City of Leon Valley
                 ENews!
March 16, 2018
Read About:
Upcoming Meeting Schedule
Evers Road Bridge
LV CAGE HELP WANTED
NW Seniors Kickapoo
Register To Vote
Introduction to Yoga
Leon Valley Raw, Vegan, Vegetarian Potluck
Trash and Treasure
Tricentennial Commemorative Week
Avalanche to Love-Free Shoes and Clothes
Avalanche to Love-Free Medical and Dental Services
Avalanche to Love-Free Groceries
Avalanche to Love-Free Diapers
Avalanche to Love-Free Giveaways
AACOG CARE Program
Volunteers Needed
Little Free Libraries
Texas Ban on Texting While Driving
2-1-1 Texas
Be Air Aware
ON IT
Neighborhood Officer Assignments
ANCESTRY.COM...IS AT YOUR LIBRARY
AACOG Alamo Call-A-Ride 4 Vets Program
Did you know?
Upcoming Regular City Council Meetings
Connect with LV!
Join Our List


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Upcoming Meetings

Meetings
Times
Regular City Council Meeting
March 20, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall AGENDA
Beautification Committee Meeting
March 21, 2018 at 4:15 p.m. at Fire Department, EOC Room
Citizens Police Advisory Committee March 21, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall Large Conference Room
Zoning Commission Meeting, 
March 27, 2018, at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall
Hike and Bike Committee Meeting
April 10, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. 
Library Board of Trustees Meeting

April 10, 2018, at 5:30 p.m. at the Leon Valley Public Library.



Evers Road Bridge
The Evers Road low water crossing over Huebner Creek has been removed and a new bridge is being constructed. As part of this bridge project, a new 24" gas main is being installed through the bottom of Huebner Creek along Evers Road at that location. The new main in nearing completion and is expected to be conducted on Thursday, March 22, 2018. To perform the connection, the gas main valves at Evers and Wurzbach and at Poss and Bandera roads will be shut off and the new main connected. Once the connections are secured, the valves will be turned back on. At some point during that day or the following, residents in that area may smell a strong odor of natural gas. Please, feel free to contact Leon Valley Public Works Department at (210)681-1232 x 201, should you have ay questions and thanks!"

Leon Valley Cafe - HELP WANTED
Leon Valley Cafe is currently looking for:
  • Dishwasher
  • Host/Hostess
  • Servers
  • Busser
Apply in person or call us at 210-520-0706
THIS EVENT WAS CANCELLED 


Register to Vote



If you are new to the City of Leon Valley.....Welcome!        
         
Whether you have moved from a neighboring city or from another state, you must be a registered voter in the City of Leon Valley (Precinct Numbers 2061, 2112, 2143, 3002 and 3003) in order to vote in the City of Leon Valley's May 05, 2018 General Election.
The deadline to register is Thursday, April 05, 2018 .

It is very easy to register.

All you need to do is go to the Bexar County Elections Department's website at http://www.bexar.org/1702/Register-to-Vote  or come by my office and I'll be happy to give you the necessary forms.
Introduction to Yoga
Introduction to Yoga. This is a FREE event taught by Yoga Seva Institute:  Sundays starting March 4, 2018 through April 29, 2018 (no class April 1 - Easter) from 3: 00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. at the Leon Valley Library.
















AACOG's CARE Program Provides Rides Home From Work In Emergency Situations



Taking the bus, carpooling, cycling, or walking to work is good for the air as well as your pocketbook. But what do you do when an emergency comes up and you need to get home in a hurry, but you're stuck at work without your car? To promote greener commuting by reducing that concern, the Alamo Area Council of Governments' Certified Auto Ride in an Emergency (CARE) Program offers those who've commuted by alternative means a reimbursement of up to $50 for a ride home from work when an emergency arises.
 
To receive a reimbursement up to four times per year, you must: 1) live and work within the eight-county greater San Antonio area ; 2) carpool /vanpool, take the bus, bike, or walk to work at least three times per week; and 3) keep your commuting information current on NuRide.com, the online system AACOG uses to gather commuting statistics.  While it's free for individuals to use, NuRide offers not only CARE Program reimbursements, but rewards from more than 100 businesses. 
 
For more information about the CARE Program, contact:
Lily Lowder
Natural Resources Outreach Specialist
(210) 227-7665
commutesolutions@aacog.com


Volunteers Needed


If you would like to be more involved in your great community, you can do so by volunteering to serve on one of the Boards/Commissions/Committees. Leon Valley has many ways you can serve. We have vacancies to fill in the following areas:
 
Zoning Commission: (1 Alternate Vacancy)
The Zoning Commission (ZC) acts as an advisory board to the City Council on land use and zoning matters.
 
