[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6367730,"mediaKeyId","2158437-c08122ac25a5fa810dba0e7fb06098da","parentId",2158437,"title","Votes at a glance — Alice City Council, Jan. 28, 2025","audioSeconds",136,"startMs",11130000,"endMs",11266000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2158437-c08122ac25a5fa810dba0e7fb06098da&start=11130&end=11266","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2158437-c08122ac25a5fa810dba0e7fb06098da/thumbnail_11130000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6367730/Alice/Jim-Wells-County/Texas/Votes-at-a-glance-Alice-City-Council-Jan-28-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6367730-5713c40049714c64ea6609c7ef469367/orig.mp4?Expires=1775650142&Signature=m3pV-YulPa6TMPMGOfGDsShATbJSfkRG0AxlcekTe2wMyfTsOBNMdGjJFc6nG~jf9BEE25ALtAktV4mJ3aJeAFXjdEYcQU7nvUFoWx5tQK7udnpoP2KG8FGN5ewzsk~IdTciObbPnCXH40haZUCFIxHQzDvCvccIIqgQyJH522OFMQRjRjSu0hFQpjnzKa-ICLlMzZE6CG4pb1hwcCOZPU6NcrTPCpKdd6JcVA3grMC8MNIoRu6~0LxX0BFQus9W7Ed-FwUnnvXOG-7XmAyEt4SH9m0O5WXkclfWcDgJ7Ug6g72EqYGS9X1GHDF8J-98nhkHgr3yvZElpFFq9dIGvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alice City, TX","date","2025-01-28T19:36:39Z","article","This is a concise summary of formal actions the City Council of Alice took on Jan. 28, 2025. Motions reported below reflect outcomes announced in open session; where the transcript did not record a roll-call tally the outcome is reported as announced.

- Approval: City Council minutes for Dec. 3, 2024 (Agenda item 5.1). Motion made and seconded; council approved by voice vote.

- Approval: Authorize city manager to negotiate a contract with Ardura Group LLC (engineering) for the TxDOT Transportation Alternative Sidewalk Project (Agenda item 6.1). Council authorized negotiation; motion passed by voice vote.

- Approval: Reaffirm City of Alice fair housing policy for the GLO CDBG-MIT contract number 22-085-039-D287 (Agenda item 6.2). Council reaffirmed the policy and authorized required attestations; motion passed.

- Tabled: Final plat / rezoning for property (Agenda item 6.3). Council voted to table the item because the posted agenda and public notice did not match the intended rezoning language; motion to table passed.

- Denied: Final plat (replat of portions of Lot 11 and Lot 12, block 115 — 303 East 4th Street) (Agenda item 6.4). The council denied the final plat following Planning & Zoning’s recommendation; motion passed in open session.

- Tabled: Ordinance adopting a new zoning district (RC residential cottage) and related materials (Agenda item 6.5). Planning & Zoning requested additional restrictions; council tabled the item for revision.

- Approved: Ordinance amendments related to excavations, right-of-way closures and a road-closure fee (Agenda item 6.6). Council adopted the ordinance as amended by the engineering department (motion passed by voice vote). The ordinance includes a proposed road-closure fee (5¢ per square foot per day), expanded cease-work authority, reporting requirements for utility users and an updated repair-cost schedule.

- No action: Executive session consultations regarding the YMCA contract (Agenda item 7.1) and litigation update on the multiuse facility (Agenda item 7.2). Council met in executive session but reported no action on return to open session.

- Approved: Resolution ratifying submittal of the Homeland Security grant program application (Operation Stone Garden, application 392-1507) for overtime for the police department (Agenda item 6.7). Council adopted the resolution designating the city manager as authorized official and authorizing grant actions.

- Approved: Reappointments to the City of Alice Firefighters and Police Officers’ Relief and Retirement Commission (Denise Strait, Daniel Hagood, Bruce Heard) (Agenda item 6.8). Council approved the reappointments.

- Received: Monthly financial statements and check registers for December 2024 (Agenda item 6.9). Finance staff presented the report; no formal council action was recorded beyond acceptance of the report.

