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2022 HEALTH CARE EDITION KATY EDITION INCREASING CAPACITIES All four area hospitals are upgrading their health care systems in response to Katy’s swelling population. Some growth is programmatic, while other expansions, like within Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital and Houston Methodist West Hospital, are of the physical space.
ONLIINE AT
VOLUME 10, ISSUE 10 JUNE 22 JULY 19, 2022
INSIDE
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NUMBER OF BEDS
Memorial Hermann Katy
208 beds
+94
Houston Methodist West
237 beds +32
SOURCES: MEMORIAL HERMANN KATY, HOUSTON METHODIST WEST COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Memorial Hermann Katy is one of several local hospitals with plans to expand in the coming years. The hospital, which is located o the Katy Freeway, will add beds and expand its emergency services, women’s health and sports medicine departments. (Courtesy Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital)
Looming end of Medicaid security sounds alarms
but health care advocates in Texas and Houston said they are worried about what could happen when it ends and millions of people have their safety nets put into jeopardy. The Urban Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, estimated as many as 1.3 million Texans could be deemed ineligible for Medicaid once the public health emergency ends. Roughly 3.7 million of the 5.2 million Texans enrolled in Medicaid will have their eligibility redetermined once the emergency ends, according to the Texas Health and Human Ser- vices Commission. About 75.9% of Texas Medicaid CONTINUED ON 26
“THE VAST MAJORITY ... OF PEOPLE WHO KIND OF STAYED ON MEDICAID LONGER THAN EXPECTED ARE LOW INCOME KIDS. I THINK WE WILL SEE THE MOST DISENROLLMENT IN THAT GROUP.” LAURA DAGUE, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, PUBLIC SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT
BY SHAWN ARRAJJ, LAURA ROBB & SIERRA ROZEN
When the coronavirus pandemic emerged in March 2020, the U.S. government issued a requirement that states could no longer kick people o Medicaid during the public health emergency. The purpose was to prevent people on Medicaid—a government-run health care pol- icy—from being left without insurance on short notice. That requirement is still in place two years later,
HEALTH CARE EDITION 2022
Harris County trails initiative gets green light
SPONSORED BY • Houston Methodist West Hospital • Modern Vascular
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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KATY EDITION • JUNE 2022
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
THIS ISSUE
ABOUT US
Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched the rst edition of Community Impact Newspaper in 2005 with three full-time employees covering Round Rock and P ugerville, Texas. Now in 2022, CI is still locally owned. We have expanded to include hundreds of employees, our own software platform and printing facility, and over 40 hyperlocal editions across three states with circulation to more than 2.8 million residential mailboxes.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS MONTH
FROM AMY: In our 2022 Health Care Edition, we’ve put the spotlight on our local hospitals and health care options. We spoke to a neurologist with an o ce in Katy and tracked down details of Texas’ Medicaid extension situation. Amy Martinez, GENERAL MANAGER
Community Impact Newspaper teams include general managers, editors, reporters, graphic designers, sales account executives and sales support, all immersed and invested in the communities they serve. Our mission is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our core values are Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.
FROM LAURA: We have included a fun To-Do List of events (see Page 8) taking place in the Katy area in this month’s issue. As a part of our annual Health Care Edition, we also have details on the new Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital expansion as well as insight into the state of mental health two years into the coronavirus pandemic. Laura Robb, EDITOR
Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other.
