Editing Bellaire, Texas (section)

== Government and infrastructure ==

=== Local government ===
[[File:Bellaire City Hall new.jpg|thumb|Bellaire City Hall]]

Bellaire currently has a [[city manager]] style of government. The home-rule government was established on April 2, 1949, replacing the general law form of government. The city council is made up of the mayor and six city council members. All are elected at large. The mayor is elected for two-year terms, while each city council member is elected for four-year terms. The mayor may not serve for more than four terms in that position. A city council member may have no more than two terms.<ref name="Mayorandcouncil">[http://www.ci.bellaire.tx.us/index.asp?NID=4 Mayor and Council] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513074756/http://www.ci.bellaire.tx.us/index.asp?NID=4 |date=May 13, 2008 }}. ''City of Bellaire''. Retrieved June 17, 2008.</ref> Bellaire has zoning ordinances that dictate types of structures and uses throughout sections of the city.<ref name="ZoningMap">[http://www.ci.bellaire.tx.us/documents/Community%20Development/Official%20Zoning%20District%20Map.pdf Zoning District Map] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227014345/http://www.ci.bellaire.tx.us/documents/Community%20Development/Official%20Zoning%20District%20Map.pdf |date=February 27, 2009 }}. ''City of Bellaire''. Retrieved on November 16, 2008.</ref> As of 2015, the mayor is Andrew Friedberg. The six council members are, in order of position, Neil Verma (1), Trisha Pollard (2), Gus Pappas (3), Pat McLaughlan (4), Michael Fife (5), and David Montague (6).<ref>["http://tx-bellaire.civicplus.com/Directory.aspx?did=82]. "City of Bellaire". Retrieved on May 1, 2015.</ref> City hall is located on blocks 31 and 32 of the original Bellaire town site.<ref>Harris County Block Book Map Volume 7, Bellaire Townsite Index Map on Volume 7 Page 35 ([http://books.tax.hctx.net/BlockBooksPDF/v007/001564.pdf PDF] and [http://books.tax.hctx.net/v007/001564.JPG JPG]). Marked as "Bellaire". Corresponds with [https://www.bellairetx.gov/ the address of city hall]: "City Hall 7008 S Rice Avenue Bellaire, TX 77401"</ref>

[[File:BellaireNewFireStation.jpg|thumb|left|City of Bellaire Fire Station]]

The Bellaire Fire Department is housed at 5101 Jessamine Street.<ref>[http://ci.bellaire.tx.us/index.asp?NID=20 Fire Department] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516003922/http://ci.bellaire.tx.us/index.asp?NID=20 |date=May 16, 2008 }}. ''City of Bellaire''. Retrieved on November 15, 2008.</ref> The fire station includes two fire engines (a main engine and a volunteer/backup engine), two medic units (a main medic unit and a backup unit), an on shift commander vehicle, a vehicle for each the chief and assistant chief, a cascade unit, and a hazardous materials trailer.<ref>[http://ci.bellaire.tx.us/index.asp?nid=154 Bellaire Fire Department Engines] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070806224550/http://ci.bellaire.tx.us/index.asp?nid=154 |date=August 6, 2007 }}. ''City of Bellaire''. Retrieved on November 18, 2008.</ref><ref>[http://ci.bellaire.tx.us/index.asp?NID=153 Medic 81] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070806224744/http://ci.bellaire.tx.us/index.asp?NID=153 |date=August 6, 2007 }}. ''City of Bellaire''. Retrieved on November 18, 2008.</ref> The fire department operates the Citizens Fire Academy, a fire and life safety program for Bellaire citizens held on Wednesdays and Saturdays.<ref>[http://ci.bellaire.tx.us/index.asp?nid=236 Citizens Fire Academy] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070806225355/http://ci.bellaire.tx.us/index.asp?nid=236 |date=August 6, 2007 }}. ''City of Bellaire''. Retrieved on November 18, 2008.</ref> The old fire station was demolished on December 4, 2009, with demolition continuing on Monday December 7, 2009, and operations are temporarily relocated at the [[Chevron Corporation|Chevron]] building. A new fire station was scheduled to be built in the location of the previous fire station. The groundbreaking for the new station was held on December 17, 2009.<ref>"[https://archive.today/20120722222914/http://www.ci.bellaire.tx.us/index.aspx?NID=529&ART=1847&admin=1 Fire Station]." City of Bellaire. Retrieved on January 7, 2010.</ref>

