[{"_1":2,"_96":-5,"_97":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,84],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6655253,"mediaKeyId","5418295-0c09775f3e66e90eaae2bbe850335e1d","parentId",5418295,"title","Votes at a glance: Stafford City Council, July 16, 2025","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",3914000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5418295-0c09775f3e66e90eaae2bbe850335e1d&start=3914&end=3914","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5418295-0c09775f3e66e90eaae2bbe850335e1d/thumbnail_3914000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6655253/Stafford/Fort-Bend-County/Texas/Votes-at-a-glance-Stafford-City-Council-July-16-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655253-63a1d4ac53b574ae1a53e0d2b95c7287/orig.mp4?Expires=1770446875&Signature=GkLLAEAy2sTeaY2eTk8WQXjApg7ZFoVcZ2rLbpV4H7Cwox51IiuRQb4doG5cWEydrymjohXwePJVr6xZUxI-5-kt08j2O5E2QtM6ZIpjc9usIQlKNqu6VCbt~j6QBnby1LS2WjE0YUFbxqvDsYfM-7uXUxeHDDH7U6IG5lXlsufpEdcNiB9OKaWs4h2REjvA3~DaJzKPfDWYoI0LB3zEZ-DFqGf72LC2MVuoyoX~TeZ0e2y4fzgzEL47S4EHo057TTWlvZ~PNAphKnSqhDTiEr0qgxuN9G0mjNcU1znyeNKsCeRJ76~VJrJy~ziUcj8pedbbZnkNgVT54ureI3aA7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Stafford","date","2025-07-16T00:00:00Z","article","At the July 16 Stafford City Council meeting the council recorded several formal actions. Below are the items taken and the meeting\u0000's recorded outcomes as reflected in the public transcript.

- Donation policy (Resolution adopting a donations policy): Motion to adopt the donations policy as presented; council approved the resolution during the meeting.

- Consent agenda: Council approved the consent agenda as presented.

- Minutes: Council approved minutes from the June 25, 2025 joint budget workshop and the July 2, 2025 regular city council meeting.

- Items 7 and 8 (applicant request): The council tabled agenda items 7 and 8 at the applicant\u0000's request to the August 20 meeting; motion and second were recorded and the items were postponed.

- Placement of the consent agenda: Council voted to move the consent agenda to appear after public comments on future agendas; the motion passed with no recorded opposition.

- Special meeting with Planning & Zoning: Council scheduled a special meeting with Planning & Zoning commissioners for next Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. to discuss verification-letter issues and related procedural matters.

- Public Works appointment: Council moved to approve Christopher Riggs as public works director; a motion and second were recorded and the motion carried on the record.

Where the transcript did not record a roll-call tally, the minutes and public exchange indicate motions were made, seconded and carried; specific yes/no counts were not provided in the public transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Stafford - City Council - Jul 16, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Key council actions included adopting a donations policy, approving the consent agenda and minutes, tabling two agenda items to Aug. 20, moving the consent agenda earlier in future agendas, scheduling a special planning-and-zoning meeting and approving a public-works appointment.","taxTitle","Stafford, Fort Bend County, Texas","taxId",69474,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":42,"_43":77,"_45":77,"_46":78,"_48":79,"_50":80,"_52":81,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":82,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":83,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6655254,"Stafford swears in three officers and two telecommunicators; council moves forward on public-works appointment",1722000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5418295-0c09775f3e66e90eaae2bbe850335e1d&start=1722&end=1722","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5418295-0c09775f3e66e90eaae2bbe850335e1d/thumbnail_1722000.jpg","/articles/6655254/Stafford/Fort-Bend-County/Texas/Stafford-swears-in-three-officers-and-two-telecommunicators-council-moves-forward-on-public-works-appointment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655254-aca7bf20a83ee492d8de6a86d4b64c08/orig.mp4?Expires=1770446875&Signature=QOOLTlRM1MAtrdvFMLtxJ2ANUOg02i-QD3zxeF-cuvQCALAbIgzUoqN14h9GuOwVCcuG02XSPuYI9Wrm19Fzm4sjT8HHkUa-Y~wZAAT8UFTFeoLTCABcTpmHe0n7Gj7TZRfjirJstploR8xeyuc5qyw-UGt6QZKqZeGa4cU1Cuw0Qb0HJcDTC~DZXvOvVrJaUX1HoOIh9cnEMd82UxcY4p9j4vueWrkNPATTlN48ZrAB5wQdTGpbiEmU7g3VzBh6NOvw~7nBhkS4L8ZR69W0E8A7r65TAvT48eWQRsuLvdj7jc9aTO8opJQD4xMBoRW02y5dE4dsTeCrQF3sL5DQrg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the July 16 Stafford City Council meeting, the city held a swearing-in and pinning ceremony for new Stafford Police Department personnel and announced a public-works appointment.

Chief (unnamed) introduced three new sworn officers and two telecommunications officers. The officers named in the ceremony included Officer Arneson, Officer Burke and Officer Florian. Telecommunications officers sworn in included Glenn Gray and Samuel Torres. Each took the oath of office publicly and received accreditation pins; family members participated in pinning where noted.

