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March 2011 Page 2 Who to call with water concerns CITY CONNECTION www.huntsvilletx.gov Volume 7, Issue 6 Everything you need to know about: Electronic Recycling Day March 2011 Learning about Water City Calendar Recycling Expansion to Area #2 Page 3 Page 4 P & Z Commission hard at work The Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) continues to move forward on their long journey to revise the Huntsville Development Code. “It is a very slow process but at least we are still moving forward,” said Aron Kulhavy, Public Works Director/City Planner. During the months of March and April, P&Z will be focusing specifically on updating and revising administrative items in Chapter 1, developing an ordinance to ban pre-1976 mobile homes form being placed in the City Limits and require skirting on all existing mobile and manufactured homes (Chapter 4), developing an ordinance for Planned Development Districts (Chapter 5), and continue to update and add definitions (Chapter 15). In addition, based upon a directive from City Council, the P&Z will spend time reviewing the current sign codes (Chapter 11). Chapter 1 lays the foundation for the authority, direction, and procedures that must be followed as set out in the Texas Local Government Code in order to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of existing and future residents of Huntsville. State Law gives municipalities the authority to prohibit the placement of mobile homes that were constructed on or before June 1976. The proposed revisions to the Development Code would “grandfather” all existing mobile homes, but would not allow for the placement of such structures in the future. In addition, proposed changes to the Code would require skirting for all existing mobile and manufactured homes. A Planned Development (PD) is a district established to provide flexibility in the planning and construction of a development project by allowing a combination of uses developed in accordance with an approved plan by City Council that protects adjacent property. Before any changes are made to the Development Code, each item will go through the public hearing process first with P&Z and then through City Council. “We anticipate beginning the public hearing process for these items later this year. Right now staff is working on research and drafting documents for P&Z to review and discuss” said Kulhavy. P&Z meetings are held at City Hall on the first Thursday of the month at noon and the third Thursday of the month at 5:30 PM. Each meeting is taped and can be viewed on the internet or Cable Channel 7. For more information about the Development Code, contact the Planning Division at 936-294- 5782. The Planning and Zoning Commission will meet March 3rd and 17th at City Hall. Come take part in the action! Changes to Development Code underway Submitted by Rose Kader, City of Huntsville Planner Page 2 CITY CONNECTION Over the next few months, the City will provide several pieces related to Huntsville’s water system and infra- structure. The first is included to provide a general overview of the water system. Residents of Huntsville receive their drinking water from two sources: surface water from the Trinity River and groundwater, collected through seven wells. The majority of the water used in Huntsville - approxi- mately 75 percent - comes from the Trinity River and is treated at the Trinity River Authority (TRA) plant, lo- cated about 10 miles outside of Huntsville. Surface water requires more extensive treatment than ground- water. That treatment includes filtration and disinfec- tion as well as other essential processes. After it has been treated, the water is sent to Huntsville through a 30'' diameter water line. The TRA plant is capable of producing at peak production 8 million gallons a day. Out of the 8 million gallons produced, up to 2 million gallons is sent daily to the TDCJ Ellis and Estelle Prison Units. During the winter months, cold tempera- tures affect the rate of filtration so that the actual amount of water available to the City and the TDCJ units is 6 million gallons as opposed to the optimum 8 million. The TRA plant, which is over 30 years old, has been expanded and improved in phases during the last 15 years. While its intake and clarification capacity has been increased, the plant is still only able to filter 6 - 8 million gallons of water daily. The remainder of the City’s drinking water is ground- water. The City's seven wells, which are located within the southern portion of the City, pull the groundwater from the Catahoula Aquifer. An aquifer is a layer of permeable rock, sand, or gravel through which groundwater flows below the earth’s surface. The portion of the aquifer from which the City’s wells draw groundwater can safely and consistently produce 3.0 million gallons a day. The well water is sent to two treatment plants – the Palm Street Water Plant and the Spring Lake Plant – operated by the City. As groundwater doesn't require the same level of treat- ment that surface water