[{"_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",6106341,"mediaKeyId","2781732-ecfe476f774df47d3baf7d637a24d66a","parentId",2781732,"title","Votes at a glance: council approves audit, contracts, rezonings, appointments and consent agenda","audioSeconds",3372,"startMs",364000,"endMs",3736000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2781732-ecfe476f774df47d3baf7d637a24d66a&start=364&end=3736","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2781732-ecfe476f774df47d3baf7d637a24d66a/thumbnail_364000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6106341/Tyler/Smith-County/Texas/Votes-at-a-glance-council-approves-audit-contracts-rezonings-appointments-and-consent-agenda","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106341-6f02f1870b6970e80b020ae469ebcb40/orig.mp4?Expires=1770771330&Signature=EgSsYu4bKXBXTF9XvPLk5x7zF3LY3cV20e56wCDX9acIEqYXkuc2X7yDT5g6RurCa7xAD5CLMjf6U1v4omyLc-gU2~o8FOCAkF6D26zMC9A5un1GQplHalCVjxqYSa420kLATPjPikIIPWg36EZyVV63IflMjHMZLKpTHMgJDhD0APyVxWdh8GdcXqP1mVZA4QD6iRvFO1hrzNGYRfMQHVCTdkZqb2WpdjOdz3PmfeJ~4SO-boo0gSyRdZWxUB2Yx-r-XAHZV2b1ixJvFlfjdWD5-eqyXAPgIsvaDYLmIWFz~T1jttbGsBIYCa74hC3ycXFSoaov8YOZRJVnnhtlMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tyler City, TX","date","2025-03-26T22:30:05.003Z","article","The Tyler City Council approved a set of routine and substantive items during Tuesday’s meeting, including acceptance of the city’s annual financial report, several contracts tied to utility and capital projects, multiple rezonings, a grant application resolution for emergency-response equipment and appointments to city boards.

Key outcomes

- Annual comprehensive financial report (ACFR): The council accepted the fiscal-year 2023–24 annual financial statements after a presentation by Kevin Cashin of Goelub, Morgan & Petty (external auditors). Cashin said the auditors issued an unmodified (clean) opinion and noted no material weaknesses in internal control. A motion to approve the report passed by voice vote.

- Consent agenda: The council approved the consent agenda as published.

- Contracts and capital projects: The council authorized a $1,516,869.87 contract with Pro Pipe for consent-decree Group 9 cleaning and CCTV of Basin 13 and a $151,198.92 contract with Advanced Water Wells Technology for well-survey Phase 2. The council also approved a $67,500 agreement with MHS Planning and Design to prepare design plans for Stewart Park and authorized a right-of-way use/parking-easement agreement associated with a downtown development (see separate article on downtown parking easement).

- Rezoning approvals: The council approved Z1/Z2 for the Cumberland Park concept amendment and Planned Multifamily rezoning and approved two additional infill rezonings (Kennedy/North Ross and North Gaston) to permit detached single-family development under R-1D standards.

- Grant resolution — homeland security equipment: The council approved submission of an application and acceptance of grant funding through the Office of the Texas Governor’s Homeland Security Grant Division / East Texas Council of Governments for state homeland security program funds. The Fire Department requested funds to acquire a Raman chemical detection device that can identify chemicals inside containers without opening them; staff said the device would be used by the regional hazmat and bomb teams.

- Board appointments: Council appointed members to the Disabilities Issues Review Board, Historical Preservation Board, Parks Board and Main Street Board; Robert Ogden was named chair for one board and several applicants were listed by name during the meeting record.

Vote details and procedure

Most motions in the transcript were carried by voice vote; the record shows motions, seconds and the chair calling “aye” with no roll-call tallies provided in the excerpt. Where the transcript recorded movers or seconders, that name is reported in the related article; where the record only shows voice approval, the vote tally is recorded as not specified in the meeting minutes excerpt.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting for March 26, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council accepted the annual financial report, approved multiple contracts and rezonings, authorized a grant application for a Raman chemical detector and filled several board vacancies; most motions passed by voice vote without recorded roll-call tallies in the transcript.","taxTitle","Tyler, Smith County, Texas","taxId",2813,"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},6106346,"Tyler Public Library wins Texas Achievement of Excellence in Libraries award; council asked to accept award",185,155000,340000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2781732-ecfe476f774df47d3baf7d637a24d66a&start=155&end=340","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2781732-ecfe476f774df47d3baf7d637a24d66a/thumbnail_155000.jpg","/articles/6106346/Tyler/Smith-County/Texas/Tyler-Public-Library-wins-Texas-Achievement-of-Excellence-in-Libraries-award-council-asked-to-accept-award","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106346-6b039133fad702c4b3c5d8655ababc1d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770771330&Signature=DkD5tWso9VBTCDOUTtCTc2eKnE-6y-NFAp5om99HY~XZAgsdsxJfExSJT-cCRgU97ejCjvXyLnDPNxUqgrNeW6r~k1YFs1fZqa6EegBxgUk6MpDbEPrCre34dGSBM8TcYl5mBp0miBsjlbtT5sI94fXAya3xTgSFwQeYcj2tPESriXfJYQOyZ83xv7oLcAxXfkaBUOvPQmSl0YdCD2P43KmeZaGAbuhlk8H2Fy4sF0SPMAaP52v1s-3ki3WfISKgTebDQ7ClMT5GVWp1zbzpW8OZhzcWFCc9eQ1hbXf1ESwfjMXzxLCmuobAxX9647-kpDud-CiMjoJ9RxWgoaR9Vg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Library staff told the City Council that Tyler Public Library has earned the Texas Municipal Library Directors Association 2024 Achievement of Excellence in Libraries award and asked the council to accept the award on the library’s behalf.

