From the Fort Bend Sun:

An area Fort Bend Independent School District elementary school in Missouri City celebrated the campus’ recent designation as a “Recognized” campus.

On Thursday, students and staff at Quail Valley Elementary School, celebrated their designation as a “Recognized” campus by the Texas Education Agency and recently took part in a flag raising ceremony to mark the occasion.

The spirited event included grade-level cheers and a parade of banners, congratulatory remarks by FBISD Board Vice President Laurie Caldwell and the presentation of the “Recognized” flag by students and instructional team leaders who walked the “Red Carpet” during the celebration.

1. City Manager Simpson gave a brief update on the redevelopment of Texas Parkway and Cartwright: City is going through the necessary steps to expand TIRZ 1 to include all the vacant land that is along TXP and CW. An engineering firm is determining what short term improvements can be made that will fit with long range planning. City will be moving forward with adding sidewalks on TXP where the City already has the right of way and drainage improvements are not required. Staff is also planning landscaping enhancements at City Hall and along TXP at Buffalo Run, Lexington, Grand Park and Independence. A bid will be let in late 2009 for replanting on CW. Items that are undergoing preliminary engineering reports are 90A/TXP gateway, completing sidewalks on TXP, sidewalk improvements on CW, trails connectivity with small plaza areas. Currently underway are the traffic signal improvements, dynamic message signs and banners at intersections. It was also mentioned that widening of TXP is not yet in the plans for TXDOT.

2. Consent agenda was approved which included approval of meeting minutes, purchase of an automated pothole patcher, awarding a contract for Interactive Voice Response software, conveying of acreage from Sienna Plantation and Fort Bend County Levee Improvement Districts for the surface water treatment plant, temporary access easements for the plant, an agreement for installation of utility stub-outs and designating acting city Managers.

3. Zoning request for an Adult Day Care center to be located in the old Foodarama shopping center passed. A representative of the shopping center owner was present and indicated that they are hopeful to be adding tenants, but do not anticipate any improvements to this center until tenants are secured and/or the 2nd quarter of 2010. The owners rep mentioned that they have completed improvements to a center on TXP and have been able to increase their rates and are now full. The owners rep did mention he would consider painting the center. The Mayor, specifically, took this rep to task about the failure to make promised improvements and advised that they might be more successful in attracting tenants if improvements were made.

4. Zoning changes requested by the developers of the assisted and independent living developments and patio homes on FM 1092 and Hampton were approved.

5. Zoning request change be Auto Zone going into the new Kroger shopping center was approved. At issue was the number of parking spaces requested and staff polled other Cities and found that other Cities do not have parking maximums as part of their zoning requirements and handle this issue w/ landscaping requirements.

6. Council approved designating 6.2 acres as Reinvestment Zone #5 for tax abatement purposes. Track is located in the Lakeview Business Park and will be housing Lufkin Industries. Lufkin Industries manufacturers and assembles products for well monitoring in the oil and gas business. They are moving their Houston plant to Missouri City and will initially employ approximately 50 people with the hopes of additional growth in business, adding approximately 5 positions per year.

7. Council authorized inter local agreements with Fort Bend County for the collection of annual assessment in Public Improvement Zone #2 & #4.

8. Council voted “for” the Amendments to the Articles of Incorporation for the Quail Valley Fund. The City owns five lots within the Fund’s jurisdiction.

9. Council approved changes to the City’s Personnel Manual regarding reimbursements for cell phones, data devices and vehicle usage.

10. Council authorized the submission of a grant application for a Transportation Efficiency Traffic Signal Synchronization and Replacement Stimulus Grant.

11. Council authorized and agreement between the City and the State of Texas to upgrade intersections and traffic signals at FM 1092 and CW, HWY 6 and Glenn Lakes, FM 1092 and Lexington and HWY 6 and FM 1092/University.

