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Home My WebLink AboutSummer 2010A NEIGHBORHOOD ITY INCORPORATED IN 1925 When planning commenced to replace the original Colonial Park pool, City staffers were charged with creat- ing a new pool that would accommodate the recreational aquatic needs of all of West University Place's citizens. Tough task. Mission accomplished. "We made certain the design was multigenerational," says Parks Director Tim O'Connor. "It's a destination for everyone." The new pool's opening on Memorial Day weekend showed what creativity and imagination can do. This water-based smorgasbord fits into a 10,207-square-foot footprint while providing an aura of spaciousness. Colonial Park pool can serve as many as 556 bathers at a time. "This is one of my favorite pool designs because of the ameni- ties and the organization the City used," says Project Manager Haley Panton of WaterTechnology, Inc. Panton's company over- sees more than 150 municipal aquatic projects a year. "This pool is laid out to fit all ages and abilities," says Panton. Among the pool's features, and new to the Houston area, is a nine-foot climbing wall that fits between the water slide and the enclosed section for water basketball/volley- ball, which can be reconfigured for lap swimming. Upon entering the new Colonial pool site, bathers immediately encounter lounge chairs arrayed around a pool section offering underwater benches and room for leisure swimming for all ages. Nearby is a large water spray feature that will create hours of fun, along with the lily- pad/rope course for the brave and mischievous. "Our residents will want to stay for at least two or three hours," says O'Connor. "Colonial Park was once the hub of the community. Now it will regain its status as the place to be during the summer." Residents will find much to like at the new Colonial Park pool. In addition to changing rooms and multipurpose areas, there is a new grill that will serve patrons inside on the pool deck as well as walk-up customers from outside. The popular Edloe Street Deli will operate concessions at this site. Parks & Recreation staff boast that the Colonial Park pool could quickly become the "best bargain in town." Residents can access the new pool by paying a $2.50 walk-in fee, and their guests may do the same for $5 each. Season passes are $65 for individuals, $90 for couples or $150 per family. Patrons 65 years and older can use the pool at no charge. For a fun and affordable aquatic desti- nation, Colonial Park pool has no equal in Houston. Currents Summer 2010 From Your Mayor I have lived in West U for over 35 years and during that time I have seen our City's homes go through several transitions. First was the remodeling of the 1930s-1940s homes bought by contractors for resale. Next, homes of that same vintage were bought by families who intended to live in them and who hired remod- eling contractors of their own. Then came the large additions to those homes, which had the effect of more than doubling their square footage. Later those homes, with their addi- tions, were torn down to make room for larger homes. And finally those homes were also torn down to build even larger ones. Just when I was starting to think that this latest transition had to be the last, another began: the purchas- ing of lots by some of our citizens beside and/ or behind their homes. Why are they doing this? The major reason is that we have found ourselves stacked on top of each other due to the earlier transitions when houses grew with no corresponding increases in lot size. Thus, those that can afford to do so are solving their lack of land space with adjacent lot acquisitions. Sounds good, huh? Well, maybe. If that additional land is used as nothing more then added green space to put some distance between our homes, then yes. But issues began to arise when that additional land started being used for tennis courts, swimming pools, basketball courts, batting cages, and other such recreational facilities, most of which are brightly lit, not to mention the f-= new creative landscaping concepts that some residents are using to incor- porate their additional land. Some of these new landscaping concepts appear to be in violation of existing setback ordinances or are prompting the consideration of changes to existing ones. The City has begun to ponder the eternal question of, "if it looks like a fence, acts like a fence, and smells like a fence, then is it a fence or what?" If it's a fence, does it come under the City's existing fence ordinance (which would require its removal)? Or is a change to existing ordinances needed? Answers to these questions are due soon. So, what's the problem? Well, surprise, surprise, the neighbors next to those private recreational facilities are complaining about increased noise levels and lighting overflow onto their property. Sound familiar? Sort of like the complaints that come from residents who live around West U's public recreational/com- mercial facilities? Are these fellow citizens being unreasonable? Ask one of them. Don't think that just because you are not hearing from them, by Mayor Bob Kelly they are willing to live with the status quo. I and other