City monitoring weather, preparing for heavy rainfall

The City of Galveston is monitoring heavy rainfall expected later this week. Meteorologists are predicting rain beginning later today or Thursday through Saturday night. This rain is likely to coincide with higher tides, which could exacerbate street flooding.

 City crews are following our pre-storm and debris management plan and clearing debris from culverts and inlets. We're also placing barricades downtown should we need them in the event of street flooding. In that case, remember to avoid driving in standing water and creating a wake that could damage property. Turn around and don't drown!

 Prepare ahead of time by running any errands you need to complete and preparing your home or business for heavy rain this week. 

 Consider this early preparation for hurricane season! (More info at www.galvestontx.gov/stormready)

 Be weather aware and follow the City of Galveston on our website and social media for updates!

TCEQ approves fines totaling $342,414

Penalties assessed against 56 regulated entities

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality today approved penalties totaling $275,556 against 29 regulated entities for violations of state environmental regulations.

Agreed orders were issued for the following enforcement categories: four air quality, one Edwards Aquifer, one industrial hazardous waste, two multimedia, one municipal solid waste, three municipal wastewater discharge, four petroleum storage tank, three public water system, and three water quality.

Default orders were issued for the following enforcement categories: one air quality, one multimedia, two petroleum storage tank, and two public water system.

In addition, on May 7, the executive director approved a total of 28 penalties, totaling $66,858. 

The TCEQ's next agenda meeting is scheduled for May 22. Agenda items from today’s meeting can be viewed on the TCEQ website. Meetings can be viewed live on the Agenda Meeting Webcasts webpage. Archived meetings can be viewed on the TCEQ YouTube channel. Follow us on Twitter @TCEQ.

Street maintenance scheduled for parts of WJ Boaz and Bowman-Roberts

Fort Worth Texas - The city is hosting a community meeting to inform residents about street maintenance on segments of WJ Boaz and Bowman-Roberts roads. The meeting will take place at 6 p.m., Wednesday, May 22, at the Northwest Library, 6228 Crystal Lake Drive.

WJ Boaz Road from Elkins School Road to Boat Club Road and Bowman-Roberts Road from Texas Shiner Drive to Cromwell-Marine Creek Road will be rehabilitated. Crews will pulverize the existing asphalt pavement, stabilize the roadway and then apply an asphaltic pavement surface.

Make plans to attend the meeting to hear the schedule and impacts to residents.

To learn more, contact Project Manager George Snowden at 817-392-6696.

Learn about North Texas transportation issues, initiatives

Learn about transportation in the region and help set future priorities. The Regional Transportation Council and North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), together serving as the metropolitan planning organization for the Dallas-Fort Worth area since 1974, are seeking public input.

A public meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. May 13 at the North Central Texas Council of Governments, 616 Six Flags Drive in Arlington.

Hear these presentations:
FY2020 and FY2021 Unified Planning Work Program. The Unified Planning Work Program for regional transportation planning provides a summary of the transportation and related air quality planning efforts to be conducted by NCTCOG as the metropolitan planning organization. Draft recommendations will be presented for public review and comment.
Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program Call for Projects. Staff will present a recommended summary of projects to receive funding as part of a 2019 call for projects.
National Highway System Review. The National Highway System (NHS) is a network of nationally significant roadways that support the movement of people and goods between population centers, international border crossings, major military installations and intermodal facilities. In 2018, the Federal Highway Administration initiated a universal review of the NHS for the first time since its inception in 1996. Draft recommendations for the Dallas-Fort Worth region from this review will be presented.

To request a free, roundtrip ride between NCTCOG and the Trinity Railway Express CentrePort/DFW Airport Station, contact Carli Baylor at least 72 hours before the meeting at 817-608-2365.

Oldest operating fire station in Fort Worth turns 96

Station 18 is one of the oldest buildings in Arlington Heights.
Fort Worth, Texas - Fort Worth Fire Station 18 celebrates its 96th birthday this year.

Station 18 opened in 1923 at the corner of Camp Bowie Boulevard and Carleton Avenue. It was one of 10 bungalow-style fire stations built in Fort Worth.

