1. The Mayor recognized the following for receiving “Clean Restaurant Awards” from the City Health Inspector: Fun Tiki, Quiznos, Dominos, Burger King (Hwy 6 and 1092) Fruhstucks, Shu Ming Sushi, Tokoya Garden, Wasabi Sushi, Billy’s Donuts, Star Snow and Ice, Paco’s, Aura, Chick Fil-a-let, and Johnny Carinos.

2. Missouri City Police Department (MCPD) Chief Fitzgerald address Council regarding some enhancements and changes he has made in his first few months. He commented that he has been evaluating the positives within the department and where improvements could be made. Throughout his presentation, Chief Fitzgerald reiterated that the MCPD was a very well structured, well run operation. He shared that he is working to fill the vacancies in the department and will be restructuring the current vacancies to add an assistant chief position to handle administration. He has a concern about services levels in the lobby of the PD and has made procedural changes to address those service levels. As opposed to one officer being the liaison with all the City’s HOAs, he has now assigned a specific officer to each HOA. The goal is to have expanded accountability to the communities, be more responsive and proactive to situations in communities. Officers will be moving to shifts of four 10’s instead of the current five 8’s, which will increase coverage during peak times. Captains will also start working one week each month at nights, to enhance supervision and leadership. A monthly meeting with Sugar Land, Stafford, Richmond, the Meadows and Houston has also been established to share crime information.

3. City Manager Frank Simpson addressed Council and shared that there have been many questions regarding what is occurring with the Quail Valley properties and reminded everyone that the City has only had possession of the properties for a little over the year, there were some set backs with Ike, and the bond election wasn’t approved until November of last year. He indicated that projects are meeting time lines and the City is trying to balance community input, and keep projects on schedule. He reiterated that it was always the plan to get the Quail Valley golf courses’ addressed first, as this is an asset that needed to be improved, so it could generate revenue to operate on its own. The City has not issued any monies from the November bond election and is still using the original $9.5 million issued last year. In September, public meetings will be held for input on the Executive Nine. Parks and Recreation have been working on a Trails Master Plan and this plan does not focus on Quail Valley specifically, but the entire City. There is potential for the Trails Master Plan to include connectivity w/ Quail Valley. Specific to the fall bond package, trails specifically, were not an itemized item in the bond package. Simpson commented that the City is being diligent in getting projects completed and asked for patience.

He also reminded all that there is now an ordinance in place regulating times for walkers on the La Quinta course and that the El Dorado course is closed to all traffic. Signs are being made to post regarding walking times and people not complying will be given citations. There are volunteers that are assisting to keep people off of the El Dorado course, but commented that many residents are being argumentative with the volunteers. There is discussion to have some community service people go door to door to those folks who live on the courses and explain the new ordinance.

The Mayor reminded everyone that there are 19 other parks in the City and encouraged all to use those facilities.

4. Council approved the minutes from the July 6, 2009 meeting.

5. Council and Staff are working with 4 different sets of homeowners who have properties that are in gross disrepair, to either demolish the properties or set time lines for completion of repairs.

6. Sean Johns addressed Council and thanked the Quail Valley Dolphins for providing kids wjth swim team activities, and thanked Parks and Recreation for providing safe, clean parks, and further encouraged everyone to shop locally at the new HEB, Kroger, and Lowes. He also thanked Danny Nguyen for the properties he’s upgrading on Texas Parkway.

7. Carol West of the Thunderbird North HOA addressed Council expressing concern over the Church that is using the old day care center on Turtle Creek. Sometime back, it was agreed that the Church would build a parking lot and driveway, and this has yet to occur.

8. Bill Tompkins of Quail Valley addressed Council expressing concern about Lowes trucks using the entrances off of Hampton and that the entrances are not configured correctly, according to the City’s own ordinance.

9. Council passed an ordinance to issue additional bonds from the 2003 bond election and increasing the number of Parks Board members from 9 to 11.

10. Council passed a resolution to execute an Inter-local Cooperation Contract between the City and Texas Department of Public Safety for materials related to Breath Testing Program and Laboratory Alcohol Drug Testing and temporarily amended a resolution regarding how many tournaments youth sports organizations can hold annually.

11. Jeffrey Gaspar was appointed to the Planning and Zoning Commission.

With hurricane season underway, the City of Missouri City is continuing its emergency preparation efforts by launching a new emergency information Web site: missouricityready.com.

The new site will serve as a primary source of public information during any natural or man-made disaster affecting the City. A link to missouricityready.com is available on the City’s home page, www.missouricitytx.gov. In the event that the City’s main Web site is not functional during an emergency, missouricityready.com will operate as a secure source of information about the City’s response and recovery efforts.

As emergencies occur, missouricityready.com will be updated with specific information on those situations.

