City of Burleson, Texas

August 16, 2013

Welcome to the free City of Burleson weekly E-Newsletter! There are more than 1,180 subscribers! Click here for archived issues. If you have questions or suggestions about City programs, services and events, call the public information office at 817-426-9622.

City earns maximum federal funding for pedestrian and bike improvements

In late July, the Texas Department of Transportation and Texas Transportation Commission granted the City $1,022,634, the maximum federal funding, for a project that the City submitted for pedestrian and bicycle improvements between Summercrest Boulevard and McAlister Road. Work is expected to begin early next year. The goals for pedestrian and bike plan improvements are to link neighborhoods to parks, schools and other public facilities as well as to the Burleson Recreation Center/BRiCk, Old Town, and major retailers and employers. The Summercrest/McAlister project includes bicycle lanes, sidewalks, a roundabout at the Thomas Street/Summercrest intersection, trails, and shared lanes. For all of the details, read the news release.

Council hosts public hearing for proposed FY 2013-2104 budget

Monday night Burleson City Council will host a public hearing on the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2013-2014, which begins Oct. 1, 2013. The proposed tax rate would remain the same ($.6900). The Aug. 19 agenda includes an ordinance to revise the budget figures for Fiscal Year 2012-2013 and adopt the 2013-2014 annual operating budget (first reading); an ordinance setting the 2013 ad valorem tax rate at $.6900 (first reading); and an ordinance establishing rates to be charged for water and wastewater service in the City of Burleson (first reading). The proposed wastewater rate would decrease by 2 percent and proposed base water rates would increase by 13 percent. The City of Burleson gets its water from the City of Fort Worth and Fort Worth has increased water rates by 15 percent and decreased wastewater rates by 4 percent. To see the draft of the proposed budget as well as the presentation made during the Aug. 7 budget workshop, go to the Budget Planning Fiscal Year 2013-2014 page on the City website. The city council meeting starts at 7 p.m. on Aug. 19, in the council chambers at Burleson City Hall, 141. W. Renfro St.

SNAP helps those with special needs help first responders during disasters

The City of Burleson's Emergency Management Division is partnering with Fort Worth Emergency Management to help special needs residents when an emergency arises. The partnership allows the City to provide the Special Needs Assistance Program (SNAP) for residents who are dealing with permanent disabilities. The information collected includes the name, gender, age, weight, address, primary language, emergency contact and specific special need of the SNAP logo registrant. Anyone who has a special condition that might require assistance in the event of an emergency or disaster is considered special needs. SNAP is a program created to collect vital information so first responders can be prepared in case of disaster. SNAP is only for emergencies. This service is available for both Tarrant County and Johnson County residents who live in Burleson. You can register online with Fort Worth. Read More

Public works will smoke test sanitary sewer in West Bend subdivision

The City's public works department will be doing smoke testing of the sanitary sewer system Tuesday-Thursday next week in the West Bend subdivision. This is the seventh smoke testing. The area that will be tested Aug. 20-22 includes 420 homes. The area encompasses Ridgetop Drive, Rock Springs Drive, Stockton Drive, McKavett Drive, Carlin Lane, Aaron Drive, Raenae Drive, Marcia Lane, Micah Road, Rachel Street, Heather Street, Naomi Court, Hannah Street, Caleb Street, Eden Street, and Andrew Street; Morgan Drive from Pebble Creek to Alsbury Boulevard; Cumberland Drive from Summercrest Boulevard to McKavett; Cedar Ridge from Ridgetop Drive to Aaron Drive; and Cedar Ridge from Morgan Drive to Andrew Street. Read More

Last day for outdoor pool fun is Aug. 18; fall hours for indoor pool start Aug. 20

The last day to enjoy the outdoor pool at the BRiCk is Sunday, Aug. 18. The fall pool hours at the indoor pool start Tuesday, Aug. 20 (the indoor pool is closed on Mondays). Those fall indoor pool hours include lap/fitness swim time, 8:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays and 8:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. on Splash Weekend Fridays; play structure, 10 a.m.-noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays; open swim, 5 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays and 5 p.m.-7:30 p.m. on Fridays. Water Aerobics class hours include: Lunch Crunch Aerobics, 12 p.m.-1 p.m., Tuesdays-Fridays; Aqua Boot Camp, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays; Senior Aerobics, 9 a.m.-9:50 a.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays; Aqua Run, 6 p.m.-6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays; Family Aerobics, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays. Saturday's indoor pool schedule starting Aug. 20 includes Learn to Swim classes, 8 a.m.-12:55 p.m. and open swim, 1 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Sunday's fall schedule for the indoor pool includes open swim, 1 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

Council calls November bond election

On August 5, Burleson City Council approved Ordinance C-743-13 calling a bond election for the City of Burleson. The election date is Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013. Voters may vote for or against four propositions, including: the issuance of $12.84 million in tax bonds for street and public mobility improvements; the issuance of $1.8 million in tax bonds for the acquisition of public safety radio equipment; the issuance of $5 million in tax bonds for police station facility acquisition and improvements; and, the issuance of $750,000 in tax bonds for economic development: Nola Dunn gymnasium restoration. Read More

Volunteer at the Burleson Trash Bash

The City of Burleson and Keep Burleson Beautiful will host the Burleson Trash Bash on Saturday, Sept. 21. The goal is to rid Burleson retail corridors and drainage channels of litter. What is your commitment? Two hours, 9 a.m.-11 a.m. After the Trash Off, April 2013 cleanup, volunteers will convene at Warren Park, 301 S.W. Johnson Ave. Call the City's environmental services office, 817-426-9842, by 5 p.m. on Sept. 19 to register and receive a cleanup location assignment. You can also go online to the Burleson's Trash Bash page and download the volunteer information for group leaders PDF, then download and fill out the liability release, audit roster and inspection checklist. Those three forms can be emailed or faxed to David Lenartowicz at 817-426-9377. The forms may also be dropped off at the Municipal Service Center, 725 S.E. John Jones Dr. Volunteers who are younger than 18 years old need to be supervised by an adult.

