Updated 9:45 p.m. CST
The four propositions that comprise Missouri City's $40 million bond package are all projected to pass, according to unofficial results.
Proposition 1—a $6.5 million package for drainage projects—received 74.06 percent of the votes; Proposition 2—a $22.8 million package for transportation projects throughout the city—has received 73.2 percent of the votes; Precinct 3—a $5 million package for the city's Fire Station No. 6—has received 74.53 percent of the votes; and Proposition 4—a $5.7 million package for roof repairs at City Hall and a study of the Public Safety Headquarters—has received 65.33 percent of the votes; with 24 of 24 precincts reporting.
An estimated 5,205 Missouri City residents voted in the Proposition 1 race; 5,180 residents voted in the Proposition 2 race; 5,158 residents voted in the Proposition 3 race; and 5,106 residents voted in the Proposition 4 race.
Posted 8:30 p.m. CST
The four propositions that comprise Missouri City's $40 million bond package received early support from residents during the early voting period, according to unofficial results.
Proposition 1—a $6.5 million package for drainage projects—has received 75.87 percent of the votes; Proposition 2—a $22.8 million package for transportation projects throughout the city—has received 74.54 percent of the votes; Precinct 3—a $5 million package for the city's Fire Station No. 6—has received 76.11 percent of the votes; and Proposition 4—a $5.7 million package for roof repairs at City Hall and a study of the Public Safety Headquarters—has received 66.85 percent of the votes; with 0 of 24 precincts reporting.
"Between January and October 2013, a Bond Exploratory Committee comprised of Missouri City homeowners from all areas met to discuss proposed projects for the referendum, including infrastructure improvements for drainage; roads, bridges and sidewalks; public facilities; and public safety upgrades," City Manager Ed Broussard said. "The $40 million package was designed based on the City's capacity to sell bonds during an approximate 10-year period with no tax rate increase."
All results are unofficial until canvassed.
Proposition 1: Drainage
The $6.5 million proposition includes costs for necessary land acquisition, equipment, studies and construction of various drainage improvements primarily within the city's Willow Waterhole Watershed.
"The city's drainage goals are to eliminate structural flooding in a 100-year storm event, to maximize efficiencies of scale—more regional detention facilities—and to maintain one passable lane in each direction on all major thoroughfares," Assistant City Manager Scott Elmer said.
Proposition 2: Transportation
The $22.8 million proposition includes costs for land acquisition, equipment, studies and construction of road, sidewalk and bridge improvements as well as repairs throughout the city.
"[City staff] inventories every foot of sidewalk and street and ranked every roadway and sidewalk segment [to determine] the amount of need for these projects," Elmer said.
Proposition 3: Public Safety
The $5 million proposition includes costs for land acquisition, equipment, studies and construction of a new Missouri City fire station along Lake Olympia Parkway within Quail Valley.
In 2008, Missouri City hired a consultant to conduct a fire service study and determine the future needs for the ultimate build-out of the city. The study determined a need for two additional fire stations and directed the appropriate location of the stations to result in a less-than five minute response tome to any area, Elmer said.
Proposition 4: Facilities
The $5.7 million proposition includes costs for roof repairs at the City Hall complex, along with a facilities study of the city's Public Safety Headquarters and implementation of the study.
"In 2003, the Missouri City Police Department had 83 full-time employees," Police Chief Mike Berezin said. "Today, the department has grown to 130 full-time staff memberrs. The Public Safety Headquarters was opened in 1998 and intended to house 6 full-time [employees]. By expanding and repurposing existing space within the headquarters, the Police Department has been able to grow within the current space."