By Jeffrey Vitarius
(Civic meetings happen in Waco every week – city council, school board, planning commission, and countless others. Decisions from these meetings affect our lives every day. Many of us are curious about these meetings, but to be honest, it’s just too hard to decipher the jargon and figure out what’s going on and why it’s important. Act Locally Waco is trying something new in August! Jeffrey Vitarius follows civic meetings for his work and out of personal interest. Each week in August he will pick a meeting in our community and highlight one or two items from the agenda to translate from “government-ese” into language we can all understand. We’re calling the series “Meeting Insights.” Let us know what you think! If you enjoy it, we will try to keep it going! — ALW )
The Waco City Council meets every other Tuesday. The work session starts at 3:00, that is where most of the explanation and discussion happens. The business session is at 6:00, that is when the council takes action (votes). The public is invited to attend either or both of these sessions, although, for the time being due to COVID-19, that attendance is virtual through the Waco City Cable Channel (WCCC.TV/live) with public comments sent in ahead of time. Today we will highlight Work Session Agenda item 3…taxes.
Meeting Basics
- Work Session – 3:00 pm / Business Session – 6:00pm
- To watch the live stream click here (City of Waco Cable Channel, wccc.tv)
- For the full agenda click here
- For the meeting packet with the documents pertinent to the meeting click here. I will refer to page numbers from this packet in the notes below.
- Details on how to provide public comment are listed in the agenda
Work Session Agenda item 3 – WS-2020-508 – Discussion of the Property Tax Certified Appraisal Roll and Certified Estimate of taxable value, as well as information on the No-new-revenue Tax Rate, the Voter-approval Tax Rate, and the Tax Collection Rate.
Agenda item 3 is just one part of an ongoing budget process. So, let’s start with a bit of a timeline. Two weeks ago, city staff talked through preliminary budget projections with City Council (minutes and video). Since then city staff has received a certified estimate of tax value (more on that below) and developed a proposed budget and tax rate. This week the council will discuss these proposed items and set a public hearing on the budget (tentatively – 9/1) and the tax rate (tentatively 9/1 with vote on 9/8). In today’s “Meeting Insights” we’ll zero in on the tax rates.
The image above comes from this week’s meeting packet and lists three kinds of tax rates: the Proposed Tax Rate, the No New Revenue Tax Rate, and the Voter-Approval Tax Rate.
Most of us are familiar with the Proposed Tax Rate – that’s the rate we would pay should it pass. The city applies this rate to the values it receives from the McLennan County Appraisal (MCAD) to calculate its property tax revenues for the year.
The “No New Revenue Tax Rate” is the rate that would generate the same revenues as the last year, taking into account changes in appraised values. In other words, if property values went UP last year, the No New Revenue Tax Rate would go DOWN – because a lower rate would get the city the same amount of revenue. If property values went DOWN last year, the No New Revenue Tax Rate would go UP – because the city would have to charge a higher rate to get the same amount of revenue. As the name implies, it is the rate that would result in “No New Revenue.”
(Note: The No New Revenue Tax Rate does not take into account new property. It looks at the property from last year’s appraisal roll, and the revenues from those properties, not new properties that may have come on the roll since.)
This year provides an interesting example. The value of taxable property from last year went DOWN compared to the year before. On net, properties last year declined in value. So, the No New Revenue Tax Rate this year is higher than the Property Tax Rate from last year. If there were no new properties, the city would expect to collect less in property taxes than it had the previous year if the Property Tax Rate remains the same.
Why does the city calculate the No New Revenue Tax Rate? Because you need that rate to be able to calculate the Voter Approval Tax Rate. The “Voter Approval Tax Rate” is the maximum rate allowed by law without voter approval. These two rates are connected by a multiplier that is decided by the Texas Legislature. The multiplier changes from time to time, but currently the Voter Approval Tax Rate is basically the No New Revenue Tax Rate X 3.5%. (I say “basically” because some adjustments are made to take into account debt service.) In other words, the city may not impose a Property Tax Rate more than 3.5% times the rate needed to collect the same tax revenues as the previous year. (The language around tax rates can be somewhat confusing. If you are interested, here is an explainer from the Texas Municipal League with much, much, much more information.)
