grass fire.
>> I mean, I I feel for them. I really do.
>> Oh, volunteers and regular paid. I mean,
>> no.
Mayor, I've already got
>> what?
» Oh, uh, Councilwoman Burn's gonna leave
us tonight.
>> She is the She is the queen. the goat.
>> Hey, we've seriously we're thinking
about just making you the go-to prayer
version.
>> That's right.
>> Make a motion.
>> You have a you have a short abbreviated
version and a long
» I'll now call to order this meeting of
the White House City Council for today,
August 24th, 2026. It is 6 p.m. Nichols,
will you please call the RO?
>> Yes, sir. James Wley,
>> here.
>> Zack Brisco,
>> here.
>> Bronell Burns,
>> here. John Chambers
>> here.
>> Michael Love
>> here.
>> Matt Lazar
>> here.
>> We have
>> Excellent. Thank you. Please stand if
you're able and join Councilwoman Burns
as she leads us in a word of prayer.
>> God, now we thank you for today. We
thank you for your blessings. God, we
thank you for your son, Jesus. God, we
thank you for yet another opportunity to
come back together again. God, thank you
for the opportunity to serve this great
community of White House, Texas. God, we
ask that you continue to bless and give
wisdom to the mayor, the city council
members, Leslie White, and the entire
staff that serves White House Texas.
God, we ask that you continue to help us
to listen to each other. Help us to
consider each other views. And then,
God, seek common ground. God, we ask a
special blessing over those that are
fighting the fires, those that are
serving the people, um those that are
serving the schools. God, just everyone
that's serving, but in your name, we ask
that you continue to keep us together.
God, help us to remember words like
unity and integrity as we move forward
in today's discussion. God, we thank you
and we love you. We ask that you bless
the city that we all call home. In Jesus
name we do pray. Amen.
>> Amen.
>> Please join the council in the pledge of
allegiance. I alian to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands. One nation
under God indivisible with liberty and
justice for all
>> and the Texas flag.
>> Honor the flag. I aliance to thee Texas
one state
one and indivisible.
>> That sounded amazing. Thank you. Please
be seated.
Thank you, Councilwoman, for the prayer.
>> All right, that takes us down to item D,
presentations,
of which we have none. So, we will move
to item E, matters of community
interest. Mrs. Black,
>> mayor and council, as most of you all
know, the climate vision weather radar
has been placed to top the tower on.
» I do know that they
are expecting to have that fully
operational. within the next 30 to 60
days. So, we're really excited about
that. National Night Out will be held on
Tuesday, October 6th from 5 to 7 p.m.
here at City Park. That's always a great
time with our law enforcement,
firefighters, other public safety
personnel. Everyone can join us for
that. And then, as of this past Friday,
we have met our election deadlines and
all candidates are unopposed. So, the
next council meeting, we'll be bringing
something before you cancel the November
election for the mayor position
two
and mayor. Yes, sir.
>> We can add the cost of that back to our
budget, right?
>> Yes, sir.
>> Excellent.
>> All right. Anything else on the matter
of community interest from council?
» All right. That takes us down to the
consent agenda.
Um,
shall provide for items that require
action by the council but where no
discussion is anticipated by a single
motion second majority vote. Items under
this section are approved without
further discussion or action. Any
council member may request the removal
of any item from the consent agenda in
which case these items shall be
discussed and voted upon separately.
It's only one item on the consent agenda
and that is approval of the minutes of
the city council meeting on August 7th
of 2026 and August the 10th of 2026. If
there's no findings in those meeting
minutes, I'll enter entertain a motion
to approve the consent agenda as
presented.
>> I'll make a motion to approve as
presented.
>> Second. All right. I have a motion and a
second. Any further discussion?
>> Hearing none. All those in favor say I.
>> Any oppose say no.
>> With that, the agenda is completed.
>> On to item G. Other action items,
ordinances, resolutions, and public
hearings. This is a continuence of the
public hearing on a proposed 2026 27
budget. So go ahead and enter into
uh public hearing. So the time is 604
and we will move from the regular
council meeting into the public hearing.
Is there anyone present that would like
to speak to
um the 2026 27 budget?
All right,
after a long pause, I see there's no
one. So, the time is 6:05 and I'll go
ahead and close the public hearing and
enter into the regular
council agenda.
And that takes us to item G2.
>> So there is some required G1. I don't
know if you want me to go back through
some of the budget tax rate update
before we get to proposing tax rate or
if you'd rather wait.
>> I think the more information the better.
