Council approves employee insurance with BCBS, fire department capital funding, waterline work on Plantation Road and subdivision ordinance

Bunker Hill Village’s City Council adopted several motions and ordinances at its Feb. 11, 2025 special meeting affecting employee benefits, public safety capital, water infrastructure and the city’s subdivision rules.

Insurance: The council approved employee insurance coverage for April 1, 2025–March 31, 2026, contracting with Blue Cross Blue Shield for health, dental and vision after staff and the Memorial Villages Police Department (MVPD) presented three sealed bids (Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare and Curative). The Police Commission recommended BCBS; staff noted the insurer’s final bundled increase was 8 percent from the initial 23.1 percent quote. The motion to approve coverage was moved by Councilmember Keith Brown, seconded by Councilmember Eric Thode, and passed 5–0 (SEG 019).

Fire department funding: Council approved Budget Amendment 2025‑01 for the Village Fire Department in the amount of $2,300,000 with no additional assessments. The amendment follows an insurance payout of roughly $2 million for a ladder truck that was more than 60 percent damaged; the payout will fund purchase of a replacement ladder truck and the council recorded the motion as carried 5–0 (moved by Councilmember Eric Thode; seconded by Councilmember Carl Moerer) (SEG 021).

Waterline project: Council approved two change orders to add Plantation Road to the Waterline Replacement project to address frequent emergency repairs and service interruptions. Change Order No. 1 to Langford Engineering adds $39,500 for construction design services; Change Order No. 1 to Underground Construction adds $207,422 for construction. Funding for the additional work was described as a combination of ARPA funds and amounts in the City’s 2025 adopted budget for waterline replacement. Both change orders passed on motions moved by Councilmember Eric Thode and seconded by Councilmember Susan Schwartz; each vote was recorded 4–0–1 with Councilmember Keith Brown abstaining because he lives on Plantation Road (SEG 049, SEG 052).

Subdivision ordinance: By unanimous vote (5–0), the council adopted Ordinance No. 25‑642 amending Section 14‑7(b)(7) of Chapter 14 of the code of ordinances to allow subdivision of lots adjacent to public or private streets. The change follows Planning & Zoning Commission review and a public hearing at the meeting where one new property owner spoke in favor (SEG 048–049).

Budgets and contracts: The council approved Ordinance No. 25‑643 (amendments 13 and 14 to the FY2024 budget) and Ordinance No. 25‑644 (amendments 2 and 3 to the FY2025 budget) by unanimous vote (5–0) to reallocate utility and capital‑project funds and to fund urgent waterline repairs. The council also renewed a one‑year contract with TXBBG Consulting, Inc. (a SAFEbuilt subsidiary) for building plan review and inspection services at no proposed cost increase; that motion carried 5–0 (SEG 055, SEG 070, SEG 071–086).

Other business: The council ratified two City of Houston water bills exceeding $50,000 and approved consent‑agenda items including minutes, financials and invoices for engineering and drainage plan reviews (SEG 085–087).

Votes at a glance (select items): • Employee insurance (BCBS): moved by Brown; seconded by Thode; vote 5–0. (SEG 019) • VFD Budget Amendment 2025‑01 ($2,300,000): moved by Thode; seconded by Moerer; vote 5–0. (SEG 021) • Langford Engineering change order #1 ($39,500): moved by Thode; seconded by Schwartz; vote 4–0–1 (Brown abstained). (SEG 049–050) • Underground Construction change order #1 ($207,422): moved by Thode; seconded by Schwartz; vote 4–0–1 (Brown abstained). (SEG 051–052) • Ordinance No. 25‑642 (subdivision amendment): moved by Brown; seconded by Schwartz; vote 5–0. (SEG 048–049) • Ordinance No. 25‑643 (FY2024 amendments 13 & 14): moved by Thode; seconded by Schwartz; vote 5–0. (SEG 055) • Ordinance No. 25‑644 (FY2025 amendments 2 & 3): moved by Brown; seconded by Poor; vote 5–0. (SEG 070) • TXBBG Consulting contract renewal: moved by Poor; seconded by Brown; vote 5–0. (SEG 086)

Why it matters: approvals include multi‑hundred‑thousand‑dollar infrastructure change orders, a multi‑million‑dollar fire department amendment, and benefits procurement that sets employee coverage and rates for the coming year. The two Plantation Road waterline votes included an abstention to preserve a councilmember’s conflict disclosure.

What’s next: waterline construction and design work is expected to proceed after the change orders; the VFD budget amendment authorizes funding for truck replacement; budget ordinances adjust utility and capital accounts for 2024–25.