Number 205, September 2020

City of University Park, Texas, 3800 University Blvd.

To our readers:  Given the fluid nature of the COVID-19 response and the need for timely and accurate information, the City will not be offering a printed edition of the September Arbor. This electronic version contains all of the content that would have appeared in a printed copy without the chance of being out-of-date. Click here for the latest COVID-19 information and updates.

Council to consider proposed 2021 Budget

Following a public hearing on Tuesday, September 1, the City Council will conduct another public hearing on September 15 so that the public may continue to comment on the City’s FY2021 proposed budget and tax rate. The Council will vote to adopt the FY2021 budget and tax rate during its Tuesday, September 15 meeting. Both public hearings are part of Council sessions that will take place at City Hall. Both Council sessions will begin at 5 p.m.  To encourage social distancing, the live stream of the budget and tax rate hearings may be viewed on the City’s website. If you want to comment before or during the hearings, you can do so electronically by using our website’s eComment feature at uptexas.org. Or, you can contact Christine Green, City Secretary, at cgreen@uptexas.org or 214-987-5302. Emailed comments must be received by 1 p.m. on the meeting dates listed. All comments submitted before the 1 p.m. deadline will be noted in meeting records for that specific date. A few details about the FY2021 proposed budget Like so many communities, the City of University Park faces unprecedented challenges in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Public health and security are at the forefront of our collective concerns, with cities playing a vital role in responding to the public health crisis. The virus has also created financial uncertainty across all sectors of the economy, municipalities included. Municipal budgets depend on a variety of revenue sources, yet the majority (over 80 percent) of revenues are derived from property taxes, sales taxes, franchise fees and other fines and fees. The virus has placed downward pressure on all of these revenue sources. When coupled with recent legislative changes, the revenue generating capacity of the City of University Park is limited.    The proposed FY2021 budget totals $55,229,327 across all budgeted funds, with total budgeted expenditures remaining largely unchanged from the previous year. While the proposed budget maintains expenditure levels of the prior year, the continuing loss of non-property tax revenue and declining property valuations require a slight tax rate increase to balance the General Fund budget. The City’s non-property tax revenues within the General Fund are declining for a second consecutive year. Within the past two fiscal years, the City has experienced an overall decrease in non-property tax revenues of approximately $1 million. During the prior fiscal year, revenues decreased nearly $500,000 due to legislative changes for red light cameras and franchise fees. Due to declining franchise fee collections and declining interest rates, decreases proposed within this fiscal year total in excess of $450,000. The Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD) provides the City with both market and taxable property valuations each year. In addition to significant delays in processing due to COVID-19, DCAD received a record number of property protests in 2020. With DCAD’s certified taxable values indicating a modest increase of 0.9 percent, the rates necessary to generate revenues equivalent to the prior year have slightly increased. Based on proposed expenditures and the taxable value of all property in University Park, the FY2021 budget recommends an increase of the tax rate to $0.264750 cents per $100 of taxable value, which is one of the lowest municipal property tax rates in the state. The average single-family homeowner with a homestead exemption will pay approximately $12 more per month in City property taxes.  For much more on the FY2021 proposed budget, click here.

Reminder on active school zones

HPISD students return to campus on Tuesday, September 8. With school back in session, the streets around the City’s various campuses will be more congested. UPPD reminds motorists that active school zones are designated by flashing yellow lights. School zone times in University Park - all campuses 7:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. 20 MPH is the speed limit in all active school zones Parents, please make sure that your children use the sidewalks when walking or riding their bikes to school. Children should follow the directions of the crossing guard, who will make sure they cross safely. Early in the school year, UPPD will have extra officers watching queuing lanes at the elementary and intermediate/middle school campuses.

School crossing guard locations for the 2020-21 school year

Beginning this school year, HPISD has five elementary campuses. In preparation for the opening of Boone Elementary, HPISD adjusted its attendance boundaries. Following those adjustments, the City and Town worked with the District on the overall location of school crossing guards. See the map below to view where the crossing guards will be stationed this school year.

Meet our School Resource Officers

UPPD is introducing a new division this school year, with assigned officers for the two HPISD elementary school campuses in University Park. Beginning on Tuesday, September 8, School Resource Officers (SROs) will patrol Hyer Elementary and UP Elementary in the mornings from 7:30 to 9:30, and in the afternoons from 1:30 to 3:30. These same officers will also be assigned on any calls that take place on either campus. During the remainder of their shifts and during times HPISD is not in session, they will help with patrol duties throughout the city. Let’s meet your new SROs!

