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Florence council approves rezoning and final plat, discontinues police narcotics K9 program and adopts administrative policies
Summary
On Jan. 13, 2026, the Florence City Council approved a rezoning and final plat for 107 N. Patterson Ave., appointed two Planning & Zoning members, discontinued the police narcotics K9 interdiction program and directed unspent K9 funds to the city contingency fund; the council also approved administrative policy changes and several operational items.
The Florence City Council on Jan. 13, 2026, unanimously approved a rezoning and final plat for property at 107 N. Patterson Ave., and took a series of administrative and budget-related actions.
Council accepted the second reading of Ordinance 2025-24 to rezone WCAD Parcel R010836 (also described as 107 N. Patterson Ave., submitted by HBRE, LLC/James E. Dyess) from Single-Family Residential (SF-1) to Mixed Use (MU). The council also approved a final plat that replats five parcels into two lots for a 0.939-acre tract in the M. J. Wells Survey (WCAD parcel numbers R010836, R010837, R010842, R010839, and R010841). Both measures passed with all members present voting in favor.
Councilmembers approved personnel changes to the Planning and Zoning Committee: the removal of Craig Townsend and the appointment of Lynda Lue Wilhite and Clinton Kaetzel to fill vacancies.
In police department business, the council voted to discontinue the police narcotics K9 interdiction program and subsequently approved transferring the program’s unspent funds to the City of Florence Contingency Fund. The minutes do not specify the dollar amount of the unspent K9 funds.
The council approved a $1,500 donation from contingency funds to "the Center" (the minutes do not give a fuller name for the recipient), closed the City of Florence Water and Wastewater Savings Contingency, and tabled a proposal to increase water rate codes and meter-size rates pending more information. Council amended Ordinance 13.02.008 to clarify that a $10 late fee is automatically applied if a payment is not made by 11:59 p.m. on the 20th of the month, with weekend/holiday adjustments moving the due date to the next business day.
On technology and contracts, council authorized the city administrator to finalize an addendum for fleet card services with U.S. Bank, approved using funds in the Court Technology Fund and Consolidated Municipal Court Security and Technology Fund to help pay for INCODE software, and tabled further discussion of an INCODE quote (one-time fee $4,090; annual fee $1,126) pending additional information (Forrest Hyde recorded an abstention on the tabling motion). Council also approved restarting the lease with the Florence Chamber of Commerce retroactive to Jan. 1, 2026 (Forrest Hyde abstained on that motion).
Other approvals included renewing a service agreement and replacing an HVAC unit, adopting Local Procurement Policies and Local Financial Policies and Procedures related to the Texas General Land Office Resilient Communities Program for the city's comprehensive plan application, and authorizing up to $2,473.50 to repair a gate damaged during police business (City Administrator to approve the charge). The council set its next regular meeting for Feb. 3, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
Votes at a glance: - Accept second reading, Ordinance 2025-24 (rezoning, 107 N. Patterson Ave.): motion passed, unanimous. - Approve final plat (replat five parcels into two): motion passed, unanimous. - Remove Craig Townsend from Planning & Zoning: passed, unanimous. - Appoint Lynda Lue Wilhite and Clinton Kaetzel to Planning & Zoning: passed, unanimous. - Discontinue police narcotics K9 interdiction program: passed, unanimous. - Transfer unspent K9 funds to contingency: passed, unanimous (amount not specified). - Donate $1,500 to the Center (from contingency): passed, unanimous. - Amend Ordinance 13.02.008 (late fee timing): passed, unanimous. - Authorize fleet card addendum with U.S. Bank: passed, unanimous. - Use Court Technology Funds for INCODE: passed, unanimous; tabling further discussion of the Incode quote recorded one abstention (Forrest Hyde). - Restart Chamber lease (retroactive to Jan. 1, 2026): passed; Forrest Hyde abstained. - Deny product donations/graphics wrap for Police Tahoe #804 (Maxdale Cowboy Church; Andice Baptist Church): passed, unanimous.
Why it matters: The rezoning and plat action clear the way for mixed-use development at a centrally located Patterson Avenue parcel, potentially affecting downtown land use and future projects. The discontinuation of the K9 interdiction program is a policy choice affecting police operations and program funding; transferring unspent funds to a contingency account centralizes those resources for future allocation. Adoption of procurement and financial policies supports the city's application for the Texas General Land Office Resilient Communities Program.
Key details and clarifications: The minutes identify the recipient of a $1,500 donation only as "the Center" (not further described). The transcript records the INCODE quote amounts ($4,090 one-time; $1,126 annual) but council tabled further action to gather more information. The motion records abstentions by Councilmember Forrest Hyde on two items (the INCODE tabling and the Chamber lease restart). Several personnel matters were discussed in executive session with no public action (see separate item).