Charles F. Allen, who was a former Fort Worth building inspector, was the architect for most of the stations that had been designed to blend into existing residential neighborhoods. Today, Station 18 is the oldest working fire station in the city and the last of the bungalow-style stations.

Originally designed with a two-bay garage, the building was out of date by the 1970s with the introduction of larger fire engines. City officials sought to tear down the fire station and build a new one. Voters approved $250,000 for a new building in a 1978 bond election, but the Arlington Heights Sector Council fought to save the landmark, one of the oldest public buildings in Arlington Heights.

Even though the station was saved from the wrecking ball, it underwent renovation in the mid-1980s. Every effort was made to preserve the historic exterior. Inside, however, drastic changes were made. The stairwell was moved, the brass fire pole and fireplace was eliminated, and a new enlarged steel-framed bay door was excavated at the front of the building to accommodate larger, modern fire trucks.

Legend has it that Station 18 is haunted. Over many years, a number of firefighters have had mysterious experiences at the station, such as hearing heavy footsteps and toilets flushing. A few have even seen human apparitions.

DART to Add Special Service on Route 466 For Nelson Golf Fans, Effective May 10-12, 2019

Dallas, Texas - DART will provide additional service on Route 466 between Ledbetter and Buckner stations Friday through Sunday, May 10-12, for fans attending the AT&T Byron Nelson at Trinity Forest Golf Club.

Friday service will be every 15 minutes from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, buses will operate at 15-20-minute intervals between 6:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Free parking will be available at both stations. Thanks for riding DART.

https://www.dart.org/rideralerts/fullra.asp?id=4440

Fort Worth celebrates opening of HUD EnVision Center

Observing the opening of the EnVision Center were Mayor Betsy Price, District 5 Councilmember Gyna Bivens and HUD Regional Administrator Beth Van Duyne.

Fort Worth, Texas - The City of Fort Worth and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have officially opened the doors to Texas’ only HUD EnVision Center at Martin Luther King Community Center. The venter is in Fort Worth’s Stop Six neighborhood, with services targeted to residents of the Cavile Place public housing complex, although other area residents can access services.

View a video about the opening events.
HUD’s EnVision Centers are premised on the notion that financial support alone can’t solve the problem of poverty, and that collective efforts across a diverse set of organizations, both public and private, are needed to help low-income individuals and families rise out of it. The programs offered are based on the EnVision Center’s four pillars: economic empowerment, educational advancement, health and wellness, and character development.

“Fort Worth has seen great success in leveraging public-private partnerships to provide resources to our citizens,” said Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price. “We look forward to collaborating with HUD, Fort Worth Housing Solutions and our other EnVision Center partners to provide the training and resources Stop Six residents need to become self-sufficient.”

“EnVision Centers are an investment in America’s and Fort Worth’s most important resource — our people,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson. “This center will be a resource to residents and will promote self-sufficiency among HUD-assisted households. Mayor Price and the City of Fort Worth have been exemplary partners in this venture. We want everyone to achieve their American dream — we just need to create the conditions in which people can realize their potential, and that’s what this opening is all about.”

The opening of the EnVision Center at the MLK Community Center, 5565 Truman Drive, coincides with the revitalization of the Cavile neighborhood in Stop Six. The city recently allocated $2.56 million for neighborhood improvements, including new sidewalks, brush cleanup, blighted and dilapidated structure teardown and new security cameras to reduce crime.

Each EnVision Center has convened local stakeholders and resident councils to assist in prioritizing the services most needed by the community. HUD will develop tools to track and measure resident outcomes of EnVision Center participants and services — the goal of which is to ensure EnVision Centers are able to achieve and monitor progress against the goals of the program.

AUSTIN PARTICIPATES IN WORLDWIDE CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE BUILDING SAFETY

Join us for special activities during the 39th annual Building Safety Month

Austin, Texas – In May 2019, The Austin Code Department and the Development Services Department are participating in the 39th annual Building Safety Month, a worldwide campaign presented by the International Code Council, its members and partners to promote building safety. First observed in 1980, Building Safety Month raises awareness about critical safety issues from structural to fire prevention, plumbing and mechanical systems, and energy efficiency.

