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Home My WebLink AboutJulyIDLA Volume 25, No. 7 Linking the City's At the City Council meeting on June 15, residents voiced their concerns on the importance of preserving the history of the community. They expressed to the consulting planners that elements such as the mosaic street name tiles and Oak trees are key elements to linking the City's past with the future. Approximately 40 residents attended the meeting and were shown pictures of landscapes, street signs and lights, gateways, building materials and the- matic concepts that the City could use in future development considerations. After reviewing information from the first couple of Town Meetings relating to the Comprehensive Plan, consultant Rich Flierl presented three themes in- dicative of the heritage and strengths of West University Place. One suggested theme is City life Homespun values. This theme views historic precedents as the reasons why past with the future West U developed into a city. This theme is centered around the small town lifestyle that West U offers in the midst of an urban center. Design elements feature looks to the 1920's and 30's, fo- cusing on our nostalgic, tree-lined streets. Another suggested them is Preserving a Community for People. This theme refers to the City's entrepreneurial spirit. People are viewed as the building blocks of the community. For example, the Gar- den Club was a key factor in the estab- lishment of our parks and the Men's Club built many of our early ballfields. This theme celebrates how the residents of West U continue to work together to preserve and enhance the quality of life in the community. The third suggested theme is A Place for People. This theme is based on the lives of the people who live here, their hobbies, families, activities and values. Our community was established as a re- r Vfhitt Johnson Park, New b i ' .tea t r+ P Consultant Scott Slaney reviews design concepts for Whitt Johnson Park renovations at a recent neighborhood meeting. Improvements are to he completed in early 1999 with funding to he provided by the Friends of West University Place Parks Fund. July, 1998 Notice of Town Meeting to discussTraffic Calming (Verelars ~erzalapgrarpg ! l July 20, 7:00 Pm Community Center treat from urbanity, celebrating neigh- bors and neighborhoods. West U is viewed as great homes and safe living, with a love of family and friends --truly a great place for people. Concept designs for various physical improvements were exhibited for each of these three themes. In addition, the gathered residents opined on various materials from which to fashion on future signs, benches, and gateway structures. It was a very hands-on assembly with many opportu- nities for comments and suggestions from citizens. Citil offices will be closed Friday. July a Calendar of events 8 Citizen Work Order 7 City I-He 3 Employee Spotlight 4 m Inside Council Chambers 2 ® Ordinance Spotlight 6 Police Blotter 5 ® Senior Calender 7 Inside Council Chambers All" r As the exciting process of fashioning a comprehensive plan for West Univer- sity Place nears its fourth town hall meeting in a series of ten, a review of the initial intent of the process and our progress thus far seems appropriate. The overall goal of this planning pro- cess is to create a long-range plan for our community which will direct deci- sion makers for the next 20 years. We call it Vision 20/20. We seek to enhance our already superb environment, by re- sponding thoughtfully and carefully to changes that have already occurred within and around our city, and by an- ticipating future changes that are just around the corner so that we can be prepared with solutions to the problems those changes could bring. The purpose of the town hall meet- ings is to gain input from citizens re- garding a myriad of topics. Thus far we have considered broad goals and objectives, safety and security, and physical identity of our city. This month, we will discuss traffic issues and the ramifications they have on the lives of each of you every day as you traverse West University Place in your car, on your bicycle, and on foot. Some citizens have reacted to this with trepidation and hesitation, voicing the opinion that nothing should ever be changed in West U. Some seem to believe we seek change for the mere sake of change. They fear we are at- tempting to turn West U into a master planned community, much like those in suburban areas to the Southwest and North of Houston. Nothing could be further from the true objective of this process. I, for one, love our community and have no desire to live in a master- planned, super-controlled environment. I do, however, believe that some change Little League. I find myself think- ing about the