April 28, 2023

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Featured News 📰

2023 Bond, Charter Amendment and General Election

Vote May 6 | Early voting April 24-May 2

Facility Bond Propositions:

  • Proposition A - Public Safety Facility [Police Department, Fire Administration, Municipal Court] ($63,928,980)
  • Proposition B –Animal Shelter Facility ($8,400,000)
  • Proposition C – Herfurth Park Improvements ($4,000,000)

Resources…


Inaugural Miss Juneteenth Rowlett

Rowlett’s Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Commission has appointed Ariane Gibbons the inaugural Miss Juneteenth Rowlett. Crowned by Mayor Blake Margolis, Ariane will begin her reign by hosting the 2023 Rowlett Juneteenth Block Party event on June 17. Read on…

City Council Hears Mid-year Budget Opportunities

At this week’s Special City Council Meeting, Council heard a mid-year budget update and discussed additional project funding opportunities. 

Their decisions are as follows:

  • DART funds will be used to reconstruct Industrial Street and to enhance the pedestrian crossing at Martin and Lakeview Parkway (including sidewalks). This allowed Council to reallocate $2.56 million from the Industrial Street project to the design of the Miller Road bridge widening project. The $2.56 million allocated from the City will be matched by Dallas County, providing $5.12 million to complete the design (any remaining funds can be allocated to construction).  
  • Almost $1.6 million was added to the Merritt Road Interconnector project, which is still in the design phase, leaving a funding balance of approximately $2 million. The project is slated to begin construction in 2027. 
  • Complete Coyle House repairs so that the venue can be reopened as event space accessible to rent by our residents.
  • Add power outlets to the downtown green to reduce or eliminate the use of generators during Downtown events.
  • Add lighted crosswalk signs to Downtown and the intersection of Rowlett Road and Faulkner Drive. 
  • Half-court basketball court to Twin Star Park and improvements to Paddle Point Park. 
  • Christmas tree purchase for the downtown green.  

 

The City Council is able to add all of these improvements within the current budget! Watch the meeting here…

Strategic Partnerships for Community Services Grant

Rowlett is a strong community with many non-profit organizations serving the needs of our residents on a daily basis. The City of Rowlett wants to help these non-profit agencies with their mission of service and is implementing Strategic Partnerships for Community Services Grants.

The grant funds that are distributed to Rowlett-based non-profit organizations are intended to be utilized for the purpose of having a direct and positive benefit to the City and its citizens through services that would otherwise be paid for out of the City’s general fund and would be cost prohibitive for the City to do on its own.

The purpose of City funding to the non-profit sector is to cultivate and sustain partnerships with non-profit organizations that strengthen the City's key priorities in the following areas:

* Public Safety

* Veteran Services

* Food Pantry Services

* Animal Shelter Services

* City-Wide Litter Clean-up Services

* Business Retention & Expansion Services

Rowlett-based non-profits can find more information and apply here....

City Academy is starting June 1!

This is the perfect opportunity to learn about City services, participate in discussions with City staff about successes and challenges, consider the opportunity that exists to become a member of a City Advisory Board or Commission, build friendships across a diverse group of participants, and serve as a role model for other community members.

Apply Today!

Asphalt Road Rehab Projects Began This Week

Projects will run in the order listed and each will take approximately two weeks to complete. Each project consists of level up and overlay with full depth reclamation and milling off the top layer of the old asphalt surface. The reclamation consists of pulverizing failures the full depth of 8 inches, incorporating cement at a specified rate, re-compacting the material, and installing hot mix asphalt overlay.Residents should expect delays on these roads while work is being done. We appreciate your patience and apologize in advance for any inconvenience!

  • Liberty Grove: from 7400 to 8100 block 
  • Liberty Grove: from Russel Dr to Esquire Ln 
  • Dalrock Rd: from 8709 to 9620  
  • Miller Rd: PGBT to Waterford 

Administrative Professionals' Day

Wednesday was National Administrative Professionals' Day. We celebrated the hard work, dedication, and contributions of administrative professionals who keep our city running smoothly. Thank you for all that you do!

Upcoming Events

April

29

FREE Electronic Recycling & Document Shredding

Saturday, April 29

9am-1pm at Rowlett HS.

More info...

April

29

Rowlett Sings

Saturday, April 29

Doors Open at 6pm and the program begins at 6:30pm

Freedom Place Church

More info…

May

4

Weekly Spring Farmers and Craft Market

Thursdays through June 29

5:30-8:30pm on Main Street 

Enjoy a variety of food trucks and visit with local vendors while shopping for produce, flowers, meats, honey, eggs, crafts and more! More info…

View More Upcoming Events

🐶 Animal Shelter Guest Spotlight 🐱



Come Meet Jade! 

Breed: American Pitbull Terrier

Age: 2 years

Gender: Female (spayed)

Color: Tan/White

Jade has been at the Animal Shelter since July 2022. She is a smart girl, is potty trained, crate trained, and knows basic commands. Miss Jade is very affectionate and is wishing for her forever family to come find her soon. Help make this beautiful girls dreams come true.  


If you would like to meet Jade or any of the other adoptable animals, please contact Animal Services at 972 412-6219 or come by the shelter at 4402 Industrial St., from 10AM to 5PM, Tuesday- Saturday.

