City Council - Regular Meeting

All right, good evening, everybody. It's 5.02. I want to welcome you to this regular call meeting of the Temple City Council. Please rise as Director of Housing and Community Services, Rucker Preston, leads us in the invocation, followed by our pledge and the Texas pledge led by Deputy City Secretary Liz Caraway.

Now's the time for public comments. Um, any citizens who desire to address the council on any matter may do so as always, we just ask that you step to the podium and state your name for the record. Um, we've got maybe 18, 20 folks and we'll start with, uh, Sarah Royer. Well, is she, I bet she's here. Yeah. And then there she is. And then Joe Royer, you're on deck.

You're welcome. Scott Shumate. Hmm. Oh yes. Uh, and Francis Fisher, you'll be up under Mr. After Mr. Shoemake. Yes, ma'am. That'd be great. Thank you. So may I speak? Yes, sir.

I'll address that very quickly the whenever the council sets the water and whenever the water and wastewater rates it is water and wastewater is handled out of what's called a enterprise fund which means that the rates are intended to support the cost of the water and wastewater system and so as costs continue to go up you know people cost more equipment costs more But what about the data centers that are coming in that are getting huge tax breaks? What are they paying? That has, that has, um, they need to be paying for this and not us. We, we covered that last week about what they will be pay

Thank you. Thank you. Ms. Fisher and then Dorothy Sanders. You'll be next after Ms. Fisher.

Ms. Fisher, your three minutes are up. Okay. Thank you. Dorothy Sanders and then on deck is Miss Brindley I don't know that I announced this earlier whenever you get to down about two and a half minutes or so I'll ring the little bell as a as a as a alert

Thank you, ma'am. Ms. Brindley, followed by Ms. Frazier.

Thank you, Nell. Margie? And following Margie will be Ms. Wojtko.

Thank you, Margie. Next is Elena Vojtko followed by Jay.

Before we start your three minutes, impressive beard, that didn't take long.

Thank you, Mr. Marquez. Eve? Sorry, I didn't call you. And I can't read the name of the person on deck. Maybe it starts with a G. Ed, maybe? I don't know. We'll go to the next one, and then if you signed up to speak, you'll be last. And Carly Bird, you are on deck after Ms. Eve. CARLY BIRD.

Thank you, Ms. Rain. Next up, Carly Bird, followed by Jose Martinez.

Just a minute, are you, is that the end of your comments or do you want to use the rest?

Mr. Martinez, let Mr. Hensley make it across the room first. They're halfway.

Milton, it's good to see you again. It's been too long. Let him come a little closer. Yeah, it's good to see you. You bet. You take care. Mr. Martinez. And then Ms. Lara, you'll follow Mr. Martinez?

Okay, there was the one that I was not able to read. Maybe the last name is Garfield, if I've deciphered that correctly. Anybody? Could someone out there maybe ask around if anybody signed up to speak but their name has not been called? Okay, Garfield maybe? Ed? I don't know. We'll give him just a second. Based on that autograph, he has a future in the NFL, I think.

Or a doctor, yeah. What's your name? OK. You were told you did not have to sign up? You don't have to sign up for a public hearing, which is what we're going to get to a couple of items here shortly that are public hearings about specific agenda items. And you don't have to sign up for those. But for general comments like we've had tonight, you do have to sign up prior so as I read through the agenda item shortly if the comments that you fashioned are around that agenda item then you're more than welcome to speak then okay dope all right do we have her finding you nobody okay all right well if

I don't know. I don't want to remove it. But I would like to highlight item E. The 24th Street bridge. I'm glad we're moving forward on that. That's exciting to get that kicked off. I know that a lot of folks have been waiting a long time for that to reopen. And of course, we're not reopening it right now. But we're in the process of heading that direction. So good news.

Here we Can we confirm that we are going to remove item 5A and 5J? Or A? I'm sorry, my notes up here aren't...

Okay, very good. Thank you for that clarification. All right. Council, if there's no discussion, then I'll entertain a motion on item 3.

I'm sorry, 3A through 3O less I and J. I'm going to approve items 3A through 3O minus items I and J. I'll second it.

We have a motion by Council Member Cookington. We have a second by Mayor Pro Tem Walker. Council, please cast your vote.

Yep, so can I move on while you work on that? Okay. Very good. No, no, that's fine. Consent agenda passes four votes to zero, five votes to zero, which is 3A through 3O minus 3I and J. Item 3i is a second reading and a public, I'm sorry, just a second reading and a second and final reading. Consider adopting an ordinance authorizing the voluntary annexation of 316.13 plus or minus acres located in the Maximo Marino Survey, abstract number 14, located in the City of Temple's extraterritorial jurisdiction, Bell County, Texas, identified by Bell County Appraisal District Parcel ID numbers 7755, 2

3i passes four votes yes zero votes no and one abstention second and final reading to consider adopting an ordinance authorizing a rezoning and binding site development plan request from ag to planned development lot industrial on 316.13 plus or minus acres located in the city of temple bell county texas identified as bell county appraisal district parcel id number seven seven five five two four nine five five one oh six two two eight this item isn't subject to a public hearing it's a second final reading So item 3J. Council, I will entertain a motion.

