en-us Wed, 16 May 2012 11:59:03 -0400 Wed, 16 May 2012 11:59:03 -0400 www.colleyville.com http://www.colleyville.com/rss/Colleyville_News.xml http://www.colleyville.com/rss/Colleyville_News.xml mgandy@colleyville.com (Managing Editor) 60 News and information from the City of Colleyville Northeast Tarrant County police agencies have joined forces to stretch the long arm of the law a little farther. Colleyville police hosted the first Crossover Crime Meeting on Friday, May 14, at the Colleyville Justice Center, 5201 Riverwalk Drive. The quarterly meetings are part of a joint effort between the Bedford, Colleyville, Euless, Grapevine, Haltom City, Hurst, Keller, North Richland Hills, Richland Hills, Roanoke, Southlake, and Watauga police departments to outpace criminals and crime trends through enhanced information sharing. We have received overwhelming support from the area chiefs in initiating this Northeast Tarrant County Crossover Crime Group, said Chief Dye. The Northeast Tarrant County law enforcement agencies already have a high level of cooperation and this will further strengthen our crime fighting abilities. Designed for line level officers and first-line supervisors, the gatherings will allow police officers and sergeants to meet face-to-face and become more familiar with their counterparts. This networking should expedite the exchange of intelligence and facilitate faster responses to crimes that transcend city limits. The group will include investigators and patrol officers from all area cities coordinating efforts in collaborative crime reduction, increased apprehensions, and crime prevention. Colleyville Police Chief Steve Dye, formerly with the Garland Police Department, and Dallas Police Deputy Chief Jan Easterling started a similar group a few years ago when crime on their respective borders started to increase but they weren't able to timely coordinate efforts between their officers. The meetings quickly resulted in several arrests and vital exchanges of intelligence. The pair soon brought in Richardson and Mesquite police to the meetings, which led to even more arrests. Future meetings are planned for August, November, and February in Colleyville. Each agency will send patrol and investigative representatives along with items of interest to the meetings and any other first-line personnel they deem appropriate. Thu, 20 May 2010 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article131.html#1337183943 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article131.html The Colleyville Police Department (CPD)has unveiled two ofits latest weapons against crime: Nixle andCrimeReports. Based on the premise that an informed public is a safer public, these programs provide the latest information on police activity within the Colleyville area to the general public. In an effort to promote and enhance their community policing efforts, the Colleyville Police Department is providing both services for free to the Colleyville community. CrimeReports.com is a service offering crime-mapping technology to citizens, allowing them to view crime and police activity in their neighborhoods via user-friendly, interactive maps. Displayed in Google map or Google Earth formats, community users can create a profile on the types of crime they want to view or for specific locations. Users can also subscribe to phone and email alerts (including an iPhone application). [Tip: For quickest access, type in an exact location-home or office, or use the drop down menu to choose Colleyville.] The Nixle information system enables the Colleyville Police Department to immediately disseminate geographically relevant information, such as notable crime activity or major incidents. Nixle does not share or sell customer's personal information. It is endorsed by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, International Fire Emergency Responders Network, National Sheriff's Association, and a host of other public agencies. In addition to the information these tools offer citizens, they provide the Colleyville Police Department with delivery of real-time crime analysis data (reports, analysis, user-defined graphs, charts, and spreadsheets) to more quickly and efficiently address crime issues and prevent others from occurring. Crimes may be categorized by police district or specific neighborhoods, and community policing initiatives can be displayed to offer the public information on the proactive efforts of the Colleyville Police Department Wed, 02 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article132.html#1337183944 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article132.html Donated by the Colleyville Garden Club, the three sculptures feature the kinetic designs of the world's foremost wind sculptor. McPherson Park is located at 240 McDonwell School Road in the northwest section of town. The sculptures are fabricated from copper, steel, and stainless steel to provide beauty and strength. Each Wind SculptureTM is secured against theft, and rests on a sealed ball bearing at the top of a vertical rod. They also come with a steel ground-mount receptacle for simple installation. Lyman's designs permit the sculpture to be responsive to the currents of the wind, allowing changing forms to emerge in a slight breeze, yet balance in high winds. The weathered color pallet fits extremely well with a variety of locales; the rust, brown, tan and green are all elements of the applied patina. The copper and stainless steel elements have a glistening effect as they move in the sun and low lighting definitely enhances the appeal at night. The sculptures are intriguing when caught in one's peripheral vision for a second, but not a diversion; up close, the experience is mesmerizing and interactive. The Colleyville Garden Club has been an enthusiastic partner in working to beautify the city, including providing the landscape at the historic Webb House and the Streets of Gold project. For more information on the Colleyville Garden Club, . Tue, 11 May 2010 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article133.html#1337183945 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article133.html The city of Colleyville has been awarded the distinguished Silver Leadership Circle Award by Texas comptroller of public accounts in recognition of its high standard in online financial reporting for the general public. The award is given to those cities that demonstrate a focus on giving taxpayers a transparent look at local expenditures. The city has made a commitment to transparency in making its records accessible online for our citizens to review. Weve made great strides in this area and the Leadership Circle Award is further affirmation of our efforts, remarked Assistant City Manager and Chief Financial Officer Terry Leake. However, the best affirmation comes from our citizens, who comment about their online access to their government in so many areas, including live streaming and webcasts of City Council meetings, she continued. The Comptroller of Public Accounts launched the Texas Comptroller Leadership Circle program last year to recognize local governments across the state that met a high standard for online financial transparency. Colleyville was recognized for sharing information in a user-friendly format so that taxpayers could easily obtain and absorb information detailing the financial workings of the city. The citys fiscal year 2011 budget and financial report currently are available on the front page of this website, under CITY NEWS. Financial information from previous years, and current and past monthly financial reports, are available on the sites Finance page (under CITY DEPARTMENTS)and through its Public Documents portal (under PUBLIC DOCUMENTS on the main navigation bar). Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article161.html#1337183946 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article161.html For census information, please . Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article147.html#1337183947 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article147.html Conditions at the center have necessitated some temporary changes in the schedule and location of a few programs, All otherprograms are being conducted at their normal times and location.Please see below for details: Jazzercise Lite Tuesday, March22 and Thursday, March 24 9:00-10:00 a.m. Relocated to L.D. Lockett House 315 L.D. Lockett Road Senior Center Hours: CLOSED MONDAYS Tuesday: 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. and 5:00-9:00 p.m. Wednesday: 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Thursday: 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Friday: 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Wed, 02 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article190.html#1337183948 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article190.html The city has developed several communication tools to allow timely, effective communication with Colleyville citizens and businesses. In January, the city launched its redesigned website, e-newsletter, e-news subscription service, and a presence on Facebook for the city of Colleyville, Colleyville Economic Development, and Colleyville Center. The E-Communicator, an electronic version of the standard Communicator received in monthly utility bills; the E-Communicator arrives via email early in the month. The e-subscription subscriber options include City E-News, public safety information, economic development news, and information about activities, programs, and events at Colleyville Center or through our public library, senior center, and parks and recreation services. Subscribers can also sign up to receive notifications about road construction and utility disruptions. The service offers a choice of topics, opt-out features allow subscribers to unsubscribe at any time and, of course, email information remains private and confidential. To register for the city's free e-newsletter, send an email to .In the subject line, enter SUBSCRIBE. Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article191.html#1337183949 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article191.html The fiscal year 2011 city budget was approved in September and took effect in October. For the most part, city services will continue at current or improved levels. However, the adopted budget does not contain funding for post-storm clean-up and debris collection of private residences or businesses. In the future, residentswill need tocontract privately for this service or contract directly with the citys provider, IESI, as a fee for service option. Residents can also bundle up to four tied bundles of brush in lengths up to four feet long and less than 50 lbs. per regular pick-up at no additional cost. According to professional arborists, much of the damage from ice, snow, or wind to live oaks, magnolias, and other evergreens can be avoided with proper pruning and maintenance. Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article180.html#1337183950 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article180.html The Texas Recreation and Park Society has named Colleyville Parks Superintendent Chuck Majors as Parks Professional of the Year for the north central region. He was chosen from among applicants from across the state. Chuck is a dedicated professional who makes certain each job is complete and up to the citys standards, said Director of Parks and Recreation Monica Sue Walsh. He is an asset to the city and I cant think of anyone more deserving of this distinguished honor. The quality of Colleyvilles sports turf has become Majors signature touch. During his tenure in Colleyville, his staff has received the Texas Turfgrass Baseball Fields of the Year Award (City Park), Texas Turfgrass Soccer Fields of the Year Award (Pleasant Run Soccer Complex), the Texas Recreation and Parks Societys Gold Medal Award, and the Sports Turf Managers Association Soccer Field of the Year-National Award. Majors leadership and innovation has saved the city money and made operations smoother and more efficient. Recently he managed the McPherson Park project, which has become the most acclaimed park in the citys park system. He was also instrumental in bringing the state-of-the-art Evos play structure to the city, the first of its kind in Texas. Noted for his attention to detail and innovation, Majors implemented a computerized, system-wide, central control irrigation system that allows operation of park controllers from a single location. Previously, it had taken more than six hours to shut down the irrigation systems manually throughout the park system and another six hours to turn the systems back on manually. A five-year veteran of the citys staff, Majors has worked in the parks and recreation field for 26 years. He began his career with the city of Lubbock before joining the Irving Parks and Recreation Department, where he served in a variety of positions, including parks operation coordinator, assistant park superintendent, and park construction supervisor. -end- Sat, 04 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article178.html#1337183951 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article178.html A new name is now being used for the consolidated 9-1-1 communications center that serves Keller, Southlake, Westlake, and Colleyville. Since last October, when Colleyville joined the regional effort, emergency and non-emergency calls have been answered with, Keller-Southlake-Westlake-Colleyville-9-1-1. The name was certainly accurate, if a bit unwieldy. On Jan. 1, 2011, officials renamedthe multi-city center the Northeast Tarrant Communications Center or NETCOM. Callers in all four cities now will hear a simple, NETCOM 9-1-1. The center is located in Keller at 330 Rufe Snow Drive. The regional 9-1-1 center is the first of its kind in Tarrant County. Keller and Southlake first joined forces to establish the regional center in 2007, and the consolidated center has received high marks in both cities. Keller also provides police, communications, and jail services for the city of Westlake, which also rates the consolidated center highly. Colleyville, was the final city to join the group, and went online at the regional center on Oct. 1. Consolidation benefits the cities by reducing costs and redundancy. More importantly for the police chiefs, it also encourages a high level of cross-agency cooperation between their respective police forces and enhances response times, as agencies cross borders in response to emergency calls. The consolidation encompasses shared radio channels, providing real-time communication between the cities, which increases the probability of criminal apprehensions, especially on city borders. Regionalization or consolidation of these services is a growing trend among small to mid-sized cities, where smaller municipal budgets and fewer personnel make stand-alone dispatch centers and jails a costly endeavor. While communications personnel, call-takers and dispatchers, are centrally located, fire and police personnel remain stationed in their respective cities. In addition, since Colleyville shares a contiguous border with Keller and Southlake, consolidation allows dispatchers to send police and fire personnel from other cities, if they are closer, to calls near the citys bordersanother benefit shared by all cities. This will result in faster response times for police and fire services, as the other agencies will provide emergency assistance until personnel from that city arrive on the scene. As an additional benefit, the Tarrant County 9-1-1 District will establish a back-up emergency communications center in the area vacated by Colleyvilles communications personnel. The countys center will provide back-up emergency communications for all the surrounding cities in the event of an emergency. For non-emergency situations, Colleyville residents and businesses can call the citys non-emergency number: 817.743.4522. This number is answeredat the dispatch centerin the regional emergency communications office, which will dispatch the appropriate personnel. In the case of an emergency, please dial 9-1-1. Thu, 23 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article175.html#1337183952 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article175.html Library expansion construction begins: Construction has begun on the expansion of the Colleyville Public Libary.Thelibrary will remain open throughout construction, which is anticipated to be complete this spring. For details, Fri, 04 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article177.html#1337183953 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article177.html COLLEYVILLE, TEXASThe Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to city of Colleyville by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management. An Award of Financial Reporting Achievement has been awarded to the individual(s), department, or agency designated by the government as primarily responsible for preparing the award-winning CAFR. The award was presented to Terry Leake, Colleyvilles assistant city manager and chief financial officer. The CAFR was judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program including demonstrating a constructive spirit of full disclosure to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR. The GFOA is a nonprofit professional association serving approximately 17,500 government finance professionals. It has offices in Chicago, IL, and Washington D.C. Tue, 14 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article179.html#1337183954 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article179.html COLLEYVILLE, TEXAS Tino and Daisy Velasquez have purchased the former Coffee Beanery at 4001 Colleyville Boulevard, near Cheek Sparger Road. The location will serve as the newest site for the familys El Paisa Cocina Mexican restaurants. Tino Velasquez said the building is in good shape, an existing fire system is in placeand noted that he will only need a permit for a ventihood and some plumbing. Velasquez is serving as his own general contractor. Right now, were a little bit ahead of schedule, Velasquez said of the facilitys preparation. He and wife Daisy are planning a Dec. 18 opening for the Colleyville location. El Paisa has been serving authentic Mexican cuisine since 1998. El Paisa, meaning friend, specializes in reasonably priced breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. The company also provides catering services for groups of 20 to 2,500 people. Velasquez noted that the new El Paisa is a family-operated unit; he and his mother Maria and brother Jose presently own six restaurants in Dallas and Tarrant counties. The new Colleyville location will serve as the restaurants third site in Tarrant County. Velasquez said his family is planning to add a fourth soon in Fort Worth as well as another location in Dallas. Mon, 29 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article170.html#1337183955 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article170.html From the Tarrant County Commissioners Office: On Dec. 14, the Tarrant County Commissioners Court approved an outdoor burning ban for Tarrant County. The ban prohibits all outdoor burning; it includes all of Colleyville and will remain in effect for 90 days. The high fuel load from the dry cured vegetation, lower than normal humidity and the strong gusty winds that occur during this time of the year make the ban on outdoor burning necessary to protect properties in Tarrant County. A violation of the court order prohibiting outdoor burning is a class C Misdemeanor and punishable of a fine up to 500.00. Thu, 23 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article174.html#1337183956 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article174.html AUSTIN - The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) launched a new reporting system this week that makes it easier and faster for Texans to report maintenance issues on Texas highways. The new, more efficient system also gives citizens a better opportunity to be a part of the maintenance solution by providing several million additional pairs of eyes to help TxDOT crews identify problems and preserve the states expansive transportation infrastructure. TxDOTs newly launched Report a Pothole initiative is available online at or the toll-free number at 888.885.8248. With just a click of a mouse or a quick phone call, citizens can report a pothole, including the location of the damage. The new system is part of the agencys ongoing move toward transparency and better customer service, said Amadeo Saenz, TxDOT executive director.But its also about enlisting Texans to help us maintain the states transportation system, Saenz added. Citizens reporting problems on the highwaysit just makes sense. Its like an extension of our maintenance forces. In todays environment of diminishing resources, it helps to have every citizen engaged.Operators will answer phone lines from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CDT Monday through Friday. Evening and weekend calls will go to voicemail and be returned the next morning or on the first working day of the following week. The