City staff decided to look into this and presented their findings to the Keller City Council during a March 4 work session.
What happens?
Once Keller’s population reaches 50,000, certain state and federal regulations are triggered, Keller City Manager Aaron Rector said.
Roads in town that are managed by the Texas Department of Transportation would be put under the city’s purview. This would add an additional 16 intersections and 54 lane miles to what Keller currently manages and could cost the city another $1 million a year, Rector said.
“That’s going to be the biggest expense,” he said.
There are also certain library accreditation requirements that have to be met once a city reaches 50,000 people. One is that the city meets the requirement to be open at least 48 hours a week, which it currently isn't. Keller officials would also have to record all of their public meetings. Certain boards and commissions in the city do not record their meetings.
Reaching 50,000 would also allow the city to apply for grants more directly, instead of having to go through the county or another agency.
Zooming in
Keller’s population currently sits above 46,000, according to the U.S. Census. Over the last decade, the city has grown by an average of 500 residents a year and a couple of years saw bigger spikes in population growth than others. Rector said without those years, the population growth sits just under 400 people a year on average.
“The reality is, we’re trending toward 50,000,” Rector said. “We want to plan accordingly.”
He added city leaders’ should focus on preferable development because growth is going to continue in Keller.
“Even if you stop development, it doesn't guarantee you don't get to 50,000,” Rector said. “All it says is you've missed an opportunity to take advantage of quality development that wants to come here.”
Assuming there are three people per Keller household, the city is expected to add another 516 people this year with already approved developments, Rector said.
What’s next?
The next U.S. Census is in 2030 and will determine if the city’s population exceeds 50,000.
Rector said city staff will be watching population growth closely leading up to the next census and will plan to accommodate those state and federal regulation if they need to.
