The West University Place City Council was presented with updates regarding the ongoing improvements being made to the city’s wastewater treatment plant at the July 27 City Council meeting.

The impact: Having performed an independent study on the site’s progress, Garver representatives Wade Parks, Jason Kirby and Dylan Christenson voiced concerns to West U officials regarding multiple areas of the wastewater facility that will require long-term rehabilitation, given that they are not within the scope of the project’s first phase.

Before you go: Kirby noted to council members that for future phase planning, complete rehabilitation could be performed in either separate phases or in a single project.

As of July 27, Leech said the next steps for the Public Works Department are to draft a proposal related to future improvement plans at the wastewater facility and return to City Council with it at a later date.

The estimated completion date for the first phase of West U’s wastewater treatment plant project is April 2027.

This article is based on a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations filing. Community Impact will update this story when more information is available.

Andy’s Frozen Custard is opening yet another location in Houston, only this time, in Rice Village, according to a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filing.

The specifics: Construction of the 1,580-square-foot site began in October, according to details from the filing. The location, costing approximately $750,000 to build, sits along West Holcombe Boulevard.

The custard shop offers patrons both year-round and locally themed sweet treats depending on the location. Whether it’s one of the shop’s infamous ‘Concretes’ or ‘Jackhammers,’ guests can enjoy classic items such as Andy’s Ozark Turtle Sundae; the James Brownie Funky Jackhammer; or the Choc-O-Rocko Concrete.

• 2348 W. Holcombe Blvd., Ste. 100, Houston

A federal judge declared a longstanding program in Houston that requires a percentage of Harris County contracts to be awarded to women- or minority-owned businesses unconstitutional during a July 28 trial.

U.S. District Judge David Hittner, the ruling judge on the case, said the program violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

Explained: The city's Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) program sets intentional percentage targets for certified minority- and women-owned businesses to participate in municipal construction, professional services and goods contracts.

However, a white couple from Spring filed a lawsuit in 2023 against the city, stating that the program violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution. After a three-year back-and-forth trial, Hittner voted in favor of the couple.

Hittner's ruling now blocks the city from using race-conscious preferences in public contracts.

Before you go: In fiscal year 2025-26, Houston awarded approximately $1.4 billion in contracts, with roughly $362 million, or 25%, awarded to certified minority, women and small business firms.

An ordinance which would close a decade-old loophole for Houston landlords regarding air conditioning got stuck in committee due to a lack of a quorum to move the item to the Houston City Council agenda on July 28.

What residents need to know: During the July 28 Prop A committee meeting, council member Alejandra Salinas said her proposal was aimed at ensuring a basic quality of life for renters in lower-income areas where rental properties may not have central cooling or window units.

The committee lost a quorum after nearly an hour of testimony in favor of the Right to Air Conditioning ordinance, which would no longer allow window screens to be the sole method of cooling in rental housing.

What’s next: Salinas said she would bring the ordinance back to the Prop A committee at the next meeting, which is scheduled for Aug. 25 at 2 p.m. in Houston City Council chambers.

The Houston-Galveston Area Council will host a public meeting Aug. 5 for its Safety Action Plans—an effort to improve transportation safety and reduce serious roadway injuries and fatalities, according to a July 27 news release from H-GAC.

Why it matters: The Houston-Galveston region accounts for nearly 20% of traffic deaths in Texas, and every day an average of two people are killed and 10 people are seriously injured in traffic crashes across the region, according to H-GAC’s website.

A closer look: H-GAC is working with local governments, transportation agencies and community partners to identify critical issues and help lead future safety improvements, per the release.