The details
The city first entered into a contract with the DeNinas in 2000, according to the agenda. In 2023, the city approved a two-year lease extension with an expiration date of Feb. 20, per the Feb. 17 agenda packet.
The site acts as a “controlled environment” where daily workers are able to enter into contracts with those seeking contract labor help, according to the agenda packet.
Diving in deeper
According to the agenda, the lease amount is $7,000 annually, and the city is responsible for maintenance such as trash collection, insurance, policing and providing portable toilets.
Police Chief Jeffrey Bert said about six to seven months ago a call for service resulted in an arrest at the site.
City Council expressed concerns about the displacement of workers relocated to other areas of the city—such as the Lowe’s parking lot—and may revisit the lease agreement in the future.
What they're saying
- “We do have some crime over there,” Tomball Police Department Detective Bryce Smith said. “There is drinking, but it's not any different than everywhere else. Genuinely, there really aren't that many calls for service over there. However, the calls tend to be a little escalated when we can get involved.”
- “Today, there was less than 200 [people at the site], and my thing [with] this site is that if we extend this for a year, pay $7,000—it's potentially [that] we're paying that for a site that's going to have hardly anybody ... there," council member John Ford said.
View the agenda item below.
