City of La Porte Newsletter

C I T Y OF LA PORTE N E W S L E T T E R

APRIL | MAY | JUNE 2021

In this issue: SUMMER

ELECTION DAY

RECREATION PROGRAMS

MAY 1

- Page 6 - Page 4 -

SYLVAN BEACH FESTIVAL APRIL 24 - Page 2 -

LAPORTETX.GOV

The 65th Annual Sylvan Beach Festival, sponsored by the La Porte-Bayshore Chamber of Commerce, is scheduled for Saturday, April 24, with gates opening at 9:00AM on Saturday morning at Sylvan Beach Park on Galveston Bay. The festival kicks off with a parade beginning at 10:00AM at the corner of Broadway and Fairmont Pkwy. Activities at the park begin immediately following the parade with many exciting things to enjoy throughout the day including live entertainment, food, arts & crafts booths, a carnival, cook-off, pageant, and much more.

The Sylvan Beach Triathlon is coming back to La Porte on Sunday, May 16! Triathletes are in for a real treat at Sylvan Beach. The race begins with a running start off the sandy beach for an early morning swim, followed by a bike ride and a run around the La Porte community. The finish line is right on the beach, so you can run straight into the bay to cool down and start your post-race celebration off right!

For more information and to register, visit www.bayoucitytriseries.com/sylvan

STAY INFORMED Follow us on Facebook!

City of La Porte: Life By The Bay Visit LAPORTETX.GOV

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Join us on Saturday, April 17, for the Arbor Day Free Tree and Seed Ball Giveaway from 10:00AM-2:00PM behind the La Porte Recreation & Fitness Center located at 1322 S Broadway. Every year, the La Porte Parks & Recreation Department partners with Trees for Houston to provide tree seedlings to La Porte residents. Texas wildflower seed balls are also available for residents who are looking to contribute to the environment in a smaller way. Trees and seed balls will be available while supplies last.

Saturday, May 15, 2021 | 9:00 AM - 1:00 pm PUBLIC WORKS center| 2963 N 23rd St. for A LIST OF WHAT WE will accept & What to leave at home, Visit:

Thank You

TO THESE DEDICATED EMPLOYEES Employee of the Quarter Flor Vazquez, Custodian, has been selected as the Employee of the Quarter for the 4th quarter of 2020.

Flor was nominated for her excellent work ethic and consistently positive attitude while maintaining all City facilities. During 2020, Flor’s responsibilities grew in response to the City’s COVID-19 protocols.

She steps up whenever needed to take care of the job, no matter how big or small. Congratulations, Flor!

Employee of the Year 2020 Johnny Morales, Assistant Emergency Management Coordinator, has been selected as the 2020 Employee of the Year. Johnny’s positive attitude is well known among employees and apparent to everyone he encounters. Especially in stressful times, his passion to help others is motivating and encouraging. Johnny makes the work easier because of his skill set and work ethic, and more enjoyable because he always has a good attitude. Way to go, Johnny!

Manager of the Year 2020 Kristin Gauthier, Emergency Management Coordinator, has been selected as the 2020 Manager of the Year. Among her many excellent attributes, her knowledge, professionalism, willingness to serve, and ability to maintain a positive attitude in difficult times are distinguishable. Kristin and her team were called upon repeatedly in response to the unprecedented events of 2020, and she routinely provided great leadership. Thank you, Kristin!

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MAY 1 ELECTION DAY

#LPDECIDES EARLY VOTING APRIL 19-APRIL 27

VOTE

VO TE

GO VOTE!

VISIT LAPORTETX.GOV FOR MORE INFORMATION 4

ELECTION INFO

Exercise your right to vote! On May 1, registered voters in the City of La Porte will have the opportunity to elect the positions of Mayor, Councilperson-District 2, and Councilperson-District 3.

The last day to register to vote in this election is April 1.

Candidates, in the order they will appear on the ballot, are: Mayor: Randy Rowan and Louis Rigby District 2: Sheryl Valverde and Chuck Engelken, Jr. District 3: Bill Bentley

ELECTION DAY MAY 1 7AM-7PM Districts 1, 2, 3, 6 vote at the LA PORTE ISD ITC BUILDING 9832 Spencer Hwy Districts 4, 5 vote at the LA PORTE CITY HALL 604 W. Fairmont Pkwy

EARLY VOTING APRIL 19-27, 2021 EITHER CITY HALL OR ITC BUILDING DAY DATE

COUNCIL DISTRICT MAP

HOURS

Monday

April 19

8:00AM-5:00PM

Tuesday

April 20

7:00AM-7:00PM

Wednesday-Friday

April 21-23

8:00AM-5:00PM

Saturday-Sunday

April 24-25

CLOSED

Monday

April 26

8:00AM-5:00PM

Tuesday

April 27

7:00AM-7:00PM

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Camp Breeze (Ages 5–8) and Camp Voyage (Ages 9-12) offer kids a safe summer camp atmosphere to have fun, make new friends, and create a summer experience they will never forget! Themed activities include field trips, swimming, games, sports, arts & crafts, songs, dances, and more! Registration opens April 1st and space is limited! $60/week per camper. Most camp weeks run Monday–Friday, from 7:30AM to 5:30PM. This summer we have 11 weeks of camp running June 1 – August 13, with a special camp theme each week! (Please note: All campers must have already completed Kindergarten.)

