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Advocates urge Killeen to use phased temporary certificate of occupancy rather than immediate closure
Summary
Several speakers urged the council to use a phased temporary certificate of occupancy (citing 'section 31 to 38' of the Killeen ordinance) and a city‑mandated fire watch to allow repairs while keeping tenants housed.
During public comment a resident urged the council and building official to 'utilize section 31 to 38 of this Killeen City ordinance' to allow phased or partial occupancy while repairs are completed. The speaker detailed a phased plan, including restricting occupancy to structurally sound wings and requiring the owner to escrow funds for repairs.
The speaker added that the city could require an 'immediate 24 by, 20 fourseven fire watch' if life‑safety systems were deficient, and recommended that the owner bond or escrow '110% of the repair costs upfront' to guarantee completion while residents remained housed. Advocates and a local builder echoed the call for a formal program pairing code enforcement with rehousing and repair assistance.
Council members heard offers from community partners — including outreach groups and builders — that said they would help with rehousing and repairs should the city need to assist tenants temporarily. The council did not adopt an ordinance at the meeting but discussed options for balancing safety and minimizing displacement.
