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10-11 Connection CITY CONNECTION www.huntsvilletx.govwww.huntsvilletx.govwww.huntsvilletx.govwww.huntsvilletx.gov Volume 8, Issue 1 October 2011October 2011October 2011October 2011 Calendar October 2011October 2011October 2011October 2011 4 City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m. 1212 Avenue M 5 Yard Waste Trimming Collection 6 Planning & Zoning Commission - City Hall at 12 p.m. 12 Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste 18 City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m 19 Yard Waste Trimming Collection 20 Planning & Zoning Commission - City Hall at 5:30 p.m. 24 Early voting for 11-8 Election begins - Ends November 4 26 Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste November 2011November 2011November 2011November 2011 1 City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m. 1212 Avenue M (Council Coffee at 4:30 p.m.) 2 Yard Waste Trimming Collection 3 Planning & Zoning Commission - City Hall at 12 p.m. 8 Regular General and Special Election - see pages 1-3 9 Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste 16 Yard Waste Trimming Collection 17 City Council Special Session Election Canvass - 6 p.m. 20 Planning & Zoning Commission - City Hall at 5:30 p.m. 23 Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste 24-25 City Closed for Thanksgiving 31 Yard Waste Trimming Collection Submit requests for Heavy Trash pick-up before noon on Monday, the week of the pick-up at 294-5796. Regular General Election and Special Election - November 8, 2011 On August 18, City Council passed Ordinance 2011-45, ordering a regu- lar General Election and a Special Election for two propositions for No- vember 8. The ballot will include races for Mayor at-large and four Council seats, each representing one of the City’s wards. The first proposition relates to the exchange of park property for private property, and the second gives voters the option of whether or not to authorize the City Council to adopt a resolution approving the issuance of bonds by the Trinity River Authority for water treatment plant im- provements. The form of the ballot for the election shall be as follows: SAMPLE BALLOT - REGULAR ELECTION Mayor - Vote for One [] George Russell [] Mac Woodward [] Karl Davidson Councilmember, Ward Number One - Vote for One [] Joe Emmett [] Tom Cole Councilmember, Ward Number Two - Vote for One [] Katie Newman [] Tish Humphrey Councilmember, Ward Number Three - Vote for One [] Ronald Allen [] John Cromer Councilmember, Ward Number Four - Vote for One []Clyde Loll []Sandra Hanscom SPECIAL ELECTION PROPOSITIONS PROPOSITION NO. 1 Shall the City Council of the City of Huntsville be authorized to adopt a resolution approving the issuance of bonds by the Trinity River Authority for water treatment plant improvements? FOR _______ AGAINST _______ PROPOSITION NO. 2 The exchange of 0.122 acre of Eastham-Thomason Park Property from the City of Huntsville, Texas, to Maria Del Carmen Martinez for 0.037 acre to resolve encroachment and amend boundaries of Park. FOR _______ AGAINST _______ See pages 2-3 for additional election information including background information related to Proposition No. 1, early voting dates, voter registration information, polling places and more. On August 18, City Council passed Ordinance 2011-45, ordering a regular General Election and a Special Election for two propositions for November 8. The ballot will include races for Mayor at-large and four Council seats, each representing one of the City’s wards. The first proposition relates to the exchange of park property for private property. The second proposition gives voters the option of whether or not to authorize the City Council to adopt a resolution approving the issuance of bonds by the Trinity River Authority for water treatment plant improvements. Critical background information about the possible plant expansion has been published throughout the year and is available on the City’s Web Site, www.huntsvilletx.gov. The article that follows is a summation of those publications. “We’re asking the voters to decide whether or not the City can authorize the Trinity River Authority to sell bonds to the tune of 18 mil- lion dollars to cover the expansion of the wa- ter plant and accrued interest,” said Carol Reed, COH Public Utilities Director. “TRA is actually responsible for issuing the bonds since they own the plant, but the plant itself