North Richland Hills City Council Regular Meeting - April 28, 2025

The North Richland Hills City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, April 28, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers, 4301 City Point Drive, North Richland Hills, Texas. Mayor Jack McCarty presided; all seven council members were present. The meeting included consent agenda approvals, an IT efficiency audit award, the FY 2024 audit report, a USTA grant authorization, a contested minutes approval, executive session, and a vote to release attorney-client privileged documents. There were no public hearing, planning and development, or public works items. At Council Member Vaughn's request, item F.5 was considered after executive session. The meeting adjourned at 9:43 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• No items were removed from the consent agenda.
• Approved the minutes of the April 14, 2025 City Council meeting.
• Authorized Amendment No. 1 to the Cooperative Purchase Customer Agreement with World Wide Technology for technology solutions, products and services, including KnowBe4 cybersecurity training required by Texas House Bill 3834, and ratified previous purchases totaling $35,665 under the OMNIA Partners Cooperative Agreement, for a cumulative amount not to exceed $73,000 through fiscal year 2025/2026.
• Authorized purchase agreements with multiple vendors for NRH2O food service products for resale in an amount not to exceed $275,000.
• The consent agenda was approved unanimously, 7-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public signed up to speak during Public Comments or Citizens Presentation.

Discussion Items

• F.1 - IT Operational Efficiency Audit (RFP# 25-014): City Manager Paulette Hartman presented the recommendation to award the contract to Cogent Infotech Corporation for an information technology operational efficiency audit in an amount not to exceed $90,000. The city received 12 proposals for this IT audit after the RFP outreach reached 2,350 interested parties across the three efficiency audits. The project is expected to start in May 2025 and be completed in September 2025, with a one-year contract structure. Council members asked about project management processes and whether AI implementation advice could be included. The motion to award the contract and authorize the City Manager to execute the related professional services agreement carried 7-0.
• F.2 - FY 2024 Audited Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and Single Audit: Director of Finance Jay Patel and Rachel Ormsby of Forvis Mazars presented the scope and results of the audit. The city received a clean, unmodified opinion, with no reportable findings on state or federal grants. There was one internal control recommendation related to improving year-end close processes. Key metrics reported included approximately $25.9 million in general fund unassigned fund balance, representing roughly 40.7% of fiscal year 2025 budgeted general fund expenditures, exceeding the city's 15% minimum fund balance policy and the GFOA's 17% best practice. The parks and recreation fund balance was $13.4 million, the utility fund total net position was approximately $80.1 million, and the TMRS pension funded status was 89.9% as of December 31, 2023. The city has received the GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for 40 consecutive years. Council discussion noted that the city had adopted a higher fund balance standard of 33% for the general fund. The motion to receive the reports as presented carried 7-0.
• F.3 - USTA 2025 Tennis Venue Services Grant: Director of Parks and Recreation Adrien Pekurney presented Resolution No. 2025-026 to authorize applying for and accepting allocated funds, if awarded, from the United States Tennis Association for the Richland Tennis Center. The grant would partially fund upgrading court lighting from metal halide fixtures to LED fixtures. Council members commended staff for their grant-seeking efforts. The motion to approve the resolution carried 7-0.
• F.4 - March 24, 2025 City Council Minutes: The minutes had been tabled at the previous meeting. Council voted 7-0 to remove them from the table. Council Member Mitchell moved to approve the minutes as originally presented; Council Member Vaughn offered amendments to add factual events, procedural actions, and a notation that he left the work session in protest. Council Members Blake and Mitchell defended the city's historical minutes practice, noting that video of work sessions is available online. Council Member Blake moved to suspend debate; Council Member Vaughn appealed the chair's decision, and the appeal failed 6-1. The motion to approve the original minutes carried 6-1, with Council Member Vaughn voting against.
• Executive Session: At 7:51 p.m., the Council entered executive session under Section 551.071 to consult with the City Attorney regarding two lawsuits and the waiver of attorney-client privilege related to Resolution No. 2025-021. Council Member Vaughn was excluded from the third executive session item by a 6-1 vote because of his threatened litigation against the city and adverse interest. A motion to table the item and F.5 was withdrawn. Executive session began at 8:10 p.m., concluded at 9:14 p.m., and the Council reconvened at 9:16 p.m. with no action taken as a result of executive session.
• F.5 - Release of Information and Waiver of Attorney-Client Privilege: City Attorney Bradley Anderle presented the item. Council Member Blake moved to release information related to the April 9, 2025 special meeting and Resolution 2025-021 and to waive attorney-client privilege for documents numbered 1-22 on the table discussed in executive session, with the waiver limited to those items. Council Member Vaughn expressed concern about selective disclosure; the City Secretary stated that the documents represented all relevant information gathered in response to his request. The release process is through the Texas Public Information Act, and the City Secretary outlined four ways to submit a request. Council Member Vaughn's amendment to waive charges for open records requests for these items carried 4-3, with Mayor Pro Tem Deupree, Associate Mayor Pro Tem Ricky Rodriguez, Council Member Compton, and Council Member Vaughn in favor, and Council Members Tito Rodriguez, Blake, and Mitchell against. The original motion to release the documents and waive attorney-client privilege only for those items carried 7-0.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda approved 7-0.
• Award of RFP# 25-014 to Cogent Infotech Corporation for an IT operational efficiency audit, not to exceed $90,000, approved 7-0.
• FY 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and Single Audit received as presented 7-0.
• Resolution No. 2025-026 for the USTA Tennis Venue Services Grant application and acceptance of funds, if awarded, approved 7-0.
• March 24, 2025 City Council minutes approved as originally presented 6-1.
• Council Member Vaughn excluded from executive session item 3 by a 6-1 vote.
• Motion to waive charges for open records requests related to the released documents carried 4-3.
• Motion to release documents numbered 1-22 and waive attorney-client privilege only for those items carried 7-0.
• No action was taken as a result of executive session.

Announcements

• Associate Mayor Pro Tem Ricky Rodriguez announced that Tuesday, April 29 was the last day of early voting and election day was Saturday, May 3; polling locations would be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• The Sounds of Spring Concert Series continues Friday nights through May 16, with seating at 6:00 p.m. and concerts at 7:00 p.m. on the plaza in front of City Hall.
• The NRH Library will host Free Comic Book Day on Saturday, May 10, from 10:00 a.m. to noon.
• Kudos recognized Public Works staff Todd Ryals, David Nichols, and Chris Turner for their work on the Lakeside Circle reconstruction.