[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6690039,"mediaKeyId","2097733-39eee3c9c7722ce0dc67f64daaf4798d","parentId",2097733,"title","Clute council approves Charter Review Commission recommendations; four propositions set for May 2025 ballot","audioSeconds",429,"startMs",3047000,"endMs",3476000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2097733-39eee3c9c7722ce0dc67f64daaf4798d&start=3047&end=3476","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2097733-39eee3c9c7722ce0dc67f64daaf4798d/thumbnail_3047000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6690039/Clute/Brazoria-County/Texas/Clute-council-approves-Charter-Review-Commission-recommendations-four-propositions-set-for-May-2025-ballot","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6690039-b7b5fefb629ee3019a4fe44d81e18940/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437989&Signature=QGWr57tZrwsHL4bOerYds6v9vlBPj7sbmhh9KEB1vwv1D~oPelyxaKuj~I8iUZMh4OyutpTIbMRYmGkYRRFAhNxop12rSlcH18lmq4rgseRfWB2Y4Aiv-39kpizBmvAAQmCzKgrAumWfFXAr0wHAOck3U0~BCs48rq0Fg5JJd7DJW9jouJJjMirDMA9mV-KMYI2Xo22gUNipOFqr1IMJdhp-mqlem9G6XlajQZ17ecjx0X7a-PaGztptkOqJjqnZDrDYx3r8~xzxPVolc0~naalngiF7v01WbJ7t97RYFASmQb4qpcbYVry2UynX6a1Djhyoar0q9ThsQTENLwqY~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Clute","date","2025-01-09T00:00:00Z","article","The Clute City Council voted unanimously on Jan. 9, 2025, to accept the Charter Review Commission’s recommendations and place four proposed charter amendments on the May 2025 ballot.

Jerry Atkins, chairman of the Charter Review Commission, presented the commission’s four proposals and the recommended ballot language. The proposals would: expand allowable uses of 40% of certain sales-tax revenues to explicitly include traffic signals and traffic controls and related street reconstruction; permit the city to publish sample ballots on the city website rather than requiring newspaper publication; clarify language about submitting a full charter rewrite to voters; and update the city’s recall-petition language to conform to state law.

Atkins summarized that the sales-tax language change would help the city dedicate funds for traffic-signal projects and related improvements and that staff intends to develop a schedule and plan to deploy such funds. The proposed change to publishing sample ballots would make sample ballots easier to access on the city’s website.

Council members briefly discussed the items and then moved to accept the recommendations. The motion to approve the commission’s recommendations passed unanimously.

Because these are charter amendment propositions, they will appear on the May 2025 election ballot for voter consideration; the council did not change the commission’s proposed language at the Jan. 9 meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Clute - Regular Council Meeting - Jan 09, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council accepted four charter amendments proposed by the Charter Review Commission, including expanded allowable uses for a portion of sales-tax revenue and a change to publish sample ballots on the city website; the measures will appear on the May 2025 ballot.","taxTitle","Clute, Brazoria County, Texas","taxId",64454,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6690044,"Clute adopts ordinance allowing golf carts and similar low-speed vehicles on certain city streets",674,3665000,4339000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2097733-39eee3c9c7722ce0dc67f64daaf4798d&start=3665&end=4339","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2097733-39eee3c9c7722ce0dc67f64daaf4798d/thumbnail_3665000.jpg","/articles/6690044/Clute/Brazoria-County/Texas/Clute-adopts-ordinance-allowing-golf-carts-and-similar-low-speed-vehicles-on-certain-city-streets","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6690044-2f193e8cfe84a53372a2ced221076972/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437989&Signature=XBYnLIZn4bRtgNkepx3vdCJC3O3RGSnEbmH~isHqLR7q7UcDAKN~efpu3o089a3p8KCg~GabhshHKfdaA9~Q-3tJOc6N33Io4goLHq-100tL~jn0UeH~jnQ3T7l~DiVfO0HxufTTL4bdCT3zykHIVU0cMYJQXxYi16sIlU3DMPhvNJLTWNNRgA56gtBHEsYwIwRkme~iAKWZQIsTWpkx5-waTnrPz5x7qwdSAtQYDdnhJp6w~S0aJEflxaEgOezvJlAZNrrTiTrxi1PvjHi31EdIa9bIJ7Q2VdAFji1XIu9dwvYxT5ZGPfbarV-UMbwLrKqU5lyT2XJFvhXlQB-mvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Clute City Council unanimously approved Ordinance No. 2025-001 on Jan. 9, 2025, to allow golf carts and certain motorized carts on city streets where the posted speed limit is not more than 35 miles per hour, subject to safety and insurance requirements.

The ordinance defines permitted vehicles to include golf carts and specific types of utility or recreational off-highway vehicles (excluding ATVs and four-wheelers). It requires drivers to be licensed and at least 18 years old, mandates liability insurance, and requires proper lighting for night operation. The ordinance also directs operators to use regular traffic lanes (not sidewalks) and prohibits side-by-side driving in a single travel lane.

