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Record of Proceedings

Killeen City Council Meeting - May 20, 2025

City Council & Commissions — Tuesday, May 20, 2025
BodyKilleen, Texas
SessionCity Council & Commissions
DateTuesday, May 20, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 5:54:57

Original source
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1:31

Good afternoon, everyone.

1:32

It's three o'clock.

1:34

I'll let the record show that all council members are present.

1:37

Councilwoman Cobb is on zone.

1:43

We would now have uh invocation by call Pastor Carl Sherman and pledge allegiance by Councilwoman Gonzalez.

1:56

Please rise.

1:58

Mr.

1:58

Sara.

2:01

Hi Mayor Ash King and Council.

2:05

Uh it is a privilege to come before you.

2:08

Uh before I began my prayer, I would just like to thank you all for your leadership.

2:14

It's so important uh that we have more uh cities like Clean uh who understand the significance of local government.

2:24

Uh and uh when I look at the state of Texas, the one thousand two hundred cities that we have in our state in two hundred and fifty-four counties, only about three hundred and fifty uh are home rule cities, meaning your citizens have given you the right to govern yourselves.

2:45

And so uh I am very concerned about what's happening uh with the erosion of local control.

2:52

Uh so God bless you, uh your council manager form of government, and may uh you continue uh to have this sovereign status, uh, that you can develop your own ordinances according to the wishes of your citizens.

3:09

Shall we pray?

3:13

We stand before you, Lord, just in awe of who you are.

3:16

The fact that you took every step up Gog office Hill for us to die for our sins.

3:23

Lord, we're just so grateful that you provide for us the opportunity to live and move because of you and we pray, almighty God, for this mayor, we pray, almighty God, for the mayor pro Tim and Council and City Manager and all of the citizens of Killeen, uh, that they would strive to do what's right in your sight.

3:46

Thank you, Holy Father.

3:48

Though you are all sovereign, all powerful, you provide for us the opportunity to make our own decisions.

3:57

Give us wisdom that we might discern what's right in your sight.

4:02

Give us fortitude of faith to do what's right even when everyone else stands against us.

4:10

And we pray finally, Lord, that the state and this nation would have better leaders who would be concerned about our children, that they might be safe whether in school or in church houses, all across this state.

4:27

In the name of Jesus we pray.

4:29

Amen.

4:34

I pledge allegiance of America.

4:50

Thank you all.

4:52

You may be seated.

4:54

Also, please keep Kath and Marvin tell the family in your prayers as we lay down to rest today.

5:05

Just continue to uplift the family and also our firefighters.

5:15

Can I get a motion to approve the agenda?

5:20

Madam Mayor.

5:21

Yes.

5:22

I move to approve the agenda is printed.

5:26

Councilmember Solomon.

5:29

Thank you.

5:31

All in favor, yes, all opposed, no.

5:50

Motions carry seven to zero.

5:58

Presentations.

6:00

Madam Secretary.

6:07

PR 25010, Colleen Star Award.

6:13

Thank you.

6:24

Once again, good afternoon, everyone.

6:26

As you know, um, the council gives out the Star Award.

6:31

What makes this so significant because it's in a volunteer, a citizen within our community that goes beyond to make an impact, to make a difference, not only for the city of Colleen, but also in someone's life.

6:48

This month, uh, Council Salome has the honor of presenting the Star Award.

6:55

Councilman Solomon.

6:59

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

7:01

This is an honor to present this to this group and Mr.

7:07

Jimmy G will be representing them, of course, the entire group.

7:14

Come on around.

7:17

Yes, we want everybody.

7:21

Ship left, ship right.

7:27

This is a real special honor uh to this group, proud of Kaleen number six twenty.

7:33

Uh they do so much in our community, and uh and they have been doing it for years, and it's such an honor to do this.

7:44

Let me just read what uh a little bit and highlight a little bit what they do.

7:49

Pride of Kaleen, the number 620 continues to lead by example, serving the Kaleen community with unwavering dedication and compassion through a variety of impactful initiative.

8:04

This distinguished Masonic organization has become a vital resource for families, children, and those in need.

8:13

Every quarter, part of Kaleen No.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning██████████████████18%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████████14%
Public Engagement█████████9%
Parks and Recreation███████7%
Budget Equity Analysis██████6%
Procedural█████5%
Youth Programs█████5%
Water And Wastewater Management█████5%
Community Engagement████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Killeen City Council Meeting - May 20, 2025

The Killeen City Council met on May 20, 2025, at 3:00 PM. All council members were present, with Councilwoman Cobb participating via Zoom. The meeting included presentations, citizen comments, public hearings, and discussions on road projects, fee schedules, and tax abatements. Key decisions included approval of a communications director, naming rights agreement, elderly transportation program, and several zoning changes, while a planned unit development for Cunningham Road failed to receive the required supermajority.