Ashley (Tyler Public Library) and a colleague described the application process and recognized library staff and programs. Councilmembers praised the library’s community programming, citing events such as Pi Day family activities and a pie contest that drew children and parents. A staff member noted the library is one of 102 systems that applied and is among the state’s top 19% of public library systems evaluated by the association.

Why it matters: City staff said the award recognizes broad library activity beyond lending books, including community programming and educational outreach.

Council action: The item was presented to the council for acceptance of the award; the transcript records congratulatory remarks from council members. No formal roll-call vote or ordinance number appears in the record for the award acceptance.","Library staff announced Tyler Public Library earned the 2024 Achievement of Excellence in Libraries award from the Texas Municipal Library Directors Association and asked the council to accept the recognition on behalf of the library.",{"_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},6106349,"Council approves Cumberland Park concept amendment, rezones and other infill requests",544,1774000,2318000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2781732-ecfe476f774df47d3baf7d637a24d66a&start=1774&end=2318","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2781732-ecfe476f774df47d3baf7d637a24d66a/thumbnail_1774000.jpg","/articles/6106349/Tyler/Smith-County/Texas/Council-approves-Cumberland-Park-concept-amendment-rezones-and-other-infill-requests","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106349-326a7d7f63c855363d6b55fd15b04d6a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770771330&Signature=fEzsDH5fIKWNmxufBzKhC~NkDeD2dpteB8p2uI3ASc2QMzLnoe7dEFRzzx~fdNrxvoTv0HPwKIk7d3csNSv37bGuB8EiRU-QPZqr6kQ~vVFs8IMilx6jSD3xEzpcxhwK68jE2j55Ml2NvU4Pc1sQvXb0iE8-OxpYjBPE-WfMerOLs0m3BEEWGCf~ucowEPnMFoKRQSPU31mSEMVGoRG5WDMiHD6ktMavuCFgl7DW~hliBp1bRPaqWfxaCPXq1GGVjdVYFCSMzPEFTQ-ZViVvBes9UxlWKL0zNEJg86mAux4p-dmfNj44an4U~jbs4iIVwziCU3b8lP070LIQXciP-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council approved a concept-plan amendment and accompanying rezoning for the Cumberland Road area and also approved separate rezones that will facilitate infill housing in the North End.

Kyle (Planning Department) presented a two-part request affecting the Cumberland Mall area: a concept-plan amendment (Z1) that updates the PCD concept plan and a zone-change request (Z2) to rezone a northeast parcel to Planned Multifamily to allow a horizontal multifamily development. Kyle said the applicant is submitting a site plan for phase one only; later phases will require additional site-plan approvals. He said the development proposes 251 single-story units on one large lot (a mix of detached units and duplexes), a density of about 6.2 units per acre, on-site open space and gated access. Neighbors submitted just under 6% protest under the original 2003 notice requirement, with concerns focused on loss of vegetation and drainage.

The planning commission recommended approval of both Z1 and Z2. The council voted to approve Z1 and then Z2; both motions carried by voice vote.

Other infill rezonings

The council also approved a rezoning for a corner lot at Kennedy and North Ross (Z3) from R-1B to R-1D to allow a detached single-family dwelling with a 15-foot rear setback instead of 25 feet. Kyle said the R-1D standards will provide the owner flexibility to orient the home and that surrounding properties include R-1B and some R-2 parcels.

A second infill rezoning (Z4) on North Gaston Avenue was approved that will allow subdivision into two lots and construction of two detached single-family homes; the planning commission recommended approval and staff reported no returned notices in opposition.

Why it matters: The approvals permit a mix of multifamily and detached infill housing in south and north neighborhoods; the Cumberland Park reconfiguration will change how the former mall area develops and adds lower-density multifamily adjacent to existing sixplexes and townhomes.

