5 highlights from Monday's Katy City Council meeting

Katy City Council held its regular meeting Monday and addressed a variety of community issues, including interlocal agreements with the Katy Fire Department and efforts to relieve parking concerns near Katy High School. 1. The City Council passes resolution authorizing the execution of an interlocal agreement.

• The council voted unanimously to authorize Mayor Chuck Brawner to sign an agreement with Katy ISD to continue a student internship program that provides training to high school students wherein they may obtain emergency medical technician certification.

2. Janitorial and auditing contracts are approved.

• The mayor was further authorized to sign an engagement agreement with Whitley Penn LLP, certified public accountants. The firm will audit the city’s accounting for the current fiscal year and provide reports detailing expenditures and historical data for city expenditures. According to the agreement, the final audit report is expected to be delivered in March 2018.
• Mayor Brawner was authorized to execute an agreement with Ambassador Services LLC for janitorial services in municipal buildings. The contract indicates a cost of $9,170 per month, for a total of $110,040 per year.

3. The council OKs easements for Avenue C development. 

• Two easements were approved to allow sidewalk and utility construction to be completed for the Love's Travel Stop and Amegy Bank facilities, which are under construction. The Love's Travel Stop location will be at 901 Avenue C while the Amegy Bank building is being constructed at 919 Avenue C.

4. Two ordinances pass related to zoning and parking within the city.

• The council passed an ordinance allowing it to meet formally with the Katy Planning & Zoning Commission to amend Chapter 14 Section 10.C-2, which delineates the city’s general business district.
• An ordinance was also passed that will institute no parking zones on the streets adjacent to Katy High School during school hours. City Attorney Art Pertile III said students, especially sophomores and students who do not want to pay for parking passes at the school, have been parking on the street and walking across the road—obstructing traffic in the process—so the ordinance has been set up to allow residents to use the streets before and after the school day but prevent student traffic from causing hazards in the area.

5. The council OKs membership dues payment to the 2017 West I-10 Chamber of Commerce.

• The council approved the expenditure of $1,000 in dues to the West I-10 Chamber of Commerce. Council Member Steve Pierson voted against the measure and all other council members voted in favor.  "I was on the board at one time and I just don't feel that it's beneficial for the city to be a member of that particular chamber," Pierson said.

The council also awarded certificates of recognition to the Katy Lady Cavaliers lacrosse team and the Katy Disciples 8U Blue baseball team for outstanding performance. The Lady Cavaliers won the south district championship this year, and the Disciples have performed well enough this year to earn them a spot in the Pony Pinto Plus national championship tournament, which takes place July 20-22.