City Council - Regular Meeting

All right. 6 o'clock. That's loud. I didn't think I ever needed a microphone. Um, okay. First, we're going to conduct our planning zoning interviews. So, I don't see Chief Lam here. So, we'll move to Matthew. I see at the end of the table.

How are you? Good. Uh just for us just uh your name, what you do, if you reside the city limits, you can follow that with why you would like to be on planning and zoning or be on the alternate list. So you just I'll just kind of let you forward that.

Okay. Um it's Matthew Bassie. Recently moved here in 2010. I've lived pretty much in the same Chapman neighborhood ever since. Um, I'm a real estate broker. Uh, which is how I came across this in the first place is I've helped me in the past with real estate and he made mention there was a spot. So, just took interest. I've been to a planning and zoning meeting here before when they had a developer on Tate tried to put a bunch of homes and stir up traffic on Tate. So, I came and probably contested that. Aside from that, that's really my only involvement here at city council. Um, but I thought it was unique. It seemed like we had a big turnout. It was really interesting to see the citizens come out and so when he mentioned it, I thought, you know, maybe I could be a help should someone in this case, I guess someone gets sick, can't show up, and then the alternate. Um, so I kind of dip my toe in the water with that. Um, but that's pretty much it. You know, the last five, six years I've been in real estate before that. Um, sales, medical sales, which co pushed me into real estate, which was a great time for it. So, I'm lucky.

But, uh, yeah, that's that's pretty much it. Um, yeah, just Robbins the last 15 years. And, uh, this would be my first aside from helping citizens buy homes if anyone needs one.

All right. Does anybody have any questions that you would like to ask? We're not very We're not very hard. We kind of let you summarize and we snack a beat. So, um I appreciate you coming in and your willingness to serve and always good that you've towed the water and tried it out and find out how much you get yourself into. We did have one alternate that took a permanent position now. So, you never know when when the call is coming in. So, anyway,

as an alternate, you can go to the meetings. Of course, any citizen can, but you can go to all the meetings. You may be called home. I have a daughter that's in school here. She's born and raised here. She doesn't graduate in six years. So, I won't be leaving anytime soon if that's good. All right. Thank you. We appreciate it. James, come on up.

How are you? Wonderful. We'll just let you guys the same deal. Introduce yourself. tell us a little about us about you and why you'd like to

um my name is James Garrett been Robinson since 2018 the second time lived here from 20 2008 2014 the first time I'm an accountant busy so it's going to be fun again but anyway um I've served in CFO jobs for a couple different school districts and so I've been part the construction and uh all the things that go on that side and I just kind of like to experience the opportunity to be on the the planning and zoning side of things uh to serve the community that has served us so well. Got three kids and my wife homeschools with over here on Sunset not going anywhere.

Awesome. Anybody have anything? Yes, sir. All right. Thank you. Thank you, sir. All right. Um, we will save Chief Leanka for later. Not that we all don't know. Um, all right. So, anybody have any issues with the M the minutes from our last meeting so long ago on December 2? All right. Uh, we are going to consider a sign variance for our friends at Walmart. Do you have something that we can show the

Can you pull up the Just so everybody This is not going to be real hard. It's Yeah, it's in Vegas for now. So So what the issue is is they have two main entrances. One for all their employees and then one for all of their their truck traffic coming in. Our ordinance only allows one monument or one pole sign. So this is a variant. So they could have a separate sign at each entrance. One one down. Is it right there? Is that it? Well, that's the sign. I was going to say where you going to show where to put it there. Yes. It's going to be by that truck entrance. If you've been by there, you have the They already have the one up for the employee entrance.

So, and it's it's just a monument sign. It's not a pattern. Our ordinance is written more for commercial properties, not industrial. We talked about that today about next time we change the sign ordinance for bigger facilities like this allowing additional signage. I say staff has no opposition or anything. So anybody have anything to say because I didn't figure I I have no issue with the sign. Just a question procedural question on um item says that this one can be done straight through council. This one didn't need to go through ZBA. It's not a zoning

sign ordinance is se is in the is not part of the zoning ordinances. It's all standalone ordinance. So understood. All right. Everybody's okay. Good. All right. It'll be consent. Not an issue. All right. Um let's talk about uh the we're going to consider the fee proposal. There's two So we're talking about two things tonight. I'm busy with Craig a long time today. Just kind of get a deal. The first one, not real difficult. That's the scope and fee proposal for water partners on the beginning list of the streets where they're going to Did everybody look at that in their packet?

