SOLUTIONS ARCHIVE 2007

The City of Sealy has appropriated funding in its FY 2008 budget to acquire a new public administration software package. The City currently licenses financial management, human resources/payroll, and utility billing software modules that run in the IBM AS/400 operating system environment. The City is interested in converting its existing data to run in the Microsoft Windows operating system environment and is also interested in acquiring a community development module to track building permit and code enforcement activities. We are requesting copies of specifications, RFPs, or other selection criteria from cities that have accomplished this endeavor. Any comments about particular software vendors, additional suggestions on the types of information to obtain from vendors, and/or pitfalls to avoid in the selection process would also be appreciated.

Steven W. Kutra, Director of Finance, Sealy, Texas, 979-885-3511, Fax: 979-885-3513, skutra@ci.sealy.tx.us

I am looking for ideas for a successful employee rewards program that rewards those exceptional employees who are showing diligence, creativity, or good ethics. Please share your program with us.

David Denman, City Manager, Dimmitt, Texas, 806-647-2155, denmanden@amaonline.com

I am currently researching whether and how other Texas cities are foreclosing, through the civil process, on liens imposed for the abatement of weeds, brush, etc. McAllen regularly files liens against properties after abating certain nuisances, most of them associated with the mowing of tall grass and many of these liens remain outstanding. The City of McAllen is looking at other methods to use in clearing the backlog of liens. Other contacted cities generally follow the same process McAllen follows. One city used to file “collection-type” lawsuits, but stopped this practice several years ago, because many of the judgments obtained were against unknown or deceased property owners; thus making collections very difficult. I am interested in what methods Texas cities are using to reduce the number of outstanding “mowing” liens? How successful have these methods been? I am particularly interested in knowing whether any cities actually employ the lien foreclosure process.

Aaron Leal, Assistant City Attorney, McAllen, 956-681-1090, fax 956-681-1099, aleal@mcallen.net

(1) I am trying to set up contract and bidding docs for code enforcement demolition and code enforcement mowing, and have gotten less than nowhere. Anyone who could help with this or who has done a search and found a contractor and has some information or examples would make my day. (2) The RV ordnance question. I have had no luck with finding any information on this at all. We are not zoned although we do have a manufactured home ordinance, but there is a push on for a separate RV ordinance from council and I cannot find anything like this. Any responses to either of the two questions would be appreciated.

Kathy Pollock, City of Caldwell, kpollock@caldwelltx.gov

We need to renew/renegotiate our telecommunications franchise agreement, specifically voice/telephone service. We have an exsiting agreement, which has a few years to run. I am looking for some information about what is reasonable and customary in terms for that agreement. Do you have any information to share?

Richard Ball, CPA, Director of Finance, City of Jacksonville, Ph: 903.586.3510, FAX: 903-586-4609, richard.ball@jacksonvilletx.org

I am trying to find out if any city with an EDC offers any kind of incentives for renovation or upgrade of smaller projects on existing structures that are not part of a TIF or a reinvestment zone.  Does anyone have a policy or an outline on this type of project? Thanks.

Jami Woodall, Lake Worth Economic Development, 3805 Adam Grubb, Lake Worth, TX 76135, Office  (817)-237-1211 ext. 225; Fax (817)-237-1333; jwoodall@lakeworthtx.org

Are there general benchmarks for a city (population 10,000 – 25,000) to follow?  For example, is there a national or established ratio of police officers per 1,000 citizens or a suggested number of Parks acres per 1,000 citizens?  Please let me know if you know of anything.

Micah Grau, Budget Analyst, City of Hutto, 512.759.4048; www.HuttoTX.gov

I am looking for building inspection departments that are specifically using mobile wireless solutions in the field. I would appreciate it if you could provide information on whether you are using laptops, PDAs, etc., and with what software. Opinions of H.T.E . users who are using mobile wireless solutions are highly appreciated. Thanks for your help!

Please reply to Ravi.Shah@cityofcarrollton.com, or by phone, (972) 466-3245 .  

The City of La Porte is looking for examples of a RFP/Q to be used in the selection process for a firm to design and maintain a quality economic development website. It is hoped that the firm to be chosen has significant experience in webdesign specifically for municipal economic development programs. The RFP/Q to be used should ask for specific credentials and/or proposal ideas relevant to the design and maintenance services of a quality economic development website. Furthermore, there is the possibility that the City will want the firm to refurbish the city’s main, existing site. Any help would be appreciated.

