By Moses Leos III

Kyle will continue to be the only city in the area that isn’t a member of the Central Texas Clean Air Coalition after city leaders voted 3-2 against becoming a member at an earlier meeting.

District 1 council member Travis Mitchell, who along with District 2 Council Member Becky Selbera and District 3 council member David Wilson voted against joining the CTCAC, was skeptical of possible benefits for Kyle by joining the CTCAC.  

A representative from the Capital Area Coalition of Governments (CAPCOG) said joining the CTCAC would have allowed the city to apply for an air quality grant program. Additional benefits include Kyle receiving technical assistance from CAPCOG on air quality activities and an opportunity to learn and share from best practices from the CTCAC.

Mitchell, however, didn’t believe the grant program benefitted Kyle outside of possible grant dollars.

“We already have low emissions and we’ll continue to do the best we can in that regard,” Mitchell said. “I don’t see it.”

Place 3 councilmember Shane Arabie supported joining, as the city would essentially have no “skin in the game.” Outside of meeting certain air quality regulations, the city would have to designate a city council member as a possible representative.  Arabie said not moving forward with joining was a “misstep.”

Todd Webster, who held concerns on joining the CTCAC during an earlier discussion on the topic, said he was “more comfortable” after the city’s Economic Development Board approved in joining. He felt the city would not have been overburdened by joining.