Montgomery City Council moved March 10 to approve a one-way traffic design for McCown Street and authorized outside human resources support for the next six months.
What happened
Council approved plans to designate McCown Street as a northbound one-way street as part of the downtown improvement effort. City officials said the current phase stretches from Caroline Street North to College Street and includes angled parking on the east side of the street, added sidewalks, landscaping, pedestrian lighting, overhead lights and intersection upgrades.
Officials said the goal is to improve walkability while preserving parking in the downtown area.
During discussion, city staff said the action taken by council was focused on the street’s direction rather than the final approval of the full design package. Council members also raised questions about parking availability, a longtime concern in downtown Montgomery, as the project moves ahead.
Also on the agenda
Council also approved outsourcing human resources support services to CPS HR Consulting for the remainder of the fiscal year, with a cost not to exceed $26,860. City staff said the arrangement gives Montgomery access to senior HR support on an as-needed basis without committing to a multiyear contract or the cost of a full-time hire.
Officials said the firm’s government-specific experience in Texas made it the best fit among the companies reviewed. Staff said the contract will serve as a trial run, with council expected to revisit the service during the next budget cycle after seeing how much support the city actually uses.
Also of note
At the meeting, Jeffrey Glaser was sworn in as the Montgomery City Council member for Place 3.