>> So I'll run through this presentation
pretty quickly. We've covered most of it
in our two prior public meetings, but
I'll run through it pretty quickly here
tonight. Tonight we have two action
items before you. The first one is the
budget public hearing. At the conclusion
of the budget public hearing, state
statute requires that you take some sort
of action at the conclusion of tonight's
public hearing. So the action needs to
be that you will set formal action on
September 22nd at 6 p.m. here at city
hall. The second item before you tonight
is a tax rate proposal and again that
has very specific wording that you must
make your motion when we get to that
point. A look back at kind of where we
are in the budgeting process. We
presented the initial base budget in
July. We held our budget workshop on
August 7th. Took that feedback from the
council and opened the public hearing on
August 10th with a revised budget. We'll
go over what all that includes here
shortly. Tonight, we're continuing the
public hearing and proposing the tax
rate and then we will set everything for
final adoption on September 22.
Um, a little bit of note, as you all
know, we've talked about this year
significantly different than what we've
seen in at least recent property tax
setting years. our certified appraisal
role was up just.7%.
Um, typically in years past, we've seen
that number up around five or six%. Um,
but the biggest change this year was
that our net taxable value decreased,
which means our opportunity for revenue
to fund city operations also decreased.
Um, the taxable base did not keep pace
with community growth, inflation, and
service demand. The biggest reasoning
for this reduction was due to changes in
exemptions for business personal
property and then a correction of an
error that was made related to business
personal property tax and last year's
tax rate calculation. So while yes, we
all look around and we see all the
growth that's happening that's not
translating into tax revenue growth for
the city this year.
>> So that wasn't a city error.
>> No sir, it was with the appraisal
district.
Um, so as I mentioned, we came back to
you with a revised budget. This is just
an overview of what changed in the
general fund where we stand with
revenues, expenditures, and then a
forecasted margin of only 57,272,
which is very thin for a budget of about
$10 million the year. We feel like this
is the best most prudent use of funds
for the upcoming year. So that's kind of
where we stand there. Um, and then was
revised in the budget was to allow for
four additional public safety positions,
an investigator patrol officer, two
full-time firefighters, the replacement
of tasers for our police department, two
AED replacements. Those are all
external.
I don't know what the A I can't remember
what the A stands for.
>> Yes,
>> you do have to press the button.
>> Critical equipment if your heart stops
and then an increase to and storm water
repairs for both Rosebrook street
repairs of about 50,000 and then a
citywide roadway commission assessment.
Um all of those things are added in the
revised work program. Again, this will
allow for three officers on every patrol
shift for our police department and
provide a second investigator which is
critically needed as our population has
continued to grow. Um our public safety
departments have done a great job of
keeping up but we're at a critical
tipping point where we've got to have
some additional if we want to maintain
those service levels. Same for the fire
department. This would allow for three
full-time and one part-time firefighter
per shift and would allow us to need
those staffing models that are needed.
A quick look at the tax rate reference
points. The last time you we all spoke,
we were thinking that the the rate would
need to be at the divinous rate of 828.
Um after speaking with Mayor Wansley,
Miss Le and I did their financial
advisors and tax attorneys and feel like
that tonight we would recommend that you
propose a rate of 792891
which is three and a half cents below
the minimum rate and five and a half
cents below the voter approval rate. Um
we understand that this is still a
significant increase in what the current
adopted tax rate is but it it is going
to be used strictly to provide critical
public safety services and roadway
repairs. Um
so this is how we came up with that
scenario. So the M rate would be 493059
the INS rate of 299832.
One thing to note here we have to do
statutos on our 2026 tax rate
calculation sheet. What that rate showed
what that worksheet showed was that the
debt rate should be 335717.
We were looking for any opportunity to
not go up to the diminish rate of 82
cents. And so what we are asking for the
council to do is to use some fund
balance both the general fund and the
INS fund to help lower that rate.
Um we feel like that's important. We
think some of it will provide permanent
rate relief, but a portion of it will
only be for one year. We're we realized
we're asking a lot here and so we wanted
to make sure that we were doing what we
can to find the right mix, but
as we move forward.
So, what this looks like is that the
general fund would assume scheduled
payments for the 2007 bond refunding and
the 2021 fire truck obligations as they
come due. Both of those two notes are
scheduled to be paid off by the end of
next year. The general fund would assume
those payments out of the debt
calculation.
Then we would use additional funds from
the debt service fund balance to pay
interest only on the 2022 refunding and
the 2018 C. That's that one time
lowering of the rate just slightly so
that we can keep it 80 cents for the
upcoming year. We will see that again in
our tax rate calculation next year. It's
a one time thing. Jennifer, as I said,
Jennifer and I did speak to our
financial advisors. They felt like we
had healthy fund balances in both the
INS fund and the general fund to support
this recommendation.
So that again we can limit that increase
as much as possible. So we would take
that rate from 335717 to 29932.
» Any questions on that? So, if you're if
you were budgeting at home and you were
looking for a way to lower basically
your monthly payments on things, you
would look for any savings that you
might have that's beyond what you would
need for emergency. And you would say,
is there any debt that is one or two
years away from being paid off
completely? And if we put that excess
fund balance towards it, then that's
where the INS that's where the INS
pennies. So, this change in the compared
to what you saw last time doesn't
represent anything falling off the
budget. Any of those services that we
saw that were that were there. It's just
a way to pay off debt a little bit
early, which we're paying principal only
on at this point. Like the interest was paid. One of them was widening 346.