Missouri City is one of 30 government entities in Fort Bend County that were each awarded grant funds to host their own emergency information sites - which are PIER, or Public Information Emergency Response, Web sites.

A Houston Urban Area Security Initiative grant has funded the City’s PIER site. The grant funds are coordinated through the Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management. The cost to the City to support missouricityready.com is $100 per month for hosting and technical services.

Residents and businesses can now utilize missouricityready.com to prepare for emergency situations. The site offers: tips and strategies for preparing homes, businesses and families for emergencies, including hurricanes; links to Web sites of other emergency management agencies; weather, traffic and other emergency alerts; information on handling special care needs or pets during disasters; and more.

The new Web site also allows visitors to sign up to receive via e-mail news releases and notifications of emergency situations affecting Missouri City. The City is working to offer subscribers an option to receive emergency notifications as text messages.

Check out the new site by going directly to missourcityready.com or visiting www.missouricitytx.gov and clicking on “Missouri City Ready” under “Quick Links” on the right-hand side of the home page. For more information, call 281-403-8500.

Preparing safe food has helped 15 Missouri City restaurants earn not only the loyalty of customers, but a mark of distinction from the City.

At the July 20 City Council meeting, Mayor Allen Owen presented representatives of the food establishments with Clean Restaurant Awards for scoring 95 or higher (with no critical violations) on health inspections performed during the last six months.

“We salute these Clean Restaurant Award winners for consistently offering safe food products to Missouri City residents,” said City Health Inspector Teresa Lee. “We are happy to recognize these food establishments, and encourage our citizens to visit all of them.”

Every six months, about 230 food establishments in Missouri City are inspected by Lee, who uses review criteria established by the state Health Department. The restaurants are evaluated in categories such as food temperature, food handling and equipment requirements.

Once restaurants are inspected, their scores are translated into letter grades of A, B or C. The grades are posted in public view at the entry of every food establishment, as required by City ordinance. Food establishments that fail their inspections must post a numerical, versus a letter, score.

Four eateries are first-time recipients of the Clean Restaurant Award: the Burger King at 1254 FM 1092; Shaming Sushi (Kroger) at 6200 Highway 6; Tokyo Garden Catering (HEB) at 4724 Highway 6; and Wasabi Sushi (Kroger) at 10250 Highway 6. The rest of the award recipients are repeat winners of the honor.

Congratulations to these Clean Restaurant Award winners in Missouri City:
. Domino’s, 6309 Highway 6
. Burger King, 6855 Highway 6
. Burger King, 1254 FM 1092
. Quizno’s, 5830 Highway 6 #A
. Fruhstuck’s, 9029 Highway 6, # 190
. Fun Tiki, 3310 FM 1092
. Shaming Sushi (Kroger), 6200 Highway 6
. Tokyo Garden Catering (HEB), 4724 Highway 6
. Wasabi Sushi (Kroger),10250 Highway 6
. Billy’s Donut, 8551 Highway 6, # 750
. Star Snow Ice, 4713 Highway 6
. Paco’s a-la- Carte, 3843 Cartwright
. Aura Restaurant, 3340 FM 1092, #160
. Chick Fil A, 6124 Highway 6
. Carino’s Italian Grill, 5750 Highway 6

Looking for a cool way to spend a hot afternoon? Senior adults are invited to come to Missouri City’s “Under the Sea” Dance and enjoy an afternoon of dancing and refreshments. The event will be held Aug. 11 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Community Center next to City Hall, 1522 Texas Parkway.

For $5, adults ages 55 and older can dance to Big Band-era music played by the Leonard Duckworth Band. The cost of admission includes snacks, drinks, door prizes and plenty of fun!

For more information about the dance or other senior activities, call 281-403-8500 or www.missouricitytx.gov.

Looking for a cool way to spend a hot afternoon? Senior adults are invited to come to Missouri City’s “Under the Sea” Dance and enjoy an afternoon of dancing and refreshments. The event will be held Aug. 11 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Community Center next to City Hall, 1522 Texas Parkway.

For $5, adults ages 55 and older can dance to Big Band-era music played by the Leonard Duckworth Band. The cost of admission includes snacks, drinks, door prizes and plenty of fun!

For more information about the dance or other senior activities, call 281-403-8500 or www.missouricitytx.gov.

Looking for a cool way to spend a hot afternoon? Senior adults are invited to come to Missouri City’s “Under the Sea” Dance and enjoy an afternoon of dancing and refreshments. The event will be held Aug. 11 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Community Center next to City Hall, 1522 Texas Parkway.

For $5, adults ages 55 and older can dance to Big Band-era music played by the Leonard Duckworth Band. The cost of admission includes snacks, drinks, door prizes and plenty of fun!

For more information about the dance or other senior activities, call 281-403-8500 or www.missouricitytx.gov.

