Posted Aug. 17, 2020
Last month, Gov. Greg Abbott issued a proclamation giving mayors and county judges the ability to impose restrictions on some outdoor gatherings of more than 10 people and making it mandatory that, with certain exceptions, people cannot be in groups larger than 10 and must maintain 6 feet of social distancing from others.
View the governor’s executive order
“Large gatherings are a clear contributor to the rise in COVID-19 cases,” Abbott said. “Restricting the size of group gatherings will strengthen Texas’ ability to corral this virus and keep Texans safe.”
An overview of the governor’s guidelines:
Outdoor gatherings
Limited to 10 people.
Excludes youth and adult recreational sports. See Sporting Events and Recreational Facilities section below for additional exclusions.
Face coverings are required unless consuming food or drink or attending a religious gathering.
Indoor events
Limited to 50% of the establishment’s normal capacity under the certificate of occupancy.
Event organizers should follow reopening protocols.
Excludes religious gatherings.
Bars
Closed on June 26 by Gov. Greg Abbott under Executive Order GA-28.
Bars can sell mixed drinks on premises to-go.
Restaurants
Limited to 50% of the establishment’s normal capacity under the restaurant’s certificate of occupancy.
There is no occupancy limit for outdoor dining areas, but each group of diners may not be larger than 10 people.
Sporting events and recreational facilities
Limited to 50% occupancy at professional, collegiate or similar sporting events; swimming pools; water parks; museums and libraries; zoos, aquariums, natural caverns and amusement parks.
Other businesses
Maintain at least 6 feet of social distancing between workstations at cosmetology salons, hair salons, barber shops, nail salons/shops, barbers, massage establishments; personal-care and beauty services such as tanning salons, tattoo studios, piercing studios, hair removal services and hair loss treatment and growth services.
Religious services
All religious services are exempt by the governor from mask mandates and occupancy limits.
There is no occupancy limit for child care, religious services or youth camps.
If Texans commit to wearing face coverings in public spaces and follow the recommended health and safety practices, the spread of COVID-19 can be slowed and Texas can remain open for business.
The City Council got its first look at a proposed $782 million fiscal 2021 general fund budget Tuesday, one that reflects some belt-tightening in the wake of the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, yet maintains the current rate of capital investment.
Noting that Fort Worth is still growing, City Manager David Cooke presented a budget that is a lean $10 million increase from the fiscal 2020 budget. City departments have cut spending by $23 million this year because of declining revenues.
“This is the slowest growth in a number of years,” Cooke said. “Essentially, it’s a flat budget year-over-year.”
The proposed fiscal 2021 budget will continue to fund new facilities, improve equity of city services and enhance community policing. Water, sewer and solid waste fees will not increase. General employees will not receive pay raises in the upcoming fiscal year and the city is reducing its workforce by 120 positions, to 7,490 employees. A hiring freeze remains in place.
Fort Worth’s Capital and Operating Budgets – which includes the general, debt service, special revenue, enterprise and internal service funds – for fiscal 2021 remains unchanged at just under $2 billion. The city’s fiscal year runs Oct. 1 to Sept. 30.
The Council will receive the proposed Crime Control and Prevention District fiscal 2021 budget on Friday, Aug. 14.
Tuesday’s presentation comes one week after councilmembers received the proposed $394.3 million Capital Improvement Plan for fiscal 2021. That plan calls for evaluating infrastructure maintenance and investment based on equity and continuing neighborhood and transportation-related improvements.
Cooke is asking the council continue the current property tax rate of 74.75 cents per $100 assessed valuation. Of that, 59.5 cents goes to fund operations and 15.25 cents to debt service.
Fort Worth expects to collect $556.8 million in property tax revenue, up $15.6 million from last year. Projections put sales tax revenue $4.5 million lower, to $168.3 million to the city’s general fund in fiscal 2021.The general fund pays to operate city services and facilities. Property and sales taxes represent about 80 percent of the general fund budget.
