CITY & COUNTY
Top city & county stories to watch in 2023
2023 ANNUAL COMMUNITY GUIDE
West University Place plots out series of ood, water projects
Bellaire looks into new strategic plan, sta ng study BELLAIRE The city of Bellaire will adopt a strategic plan in the 2023-24 scal year to outline the Bellaire City Council’s priorities and goals, City Manager Sharon Citino said. Citino said the plan will also identify the activities the council will complete to meet its goals. BY MELISSA ENAJE
Work continues on Facilities Master Plan
“We can then move into the budget planning process with con dence that we’re allocating our resources to deliver on City Council’s priorities and goals,” Citino said. As part of the comprehensive planning process, in the rst quarter of 2023, the city will hire a consultant to assist with updating the city’s land use plan and comprehensive plan, Citino said. That work will continue throughout 2023, she said. Since mid-August, Bellaire has hired more sta to ll holes—including new directors for the city’s human resources, develop- ment services and information technology departments—decreasing the vacancy rate from 17% to 11%. In 2023, the city will complete a sta ng
WEST UNIVERSITY WATER WORK
PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE The city of Bellaire will conduct a number of studies in 2023 with an eye toward the city’s future. Comprehensive plan : This will involve determining the goals of the Bellaire City Council and what actions the city can take to achieve them. Land use plan : An existing plan will be updated as a part of the comprehensive planning process outlining zoning and development standards in di erent parts of the city. Sta ng and compensation studies : These will set standards to ensure the city is appropriately sta ed and competitive with pay.
A number of ooding and water line projects are planned within the city of West University Place in 2023.
BY MELISSA ENAJE
BY MELISSA ENAJE
WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE The city of West University will continue working on Phase 1 of its Facilities Master Plan to address the needs of city buildings, including a new public works campus and community center. West University Place City Council members approved a design contract for a new 21,000-square-foot public works facility in May at the corner of Westpark Drive and Dincans Street, City Manager Dave Beach said. Design is expected to be completed in early 2023 with construction starting in the summer, he said. While the long-range plan and nal locations of the buildings have been approved by council members, Beach said the design contract for the community building/senior center/library will come back to the Council for approval in 2023. “We’ll have another update coming to council of where we’re at in the design process because there were some discus- sions on energy e ciencies,” Beach said.
if so, what’s the cost?’” The feasibility study is broken into three phases, Beach said. The rst phase will look into if the city can enclose the ditch and convey the necessary stormwater without causing any problems elsewhere. West University Place was also approved by the city of Houston to extend its water system to resi- dents that live along the 4100-4200 blocks of Law Street, Beach said. “We don’t own the right of way in front of the house where we run the line; it’s still the city of Hous- ton,” Beach said. “They’ll allow us to install a water line in the city of Houston right of way.” Lastly, construction design was completed in 2022 for the street and drainage improvements along University Boulevard east of Bu alo Speedway. Construction will begin in early 2023.
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WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE Heading into 2023, the city of West University Place is advancing ood control and water projects, including a feasibility study for work along Poor Farm Ditch, a new water line along Law Street and a variety of drainage improvements. Whether the city should enclose Poor Farm Ditch north of Uni- versity Boulevard has circulated the community for more than 15 years, City Manager Dave Beach said. Council members moved one step closer to a solution after allocating $47,000 in December for a feasibility study that will take place in 2023. “What this feasibility study provides is information to make an informed decision,” Beach said. “What we’re trying to get to is ‘Can it work? Can it be constructed, and
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SOURCE: CITY OF BELLAIRE COMMUNITY IMPACT
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study and a compensation study to help ensure the city is properly sta ed and employees are appropriately compensated, Citino said.
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Houston approves new Medical Center Area Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone BY LEAH FOREMAN
SOURCE: CITY OF WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE COMMUNITY IMPACT Poor Farm Ditch Status: feasibility study to be conducted in 2023 Law Street water line Status: approved by city of Houston; will take place in 2023 Eastside drainage work Status: construction to begin in early 2023
HOUSTON City Council approved the creation of the Medical Center Area Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone at a Dec. 14 meeting. The plan entails approximately 1,332 acres and will allow for the repair of public infrastructure, including water
retention for the area and parking and transit solutions at the nearby Hermann Park. William McKeon, the president and CEO of the Texas Medical Center, spoke at the meeting about how he fears the people of Houston could be
cut o from the medical center when ooding occurs. Among other uses, funding generated from the TIRZ could be used to help with drainage, he said. The TIRZ will have a lifespan of 30 years, and Houston Mayor Syl- vester Turner is expected to appoint
seven people to its board of directors in early 2023. McKeon also mentioned Helix Park will be open at the Texas Medical Center next year as part of a broader project that involves adding collabo- rative and research buildings.
BUFFALO SPEEDWAY 9733 Buffalo Speedway (713) 838-7486
HOLCOMBE 2314 W Holcombe Blvd (713) 669-1722
WESLAYAN 3902 Bissonnet (713) 218-8144
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BELLAIRE MEYERLAND WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION • JANUARY 2023
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