coppelltx.gov March 2019

Advanced Water Meter Bills May Increase

The City’s Advanced Water Meter installation team is

trucking right along! To date, we have installed approximately 4,694 new meters throughout Coppell, and the remaining meters will be installed in the coming months. The City will contact residential and commercial customers using various communication tools to inform them of when the advanced water meter installation team will be in their neighborhood. ---An exciting feature of the advanced water meter system is a web-based customer portal that can be accessed from a computer, tablet, or smart phone. City staff are working with the vendor to have the customer portal available to residents and businesses four to six weeks after meters are replaced in each neighborhood. Once a new meter has been installed, the utility account holder will need to create a user account to access the customer portal. The dashboard or customer portal will provide residents and businesses with access to usage data for their new meters only. By accessing the portal, customers will be able to more closely monitor their water consumption and adjust their usage accordingly.

---The customer portal will also include a link that will allow customers to access historical usage data for the old meter and the ability to pay their bill.

Currently, monthly usage history is available by accessing the Utility Billing page of the City’s website and clicking on the “pay water bill” button.

---The advance water meter system also brings improved accuracy as compared to the current water meters. During the development and investigation phase of this project, existing meters that were tested were found to only be registering approximately 90% of actual water used. The new automated readers are expected to register at least 98% of actual water usage.

What does this mean to our community?

---With the more accurate meters, it is very possible that members of the community will receive water and sewer charges that are higher than statements for a corresponding month in a previous year. It is highly likely that comparing consumption history of the old meter to the new meter will be different for many customers because the old meter was not registering all of their water usage. For some, it is possible that the old meter has not been registering any usage. Due to the advanced water meters and more accurate reading of actual usage, regis-tered consumption may show a decrease or an increase. In the

event of an increase in registered consumption, customers should expect to receive a larger water and sewer charge than they did previously.

---As the customer portal becomes available, City staff encourage community members to access the customer portal and monitor their account. Account holders can establish a leak alert that will send an email notification if the system is detecting a leak at their home or business. The customer can also setup usage alerts which will generate an email when the account meets the usage threshold established by the account holder. In short, Coppell residents are being pro-vided the tool and data needed to better monitor and “Get to Know Your H2O” to prevent surprises.---In addition, City staff will be monitoring reports for high consumption and possible leaks. Staff will contact account holders to notify them of high con-sumption and/or possible leaks. Therefore, it is important that the Utility Billing department has a current email address or phone number for all account holders. Please contact the Utility Billing Department at 972-304-3695 to update your contact information.

---For more information on the Advanced Water Meter project, visit coppelltx.gov/h2o or call the Utility Billing Department at 972-304-3695.

Drop in during visitor hours to learn about the Biodiversity Ed-ucation Center, Coppell Nature Park and the seasonal programs offered. While you’re here, learn about the local environment through self-guided, hands-on activities, books and other inter-active items. Then take what you learn out on the trails to become true EcoExplorers! Check the Biodiversity Education Center’s Facebook page for weekly themes. Open to all ages, but children must be accompanied by an adult. Free admission.

EcoExplorerTuesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays9 am – NoonBEC | 367 Freeport Pkwy.No EcoExplorer April 13 & 27

Join the Biodiversity Education Center for the City Nature Chal-lenge this Spring to help document the plants and animals of Coppell Nature Park. This annual event is part of a global effort to see which city can make the most observations of nature, find the most species, and engage the most people. Become a citizen scientist by using your personal mobile device to collect data while exploring the trails.For more information about the City Nature Challenge, visit citynaturechallenge.org.

City Nature Challenge Saturday, April 2710 am - NoonBEC | 367 Freeport Pkwy.

Solar energy in this country is becoming very affordable and financially attractive. This sem-inar is about actual residential costs, results, and experiences as gathered from area residents who use solar to offset rising electrical demand. Coppell res-ident Lou Duggan will share his hands-on experiences with solar from service provider to actual costs and savings. If you’re con-sidering solar, you will want to attend this seminar!

