OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Special City Council Meeting – June 3, 2025: HUD Public Hearings on Affordable Housing Funds and Consolidated Plan

City Council & CommissionsTuesday, June 3, 2025
BodyKilleen, Texas
SessionCity Council & Commissions
DateTuesday, June 3, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record

STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Transcript — Verbatim
0:33

Oh, I'm sorry.

0:34

We don't have enough.

1:39

Uh we're going to open up public hearing and first want to hear from Mrs.

1:44

McNair.

1:48

You want to council member?

1:50

Sorry, I'm sorry, go ahead.

1:51

We have approval of the agenda first.

1:54

Thank you.

1:54

Yes, sir.

1:56

Oh, thank you.

1:58

Y'all be patient with me.

2:00

It's okay.

2:03

Yeah, you get a motion to approve the agenda.

2:08

Can I get a second?

2:10

I said.

2:12

All in favor.

2:16

Mr.

2:16

Adams.

2:18

Mr.

2:18

Adam, uh Ms.

2:19

Adams, you raise your hand.

2:20

Thank you.

2:21

Um carries four to zero.

2:48

Okay.

2:49

Mrs.

2:50

McNear.

2:53

City Secretary, I'm sorry.

2:57

Public hearings.

2:59

PH twenty-five zero two seven.

3:02

Hold a public hearing on a substantial amendment to annual action plans for program years twenty seventeen, twenty twenty-one, twenty twenty-two, and twenty twenty-three to reprogram home funds to provide for affordable housing activities and to remove the city's requirement under the twenty twenty through twenty twenty-four consolidated strategic plan for HUD certified housing counseling to provide services to recipients as provisions of the home program, tenant-based rental assistance.

3:34

Now Mrs.

3:36

McNear.

3:37

Thank you.

3:38

Thank you, ma'am.

3:39

Uh preface for these three public hearings that we're gonna have tonight.

3:42

There will not be a requirement of any action by this uh legislative body.

3:47

Um these public hearings are just to provide information to the public that we will be opening a comment period, a 30-day comment period um to receive their feedback so we can get drafts prepared to submit to HUD in August, and because we are at that time of uh every five years of doing a consolidated plan.

4:09

This is why we're doing all three of these together at the same time because of uh at least two of these do not require uh minimum 30-year comment period, but since we're here, we're gonna do them all together for efficiency and to make sure that everything is moving all at once.

4:28

So the substantial amendment occurs when there is a change in the purpose scope, location of beneficiaries of an activity or project.

4:35

Home grant funds remain from previously eligible projects that were completed or cancelled without use utilizing the entire amount allocated, or when CHOTO, which is a community housing development organization funds are converted into entitlement funds.

4:50

Reprogramming is necessary to make remain maintain compliance with HUD and home expenditure um regulations.

4:58

I'm gonna slow down.

5:00

The community development advisory committee, CDAC met April 4th of this year to discuss a substantial amendment reprogramming the excess of home funds and timely expenditure of home.

5:13

Reprogramming home funds will allow for the use of the home housing programs, specifically tenant-based rental assistance program, which I will refer to as TIPA from here on out, which will achieve timely performance with regulatory expenditure requirements for home funds.

5:32

So currently the consolidated plan that we are under uh says that in order to receive benefits from TIBRA that the beneficiary will have to receive HUD certified housing counseling.

5:47

At the time this consolidated plan was put together, there was no HUD certified certified housing counselor in the city of Kaleen.

5:54

The nearest counselor was in Austin.

5:56

Um but currently Killeen has one agency certified to provide the uh HUD certified housing counseling.

6:05

The number of persons expected to experience an undue burden with the requirement of attending uh housing counseling prior to receiving rental assistance will increase the wait period and likelihood that the household will experience housing instability and/or eviction.

6:20

Removing this requirement under the goals and objectives of the TIBA program for this uh 2020-2024 consolidated plan is recommended as this will allow the city to assist households expeditiously and address the immediate need for assistance.

6:35

It's also important to note that it is not required by HUD.

6:39

Uh myself and our CD grants program manager had a one-on-one meeting with our HUD field office manager who actually suggested strongly we remove that requirement because of the issue with barriers.

6:55

So to maintain compliance with our HUD home regulations expenditure and enable the city to assist eligible persons and households with rental assistance, the reprogramming of completed cancel and reprioritized home funded projects are as follows.