Yes. Was the 40 was it 45? Is that

45? It's develop basically a reclamation man. We talked about that when we went through the process that there are some streets that don't have utilities. curb and gutter. Everything's in good shape and it really just needs the road needs to be milled up, recompacted and new surface put on it. So instead of going through all the formality of each road being a separate project or part of projects, it's something we want to put together sort of specifications and standards and standard bidding formats that we can just plug in numbers to calculate quantities and then we can just put it out for bid directly and then allow them to focus on the [clears throat] need actual engineering and design. But not are those other ones waiting because a lot of that we can do that bid it out internally and just hire a contractor. So typically those my last city we did that quite a bit. Typically those kind of projects need to you're talking about that a lot of drive you know without having to do the utilities all this stuff couple of weeks three weeks maybe depend on the length of a roadway. Most residential streets could we could get knocked out two to three weeks.

Okay. So so again this one that we're talking about right now is just for that $45,000. Our friendly neighborhood walker partner is over sitting in the corner. If anybody has a question on this one, does anybody have anything? I'm sure the next one will get more, but anybody have any questions on this? Pretty straightforward. Good. Straight forward. Okay. Yeah.

All right. Let's talk about the big one. So, uh the second one is going to be uh obviously drag drop from one end to the other. Uh if you looked at the numbers, you got uh 2,316,000 for road work and then it was a million twoish for the u utility work. So just so everybody knows because I talked to Craig about this today. We are going to do all so most all the utility works have to be in the roadway because there's no easements. We have very few [clears throat] any easements along Greg Drive.

So stop me if I get any of this wrong. So we have a a a station, what' you call it? Lift station. Lift station that pushes the water toward Greg Drive. But in the future, we're going to need another lift station located between

right next to the existing. This is this for those of you. This is the industrial lift station project that we're going to upsize in the future. So, this is for part of the gravity line and the the force man. And the expectation is that we'll we're looking at pipe bursting the gravity line. So, that should be but the force main we'll have to install a new force main. And what we're looking into doing is getting just past west there past Hamilton Heights. There's a lot of property we can try to secure in the future to put the sewer line out of the road there, but everything from there down because of the way the properties are already developed and not platted, we have to put in the roadway. So, we don't want to come back two or three years from now, we're ready to do the lift station upgrade and cut a big trench down the road and put a new pipe in. So, we want we're going to basically put it in and cap it off until that project comes along.

[clears throat] So part of that part of that million too is to do yeah I think pretty much all advance work on that so that we don't have to go back and mess up the nice pretty street that we're about. So pretty much all the utility work is for that future sewer line. The gravity line will be used. It'll just the existing gravity line to bigger size. We'd rather do that before we start messing with the roadway since it is a fairly large pipe. You could you could get some movement in the ground. So we would want to damage the road. So we just want to get the utility work for that section out of the way. Does that have got to be in the actual road or just to the side of the road? Isn't there some ement like 3 ft?

We have no rightway on most of that. It has to be in the road. We have any any we have in spots, but it's inconsistent. So what you don't want to do is go Yeah, of course. But there's a lot of that roadway section through there that was never platted. Those big homes are off the road and things. Now we have a utility easement on part of it but we have water lines in that. Correct.

Yeah. I mean that's that's part of the difficulty is you have both franchise utility you have utilities on both sides of the road and you have city there's an 18inch water line there's existing waste water between all that stuff going down the best option. No place else to put it through unless unless [clears throat] it took us how long to get the two pieces three pieces we need for the bridge. Jimmy had a good question.

We were talking and he was talking about what the tie in from Greg to John Bowen is it gonna be what? How' you do? So, so John Bowen and Greg is that section right there where the trucks will or heavy vehicles possibly turn. Is it going to be concrete or is that going to be Is it going to be I don't think we've got to that point of the design yet. Yeah, I would say to be determined. We can discuss that with engineering the geotech to evaluate maybe a a heavier section because of the the turning movements and stuff like that. Yeah, that'll lead up that asphalt.

Well, they lead up the concrete, too. He's thinking Sun Valley, not Sun Valley, right there in front of Pilot and right through there. That all that truck traffic just chews up the concrete, too. But at least it whole house a little longer.

Has anybody got any specific questions for our [clears throat] buddy over there? There wasn't There's a FE. So, there's Well, as everybody understands the numbers and knows how the because that's what we're going to Okay, tonight there is a $470,000 fee on this deal that's proposed and there's a breakdown in there. Also, there's a 25% contingency fee, but I talked to Craig today and as I understand once it gets bid out that contingency fee kind of goes down to the 10%ish number.

Correct. to get it. So, I mean, as part of the EOPC that we put together at this point, it's I mean, there's still a lot of work to be done and there may be some more detailed stuff that we haven't identified yet. So, that's really that 25% contingency is kind of just to cover other costs that will come up as we go through design. It's not it's not necessarily a fee for for us. It's more just to kind of cover the EOPC a little bit and give you all a better an estimate of what that construction cost might be as we move forward. that when we bid it out, yes, the contingency will be much less than 25%.