season that ended last month. When I do, I think X about the new families my fam- ily met, about how much my chil- dren learned about baseball, win- ning and losing, themselves, and about how much fun they had in the process. Prior seasons have provided the same positive experiences for my children, my family and me, but my memories of the people and events that made this year such a great experience are much sharper because I became more in- volved in Little League by managing my older son's Pee-Wee team. I also be- came convinced of three things about WULL. 1. Parents must participate. Your child will have a much better experi- ence if at least one parent is present for every practice and game. It's that simple. Of course, if you do show up, there is a high risk that the team's man- ager will press you into service hitting balls, catching balls or just encouraging the kids to pay attention. But when that happens, you are likely to find yourself having fun. 2. WULL builds community. The league encourages participation by all parents and does so by requiring par- ents to organize team pictures, organize the candy sale, and to serve as conces- sion stand chair, team mom, field coor- Page 2 dinator and assistant coaches. Our ex- perience has always been that the league is constantly asking people to get invovved not only formally, through the assigned jobs, but also informally through requests for help at practices. Those who become involved find themselves meeting a wider circle of families with each passing season. By bringing fami- lies together in this way, WULL plays a strong role in maintaining and enhancing our small town, strong community atmo- sphere. 3. Green Hats and Auxiliary. Among other things, these people raise money, maintain facilities, maintain and provide teams with equipment, conduct an auction fundraiser, manage the con- cession stand, and provide leadership at the league and division level. Serving as manager of a little league team has given me much more respect for the long hours that these people devote to running the league. Also, I have seen how WULL's strong tradition enables the league to consistently attract high quality individu- als to leadership positions within the league. As a result, WULL is one of the best run organizations anywhere. These people truly deserve all the rec- ognition the city can muster, both for the positive experiences they provide our children, and for the role that WULL has played and will continue to play in mak- ing this city a stronger community. Ci0 Currents is published monthly by the City of West University Place, Texas ~ Mayor Teresa Vogler (662.5801) City Council Members Tony Davis (662.5405), Cindy Neal (662.5847), Cindy Sparkman (662.5848), Patrick Starich (662.5889) City Currents welcomes your contributions. Forward material to 3800 University Boulevard, Nest University Place, TX1 77005, c/o Thelma Lenz by the 10th of the month preceding publication. General Information: 668.4441 a City Manager ShermanYehl: 662.5810; e-mail: syeld@ci.west-university-piace.tx.us Visit us on the World Wide Web at <www.ci.west-university-nlace.tx.us> City Life Page 3 Get ahead of the game Start tuning up for the season with a soccer camp sponsored by the West U Soccer Club. The program is designed to help children performing at all levels im- prove their skills through three differ- ent camps. Nebo's Total Soccer camp will be held from August 10-14. The morning classes for ages 5 and over is a session for recreational players. The evening session is a competitive level for ages 8 and over. British Coaches of the Major League Soccer Camp, formerly known as North American Soccer Camps, offer an exciting soccer expe- rience that allows players at this camp to learn new skills in a fun and enter- taining way. Designed for ages 5-12, the morning session is held for ages 5, 6, and 7, and evening sessions are for ages 8 and over. Sessions for this camp are July 27-31 and August 3-7. But hurry because you must register early. There will be no walk-on regis- tration! Everyone loves a parade Don't forget to meet in front of West U Elementary on University Boulevard, o Saturday, July 4 at 9:45 AM r; for the most creatively 10 decorated bike contest, the parade e to Colonial Park at 10:00 AM, and the refreshing dip in the pool following the parade. Pool games will begin at 12:00 NooN and there will be plenty of food and fun for everyone! Also, don't forget to sign up for Sum- mer Camp 1998, Racquet and More Camp or Sports and More Camp, ses- sions IV and V, at the Community Build- ing, 6104 Auden. For more information on the July 4th Bike Parade and Pool Party or to find out how to register for one of the sum- mer camps, call the Community Build- ing at 662.5892. Join forces with