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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpring 2012 A NEIGHBORHOOD CITY INCORPORATED IN 1925 TEXAS THE CITY OF WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE THIS ISSUE 2 From the Mayor’s Desk 3 Community Message Board 4 Parks & Recreation 5 Public Safety 6 Public Works SPRING 2012 Solicitation has been a hot topic within the City of West University Place recently. Solicitation includes door-todoor salesmen as well as freebie newspapers now delivered to front porches and yards across the city. There is growing concern and frustration on the part of residents who want to avoid such solicitation. Door-to-Door Solicitation In West U, as in many communities, door-to-door sales and fundraising are still a common occurrence. A typical method to make a sale or collect a contribution is to appeal to a resident’s compassion and desire to help. In actuality, many solicitors making what seem to be honest appeals on behalf of worthy local causes are bused in from out of state, work for companies with “F” ratings from the Better Business Bureau and oftentimes have extensive criminal histories. West U requires commercial solicitors to register with the City before they can legally go door to door. Residents who do not want to be approached can sign up for the No Knock list, which is provided to all registered solicitors. The No Knock list officially notifies those solicitors that it is a City ordinance violation to enter the property of the listed addresses. Unfortunately, the No Knock list cannot stop solicitors from coming to your house. But it does give the Police Department the tools needed to enforce your request to keep them off of your property. The West U Police Department encourages residents to report any door-todoor solicitation when it happens. The Police Department also recommends that residents purchase their goods and services from reputable companies and that residents research organizations prior to making any donations. For more information about the No Knock list, or to add your address to the list, visit www.westutx.gov/no-knock. Unsolicited Newspapers West U residents have a variety of free publications delivered to their homes, most of which are unsolicited. While the City is aware of the nuisance, it cannot legally stop the delivery of these papers. “There’s not a whole lot we can do right now,” said City Manager Michael Ross. “The City would love to be able to help if we could legally do so.” The United States Supreme Court has ruled that newspapers, even ones the resident has not subscribed to, are a form of free speech and cannot be regulated by government. Therefore, the City of West University Place cannot stop delivery of these papers. Their status as protected speech means unsolicited newspapers are not in violation of the City’s anti-littering or solicitation ordinances either. City administrators are monitoring other cities’ antilittering and solicitation ordinances to judge how to best approach the issues. In the future, City Council may consider enacting a stricter solicitation ordinance. In the meantime, the City suggests that residents contact the newspaper publishers directly to request that delivery be stopped. As always, residents should report any solicitation or other suspicious activity to the Police Department at (713) 668-0330. Tired of Door-to-Door Solicitors? Sign Up for the City’s No Knock List 2 United States lost its “AAA” rating and is currently rated “AA+” by the S&P. The City will designate these Series 2012 Bonds as “bank qualified,” meaning that qualified financial institutions can purchase the bonds as investments. This designation is available only to municipalities that issue less than $10 million in tax-exempt municipal bonds in a calendar year. With the “bank qualified” designation, the bonds should attract several buyers, which in turn should translate into lower interest rates (and greater debt service savings to the City). Tax-exempt municipal bonds are sold in $5,000 increments. Rates for the Series 2012 Bonds were set on Monday, March 12, and the bond issue should be finalized by Tuesday, April 10, following approval by the Attorney General of the State of Texas. City Currents Spring 2012 From The Mayor’s Desk by Mayor Bob Fry While the City of West University Place is an incorporated city, and we have our own municipal government, we are also part of, and subject to, many other governmental and quasigovernmental entities. Most notably, we are part of Harris County, which provides many important services such as flood control and some mobility/transit projects. Our property tax appraisals are completed by the Harris County Appraisal District. You may not know this, but because of laws enacted to address subsidence, we now obtain half of our water from the City of Houston. And our beloved West University Elementary School is part of the Houston Independent School District. Metropolitan Transit Authority (Metro) funds are used for capital improvements to our streets (such as the majority of the recent College Avenue/Bellaire Boulevard Improvement Project). In addition, many of the services provided to City residents are performed in partnership with other governmental entities, often through formal agreements. For example, while 911 emergency services (involving dispatchers, police officers, firefighters and EMS technicians) are provided by