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2014/07/25 City news, features and updates July 25, 2014 Th i s W e e k i n H u n t s v i l l e Punt, Pass and Kick results - page 5 Charter Action Registry - page 4 Group of 17 graduates from Citizen Police Academy - page 2 Board/Commission applications, City U. - page 3 In this issue... As part of the annual budget process, the City Council took part in a budget workshop on July 22. According to Steve Ritter, Director of Finance, the workshop gave Council members an opportunity to hear a general summary of the budget as it stands and to ask any questions they have at that point. “Each of our department heads has been working on their individual budgets since April, and during the last week of June, we completed budget hearings with the City Manager and the Finance Department,” Ritter said. “This workshop was the first chance for the Council to see the budget as a whole and to review a set of supplemental requests. “Now, we’ll set to work on any changes or shifts discussed and prepare a more finalized draft to be presented to Council in August.” Ritter emphasized that budget hearings – as well as any City Council meetings where the document will be discussed - are open to the public. “As always, citizens are encouraged to stay informed about every step of our budget process,” he said. “We will post budget workshop information both at City Hall and on the City’s Web site, and we would encourage attendance at any and all of those events.” As in previous years, Ritter said citizens will have the opportunity to participate in public hearings concerning the budget and any related ordinances, and also to attend public hearings on the property tax rate. The hearings, as well as additional opportunities to learn about the budget document, will take place during August and September. At this time, regular Council meetings are scheduled for August 5, August 19, September 2 and September 16. For more information, visit the City’s Web site at www.huntsvilletx.gov. Citizens are encouraged follow the City of Huntsville Twitter feed, @HuntsvilleTexas, for updates on the City’s curbside recycling and solid waste efforts. According to Carol Reed, Public Works Director, additional material will be made available for residents via the City’s existing Twitter page as part of the “Greener Huntsville: Easy Recycling” initiative. “Now that we have activated curbside recycling in all eight areas of the City, we want to provide our residents with as much information as possible about how to take advantage of this service correctly and easily,” Reed said. “By providing how-to guides, tips and reminders about curbside recycling and important dates to remember, our hope is to make recycling a quick and convenient part of our citizens’ daily lives.” The tweets will not only address recycling, Reed said, but will also assist customers in pinpointing Heavy Trash, Yard Waste and regular garbage pickup dates and requirements. The most current copy of the City's recycling and garbage pick-up area map will also be provided for reference. City Council participates in budget workshop “We plan to use Twitter to remind people to put their blue or green carts at the street’s edge both at the right time and on the right day,” Reed said. “For example, for customers in Areas 1, 3, 5 and 7, we actually plan to send a tweet out on Sunday evening to remind them their garbage pickup is the next day, Monday. “That way, they have plenty of time to get their carts out before the next morning at 6 a.m. when pickup begins. We’ll do the same thing for recycling later in the week; our plan is to send these messages on a set schedule so citizens always have an extra reminder.” Reed said the “Greener Huntsville” Twitter initiative will also include energy conservation tips for residential and commercial entities, methods for saving water and more. For more information, contact Reed at (936) 294- 5768 or Solid Waste Superintendent Esther Herklotz at (936) 294-5724. The City's Twitter feed may be viewed at https://twitter.com/Huntsvilletexas. Look for “Greener Huntsville” Twitter posts Main Street Program presents: Community-wide garage sale Saturday, July 26, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call (936) 291-5920 for info! Citizen Police Academy hugely successful 2014 Heart Walk of the Piney Woods Save the date: September 27 at 9 a.m. Huntsville Police Department Officers Kenneth Posey and Mark Jenkins were honored July 14 by the participants of the recent Citizen Police Academy. During a special graduation ceremony for the group, the two officers received an honorary plaque from their 17 class participants and heard extensive positive feedback about the program. “This was our first time to conduct a Citizen Police Academy, and it was definitely a learning experience,” Jenkins said. “We definitely have a list of class topics and activities the group enjoyed, including our SWAT and K-9 unit demonstrations and going to the shooting range. “After getting through the full 14 weeks of the program, we also have ideas to improve the overall experience, and we look forward to offering it again in the future.” The graduates from CPA were Jacob Ratliff, Matthew Hayes, Shaun Davis, Jessica Pollard, Whitney McCully, Michael Alcantar, Meghan Pare, Walker Pyle, Kelly Ammons, Alexis Altom, Crystal Guillory, Dallas Goldring, Dora Whitmire, Alton McGee, Loren Burns, Shelly Bearid and Joe Smith. HPD Chief Kevin Lunsford said he was very pleased with the outcome of the program. “I want to commend Officers Posey and Jenkins for putting together this valuable program,” he said. “The Huntsville Police Department is committed to serving the community in every way possible, and I feel providing this kind of educational experience is critical to our mission.” The 2014 Heart Walk of the Piney Woods has been scheduled for Saturday, September 27, and several major entities are working to make the event a success. Citizens are encouraged to form their own teams today! Registration is available online at www.walkercountyheartwalk.org, and team packets are available