Weatherford
Weatherford City Council, Sept. 23, 2014: 11 items, 2 split votes; public hearing and consider approval of Ordinance 698-2014-43 for a Zoning Change for
0 consent items, 11 regular items, 2 public hearings; 10 recorded votes. Written from the minutes.
Hold a PUBLIC HEARING and consider approval of Ordinance 698-2014-43 for a Zoning Change for property zoned PD Planned Development to be rezoned C1 Commercial, located at 907 Sloan Street, more generally described as ± 0.193 acres in the I.C. Spence Survey, A-1172, City of Weatherford, Parker County, Texas. ZCH2014-0010 Craig Farmer, Director of Planning and Development, presented this item stating that this parcel is situated immediately to the east of Roo Stadium at the intersection of Eureka and Sloan. The area is currently zoned PD (planned development) and the applicant is requesting C1 (commercial). The parcel is 0.19 acres. The Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) recommended approval at their meeting on September 10, 2014. Mayor Hooks opened the public hearing at 6:33 p.m. As there were no speakers, Mayor Hooks closed the hearing at 6:33 p.m. On the motion of Craig Swancy, second by Heidi Wilder, the Council voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 698-2014-43. Motion carried 5 - 0.
Consider and/or act upon approval of Resolution R2014-26 authorizing the City Manager to apply for a grant from the Texas Department of Agriculture for sidewalk improvements in the downtown area. Kathy Daniel, Grants Manager, presented this item requesting authorization for the City Manager to apply for a grant from the Texas Department of Agriculture Main Street Program. The City is eligible since Weatherford is a Main Street community. Funding is geared towards improving sidewalks in the historic downtown area. The grant is for $150,000 and requires a 20 percent match, which is $30,000. If awarded, the matching funds have been earmarked from the City Manager's contingency fund. Ms. Wilder inquired about the total of cash match for the grants we have applied for thus far and whether any methodology has been determined for setting aside the required matching funds. City Manager Jerry Blaisdell advised that funds have been identified for some of the matches and that Council does have the ability to turn down the grants if they are awarded to the City. On the motion of Waymon Hamilton, second by Craig Swancy, the Council voted unanimously to approve Resolution R2014-26. Motion carried 5 - 0.
CC092314 Page 2 of 6 Consider and/or act upon General Fund and Hotel Fund outside agency funding requests. Kyle Lester, Budget and Strategic Planning Manager, presented this item. On the motion of Craig Swancy, second by Waymon Hamilton, the Council voted to approve funding from the General Fund as follows: Parker County Committee on Aging: $30,000 Center of Hope: $11,350 Freedom House: $15,000 Manna: $10,000 Crossroads Youth Ministry: $3,650 Motion carried 4 - 0.
Mr. Robinson recused himself. On the motion of Jeff Robinson, second by Heidi Wilder, the Council voted unanimously to approve the HOT fund distributions as follows: Doss Heritage and Culture Center: $30,000 of which $10,000 is dedicated for log cabins Chamber of Commerce: $121,400 of which $25,000 is dedicated for Peach Festival Overtime Motion carried 5 - 0.
Consider and/or act upon approval of Ordinance 699-2014-44 adopting the City Manager's Proposed Budget as amended by the City Council for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2014, and ending September 30, 2015. Mr. Lester stated that the City Manager's proposed budget was presented to the Council on July 29. Work sessions were held on August 5, 12, 26, and September 9. Public Hearings were held on August 26, September 9 and 16. The general services budget contains 21 funds totaling $41 million, of which $29 million is in the General Fund. As discussed in previous work sessions, the following changes have been incorporated into this budget: Fire apparatus is now financed with a large down payment of $433,000 Health insurance increases are now ongoing Small vehicle leasing was eliminated $70,000 in General Fund grants were implemented at Council's discretion Mr. Lester provided the following charts for FY15 and noted that dollars from the property tax increase have been earmarked for the items listed in red on the property tax rate chart. The FY15 ending fund balance is $8.8 million which is approximately 124 days. CC092314 Page 3 of 6 On the motion of Craig Swancy, second by Jeff Robinson, the Council voted to approve Ordinance 699- 2014-44 adopting the City Manager's Proposed FY15 Budget as amended. Motion carried 3 - 2.
Councilmembers Hamilton and Wilder voted in opposition. Consider and/or act upon the first and final ratification of the property tax revenue increase reflected in the Proposed FY15 Weatherford Municipal Annual Budget. Mr. Lester noted that a separate vote is required to ratify the tax increase reflected in the budget. On the motion of Craig Swancy, second by Jeff Robinson, the Council voted to ratify the property tax revenue increase. Motion carried 3 - 2.