West U, the 911 telephone service is provided provided in partnership with the Greater Harris County 911 System. Similarly, West U has its own Emergency Management Coordinator and Emergency Operations Center, but the City has also entered into a joint partnership with the Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management, which unites the city and county’s emergency management programs. West U further participates in an automatic aid agreement with the City of Bellaire and Southside Place to provide backup and assistance for police, fire and EMS services. This agreement allows emergency personnel from any of the three cities to respond to a public safety call automatically without having to wait for a request for assistance. This agreement provides an From Council Member Susan Sample On Monday, March 12, the City of West University Place issued its Series 2012 Permanent Improvement Refunding Bonds. These tax-exempt municipal bonds were issued to refinance currently outstanding bonds from a higher to a lower interest rate. The tax-exempt bond market is experiencing historically low interest rate levels, which provides the City with the opportunity to reduce its debt payments. The City refinanced (or refunded) selected portions of the City’s Series 2003 Certificates of Obligation, which currently have an average interest rate of 3.74%. Taking advantage of the current market, these obligations can be refinanced at an estimated rate of 1.90% interest, which saves the City approximately $850,000 in future debt payments. The Bond Buyer Index, which tracks U.S. taxexempt bond levels, recently hit a record low of 3.60%. The previous record for this industry index was 3.81%, which has occurred three times in the past two years. This weekly published rate is for general obligation (taxbacked) bonds maturing in 20 years with an average rating equivalent to Moody’s “Aa2” and Standard & Poor’s “AA.” Global economic woes and domestic financial uncertainty in recent years has many investors seeking the safety and security that municipal bonds traditionally offer. The City of West University Place is currently rated “AAA” by Standard & Poor’s. “AAA” is the highest rating a tax-exempt municipal bond can have. In August 2011, in comparison, the additional layer of protection to residents in all three cities. As your Mayor, I spend a good deal of my time representing our City within these other jurisdictions. Other Council members and City staff also work hard to maintain good relationships with these other governmental entities to ensure our residents get the full range of services they need. West U has a long tradition of relying on elected officials, staff and private citizens to represent us at all levels of government in the surrounding region. These efforts do not get much publicity, but they are extremely important. An essential part of what keeps this city a great place to live is this work done outside the city limits. “West U has a long tradition of relying on elected officials, staff and private citizens to represent us at all levels of government in the surrounding region.” Keep in touch with Mayor Fry as he shares news and comments with residents. Visit www.westutx.gov/mayors-message for regular updates. WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE Keep in Touch with Mayor Fry City Currents Spring 2012 3 Community Message Board Want to know what’s going on in your city? 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 www.westutx.gov/enotify. QUIE T HOURS Weekdays (Mon – Fri), except 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 City Phone Numbers Emergency – Police & Fire: 911 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: (713)662-7460 Community Building: (713) 662-5895 DirectLink Alarm Monitoring: (713) 662-5860 Fire Dept. Non-emergency: (713) 662-5835 Friends of West U Parks: (713) 662-7430 Municipal Court: (713) 662-5825 Planning Department: (713) 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 2012 Garbage /Recycling Holiday Schedule Good Friday, Friday, April 6: No curbside collection; normal collection will resume on your next scheduled day. Memorial Day, Monday, May 28: No curbside collection; normal collection will resume on your next scheduled day. Independence Day, Wednesday, July 4: No curbside collection; normal collection will resume on your next scheduled day. Labor Day, Monday, September 3: No curbside collection; normal collection will resume on your next scheduled day. Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 22: No curbside collection; garbage regularly scheduled for this day will be picked up on Friday (November 23). Please hold your recyclables until your next scheduled recycle day. Day after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 23: Normal collection of garbage and recyclables will be provided; City offices will be closed. Additional Christmas Holiday, Monday, December 24: Normal collection of garbage and recyclables will be provided; City offices will be closed. Christmas Day, Tuesday, December 25: No curbside collection; garbage regularly scheduled for this day will be picked up up the day before (Monday, December 24). Please hold your recyclables until your next scheduled recycle day. New Year’s Day, Tuesday, January 1, 2013: No curbside collection; garbage regularly scheduled for this day will be picked up up the day before (Monday December 31). Please hold your