Hello Neighbors

I wanted to take a moment to pass on some correspondence that I think people in our NA would be interested in reviewing. I get quite a bit of email and some of these are kind of long so I will provide a bit of an index to the messages before jumping right in.

First off - we are wondering if anyone would like to take over responsibilities for our website. Perri has done an excellent job and we are very appreciative of what she has produced, but now would be a good time to give her a chance to step away from that work and someone else to step in. Let us know if you are interested or have questions.

Second item
If you are interested in learning more about mineral rights - there will be an opportunity on Nov. 7 at the Fort Worth Convention Center - more details below.

Third item
Elections are coming up and in the great state of Texas we've got a constitution that's as long as your arm. There are several amendments up for a vote this November. More details about them are below.

Fourth item
Also on the election will be renewal of the Crime Control Prevention District. This email is getting out a bit late to get to the informational meeting on Oct. 19th, but some information is about what the CCPD is all about.

Fifth item
Another fall plant sale at the botanic garden on Oct. 24.

Sixth item
We are so lucky to live in Fort Worth and have access to the many cultural events it provides. My wife and I frequently take in the free concerts given through the TCU music department and enjoy them so much I thought I would send along a bit of their upcoming schedule. It has been our experience that the Guest, Faculty and Student Recitals are generall free to the public - a great way to spend an evening and a short trip from our neighborhood.

More details on the above items are listed below.

On Saturday, November 7, 2009, beginning at 9:00 A.M. at the Fort Worth Convention Center, all Southwest Fort Worth Alliance residents can take part in a FREE Mineral Rights Leasing Forum called, “Know Your Rights”. Invitations to attend this forum are going out to multiple organizations and SFWA’s mineral owners will all receive an invitation soon, whether they have signed a lease or not.

The purpose of the forum is to provide everyone, including SFWA’s mineral owners, access to information on all aspects of mineral rights leasing and some of the secondary issues that arise from it. For more information regarding the NTLLG’s November Forum please visit their website at http://www.ntxleaselitigation.com

Please let your neighbors, family, and friends know that if they receive the letter, it is legitimate; we’ll also post a copy of the letter here on the alliance website. Please mark your calendars and save the date.

The forum is free, but if available parking fills up, you may need to pay for parking, so you and your neighbors and friends may want to carpool. Also, there is no childcare provided, so keep that in mind if you have little ones.

It’s important that this information reaches everyone, so that we can all be informed on what’s happened to date, and of our rights now that the landmen and brokers are knocking on doors again. Please help spread the word. We'll See you there.


All,
As an FYI, I was forwarded the following explanations of the 11 upcoming
TX Constitutional Propositions to be on the Nov. 3rd ballot by someone in
Kauffman County and since our people will be voting on these along with
the CCPD bit on Nov. 3rd, I thought I'd share this with you each and ask
for your comments on them. I didn't write this and don't know if this is
accurate or not etc. but it sounds as though 2,3,5 there is quite a bit in
here related to our property taxes. Prop 11 alters use and eminent domain
rights. TAKE A GOOD LONG READ!




Explanatory Statements for the November 3rd, 2009 Constitutional Amendment
Election:

Proposition 1 (HJR 132)
HJR 132 would amend the constitution to authorize the legislature to allow
a municipality or a county to issue bonds and notes to finance the
purchase of buffer areas or open spaces adjacent to military
installations. The buffer areas would be used to prevent encroachment or
to construct roadways utilities, or other infrastructure to protect or
promote the mission of the military installation. The municipality or
county may pledge increases in ad valorem tax revenues for repayment of
the bonds or notes.
The proposed amendment would appear on the ballot as follows: "The
constitutional amendment authorizing the financing, including through tax
increment financing, of the acquisition by municipalities and counties of
buffer areas or open spaces adjacent to a military installation for the
prevention of encroachment or for the construction of roadways, utilities,
or other infrastructure to protect or promote the mission of the military
installation."