Local events to celebrate Building Safety Month include:

May 1 and May 4

• Reaching out to developers and construction professionals with tabling events hosted at the Building Safety Month national sponsor Home Depot 

May 9

• Both departments will participate in a proclamation 

May 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

• There will be an informational Live Permit Chat, an online question and answer session on Reddit - Go to austintexas.gov/permitchatfor more information. On the event day, the live chat link will be activated.

Building codes and the officials who enforce them are making our families and communities safer and more resilient. Homes and buildings that are built in compliance with building safety codes result in resilient structures that minimize the risks of death, injury and property damage. In the wake of a disastrous hurricane season, rampant wildfires and devastating earthquakes, building safety is even more important. Building safety affects everyone and modern, updated building codes save lives.

This year’s themes are:

• May 1–5, Preparing for Disasters: Build Strong, Build Smart;
• May 6–12, Ensuring a Safer Future Through Training and Education;
• May 13–19, Securing Clean, Abundant Water for All Communities;
• May 20–26, Construction Professionals and Homeowners: Partners in Safety; and
• May 27–31, Innovations in Building Safety.

Building codes have protected the public for thousands of years. The earliest known code of law—the Code of Hammurabi, king of the Babylonian Empire, written circa 2200 B.C.—assessed severe penalties, including death, if a building was not constructed safely. The regulation of building construction in the United States dates back to the 1700s. In the early 1900s, the insurance industry and others with similar concerns developed the first model building code.

Today, the International Codes, developed by the Code Council and adopted by our community, are the most widely used and adopted set of building safety codes in the U.S. and around the world.

Learn more about Building Safety Month at buildingsafetymonth.com, join the conversation on social media at #BuildingSafety365, and log in to the Live Permit Chat on Tuesday, May 21 from 11 AM to 1 PM at austintexas.gov/permitchat.

CHIEF'S RUN SHOWCASES FUTURE OFFICERS

Austin, Texas - On Tuesday, May 7, 2019, the 140th Cadet Class of the Austin Police Department (APD) participated in the traditional Chief’s Run. This run is focused on unity within the community and department. Chief of Police Brian Manley addressed the cadets after the run.

Chief Manley, along with APD’s Assistant Chiefs, joined the 48 cadets on a run that began at 7 a.m. at the Austin-American Statesman parking lot. It ended at the Texas Peace Officers Memorial.

The run started at the Statesman parking lot, heading north on Congress Ave and will end at the State Capitol. The cadets will be commissioned at graduation on Friday, May 10, 2019, at 2 p.m. at the Great Hills Baptist Church - 10500 Jollyville Rd, Austin, TX 78759.

APD TRAINING ACADEMY GRADUATES NEW OFFICERS

Austin, Texas - The Austin Police Department will graduate 48 new officers during ceremonies at 2 p.m. Friday, May 10, 2019. Commencement ceremonies for the 140th cadet class will take place at Great Hills Baptist Church - 10500 Jollyville Rd., Austin, TX 78759.

The graduating cadets, who will be commissioned during the ceremony, successfully completed a demanding 32-week training program. The training that the 140th cadet class received included legal issues, driving, crisis intervention training, community policing, leadership, defensive tactics and physical fitness.

During the ceremony, Chief Manley will administer the Oath of Office to the cadets. Awards presented during the ceremony will include Honor Cadet and Humanitarian Award.

Mosquito season starts now, and prevention is key

Starting this month, city workers are trapping and testing mosquitoes at 71 sites. The city is also applying larvicide to standing-water sites.

Fort Worth, Texas - The 2019 mosquito season is underway in Fort Worth as the Code Compliance Department has begun setting out 71 mosquito traps for this year’s testing.

Mosquito surveillance is a significant prevention tool used by the city and its partner, the University of North Texas Health Science Center, to collect and identify mosquitoes and test them for various diseases such as West Nile virus. Surveillance and testing activities occur weekly from May through the end of October.

Prevention is the absolute key to help control mosquitoes that spread viruses. Adult mosquitoes live inside and outside and they can bite during the day and the evening hours. Even a few infected mosquitoes can lead to outbreaks in a community.

