Missouri City Council approves amended Metro agreement, OKs generators, street design and youth program funds

Missouri City’s City Council voted unanimously on Dec. 1 to execute an amended Metro Mobility Partnership agreement that continues the city’s participation in the regional transit funding arrangement and preserves a half‑percent sales‑tax rebate that supports local mobility projects.

The council’s vote followed an extended staff briefing and public comment period about the limits of local leverage in negotiating with Metro and the budget consequences if the city loses its rebate. City Manager Angel Jones told the council that if the city did not approve the amendment and the rebate ended, she would “be coming to you with an amended budget to either reduce services or to identify additional revenue because our budget would then be unbalanced.”

Why it matters: under the current arrangement staff said Metro collects 1% of Missouri City sales tax and, by contract, returns half of that value to the city for transportation and mobility projects. City staff and council described several negotiated project commitments—staff said Metro agreed to fund a $2.0 million roundabout and other mobility projects worth roughly $3.0 million—but councilmembers and members of the public pressed on the contract term and bargaining power.

Councilmember discussion and staff overview Staff summarized the background: “The city’s current contract with Metro was executed in 2012,” a staff presenter stated during the briefing, and staff added that the city’s participation traces to a 1978 public vote. City staff told council that Metro rejected requests to shorten the proposed 15‑year term and declined other amendments the city sought, while agreeing to fund specific projects.

Public commenters and several councilmembers raised objections and options. Resident Denishi Abiratna urged the council to consider renegotiating terms before renewal and shared results from a neighborhood poll she ran. Resident Rosalyn Harrell urged recusal for any council member who had received campaign donations from contractors related to planned golf‑course renovations, saying the gifts create an appearance of conflict. Bruce Zombrowski asked the council to consider citywide priorities rather than concentrating services in Quail Valley.

Council decision and fiscal context Mayor Pro Tem Sonya Brown Marshall moved to execute the amended Metro agreement; Councilmember Riley seconded. The motion carried unanimously. During discussion staff gave a range for the annual sales‑tax pool: one councilmember stated the 1% collected equated to about $14 million with the city receiving roughly half; staff later stated the city received $7,700,000 in the referenced year. The article reflects those figures as reported to the council by different speakers during the meeting.

Votes at a glance (selected consent items) - Metro Mobility Partnership amendment (Item 7K): motion to execute amended contract — carried unanimously (motion by Mayor Pro Tem Sonya Brown Marshall; second by Councilmember Riley). - First Tee Greater Houston agreement & acceptance of $250,000 in donated funds (Item 7M): motion to accept funding and authorize agreement — carried unanimously (motion by Councilmember Emery). - HDR Engineering design contract for La Quinta Drive — $649,811.90 (Item 7N): motion to execute professional services agreement for design — carried unanimously. - Generators for Quail Valley Golf Club and Recreation Center — not to exceed $630,000 (Item 7P): motion to execute contract with Worldwide Power Products — carried unanimously; separate purchase for Dry Creek Lift Station generator (~$50,450, Item 7Q) also approved. - FY2026 budget amendment (Item 9B) and FY2025 cleanup (Item 9C): approved unanimously; FY26 amendment added two liaison positions and modest supplemental appropriations, netting a $471,000 decrease to the projected ending fund balance as presented by Interim CFO Bertha Alexander.

What the council directed next Councilmembers asked staff to continue negotiating where possible, to provide clearer public materials on what the Metro agreement means for Missouri City residents, and to pursue state legislative options if the city wants the ability to withdraw from the Metro arrangement in the future. Staff said further public outreach and an amended fiscal plan will follow.

Context and next steps Councilmembers stressed that many aspects of the Metro relationship are set by regional governance and state law; staff repeatedly noted that removing the city from Metro or shortening the contract term would require action beyond the city’s authority. The approved consent items (generators, design contract and First Tee agreement) will proceed under the contracts presented. The council convened additional appointments and routine business and adjourned at 8:52 p.m.