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2014/09/10 In this is s u e . . . City news, features and updates September 10, 2014 Th i s W e e k i n H u n t s v i l l e State of the City - page National Night Out - page 2 Budget public hearing - September 16 - page 4 Wayfinding public input session - page 3 The City of Huntsville recently received an increase in Building Code Effectiveness Grading Classifications following a recent assessment by Insurance Services Office, Inc., the entity responsible for determining individual ISO ratings. According to Aron Kulhavy, Director of Community and Economic Development, the City now holds a rating of “3” for commercial and industrial property and a rating of “4” for one-and two-family residential property. The ratings are on a scale of “1” to “10” with “1” signifying a perfect score; prior to the re-assessment, the City held a “4” in the commercial and industrial property category. “Our inspectors and permitting staff do an incredible job both in-house and throughout the community, and I am really proud of the work they have put into earning these ratings,” Kulhavy said. “Effectively, this report provides insurance carriers the information they need to justify lower rates for Huntsville property owners. This is a very significant accomplishment for our city.” Mike Roempke, Building Official, said ISO bases the classifications on three areas: the codes adopted by the municipality, the staffing charged with enforcing the City earns increased ISO building rating Staff recognized by ICC for full certification Jamie Matthews, Visitor’s Services Coordinator at the Sam Houston Statue, reached a major career milestone in August at Texas Association of Convention & Visitors Bureau (TACVB) annual conference when she earned her Texas Destination Marketing Certification. As stated on the TACVB web site, the certification “provides employees of convention and visitor bureaus and destination marketing organizations an educational framework for marketing Texas as a destination for both tourism and group business.” “I am very excited to have completed my Texas Destination Marketer Certification (TDM),” Matthews said. “Just attending the classes gave me a better understanding and ideas of how to work with incoming groups, volunteer coordinators, visitor services, communication and technology.” Matthews –began the process of completing her certification in 2007 – completed the required six out of eight disciplines tailored to her career focus. These included Texas Heritage/ Cultural Tourism, Communications/Technology, Tourism Sales, Group Sales, Group Servicing and Visitor Services. “I am very proud of Jamie for completing this task,” said Kimm Thomas, Director of Tourism and Cultural Services. “It’s been a very long process and she has been very diligent. The fact that she completed this certification speaks to her tenacity as an employee, and it will benefit her in the job she is performing for the City of Huntsville.” Thomas – who also holds her TDM certification – said having two employees who have completed the TDM Certification adds value to Tourism Department as a whole. For more information about the City of Huntsville Tourism Department, visit www.huntsvilletexas.com or to learn about TACVB, visit www.tacvb.org. Jamie Matthews, right, was recognized at a recent TACVB conference for earning her TDM Certification. codes and how well the codes are enforced in practice. “With respect to cities throughout Texas, we’re very much above average, and we are at the top of the grade compared to other cites our size in the state,” Roempke said. “The codes we follow are issued by the State of Texas and the International Code Council, and our high scores are a reflection of our staff rating high in experience and qualifications based in those codes. “Our scores, both residential and commercial, indicate that we are doing a great job and that we are above both state and national averages for building code effectiveness.” Beyond the increased classification rating, Roempke said the ICC also recognized City staff for being 100 percent certified through their agency. According to the ICC Web site, www.iccsafe.org, “ICC's education and certification offerings are a valuable resource for construction-related professionals. Code officials, building inspectors, design professionals, and more, look to ICC to provide the critical skills and knowledge necessary to excel in today's challenging construction world.” City employee earns Texas Destination Marketer Certification All citizens are invited to attend a curbside recycling guidelines meeting on Thursday, September 25 at the Huntsville Public Library. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. in the Library’s Community Room. During the meeting, City staff including Public Works Director Carol Reed will provide information on how to participate in curbside recycling according to current policy, and updates will also be presented on the new “Greener Huntsville: Easy Recycling” campaign. “All eight areas of the City have been integrated into our curbside recycling program since January, and we want to continue to work with all residents to make sure its guidelines are well understood and easy to follow,” Reed said. “Simple practices, like rinsing out plastics and cans, flattening cardboard boxes and refraining from bagging recyclables ensure that the items our residents recycle can be processed in an expedient and cost-effective manner. “With the help of our residents, we can continue to offer a successful curbside recycling program, and we hope this and other community meetings will ensure that outcome.” In addition to recycling program information, Reed will offer insight and updates on the “Greener Huntsville: Easy Recycling” initiative, including the use of the City’s Twitter page to help residents stay on top of their garbage and recycling dates. “By providing how-to guides, tips and reminders about curbside recycling on our City’s existing Twitter page, our hope is to make recycling a quick and convenient part of our citizens’ daily lives,” Reed said. “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, and also to provide new and fun ways to take part in curbside recycling.” For more information, contact Esther Herklotz, Solid Waste Superintendent, at (936) 294-5724. Recycling guidelines meeting: 9/25 - 6 p.m. State of the City address - Tuesday, October 21 Hosted by the Huntsville-Walker County Chamber of Commerce 2014 National Night Out Tuesday, October 7 Event to include gathering in Target parking lot, neighborhood parades The 2014 National Night Out event has been scheduled for Tuesday, October 7, and the Huntsville Police Department has expanded the time and scope of the event to encourage additional citizen participation. According to HPD Officers Kenneth Posey and Mark Jenkins, the event will include a centralized presence in the Academy and Target parking lot as well as several neighborhood parades. “The National Night Out event is an annual opportunity for the community to get to know the law enforcement agencies serving Huntsville, and we are doing even more this year to make the event accessible to all residents,” Jenkins said. “The event will kick off at 4 p.m. in the Academy and Target parking lots, and the agencies and businesses represented there will stay until 7 p.m. – this will allow those getting off work at 5 p.m. plenty of time to enjoy the event.” Posey said the event will include representatives not only from HPD, but also from the Huntsville Fire Department, the Walker County Sheriff’s Office, Walker County EMS, the Department of Public Safety, the Sam Houston State University Police Department, the Texas Forest Service and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. In addition to the gathering at Target, three caravans of law enforcement representatives will drive several locations in the Huntsville area to meet members of the public and encourage the formation of new neighborhood watch chapters. “We will commence three neighborhood parades at about 5:30 p.m.,” Jenkins said. “Those groups will stop by areas including Smith Hill, Montgomery Meadows, the Villages of Essex, the 2400 block of Avenue S, Tanglewood and more. “Whether citizens choose to come spend time at the community event at Target or say hello during one of the parades, we just hope everyone will take this opportunity to communicate with a member of law enforcement face to face, ask any questions they have and get to their neighbors.” Food and beverages will be provided during the event and additional event features will be publicized as information becomes available. For more information, contact HPD at (936) 291-5480. Join the City Council and City Manager Matt Benoit and representatives from each City department at the 2014 State of the City address, hosted by the Huntsville-Walker County Chamber of Commerce. The address will include information about the City Council’s Strategic Plan, current City initiatives and potential developments. A specific time and location will be announced through the City’s Web site and social media platforms when available. It’s not too late to check out Outdoor Explorer! Don’t miss the last session of Outdoor Explorer, scheduled for 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. POW/MIA flag-raising September 19 - 6:45 a.m. - City Hall All citizens are encouraged to attend a POW/MIA flag-raising ceremony at City Hall, located at 1212 Avenue M, to be held on September 19 at 6:45 a.m. According to the National Leagues of POW/MIA Families Web site, the flag is raised in honor of America’s POW/MIAs, those returned and those still missing and unaccounted for from our nation’s wars. The POW/MIA flag will be taken down at sunset on Sunday, September 21. Saturday, September 27 at SHSU Bowers Stadium 8:30 a.m. registration, 9 a.m. - Walk begins It’s not too late to get your team registered for the 2014 Walker County Heart Walk, an effort to raise community and financial support for the American Heart Association. Join Event Host Shannon Brown - Huntsville Memorial Hospital CEO - and Event Chairmen Dana Hoyt - Sam Houston State University President, Texas Department of Criminal Justice Executive Director Brad Livingston, Walker County Judge Danny Pierce and Mayor Mac Woodward at SHSU Bowers Stadium beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 27. Visit www.walkercountyheartwalk.org to register your team, track fundraising efforts and learn more about cardiovascular disease and stroke, two leading causes of death in America. For more information about the Heart Walk, contact Karen Bilsing at (936) 291-5499. 