Protect yourself, your family and community

• Dump standing water in and around your home by emptying and scrubbing all outdoor containers such as pools, toys, planters, birdbaths and trash containers.
• Tightly cover water storage containers such as buckets, cisterns and rain barrels so that mosquitoes cannot get inside to lay eggs.
• Clean out gutters to avoid standing water. Examine them for damage that might cause water to collect.
• Inspect your yard after ever rainfall and empty any containers or areas where water has collected. Watch for puddles where condensation gathers from the AC unit.
• Use screens on windows and doors and repair any holes in the screens.
• Use insect repellent anytime you’re outside. Use an insect repellent with one of these active ingredients; DEET, Picaridin or oil of lemon/eucalyptus or other EPA-approved repellent.

To learn more, call 817-392-1234.

Sewer lines to be replaced in Worth Heights area

Fort Worth, Texas - Come hear about the plans to replace sewer lines in the Worth Heights area. The city will meet with residents at 6:30 p.m., Monday, May 20, at Victory Forest Community Center, 3427 Hemphill St.

The affected area includes:

• Alley between South Main Street and Bryan Avenue from East Ripy Street to East Dickson Street.
• Alley between Bryan Avenue and Stuart Drive from 200 feet south of East Ripy Street to East Pafford Street.
• Alley between Stuart Drive and South Jones Street from East Butler Street to East Dickson Street.
• Alley between Pafford Street and Fogg Street from May Street to South Jones Street.
• Alley between Fogg Street and East Drew Street from May Street to Bryan Avenue.
• Alley between St. Louis Avenue and Main Street from West Dickson Street to Pafford Street.

Make plans to attend the meeting to hear the schedule and find out about impacts to residents.

To learn more, contact project manager Liam Conlon at 817-392-6824.

Zeno named City of Fort Worth CFO

Fort Worth, Texas - Reginald (Reggie) Zeno has been named director of the Financial Management Services Department and CFO of the City of Fort Worth.

Zeno has been finance director for the City of Cincinnati since June 2010. He was finance director for the City of New Orleans from 2002-2010 and held chief of staff and budget director positions for Transit Management of Southeast Louisiana from 2000-2002. He also worked for the New Orleans Public Schools from 1980-2000 in several positions, including interim chief financial officer for several years.

Zeno is a member of the Government Finance Officers Association, where he serves as a reviewer for the Distinguished Budget Award Program.

Zeno holds bachelor of science in business administration and master of business administration degrees from Tulane University.

May 4 election results

Fort Worth, Texas - Mayor Betsy Price was elected to a fifth term on Saturday, defeating three opponents with a total of 55.7% of the vote.

All eight members of the City Council were re-elected, and there will be no need for a runoff election.

View vote totals online.

Mayor Turner's Public Schedule for May 7 - 10, 2019

Tuesday, May 7

11 a.m. Mayor Turner will present the FY 2020 City of Houston budget. Houston City Hall, 901 Bagby, Legacy Room

Noon Mayor Turner will attend the Houston Hispanic Architects & Engineers luncheon. HESS Club, 5430 Westheimer Rd.

1:30 p.m. Mayor Turner will preside over the weekly Houston City Council public session. Houston City Hall, 901 Bagby.

7:30 p.m. Mayor Turner will attend the Holocaust Museum Houston 2019 Lyndon Baines Johnson Moral Courage Awards Dinner. Hilton Americas, 1600 Lamar St.

Wednesday, May 8

9 a.m. Mayor Turner will preside over the weekly Houston City Council meeting. Houston City Hall, 901 Bagby.

Noon Mayor Turner will attend the SCORE Small Business Awards Luncheon honoring Houston’s Top Entrepreneurs. Westin Galleria Hotel, 5060 West Alabama.

Thursday, May 9

11:30 a.m. Mayor Turner will attend a news conference to discuss the UNESCO Slave Route Project. Emancipation Park Conservancy, 3018 Emancipation Ave.

12:15 p.m. Mayor Turner will attend at the CanCare  25th Survivors Luncheon.  The luncheon celebrates cancer survivors and remembers those who fought courageously. Westin Memorial City Hotel, 45 Gessner Rd.

2:15 p.m. Mayor Turner will sign an MOU for the Dean's Mayoral Internship Program in the UH College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. Houston City Hall, 901 Bagby, Proclamation Room.

6:15 p.m. Mayor Turner will deliver the commencement speech at Sam Houston State University's College of Criminal Justice. Sam Houston State University Coliseum, 1964 Bobby K. Marks Dr.

