City of Fort Worth, Texas sent this bulletin at 06/14/2019 09:34 AM CDT
Making Fort Worth the best place to live, work and play.
June 2019 | District 4 Update
Summer break is here, and as warmer weather pulls us to outdoor activities, our office woudl like to wish you all a safe and fun Summer.
Cary Moon
Advanced metering system launching soon in far north Fort Worth neighborhoods
Posted May 13, 2019
Workers will soon begin removing old meters and installing new ones in far north Fort Worth.
The city is launching an advanced metering system called MyH2O. Advanced metering infrastructure, or AMI, improves customer services and water utility operations through new technologies.
It will take nearly three years to switch out more than 250,000 meters citywide. The phased implementation is starting in far north Fort Worth, then expands to other areas. Meter box preparation begins in mid-May and meter installation in July.
Customers are being notified by mail so they know when to expect workers in the neighborhood. Residents can check progress on the MyH20 page. Remote meter reading will not begin immediately, but will be phased in during the installation process.
How MyH2O works
Existing meter box lids are being equipped with a transmission unit that sends encrypted usage data from a new water meter via a secure wireless network to the water utility to create a bill.
Customers will eventually have access to an online portal to do such things as monitor water usage and set alerts if there’s continuous water flow. The portal will be introduced in the next several months.
MyH2O also gives the water utility tools to improve services, including data that can help detect potential infrastructure issues.
AquaMetric is the city’s contractor that will install the new meters. Crews can remove old meters and install new ones in 20-30 minutes. Water service will be interrupted during that time. Workers do not need to access homes for any reason. Learn more about the installation process.
Businesses with large meters are being contacted to schedule meter work.
The city began installing the new meters in mid-2016 at new construction locations and when an older meter needed replacing. Those meters are still being read manually for now.
City Council approved the $76 million project in 2015. The Texas Water Development Board is funding the project with a low-interest loan.
To learn more, contact Sandra Baker at 817-392-2682.
Headlines
Fort Worth police show body camera video of fatal shooting involving armed suspect
A tornado warning issued by the national Weather Service
Tornado or funnel cloud reported by a reliable source such as a storm spotter or RACES member
Sustained winds in excess of 70 mph
Reports of hail 1 ½ inch diameter or larger
Chemical spill emergency
State or national emergency declared by the governor or president
Discretion of Office of Emergency Management Duty Officer
Testing
Fort Worth’s Office of Emergency Management conducts weekly tests of the outdoor warning system sirens at 1 p.m. every Wednesday, weather conditions allowing.
Sirens sound for 90 seconds on the first Wednesday of each month. The siren test is shortened to 15 seconds for other Wednesdays in the month. If conditions are favorable for severe weather on a test day, the siren test will not be conducted.
Residents are encouraged to register for emergency text alerts from the Office of Emergency Management to their cell phone and email. To register, simply select a Zip code that you would like alerts for and text it to 888777, or enter “FortWorth” to receive alerts for the entire community. If you would like to select multiple Zip codes, such as your residence, work, schools or sporting venues, register online at www.Nixle.com
Capital Improvement Project -
Upper Big Fossil Creek Wastewater Improvements
Construction on the Upper Big Fossil Creek Wastewater Improvement project is starting after July 4. Capital Projects hosted a community meeting at The Golf Club Fossil Creek on June 3. We had 10 residents (three from the two neighborhood associations) in attendance. This meeting was a follow-up to the 2017 design meeting which brought in 19 residents. The summary from that 2017 design meeting is at the end of this summary of the 2019 community meeting concerning construction. This project includes the rehabilitation of the sewer main that runs through The Golf Club Fossil Creek, and the construction of a new sewer main. The area affected includes Big Fossil Creek Bridge from Western Center Boulevard to North Beach Street. Walter Norwood is the project manager, Judy Die is the inspector, Teague Nall and Perkins (TNP) is the design consultant and is providing inspection services, and Circle C Construction is the contractor. Circle C will start on the east side, Beach Street, and move northwesterly to Western Center Boulevard. The first priority is to construct the new 54-inch sewer main that will run parallel to the current main. That part of the project will take approximately one year to complete. The current line will remain in service as the new line is being constructed. The fiberglass pipe gravity sewer main will be installed 10 to 20 feet deep, depending on the conditions. Work hours are 7 am to 7 pm Monday-Friday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays. Once the new line is in place the contractor will rehabilitate the existing 24-inch or 27-inch vitrified clay sewer main using trenchless methods, then existing sewer service connections will be restored. Bypass pumping will be used on the services that are connecting to the old line. Much of this work is using tunneling, which means the contractor will hand dig the tunnel in certain areas, so as to avoid impacting established trees, then push the new pipe through and connect to the pipe installed by open cut. The contractor will have to use open cut in some areas where houses back up to the easement. In the areas where open cut is used trees will be removed.