Residents can comment on the recommended budget at public hearings on Sept. 1 and 15 and the tax rate on Sept. 15. The Council is scheduled to approve a tax rate, as well as the fiscal 2021 Capital and Operating Budgets, on Sept. 22.
Fort Worth will continue to invest in much-needed capital improvements while keeping the property tax rate at its current level despite today’s tight economic and financial conditions, Fort Worth City Manager David Cooke told the City Council Tuesday.
Cooke is recommending the Council continue the current property tax rate of 74.75 cents per $100 assessed valuation to fund city operations and services. “Keeping the current rate continues the city’s current level of capital investment,” he said.
Residents can comment on the recommended tax rate at public hearings on Sept. 1 and 15. The Council will approve a tax rate, as well as the fiscal 2021 Capital and Operating Budgets, on Sept. 22.
Cooke on Tuesday showed Council a five-year look at the Capital Improvement Plan, which calls for evaluating infrastructure maintenance and investment based on equity and continuing neighborhood improvements.
The fiscal 2021 $394.3 million Capital Improvement Plan includes general projects and those at the city’s airports, convention and Will Rogers Memorial centers, and water and stormwater improvements. Fort Worth’s fiscal year runs Oct. 1 to Sept. 30.
“Think about our impact on the community,” Cooke said. “We are spending $300 million to $400 million in capital every year. That’s a significant amount of money. The positive piece is we’re keeping our emphasis on infrastructure investment and the maintenance of that infrastructure.”
The city plans to spend $48.4 million on pay-as-you-go maintenance projects in fiscal 2021, an increase of $1.35 million from fiscal 2020. The additional money is mostly going to street and traffic light improvements, and $650,000 for sidewalk upgrades to improve access to transit.
Capital projects already underway include the Golden Triangle and Reby Cary Youth libraries, two fire stations, a south side police station, the north side animal shelter and some new parks and trails. Of the $399.5 million voter approved 2018 bond program, $124 million has been committed or spent on those projects, Cooke said.
Of the 74.75-cent property tax, 59.5 cents goes toward operations and maintenance, and the remaining 15.25 cents to debt service. In fiscal 2021, the city is budgeting $556.8 million in property tax revenue, a 3 percent increase, or $15.5 million, from fiscal 2020. By comparison, the city saw a $48 million increase from fiscal 2019 to fiscal 2020.
Starting in 2022, property tax revenue is projected to remain flat for a couple years, or even decline. Sales tax and other revenues should increase, but conservatively at about 4 percent, Cooke said.
The City Council adopted a $771.9 million fiscal 2020 general fund budget, but declining sales tax and drops in other revenues necessitated cutting $23 million to balance the current budget.
Councilmembers will receive the proposed fiscal 2021 general fund budget on Aug. 11. The general fund pays to operate city services and facilities. Property and sales taxes fund 80 percent of the general fund budget. Fort Worth’s budget includes several other funds, including debt service and those that operate the water and wastewater utility, airports and special projects, among them. The city’s fiscal 2020 operating budget was more than $1.9 billion.
Trinity Metro is redesigning its bus network to make the it more useful for more people. To make real improvement we need to reconsider the entire network – not just each route, but how the routes work together.
We need your input. Please take the online survey and share it with your friends, family and colleagues.
It is important we think about both tangible changes and visionary ideas. We will use your feedback to guide our plan as we redesign the network and create A Better Connection.
THE FORT WORTH MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND HISTORY TO REOPEN AUGUST 13
Prior to the public reopening, the Museum will be open exclusively to Members Thursday, August 6 through Saturday, August 8 for Members Thank-You Days.
• Thursday, August 6 - Saturday, August 8
• 10 AM - 4 PM
• Members-only
Starting Thursday, August 13, the Museum will be open for everyone!