Friday, May 10

9:30 a.m. Mayor Turner will meet with Amazon employees and tour the new AWS offices. 825 Town & Country Lane, Suite 1000

4:45 p.m. Mayor Turner will speak at the Lone Star College North Harris Graduation Ceremony. M.O. Campbell Educational Center, 1865 Aldine Bender Rd.

6:45 p.m. Mayor Turner will participate in the laying of the wreath procession for the Houston Police Department's annual Police Memorial Service. HPD Police Officers Memorial, 2100 Memorial Dr.

AG Paxton’s Office Files Lawsuit Against Operator of Crowdfunding Scheme

AUSTIN – Attorney General Ken Paxton today announced that the Consumer Protection Division of his office filed a lawsuit seeking a permanent injunction preventing Douglas W. Monahan and his company, iBackPack of Texas, LLC, from participating in deceptive crowdfunding schemes in violation of the state’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

Starting in 2015, Monahan and his company raised more than $800,000 from consumers through four crowdfunding campaigns on Indiegogo.com and Kickstarter.com. Monahan falsely led backers to believe their money would be used to develop several products, including a state-of-the-art backpack called the iBackPack. But Monahan failed to deliver on any of his promises, and instead used much of the funds for himself.

“While Kickstarter and other crowdfunding sites create exciting opportunities for entrepreneurship, they also provide new ways for scam artists to take advantage of consumers’ trust,” Attorney General Paxton said. “I’m pleased that the Consumer Protection Division of my office took action to shut down an unscrupulous individual whose crowdfunding projects produced nothing but self-enrichment.”

Monahan used his company’s campaign web pages to display a laundry list of tech capabilities for the iBackPack, along with graphics of a supposed prototype. The campaign pages also featured the logos of several telecommunication companies, two federal agencies, and Apple and Android mobile operating systems, though there is no evidence that Monahan or his company had any legitimate ties to the entities.

The attorney general’s lawsuit – which was filed in state District Court in Travis County – seeks restitution for aggrieved consumers, civil penalties, and attorneys’ fees. The Federal Trade Commission today also filed suit against Monahan and iBackPack of Texas, LLC.

Crowdfunding typically involves individuals and businesses raising money for a project or venture from numerous individuals, usually via the internet. In many cases, consumers are enticed to make payments in exchange for the promise that they will receive the product once it’s manufactured.

Texans who believe they are victims of a scam can file an online complaint with the attorney general’s office at https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection/file-consumer-complaint.

View a copy of the lawsuit here.  

Hurricane Preparedness Week

Governor Greg Abbott today issued a proclamation raising awareness about the dangers of hurricanes and the precautions Texans can take as hurricane season approaches.

Each May, Texans set aside a week to raise awareness of the destructive force hurricanes can bring to communities, neighborhoods, and local economies. The Texas coastline and inland communities are at a greater risk of hurricanes during the six month period that runs from June through November. As a result, we as Texans must come together and prepare for these potentially life-threatening forces of nature.

Hurricanes are powerful and destructive forces that can inflict immense damage on our communities

House Fire in South Acres / Crestmont Park Area May 1st

WHAT:
House Fire

WHEN:
May 1, 2019 at 10:05 p.m.

WHERE:
11800 block of Murr Way, 77048

INJURIES:
No reported injuries.

PROPERTY SAVED:
More than $77 thousand in estimated property saved.

DAMAGE:
$3,700 in estimated damage.

CAUSE:
Unintentional  - Electrical

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Firefighters arrived on scene to find a resident using a water hose in an attempt to extinguish a mattress fire. Crews finished extinguishing the fire and ventilated the home. After the cause was determined they conducted salvage and overhaul and restored power to the home after ensuring safety. Firefighters from Stations 46 and 55 responded to this incident.

Galveston voters extend paid Seawall parking, approve fee change

Galveston, TX – May 4, 2019 – Galveston residents on Saturday voted to extend the Seawall Boulevard paid parking program and change hourly rates from $1 to $2 – approving a program that has helped fund and maintain amenities on one of the island’s busiest roadways.

Galveston residents voted to approve the extension of the Seawall paid parking program. The vote was 67.97 percent in favor of the measure. The paid parking program is set to expire July 27, 2020. The election outcome extends the program to December 31, 2029.

