North Richland Hills City Council Work Session and Regular Meeting Summary – August 10, 2026

The North Richland Hills City Council met in work session at 5:30 p.m. and in regular session at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, August 10, 2026, at City Hall, 4301 City Point Drive. The council approved consent items, several public hearing requests, a four-part bond election resolution, the proposed tax rate and FY 2027 budget hearing schedule, and an economic development agreement. Most votes were 7-0; one alcohol variance was approved 6-1.

Work Session Discussion

• No council questions were raised on items from the regular City Council meeting agenda.
• Director of Finance Stephen Barnes presented a credit card processing cost-recovery plan. The city uses nine payment card processors across eight departments, with total annual processing costs of about $666,200; approximately $74,400 would remain unrecoverable after applying recommended service and convenience fees. The plan authorizes a maximum recovery of 5% per transaction, allows the City Manager or designee to adjust methods, and lets customers avoid fees by using electronic fund transfers. Implementation is scheduled for October 1, 2026, after a resolution is considered on August 24, 2026.
• City Manager Paulette Hartman presented the Heart of NRH Community Appreciation Luncheon, which will replace the former Business Appreciation Lunch. The expanded awards program will recognize Citizen of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Board and Commission Member of the Year, and Business of the Year. Nominations close September 25, 2026, selection is expected by October 16, 2026, and the inaugural luncheon and State of the City address are set for December 3, 2026.
• No future agenda items were proposed.
• The council entered executive session from 6:15 p.m. to 6:52 p.m. under Texas Government Code Sections 551.071 and 551.087 for litigation, personnel, housing finance corporations, data center regulations, and economic development discussions. No details were disclosed.

Consent Calendar

The consent agenda was approved 7-0 as presented:

• Minutes of the July 27, 2026 City Council meeting.
• Renewal of the interlocal agreement with the Tarrant County Fire Marshal's Office for fire and explosion investigations.
• Resolution 2026-049 appointing Jerry Tyner to the Keep North Richland Hills Beautiful Commission, Place 5, through June 30, 2027.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No speakers signed up for the public comments portion of the regular meeting.
• During Citizens Presentation, Barbara Brewer of Fort Worth asked the city to review the College Circle and Terry Drive intersection for a stop sign, citing school traffic safety concerns. No action was taken because the item was not on the agenda.
• In the Sandlin rezoning public hearing, opposition speakers included James Morgan, David Crumpler, Steve Preskenis, JR McCumber, Bill Falls, and EJ Campbell. They cited lot density, drainage, traffic near Smithfield Elementary, neighborhood character, and a lack of meaningful changes from earlier proposals. James Morgan said 127 neighborhood residents signed a document opposing the plan. Support speakers included Tommy Falcone, Cynthia Wallace, David Wallace, Mark Wood, Gary Harston, and Antonio Miranda, who cited Sandlin's local reputation, quality construction, higher property values, and the possibility that future state legislation could allow denser development if the current proposal was rejected. Several additional residents registered support or opposition without speaking.