The old “Executive 9” property in Quail Valley is being redeveloped in to a public park as part of the November 2008 bond program.
Public Input Aspect:
* Input to Date:
• Citizens Committee 2007
• Quail Valley Parks Project Master Plan January 2009
• Old Executive Golf Course Public Meeting September 2009
Key Points of Input for Initial Conceptual Plan:
* Water Features
* Primarily Open/Passive Area
• Trails and Paths
• Green Space/Lawns
• Benches
* Limited Activity Areas Not Adjacent to Homes
• Playground
• Fitness Equipment
• Pavilion/Restrooms
• Parking
One of the most desired features of the park is for there to be water views. Missouri City now has an engineer determining what amount of water is required to maintain the water levels of the lakes. Then there will be a feasibility assessment of the possible resources of water, including drainage, that could meet the requirement to keep the lakes filled.
The City will then take the ‘water availability’ assessment and incorporate it with the public input received to date to develop a conceptual park plan. This initial conceptual park plan should be complete within the next 30-60 days and a public meeting will then be scheduled to allow for community feedback and input.
To comment on this project please email: parks@missouricitytx.gov.

A resident in the neighborhood recently attended a
hearing held in Richmond and reported the following:

The City of Missouri City vs Quail Valley Country Club eminent domain action continues to move forward. Judge Sandy Bielstein, County Court of Law #4, held a hearing Monday afternoon, October 12th, on two motions by the parties. First was a one hour hearing on Quail Valley Country Clubs’s Motion to Compel the City to produce certain Emails from their files. The Judge narrowly ruled that only a list of attachments to one email should be produced by the city as soon as possible.

The second motion was by the City to quash depositions of past and present City Council members. The Judge announced that he will not make a ruling until after the Motion to Compel issue is resolved. The Judge is very anxious to keep this lawsuit on track towards its’ scheduled trial November 17, 2009 and told both parties to keep things moving forward as rapidly as possible.

1. Missouri City Police and Fire Auxiliary presented checks in the amount of $8000 each to the Police and Fire Chiefs. The Police Department will use their funds to continue outfitting their SWAT vehicle, which is used by the regional SWAT team and the Fire Department will use their funds to purchase additional equipment for water rescue.

2. New Police Captain Geneana Merritt was introduced. She recently joined the department after a nationwide search was conducted. She was most recently w/ the Philadelphia Police Department. She will be responsible for the Criminal Investigations Division.

3. October 5 - 9 has been proclaimed as Fire Prevention Week in Missouri City and the month of October proclaimed as National Planning Community Month.

4. Consent agenda was approved which included approval of previous meeting minutes, awarding a contract for the mass grading for the surface water treatment plant, executing an interlocal agreement w/ Fort Bend County for the purchases of goods and services, awarding a contract for traffic signal services, purchasing of email software through the Texas Department of Information Resources cooperative contract and approving a Community Event application for a High School Girls Softball Tournament.

5. Council considered the request for a Special Use Permit to locate an adult day care center in the old Foodarama shopping center. Council members had some concerns regarding the condition of that shopping center and the lack of upgrades. Council asked staff to have the property owner present at the next Council Meeting.

6. Council considered a request for zoning deviations from Auto Zone, which is wishing to place a store in the new Kroger shopping center. This request was postponed due to the deviations that were requested for the amount of parking spaces. Auto Zone wishes to have more parking spaces than what is currently allowed.

7. Council considered a zoning change request from the developers of the approximate 20 acre track that borders on FM 1092 and Hampton. The developers intent is to build an age restricted (55+) community w/ patio homes, independent living quarters and assisted living facilities. Some of the deviations being requested were density, reduction in greenbelts, use of hardy plank on interiors, asphalt shingles, parking screening, reductions in buffers and covered parking. Council members took issue w/ the covered parking and informed the developer that garages would need to be included in the independent living. Density of the patio homes was then discussed. The part of this track that is planned for the patio homes is currently zoned R5 (Townhomes), but it was determined that if patio homes were built, then the density would have to conform to the zoning requirements for patio homes, which is 6 dwellings per acre. The developer was uncertain as to actual density needs as a builder for the patio homes has yet to be selected. The issue of fencing was discussed, particularly in regards to common fencing with the homes within Quail Valley, and whether or not these fences would be on the property line and who would be responsible for maintaining the fence. The measure passed with changing the zoning of the tract slated for patio homes to R-4 zoning.

