Richland Hills · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Richland Hills public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Economic Development Project #26-02
An economic development project at 7294 Glenview Drive was set for possible closed-session discussion.
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.
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.
NCTCOG Electric Vehicle Charging Grant
Richland Hills won a regional grant covering 70% of the cost to add two Level 2 charging stations with four parking spaces at The Link. Council wants to confirm whether charging will be free or paid before the March 3 kickoff.
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.
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.
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.
Short-Term Rentals Update
The city is hiring Decker Technologies to find unregistered short-term rentals and collect hotel occupancy tax, with a target launch by late April. Long-term rentals — possibly 1,200+ homes, about 35% of the housing stock — are next, with outsourced inspections planned every time a tenant changes.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Church parsonage conversion to rental housing at 3913 Norton Drive
Richland Hills Christian Church can now rent its former pastor's house as a regular single-family home after splitting it onto its own lot and rezoning it residential. It adds a housing unit near schools, though the comp plan's Glenview corridor vision favors walkable mixed-use.
City Plaza Outdoor Audio System and Budget Caution
Parks staff wanted permanent speakers across the plaza, pavilion and City Hall for events and emergency announcements, but the $107,378 project was unbudgeted and sales tax revenue is running short. Council tabled it, eyeing grants, sponsorships, or next year's budget — parks will rent amplified sound for fall events in the meantime.
Northeast Fire Department Association Dues and Firefighter Mental Health
Richland Hills' NEFTA dues are rising — $16,110 operational and $22,074 capital proposed for FY26 — driven largely by a new regional mental health program for firefighters and police. Council members questioned why smaller cities pay proportionally more per resident under the flat base-dues structure, but agreed the shared hazmat, bomb and rescue services are worth the cost.
Short-Term Rental Registration and Insurance Requirements
Council simplified the STR registration process, keeping a proof-of-insurance requirement but dropping the $1 million minimum and the city-as-additional-insured clause that operators called impossible to obtain. A third-party vendor is already identifying every STR in town, with registration expected to open around mid-May and annual fire inspections tied to each permit.
Police Body Armor Grant Awards
Resolution 638-26 would let the City Manager accept or adjust grant awards to buy rifle-resistant body armor for the police department.
Senior Lunch Bunch Program Fees and Funding
The senior lunch program draws about 95 attendees monthly, 70% of them non-residents, but costs the city far more than its $9,000 senior budget. Council was to discuss a $3 resident/$5 non-resident meal fee starting April 2026 to help with costs and no-shows.
Economic Development Project #26-01
The council was to discuss an economic development project, Project #26-01, behind closed doors under the Texas Open Meetings Act's economic development exception.
Emergency access gates on Leslie Drive and Norma Lane
The council got preliminary quotes ($11,347–$18,000) for emergency access gates behind the Leslie Drive and Norma Lane neighborhoods, letting fire and police open them only via Knox lock. Some members dislike the chain-link style and want resident input and privacy slats.