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VOL 6 No. 30
FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, JULY 24 , 2013
P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
Official newspaper of Fort Bend County, Missouri City & Sugar Land
Judges name second round of semifinalists for 2013 Sugar Land Superstar Finale
In the second round of its eighth annual Sugar Land Superstar competition, Sugar Land Town Square judges named six semifinalists who will advance to the finale in August. The American Idol-like singing competition features local talent ages 14 and up. The six semifinalists selected in Round Two are Dani Beale, Taylor Breedlove, Jenea’ Brown, Reagan Johnson, Bralyn Medlock and Kelsey Morrow. These semifinalists will join Round One Semifinalists Darcy Campbell, Laura DeJesus, Sant DeLeon, Carman Hammond and Brittany Villamil to compete at the 2013 Sugar Land Superstar finale on Saturday, Aug. 10 from 7-9:30 p.m. The winner will receive a prize package with items from Sugar Land Town Square retailers and restaurants, and will have the opportunity to sing at future Town Square events. The contestants were voted on by a panel of local, celebrity judges, including; Sarah Golden, folk singer/songwriter and former contestant on NBC’s The Voice; Christian Taylor, record representative at Republic Records; and Micahl Wyckoff, music photographer. The judges’ criteria included vocal talent, stage presence and crowd response. Local radio personality Michele Fisher was the evening’s emcee and 2012 Superstar Lauryn Harris opened the show with a concert.
City sought advice from red light camera vendor’s attorney regarding the petition Sugar Land City officials worked hand in hand with a camera company attorney to obtain legal advice on how to reject a citizen’s petition to call for a vote on the red light cameras, Baytown Red Light Camera Coalition and Houston Coalition Against Red Light Cameras, alleged in a joint press release. Copies of emails from Sugar Land City officials undeniably
prove this, according to the Sugar Land petition organizer, H. F. Van Der Grinten. An email dated April 5, 2013 from Sugar Land Assistant City Manager Steve Griffith’s office asks Attorney Andy Taylor, an election law attorney representing Sugar Land’s Red Light camera vendor American Traffic Solutions, (ATS), if state law requires a petition organizer to
be a resident of the city. The email specifically refers to a “red light camera protester… obtaining petition signatures”. The email also references previous discussions with Mr. Taylor and an upcoming meeting with city attorneys and Mr. Taylor. City attorney Mary Ann Powell even warns other city officials that while See ADVICE, Page 4
Fiesta introduces new Market Place in Sugar Land Ever since Fiesta quietly opened its doors without fanfare at the Sugar Creek Shopping Center on July 17, the parking lot has remained full as customers thronged the new store in an unending stream. The store owners are obviously pleased with the overwhelming response, which has replaced the former Gerland’ s. While Fiesta maintained its essential role as a fresh produce, meat and grocery store, it has introduced a new concept called Fiesta Market Place. Sugar Land’s Fiesta Market Place offers imported wines, cheeses and craft beers in the Wine Cellar and Cheese Shop. For the carnivore, the Market Place Meat Market presents ready-to-cook stuffed chicken, Plainville Farms humanelyraised, hormone-free turkey and Aspen Ridge Natural Angus beef. There is a fine selection of cut-to-order meats, as well as seasoned meats that are
ready for the grill. The store also boasts an array of all-natural and organic products, from free-range Smart Chicken® to Fiesta’s famous produce. Be sure to peruse Executive Chef Gilbert’s menu at the Market Place Eatery, featuring entrées and side dishes at the Chef’s Table, breakfast tacos and yogurt parfaits, plus daily hot bars for lunch and dinner. Additional meal options include the Chef’s Corner: a sandwich bar, sushi, a salad station, a burrito bar and a pizza station which uses traditional artisan crusts. Sample Fiesta Market Place’s exclusive Dietz & Watson premium line of Philadelphia deli meats and cheeses, as well as local Slow Dough Bread, Houston’s premier artisan bread company that is operated by a fifth-generation baker. Java aficionados will enjoy Caribou Coffee, the first major US coffeehouse to serve
100% Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee. All Caribou Coffee comes from sustainable, eco-friendly sources. As a healthy snack, Red Mango, “America’s favorite fro-yo,” offers probiotic frozen yogurt and smoothies, including a line of dairy-free and products naturally-sweetened with stevia. Fiesta Market Place debuts six Wise Choices health-directive icons -- low sodium; good source of fiber; heart healthy; good source of calcium; carb wise and gluten free -- that help shoppers find healthier food options. An entire section of gluten-free products will also be available. Fiesta Market Place continues its edible celebration at 13833 Southwest Freeway at Sugar Creek Blvd in Sugar Land. Store hours are 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day, and Caribou Coffee opens at 6:30 a.m. Passports are not necessary, just a love of good food.
Sugar Land plans for three bond propositions By SESHADRI KUMAR A citizens’ bond committee recently recommended a $50 million bond election for four quality of life parks projects. A public hearing will be held on Aug. 6 during a regularly scheduled City Council meeting, and a November election with three propositions is expected to be called on Aug. 20. The following projects are expected to be placed on a November ballot as three separate propositions for voters to consider: Parkland development and along the Brazos River would include a multi-purpose lake for canoeing, kayaking, dragon boat races and fishing. Amenities included at the lake would be a boathouse, pier, shelters, restrooms and pavilions. There would also be a series of connecting hike and bike trails. An adjacent festival site could accommodate large-scale events like the City’s annual Fourth of July celebration and other cultural and entertainment events. A network of hike and bike
The community park at Telfair and the hike and bike trail will be listed as two other propositions. Voters can vote yes and no for all three, or pick some and reject some. The City’s current tax rate structure can support existing parks, streets, drainage and utilities; however, the tax rate does not have the capacity for new parks projects. The recommended projects represent a maximum 5 cents on the tax rate over five years or a total of $128 for the average Sugar Land homeowner. Even with the maximum increase to the tax rate, Sugar Land would still have the third lowest tax rate among 63 cities within its population range. Sugar Land’s last bond election was in 1999. At that time, the City expected to implement the projects without increasing the tax rate; however, the tax rate was reduced 5 cents since 1999. The current bond election proposal would increase the tax to no more than the rate in 1999. County mobility bond election Fort Bend County Commissioners Court is working toward a mobility bond election in November. At a special meeting on Monday County Judge Bob Hebert suggested that the bond amount could be $185 million, instead of the initial proposal, which pegged the amount at $150 million. The county judge and commissioners are keen on holding the debt service tax rate at current level. The commisNew patio homes planned for the Imperial master-planned com- sioners are expected to fine munity in the heart of Sugar Land will offer picturesque views tune their project list and finalize the bond amount later of a lake and winding walking paths. See Story on Page 3. this week. trails throughout the City would connect neighborhoods and the community through well designed, well maintained, multi-use trails. A new signature park would include trails, playgrounds, picnic areas, a pavilion and a tennis center. Residents would have access to sports fields for activities such as cricket, soccer, lacrosse, rugby and flag football. More passive amenities would include a labyrinth and bocce courts. At the July 16 city council workshop, a majority of council members preferred three propositions on the ballot, instead of one omnibus ballot for all the four proposed projects. Councilwoman Bridget Yeung favored a single proposition. The bond committee also had suggested a single proposition. In the bond election, the Brazos River project and the festival site project, being adjacent to each other, with common elements, will be combined into one proposition, thus listing the four projects under three propositions.