For the past six years, the city’s tax rate for property taxes has been “0.776232/$100” or about 78 cents for every $100 of property value. The city’s income from property taxes has steadily increased over the last six years because the value of taxable property within the city limits (and the addition of new property this year) has been steadily on the rise, not because the city has increased its tax rate. In the 2019-2020 budget property taxes made up a little less than a third (29%) of the city’s operating budget.
For this fiscal year, the city is projecting to continue the $0.776232 per $100 tax rate from previous years. Since this rate is less than both the “No New Revenue Tax Rate” and the “Voter-Approval Tax Rate,” no tax-rate election will be necessary. If all proceeds as proposed, the average homeowner would pay $1,276.63 in city property taxes next year.
Here is another interesting point: the chart above shows a number called “ARB Pending Discount.” What is that? COVID-19 has slowed the tax assessment and protest process. As a result, the city has received an ESTIMATE of property values rather than a certified VALUE like they usually get. The city has accordingly subtracted about 3% of the estimated values. This is the amount the city anticipates property value protests will drive down appraised values – that is the “ARB Pending Discount.”
The budgeting process continues!
Other Interesting (to me) Items From the Agenda:
- The city is looking at purchasing a boat slip at Ridgewood Marina. This should reduce the response time of the Fire Department’s new rescue boat from 10-12 minutes to 8 minutes or less
- The J.H. Hines Elementary Sidewalk Project is proceeding. This week the council plans to approve an Advance Funding Agreement with the state of Texas. The project requires no local match and the City would be responsible solely for non-reimbursable costs and any overruns.
Jeffrey Vitarius has been actively local since early 2017. He lives in Sanger Heights with partner (JD) and his son (Callahan). He helped found Waco Pride Network and now serves as that organization’s treasurer and Pride Planning Chair. Jeffrey works at City Center Waco where he helps keep Downtown Waco clean, safe, and vibrant. He is a member of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church and graduated from Baylor in 2011.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected]for more information.
| NEWS RELEASE Baylor University’s Lifelong Learning (LLL) has opened online registration for 2020-2021 annual membership and fall courses and events. A hard copy will arrive in mailboxes in early August, but you don’t have to wait to see LLL’s courses and events or to register yourself online. Receive a 10% discount on class fees if you register yourself online. Because of Baylor staff members working remotely, mailed in registrations will experience significant delays, and LLL cannot take phone registrations at all at this time. Please do NOT leave a credit card number on the LLL voicemail. People who have taken courses within the last three years already have a student profile. Log into that profile to register rather than creating a new one. If you do not know your login credentials, choose “forgot password.” Once logged in, follow these instructions to register. Click the button below to register for any of the eight engaging courses designed by your Curriculum Committee: — “People of Interest” Book Review, with Bob Anne Senter; — Dicey Dames: Women in the Bible, with Rosalie Beck; — Your Family Tree, with Dr. Judith Staples; — How to Survive and Thrive Through Transitions in Family and Friends’ Relationships, with Dennis Myers; — Write Your Memoir, with Dr. Elaine White; — Voices from WW2: Discovering Combat Veterans’ Untold Stories, with Brad Livingstone; — Introduction to Reading C.S. Lewis, with Dr. Thomas Hanks; and — Goal Setting that Brings Results, with Mona Dunkin; — The Best Monuments of the World with Larry Smith. Because health and safety are our highest priorities, all LLL programing will take place online this fall using the communication platform Zoom. Save your registration confirmation email, since it will contain your class link. Participants are encouraged to install the program early and practice with family and friends before the fall semester begins. Three free practice sessions are scheduled so you an experience Zoom before classes start. You can find details on the Courses page. If you received a credit because of a canceled class or event during spring 2020, that credit will automatically be applied to your account. You should be able to see it when you click “checkout.” COURSES SPECIAL EVENTS |
Editor’s Note: July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. It is an effort to elevate voices, to listen and better understand, and to support the unique needs and range of experiences of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.
By Joy Pfanner
A group of helping professionals in Waco came together five years ago to discuss the need for more mental health support for the Latino, and especially Spanish-speaking, community in our city. That group consisted of local pastors, social work professors and students, mental health professionals, and other social service providers who work directly with the Latino community or are passionate about creating equitable access to resources for this population.
The Bienestar Latino Mental Health Coalition was born. It sought to provide education in order to increase accessibility to mental health resources within the community and to destigmatize mental health concerns and treatment.
“Bienestar” is the Spanish word for “well-being.” When we talk about being “well,” we are not only referencing finding help and healing from mental illness. We are also talking about the following:
— learning how to manage stress and disappointment;
— “wellness” in all areas of life that directly affect our mental health, including our physical health, our spiritual/emotional health, and our relationships;
— having all of our daily needs met;
— finding healing in the midst of loss, finding new ways of coping, and learning that our mind and our bodies are so interconnected that the two cannot be separated, and we must honor and care for both.
We felt “Bienestar” was a holistic, all-encompassing word to describe what we hope to share with the Latino community.
As the newly formed coalition began to consider what its impact might be, it saw an opportunity to reach out to local churches and provide mental health information to their congregations. In the early years, outreach included monthly coalition meetings and an annual one-day workshop on various mental health topics for pastors.
As the coalition continued to grow, the group decided to take a more direct approach by going into churches upon invitation and providing educational workshops on mental health to the congregants. This strategy has proved successful and the coalition has been able to reach a larger number of people this way.
All workshops are offered in Spanish, as well as English, in order to ensure that language is not a barrier to learning about mental health and receiving information about services in Spanish within the community.
As the coalition continues to expand its capacity and reach, we hope to build more relationships in various sectors in order to reach even more people within the Latino community.
Mental health resources offered in Spanish are very limited in Waco; currently you can count on one hand the number of Spanish-speaking therapists here. With such little access currently available, the coalition hopes to provide up-to-date information about mental health and the Spanish-speaking mental health services that do exist in the community, as well as partner with other organizations and universities to work toward increasing the number of Spanish-speaking helping professionals available.
The coalition is composed of incredible people who volunteer their time to do this meaningful work, and all services we provide are free. Most of our work is being done virtually for the time being due to COVID-19. We have big dreams for the coalition, and we continue to plan for ways in which we can better serve and care for our Latino community.
To connect with us, please visit us at Bienestar Latino Mental Health Coalition on Facebook or email us at [email protected].
We are always happy to welcome new members to the coalition, as well as to talk with you about ways in which we can partner to offer workshops on mental health related topics.
Joy Pfanner is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Waco. She assists Ana Chatham, LCSW, with managing Bienestar Latino Mental Health Coalition. Joy has many years of experience providing both clinical and non-clinical social work services to the Spanish-speaking community. Joy holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from Baylor, and prior to moving back to Waco, she spent about three years living internationally in Spanish-speaking countries.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected]for more information.
“The Lord bless you and keep you. Make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” — Lyrics from the song, “The Blessing”
By Dr. Tyrha M. Lindsey-Warren
The words from the song, “The Blessing” by Cody Carnes, Elevation Worship, and Kari Jobe, inspire the second season of the Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival, which kicks-off on July 31, 2020 with our 1st Annual Community Barbecue and Back-to-School Picnic and the opening of our film submissions on August 15, 2020.
Given all that is going on in our world today led by the unpredictable backdrop of the Coronavirus, the Festival team wanted to start our second season featuring the voices of families from Waco and across Central Texas to sing a blessing over our community. Here is a sneak peek of “The Blessing,” on our new YouTube channel.
The full version will be released on 7/31. The song/video is about 4 minutes long and features around 15 vocalists and musicians. The video will be available on the festival’s YouTube page, social media and website at WacoFilmFest.org. Many thanks to Dr. Stephanie Boddie for being the inspiration for the effort, along with Dr. Horace Maxile, who served as Musical Director, and Cody Nethery, who served as Co-Producer and Editor.
