Mosquito Abatement

As warmer weather is approaching, it’s time to get prepared for the mosquitoes! The ordering of the mosquito dunk will remain pretty much the same, with only a few small changes. The only difference will be that the dunks will not be delivered to your home from the company in Waco. Instead, the dunks will be available for pick up at my office, 1207 Texas Avenue in the Community Development Building or at the Public Works/ Streets and Drainage Department at 310 Krenek Tap Road. Please contact the Neighborhood Partners office if you are in need of one and we will send in the information.

Keep Brazos Beautiful -Texas Trash Off

The Annual Texas Trash Off is April 13, 2013

Come  out and help Keep Brazos Beautiful celebrate the 13^th Annual Texas Trash Off on Saturday, April 13^th! Volunteers will participate on teams by assisting with litter removal at designated areas throughout Bryan/College Station. After the clean-up, Volunteers are invited to join in on a fun after party at the Brazos Center with a delicious lunch sponsored by BVSWMA, cool door prizes, and even the chance to win $50 cash in our Most Unique Item Found Contest! The event runs from 9am-1pm and is great for civic, business, and youth groups, families, individuals and anyone wanting to make a difference in the local environment.  T-Shirts will be provided to the first 500 to register!   Also, KBB is always looking for volunteers to help with their many community programs.  If you have any questions please contact KBB office at (979)775-3569! The last day to register for the Trash Off is April 8^th.

http://www.keepbrazosbeautiful.org

April Community Events

Looking for something to do? Well, look no further! There are lots of community events going on in the month of April. Take a look at the April Community Events attachment for more information on these great events!

Greetings!

Thank you for passing the information about these recent problems.  We have seen a spike in these types of calls recently, apparently most of them tied to one particular group of permitted solicitors. 

With regards to the concerns you spell out, here is some further information:

-Time of Solicitation: I don’t show that we received any calls in the time frame you mentioned below.  There are restrictions on times allowed to solicit in the vendor application, but these are not present on the actual permit.  We are working with city offices to have that time frame available to us in the future.  Please remind the residents that we need to have the calls to the non-emergency number when the solicitor is around if we are to try and make a case. 

-Communities: with regards to the neighborhoods having signage, these “general” signs serve as a deterrent, and are not valid to ban the solicitors from each and every residence within the neighborhood.  City ordinance states the following:

No person shall sell or offer for sale any item upon any premises if requested by anyone not to do so, or if there is placed at or near the entrance thereof a sign bearing the words "no peddlers or vendors" or "no trespassing", or "no solicitors." 

With regards to being registered with the city, this also serves as a deterrent, but does not prohibit the permitted solicitors from attempting business at all the residences in that neighborhood.

We do understand the frustration that the residents are feeling and we are working within available options to have as much enforcement as possible.  Lt Sigler is working with our city legal as to other options with regards to this particular group that is causing all the concern.  We are also working towards improving existing enforcement options to allow our officers a greater chance of enforcement in the future.

For the time being, I would ask the following:

-Please remind the residents that if there is a solicitor, ask for their permit. If they do not have a permit or refuse to show it, we might be able to take action. 

-If the residents don’t want to be solicited, have them place a sign at their front door as described above. 

-If they are solicited and they don’t want the person to be there, ask them to leave immediately.  City Ordinance states the following:

No solicitor or handbill distributor may remain on private property without the permission of the owner or if asked to leave.

-Please remind the residents to call us in addition to leaving messages for you or sending e-mails.  If we are able to respond quicker we stand a better chance on possibly catching individuals in violation of either city ordinance or state law and this will allow the officers greater options in taking enforcement action.

Please let me know if we can be of further assistance. 

College Station Police Department

National Night Out Block Party

October 2, 2012

If you are intereated in coordinating this event, please complete the attached form. This is a great way to meet neighbors and to meet the Policer officers that serve our community.  If you would like the management office help to coordinate this event in your realm, please contact us. We would be glad to help.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to contact City of College Station Police Department

Sgt. Calder Lively at (979)764-3624 or Lt. Craig Anderson at (979) 764-3610

Household Hazardous Wastes (HHW) are those wastes produced in our households that are hazardous in nature, but are not regulated as hazardous waste, under federal and state laws. Included are such items as old paints and paint related products, pesticides, pool chemicals, drain cleaners, and degreasers and other car care products. Such consumer waste products, if carelessly managed can, and frequently do, create environmental and public health concerns.

Date:  October 27, 2012 from 7 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Location:  University Services Building Enter from Harvey Rd. East, first entrance on the left after Veteran's Park

Please pass this information along to your neighbors and friends!