provides water only to the City of Huntsville and its customers, including Tenaska.” According to COH Director of Finance Winston Duke, the plant expansion is a joint venture between the City and TRA. “The Council wanted active participation from the citizens for an investment of this magni- tude in our water system,” Mayor J. Turner said. “The funds for this investment are going to come from an increase in water rates paid by our citizens.” Water ProductionWater ProductionWater ProductionWater Production The majority of the water used in Huntsville comes from the Trinity River and is treated at the Trinity River Authority (TRA) plant. The remainder of the City’s drinking water is groundwater pulled from the Catahoula Aqui- fer through the City’s seven wells. The wells can safely and consistently produce 3.3 mil- lion gallons a day. In April, the Connection explored firm yield and total capacity. Firm yield, as defined by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, is the amount of water that any water plant can produce in one day when its largest com- ponent is out of service. For the Trinity River Authority plant, the firm yield is 6 million gallons daily, or 6 MGD. The City may also draw a total of 3.3 MGD of groundwater using its seven-well system, mak- ing the total firm yield for the City 9.3 MGD. Total capacity refers to the amount of water that can be produced if all systems are fully functioning. The total capacity of the TRA plant is 8 MGD, an increase of 2 MGD from firm yield. Therefore, the total sustainable capacity in Huntsville is 11.3 MGD, with 8 MGD from the TRA plant and 3.3 MGD from wells. The same article also discussed average and peak usage and recent instances in which the City surpassed its total capacity and relied on its six water storage tanks to meet water needs. Average water usage was approximately 7.9 MGD in 2010, while the peak water usage was 11.6 MGD, a number 300,000 gallons higher than the City's total capacity of water production. In September 2011, the City implemented Stage 2 mandatory water restrictions due to high water usage. Reed said, to her knowledge, this was the first use of Stage 2 since the TRA plant’s construction in 1980. Capacity StudyCapacity StudyCapacity StudyCapacity Study In May, the Connection explored a capacity study conducted for the City by Crespo Con- sulting Services, Inc., a civil and environmen- tal engineering firm. The study used several methods to analyze and predict how much water the City has available at any given time, and how much it actually needs. Three methods were selected to determine the required water supply capacity for the esti- mated number of water connections. The analyses involved evaluation of overall sys- tem pumping and meter usage, in conjunc- tion with population. Methods 1 and 2 used the number of con- nections and population in the City to deter- mine the treatment capacity needed. Meth- od 3 was similar to Method 1, but the TCEQ equivalent connection values for SHSU and TDCJ were added. According to the study results, Method 3 was determined to be the most conservative as it accounted for both regular connections and the population of the larger users. According to the Method 3 study, the water supply re- quired for the City of Huntsville is 11.9 MGD. The final analysis of the study compared the firm and safe yields of the treatment plant and groundwater systems to equivalent con- nections and maximum daily average de- mand flows. The City’s firm yield, a total between 9 MGD and 9.3 MGD, was found to be approximate- ly 3 MGD below the minimum required water supply of 11.9 MGD as determined by Meth- od 3. Rate StudyRate StudyRate StudyRate Study Based on the results of the study, the City recognized the eventual need for water rate increases to support future changes and improvements at the Trinity River Authority water plant as well as increasing raw water costs in 2020. To that end, a rate study was conducted to provide various financial sce- narios which would support forecasted cost increases. The City contracted with Robert McLain of McLain Decision Support System, who pre- sented the Council with several scenarios to be applied through the year 2030. Each explored raising the funds necessary by in- creasing water rates paid by residential and commercial water users in varying amounts. November election to include water treatment plant expansion resolution Voters will have option of whether or not to authorize