[{"_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",6324768,"mediaKeyId","2335997-07ab9274b9e79800f04205335e6a9f91","parentId",2335997,"title","After executive session, Tomball council unanimously approves up-to-$150,000 legal expenditure with Nelson & Nelson","audioSeconds",43,"startMs",10214000,"endMs",10257000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2335997-07ab9274b9e79800f04205335e6a9f91&start=10214&end=10257","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2335997-07ab9274b9e79800f04205335e6a9f91/thumbnail_10214000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6324768/Tomball/Harris-County/Texas/After-executive-session-Tomball-council-unanimously-approves-up-to-150000-legal-expenditure-with-Nelson-Nelson","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6324768-db1523ae2a19606744d363e908b8ab8c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203403&Signature=fVeZnLOzrUuxoU04tGcKZDz39~w33z~-JMH6~uGODzrnfpn2wSTKrvkq-8pxYZ~rJAWu5padlNRDFOK~ZJdBDCboW4Otf~-qEzaVjR4Ru0zW4BsVm9aixzYm8e5ujCJb8JL4BqiLnjKgh97s6p-sYKeqBcqvWmMOr6f995cQMIhOdLIcdVSA9l1dJPwLeWXGPuP7qkKV6A17Q-DAFt4lhom29akkXJsmzLQASGh34hwjN0yhTPq5MsBY5I30jDByc8NeQkTzqAMqLijwojvww3bRQRpoK1MSdqdAUwnN4id8t6-m-7QXTFJT3w4etjLwFQ3hWMOtPZ9ns3t7dNsFTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Tomball, TX","date","2025-02-18T14:11:23Z","article","Tomball — After a closed executive session under the Texas Open Meetings Act, the Tomball City Council on Feb. 17 voted unanimously to approve an increase in the expenditure for legal services with the law firm Nelson & Nelson, not to exceed $150,000, and authorized the city manager to execute the related documents.

The council announced before recessing for closed session that it would meet under Title 5, Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code for attorney consultation (section 551.071), real-property deliberations (section 551.072), and personnel matters (section 551.074). After returning from executive session, the council moved and approved the expenditure increase with a unanimous vote.

Why it matters: The item authorizes a larger contract budget for outside legal services and was handled following closed-session consultation with counsel. Council did not provide further public detail about the precise matters discussed in executive session; those matters are subject to the attorney-client and executive-session privileges described during the meeting.

What council recorded: A motion was made and seconded on the floor to approve the funding increase and authorization; the mayor called for the vote and the motion carried unanimously. The staff memo and any contract documents were not read into the public record during the open session beyond the motion language authorizing the expenditure and execution authority.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular City Council Meeting February 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Following an executive session under the Texas Open Meetings Act, the council authorized increasing legal services spending with Nelson & Nelson to a total not to exceed $150,000 and directed the city manager to execute related documents.","taxTitle","Tomball, Harris County, Texas","taxId",64481,"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},6324774,"Council votes down one-year lease extension for day-labor site; to revisit with data",643,4251000,4894000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2335997-07ab9274b9e79800f04205335e6a9f91&start=4251&end=4894","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2335997-07ab9274b9e79800f04205335e6a9f91/thumbnail_4251000.jpg","/articles/6324774/Tomball/Harris-County/Texas/Council-votes-down-one-year-lease-extension-for-day-labor-site-to-revisit-with-data","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6324774-177f012a6b86ad5adf4416869384dd25/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203403&Signature=G3uIauam4~UT~-6il36YnDLZOFVafFRwCmKutDfw3oNOTMjf~KQAPQrWdqRUTkph7YJ78AthwwtY6KLTSFNqEcoxpGh9NkKUzhFD2ZooSEM92tQ83O1YB~bBAWikYV0I6SkNbi8DdhhuNAeGqEGyA5eqRJXoZibFhbeCLrVqoUixQmXUvagOpiUTiaklw5eEupIpIoNYGa7rF-0A5XTWFX-xQHfL3KjLLRMWEAoaMY3J6wQdCFSOANKL~84A~rdmCMiBspwOKog2S9QNUYr9h9nCHQ3uy3YkqHhwbsYW7M8NW9NgY5B5B8034KQryNDFYafcX-Uu6~neR92a41Ep3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tomball — The City Council on Feb. 17 voted against a proposed one-year lease extension with Frank and Russell Denina for a 3.5-acre parcel off Mechanic Street used as the city's day-labor site; the motion to extend failed.

City staff had proposed a one-year amendment that would cap the city’s annual payment at $7,000 to cover taxes; the 2024 tax total for the parcel was reported at $7,660, meaning the cap would not fully cover taxes. The proposed amendment shortened a previously typical two-year extension to a single year to allow near-term reassessment.

