Tomball City Council moved March 2 to ratify a contract to purchase property at 213 W. Main St., a move city officials said would give Tomball control of the fully connected building next to its community and information center.
The gist
During discussion, officials said the building is directly connected to the city’s community and information center and was formerly occupied by “Over 2B,” saying the purchase would allow “the entire building to be able to be used.”
According to the agenda packet, the item was brought forward by the city manager’s office with a recommendation for approval, and states the purchase would be funded through the city’s fund balance rather than an already designated budget line.
Staff did not publicly outline a more detailed long-term use for the property beyond allowing the city to use the entire connected building.
Also of note
Tomball voters will weigh four proposed changes to the city charter May 2 after the council approved an ordinance calling a special election to place the measures on the ballot Feb. 23.
The proposed amendments would address council communications, departmental oversight, ordinance publication procedures and how certain department head appointments are handled.
According to the Feb. 23 agenda packet, the city’s last charter election was in May 2024, when 16 of 17 propositions passed.
City officials said workshops were held Dec. 15 and Jan. 5 before council reached consensus to bring another round of amendments to voters this spring.
According to the ordinance, propositions on the ballot include:
- Proposition A would add language barring discussions of city business by three or more council members outside a properly posted public meeting, although Tomball’s four-member quorum requirement would stay in place, officials said during the meeting.
- Proposition B would move engineering responsibilities from the community development department to public works.
- Proposition C would keep the city’s two-reading ordinance process in place but change when publication is required, shifting it to within 14 days of final adoption instead of after the first reading.
- Proposition D would remove charter language requiring City Council approval for several city manager-appointed leadership roles, including the assistant city manager, police chief, city secretary, finance director, fire chief, public works director and community development director.
The election will be held May 2 at Tomball City Hall, 401 Market St. Early voting will also take place at City Hall on weekdays from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. beginning on the 12th day before the election and continuing through the fourth day before election day, according to the ordinance.
