Until recently, Remote Virtual Inspections (RVI) have been conducted only by a few Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) at varying levels. The City of Robinson is conducting Remote Virtual Inspections in all trades (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Framing, Welding, etc), making us one of the first cities in Central Texas to have a dedicated RVI program.

Local, state and national governments have taken advantage of advancing technologies and have incorporated various levels of digitization into their processes in order to save time and reduce costs. Examples of such efforts include online offering of permit applications, payment of permit fees, submittal of plans and digital plan review.

The speed of adoption and implementation of technology, however, varies by geographic region and depends on a number of factors, including the availability of financial resources and the infrastructure needed to support the technology. Many Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) have implemented technology at various levels with good success and have embraced greater reliance on digitization as time goes by.

The 2020 global coronavirus pandemic created an impetus in speeding the implementation of modern technologies and taking advantage of new ideas in a much shorter timeframe. The spread of COVID-19 and the closing of most businesses and social activities in many parts of the world to create social distancing resulted in many sectors of the economy searching to find new solutions for conducting business.

Many AHJs needed to come up with solutions to perform all aspects of codes and standards administration from remote locations and/or home offices. One such solution using available technology is Remote Virtual Inspections (RVI).

RVI is a method of inspection that allows the needed inspections to proceed in a timely manner by the owner or contractor located on the jobsite and the inspector or inspection teams performing the inspection remotely. While this practice gained good acceptance and implementation during the weeks and months of COVID-19 social distancing, its advantages are so great that it will likely become a popular and routine tool for the foreseeable future.

A clear understanding of the RVI requirements and communication throughout the process by both parties is paramount to the completion of a successful inspection. The inspector will check all aspects of the permitted construction project to the adopted codes and other applicable laws and regulations no differently than if it were an onsite inspection.

Identification of the project jobsite location, posted address and its location within the building will be a critical part of the process.

The applicable Codes and Standards to be used for RVI are the same as the adopted codes and referenced standards of the AHJ. The implementation of the RVI is intended to achieve the same results as the typical in-person site inspection by applying the provisions of adopted codes such as the IBC®, IRC®, IPC®, IFC® and other applicable and adopted International Codes.

Source: International Code Council, Inc. (2020). Recommended Practices for Remote Virtual Inspections (RVI). (ICC Publications ISBN: 978-1-952468-23-0) http://media.iccsafe.org/2020_MarComm/Remote_Video_Insp_FINAL_w_Covers.pdf

Aqua Metric, the company that will be installing our new water meters, has informed us they plan on starting the installation process in early April. They will begin with the northern side of Robinson, around Meadowbrook and Brewster, and work their way around town. We will update our website and social pages as they release more of the schedule to us.

As a reminder, the new digital water meters will be installed to replace the City’s current meters. Also known as Advanced Metering Infrastructure, the digital water meters provide the City and you, the customer, with accurate near real-time data on your water usage along with alerts to notify us of potential issues like a leak. This technology will help you gain a deeper insight and understanding of how and when you use water, putting H2O in your hands.

Click here for more information.

In honor of Animal Care Appreciation Week, we wanted to give you a glimpse into just a fraction of what Karl and Chris, our Animal Care Officers, do. The purpose of an Animal Care Officer is to provide a safe and healthy environment within the city for both animals and people. They have a genuine concern for the safety and well-being of domesticated and non-domesticated animals in the city. They always tries their hardest to return stray animals to their homes and prevent them from heading to the shelter.

Animal Care Officers aren't just "dog catchers", either. They take care of any animal issue that may come up. This includes other wildlife issues that come up, offering solutions that keep both the animal and the resident happy and safe.

In honor of Public Safety Telecommunicator Appreciation Week, we wanted to spotlight some of the things our telecommunicators do. Our Telecommunicators handle all 911 calls, Police radio communications, administrative calls, and walk-in complainants or victims on an average day. These calls are not easy tasks and can quickly go from zero to ninety, depending on the call volume. The telecommunications team is also tasked with answering after-hours calls for water, sewer, and street issues, ensuring the correct staff responds. It takes a very special person to fill the role as a Telecommunicator, and we have some of the best.

We want to thank our telecommunicators for all the sacrifices they make to create a better and safer world for the public and our community.

Bulk/Brush Curbside is a weekly curbside collection service provided with your solid waste collection. More Info.

Bulk/Brush Day is the first Saturday of the month unless a holiday moves it to another Saturday. There is a roll-off bin to drop off household trash that is not hazardous. More Info.

Customers may use the At Your Door Special Hazardous Waste Collection for hazardous materials, which is offered monthly with your Waste Management services. Find more information and to set up an appointment click here or call 1-800-449-7587.

Spring is officially here, and lawns are starting to come back to life. Please remember that there is a City Ordinance that states grass should not be higher than 12 inches tall. This includes front and back yards and does not apply to properties that are:

The meeting agenda and packet can be found online here. Para la agenda en español, visite este sitio web, aqui.

Individuals have the option to participate in the meeting in person or virtually, either by telephone or video through GoToMeeting. The City has set up a section on our website to provide instructions on how to both view and submit a public comment for the meeting and navigate the virtual event. The access code and toll-free number will be provided in the agenda.

Public comment will only be allowed via telephone or video conference via GoToMeeting if choosing to attend remotely. All speakers must register to speak at least two hours in advance of the meeting. All public comments will occur at the beginning of the meeting under the public comment item. Speakers must join the meeting at least 15 minutes prior to it starting in order to speak. Written comments may also be submitted two hours in advance of the meeting. To register to speak or to submit written comments, please email the City Secretary, Misty Cryer.

Council meetings are now being live streamed to the city's YouTube account, the link to the streaming will also be shared on the city's Facebook page. All live streaming is for viewing purposes only, viewers wanting to participate virtually will have to do so via GoToMeeting. Meetings can be viewed live on YouTube, but meeting recordings will only be available on YouTube.

Did you know that the City of Robinson has an ordinance that requires all dogs and cats to be microchipped? Microchipping your furbaby can help us return them quicker if they ever go missing! Find low-cost microchipping options here.

Any person desiring to be a Solicitor within the City must request the issuance of an identification card, which can be made by submitting a permit application online through the MyGov System. The permit application can be found on our website and will require you to select whether you are applying for a commercial or non-commercial solicitor's permit.

More Information.

For more information on the jobs, and to apply, visit our website.

Come join us for an Easter Celebration! Coffee and donuts at 10 followed by a Contemporary Christian Worship. The Easter Egg Hunt will follow immediately after worship. Please bring your chairs, your friends, and Easter baskets for the kids!

Robinson ISD is hiring for all positions and will have a job fair on Saturday, April 15th. For more information and to register for this event here. The district will have alternative education information available at the job fair.

Robinson Area Lions Club is hosting their bi-annual appreciation of our Veterans in the community. Join us for pancake breakfast at Peplow Park from 8:00 am - 10:00 am. Afterwards, join the Robinson Area Lions Club in dedicating a tree and bench for the park in honor of Earth Day!

Communications: communications@robinsontexas.org

Utilities: utilities@robinsontexas.org

Dispatch: dispatch@robinsontexas.org

Permits/Inspections: permits@robinsontexas.org

Code Compliance: permits@robinsontexas.org

Municipal Court: court@robinsontexas.org