VOL 7 No. 31
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FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2014
P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
Official newspaper of Fort Bend County, Missouri City & Sugar Land
Sugar Land City Manager proposes $324 million budget for 2015 By SESHADRI KUMAR Sugar Land City Manager Allen Bogard presented a $324.15 million proposed fiscal year 2015 budget to City Council on July 22. The City’s fiscal year begins Oct. 1 and ends on Sept. 30, 2015. Of the total, $166.32 million is for operations, $144.35 million is for capital projects and $13.48 million is for economic development. Capital projects such as a performing arts center, voterapproved parks projects and street/drainage improvements represent a large share of the proposed budget. The increase to the City’s operating budget and general fund is 3.8 percent and 4.6 percent, respectively. Preliminary budget estimates show that a 1 cent tax increase is needed to implement the portions of the voterapproved parks bond projects proposed in the 2015 budget. The certified tax roll is due at the end of July, and the proposed tax rate will be discussed with the City Council at that time, with approval set for September. The following priorities are addressed in the operating budget: •Eleven new firefighter/ paramedics, two public safety dispatchers and equipment for implementation of a fire-based ambulance transport system beginning January 2015 are included. The effort is the result of a strategic project to meet improved Advanced Life Support delivery standards that were identified by Dr. Joe Anzaldua, Sugar Land’s medical director. •Funds are included for implementation of a public safety
Bogard compensation study that will keep the City’s public safety positions competitive in the local market. •Two new code enforcement inspectors will allow a more proactive approach to neighborhood code enforcement. •An additional customer service representative will assist with utility billing calls and payments. The capital improvement program includes funding for several significant projects: •A 6,500 seat performing arts center to be completed in fall of 2016 will create cultural/ entertainment activities, capital investment, new jobs and educational opportunities. The facility will create unique destination activities attracting local and regional visitors. Based on voters’ approval of the financing tools in 2008, the project is funded from economic development sales tax, facility rent payments, participation from ACE SL and hotel occupancy taxes. No general fund tax dollars are being spent on this project. •In November 2013, voters
approved park bond propositions totaling $31.5 million, including the development of 128 acres of parkland along the Brazos River with an adjacent festival site and a connecting network of nearly 10 miles of hike and bike trails and bridges. Funding in the proposed fiscal year 2015 budget includes phase one of Brazos River Park, grading and site work on the festival site and Imperial and First Colony trails. •Continued emphasis on pavement and drainage improvements will include the widening of Dairy Ashford from U.S. Highway 90A to Stiles Road; the reconstruction of Lakefield Drive, Williams Trace and Austin Parkway; and drainage improvements in Sugar Creek and Covington Woods. There are no rate increases proposed to water, wastewater and surface water rates, which is consistent with the five-year forecast that has been shared with City Council in prior years. Costs for residential solid waste (i.e., trash, recycling and green waste) service will increase 2.5 percent based on the City’s contract with Republic Waste. Beginning in January, rates will be $16.81 per month. The budget also includes funding for an average 4 percent performance-based merit increase to eligible employees, effective January 2015. To view the proposed budget and capital improvement program, visit www.sugarlandtx.gov/budget. The budget will be reviewed with City Council through a series of workshops beginning July 31 at Sugar Land City Hall, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North.
Dan DiDonato, Emergency Care Center Manager; Becky Chalupa, Associate Chief Nursing Officer; Janet Leatherwood, Chief Nursing Officer; Dr. Jeffrey Jackson, Board Member; Sue Chiang, Board Member; Chris Siebenaler, Chief Executive Officer; Bill Schwer Board Chair; Sutapa Sur, Board Member; Lonnie Meadows, Board Member; Scott Stover, Emergency Department Director.
