Weatherford
Weatherford City Council, Aug. 12, 2014: 10 items; presentations from outside agencies requesting funding via General Fund and Hotel
0 consent items, 10 regular items, 5 public hearings, 3 executive-session topics; 11 recorded votes, all unanimous. Written from the minutes.
Receive presentations from outside agencies requesting funding via General Fund and Hotel Occupancy Tax Revenue. Kyle Lester, Budget and Strategic Planning Manager, introduced this item. Outside funding requests from the General Fund total $104,350 for the upcoming Fiscal Year (FY). Paula Hood presented Center of Hope's funding request of $11,350. Cindy Hanna presented Crossroads Youth Ministry's request for $20,000. Catherine Tietjen presented a request for $15,000 on behalf of Freedom House. Janice Smith presented a request for $28,000 on behalf of Manna Storehouse to enhance utility assistance. Council considered the ability to offset this request through the Utility Fund. Kristen Lilley, Parker County Committee on Aging, presented a request for $30,000. Hotel Occupancy Tax Revenue requests total $211,400 for FY2015. Amanda Rush, Doss Heritage and Cultural Center, presented a request for $70,000. Lewis Schwartz presented a request for $20,000 on behalf of Theatre Off The Square (TOTS). Mr. Schwartz mentioned section 351.101 of the Texas Tax Code and stated that the arts could be supported without regard for ‘heads in beds.’ They City’s attorney disagreed. Peggy Hutton, Weatherford Chamber of Commerce, presented a request for $121,400.
Hold a PUBLIC HEARING and consider approval of Ordinance 687-2014-32 amending Title XII, Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 3. Zoning Districts, Section 26.3 Historic Preservation Commission by replacing the section in its entirety with "RESERVED." [The section has been moved to Title II Chapter 9]. MCA2014-0001 Craig Farmer, Director of Planning and Development, presented this item. This request removes the duties and functions of the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) from Title XII Zoning Ordinance and retains those duties and functions in Title II Commissions and Boards, where they are listed concurrently along with all other boards, commissions, and committees of the City. Mayor Hooks opened the Public Hearing at 7:50 p.m. Kathleen Wildwood, member of the City's Historic Preservation Commission, spoke in favor of this item asking the Council to take this step to make things run more smoothly for the HPC. As there were no other speakers, Mayor Hooks closed the Hearing at 7:51 p.m. On the motion of Waymon Hamilton, second by Jeff Robinson, the Council voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 687-2014-32. Motion carried 5 - 0.
Hold a PUBLIC HEARING and consider approval of Ordinance 688-2014-33 for a Zoning Change from C2 Conditional Use Permit (CUP) and C2 Commercial to C2 with a CUP for Motor Vehicle Sales for properties located at 1102, 1126 and 1304 Washington Drive, more generally described as 5.717 acres situated in and being a portion of the Rufus Inman Survey, Abstract No. 726 in the City of Weatherford, Parker County, Texas. ZCH2014-0007 Mr. Farmer presented this item as well. He stated that the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of this item at their July 23, 2014 meeting with the following restrictions: that there is to be no parking on Washington, no loading/unloading on Washington, that berms and down lighting will be used, and that the results of the traffic impact analysis (TIA) are to be taken into consideration. Shea Kirkman, applicant, spoke on behalf of the Williams family to present this project. Mr. Kirkman stated that the family determined the need for additional property in order to accomplish their goals for the dealership. They are asking that the CUP be extended for the additional property. The development CC 081214 Page 2 of 10 must use Washington Drive for access because the property is located along a section of the interstate that is restricted access by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). As a result, the facility will have a dual front [...]
Hold a PUBLIC HEARING and consider approval of Ordinance 689-2014-34 requesting a Zoning Change from AG Agricultural to C1 Commercial for property located at 2251 Fort Worth Highway, more generally described as a 2.476 Acres situated in the Henry Hawkins survey, Abstract No. 2559; J.B. Bush Survey, Abstract No. 71 and the Wm. Cosley Survey, Abstract No. 244, City of Weatherford, Parker County, Texas. ZCH2014-0009 Mr. Farmer presented this item. Mayor Hooks opened the Public Hearing at 8:06 p.m. As there were no speakers, Mayor Hooks closed the Hearing at 8:06 p.m. On the motion of Jeff Robinson, second by Heidi Wilder, the Council voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 689-2014-34. Motion carried 5 - 0.