WHAT WE COVER
Sign up for our daily newsletter to receive the latest headlines direct to your inbox. communityimpact.com/ newsletter DAILY INBOX Visit our website for free access to the latest news, photos and infographics about your community and nearby cities. communityimpact.com LIVE UPDATES
MARKET TEAM GENERAL MANAGER Amy Martinez EDITOR Laura Robb REPORTER Asia Armour GRAPHIC DESIGNER La'Toya Smith ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Tracy Drewa METRO LEADERSHIP PUBLISHER Jason Culpepper MANAGING EDITOR Kelly Scha er COPY EDITOR Kasey Salisbury
BUSINESS & DINING Local business development news that a ects you
TRANSPORTATION & DEVELOPMENT Regular updates on area projects to keep you in the know
SCHOOL, CITY & COUNTY We attend area meetings to keep you informed
ART PRODUCTION MANAGER Kaitlin Schmidt CORPORATE LEADERSHIP PRESIDENT & GROUP PUBLISHER Traci Rodriguez EXECUTIVE EDITOR Joe Warner CREATIVE DIRECTOR Derek Sullivan VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES & MARKETING Tess Coverman CONTACT US
HOW WE'RE FUNDED
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KATY EDITION • JUNE 2022
IMPACTS
Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon, relocating or expanding
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Scooter’s Coffee
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4 Katy Garden Center opened May 2. Located at 3218 Greenbusch Road, Katy, the business provides retail and whole- sale garden and landscaping supplies. Katy Garden Center serves as a nursery and delivery service for a variety of greenery, from shrubs and trees to tropi- cal plants and flowers. The business does not currently have a website. 281-766-4842 COMING SOON 5 Scooter’s Coffee is set to open ten- tatively on July 5, at 979 S. Mason Road, Katy. Open as early as 5:30 a.m., all of the drive-thru coffee shop’s beverages—such as the Caramelicious espresso—are avail- able hot, iced or blended. This location will hold a grand opening this summer, and new customers will be offered special promotions. www.scooterscoffee.com 6 Greenwood at Katy —an apartment community located at 1700 Katy Fort Bend Road that offers housing specifi- cally designated for Katy’s moderate- to middle-income, critical workforce— finalized construction on its last build- ing June 15. The Katy Area Chamber of Commerce will host a grand opening for the apartment community June 29. Greenwood at Katy considers the critical workforce to include teachers, nurses and first responders as well as city of Katy and Harris County staff. Amenities include a pond with water features and pedestrian walkways, a clubhouse with a demonstration kitchen, a pavilion with an outdoor kitchen and seating areas, a dog park, a business center and a resort-style swimming pool. 833-737-0645. www.greenwoodatkaty.com
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NOW OPEN 1 Postino Wine Cafe opened June 6 at LaCenterra, 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd., Ste. D100, Katy, the Cinco Ranch shopping center. The establishment has a daily happy hour with $6 glasses of wine and beer pitchers until 5 p.m. 281-500-9700. www.postinowinecafe.com 2 The John Paul Landing Environmen- tal Education Center hosted a grand reopening May 21 after being closed due
3 Clutch City Cluckers parked a new food truck in Katy at 1005 Katy Fort Bend Road on May 20. The Houston-based restaurant serves Nashville hot-spiced chicken sandwich- es; tenders; and loaded fries smoth- ered in cheese, chicken and pickles. Clutch City Cluckers has two other Houston-area trucks, one in the Texas Medical Center and one located off Chimney Rock Road. 832-964-3293. www.clutchcitycluckers.com
to the COVID-19 pandemic. The center, managed by Harris County and located at 9950 Katy Hockley Road, Katy, sits inside an 865-acre park and offers displays and programming for visitors to learn about elements of the local environment. Other amenities of the park include playgrounds, green space, fishing ponds, trails and a 170-acre lake. 713-274-3131. www.pct3.com/explore/ parks/john-paul-landing-park-environ- mental-education-center
Falcon Landing 9722 Gaston Road, Ste. 190 Katy, TX 77494
Cinco Ranch 10705 Spring Green Blvd, Ste. 600 Katy, TX 77494
Because wrapping your kids in bubble wrap isn’t an option. Open 9am – 9pm, 7 days a week
Kingsland 21700 Kingsland Blvd, Ste.104 Katy, TX 77450
Katy 1420 Katy Fort Bend Rd, Ste.105 Katy, TX 77493
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
COMPILED BY COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER STAFF
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Greenwood at Katy
Nando’s Peri-Peri
RENDERING COURTESY GREENWOOD AT KATY
COURTESY NANDO’S PERI-PERI