Public Hearings and Planning Items

• C.1 — ZC26-0170 / Ordinance 3967: Approved 7-0. The council granted Citadel Development Group a special use permit for a quick service restaurant at 6051 Precinct Line Road, a 0.6741-acre C-2 site. Staff described a roughly 900-square-foot restaurant with 35 parking spaces, drive-thru access through existing easements, and landscaped areas. The Planning and Zoning Commission had recommended approval 7-0. No public speakers.
• C.2 — ZC26-0169 / Ordinance 3968: Approved 7-0. The council granted RAA Real Estate Investing LLC a special use permit for a secondary living unit at 8459 Shady Grove Road, a 1.319-acre R-2 lot. The project is a detached garage with a guest suite; staff noted it exceeds the normal 650-square-foot secondary living area limit and is not connected to the primary house. P&Z recommended approval 7-0. No public speakers.
• C.3 — ZC26-0160 / Ordinance 3969: Approved 7-0 with a stipulation. Sandlin Homes LLC received a zoning change for 7.494 acres at 6803-6825 Smithfield Road and 6744-6800 Hewitt Street from AG, R-2, R-3, and C-2 to Residential Infill Planned Development. The approved plan includes 33 single-family lots, a 7,000-square-foot minimum lot size (up from 5,743), an 8,109-square-foot average lot size, about 4.4 dwelling units per acre, design standards, an HOA, sidewalks, and drainage improvements. The Planning and Zoning Commission had denied the request 7-0, while staff recommended approval. The approved motion increased the fence height from 6 feet to 8 feet along Cortland.
• C.4 — Ordinance 3970: Approved 7-0. The council approved the 2026 Annual Service Plan Update, including the Assessment Rolls, for the City Point Public Improvement District. No public speakers.
• D.1 — Ordinance 3971: Approved 6-1, with Council Member Roberts opposed. The council granted George Gomiashvili a variance to the 300-foot alcohol distance requirement for on-premise beer and wine sales at 6305 Precinct Line Road, the Burratino Brick Oven Pizza location. The property abuts Birdville school property, but the building is more than 900 feet from the high school and about 512 feet from the stadium. The applicant projected alcohol would be about 10% of sales, planned beer and wine only, and committed to TABC training and age verification. A similar variance was approved for Berry Creek Village in 2020.

Bond, Tax, Budget, and Executive Session Actions

• G.1 — Resolution 2026-048: Approved 7-0. The council called a November 3, 2026 bond election with four propositions totaling $145,970,000: $26,300,000 for Fire Stations 2 and 3; $84,260,000 for street rehabilitation and reconstruction, including Smithfield Road; $24,700,000 for the NRH City Services Complex; and $10,710,000 for library improvements. Each ballot proposition will include the statement THIS IS A TAX INCREASE. Early voting is scheduled for October 19-30, 2026.
• G.2 — Tax rate: Approved 7-0. The council set the proposed tax rate at 55.5144 cents per $100 of valuation, below the voter approval rate of 56.0313 cents but above the no-new-revenue rate of 53.3968 cents. Public hearings were set for August 24 and September 14, 2026, with adoption scheduled for September 14, 2026. The agenda stated that the median-valued homestead would receive an estimated tax bill of $1,445.13 under the proposed budget, compared with $1,390.01 at the no-new-revenue rate and $1,383.63 in the current fiscal year.
• G.3 — FY 2027 budget: Approved 7-0. The council set August 24 and September 14, 2026 as public hearing dates for the proposed FY 2027 budget and placed budget adoption as an action item on the September 14, 2026 agenda.
• Executive session action: Approved 7-0. The council authorized the City Manager to negotiate and execute an economic development agreement and related documents with Berry Creek Crossing, LLC, a Louisiana LLC, for the property at 9009 Mid Cities Boulevard as discussed in executive session.

Announcements

• Council Member Goetz announced that NRH Animal Services is waiving pet adoption fees through August for Clear the Shelters, an upcoming CPR class on August 12, and two NRH Road Show budget/tax informational sessions on August 13 and August 22. She also recognized library employees Courtney Kincaid, Marcy Tannahill, and Kori Talfa for creating the Digitize It station.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda, Ordinances 3967, 3968, 3969, 3970, Resolution 2026-048, tax rate action, budget hearing schedule, and the economic development authorization were all approved 7-0.
• Ordinance 3971 was approved 6-1, with Council Member Roberts voting against.
• Voters will decide on the four bond propositions on November 3, 2026.
• The next public hearings on the tax rate and FY 2027 budget are August 24 and September 14, 2026, with adoption scheduled for September 14, 2026.
• The credit card cost-recovery program is scheduled to take effect October 1, 2026, following a resolution on August 24, 2026.
• The meeting adjourned at 9:43 p.m.