And they'll have because they've designed it, it's just like what I put together for you. I threw a pretty hefty contingency in it and everything. And actually, I went back and looked today. I think my numbers that I did last June were within about it was close. So, but I think a pretty good contingency in that just because of prices and yeah, you know, if you get another pandemic or something that really pushes prices up. So, The faster the better. Let's go. Can we start tomorrow? Absolutely. Well, I know we have to wait till the bridge is done, but uh we got survey crews ready to go. So,

I'm ready. We need to hurry. Uh and while we're here, we got a second or two. We talked about the bridge today. We kind of looked at the bridge when I was with Craig and they're tilling [clears throat] Marchish. Yeah, I think March is for substantial completion. Are we still on track for that? Yes, sir. Yeah, I actually went out there before I came over here and they were they've got the majority of the back fill, the initial back fill around the bridge complete. They're finishing up some of the concrete rip wrap. Um then they'll start on the on the stone rip wrap on the embankment. But yeah, they are they're actually I think they're a little bit ahead of schedule at this point in time. The weather's cooperated. Yes, it has. That's been a big

The bridge itself is pretty well constructed except for the the railing. It's just it's just the guardrail that's remaining on the bridge itself. Everything else regarding the bridge is complete. It [snorts] looks good. Good. All right. Anybody have any other question? So, just to be clear, so this project is estimated at 4 and a half, but for tonight we're only looking at the proposal fee, which is 470,000, which is not part of the total cost of 45. So in total this project's going to cost around five five million just clarification that's why I wanted to make sure will come out of utility cos not street cos

and and even with the engineering we will break the engineering cost up proportionately based on estimated project costs so when we talked about that today and that we figured we figured how much off of the was was utility you You had a percentage you came up proposal. Yeah. 134,000. So 134 and a million2. So about a million4 of the 5 million out of utilities, 36 million out of our street bike. That's what we came up with. And then my only other two or thing is those this item and the previous item, can they be moved to consent? Can we consent this?

Unless anyone has questions or would like to discuss it. That's why we we still got 13 minutes if anybody's got questions. I I don't it's all I mean this is we've all been waiting on this. So I don't think I don't think anybody's got a problem. So y'all want to consent on this? Yeah. Okay. All right. Well then we will I think that may consent everything. Can we consent the the appointments or does that have to be? Um you'll have to actually Well, we have to make a motion for that. You have to make a motion to who you want to appoint. So that's the only thing that's not going to be on there. Do that. So may may I ask a question regarding that? I'm sorry. Yeah.

Since Billy isn't here, uh I'm comfortable with moving forward with him as I just didn't. All right. So everybody's okay? Yeah. Yeah. All right. We're good. Then we'll put 10 and 11 on consent and then all we'll have to do is vote on the appointments to PNZ and we'll be good. All right, with that we will adjourn at 6:18 until 6:30.

All right. It's one of those. It is 6:30. We will call to order. We have perfect attendance for the first meeting of the new year. Happy new year to everyone. Uh we will start with uh breaking from Hope Church to give our invitation. Thank you, sir.

Thanks for letting me help in this way, guys. All right, pray with me. Father, we love you and we thank you for this day. We thank you for this meeting. We thank you for these uh servant leaders here that are just giving their time to make this great city that we live in a better place. And I ask that you'd give them um a lot of wisdom and prudence and discernment that includes both justice and mercy. And I ask that you'd help them to just be well about the city of Robinson. Um ask the same for the residents and uh anybody concerned with the agenda today. Um and that we would just have unity as as a city. Um and we ask most of all, Jesus, that you would save people in this room that don't know you. Um and we bless your name. It's your name we pray. Amen. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

You be seated. Citizen comments. The city council invites citizens to address the council on any matter including items on the agenda except public hearing. Yes. Roll call. Roll. Sorry. Roll call. I got off. Man, it's been like three months since we've been in here. I'm sorry. Go ahead. Present here. Here

I'm gonna start putting my glasses on when I'm looking at this stuff here. All right. I'll take that one. The city council invites citizens to address the council on any matter, including items on the agenda, except public hearings that are included on the agenda. Comments related to the public hearings will be heard when the public hearing starts. Please limit your comment to three minutes. Council is not permitted to take action or discuss any item that's not listed on the agenda. When called to speak, please state your name, address, and what you're speaking about. Miss Vaughn, I know you're in here. Yes, I am hiding behind this thing. [laughter]