See All of the Available Pets

City Department Weekly Highlights

Fire Department

Fire Fighter Paramedic Marc Deuble is doing 343 5k’s in a row to represent the 343 lost on 9/11. Yesterday, April 27 was number 200. Even after the team did their Huguley physical assessments, his crew accompanied Marc on his 5K to support him. 

Parks & Recreation

Weekly Spring Farmers and Craft Market

Thursdays through June 29

5:30-8:30pm on Main Street

Enjoy a variety of food trucks and visit with local vendors while shopping for produce, flowers, meats, honey, eggs, crafts and more!

More info...

The Wet Zone is Hiring

Hey teens, summer will be here before you know it – have you got your summer job lined up yet?

Our Aquatics Division is now hiring seasonal summer positions for the following:

📣Guests / Food Services

📣Lifeguard / Maintenance

📣Lifeguard / Swim Instructor

More info…

If you have any questions about the positions, please email our Athletics and Aquatics Supervisor at kalban@rowlett.com

Community Development

Is This a Code Violation?

Overgrown vegetation can be a violation of the Rowlett Code of Ordinances, Chapter 78-121, Subsection 302.4 if not maintained properly. Landscaping and vegetation can be a safety hazard if they obstruct driver visibility or impede a public right-of-way, such as a sidewalk, alley or street. Dead vegetation not only looks unsightly but can also harbor rodents, mosquitos and other pests, and can be a fire and safety hazard. 

Here is more information on this ordinance:

  • Dead trees, shrubs, or ground cover must be removed and replaced as required.
  • Landscaping shall be maintained to minimize property damage and eliminate public safety hazards.
  • Trees, shrubs, ground cover and all other vegetation shall be maintained to allow a vertical clearance up to eight (8) feet above sidewalk pavement.
  • Trees, shrubs, ground cover and all other vegetation shall be maintained to allow a vertical clearance up to fourteen and one-half (14-1/2) feet above street and alley pavement.
  • Trees, shrubs, ground cover and all other vegetation shall be maintained to allow a vertical clearance up fourteen and one-half (14-1/2) feet above alley pavement.


Click here to submit a request concerning a code violation or contact 972 412-6209. 

Recode Rowlett is now in Phase Three!

Recode Rowlett is now in phase three! Together, City staff and the Stakeholder Engagement Group (SEG) are working toward code solutions centered around building types, development patterns, and compatible density. The team is first discussing the code’s organizational structure, with foundational models centered around building types and smart code principles. The team will next be working to draft district standards. A recurring meeting has been established to help us reach a consensus before moving forward with recommendations.

Visit RecodeRowlett.com to learn more about the project.

Economic Development

Small Business Week is April 30- May 6

There's no better time to celebrate the contributions of small businesses to our local economy – come on down and support small businesses throughout Rowlett. Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy, and they play a vital role in creating jobs and contributing to the unique character of our community. Supporting small businesses in Rowlett is not just about keeping our local economy strong, but it's also about investing in the future of our community.

During Small Business Week, start by shopping locally, whether it's for groceries, gifts or dining out. Visit your favorite small businesses and discover new ones. You'll be surprised by the variety and quality of products and services they offer. Then share their products and services on social media. Follow them on social media and share their posts, leave positive reviews and tag them in your own posts. By doing so, you're helping to raise their visibility and attract new customers.

 

By supporting small businesses, we can help to ensure that our community thrives and remains vibrant for years to come. For a list of the small businesses in Downtown Rowlett, visit this website..

Rowlett Public Library

National Library Week

We celebrated National Library Week this week. Each year, National Library Week is celebrated to recognize the valuable role libraries, librarians, and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening communities. All residents are encouraged to visit the Rowlett Public Library to explore what’s new at your library!

BrainFuse

Need help finding a job? Use the Library’s BrainFuse service to connect with a live resume coach and get personalized advice on how to write a resume that stands out from the competition. To access Brainfuse, log in to your account on the library's catalog by using your library card number and pin. Once logged in, visit Electronic Resources > Brainfuse JobNow.

Engineering

Alley Reconstruction: Eagle Dr, Linda Vista Ct/Eagle Dr, Teal Ct/Eagle Dr, & Teal Ct/Allen Ln

La Banda, LLC began removing the 600’ of pavement to the east of the new alley pavement poured last week.

Alley Reconstruction: Rice Dr/Tulane Dr, Meadowlark Ln, University Dr/Knightsbridge Dr, & Sara Dr/Westwood Cir

Texas Civil Construction continued compacting flex base and building forms in the remaining section of the in theUniversity/ Knightsbridge alley. Storm sewer installation in the Meadowlark alley continued, with one of the storm manholes being poured. Demolition of the Rice/Tulane alley continued.

Miller Road Paving, Drainage and Utility Improvements

Tiseo Paving Company’s subcontractor continued installing the storm sewer east of the railroad tracks. They have gotten the 48” storm pipe across Chiesa Road. The 54” storm line that runs underneath the DART tracks was placed in the steel casing that has been bored under the tracks.

Next Weeks Meetings

City Council

Regular meetings occur the first and third Tuesdays of every month. The next meeting is...


May 2 @ 7:30 pm

(Work Session 5:00 pm -check agenda once posted for any updates)

May

2

Golf Advisory Board

May 2 @ 7 AM - 9 AM

Waterview Golf Club House

View More Upcoming Meetings

The Rowlett Action Center

Your one-stop-shop for assistance!

Call 972.412.6100 for in-person help. 

Submit a Request or Ask a Question Here!
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