CITY & COUNTY
News from Bellaire, Houston and Harris County
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS BELLAIRE The preliminary scal year 2022-23 budget was presented to Bellaire City Council at a July 18 meeting. The proposed $28.4 million budget would maintain the city’s $0.4473 tax rate, which would increase tax revenue by 4% annually. The budget would also raise expenditures by 5%, which includes $17.58 million for regular employee salaries and benets, an 11% increase from FY 2021-22. Budget workshops and are slated to be held over Aug. 15-16. Bellaire City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Aug. 15 at 7008 S. Rice Ave., Bellaire. Meetings are streamed at www.bellairetx.gov. West University Place City Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 8 at 3800 University Blvd., Houston. Meetings are available via teleconference. Find details at www.westutx.gov. Houston City Council will meet at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 9 for public comment and 9 a.m. Aug. 10 for regular business at 901 Bagby St., Houston. MEETINGS WE COVER
Bellaire hires new city manager after 2-year search
Houston continues redistricting with reveal of potential new boundaries
BY SOFIA GONZALEZ
data, District C, which includes Meyerland, is overpopulated by 15%. If the draft plan is approved, Rice University would be moved to District D, and the district’s south- west corner—where the Robindell neighborhood resides—would be moved to District J. The Robindell shift was some- thing asked of constituents during a town hall process. Other speakers from District C voiced concerns about Rice University potentially moving at a July 20 public hearing. District C resident Kathie East- erly said the university is closely tied to West University Place, Rice Village and Rice Alliance, all of which are in District C. However, Mayor Sylvester Turner said he did not think Rice University moving would be a major issue for the area. New maps could be brought back for a vote in September.
HOUSTON The city of Houston gathered public feedback through- out July on proposed maps for new Houston City Council district boundaries. Redistricting occurs every 10 years based on data from the decennial U.S. census and public input. Jerry Wood, who is consult- ing with the city as a demographer, designed the map to comply with city requirements and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 while reecting the population changes. To be in compliance with city guidelines, the population in each district must be relatively equal, not break up county voting precincts, avoid the diminishing of voting power by demographic concentration or dilution, and preserve incumbent and constitu- ent relations. According to the population
BELLAIRE After a nearly two-year search, BY GEORGE WIEBE
the Bellaire City Council unanimously approved the
Sharon Citino
appointment of Sharon Citino as the new city manager July 11.
Citino previously worked for the city of Houston, operating as the water planning director in the public
works department in 2018. Former City Manager Paul
Hofmann stepped down from the role in August 2020 and, since then, the city has had two interim city man- agers, including most recently Fire Chief Deacon Tittel. Citino’s start date is set for Aug. 15.
Meetings are streamed at www.houstontx.gov/htv.
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BELLAIRE MEYERLAND WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION • AUGUST 2022
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