Good evening. Thank you once again for the opportunity to address you each and every council meeting. Um, let me just say upfront before I share our announcements that we appreciate the city for what they do for us and allowing us to use this meeting space every month. Um, which we will have our next board meeting next Tuesday on the 13th at noon right here in this space. And it is an open meeting, so everyone is welcome to come. Whether you are a city councilman, whether you work for the city, whether you're just a citizen of Robinson or whatever, you're welcome to come. We welcome your input and always look forward to trying to do what it is that the community [clears throat] expects us to do. On January 10th, there will be a grand opening and ribbon cutting at Little Caesars. That's Saturday at noon. So, you're invited to come and attend that as well. Um, our next quarterly lunchon will be January the 22nd, which is on a Thursday at noon at Tun. Uh, we just had a change of speakers. So, if you saw who our presenter was going to be, it's not going to be that person. But anyway, we'll have a good opportunity to have some information shared with us and to do some networking and find out about other announcements with the chamber and other things going on in the community. Our semianual membership meeting will be on February 12th at the Hampton Inn and Sweet South where our new officers will be installed or when they will be installed. So, we invite everyone that's an open meeting as well. We invite everyone to come to that. We will have food. I can't promise yet what it's going to be, but we will have food and it's always good. Um, and our annual

membership banquet will be July 23rd. Please put that date on your calendar and um, make yourselves available to come and have some more fun at yet another casino night. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, Miss Nick, you're on. [clears throat] Come on. This a long list. Y'all would not be here.

Whereas the city of Robinson proudly recognizes individuals whose extraordinary achievements bring honor to our community, state, and nation. And whereas Christine Nicks, a distinguished resident of Robinson, Texas, has devoted her life to public service, leadership, and the pursuit of justice, beginning her law enforcement career in 1979, a time when few women served in the profession. Despite significant challenges and isolation, her determination, resilience, and unwavering sense of purpose carried her forward. And whereas in 1994, Christine Nicks made history when she became the first African-American woman promoted to the Texas Department of Public Safety's prestigious Texas Rangers Division, breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations of women in law enforcement. And whereas Ranger Nick served more than a decade in this elite division, through her example, she demonstrated exceptional courage and commitment, earning the trust of agencies across Texas. And whereas her work ethic, thick skin, and dedication opened doors for women who followed, including current leaders within the Texas Rangers who continue the legacy she helped establish. And whereas following her retirement from the Texas Rangers, Nicks committed continued her commitment to public service as a university professor of criminal justice, instilling in her students the values of ethics, responsibility, and service all principles she's lived throughout her career. And whereas on November 6, 2025, Governor Greg Abbott inducted Christine Nicks into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame, honoring her trailblazing career, historic achievements, and lifelong dedication to protecting and serving others. Her induction reflects the profound impact she's made on the state of Texas and the legacy she continues to build. Whereas the city of Robinson takes pride in celebrating one of its own whose accomplishments have inspired generations and elevated the visibility of women and minorities in public safety across the state. Now therefore, be it proclaimed that I greet Mayor of the city of Robinson on behalf of the city council do hereby recognize and congratulate Christine Nicks a Robinson

residence for her induction into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame and extend heartfelt appreciation for her groundbreaking service, exemplary leadership, and lasting influence on the law enforcement of public service in Texas. Thank you. Thank you. We appreciate it. [clears throat]

Okay, I said all that. Now I'm gonna pass the consent to somebody else. Um. [clears throat] All right. Consent agenda. Who wants it? You want it? Sure.

Okay. I'll make a motion to approve consent agenda item seven as stated. Consent agenda item number eight for the appointments to fill place five, alternate one and alternate two as stated within our uh our package. Uh do I need to say the names? Okay. approving consent agenda item number nine uh for the sign variance for uh uh located at 750 John Battle Parkway. And we are also including in our consent agenda items uh regular agenda item number 10 approving Walker Partners for the engineering propos street reclamation projects to be uh undertaken. This is for that proposal. And then regular agenda item number 11 as written uh for the proposal for the um design and construction of improvements for Greg Drive as stated.

I'll second that motion. There's a second. All in favor? Any oppose? Motion carries. That [clears throat] was easy. I don't think we've ever done that. It's a record. So, we're here. Uh does anybody have any request for future agenda items? I have something I want to say. Oh yes, the city manager has something he would like to announce. So our city secretary, Misty Crier, in December graduated with her bachelor's degree. I told her to embarrass her tonight. I embarrassed her to [clears throat] staff meeting back in December. So, but we're all very proud of her. She worked hard to get that finished.

She did it under the radar. No one knew it until after it was done. What's your grade? Good. Awesome. That's congratulations. That's all. Very good. Congrats. That's all. That means she like way. Uh, okay. Anybody got anything else? I will not prolong this. At 6:40, we will adjourn.