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Votes at a glance: Freeport council ratifies DOE contract, awards repairs and approves grants and bank signatories
Summary
The Freeport City Council approved multiple routine and hurricane‑damage related items Oct. 1, including ratification of a 10‑year DOE water service contract, several repair contracts and updates to bank signatories; most motions were unanimous.
The Freeport City Council approved a series of resolutions, contracts and awards on Oct. 1. Most votes were unanimous; a handful were 4–1. Council moved quickly through routine business, ratified a 10‑year contract with the U.S. Department of Energy for water service at the Bryan Mound Strategic Petroleum Reserve site, approved multiple hurricane‑damage repair contracts, updated bank and investment account signatories, and increased the local business improvement grant fund for the current fiscal year.
Key outcomes (motions, movers/seconds and results):
- Mobile office placement (Agenda 4(b)): Council approved placement and use of a mobile office at the 1000 block of West Second Street and South Velasco for up to 90 days. Motion passed unanimously (mover: Councilman Matamoros; second: Councilman Raso).
- Amerisco AMI contract (Agenda 4(c)): See a separate article for full coverage. Council approved the Amerisco contract 4–1 (mover: Councilman Matamoros; second: Councilman Raso).
- Ratify contract with U.S. Department of Energy (Agenda 4(d)): Council ratified a 10‑year contract for the city to provide water‑only services to the Bryan Mound facility, with the federal government paying outside‑city commercial rates (staff cited average payments near $10,800 per month and an annual obligation of roughly $1.3 million under the contract). Motion passed 5–0 (mover: Councilman Matamoros; second: Councilman Raso).
- Remove nominee from Brazoria County Appraisal District (Agenda 4(e)): Council amended a previously approved nomination resolution to remove Carla Clark at her request. Motion carried 4–1 (mover: Councilman Davis; second: Councilman Raso).
- Award depository contract to Texas Gulf Bank (Agenda 4(f)): After an RFA process with five respondents, staff recommended Texas Gulf Bank (the incumbent) for city depository services. Motion passed unanimously.
- Local Business Improvement Grant (second reading, Agenda 4(g)): Council adopted a resolution to raise the one‑year allocation for the business improvement grant from $150,000 to $300,000 to address needs arising from this year's hurricane, with applications accepted through the fiscal year or until funds are exhausted. Motion carried 4–1.
- Surplus and donation of body‑worn cameras (Agenda 4(h)) and in‑car cameras (Agenda 4(i)): The council deemed the replaced body‑worn and in‑car camera systems surplus and approved donating the devices "as‑is" to Alvin Independent School District Police Department (body‑worn cameras) and Angleton Police Department (in‑car cameras). Council discussed end‑of‑life status, data wiping and liability releases. Both motions passed unanimously.
- Updated account signatories and pool authorization (Agenda 4(j, 4(k), 4(k/4l)): Council approved resolutions updating Citibank account signatories and TexPool designated signatories so that the former finance director was removed and staff and the mayor remain as authorized signers. Motions passed unanimously.
- CDBG co‑op grant agreement with Brazoria County (Agenda 4(l)): Council accepted a $220,000 Community Development Block Grant allocation (the county receives HUD funds and allocates to participating cities) to install multiple valves across the city’s water system. The city’s required match of $8,000 was included in the budget. Motion passed unanimously.
- Hurricane‑damage repair contracts (Agenda 4(m, 4(n), 4(o), 4(p)): The council awarded multiple repair contracts to address hurricane damage at municipal facilities and parks. Major awards included TRACON for Freeport Municipal Golf Course structure replacement ($71,635), TRACON for Riverside Park roofs ($71,465), TRACON for dugout roofing/structure replacements ($45,480), and Hogg Construction Services for Municipal Park structure replacements ($38,477). Staff said FEMA funding is being pursued to cover 75% of eligible costs; the city will fund remaining amounts and return with budget amendments as needed. All four awards were approved (motions passed unanimously).
- Other housekeeping and administrative motions: Council approved the updated Citibank and TexPool signatories and other administrative items without objection.
What this means: The session combined a high‑profile, contested capital item (the Amerisco meter replacement contract) with routine municipal business — bank designations, small‑scale grant acceptances and repair contracts stemming from storm damage. Several items depend on external funding (CDBG, FEMA, municipal financing) and/or administrative follow‑through (financing terms, legal agreements, delivery of donated equipment with liability releases).
Votes at a glance – selected rollup (summary): • Agenda 4(b) Mobile office (placement/use) — Passed unanimous • Agenda 4(c) Amerisco AMI contract — Passed 4–1 • Agenda 4(d) DOE contract ratification — Passed 5–0 • Agenda 4(e) Remove Carla Clark (BCAD nominee) — Passed 4–1 • Agenda 4(f) Texas Gulf Bank depository award — Passed unanimous • Agenda 4(g) Business improvement grant increase to $300,000 (this fiscal year only) — Passed 4–1 • Agenda 4(h,i) Surplus donations (body‑worn and in‑car cameras to Alvin ISD PD and Angleton PD) — Passed unanimous • Agenda 4(j,k) Citibank/TexPool signatory updates — Passed unanimous • Agenda 4(l) CDBG co‑op grant acceptance ($220,000) — Passed unanimous • Agenda 4(m–p) Hurricane repair contracts (TRACON, Hogg Construction) — Passed unanimous
Council will return to several items when financing is finalized (Amerisco), when FEMA/CDBG reimbursements are confirmed, or for administrative follow‑up (account signatories and grant program administration).
