Subject: Ordinance relating to the use of a portion of the Crawford Street right-of-way for valet parking purposes; amending Ordinance No. 2014-318; approving the First Amendment to a License Agreement between the City of Houston and Houston Convention Center Hotel, LLC
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve an ordinance relating to the use of a portion of the Crawford Street right-of-way for valet parking purposes; amending Ordinance No. 2014-318; approving the First Amendment to a License Agreement between the City of Houston and Houston Convention Center Hotel, LLC
SPECIFIC EXPLANATION:
On December 12, 2012, City Council approved Ordinance No. 2012-1049, relating to the development of a new convention center hotel to be located on Walker Street within 1,000 feet of the George R. Brown Convention Center (the “Hotel”). As part of the approving ordinance, City Council established the Convention Center Hotel Economic Development Program pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 380 of the Texas Local Government Code to provide economic incentives for development of the Hotel. The Hotel is scheduled to open in late 2016, in advance of the 2017 Super Bowl.
On April 16, 2014, by Ordinance No. 2014-318 (the “Valet License Ordinance”), City Council approved and authorized the grant of a license to Houston Convention Center Hotel LLC (“HCCH”) to use a portion of the right-of-way of Crawford Street abutting Blocks 99 and 121, S.S.B.B. (the “License”) to operate valet lanes for the Hotel. Because the License contained specific terms and conditions related to the operation of the valet lanes for the Hotel, City Council waived the requirements of Article VII of Chapter 26 of the City of Houston Code of Ordinances relating to valet parking service permits and designation of valet zones and the requirements of Article VII of Chapter 40 of the City of Houston Code of Ordinances relating to encroachment permits. Pursuant to the Convention Center Hotel Economic Development Program, City Council granted to HCCH the value of certain fees that HCCH would have otherwise been revised to pay under Article VII of Chapter 26 of the City of Houston Code of Ordinances and Article VII of Chapter 40 of the City of Houston Code of Ordinances as consideration for the development of the Hotel.
After the passage of the Valet License Ordinance, HCCH agreed to pay the fees relating to valet zone designation (consisting of a valet signage fee and an annual valet zone operation fee) in the amounts established in the City’s fee schedule, which necessitates an amendment to the Valet License Ordinance and the License.
The Administration recommends that City Council approve this ordinance amending the Valet License Ordinance and the License to require HCCH to pay these fees relating to valet zone designation.