You know, that's how old some of that
debt is. Uh and just a way that we can
use fund balance uh not for something
that would be recurring again next year,
but for permanent removal of the
pennies. So, that seemed like a good use
of fun balance. We're doing a onetime
payment out of it to get rid of a
permanent tax burden.
» And again, we it's not paying it off
early. It's just paying it as it comes
to you. We didn't ask about paying it
off early, but because it's principal
only, there's no
>> Oh, right. That's right. Yeah.
>> So, we wouldn't save any on interest by
paying it off early. It's just putting
fund balance towards those payments,
which is even smarter. I mean that that
allows that money to stay in fund
balance uh and be interest bearing while
we while we make those payments. So even
better.
>> So again what this what this strategy
does it uses our available reserves to
reduce that INS levy requirement
and you are allowed to do that. So you
can go lower than what the tax rate
calculation worksheet shows to be paid.
You just cannot go above. So by lowering
it we're well within state law to do so.
Again, it does not or it does not
eliminate our future debt service
requirements. We have a 30year debt
schedule that's planned out well in
advance. One of the things that we run
into is that we plan 30 years out based
on the rules and allocations that we
have today. So, when we issue debt in
2025, we made those decisions based on
our property tax values, how they've
grown, and what the state legislature
had those numbers at then. What they've
done has changed the rules. So every
time they give one group a greater
exemption
another we either have to cut services
or another group has to make up the
difference. And so that's one of the
things that we're running into this
year.
I'm going to skip this. We covered where
we've been and where we're headed again
tonight. So this first item is to set
the date for action and adoption for the
budget for September 22nd at 6 p.m. And
then on item number We will need to
determine the tax rate to be formally
proposed and the required public hearing
and adoption also September 22.
» So the first item needs to come out of
act item G1 which is the public hearing.
That's an action public hearing.
Correct.
>> Yes sir.
>> So we are still in public hearing. Um,
is there any more discussion from
council?
Okay.
Yeah.
>> So, I'd make a motion to schedule
discussion, consideration, and possible
adoption of FY25 and 2026 27.
>> I'm sorry, 2627 annual operating budget
for the regular meeting on Tuesday,
September 22nd, 2026 at 6 p.m.
>> All right. I have a motion and a second.
Any further discussion on that item?
Hearing none. All those in favor say I.
>> I.
>> Any oppose say no.
» All right, with that the motion passes.
We are ready to exit the public hearing.
Yes.
>> Yes, sir.
>> All right, the time is 6:16. The public
hearing is over. We're now back into the
regular agenda. That brings us to item
G2. Set the proposed 2026 27 tax rate.
take a record vote and setting a public
hearing date.
» So, it's the PowerPoint you just did
basically what you're going to do on
this one.
>> Yes, sir. I don't have anything
additional to add. It's hard to cover
one without the other. So,
>> I've just got those numbers back up
here.
» We need a motion.
>> We do. If there's no further discussion,
>> I'll make the motion to propose a total
tax rate of 792891.
per evaluation for the 2026 2027 fiscal
year where 4493059
will be used for maintenance and
operations at 299832
for interest and syncing funds
and set the public hearing on the tax
rate for 6 p.m. on September 22nd, 2026
at 311 East Main Street, White House,
Texas.
>> Second.
>> All right. Motion in a second. Further
discussion
hearing? None. All those in favor say I.
>> Any opposed say no. That motion passes.
>> All right. We'll see you all then. Um
item G3. This is a long one. Public
hearing discussion consideration action
on a reasoning request from Hagen Oak
subdivision at 600 block Hagen Road
track 56 and 57. A two plus minus acre
land in the E Brown survey A87 Smith
County, Texas residential medium
density. Planned development RMPD to
residential medium density planned
development RMPD amending planned
development by constructing single
family attached units with a minimum
home size of 1600 square ft removing the
private gate the dog park age
restrictions and this is ordinance
number 26-824-1
Mr. Hooter.
» Good evening Mayor and council.
This request is to amend the existing
residential medium density plan for
approximately 2 acres and subdivision on
road. The current proposal includes
attached single family homes with the
same footprint of what's already been
approved medium home size of 1600 square
ft. The removal of the private gate dog
park and age restriction. A proposal for
this same property was presented by a
different developer and was denied by
PNC and city council in January.
However, the proposal had a different
layout and development standards. This
was presented to the planning and zoning
commission last week and PNC recommended
denial of this item. Uh the developer
has decided to appeal and is also here
to answer any questions that may come
up.
>> Okay.
Any questions for Mr. before I go to
public comments.
>> So, what was the main difference between
the one we denied back in January and
this one?
» Yes, sir. They were smaller and attached
or detached. So, they were not
» these are supposed to be 1600.
» Any more questions for Mr.
» Thank you, sir.