Public-safety staff described occasional incidents at the site but said it is not a major call-for-service location. Detective Bryce Smith of the Tomball Police Department told council the site has seen some drinking and isolated incidents over the past years but “we don't have a lot of calls for service over there.” He said the number of day laborers present on any given day varies by time and demand.

Why council declined the extension: Several council members said they were reluctant to continue paying city resources for a site with uncertain future demand and movable populations. Council members and staff noted the city provides porta‑potties, tables and cleanup responsibilities; police said the site has triggered periodic calls for service. Several members suggested a shorter monitoring period and returning to the council in six months with collected data on usage and calls before considering a new lease.

Next steps: Council members discussed options for monitoring and managing displacement if the lease is not renewed, including outreach to the parcel owner and tracking whether the day-labor population moves to other public locations. The staff motion to approve the one-year extension failed on the vote recorded in the meeting minutes; council indicated they will revisit the topic after a data-driven review period.","Council rejected a one-year extension of the city day-labor site lease with Frank and Russell Denina. Councilmembers cited service costs, occasional public-safety calls and uncertainty about future need; several members recommended monitoring for six months and revisiting.",{"_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},6324778,"Council takes no action on developer appeal of tree-preservation buffer tied to pipeline easement",1930,2257000,4187000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2335997-07ab9274b9e79800f04205335e6a9f91&start=2257&end=4187","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2335997-07ab9274b9e79800f04205335e6a9f91/thumbnail_2257000.jpg","/articles/6324778/Tomball/Harris-County/Texas/Council-takes-no-action-on-developer-appeal-of-tree-preservation-buffer-tied-to-pipeline-easement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6324778-d30e48035681b84d271655bfdb56977f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203403&Signature=VZKp7VDKfOpIZgRHLdVBKMbZDd-5uUnLXQqsoFt3M7LUuQ-6R2xwV7ZPO9MTG077rbGDyNY7lbVeaFZdaxZVsSzFjWh5G2Vx8wbeSur8HNVZNdK-nSRudNhNf0kceexX5STaqQpH5h45JOldGMMFDETnmCvKJmQSGF790BkEgkJUKGv5bulTlW7G3K5tHAZAnlPjLwzHECMsITuwhuMeRY0RDtUZjqPWKCgtmR0qwCEJ4izvPg01Ap~lkv3Woff1Tj2tbegSOGdM-~h2L2P5H3QWRmNnKcYHu5B0eGklG38bUVGrQNFO1fAkYqhEXTAY7CdOlrJ8T~EmdPxqq5gKXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tomball — The City Council on Feb. 17 heard an appeal from Investment and Development Ventures LLC seeking relief from buffer-zone requirements in Article 11 (tree preservation) where a 30-foot pipeline easement runs along the property’s eastern boundary. Council ultimately recommended no action while urging the developer to pursue agreements to preserve tree screening for adjacent homeowners.

City planning staff explained the code requires an 18-foot buffer when development abuts single-family residential zoning but reduces that buffer to 15 feet where a “parallel easement” such as a pipeline exists. The developer requested relief from the 15-foot buffer outside the pipeline easement because the combined 30-foot pipeline easement plus a 15-foot buffer would remove nearly 45 feet of developable width, the developer said.

Craig, the presenting planner, warned the council that the pipeline easement is controlled by the pipeline company and “if the pipeline company comes in and clears it, which they have every right to do and we can't stop them, they're not bound because we legally can't require them to replace or do anything. It would just be bare land.” Council members noted Tandem Energy was identified as the pipeline owner and that the line is active.

Why it matters: Residents on the northeastern edge of the property would face a direct view into future development if the pipeline easement were cleared, councilmembers said. Several council members pressed the developer to find ways to retain a vegetated buffer — for example, acquiring or obtaining maintenance assurances from the homeowner association land north of the site — rather than relying on mitigation requirements that apply off-site.

Developer response and next steps: The developer told council representatives they had verbal agreement from Tandem Energy to allow paving to the pipeline’s centerline and said they would seek written documentation. The developer also said that without relief the project’s leasable building area — and therefore its tax potential — would be substantially reduced. Council member discussion concluded with a recommendation to take no action on the appeal at this meeting and ask the developer to return with alternatives, agreements or documentation to preserve screening for nearby homeowners.

