Winter 2023 Where We Live

WHERE WE LIVE

CITY COUNCIL

Henry Wilson Mayor

Cindy Shepard Mayor Pro Tem

David Booe Council Member

Cathy Brotherton Council Member

Jon McKenzie Council Member

John Miller Council Member

Gary N. Waldron Council Member

CITY STAFF

Clay Caruthers City Manager

Clayton Fulton Assistant City Manager

Malaika Farmer Assistant City Manager

Greg Dickens Executive Director of Public Works

Rita Frick City Secretary

Steve Niekamp Police Chief

David Palla Fire Chief

Steve Bowden Executive Director of Economic Development and Tourism

Kyle Gordon Executive Director of Community Services

Michelle Lazo Executive Director of Planning and Community Development

Stephanie Jenkins Executive Director of Human Resources

Shelly Klein Assistant to the City Manager

Citizen Survey

Priorities evaluated for upcoming budget

Each year, the City of Hurst engages in our Strategic Planning Process to determine priorities for the upcoming budget. This process allows the city council to evaluate community needs and assess their impact on the city’s budget while also helping the city determine which services to provide and at what level they are offered. One critical factor that affects the strategic planning process is our annual citizen survey.

We will open up our survey for responses during the month of February.

Once the survey is closed, staff and council will evaluate how responses have changed over the past year to effectively develop a strategic plan to guide the budget process. These survey results are direct feedback and information that is critical to developing the council’s priorities that staff uses to develop the proposed budget.

We are excited about the opportunity to continue to provide high-quality services to our citizens. We sincerely appreciate all who have responded to our surveys now and in the past. The responses we receive help us develop a budget that meets the needs of our community today and tomorrow.

The Social Media Connection

City of Hurst

WEBSITE: www.hursttx.gov

FACEBOOK: @CityofHurstTX

TWITTER: @TheCityofHurst

INSTAGRAM: @CityofHurstTX

NEXTDOOR: City of Hurst

Hurst Public Library

WEBSITE: www.hursttx.gov/library

FACEBOOK: @HurstPublicLibrary

INSTAGRAM: @HurstPublicLibrary

Hurst

Police & Fire

FACEBOOK: @HurstPoliceDepartment

TWITTER: @HurstPoliceDept, @HurstFireDept

NEXTDOOR: Hurst Police Department

Hurst Conference Center

WEBSITE: www.hurstcc.com

FACEBOOK: @HurstCC

INSTAGRAM: @HurstConferenceCenter

Hurst Parks and Recreation

FACEBOOK: @HurstParksandRecreation

INSTAGRAM: @HurstParksandRecreation

Hurst Senior Activities Center

FACEBOOK: @HurstSeniorActivitiesCenter

Lightning Alerting System

Lightning is a dangerous and real threat in North Texas. When a storm rolls in, anyone outside can be in immediate danger. Too often, we rely on our eyes to alert us to the threat. However, at four Hurst parks, this is about to change!

Earlier this year, the Hurst City Council approved funding to install lightning detection systems at Central Park, Chisholm Park, Hurst Athletic Complex, and Hurst Community Park. The Parks Division identified parks in which multiple activities coincide. “When people enjoy our pools or athletic fields, they focus on the action around them, not what’s happening in the sky. We’re thrilled to be able to add this system to four of our parks to help increase public safety,” says Kristie Weaver, Assistant Director of Community Services.

The systems installed are similar to those found on a golf course. When lightning is detected, a horn will sound for 15 seconds, along with a light that blinks until the lightning passes. The light stops once the danger passes, and the horn sounds again in three, 5-second intervals. Play can resume after 30 minutes of no lightning, and the system is linked to the city’s website to track the status of the 30-minute countdown. On and off times can be set, so the system is activated only during scheduled activities.

The systems are installed and ready for action! You can view the individual park timers at www.hursttx.gov/parks. The Parks Division is happy to answer any questions or concerns. The phone number is 817.788.7219, or email kweaver@hursttx.gov.

Budget Update

Six focused priorities guide City’s strategic plan

October first marked the beginning of a new fiscal year for the City of Hurst. Following the Strategic Plan, City Council and staff focus on six strategic priorities when developing the budget each year. Those priorities are Redevelopment, Public Safety, Leadership, Innovation, Economic Vitality, and Infrastructure. As shown in the latest annual citizen survey, Public Safety, Infrastructure and Economic Vitality were your top priorities for us to focus on for the upcoming budget year.