resolution approving TRA bonds for plant During a special session on February 22, the City Council reviewed each of the sce- narios and generally agreed that a gradu- al increase which would pay for TRA plant improvements over an eight-year period would be preferable. “The financial plans provided by McLain factored in raw water cost and infrastruc- ture needs through 2030," Duke said. "The financial plan built in a method for upgrades at the Trinity River Authority plant which would require debt over an eight-year term. The rate increases will provide funding for $2.5 million a year for plant upgrades for eight years, and that will cover the cost of the upgrades plus interest. "The rate increase also ensures approxi- mately $1.5 million will be accumulated annually for capital improvements, such as water line maintenance, and an addi- tional discretionary fund of approximately $640,000 annually for maintenance and infrastructure repair." After 2020 when TRA plant upgrades could theoretically be completed, the re- mainder of the rate increase period would continue to meet increasing water costs. Council also considered the specific changes the plans would make to base water bills and commercial customers. "The option chosen was to keep the mini- mum water bill or 'base rate' the same, so residents who use 3,000 gallons of water or less each month would not be affected by rate increases," Reed said. "From there, as monthly water usage increased, the customer - whether residential or com- mercial - would pay a certain amount for every 1,000 gallons over that base rate. Rate EffectsRate EffectsRate EffectsRate Effects The water rate increase plan, which would be implemented through the year 2030, would affect citizens differently based on their water usage levels. The City’s mini- mum water rate of $13 per month – for those citizens who use 3,000 gallons of water or less each month – would not change. However, the average citizen – who uses approximately 7,000 gallons of water per month – would see an increase of around $2 or $3 per month each year for three years, or an additional cost of about $36 a year. After the first few years, the annual rate increases would decrease considerably to a level of approximately 60 cents or less each year. Commercial and high-volume residential users would also increase incrementally, the greatest increases also being within the first three years of the rate plan. After the first few years, the annual rate in- crease for a 30,000 gallon/month user would level out to between $3 and $5. Page 3 October October October October 2011 When is Election Day? (Cuando es el Dia de Eleccion?) Walker County will hold a Joint Election including the City of Huntsville on Tuesday, November 8, 2011. (La Ciudad de Huntsville y el districto independiente escolar de Huntsville sostendran una eleccion unida el Martes 2 de Noviembre del 2010.) Am I registered to vote? (Estoy registrado para votar?) In order to vote in this election, you must be a registered voter of the particular political subdivision. The last day to register to vote for the November 8 election is OCTOBER 11, 2011. If you are not sure if your voter registration is current you may call (936)436-4959 or visit: https://team1.sos.state.tx.us/voterws/viw/faces/Introduction.jsp. (Para poder votar en esta eleccion tiene que ser un votante registrado de la division politica particular. Si no esta seguro si su registracion para votar esta vigente puede llamar (936)436-4959 o visite nuestra pagina de web arriba.) Where do I go for early voting? (A donde voy para votar temprano?) There will be one Early Voting Polling Place for all entities: Walker County Annex, 1301 Sam Houston Avenue, Suite 101, Huntsville, Texas. (Habra solamente un lugar para votacion temprana para todas entetidades que sera localizada en el Walker County Annex.) Early Voting By Personal Appearance October 24, 26-28 and 31 and November 2-4 8am—5pm October 25 and November 1 7am-7pm Remember to bring proper identification to the polling place. The most common forms of identification used are a voter registration certificate or driver’s license. Votacion Temprana por Aspecto Personal Octubre 24, 26-28 y 31 y Noviembre 2-4 8am—5pm Octubre 25 y Noviembre 1 7am—7pm Recuerde de traer identificacion suficiente a el lugar de votacion. Las formas mas comunes de identificacion son la targeta certificada para votar o su licencia de conducir. Where Do I Vote on Election Day? (Donde