Recap of City Issues 1-28-11

TXDOT FM 2499 section 4 project is still an active construction zone. The outer driving lane is closed to traffic; delays and detouring during working hours are to be expected. The posted speed limit is 40 miles per hour and will be enforced.  No parking is allowed in the construction zone.  The contractor is installing the signal at the intersection of FM 2499 and Highland Shores Boulevard / Castlewood Boulevard.  A four-way stop has been installed until the construction of the traffic signal is completed. 

          COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Laurie Mullens attended the Shops at Highland Village marketing meeting on Wednesday.  A representative with the Shops gave a recap on the holiday promotion - Seasons Eating. Their program saw an 84% increase with the Center adding American Express cards to the allotted dining cards. She also reported their traffic counts showed a 25% increase for November and December. They are pleased the increase has continued through January, up 46%, when traffic typically drops after the holidays. The tentative event/marketing calendar for 2011 was also shared. Businesses in attendance also reported they saw an increase in use of the City's holiday marketing postcard. The City continues to work closely with the Regency marketing team to communicate marketing strategies and identify areas of partnership.

Laurie Mullens attended the Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce Board meeting on Friday.

Laurie Mullens, Mr. Meek and myself attended the Lewisville Chamber Awards Luncheon on Tuesday.

PUBLIC SAFETY (POLICE AND FIRE)

Fire:

Calls for Service: Week of Jan 21-27

• Medical Emergencies -  14
• Commercial Fire Alarms - 4
• Residential Fire Alarms - 1
• Fire Calls - 2
• Public Service Calls - 2
• Structure Fires - 1
• Commercial Plan Review - 2
• Commercial Inspections - 5

Police:

This week, the police department responded to 109 calls for service, made 93 traffic contacts, made 3 arrests, responded to 2 traffic accidents and performed 343 community policing activities.

Congratulations to all of our civilian auxiliary volunteers for a great 2010.  The preliminary tallies are in - 2010 turned out to be the best year overall for total auxiliary hours.  For 2010, you posted over 2391 hrs, which is up approximately 24% from last year.  The department and city appreciates the dedicated volunteer service you provided.

Those members who contributed 100 hours or more will be receiving Presidential Volunteer Service Awards in April.  Tentatively these are:

Mike MacLean, 808 hrs, Gold Award

Paul Scholz, 325 hrs, Silver Award

Steve Jones, 300 hrs, Silver Award

Tim Morgan, 117 hrs, Bronze Award

Arto Lehtonen, 107 hrs, Bronze Award

The above award winning members were key to our successful year with a combined total of 1657 hrs or 70% of the total auxiliary hours. Great accomplishment!

STREET / UTILITY DIVISIONS PROJECTS

The Highland Village Road (Sellmeyer Rd. to Lakeland Dr.) project contractor is constructing the MSE wall located on the south side of the proposed road.  This portion of the project is typically the most time consuming to construct.  The project is still on target for April 2011 completion. 

The MSC site improvements project subcontractors are working on minor punch list items.  The City & FNI are working on closing out the project.  Pay estimate #10 was submitted to Finance for payment.  Staff is reviewing a pay estimate submitted by FNI. 

The Oak St. GSR site improvements project contractor is working on a small punch list.  

The 24" / 27" manhole restoration project phase 1.  This project consists of rehabilitating 50 manholes on the City's 24-inch SS trunk main along the lake to restore integrity of the manholes and stop the I&I.   The contractor is washing down manholes.  City crews have completed installing the new manhole rings & covers.  The contractor has plugged all I&I and started applying the cementitious lining this week.

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

Scott Kriston, Charles Mitchell & Robert Maynard held interviews this week for the Streets Crew Leader position, reviewed all applicants and submitted a job offer to Alan Orr; he accepted & will start Monday Jan. 31st.

The Highland Village Road water line replacement project sections 1 & 2 contractor has completed the punch list.  This project consisted of replacing approximately 5000 feet of water line along Highland Village Rd. from Brazos Blvd. to Lake Vista.  The Final pay estimate was submitted to Finance for payment.

