...for City of Southlake news, business, and community happenings.
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- mayor hill
Friday, April 19, 2024
Mayor Hill presented Ruby Buffalo with a proclamation in honor of Ms. Buffalo’s 100th birthday on July 2 at The Marq Southlake. Ms. Buffalo celebrates her 100th birthday on July 3.
Ruby Buffalo is being honored by family and friends on July 2, 2018 to celebrate her 100th birthday; and,
Whereas, Ms. Buffalo has resided in the City of Southlake for over 19 years. She and her late husband started attending the Senior Activity Center close to 11 years ago; and,
Whereas, during these many years, she has been a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother to her family. Ms. Buffalo has lived a long and productive life, earning the respect, love, and affection of others who are around her; now,
Therefore, I, Mayor Laura Hill, on behalf of the City Council, do hereby find it an honor and pleasure to recognize Ruby Buffalo’s 100th birthday, July 3, 2018, with congratulations and best wishes for many years to come.
Southlake Mayor Laura Hill presented to the Community Services Department the “National Parks and Recreation Month Proclamation” on Wednesday, June 27.
The City of Southlake recognizes parks and recreation programs and
facilities are an integral part of communities across the United
States, and in particular, their value to the City of Southlake; and,
Whereas, the parks and recreation programs and activities are vitally important to
establishing and maintaining the quality of life in Southlake, ensuring the health of
citizens, and contributes to the economic and environmental well-being of Southlake and
the region; and,
Whereas, the City of Southlake offers a variety of parks and recreation opportunities
designed for all ages and interests, including popular recreation or athletic programs,
special community events, senior activities, nature exploration, tennis and aquatic
programs, arts and cultural activities and volunteer opportunities; and,
Whereas, the City of Southlake Community Services Department desires to enhance the
quality of life for all Southlake residents by providing exceptional recreational, cultural
and educational opportunities through its parks and recreation programs; now,
Therefore, I, Mayor Laura Hill, on behalf of the City Council, do hereby proclaim July,
2018, as National Parks and Recreation Month
and encourage all citizens to “A Lifetime of Discovery” during July, and to express our
sincere appreciation for the many Southlake parks and recreation programs, and the City
of Southlake parks and recreation staff for their dedicated service.
Yesterday evening on May 17, City leaders, Carroll Independent School District trustees, local business leaders and parents gathered to recognize this past year’s youth leadership graduates at the 3rd Annual S.K.I.L. (Southlake Kids Interested in Leadership) Awards Reception.
The reception has been a way to honor these student leaders’ success during the academic year and recognize all of those that have contributed to the program, and this year was no different. Southlake Mayor Laura Hill expressed her gratitude to all of the students for their commitment to the program and the value of good leadership.
The reception provided an opportunity for parents to meet with all the contributors to the program and what role they provided. “Without the contributions of the school district, the City, the Chamber of Commerce and all of our business partners, this program would not be possible,” said Daniel Cortez, the City of Southlake staff liaison to the program.
The evening reception concluded with the Southlake Chamber of Commerce giving special recognition to S.K.I.L. student Logan Reid who demonstrated a positive attitude and tremendous growth in her leadership skills over the last year and was awarded a scholarship towards her college education.
The youth leadership program, created in partnership between the City of Southlake, the Carroll Independent School District and the Southlake Chamber of Commerce, will continue into its 4th year beginning in the Fall of 2018 when the next generation of S.K.I.L. students enter their junior year at Carroll Senior High School.
You can learn more about the S.K.I.L. program and how you can contribute here.
At the May 1, 2018, City Council meeting, Mayor Hill and the City Council recognized May as Building Safety Month. Members of the Planning and Development Services Department were present to receive the proclamation.
Through our continuing efforts to address the critical issues of safety, energy efficiency, water conservation, and resilience in the built environment that affect our citizens, both in everyday life and in times of natural disaster, give us confidence that our structures are safe and sound; and,
Whereas, building safety and fire prevention officials are at work year-round to guide the safe construction of buildings. The dedicated members of the International Code Council, including building safety and fire prevention officials, architects, engineers, and others in the construction industry, develop and enforce codes to safeguard Americans in the buildings where we live, work, play and learn; and,
Whereas, the International Codes, the most widely adopted building safety, energy and fire prevention codes in the nation, are used by most U.S. cities, counties and states; these modern building codes also include safeguards to protect the public from natural disasters such as hurricanes, snowstorms, tornadoes, wildland fires, floods and earthquakes; and,
Whereas, Building Safety Month is sponsored by the International Code Council, to remind the public about the critical role of our communities’ largely unknown guardians of public safety––our local code officials––who assure us of safe, efficient and livable buildings; now,
Therefore, I, Mayor Laura Hill, on behalf of the City Council, do hereby proclaim the month of May 2018, as Building Safety Month.
Do you want to be part of the City of Southlake team? The City Council is seeking residents who want to be engaged in their community and help support the City Council in their mission.
On June 19, 2018, the Mayor and City Council will make appointments to the Building Board of Appeals, Parks and Recreation Board, Planning and Zoning Commission, Southlake Parks Development Corporation, and Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Citizens interested in helping their local government in the areas of park facilities, zoning cases, and commercial or residential development are encouraged to complete an application for a board or commission. Applications may be obtained from the City’s website.
