Tuesday, March 19, 2024

City of Southlake Kicks Off Town Hall HVAC Upgrade Replacement Project

Beginning in the new year, the City of Southlake will begin a project to replace the existing HVAC equipment within Town Hall. The existing HVAC equipment is 20 years old and nearing the end of its lifespan. The new equipment will be more resilient to failure and will include a UV lighting disinfectant system, intended to kill airborne viruses, bacteria, mold and related harmful airborne substances.

The heavy project work will begin the first week of January 2021 and continue through spring 2021, but the timeline is subject to weather and a variety of other factors. Town Hall visitors may hear quite a bit of noise early in the project and may also notice some ceilings exposed and various construction equipment throughout the building. Caution tape and warning signage will be placed around construction areas.

Throughout these months, contractors will be working in the building seven days a week at a wide variety of hours, except for during Council/Board meetings. This is so the project can be expedited and completed by spring. During these months, staff asks guests to please avoid construction equipment and remain cautious when near working areas.

To move materials, one Town Hall elevator may be periodically reserved for construction use and lined with padding. When an elevator is reserved for construction use, please use the other elevator. Notices will be placed on corresponding elevators in these situations.

An equipment staging area will be set up on the west side of Town Hall. This will involve blocking off a section of parking in that area and putting up temporary construction fencing. Please avoid walking into the fencing area.

The project budget is an estimated $2 million to be funded through the Tax Increment Finance District Fund and Facility Maintenance Fund.

2020 Elections Guide

Tuesday, November 3 is Election Day. If you’re voting on election day, voting hours are 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Don’t forget to bring your photo ID with you to vote. Here’s a list of acceptable forms of photo ID. Remember, when going to the polls, leave your campaign and political clothing and buttons at home. No electioneering is allowed while at the polls.

 

COVID-19 and Voting at Town Hall

Voting at Town Hall will be a little different this year than previous years. Tarrant County and the City of Southlake are coordinating our efforts to keep voters safe and comply with CDC guidelines. Tarrant County is managing protocols for voter safety while voting such as cleaning machines and the use of hand sanitizer.

Voters are encouraged to wear a mask or face covering while inside Town Hall waiting to vote and while voting. Voters are also required to maintain a physical distance of six feet from people not in their immediate household. Floor markers will be installed to help guide voters while waiting in line. Hand sanitizing stations and masks are available throughout Southlake Town Hall. Town Hall will be thoroughly cleaned each day after voting hours end.

 

Voting Locations

Voters in Tarrant County can vote anywhere in Tarrant County, including at Southlake Town Hall during early voting or on election day. Find a location to vote near your work or home by viewing the Tarrant County Early Voting Locations List.

For Denton County residents who plan to vote during early voting, view the Denton County Early Voting Locations List. For those who plan to vote on November 3, view the Denton County Election Day Polling Sites.

 

Early Voting Information

Early voting days and hours are as follows:

Tarrant County

Dates Days Times
October 13 – 17 Tuesday – Saturday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
October 19 – 23 Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
October 24 Saturday 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
October 25 Sunday 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
October 26 – 30 Monday – Friday 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Denton County

Dates Days Times
October 13 – 17 Tuesday – Saturday 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
October 18 Sunday 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
October 19 – 24 Monday – Saturday 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
October 25 Sunday 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
October 26 – 30 Monday – Friday 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

 

Mail In Ballots

Visit the Tarrant County Election Board’s website for information about requesting and submitting a mail in ballot for voters in Tarrant County.

Visit the Denton County Election Board’s website for information on requesting and submitting a mail in ballot for voters in Denton County.

 

Ballot Information

Beginning September 1, Texas House Bill 25 eliminated straight-party voting.

Voters in Tarrant County can view what is on the ballot by viewing the Tarrant County Sample Ballot page and entering their voter information.

Voters in Denton County can view what is on the ballot by viewing the Denton County Sample Ballot page and entering their voter information.

 

City of Southlake Candidates

View the Southlake City Council candidates for Place 1 and Place 6.

 

Parking at Town Hall

Parking spaces located on the north side of Southlake Town Hall have been designated as voter parking. Additional parking is available around Town Square and in both parking garages.

Two parking spaces are designated for people with mobility issues for curbside voting accommodations. If you are disabled and in need of voting assistance and would like to select to vote curbside, park in one of the parking spaces off of Grand Avenue notated on the map below and call the phone number on the sign in front of the parking space.

 

 

For more information about the 2020 Elections, visit CityofSouthlake.com/2020Elections.

Mayor’s Alliance to Host Virtual Town Hall with the Southlake Police Department on July 29

The Mayor’s Alliance for Unity and Culture invites residents to a virtual Town Hall with the Southlake Police Department. Alliance members will be joined by Southlake Mayor Laura Hill, Assistant Police Chief Ashleigh Casey and members of the Southlake Police Department.