8. A resident of Pine Court addressed Council with concerns about the proposed above mentioned development. He raised concerns about traffic congestion, lot sizes and density of the patio homes, and the possible negative impact on property values of homes in Quail Valley. It was pointed out with the R-4 zoning, the density of the patio home development would be less than the current R-5 (town home) zoning.

9. Council authorized a tax rate of $.5284, a slight increase from the previous year of $.51724. City Manager Simpson gave short presentation, allowing how the City had already reduced its budget by $695,000, anticipating the economic downtown. In addition, staff is going to reduce the budget by an additional $750,000 by managing job vacancies (which will not include the Police or Fire Departments open positions), savings on employee medical benefits, reducing contingency funds and other small cuts in smaller line items. Simpson allowed that the City will slightly increase the percentage share of spending on debt service, because of the economic down turn: right now, it much cheaper to borrow money, meaning interest payments on bonds are much lower and construction costs are also down significantly. Simpson reiterated that the City is in sound financial condition, has excellent credit ratings with Moody and Standard and Poors, and was recently received an award ( for the 21st year in a row) for its excellent fiscal management. It was also noted that the tax rate remains below the $.53 cap that was promised with the 2003 bond election.

10. Council Bobby Marshall will be the City’s designee for the Houston Galveston Area Council (HGAC) for the remainder of this year and next year.

11. Council approved an advanced funding agreement with TXDOT for the construction of an intelligent transportation system. System will be installed on the traffic signals of these main arteries: Texas Parkway (TXP), Cartwright Road (CW), FM 1092 and HWY 6. This is a joint project and with funding from the state, the City saved $550,000.

Thousands of Missouri City students will see three of their favorite stars-Optimus Prime, Hannah Montana and Caveman-”clowning” around on stage this month.

Missouri City firefighters will play the characters in safety skits they created to teach youngsters about the dangers of fire. The theme of the 20- to 30-minute shows is “Stay Smart, Don’t Get Burned!” and they will be performed at all of the City’s elementary schools and at Austin Parkway Elementary School in Sugar Land. The school lies on the border of the two cities and some Missouri City students attend there.

In the Optimus Prime performance, a clown portraying the superhero plays with hot tools in a garage and gets burned. In the Hannah Montana show, a clown portraying the superstar leaves her curling iron on and Hannah’s biggest fan, “Sparky the Dog”, touches it and gets burned. In the Caveman show, a clown pretends to be cooking over a spitfire and gets burned when he’s standing too close to the flames. During the shows, which reach 6,000 to 7,000 students, the clowns will teach the audience lessons about how to prevent fires and how to avoid getting burned.

Before the shows begin, music will be played to energize the students and they will be given safety magazines and coloring books to take home.

Firefighter Mark Kitson has been instrumental in putting the acts together and recently shared a story about how one student used tips he learned from the clowns to save his sister’s life. The shows provide a “good message for kids. Once, a little boy saved his sister from a seizure and when asked how he did it, he said he saw the Firehouse Clowns and they showed him how to do it.”

Separately, as part of their prevention push this month, firefighters will also be teaching about 1,200 day-care children about safety techniques. These youngsters will learn about the “stop, drop and roll,” method, the importance of calling 911 in an emergency and will be allowed to view fire trucks.

Kitson said he “enjoys interacting with the kids and teaching them the message. If they learn these lessons now, they can be safe and prevent fires and accidents down the road.”