Kemah meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Kemah council to weigh 2027 tax rate, budget; public hearings set for September

The Kemah City Council is scheduled to consider a proposed 2027 property tax rate of $0.1899 and finalize the fiscal year 2027 budget at its Aug. 19 regular meeting, according to the meeting agenda. No minutes from that meeting have been published, so no decisions are recorded yet. Two public hearings on the proposed budget are set for Sept. 2 and Sept. 16.

Tax rate and budget

The council's Aug. 19 agenda lists a proposed ad valorem tax rate of $0.1899, with a first reading scheduled for Sept. 2 and final adoption on Sept. 16. The proposed budget for fiscal year 2026-2027 lowers the property tax rate but anticipates higher total property tax revenue because of tax base growth, including new construction. According to the public notice, total property taxes would rise by $17,356.54 (1.241%) over the prior year, with $37,719.13 coming from new property added to the tax roll. The proposed rate is below the current rate and below the no-new-revenue rate, the notice states.

Park engineering and grants

The council will also consider approving engineering services for a 57-acre park under a GOMESA grant, along with budget amendments for GOMESA and Texas A&M Forestry grants. A new phone contract with ClearlyIP and a BAHEP renewal are also on the agenda. These items are listed as agenda items only; no votes have been recorded.

KCDC meeting

The Kemah Community Development Corporation met Aug. 18 and was set to consider budget amendments for GOMESA and Texas A&M Forestry grants, an engineering proposal for 57 Acre Park under the GOMESA grant, declaring a digital signage initiative a project and starting a 60-day comment period, and renewing the BAHEP agreement. The board also planned closed sessions for personnel and real property matters. Minutes have not been published.

Workshops

Two City Council workshops were held Aug. 19. One covered department and budget priorities, a strategic plan, and joint planning with the KCDC, plus a closed session for attorney consultation. The other was a budget workshop for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, including discussion of Capital Improvement Plan requests and the timeline for tax rate and budget adoption. Both were discussion items with no votes scheduled.

Coming up

• **Sept. 2, 4:00 p.m.** — Public hearing on the proposed FY 2026-2027 budget, City Hall Council Chambers.
• **Sept. 16, 4:00 p.m.** — Second public hearing on the proposed budget, also serving as the § 102.006 hearing, City Hall Council Chambers.

Residents may attend and comment at both hearings.

Kemah boards weigh drainage change order, recreation grants in back-to-back meetings

Kemah's City Council and Community Development Corporation held a packed stretch of mid-July meetings centered on the city budget, a drainage project change order, and a slate of state and federal recreation grant applications. Because minutes have not yet been published for any of the three sessions, what follows reflects what was posted on the agendas — not what was ultimately voted on or decided.

City Council: 7th Street Drainage change order on the table

The Kemah City Council's July 15 agenda included a proposed Change Order #1 for the 7th Street Drainage Project, capped at $18,500.00. No vote tally or final action is available because minutes have not been published. The same meeting was set to consider a resolution establishing a written public comment procedure, which would govern how residents address the council during meetings.

The council agenda also listed three Texas Parks & Wildlife grant applications:

• Non-Urban Indoor Recreation Grant
• Non-Urban Outdoor Recreation Grant
• Small Communities Outdoor Recreation Grant

City Council budget workshop

Also on July 15, the City Council held a budget workshop for the upcoming fiscal year, part of the city's annual budget-building process. The agenda listed only the workshop itself, with no specific line items or dollar figures attached. Minutes are not yet available, so no decisions can be reported.

Kemah Community Development Corporation: grants and planning study

On July 14, the Kemah Community Development Corporation (KCDC) met to discuss a budget kick-off and consider multiple grant applications. The agenda included:

• Application for the National Fitness Campaign Grant Program
• Application for the Texas Parks & Wildlife Local Parks - Small Communities Outdoor Recreation Grant
• Application for the Texas Parks & Wildlife Local Parks - Non-Urban Indoor Recreation Grant
• Application for the Texas Parks & Wildlife Local Parks - Non-Urban Outdoor Recreation Grant
• Houston-Galveston Area Council (HGAC) Intergovernmental Grant Funding Agreement for a Livable Centers Planning and Feasibility Study

The KCDC agenda overlaps with the council's on the three Texas Parks & Wildlife applications, suggesting coordinated pursuit of state recreation funding. The Livable Centers study, if funded through the HGAC agreement, would examine planning and feasibility for a designated area, though the agenda does not specify a project location or dollar amount.