7 Baseball- and softball-themed entertainment center Home Run Dugout hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for its new facility in Katy on June 6. The venue, located at 1220 Grand West Blvd., Katy, will officially open in early 2023. The 46,000-square-foot center will feature 12 of Home Run Dugout’s patented Batting Bays with soft-toss pitching machines suited for patrons of any skill level, a full-service restaurant and two bars with elevated ballpark-themed cuisine, indoor and outdoor dining, a beer garden, a concert stage and a whiffle ball field. www.homerundugout.com 8 The first two Texas locations of the South African fast-casual chain Nando’s Peri-Peri have been announced for Houston, with one in the mixed-use LaCenterra development in Katy, located at 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd. Slated to open in spring 2023, the chain’s staple is spicy flame-grilled chicken. Founded in South Africa in 1987, Nando’s is mostly known for its chicken recipes, made with chicken that is marinated for at least 24 hours in peri-peri sauce—a chili sauce made with African Bird’s Eye Chili—and flavored to each customer’s preferred spice level. Nando’s sources its peri-peri through 1,400 local farmers in Mozam- bique, Zimbabwe, Malawi and South Africa, according to a news release. www.nandosperiperi.com 9 The opening date for the second Orleans Seafood Kitchen has been moved from spring of this year to summer this year, according to the restaurant’s website and Facebook page. The new restaurant will be located in Fulshear at 6230 FM 1463, Ste. 550. It will feature a patio and multiple televisions in the bar and patio
area. The New Orleans-inspired restaurant also has another location in Katy located at 20940 Katy Freeway G and owned by Chance Comstock and Marcus Payavla. www.orleansseafoodkitchen.com 10 Full-service wellness clinic 100% Chiropractic is opening in Katy on July 18. The clinic will be located at 9920 Gaston Road, Ste. 150, and offer services in corrective chiropractic care, family wellness, personal injury from car crashes, prenatal and pediatric care, and massage therapy. The franchise also sells its own line of supplements. There are two other 100% Chiropractic loca- tions in the north Houston area: in The Woodlands and near Tomball off Hwy. 249. www.100percentchiropractic.com 11 Tim Hortons , a Canadian coffee chain, recently broke ground on its first Houston-area location at 21811 Clay Road in Katy. The coffee shop plans to open in August, according to a Tim Hortons news release May 10. In late 2021, Tim Hortons announced its plan to expand throughout Houston. The chain is known for its coffee, breakfast sandwiches, tea, iced beverages and doughnuts. The brand has two addi- tional locations planned to open in 2022: one at 5312 W. Richey Road, Houston, and another at 13451 Northwest Freeway, Houston. www.timhortons.com EXPANSIONS 12 The Katy Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony June 17 for Katy Christian Ministries’ new social services and administration building at 3506 Porter Road, Katy. The faith-based nonprofit has a health benefits access program for services, such as SNAP—the
Open Cross Prayer Park officially opened April 10.
ASIA ARMOUR/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
FEATURED IMPACT NOW OPEN Katy Community Fellowship maintains the 2.7-acre Open Cross Prayer Park , located at 24102 Kingsland Blvd., Katy. O cially dedicated on Palm Sunday, April 10, the park features seven stations for speci c subjects of worship: salvation, healing, revival, family, strongholds, authorities and nations. Each prayer space is connected by a walking path that is lined with 66 steel scripture tiles, and each tile highlights a verse from the Bible pertaining to prayer. Tim Barker, lead pastor at Katy Community Fellowship, said the park gives visitors many opportunities to engage in faith practices. “[Families] can listen to worship music, and as they walk around the park, they can listen to scriptures,” Barker said. “We have the data on QR codes, and there is one at each of the prayer points. It tells you a little bit about the artwork and the scriptures that go with it.” Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—Medicaid and Medicare; provides financial assistance for rent, utilities and prescriptions along with vouchers for clothes and furniture as well as gas cards when available; and offers food assistance where people can receive emergency bags, personal care items, nonperishable food
For example, a 45-foot-tall steel cross, a baptismal pool and an amphitheater mark the salvation point of prayer at the head of the park and is a site for worship events, such as the community Easter Sunrise Service held annually, according to the park’s website. The church aims to reach community members outside of its congregation with this project, Barker said. 281-391-0099. www.opencrossprayerpark.com
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items, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Katy Christian Ministries also provides trauma-informed counseling services and a crisis center for victims of domestic and sexual abuse; support groups for teens and parents; and programs for career preparedness and self-empowerment. 281-391-9623. www.ktcm.org
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©2017 Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. Better Homes and Gardens ® is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation licensed to Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Franchise is Independently Owned and Operated. If your property is currently listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers.