Texas Department of Transportation TxDOT is responsible for maintaining over 80,000 miles of road and for supporting aviation, rail and public transportation across the state. TxDOT and its more than 12,000 employees strive to empower local leaders to solve local transportation problems, and to use new financial tools, including tolling and public-private partnerships, to reduce congestion and pave the way for future economic growth while enhancing safety, improving air quality and increasing the value of the state's transportation assets. Find out more at . Follow us! , Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article169.html#1337183957 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article169.html The annual State of the City meeting will be held Thursday, Jan. 27, at Colleyville Center, 5301 Riverwalk Drive. Designed as a one-stop information resource for residents, the State of the City will be preceded by an Open House with city departments and community organizations. The Open House begins at 6:00 p.m., followed by the State of the City at 7:00 p.m. A review of the past year and a look at some of the city's future initiatives will kick off the State of the City program, with an emphasis on issues, projects, and developments that impacted the city during the past year, as well as a look at the year ahead. The Colleyville City Council and city staff will be available to talk with citizens and answer questions during the public QA session that will follow the formal presentation. The meeting will be taped and, while the location does not allow the meeting to be streamed live, it will be available within days of the meeting on webcast at Colleyville.com. Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article181.html#1337183958 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article181.html In December, the Colleyville City Council reviewed plans to address a rate increase from the Trinity River Authority (TRA). Like many D/FW cities, Colleyville buys its water and sewer treatment or wastewater from the TRA, which raised its rates in December, citing increases in costs for chemicals, debt service to fund federal environmental mandates, and TRA infrastructure replacements. Colleyville water and wastewater customerswill nowpay 5 cents more per 1,000 gallons of water and an additional 10 cents per 1,000 gallons of wastewater. These rates reflect the increased rates being charged to the city of Colleyville by TRA. The new rateswill become effective Feb. 1 and be reflected in the March statements. Under the new rate structure, the increasewill be applied to the minimum bill for all customers-currently 12 for water and 8.60 for wastewater. The minimum bill includes the first 2,000 gallons of water and wastewater for each account. The new monthly minimum billwill be 12.10 for water and 8.80 for wastewater. This is the first increase to the city's minimum bill since 1990. In previous years, the city has absorbed the TRA increases without affecting the minimum bill; however, under the city's financial constraints and its required debt coverage ratio, the latest TRA increase will affect the minimum bill assessment afforded to all Colleyville utility customers.For those customers who use in excess of 2,000 gallons of water and 2,000 gallons of wastewater per month, the rate will increase from 3.48 to 3.53 per 1,000 gallons of water; and from 2.17 to 2.27 per 1,000 gallons of wastewater. The average Colleyville water customer utilizes 15,000 gallons of water and 10,000 gallons of wastewater monthly. Based on those averages, a typical monthly water/wastewater bill would increase by 1.45, plus the 30 cent increase on the minimum bill. The proposed rate structurealso allows future TRA rate increases to be applied to the minimum bill. TRA has projected that the rate it charges cities for water will increase by approximately 30 cents per 1,000 gallons of water by 2015. Wed, 26 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article183.html#1337183959 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article183.html The Daddy/Daughter Dance has been rescheduled to Friday, Feb. 11. All other information remains the same. Colleyville dads have an opportunity to celebrate Valentines Day with their daughters at the citys annual Daddy/Daughter Dance, slated Friday, Feb. 4, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., at Colleyville Center. Always one of the Citys most highly attended events, this years theme is Hollywood Glitz and Glamour. In addition to dancing, activities include enjoying a variety of games, refreshing food and beverages, and a complimentary professional photograph to remember the occasion. Tickets for Colleyville residents are 35 for daddy/daughter couples. Additional tickets are 10.Non-residents are also welcome. Non-resident tickets are 40 for daddy/daughter couples, and 15 for each additional ticket. This event is open to fathers (or favorite male guardian uncle, grandfather, etc.) with daughters ranging in age from 4-13. Dont miss this opportunity to make a special memory thats sure to last a lifetime. Space is limited, so make your reservations as soon as possible. For more information or to reserve and purchase tickets, please call 817.503.1180. Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article182.html#1337183960 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article182.html On May 8, 2010, Colleyville voters approved a proposition to allow off-premise retail (package) liquor store sales in the city. That local option election was the result of a citizen-initiated petition that was filed with the county clerk in accordance with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code. The number of signatures required was equal to or greater than 35% of the registered voters in the city at the time the petition was issued. The Colleyville City Council will review and consider each package store application to ensure that these developments are in compliance with the requirements of the Colleyville Land Development Code. What is a package store? A package store is a retail outlet allowed to sell liquor (typically alcoholic beverages containing more than 14% alcohol by volume), along with beer and wine for the purpose of off-premise consumption. Why are liquor (package) stores allowed in Colleyville? Retail liquor (package) stores in Colleyville resulted from a citizen-initiated petition and a subsequent election. Neither the City Council nor city staff played a role in the petition or election process. Electionresults from the May 8 referendum: For - 2718 74.5% Against -930 25.5% The petition was verified by Tarrant County election officials and placed on the May 8 ballot as a local option. Voters approved the initiative with 74.5% of the vote, allowing package stores to locate in Colleyville. The City Council's role at this point is to approve or deny a special use permit for each respective store, and they must do so within the confines of state law. In anticipation of the pending local option election, on May 18, city staff presented a recommendation to the City Council to apply the SUP review process to the sale of alcoholic beverages at package stores. The City Council approved the change and will utilize the SUP process for each permit application. Based on the limitations contained in the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, the city is prohibited from instituting other restrictions on the sale alcohol at package stores. What laws govern package store sales? The sale of alcoholic beverages through package stores is regulated by the state of Texas. The state sets strict parameters by which cities may regulate package stores, i.e., the state stipulates a separation of 300 feet from schools or churches. The state also restricts a city's ability to dictate the size of a specific package store. City regulations are not allowed to be more restrictive than state regulations, including any distance or separation requirements. From the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code: Sec. 109.57. APPLICATION OF CODE; OTHER JURISDICTIONS. (a) Except as is expressly authorized by this code, a regulation, charter, or ordinancepromulgated by a governmental entity of this state may not impose stricter standards onpremises or businesses required to have a license or permit under this code than areimposed on similar premises or businesses that are not required to have such a licenseor permit. The sole exception to the preemption provisions in the Alcoholic Beverage Code is the ability to restrict package stores in residential areas as a result of a charter election. Colleyville can ensure that a package store meets all land development requirements-parking, site layout, building design, landscaping, and access, similar to any other retail commercial land use. The City Council may consider issues deemed relevant to any development in relation to the city's Land Development Code. Can the city consider a moratorium on liquor stores? The sale of liquor through allowing package stores in the city was voted on by citizens, therefore, a city-instated moratorium is probably beyond the city's legal jurisdiction and would likely result in legal ramifications as seen in other cities that have previously instated moratoriums in these matters. Where can package stores locate? In Colleyville, package stores are allowed to locate in the CC1-Community Commercial, CC2-Shopping Center and CC3-Highway Commercial zoning districts only with the approval of a Special Use Permit (SUP). They may also locate in a Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning district with the approval of a Special Use Permit (SUP). They are not allowed in any other zoning districts. What is a Special Use Permit (SUP)? A Special Use Permit is a part of the city's zoning powers and grants permission for a specific use to occur on a property, provided the property is already located in the appropriate zoning district (see above). Many uses, such as an office building, are allowed to locate by right in certain zoning districts. However,uses allowed only through the approval of an SUP, as with package stores, require additional public consideration and allow the City Councilto consider each SUP request on a case-by-case basis. The process for obtaining a package store SUP is as follows: 1.Submit an application for a Special Use Permit (SUP) for a package store to the CommunityDevelopment department. The application fee is 500.00. Application forms are availablein the Community Development department on the first floor of City Hall, 100 Main Street. 