As part of the ballot measure, Galveston voters also approved increasing the parking fee from $1 to $2 an hour between the current paid parking hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily, with a maximum fee of $16 daily. The measure also allows for an annual parking permit on Seawall Boulevard not to exceed $45.

“I thank the voters of Galveston for voicing their opinion and supporting the continuation of the Seawall Paid Parking program,” Mayor Jim Yarbrough said. “This program affords the city the ability to add and maintain new amenities to the Seawall in a manner that visitors contribute to the cost. The passage of this measure is a positive step for Galveston.”

Voters initially approved the Seawall Boulevard paid parking program in 2013. Since, the program has been used to maintain important improvements along the Seawall enjoyed by residents and visitors to the island.

As expressed in the ballot language, the revenue generated from paid parking along the Seawall will go toward funding additional improvements along the Seawall, including additional bathrooms, lighting, landscaping and other potential Seawall amenities.

“I am happy that the voters have approved the extension and changes to the Seawall Parking Program,” City Manager Brian Maxwell said. “Allowing those that use our beaches to relieve our local tax payers of the burden of paying to install and maintain amenities is a win for everyone.”

A Seawall parking ad hoc committee helped develop the ballot language and considered parking programs in other coastal communities when setting their recommendations.

The City of Galveston thanks everyone who voted in the May election for their civic participation. For more information about the paid parking program, please contact the City’s Public Information Office at 409-797-3546 or email publicinformationoffice@galvestontx.gov.

City hosting community town hall for hurricane preparedness June 1

Galveston, TX – May 1, 2019 – Hurricane season is quickly approaching and the City of Galveston wants residents to be prepared! The City of Galveston is hosting a Hurricane Preparedness Town Hall meeting to provide residents and visitors the opportunity to review preparedness practices.

The town meeting will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 1 at the McGuire-Dent Recreation Center, 2222 28th Street Galveston, Texas.

The preparedness fair will be staffed with representatives from the National Weather Service, CenterPoint Energy, Galveston County’s Office of Emergency Management, the Galveston Fire Department, the City of Galveston Office of Emergency Management and many other preparedness and recovery experts. The fair will also have numerous vendors that specialize in helping families, pets, and senior citizens prepare their homes for hurricane season.

Do you need evacuation assistance? We encourage you to register with the State of Texas!

Residents who need evacuation assistance because of medical or other access needs, including anyone who registered in years past with the previous need-a-ride system, should register as soon as possible with the State of Texas by calling 2-1-1 on any landline or mobile device. Registration is also available online at https://STEAR.dps.texas.gov and in person at the annual preparedness fair. The registry does not guarantee assistance and individuals need to have a personal emergency plan in place.

Make sure the City can reach you during an emergency 

Residents are strongly encouraged to sign up for the City’s FREE emergency notification system “One Call” by visiting www.galvestontx.gov/onecall. This system is designed to provide important alerts to citizens and will be tested prior to the start of hurricane season.

For more information, please contact the Office of Emergency Management at (409) 765-3710.

Texas A&M’s Héctor Rivera Receives Congressional Award

The 2019 Education Champion Award was presented during ceremonies May 4 in Dallas in recognition of Rivera’s contributions and programs for youth. Read on Texas A&M Today

By Keith Randall, Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications

COLLEGE STATION, May 6, 2019 – Honored for his contributions to teaching, public service, and guiding students to achieve excellence, Texas A&M University’s Dr. Héctor Rivera received the Congressional Award’s 2019 Education Champion Award during ceremonies Saturday (May 4) in Dallas.

Rivera, associate professor of educational psychology in the College of Education and Human Development at Texas A&M, was presented the award at the Dallas Museum of Arts.

The Congressional Award is the U.S. Congress’ only charity and is the highest honor bestowed upon

Mayor Turner to present the Fiscal Year 2020 proposed budget

WHAT:
Mayor Sylvester Turner will present the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2020, which begins July 1, 2019 and ends June 30, 2020.

WHEN:
11 a.m.
Tuesday, May 7, 2019

WHERE:
Houston City Hall Legacy Room
901 Bagby

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The forward-looking proposed budget sets the foundation to meet the essential needs of a thriving city without excess or waste.