Presentations

  • Colleen Star Award (PR 25010): Presented to Pride of Killeen No. 620, a Masonic organization, for community service including street cleanups, feeding the homeless, mentoring students, and holiday gift drives. Councilman Solomon presented the award.
  • Youth Advisory Commission Biannual Report (PR 25011): Chair Carlos Diaz Torres reported on the 2024-2025 term. The YAC has 16 commissioners, 50 resource members, and 20 junior members. Recommendations included addressing Chaparral Road construction, increasing neighborhood parks, and improving sidewalks. Torres noted a planned shift in focus to advocacy and expanded recruitment via social media.

Consent Calendar

The following items were approved unanimously (7-0):

  • Minutes of the April 15, 2025 regular council meeting (MN 25010).
  • Appointment of Tori Bethany as Executive Director of Communications and Marketing (RS 25078). Ms. Bethany has over 13 years of experience in public service communications.
  • Agreement with Zener USA for naming rights for the Family Aquatic Center and four athletic fields: $25,000 per year for five years, with two five-year renewal options. The city retains $20,000 annually after commission, and signage costs up to $2,963. (RS 25079)
  • Memorandum of Agreement with Armed Services YMCA for joint facility use: no-cost use of Natatorium (Dec-Apr) and Lions Club Park fields (Apr-May, Sep-Oct). (RS 25080)
  • Interlocal agreement with Hill Country Transit District for elderly transportation program: $50,793 for fiscal year 2025, serving 113 approved beneficiaries with an average of 526 rides per month. (RS 25081)
  • Five-year professional services agreement with Gases 101 for fire department gas detectors: annual amount $28,755, starting prorated at $9,585 from June 1 to September 30 2025. (RS 25082)
  • Consent to creation of Bell County Emergency Services District No. 3, which includes a portion of Killeen's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). The ESD election is anticipated for November 4, 2025. (RS 25083)
  • Change Order No. 2 for Watercrest Road reconstruction: $1,220,340.28, covering additional lime treatment, curb and gutter, fencing, and a flashing beacon crosswalk at Cody Poe. Project completion expected March 2026. (RS 25084)
  • Letter of No Objection for Donjin Semiconductor Texas, Inc. to apply for Foreign Trade Zone designation: inventory exempt from ad valorem tax. (RS 25085)

Public Comments & Testimony

  • General Comments: Sean Price asked about maintenance responsibility for naming rights signage, impact of ESD creation on services, justification for Watercrest change order costs, and hazard assessment for Donjin's chemical storage. He also questioned the economic benefit of the FTZ designation.
  • Citizen James (surname unclear): Praised planning for upcoming Stage 4 water conservation but criticized Watercrest Road progress, suggesting it was a PR stunt. He urged reverting to a four-lane road and expressed safety concerns.
  • Jane Seals: Raised concerns about Featherline Road construction delays, now expected to start in late 2027 (12-month delay). She questioned how home construction would be coordinated with road improvements.
  • Melissa Brown: Opposed the naming rights agreement as undervaluing the city, criticized Watercrest cost overruns, and argued against tax abatements for housing, stating they would harm taxpayers. She also noted the fee schedule discussion occurred after citizen comments, limiting public input.
  • Public Hearing on Z2504 (Cunningham Road PUD): Multiple residents opposed the rezoning. Concerns included traffic congestion, drainage/flooding, privacy, property values, and lack of infrastructure. Speakers: Sean Price, Debbie Hallmark Rogers, Sue Hallmark, Rick Davis, Harley Aguilar, Steve Overby, James Steele, Melissa Brown, and another resident. Over 50% of notified property owners (49% of responses) opposed. The applicant offered conditions: 100-year storm detention, Love Spur improvements, and gate location negotiation.

