This year’s guest speak is retired Air Force Colonel Richard Graham.  Boy Scout Troop 298 will present the colors.  Observers will also enjoy patriotic performances by the Frisco Chorale and the Frisco Community Band, which will also hold a concert in the large pavilion following the ceremony.   Organizers are encouraging observers to bring their lawn chairs and blankets.

Additional parking is available at the intersection of McKinney and Sunset, in front of the Boys and Girls Club.  Parking is also available at the Youth Center Park, 7775 Camellia, and Staley Middle School, 6927 Stadium Lane; however, no shuttle service will be provided.

The event is sponsored by the Frisco Garden Club, the Frisco VFW Post 8273 and the City of Frisco.  Other event participants include Civil Air Patrol Cadets, the Frisco Noon Rotary Club and Frisco ISD.

This year marks the 15th year these organizations have sponsored the public observance to honor veterans who have served and died for our country.

For more information, contact Jane Whitledge, Frisco Garden Club representative, 972-839-5255.

In 2003, the Frisco City Council established its Strategic Focus Areas (SFA), which defines short and long term goals for the City of Frisco. Frisco’s SFA plan also defines objectives and measures for achieving those goals, as determined by the Frisco City Council.

Creating and maintaining a “Sustainable City” has been consistently listed among the Council’s seven Strategic Focus Areas.  To achieve ‘sustainability’, Frisco City Councils, past and present, list one of its goals as the following:

Maintain high standards and encourage the development of quality residential communities that provide a diversity of housing, lot sizes, open spaces and amenities (FY 2009-2010 Strategic Focus Areas, COF)

In June 2007, the Frisco City Council was approached by the Inclusive Communities Project, Inc. (ICP).

According to its website, ICP is “a not-for-profit organization that works for the creation and maintenance of thriving racially and economically inclusive communities, expansion of fair and affordable housing opportunities for low income families, and redress for policies and practices that perpetuate the harmful effects of discrimination and segregation.”

In October 2008, the Frisco City Council approved a resolution supporting a Local Political Subdivisions Grant Agreement between the City of Frisco and ICP.  As a result, ICP agreed to provide a $2 million grant to the City of Frisco to incentivize affordable housing developments in Frisco.  In return, the City of Frisco will provide the funding to developers eligible for low income housing tax credits awarded from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.

“If Frisco had not negotiated the agreement with ICP, then the likely outcome would have been a federal lawsuit filed against Frisco by ICP as it did against both McKinney and Flower Mound,” said George Purefoy, City Manager.  “After 14 months of litigation, the McKinney Housing Authority is negotiating a settlement agreement with ICP which establishes the same general parameters as the Frisco agreement, except it includes a longer term agreement (5 years vs. 3 years) and it pays some of ICP’s attorneys’ fees.”

No city tax dollars are utilized to develop affordable housing under the ICP agreement. Any project funded under this program will meet all of Frisco’s current ordinances and regulations.   The City of Frisco is in its second year of its three year agreement with ICP.   No applications from developers were received during the first year.

On February 10, 2010, the Frisco Housing Trust Fund Board agreed to support the applications from two developers, VDC Frisco Reserve I, LP and Stewart Creek, LLP.

- Stewart Creek LLP is proposing to build North Court Villas, a 150 unit, low income apartment complex on 10 acres on the south side of Stonebrook Parkway, between Woodstream Drive and Preston Road.

- VDC Frisco Reserve I, LP is proposing to build Residences at Frisco, a 200 unit, low income apartment complex near the intersection of Sunset Drive and McKinney Road.

Under the ICP agreement, developers must set aside 50 units or 25% of the units, whichever is greater, for Section 8 vouchers.  The two proposed developments would each have 50 units. Developers must be awarded Competitive HTC funds in order to receive the $2 million in ICP funds granted to the City of Frisco.

On February 16, 2010, the Frisco City Council approved requests from the developers Stewart Creek LLP and VDC Frisco Reserve I, LP for letters of support for their 2010 9% Housing Tax Credit Applications to be submitted to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. Link to item 25 on the Feb. 16 City Council Meeting agenda.

At the time of the February 16 city council meeting, there were 56 projects in Region 3 competing for $10 million dollars in available housing tax credits to support $86 million dollars in project needs.   After the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs’ deadline of March 1 to submit a complete 2010 Competitive HTC application the number of projects competing for the $10 million dollars allocated for Region 3 dropped to 28, with a total of $41 million in project needs.

On March 17, 2010 the City of Frisco received notification from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs that Stewart Creek, LLP filed a complete application for the Competitive HTC program for the North Court Villas complex. View the notification and application.
VDC Frisco Reserve I, LP has withdraw from the process for the proposed Residences at Frisco complex near the intersection of McKinney Road and Sunset Drive.

