City Council - Regular Meeting

Again, welcome this evening. It's uh we will uh start our Tuesday, April 14th uh council meeting uh with the pledge of allegiance to the US flag led by council member Dave Coington. Follow that with a pledge of allegiance to the Texas flag uh by uh public director of public works Scott Hottie. And then finally, Luke Pototts will give our invocation. Please rise. Please join me in the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Honor the Texas flag. I aliance to thee, Texas. One state under God, one and indivisible. Uh please bow with me. Uh, dear God, thank you so much for letting us be here today to amongst a a big group of people who all care about their community. Uh it's not often you get to have a city with so many people who uh have their focus on bettering bettering their community, but we're very blessed in that and we that you help guide us, lead us and direct us as we talk today about all the issues that we will be discussing about the city. And in your name we pray. Amen.

Amen.

All right, we'll call this meeting to order. 5:33 p.m. The first order on the agenda is public comments. If anyone wishes to address the city council on anything under the purview of our um authority, uh they may do so. Um I do have one signed up, but it's for an agenda item. Um so if anyone who has not would wish to council, they may do so at this time. You've got three minutes at the podium. No pressure, right? There being no public comments, we will close the floor and move on to item three. Uh always our favorite is uh we have two proclamations. One is for Arbor Day. The other one is for Lemonade Day.

All right. So, the first one is Arbert Day. Do we have anyone to

Okay, Park. Okay, that's awesome. That's awesome. I'll just read it from up here and then uh we'll I'll hand it off uh and do a photo op uh as soon as I'm done. What I'll do is I'll read both of them and then I'll come down uh so we don't um so whereas in 1872 Nebraska Board of Agriculture which had no trees oh I'm sorry that didn't say that established a special day to set aside for the planting of trees and whereas this holiday called Arbor Day was first absorbed with the planting of more than a million trees in Nebraska. And whereas Arbor Day is now observed throughout the nation and the world. And whereas trees can be a solution to com combating uh climate change by reducing the erosion of our precious top soil by wind and water, cutting heating and cooling cost, moderating the temperature, cleaning the air, producing life-giving oxygen, and providing habitat for wildlife. And whereas trees are a renewable resource for giving us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for our fires, and countless other wood products. And whereas trees in our city increase property values, enhance the economic vitality of business areas, and beautify our community. And whereas trees wherever they are planted are a source of joy and spiritual renewal until that one limb falls on your house. Anyway, um now that I David Kaye, mayor of the city on behalf of the city of uh council of city of Belton, do hereby proclaim April 24th, 2026 as Arbor Day. All right. So, I will come down there in just a second. And do we have someone for lemonade? All right. Lemonade day. You know what's interesting is we had a little discussion about um about lemonade day. What's lemonade day? It's I love lemonade day. I had no idea. So, anyway, you'll you'll be entertained. It's It's

Oh, that's awesome. Yeah, that'd be great.

All right. So, second proclamation. Uh whereas lemonade day is a special day when the youth of Belton grab their pictures, set up their stands, and learn the exciting world of entrepreneurship. And whereas on Lemonade Day, children in our community discover how to plan, market, and run their own lemonade stands, building confidence, responsibility, and teamwork. And whereas Lemonade Day teaches our young people important life skills, life goal setting, money management, and giving back while having fun and engaging with neighbors and friends. And whereas the creativity, energy, and determination of Belton's young entrepreneurs inspire our entire community, showing that even the smallest ideas can make a big difference. Now, therefore, I, David Lee, mayor of the city of Belton, do hereby proclaim May 2nd as Lemonade Day. Go ahead, share share with us a little bit about Lemonade Day, and I'll first of all, thank you so much for the city of Belin for partnering with us for Lemonade Day program. For those who don't know, Lemonade Day is a national program. Um, 17 years ago, First Heroes National Bank and First National Bank Texas brought Lemonade Day program to our area. So, we have events leading up to Lemonade Day that teach children all backend aspects of how to become an entrepreneur. They get to learn how to build their stand, how to create their logo, how to pitch in front of investors. So, wonderful program and thank you so much. On May 2nd and May 3rd, there will be stands throughout cities from Coppers Cove all the way through Temple. So, be sure to mark your calendars. We'll have a map on our website to come out and support our youth youth entrepreneurs. Thank you so much.