SUMMER SCHEDULE
• Sunday - Wednesday: Closed
• Thursday - Saturday: Open
• 10 AM - 11 AM: Members-only
• 11 AM - 4 PM: Public and Members
• Reduced Admission Cost: Age 5+: $9 | Age 0-4: Free
• Members Admission: Free
For the latest updates about Museum hours and admission, visit the Museum Website.
SAFETY FIRST
The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History takes as its priority the safety of our guests and staff. The Museum will be reopening safely, with the following protocols in place:
• All Museum staff will wear facemasks while on duty.
• Guests age 5 and up will be required to wear a facemask upon entry.
• Removal of all objects that are frequently touched, including touchable exhibits and screens.
• Regular cleaning of touched surfaces, doorknobs, etc.
• Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the Museum.
• Timed ticketing will ensure lower occupancy and will allow social distancing within the Museum.
• Online ticketing is encouraged, which enables touchless entry for guests.
• Storage lockers will be closed.
THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS AWARDS MUSEUM FOR INNOVATIVE APOLLO EXPLORATION EXPERIENCE
Fort Worth, TX (July 14, 2020) — The Apollo Landing Site Panorama VR Experience at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History earned the Bronze 2020 MUSE Award in the AR/VR/Mixed Reality category by the American Alliance of Museums. MUSE awards recognize outstanding achievement in Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums (GLAM) media. These annual awards are presented to institutions that enhance guest engagement with useful and innovative digital programs and services. They also celebrate scholarship, community, innovation, creativity, education, accessibility, and inclusiveness.
The Museum transformed its largest gallery into an eight-month celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo Moon landings. The large exhibition, Launchpad: Promises Kept, connected guests to space exploration through beautiful, interactive environments, which combined artifacts, hands-on interactives, and personal informational stations. The Apollo Landing Site Panorama VR consisted of a platform immersed in a Moon-like environment that provided a social learning experience where groups could walk together in the steps of some of America’s greatest heroes. Each VR headset presented real panoramic photography from a different Apollo mission.
Museum President, Van A. Romans observed “It was wonderful seeing families having such fun putting on the VR headsets and exploring the Moon together.” Chief Scientist, Dr. Morgan Rehnberg who curated the exhibition described the views of the various landing sites, “Missions were sent to different areas of the surface of the Moon, with later missions landing near larger craters and hills as the Apollo team gained experience with precision landings.” Guests talked among themselves and with museum staff who helped them to understand what they were seeing in the 360 photographs.
Guest exploring the Apollo 11 landing site in virtual reality at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History as a part of its Launchpad exhibition, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Moon landings. The experience earned the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History a bronze award in the category of VR/AR/Mixed Reality by the American Alliance of Museums. Credit, image courtesy of the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History.
More information about the project is available here.
About the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
The Museum was established in 1941 and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Anchored by its rich collections, the Museum is dedicated to lifelong learning. It engages guests through creative, vibrant programs and exhibits interpreting science and the history of Texas and the Southwest. For more information, visit www.fortworthmuseum.org.
Your vote counts!
Today's election is a the Joint City and Primary Runoff Elections for both parties.
Check out the links below to find your polling place and a sample of what's on the ballot today.
Find Your Polling Location Here
Join fellow North Texans for a regional blood drive presented by the North Texas Mayors Council from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 14.
Make an appointment to donate at one of three locations:
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak and a reduction in donations, blood supply levels are at a critical low. As a thank-you from Carter Blood Care, donors will receive a Texas Rangers baseball cap.
The event is sponsored by the North Central Texas Council of Governments, the North Texas Commission and Carter Blood Care.
To learn more, contact Ashley Mergele.
AUSTIN - Governor Greg Abbott today issued an Executive Order requiring all Texans to wear a face covering over the nose and mouth in public spaces in counties with 20 or more positive COVID-19 cases, with few exceptions. The governor also issued a proclamation giving mayors and county judges the ability to impose restrictions on some outdoor gatherings of over 10 people, and making it mandatory that, with certain exceptions, people cannot be in groups larger than ten and must maintain six feet of social distancing from others.
