City Council

Belton City Council Meeting January 13, 2026 – 5:30 P.M. The Belton City Council met in regular session in the Wright Room of the Harris Community Center. Members present included Mayor David K. Leigh, Mayor Pro Tem John R. Holmes, Sr., Councilmembers Craig Pearson, Daniel Bucher, Stephanie O’Banion Dave Covington and Luke Potts. Staff present included Sam Listi, John Messer, Mike Rodgers, Amy Casey, Chris Brown, Daniel Ontivares, Jon Fontenot, Bob van Til, Tina Moore, Amanda Hairston, Megan Odiorne, Paul Romer, Scott Hodde, Cynthia Hernandez, James Grant and Joe Dyer. The Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag was led by Mayor David K. Leigh. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Texas Flag was led by City Manager Sam Listi. The Invocation was given by Councilmember Daniel Bucher. 1. Call to order. Mayor Leigh called the meeting to order at 5:31 p.m. 2. Public Comments. (Audio1:25) There were no public comments. Consent Agenda Items 3-6 under this section are considered to be routine by the City Council and may be enacted by one motion. If discussion is desired by the Council, any item may be removed from the Consent Agenda prior to voting, at the request of any Councilmember, and it will be considered separately. (Audio 1:51) 3. Consider minutes of the December 9, 2025, City Council Meeting. 4. Consider reappointment of Marvin Bell to the Central Texas Housing Consortium. 5. Consider a resolution declaring that the updated January 1, 2026, population estimate for the City of Belton is 27,804. 6. Consider acknowledging the conveyance of Bell County Justice Center Lot 2, Block A, from Bell County for a future Belton Fire Station site. Upon a motion by Mayor Pro Tem Holmes, and a second by Councilmember Pearson, the Consent Agenda was unanimously approved upon a vote of 7-0. Planning and Zoning 7. Z-25-41 – Hold a public hearing and consider a zoning change from Neighborhood Services to Planned Development-Retail, on approximately 1.89 acres located at 207 Lake Road. (This item has been withdrawn by the applicant.) (Audio 3:00) Belton City Council Meeting January 13, 2026 – Page 2 This application was withdrawn by the applicant. Councilmember Pearson made a motion to postpone this item indefinitely. The motion was seconded by Councilmember O’Banion and approved unanimously upon a vote of 7-0. Mayor Pro Tem Holmes made a motion to table items 8-11 until later in the meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Covington and was unanimously approved upon a vote of 7-0. Miscellaneous 12.Receive a presentation on 2026 CIP Projects. (Audio 4:57) Assistant City Manager Matt Bates presented this item. No action was required of Council at this time. 13. Consider the following items related to the Loop 121 Utility Relocation Phase II Project, located generally between IH-14 and IH-35: (Audio 15:48) A. Award of bid and authorizing the City Manager to execute the construction contract and any change orders associated with the contract, not to exceed the amount authorized under State law. B. Authorizing the City Manager to enter into a professional services agreement with Kasberg, Patrick & Associates for construction administration services. Director of Public Works Scott Hodde presented this item. Upon a motion by Councilmember Potts, and a second by Councilmember O’Banion, the construction contract with Bell Contractors and the professional services agreement with KPA Engineers were unanimously approved upon a vote of 7-0. 14.Consider authorizing the City Manager to enter into a professional services agreement with Kasberg, Patrick & Associates for design, bid phase services and construction administration services for the E. 6th Avenue Wastewater and Water Rehabilitation Project. (Audio 19:44) Director of Public Works Scott Hodde presented this item. Upon a motion by Councilmember Bucher, and a second by Mayor Pro Tem Holmes, the professional services agreement with KPA was unanimously approved upon a vote of 7-0. 