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KATY EDITION • JUNE 2022
TO DO LIST
June & July events
COMPILED BY SIERRA ROZEN
LaCenterra will happen every second and fourth Sunday of the month. Local Katy vendors will sell organic products such as honey, cheese, eggs and vegetables. Those who are interested can sign up to be a vendor. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. LaCenterra, 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd., Katy. 281-797-2614. www.lacenterra.com JULY 03 SEE EXOTIC CARS Every other month visitors can attend the Car Culture Show. Attendees can see more than 50 exotic cars on display while listening to a live DJ. The next show does not occur until September. 8-11 a.m. Free. LaCenterra, 2707 Commercial Center Blvd., Ste. K-100, Katy. 281-395-5533. www.lacenterra.com 18 THROUGH 22 LEARN HOW TO ROCK School of Rock Katy is having multiple summer camps, including an ‘80s rock camp. Campers will learn how to play songs by ‘80s artists such as Billy Idol, Cyndi Lauper, Van Halen and Devo. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. $450. School of Rock Katy, 3750 Mason Road, Ste. 800, Katy. 281-769-7010. www.schoolofrock.com/ locations/katy
JULY 10
WATCH A CONCERT TYPHOON TEXAS
JULY 16
SHOP VENDOR BOOTHS DOWNTOWN KATY
COURTESY PROLIFIC EXPO
WORTH THE DRIVE June 24: Attend an expo Blue Proli c Studios will host an art and small-business expo. Attendees can enjoy music and cocktails while hearing a poetry performance and viewing artist and small business vendors. Sharespace Naylor 1120 Naylor St., Houston 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Free-$10. 937-718-7286. www.blueproli cstudios.com/events
Zach Neil will put on a concert at water park Typhoon Texas. Tickets sales had not opened to the public by press time. Typhoon Texas reopened for its summer 2022 season on May 28. 1 p.m. Cost TBD. Typhoon Texas, 555 Katy Fort Bend Road, Katy. 832-426-7071. www.typhoontexas.com
Katy Market Days will feature more than 100 vendors, food trucks, a beer garden, in atables for kids and antique shops. Vendors include jewelry, decor, wooden crafts and other items. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. 5717 Avenue B and Second Street, Katy. 281-391-1993. www.katymarketday.com
COURTESY TYPHOON TEXAS
COURTESY KATY MARKET
JUNE 22 THROUGH AUG. 12 ENROLL IN A SUMMER CAMP The city of Katy, in collaboration with area businesses, will host multiple summer camps for kids of all ages through the city’s parks and recreation program. Some of the camps include
American Robotics Academy, Fast Forward Kids, musical theater workshops, golf camp, tennis camp and summer dance camp. Various times. Various prices. Woodsland Park Community Center, 443 Danover Road, Katy. 281-391-4840. www.cityo aty.com 26 VISIT A FARMERS MARKET The Farmers Market at
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Find more or submit Katy events at communityimpact.com/event-calendar. Event organizers can submit local events online to be considered for the print edition. Submitting details for consideration does not guarantee publication.
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List or buy with Cinco Ranch Realty Group.
Compass is a licensed real estate broker. All material is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description or measurements (including square footage). This is not intended to solicit property already listed. No financial or legal advice provided. Equal Housing Opportunity. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced and may not reflect actual property conditions.
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
TRANSPORTATION UPDATES
COMPILED BY ASIA ARMOUR & EMILY LINCKE
Harris County commissioners approve $53M for trailway projects Harris County commissioners
UPCOMING PROJECTS
10TH ST.
Ramsey said he voted against the item because he believes the project has “too many unknowns.” Meanwhile, Cagle said he would have preferred additional trails be funded by the county’s parks budget. “While Commissioner [Cagle] is a major proponent of hike-and-bike trails and has considerably expanded their availability throughout Precinct 4, he voted against this measure because he believes it sets a bad precedent of diverting toll road money to projects not originally envisioned when toll roads were first pitched to Harris County voters,” said Joe Stinebaker, Precinct 4 director of communications, in an email May 17. Nine of the 16 projects specific to Precinct 4 are defined as Community Connectors—intended to provide access to parks, transit, schools, neigh- borhoods or other destinations—and will likely connect to Network Spines, which are projects that traverse multi- ple communities within Harris County. In sum, the Precinct 4 projects will cover 29 miles and are estimated to
New ways to commute The Tollways to Trailways project will bring biking and walking paths to Harris County for local commuters to utilize daily.
CANE ISLAND CREEK
approved $53 million May 10 for the Harris County Toll Road Authority’s new Tollways to Trailways initiative, which will add 236 miles of new recreational trails across the county. According to the HCTRA’s planning documents, most of the trails will be placed next to existing toll roads, giving access to existing parks, public transit hubs, schools and neighbor- hoods. A timeline for the work has not yet been announced, but the cost estimate for all 63 projects totals more than $601 million. “Tollways to Trailways make the county healthier and more resilient by expanding healthy mobility choices, creating more local green spaces, and giving people transportation options that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve regional air quality,” HCTRA’s plan reads. The motion was approved in a 3-2 vote with Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey and Precinct 4 Commis- sioner Jack Cagle, who represents the Harris County area of Katy, dissenting.
