Missouri City has achieved significant successes in 2010, continuing strong collaborations with citizens, building on the City’s infrastructure, gaining new business partnerships, planning future amenities, and earning local, state and national distinction for excellence.
“In 2010, we focused on capital improvements and economic development,” said City Manager Frank Simpson. “By leveraging funding from others, less than 25 percent of all capital improvement projects are being paid for with City property taxes.”
The cost of all current infrastructure improvements is more than $82 million; the City’s share being paid for from property taxes is $18 million. The remaining $64 million comes from, state and federal funds, Fort Bend and Harris Counties, utility user and capital recovery fees and Special Districts. Here are some of the major projects under way:
*Texas Parkway Revitalization: Phase I of the transformation is taking place and features sidewalks and drainage improvements; completion is expected to take nine months. Phase II will involve landscaping and signage.
*Community Center & Golf Pro Shop and Tennis & Recreation Center: With City Council approval of a $7.375 million settlement for the Quail Valley Golf property, community meetings followed seeking citizen input on development of the two projects. The design process is under way for both facilities and construction for the structures is targeted to begin in summer 2011.
*Surface Water Treatment Plant: The state-of-the art plant is currently being constructed and will have the capacity to produce 10 million gallons of water per day. Completion is scheduled for next winter, ahead of the deadline to meet the mandated groundwater reduction requirements.
*Gessner Road Revitalization: A full reconstruction of South Gessner Road from Beltway 8 to Cravens Road is ongoing; completion is scheduled for summer 2011.
*Intelligent Transportation System: Along Murphy Road and State Highway 6, major intersections underwent turn lane and traffic signal improvements, with median installation on State Highway 6 continuing into 2011. These are the first steps of the synchronization of city traffic signals so that they can communicate with each other and adapt to different traffic patterns. Overall, this project will improve mobility and safety and shorten travel times.
*Emergency Communications: City Council approved the installation of a new low-power AM radio station—1690 AM. Staff will follow FCC guidelines for station usage and transmit emergency information, weather bulletins and traffic and road construction updates, featuring directions to City landmarks and events.
Facing Challenges with Proactive Policies
Last June, City Council approved the fiscal year 2011 operating budget of $31.2 million, a 6 percent reduction from the previous year, with no tax increase for residents. “We have had a very busy and productive year in our City, however, we are not without our challenges,” Mayor Allen Owen said. “Like other cities across the country, our revenues from sales tax and property taxes have been reduced. We are faced with doing what everyone else has to do, and that is to look for ways to do more with less. Our employees rolled up their sleeves, tightened their belts, and made a commitment not to let this affect the service levels to our citizens.”
New Services Benefit Residents
Based on two voter referendum items on the May election ballot, City Council passed two ordinances—one bans smoking in public places and the second implemented a city-wide municipal trash program.
The solid waste collection service will be provided by Republic Services for the next five years. Service for subdivisions was chosen by homeowner associations and municipal utility districts and will result in savings for about 75 percent of residents.
In other City Council action, members took a step further with the state ban on most cell phone use in school zones and passed an ordinance that bans motorists from texting throughout the city.
Economic Growth on the Upswing
The “Show Me City” was also prosperous on the business front the past 12 months and announced numerous developments city-wide.
In the northern part of Missouri City, the newly developed 168-acre Lakeview Business Park is home to three new tenants. Lufkin Automation, an oil and gas services company, settled into its headquarters building situated on six acres; Kusha Foods, a rice distributor, and Flair Flexible Packaging, a plastic bags manufacturer, will occupy 38,000- and 50,000-square feet, respectively.
On Gessner Road in the Beltway Crossing complex, Professional Packaging has leased 96,000 square feet of space; Mission Foods has let another 23,000 square feet and Charming Charlie, Inc. occupies 166,000 square feet of the facility with its main warehouse and distribution center for the entire Southeast Texas area. Across the street, Fort Bend Corps is open for business at its location in the Greystone Buildings.
Additionally, Star Precision Fabrication, a machining and sheet metal fabrication company, has purchased 10.6 acres of land on South Gessner. The company plans to build in two phases; the first, a 30,000-square foot building that is expected to be operating in the summer; and the second will add an additional 80,000- to 100,000-square feet.
