City of Jefferson Council Meeting 04-21-2026

The live streams from the Jefferson City Council meeting on 04-21-2026.

Agenda:

NOTICE

CITY OF JEFFERSON, TEXAS

REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

TRANSPORTATION CENTER

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2026 @ 5:30 P.M.

A Regular City Council meeting of the Jefferson City Council will take place on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at 5:30 PM at the Transportation Center located at 305 E. Austin Street, Jefferson, Texas. The subject matters to be discussed and may be acted upon are as follows:

AGENDA

CALL TO ORDER – MAYOR
INVOCATION
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
WELCOME GUESTS AND VISITORS

A meeting of the City Council is a business meeting of the Municipal Corporation. Only the Mayor and City Council are entitled to participate (speak), unless the presiding officer of the meeting permits someone else to speak. City administration, city employees, and the city’s legal counsel are permitted to speak and interact with the City Council to facilitate the meeting and assist the City Council in conducting the city’s business. While meetings are open to the public to watch and hear, it does not entitle the public to speak at the meeting. The City Council nevertheless sets aside a portion of the meeting for the public to either address a concern that is not on the agenda, or comment on an item on the agenda. Those two instances are titled: Public Comment and Public Testimony.

“PUBLIC COMMENT” IS FOR CONCERNS NOT ON THE AGENDA. The City Council cannot comment on the concerns raised, because the concerns raised are subjects not listed on the agenda.

“PUBLIC TESTIMONY” IS FOR CONCERNS ON ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA. The City Council MAY comment on or deliberate on the concerns raised but will normally wait until the item is called for deliberation by the presiding officer.

SIGNUP SHEETS TO SPEAK ARE LOCATED ON THE TABLE AS YOU ENTER THE MEETING ROOM

Any citizen wishing to make public comment or public testimony to the City Council must sign up before the meeting begins by fully completing the information requested on the sign-up sheet or will not be recognized to speak.

PRESENTATIONS – Limited to 10 minutes each

Planning and Zoning (P&Z) – Quarterly report and update on zoning document – Tracy Graham: Quarterly operations and activity report.
Jefferson Volunteer Fire Department – Quarterly operations and activity report– Victor Perot
Traylor and Associates – Update on active grants (Community Development Block Grant, Hazard Mitigation Grant Program). – Wesley Traylor
Schaumburg and Polk – Update on active grants and Water Loss Audit Reporting. (Texas Parks and Wild Life, Texas Water Development Board, Hazard Mitigation Grant Program) – Lisa Crossman
Laura Overdyke – (Requested by Ald. Keith): Water flows and water in Jefferson.
North East Texas Municipal Water District (NETMWD) – (Requested by Ald. Haggard): Dominik Sobieraj and George Otstott: Operational and water flow updates.
ADMINISTRATOR COMMENTS
1. Election Information: Dates, Times, and Locations
2. Open Records Requests
3. Recording of City Council meetings

CONSENT AGENDA (All items listed below are considered routine. There will be no discussion on these matters, and all the items will be acted upon by one motion. Any Council member may request one or more items be removed from the consent agenda for discussion and separate consideration.)

Consider action approving the March 17, 2026 Regular Council meeting minutes.
Consider action approving the March 31, 2026 Special Council meeting minutes.
Consider action approving the monthly financials.
Consider action to approve hiring Grace Daddario for the Accounting/Finance Specialist position at rate of $55,000 per year with benefits to be effective April 22, 2026.
Consider action approving Kay Jernigan to fill the Tourism and Visitor Center Attendant position at the rate of $11.00 per hour to be effective April 22, 2026.
Consider action approving the resignations of Hugh Lewis and Tommy Engle from the Planning and Zoning Commission.
ACTION ITEMS (The below items will be considered for action:

Consider action on Steve Turner’s Application for Building Permit located at 407 E. Webster St. (School building for residential use).
Consider action on Foodie Tasting Room’s application for Wine and Malt Beverage Retailer’s On-Premise Permit (BG) located at 110 N. Walnut St.
Consider action on TML’s settlement options on the 2014 Dodge Charger Vin ending in 8119.
Consider action on Safe Industries official proposal to sell a Fire Master Tanker Truck to the city, for use by the Jefferson Volunteer Fire Department to be paid for through a $300,000 grant from the Texas Forest Services and an approximate $184,000 financed through Republic First National. (Tabled from March 17, 2026 and March 31, 2026).
Consider action on resolution to amend the procedure for the consideration and adoption of ordinances.
Consider action on amending the City’s General Fund Budget for Fiscal Year 2026 to adjust the salary allocation for the Accounting/Finance Specialist position.
Consider action on an ordinance modifying the regulations pertaining to the care and control of animals and dangerous dogs. (First Reading).
Consider action on an ordinance amending Section 2-1 of the Jefferson Code of Ordinances, entitled, “City Council Agenda Preparation”. (First Reading).
Consider action on a contract change order and to authorize the procurement of a contractor for the remaining grant funds of $158,988.43 for construction repairs on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Recreational Trail Rehabilitation – Phase 1 project.
Consider action to authorize the procurement of a grant administrator to assist in the application development and project implementation, if awarded, of a Water Supply & Infrastructure Grant from the Texas Water Development Board.
Consider action to authorize the procurement of an engineer to assist in the application preparation and project implementation, if awarded, of a Water Supply & Infrastructure Grant from the Texas Water Development Board.
Consider action to approve a selection review committee as it relates to the procurement of a grant administrator and an engineer for the Water Supply & Infrastructure Grant from the Texas Water Development Board.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

Information regarding the handling and disposition of dangerous dogs and options for the City. (Requested by Ald. Parsons)
Proposed solar farm and other projects in Marion County and potential impacts. (Requested by Ald. Parsons)
Council Initiatives update:

Firehouse & City Hall structure – Ald. Haggard
Stop & street signs plus city street painting updates – Ald. Taylor Johnson
Employee Handbook redo – Ald. Keith
Street campaigns – Ald. Parsons
Drainage items –Ald. Taylor Johnson
Cemetery needs – Ald. Thompson and Ald. Taylor Johnson
Building inspector & ordinances – Ald. Parsons
City Limits & Floodplain surveys – Planning & Zoning
Mass Communication & town siren – Ald. Shadden and Ald. Taylor Johnson
General Grant needs & mgmt. – Ald. Keith
City parks – Ald. Shadden and Ald. Taylor Johnson
City signage in streets, sidewalks, city ROWs, private property – Ald. Shadden
“Welcome to Jefferson” signs on Hwy 59 (current condition, potential plans, funding, volunteer groups, on-going maintenance, etc.) – Thompson & Ald. Taylor Johnson

EXECUTIVE SESSION

The public portion of the Jefferson City Council meeting is now in recess to call the meeting to order in executive session in accordance with Texas Government Code Section 551.071 (Attorney Consultation), and 551.072 (Real Property) to deliberate upon and seek legal advice regarding the following subjects:

Chapter 18 Section 18-2 of the Code of Ordinances (manufactured homes regulations)
Adoption of International and National Codes related to building, existing building, fuel gas, residential, mechanical, plumbing, swimming pool and spa, private sewage disposal, and fire.
CenterPoint’s request for action on the 2026 Grip Filing.
Comptroller letter dated March 12, 2026, regarding sales tax payments.
Delinquent property taxes.
POST-EXECUTIVE SESSION ACTION ITEMS

Consider action on Kevin Thompson’s application for Building Permit located at 145 Hartford St. Manufactured Double wide.
Consider action on CenterPoint’s request for action on the 2026 Grip Filing
Consideration and possible action on a on any of the items identified above for deliberation in executive session, if recalled for action by any Council member.
ADJOURNMENT

Certificate of Posting

I, Melissa Boyd, City Secretary for the City of Jefferson, Texas do hereby certify that this Notice of Meeting was posted at City Hall, 305 E. Austin Street, a place readily accessible to the general public at all times, on this the 14^th day of April 2026, at 9:15 pm and remained posted for at least 3 (three) business days preceding the scheduled time of said meeting.

