News Flash

PDS inspectors Joseph, Alex, and Jose were recently recognized by a resident for their outstanding customer service. Great job and thank you for everything you do!

Gabriella Gonzales from the City Clerk’s Office successfully graduated after completing the extensive two-year coursework required to earn her certification from the Texas Municipal Clerks Association (TMCA). Congratulations on this well-earned achievement!

PWE  competed in the TPWA State Equipment Roadeo, earning awards in the following categories:

• Mini Excavator/Backhoe:
  • 5^th Place: David Kirkpatrick (KP)
  • 8^th Place: Hector Alvarez
• Women’s Mini Excavator/Backhoe:
  • 1^st Place: Ale Moz
  • 2^nd Place: Nikki Swearengin
  • 3^rd Place: Blanca Rubio
• Storm Pipe Cutting:
  • 9^th Place: Gerald Bryce
• Zero Turn:
  • 5^th Place: David Kirkpatrick (KP)

The Parks team has completed five safety trainings as part of their efforts to earn the TML R.O.A.D. Ready certification. This program promotes roadway safety and property protection. Once certified, our Parks team will be one of only two Parks departments currently certified in the state. Thank you for your continued commitment to safety!

Congratulations to Lorena Portillo from Planning & Development Services for completing her Green Belt! 

For her project, Lorena looked into how training new hires on using SOPs. As she Defined, Measured, and Analyzed the issue using a Fishbone Diagram, she noticed there was a delay with fully training new hires using the current method. What a great opportunity to explore additional improvements that could reduce this training time and enhance efficiency for everyone!

 Well done!

Officer Christopher Calhoun received the Outstanding Service Award for his work in DWI enforcement and prevention, with 52 DWI arrests while maintaining a full patrol schedule. He is a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) and additionally serves as a DRE Instructor, one of only about 60 statewide, helping train officers across Texas.

Officer Eric Schwausch received the MADD Enforcement Hero Award for leading the department with 131 DWI arrests—an honor he has earned almost every year. He is also a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE), one of approximately 400 statewide out of nearly 80,000 active duty peace officers in Texas.

The Police Department was recently recognized at the 2025 Southeast Texas Law Enforcement Awards for its strong commitment to traffic safety. Between September 2024 and September 2025, our officers made 342 DWI arrests.

Congratulations Andreina Cervantes from PWE for earning her American Concrete Institute Certification! Awesome job, Andreina — keep up the great work!

Our Back to School Fair was a huge success, distributing 1,400+ supply-filled backpacks and offering services like child IDs, food boxes, meals, eye screenings, family resources, and more—thank you to all the sponsors and vendors who helped make this a success! 

All of this was made possible by over 80 volunteers and many city staff — with special recognition to Sharon Rose, Monica Fabela, and Stephany Medina from Community Development for setting all of this up. Thank you for making such a meaningful impact!

We are proud to recognize Gabriella Gonzales for successfully completing her Black Belt certification project, bringing innovation and efficiency to an essential City process.

Gabriella’s project focused on enhancing the City Clerk’s process of submitting agenda items for public meetings. By creating new routing procedures, adjusting due dates to allow for proper review time, and training departments on correct submission practices, she achieved measurable improvements that will:

• Save more than $2,600 annually in staff time

• Eliminate frequent errors and delays

• Reduce frustration by ensuring agenda items are accurate, complete, and ready to be posted

Her efforts have strengthened transparency and reliability in the City’s agenda process, directly benefiting staff and the community alike.

Let’s congratulate Gabriella for her leadership, problem-solving, and commitment to making Baytown better.

We are proud to recognize William Hibbits for successfully completing his Black Belt certification project, delivering meaningful improvements that strengthen both our organization and our community.