City officials are hearing from them. What can we do about it? Common sense is the answer. Lighting needs to be professionally done so as to ensure that little, if any, overflow goes onto adjoining lots. Also, noise levels need to be kept down and ended altogether within reasonable hours both during the week and on weekends. What is reasonable? Check with your neighbors and work it out. I would suggest erring on the side of less rather than more. Is this overly demanding? No. We all live in a densely populated area (15,000-plus people in two square miles), and we all have to respect each other's property rights. It's not an answer to say: "It is my property and I can do what I want with it. " Sure, the City can step in and either enforce existing noise/light ordinances or pass stricter ones. But that shouldn't have to happen. However, if our citizens cannot work the matter out between them, the City may have to be the one to do it. West U considers itself a Neighborhood City. Let's all work to keep it that way! From Council Me b►er George Boehm e The late Whitt Johnson, former West University Place mayor and city manager, said there are three reasons people move to West University Place: zoning, zoning and zoning. I think Mayor Johnson was spot on. Zoning is the way that the West U munici- pal government controls which uses and structures are allowed on individual tracts of property. Our residential zoning laws are strict and efficient, and they have worked well to provide stability and predictability for most of our single-family neighborhoods. However, our commercial zoning laws are a mess. They are full of loopholes, the biggest being our permis- sive "grandfather" exceptions for existing com- mercial structures, businesses and parking. Our commercial uses are limited to proper- ties along Kirby, Bissonnet, Bellaire/Holcombe and on Edloe next to the school. But as a result of these commercial zoning loopholes, we have no code-compliant commercial buildings in West University Place. These loopholes and "grandfather" provisions allow owners of older commercial buildings to essentially opt out of our commercial zoning laws. Their non-com- pliant features are "grandfathered" forever. These "grandfathered" commercial structures are not required to follow West U zoning laws, our building code, the International Electrical Code, the International Plumbing Code or the International Fire Code. Our commercial zoning rules also allow for a non-compliant structure to be completely gutted, down to its bare walls, and then rebuilt according to a new and different internal design that would be illegal under current law but for the "grandfa- ther" provision. Current West University Place law also allows leapfrogging from one non-compliant commercial business to another non-com- pliant commercial business - for instance, converting a muffler shop to a restaurant and then later to a liquor store or a medical office. Parking shortages related to existing commercial businesses are also "grandfa- thered" in perpetuity. I am pleased the City Council recently made modernizing our "grandfather" provisions a top priority. Our professional City staff will bring its recommendation to our Planning and Zoning Commission at its August meeting. It is expected that the City Council will then receive a recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission for consideration in September. Cliched statements sometimes speak pro- found truths: "A chain is only as strong as its weakest link." The "weakest link" in the West University Place zoning strategy is most cer- tainly its very permissive commercial "grand- father" rules. These loopholes and exceptions weaken an otherwise strong zoning strategy that has provided West University Place resi- dents with stability and predictability for more than 50 years. But the fix is coming; we are about to repair the weakest link. Community Message Board Want to know what's going on in your city? Get City News by Email Get News Alerts by Email 5 Get Text Message Alerts SIGN UP FOR ALERTS! Did you know that the City provides an easy way to keep up-to-date on the latest changes to City services? It is easy to use-just visit wwwwestu.org and click the link "Get City News by Email." The best part of this service is that you can select the information you want to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time. By subscribing, you will be kept up- to-date on City emergencies, changes to services, such as garbage and recycling collection, and (if you desire) agendas for City Council and board meetings. City Phone Numbers Emergency - Police & Fire: 91 1 Police Dept. Non-emergency: (713)668-0330 General City Information: (713) 668-4441 Building Permits: (713) 662-5833 Code Enforcement: (713) 662-5831 Colonial Park Pool: (7 1 3)662-7462 Community Building / Senior Services: (713) 662-5895 DirectLink Alarm Monitoring: (713) 662-5860 Fire Dept. Non-emergency: (713) 662-5835 Friends of West U Parks: (713)662-5396 Municipal Court: (71 3) 662-5825 Planning Department: (71 3) 662-5843 Police Dept. Crime Prevention: (713) 662-5869 Public Works Information: (713)662-5839 Recreation Center: (713) 662-7420 Senior Services: (713) 662-5895 Urban Forestry: (713) 662-5313 Utility Billing: (713) 662-5824 2010 Garbage 1 Recycling Holiday Schedule Independence Day (Observed); Monday, July 5: No curbside collection; normal collection will resume on your next scheduled day. Labor Day, Monday, September 6: No curbside collection; normal collection will resume on your next scheduled day. Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, November 25: No curbside collection; garbage regularly scheduled for pickup on this day will be picked up on Friday, November 26. Please hold your recyclables until your next scheduled recycle day. Day after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 26: Normal collection of garbage and recyclables; City offices will be closed. Additional Christmas Holiday, Thursday, December 23: Normal collection of garbage and recyclables; City offices will be closed. Christmas Day (Observed), Friday. December 24: No curbside collection; garbage regularly scheduled for pickup on this day will be picked up on Monday, December 27 Please hold your recyclables until your next scheduled recycle day. New Year°s Day (Observed), Friday, December 31: No curbside collection; garbage regularly scheduled for pickup on this day will be picked up on Monday, January 3. Please hold your recyclables until your next scheduled recycle day. QUIET HOURS Currents Summer 2010 CURRENTS Independence Day Bike Parade and Pool Party When: Saturday, July 3 Time: Line up by 9:45 AM, Parade begins at 10:00 AM Kids of all ages are invited to participate in West U's annual Independence Day parade by decorating their bicycles, non- motorized scooters, tricycles, wagons and strollers. Participants must line up in front of West U Elementary at 3756 University by 9:45 AM to participate. The parade will end at Colonial Park, 4130 Byron. Afterwards, the festivities will continue with free admission to the pool, plenty of food (via the West U Rotary BBQ fundraiser) and fun for the entire family! The event wraps up around 2:00 PM. www westu.org Weekdays (Mon - Fri), execpt holidays Before 7:00 AM or after 8:00 PM Saturdays, except holidays Before 8:00 AM or after 8:00 PM Sundays and on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and the corresponding Friday or Monday on which the city observes that holiday Before 12 Noon or after 8:00 PM Currents Summer ZUIU Parks & Recreation Fathers & Flashlights Coming on October 23 - 24 Dads and kids, are you sticking to your plan to attend the annual Fathers & Flashlights campout? Come try the new Velcro wall! You will become so attached, you will want more fun! Campers will enjoy a smorgasbord of activities at the overnight campout, including arts and crafts, outdoor games, a rock wall, moonwalks, live music with two bands, fun snacks, fishing, and stargazing. Co-chairs Anne and John Freeman and Courtney and Scott Archer are planning the fourth annual event, sched- uled for October 23-24.To accommodate the overwhelming demand for the fishing tank, we are having two tanks this year. Come rough it on the fields surrounding West U Elementary School, get to know your neighbors, and spend some time with friends. If you are a former camper, priority registration starts Tuesday, August 17. For newcomers, open registration begins Tuesday, August 24. For more information, visit www.westuparks.org or email fathersandflashlights@westuparks.org. so•cia•ble \'s6-sh3-b3l\ noun (use as a noun is very rare): a party of people assembled to promote sociability and communal activity You may have heard or read about "sociables" more than a few times here in West U. Perhaps you have been wondering what all the buzz is about. The Friends of West U Parks gives resi- dents the opportunity to mingle with their familiar West U friends and meet new ones at various sociable events given throughout the year. The themes of the sociables vary from wine tastings and crawfish boils to cookie making and margarita parties for moms! The sociable sizes range from intimate to large. The nominal fee for these events goes right back to your community, funding projects supported by the Friends of West U Parks. Now you know! See you there! We can't wait to meet you or see you again! West U Park Pavers are now available! Be among the first to purchase a paver for the new Colonial Park Pool Complex or the new West University Recreation Center. The proceeds from your purchase will generate much needed funds for the development and improvement of West U's parks and green space. These brick pavers are a unique way to show your sup- port for West U parks while you honor a loved one or someone who has been a significant influence in your life. Pavers are engraved with an inscription of your choice and placed in any one of West U's parks. For more information, please contact Friends board member Matthew Foytlin at mfoytlin@bmpllp.com, or call the Friends office at (713) 662-7430. Are you ready for Park Lovers' Ball 2011 ? Under the leader- ship of park lovers Jennifer Debow and Amy Reeves, the ball is expected to break all previous attendance records. Next year's ball, "An Evening in Cupid's Garden," will take place at the Hilton Houston Post Oak on February 12, 201 1. Joni and Mark Fichter Please call (713) 662-7420 for more information, or visit the West University Place Recreation Center, 4210 Bellaire Blvd., to register Chinese Calligraphy for Beginners Mondays, July 12 - September 16 6:00 - 8:00 PM Recreation Center, 4210 Bellaire Blvd. $160 R, $70 NR In a relaxed, meditative atmosphere, learn eight Chinese characters and use them to complete a calligraphic artwork. This class covers the history of Chinese calligraphy and the basics of brush strokes. Fitness Yoga Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 29 - September 12 12:30 - 1:30 PM Recreation Center, 4210 Bellaire Blvd. $60 R, $70 NR Energize your lunch hour with this fitness-based yoga class. The class is designed to give you a great workout while increasing your strength, flexibility, balance and inner calm. Participants should bring a yoga mat and water bottle. Please visit www.westu.org and select the Parks & Rec,eat~®rn ±o download the Summer 2010 't,Vest U at Your Leisure" guide. Look for the Fall 2010 guide to arrive in your mailbox at the end of July; regis- tration for Fall classes begins August 10. Contact the Parks & Recreation staff at (713) 662-7420 for more information. Cinco de Mama The Friends of West U Parks celebrated Cinco de Mayo with its second annual "Cinco de Mama" sociable. This year's fiesta was held at Hacienda Davis, the home of Stephanie and Josh Davis. There were margaritas, cerveza and great food, as well as an appear- ance by Dora - a giant pinata with mom- style prizes inside! The hosts, Stephanie Davis, Sue Jensen, Beth Lane, Carrie Lium, Robin McGowan, Jenny Saphier, Adrienne Vanderbloemen and Kelli Walsh, were all on hand to make sure everyone had a great time. Proceeds from the event benefited the Friends of West University Place Parks Fund, Inc. Currents Summer 2010 Public Safet l<< Summertime Is a With the growing fear of burglaries and fires, residents and business owners alike are now Hot Time for Crime considering installing alarm systems or having their existing system connected to a mom- As you plan outdoor summer activities and vaca- toying station. The monitoring of your alarm system demands the highest level of trust and tions, remember that this is an opportune time for crime. Learn to keep crime at bay with these tips professionalism. For less than a dollar a day and with no contract to sign, the City ofWest for enjoying a safe summer, University Place offers residents and business owners the option of having their burglary and fire alerts monitored locally by our Emergency Communication Dispatch Center. A study Install outside lighting, such as motion-detec found that with the "DirectLink" service, you save valuable minutes in response time by tion lights or dusk-to-dawn lights. having your alarm signal go directly to the emergency responders rather than through an • Trim shrubbery around your home to eliminate hiding places. outside source. This service is available to residents and businesses in West U for only $25 per .Be sure that your door locks are sturdy, function- month. For your convenience, this charge appears on your monthly water utility statement. ing and the proper type (i.e., dead bolt or double The City's DirectLink monitoring service can cylinder locks are needed wherever glass is present). Have all locks keyed to one key only interface with most alarm systems, although some D RR= . Place a key in the immediate area in case of proprietary units cannot be monitored without emergency - well hidden, but quickly acces- changing the alarm panel.You have the option of sible. Do not leave a key hanging in the inside (1) using only your landline telephone service or (2) adding wireless signal transmission as a lock while you are away. backup to your landline should the telephone line suffer an outage or be cut. Be sure that double-hung, casement and sliding You may not know that if you currently have an alarm system in your home or business, it windows function and lock properly. needs to be permitted and registered with the City of West University Place. Any alarm system Your address number should be clearly visible found to not be permitted could result in an ordinance violation fine of $300. The relevant from the street. city ordinance in Chapter 26, Alarm Systems, appears as follows: Close and lock your garage door when you are not outside nearby. Article VIII. Sec. 26-189. In general; Permits Lock your vehicle, even when it is in the garage, (a) Operating permits, by type of system. It shall be unlawful for any person to and keep all personal property out of view. operate, cause to be operated or permit the operation of an alarm system, Do not leave bikes unattended. Lock your bike, unless the appropriate type of permit for the system is in effect. even if you are going to be away for only a few moments. Registering your bike helps in recover- For more information on DirectLink or to obtain an Alarm Permit Application, call the ing it if it is stolen. DirectLink Coordinator at (713) 662-5860 or visit the City's website at wwwwestu.org and Alarm systems installed by a licensed company click on the large red DirectLink logo in the box titled "West U's Alarm Monitoring Service" are effective. Information on the