Katy to Explore its Options for Livestreaming its Council Meetings

By George Slaughter

Mayor Bill Hastings reads a proclamation honoring the Katy High School softball team Monday at City Hall – George Slaughter photo

Ward A Council Member Frank Carroll said he hoped to get the ball rolling on the city livestreaming its city council meetings. Monday night, the council voted to authorize City Administrator Byron Hebert to begin gathering information for review and discussion.

Hebert and selected city staff will present the information at a workshop, the time and date for which are yet to be determined. Council members will use this information to decided how best to proceed.

Carroll said that he receives feedback from constituents who miss meetings due to other commitments, but who are interested in the council’s activities. He said Katy was “behind the eight ball” as other entities, such as the Fulshear and Houston city councils, along with the Katy Independent School District Board of Trustees, already livestream their meetings.

Council members had questions but appeared interested in learning more. Council Member-at-Large Chris Harris said he’d like to see a workshop where staff can present information for council and public review. Harris said with this information, the council can narrow things down and make a better decision on how to proceed.

Ward A Council Member Janet Corte said she could see pros and cons to livestreaming the meetings, but added she had concerns about costs, particularly IT costs. She also expressed concerns about whether livestreaming meetings would apply to city boards, which are comprised of unpaid volunteers.

“I don’t think we’re ready to start putting out bids,” Corte said.

Carroll said Harris’s point about a workshop was well-taken.

“This is literally the first step of a thousand-mile journey,” Carroll said.

After the council voted, Hastings said there were a lot of issues to take into consideration.

“To me, this is kind of like sending your wife to buy a car with no instructions,” Hastings said to chuckles and laughter from the audience. “Is she going to bring home a used Toyota or a Cadillac Escalade with all the bells and whistles? We’re looking at a very broad program here, and I think the workshop will allow us to come together and consider the pros and cons of it. We’ll figure out exactly where we want to be, and how much we will have to spend.”

Hiring New Officers for Katy Mills Mall

Hebert said the city would be able to hire two new officers, and acquire one new police car, in July under the current budget. The city has been working with the Katy Management District to secure funding for the other two officers and police car. Hebert said the district has verbally agreed to do so, and they would start in August. Hebert said he expected to have appropriate authorizations for the council at its second meeting in July.

Carroll and Police Chief Noe Diaz had requested four new officers, and two new police cars, to be stationed at the substation that is now operating, but not fully furnished or formally dedicated, at the mall. Hebert said furniture for that substation arrived Monday.

Rejecting a Special Use Permit Appeal

The council denied a special use permit request from Roy Meadows to operate a bed and breakfast at 2650 Avenue D. The unanimous vote came after three citizens testified against the request.

The city’s planning and zoning commission said Meadows submitted his application after neighbors complained that a short-term rental home and event venue was operating at this address.

The property is zoned for single-family residential use, but city ordinance permits its use as a bed and breakfast if it has a special use permit from the city.

The commission on May 28 held a hearing and recommended denial of the special use permit.

Other Actions Taken

In other action Monday, the council:

Keep Katy Beautiful honored Old Town Katy Floral Monday with the Katy Proud Business Award. Pictured from left are Jennifer Stence, Mayor Bill Hastings, business owner Vicki Wiggins, Sandy Schmidt, and Kay Callender – George Slaughter photo

  • Issued a proclamation recognizing the Katy High School softball team, which won the state championship earlier this month.
  • Observed a Keep Katy Beautiful presentation of the Katy Proud Business Award to Old Town Katy Floral, 5725 2nd St. Board member Jennifer Freemen Stence said the store is decorated with seasonal decorations that add a hometown charm to the downtown area.
  • Observed a Keep Katy Beautiful presentation of an Outstanding Community Partner citation to Katy’s First Baptist Church, 600 Pin Oak Road. Specific activities for which the church was cited include opening its facilities for various trash and recycle events.
  • Reviewed the bank statement and check register through April 30.
  • Canceled the June 24 council meeting due to lack of quorum.
  • Approved the 2020 Annual Reign Over Cancer Walk & 5K Run, set for February 2020, at Cane Island subdivision.
  • Approved two street closure requests for the City of Katy Freedom Celebration, set for July 4. The first is the closing of Star Lane between Katy-Fort Bend Rd. and Katy Mills Circle from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. The second is the closing of George Bush Drive from Avenue D West to the Johnny Nelson Katy Heritage Museum from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Approved a $2,000 hotel occupancy tax grant application for the Houston MG Car Club for the Texas MG Register Gathering of the Faithful, set for October 17-19, in downtown Katy and at the Katy Mills Mall.
  • Approved a $50,000 hotel occupancy tax grant application for the University Interscholastic League (UIL) for the UIL Soccer Tournament, set for next April at Legacy Stadium.
  • Accepted a $100 donation from the Wolman family for the Dorothy King Memorial Bench at the Katy Branch Library, 5414 Franz Rd.
  • Keep Katy Beautiful presented an Outstanding Community Partner citation to Katy’s First Baptist Church, 600 Pin Oak Road. Pictured from left are Sandy Schmidt, Mayor Bill Hastings, Senior Paster Coleman Philley, Hannah Philley, Levi Philley, Josiah Philley, Kay Callender, and Jennifer Stence – George Slaughter photo

    Accepted a $125 donation from Homer Allen and Paula Taylor for the Grant Carroll Memorial at the Katy Boardwalk.

  • Accepted a $5,000 donation from the Katy Rotary Club to Keep Katy Beautiful.
  • Approved a $3,300 membership dues payment to the Texas Municipal League.
  • Approved a $1,000 membership dues payment to the West I-10 Chamber of Commerce.
  • Accepted public improvements for Cane Island, sections 40 and 41; Young Ranch, section 12; and at Lilac Bend, sections 1 and 2.
  • Accepted a 4.2-acre final plat for the Shops at Avalon in Fort Bend County.
  • Authorized the sale of surplus city property, which includes miscellaneous equipment, parts, and a dump truck.
  • Authorized the mayor to sign a $47,622 change order and bid item reconciliation with G.W. Phillips Concrete Construction Company for the Brandt Drive storm sewer extension.
  • Authorized the mayor to sign an amendment to the landscaping contract with Metropolitan Landscape Management. Under the amendment, the landscaping services would include the new Katy Fire Station, 25425 Bell Patna Dr., at a rate of $695/month.
  • Authorized the waiving of $248.14 in penalties, interest, and collection fees for the 2017 tax year as recommended by the Fort Bend County tax assessor.
  • Authorized the mayor to sign an amendment to production agreement with DataProse, LLC, for utility billing and printing services.
  • Authorized the mayor to sign a street light request agreement with CenterPoint Energy for 14 street lights on Spring Green Boulevard between Morgan Parkway and south Firethorne Road.
  • Accepted a $2,500 grant award from Keep America Beautiful’s 2019 Cigarette Litter Prevention Program to Keep Katy Beautiful.
  • Authorized up to $200,000 in emergency repairs to Water Well No. 7 at Water Plant No. 5.
  • Amended the employee classification and compensation plan by adding the job descriptions for building service coordinator, equipment operator III, and maintenance worker II. The council also updated job descriptions for equipment operator II, fire marshal, and wastewater utility worker, and amending the pay range and wage hour exemption schedule.