236 miles of trails will be added across Harris County. 63 projects are envisioned for the Tollways to Trailways plan across Harris County’s four precincts. $601 million in funding will be needed to cover the plan’s trailways. $53 million in funding was approved for the project by commissioners May 10.
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First Street reconstruction and bridge As per the $33 million mobility package Katy City Council approved in January, the city will reconstruct and widen First Street from Bartlett Road to Avenue D by creating a center turn lane. It will also add a bridge over Cane Island Creek. This project’s design phase is 90% complete, with bids scheduled to go out in July, officials at ARKK Engineers said. Timeline: September 2022- August 2023 Cost: $2.71 million Funding source: Katy Development Authority cash funds ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF JUNE 16. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT KTYNEWS@COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM.
SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY/ COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER cost over $122 million. Three of the most expensive works in Precinct 4 include the Alief East Loop, Jersey-Addicks trail and the east segment of the West Park Trail projects. Combined, these would total $51.2 million and could benefit as many as 231,000 residents.
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KATY EDITION • JUNE 2022
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©2016 Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. Better Homes and Gardens ® is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation licensed to Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Franchise is Independently Owned and Operated. If your property is currently listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers.
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
REAL ESTATE New 215-acre community one of several planned for Brookshire area
BY LAURA ROBB Bold Fox Development shared the name of their upcoming Brookshire community—La Segarra—in a June 14 news release. The 215-acre property is located near Gassner Lane and FM 362, about 1 mile north of the Katy Freeway. Alex Kamkar, managing shareholder of The Woodlands-based Bold Fox Development and the property's developer, said in a news release home- sites will be delivered in about 18 months. “With today’s current housing market, there is a real need for more developed land so more people can obtain the American dream of owning a home,” Kamkar said in an April news release. “Whether it’s communities of hundreds of acres or even pocket communities, like Cherrywood Estates at nearly 21 acres, anything we can make available opens up opportunities for people to move into home owner- ship and start building generational wealth.” La Segarra will feature Spanish-inspired themes and a 1.8-acre lakeside recreation area. “We’ve always envisioned this community to have a pastoral feel, but wanted to veer away from Texas rustic,” Kamkar said in the June release. “The Spanish Revival aesthetic will give La Segarra a de ned identity and create something unique in
the Houston residential landscape.” La Segarra will have 658 homes upon build-out and 116 lots in the rst section. It will be located within Royal ISD. “Because of its small size, this is a school district where everyone knows each other and students have more opportunities to play sports, play in the band and participate in other extra-curricular activities,” Kamkar said in the April release. The announcement comes only three months after The Signorelli Co. announced another Brookshire development dubbed Bluestem. That develop- ment will include 365 acres and more than 1,300 single-family homes on various homesite sizes. The Signorelli Co. plans to break ground on Bluestem in 2022, o cials said. That community will also feed into RISD, which—as of the 2020-21 school year—consisted of 2,476 students across 161 square miles, according to the Texas Education Agency. The Bluestem community will also o er 64 acres of walking trails, reserves, green spaces, lakes and creeks as well as a 2-acre recreation space. As of 2020 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Brookshire had 5,066 residents across 1,787 house- holds. The two new developments could bring in as many as 2,000 new homes.
NEW DEVELOPMENT IN BROOKSHIRE
The La Segarra development encompasses 215 acres of land in Brookshire. Bold Fox Development will cultivate it as a residential community in early 2024, according to a news release.
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SOURCE: BOLD FOX DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER Construction on homesites will begin in early 2024
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KATY EDITION • JUNE 2022
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
NEWS BRIEFS
News from Harris County, Katy & Harmony Public Schools
County primary runo election results nalized
Harmony Public Schools to o er fully virtual option in 2022 23
BY HANNAH ZEDAKER & ANNA LOTZ
Runo elections are deemed necessary when no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote. The May 24 runo election included the two highest-performing candidates from the March primaries. RUNOFF RESULTS
In the May 24 runo elections, Alexandra Del Moral Mealer took the Republican nomination in the race for Harris County judge, while Lesley Briones won the Democratic seat for Harris County Precinct 4 commissioner, who represents the Katy area. Results from the Harris County Elections Adminis- trator’s O ce show Briones garnered 53.91% of votes for commissioner while opponent Ben Chou secured 46.09%. Briones will face incumbent Jack Cagle, a Republican, on the Nov. 8 ballot. In the Republican Harris County judge race, Del Moral Mealer earned 75.42% of votes, while Vidal Martinez had 24.58%. In November, she will face Lina Hidalgo.
