Shenandoah City Council took unanimous action on several items during its regular meeting Wednesday night.

1. Council unanimously approved a bid for Phase 1 of the David Memorial Drive extension and the onsite wetlands.  
After reviewing four bids, City Council agreed to award the Phase 1 project contact to the lowest bidder, Bleyl and Associates in the amount of $1.4 million. Part of the extension project is on property listed as wetlands by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Council unanimously approved a bid to Gin City Restoration, LLC in the amount of $78,000 for wetlands mitigation.

Upon completion, the $2.3 million transportation project will extend David Memorial Drive from Shenandoah Park to Hwy. 242, serving as a north-south connector and alternate route to I-45. The project is funded by the Shenandoah Municipal Development District.

2.    The no parking zone at the city's Toddler Park was unanimously tabled by the council for further consideration and recommendation by the Parks Committee.
After much debate among citizens and council members during the Sept. 14 regular workshop meeting, City Council addressed safety concerns at Shenandoah’s new Toddler Park by adding traffic signs notifying drivers of the park.

Another idea to improve safety at the park was to create a no parking zone along Shenandoah Drive adjacent to the park to improve visibility for drivers. That idea was on Wednesday's agenda for possible action, however the council decided to table the item for further consideration by the committee. The item will be back for discussion at the Oct. 12 regular workshop meeting.

3.    Fourteen members were unanimously appointed to the city charter review committee.
With Shenandoah anticipated to reach a population of 5,000 in the new few years, City Council is forming a charter review committee to recommend a referendum for the council during the city’s transition to home rule. The following people were appointed to the committee last night:

Byron Bevers, Gary Henson, Nancy Smith, Aaron Trott, Ted Fletcher, Dean Gristy, Joseph Centrich, Bob Knight, Julia Hepburn, Melissa Grimes, David Vickers, Heather Muller, Wes Stephens and John Escoto.

4.    Three members were unanimously appointed to the special event center committee.
The special events center committee, formed by the city, will evaluate the feasibility and design of a potential special events center in Shenandoah. The council is still in need of a business owner applicant. The following individuals were appointed to the committee last night:

Grace Jacobson, Randy Rolland and Julie Vickers.

5.    Council unanimously approved the purchase of equipment for the Shenandoah Police Department.
As outlined in the FY 2016-17 budget, City Council approved the purchase of 14 body cameras for patrol personnel and an additional six for non-patrol personnel, new bullet proof vests for 16 officers and a replacement Chevrolet Tahoe and Tahoe equipment.

The council unanimously tabled the purchase of a pickup truck for the new community resource officer position and will further discuss that matter at the Oct. 12 regular workshop meeting.

For a complete agenda of the Shenandoah City Council meeting, visit www.shenandoahtx.us.