Allen City Council met on Tuesday, January 11. View the full agenda or watch a replay of the meeting.
Allen Gateway development is moving forward, with technical tweaks
Katy Trail Ice House, Plush Suites and North American Properties are among the developers currently committed to the 75-acre Allen Gateway, a mixed-use development coming to the south side SH 121 at Exchange Parkway.
Allen City Council approved several technical changes to the project, including the addition of a digital sign along SH-121 and a ranch-style entry gate for Katy Trail Ice House, which owners hope to open in 2023. Other minor modifications included adjusting the timeline to develop the site’s urban residential units in five phases instead of four. The amended development regulations were approved unanimously.
Streets, alleys to be assessed Citywide
A laser-equipped van will travel more than 660 miles of Allen streets and alleys to evaluate road conditions and help prioritize future repairs. The process is part of a citywide pavement assessment approved by Allen City Council during the Jan. 11 meeting. Federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act will cover the $205,022 price tag. The data will help City engineers prioritize upcoming projects and forecast future needs for roadway pavement, which is Allen’s most expensive asset.
New playground coming to Greenville Heights Park
The 16-year-old playground equipment at Greenville Heights Park will soon be getting an upgrade. The $205,798 project will replace noticeably deteriorating equipment at the park located at 1310 Shelborn Drive. Three colorful play structures, complete with slides and climbing features, will be installed in their place. Work is expected to kick off in late spring and will take approximately one month to complete.
Maintenance, upkeep projects approved
Councilmembers also authorized the City Manager to move forward with contracts for city facility HVAC maintenance and repair in the amount of $450,000. In addition, the City will purchase a data backup and disaster recovery platform for its data center for $159,273. These types of ongoing maintenance projects help prolong the life of City assets and protect against costly equipment failures.
Allen Fire Chief honored
Chief Jonathan Boyd was honored during the Jan. 11 meeting for receiving the Mayor’s Distinguished Service Award. Mayor Fulk thanked Chief Boyd for his essential role in successfully setting up the Allen Fire Department’s vaccination hub along with his decades of service and involvement with the Allen community. Mayor Fulk intended to present the award at the Board Appreciation Dinner last month; however, in true first-responder fashion, Chief Boyd was called to duty right before being recognized. Chief Boyd was joined by his wife, Amanda, to receive the honor.
Councilmembers tour Emergency Communications Center
The Emergency Communications Center is at the heart of the City of Allen’s public safety, and Councilmembers had the opportunity to tour the center before the meeting during the City Council Workshop. Police Chief Brian Harvey and Emergency Communications Manager Shellie Taylor provided an overview of dispatch operations, highlighting the importance of the technology used for dispatchers to receive 911 emergency calls. In 2021, dispatchers received or made more than 125,690 calls!
Follow council news and future meetings
Allen City Council meets at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month. Meetings are held in Council Chambers at Allen City Hall (305 Century Parkway). A calendar of upcoming meetings is available on the City website. To receive a link to upcoming meetings by email, visit CityofAllen.org/NotifyMe and sign up for City Meeting Notices. Meeting agendas are posted at least 72 hours prior to each meeting. Agenda links are provided within the meeting details of each calendar listing and at CityofAllen.org/Agendas.