FCNP:“Residential Solar”Saturday, April 2010 am - NoonBEC | 367 Freeport Pkwy.Free admission

March 2019 Coppell News

255 Parkway Blvd., Coppell, TX 75019info@coppelltx.gov | 972-462-0022

coppelltx.gov

Parks & Rec Board April 1 6:30 pm

City Council April 9 7:30 pm

Planning & Zoning April 18 6 pm

City Council April 23 7:30 pm

Coppell Farmers Market Schedule

The Coppell Farmers Market will return to a weekly schedule in April! Enjoy delicious fruits and veggies every Saturday!

Old Town Coppell768 W. Main St.coppellfarmersmarket.org

---A sense of belonging is not just a desirable element in one’s life, it’s a basic need for a happy and fulfilled life. It’s no wonder Coppell’s small-town feel is one of the main reasons residents say they decided to call the city home. With steady growth and changing demographics since the 1970s, Coppell has managed to maintain a close knit and engaged community. As the population continues to evolve and diversify, the City has taken an innovative approach to carry on and strengthen the bonds of the community by celebrating differences, making connections and finding common ground through the Allies in Community initiative.---Active residents from all backgrounds, cultures, and walks of life were chosen to form the program’s first cohort. This group has been tasked with sharing Coppell’s legacy of volunteerism and civic engagement and planning for its future to continue to foster that sense of belonging in a changing community. Each

person in the cohort brings unique insights and experiences to help carry out this monumental vision.

---“Demographics are definitely shifting, which is good because it enriches the residents of the city,” Mohamed Elmougy, a cohort memeber, said. “It is my duty as a resident of Coppell to help facilitate that shift in demographics.”

---The Allies in Community experience has brought attention to diversity and awareness, and the intermingling of experiences has also sparked a variety of other concepts for cohort members.While the first Allies in Community cohort will continue to explore diversity, volunteerism and community engagement

Place your grass clippings and leaves in pa-per lawn bags or an open top trash canStack and tie your tree trimmings in piles that do not exceeed 4’ and 40 lbsPlace your yard trimmings at the end of your driveway on Wednesday before 7 am

Place your leaves and grass clippings in plastic bags (Plastic is not biodegradable and will be taken separately as trash)Place trash, rocks, soil, plastic, or paper in-side your yard trimming bag or container

throughout the next several months with the hopes of paving the way for future cohorts, many members agree that they have already established an unprecedented environment of understanding. It is a safe and respectful place for everyone to discuss opinions, broaden perspectives, build relationships, and realize that while we all might think, see, and do things differently, there is always a way to find common ground.

---To read the full article, visit coppelltx.gov. If you would like to get involved with Allies in Community, visit coppelltx.gov/allies and click on the “Join Our Mailing List”, or email allies@coppelltx.gov.

Summer is coming, and that means it’s time for teen volunteers at the Library! Volunteer opportu-nities start Saturday, June 1 and run through July 31. Applications will be available online on April 28. Applications will be accepted through Monday, May 13.

Check back in April for more information. For Coppell residents ages 12 -17.

For more information on this and other events, visit coppelltx.gov/library.

Allies: Legacy, Future, Belonging

April Meetings

Volunteens at the Library

Yard Trimming Collection Tips - Do’s and Don’ts

Contribute to the development of next year’s budget. Join City Staff for an interactive meeting to review priorities and current projects that will influence next year’s operating budget.

Town Hall MeetingTuesday, April 2 | 7 pmCoppell Town Center 255 Parkway Blvd.

Composting ClassSaturday, April 6 11 am – 1 pmSenior and Community Center 345 W. Bethel Rd.Hosted by Keep Coppell Beautiful, learn the basics of composting, including how to start your pile, do’s and do not’s of composting and what to do with the compost you create. The second half of the class will be spent in the garden where you can practice hands-on techniques and view composting piles in different stages of decomposition.

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