Recap April 12, 2023 Regular Council Meeting, Submitted by Councilmember Debra Hines and approved by Mayor Jeff Rasco
Recap April 12, 2023 Regular Council Meeting
Submitted by Councilmember Debra Hines and approved by Mayor Jeff Rasco
Consent:
Meeting minutes were passed unanimously.
Reports:
No Planning and Zoning Liaison report at this time since the Chairperson was in attendance and had a Report by the Chair on the agenda. Their meeting this past month was cancelled due to no agenda for discussion.
Ordinance Review Committee has submitted some items for consideration by Council. These will appear on the workshop. The Committee is seeking new direction from Council as they have currently wrapped up all pending business.
The Parks and Recreation Board had a meeting on March 29th and discussed changes in the park update plans. Specifically, they reviewed the size and design of the proposed gazebo/meeting space for “The Triangle” greenspace. The Board is reviewing final details for equipment sizes and placement to guide pending estimates for cost of purchase for submission to Council for approval. There will be a workday on Earth Day, on April 22nd at Augusta Park. This portion of the Earth Day event is specific to the Parks Board; there will be other activities.
Platinum Panel has decided to roll the chip seal project into the larger Bond proposal for RFP. There were no usable bids received for the smaller chip seal work. The Panel held a workshop to iron out the RFP draft with K. Friese which should be posted in May. The goal is to wrap up all road work by October 2023.
The Tree Board is working on Earth Day celebrations at The Triangle. City Manager Rule will be cooking hot dogs to be served for volunteers. The Tree Board will have educational materials, seedlings while supplies last, and even cookies!! Volunteers for Earth Day clean-up projects are encouraged to meet at 8:30AM for breakfast snacks at The Triangle. From there, participants will proceed to designated areas to work on Woodcreek parks and greenspaces. If you cannot join the group, then you are encouraged to clean up at your own home or in your area. Please share photos with the City if you do! Send photos to Woodcreek@woodcreektx.gov
The Tree Board is planning an update to the existing Tree Survey post ice storm. They are coordinating a walking event to educate about Oak Wilt with Karl Flocke. They are discussing rules for attendance for the Board and membership requirements. They currently have two spaces to fill. If you are interested in applying for the Tree Board please contact city hall for an application. Woodcreek@woodcreektx.gov
City Manager Rule reported that Earth Day events are being planned and to stay connected to the City via email for more details. There is also a link on the website to find more information for Earth Day events. There is a workshop for City Council on April 18th at 3PM. Mr. Rule also thanked residents for their participation and attendance at the Emergency Preparedness Event and encouraged people to attend next year as the event was very fun while informative. The RFP for the City Arborist will be posted soon.
The Hotel Tax Occupancy Committee voted to leave the current tax rate at 0%, but to review again in a year. They will remain a committee for this time period but remain dormant.
New Business:
Item 14: (moved up in the agenda as there was significant public comment and attendance) Council passed proposed ordinance changes for above ground pools on to Planning and Zoning with four “ayes” and one abstention from Councilmember Pulley. Staff and Interim City Attorney will draft an ordinance based on the proposed changes sent by Council for Planning and Zoning to consider. Councilmember Hines read the changes into the record as the document was accidentally left out of the agenda. If you would like a copy you can request from Ms. Hines or staff: debra.hines@woodcreektx.gov or woodcreek@woodcreektx.gov Discussion on this item centered around treating above ground pools much like in-ground pools with the same regulations and safety protocols. It was clarified that water to fill the pools would not come from groundwater sources in the Valley and instead would need to be purchased and trucked in with receipts to be provided. Those in favor of pools cited the health benefits, limited access to free public swimming in the valley, and a desire to allow residents more use of their personal property. Impervious coverage calculations and specifications would remain consistent with in-ground pools.
Item 5: A financial presentation was provided by Brad Angst from STIFEL. This was similar to presentations Council had received in the past but was needed as an introduction from the company as the new financial advisor for the City and in preparation for the Road Bond issuance. Discussion occurred on possibilities to address existing debt in relation to issuing the new Bond. No action was taken. Council will await the next step in the process from STIFEL which will be to set the financial terms for the Bond issuance, go out for a credit rating, select Bond Counsel, and create the final timeline for Bond issuance.
Item 6: Chairperson Andy Davenport provided a report on the recommendation from Planning and Zoning to Council on Short-term rentals. Some discussion occurred. No action was taken.