- Adjournment: Council voted to adjourn at 6:13 PM.

Notes on votes and records: Several votes were taken by voice vote with no roll-call names or tallies recorded in the public transcript. Where the transcript records only a voice vote, this summary reports the outcome as stated in open session. Items concerning plats and rezoning were tabled or denied where the public posting did not match the staff presentation; the council indicated those items will return on a future agenda or be reposted with corrected language.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting - January 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Summary of formal votes and motions taken at the Jan. 28 Alice City Council meeting, including approvals, denials and tabling actions. Includes agenda identifiers and short notes about each item.","taxTitle","Alice, Jim Wells County, Texas","taxId",69537,"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},6367735,"Council adopts excavation, road-closure and utility-reporting ordinance with fees and cease-work authority",388,2656000,3044000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2158437-c08122ac25a5fa810dba0e7fb06098da&start=2656&end=3044","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2158437-c08122ac25a5fa810dba0e7fb06098da/thumbnail_2656000.jpg","/articles/6367735/Alice/Jim-Wells-County/Texas/Council-adopts-excavation-road-closure-and-utility-reporting-ordinance-with-fees-and-cease-work-authority","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6367735-23f785aaa3884ed7c4d75c8bed110c54/orig.mp4?Expires=1775650142&Signature=HLhNjXN-MwYaad1Ubd1VJ6k0TliYoG38ini~~dUuibwlg7UQiUWQ6RXmzNWgiEYiuukYFwecQfgjLvr1jlUvGlgh6LX7um0Gg9Y3DMX7dwBs3NCm07eG1qMQS0YYJhFYflChYeVs0LKm6bc8ZtcQLKjzesd4N0RI~qFtV9Yvqx9HHs1fhG1tbzXYtKuzSHl2HaZDwLIJ89YUWaw5R5U-foSaj7TK3cGJw5gDji-OAz2yFD7S1MBxGbI~LJ~r2pBsWA4mpwRQs77UhlogE0mTce4vuFMTRhFwqlKT-zK0Ect~e8f6Jw5fxoK0iBcNkmYeztPZ6A165oKetulFqYAP1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alice City Council on Jan. 28 adopted an update to the city’s excavation and right-of-way ordinance that adds a road-closure fee, expands inspectors’ cease-work authority and requires utility users to report damages promptly.

Engineering staff explained that the ordinance change will require a city permit for temporary closure of public streets and set a proposed road-closure fee of 5¢ per square foot per day. The fee is tied to the right-of-way permit process and applies to contractors or others seeking to temporarily close a city street.

The update also expands the text of the city’s cease-work order to allow inspectors to stop work immediately when they observe performance or installations that do not meet city specifications, and it adds authority to halt work when contractors damage city utilities and do not promptly repair them. Engineering staff told the council they have seen unreported utility damage in recent months and said the ordinance will require utility users to notify inspections staff of any damages.

If damages go unreported, the ordinance authorizes the city to recover investigation and repair costs from the responsible utility user; staff described potential chargeable costs as third-party rentals, third-party services, equipment at FEMA rates and administrative costs. The updated schedule of repair charges was modernized to include underground repair categories that previously lacked standard pricing; the ordinance text leaves specific clamp and other specialized fastener costs to be invoiced on a per-item basis because those costs vary widely.

Council discussion focused on enforcement and prevention; council members asked whether inspectors can be on-site before trench backfill and about penalties for intentionally failing to report damage. Staff said inspectors make rounds but cannot be present 24 hours a day; the new rule places responsibility on the utility user to report breaks promptly and to bear investigation costs if they do not.

A council member moved to adopt the ordinance with the engineering department’s changes; the motion passed on a voice vote with no recorded opposition reported in open session.

Why it matters: The ordinance centralizes permit control for temporary road closures, sets a measurable fee for closures, provides inspectors with clearer immediate enforcement options, and creates a mechanism to recoup city costs when unreported utility damage requires city response.