What residents should know

Several of these items — the 7th Street Drainage change order, the public comment resolution, and the grant applications — could affect city spending, infrastructure, and how residents engage with their government. However, because all three meetings are listed as "agenda only" with minutes not yet published, no outcomes, vote tallies, or final dollar amounts can be confirmed. Readers should treat the above as a preview of what was scheduled for discussion, not a record of action taken.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Residents seeking confirmed outcomes from the July 14 and July 15 sessions should watch for posted minutes from the Kemah City Council and the Kemah Community Development Corporation.

Kemah meetings: Sales tax for streets, tree grant, and budget talks on recent agendas

Kemah officials packed several consequential items onto recent meeting agendas, including a proposed 0.25% street-maintenance sales tax, a $20,000 tree-planting grant, and a budget workshop for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. However, minutes have not yet been published for any of these meetings, so final outcomes — including vote tallies — are not yet confirmed in the public record.

City Council — July 1

The City Council agenda for July 1 listed several notable items:

• **Resolution 2026-26**: Adoption of a local sales and use tax of 0.25% to fund maintenance and repair of municipal streets.
• **Replat**: Preliminary/final replat of the CSP Retail Plat at 365 FM 518.
• **COPS Grant**: Application for the FY 2026 COPS Hiring and Technology Grant.
• **CenterPoint settlement**: Discussion of a TEEEF settlement that would reduce a monthly electric charge from $2.39 to $0.76 — a reduction of $1.63 per month.
• **Prosecutor's agreement**: Approval of a prosecutor's agreement between the Galveston County District Attorney and the Kemah Police Department.

Because minutes are not yet available, it is not confirmed which of these items were voted on or approved.

Budget workshop — July 1

The City Council and the Kemah Public Facilities Corporation held a budget workshop for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The agenda described this as part of the annual budget process, including capital improvement plans and tax rate considerations. No votes were scheduled for this workshop.

Kemah Community Development Corporation — June 29

The KCDC board agenda included consideration of a $20,000 Community Forestry Grant from the Texas A&M Forest Service. The grant requires a $10,000 city match. According to the agenda, the funds would support a tree-planting initiative involving over 100 donated trees as part of Scenic City Certification and an Eagle Scout project. Minutes are not yet published, so acceptance is not confirmed.

Coming up

• **July 14 — Kemah Community Development Corporation**: The board will discuss a budget kick-off and consider applications for multiple recreation and fitness grants, including the National Fitness Campaign Grant Program, three Texas Parks & Wildlife Local Parks grants (Small Communities Outdoor, Non-Urban Indoor, and Non-Urban Outdoor), and an HGAC Intergovernmental Grant Funding Agreement for a Livable Centers Planning and Feasibility Study.
• **July 15 — City Council (budget workshop)**: A second budget workshop for the upcoming fiscal year.
• **July 15 — City Council (regular items)**: The agenda includes Change Order #1 for the 7th Street Drainage Project, up to $18,500.00; a resolution establishing a written public comment procedure; and the same three Texas Parks & Wildlife grant applications listed on the KCDC agenda.

Residents who want to confirm outcomes from the June 29 and July 1 meetings should watch for published minutes, which will provide vote tallies and final decisions.

Kemah Council to Consider Street Maintenance Sales Tax, Budget, and Tree Grant

Kemah residents could see a new sales tax for street repairs and a reduced electric charge under items the City Council is scheduled to consider this week. All three recent meetings on the public calendar are listed as agenda-only, meaning minutes have not yet been published and no final actions have been confirmed.

Street Maintenance Sales Tax Proposed

The City Council is set to vote on adopting a local sales and use tax of 0.25% to fund maintenance and repair of municipal streets, listed as Resolution 2026-26. If adopted, the tax would apply to purchases within the city and be directed specifically to street upkeep. The agenda does not specify an effective date or projected revenue.

