

On Wednesday, staff distributed door hangers to residents along the Highland Village sidewalk and Lake Vista Trail connection stating that construction is scheduled to begin March 8, 2010.

 The Highland Village Senior All Stars met on Monday and Tuesday for game day and on Thursday for potluck lunch .

HUMAN RESOURCES / STAFF TRAINING

Human Resources:

• Martha Butz and Ken Heerman met with Rob Wachal regarding data set up for City Works software.
• Martha Butz, Ken Heerman and Jana Onstead met with Chris Solimine from ICMA on Friday to discuss available plan options.

Police:

• Sergeant Bobby Doyle received his TCLEOSE certification for Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Practitioner.
• Captain Corry Blount and Lieutenant Karl Schlichter attended Command Staff Training in Huntsville at Sam Houston State University (LEMIT).
• Sergeant Sheri Morrison attended a TAPEIT (Texas Association of Property and Evidence Inventory Technicians) Board meeting in Austin.  The board and officers were completing some of the basic preparation work for the annual conference that will be held in October in San Antonio.  The purpose of TAPEIT is to promote professional education, laws, rules and guidelines for maintaining the integrity, chain of custody, and disposal of property and evidence.
• Officer Tim Henderson and Officer Melinda Zehetner attended Intermediate Use of Force Training in Flower Mound.  This course is one of the required courses by TCLEOSE to obtain their Intermediate Peace Officer Certification.
• Officer Joey Hasten and Officer Jose Diaz attended one day of Intermediate Spanish training at Tarrant County College.  Their last day of training had been postponed due to bad weather.  This course is one of the required courses by TCLEOSE to obtain their Intermediate Peace Officer Certification.

Parks:

• Andra Boxberger and Cheryl Dudich attended Texas Recreation & Park Society (TRAPS) conference on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  They will be attending classes and seminars to broaden their view on topics related to the parks and recreation field.

CITY MANAGER / CITY COUNCIL

Mayor Costa attended Cub Scout Pack 1163's Blue & Gold Banquet on Saturday, February 27th.

Mayor Pro Tem Combs, Council Member Meek and City Secretary Richardson attended the Flower Mound Chamber Luncheon on Tuesday, March 2nd.

Mayor Costa attended the DCTA Steering Committee on Tuesday, March 2nd.

Mayor Pro Tem Combs and Council Members Meek and Wilcox joined Mayor Costa at the HVBA Breakfast with the Mayor event on Friday, March 5th.