The City is required to have an Animal Advisory Committee by the Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 823.  The purpose of the Animal Advisory Committee is to assist the municipal animal shelter in complying with the other requirement of Chapter 823.  The Committee must be compromised of a veterinarian, a city or county official, an employee of the animal shelter, and a representative of an animal welfare organization.  The City goes beyond the basic requirements of Chapter 823 by allowing other individuals that are interested in animal welfare to join the committee as alternates.  The City’s Animal Advisory Committee not only assists with this mandate, but also with other functions of the Pet Adoption Center, including: advising on potential ordinances, fund raising ideals, and ideals with regards to animal care that go beyond the requirements of the State of Texas.  The animal advisory committee is required by State Code to meet three times a year.

The Arts Commission promotes, supports, and expands the arts as an integral aspect of life for all people in the City of Harker Heights. The Commission serves as an advisory body the City Council in arts-related matters including long range planning and acts as a liaison between the arts community and the City.

This Board makes recommendations regarding the development of the book collection programming and other services provided by the Public Library. This board serves to promote library programs and services in the community.

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, first assembled in 1995, is made up of six members and two alternates, which are appointed by the Harker Heights City Council. The board meets on the second Monday evening of all odd number months but does not have a supervisory function, nor does it have rulemaking or quasi-judicial authority over the Parks and Recreation Department. The purpose of the board is to advise the Parks and Rec Department on all matters pertaining to recreation services and activities in the City; including development of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, recommendation of names of facilities, providing opportunities for citizen input, etc. A Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson are selected by the members each year. The Board also has the responsibility of acting as the City’s Tree Advisory Board, a requirement related to the City of Harker Heights’ designation as a “Tree City USA” partner. The Tree Advisory Board is tasked with reviewing the  City’s Tree Management Plan, promoting the protection of healthy trees, developing public awareness related to trees, and advising staff on the coordination of annual Arbor Day activities.

The Public Safety Commission is established as an advisory commission to the City Council in matters concerning the Police, Fire, and Emergency Medical Services Departments of the City of Harker Heights. 

The Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) is responsible for developing, reviewing, and forwarding recommendations for short and long range planning to the City Council. Examples of their input include the City’s Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan), the Future Land Use Map (FLUM), zoning classifications, city ordinance revisions, and subdivision plats. Their guidance assists the City Council in maintaining a sustainable community, to improve the overall quality of life, diversity, and economic vitality of Harker Heights.

The Building Standards Commission (BSC) declares how substandard structures and debris will be managed within the City. The BSC is the decision body that determines if a structure shall be declared as substandard and if a structure fails to comply with adopted ordinances and regulations.

The Zoning Board of Adjustments (ZBA) hears and decides appeals where it is alleged there is an error in any order, requirement, decision, or determination made by an administrative official, or any officer, department, board, or bureau of the city. The ZBA may consider and allow variations of the strict application of the terms of the codes if the variations are in harmony with the general purpose and intent of the code and the Board is satisfied, under evidence heard by it, that a granting of the variation will not merely serve as a convenience to the applicant but will alleviate some demonstrable hardship or difficulty so great as to warrant a variation from the comprehensive plan and adopted codes.