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2013/10/18 City news, features and updates October 18, 2013 Th i s W e e k i n H u n t s v i l l e Frank D. “Poncho” Roberts Aquatic Center Official renaming honors treasured community member The City of Huntsville encourages all residents to stop by the newly renamed Frank D. “Poncho” Roberts Aquatic Center. The official ceremony to rename the facility, held on October 15 and attended by dozens of local dignitar- ies and citizens, included an address by Mayor Mac Woodward. According to City Secretary Lee Woodward, the re- naming of the aquatic center was approved by City Council during their regular July 16 meeting. Per Resolution 2013-12, “the City Council deter- mined that the efforts of Poncho Roberts on behalf of the Aquatic Center in particular and for the communi- ty as a whole should be recognized and honored and that the renaming of the City of Huntsville Aquatic Center accomplishes that purpose.” Photo by Lindsey Owings The Tourism Department invites residents and visitors to stop by the Sam Houston Statue Visitor Center and Gift Shop to celebrate the 19th Anniversary of the land- mark monument, “A Tribute to Courage.” The world’s tallest statue of an American hero was dedicated to the City of Huntsville on October 22, 1994 by the artist, David Adickes, in honor of Sam Houston becoming the first President of the Republic of Texas. Starting at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, October 22, the Visitor Center will be offering birthday cake and punch to commemorate the anniversary, with a chance to win a prize on the Plinko game. The gift shop will be offering 10 percent off on pur- Sam Houston Statue to celebrate 19th anniversary chases excluding consignment and clearance items. For a donation of $15, the Visitor Center will have on hand a limited amount of miniature statues auto- graphed by the artist David Adickes. “This has been an exciting year for the statue. We had our Millionth Visitor and have seen over 68,000 visitors sign our guest book this past year,” said Kimm Thomas, Director of Tourism and Cultural Services for the City of Huntsville. “We look forward to celebrating the anniversary of the statue with as many of our resi- dents and guests as possible.” The Visitor Center is located at 7600 Highway 75 South. For more information, call 800-289-0389. Sam Houston Statue Photo Contest winners selected! Submissions by Susan Ingersoll for Favorite Photo (left) and Submissions by Susan Ingersoll for Favorite Photo (left) and Submissions by Susan Ingersoll for Favorite Photo (left) and Submissions by Susan Ingersoll for Favorite Photo (left) and DustinDustinDustinDustin Englehart for Most Creative Photo (below) were cho-Englehart for Most Creative Photo (below) were cho-Englehart for Most Creative Photo (below) were cho-Englehart for Most Creative Photo (below) were cho- sen after a Facebook competition held over several months.sen after a Facebook competition held over several months.sen after a Facebook competition held over several months.sen after a Facebook competition held over several months. Law enforcement is about more than fighting crime. Several years ago, Huntsville Police Chief Kevin Lunsford recognized this simple truth, and started looking for a way to keep sworn offic- ers fighting crime while still providing attention and support to vic- tims of crime. Over time, that idea has evolved into a three-tiered effort benefitting not only victims of violent crimes and their families, but also the officers of the Huntsville Police Department, their spouses and fami- lies, and – arguably – the community as a whole. “A few years ago, we had very few civilian employees here, and our sworn officers were taking care of a lot of duties which – though very important – kept their concentration off of solving crime,” Luns- ford said. “Whether it was death notifications, connecting a family with local resources or providing other support, we wanted to show our victims that we cared by providing those services. But, we need- ed to free up the officers to spend more time on actually investigat- ing the crimes.” This need prompted Lunsford to establish a chaplain program within the department, and luckily for him, he was already well-acquainted with the perfect candidate to lead the effort. Jerry Phillips, who served for a number of years as an agent for the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and maintained an office with HPD during that time, had since retired and moved on to com- plete chaplain training at Sam Houston State University. “I felt like Jerry was a perfect choice to lead the chaplain program, both because he had received training and because he understood officers, coming from law enforcement background himself,” Luns- ford said. “He agreed to work for us as needed, and the primary function I wanted him to serve was to go with our officers when death notifications were necessary.” According to Phillips, his presence during these difficult times is about providing one-on-one support while giving the officers on sce- ne time to