William’s project focused on improving the Police Department’s hiring process. By implementing new technology, streamlining interviews, and standardizing procedures, he significantly reduced hiring timelines and increased efficiency. His efforts are projected to:

• Save more than $8,600 in staff time

• Increase production by 23%

• Save approximately $42,000 per year in background check fees

Beyond the financial impact, William’s improvements ensure a fair, ADA- and EEOC-compliant process. These changes cut processing time by months, work to reduce bias in candidate evaluations, and strengthen the accuracy of background investigations—helping us hire the right officers more quickly and effectively.

Let’s congratulate William for his leadership, innovation, and dedication to making Baytown better.

We’d like to recognize the excellent work of Engine 1, Medic 5, and EMS 1 during a recent incident involving a pediatric injury. Despite unforeseen challenges during the call, the team made the critical decision to transport the patient by ambulance to Texas Children’s Hospital.

Firefighter Tommy Phillips, Firefighter Taylor Brown, and Firefighter Brian Bakeberg provided exceptional prehospital care throughout the transport. Their efforts contributed to a positive patient outcome and earned praise from hospital medical staff. Awesome job by everyone involved—thank you for your teamwork and dedication!

We would like to shout-out the PWE Brush Team, they were recently recognized by a resident for the outstanding job they did with a heavy brush pick-up. Keep up the great work!

At last month’s Texas Police Games in Corpus Christi, Detective Farabee battled over 120 golfers from local, state, and federal agencies — earning two silver medals in both the individual and 2-man team events (alongside retired Baytown Detective James Kerr). Way to represent Baytown!

On July 15, 2025, Officer Thompson, Corporal Tobias, and Acadian Ambulance medics worked together to save an unresponsive driver on Garth Road. From breaking into the vehicle to performing CPR, their quick actions and teamwork brought the patient back to life. We are grateful for your courage and dedication in serving our community!

Officer Vega was recently recognized by a resident he assisted during traffic caused by a truck incident. After being stuck for over an hour, she needed a safe place to stop and take care of her baby. Officer Vega guided her to a secure location and offered his vehicle for privacy. Thank you, Officer Vega, for going above and beyond to care for our community!

Congratulations to Jai Daniel from Parks & Recreation for completing his Green Belt!

For his project, Jai looked into how the grass is currently cut along Spur 330 and Highway 146. As he Defined, Measured, and Analyzed the issue using a Spaghetti Diagram, he noticed there was excessive motion and repetitive movement of personnel. What a great opportunity to explore additional improvements that could reduce this time and motion and enhance efficiency for everyone

Well done!

Congratulations to Margaret Vargas for completing her Green Belt Project!

For her project, Margaret looked at how many liability waivers were submitted by outside agencies requesting to use the Fire Training Field. After she Defined and Measured the issue, Margaret used a Spaghetti Diagram to help her Analyze what was happening. She found out that by ensuring the information was initially input correctly, the amount of movement required later on to finish the waiver was greatly reduced. What a great chance to find ways to make the process better and more organized for everyone.

Nice work, Margaret!

Congratulations to Jamie Denton for completing her Green Belt Project!

For her project, Jamie looked at wording on the application for food truck permits being too vague. After she Defined and Measured the issue, Jamie used a Spaghetti Diagram to help her Analyze what was happening. She found out that by clarifying the language used on the application, the customer could acquire the correct permit instead of an incorrect one. What a great chance to find ways to make the process better and more organized for everyone. 

Nice work, Jamie!

Congratulations to Jabari Jordan for completing his Green Belt Project!

For his project, Jabari looked at how to more efficiently place empty chemical storage containers for shipping. After he Defined and Measured the issue, Jabari used a Spaghetti Diagram to help him Analyze what was happening. He found out that by placing the empty storage containers in groups instead of individually, more could be transported. What a great chance to find ways to make the process better and more organized for everyone. 

Nice work, Jabari!

