BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF
Tomball approves ethics, meeting rules update Tomball City Council on April 20 approved an update to its ethics code and council procedures, including new rules tied to attendance, public comment, disclosures, complaints and censure. The ordinance repeals and replaces portions of Chapter 2 of the city’s code of ordinances related to general administration, City Council procedures and the city’s code of ethics. In a nutshell City staff said April 6 that the proposed changes are meant to modernize the city’s rules, add clarity to council operations and formalize procedures that are not clearly outlined in the current code. Slides presented during the April 6 meeting showed some of the updates would add attendance requirements for council members, including notice to the city secretary at least two hours before a meeting; define excused and unexcused absences;
Tomball OKs $1.5M for Main Street trees The trees lining Main Street are set to be replaced with new trees after Tomball City Council approved a $1.5 million contract with Environmental Designs Inc. on April 20. The tree removal and replacement is related to the FM 2920 reconstruction project, which will start in January 2029, Public Works Director Drew Huffman said. The details Huffman said the trees will be the last part of the construction along Main Street and are expected to be planted in 2031. There will be 200 trees total, planted along FM 2920 from Willow Street to Hwy. 249 where applicable, Huffman said. Sixty trees will be grown to 10-to-12-inch caliper for downtown Tomball, which Huffman said are bigger than the current 9-inch caliper trees.
Additional updates to the city’s ethics code and council procedures would: Establish a formal complaint and investigation process Create a censure process for council members
Add a public disclosure webpage for campaign finance reports, conflict disclosures and contracts requiring abstention Clarify quorum and decorum rules for meetings and public comment
SOURCE: CITY OF TOMBALL/COMMUNITY IMPACT
create orientation requirements for new council members; and expand the city’s ethics code with added transparency and disclosure expectations. Diving in deeper According to the presentation, the ordinance would also add language prohibiting council members from representing private interests before city bodies, strengthen gift restrictions and clarify misuse of confidential information.
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TOMBALL - MAGNOLIA EDITION
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