“The Alliance’s mission is to build community unity in Southlake,” Southlake Mayor Laura Hill said. “We know that building strong relationships starts with bringing everyone to the table to have a conversation. Through this event, our citizens will be able to get answers to their questions and share their concerns with the Police Department.”

The virtual Town Hall will take place on Wednesday, July 29 from 6 – 7 p.m.

Questions should be submitted to the Mayor’s Alliance by Tuesday, July 28 at 12 p.m., using this form. The Mayor’s Alliance members moderating the forum will ask questions as time allows and reserve questions for a future Town Hall, if needed.

To attend the Town Hall, visit: https://bit.ly/72920SLKMAUC. This Town Hall will be recorded and available on the City’s video on demand within 48 hours of the event.

For more information about the Southlake Police Department, please visit the City’s website.

Southlake MVPs Keepin’ It Clean

Quietly, with no fanfare, one group of employees is working hard to make a significant impact during these interesting times.

Southlake’s facilities team, custodians, and purchasing manager are working together to ensure that city buildings are white-glove clean and properly disinfected for safety. Like most behind-the-scenes players, these employees aren’t usually the first ones noticed, but they are incredibly valuable for making City operations run smoothly.

“City buildings will be opening to the public soon,” said Assistant City Manager Ben Thatcher. “This group of employees are working on the front lines to make it possible.”

In addition to increased site cleaning in anticipation of reopening, the team is working to reduce touchpoints, purchase adequate supplies, and disinfect areas of frequent use by employees and the public, including areas in Town Square parking garages.

“There has and will continue to be cleaning and disinfection of light switches, doorknobs, push plates, handrails, elevator buttons, and drawer handles,” notes Public Works Director Rob Cohen.

The team will also make sure doors remain open, as possible, horizontal surfaces are continually cleaned, and food and common areas are downsized and cleaned according to established regimens and schedules. A contracted cleaning company will continue to clean on a weekly basis.

Facilities employees spearhead the procurement of cleaning supplies for the city and manage the disinfection contract for the city.  They do this while also performing normal custodial duties and performing corrective and preventive maintenance work for our facilities,” said Cohen. He also pointed out that staff is also busy making sure that sneeze guards have been installed at specific locations and that hand sanitizing stations are readily available.

At The Marq, the custodial team is busy preparing for reopening, as well.  With 110,000 square feet, 16 bathrooms, locker rooms, two elevators, counters, equipment, tables and chairs, doors, railings, and other surfaces, it’s a big job.

“Our work is very customer-centric,” said Chris Tribble, Director of Community Services. “Our facilities staff is absolutely committed to maintaining Legends Hall and Champions Club for customer and employee safety.”

Southlake’s MVP cleaning teams include Carmelita Goen, Sarah Cooper, Justin Bourquin, Andrew Merrick, Juan Sanchez, David Aguayo, Dustin Medlen, Adam Whigham, and John Rodriguez. Superstar Purchasing Manager Tim Slifka rounds out the team, ensuring that certain supplies and equipment are available for the team’s use.

Southlake Town Hall to Host Photography Exhibit featuring Beatriz Terrazas

Nature’s Journey Great and Small, an art exhibit by Beatriz Terrazas is set to be on display and free to the public in Southlake Town Hall this September

An exhibit reception will take place Friday, September 9 in Southlake Town Hall from 6:30-8:00 PM. Come enjoy Beatriz Terrazas’ wonderful work and a night of photography.

About the Artist:
Beatriz Terrazas, a Southlake resident, is a Texas Pulitzer Prize photographer, writer and video producer. A Texas native, Terrazas started her career as a photojournalist with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She started writing while working at The Dallas Morning News. She now serves as a writer, producer, still photographer and coordinator for video with JMD Multimedia, a video business she owns with her husband, John Doty.

For more information, visit APEX-ARTS.org.

Exhibit Looks at How Aviation Changed Southlake

For more than 100 years aviation has played a significant role in shaping North Texas. From the 1950s, 12 or more landing strips, most of them grass, allowed pilots young and old to take to the skies over then-rural Southlake.

In the 1960s, Ted and Eleanor Kasper built the Lazy K Acres airfield on their 50 acres. Today, Carrol High School sits on the site.

Since 1964 when the U.S. Civil Aeronautical Board ordered Dallas and Fort Worth city leaders to come up with an agreed upon location for a joint airport, Dallas Fort Worth Regional Airport (today’s D/FW International Airport) has had an impact on the city of Southlake, its businesses and residents.

Those topics will be explored August 15 in a panel discussion that’s part of the exhibit “Taking Flight: How aviation changed North Texas and Southlake” on display in Southlake Town Hall, 1400 Main Street, through Aug. 20.

The exhibit features colorful panels on loan from the Tarrant County Archives that chronicle area-wide aviation events from 1911 into the 21st century. Other panels tell the story of Southlake families and their grass airstrips, popular from 1950s through the 1990s.