City of La Porte, Gretchen Black, Economic Development Coordinator, Office: (281) 470-5013; Fax: 281-842-1259; Email: blackg@laportetx.gov.  

I need a policy on a Fixed Asset Replacement Fund. We’re looking for guidance to build a fund used solely to replace assets as useful lives diminish.

Scotty Jones, Finance Director, City of Port Lavaca, Phone: 361-552-9793, x234; Fax: 361-552-6062; Email: sjones@portlavaca.org  

Our police department allows off-duty police officers to use police vehicles for security jobs when a vehicle is required.  We bill for the use of these vehicles on a mileage basis.  A vehicle might be used for 6 hours, but the location might be only 2 miles from the department, so the charge is minimal.  It seems that a better way of charging for vehicle usage might be per job or per hour.  Are any other cities charging for this type of vehicle usage and, if so, what is your rate structure?  I would appreciate any information you might have.

Sandra Krieg, Accounting Manager, City of Bryan, Phone: (979) 209-5089, Fax: (979) 209-5095,
E-mail: skrieg@bryantx.gov.  

Has anyone done any work or studies on ordinances for the location of wind turbines within the city limits?  I would appreciate any information that you might have available.  Thanks.  

John Castro, Director of Community Services, City of Plainview, Phone: (806) 296-1120, Fax: (806) 296-1125, E-mail: jcastro@ci.plainview.tx.us.  

I would like to get a detailed list of water and sewer rates from a City with a population range from 10,000 – 20,000.  The TML survey is great, but I would like to see a more detailed comparison based on meter size, etc.  Are your base charges tied to number of units or meters?  If you have this information available, I would appreciate your assistance.  

Scotty Jones, Finance Director, City of Port Lavaca, Phone: (361) 552-9793 x234 or E-mail: sjones@portlavaca.org.

We would like to know if anyone has a policy in place to handle requests for speed bumps in city streets, requests to reduce the speed limits, and requests for streetlights.  

Brad Stafford, City Manager, City of Navasota, (936) 825-6408, bstafford@navasotatx.gov.

We are considering creating a position that would focus on retail growth and development.  The goals of the new position would be to retain our existing retailers and recruit new retail developments and retailers.  I am looking for a job description for such a position.  If you have a position or a program similar, please contact me.

Chip Vansteenberg, City Administrator, City of Shenandoah; Phone:  (281) 298-5522; E-mail: cvansteenberg@shenandoahtx.com.  

We are a town of approximately 11,000 and are thinking of imposing a drainage utility fee.  Anyone with experience, please contact me.

Dale Lewis, City of Burkburnett; Phone:  (940) 569-2263; E-mail: dlewis@burkburnett.org.

I’m interested in finding out how small cities name their roads.  We don’t have a written policy in place, only an agreement with our Public Works Department that any road names that are to be changed and any new roads that are being added will come through our mapping and County 911 coordinators to insure no duplication or similar road names are not being used.  We are trying not to duplicate any part of an existing road name (Walnut St. Walnut Hill and Walnut Bend) in order to reduce confusion in dispatching emergency crews.  If anyone has a “road naming” policy in place, please contact me.  Thank you.

Rebecca Squyres, GIS Coordinator, City of Brenham, Phone: (979) 337-7403, E-mail: BSquyres@ci.brenham.tx.us.

I’m looking for a resource for training new P & Z members. Does anyone have something they’d be willing to share with me, or could you point me in the right direction?

Randy M. Criswell, Assistant City Manager, City of Canyon, 301 16th Street, Canyon, TX 79015, 806-655-5000, 806-655-5025 fax

Do any cities have Building Codes that require or provide incentives for contractors or new building owners to build under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System or construct with use of more natural or environmental sensitive construction material or design? 

Nick Finan, Assistant City Manager, City of Pearland; Phone: (281) 652-1759 e-mail: NFinan@ci.pearland.tx.us

We are researching the possibility of implementing a quiet zone within our community with regard to the railroad track that runs through the northwest part of town.  If your City has done this in the last 18-24 months, I would appreciate any assistance you could provide, including copies of the ordinance, legal issues involved, any possible fees paid to the railroad, etc.  Thanks for your assistance.

Amy Buckert, City Manager, City of Olmos Park, 119 W. El Prado, San Antonio, TX 78212; 210.824.3281; 210.826.5008 fax; abuckert@ci.olmos-park.tx.us

Has anyone ever successfully enjoined a landowner from destroying land the governmental entity was condemning or was planning to condemn?  I was involved in a case a few years ago that was unsuccessful because the injunction was filed in district court and the court found that they did not have jurisdiction because the proceeding had already been referred to special commissioners.  Any help would be very much appreciated.

