Taylor council approves consultant contract, drainage contract and street changes; introduces multiple land-use ordinances

Taylor City Council on Aug. 28 voted to move forward on several planning, infrastructure and regulatory items, including awarding a contract for a comprehensive plan and development-code update, approving the Donna Channel drainage construction contract, directing removal and resurfacing work on Mallard Lane, adopting Title VI compliance policies, receiving the Taylor Economic Development Corporation proposed FY26 budget and asking staff to study a vacant building registration program. The council also introduced several land-use ordinances for first reading and approved a sesquicentennial logo and a hire announcement for a new downtown and tourism director.

The council unanimously awarded the city—s request-for-qualifications for a comprehensive plan and land-development-code update to Freese and Nichols Inc. The contract action covers Phase 1, a diagnostic and kickoff, at a cost of $133,000; staff said a Phase 2 scope and cost will return to council after Phase 1 work is complete. Planning staff described Phase 1 as a diagnostic of current ordinances and the comprehensive plan, with public and stakeholder engagement to follow. Chance Sparks, principal with Freese and Nichols, told the council his firm is "excited to take on this project." The motion passed on a voice vote.

The council approved a construction contract awarding the Donna Channel drainage project to Texas Road (low bidder) to build a channel, detention, culvert improvements, a pedestrian/maintenance bridge and related street drainage work. Staff said the project is intended to reduce flooding for more than 40 structures west and south of T.H. Johnson and to reduce downstream flows into Bull Branch. A city presentation said parts of the work were funded through prior grants and local bond funds; staff described a planned construction timetable of roughly 400 calendar days following Texas Water Development Board approval. The motion to award the contract and authorize the city manager to sign documents passed on a voice vote.

Council members also acted on street projects under the 2024 maintenance program. After staff updates and public comment, the council directed removal of the Mallard Lane cycle track and approved a new surface across the affected segment (council motion specified a $352,000 estimated price for the surface and striping work). The motion included a contingent direction that, if sufficient funds remain, the city manager may proceed with a mill-and-overlay on an East Lake Drive segment; council made the motion and approved it by voice vote. Staff noted multiple options remain for other pavement upgrades (mill-and-overlay, microsurfacing or warranty repairs) and that leftover bond contingency could be used for additional work later.

The Taylor Economic Development Corporation—s board presented its FY26 budget to council; the council formally received the TEDC update and proposed FY26 budget by motion. TEDC director Ben White said revenues come mainly from sales tax and interest, noted a planned use of reserve funds for anticipated projects, and highlighted infrastructure-related investments in the EDC budget including a budgeted contribution to a water/wastewater master plan and a US-79 wastewater project. White and council members emphasized that the EDC contribution is intended to open infrastructure for future development.

On civil-rights compliance, the council adopted a Title VI nondiscrimination policy, naming LaShawn Gross as the Title VI coordinator, establishing a complaint process and requiring language-access provisions for limited-English-proficiency residents. Staff said the city had been contacted by the Texas Department of Transportation Title VI specialist and that the city must be compliant to remain eligible for federal grants; a compliance deadline of Sept. 16 was given during discussion.

Council also gave staff direction to continue studying a vacant-building registration program. The chief of police explained the program concept, which would require owners of long-vacant buildings to register the structure, maintain minimum safety standards and submit plans for reuse or mitigation. Council asked staff to return with an ordinance proposal and specifics on scope (citywide vs. downtown-only), timelines and fee structure.

Other business: the council introduced a group of land-use ordinances for first reading and public hearing scheduling, including a voluntary annexation ordinance (Ordinance No. 2025-08) and multiple employment-center, place-type and infill rezonings (see "Votes at a glance" below). Planning staff reported public-notice and Planning & Zoning Commission action summaries and noted public comments from nearby property owners and representatives of Emmanuel Lutheran Church who raised concerns about the Fortera Business Park employment plan and potential impacts to an adjacent historic cemetery and drainage into Mustang Creek.