Melissa Boyd, City Secretary

ATTENDANCE BY OTHER ELECTED OR APPOINTED OFFICIALS: It is anticipated that members of the City Council, or other city board, commissions and/or committees (JEDCO, Tourism, Citizen Action and Diversity, Core Team, Planning and Zoning, Quiet Zone, etc.) may attend the meeting in numbers that may constitute a quorum of the other city boards, commissions and/or committees. Notice is hereby given that the meeting, to the extent required by law, is also noticed as a meeting of the other boards, commissions and/or committees of the City, or any other governing body whose members may be in attendance. The members of the boards, commissions and/or committees may participate in discussions on the same items listed on the agenda, which occur at the meeting, but no action will be taken by such in attendance unless such item and action is specifically provided for an on an agenda for that board, commission or committee subject to the Texas Open Meetings Act.

EXECUTIVE SESSION RESERVED: The City Council may retire to executive session any time between the meeting’s opening and adjournment for the purpose of consultation with legal counsel pursuant to Chapter 551.071 of the Texas Government Code; discussion of personnel matters pursuant to Chapter 551.074 of the Texas Government Code; deliberation regarding real property pursuant to Chapter 551.072 of the Texas Government Code; deliberation regarding economic development negotiations pursuant to Chapter 551.087 of the Texas Government Code; and/or deliberation regarding the deployment, or specific occasions for implementation of security personnel or devices pursuant to Chapter 551.076 of the Texas Government Code. Action, if any, will be taken in open session.

AGENDA APPROVAL BY CITY ATTORNEY: This agenda has been reviewed and approved by the City’s legal counsel and the presence of any subject in any Executive Session portion of the agenda constitutes a written interpretation of Texas Government Code Chapter 551 by legal counsel for the governmental body and constitutes an opinion by the attorney that the items discussed therein may be legally discussed in the closed portion of the meeting considering available opinions of a court of record and opinions of the Texas Attorney General known to the attorney. This provision has been added to this agenda with the intent to meet all elements necessary to satisfy Texas Government Code Chapter 551.144(c) and the meeting is conducted by all participants in reliance on this opinion.

PUBLIC COMMENT AND PUBLIC TESTIMONY Rules and Process (permitted by Tex. Gov. Code § 501.007(c).

Any citizen wishing to make public comment or public testimony to the City Council must sign up before the meeting begins by fully completing the information requested on the sign-up sheet or will not be recognized to speak.
Any person addressing the City Council will introduce themselves by name and state whether they reside or work (or both) in the City of Jefferson, Texas.
Comments must be made exhibiting reasonable decorum, must not be disruptive to the meeting or threatening. Any person violating this policy may be requested to leave the meeting.
Any person making comments must address their comments to the City Council.
Only public criticism of the governmental body, including criticism of any act, omission, policy, procedure, program, or service, which is not otherwise prohibited by law is not prohibited. Gov. Code § 551.007(e)
The presiding officer may recess the meeting at any time these rules are not being followed.
The city generally allows three (3) minutes for comments. Time cannot be yielded to others. The presiding officer may increase or decrease the time allowed for comments at each meeting, if doing so is considered appropriate to effectively and efficiently conduct the meeting. Time will not be modified because of the viewpoint expressed in any comments stated.
A member of the public who addresses the City Council through a translator will be given at least twice the amount of time as a member of the public who does not require the assistance of a translator. Tex. Gov. Code. §551.007(d).
Any questions regarding city business should be directed to the City Administrator, in a manner that does not disrupt the meeting.