At its Feb. 2 workshop session, the Friendswood ISD board of trustees arrived at a potential $81.5 million bond package and refined proposition language ahead of the Feb. 13 election deadline.

The details: According to district documents, the potential bond would cost about 51% less than the failed 2025 bond and, if approved, would go before voters in May.

Breaking it down: Following additional discussion and revisions of drafts that were presented to the board, trustees ended the Jan. 28 workshop with a four-proposition bond package:
•Proposition A: Critical infrastructure/Lifecycle replacements and safety and security
•Proposition B: Westwood Elementary replacement
•Proposition C: Career and agricultural science center
•Proposition D: Technology

The cost: The proposed $81.5 million bond package would increase the tax rate by up to $0.0349 per $100 valuation of a home. For a home valued at $500,000, this increase would translate to approximately $125.64 annually, or $10.47 monthly, assuming a $140,000 homestead exemption.

Friendswood will host a second public meeting to discuss the Friendswood Comprehensive Master Drainage Plan on Feb. 12.

The specifics: City officials held an initial meeting in August to gather resident feedback on how to address flooding in Friendswood. The upcoming meeting will include updated draft strategies incorporating resident feedback from the August meeting. 

Why it matters: The plan will reflect current data and use modern modeling techniques to create a list of prioritized flood reduction projects, actionable recommendations and a centralized database to guide development and funding decisions, according to the city’s website.

Harris Health officials are one step closer in the process of acquiring nearly 9 acres of Hermann Park—also known as the Warnecke Tract—as part of a $410 million Ben Taub Hospital expansion at the Texas Medical Center after Harris County commissioners voted in favor of the March 19 formal public hearing date.

Quote of note: “None of this gives permission to just move forward with impunity,” Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia said. “Without creating consensus or at least making the effort to create consensus and dialogue.”

The gist: The unanimous vote at the Jan. 29 Commissioners Court meeting paves the way for Harris County to condemn approximately 8.9 acres of parkland for the proposed hospital expansion.

Zooming out: Public town hall meetings across the county have occurred since October, including in all four county precincts, discussing the hospital district’s proposal—a prospect that has raised concerns among some residents and community members.

The Houston Association of Realtors has named René Galvan as its new president and CEO, the first leadership change in more than three decades after longtime executive Bob Hale retired Jan. 31, according to a Feb. 2 news release.

What we know: Galvan has been part of HAR’s leadership team since 1996 and served as executive vice president since 1998, per the release. HAR officials said he worked alongside Hale early in his career to help shape the original concept for HAR.com, which launched in 1997 and has since expanded statewide.

In the release, Galvan said his focus will be strengthening the services and tools the association’s roughly 50,000 members use “in this rapidly changing real estate environment.”

HAR said Hale—who served as president and CEO for 37 years—retired after 53 years with the association. The board honored him with the title of CEO emeritus, and Hale said he was confident the organization is “in excellent hands” with Galvan leading it.

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