All right, we had several people sign
up. I'll start in the order that they
were received. The first one to speak is
Mr. Jimnip. If you come up and state
your name and address for the record,
please
I'm sorry. Let me let me proceed. We got
this is three minutes. So, public
speaking is limited to to three minutes
unless you are uh disabled and in need
of assistance uh an interpreter or any
other type of assistance. So, I'm going
to start my clock. Mr.
He probably already has it timed, but
for anybody else that's speaking, I'm
going to start the clock and uh I'm
going to raise my hand at three minutes
to let you know you've been address.
>> Yes, sir. Uh name and address for the
record, please.
>> Jim 813 Blackbird Wag here in White
House. Mayor and council, thanks for
allowing me to speak. Hey, I'm opposed
uh to the proposed amendment in item G3,
but I want to be very clear about why. I
don't live in the Sunny Meadows
neighborhood. My concern is bigger than
this particular piece of property.
Frankly, it's bigger than that one
neighborhood. When city approves a plan
development, people make decisions based
on that approval. They buy homes, they
build homes, they invest hundreds of
thousands of dollars. They choose one
neighborhood over another because they
have a reasonable expectation about
what's going to be built around them. I
believe the city has an obligation to
respect that revise. The development
contemplated here was approved with
certain characteristics as almost a
retirement community. It was gated. It
had an age restriction. It included a
dog park. These things help define the
nature of the development that people in
the surrounding area reasonably expected
would be built. The entire neighborhood
was developed after the entire
neighborhood community has been
established. Those homeowners have
already made their investment. Now we're
asking to materially change uh that
plan. That troubles me and I believe it
should trouble every one of you. I've
spoken about it here before and I
believe very strongly that this should
be prevented by ordinance. Homeowners
should not be forced to stay vigilant to
protect their investment in our city.
That's what P&Z is supposed to do and
frankly that's what you guys are
supposed to do. So these citizens, these people built and invested in our
community with the belief that this
quiet little over 50 neighborhood was
going to be built in this little nook.
And then that's not we're planning for.
I'm not against small homes. I'm not
against affordable housing. I don't
think anybody is. But they're against it
where they built because that's the
condition that they built under. And I
believe that's a contract we all have to
keep. Whether it's a legal contract or a
moral contract, I believe it's one we
all have to keep.
Thank you.
>> Thank you.
» All right. Next to speak is Thomas
Mosley. If you could come up and state
your name and address for the record,
please.
>> Yes. Do you have the pictures of the
houses that he's going to build in that
area or wants to build?
Look at that.
Now, we live around
all around the fence. Now, when they
build this, is going to be well over.
So, they're down looking down.
Now, what are y'all?
Because that is invasion of privacy.
He knows that.
But he wants to still build
This is my neck.
That tree is fully on his property. He
will not do anything with that tree. It
the line I mean the tree is growing into
the lines now. And if it pumps that
where I get my electricity, boom, run
out of electricity.
He he doesn't do anything with it. He
never cleans it up. No. And now he wants
it.
I say no.
>> Thank you, Mr. Mosley.
» Pass.
>> You're gonna pass. Okay.
>> Thank Thank you, ma'am. We'll go to the
next name.
» Uh Vicky Lancaster.
Come up and state your name for the
record.
Hi,
my name is Lancaster. I live at 802.
So, this really
>> put that microphone closer.
>> I have not.
But my problem is I spoke to the
gentleman after planning zoning
commission and said, you know, if you
want this approved,
you need to build
or a little smaller two bedrooms for
seniors.
The first thing he said to me was, "No
bank will give for a twobedroom home." I
see him build all the time for seniors.
Then I questioned him
about why did he have a problem building
for seniors? And he said, "Well, you
know, if you don't want seniors,
I can can build three bedroom homes. We
can put seniors in there. They can stay
for 72 hours. We even rent it out. So
now I'm questioning
what type of person is this that is
wanting to build next to me that says
this to me outside of me.
My next question is they are wanting to
build threebedroom homes, family homes.
I have lived on road
since 1984.
So I have seen growth.
The little bit of growth that that will
cause with families is going to be
I can I used to live on Christopher. I
can remember when I could go to the end
of Christopher
5 seconds and be on my way. You can't do
that on any road anymore at all. And now
you're going to have this family
community that close to our
neighborhood.
Where are all these people going to
park?
How is EMS going to get into something
where families live where there will end
up being cars parked in the road? If you
look at the in and out of this,
there There's no way that you're going
to be able to get fire truck in there
and get it out. You can't get a school
bus in there. The school bus will have
to, which I ran. The school bus does
stop on road. I love the bus driver. She
stops right in the middle of both lanes
and make sure all those cars stop. My
kids are safe. So, kudos to her.
But, I mean, this is just more added
congestion.
what it was originally planned for and I
gentlemen
it was on what this was originally
planned for was what we built our house
where we built it.
» Thank you ma'am.
All right. Up next is Mike Cherry. Come
on up. State your name and address for
the record.
