SOLUTIONS

I'm looking for information on regional park districts/authorities and how they were organized. Are there any Texas cities/counties that merged their park systems and are managed by one entity with input from the other?

Leila Melendez, City of El Paso, Phone: 915- 541-4859 E-mail: MelendezLH@elpasotexas.gov.

Do any municipalities still require "City License" for electricians, plumbers, HVAC contractors and so on? If so what are the fees charged for these licenses and is there an ordinance?

Coy Prather, City of Canton; Phone: 903-567-2826; E-mail: cprather@cantontex.com.

The City of Forest Hill is interested in how other cities regulate unmanned water vending kiosk facilities. These water vending facilities are typically freestanding permanent structures located in existing commercial parking lots and connected to city water and sanitary sewer services. City water is filtered on site and is dispensed via a coin-operated device to drive up customers who provide their own containers. Has your city established a specific definition for this type of use (if so, how are they described?) Does your city require an SUP for this use, and in which districts? Or, are water vending facilities allowed by right under general retail uses? (If so, in which districts?) Does your city have specific health dept. requirements when city water is being filtered and resold from an unmanned vending facility?

Barbara Koerble, AICP, City Planner, City of Forest Hill; Phone: 817-806-4701; E-mail: bkoerble@foresthilltx.org.

The City of Bee Cave is interested in knowing how many Cities have policies/ordinances that allow employees (non-police) to carry weapons on City property. A copy of the policy/ordinance can be e-mailed to HR@beecavetexas.gov.

Brenda Galindo, Administrative Analyst, City of Bee Cave; Phone: 512-767-6613; Fax: 512-767-6619.

The City of Horseshoe Bay is experiencing an increase in the number of speculative single family houses that have been started but fail to be completed due to lack of funding. I would like to find out if any other cities have begun requiring performance bonds from building contractors to ensure completion of construction.

Eric Winter, Development Services Manager, City of Horseshoe Bay; Phone: 830-598-8741, ext. 270; E-mail: ewinter@horseshoe-bay-tx.gov.

The City of Alpine is interested in learning more about cities with community gardens and seed dispersal programs. Please contact us with your experiences. Thank you.

Johanna Nelson, Ward 2, Alpine Texas City Council Phone: 432-837-5736 E-mail: johanna.nelson@yahoo.com.

The City of Bay City is currently in the midst of restructuring the City. One option is the possibility of farming out our legal work instead of retaining a full-time City Attorney. Bay City’s population is 18,600 and I am asking for cities our size to respond if possible. Thank you.

Richard Knapik, Mayor, City of Bay City E-mail: rknapik@cityofbaycity.org.

I would like to have your city's policy on cell phones, when the city gives an allowance to the employee instead of furnishing cell phones.

R. Dale Lewis, Director of Administration, City of Burkburnett E-mail: dlewis@burkburnett.org.

Has anyone defined “served” and “connected” as the terms are used in Sec. 212.012 (a) & (c)(2),(3)? Appreciate hearing of others' experience in administering these provisions; thank you.

Barbara S. Reaves, Director, Community Services, City of Alice E-mail: BReaves@CityofAlice.org.

Is anyone using paid time off instead of sick leave and vacation? If so, what is your policy on hours earned and carryover? Thanks for your help.

Mike Brice, City Manager, City of Sanger; E-mail: mbrice@sangertexas.org.

The City of Cottonwood Shores is a small city looking for an inexpensive, reliable solution to an off-site backup system for City computer data. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions that might help us out?

Stevenn C. Leming, Ph. 830-693-3830; E-mail: Technologist@CottonwoodShores.org.

The City of Pasadena would like to research municipal golf course administration. For example, is the course managed by city employees or by independent contractors? What are the associated costs for cities of 50,000 to 150,000 population? Your assistance will be most appreciated.

Paul Davis, Economic Development Director, Ph. 713-475-4827 Email: PDavis@ci.pasadena.tx.us.

The City of Conroe is looking for ideas from other cities on how they handle the required annual testing of backflow devices. We would like to see if any cities have SOP’s or ordinances in place that might give us some direction. We will be requiring annual testing of backflow devices on systems such as commercial irrigation systems, fire sprinkler systems, customers that have city water and private water wells and high hazard systems. How do you send notices out? Do you disconnect water if not tested in time or issue citations? I would appreciate any information you are able to share.

John Beisert, Assistant Building Official, City of Conroe; Phone, 936-522-3110; Email: jbeisert@cityofconroe.org.

The City of Carrollton would like to know which cities have an exclusive contract for commercial solid waste with a single solid waste provider. For the cities that do have an exclusive contract for commercial solid waste: What is the fee paid to the city? How much revenue was generated in FY07 from the franchise fee (FY08 if available, please indicate which year)? What is the length of the contract? Who is the provider? Did the city use a consultant?

David Gaines, Budget and Management Analyst, City of Carrollton. Phone: 972-466-3013. Email david.gaines@cityofcarrollton.com.

The City of Houston regulates rates charged by regular non-consent and heavy-duty wreckers for vehicle non-consent tows. We are currently reviewing the rates. I am interested in learning which cities in Texas regulate tow rates, the methodology for the rate review, if you surveyed other cities and/or surveyed wrecker companies. In addition, I would like to know when the last rate review was conducted and the results of any studies. I would appreciate any information you are able to share.

Alisa Talley, Senior Staff Analyst, Regulatory Services Division, Administration & Regulatory Affairs at alisa.talley@cityofhouston.net or 713-837-0849.

The City of Jacksonville would like to know the policy of other cities for adjustments to water accounts for leaks on the customer side of the meter, aka leak adjustments. Has your policy changed in the last few years?

