Co-Op Planning Workshop Charrette

Dear Citizens:

 The City of Hutto will hold a planning workshop this coming Saturday, February 27^th at City Hall to get your input on the future Co-Op Site located along Highway 79.  In addition to mixed-use retail, the site will comprise of public space to include municipal facilities, civic parks, and more.  We need your ideas and contributions to decide what features/amenities to design at the site. The workshop will focus on the civic spaces including activities and amenities as well as reuse of components from the existing Co-Op structures.

Two separate sessions are planned; however, you only need to attend one session. 

SESSION I         9:30 am – 12 pm

SESSION II       1:30 pm – 4 pm

We want your ideas to be heard!  Join us in helping form Hutto’s future!  To learn more, visit www.HuttoTX.gov.  Strategic plans regarding the Co-Op Site can be found under the Strategic Planning Section of the City’s website.  For additional information regarding the planning charrette, please contact Micah Grau at 759-4046.

Please RSVP if you plan to participate by calling the City at 759-4046 and specify which session you would like to attend.

No-Cost Spay and Neuter Program

Dear Hutto Citizens:

The City of Hutto Animal Control Division is now offering a canine and feline No-Cost Spay and Neuter program to families with low incomes and financial needs.   If you are on any type of government assistance, you may apply to have two animals spayed or neutered at no cost. You will need to show proof of current rabies vaccination on each animal. Additional blood tests your pet may need prior to surgery will not be covered under the program.  You also will need to show proof of government assistance. Officials are aware that these are tough economic times for everyone, and this program is a way to give back to the community.

The City of Hutto supports and encourages controlling the animal population, and studies show that a spay/neutered pet will live a longer and healthier life. The funds for the free spay/neuter effort come from donations, with the largest amount coming from the Hutto Humane Society.

Funds are limited so surgeries will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. The surgeries are available to those who qualify and live in the Hutto ISD area.  Please take advantage of this offer and give your pet a long and healthy life.          

For more information or to apply to get your cat or dog spayed or neutered, call Hutto Animal Control Officer Becky Mitchell at 846-2057.

Hotel Occupancy Tax

Dear Hutto Citizens, Businesses and Organizations:

Area organizations may now apply for Hotel Occupancy Tax funding to promote the tourism and the convention and hotel industry.  Funds may be used to promote programs that attract overnight tourists to Hutto. This revenue is generated from tourists that stay in area hotels. As the City accumulates these funds, they are made available for local organizations to employ for different projects or events, which promote the City of Hutto and the Hotel and Convention industries. In order to be considered for funding, organizations must: 

1. Be an organization, non-profit, or entity to apply.
2. The applicant must be located in the City’s corporate limits, extra-territorial jurisdiction, or in sufficiently close proximity as to reasonably attract tourists to the City.
3. The applicant must demonstrate that the funds will be used to promote the tourism, convention and hotel industry for the Hutto Region.
4. The applicant must be an organization or corporation governed by a board of directors.
5. The applicant must be a legal entity with legal capacity to enter into contracts.
6. The applicant must demonstrate that the programs and/or events are open and appropriate for the general public.
7. The applicant must demonstrate that they are in good financial standing and that financial safe guards are in place to protect public funds.

Hutto organizations can find the necessary application forms on the City of Hutto website www.huttotx.gov, by clicking on the Hotel Occupancy Tax Application icon, located on the Finance Department page.

We hope your organization will take advantage of this opportunity for your next event to help promote tourism in Hutto.  Should you like additional information, please contact the City’s Finance Manager, Micah Grau, at 759-4046.

2010 Relay For Life

Howdy Citizens of Hutto,

Councilmember Michael Smith here. As Co-chair of the 2010 Relay For Life of Hutto, I cordially invite you to the 2010 Relay For Life of Hutto Kick-off party happening on Saturday, February 6, 2010 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at 104 1660 South.

American Cancer Society Staff Partner, Emily Glanker, will be there to answer questions, and Hero of Hope Brent Brown is speaking about his experience battling cancer with the help of the American Cancer Society and Relay For Life.  

Come to the kick-off and get motivated about Relay For Life and learn more information. There will be finger foods, drinks and laptops to register teams for Relay at the Kick-off.

Relay for Life is one of the leading fundraisers for cancer research and advocacy. Relay for Life of Hutto helps fund all of the services that the American Cancer Society provides for people battling cancer in this area. Your participation also helps the American Cancer Society carry out its mission to save lives by helping people in your area stay well and get well by finding cures and fighting back. 

You can RSVP at huttorfl@gmail.com or call 512-846-1030. For more information visit www.relayforlife.org/huttotx.

Youth in Government

Throughout the weeks of February 1 and February 8, officials with the City of Hutto, Hutto Fire & Rescue, Hutto EDC and Chamber of Commerce will teach the ins-and-outs of local government and the collaboration with other entities in making a successful community to the senior students in Mr. David Kinnaman’s Hutto High School Economics Class.  The students will be educated in public administration, increasing their understanding of their local municipal government and their role in the community, as well as possibly influencing their career future decisions.  Students will enjoy interaction and classroom involvement while being versed in topics such as city management, municipal finance, police and municipal court, community and economic development, public works, parks and recreation, and fire and rescue.

Following this class, students will be selected to attend Youth in Government Day Friday, April 16  at City Hall and various other city facilities for a hands-on look and participation in their local municipal government.  Representative Diana Maldonado will be the keynote speaker at the luncheon planned for the students that day. 

This is the fifth year for the City and HISD to partner in offering this educational forum to the senior students.

The Census Is Coming!

