OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE - August 19 VOLUME CVI NUMBER 8
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OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE
August 19
VOLUME CVI
NUMBER 8
TEXAS TOWN & CITY • 1 • AUGUST 2019
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CONTENTS H FEATURES
Official Publication of the
Texas Municipal League.
18 29
This publication assumes no responsibility Preliminary Agenda for the 107th TML Community Building from the Ground
for statements made by contributors Annual Conference and Exhibition Up
in signed articles. It is not operated for
pecuniary gain. 20 32
Affiliate Programs for the 107th TML 2019 Governor’s Community Achieve-
Editor Christina Corrigan Annual Conference and Exhibition ment Award Winners
Creative Manager Jennifer Stamps
Designer Will Bowling 22 38
Advertising Sales Gray Bulman Partnerships Preserve Piece of Wylie Placemaking Creates the Distinctive
Printing Publication Printers Corp. History City
26 41
Texas Town & City (ISSN 1084-5356) is
Beautifying Baytown: Before and After Texas Hospitality
published monthly except October for $30
per year ($3.00 per single copy) by the
Texas Municipal League, 1821 Rutherford
Lane, Suite 400, Austin, Texas 78754-5101.
Periodicals Postage Paid at Austin, Texas
and additional mailing offices.
POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to Texas Town & City,
CONTENTS H IN EACH ISSUE
1821 Rutherford Lane, Suite 400, Austin,
Texas 78754-5101.
5 12
Section 305.027, Government Code, requires
Message from the President Small Cities’ Corner
legislative advertising to disclose certain
information. 6 14
TML News Legal Q&A
A person who knowingly enters into a
contract or other agreement to print, publish, 8 49
or broadcast legislative advertising that Risk Pool News Career Builder
does not contain the required information
commits a Class A misdemeanor offense. 10 50
Texas Town & City contains material which City Lights Instagram Highlights
is legislative advertising as defined by law in
the state of Texas.
Mr. Bennett Sandlin has entered into an
agreement with Publication Printers Corp.
for the printing of Texas Town & City
magazine. Mr. Sandlin represents the
member cities of the Texas Municipal
ABOUT THE COVER
League. A dynamic city with a rich heritage
and confluence of cultures, the City
of San Antonio welcomes you to the
107th TML Annual Conference and
Exhibition.
TEXAS TOWN & CITY • 3 • AUGUST 2019
ABOUT H TML BOARD OF DIRECTORS H TML
The Texas Municipal League exists solely TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
to provide services to Texas cities. Since
its formation in 1913, the League’s mission PRESIDENT AFFILIATE DIRECTORS Aimee Nemer, City Secretary,
John B. Love III, CMO, Mayor Pro Tem, Daphne Tenorio, Councilmember, Richardson
has remained the same: to serve the needs Kyle Texas Municipal Clerks
Midland
and advocate the interests of its members. Association of Hispanic Municipal Assocation, Inc.
Membership in the League is voluntary Officials
PRESIDENT-ELECT Tadd Phillips, Human Resources
and is open to any city in Texas. From the Eddie Daffern, CMO, Mayor, Staples Kurt Kasson, Building Official/Assistant Director, Georgetown
original 14 members, TML’s membership has Director, Allen Texas Municipal Human Resources
grown to more than 1,150 cities. Over 16,000 PAST PRESIDENTS Building Officials Association of Texas Association
mayors, councilmembers, city managers, Holly Gray-Moore, CMO, Mayor Pro
Tem, City of Roanoke Michael Rodgers, Director of Finance Maria Redburn, Library Director, Bedford
city attorneys, and department heads are and Administration, Webster Texas Municipal Library Directors
Mary M. Dennis, CMO, Mayor, Live Oak
member officials of the League by virtue of Government Finance Officers Association
Jungus Jordan, Councilmember, Association of Texas
their cities’participation. Fort Worth Scott T. Williams, Director of Public
Leonard Reed, CMO, Mayor, Willis Robin Mouton, CMO, Mayor Pro Tem, Works, Red Oak
The League provides a variety of services Henry Wilson, Mayor, Hurst Beaumont Texas Municipal Utilities Association
Texas Association of Black City Council
to its member cities. One of the principal Dock Jackson, Councilmember,
Brian Frieda, Chief of Police, Sweetwater
Members
purposes of the League is to advocate Bastrop Texas Police Chiefs Association
municipal interests at the state and federal Terry Henley, Board of Adjustment Beth Ann Unger, Information Services
Member, Meadows Place Manager, Frisco Sabrina Schmidt, Purchasing
levels. Among the thousands of bills Supervisor, Pflugerville
Texas Association of Governmental
introduced during each session of the Texas Information Technology Managers Texas Public Purchasing Association
DIRECTORS-AT-LARGE
Legislature are hundreds of bills that would
Jeff Williams, Mayor , Arlington David Rutledge, CMO, R. Alan Shubert, Vice President,
affect cities. The League, working through its Operations and Technical Services,
Steve Adler, Mayor, Austin Mayor, Bridge City
Legislative Services Department, attempts Joe McComb, Mayor, Corpus Christi Texas Association of Mayors, El Paso Water
to defeat detrimental city-related bills Councilmembers and Commissioners Texas Public Works Association
Vacant, Mayor, Dallas
and to facilitate the passage of legislation Dee Margo, Mayor, El Paso
Steve Killen, Director of Code Jeff White, Parks and Recreation
designed to improve the ability of municipal Betsy Price, Mayor, Fort Worth Compliance, Garland Director, Hutto
governments to operate effectively. Martha Castex-Tatum, Councilmember, Texas Association of Municipal Health Texas Recreation and Park Society
Houston Officials
The League employs full-time attorneys who Ron Nirenberg, Mayor, San Antonio EX-OFFICIO NON-VOTING INVITED
Belinda Willis, Director of
REPRESENTATIVES
are available to provide member cities with Communications and Marketing,
REGIONAL DIRECTORS Mansfield
information on municipal legal matters. On a
2-Doyle Robinson, Mayor, Panhandle Texas Association of Municipal TML Health Benefits Pool
daily basis, the legal staff responds to member Information Officers Eddie Edwards, City Manager, Borger
3-Lynn Nowlin, Mayor Pro Tem, Slaton
cities’ written and oral questions on a wide
4-Raul J. Marquez, Mayor Pro Tem,
Christopher J. Looney, Planning and TML Intergovernmental Risk Pool
variety of legal matters. The League annually Big Spring Community Development Director, Mary Gauer, Harker Heights
