Budget Approved for FY2014
After weeks of comprehensive reviews of all City departments and ten hours of deliberation on Wednesday, Council passed a balanced budget for FY2014. The $4.5 billion budget includes the following:
- Single-Stream Recycling Expansion: Solid Waste plans to expand single-stream recycling to an additional 70,000 Houston homes in late 2013, on top of the scheduled roll-out to 35,000 homes next month. Contact swddirector@houstontx.gov to ensure that your neighborhood is on the waiting list.
- Increased Levels of First Responders: The Houston Fire Department will receive funding for six new firefighter cadet classes and two new paramedic classes, equaling 348 new cadets and 60 new paramedics.
- More Trees in Houston: Houston’s Parks & Recreation Department (HPARD) will be adding over 25,000 trees to the landscape of Houston’s green spaces. HPARD also plans to adopt an additional 48 acres of esplanades into their care.
The new budget does not require a tax increase and will maintain full funding of the Rainy Day Fund. FY2014 will commence July 1, 2013.
District C’s Phoebe Tudor Receives Historic Preservation Award
Phoebe Tudor has long been a champion of historic preservation in Houston, and this week she was honored for her efforts as the 2013 recipient of the Mayor’s Citizen’s Award for Historic Preservation. Phoebe’s tireless advocacy has resulted in many initiatives to save historic building resources in Houston, including the 1919 Harry Wiess House and the 1926 Julia Ideson Library Building. She served as chair of the Houston Archaeological & Historical Commission throughout the adoption of a new Historic Preservation Ordinance.
On the Agenda
Bayou Greenway 2020 is a vision that calls for the connection of hike-and-bike trails along Houston’s bayous for the creation of approximately 160 miles of interconnected green space throughout our city. Council authorized a seven year Interlocal Agreement between the City of Houston and the Houston Parks Board LGC for the implementation and funding of the Bayou Greenway 2020 project.
What’s Happening in the Annex
Solid Waste released the list of neighborhoods that will be included in the planned July 2013 expansion of single-stream recycling. Nearly 35,000 homes throughout the city will be added to this program, including portions of the District C neighborhoods of Braeswood Place, East Montrose (note: 2 maps), Hyde Park, Lower Heights, Sunset Heights, and Sunset Terrace.