In observance of Thanksgiving, there will be no residential trash, curbside recycling or brush/bulky collection on Thursday, Nov. 23. Collection will shift to the next day. In addition, the following facilities will be closed Nov. 23-24:
H eritage Aquatic Center I rving Animal Care Campus I rving Arts Center N orth Lake Natatorium
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All city offices will resume normal business hours on Monday, Nov. 27. Visit CityofIrving.org for more information.
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Trash collection goes back to twice-per-week starting Dec. 4. Guidelines and updated map available in English and Spanish.
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C ity Hall H unter Ferrell Landfill I rving Archives and Museum I rving public libraries R ecreation centers
IRVING, TX PERMIT NO. 883
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City Holiday/No Trash Collection
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A N O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E C I T Y O F I R V I N G
IRVING POLICE AND FIRE BLUE CHRISTMAS Irving Police and Fire continue the tradition of giving back to the community this holiday season through Irving Blue Christmas benefiting the children of Irving. Nov. 11 | 14th Annual Pancake Breakfast 9 to 11 a.m. | Plymouth Park Baptist Church, 1714 N. Story Road Santa will be at the Irving Police and Fire Blue Christmas Toy and Food Drive during the annual pancake breakfast. The event will feature raffles and a silent auction. Nov. 18 | Food and Toy Drive 2 to 6 p.m. | Walmart, 4100 W. Airport Fwy. Toy donations include new, unwrapped toys for both boys and girls, from newborn to 17 years old. Nonperishable food items include canned vegetables, peanut butter and boxed cereals.
Lee Park Swimming Pool Public Input, Design Contract More than two dozen Irving residents attended the Oct. 19 Lee Park Pool Public Input Meeting to share their thoughts on a conceptual design for the future Lee Park Pool. The new pool will feature a beach-style entry, lap lanes, interactive features, a play zone and shaded seating. Demolition of the 60-year-old existing pool and construction of the new pool is anticipated to begin in summer 2024.
Check out the QR code for ICTN Coverage of the Meeting
The deadline to apply for assistance is Nov. 10. Those in need of Blue Christmas assistance can pick up applications at Irving Independent School District schools. Toy donations (new and unwrapped) can be made at any Irving Fire Station. The deadline for all donations is Dec. 5. Residents can stay updated by following Blue Christmas on social media platforms. Search Irving Police and Fire Blue Christmas on Facebook, @irvingbluechristmas on Instagram, and @BlueChristmas1 on Twitter. For more information, email irvingbluechristmas@gmail. com or visit IrvingBlueChristmas.org.
SCAN for ICTN VIDEO
During the Sept. 14 City Council meeting, the Council voted unanimously to approve The Fain Group, Inc. as the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR), as well as a design services contract with Dunaway Associates Inc. The design contract includes the design of a new familyoriented neighborhood pool at Lee Park. The CMAR is a project delivery method in which a construction manager is hired to oversee a project through completion. Using
Conceptual design of new Lee Park Pool shown at Oct. 19 Public Input Meeting.
the CMAR method helps shorten the overall project time to construct the new Lee Park Swimming Pool, as well as streamline the process to provide the highest overall project quality for the most economical cost to the city. Stay updated on Lee Park Pool and the other exciting projects at CityofIrving.org/PlayIrving.
Irving Legislative Insider Pulls Back Curtain on State Legislation Impacting the Community Protecting Irving Resident Interests from State Attacks on Local Authority Hostility toward local governments came into full view in 2019, after legislators attempted to pass a bill that would keep cities and counties from advocating for themselves in the legislature. The sitting Speaker of the House Dennis Bonnen was recorded in a meeting with State Representative Dustin Burrows saying they “hate” cities and counties and promising the next session would be even worse than the last. Over the years, the Texas Legislature has increased efforts to diminish local control by limiting the city’s ability to make decisions in the best interest of the community. The city-state relationship has changed drastically with state-level preemptive legislation and decisions that negatively impact municipalities. Irving’s ability to govern and provide essential municipal and community services has been hindered by state legislation that takes a one-size-fits-all approach. Since 2015, about 25 percent of all bills filed affected cities. For the most recent 88th Legislative Session, that number was more than 2,000 bills.
Resident awareness and involvement are key to protecting and maintaining the safety, finances and quality of life of each individual who lives in Irving. Irving Legislative Insider is a public awareness campaign to educate residents about the negative impacts some state legislation has on communities across Texas. Visit CityofIrving.org/Legislative-Insider for more information and to subscribe to email updates.
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CHANGE YOUR CLOCKS, CHANGE YOUR BATTERIES Don't forget to set clocks back one hour for the ending of daylight saving time Sunday, Nov. 5. As part of the Irving Fire Department’s Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery campaign, residents should also replace smoke alarm batteries when changing clocks this month. All smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years.