Next steps: Staff will implement the updated right-of-way permit procedures, publish the revised repair-cost schedule and apply the new road-closure fee and reporting requirements to future permits.","The council adopted an update to the city's excavation and right-of-way ordinance that adds a road-closure fee, strengthens cease-work authority for inspectors, requires utility users to report damages and modernizes repair-cost schedules; the council approved the ordinance by voice vote.",{"_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},6367742,"Residents press council on natatorium operations as YMCA contract is discussed in closed session",5817,5077000,10894000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2158437-c08122ac25a5fa810dba0e7fb06098da&start=5077&end=10894","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2158437-c08122ac25a5fa810dba0e7fb06098da/thumbnail_5077000.jpg","/articles/6367742/Alice/Jim-Wells-County/Texas/Residents-press-council-on-natatorium-operations-as-YMCA-contract-is-discussed-in-closed-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6367742-7b1af653bcb51e81e4ac029d400a349a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775650142&Signature=GSxYgoYmvXlNs2~Vgp1LOzJyybV22rBhCMYA0elmTW8~7QB3M7PRhL8VGWebm6WtMHLwg-sXjUKG62ox-VdcTOEfmWRDikk3VFXIRmVEnBd6ucoFH8vpPGyTFV6RpBPNXMl8bD7Wo7AT09PL-ShFxxmXt8RDZ9~UjQ1NCRn-aaoHBUkbsTMx6G2W-FugSx2otSLr0JCC8N5O0UE-OA5lWdmA6LWQfsy8fKUIUCJ49Sdli4RY8XJUJ6L0xpQV9TBGikVbCj6sRzYnSSOk8WMMJF4QSPDsIX7Bf4CplOk1McnBT5mEwMIIOmn0YswVzqrlUXEMcN4EqzL~WipJNmNslA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several residents used the Jan. 28 public-comment period to urge the City of Alice to address long-running concerns about the natatorium and water-park facility and to keep the pool’s programs running if the YMCA withdraws from management.

Carolyn Sutherland, a longtime Alice resident, asked the council to advertise the natatorium more widely and to consider developing surrounding acreage into park or event space if management returns to the city. \"We're the hub,\" she said, describing users from neighboring towns.

Belinda Silva, who identified herself as a user and someone awaiting medical treatment, said she has tried to obtain financial records and alleged the city manager \"failed to do his job by allowing 42 consecutive months to go by without getting 1 single financial report at all.\" She urged strict adherence to contracts and safety protocols and said she would provide a flash drive of records to city staff.

Bronwyn Joy Slack and other regular users described health and social benefits from YMCA programs at the pool and asked the council not to close the facility. Slack said the pool supports disabled veterans and older residents who rely on aquatic classes and that any city takeover should preserve programs and insurance arrangements that help users participate. \"Please don't close it down,\" she said.

Amanda Sue Friedrich used public comment to invite residents to a community event and did not address facility management directly.

Later in the meeting the council moved into executive session to consult with counsel about the YMCA contract (agenda item 7.1). After the closed session the council returned to open session and the mayor announced there would be no action taken on the YMCA contract item.

Why it matters: The natatorium and attached water park provide lessons, exercise and community programming for Alice residents and people from nearby towns. Public commenters alleged missing financial oversight and safety maintenance problems; council members heard requests to ensure continuity of programming if YMCA withdraws management.

Discussion vs. formal action: Council heard multiple citizens’ concerns during public comment and then discussed the YMCA contract in executive session under the attorney–client consultation exception (Texas Gov. Code §551.071). The council reported back that no formal action or vote resulted from the executive-session discussion.

No ordinance or contract change was announced at the open meeting; public commenters were invited to provide documents to staff for review and the council affirmed that the YMCA contract was discussed in executive session with no action taken.

