At a Jan. 24 meeting, the city of Bellaire approved the design and survey work for a new sidewalk along the south side of Maple Street between Rice Avenue and West Loop Street.

The work will be done by MBCO Engineering and is expected to cost $82,430. While a date for construction is still to be determined, the design and survey work is scheduled to last for roughly six months once it kicks off.

The project was first taken into consideration by the council in November after a group of area residents delivered a petition in support of the sidewalks. Previous plans called for the sidewalk to be constructed on both sides of Maple Street. These plans were supported by council members Winfred Frazier, Ross Gordon and Brian Witt—all of whom were elected in November elections or December runoffs.

However, the project was scaled down to only one side of the street following a debate by the council that was first kicked off at its Dec. 20 meeting.

"I think it makes a lot of sense to proceed with the design of both sides to give us the most flexibility," Gordon said.

Mayor Andrew Friedberg and council members Catherine Lewis, Nathan Wesley and Jim Hotze all voted to keep the project on one side of Maple Street.

"I don't think there's a consensus that [the sidewalk] be on both side[s]," Wesley said. "I think people want a sidewalk."

The new sidewalk will be 4 feet wide and total 2,600 linear feet, according to documents submitted to the council. The scope of work also includes urban forestry services to produce a tree preservation plan.

In other news, the Bellaire City Council approved $150,000 for improvements of the Bellaire Family Aquatic Center at the Jan. 24 meeting. Space to store pool equipment, the installation of shade cover and extending the fencing are part of the proposed development.

Meanwhile, a loose list of consulting firms was brought up in Bellaire’s search for a new city manager. Names included Baker Tilly, CPS HR Consulting and Slavin Consulting.