Recap of City Council Meeting - 8/31/22 by Councilmember Hines
Recap August 31st Special Meeting of City Council
Submitted by Councilmember Debra Hines and approved by Mayor Jeff Rasco
Mayor Pro Tem LeBrun was absent due to illness.
Consent Agenda:
Item 1: Approval of August 2nd Special Meeting minutes was unanimous by all those present.
Regular Agenda:
Item 2: Rick Maldonado received the first “Spirit of Woodcreek” award as presented by Councilmember Pulley. Mr. Maldonado received this award for his work selflessly picking up trash throughout the community on his daily walks. This award is meant to recognize those who go above and beyond for the community and recipients exemplify what it means to be a good neighbor and good citizen.
Item 3: Public Hearing on Tax Note occurred.
Item 4: Discussion on the Tax Note occurred. All those present on Council abstained from the vote on the tax rate. The reasoning for all abstaining:
- The final vote on the tax note needs to occur after the final vote on the budget by law.
- The public hearing notice for the budget did not get posted in time. So, no budget hearing could take place during this meeting.
- Since the public hearing on the tax note was already announced the hearing took place.
- It is required that a vote occur within seven days of a public hearing on tax notes. So, a vote was taken.
- By abstaining Council has not passed the tax rate at this time, but a vote was taken. This action complies with state law requirements and confirmed by City Attorney Bud Wymore.
Item 5: A second public hearing on the 2022 – 2023 tax rate was set for September 14th @ 2PM at City Hall. All Councilmembers present voted aye.
Item 6: The final vote on the 2022 – 2023 tax rate will be held on September 14th @2PM at City Hall. All Councilmembers present voted aye.
Item 7: The public hearing on the 2022 – 2023 budget was set for September 14th @ 2PM at City Hall. All Councilmembers present voted aye.
Item 8: The final vote on the 2022 – 2023 budget will be held on September 14th @ 2PM at City Hall. All Councilmembers present voted aye.
Item 9: The ordinance calling and ordering the General Election for the purpose of electing three at-large Councilmember positions for two-year terms to be held on November 8th, 2022 passed unanimously by all those present.
Item 10: All those present on Council unanimously passed appointment of Tamara Robertson to the Planning and Zoning Commission, as recommended by Councilmember Joe Kotarba, to fill his remaining term. Her application can be found in the packet on page 17: https://mccmeetings.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/woodcreek-pubu/MEET-Pack...
Item 11: The Council liaison policy document was unanimously passed by all those present and will be posted on the City website for citizens to review. This document outlines liaison responsibilities and duties as well as outlining restrictions on the role.
Item 12: All those present on Council voted unanimously to approve the creation of an official City of Woodcreek social media page on both Nextdoor and Facebook. Amendments were made to the motion to specify that this will occur after a City Manager is hired, that comments will be restricted on the pages, and that a social media policy document shall follow.
Item 13: Discussion occurred on an update to the rainwater collection portion of the city ordinances. No vote was taken on this item as it was presented for discussion only. The following recommendations were made by Councilmembers:
- Meet with local groups like the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association, Hays Trinity Groundwater Management Association, and the Meadows Center for input on an update.
- Create a separate section for rainwater collection
- Seek grants to fund community incentive programs
- Consider a credit back program
- Look at how to implement in the ETJ through development agreements, subdivision, and platting regulations
- Consider how to promote “One Water” construction with future commercial development
Item 14: The ordinance to add two stop signs on Brookhollow Drive at the south intersection of Brookhollow and Augusta Drive was unanimously approved by all those present. City Attorney Bud Wymore clarified that an engineering study specific to this location is not required. Council discussed that the Platinum Panel is looking at additional signage throughout the City. Mayor Rasco mentioned support of this ordinance in part due to the school bus route passing through that area. This item was brought to Council out of concerns for pedestrian safety in the area and to manage increasing traffic due to La Rocca being open, additional homes on Augusta Drive, and the double intersection of Jack Miller and Augusta being so close to each other. It was also noted there are limitations in the sight line and safe access to step off the road for pedestrians at this intersection thus increasing the need for traffic control measures in the area. This section of the road was listed as a high priority for pedestrian mobility and safety in the Future Land Use meeting.
Item 15: After much debate and discussion, Council approved staff moving forward with mold mitigation in accordance with the report from Casa Loma with expenditures not to exceed $3000. Councilmember Pulley expressed concerns over approval of fund expenditures without the full report being presented to Council first. Councilmember Hines advocated that immediate action be taken as mold can be a serious health concern. It was established that the Casa Loma inspector provides a mold report and does not provide mold mitigation or management services. The City will have to seek out other professionals and can go to the bid process for securing additional services. During the inspection, concerns over visible mold around the HVAC system were expressed, it was documented that filters needed to be changed, and the carpet in City Hall was described as a possible area of concern. At the time of the meeting the mold report had just come in but was not provided to Council for review. City Attorney Bud Wymore noted that in the case of a public health concern City Staff can act without first obtaining approval by Council and the bid process can be bypassed. He noted that cases of mold, specifically those in which it is documented to be serious or a hazard, could be considered a public health concern and thus would allow Staff to proceed as determined by a professional.
Item 16: Council approved an expenditure not to exceed $5000 to remove dead, dying and diseased trees located in the public rights-of-way and on other public land. Trees identified as in need of removal are in Creekside Park, at 60 Brookhollow, 18 Country Lane, and on Brookmeadow at 21 and 23.
Item 17: Discussion occurred on this item, but it was removed from any action to be considered. This item was intended to go through the formality of appointing Mayor Jeff Rasco as acting City Manager. This was not an item to hire Mayor Rasco as the City Manager nor would it have resulted in monetary compensation for Mayor Rasco if action had been taken. This item was presented because Mayor Rasco has been assisting staff in daily operations of the City but needed access to some digital files and other systems. This item would have been for formality purposes only to comply with city policies that only staff members have access to some items. Prior to this meeting occurring, access was granted, and it was determined the item was no longer officially needed. City Attorney Bud Wymore clarified that the Council at any time could designate all responsibilities of the City Manager to the Mayor and that the City is not required to have a separate City Manager as no vote to move towards that form of government has ever been taken. The City Manager position has been posted. The Council and Mayor are still actively seeking a replacement employee for the position. Mayor Rasco continues to assist staff and serve as a temporary replacement for the City Manager while the applicantion process proceeds.