conducts a variety of conferences and 5-Sherrie Williams, Mayor Pro Tem, New Braunfels
training seminars to enhance the knowledge Iowa Park Texas Chapter of the American
Planning Association
and skills of municipal officials in the state. In 6-Robert Brown, Councilmember,
addition, the League also publishes a variety Menard Marcus Norris, Deputy City Attorney,
of printed materials to assist member cities 7-Suzanne de Leon, CMO, Mayor, Amarillo
Balcones Heights Texas City Attorneys Association
in performing their duties. The best known
of these is the League’s monthly magazine, 8-Jim Griffin, Mayor, Bedford
Kelly Kuenstler, City Manager,
9-Ray O’Docharty, Mayor, Groesbeck
Texas Town & City. Each issue focuses on a Leon Valley
10-Connie Schroeder, CMO, Mayor, Texas City Management Association
variety of contemporary municipal issues,
Bastrop
including survey results to respond to Landra Solansky, Municipal Court
11-Patrick R. Rios, CMO, Mayor, Rockport
member inquiries. 12-Ramiro J. Rodriguez Jr., Mayor,
Administrator, Seguin
Texas Court Clerks Association
Palmhurst
For additional information on any of 13-Karen Hunt, Mayor, Coppell Jimmy Chew, Fire Chief, Stephenville
these services, contact the 14-Tamara Young-Hector, CMO, Texas Fire Chiefs Association
Texas Municipal League at 512-231-7400 Councilmember, Willis
or visit our website, www.tml.org. 15-Shelley Brophy, Mayor, Nacogdoches
16-W.L. Pate Jr., CMO, Councilmember,
Beaumont
TEXAS TOWN & CITY • 4 • AUGUST 2019
MESSAGE H FROM THE PRESIDENT
JOHN B. LOVE III, CMO
MAYOR PRO TEM
CITY OF MIDLAND
What makes a Texas city beautiful? That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? I do know
one thing—every city official thinks their own city is beautiful in its own way. I know that I do.
There’s something about West Texas that gives my city that something extra, but I’m sure you
feel the same way about Spring, or Waco, or Colleyville, or wherever you call home.
This issue of Texas Town & City is devoted to city beautification. Don’t think that city beauty is
something that just happens on its own without some assistance. The truth is there’s so much
we can actively do to help enhance what’s already appealing about our towns. You’ll read arti-
cles about Scenic Texas certification, Governor’s award winners, and many articles about what
individual Texas cities are doing that’s unique in the field of beautification.
And there’s more—this issue continues to ramp up toward the Annual Conference with lots of
information about what to expect October 9-11 in San Antonio. It will be a great week on the
River Walk. I hope you’ll visit with me at the event and let me know why your city is the most
beautiful in Texas. Just be prepared to hear an argument for Midland in return!
John B. Love III, CMO
Mayor Pro Tem
City of Midland
TML President
TEXAS TOWN & CITY • 5 • AUGUST 2019
TML H NEWS
In this issue of Texas Town & City, you will get a look at the
preliminary program, meet our keynote speakers, and learn
about the affiliate programs that are being offered.
Use the official TML Annual Conference hashtag
#TMLAC2019 to follow our conference news on Twitter,
Instagram, and Facebook. You can also access conference
news on LinkedIn.
Please check the conference website frequently for full
program information and updates at www.tmlconference.org.
Special Preview! TML Annual
Conference and Exhibition
More than 2,500 city officials will meet in San Antonio,
October 9-11, for the Texas Municipal League’s 107th
Annual Conference and Exhibition at the Henry B.
González Convention Center. Nestled in the heart of his-
toric downtown San Antonio along the banks of the world
famous River Walk, the Convention Center is located in
walking distance to the TML conference hotels.
From the smallest towns to the large cities, local lead-
Stay Connected with our
ers will come to network and discuss issues such as Conference App
implementing the new Texas laws, workplace behavior,
healthcare and workers’ compensation trends, econom- Plan your event schedule before conference starts by
ic development, community planning, the 2020 United downloading the TML Annual Conference app. With the
States Census, and much more. Plenty of time has been app, you can save the sessions you plan to attend, add your
built into this year’s program to visit with exhibitors and personal profile and start networking with other attendees,
shop the products and services that can save your city identify the vendors you want to meet with and map their
time and money. location on the exhibit floor, and stay connected with TML
for the latest conference news.
TEXAS TOWN & CITY • 6 • AUGUST 2019
TML will notify conference attendees by email when the As a child, St. John’s right leg was amputated and she was
app is available in September. Download it to your iPhone, a victim of sexual abuse. But instead of being impaired
iPad, or Android device. The app will give you access to by these traumatic events, she became the first African-
course listings, speaker bios, exhibitor descriptions, maps, American to win Olympic medals in ski racing at the 1984
and alerts – all in the palm of your hand. Winter Paralympics in Austria. In recognition of this his-
toric achievement, she was honored at the White House
Wednesday Is City Shirt Day! by President George W. Bush and quoted on millions of
Starbucks coffee cups.
Wednesday, October 9, is “City Shirt Day” at the TML
Annual Conference and Exhibition. Pack your city shirt St. John graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard
and wear it with enthusiasm to show off your hometown University, won a Rhodes scholarship to Oxford University,
pride and dedication. Gather your city officials and staff for and served on the White House National Economic Council.
group photos, and delight in the camaraderie. She has also written best-selling books, is a television and
radio personality, and heads up the Blue Circle Leadership
Institute which helps companies become more diverse. H
TML TRAINING CALENDAR
AUGUST
August 1-2
TML Public Funds Investment Act Training
McAllen
August 6-9
Building Officials Association of Texas
Announcing Bonnie St. John Annual Conference
as TML Conference Luncheon Montgomery
Keynote
August 15-16
This year’s Annual Conference Luncheon on Thursday, TML-TAMCC Newly Elected City
October 10, will feature Olympic Medalist Bonnie St. John, Officials’ Orientation
whom NBC Nightly News calls “one of the five most inspir- San Antonio
ing women in America.”