does, it is sent to these plants to be disinfected by chlorination and treated with a small amount of fluoride before distribution. The majority of the City’s wells are over 50 years old. Due to age and other complications, the City has faced serious challenges in maintaining well water production within the last three years. Of the seven wells available to the City, one required repairs, one is currently being repaired, and another was declared beyond repair. The City of Huntsville has approximately 300 miles of water distribution lines. Portions of the distribution system are over 80 years old, and repairs to the infra- structure are required on a continual basis. City water system in detail Got wastewater or water issues? Unsure who to call? According to Mark Reed, City Wastewater Superintendent, when a customer is ex- periencing a sewer being slow or backing up, they should contact the City first at (936) 294-5700. “We will respond night or day and determine if the City’s line is the cause,” Reed said. “If that’s not the case and the City’s line is clear then staff will inform the cus- tomer to contact a plumber. If the blockage is in our main line we will clear the line and inform the customer we have done so. If the blockage is in the City’s main line, this could save the customer the cost of getting a plumber out.” City Assistant Water Superintendent Kyle Matthews says the same principles apply to certain water concerns. “Citizens should call the city first for complaints such as meter leaks, low water pressures or brown water. The city will then dispatch an employee to investigate the issue at no cost to the customer. If it is a city problem it will be taken care of. If the problem is the customer’s, they will be notified that they need to call a plumber.” Page 3 March 2011 SPONSORED BY: INTERESTED IN E-BOOKS AT THE LIBRARY? LET US KNOW! The Huntsville Public Library is currently seeking citizen input about downloadable e-books and e-audiobooks via a survey. The survey will help the library gauge interest in a new service that would allow library customers to download e-books, e-audiobooks, and other materials directly to their computers, e-readers, i-Pods, or other mobile devices for FREE – without ever leaving home. The library is excited about the prospect of increasing the variety of materials available, but citizen input is needed first. Take the library’s e-book survey by visiting www.myhuntsvillelibrary.com or picking up a paper copy at the front desk. Those who give their name and phone number on the survey will be entered for a chance to win a free Forever Brick, which will be placed on the plaza entrance of the newly renovated and expanded Huntsville Public Library. For more information, contact Kimberly Francisco, Library Services Coordinator, at 936-291-5481. January 2011 Page 4 CITY CONNECTION CITY Calendar Fire: Police: Police/Fire Statistics Calls for service: 3911 Accidents investigated: 62 Animal Control complaints investigated:85 March 2011 1 City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m.at City Hall, 1212 Avenue M 2 Yard Waste Trimming Collection - no call in required 3 Recycling Pick-up in Elkins Lake 3 Planning & Zoning Commission - City Hall, 1212 Avenue M at 12 p.m. 9 Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste Collection — call in required 10 Recycling Pick-up in Elkins Lake 15 City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m. 16 Yard Waste Trimming Collection - no call in required 17 Recycling Pick-up in Elkins Lake 17 Planning & Zoning Commission - City Hall at 5:30 p.m. 23 Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste Collection— call in required 24 Recycling Pick-up in Elkins Lake 30 Yard Waste Trimming Collection - no call in required 31 Recycling Pick-up in Elkins Lake April 2011 5 City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m. 6 Yard Waste Trimming Collection - no call in required 7 Planning & Zoning Commission - City Hall at 12 p.m. 7 Recycling Pick-up in Elkins Lake 13 Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste Collection — call in required 14 Recycling Pick-up in Elkins Lake 19 City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m. 20 Yard Waste Trimming Collection - no call in required 21 Planning & Zoning Commission - City Hall at 5:30 p.m. 21 Recycling Pick-up in Elkins Lake 27 Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste Collection— call in required 28 Recycling Pick-up in Elkins Lake Submit requests for Heavy Trash pick-up before noon on Monday, the week of the pick-up at 294-5796. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 S S T T M W F April 2011 (closed Friday, April 22nd) Calls for service:102 Main alarm calls:18 Recycling - Area #2 Area 2 includes: West of Hwy 19, South of Hwy 30 and Hwy 19 and FM 2821, North of 11th Street, East of Avenue M Garbage: Tuesdays, Recycling: Fridays March 2011 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 S S T T M W F Call the City of Huntsville Solid Waste Services Department at (936) 294-5743 with questions.