Honorary co-chairs are Tarrant County Commissioner Gary Fickes, Southlake Mayor Laura Hill, former Southlake Mayor John Terrell, and longtime Southlake resident and private pilot Zena Rucker.

The Main exhibit is in the lobby of Town hall. Photographs, maps and aviator memorabilia from the Tarrant County Archives are being displayed with the main exhibit as well as in the Southlake Library, on the first floor of Town Hall.

An opening reception and a paper airplane event for children have been held.

A panel discussion on Aug. 1 will focus on the grass airstrips in Southlake and feature stories about a time when it was commonplace to see small airplanes flying around the area. Panelists will include Zena Rucker and her son Dooley Rucker; Kathy Kasper Frank, whose parents owned the Lazy K airstrip where Carroll High School is now; and commercial airline pilots Steve White and David “Rusty” Rhodes, who began flying as teenagers. It will take place from 6:30-8 p.m., in the Southlake Town Hall City Council chamber.

OldDfwAirportResize

This sign, circa 1968, was erected on the Grapevine Prairie as the then-DFW Regional Airport was under construction. Photo courtesy of Dallas-Fort Worth

A second panel discussion, Monday, Aug. 15, explores the impact of D/FW International Airport on the city of Southlake, its businesses and residents. John Terrell, VP of Commercial Developement DFW International Airport and former Southlake mayor will moderate. Panelists will include Southlake Mayor Laura Hill, former Southlake mayor and now Tarrant County Commisioner Gary Fickes, Cooper and Stebbins (developers of Town Square) president Frank Bliss, Greg Last, former Southlake economic development director and longtime Realtor Lou Hillman. It will take place from 6:30-8 p.m., Monday, Aug. 15, City Council chamber, also in Southlake Town Hall.

All events are free and open to the public. The exhibit in the lobby of Town Hall and the Southlake Library will be open to the public 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The library is closed on Sunday.

Watch www.SouthlakeHistory.org for any new information. Questions? Contact Connie Cooley at 817-223-9606.

(The photo featured at the top of the article shows Ted Kasper posing with his son Gary next to their antique Waco UPF-7 airplane. The Kasper family built two grass airstrips on their property in Southlake in the 1960s.)

Strokes of Art in the Square Voting Ends April 1

Art in the Square featured artwork is still hanging beautifully in the lobby of Southlake Town Square. The artwork will only be available to view and vote on for a couple more days. Come out and cast your votes for the People’s Choice Award at Art in the Square.

There are 11 pieces of artwork that still need your votes. Voting is located at Town Hall and will end Friday, April 1.

Art in the Square will be returning to Southlake on Friday, April 22 – Sunday, April 24. In addition to offering the best in visual arts, Art in the Square features a tremendous lineup of musicians and performing artists. Two stages feature continuous entertainment all weekend long. Come out and enjoy the fun.

For more information on the event and voting please visit www.artinthesquare.com

Come to the Getting to Know Your H20 Forum on March 29, 2016!

Join us at Town Hall at 6:00pm on Tuesday, March 29, 2016 for the Getting to Know Your H20 SPIN Water Forum.

 Do you:

  • Have questions about your water bill?
  • Want to know how your water meter works?
  • Want tips and suggestions on how to maintain your lawn in the hot summer months?

If you said “yes” to any of these, then mark your calendars and plan to attend the Getting to Know Your H2O SPIN Water Forum!

Come to the Forum and:  

  • Demo an interactive water display that shows you how your water meter works
  • Visit Informational booths with free giveaways
  • Learn about your water bill and your water use
  • Engage in experts about all things water

This is your opportunity to get to know your water.

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Want to take control of your water use right now?

Please visit the City’s “Water Conservation” page to learn some tips and tricks to take control of your water all year long!

 

Buying or registering a car? Don’t forget your ID

Tarrant County residents must now show a proper form of identification to obtain a title and/or registration.

“We want to process your registration and title application as quickly and efficiently as possible,” said Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector Ron Wright. “So it’s very important to know the new rules before heading to our office or your auto dealer.”

If you are buying from a dealer, provide the dealer with your identification. If you are buying a car from an individual, bring your identification and all other required application forms and fees with you to the Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector’s office to apply for the title.

The identification rule passed by the board of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) took effect in September 2013. It was required as part of two state laws approved in 2011 (HB 2017 and HB 2357) that mandate identification.

The following forms of identification are acceptable:

  • A driver’s license or state identification certificate issued by a state or territory of the United States
  • United States or foreign passport
  • U.S. military identification card
  • U.S. Department of Homeland Security identification document
  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services identification document
  • U.S. Department of State identification document
  • North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) identification
  • Identification issued under a Status of Forces Agreement.

Vehicles will be titled in your legal name as it appears on your identification. If your name has changed, you will need to have your ID corrected before the purchase. If you are filling out the title application yourself, be sure to use your legal name.