Government
BY CASSANDRA JENKINS, EMILY LINCKE & KEVIN VU
West University officials call $15M bond election
Drainage projects in Bellaire hit milestone Bellaire officials approved a $3 million work order Feb. 17 during a City Council meeting that will bring multiple drainage projects to the final design phase. The overview Adam Eaton, a senior project manager with Ardurra, the engineering consultant company currently managing the city’s drainage improvement program, said the final design for both the regional detention south and north ponds will further optimize the potential volume that’s available. The final design phase for the Cypress Ditch improvement project will improve the ditch’s channel conveyance and create improvements to adjacent storm sewer systems, he said.
Harris County early childhood education program facing closure A pilot program offering free early childhood edu- cation for children ages 4 and younger across Harris County could be ending soon once federal funding runs out, county commissioners said Feb. 6. The overview Officials launched Harris County’s Early Reach Education Access for Children pilot program in June 2023 to provide free, high-quality child care for fam- ilies in high-need areas, addressing the challenges faced by both children and child care providers in the county, Community Impact previously reported. It was launched using funds from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act, which were temporary, meaning additional funding would eventually be needed, officials said. ARPA funds must be spent by the end of 2026.
County to look at $130M shortfall
Early reach centers
Precinct 1 Precinct 3
Precinct 2 Precinct 4
At the polls West University Place residents will be able to vote on four propositions on the May ballot.
West University council members voted 3-0 on Feb. 10 to call a May bond election. What’s on the ballot? The bond will include only one proposition worth approximately $15 million. The proposition includes the construction of a new community building, senior center and library. Street and sidewalk improvements were origi- nally presented by the finance department to be included in the bond, but was cut after council discussion, as well as $1.2 million for the escalation cost, leaving $12 million for construction and $3 million for community open space improvements. Mayor Susan Sample and council members Clay Brett and Matt Hart voted in favor of the bond. Council member John Montgomery abstained and Shannon Carroll was absent. One more thing West-U will also have three additional proposi- tions on the ballot that relate to the city’s charter.
59
45
Harris County officials said at a Feb. 6 meeting they are anticipating a $130 million gap in funding of drainage projects due to inflated costs of construction materials. The full story Harris County’s subdivision drainage program was designed to reduce the risk of flooding for 45,000 homes countywide upon completion, as previously reported by Community Impact . The funding shortage follows a number of challenges for the program, including a $277 million funding shortfall announced in 2023, prompting the county to pause 33 projects under the program. Most of the $130 million gap could impact projects in Precinct 1, which makes up much of central Harris County, officials said.
Propositions A
290
99 TOLL
The reduction of required meetings of the City Council to one regular meeting each month
10
The removal of the requirement for an official newspaper, instead, providing for the use of a newspaper in general circulation within the city
10
B
99 TOLL
610
149
GALVESTON BAY
Providing for City Council to directly appoint and manage the city secretary
69
C
N
Construction of a new community building, senior center and library ($15 million)
D
1,300 children across the county participated in the program
$15 guaranteed minimum wage for child care providers
SOURCE: WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
All four council positions and the mayor’s seat are up for election as well with nine candidates vying for the four council seats, including incumbents Matt Hart and Clay Brett.
4 and younger are ages of eligible children
$29 million in ARPA funding spent on the program
SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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WESLAYAN 3902 Bissonnet (713) 218-8144
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