Tomball Economic Development Corporation staff told the city council at a joint workshop that the EDC closed on two strategic properties totaling 45.75 acres to support the South Live Oak redevelopment and proposed a fiscal year 2026 budget that would fund final design and operations for Tomball Legacy Square. The EDC presentation also outlined project grants, property requests and debt-service costs that the corporation said the city and EDC will continue to coordinate. "This is probably the the most exciting that we've been involved in, the past couple of weeks," said Kelly, TEDC staff, introducing aerial maps of the recently acquired sites. "We purchased that for, just over 2,400,000.0, and we closed on August 22." Kelly said the larger parcel is about 29.5 acres and the second parcel is 16.25 acres; the smaller parcel closed on July 25 for $1,915,000. The EDC presented a proposed fiscal 2026 budget that includes a $3,000,000 allocation for the Tomball Legacy Square project "for final design as well as maintenance repairs and operation," and a suggested $250,000 line item to expand the Summer Youth Employment Program. The presentation listed a proposed fiscal year 2026 total debt service of $2,270,635 and identified a $500,000 additional appropriation toward city debt service tied to the Southside Sewer Treatment Plant. The EDC summarized committed and projected project funds totaling $8,318,381, which the packet broke down as: committed funds of $5,018,381 (including $1,000,000 identified for Main Street utility relocations and $1,500,000 for Main Street tree upsizing), an estimated $1,000,000 in new project grants, and a $2,300,000 City of Tomball property request. The EDC also listed an approximate $700,000 carryover for an Alley amenity package for Old Town and a $500,000 line for South Live Oak maintenance and unexpected expenses. Staff told council the EDC is estimating $1,000,000 for potential property acquisition during the year. During discussion, staff said some active negotiations are under nondisclosure agreements and therefore would not be discussed in open session; those items were intended for executive session. The board noted that earlier this year it approved the EDC budget on Aug. 19 and that the workshop was the final public presentation before council consideration. The EDC packet shows a built-in 3% cost-of-living adjustment totaling $13,609 and an insurance increase the presentation attributed partly to Legacy Square exposures and bonding fees. Staff said the car-allowance line increased in total by about $3,000 in the proposed budget. The workshop record also shows the EDC and council convened an executive session citing Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, sections 551.072 (deliberations regarding real property) and 551.087 (economic development negotiations); staff said NDA-protected items would not be discussed in that session. The EDC presentation listed several next steps: a special EDC meeting scheduled for Sept. 23 and a joint EDC/council meeting set for Oct. 2 to kick off the Tomball Legacy Square feasibility study and receive an update from Studio Red. The EDC meeting adjourned after a motion to adjourn carried unanimously. Discussion vs. decision: the EDC board approved its draft budget on Aug. 19 (formal action by the board); at the workshop the EDC presented the budget to council for review and potential approval on the council agenda. Staff identified items for executive session and said some items were under NDA and would not be discussed publicly. No final council appropriation vote on the FY26 EDC budget was recorded in the workshop transcript.