through the City of Huntsville, Walker County, the Huntsville- Walker County Chamber of Commerce, Huntsville Memorial Hospital and more. The event, which will be held at the Sam Houston State University Bowers Stadium, will be hosted by HMH CEO Shannon Brown and co-chaired by Mayor Mac Woodward, Walker County Judge Danny Pierce, Texas Department of Criminal Justice Executive Director Brad Livingston and SHSU President Dr. Dana Gibson. “We are so excited to announce the date for this year’s Walker County Heart Walk,” said Karen Bilsing, organizing committee chair. “The American Heart Association is the largest voluntary health organization working to prevent, treat and defeat heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases, and this event is a great opportunity to build support for their critical mission. “We hope to see citizens from throughout the community start their own teams and participate!” Several packet pick-up and fundraising events have been scheduled for the first week of August, and for the first time, local survivors of heart disease will be present at the events to answer questions. “According to a 2013 report compiled by the Texas A&M Health Science Center, 14.1% of Walker County residents suffer from cardiovascular issues such as heart problems, hypertension or high blood pressure,” Bilsing said. “That means the citizens of Huntsville and Walker County are significantly impacted by heart disease, and our hope is that the opportunity to meet individuals who have fought and won the battle against these illnesses will illustrate the importance of this event.” Final fundraising event details will be posted to the “Heart Walk of the Piney Woods” Facebook page as they become available. For more information, contact Bilsing at (936) 291- 4599. Heart Walk Co-Chairs Walker County Judge Danny Pierce, Texas Department of Criminal Justice Executive Director Brad Livingston Mayor Mac Woodward, and Sam Houston State University President Dana Gibson do a practice lap at Bower’s Stadium. Applications are available for Huntsville residents interested in serving on a City board or commission or to be considered for re- appointment to current positions ending August 31, 2014. Residents may submit applications to the City Secretary at City Hall, or online at https://www.huntsvilletx.gov/egov/apps/action/ center.egov?action= in the “Volunteer for a Board or Commission” section. The City anticipates the Council will handle most nominations in August. The City Charter sets that all nominations are made by the Mayor for consideration by the Council. Individuals interested in appointment or reappointment are required to complete an application so that the Council has an opportunity to review it prior to approval. According to Mayor Mac Woodward, serving on a City board or commission is an exciting chance open to citizens of all ages and experience levels. “I think it’s very important for the City Council and the City of Huntsville to have citizens serve on advisory boards and commissions,” Woodward said. “It provides an excellent opportunity for citizen input into all areas of the City’s reach.” City boards and commissions are in place to address the major facets of the Huntsville community, including public works, housing, fine arts, recreational activities and athletics, and other areas. The Mayor said volunteers for boards or commissions may be of virtually any age or experience level, so long as they have a willingness to serve. “Volunteers are needed from our community at all levels, from students to senior citizens,” he said. “The most important quality for serving on a board is the sincere hope to improve the City for all our citizens.” For more information, contact City Secretary Lee Woodward at (936) 291-5403. Apply for a City board or commission! The City of Huntsville is excited to announce the return of the City U. program, an opportunity for citizens throughout Huntsville and Walker County to learn more about municipal staff and processes. According to City Secretary Lee Woodward, up to fifteen citizens will be admitted to the program, and all sessions will be offered completely free of charge. "The City is now accepting applications for its City U. program, to be held this August through October, and we want to encourage all interested residents to apply," she said. "These sessions will provide an opportunity for the public to see inside its local government, and each week will focus on different functions of the City to provide greater understanding and familiarity with local government." Fifteen citizens of Walker County will be admitted, with priority given to city residents. Participants must be 18 years of age or older and not seeking election to the City Council in November 2014. Class begins August 7 and will be held on Thursday evenings beginning at 6 p.m. at various City facilities. In order to graduate, participants cannot miss more than three classes. To apply, visit http://bit.ly/1l6N1DO for an online form, or contact the City Secretary’s office at 936-291- 5403 orcitysecretary@huntsvilletx.gov for a paper form. City U Program kicks off August 7 - Sign up today! It’s not too late to check out Outdoor Explorer! Don’t miss the last two sessions of Outdoor Explorer, scheduled for August 23 and September 20! Participants should plan to arrive at Huntsville State Park just before 9 a.m. where a $5 admission fee will be charged. Classes typically conclude around 1 p.m. “Come on out for a fun day of outdoor activities that’s perfect for the whole family,” said Natalie Reid, Recreation Services coordinator. “Participants will learn the basics of hiking, biking and kayaking and will be able to use equipment maintained and provided by the City. “Class will start off with a 30-minute safety session, just to make sure everyone is prepared, and then participants will get to spend the rest of the session using their new skills.” For more information or to pre-register, contact Reid at (936) 294-5725 or nreid@huntsvilletx.gov. Did you notice the updated TxDOT Special Issue? On July 17, the City of Huntsville released an updated edition