North Richland Hills City Council Meeting Summary - December 9, 2024

The City of North Richland Hills City Council met on Monday, December 9, 2024, for a Work Session at 5:00 PM followed by a Regular Meeting at 7:35 PM at City Hall. The Work Session included discussions on the 2025 meeting schedule, the city's legislative program, facility naming policies, and a TxDOT proposal to install raised medians on Boulevard 26. The Regular Meeting featured public hearings on several zoning cases and unanimously approved a consent agenda, routine contracts, and resolutions related to technology, infrastructure, and finance.

Consent Calendar

• Approved Unanimously (7-0): The Council approved the consent agenda containing 16 routine items (B.1 – B.16). Key items included the approval of minutes, right-of-way abandonments (Guy Street, Stardust Drive), a channel rehabilitation contract ($189,661), a GIS services contract ($200,000 using ARPA), technology contracts with Visionality ($188,000) and FreeIT Data Solutions ($500,000), the purchase of a Frazer ambulance ($460,460), a Case backhoe ($189,150), books ($160,000), a change order for the NRH2O Water Park Nitro Blast construction ($209,178.50), a mountain bike pump track at Fossil Creek Park ($185,665.50 using ARPA), treadmills for the NRH Centre ($90,711.32), and an ordinance clarifying the spelling of Denney Drive.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Shauna Stiles (3908 Lochridge Court) opposed the proposed raised medians on Boulevard 26, arguing that medians would increase driver frustration and worsen accidents rather than reduce them. She urged the Council to prioritize fixing the "vortex" intersection of Davis Boulevard and Glenview.
• Mary Michaels (8401 Revenue Way), representing her Liberty Village HOA, thanked the city for the public meeting on the Davis Boulevard median project. She raised concerns about speed variations (40 to 50 mph) on Davis Boulevard and expressed worry that the median might increase U-turns through her neighborhood entrance.
• Sayeda Syed (6705 Sapphire Circle North, Colleyville), a candidate for the Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD) Board of Directors, urged the Council to vote for her with their 37 allocated votes. Ms. Syed emphasized her previous experience working at TAD and her role as a whistleblower, contrasting her background with other candidates.
• L.C. Tubb (8333 Davis Boulevard) spoke during the UHaul public hearing, arguing against the staff recommendation for 3,000K lighting. He stated that TxDOT specifications do not currently require 3,000K lights, noting that 3,000K provides roughly 20% less light than 5,000K.

Discussion Items

• Work Session – 2025 City Council Meeting Schedule: City Secretary Alicia Richardson presented the draft 2025 schedule. Council directed staff to reschedule the March 10 meeting to March 3 (due to the National League of Cities Conference), the May 12 meeting to May 14 (for election canvassing), and the May 26 meeting to May 27 (Memorial Day holiday). Council also canceled meetings on July 14, July 28, November 24, and December 22.
• Work Session – Legislative Program: Assistant City Manager Trudy Lewis presented the city's State Legislative Program for the 89th Texas Legislative Session, emphasizing four guiding principles and priorities such as preserving local control and revenue sources. Councilmember Blake expressed concerns regarding language opposing "further restrictions" on debt issuance, preferring to avoid advocating for a blanket policy. Consensus was reached on the strategy of using relationship management and joint letters rather than an outside firm.
• Work Session – Naming of Facilities: Councilmember Mitchell requested a discussion on adding language to the city's Naming Board ordinance to allow renaming facilities if the honoree falls out of good standing, and to require a 90-day waiting period after retirement or death before naming. City Manager Hartman recommended using language from the recently approved charter amendment regarding removal from office.
• Work Session – TxDOT Raised Medians on Boulevard 26: Assistant City Manager Caroline Waggoner detailed TxDOT's proposed safety improvement project for 1.5 miles of Boulevard 26 from Rodger Line Road to Rufe Snow Drive. Council discussed traffic conflict data, the potential impact on businesses, and the need for adequate U-turn radiuses. The consensus was to support TxDOT's project conceptually while stipulating continued input on design, particularly regarding the problematic "vortex" intersection of 26 and Davis.
• City Manager Report: City Manager Paulette Hartman provided an update on the search for a new Police Chief (goal to name a finalist by end of February and a new chief by end of February). She introduced Jennipher Castellanos as the new Manager of Strategic Initiatives and outlined the new NRH LiNKS (Linking Innovation, Knowledge, and Strategy) Unit, a team focused on operational excellence, efficiency audits, and data-driven decision making. Hartman also noted the upcoming work on the charter review committee and a capital improvements advisory committee for a potential May 2026 bond election.
• Regular Meeting – C.5 Zoning (Hoberer): The Council discussed a zoning change from AG to R-2 for 0.73 acres at 8900 Amundson Drive. Staff recommended immediate approval despite the applicant's preference to wait, arguing the property is non-conforming under AG. The applicant requested a postponement to seek a waiver on platting costs. Council and staff urged moving forward to resolve the non-conforming status and enable the carport construction. Approved 7-0.
• Regular Meeting – C.6 UHaul Self-Storage Facility: A public hearing was held on a request from DCG Engineering Inc. and UHaul for a revision to an existing special use permit (SUP) and a new SUP for a 4-story, 936-unit climate-controlled storage facility at 8225 Boulevard 26. Staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended converting the request to a Nonresidential Planned Development (NR-PD). The major point of discussion was lighting; staff recommended 3,000 Kelvin lights to align with dark sky standards and city code, while the applicant requested 5,000 Kelvin. Council approved the ordinance with an allowance for 5,000K lights.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Approved 7-0 (Items B.1 – B.16).
• Public Hearings (Zoning) Approved (all 7-0):
  • C.1 Compton ADU (Ordinance 3879): Approved 7-0.
  • C.2 Holden AG to RE-1 (Ordinance 3880): Approved 7-0.
  • C.3 Figueroa RE-1 to R-2 (Ordinance 3881): Approved 7-0.
  • C.4 Figueroa R-2 to RE-1 (Ordinance 3882): Approved 7-0.
  • C.5 Hoberer AG to R-2 (Ordinance 3874): Approved 7-0.
  • C.6 UHaul Storage/SUP (Ordinance 3883): Approved 7-0. The motion included an amendment to allow 5,000 Kelvin lighting over the staff recommendation of 3,000K.
• Contracts & Resolutions Approved (all 7-0):
  • F.1 Tyler Technologies Technology Contract ($4,000,000): Approved 7-0.
  • F.2 Kroger Opioid Settlement Resolution: Approved 7-0. Estimated award of $11,027.67.
  • F.3 TAD Board Election: Approved Resolution No. 2024-051 casting 37 votes for candidate Mike Alfred. Approved 7-0.
  • F.4 Youth Advisory Committee Appointments: Approved 7-0.
  • F.5 Official Newspaper Designation (Commercial Recorder): Approved 7-0.
  • F.6 Certificates of Obligation Bond Issuance (Series 2025): Approved 7-0. The bond issue totaling $5,105,000 was awarded to Robert W. Baird & Co., Inc. at a true interest cost of 3.599%.
• Executive Session Actions (both 7-0):
  • Authorized the City Manager to enter into a termination agreement with PG Investco LLC for the property at 6701 Davis Boulevard, including the payment of $1,020,000 in exchange for other consideration, and accepted the assignment of a purchase agreement with Terry N. Snyder.
  • Authorized the City Manager to negotiate and execute a purchase and sale agreement with El Trust Investments, LLC, for the property at 7913 Main Street in the amount of $300,000.