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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

North Richland Hills City Council Work Session and Regular Meeting - November 11, 2024

City Council & Boards — Monday, November 11, 2024

BodyNorth Richland Hills, Texas

SessionCity Council & Boards

DateMonday, November 11, 2024

StatusFILED

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Transcript — Verbatim

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.

Unassigned speaker

0:26

Am

Speaker 1

0:26

I in the right place?

0:27

Yes.

Speaker 2

0:34

Right.

Unassigned speaker

0:35

Yeah.

Speaker 1

0:36

Good evening and welcome to Northern Hudson Hills City Council work session.

0:39

It is 5:30, and I'd like to call the Monday, November 11th, 2024 City Council work session to order.

0:45

A quorum of the City Council is present, and the meeting has been duly posted in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act of the Texas Government Code.

0:52

Items listed for discussion on the work session agenda provide an opportunity for the city council to discuss the items and receive information from the staff.

0:59

The city council will not take action on any of the items listed during the for discussion during the work session.

1:06

Any members of the public wishing to address the council regarding these items on the work session agenda may do so during the public comments portion of the regular meeting.

1:14

The first item is

Unassigned speaker

1:16

for

Speaker 1

1:16

the city for to give the council the opportunity to ask any questions on the items of the regular agenda that the council has not had clarification on at this time.

1:25

Does anybody have any questions?

1:29

Nope.

1:32

Okay.

1:33

Move on to number two, um, which is a charter review process plan for November 4, 2024, 25, excuse me.

1:42

Um Paulette.

Speaker 3

1:44

Thank you, Mayor.

1:45

Uh several council members have mentioned to me that the possibility of having an another charter uh elect charter amendment election.

1:53

The soonest that the city could do that would be in November of 25.

1:57

There's you have to wait two years in between at least in between charter elections.

2:02

Um so I just wanted to describe and ask to sort of describe what the process would would be.

2:07

Um, because if if you all want to call an election in November of 25, it would have to be called um by August.

2:14

It's usually around the 19th is the deadline uh for calling the November election.

2:19

So the work on the charter review would need to would need to start as soon as possible after the first of the year, so you could make sure you had that done.

2:28

My understanding has been that it's term limits is what the the council would like to look at.

2:33

And so if it's that limited in scope, uh the chart the the the city council can serve as the charter review commission.

2:41

Uh you can also appoint a commission of made up of citizens to review the charter.

2:46

That's what we did last time before the uh last charter election was a citizen charter review commission was appointed by the city council and they spent um several months reviewing the charter.

2:57

As you know, there were 26 proposed amendments at that time and 25 of those were approved by the voters.

3:04

Um so tonight I just want to get some direction from you all about how you want to proceed.

3:10

If you wanted to appoint a citizen committee, we'd probably need to get that committee appointed in January so that they could begin their work in February.

3:18

If the council wants to serve as the Charter Review Commission, we can you can do that and you can appoint yourselves and then begin that work around March-ish to get that done in time.

Speaker 1

3:32

No, I would I let me say this.

3:34

Uh we already I mean, I think that effort was exhausted two years ago or a year ago, I guess, as far as kind of looking at the whole thing.

3:42

And I know when the feedback I got about it was people weren't really happy they had to read through 26 of those all at one sitting.

3:48

Um and it's kind of been there.

3:50

I think really the feedback obviously that a lot of us that just got elected um in May, the the the term limits was really the the issue that I think we're gonna talk about and kind of bringing in a bunch of people just talk about you know one issue or the the length of the terms at the same time.

4:07

Um I don't know that I want to bring in uh I don't want to I don't don't think we need a big belaboring, a big question about that.

4:14

It's not a big discussion.

4:16

I think it's pretty straightforward.

4:17

I mean, working out I think the the chart of which person goes which year, you know, since you would if we change the limit going from a two-year to a three-year, for example.

4:28

Um and changing that might be an issue, but um since most people around here do most most councils and boards, school boards do that same thing as a is a three-year um kind of looking at that too.

4:40

I I'm just that's my opinion about it.

4:41

So it's not really expanding it to a bunch of people to do it.

4:44

So but do you want to say something?

Speaker 4

4:46

No, I do agree first off.

4:48

Um 26 was way too many, and especially it's too many for the citizens to really comprehend that all the details of each one of those.

Unassigned speaker

4:56

Um and also to have a good debate over the pros and cons.

Speaker 4

5:01

Uh I've heard I mean if specifically if we're only talking about um term limits I've heard good pros and cons on both sides right and so limiting it to a single issue I think will allow us to really dig through that like we should.

5:15

I'm curious if we do keep it within well as far as uh having a committee versus the city council um I was brand new when we first did that I did get two people on the committee um I would say I was disappointed by the lack of discussion around the topics that I told them specifically to bring up so I don't know if it just didn't get brought up or if it got brought up and just shut down quickly or what

Unassigned speaker

5:41

but

Speaker 4

5:41

I was disappointed having just been elected that the issues I cared about were not part of that.

