[{"_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":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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6589325,"mediaKeyId","5607371-9679ec55ccd5a6a01a87fdfcbb3e088a","parentId",5607371,"title","Residents urge Waco council for retiree cost-of-living adjustments and expanded nondiscrimination, shelter and crisis services","audioSeconds",376,"startMs",2394000,"endMs",2770000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5607371-9679ec55ccd5a6a01a87fdfcbb3e088a&start=2394&end=2770","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5607371-9679ec55ccd5a6a01a87fdfcbb3e088a/thumbnail_2394000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6589325/Waco/McLennan-County/Texas/Residents-urge-Waco-council-for-retiree-cost-of-living-adjustments-and-expanded-nondiscrimination-shelter-and-crisis-services","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6589325-4051bad41499fd030a12ae30f2df0542/orig.mp4?Expires=1771032717&Signature=Mcyx2ca34rLD-upnXld~RC8qV92yPO~kUa-7QojzJ2EmSwn42hooF1rUh08H4Ov30qdzVGFFr9N5S0tSINvzjP6hRuckRmFwBvqUkXwJqsKjj7RqzkYP6pIp6fTyy-fX13tiir1ySuDIDZl473IyQCPuuZZau6dmwcL9k23RFKEOjHAtaDNZH6B-uMutoX~Mx1NjfH9EEm1wS2jlUQ-CxgrnDhO4KTow5soCc1Z6zgIttqRx3zYT9P6vhN6F272dRFYSWnzbYbhNsprahJTChUt5CirE3WfUPdnsSuLsvCOmTfAMVKVsXxCXpvvgu-~wdQCXU-tfSvTZd0C-FtzHXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Waco, TX","date","2025-08-20T14:19:17Z","article","Two visitors at the Aug. 19 meeting used the hearing-of-visitors period to press city leaders on policy and budget priorities: a retired city employee asked for a larger cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for retirees, and an advocate urged the council to expand nondiscrimination protections and services for people experiencing homelessness and disability.

Randy Aleman, a City of Waco retiree, said he had served about 40\u0000years and that inflation had eroded his purchasing power. \"Since 01/31/2015, I've lost about 34.4% in purchasing power,\" Aleman told the council. He asked council and management to consider approving a 70% retroactive repeating COLA for qualifying retirees if funding permits, and requested consideration for a January 2026 effective date.

Austin Hall, who identified himself as the partner of an LGBTQ person and the son of a McLennan County ARC employee, urged the council to adopt policies to reduce exclusion and support vulnerable residents. He told the council he estimates \"Waco has about 200 people experiencing homelessness on a single night\" and cited disability and poverty figures from state and local data to argue for policy changes. Hall asked the council to \"expand nondiscrimination protections beyond city employees to housing, public programs, and contracts, increase low barrier shelter beds, and prioritize housing first placements, fund a mobile crisis team pairing mental health professionals with first responders, [and] enforce ADA access across all public spaces and our public transit.\" He said these measures would reduce costs and support workforce participation.

Council members did not take immediate action during the hearing but acknowledged the speakers and indicated staff follow-up would occur as appropriate.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Business Session (August 19, 2025)","oneSentenceSummary","During the hearing of visitors on Aug. 19, a retired city employee requested a restored cost-of-living adjustment, and an advocate urged the council to expand nondiscrimination protections, increase shelter beds and fund a mobile crisis team.","taxTitle","Waco, McLennan County, Texas","taxId",2807,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6589330,"Waco council authorizes city attorney to pursue nuisance abatement, engage outside counsel up to $100,000",53,13000,66000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5607371-9679ec55ccd5a6a01a87fdfcbb3e088a&start=13&end=66","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5607371-9679ec55ccd5a6a01a87fdfcbb3e088a/thumbnail_13000.jpg","/articles/6589330/Waco/McLennan-County/Texas/Waco-council-authorizes-city-attorney-to-pursue-nuisance-abatement-engage-outside-counsel-up-to-100000","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6589330-a362d1362e199550ae55c0619dceb5bb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771032717&Signature=FJoKdIv87S9OPnuFr5YLtENWTqk5cKsWk3fscWsnkPURkW77JW7uBLtKazWqP-~eNoPphR4~kx0sDo-ZIJ6ndRWthLICAoCQvWpx~4r1sRK45WTAvDAviCH0SMIGeUKXU-hf2oLuSynwcMmu~9ooTnWkpKyfFs~6ITZJMmc-huwLuXx0rCLZFrM77QbiJoUV-VcmXU6aVfN7cBGZGm6oaGlR0ZjO6kjhUkgRqggJJ1j6eq0ZNDX46mNIp2INgC3hum3Tz7Msdgxq-pDlFLi3DM3LZ0oRsWLkJNpM1MAIIl9PnQE0sOxDcvdOEU-63uKU0OuJW2yY4o-gU~5dJ8SC6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the start of the Aug. 19 meeting the Waco City Council voted to authorize the city attorney to pursue nuisance-abatement proceedings discussed in executive session and to engage outside counsel or experts in an amount not to exceed $100,000.

