[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6071614,"mediaKeyId","3037507-250a1a2511ab4877d699e3f7c8e198c9","parentId",3037507,"title","Votes at a glance: Katy City Council actions, Jan. 27, 2025","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",2861000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3037507-250a1a2511ab4877d699e3f7c8e198c9&start=2861&end=2861","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3037507-250a1a2511ab4877d699e3f7c8e198c9/thumbnail_2861000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6071614/Texas/Votes-at-a-glance-Katy-City-Council-actions-Jan-27-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6071614-291018a28f9e11a9d8edd2802f1712a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164465&Signature=Yx8bGHPJXEOP1yHPTHsjJtCM2gMjllv8fAP5nX-2LZKteNhx4bKw0gYYEA6sazjPc6sUXJ2NjrGII2IyRTN0ZedxIDRiarc3XzOEqIq8Jn3FjaX4X9xalkfDE1u9UM0a-b2nYVT8~jMXpuFhfyqMVUyAOQt17vKiEQ7kISdm~3-Jvx0J51GZwOW19mz5wMEDs-F73oTJfr~HQvea9SzvkIhOsLrfWOUmsBt2vdu0GxNhjbmU6uFiWOSzE47lnMQF-2ffwmVojAHaXeGZKZMEb1fb4wp53IAdkCd~j2z1RCl4HuAjyfBErkvyiqxDMEVaNbMwsID~ht03MhnJcQ2yJA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Katy","date","2025-01-27T00:00:00Z","article","The City of Katy City Council took the following formal actions on Jan. 27. This roundup lists each item recorded in the meeting transcript and the immediate outcome as stated on the record.

• Ordinance: Rezoning (Agenda Item 4A) — Change approximately 4.89 acres from R‑1 single family district to C‑2 general business (JG Bennett survey). Motion by Council member Gina Hicks, seconded by Council member Roy Robertson; public hearing opened and closed; ordinance adopted. (See staff description in meeting.)

• Ordinance: Zoning ordinance amendments (Agenda Item 4B) — Amend City zoning ordinance No. 6‑21 (section 2 definitions, section 11 MS industrial district, section 15 special use permits) to require SUPs for heavy industrial uses and to add battery energy storage systems to the SUP section. Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris, seconded by Council member Gina Hicks; ordinance adopted. Council additionally directed staff to return with more BESS information and options for an advisory group within three months (motion by Council member Dan Smith, amended on the floor to three months and adopted).

• Acceptance: Charter Review Commission final report (Agenda Item 5) — Council accepted the commission’s final report (procedural). Motion carried.

• Direction to staff: Charter ballot language (Agenda Item 5) — Council voted to direct staff to prepare ordinance text and ballot language for proposed charter amendments discussed in item 5 (motion by Council member Dan Smith, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris); motion carried.

• Ordinance: Call election (Agenda Item 6) — An ordinance calling a May 2025 election for mayor and related matters was moved and seconded and approved on the record; council approved execution of a joint election agreement with Katy Independent School District and other matters related to the election.

• Resolution: Construction change order #2 (Agenda Item 8A) — Authorize the mayor to sign construction change order #2 with John Reed & Company LLC, extending the Tenth Street Bridge replacement contract by 88 calendar days (GLO contract #20-065-137-C503) to an extended completion date of April 16, 2025. Motion moved and seconded; resolution adopted.

• Resolution/Contract: Coban Technologies cloud subscription (Agenda Item 8B) — Authorize contract/quote Q69752 with Coban Technologies for cloud subscription services for body and vehicle cameras for the Katy Police Department (initial set for 80 cameras). Motion moved by Council member Roy Robertson, seconded by Council member Janet Court; contract authorized. Staff noted existing data (~65 terabytes) to be migrated, roughly 57 officer cameras currently in use, 1‑year retention policy for unretained videos, and that approximately 40% of current storage is in use.

• Ordinance: Employee classification change (Agenda Item 9) — Amend job description and salary grade for Marketing and Tourism Event Coordinator in the employee classification and compensation plan. Motion moved and seconded; ordinance adopted.

• Consent agenda (Agenda Item 7) — Approved as presented by motion moved by Council member Roy Robertson and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris.