In addition to our Blessing Project, we also continue to live our mission of being “dedicated to EMPOWERING the creative spirit, SERVING with heart, and CELEBRATING all!” On July 31, 2020, in the parking lot of Extraco Bank at 1700 North Valley Mills Drive, we will continue to serve the Waco community with heart with our 1st Annual Community Barbecue and Back-to-School Picnic. Due to City guidelines, this event will be a DRIVE-THRU picnic with all of the traditional fixings, from FREE barbecue prepared by the Extraco Bank Barbecue Pit Crew to FREE school supplies and backpack distribution, fun film gifts, and fabulous music played by DJ Auggie! Thanks to Mr. Alex Eichenberg of Extraco Bank, Mrs. Rosemarie Tatum of the Delta Alpha Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Mrs. Jocelyn Williams of Grassroots Community Development, and Susan Krause of the YMCA for your wonderful volunteerism and support of this effort.
In conclusion, our Festival team believes in the power of film and storytelling to empower and change lives for the better. We ALWAYS work to do our part for the betterment of our community and our world in service of humanity. The Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival will continue to be an agent for positive change as well as work to open the hearts and minds so that we all may treat each other a little better, be kinder to each other, and perhaps love each other a little better because at the end of the day, we are all more alike than we are different.
We look forward to seeing you on July 31, 2020, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., in the parking lot of Extraco Bank (1700 N. Valley Mills Drive, * Waco, Texas 76710 (and while supplies last)) as we celebrate our community at the 1st Annual Community Barbecue and Back-to-School Picnic! You don’t want to miss it! Blessings!
Dr. Tyrha M. Lindsey-Warren is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Marketing at the Hankamer School of Business at Baylor University. At Baylor, Dr. Lindsey-Warren teaches Advertising, Digital Marketing and is the Founder of the Baylor Business Advertising Summit. She is also the Founder and Producer of the Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival. In her spare time, Dr. Lindsey-Warren sings jazz professionally and has opened for GRAMMY award-winning jazz musicians. Dr. Lindsey-Warren is married to Sidney Warren, a successful entrepreneur.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
By Anna Dunbar
If you’ve ever lost track of garbage day or raced outside after hearing the garbage truck, you’re in luck. Residents of the City of Waco can download a free smartphone app called “Waco Curbside Services” to get notified of all things waste-related. For your home address you can get notifications for your specific trash/recycling pick-up day, what goes in your carts, how to contact us and much, much more!
Available for free on Google Play and the Apple App Store, smartphone users can get waste and recycling collection information, calendars, and the latest updates, in English or Spanish, on their phone or tablets. Residents can choose to receive a garbage day reminder, whether it’s 6 p.m. the day before, or 7 a.m. the day of collections.
As the person responsible for outreach, I am so excited to introduce this new app to our residents. Personally, I have found myself using mobile apps more and more and mobile websites less and less. This app is easy to use and offers tools to help you do the right thing while setting out your trash, recycling, or yard waste.
As described, the app has the City of Waco Solid Waste calendar with blue and green weeks and holidays.
What about getting rid of a broken vacuum cleaner? Use the “What Goes Where” tool in the app to learn what your options are. There are even links to the request form for a replacement trash cart, new blue or green cart, and a form to request bulky waste collection.
Also, the app can send you reminders about setting out your carts or special days on the calendar, such as a Wednesday collection day due to a holiday. If there is critical waste collection information that needs to get out quickly, Waco Curbside Services app subscribers will be the first to know.
The City of Waco’s goal is to provide everyone with easily accessible information about what to do with your “stuff.” We know everyone is busy and some folks do not have time to call our customer service number during 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
I think this will help us all do the right thing with our trash, our recyclables, and our yard waste. Residents will be able to get answers to questions in a more convenient manner.
What if you do not own a smartphone? Don’t worry, information will still be available at Waco-texas.com as well as in the City Limits newsletter. The wonderful City of Waco Solid Waste Services customer service representatives at (254) 299-2612 will continue to be available to answer your questions in English and Spanish. Those services are not changing! The app is just another tool to help you!