Hold a PUBLIC HEARING and consider approval of Resolution R2014-22 designating a certain area within the corporate boundaries of the City as a Reinvestment Zone, as authorized by Section 312, Texas Tax Code, for commercial/industrial tax abatement; for property identified as certain parcels or tracts of Land Being Lot 1, Block 1, Imperial Addition, An Addition To Parker County, CC 081214 Page 3 of 10 Texas, The 4.000 acres tract of land situated within the T. Beall Survey, Abstract Number 166, and the A. Obenchain Survey, Abstract Number 1033, City of Weatherford, Parker County, Texas and a portion of a tract of land described by deed to John D. Kirkpatrick as recorded in Volume 1310, Page 113 of the Deed Records of Parker County, Texas (D.R.P.C.T.), City of Weatherford, Parker County, Texas; And commonly known as 400 West Interstate 20, Weatherford, Texas. Dennis Clayton, Director of Weatherford Economic Development, presented this item. Mayor Hooks opened the Public Hearing at 8:10 p.m. As there were no speakers, Mayor Hooks closed the Hearing at 8:10 p.m. On the motion of Waymon Hamilton, second by Heidi Wilder, the Council voted unanimously to approve Resolution R2014-22 designating a certain area within the corporate boundaries of the City as a Reinvestment Zone. Motion carried 5 - 0.
The Council recessed for a short break at 8:10 p.m. The Council reconvened at 8:20 p.m. Vote to propose City of Weatherford property tax rate for Fiscal Year (FY) 2015. Upon request of Mayor Hooks, City Secretary Malinda Nowell read the City's Rules Governing Citizen Comments. Kyle Lester, Budget and Strategic Planning Manager, presented this item. In the current Fiscal Year, FY14, the City of Weatherford's ad valorem tax rate is $0.4636 per $100 of assessed property value. This includes $0.292 per $100 for operations and maintenance (O&M), and $0.1716 for interest and sinking (I&S). Certified Appraised Values for the upcoming fiscal year indicate that the effective tax rate is $0.4575. This means that it would require a slightly lower tax rate to generate the same amount of property tax revenue on properties that exist on the tax rolls for both years. State law requires the City to hold two public hearings before adopting a tax rate that exceeds the effective tax rate. The rollback rate is $0.5016 and it represents the highest rate we can adopt without triggering a possible rollback election. While there are restrictions on rates that can be adopted, there is no real restriction on a rate proposal. The rate Council proposes tonight will represent the highest rate which can ultimately be adopted for FY15. The FY15 City Manager's Proposed Budget includes a proposed tax increase [...]
Consider and/or act upon approval of Resolution R2014-23 ordering a bond election to be held in the City of Weatherford on November 4, 2014 and authorizing the Mayor to execute the Contract for Election Services with Parker County Elections. Terry Hughes, Director of Capital Transportation Projects, presented this item. Staff was directed to bring back three proposals. Ms. Wilder stated that three proposals seem to be too much for our citizens. She stated that she polled her neighborhood and it seems like those that were going to vote would vote on the cheapest of the propositions. Ms. Wilder suggested taking only one proposition, number one, before the voters which would include the downtown project and the six traffic lights from proposition 2. It was suggested that the other items could be set out for future bond elections as they are all good projects. Council agreed with Ms. Wilder's suggestion to put only one proposition before the voters in November. Mr. Hughes stated that staff can craft the motion as needed for adoption of the resolution as Council wants it. Mr. Hughes spoke briefly about the average taxable value and shared the following chart: With the tax increase that the Council proposed for FY15 earlier this evening, the tax rate increases as follows: Further, the tax rate increases, over and above that, as follows, should the citizens approve the bond [...]
On the motion of Heidi Wilder, second by Jeff Robinson, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the Mayor to sign the agreement with Parker County Elections for election administration. Motion carried 5 - 0.
Discuss and consider reappointments to the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee and the Transportation Advisory Board, and request applicants for other boards, commissions, and committees. Mr. Swancy thanked all those that have served on boards, commissions, and committees and stated that we are accepting applications. On the motion of Craig Swancy, second by Jeff Robinson, the Council voted unanimously to reappoint Sharon Hayes and Chris Cummins to the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee for their second full terms. Motion carried 5 - 0.
On the motion of Craig Swancy, second by Jeff Robinson, the Council voted unanimously to reappoint Richard H. Simmons to the Transportation Advisory Board for his second full term. Motion carried 5 - 0.
Action on executive session items: To take action, if necessary, pursuant to Chapter 551, Texas Government Code, VTCS, (Open Meetings Law): In accordance with the authority contained in: * Section 551.087 - Deliberations regarding economic development negotiations: Imperial Construction, Inc. * Section 551.087 - Deliberations regarding economic development negotiations: Bill and Pam Alexander * Section 551.074 - Personnel Matters - to deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignm
Executive session topics, as posted: * Section 551.087 - Deliberations regarding economic development negotiations: Imperial; * Section 551.087 - Deliberations regarding economic development negotiations: Bill and Pam; * Section 551.074 - Personnel Matters - to deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation,.
Compiled from the city secretary's minutes by the Ledger's extractor, in the minutes' own wording, item by item; the Ledger adds no characterization. Read the minutes for the full record.
Sources: City of Weatherford: council minutes, Aug. 12, 2014 (Granicus); Agenda for this meeting (Granicus); Meeting video (Granicus)