Chinn Chapel Road phase 1 reconstruction contractor is on schedule.  This project is a Town of Copper Canyon project funded through Denton County bonds.  It consists of drainage improvements and road reconstruction on Chinn Chapel from approximately 100 feet north of FM 407 to Orchid Hill Lane.  The contract has 500 calendar days to final completion.  There will be traffic detours throughout the duration of the project; you should expect traffic delays in the area through April 2011.

Utility Crews:

• Raised 2 manholes along the 24" trunk sewer line that runs along side the lake.
• Excavated & repaired a water main leak on Double Tree Dr.
• Excavated & repaired a water main leak on Lake Cove Dr.
• Dressed areas of past excavations with dirt & sod.
• Pushed dirt into the DT Ranch pond.  The pond is estimated to be 2/3 filled in with dirt.  Four contractors are hauling clean spoil dirt to the pond at no cost to the City.
• Performed upgrades, changes and repairs to the new 948 MSC.
• 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:

• Began installation of gabion baskets to prevent further erosion in the 300 block of Lake Vista. 

Streets Crews:

• Installed new upgraded street signs on Hillside Dr. and Lakeside Dr.
• Removed graffiti from beneath the Poindexter bridge apron.
• Made concrete street repairs using flex Crete, a less evasive method used without a machine to remove the material and replace concrete in the area. Use of flex Crete allows for the street to be open about an hour after repairs are completed.

PARKS DEPARTMENT

On Monday, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board held a public forum to discuss the design of Village Park Phase II.  The most important part of the Phase II construction is the design of the playground that most of the residents in the area are eagerly awaiting.

Kids Kastle repairs should be complete this week and the facility will be open February 1st.

Staff at Unity Park are prepping baseball  fields for upcoming practices scheduled for next month. 

Tony Palesano and Wes Nienhuser are installing a concrete pad for a Calsense irrigation antenna at Unity Park

Rock work is being completed on the new restroom building at Unity Park.

Pilot Knoll Park staff is building fencing to place around new horse shoe pits in the day use area. 

A contractor is installing new rock work and flag stone on the gate house at Pilot Knoll Park. 

Pilot Knoll Park staff  is installing new metal roofing on shelters at several picnic sites in the day use area.

Staff finished removing all Christmas lights from municipal buildings this week and also replaced holiday banners thru out the city with the standard Highland Village banners.

Fince Espinoza and Andra Boxberger met with Kayak Instruction, Inc. Kayak classes will take place at Pilot Knoll Park in May and June.

Andra Boxberger met with Specialty Pet Training to offer dog obedience training.  Classes will include:  Puppy Kindergarten, Good Manners and Basic Obedience. The classes are scheduled to begin in April.

Parks staff, along with the Parks Foundation, Medical Center of Lewisville, Lake Cities Cross Country, and Terra Firma Racing, held a Resolution Run debriefing meeting on Wednesday.  The date for the race next year is January 21, 2012 so mark your calendars now!

Parks staff and Laurie Mullens met with a member of the Time Warner media sales team about being a potential sponsor for this years Red, White and Blue Festival.

Highland Village Senior All-Stars

1/24/11: Game Day and Pickleball: 34 attendees

1/25/11: Game Day and Pickleball: 12 attendees

1/26/11: Open Games and Texas Hold'em:  15 attendees

1/27/11: Game Day, Bridge and Pickleball: 30 attendees

HUMAN RESOURCES / STAFF TRAINING

Human Resources:

• The first training class of the Supervisory Series, "Now That I'm A Supervisor," started in Keller this week.  We have two supervisors attending this series, Robert Maynard, Streets Supervisor, and Wes Nienhuser, Park Supervisor.  This series hosts 11 courses focusing on basic concepts that supervisors need to know in order to be effective and successful.

Fire:

• On Wednesday, Chief Lonnie Tatum and Staff attended the Lake Cities ceremony to place their new fire engine into service.
• Assistant Chief Collier attended the TCPF Fire Commission's meeting held in Austin on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.
• Firefighters attended Truck Company Operations and Tactics training held at Flower Mound Central Fire Station this week.