Members of the Houston City Council heard a progress report on the development of the 2019 budget, discussed its annual contract with the chamber and appointed a member to a new local district during a meeting on Monday.
Administrator Tona Bowen was set to meet with the council’s finance committee following the regular meeting as the city moves closer to adopting its spending blueprint for next year.
During the meeting, council members:
•Heard that a fueling system has been repaired at the Houston Memorial Airport. Some other improvements also were made.
•Learned that the park board has met with one engineering firm and plans to meet with a second related to demolition and construction of new swimming complex at Westside Park.
•Appointed Steve Hutcheson, a former city councilman, mayor and chair for the Houston Planning and Zoning Commission, as its member on a Community Improvement Development that includes a portion of U.S. 63.
•Saw Glenn McKinney, a process server representing George Sholtz of Upton, present paperwork to the council and city clerk as part of a lawsuit Sholtz filed that challenges the district that benefits the county hospital.
•Heard that the city has approved a Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities grant that will place an obstacle course-like development at Westside Park next to a climbing wall.
•Appointed Bowen to negotiate its annual contract between the city and chamber. Currently, the chamber receives a $1,000 monthly for its work in the community.
•OK’d a Christmas check of $50 to city employees.
•Authorized a $25 donation to the Houston Imagination Library, which provides a monthly book to enrolled youngsters in the Houston School District.
•Adjourned into a closed session. The council voted to promote Sgt. Brad Evans to lieutenant. No additional compensation is involved. Members also approved a city-wide pay scale that goes into effect Jan. 1. Bowen said some minor changes are still required before implantation. “There was a lot of work on this with all of council, but it was really the mayor who spent time getting the pieces all put together,” Bowen said. “ I am really excited to have a document that will lead us for years to come. It will be easy to update as COLA and minimum wage rates change. This project also set the number of employees in each department.”