West University Place City Council authorized a $629,538 contract Oct. 12 with Austin-based construction company Synth Construction for services related to the city’s recreation center fitness improvements, according to agenda documents.

The amount was awarded following a 4-1 vote, with council member Kalie Rainsberger voting no.

The gist: On Sept. 24, city staff completed an evaluation of five bids submitted for the fitness facility’s construction, Parks and Recreation Director Susan White said in the presentation.

Synth’s bid was identified as the one providing the most value to West U and the project’s scope. The company’s bid included:

• The base bid price of $572,695

• The alternate bid price of $56,843 for the recreation center’s upstairs corridor improvements and stair flooring replacement

These two sums combined result in a nearly $630,000 total contract value.

Looking ahead: Synth’s mobilization date is slated for the week of Oct. 26, with phase one of the project anticipated to be completed in late January.

Arsin Rug Gallery will host a grand opening celebration Oct. 29 for a new nearly 7,000-square-foot standalone venue on Westheimer Road, according to a news release.

This is the gallery’s second location in the city, with its first occupying a space inside Decorative Center Houston at 5120 Woodway Drive, Houston.

What they offer: Arsin Rug Gallery is a family-owned business specializing in handmade, antique, contemporary and one-of-a-kind rugs from around the world.

It is owned by Saeid Arsin, who founded the gallery decades ago as part of Houston’s local design community, per the release.

Respecting the craft: The new showroom will spotlight Arsin’s carefully curated inventory of rare and luxury pieces globally sourced from expert artisans in its own dedicated space. In doing so, the gallery will further its mission of preserving the artistry and heritage of traditional rugmaking.

• 5346 Westheimer Road, Houston

Houston-area residents can attend several fall festivals, pumpkin patches and events this October throughout Bellaire, West University and Houston. The scheduled activities include:

• The Great Pumpkin Hunt in Bellaire on Oct. 29, featuring a toy, candy and pumpkin hunt for children under 10.

• The Nature Discovery Center Fall Festival & Pumpkin Patch in Rus Pitman Park on Oct. 17-18.

• The 15th anniversary of the West U Halloween Dash and Kids Fun Run on Oct. 31.

• The Houston Pumpkin Festival at Discovery Green, running from Sept. 19-Nov. 8.

• ArBOOretum at the Houston Arboretum on Oct. 17, which features a trick-or-treat nature trail.

This list is not comprehensive and details are subject to change.

Two candidates are competing for the Place 7 at-large position on the board of trustees for the Harris County Department of Education in the upcoming Nov. 3 election. Democratic incumbent Silky Joshi-Malik will face Republican challenger Denise Dick in the race.

The details: Key details regarding the board and the election include:

• The board establishes policies governing the operation of the department and elects the county superintendent as its chief executive officer.

• The board consists of seven members, including three at-large positions that represent the entire county.

• Regular board meetings are typically held on the third Wednesday of the month at 1 p.m. in Houston.

Another at-large position, Place 5, is also up for election on Nov. 3, featuring Democratic incumbent Erica Davis and Republican challenger Sartaj Bal.

Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones announced that all Flock cameras on precinct property have been decommissioned and taken offline.

The specifics: The cameras, which monitor and record license plates to track vehicles, were located across nine parks and facilities. Precinct 4 previously had 48 security cameras and 13 automatic license plate readers, which have now been covered. The technology has faced public scrutiny at recent Harris County Commissioners Court meetings, where residents raised privacy and safety concerns.

What's next: The Harris County Commissioners Court is scheduled to discuss the county's use of automatic license plate readers during its Oct. 15 meeting. Several county departments, including the Sheriff's and Constables' Offices, will present a report covering:

• Amount of money spent on the readers

• Number and location of the readers

• Summary of the technology and its use

• Which agencies have access to the data

• What other jurisdictions are doing to safeguard the data