Item 7: City Manager Rule presented a timeline for Ice Storm Clean up and anticipated costs. This can be found starting on page 81 of the packet: https://mccmeetings.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/woodcreek-pubu/MEET-Pack...
COUNCIL ENTERED EXECUTIVE SESSION. No Action was taken during the session.
Item 9: Councilmember Hines issued a motion to direct Mayor Rasco, City Staff and Interim City Attorney Roger Gordon to enter into negotiations for the acquisition of real property. This motion passed with four “ayes” and one abstention from Councilmember Bailey.
Item 10: Council did not pass continuing with the Storm Response Relief Program. Citizens who responded to the email expressed support for the program in majority, but there were no responses seeking assistance. Councilmember Hines expressed concern that the email was not clear on its purpose and so perhaps a second email should be sent to more explicitly ask if anyone needed the assistance. Council declined to move forward with a second email. Concerns over how to establish eligibility, where the funds would come from, and creating more work for staff were expressed. Councilmembers Pulley, Hambrick and Bailey voted “nay” and Councilmembers Grummert and Hines voted “aye” to send a second email to seek actual applicants for the program to gage if there was an actual need for the program or not. No further action was taken. This in effect closes the consideration of the program.
Item 11: Council unanimously approved the creation of a City of Woodcreek’s Emergency Management Plan. This is a requirement for the City and Councilmember Grummert highlighted specific protocols the City must have in place and follow annually.
Item 12: Council unanimously approved the February financials. City Manager Rule confirmed a budget amendment is needed and pending. This will address the ice storm expenditures among other adjustments needed such as the allocation of Community Block Grant match funds in a special category. Some discussion occurred confirming that the City may receive reimbursement for up to 75% of the funds spent on the ice storm, but there is no timeline for that to occur. It was stressed once again that people need to submit volunteer hours spent on behalf of the City or for neighbors in the clean-up efforts. The City can use these to count towards the 25% match requirement. Contact City Hall for assistance with submitting volunteer hours: (512) 847-9390 or woodcreek@woodcreektx.gov
Item 13: A new form presented by staff to address applicants acknowledging they have read the applicable code when applying for various permits was passed by Council by four “ayes” and one abstention from Councilmember Pulley. There were issues with accessibility of the agenda and Councilmember Grummert and Pulley were not able to view the application document during the meeting. Minor adjustments were suggested by Councilmember Hines for staff to consider.
Councilmember Brent Pulley left the meeting.
Item 15: (Postponed to the workshop) Discussion on providing new direction for the Ordinance Review Committee
Item 16: (Postponed to the workshop) Discussion of plan for the Ad Hoc Workgroup Chapters 154+ and the first packet of materials.
Item 17: Council unanimously accepted the Citizen Survey of 2023 results. These can be found on page 193 of the packet: https://mccmeetings.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/woodcreek-pubu/MEET-Packet-a1e29c254c3042c78acd8f69eeafadff.pdf
Item 18: Discussion over concerns with the procedure surrounding the new tree trimming application occurred. No action was taken. Staff was planning to adjust some of the terminology on the application to address the confusion between branches versus the trunks (or leaders) of a multi-trunk tree. Conversation centered around concerns brought by Councilmember Hines that staff was requiring all trees to be marked for the permit approval rather than just the ones 19inches and over, and of certain species which are protected by Chapter 91 as it was creating additional work for residents or professionals and could be seen as extending regulation or protections beyond that which is outlined in the code. Staff stressed that they need to know all trees for which the permit applied and that this was the preferred procedure. They shared that they have had issues with applications being factually inaccurate or not covering the full scope of work and this was their solution.
Item 19: A single word on the Oak Wilt Assistance Application was changed. The word “available” on the second page was changed to “budgeted.” This decision was unanimously approved by all those present.
Item 20: The ordinance to adjust stop signs along Brookhollow to create a staggered stop at Brookhollow, Augusta, and Jack Miller was approved. The original stop sign configuration was approved summer of 2022. This adjustment moved the stop for traffic heading Southeast on Brookhollow to just before Jack Miller creating a staggered 4-way stop. Councilmember Hines introduced road painting and additional signage to help better regulate this intersection. Vote was a tie with two “nay” from Councilmembers Hambrick and Bailey, and two “aye” from Councilmembers Grummert and Hines. Mayor Rasco broke the tie with an “aye.” This ordinance also removed the stop signs in the City code on the private drive commonly called “La Rocca” as the City cannot regulate traffic on a private drive. The one remaining stop sign on La Rocca may remain in place at the discretion of the property owner.