Chief (unnamed) described backgrounds for each hire: Officer Arneson brings nearly five years of law-enforcement experience and an associate degree in criminal justice; Officer Burke graduated from Wharton County Junior College Police Academy on May 30, 2025, and is a nationally registered paramedic; Officer Florian brings more than 13 years of law-enforcement experience and instructor certifications. Telecommunications officer Glenn Gray holds a degree from Virginia Tech and experience as a band director and Samuel Torres has prior experience with the Harris County Sheriff\u0000's Office and holds associate and bachelor\u0000's degrees from ITT Technical Institute.

During the meeting council took a motion related to staffing in the Public Works department. A council member moved to approve Christopher Riggs as public works director; the motion was seconded and carried on the record at the meeting. Riggs spoke briefly after the council action and thanked the council, noting previous service with the city and that he looked forward to leading the department.

Council members and the chief emphasized the department\u0000's accreditation and training programs and presented officers and family members with a copy of a book the department provides to families, Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement, intended to help families understand the stresses of policing.

No disciplinary or operational policy changes were announced at the ceremony.","The Stafford Police Department introduced three new sworn officers and two telecommunications officers and held a swearing-in ceremony. Council also moved to approve Christopher Riggs as public works director (appointment to be finalized as announced).",{"_33":85,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":86,"_41":87,"_43":88,"_45":89,"_46":90,"_48":91,"_50":92,"_52":93,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":94,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":95,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6655260,"Stafford council delays decision on car-wash verification letter, schedules special meeting",1355,164000,1519000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5418295-0c09775f3e66e90eaae2bbe850335e1d&start=164&end=1519","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5418295-0c09775f3e66e90eaae2bbe850335e1d/thumbnail_164000.jpg","/articles/6655260/Stafford/Fort-Bend-County/Texas/Stafford-council-delays-decision-on-car-wash-verification-letter-schedules-special-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655260-329d570d1b23af5cbe87ef8f0b84c93f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770446875&Signature=MM~pO9tmr1R7Werd-hVDhzYZY~w1yznlOSfoXrragHPlYU8cldTnby2f~3QtpZpHILC-V3t7GflMX~7j-CLy~Sz-KQLCElOySGVM51H1mqp2fxopzoGnZgl4bCWOsnSRXBxVWOCJ6kzLWgfs0txs4ACROylDNVmiz3zYAJzxuCeOoxxUnGMTfZ0H6rWLgiLUT1iwkiYgNLxvosnnhC65K3MwWyO9fwEQEjS8nqmBovGRA9k7cMe4g7kyca3UmKuq0-hxXCUZC2iyLwJ4HEFfo6m-51KEARM4eZOiL9466flYnDnhssp4t-dI9Nr0kx0Jmuy~Acb67MNPaa0lUVoiVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its July 16 meeting, the Stafford City Council heard from an attorney seeking a written verification that a car wash at 3393 Avenue E would retain its grandfathered, nonconforming status if sold.

Justin Pruett, an attorney representing property owner Sam Tamberbello, asked the council to allow the planning director to sign a verification letter stating the city recognizes the site\u0000's nonconforming use and that the status would not be extinguished by a sale. Pruett said lenders require such a letter to complete the transaction and said a recent state law changes the city\u0000's legal exposure when a nonconforming status is removed.

The request matters because Stafford\u0000's code treats some longstanding uses as \u0000'grandfathered\u0000' (nonconforming), but the city\u0000's ordinance includes a provision that can strip that status upon transfer of ownership. Pruett told council that a 2023 Texas law can obligate a city to compensate a property owner if the city removes nonconforming status and requires demolition or other remediation as a result.

Pruett said the firm submitted a draft verification letter to city staff and asked for \u0000'some expediency\u0000' so the sale could close. He said the owner will not expand the use and would continue to comply with the conditions for the nonconforming status.

Council members said they had not had adequate time to read the draft letter and asked for staff advice. One council member said, \"I have to read this first and absorb it,\" and declined to vote that night without a fuller review. Mayor (unnamed) and the council discussed whether the mayor could direct the city attorney or planning director to issue a letter without full council action; city attorney Jeffrey and planning director Mr. Lubitz were cited as the staff contacts who have been working on the issue.

Council did not approve the verification letter at the meeting. Instead, members asked staff to provide the legal analysis and recommended language and arranged a special meeting with planning and zoning to consider the matter. The council also instructed the applicant to coordinate with the buyer and city staff while the council reviewed the document.

The discussion highlighted competing priorities: the property owner\u0000's interest in completing a sale and lenders\u0000's need for written verification, versus the council\u0000's duty to review legal language and rely on staff recommendations. Miss Benitez, a city staff member, said the change referenced by the attorney is expected to take effect \u0000'about September.\u0000'

The council scheduled a special meeting with planning and zoning next Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. to consider the item and related procedural questions. No formal action authorizing the planning director to sign the draft verification letter was taken at the July 16 meeting.","An attorney for a property owner asked Stafford council to authorize a planning director\u0000verification letter so a grandfathered car-wash at 3393 Avenue E can be sold. Council declined to approve the letter that night, asked for time to review legal language and scheduled a special meeting with planning and zoning.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Stafford City Council, July 16, 2025

Stafford swears in three officers and two telecommunicators; council moves forward on public-works appointment

Stafford council delays decision on car-wash verification letter, schedules special meeting