Katy council approves emergency repairs, contracts and budget amendment in consent and resolutions package

The Katy City Council on July 14 approved a package of consent and resolution items, including emergency repairs, multi-year contracts, software and cybersecurity services, a municipal utility district bond authorization, and a budget amendment accounting for the use of enterprise reserves.

Key votes and approvals (passed at the July 14 meeting):

- Emergency repairs (Resolution 6a): Ratified three invoices to Weisinger Incorporated for emergency repairs at water facilities totaling $93,949 (Well No. 6: $24,580; Well No. 8: $26,705; Well No. 9A: $42,659). Source of funds: Enterprise Reserves.

- Water-chemical contract adjustment (Resolution 6b): Authorized use of enterprise reserves to cover adjusted charges to the FY 2023–2025 contract with PVS DX Inc for $156,582; the original contract was approved 07/24/2023 (Resolution 14 80).

- Fuel delivery contract (Resolution 6c): Awarded delivery of unleaded gasoline and diesel for 10/01/2025–09/30/2027 to Mansfield Services Partners South LLC (Houston).

- Janitorial services (Resolution 6d): Authorized a term contract with Ambassador Services LLC (Houston) for janitorial services with an annual cost of $153,222.48 (total contract $306,444.96). Council asked why the contract has been renewed since 2017; staff explained Ambassador is procured through ChoicePartners (a procurement cooperative/buy-board) and expansion to three additional facilities increased the annual cost by $14,008.15.

- MUD bond authorization (Resolution 6e): Authorized Katy West Municipal Utility District (formerly Fort Bend/Waller County MUD No. 2) to issue unlimited tax bonds in Series 2025 not to exceed $15,750,000; council discussed location/related drainage and park funding as part of developer infrastructure.

- Property tax write-offs (Resolution 6f): Approved write-offs of $7,787.93 (2024) and $1,539.62 (2025) for long-uncollectible property taxes.

- Auctioneering services (Resolution 6g): Authorized an agreement with Mark Switzer Auction Services for disposal/surplus auctions.

- Fire-reporting software (Resolution 6h): Approved quote Q209683 with ESO to add fire-reporting services to meet the National Emergency Response Information System (effective 01/01/2026). Staff said historical data will remain with Tyler Technologies while new data will flow into ESO to combine EMS and fire reporting; annual cost ~$11,914 (about $600 less than previous vendor). Council confirmed this is an annual subscription rather than a one-time conversion fee.

- Wells Fargo commercial card agreement (Resolution 6i): Authorized mayor to sign a commercial card agreement with Wells Fargo Bank NA.

- TRG colocation agreement (Resolution 6j): Authorized a statement of work and master services agreement with Technical Realty Group of Texas LLC for colocation services.

- Email security (Resolution 6ks): Authorized a master services agreement with Darktrace Holdings Limited and quote 097282V2 with Calian Corp to assist with email threat detection; council members thanked staff for pursuing solutions after a large volume of spam/fake emails.

- Budget amendment (Ordinance item 7): Adopted Amendment No. 11 to the FY 2024–2025 budget to account for enterprise-reserve use for items 6a and 6b.

Several items prompted brief council questions on procurement or cost. Council Member Janet Court asked whether the janitorial contract had been competitively rebid; staff said Ambassador is on ChoicePartners, a cooperative procurement vehicle. Chief staff explained the ESO implementation is intended to reduce duplicate reporting and will be an annual subscription with a planned "go-live" date before October 1, 2025 to prepare for the national requirement on Jan. 1, 2026.

All items on the consent and resolutions package were approved at the July 14 meeting.