your neighbors Coming soon... the 15th Annual Na- tional Night Out. From 7 to 10 PM onTuesday, August 4, residents are asked to turn on outside lights and spend the time with neighbors and police. Many residents will spend their time hosting a variety of events such as block parties, cookouts, enjoying visits from the police, flashlight walks, youth activities, and anti-crime and drug rallies. For more information on National Night Out, contact the police department at 668.0330. ■ ■ ® The Senior Services Department is in need of ® your help! IF you are 55-65 ® years oFage and would like ® to participate in a focus ® group on July 51, from 8:00 4:00 pM, call 668.5887 on ® or before July Z. The group ® will focus on the Future ® needs of West Ups senior residents. (Mayor's Column - Continued from page 2) As I said in this column a couple of months ago, we must start from the premise that change is inevitable. To do otherwise is to close our eyes, put our fingers in our ears, and lock our doors and windows against the outside world. (And in West University Place, unlike in many other small towns, the outside world is very close by indeed!). Rather than fear and thwart all change, there- fore, the planning process seeks to em- brace change that will enhance the as- pects of our community which are valu- able to us, to accept change that seems inescapable and neutral, and to control and manage change that threatens what we value. This past month at the town hall meet- ing we discussed the addition of gate- ways and landscaping to our borders; physical identity features like signage, lighting, and benches; and the creation of a unique logo for our city. These vari- ous features will enhance security be- cause undesirable individuals will choose to avoid a confrontation with our police force and will go elsewhere to commit their offenses. In the long term, attrac- tive physical amenities will increase prop- erty values and desirability throughout our city, but especially in the less well recognized areas of West U. And, not insignificant in my mind, surrounding our- selves with beauty will enhance our en- s oyment of our own environment. West U has never actually had a unique logo. The symbol currently displayed on our letterhead, as well as in other me- dia, is an adaptation of the recycling logo. It was added as an identifying symbol for our community because we were among the first cities to engage in city- wide recycling. Now, recycling is everyone's claim to fame. Do we want to continue to identify ourselves for all time with a symbol for recycling, or should we choose instead to design our own identity, based upon what the people who live here feel and dream about West U? This month, on July 20, at 7 PM, we will meet again in the Community Build- ing to plan for the future of our City. On the agenda will be the broad subject of traffic, which has many facets, for ex- ample: where are the major traffic prob- lems in West U, how and where do we calm cut-through and speeding traffic, where should designated pedestrians routes be placed, how fast should we be driving in our city, what are the des- tinations you believe should be acces- sible by foot or by bicycle around and within West U? If you have an opinion on any of these or other traffic related issues, we need you on July 20. Please make the time to come, hear and be heard. Page EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT L - In the spotlight this month is Captain Mike Legoudes, a long-time employee of the West U Fire Department. On June 30, Mike retired from the department after twenty-five years of dedicated service. Mike came to West U as a volunteer firefighter and on August 1, 1973, was hired as a full-time employee. Mike advanced up the ranks of the depart- ment very quickly and in June 1977 was promoted to Captain, a title he held for 21 years. Captain Legoudes was one of the first West U firefighters to attend training as an EMT and Paramedic and was very involved in the start-up of the Advanced Life Support ambulance system in the city. "Over the years, Mike has had an im- pact on just about every aspect of the department, from training to writing specifications for our equipment," says Chief Stevenson. "Our department will miss Mike and the citizens of West U are losing a very dedicated employee." Though he has left the City's Fire De- partment, Mike is still involved in his pro- fession. He has been selected to head the City of Humble's EMS department. This won't be the first time he will hold this title. A resident of Kingwood, Mike headed its EMS department before it was taken over by Houston, and was instrumental in the development of that City's EMS program. Not only is Mike dedicated to his pro- fession, he is also a dedicated