Fulshear council approves MOU with Forever Fulshear after debate over staffing and funding

The Fulshear City Council approved a memorandum of understanding with Forever Fulshear that designates the nonprofit as the lead for Keep Fulshear Beautiful events and sets the city funding level under the MOU at $8,000 with defined, limited staff support.

Council members debated two MOU options that staff presented: Option A, staff’s recommendation, set a city contribution of $6,000 and limited city staff involvement to basic facility access; Option B — requested by Forever Fulshear and presented by Ramona Ridge, Forever Fulshear’s executive director — would raise the city’s contribution to $8,000 and identify one designated city staff member to provide event-day operational support. Council voted to approve Option B after a motion to do so; one council member registered opposition during the roll call.

Why it matters: Forever Fulshear runs the city’s Keep Fulshear Beautiful (KFB) initiative and coordinates sponsorships that reduce the city’s outlay. The MOU clarifies which organization is responsible for the events and restricts the city’s obligation when sponsorships fall short, a change staff said is intended to reduce the strain on multiple city departments.

Details and debate City staff told the council that the city previously contributed as much as $12,000 per year toward KFB. In the most recent year, city records presented to the council show total reported event expenses of $14,236, sponsorship revenue of $9,300 and a city payment of $5,065. Staff said the admin fee for Forever Fulshear’s coordination is $1,200 and that fee would be covered within either the $6,000 or $8,000 funding option.

Ramona Ridge described the work that fee covers: “It is about three to four weeks of work organizing the event, without the help of staff,” she said, adding the $600 per event covers sponsor outreach, coordinating with grocery partners and arranging volunteers and supplies.

Council members who supported Option B cited uncertainty in sponsorship revenue and the program’s community value. “If we cut too deep we put a lot of pressure on sponsorships and we all know sponsorships aren’t guaranteed,” one council member said in support of the higher funding level. Opponents urged that the city not become the primary funder for a program the MOU declares to be Forever Fulshear’s program.

Staff support and logistics Under Option B the city would identify one designated staff member — the agreement specifies a limited, operational role rather than the broad, multi-department support the city previously provided, staff said. City staff said existing functions such as unlocking the Irene Stern Community Center for the events and providing the facility free of charge remain part of the arrangement.

Next steps The approved MOU will go into effect as drafted; staff said the agreement is renewable annually for up to five years and they will return to council annually with updates on sponsorships, expenses and program outcomes.

Ending Council members and Forever Fulshear representatives said they will continue coordination to refine logistics and improve sponsor recruitment; staff also said they will track how the revised MOU affects departmental workloads and city costs.