The motion was offered in open session following the executive-session discussion and was seconded; the council then recorded affirmative votes and the motion passed. The motion text recorded in the public proceeding stated: \"I motion the city attorney's authorized to pursue nuisance abatement as discussed in executive session and to engage outside counsel or experts to assist in such pursuit in an amount not to exceed $100,000.\" The transcript does not identify the person who moved the motion by name in the public record.

The council did not provide additional public detail in the business session about the subject or target of the nuisance-abatement action; no specific property, respondent or timeline was identified in open session. The executive-session notice cited the Texas Open Meetings Act, Section 551.074 (personnel), for municipal-court judge Robert Garcia, but the nuisance-abatement motion referenced discussions in executive session and was made in open session as the council reopened its regular session.

Because the motion and authorizations were recorded without further public explanation at the meeting, follow-up and detailed implementation steps will be handled by the city attorney's office and reported to council as required by city procedures.","Following an executive-session discussion, the council voted in open session to authorize the city attorney to pursue nuisance abatement and to retain outside counsel or experts in an amount not to exceed $100,000.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6589334,"Waco council approves multiple zoning changes, special permits and city code updates; several ordinances pass on second reading",1571,112000,1683000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5607371-9679ec55ccd5a6a01a87fdfcbb3e088a&start=112&end=1683","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5607371-9679ec55ccd5a6a01a87fdfcbb3e088a/thumbnail_112000.jpg","/articles/6589334/Waco/McLennan-County/Texas/Waco-council-approves-multiple-zoning-changes-special-permits-and-city-code-updates-several-ordinances-pass-on-second-reading","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6589334-b122104ca616c57f0c1d40d2864ea86a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771032717&Signature=DhTAF0y3VesI-n7Yhs4ulW88ZmpG1eUhrsCgwE8E1FN9BeXjwKLumGSVP7jog1pQRLJJK6e~ohnQ4zQJXfhtp~zj3MfHHJn84iltai-AS8lhLwk0s2RLtmmqzaJmSLhVw5r3Mi5ByyJ29pOU5mLx6hmBtyqBvgDCT8R2H~f9rc-~Zg9vJg9b~1MbjhoGQgPOQkic6RVSa2QDSEr7F8kn-czF65-QsCiQHfOpa2vtjoJjqAB4Kzj03RWW9Wux39Llx7eqijUPl8-VJTA35CZ3lbNZ3jIgrmHpbWti2xYhjrdYhSKjlRzHMVapv1TEict5pDQ-iuo4HFYN9fLRZnYfyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Waco City Council on Aug. 19 approved a series of routine and substantive items, including zoning map changes, special-use permits and several city ordinances on second reading.

Planning items: Council approved a special permit for China Spring Farmers and Crafters to hold a farmer's market at 12301 Yankee Road after plan commission recommended approval 9-0. The council also approved a special-permit short-term rental (Type 1) at 2919 Gorman Avenue; staff explained a Type 1 STR requires the owner or designated operator to be on-site and limits rentals to one group at a time.

Zoning map changes approved included: rezoning 1414 Spade Avenue from C-2 to R-2 to bring an existing house into conformance; designating 1805 Monte Vista Street and 4504 Bagby Avenue from R-1B to O-3; rezoning 1210 Lake Air Drive from C-3 to O-3; and rezoning 4305 Flat Rock Road from open space/R-1B to urban residential/R-2. Plan commission recommended these changes, and staff told council infrastructure and area requirements were met in each case.

Ordinances and administrative actions: the council approved on second reading multiple ordinances including an amendment to the personnel chapter to increase authorized Waco Police Department strength by two officers (from 37 to 39), an ordinance establishing administrative departments, amendments to the Riverway Overlay District that add \"cottage residential\" as an allowable housing type, and a street-name change renaming a portion of 40 Second Street to Lyons Way. The council also passed zoning-code amendments to implement changes required by the Texas Legislature (House Bill references made during presentation), updates related to home-occupation rules, dwelling-unit occupancy requirements, and an amendment to allow wholesale buying clubs as a special permitted use in the C-2 community commercial district.

Consent agenda: the consent agenda, covering resolutions 2025-567 through 2025-588 (except resolution 2025-567 which was pulled), was approved.