Jason M. Rammel, Attorney, Sheets & Crossfield, P.C., 309 East Main, Round Rock, TX 78664; (512) 255-8877; Fax (512) 255-8986

Does anyone have an ordinance restricting the use of motorcycles and ATV's in owners back yards.

Dale Lewis City of Burkburnett--dlewis@burkburnett.org -- 501 Sheppard Rd. Burkburnett,Tx 76354

The City of Melissa has been approached by a large Municipal Utility District in a neighboring city’s ETJ to provide Fire Protection Services on a contract basis.  The city this is located in prefers that the MUD contract with a neighboring jurisdiction due to the distance between the development and existing fire/police stations.  Has anyone had any experience and would share your contract/agreement and any advice for this? This MUD is also requesting police services.  Any help is greatly appreciated.

Jason Little, City Administrator, City of Melissa, TX, PO Box 409, Melissa, TX 75454; 972-838-2338 x 228

I would like to know if any city with population over 5,000 does building inspections for electrical, structural and mechanical.  I understand that we must do plumbing inspections due to state law.  However, I would like any information on these other inspections that you might have.  Thank you for your help.

Brenda Samford, City Manager, City of Carthage, P O Box 400, Carthage, Texas  75633 or email bsamford@carthagetexas.com.

My name is Robert Swanagan. I am the HR Manager for the City of La Porte. I am seeking information about Compensation Studies and refined techniques for Benchmarking jobs. Thanks.

Please contact me at 281-470-5025 or at my E-Mail SwanaganR@laportetx.gov.

After another employee who has smoked for years has been diagnosed with cancer, we have determined we want to start the work to move our City towards being a non-smoking employer.  We are looking for other cities who have programs, incentives, and policies in place that promote no smoking among their employees.  Any and all information is needed.  Thanks.

Dudley Wait, EMS Director, City of Schertz EMS; 1404-B Schertz Parkway, Schertz, TX 78154; 210-658-6678 (O); 210-945-0310 (F); 210-488-4243 (C)

The City of Sudan is considering staffing levels for the police department.  Sudan (1150 population) is located on Highway 84 north of Lubbock, Texas.  I would like to know what statistics you utilize to determine the number of reserves, part time, and full time officers in towns of this size.  I do appreciate any help that you can give me.  Thank you.

MRobert Walters, Chief of Police, Sudan, Texas, e-mail: chiefofpolicesudantx@yahoo.com or phone: (806) 227-2112

The City of Richmond is looking for any policies and/or procedures for the handling of turning over water accounts to new names due to death or divorce or when an account holder is no longer paying bills, but has left no forwarding address.

Michelle Abbott, City of Richmond, 402 Morton Street, Richmond, TX  77469; 281-342-5456

The Beaumont Police Department is in the process of initiating a volunteer program. The primary goal of our program is to utilize civilian volunteers to perform routine, low priority calls, thus allowing the police officers more time to focus “directed patrol” on specific problem areas or to concentrate on high priority calls for service. Initially, the volunteers would be drawn from graduates of our Civilian Police Academy and would perform tasks such as issuing citations for handicap parking violations, checking into citizen complaints on traffic violators in specific areas, or possible assisting motorists involved in minor accidents in exchanging information. I would be greatly appreciative of any input from other Texas cities or police agencies that are currently utilizing a civilian volunteer force to address these issues. Thanks for your assistance.

Lt John Boles, City of Beaumont, 409- 658-8680 or 409- 880-3850 or e-mail bovines@cmaaccess.com.

The Town of Pantego is currently running an AS 400 computer system. I would like to know the pros and cons of any city that currently uses the AS 400 and what computer programs you currently run. We are trying to determine whether to change to a windows based sysytem or stay with the AS 400. Any information would be appreciated.

Doug Davis City Manager Town of Pantego 817-274-1381

I need an actuarial valuation performed on our Fireman’s Pension Fund (very small contribution annually). Please send me a contact for this service.

Scotty Jones, Finance Director, 361-552-9793 ext 234 or sjones@portlavaca.org

The City is trying to review scheduling for our Fire Fighters and Police Officers to minimize OT as much as possible without hurting service to our citizens. What kind of shifts are your Fire Fighters and Police officers on. How is Holiday pay handled if shift falls on the Holiday? If you have a policy that addresses this, please send!

Scotty Jones, Finance Director, 361-552-9793 ext 234 or sjones@portlavaca.org