In her talk “Normal Is Overrated – Aim Higher,” St. John will August 28
encourage you to set your sights high and push past your TML Small Cities’ Problem-Solving Clinic
limits to achieve the impossible. Slaton
TEXAS TOWN & CITY • 7 • AUGUST 2019
RISK POOL H NEWS
regardless of when it is reported, and even if coverage has
Pinning the Tail on Coverage: been moved to a different insurer when the claim is actu-
Claims-Made Versus ally filed. Occurrence coverage is often deemed superior
Occurrence-Based Policies since professional liability claims are often made long after
the incident giving rise to the claim occurs. The advantage
You’ve probably heard it before... not all coverage is the of an occurrence-based policy is its permanence. The peri-
same. Even though two coverage documents from dif- od of time you are insured under an occurrence policy is
ferent providers may have the same name, the coverage protected forever by the policy you had in place when the
provided may very well be like apples and oranges. This incident occurred.
is certainly the case when comparing any type of “claims-
made” coverage to “occurrence-based” coverage. Should you have a claims-made policy and change carri-
ers, an extended reporting period, mentioned earlier and
Consider the following scenario: The human resources known as “tail coverage,” is needed to provide protection
director receives a lawsuit alleging discrimination. The law- for incidents that have occurred, but no claim has been
suit alleges the discrimination took place two years ago. At filed. Tail coverage is usually available, but at an additional
the time, the city had coverage with ABC insurance, and cost, which can be significant. In addition, most tail pro-
that policy was claims-made. Their current policy is occur- visions have limited reporting provisions – typically one,
rence-based with no retroactive date for prior incidents. three, five, or possibly 10 years. Nevertheless, it is often
The director contacts the current provider only to find out advisable to purchase tail coverage when switching from
there’s no coverage since the incident occurred prior to a claims-made policy. Please note, coverage through the
the inception of that policy. Then, a call is made to the prior Risk Pool is on an occurrence basis and retroactive cov-
insurer who advises there is no coverage through that poli- erage is provided for up to five years at no additional cost.
cy either, because coverage was terminated two years ago. Tail coverage can be quite costly and should be factored in
when comparing the cost of coverage.
The worst time to learn that there is no coverage is after
a claim is submitted. Let’s explore how to remedy this The obvious question becomes “why would anyone pur-
problem. In the example above, the city was left without chase a claims-made policy if occurrence-based policies
coverage after moving liability coverage from one provider are superior?” A claims-made policy may be all that is
to another. available. As an example, employment practices liability
may only be available under the claims-made form from a
Claims-made coverage simply means the claim must be
private carrier. Other coverages may be available on either
made during the policy period - the coverage is triggered
type of form, but the occurrence version is likely more
when a claim is made during the policy period, regardless
expensive given the breadth of coverage.
of when the wrongful act that gave rise to the claim took
place. (Two exceptions might apply: an extended period to In summary, pay close attention to the type of coverage
report claims is purchased from the claims-made carrier form (occurrence or claims-made) when considering lia-
upon termination; or the new carrier provides a retroactive bility coverage options. Additionally, the costs, both on the
period for reporting of claims for prior incidents. In such front and back end, should be considered. When switch-
instances, the wrongful act that gave rise to the claim must ing carriers, additional retroactive or tail coverage may
have taken place during the extended reporting period or be advisable, depending upon the coverage form. Also
within the retroactive period.) consider that tail coverage may be a future cost for claims-
made coverage.
Most professional, errors and omissions, directors and
officers, and employment practices liability insurance is Please contact the Risk Pool’s member services
written on a claims-made basis. department for more information on this or any other
coverage need. H
Coverage is triggered under an occurrence-based poli-
cy so long as the claim occurs during the policy period,
TEXAS TOWN & CITY • 8 • AUGUST 2019
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TEXAS TOWN & CITY • 9 • AUGUST 2019
CITY H LIGHTS
New Braunfels,
We’re Big Fans!
The New Braunfels Professional Firefighter’s Association re-
cently kicked off their Annual Fan Drive. The donated fans
will be distributed to those in the community who need help
dealing with the extreme summer heat.
“We invite everyone to leave a fan directly with us at Lowe’s
and support this great cause,” New Braunfels Fire Engineer
Brandon Appleby said. “Or you can always bring a fan to one
the drop-off locations.”
Donors were asked to bring new, in-the-box fans to Lowe’s,
any New Braunfels fire station, fire administration, or the
municipal building.
“This is an easy, effective way for people to help their
neighbors live more safely and comfortably,” said Appleby.
“As firefighters and paramedics, we see firsthand the
dangers some of our residents face during the intense heat
of the summer months, so we’re dedicated to this project
and happy to open up our stations to accept fan donations.”
Round Rock Celebrates
Pflugerville’s Cool Moves 20 Years of Baseball
The City of Round Rock celebrated its 20-year partnership
The Pflugerville Police Department’s Cool Moves program with the Round Rock Express with special recognitions at
is returning this summer to reward children for being safe. the team’s game against the Tacoma Rainiers in June.
From June 1 through August 31, police officers will be on The event festivities included a first pitch thrown by Mayor
the lookout for children showing “Cool Moves,” including Morgan and four of Round Rock’s former Mayors: Alan
looking both ways before crossing the street, wearing a McGraw, Nyle Maxwell, Robert Stluka and Charles Cul-
helmet while riding a bike or skateboard, using hand signals pepper. City staff and those who played an integral part in
while riding a bike, and using crosswalks. securing the partnership with Round Rock Express were
also honored between innings.
Children “caught” practicing these safe behaviors will be
given a “ticket” by the police officers. These tickets reward “What makes this partnership work are the city’s wonderful
them with a free ice cream cone from participating partners. citizens and the Express’ wonderful fans,” Mayor Craig
This year the program is supported with free ice cream Morgan said during a proclamation at the game. “To the
cones from Andy’s Frozen Custard, Baskin Robbins, Cece’s whole Express organization, I’d like to personally thank you
Froyo, Dairy Queen, McDonald’s, Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, for all that you’ve done in our community. We’re excited for
and free kids’ meals from Zaxby’s. the next 20 years.”
TEXAS TOWN & CITY • 10 • AUGUST 2019The Express were founded as a borhoods and individuals with oppor-
Double-A franchise in 2000 by Ryan tunities to sponsor City greenspace
Sanders Baseball, a group made up of projects, thereby helping to reduce the
Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, his sons Reid burden on the budget and enhance our
and Reese, Houston businessman Don local playscapes,” said City Manager
Sanders, and his sons Bret and Brad. Anthony Snipes.
