County Scope News - Fort Bend County and Sugar Land Texas
Award Winning Animal Shelter Expands Hours
Sugar Land’s Animal Services Division received a state award for improvements during 2008,
including a new 4,300-square-foot shelter that expanded animal capacity by 300
percent.
The Texas Animal Control Association described the animal shelter as one of the
state’s best during its 34th Annual Conference in Dallas, where Sugar Land received
the 2008 Texas Animal Control and Welfare Agencies Award for cities with a
population of 50,000-100,000. The award recognizes public awareness, facility
compliance with the Shelter Act and agency improvements, as well as active
membership in TACA and effective employee development programs.
“Last year, we took a hard look at ourselves and realized there were
opportunities for improvement,” said Mike Goodrum, community and environmental services director. “Our facility was comprised of several outdoor runs and small temporary
buildings. That’s all changed thanks to a commitment from city council to expand the program.”
Sugar Land’s new indoor, climate controlled animal shelter has adoption rooms, technology
improvements, multipurpose rooms and a play area for children. The additional
space enabled Sugar Land to launch a volunteer program intended to promote
animal adoptions. Since June, more than 160 volunteers have registered and over
470 hours of volunteer work have been contributed at the shelter.
Animal Services participates in several special events
each year, and provides presentations to groups such as the Girl Scouts and area
day cares. Educational videos are produced for the city’s cable television station, and “Pets of the Week” are featured in the local papers and on the newly expanded Animal Services Web
page.
“We finished our fiscal year with 303 adoptions, which is a 150 percent increase
over the last two years,” said Kathryn Ketchum, animal services manager. “With resources budgeted for additional staff and expanded hours, we expect to
build on the quality services currently provided to our citizens.”
Sugar Land’s animal shelter is open for adoptions from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and
Friday; 8 a.m.-7 p.m. on Thursdays; and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturdays.
Dulles Avenue Reconstruction Set for 2010
Sugar Land City Council approved a $1.5 million design contract with Freese and
Nichols Inc. for the reconstruction of Dulles Avenue between U.S. Highway 90A
to State Highway 6.
The project will result in a four-lane curb-and-gutter boulevard with sidewalks
from U.S. Highway 90A to Avenue E, which is currently undivided with open
ditches. The project also includes intersection improvements at Cartwright
Street, Lexington Boulevard and State Highway 6.
Phased construction is expected to begin during 2010 and continue for 18-24
months. The first phase will occur from U.S. Highway 90A to Avenue E (north
section) and will also include intersection improvements at State Highway 6. The second phase includes the intersection improvements along Cartwright Street
and Lexington Boulevard (south section).
Neighborhood Volunteers Slow Speeders
A new public partnership to reduce speeding combines technology and volunteers
to make residential streets safer for children and their families. Volunteers
in the Plantation Bend subdivision say Sugar Land’s Speed Watch Program is working.
Motorists slow down when they see the speed of their vehicles displayed on an
electronic sign. Unlike most unattended signs widely used throughout the
region, neighborhood volunteers are stationed near Sugar Land’s sign and they document speed violations.
“It's impressive how far down the street it picks up traffic, and the display is
very visible,” said Plantation Bend resident Frank Owens. “Most people slow up, regardless of speed. The flashing mode, displayed when
speeds exceed 30 miles per hour, really gets people’s attention, and everyone slows up to around 28 or so.”
Through the Neighborhood Speed Watch Program, residents are temporarily provided
a radar sign that displays the speed limit for a particular street and the
speed of passing vehicles. By recording the speeds, participants gain an accurate assessment of actual
speeds in their neighborhoods.
“Drivers are often unaware of their speed or the dangers of speeding in
neighborhoods,” said David Worley, assistant public works director . “This type of real-time awareness encourages speeding motorists to slow down and
sends a message that residents will not tolerate speeding in their
neighborhoods.”
The program’s rules of conduct are emphasized to participants prior to deployment of the
radar sign. Members of the Sugar Land Traffic Division train neighborhood
volunteers on the use of the radar sign prior to delivery of the equipment,
which is available on a first-come, first-serve basis and can be checked out
for two weeks. The sign is attended by residents at all times and secured in a
dry location when not in use. Speed data collected by residents is shared with
the Sugar Land Police Department for use in evaluating traffic control
resources.
To participate in the Neighborhood Speed watch program, call 281-275-2450
Missouri City Renews Curfew for Minors
When Missouri City youth go out at night, they’ll need to keep an eye on the clock if they want to stay within the limits of
the law.
At a Dec. 1 city council meeting, the city of Missouri City renewed its curfew
for minors under the age of 17. The city first adopted the curfew in 1994. Per
Texas statute, the city must review its minor curfew ordinance every three
years and conduct public hearings to determine the necessity of the ordinance.
According to the ordinance, youth are considered breaking curfew if they are
found unsupervised in a public place from 11 p.m.-6 a.m. Sunday through
Thursday, and from 12:01 a.m.-6 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Missouri City Residents Invited to Shape Plans for Quail Valley Parks Project
The City of Missouri City will host three meetings to gather community input on
the conceptual master plan for the Quail Valley Parks Project. The parks
project encompasses 400 acres featuring two 18-hole golf courses, 150-acres of
recreational property and a tennis and fitness facility.
In a presentation at the Dec. 1 City Council meeting, Director of Parks and
Recreation Kelly Snook said the city wants to incorporate ideas from residents
into the master plan, which will set the vision for how the Quail Valley Parks
property should develop.
All meetings will be held at the City Hall complex at 1522 Texas Parkway. The
first two meetings, each approximately an hour long, will be held in the
Community Center. The final meeting will be in the city council chambers.
Topics of discussion are: Jan. 6 at 7 p.m.: A “hands-on concept creation” meeting in the Community Center. Participants will put pen to paper and sketch
their ideas for the parks project and discuss their hopes for the property.
Jan. 27 at 7 p.m.: A meeting to review the conceptual master plan, which will
incorporate ideas suggested by residents at the Jan. 6 meeting. This meeting
will also be held in the Community Center.
Fort Bend Publishing Group 2008
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