5:48

Term limits was one of them.

5:49

And so I think it would be good if we do kind of keep that here in this room so that we can have the good open discussions.

5:56

I'm also curious if would there be a public hearing aspect to those types of committees where we would actually get to hear people if we kept it here.

Unassigned speaker

6:07

I would

Speaker 5

6:08

say we'd do a road show I mean we would go through there and you know maybe see you know well a road show afterwards but maybe get some public hearings uh you know library or

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Traffic Management██████████████████████22%

Procedural███████████████15%

Special Use Permit███████████11%

Legislative Engagement██████████10%

Environmental Protection█████████9%

Planning And Zoning███████7%

Charter Review█████5%

Public Safety███3%

Public Engagement███3%

Summary of Proceedings

North Richland Hills City Council Work Session and Regular Meeting - November 11, 2024

The North Richland Hills City Council met on November 11, 2024, for a work session at 5:30 PM and a regular meeting at 7:42 PM. The council discussed the charter review process, legislative program, mosquito surveillance, and North College Circle traffic calming. The regular meeting included approvals of consent agenda items, several zoning cases, technology contracts, investment policy updates, and an executive session action on a property purchase.

Consent Calendar

Approved minutes of October 28, 2024 meeting (7-0).
Resolution No. 2024-048 appointing Authorized Investment Officers (7-0).
Agreement with International Code Council for pool safety training ($72,000) (7-0).
Purchase of seven Lifepak 35 defibrillators ($478,908.95 using ARPA funds) (7-0).
Dedication of a 530-square-foot permanent drainage easement at NRH2O (7-0).
Purchase of audio-visual hardware/services from BIS Digital ($79,800) (7-0).
Item B.7 (Oncor license agreement) was removed from consent to correct the address; approved separately (7-0) with corrected address 8701 Boulevard 26.

Public Comments & Testimony

Anna Peters (7700 Terry Drive) expressed concern about speeding on North College Circle and supported installation of speed bumps to slow traffic and reduce cut-through traffic. She noted difficulty pulling out of her driveway due to fast-moving vehicles.
Bill Finstad (7301 Terry Drive) stated that cut-through traffic on North College Circle is a relatively recent phenomenon. He supported expanding the school zone on Holiday Lane and installing road humps. He opposed parking restrictions that might shift apartment parking onto side streets and noted that the apartment complex has adequate parking.

Discussion Items

Charter Review Process: City Manager Paulette Hartman explained the timeline for a charter amendment election in November 2025. Council consensus was for the City Council to serve as the Charter Review Commission, focusing on term limits. Public input will be solicited through town hall meetings at City Hall to allow broadcast. Staff will bring an item in January 2025 to formally appoint the commission.
Legislative Program: Assistant City Manager Trudy Lewis reviewed the city's past legislative engagement and presented two vendor options: Vicki Truitt Consulting (current, boutique) and Focused Advocacy (larger, strategic, and more proactive). Council discussed the level of involvement desired, costs, and alignment with Texas Municipal League. Direction given to bring a detailed proposal on Focused Advocacy services to the December 9, 2024 meeting.
Mosquito Surveillance and Response Program: Director of Neighborhood Services Stefanie Martinez presented the 2024 program details. The total cost for ground spraying was $21,086 annually. Pros included reducing disease risk; cons included cost and potential impact on non-target insects. Council consensus was to continue surveillance and public education but discontinue ground spraying. Staff will reflect this change in the next budget cycle.
North College Circle Vehicular Traffic: Public Works Director Boe Blankenship presented results of a survey mailed to 80 properties (17 responses). 64.7% supported road humps; 70.5% were unwilling to contribute to costs. Council directed staff to implement the following measures: school zone expansion along Holiday Lane, installation of three road humps, and a formal pedestrian crossing on North College Circle with no parking on the north curb line. The speed limit reduction and additional unwarranted stop signs were not pursued. Future sidewalk improvements will be considered as part of the city's regular sidewalk program, not a separate accelerated project.
Future Agenda Items: Councilmember Mitchell requested a discussion on the rules and responsibilities of the Naming Board. Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Vaughn proposed exploring a community fund where residents could donate on water bills to support grants for families. Both items were accepted for future work session agendas.

