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Record of Proceedings

City Council Meeting – January 6, 2026: Work Session and Regular Session

City Council & Commissions — Tuesday, January 6, 2026
BodyKilleen, Texas
SessionCity Council & Commissions
DateTuesday, January 6, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
1:51

Good afternoon, everyone, and happy new year.

1:59

Thank you all for joining us.

2:01

I'll let the record show that Councilwoman Cobb is on Zoom and Councilmember Everest is not present.

2:10

We will start off with our invocation and we have our pledge of allegiance by Councilmember Solomon.

2:16

Please stand.

3:03

Uh Council Everest.

3:10

Can I get a motion to approve the agenda?

3:17

Mayor, I move that we approve the agenda credit.

3:20

Councilman Solomon.

3:21

Second.

3:22

All in favor, yes, all opposed, no.

3:25

Councilwoman Cobb, yes or no.

3:32

Yes.

3:34

Thank you.

3:35

Sure.

3:54

Madam Secretary.

4:08

Council Member Kendrick, would you join me, please?

4:45

As you know, the council present a star award to one of our deserving citizens.

4:52

And this time Councilman Kendrick has that under honor.

4:57

Councilman Kendrick.

5:06

She she does a lot.

5:07

And I I was walking around and I was noticing that she had a lot of bags in a garage.

5:15

And when she told me what she was doing, I thought it was a great thing.

5:19

She was taking these gifts down here to our homeless and um making sure they they had items that people would know the homeless, you're not forgotten.

5:30

And here right now, even in our country, it's been was trying to be criminalized to be homeless, and we still have to take care of our homeless individuals that are in our city.

5:44

And they have a whole backpack that they give this um the homeless.

5:51

And I just thought it was a great thing.

5:53

And I said this would be the first Star War I give as a um councilman and everything.

6:00

So without further ado, Miss Chair, when you come forward.

6:20

And uh to um to step in and see our homeless uh individuals, and uh because of the steps and the effort that we have made at Way Chapel and O'Cross and uh Susan Yovan and her ministry to support it, it's growing.

6:38

And I want to thank those that are supporting this ministry uh for all the help that they are doing, and my friend uh brother Anthony uh for acknowledging the moment.

6:52

So that's all thank you.

6:54

Thank you.

6:55

Oh City of Colleen, we would like to present you award presented to Reverend Dr.

7:10

Sharon James Rich, January 6th, 2026.

8:02

PR twenty six zero zero two.

8:05

Check presentation from Clean Sister Cities, Osan Korea Committee to the Clean Youth Advisory Commission.

8:16

Um sorry.

8:29

Are you presenting this way or that way?

8:38

Hey Miss Roxanne and Miss Janice Hello Stop.

8:48

Good afternoon.

8:52

Good afternoon.

8:53

Um I'm Roxanne Flores.

8:55

I am the president of Colleen Sister Cities Osan Korea Committee.

8:59

Uh I do like to introduce our board members before we do this presentation.

9:03

Jan Anderson and Secretary Clean Sister Cities.

9:10

All right.

9:10

Well, Sister Cities Osan Korea was established by the City of Killeen in 1993.

9:16

Um our sister city is Osan Korea, and twice a year we do annual events.

9:21

We do an exchange in April, which we partnered this year with celebrate clean.

9:25

And normally in October, we actually do an international festival.

9:29

But as the board pondered earlier in this year, we decided instead of doing the festival, let's give back to our community.

9:36

And so we chose several organizations.

9:38

We chose Central Texas College, and these were all part of our mission as well as within our bylaws.

9:44

Central Texas College, we chose Tri-County Soccer, and then the Korean War Veterans, and of course now the City of Clean Youth Advisory Commission.

9:53

It's very heartfelt for me in Bitter C and KISD.

9:57

Thank you.

10:00

Um, it's very heartfelt for me for the City of Clean Youth Advisory Commission many years ago when I worked for the City of Colleen.

10:04

I actually got involved with Sister Cities via the YEC.