Reid Ryan worked with former Round
Rock Mayor Charlie Culpepper to build Missouri City takes pride in being a
community support for the team, while safe, scenic city and the award-winning
simultaneously setting the wheels in greenspaces throughout the area play a
motion to build Dell Diamond prior to key role in maintaining this designation.
the team’s inaugural season. More than 20 parks and 14 miles of trails
wind through the City, providing infinite
In the past 20 years, Dell Diamond has ways to enjoy the outdoors. #PlayIt-
become a staple in the Round Rock Forward will help to showcase these
community. The stadium serves as a amenities.
premier central Texas destination and
is constantly ranked among the top in Companies and neighborhoods that
Minor League Baseball. Dell Diamond join this initiative will work closely with
is a multi-purpose sports and enter- the Parks and Recreation Department
tainment complex, hosting Express to ensure specified projects come to
games, concerts, expos and festivals, fruition and that they showcase com-
among other events. mercial partnerships with the City.
“We will emphasize to business owners
Missouri City and neighborhoods that when you
#PlayItForward, you further cement
Plays It Forward your legacy in Missouri City,” said Parks
and Recreation Director Jason Mangum.
Missouri City recently rolled out “And that whenever somebody visits
#PlayItForward, an initiative that cele- the greenspace your organization
brates the outdoors and builds a healthy sponsored, they will know that they are
future for outdoor life in the City. enjoying the space because of your
generosity.”
The initiative follows the city coun-
cil-approved Strategic Plan by accom- Companies will provide input in any ini-
plishing three objectives: tiative they sponsor, making the pos-
sibilities endless, Snipes explained,
• Expand leisure opportunities – such
as programs, activities, and venues adding: “we are thrilled to work with
the community to make this campaign
• Expand opportunities to live a a success. Together, we will continue to
healthy and active lifestyle raise the quality of life in Missouri City!”
• Maintain and upgrade City infra- For more information on the
structure, including parks, streets, #PlayItForward campaign, please visit
and sidewalks www.mctxparks.com. H
“#PlayItForward focuses on giving
back to the community and will allow
Missouri City to partner with neigh-
TEXAS TOWN & CITY • 11 • AUGUST 2019SMALL CITIES’ H CORNER
PROSPER ENCOURAGES WATER
CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
By Celso Martinez, President, Municipal Voice
On the exceedingly valid premise that everyone, regardless the idea for the program sprang from a casual conversation
of age, position, station in life, or any other measure, can among Town employees after some parks and recreation
indeed do something to help the environment, the Town workers were waiting for the conclusion of an afternoon of
of Prosper has initiated a program that allows every man, soccer games at Frontier Park.
woman, and child to make productive use of water, help
sustain plant life, and keep plastics out of landfills. “Parks employees conduct a general clean-up after the
games conclude, picking up litter and emptying the trash
It’s called the Release, Renew, and Recycle Environmen- bins,” Cisco said. “Conscious of our Town-wide recycling
tal Protection Program, created and implemented by the initiatives, some workers remarked that the plastic water
Town’s public works department. It provides an additional bottles were filling up trash bins, and that many of the bot-
purpose to the drinking water remaining in single-use plas- tles were more than half-filled with water. It seemed highly
tic bottles by releasing it onto planters, helps renew the wasteful to us on many levels. Then, almost in unison, sev-
vegetation that thrives on proper watering, and encourages eral of us had a ‘what if?’ moment.”
the recycling of the empty bottle.
That “what if?” question began to percolate ideas as Cisco
Tristan Cisco, Prosper’s water education coordinator, in a and her colleagues chatted about not only the misplaced
section within the Town’s public works department, says
TEXAS TOWN & CITY • 12 • AUGUST 2019plastic bottles, but the water inside the bottles as well. and decorating them with short, pithy recycling messages,
Could the water somehow be better utilized? adding soil and living plants in them, and placing them near
places where plastic water bottles were in common use.
What if, they questioned, the trapped water could be re-
leased from the bottle in such a way as to renew or revital- The result was a way for anyone carrying a near-empty
ize a living organism, allowing the empty plastic container to bottle of water to “release” the water into the planter, “re-
become ready for recycling? new” the plant life in the boxes by pouring the water into
the planter, and “recycle” the bottle in a strategically-placed
The small, self-directed, spontaneously-constituted group recycling bin.
of parks and public works co-workers added shape and tex-
ture to their still-forming idea, and reached a general agree- “So much of the plastic we use does not get properly recy-
ment on the overall concept. The question then moved to cled,” she said. “And, worse, all these half-filled bottles of
how to encapsulate the idea into a program that would be water were being thoughtlessly tossed in the trash. With-
convenient to implement and easy to convey to the kids out an intervention like this program, the water winds up
and parents participating in the Town’s recreation programs, trapped in a plastic bottle at a landfill for who knows how
their primary target audience. long. It’s a wasteful practice that we’re trying to address.”
“We knew we had to make it easy to comprehend because The wooden planters, constructed by Public Works, feature
we did not have the luxury of time to explain the program, artwork designed by the students enrolled in the gifted and
or why it was important, to the harried soccer moms and talented program at Prosper ISD, illustrating their purpose.
dads eager to get their hungry kids to lunch or dinner,” said The planters are then wrapped with durable graphic vinyl by
Cisco. iCandy Grafix. The plants were chosen by the master gar-
dener group and obtained from Cristina’s Stone and Garden
Another “what if?” session emerged from which details of in nearby Frisco. Conceptual assistance was provided by
the Release, Renew, Recycle Environmental Protection the Agrilife Service. Currently, there are five Release, Re-
Program were fleshed out. What if large, colorful, atten- new, Recycle planters at Frontier Park, in close proximity
tion-grabbing planters with live plants were placed along to the athletic fields, where Parks personnel first observed
the entrances and exits of the park’s vast play areas? And, countless water bottles being thrown away.
what if the planters succinctly explained the program in lan-
guage that was easy to grasp? And what if there were re- “We’re hopeful that the idea catches on,” added Cisco. “If
cycling bins near the planters to accept the newly-emptied we can divert the water in the bottles and then the bottles
plastic bottles? themselves, we’ve met our goal. Hopefully, we can identify
other locations around Town that would be ideal for more
“It kind of came together organically,” added Cisco. “We planters.”
knew we had to have a place for the water to go where it
would do the most good, and that once the bottles were While the planters provide a perfect place for the water, the
empty, we did not want them in the trash bins. The planter/ small amounts left in bottles can also benefit trees, grass,
recycling bin combination made the most sense.” and shrubs. Placing the empties in the recycling bin en-
sures that the landfill remains free of items that can be re-
Thus began the implementation of the program. Cisco so- used in some way.
licited the assistance of the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension
Service, Collin County Master Gardeners, Cristina’s Stone “Parents can use the program as a learning opportunity,
and Garden Company, iCandy Grafix Company, members of enlightening their children, no matter the age, on the im-
the National Art Honor Society at Prosper High School, and portance of water conservation and recycling,” she said.
the Town’s Public Works and Parks and Recreation Depart- “Participating in this program requires little to no effort yet
ments. can produce a huge impact on our environment. Anyone
can do it.”