On April 14, 2010, a public hearing by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at the J. Erik Johnson Central Library in downtown Dallas. The hearing is one of six across the state to gather public comment about the developments competing for HTC funds in 2010. View the public hearing announcement.

Anyone wishing to submit written comments should do so by June 15. Mail comments to:
Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
Multifamily Finance Division
P.O. Box 13941
Austin, TX 78711
Fax: (512) 475-0764
Email: Raquel.morales@tdhca.state.tx.us

Learn more about how the City of Frisco’s Residential Green Building program is having a positive impact on the environment since Frisco became the first city in the U.S. to mandate “Energy Star” standards for new home construction back in 2001.

Residents can find out how they can make a difference this Saturday, April 24, by volunteering to participate in the City of Frisco’s annual ‘Clean It and Green It’.  Join your neighbors as hundreds of volunteers fan out across Frisco to pick up trash and litter. The citywide cleanup day starts at 8 a.m. in the IKEA parking lot.  Frisco held its first citywide cleanup in May 1989.

Also on Saturday, April 24, Frisco residents can “Chunk Your Junk” from 8 a.m. to noon at the IKEA parking lot, 7171 IKEA Drive.  Check out www.friscogreenliving or www.friscotexas.gov/recycle  for a complete list of acceptable items.

Did you know Frisco has a community garden?  Find out more about the Frisco Family Services Community Garden, which is in its second year and a partnership between FFSC and the City of Frisco.  Learn more about how you can ‘adopt a plot’ and start serving our Frisco neighbors in need.

You can also celebrate Earth Day by taking the Frisco Green Challenge. Check out www.friscogreenliving and find out how you can win a prize for living the ‘green life’.  This month’s challenge dares Frisco residents to go one week without getting a plastic bag while shopping.

Check out the five finalists in the Reusable Bag Artwork Contest.  The student winner will be announced later today.  Find out where you can pick up the new bag featuring student artwork and how the program benefits a scholarship program for Frisco high school seniors who want to study Environmental Science.

The City of Frisco’s ‘Green Living’ website is a collaborate city project involving the Frisco’s Economic Development Corporation and various city departments and divisions including Communications, Environmental Services, Development Services, Engineering Services, Parks and Recreation, Public Works and Water Education.

“Frisco has literally been ‘growing up green’ for decades,” said Mayor Maher Maso.  “Whether you consider our citywide clean up event dating back to 1989 or our Residential Green Building Program, which has the distinction of being the first in the country to mandate “Energy Star” standards, living green is always a priority as we work with city staff and citizens to create a sustainable city for future generations.”

GREEN LIVING CAN SAVE YOUR FAMILY $7,000 PER YEAR

New Book Offers 85 Ways to Save Money, Get Healthy and Protect Your Future

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Launching on April 1, Green, American Style: Becoming Earth-Friendly and Reaping the Benefits (978-0-8010-1334-8, $14.99, April 2010) by Anna M. Clark is the first book to address the hidden reasons why Americans aren’t going green – while offering common-sense advice to appeal to people of every political persuasion. 

Whether you call yourself conservative or liberal, a soccer mom or CEO, a teacher or a student, most can agree that our paychecks are pinched and we want to do right by our children. In Green, American Style, Clark offers 85 practical ways to draw the benefits of living a ‘green’ lifestyle. Many of these ideas cost no money and are behavioral changes that can help us save money, protect our families, bolstering our communities, and model leadership for our children. 

 “It’s about gaining more money, time, opportunity, health and well-being,” says Clark. She makes a special appeal to women, as they are responsible for 80% of the buying decisions in their households.“We need to preserve the health and future of our kids. People have no idea that what they don’t know can hurt them. The principles and ideas in my book can help parents protect their children from the toxins in our food, air and water.” But make no mistake, this is also about fun. “I’ve included chapters on green games, green home remodeling, green grocery shopping – even sustainable wines and eco-chic clothes. I want people to enjoy themselves while making a difference!” The author provides some free suggestions from her book life in a series of videos on her website. 

Green, American Style contains fresh content from personal interviews with green luminaries ranging from clean-energy billionaire T. Boone Pickens to healthy-living author and philanthropist Deirdre Imus. This book’s uniquely American perspective speaks into readers’ own paradigms, taking into account the largely conservative values of much of this country, its democratic and capitalistic history, its emphasis on family and its resistance to reining in. It is more than a list of ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle. It’s a movement that accounts for the diverse perspectives of business, faith, and lifestyle, recognizing the economic, physical, and spiritual benefits of sustainable living.

