Aimee I. Cloutier

The meeting began with an invocation and a public comment period where citizens addressed concerns about streetlight functionality and the maintenance of storm water retention ponds within the Garden District area. A significant portion of the agenda involved the administration of the oath of office to Travis Brazzle as the new Chief of Police, succeeding the retiring Chief David Thomas. The Council proceeded to conduct a public hearing and approved, on second reading, an ordinance granting a special use permit for the construction of a four-story, 90-room extended stay hotel on approximately 2.8 acres in the Garden District Shopping Village. Following this, the Mayor recused himself due to a conflict of interest regarding Item Number Six, and Council Member Ford presided as acting Mayor Pro Tem for that item. The Council then considered and approved, on first reading, an ordinance for the abandonment, vacation, closure, and sale of a small 0.047-acre portion of an alleyway to Oakdale Manor for $4,150. The meeting concluded with a session into Executive Session to deliberate regarding economic development negotiations.

The key discussion topics for the regular meeting include administering the Oath of Office to the new Chief of Police, Travis Brazil. The agenda also involves conducting a Public Hearing and considering approval on Second Reading of an ordinance concerning the granting of a Special Use Permit for a Hotel on approximately 2.8 acres in the Garden District Shopping Village Subdivision, Phase IV. Another significant item is the consideration of approval on First Reading of an ordinance to abandon, vacate, close, and sell a portion of an alley located in Block 100 of the Town of Lufkin (Bonner Addition). The Council also planned to conduct deliberations in Executive Session regarding economic development negotiations. Furthermore, the agenda includes considering approval for the Fiscal Year 2026 Street Overlay Program, which allocates $1.2 million for maintenance across Wards 1 through 6.

The meeting included a presentation where Assistant Police Chief David Cross awarded Officer James Cone a life-saving award for actions taken on November 27, 2025, in successfully reviving a near-drowned 10-month-old child. The council approved the consent agenda. Discussion items involved considering an ordinance for a special use permit for an electric substation on approximately 5.8 acres in the Crown Colony North Subdivision, which was postponed until the February 3rd meeting following a request from the HOA board to continue good-faith discussions with Encore. The council also approved an ordinance amending city code regarding alcoholic beverages, repealing sections related to local fees for TABC permits, as required by state law. Finally, the council approved an ordinance establishing a permitting process for alcohol consumption in city parks and on city-owned property, subject to review by the Lufkin Police Department.

The meeting agenda included several key business items. Key discussions involved conducting a public hearing and considering a first reading ordinance for a Special Use Permit for a Hotel on a 2.8-acre lot in the Garden District Shopping Village Subdivision, Phase IV, which the Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously recommended for approval. Another major item involved a public hearing and first reading for denying a Special Use Permit for an Electric Substation on approximately 5.8 acres, which was subsequently denied by council vote after public commentary and detailed technical presentation by the utility provider. Further business included the approval of a zone change for property on N. Chestnut Street to "Residential Small" zoning, amendments to ordinances regarding alcoholic beverage fees to comply with state law, amendments to rules concerning alcohol possession in public parks establishing a permitting process, and approval of a resolution authorizing an application for the Juvenile Justice & Youth Diversion Grant Program up to $65,000. Reports covered the Financial Status and Project Status.

The meeting commenced with an invocation that referenced the recent passing of a longtime city employee, Licia Wisner, with condolences extended to her family. Following an opening period for public comment, where concerns were raised regarding the handling of a previous interaction with residents from Crown Colony, the council proceeded to the business agenda. The key discussion item involved conducting a public hearing and considering approval on the first reading of an ordinance for a special use permit to construct a replacement electric substation on a 5.8-acre parcel in the Crown Colony North subdivision. The presenter detailed that the project addresses increased electrical load demands and aging infrastructure, noting the new facility will be built adjacent to the existing one before the old one is demolished. Concerns raised by the public included safety, traffic, fire risk, EMF exposure, aesthetics, and property devaluation. The applicant highlighted that the new design includes an 8-ft masonry screening wall, a concession made in response to city feedback, and explained the necessity of the replacement to maintain system resiliency and avoid future prolonged outages due to current capacity overload projections (117% load anticipated in Summer 2026). The council also approved the minutes from the January 20th, 2026, regular meeting.