The final iteration of the program included building large
wooden planter boxes, designing some distinctive artwork And it all began with a simple “what if?” H
TEXAS TOWN & CITY • 13 • AUGUST 2019LEGAL H Q&A By Amber McKeon-Mueller
TML Assistant General Counsel
Q What is an electronic signature? Q What laws govern electronic Q What is the difference between
signatures? an electronic signature and a digital
A An “electronic signature” is defined signature?
in Texas law as “an electronic sound, A The Uniform Electronic Transaction
symbol, or process attached to or Act (UETA), Government Code, Chapter A As explained above, an electronic
logically associated with a record and 322, is the Texas law that governs signature is an electronic sound, sym-
executed or adopted by a person with the use of electronic signatures. The bol, or process attached to or logically
the intent to sign the record.” Tex. Electronic Signatures in Global and associated with a record and executed
Bus. & Com. Code § 322.002(8). National Commerce (ESIGN), 15 U.S. or adopted by a person with the intent
Code Chapter 96, is the federal law to sign the record. In other words, an
Q What is an electronic record? that governs electronic signatures. electronic signature could be made by
simply clicking a box.
A An “electronic record” is defined When dealing with electronic signa-
tures in Texas, cities should look to A “digital signature” is a type of elec-
in Texas law as “a record created, gen- the UETA. This is because the Texas tronic signature that provides higher
erated, sent, communicated, received, Legislature adopted UETA in its entire- levels of security and universal accep-
or stored by electronic means.” Id. § ty from the model laws. 15 U.S.C. § tance than many of the ways to com-
322.002(7). 7002. Therefore, UETA in Texas is not plete an electronic signature. A “digital
preempted by ESIGN. signature” means an electronic identi-
fier intended by the person using it to
TEXAS TOWN & CITY • 14 • AUGUST 2019have the same force and effect as the use of a manual sig- A Yes. If a law or retention schedule requires the reten-
nature. Gov. Code § 2054.060(e)(1). It is considered a manu- tion of the record, the electronic record must be retained in
al signature. Therefore, it requires more than an electronic a way that accurately reflects the information in the record
signature. A digital signature is created by cryptographic in its final form as an electronic record and remains acces-
means involving the use of two mathematically related keys sible for later reference. Id. § 322.012(a)(1)-(2). The record
(i.e., a public and private key pair, often referred to as Public may be maintained by a person other than the city so long
Key Infrastructure or PKI). as it meets those requirements. Id. § 322.012(c).
Both an electronic signature and a digital signature require Q What should city officials consider when deciding
the intent of a person to sign the electronic record. whether or not to use an electronic signature?
A City officials should decide whether to use an electron-
Q What types of agreements can be signed with ic signature and the type of electronic signature based on:
(1) the risk of the transaction; (2) the effectiveness of the
electronic signatures?
electronic signature method to be used; and (3) the cost of
A Lease agreements and any contract for the sale of available alternatives like a user ID and password versus a
biometric or encryption-based signature method. When
an item can be signed electronically. Bus. & Com. Code,
Chapters 2 and 2A. Items that cannot be signed electron- analyzing the risk of the transaction, cities should evaluate
ically include negotiable instruments (i.e., checks), bank the need for information at a later point, the value of the
deposits and collections, letters of credit, fund transfers, transaction, the relationship between the parties, and the
documents of title, and investment securities. Bus. & Com. risk of intrusion.
Code, Chapters 1, 3-8. Additionally, cities should maintain documents with elec-
Q Can another party force a city to use an electronic
WE ARE BUILDING PARTNERS.
signature if it does not want to use one?
A No. Both parties to a transaction have to agree to
CIVIL ENGINEERING | MEP ENGINEERING
LAND SURVEYING | LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
conduct their business by electronic means. Bus. & Com.
Code § 322.005(b). Because the parties agree to conduct
one transaction by electronic means does not necessarily
extend to future transactions. Id. § 322.005(c). The parties
may refuse to conduct other transactions by electronic
means. Id.
Q How can a city send an electronic record to another
party?
A If a city has agreed to conduct a transaction by
electronic means, the requirement to provide, send, or
deliver information in writing is satisfied if the information is
provided, sent, or delivered in an electronic record capable
of retention by the recipient at the time of receipt. Id. §
322.008(a). The city and other parties need to ensure they
have compatible programs to view the electronic records.
FORT WORTH GRAPEVINE WEATHERFORD
Q Do cities still need to retain electronic records with 6300 Ridglea Place
817.338.1277
3801 William D. Tate
817.251.8550
1901 Martin Drive
817.596.7575
electronic signatures like they would other records?
bhbinc.com
TEXAS TOWN & CITY • 15 • AUGUST 2019tronic signatures in a secure man- that a signature in an email was an backup record of the electronic record
ner that protects the documents from electronic signature. Cunningham v. and take steps to ensure its integrity.
destruction or unauthorized alteration. Zurich Am. Ins. Co., 352 S.W.3d 519, Id. § 406.108(b)(1)-(3).
A digital signature can only be used 529–30 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2011,
Q What types of programs work
in a written electronic communica- pet. denied). In contrast, the First
tion sent to a city if the digital signa- Court of Appeals found that the name
ture complies with the city’s adopted in the “from” field of an e-mail was for electronic signatures?
rules governing digital signatures. The an electronic signature. Khoury v.
city should look to the Department of Tomlinson, 518 S.W.3d 568, 579 (Tex.
