Forest Hill News
Visit us on the web @ www.foresthilltx.org
Volume 7, Issue 3 December 2016/January 2017
Santa helps bring holiday cheer to Forest Hill
The Bilingual Santa was on hand again this year for the 36th
annual Christmas Celebration ushering in the holiday season on Thursday, December 1. Mayor Gerald Joubert acted
as Master of Ceremonies.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Choir set
the festivities in motion followed by the Choir from David
K. Sellars Elementary with lively holiday music.
After door prizes including six bikes were given away,
Santa arrived in a fire truck and visited with nearly 150
youngsters. Holiday treats were given to the kids as the
City Council became Santa’s Elves assisting with crowd
control and goodie bag distribution. The event was coordinated by the Celebration Committee and city staff.
Choir from David K. Sellars
Employees of Year honored at Party
Latter-day Saints Choir
City Employees of the Year were honored at the Employees
Christmas Party on December 2 including Bobbie Spence
- City Hall, Adolfo Cruz - Public Works, Kyle Slovak - Fire
Department and Sharin Lozano - Police Department.
Planet Fitness coming to Forest Hill
Santa visits with local youngster
Planet Fitness will remodel the space currently occupied
by BK Imports (6605 Forest Hill Drive) as well as buildout and utilize the space that has been vacant to the south
of that store (previously occupied by Kroger). The entire
state-of-the art health club will be approximately 20,000
square feet. This development has been in the works for
quite some time….and now we are happy to report that it’s finally come to fruition! Stay tuned for details about the grand
opening which will take place in the Spring
(April/May).
A Message from the Mayor:
From our home at City Hall…
To your home in our city….
From heart to heart…
Near and Far.
Wishing you and yours peace this holiday season…
From the City Council...
Regular City Council Meeting - December 6, 2016
The City Council met for a regular meeting on Tuesday, December 6, with all members present.
• Police Chief Dan Dennis held a pinning ceremony for Corporal Christopher Schlief who now holds the rank of Corporal. His family was on hand for the pinning.
• During the Mayor’s Report, Mayor Joubert reported on a
City Council Retreat and acknowledged the appointment of
Councilwoman Carlie Jones as the new Director of Region
11 for the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials
covering New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Mayor Pro Tem
Ozell Birks reported that Mayor Joubert was appointed as
2017 Chairman for the Mayors Council of Tarrant County.
(See page 3.)
• The consent agenda was unanimously approved including:
(1) Approval of November 21, 2016 Minutes; and 2) Awarding contract for Truett Street and West Lane Water Line Replacement project to R&D Burns Brothers in the amount of
$128,416.50 (a Community Development Block Grant Project).
• Minutes of the November 1, 2016 Council Meeting were
approved later in the meeting after clarification.
• Three public hearings were held on routine matters including
two replats for land where Holiday Inn Express will be built
with address changes to 3500 and 3550 Southeast Loop 820
and a change in Specific Use Permit for new owners at Best
Western, 3230 Forest Hill Circle. All three were unanimously
approved later in the meeting.
• An ordinance approving a zoning change to General Business
for 4136 Mansfield Highway was unanimously approved. Another ordinance approving a Specific Use Permit for Quik Trip
for off-premise alcohol sales was also unanimously passed.
Both cases were previously approved after a public hearing in
The Forest Hill Municipal Court
would like to wish you
A Safe and Merry Christmas.
You better watch out!
Drive sober or get pulled over.
Happiness and all the love your heart can hold….
And an abundance of joy to share with family, friends and
neighbors.
Here’s to a Happy Holiday and Blessed 2017! May your
dreams and wishes come true every day of the new year.
Yours in Service,
Mayor Gerald Joubert
February but passage of an ordinance did not occur.
• Adding the Mayor and Council Members to the Freshbenies
Health Plan for a total cost of $840 per year was put on hold
pending further information.
• An agreement for Wastewater Service with Fort Worth was
unanimously approved.
• Four appointments to the Arts Commission were made including Sydney Jones, Audra Scott, Deborah Lewis and Sheran Keyton. Three more positions remain to be filled. (Interested individuals can fill out an application at City Hall.)