7:09

Entitlement funds from 2017, and the amount of 1,573 dollars and 80 cents, total conversion for 2021 and 2022, 73,683 and 30 cents and 88,376 and 25 cents respectively.

7:28

And finally, Fort Hood Habitat for Humanity received a recommendation for funding in 2023, and uh the award was never officially accepted because there was not a signing of an agreement, and that amount is 456,007 and 68 cents, which brings us to a total of 619,641 dollars and three cents for reprogramming.

7:56

The citizen comment period allows for additional input from the community on draft substantial amendments.

8:02

The comment period will be open from June 9th through June July 15th.

8:07

Comments may be submitted via public hearings and in writing, including email.

8:18

The availability of the substantial amendment and the other two items I'm gonna uh speak on in the next two public hearings.

8:25

Uh what we did is expand the availability of all these drafts.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Affordable Housing█████████████████████████████████████████████51%
Grant Funding██████████████████20%
Public Engagement███████████████17%
Veterans Affairs████4%
Water And Wastewater Management███3%
Community Engagement██2%
Legislative Process██2%
Procedural1%
Summary of Proceedings

Special City Council Meeting – June 3, 2025

This special meeting consisted of three public hearings related to HUD-funded programs. No formal action was taken on the hearing items; a 30‑day public comment period runs from June 9 through July 15, 2025, with council action expected on July 15, 2025. The agenda was approved 4‑0.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Agenda: Motion carried 4‑0 (Mayor Nash‑King was absent due to illness; Councilmembers Gonzalez, Alvarez, Kendrick, Cobb, Segarra, Solomon, and Adams were present).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Michael Farino (resident): Expressed cautious support for reprogramming HOME funds but urged stronger oversight and accountability, drawing parallels to concerns with the Killeen Housing Authority. He praised the CDAC presentation as a model of transparency.
  • Melissa Brown (resident): Questioned why the $456,007.68 Habitat for Humanity award was never signed. Opposed removing the HUD certified housing counseling requirement, suggesting it be replaced with a 30‑day post‑assistance counseling requirement. She also expressed concern that CDBG funds have been used for tax‑exempt projects (e.g., Avanti Legacy Park View) rather than for low‑income water line replacement or true affordable housing.
  • Sean Price (resident): Asked who was held accountable for unspent HOME funds and queried who would analyze fair housing implementation. He also noted the lack of answers to his previous questions.
  • Maureen Jewett (Executive Director, Bring Everyone in the Zone): Expressed gratitude for the recommended CDBG funding ($11,364.57) for peer‑to‑peer support and assistance for veterans, emphasizing her organization’s proven track record and successful audits.

Discussion Items

PH‑25‑027 – Substantial Amendment to Reprogram HOME Funds (TBRA)

  • Staff Presentation (Mrs. McNair, Community Development Director): Explained that $619,641.03 in unspent HOME funds from program years 2017, 2021, 2022, and 2023 (including $456,007.68 from an unsigned Fort Hood Habitat for Humanity agreement) will be reprogrammed for Tenant‑Based Rental Assistance (TBRA). The current requirement for HUD certified housing counseling will be removed because it creates a barrier to assistance; HUD’s field office strongly recommended this change. The comment period runs June 9 – July 15, 2025.
  • Councilmember Segarra: Noted that past HOME homebuyer programs often lost participants due to stringent requirements, contributing to unspent funds.

PH‑25‑028 – 2025‑2029 Consolidated Plan and FY 2025‑2026 Annual Action Plan

  • Staff Presentation: The City expects $1,350,070 in CDBG funds plus $40,375.09 in reprogrammed funds. CDBG public services are capped at 15% of the allocation ($202,510.50 for FY26). CDAC Chair Johnny Frederick presented recommended awards: $11,364 for Bring Everyone in the Zone, $19,000 for Communities in Schools, $20,000 for Families in Crisis, $22,000 for Greater Killeen Community Clinic, $25,000 for Meals on Wheels, $100,000 for KPD homeless outreach social worker, $5,000 for KPD community engagement, $126,464 for code enforcement (first year of three‑year commitment), $200,000 for housing rehab (lead abatement/ADA), $591,473.95 for Condor Park and Marlborough Park improvements, and $408,751.29 for HOME activities (including TBRA and first‑time homebuyer). HOME‑ARP funds (from 2021) remain largely unallocated; a request from Hilltop Recovery Ministries was not recommended for funding because the proposed inpatient program is ineligible. The public comment period is June 9 – July 15, 2025.
  • Council Discussion: None.