BY LAURA ROBB
On May 23, Harmony Public Schools announced it will o er full online learning options to all students during the 2022-23 school year, according to a news release from the charter school system. The virtual school, dubbed Harmony Virtual Academy, is approved for about 572 students in the fall 2022 semester. In 2021-22, about 400 students attended Harmony Virtual Academy, per the Harmony Public Schools news release. Eligibility for the virtual schooling requires students to be enrolled at Harmony for the applicable school year, maintain at least a 90% attendance rate, have passed their most recent State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readi- ness and be passing in all core subjects. “Parents deserve to have a choice in their child’s education,” Harmony Public Schools CEO Fatih Ay said in an email. “And so many families have told us that a virtual option is a choice they still need.”
Lesley Briones 53.91% Ben Chou 46.09% Alexandra Del Moral Mealer 75.42% Vidal Martinez 24.58%
Harris County Precinct 4 commissioner, Democratic seat
Votes
Harris County judge, Republican seat
Votes
SOURCES: HARRIS COUNTY COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Katy zoning de nitions updated after nearly 40 years
residents live. “C-1 is light commercial,” Smith said. “By de nition, it is designed to co-exist and live right next to residential. [These changes are a] massive improve[ment].” Businesses already in these districts are grandfathered in and will not have to make any changes in accordance with the rede ned land uses. RACHEL LAZO, CITY PLANNER FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT “THE LANGUAGE USED FOR THESE STANDARDS WOULD HELP ENCOURAGE MAINTAINING THE CHARACTER AND REDEVELOPMENT OF THE OLD KATY DISTRICT.”
BY ASIA ARMOUR
determine the land uses and de nitions for each of the aforemen- tioned districts. Most changes were made to the C-1 commercial district, where commissioners prohib- ited smoke shops, liquor stores, sexually-oriented businesses and tat- too shops; and updated the purpose statement to ensure new businesses are in line with the intention of the district, Lazo said. Minimal changes were made to the OKD and C-2 districts. The OKD now allows “micro-industrial” busi- nesses—such as breweries, wineries, distilleries and roasteries—and the C-2 district can have “commercial amusement” uses, including bowling alleys, billiards and shooting ranges. Council Member Dan Smith thanked Lazo and the CPZ for their work on the zoning de nitions, espe- cially when it comes to integrating the uses of C-1 with districts where
On May 23, Katy City Council accepted rede ned terms and land uses for commercial, industrial and the “Old Katy” zoning districts as determined by the city planning and zoning commission. The last time these terms were updated was 1983. Rachel Lazo, city planner for the public works department, presented the rede ned terms for C-1 commer- cial districts; C-2 general business districts; the OKD, or “Old Katy” district; and M industrial districts. The city’s planning and zoning commission approved an actionable plan of work in November 2018, which prioritized revising the bound- aries of the Old Katy District, Lazo said. In early 2019, the city planning and zoning commission added minimum standards for architecture, parking and signage, she said. The second priority was to
Eligibility for the virtual schooling requires four things from students. ONLINE ELIGIBILITY
Pass the most recent State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness Maintain at least a 90% attendance rate Enroll at Harmony for the applicable school year
Pass all core subjects
SOURCE: HARMONY PUBLIC SCHOOLS COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
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KATY EDITION • JUNE 2022
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
COUNTY & SCHOOLS
News from Katy ISD, Harris County & Fort Bend County
QUOTE OF NOTE “FIREARM VIOLENCE CAN BE PREVENTED. ... WE CAN PROTECT OURSELVES. AND MAINLY, WE CAN PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.” KIM OGG, HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NUMBER TO KNOW emergency opened in Fort Bend County $9.3M MEETING HIGHLIGHTS HARRIS COUNTY Following the resignation of current Elections Administrator Isabel Longoria, the Harris County Election Commission tasked an executive search rm, Recruiting Source International, with a national search to ll the Harris County elections administrator position by June 30. County o cials said Recruiting Source International is in the process of interviewing candidates. During an April 19 meeting of the commission, the members voted to accept Longoria’s resignation, e ective July 1, and appoint operations facility either a permanent or temporary elections administrator by June 30. HARRIS COUNTY Commissioners in Harris County approved an interlocal agreement with The University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston to study local e orts to reduce opioid overdoses May 24. Commissioners unanimously approved the agreement, which will receive a maximum backing of $306,841. UTHealth Assistant Professor J. Michael Wilkerson will lead the evaluation. The agreement will last until Aug. 31, unless terminated earlier. Katy ISD board of trustees will meet at 5 p.m. on June 27 at 6301 S. Stadium Lane, Katy. 281-396-6000. www.katyisd.org Harris County Commissioners Court usually meets Tuesday mornings twice a month. The next meeting is June 28 at 1001 Preston Ave., Ste. 934, Houston. 