Killeen City Council Meeting

The Killeen City Council will meet tomorrow afternoon at 3pm to discuss items on this week’s agenda. This is the first time in which the meeting will begin at 3pm and they will now be held on the first and third Tuesday of each month. They were beginning at 5pm and occurring every Tuesday. But with the work session beginning at 3pm, the regular meeting will likely begin at around time as before and citizens will be allowed to address the council members before the regular session begins.

One of the first items on this session’s agenda is the transfer of a police service dog. Texas Government Codes allow subdivisions to enter into a contract with individual citizens for the purpose of transferring ownership of service dogs. This is necessary most often when the city has determined the animal has concluded its service due to most often age or injury. In this case, Police Service Dog Edy will be transferred to his handler of eight years, Officer Christopher Ache. According to the city, Officer Ache has been working with Edy’s replacement since the beginning of the year. PSD Kenzi is trained and actively working with Ache, which allows for the official retirement of Edy.

In another item up for consideration, IT is requesting approval of a Graphical Information System (GIS) Software License Maintenance and Support purchase in the amount of $52,468. According to the Executive Director of IT, Mr. Willie Resto, the company Environmental Systems Research Institute has products “used by various City staff to access custom mapping and data” and this is simply a subscription renewal quotation.

Additionally, the City will consider declaring a vacancy to the Senior Citizen Advisory Board and make appointments to fill the unexpired term. This is necessary due to the resignation of Stella Hinkson, according to Interim ED of Parks and Recreation, Jarrod Provost.

Provost will also be submitting a request that the City support the application to Texas Parks & Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) Local Park Grant Program, for Fowler Park Improvements and Long Branch Park Pickleball Courts. This program, which provides 50% matching grants on a reimbursement basis, assists local units of government with the acquisition and development of public recreation areas. Because the population of Killeen is under 500,000, it is eligible for this program and the total estimated cost of the tow projects is $217,000.

There will also be a public hearing and consideration of a proposed ordinance that will require subdivision perimeter walls along collector and arterial streets to be masonry and at least six to eight feet in height. It will also require subdivision entry features to include landscaping. Additionally, updates to the requirements for a screening device between residencies and businesses will be considered. The current minimum requirement of a 6-foot wood privacy fence would be replaced by an 8-foot masonry device or wall. Both ordinances were considered during the June 17th Planning and Zoning Commission meeting and the recommendation for approval was presented by a vote of 6 to 0.

City Council meetings are held in their chambers located at 101 N. College Street in Killeen. You can also view the session live on the city website at killeentexas.gov/CouncilMeetings or watch them on Spectrum Channel 10.