votare el dia de la eleccion?) On Election Day, voters will report to their precinct polling places as set out below: (En el Dia De Eleccion, votantes se reportaran a su lugar de votacion del recinto escrito abajo:) Precinct (Recinto) Polling Place (Sitios de Votacion) 101, Ward 3 - (101, Sala 3) Walker County Annex, 1301 Sam Houston Avenue, Suite 101 102, Ward 1 - (102, Sala 1) Walker County Annex, 1301 Sam Houston Avenue, Suite 101 201, Ward 2 - (201, Sala 2) First Presbyterian Church, 1801 19th Street 205, Ward 4 - (205, Sala 4) Elkins Lake Recreation Corp., 634 Cherry Hills 206, Ward 2 - (206, Sala 2) First Presbyterian Church, 1801 19th Street 301, Ward 3 - (301, Sala 3) Huntsville ISD Transportation Building, 95 Martin Luther King 401, Ward 4 - (401, Sala 4) University Heights Baptist Church, 2400 Sycamore Avenue The polling places shall be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. November 8, 2011 General Election informationNovember 8, 2011 General Election informationNovember 8, 2011 General Election informationNovember 8, 2011 General Election information CITY CONNECTION Page 4 CITY CONNECTION With Halloween night just around the corner, the Huntsville Police Department has a few safety tips for families to remember as they set off for Trick-or-Treating. According to HPD Lieutenant Jim Barnes, the following common sense safety tips can ensure that kids are safe both during Halloween festivities and once they’ve returned home. ~ Parents or other adults should always escort groups of small children going Trick-or-Treating. ~ Children should wear costumes that are easily recognizable or reflective, and they should also stay away from masks that obstruct their view. ~Trick-or-Treaters should avoid staying out past dark, even though extra HPD patrol cars will be watching neighborhoods. ~Trick-or-Treaters should always get candy from friends, family members or neighbors, and NEVER eat anything that hasn’t been inspected by an adult ~Do not approach houses that do not have their lights on. ~Everyone should stay aware of traffic, exercise caution when driving or walking on Halloween night. ~If possible, carry a flashlight or attach a light device to your child’s costume or candy container. ~Children should not be on trailers or hayrides on public roads, or in the back of pick-up trucks. For more information, contact the Huntsville Police Department at (936) 291-5480. The eighth annual Scare on the Square event – sponsored by Huntsville Main Street – will be held along University Avenue between 11th and 13th Street on Saturday, October 29 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. According to Kim McAuliffe, Main Street Coor- dinator, the event will offer a fun and safe op- portunity for children of all ages to enjoy Hal- loween activities and games. “We’re so excited about Scare on the Square,” McAuliffe said. “We have around 40 booths featuring games, crafts, food and drinks and more. We’ll have activities like bone-yard bowl- ing, face painting, bean bag tosses, as well as two moonwalks. “There will also be a costume contest, and the winners will receive cash prizes, so our judges will be looking for a lot of creativity in our con- testants’ outfits. The contest will be held at 6:30 p.m.” Scare on the Square will also include special dance performances by Huntsville youth, McAuliffe said. “This is going to be a great event,” McAuliffe said. “Everyone will be passing out candy, Main Street will be selling glow in the dark necklaces and bracelets to wear after dark, and T-shirts will be given out to those display- ing a lot of spirit at the event. “We hope to see everyone on the square and in costume October 29!” For more information, contact McAuliffe at (936) 291-5920 or Deanna Tyler at (936) 295-2150. Huntsville Main Street Huntsville Main Street Huntsville Main Street Huntsville Main Street hosting 8th Annual hosting 8th Annual hosting 8th Annual hosting 8th Annual Scare on the Square Scare on the Square Scare on the Square Scare on the Square October 29October 29October 29October 29 Halloween Halloween Halloween Halloween Safety TipsSafety TipsSafety TipsSafety Tips Stats for August 2011Stats for August 2011Stats for August 2011Stats for August 2011 Fire:Fire:Fire:Fire: Police:Police:Police:Police: Police/Fire: Police/Fire: Police/Fire: Police/Fire: Calls for service: 4697 Accidents investigated: 72 Animal Control complaints investigated:86 Calls for service:138 Main alarm calls:23