Have Fun This Halloween, and Be Safe

The City of Bellaire encourages you to have fun this Halloween!  While also keeping your family safe and doing your part to help limit the spread of COVID-19 in our community.  As cases are again on the rise in Harris County and across the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has published guidelines for safe trick-or-treating and other Halloween activities.

If you do decide to pass out candy this year, consider placing a pumpkin at the end of your driveway and turn your lights on to welcome trick-or-treaters.  Please observe all the usual precautions including social distancing, masks, frequent handwashing and avoiding direct contact with others.  Those choosing not to participate might want to post a sign to that effect.  The Governor has ordered that all outdoor gatherings in excess of 10 people must be approved in advance (submit a request through the City Manager’s Office) and comply with applicable public health guidelines.

Bellaire’s annual Great Pumpkin Hunt is traditionally held in The Great Lawn at Bellaire Town Square, with hundreds of kids dashing and scrambling for candy and toys in a fun and safe environment.  Sadly we won’t be able to do that this year, but instead we’re proud to host the Boo Drive-Thru, tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 in the Rec Center parking lot, featuring decorative themed stations and goodie bags while supplies last, all from the comfort of your own back seat!  So put on your costumes and come join us for this family- and COVID-friendly special event.

Happy Halloween!

Estimating the Anticipated Fiscal Impacts of the Sidewalks Charter Propositions

Pursuant to state law, today the City has published the official Notice of Election on three resident-petitioned sidewalks charter propositions, including estimates of the anticipated fiscal impacts of each of the proposed amendments if approved by the voters.  Because it’s really not that simple—“standalone” sidewalks must be distinguished from those coupled with new street and drainage infrastructure, and there are a number of possible scenarios to consider for individual projects and locations—the Notice gives a range of anticipated fiscal impacts.  The City has therefore additionally published an accompanying Fiscal Impacts supplement discussing them in greater detail and attempting to address some of the unknowns.

Fact Check: The Role of the City Engineer

With the Great Bellaire Sidewalks Debate raging once again ahead of the upcoming resident-petitioned charter election, a popular misconception previously put to bed has now resurfaced.  I’ve been hearing from a handful of residents expressing concern at what they’ve read on social media, about the role of the City Engineer.  Specifically, that his findings and advice cannot be trusted because of a supposed conflict of interest.  The problem with that claim is that it’s grounded on falsehood.  So let’s clear this up once and for all:

The City Engineer and his firm are not allowed to bid on, and do not provide engineering or other associated services to the City—other than as City Engineer.