City Council approves GFL rate change, bond amendment and capital purchases; several ordinances pass

Belton City Council approved several ordinances and budget revisions, including a final reading to execute a rate change with GFL Environmental Inc., a budget revision to buy two dump trucks and 80 golf carts, and amendments to a general obligation bond ordinance.

The council completed final readings or two-reading approvals for multiple bills: the GFL waste collection rate (Bill 2025-2), a fiscal-year 2025 budget appropriation for equipment including 80 golf carts and two dump trucks (Bill 2025-03), a two-reading amendment to the city's general obligation bond ordinance to change issuance year and deferred the first payment date (Bill 2025-07), and a two-reading repeal-and-replace of Unified Development Code section 42-110 to align plumbing materials limits with federal standards (Bill 2025-05). The council also conducted a public hearing and approved the first reading for an Old Town Belton tax-abatement project for 501 Pine Street (Bill 2025-06).

Votes at a glance - Bill 2025-2 (Final reading): Ordinance amending section 11-106(c) to execute a rate change under the waste collection services contract with GFL Environmental Inc. Motion passed on final reading. Roll-call recorded as all voting in favor (Mayor Larky; Council members Johnson, Davidson, Richardson, McCallum, Thompson, White, Bridal). Outcome: approved.

- Bill 2025-03 (Final reading): Ordinance authorizing appropriation and revision of the FY2025 adopted city budget to purchase two council-approved dump trucks and 80 golf carts with GPS. Motion passed on final reading. Roll-call recorded as all voting in favor (Mayor Larky; Council members Bridal, Davidson, Thompson, White, Johnson, McCallum, Richardson). Outcome: approved.

- Bill 2025-05 (Two readings passed): Ordinance repealing and replacing UDC section 42-110 related to lead-free plumbing materials to align with federal regulations adopted in 2020. Planning staff reported a Planning Commission public hearing on Jan. 21 with unanimous recommendation. Council approved both first and second readings; roll-call recorded as all voting in favor. Outcome: approved.

- Bill 2025-07 (Two readings passed): Ordinance amending ordinance 2024-4879 to change the year on the general obligation bond issuance language and to push the first debt payment from March to September as audit timelines shifted. Council approved two readings and final passage; roll-call recorded as all voting in favor. Outcome: approved.

- Bill 2025-06 (First reading approved after public hearing): Ordinance approving the 24th amendment to the Old Town Belton redevelopment plan and authorizing tax abatement for the 501 Pine Street project (identified as Redevelopment Project 2025-01). The council opened and closed a public hearing, took public comment (none), corrected two typographical errors in the packet and ordinance front page, and approved the first reading (with scrivener's fixes noted for next reading). Outcome: first reading approved; final reading pending.

Formal motions and recorded roll calls for the items above occurred on the transcript at the times noted in provenance. No votes recorded opposed or abstaining for the items listed.

Context and next steps The actions enacted tonight set the city's near-term procurement and regulatory posture: the GFL rate change will be executed per the contract, the budget appropriation permits immediate procurement activity for heavy equipment and fleet (including the 80 GPS-equipped golf carts), and the UDC change moves the city into compliance with the federal lead-free plumbing thresholds adopted in 2020. Staff indicated scrivener's fixes will be made to the redevelopment ordinance before final reading. The redevelopment abatement for 501 Pine Street will return for final approval following preparation of memorandum-of-understanding, quitclaim deed and tax-abatement certificate by staff and the Old Town Belton Redevelopment Corporation.

Ending note Council adjourned with the consent agenda approved and scheduled other items for future consideration, including capital and bond sale timing.