Conroe City Council is expected to revisit two contentious policies — public comment rules and street closure fees — during its May 14 meeting, with proposals aimed at expanding resident input and temporarily rolling back event costs.
The Conroe City Council is set to revisit the timing of public comment periods during meetings and the fees for closing city streets for events. These two matters have sparked ongoing public opposition throughout the past year.
During the meeting scheduled for May 14, Mayor Duke Coon will present a proposal aimed at amending the city’s rules of procedure for the 2024-26 council term. The proposed change aims to make it easier for citizens to ask questions and give comments on both agenda and non-agenda items by placing this segment at the beginning of all publicly convened meetings, as outlined in the posted agenda.
The proposal states that public comment will take place after the invocation, pledges, and any proclamations or recognitions are made. The speaking time will remain limited to 30 minutes.
The item arrives several months following a special meeting held on January 6, 2025, during which council members decided to restrict public comments exclusively to agenda items. Coon indicated he would not enforce the restriction, suggesting a willingness to reconsider the policy in light of residents' concerns about access and transparency.
Also on May 14, council members will consider temporarily restoring street closure fees and related requirements to their pre-Nov. 13 structure while city staff reevaluates the current pricing and permit system.
Residents and small-business owners have expressed their discontent following the council's adoption of updates to special event regulations on January 22. A new application fee of $500 has been introduced for events that close streets, limit public access, or disrupt normal traffic flow. Some organizers argue that this fee poses significant barriers for community events.
City officials announced that the temporary rollback is intended to give staff time to analyze and improve the fee structure before introducing a revised model.
A meeting is set to take place in the wake of recent changes to the council's composition following the elections. In the May 2 election, unofficial results from the Montgomery County Elections office indicate that Kristin Hoisington, Ken Blevins, and John Sellars have been elected to Places 3, 4, and 5, respectively.
The municipal judge race is advancing to a runoff, with candidates Tanya Maddux and Jay Gross set to compete after neither achieved a majority in the initial round.
A special meeting has been set for 2 p.m. on May 13 to review election results, announce the winners, and arrange for the runoff scheduled for June 13. On May 14, a meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Conroe City Hall, 300 W. Davis St. This session marks the first regular gathering featuring the newly elected council members, as outlined in the agenda.
