The once generous level of the J-17 well has dropped. The 10-day average has dropped to 659.5 ft. Interim City Manager Henry Brummett has declared that Stage 1 Water Restrictions will be in effect as of July 31st. Per City ordinance, the following rules apply:

• Landscape watering with an irrigation system or sprinkler is permitted one day per week before 10:00 a.m. or after 8:00 p.m. in accordance with the last digit of the property address as follows:

• All businesses and apartment complexes will use Wednesday as their watering day. No person may use groundwater for an ornamental outdoor fountain or similar feature unless a variance has been obtained for 100 percent (100%) nonpotable water use. Operators of athletic fields must submit a conservation plan to the city. Athletic fields may not irrigate between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
• Residential washing of vehicles or other equipment is allowed only on assigned watering days and times. A hose with an automatic shut off nozzle or bucket of five gallons or less may be used. Water should not be allowed to run into the street.
• Washing of impervious cover such as parking lots, driveways, streets or sidewalks is prohibited.
• Hand watering with a handheld hose, soaker hose, drip irrigation, bucket or watering can is permitted any time and any day.
• All nonpublic swimming pools must have a minimum of 25 percent of the surface area covered with evaporation screens when not in use. Inflatable pool toys or floating decorations may be used for this purpose.
• The use of commercial car wash facilities is allowed any day.
• Watering days begin and end at midnight; overnight watering is not allowed.
• Water waste, such as water running down the street, is prohibited year-round; however, watering with a handheld hose is still allowed any day, any time.

Volunteers will get hands-on experience opening and closing a shelter   

The Memorial Weekend Floods that impacted more than 100 counties in Texas were a devastating reminder that a natural disaster can strike at any time, destroying homes and lives with its destructive force. That's why it's imperative that the American Red Cross, an organization responsible for providing help and comfort in the face of emergencies, is as prepared as possible in advance of any unexpected event.

On Saturday, Aug. 1, disaster workers from the American Red Cross Serving Greater San Antonio will conduct a shelter exercise to practice the skills they need to help our community in the event of a disaster. Dozens of new and experienced disaster volunteers will work together to set up a shelter and put their training into action during this disaster drill.  

With the guidance of experienced Red Cross shelter workers and instructors, volunteers will work through stations and practice the necessary roles for running a Red Cross shelter, including registration, feeding and dormitory management.

"Following recent large disaster responses like the Wedgewood Fire and the Memorial Weekend Floods, we have onboarded hundreds of new volunteers who stepped up to help their neighbors in need. They can use this exercise as an opportunity to practice their response skills before the next disaster strikes," said Monica Reyes, Executive Director of the American Red Cross Serving Greater San Antonio. "This type of hands-on training is what allows our volunteers to put their classroom learning to the test, so that they keep their skills fresh and step into action immediately when needed." 

The Red Cross shelter exercise will take place at John Marshall High School, 8000 Lobo Lane, San Antonio, Texas 78240 on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2015. Media is encouraged to attend between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

For more information on classes or emergency preparedness, please visit redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.  

Week of July, 27, 2015

The last of the bus pads are being installed! After they cure (by next Friday), the road will be opened up and curb ramps will start to be installed. The curb ramp construction will require some minimal road closures at intersections, but this should be tolerable to drivers, after the last two months of complete lane closures. During curb ramp construction, striping will be installed. The last piece of the puzzle is the installation of a new pedestrian crossing at the library. The crossing will be moved closer to the entrance to the library towards the creek, to allow pedestrians to cross the roadway without walking across a bus pad. We'll keep you posted!"