2014 Walker County Heart Walk The City of Huntsville Neighborhood Resources Department will hold a special public meeting on September 15 to gain citizen input on future wayfinding signage for installation in Huntsville. The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. in the Huntsville Public Library’s Community Room. “We are holding a public input session to give our citizens a chance to work with fd2s, a consulting firm developing wayfinding signage for placement in multiple locations throughout the City,” said Dr. Sherry McKibben, Neighborhood Resources Director. “We look forward to integrating citizen input with respect to the placement and preliminary design of this signage into the process.” McKibben said the public input session is the first step of a three-phase project to implement wayfinding signage locally. “After the public input session, fd2s will develop a location map and preliminary design for the signage, building off of a study originally conducted in 2003 to determine ideal locations and sign designs,” she said. “With Council’s approval, the next two phases will result in a final design and the implementation and installation of the signs.” For more information on this ongoing effort, visit the City’s Web site, www.huntsvilletx.gov. City to hold wayfinding signage public input session - 9/15 - 5:30 p.m. - Library Community Room Library hosts successful Back-to-School Bash Fun months ahead for youth patrons The City of Huntsville welcomed State Main Street Coordinator Debra Drescher on August 28 for a special strategic planning session. According to Lindsay Lauher, Main Street Coordinator, members of the Main Street Advisory Board, the Historic Preservation Commission and the program’s four sub-committees - Promotions, Infrastructure/Design, Economic Development and the Cabin Advisory Committee – were invited to attend and contribute. “As part of a free service provided by the state Main Street organization to designated local programs, Drescher worked with a group of 12 representatives to review our current work plan for the 2013-14 year,” Lauher said. “This session was truly invaluable to our program and our city, and I am very glad we were able to take advantage of it.” During the planning session, Drescher led a discussion which touched on the Huntsville Main Street Program’s strengths and weaknesses and changes in the direction of the program due to the integration of historical preservation. She also provided insight from similar Main Street cities. “Following the session, Drescher will provide us with a full report from the discussion including all notes, which I’ll be able to use with my board to develop our new work plan for the 2014-15 year as well as a big picture plan for the next several years,” Lauher said. For more information on Main Street, contact Lauher at (936) 291-5920 or visit the Main Street Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/COHmainstreet. Hundreds of local youth took part in the Huntsville Public Library back-to-school bash, and the event was just the beginning of a very busy fall season. According to Janelle Valera, Children’s Coordinator, the coming months will include a wide variety of free events for children and teens. “We were so excited to see so many local kids come out to our Back-to-School Bash on August 20, and we hope to see everyone back at the library during September and October,” Valera said. “We’ve got some really exciting and unique events going on for children aged four to 18 years, such as our Star Wars costume club called Verd’ika Corps, or our family movie night series which continues September 11. There’s something for youth of all ages at the library, so don’t miss out!” Children and parents are also encouraged to learn more about the library’s regular programming, including the Read with the Dogs program, Story Hour and more. For more information call the library at (936) 291-5472, visit the library website at www.myhuntsvillelibrary.com or like the “Huntsville Public Library” page on Facebook. 2014-15 budget near completion Main Street Strategic Planning During their regular meeting on September 2, City Council approved a set of additional items and projects - termed 'decision packages' - to be implemented in the 2014- 15 annual budget. The September 16 Council meeting will include a budget hearing, wherein City residents are invited and encouraged to share any thoughts or concerns on the proposed budget. According to Steve Ritter, Director of Finance, Council is anticipated to approve two ordinances following the hearing – the first adopting the budget and the second setting the tax rate for fiscal year 2014-15. “If all goes as scheduled, Council will pass the two ordinances during the September 16 meeting – the first to pass the budget, and the second to set the tax rate,” he said. “We are anticipating to pass a one-cent property tax reduction, taking the rate from .4206 cents per $100 valuation down to .4106 cents for the 2014-15 fiscal year, a 2.4% reduction in the rate.” Once the budget and tax rate ordinances are approved, Ritter said the 2014-15 budget will go into effect October 1. For more information on the budget, visit the City of Huntsville Web site, www.huntsvilletx.gov.