The Bellaire Police Department is housed at 5110 Jessamine Street.<ref>[http://www.bellairepolice.com/ Home Page]. ''Bellaire Police Department''. Retrieved on November 15, 2008.</ref> As of 2008 the Chief of Police is Byron Holloway.<ref>[http://ci.bellaire.tx.us/Directory.aspx?did=73 Staff Directory]. ''Bellaire Police Department''. Retrieved on March 16, 2013.</ref> The police department's patrol division, the organization's largest division, includes patrol, detention, motorcycle, and bicycle units.<ref>[http://ci.bellaire.tx.us/index.aspx?nid=797 Patrol Division]. ''Bellaire Police Department''. Retrieved on March 16, 2013.</ref> The support services division includes court, records, and communications divisions.<ref>[http://www.bellairepolice.com/support/index.htm Support Services Division] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929004538/http://www.bellairepolice.com/support/index.htm |date=September 29, 2008 }}. ''Bellaire Police Department''. Retrieved on November 18, 2008.</ref> The police department offers the "House Watch Program," where interested residents allow police to check their houses while they are away on vacation.<ref>[http://www.bellairepolice.com/housewatch/index.htm House Watch Program] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080927061624/http://www.bellairepolice.com/housewatch/index.htm |date=September 27, 2008 }}. ''Bellaire Police Department''. Retrieved on November 18, 2008.</ref> Voters approved the creation of a new [[emergency medical services]] unit in a 2019 election.<ref>{{cite web|author=Maness, Tracy|url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bellaire/news/article/Bellaire-City-Council-Nov-4-Brief-14812003.php|title=Bellaire City Council OKs funding for new EMS unit|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=November 6, 2019|access-date=November 9, 2019}}</ref>

==== Local politics ====
Zoning and land use controversies, common throughout Bellaire's history, resulted in the 1977 recall of the mayor and three council members.<ref name="Handbook"/> The City of Bellaire voted against banning smoking in bars and restaurants on Monday January 15, 2007. Mayor Cindy Siegel and Pat McLaughlan, one council member, voted for the ban, while the other five members, including Peggy Faulk, voted against the ban. The National Restaurant Association asked Bellaire to consider adopting a smoking ban to put it in sync with the [[City of Houston]], which adopted a similar ordinance in 2005.<ref>White, Tara. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110522043559/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2007_4267230 Bellaire council votes against smoking ban / Restaurant group sought to unify no-smoking law with Houston's]. ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. Thursday January 18, 2007. ThisWeek 1. Retrieved on August 4, 2009.</ref> In December 2009 the city voted to ban [[texting while driving]].<ref>Mark, Steve. "[https://archive.today/20120904062720/http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2009/12/15/bellaire_examiner/news/be_texting_ban.txt Bellaire and West U both ban texting while driving]." ''[[Bellaire Examiner]]''. December 9, 2009. Retrieved on January 25, 2010.</ref> Bans of texting while driving were passed in Bellaire and [[West University Place, Texas]] within hours of one another.<ref>Connelly, Richard. "[http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2009/12/texting_driving_bellaire.php OMG 4 Rlz, No Texting While Driving In Bellaire Or West U] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319231958/http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2009/12/texting_driving_bellaire.php |date=March 19, 2012 }}." ''[[Houston Press]]''. Tuesday December 15, 2009. Retrieved on January 25, 2010.</ref> In 2010 the city voted 5–2 to ban the feeding of cats on public property and establish a rule requiring the permission of the owner of a piece of private property in order to feed cats on private property. The city received negative e-mail feedback from various locations, including [[Switzerland]].<ref>Foster, Robin. "[http://www.ultimatebellaire.com/stories/221375-bellaire-ok-s-restrictions-on-feeding-feral-cats Battle over Bellaire's feral cats may not be over] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123012454/http://www.ultimatebellaire.com/stories/221375-bellaire-ok-s-restrictions-on-feeding-feral-cats |date=November 23, 2010 }}." Ultimate Bellaire. November 18, 2010. Retrieved on November 19, 2010.</ref>