713-755-5000. www.harriscountytx.gov Fort Bend County Commissioners Court meets at 1 p.m. the rst, second and fourth Tuesdays each month. The next meeting is June 28 at 401 Jackson St., Richmond. 281- 342-3411.www.fortbendcountytx.gov MEETINGS WE COVER
Katy ISD trustees approve 5% teacher pay raise
FIRST YEAR TEACHER PAY
BY LAURA ROBB
KATY ISD Teachers in Katy ISD will see a raise in the 2022-23 school year after the board of trustees unanimously approved midpoint pay grade increases of 5% for all class- room teachers and hourly employees as well as a 3% raise for other district sta for the upcoming 2022-23 school year at a May 26 special meeting. Classroom teachers will see an increase of $3,600 annually, while the starting pay for a new teacher will be $60,700. The vote comes after the item was tabled at a May 16 meeting due to the board wanting more details on how to exceed the recommended teacher pay increase of 3%. At the meeting, Brian Schuss, KISD’s chief human resources o cer, recommended a 3% general pay increase to maintain market position, which is currently 3% behind in compensation compared to neighboring districts. However, that 3% raise would have brought KISD to the 2021-22 school year market median—not accounting for the increases districts implement for the 2022-23 school year.
For the 2021-22 school year, Katy ISD’s rst-year teacher pay was below other local districts.
Galena Park ISD: $60,850 Alief ISD: $59,700
Lamar CISD: $59,500
Spring Branch ISD: $59,000 Pearland ISD: $59,000 Cy-Fair ISD: $58,500 Fort Bend ISD: $58,500
Aldine ISD: $58,000 Klein ISD: $57,800 Spring ISD: $57,425 Katy ISD: $57,365 Houston ISD: $56,869
SOURCES: LAMAR CISD, TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
County emergency operations hub opens
O cials advocate for safe rearm storage
BY RACHEL CARLTON
secure their guns at what Ogg says is a critical time. “It’s important as parents that we recognize the necessity to ensure our kids’ safeties not just in our own home, but with others’ in other people’s homes and cars,” Ogg said. The billboards were donated by Clear Channel Outdoor and are already live with some funding coming from district attorney’s o ce criminal forfeiture revenues.
HARRIS COUNTY District Attorney Kim Ogg kicked o National Gun Violence Awareness Week and Wear Orange Weekend in Harris County by introducing a billboard campaign promoting the safe storage of rearms at the site of a digital billboard June 3. Twenty- ve billboards—with messaging in both English and Spanish—will encourage residents to
BY HUNTER MARROW
FORT BEND COUNTY The new Fort Bend County Emergency Oper- ations Center opened June 3. The $9.3 million, two-story emergency operations center is located at 307 Fort St., Richmond. It consolidated o ces and com- munications spaces to improve the county’s emergency response. It also features information and audio-visual technology, training and media rooms, and administrative space.
2,800 guns More than were stolen from vehicles in Houston in 2020. 3,700 guns Almost were stolen from vehicles in Houston in 2021. 4,000 guns will Trends from HPD's data suggest over be stolen in 2022.
FIREARM FIGURES
Larry Satterwhite, executive assistant chief of the Houston Police Department, said the public can prevent gun violence by securing their rearms. He emphasized investing in gun safes for vehicles and removing stickers that could suggest a gun is inside the vehicle.
RICHMOND PKWY.
90
N
SOURCE: HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Fort Bend County continues work on $12.2M north library in Fulshear
BY ASIA ARMOUR
Plans for the 41,500-square-foot, multistoried project began in July 2021. The $12.2 million library is set to be completed by mid-2023, county o cials said. James Knight, the county’s director of facilities, said in an email the only other library in Fulshear is the Bob Lutts Fulshear/Simonton branch,
which was built in 1998 and is one of the county’s smaller libraries. “With the signi cant growth in the area, we decided it was time to replace the library with a much larger one,” Knight said in an email. The library was funded by a 2015 bond, while the Ginter Family Invest- ments group donated the land.
