Plantation Colony Sidewalks being Repaired and Replaced

Dear Resident,

A City of Sugar Land contractor is scheduled to begin sidewalk rehabilitation work in the Plantation Colony Subdivision during the week of September 20. The scope of the project is to remove and replace sidewalk slabs that, over time, have settled and created tip hazards.

The contractor has been instructed to remove and replace individual sidewalk slabs within one week's time. The objective is to ensure that homeowners will be directly inconvenienced by the presence of the contractor in their front yard for no more than 7 days. The entire Plantation Colony Subdivision Sidewalk Rehabilitation Project is scheduled to last approximately 90 days.



It is anticipated that the removal and replacement of the sidewalk slabs will be minimally invasive to residents' front yards. However, if an area greater than four inches in width from the new sidewalk is disturbed, it will be repaired using sod. If the disturbed area is less than four inches in width it will be filled with bank sand. In most cases the sidewalk will not be removed and replaced in the same day.

Areas where the sidewalk has been removed will be secured with orange construction fencing to ensure pedestrian safety when the contractor is

not present.



The City requests residents turn off their irrigation systems when construction starts in front of their home. Residents are welcome to turn the systems on once the construction is complete. Please test irrigation systems immediately after the completion of the work at your home so that if the system was damaged during construction, repairs can be made promptly. The City's contractor will make the repairs professionally and at no charge to the resident.



Should you have any questions or if you would like additional information, please feel free to contact me at any time.



Sincerely,

Michael Leech

Assistant Director of Public Works

The City of Sugar Land

mleech@sugarlandtx.gov

(281) 275-2483 office

(713) 201-3379 cell

Sugar Land Police E-Policing Newsletter

Dear Sugar Land residents,


We are committed to impacting crime in your area, but we cannot do it well without help from the community. We need citizens like you to assist us with crime detection and deterrence. Always be observant of any suspicious persons or vehicles and notify the police department at 281-275-2525 as quickly as possible. If you see a crime in progress, call 911.

Bullying

September always makes me want to go out and buy bouquets of freshly sharpened pencils, thumb through L.L. Bean magazines and begin stock piling cardigan sweaters in varying shades of orange. The idea of starting the school year with new shoes and a new hair cut was always invigorating! But along with all the good things September brings, it also brings up the topic of bullying. If you have watched the news in the past few years, you will have already seen the many stories of children troubled by this problem. All too often, bullying is ignored and let go until it is a serious issue. However, there is a way to stop this, and there are signs along the way; you just have to pay attention.

Every day in our communities, children and teens are threatened, teased and tormented by bullies. As a parent, teacher or friend, you hold the key to preventing and stopping it. Below you will find a link to the National Mental Health Information Center. On this page, you will find links and resources for parents, grandparents, educators, children and teens.

We are so busy today that often times children fall through the cracks of everyday life. Between sports activities, church functions and family commitments, little time is spent talking with our children about their day. You will see on the “15+ Make Time To Listen” portion of the NMHIC site that it only takes a few minutes a day to really find out what is going on in our children’s lives.

Read more about bullying

Crime Trends:

During the months of July and August, Sugar Land experienced four incidents of a person identifying themselves as a police officer. The suspect’s intent was to steal the victim’s credit cards after asking for the person’s wallet and identification. This crime very rarely occurs, but a criminal who is this daring needs to be taken off the street as soon as possible. The suspect in the Sugar Land cases was dressed normally and on foot when he made his initial contact with the victims. The suspect displayed what appeared to be a gold badge and said he was a police officer. If approached by someone who tells you they are a police officer, but there are no obvious indications they are for real, like the presences of a marked police car or a uniform, consider taking the following actions.

If you are pulled over by an unmarked car:

turn on hazard lights and continue driving until you reach a well-lit, public area;

stay inside your vehicle with the doors locked, and roll your window down just enough to speak with the person; and

always ask for identification.

If approached on foot by someone who tells you they are a police officer, ask for identification and closely look and read the card. Anyone can purchase a badge that might look real, so always ask for an identification card. If your are still unsure, request a supervisor. If an officer refuses to show you their identification, this action should concern you.

If this person leaves or you suspect the identification is fake, immediately report the incident to the police department. A real law enforcement officer will respect your concern and take the time to explain his actions and properly identify himself.

Enforcement Alert

From Aug. 20 through Sept. 6, SLPD will be out in force looking for intoxicated drivers. The City has received a state grant allowing officers to work in an overtime capacity to specifically target drunk drivers through the Labor Day holidays. Have a designated driver or call a cab before risking injury to yourself or someone else.

Questions or Concerns

If you have any questions or concerns about crime in your area, please feel free to call our office.