In 2011, Phil Nauert was elected as the new mayor of Bellaire.<ref>"[http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Pasadena-Lamar-OK-bond-issues-2259485.php Pasadena, Lamar OK bond issues]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. Tuesday November 8, 2011. Retrieved on November 11, 2011.</ref>  In 2014, long-time City Manager Bernie Satterwhite retired and was replaced by Paul Hofmann.<ref>{{cite web|author=Quick, Mark A.|url=http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bellaire/news/article/Bellaire-city-manager-pick-to-start-in-February-5162881.php|title=Bellaire city manager pick to start in February|publisher=[[Bellaire Examiner]] at the [[Houston Chronicle]]|date=January 21, 2014|access-date=May 1, 2014}}</ref>

In 2011, [[Bellaire High School (Texas)|Bellaire High School]] principal Tim Salem attempted to remove the Bellaire city government's operating license of a food cart vendor who was popular with students.<ref>{{cite news|author=Evans, Caroline|url=http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/bellaire/news/location-location-bellaire-hs-students-love-food-cart-but-principal/article_954fca82-95cf-5ff2-a0c0-df0f9bc3e05a.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923110641/http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/bellaire/news/location-location-bellaire-hs-students-love-food-cart-but-principal/article_954fca82-95cf-5ff2-a0c0-df0f9bc3e05a.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 23, 2016|title=Location, location: Bellaire HS students love food cart, but principal wants it banned|newspaper=[[Bellaire Examiner]]|date=December 6, 2011<!--Tuesday-->|access-date=September 23, 2016}}</ref>

=== County, state, and federal government ===
Bellaire is within Harris County Precinct 3. As of 2008, Steve Radack serves as the commissioner of that precinct.<ref>[http://www.pct3.com Precinct Maps : Precinct 3]. ''[[Harris County, Texas]]''. Retrieved on November 15, 2008.</ref> It is in Constable Precinct One. As of 2008 Jack Abercia heads the constable precinct.<ref>[http://www.hctx.net/constable/ Precincts on the Web!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120602174621/http://www.hctx.net/constable/ |date=June 2, 2012 }}. ''Harris County''. Retrieved on January 1, 2008.</ref>

[[Harris Health System]] (formerly Harris County Hospital District) operates the nearest public health clinic, Valbona Health Center (formerly People's Health Center) in [[Greater Sharpstown]], and the nearest public hospital is [[Ben Taub General Hospital]] in the [[Texas Medical Center]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tmc.edu/hchd/LOCATE.HTM|title=Clinic/Emergency/Registration Center Directory By ZIP Code|publisher=[[Harris County Hospital District]]|date=November 19, 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011119141023/http://www.tmc.edu/hchd/LOCATE.HTM|access-date=April 8, 2021|archive-date=November 19, 2001}} - See ZIP code 77401. [https://www.harrishealth.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/community-assessment/pregnancy-birth-data/2012/infant-mortality-rate-2012.pdf See this map for relevant ZIP code]: 77401.</ref>

Bellaire is located in District 134 of the [[Texas House of Representatives]]. As of 2011, Sarah Davis represents the district.<ref>[http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/pdf/districts/134.pdf House District 134] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080602160403/http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/pdf/districts/134.pdf |date=June 2, 2008 }}. ''Texas House of Representatives''. Accessed October 11, 2008.</ref> Bellaire is within [[Texas Senate, District 17|District 17]] of the [[Texas Senate]].<ref>[http://www.senate.state.tx.us/Icons/Dist_Maps/Dist17_Map.pdf Senate District 17] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219040031/http://www.senate.state.tx.us/Icons/Dist_Maps/Dist17_Map.pdf |date=December 19, 2008 }} Map. ''[[Senate of Texas]]''. Retrieved September 28, 2008.</ref>

Bellaire is in [[Texas's 7th congressional district]]; as of 2018, [[Lizzie Fletcher]] is the representative.<ref>[http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/tx07_109.gif Congressional District 7] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060417175329/http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/TX07_109.gif |date=April 17, 2006 }}. ''[[National Atlas of the United States]]''. Retrieved on November 21, 2008.</ref> The designated [[United States Postal Service]] office is the Bellaire Post Office along [[Bellaire Boulevard]] in Bellaire.<ref>[http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/23475?p=1&s=TX&service_name=post_office&z=Bellaire Post Office Location - Bellaire] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216143302/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/23475?p=1&s=TX&service_name=post_office&z=Bellaire |date=December 16, 2008 }}. ''[[United States Postal Service]]''. Retrieved on November 22, 2008.</ref> Bellaire first received a post office in 1911.<ref name="Handbook"/>