Property taxes continue to be the most reliable and stable revenue source for our General Fund, which supports important services such as police and fire operations. The Fiscal Year 23 general fund budget was increased by 6.9% totaling $40.6 million. Over the past 10 years, the average general fund budget increase has been 2.5% while inflation costs facing cities was an average increase of 3.5% over the same time period. It’s important to note that part of this year’s budget increase will reestablish service levels that were reduced in response to the economic impact of the pandemic.

Hurst employees are committed to providing exceptional customer service while being responsive to the needs of the community. Personal dedication is the key, but having the necessary equipment to complete job assignments is extremely important. This is especially critical for our Police, Fire, and EMS services. Included in this year’s budget is the replacement of one of our ambulances and updated body cameras for our police.

Infrastructure is also a critical part of our public safety program. Safe and well-maintained streets together with reliable water, wastewater, and drainage infrastructure

all contribute to community safety. Through a partnership with Tarrant County, Hwy 10 and Pipeline Rd. will be receiving improvements, and we will also be using a $2 million bond for other critical street maintenance and improvements around the city. We will continue to build relationships with our local businesses and provide outreach, education, and engagement opportunities. We will also continue to explore potential partnerships for redevelopment. We remain in communication with Simon Property Group as we look into future opportunities at North East Mall. Following our redevelopment plan established in 2017, the City Council has recently worked with business partners to add a variety of new housing options for residents. This will continue to provide economic development opportunities in Hurst.

So what does all of this mean for your property tax bill? The Council adopted a tax rate of approximately 61 cents which is lower than last year’s rate. This tax rate supports primary city services including police, fire, public works, and community services operations. For all of the city services you receive and access to events and programs, it comes out to less than $3.50 a day.

If you take a look at your property tax bill, you’ll see that less than 25% is allocated to city services. The majority of your property tax payment - typically around 75%, goes to your local school districts, Tarrant County, Tarrant County College, and JPS Health Network.

You can learn more about this year’s budget by visiting hursttx.gov/budget and viewing the budget video we’ve put together for you.

Outdoor Warning Siren Testing

Did you know that the City of Hurst operates eight outdoor emergency warning sirens? These sirens are designed to warn people who are outdoors. These sirens are not designed to be heard inside buildings and homes. The ambient noise inside homes and businesses from televisions, radios, and other devices plus the insulating qualities of the buildings themselves, make it unlikely that any outdoor system would be effective.

The sirens are tested on the first Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m. if the weather allows. The Hurst Fire

Department sends personnel to standby at each location and report the proper functioning of each siren.

Reasons Outdoor Warning Sirens are Activated:

• The 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 your immediate area. A community existing in multiple counties should pay close attention to the warning area.

• Trained spotters have reported a tornado in the jurisdiction, or in a neighboring jurisdiction that has the potential to affect your community. (Each community should determine satisfactory methods for verifying tornado activity reports).

• Reported hail of 1.25” in diameter or greater. (1 inch may be more appropriate for areas or events where large numbers of people are outdoors)

• Other emergency as directed by the community’s elected officials.

Remember! The sirens are a warning to take cover immediately. If you are already inside, then you are protected. Once inside, you should use other sources such as radio or television to give you current and updated information. Unless you need to report an emergency, you should not call 9-1-1 to get information about the activation. Use local radio and television to obtain current and updated information. DO NOT call 9-1-1 unless instructed to do so.

City of Hurst Town Hall Forum

February 23

Hurst Conference Center | 1601 Campus Drive | 6 - 8 p.m.

Join us at the Hurst Conference Center for our Town Hall Forum on February 23! This is a great opportunity to hear from city staff and connect with our mayor and city council members. From 6-7 p.m., enjoy refreshments while listening to a few presentations, then stick around from 7-8 p.m. for a meet and greet with our mayor, city council, and city departments. We look forward to seeing you there!

