HEAVY RAINS BRING HIGH WATER ISSUE AROUND CITY, COUNTY
For Immediate Release Sept. 8, 2010
Media Contact:
Office of Media and Public Affairs
817-392-8889
fwmedia@fortworthgov.org
Rainy weather overnight and early morning storms combined to cause a number of high-water issues around the North Texas region. Significant flooding and the possibility of flash-flooding continue, and the public is urged to be safe when faced with any high-water situations.
Do not drive through high water – it’s not safe. Remember: Turn around, don’t drown.
High water caused a number of issues along local roads:
- Police and Fire have responded to a number of high water calls and motor vehicle accidents due to heavy rains.
- Fire currently responded to people trapped in car at 9400 Wagley Robertson Road. The rescue has been completed, and the residents are safe.
- Transportation and Public Works reports a large tree has fallen and is blocking traffic on University Drive near the Botanic Gardens. City staff from various departments are working together to remedy that situation.
- The Water Department reports 6 different sanitary sewer overflows so far and is working to address those.
- City offices in the A.D. Marshall Public Safety Building are reporting several roof leaks.
- The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for Tarrant and surrounding counties at approximately 4 a.m. today and later extended that warning until 10:15 a.m. Radar estimated between 5 and 6 inches of rain has fallen in the Fort Worth area since Tuesday morning. Additional rain is expected this morning, with scattered showers forecast for this afternoon.
- Lake Worth is expected to rise about one foot over the spillway, but at this point no structures are expected to be impacted.
The Office of Emergency Management continues to monitor the situation and will provide regular updates.
FW LEAGUE OF NEIGHBORHOODS: CITY OF FORT WORTH PROPOSED BUDGET REVIEW
Source: Fort Worth League of Neighborhoods
| In order to better understand the City of Fort Worth 2010-2011 proposed budget and the projected $73 million budget deficit, several members of the Fort Worth League of Neighborhoods’ Board of Directors volunteered to read, analyze, and ask questions about the City’s budget documents. These documents include a 208 page proposed budget and a 437 page decision package document as well as budget priorities and other documents posted on the City’s budget webpage. Click here for the FWLNA budget review.
We noted that, unlike last year’s proposed budget document, there is no detail of general fund revenue accounts in the proposed 2010-11 budget. We asked for departmental budget detail and were told we would have to submit an open records act request to get it. We approached the budget review as regular citizens, albeit ones who because of our neighborhood involvement may be more knowledgeable than most about certain City programs, services and practices. We have not claimed to be City of Fort Worth budget experts nor have we thought that should be necessary. It seemed to us that average citizens ought to be able to read, understand, and get a reasonably complete, detailed picture of the proposed budget from the City’s website. We have watched many of the budget hearings and City Council workshops on the budget; however we are not privy to behind the scenes changes in the budget. The public budget buzz since August 10 when the city manager released his proposed version has mostly been about 3 things: 1) the projected $73 million budget deficit; 2) the proposed closure of the Ridglea, North Side, and Meadowbrook branch libraries; and 3) the merging of the Parks and Community Services Department under the Library Department. One observer noted that no one has challenged the assumptions of the $73 million budget deficit. Various news outlets have cited the real problems as cost issues surrounding City employee pensions and City commitments to already in place police and fire contracts. Those are the real issues they have said. Other observers have noted the theory of the proposed budget — that cutting services, maintenance and amenities in response to lower property valuations and tax revenue will balance the budget - will also only further lower property values over the long-term, creating a cycle of lower tax revenue and higher deficits. They contend the proposed solution is illogical and averse to reversing the deficit issue, digging a deeper hole for While acknowledging the big picture items, we took another approach as well. Knowing that closing the 3 branch libraries (a service much demanded by neighborhood residents) will “save” the City between $516,000. and $1.2 million, we set about to find other information which might illuminate the budget priorities and choices inherent in the proposed budget document. Our review set up a whole list of priorities and choices which are proposed. If you