Richland Hills · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Richland Hills public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Employee vacation buyback policy
Resolution No. 672-26 would let city employees sell back unused vacation time — a staffing and budget matter for city hall.
FY2027 municipal fee schedule
Ordinance No. 1547-26 would update the city's fee schedule for fiscal year 2027 — the prices residents and businesses pay for permits, services, and other city functions. A public hearing was scheduled before any Council action.
Accessory structure height and setback variance at 7171 Richland Road
The city is looking to update rules for backyard sheds, garages, and shops, including how building height is measured and how large these structures can be. RV storage on larger lots was part of the earlier discussion.
Comprehensive Plan as a zoning guide
The Council and Commission were set to discuss how the adopted Comprehensive Plan's land-use recommendations should be used when judging future zoning applications. This shapes what can be built where in Richland Hills for years to come.
Utility rate increases from Fort Worth
The council was to discuss a study of water and wastewater rates, which could shape future utility bills for every household and business in the city.
Write-off of uncollectible utility and fire department accounts
Resolution No. 671-26 would clear uncollectible utility billing and fire department receivables off the city's books under its adopted write-off policy.
Booth Calloway Road reconstruction funding
The Council was set to discuss Halff Associates' proposed scope, fee, and schedule for the Booth Calloway Road project — a road improvement that would come before the city for eventual contract action.
Cancellation of four regular Council meetings
Resolution No. 670-26 would cancel regular Council meetings on November 23, 2026, December 28, 2026, June 28, 2027, and July 12, 2027 — around holidays.
Cecil Drive street reconstruction
The council was set to award the 2026 street project contract for Cecil Drive, drawing on the 2023 street bond funds. This is the bond money at work on neighborhood streets.
Adoption of 2024 International Codes and 2026 National Electrical Code
The city is still on 2018 codes and plans to adopt the 2024 ICC codes with regional amendments by October — covering new construction, sprinkler thresholds, carbon monoxide detectors, and lithium battery storage. Existing homes aren't forced to upgrade unless they do major remodels.
One-time employee salary supplement
A proposed one-time payment of up to 3% of base salary to eligible city employees, paid from the Strategic Initiatives Fund. It would not permanently raise pay.
Texas Municipal League Region 8 Director Vote
Richland Hills was scheduled to cast its vote for the Region 8 Director of the Texas Municipal League, the statewide organization representing cities' interests in Austin. It's a small item with a voice in bigger regional advocacy.
Citywide Landscape Services Contract
The council was scheduled to consider a $178,500 contract with Nico's Landscape LLC for keeping city properties mowed and maintained. It's a routine service contract but a meaningful slice of the city's operating budget.
Proposed Citizen Civic Academy
The city is considering launching a civic academy class to teach residents how local government works.
Utility and Court Fine Collections
A discussion of how the city collects unpaid utility bills and court fines, including when to write off uncollectible amounts.
Economic Development Project #26-02
An economic development project at 7294 Glenview Drive was set for possible closed-session discussion.
Citywide street conditions and paving priorities
The city's street resurfacing program for next fiscal year was up for discussion, including pricing and timing. Residents on rough streets have a direct interest.
Code Compliance Communication Strategy
Staff planned to discuss better ways to get residents to comply with city code on things like overgrown grass, weeds and tree limbs — outreach first, enforcement second.
FY 2027 tax rate options
Staff recommended dropping the proposed maximum rate from the de minimis rate ($0.609494) to the voter-approval rate ($0.569028), saving the median homeowner about $200 a year while still producing a balanced budget using an RHDC transfer. The official tax-rate hearing and adoption vote happens August 24.
Atmos Energy Rate Settlement
A consent-agenda resolution approving a negotiated settlement over Atmos Energy's 2026 rate filing — this affects natural gas bills for area customers.
FY 2027 Development Corporation Budget
The Development Corporation's budget funds Rosebud Park improvements and covers the Link subsidy and parks spending, using $567,678 of reserves as sales tax revenue lags.
Mimosa Park Drive Mill and Overlay
About $1.275 million in road and street sales tax will fund mill-and-overlay paving, with roughly $1 million for curb and gutter work being scoped with Tarrant County Precinct 3 to determine how many streets can be done.
Fiscal Year 2027 CCPD Budget
Staff presented a conservative FY2027 revenue forecast of about $7.5 million from the city's two biggest revenue sources — property and sales tax — which will shape how much the city can fund next year.
TIRZ Number One termination
The council seems ready to dissolve the Baker TIRZ, unlocking about $1 million and redirecting ~$350,000 a year citywide instead of limiting it to Baker Boulevard projects.
NCTCOG Electric Vehicle Charging Grant
The council was scheduled to discuss direction on a regional Charging and Fueling Community grant that could fund electric vehicle charging stations in Richland Hills. No action was scheduled in work session.
Splash pad removal and playground enhancement
The perpetually broken Link splash pad is getting pulled from the capital plan. Its ~$60,000 would go toward upgrading the playground at The Link, possibly reusing equipment from Creek Trail Park.