husband and father. He and his wife of 28 years, Sarah, recently attended their eldest son's graduation from college. Their youngest son will graduate from col- lege next year. The City extends best wishes to Mike and congratulates him on his retirement. o ~ ~ ~ ■ ® ~l I~ ,I: ~ ; C > J -F__{tee.: ~J ■ ® Thing recycle before tossing your ■ cardboard boxes out with your gar- ■ ® bage. ® Taging your cardboard to the cen- ■ ter will save you money in the long ■ ® run, because it will geep garbage costs ■ tow and recycling revenues high! ■ ■ The center is close by at 5oo4 Dincan6 and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a wea, so there 6 no ex- ®cUSe! Is it Li, f-e t r9 That's what we're going to find out! The City's Water Depart- ment, in cooperation with the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Com- mission, will be initiating lead and cop- per analysis of the drinking water sys- tem. The City is required to submit 30 samples this summer and is looking for volunteers to assist in collecting samples from their homes. If you are interested and would like an information packet delivered to you, please contact the sec- retary in the public works department at 662.5839. To participate, you must respond before July 20. Questions or inquiries may be directed to the plant supervisor, Patrick Walters at 666.8974, or via e-mail at pjwaltersl@aol.com. something And now for Homestead Recording Ser- homeowners need. According to the vice in Austin, which has AG's Consumer Protection Division, been soliciting West U resi- consumers are paying for a service that dents by direct mail with a government- is unnecessary. looking document, will file a Designa- A homestead designation is only re- tion of Homestead for a $25 fee. quired when a person's assets are sub- Money well spent? Probably not. ject to recovery in a lawsuit. But even Many consumers from across the then, a consumer would not need to des- state have previously complained to ignate his or her homestead until after a Attorney General Dan Morales that they judgment is rendered because Texas law thought they were receiving a home- generally exempts a person's homestead stead exemption, which results in a dis- from any recovery. count on a homeowner's property taxes If you think you paid a fee unneces- and can be filed free of charge with the sarily, contact the Consumer Protection local tax appraisal district. Division at 800.621.0508 to file a com- But the service being provided by HRS plaint and to see if you are eligible for a is not something most Texas refund. 6 ® ® ® ® a ! ® ® ® 0 ® ® i a ® 0 ® ® ® ® o ® ® ! i ® ® ® 0 ® ® a 0 ® ® a ® ® i 0 At the intersection of Brampton and University, bypass pumping is occurring so that a special liner can be placed in the 36" pipe. Six-thousand feet of liner is being installed from University to the City's sewerage treatment plant at a cost of $1,160,000. The project is expected to be complete in October. oee F -I r Page 5 May, 1998 Auto'Theft 2600 Albans - May 28. Resident re- ported her vehicle stolen from in front of her house. Glass was fount in the street. Vehicle recovered by Houston Police on May 29, with radio missing, dashboard damaged and window broken. No suspects or witnesses. Case closed. Burglary of a Building 3900 Browning - May 10. Resident reported that two bicycles were taken from her detached garage. No suspects or witnesses. Case closed. Burglary of a Habitation 5300 Mercer - May 31. Resident re- ported that while he was out for a couple of hours, his garage door was opened and a 12-speed bike removed. No sus- pects or witnesses. Case closed. Burglary of a oorVehicle 2700 Bissonnet - May 8. Resident reported that someone attempted to break out the front passenger window of his vehicle but damaged the frame and shattered the rear window instead. Several items were taken from the ve- hicle. No suspects or witnesses. Case closed. 3600 Rice - May 9. Residents advised that their vehicle's window was shat- tered and several items taken. No sus- pects or witnesses. Case closed. 4200 Albans - May 19. Residents called to report a burglary attempt on their vehicle. When the car alarm sounded, they found their rear window pried out and broken. No suspects or witnesses. Case closed. 4200 Sunset - May 19. Officer dis- covered the window of a vehicle pried out and broken with the doors ajar. The vehicle had been ransacked but nothing was missing. Case closed. 4200 Emory - May 19. Officer found the window of a vehicle pried out and broken with the doors ajar. Several items missing. Case closed. 4200 Emory -May 19. Officer found doors ajar on an unlocked vehicle. The vehicle had been ransacked but nothing was missing. Case closed. 