North Richland Hills council approves sewer contract, school zone and other measures; several items passed unanimously

The North Richland Hills City Council on Feb. 10 voted on a package of routine and substantive items, approving a Tarrant County construction contract for sanitary sewer work, changes to local parking and school‑zone rules, a permanent backyard‑chicken rule, and several internal and election‑related items.

A quick summary of the formal actions approved: the council recommended the award of a $157,349 Tarrant County contract for the Matteson Drive sanitary sewer replacement (a Community Development Block Grant project); adopted a parking restriction on part of North College Circle; expanded school speed‑zone boundaries near Fort Worth Christian School; removed the Nov. 30, 2025 sunset provision in the backyard‑chicken ordinance; authorized an amendment to a professional services agreement expanding a police department peer‑support program; approved a temporary change in the shop‑local “restaurant rewards” program (council raised the cash‑back rate and extended the program through April or until funds were exhausted); approved election logistics for May 3, 2025; and confirmed several board and commission appointments.

Why it matters: the CDBG sewer project addresses failing clay sewer lines for about 20 properties and will be paid by the federal/state grant program; the parking and school‑zone actions are intended to reduce crash and pedestrian risks at a curving section of North College Circle near multiple multifamily complexes and a private school; and the backyard‑chicken vote makes permanent a rule the council enacted in 2023 with a two‑year sunset. The peer‑support contract and shop‑local changes are spending or program‑management actions that affect staffing, public safety and local business incentives.

Votes at a glance (formal actions taken): - Resolution 2025‑15 — Recommend award of construction contract to Capital Underground Utilities LLC for Matteson Drive sanitary sewer improvements (CDBG): passed 7–0. Contract amount recommended: $157,349. Construction estimated ~45 calendar days; pipe bursting (trenchless) method to replace ~800 linear feet serving ~20 residences. - Ordinance 3889 — Amend code to restrict parking on North College Circle (north curb) to improve travel lane consistency and visibility: passed 6–1. (Council noted alternate options were discussed, including eliminating parking on both sides; council voted to restrict the north side.) - Ordinance 3890 — Amend school speed‑zone boundaries: established/clarified zones for Fort Worth Christian School (Holiday Lane, North College Circle, Bogart Drive, Abbott Ave): passed 7–0; council additionally directed the ordinance text be expanded to include the referenced intersections to align signing with field conditions. - Ordinance 3891 — Repeal the Nov. 30, 2025 sunset provision for the backyard‑chicken ordinance (make the rule permanent): passed 7–0. - Resolution 2025‑16 — Call the May 3, 2025 general election and authorize a joint election agreement with Tarrant County (early voting, mail ballot information, polling locations): passed 7–0. - Resolution 2025‑17 — Appointments to library board, planning and zoning and teen‑court advisory board (fills unexpired terms): passed 7–0. - Shop‑Local Rewards program amendment — Council raised the cash‑back offer (from 5%) and extended the program through April or until funds are exhausted; passed 7–0 (effective Valentine’s Day start discussed). Staff projected increased participation at higher cash‑back percentages. - Professional services amendment (peer support) — Authorized the city manager to execute an amendment with Readiness Group LLC to expand the North Richland Hills Police Department peer‑support program, increasing the agreement to a total not to exceed $145,660 through Nov. 1, 2026 using COPS FY24 Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act grant funds: passed 7–0. - Executive‑session authorization — Council authorized the city manager to negotiate and execute an economic development agreement related to three properties discussed in executive session: passed 7–0.

What the council did not do: the work session earlier clarified that the Feb. 10 work session was for discussion only; council took formal votes during the regular meeting. Several items discussed in work session (emergency preparedness presentation, TAG overview, fund balance policy and town‑hall formats) were informational or returned with staff requests for direction rather than final regulatory changes.

Staff and speakers quoted or on the record for the actions above include Nathan Froman (engineering presentation for the sewer contract), Beau Blankenship and other public works staff (North College Circle parking and school‑zone proposals), Stephanie Martinez (animal control/planning staff on the chicken ordinance), Alicia Richardson (election/city secretary staff), Craig Holes (economic development/shops program), and Ed Wright and Trudy (presenting TAG financials).