Katy City Council proceeds with 2 tax bonds, adds marketing position at first February meeting

Katy City Council members approved resolutions Feb. 13 to authorize tax bonds and join an economic development program.

The panel also agreed to spend $20,000 to hire a full-time tourism and marketing assistant from March through September, a shared cost with Keep Katy Beautiful.

The new employee would work with Kayce Reina, the city’s director of tourism and marketing, “on promoting the city as a destination, as well as managing Keep Katy Beautiful’s annual event and fulfilling the Keep Texas Beautiful program and state grant requests,” according to city documents.

The council authorized the issuance of tax bonds by Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District (MUD) 161, not to exceed $4 million, and the issuance of tax bonds by Woodcreek Reserve MUD, not to exceed $4.1 million.

The Fort Bend bond sale is to reimburse developers for the construction of underground utilities.

“The bonds will have no impact on … Katy’s bonding capacity or bond rating,” officials said.

Proceeds from the sale of the Woodcreek bonds will be used for several public works items, including clearing, grubbing and raking the Woodcreek Commercial Reserve, drainage improvements and engineering upgrades.

The council also unanimously passed a resolution to support special legislation to add Katy as “an eligible central municipality for the purpose of participating in the state’s convention center hotel incentive program.”