Please help us congratulate Ava Hudnall on earning her SHRM-CP (Society for Human Resource Management – Certified Professional) certification! This nationally recognized credential demonstrates Ava’s strong understanding of HR practices, including everything from employee engagement and talent strategy to compliance and ethical leadership. It’s designed for HR professionals who are driving results and making an impact—and that’s exactly what Ava is doing.

Even more impressive, Ava accomplished this while recently stepping into her new role as the Risk & Safety Coordinator on Team HR! Balancing the demands of studying for a rigorous exam with taking on new responsibilities is no small feat, and Ava handled it all with focus, determination, and her trademark go-getter attitude. The City is fortunate to have such a dedicated and skilled professional, and we can’t wait to see what she accomplishes next. Way to go, Ava!

Congratulations to Jeremy Cox from the Police Department for completing his Green Belt!

For his project, Jeremy looked into how police officers register for training classes. As he Defined, Measured, and Analyzed the issue using a Fishbone Diagram, he noticed there was a lack of efficiency in the current methodogy and utilization of software to register for training. What a great opportunity to explore additional improvements that could enhance efficiency for everyone involved!

Well done!

Congratulations to Jimmy Garcia from the Health Department for completing his Green Belt!

For his project, Jimmy looked into how funding for mosquito control chemicals is utilized. As he Defined, Measured, and Analyzed the issue using a Fishbone Diagram, he noticed there was a noticeable difference in using pre-mixed chemicals versus mixable versions. What a great opportunity to explore additional improvements that could reduce the amount spent and enhance efficiency for everyone!

Well done!

Congratulations to Melissa Romero from Finance / Utility Billing for completing her Green Belt!

For her project, Melissa looked into how to reduce the amount of calls received from customers at Utility Billing. As she Defined, Measured, and Analyzed the issue using a Fishbone Diagram, she noticed customers were confused and frustrated with trying to use the online system. What a great opportunity to explore additional improvements that could reduce the amount of time explaining how to use the online system and enhance efficiency for everyone!

Well done!

Congratulations to Mayra Torres from Planning & Development for completing her Green Belt!

For her project, Mayra looked into how time consuming it was for the department to order apparel. As she Defined, Measured, and Analyzed the issue using a Fishbone Diagram, she noticed that using a physical catalog caused problems with efficiency, especially with people that don’t work in an office environment. What a great opportunity to explore additional improvements that could reduce this research time and enhance efficiency for everyone!

Well done!

Our very own “Baytown Breakdown” video series recently won first place at the National Association of Government Communicators! They also received an Award of Excellence for their 2025 budget video. Huge congratulations to our Public Affairs team!

Congratulations to Wayne Speaks with Public Works & Engineering for earning his Wastewater Operator Certification. Great job and keep up the excellent work Wayne!

Corporal Parker demonstrated kindness and professionalism during his interaction with a citizen, leaving a positive impression of our law enforcement. Great job Corporal Parker!

Corporal Barrera showed exceptional professionalism while assisting a citizen involved in a vehicle accident. That is what we strive for here at the City of Baytown.

Officers Perkins and Rudolph went above and beyond, offering compassion and support to a citizen who had just lost their spouse. Thank you for bring a shoulder to lean on for our citizens.

Officers Lambert, Thompson, Spencer, and Richter demonstrated remarkable teamwork and courage in locating and apprehending an armed suspect. Great job officers!

Congratulations to the City Clerk’s Office on receiving the TMCA Achievement of Excellence Award! This well-deserved recognition highlights the team's commitment to professionalism, transparency, and outstanding service to the community. Keep up the great work—we're proud of all you do!

For her project, Vernetta looked at how many sheets per permit was submitted by telecom companies. After she Defined and Measured the issue, Vernetta used a Fishbone Diagram to help her Analyze what was happening. She found out that by reducing the amount of sheets per permit entry, processing time was greatly reduced. What a great chance to find ways to make the process better and more organized for everyone. Nice work, Vernetta!