The project manager is identifying trees which will be saved. He will meet at the site to review the information with the golf course staff. There should be minimal impact to traffic on the main streets. There will be some lane closures on Beach Street and Western Center Boulevard as the new line is being built, but no full road closures or overnight closures. The walking trail at the Riverside bridge will be impacted. The area is too narrow to accommodate construction equipment and access to the walking trail so no access will be permitted during construction. There is no alternate temporary walking trail.
The construction crews will be entering at Beach and working their way up through the project. The open cut work will be maintained as they go – no hop scotching from one part of the site to the next. They would also like to enter at Riverside, but that area may be too tight to allow that access. Odor control devices are installed at the manholes to mitigate sewer odor. The projected end date for this project is January 2021.
Freeway Light Repair Project *UPDATED*
High Mast Light Towers
We have made great progress on the High Mast Light Towers along IH 30. This includes upgrading 7 of the towers to LED lights, restoring power to over 31 towers that were out due to stolen wire. We have been working along IH30 at the interchange at IH 35W, IH 30 and Camp Bowie, IH 30 and 820E, and IH 20 and 35. We plan to continue upgrading an additional 6 towers to LED by End of July 2019. This timeline was adjusted due to some of the additional repairs required to the recent work on IH 30 and IH121.
As a reminder, this is year one of a ten year plan to change out all High Mast Lighting Towers to LED. We plan to spread the new LED heads out along the IH30/IH35 interchange, along IH30 near Camp Bowie, and IH30/E820 interchange, addressing roughly three to four towers at each location. Above is a map of the target areas.
IH-820 East at Meadowbrook (west side electric circuit out from Brentwood Stair to Craig)/ Jasmine Overpass
Fort Worth and TxDOT staff are working with the contractor to ensure the damaged wire repair is made quickly and correctly. We have been in touch with the contractor trying to confirm construction repair. We have completed the repairs to the E Jassimine St Overpass circuit converting all 22 lights under overpass to LED as well as restoring power to the service roads along 35 from Morning side to Rosedale.
IH-30 East near Riverside (break in electric circuit within the center median wall)(LED conversion)_ NEW UPDATE
We were able to work with TXDOT and their crews to open up the barrier wall and repair conduit. We also made two additonal underground wire repairs to the circuit to restore power to all fixtures in the section from Riverside to Cooks.
US Hwy 287 (IH30 S to Mitchell) –New Update
Staff has been working during the month of April to restore power to many of the fixtures along this stretch. We have completed this project. We repaired poor/missing wire and light heads in the Northbound and Southbound lanes. There are two portions that we are not able to get power restored near Vickery and Lancaster. These portions require the assistance of TXDOT and their construction team. We will be working with them and determining the long term solution for these complex repairs.
Have you Heard: Gas Compressor Regulations
(d) Compressor stations - natural gas facilities.
(1) Compressor noise regulations. For purposes of this subsection (d), OPERATOR shall refer to either the pipeline operator or the gas well operator, as applicable.
1. Maximum permitted sound levels for all permanent lift or line compressors shall be limited by the following zoning classifications:
Industrial
75 dBA day/65 dBA night
Commercial
65 dBA day/55 dBA night
Residential
55 dBA day/50 dBA night
If the measurement location is on a boundary between two different land use classifications, the lower noise level standard applicable to the noise zone shall apply.
Line compressor operators shall be allowed to demonstrate that the current actual ambient is greater than allowed which will become the new ambient for that location (measured at the property line of the noise creator).