• The Council voted to cancel the December 20, 2016 and January 3, 2017 Council Meetings in a unanimous decision.
• City Manager’s Report included: (1) Sheyi Ipaye’s appointments to the North Central Council of Governments Public
Works Council; (2) Attendance at the 2016 Springsted Symposium; (3) Report on a Tarrant Appraisal District Case; (4)
Report regarding sale of real estate; (5) Planet Fitness coming
to Forest Hill with renovation costs of $2 million (see front
page); and (6)
Report regarding Annual Water Payout to
the City of Fort
Worth and negotiations to lower
that amount.
• An Executive
Session was held
to consult with
the City attorney
on two lawsuits: Stephanie
Boardingham v.
City of Forest
Hill and Anne Corporal Christopher Schlief and his
Frost v. City of family with Police Chief Dan Dennis.
Forest Hill.
Sign up today to participate in the third annual
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade
Walking groups, praise dancers, bands, drill teams and floats
are welcome to join elected officials and local organizations in
this event.
To obtain a sign-up form, log onto the city's website to print
off the form - look for the "MLK Day graphic." Return it by
December 31st. There is no cost to participate. Questions?
Call 817-568-3009.
Looking for a place to hold an important event?
The Forest Hill Civic & Convention Center has a room
to suit your needs and all at a reasonable price!
Call 817-708-2051 for a tour or more information.
Joubert named Chair of Mayors Council
Mayor Gerald Joubert was recently appointed as the 2017
Chairman for the Mayors Council of Tarrant County. He
was the Vice Chairman in 2015 and 2016, and has been
a member of the organizations Economic Development
Committee and Nominating Committee since 2013. Mayor
Joubert has been a Legislative Representative for the Mayors Council since 2014.
Rental units must register annually
As part of the City of Forest Hill Code of Ordinances, any residential property (single and two-family/duplex) that is utilized
as a “rental dwelling” must be registered annually and obtain
inspections as required by ordinance. Ordinance #200895 can
be found on the city’s website at www.foresthilltx.org . Under
“City Services” tab, click on the City Secretary page, then navigate to the “Code of Ordinances” link on the left side of the
page to search for the ordinance.
The purpose of this city ordinance is to ensure that landlords
of residential rental properties are involved in maintaining single family homes in a safe and sanitary condition, helping to
achieve a sustainable community, and provide for safe housing in all neighborhoods of Forest Hill. A Rental Registration
Application (one per property) for each property location you
own and rent, must be completed and returned to the Permit
Department with the $40.00 annual fee per property by March
31. Failure to do so by that date will result in an additional
$25.00 fee for late payment. Note that failure to register any
rental property and obtain necessary inspections may result in
the city issuing a citation for non-compliance. Additional registration forms may be copied from the original or downloaded
from the city website under the Business & Development tab,
“Permits” link.
If you need assistance or have questions, please call the Permit Department at 817-806-4561 during our
regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Thank you for
your cooperation and prompt attention to this
matter. We are here to help you in any way
we can.
Volunteer in the community!
Serve on a Board or Commission
Call 817-568-3040 for info
Business Permits now due December 31
In accordance with Ordinance #2012-07-002, all businesses operating within our city must obtain a yearly Business
Permit. An annual Business Permit Application is available
online at foresthilltx.org or at the Permit Department at City
Hall. It must be returned, with the appropriate fee, to our
Permit Department no later than December 31, 2016. When
paying by credit or debit card, certain fees apply. If the application and fee are not on file by January 31, 2017, an additional fee of $25.00 will be assessed. Please note that the
Business Permit is required to be paid annually.
Additionally, every business in Forest Hill must possess a
valid Certificate of Occupancy (CO) to be operating within city limits. If you do not have a valid CO, you will not
be issued your annual Business Permit until inspections are
completed and passed and you are provided your CO. If you
have a valid CO, please provide a copy of it with your annual
Business Permit Application and payment. A Certificate of
Occupancy application is also available on the city’s website, www.foresthillt.org.
