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2015/06/12 City news, features, and updates June 12, 2015 Th i s W e e k i n H u n t s v i l l e Building the Legend - Page 3 In this issu e . . . Pool opens for the summer - page 7 3rd Annual Junk-a-Palooza- page 5 Map It! Huntsville’s Powerful GIS System The City of Huntsville maintains a robust Geographic Information System (GIS) web site at www.huntsvillegis.com, launched in the summer of 2013. According to Eric Peña, GIS Manager, the site offers features that make it simple and quick for users to create their own maps, answer questions about local property and more. It was designed to be easy to use for both entities with which the City conducts business and residents. At the City, the system is heavily utilized by departments and divisions such as Engineering, Code Enforcement, Public Safety and Inspections. Peña said, “The plan for the site was to have an intuitive, easy-to-use interface, which includes features users need to create and mark up their own maps, add arrows and text and much more.” He noted that, with the system, users are able to find a piece of property, dr aw any kind of map shape they want, label it, send it to print as a high-quality PDF, and have a custom-made map in their hands. Visitors to the site are able to choose from display features including utility lines, property lines, address information, political boundaries, city limits, topography and other layers. The various layers available on the Web site can be added or removed based on the kind of map the user wants to create. The site also includes download features to allow users access to native or source GIS data in different formats. Peña said, “One of the really useful and interesting features is the historic imagery base maps. They go back to 1995 for certain areas, so users can see how the City has changed over time and how land has been developed.” “Our data download features will allow engineers, surveyors, students, or anyone with GIS software to download and use our data,” he said. “In the long-term, I believe providing this data to our business partners will make contracting with the City easier, because they w ill have better ac- cess to information they need.” Aron Kulhavy, Director of Community and Economic Development, describes the GIS site as a great economic development tool. “It gives us the ability to share all types of information about a piece of property with someone anywhere in the world. Additionally, it’s available on smart phones and tablets, enabling us to put all this information right in our pocket.” “The quality of our GIS data has allowed developers to get a head start on the design of their projects, saving them both tim e and money,” Kulhavy added. “Our utility and topographic information are of such accuracy that feasibility plans can be performed without the need to spend much time on the ground at the actual location.” Peña’s work involves creating and maintaining spatial databases (map data) and applications for various departments and initi atives at the City. He said he enjoys his work because of the tools it involves. “It’s an interesting field enabling me to work with maps and mapmaking, and with computers, which are things I love to do.” Eric Peña has worked for the City of Huntsville since October 2008. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, Texas, in 2004. He also earned a Graduate Certificate in GIS from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, in 2006. Eric recently earned his Master of Science in GIST from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, in 2012. Eric is also a Certified GIS Profes- sional (GISP). Prior to working for the City of Huntsville, Eric worked as a GIS Specialist/Transportation Planner in his hometown of McAllen, Tex- as. Peña noted that Google updated the 6-inch imagery for city of Huntsville and Walker County at the end of March this year, so recent development around the community can be seen (such as at the Ravenwood shopping area and on the SHSU campus). “The imagery allows us to see what’s happening from the air. The Google Earth maps are not tied into the City’s GIS system. The state of Texas has contracted to f ly some new imagery that is expected to be publicly available in October.” The GIS web site is available at www.huntsvillegis.com. For more information, contact Peña at (936) 294-5784. BUILDING THE LEGEND Building the legend is a new graphic animation video created for school-age children in order for them to better understand who Sam Houston was, what role he played in the history of Texas, and the big mystery of how he was made into a 67 -ft. tall statue. Kids of all ages visit the center throughout the year, but the current video was not aimed at their level. Kimm Thomas, City Director of Tourism and Cultural Services, praised Jamie Mathews, the City’s Guest Services Coordinator, along with the SHSU Animation Department, for creating the video. “They did an excellent job and we are very excited to have this to share with the children. It is one thing to be able to ex plain to them how the statue was made,” said Thomas, “but it is different when you have something demonstrative like this for them to view.” Director Brian Williams of the SHSU Animation Department noted it took approximately two months to create the video. The stu dents, along with Mrs. Mathews, came up with the concept, wrote the script, drew the storyboards, designed the characters and animat ion and created the final output on video. The