pursue critical information. “I think there are several reasons why having a chaplain on scene is important,” Phillips said. “I have specialized training where unat- tended deaths are concerned. If the need arises, and I get called to deliver the actual message to loved ones, people appreciate that I’m there. “They feel like the City is providing them with a point person that will be there specifically for them while the officers are taking care of the scene.” Victims’ ServicesVictims’ ServicesVictims’ ServicesVictims’ Services The placement of a department chaplain was only the first step taken in the inter- est of victims. Utilizing grant funding from the Houston-Galveston Area Coun- cil, the department established a Victim Services Coordinator position in Novem- ber 2011. The Victim Services Program is a free service offering information, practical assistance and referrals to victims of crime. Lisa Anderson-DuPaul, who has held the position since that time, works to provide victims with information on the status of their case, offer assistance with crisis intervention and criminal justice system infor- mation, and get victims in touch with community agencies when needed or desired. She also provides assistance with safety plans for the victim, filing for restitution and advocacy needs both during hospital or courtroom visits. Anderson-DuPaul explains that the goal of the program is to provide 24/7 support for victims of crime and their families, giving those individuals a person to trust and rely on during difficult and unfamiliar circumstances. “I work as a liaison, currently with the Criminal Investigation Division, to aid victims of crime who are unaware of the ave- nues of assistance open to them,” she said. “Basically, I do whatever I can to make their lives easier. Whether that’s being on scene when a crime occurs, working with victims to educate them on the resources available to them, or even sitting in the emergency room with the victim, I’m there to build a relation- ship and let them know that they’re not alone. “Our goal is to provide victims and their families with the tools they need to transition to the next phase of their lives, beyond the crime that was committed.” In her work, Anderson-DuPaul often interacts with the Walker County Criminal District Attorney’s office, Child Protective Ser- vices, local women’s’ shelters including the Sexual Assault and Abuse Free Environment or SAAFE House, and the Victim Infor- mation and Notification Every day or VINE System. She has also participated in extensive professional training and is certified through the National Organization for Victims’ Assistance to provide victim support nationwide. “I have been trained in areas such as homicide, suicide, death notification, sexual assault, crisis intervention strategies, do- mestic violence, crimes on children and other areas,” Ander- son-DuPaul said. “With my NOVA certification, I’m trained to go and help victims anywhere in the U.S. if I’m needed.” One of the most critical elements of Anderson-DuPaul’s job is allowing the victims to speak on their own terms and build a trusting relationship with someone who can help. “When I’m meeting with a victim of a crime, the first thing I try to do is listen to them,” she said. “That’s the most important part, because they just want to be heard. I’m not walking in as a police officer or a family member; I’m walking in as a person who cares and wants to hear what they have to say.” In Anderson-DuPaul’s experience, the chance to speak to a sympathetic third party gives victims a chance to sort out im- portant facts that could lead to their cases being solved. “Especially when a violent crime occurs, there are things the victims don’t think to tell our officers, but those things could be integral to solving the case,” she said. “While everything a victim says to me is confidential, if they give me critical infor- mation, I’ll ask if I can share that with the officers. “Most of the time, they give me that permission, and that does help with the investigation.” While Anderson-DuPaul has had a multitude of touching expe- riences in her time as the Victim Services Coordinator, one instance stands out in her mind. “There was a woman and her kids who had been in a domestic violence situation for nine years, and we finally got them out of there,” she said. “When we did, the nine-year-old little girl came up and hugged me, and she said, ‘I want to thank you for getting me away from him because I don’t get hit anymore.’ Huntsville Police Department outreach programs Victims Services, Chaplain programs address human element of fighting crime Lisa AndersonLisa AndersonLisa AndersonLisa Anderson----DuPaulDuPaulDuPaulDuPaul Huntsville PD invites citizens to take part in National Night Out “I was deeply touched when she said that, but then the mother came up and said, ‘I always went back because I didn’t think any- one cared, but now I know people do care.’ That kind of impact on a family makes it all worth it.” Taking time for the officersTaking time for the officersTaking time for the officersTaking time for the officers While Anderson-DuPaul’s position evolved, Phillips’ service as chaplain brought him closer to the officers and staff of the department, and those inter- actions led to a whole new kind of out- reach – a Chaplain’s Series for the HPD employees. For six weeks at a time, groups of offic- ers from the department – along with their spouses – meet to discuss the management critical elements of public service and law enforcement from a family standpoint. “In our business, we’re all about taking care of other people and service to the community,” said Ken Foulch, HPD Ser- geant over the Criminal Investigation Division. “The Chaplain’s Series provides a discussion group format for our officers. It al- lows us to slow down, take a minute and try to take care of our- selves. “The series covers four components of everyday life – the unique- ness of being a police officer, relationship issues, financial issues and raising children, and it pairs practical lessons with biblical application.” According to Phillips, the classes provide critical support for offic- ers and their spouses, providing empathetic points of view on the challenges faced by families with a member in the law enforce- ment field. “These sessions allow the officers to discuss the stress of the job and learn from each other,” Phillips said. “We knew there was a need from the officers’ perspective, and it wasn’t long before we realized how much their spouses could benefit from getting in- volved. “My wife and I, along with the other couple that leads with us, have both been married for over 30 years. We’ve both been couples that entire time, and we’ve faced a lot of the same challenges that these officers are facing or are going to face. “I think it helps to see other people facing the same things, and to know you’re not the only one feeling a certain way.” Currently, the Chaplain’s Series is in its first round of sessions, with the financial series starting up in April. Phillips also hopes to expand the program to include more activities for the officers’ spouses. “I think this series has been more successful than we actually dreamed,” Lunsford said. “A lot of our officers are taking ad- vantage of the program, and we certainly appreciate Jerry and those managing the program for the unique assistance they pro- vide our officers.” Bringing it all togetherBringing it all togetherBringing it all togetherBringing it all together Overall, Lunsford feels very fortunate to have had three very differ- ent and important programs develop over the last two years. With the Victim Services Coordinator and chaplain positions serv- ing the needs of the victims and victims’ families, and the Chap- lain’s Series strengthening the officers of the department, many of the emotional needs that accompany law enforcement are being addressed like never before. “We set out just trying to free up some time for officers, but this has evolved well beyond that,” Lunsford said. “Before we started these programs, I just didn’t feel like our victims were getting the love, care and attention that they deserved. We wanted to give them those things while working to solve and prevent crime, and now, I feel like we do.” Chaplain Jerry PhillipsChaplain Jerry PhillipsChaplain Jerry PhillipsChaplain Jerry Phillips Successful National Night Out event - Hundreds participate The 2013 National Night Out event drew a record level of at- tendance, with high volumes of residents both at the Target parking lot and participating in neighborhood watch parades. According to Huntsville Police Department Officers Kenneth Posey and Mark Jenkins, hundreds of families and individuals participated in the event, asked questions about starting their own neighborhood safety networks and spent time getting to know local law enforcement officials. “This year’s National Night Out event had the highest turnout we’ve seen in years,” Jenkins said. “Altogether, we had about 400 people participate, with 70 residents at the Smith Hill pa- rade, 65 at the Essex gathering, around 50 at Montgomery Meadows and dozens more on other parade routes. “We also had about 75 people at the Brook Place apartment complex – this is the first year we’ve included apartment resi- dents in NNO, and we definitely saw greater interest and higher participation.” According to Posey, several groups throughout Huntsville indi- cated an interest in starting or reviving their neighborhood watch groups. Both Posey and Jenkins are available to provide information on the necessary steps to start a neighborhood watch. “Anyone interested in starting a neighborhood watch is welcome to call the police department, and we’ll be happy to talk with them about electing captains and leaders and getting their group orga- nized,” Posey said. For more information, call HPD at (936) 291-5480. Please visit www.huntsvilletx.gov www.huntsvilletx.gov www.huntsvilletx.gov www.huntsvilletx.gov and www.co.walker.tx.us www.co.walker.tx.us www.co.walker.tx.us www.co.walker.tx.us for more election information. NOVEMBER 5, 2013 REGULAR AND SPECIAL ELECTION POLLING PLACES Precinct (Recinto): Precinct (Recinto): Precinct (Recinto): Precinct (Recinto): Polling Place (Sitios de VotacionPolling Place (Sitios de VotacionPolling Place (Sitios de VotacionPolling Place (Sitios de Votacion 101, City Ward 3 101, City Ward 3 101, City Ward 3 101, City Ward 3 ---- ((((101, 101, 101, 101, Sala Sala Sala Sala 3)3)3)3) Walker County Annex – 1301 Sam Houston Ave. Ste. 101, Huntsville, TX 77340 102, City Ward 1 102, City Ward 1 102, City Ward 1 102, City Ward 1 ---- (102, Sala 1)(102, Sala 1)(102, Sala 1)(102, Sala 1) Walker County Annex – 1301 Sam Houston Ave. Ste. 101, Huntsville, TX 77340 103103103103 Cook Springs Baptist Church – 1936-A State Highway 75 North, Huntsville, TX 77320 104 104 104 104 Northside Baptist Church – 1207 FM 980, Huntsville, TX 77320 201, City Ward 2 201, City Ward 2 201, City Ward 2 201, City Ward 2 ---- (201, Sala 2)(201, Sala 2)(201, Sala 2)(201, Sala 2) Walker County Storm Shelter/Veterans Complex – 445 SH 75 North, Huntsville, TX 77320 203/204 203/204 203/204 203/204 Walker County Fairgrounds – 3925 State Highway 30 West, Huntsville, TX 77320 205205205205, City Ward 4 City Ward 4 City Ward 4 City Ward 4 ---- (205, Sala 4)(205, Sala 4)(205, Sala 4)(205, Sala 4) Elkins Lake Conference Center – 634 Cherry Hills Drive, Huntsville, TX 77340 206, City Ward 4 206, City Ward 4 206, City Ward 4 206, City Ward 4 ---- (206, Sala 4)(206, Sala 4)(206, Sala 4)(206, Sala 4) Huntsville Fire Station #1 – 1987 Veterans Memorial Pkwy, Huntsville, TX 77340 301, City Ward 3 301, City Ward 3 301, City Ward 3 301, City Ward 3 ---- (301, Sala 3)(301, Sala 3)(301, Sala 3)(301, Sala 3) Huntsville ISD Transportation Building – 95 Martin Luther King, Huntsville, TX 77320 302/303 302/303 302/303 302/303 Calvary Baptist Church – 1135 US Highway 190, Huntsville, TX77320 304/305 304/305 304/305 304/305 Riverside United Methodist Church – 2341 FM 980, Huntsville, TX 77320 401 , City Ward 2/4 401 , City Ward 2/4 401 , City Ward 2/4 401 , City Ward 2/4 ---- (401, Sala 2/4)(401, Sala 2/4)(401, Sala 2/4)(401, Sala 2/4) University Heights Baptist Church – 2400 Sycamore Avenue, Huntsville, TX 77340 402/403 402/403 402/403 402/403 Phelps First Methodist Church – 13 Dorrell Road off FM 2296 (at Watson Lake Road), Huntsville, TX 77340 404404404404 New Waverly First Baptist Church – 460 Fisher Street (at corner of Hardy), New Waverly, TX 77358 With a new fiscal year comes an official Director of Finance for the City of Huntsville. Steve Ritter, who has served as the Interim Finance Director since December, accepted the position Tuesday evening. According to City Manager Matt Benoit, Ritter has successfully completed both a full audit and budget process, proving himself very capable to meet the responsibilities of the position. “I feel privileged to be able to work with a great group of people in the Finance Department and also for the opportunity to work with the other Department Directors and City Manager,” Ritter said. “Huntsville is a city with wonderful residents which makes it a great place to serve in such a posi- tion.” Ritter said his goals for the Finance Department include continuing the level of transparency and efficiency that have become staples in department practice over the last several years. “Since I started with the City almost 12 years ago, our goal in the Finance Department has been to provide Council and the citizens with good financial information in a timely manner that can be used to make important decisions, and also to provide other departments with assistance and timely in- formation so that they can do their jobs,” he said. “I hope to continue that practice.” City designates Steve Ritter as Director of Finance FINANCE DIRECTOR STEVE RITTERFINANCE DIRECTOR STEVE RITTERFINANCE DIRECTOR STEVE RITTERFINANCE DIRECTOR STEVE RITTER City to hold Halloween events for all ages!City to hold Halloween events for all ages!City to hold Halloween events for all ages!City to hold Halloween events for all ages! Scare on the Square, a chance for families to participate in trick-or-treating, a costume contest and fun and safe activities, will be held in the downtown area on October 26 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and conducted by the Main Street Program. Admission will be $1 for children and adults over 5 years old . The Haunted Hayride, sponsored by the Parks and Leisure Department, will be held at Kate Barr Ross Park with registration from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The event will include rides of approximately 30 minutes in length, with zombies, ghosts, ghouls and much more. Registration will be $5 for all participants, and those who do not wish to participate in the hayride may choose to take a fire truck ride for $3. For more information on Scare on the Square, contact Ariel Traub at (936) 291-5920, and for information on the Haunted Hayride, contact Natalie Reid at (936) 294-5725. Neighborhood Resources Department provides critical local programming The City of Huntsville wishes to encourage citizens to check out the Neighborhood Resources Department. According to City Manager Matt Benoit, the department