Missouri City Mayor Allen Owen does the honors at a board cutting that kicked off the July 2 grand opening of the Lowe’s store in Missouri City. Store Manager Phillip Lewis (LEFT) and Sales Manager James Uvalle (RIGHT) helped the mayor as a large group of residents looked on. The 117,000-square-foot store is located at Murphy Road (FM 1092) and State Highway 6. Lewis told the crowd on hand that the new store has 170 employees and represents an $18.5 million dollar investment in Missouri City.

1. Sharon Valiante, Assistant Director of Public Works, was recently awarded the Professional Manager of the Year for Emergency Management by the Texas Public Works Association. Ms. Valiante was instrumental in providing additional services to the citizens of Missouri City after Hurricane Ike which included managing and coordinating the removal of over 200,000 yards of storm related debris, managing and coordinating the PODS, and developing a creative solution for residents to dispose of 45,000 bags of leaf debris.

2. Consent agenda was approved which included approving minutes to special and regular council meetings, awarding of contracts for purchasing of computers through the US Communities buying coop program, purchasing of UPS (uninterruptible power supplies) for traffic lights, a change order for the median and intersection improvements on HWY 6 and moving the consulting services agreement for the Golf Courses to the Missouri City Recreation and Leisure Local Government Corporation. Reminder: The City has moved the operation of the golf courses to a separate entity (MCRLLGC) and it is necessary for all agreements that were formerly w/ the City to be moved this organization. The MCRLLGC is a subsidiary of the City and the Board of Directors is City Council.

3. Board members were reappointed for Reinvestment Zone #1 and #2.

4. Council authorized the following: allowing staff to negotiate an interlocal agreement w/ Harris County to share in the use their materials for Federally mandated public education and media campaign revolving around watershed and storm water drains, underwriting and marketing of bonds, submitting a grant application for Federal funds for the construction of Fire Station #5 & #6, submitting a grant application to HGAC to support the MC Recycling Center, and a change order to move the maintenance of the “grow in phase” of the El Dorado golf course to Valley Crest, which is currently managing the maintenance of La Quinta.

5. Ordinance was passed that now regulates time that walkers/joggers can use the cart paths on La Quinta. Please note, this ordinance states that the El Dorado course is closed to all traffic, until opened by the City. Anyone using the La Quinta course or cart paths for golfing must be registered w/ the pro shop. Times available for jogging & walking on the La Quinta course are as follows:

Holes 1-9: 6:00 a.m. to 6:59 a.m in the mornings and twenty (20) minutes after sunset and Ending time 10:00 p.m. or,during daylight savings time, 11:00 p.m.
Holes 10-18: 6:00 a.m.to 8:29 a.m in the mornings and twenty (20) minutes after sunset and Ending time 10:00 p.m.or, during daylight savings time, 11:00 p.m.

6. An ordinance to consolidate all neighborhoods’ trash removal services to a City contract was not passed.

Still figuring out plans to celebrate America’s birthday? On July 4, treat yourself to live music, fireworks, food and family fun at Missouri City’s 25th annual Independence Day Celebration. Who could ask for more on July 4?

WHAT: Missouri City’s 25th Independence Day celebration, during which festival-goers can enjoy:

A live concert by the Tejas Brothers, an award-winning band that plays a blend of traditional Texas Blues, country soul, rock and roll and Tejano music
Fantastic fireworks over the lake
Dance Heads, a video program that superimposes participants’ heads onto the bodies of professional dancers as they sing along to hit songs
Performances by Break Shop, a troupe of high energy, head-spinning acrobatic break dancers
Delicious food, including turkey legs, barbecue, sweet kettle corn, cotton candy, shaved ice, sno-cones and soda, at a reasonable cost
Stilt walkers, animal adoptions, a gyroscope, basketball toss, face painting and more!

WHEN: July 4, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Break Shop will have family-friendly dance performances every hour, starting at 5:45 p.m. The Tejas Brothers take the main stage at 6 p.m. Fireworks start at dusk, around 9 p.m.

Early birds who arrive before 6:30 p.m. can purchase $3 wristbands for unlimited use of the rock climbing wall, extreme jump, gyroscope, face painting and basketball toss. After 6:30 p.m., the wristbands will continue on sale for $5.

WHERE: Buffalo Run Park, 1122 Buffalo Run Drive, off Texas Parkway. Parking is available at the Thurgood Marshall High School parking lot and Lakeview Business Park.

SPONSORS: The fireworks display is sponsored by Bud Light. Comcast presents the rock wall, extreme jumper, gyroscope and basketball toss game. Other event partners are the Smiles of Riverstone dental office, Lakeview Business Park, Green Mountain Energy Company and Dr. Bianca Sanchez/Little People’s Dentistry. The Oyster Creek Rotary Club will host a beer garden at the celebration, with proceeds going toward scholarships for high school students.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call 281-403-8500 or visit www.missouricitytx.gov.