10:08

Um, the Youth Advisory Commission was phenomenal at that time as it still is, and it was always nice to have the students sitting at the table using their voices.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety██████████████14%
Waste Management████████████12%
Youth Programs████████████12%
Procedural██████████10%
Public Engagement██████████10%
Historic Preservation████████8%
Zoning█████5%
Library Strategic Planning████4%
Community Engagement███3%
Summary of Proceedings

City Council Meeting – January 6, 2026

The Killeen City Council convened on January 6, 2026, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chambers for a combined work session and regular session. The meeting began with an invocation, pledge of allegiance, and approval of the agenda (7-0). Presentations included the Killeen Star Award and a check donation from Sister Cities. The consent agenda, comprising 18 items, was approved unanimously. Two discussion items were considered: the Killeen Children’s Museum and Immersion Center initiative and a request for proposal (RFP) for the original Fire Station #1 on Avenue D. Citizen comments addressed the museum, street naming for Bettie Ann McLaurin, and a critical remark about a council member. The council also voted to explore honoring McLaurin’s legacy.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes of November 18, 2025, December 2, 2025 (regular and special) were approved.
  • RS-26-001: Purchase of library books from Ingram Library Services via TXSMARTBUY for $155,000 (FY2026).
  • RS-26-002: HVAC maintenance and repairs through The Brandt Companies for $272,759 (FY2026).
  • RS-26-003: Award of demolition contract for the original airline terminal at Skylark Field Airport to R&L Global Inc. for $168,750 (lowest of seven bids).
  • RS-26-004: Letter of agreement with Rice Inspection, Inc. for construction inspection on Lift Station No. 6 rehabilitation for $161,688.
  • RS-26-005: Professional services agreement with Garver, LLC for design of reuse water system for Community Center Park for $151,908.
  • RS-26-006 and RS-26-007: Interlocal agreements with Central Texas Council of Governments ($25,000 grant) and City of Harker Heights ($5,000 contribution) for the Household Hazardous Waste Event on April 11, 2026 (476 cars served in FY2025).
  • RS-26-008: Authorization to apply for a $467,000 Bullet-Resistant Components for Law Enforcement Vehicles Grant (no match required).
  • RS-26-009: Purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) from NAFECO for $234,652.80 (46 complete sets plus extras).
  • RS-26-010: Inspection, cleaning, and repair of PPE through Lion Total Care for $106,407.90.
  • RS-26-011: Purchase of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) from MES Life Safety ($3,012,625.15) and a mobile air compressor trailer from August Industries ($222,639.90).
  • RS-26-012: Appointment of members to the Board of Adjustment (9 regular members, 2 alternates).
  • OR-26-001: Ordinance amending itinerant vendor regulations (exempts food trucks with state licenses and city event vendors; adds services to door-to-door sales).
  • OR-26-002: Ordinance updating special event permitting (tiered structure, insurance requirements, recurring event provision, 48-hour emergency application).
  • OR-26-003: Ordinance amending solid waste code (new fees: $10 container relocation, $75 commercial premium service, $20 mattress/box spring disposal, prohibited recycling items).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Michael Fornino: Criticized Councilmember Cobb’s attendance and responsiveness, questioned her ability to represent District 3, and cited Chapter 87 of the Local Government Code. Was ruled out of order for not addressing an agenda item.
  • Gwendolyn Everett: Supported the children’s museum and immersion center, citing early literacy benefits and economic impact examples from Houston, El Paso, and Denver.
  • Gregory Moore: Supported the museum, noting the decline of public broadcasting and the need for hands-on learning.
  • Larry Robison: Supported renaming a street after Bettie Ann McLaurin, praising her community service.
  • Tyrone McLaren: Shared personal story of support from the McLaurin family after a tragedy and urged council to honor her legacy.
  • Charles Shores: Advocated for the street renaming, highlighting McLaurin’s philanthropic work (over $5.2 million given to nonprofits).
  • Carolyn Duggar: Educator for 46 years, supported the museum as a way to improve literacy and community engagement.
  • Sandra Minor: Supported the museum as a way to revive library use and provide children with interactive learning.

