By George Slaughter
The Katy City Council appointed volunteer members to 10 local boards and commissions Monday night.
Mayor Chuck Brawner said these appointments are usually made within the first 60 days of a mayor taking office. He said current board and commission members who wanted to continue in their roles would do so as long as they wanted.
While most positions are filled, Brawner said, some vacancies exist.
Brawner said his goal was to select the best qualified people for the positions. The needs of the various positions are different. Some require a background in a particular discipline, such as civil engineering. Some will have more meetings than others. Not all positions require the member be a Katy city resident.
During the recent campaign, Brawner said he met a lot of people, many of them younger, who could bring some new ideas to the boards and commissions.
“There are a lot of people that have talent in this town to volunteer part of their time to serve the city,” Brawner said.
Brawner said candidates for board or commission positions must compete a specific application for that particular panel. Applications can be downloaded from the city’s web site.
The completed application is reviewed and the candidate meets with Brawner, the president or chairman of that particular board, Brawner, and a city official. In this way, officials can discuss the latest issues with the candidate and determine what makes a good fit.
Applications will be retained and considered by the city for two years when a vacancy occurs and may be subject to the Texas Public Information Act.
The city council approves applications and makes the appointments.
For applications, visit the city’s board and commissions page.
For a complete list of members for each board and commission, see the related story. http://tkn2017newthm.wpengine.com/2017/07/25/list-of-appointees-to-katy-city-boards-and-commissions/
In other action, the council:
- Heard a Keep Katy Beautiful presentation of the 2017 Don’t Mess with Texas Art Contest winner, Stacy Chin, a seventh-grade student at Beckendorff Junior High School.
- Amended the city zoning ordinance changing the classification from “R-1” Single Residential District to “M” Industrial District, for approximately 30 acres in the C. Cobb Survey in Abstract 1329, in Harris County to Optimized Process Designs, LLC. This amendment was passed following a public hearing.
- Reviewed the 2016-2017 third quarter investment report, bank statement and check register through June 30.
- Approved meeting minutes from the June 26 council meeting.
- Adopted a resolution rejecting any and all bids for contract delivery of gasoline and diesel fuel received and authorizing the re-advertisement of bid solicitation. In a memorandum to the council, Public Works Director Elaine Lutringer said that only one bid was received and the total cost per gallon in that bid was not competitive.
- Adopted a resolution authorizing the use of up to $15,000 in municipal court security funds and up to $20,000 in technology funds—$35,000 total—to upgrade security and computer systems.
- Adopted a resolution authorizing Mayor Chuck Brawner to sign a contract agreement with Verizon Wireless. The agreement permits the Texas Department of Information Resources to continue purchasing services under a state license for the City of Katy.
- Adopted a resolution authorizing the use of $36,750 in reserve enterprise funds for the water tank mural on the 250,000-gallon elevated storage at Water Plant #2. Ward A Council Member J. Gary Jones voted against the resolution, saying he did not feel that this expenditure was needed.
- Adopted a resolution authorizing Brawner to accept a water line and sanitary sewer easement from Peterson Road, Inc., for 0.4 acres, in the H&TCRR Company Survey of Abstract 169, in Waller County.
- Adopted a resolution authorizing Brawner to enter into a road access agreement with Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, LLC, to use and maintain roadway, gateway and culverts within approximately 52 acres in the H&TCRR Company Survey of Abstract 170, in Waller County.
- Passed an ordinance adding stop signs on Woodcreek Bend Lane at its intersection with Morgan Parkway/Rustic Woods Lane, and adding stop signs on 2nd and 3rd streets.