RENEW HOUSTON PETITION DRIVE HITS MARK, NEXT STEP NOVEMBER ELECTION
Houstonians Show Support for Rebuilding City’s Crumbling Streets and Drainage System

Houston, TX – The ReNew Houston Campaign is pleased to announce it has gathered approximately 35,000 petition signatures from registered Houston voters which call for a city-wide charter amendment election to establish a dedicated pay-as-you-go funding source to renew Houston’s streets and drainage. The signatures were delivered to City Secretary Anna Russell at the City Hall Annex on Thursday afternoon.

“Getting on the ballot is only the first step,” said Council Member Stephen Costello, Chair of the Flooding and Drainage Committee. “Houstonians must now vote yes to this responsible solution to pay for fixing our crumbling streets and drainage system. The flooding events during the past few days are a timely reminder of how quickly our homes and property can become seriously threatened by high water, and why we can’t wait decades to solve our drainage and street problems.”

More than 60 percent of the City’s street and drainage system is past its useful life. These facilities continue to deteriorate and lessen the value of Houston’s neighborhoods. The Dedicated Drainage and Street Renewal Fund created by the charter amendment will provide a predictable source of funds that will allow city leaders to establish priorities and schedule projects to provide predictable improvements for city residents and businesses, thereby enhancing the quality of life throughout the city.

Funding for the Dedicated Drainage and Street Renewal Fund would come from development impact fees, a new drainage fee, conversion of current street and drainage bond expenditures to a pay-as-you-go system, and the use of third party revenues that are committed to drainage, streets and mobility improvement project purposes.

Once the petitions are validated by the City Secretary, City Council must approve placement of the ReNew Houston charter amendment on the November 2, 2010 ballot for consideration by Houston voters.