Anna Dunbar is the solid waste administrator for the City of Waco Solid Waste Services. She is responsible for informing Waco residents and businesses about recycling and waste reduction opportunities as well as solid waste services in Waco. Her husband is a Baylor professor and her daughter is a Baylor University alum who works at Horizon Environmental Services, Inc. Anna is an active member of Keep Waco Beautiful and The Central Texas Audubon Society.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
By Maegan Bennight
As if navigating today’s world wasn’t challenging enough, cue coronavirus and the pandemic of 2020. Every family is affected to some degree, and some have multiple situational factors in play that are affecting decisions being made or that are waiting to be made.
Many have placed their education or career on hold in order to care for their children who are no longer occupied by their school day. Summer camps and day care are options, but they don’t always have openings, are not always affordable, or they may not make sense for a family logistically.
In some cases, childcare facilities have had to close for quarantine purposes, which can wreak havoc on a family’s routine and stability. Some people are able to call upon someone within their support system for help, but not everyone has a support system in place.
It is sometimes in a moment of crisis that we realize the reliability of those in our support system and/or the flexibility and diversity of our support system. If this pandemic has taught me nothing else, it is that while I would love to call myself independent and self-sufficient, I am capable of so much more with my village and that I am so much better with my village.
Sure it’s easy to do things on my own — no one’s input to listen to, no one’s availability to have to work around, no one to inconvenience me, and so on. But the truth is that we are not meant to do everything on our own; we are meant for connection – connection with others.
The makeup of our village can mean the difference between our family merely surviving and our family thriving, so I encourage you to check your village. Is there space in your village that could stand to be filled? Maybe you possess a skill or have resources that are needed by another individual, or maybe you know of a resource that could also be helpful for someone else?
Our goal at MCH Family Outreach is family preservation, and it may be needed now more than ever. Family preservation depends upon our connection with others.
In response to the havoc coronavirus has caused in our area, we are offering a new virtual caregiver empowerment group for women raising children. Join us as we share ideas and support one another toward thriving families!
The first meeting of “It Takes a Village: A Support Group for Women” will be 2-3 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, online via Zoom. Future meetings will be on the first and third Tuesday of each month.
For more information or to sign up, contact Bridges at 903-326-3379 or [email protected].
Maegan Bennight is a case manager in the MCH Family Outreach office providing support to parents, grandparents, and other caregivers raising children in and around Waco. She is a wife, mother to a 6-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son, a graduate of Texas A&M University, and a Central Texas native. You can contact her at [email protected].
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected]for more information.
By Emily Hunt-Hinojosa
Internet access has become a critical part of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The need for distance learning, working from home, and telehealth has risen, but about 20 percent of Waco households lack Internet access.
Some parts of our community are more likely to have internet subscriptions than others. According to the American Community Survey (2018), 49.2% of households within the 76704 Zip Code did not have an internet subscription, compared to 13.4% in 76712.
Without Internet access, adults and children may have great difficulty in carrying out their work and education, as well as connecting with doctors during this pandemic.
You can explore the data yourself through Prosper Waco’s new community data portal, WacoRoundTable.org. At the website, click on “Let’s Explore” under the Discover Community Data header on the splash screen. This takes you to what is called the Map Home Page. Click on “Education” or “Health” under topic and “No Internet Access” under indicator.
Under Geography Type, select “ZIP Code” or “Census Tract” to look more closely at your part of the community or another area of our county.
Emily Hunt-Hinojosa is director of research and community impact at Prosper Waco. She is responsible for evaluating progress toward community goals in the areas of education, health, and financial security. Dr. Hunt-Hinojosa holds an Associate Fellowship at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture, where she was employed prior to joining Prosper Waco. She holds M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the Department of Sociology at Baylor University, as well as both a master’s in higher education and student Affairs and a bachelor’s in social studies education from Taylor University.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected]for more information.
By Emily Mills
Facing systemic, generational poverty as a mom who has survived exploitation and trafficking is no easy task. Meet “Mimi,” a single mom and survivor of exploitation and trafficking who has worked the past three years for a Waco fast food restaurant after graduating from the Jesus Said Love ACCESS program. When COVID-19 struck, she lost hours at the restaurant and the daycare was temporarily shut down.