Councilmembers Hamilton and Wilder voted in opposition. Consider and/or act upon approval of Ordinance 700-2014-45 adopting the proposed ad valorem tax rate of $0.4866 cents per $100 of valuation for the 2014 tax year. Mr. Lester reviewed the FY15 rate stating that the budget just adopted by the Council incorporates a 2.3 cent increase for a total tax rate of $0.4866 cents per $100 of assessed value. The following citizens spoke in favor of the tax increase: Bill Warren, 605 South Waco Kathleen Wildwood, 602 South Waco Jeff Robinson moved that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of 48.66 cents per $100 valuation which is effectively a 6.3% increase in the tax rate. This includes a rate of 31.5 cents for the operations and maintenance of the General Fund and 17.16 cents in order to service the city's debt. Second by Craig Swancy. Motion carried 3 - 2.
Councilmembers Hamilton and Wilder voted in opposition. Consider a Minor Plat for Soper Land Addition, for property located at 1228 Vine Street, City of Weatherford, Parker County, Texas. SBD2014-0007 Craig Farmer presented this item. The project has been reviewed by staff and complies with our regulatory and planning requirements with the following exceptions: The applicant's engineer has proposed that the construction requirement for the future collector street, pursuant to the subdivision regulations exceeds reasonable benefit to the property to be platted. This requires a waiver from City Council, with a recommendation from the PZC. The applicant's engineer has proposed that the construction requirement for Vine Street, pursuant to the subdivision regulations exceeds reasonable benefit to the property to be platted. This requires a waiver from City Council, with a recommendation from the PZC. CC092314 Page 4 of 6 At their meeting on September 10, 2014, the PZC recommended approval, with waivers granted for the construction or improvement of Vine Street and the future collector street. On the motion of Waymon Hamilton, second by Craig Swancy, the Council voted unanimously to approve this item. Motion carried 5 - 0.
Consider a Final Plat for KEG 1 Addition, for property located at 549 West B.B. Fielder, City of Weatherford, Parker County, Texas. SBD2014-0019 Mr. Farmer stated that the applicant has filed a preliminary plat for the entire property and is in the process of a final plat for one of the lots. The applicant is in the process of requesting a temporary certificate of occupancy for the warehouse. The final plat requires that all utilities, roadways, and etcetera be completed before approval. At their September 10, 2014 meeting, the PZC recommended approval, with the conditions that the plat is not certified or filed with Parker County, and the certificate of occupancy (including the temporary certificate of occupancy) for private improvements is withheld until the required public improvements are completed by the developer and accepted by the City, and which conditions include the necessary maintenance bonds for those roads and other requirements of the ordinance. The utility easement will be dedicated when the final plat is filed. On the motion of Waymon Hamilton, second by Heidi Wilder, the Council voted unanimously to approve the request. Motion carried 5 - 0.
Discuss and consider City Council meeting schedule for October, November and December 2014. Malinda Nowell, City Secretary, presented this item. Mrs. Nowell stated that the annual Chamber of Commerce banquet has been scheduled for Tuesday, October 14 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Council consensus was to meet at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, October 13. Mrs. Nowell stated that, from time to time, the Council has chosen to meet only once in November and December and asked for the Council's consideration noting that the second Tuesday in November is Veterans' Day which is a holiday observed by the City, that the fourth Tuesday falls during the week of Thanksgiving, and that the period of time to canvass the November 4 election votes is November 12 through 17. The Council's consensus was to meet Monday, November 17 at 6:30 p.m. For December, the Council's consensus was to meet only once on December 16 at 6:30 p.m., unless a need arises for an additional meeting.
August 2014 Monthly Financial Report. Kyle Lester presented this report. No action was required or taken. Briefing on Downtown Code Enforcement efforts. Mr. Farmer presented this briefing. He provided the following timeline beginning with City Council’s adoption of the downtown action plan in January 2014, the adoption of the 2009 building codes, and Planning and Development assuming Main Street and Code enforcement duties in the spring of 2014. Mr. Farmer also spoke about issues facing the City’s Code Enforcement Division, and the impact that the adoption of the 2009 International Code Adoptions on Code Enforcement and the downtown area. Some areas of interest include emphasis on historical building upgrade exemptions, a reduction on the number of restrooms required, a reduction on the number of accessible restrooms required, an allowance for live- work businesses throughout City. The 2009 International Property Maintenance Code changes offer a better definition of exterior premises condition violations, and a better definition of exterior structure condition violations. Mr. Farmer provided some examples. Mr. Farmer mentioned difficult, prominent cases, in the downtown area and that the City has hired outside attorneys to assist in these cases. Mr. Farmer also stated that some of the issues in downtown relate to sidewalk conditions, accumulation of CC092314 Page 5 of 6 trash, [...]
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, Sept. 23, 2014 (Granicus); Agenda for this meeting (Granicus); Meeting video (Granicus)