Tomball council approves assessment update, extends Little League deal, OKs $58,000 Tyler Technologies payment, tightens outdoor-burning rules and ratifies land

The Tomball City Council on March 3 approved several routine and debated items, including an update to the annual service and assessment plan for Rayburn Reserve Improvement Area 3, a $58,000 expenditure to Tyler Technologies for a computer‑aided dispatch (CAD) system, a five‑year extension of the maintenance agreement with Tomball Little League for the Wayne Stovall Sports Complex, an amendment to the fire code removing permission for outdoor burning during major land‑clearing operations, and the ratification of a contract to purchase property at 827 Village Square Drive.

The actions affect property assessments, public safety operations, park facilities and a pending property acquisition for the city. Council members voted to approve each item; meeting minutes record the motions as carrying unanimously.

Ordinance update for Rayburn Reserve Improvement Area 3: The council adopted, on what the meeting records identifies as second reading, ordinance number 202507 to approve the annual service and assessment plan update for 2025. The ordinance notes that the assessments are due and to be collected by Jan. 31, 2026. Megan, a staff member who presented the item, told the council the ordinance follows the recent bond sale for the improvement area. The council moved and seconded the ordinance and voted to adopt it on the record; the vote was recorded as "motion carries unanimously."

Tyler Technologies expenditure: Councilmembers approved an expenditure to Tyler Technologies of $58,000 to cover travel costs tied to the CAD system implementation. Tom, a staff member, said, "This is for funding for travel that was in the initial PO from the year before that was not spent, that they had to go ahead and move it into this year because the travel was at the end of the of the project." Several councilmembers pressed for budgetary clarity; one member warned, "going forward this next year, I think everybody on this council is gonna be counting every nickel and dime," and asked whether the travel was necessary for consultants who came from Dallas. Staff replied the expense was in the original budget.

Tomball Little League agreement extension: The council approved a five‑year extension of the maintenance and operation agreement with Tomball Little League for fields and facilities at the Wayne Stovall Sports Complex. Megan, a staff member, clarified that the extension does not increase the city's utility cap beyond the existing $25,000: "The 25,000 was in the original agreement, so we pay up to 25,000 of utilities, and after that, they have to pay." She also said language allowing automatic CPI adjustments was removed from the amended agreement because that escalation did not apply to this contract type: "That language was removed from the agreement." Council discussion noted that the league had about 900 children sign up at a recent registration and that the city has previously budgeted up to $40,000 in some years to support facility upgrades such as lighting. Council clarified that any additional funding beyond adopted budgets would require future council approval.

Fire code amendment on outdoor burning: On first reading the council adopted ordinance number 202512, which removes language permitting outdoor burning for major land‑clearing operations from the fire code while retaining allowances for controlled agricultural or prescribed burns related to disease or livestock needs. Joe, a staff member presenting the item, said the ordinance removes the specific land‑clearing allowance discussed at a prior meeting. The motion passed with a recorded "motion carries unanimously."

Ratification of property purchase: After an executive session, the council returned to ratify a contract to purchase property at 827 Village Square Drive. David, a staff member, described the item as a staff request to ratify the contract: "that's just a staff request, Council to approve the ratification of that contract." The motion to ratify carried unanimously.

Votes at a glance: The council approved the Rayburn Reserve Improvement Area 3 assessment plan update (Ordinance No. 202507, adopted on second reading); approved a $58,000 expenditure to Tyler Technologies for CAD system travel costs; approved a five‑year extension with Tomball Little League for maintenance at the Wayne Stovall Sports Complex (utilities cap unchanged at $25,000; CPI escalation language removed); adopted on first reading Ordinance No. 202512 removing outdoor burning for major land clearing from the fire code; and ratified the contract to purchase 827 Village Square Drive. Several consent agenda items were approved in a single motion after items 4 and 10 were removed for separate discussion.

The council convened in executive session under the Texas Open Meetings Act to consult with the city attorney and to discuss real property and personnel matters, then returned and completed the property ratification before adjourning.