Proposition 2 (HJR 36 - #1)
HJR 36 would amend the constitution to authorize the legislature to
provide for the taxation of a residence homestead solely on the basis of
the property's value as a residence homestead, regardless of whether the
property may have a higher value if it were used for other purposes.
The proposed amendment would appear on the ballot as follows: "The
constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for the ad
valorem taxation of a residence homestead solely on the basis of the
property's value as a residence homestead."

Proposition 3 (HJR 36 - #3)
HJR 36 would amend the constitution to require the legislature to provide
for the administration and enforcement of uniform standards and procedures
for appraisal of property for ad valorem tax purposes.
The proposed amendment would appear on the ballot as follows: "The
constitutional amendment providing for uniform standards and procedures
for the appraisal of property for ad valorem tax purposes."

Proposition 4 (HJR 14 - #2)
HJR 14 would amend the constitution to establish the national research
university fund to provide a source of funding that will enable emerging
research universities in this state to develop into major research
universities. The amendment would require the legislature to dedicate
state revenue to the fund and to transfer the balance of the existing
higher education fund to the national research university fund. This
amendment would further require the legislature to establish the criteria
by which a state university may become eligible to receive and use
distributions from the fund.
The proposed amendment would appear on the ballot as follows: "The
constitutional amendment establishing the national research university
fund to enable emerging research universities in this state to achieve
national prominence as major research universities and transferring the
balance of the higher education fund to the national research university
fund."

Proposition 5 (HJR 36 - #2)
HJR 36 would amend the constitution to authorize the legislature to allow
for a single appraisal review board for two or more adjoining appraisal
entities that elect to provide for consolidated reviews of tax appraisals.
The proposed amendment would appear on the ballot as follows: "The
constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to authorize a single
board of equalization for two or more adjoining appraisal entities that
elect to provide for consolidated equalizations."

Proposition 6 (HJR 116)
HJR 116 would amend the constitution to authorize the Veterans' Land Board
to issue general obligation bonds, subject to certain constitutional
limits, for the purpose of selling land and providing home or land
mortgage loans to veterans of the state.
The proposed amendment would appear on the ballot as follows: "The
constitutional amendment authorizing the Veterans ' Land Board to issue
general obligation bonds in amounts equal to or less than amounts
previously authorized."

Proposition 7 (HJR 127)
HJR 127 would amend the constitution to allow an officer or enlisted
member of the Texas State Guard or other state militia or military force
to hold other civil offices.
The proposed amendment would appear on the ballot as follows: "The
constitutional amendment to allow an officer or enlisted member of the
Texas State Guard or other state militia or military force to hold other
civil offices."

Proposition 8 (HJR 7)
HJR 7 would amend the constitution to authorize the state to contribute
money, property, and other resources for the establishment, maintenance,
and operation of veterans' hospitals in this state.
The proposed amendment would appear on the ballot as follows: "The
constitutional amendment authorizing the state to contribute money,
property, and other resources for the establishment, maintenance, and
operation of veterans hospitals in this state."

Proposition 9 (HJR 102)
HJR 102 would define what is a state-owned public beach. The public,
individually and collectively, would have an unrestricted right to use and
a right of ingress to and egress from a public beach. The amendment would
authorize the legislature to enact laws to protect these rights.
The proposed amendment would appear on the ballot as follows: "The
constitutional amendment to protect the right of the public, individually
and collectively, to access and use the public beaches bordering the
seaward shore of the Gulf of Mexico."

Proposition 10 (HJR 85)
HJR 85 would amend the constitution to authorize the legislature to
provide that members of the governing board of an emergency services
district may serve terms not to exceed four years.
The proposed amendment would appear on the ballot as follows: "The
constitutional amendment to provide that elected members of the governing
boards of emergency services districts may serve terms not to exceed four
years."