Where the transcript recorded only a voice vote or the clerk’s reading of procedural motion results, the minutes report the motion, seconder and that the motion carried; the transcript did not provide roll‑call vote tallies by individual member names for most items. If specific vote tallies are required, the official minutes or staff can provide the certified roll call.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Katy City Council\tJan 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A compact roundup of formal actions taken by the City of Katy City Council at its Jan. 27 meeting, including zoning changes, code amendments, contract approvals, and election-related items.","taxTitle","Katy, Harris County, Texas","taxId",69507,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6071618,"Katy council accepts Charter Review Commission report and directs staff to draft ballot language",1042,1808000,2850000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3037507-250a1a2511ab4877d699e3f7c8e198c9&start=1808&end=2850","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3037507-250a1a2511ab4877d699e3f7c8e198c9/thumbnail_1808000.jpg","/articles/6071618/Texas/Katy-council-accepts-Charter-Review-Commission-report-and-directs-staff-to-draft-ballot-language","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6071618-c10b5770a86647e9b016c4fa633427da/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164465&Signature=C4tIb4knQ-zYA5NlE6BqIA7h-W3k27UOMu1tPC4aj3mc47hkcdkyCBtKu1GrP1UYAEYXXYtVgfnJGL8VIXjcyjNBKFayAR8vcXUyrpiFO~TMID6uAFH6E4FqXcCh2mzlmQnp5ILMvigzRtYgO7yuBR2ZyzadJJnd~TTX~qKe7nXZBzJ7TlQS5dmWbhaoVaiaV0AQ-92D4ipGANkcutk4DCXKpjg-mEeUeEblC37hYJgOBGqbSc8f9iP4cnUd2sR3CoajA3H1w9~N-6s5bULmDy~q9Z8HlR~IUaYAVF4omVxt~sBkPVxmYW1227QGzZTOnxrIDjoqHA98YPL8aLQMmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Katy on Jan. 27 accepted the final report from the 2024–2025 Charter Review Commission and directed staff to draft ordinance text and ballot language for several proposed charter amendments.

Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris and other council members reviewed four broad categories of proposed changes: clarifying that a mayor pro tem may perform mayoral duties in the mayor’s absence without creating a quorum issue, aligning vacancy language so positions become vacant if an official is elected or appointed to another public office, resolving conflicting charter language about department‑head termination appeals, and adding uniform language on three‑year terms while removing the existing term‑limit provision so voters could choose on retention.

Council accepted the commission’s report by motion; council also voted to direct staff to prepare ordinance and ballot language for the proposed amendments and to consider placing those measures before voters in a special charter amendment election. City staff explained that accepting the report is a procedural step and that the Charter Review Commission is advisory; if council directs it, staff will draft ordinance language and could call a special election (the city attorney noted an option would be to call a charter amendment election on May 3, which would coincide with the general officer election). Council indicated it would review legal questions and refine proposed language before any ballot call.

Council members discussed pros and cons of removing term limits (some members argued voters ultimately decide incumbency risk), clarified how mayor pro tem duties would operate in tied‑vote situations, and confirmed proposed charter measures would be offered as separate ballot propositions so voters could approve some measures and reject others. The council voted to direct staff to prepare the ordinance and ballot language; that motion passed and will be followed by staff drafting materials for council review.","Council accepted the final report from the 2024–2025 Charter Review Commission and voted to direct staff to prepare ordinances and ballot language for proposed charter amendments; council discussed changes including mayor pro tem quorum language, vacancy rules, appeal process alignment, and removing term limits.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6071623,"Katy amends heavy‑industrial rules, moves battery storage into special‑use permit process; council directs staff to return within three months",993,803000,1796000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3037507-250a1a2511ab4877d699e3f7c8e198c9&start=803&end=1796","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3037507-250a1a2511ab4877d699e3f7c8e198c9/thumbnail_803000.jpg","/articles/6071623/Texas/Katy-amends-heavyindustrial-rules-moves-battery-storage-into-specialuse-permit-process-council-directs-staff-to-return-within-three-months","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6071623-586ffdffae962597314a21bb0e4f8617/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164465&Signature=ZCsOiuo55PF4fcTvielxQHZmXpOPWTDctIyRbHpA9y009RjaPiO92~cHrYGqJUbVn24qzhDb9worMqy-6CduF5Qrdu-7w1VV2SS4JjNR16UKECRpOQczVYwtl58JGDOci7cRVhlkjNf71HpV8HgwYzqPRkakbgKeEy-bxa5at1fY4RPBpSSI9rZo8cdZHIti81RV6VW8t3cYceck53Xql6BZgue5ybMT3Xwdi8cWiZXPl3yaijAUrCmp0lCosvtKkuomtEFHE0o7-7cUjkYlv1enWyfn8cQKTU1-L1LBwcErLbdeTRdXNiNMnybxGYafgmErCbZmOVHGCghPMr~jNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Katy on Jan. 27 approved an amendment to zoning ordinance No. 6‑21 that moves heavy industrial uses to a special‑use‑permit (SUP) requirement in the MS industrial district and expressly identifies battery energy storage systems (BESS) as a use subject to SUP review.

City planner Rachel Lazo said staff brought the item after a contentious rezoning last fall revealed that several industrial‑use definitions and permitted uses had become antiquated. Under the approved changes, uses defined as “heavy industrial” (notably processing and distribution of raw materials) will require a special‑use permit, giving council discretion over siting and design for such operations in or near core city areas. Lazo also said BESS will now be a expressly listed use in the special‑use permit section so the approval process and standards are clear.

