City postpones ordinance amendments, discusses property updates

Votes on two bills addressing nuisance vehicles and property were postponed Monday by the Houston City Council to allow time for public input.

ORDINANCES

Votes on two bills related to nuisance vehicles and property were postponed to gauge public opinion.

Ward III Alderman Don Romines, a proponent of the bills, stated that the council should post the bills to the city website for the public to view before moving forward.

“This is going to be a pretty controversial ordinance,” said Romines. “You’re talking about cleaning up our town.”

The first of the two bills updates the definitions and commercial exceptions to what constitutes a nuisance. The second describes the circumstances in which a nuisance can be declared, and the appropriate penalties.

Tim Ceplina, Ward II alderman and former police chief, said that the amended ordinances would be a lot better than what they were. Brad Evans, police chief, stated that if passed, the new laws would be enforceable but that property owners will always find loopholes.

A public hearing will be set for a later date. If you would like to read the bills, click here .

AIRPORT UPDATE

Laura Koonce, Woolpert Aviation, told council members that upgrades to the airport’s lighting system are complete pending some final paperwork. She stated that the city must sign a supplemental agreement for Woolpert’s fees associated with liquidated damages related to work at the Houston Memorial Airport. The amount will be deducted from the contractor’s retainer. The pending paperwork is associated with a $150,000 grant amendment. The paperwork is expected to be completed by the end of the year, according to Koonce. Koonce will meet with the airport committee once this project is complete to discuss future projects.

OTHER MATTERS

• Council members did a second reading of Bill No. 118 to become Ordinance 2024-118 to separate the fiber internet fee schedule from its ordinance. This will allow the city to change rates without amending the ordinance.
• The planning and zoning board met with Willy Walker recently to discuss converting 2.18 acres of land at the intersection of Cleveland Road and C.W. Harry Drive from agricultural to commercial zoning. Council members moved forward with the normal procedure: a public posting, notifications to adjoining properties and a public hearing. Once it has gone through those processes, it will return to the council for a vote.
• Lloyd Wells, city administrator, said Charlie Shea is resigning from the planning and zoning board after 19 years of service. Mayor Viki Narancich is tasked with appointing a new member.
• Wells gave several updates including that the city is waiting to hear from its insurance carrier for approval of a bid for a new bus barn roof, the progress of employee reviews and that the golf course is still waiting on a pump for a new pump house. Currently, the fire department is assisting in watering the greens. The new pump is expected to arrive later this month. David Barker, of Licking, was hired to do the electrical work.
• Robbie Mortensen, parks and recreation director, will present an end-of-year pool report to the council at an upcoming meeting. Mortensen is also working on concrete quotes for a walking trail at Bridges Park at West Highway 17 and Lilly Avenue.
• Rawdon Tarn – a proposed subdivision on Oak Hill Drive near Plainview Drive – is delayed due to a build defect in the pond, according to Wells. The property owner is hiring an engineer to correct the matter that is causing the pond to hold too much water and encroach on platted lots, and then he will move forward with the plans that have been approved by the city.
• Council members discussed how to better prepare for parking issues at the storm shelter during the November election. Construction of a new library at First and Pine streets caused issues during the August election.
• Murals that were removed from downtown Houston to be displayed at Larry Dablemont’s Piney River Museum, which is scheduled to open this fall, and replaced by new murals downtown were a topic of discussion. Council members stated that they are “private artwork on a private building” and that the city, upon request of the building owner, helped facilitate their removal.
• Through the use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, Emmett Kelly Park has received new sunshades and picnic tables. The old picnic tables could be donated to a local entity.
• Sam Kelley, Ward I alderman, discussed getting new trenching equipment that would be valuable to the city’s internet business, haying the airport and looking into whether a lawn mower repair business is being operated from a residence on South Oak Crest Drive.
• Wells stated that the city continues to count Brightspeed’s attachments on the city’s 1,345 utility poles. During its last meeting, the council approved a $15 per pole per year per attachment charge for company use of utility poles.

The meeting adjourned into closed session pertaining to contracts, discipline and negotiations at 7:21 p.m.

Potential Ordinances

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