Mimi has played a valuable role in our organization, and we knew the crisis was hitting her and her family hard. Our organization, along with other women in our network, stepped up to help cover Mimi’s childcare and rent costs. A temporary band-aid but necessary.
Mimi, however, was not the only single mom in need of help, her story is representative of our population. The Department of Justice has identified poverty as a top risk factor for women and children living in poverty to become prey to human trafficking and exploitation. In the current crisis, impoverished single working moms have been impacted severely as daycares have been shut down and businesses have cut back low wage workers, increasing their vulnerability.
The stakes are high for this population. Desperate moms will do what it takes to make ends meet. Pimps and traffickers target easy prey. Our JSL family of survivors was getting hit hard, and we knew we had to step in.
Early in the COVID crisis, Diane Heavin, one of our donors, reached out to JSL with a trailer of diapers and wipes to distribute, but we had no real strategic plan. That’s when I knew I needed to tell Mimi. I told her about the need to reach more women just like her and that we had been given a massive amounts of diapers and wipes to distribute.
Without missing a beat Mimi responded, “I live among these moms; these are my people, I got this.” Within 24 hours Mimi had named a new outreach initiative, “Love Thy Mama,” and my job was to empower her to accomplish that vision.
Love Thy Mama is an outreach program of JSL targeting those who are most vulnerable to exploitation and human trafficking — women living in poverty. Love Thy Mama aims to help decrease this vulnerability by meeting emergent needs first — necessities such as milk, diapers and wipes — as well as provide relational, community, wrap-around support.
JSL hired Mimi part time to lead Love Thy Mama. Her personal goal is to go back to school to gain knowledge in nonprofit management.
Stefanie Erwin, another JSL ACCESS program graduate and mother of four who formerly lived in extreme poverty herself, is our case manager who works alongside Mimi. Stefanie remembers what it was like filling water up for her kids in public parks and forgoing her own nutrition so her kids had enough to eat.
The team has big hopes for Love Thy Mama to reach vulnerable women so they don’t feel the need to turn to sex exploitation, which puts them and their kids at highest risk for trafficking, violence, and HIV/AIDS.
Women in poverty aren’t to be pitied but empowered. That’s the top priority of Love Thy Mama.
Love Thy Mama has already served 132 Waco women in their efforts and distributed 2,000 diapers, 3,780 wipes, 28 meals, and is receiving 75-90 gallons of milk per week to give away. Moms in need of milk, diapers and wipes can come by JSL Headquarters at 1500 Columbus Ave., Waco, 1-3 p.m. Monday-Friday or after hours by appointment. Moms can also join the Facebook Group, Love Thy Mama, for free workouts, encouragement, job listings, and up to date educational information.
Emily Mills is founder and chief ideation officer of Jesus Said Love, a program of Bartimaeus Ministries. The nonprofit exists to awaken hope and empower change toward those impacted by the commercial sex industry. For more, visit JesusSaidLove.com.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected]for more information.
News Release from Waco Convention & Visitors Bureau
Waco is now officially a “Music Friendly” destination, a certification granted by the Texas Music Office, which is part of the Office of the Governor’s Economic Development and Tourism Division.
A grassroots local group began pursuing the designation about a year ago. The working group — Katie Selman, of Keep Waco Loud; Lindsay Liepman, of Channel 25; Fiona Bond, of Creative Waco; and Todd Bertka, director of the Waco Convention & Visitors Bureau — worked hard to earn the designation, and many people attended open meetings over a period of several months.
Planning culminated in a workshop in August 2019, chaired by Brendon Anthony, director of the Texas Music Office. Attendees, representing various styles of music, gathered at Brotherwell Brewing to win this designation for Waco.
Leaders at the workshop included the Music Association of Central Texas; Baylor University and McLennan Community College music programs; Waco Symphony Association; Central Texas Jazz Society; and dozens of musicians, studios, and venues representing every musical genre. All expressed their enthusiasm for and commitment to working together to make Waco a community that supports and promotes its professional musicians and rich musical heritage.
It was the largest workshop of its kind in Texas, with well over 100 attending.