Anna M. Clark is president of EarthPeople and an author on topics of sustainability and leadership. Clark and her family live in Dallas in one of Texas’ first residences to earn a Platinum LEED-certified rating from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Baker Books has a vision for building up the body of Christ at every level with books that are relevant, intelligent and engaging. The focus of Baker Books is the church and discerning lay Christians who want to stimulate their thinking. For more information, please visit www.bakerbooks.com.

Trick-A-Trout has been postponed to next weekend, Saturday, February 20 at 8 a.m. at Frisco Commons Park, 8000 McKinney Road.  Due to the inclement weather, Texas Parks and Wildlife was unable to deliver the fish. For more information about next weekend’s free, family favorite event, go to www.friscofun.org  

The ‘Chunk Your Junk’ event scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, February 13, will continue as planned. Start ‘chunking’ your junk beginning at 8 a.m. until noon at the Environmental Collection Center, 6616 Walnut Street.

For a complete list of items that can be brought for safe disposal, recycling or donation, go to the Special Events page.

(January 13, 2010)
To All NTMWD Member Cities and Customers:
The NTMWD has confirmed that a winter algal bloom is occurring in Lavon Lake. Taste and odor changes in treated drinking water caused by blooms may be detected by your consumers who are more sensitive to these changes. The taste and odor is a palatability issue only. The palatability change that results from a naturally occurring algal bloom does not alter the quality of the water provided to the cities and the communities served by NTMWD. The water supply remains safe for use with no health risks created by these events.

If you should receive calls from consumers, you may link to or direct them to our Web site for more information on what algal blooms are and the steps NTMWD is taking to minimize the taste and odor issues caused by algal blooms.

In addition, the Web site information has been updated to include information regarding the ozone implementation plan for the Wylie Water Treatment Plants and how this treatment process, once on-line, should significantly reduce and/or eliminate the taste and odor issues caused by algal blooms.

Feel free to provide these links to your consumers or link them to your organization’s Web site:
Winter Algal Blooms (Specific) – A general fact sheet about Winter Algal Blooms.  www.ntmwd.com/downloads/tasteandodor/winterbloom.pdf

Taste and Odor (General) – Includes a general fact sheet about taste and odor, a summer bloom information page, and a winter bloom information page.
www.ntmwd.com/taste_odor.html

Ozonation – Includes brief information about ozonation benefits and the NTMWD ozonation implementation plan at the Wylie Water Treatment Plants.
www.ntmwd.com/ozonation.html

Should you have any questions regarding this information, please feel free to e-mail NTMWD Public Relations Coordinator Denise Hickey at dhickey@ntmwd.com Thank you.

Join Mayor Maher Maso for casual conversation and a cup of coffee.  Bring your questions and concerns and learn more about how our community works.

Mayor Maso launched “Coffee with the Mayor” in 2008 as one of his communication initiatives.  Generally, meetings are held the second Monday of each month from 8 – 9 a.m.  Occasionally, meetings are held off site.  Check out http://www.friscotexas.gov/government/Pages/CoffeewiththeMayor.aspx for dates and times.

(October 15, 2009) Don’t know what’s happening in Frisco city government?  Now that’s scary!  Join us for a Town Hall meeting on Monday, October 19.

The meeting will be held in the City Hall council chambers of the George A. Purefoy Municipal Center, 6101 Frisco Square Boulevard.  The meeting begins at 7 p.m. and wraps up at 9 p.m.

The theme of the fall Town Hall meeting is ‘Trick or Tweet’, which invites residents to follow the City of Frisco on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CityOfFriscoTX  Residents who attend the Town Hall meeting will receive a free ‘gadget’ for your vehicle, which holds a cellular / electronic device and comes with a pen, too. Monday night, the gadgets will be filled with a couple sweets.

Learn more about county government, as well. Town Hall guest speakers include Denton County Commissioner Hugh Coleman and Collin County Commissioner Matt Shaheen.

Learn more about the Dr Pepper Arena and its new entertainment offerings since the facility was expanded. Randy Locey, VP of Business Operations, Dallas Stars, will be here to share more about the venue. Find out about another new facility scoring points with sports enthusiasts.  Learn more about Fieldhouse USA from Gary Oliver, Principal and Director of Operations.

Everyone is ‘grossed out’ about another new venue in Frisco.  Erica Yeager will be here to tell residents more about Sci Tech Discovery Center and its inaugural exhibit in Frisco, “Grossology:  The Impolite Science of the Human Body”.  Plus, get a progress report on the Arts of Collin County from Mike Simpson, Executive Director.