4200 Lehigh - May 19. Of- ficer found the window of a ve- hicle shattered. A CD carrier was removed but later found in the driveway. Case closed. 4200 Emory - May 19. Resi- dent stated that the window to his ve- hicle had been shattered and that there were pry marks around the trunk. Noth- ing was missing. Case closed. 4200 Albans - May 19. Resident dis- covered his vehicle window shattered and removed. Nothing was missing. Case closed. 3700Arnold-May 21. Residents dis- covered their cellular phone missing from their unlocked vehicle. Case closed. 5500 Mercer - May 22. Residents chased and apprehended an individual who was seen taking luggage out of their vehicle as they packed for a trip. Ar- rest made. Case closed. 3700 Plumb - May 24. Resident ad- vised that someone had attempted to remove the tires and wheels from his car. A small black or dark blue pick-up was seen in the area. Case closed pend- ing further information. 4100 University - May 28. Resident reported that the window of her vehicle had been shattered and her purse taken. Case closed. Criminal Mischief 2800 Nottingham - May 9. Resident reported that a window in her vehicle had been broken. Nothing was miss- ing. No suspects or witnesses. Case closed. 6104 Auden - May 16. An individual reported that after a verbal confronta- tion over a parking spot, her vehicle was keyed. The suspect was found and de- tained but denied the allegation. No witnesses could be found. Case closed pending witnesses. Gees Corner ~ Iry r"'oZCca Chef Ga+y Brye. If you have not yet taken your sum- mer vacation and plan to do so soon, there are feel things you may want tc, consider doing to mal-c your absence less appealing for thieves. First, trim gushes around your home that cover any of your windows. Bushes are great hiding places. Second, cheek your exterior lighting to be sure the bulbs are working, if a thief can be seen easily, chances are he will skip that home. Third, check your doors and docks for loose or missing screws. Also be sure that the strike plates are securer! to the door frame. Fourth, if you have an alarm system,, check the entire system to be sure that it is working properly. Make sure that your permit is current and that the police department has your current emergency information. Or call for infortriation on DirectLink, a system that links your alarm system directly to the police depar tinent`s Lr.ergency 911 Center for immediate response. And last, but not least, call the po- lice department and notify them that you will be aviay on vacation and re- quest a vacation watch. If you have any questions, call us at 668.0330. Enjoy your vacation. Gary.h2: rl3rye Forgery/Credit Car Abuse 3800 Browning - May 4. Resident reported that she was contacted by a credit card company to verify an appli- cation for a card in her maiden name. She had not applied for the card, and after further investigation, found that two charge accounts had been opened re- cently under her maiden name. The accounts were closed. The resident stated that her wallet had been stolen years ago prior to her marriage. Case closed pending further information. (Continued on page 6) Page 6 (Blotter - continued from page 5) 2700 Tangley - May 8. Resident re- ported that his credit card statement showed a cash transfer that he didn't make. Case closed pending further in- formation. 3600 Nottingham - May 16. Resi- dent stated that he received a letter from a credit card company regarding exten- sive purchases on an account closed two years ago. He also received a letter from a department store creditor citing a large balance. Case closed pending further information. 4100 Ruskin - May 16. Resident re- ported that he received a call from a credit card company to verify charges made recently in California. The com- pany informed him that he was sent a new card in March. He never received it. Case closed pending further infor- mation. 4100 Cason - May 19. Resident re- ported that she had received a call from a credit card company about a large balance due on her account, which she had recently paid off. The card expired in May and she had not received the replacement card that was reportedly mailed. Case closed pending further in- formation. 4200 Judson - May 21. Resident re- ported that she received a department store credit statement for an account she did not open. Further checking found that credit cards for other stores had been issued in her name. Also, charges were made to a credit card for which a renewal had been sent but never received. Case closed pending further information. 6700 Belmont - May 23. Resident reported that he had received a call from a credit card company to verify charges made to a newly issued card. He had not yet received the card, so the account was closed. A local jewelry store called him to verify if he had attempted to open an in-store credit line; he had not. Case pending. 3600 Rice - May 25. A local busi- ness reported a forgery in progress. A store clerk remembered previous prob- lems with the name on a check that the suspect attempted to cash. When the police were called, the suspect fled. Case pending. 4200 Bissonnet May 26. Resident reported charges made on his gasoline credit card account. Two renewal cards had been sent to him but had not been received. Case closed pending further information. 6700 Westchester - May 27. Resi- dent advised that attempts were made to obtain credit cards in his name. He had received two calls from credit card companies verifying his application for credit. The resident checked his credit report and found a charge account listed that was not his. Case closed pending further information. 6500 Wakeforest - May 30. Resi- dent reported that he received a call from a Dallas store employee verifying a credit card charge. As he had not made the purchase, he checked with the credit card company and found nu- merous recent charges. The resident had not received the renewal card re- cently mailed to him. Case closed pending further information. Theft 3800 Amherst - May 11. The City's Building Official reported two calcula- tors missing from employees' desks. One was thought to have disappeared last October and the second was noticed missing approximately three weeks ago. Case closed pending further information. 4100 Byron - May 12. A City em- ployee advised that a park bench was missing from the entrance to the city pool. No suspects or witnesses. Case closed. 6300 Sewanee - May 17. Resident reported two watches and a pen miss- ing from his bedroom. Three friends of his son were over earlier and one of them was seen coming downstairs supposedly after using the bathroom. Case pending. Thi8 month'* ordinanev- 6po tlight i6... S ~I L eve s 4 f ® Special events are those events that ® require diverting traffic and/or block- • ing streets. Such events are block ® parties, fun runs, marathons and pa- there is a two-hour time limit that the ® rades. Normally, the allowed time for street can be blocked (the two hours ® special events is from 8:00 AM to sun- must be within the special events hours ® set. However, if your event requires stated above; and (4) the City provides blocking off or diverting traffic from barricades. ® Weslayan, Rice, University, Buffalo For fun runs, marathons and parades, ® Speedway, Sunset or Bissonnet, the a special events registration form is ® time range is from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM also required. The difference is that, ® or 6:00 PM to sunset. based on the type of event, there may m To host a special event, you must be associated costs. For instance, if ® first notify the police department and animals or motor vehicles are part of ® complete a Special Events Registra- the event, insurance coverage will be tion Form, which can be obtained at necessary. Other costs that can be m the police department: There is no incurred are costs for postage and ® cost associated with filing this form. printing to notify residents living in ® The most common special event homes on the route of the event and/ ® request is for block parties. If you or the costs for manpower if traffic ® are interested in hosting a block party, control is required at major intersec- ® some things to remember are (1) tions. ® there can only be a total of three block d f e k d i h d l However, if an advanced notice of at least 60 da s is iven notification or any w en ® part es sc e u e e y g , ® and on separate holidays; (2) approval costs would not be incurred. ■ is first come/first serve and is based Should you have additional questions ® on the police department's receipt of regarding this ordinance, please con- ® the completed registration form; (3) tact the police department at 668.0330. Page 7 Senlows' of events for July ® July 7, Tuesday Today we'll go to the Museum ofNatu- ral Science for the Taiwanese Jade Exhibit to view the largest collection of jade ever seen in the U.S. 2:00 - 4:00 PM. Free. ® July 8, Wednesday If you need to brush up your knowledge about Social Security and Medicare, then join us for this infor- mative seminar. 10:00 AM - NOON. Free. -July 10, Friday Part three of the Friday Morning Law Series. Real Estate and Home Equity. 10:00 - 11:00 AM. Donations accepted. Today we'll also have our annual hot dog party with entertainment provided by Arte Alamenco. We will learn about flamenco dance through questions and answers, music and performance. Come have a great time with us from 12:00 NOON - 2:00 PM. $2. • July 14, Tuesday If you couldn't attend the June view- ing, then come with us today to expe- rience the splendor of Everest at IMAX. Witness how the high alti- tudes challenge a climber's physi- cal and mental capabilities. 