The designation involves administering and maintaining the Texas Music Office online listings of Waco/McLennan County area musicians, studios, and others involved in the music business. This work will be done by the staff of Waco Convention & Visitors Bureau. These listings will be located at https://wacoheartoftexas.com/music.
The designation brings much to Waco. It establishes a public reputation for Waco as a community that not only has a growing and thriving music scene but as a community that promotes musicians. It connects Waco with
the Texas Music Office and its programming and initiatives that can benefit our community.
What we do in Waco will be amplified through the TMO’s social media, website, and channels. It allows Waco to work more closely with other Music Friendly communities to see what is working there and allows us to be innovative leaders in how we cultivate and support our music community.
It also improves communication between the Waco City Council and the music community as we are now more easily identifiable through the music census.
Waco has a trifecta of special designations awarded by the State of Texas: the Waco Downtown Cultural District, Film Friendly Community, and now Music Friendly. These designations are a powerful signal that Waco
wants to attract activity in these sectors, and that Waco supports those important parts of the Waco economy.
Waco’s Music Friendly designation is yet another reason Waco is an amazing destination for travelers and for local residents to enjoy.
“Music Friendly communities certified by the Texas Music Office are serious about developing local music industry growth,” said CVB’s Todd Bertka. “A strong music industry creates jobs and also generates unique experiences
for both visitors and locals.”
Fiona Bond, executive director of Creative Waco, said: “This designation helps us support and promote musicians from classical to contemporary – especially at this time when the performing arts have been badly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Waco has a huge amount of talent and we are confident that this designation will help amplify our musical talent and help move the industry forward.”
Waco Mayor Kyle Deaver will officially accept the Music Friendly certificate in a Zoom ceremony at 1 p.m. July 30. The ceremony will be streamed live on wccc.tv/live. The media is invited to request the Zoom link if they would like to stream the ceremony as well.
The Waco Convention & Visitors Bureau is a department of the City of Waco.
The City of Waco has announced that Blue Duck Scooters are doing a “soft” rollout today, July 17, downtown. Blue Duck has deployed about 50 scooters.
Here are some of the details of the pilot program:
Basic Information
This is an exclusive agreement between the City and Blue Duck to operate a pilot scooter share program for one year.
To rent a scooter, download the Blue Duck app on your phone.
Blue Duck offers discounted rides for low-income individuals, veterans, and active duty service members. To apply for any of these programs, go to their website flyblueduck.com/access/.
Fifty scooters will be deployed for the soft launch; additional scooters (up to 150 total) will be phased in. Any additional scooters will require permission from the City.
Operation
Hours of operation are 7 a.m.-10 p.m., 7 days a week.
Service area includes downtown, uptown, and East Waco.
— Parking and riding will be limited to within the service area only
— Baylor is a no parking and no riding zone
— Cameron Park is a no parking zone (zoo is OK)
— Indian Spring Park, Suspension Bridge, Doris Miller Memorial, and lower Riverwalk are slow riding zones
— Baylor riverwalk trail (as identified on Waco Riverwalk map) and Umphrey bridge are permitted for scooter riding and parking
— Sul Ross skatepark is a no riding zone
— Downtown Transit Center bus lane is a no riding, no parking zone.
Blue Duck will deploy scooters to designated zones within the service area.
Scooters are dockless and can be parked anywhere that doesn’t cause a safety concern or block pedestrian or business access. Riders are encouraged to return scooters to designated deployment zones.
Scooters will be rebalanced periodically throughout the day by Blue Duck staff.
To file a complaint, report an improperly parked scooter, or for assistance, contact Blue Duck customer service at 1-833-BLUEDUCK.
Blue Duck is implementing an enhanced cleaning procedure to keep our community and their employees safe. For more information go to their website: flyflueduck.com/covid/
General Rules
• Must be 18+ to ride
• One rider per scooter
• No riding on sidewalks
• No riding on roadways with speed limit greater than 35 mph
• Use the bike lane when available
• Riding on shared-use paths (Riverwalk) is OK
• Follow rules of the road
• Yield to pedestrians
• Helmets are encouraged
Maps and Scooter Details Below