Congratulations Thang Lam (PWE), Kenya Small (Finance), Gabrielle Hubbard (Health), Samantha Diaz (City Clerk), Abel Carmona (Parks & Rec), Lamyaa Salem (Planning & Development), Amy Shipley (Parks & Rec), Claudia Gonzalez (PWE), Spencer Jacks (PWE), Johana Campos (PWE, not pictured), and Tracey Prothro (Parks & Rec, not pictured)! We appreciate your dedication to continuous learning and growth.

For his project, Scott looked at how work crews put dirt back in place after finishing concrete jobs. After he Defined and Measured the issue, Scott used a Fishbone Diagram to help him Analyze what was happening. He found out that customers complained about every job because the dirt the crews used was often clumpy and of low quality. What a great chance to find ways to make the process better and more organized for everyone. Nice work, Scott!

For his project, Ryan looked at how Fire staff track and finish the steps for Fire members to move up to the Intermediate and Advanced certification levels with the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. After he Defined and Measured the issue, Ryan used a Fishbone Diagram to help him Analyze what was happening. He found that there were several reasons for the issue, like confusion about how and when to do the process. What a great opportunity to look at ways to make the process easier and more organized for everyone. Great job, Ryan – we can’t wait to see you in Black Belt soon!

Congratulations to Bryan Kenne from the Engineering Department for successfully passing the Certified Floodplain Manager exam! Bryan has now earned the title of Certified Floodplain Manager, a testament to his hard work, dedication, and expertise in floodplain management. Great job Bryan and keep up the excellent work!

Amy Shipley, Marketing Coordinator for Parks and Rec., recently passed her Certified Parks and Recreation Professional Exam. This prestigious certification highlights her expertise in parks and recreation and her dedication to enhancing community recreation programs and services. Congratulations on achieving this certification, Amy!

Congratulations on all your hard work in completing the course requirements for Managers Series Level II! We appreciate your focus on continuing to develop your skills and working to make our organization better.

We are thrilled to recognize Ava Hudnall from HR who has officially completed her PIPE Black Belt certification, marking an incredible achievement in her journey with the City. This accomplishment is a testament to Ava’s dedication, hard work, and understanding of process improvement.

The Black Belt certification is no small feat. It requires using advanced tools and techniques to drive significant, sustainable improvements in processes, and Ava focused her improvements on the development of training courses here at the City. Her first two projects created an automatic and easily accessible training request form and a follow-up focused conversation to ensure all the details and needs of the training were captured up front. Previous to this, training development was done through email and went back and forth several times and included several revisions before everything was included, definitely not the most efficient use of time and resources. Ava’s third project resulted in the City’s Green Belt course being certified with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) as an approved course for six hours in leadership toward Police personnel’s required training.

Please join us in congratulating Ava on this significant achievement! We look forward to seeing all the positive changes she will continue to drive within our organization.

Here’s to many more milestones, Ava—we’re proud of you!

We would like to give a shout out to Southside Field Supervisor, Leonard Graham, for going above and beyond. When the department noticed vandalism at League of Women Voters Park on social media, Leonard immediately dropped what he was doing, even after hours on the weekend, to address the issue. It could have waited, but Leonard didn’t want the park to look out of sorts over the weekend when it’s used the most. Big thank you to Leonard!

Congratulations to these great managers for completing Level II of the HUB Manager's Series!

• Ryan Hvitlok (Planning & Development Services)
• Rafael Errisuriz (Public Works & Engineering)
• Freddy Flores (Planning & Development Services)
• Marcus Curry (Finance - Utility Services)
• Cynthia Baptiste (Planning & Development Services)
• Alex Garza (ITS)

Congratulations to Ryan Rawlings on earning his Drone Pilot License! Your hard work and dedication have paid off, and this achievement is a testament to your skills and commitment to innovation. We can’t wait to see where this new certification takes you—soaring to new heights, no doubt!