city's Direct Link on the home page. system can be obtained from the Fire Department. Activate the alarm system even if you plan to be gone only a short time. Who to (;all for Assistance • Keep all first floor doors and windows closed and Non-emergency Number: (713) Fsf 3-R?'t locked. When working or sitting in the yard, keep your The West University Place Police Department urges everyone to call the police should you front door locked and your garage door closed see anything or anyone suspicious in your area. It is important, however, that you make sure and locked. your call has reached the dispatcher. From time to time, employees of the Police and Fire Vacation planning is extremely important. Use Department have returned to work after days off or vacation to find voice mail messages on light timers. Notify the Police Department when their work numbers asking for assistance. Many of these messages were from people who you leave by calling (713) 662-5852 or by ' thought they were calling the police dispatcher and who assumed, after leaving a message, completing the form found on the City s website www•westu.org (follow the dropdown menu from that their request was being taken care of when in reality the message had found its way to City Departments to Police to House Watch). If someone's voice mail. If that person is taking a day off or on vacation, it may be several days possible, have a neighbor or friend keep an eye before someone actually hears the request for help. We are here for you around the clock, all on your home and pick up mail and newspapers. day, every day, so remember, if you call the Police Department or Fire Department and you get Be aware of your surroundings and the people a voice mail and not a live operator, you probably did not actually call the police dispatcher. around you when you walk, jog or bike. -Always lock your vehicle when you leave it unat- In iife.-tp`t reatrk' ring situations or in aefu='.' ~ tended. Place personal property such as GPS emergencies. always call 91 1 , devices, cell phones, purses, money and any other valuables in the trunk or take them with you. Otherwise contact the Police or Fire Departments through the non-emergency number: If you have any questions, please call the City !i (713) 668-0330. Just make sure you speak to a live operator! of West University Place Police Department at (713) 668-0330. For additional information 3814 University Blvd. Contact Sergeant A. E. Gomez WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE POLICE DEPT. West University P1ace,Texas 77005 (713) 662-5869 or agomez@westu.org Currents Summer 2010 Public Works It's Swimming Pool Time Again Are You Safe? Consider these sabering injury and drowning statistics from swimming pool accidents • Each day in the United States, nine people drown. • The most common place for a 1- to 4-year old child to drown is in a home swimming pool. • Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death among children ages 1 to 4. • For each death caused by drowning, there are one to four nonfatal submersion accidents serious enough for the victim to be hospitalized. • Nonfatal drownings can result in brain damage that may lead to long-term disabili- ties, including memory problems, learning disabilities and permanent loss of basic functioning. • Roughly 5,000 children ages 14 and under each year go to the hospital because of accidental drowning-related incidences; 15% die and about 20% suffer from perma- nent neurological disability. • Of those involved in a home pool drowning accident, 77% have been missing for only five minutes (or less) when found in the swimming pool, and 70% weren't expected to be in or near the pool at that time. • In nearly nine out of 10 child drowning deaths, a parent or a caregiver claimed to be watching the child. Please follow these swirimting pool safety measures: • Never leave children unobserved around water. Adult supervision is recommended. • Install a phone by the pool or keep a cordless phone nearby so that you can immedi- ately call 911 in the case of an emergency. • Learn CPR and insist that babysitters, grandparents and others who care for your child know CPR as well. • Post CPR instructions and 911 or your local emergency number near the pool. • Enclose the pool on all sides with a fence that has vertical bars and a self-locking, self- closing gate. Openings in the fence should be no more than four inches wide. • Four-sided fencing that isolates the pool from the house and the yard has been shown to decrease the number of drowning injuries anywhere from 50% to 90%. • Never leave furniture near the fence that could enable someone to climb over it. • Always keep basic lifesaving equipment by the pool and know how to use it. Poles, ropes and personal floatation devices are suggested. • Keep toys away from the pool when it is not in use. Toys can attract children to the water. • Completely remove pool covers before using the pool. • If a child is missing, make sure to check the pool first. Seconds count in drowning accidents. What else can you do to make sure your swimming pool is safe? • Check your pool access gates to be sure they close and lock when you open them to a 45 degree angle and let