Discussion Items

  • Road Construction Update (DS 25023): Andrew Zagers presented updates on 10 projects. Progress: Gilmer Street (completion Oct 2025), Bunny Trail (Sep 2025), Stagecoach Phase 1 (summer 2025-April 2026), Watercrest (Mar 2026), Willow Springs (design paused, construction likely after Stagecoach), Rancier Avenue (30% design, $25M grant application to RAISE), Chaparral Road (design ongoing, $100M total, no construction until ~2029), Featherline (design on schedule, construction late 2027), and Mohawk (new project, design contract pending). Council discussion emphasized the need for better communication with residents and prioritization of Zephyr Road (design to begin using $3.5M from street fee fund).
  • Fiscal Year 2026 Fee Schedule (DS 25025): Departments presented new and increased fees to align with benchmarks and cover costs. Key proposals:
    • Aviation: Consolidated TV ad fee ($350/month) and seat ad increase ($75).
    • Development Services: New pre-development meeting fee ($75), commercial site plan review fees ($1,000-$2,500), PUD amendment fee (reduced to $500), and various increases (building permit base $100, zoning letter $50, CUP $750, plat amendments half price).
    • Engineering: Increases for subdivision construction plan review, inspections, right-of-way permits, traffic impact analysis, and land disturbance permits.
    • Fire Department: New $4,000 fee for electric vehicle fires (surcharge to insurance); EMT-B tuition increase to $1,200, Fire Academy to $3,700; ambulance fees increased by 2.9% as per CMS; mileage, oxygen, standby time, and treat-no-transport fees increased similarly.
    • Golf Course: Several increases in green fees, memberships, cart fees, and range balls to cover debt service on $3M CO bond. Example: weekday 18-hole green fee with cart up $4 to $50; annual membership up $125 to $1,625 for residents.
    • Convention Center: New military ball package and room restoration fee (3% of rental).
    • Parks and Recreation: New fees for sports camps ($50), tournament admissions ($3 adults/$2 youth), cemetery reprocessing ($50), court rentals, disc golf ($400), and various recreation room rentals. Increases for aquatics (lifeguard cert up $25, swim lessons up $5), athletic leagues (e.g., adult flag football up $100 to $300), and facility memberships (e.g., dual FRC/Rosa Harford membership up $80 annually).
    • Public Works/Solid Waste: Container relocation fee ($10), commercial extra pickup increases, residential reload fees (excess garbage overload up $10 to $30), transfer station disposal fee increase (from $61.60 to $80 per ton).
    • Utility Collections: New tiered fees for broken water meter boxes ($75-$400). Council members raised concerns about the impact on youth and low-income residents, particularly regarding Rosa Harford Center entry fees. Staff will explore waiver programs.
  • Biennial Citizen Survey (DS 25026): Staff proposed using ETC Institute to replicate the 2023 survey (33 questions, target 500+ respondents). Council discussed increasing response numbers, using social media (e.g., SurveyMonkey), and focusing on progress rather than just priorities. Staff will explore options.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion to approve the consent agenda passed 7-0.
  • Motion to approve Z2505 (Cunningham Road PUD) with conditions (100-year detention, Love Spur ditch improvements, gate location negotiation) FAILED 4-3. The motion required a three-fourths majority (6 votes) due to Planning and Zoning Commission's previous disapproval. Four council members voted in favor, three against. The property remains zoned A and R1.
  • Motion to approve Z2509 (Tremere/Chaparral rezoning to B3) passed 7-0.
  • Motion to approve Z2510 (city-initiated rezoning of eight lots to R1) passed 7-0.
  • Motion to approve CUPC ordinance (allowing conditional use permits for on-premise alcohol consumption) passed 7-0.
  • Motion to approve residential reinvestment zone (7,064 acres north of VMB) passed 7-0.
  • Motion to approve readoption of tax abatement guidelines (including residential eligibility) passed 7-0.
  • Motion to adjourn passed unanimously.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon, everyone. It's three o'clock. I'll let the record show that all council members are present. Councilwoman Cobb is on zone. We would now have uh invocation by call Pastor Carl Sherman and pledge allegiance by Councilwoman Gonzalez. Please rise. Mr. Sara. Hi Mayor Ash King and Council. Uh it is a privilege to come before you. Uh before I began my prayer, I would just like to thank you all for your leadership. It's so important uh that we have more uh cities like Clean uh who understand the significance of local government. Uh and uh when I look at the state of Texas, the one thousand two hundred cities that we have in our state in two hundred and fifty-four counties, only about three hundred and fifty uh are home rule cities, meaning your citizens have given you the right to govern yourselves. And so uh I am very concerned about what's happening uh with the erosion of local control. Uh so God bless you, uh your council manager form of government, and may uh you continue uh to have this sovereign status, uh, that you can develop your own ordinances according to the wishes of your citizens. Shall we pray? We stand before you, Lord, just in awe of who you are. The fact that you took every step up Gog office Hill for us to die for our sins. Lord, we're just so grateful that you provide for us the opportunity to live and move because of you and we pray, almighty God, for this mayor, we pray, almighty God, for the mayor pro Tim and Council and City Manager and all of the citizens of Killeen, uh, that they would strive to do what's right in your sight. Thank you, Holy Father. Though you are all sovereign, all powerful, you provide for us the opportunity to make our own decisions. Give us wisdom that we might discern what's right in your sight. Give us fortitude of faith to do what's right even when everyone else stands against us. And we pray finally, Lord, that the state and this nation would have better leaders who would be concerned about our children, that they might be safe whether in school or in church houses, all across this state. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen. I pledge allegiance of America. Thank you all. You may be seated. Also, please keep Kath and Marvin tell the family in your prayers as we lay down to rest today. Just continue to uplift the family and also our firefighters. Can I get a motion to approve the agenda? Madam Mayor. Yes. I move to approve the agenda is printed. Councilmember Solomon. Thank you. All in favor, yes, all opposed, no. Motions carry seven to zero. Presentations. Madam Secretary. PR 25010, Colleen Star Award. Thank you. Once again, good afternoon, everyone. As you know, um, the council gives out the Star Award. What makes this so significant because it's in a volunteer, a citizen within our community that goes beyond to make an impact, to make a difference, not only for the city of Colleen, but also in someone's life. This month, uh, Council Salome has the honor of presenting the Star Award. Councilman Solomon. Thank you, Madam Mayor. This is an honor to present this to this group and Mr.

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