Belton Council approves multifamily rezoning, jail MOU, trash rate change and several procurement contracts

The Belton City Council approved multiple ordinances and resolutions on measures that will affect development, public safety operations, utility billing and city purchases.

The most consequential land‑use action was the council’s final approval of bill 2024‑67, rezoning property for Creekstone at Autumn Ridge, a proposed 144‑unit multifamily development on the west side of South Mullen Road (between the Smoky Hill Railroad right of way and roughly 200 feet south of Sycamore Drive). The ordinance rezoned the site from C‑2 General Commercial to R‑3 PUD and passed on final reading by unanimous roll call.

Council also adopted a jail services memorandum of understanding with Cass County (ordinance 2025‑1) to provide temporary housing while the city’s municipal jail undergoes repairs. Chief Scott Lyons said the council needed the backup plan because “we do not have a backup plan in regards to where we house prisoners,” and described substantial plumbing work in a segregation cell that will require removing concrete benches and epoxy on the floor. Staff estimated the repairs will begin in about a month and last roughly 10 days, and that up to about 25 inmates could be affected during the short period.

On solid‑waste services, the council approved the first reading of bill 2025‑2, an amendment to section 111‑106(c) of the municipal code implementing a 4.1% rate increase with contractor GFL Environmental Inc. Staff said the change reflects the contract’s solid‑waste CPI clause and the city will pass the full charge through to customers; staff estimated the increase will amount to $2.48 per month per household. The agreement as negotiated locks that rate until March 2026 and will be revisited before the next fiscal year.

The council approved a package of park and golf course equipment and services. It amended the FY2025 budget to record purchases (bill 2025‑3) and approved resolution 2025‑01 to purchase 80 new 2025 Club Car Tempo gasoline golf carts with accessories for $254,000 (an increase from the current fleet of 74). Council also approved resolution 2025‑02, a four‑year rental and service agreement with Club Car LLC to provide Visage GPS hardware and software for the 80 carts at an annual cost of $31,987.20. Staff said the GPS units will improve customer experience, provide fleet management data and reduce recurring rental expenses the city currently pays for large tournaments.

Public works and utilities items included adopting resolution 2025‑03, awarding TC Fuller Construction LLC a $338,239.34 contract to install precast cluster vaults at the wastewater treatment plant to provide safe, permanent access to 17‑ to 18‑foot deep valves. Staff described the valves as previously inaccessible for maintenance and said the vaults will allow safe, repeatable access.

The council also approved resolution 2025‑04, a $13,800 contract with KC Custom Signs for an initial set of wayfinding/directional signs, and resolution 2025‑05, appointing Benjamin Newell to the Public Safety Sales Tax Oversight Committee to finish a term ending in June.

Votes at a glance (selected items) - Bill 2024‑64 (rezoning Kentucky Road properties R‑1 to Agriculture): approved on final reading; roll‑call recorded as unanimous. - Bill 2024‑65 (cooperative water service agreement with Raymore and Mason Banks for Kentucky Road properties): approved on final reading; roll‑call recorded as unanimous. - Bill 2024‑66 (final plat for Dock Holiday Gulch): approved on final reading; roll‑call recorded as unanimous. - Bill 2024‑67 (rezoning to R‑3 PUD for Creekstone at Autumn Ridge, 144 units): approved on final reading; roll‑call recorded as unanimous. - Bill 2024‑68 (final plat for Crest Plaza 4th Plat): approved on final reading; roll‑call recorded as unanimous. - Ordinance 2025‑1 (jail services MOU with Cass County): passed (first and second readings recorded; roll‑call recorded as unanimous). - Bill 2025‑2 (waste collection rate change under contract with GFL Environmental Inc.): approved on first reading; motion carried (council set the change to take effect and locked rate until March 2026). - Bill 2025‑3 (FY2025 budget amendment: two dump trucks and purchase of 80 golf carts with GPS): motion carried to amend the budget. - Resolution 2025‑01 (purchase 80 golf carts, $254,000): approved. - Resolution 2025‑02 (Club Car Visage GPS hardware/software, 4‑year term, $31,987.20/year): approved. - Resolution 2025‑03 (TC Fuller Construction: wastewater vaults contract, $338,239.34): approved. - Resolution 2025‑04 (KC Custom Signs: wayfinding sign fabrication & install, $13,800): approved. - Resolution 2025‑05 (appointment of Benjamin Newell to Public Safety Sales Tax Oversight Committee): approved to finish an existing term ending in June.

Why it matters: The Creekstone rezoning permits a sizable multifamily project that will add 144 housing units in Belton. The jail MOU establishes a short‑term housing plan while the municipal jail receives structural plumbing repairs; the city estimates limited disruption but expects to transport or house up to about 25 inmates temporarily. The solid‑waste rate action passes through a CPI increase and ends the city subsidy that had kept resident bills lower than the contractor charge. The golf‑course purchases and GPS contract are intended to reduce rental costs and add fleet management capability; the wastewater vault contract addresses safety and maintainability at the treatment plant.

What’s next: Several UDC (Unified Development Code) text amendments are scheduled for upcoming Planning Commission and council hearings including a federal lead‑free plumbing update, accessory structure and setback changes, conveyance‑plat process changes, landscaping revisions and a later package covering short‑term rentals and urban agriculture. Planning Commission public hearings are scheduled, and council will consider the UDC amendments at future meetings.