Houston Methodist Emergency Care Center now open in Missouri City Missouri City residents now have convenient access to Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s leading emergency care capabilities. The new state-of-the-art Houston Methodist Emergency Care Center opened July 15 in the heart of Missouri City, at 8200 Highway 6 between the
Sienna Plantation and Riverstone communities. The center is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week to treat patients of all ages who are ill or injured. Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital celebrated the new Emergency Care Center on July 10 with over 400 attendees. The 9,600-square-foot fa-
cility includes 10 private treatment rooms, full-service X-ray, CT and ultrasound capabilities. Most importantly, Houston Methodist Emergency Care Center is staffed by board-certified emergency medicine physicians specializing in emergency See METHODIST, Page 4
FBISD considers $495 million bond election in November By SESAHDRI KUMAR At the July 21, school board meeting, Fort Bend ISD Superintendent Charles Dupre asked the board to call a November 2014 bond election to fund significant investments to address the district’s growth, to improve safety and security in schools, and to upgrade the district’s technology infrastructure. The proposed bond requirement is $495 million (plus $108 million available from previous bond and reserves). The district facilities master plan, security and technology master plans envisaged a total about $1 bil-
lion in bond projects, to be implemented in three phases over the next 10 years. However, a bond oversight committee, appointed by the school board, recommended that the projects be implemented in two phases. “As proposed, there would be no tax rate increase required to fund the new bonds due to the district’s increasing tax base and sound financial management,” Dupre says. The district has identified three primary funding sources – existing capital funds, the district operating fund, and new bond funds, he says.
Notable projects included in the bond proposal includes five new elementary schools to address the growing student enrollment, funding for career and technical programs (possibly a career and technical school), significant security enhancements at all schools, and wireless network deployment at all schools. The Board will be working with the administration to review the proposal, and any potential action to call an election would take place at an August Board meeting. See BOND, Page 3
Missouri City adopts policy to support small businesses
Fort Bend County Officials gathered Tuesday, July 22 to celebrate the Grand Opening of Mason Road from FM 359 to State Hwy 99. Phase 1 of this multi-year project included the four lane divided roadway from the 359 intersection to Skinner Lane and was completed in August of 2012. Fort Bend County residents may now enjoy complete access with a four lane divided roadway from the intersection of 359 to Hwy 99. Mason Road phases 1, 2 and 3 are all projects from the Fort Bend County 2007 Mobility Bond, and partners included the Long Meadow Farms Developer, Trend Development and TXDOT. Left to Right: Maria Gonzales and Pete Cavaso of Gonzales Construction; Glenn Graham, Landtech; Nathan Hatcher Fort Bend County Engineering Dept; Andy Meyers Commissioner Precinct 3; County Judge Bob Hebert; James Patterson, Commissioner Precinct 4; Stan Kruse, Costello, Inc; Richard Stolleis, County Engineer; Mario Villareal, MarCon Construction.
By BARBARA FULENWIDER As of July 21, Missouri City has a Small Business Policy that is designed to reach out, encourage and engage more small businesses and particularly those located in or doing business with the city. “Missouri City is growing and is a pretty sizeable community. As a result of that we should make sure our policies benefit our constituency that we represent and the size of our businesses,” said Councilman Don Smith, who serves on the city’s budget and finance sub committee and served up the idea for the policy. “I think it’s necessary to reach out to businesses that
perhaps we haven’t historically gone after. Competition is good for business. It’s time we broaden our scope,” Smith said. The adopted policy says that Missouri City must provide for the registration of small businesses that meet the national standards and provide two seminars or workshops annually that relate to city procurement and provide additional notification of contracting opportunities. It also awards five points on a 100-point scale to a small business and contractor who make a good faith effort to subcontract with one or more Missouri City-owned or domiciled
businesses only for contracts of $50,000 or more solicited through competitive sealed proposals. The policy also provides for a penalty if a small business fails to comply to the rules regarding small business points. Missouri City also must show that it is making a good faith effort to help, attract and use small businesses. To that end, the city must present a status report every quarter on its use of small businesses. Smith said, “Reaching out to more small businesses will increase our data base, bring about more competition, which See BUSINESS, Page 5
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