Council rejects 10-year OptiComm traffic-preemption agreement after debate on cost and scope
Summary
The council declined to authorize a 10-year agreement for an OptiComm traffic preemption system after members raised budget and scope concerns; the motion failed 3–2.
The Tomball City Council voted down a proposed 10-year contract for an OptiComm traffic preemption system intended to speed emergency response times. The proposed agreement with Consolidated Traffic Controls was quoted at $76,952.64 annually over 10 years; after discussion the item failed 3 nays and 2 yes. City staff and Fire Department leaders told council the system’s vendor projects a roughly 20–25% reduction in emergency response time, which staff estimated would translate to about one minute on average given Tomball’s existing response benchmarks. Chief Joe described the system: as an on-approach signal-override that would turn cross directions red and leave the apparatus direction green to clear intersections. Opponents on council argued that committing to a decade-long contract for what some members viewed as a nonessential recurring expense strained the principle of budgeting only for the coming year. Supporters pointed to safety gains and to equipment and maintenance coverage included in the contract. Staff said many internal truck modems and infrastructure are already in place and that the price includes installation and maintenance; the quoted annual amount is budgeted across multiple departments in current fiscal plans but would require transfers if approved. Outcome: The motion to approve the agreement failed by a 3–2 vote; staff and councilmembers who supported the project said they may revisit intersection improvements or alternative solutions during future budget cycles.
