Katy council approves landscaping contracts, Pine Meadows drainage, Katy Hockley widening funding and a budget amendment

The Katy City Council on June 23 approved a series of resolutions and contracts that will fund routine landscape maintenance, a neighborhood drainage project and a major roadway widening, and adopted an amendment to the 2024–25 budget to account for ARPA-earned interest.

Council action included awards to Earth First Landscapes LLC and Maldonado Nursery and Landscaping Inc. for multi-year grounds maintenance and mowing contracts; a $426,925 construction award for the Pine Meadows drainage improvement project; authorization for the Katy Development Authority to use up to $9,711,472 in Metro funds for the Katy Hockley Road widening; acceptance of donated street rights-of-way in the Young Ranch subdivision; short-term utility billing assistance; consulting for the city’s chart of accounts; and an ordinance adjusting the city budget for ARPA interest.

Why it matters: the decisions commit city money and staff time to maintenance, flood mitigation and a multi-million-dollar road widening that will affect traffic and adjacent properties. Council discussion also flagged procurement outreach and right-of-way maintenance questions raised by residents and council members.

Grounds maintenance contracts

Council approved a resolution awarding the 2025–2027 ground maintenance and mowing contract for city facilities to Earth First Landscapes LLC, Katy, Texas, for an annual amount of $42,651.37 (total contract $85,302.74) with a contract term of Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2027. City staff told the council that Earth First was the incumbent and the lowest bidder and that no other responsive bids were received for that specific contract period.

Jason, a city staff member, said, “Earthfirst as our ground maintenance provider. They bid and they were the lowest bidder, this time as well. There were no other bidders, so, there was nobody else to compare it to.” The council asked staff whether the city advertises locally and how to increase participation; staff said the solicitation was posted in the newspaper and online and that the city uses similar public posting and outreach practices as other municipalities.

Council also approved a separate contract for right-of-way mowing and maintenance to Maldonado Nursery and Landscaping Inc., Houston, Texas, for an annual amount of $130,760.42 (total $261,520.84), for the same 10/01/2025–09/30/2027 term. During discussion a council member asked whether the contract includes mowing in the Bartlett Road corridor near Cane Island and whether CenterPoint Energy or the city is responsible for maintaining the easement there.

Dave, a city staff member, answered that CenterPoint does perform limited maintenance on its easements but that the city contracts for and maintains portions of right-of-way where the city standard requires more frequent service than utility providers typically perform. He clarified that the city maintains the portion that “abuts to our section” and up to the ditch and that HOA mowing practices have varied historically.

Pine Meadows drainage project

The council awarded the Pine Meadows drainage improvement project to Neri Construction LLC, Houston, on a bid of $426,925. The total project cost listed by staff is $586,164; that total includes a 15% recommended contingency and previously approved engineering design and construction-phase services (Resolution 16 82, approved Dec. 9, 2024) in the amount of $95,200. The staff report identified the source of funds as the 2024–25 budget ($500,000) with $86,164 from general fund reserves.

Councilmembers noted that the property owner on Roseanne’s property has been consulted and is “fine” with the planned work, according to staff.

Katy Hockley Road widening: Metro funds and schedule

Council voted to authorize the Katy Development Authority (KDA) to use Metro funds for the Katy Hockley Road widening project (Morton Road to Clay Road) in an amount up to $9,711,472. The KDA had awarded the base bid of $9,249,021 on June 16, 2025; the council authorization includes a 5% contingency.

Staff described the project schedule as a 420‑day construction contract. Private-utility relocation work was scheduled to start after July 4; staff said the contractor will likely mobilize in September and that the project is projected to wrap up in October 2026. A traffic signal at Katy Hockley and Morton was described as already under construction and expected to be operational in July.

Donation deed, utility billing consultant and ERP consulting

Council approved a donation deed with Lennar Homes of Texas Land and Construction Limited, MI Homes of Houston LLC and Beazer Homes of Texas LP to accept street rights-of-way in the Young Ranch subdivision. Staff explained the deed was requested so Fort Bend County Appraisal District will transfer the property from the developer to the City of Katy for tax and maintenance records.

The council authorized a short-term independent contractor agreement with Teresa Scates to assist the utility billing department from July 23, 2025, to Oct. 22, 2025. It also approved a professional services agreement with Plante & Moran PLLC for chart-of-accounts consulting to support the city’s ERP system; staff noted an original contract was approved Feb. 10, 2025, under Resolution 16 90.

Budget amendment: ARPA earned interest

The council adopted Ordinance No. (amendment number 10) amending the fiscal-year 2024–25 city budget to account for ARPA-earned interest under the item referenced in 5g. The ordinance passed with unanimous voice vote.

Votes at a glance

- Agenda item 5a — Grounds maintenance (city facilities): awarded to Earth First Landscapes LLC; annual $42,651.37; term 10/01/2025–09/30/2027; motion carried (motion by Councilmember Court, seconded by Councilmember Smith).

- Agenda item 5b — Rights-of-way mowing: awarded to Maldonado Nursery and Landscaping Inc.; annual $130,760.42; term 10/01/2025–09/30/2027; motion carried (mover: Councilmember Court; second: not specified in roll call).

- Agenda item 5c — Pine Meadows drainage improvement: awarded to Neri Construction LLC; bid $426,925; total project $586,164 including 15% contingency and $95,200 previously approved engineering; funded by FY2024–25 budget ($500,000) and general fund reserves ($86,164); motion carried (motion by Councilmember Court, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Harris).

- Agenda item 5d — Katy Hockley Road widening: KDA authorized to use up to $9,711,472 in Metro funds (bid $9,249,021, 5% contingency); construction contract projected at 420 days with mobilization after utility relocations; motion carried (motion by Councilmember Robertson, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Harris).

- Agenda item 5e — Donation deed (Young Ranch rights-of-way): authorized the mayor to sign donation deed with Lennar Homes, MI Homes of Houston, and Beazer Homes of Texas LP; motion carried (motion by Councilmember Hicks, seconded by Councilmember Court).

- Agenda item 5f — Utility billing temporary services: professional services agreement with Teresa Scates (07/23/2025–10/22/2025); motion carried (motion by Councilmember Robertson, seconded by Councilmember Court).

- Agenda item 5g — ERP/COA consulting: professional services agreement with Plante & Moran PLLC (original contract approved Feb. 10, 2025, under Resolution 16 90); motion carried (motion by Councilmember Smith, seconded by Councilmember Court).

- Agenda item 6 — Ordinance adopting budget amendment no. 10 (FY2024–25) for ARPA earned interest: adopted; motion carried (motion by Councilmember Smith, seconded by Councilmember Court).

Implementation notes and council concerns

Council members and staff discussed how the city advertises bids and how to encourage local participation; staff said solicitations are posted in the newspaper and online and that some categories of work (for example, specialized drainage construction) routinely attract multiple bidders while routine landscaping sometimes draws fewer responses. Staff also clarified city maintenance limits in utility easements and said the city maintains portions of right-of-way where utility providers’ maintenance frequency does not meet the city’s standard.

The council meeting ran about 29 minutes from call to adjournment. All recorded motions were adopted by voice vote with no roll-call opposition noted in the transcript.

The city clerk will post the signed contracts and the approved ordinance in the official minutes and city procurement records.