At the July 10^th meeting of the Katy City Council, a new bid of $384,305.08 for the completion of the 3B Learning Center was approved by a close 3 to 2 vote by council members.  The 3B Learning Center is located in the Fussell House at 5402 Franz Road and is planned to be a home for bird, bees and butterflies.

Architect David Slattery of Slattery Tackett said that the new bid – about $35,000 higher than the initial bid – was driven by a number of factors.  In addition to increasing construction prices, he noted that the facility – originally built as a residence – was being converted into a commercial space and thus is now subject to commercial codes – particularly those required by the City of Katy, and the need to comply with electrical codes and to confirm to requirements mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Slattery noted that civil work on the parking area was not included in the original scope of the project  and that new inspections also revealed the need for additional work outside the original project scope.  Major factors in driving the added costs were:

• Parking: the existing parking must be redone, with additional spaces required and with striping of the parking lot.
• Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): this includes installation of sloped sidewalks to facilitate access into the building and the widening of doors and door openings (to permit wheelchair access) and the revamping of the restrooms to comply with ADA standards.
• Security fencing designed to keep unauthorized individuals from gaining access to the facility, and to help contain visitors within the property boundaries. The proposed fencing is expected to be decorative in nature rather than chain link fencing.
• Lighting: LED lights are being installed.
• Detention efforts required by the city, in order to mitigate potential flooding.

The 3B Learning Center is one of the initiatives in the City of Katy’s master plan for parks.

In other action, council:

• Granted a petition by 3212 Hillcroft, LLE for extension of certain boundary limits of the City of Katy and annexation of approximately 1.1477 acres in Fort Bend County and the annexation of approximately 1.294 acres being a portion of FM 1463 right-of-way. The area is located near Spring Green and FM 1463.
• Rejected bids for the Parks Building 2 project. Architect David Slattery said the building, which was originally built as a concession stand, still has some life to it but recommended that it be used for storage rather than an office building as planned.
• Approved participation in the Canvus Donor Program for Functional Art Pieces at Thomas Park, 5919 Fourth Street, authorizing acceptance of specific use donations, if a match to a corporate donor is found. Parks Director Kevin Browne described the program, which uses parts recycled from old wind turbines and made into park benches and planters, as a donation program benefitting cities and nonprofits.   The program partners these entities with corporate sponsors who are “going green” or offsetting their carbon footprint by donating the new benches and planters.  Browne emphasized that the program is free, once a match to a corporate sponsor has been found, although the city will be responsible for the installation and maintenance of the benches.

The next meeting of the council is set for July 24^th at 6;30 p.m.