them go. The latch should be at least 54 inches above the ground. • Gates should open away from the pool area; kids are creative and persistent, and it is much more difficult for them to unlatch a gate and pull it toward them than open a latch and push. • Make sure if any door in your house opens directly onto your pool that you have a door alarm installed. This alarm should not be your personal house security alarm. You should have an alarm with a delay / bypass button that allows passage going IN or OUT to be monitored. The bottom line is that no one has ever said, "I must have been too safe because nothing bad happened." What people do say is, "I wish I had..." Site Visibility Triangle; Now that the growing season for plants and foliage is well underway, please take some time to observe where growth has occurred and if any plants or leaves are blocking your line of sight around your driveway. The City's zoning regulations have established a drivewa, visibility triangle," and objects/plants higher thE two feet are not allowed within this triangle. Th triangle begins at the intersection of the drive- way and public walk, extending five feet along the public walk and driveway. Keeping this are. open and unobstructed allows you to easily se pedestrians, small children and vehicles when exiting your driveway. A similar visibility triangle is located at the corner of two city streets. The "legs" of the street visibility triangle extend twenty feet along each curb from the intersection of the road right-of-way. Nothing higher than three feet should be located within the triangle; tree branches/foliage may not hang lower than 13 feet. Also, keep your plantings trimmed away from the public sidewalk so that passers-by ai not impeded. For questions or additional information about visibility triangles, please contact the Planning Division by calling (713) 662-5893. It is that time of year again! Beautiful weather encourages us to enjoy the outdoors and bring our pets with us. Help keep your pet and our City safe by walking your pet on a leash. While out walking, you also need to be sure to clean up after your pet to avoid spreading disease and waste. You are required to register your pet with the city's Animal Control Officer. The cost is $20 for a lifetime registration. You will receive a tag to keep as proof of registration. Your pet shout, wear the tag along with the rabies tag. It will help Animal Control identify your pet should it leave your yard or become lost. Periodically make sure that all enclosures where your pets are kept are secure. Please call the Animal Control Officer with any questions at (713) 662-5831. Public Work Waste Not, Want Not We are blessed with many things in West U: a beautiful neighborhood, good parks and a user-friendly recycling service. A recent survey indicated that 91 % of all households are recy- cling in one form or another, which is a fantastic participation rate. Unfortunately, the level of that participation varies greatly. Whether you are motivated by economics or want to protect the environment, reducing your trash and maximiz- ing your recycling makes good practical sense. Percentage of Trash Recycled (therefore diverted from landfill) in 2008 80 I 60 40 20 Here are a fever easy ideas to encourage you: Reasons given by residents for not recycling • Before you throw something in the trash, check to see if it can be recycled. For information, Laziness click the "Recycling Schedule & Info" link at the Inability due to ofd age / illness bottom left of the home page at www.westu.org. Not realizing what can be recycled • Instruct your household help to recycle. ' Not knowing how to recycle • Bottles, jars and tins don t have to be clean - just give them a quick rinse, if desired. Paper/card- board with minimal food remnants (such as The EPA estimates that in 2008 pizza boxes) are fine to be recycled. Americans generated 250 million tons • At the store (if you do not bring a reusable of trash or 4.6 lbs. per day. In West U grocery bag), ask for paper bags instead of we generated 5.3 Ibs per dayl plastic. These are great for holding your paper and cardboard for recycling, and they fit neatly Reduce your consumption. under a bench or in a cupboard. And did you "For every barrel of waste we send to the known we can still recycle papers that have been landfill, another 71 barrels are sent from the left out in the rain? • We encourage you to use the official West U industrial processes that transformed the raw blue bin; however, you can use any receptacles material into finished goods" of similar size - one for paper/ cardboard, (Elizabeth Royte, Garbage Land, 2005) another for plastic, glass and metal.. Just label the box: "Recycling. Do Not Dispose of Bin:' Items Accepted by West U • Bulk boxes from Costco or Sam's make excellent . Paper - all types containers for recyclables. Cardboard (except wax coated) • Extra West U blue bins are available for x;15. If ' . Plastics - 1 2 3 4 5 & 7 you can t lift your bin, the City has wheel kits , , , , Aluminum (cans) available for $5. Please call (713) 662-5839. • Help elderly or sick neighbors by offering to Tin cans put their recycling out each week. Glass bottles and jars • If