CITY MANAGER’S WEEKLY UPDATE
For the week of:
March 16, 2008
Agency Roundtable Sponsored by Planning and Community Services Division:
Lewisville grant staff and local social service agencies from the area joined together for the second quarterly roundtable of the fiscal year on Friday, March 7th at the Lewisville Chamber of Commerce. Representatives from over ten agencies participated despite the snow and were able to discuss changes in their agencies, introduce new staff, and share announcements. Greater Lewisville Cares was the spotlight agency this quarter and gave a presentation on different volunteer opportunities offered by the agency. DCTA was the second featured speaker and updated the group on plans for expansion of rail and bus lines. First time attendees included Vicky Douglas from Harvest Goals, Don Cone from the Advocacy and Pregnancy Center, and Jamie Upson with ReadyStart, Inc. The first round table was hosted in November 2004 and continues to provide an important communication outlet for local agencies to meet each other and develop referral networks. The next round table will be held June 6 at Christian Community Action.
Funny Bunny Festival
The annual Funny Bunny Festival held at the Memorial Park Recreation Center on Saturday, March 8, 2008, was a big hit in spite of the temperature of the morning starting below freezing. The estimated attendance was 1000 persons. The Lewisville Noon Rotary Club served over 400 patrons a delicious breakfast consisting of pancakes, sausage, milk, juice, and coffee. Many thanks to the Lillian Jackson Center and LISD for the use of their parking lot where shuttle service back to Memorial Park was provided. For a $1 admission fee children enjoyed the carnival games as well as event favorites including the cake walk, bouncy house and face painting. Boyd’s Photography took photos for the children with the assistance of the Funny Bunny who had the children really mesmerized. Along with Parks and Leisure Services staff, many volunteers helped to make this event a success. Thank you to the 57 volunteers from Huffines Middle School, Girl Scout Troops from North Texas, Lewisville High School, UNT Sigma Phi Lambda Sorority, LHS Jr.& Sr. Varsity Girls Softball Team, UNT Campus, LHS North Student Council, Senior Center, The Magee Family and Flower Mound High Schools Interact Club. This event has been around for over 21 years and the nostalgia of the famous egg hunt still has a place in the lives of the residents of the Lewisville area.
Popcorn Concert
The Popcorn Concert, held on Sunday, March 9, 2008, at the Memorial Park Recreation Center, was very well attended. The 3 p.m. performance of Sergi Prokofiev’s “Peter & The Wolf” was narrated by Fox 4’s Chip Waggoner. Adron Ming conducted The Lewisville Lake Symphony. The Lake Cities Ballet Theatre choreographed the dancers who, as usual, did a fabulous job. The children enjoyed the popcorn and the instrument “petting zoo.” The “petting zoo” gives children the opportunity to actually handle real instruments such as trumpets and violins. The children also made toy instruments to take home. This cultural event gives the younger musicians an opportunity to bring their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends an afternoon of family entertainment.
Park Board Meeting on March 12, 2008
Special Olympics representatives were in attendance to make a special presentation to the Park Board Members to say thank you for supporting their kids. The main topic of discussion was on athletic field fees and policies. Surveys were done with cities in the DFW area to see what they were charging for field usage. Fees were broken down by rentals with and without lights. Staff presented rate proposals to the Board for review. Sports Tourism was also discussed. Fees for Tournaments would have several factors which could include field use fees, field maintenance fee, and light fees (where needed.) All fees would be the same for all the athletic complexes in Lewisville. The Park Board Members have all the information and will revisit at the April Meeting.
Gamers in the Library??? You Bet!!!
A good time was had by all at the gaming tournament hosted by Eli Neiburger and the Lewisville Public Library on Wednesday, March 12. Seventy-five youth and 72 adults competed for great prizes. Some were seeking that perfect strike during the Wii bowling games. The beat of music filled the room as the youth showed off their dancing moves during the Dance Dance Revolution Tournament. And Smash Brothers Melee was a “smash” hit as gamers worked their skills to advance.
Winners from all three games continued to the final round, where nine youth were victorious and took home prizes. Everyone in the tournament, youth and adults, gathered to cheer on the winners and their favorite players.
Mr. Neiburger conducted a workshop for librarians from across North Texas the following day, outlining the social and educational benefits of a gaming program in the library. He stressed that libraries must continue to offer new and different options to pull the teen group to the library. Gaming tournaments offer a highly successful programming option for the teens. Librarians were treated to hands-on gaming fun with the top players awarded prizes for outstanding play. Workshop participants left with great ideas and plenty of enthusiasm for building their own teen gaming programs.
Eli Neiburger is the author of Gamers…in the Library?! He is employed with the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and has hosted gaming tournaments and workshops around the world. Mr. Neiburger’s appearance at the Lewisville Public Library was funded by the North Texas Regional Library System.
Pickleball Tournament Held
On Wednesday, March 12 the Senior Activity hosted an area pickleball tournament at Civic Circle Recreation Center The Senior Centers represented were Lewisville, Richardson, Robson Ranch and McKinney. First place went to Rose Ware and Paul Trudeau of Lewisville. Second place went to Nadine Darnell and Dominick Greco of Lewisville and third place went to Chanda Ghose and Subu Ghose of McKinney. Special thanks the United Financial for sponsoring the meal, NorthPark Rehab for sponsoring the awards and the staff at Civic Circle Recreation Center.
Street & Sidewalk Repairs
The City of Lewisville Street Division has contracted with Hencie International, Inc. to perform street and sidewalk repairs on Valencia Lane between Catalina Dr. and Edmonds Lane. Construction is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 and be completed by Wednesday, May 7, 2008, weather permitting. The street must be cleared of all vehicles during this time.
Work is being performed in the areas listed below.
Use caution in these work zones.
Use caution in these work zones.
Street Repairs
Continuing street panel, drive approach, and sidewalk repairs on Tiffany
Continuing street and sidewalk repairs on Buffalo Bend
Street and sidewalk repairs on Valencia Lane between Catalina Dr. and Edmonds Lane
Sanitary Sewer Line and Manhole Repairs
Cleaning and video inspecting sewer mains in the Meadow Lake Addition
Main line cleaning in the Old Town area
Upcoming Events
- March 17 City Council Meeting
March 17 Old Town Design Review Committee Called Special Session
March 18 Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting
March 24 Old Town Design Review Committee Meeting
April Meetings & Events
- April 1 CDBG Meeting (rescheduled due to spring break)
April 1 Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting
April 2 Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting
April 7 City Council Meeting
April 9 Park Board Meeting
April 12 Second Saturday Collection Day
April 14 Old Town Design Review Committee Meeting
April 15 CDBG Meeting
April 15 Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting
April 17 Transportation Board Meeting
April 21 City Council Meeting
April 28 Old Town Design Review Committee Meeting
April 30 Library Board Meeting