Each appointment is for a term of two years unless appointed to fulfill an existing vacancy for an unexpired term. It takes a team to run a City, and City Council wants you to be a part of their team. If you have the desire and the commitment to devote to our community, please complete an application and email it to cborges@ci.southlake.tx.us or fax it to (817) 748-8270 in the City Secretary’s Office.
You can also mail or hand-deliver your application to the City Secretary’s Office, 1400 Main Street, Suite 270, Southlake, Texas 76092. Applications must be received no later than May 1.
At the April 3, 2018 City Council Meeting, Mayor Laura Hill and the City Council presented the Child Abuse Prevention Month Proclamation, recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Southlake.
Every child deserves a nurturing family and safe environment to grow into a healthy, productive member of the community; and,
Whereas, child abuse is one of our nation’s most serious public health problems and threatens the safety of our community; and,
Whereas, 5,630 cases of child abuse and neglect were confirmed in Tarrant County in 2017; and,
Whereas, Alliance For Children provided child-focused services to 2,310 children in 2017; and,
Whereas, Alliance For Children provided prevention education to over 50,000 adults and children in Tarrant County in 2017; and,
Whereas, effective child abuse prevention, investigation and treatment programs succeed because of partnerships among public and private agencies, schools, religious organizations, medical services, and the business community; and,
Whereas, everyone should become more aware of child abuse prevention and consider helping caregivers raise their children in a safe, nurturing environment; now,
Therefore, I, Mayor Laura Hill, on behalf of the City Council, do hereby proclaim the month of April 2018, as Child Abuse Prevention Month in the city of Southlake, Texas, and urge all citizens to work together to help reduce child abuse and neglect significantly in the years to come.
At the Tuesday, January 16 City Council meeting, Mayor Hill recognized February as LiveFit Southlake Month.
Good health and an active lifestyle are essential to the overall well-being of individuals; and,
Whereas, exercise, through participation in sports and other fitness-related activities, helps to fight obesity among children and adults, which also prevents related medical problems while also reducing overall health care costs; and,
Whereas, a wholesome, well-balanced diet is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle; and,
Whereas, LiveFit Southlake provides an opportunity for citizens to live healthy lifestyles and to recognize the importance the City places on leisure and recreational programming; and,
Whereas, the City of Southlake will hold a 9-week community-wide wellness challenge devoted to inspiring families to LiveFit with such free events as a health fair, LiveWell Lecture Series, Events with the Mayor, Couch to 5K, Southlake Superhero 5K and Fun Run, 1 Million Step Challenge, daily challenges, food tracking challenges; now,
Therefore, I, Laura Hill, Mayor of the City of Southlake, do hereby proclaim the month of February as LIVEFIT SOUTHLAKE MONTH in Southlake and encourage our citizens to learn more about the importance of diet and exercise and to take steps towards better overall health.
At the Tuesday, May 2 City Council meeting, the City Council recognized May as Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month.
Today’s society is finding more citizens involved in motorcycling on the roads of our country; and,
Whereas, motorcyclists are roughly unprotected and therefore more prone to injury or death in a crash than other vehicle drivers; and,
Whereas, campaigns have helped inform riders and motorists alike on motorcycle safety issues to reduce motorcycle related risks, injuries, and, most of all, fatalities, through a comprehensive approach to motorcycle safety; and,
Whereas, it is the responsibility of all who put themselves behind the wheel, to become aware of motorcyclists, regarding them with the same respect as any other vehicle traveling the highways of this country; and it is the responsibility of riders and motorists alike to obey all traffic laws and safety rules; and,
Whereas, we are urging all citizens of our community to become aware of the inherent danger involved in operating a motorcycle, and for riders and motorists alike to give each other the mutual respect they deserve; now,
Therefore, I, Mayor Laura Hill, on behalf of the City Council, do hereby proclaim the month of May 2017, as Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month
Getting around town can be a challenge for locals and visitors alike. Crowded roads, combined with Southlake being a popular destination for shopping and dining, can make it challenging to visit local businesses and attend community events. In addition, Southlake now has two hotels, with two more planned, bringing more travelers (often in rental cars) to the city.
The gridlock and frustration come as no surprise to Southlake City Council members, who also drive the roads, but also because traffic was cited as the number one issue in the most recent citizen survey. This is why City leaders and administrators have been researching alternative modes of in-town transportation.
According to Southlake Mayor Laura Hill, the City is currently in the process of conducting a study to determine the feasibility of a trolley, or other form of public transportation system, to address traffic issues and encourage tourism and economic development.
“As more people move to Texas, and specifically into North Texas, the ability to attract visitors and businesses and set Southlake apart from other premier cities in the area has become more challenging,” stated Hill, noting the trolley would be funded with the seven percent hotel occupancy tax. “With a trolley system in Southlake, the goal is to improve driving conditions for residents by reducing the amount of cars on the roadways, help our businesses succeed, and create a great experience for visitors.”
Southlake has become a premier destination since Southlake Town Square opened in 1999. Along with the Hilton Southlake and recently opened Cambria Hotel & Suites, a new Marriott Hotel was approved in February and a Westin Hotel is slated to be built next to Gateway Church – each of which will bring thousands of people to Southlake.
“As traffic continues to crowd the roadways from the population growth occurring to the west, it is important for City leaders to look at strategies to minimize the impact of visitors coming to town, not only to support our hotels, but to ensure visitors have an enjoyable experience and encourage them to patronize Southlake businesses while they’re here,” added Hill.
The study is expected to be completed before the end of the City’s fiscal year, September 30. Upon completion, more details of what to expect will be announced.