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Meaningful business
Democracy in action.
That's how one Farmers Branch staff member described last Thursday's Town Hall Meeting. More than 150 of you turned out at City Hall to ask questions and voice your opinions on the topic of curbside recycling.
It was a vigorous and vital discussion on a topic that is near and dear to the hearts of many Farmers Branch residents, according to our Citizen Satisfaction Surveys.
This is just an example of the passion this Mayor and City Council bring to the table. They are working hard day in and day out to do meaningful business in the City's best interests. Recycling is another example of their diligence in being responsive to citizens' needs.
The question is, of course, what happens next?
Right now, as the current contract for garbage pickup expires at the end of February, City staff is finalizing a Request for Proposals for residential garbage, municipal solid waste and options for recycling services. The RFP will be distributed to solid waste service providers in the next few weeks and will be returned in September.
A review and analysis of those proposals, and their attached costs, will give the Mayor and Council the information they need in order to make informed decisions on solid waste and recycling.
In the meantime, if you were unable to attend the Town Hall Meeting, it is being replayed on FBTV at 10 a.m. every day through Friday, August 14.
Thanks for your passion, your feedback and your continued love for our community.
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Westbound frontage closed tonight, Marsh to Webb Chapel
FARMERS BRANCH ~ As final paving operations continue to progress through the LBJ corridor, there will be a full closure of the westbound LBJ frontage road between Marsh Lane and Webb Chapel Road beginning tonight at 7 pm and finishing up no later than Thursday morning at 6. 
LBJ Express officials said traffic will be detoured to Valley View Lane and that the westbound Webb Chapel exit and Marsh on-ramp will be closed during the work.
The five-year expansion of Interstate 635 from Greenville in Dallas to I-35E just south of Farmers Branch is scheduled for completion by the end of this year.
For more information, visit lbjexpress.com.
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Entire City sprayed for mosquitoes Tuesday night
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Following four mosquito traps testing positive for West Nile Virus, all residential areas in Farmers Branch were sprayed for mosquitoes Tuesday night.
Last week, areas around Temple Trails Park were sprayed following a positive test in that area.
To date, there have been no human cases of West Nile virus recorded in Farmers Branch since 2013.
As incidence of West Nile Virus increases throughout North Texas through the late summer months into fall, residents are reminded to drain standing water, use insect repellent with DEET, and to avoid being outdoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
Mosquito dunks (larvacide briquettes), for the treatment of standing water, are available free of charge (limit one per household) at Farmers Branch City Hall and at the Farmers Branch Senior Center.
For more information, please call the Mosquito Hotline at 972.919.9868 or visit farmersbranchtx.gov/mosquito.
   
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Top Five
Financial analysis site says Farmers Branch is the 5th best place to start a business in Texas
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Crunching numbers from the U.S. Census bureau on business climate and economic health of the area, the financial analysis site NerdWallet.com has ranked Farmers Branch as the fifth best place to start a business in Texas.
One of only two north Texas cities at the top of the list of 220 communities on the survey, Farmers Branch was called out for the second highest number of businesses in the top 10 and for second place in the top 10 for the largest number of businesses with paid employees.
Among the corporations with headquarters here, NerdWallet quoted Taco Bueno and Ironclad Performance Wear. Rounding out the top five were Katy at number four, Stafford at number three, Webster was ranked the second and the Town of Addison received the top billing on the list.  "It's always gratifying when outside agencies take note of our excellent business climate, location and access to transportation," said Farmers Branch Managing Director John Land. "We're honored to be mentioned on the same list as so many other dynamic and progressive business locations in Texas."
According to NerdWallet.com, their analysts looked at 220 cities in Texas with a population of at least 10,000. They calculated the overall score for every location based on the City's business climate and economic health using data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
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'Live 80' comes to Tastes & Tunes as summer series concludes
FARMERS BRANCH ~ The band Live 80 will be harkening back to the days of parachute pants and pushed-up sleeves while food trucks sell their wares at the final 2015 installment of Tastes & Tunes, set for Friday, August 14 at The Grove @ Mustang Station, corner of Bill Moses Parkway and Denton Drive.
Admission to the event is free with folding chairs and blankets recommended for lawn seating.
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Free animal adoptions planned for one day only
FARMERS BRANCH ~ The Farmers Branch Animal Adoption Center will be offering all adoptable pets without adoption cost for one day only on 'Clear the Shelter Day,' Saturday, August 15.
The Center will be open from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. that day and will be hoping to 'clear the shelter' of all adoptable pets.
The effort comes as part of the second annual such event where more than 50 shelters across north Texas will be attempting to adopt as many pets as possible.
Although the normal $85 pet adoption fee will be waived, all regular services remain the same for pets adopted that date. Those services include microchipping, first round of vaccinations including for rabies, spay or neutering, a free veterinarian exam at participating local clinics, and, for adult dogs and cats, testing for heart worm and feline leukemia.
Last year, 38 participating shelters adopted more than 2,200 pets.
For more information, visit cleartheshelters.org.