Council members praised the update as a necessary cleanup of older code, but several said the change is an initial step and urged more detailed standards for BESS projects — for example, environmental and plume studies and other engineering analyses — before any specific project is approved. In the meeting several council members said they are not technical experts and recommended forming a group of external experts to review standards and options.

The ordinance was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris and seconded by Council member Gina Hicks and was adopted following a public hearing and council discussion. Separately, Council member Dan Smith moved that staff return to council with more information regarding BESS projects and the possible creation of an advisory board; that motion (initially proposed as six months) was amended on the floor to a three‑month timeline and adopted. The transcript records the motions and that the amended timeline passed, but it does not list a roll‑call vote tally by name.

During discussion staff offered to prepare draft standards and suggested a public workshop or draft ordinance that council could review; council members said they also could draw on model ordinances from neighboring cities but preferred a locally tailored approach. Several council members asked for an advisory group with representation from residents and technical experts to present both pro and con perspectives before standards are finalized.

The ordinance includes standard severability and penalty language and authorizes publication of the caption only as provided in the ordinance text. Council directed staff to return within three months (from Jan. 27) with options for next steps on BESS and for consideration of forming an advisory committee.","Council adopted an amendment to city zoning ordinance No. 6‑21 to require special‑use permits for heavy industrial uses and to explicitly list battery energy storage systems (BESS) in the special‑use section; council also directed staff to return with additional information on BESS projects and formation of an advisory group within three months.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_46":105,"_48":106,"_50":107,"_52":108,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":109,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":110,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6071628,"Katy council approves rezoning of 4.89 acres near I‑10 to C‑2 general business",123,524000,647000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3037507-250a1a2511ab4877d699e3f7c8e198c9&start=524&end=647","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3037507-250a1a2511ab4877d699e3f7c8e198c9/thumbnail_524000.jpg","/articles/6071628/Texas/Katy-council-approves-rezoning-of-489-acres-near-I10-to-C2-general-business","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6071628-b3f839c5e24562f2d04578975ff9aeed/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164465&Signature=nQSeHkhbFykW9o4uHynDcH~VkFLB0L6cUpz6UP17-3xQ5yWGAirtKMTDIfVoEcZBCvyMfffMlnjlEDUP3H0UFfdIxVIW7DLV8XhPdTcCgI16KOxNtiqedQHuXqYNewrq27N66MfOuU7RWEhjtVmMKETBPWooFOKBDSP0RAqfmNGdlcvEHWXR92iQj1LVlW4iseAgfXCgoFSK0aI0RKsyaYkZ7scEpWhKxgH9RVG2tDih5PAnqYk1ZlZq0DemDwsqZ~xun9zYFgL-9fHelcF573UUvo82NviRQVLDiORLZIGkh5-C94heqLg5q54Lq~jeYqXma57BB18NKvJck~r4Og__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Katy on Jan. 27 approved an ordinance to rezone approximately 4.89 acres in the JG Bennett survey (Waller County) from R‑1 single‑family to C‑2 general business.

City planner Rachel Lazo told the council the property, just south of the Cameron facilities on Texas Heritage Parkway, was annexed in October and defaulted to R‑1 zoning at annexation; the rezoning to C‑2 aligns with the annexation service plan. The council opened and closed a statutory public hearing before voting.

Council member Gina Hicks moved the ordinance, seconded by Council member Roy Robertson. After brief remarks by Council member Janet Court that the rezoning was a procedural step consistent with the property owner’s intended use and that annexation brings city oversight and tax revenue, the council voted to approve the ordinance. The ordinance includes standard sections providing for an effective date, repeals of conflicting provisions and a penalty of up to $2,000 per day for violations.

The property description presented to council places the site southwest of Interstate 10 and Texas Heritage Parkway; the staff report noted the rezoning was recommended by the City Planning and Zoning Commission at its Jan. 14 meeting.

The council did not identify additional site‑specific conditions or a development plan in the public hearing; no vote tally by individual member was recorded in the transcript. The ordinance passed and will be published as required by city procedure.","The City of Katy rezoned about 4.89 acres in the JG Bennett survey from R‑1 single‑family to C‑2 general business after a public hearing; council said annexation default zoning prompted the procedural rezoning and argued city oversight and tax revenue are benefits.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Katy City Council actions, Jan. 27, 2025

Katy council accepts Charter Review Commission report and directs staff to draft ballot language

Katy amends heavy‑industrial rules, moves battery storage into special‑use permit process; council directs staff to return within three months

Katy council approves rezoning of 4.89 acres near I‑10 to C‑2 general business