[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6550678,"mediaKeyId","5385555-d8ba6e553926eced66a9e6953787572a","parentId",5385555,"title","Residents press for broader public-comment rules and road repairs; prayer breakfast plan draws council objections","audioSeconds",1277,"startMs",2329000,"endMs",3606000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5385555-d8ba6e553926eced66a9e6953787572a&start=2329&end=3606","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5385555-d8ba6e553926eced66a9e6953787572a/thumbnail_2329000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6550678/Balch-Springs/Dallas-County/Texas/Residents-press-for-broader-public-comment-rules-and-road-repairs-prayer-breakfast-plan-draws-council-objections","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6550678-9a76ab0aa8f57c78177a1b6835ecba1e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141577&Signature=jHZoS8usDeT3mQQ-~DZQoRiYvFDUgaeeltjc1b3tLZBDStuwBMU8EVD8KngPlvW5roMdcRXJ6nwOylypW9IeOlas1XSsz82INqn~xiAb1-qC8jlx6rkmuoD-SjZt9~EJCzQKDNY08y2ER6tqnMMkvjz1yPUdPT7pIw-6n5r7B1HZknCXbZojdrZThax5Ieq~j0PQZ4AHRnYm5KYlKWnkYQqC2~4nyBShRdE-EwHeSMuEkGogPGaBJ~zB9n2NQihz-tC9W4g-pcYDsHnhF1cn0Nc72m13hcnvVQB6E6Om05gUarMp62QgCBx~tNqbV9fteTO~IbLG2LNTmEXMSG~GDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Balch Springs","date","2025-07-14T00:00:00Z","article","During the July 14 public-comment period, two residents addressed the council about city processes and infrastructure. Lonnie Ray Sykes urged council to allow citizens to speak about matters not on the agenda and said the current three-minute limit is \"a little short.\" \"Citizens should have the opportunity to express to their representative any subject that pertains to our city,\" Sykes said.

Later in public comment, Camille White described hazardous conditions on Brooden Road, a corridor the speaker said is shared with Mesquite. White asked the city to coordinate repairs, consider widening and add sidewalks, citing large potholes and increased traffic near a new apartment development. \"If you go down the road from Peachtree to approximately Dobbins, it's like, someone's dropped the bomb on the road,\" White said, calling the condition a public-safety hazard.

Separately on the agenda, Mayor Taylor described a citywide prayer/fellowship breakfast she organized, saying the chamber might sponsor food and the event would rotate locations in odd-numbered months. Councilmember Gabriel objected, saying he found it \"unfortunate\" that the mayor proceeded with the event before discussing it at a prior meeting and said he would consult the city attorney and the Texas attorney general's office about potential legal issues of using council or city names in that context. Gabriel said he would transmit his concerns in writing. Councilmember Miles urged a focus on collaborative goals for the event, such as panels on first-time homebuyer education and workforce development, and suggested partnering with banks and the chamber to offer programming after the fellowship.

There was no council action on the prayer-breakfast item; staff said the item could be brought back to a future meeting with more details if council wanted. Council did not take formal action on the Brooden Road request during this meeting; staff follow-up or a future agenda item would be needed for repairs or capital work.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Balch Springs - City Council - Jul 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A resident urged the council to allow public comments on non-agenda items and extend the 3-minute limit; another resident asked for repairs and sidewalks on Brooden Road. Separately, Mayor Taylor's proposal for a recurring prayer/fellowship breakfast drew objections from a councilmember.","taxTitle","Balch Springs, Dallas County, Texas","taxId",69448,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6550685,"Council approves consent agenda, board appointments and travel requests; suspends proposed electric rate increase",168,452000,620000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5385555-d8ba6e553926eced66a9e6953787572a&start=452&end=620","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5385555-d8ba6e553926eced66a9e6953787572a/thumbnail_452000.jpg","/articles/6550685/Balch-Springs/Dallas-County/Texas/Council-approves-consent-agenda-board-appointments-and-travel-requests-suspends-proposed-electric-rate-increase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6550685-82b0d2d2dc9476a9c477c19679c8c502/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141577&Signature=nCMxyiUWXo36ymedC-5EOUocTWiWroQV7CxO2cIA2N9HauXNrrvlm2PU2xTJe9nFHgPYGONPn-Z13A6tZZyA4dsOUE7Jv9nMBHKQYpB2XLINSlsSyUrPBwwIaa71hd6yAwt0VZVpAWffcy3cTGicdIdc5VynHr68qS~iDOd0k4SIPYNqr4wBls0eiyhs1dtzKuKKlghK3Qhblt5jyOAHcjaCx4b4~MHViDoocI5wtiTwr~0Z8exuD5euduqFGoQT6XcHaHdz7~PxTVJLnCGgm0pMlDI3DuUNLGT2NbIg38BjLwLTWTGqa0Px1TGnvhl-lUrcEcBEUThKngDYkSYqFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Balch Springs City Council approved a multi-item consent agenda and several individual personnel and travel items during its July 14 meeting.