will focus on neighborhood development efforts as well as grant submission and administration. “The Neighborhood Resources Department will play an integral part in the continuing growth of Huntsville,” he said. “Through multiple housing programs, citizen participation platforms and the award-winning Harnessing Huntsville’s Poten- tial program, this office has a unique capacity to work directly with our citizens and create visible impact citywide.” The Harnessing Huntsville’s Potential program, an ongoing effort since October 2012, included monthly meetings with an oversight committee as well as public meetings and focus groups in both October 2012 and March 2013. The end result was an implementation plan composed largely of citizen input, which the department has already started to utilize. The two-person department is headed by Dr. Sherry McKibben, Neighborhood Resources Director, and assisted by Lind- sey Owings, Neighborhood Resources program administrator. Their office is located in City Hall, located at 1212 Avenue M, Huntsville, TX. “Although this not a set of new programs or responsibilities, through the direction of the City Council, the Neighborhood Resources Department has focused their mission and goals on seeking resources and opportunities to strengthen and improve the neighborhoods in our community,” Benoit said. McKibben said the next fiscal year will also include the continuation of the Home Reservation System Owner-Occupied Housing Assistance or HOME program, which provides eligible homeowners with funding to reconstruct their existing home. “We are now accepting applications for the HOME Program, and our office can assist interested citizens throughout the process,” she said. “The project is funded through the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, and we’ll accept applications until we have utilized the funding entirely. “I would encourage any interested residents to contact Owings at (936) 291-5459.” Additional projects the office will address in the coming months include the Boys and Girls Club safe room, ongoing efforts to mitigate Town Creek drainage concerns, downtown revitalization platforms in partnership with the Main Street Program and other goals. For more information, contact McKibben at (936) 291-5428. The City of Huntsville was recognized in October by the American Planning Association for the Harnessing Hunts- ville’s Potential campaign, an effort over several months to collect and utilize citizen input with respect to the City’s growth. According to Dr. Sherry McKibben, Neighborhood Re- sources Director, the award is very prestigious and recog- nizes the work of multiple City departments. “The APA Texas Chapter has chosen the City of Huntsville as the recipient of the 2013 Long Range Planning Award in honor of the Harnessing Huntsville’s Potential program,” she said. “We are truly honored to have been nominated for this award and absolutely thrilled to have won. “We are especially proud of our citizens for coming togeth- er to develop a workable plan for our long-term growth.” McKibben said two major criteria for the award, which rec- ognizes “excellence in long-term planning,” were public involvement and community planning. “Harnessing Huntsville’s Potential is a very focused plan,” she said. “It includes some elements of the Huntsville Hori- zon Plan, developed previously, and integrates more eco- nomic development and implementation strategies.” Chandra Steinbeck, a former Assistant Community Devel- opment Specialist with the City, carried out a great portion of the Harnessing Huntsville’s Potential program, McKib- ben said. The program was supported by Houston-Galveston Area Council funding. “Harnessing Huntsville’s Potential began in October 2012 and continued over several months,” she said. “During the program, we conducted monthly meetings with an oversight committee as well as public meetings and focus groups in both October 2012 and March 2013. “The consultants we worked with on the project, Design Workshop, presented a final version to the Council in July, which was approved. The entire Design Workshop team we worked with did an outstanding job, and we’re very grateful for their insight.” Aron Kulhavy, Director of Community and Economic Devel- opment, echoed McKibben’s praise of the consulting firm. “The consultants did a great job guiding us through the pro- cess and putting together a great plan from discussions with the community,” he said. “In the end, we have a priority list that includes some great ideas and projects and a plan in place to implement them.” The first phases of the Harnessing Huntsville’s Potential implementation were approved as part of the City’s fiscal year 2013-14 budget. A $500,000 allocation was ear- marked for way-finding signage and gateway entry signage, to be placed in several locations citywide. Development Code changes will also be carried out as recommended in the plan. For more information, contact McKibben at (936) 291- 5428. City recognized by American Planning Association Harnessing Huntsville’s Potential shows excellence in long-term planning