Public Hearings

ZC24-0110 (Community Enrichment Center): Public hearing on a revision to Planned Development 7 at 6250 NE Loop 820 to allow outdoor storage with existing chain-link fencing. Councilmember Rodriguez abstained due to his service on the CEC Board. Motion to approve Ordinance No. 3871 carried 6-0-1.
ZC24-0111 (Matthew Roach): Public hearing on a special use permit for a permanent accessory building (up to 3,600 sq ft) at 8611 Timber Drive. The applicant requested waivers for floor area, height, and wall height; the ordinance included a 3:12 roof pitch per Planning and Zoning recommendation. Motion to approve Ordinance No. 3872 carried 7-0.
ZC24-0112 (Justin Munoz): Public hearing on a zoning change from AG to R-1 at 6832 Walter Street (2.10 acres) for future residential subdivision. Motion to approve Ordinance No. 3873 carried 7-0.
ZC24-0113 (Scott Hoberer): Public hearing on a zoning change from AG to R-2 at 8900 Amundson Drive. The applicant requested a continuance to the December 9, 2024 meeting. Motion to continue carried 7-0.

Key Outcomes

Council authorized the City Manager to negotiate and execute a purchase and sale agreement for 7917 Main Street for $325,000 (including all closing costs), as discussed in executive session. Motion carried 7-0.
Approved amendment to DataVox contract for technology solutions (access control and camera systems) for a cumulative total not to exceed $709,850. Motion carried 7-0.
Adopted Resolution No. 2024-049, adopting the City's Investment Policy and Investment Strategy with updated diversification limits, including a 5% cap on single investments and reduced maximums for commercial paper (40% to 10%), repurchase agreements (50% to 30%), certificates of deposit (50% to 30%), and mutual funds (15% to 5%). Motion carried 7-0.
Direction to cease ground spraying for mosquitoes starting in 2025, while continuing surveillance, public education, and larvicide use.
Direction to implement traffic calming on North College Circle: expand school zone on Holiday Lane, install three road humps, and create a pedestrian crossing with no parking on the north curb line.
Staff to bring back a legislative engagement plan and charter review commission appointment for future meetings.

Meeting Transcript

Am I in the right place? Yes. Right. Yeah. Good evening and welcome to Northern Hudson Hills City Council work session. It is 5:30, and I'd like to call the Monday, November 11th, 2024 City Council work session to order. A quorum of the City Council is present, and the meeting has been duly posted in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act of the Texas Government Code. Items listed for discussion on the work session agenda provide an opportunity for the city council to discuss the items and receive information from the staff. The city council will not take action on any of the items listed during the for discussion during the work session. Any members of the public wishing to address the council regarding these items on the work session agenda may do so during the public comments portion of the regular meeting. The first item is for the city for to give the council the opportunity to ask any questions on the items of the regular agenda that the council has not had clarification on at this time. Does anybody have any questions? Nope. Okay. Move on to number two, um, which is a charter review process plan for November 4, 2024, 25, excuse me. Um Paulette. Thank you, Mayor. Uh several council members have mentioned to me that the possibility of having an another charter uh elect charter amendment election. The soonest that the city could do that would be in November of 25. There's you have to wait two years in between at least in between charter elections. Um so I just wanted to describe and ask to sort of describe what the process would would be. Um, because if if you all want to call an election in November of 25, it would have to be called um by August. It's usually around the 19th is the deadline uh for calling the November election. So the work on the charter review would need to would need to start as soon as possible after the first of the year, so you could make sure you had that done. My understanding has been that it's term limits is what the the council would like to look at. And so if it's that limited in scope, uh the chart the the the city council can serve as the charter review commission. Uh you can also appoint a commission of made up of citizens to review the charter. That's what we did last time before the uh last charter election was a citizen charter review commission was appointed by the city council and they spent um several months reviewing the charter. As you know, there were 26 proposed amendments at that time and 25 of those were approved by the voters. Um so tonight I just want to get some direction from you all about how you want to proceed. If you wanted to appoint a citizen committee, we'd probably need to get that committee appointed in January so that they could begin their work in February. If the council wants to serve as the Charter Review Commission, we can you can do that and you can appoint yourselves and then begin that work around March-ish to get that done in time. No, I would I let me say this. Uh we already I mean, I think that effort was exhausted two years ago or a year ago, I guess, as far as kind of looking at the whole thing. And I know when the feedback I got about it was people weren't really happy they had to read through 26 of those all at one sitting. Um and it's kind of been there. I think really the feedback obviously that a lot of us that just got elected um in May, the the the term limits was really the the issue that I think we're gonna talk about and kind of bringing in a bunch of people just talk about you know one issue or the the length of the terms at the same time. Um I don't know that I want to bring in uh I don't want to I don't don't think we need a big belaboring, a big question about that. It's not a big discussion. I think it's pretty straightforward. I mean, working out I think the the chart of which person goes which year, you know, since you would if we change the limit going from a two-year to a three-year, for example. Um and changing that might be an issue, but um since most people around here do most most councils and boards, school boards do that same thing as a is a three-year um kind of looking at that too. I I'm just that's my opinion about it. So it's not really expanding it to a bunch of people to do it. So but do you want to say something? No, I do agree first off. Um 26 was way too many, and especially it's too many for the citizens to really comprehend that all the details of each one of those.

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