Council approved a memorandum of agreement to participate in the DHS 287(g) task‑force model, authorizing select officers to receive additional training and limited immigration authority; council discussed training hours, costs and community concerns before voting.

Council adopted Ordinance No. 2026‑16 to establish a police reserve force with the city marshal as program chief. The police chief told council the program is voluntary, TCOLE‑aligned and intended to supplement staffing for special events and emergencies.

Council introduced and approved actions authorizing a settlement agreement related to the Star Lake Canal Superfund site, including creation of a restricted settlement fund and a payment plan totaling $1,750,000 in five installments between 12/31/2026 and 12/31/2029.

Consultant Matthew Garrett told Groves City Council the city faces about $33 million in capital needs and recommends 5.75% annual water and wastewater rate increases to meet debt-service and operating targets; he presented modeled bill impacts and answered council questions about wastewater costs.

City staff told council the proposed FY 2026–27 budget shows an "increase of almost 65%," largely driven by a certificate of obligation to fund treatment-plant improvements and a water meter program; staff outlined timelines for public hearings and publication deadlines.

Staff said the bulk of the budget increase is attributable to CO-funded projects including treatment-plant improvements and a water-meter program; staff also noted some CO covenants allow spending on storage-tank coatings and related water infrastructure if numbers permit.

Council approved Resolution 2026-14 authorizing a request to the Texas Water Development Board for funding the advanced water meter infrastructure project; staff said the application is essentially ready, the program requires no local match, and an award could supplement $5.6 million previously allocated by the city.

After an intense storm that dropped as much as 11 inches in a few hours, Groves officials and Range District 7 managers described emergency pump and debris‑removal efforts and two planned detention ponds awaiting FEMA approval; residents at public comment urged more frequent ditch clearing and fixes to specific easements.

Schneider Electric updated the Groves City Council on planned upgrades to the city's wastewater treatment plant, including aeration and sludge blower replacements, diffuser replacement, SCADA coordination, and a procurement timeline that could see construction next summer.

After extended public comment from local business owners about competition and pricing, the council adopted Ordinance 2026-09 to correct franchise language so it matches the contract with Republic Services; staff said the change fixes wording and does not alter policy intent.

The Groves City Council voted to extend three debris-response agreements through June 30, 2029, keeping Saris Environmental Services Inc., Crowder Gulf and Debris Tech on-call for removal and monitoring work; staff said the extension carries no additional cost.

At a Dec. 1 workshop, NewGen consultant Matthew Garrett explained how a transportation use (street maintenance) fee could be designed, how parcels would be assigned to billing units, and the likely timeline (60–90 days for feasibility). City staff said Groves has about 75 miles of streets and high repair costs; council will decide whether to fund the feasibility study.

The Groves City Council approved $22,000 in hotel-occupancy-tax (HOT) funding for the Groves Pecan Festival to secure Guinness World Records certification and related media promotion. The council recorded aye votes from the mayor, mayor pro tem and three council members. The festival organizers said the certification and media package would expand,