Thank you.

The Nebraska trying

Mayor, while you're doing that, I comment on one guy who's trying to sneak out of here pretty quick. my buddy uh Larry Thorne uh who I think is uh close to maybe retiring from the city but uh I played b or practice basketball with Larry over at years and years ago and Larry ended up uh moved over to Belton Christian youth center and served our community there and has been an absolute jewel to have working for our city. So I wish I knew you the other guys more but I've known Larry for years and man do I think the world of him. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All right, those are always fun. Um, you learn so much. All right, item four is recognize Deputy Police Chief Daniel Egiri upon his graduation from the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Academy session number 297. Chief Berg,

like to just take this opportunity to really just brag on your deputy chief. Um, Daniel got a chance to attend the National FBI Academy. That's no small feat. Um the application process is pretty rigorous. It takes several years. He was he was in the hopper uh quite a while and was able eventually get a a go date. And so uh just to give you an idea, they actually come and evaluate him on a mile run before he's even authorized to go.

Um it's it's no joke. In in my class, we had a recycle person who went through and had had a medical episode. In his class, he had an individual that had a medical medical episode. So, it's very very rigorous physically. Academically, I believe it was 15 hours in just a short 10 weeks. Um, there's very very little time to do anything other than network, classwork, and working out. Um, but I'm very very proud of him. Um, just to give you an idea, put a directive, uh, New York City might get three slots. Uh, the state of Texas usually sends about 15 delegates per class. Um, he's class 290, so less than 300 classes. It's a very prestigious group. is very very difficult to get into and uh I couldn't be more proud of him and in the room right now has a chance to celebrate Chief Ellis who got a start on this journey many many moons ago he told me he goes this is a way to become you know a leader and successful he was class 217 I was two class class 270 and now we have class 297 so I just am really super proud of him and I want to present him with his certificate that that he received as well as give him an opportunity to say a few words to Thank you.

I guess first and foremost, let me introduce you to my bride and joy. This is Maline Sophia, who took time out of her busy schedule to be here to support me. So, awesome.

Um, really, I just want to say thank you. Uh, thank you for this special recognition. Uh, standing here as a graduate of the FBI National Academy, following in the footsteps of Chief Ellis and Chief Berg is just a an incredible honor. So, um, really the only thing I would say is that just as important as the training I received was support that allowed me to be there. Uh, our city staff made sure that I had everything that I needed to be successful while I was away. uh being gone for 10 weeks, living in training with law enforcement leaders from across the country, uh it takes its toll on you. So again, thank you to our city staff. Thank you council for your trust support and for allowing me to represent the city of Belton on a national stage. So thank you guys.

Thank you. Congratulations. Mayor, if I could just say, I Daniel for the city and he was willing to bet on himself that he would uh go up the ladder, which he has. He truly of all my 48 years, he's one of the top cops I had any contact with. Really is. He's an awesome guy. Thank you, Mayor. Mayor, can I ask? Yes, please do.

Uh Daniel was actually my first hire when I arrived in 2009. Some of you were on council and we did this thing of starting the people in the academy in the first academy class. So first from the first hire in 09 up through the ranks and now an NA graduate which is less than 1% of the law enforcement officers in America. Yeah. Wow. Big deal. Excuse me, sir. Name and address for the record.

Belton pretty fortunate to have three graduates of the FBI academy here. Really, really awesome. very rare situation in the in the country, I would say. And so with your leadership, Chief, and and now followed by Chief Bird, and then Chief Gary, we're just so proud of you. We want to get a picture of the three Belton chiefs who have attended the FBI Academy. You'll do that. Get a good picture. you know, any good organization, especially for uh cities like uh Belton who are not as large and don't have the funds that some of our metropolitan cities that we compete for human resources with. Um it starts with who you hire and that's important and then giving them an opportunity to grow uh and train uh is also part of that and to do this where you are it definitely shows the u the strength of the organization that is the police department today. I appreciate all of you guys uh that have been involved in that. Uh we couldn't do it without you. So again, thank you guys so much. All right, moving on. Items five through seven. Thanks, Chief. Items 5 through 7 are a consent agenda. These three items can be enacted by a single motion. Um I will read them for the record. If the council wishes to pull any of these off to consider separately, they may do so. Uh item five is adopting the amendments of the uh 20 March 24th council workshop and the March 24th council meeting. Item six is authorizing the city manager to execute a contract with Paragon Sports Construction LLC to rebuild the multi-purpose field in the Heritage Park expansion through the Byboard's purchasing cooperative. And item seven

