Number 210, February 2021
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 February 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electronic version contains all of the content that would have appeared in a printed copy without the chance of being out-of-date.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.
University Park remains a very safe community
University Park remains a very safe place to live and work. Again last year, the City’s most reported crime was Burglary of Motor Vehicles. Totaling 101 incidents, most items that were taken were left in plain sight. Wallets, purses, computer laptops and jewelry were common targets. The Police Department continues to urge residents to lock their vehicles and place valuables in the trunk. It’s also a good idea to keep all household doors locked, even when home.
Vehicle theft cases drop

Reported vehicle thefts declined from 50 in 2019 to 35 last year. Again, owners often made things a bit easier for thieves. In 17 of the cases, victims told officers they left a key fob or ignition key in the vehicle.

Calls for service
In 2020 UPPD answered 18,976 calls for service. That's nearly 3,000 less calls for service than the department recorded in 2019. Stay-at-home guidelines to contain COVID-19 are the most likely explanation for the reduction.
 
Other 2020 crime statistics

Robberies - 1 (2019 - 3)
Business Burglaries - 10 (2019 - 7)
Residential Burglaries - 28 (2019 – 18)
Bike Thefts – 25 (2019 -18)
 
Promotions

Along with the recent retirement of Chief Greg Spradlin and the promotion of Bill Mathes to Chief, UPPD has changed assignments for several other long-time department members.
 
  • Officer Gloria Banderet is now a Sergeant in Patrol
  • Sergeant Victor Williams is now a Lieutenant supervising Patrol and Parking Enforcement functions
  • Lieutenant Travis Vavra is now an Assistant Chief with responsibilities for the Operations Division
  • Lieutenant John Ball is now an Assistant Chief with responsibilities for the Support Services Division
         
Traffic and School Resource Officer Unit
Several years ago the department established a special unit to focus on traffic enforcement and accident investigations. After recent expansion in scope and duties, managed by a Sergeant, the unit now totals eight sworn personnel. Three are traffic enforcement officers. HPISD campus duties involve two officers who continue to handle school resource officer duties at McCulloch Intermediate School and Highland Park High School, and two new officers who are assigned to support Hyer Elementary and University Park Elementary, especially during student arrival and dismissal.  

UPPD Community Camera program

UPPD appreciates all those who continue to quickly report suspicious activity. Residents and businesses can also bolster the department’s crime fighting efforts by taking a few minutes to register their security camera systems. Because they are caught in the act of committing the crime, video surveillance is one of the best methods to catch suspects and convict them. If your residence or business has a security camera system that meets the two requirements listed, you can help UPPD investigate and solve crimes by registering your camera system.

  • Camera system records and retains video
  • Exterior facing security camera system

After registering your camera, you will only be contacted by UPPD if there is a criminal incident in the vicinity of your security camera and police personnel believe viewing your video footage will assist in the investigation. At no time will UPPD have remote access to your cameras. 

Here's more information about registering your camera system.
Centennial Master Plan: Virtual Town Hall Recap and Next Steps
Efforts to update the City’s Master Plan are starting to take shape. After initial data-gathering involving a Community Survey last summer, a Virtual Town Hall was conducted just before the holidays. Participants were guided through the online experience with an informational video, slideshow, and interactive exercises. In less than two weeks, more than 1,000 residents participated! That’s far better than traditional Town Halls that are lucky to draw interest from 75 to 100 people.
 
Through an interactive mapping exercise we asked residents to share what they love about the community and what drives them crazy. We also asked for ideas on how to make our neighborhoods even better. With topics ranging from connectivity and traffic flow, to how to refresh commercial areas like Snider Plaza and Miracle Mile, we received nearly 200 comments. On average, participants spent about 15 minutes on the site, indicated their desire to furnish our resident steering committee with ample feedback and thought-provoking ideas.
 
The next phase of the project involves taking all of this information to focus groups for further study. Identified study areas are:
 
  • Big Bets: Looking to the Future
  • City Character and Aesthetics
  • Financial Sustainability
  • General Quality of Life
  • Parks, Trails, and Green Space
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works and Infrastructure
  • SMU/HPISD Relationship
  • Utilities and Community Connectivity
  • Zoning, Development and Lane Use
 
In the coming weeks, as the focus groups get to work, we’ll continue to report on our progress. The Centennial Master Plan remains on pace to be adopted by year-end. Between now and then we will be asking for more feedback and direction.
Severe Weather preparedness
In Texas, tornadoes occur most often in the spring and summer. Storms that spawn tornadoes are more likely to strike in the late afternoon and early evening hours.

