[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6170988,"mediaKeyId","5395132-827df45e0fd8bcc763ab47dbbb5d3433","parentId",5395132,"title","Killeen approves revised citizen participation plan after public criticism about outreach and access","audioSeconds",759,"startMs",2208000,"endMs",2967000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5395132-827df45e0fd8bcc763ab47dbbb5d3433&start=2208&end=2967","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5395132-827df45e0fd8bcc763ab47dbbb5d3433/thumbnail_2208000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6170988/Killeen/Bell-County/Texas/Killeen-approves-revised-citizen-participation-plan-after-public-criticism-about-outreach-and-access","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6170988-d08a12f67624808da3a119beda553b6b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771076276&Signature=eaNrtEPxicgKofrghwiBURDNfl2IugRrLLL9fNRRQVZHnV6KpPCeiOeJSwdM3gDqARw~1sx5PeT0-LWWKOwlVGknVkmGPcGbRmKUc37Uo-czfzsP92RAXZDTE5EgWSAcHeALu7p3ohlE7V6mLOkFGNDVwEL5qe7N7EqZW8P-41~fJtcwWsbbcTqdVZ9jFoejST0DhModg67m8ThnMWglbFKsswQxZ6rx2rzalqHPGEhjhfxDffnS6Ug2R1RyGvkZ~QGeN4IgEsn7jGLLqQH9OSWcxD4Km781z~QNezr96oIYGCqpyN14-dFs16XyTFhijHmBoSbNqfZlSfmMS-j1rw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Killeen, TX","date","2025-07-16T04:12:34.837Z","article","The City of Killeen adopted a revised citizen participation plan Monday that updates procedures for community input on HUD-funded programs and clarifies responsibilities for Community Development staff and the Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC).

Miss McNair, Community Development staff, said HUD requires a citizen participation plan and that the proposed revisions would clarify staff and CDAC responsibilities, update criteria for what constitutes a substantial amendment, replace individual staff names in the plan with staff positions as points of contact, and add language to accommodate the city council schedule so public hearings would not start before 5 p.m. \"The citizen participation plan provides a framework through which residents can have input and influence over proposed community development activities,\" Miss McNair said.

During public comment, Melissa Brown criticized the city's outreach and documentation practices. Brown said the document the city prepared to describe public outreach measures appeared blank in the CAPER and said meeting notices that state hearings will occur \"immediately following\" city council sessions were insufficient because regular council meetings begin at 3 p.m. and the public cannot reliably know when hearings will begin. Brown also said meeting materials should be readily available online and that community planning meetings should be held in locations and at times accessible to low- and moderate-income residents and non-English speakers.

Miss McNair responded that the city's mailing list for the process had more than 700 recipients and that staff posts notices and makes draft materials available at specific public locations, but she acknowledged an omission in recording comments from a prior June meeting. Staff reiterated that public hearings would not be scheduled to start before 5 p.m. to improve accessibility.

Council action: A councilmember moved to adopt the revised citizen participation plan as a memorandum/resolution and the motion passed 6–0. The revision does not require an ordinance; staff recommended adoption by resolution.

The record shows the plan's revision history back to the plan's initial adoption in July 1988, with subsequent revisions in January 1995, April 1998, January 2011, January 2018 and April 2020. Staff cited HUD rule 24 CFR section 91.105 as the governing citizen participation requirement for participating jurisdictions.

Ending: With council adoption, the revised plan becomes the city's stated framework for public notice and engagement on HUD‑funded programs; public commenters asked staff to ensure online availability of documents and more proactive outreach to non‑English speaking and community-based organizations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Special City Council Meeting - July 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The City of Killeen adopted revisions to its citizen participation plan to clarify staff and CDAC roles, update substantial amendment criteria, and accommodate council meeting scheduling, after public commenters raised concerns about outreach, availability of materials and meeting notices.","taxTitle","Killeen, Bell County, Texas","taxId",2769,"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},6170993,"Killeen council adopts 2025–29 consolidated plan and FY2026 action plan; excludes HOME-ARP funding for police engagement unit",1158,1065000,2223000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5395132-827df45e0fd8bcc763ab47dbbb5d3433&start=1065&end=2223","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5395132-827df45e0fd8bcc763ab47dbbb5d3433/thumbnail_1065000.jpg","/articles/6170993/Killeen/Bell-County/Texas/Killeen-council-adopts-202529-consolidated-plan-and-FY2026-action-plan-excludes-HOME-ARP-funding-for-police-engagement-unit","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6170993-4d65d0dce574ff4b3cb752524589f6a4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771076276&Signature=DkB4j9o7VmJnRfhisXIZtsIfuJ4sh50eStFrt1phJZAFulxhBFd9~nw-VtugoOBNfbcMce1FoWz2~TkAMHh1szRm9XkzVPH08y5uBwiwBmkD-fd0YYbKbZIZd1QNGbQNjhi-dSoHPbicV34xTpMUBF3-z56WsyfaXXAs4LbM6NAVhlP4r9-9oYQXHhNGnyI3e8ZyBz6TLpRO275q3Jj-br5Tx1HEcWyLSy3OVxk5q2g1Lm6TPIMqZFuzVJ29YKC5y6wWyOI6QTv-wEvu8W4J0eR55laN~vV4iMPYqgx63oj~HwRc2MTj2W8YrFP5v63n5jemgArlfNprgQB~qrHL2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Killeen on Monday approved submission of a consolidated plan for 2025–29 and an annual action plan for FY2026 describing use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), and HOME-American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) funds, and authorized application for allocation and expenditure of specified entitlements.