FORT BEND COUNTY On June 7, the Fort Bend County Commissioners Court approved a $1.05 million monthly payment to con- tinue constructing a new north library in Fulshear, located north of FM 1093 between Lamar CISD’s Fulshear High School and Cross Creek Ranch.
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KATY EDITION • JUNE 2022
• Surgery • Urology
• Orthopedics – Surgery • Pediatrics • Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation/Spine • Pulmonary Medicine/ Sleep Medicine
• Cardiology • Dermatology • Endocrinology • Family Medicine
• Gastroenterology • Internal Medicine • Neurology • OB/GYN • Orthopedics – Sports Medicine
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
2022
HEALTH CARE EDITION
COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER IS PROUD TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
GOLD SPONSOR
Houston Methodist West Hospital is a full-service, acute care hospital committed to leading medicine in Katy and West Houston. Growing to meet the needs of our community, our hospital campus boasts more than 200 beds and some of the most innovative minds in South Texas. We o er a wide range of specialties and subspecialties, including orthopedics and sports medicine, advanced heart and vascular care and comprehensive cancer treatment. Recently, the Houston Methodist Childbirth Center at West Hospital received Level II Maternal Designation, and our hospital’s bariatric program earned accreditation from the Metabolic and Bariatric Accreditation Quality Improvement Program. To learn more about our hospital and Houston Methodist’s full range of care across Katy and West Houston, visit houstonmethodist.org/katy-west.
GOLD SPONSOR
Dr. Zagum Bhatti is a board-certi ed Vascular and Interventional Radiologist, and the Managing Physician at Modern Vascular in Richmond. Dr. Bhatti and his specialized team have the expertise and state-of-the-art technology to diagnose and treat patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). PAD is the narrowing of peripheral arteries due to plaque buildup that reduces blood ow to legs, feet and toes. PAD is often a complication of diabetes. Dr. Bhatti uses minimally-invasive, interventional radiology to provide outpatient treatment for PAD, restoring blood ow to the legs, down to the toe. Patients go home the same day. Symptoms of PAD include resting leg pain, pain while walking, and foot wounds that don’t heal. Left untreated, PAD can eventually lead to limb loss. However, up to 90% of PAD related amputations are preventable. Patients who believe they may have PAD should call Modern Vascular at 844-472-3435 to schedule a screening and consultation.
HEALTH CARE SNAPSHOT
Local health care data and information
COMPILED BY ASIA ARMOUR
COMPARING COUNTY HEALTH
TRACKING VACCINATIONS The three counties that make up Katy have varying vaccination rates. Data is up to date as of June 16.
These rankings of all counties statewide are updated annually but include data from previous years. The factors listed are not comprehensive.
PERCENTAGE OF RESIDENTS AGE 5+ FULLY VACCINATED
TOTAL VACCINES ADMINISTERED 1,504,363
FORT BEND COUNTY WALLER COUNTY HARRIS COUNTY
HEALTH OUTCOMES INCLUDE:
• LENGTH OF LIFE • QUALITY OF LIFE , such as the number of poor mental and physical health days reported
79.11%
7,454,128
68.06%
58,243
46.67%
2022 STATEWIDE HEALTH CARE RANKINGS OUT OF 244 COUNTIES
HEALTH FACTORS INCLUDE:
Sept. 2019 Sept. 2021 HEALTH CARE EMPLOYMENT TRENDS HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL ASSISTANCE INDUSTRY EMPLOYMENT Health care employment in Fort Bend County has seen a slight dip since 2019. Meanwhile, Harris County’s employment has increased year over year. 2-year change -2.15% 2-year change +9.88% 2-year change -.51% Sept. 2020
• HEALTHBEHAVIORS , such as smoking, obesity, physical activity, excessive drinking, alcohol-impaired driving deaths, sexually transmitted infections and teen births • CLINICALCARE , including health insurance coverage; number of physicians, dentists and mental health providers; preventable hospital stays; and u vaccinations • SOCIOECONOMICFACTORS , such as educational attainment levels, children in poverty, income inequality and violent crimes • PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT FACTORS , such as air pollution, drinking water violations, housing problems and long commutes
HEALTH OUTCOMES
22 30 79
28 34 78
4 4
Length of life Overall Quality of life
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HEALTH FACTORS
109 142 204
16 123
1 5
Overall
Health behaviors
76
16 15
Socioeconomic Physical environment Clinical care
111
193 238
SOURCES: ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN POPULATION HEALTH INSTITUTE, COUNTYHEALTHRANKINGS.ORG, U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
193
148
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KATY EDITION • JUNE 2022
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