The agenda for the March 2nd Waco City Council meeting is now online here: 2010-3-2 Waco City Council Meeting Agenda
Here are a few things I think we should pay attention to:
RES-114 - Adding $240,621.91 for an Aviation General Consultant. I have a question as to what this is and why it's needed.
RES-118 - This is to approve the acquisition of an easement on nearly 4 acres owned by Skinny's, Inc. It states that it's for the "Waco Regional Runway Safety Area Project." This sounds like a good thing. I need to learn more. It sounds like they are working to improve the airport which is something one of the Republican District 17 Congressional candidates believes should be done. I agree.
RES-121 - Release of proposed amendments to the Consolidated Action Plan in an amount not to exceed $309,744.00 for public comment. This is for the HUD Consolidated Plan regulations. I do not currently understand why the release of records to the public requires such a large sum of money.
RES-123 - Approving $248,974.80 for 30-month leases on golf carts from a company in Atlanta. That sounds like a lot of money for golf carts to me. Why are we leasing them? Couldn't we buy them cheaper and from a company in Texas? How many golf carts are we talking about?
RES-126 - Accepting a grant from US Department of Transportation for the Airport Improvement Program. It's for $526,315.78 which includes a local match of 425,315.78. This might be a good thing. What types of improvements are being made to the airport?
ORD-127 - Changes the speed limit of New Road from Cobbs Dr. to Waco Dr. to 45 mph and to retain a speed limit of 40 mph from Waco Dr to the Beverly Hills city limit. No big deal, but we should know about it. This is on first reading.
ORD-128 - This is the second reading of a rezoning ordinance. They want to change 820-1006 N 4th St. and 807-1009 N 5th St. from R-1B to Planned Unit Development. The property is to become high-end condos. Toni Herbert stated at the last meeting that there is an "emotional connection" to this property. I'm not positive what she means.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
City Council Business Meeting - 2/16/2010
Click here for the agenda for this meeting: 2010-2-16 Waco City Council Meeting Agenda
10-084 - A trailer operating as an open air vendor at Parkwood and Bosque was identified as not having the proper permit because of zoning. They want to help the man since that business has been there for 3.5 years without any trouble. It fits in with the neighborhood and the neighbors are supportive. The council did not want to rezone to C-2 because that would allow for several other kinds of businesses to be operated there. They are continuing the public hearing. It would have been very easy for the council to simply tell him he had to shut down. I applaud them for taking into account that this business has contributed to the community for the last 3.5 years.
10-086 - Toni Herbert states there is an emotional attachment to this property. She requested the management company meet with the neighborhood association and the neighbors. This will be high-end condominiums. Herbert clarified that this action ONLY changed it to a Planned Unit Development. It did not approve any plans for the property.
10-087 - Abandoning Plum Street between 4th and 5th Street and 10-088 to abandon Plum Street between Brooklyn Avenue and E. 4th Street. This was requested by Wells Fargo bank. Wilbert Austin suggested this would bring additional revenue to the city.
Jesus Ayala - cleaned up a empty lot and built a house. He ran the sewer line 300 feet at a cost of $27,000. Now, it is considered the cities sewer line. He would like some financial help with this. They will look into it.
Kermit Mitchell and wife Ann - Ann helped to close four drug houses and has helped in the community. Waco East Support Systems. Office space for small businesses (incubator). He is introducing Waco East Support Systems and is asking for their support.
10-090 - was pulled from the agenda. Reuben Navarro - this is a continuation of a previous discussion. They want to continue this until June 1. I'm very concerned that this is taking so very long.
10-105 - Oordinance No. 2010-105; authorizing the issuance and sale of City Approved of Waco, Texas, General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2010, in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed $13,805,000.00. ---- This came to the council for emergency approval. I wonder why.
10-084 - A trailer operating as an open air vendor at Parkwood and Bosque was identified as not having the proper permit because of zoning. They want to help the man since that business has been there for 3.5 years without any trouble. It fits in with the neighborhood and the neighbors are supportive. The council did not want to rezone to C-2 because that would allow for several other kinds of businesses to be operated there. They are continuing the public hearing. It would have been very easy for the council to simply tell him he had to shut down. I applaud them for taking into account that this business has contributed to the community for the last 3.5 years.
10-086 - Toni Herbert states there is an emotional attachment to this property. She requested the management company meet with the neighborhood association and the neighbors. This will be high-end condominiums. Herbert clarified that this action ONLY changed it to a Planned Unit Development. It did not approve any plans for the property.
10-087 - Abandoning Plum Street between 4th and 5th Street and 10-088 to abandon Plum Street between Brooklyn Avenue and E. 4th Street. This was requested by Wells Fargo bank. Wilbert Austin suggested this would bring additional revenue to the city.
Jesus Ayala - cleaned up a empty lot and built a house. He ran the sewer line 300 feet at a cost of $27,000. Now, it is considered the cities sewer line. He would like some financial help with this. They will look into it.
Kermit Mitchell and wife Ann - Ann helped to close four drug houses and has helped in the community. Waco East Support Systems. Office space for small businesses (incubator). He is introducing Waco East Support Systems and is asking for their support.
10-090 - was pulled from the agenda. Reuben Navarro - this is a continuation of a previous discussion. They want to continue this until June 1. I'm very concerned that this is taking so very long.