Police Chief (name not specified at the meeting) told the council that the city convened two public meetings and that the community response was generally supportive. “We kinda opened it up to the citizenry. We had everybody forward, nobody against, for this,” the chief said, adding that staff deliberately avoided overly burdensome inspection or permitting requirements and instead focused on basic safety standards.

City Attorney Duncan and other staff reviewed the draft for legal sufficiency; Duncan confirmed the ordinance contains the necessary provisions and enforcement mechanisms. Council members discussed geographic limits — for example, some roads fall under neighboring Lake Jackson’s jurisdiction, and carts would be limited to neighborhoods and city streets with allowable speed ratings.

The ordinance will take effect after it is published twice in the Brazosport Facts, as required by the ordinance’s publishing clause. Councilmembers said they expect the rule to accommodate residents who already use carts while providing enforcement options for irresponsible operators.

The vote was unanimous.","Council unanimously approved Ordinance 2025-001 permitting motorized carts and defined utility vehicles on city streets with restrictions including age, insurance and speed limits.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6690048,"Council tables Motel 6 water-billing dispute after questions about meter readings and carryover charges",2157,706000,2863000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2097733-39eee3c9c7722ce0dc67f64daaf4798d&start=706&end=2863","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2097733-39eee3c9c7722ce0dc67f64daaf4798d/thumbnail_706000.jpg","/articles/6690048/Clute/Brazoria-County/Texas/Council-tables-Motel-6-water-billing-dispute-after-questions-about-meter-readings-and-carryover-charges","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6690048-4a83dc6411cda68534ece7a948d25fd2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437989&Signature=kU7Ql~aMvx6lu~uf9vg15BuzEIdvCSDX9xsIJRME352tif2T6mtcDNPzJhPJMgkWmGzRgD82Qu88z4ehF1zBtB0rdSU6yx~AtWLXmf3fp1HA5OJ32DBoS9iaLCig9AEqtYFwmlwM5a-TZKyL6GpkOmtFZmOKNceTTq8neez5wFQDaGbn1rNqv3bnIlg8K4WmQhKB610KRrP07Q~co7K-BV48xyMG2Yo4XvKIdauWkURxqU8UfaN1sKYNru~QuMAElVnn044aKVzUMzy9oWWm7nVu4HrTH5~4spv5l0E9DCHIF5ueV4oVnCG7F2xmlT0l1QRruIKaE-8~Ud-yEw3~fQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Clute City Council on Thursday, Jan. 9, heard from a Motel 6 representative who asked the council to adjust three unusually large water bills from 2023, but the council voted to table the request so staff and the hotel could provide additional documentation.

Pete Mehta, a representative of the Motel 6 on Highway 332, told the council that the hotel’s billing showed “anomalous” usage across August–November 2023 that produced bills much larger than the hotel’s usual monthly totals. Mehta said the hotel has paid portions of the balance, disputed the remainder, and asked the council to average his historic usage for those months and waive penalties and late fees on the disputed amounts.

The request matters because it involves a commercial customer disputing three high bills that the city says passed through its meter and generated a continuing arrearage that has compounded with penalties. Council members and staff said any change would set a precedent for other accounts and must be supported by clear evidence.

City staff said the department tested the meter and that lab results showed the meter tested 99.9% accurate. “We did pull the meter and test it. It tested 99.9% accurate, and so that's the basis that we have to go on,” said CJ, identified in the meeting as city utilities staff. Staff said they have offered payment plans, and that the account has carried a balance and added penalties since November 2023.

Mehta told the council he had documentation showing day-by-day usage that he said did not match room occupancy and plumbing fixtures. He said the meter reading changed after a meter replacement on Nov. 14 and that usage dropped thereafter. “If you check, the meter changed on 14th November. After that, [usage] significantly went down,” Mehta said.

Council members pressed for clearer, month-by-month billing records and canceled check copies showing payments and asked staff to reconcile whether the outstanding figure is an accumulation of unpaid monthly charges plus penalties. City staff said the account includes carryover charges plus penalties and interest that compounded monthly.

Because council members said they did not have sufficient, reconciled documentation to decide whether to credit the account or waive penalties, a council member made a motion to table the item for additional information; another council member seconded the motion. The motion to table passed unanimously.

The council asked staff to provide a clearer month-by-month statement, copies of payments applied to the account, the laboratory meter test report, and any other inspection records. The council did not vote on adjusting the outstanding balance at the Jan. 9 meeting.

The motel’s dispute centered on three billing cycles in 2023 (August–September, September–October, and October–November) identified by Mehta as unusually high; the exact dollar amounts in dispute were discussed repeatedly during the meeting and described by staff as including the base bills plus penalties and interest, but council declined to set a credit or write-off without additional records.","A Motel 6 representative asked the Clute City Council to adjust large bills tied to anomalous usage in 2023; council voted to table the request pending clearer billing and payment records.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Clute council approves Charter Review Commission recommendations; four propositions set for May 2025 ballot

Clute adopts ordinance allowing golf carts and similar low-speed vehicles on certain city streets

Council tables Motel 6 water-billing dispute after questions about meter readings and carryover charges