read the document, you can find priorities which are funded, choices which are made. So the question is, what is most important to the citizens? What are they willing to live without and what are they not willing to live without? When compared to stated citizen priorities, where do business development, the Super Bowl, funding for programming for the homeless, gas drilling, etc. land? Are citizens aware of how much will be spent on big priority items such as these? How do they feel about that when they compare those expenditures to basic services such as libraries and parks? We also discovered a cash excess in the general fund of over $23 million, that according to the City’s budget manager, will not be spent on general fund expenditures in FY 2010- 11. Why not? What is it being reserved for? If a community service such as libraries is so important to the citizens, would the citizens prefer that some of the $23 million in excess general fund revenues be spent to keep the 3 branch libraries (and a host of other services) open? In addition to reviewing the budget and asking questions of city staff (for the presentation at the League’s general membership meeting on September 2), we also compiled an initial list of budget revenue generators suggested by a variety of sources. We did not include the idea of increasing the ad valorem tax although we are aware of at least one citizens group advocating that measure. Click here for Disaster Recovery Deposit Concept Click here for Economics Teacher Barbara Ellis’ idea on investing in the city Click here for opinion piece on voluntary taxes idea Our review of the City’s proposed budget raised more questions than it answered. Budget priorities were approved by the City Council in January 2010. They set the stage for the drafting of the City Manager’s proposed 2010-11 budget. What, exactly, are core City services? Do the elected officials see these the same way the citizens see them? Fundamentally, our review raised the question – what kind of city can Fort Worth residents expect Fort Worth to be next year and in the near term? A city which can pay for fire and police (as valuable as they are) and nothing else? Is that the Fort Worth citizens – neighborhood residents — want? We hope our review encourages more citizens to review the City’s proposed budget (atwww.fortworthgov.org) and make their priorities and choices known to the elected officials. A list of their names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses follows. The City will hold a budget hearing on Tuesday evening, September 14 at 7:00 p.m. at Fort Worth City Hall, 1000 Throckmorton. Residents are encouraged to attend and express their opinions on the proposed budget. Contacts: Mayor Mike Moncrief Sal Espino, District 2 Zim Zimmerman, District 3 Danny Scarth, District 4 Frank Moss, District 5 Jungus Jordan, District 6 Carter Burdette, District 7 Kathleen Hicks, District 8 Joel Burns, District 9 |
| About the Fort Worth League of Neighborhoods
The Fort Worth League of Neighborhoods was founded in 1985 by four neighbors: Chris Goetz, Dr. Glenn Kroh, Mary Palko and Ben Ann Tomayko who believed in the importance of neighborhood involvement in the civic decision-making process, especially when it directly impacted the quality of life in our communities. 17 charter member neighborhood organizations signed up to join in the pursuit of forming a citywide coalition to create a strong and coordinated voice at city hall. The Fort Worth League of Neighborhoods believes that neighborhoods are the most basicorganizational units in a city and is committed to ensuring that neighborhoods remain the strong and viable contributors they have historically been to the quality of life and identity of Fort Worth The goals of Fort Worth League of Neighborhoods is to unite neighborhoods and to give them an effective voice in the critical issues facing them, from zoning and crime, to city parks and urban gas drilling. Our challenge is to support the diversity and stability of neighborhoods throughout the city. |
FLOODING ISSUES IN ARLINGTON HEIGHTS
The City of Fort Worth Traffic and Public Works is looking to meet with residents of flood prone areas in Arlington Heights to discuss the problem and potential solutions.
If you are interested in meeting with TPW to discuss flooding issues in Arlington Heights, please contact AHNA President, Dana King.
Dana King
President, AHNA
president@arlingtonheightsna.com
cell: 979-255-6927
GRAND OPENING OF NEW CAFE AT AMON CARTER
Please join us as we celebrate the grand opening of the new cafe and remodeled bookstore at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art.
Artisan Baking Co. and Aduro Bean & Leaf will provide refreshments. HGTV host and author Vickie Howell will give an interactive tour of the museum and will autograph her latest book, Craft Corps: Celebrating the Creative Community One Story at a Time.