If you need assistance or have questions, please call the
Permit Department at 817-806-4561 during our regular
business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 5:00
p.m. or via email at [email protected].
Thank you for your cooperation and prompt attention to
this matter. We are here to help you in any way we can.
Veterans Day event draws hundreds
Mayor Pro Tem Ozell Birks, Council Member Clara
Faulkner, Council Member Michielle Benson, special guest
speaker Army veteran Eva Fulton, Council Member Carlie Jones, Deputy Mayor Pro tem Malinda Miller and City
Manager Sheyi Ipaye at Veterans Day Breakfast.
Community Calendar
All meetings are subject to change. City info: www.foresthilltx.org.
December 14 - South Tarrant Chamber of Commerce 11:30 a.m. - Civic & Convention Center. (Choir) Lunch
$15. Reservations - 817-586-9092
December 19 - Blood pressure checks & BINGO - Senior
Center - 9:30 a.m.
December 20 - No City Council Meeting
December 21 - Forest Hill Historical Commission - 3 p.m.
- City Hall.
December 23-26 - City offices closed for Christmas. Emergency personnel on duty. Call 9-1-1 for help!
January 2 - City offices closed for New Year’s Day. Emergency personnel on duty. Call 9-1-1 for help!
January 2 - No Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting.
January 3 - No City Council Meeting.
January 4 - Lions Club - 7 a.m. - Hampton Inn - NOTE
CHANGE. Visitors eat free
January 5 - Neighborhood Watch Meeting - 7 p.m. - Civic
& Convention Center. Info: 817-905-9494
January 6 - Food Bank Day - Senior Center - for seniors
who are regular attendees
January 9 - Blood pressure checks & BINGO - Senior Center - 9:30 a.m.; Parks, Recreation & Clean City Commission Meeting - 5 p.m. - City Hall; Police Alumni Association Meeting - 6:30 p.m. - Civic & Convention Center;
Friends of the Library Meeting - 7 p.m. - Library - Info:
817-551-5354
January 16 - City offices closed for Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr. Day. Annual Parade - 9 a.m. Lineup at Civic & Convention Center. Emergency personnel on duty. Call 9-1-1 for
help!
January 17 - City Council Meeting - 7 p.m. - City Hall
January 18 - Lions Club - 7 a.m. - Hampton Inn - NOTE
CHANGE. Visitors eat free; Forest Hill Historical Commission - 3 p.m. - City Hall.
January 23 - Blood pressure checks & BINGO - Senior Center - 9:30 a.m.; Library Board Meeting - 6 p.m. - Library.
January 28 - Forest Hill Church of Christ Helping Hands
Food Program Distribution - 8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
January 30 - Blood pressure checks & BINGO - Senior
Center - 9:30 a.m.
Note: Emergency warning sirens are tested the first Wednesday of each
month at 1 p.m. weather conditions permitting. Details on website.
Low cost animal vaccination clinic
ANIMAL CLINIC OF FOREST HILL
Every 2nd Saturday of the month
2 p.m. - 4 p.m. at 3350 Lookout Drive
817-551-3700 for info
FROM THE FOREST HILL LIBRARY
Library: 817-551-5354 or
http://www.harveypubliclibrary.org
Check out the new website!
LIBRARY HOURS: Tuesday-Thursday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.;
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Closed Friday, Sunday & Monday.
Chamber lunch features Wyatt
culinary class and T.A. Sims
On November 16, the
South Tarrant Chamber of
Commerce luncheon was
prepared by the chefs of
the Culinary Department
at O.D. Wyatt High School
including barbecue with
all the trimmings. Special
speaker was Fort Worth ISD
Board Member T.A. Sims.
Cleanup Day brings in tons of trash
Cleanup Day on November 12 involved numerous volunteers who helped with the haul-off of 14 dumpster loads of
trash plus recycling.
MONDAY, JANUARY 16TH - Kickoff @ 9:00AM
(@the Civic & Convention Center)
TO MARCH, RIDE OR WALK,
CALL 817-568-3009 FOR ENTRY FORM