Clute council ratifies disaster‑recovery contracts, adopts water‑conservation plan and updates alcohol rules

The Clute City Council on Thursday approved a group of resolutions and an ordinance related to disaster recovery, debris services, transit governance, municipal boards, water planning and alcohol service rules.

The council voted unanimously to ratify a task order with CSRS Inc. for FEMA Public Assistance management services (Resolution 20‑125) and to award debris‑monitoring contracts to True North and Tetra Tech (Resolution 21‑2025). Councilmembers also approved an interlocal agreement with Brazosport College that allows the city’s debris contractor to collect storm debris from the college campus under the city’s FEMA reimbursement umbrella (Resolution 22‑2025). GrantWorks was added as an on‑call grant management resource under a master service agreement (Resolution 23‑2025).

Council appointed Suzanne Paribour and Sherry Atkins to the Parks and Recreation Board (Resolution 24‑2025) and adopted the city’s updated water conservation plan, which includes the city’s drought‑contingency plan and utility profile required by the Texas Water Development Board (Resolution 25‑2025).

The council also approved changes to the bylaws for the Gulf Coast Transit District and named an official proxy for the city (Resolution 26‑2025). Councilmembers said the transit district will pilot a new fixed route connecting Freeport, Brazosport College, Clute and Angleton and will continue point‑to‑point options through the summer.

On alcohol regulation, the council adopted Ordinance O‑11‑2025 to update definitions and modernize the city’s on‑premise alcohol rules and to remove long‑expired grandfathered locations. Councilmembers added an explicit revision to allow alcohol service at city parks for events approved by the city council; the change replaces a prior phrasing that relied on city co‑sponsorship.

Most measures passed unanimously on single motions. Council members and staff said the measures were intended to formalize procurement and recovery work related to Hurricane Barrel and to keep multiple contractors in place so the city retains capacity if a vendor is sold or cannot perform.

Motions and outcomes (selected): - Resolution 20‑125 (CSRS task order for FEMA Public Assistance management): motion to approve by Councilman Aguilar; second by Councilperson Maddox; outcome: unanimous approval. - Resolution 21‑2025 (award debris‑monitoring contracts to True North and Tetra Tech): motion to approve and unanimous approval. - Resolution 22‑2025 (interlocal with Brazosport College for debris collection): motion by Councilman Aguilar; second by Councilperson Maddox; unanimous approval. - Resolution 23‑2025 (GrantWorks master service agreement): motion and unanimous approval. - Resolution 24‑2025 (appoint Parks & Recreation Board members Suzanne Paribour and Sherry Atkins): motion and unanimous approval. - Resolution 25‑2025 (adopt water conservation plan required by TWDB): motion by Councilman Criss; unanimous approval. - Resolution 26‑2025 (approve revisions to Gulf Coast Transit District bylaws and appoint proxy): motion and unanimous approval. - Ordinance O‑11‑2025 (update alcohol regulations, remove grandfathered locations, require annual reporting): adopted with amendment to permit alcohol at city parks for events approved by city council; unanimous vote.

Several motions included instructions to the city attorney to finalize contracts and allowed staff to return with revised contract language if awardees could not reach agreement. Council members emphasized that having two vendors for debris monitoring reduces the risk of losing coverage if a firm is sold or otherwise becomes unable to perform.

The council also approved the consent agenda, which included minutes from the April 10, 2025 meeting.