Hello, my name is Mike Cherry. I live at
10:03 Jackie Ray White House in the
sunny edition. Uh it's good to see you
all again. We're back again.
>> Yes.
>> Uh I was here in January and I'm going
to sound like a broken record again, but
I said we start off with safety stuff
being old oil field guy. And if you go
up, excuse me, if you go up memory lane
and you take a left to go down, there is
a fence right there close to the road
and you cannot hardly I've been hit
twice turning left to go to my house.
You can't see around that fence and it
is a definite safety hazard. So you put
people right there on that corner, it's
going to be even a bigger safety hazard.
So I agree agree with her and you know I
think this uh these guys are going to
build it for rental property and if
there's no gated community or 55 old,
who knows what we're going to get in
there and it'll decrease our property
values again.
So, I guess you guys could quit seeing
us if we could get somebody to agree
what was originally designed, the
private gate and the dog park and the
age restrictions.
So, I guess we'll just keep showing up
as long as they keep bringing it up.
>> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
All right. And our final speaker is
Lauren Hayden. Come up and state your
name and address for the record, please.
» Hello. Good afternoon. My name is
Lauren. I
in the Sunny Meadows neighborhood. I
wrote something today and I also emailed
all of you guys. Um, I was in a time
crunch. I found out about this meeting
at
trying to rally our neighborhood, get
everybody here together to just voice
our opinions and our concerns. And I
know some of us did that last week. Um,
so I'm just going to kind of reiterate
what a bunch of other people said and
some as well. Um, I'm really not
bothered with removing the gate or the
dog park. What I am most worried about
is the age restriction being removed.
Um, and just like Mr. said, a lot of
uses, the biggest investment we make in
our entire lives is our home. Um, so I
know when we, me and my husband built
our home, the original land was 55 and
up, the dog park, the gate, and that was
just kind of reassuring to us. Um, I'm a
little hesitant about the transpar the
lack of transparency with this meeting.
called today. I didn't even know about
it. I guess I feel like I need to pay
more attention to the city council
agendas every month to see what's going
to pop up. Um I learned a little bit
about this process. I did not realize
when you get denied planning and zoning,
they can let come back to city council.
So note to self learned that um learning
moment for me. Um he did mention at
planning and zoning that there will be
an HOA and he will manage that. That's
all. That's great. What if you your
house and somebody else moves in or what
if it gets resed again? You know,
there's all these what ifs. We don't
know what's going to happen. Um,
and who's to say someone rental property
can't come in and buy six houses and
then rent them out to whoever they want
to rent out to. Um, I'm also concerned
about the traffic, the amount of crime.
Um, and again what Mr. Cherry said, that
intersection at memory and when you turn
left, I mean it's roll dice.
might not be really careful. Um, those
are just a few pieces of my concerns. I
hope I don't have to come back here, but
I hope you do see that we're persistent.
We welcome back voices. Um, and thank
you so much for your
>> Thank you. Thank you.
>> All right, that is everyone who signed
up to speak. Um, I understand that the
developer is here as well if council has
any questions of them. Um otherwise it's
open for conversation here.
>> How often can a developer come and
appeal?
>> So after this happened in January
brought an ordinance before you that
states that they have to wait at least
six months. If there aren't any substant
substantive
changes have a hard time talking tonight
without substantive changes they have to
wait six months. This is a different
developer than the law proposes in
January.
>> Can the same developer come back again
in six months?
>> They can.
So I was I was sitting where Miss uh
Councilwoman Burns is sitting whenever
we first approved uh this plan
development in March 24th of 2020. And I
went back and listened to the recording
of that of that meeting and we were
super excited because the the plan
development was somewhat new for the
city. Like we wanted we wanted
developers to have the opportunity to
take what was then residential low. I
think all eight people that have bought
uh that property half of you bought the
property when it was res bought your
homes when it was residential low. The
other half bought your property with
this this zoning in place where it was
going to be a retirement community. you
know, was going to be 50 or older, it
was going to be a dog park, a picnic
area, a gate, sidewalks. They talked
about sidewalks in that meeting. Um, and
definitely the age restriction. And I'd
imagine, you know, buying your property
with the idea that, hey, maybe one day
mom and dad will live back there, right?
It's the retirement community. So, it
was almost a value ad to have it, you
know, as it was zoned, which is the
purpose of of a plan development. You
take property that's residential low and
it's negotiation between the city and
the developer to try to make changes to
it but changes that still retain the
value that you would get out of a
residential low development. So that's
what was that's what was proposed and it
was it was hard to get it through
planning and zoning even with those you
know with those concessions because a
couple of things people just see that it
was being reszoned as residential medium
plan developments were new to the city
they didn't trust that the city was
going to hold a developer to the
requirements that they put in place. Um
but it got through planning and zoning
there was about a month of conversation
before it finally made it to council
while they were talking to the citizens
and mitigating those concerns. And then
it came to council and it was about a
20-minute conversation just full of
excitement, you know, that we had this
plan development that it was going to be
built this way. This was brand new to
White House, you know, for how it's
being built and the amenities is going
to bring. So, I think that that was I
mean that was a that was a hard thing to
move from residential low to residential
medium with all of those concessions in
place. And I would think as I've spoken
to tonight, we're kind of the stewards
of of the property here in White House.
