The Sugar Land City Council on Tuesday approved two major construction contracts totaling $14.3 million. Later, city council members heard a presentation and recommendation concerning possible restrictions on the use of mobile devices among drivers.
Council Member Harish Jajoo was absent.
2 construction contracts approved
The first project—phase 1 of the Williams Trace Boulevard rebuilding, between Austin Parkway and Highway 6—will cost $5.8 million. Work is scheduled to start in January, and will last until March 2018.
Concerned about ensuring residents in the area will be notified of the work, Council Member Amy Mitchell recommended notices be mailed to all residents in the area, with additional notices sent home with students who attend nearby schools. “This is critical,” Mitchell said. “This is a huge project.”
The second project involves replacing the underground water lines that run between First Colony Water Plant No. 1 and the Riverstone Ground Water Plant. The nearly 27,000 feet of water lines are mostly located below sidewalks that will be replaced as part of the $8.5 million project.
Work is scheduled to start in January and will be completed in January 2018.
Both measures passed unanimously.
Restrictions on use of mobile devices presented
Assistant Chief of Police Scott Schultz recommended Sugar Land restrict drivers’ use of mobile devices while driving.
Schultz presented the board with results from community surveys showing that the majority of respondents favor outlawing the use of mobile devices that are not in a hands-free mode. Schultz also provided research on such restrictions enacted by some other cities and states, and said that accidents dropped by 3 percent on average in states that had such restrictions.
Council Member Himesh Gandhi asked Schultz whether using a smart phone for mapping and navigating would violate the recommended restrictions. Schultz said a device could be used as a map, but it would need to be mounted in the car and out of the driver’s hands.
No action was taken.
Special-event ordinance approved
With festivals and concerts coming to Sugar Land’s new entertainment venues, council members approved an ordinance requiring a special permit for such events.
The ordinance restricts noise levels, stipulating that noise levels may not exceed 85 decibels when recorded at any adjacent residential property lines. The ordinance also codifies necessary insurance requirements, fine amounts, and the right of the city to shut down an event.
Certain events will be exempt from requiring a permit, including events produced by the city, events conducted by a school district and located at school district facility, events at Sugar Land Town Square, and street festivals attended by fewer than 100 people.
