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Texas City Commission approves speed‑zone ordinance, multiple budget amendments and construction contracts; elects Brian Getchas mayor pro tem
Summary
After a public comment urging a pause on budget amendments, the commission unanimously approved a third‑reading speed‑zone ordinance, budget amendments including a $1.1 million transfer to the city’s self‑insured group insurance fund, several infrastructure contract awards and a $1.5 million prior‑year budget adjustment; commissioners also elected Brian Getchas as mayor pro tem following runoff voting.
A public speaker warned the Texas City Commission that a series of budget amendments and contract awards amount to millions of dollars and asked the newly seated commission to pause and review the actions. The commission heard the comment but proceeded to take formal action on multiple items and elected a mayor pro tem.
Jose Boyce told the commissioners the combined total of several consent and regular items was $8,455,891.56 and that the sum represented “about somewhere around 10.6% of the city annual budget,” urging the commission to table specific consent items and to consider rescinding a previously approved $1.9 million amendment. "Taking into account the significant concerns of our city finances, it is inconceivable to me that the newly elected commission is faced with a whopping combination of 2025, 2026 fiscal year amendments for a grand total of $8,455,891.56," Boyce said.
Despite the request, the commission moved through the agenda. Nominations for mayor pro tem produced three candidates — Chris Sharp, Brian Getchas and Deandre Noxon — and multiple rounds of voting led to the selection of Commissioner Brian Getchas following a runoff.
Votes and approvals at a glance:
- Ordinance 2026‑08 (third and final reading): adopt new speed zones on State Highway 3 and FM 1764 per TxDOT engineering analysis — motion carried unanimously.
- Ordinance 2026‑13: transfer $1,100,000 into the city’s self‑insured group insurance fund to cover higher claims this fiscal year — approved unanimously. Human Resources described the city as self‑funded for medical claims and said periodic transfers have been done in prior years to cover shortfalls.
- Ordinance 26‑14: budget amendment to allocate water capital funds for FM 517 Water Plant Phase 2 (city’s obligated share) — approved; staff reported the capital recovery fund balance was about $15,000,000.
- Ordinance 26‑15: amendment to account for approximately $1,500,000 in prior‑year expenditures (accounting practice to place payments in the year they occurred) — approved; staff offered to provide line‑item detail to commissioners.
- Resolution 26‑058: amended contract with Mag MagnaFlow for grit removal at Wallace Locks Wastewater Treatment Plant (maintenance, standard practice) — approved.
- Resolution 26‑059 and 26‑060: awards to Bulge Construction LLC for recurring waterline and sanitary sewer replacement projects (budgeted annual programs) — approved.
- Resolution 26‑061: professional engineering services agreement with Tetra Tech for a multi‑phase Bayou Golf Course redevelopment study (initial phase funded at $127,000 from an already‑budgeted $2.5 million renovation allocation) — approved; staff said future phases will return for additional approvals.
Several motions were approved by voice vote with the chair noting unanimous support for most items; where more detailed roll‑call counts occurred (the mayor pro tem election) the commission used multiple voting rounds and a runoff to determine a winner.
Commissioners asked for additional information about certain line items when requested (for example, a question about a typo on a form that had incorrectly labeled an item as health insurance rather than mowing services), and staff agreed to provide corrected minutes or documentation where needed.
The commission concluded with community announcements and department reports, including a library summer reading kickoff and a kids' supplemental food program, before adjourning.