Officer José Bell (pictured right) – UP Elementary Officer Bell has been a police officer with UPPD for more than a year. He began his police career in 2008 with the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Police Department, where he worked for 10 years. He then went on to work for the University of Texas at Dallas Police Department for nearly two years before he joined UPPD.  Officer Bell’s favorite thing about being a police officer is the opportunity to make a legitimate impact on the community he serves, whether it is something major or simply making a resident smile. When asked what he is most looking forward to as the SRO for UP Elementary, Officer Bell said, “I am excited about being a positive influence, and I am looking forward to daily interactions with the kids.” He hopes to foster a genuine relationship that will carry on and grow with them so they can see past the badge and uniform, and simply see him as José. A message that Officer Bell would like to share with the students is that he would like to grow and learn from them as much as they can grow and learn from him. He also mentioned, “UP Pride, Side by Side!” Officer Joel Holley (pictured left) – Hyer Elementary  Officer Holley has worked in law enforcement for three decades, and he has been with UPPD for the past 16 years. Through the years he has been assigned to different department divisions, including warrants, the Criminal Investigation Department and patrol. Officer Holley became a police officer because he felt that it was his true calling, and he believes that it is an honorable profession. His favorite part about working for the police department is the opportunity to help others, whether it involves helping someone get out of a bind or settling disputes and solving problems. As the SRO for Hyer Elementary, Officer Holley is looking forward to positive interaction with the public and he is excited about bonding with the students. Officer Holley is a great-uncle and spending time with his little nephew builds his days up in an optimistic way. He is hoping for a similar experience with the students at Hyer.  A message that Officer Holley would like to share with the students is to look out for one another and to stand up for each other. He cannot wait to meet the Hyer Huskies!

City welcomes new Director of Parks and Recreation

Following an extensive recruitment effort and interviews with a short list of qualified candidates, the City has selected Sean Johnson as its new Director of Parks and Recreation.   Since 2010, Johnson has managed recreational and cultural activities for the City of Lancaster, Texas. As the City’s Managing Director of Quality of Life and Cultural Services, Johnson has been responsible for the operational management of more than 1,000 acres of park and recreation space, a 60,000 square-foot recreation center with an indoor family aquatic facility, a 200 acre nature park and Country View Golf Course. As suggested by his title, his duties also included oversight of the City’s Veterans Memorial Library, a full-service Senior Life Center, a Visitor Center and State Auxiliary Museum and the City’s tourism efforts. Guiding a team of more than 75 full-time, contract and seasonal staff, due to such a wide variety of ongoing responsibilities, Johnson also has substantial experience in festival and event planning, recreational program coordination, strategic planning, and the management of public/private partnerships.   Prior to his employment with Lancaster, Johnson was a district manager for the City of Dallas Parks and Recreation Department. In that role he was responsible for the management of 65 parks, eight community recreation centers and four aquatic facilities. Those duties required his oversight of more than 100 full-time recreation, park maintenance and golf course staff.        Johnson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation and Leisure Services Administration from Texas Tech University. A member of the National Recreation and Park Association, the Texas Recreation and Parks Society, and the National Forum for Black Public Administrators, his civic involvement includes serving on the Dallas Park and Recreation Board and the Greater Dallas Planning Commission.   Johnson was recently nominated as a Fellow into the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA). The Academy is a group of distinguished practitioners and educators who are leaders in the field of parks and recreation. They must have demonstrated outstanding ability in administration, management or education in the profession; displayed broad interest with a direct service benefit to the advancement of parks and recreation. The Academy is limited to 125 active members. His nomination was approved by the AAPRA Board of Directors and he will be formally inducted into the Academy in October 2020. For more information on the Academy click here.   Johnson and his wife reside in Dallas and have twin sons who attend school at the US Naval Academy.   With more than 60 acres of beautifully maintained park space including various ponds and fountains, the Holmes Aquatic Center, and a slate of recreational programming opportunities and year-round seasonal events, University Park’s Park and Recreation Department is highly regarded. With that reputation in mind, City Manager Robbie Corder notes, “Sean has the right blend of experience, leadership and creative energy to move the department to even greater heights.”   Johnson replaces Gerry Bradley who retired earlier this summer after serving for more than 15 years as the City’s Director of Parks & Recreation. Johnson’s first day on the job in University Park will be September 1.

Political yard sign reminders

Campaign 2020 is in its final days, which means you will be seeing more political signs on residential lots throughout the City. If you choose to place a political sign on your property to support your favorite candidate, here are a few things to keep in mind: You do not need a permit to place a political sign on your property, but please remember that the signs cannot be placed on parkways (the area between the curb and your property line) or public property. Please do not put a political sign in a place that will obstruct or interfere with the line of sight at street intersections and street/alley intersections. The sight line standards at street intersections is 35 feet and at street/alley intersections is 15 feet. Political signs cannot be illuminated or have any moving parts. Signs can be displayed 90 days before the date of the election. After Election Day, they must be removed within 10 days.

National Library Card Month

Join Wonder Woman in championing the power of a library card! September is national Library Card sign-up month. If you don’t already have one, the staff at UP Public Library suggests this is the perfect time to unleash the power of discovery and learning through the use of your library card. Library cards are free to all residents who live within the Highland Park ISD boundaries.  Your library card makes it easy to check out books, DVDs, and downloadable ebooks and audiobooks. To get a card for you and your family members, drop by the library during business hours, or go online. Throughout September, all children who sign-up will receive a small thank you gift. All adults who sign-up will have the opportunity to play library card bingo for a chance to be included in weekly prize drawings.

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