CenterPoint Settlement Would Lower Monthly Electric Charge

The council will also discuss a CenterPoint TEEEF settlement that would reduce a monthly electric charge from $2.39 to $0.76 — a reduction of $1.63 per month. The agenda lists this as a discussion item rather than a formal vote.

Budget Workshop for 2026-2027 Fiscal Year

The City Council and Kemah Public Facilities Corporation held a budget workshop to discuss the upcoming 2026-2027 fiscal year budget. The workshop is part of the annual budget process, which includes capital improvement plans and tax rate considerations. No budget figures or proposed tax rates were included in the agenda materials.

Tree Planting Grant on KCDC Agenda

The Kemah Community Development Corporation board is considering acceptance of a $20,000 Community Forestry Grant from the Texas A&M Forest Service. The grant requires a $10,000 city match. Funds would support a tree planting initiative involving over 100 donated trees as part of Scenic City Certification and an Eagle Scout project.

Additional Council Items

The council agenda also includes:

• A preliminary and final replat of CSP Retail Plat at 365 FM 518.
• An application for the FY 2026 COPS Hiring and Technology Grant.
• Approval of a prosecutor's agreement between the Galveston County District Attorney's Office and the Kemah Police Department.

No vote tallies, dollar amounts beyond those listed, or outcomes are available, as minutes for all three meetings have not yet been published.

Coming Up

No additional public meetings are listed on the city calendar for the next 14 days. Residents are encouraged to check the city's official website for any schedule updates or newly posted agendas.

Kemah City Council Agenda Includes Street Tax, Tree Grant, and Energy Settlement

The Kemah City Council’s July 1 meeting agenda showcased a proposed 0.25% sales tax for street repairs, a budget workshop for the coming fiscal year, and a settlement that would lower monthly electric bill charges. The Kemah Community Development Corporation also had a June 29 agenda with a $20,000 tree-planting grant up for consideration. Since minutes had not been published for either meeting as of July 5, all outcomes remain pending.

Community Development Corporation

The KCDC board was scheduled on June 29 to consider acceptance of a $20,000 Community Forestry Grant from the Texas A&M Forest Service. The grant requires a $10,000 match from city funds and would support planting more than 100 donated trees as part of a Scenic City Certification initiative and an Eagle Scout project. The agenda did not list a funding source for the match, and the board’s decision is not yet public.

City Council

The City Council’s July 1 agenda combined a budget workshop with a slate of action items.

Budget workshop

The Council and the Kemah Public Facilities Corporation held an informational workshop to discuss the 2026–2027 fiscal year budget. Topics included capital improvement projects and property tax rate considerations. No formal votes were taken at the workshop.

Street maintenance sales tax

Resolution 2026-26, if approved, would adopt a local sales and use tax of 0.25% dedicated exclusively to maintaining and repairing municipal streets. The resolution was on the voting agenda, but the tally and outcome are unknown pending release of minutes.

Land use

A preliminary and final replat of CSP Retail Plat at 365 FM 518 was set for Council action. The replat would reconfigure commercial lots along the FM 518 corridor. No additional details appeared in the agenda summary.

Police grants and donation

The Council was scheduled to vote on an application for a FY 2026 COPS Hiring and Technology Grant. The agenda did not specify whether the grant would target officer salaries, equipment, or both. Also on the approval list was a donation to the Kemah Police Department; the donor and amount were not disclosed.

CenterPoint settlement

Council members were set to discuss a settlement with CenterPoint Energy regarding the Transmission, Education, Enforcement, and Evaluation Fund. Under the terms, a monthly charge on customer electric bills would drop from $2.39 to $0.76—a reduction of $1.63 per month. It was not clear from the agenda whether the discussion would lead to a vote.

Prosecutor agreement

A routine agreement between the Galveston County District Attorney and the Kemah Police Department for prosecutorial services was listed for approval.

Coming up

No meetings of city boards or the Council were listed as scheduled for the next 14 days as of July 5. Future agendas and, once released, meeting minutes can be found on the city’s website.