City authorizes issuance of $3.5 million in bonds for parks

By George Slaughter, News Editor
Posted 2/15/22

he Katy City Council Monday authorized the issuance of $3.5 million in permanent improvement bonds for parks, moving quickly in anticipation of both rising interest rates and city's master parks plan expected to be completed early this fall.

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City authorizes issuance of $3.5 million in bonds for parks

Posted

he Katy City Council Monday authorized the issuance of $3.5 million in permanent improvement bonds for parks, moving quickly in anticipation of both rising interest rates and city's master parks plan expected to be completed early this fall.

Loren Morales, director at RBC Capital Markets, said the city requests bids by 10 a.m. March 2. He said the city expects to award the obligations to the winning bidder at the March 14 council meeting.

Ward B Rory Robertson said he was definitely a firm believer in locking in the interest rate now.

“Everyone here, you’ve seen the inflation,” Robertson said.

City leaders have been giving parks their share of attention in recent months. Last year Katy voters approved a parks bond package of $4.2 million last year, part of which was for improvements to city parks. Among these improvements is a hike and bike trail system.

Last July, the city hired a new parks director, Kevin Browne. He has been working with both city leaders and the public to create a new master parks plan.

In December, the city purchased the old Fussell House, 5402 Franz Road, along with equipment that went with the house, to serve as the parks department headquarters. Bedrooms in the old house will be converted into offices for both the parks director and the parks and recreation coordinator.

The house will also serve as a parks learning center. The house sits on a 1.24-acre plot just east of the Katy Library. The house sits near the Katy City Park, Mary Jo Peckham Park, and the Katy Off-Leash Dog Park.

In a related action, the council approved a $49,650 expenditure for the development of a parks plan at Leyendecker Landing.

Leyendecker Landing, the city’s water detention facility near the Morton Road-Pitts Road intersection is named in honor of the late David Leyendecker, longtime city engineer.

In a memo requesting council approval, City Administrator Byron Hebert said the city engineers at ARKK will oversee the project and work with city staff, landscape architects, and urban planners. After the plan is complete, Hebert said it will be incorporated into the city’s parks, trails and recreation master plan. The source of funds will be the parks bond approved by voters last year.

City of Katy, parks, bonds, Katy City Council