Economic Development Project #26-05 — Former TRE Richland Hills Station
The council was scheduled to discuss a possible economic development incentive for a business prospect tied to the former TRE Richland Hills Station site, behind closed doors.
IT Infrastructure Replacement Package
The city was considering a broad replacement of aging network and server equipment — a Fortinet purchase of up to $210,000 from oil and gas reserves, Dell servers and storage up to $500,000 from the General Fund, and a seven-year meter network subscription of up to $43,763 per year.
Permitting and Inspection Services Strategy
A strategic discussion was scheduled on how the city handles permitting and inspections — this affects how quickly residents and builders can get projects approved.
Five-Year Capital Improvement Program
The council was scheduled to receive updates on the park restroom and street projects.
Ending the Real Time Transport Program
The council was scheduled to consider ending the city-subsidized Real Time Transport ride program once current funding runs out. Riders who depend on the subsidized service would lose it after closeout.
Short-Term Rentals Update
Staff was scheduled to brief the council on short-term rentals in the city, a topic that could lead to future regulation.
Pausing Safe Routes to School Funding
Two resolutions were slated to pause Safe Routes to School spending — one in the Strategic Initiatives Fund and a companion Oil and Gas Fund budget amendment. Sidewalk and route-safety work for students would be deferred, with funds kept in reserve.
Public Beautification and Art Advisory Committee
A new advisory committee is being formed to oversee the ~$30,000 library mural grant and future public art; appointments come at the next meeting.
Accessory structure height standards (Chapter 90-4.02)
Council told staff the intent is to measure height to the roof line — not chimneys or cupolas — and asked for tiered options by lot size so residents can build RV garages without monstrous structures dwarfing neighbors.
Aging city IT network replacement
The city's computer network is a patchwork from three different IT companies with end-of-life equipment and outages. Council is weighing a ~$200,000 rebuild versus a Meter lease, and wants a member committee to review contracts first.
Transportation subsidy elimination
The ~$50,000-a-year ride subsidy for seniors and workers ends when funds run out; staff will bring alternatives through Catholic Charities and other partners.
General Municipal Election Canvass — Council Places 3 and 5
The council was scheduled to certify who won the two council seats on the May 2 ballot. The canvass makes the results official.
Proposition A — Sales Tax Reauthorization for Street Maintenance
Voters will decide May 2 whether to reauthorize the three-eighths-cent street sales tax, which brings in about $1.5 million a year for street and sidewalk repairs. A no vote means the city loses that money for at least a year before it can go back on a ballot.
Recognition of Outgoing Council Members
Council Members Theresa Bledsoe and G.W. Estep are leaving the Council and were scheduled to be recognized for their service. It's a moment to thank two residents who volunteered years of public service.
Portable Narcotics Analyzer Grant (Resolution 646-26)
The police department was seeking grant funding for a handheld device that tests suspected illegal substances in the field — no local matching dollars required. The resolution just updates who signs off on the grant paperwork. Faster field testing means quicker, safer handling of drug cases.
FlashVote Citizen Survey Tool
Staff wants to sign up for FlashVote, a service that texts and emails short surveys to a panel of volunteer residents to gauge community opinion. It costs $7,900 a year plus $3,000 to set up, and the City Manager can approve it without a Council vote. Neighboring cities like North Richland Hills and Bedford already use it.
Economic Development Strategic Plan
A draft plan lays out how the city could attract restaurants, retailers and destination development — using opportunity zones, tax credits, corridor beautification, and possibly a voter-approved bond and homestead exemption. It goes public for comment before any adoption.
LINK youth program standards of care
The yearly renewal of child-care safety standards for the LINK's camps and after-school programs — adopted with fixes on staff age minimums, age ranges and reporting language.
Capital improvement program management (Viesta)
The city is hiring a national program-management firm to pull all capital projects — streets, drainage, utilities, economic development — onto one heat map so nothing falls through the cracks.
$5.5 Million in Aged Receivables and Write-off Policy
The city is carrying about $5.5 million in utility and court receivables, much of it years old, that inflates the balance sheet. A new write-off policy sets timelines — 3 years for court accounts, 12–24 months for utilities — while keeping collection efforts alive.
Right-of-way stakes on Kingsbury Avenue property
Resident Sid Wright says survey stakes marked ROW are deep in his yard with no city notification, reviving a 12–15-year-old right-of-way question tied to old federal sidewalk grant funding. He asked the city to resolve it before any work begins.
FY 2025 audit findings — bank reconciliations and cash handling
The city's independent audit found bank reconciliations went undone for all of 2025 and over $31,000 in cash and checks sat undeposited in a safe. Three finance directors in under a year contributed to the breakdown; interim staff have reinstated daily deposits and are catching up on reconciliations.
Emergency wastewater main repair
An old clay sewer main on Willow Park was root-blocked and replaced via pipe-bursting, also fixing infiltration problems in a brick manhole area.
Side yard setback exception for home addition
A Mimosa Park Drive family needed relief from the eight-foot side setback to expand their home with a new bedroom and bathroom. Because their existing house already encroaches into the setback, the board allowed the addition to match that older footprint.