The Office of Business Opportunity joins SBA in celebrating National Small Business Week

HOUSTON - The City of Houston’s Office of Business Opportunity (OBO) Director Carlecia D. Wright joins our partners at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in celebrating National Small Business Week (May 5-11).

Since 1963, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation announcing National Small Business Week (NSBW), which recognizes the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. More than half of Americans either own or work for small businesses and create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. every year.

Here in Houston, the entrepreneurial spirit is strong and diverse, reflecting the city’s work ethic and multiculturalism. The City of Houston is committed to the success of small businesses, by providing educational courses to business owners, connecting them to opportunities and supporting their growth. The Office of Business Opportunity currently offers several programs to sustain small businesses and is constantly working with our partners to create new ones.

“Every day, OBO employees work to fulfill Mayor Sylvester Turner’s vision of cultivating a competitive and diverse economic environment in the City of Houston by promoting the success of small businesses.” Director Wright said. “Small business investment is key to revitalizing neighborhoods, which improves the quality of life for many Houstonians and takes us one step closer to in making every Houston neighborhood a truly Complete Community.”

OBO Director Carlecia D. Wright will be participating in several NSBW events this week with the SBA and is available for interviews to discuss the impact of small businesses on Houston's economy and City initiatives designed to help them grow.


Mayor Turner reads a proclamation during National Small Business Week 2018.

EISEHNHOWER STUDENTS WIN BUS SHELTER DESIGN CONTEST

WINNING BUS SHELTER CONCEPT TO BE BUILT IN ALDINE ISD SCHOOL DISTRICT

Eisenhower High School students celebrate a victory in the Aldine ISD bus shelter design competition.

Eisenhower High School's design team will see its METRO bus shelter idea move from concept to construction.  The team beat out eight other teams in a district-wide bus shelter design contest that enhances the school's STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) Program.  The competition started with 50 teams from across the district before narrowing to eight finalists. Last month, each team presented a 3-D printed model of their design along with a short presentation explaining their prototype to METRO staff.

"All of the teams articulated their concepts very well and followed the guidelines we gave them, and it was difficult picking just one winner," said Roberto Treviño, executive vice president of planning, engineering, and construction. "We could tell all the teams worked hard on their project and presentation."

The groups were judged on their presentation skills, creativity, design concept, budget, 3-D printed model sample, and team work.  The winning design was a sleek, curved structure that provided more seating and a solar panel which powered lighting.

METRO's President and CEO Tom Lambert announced the winners of the contest at Aldine's Day of Design this past weekend. Lambert said he was thoroughly impressed with the students' designs.

Left to Right: Michael Martinez, Roberto Trevino, Todd Lindeman, Eliezer Guillen, Sergio Garcia, Hector Baltazar, Remelia Arpino, Tom Lambert

“We intend to build the shelter designed by the winning team in the Aldine ISD area and incorporate elements of each of the bus shelter concepts presented,” said Lambert.  "The best part will be involving the students in the construction process." 

PROPERTY OWNERS SHOULD PREPARE FOR LOWER LAKE LEVELS

6-day precipitation forecast: 7” across the Houston Metro Area

HOUSTON - Houston Public Works, in partnership with the Coastal Water Authority, is monitoring forecasts calling for substantial rainfall over the next several days. Lake Houston is currently at 42.45 feet and still receiving water from weekend storms. Lake Houston has a normal pool elevation of 42.5 feet. All four gates on the existing dam structure are open and will remain open with a goal of lowering the lake to 41.5 feet before the next round of rainfall.

Lake Houston is lowered if the National Weather Service predicts greater than 3 inches of rain within a 48-hour period. To monitor Lake Houston and the forecasted rain, visit: http://bit.ly/lakehoustondata

Property owners should secure property along the shoreline.


ABOUT HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS
Houston Public Works (www.HoustonPublicWorks.org) is the largest and most diverse public works organization in the country, responsible for creating a strong foundation for Houston to thrive. Houston Public Works is responsible for streets and drainage, production and distribution of water, collection, and treatment of wastewater, and permitting and regulation of public and private construction covering a 627-square mile service area. Houston Public Works is accredited by the American Public Works Association.