Ending: Residents and user groups asked the council to prioritize continuity of pool programs and transparency about the facility’s finances; city staff and council will have the opportunity to review any records provided and to report back in a future public agenda if formal action is proposed.","Multiple residents urged the City of Alice to keep the natatorium and water park open, raised concerns about contract oversight and maintenance, and asked the council to consider city control if the YMCA withdraws; the council later held an executive session about a YMCA contract and reported no action afterward.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6367747,"REAL unveils regional transit headquarters plan for FM 1554 site",965,2289000,3254000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2158437-c08122ac25a5fa810dba0e7fb06098da&start=2289&end=3254","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2158437-c08122ac25a5fa810dba0e7fb06098da/thumbnail_2289000.jpg","/articles/6367747/Alice/Jim-Wells-County/Texas/REAL-unveils-regional-transit-headquarters-plan-for-FM-1554-site","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6367747-ece09824dbac4324668e23adc634d399/orig.mp4?Expires=1775650142&Signature=XH-hO8ugHYt3QIqLPVkn~ynKK7yi9-JgMb8sI7yQObt993SmQXwn4PnBbHKqps4OcpRTjiumMQ6bDW4UlMIpcOREOicJ18u3G2Ff3pbAdRmQUG8IoAyYmVBoE3HtbcElqA19dw~fpINWK67ohAUnSUDZXZMwqi4Wsa97vPc2NHPxnctu92o6WgYZpvJr0Aw4p9yZRR4fQjrIyasgAKSJ8-ty~TCf7Qrg5RZge~JoHOiWM6IMDPMjL8NsxkAGfQaYRasiKrTtmu6Gpf0OU~Gs12QPf34E72x1zv7I1BQyDZoyW7IBP4Q3TB4BOGr-4f~DjcCKnEtr2WQfZW8wRfZQ2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Martin Ordellas, director for the Rural Economic Assistance League (REAL), told the Alice City Council on Jan. 28 that REAL will build a regional transit operations and maintenance campus at 349 Farm-to-Market 1554.

Ordellas said the two-story, roughly 44,000-square-foot complex will include operations offices, a regional training center, vehicle maintenance bays for the agency’s fleet, a wash bay and fuel station, and rentable community event space. He said the facility will support REAL’s existing 82-vehicle fleet and estimated the project’s construction contract at $27,249,562, which REAL has already executed with Broadus Construction. Ordellas said the project is fully funded and that REAL is not asking the city for construction dollars.

The presentation emphasized transit service improvements that REAL has launched locally, including extended service hours and a 30-day-old on-demand service called Real Flash. Ordellas said Real Flash guarantees pickup within 30 minutes for a $2 fare and that an app is available for requests.

Ordellas walked council members through renderings and an aerial site plan, describing vehicle circulation, passenger drop-off points and a secondary temporary retention pond intended for short-term water mitigation while broader drainage work occurs. He said the campus will include a dedicated regional training center intended to host 26 rural systems and future urban partners and estimated the project would create 15–20 full-time positions when operational.

Council members did not take formal action on the presentation; several expressed appreciation and asked REAL to coordinate permits and preconstruction work with city staff. Ordellas encouraged use of local subcontractors and said Broadus Construction will hold a vendor workshop to engage local businesses.

Why it matters: REAL described the project as a regional transportation hub that, if built as presented, would expand local transit capacity, bring maintenance jobs to Alice and create rentable community space. The organization repeatedly said the construction contract is funded and that the city will not be asked for capital money at this time.

Ordellas: \"We have an app. We have an app. We are somebody,\" and he summarized Real Flash as \"guaranteed 30 minute pickup at $2 each way.\" He also said the construction contract with Broadus is in place and that REAL has coordinated with TxDOT and the Federal Transit Administration on funding and permitting.

The council did not vote on the presentation. REAL staff said they will continue permitting discussions with city staff and begin visible preconstruction activity at the site in the coming days.","Rural Economic Assistance League (REAL) presented final designs and a timeline for a funded, regional multimodal operations and maintenance facility at 349 Farm-to-Market 1554, saying the project requires no city construction funding and will include training space, vehicle maintenance and a rentable events center.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance — Alice City Council, Jan. 28, 2025

Council adopts excavation, road-closure and utility-reporting ordinance with fees and cease-work authority

Residents press council on natatorium operations as YMCA contract is discussed in closed session

REAL unveils regional transit headquarters plan for FM 1554 site