Crockett City Council approves zoning changes for downtown notice, short‑term rental rules and selects KSA for downtown grant work

The Crockett City Council voted on a package of routine and regulatory items after public comment and a presentation by the city administrator.

Zoning notice: Council adopted an amendment limiting the 200‑foot notification rule to the C‑3 downtown district. Staff had presented a redraft of zoning sections to change the general notification radius from 300 feet to the state minimum of 200 feet in the downtown C‑3 district only, with the intent of reducing the number of distant property owners receiving notices in dense downtown blocks. Council member Speaker 1 moved for the 200‑foot requirement to apply only to the C‑3 district; the motion was seconded and the presiding official announced the motion carried by voice vote.

Short‑term rentals: The council approved an ordinance establishing short‑term rental regulation—defining short‑term rentals, creating a permit and registration fee structure, and setting operational requirements and penalties—to provide a local point of contact and give the city recourse when transient rentals cause disruptions. A council member moved to approve the ordinance; it was seconded and the motion carried.

Grant engineering selection: For a Texas Department of Agriculture Community Development Block Grant—Downtown Revitalization Program (CDBG‑DRP) application, staff reported two qualification packets were received. Based on prior work, staff recommended KSA; a council member moved to select KSA and the motion carried.

Utility rate action: The council approved a resolution to suspend a proposed rate increase filed by Encore Electric Delivery Company LLC, authorized participation in a coalition of similarly situated cities, and retained special counsel to intervene in related rate proceedings.

Other routine business: The council approved the minutes of recent meetings, accepted a CEIDC check‑processing procedure that staff said had legal review and prior board approval, and appointed Elizabeth Guzman to the CEIDC board (motion carried by voice vote as recorded in the transcript). A separate motion to appoint Calvin Hawkins as an ex‑officio CEIDC member appears in the transcript but the recorded vote sequence is unclear; the minutes or an audio record should be consulted for a definitive outcome.

City administrator report: The city administrator updated the council on water‑line replacement on East Houston and East Goliad (phased construction, temporary water lines, detours and coordination with affected businesses), repaving projects including Fifth Street, rebid plans for a planned $750,000 pool after initial bids exceeded budget, and a pending State Infrastructure Bank application that could fund eight major thoroughfares if approved.