Discussions are ongoing for a regional flood mitigation plan between the city of Katy and Harris, Waller and Fort Bend counties. See what information was shared with the Katy City Council at its Monday meeting as well as other agenda items passed:

1. Council received an update on the flood prevention study for the Cane Island Branch watershed.

Stephen Wilcox of engineering and surveying firm Costello Inc. presented the second of three reports to the council on a study of last year’s Tax Day floods in the Cane Island Branch watershed. The firm created models of the flood based on high water marks taken throughout Katy and based on the water’s direction from Cypress Creek to the south and slightly east through the city.

“We like water [to] only drain in one direction," Wilcox said. “Well, in these really flat areas water can go in two directions depending on how much it rains.”

He said that no homes built after 2009 in Katy reported severe flood damage. He attributed this to a 2009 ordinance, which requires any future homes built to have slab 1 foot above the centerline of street, 18 inches above curb or 1 foot above the base flood elevation. Costello will present its third report to the council in July, and Wilcox said it was crucial to the plan’s success that all affected government entities agree to the study’s model and resulting plan.

“Water doesn’t care what regulatory agency it’s in,” he said. “What one person does affects everybody.”

2. HOT revenue approved for convention center

Council approved using $14 million in hotel occupancy tax, or HOT, revenue to build a new convention center and parking structure in Katy. The revenue will be distributed in the form of an annual $700,000 grant for the next 20 years and will cover the cost of construction of the convention center as well as half the cost of the parking structure, according to city documents.

HOT revenue is paid by hotels, motels and related accommodations to the state and locality for guests staying in such accommodations. Local HOT revenue is used to promote tourism or the convention and hotel industry.

3. Changes were made to stop signs in the downtown plaza.

On Monday, council also approved the removal of three stop signs and the installation of seven new stop signs in the downtown plaza adjacent to City Hall. Construction is still ongoing in the plaza at the intersections of Avenues B and C with Third and Second streets.

In addition, Second and Third streets will be made into one-way roads around the plaza. See the map below for stop sign changes in the plaza: