Joshua City Council approves waste franchise renewal, chamber agreement and emergency services deals; rejects House bill 924

The Joshua City Council voted on a series of contract, land-use and budget items, approving the city—ranchise renewal for solid waste collection, a conditional use permit for recreational-vehicle storage, the restoration of a funding agreement with the Joshua Area Chamber of Commerce with revised reporting, a seven-year municipal lease for a fire department brush truck and an interlocal emergency-services agreement. The council also passed a resolution expressing opposition to House Bill 924 related to state sales-tax sourcing.

The approvals came during the council genda after a work-session discussion in which staff and outside contractors explained terms and timelines. Councilmembers moved and seconded each item in public motions; the council recorded unanimous votes on the listed approvals and the opposition resolution.

Solid waste franchise renewal: The council approved a franchise renewal with Waste Connections under the option described as "option 3," which continues twice-weekly pickup for residential customers, discontinues curbside recycling collection and preserves small commercial roll-off exclusivity. Abel Moreno, district manager for Waste Connections, told the council residents may keep their current recycling bins or request pickup on a bulk collection day; the company plans to begin cart deliveries in mid-April and transition service around May 1 if the agreement is executed. The staff presentation described a monthly residential charge in the new option as $15.50 (an increase compared with current charges). The motion to accept the consent/agreement was moved by Councilmember Johnny and seconded by Councilmember Dakota and carried unanimously.

Conditional use permit for RV storage (410 N. Broadway): The council approved a conditional use permit for approximately 4.28 acres in the Chaney Survey (abstract 175) in the C-2 General Commercial district to allow storage of multiple recreational vehicles. Planning staff noted the C-2 district permits RV storage via a conditional use permit so the city can impose conditions to mitigate neighborhood impacts; the applicant did not specify a final unit count. Councilmember Johnny moved to approve the permit; Councilmember Shelley seconded and the motion passed.

Chamber funding agreement (EDC and Joshua Area Chamber of Commerce): The council restored a previously paused funding agreement between the Type A economic development corporation and the Joshua Area Chamber of Commerce after the chamber resolved outstanding 501(c)(3) and IRS paperwork. Staff said the funding is already in the Type A budget and requires no budget amendment. The council required a modification to Section 3 of the agreement to require written reports to the EDC at least quarterly and identified Nora (incoming staff liaison) as the city—ontact who will attend chamber meetings and provide oversight. The motion to approve the agreement with that change passed on a unanimous voice vote.

Brush truck municipal lease: Staff recommended a municipal lease through Community Leasing Partners for a new brush truck for the fire department, offering 5-, 7- and 10-year financing options; staff recommended the 7-year option and the council adopted that option. The fire chief said the vehicle was near completion and likely to arrive within days. The council authorized execution of the lease with the 7-year term; council recorded a unanimous vote on the motion.

Interlocal agreement for emergency services: The council approved execution of an interlocal agreement with the local Emergency Services District (ESD) for the provision of emergency services, following an executive-session consultation with the city attorney under Texas Government Code Sec. 551.071. A motion accepting the interlocal agreement passed unanimously.

Resolution on state sales-tax sourcing: Councilmembers discussed proposed state legislation and moved to pass a resolution expressing opposition to House Bill 924 (a bill discussed in the meeting as addressing state sales-tax sourcing/point-of-delivery rules). The council voted to pass the resolution and will forward it to the city istrict representative.

Votes at a glance - Solid waste franchise renewal (Waste Connections) — motion by Johnny; second Dakota; outcome: approved (unanimous). Key terms: twice-weekly pickup, curbside recycling discontinued, resident option to keep or request retrieval of recycling bins; cart orders expected mid-April; effective transition target May 1; monthly residential rate listed in staff comments as $15.50. - Conditional use permit (RV storage, 4.28 acres, 410 N. Broadway) — motion by Johnny; second Shelley; outcome: approved. Permit conditions and maximum unit count: not specified by applicant. - Joshua Area Chamber funding agreement (EDC) — motion by Shelley; second Angela; outcome: approved with modification to Section 3 requiring at least quarterly written reports to the EDC and Nora named as city liaison. - Municipal lease for fire brush truck (Community Leasing Partners, 7-year option) — motion by Johnny; second Moe; outcome: approved. Vehicle nearing completion; final payment at end of lease, then city ownership. - Interlocal agreement with ESD (emergency services) — motion by [council]; second Dakota; outcome: approved (unanimous). Action followed executive-session legal consultation under Texas Government Code Sec. 551.071. - Resolution opposing House Bill 924 (state sales-tax sourcing) — motion by Shelby; second Dakota; outcome: approved (unanimous). The resolution will be forwarded to the city istrict representative.

Context and next steps: Staff will finalize contract documents, communicate service changes and billing details to residents, and coordinate delivery/inspection timelines for the new brush truck. The council asked staff to ensure clear resident notification about the recycling change and collection schedules. The chamber agreement includes ongoing reporting to the EDC; Nora is the incoming city liaison and will begin coordinating monthly/quarterly updates with the chamber.

Ending: The council moved remaining agenda items and adjourned after routine staff reports that included park-surface progress and vandalism prevention measures.