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Water/sewer rate increase proposed to offset pass-through costs
FARMERS BRANCH ~ The record rainfall of 2015 in addition to a legal battle over the source for local drinking water is combining for a perfect storm the will likely result in higher water and sewer rates for the new fiscal year.
Most costs associated with water service come from Dallas Water Utilities, the City's water provider, and the Trinity River Authority, the City's wastewater service provider.
"About 80 percent of our water and sewer expenses come from fixed costs that are passed along to us by the Trinity River Authority and Dallas Water Utilities," said Farmers Branch Managing Director of Finance and Administration Charles Cox. "In addition to that, local water sales are down 15 percent, or about $3 million, because of the record rainfall this spring. "When it rains, people don't buy water, but when it rains a lot, those numbers become even more pronounced."
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Brookhaven Big Band plays tonight
MANSKE LIBRARY~ Brookhaven College's Big Band group will perform at the Farmers Branch Manske Library on Wednesday, August 5 at 7 pm in the Meeting Room.
Comprised of adult and high school students from the community and directed by Keith Umback, the band has participated in jazz festivals all around Texas and appeared on Channel 8's "Good Morning Texas."
Sit back and relax as the group plays favorite big band songs. This event is free and open to the public. For questions about this and other events, please contact the Library at 972.247.2511.
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Vivace Ensemble to perform Sunday
MANSKE LIBRARY~ The Brookhaven College Vivace Ensemble will perform at the Farmers Branch Manske Library in the Meeting Room on Sunday, August 9 at 3 pm.
The costumed ensemble, conducted by Melody Gamblin-Bullock, is known for it's colorful and creative programming. The group performs sacred and secular chamber music and madrigal choral music spanning the last eight centuries.
This event is open to the public. If you have questions about this or other events, please contact the Library at 972.247.2511.
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Volume 5 | Edition 31 | Number 232
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Branch Bulletin
is published weekly by the Communications Office since March 5, 2011
of the City of Farmers Branch, TX.
Three-time Award Winner for
Excellence in E-Newsletters in Texas
Awarded by the
Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers
www.texastamio.org
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Council sets budget workshop
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Mayor Bob Phelps and the members of the Farmers Branch City Council will consider the proposed Fiscal Year 2015-2016, $96.9 million budget in a special workshop, set for 10 a.m. on Tuesday, August 11 at Farmers Branch City Hall.
City Manager Gary D. Greer and Managing Director of Finance and Administration Charles Cox will be on hand to present the highlights of the budget and to answer questions.
The Council will vote on the proposed budget in September, prior to the October 1 start of the fiscal year.
For more information, call 972.247.3131.
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Town Hall Meeting on Recycling replays thru 8/14
FARMERS BRANCH ~ The broadcast of the July 30 Town Hall Meeting on curbside recycling is being replayed on FBTV at 10 a.m. daily, through Friday, August 14.
 The meeting was hosted by Mayor Bob Phelps and the City Council to a standing-room-only crowd in Council Chambers and the Lobby. Anyone with additional comments on recycling is encouraged to forward them to |
Coffee with a Cop set at The Diner
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Caffeine and conversation is on the schedule for the next installment of Coffee with a Cop, set for Saturday, August 22 at The Diner, 3330 Beltline.
Planned from 9 until 10 a.m., members of the Farmers Branch Police Department will be there to talk to residents and answer questions on whatever topic they choose.
For more information, call 972.406.0184.
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Fall party reservations now available at Aquatics Center
FARMERS BRANCH ~ Anyone hosting a celebration this fall is encouraged to check out the pavilions at the Farmers Branch Aquatics Center.
The Frog Pond will be closed for the season, but reservations are being taken for use of the pavilions on Saturdays in four-hour increments.
Facilities include the covered pavilion, tables, grill, restroom access and playground.
Also, indoor pool parties are available at the Margaret Young Natatorium.
For more information, call 972.919.8720.
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VIDEO  EXTRA
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Farmers Branch Economic Development Update: 2nd Quarter 2015
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Splash!
The big red bucket in the children's pool at the Aquatics Center's Frog Pond is providing needed relief from the summer heat for those in attendance. The Frog Pond is open for the season daily until the first day of school, then on weekends through Labor Day. Find out more at fbh2o.com.
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All events & meetings are subject to change. Call listed numbers or 972.247.3131 for verification or more information.
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SEPTEMBER 18-19ENCOUNTERS from the PAST SEPTEMBER 26
All events & meetings are subject to change. Call listed numbers or 972.247.3131 for verification or more information.
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Make a SPLASH with your NEXT BIRTHDAY BASH!
Click on the Frog
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An historic community in the geographic center of the DFW Metroplex, Farmers Branch boasts a residential population of 28,800 and a daytime employment population of 66,000. Located on the northwest border of the City of Dallas, the City's 27 parks and lush greenbelts feature nationally-acclaimed, award-winning soccer fields, football facilities as well as baseball and softball complexes. The city's location in the center of the Metroplex and only 15 minutes away from both DFW Airport and Love Field, along with the 2,200 hotel rooms within the city, make Farmers Branch an ideal location for residents and for business. For more information on the City of Farmers Branch, visit
lovethebranch.com or call 972.247.3131.
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