Development News for Levelland, Texas

City Council Plans Budget and Orientation Schedule Amidst Revenue Projections and Landfill Challenges

The City Council discussed establishing a calendar for upcoming budget, orientation, training, and regular council meetings. Staff are currently working on revenue projections and understanding property appraisals, which appear higher than usual but may be impacted by increased exemptions. An orientation for the three new council members is being scheduled by the city attorneys to cover open meetings, open records, and general city information, followed by a city tour. Initial efforts to coordinate schedules for Mr. Stur, Mr. Morris, and the Mayor have been made, with efforts to accommodate Council Member Yandell's changing schedule and gather dates from the newly elected Council Member Baka. A potential orientation session is planned for June 8th, tentatively from 4-8 PM, which may overlap with a Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. The budget process will include revenue work sessions, departmental breakdowns, and submission of the budget in August, with final appraisal numbers expected around July 25th. Challenges concerning the landfill, specifically the construction debris cell filling quickly due to storm damage, will require discussions on rates and fees. The budget calendar aims for one revenue forecast work session in June, with the main budget work concentrated in July, acknowledging potential scheduling conflicts due to council members' absences.

City Adopts State Regulations for Mobile Food Vendors, Permitting Shifts to State Level

Ordinance Number 1117 was introduced for a first reading, amending Article 4.15000 regarding mobile food service vendors. This amendment is necessitated by Texas House Bill 2844, which establishes a statewide regulatory scheme for mobile food units, preempting city ordinances that conflict with the Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 437B. The state law requires mobile food vendors to hold a license from the Texas Department of State Health Services and comply with all state and local laws, including fire codes and zoning. The proposed city ordinance revises permitting requirements to align with this state preemption, transferring the primary permitting authority to the state. This change is intended to create uniformity for vendors operating across Texas. City staff will disseminate information about the state licensing process through the newspaper, social media, and the city website. Discussions included clarifying how this affects various vendors, such as those at city events, golf tournaments, and temporary stands, with staff indicating that stationary concessions and pre-packaged food items like those sold on Lemonade Day or by ice cream trucks may be exempt or fall under different regulations. The council moved to table the ordinance for further clarification, particularly regarding non-profit food preparation and events, as the state statute has caused confusion.

City of Loveland Recognizes Staff Achievements and Welcomes New Council Member

The City of Loveland recognized six city employees who completed the Leadership Loveland course. The program, which ran from October 2025 to May 2026, spanned eight months and involved monthly meetings, a class project focused on painting curbs and house numbers for accessibility, and individual projects. Graduates included Eric Miller (accountant), Chief Erica O'Brien (police department), Steve Henden (parks department), Theodore Loa (cemetery department), Derek Frince (shop manager), and Gabriel Herrera (street sweeper). Additionally, the Fire Department recognized firefighters for years of service and awarded Firefighter of the Year honors. Awards included 5-year service for Lt. Willie Goulby and Firefighter Roy Martha, 10 years for Firefighter Derek Lewis, 15 years for Lt. Jake Maidwell and Landon Durham, 20 years for Capt. Joe Maidwell, 25 years for Lt. Jeff Ferris and Renee Shavaria, and 30 years for Assistant Chief Kirk Masters. Top Responder awards went to Lt. Jeff Ferris and Asst. Chief Kurt Masters. Fire Chief awards were given to Lt. Jeff Ferris and Firefighter Ryan Crutcher. Rookie of the Year was Firefighter Tyler Duffy. Firefighter of the Year awards were presented to Lt. Willie Goulby and Capt. Joe Maidwell. The city also acknowledged Max for being the outstanding graduate student for the Texas Tech University public administration program and for publishing an article in a public management magazine, and for becoming a father in May. Finally, Tushar Baka was administered the oath of office as a new City Council Member for District B.

Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance Discussion Tabled for Further Review

The City Council discussed Ordinance Number 1116, which aims to establish a new comprehensive zoning ordinance and zoning map. The city has been working on this for over a year, holding numerous work sessions, planning and zoning meetings, council meetings, and public hearings. Staff acknowledged that while some concerns have been addressed, others remain, and new council members need time to acclimate. Mayor and staff recommended tabling the discussion until after the budget process, likely in September or October, to allow for additional work sessions on zoning, its purpose, and to address any remaining questions or concerns from the council and the public. This delay will necessitate sending out new public notices, estimated to cost $4,000, and may involve additional consultant fees. The council generally agreed with this approach, emphasizing the need to 'get it right' for Loveland. Planning and zoning meetings will continue, with staff making themselves available to address community concerns.