Service awards given to Hurst employees

Congratulations to our Employees of the Year & Team Hurst Award Recipients. This year’s Employees of the Year are Sergeant Ryan Tooker and Officer Miguel Jimenez. Both employees went above and beyond the call of duty to help two youths in need and showed them compassion and respect during difficult situations. Sgt. Tooker and Officer Jimenez both positively impacted their lives and were excellent representatives of the Hurst Police Department and the City of Hurst.

Our Building Inspections/Neighborhood Services Department and Utility Billing Department were co-winners of the Team Hurst Award. Both groups regularly work with the public under challenging situations and used innovation to increase efficiency, effectiveness, and customer service.

Congratulations to our winners, and thank you for your dedicated service to the City of Hurst!

Hurst’s Utility Billing Team, co-winners of Hurst’s Team Hurst Award.

Hurst’s Building Inspections/Neighborhood Services Department, co-winners of Hurst’s Team Hurst Award.

Sergeant Ryan Tooker and Officer Miguel Jimenez (not pictured), Employees of the Year winners, with Mayor Henry Wilson and City Manager Clay Caruthers.

First Responders Joint Training

Training excercise

Hurst Fire Department team members participate in casulty training at TCC NW Campus facility

During the month of September, the Northeast Fire Department Association (NEFDA) conducted mass casualty training drills at the TCC NW Campus Fire/ Rescue Training Facility. First responders simulated triage, treatment, and transport operations for 20 patients. Volunteers from several agencies acted as the victims.

NEFDA was developed by a group of cities in Northeast Tarrant County for the purpose of combining manpower, ideas, and education for specialty operations. The operational areas include hazardous material, technical rescue, swift water rescue, mass casualty response, and explosive

response. The cities involved in NEFDA are Bedford, Colleyville, Euless, Grapevine, Hurst, Haltom City, Keller, North Richland Hills, Richland Hills, Roanoke, Southlake, Trophy Club, Watauga, and Westlake.

“NEFDA agencies training together to prepare for larger incidents makes our communities safer every day as it builds relationships that provide for better outcomes on all responses,” Hurst Fire Chief David Palla says.

To learn more about NEFDA, visit nefda.us.

Training excercise Training excercise

City of Hurst celebrates 70th anniversary

On September 29, we celebrated the City of Hurst’s 70th anniversary with an event at Heritage Village Plaza! Thanks to everyone who joined us for the special occasion. It all began in 1952 when Hurst was incorporated into a general law city. We have experienced significant growth and transformation over the last 70 years, and we are proud of where we are today.

Keep the celebration going. Visit hursttx.gov/70thAnniversary for some fun, educational videos and other historical resources.

The After Party performs during the City of Hurst 70th anniversary celebration.

Mayor Henry Wilson speaks during the City of Hurst 70th anniversary celebration at Heritage Village Plaza.

Hurst

Hurst

Visitors enjoy refreshments which included ice cream sandwiches and popcorn during Hurst’s 70th anniversary celebration.

Hurst residents past and present gathered in Heritage Village Plaza to celebrate the City of Hurst’s incorporation into a general law city in 1952.

City Council members gather during the 70th anniversary celebration to support the mayor during his speech.

First Responders were present to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the City.

Young Hurst residents enjoyed the greenspace at Heritage Village Plaza during the City’s celebration.

Hurst Way Conference

Team members connect over day of learning

In the fall, City of Hurst team members gather for what we call the Hurst Way Conference. It gives us an opportunity to connect with each other, hear from the executive team about upcoming projects and important items, be reminded of our Code of Ideals and the culture of our organization, and so much more. Unique this year was an employee panel where we had the privilege to hear from a few of our team members about their passion for public service. We also had an opportunity to hear from Raegan Pebley, TCU’s head women’s basketball coach, and

Reid Ryan, CEO of Ryan-Sanders Baseball Inc. who participated in a panel discussion with our city manager, Clay Caruthers. They each shared about how they stay resilient when faced with challenges and how they’ve overcome personal struggles by maintaining a positive mindset.

We have amazing team members within our organization, and we’re grateful to have had this opportunity to recharge and enjoy each other at the Hurst Way Conference!

Employees participate in a panel discussion to discuss their passion for public service.

Hurst Conference Center staff attending the Hurst Way Conference.

Reid Ryan, CEO of Ryan-Sanders Baseball, Inc., and Raegan Pebley, TCU head women’s basketball coach, join City Manager Clay Caruthers in a panel discussion.

