Killeen council awards park sponsorship consultant, approves multiple consent items in 6-0 vote

Killeen City Council approved a package of consent items Jan. 21 that included awarding RFP 25-03 to Sportsman Solutions to develop and market sponsorship and naming-rights opportunities for city park facilities, awarding a construction contract for transfer-station tunnel repairs, purchasing computer hardware, authorizing a land purchase for a future water storage tank and entering a memorandum of understanding for a temporary job-placement program. The consent agenda passed on a 6-0 vote.

The Parks and Recreation department presented the RFP award. “Parks and Recreation issued RFP 25 dash o 3, consultant for city park facilities and sponsorships on 10/07/2024,” Mr. Murphy said, describing the scope: inventory assets, estimate market values for naming or presenting rights, develop a marketing plan, draft implementation documents and execute sales outreach. Staff recommended awarding Sportsman Solutions for up to three years with a gross-revenue split of 20 percent to Sportsman Solutions and 80 percent to the city.

Murphy and council members discussed which facilities would be evaluated and what would not be relabeled. Murphy said the consultant would review facilities that have marketability and “except for the ones that have historical names, like Lions Club Park. We're not looking to change things that have established names.” He also told council that naming-rights terms would typically be for a limited period rather than lifetime: “It would be a time period, sir, based on the level of engagement.” Murphy estimated that a regional recreational sports complex could command roughly $50,000 as a baseline depending on size and usage, while noting the city is still in a fact-finding phase.

Citizens raised concerns during the public-comment period. Melissa Brown criticized the plan as premature and warned against “putting our city up for sale,” adding that the city should not give away lifetime rights or accept deals that leave maintenance and long-term costs with residents. Sean Price asked whether residents would have a say in potential sponsors and whether the city would still control which sponsors are allowed; he said, “Don't we get to say, you know, I might not. I don't like Penn Fed… so I don't like them.” Council members and staff replied that any individual naming agreement returned by the consultant would come back to the council for approval.

Other consent items the council approved included: - RS 25-010: authorization to procure computer hardware from GTS Technology Solutions through the Texas Department of Information Resources in the amount of $209,795 (staff noted many city PCs are past warranty and Windows 10 support is ending). Presenter: Mr. Resto. - RS 24-011: authorization of a construction agreement with Jamal Smith (presented as Jamal Smith Construction LP) for transfer-station tunnel repairs in the amount of $882,114.74; staff described warped steel plates and concrete spalling and said the repair will reconfigure the opening with an angled approach to improve flow and reduce wear on cranes. Presenter: Mr. Zegers. - RS 25-012: a memorandum of understanding with Workforce Solutions of Central Texas to host temporary, grant-funded internships and short-term placements; Workforce Solutions will pay intern wages and provide workers’ compensation and background checks; city will provide 80-hour internships and perform the city’s background checks. Presenter: Ms. Wilson; Jared Porritt of Workforce Solutions was present. - RS 25-013: authorization to execute a land purchase agreement with Bright Speed of Texas, Inc., for approximately one acre of land off Highway 195 to site a 1.5 million-gallon ground storage tank, purchase price $73,000; staff said the tank will improve pressure and storage in the upper-pressure plane and accommodate future growth. Presenter: Mr. Zegers. - RS 25-014: authorization to execute Addendum No. 1 to the restated and amended waste disposal contract with Bell County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 to address debt allocation for bond-financed improvements at the 20 Eighth Street wastewater treatment facility; the presentation said the project budget is not to exceed $14,870,000 and the city is responsible for 100% of the associated debt service. Presenter: Miss Tanglin.

Council voted to approve the full consent agenda 6-0. The council did not take separate roll-call votes in open session on each item; the package passed as presented.

What’s next: individual sponsorship agreements developed by the consultant will return to council for approval, and staff said any facilities with established historical names would not be targeted for renaming.