When it's planned that way, when it's
negotiated that way, it's up to planning
and zoning and the city to make sure
that developers uh stick to those
negotiations that are made during that
process.
Now, if we want to start over, we're
going to go back to residential low and
then enter into a new contract where we
try to figure out what residential
medium plan development would look like.
That's great. But to me at this point to
take what was kind of hard to get
through in the first place and start
knocking stuff off of it. I feel like it
knocked some of the value off of what
was negotiated in the first place.
>> I think you hit the nail on the head
when you said that even at the time it
was hard to get through as it was
because they didn't trust that PNZ or
the council would uphold that endeavor.
I think that says a lot. You know, to me
this is nothing different than January
where we had to overrule P&Z. This time
I think P&Z got it right.
All right. Any further discussion?
See, I'll entertain a motion.
>> I'll make the motion to deny the
resoning request for residential low
density R-M to residential medium
density R-M for property located in
Hagen Oak subdivision at 600 block Hagen
Road, track 56 and 57 for their
construction.
>> Second.
>> I have a motion and a second. Any
further discussion? Hearing none. All
those in favor say I.
>> I.
>> Any opposed say no. All right. With
that, the motion carries.
That brings us down to item G4.
Discussion, consideration, and action on
awarding a bid for the Austin Bank
elevated storage tank rehabilitation
project. Mr. Anderson
here to talk about the rehabilitation
elements.
This is something that we need to
with the TCDQ
and we've been working closely with
cost as much as we can to
make it as effective as we can and now
that we're done with the final design.
We've already done the bids and bids
came back ranging from $259,90
to $647,950.
The engineer's opinion of probable
construction cost was approximately
$578,000.
The lowest bidder that came in had to
withdraw due to lack of electrical
certification requirements as was put in
the attachment that I attached to
report. So the next lowest bid was for
code in
it at $38,700
which
bid it was $189,300
below the
That's
» we're seeing that more and more council
right now that projects are coming in
slightly or significantly under OBCC.
I think with the way the construction
market has changed since 2020 numbers
are kind of all over the place and you
never know which trade is going to be
where. So we saw that a little bit. Um
some things on for sale. I think it was
a little bit under the OPCC as well. We
told the OPCC a little bit high and that
are a little bit lower than try and
figure it out after the fact. So this is
good news. I will say council Lazarine
asked me earlier today could we apply
those savings to another project and the
short answer is no. We were already
going to be using some fund balance for
some projects that were coming out of
the ACOS. It would just reduce the
amount of fund balance that we would
need to use to get these projects across
the finish line.
>> So when you say during this process you
were trying to find ways to cut cost.
Did that pay play a lot into this being
$189,000 cheaper or less expensive? No,
it's basically it'll be based on
alternates like say with the ladder on
the tank and they knew there was some
damage but
» so we had to bid those items separately.
It's not an automatic contractor gets
it. It's one of those things that the
process keep
» but if we put it in the basement
>> it's going to get done and it's going to
get spent and that's not always the best
>> question. This is inside and outside
paint.
>> Yes sir.
>> Um will the logo on the exterior of the
tank still is all included in this?
>> Yes sir. There be four logos
>> and a better lighting.
>> Yes sir. Any
more questions from council? You got a
price that came in below below estimate.
This one's easier than what it usually
is.
>> One more question. How long has it been
since the interior painted? I wonder
when the hanger was built
» and according to the
last hopefully.
» Any any other questions?
>> All right. Thank you, sir.
>> All right. Any discussion from council?
There's none. I'll entertain a motion.
>> I'd like to make a motion to award the
contract for the Austin Bank elevated
storage tank rehabilitation project to
Tanks Co. incorporated in the amount of
$388,700
and to authorize the city manager to
execute the necessary contract
documents.
>> Second.
>> All right, we have a motion and a
second. Any further discussion?
Hearing none. All those in favor say I.
>> I.
>> Any opposed say no.
>> With that, the motion carries.
Thank you for your work on that, TJ.
All right. Item number five, discussion,
consideration, and action on the request
for qualifications municipal complex.
This one doesn't have money, just has
skills, right? They are.
>> Well, you can't base it on money. You
can't basically pick on money. There is
money involved.
>> We just don't know yet.
>> There always is.