recyclables until your next scheduled recycle day. Party on the Patio Concert Series Bring your lawn chairs and blankets, sit back and enjoy a fantastic lineup of some of Houston’s best-known bands! Admission is free from 6:00 to 9:00 PM; if you wish to swim, however, regular pool admission is required. Please visit the Parks & Recreation Special Events page on the website at www.westutx.gov/events for a complete schedule. The Party on the Patio Concert Series is sponsored by Direct Energy and benefits the Friends of West University Place Parks Fund, Inc. When: Fridays, June 1, 8, 15 and 22 Time: 7:00 – 9:00 PM Where: Colonial Park Pool Deck, 4130 Byron Music Under the Stars: Classical Concert Series Bring a blanket and picnic basket for an evening of classical music in the park. Each concert is an informal event designed for newcomers and symphony enthusiasts alike. Delight in some of the finest classical ensembles in the Houston area. For more information, call (713) 662-7420 or visit www.westutx.gov/events. When: Fridays, April 13, 20 and 27 Time: 7:00 – 9:00 PM Where: Colonial Park under the Pavilion April 13: The Apollo Chamber Players April 20: Zeger Strings April 27: Old City String Quartet, co-sponsored by Houston Friends of Chamber Music LIFEGUARD CERTIFICATION COURSES The West U Recreation Center will offer two American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification Courses this spring. Classes Classes are held during the weekends over a two-week period. The first class will begin April 14, and the second class will begin May 5. Please contact Julie Bickham at (713) 662-7428 for more information. Second Saturday Concerts Concerts are presented by the Houston Folklore & Folk Music Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of folklore and folk/acoustic music. Tickets are sold at the door: adults $12, senior citizens (65+) $8, and children under 12 free with adults. Visit www.houstonfolkmusic.org for more info. When: Second Saturday of each month Time: 7:30 PM Where: West University Community Building, 6104 Audent (at Rice Blvd.) April 7: C. Daniel Boling May 5: Ken Gaines & Songwriters Circle June 2: TBA 4 City Currents Spring 2012 Parks & Recreation West University Piranhas Swim Team A recreational summer swim team for children ages 5 to 17, the Piranhas compete in the Southwest Aquatic Swim League. The team is coached by “Mac” McDonald, who is the head swim coach at Lamar High School. The objective of the team is to offer a positive experience for kids who are new to swimming competitions and who are interested in recreational swimming. Practices are held at the West U Recreation Center and Colonial Park pools from mid-May through the end of June. Dual swim meets are held Monday nights during June. Swim meet finals are held the last week of June. All team activities will conclude by the end of June. Online registration begins April 15. For more information, visit www.westupiranhas.org. Spring Splash Series at Colonial Park Pool Colonial Park Pool will be open during the weekends beginning April 14 and will feature ongoing programs on the following dates. Get your bathing suit and join in on the fun this spring! April 28 – Intro to the West University Piranhas Swim Team: Visit with the folks who have the answers to all of your swim team questions! Learn everything you need to know about the swim team, coaches, practices, meet schedules, tryout information and more. May 5 – Wally’s Pool School: Meet West U’s very own Wally the Walrus and some of his swim instructors! Learn about the swim lessons we give, the skills we teach, and the levels we offer during the summer and all year long. Swim instructors will be doing swim level evaluations on-site, so be prepared to get wet! May 13 – Mother’s Day at the Pool: Celebrate Mother’s Day this Sunday and bring your favorite mama to the pool! All mothers wearing a crazy sun hat will receive complimentary admission to the pool all day long. May 19 – Scuba: Have you always wanted to try out scuba diving? This demonstration/participation session will allow you to find out if scuba diving is something you would like to learn. If you’re interested, scuba is offered yearround yearround through the Parks and Recreation Department! May 26 – VIP Night: Attend an exclusive pool party, open to the original members of Colonial Park Pool, as a thank you for their ongoing support and commitment. VIP members, this night is for you! Got Class? The Recreation Center offers a wide variety of classes throughout the year. For residents of all ages, we offer leisure classes, educational classes, fitness classes—you name it! These include classes in Gymnastics, Watercolor, Piano, Hip Hop, Spanish, Yoga, Ice Skating, Ballet, Chess, Swimming, CPR, Water Therapy, Personal Training, Healthy Cooking or Jazzercise, plus Boot Camp and Kids Summer Camps, just to name a few... For more information or a complete listing of classes and activities, visit www.westutx.gov/parks or call (713) 662-7420. Check out some of our new offerings: Cooking It Healthy with Chef Tim is a four-day course designed to inform and teach individuals and families. This program includes eating healthier on a budget and learning to eat the foods that you love in a healthier way. Mondays, April 2, 9, 16 and 23; and April 30, May 7, 14 and 21 Lunch Session 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM; Dinner Session 6:00 – 8:00 PM Fees: $100 R, $115 NR Chess Lessons with Stormy Newton draws on Stormy’s 20 years of experience teaching chess. The series of nine classes focuses on the different strategies and tactics of chess. Thursdays, April 5, 12, 19, 26, May 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 Beginners 5:00 – 6:00 PM; Advanced 6:00 – 7:00 PM Fees: $180 R, $195 NR Summer Camps There’s still time to register for summer camp. But don’t delay: space is limited! Building Brains Lego Camp (ages 3–12) Chess Camp (ages 7 & up) Dance Camp (ages 4–10) iKids Computer Camp (ages 3–12) Reading Camp (ages 10–15) Manners Matter Camp (ages 5–9) Neil Harrison Serves Tennis Camp (ages 6–12) Splish Splash Swim Camp (ages 7–12) KidVenture Camp (ages 6–13) Friends of West U Parks Hundreds of supporters took “A Walk in the Park” at the annual Park Lovers’ Ball held at the Four Seasons Hotel on Saturday, February 11. Event Co-Chairs Courtney and Scott Archer and Anne and John Freeman poured their hearts into making this one of the best balls ever! Around 564 people came out to enjoy the fun and fundraising that the Park Lovers’ Ball always provides. “It was wonderful to see our friends and neighbors come together to raise money for our beloved parks. The community and businesses continue to amaze us with their tremendous support of West U and Friends,” said the pleased Co-Chairs. The sold-out event raised much needed funds for West U parks. The evening included silent and live auctions, as well as a big board. Costumed Parisian park strollers mingled with the crowd selling raffle tickets and blinky rings for the “Heads or Tails” game. Guests also enjoyed dancing to the soulful sounds of the eight-piece band Password. “There is not another event out there like the Park Lovers’ Ball, where neighbors and good friends can come together for a common cause in tuxedos and ball gowns. This is truly a highly anticipated annual party!” said Friends of West U Parks Executive Director Donna LaMond. “On behalf of the Co-Chairs and the Friends Board of Directors, we would like to especially thank Steven Murray and Direct Energy, Friends 2012 Corporate Sponsor; Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co.; Scott Freeman and The James Street Group; Frost Bank; Conway MacKenzie; and the many other underwriters and sponsors who gave so generously to help support our parks.” The event also honored longtime park supporters Vicki and Dana Grams. Next (and new) on the agenda for Friends is the upcoming Party on the Patio Concert Series, which will take place on Fridays in June from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at the Colonial Park Pool Deck. Visit www.westutx.gov/events for more information about the great lineup of bands. The Party on the Patio Concert Series is sponsored by Direct Energy (Friends 2012 Corporate Sponsor) and benefits the Friends of West University Place Parks Fund, Inc. Stay tuned for information on the annual Fathers & Flashlights campout event coming up in October. Event Co-chairs Sara and Chip Edgecomb and Amanda and J.R. McGee have begun planning to make it yet another memorable event for family overnight fun. To stay current on Friends events and activities, please visit www.westuparks.org. Interested in serving on the Friends Board? Have questions about Friends? Call (713) 662-7430 or stop by the Friends of West U Parks office located in the Recreation Center at 4210 Bellaire Blvd. 5 In today’s society, alcohol is widely available and aggressively promoted. Although drinking under the age of 21 is illegal, teenagers from ages 12 to 20 drink 11% of all the alcohol consumed in the United Statesi. Yet underage drinking is dangerous, not only for the drinker but also for society. Alcohol use by persons under the age of 21 is a major public health problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control, alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug among youth in the United States, more than tobacco and illicit drugs. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), each year 5,000 youths under the age of 21 die as a result of underage drinking. Yet many teens, not mature enough to understand the consequences and risks associated with underage drinking, continue to drink. As the leading intoxicant among youth, alcohol can also be a gateway for the use of other drugs. High school and college kids often engage in what is known as “binge” drinking. Binge drinking, as defined by the NIAAA, is drinking that brings the blood alcohol concentration to .08 or above in a short time. For the average adult, this would mean consuming more than five drinks (men) or more than four drinks (women) in two hours. This is very dangerous. Not only are there health risks for the drinker, but associated dangers extend to others as well. Alcohol use by young people is a serious issue. The West U Police Department encourages parents to talk with their children about the risks of underage drinking. Talk Early. Talk Often. Get Others Involved.ii This story is adapted from articles by the CDC, NIAAA and SAMHSA. For more information, visit the links below. i http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/underage-drinking.htm ii http://underagedrinking.samhsa.gov/default.aspx http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/A A67/AA67.htm City Currents Spring 2012 Public Safety Cooking as a Fire Hazard Underage Drinking Cooking brings family and