5-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9; tour at 6 p.m.
Please bring friends. This event is open to the public.
Let us know how many guests so we can prepare enough treats!
To RSVP: CLICK HERE
For more information: http://www.cartermuseum.org/calendar
YARD OF THE MONTH – SEPTEMBER
By Gloria (Glo) Thompson
Congratulations to Genifer and John Best, homeowners of the Arlington Heights Neighborhood Association (AHNA)) September Yard of the Month (YOTM)! Their home is at 4221 Birchman.
John, a native of New Jersey, and Genifer, a Fort Worth AND Arlington Heights native, have two children, daughter Rainey, five years old, and son Brennan, ten years old.
John noted that Genifer lived in four different homes on the same block of Birchman and has basically lived there most of her life, as have many of her relatives.
John, a graduate of Northwestern University, works as a construction supervisor. Genifer, a Texas A&M graduate, teaches art at the Fort Worth Independent School District’s Alice B. Carlson Applied Learning Center.
John does his own gardening and has a goal of making their yard colorful. He also tries to have it look unique, rather than too similar to other neighbors’ yards. John enjoys gardening and likes to have a good mix of shrubs, trees, and colorful flowers.
John’s interest in gardening comes from his father who, John said, “had a major green thumb. Each Saturday morning, the ritual was to go out and work in the garden, whether you wanted to or not.” His father had a vegetable garden, herbs, roses and various other plants. John says his father truly got him interested in gardening and John has continued to put what he learned into practice.
Currently, John and Genifer have dogwood trees that are 40-50 years old in their yard. They also have wax bushes, fern, five gallon box holly bushes and other hearty bushes. “We also like the native bushes and shrubs,” John says. However, he notes that they are especially proud of the dogwoods.
In the future, John says there will soon be more autumn color in their yard since he tries to have some seasonal changes in color. He also said that he tried adding some monkey grass and vines, but, “they do creep up so fast that it can be really difficult to control them and I’m not planning to plant any more of them.”
When asked what he likes most about gardening, John said, “It’s relaxing and gives me some down time.”
What does John like least: “Mowing! It takes a lot of time!”
John’s one gardening tip for someone just starting: “Condition the soil. My father used a peat moss and cow manure recipe and I’ve followed his lead on that. I believe in using natural products for gardening. In fact, I use a formula of corn meal and molasses on my grass rather than fertilizer you buy in stores. It gives it a shock at the start of the growing season and it’s all natural. The grass grows well and stays very healthy.”
In addition to having the AHNA Yard of the Month sign in his front yard during September, John will receive a $25 gift certificate for Archie’s Gardenland.
WHOOO DAT?
By Beth Kaufmann
I noticed him the first week of April, sitting on the wire running across the backyard from the house to the utility pole. Birds like to perch there to sing, squawk, fight, or hunt. But this was different. It was 10 o’clock at night. I’d never seen a bird sitting there then. I walked back down the steps and stood underneath him, trying to figure out what kind of bird he was. He was about the size of a blue jay or morning dove, but with a dramatically bigger head—and he didn’t seem to mind my staring.
He wasn’t very big as owls go, but oh when he flew! Two sudden silent swift strokes and he was across the yard. It was several nights before I started seeing him regularly. Soon it became clear he wasn’t just hunting for food. He was protecting the nest he and his mate had chosen in our old mesquite tree, a high hollow cavity with an opening facing the back porch. Once in awhile I’d spy him scaling the trunk near the nest hole, looking like a sea captain pacing the deck of a ship. Many evenings he would be eerily perched high above in the mesquite tree, keeping watch. Occasionally I’d spot him on top of the wooden swing, sitting still as a piece of yard art. And he liked to sit on the wire where I originally saw him. He seemed to appear suddenly, and he was impervious to stares and sounds and our comings and goings.
