From school zones to community center van purchases, here are five things to note from the Conroe City Council workshop meeting March 9. City Council will meet again 6 p.m. March 10 to consider taking action on items.

1. Firefighter pension fund

Council members discussed passing an ordinance to increase the city's contribution to its firefighter pension fund from 15% to 16.25% to match the city contribution to the Texas Municipal Retirement System. Unless rates are changed again by council action, this will be the contribution rate going forward, Director of Human Resources Andre Houser said at the meeting. The contribution rates have already been changed but require the passage of the ordinance. The increase will cost the city approximately $167,541 this fiscal year, according to city information.

2. License plate readers

City staff recommended council approve a contract with Flock Safety to install and maintain license plate readers at 22 locations in the city. This is an addition to the program with Flock Safety that started in March 2021 with 19 license plate readers at 10 locations, police Chief Jeff Christy said at the meeting. In the past year, the system has been responsible for the recovery of 60 stolen vehicles, which resulted in felony arrests and solving crimes, such as aggravated assault and locating a homicide suspect, according to Christy. The first part of the program was implemented on the west side of Hwy. 75, and the additional request would add license plate readers to the east side. It is a two-year contract with the first year costing $65,000 and the second costing $55,000.



3, Community center vans

The city has been trying to acquire two passenger vans for the Oscar Johnson Community Center since October but has not been able to acquire vans because of the lack of availability from halted manufacturing, Parks and Recreation Director Mike Riggens said at the meeting. Riggens said local dealerships Gullo Ford and Buckalew Chevrolet recommended the city place an order to be first served when manufacturing begins again, and staff recommended placing an order with Buckalew Chevrolet for $67,820.

4. New school zone

Founders Classical Academy of Conroe, a charter school for kindergarten through second grade, requested a school zone on Brass Nail Road from the intersection of Grace Crossing to about 1,000 feet south of the intersection as well as on Grace Crossing from the intersection of Brass Nail Road to about 700 feet west of the intersection, according to city information. The ordinance would establish a school speed zone of 20 mph with the existing speed limit on Brass Nail Road remaining at 30 mph, according to the meeting presentation.


5. Radio equipment

The council discussed approving the purchase of radio equipment for new vehicles and staff to equip new high-water vehicle and personnel with radios for emergency and nonemergency communication. Council approved the grant for the high-water vehicle rescue program in October, fire Chief Ken Kreger said at the meeting. The $72,987 purchase is already approved in the fiscal year 2021-22 operating budget and the high-water vehicle grant.