PH‑25‑029 – Revision to the Citizen Participation Plan

  • Staff Presentation: The plan is being updated to clarify roles (CDAC vs. staff), streamline substantial amendment criteria for HOME funds, update contact information (generic email addresses), and ensure the 30‑day comment period is explicitly “not less than 30 days.” The draft will be available at multiple locations and online. Public comment period June 9 – July 15, 2025.
  • Councilmember Cobb: Asked staff to consider retaining language that allows CDAC members to visit grantees.

Key Outcomes

  • No votes were taken on the three public hearings; council will consider formal action on July 15, 2025.
  • The 30‑day public comment period for all three items opens June 9, 2025, and closes July 15, 2025. Written comments may be submitted via email or in person.
  • The 2025‑2029 Consolidated Plan and the Substantial Amendment must be submitted to HUD by August 15, 2025. The Citizen Participation Plan will be adopted as a document (not an ordinance) and submitted with the Consolidated Plan.
  • Staff will explore additional outreach methods for the comment period, such as water bill inserts and media announcements, as suggested by a public commenter.

Next Steps

  • July 15, 2025: Second public hearings and council action to adopt the Substantial Amendment, the Consolidated Plan/Annual Action Plan, and the revised Citizen Participation Plan.
  • August 15, 2025: Deadline to submit all documents to HUD.
  • October 1, 2025: Expected HUD approval of the annual plan and execution of grant agreements.

Meeting Transcript

Oh, I'm sorry. We don't have enough. Uh we're going to open up public hearing and first want to hear from Mrs. McNair. You want to council member? Sorry, I'm sorry, go ahead. We have approval of the agenda first. Thank you. Yes, sir. Oh, thank you. Y'all be patient with me. It's okay. Yeah, you get a motion to approve the agenda. Can I get a second? I said. All in favor. Mr. Adams. Mr. Adam, uh Ms. Adams, you raise your hand. Thank you. Um carries four to zero. Okay. Mrs. McNear. City Secretary, I'm sorry. Public hearings. PH twenty-five zero two seven. Hold a public hearing on a substantial amendment to annual action plans for program years twenty seventeen, twenty twenty-one, twenty twenty-two, and twenty twenty-three to reprogram home funds to provide for affordable housing activities and to remove the city's requirement under the twenty twenty through twenty twenty-four consolidated strategic plan for HUD certified housing counseling to provide services to recipients as provisions of the home program, tenant-based rental assistance. Now Mrs. McNear. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. Uh preface for these three public hearings that we're gonna have tonight. There will not be a requirement of any action by this uh legislative body. Um these public hearings are just to provide information to the public that we will be opening a comment period, a 30-day comment period um to receive their feedback so we can get drafts prepared to submit to HUD in August, and because we are at that time of uh every five years of doing a consolidated plan. This is why we're doing all three of these together at the same time because of uh at least two of these do not require uh minimum 30-year comment period, but since we're here, we're gonna do them all together for efficiency and to make sure that everything is moving all at once. So the substantial amendment occurs when there is a change in the purpose scope, location of beneficiaries of an activity or project. Home grant funds remain from previously eligible projects that were completed or cancelled without use utilizing the entire amount allocated, or when CHOTO, which is a community housing development organization funds are converted into entitlement funds. Reprogramming is necessary to make remain maintain compliance with HUD and home expenditure um regulations. I'm gonna slow down. The community development advisory committee, CDAC met April 4th of this year to discuss a substantial amendment reprogramming the excess of home funds and timely expenditure of home. Reprogramming home funds will allow for the use of the home housing programs, specifically tenant-based rental assistance program, which I will refer to as TIPA from here on out, which will achieve timely performance with regulatory expenditure requirements for home funds. So currently the consolidated plan that we are under uh says that in order to receive benefits from TIBRA that the beneficiary will have to receive HUD certified housing counseling. At the time this consolidated plan was put together, there was no HUD certified certified housing counselor in the city of Kaleen. The nearest counselor was in Austin. Um but currently Killeen has one agency certified to provide the uh HUD certified housing counseling. The number of persons expected to experience an undue burden with the requirement of attending uh housing counseling prior to receiving rental assistance will increase the wait period and likelihood that the household will experience housing instability and/or eviction. Removing this requirement under the goals and objectives of the TIBA program for this uh 2020-2024 consolidated plan is recommended as this will allow the city to assist households expeditiously and address the immediate need for assistance.

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