Richard Ball, CPA, Director of Finance, City of Jacksonville, Ph. 903.586.3510, FAX: 903.586.4609, E-mail: richard.ball@jacksonvilletx.org.

4b Cities are able to expend funds for “Affordable Housing” under the statute. I feel the statute is vague when it comes to the affordable housing portion and how it can be used. I am inquiring about any 4b Cities who have expended funds for affordable housing, and how those funds were used. We are a small town of just under 5,000 population and are a 4b City. Any help would be appreciated in this area.

Jami Woodall, Lake Worth Economic Development, Lake Worth, Texas. Phone: 817-237-1211, x225;
Fax: 817-237-1333; E-mail: jwoodall@lakeworthtx.org.

I am on the Marfa City council, mayor pro-tem. Our very small city is faced with a crushing bill for garbage collection. We need to find some ways to mitigate this huge burden on our citizens. Would you have suggestions on how other cities have worked on this problem? Contacts and methods other cities have used to handle this problem are welcome.

Scott May, Mayor Pro Tem, Marfa, Texas. Phone: 432-386-0228; E-mail: randall359@sbcglobal.net.

What percentage of your city's general fund is used to pay salaries and benefits? Percentage of utility fund? Please also include whether you have fire, police, and other services affecting the percentage.

Micah Grau, Budget Analyst, City of Hutto, Phone: 512-759-4048, E-mail: Micah.Grau@HuttoTX.gov.

The City of Hico is renovating our City Hall, and we’re wondering….What other communities have City Hall buildings, older than 100 years, that were designed and built as a City Hall and have been continually used as a City Hall?

Lambert Little, City Administrator, Hico, Texas. Phone, 254-796-4620; Fax 254-796-4512; E-mail: lambert@hico-tx.com.

The City of Pampa has a compensation plan in place for paying salaries. We do performance appraisals on an employee’s anniversary. Upon satisfactory evaluation, the employee will move one step up in the compensation plan. When an employee is promoted into a different position or rank, we raise their pay based on the new position, and still use the employee anniversary date for future appraisals. I would be interested to see what other cities do regarding annual increases after a promotion or change in position.

Robin Bailey, Director of Finance and Human Resources, City of Pampa, P.O. Box 2499, Pampa, Texas 79066-2499, (806)669-5730, RBAILEY@cityofpampa.org.

We are looking into utilizing Frost Bank Positive Pay services and need to upgrade our INCODE system to accommodate this service. Before spending funds to do this, I would like some feedback on the Positive Pay bank service. Has there been a benefit over cost analysis done on this service by any city?

Mrs. Clara L. Santos, Finance Director, City of Shavano Park, Texas. E-mail: csantos@shavanopark.org. Phone: 210-493-3478. .

We are trying to obtain an ordinance enforcer to share between four towns; that way it won't be as costly to everyone. My question is how much we should pay the enforcer and how much should every town pay. Should it be divided up equally or by population? We haven't had anyone to enforce our ordinances and would like to start soon.

City of Goree, Texas. Phone: 940-422-5306; E-mail: cityofgoree@srcaccess.net.

What is your city policy on prayer at your council meetings?

William Heuberger, Alderman, City of Reno (Lamar County), Texas. E-mail: wsh@wheuberger.com.

We would like to hear any ideas that Texas cities might look into to save on fuel. If there is any info out there, please advise so that we can pass this info on to our department heads.

Bill Flannery, City Secretary, Comanche, Texas.  Phone, 325-356-2616; Fax 325-356-7129; E-mail:  cityofcomanche@verizon.net         .

The City of Farmers Branch is looking for sample RFPs/RFQs other cities have issued in the past few years to obtain a firm/individual that can provide the full array of municipal legal services. If you can assist, please forward a copy of your RFP/RFQ to the contact below.

Traci Leach, Management Analyst, City of Farmers Branch, Texas; E-mail: traci.leach@farmersbranch.info; Phone: 972-919-2584; Fax: 972-247-4836.

Many folks in our town have complained that their neighbor's outdoor lights are intrusive and bothersome to them. These lights are frequently left on 24 hours per day, often by folks who do not live here full time. The right to have a security light is not being discussed, just the shielding of them so they do not illuminate more than your own property. Any advice or help on ordinances written to cover shielding of lights so they project downward and inward will be appreciated.

Rick Pratt, City Council Place 5, Port Aransas, Texas. E-mail: camric@the-i.net.

We are looking for a 5-Year or Multi-year Financial Forecast model for communities with population in the 5,000 range.  If you can assist, please forward the model or ideas to the contact below.

Mrs. Clara L. Santos, Finance Director, City of Shavano Park, Texas.  E-mail:  csantos@shavanopark.org.  Phone #:  210-493-3478.

We are in need of information regarding the use of and content of well prepared RFPs for hotels, apartments, and/or restaurants from general law cities or home rule cities.

Mayor Jackie Levingston, City of Groesbeck, 254-729-5375 or Sharon Barnes, Executive Director Groesbeck EDC, 254-729-5375, srbarnes@glade.net.

I am currently researching formal mentoring programs for city employees. I am interested in learning what cities might have a formal mentoring program in place and obtaining any information available pertaining to the program.

Alisa Talley, Staff Analyst, Human Resources, Resource Management Division, Public Works & Engineering, City of Houston, 713-837-7436 or alisa.talley@cityofhouston.net.

I would like to hear from cities concerning policies for carrying and using personal cell phones on company time.

R. Dale Lewis, Director of Administration, City of Burkburnett, 940-569-2263, dlewis@burkburnett.org.

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