Miss McNair, Community Development staff, told the council that as an entitlement community the city receives annual CDBG and HOME allocations from HUD, and that the city also received one-time HOME-ARP funds in 2021 to address homelessness and supportive services. She summarized national objectives for CDBG and HOME and outlined HOME-ARP qualified populations, which include persons who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, victims of domestic violence or trafficking, other populations at greatest risk of housing instability, and veterans meeting the criteria.

Johnny Frederick, chair of the Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC), presented CDAC's recommended allocations. CDAC recommended funding multiple local providers and projects, including partial funding of Communities in Schools, Families in Crisis, Greater Killeen Community Clinic, Hill Country Community Action (senior meals program), and funding to support the KPD homeless outreach team, code enforcement multi-year commitments, community housing rehabilitation, and park improvements (Connor Park and Marlboro Park). Frederick noted the panel received more requests than available funds and trimmed recommended amounts accordingly.

CDAC's breakdown presented by Frederick and staff showed the CDBG entitlement for the program year (FY2026) as $1,350,070 plus $40,375.90 in reprogrammed CDBG for a total of $1,390,445.09. For HOME, staff presented a total HOME allocation of $545,001.73, with roughly 75% eligible for housing activities, a 15% CHDO set-aside (required even if no CHDO currently exists), and 10% for administration. CDAC recommended funding housing development, tenant-based rental assistance and a first-time homebuyer program out of the HOME allocation. Frederick also reported specific recommended amounts for program staff, social workers and administrative caps; he noted one applicant for an inpatient chemical dependency program (Hilltop Recovery Ministries) was ineligible because HOME/CDBG funds must support outpatient services.

Public comments at the hearing addressed use of funds and sustaining existing city services. Melissa Brown, during public comment, urged the council to ensure the Community Engagement Unit (CEU) retained capacity to assist unhoused individuals even if the physical reunification center is not built and to consider funding Hilltop Recovery Ministries for beds and services. Brown also expressed concern that portions of the plan's language closely mirror federal regulations (citing Title 24) and urged robust outreach to non-English speakers and better adherence to the citizen participation plan.

Council action: Councilmember Segar moved to approve the staff recommendation adopting the consolidated plan and FY2026 action plan and to exclude the HOME-ARP recommendation for the Killeen Police Department Community Engagement Unit; Councilmember Alvarez seconded. The motion passed 6–0. Staff said they will submit the consolidated plan and annual action plan to HUD, with a staff-stated target to submit by Aug. 15 and anticipated HUD execution of HUD agreements during the approval period reported by staff.

The council and staff highlighted that CDAC evaluated applications using scores for significance, impact, delivery feasibility, compliance and leveraging. Staff also noted the public comment period for the consolidated plan was open from July 9 through July 15, and that the city received two outside comments: one from the Texas Homeless Network and one from an urban planner/environmental policy advocate.

