Post-Harvey Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan Adopted

Our citizen Task Force, in fulfilling its expanded charge following Hurricane Harvey, has gone well beyond the basic requirements for our continued participation in the National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System.  Its hefty final report is reflective of the broad citizen input received throughout the process, and incorporates a variety of ideas for further evaluation in our ongoing flood mitigation efforts.  At this stage there are still more questions than answers, but the Task Force’s recommendations provide the necessary roadmap for the work yet to come.  The City Council’s formal adoption last week of the updated Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan sets in motion the development of specific actions and projects, with timelines for their potential implementation.

Down on the Bayou: A Closer Look at Project Brays

It’s by far the most significant flood control improvement for our area and has already brought us some measure of relief, with more to come.  It’s of central importance to our ongoing and future planning, because without adequate downstream capacity our other efforts aren’t going to make much of a difference.  Earlier this week members of the City Council, Flood Hazard Mitigation Task Force and city staff went down to take a closer look, in person, at Project Brays.  Gary Zika, Federal Projects Manager for the Harris County Flood Control District, was our gracious host and tour guide.

Branding Baby Steps

Though branding is about much more than just a logo, naturally that’s what pretty much everyone is focused on.  Some people like the proposed logo.  More people, it appears, don’t.  Most people haven’t commented on it at all.  But based on the public input we have received, it’s obvious the proposal wouldn’t be adopted in its current form and two weeks ago the City Council unanimously agreed not to pursue it any further.  Which is fine; as we've said all along, a new logo could be adopted at the same time as a typography but doesn't necessarily have to be.

Having set the logo aside, last night Council approved the proposed typography, including for signage in the new buildings.  We also formally adopted the verbal identity produced by the branding exercise, which has been very well received.  These are important steps, but baby steps, toward the development of a Bellaire “look and feel” to inform ongoing and future design decisions for a wide range of projects.  In fact, the branding exercise is already influencing potential streetscape improvements downtown, and capital projects that have been on hold for some time are now closer to moving forward.