Summary
Freeport City Council awards Heritage House contract, creates civic award, tables open-space removal, and denies city branding strategy
FreeportMar 16, 20264 min read
At a glance
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At the March 16, 2026 meeting the Council approved the consent agenda and awarded RFQ#2026-01 for Heritage House architectural services to Slate Architecture; approved Resolution No. 2026-3038 regarding ETJ releases; tabled consideration of removing Open Space Program restrictions on a 25-acre city tract; established the Shonda Marshall Public Service Civic Award; and denied the proposed city branding strategy. Council also received a framework for developing 2026 strategic priorities.
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Budget & TaxPublic SafetyCommerceEnvironmentalHousingUtilities
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Key decisions
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- Approved Consent Agenda (Minutes of March 2, 2026 and Monthly Financial Report through February 28, 2026) — vote 5-0.
- Awarded RFQ#2026-01 (Heritage House Architectural & Design Services) to Slate Architecture — vote 5-0.
- Approved Resolution No. 2026-3038 related to ETJ releases as presented — vote 4-1 (Councilman Pena voted Nay).
- Tabled consideration of removing Open Space Program restrictions on the City-owned 25-acre tract on Second Street — vote 3-2 (Councilman Pena Nay).
- Established the Shonda Marshall Public Service Civic Award (posthumous, to be presented annually) — vote 3-2.
- Denied Freeport's City Branding Strategy and will not adopt the proposed rebranding at this time — vote 4-1.
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Meeting information
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City Council Meeting
Mar 16, 2026, 6:00 PM430 North Brazosport Blvd., Council Chamber, Freeport Texas 77541completed
Agenda
- 1: Call to Order:
- A. Call to Order - Jerry Cain, MayorDecision: Call to Order:
- B. Invocation - CouncilmanDecision: Call to Order:
- C. Pledges - Pledge of Allegiance to the United States; Pledge of Allegiance to the State of Texas.Decision: Call to Order:
- D. Matters Subsequent to Posting.Decision: Call to Order:
- E. Audience Participation – Anyone who has registered to speak prior to the meeting being called to order and desires to address the City Council will be heard at this time, or during the discussion of an item listed on the agenda. These forms are located by the City Secretary. After completing the form, give it to the City Secretary. She will give it to the Mayor. The Mayor will call on you when that item is presented, once a motion has been made by Council then public participation will not be allowed. You will have four (4) minutes to make your comments regardless of the number of agenda items to be addressed.Decision: Call to Order:
- 2: Proclamations - Presentations and Updates
- A. Employee Recognitions – Employee of the Month, Kelli Yates, Court Supervisor, Municipal Court- Dr. Danielle Kelly, City ManagerDecision: Proclamations - Presentations and Updates
- B. Upcoming Events - Move & Groove, Freeport Downtown, March 21, 7:30A.M. Blue Santa Annual Golf Fundraiser, Freeport Golf Course, March 27, 7:00A.M.-4:00P.M. Easter Eggstravaganza, Freeport Municipal Park, March 28, 9:00A.M. Community Cleanup, 431 West 4th Street, April 18, 8:00A.M.Decision: Proclamations - Presentations and Updates
- 3: Consent Agenda:All items listed are part of the Consent Agenda. Public Hearing and review are held collectively unless opposition is presented, in which case the contested item will be heard separately.
- A. Action regarding Minutes, March 2, 2026 - Clarisa Fernandez, City Secretaryattachments=2Decision: Consent Agenda:
- B. Action approving the Monthly Financial Report through February 28, 2026 - Ashlee Hurst, Finance Directorattachments=1 | reports=1Decision: Consent Agenda:
- 4: Business
- A. Consideration and possible action awarding RFQ# 2026-01 - Heritage House Architectural & Design Services to Slate Architecture.attachments=1 | reports=1Decision: Business
- B. Discussion and Direction: Development of 2026 City Council Strategic Prioritiesreports=1Decision: Business
- C. Consideration and possible action adopting Resolution No. 2026-3038 Granting a Petition for Release from Extraterritorial Jurisdiction by Vernor Materials & Equipment Co, Inc.attachments=2 | reports=1Decision: Business
- D. Consider and take possible action to select alternate property substitution options and authorize all necessary actions to remove Open Space Program restrictions on the City-owned 25-acre tract located on Second Street.attachments=1 | reports=1Decision: Business
- E. Consider and take possible action to establish the Shonda Marshall Public Service Civic Award, a posthumous award to be presented annually to a Freeport resident who has demonstrated exemplary commitment to public service in the City of Freeport.attachments=2 | reports=1Decision: Business
- F. Consider and take possible action regarding Freeport’s City Branding Strategy.attachments=1 | reports=1Decision: Business
- G. Consideration and take possible action to waive the fee of the river place rental for the Brazosport high school prom.reports=1Decision: Business
- 5: Work SessionThe City Council may deliberate and make inquiry into any item specifically listed as a Subsection under the itemized Sections A-F below, an item appearing on the City Council agenda for this meeting, on matters related to community events, or on matters that are not within the jurisdiction of the City for consideration by City Council. The City Council may not deliberate on any City matters not specifically disclosed under this Work Session or on this posted City Council Meeting agenda. City Council members and the Mayor always reserve the right to request that a matter be placed on a future agenda for consideration.
- A. Councilman Pena Ward A announcements and comments.Decision: Work Session
- B. Councilman Davis Ward B announcements and comments.Decision: Work Session
- C. Councilman Matamoros Ward C announcements and comments.Decision: Work Session
- D. Councilman Rossow Ward D announcements and comments.Decision: Work Session
- E. Mayor Jerry Cain announcements and comments.Decision: Work Session
- F. City Manager announcements and comments.Decision: Work Session
- 6: Executive SessionThe City Council may take action on any Executive Session item posted. 551.071. Texas Government Code. Consultation with Attorney. The City Council may convene in executive session to conduct a private consultation with its attorney on any legal posted agenda item, when the City Council seeks advice of its attorney about pending or contemplated litigation, a settlement offer, or on a matter in which the duty of the attorney to the governmental body under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Texas clearly conflicts with the provisions of Chapter 551, including the following items:
- A. Executive Session regarding a.) Texas Government Code, Section 551.071 (Consultation with Attorney) DOW IDA negotiations update. Legal Consultation and Real Property Deliberations – All City Properties, EDC Lawsuits and ALL Ongoing City Development Agreements (Councilman Pena)Decision: Executive Session
- 7: Reconvene into Open Session:
- A. Take any action resulting from Executive Session.Decision: Reconvene into Open Session:
- 8: Adjournment
- A. Adjournment – Jerry Cain, Mayorattachments=6Decision: Adjournment
Documents from this meeting
- Packethttps://freeporttx.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=1465,plainText=false)
- Otherhttps://freeporttx.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=1466,plainText=false)
- Noticehttps://freeporttx.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=1475,plainText=false)
- Agendahttps://freeporttx.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=1463,plainText=false)
- Minuteshttps://freeporttx.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=1513,plainText=false)
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