Belton council approves grants, contracts and ordinances; delays bond sale

The Belton City Council voted unanimously on April 8 to approve a suite of consent items, adopt ordinances on vehicle-impound claims, child-safety zones and voluntary annexation tied to utility connections, and to authorize a new Building Life Safety Grant Program. The council also adopted a resolution to delay action on a planned sale of certificates of obligation until its April 22 meeting.

The actions were taken at the Harris Community Center and passed on 6–0 roll calls. Mayor David Lee presided over the meeting.

Why it matters: The measures fund or enable downtown building upgrades, clarify law enforcement procedures for returned property, add local restrictions intended to limit where registered sex offenders may take up residency near children’s facilities, and create a tool for the city to require voluntary annexation when property owners connect to city water and sewer. The delay of the bond sale was a financial decision prompted by sudden volatility in municipal credit markets.

Key approvals and outcomes

- Consent agenda (Items 5–8): The council approved the consent agenda on a single motion. Votes: 6–0. Items included approval of minutes; awarding a contract to RM Quality Construction to build one house under a HOME Program grant (Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs); adoption of Budget Amendment No. 1 for fiscal year 2025; and authorization for the city manager to execute a professional services agreement with Statewide Right of Way Services to acquire 32 parcels for the South Connell reconstruction project. Details such as contract amounts were not specified in the verbal record and are in the posted staff packet.

- Building Life Safety Grant Program (Item 9): The council authorized a new grant program intended to support interior life-safety upgrades in existing nonresidential and vertical mixed-use buildings in the central downtown, uptown and Main Street areas. According to staff presenter Bob, the program offers up to $50,000 per project on a 50/50 match basis, reimbursed after work is completed. Eligible work includes fire suppression, asbestos abatement, lead removal, accessibility improvements and related design/construction costs. Initial funding for awards will use TIRZ funds; staff said further budget discussion will be required for FY2026. Vote: 6–0.

- Ordinance on claim of impounded vehicle or property (Item 10): Police Chief Berg explained that a recently issued Attorney General opinion prevents the city’s previous ordinance language from requiring tow companies to verify insurance when releasing impounded vehicles. The council amended the code to remove that requirement; tow companies may verify proof of ownership but not insurance. Vote: 6–0.

- Child safety zone ordinance (Item 11): The council adopted an ordinance creating a child safety zone that prohibits certain registered offenders from taking up residency within 1,000 feet of locations such as parks, playgrounds, schools and similar facilities. Chief Byrnes said existing residents would be grandfathered and churches with playgrounds are included when they match the listed facility types. The ordinance establishes a municipal-ordinance violation for prohibited renting to such offenders. Vote: 6–0.

- Voluntary annexation tied to utilities (Item 12): Planner/staff member Van Till presented an ordinance requiring property owners who seek to connect to city water and sewer to agree to voluntary annexation. The policy formalizes existing practice and requires developers or out-of-city municipal utility districts to come to the city for development or strategic partnership agreements; Van Till said annexation could be structured to occur later (for example when debt is retired). Vote: 6–0.

- Delay of certificates of obligation sale (Item 14): Finance staff member Rogers and bond counsel explained that municipal markets shifted sharply the prior day, with wide spreads and higher yields. On the recommendation of the city’s financial advisor, the council adopted a resolution delaying action on the ordinance that would authorize the issuance of the City of Belton, Texas combination tax and limited revenue certificates of obligation (Series 2025, not to exceed $17,700,000) until the April 22 council meeting to let markets stabilize and preserve borrowing flexibility. The resolution also authorized the city clerk to update posted notices to reflect the new date. Vote: 6–0.

Votes at a glance

- Items 5–8 (consent agenda): Approved, 6–0. - Building Life Safety Grant Program (Item 9): Approved, 6–0. - Ordinance amending impound claim rules (Item 10): Approved, 6–0. - Ordinance establishing child safety zone (Item 11): Approved, 6–0. - Ordinance on voluntary annexation when connecting to utilities (Item 12): Approved, 6–0. - Resolution delaying issuance of Certificates of Obligation (Item 14): Adopted, 6–0.

What the council did not act on

Item 13, a staff report on traffic studies for Main Street and Riverfare Boulevard, was received for discussion and did not require formal action. The meeting moved to a short executive session after business concluded.

Ending: Council members said they will continue planning follow-up work on downtown grant administration, right-of-way acquisition for South Connell, and coordination with TxDOT and developers on traffic improvements. The council recessed into executive session at the end of the public meeting.