Lluvia T. Almaraz

The special session meeting commenced with an invocation and the pledge of allegiance. Key discussions included the presentation of the March 2026 Mayor Business Spotlight Award to Lonear Pro Moving, recognizing their professionalism, reliability, and community contributions. Public comments addressed concerns regarding the fiscal impact of the spotlight program and issues related to development planning, specifically concerning parkland dedication and in-lieu fees for the Lanzola development. The council addressed an agenda item concerning a special use permit for an 8,730 square foot medical clinic (Alli Medical) at Mayor Commons Northeast, which was ultimately not approved. Furthermore, the council approved the second amendment to the deposit agreement for Mayor Heights to cover costs for bond council and financial advisors, as the area was proceeding with assessment levying instead of bond issuance. Finally, the council approved the first amendment to the development agreement for the Lanzola development, including revisions to Section 5.08B. The meeting concluded with a period of executive session followed by reconvening into open session to finalize the Landola amendment, before adjourning.

The meeting commenced with a review of public comment procedures, noting time limits for non-agenda items (three minutes) and agenda-related items (five minutes), and even stricter limits for public hearings (two minutes). The commission proceeded out of order to address leadership vacancies due to appointments to other positions, resulting in the welcoming of Commissioner Daniel Mendoza and the subsequent appointment of a new Chair and Vice Chair. Key agenda items involved public hearings regarding a Specific Use Permit for an 8,730 sq. ft. medical clinic on a tract near US Highway 290, which was noted to represent about 6.3% of the commercial square footage in that area. Further public hearings covered a short form final plat for a resubdivision in the Lago subdivision and another application concerning a resubdivision in the Lago area. During public commentary, significant concerns were raised regarding municipal planning, the comprehensive plan's validity, development subsidies, the need for public plazas, and historic district compliance.

The meeting commenced with introductions, including the City Planner, Amarie Fely, who discussed her background in urban studies and architecture. The council recognized Veronica Lockett Law PLLC with the February 2026 Mayor Business Spotlight Award for her dedication to serving the community with empathy and strong advocacy. A presentation was given by Scott Jones, Economic Development Director, along with Evan Elif and Kristen Straoud from Sports Facilities Companies, regarding new ideas for developing 236 acres of city-owned property. The presentation focused on anchoring mixed-use development with a sports and events facility, emphasizing public-private partnerships. Public comments included concerns over the invocation, the death of Donald McVey, allegations of historical erasure, and proposals for a $5,000 reward, and a request for a debate. Other public commentary addressed the safety provided during a student-led walkout, the general political rhetoric, proposals for 'know your rights' seminars, and a request to change an intersection near Manor Crossing to a four-way stop for traffic safety.

The City Council Called Special Session commenced with an invocation and pledge of allegiance. Public comments covered citizen complaints regarding unprosecuted alleged crimes, concerns about a "killer on the loose," and opposition to a proposed parking lot, advocating instead for a park honoring Priscilla Manor. Public comments also addressed an annexation item, citing Texas Local Government Code requirements for informed legislative decisions, water runoff concerns based on FEMA Atlas 14 studies, and the potential for new sewage treatment technology, suggesting the proposed wastewater treatment plant design should be re-evaluated. The council then considered Item 1, which was the second and final reading for the ordinance annexing 98.286 acres into the city limits, which passed unanimously. Item 2 involved approving the primary bank depository service agreement with South State Bank for a two-year period starting April 1, 2026, detailing that South State Bank offers superior services, including a scanner for check deposits and no monthly fees, unlike a competing bank. Item 3 involved approving the secondary bank depository service agreement with Frontier Bank for the same contract period, chosen because they did not offer the scanner service, aligning with their minimal transaction volume expectations.

The meeting commenced with public comments regarding non-agenda items, outlining procedures for comments on both non-agenda and public hearing items. A significant portion of the discussion involved a public hearing for a specific use permit application for a medical office on a 6.76-acre lot within the Los Stratos North development, which generated substantial public inquiry concerning its status within a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TUR) and potential Chapter 380 grants. Public comment also addressed broader concerns regarding the commission's independence, development projects like Monarch Ranch, the absence of city planning resources, and the perceived favorable treatment of developers regarding property tax benefits. Following the public hearing, the commission addressed the consent agenda, which required multiple motions and corrections to accurately reflect commissioner attendance for the previous meeting on December 10th, 2025. Subsequently, agenda items three and four were pulled for separate consideration, and the commission moved to discuss the specific use permit application for the medical office (Agenda Item Number Five), noting that the request, which included Action Behavior Center and Deca Dental, required an SUP because the C1 zoning does not permit medical offices by right. Staff recommended approval for the requested square footage for Action Behavior Center, though this amount exceeded established benchmarks for non-sales tax-generating uses when evaluated solely on this portion of the development.