is an um is an update that's in our packet on the South Canal Street Reconstruction Project. Uh Mr. Mayor, I was going to see if we could pull number six out. All right, we'll pull six off and consider it separately. Um chair would entertain a motion on five and seven. Move we approve five and seven. Second. We have a motion and second to approve seven. Any all those in favor say I. I. I. That passes unanimously. All right. Item six. Um Joe. Joe.

All right. Joe. Yes, sir. Mayor Council, uh, our last phrase, we had a vehicle who enjoyed themselves a little too hardy along Park Avenue and destro our lighted field, our lit field, uh, multi-purpose field. the the one that was part of the original Heritage Park expansion project. Um we initially had tried to repair the damage internally uh over throwing out sanding and all of our attempts just washed away the the damage was so extensive and across so much of the field that when we brought in our uh sports fields professionals they recommended a full redo of the entirety.

Well, what does that mean? That means they're going to come in, they're going to take out all the existing sod. They're going to re uh laser grade for um proper drainage, making sure everything is corrected. Then they will fix any irrigation heads that were hit by the vehicle and then lay down new uh tiff tough Bermuda side. I think the most important thing about this item is who's paying for that? That is all covered under insurance. And so this individual was hung up on a a drainage uh Oh, he caught him trying to come out. He was caught and we filed on his insurance and so there's no expense to the city. That's great.

Great. And warning to anyone who's out there hot rodding, you may Yeah. You're going to have to pay for it. Yeah. Yeah. So, an individual doing donuts on our field uh didn't get away. We're redoing our field at with about a $125,000 charge to his insurance company. Yeah, that's awesome. I'm glad you pulled it. Yeah, thank you. For the record. For the record. I move we approve that number six. Thank you. We have a motion and a second to authorize the city manager to execute a contract to fix the field that some poor soul will be thinking about the life. Any other comments, questions? All in favor say I.

I. I. Those opposed. All right. Passes unanimously. Now, a regular agenda. It's a single item. I think that may be a record. Item eight. Um, consider facade improvement grant for the structures of 114 and 118 North Main Street located downtown Belton Commercial Historic District between Central Avenue and 1st Avenue. Miss Tina. How are you doing? Great.

Thank you. Um for this property, it is in the downtown historic Belton um district. The three properties are contributing properties according to the map. They are the green errors where the star is located at. Here is a front what the front facade looks like. Um two of the buildings look very original while the middle one has been painted from the original um masonary brick facade. So, some of the windows are missing. The doors are in poor condition. Um, applicant is proposing to put in the new windows and also upgrade the doors. They will be wooden to match the original. Here is the rear of the property. The applicant is proposing to demo all of this and come up with a new entrance in the back and also new um look over here. Our historic preservation consultant said that there are no character-defining future in the back and also the front is the primary view where we are focused on. So scup of the job again is to do some repairs on the damaged bricks in the front. Replace the doors and windows. Um repaint the previously painted facade. Um applicant had originally asked for some accents on the facade at 114 um North Main. However, historic practice doesn't allow for unpainted masonry to be painted for that accent. Um, also at the rear again demolishing what's there and reconstructing with the new entrance that faces the alley for rear access in the back that's closer to the parking. So, here is a visual that was provided. Um, again, repainting the front of the already painted masonary and um just doing some repairs. Unfortunately, the accents that are shown on this property would not be allowed because it's again painting the original originally unpainted masonary. Here is a proposed for the rear. Um again, they're reconstructing masonary material. New windows and doors are being proposed in that area.