During the month of December, the Baker Rd/Decker Dr corridor became a primary target for burglaries and stolen vehicles. During the reported burglaries, information gathered led officers to formulate a plan utilizing various patrol tactics in an attempt to apprehend the suspect in the commission of a crime. Officer Watkins and another Officer put together a great plan and were able to apprehend the burglary suspects and 9 total charges were made. Great work from our officers! 

Officer Lambert received a write in from a resident commending his courtesy and professionalism. Great job Officer Lambert! 

Congratulations to Alex Peters from Human Resources for completing his Green Belt!

For his project, Alex studied how we find people to fill jobs in the City. As he Defined, Measured, and Analyzed the process using a Fishbone Diagram, he found that because we mostly use "passive" recruiting, we don’t always have enough good candidates to contact for job openings. This leads to longer times to fill jobs and lost productivity. What a great opportunity to explore additional improvements that could increase the number of applicants and enhance efficiency for everyone!

Well done!

Congratulations to Amy Shipley from Parks & Recreation for completing her Green Belt!

For her project, Amy looked into the larger marketing budget for Holiday Hangout 2024, which didn’t appear to result in increased ticket sales. As she Defined, Measured, and Analyzed the problem using a Fishbone Diagram, she discovered several factors that could have caused this. What a great opportunity to find ways to improve the event’s marketing and help the City generate more revenue.

Well done!

Congratulations to Lamyaa Salem from Planning & Development Services for completing her Green Belt!

For her project, Lamyaa looked into how Development Agreements are reviewed along with permits. As she Defined, Measured, and Analyzed the issue using a Fishbone Diagram, she noticed there was a delay and additional staff time being spent researching these . What a great opportunity to explore additional improvements that could reduce this research time and enhance efficiency for everyone!

Well done!

Congratulations to Kevin Boatswain and Rachel Philo on completing the Mastering Technology of Participation (MToP) course! This year-long journey has not only sharpened your facilitation dexterity and leadership capabilities but also equipped you with innovative tools and methods to drive meaningful engagement and transformative change. Through quarterly intensives, fieldwork, and mentoring, you’ve honed your skills in consensus building, strategic planning, and event design while fostering a supportive network of peers. Your commitment to deepening your knowledge and growing as facilitators is truly inspiring—well done!

Christina said "I studied Horticulture Science at Texas Tech University and graduated with a Master of Science in Horticulture Science. Some of the coursework studied including greenhouse management and production, pesticides, landscape management and planning, arboriculture and soil science. I began the degree plan in the spring of 2022. I have a passion for native landscaping and hope to be able to share my knowledge and experiences in my work in our Parks & Recreation department."

We are so proud of you Christina and congratulations!

Congratulations Tori Akins (HR), Johana Campos (PWE), Tracy Woolston (HR), Kenya Small (Finance), Spencer Jacks (PWE), Samantha Diaz (City Clerk), Gabrielle Hubbard (Health – Animal Services), Thang Lam (PWE), and Lamyaa Salem (Planning & Development Services)! We appreciate your dedication to continuous learning and growth. Looking forward to having you in Level II.

Part time Recreation Tech, Dominique Gutierrez, took on the initiative of creating an in-house one-page activity guide. Her effort saves the City $30,000 in annual outsourcing costs. Great job, Dominique! 

The Community Development division brought holiday joy to local families through their successful Angel Tree program this year. Under the leadership of Division Supervisor Sharon Rose and the dedicated coordination of Stephany Medina, the program reached a remarkable milestone with all 142 enrolled children being sponsored. Thanks to the overwhelming support from volunteers and staff, this heartwarming initiative exemplifies our community’s spirit of giving and the impact of working together to brighten the holidays for families in need. The gifts brought smiles to children’s faces, serving as a powerful reminder of how small acts of kindness have made a big difference in our community.

Congratulations to Sabrina Martin on earning her Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Texas at Arlington this December! Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to public service are truly inspiring. Wishing you all the best!