Volunteers:    This program is always looking for volunteers to assist at collection events. If you are interested in volunteering or have questions regarding Household Hazardous Waste or the collection events, please call Samantha Best, Deputy Director at (979) 764-3878.

Thanks!

City of College Station
Home of Texas A&M University

The City of College Station Police Department has opened a new campaign 'Hear it, See it, Report it'. Please see the attached flier. It is recomennded that everyone programs the non-emergency number, 979-764-3600.

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

Howdy Neighbors! Below is information on programs and services offered by City departments that may be beneficial to you and your neighbors. This month the focus is on Green Programs and services offered by Water Services, Sanitation/Recycling and Environmental Programs.

 Water Services

 Can Your Irrigation System Take The Heat??? Schedule a FREE landscape irrigation check-up to find out!

 The City of College Station offers free landscape irrigation check-ups to water customers with an automatic in-ground irrigation system. An irrigation check-up includes looking for broken or misdirected sprinkler heads, leaks and a review of your irrigation controller’s current and suggested run times to save water. The check-ups take between 30 and 45 minutes to complete, and the customer receives a written report documenting any problems noted in the irrigation system, as well as specific recommendations to save water. To schedule your free irrigation check-up, call 979.764.6223 or email Jennifer Nations at jnations@cstx.gov and put “Irrigation Check-Up” in the subject line.

 
 Lead and Copper Sampling…Coming Soon to a Neighborhood Near You?

 Every three years the City of College Station conducts monitoring for the presence of lead and copper in drinking water. The next round of monitoring will be conducted in August and September. Lead and copper primarily enter drinking water through a home’s plumbing system rather than the citywide water distribution system. Because of this, water samples must be collected from a faucet inside the customer’s home. A random sample of homes meeting certain criteria and built during the 1970’s and 1980’s will have sample bottles delivered within the next few weeks. Attached to the bottles will be specific instructions on how to collect a water sample, and contact information for the water utility. There is no charge to the customer to collect the water sample. For more information, please contact Jennifer Nations at jnations@cstx.gov or call 979.764.6223.

Green Seminars and Recycling

Fall Green Seminars:

9/4 – Landfill Tour (Requires > 15 in attendance)

                -Guided tour of the new Twin Oaks Landfill, dinner will be provided.

10/2 – Household Hazardous Waste

                -What it is exactly, alternatives, dates of HHW collections

11/6 – Green Gifting

                -Thinking eco-aware when buying for Christmas.

12/4 – Compost Class

                -A quick class to learn how to compost, this is not a licensing course.

Sign up online, www.cstx.gov/recycle, all seminars take place at 5:30 p.m. on the 2nd floor of the Municipal Court Building, located at 300 Krenek Tap Road.

Ongoing - MyWaste Smart Phone Application

The City of College Station’s Sanitation Division has launched a free smart phone and tablet computer app to provide timely information about the city’s sanitation and recycling services.  The my-waste app allows residents to create custom reminders for collection days and holidays, and can access detailed information about recycling, household hazardous waste disposal, landfill operations and more.  A Regional Solid Waste Grant by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Brazos Valley Council of Governments funded the app.

The my-waste app works on all operating systems and can be downloaded from the Apple and Android app stores. Residents without smart phones or tablets can continue to access information online at www.cstx.gov/sanitation.

Commercial Recycling Options

Businesses now have the opportunity to recycle and compost their organic waste!  Information can be found by calling or emailing the recycling coordinator!  979-764-6229, hqualls@cstx.gov

Environmental Programs

Earlier this year the Development Engineering Division in Planning & Development Services hired an Engineering Program Specialist to ensure that the City was meeting all federal and state mandates regarding the management of storm water. Marcelo Arreola is the Engineering Program Specialist charged with leading these efforts. As the department’s Engineering Program Specialist, Marcelo is responsible for making sure the City abides by the EPA and State (TCEQ) mandates regarding the discharging of storm water. Part of Marcelo’s job is to educate the public on ways to reduce storm water pollution and ensure that  measures are taken to identify potential problems that contribute to storm water pollution. Marcelo will be attending some neighborhood events in the Fall to let neighborhoods know more about his  efforts and ways that they can help reduce storm water pollution. If you would like to contact Marcelo, he can be reached at marreola@cstx.gov or 764-3570.

Also, attached is a brochure on other Environmental Outreach opportunities and programs available to residents. For more information on these programs, please contact Shelia McQueen, Environmental Programs Coordinator at smcqueen@cstx.gov or at 764-3834.

The association received mosquito dunks from the City of College Station to throw into standing water. These dunks prevent the breeding of mosquitos.

If you would like one to throw in standing water or you are aware of any standing water in the community, please contact the management office.