The applicant is requesting for a facade improvement grant. The total cost for this project is going to be over $565,000. Um because there are three separate building the applicant is asking for the max allow for each of the buildings which is 25,000 for the front and 10,000 for the rear. The historic preservation commission heard this at their meeting on April 2nd. They recommend an approval with the condition that an unpainted brick in the primary facade should not be painted and also each building must have a separate must be separated from the adjacent building with a fire rated wall to ensure distinct tenant spaces because of the grant amount. We usually allocate 150. We're given 105,000 for this. So we want to make sure there's different tenants. Um that concludes my presentation. The applicants are here she if you questions for them and I'll be happy to answer any questions you have as well. Yep.

Do we want to let them do Do you guys want to speak or You don't have to. You don't have to. Yeah. Uh name and address for the record.

Jeff Lang, address uh White Oak and Temple. So Sylvia, I've known the Copenhavvers for over a decade and I've done work for them in in downtown Temple and they came to me about three months ago asked for my advice and for my expertise on the construction of those three buildings. After meeting with the structure engineer, we walked each building and the buildings are at a point where they require immediate attention. the uh rear building on 116 is failing and then uh the front of 116 as well and 114 needs to be addressed sooner than later. And so due to the cost to to rebuild them, we we met with Tina and Tina was very helpful walking us through the process for the grant money. So, we're asking uh for the full amount so we get this project started and get it back to its original grandeur that it was in 1885.

18 I have notes. A long time ago. 1895. 189 was constructed. So once once we get this the the permit has been we have started through the my government and once this is uh approved then we can go ahead and start with construction and start mobilizing on the site. Any questions? Anything else Silia you want to add to it?

I don't know what to wait. So I I I think the main thing is at this point Sylvia doesn't have an end use but due to the due to the structure and uh the shape of them we're just trying to stabilize them and then we're going to be you know looking for tenants but correct.

Yes. So I think I'm Sylvia Copenha my address is 100 North Main Street uh in Belton. Um that's Main Street Bridal of course. Um we my husband and I um initially wished to make all three buildings into one event center. How um we decided not to go that route. Um although we haven't decided what businesses we're going to open in uh any of those buildings. We are still wishing to do one building uh as an event and center where you know smaller gatherings obviously um and um it was a very it's very important for my husband and I whatever we decide to do in the businesses you know our goal is to enrich the community uh we wanted to have the event center because we wanted to have cool things like you know candle light and symphony and you know having chefs come and you know just you know and also activities for the kids. Um but we realize that three buildings for one event center that's a amendment. Um so we're still you know considering doing one event center and one of the buildings. I'm not sure which one. Um but obviously aside from the city's contribution. I know that that's a lot of money and I appreciate you know the uh your thoughtful consideration in uh reviewing the the case. I guess um we um you know that's a lot of money that we're going to put out as well for the facade improvement and just the facade improvement and so we're not wanting to sit property for very long. Um, so even if we have to lease, you know, a couple of buildings, um, you know, we're open to that. But, um, you know, we're keeping the options open, but again, it's our goal to have something that's going to benefit the community and the residents here in Central Texas. Obviously, we found when we opened Main Street Bridal that all of a sudden we're

having, you know, brides coming from Georgetown. We have brides coming from Abene. Um, we had Essence of Australia, which was a wonderful designer. um they brought a lot of brides from outside of the central Texas area and you know it it just floor lores us when we coming from Houston in Austin um because they're in a metroplex area where there's probably 20 bridal stores so we you know we really do want to do um something really positive um they are three continuous businesses so I feel like the I know it's a lot of money um and I'm kind of preparing myself for you know um whatever you decide, but it is three uh continuous properties. Um but it does it's going to be a higher return um invest as well just because it is such a visible building. You know, when you're at the stop sign, people are looking over and I apologize for, you know, the dilapitated look. Um but we're hoping to change that sooner than later. Um

thank you. and you know, so that's that's all I have to say. Okay. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. All right. Um I actually had a few more questions for the builder. It's it's not I think we should probably redirect that to staff. Um because it's not a public hearing and so it's not a workshop. It's it's just an item. And so I think that um more details I think we can address that through Okay. once we've Yeah, I think we can address concerns with staff. Um

yeah. Yeah. I mean Yeah. I mean Yeah. I just wonder the I mean right now it's held up by scaffolding and there's you know that sidewalk right now is really important to all the other businesses down there. What's the estimated time if they're redoing all three of these? I mean, that sidewalk would have to be shut down, wouldn't it? It would be for a duration of time while they do the repairs that's needed for the maintenance of the brick. As you can see, the sidewalk was being damaged by the bricks falling down. So, they do have to do some patch of work that needs to happen in the front before that could be removed. Is there any kind? Because I mean, they've already had those up for what, a year?

