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2026-09-21 - City Council

Summary

Built from the official minutes (status: Preliminary on Legistar, unofficial until approved at the next meeting). No video is posted, so there is no transcript or timing. The minutes record motions and votes, not discussion; "Np" in the minutes is shown here as "no vote recorded". The citizen comments section lists no speakers.

  • Regular meeting, 5:30 PM to 11:00 PM; all nine members present with Neeb, three assistant city managers, the City Secretary and Nguyen.
  • Adopted the fiscal year 2027 budget (8-0) and the property tax rate of $0.506080 per $100 (9-0).
  • Approved five debt ordinances totaling about $86.7 million on first and final reading (8-0).
  • Voted 7-0 to pursue a non-binding referendum on the Flock Safety camera system while protecting the City's legal rights.
  • Directed management to look at accelerating water reclamation (9-0) and to evaluate a utilities notification app (7-0).
  • Tabled the rezoning on East Taylor Street (8-1), the Market Street collision center permit (9-0), the Model Cities grant (9-0), the World Logistics Park water agreement (9-0) and the El Metro legal contract (8-1).
  • Closed-session votes on a downtown lot purchase (staff to bring back, 6-0) and on police and fire union negotiations (7-0 each).

Fiscal Year 2027 City Budget

  • Item 24: final reading approved 8-0 (Gutierrez moved, M. Cigarroa seconded; no vote recorded for Rangel).
  • Item 20: 2 percent cost-of-living and 2 percent tenured achievement adjustments approved in the block of final readings.

Property Tax Rate Adoption

  • Item 22: $0.506080 per $100 adopted 9-0; levy $140,577,516; median homestead tax $985.49 to $1,062.26.

Series 2026 Debt Issuance

  • Items 15 to 19: $6.5 million certificates of obligation, $19.65 million tax notes, $28.86 million contractual obligations, $15 million airport certificates and $16.72 million sports venue bonds, 8-0.

Flock Safety Camera Referendum

  • Item 71: Trevino moved, Gutierrez seconded; 7-0, no vote recorded for M. Cigarroa and A. Cigarroa.

Water Reclamation Acceleration

  • Item 70: carried 9-0.

Utilities Public Notification System

  • Item 72: carried 7-0.

World Logistics Park Water Agreement

  • Item 57: tabled to the next meeting, 9-0.

Lomas Del Sur Rezoning

  • Item 5 (ZC-069-2026): applicant amended its request from B-4 to B-3; introduced 9-0.

East Taylor Street Rezoning

  • Item 6 (ZC-071-2026): staff does not support; tabled 8-1, Perez against.

Market Street Collision Center Permit

  • Item 7 (ZC-070-2026): tabled 9-0.

Santa Rita Heavy Machinery Sales Permit

  • Item 8 (ZC-075-2026): introduced 9-0.

McPherson Road Indoor Bar Permit

  • Item 23 (ZC-064-2026): amendment "as read" carried 9-0; ordinance passed as amended in the final reading block.

Building Permit Fee Increases

  • Items 25 and 26 passed final reading in the block (8-0); item 13 (overtime inspection fees) introduced.

Third-Party Building Inspectors

  • Item 27 passed final reading in the block.

City Department Consolidation

  • Item 28: Development Services Department created, final reading in the block.

Community Healthcare Advisory Committee

  • Item 4: eight appointments approved 9-0; item 14 renaming introduced.

Model Cities Initiative Grant

  • Item 49: tabled 9-0 (King moved, Rangel seconded).

Police Executive Protection Protocols

  • Item 73: carried 8-0.

Public Safety Union Contract Negotiations

  • Items 65 and 66: closed-session items approved 7-0 each.

Downtown Corner Lot Purchase

  • Items 60 and 62: staff directed to bring back, 6-0. Item 61 (litigation on a 24-inch water line property): proceed as directed, 6-0.
  • Item 69: tabled 8-1 with M. Cigarroa against. Items 67 and 68 (federal transit grant and engine oil contract) approved.

City Attorney Merit Increase

  • Items 63 and 64: closed-session items with no action recorded.

Matias De Llano Elementary School Study

  • Item 77: study approved 5-0.

Political Activity on City Property

  • Item 79: policy to come back, 5-0.

Fiber Optic Infrastructure Regulations

  • Item 75: tabled with item 76 (6-0).

Project Financing Zone

  • Item 76: tabled.

Pediatric Hospital Referendum

  • Item 81: funding mechanism item; no action recorded.

Landlord Registration Program

  • Item 80: no action recorded.

Data Center Development Rules

  • Item 82: update item; no action recorded.

Airport Terminal Improvements

  • Items 29 and 30: RS&H amendment of $1,712,740 (contract now $8,119,220) and a $100,000 state RAMP grant approved on consent.
  • Item 31: Jackson Walker, LLP contract up to $194,500 ratified on consent.

Other business

  • Consent agenda (items 29 to 59 except 47, 49, 57 and 58) carried 9-0, Gutierrez moving and Garza seconding.
  • Recognitions: the Heat 13 Volleyball Academy and a local insurance agent.
  • Donation to the City of about 1.31 acres on McPherson Road from Murphy Oil USA, Inc., appraised at $680,000; cyber liability insurance of $119,108.89 with a $5,000,000 limit; Real Time Crime Center renovation with Noble Texas Builders for $456,156; Kimley-Horn selected for utility asset management consulting (8-0, no vote recorded for Rangel); public art contracts totaling $304,100 for library and playground murals approved 9-0; two Byrne JAG grants; a body-worn camera grant of $51,818.40 (City match $17,272.80) was pulled from consent and no action is recorded.
  • Items with no action recorded: Rio Grande Flood Study update (item 74), Riverbank Road realignment (item 78).

Sources