More than $2 million in spending, including a $1.6 million tennis component at the Biloxi Sports Complex, and a measure designed to streamline the variance process for rebuilding homes are on the agenda for the Biloxi City Council on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.
Also on the agenda for the council’s last scheduled meeting of 2006: a measure to update “Vision 2020,” the city’s comprehensive plan, since many aspects of the plan became obsolete after Hurricane Katrina and do not take into account post-storm recommendations from gubernatorial and city-sponsored re-building initiatives.
(To see a link to the current plan, in the Community Development Department area of the city web site, click here.)
The council will have the initial reading of a proposed ordinance that would reduce the variance process for those wishing to rebuild storm-destroyed, non-conforming homes — now from six to eight weeks — to between 20 and 30 days. Councilmembers are expected to vote on the issue at its second reading, likely on Jan. 2.
Other highlights of the agenda, which contains more than two dozen measures:
–A proposal by Mayor A.J. Holloway that the city update its comprehensive plan to reflect the city’s changing landscape as a result of Hurricane Katrina, and to acknowledge recommendations from the Governor’s Commission on Rebuilding, Recovery and Renewal and the city’s Reviving the Renaissance initiative.
–Proposals to construct a $1.17 million tennis facility and a $540,000 tennis clubhouse at the sports complex off Richard Drive, near Biloxi High School.
— Proposals for $259,000 to cover purchase and maintenance of a new phone system for the Lopez-Quave Public Safety Center and City Hall; $40,000 for video and radar equipment for police cruisers; and $30,000 for the city’s basketball and soccer leagues.
To see the entire agenda and available resolutions, click here.
News and notes
Webcasting: Hear about hte progress on Caillavet Street and other issues du jour in this week’s City Desk webcast, which was recorded by host Gary Michiels. To listen, click here.
Hello, Santa: More than 300 children received phone calls from Santa or one of his elves this week as part of the Parks and Recreation Department’s North Pole Calling project.
Christmas orders: To take advantage of the five-day delivery timeframe, now is the time for Christmas shoppers to order the discounted Katrina & Biloxi photo album and DVD package. For details, click here.