Watches: The National Weather Service issues Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Watches when severe weather conditions are favorable in or near a watch area.

Warnings: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning means that potentially damaging thunderstorms have been detected by radar or are already occurring. A Tornado Warning means that a tornado is on the ground or that there is cloud rotation. 
When a Tornado Warning is issued:

  • Residents should go to an interior room on the lowest floor of the home, such as a bathroom, closet or room without windows.
  • Office occupants should go to an interior room or hallway on the lowest floor of the building.
  • Never stay inside a car. If a building is nearby, take shelter inside. If shelter is not immediately available, leave the car and lie flat in a ditch or ravine. Never try to outrun a tornado in your car.

City’s Outdoor Warning Siren system

Six pole-mounted sirens are located throughout University Park to alert those who are outside about approaching severe weather or other situations requiring immediate action. Each of the sirens produces an alert tone that maintains its decibel level in all directions. Used in combination, the sirens overlap all neighborhoods to penetrate the entire City.

University Park's outdoor warning sirens can be activated for one or more of the following conditions, or as deemed necessary by authorized individuals:

  • National Weather Service issues a Tornado Warning or Severe Thunderstorm Warning with the phrase “Destructive winds in excess of 70 mph or higher are likely with this storm” for the University Park area.
  • Trained storm spotters have reported a tornado in University Park, or a neighboring city that has the potential to affect University Park.
  • Reported hail of 1.25” in diameter or greater (1” may cause an activation for areas or events where large numbers of people are outside).
  • Other emergencies as directed by the community’s elected officials.

When outdoor warning siren activations occur, residents outside should seek shelter immediately. Once inside, residents should monitor changing conditions by checking area TV, radio or internet. Residents may also want to consider purchasing a NOAA All Hazards Radio. This special purpose radio can be preset to activate on a county-by-county basis and is an excellent method of receiving audible alerts, especially during the overnight hours.

Because it’s impossible to know about potentially dangerous weather conditions around-the-clock, residents may want to sign up for Code Red Weather Warnings.

Code Red Weather Warnings are sent when the National Weather Service issues a severe thunderstorm, tornado or flash flood warning. The geographically-based Code Red System determines if your address is in the direct path of the storm and immediately calls with the weather information. Participants will not receive calls when severe storms are outside the path of their chosen address.  

How do residents sign up to receive Code Red Weather Warnings?

Residents can sign up, free of charge, by going to the Resident Hub section of the City’s website at uptexas.org. During the application process residents will be asked to type in needed information, including the phone number that will receive the weather warnings and the types of alerts they want to be notified about. 
City offers year-round e-waste disposal
University Park residents can dispose of unwanted electronics free of charge at the City’s waste transfer station. The City partners with Global Asset to dispose of the items listed below in a safe and environmentally sustainable fashion. The process also ensures that all personal data contained on the disposed items is destroyed.

Disposal site location  

Residents can visit the City’s waste transfer station at 2525 University Blvd. (just east of North Central Expressway) from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. All items must be placed inside the large marked container located inside the gated facility. Before placing the items in the container, residents will be asked to verify their University Park address by showing a valid driver license, other government ID or current utility bill. 
 
Accepted e-waste materials

  • TVs, computers, laptops, monitors, printers
  • Home & cell phones
  • VCRs & DVD players
  • Fax machines & corded consumer electronics

Security of disposed e-waste materials

Global Asset processes e-waste materials in accordance with the strictest privacy laws and regulations, including the Federal Privacy Act, HIPAA, and state legislation. The company also meets the Department of Defense and National Security Agency requirements for purging information from computer hard drives. Global Asset is the same company that assists the City during the spring and fall recycling events.
Headlines from the Friends of the UP Public Library
Great news! Second Chapter Bookstore, staffed by Friends volunteers, will remain open through the end of this month.

Efforts like that are one of the many reasons to become a member of the Friends. To find out more about how to join or renew your membership, click on the button below.
Sanitation staffing back to normal levels
Sanitation crew staffing is back to normal. That means yard waste collection is returning to alley collection instead of curbside placement.

Here's more information on residential collection, including yard waste and bulk item pickup.