Community Events Committee: (Numerous Vacancies)
The Community Events Committee (CEC) is committed to providing volunteer support and coordination for the various City-sponsored civic events including the 4th of July Celebration, the Grandparents' Day Concert, and the Holiday Lighting Program.
 
Tree Advisory Board : (1 Vacancy)
This seven member (7) Board with three (3) alternate members will meet to oversee the  Leon Valley Tree Challenge and work toward the City's goal to plant 10,000 trees by the  year 2020. Board members serve a term coterminous with the Mayor.

Economic and Community Development Advisory Committee: (2 Vacancies)
The Economic and Community Development Advisory Committee will vet economic and community development projects on an as needed basis; provide annual oversight of the expenditures allocated to the economic development applicable portion of the 1/8% sales & use tax which is now being directed to the General Fund.
 
Board of Adjustment: (1 Vacancy)
The Board of Adjustment (BOA) has the power to review and approve variances from zoning ordinance requirements and administrative decisions (Zoning Interpretations) that create unnecessary hardships in the development of property because of exceptional or extraordinary conditions. Unlike other boards or commissions, the BOA makes the final decision on items that come before it; variances are not passed on to City Council for final approval. Meetings are held on-call and are typically held on Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m. in the LV Fire Department Meeting Room.
 
Stormwater Management Program : (1 Vacancy)
Advisory committee for the Storm Water Management Program provides oversight          for the City's Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit (MS4). Meetings are held on-call at the Public Works Service Center off Evers Road.

Park Commission:        
The Park Commission (PC) is an advisory commission of Leon Valley citizens which makes recommendations to the City Council regarding park ordinances and policies, as well as serves as a liaison for the City with the public for park matters. Meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the LV Conference Center.
 
More information is available on the application which can be found on the City website.
You may also stop by City Hall and pick up an application. If you need assistance or have any questions, please call the City Secretary at 684-1391 ext. 216.


Little Free Libraries



Little Free Libraries are a global phenomenon. The small, typically front - yard book exchanges number 36,000 around the world in 70 countries - from Iceland to Tasmania to Pakistan. Now, two new Little Free Libraries, one at the Steurenthaler - Silo Park, 7500 block of Huebner Road, and one at the Old Mill Park, 6400 block of Huebner Road, will join the movement to share books, bring people together, and create communities of readers.
 
These Little Libraries, built by the Public Works Department and sponsored by the Friends of the Library, were the brainchild of resident Ms. Evon Kardos, who approached the Park Commission about installing them at our newest parks. The Park Commission got excited about the idea and offered their support, which was then further promoted by the Leon Valley City Council. Ms. Kardos has volunteered to be the first Steward of the Silo Park Library. Mr. David Smith of the Leon Valley Park Commission will steward the Old Mill Park Library. The steward's responsibility is to assure the library is fully stocked, to replace any worn or damaged books, and to report any vandalism to the boxes. The Leon Valley library will continue to provide the books from their outdated book collections.
 
"These Little Free Libraries don't just belong to the neighborhood in which they are located, they belong to the whole city," says Ms. Kardos. "It's our hope that these Little Free Libraries will bring a little more joy, a little more connection, and a whole lot more books to our community." One more Little Free Library is to be installed at the new Ridge at Leon Valley Park, located at the end of Grass Hill Drive, once the park has been developed. The Libraries are in the process of being registered with the national organization and will be added to the World Map (yes, there is a World Map of Little Free Libraries!). Once registered, the City will receive a charter and membership to the organization.
 
The Little Free Library nonprofit organization has been honored by the Library of Congress, the National Book Foundation, and the American Library Association, and Reader's Digest named them one of the "50 Surprising Things We Love about America."
 
Each year, nearly 10 million books are shared in Little Free Libraries. To learn more, please visit www.littlefreelibrary.org or better yet, stop by our sites and "check" them out!

  

Texas Ban on Texting While Driving


On September 1, 2017, a statewide ban on texting while driving will go into effect. Texas House Bill 62 will outlaw text messaging with handheld wireless devices. This includes reading, writing or sending text messages while driving a motor vehicle. The new law specifies "electronic messaging" includes email and instant messaging. The State law does not ban the entry of phone numbers, voice commands and hands-free texting. The fines for texting while driving are $25-$99 for the first offense, then $100 to $200 for subsequent offenses. Fines of up to $4000 may be assessed If someone causes a death or serious injury while texting and driving. For more information on House Bill 62, you can visit https://openstates.org/tx/bills/85/HB62/.

