City tackles new permits, ordinances and code upgrades
The city last week approved a controversial ordinance some say provides needed protection for downtown businesses while others worry it criminalizes homelessness.
Interim Police Chief Joseph Branson said the ordinance will be used with compassion.
“We work with service providers to help people get resources they need. Every person we encounter is a member of this community and they deserve to be treated as such,” Branson said.
He added those with mental- health or substance-abuse situations are a different issue and will not be handled under the vagrancy ordinance.
In other matters at the Jan. 22 City Council session, elected representatives considered a secure site for disposal of electronic devices, approved a new municipal calendar, added three firefighters, authorized first steps to a code update and moved forward with the City Charter Review Commission.
Meanwhile, before the council passed the loitering and vagrancy ordinance, there were some who spoke against it, urging those on the dais to vote against the measure.
“The ordinance does not strengthen our community, it targets those with the least ability to defend themselves,” said Tara Andrews. “Existing in public is not a crime.”
The ordinance applies to sitting or lying down on a public sidewalk, street, alleyway or property; sleeping in a public place at night; aggressive panhandling; and obstructing the pedestrian right of way.
Fines can reach $500. Sitting at chairs or tables on the sidewalk provided by a business, watching a parade or event and other types of common downtown business and tourist activities are exempted from the ruling.
Branson said the ordinance will be enforced if officers witness an infraction or if one is reported to them. He said the first action police will take is to ask for compliance, and will only write a citation if the offender refuses to follow the law.
Branson said he found support for the ordinance to be unanimous among downtown merchants.
Mark Nibbelink, co-owner of the McCrory Timmerman Building, 112 W. Second St., recounted several worrisome encounters a female tenant and his partner have had downtown.
“It’s just gotten worse and worse. I don’t want to go ahead and needlessly hassle people who need help and empathy, but by the same token we’ve got this element that is really...causing a lot of problems downtown,” Nibbelink said.
Getting a data-disposal site Residents eventually may have a new place to securely dispose personal electronic equipment.
A public hearing Thursday at council centered on Colt Recycling, which has applied for a special-use permit to operate a light electronicsdisposal service at 601 W. Second St., site of the former Taylor Bedding Co. manufacturing plant. The company specializes in technology-asset disposition and secure data destruction. Scott Heselmeyer, representing the owner, said the business plans to phase in free disposal for the public after establishing its commercial service.
“If you go and drop off your old laptop, you’re gonna probably want to watch them take that hard drive and put it through that shredder before you walk away,” Heselmeyer said. “That’s something in the plan, though not something that can be done Day One.”
The permit allows only one compact electric shredder, which Heselmeyer said is about as loud as an oldermodel paper shredder and will not be heard from outside.
The city has attached several considerations to the permit.
“We want to make sure that there (aren’t) any odors, fumes, vapors, dust, smoke or noise detected beyond the interior of this building,” said City Planning Manager Joseph Ducay. “We want to make sure everything is completely indoors. No outdoor processing, storage or staging of materials or equipment would be permitted.”
Calendar approved
The council without comment approved the 2026 City Adopted Events Calendar, which are events either hosted solely by the city or sponsored with another agency.
The city’s sesquicentennial celebration was not listed because those dates will be determined later.
The calendar was part of the consent agenda.
The city will continue to observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth, as well as Hispanic Heritage Month, Kite Day, Arbor Day, Bike Rodeo and Taylor Shred Fest.
City approves three additional firefighters
The city is adding three personnel with the rank of firefighter to the Taylor Fire Department, bumping the number from 12 to 15.
The department’s total complement will be 29.
The additions were discussed during the Jan. 8 council meeting, but no action was taken until Thursday’s session.
The firefighters will be hired at an annual salary of $64,151 and will cost the city $87,772 each including total pay and benefits.
The three positions will add $263,317 per year to the budget.
Taylor eyes $49,945 cost for code upgrade
The elected representatives at City Hall last Thursday approved a task order for consultants HDR to evaluate the city’s building codes as part of adopting 2024 industrial codes. The city last did an update in 2021 using the 2018 International Council codes and the 2020 National Electric Code.
HDR will hold stakeholder meetings in April or May, then present an updated ordinance for adoption in July.
Charter review moves forward
The council officially directed the Charter Review Commission to conduct a “comprehensive and general review” of the City’s Home Rule Charter in its entirety.
The review is to identify any outdated or conflicting provisions and find opportunities for improvement, officials said.
The process is being guided by attorney Charlie Zech with Denton, Navarro, Rodriguez, Bernal, Santee & Zech PC.
If any changes are suggested, they would go before voters on the November ballot.
