1. Harlingen Image Committee Mayor’s Quality of Life Forum August 18, 2007

2. Harlingen Image Committee David Smith Cheryl LaBerge Elaine L. Flores Ricky Leal Paul Johnson Doak Dunkin Mike Allex Monica Solomon Danny Hoehne Nick Consiglio

4. Our Charge Identify initiatives to improve Appearance Look Visual impact Cleanliness

8. Goals To be the Cleanest, Greenest and most Beautiful City in the Valley. To be a modern and attractive city by using proactive methods established by model cities nationwide.

9. Focus Areas Clean Up Green Up Step Up

10. “Clean Up” !

11. Clean Up Signage Property Maintenance Gateways

12. Clean Up: Signage Quality signage shows you are a quality community! Short-Term Solutions Proactive enforcement of current sign ordinance Train & empower all city employees to address sign violations

15. Clean Up: Signage Mid-term Solutions Review sign ordinance to consider Reducing total sign size/area Reducing sign height Reducing sign clutter Prohibiting future billboards Establishing a permanent sign review committee. Setting new and more rigorous design standards. Requiring permits for all signs

18. Clean Up: Signage Long-Term Solutions Phase out non-compliant signs Consider phase out of billboards

20. Clean Up: Property Maintenance Short-Term Solutions Pass resolution supporting enforcement of International Property Maintenance Codes to eliminate blight. Additional Code Enforcement Staff Establish and Maintain Proactive Code Enforcement Illegal dumping, vandalism, graffiti, junk vehicles, boats, trailers, etc. Establish Friends of Rigorous Code Enforcement (Proud Patrol)

23. Clean Up: Property Maintenance Mid-Term Solutions Consider establishing fund for incentives for property enhancements. Public education Reexamine penalties/fees for code violations Review Code Enforcement staffing & funding as city grows.

26. Clean Up: Property Maintenance Long Term Solutions Consider use of web cams for chronic illegal dump sites. Encourage citizen reporting of illegal dumping, vandalism and graffiti Consider passing graffiti ordinance with penalties to property owners regarding clean up More Neighborhood Watches & neighborhood clean- ups

29. Clean Up: Gateways/Major Arteries First impressions are lasting impressions! Short-Term Solutions Eliminate sign clutter on Primera Rd Exit. Remove deteriorated welcome sign at VIA Improve directional signs to major attractions and remove deteriorated directional signs. Remove dumpsters along major Arteries Address other code violations

34. Clean Up : Gateways/Major Arteries Mid-Term Solutions Install attractive, professional, welcome signs, impeccably landscaped and lit at night to create ‘grand’ entrances to the city. Develop plan to regularly clean welcome signs and maintain landscaping at all entrances Identity and plan additional beauty spots to wow visitors traveling along major arteries. Liaison with TXDOT to upgrade directional signage on expressway, frontage roads and major arteries.

35. “Green Up” !

36. Green Up Harlingen Garden City Ordinances Investment Maintenance

37. Green Up Harlingen Ordinances Short Term Strengthen existing landscape ordinances to improve overall appearance of Harlingen Enforce ordinances

38. Mid-Term Establish a public tree care ordinance Establish a tree preservation ordinance Earn Tree City USA Minimum $2 per capita Host annual Arbor Day celebration Establish a tree board Adopt a public tree care ordinance Green Up Harlingen Ordinances

39. Long Term Provide continuous, non-political effort to improve the image of Harlingen. Establish a horticulture division for City of Harlingen. Green Up Harlingen Ordinances

40. Green Up Harlingen Investment Short Term City of Harlingen to plant 100 trees Create prioritized list of landscape projects At least 10% of 4B budget for landscape beautification projects Complete 2 major gateway projects

45. Green Up Harlingen Investment Mid Term Establish a public/private partnership Complete 2 – 5 major projects per year Increase budget for horticultural maintenance Apply for grants for future horticultural projects

46. Green Up Harlingen Investment Long Term Establish a botanical garden Work with partners on improvement of Arroyo Colorado

48. Green Up Harlingen Maintenance Short Term Audit of current maintenance plan Increase budget for maintenance of landscape and horticultural projects Recognize beautiful landscapes

50. Green Up Harlingen Maintenance Mid-term Develop an educational program Increase budget (per capita growth) Revitalize and expand past projects

51. Green Up Harlingen Maintenance Long Term Maintain Garden City vision through continuous improvement continuous education continuous “Synergy Partners” investment Revitalize & improve past projects

52. “Step Up” !

53. Harlingen’s Image Synergy Harlingen Improvement Board City Sector Representatives and other Volunteers Property Owners Private Partnerships

55. “Step Up” “Green Up” “Clean Up”

56. “Step Up” Immediate Resolution from the Mayor and City Commission which supports and commits to “Clean Up”, “Green Up” and “Step Up”. Increase support, funding, scope and empowerment of Harlingen Proud. Expand and initiate new educational programs to the schools and public through Harlingen Proud initiatives.

57. “Step Up” Establish and maintain a Recognition Program, implemented through Harlingen Proud, which identifies and rewards exemplary individuals, neighborhoods, and businesses that are great examples of “Clean Up”, “Green Up” and “Step Up”. Follow up meetings of the “Synergy Partners” to determine the additional courses of action and financial allocation needed to support various Step Up, Green Up, and Clean Up initiatives.

58. Thank you