you can't wait for your weekly service, There is no excuse for any of these items RecyclExpress on Dincans is open 24 hours, to be in your trash. seven days a week. Based upon the recent West U recycling survey, you are probably already- doing some recycling, but by changing a few habits, you will be able to recycle even .more. Spread the word to others so we can make West U a leader, a truly green city, setting a wonderful example for other cities to follow. If gyve all increase our recycling, we can q uickly eclipse the EPA's recommended trash reduction rate of 34%. Given that you have already taken the first step in recycling and that the City provides a convenient weekly curbside pickup service as well as a 24/7 dropoff service, what is stopping you from taking the next step? Around 50% of your trash could be recyclable under West U's current service! Percentage of US Other, 3.30% Food Scraps, 12.70% Municipal Solid Waste by Material Paper, 31 Yard Trimmings, 13.20% before Recycling in 2008 (total = 250 million tons)' Data Source: EPA 2009 Wood, 6.60% http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/ nonhaz/municipal/pubs/ Glass, 4.9% Rubber, Leather, Textiles, 7.90% msw2008rpt.1Ddf Metals, 8.40% t Plastics, 12% Currents Summer 2010 Water Conservation at Home Water conservation is very important to all of us. Here are some reasons to con- serve water: • Save water for future citizens. • Lower our water bills. We can reach these goals by practicing water conservation. Consider applying these water conservation methods in your daily lives: • Turn off the water while you are brush- ing your teeth or shaving. Run the water only when needed. • Keep a container of water in the refrig- erator for drinking. • When washing your car, use a nozzle that has a spring-loaded shutoff valve or turn off the water when it is not in use. • Yard and garden watering tips: • Use soaker hoses buried under mulch to water garden areas. • Set sprinkler timers to deliver the equivalent of '/4 inch of rain twice a week. Determine the time by setting a pie pan in the sprinkler zone and mea- suring how long it takes to accumulate '/4 inch of water in the pan. • Do not allow automatic sprinklers to run when it has been raining. Turn the sprinkler controls off, and then turn them back on after three days of no rain. • If possible, avoid using sprinklers on windy days. The wind blows the water away from the lawn or garden and increases water evaporation. • Only run the dishwasher with full loads. Scrape and rinse food particles from the dishes before loading them to reduce the extra washing that may be required to remove hardened food. • Only run the washing machine with full loads of clothes, or use the correct load settings for smaller loads. Other actions can help us reach our water conservation goals. These include installing water-conserving plumbing fixtures and appliances, and the prompt detection and repair of leaks. Have a wonderful and safe summer, and remember: WATER IS LIFE. RRENTS A Newsletter for the citizens of West University Place Summer 2010 CITY OF WEST U OFFICIALS CITY COUNCIL Mayor Bob Kelly MEMBERS Mayor Pro-Tern Bob Fry George Boehme Chuck Guffey Steven Segal CITY Michael Ross (713) 662-5810 MANAGER or mross@westu.org GENERAL (713) 668-4441 INFORMATION CITY WEBSITE www.westu.org City Currents is a quarterly publication and is printed on recycled paper. 8 City Currents Summer 2010 s County's Household rdous Waste Facility mentioned in our Spring issue of City Currents, st U residents will be changing their drop-off ation for household hazardous waste (HHW). rris County's new HHW facility has opened at 3hway 290 and N. Gessner. Access is available e of charge; West U residents no longer have to a voucher. you have questions concerning the facility, ease visit www.cleanwaterways.org and click e "Find out more" link under Household izardous Waste near the bottom of the web- .ge. There you will find additional information out the facility, operating hours, and materials going to the facility, always check their website interruptions. City of West University Place 3800 University Boulevard West University Place, Texas 77005 41 West U recently completed its City Streetlight Improvement Project, which installed approximately 1,600 decorative streetlight fixtures throughout the City. Although these lights were installed at the request of the City, they are owned and maintained by CenterPoint Energy. If you notice a problem with a streetlight, you can report it at CenterPoint's website (cnp.centerpointenergy.com/ outage) or the City's website (www.westu.org) where clicking on the link "Report Street Light Outage" in the bottom left of the home page takes you to CenterPoint's website. You will need to provide a six-digit number from the streetlight pole, which allows CenterPoint to identify the streetlight. Additionally, if you give them your email address, they will send you a status update on the repairs. Typical repairs normally take a week, but more complex repairs can take two to four weeks to complete. We appreciate your assistance in helping us keep the lights on! PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID HOUSTON, TX PERMIT NO. 134