Houston City Council today voted 15-1, with Stephen Costello opposed, to adopt an alcohol free zone for St. Stephen's Episcopal School at 1805 West Alabama. Listen
The city council voted unanimously to confirm Mayor Annise Parker’s reappointment of Stephen M. Kaufman to the Houston Zoo, Inc. Board of Directors and her appointment of Zeina Fares and Jim Postl to the board.
Two items were deferred for one week by council members using the tag rule:
- A proposed amendment to the contract with Pumps of Houston, Inc. for submersible pump repair services for the Public Works and Engineering Department was tagged by Larry Green; and
- A request for a permit to HFOTCO LLC, doing business as Houston Fuel Oil Terminal Company, to operate, maintain, improve, repair and replace one existing pipeline was tagged by Melissa Noriega.
All other agenda items were approved, but Helena Brown voted against six items:
- An agreement with Village Learning Center, Inc. to provide a grant of $314,000 in Community Development Block Grant Funds for acquisition of a facility in the vicinity of 3930 Glade Valley Drive, which will be used to provide services to low to moderate income individuals with developmental disabilities;
- A purchase and sale agreement with Ron Aliezer, AVI Ron and Avishal Ron for the purchase of 0.1127 acres at 2312 Dennis Street for the purchase price of $86,719 plus additional expenses of $8,500 for the Houston Parks and Recreation Department;
- A purchase and sale agreement between John A. Hendlmyer, Trustee, seller; and the City of Houston, purchaser; and a lease agreement between the City of Houston, landlord, and Houston Precious Metals, Ltd., tenant, relating to the purchase of 5,031 square feet of land at 607 Chenevert ; designating the property as a “leased premises” under a lease agreement with Houston First Corporation;
- A purchase and sale agreement between Houston Professional Musicians Local No. 65-699, A.F.of M., seller; and the City of Houston, purchaser, relating to the purchase of 5,662 square feet of land at 609 Chenevert, designating the property as a “leased premises” under the agreement with Houston First Corporation;
- An application for grant assistance to the U.S. Soccer Foundation for soccer field improvements at Milby Park; and
- An interlocal agreement with Texas State University – San Marcos for the Tobacco Enforcement Program related to a program for the Houston Police Department.
"I'm not in support of having our minors participate in these types of sting operation," Brown said about the interlocal agreement. "So my vote is no on this."
Council Member Wanda Adams was absent.
Chris Brown from the Houston Controller’s Office and Finance Director Kelly Dowe delivered their monthly reports on the current financial status of the city. Listen
“In the General Fund the Controller’s Office is predicting an ending fund balance of $130.8 million for FY2013,” Brown reported. “This is $33 million lower than the estimate of the Finance Department.”
Brown reported a change in revenue projects reflecting an increase of $7.9 million in sales tax.
“This recognizes that July receipts were up 23 percent over the prior year, which was pretty good,” Brown said.
“We are currently predicting ending fund balance of $163.9 million,” Dowe reported. “That’s approximately a million lower than last month; and it’s due to routine audit changes that are happening during the FY2012 close.”