Information Resources’ rules govern- App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2017, no pet.). A S everal different technolo-
ing the state’s use of digital signatures City officials should consult with their gies, such as Personal Identification
for guidance in adopting its own rules. local legal counsel on the best prac- Number (PIN), digital signatures, smart
Gov. Code § 2054.060(b). Along those tices for negotiating the terms of a cards, and biometrics can be used as
lines, cities should adopt a written pol- contract or lease that will be signed electronic signatures. The Department
icy for the creation, use, management, with an electronic signature or will be of Information Resources keeps a list
and preservation of records that con- an electronic record. of Digital Signatures and Public Key
tain electronic signatures. City staff Infrastructure (PKI) Approved Service
Q
should be trained in the implementa- Providers for use by state agencies.
tion of the written policy. Can a city use an electronic The list can be accessed online at
Q
signature for a document that needs http://bit.ly/2KTFHnF.
Can a city use a contract that to be notarized?
is an electronic record or has an Adobe Acrobat allows for the creation
electronic signature as evidence in
A Yes, but the notary must be an
of a signature in the program and
court? for an individual to electronically sign
“Online Notary Public.” 1 Tex. Admin. documents. Examples of electronic
A Probably yes. Evidence of a record
Code § 87.4. The notary public must signature platforms that are password
attach or include all the other informa- protected are DocuSign, SignRequest,
or signature may not be excluded in tion required to be included in a way PandaDoc, and SignNow. Platforms for
a legal proceeding solely because it that is logically associated with the biometric identifiers include Veridium
is in electronic form. Id. § 43.013. A signature. Bus. & Com. Code § 322.011. and Cursor Insight. The amount of
court could use other considerations security needed for the particular doc-
to exclude an electronic record or The online notary public must comply ument is a consideration for which
document with an electronic signa- with the procedures in 1 Tex. Admin. platform to use. H
ture. Cities should consult their local Code § 87.41. “[F]or an online notariza-
legal counsel for advice on whether tion, the principal for whom the notari-
signed electronic records are useable zation is being performed appears
or trustworthy for a particular legal by an interactive two-way audio and
purpose or in a legal proceeding. video communication that meets the
Q
online notarization requirements as
Does sending an email become provided by Subchapter C, Chapter
an electronic signature for the 406 of the Government Code” and
purposes of the UETA? the administrative code. 1 Tex. Admin.
Code § 87.41.
A Maybe. When the parties have
agreed to conduct some business Specifically, Government Code
electronically, courts have varied on § 406.108 provides that the Online
whether sending an email creates an Notary Public must maintain a record
agreement with an electronic signa- that includes detailed information
ture. For example, the Fort Worth about the transaction. Additionally, the
appellate court has declined to find online notary public should maintain a
TEXAS TOWN & CITY • 16 • AUGUST 2019TEXAS TOWN & CITY • 17 • AUGUST 2019
Wednesday, October 9
7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Attendee Registration
9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
TML Guest Hospitality Suite Open
10:30 a.m.-Noon
Opening General Session
and Presentation of Awards
Lifescale: Escape from
Distractions to Live a
Better Life
Brian Solis,
Digital Anthropologist,
Futurist, and Thought Leader
Noon-5:00 p.m.
Exhibit Hall Grand Opening
PRELIMINARY AGENDA FOR
2:00-3:15 p.m.
THE 107TH TML ANNUAL Concurrent Sessions
CONFERENCE AND
3:30-4:45 p.m.
EXHIBITION Concurrent Sessions
All conference events will be held at the Henry B. González
4:45 p.m.
Convention Center unless otherwise noted. Conference
TAMCC Board Meeting
information will be updated as program details are added.
Check the conference website at www.tmlconference.org
often for the most current information.
Thursday, October 10
Tuesday, October 8
7:30-8:45 a.m.
TML Health and Risk Pools’ Breakfast
1:00-5:00 p.m.
(separate ticketed event at no charge)
Registration
7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m.
Attendee Registration
TML Board of Directors Meeting
TEXAS TOWN & CITY • 18 • AUGUST 2019Friday, October 11
8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Exhibit Hall
7:30-10:30 a.m.
8:00-9:00 a.m.
Attendee Registration
Continental Breakfast in the Exhibit Hall
8:00-10:30 a.m.
8:00-11:45 a.m.
Exhibit Hall Open
Affiliates’ Board, Business, or
Educational Sessions
8:00-9:00 a.m.
Continental Breakfast in the Exhibit Hall
9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
TML Guest Hospitality Suite
9:00-10:30 a.m.
Affiliates’ Board, Business, or Educational
9:00-10:15 a.m.
Sessions
Concurrent Sessions
9:00-10:15 a.m.
10:30-11:45 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions
Concurrent Sessions
10:30-Noon
Noon-1:30 p.m.
Closing Brunch and
Luncheon and
Keynote Speaker
Keynote Speaker
(separate ticketed
(separate ticketed
event)
event)
A Conversation
Normal Is Overrated
About the Future of
– Aim Higher!
Texas Cities
Bonnie St. John,
Evan Smith, CEO and
Olympic Medalist
Co-Founder, The
and Best-Selling
Texas Tribune
Author
2:00-3:15 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
2:00-5:00 p.m.
Affiliates’ Board, Business, or Educational
Sessions
3:30 p.m.
TML Business Meeting
TEXAS TOWN & CITY • 19 • AUGUST 2019ASSOCIATION OF HISPANIC
MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS (AHMO)
Wednesday, October 9
7:00 p.m.
Mixer
Entertainment: Little Joe Y la Familia
Grand Hyatt San Antonio
600 E. Market Street
San Antonio, TX 78205
Thursday, October 10
3:30 p.m.
Business Meeting
TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF BLACK CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS (TABCCM)
Tuesday, October 8
1:00 p.m. Shotgun Start
T.J. Patterson Sr. Golf Tournament
Hyatt Hill Country Golf Club
AFFILIATE PROGRAMS 9800 Hyatt Resort Drive
San Antonio, TX 78251
There are 21 organizations officially affiliated with TML that
represent various professions in city government. Many of Wednesday, October 9
the League’s affiliate organizations support the TML Annual 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Conference and Exhibition by holding special programs for their President’s Luncheon
members, as well as for any conference registrants who would St. Phillip’s College
like to attend. These programs are listed below in alphabeti- Bowden Alumi Center
cal order by affiliate name, and on the Conference website at 1801 Martin Luther King Drive
www.tmlconference.org. San Antonio, TX 78203
In addition, some of the League’s affiliate organizations plan
Thursday, October 10
and organize broader concurrent sessions that are part of the
2:00-5:00 p.m.