“Wearing a face covering in public is proven to be one of the most effective ways we have to slow the spread of COVID-19,” said Governor Abbott. “We have the ability to keep businesses open and move our economy forward so that Texans can continue to earn a paycheck, but it requires each of us to do our part to protect one another — and that means wearing a face covering in public spaces. Likewise, large gatherings are a clear contributor to the rise in COVID-19 cases. Restricting the size of groups gatherings will strengthen Texas’ ability to corral this virus and keep Texans safe. We all have a responsibility to slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep our communities safe. If Texans commit to wearing face coverings in public spaces and follow the best health and safety practices, we can both slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep Texas open for business. I urge all Texans to wear a face covering in public, not just for their own health, but for the health of their families, friends and for all our fellow Texans.”
Additionally, the governor released a new video message to coincide with his Executive Order, encouraging Texans to do their part to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and keep their communities safe. The video can be downloaded at this link and can also be viewed on YouTube.
View the Governor’s Executive Order.
View the Governor’s Proclamation.
For questions about the Fort Worth response to COVID-19 and the current guidelines: call 817-392-8478 or email COVID19@fortworthtexas.gov.
Nestled in the West 7th district, just off of Interstate 30, the Home2 Suites by Hilton Fort Worth Cultural District (1145 University Drive) celebrated its opening Wednesday, June 24. The newest hotel to open in Fort Worth, this 162-room property is owned by Southeastern Development and managed by LBA Hospitality.
“We’re thrilled to add another exceptional property to our growing Texas portfolio,” said Farrah Adams, Chief Operating Officer of LBA Hospitality. “The Home2 Suites Fort Worth Cultural District is situated in the heart of the Cultural district centrally located for our guests to enjoy dining, shopping, and world-class museums.”
The new Home2 Suites Fort Worth Cultural District offers all-suite accommodations with sleek, modern design and pops of cowboy flair. With a custom lobby layout, 60% larger than the prototype Home2 Suites, guests can enjoy the communal space at a safe social distance. The lobby features a double-sided breakfast bar and an open and modern Oasis, Home2’s expanded community multi-functional space for social gatherings, individual work, and meeting zones.
Accommodations consist of spacious studio and one-bedroom suites with a streamlined approach to storage and function, including fully-accessorized kitchens and modular furniture. The hip and stylish innovations include a “working wall,” which incorporates the kitchen and a flexible working/media space.
For outdoor space, there’s a cozy outdoor patio, complete with saline swimming pool and gas grills. Additional amenities include free WiFi, complimentary breakfast, and Spin2Cycle, the 24-hour fitness center, and laundry room combo where guests can do laundry while they work out. For business meetings and celebrations, the hotel offers 650 square feet of meeting space, accommodating up to 24 guests. Home2 Suites by Hilton Fort Worth Cultural District is pet-friendly.
With recent events top of mind, the hotel is taking all of the necessary precautions to protect the safety and wellbeing of guests and associates. Hilton has developed a global program introducing a new standard of hotel cleanliness and disinfection: Hilton CleanStay with Lysol protection. Hilton CleanStay program builds upon Hilton’s already high standards of housekeeping and hygiene, where hospital-grade cleaning products and upgraded protocols are currently in use, to ensure Hilton guests enjoy an even cleaner and safer stay from check-in to check-out.
Ft. Worth, aka. “The City of Cowboys & Culture” was named “Best of Travel” by Money Online, and earned a spot on the “Top 10 city for Young Professionals” list by Forbes Magazine. The Home2 Suites Fort Worth Cultural District is a short walk to West 7th Street, where guests can enjoy a stroll in Trinity Park, shop and dine in one of the dozens of restaurants and shops, and visit one of five world-class museums of the Cultural District.
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