City of Sugar Land Celebrates 50th Anniversary

The city of Sugar Land is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year with a series of special events to commemorate the city ’s incorporation on Dec. 29, 1959. The official celebration was kicked off at this year ’s State of the City event, with the unveiling of the 50th Anniversary logo and special street light banners. The banners have been installed along major thoroughfares  to create awareness of this significant milestone in the city’s history.

City Council received a report on plans being made by the 50th Anniversary Citizens ’ Committee, which includes Prahba Bala, Vijay Bhuchar, Alice Fish, Angie Jones, Thelma Jones, Thomas Stewart and Terri Wang.

The task force was appointed by City Council to encourage community participation, assist in identifying and planning a 50th anniversary signature event and help fund and commission a commemorative art piece. The artwork will be located in City Hall and unveiled at the end of this year during a special ceremony.

The committee is also working with city staff to incorporate special 50th Anniversary celebrations during city events such as Eggstravaganza, Concerts in the Park; Red, White and Bluefest, Halloween Town and Christmas Tree Lighting. Residents or businesses interested in participating as volunteers, community partners or sponsors may sign up online at www.sugarlandtx.gov/50th.asp.

SLFD Targets Specialized Response in 2008

The Sugar Land Fire Department’s 2008 Annual Report reflected a continued commitment to regional partnerships intended to target specialized training and skills. During 2008, SLFD partnered with neighboring jurisdictions to create a countywide team focusing on structural collapse and heavy rescue.

A related initiative involved an inventory of mid-rise office buildings (three to six stories tall) and older structures that lacked sprinkler systems. This enabled the Sugar Land Fire Department to implement a comprehensive approach to reduce hazards and fire-related injuries. The initiative involved education for residents and occupants, pre-planning for possible fire hazards and firefighter training intended to familiarize personnel with “un-sprinkled” structures.

A partnership to enhance public safety services at Sugar Land Regional Airport resulted in 20 firefighters earning Aircraft Rescue Firefighting  certifications. The 20 ARFF graduates brought Sugar Land up to 59 firefighters with the specialized aviation skills.

While fires still pose a threat to life, property and the environment, advances in fire prevention and materials technology have made fire suppression less common than the provision of emergency medical services. A combination of code enforcement and education helps reduce the threat of fires.

Fire safety and prevention education continues to be a department priority.

Another achievement during 2008 was the department’s acquisition of an emergency notification system called Connect CTY. The system enables the city to quickly communicate with citizens by residential, business or cell phone as well as e-mail, text message or devices for the hearing and speech impaired.  

Priorities for 2009 include construction on the new Fire Station No. 1, planning for construction of Fire Station No. 7 in Telfair and firefighting gear and equipment will be evaluated and replaced as needed.

Missouri City’s Urban Forestry Program Grows

Creating a virtual forest, completing a tree inventory of city parks and recognizing “green” businesses are just a few of the projects on the horizon for Missouri City’s urban forestry program as it marks its one-year anniversary.

During the Feb.17 City Council meeting, Paul Wierzbicki, the city’s forester, explained how existing forestry projects are benefiting the lives of residents, then outlined upcoming priorities for the program. Missouri City is the first city in Fort Bend County and one of the first in the region to initiate an urban forestry program.

“This program gives residents a chance to become community developers by planting trees that will benefit several generations, ” Wierzbicki said.For information about these programs or to volunteer, contact Urban Forester Paul Wierzbicki at 281-403-8645.

Anti-Defamation League Names Sugar Land
Community of Respect

A year after being named the nation’s first Community of Respect, the Anti-Defamation League again recognized Sugar Land for its ongoing commitment to foster an inclusive and respectful community.

The ADL formally presented its 2008 Community of Respect award to Sugar Land during a City Council meeting on Feb. 17. The Community of Respect program is an initiative to help governments, nonprofit organizations, faith institutions, businesses and institutes of higher learning create an atmosphere that rejects prejudice and fosters respect and an appreciation for diversity.

Sugar Land was recognized for efforts to institutionalize the city manager’s Multi-Cultural advisory team, a citizen group that works to identify opportunities to promote a common city vision, while welcoming a rich and diverse understanding and interaction. Their goal is to:

•Help the city meet the needs of residents of all cultures and ethnic backgrounds and assist city staff to better meet the needs of all residents.

•Promote a citywide understanding of all cultures among all city residents, with the advisory team providing educational opportunities for residents to learn about cultures and traditions of Sugar Land groups.

•Build opportunities for residents of all backgrounds to share in and be a part of Sugar Land and American traditions —creating a common culture among all residents.

•A new community partnership between the Sugar Land Police Department and the Fort Bend Chinese American Association to staff a hotline for Chinese citizens who may be uncomfortable speaking directly with law enforcement or just don ’t know when to contact the police.

•Cultural training for police officers to help build effective relationships with Arab-American and Muslim-American communities.

Fort Bend County To Receive Ozone Monitor

Mark Vickery, executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, notified Fort Bend County Judge Bob Hebert that his request for an ozone monitor in Fort Bend County would be fulfilled prior to the start of the 2009 ozone season.

Although the monitor location has yet to be finalized, plans are to locate it in Sugar Land near U.S. Highway 59. The monitor will provide real-time data on ozone exposure levels in Fort Bend County to anyone with Internet access via the TCEQ air quality monitoring site on the Internet.  

“I was very pleased to know that the TCEQ found the means to place an ozone monitor in Fort Bend County. Since we are included in the Greater Houston non-attainment area, our citizens have a need to know of any potential ozone risks that may develop locally without going through complex extrapolation of data from surrounding counties, ” said Judge Hebert.

Once the monitor is operational, Fort Bend County will issue press releases and e-mail alerts as necessary during the ozone season through its public information center.

Sugar Land’s Crime Rate Declines

According to the latest available statistics, Sugar Land’s crime rate is well below the state and national averages—-51.1 percent and 36.5 percent lower than Texas and the nation, respectively. Since 2005, Sugar Land ’s crime rate has fallen 14 percent.  

The Sugar Land Police Department’s 2008 Annual Report included an 8.2 percent increase in the city’s crime rate over 2007, though detectives cleared 13 percent more of their cases during 2008. Categories largely responsible for Sugar Land ’s overall crime rate increase were burglaries and thefts, both considered non-violent Part I crimes.  

The largest increase in burglaries occurred north of U.S. Highway 90A, where 108 burglaries were reported during 2008 compared to 58 in 2007. Vehicles burglaries increased 13 percent last year and contributed to Sugar Land ’s spike in thefts.

SLPD’s focus on vehicle burglaries during 2008 included a special task force that saturated areas identified as “hot spots.” Impact teams comprised of patrol officers and detectives conducted special stings and surveillance operations, including the use of the department ’s bait vehicle program.

Residential robberies were down 26 percent during 2008, though a 10 percent increase in all city robberies was due to two additional bank robberies and two additional shoplifting incidents that involved physical altercations.