Conference program and open to all attendees. These sessions
Annual Meeting and Workshop
are listed in the Preliminary Agenda on pages 18-19, as well as
on the Conference website.
TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF MAYORS,
The League is grateful to all affiliate members who contributed COUNCILMEMBERS AND COMMISSIONERS
to the 2019 TML Annual Conference and Exhibition program. (TAMCC)
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND: Wednesday, October 9
• Sessions, times, and speakers are subject to change. 4:45 p.m.
Business Meeting and Election
• All events will be held at the Henry B. González Convention
Center unless otherwise noted.
• You may contact your affiliate president with questions
TEXAS TOWN & CITY • 20 • AUGUST 2019TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPAL TEXAS MUNICIPAL LIBRARY
HEALTH OFFICIALS (TAMHO) DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION (TMLDA)
Thursday, October 10 Friday, October 11
9:15-10:15 a.m. 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Public Health as an Emergency Membership Meeting
Management Issue
Mistie Gardener, Emergency TEXAS CHAPTER OF AMERICAN
Management Coordinator, PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION
City of Richardson (TEXAS CHAPTER
OF APWA)
10:30-11:30 a.m.
Panel Discussion: 2019 Legislature’s
Impact on Municipal Health and Thursday, October 10
Code Department 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Bill Alsup, Director of Health, City of Board Meeting
Richardson; Steve Killen, Director of
Code Compliance, City of Garland; TEXAS RECREATION AND PARK
and Tony Gray, Director of Health, City SOCIETY (TRAPS)
of Baytown
Wednesday, October 9
11:30 a.m.-Noon 8:15-10:15 a.m.
Board Meeting Board Meeting
5:15-7:00 p.m.
TEXAS CITY ATTORNEYS
Meet-N-Greet
ASSOCIATION (TCAA)
Location TBD
Attendees of the entire session can
earn five hours of MCLE credit (includ- Thursday, October 10
ing one hour of ethics).
8:15-10:15 a.m.
Parklets, Placemaking, and Other P’s:
Thursday, October 10
What is the Park System?
8:00-9:00 a.m.
Jamie Rae Walker, Ph.D, Assistant
Registration
Professor and Extension Specialist,
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
9:00 a.m.-Noon
Educational Sessions
10:30-11:45 a.m.
Case Study on Georgetown’s
Noon-1:45 p.m.
Garey Park
TML Attendee Luncheon and
Kimberly Garrett, CPRP, Director
Presentation (separate ticketed event)
of Parks and Recreation, City of
or Lunch on Your Own
Georgetown
2:00-5:00 p.m. 2:00-3:15 p.m.
Educational Sessions Your Team Is Not as Messed up as
You Think: Lessons from the Titans
Jason Mangum, Director of Parks and
Recreation, City of Missouri City
TEXAS TOWN & CITY • 21 • AUGUST 2019PARTNERSHIPS
PRESERVE PIECE OF
WYLIE HISTORY
By Judy Truesdell
Communications Specialist, City of Wylie
Charlotte Stoekle, Stone family descendant and owner of a and let them remove the home. But Stoekle remained ada-
unique house in Wylie called Stonehaven, was approached mant that she would not sell to anyone interested in tearing
by developers for years, hoping she would agree to sell the down this piece of North Texas and family history that was
38 acres that had been in her family since 1850. designated a Texas Historic Landmark in 1992.
The property’s location at the intersection of Alanis Drive Historical Architecture
and South Ballard Avenue was an attractive area for new
housing developments to accommodate Wylie’s rapidly Her interest in preserving the home was more than just
growing population. The house had been uninhabited for sentimental. The historical structure (built by Stoekle’s
45 years, and developers tried to persuade Stoekle to sell
TEXAS TOWN & CITY • 22 • AUGUST 2019great-grandfather William Stone in 1912 for his bride In materials provided to the Texas Historical Commission,
Charlotte Howard) was inspired by the “Prairie Style” of the house is described as “a superlative example of the
Frank Lloyd Wright – a long, low, open-plan structure that elegance of restraint. Dramatically unlike the romantic
emphasized the horizontal line of the prairie and created flourishing style of the Victorian homes of the late 19th
an environment that was harmonious with the lives of the century, this home exemplifies the dignity of form to fol-
people of the day. It incorporated unique features, such low function, achieving its distinction through restraint of
as the centrally located, two-way fireplace, square pillars, adornment for its own sake, depending instead upon scale,
broad veranda, low-profile chimneys, wide entry steps, and integrity of design and function, harmony and beauty in
strategically placed windows that captured the cooling detail. The integrity of plan, materials, and workmanship
prairie winds. make it a house of architectural importance.”
TEXAS TOWN & CITY • 23 • AUGUST 2019Stonehaven was pulled by a truck 400 feet north, inches at a time. Hydraulic lifts raised the house 18 to 20 inches above its foundation.
The family moved out of the home in the 1970s, and Wylie land and improvements, including a playground with a farm
grew around the house. As new developments sprang up, theme. The parks and recreation department worked with
Stonehaven might have gone the way of the wrecking ball Douglas Properties on the type of amenities that would
except for the partnership between the City of Wylie, Wylie be part of the eventual Stone Ranch Park, including the
Parks and Recreation, developer Douglas Properties, the playground, which would complement the historical nature
Wylie Historical Society (WHS), and Stoekle — all of whom of the Stonehaven house and the farm that surrounded
worked together to ensure its preservation. it. The parks and recreation board accepted the parkland
dedication and recommended the approval of the park
Cooperative Planning improvements.