friends together, provides an outlet for creativity and can be relaxing. But did you know that cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home injuries? By following a few tips from the Fire Department, you can prevent fires. Cook with Caution • Be on the alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the stovetop. • Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove. • If you are simmering, baking, roasting or boiling food, check it regularly. Stay at home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that food is on the stove or in the oven. • Keep anything that can catch fire—oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains—away from the stovetop. • The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking. • Most cooking fires in the home involve the stovetop. • Have a “kid-free zone” of at least three feet around the stove and any areas where hot food or drinks are being prepared or carried. If You Start a Cooking Fire Fire • Just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire. • Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number after you leave. • If you try to fight the fire, be sure others are getting out and you have a clear way out yourself. • For small grease fires on the stove, keep a lid nearby, then smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turning off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled. • For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the oven door closed. Adapted from an article by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), www.nfpa.org Emergency Management West University Place Emergency Management encourages residents to be prepared for, and stay informed about, severe weather. Spring marks the time of year when severe thunderstorms occur most often in Texas. For more information about readiness for severe weather, visit www.readyharris.org. West U provides a number of ways for residents to stay informed during severe weather and emergency situations. CodeRED: A high-speed telephone, text messaging and email emergency notification service. We urge all residents to sign up at www.westutx.gov. City Website and E-Notify: Used in conjunction with the city’s website, E-Notify is the city’s email notification system. Residents can choose the types of information they wish to receive by category. Sign up at www.westutx.gov/enotify. West U C.A.R.E.: West U’s Community Alert and Response to Emergencies (C.A.R.E.) website, www.westucare.org, provides access to the city’s “virtual” joint information center. C.A.R.E. is an additional resource for residents during a large-scale emergency. We suggest that residents bookmark the site. Social Media: Used to supplement the city’s website, the City’s social media pages will be used to post information about severe weather and emergency situations. Residents can find us on Facebook (City of West University Place, TX) and follow us on Twitter (@CityofWestU). 6 Adding as many water safety steps as possible to your usual setup is the best way to assure a safe and fun experience in a residential swimming pool. Families can build on their current safety practices by following the water safety tips provided below. Ensure Access Gates Are Secure Restricting access to the pool is a great way to ensure safety. Check your pool access gates to be sure they close and lock when you open them to a 45 degree angle and release. The gate latch should be 54 inches above the ground at a minimum. Gates should open away from the pool area because it is much more difficult for children to open a gate by pulling it toward them. Lastly, make sure to install an alarm on any door in your house that opens directly onto the pool area. This alarm should not be a part of your personal house security alarm. You should have a separate alarm with a delay/bypass button that allows passage going in and out to be signaled and monitored. Follow General Pool Safety Tips • Never leave children unobserved around water. Adult supervision is recommended. • Keep a phone near the pool at all times so that you can immediately call 9-1-1 in the case of an emergency. •Learn CPR and insist that babysitters and others who care for your child know CPR as well. • Post CPR instructions near the pool. •Enclose the pool on all sides with a fence with vertical bars and a self-locking, self-closing gate. Openings in the fence should be no more than four inches wide. • Never leave furniture near the fence that could enable someone to climb over it. • Keep basic lifesaving equipment by the pool and know how to use it. Poles, ropes and personal flotation devices are suggested. • Keep toys away from the pool when it is not in use; they can attract children to the water. • Completely remove the pool cover before using the pool. • If a child is missing, check the pool first. Seconds count in drowning accidents. City Currents Spring 2012 Public Works Auxiliary Power Initiative Approaching Completion Even prior to Hurricane Ike, the City of West University Place recognized the benefit of, and need for, auxiliary power generators to ensure the continued operations of City services in times of emergency. Over the course of the last two years, the City has installed auxiliary power generation equipment at the Municipal Building, Milton Street Water Production Facility, Public Works Administration Building, Public Works Operations and General Services Complex, and