Houston City Council on Wednesday approved placing $410 million in bond measures on the November ballot. The bonds would fund city projects for the next five years including improvements to parks and libraries, repairs to city-owned buildings and new police and fire stations.
Mayor Annise Parker says this is the smallest bond proposal in more than 30 years.
Three council members voted against the bond measures on Wednesday.
Houstonians will vote on the measures November 6, along with a $2 billion HISD bond that would make major improvements to a total of 38 schools, as well as technology upgrades at all HISD schools.
According to the mayor's office, the city improvement bond package that council approved includes:
$144 million for public safety needs, including:
- Improvements at neighborhood police stations citywide
- Expansion of Fire Station 55, City Council District D
- New fire station to serve Pine Brook area, City Council District E
- Expansion of Fire Station 22, City Council District I
- Fire station maintenance/improvements citywide
- Facility security improvements
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Other building repairs
$63 million for health, sanitation/recycling, and general government improvements at city facilities not included in the other categories:
- Renovation of the Westpark recycling facility, City Council District J
- Renovation of the Central Depository, City Council District I
- Possible repair of Sunnywide Multi-Service Center, City Council District D
- Repairs to City Hall and City Hall Annex
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Environmental Remediation
$15 million for affordable housing. These dollars will be used for demolition of blighted properties to make way for new affordable housing.
$28 million for libraries, including:
- Renovation of the Montrose Library, City Council District D
- Replacement of the Moody Library, City Council District H
- Replacement of the Meyer Library, City Council District K
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Renovation of Robinson-Westchase Library, City Council District F
$160 million for parks, including the Bayou Greenways Project and:
- Improvements at Haden, Busby Park, Judson Robinson Sr., Jaycee, Wright, Bembry, Hermann, Alief, Nieto, Squatty Lyons, Gragg, Braeburn, Glen and Wildheather parks
- Pavilion replacements
- Swimming pool upgrades and replacements
- Ball field lighting upgrades
- Trail replacement and overlays
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Bayou Greenways Project
The city says $100 million is included in city matching funds for the Bayou Greenways Project.