of “This Week in Huntsville,” which details the ongoing construction at the Interstate 45 and State Highway 75 interchange. Visit the City’s Web site, www.huntsvilletx.gov, to access the issue and get the most current information on project benchmarks. Comments? Suggestions? Do you have any comments or suggestions regarding “This Week in Huntsville” or any of the City’s publications and outreach efforts? Let us know! Contact Deputy City Secretary Kristin Edwards at kedwards@huntsvilletx.gov or (936) 291-5413. During their regular meeting on July 15, City Council approved a $42,500 expenditure for the completion of a Solid Waste Cost of Service and Rate Study. The study – to be completed by NewGen Strategies and Solutions – will reflect current services and costs for the City of Huntsville’s Solid Waste division and provide comparisons with neighboring cities. Based on the letter of intent submitted by NewGen, the report will be completed within three months. “The last Cost of Service and Rate Study for the City’s solid waste services department was conducted in 2001, and obviously, there have been significant changes since that time,” Reed said. “At that point, we were doing manual – as opposed to automated, pick-up, we had not started our curbside recycling program, and our Heavy Trash and Yard Waste programs were not experiencing near the level of participation they are today. “In a nutshell, those few major changes show it is past time to take part in this study.” The Solid Waste Cost of Service and Rate Study will include a review of existing fleet composition to determine the amount of funding necessary for annual vehicle replacement; an analysis correlating specific costs and solid waste services; a five-year revenue requirement forecast; and an assessment of the cost of “free services” both to internal customers and non-profit organizations. Further, the report will feature a section quantifying revenues realized under current rates as compared to the projected five- year revenue requirement and the impact upon maintaining the solid waste operations in a self-sustaining enterprise fund. “Right now, we are providing a lot of services at no charge,” Reed said. “For example, we currently do not charge any additional fees for Heavy Trash and Yard Waste pick-up, and we need to gain an understanding about the sustainability of those services. This report will help us conceptualize those points and help us determine what we can provide at what level of payment.” Finally, the report will offer a comparison of current City rate structures compared to alternative rate structures, both within the industry in general and within the Houston-Galveston Area Council Region. “Ultimately, every service provider should be able to explain or justify the fees they charge their customers, and that’s one of the crucial things this study will enable us to do,” Reed said. For more information, contact Reed at (936) 294-5768. City Council member Tish Humphrey is reaching out to Ward 2 citizens through several community gatherings. On July 18, Humphrey visited the Montgomery Meadows senior living facility, speaking to a group of residents and employees on several key issues facing Ward 2. Her visits continued on July 22 with a stop at Carriage Inn. “With the diversity of ages and communities within our Ward 2 community, I felt these gatherings during the summer would be a great way to communicate the new Council meeting communication procedures and engage the citizens,” Humphrey said. “These small groups have allowed for personal conversations and opportunity to visit and have questions addressed.” According to City Secretary Lee Woodward, Humphrey’s speaking engagements aligned with addresses from the Huntsville Police Department and representatives from the City’s Solid Waste Services Division. Ward 2 residents interested in additional information or scheduling a community meeting are encouraged to contact the City Secretary’s office at (936) 291-5403. Photo by Lee Woodward City Council member Tish Humphrey visits local facilities City Secretary intern creates Charter Action Registry document Photo by Lee Woodward City Council approves Solid Waste Cost of Service and Rate Study Makeebba Deterville, who is currently serving as an intern for the City Secretary’s office, has compiled a “Charter Action Registry” – a historical account of the changes made to the City Charter since it was initially created in 1968. The City Charter, a legal document establishing Huntsville as a municipality, includes the method of governance in place, the authority by which the municipality is entitled to exist, and other City statutes. During a special workshop on July 15, Deterville presented the complete document to City Council, detailing the features and uses of the registry. “The Charter has been reviewed nine times since its initial creation in 1968,” Deterville said. “With the Charter Action Registry, readers can review the City Charter as it was approved by the voters of Huntsville following each review, utilizing both a master table of contents and individual tables of content for each Article of the Charter.The registry, as well as copies of each historical Charter version, is available on the City’s Web site, www.huntsvilletx.gov, and hard copies are available, as well.” For more information, contact the City Secretary’s office at (936) 291-5403. Great time had by all at Punt, Pass, Kick tournament - First place winners to advance The City of Huntsville would like to thank all participants and family members who took part in the NFL Punt, Pass and Kick Competition held July 12. According to Natalie Reid, Recreation Services coordinator, both male and female competitors earned first place honors and the opportunity to move on to a sectional competition to be held later this year. In the boys’ competition, those earning first place in their respective age groups include Toben Edney, Brian Parker, Jr., Sebastian Amaro, Cameron Myers and Nathan Batten. As well, in the girls’ competition, Brianna McNeil earned the right to advance. For more information, contact Reid at (936) 294-5725.