Proposition 11 (HJR 14 - #1)
HJR 14 would amend the constitution to provide that the taking of private
property for public use ("eminent domain") is authorized only if it is for
the ownership, use, and enjoyment of the property by the State, its
political subdivisions, the public at large, or by entities granted the
power of eminent domain, or for the removal of urban blight. The amendment
would prohibit the taking of private property for transfer to a private
entity for the purpose of economic development or to increase tax
revenues. The amendment would also limit the legislature's authority to
grant the power of eminent domain in the future unless it is approved by a
two-thirds vote of all the members elected to each house.
The proposed amendment would appear on the ballot as follows: "The
constitutional amendment to prohibit the taking, damaging, or destroying
of private property for public use unless the action is for the ownership,
use, and enjoyment of the property by the State, a political subdivision
of the State, the public at large, or entities granted the power of
eminent domain under law or for the elimination of urban blight on a
particular parcel of property, but not for certain economic development or
enhancement of tax revenue purposes, and to limit the legislature 's
authority to grant the power of eminent domain to an entity."


Learn about CCPD ahead of Nov. 3 election

An informational meeting about the Crime Control and Prevention District (CCPD) and its renewal election is scheduled for Oct. 19.

Councilmember Carter Burdett will host a District 7 meeting at 7 p.m. Oct. 19 at Arlington Heights United Methodist Church, 4200 Camp Bowie Blvd.

Police officials will provide information about the CCPD, including an overview of CCPD-funded programs.

The CCPD was created in 1995 and renewed in 2000 and 2005, most recently for a five-year period. CCPD revenue is derived from a half-cent of the city sales tax. The fund is administered by the Fort Worth Police Department; and it is managed by a nine-member board of directors appointed by the mayor and Council. The CCPD Board establishes the annual budget and policies, oversees expenditures, and evaluates programs funded by the district.

The CCPD's approved budget for the 2010 fiscal year is $50,625,926. Some of the programs that receive funding from the CCPD include:

* Neighborhood Crime. Neighborhood patrol officers, Citizens on Patrol program (COP), police storefronts, and parks community policing.
* School Safety and Youth. After School programs, police officers in schools, and the Safe Haven program.
* Violent Crimes and Gangs. Zero Tolerance teams, graffiti abatement program, Gang officers, and Narcotic officers.
* Police Department Enhancements. Technology and equipment, police officer pay plan, patrol vehicle replacements, recruit officer training, mobile data computers, video cameras in marked police vehicles, and the stockyards detail.

Fall Plant Sale 'Encore' At Botanic Garden Oct. 24

Once is not enough for the Fort Worth Botanic Garden's annual fall plant sale.

A second sale will be held from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 24 in The Grove - the wooded area west of the Trial Garden and the Japanese Garden parking lot. Free parking will be available in the Linden Street parking lot, located just off of Montgomery Street.

Limited quantities of native and adapted trees, citrus trees, shrubs, grasses, ground covers, perennials, vines and spring-flowering bulbs will be available. Garden staff will be on site to answer your plant questions.

To learn more, contact The Fort Worth Botanic Garde

tcu music calendar

Monday, October 19
7:30PM PepsiCo Recital Hall
Ensemble Concert Series
Chamber Music Recital
Curt Thompson, director

Tuesday, October 20
12:00PM BLUU patio -- 1873 Market Square
Jazz Ensemble
Joey Carter, conductor

Tuesday, October 20
7:30PM PepsiCo Recital Hall
Guest Recital Series
Steven Becraft, clarinet
Gary Whitman, coordinator

Wednesday, October 21
7:30PM PepsiCo Recital Hall
Ensemble Concert Series
Student Composers Recital
Martin Blessinger, coordinator

Thursday, October 22
12:00PM BLUU patio -- 1873 Market Square
Jazz Ensemble III
Scott Sidway, conductor

Thursday, October 22
7:30PM PepsiCo Recital Hall
Ensemble Recital Series
OctubaFest Tuba/Euphonium Studio Recital
Richard Murrow, director

Friday, October 23
7:30PM Ed Landreth Auditorium
Student Recital Series
Xin Ti, piano
Ms. Ti is a student of Tamás Ungár


Congratulations if you're still with me after reading all of that.

take care and get your flu shot

Tom Teigen WWNA President

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Ongoing Training - Crime Watch Block Captain Training will now be offered twice a month through the FWPD/South Division.