The council unanimously approved awarding the RFQ for the comprehensive-plan/code update, approved the Donna Channel contract award, adopted the Title VI policy, received the TEDC FY26 budget update, directed staff to study a vacant-building registration program, and approved the Mallard Lane cycle-track removal with resurfacing as ordered. The council also approved a sesquicentennial logo and heard an introductory announcement welcoming the city—s newly hired director of downtown and tourism, Sean Johnson (staff said he had started the week).

Votes at a glance - Award RFQ: Comprehensive plan and development-code update to Freese and Nichols Inc. (Phase 1: $133,000). Motion passed (voice vote; all in favor). Action recorded by staff as RFQ award and authorization for city manager to execute contract and issue notice to proceed. - Donna Channel drainage: award construction contract to Texas Road (low bid). Motion passed (voice vote; all in favor). Staff estimated ~400 calendar days to complete after TWDB approval. - Mallard Lane cycle track removal and new surface: council authorized removal of the cycle track and a new surface (motion specified $352,000 using available bond contingency) and allowed an East Lake Drive mill-and-overlay if funds remain. Motion passed (voice vote). - Title VI policy: council adopted Title VI nondiscrimination policy, complaint process and LEP plan; LaShawn Gross named Title VI coordinator. Motion passed (voice vote). - TEDC FY26 budget: council received TEDC board update and proposed FY26 budget; motion to receive carried (voice vote). - Vacant building registration: council directed staff to continue investigating a vacant-building registration program and to return with an ordinance proposal. Motion passed (voice vote). - Multiple land-use items introduced for public hearing/first reading (see list below). These were introduced by city attorney for first reading; final actions will return after required public notices and hearings. - Sesquicentennial logo: council approved city use of the official sesquicentennial logo presented by staff. Motion passed (voice vote).

Land-use ordinances introduced (first reading/public hearing status) - Ordinance 2025-08: voluntary annexation of ~47.634 acres at 100 County Road 403 (annexation ordinance introduced; related employment-center plan follows). - Ordinance 2025-24: employment-center plan "Fortera Business Park" (100 County Road 403); Planning & Zoning recommended approval (reported vote 5-1); neighbors and Emmanuel Lutheran Church raised drainage and cemetery concerns during the public hearing and asked for careful engineering mitigation; ordinance introduced for first reading. - Ordinance 2025-26: employment-center plan, ~3.2439 acres at 701 NW Carlos G. Parker Blvd (adjacent to Fire Station No. 2); Planning & Zoning recommended approval; ordinance introduced for first reading. - Ordinance 2025-27: place-type amendment (P2 rural to P4 mix) at 1102 Beech St. (former golf-course clubhouse); Planning & Zoning recommended approval 6-0; ordinance introduced for first reading. - Ordinance 2025-28: infill-neighborhood plan "Trinity Heights" for parcels on Beach and Syme streets (approx. 2.031 acres), with requested P4 place-type; Planning & Zoning recommended approval; ordinance introduced for first reading. - Ordinance 2025-29: budget-adoption ordinance setting the FY2026 budget for public hearing on Sept. 10 (introduction/first reading). - Ordinance 2025-30: tax rate ordinance introduced for public hearing on Sept. 10 (proposed city component 0.5850 per $100 valuation as presented in discussion).

What the council did not decide tonight - Final adoption of any rezoning or annexation ordinances (most were introduced for first reading and scheduled for later public hearings per ordinance process). - Exact scope and fee structure for a vacant-building registration program (staff was directed to return with detailed ordinance language and options).

Meeting context and next steps - The council emphasized infrastructure and growth planning repeatedly during the meeting; staff and TEDC officials described multi-year infrastructure investments tied to economic development strategy. The comprehensive-plan/code update is intended to be the next major planning step after the diagnostic (Phase 1) before staff returns with full Phase 2 scope and costs. Several land-use actions were introduced with public hearings to follow; the budget and tax-rate ordinances were introduced so they can be considered at the Sept. 10 public hearings.

Ending - The council recessed into an executive session at the end of the regular meeting under Texas Open Meetings Act provisions and reconvened without action; the meeting adjourned at about 8:32 p.m.