Second. We have a motion by Mayor Pro Tem Walker. We have a second by Council Member Emmons. Council, please cast your vote. 3J passes four votes yes, zero votes no, and one abstention. Now moving on to the regular agenda. Item four is the second and final reading that includes a public hearing to consider adopting an ordinance redesignating the boundaries of tax abatement reinvestment zone number 47, located generally east of Bob White Road and north of Lorain Avenue, and further currently identified by Bell County Appraisal District with property ID numbers 239676, 36491, 12894, 7755, 24955,

Thank you, ma'am. Council, anything for Ms. Thomas?

Okay, very good. Then with that, I will open the public hearing on both items four and five. If you wish to speak on items four and or five, please step to the podium and state your name for the record. Do we have anybody virtually tonight?

So Joe, are you speaking on item four or five or both?

So under 50 employees, they don't have to pay for benefits. Is that what they're doing?

I'm in the health insurance business. Well over half of my clients have less than 50 employees. So we represent 60 or 70 local employers right here under 50 and they all have a full suite of benefits. Good for them. And yeah, that's it. And I'll, I bet a multi-billion dollar company will do the same.

Your opinion is noted. Thank you. You bet. Yes, ma'am.

You wandered off the topic of the actual agenda items. The construction was fine, sidewalks.

Thank you, ma'am. Thank you. You bet. Who else would like to speak? Ms. Brindley? Oh, I'm sorry. Ms. Brindley?

If you know that you want to speak on this, Adam, I'd appreciate if you'd queue up, if you could.

Last week, whenever we talked about this, I encouraged folks to go out. Two weeks, whatever, Margie. Last time I saw you.

I encouraged folks to go out on the Belcad and see what these properties paid two years ago versus what they'll be paying in tax now. So we're not abating current income. We're abating future income.

Thank you, sir. Who else? Yes, Miss Lara.

It's the same ones that we discussed in public hearing last week. They've now been voted on a second time and approved two weeks ago. They're now being approved this week. They have been approved.

Thank you. Who else? Anyone else from the audience? Is it on items four and five?

No, just give him let's let's give him the opportunity one more time to stay on top.

Anyways, that's it. Thank you. Just as an interesting point, Texas is a great place as an individual to live because taxes are individual, taxes are low. Texas ranks 47th out of 50 among all the states regarding corporate taxation. So Texas is not at all a friendly state when it comes to corporate taxation. So whenever it's said that you could bring, there's plenty of other industries in plenty of other states that you could bring in to do business right here in Temple, simply not true. Okay, thank you. Yes, ma'am.

Here's something that's on topic. You are correct. The metadata center, the operating data center, was valued at $28 million. via Belcad. Belcad's industrial appraiser was called on the carpet about that, and I was in the meeting when that appraiser was fired. And then, no, that's not true. And then the tax appraisal district, along with the city of Temple, along with Bell County, worked with META to correct their appraisal. And that went up to what?

So I know there were other communities that stopped their budgeting process because the valuation, they were expecting more income and based upon the valuations and all taxing entities worked very closely with META who worked with the taxing entities voluntarily worked hard to get corrected valuations to the tax appraisal district, and paid the additional tax. And we're volunteered to help, and we're happy to do it. And they did. They could have, if you'd like to speak, do public hearing. But they could have drugged their feet until everyone had to get their budgets done. They didn't do that.

And after the updates, are we able to confirm what 1-1-26 was?

Tracy, while you're looking that up, why don't we move on to Margie? Sarah, we'll get back next.

If I go buy a new suit for $1,000 and they instead put it on sale for $800, but all it cost them was $500, did they lose money?

Ms. Rory, I think we're addressing... Are we ready to?

Anybody else? Going once? Milton? Yeah, let's take him to the mic. We're coming to you. OK, I appreciate that.

We've already started making money. OK. Whenever they pay their 2026 tax bill and their 2025 tax bill.

Well, 50% of the tax paid on the $1.23 billion. Are we talking about META or Rowan? I think we're talking about META. I'm not sure.

We need to assign someone to go pick Milton up before every council meeting. It's been a while since he's been here. It's because he doesn't have transportation. Somebody go get him. Who else? Going once. Everybody good?

Y'all holler at the folks outside, please. We're good? Nobody out? Nobody back there? Okay. Going once, going twice. I will now close the public hearing on items four and five. And council, I'll entertain a motion on item four.

I will make a motion to approve item four, although I can't seem to get.

I'll second. We have a motion by Mayor Pro Tem Walker. We have a second by Council Member Emmons. Council, please cast your vote. I can vote. Did you switch over? I saw, there, here we go. Item four passes four votes yes, zero votes no, and one abstention. Council, I'll entertain a motion on item five.