>> Mayor Council, we received 10
submitts for the request for
qualifications complex. All from highly
qualified architecture firms. Just as a
reminder, this project would include
We have slated some funding for the
renovation and expansion of city hall to
include a new council chamber courtroom
um a new fire station and some
improvements to city park. So that was
all included in the scope. We did
receive again 10 subs for that. Staff
reviewed the subs and is recommending
that we move forward with Fitzpatrick's
architects for the project. As you all
know Fitzpatrick did the preliminary
planning for that. One of the biggest
factors that we were looking internally
was not only qualifications, experience
and how well they work together as a
team, but also we wanted someone in the
local area this time. We felt like that
would serve us better.
So again,
» I worked with them a ton of class
>> and they're the ones that found a way
for the fire station to go over there to
take what was going to be unused space
out of the middle of the the renovations
here. So
>> I think they're already They're already
kind of showing their value now. Did I
hear that right? It's gonna be
everything. It's just all of it, right?
So, is that going to be done
mobilization wise? Are those projects
going to be done?
>> So, we are working with half on phasing
and when we get Fitzpatrick SEC procured
as our architect, we will work together
on what that phasing will look like. The
scope of services for architecture will
cover all of those projects the intent.
>> So, I know it's a game of cups and balls
like where we're going to wind up
putting while things are getting done.
So everything's getting built at
>> order that'll be in but we like having
one architect team for all of those
projects even if they're not all done
>> simultaneously was important for the two
>> every year it gets more expensive. I
mean if we can build if we can get them
built tomorrow that'd be great all of
them.
>> But you're hoping to have them all done
at one time right you enjoy the city
center that much.
>> I really um anything we can do to
shorten that process that really painful
construction process I'm all for.
Well, the cool part with them doing all
three projects, the the
everything should be using the same
stone
idea and thought process.
>> Yeah. Mobilization, delivery, like all
those things that you can say matter.
All those things.
>> Yeah, the stone changes. If you got a
different query, it's a different color.
Yeah, it's weird.
>> All the things you'd never think you
have to think of. Um, so
any discussion from council on this
recommendation? Hearing
no discussion, I'll entertain a motion.
>> I'll make a motion to move to authorize
city to negotiate and execute a
professional service agreement with
architect
complex.
>> Second.
>> All right, I have a motion and a second.
Any further discussion?
Hearing none. All those in favor say I.
>> Any opposed say no. With
>> that motion carries. On to item G6,
consider future agenda items. Oh my
gosh,
we have a shaping up to be a very full
evening on September 22nd. As you all
know, budget and tax rate items will be
back before you. Some of these other
things will be consent items like
cancellation of election. We have a
proclamation for national night out
current year budget amendments. Jennifer
was laughing the other day. We were
working in three budget years all at the
same time. And so we've got some work to
do to clean up the current fiscal year
budget amendments, water, waste water,
and garbage rates that are approved in
your budget for the year. And then also
we will be holding a public hearing for
a substandard structure on Blackird.
So that will be on September 22nd. This
is moving through
>> a substandard structure that
>> this is to move through the legal
process
a structure up to code or to get it
removed if it cannot be brought up to
code
>> and at this point it's well below
standard. So substandard is kind of
yeah,
right
for release from ETJ.
>> Oh yes, we do have someone that is
requested to be released from the
>> hurts my feelings.
» Yeah, the proclamation. Um, so
yeah, this proclamation for National
Night Out, it'll be after National Night
Out. When are we holding our
>> September 22nd is our
one month? Okay, good. Yeah. So, we'll
get it ahead of that and I'll read it
again that night. Um, the of National
Night Out. Okay.
>> Are we going to take a uh car apart,
Chief? Take the top off
>> for safety reasons probably. Oh, the
jaws of life. Yeah,
>> man. It's not the It's not the early
2000s.
>> Wave pressure.
» They used to disassemble couches. Like
they get an old couch and, you know,
jerk that thing apart, but yeah.
>> Oh, well, maybe one year.
>> There we go. All right. Anything else to
add to this list? We're almost out of
room. There's only like two more items
you can add on there. We reduce our
font. Um, anything else to add?
All right. Hearing none. That takes us
down to item H, administrative reports.
Going to receive the reports from staff
for July.
>> The part where we test our Wi-Fi.
» Okay. Push through on that.
» This is our smart sheet.
» Here we go. The property tax, sales tax.
Um,
>> still up slightly, which is good.
>> Yeah.
>> Are we seeing a hit in our water? I
mean, this report's a month behind, but
we're just now getting like some really
dry, crispy grass out there. So,
>> I'm hoping we'll have August building
will go out here.
As always, this last
>> two or three months to lag behind a
little bit.
>> Part of the budgeting thing. You always
hope we sell enough water to pay for it.
» The sewer is always consistent. Oh,
sorry.
>> So, so that's why you see that
>> it's a little ste
» fees have definitely improved the last
couple of years.
>> They have. I was talking to Tom today.
They are
makes a difference.
>> Well, actually look at 2025 looked like
we were getting more than the green line
showing
>> up now. I think 2025 was it cooler? Is
that why we sold
>> I think we had an
onboard based on
>> so when it's hot the kilowatt hours.
