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Council votes to complete street lighting
By CHARLOTTE AGUILAR
The West University City Council approved the second and final phase of the major streetlight improvement project, despite an increase in cost from CenterPoint Energy.
Four CenterPoint crews will be installing an additional 960 low-level decorative lights throughout the city between now and May, at a total cost that is $100,000 higher than originally estimated.
City Manager Michael Ross said CenterPoint blamed more expensive raw materials for the increase and said “we’ve gone back and forth a lot lately” over the issue.
In addition to approving the $1.402 million amount that was already budgeted, by a vote of 3-1 the council authorized another $250,000 from capital reserves for the increase and for contingencies, such as tree trimmingand removing any obstructions to installation.
Councilman Michael Taliachich voted against the measure, calling the lights “a waste of money.” Councilmember Phyllis Cohen was absent.
When completed, the project will have placed nearly 1,600 new streetlights at a cost of $2.25 million.
The council agreed Monday night that its appointed Parks Board should assume main responsibility for obtaining public input and directing the plans for how to spend as much as $13.8 million narrowly approved by voters for improvements to parks and recreation facilities.
Councilman Bob Fry was appointed as liaison to the Parks Board, and Mayor Bob Kelly said he envisioned frequent joint meetings between council and the board “as we crank through on this.”
Two residents rose to ask council to encourage active participation by residents (see related story for the council and staff suggestions), and Talianchich asked that the council “slow it down a fraction.”
John Neighbors of the seniors advisory board told council that his group agreed it needed more information about a proposal for the city to work with the UT Health Science Center geriatric nursing program.
He said the board and Senior Services Director Toby Brooks were investigating how the program would be administered, potential costs and how other cities handle similar programs.
Track parks & rec rebuilding
As West U embarks on planning how to spend up to $13.8 million in authorized bond funding to upgrade city parks and recreation facilities, residents can keep in touch with the process, to make their voices heard.
By going to the city’s website, www.westu.org, and clicking on the red “Get city news by e-mail” link, you can register to get e-mail alerts and agendas about Parks Board meetings.
Residents can also write to the myparks@westu.org address and make their views known at any time. City Manager Michael Ross says that mailbox is monitored daily during the business week.
Four CenterPoint crews will be installing an additional 960 low-level decorative lights throughout the city between now and May, at a total cost that is $100,000 higher than originally estimated.
City Manager Michael Ross said CenterPoint blamed more expensive raw materials for the increase and said “we’ve gone back and forth a lot lately” over the issue.
In addition to approving the $1.402 million amount that was already budgeted, by a vote of 3-1 the council authorized another $250,000 from capital reserves for the increase and for contingencies, such as tree trimmingand removing any obstructions to installation.
Councilman Michael Taliachich voted against the measure, calling the lights “a waste of money.” Councilmember Phyllis Cohen was absent.
When completed, the project will have placed nearly 1,600 new streetlights at a cost of $2.25 million.
The council agreed Monday night that its appointed Parks Board should assume main responsibility for obtaining public input and directing the plans for how to spend as much as $13.8 million narrowly approved by voters for improvements to parks and recreation facilities.
Councilman Bob Fry was appointed as liaison to the Parks Board, and Mayor Bob Kelly said he envisioned frequent joint meetings between council and the board “as we crank through on this.”
Two residents rose to ask council to encourage active participation by residents (see related story for the council and staff suggestions), and Talianchich asked that the council “slow it down a fraction.”
John Neighbors of the seniors advisory board told council that his group agreed it needed more information about a proposal for the city to work with the UT Health Science Center geriatric nursing program.
He said the board and Senior Services Director Toby Brooks were investigating how the program would be administered, potential costs and how other cities handle similar programs.
Track parks & rec rebuilding
As West U embarks on planning how to spend up to $13.8 million in authorized bond funding to upgrade city parks and recreation facilities, residents can keep in touch with the process, to make their voices heard.
By going to the city’s website, www.westu.org, and clicking on the red “Get city news by e-mail” link, you can register to get e-mail alerts and agendas about Parks Board meetings.
Residents can also write to the myparks@westu.org address and make their views known at any time. City Manager Michael Ross says that mailbox is monitored daily during the business week.
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