10-105 - Oordinance No. 2010-105; authorizing the issuance and sale of City Approved of Waco, Texas, General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2010, in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed $13,805,000.00. ---- This came to the council for emergency approval. I wonder why.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Is it a bailout or smart economic development? FreeFlight loan highlights prickly issue
Is it a bailout or smart economic development? FreeFlight loan highlights prickly issue
More opinions on the FreeFlight deal. It stands on it's own and needs no further comment from me.
More opinions on the FreeFlight deal. It stands on it's own and needs no further comment from me.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Notes from the November 17th meeting
Last week's meeting did not contain any truly controversial decisions.
They did the second reading of the smoking ordinance which makes it official.
There was to be a public hearing about lowering the maximum height of fences. That was taken off the agenda. I have not seen any word on why that was.
There were several zoning changes approved. I need to learn more about the codes. I know that generally there are commercial, residential, and mixed use zones, but I don't know the difference between an M-2 and and M-1 or M-3. More on that later.
There was one speaker, Mr. Green. He had a complaint about city inspectors. He hired a contractor to repair some steps on his property. A city inspector told him to stop work on it until he got the proper permits. Later, he was told the work did not meet code. When the inspector came back out, Mr. Green was at home, but the inspector drove off without inspecting the steps or going to the door of his residence. He was informed that the work had failed inspection because the inspector could not get to the steps. Apparently, the permits were close to expiring. It sounds like this man was not treated fairly by city workers and this concerns me. It took a lot of courage to stand up in front of the council and cameras to make this statement, so I do not believe he is a complainer. I applaud him for using this chance to air his grievances.
They did the second reading of the smoking ordinance which makes it official.
There was to be a public hearing about lowering the maximum height of fences. That was taken off the agenda. I have not seen any word on why that was.
There were several zoning changes approved. I need to learn more about the codes. I know that generally there are commercial, residential, and mixed use zones, but I don't know the difference between an M-2 and and M-1 or M-3. More on that later.
There was one speaker, Mr. Green. He had a complaint about city inspectors. He hired a contractor to repair some steps on his property. A city inspector told him to stop work on it until he got the proper permits. Later, he was told the work did not meet code. When the inspector came back out, Mr. Green was at home, but the inspector drove off without inspecting the steps or going to the door of his residence. He was informed that the work had failed inspection because the inspector could not get to the steps. Apparently, the permits were close to expiring. It sounds like this man was not treated fairly by city workers and this concerns me. It took a lot of courage to stand up in front of the council and cameras to make this statement, so I do not believe he is a complainer. I applaud him for using this chance to air his grievances.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
DVD Copies of Work/Executive Sessions of the Waco City Council
I copied the following from the minutes of an old meeting agenda from March.
DVD's and audio tapes are available.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DVD copies of either the Work Session or Business Session may be requested from the Municipal Information Department anytime within four months of the meeting date. Citizens should send a check or Money Order for $5.00 to:
City of Waco Videos,
300 Austin Ave
PO Box 2570
Waco, Tx 76702
300 Austin Ave
PO Box 2570
Waco, Tx 76702
Please specify the date of the meeting and whether you prefer the Work or Business Session. If you would like both, the cost is $10. The DVD will be produced within three business days and mailed to the address provided. Citizens can come by City Hall to pay and place an order. When orders are placed at City Hall, citizens can request that the DVD be mailed or request a phone call notification when the DVD is ready to be picked up.
To request an audio tape of the meeting, call (254) 750-5750 or e-mail: City Secretary.
Monday, November 9, 2009
TIF board weighs whether to change how it doles out funds for downtown projects
TIF board weighs whether to change how it doles out funds for downtown projects
This article explains a little about the TIF district and how the money has been used and will be used. It seems that this is actually working.
The article discussed how the area has changed since the creation of the district in 1982 and now it is time to change how the money is spent.
This article explains a little about the TIF district and how the money has been used and will be used. It seems that this is actually working.
The article discussed how the area has changed since the creation of the district in 1982 and now it is time to change how the money is spent.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Tonight's council meeting - preview
Tonight is the Waco City Council meeting. It should be a good one because there are two items on the agenda that people have been watching for awhile. The Trib had an article today about them.
http://www.wacotrib.com/news/content/news/stories/2009/11/03/11032009waccounciladv.html
One is the smoking ordinance. There are two options on the agenda. Option 1 will practically ban smoking in public areas. Option 2 will amend the current ordinance to remove some exemptions. I wish they would just drop the whole thing and fail them both, but that isn't likely. They are getting pressure to do something, but they also have pressure from the business community to leave the exceptions.
The other is replacing the metal trash bins in alley in certain neighborhoods with curbside service. I'm all for that. The bins are smelly and attract pests. It makes the alleyways look trashy. Curbside service is also less expensive.
Meeting is tonight. I'll give an update then.
http://www.wacotrib.com/news/content/news/stories/2009/11/03/11032009waccounciladv.html
One is the smoking ordinance. There are two options on the agenda. Option 1 will practically ban smoking in public areas. Option 2 will amend the current ordinance to remove some exemptions. I wish they would just drop the whole thing and fail them both, but that isn't likely. They are getting pressure to do something, but they also have pressure from the business community to leave the exceptions.
The other is replacing the metal trash bins in alley in certain neighborhoods with curbside service. I'm all for that. The bins are smelly and attract pests. It makes the alleyways look trashy. Curbside service is also less expensive.
Meeting is tonight. I'll give an update then.
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