Ending: With council approval, staff will transmit the consolidated plan and FY2026 annual action plan to HUD and proceed with award notifications and grant administration consistent with the approved funding breaks; exclusion of the HOME-ARP recommendation for KPD CEU was part of the approved motion.","The City of Killeen approved its 2025–29 consolidated plan and FY2026 annual action plan outlining CDBG, HOME and HOME-ARP uses, and accepted CDAC funding recommendations while excluding the HOME-ARP recommendation for the Killeen Police Department Community Engagement Unit (CEU).",{"_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},6170998,"Killeen council approves reprogramming of HOME funds to boost tenant-based rental assistance, removes counseling requirement",961,101000,1062000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5395132-827df45e0fd8bcc763ab47dbbb5d3433&start=101&end=1062","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5395132-827df45e0fd8bcc763ab47dbbb5d3433/thumbnail_101000.jpg","/articles/6170998/Killeen/Bell-County/Texas/Killeen-council-approves-reprogramming-of-HOME-funds-to-boost-tenant-based-rental-assistance-removes-counseling-requirement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6170998-18f8557fcf27f9606d90fefe41989e58/orig.mp4?Expires=1771076276&Signature=Lg4A8TcgcskNQx7pgR19Sez~uoIgOT0IU9egGgsHNITmaBQFryJIMfXUQP3Mb1nRCcpCis5CWrK8qQ-9f3~SQW8GNIEUK8JvNFElJC9HeKPdi9WdF6tBX3swfG8prYuvWGAtWZ7LRfvKiK~0BhBw23xyyqTv6D5g6NfQp-lvSRkHOMGSpwX1csfRrzHjKvXNJi4rmeprQsOrJBOulze~MUJUk-rNktakeuTJZwcf7aLRw~d~hbf91EIEWV8ejeLVdabaesiMOzs0-iD2puH6m2VwAQPwrQbksZakChAl6xmHPdSAhgsY657QOPdJy5p6Xwb1BZWE6KBNkPX6c-638w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Killeen on Monday approved an ordinance to substantially amend multiple annual action plans and reprogram leftover HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) funds for tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA), and to remove a requirement in the 2024 consolidated plan that TBRA recipients receive services from HUD-certified housing counselors.

City staff said the reprogramming is intended to meet U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) expenditure rules and to help the city spend HOME balances before HUD recaptures funds. \"Reprogramming home funds will allow for the use in the HOME housing program, specifically tenant based rental assistance,\" said Miss McNair, Community Development staff, during the presentation.

The change also eliminates a program condition in the consolidated plan that required TBRA recipients to attend HUD-certified housing counseling. Miss McNair told the council that \"HUD certified housing counseling is not required under tenant based assistance unless the jurisdiction elects to include it,\" and that Killeen currently has only one agency certified to provide that counseling. She said the counseling requirement would lengthen wait times and could increase the risk that households would become unstable or face eviction; removing it would allow the city \"to assist households expeditiously and address the immediate need for assistance.\"

Public commenters urged coordination and targeted use of the funds. John Hong, president of the Central Texas Home Builders Association, said housing leaders, developers, council members and city management should \"come together as a community to fix some of these things and get more affordable housing,\" and urged cooperation on projects in Killeen's north side. Another commenter, who identified herself as Melissa Bridal, raised concerns about outreach and participation: she said some Hispanic organizations had not been invited to community planning meetings and recommended postponing submission to HUD until a consolidated revision could be prepared to avoid repeated amendments.

Miss McNair outlined the next step: if approved, staff will submit the substantial amendment to HUD no later than Aug. 15, 2025. During the presentation staff listed year-specific HOME balances and said the citizen comment period ran from June 9 until the meeting date; staff reported receiving no comments on the amendment. The staff presentation included several year-by-year amounts and stated a total for reprogramming (amounts as stated by staff during the meeting).

Council action: Councilmember Sagal moved to approve the ordinance, the motion was seconded and passed by a 6–0 vote. The motion passed as a formal ordinance to adopt the substantial amendment to reprogram HOME funds to TBRA activities and to remove the HUD-certified housing counseling requirement from the consolidated plan as a condition of receiving TBRA.

The ordinance and staff presentation distinguished discussion (how HOME funds may be used and federal underwriting requirements for housing development) from the formal action the council took to adopt the amendment. Staff emphasized that HOME-funded development must meet HUD underwriting and capacity requirements, that HOME dollars can be used for rental or owner-occupied affordable housing development or TBRA, and that HOME dollars cannot be used to fund police homeless outreach teams.

Council members and staff also discussed whether HOME funds could support small or \"tiny\" house developments, and McNair said such development is allowable under HOME provided projects meet HUD underwriting, capital-stacking and developer capacity requirements.

Ending: With the council's approval, staff will submit the amendment to HUD and implement the reprogramming as described; HUD review and execution of HUD agreements were listed as the next administrative steps by staff.","The City of Killeen approved a substantial amendment to reprogram remaining HOME funds into a tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA) program and removed a requirement that assistance recipients attend HUD-certified housing counseling, officials said at a special council meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Killeen approves revised citizen participation plan after public criticism about outreach and access

Killeen council adopts 2025–29 consolidated plan and FY2026 action plan; excludes HOME-ARP funding for police engagement unit

Killeen council approves reprogramming of HOME funds to boost tenant-based rental assistance, removes counseling requirement