Crime Prevention Unit:

Sgt Mike Richards

281-275-2509

Officer Eric Babnew

Beat 1

281-275-2578

Officer Amy Cummins

Beat 2

281-275-2575

Officer Harris Johnston

Beat 3

281-275-2580

Officer Ron Foster

Beat 4

281-275-2579



Officer Lauren Stockholm

Beat 5

281-275-2956



Beat Map



Daily Crime Report

To check criminal activity in your area, click here. You may perform a search on your specific subdivision or view all areas of the City.



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SLPD News Release: 'Click It or Ticket' Mobilization to Boost Safety Belt Use and Save Lives

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


May 19, 2010

Contact: Doug Adolph

281-275-2724



'Click It or Ticket' Mobilization to Boost Safety Belt Use and Save Lives



Sugar Land, TX -Sugar Land police are joining state and local law enforcement agencies during May 24 to June 6 for an aggressive "Click It or Ticket" mobilization to crack down on safety belt violations and reduce highway fatalities.



Locally, SLPD will focus on the following intersections: U.S. Highway

59 at Highway 6, Sweetwater Boulevard at Palm Royale Boulevard, Country Club Boulevard at Sugar Creek Boulevard, First Colony Boulevard at Colony Lakes Drive, West Airport Boulevard at Eldridge Road, Lexington Boulevard at Colonist Park Drive and Highway 6 at Kensington Boulevard.

The enforcement will also focus on U.S. Highway 59, State Highway 6, U.S. Highway 90A and other areas in the City.



Transportation officials say state laws enacted in 2009 could result in more citations this year if drivers and passengers fail to heed new safety belt requirements.



For the first time, all passengers in the back seat now must be buckled up, and children younger than 8 years old have to ride in a child safety seat or booster seat unless they are taller than 4 feet 9 inches.

Drivers with children in the vehicle will be cited if their young passengers are not properly secured. Fines range from $25 to $250 plus court costs.

According to the Texas Transportation Institute, motorists least likely to buckle up continue to include men, teen boys and pickup drivers and passengers.



"Regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes," said Sgt.

Wayne Coleman, of the SLPD Traffic Division. "When worn correctly, seat belts have proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent - and by 60 percent - in pickup trucks, SUVs and mini-vans."



The enforcement crackdown is funded by a Selective Traffic Enforcement Program grant from the Texas Department of Transportation in the amount of $8,000. The money will be used to pay for overtime to put additional officers on the street.

COSL News Release: Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson to AttendHistoric Minor League Baseball Agreement

Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson to Attend Historic Minor League Baseball Agreement



Sugar Land, TX - Sugar Land City Council will consider a formal agreement with Opening Day Partners, LLC on Tuesday, May 18 to bring a minor league baseball team to Sugar Land.



As part of the public-private partnership, ODP will develop and operate a professional minor league baseball stadium in Sugar Land.



ODP Chairman Peter Kirk and Partner Brooks Robinson, a Major League Baseball Hall of Famer and a member of MLB's All Century Team who won

16 consecutive Gold Glove awards from1960-1975, are expected to travel to Sugar Land for the historic agreement. City Council is scheduled to take action during its regularly scheduled meeting, which begins at 5:30 p.m.



The agreement outlines a process expected to result in Sugar Land's new baseball team taking the field in April 2012. Sugar Land's new team will play in the Atlantic League, independent baseball's highest level. The Atlantic League plays a full season of 140 games, with most players having MLB or Triple-A experience. Sugar Land will be the first club of a planned western division of the Atlantic League.



A "name-the-team" contest will be announced soon with the winner to be awarded lifetime season tickets, according to Jon Danos, ODP's president.



The City is assessing ideal sites for the stadium, locations providing the greatest benefit for the community. One site that continues to be explored is at U.S. Highway 59 and University Boulevard where the City leases land from the University of Houston System at Sugar Land.



"As the project is anticipated to spur significant economic activity and potential ancillary development, we are studying locations within the community where a stadium might provide an economic stimulus for other development projects," said City Manager Allen Bogard.



Sugar Land's pursuit of a public-private partnership for the development and operation of a year-round ballpark is anticipated to result in a "family friendly" multi-use design that will provide the potential to support college and high school baseball tournaments, concerts and other dynamic uses.



"We are honored to have been selected to be a partner in Sugar Land's entry into professional baseball," said Robinson.



"We plan to open an office in Sugar Land soon and will begin becoming a part of this great community," added Kirk.



ODP has a strong background in minor league baseball with more than 27 years of experience in developing multi-use ballparks and successfully owning and/or operating minor league teams of all classifications.



ODP -- a community-focused operator that emphasizes year-round community events and activities at their stadiums -- has designed, constructed and operated 14 such ballparks since 1982. They have owned and operated their own minor league teams, operated teams for others, assisted in the sale and purchase of teams and advised and consulted with communities, U.S. Olympic committees, Major League Baseball and others throughout the world.

