Killeen City Council Meeting Summary – May 19, 2026
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Killeen City Council Meeting Summary – May 19, 2026
The Killeen City Council met on May 19, 2026, in a combined work session and regular meeting, beginning at 3:00 PM. The meeting addressed presentations, a city manager search, multiple resolutions, and a preliminary fee schedule discussion. Several council members are newly seated, and the council is in a transition period with City Manager Kent Cagle retiring May 29.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes of the April 21 and May 5, 2026, regular council meetings.
- Approved the investment report for the quarter ended March 31, 2026.
- Approved renewal of a three-year Cisco Enterprise Agreement from Insight Public Sector Inc. for $313,530.99, expected to save $109,000 annually.
- Approved a minimum revenue guarantee (MRG) to attract new air service to Killeen Regional Airport, totaling $750,000 per year for three years (up to $2.25 million), funded entirely from aviation enterprise funds and grants, with zero taxpayer dollars.
- Approved change order #1 for the 24-inch Highway 195 and Chaparral Road waterline project with Black Rock Construction in the amount of $246,688.82, representing a 2.47% increase to the original $9.98 million contract; project is 60% complete.
- Approved a memorandum of agreement with Armed Services YMCA for joint use of facilities, including the natatorium and Lions Club Park fields.
- Approved renaming the Fort Cavazos Regional Trail to General Cavazos Trail to avoid future name changes.
- Approved naming a new park within the Preserve at Thousand Oaks development as Yow Family Park, recognizing land donations of more than 90 acres.
- Approved a professional services agreement with the Innovation Black Chamber of Commerce (IBCC) for up to $50,000 to fund a business service center (BSC) providing technical assistance to small businesses.
The consent agenda was approved 6-1, with three items pulled for separate consideration: RS 26076 (executive search firm), RS 26079 (Planning & Zoning appointment), and RS 26082 (Georgetown CCN transfer).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Dr. Sue Croft: Encouraged deliberate governance and financial alignment during the transition; praised council's handling of the search firm presentations.
- Michael Fernino: Stated his district representative had not responded to emails; called for rigorous vetting of city manager candidates, including asking whether candidates have ever been fired for cause.
- Anka Niagu: Opposed animal services fee increases, arguing the city wasted money on a building not designed as a shelter; urged selling the building and constructing a new one. Also opposed engineering services fee increases, saying they would be passed to homeowners.
- Gary Purser: Questioned the need for fee increases, suggesting expenditure reviews instead; noted he had received five stop work orders in the past year, two of which were later rescinded.
- John Fisher: Supported the Georgetown CCN transfer, saying it secures Killeen's future growth to the south, but called for service to existing residents in the area who currently rely on Georgetown water.
- Heather McMillan: Expressed strong support for the airport MRG, saying it would benefit citizens through more flights and competition. Also criticized that staff recommendations on charter review differ from the committee's recommendations.
Discussion Items
- City Manager Recruitment (RS 26076): Four firms presented: AFION Public, Clear Career Professionals, Government Professional Solutions, and Strategic Government Resources. Council asked questions about guarantees, costs, military community experience, and candidate vetting. After presentations, the council selected AFION Public.
- Investment Report (RS 26077): Scott Gruber reported no Federal Reserve rate changes over the quarter; the portfolio's weighted average yield dropped slightly from 4.03% to 3.98%, still above market rates. He noted market volatility due to Middle East conflict and rising energy prices, but said higher yields have created buying opportunities for the city's portfolio.
- FY 2027 Fee Schedule (DS 26042): Various departments presented proposed fee increases and new fees, including animal services, parks and recreation, fire department, development services, public works, and utility collections. Council members raised concerns about the impact of fees on seniors, youth, and small businesses. Councilmember Nash King argued the fees were too high for seniors and families. Staff said they will explore a universal senior membership and a youth donation/scholarship model. The fee schedule will be presented again on June 2, with a public hearing on June 16.
- Legislative Priorities (DS 26040): Lobbyist Stan Schluter discussed the upcoming 89th Legislature, emphasizing water, disabled veteran exemption reimbursement, and property tax proposals. Councilmember Brown added priorities including mental health, indigent health care, and data center regulation. The council voted to bring the priorities back for further discussion on June 2.
- Other Items: Council discussed and later approved the Georgetown CCN transfer (RS 26082) and the Planning & Zoning appointment (RS 26079). A motion to bring back discussion on the closed animal services building passed 5-2.
Key Outcomes
- Approved consent agenda with three items pulled (6-1).
- Selected AFION Public as the executive search firm for the city manager recruitment (7-0).
- Appointed Ramon Alvarez to the Planning & Zoning Commission (6-1), with Councilmember Brown supporting James Sills.
- Approved the retail water CCN service area transfer agreement with the City of Georgetown for $5,804.67 (4-3).
- Tabled the quarterly financial report (DS 26041) and the Charter Review Committee overview (DS 26043) to a future meeting (6-1).
- Approved motion to bring legislative priorities back for further discussion on June 2 (7-0).
- Approved motion to bring back the animal services building discussion for a future agenda (5-2).
The meeting adjourned after discussion of the fee schedule, with a motion by Councilmember Brown.
Meeting Transcript
Is now three PM. I call this city council meeting to order. All council members are present with the exception of Councilmember Debbie Nash King. Let the records reflect that. I will be giving the invocation. And Mayor Pro Tim Gonzalez will give the plagiarism. Let us stand for this day. We thank you for the opportunity to serve as a council. We thank you for the people of Killeen. We pray for every citizen that is in Kaleen. We thank you for our veterans. Father, we are the better poor. This country experience freedom because of the ones that have given the ultimate sacrifice. Amen and amen. Second. Second. Second by Councilmember Brown. All in favor say aye. Aye. Indicate by yes. No. Indicate by pressing no. You're gonna have to do that also. Okay, we can just raise our hands. All in favor? Raise your hand. All opposed. Bob to six to zero. Motion pass. All right. Okay. Madam Secretary. Presentations. PR 26011. Present Text Dot Project of the Year Award to the Skylarkville Terminal. Good afternoon, Mr. Wilson. Good evening, Mayor Council. As most of you know, we just recently attended the uh Texas Transportation Department's Aviation Division, their annual aviation conference that they have every year. And typically during this conference, they award various awards to airports for various accomplishments. So tonight we'd like to share a video with you that was played at the conference during their uh uh during their award ceremony. At airports, every improvement begins with a focus on safety, efficiency, and long-term service to the community. This year's project of the year winner demonstrates how thoughtful planning and strong coordination can transform an airport's capabilities and strengthen the region's aviation infrastructure. The project delivered a 3,000 square foot general aviation terminal building equipped with modern architectural finishes and state-of-the-art amenities for pilots, passengers, and visitors. The project included a new parking lot and terminal apron, strengthening both landside and air site operations, and city utilized local funds to repurpose the former airport beacon as a landscape feature at the airport entrance, connecting the new facility with its heritage. Despite the complexity of coordinating multiple funding sources and regulatory entities, the project was completed three months ahead of schedule and within budget. The community celebrated the opening with a ribbon-cutting event featuring skydivers delivering the ceremonial key, a moment symbolic of the airport's continued growth and its relationship with the region it serves. The new terminal represents a significant infrastructure investment that will support future aviation activity, improve user experience, and contribute to the economic vitality of the region. This project was funded through multiple sources, including federal, state, and local funding, such as the FAA's Airport Terminal Program, and IIJA funding. Coordinating these funding sources required consistent collaboration among the City of Colleen, Text Dot, and the FAA.
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