2-1-1 Texas


2-1-1 Texas, a program of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, is committed to helping Texas citizens connect with the services they need. Whether by phone or internet, their goal is to present accurate, well-organized and easy-to-find information from state and local health and human services programs. 2-1-1 Texas is a FREE, anonymous social service hotline available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
No matter where you live in Texas, you can dial 2-1-1, or (877) 541-7905, and find information about resources in your local community. Whether you need help finding food or housing, child care, crisis counseling or substance abuse treatment, one number is all you need to know.

Be Air Aware: Make a Commitment to Idle Less

Idling is leaving a vehicle's engine on while the vehicle isn't moving.  The Alamo Area Council of Governments is asking Greater San Antonio Area residents to reduce idling this summer when possible, because it wastes fuel and pollutes the air.
 
Facts about idling
  • Two minutes spent idling is equivalent to one mile of driving in terms of gasoline used.
  • Idling a vehicle for 10 seconds wastes more fuel than restarting it.
  • Excessive idling can damage cylinders, spark plugs, and exhaust systems.
  • Restarting a car has little impact on its battery or starter motor.
  • Burning just one gallon of gas produces twenty pounds of pollutants.
Reasons to reduce idling
  • Protect healthVehicle engines emit gasses that form ozone, a component of smog. Exposure to ozone can cause difficulty or painful breathing, and even permanent lung damage. Although everyone is susceptible to ozone pollution, children, people with respiratory conditions, and those who are active outdoors are at an increased risk.
  • Save money on gasoline - Owners of an average four-cylinder sedan would save 32 gallons of gas and $64 every year by reducing idling by eight minutes per day, while owners of an average eight-cylinder SUV or truck would save 64 gallons of gas and $128 a year.
How to reduce idling
  • Skip the drive-thru lane - Park and go inside instead! According to a study by QSR Magazine, drive-thru lunch orders take an average of 214 seconds, while drive-thru dinner orders typically take 226.
  • Turn off your car when waiting Whether you're waiting to pick up your child from school or sitting in the parking lot before work, turn off your vehicle. Just roll down your windows if it's hot, or switch to "accessory" mode if you want to listen to the radio.
  • Avoid peak traffic times The worst times for traffic congestion are between 8-9 a.m. and 5-6 p.m. You're more likely to idle in traffic during these times, wasting both gas and money. If possible, run errands at another time. If you regularly commute to work or school during these times, consider working with your employer to change your schedule.
For more information, visit www.aacog.com/air .
ON IT
The City of Leon Valley is bringing new life and enforcement to the ON IT  program. All City Departments are teaming together to bring more attention and compliance to your neighborhood issues and concerns. The intention of the   ON IT  program is to have a direct means of reporting your community concerns regarding streets, sidewalks, abandoned homes, loose or dead animal reports, permitting concerns, noise or other neighborhood nuisances and much more.

The goal is to ensure that City service requests and information is handled, as promptly as possible, with a high level of customer service. Report it and an  ON IT team member will respond as quickly as possible.

Contact Information

Phone Number:
(210) 684-OnIt
(210) 684-6648
Email Address:
Neighborhood Officer Assignments



ANCESTRY.COM IS AT YOUR LIBRARY!!!!

Are you interested in Genealogy but not interested in the annual fees associated with ancestry.com? Come to the library! Thanks to the Friends of the Leon Valley Public Library, we now have a Library Membership to Ancestry.com.This means.....while in the library, you can access this incredible database by going through our link. Being connected to our WiFi automatically authenticates you for full access. 
Come on in and we will help you navigate to our website or our catalog which both have links for you to access the databases through. OR....come in, pull up this post and simply click this link http://ancestrylibrary.proquest.com and BOOM! You are in!
AACOG Alamo Call-A-Ride 4 Vets Program


Did you know?
Did you know there are currently two donation stations located in Leon Valley, and they are at City Hall and the Library? By donating unwanted goods and recycling textile with ATRS, you're keeping our neighborhood clean, improving the quality of life for those in need and protecting the environment for future generations.
UPCOMING REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS 
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
6:00 p.m.

Located at City Hall
Tuesday, April 3, 2018
6:00 p.m.

Located at City Hall
Thank you for reading this edition of ENews. Please feel free to provide feedback to let us know what you are most interested in reading.


- ENews Team, City of Leon Valley