The Houston City Council on Monday gave approval to the layout of a new city park on the Houston Memorial Airport’s west perimeter.
Rutherford Park designs were reviewed by the Houston Park Board, which made a recommendation that was accepted by the council during a meeting. The park will include soccer fields and other amenities.
Work also is expected soon at the nearby airport, where 10 new hangars are set for construction. Members handled some paperwork for the project, updated some lease agreements and are hopeful that some of the new hangars will quickly be leased.
In other matters, members:
—Held the first reading of a new ordinance that updates the city’s utility policies, including deposits and disconnect procedures. Customers with good credit also will receive a break when paying deposits. The review comes as the city determined that customer debt needed to be reduced from utility operations.
—Held the second and final reading of an ordinance that requires residents to have utility service within a structure. The city passed the measure after receiving reports of persons living in the city without sanitary utility conditions.
—Reviewed six properties deemed unsafe and requiring repairs. Owners will be notified that repairs or demolition will be required.
—Received an update on a plan to extend a sidewalk from the Texas County Library west to a Houston Development Co. parking lot. The library is losing some parking due to a Houston Rural Fire Association building project, but will pick up additional slots under an agreement with the development company.
—Learned the city’s share of its retirement system costs will increase about 1 percent next year.
—Received an update on plans to construct sidewalks along Oak Hill Drive next year. Archer-Elgin, a Rolla engineering firm, has the project in a design phase, and plans for public inspection will be available soon.
—Met Rooke, the city’s newest member of the Houston Police Department. The dog handler, officer Brad Evans; and trainer gave a demonstration. Funds are being raised to fund the animal.