I'll move to approve item five as presented.

Second. I have a motion by Councilmember Pilkington. We have a second by Councilmember Emmons. Council, please cast your vote.

Yes. Item five passes four votes yes, zero votes no, and one abstention. Item six is consider approving an amendment of the tax abatement agreement with Rowan LLC, which abated a percentage of the increase in the taxable value of certain real and personal property located in synergy park. This Thomas.

Counseling thing for Ms. Thomas. All right, moving with that, council, I will entertain a motion. Make a motion to approve item six.

I have a motion by council member Emmons. We have a second by Mayor Pro Tem Walker. Council, please cast your vote. Item six passes, four votes yes, zero votes no, one abstention. Item 7 is consider adopting a resolution authorizing the following agreements. Item A, a development agreement with Rowan Lasso LLC for the development of approximately 316 acres associated with Project Lasso, which is Phase 1B, establishing development coordination of phase permitting process, transportation planning, utility coordination, and other development-related activities. requirements for the project. Item

The $10 million for the ASR, does that give them access to the ASR?

knew all along they were going to hand that well over to the city of temple and as you mentioned that any water that was generated by that well that rowan would use was specific to project mariah correct that's right which is the old bitcoin mining operation that is defunct and so um at no time did they own it did they have um unilateral access to it in fact as we've said before That well has never been operational on a large basis. We get water out of the ground to test it right now, but as far as any infrastructure to then distribute that anywhere else simply doesn't exist yet in a large for

In an economic development agreement, the city of Temple is going to pay over three years about $5 million. If they performed what they were required to do, they did not perform, therefore the city of Temple kept that $5 million, roughly. And still has full ownership of the well. And that well, when operational, will increase the city of Temple's water capacity roughly by 10% to 15%. through the reclaimed water process.

Very good. There is so much misinformation, disinformation, or simply misunderstanding about that well specifically. And I think it is worth going over like you've done tonight again. around the parameters of that well because it is, the ASR well is the first of its kind for Temple. In fact, the city of Temple partnered with Bell County and others, Department of Defense included, to find proper areas along the aquifer that could, what's the right word? that could take on the water through the ASR process. Not every aquifer is ideal for that, but in this case, one on Fort Hood was found and one

We've explored buying water. And the cost of the water is very high. The cost of getting the water from where it is to where we would need it in Temple is, that number starts with a B. And to know that we have water available right under our feet and to be able to take advantage of that will pay the city of Temple, will be an advantage to the city of Temple for decades. Fair statement. Okay. Counseling questions for Ms. Myers? Okay. All right, we are going to take each of these items separately. So Council, item 7A, which is, and I'll read them in since it's been a while. I'll read quickly. 7A

We have a motion by Councilmember Walker. We have a second by Councilmember Bookington. Council, please cast your vote. Not this one, Milton. Not this one. Item 7A passes four votes yes, zero votes no, one abstention. Item 7B is an infrastructure agreement with Rowan Stampede LLC related to the approximate 1,443 acres comprising Project Temple Lasso Phase 1, Project Stampede Phase 2, Project Ranger Phase 3, establishing responsibilities for the funding, design, construction, dedication, and timing of water and wastewater infrastructure necessary to serve the projects together with certain comm

Second. We have a motion by Councilmember Pilkington. We have a second by Councilmember Emmons. Council, please cast your vote. 7B passes, four votes yes, zero votes no, one abstention. 7c is an amended and restated utility services agreement with rowan llc for project temple lasso which is phase one establishing the amount timing conditions limitations associated with water and wastewater service for the project council entertain a motion to approve okay we have a motion by mayor pro tim walker we have a second by council member pilkington council cast your vote 7c passes four votes yes zero

It's against my nature not to say anything, but I'm not gonna follow that. Thank you for that. Moving on to automate is consider adopting resolution, appointing members to various city boards and commissions. Y'all think I've read a lot tonight. Here you go. Um, for the airport advisory board, we're going to reappoint Tony hell and Jeremy Walters to fill expired terms ending September 30, 2029. and appoint Lisa Carlisle to fill an expired term ending September 30, 2029. On the Animal Services Advisory Board, we're going to reappoint Amy Strunk and Zoe Grant to fill expired terms ending Septemb

Move to approve filling our board and commission seats as the mayor read.

We have a motion by Council Member Pilkington. Second. I have a second by Council Member Grant. Council, please cast your vote. Item eight passes five votes to zero. Item nine is the Temple Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors. We're gonna reappoint Tony Hale and Perry Cloud to fill expired terms ending September 30, 2029. Council, if there's no discussion, I'll obtain a motion.

Second. We have a motion by Councilmember Grant. We have a second by Councilmember Emmons. Item nine passes five votes to zero. I want to thank everybody that volunteers with the city, both on the various boards and TEDC. We appreciate your time, we appreciate your involvement, and we appreciate your guidance. And it is now 7.23. Thank you all for attending, and this meeting is adjourned.