Big decisions made in 2015

Katy City Council The 2015-16 Katy City Council, From left: Durran Dowdle, James Mendez Jr. (seated), Mayor Fabol Hughes, Charles Brawner, Steve Pierson (seated), J. Gary Jones.[/caption]

New City Hall

Workers broke ground on the new Katy City Hall in January 2015 and construction has been progressing faster than expected. The three-story, $7.5 million building is scheduled to open April 22 across the street from the current city offices.

Cane Island development

Construction of homes in the Cane Island residential community began in June 2015. The master-planned community will have more than 2,000 homes once completed. The city voted in November 2013 to annex nearly 600 acres of land for the development.

Religious logo

In December, Mayor Fabol Hughes decided to have the logo “In God We Trust” placed onto all city emergency vehicles. Katy was the second city in the state to make the move.

Top issues for 2016

New fire station

Fire Station No. 2, approved by voters in 2014, is scheduled to open in April 2017. City of Katy Fire Chief Rufus Summers said the land for the station is being surveyed and architectural plans are done for the three-bay facility on Kingsland Boulevard west of Pin Oak Drive. The station will house 18 firefighters.

Katy Arboretum

Work on an arboretum inside the Katy City Park is scheduled to begin March 5, with more than 150 trees and shrubs, a walking path and educational plaques placed throughout the 3-acre area.

Typhoon Texas water park

The 25-acre water park Typhoon Texas is scheduled to open May 27 adjacent to the Katy Mills mall. The park will feature a wave pool, a ‘lazy river,’ water slides and food vendors.

Meetings

The council meets at 6:30 p.m. the second and fourth Monday of each month.

910 Ave. C Katy • 281-391-4800 www.CityofKaty.com

Terms and pay

Mayor and council members serve two-year terms and have a limit of three terms. The mayor earns $2,666.67 per month, and council members earn $1,000 per month.

Coverage

Meeting agendas and minutes can be found online at Cityofkaty.com