15.Consider award of bid and authorizing the City Manager to execute the construction contract for the Rockwool Site Water and Wastewater Improvements, and any change orders associated with the contract, not to exceed the amount authorized under State law. (Audio 21:40) Belton City Council Meeting January 13, 2026 – Page 3 Director of Public Works Scott Hodde presented this item. Upon a motion by Mayor Pro Tem Holmes, and a second by Councilmember Covington, the construction contract for the Rockwool Site Water and Wastewater improvements was unanimously approved upon a vote of 7-0. 16. Hold a public hearing and consider an ordinance readopting the City of Belton Tax Abatement Guidelines and Criteria. (Audio 24:56) Upon a motion by Councilmember Pearson, and a second by Mayor Pro Tem Holmes, approval of the Tax Abatement Guidelines and Criteria was postponed to a future Council Meeting upon a vote of 7-0. Mayor Pro Tem Holmes made a motion to pick up and consider items 9-11 at this time in the meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Pearson and was unanimously approved upon a vote of 7-0. 8. Z-25-43 – Hold a public hearing and consider a zoning change from Agricultural to Multi-Family, on approximately 1.047 acres located at 2460 Connell Street. (Audio 25:57) Assistant Director of Development Services Tina Moore presented this item. Public Hearing: The applicant, Mark Grimes, spoke in favor of the zoning change. No one else spoke for or against this item. Upon a motion by Councilmember Bucher, and a second by Councilmember Pearson, the zoning change from Agricultural to Multi-Family was approved upon a vote of 7-0 with the following conditions: • The development must conform to all applicable standards of the Commercial Highway Zoning District. • An electronic changeable copy sign meeting the requirements of Section 38.15, Sign Lighting Standards, is permitted. ORDINANCE NO. 2026-01 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BELTON BY CHANGING THE DESCRIBED DISTRICT FROM COMMERCIAL HIGHWAY TO COMMERCIAL HIGWHWAY WITH A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT ON APPROXIMATELY 0.41 ACRES LOCATED AT 5941 W US HWY 190 SVC ROAD. 9. Z-25-45 – Hold a public hearing and consider a zoning change from Commercial- 2 to Light Industrial on approximately eight acres located at 2101 and 2057 Commerce Street: (Audio 29:14) Assistant Director of Development Services Tina Moore presented this item. Belton City Council Meeting January 13, 2026 – Page 4 Public Hearing: no one spoke for or against this item. Upon a motion by Councilmember Covington, and a second by Councilmember Pearson, the zoning change from Commercial-2 to Light Industrial was approved upon a vote of 7-0 with the following conditions: • The development must conform to all applicable standards of the Light Industrial Zoning Districts. • The development of each property shall conform to all applicable Design Standards, as identified in Ordinance 2014-17, Section 7.1 of the Zoning Ordinance, including: o Site Development Standards o Landscape Design Standards o Tree Protection, Preservation and Mitigation Standards. • A final subdivision plat and construction plan meeting all applicable standards is required before construction. ORDINANCE NO. 2026-02 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BELTON BY CHANGING THE DESCRIBED DISTRICT FROM COMMERCIAL-2 TO LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ON APPROXIMATELY 8 ACRES LOCATED AT 2057 AND 2101 COMMERCE STREET. 10. Hold a public hearing and consider zoning changes related to the Imagine Belton Standards to change property from Single Family-1 to the Transition Zone. (Audio 31:55) Director of Development Services Bob Van Til presented this item. Public Hearing: No one spoke for or against this item. Upon a motion by Councilmember Pearson, and a second by Mayor Pro Tem Holmes, the zoning changes related to the Imagine Belton Standards were unanimously approved upon a vote of 7-0. ORDINANCE NO. 2026-03 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BELTON BY CHANGING THE DESCRIBED DISTRICT FROM SINGLE FAMILY-1 TO TRANSITION ZONE GENERALLY LOCATED: WEST OF N. PEARL STREET, NORTH OF W. 2ND AVENUE, EAST OF NOLAN CREEK AND WEST OF SHINE STREET. 11.Hold a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending the Belton Thoroughfare Plan. (Audio 33:45) Director of Development Services Bob Van Til presented this item.