Council to decide on management of golf course

The fate of the Battleground at Deer Park Golf Course could be decided at Tuesday's council meeting. Council is scheduled to vote whether or not to authorize city staff to negotiate with a vendor for the lease or management of the Battleground Golf Course.

City council is scheduled to break into executive session upon calling its workshop Tuesday at 5 p.m. at City Hall. City memos indicate that council will discuss the lease/management proposals in its executive session. Council will take action during its regular meeting, which starts at 7:30 p.m.

When council reconvenes from executive session, it will hear a presentation of the Fiscal Year 2011-12 audit and the financial statements for the golf course for the first quarter of the 2012-13 Fiscal Year.

Council will also hear updates from the sign ordinance committee and from the Deer Park Chamber of Commerce on the upcoming Totally Texas Festival.

Council will also discuss issues relating to a camera security system and access control and an HGAC Grant for a surveillance audio system for the police department; and a 36-month lease agreement for eight copiers for the police department. These items are up for action on the regular agenda.

Following the workshop, council will hold a joint public hearing on a proposed amendment to a zoning ordinance, placing in an Office and Professional (OP) Zoning District, 4426 Pasadena Boulevard (Block 6, Lot 15- Houston Suburban Estates), and Lot I and 2, Ott and Whatley Addition and taking the same out of the Single Family One (SF-I) Zoning District.

The Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended that the amendment be denied. In December of 2011, Council also denied zoning changes to the same property. This item is also on council's action agenda for the evening.

In the regular meeting, council will also vote to adopt the Parks Master Plan and the FY 2011-12 audit. Council will also decide on the purchase of a vehicle for the Parks Maintenance Department through the HGAC Cooperative Purchasing Program.

Council will also vote on updating the city's Code of Ordinances and Fee Schedule. The update calls for changing the returned check fee from $25 to $30.

Council will also vote on changes to the city's sign ordinances regarding political signs on public property. Signs on public property cannot be visible for more than 30 days for a regular election and 50 days for a run-off election. This period begins no earlier than 26 days prior to that election and must be removed within four days after that election. Signs on public property will only be allowed after an application and a deposit. Failure to remove signs from public property would result in forfeiting the deposit.

In other business, Council will vote on establishing the speed limit on East Boulevard to 40 mph from State Hwy. 225 to X Street for both north and southbound traffic. Also, Council will vote on lowering the speed limit on Thirteenth Street between Luella and East Boulevard for west and eastbound traffic to 30 mph. City memos indicate this is necessary to the new San Jacinto Elementary campus and the traffic light installed at Thirteenth Street and Asbury. Also, council will vote to schedule a joint public hearing regarding rezoning the property located at Survey, Abstract 624, from Church (C) Zoning to General Commercial (GC) Zoning at the request at San Jacinto Baptist Church.