Killeen City Council Regular Meeting – December 3, 2024
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Killeen City Council Regular Meeting – December 3, 2024
The Killeen City Council met on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at 3:00 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included presentations, a consent agenda, multiple public hearings on rezoning requests, and a postponed executive session. Key actions included approving the consent agenda, appointing Youth Advisory Commissioners, and voting on several zoning changes. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:49 PM.
Presentations
- Oath of Office for FY 2024‑2025 Youth Advisory Commissioners – The mayor administered the oath to four new commissioners: Brianna Trevino, Adriana Lopez Espinoza, Derek Ortiz Marcado, and Naya M. Black. The Youth Advisory Commission (created in 1993) serves as a liaison to the City Council, focusing on leadership, volunteerism, and youth issues.
- Killeen Star Award – Councilmember Boyd presented the Star Award posthumously to Betty Ann McLaurin, recognized for her decades of community service, including founding a child care center, co‑founding Solution One Industries, and supporting the Boys & Girls Clubs and the Erica White Foundation. Her husband, Tyrone McLaurin, accepted on her behalf.
- Municipal Court Briefing (Item PR‑24‑030) – Postponed because Judge Krishner was delayed; he later presented a briefing on the Youth Diversion Program (mandated by HB 3186, effective January 1, 2025) and plans to reinstate Teen Court for traffic cases. The program offers a $10 fee (waivable) for eligible juveniles to avoid prosecution.
Consent Agenda
All items below were approved unanimously (7‑0; Councilmember Segarra was absent initially but later present):
- MN‑24‑028: Approval of minutes from the November 5, 2024 meeting.
- RS‑24‑215: Appointment of commissioners to the Youth Advisory Commission for FY 2025.
- RS‑24‑216: Purchase of new multimedia equipment for the Council Chamber from Rushworks/ENCO for $116,065, funded by PEG (public, educational, government) funds.
- RS‑24‑217: Approval of a support addendum with Routeware, Inc. for route optimization tracking for the solid waste fleet, five‑year cost of $86,048.
- RS‑24‑218: Professional services agreement with 120Water, Inc. for lead and copper inventory and testing services, $59,247.42.
- RS‑24‑219: Purchase of an Airfield Lighting Control and Monitoring System at Robert Gray Army Airfield under the IGSA with Fort Cavazos, $800,000 (fully funded by Fort Cavazos).
- RS‑24‑220: Contract amendment with Scheibe Consulting, LLC for a Drainage Master Plan project (FEMA study along Acorn Creek/Rosewood Drive), $62,810.
Discussion Items
- DS‑24‑072 – Semi‑Annual Capital Improvement Advisory Committee Report – Presented by Mr. Zagus. The CIAC report covers water and sewer impact fees tied to the 2019 capital improvement plan. Key points: 13 water projects and 12 wastewater projects are eligible for impact fee recovery; current fund balances show about $440,000 for water and a negative balance for wastewater (expected to recover within the year). A new master plan is in draft and will be presented early 2025. The committee also requested future discussions on impact fee restrictions and capital project funding.
- Work Session – Council reviewed items 5‑15 for the regular session. No final actions were taken during this segment.
Public Comments & Testimony
Multiple residents spoke during citizen comments and public hearings. Key themes:
- Water safety: A resident questioned the necessity of sending letters to 2,512 homes with galvanized lines, noting the city did not provide water filters. Staff clarified that the EPA mandate requires notification, and the city has no lead lines; 157 of the 2,512 homes have already replaced their lines.
- Multimedia equipment: Speakers criticized spending $116,065 on new equipment from a vendor whose 2019 equipment failed, asking why warranty wasn’t used. The city responded that the equipment is funded by PEG grants and must be upgraded due to aging technology (5‑year cycle).