Council guidance to staff and developer included evaluating whether the developer could acquire or contract with the HOA for the forested triangle and whether Tandem Energy would provide a written agreement permitting the developer’s proposed improvements. The council did not vote to grant the appeal.","Investment and Development Ventures LLC asked the council to reduce a buffer requirement where a 30-foot pipeline easement abuts residential lots. Council deferred action and urged the developer to seek arrangements that preserve the tree buffer behind existing homes.",{"_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},6324784,"Tomball council approves first reading of conditional use permit for 1211 Bridal Drive day care, adds access and hours conditions",1137,1003000,2140000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2335997-07ab9274b9e79800f04205335e6a9f91&start=1003&end=2140","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2335997-07ab9274b9e79800f04205335e6a9f91/thumbnail_1003000.jpg","/articles/6324784/Tomball/Harris-County/Texas/Tomball-council-approves-first-reading-of-conditional-use-permit-for-1211-Bridal-Drive-day-care-adds-access-and-hours-conditions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6324784-6f096476dc2b014519ed7bd7f86837bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203403&Signature=MKYB5oOgWSDSrlE5W7WR5NllX4s24184~WyHKoF1BPwXd2OzcR2V8E9XvWDpyAltCiZ0NZ-GjjHiWj4CKG-Av1JFct4I0UFHswxA-MrwE~QYbnyoVc~a71FPdB6aQJCVOX09rbqPukbwMn~WuNVOGgnuE3EPCEs-sL8SJKUkzo~Djh6TZwWqT7apNLsDz0MkOwAwNwsaKyOncW2i1A0q2MjB98h1sS-Sa1~bgz9xItVujCPdAtJ4vQovO-vngaIabuddu5CQpoTJSPin3Smn3PFalPd5Q-DqQypSgpRE7xzIaDsv1-W6xk2~D25Unwxdf6~WEd4tJXuMgWRTPpTl8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tomball — The City Council on Feb. 17 approved on first reading a conditional use permit for a child day care planned at 1211 Bridal Drive, subject to amended conditions including hours of operation, Planning & Zoning requirements and a written access agreement with the nearby Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) parking area.

The amended motion, made and read into the record by Councilmember Lisa, added operating hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., incorporated five conditions recommended by the Planning & Zoning Commission and required “a written agreement must be entered into with the VA to allow for access to their parking lot in Klein Drive” before further approvals, Lisa said. The amended motion carried unanimously on the council floor.

The move follows a redesign presented to council staff that adds a single-lane drive aisle to eliminate a dead-end in the parking lot, shows a proposed playground, and adds four parking spaces. Craig, the city planner presenting the item, said the redesign “eliminates the dead end in the parking lot” and that the additional four spaces raised the facility’s parking calculation to support up to 81 children under the city’s parking ratio (one parking space per three children).

Why it matters: Council members had pressed staff and the applicant to resolve vehicle access and safety concerns before final approval. Council explicitly required a cross-access arrangement or other written agreement with the VA to ensure daily ingress and egress from the day care will not rely on an unrecorded or disputed right-of-way.

Key council concerns and conditions: Council and staff clarified several points that will be incorporated into the second-reading ordinance: the Planning & Zoning Commission’s five conditions (painted red curb along Bridal Drive to prohibit parking, no stopping/standing signs on Rudall Drive frontage, three on-site drop-off/pickup spaces, a fence along the southern property line, and fencing around the on-site detention pond); enforceable hours of operation; and a recorded or otherwise written cross-access easement or similar agreement with the VA to allow the day care to use the VA driveway for regular daily access. City staff said if the development does not match the approved concept plan the ordinance provisions are enforceable in the same manner as other ordinances.

Applicant operations and capacity: Materials distributed by the day care operators stated a capacity of 80 children and hours from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.; at the council meeting staff and the applicant clarified intended weekday hours would extend to 10 p.m. to accommodate hospital shift workers. Council questioned inconsistencies between the packet and the presentation; staff and the applicant said they would ensure ordinance language and the concept plan match operational claims before second reading.

Next steps: Council approved the ordinance on first reading as amended; the second reading will include the full set of Planning & Zoning conditions and the explicit access and hours language the council added. If the required written access agreement is not provided, staff recommended addressing the access condition before final ordinance adoption.","On first reading the City Council approved a conditional use permit for a proposed child day care at 1211 Bridal Drive, adding conditions on hours, Planning & Zoning stipulations and a required written access agreement with the VA.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

After executive session, Tomball council unanimously approves up-to-$150,000 legal expenditure with Nelson & Nelson

Council votes down one-year lease extension for day-labor site; to revisit with data

Council takes no action on developer appeal of tree-preservation buffer tied to pipeline easement

Tomball council approves first reading of conditional use permit for 1211 Bridal Drive day care, adds access and hours conditions