Jim Douglas, with Douglas Properties, planned to purchase Douglas then went before the Wylie Planning and Zoning
the property and create the Stone Ranch Development, but Commission, requesting a zoning change for the 38 acres
he understood the house’s significance and was eager to from Agricultural (A/30) to Planned Development, Single
work with the other entities to preserve it. But there was a Family (PD-SF). He proposed moving the historic home
problem: in order to create the 145-lot development, Alanis approximately 400 feet to the north, ensuring the integrity
Drive had to be widened, and the house was in the way. of its ceiling, windows, and exterior. The WHS was to be
involved in labeling, photographing, packing, and storing
Keeping in mind Stoekle’s passion to preserve Stonehaven, the contents and returning the items once the house had
Douglas and City staff met to brainstorm solutions, and an been moved. The Wylie Planning and Zoning Commission
agreement was reached. Douglas proposed an innovative recommended approval to the city council.
approach to the City’s developer requirement regarding
parkland dedication: he would place Stonehaven on a Assistant City Manager Renae Ollie (planning director at
piece of the property that would be City owned, adjacent that time) presented the unique development project
to proposed parkland. He would dedicate 1.87 acres of to the council. She said Douglas and Stoekle worked
TEXAS TOWN & CITY • 24 • AUGUST 2019depicting a lakeshore scene, and its mantelpiece was made
of four-inch timber. The fireplace had to be taken apart and
reassembled after the move. It was one of the most intrigu-
ing parts of the house; its central location provided warmth
in winter and ventilation in summer to most of the rooms.
Since the move, the exterior of the house has been repaired
and repainted in colors from a historic palette. The farm-
themed playground features a silo slide, tractor, and two
spring farm animals. Douglas Properties also provided an
eight-foot hike-and-bike trail, irrigation, picnic tables and
park benches, shade trees, and a 10-space parking lot for
Stonehaven visitors. Other tributes to the house’s lineage
include streets named after Stone family members, such as
Virginia Drive and Milford Street.
Although the historical society may someday headquarter
in Stonehaven, it will be maintained by the City of Wylie for
the foreseeable future. Conversations are ongoing regard-
ing refurbishment of its interior – it currently has no heating
or air conditioning, water, or electricity, so work has yet to
be done. For now, however, cooperative partnerships have
Workers painstakingly lifted the house up a portion at a time.
ensured that Stonehaven will continue to steadfastly stand
as Wylie moves forward, and this glimpse of history will not
diligently with staff and WHS to ensure that the house be lost. H
would be relocated and preserved for its historic value. In
addition to the responsibilities that would be assumed by
Douglas and the WHS, Ollie explained that maintenance
of the park area would eventually be assumed by the
homeowners’ association. The council approved the zoning
change and the division of responsibilities regarding the
house and property.
Moving On Up
H.D. Snow & Son House Moving, Inc., seen on the television
show, Texas Flip and Move, was retained to do the actual
move. Using hydraulic jacks, the house was lifted 18 to 20
inches above its foundation, then “cribbing,” a steel support
structure, was placed under the I-beams. Roller patches,
not unlike old-time roller skates, were installed under the
cribbing, and the house was literally pulled by a truck 400
feet to the north, inches at a time, a process that took most
of two days.
One of the challenges posed by the relocation involved the
The fireplace’s central location provided warmth to the entire house in the
oversized fireplace, constructed to accommodate three-
days before central heat and air.
foot logs. It featured muted green, blue, and gold Italian tile
TEXAS TOWN & CITY • 25 • AUGUST 2019BEAUTIFYING
BAYTOWN:
BEFORE
AND AFTER
By Natasha Barrett
Strategic Communications Manager, City of Baytown
TEXAS TOWN & CITY • 26 • AUGUST 2019Before big box stores, huge movie theaters, and The Brunson Theater lobby, will house the Bay-
Netflix, The Brunson Theater was the place to go town tourism team, as well as a space for visitors
on a date night. Friday and Saturday nights you and the community to enjoy. The tourism team will
could see cool classic cars parked up and down be on hand five days a week to provide informa-
Texas Avenue in downtown Baytown. People tion on Baytown attractions and venues to anyone
would flock to buy tickets to the latest Hollywood who visits. Those who have fond memories of The
movies at The Brunson Theater. On Saturdays, Brunson Theater will be delighted to see a few
popular shows for children would draw a crowd nostalgic surprises inside serving as an important
that wrapped around the block to get a ticket and and valuable ode to the historic past of Baytown.
a seat inside to be the first to watch the attraction. Behind the visitor information center, the building
The historic theater is now being brought back to will also include an incubator for new businesses
life this summer. and entrepreneurs. The Brunson represents the
revitalization of the Downtown Arts District.
The Brunson is being renovated into short-term
office leases and a tourist center. Plans also Baytown’s most famous movie house is about to
include a back patio. The theater was bought by be the subject of a movie itself in a documentary
the City of Baytown in 1997, after the structure sat about the landmark. The film will highlight the
empty for a decade. The City of Baytown is inject- historic theater using photos, films, and interviews
ing life into our historic downtown through color, with locals about their memories of going to the
and part of that effort includes bringing back the movies. Hollywood screenwriter and Baytown
Brunson sign that lit up Texas Avenue for years. native Bill Broyles is helping with the project.
TEXAS TOWN & CITY • 27 • AUGUST 2019Broyles wrote big blockbusters like Cast Away, Apollo 13, dripped Downtown Arts District mural is located across
Flags of Our Fathers, Entrapment, Unfaithful, and the televi- from Town Square in Downtown Baytown. Our newest
sion series China Beach. He is also the author of the book addition to the Public Art Program in Baytown is a lenticular
Brothers in Arms: A Journey from War to Peace. The docu- mural on Texas Avenue. Lenticular pictures are accordi-
mentary will debut at the official Brunson Grand Opening of on-pleated creations that show different images when you
the theater’s 70th anniversary. look at them from the left or right. This installation includes
more than one mural. From one direction, you can see one
Take a Selfie Around Baytown… mural and when looking from the other side, it is an entirely
different mural.
Sitting at a stoplight is no longer painstakingly mundane
anymore. Eye-catching pieces of art and beautiful photo- Tucked away in an alley, formerly filled with broken concrete
graphs representing local attractions and nature are on dis- and graffiti walls, is a colorful art installation sure to make
play on traffic cabinets throughout Baytown. The Mini Mural your Instagram post break the Internet. Umbrella Alley is
Traffic Cabinet project kicked off last year as another facet occupied with colorful umbrellas that swing back and forth
of the Baytown Public Art Program. in a whimsical limbo, casting dancing shadows along the
alley walls and ground. Several bright murals wrap around
Larger exterior murals are also popping up all around town the walls that focus on the ecology of Baytown.
by local artist Armando Castelan. There is a larger than life
bookshelf at the Sterling Municipal Library. A colorful, paint Baytown is located just 20 minutes outside of Houston.
Visit us, and you will find out why we are #BaytownProud. H
TEXAS TOWN & CITY • 28 • AUGUST 2019You can also read
