City Council Meeting
April 7, 2015
City Manager Report
Code Enforcement Update
• Expect a severe increase in high weed notices
going out in the coming weeks
– Section 54-203 of City Ordinances
– Ordinance also covers the Parkways adjacent to
properties
• Junk Vehicle notices have steadily been going out,
as well as tagging vehicle on the right of way
• No court cases currently pending – Working with
Attorney on Court Complaint format.
• Illegal dumping on the rise again.
Junk Vehicle Examples
High Weed Examples
Building Permit Update
• Building permit history visual on next slide
• Updated website with permits requests on
regular basis
• Plumbing & electrical permits have been
steady (service calls)
• Five (5) new homes currently under
construction
Permit History
Alpine Police Department Update
• March 2015 Activities
Update
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22 Arrests
23 Accident Reports
64 ‘911’ Calls
468 Calls for Service
24 Municipal Court
Citations
– 62 Disturbances
• Continued focus on
School Zone speeding
control
• Street closure requests
are on the rise –
Fundraisers, Running
Events, etc…
• Awareness messaging
sent out for Animal
Control
Tourism, Marketing Update 1
• February Texas Highways editorial coverage with an advertising
value of more than $26,000. Also provided photography and
information to Ride Texas, Outside and Texas Monthly magazines
and San Angelo Standard-Times’ Discover West Texas.
• Sharing contest photos and event information regularly on
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. Since October,
Facebook followers increased 14% to 13,666. One recent photo by
Alpine photographer Cathy McNair reached 31,248 people, our
most successful post to date.
• November 20, First-ever Alpine Event Summit — meeting with
organizers of all HOT-funded events, discussing City/Event
partnership opportunities, social media strategies and promotional
best practices.
• Developed 2015 Events rack card in partnership with Hampton Inn
and Holiday Inn Express (fully funded by the hotels – no cost to the
City of Alpine).
Tourism, Marketing Update 2
• Shooting Alpine Photo Contest — 2014 contest
had its highest participation to date, with 441
photos from 129 photographers.
• Sul Ross Vehicle Wraps — 3 additional vehicles
promoting Alpine Tourism and SRSU
• Partnering with Alpine Chamber of Commerce for
lobbying campaign regarding additional TXDoT
directional signage to Big Bend National Park and
Big Bend Ranch State Park via Alpine at locations
on I-10, I-20, US18 and US90.
Tourism, Marketing Update 3
• Working with JackRabbit Systems to provide an online
reservation portal specific to the City of Alpine (and to be
promoted via www.visitalpinetx.com). This system will
interface with the online reservation systems of Alpine
hotels/motels/VRBOs and will provide availability and rates
to the consumer in one location. Also, if a hotel doesn’t
have an online reservation system, then JackRabbit will
install one for them at no charge.
• Developed “Top 10 Things To Do in Alpine” list for
texasmonthly.com with text by well-known writer Joe Nick
Patoski. Promoted in web & print ads with Texas Monthly
(including May issue with Big Bend cover story), as well as
social media. Reached well over 20,000 people on
Facebook alone
Tourism, Marketing Update 4
• March 28-30 advertising photography shoot with J. Griffis Smith, recently
retired Photo Editor for Texas Highways magazine.
• Planned Summer Events campaign featuring May-September events menu
and promoting cool summer temperatures (compared to other Texas
cities).
• Summer Events menu attached.
• Hotel receipts continue to increase -- In 2013, Alpine brought in more than
$6 million in taxable receipts for the first time. That number increased by
almost $1 million in 2014 (to $7.1 million). The third quarter (July, August
and September) led all periods in 2014 with approx. $1.9 million in taxable
receipts.
• Collecting visitor surveys via hotels/motels and the Chamber of Commerce
-- These surveys give us more information about why visitors are in town,
what they do while they are here, as well as if/how they researched the
city, and whether Alpine met their expectations.
Summer Events Schedule
Keep Alpine Beautiful
• Many Activities During the Spring
– Electronics Recycling event (just completed)
– Texas Trash Off (this weekend)
– Work with the University on Tire Abatement (this
week)
– Bulky Trash Pick-Up (leave items out this week,
TDS picks up next week)
– Earth Day (April 22, 2015)
Electronics Recycling Event
Texas Trash Off
Volunteer Girl Scouts
Bulky Trash Guidelines
•
•
During the week of April 6th through 12th, place all items on curb to be picked up
beginning April 13th. Bulky items, metal, & yard waste (limit of 5) will all be picked
up during the same week. Do not put anything on the street or sidewalk, in an
alley, or next to the dumpster. Keep items separated in piles of bulky waste, metal,
or yard waste. Starting April 13th, Texas Disposal Systems Crews will pick up all
bulky trash & continue through the week. Do not place additional items next to
the curb after 7:00 am April 13th.
Acceptable Items include (limit of 5):
– Furniture
– Mattresses
– Appliances ---Refrigerators, freezers, & air conditioners will only be picked up if the Freon has
been removed by a licensed technician whose sticker is attached.
– Water heaters
– Scrap metal not to exceed 3’x8’
– Yard waste ---Put leaves, grass clippings, & other small trimmings in paper yard waste bags.
Cut brush & tree limbs into pieces no longer than 4 feet, & bundle them with string or twine
(no wire).
•
EXCLUDES CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS, TIRES, AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS!!
City-County Joint Projects
• County moving forward with EMC position as
County only
– City reviewing costs associated with additional paving
needs and Extra OT required for recent run of
activities
– Chief Scown and Captain Losoya continue to work
diligently on management of any key
emergencies/needs
• Met with County Roads Director (Causey) on
opportunities to work together
– Airport
– Road Base Production
Best City in all of Texas