Frisco Police will brief the audience about the success of National Night Out, despite the weather.  Police will also share information about the new communications tower and give a progress report on drug prevention and education programs. Plus, Frisco schools just got S.A.F.E.R. – literally. Learn more about Situational Awareness For Emergency Response.  If you arrive early, beginning at 6:30 p.m., take a tour of the Frisco Fire Department’s new mobile command center, which will be parked at City Hall.

Check out how Environmental Services developed a program turning gray skies into something green – and Engineering Services will update residents on roadway construction and improvement projects.

Find out why it’s so important to be counted in 2010. Information about the 2010 Census will be presented.

Finally, learn when to mark your calendar for upcoming City of Frisco holiday events. Town Hall meetings last two hours and are held three times each year.

During last night’s ‘special called meeting’, the Frisco City Council voted to adopt a $76 million General Fund budget for FY10.  The new budget allows the City of Frisco to fill 17 jobs, including public safety, parks and streets positions previously ‘frozen’.  Restoring these positions also requires Frisco to ‘dip into its savings’ and use approximately $880,000 of its reserve fund balance. 

The $0.465 tax rate is just shy of the $0.4655 effective tax rate and a 1.5 cent increase over the $0.45 tax rate for FY09. Prior to the May 2006 Bond Election, staff projected the total tax rate would increase to $0.4818 for FY10 had Frisco sold all the bonds, as scheduled.   

“Our budget is still very lean and takes into account our economic realities here at home,” said Mayor Maher Maso.  “I’m very proud of our staff members and their efforts to reduce their budgets without significantly reducing the quality of service we provide our residents. This budget allows us to continue delivering excellent service supported by one of the lowest tax rates in North Texas.” 

For a second year in a row, cost cutting measures included reducing department budgets and holding positions vacant.    

The city’s property tax value is certified at $13,958,027,112, which represents a 2.6% increase from the previous year.  This increase includes $366 million in new construction combined with a $270 million decrease in value of existing properties.

Sales tax receipts are estimated to be $19.44 million in FY10, which is slightly more than the $19.35 million the city anticipates collecting for FY09. City staff forecasts building permit revenue to ‘remain the same’ at approximately $3 million for the next fiscal year.

Frisco will begin or continue construction on a variety of capital projects infrastructure programs including a public safety communication system and a parking garage behind the George A. Purefoy Municipal Center, which houses City Hall and the Frisco Public Library. Roadway improvements will continue on Coit Road, Eldorado Parkway, Independence Parkway and Stonebrook Parkway.  City crews will also continue installing traffic signals and street lights on major thoroughfares. An expansion of Bicentennial Park will be funded along with various neighborhood parks and hike and bike trails.  Staff will continue to develop ‘Grand Park’, a future park spanning approximately 350 acres in the heart of Frisco that will ultimately include residential and retail space.

During last night’s ‘special called meeting’, the Frisco City Council voted to adopt a $76 million General Fund budget for FY10.  The new budget allows the City of Frisco to fill 17 jobs, including public safety, parks and streets positions previously ‘frozen’.  Restoring these positions also requires Frisco to ‘dip into its savings’ and use approximately $880,000 of its reserve fund balance.

The $0.465 tax rate is just shy of the $0.4655 effective tax rate and a 1.5 cent increase over the $0.45 tax rate for FY09. Prior to the May 2006 Bond Election, staff projected the total tax rate would increase to $0.4818 for FY10 had Frisco sold all the bonds, as scheduled.  

“Our budget is still very lean and takes into account our economic realities here at home,” said Mayor Maher Maso.  “I’m very proud of our staff members and their efforts to reduce their budgets without significantly reducing the quality of service we provide our residents. This budget allows us to continue delivering excellent service supported by one of the lowest tax rates in North Texas.”

For a second year in a row, cost cutting measures included reducing department budgets and holding positions vacant.   

The city’s property tax value is certified at $13,958,027,112, which represents a 2.6% increase from the previous year.  This increase includes $366 million in new construction combined with a $270 million decrease in value of existing properties.

Sales tax receipts are estimated to be $19.44 million in FY10, which is slightly more than the $19.35 million the city anticipates collecting for FY09. City staff forecasts building permit revenue to ‘remain the same’ at approximately $3 million for the next fiscal year.

Frisco will begin or continue construction on a variety of capital projects infrastructure programs including a public safety communication system and a parking garage behind the George A. Purefoy Municipal Center, which houses City Hall and the Frisco Public Library. Roadway improvements will continue on Coit Road, Eldorado Parkway, Independence Parkway and Stonebrook Parkway.  City crews will also continue installing traffic signals and street lights on major thoroughfares. An expansion of Bicentennial Park will be funded along with various neighborhood parks and hike and bike trails.  Staff will continue to develop ‘Grand Park’, a future park spanning approximately 350 acres in the heart of Frisco that will ultimately include residential and retail space.