final product can now be seen at the City of Huntsville’s Sam Houston Statue Visitor’s Center or online at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEXPkNPhQxyFGZht4Ywv2ow (along with other local video). Further reading about how the statue was made and photos of the construction are also available at http://www.huntsvilletexas.com/egov/docs/1316615678198.htm Special thanks to: SHSU Animation Department Professor Edward Moran Willie Williams - Director, Character Animator, Lighting Artist, Compositor, Sound Design Paige Reans - Environmental Design, Modeling and Texturing Artist Lindsey Whitfield - Co-Director, Writer, Storyboard Artist, 2D Animator Connally Baskett - Character Animator Andrea Manzano - Co-Director, Writer, Character Animator, Lighting Artist Paige Beique - role of Kyle Christian Pratt - Lighting Artist Motion Graphics, role of Sam Houston Dawson Garza - Character Animator, Lighting Artist Jamie Mathews - City of Huntsville Guest Services Coordinator Karen Wakefield Get Ready Fore! the 12th Annual Beautification Golf Tournament The City of Huntsville Parks and Leisure Department and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board hope you will join them on the links Friday, June 19, for the 12th annual Beautification Golf Tournament. Proceeds benefit beautification efforts in and around Huntsville. Funds are used for the purchase of seed for the beautiful bluebonnet and wildflower patches seen each spring at locations including Eastham-Thomason Park, City Hall, the Wynne Home Arts Center, Founders’ Park and Sallie Gibbs Park. Registration for four-person teams starts at Raven Nest Golf Course at noon, with tee off at 1 p.m. The tournament package includes green fees, cart, range balls, dinner, and awards. Rates are $65/person or $260/team. Single-hole sponsorships are $100; corporate sponsors receive a hole sponsorship and a team for $300; and a $500 gold spon- sorship includes the same as the corporate sponsorship, along with a place to hang a banner at the tournament. For more information, contact Penny Joiner at the Parks & Leisure De- partment at (936) 294-5708, or pjoiner@huntsvilletx.gov. She is also putting together teams of individuals, so don’t wait! 2015 Huntsville Public Library Teen Programs Calling all teens! Need something fun and different to supplement your weekends? Ashley Newsome is the Huntsville Public Li brary’s Teen Programs Coordinator, and she’s got things for you to do! Check out the list below, then make contact at anewsome@huntsvilletx.gov or 936-291-5472. Friday, September 12, 2015- Anime Day Friday, September 25, 2015- Comic Book Club Saturday, October 3, 2015- Teen Book Club Friday, October 23, 2015- Wii Tournament Saturday, November 14, 2015- Poetry Slam Friday, November 20, 2015- Board Game Day Saturday, December 12, 2015- Teen Arts & Crafts (Sharpie® mugs) Thursday, May 28, 2015- 3-D Magazine Art Saturday, June 27, 2015- Anime Day Friday, July 17, 2015- Origami Crafts Friday, July 31, 2015- Duct Tape Crafts Friday, August 7, 2015 – Wii® Tournament Friday, August 21, 2015 – Poetry Slam Friday, September 4, 2015- Teen Movie Friday Photo Call!Photo Call!Photo Call! Maybe you attended the Fourth of July celebration or E-Recycling Day, or took the kids to an Outdoor Explorer class and have a g reat pic- ture. Or perhaps your group received a proclamation or made a donation or participated in Local Government Day. We’d love to see your photos and consider them for the next calendar. The City of Huntsville is asking all residents, busine ss owners and organizations to submit their best photos for use in the calendar, on our Facebook and Twitter accounts, in our digital newslett er, and maybe even for upcoming special projects. Please submit their original photography along with the name of the photographer for photo credit. The City requests participants send the highest resolution copies available, and that only material suitable for viewing by all ages be submitted. Digital photos smaller than 20 MB may be emailed to lwoodward@huntsvilletx.gov (please make contact with us before trying to sen d larger files, either at the email address or by calling 936-291-5403). The City requests any hard copies be brought to City Hal l, located at 1212 Avenue M. If necessary, hard copies will be scanned and returned to the provider. For more information, contact Woodwar d at (936) 291-5403. Here at the City, we hope you have one of the 2014-2015 City calendars and are enjoying it! However, it’s now time to think about the 2015 - 2016 calendar, and we’d love your help with it. Please submit photos taken in City parks, at City events, or of groups working with the City on oc- casions such as All Paws In or the Spring Clean - anything City-related. 