I spotted his mate one April afternoon sitting on the edge of the cavity’s opening. Her speckled camouflage matched the mesquite tree perfectly. If the cavity didn’t face the porch, I would never have seen her. She had a sleepy look about her. And she was much more wary of activity than the male owl. I watched her stare down a spurious squirrel that was scrambling near her nest. Curiously, the owls didn’t seem to mind our big boisterous dog Beau. At night, Beau would stand under the telephone wire and bark incessantly at the male owl. The aloof owl would perch immobile during this canine harassment, then coolly glide back to the tree and resume his sentinel duties there. Beau was barely a nuisance, much less a threat. This perplexed our dog immensely. He was used to doves, grackles, squirrels, cats, lizards, bees, geckos, cardinals, mockingbirds, dragonflies, and yellow jackets scurrying out of his way. These flying creatures were different! And so mysterious!
They became accustomed to my comings and goings in the mornings and evenings, especially when I refilled Beau’s water bucket near the tree at night. I would look up while holding the hose and chatting to Beau and there the mom would be, watching me. Soon the babies appeared tentatively at the opening of the tree hole, teetering to catch a glimpse of me. One early evening I realized it was just the babies who were watching me, and I worried that the parents weren’t coming back. But, just at dusk, mom and dad swooped back in to feed the clutch from their day of hunting, calling and chirping soothing sounds all the while.
Through online research I learned they were screech owls, the most nocturnal of owls. Their evening rhythmic call isn’t very loud, making their name something of a misnomer. They are small owls, feeding mostly on bugs, baby birds, and small rodents. We would watch them hunting at night, flying to and from the nest with morsels of moths and the like. One quiet Sunday morning we were able to lean out across the porch and take pictures of them. They didn’t mind one bit. They seemed to tolerate us, more than anything. After all, they had chosen the cavity in the mesquite tree in our yard.
We had one unusual, unexpected encounter during the course of their stay. We opened the back door late one sunny Saturday afternoon and there in the middle of the yard was what looked like a fledging, splayed out on the ground. It must have fallen out of the tree. What do we do? Fortunately I was able to get Beau back inside before he spotted it, or he would have rumbled down the steps after it and by then it would have been too late. We walked down the steps towards the garage, looking at it. It had its wings spread out sunning. It was mostly brown and bigger than I thought. And she was virtually immobile. Only when we got within two feet did she stir, and in two sudden wing beats, she was off the ground and at the top of the photinias 15 feet away. So much for screech owls being nocturnal! Apparently, mom had decided she needed some “down time.”
Within several weeks of spotting the fledglings, they left the nest. It was bittersweet watching them climb out of the nest and up the mesquite trunk. They took to the air under cover of darkness. For several weeks we’d hear the parents talking to them at night. I’d read that the parents help their offspring hunt for food for a couple months after they leave the nest. I still hear them skittering and chirping in the trees at night. Maybe it’s other birds I’m hearing and it’s just wishful thinking on my part. Anyway, not too long ago Beau alerted us late one night to some critters in the pecan tree at the back corner of the lot near the alley. With the help of a flashlight, I discovered it was a mama raccoon and her young ins. Oh, raccoons. Everyone in Arlington Heights has seen raccoons. But screech owls? That was a rare treat indeed!
LANE CLOSURES NEAR WEST SEVENTH STREET BRIDGE
Drivers traveling near the West Seventh Street bridge may experience lane closures Aug. 30-Nov. 15 as crews relocate utilities in preparation for replacing the bridge.
These closings are planned:
- Seventh Street from Stayton Street to Fournier Street: multiple lane closures
- Harrold Street closed from Sixth Street to Seventh Street
- Forest Park Boulevard from 10th Street to Fifth Street: multiple lane closures
- Fifth Street from Forest Park Boulevard to Penn Street: multiple lane closures
- 10th Street from Forest Park Boulevard to Penn Street: multiple lane closures
- Fournier Street from Seventh Street to 10th Street: multiple lane closures
The lane closures are part of the $25.9 million replacement of the bridge by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) in conjunction with the City of Fort Worth.