2:00 - 4:30 PM. $3.50. ® July 22, Wednesday The 19th annual Introduction 98 has been up most of the month and we are going to spend some time today viewing it. As of the printing of the calendar, we don't know the exact galleries we will be visiting, but plan on going any- way. Time to be announced. Free. ® July 31, Friday A New Approach to Senior Living is the title of today's seminar presented by St. Luke's speakers and sponsored by Belmont Village. They will discuss re- tirement lifestyles and living options. 10:00 - 11:00 AM. Free. NOTICE OF AUCTION The City of West U will hold an ` auction on Saturday, July 18 E behind the Public Works [ building, 3826 Milton. Viewing ofthe auction items will be from i 8:30- 10:00 AM, with the auction beginning thereafter. So, ifyou are in need of used office equipment, furniture and/or supplies, stop by and buy! rl `1u u August ll,Tuesday Here's another chance to see the very large collection of Taiwanese Jade from the Ch'ing Dynasty. 2:00 to 4:00 PM. Free. Please call 713.662.5895 for more information or to make reservations to attend any of these events. They'll call him chief Lt. Gary Brye may no longer have to act like a chief City manager Sherman Y Yehl announced in t~ late June that he will ° 11, be recommending B rye for Chief of Po- lice at the July 13 meeting of the City Council. Yehl's recommendation comes after interviewing four candidates for the position. "Gary's experience, tech- nological background, professionalism, and human relations skills were key fac- tors in his selection," said Yehl. Brye is a 1980 graduate of Texas A&M with a bachelor of arts degree and a 1991 graduate of Sam Houston State university with a master of sci- ence in criminal justice management. Brye began his career in law enforce- ment at Texas A&M after graduating and then came to West U in 1981 and has been here ever since, serving in vir- tually all positions in the department. Helpful information water conservation Due to the dry spell, watering lawns has become a necessity. Here are a few tips to help reduce water usage without sacrificing an attractive land- scape. 1. Water in the early morning or early evening. If you water during the heat of the day, as much as 30 percent of the water will be lost to evaporation. 2. Water in short sessions rather than a single long one. It's better to water in 10-minute sessions, with each session a half-hour apart. Watering steadily for 30 minutes causes run-off. 3. Xeriscape. Xeriscaping is water wise landscaping that stresses proper soil preparation and efficient irrigation. Less maintenance and lower water bills are the results. Contact your local gar- den center for more information. Other tips for reducing water usage include using a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways, walks, and patios; keep grass at least two inches high to shade roots and hold moisture; aerate lawns regularly and use mulch around plants to reduce evaporation; and water trees slowly, deeply, and infrequently to encourage deep rooting. For more hints about reducing water usage, visit WaterWise at www.waterwise.org. a ■ ■ ■ e ■ m ■ a e o p G OY r-alufa llions ® zo esi WS -1O9N The Last Page Page s T UNiVe i COMMUNITY U ZM4 ,08R ` l L! Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Friends of West Building & Standards City closed s!gxj 7rYrday Parks, @ 6:30 PM i Commission @ 6:30 the Public Work PM in the Public Works Trash pick-up Lunchroom Lunchroom, 3826 will resume on Bike parade and Amherst next scheduled pool party. Parks Board @ 7:3 day, PM, in Public Work 2 Lunchroom 1 3 4 Seniors Social Security Zoning and Planning Friday Morning \ s and Medicare seminar Commission @7:00 Law Series: #3 P.M. in the Public Works Lunchroom, Seniors Hot Dog Seniors trip to MFA 3826 Amherst Party. for Taiwanese Jade Exhibit 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Council Work- Seniors trip to IMA Zoning Board of City auction @ shop @ 6:45 PM to view EVEREST Adjustment @6:30 10:00 AM, Public Community Ctr. P.M. in the Public Works lunchroom Works Lunchroom, Council Meeting 3826 Amherst @ 7:30 PM 12 Community Ctr. 13 14 15 16 17 18 Town Hall Meeting Seniors 19th annual @7:00 - 9:00 PM "Introduction 98" Community Center, 6104 Auden Topic: Traffic Calm- ing 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Council Work- Seniors seminar: shop @ 6:45 PM A New Approach Community Ctr. to Senior Living 41 P, A mu) Council Meeting 26 @ 7:30 PM Community Ctr. 27 28 29 30 31® 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 City of Vest University Place . r 41 31300 University Boulevard West University Place, Texas 77005 BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 600 Houston, TX