Discussion Items

  • DS-26-001 – Killeen Children’s Museum and Immersion Center Initiative: Councilmember Gonzalez presented a proposal to explore a public-private partnership integrating a children’s museum with the children’s public library. She noted that nearly 50% of Texas kindergartners are not on track for reading by third grade, and that the state allocated $8.5 billion through HB2 for education. The proposed plan includes a phased 2–5 year roadmap, emphasis on District 1, partnership with Killeen ISD, and grant/philanthropic funding. Councilmember Cobb expressed concern about competing priorities (homeless shelter, infrastructure) but supported exploration. A motion to direct staff to develop a coordinated plan and return with a preliminary report in June 2026 passed 7-0.
  • DS-26-002 – Original Fire Station #1 (Avenue D) RFP: Councilmember Alvarez proposed issuing an RFP to sell or lease the vacant fire station to a private entity, similar to the Southern Roots Brewing project, to return it to the tax rolls and generate revenue. Staff confirmed preliminary work had been done. Motion to create an RFP passed 7-0.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda approved unanimously (7-0).
  • Motion to explore the Children’s Museum and Immersion Center (direct staff to develop plan, report by June 2026) passed 7-0.
  • Motion to issue an RFP for the Avenue D Fire Station passed 7-0.
  • Motion to explore honoring Bettie Ann McLaurin (street naming or similar) passed 7-0.
  • The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:00 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon, everyone, and happy new year. Thank you all for joining us. I'll let the record show that Councilwoman Cobb is on Zoom and Councilmember Everest is not present. We will start off with our invocation and we have our pledge of allegiance by Councilmember Solomon. Please stand. Uh Council Everest. Can I get a motion to approve the agenda? Mayor, I move that we approve the agenda credit. Councilman Solomon. Second. All in favor, yes, all opposed, no. Councilwoman Cobb, yes or no. Yes. Thank you. Sure. Madam Secretary. Council Member Kendrick, would you join me, please? As you know, the council present a star award to one of our deserving citizens. And this time Councilman Kendrick has that under honor. Councilman Kendrick. She she does a lot. And I I was walking around and I was noticing that she had a lot of bags in a garage. And when she told me what she was doing, I thought it was a great thing. She was taking these gifts down here to our homeless and um making sure they they had items that people would know the homeless, you're not forgotten. And here right now, even in our country, it's been was trying to be criminalized to be homeless, and we still have to take care of our homeless individuals that are in our city. And they have a whole backpack that they give this um the homeless. And I just thought it was a great thing. And I said this would be the first Star War I give as a um councilman and everything. So without further ado, Miss Chair, when you come forward. And uh to um to step in and see our homeless uh individuals, and uh because of the steps and the effort that we have made at Way Chapel and O'Cross and uh Susan Yovan and her ministry to support it, it's growing. And I want to thank those that are supporting this ministry uh for all the help that they are doing, and my friend uh brother Anthony uh for acknowledging the moment. So that's all thank you. Thank you. Oh City of Colleen, we would like to present you award presented to Reverend Dr. Sharon James Rich, January 6th, 2026. PR twenty six zero zero two. Check presentation from Clean Sister Cities, Osan Korea Committee to the Clean Youth Advisory Commission. Um sorry. Are you presenting this way or that way? Hey Miss Roxanne and Miss Janice Hello Stop. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. Um I'm Roxanne Flores. I am the president of Colleen Sister Cities Osan Korea Committee. Uh I do like to introduce our board members before we do this presentation. Jan Anderson and Secretary Clean Sister Cities. All right. Well, Sister Cities Osan Korea was established by the City of Killeen in 1993. Um our sister city is Osan Korea, and twice a year we do annual events. We do an exchange in April, which we partnered this year with celebrate clean.

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