Almost a year. They've estimated about six months to complete the from what I recall. July. So July 1st, not fourth. Yeah. So there's there's egress from the back. That is the alleyway. The building uh in the middle, the back side is is failing. So that's going to have to be uh that's going to have to be shut down while that part comes down on the back. So there is a a cyclone chain link fence in the back that that that

that runs parallel along with the alley. So I know Tina and I have spoken about maybe getting with the county to to cut that or make access so that people can come you know through the fence or they can walk around east side. But the buildings directly behind there, we're going to have to to to block it off in the back. The front side, um the front side, the scaffolding is up and the braces are up. We're going to attempt to to leave that egress through the front and work on it. So

So in the back when y'all are doing that work, will that affect the parking area there? Like will yall have to close any of that off? I would I was going to ask for a couple of parking spots that are directly behind that for for staging. Yeah, that are just if you were just on the back side chain link fences run. We were going to ask for a couple spots. There you go. Right there. The train. So, so when y'all demo that, will it when you say demo, you're taking down the whole

whole this is this is a facade grant. It's not a construction management project. It's just the scope our participation financially with this project. Um I would suggest that if if anyone has specific concerns about the project and the implication of businesses next to it is schedule a meeting with staff outside of this trying to keep it in the lanes of what was published here um which is just a facade grant which is the amount of money helping them with their project. Okay. Yeah. So what is so is this more than the normal facade like what is the regular

No the allowed remember if you um there were last year to increase the front to 25 and then any other facades are 10,000 so the maximum allowed per each facade is 35,000. Okay. Well I'm pretty excited um and thank you for bringing that forward and I would like to make a motion agenda item number eight. Second. We have a motion in a second to approve agenda item number eight. Any other comments or questions before we vote? I'm just really excited y'all are doing it. Thank you all so much. Yeah, it's been needed to be cleaned up for a while. So, we appreciate it.

And you know, and I I know I think it's implied by the one of your statements is what how we were going to add and it's a lot of money for a private project. One of the things we did with the grant, this uh facade improvement program, is we realized that there's a public private partnership for things that are visible and accessible to the public. And while it's a private building, it impacts the community. And so we really think that we need to we need to lean into that partnership and part participate financially so that we can maintain the character. And you've already done that with your other structure. We we we trust you'll do that with this as well. There's obviously going to be a lot of concerns because of fronting along the main street with the parade and other businesses that are in the area. But anyway, so I appreciate you guys coming to do this.

Yeah. All right. All in favor uh say I. I. Those opposed.

All right. It passely. That is the last item on our we'll call the regular council meeting adjourned. Um I'm going to read the executive session items into the record. Um, y'all can take a pause for the cause if you need to. Um, we will have no action after this executive session. Uh, item nine is executive session pursuant to the provision of the open meetings laws chapters 551 government code Vernon's Texas codes annotated in accordance with the authority contained in section 551.074 for personnel matters. This item 10 is like it. It's section 551.071 consultation with attorney. And the final one is item 11 section 551.07. 072 deliberation regarding real property. All right, that is it. And as an executive session, this will not be a public meeting. So, thanks for your attendance. We allought ago.

Oh, yeah. I know.

It's one of those little things because honestly, if you think about Oh, just just this. It's $100,000. It's a lot of money, but these pro these properties will probably go from tax roles of $40,000 to $400,000. And we'll recoup that in short order with just adorum tax. Um, doesn't matter who owns it. Yeah, it doesn't matter who owns it. history and it makes a tremendous difference in that piece of our streets to get the mostly buildings that needed work for a long long time in sir.