Recreation Center. We are proud to announce that this initiative, approved and supported by the City Council, is approaching completion. A new 750 kw generator has now been installed at the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant, replacing a much older generator that had partially powered this facility and was destroyed during Hurricane Ike. The new equipment will provide emergency power for full treatment of the City’s wastewater. What does all this mean to you, the residents of West University Place? In times of emergency, critical services can now be maintained to your benefit. The City will be able to power its Emergency Operations Center, including its Communication Center and Public Safety Departments. Potable water will be treated, pumped, and distributed, and the City will be able to collect and treat wastewater as well. Further, the City will be able to dispatch its field operations, including the fueling of its emergency and field vehicles as well as their maintenance and repair. This generator equipment also allows the City to provide accommodations for the staff who will be undertaking these services during the emergency. The provision of services like these is critical to a community. A continuation of effective governance is not only essential to our preparedness, but invaluable during the response and recovery phases of emergency operations. With not only operational efficiencies in mind, but also getting the greatest value for your tax dollars, the City was allocated over $230,000 dollars in grant funds to accomplish this task. In addition, the City has entered into an agreement with ERCOT (Energy Reliability Council of Texas), the regulator of the power grid, whereby the City receives a quarterly stipend for serving as a source of standby power. In the event of excessive demands on the power grid, we will engage our auxiliary power generators to reduce the drain. In that event, the City will also receive additional compensation above the stipend, thus reimbursing our costs and compensating for the additional maintenance required on our equipment. It was, and continues to be, City Council’s and staff’s goal to provide continued quality service, security and comfort to our residents at the greatest value to our taxpayer even during times of emergency. Pet Identification Month This April inaugurates what will be an annual pet identification awareness month in the City of West University Place. In addition to complying with the City laws requiring registration and rabies tags on your pet’s collar, please also consider adding a tag made for your pet with your home address address and cell phone number. If your pet is prone to slipping out of its collar, it would be a good idea to have your veterinarian insert a microchip. Approximately 98% of the pets that are picked up by West University Place Animal Control do not have identification on them. The reclamation fee for a registered dog is $50 plus a kennel fee of $20 per day. Check your pet’s collar and outdoor enclosure often, and I.D. your pet! Cats on the Roof The City of West University Place does not retrieve cats from roofs or trees. Besides the need for specialized equipment (and the risks to personnel), experience has shown that when approached, the frightened cat will often jump off of the roof or out of the tree. Other cats run back up the tree after they are recovered and placed on the ground. If the cat can climb up, it can come down. Coaxing the animal down with food or opening a roof hatch without endangering yourself is the best option. It’s Almost Pool Time! Keep Your Family Safe Around Your Residential Pool City Currents Spring 2012 7 Public Works Recycling Glass Glass is a sustainable product—it can be recycled infinitely with no loss in quality, purity or clarity. Unlike many recyclables—such as plastic bottles and cardboard boxes, which are not routinely recycled into the same product—glass can be repeatedly recycled into new glass containers. A recycled glass container can be turned into a new glass container and placed back on the store shelf within 30 days, saving great quantities of raw materials and fuel in the process. Glass ingredients include silica sand, soda ash and limestone. Today, recycled glass (called “cullet”) is also used as an integral ingredient. A common misconception is that ceramics, porcelain, Pyrex®, and dishware are recyclable, like glass. However, these materials, once crushed, are contaminants in cullet and so should not be included in the recycle bin. Since glass comprises approximately 5% of the municipal solid waste stream today, recycling glass is environmentally and economically sound. Cullet—or recycled glass that has been sorted and crushed prior to its remelting as an ingredient in the glass-making process—can comprise up to 70% of the raw material mix in glass production. Glass making has evolved from a craft to a precise, high-tech industry. Modern glass plants can produce millions of glass containers a day for anything from soft drinks, wine, and spirits, to foods and juices, to cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Look for the “Recycling G” logo that is now being included on some glass containers—it lets you know the container was made with recycled glass and can be recycled again and again. Facts about Glass: • The earliest known man-made glass objects date to 3,500 B.C. • In 2011, West University Place