Join us this summer as we compete at local, regional, and state-level track & field meets. This program, for ages 6–18, is all about having fun and competing against other track teams in the area/region. Experienced coaching and track jerseys are provided! Most track meets will be held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings throughout the local area. Morning practices are held Monday thru Thursday at a local LPISD track (TBA) and specific times will vary with each age group. The season runs June 7 – July 29. Early Registration runs from April 1 – June 4, for $40 per participant. Late registrations will be accepted until June 20, but a $10 late fee will apply.

Each summer we offer both group and private swimming lessons for ages 6 months to adult. Morning group lessons are split into multiple levels and sessions to accommodate each swimmer’s competence in the water. Private lessons provide one-on-one instruction and more flexibility with scheduling. All lessons are taught by American Red Cross certified instructors. Registration and schedule available starting April 1.

REGISTER ONLINE FOR ANY OF THE PARKS & RECREATION PROGRAMS AT LAPORTETX.GOV/REGISTER OR VISIT THE LA PORTE RECREATION & FITNESS CENTER. CALL (281) 470-9891 FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

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MAKE A PLAN

BUILD A KIT

BE INFORMED

June 1 marks the start of the 2021 hurricane season, and the City of La Porte reminds residents about the importance of hurricane preparedness as the season approaches. Last season saw a record number of thirty named storms, thirteen hurricanes, and six major hurricanes. For only the second time in history, the Greek alphabet was used for the remainder of the 2020 season, extending through the 9th name in the list, Iota. Our office recommends taking the time now before the busy storm season begins to gather batteries, flashlights, a first aid kit and enough food and water for each person in your family to last at least five days. Preparing your home and property for the arrival of severe weather is also important. Take time now before a storm is imminent to look for low hanging limbs or branches that may need to be removed from trees on your property. Now is the time to begin assessing your property to remove anything that may become a hazard. It’s never too early to prepare for hurricane season, so start today!

If you have any questions related to disaster preparedness, please visit lpoem.org or contact the La Porte Office of Emergency Management.

WWW.LPOEM.ORG | 281-470-0010 | OEM@LAPORTETX.GOV

The southeastern portion of Harris County serves a growing amount of commuter, residential, and industrial traffic. The industrial uses in this area contribute to a high level of truck traffic and safety concerns impacting residential and commercial areas. The main goal of the study will be to facilitate the flow of truck traffic through the area while providing mobility solutions for residents. This will be accomplished by identifying significant problem locations and proposing solutions that address congestion, safety, and access to other multimodal transportation options in the area through involvement of stakeholders and the public. The study is led by the Houston-Galveston Area Council with funding from the Texas Department of Transportation and assistance from Kimley-Horn and Associates. The process is ongoing and should be completed in early 2022 with opportunities to provide input on issues in the spring of 2021 and to review proposed strategies later in the fall. More information about the scope, schedule, and opportunities to participate can be found at www.h-gac.com/go/SEHarris

The La Porte Fire Department and the La Porte Fire Marshal's Office are proud to offer the "Detect to Protect" program which provides a Free Smoke Detector and a Free Fire Safety Visit to every La Porte resident.

A fire safety visit will include: Installation of smoke detectors, if necessary Replacement of smoke detector batteries, if necessary Advice on where to consider placing consider placing additional smoke detectors Education on how and when to test smoke detectors, as well as when they should be replaced Education on what to do when a smoke alarm is heard going off To set up an appointment for your fire safety visit, call (281) 471-3607 or (281) 8674603, or come in to Fire Station 1, located at 125 South 3rd Street in La Porte.

You can also visit laportetx.gov/892/Detect-ToProtect and complete the online request form.

MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEM The City of La Porte maintains a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System to transport stormwater. The City has also created a Storm Water Management Program to manage the quality of discharge from the system. This program includes best management practices and schedules for implementation to address six minimum control measures.

For more information visit: http://LaPorteTx.gov/stormwater

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CITY OF LA PORTE 604 W FAIRMONT PKWY LA PORTE, TX 77571 281-471-5020

WWW.LAPORTETX.GOV