In Monday night's city council meeting, council members approved a significant project which will improve both mobility and drainage along Katy Hockley Road between Morton and Clay. The council, in a 5-0 vote, authorized the mayor to accept easements or to purchase land for right of way along the route. The total of $158174.97 for the eight pieces of land will be paid for with Metro funds.

“This is a very significant project, which affects a major portion of the city,” said Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris. In addition to roadway improvements, the work includes drainage improvements as well, he said. The project will benefit both residents and schools, said Councilmember Rory Robertson.

Council also voted 5-0 to approve the purchase of five additional cameras for the Katy Police Department, authorizing the mayor to sign a five-year agreement with Flock Group, Inc. for the buy. The cameras, which are license plate readers, have proven successful in apprehending criminals, said KPD Chief Noe Diaz, who cited two recent examples. “These cameras have absolutely made us a safer place,” said Councilmember Robertson.

KPD and the Katy Fire Department will benefit from the purchase of intelligence software for public safety, which will provide agency analytics in real time, following the 5-0 approvals which authorized the mayor to sign two agreements with Tyler Technologies for software applications. Chief Diaz said that the upgraded software shows analytics, including charts and graphs, in real-time and the department would not have to wait for information to be compiled a month after the fact. One of the software packages will assist Katy Fire Department with fire inspections and will help capture building data for the area, KFD Chief Kenneth Parker said. As part of this project, Parker said that crews from his department would be out contacting business owners to obtain emergency contact information for every building.

In other action, council:

· Authorized the mayor to sign a proposal with ARKK Engineers, LLC for an engineering design phase and a construction phase services for 2024 Heights, Airline and Drexel drainage improvements. According to ARKK engineer David Kasper, the $3 million project will complete the design phase in 2024 and is expected to complete the construction phase in early 2025. Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris said that drainage had gotten worse in this area over the years and that this project would provide “much needed relief” to area residents.

· Authorized the mayor to sign an interlocal agreement for drainage with Harris-Waller MUD District 3 (Cane Island) on behalf of proposed Waller County MUD 58 and the city of Katy to allow for connection of a storm sewer line.

· Approved street closures of Avenue C between First and Second Streets, requested by Katy Crossing Ice House, for upcoming events including a monthly Sip and Stroll market, a one-year anniversary part on February 17 and a Saint Paddy’s Festival on March 16th.

The next meeting of the Katy city council will be February 12 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 901 Avenue C, Katy.