Irving’s Emergency Management team invites those who live or work in the city to participate in a no-cost, two-day emergency training course from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 2 and 9.

An upcoming training course will equip participants with life-sustaining skills for emergency situations. Topics included in this hands-on training include disaster preparedness, triage, first aid, fire safety and terrorism response. After completing the course, participants will become part of the city’s 100-member Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

“In a city like Irving with more than 200,000 residents, catastrophic events of a large scale have the potential to overwhelm the limited number of first responders,” said Emergency Management Planner Nick Robison. “Following a major disaster, community members may have to rely on one another to meet their immediate life-saving and life-sustaining needs.”

CERT members are trained to be self-sufficient for up to 72 hours following a major incident. Team members also will learn how to provide critical support to professional first responders, assistance to disaster victims, and how to spontaneously organize volunteers at disaster sites.

Irving residents or commuters interested in participating in this program must be able to perform physical activities, possess a valid driver’s license and pass a background check. Because spacing is limited, residents are encouraged to register by Feb. 20. For more information or to register, contact Robison at (972) 721-2184 or  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Source: City of Irving

After months of collaboration and the continuous sharing of information resulting in preliminary flood maps, officials with Dallas County and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are now asking the public to participate in a 90-day comment period.

Homeowners, renters and business owners in the cities of Dallas and Grand Prairie are encouraged to view the preliminary flood maps to better understand where flood risks have been identified. Those with comments or who would like to file an appeal have from Feb. 8 until May 8 to do so. 

An appeal is a formal objection to proposed base flood elevations or flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA) boundaries and zones, or floodways. Appeals must be based on technical data that show proposed maps to be scientifically incorrect. Anyone who makes an appeal must include the method, data and analysis used to support the claim. A comment is an objection to a base map feature change such as labels, incorrect roads, jurisdictional boundaries, or any other non-appealable change.

Comments and appeals should be sent to FEMA through the local floodplain administrator. Anyone who hasn't had a chance to participate in local flood insurance meetings or to review the new flood maps is encouraged to contact their county or community floodplain administrator. Other resources include:

Viewing the preliminary maps online at http://maps.riskmap6.com/TX/Dallas .

Using a live chat service about flood maps at http://go.usa.gov/r6C . Click on the "Live Chat" icon.

Contacting a FEMA Map Specialist at 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627); email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Once all comments and appeals are resolved, FEMA will notify communities of the effective date of the final maps. When a flood risk is identified, the next step is to consider the purchase of a flood policy from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP is currently undergoing a thorough modernization. Meanwhile, contacting a local insurance agent is the first step to gather information about insurance. Folks can visit www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-888-379-9531 to locate an agent in their area.

Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency

The Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau (ICVB) announces the Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas (ICCLC) project as the 5^th convention center in the country to achieve LEED® Silver certified by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). LEED is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

“We had a distinct opportunity with the design and construction of the ICCLC to create a new icon for the destination that would set a standard, for sustainability as well as for a new category of gathering places,” said Maura Allen Gast, ICVB executive director. “The building’s success in its first two years of hosting nearly 500 events is even further magnified by the achievement of LEED Silver, and I am thrilled.”

ICCLC achieved LEED certification for energy use, lighting, water and material use, as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies.

By using less energy and water, the ICCLC saves money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduces greenhouse gas emissions; and contributes to a healthier environment for residents, workers, and the larger community.

“Good design is green,” said Barbara Hillier, said ICCLC project principal design architect, now with Hillier Studio. “Buildings have impact on the land and the local ecology that have to be managed and, in the best case, optimized through the cogency of creative architectural solutions.”

“ICCLC’s LEED certification at the Silver level demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “The urgency of USGBC’s mission has challenged the industry to move faster and reach further than ever before, and ICCLC serves as a prime example with just how much we can accomplish. With each new LEED-certified building, we get one step closer to USGBC’s vision of a sustainably built environment within a generation. As the newest member of the LEED family of green buildings, ICCLC is an important addition to the growing strength of the green building movement.”

LEED certification of ICCLC was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community:

From an operational standpoint, the "stacked" building gains efficiencies with its heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, translating into a more energy-efficient structure. The vertical plan also meant a smaller footprint of land was needed.

Center operations use water from nearby Lake Carolyn for irrigation, and for the building's "gray-water" systems, which account for nearly 90 percent of its water use, saving 18.9 million gallons of water annually.

Nearly 90 percent of the facility’s light fixtures are dimmable and programmable.

The copper exterior is more than just a design element. The no-maintenance material translates into lower costs for the center, eliminating the need for painting every few years to maintain its appearance.

Perforations in the copper skin also provide an important role for energy efficiency, providing built-in shade while using the natural currents of the wind to create a cushion of cooling air between it and the building, decreasing the need for air-conditioning while in essence, shading itself.

The trusses of the massive 4000-ton steel structure were designed so that they could be sourced domestically; much of the steel came from recycled sources nearby in North Texas and Oklahoma. 

Nearly 90 percent of the construction waste was diverted or recycled, including more than 50,000 cubic yards of dirt which was re-purposed nearby for a lakefront reclamation project.

An integrated garage helps to reduce the amount of asphalt required for surface parking lots common with more institutionally-designed facilities.

“It was very important to Irving that the Convention Center be designed and built to high environmental standards,” said Tom Meehan, general manager of the ICCLC. “It is even more important to the City, and to all of us, that we now operate the building with a continued commitment and focus on sustainability.”

In 2012 alone, the ICCLC’s green initiatives resulted in a cardboard diversion of 47,810 pounds, and a mixed recyclable diversion of 20,460 pounds, equivalent to approximately 130,944 20-ounce plastic bottles.

Source: City of Irving

The Quality Texas Foundation has asked Irving City Manager Tommy Gonzalez to join its Board of Directors.

“The Quality Texas Foundation exists to guide and support organizations in their quest for performance excellence and strives to promote economic development in the state by helping organizations grow more competitive in today’s marketplace. Strong organizations make strong cities, and strong cities make a strong state,” said Lynn Tomaszewski, CEO, Quality Texas Foundation.

“Mr. Gonzalez continues to lead Irving in its journey to excellence. Under his leadership, the City of Irving achieved significant milestones – becoming a proud recipient of the 2011 Texas Award for Performance Excellence, as well as the 2012 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Members of the Quality Texas Board of Directors are committed to improving the education, health and economic conditions throughout Texas. Each member brings unique insight and expertise to the table, representing diverse industry sectors of our economy. Tommy will be a strong addition to our Board, as well as great support for our members.”

“I am honored to serve on this esteemed board,” said Gonzalez. “Irving has proven the Baldrige principles, normally associated with the private sector, can work in government. I look forward to learning from others who are pursuing quality as well as sharing what we have learned with them. Additionally, I’m interested in creating innovative strategies that will foster continued economic development in our state.”

Board terms are two consecutive terms of three years each.

Source: City of Irving