Noise measurement will be taken at the property line of the compressor station to determine ambient. To determine compliance with the noise requirements all measurements will be taken at the property line of the receiver/receptor.
Compressors shall meet the low and high frequency requirements/standards as required for gas wells.
Creates low-frequency outdoor noise levels that exceed the following dB levels:
16 Hz octave band
65 dB
31.5 Hz octave band
65 dB
64 Hz octave band
65 dB
Click One Address to direct yourself to the city’s portal of information regarding code, permits, violations etc.
BULK WASTEQuestions on when your bulk waste collection time is? Or not sure how much you are allowed? With the Holiday season upon us, now is a good time to download the Fort Worth Garbage and Recycling app
Roundabouts
ClickRoundaboutsto watch video on proper roundabout etiquette
Did you know it's the law?
Door to Door Vendors
§ 20-145 REGULATIONS.
A door-to-door vendor shall not engage in solicitation activities:
(a) At any residence or business that has a “No Soliciting” or “No Trespassing” sign posted on the property;
(b) At any residence or business where the door-to-door vendor has been verbally informed that no solicitation of food, goods, services or merchandise is allowed; or
(c) At any residence before 9:00 a.m. and after 7:00 p.m. Central Standard Time and after 8:00 p.m. during Daylight Savings Time, unless at the occupant’s request.
Ordinance exemptions: politics or religion do not require a permit.
“No Trespassing” or “No Soliciting” signs clearly posted should deter anyone from soliciting on your property.
§§ 30-5 OBSTRUCTING FREE USE OF STREETS, SIDEWALKS.
It shall be unlawful for any grouping or assemblage of persons, whose standing, remaining or congregating upon any public street or sidewalk shall obstruct, prevent or interfere with the free or unobstructed use of such street or sidewalk by other persons, to fail or refuse to move on or to disperse upon being ordered to do so by any police officer of the city or other peace officer.
(1964 Code, § 33-5)
§ 23-14 POSTING OF HANDBILLS, SIGNS, POSTERS OR ADVERTISEMENTS IN CERTAIN PLACES—PROHIBITED.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation, other than the owner of the property to post, fasten, erect or display, or cause to be posted, fastened, erected or displayed:
Any type of handbill, sign, poster or advertisement on or upon any structure, tree, pole, curb or elsewhere within the right-of-way of any public street, or upon any public property within the City of Fort Worth, without the express permission of the city council of the City of Fort Worth;
§ 30-16 LOITERING FOR PURPOSE OF BEGGING.
It shall be unlawful for any person to loiter, remain or wander about in a public place for the purpose of begging. As used in this section, BEGGING means the solicitation of money or other valuable consideration from another person without giving consideration in return.
Dogs must be kept on a leash and under the direct physical control of the owner or handler while in any city park or recreation area. Dogs are permitted off-leash only in those portions of the park designated by the director of park and recreation as off-leash areas. Dogs must remain under the immediate personal supervision and command of the owner or handler while in off-leash areas.
Special Needs Assistance Program aids the entire community
A man-made accident, terrorist act or severe weather disaster can strike quickly and without warning. All Fort Worth residents should know what to do and quickly move to shelter in these situations, but residents with a disability can find it especially difficult to get out of harm’s way.
According to the July 2016 U.S. Census Quick Facts Report, 7.8 percent of Fort Worth residents under the age of 65 were reported to have some type of disability. That is more than 66,000 Fort Worth residents, and that number grows substantially when you add in residents 65 and older.
That is why the City of Fort Worth hosts the Special Needs Assistance Program (SNAP).
This SNAP program is not federal food stamps, but a local database that contains information about residents with disabilities who may not be able to evacuate their homes, or simply want to provide advance information on their disability to emergency first responders.
SNAP registration is available in English and Spanish, does not define or limit what a disability would be, is free to all Fort Worth residents and should be reviewed annually to keep information current.
Register online, call the Office of Emergency Management at 817-392-6170 or mail a registration request including name and contact information to: Office of Emergency Management, 200 Texas St., Fort Worth, TX 76102.
Emergency management personnel will assist residents with phone and mail registration.
Information provided in the SNAP program helps emergency management personnel plan for future disasters and provides advance knowledge of the resident’s specific disability to emergency first responders after a disaster or 911 call.
