| Some 500 residences and businesses in Rosenberg that were placed under another permit fee during last week's City Council meeting got a bit of good news Tuesday night - a lower-than-predicted price of $10.
In order for the city's water system to be in compliance with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Rosenberg must keep a record of annual tests on backflow preventive assemblies, which are designed to keep contaminated water from siphoning back into the public water system.
To maintain those records, the city requires a permit before the tests are conducted by a TCEQ-certified tester. John Maresh, the city's utility director, told Council last week that the permit fee would likely fall between $15 and $25, but his proposal Tuesday night brought the figure down to $10.
The city will also provide property owners with a list of certified inspectors.
Look, then drive
Anyone driving through Rosenberg will be subject to a new ordinance granted final approval by a split Council Tuesday night.
Confronting the issue of potential gridlock at busy intersections, Council voted 4-2 to approve a proposal from Police Chief Robert Gracia that would add teeth to laws designed to help keep them clear.
The new ordinance obligates a driver not to enter an intersection or crosswalk unless there is sufficient space to clear it. In other words, it is designed to eliminate the excuse that someone entered an intersection because a light was green but then was stuck there in backed up traffic, thereby blocking crossing traffic.
Councilman Dwayne Grigar again contested the proposal as being redundant and said the city was simply stacking ordinances.
Councilman Tom Suter spoke up in favor of the change, saying it more clearly defined the law.
Grigar and Councilwoman Waline Sebesta voted against the ordinance.
An unrelated topic arose during the discussion. Grigar said he thought the city should seek the input of the Texas Department of Transportation, as it would if requesting signage or a red-light camera.
Gracia seized the moment. “If Council has any additional ideas - Councilman Grigar made reference to red-light cameras - I would be glad to come back to Council with a proposal for this Council to consider the red-light cameras,” Gracia said. “I think it's an effective tool; however, there is a cost.”
Council also:
€ Authorized seeking bids for pre-constructed restrooms at Travis, Sunset, Community and Brazos city parks;
€ Received a report on capital projects, in which City Manager Jack Hamlett said the city would try to get more responses to bid requests by combining some smaller projects;
€ Joined Lamar CISD and the city of Richmond in casting all of its votes for Wayne Poldrack for a position on the board of directors of the Fort Bend Central Appraisal District;
€ Declined the appraisal district's request that it be allowed to retain rather than refund Rosenberg's surplus of $3,073.99 and add the money to a reserve fund the district may later use to address its office needs;
€ Scheduled a joint meeting the morning of Jan. 26 with the parks and recreation board and the planning and zoning commission to discuss the updated Parks Master Plan; and
€ Scheduled a meeting for Feb. 23 to discuss goals for the city manager, police chief, city secretary and municipal court judge.
Councilman Carl Hopkins was not present for the meeting.
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