The existing West Seventh Street bridge is 982 feet long and 57 feet wide, with four traffic lanes and 4.8-foot sidewalks on each side. The proposed bridge will be 981 feet long and 88 feet wide with four traffic lanes and 10-foot sidewalks on each side to accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists.
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT AGAINST CRIME, OCT 5
It’s America’s Night Out Against Crime!
The “27th Annual National Night Out” (NNO), a unique crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW), has been scheduled for Tuesday, October 5th, 2010 from 6-8pm at Thomas Place Community Center.
Last year’s National Night Out campaign involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 15,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. In all, over 36 million people participated in National Night Out 2009.
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT is designed to:
- Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness;
- Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs;
- Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and
- Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
Bring your friends, family and neighbors and come join of the fun!
Jan Bourne, Arlington Heights COP Group
Officer Teri Majors, NPO
CITY BUDGET SURVEY RESULTS
A couple of weeks ago, we sent you a survey regarding the City of Fort Worth budget for you to forward to your members. We are happy to report that we received 884 responses!
Click here to see the survey results posted on the Chamber’s website. You’ll see a link to the full results as well as results sorted by Council district.
AHNA has requested survey information for our neighborhood association. To view that inforamtion: Arlington Heights_BUDGET SURVEY
Thank you for participating in this exercise that is so critical to Fort Worth’s ability to continue vital city services. The Fort Worth Chamber encourages you to attend public hearings on this issue Sept. 14 and 21 at 7 p.m. at Fort Worth City Hall.
Thank you,
Marilyn Gilbert, executive vice president
Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce
STATE OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE ADDITIONAL MONITORING IN BARNETT SHALE
For Immediate Release Aug. 23, 2010
Media Contacts:
Janice McCoy
on behalf of Sen. Fraser
512-463-0124
Toni Barcellona
on behalf of Rep. Cook
512-463-0730
Senator Troy Fraser (R-Horseshoe Bay) and Representative Byron Cook (R-Corsicana) along with other members of the Texas Legislature and Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief announced that the state will increase the air quality monitoring network in the Barnett Shale region.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) currently has seven automated gas chromatograph (AutoGC) monitors in operation in the Barnett Shale region. These monitors operate around the clock, measuring levels of more than 45 volatile organic compounds, including benzene. The emissions data collected from these monitors is used to evaluate current air quality conditions in the region and posted online.
Members of the Texas Legislature have directed the TCEQ to add an additional eight Auto GCs (for a total of 15 in the area) to monitor air quality in the Barnett Shale. They further directed the TCEQ to contract with a third-party to assist in the evaluation of the data.
“The Barnett Shale has been a great economic benefit for Texas and especially the Fort Worth region,” said Fraser. “However, with growth there are growing pains. In order to know how to protect the public, we must have enough information to put the correct safeguards in place.”
Cook remarked, “The additional air monitors will offer Texans greater transparency about the air quality in the Barnett Shale region because more scientific data will be available to the public, in real time, via the TCEQ’s website.”
“We continue to work closely with its state partners to find solutions to the challenges associated with the production of natural gas in and around our communities,” said Mayor Moncrief. “With respect to the impact on our air quality, there are still too many unanswered questions. These additional monitors will only add to our understanding of this important issue and how it affects our residents. The people of Fort Worth appreciate the actions by Sen. Fraser, Rep. Cook and others who helped move this initiative forward.”
“As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, I want us to have all the information we need to create the best environmental policies,” said Fraser. “We can make positive changes without over burdening our residents and businesses financially.”
“The additional monitors will help businesses to quickly identify and address pollution sources, which will lead to improved air quality in the D/FW area,” Cook stated. “As chairman of the House Committee on Environmental Regulation, my goal is to ensure citizens’ public health is protected without causing a financial hardship for the employees and families who depend on jobs from Texas’ energy sector.”
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SEN. TROY FRASER represents Senate District 24. He is Chairman of the Senate Committee Natural Resources.
REP. BYRON COOK represents House District 8. He is Chairman of the House Committee on Environmental Regulation.