All items listed on the agenda and addressed in open session were approved by council vote during the meeting; many items were approved on second reading with minimal discussion and recorded roll-call affirmation.","On Aug. 19 the Waco City Council approved a slate of zoning rezonings, special permits, code changes and administrative ordinances, including residential rezonings, special permits for a farmer's market and a short-term rental, expansion of police staffing, and updates to zoning rules to comply with recent state law.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6589338,"Waco council approves Hilltop Heights final PUD despite residents—concerns about traffic, trees and drainage",670,438000,1108000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5607371-9679ec55ccd5a6a01a87fdfcbb3e088a&start=438&end=1108","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5607371-9679ec55ccd5a6a01a87fdfcbb3e088a/thumbnail_438000.jpg","/articles/6589338/Waco/McLennan-County/Texas/Waco-council-approves-Hilltop-Heights-final-PUD-despite-residentsconcerns-about-traffic-trees-and-drainage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6589338-f7bb08beb02ca2827dbbfc049ecc4b70/orig.mp4?Expires=1771032717&Signature=kCgaRrYcdfIDmfN~YAjQ7pCB2cqmyR10Oe-zxjp5ev-YV7-MjYtD7tz4XfChECgdoumASze7RGYHLmJzD8SBn2SVi29W5320yjwdpr4le2wEDXwqcpIogZcmbYOmI5EeCgHiKE~VXsf9sWF3kulioxpLHEa~A3Y~eyuSIp05Iu1jYc~~~ywNnmYpXILLQGt3wuawsG9KfJ~YlNfkpJUkg0Eggb3Oh7q3lqjV6MUw3mSZ0MtrnY35FR0~iATbkVZi3B2HDWY8upShfd2CcKEffQ0vmgT1C~1uIkCugKDw2MOIY17rH1vbvJs79PAUlVJqIX3CfbW0~iGJHHaQlnletA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Waco City Council on Aug. 19 approved a final planned unit development (PUD) for Hilltop Heights, a 10.71-acre subdivision that will create 63 single-family lots southeast of Loop 340 and Kendall Lane.

City staff said the PUD increases the lot count from what would be allowed under R-1B zoning (49 lots) to 63 lots, adds sidewalks on both sides of internal streets and includes a sidewalk connection to the Buena Vista Park trail. Planning staff told the council the final PUD meets the approved concept plan, circulation and site-development standards and included two conditions that must be met before building permits are issued, including drainage and flood-plain engineering review and subdivision platting consistent with the subdivision ordinance.

Clint Peters, Director, presented the plan and noted plan commission recommended approval 9-0. Applicant Larry W. Jackson said plans have been submitted and approved by planning and engineering and that the project team met the requirements requested by staff.

Neighborhood residents who spoke at the public hearing urged the council to require infrastructure upgrades and mitigation measures before approving the development. \"This development is being presented as serving lower income families, but starting prices at $250,000 do not match that description,\" resident Telly Ramsey said, adding she was concerned about tree removal and drainage into nearby neighborhoods. \"Please require tree replacement\" and infrastructure upgrades to streets she said would carry increased traffic.

Michelle Abel, another Timbercrest resident, said excessive speeding and repeated vehicle impacts to residential fences demonstrate nearby streets are unsafe. \"Orchard Lane and Bridal Lane are not appropriately suited to handle the increased traffic load that Hilltop Heights together with Fort South Fork have already placed on our neighborhood,\" she said.

Larry W. Jackson, the applicant, told the council that the development team had worked with staff to meet required conditions. He said plans had been submitted to engineering and planning and the project was ready to proceed once the council granted final approval.

Council members moved and seconded the item; the motion passed with council approval. No amendments to the PUD's substantive elements were recorded in the hearing.

The council recorded conditions requiring the final PUD to meet development standards consistent with the concept plan and for the property to be platted under the subdivision ordinance prior to issuance of any building permits. The record shows plan commission findings that infrastructure and design elements are adequate for the proposed use.

Next steps: the developer may proceed with final platting and building permit applications after meeting the plan review and engineering conditions set by staff and memorialized in the council action.","The Waco City Council on Aug. 19 approved the Hilltop Heights final planned unit development, clearing a 10.71-acre site for 63 single-family lots after residents raised concerns about traffic, tree removal, drainage and housing affordability.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents urge Waco council for retiree cost-of-living adjustments and expanded nondiscrimination, shelter and crisis services

Waco council authorizes city attorney to pursue nuisance abatement, engage outside counsel up to $100,000

Waco council approves multiple zoning changes, special permits and city code updates; several ordinances pass on second reading

Waco council approves Hilltop Heights final PUD despite residents—concerns about traffic, trees and drainage