3rd Annual Junk-a-Palooza The 3rd Annual Junk-A-Palooza will be held on June 27 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. in downtown Huntsville. Presented by the City of Huntsville Main Street Program, Junk-A-Palooza is a community-wide garage sale held in conjunction with the Farmers Market that day. There will be numerous vendors selling a wide variety of items. For those interested in becoming vendors, there is an application at facebook.com/COHmainstreet. In the past two years, hundreds of area shoppers have attended Junk-A-Palooza, and this year will be bigger and better than ever. More than forty vendors, as well as Swinter Snow Cones, are anticipated. In addition, many of the Huntsville downtown businesses will be open. Junk-A-Palooza is also a great time to visit one of your favorite eateries on or near the Square, including Café Tex- an, Donut Wheel, Farmhouse Sweets & Eats, and Mr. Hamburger. Mark your calendar - Junk-A-Palooza only comes once a year, so do not miss out. For more information, contact Main Street at 936-291-5920 or mainstreet01@huntsvilletx.gov, and find updates at face- book.com/COHmainstreet. “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure” Recreation Services Activities Water Aerobics Join the City of Huntsville at the Huntsville Frank D. “Poncho” Roberts Aquatic Center for the return of Wa- ter Aerobics. Classes will be Monday through Wednesday mornings from 8 - 9 a.m., and Monday through Thursday evenings from 8 - 9 p.m. Participants must be 18 years or older and are required to complete a registration form and pay a fee of $55.00 for the year or purchase a day pass for $4. Registration is available at the City of Huntsville Service Center and before class at the Huntsville Aquatic Center. For more information, call 936-294-5725 or visit the website at http://www.huntsvilletx.gov/departments/community_services/recreation.htm. Outdoor Explorer Join the City’s Recreation Services Division at the Huntsville State Park as they partner with the Texas Parks and Wildlife D epartment to learn basic safety for biking, hiking and kayaking. Then enjoy the rest of the day exploring the State Park with backpacks, bikes and kayaks provided for use. Class size is limited to twenty participants and pre-registration is required. Classes are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Youth ages 12 - 17 can register with an attending parent or guardian. Upcoming program dates are June 20th , July 18th , August 15th, and September 19th. There is no charge for the program but there is a $5 admission fee into the park for each participating adult (no cost for those 12 and under). For more information call 936 -294-5725 or visit the website at http://www.huntsvilletx.gov/category/subcategory.php?categoryid=12 or the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/COHrecservices. STAY COOL THIS SUMMER! The pool is open Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from noon to 8 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The pool is closed on Mondays. Visit the Frank D. “Poncho” Roberts Aquatic Center’s page on the City website at www.huntsvilletx.gov or contact the Center’s Manager, Jay Miller, at jmiller@huntsvilletx.gov, for more information, rules, and fees. SWIMMING LESSONS at the Aquatic Center June 15-26 June 29-July 10 July 13-24 July 27-August 7 All classes are Monday - Friday - $35 per course Ages & Times: 3-5 yrs / 8:00 am - 8:45 am 6-7 yrs / 9:00 am - 9:45 am 8 yrs & up / 10:00 am - 10:45 am *ALL SIGN UPS AND FEES ARE TO BE PAID AT AQUATIC CENTER* The City of Huntsville Solid Waste and Recycling Depart- ment will run regular residential RECYCLING and com- mercial garbage pick-up routes on Friday, July 3, 2015, Fourth of July Eve Day. The Transfer Station and Scale House will be open on Friday, July 3, 2015 and Saturday, July 4, 2015. For more information, contact the Solid Waste Transfer Facility, or the Recycling Drop-Off Center at 936-294- 5712. City of Huntsville Solid Waste & Recycling Services City to hold Fourth of July celebration, fireworks show Reminder - No Fireworks within City limits Join the City of Huntsville Recreation Services at Kate Barr Ross Park on Saturday, July 4, to celebrate the Fourth of July with family entertainment and a fire- works show. The Fourth of July celebration will be a fun and safe event for the entire family. Entertainment will commence at 4 p.m. with the fireworks show beginning at dark, weather permitting. “Come out and enjoy a fun-filled event to celebrate the Fourth of July,” Recreation Services Coordinator Na- talie Reid said. “We’ll offer a wide range of family enter- tainment including a rock wall, a face painter, balloon art, moonwalks, and more. “Nachos, hot dogs, sno-cones, cotton candy, popcorn and drinks will be served, and food and drink prices will vary. Don’t forget to bring your coolers, blankets and chairs, and get there early to reserve your spot for the fireworks show.” Attendants, please note: no alcohol or glass bottles will be allowed on the premises. For more information call 936-294-5725 or visit the City’s website at www.huntsvilletx.gov. According to City ordinance, it is not permitted to pos- sess, use, transport or purchase fireworks within City lim- its. Violators will be charged with a Class C misdemeanor, which carries a fine not to exceed $500. The exceptions are fireworks available for purchase at retail department stores, commonly referred to as "poppers." These products contain an amount of black powder below the regulated amount. In order to circumvent City ordinance, parties interested in holding their own fireworks show must apply for, re- ceive and adhere to the permit requirements from the State Fire Marshall's Office. Please keep this in mind while planning for the Fourth of July, New Year's Eve and any other major event which traditionally integrates fireworks displays. For more information or clarification, contact the City of Huntsville Fire Department at (936) 291-3047. City Facility Closures on July 3 City Hall, the City Service Center, Municipal Court, the Public Library, and other City facilities will be closed on Friday, July 3, in observance of Inde- pendence Day. Please see below on Solid Waste and Recycling Services and facilities. Have a safe and happy fourth!