Killeen City Council Regular Meeting – October 7, 2025

The Killeen City Council met on October 7, 2025 at 3:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting included a work session, a regular session with consent agenda items, a public hearing, discussion items, and a councilmember request. Key actions included approval of consent items 1–7, separate approval of funding for the Bell County marijuana lawsuit (5–2), unanimous approval of a Future Land Use Map amendment from Industrial to Residential Mix, and approval of a request for proposal (RFP) for land banking alternatives.

Consent Calendar

• Item 1: Approved minutes of the September 2, 2025 regular City Council meeting.
• Item 2: Authorized procurement of Brother Mobile Printer hardware from GTS Technology Solutions for $190,916 to support KPD field operations and NICE record management system integration.
• Item 3: Authorized purchase of police equipment, body armor, and ammunition from GT Distributors, Inc. for FY2026 in the amount of $337,000 (ammunition $127,000; duty gear/body armor $180,000; replacement handguns/rifles $30,000).
• Item 4: Authorized procurement of 62 fleet vehicles and equipment for FY2026 for $9,150,254 (5 aviation, 1 community development, 1 mowing, 1 parks & rec, 34 public safety, 20 public works).
• Item 5: Authorized Solid Waste Division purchase of containers for the collection system and container replacement program (final year of a four-year plan) for $668,155; funded through enterprise fees, not general fund. Speaker (city manager) clarified the city is not in debt and the program replaces dilapidated containers and supports growth (~1,200 new accounts/year and ~3,000 replacements annually).
• Item 6: Adopted a resolution denying Oncor Electric’s application to change rates within the city. Staff reported Oncor sought a system-wide 13% increase (~$7.90/month for average residential customer); the steering committee of 170 cities deemed the increase unreasonable.
• Item 7: Nominated two candidates (Candy Wales and Ricky Williams) for the Board of Directors of the Tax Appraisal District of Bell County for 2026. The city holds 218 of 2,000 votes; final vote on candidates will occur at the November 18, 2025 meeting.
• Item 8 (RS-25-161): Was pulled from consent for separate vote (see Key Outcomes).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Melissa Bryan (citizen): Expressed support for consent items that improve first responder safety (police equipment) and deny utility rate increases. Opposed continued funding for the Bell County marijuana lawsuit, stating it is a losing battle and a waste of taxpayer money; criticized the governing standards and land banking as benefiting developers. Opposed the FLUM change, asserting it conflicts with the 2040 Comprehensive Plan and that notification was insufficient.
• Deborah Winford (citizen): Expressed concern about the $668,155 container purchase given city debt; city manager clarified the city is not in debt and the containers are funded by solid waste fees, not the general fund.
• Bill McLean (applicant/developer): Presented in favor of the FLUM amendment (PH-25-060), emphasizing the site plan provides a better layout with a buffer (collector road, floodplain) between industrial and residential uses; noted staff changed recommendation from disapproval to approval after meeting; stated the plan does not reduce industrial acreage compared to existing zoning.
• Melissa Brown (citizen, second speaker on PH-25-060): Opposed the FLUM change, arguing it would reduce industrial land availability, contradict the 2040 Comp Plan, and that P&Z disapproval should not be bypassed without resubmission.
• Unidentified citizen (female): Opposed the FLUM change, stating it would harm the city's economic diversity, reduce middle-class job opportunities, and create conflict with existing industrial operations (e.g., chemical plant).
• Michael Boyd (citizen, speaking in favor of PH-25-060): Supported the amendment, noting it would provide needed housing, increase industrial space relative to current zoning (from 109 to 130 acres), allow 1.2 million sq. ft. of industrial space, and staff had changed recommendation to approval.

Discussion Items

• DS-25-047 – Small Lots: Staff presented on Senate Bill 15 (effective Sept. 1, 2025) requiring cities over 150,000 population to allow residential lot sizes as small as 30 feet wide, 30 feet deep, and 3,000 sq. ft. in applicable areas. The city’s adopted ordinance (Aug. 19, 2025) allows 30-foot lots only if alley-loaded (rear access). Staff compared conventional development (31–36 ft street, 50–60 ft lots) with alley-loaded development (28 ft front street, 15 ft rear alley, 30 ft lots), noting alley-loaded yields 67–100% more lots but adds 20–40% more pavement. Blue areas on map indicate eligible tracts (primarily south side, excluding 3,000 ft from Fort Hood). Council discussed the map and clarified Stillhouse Lake is not a military installation. No vote; discussion only.
• DS-25-048 – Council Meeting Dates: Staff noted no conflicts with holidays in November/December. Council agreed to keep November meetings on Nov. 4 and Nov. 18 (as scheduled, but noted Nov. 11 is Veterans Day – city closed; also National League of Cities conference Nov. 19-22). For December, council selected Dec. 2 and Dec. 9 (first two Tuesdays) to allow staff time off before year-end.
• RQ-25-009 – RFP for Land Banking: Councilmember Alvarez requested a future agenda item to explore land banking as a tool to address vacant and dilapidated properties around downtown. He explained land banking as a public-private partnership to acquire, maintain, and redevelop abandoned properties (e.g., side-yard programs, affordable housing). Council unanimously approved (7–0) to place the item on a future agenda for staff to present.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda (Items 1–7): Approved unanimously by a single motion (with Item 8 removed for separate vote).
• RS-25-161 – Marijuana Lawsuit Funding: Motion to increase authorized funds from $100,000 to $135,000 to defend Bell County lawsuit. Passed 5–2 (Councilwoman Cobb and Councilman Solomon opposed). Supporters (Mayor Pro Tem, Councilwoman Gonzalez, others) argued defending the voter-approved ordinance (70% of voters) and protecting home rule authority; opponents cited state law preemption and cost.
• PH-25-060 – FLUM Amendment (Industrial to Residential Mix): Approved 7–0. The amendment changes the designation of ~122.64 acres (east of Roy J. Smith and N. Roy Reynolds Dr.) from industrial to residential mix. Existing zoning already allowed 193 acres of R1 residential; the proposed FLUM will permit 130 acres industrial (more than the 109 acres currently zoned) and 172 acres residential mix. Staff originally recommended disapproval but changed to approval after meeting with applicant.
• RQ-25-009 – Land Banking RFP: Approved 7–0; item placed on future agenda for staff presentation.