recycled approximately 1,440 tons of glass (almost 3 million pounds), saving over $26,000 in landfill disposal fees. • The U.S. recycling rate for all glass containers in 2010 was over 33% (over 41% of beer and soft drink bottles were recycled). • States with container deposit legislation have an average glass container recycling rate of over 63%. • Recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to light a 100-watt light bulb for four hours, power a computer for 30 minutes or power a television for 20 minutes. • Approximately 90% of recycled glass is used to make new containers. • The weight of glass bottles decreased by over 50% between 1970 and 2000, significantly reducing production costs, transportation costs, etc. • Energy costs are reduced by approximately 3% for every 10% cullet used in the manufacturing process. Including cullet as an ingredient cuts down on air and water pollution, and extends the service lives of plant furnaces. • Over a ton of natural resources are saved for every ton of glass recycled. • It is estimated that a glass bottle will take 1 million years to break down once it is buried in a landfill. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle — Doing Your Part: Place all empty, lid-free glass containers and bottles in your recycling bin. There is no need for you to separate them by color. 􀀪􀁏􀁄􀁖􀁖􀀃􀀵􀁈􀁆􀁜􀁆􀁏􀁈􀁖 GLASS: The Perfect Cycle 1 23 4 5 6 1. The new glass packaging is filled with product and distrubuted through retail outlets. 2. The product is purchased by consumers and consumed. 3. Containers are collected through curbside, drop-off centers, and commercial on-premises locations. 4. Recovered glass packaging is crushed into cullet and used as raw material to make new glass packaging. 5. Virgin raw materials are added as needed to the mix for new packaing. 6. The raw material is formed into new glass packaging. “What do you take?” We hear that question almost every day in the Finance Department. “Cash? Checks? Money orders? Credit cards?” Yes, yes, yes and yes! To make it as easy as possible for residents to pay utility bills, the City accepts several payment methods: • CASH: Always the right color, we gladly take cash for your payment. We do ask that you not put a cash payment in the drop box. • MONEY ORDERS: If that is your choice of bill payment, you will be happy to know that we gladly accept money orders. • CHECKS: We accept personal checks as well as bank checks. • For those writing personal checks, please completely fill out the check, both the numerical and written parts. Make sure to sign the check and note your utility account number in the memo section. Please do not staple or tape the check to the payment slip. • For those using a bank bill-paying service, please make sure the right account number is listed in your payee information so we can ensure proper posting to your account. Also, please check to to see that the “mail to” Cash? Checks? Money Orders? SAVE THE DATE Credit Cards? CHANGES The February 2012 informational door hanger, distributed to every home, had a misprint in the “Save The Dates 2012” section. Please see below for the correct dates and mark your calendars accordingly. We apologize for any confusion this misprint may have caused. City Events (West U Residents Only) April 28: Saturday Spring Heavy Trash Day May 5: Saturday Free Paper Shredding October 27: Saturday Fall Heavy Trash Day November 3: Saturday Free Paper Shredding All events take place at the Public Works Maintenance Facility, 3826 Milton Street. If you have any questions, please call (713) 662-5839 or email recycle@westutx.gov. C U R R E N T S 8 City Currents Spring 2012 PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID HOUSTON, TX PERMIT NO. 134 City of West University Place 3800 University Boulevard West University Place, Texas 77005 A Newsletter for the citizens of West University Place Spring 2012 CitY OF West U OFFiciaLs CitY cOunciL Mayor Bob Bob Fry MeMBeRs Mayor Pro-Tem Susan Sample Ed Heathcott Joan Johnson Dick Yehle CitY Michael Ross (713) 662-5810 Manage R or mross@westutx.gov GeneRaL (713) 668-4441 InFORMati On CitY WeBsite www.westutx.gov City Currents is a quarterly publication and is printed on recycled paper. address is 3800 University; late charges cannot be waived due to misdirected mail. • Automatic draft on your checking account. The draft is handled internally, and your account is not charged until the due date. There is no additional fee for this service. • CREDIT CARDS: We accept MasterCard and Visa, but we do not take credit card payments over the telephone. There is no fee to use your credit card at the Finance Department window at 3800 University. Through our website, we also offer an automatic payment option with a third party company. You may set up recurring payments or make onetime payments. The company charges a fee (2.75% of the payment) for this service. It is important to make payments on time. Utilities are billed one month in arrears. Bills are mailed out between the 21st and 25th of the month, with payment due 20 days later. We suggest you keep a recurring reminder on your calendar that tells you on the first of each month to make payment plans. Regardless of your payment method, you can always view your bill online and receive an email when payment is received. This is done through our website. Visit https://westu.dpnetbill.com/default.aspx to set up your account name and password.