City facilities close for Labor Day

City facilities will be closed Monday, Sept. 2, in observance of Labor Day. There will be no trash or curbside recycling collection on Labor Day. The last day for the operation of the outdoor pool is Aug. 18.The indoor pool, as well as the BRiCk, will be closed on Labor Day. The Burleson Public Library will be open during normal hours on Saturday, Aug. 31, will close Sunday and Monday, and will reopen for patrons on Tuesday, Sept. 3. The Burleson Animal Shelter will also be open on Saturday, Aug. 31, then will reopen on Sept. 3. The Monday, Sept. 2, Burleson City Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 3. The work session will begin at 6 p.m. and the regular meeting starts at 7 p.m. at city hall.

Shelter needs foster parents for pups, kittens

The Burleson Animal Shelter is always looking for foster parents to help raise abandoned puppies and kittens that are not weaned. In some cases, the mothers of these puppies and kittens have also been abandoned. The baby animals can't live in the shelter because their age makes them at risk for contracting illnesses. The foster parent would care for the puppies and kittens until they are old enough to be placed for adoption. Baby animals must be six weeks old, the age for the first set of shots, before they are eligible for adoption. For more information about becoming a foster parent to kittens and puppies, please go to the Foster Pet Program page on the City of Burleson website.

No positives for West Nile Virus

City staff has been trapping and testing for mosquitoes since the beginning of May, and, thus far, none of those tests have come back positive for West Nile Virus. The City will ground spray for mosquitoes in areas where a mosquito pool (a pool is defined as standing water) confirms West Nile virus or where a human case of West Nile virus is confirmed. The City is following the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The City continues to take preventative measures with larvaciding. Please be proactive with your own 4 D's! Get all of the details on the City website. If you have a concern about mosquitoes in your area, please call the Municipal Service Center, 817-426-9830 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Recycling/compost/mulch center is open three days a week for residents

The City's Recycling Center, located at 620 Memorial Plaza, is a drop-off collection site for newsprint (no phone books), magazines, white paper, aluminum, plastics 1-5 and 7, tin and glass. The center is open to the public on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The mulch/compost center is also located at 620 Memorial Plaza. Proof of city residency is required to obtain mulch for personal use. The mulch/compost center cannot accept other wood or wood by-products such as old lumber, desks, plywood, fencing etc., for grinding. These items will still be collected at the curb during a resident's zone collection week. If you are looking for other disposal facilities, try Southeast Landfill, 898 N. Dick Price Road, Kennedale, Texas 817-478-6462, or the City of Cleburne Transfer Station, 2625 Pipeline Road, Cleburne, Texas 817-641-2236. Those facilities may charge a fee for disposal.

When can you water?

When can you water your lawn with a sprinkler system or irrigation system? Residential addresses that end in even numbers (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8) may water on Wednesday and Saturday; residential addresses that end in odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7, and 9) water on Thursday and Sunday; and non-residential addresses (apartments, businesses, parks, medians, etc.) water on Tuesday and Friday. There is no landscape watering on Monday. Watering with irrigation or sprinkler systems, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., is banned year round. This includes residential and non-residential customers. Go to the Stage 1 Water Restrictions page.

Contact councilmembers, staff

Do you need to contact councilmembers, city manager's office, municipal court, environmental services, or utility customer service? The name, title, phone number and email for every councilmember and City staff member is on the City website. Simply click on Contact Us at the bottom of the home page.

Watch meetings on video

Do you want to know how a vote or discussion went at a Burleson City Council meeting or budget workshop? View the video, live or at your leisure, on the City website. Click on the meeting date, then click on the item you are interested in. There is also a tab for streaming video of the Planning and Zoning Commission. Official minutes of council and commission meetings and workshops and work sessions are not posted on the City website until the city council and/or commission members have approved those minutes at their next scheduled meeting.

Be informed about City government

Do you know what's going on in your City? Choose the form of communication that best suits your style by going to the Communications page on the City website. We have City news releases, the City of Burleson Texas Government Facebook page, the City of Burleson Twitter page, weekly City E-Newsletter, monthly City Focus newsletter, and Blackboard Connect emergency phone notifications.

Thank you for your interest in the City of Burleson's programs, services and events. Post this E-Newsletter on your Facebook profile and Twitter by clicking on the icons at the top of this E-Newsletter. Tell your friends about this E-Newsletter so they can stay in the loop too!

Sally Ellertson
City of Burleson

Public Information Officer

sellertson@burlesontx.com

AGENDAS AND MINUTES

Quorum Notices

Public Hearings

Capital Projects Bids

VIEW:

PUBLIC NOTICES

CALL:

817-426-9660

CITY OF BURLESON, TEXAS FACEBOOK

6,615-plus fans!

Comment on wall posts, the timeline and photo albums.

Follow the City of Burleson on

TWITTER

More than 645 followers!

STREAMING VIDEO

City Council meetings

Planning and Zoning Commission meetings

Specialty videos

Are you trying to find when a City event is scheduled ? Go to the News Releases page on the City website. Events are promoted at least one month in advance. An Events calendar is also available on the City Facebook page.

CITY EVENTS!

Teen SWAG Affair

Thursday, Sept. 5

4 p.m.-8 p.m.

Burleson Subcourthouse

245 Elk Dr.

817-426-9220

Burleson Family

Field Day

Saturday, Sept. 21

9 a.m.-noon

Kerr Middle School