Stay Loyal to Local this Holiday Shopping Season

The Stay Loyal to Local initiative encourages you to do your shopping close to home this holiday season. There’s an intangible benefit to shopping locally and that’s the personalized service you get from business owners and the opportunities to make new friends with neighbors. The Bellaire Business Association, in conjunction with West University and Southside Place businesses, want local residents to know about the wealth of goods and services available nearby. For more information on Stay Loyal to Local or the Bellaire Business Associations please visit bellairebiz.org.

https://www.bellairebiz.org

Capital Improvement Projects

The 2016 Bonds for a Better Bellaire Program funds improvements on public infrastructure throughout the entire City. As part of the program the City began construction on the Group B, Phase 1 streets, drainage and sidewalk project in October. This includes street reconstruction with storm sewer improvements and some waterline improvements as well. Work has been ongoing for Imperial and Linden and will continue through December into the new year. The other streets in the project will be Mayfair and Willow which will start in 2019.

The City is also moving forward with the Group C, Phase 2 streets, drainage and sidewalk project. The initial project also includes street reconstruction and storm sewer improvements on various streets plus the construction of flap gate structures at major outfalls throughout the City along Cypress Ditch. This project had such a broad scope of work that the City chose to separate it into three smaller projects. This will allow for specialized contractors to bid and potentially provide better pricing on specific aspects of the project.

Currently the flap gate structures have been separated into its own construction project and is still in design which is approximately 90% complete. In addition, there are 2 separate street projects that are expected to go to bid in December and January. One project is the 4500 block of Maple and 500 block of Bolivar. The other project is the 5100-5200 blocks of Spruce and the 200 block of N. Fifth. Staff will be presenting an update on the Spruce and N. Fifth project at the City Council Meeting on January 7, 2019. Construction contracts for both street projects are scheduled to be awarded at the February 18, 2019 City Council Meeting.

https://www.bellairetx.gov/1268/Capital-Improvement-Program

Safer Holidays at Home

The winter holidays are a time for celebration, and that means more cooking, lots of entertaining, and an increased risk of fire. In recent years, nearly 600 fires per year have been started by ignition of Christmas trees in the U.S. (510 in homes) and $21 million in direct property damage per year. Decorating with candles can also be a fire hazard. An annual average of 6,700 home fires are caused by candles every year. Nearly $59 million in property damage results from candle fires every year.

The Bellaire Fire Department would like you to stay safe this holiday season. Please follow these this fire prevention tips from the National Fire Protection Association to help keep your family safer during the holidays.

https://www.bellairetx.gov/1078/Safer-Holidays-at-Home

Santa Sightings

Sources from the North Pole are predicting that Santa will be back in Bellaire one more time before Christmas! The happy elves have reported that he will be riding atop a fire truck on your street to wave hello and wish you all good cheer!

Be on the lookout for Santa on these dates: Streets outside loop 610 on December 17 and 18 from 5:00 - 8:00 pm and streets inside loop 610 on December 19 and 20 from 5:00 - 8:00 pm.

Visit www.bellairetx.gov for more information.

Welcome our newest employees to the City of Bellaire. Richard Mancilla, Assistant Director of Public Works (left) and Joseph McMillen, Capital Project Manager (right).