City Council Meeting

MINUTES RICHWOOD CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, September 08, 2025 at 6:00 PM BE IT KNOWN THAT the City of Richwood City Council will meet Monday, September 8, 2025, beginning at 6:00 PM at Richwood City Hall, located at 1800 Brazosport Blvd. N., Richwood, Texas 77531 with the following agenda: I. CALL TO ORDER II. INVOCATION III. PLEDGES OF ALLEGIANCE IV. ROLL CALL OF COUNCIL MEMBERS Michael Durham, Mayor: Present Paul Stallberg, Position 1: Present Mike Johnson, Position 2: Present Amanda Reynolds, Position 3: Absent William Yearsin, Position 4: Present Jeremy Fountain, Position 5: Present Others present: Eric Foerster, City Manager; Clif Custer, Public Works Director; Kirsten Garcia, City Secretary; Tricia Ditto, Finance Director; Stephen Mayer, Chief of Police; Matt Allen, City Attorney. V. PUBLIC COMMENTS There was no public comment. VI. PRESENTATION A. Center Point Energy update on service improvements. Robert Tinnin presented. B. Streets Master Plan, Strand Engineering Jared Engelke presented. VII. PROCLAMATION A. VOW 22 Day, September 13, 2025 Mayor Durham read the proclamation aloud. VIII. CONSENT AGENDA A. Budget Report, July 2025 B. Approval of minutes from regular meeting held August 11, 2025. C. Approval of minutes from special meeting held August 19, 2025. Motion to approve. Motion made by Mike Johnson, Seconded by William Yearsin. Voting Yea: Paul Stallberg, Mike Johnson, William Yearsin, Jeremy Fountain Motion carried. IX. PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED 2025-2026 BUDGET The public hearing was opened at 6:46 p.m. There was no public comment. The public hearing was closed at 6:47 p.m. X. PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED 2025-2026 TAX RATE Taxpayer Impact Statement In accordance with the Texas Tax Code and Local Government Code, the City of Richwood provides the following information for the median residence homestead: Median taxable value of a homestead: $250,000 Current tax rate: $0.535799 per $100 of value Tax bill at current rate: $1339.50 Tax bill under proposed budget ($0.586493): $1466.23 Tax bill at the no-new-revenue rate of $0.544732: $1361.83 Difference between current and no-new-revenue rates: $22.33 The public hearing was opened at 6:47 p.m. Mike Challenger, a resident, addressed the council in opposition to raising the tax rate. The public hearing was closed at 6:50 p.m. XI. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS A. Discuss and consider adopting Ordinance 25-532, an ordinance appropriating adopting a budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025 and ending September 30, 2026. Tricia Ditto, Finance Director, presented. Discussion held on any changes. Discussion held on BWA impact. Discussion held on ambulance service. Motion to adopt Ordinance 25-532, an ordinance appropriating and adopting a budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025, and ending September 30, 2026. Motion made by Jeremy Fountain, Seconded by William Yearsin. Voting Yea: Mike Johnson, William Yearsin, Jeremy Fountain Voting Nay: Paul Stallberg Motion carried. B. Discuss and consider Ordinance 25-533, an ordinance adopting a tax rate and levying taxes for the use and support of the Municipal Government of the City of Richwood, Texas and providing for the interest and sinking fund of the taxable year 2025. Tricia Ditto, Finance Director, presented. Discussion held on a lower rate than previously passed in a record vote. Discussion held on the uses of these funds and how we handle them.  “I MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF $0.557993, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 4.1 PERCENT INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE.” Motion made by William Yearsin, Seconded by Mike Johnson. Voting Yea: Mike Johnson, William Yearsin, Jeremy Fountain Voting Nay: Paul Stallberg Motion carried. C. Consider approval of a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an Interlocal Agreement with Brazoria County, Angleton Drainage District, Velasco Drainage District, City of Lake Jackson, City of Clute, Town of Holiday Lakes, and Village of Bailey’s Prairie for debris removal from Oyster Creek and Bastrop Bayou, as part of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service EWP Project No. 5118 and DSR 48-14-24-5118-002. Wael Tabara with Brazoria County presented. Motion to approve resolution 25-R-102. Motion made by Mike Johnson, Seconded by William Yearsin. Voting Yea: Paul Stallberg, Mike Johnson, William Yearsin, Jeremy Fountain Motion carried. D. Discuss and consider adopting Ordinance No. 25-531, amending exceptions as adopted by Ordinance No. 18-428 to modify base usage and amend fees for Recreational Vehicle (RV) Parks; repealing all ordinances in conflict; providing for a savings clause; and providing for an effective date. Eric Foerster, City Manager, presented. Councilman Yearsin presented information. Mayor Durham spoke in opposition to this. Motion to adopt Ordinance No. 25-531, amending exceptions as adopted by Ordinance No. 18-428 to modify base usage and amend fees for Recreational Vehicle (RV) Parks; repealing all ordinances in conflict; providing for a savings clause; and providing for an effective date. Motion made by William Yearsin, Seconded by Jeremy Fountain. Voting Yea: Paul Stallberg, Mike Johnson, William Yearsin, Jeremy Fountain Motion carried. E. Discussion and possible action to call for a public hearing to consider whether the City should continue providing water and sewer service to an RV park located outside the city limits. Kirsten Garcia, City Secretary, presented Discussion held on monitoring impact annually. No action taken. F. Consider items removed from consent agenda No items were removed from the consent agenda. XII. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS UPDATE Clif Custer, Public Works Director, presented. XIII. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT Eric Foerster gave report. XIV. COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS & REPORTS Councilmember Stallberg thanked staff for their hard work on the budget and expressed disappointment that a tax rate increase was necessary. He also mentioned the recent damage to the City’s speed trailer and thanked residents for attending the meeting, encouraging anyone with questions or concerns to reach out to him directly. Councilmember Johnson thanked everyone who attended the meeting, noting that it helped clarify and dispel some rumors that had been circulating. He also reminded the community about the upcoming VOW 22 Hike taking place this Saturday at 8:00 a.m. Councilmember Yearsin acknowledged that the budget process is never easy and commended staff for their efforts to manage it effectively. Councilmember Fountain echoed previous comments, thanking staff for their work on the budget. He noted that this was the first time since he has served that a tax rate increase was necessary, emphasizing that such an outcome is never the Council’s goal. XV. MAYOR'S REPORT The Mayor commented on the recent weather and acknowledged the challenges of the budget process, thanking staff for their cooperation and hard work throughout the process. He also expressed appreciation to the residents who attended the meeting and participated in the discussion. XVI. ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST KRB Meeting tomorrow, they need help with volunteers and board members. National Night Out is October 7, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. Trunk or Treat, scheduled for October 24, 2025, from 6-8 p.m. XVII. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Parks Master Plan XVIII. ADJOURNMENT Being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:07 p.m. These minutes were read and approved on October 13, 2025. __________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: ______________________________________ City Secretary