Members of the Hurst Police Department attending the Hurst Way Conference.

Streets/Drainage employees attending the Hurst Way Conference.

PARKS & RECREATION

ADAPTIVE EGG HUNT

This event is for children under 16 with special needs and their families.

This FREE event begins at 5:30 p.m. and includes a petting zoo, face painting, craft, sno-cones, photos with Mr. Bunny, and egg hunts, including an area for those with mobility restrictions.

Egg Hunts are offered for ages 0-5, and 6 & up.

The first hunt begins at 6:45 p.m. We will stagger times for each age group.

Please, no pets or glass containers during the event.

When 5:30 p.m. | Friday, March 31

Where Hurst Central Park | 700 block of Mary Drive (across from the Tennis Center)

EGGSTRAVAGANZA

Activities begin at 5:30 p.m. Enjoy our FREE petting zoo, photos with Mr. Bunny, face painting, crafts, pony rides, and egg hunts! Food is available for purchase from one of our amazing vendors.

Egg hunts are available for ages 0-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12.

The first hunt begins at 6:40 p.m. We will stagger times for each age group.

Please, no pets or glass containers during the event. When 5:30 p.m. | Tuesday, March 28 Where Hurst Community Park | 601 Precinct Line Road

DOGGONE EGG HUNT

The small dog egg hunt begins at 9:15 a.m. The large dog egg hunt begins at 9:30 a.m.

We had so much at last year’s Dog Hunt that we can’t wait to do it again!

Come out to the Dog Park with your 4-legged best friend for Mr. Bunny photos, treats, giveaways, and an Egg Hunt.

We will have two hunts, one for large dogs and one for small ones. Dog

size is determined by the Dog Park rules.

All dogs must be on a leash during the hunt and in the event area. The designated Dog Park pens will be open for un-leashed “free play time” during the event.

When Photos begin at 8:30 a.m. | Saturday, April 1

Where Hurst Dog Park | 900 TCC Road

DADDY DAUGHTER DANCE

Tickets are $40 for a couple and $20 per additional daughter.

Dancing, photos, crafts, dinner, and more! This is an evening she will never forget!

Tickets go on sale Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at 8:00 a.m. at the Hurst Recreation Center’s Administrative office or online at hursttx.gov/recreation. Space is limited; get your tickets ASAP to guarantee your spot at the event.

When 4:00-6:00 p.m. | Saturday, February 4

Where Hurst Senior Activities Center | 700 Heritage Circle

HEALTHY HURST

Healthy Hurst Wellness Program

Healthy Hurst is the City of Hurst’s community-wide wellness initiative. Participants can increase their health, wellness, and fitness by using the information and links on the City of Hurst’s Healthy Hurst web page.

Healthy Hurst isn’t just about physical activity. It’s about mental, physical, and social health. Whether visiting a park, working out at the Hurst Recreation Center, or

attending one of our many city events, you are actively a part of Healthy Hurst.

We offer some fun challenges to keep you moving and healthy through the fall and holiday seasons! For more information, check out the Healthy Hurst webpage, hursttx.gov/HealthyHurst.

Hurst Recreation Center

Hours of Operation:

Monday-Thursday: 5:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Friday: 5:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday: 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Sunday: Closed

Contact information

Mary

Texas 76053

Hurst Tennis Center

Hours of Operation:

Monday-Thursday*: 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., 5 – 9 p.m.

Friday: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday: Noon – 4 p.m.

Court Rental Fees

Contact information

701 Mary Drive Hurst, Texas 76053 817-788-7330

Hurst Public Library

Hours of Operation

Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Tuesday & Thursday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Sunday: Closed

Contact Information

901 Precinct Line Rd. Hurst, Texas 76053 817-788-7300

Taking Care of Hurst Parks

Parks crews inspect parks regularly for safety, litter, vandalism, and minor maintenance items. If you notice anything that requires our attention, please call 817.788.7325. Residents and guests may also report concerns via our ‘Where We Live’ app found in the Apple App store and Google Play store.

www.hursttx.gov/parks

City of Hurst

1505 Precinct Line Rd. Hurst, TX 76054

presorted standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID hurst, tx permit no. 21