>> Yeah. We also had a we had a service
come in and identify additional
franchise fees that might be exposed if
we get any
>> big fines off of that.
>> Um we did have some fines. I don't know
they how significant they were but I
think we're closing in on the end of
that agreement with them. I think we'll
hit our third year in the spring.
>> And they were commission based basically
so we didn't lose any money if they
didn't find
Excellent.
» Yeah, it's good to know what you got.
>> Okay,
see permitting
residential permits. Man, 22 was a year,
wasn't it? Look at that.
» I know, right?
Okay, looks good.
» So, if you can pass on to the the young
lady that does our code enforcement,
she's doing very good.
» Very responsive.
>> Yes. And her job is seldomly easy. I'd
imagine it's not always good news she's
delivering there.
>> Well, it seems like she has the right
demeanor for it, too. It's not about
just writing tickets and finding about
correcting the problem. I appreciate
that.
>> She does a great job of getting
compiance, not so much, you know,
>> not enforcement.
>> It's nice to have somebody without a gun
on their head going up and telling their
grass is too.
>> Where possibly would the next future
neighborhoods go in town? Any ideas
about where they're headed?
>> We have Park Meadows that's under
construction. Um,
that's the big one right now. I haven't
heard any others. 346 East.
We got plenty of property.
>> Yeah, there's a lot of development.
>> Yeah. Going in down there.
>> Um Chief, there any uh any issues with
people adhering to the burn ban that you
know of?
had any complaints any
» the grass fire is just unbelievable and
it across the county potential is too
high.
>> Yeah.
>> Sorry, the chiefs were sitting together.
I didn't realize I said chief over there
and they both both perked up. I mean can a can a pasture spontaneous combust
just for heat
>> without extremely extremely low
>> electricity
squirrel run through the grass.
» All right.
Service orders looking good.
garage sale. Nobody wants
» I'll just keep my stuff.
Let's see. Crime by type.
Those those graphs always look tall and
you realize it's like two.
>> Yeah, it's not there's not a times 10
anywhere. Just
>> chief Robson just stand on top of crime
and
>> three police on duty on a shift. That
could that could decrease sometimes of
course sickness, illness, whatever. But
that's what we're shooting at in
You just have to factor in training time
FMLA. You have to factor in if one guy
goes to jail, he could be there for two
or three hours.
>> Take someone.
>> It's a lot easier to work down from
three to two than it is to
>> then if you go to a domestic then the
countyy's either going to back you up or
another city.
people still speaking through our town.
» We've had a change in the schedule for
the school this year with the high
school, you know, starting later.
>> It's been a noticeable amount of traffic
decreased. Uh I think not just I mean on
Acap of course because that's where the
drop off is, but it seems like
>> talking about the morning.
>> Yes.
>> Yeah. They they start late. You can
actually get down Acertap at 7:30 in the
morning. Afternoon's a little different
now because you weren't used to that
traffic in the afternoon,
>> right?
>> And it is great to see our police making
the rounds during school after school
time for the children and there's no
tolerance I hope for speeders.
>> Yeah, we don't want anybody hurt.
>> That was a big gamble from the school.
You know, they had to it got a lot of
push back on those on those staggered
start times, but it helped the bus
routes. It helped the traffic appreciate
that. our largest employer.
>> Well, the chief police chief may cringe
when I say this, but because the traffic
has spread out more, it does give them a
better opportunity to make traffic stops
because there's a way to safely do it
now.
enforcement.
» They could they could sit out in front
of hallway school at when the high
school lets out and they could swap
lives with how many people they could
probably get. You know,
sales tax
measure as your population grows.
>> Yeah. The sales tax.
» Yeah. If it would diminish, then that
would insinuate that the retail economy
is not evolving with it, right? So
that's Yeah, that's a great thing to
look at there. Appreciate that.
Y'all had a good workshop in EDC last
time.
» Wow,
they're in the lead.
All right, zooming on through some of
these
city center.
>> The city center is doing good.
>> Yeah, that graph is going in the right
direction.
>> Co-working day passes.
>> Every time I go back there's
>> Yeah, I never know what's going on
there. There's some event or something.
I think it's great.
that the custodians of the city city
center very
» that's great
» maybe a blood drive coming up maybe
>> okay
done it before I'll do it again
all right any questions on the KPIs that
we saw Any question comments from
council?
We also had an income statement as a
part of our agenda packet. Uh if there's
any questions on that, we can take this
at this time.
» All right. Hearing none, there's no
action on this item. So we're going to
move to item I, executive session, which
we have none. So we're not going to J
reconvene. That leads us to K adjourn.
There's nothing else for this meeting.
No old business or what have you. I'll
entertain a motion to adjurnn. I'll make
a motion council and mayor that we
adjourn for the evening and everybody be
cool and safe.
>> Second.
>> All right. I have a motion and a second.
Any further discussion?
Hearing none. All those in favor say I.
>> I.
>> Any oppose can stay here. The time is
656.
We are done.