New to the Gessner corridor next year will be food purveyor Ben E. Keith. The company has submitted engineering plans to the City and expects to begin construction on its $86 million facility in the first quarter of 2011.
Retail growth continues throughout the community. Along Highway 6, a new AT&T outlet at the Lowe’s site recently donated $2,275 to the Dew House restoration project, and in the same center, a Kolache Factory franchise has celebrated its grand opening. Texas Parkway also boasts new businesses, including J&L Photography and Video, Medlin Pharmacy, and American Eyes Optical.
The new enterprises in Lakeview and others along Gessner Road have created and will be adding between 800 and 1,000 new jobs. “These numbers represent great gains for the City,” Mayor Owen said. “All those projects along this important corridor will also help us to promote retail and housing and is a big boost for this area.”
Also on the horizon for 2011 is the grand opening of a La Quinta Inn & Suites, the City’s first hotel, and the opening of Star Cinema Grill, an upscale movie theater.
TXU Employees show their support for the Edible Arbor Trail.
Clean & Green
Maintaining and preserving green spaces in Missouri City continues to be a priority. On tap for staff this year were myriad initiatives such as the Community Roots Project in which volunteers help to beautify community parks; recycling programs, including drop-off boxes for old or broken cell phones at City Hall, the Community Center or Municipal Court; tree plantings on the region’s first Edible Arbor Trail and the Memorial Tree Program in which families can purchase a tree to be planted in City parks in memory of loved ones. A feature of the program is a living memorial webpage on the City’s website with photos of family members and their trees and a custom written remembrance.
Coming up for conservation in 2011 are upgrades for the City’s Recycling Center that will enable residents to access bins more easily and improve the look and function of the facility; and a household hazardous waste collection event on March 26.
“Show Me” Success
Respected organizations and publications recognized the City’s 2010 achievements. CNN and MONEY magazine rated Missouri City #21 on its annual list of 100 Best Places to Live in America. And, the police department’s community outreach with citizens to combat and curtail crime is paying off with Congressional Quarterly naming Missouri City the 5th safest city in Texas, and the 36th nationally. Quality community recognitions followed from Scenic Texas, which rewarded Missouri City’s commitment to high-quality development requirements for public spaces with one of its 14 inaugural certificates; and “Avid Golfer”, in reviewing public courses, named the El Dorado greens at Quail Valley Golf Course No. 1 in the category for the “Best Overall Value Under $40” and No. 2 in the “Top 10 Value Priced Courses”.
Additional honors included the Houston Business Journal’s 2010 Landmark Award for “Best Community Impact”, emphasizing the Quail Valley Parks Project’s social, environmental and economic importance to the City and to the Houston area; and two awards from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada, noting staff’s exceptional fiscal management for the budget and the annual financial report. Also, Missouri City was recognized as a good place to work by the U.S. Department of Defense for staff’s support and cooperation with City employees who are serving in the armed forces; and by a State of Texas Department for staff’s accommodation for an employee returning to work after a serious illness.
“Show Me” the Future
“As the economy begins to improve, our City will follow suit,” Mayor Owen said. “A healthy turn around in 2011 will allow us to stay on track with our capital improvement projects and to build and maintain staffing levels. In collaboration with our citizens and staff, City Council is committed to keeping us one of the Top 100 American Cities.”
To view the City’s 2010 Year-In-Review video, please click on www.missouricitytx.gov.
Missouri City built strong partnerships with businesses during 2010. In photo at left, the City received $2,275 from a new AT&T outlet to use for the preservation of the historic Dew House. From left to right, Ivan Butterfield, Museum Board Member, Diane Ware, DeWalt Heritage Society, Mayor Allen Owen, Lisa Glenn, Dew House Volunteer Coordinator, Alice Aanstoos, AT&T Regional V.P. External Affairs, and Anthony Morado, AT&T Southwest Houston Sales Manager were at the ceremony. In photo at right, City officials join the owners and staff of a Kolache Factory store for their grand opening. Councilman Robin Elackatt (holding ribbon in brown and yellow shirts), Mayor Pro Tem Brett Kolaja (in green shirt), Councilman Bobby Marshall (behind Kolaja), Economic Development Coordinator Bob Graf (on back row in purple shirt) and Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald (on back row in yellow shirt) attended the event. Also on hand to celebrate were Houston Texans Cheerleaders.