Citizens of Hutto,

Today we have a guest who is the Mayor’s chairperson for the US Census, Councilwoman Anne Cano.  Welcome Anne!

The Census is coming!  The Census is coming!  This will be our message over the next couple of months!  The 2010 Census slogan is “Be Counted” and that is what we need from the citizens of Hutto!  This year’s Census will only be ten (10) simple questions.  The results of the Census will bring money to our area for transportation and roads, programs for the elderly and families, and education money.  OR NOT– if we do not get everyone counted!  Over the next few months we will be getting the word out about the Census with information booths, events and information boxes located around town.  Please stop by and ask any questions you might have.

There is also a big push for more census workers, so flyers and posters will be placed around town – in English and Spanish – about jobs.  If you know anyone interested, the number to call is 866-861-2010.  Or, the website is        www.2010censusjobs.gov in case you know people who need jobs.  Jobs can be full or part time and they will most likely work in Hutto.  They place everyone in their own area – unless they find that they are especially skilled in something, like getting people to fill out their forms, then they might ask them to help in other areas.

2010 Census to Begin – Be Cautious About Giving Information to Census Workers

Citizens of Hutto,

With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Hutto Police Department advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country.  Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data.

The big question is – how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist? The Hutto Police Department offers the following advice:

If a Census Bureau employee is at your door, he or she will:

-  Show you their Census Bureau identification badge

-  Tell you the name of the survey for which your participation is needed

-  Provide a copy of the notification letter you received, or should have received, in the mail describing the survey.

The field representative will also tell you approximately how long the survey will take to complete, why the information you provide is important, and how the Census Bureau protects the confidentiality of your answers.

Depending on the survey, a field representative or enumerator may carry a laptop or hand-held computer bearing the insignia of the Census Bureau. Some of their surveys no longer use paper questionnaires and the field representative will enter your responses directly into the computer. This allows them to process information more quickly and improves the quality of the statistics produced.

Never give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim it is needed; nor will employees ask for donations.  Any one asking these types of questions is NOT with the Census Bureau, and you should report it immediately.

Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, the Census Bureau will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census Bureau.

If a Census Bureau employee has called you and you would like to verify that the person calling is indeed a Census Bureau employee you may confirm this by using the telephone center number listed on the Census Bureau webpage located at  www.census.gov/npc/contactus.html

If you have questions about the survey, you may call the Census Bureau Regional Office at (214) 253-4400 or 1-800-835-9752.  For more information on the 2010 U.S. Census, visit http://www.census.gov/survey_participants/ 

Hutto Citizens University

The City of Hutto is now  accepting applications for the Spring 2010 Hutto Citizens University Program.  This  leadership program has been designed to improve attendees understanding of municipal government and their role in the community as well as develop a pool of knowledgeable potential elected or appointed future leaders for Hutto when opportunities to serve on various city boards, commissions, committees, and/or the city council become available. Graduates of this program will be eligible to participate in Hutto Citizens University Alumni to serve as ambassadors of the City and to encourage community involvement. 

 To apply for the 2010 Hutto Citizen’s University the applicant must be 18 years old, preferably live and/or work within the City of Hutto or the Hutto ETJ (extra territorial jurisdiction), and commit to attend eight of the ten classes.

 The 2010 Hutto Citizen’s University is free to applicants; light refreshments will be served during each class.  

Hutto Citizens University Alumni Officers will select twenty (20) class members based on the criteria provided in the application.

Each class is expected to last 1 to 1 ½ hours and will be held each Tuesday evening beginning February 2, 2010 and will run through April 20, 2010.  

The deadline to submit applications to the City Secretary is 5:00 pm on Monday January 11, 2010.  The application is available on the City Secretary’s webpage, listed under “Quick Links”, or in the lobby of City Hall located at 401 W. Front Street.

For additional information, please contact City Secretary, Debbie Chelf at 759-4033 or via email at debbie.chelf@huttotx.gov

Have a Safe and Happy New Year!

Have a Safe and Happy New Year!

The City would like to encourage its citizens to have a safe New Year’s Eve by reminding its residents that discharging ANY fireworks within the City limits or within 5,000 feet outside the city limits, within the extraterritorial jurisdiction, is a violation of City ordinance and will be considered a public nuisance.  It is especially dangerous for children to engage in igniting fireworks.

The police department is directed and required to seize any fireworks found within the City’s jurisdiction and will have zero tolerance for offenders.  Any person who violates any of the provisions of this ordinance will be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished by a fine.

Please be respectful of your neighbors and comply with the law by not participating in the detonation of fireworks.

For further information, please call the Hutto Police Department at 846-2057.

Thank You Citizens

Dear Citizens of Hutto,

With the New Year here, the City would like to give thanks for those who graciously donate their time on our citizen boards and commissions.  We have nearly fifty citizens who take part in volunteering their energy to provide advice, direction, and assistance to the City Council and staff during the year.  During this past year, our boards and commissions have served all of us well with their hard work.  They are our silent heroes as they quietly plan and direct our successes without the attention that comes to the City Council and other elected officials.

We are blessed to live in a positive community, which is the by-product of the hard work of the following boards and commissions:

Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors

Ethics Commission

Friends of the Library Board of Directors

Historic Preservation Commission

Hutto Youth Advisory Commission

Keep Hutto Beautiful Commission

Parks Advisory Board

Planning and Zoning Commission

Zoning Board of Adjustments

 

As our city grows, we continue to need more interested citizens to get involved.  If you are interested in serving on an advisory board or commission, please fill out an application and return it to the City Secretary.  The applications are available in the City Secretary’s Office or online at HuttoTx.gov.

I hope that all of our citizens have a Happy New Year!

Dave

David F. Begier