City of Sugar Land Crime Prevention Newsletter

Dear Sugar Land residents, We are committed to impacting crime in your area, but we cannot do it well without help from the community. We need citizens like you to assist us with crime detection and deterrence. Always be observant of any suspicious persons or vehicles and notify the police department at 281-275-2525 as quickly as possible. If you see a crime in progress, call 911.

ABC's of Pool Safety A = Adult Supervision Assign an adult to supervise children in and around the swimming pool and spa. This is needed whether there is one parent or guardian present or numerous adults present such as during a family event or party. Maintain constant eye-to-eye supervision with children in and around the swimming pool and spa. Remove children from the swimming pool and spa area for any distraction such as a telephone call, use of restroom, etc. B = Barriers Have a fence enclosure that isolates your swimming pool and spa from the home, play areas, front and side yards and the neighbor’s yard. Make sure all gates in the isolation fence are self-closing and self-latching. Multiple layers of barriers isolating the pool and spa from children should be installed. C = Classes Learn how to perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Enroll your child in swimming lessons. Read more about the ABC's of Pool Safety

Basic Swimming Pool Safety Tips Protect Your Child From Drowning With These Simple Pool Safety Tips Drowning is one of the major causes of accidents resulting in serious injury and death in children. Parents should not be fooled into thinking that their child is safe just because he/she knows how to swim. In a lot of these cases accidents happened even though the child knew swimming. Accidents in the swimming pool can happen very suddenly without warning. It is very important that all parents follow these basic safety precautions especially if there is a swimming pool at home. Never allow your youngster to swim alone without any adult supervision. It is quite common to develop a cramp underwater, or for accidents like hitting your head while diving for example, to occur. It is paramount that there should be persons around to help in such situations. Do not allow children with no knowledge of swimming in or around the pool. For good pool safety make sure that all kids above the age of 4 attend a certified swimming class, or at least learn basic flotation techniques and life saving techniques in case of accidents. Children younger than 4 should always be accompanied by their parents in the pool. Read more Swimming Pool Safety Tips

Diving Safety The Consumer Product Safety Commission Cautions Divers about Improper Diving Practices Diving injuries can result in quadriplegia, paralysis below the neck, to divers who hit the bottom or side of a swimming pool, according to CPSC. Divers should observe the following precautions: Never dive into above-ground pools. They are too shallow. Don't dive from the side of an in-ground pool. Enter the water feet first. Dive only from the end of the diving board and not from the sides. Dive with your hands in front of you and always steer up immediately upon entering the water to avoid hitting the bottom or sides of the pool. Don't dive if you have been using alcohol or drugs because your reaction time may be too slow. Improper use of pool slides presents the same danger as improper diving techniques. Never slide down head first-slide down feet first only.

Crime Trends Identify Theft Identity theft, or identity fraud, is when one person assumes another person’s identity by obtaining personal information for deceptive use or criminal activity. Many times, identity theft is done to gain access to finances or frame another person for a crime. Identity theft is, in short, a crime against another person. Your personal information, such as your Social Security Number, your bank account and credit card numbers and other identifying data are not unique to you as your fingerprints are. Obtaining this information may be a little easier than you think, and there are plenty of uses for your personal information if it falls into the wrong hands. Identity theft is on the rise around the world, mostly because it is getting increasingly easier to obtain people’s private information with the dawn of the Internet. Every day, more and more web sites are popping up on the Internet and more and more of them are not legitimate businesses-they are only there to get your information, preferably your credit card number, so they can commit fraud and charge your card or assume your identity. Sugar Land residents are not immune to this type of activity. Last year there were just over 300 reported cases of Fraud, this was an increase from 2008 in which there were just over 260 cases reported to the police department. Read additional preventive steps to keep in mind to lower your risk from becoming a victim

Traffic Law Reminder Sgt. Wayne Coleman with the Sugar Land Police Dept. would like to remind drivers that cell phone usage in school zones is illegal. There are signs posted in all school zones with-in the city limits of Sugar Land. This does not mean while school is in session. It’s before and after school while the lights are flashing or the school zone speed limit is enforced. The only exception is when you have a hands free device. Texas - House Bill 55 - House bill 55 was signed by the Governor in June of 2009. The new law prohibits the use of a wireless communication device within a school crossing zone.

Questions or Concerns If you have any questions or concerns about crime in your area, please feel free to call our office. Crime Prevention Unit: Sgt Mike Richards 281-275-2509 Officer Eric Babnew Beat 1 281-275-2578 Officer Amy Cummins Beat 2 281-275-2575 Officer Harris Johnston Beat 3 281-275-2580 Officer Ron Foster Beat 4 281-275-2579 Officer Lauren Stockholm Beat 5 281-275-2956 Beat Map

Daily Crime Report To check criminal activity in your area, click here. You may perform a search on your specific subdivision or view all areas of the City.

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