The consent agenda approved minutes for the June 9 and June 23 regular meetings; reappointments to boards (Alicia Krivasson to the library board; Helen Shelby and Keisha Bruner Miles to the Type B board); a resolution to suspend a proposed rate increase filed by Encore Electric Delivery Company with an anticipated effective date of July 31, 2025 and to authorize retention of special counsel; a contract amendment with Fries and Nichols for engineering/architectural services tied to a TXDOT Highway Safety Improvement Program street-lighting/intersection project (not-to-exceed amount recorded in the agenda); and an amendment to the city code setting new regular meeting start times at 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays each month. The council approved the entire consent agenda on a single motion and roll-call vote.

Separately, council voted to appoint Latasha O'Keefe to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and the Board of Adjustments and to appoint Natasha King as an alternate to the Type A board. Both appointments passed on roll-call votes.

Council also approved several staff travel requests: authorization for the city manager to attend the Texas Municipal League (TML) conference in Fort Worth (October 2025); for the city secretary to attend the TML conference and a legislative update seminar in August; and related conference attendance as listed on the agenda. Each travel request passed on roll-call votes.

All consent and individually listed votes recorded in the transcript were approved unanimously. The clerk will reflect the approved motions and any specified contract amounts in the official minutes and contract records.","Council approved the consent agenda (minutes, board reappointments, contract amendments, a resolution to suspend a proposed electric delivery rate increase), appointed two residents to boards, and approved staff travel to Texas Municipal League events.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6550691,"Council approves purchase of new 911 call recorder; staff cites reimbursement but transcript shows inconsistent price figures",60,940000,1000000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5385555-d8ba6e553926eced66a9e6953787572a&start=940&end=1000","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5385555-d8ba6e553926eced66a9e6953787572a/thumbnail_940000.jpg","/articles/6550691/Balch-Springs/Dallas-County/Texas/Council-approves-purchase-of-new-911-call-recorder-staff-cites-reimbursement-but-transcript-shows-inconsistent-price-figures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6550691-b73e4f92473592cd80e499ffb2160b95/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141577&Signature=TEanrgLHSxxU6JsuKar9Jx7K7AdBz7qGn2MZoT8S8pYgbKeZxKZ-4tlsjwgJOZiJrSQIM7Y4hv5zPeQ~uDh94UTDLbrbqQvX~KHvZmOAiixIu0MFssqBGBjSrrZeS3qRoqsFVPuIF0050A7KRw2fZRXNqRw649wwWodyCejwBkjNX5Yo2O0VnPWkMrfvlc26GMXpPtEI~Ic2WQ0BRK~SmHJs5E99I-nOybSL88S2MGDBzoaWyDQ3of3RNR6mLeAWigFHb7mQhAMzsB61BfJA12gQNMPRx-Muh2CNjpPQ8G~27CEmimGN2eut8GMQ0XjPfSbrAah7NKazHX1IpBp~tg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Balch Springs City Council on July 14 approved the purchase of an Eventide call-recording system needed to record emergency radio traffic and incoming 911 calls.

A staff presenter described the system as essential and said the unit is typically replaced every five years because the current equipment has reached end-of-life. \"This is a piece of equipment that's typically replaced every 5 years,\" the presenter said.

The agenda item stated an amount \"not to exceed $4,043,576\" under an HGAC procurement contract. During the presentation staff also said the item was budgeted for \"$43,005.76\" and that the city would receive a $25,000 reimbursement from North Central Texas 9-1-1, making the city's net cost \"around $18,05 76\" as read in the transcript. The transcript contains inconsistent numeric values for the cost; the council record and vendor contract should be checked for the definitive contract amount. Staff confirmed the unit would be a one-time cost covering installation, training and software.

Council voted unanimously to approve the purchase. Councilmembers asked whether there were ongoing annual costs and staff replied the purchase was a one-time cost that included installation and training. The motion passed on a roll-call vote with affirmative votes recorded from Councilmember Hill, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, Councilmember Gabriel, Councilmember Miles, Councilmember Salal and Mayor Taylor.