- Featherline rezoning (PH‑24‑049): Over 20 residents spoke in opposition, citing safety concerns on Featherline Road (32 accidents in 2023, 38% traffic increase since 2022), environmental impacts, and a petition with 534 signatures. Several asked the council to delay rezoning until road improvements are complete. A few residents spoke in favor, praising the city’s responsiveness (right‑turn lane installed, stop signs added). The applicant’s engineer noted the development would take 8‑10 years to build out, and the city’s Featherline design is scheduled for 2025‑2027.
- Florence Road duplex rezoning (PH‑24‑050): Neighbors opposed, citing safety on narrow roads, drainage, and environmental impact. The applicant argued that without rezoning, the site could be developed as a mobile home park (RMH zoning), which would be less desirable.
- Other: A commenter addressed the city manager’s performance, referencing audits and the ransomware attack. The mayor noted the evaluation was postponed to December 10.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda – Approved 7‑0.
- PH‑24‑047 (2200 W. Central Texas Expressway, rezoning from CUP/B‑3 to B‑4 for car rental) – Approved 7‑0.
- PH‑24‑048 (113 West Avenue B, city‑initiated rezoning from B‑5 to R‑1) – Approved 7‑0.
- PH‑24‑050 (3210 Florence Road, rezoning ~12 acres from R‑1/RMH to R‑2 for duplexes) – Approved 6‑1 (Councilmember Solomon opposed). Required a ¾ majority; motion passed with six affirmative votes.
- PH‑24‑049 (Featherline Drive, rezoning 87.44 acres from Agricultural to R‑1 for up to ~300 homes) – Approved 7‑0 after extensive discussion. The council noted that Featherline Road improvements are funded and prioritized; a traffic impact analysis will be required during the development plan stage. The mayor clarified she does not vote on this item.
- Executive Session (DS‑24‑073, annual evaluation of city manager) – Postponed to December 10, 2024 (motion approved 7‑0).
- Adjournment – Motion carried at approximately 7:49 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Mr. Sean Price. Sean Price. Oh, sir, can you see the city secretary real quick for some clarification? Good afternoon, everyone. Once again, I am calling the three o'clock uh meeting to order. Thank you all for taking out of your busy schedule to be here. We will have the invocation by Mr. Mr. Don Smith and the Pledge of Allegiance by Councilmember Alvarez. Would you all please stand? Lord, thank you for all you do for us. We need to go to the Lord with thanks, even in times when we are not requesting something. Lord, the city council has a hard job. Lord, give them the guidance and strength to develop solutions to difficult problems. And let us civilians support our council in developing these solutions. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. Amen. Thank you, Councilmember Avarez and also Mr. Smith for the invocation. For individuals that may be new to the council meeting, please mute all your phones on silence. If you would like to take a call, you can take it outside. Also, when the individual is speaking that have been a knowledge, we will give them him or her the respect to listen and not to interfere while they're talking. Councilmember Alvarez. Mayor, I move their approval the agenda. Oh, Councilmember Adams. A second. All right. All in favor, yes, all opposed, no. Let the record show that council member Sagara is absent. Did all council member vote? Motion carries six to zero. Presentations. Council, you have three times to speak. Three times each. Madam Secretary. PR twenty-four zero two six. Oath of office for the fiscal year twenty twenty-four, twenty twenty-five youth advisory commissioners. We can have a twenty twenty-four, twenty twenty-five youth advisory council. Committee members, please step forward. Two six oath of office for the fiscal year 2024 2025 youth advisory commissioners council we can have the 2024-2025 youth advisory council committee members please step forward thank you it is indeed an honor and pleasure to stand here before you I am so proud of you for taking the time and and the effort to go through the interview process and I know some of those questions was hard but you are not only our future for today you are a future for tomorrow and I like to personally thank all your parents for your hard effort and time that you put in with your youth that's standing before us. This is what it's all about. I always had a saying that you're part of a problem, a part of a solution. This is our solution, volunteerism. So if you want to get involved with the city, please take the opportunity to sign up to be a volunteer because we need you just as much as you need us. With that being said, in the name and by the authority of the state of Texas, I repeat your name. You have to speak up loud. Hold your hand, raise your hand up. Everybody hand up. All right, let's try that again.
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