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January 2021 Citizen ConnectionAsk an Expert: Community Services Last spring, more than 2,100 Dentonites registered to join Keep Denton Beautiful (KDB)’s 32nd Annual Great American Cleanup (GAC) to help improve the beauty and environmental health of our community. The 33rd Annual GAC, Denton’s largest and longest- running litter cleanup will be extended from a one-day effort into a month-long event. Join us during the month of March in our annual cleanup effort and help improve the beauty and health of our community! This year’s GAC will be organized similarly to KDB’s Meetup Cleanup program with cleanup locations assigned citywide, but unlike prior years, volunteers will not be matched to work with other individuals or households. To volunteer, either as a household or individual, register online by 5 p.m. on Feb. 24 at www.kdb.org. For questions, or to register over the phone, call (940) 349-8737. Free cleanup supplies, including trash and recycling bags, litter grabbers (while supplies last), and vinyl gloves, will be available to registered volunteers via curbside pick-up. Registered volunteers will also receive a special edition GAC T-shirt (while supplies last). If you plan on participating, register early to secure your T-shirt! Out of an abundance of caution, the Volunteer Appreciation Party will not take place this year. Prizes will be awarded for most bags collected, oddest item found, and best cleanup photo. Winners will be decided by a public vote on the GAC Facebook event page. Community members are encouraged to vote online for their favorites beginning April 1. The Great American Cleanup is part of an annual, nationwide litter cleanup effort led by Keep America Beautiful, and Denton is one of more than 20,000 communities that participate. The GAC is made possible through community contributions and support from the City of Denton, Keep America Beautiful, and Keep Texas Beautiful. In this Ask an Expert column, we’re bringing you information about how Community Services works to build a better future for Denton residents. Together, the Community Improvement Services and Community Development divisions work to provide quality affordable housing, a suitable living environment, and economic opportunities for individuals and families living within the city limits. What does Community Services encompass? Community Improvement Services, also known as Code Enforcement, addresses property maintenance violations such as tall grass and weeds, trash and debris, junk vehicles, illegal outside storage, and dilapidated structures. For more information about how to get help with these and other services, visit www.cityofdenton.com/cis. In the 2020-21 program, Community Development will provide more than $2 million to support programs that provide emergency assistance and safe, stable housing for residents. To learn more, visit www.cityofdenton.com/communitydevelopment. I am a renter and my unit needs repairs, what do I do? The best first step you can take is to reach out to your landlord, property manager, or leasing agent to address any problems with your apartment or rental home. If repairs to your unit are not addressed, you can request a rental inspection for the interior of your home to determine if the unit is code compliant. To request a rental inspection, call or email Community Improvement Services at (940) 349-7480. How can I protect my home in the winter? You can prevent pipes from freezing by letting the cold water drip from the faucet and keeping cabinet doors open overnight. Winterize your outdoor faucet by disconnecting your hose and using an outdoor faucet cover to isolate and protect your pipes from the winter elements. I heard the City may help first-time homebuyers purchase their first home. Tell me more! Community Development assists income-eligible families with the down payment and closing costs to buy their first home through the Home Buyer Assistance program. Assistance is in the form of a forgivable loan at zero percent interest for 5 to 15 years. To learn more, call or email Community Development at CommunityDevelopment@cityofdenton.com or (940) 349-7726. The 33rd Annual Great American Cleanup A publication of the City of Denton Department of Public Affairs ADA/EOE/ADEA • TDD (800) 735-2989 • www.cityofdenton.com The City of Denton is registered and working toward the National Wildlife Federation’s Community Certification. Over the next three years, the City will be completing outreach and engagement initiatives in order to accumulate points to complete the certification process. Residents, schools, and businesses can register yards or landscape projects to earn habitat points and gain certification. Each habitat has to meet the following qualifications: • Food: your habitat should contain native plants that provide nutrients to local wildlife. Residents can also supplement by providing natural food sources. • Water: animals need water to survive. You can support wildlife by providing water for bathing and consuming. • Cover: wildlife needs shrubs and trees to help them take cover in bad weather or hide from predators. • A place to raise young: does your habitat provide a location for wildlife to reproduce, protect, or nourish their young? If not, you can supplement by providing a birdhouse. • Sustainable practices: while maintaining your yard, we encourage you to use natural ways to protect the soil and water. To learn more about this program and how you can certify your own habitat, visit www.nwf.org. National Wildlife Federation Community Habitat Certification Did you know that the City offers many different rebates for Denton residents? It’s an easy way to make energy efficiency improvements around your house and save some money in the process. Denton Municipal Electric (DME) offers various rebates to DME customers in good standing who make qualifying energy efficiency improvements to their home or small business. Projects must meet certain “high-efficiency” standards and be submitted within 90 days of project completion to qualify. These rebates include: • HVAC systems (up to $400); • Smart thermostats (up to $50); • Attic insulation (up to $400); • Air duct repairs (up to $200); • Radiant barrier (up to $300); • Solar screens (up to $200); • Windows (up to $500); and • DIY Weatherization Materials (up to $50). To request an application form, program manual, and for general questions about the program, email us at rebates@cityofdenton.com. * The Solar Rebate Program has been popular this year. As of Dec. 4, 2020, solar rebate funds have been exhausted. If you have questions pertaining to the solar rebate, email DME at solar@cityofdenton.com, call (940) 349-7595, or visit www.dmepower.com. Energy Efficiency Rebates Dyno Dirt: Customer Spotlight Dyno Dirt is great for at-home gardening, but did you know it also can yield large amounts of produce? See how it’s helped improve Shiloh Field’s crop this year. Shiloh Field is the largest community garden in America and it is right here in Denton, and all of the fresh fruits and vegetables go to feeding the hungry in our community. “Shiloh Field, a local community garden grows produce to donate to 13 local nonprofit food pantries and food kitchens. Shiloh Field is in its eleventh year of operations. When first established, not much attention was paid to the soil we garden in. The soil was tired and showing it with reduced crop yields. The use of Dyno Dirt this year has greatly rejuvenated the portions of the garden it’s been used in. So much so that we’ve exceeded our goal of 35,000 pounds of produce donated. We’re having a record year with 41,933.5 pounds of produce donated.” - Doug Herzog, Shiloh Field Manager To learn more about what Dyno Dirt product can help improve your gardening projects, visit www.cityofdenton.com/dyno. Easy Yard Waste Collection Scheduling The Customer Service Department has introduced a new, self-service option for Solid Waste pickup requests, available in English and Spanish. Customers can skip the lines and wait time to get things scheduled in minutes by calling the automated phone line at (940) 349-8740. Through the automated phone line, you can: • Opt-in to the yard waste program (kraft bags or brown carts) • Opt-out of the yard waste program • Schedule a collection for more than four cubic yards of yard waste brush (about four washing machines) • Schedule a collection for no more than 25 plastic trash bags of leaves twice a year Additionally, customers with a Monday collection day can place a brush collection request prior to 7 p.m. on Sunday evenings for next-day collection. Customers with all other collection days can schedule a pickup two business days in advance.