The item description on the agenda also referenced HGAC procurement; staff said they expect the city to receive a specified reimbursement after invoicing the North Central Texas 9-1-1 district. The city clerk or finance department will need to reconcile the agenda-printed amount and the figures stated in the presentation when finalizing the purchase contract and budget entries.","Council approved a procurement for an Eventide call/recorder system to replace equipment reaching end-of-life; staff said the purchase was budgeted and would receive partial reimbursement from North Central Texas 911, but the transcript contains conflicting cost figures.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6550696,"Balch Springs council creates CIP advisory committee, moves toward impact fees and Elam Road city center work",2184,1168000,3352000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5385555-d8ba6e553926eced66a9e6953787572a&start=1168&end=3352","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5385555-d8ba6e553926eced66a9e6953787572a/thumbnail_1168000.jpg","/articles/6550696/Balch-Springs/Dallas-County/Texas/Balch-Springs-council-creates-CIP-advisory-committee-moves-toward-impact-fees-and-Elam-Road-city-center-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6550696-d21821fa4ee836dbf6ae98cfd09a094c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141577&Signature=U3FgapMGIfkSj8vJq-fahSNYVrd46VEpKkvqWHPP2kcNgAYG1Ufyo7LFtOfbw2oKMDsvniQCtEwa~Br0JaZhbr6TNFOKUpDzp9DqEHHc~eH6opWqbGP1M4hA7zsqZ~jg9BskipJFyGhVk65IFPr0wQQp-dtezH1sxi5lmGkRxEccOL4wBDCurONs4UpZXN1rCnFJTnBbasFsUN6gzB3iHdZd5ilImv~Pz6xRraU2w6~LQ4oQ1x-nt3LZ4QhheDD9PIOx7diW3DvH2SuGrYX5EEN87jcwR98rA8a~~hHpjrkAhq8nIaX4ojh6iOO5vKoXJqGLkJRlI~OR2GrVKn60wg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Balch Springs City Council voted July 14 to add a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) advisory committee to the city code and directed staff to proceed with the engineering analyses that would support development of impact fees and city-center projects.

City staff described why the committee and impact fees are needed: to recover a portion of capital costs tied to new development, particularly water and wastewater system capacity, and to align with the city's recently updated comprehensive plan. \"Impact fees are one-time charges assessed to new development,\" staff said, adding they typically cover water, wastewater and street projects and are set using population projections, land-use assumptions and capital cost allocations.

The vote authorizes amending Chapter 2 (Administration), Article 5 (Boards and Commissions) to create a CIP advisory committee consistent with the requirements of the Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 395. Staff said the committee will include roughly seven members (an odd number), with two ex officio positions for senior business/capital staff and the city manager; the ordinance language will be refined by the city attorney before appointments are made. \"We'll come back to you with the updated timeline that takes you through the steps for creation of the impact fees, once you guys appoint members to the CIP advisory committee,\" staff said.

During a presentation, staff also briefed council on the Elam Road Corridor City Center master plan adopted in April. The plan covers about 70 acres of the Elam Road corridor between I-635 and Pioneer Road and identifies mixed-use development, streetscape improvements and a proposed multipurpose municipal facility. Staff said the city has applied for and received grant funding to support design and feasibility work: a North Central Texas Council of Governments award of $1,600,000 for engineering design and feasibility for corridor redevelopment, which requires a $400,000 local match. Council previously set aside CO (certificate of obligation) financing that staff said will provide funds for land acquisition for a multipurpose civic facility, engineering and trail design and to match the COG grant.

Councilmembers framed the action as a necessary step to shift some infrastructure costs to new development. \"These fees should help mitigate that and, or a step towards mitigating that,\" Councilmember Gabriel said. Councilmembers asked for clarity on committee membership and calculation methods; staff said the detailed fee calculation and public hearing steps will follow the committee formation and the water/wastewater master plan update. The ordinance motion passed unanimously.

Staff said next steps include finalizing ordinance language with the city attorney, council appointments to the CIP advisory committee, completion of the engineering analysis with consultants and scheduling a public hearing as part of the required impact-fee adoption process. The timeline staff described anticipates additional draft materials in August and a formal adoption process later in the fall.","Council approved an ordinance creating a Capital Improvement Plan advisory committee as part of steps to study developer impact fees and implement the Elam Road City Center master plan; staff described a $1.6 million grant and timeline for design work.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents press for broader public-comment rules and road repairs; prayer breakfast plan draws council objections

Council approves consent agenda, board appointments and travel requests; suspends proposed electric rate increase

Council approves purchase of new 911 call recorder; staff cites reimbursement but transcript shows inconsistent price figures

Balch Springs council creates CIP advisory committee, moves toward impact fees and Elam Road city center work