From City Manager
Larry D. Groth

For the past 30 years, the Waco Convention Center, located in the heart of our city has served as one of the leading meeting facilities in Texas. Its central location between Dallas and Austin makes it the ideal setting for various conventions, events and meetings.

In 2007 alone, the Waco Convention Center hosted 346 events, which have brought an overall economic impact of almost $23.4 million. The money these visitors spend eating at our restaurants, shopping at our stores, and staying in our hotels helps Waco succeed as a tourism and convention destination. It’s amazing to think how much these convention groups benefit our city.

Convention groups generate money from outside of Waco and they are important to our community for their overall economic impact. Local organizations use the Convention Center for regular events each year and it is important that the facility be first-class for those events as well. The Convention Center is in great need of a major renovation, so we are proud that the citizens of Waco voted to commit $17.5 million in general obligation bond funds to renovate and expand the Waco Convention Center.

This project will involve a complete external and internal renovation of the facility, including the addition of a commercial kitchen for in-house catering service, additional breakout meeting rooms, service corridors and more pre-function space in both the upper and lower level lobbies. With literally every room and public space being changed, this Convention Center will have a whole new look to it.

The renovation is expected to begin as early as the fall 2008 with the duration of the renovation lasting anywhere from 18-24 months in its entirety. From the room set-ups to the ability to handle more events simultaneously with less traffic and noise, the renovation of the Convention Center will allow Waco to hold even bigger and better events, bringing in even more of a significant economic impact than before.

The architectural drawings are worth viewing – it’s exciting to see how much the Convention Center will improve as our downtown area grows. To see the Waco Convention Center architectural renderings and to read the most up-to-date information about the renovation, visit the Waco Convention & Visitors Bureau Web site at www.wacocvb.com or the City of Waco Web site at www.waco-texas.com.

An artist’s rendering of the renovated Waco Convention Center.

Do Well Be Well with Diabetes Course

The Waco-McLennan County Public Health District is sponsoring the “Do Well, Be Well with Diabetes” self-management course in partnership with the Texas Agrilife Extension Service.

The course will consist of 10 lessons covering self-management topics such as diet planning, blood glucose monitoring, exercise, managing complications, and more.

The series is taught by a variety of diabetes and health educators, nurses, and dietitians in five sessions.

The course will be held on Thursdays evenings from May 22 - June 26 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Waco Realtors Office, 2025 N. 44th St. Space is limited.

The course is primarily for those with diabetes, and pre-diabetes, as well as their family members. The program is offered free of charge. Interested participants must register by calling 750-5631 or christines@ci.waco.tx.us.

Household Hazardous
Waste Collection Day

The cities of Waco, Hewitt, Robinson, Lorena and Woodway will host a household hazardous waste disposal event on Saturday, May 17.

Solid Waste Services is looking for volunteers to work two-hour shifts between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Jobs available include check-in, traffic, unloading materials, tire herding and pouring oil. Volunteers will receive free refreshments and a T-shirt. To volunteer, contact Megan Miller at 299-2602.

Residents of the sponsoring cities may bring their waste to the City of Waco Solid Waste Operations Center, 501 Schroeder Drive, which is accessible from the 5500 block of Franklin Avenue’s frontage road.

Participants may bring automotive, cleaning, gardening and paint products to this free event. Please bring a current water bill and driver’s license as proof of residency of one of the sponsoring cities.

Items such as business, industrial, medical, biological or radioactive waste; ammunition, explosives, fireworks, compressed gas cylinders, gasoline tanks, smoke detectors, industrial dioxins; electronics (such as computers); or containers larger than five gallons will not be accepted.

For more information, please call City of Waco Solid Waste Services at 299-2612.

Wetlands Workshop

The Lake Waco Wetlands will host a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Animal Tracking program on May 3 from 9 a.m. to noon. Wildlife Biologist Heidi Kryger will be conducting an animal tracking identification workshop. The free event is open to the public. Call 848-9654 for more information.

Waco Water Park Opens May 27

With two towering water slides, two pools and party pavilions, a summer adventure awaits at the Waco Water Park, 900 Lake Shore Drive.

The fun begins Memorial Day weekend when the park opens daily and will continue throughout the summer or come early for a sneak peek on May 18.

Along with water adventures, the park also offers swim classes, a swim team, movie nights, and special promotions and programs.

Each pavilion can be rented for parties and birthday packages are available. The entire park can also be rented in the evenings for conventions, company picnics or church groups.

For more information, visit www.waco-texas.com or call the park at 750-7900.

Summer Splash Day

The Waco-McLennan County Library and Waco Water Park will sponsor Summer Splash Day on Tuesday, June 10 from noon to 4 p.m. Present a library card or sign up for one at the Waco Water Park and receive half price admission that day. For more information, call 750-7900

The good times and great music continue in downtown Waco at the City of Waco’s Brazos Nights concert series. Presented by La Ley 104.1 FM, the second free concert of the year will be Friday, May 2 with tejano legend Ruben Ramos and special guests Xtremo and Los Colombinos.

The concerts will continue Friday, June 6 and will feature the country sounds of Billy Joe Shaver, Tommy Alverson, and Kimberly Kelly. The concert series concludes on July 4 with blues harmonica legend James Cotton and the Texas blues queen Diunna Greenleaf. The night will end with the H-E-B Fireworks Extravaganza.

The Brazos Nights concerts are free and will begin at 7 p.m. at Indian Spring Park, next to the Suspension Bridge. Concessions will be available. For more information and a complete schedule, call 750-5781 or visit www.waco-texas.com.

New Employee Orientation April 2008

Front Row: Leslie Root, Parks & Recreation; Sandra Robinson, Municipal Court; and Natasha Dixon, City Attorney’s Office.

Middle Row: Saul Guajardo, Water Utilities; Melody Middaugh, Police Department; Michele Tran, Library Services; and David Filer, Finance.

Back Row: Ronald Klat, Parks & Recreation; John Settlemyer, Solid Waste Services; Jose Gonzalez, Public Health District; and Cliff Stephens, Solid Waste Services.

Front Row (left to right): Shirley Swanton, Municipal Court; Laney VanAntwerp, Cameron Park Zoo; and Megan Davis, Parks & Recreation.

Middle Row: James Miller, Parks & Recreation; Paul Smith, Water Utilities; and Eliseo Garcia, Street Services.

Back Row: Robert Gonzalez, Street Services; Michael Casanover, Solid Waste Services; and Anthony Snyder, Water Utilities.

Police Memorial Run

The Waco Police Association will hold a 5K (3.1 miles) and one mile Memorial Run on Saturday, May 17 at 8 a.m. at the Cameron Park Zoo.

Proceeds from this event will help to sponsor activities to recognize officers that go above and beyond the call-of-duty or were killed in the line-of-duty. The cost is $12 per person before May 10 and $15 after May 10 and on race day.

Each registrant will receive a T-shirt, and trophies will be awarded to the top three male and female finishers of the one mile race. In the 5K race, the top three male and female finishers will be awarded by age divisions. For more details, call Sgt. Tim Rhudy at 709-4605 or Detective Anita Johnson at 709-5223.