Council discussion and conditions

Council members asked staff to confirm that the Cumberland units will be single-story; staff confirmed that phase-one units are all single-story. Staff also noted the northeast and north buffers would remain to mitigate impacts on adjacent single-family neighborhoods. The council voted on each item separately as required by ordinance and approved them by voice vote.","The council approved a concept-plan amendment and rezoning for the Cumberland Park area (Z1 and Z2) to allow single-story planned multifamily development and also approved three nearby rezoning requests for infill 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},6106355,"Tyler reports steady progress on EPA consent decree; council approves cleaning, inspection and well-survey contracts",785,675000,1460000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2781732-ecfe476f774df47d3baf7d637a24d66a&start=675&end=1460","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2781732-ecfe476f774df47d3baf7d637a24d66a/thumbnail_675000.jpg","/articles/6106355/Tyler/Smith-County/Texas/Tyler-reports-steady-progress-on-EPA-consent-decree-council-approves-cleaning-inspection-and-well-survey-contracts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6106355-02b533bff9109167c6dcd95c6f7613cc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770771330&Signature=mydETO1DhX55IpkTLjOcunZnCEBoOufYdM78LrotBB8PvGPzJkr4FQDW0u-Lx9qNE2gSleTaOiOV1ZkOcQVLoJawqVLEqfnvve5amTQ~H9B15Z47dcr5nt0NbO98znXSpDO8xXdb6z2vlIvIkGkueTJ5iuqjazrnqcWathmNeIztmaS4Qdr7B8NJ2Rl5ueBKcJ9P6YKU77yDnBWQrJRJFELbIhUfDncVQDTIBkhuaL7zywtYe8RsCZUfBb9LKv9bmZfIRfkl5uQRoD0iT9bkgNd0pHR8PPa1Dp2sr8yaZskYF7b-J2lE2nbsllQR81VxQ5~W~aRINxGz8VYBEwhJfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tyler Water Utilities staff and consultants told the City Council on Tuesday that work under the city’s U.S. EPA consent decree is reducing sanitary-sewer overflows and that several related contracts were approved by the council.

At a presentation, Jim Forbes of Pipeline Analysis summarized nine years of work under the consent decree covering the wastewater collection system and urged continued investment after the decree ends. “We are currently at 1.8 SSOs per hundred miles as of this week,” Forbes said, citing the program’s downward trend since 2017.

The update explained maintenance and prevention programs the city has instituted, including a high-frequency cleaning program, a fat/oil/grease inspection program for food-service establishments, manhole and main-line inspections, reinspection cycles, targeted rehabilitation and capacity projects. Forbes emphasized that the consent decree’s work will need ongoing maintenance after the formal period ends: “At the end of this consent decree it doesn’t mean you can ignore your system again,” he said.

Why it matters: Sanitary-sewer overflows (SSOs) are the main compliance metric used by EPA and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The consent decree requires inspections, rehabilitation and reporting; staying below industry benchmarks supports the city’s path to compliance and eventual release from the decree after one full year of compliance.

Council action and contracts

The council approved the low-bid contract for consent-decree Group 9 cleaning and closed-circuit-television (CCTV) inspection for Basin 13 with Pro Pipe for $1,516,869.87. Tiffany Curry of Tyler Water Utilities said Basin 13 includes about 643,000 linear feet of pipe ranging from 6 to 42 inches and represents the reinspection required under the consent-decree schedule. The council motion to authorize the city manager to execute the contract passed following a standard vote.

Separately, the council authorized a capital improvements contract with Advanced Water Wells Technology for the well-survey Phase 2 project in the amount of $151,198.92. Project engineer Nikki Ingram said earlier camera surveys showed three wells (wells 2, 4 and 5) were in non-deteriorated condition and could be temporarily capped instead of permanently plugged, reducing cost. Phase 2 will temporarily cap wells 2, 4 and 5 and camera-survey eight remaining wells; a later phase will determine whether any wells must be permanently plugged or capped.

What council members asked

Council members asked for clarification on technical points and long-term implications. One councilmember asked Forbes to define an SSO; Forbes replied: “Sanitary sewer overflow is where there’s a blockage in the sewer, and it backs up the sewage and it comes up out of the manhole. If one drop leaves the system, that’s considered an SSO.” Another asked whether temporarily capped wells could return to service; Ingram said they could, but would require pump and piping reinstallation and “it could be costly.”

Details and next steps

Forbes and staff outlined primary SSO causes in 2024: sewer breaks (including force-main failures), contractor damage, creek-bank erosion affecting lines near creeks, and grease in the system. Staff reported grease-related SSOs fell from 21 in 2023 to six in 2024 after increased inspections and enforcement of grease-interceptor requirements. Reinspection and rehabilitation cycles are now in place on roughly a 7- to 10-year rotation to extend asset life and avoid failures. Group 6 rehabilitation was reported as on schedule; some capacity projects face potential delays from easements, permitting or material lead times.

The city’s work under the consent decree will continue to require staff programs, maintenance funding and contractor coordination after the decree’s formal completion. The consent decree requires the city to remain in compliance for one year following the 10-year schedule before seeking relief, a point Forbes reiterated during questions.","City consultants told the Tyler City Council the sewer consent decree is on track with declining sanitary-sewer overflows; council approved a $1.52 million cleaning and CCTV contract for Basin 13 and a $151,199 well-survey contract to avoid costly permanent well plugging.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: council approves audit, contracts, rezonings, appointments and consent agenda

Tyler Public Library wins Texas Achievement of Excellence in Libraries award; council asked to accept award

Council approves Cumberland Park concept amendment, rezones and other infill requests

Tyler reports steady progress on EPA consent decree; council approves cleaning, inspection and well-survey contracts