2. The application is reviewed by the Development Review Committee, composed ofrepresentatives from relevant city departments, and a response is sent to the applicant detailingany development review comments and any additional information that is needed. 3.Once all required information is received, the request is then scheduled for public hearingsbefore the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council. All properties within 500 feet of the property where the proposed package store is proposed to be located are notified ofthe public hearings via mail by the city, and a public notice is also published in the Fort WorthStar-Telegram. 4.The City Council holds two public hearings, with the vote scheduled for the final publichearing. The City Council has the discretion to approve the SUP as submitted,attach certain development conditions to the SUP ordinance ifapproved, or deny the SUP. 5.If approved the package store is allowed to begin the next step(s) in the development process which may include platting, obtaining a building permit and certificate of occupancy. Does an SUP have to be approved? Special Use Permits are completely discretionary actions on the part of the City Council and can be approved or denied by the City Council based on specific conditions that affect the promotion of the community's health, safety, and welfare, in addition to the stated goals of the community as determined by the City Council. Will there be any steps to prevent crime at package stores? Although research on cities similar in size and demographics to Colleyville have not shown an increase in crime related to the arrival of package stores, the city of Colleyville has taken the proactive step of requiring all package store applicants comply with crime prevention recommendations, including store security measures, required staffing levels, proper visibility, and landscaping requirements to prevent and deter crime. Each SUP request must address these crime prevention and security requirements and the applicant(s) will be required to provide security plans and any Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) site design tenets.CPTED is based on the concept that proper design and effective use of the physical environment can lead to a reduction in the incidence and fear of crime. The goal of CPTED is to reduce the opportunities for crime, which are often inherent in the building design or layout of streets and neighborhoods. Finally, the Colleyville Police Department will be working proactively with the Texas Alcoholic and Beverage Commission (TABC) and business owners to ensure that any approved package stores continuously operate with the highest levels of safety in mind. How many package stores are allowed in the city? The city is prohibited from instituting a fixed cap on the number of package stores. The number of stores will be based on how many SUPs are applied for and then approved by the City Council. As part of the SUP approval process, each store will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, with opportunities for citizens to provide input during the public hearing process. Will package stores look like ones I've seen in other cities? Colleyville has strict and specific development standards that are designed to retain Colleyville's unique community character. Like all other new businesses that locate in Colleyville, package stores will be required to abide by those same development standards, notwithstanding any additional standards imposed by the City Council as a condition of granting an SUP. What are the hours of operation for package stores? The state of Texas has strict control over the approved hours of operation for package stores. According to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, package stores cannot sell, offer for sale, or deliver any liquor: on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, or Christmas Day; on Sunday; or before 10 a.m. or after 9 p.m. on any other day. When Christmas Day or New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the store must be closed on the following Monday. The city of Colleyville cannot preempt state regulations. Who can I contact at City Hall for more information about package stores? You may call the Community Development department at 817.503.1050 or email or . Wed, 09 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article158.html#1337183961 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article158.html For the latest information on gas well drilling and application(s) for drilling gas wells, Mon, 15 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article167.html#1337183962 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article167.html Release date: November 15, 2010 Colleyville, TexasNicole Melcher, a fourth-grade student at Colleyville Elementary School, has submitted the winning essay for the citys Mayor for a Day contest. She will serve her one-day term as mayor on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010. In choosing Nicoles essay, contest judges noted her people-oriented perspective on issues such as recycling, crime, and transportation. Her ideas included adding recycling bins in public areas and adding a dog park to the citys park inventory. This is the first time an essay submitted by a Colleyville Elementary School student has been selected as the winning entry.Colleyville Mayor David Kelly has proclaimed Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010 as Colleyville Elementary School day in honor of their fine students. Mayor Kelly made a personal visit toNicoles classroom to announce her selection. Nicoles day in the role of mayor includes tours of the Colleyville Justice Center and Central Fire Station, as well as tours of Parks facilities and projects. She will co-preside with the mayor duringthe Dec. 7 City Council meeting. Mayor David Kelly has championed the Mayor for a Day contest to allow young people the opportunity to experience city government and to foster a sense of community interest and involvement. This is the sixth year the city has conducted the essay contest. Mon, 15 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article168.html#1337183963 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article168.html Atmos Energy Corporation is reporting low gas pressure in isolated areas. The company asks that residents help by lowering their thermostats to reduce demand on the system. If you experience low gas pressure in your area please call 1.888.286.6700 to report the problem to an Atmos representative. Atmos Energy has provided the following tips to help customer use less natural gas: Set thermostats to 65 degrees. Keep warm by insulating yourself with sweaters and jackets.Limit early morning hot water use! Taking showers, doing dishes and laundry in the late afternoon and early evening prevents additional use at the peak wake-up time.Limit opening doors, etc. If possible, use the smallest living space you can, and reduce the temperature in unused spaces to 60.Close blinds and drapes to keep heat in unless there is direct sunlight available to help warm the space. Tue, 30 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article186.html#1337183964 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article186.html The city of Colleyville's residential lockbox program is sponsored by the Colleyville Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association and is designed to expedite access to senior adults in their homes during medical or other emergencies. The lockbox program reduces the likelihood of property damage caused by first responders forcing entry into a home in response to an emergency call. The residential lockbox program is open to all Colleyville residents who either live alone or must be left alone on a regular basis AND... -Are age 65 and above, or -Are under 65 with a major medical issue that could render them incapacitated or unconscious. HOW DOES THE PROGRAM WORK? 1. The eligible participant will complete a residential lockbox program application with the Colleyville Police Department. Applications may be downloaded from this site,picked up at the front desk of the Justice Center (5201 Riverwalk Drive), or obtained from any Colleyville police officer. 2. Completed applications should be dropped off at the front desk of the Justice Center or e-mailed to . 3. Once the application is approved, the crime prevention officer will contact the participant at their home to explain the program. 4. The participant will provide a spare house key to the officer, at which time the officer will place the key inside the lockbox and set the combination. 5. The officer will determine the best location for the lockbox to allow quick access for emergency responders, but is not readily visible to typical street or pedestrian traffic. 6. The lockbox will only be used during an emergency call and when responders cannot make entry without using force. At no other time will the lockbox be used or will entry be made without authorization. 7. The lockboxes will be provided at minimal cost and financial assistance is available when needed. 8. A participant may withdraw from the residential lockbox program at any time by contacting the Colleyville Police Department at 817.503.1200. After the key is returned to the participant, the empty lockbox will be removed from the residence and returned to the police department. Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article196.html#1337183965 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article196.html As part ofits Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, Borders has announced plans to close 10 stores in Texas. The Colleyville store at 5615 Colleyville Boulevard, Suite 100, is one of the sites marked for closure. According to information on the Borders Group website, the store is expected to close by the end of April. While the closure decision is beyond the scope of the city of Colleyville's influence, city staff will work with the landlord for the property to assist in finding another tenant that is suitable for the Colleyville retail market. The 23,000-square-foot store opened in 2006 in Colleyville Town Center. During the three previous fiscal years, the city has rebated to Borders a total of 122,272.66, the 1% sales tax paid to the city, as part of an incentive agreement with the retailer. The development is owned and managed by Hodges Development Services. Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article197.html#1337183966 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article197.html The Colleyville Police Department has encountered 24 overdoses, 107 criminal investigations, and 928 confiscated pills linked to prescription drugs since 2004. In an effort to minimize abuse and improper disposal of medicines, the department has developed a year-round secure medicine disposal program. The program is open to Colleyville citizens and employees of Colleyville businesses. It is offered to the Colleyville community as a free service. Citizens can participate in the program by bringing their unwanted medications and medical items to the Colleyville Justice Center, 5201 Riverwalk Drive, Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. No appointment is necessary. A trained police department employee will screen items and assist citizens with properly tagging and sealing them in a secure bag. The items will then be placed in a secure drop-safe located within the Justice Center. Periodically, the medications will be transferred to the Colleyville Police Departments property room and later disposed of in accordance with department policy and applicable law. Accepted items include: Narcotics (Oxycodone, Vicodin, etc.) Medication samples Medications for pets Medicated ointments (prescription and over-the-counter) Over-the-counter drugs/medications Vitamins Inhalers EpiPens (unopened) Items that cannot be accepted include: Needles/syringes Thermometers IV bags or bloody infectious waste Personal care products Hydrogen peroxide or other chemicals Aerosol cans EpiPens (used) Mercury products Iodine solutions Radioactive material Business waste Empty containers The Secure Medicine Disposal Program cannot accept used needles; however, the Colleyville Fire Department is equipped to accept those at the Central Fire Station, located at 5209 Colleyville Blvd. For more information on Colleyvilles Secure Medicine Disposal Program, please contact the Colleyville Police Department at 817.503.1200 or by email at ColleyvillePD@colleyville.com. Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article215.html#1337183967 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article215.html The new Kidsville playground is open. It features a natural theme, anchored by a realistic 20 tree house. The new design boasts 44 play eventsincluding a large play web, telescopes and talk tubes, as well as a spin cup and a crazy cup. Wed, 12 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article204.html#1337183968 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article204.html Mayor David Kelly, joined by councilmembers Carol Wollin and Mike Taylor, opened the new Kidsville playground on Friday, March 25, with a ribbon cutting ceremony. More than 100 children and community volunteers who built the original Kidsville playground were in attendance. The new playground features a natural theme, anchored by a realistic 20 tree house and boasts 44 activitiesincluding a large play web, telescopes, and talk tubes, as well as a spin cup and a crazy cup. The playground is located on the south side of City Park on Bransford Road. Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article210.html#1337183969 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article210.html Following a recommendation from citizens serving on the Historical Preservation Committee, as well as other concerned citizens, the city has approved the purchase of the historic 1905 Bidault House, one of the few remaining historic homes in Colleyville. What is the Bidault House? The Bidault House is located at 1416 Glade Road. It is the only existing homestead in Colleyville to receive a Texas historical marker; it was recorded as a historic landmark by the Texas Historical Commission in 1980. Designed and built by French native Anthelm Bidault (1862-1951), construction on the house began in 1905 and was completed six years later. Concrete blocks were used to build the house; the blocks were made with molds ordered from a Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalog. Bidaults farm, as the property was known then, was noted for its orchards, berry fields, and vineyard. During World War I, French soldiers stationed at Camp Bowie in Fort Worth made regular visits to the Bidault home, which the family referred to as Chateau Bidault. The home was last occupied by former Colleyville City Councilman Jim Moore, a descendant of Anthelm Bidault. Upon Mr. Moores death in 2010, the family put the house on the market. Why did the city elect to buy the house? Members of the Colleyville Historical Preservation Committee and others were concerned that the home, which sits prominently on Glade Road, would be bought and destroyed to make room for a new home or commercial business. As one of the oldest homesteads remaining in Colleyville, the general feeling expressed was that once this piece of the communitys history was gone, it would be gone forever. In response, the city began to explore the opportunity to buy the home. What is the purchase price and how does the city plan to pay for it? The final purchase price is 290,000, almost 200,000 less than the original asking price. Funds for the purchase will not come from the citys General Fund, which is the primary funding source for city operations. Instead the purchase price will paid from the citys Tomorrow Fund, which is derived from the lease signing bonuses paid for the mineral rights to some city properties. What does the city plan to do with the house? The Historical Preservation Committee will begin a study of options for the Bidault House this month, including consideration of private fundraising efforts for restoration, maintenance, and future activity. The committee also will explore establishing a community-based, private historical foundation with the objective of establishing a fundraising entity in support of preservation of the Bidault House. Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article219.html#1337183970 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article219.html Colleyville residents love the rural feel of their community, but for many homeowners that often means sharing space with area wildlife. On Thursday, May 17, the citys Animal Control Division will host Getting to Know Your Wild Neighbors, a program that educates residents about effective, humane methods for coping with the squirrels, raccoons, skunks, coyotes, and other critters that inhabit the Colleyville landscape. Bonnie Bradshaw of 911 Wildlife will be the guest speaker. She is a wildlife rehabilitator who holds certifications from Texas Parks Wildlife. Program topics include different wildlife in this area, how to peacefully coexist with them, keeping family pets safe, and the different products that can help keep wildlife from damaging property or people. The discussion-style class will be presented from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the municipal courtroom of the Colleyville Justice Center, 5201 Riverwalk Drive in Colleyville. The program is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the animal control officer at 817.503.1200. Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article350.html#1337183971 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article350.html The city of Colleyville conducts a citizen survey on a biennial basis, and the results of the 2012 Citizen Survey are in. Input and feedback gleaned from our citizens is critical in assessing the citys projects, plans, and activities. It is a key element in gauging the overall performance of the city, in addition to identifying citizen priorities and preferences. The Colleyville City Council was briefed on the preliminary results at the April 17 council meeting. Of those responding to the survey, 97% were satisfied with the quality of life in the city; 50% were very satisfied. The value of city services, as it relates to the amount of tax dollars paid to the city, rated an 84% satisfaction level. And once again, while overall satisfaction with economic development activities increased from the previous survey in 2010, attracting and keeping quality businesses ranked as the most critical issue facing the city. Respondents ranked having a safe community as the top priority in the city, followed by keeping citizens informed about city activities. Having the city provide an adequate forum for public input was the third most important activity citizens wanted from the city, while retaining existing businesses ranked 4th. Other highlights of the 2012 Citizen Survey include: - Ratings for the citys police and fire services continued to garner a high satisfaction rate, especially among those who had required those services during the past year. Police and fire services both received satisfaction ratings well above 90%. Within the public safety sector (police and fire), traffic enforcement received the lowest satisfaction level. - Respondents continued to be interested in attracting more sit-down restaurants, mid-sized retail outlets, and a supermarket, with percentages similar to the 2010 survey. - Leisure services, including the public library, Colleyville Center, and parks and recreation services, continued to rate well with citizens with satisfaction levels above 90%. The new 65-gallon cart recycling service received a 92% satisfaction score. - Primary areas of future focus according to respondents should be: keeping taxes reasonable, planning for future needs, and encouraging economic growth. Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article351.html#1337183972 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article351.html The Colleyville City Council has voted toadopt a stricter solicitation ordinance aimed at keeping citizens safe while maintaining their privacy and creating an outlet for complaints. Colleyville is one of the safest cities in Tarrant County because city officials are constantly looking for ways to combat crime, said Police Chief Steve Dye. The new solicitation ordinance will help us protect citizens from fraudulent vendors, maintain their privacy, andhelp keep their children safe. The new ordinance includes heightened permit requirements, which will require more information from those who apply. Applicants will also be required to consent to a criminal background check, and permits will be denied to those with a conviction or plea of no contest to a crime of moral turpitude or any felony. Soliciting will only be permitted between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Sundays and federal holidays are excluded.Citizens who do not wish to be contacted by solicitors should post a No Solicitation sign that meets the citys requirements near the main entrance of their home. Signs must be not less than 3 inches by 4 inches in size, with letters not less than 2/3 of an inch in height. Violators can now be reported by calling the police, on this website, or at the Colleyville Justice Center. Punishment can range from permit revocation to a Class C misdemeanor charge and a fine not to exceed 500 per occurrence.New regulations for itinerant vendors, such as ice cream trucks, include a requirement that each driver apply for a permit, sound restrictions, a 30-minute limit to remain in a single location, and vehicle safety and insurance requirements. Other additions to the ordinance include: Solicitors and distributors may only approach the front doors of residences Unsolicited pamphlets, brochures, flyers, packages and printed advertisements must be left secured and no further than five feet from front door Children less than 16 years old must be within 1,000 feet of their own home or actively supervised and within 100 feet of a person who is at least 18 years old. Applicants less than 16 years old must provide a copy of the parental consent form Solicitors must have a copy of their permit in their possession and visible during all solicitation activities Distributors must wear orange traffic safety vests A group registration option is available for distribution groups of 10 or more Religious organizations, charitable causes, and political speech are exempt from the permitting requirements Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article207.html#1337183973 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article207.html Due to changes in the Nixle subscription service, effective March 20, 2011, the city of Colleyville will offer Nixle alerts in TEXT FORMAT ONLY. Subscribers who previously received alerts via email or other formats should login to their Nixle aaccount and change their subscriber preference to accept text messages in order to continue receiving alerts.(Use the Change Subscriber Preference link on the ). Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article208.html#1337183974 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article208.html Colleyville officials have selected Michael S. Holder as the next police chief for the city of Colleyville. His strong record in community policing, regionalization and a servant leadership approach to public safety were cited as primary factors in his selection. Holder currently serves as police chief in Kaufman Texas. Under his leadership, Kaufman experienced a 56% drop in its Part 1 crime rate during his three-year tenure there, achieving that citys lowest crime rate in the past 15 years. (Part 1 crime includes violent and property crimes, including burglary and motor vehicle theft.) He is a 20-year veteran of the Dallas Police Department, where he held high level positions in the Criminal Investigations Bureau, commanded the Property Crimes Division, and supervised the largest patrol division in the city. While in Kaufman,Holder developed partnerships with other local law enforcement agencies, including implementation of a multijurisdictional SWAT team and countywide Crime Stoppers program. He was one of only 100 people nationwide invited to participate in the 2nd Annual Predictive Policing National Conference, in recognition of his significant record in crime reduction achieved through innovative crime control methods. Holder has a bachelors of science degree from Amberton University and is currently enrolled in the masters program there. His accreditations include Texas Master Peace Officer and the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education - instructor level. He will take the helm of the Colleyville Police Department on Oct. 24. Tue, 06 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article268.html#1337183975 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article268.html Reconstruction of SH 26 through Colleyville has been on the Texas Department of Transportations (TxDOT) list of projects since the late 1990s. In the summer of 2010, federal funds were awarded to the reconstruction of SH 26 through Grapevine, making available millions in funding previously allocated to that segmentby Tarrant County.Subsequently, in January 2011, the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) voted to transfer 4 millionof those county funds to reconstruction of SH 26 in Colleyville. The additional Tarrant County funding, coupled with phasing of the Colleyville segment (Brumlow/Pool Road to south of John McCain Road and John McCain Road to south of Hall-Johnson Road) provided the opportunity to advance reconstruction of SH 26 in Colleyville. After negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the city, TxDOT, Tarrant County, and the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) that included a provision that Colleyvilles funding commitment would not exceed the 5 million previously allocated in 2000, the Colleyville City Council agreed to proceed with phase one of the project (Brumlow/Pool Road to south of John McCain Road). In addition, according to the MOU, the RTC and TxDOT guarantee almost 13.7 million in additional construction funding for reconstruction of the roadway through Hall-Johnson Road sometime after 2015. Project Details The reconstruction project encompasses widening SH 26 to six lanes with raised curb medians and left-turn bays. Prior to the start of any reconstruction of SH 26 in Colleyville, utilities located mostly along thesouth side of the highway must be relocated. Relocation of utilities will precede the start of reconstruction of the roadway for each phase of the project. Phase one utility relocation (Brumlow/Pool Road to south of John McCain Road) will begin in the summer of 2011. The city of Colleyville is required by the state to move the public utilitieswater and sewer lines. Franchise utilities (Oncor, Verizon, ATT, Time Warner, Atmos Energy) will coordinate the relocation of their respective lines. Colleyville Phase One Schedule Early summer 2011 Phase one utility relocation to begin Late 2011/early 2012 Phase one construction to begin Spring 2013 Phase one construction complete Phase One Funding Tarrant County: 4,000,000 City of Colleyville: 5,070,000 (Tax Increment Finance District) NCTCOG: 1,608,000 (Federal share of Surface Transportation Program andMetropolitan Mobility funds) TxDOT:402,000 (TxDOT state match to the Surface TransportationProgram Metropolitan Mobility funds)TOTAL:11,080,000 Funding for phase one will pay for reconstruction from Brumlow/Pool Road to 1,000 feet south of John McCain Road, including the bridge over Big Bear Creek. Future SH26 Construction Phases Funding for the second phase of reconstruction (south of John McCain Road to south of Hall-Johnson Roadlikely near Church Street) is anticipated to be available in 2015 or later. If funding does become available at an earlier date and pre-construction activity has been completed (utility relocation), NCTCOG and TxDOT will attempt to begin construction at an earlier date. Funding for TxDOTs reconstruction of SH 26 through Cheek-Sparger Road is not available at this time. The city continues to work with TxDOT, NCTCOG, and Tarrant County for a funding allocation for this section of SH 26. SH 26 Reconstruction Project Participants - Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT): project responsibility and management - City of Colleyville: relocation of public utilities water and sewer lines - Franchise utilities: Oncor, ATT, Verizon, Time Warner, Atmos Energy relocation of phone, electrical, cable television, and gas lines Tue, 03 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article218.html#1337183976 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article218.html Police, citizens, and community partners team up to achieve 34 percent reduction The last time Colleyville's crime rate was this low, it was a different century. According to the latest Uniform Crime Report (UCR), overall crime in Colleyville in 2011 declined 34 percent, to the lowest level in more than 20 years. Property crime, which traditionally accounts for 93 to 99 percent of all Part 1 crime offenses, was down 36 percent. The drop was led by a 39 percent decrease in burglary and a 36 percent decrease in thefts. Officials and Colleyville police attribute the decrease to the combined efforts of the police department; community partners such as Citizens on Patrol (COPs); and other volunteers, neighborhood crime watches, businesses, and alert citizens. An aggressive campaign to educate the community on the need to lock vehicles, put property away, and close garage doors was also cited. Part 1 crime reporting is used for crime analysis both locally and statewide through the UCR, which reports the eight Part 1 offenses, including murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, theft, auto theft, and arson. Police employed a variety of strategies, technology, and crime analysis tools to develop intelligence, identify problem areas, and deploy officers and resources in a directed fashion. Community policing, through which officers are assigned specific patrol areas and develop working relationships with residents and business owners in those neighborhoods, had a significant impact on the lower crime rate. The police bicycle unit was reformed in 2011 and resulted in positive citizen interaction, as well as the arrests of suspects. Police plan to continue their successful record of lowering crime in the city by expanding regional law enforcement partnerships and working with other agencies in a combined assault on common offenders. Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article316.html#1337183977 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article316.html Colleyville Parks and Recreation (PARD) kicks of the winter season with a full slate of classes and activities. A Zumba session, the latest in fitness fun, will be offered in January and March. Other new classes include Baby Sing and Sign, and Creative Movement for Women. To view the full recreation class and activity catalog forthis winter and spring, click on the catalog cover below. View the full recreation class and activity catalog Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article294.html#1337183978 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article294.html With summer approaching and kids out of school for summer break, the Colleyville Police Department reminds parents and guardians about Colleyvilles year-round teen curfew. The curfew applies to person(s) under the age of 17 and is in effect Sunday-Thursday, from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. and Friday-Saturday, from midnight to 6 a.m. A minor in a public place or establishment during these times is in violation of the curfew. Parents or guardians, as well as business operators, may also be in violation of the curfew if they knowingly permit a minor to remain on any public premises past curfew hours. For more information, contact the Colleyville Police Department at 817.503.1200. Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article223.html#1337183979 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article223.html The fiscal year 2012 budget has been unanimously approved by the Colleyville City Council. It will go into effect on Oct. 1. The combined proposed expenditures and transfers total 35,469,313, a 72,607 increase from the current year budget. Once again, Colleyvilles tax rate will remain at .3559 for every 100 in appraised value, essentially the same rate the city has maintained for the past 17 years, with the exception of an increase of less than one penny to build new fire stations. Voters approved that measure in a 2005 bond election. The new fire stations opened in 2008. The annual budget allows the City Council to steer a course toward a strategic vision that aligns municipal resources with community needs. Quality of life issues, such as neighborhood integrity, public safety, economic development, street maintenance, and leisure services are consistent themes in the strategic points adopted by the City Council. These include: A long-term commitment to economic development Fostering a more diversified tax base Protecting and preserving Colleyville neighborhoods Delivering sustainable government Branding Colleyville with a unique identity By remaining focused on these initiatives, the community, City Council, and staff can weigh the divergent demands of the citizenry, pursuing only those elements that help achieve these initiatives, and thereby ensuring the highest priorities of the community as a whole are accomplished. Tue, 11 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article263.html#1337183980 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article263.html Keegan Courtney, a second-grade student at Colleyville Elementary School, has submitted the winning essay for the citys 2011 Mayor for a Day contest. This is the second consecutive year an essay submitted by a Colleyville Elementary School student has been selected as the winning entry. In choosing Keegans essay, which focused on increasing water conservation through public education, contest judges noted his public focus on a critical and timely issue. They also took note that his ideas were altruistic, well researched, and showed a genuine interest in the subject matter. Colleyville Mayor David Kelly has proclaimed Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011, as Colleyville Elementary School day in honor of their fine students. Mayor Kelly, accompanied by two city firefighters, made a personal visit toKeegans school to announce his selection. Keegan is the youngest winner to date in the annual contest. When not plotting a future political career, the 8-year-old enjoys playing tackle football, video games, and hanging out with friends. He is the son of Dori Freeman and James Courtney. His day in the role of mayor includes tours of the Colleyville Justice Center and Central Fire Station, city public works facilities, and tours of city park facilities. He will take an honorary oath of office and co-preside with the mayor duringthe Colleyville City Council meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 1. Mayor David Kelly has championed the Mayor for a Day contest to allow young people the opportunity to experience city government and to foster a sense of community interest and involvement. The city of Colleyville has conducted the Mayor for a Day contest for the past seven years. Photo From left to right: Colleyville Elementary School principal June Ritchlin, dad James Courtney, Colleyville Fire Department Lt. Eddie Moran, mom Dori Freeman, Mayor David Kelly, Colleyville Fire Department engineer Dustin Wynn Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article275.html#1337183981 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article275.html One of the best meals in town is served every Tuesday evening at the Colleyville Senior Center, as the Center's members gather for a potluck supper and social. Now the seniors are sharing their best recipes in the Recipes to Remember - Colleyville Senior Center Cookbook. The spiral-bound cookbooks are 10 and available through the Colleyville Senior Center at 2512 Glade Road. Cash or checks only, please. To order, call 817.283.7648 or email . Proceeds benefit the Colleyville Senior Center activity fund. Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article296.html#1337183982 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article296.html City offices, including the publiclibrary and senior center, will beclosed Monday, May 28, in observance of Memorial Day.Police, fire, and emergencypersonnel will remain on duty. Trash and recycle collection willbe conducted on the normal schedule and will not be affectedby the holiday. Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article341.html#1337183983 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article341.html On Sept. 8, the Colleyville City Council approved a proposal by IESI, the citys trash and recycle provider, to enhance the citys recycling program. Effective Oct. 31, all residents will use 65-gallon rolling recycling carts for all recyclable materials, in lieu of the current 18-gallon bins. Only material contained in the 65-gallon carts will be picked up for recycling. Trash service will continue to be conducted on a twice-a-week schedule, but the new recycle program may require a change in trash/recycle days for some residents. Under the new program, the recycling portion of residential bills will increase by 1.15 per month. However, increasing the amount of recycling (and thus reducing landfill material) benefits Colleyville residents economically and environmentally, since a portion of IESIs annual rate change requests are tied to landfill disposal costs. Those costs are directly related to the amount of material disposed, so an increase in recycling could help reduce future rate increases. The 65-gallon carts do not take up much more room than the current 18-gallon bins. In fact, the footprint of the cart is only 9 inches by 3 inches larger than the footprint of the current 18-gallon bin. The carts have two wheels that make them easier to maneuver and they have attached lids to limit the amount of loose debris on windy days. IESI will be delivering the new recycle carts to residents prior to the Nov. 1 effective date for the new recycling program. City staff is developing a complete program to inform and educate Colleyville citizens about the new program. That information will be available online on this site, in the citys monthly newsletter, as well as through the citys e-communications program. Sat, 15 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article260.html#1337183984 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article260.html While most Texans avoid the summer heat by moving indoors, the Colleyville Public Works Department hits the streets during the summer months. Consistently dry weather and reduced traffic due to school vacation make summer the season to accomplish many city street projects. Although the list of street maintenance needs often exceeds the 1 million dollars allocated annually for road improvements, the department utilizes a ranking system to prioritize projects. The system was developed in conjunction with the Citizen CIP Committee formed in 2006. With recommendations from the citizen committee, the Colleyville City Council adopted a 10-year street and intersection capital improvement plan (CIP) to enhance existing municipal infrastructure and address traffic congestion issues throughout the city.After consideration of traffic counts, the following street segments are included in the 2011 street rehabilitation project: Brentwood Drive July 25-August 8 (completed) (Brookridge Drive to Chapelwood Drive) Brentwood Court July 25-August 8 (completed) (Brookridge Drive to dead end) Cheek-Sparger Road August 8-September 5 (1700 Cheek-Sparger to Tamblewood Drive) L.D. Lockett RoadSeptember 6-15 (Lowrie Road to Quails Path) John McCain Road September15-27 (Bandit Trail to Stillwater Circle) Pleasant Run Road September28-October 14 (City limits to 7504 Pleasant Run Road) Please note that these are estimated dates and may be subject to change. At least seven-days notice will be proivded at the area of construction prior to the start of any construction work. Street rehabilitation involves removing and replacing all asphalt concrete and aggregate base on a roadway segment, and placing new striping and pavement markings. Intersection improvements identified in the 2011 plan, with construction tentatively set for 2012, include Martin Parkway at Cheek-Sparger Road and Jackson Road at Cheek-Sparger Road. The Pleasant Run Road at John McCain intersection is scheduled to begin construction by the end of the year. As part of the city's partnership agreement with Tarrant County, rehabilitation of Brown Trail began in May. Project completion is scheduled for late July. Most streets identified in the 2011 street rehabilitation project were rated a D or worse according to the city'srating scale. Two streets, L.D. Lockett Road (B) and Brown Trail (C), were exceptions. L.D. Lockett Road recently experienced a sub-grade failure, creating a need for more immediate repairs, while the decision to rehabilitate Brown Trail was made in conjunction with Tarrant County. . Prior to the start of road construction, residents and businesses that may be affectedwill benotified of pending repairs. Rehabilitation projects are extensive and due to the type of work involved, dust levels can be high at times, especially during extreme temperatures. The city works with construction crews to minimize dust by watering the area on a regular basis; however, roads are likely to remain dusty during a significant portion of the construction process. Regular updates on city street projects are posted online and also can be received by email by registering For road construction updates only, choose the ROAD CONSTRUCTION option. For additional information, call 817.503.1090. Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article238.html#1337183985 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article238.html The city officially opened Phase II of the Cotton Belt Trail, connecting Colleyville to Hurst and North Richland Hills, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 19.View photos of the event in the . Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article345.html#1337183986 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article345.html The Colleyville Fire Department will host an open house on Saturday, May 19, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Colleyville Central Fire Station. Activities include fire station tours, Fire Clowns, blood pressure checks, bunker gear races, fire safety vendors, a black-out maze, and fire safety games, plus photos with the fire fighters. Information will be available on the fire departments most popular programs, including the Citizens Fire Academy, Fire Camp for Kids, and the Citizens Fire Academy Alumni Association (CFAAA) Rehab Response Team. There will also be a silent auction, raffle, and food and T-shirt sales, with proceeds benefiting the CFAAA. The Central Fire Station is located at 5209 Colleyville Boulevard. For more information, call 817.581.4591. Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article338.html#1337183987 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article338.html Severe weather and flooding can affect everyone. During flooding events, the city has sandbags on hand at the Public Works facility located at 1601 Hall Johnson Road. These are provided without charge to the Colleyville residents who need them. In emergency situations, the citys employees are busy working the emergency and are not available to deliver those sandbags, so residents who need them should plan to pick them up at the Public Works facility, located on the south side of Hall Johnson Road, just east of the Colleyville Post Office. The Public Works facility is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article297.html#1337183988 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article297.html At the first mention of a winter freeze, traffic and commerce in North Central Texas freezes too. Why? While colder weather brings a welcome change, most people arent prepared for it. The Knowhat2do site provides helpful information for building a personal safety kit, templates to help plan, and tips to allow better preparation for storm and weather events. Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article298.html#1337183989 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article298.html The city of Colleyville was notified today by the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) that they will be lifting the two-day-a-week outdoor watering restriction on Friday, May 4. Effective tomorrow, the city of Colleyville will be lifting that restriction as well. Colleyville purchases water from the Trinity River Authority (TRA), a TRWD customer. Residents should be aware that the restriction on outdoor watering from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. remains in effect. Hand-watering is allowed and private water wells used for irrigation are exempt. (The media release below was issued by TRWD.) ___________________________________________ PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release TRWD to lift Stage 1 drought restrictions May 4 FORT WORTH, TX (May 3, 2012) The Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) has notified its wholesale customers that it will terminate Stage 1 watering restrictions effective May 4. The twice-per-week restrictions and other water saving measures were put in place last August when TRWDs reservoirs reached 75 percent capacity. After heavy rains earlier this spring, the water districts reservoirs have climbed to over 95 percent capacity. It is estimated the conservation measures reduced demands by eight percent during a period of peak use, saving an estimated 35 to 45 million gallons per day. Although drought conditions have subsided, TRWD encourages the public to continue practicing voluntary conservation measures in order to reduce peak demands in the summer and prolong the areas water supplies. TRWDs wholesale customers include the cities of Fort Worth, Arlington and Mansfield, as well as the Trinity River Authority. The water district provides raw water to 1.8 million people in the North Texas area, including about 98 percent of Tarrant Countys population. For more information on how to conserve water, please visit . Thu, 03 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article348.html#1337183990 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article348.html With changes in the citys utility billing payment system, online bill paying through a bank or other financial institution just got faster. Previously, online bank payments could take up to five days to process. The new system has shortened the timeframe to two days, comparable to most online banking payments. Customers who take advantage of the automatic draft option will see their drafts initiated only two days prior to their due date, rather than the previous five days. Customers are still encouraged to schedule payments at least two days in advance of their respective due date to avoid any penalties for late payment. For additional information, contact the Utility Billing office at 817.503.1020. Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article326.html#1337183991 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article326.html City Hall will serve as an early voting location for the May 29, Republican and Democratic primary elections. Dates and times of early voting for those elections are as follows: Monday-Friday, May 14-18, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 19, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday, May 20, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, May 21-25, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article344.html#1337183992 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article344.html The thirdannual Business Appreciation Reception will be held Thursday, May, 17, from 7:00-8:30 p.m., at Colleyville Center. Entitled Shop Colleyville, It's Close Buy, the evening will highlight opportunities for Colleyville businesses to promote local spending. Businesses will also be introduced to the Colleyville CloseBuy program's Ccard. For additional information, contact Marketing Coordinator Heather Gaven at 817.503.1055 or by emailto . Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article353.html#1337183993 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article353.html The first Colleyville Fire Departments Fire Rescue Camp for Kids, scheduled June 11-15, is full. However, due to demand the Fire Department will offer a second session of the camp June 18-22. Camp programs and costs will remain the same. The last day to register for the second Fire Rescue Camp for Kids is June 1. For more information, call 817.581.4591. Camp Details The Colleyville Fire Departments Fire Rescue Camp provides kids with a week of unforgettable experiences. Conducted by real firefighters, campers get hands-on experience in the day-to-day skills required to be a firefighter, instilling a sense of individual responsibility and team work. Campers will learn about CPR, first aid, firefighting, and much more. The five-day camp is conducted from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Colleyville Central Fire Station, 5209 Colleyville Blvd. The camp is open to students ages 9-13 only; Colleyville residents are given first priority. Cost for the camp is 125; registration is required. Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article349.html#1337183994 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article349.html The initial numbers for the first three months of the 65-gallon cart recycling program have been astounding. In January, Colleyville households recycled 73.5% more, or approximately 108 tons more than the same month last year. Colleyville residents averaged an increase of 26.07 pounds of recycling per household in January. Trash has decreased by 8.61 pounds per home, per month.In February, Progressive Waste Solutions (IESI) began using an automated side loader truck to collect recycling in Colleyville. While the new truck allows for faster pick-up service, it also requires proper placement of the cart to provide adequate access and avoid damage to the cart. These are the service guidelines: The cart should be placed a minimum of three feet from any structure or object, including trash cans, vehicles, mailboxes, utility meters, poles or fences. This allows room for the automated arm to collect the cart. The front of the cart (non-handle side) should be facing the street, but should be closeenough to the curb or street for the truck to reach it. All recyclable materials must be contained within the cart and the lid should be closed. In March, the city launched the SmartCart campaign designed to reduce trash levels through recycling education. Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article325.html#1337183995 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article325.html TxDOT has begun construction to resurface SH 26 through Colleyville, Hurst, and North Richland Hills soon. The project will consist of pavement milling, pavement repair and an asphalt overlay. During construction, SH 26 will be reduced to one lane each way. Work areas will be limited to approximately two miles and the majority of the work will be completed during daytime off-peak hours (8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) to minimize the inconvenience to the traveling public.The project will encompass SH 26 from John McCain Road to Farm-to-Market Road 1938. The first phase will be from John McCain Road to Glade Road. The seven-mile project is estimated for completion by this fall/winter, dependent on weather. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) awarded the project to the Lane Construction Corporation of Cheshire, Connecticut for 4.2 million. Mon, 09 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article335.html#1337183996 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article335.html Beginning Thursday, April 12, Heritage Avenue will be closed to all traffic from Glade Road to Cheek Sparger Road. Road reconstruction by the city of Euless in that area necessitates the closure. Heritage Avenue is anticipated to re-open by mid-June, pending weather conditions during road reconstruction. For questions regarding this road closure, please call 817.503.1103. Mon, 09 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article336.html#1337183997 http://www.colleyville.com/news/article336.html