Sugar Land is revisiting utility rates ahead of its fiscal year 2025-26 budget approval as operating costs increase.

The big picture: At a Sept. 2 meeting, Sugar Land City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance to increase water, surface water, wastewater and trash rates.

Zooming in: The average household can expect to see an increase of $3.06 per month to their water utility bill, bringing the average cost to $107.31, said ShaLae Steadman, director of budget for Sugar Land.

Meanwhile, residential trash rates will see a $2.09 per month increase, bringing their average cost to $23.97. The increase includes $1 per household toward disaster recovery due to uncertainty with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Steadman said.

Looking ahead: City Council will hear a second reading of the ordinance, although a date has not been set yet. The updated fees will go into effect on Jan. 1 if approved, Steadman said.

The candidate filing period for the Nov. 4 special election for the Missouri City City Council District B position closed Sept. 3 with two candidates—James Davidson and Sharita L. Thompson—vying for the position.

The opening comes after council member Jeffrey L. Boney filed his run for mayor July 25, vacating his unexpired term on council, Community Impact reported. The winner will serve the remaining time in the unexpired terms through November 2027.

What else: The November ballot will include several Missouri City positions, including the mayor and two City Council at-large seats with winners to serve three-year terms, according to the city’s website.

Going forward: The election will take place Nov. 4 with early voting running from Oct. 20-31, according to the Texas Secretary of State’s website. The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 6.

Officials have announced the opening date of the new Velvet Taco opening in Sugar Land Town Center.

What they offer: Velvet Taco is a fast-casual restaurant that serves tacos with global flavors, fine-dining quality and fresh, scratch-made ingredients, per the release.

Menu offerings include:

• Burritos, bowls and taco with options like Spicy Tikka, Bacon Smash Burger and Mexi-Cali Shrimp
• Elote, or Mexican street corn, guacamole as well as queso and salsa dips
• Red Velvet cake with cheese cake frosting and cajeta, or Mexican caramel, drizzle
• Margaritas, sangrita and other cocktails

• 2330 Hwy 6, Sugar Land

Two months after 25 campers and two counselors died in the historic July 4 flooding at Camp Mystic, Gov. Greg Abbott signed three new laws Sept. 5 that he said will “make youth camps safer” and ensure Texas communities are better prepared for future disasters. The flood victims' families attended the Sept. 5 bill signing ceremony in Austin.

The details: Under the two-pronged camp safety package, summer camps are required to remove existing cabins from floodplains by Jan. 1.

Camps must also develop and annually update comprehensive emergency plans, set up warning systems to notify campers if something is wrong and install ladders so campers can climb on cabin roofs during floods.

Looking ahead: Two other disaster preparedness bills, as well as legislation designed to regulate Texas’ multibillion-dollar THC industry, did not pass during the recent special legislative session, which ended around 1 a.m. Sept. 4.

When asked Sept. 5 if he planned to call a third legislative overtime to continue work on those policies, Abbott told reporters to "stay tuned."