[00:00:03]
AND THE HEADS ROLL AND STUFF. ALL RIGHT, I HAVE US AT 6:00.
[CALL TO ORDER]
WE DO HAVE A QUORUM. I AM THE CHAIR, MIKE MCQUISTON, MAYOR OF DECATUR.AND IF YOU WOULD JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE ONE HAND SIGNED UP FOR COMMENT TONIGHT? ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. OUR FIRST ITEM IS A PUBLIC HEARING ITEM, AND WE WILL OPEN UP THAT PUBLIC HEARING ITEM AT 6:01.
[2. HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND OR QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE 2024 ANNUAL DRINKING WATER QUALITY REPORT (CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT).]
THIS IS TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE 2024 ANNUAL DRINKING WATER QUALITY REPORT.CAN YOU DELIVER ON THAT ONE, PLEASE? WOW. YOU'RE GOOD.
THAT WAS UNEXPECTED THAT SHE WOULD GIVE THAT REPORT.
YOU KNOW, WE NEED MORE POWER TO YOU. THAT'S HOW IT IS.
OKAY. HOPE YOU GET OVER WITH. SHE WAS JUST TESTING THE WATERS THERE, I BELIEVE.
GOOD EVENING. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THIS IS NO ACTION REQUIRED ON THIS ITEM.
GREAT JOB. YEAH. KEEP ON KEEP THAT GREAT WATER COMING.
HEY, GREG, WHEN I TAKE A SHOWER, WHY DOES MY SKIN BURN? IS THERE. WOULD THAT BE. THAT'S THE. THAT'S IT.
THAT'S THE TEMPERATURE OF THE WATER. YOU'RE RIGHT.
IT'S A TRICK QUESTION. THANK YOU, MR. HALL. ALL RIGHT.
WE ANYONE FOR PUBLIC ON THAT TOPIC. ALL RIGHT.
SO WE WILL CLOSE THAT ITEM AT 6:02. YEAH. ALL RIGHT.
WE HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING ITEM, ITEM THREE.
[3. RP-25-0008. PUBLIC HEARING, DISCUSSION, AND TAKE ACTION REGARDING A REQUEST TO REPLAT APPROXIMATELY 13.799 ACRES, LOT 1R, BLOCK 1, CROSSROADS CHURCH ADDITION, A TRACT IN THE DAVID MOSES SURVEY, ABSTRACT NO. 537, J.C. BULLOCK SURVEY, ABSTRACT NO. 79, CITY OF DECATUR, WISE COUNTY, TEXAS, ALSO KNOWN AS 1400 DEER PARK ROAD, DECATUR, TEXAS. (CROSSROADS CHURCH) (THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL 6-0)]
THIS IS A HEARING AND DISCUSSION. TAKE ACTION REGARDING A REQUEST TO REPLAT APPROXIMATELY 13.799 ACRES.YOU HAVE A REPORT FOR US? OKAY. YES, SIR. GOOD EVENING, LISA HANNON, PLANNING DIRECTOR.
I'D LIKE TO ENTER OUR. I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT.
I DIDN'T HEAR WHAT TIME YOU OPENED. 6:02. THANK YOU.
I WAS WONDERING ABOUT THAT AS WELL. THANK YOU. COUNCIL INTO A RECORD IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE.
SO THIS IS TO REPLY. CROSSROADS CHURCH PROPERTY AT 1400 DEER PARK ROAD.
A LITTLE UNDER 14 ACRES, AND PER OUR TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, IT CAN BE PROPERLY PLATTED.
IT IS ZONED SINGLE FAMILY SF2, SO IT IS AN EXISTING CHURCH CAMPUS.
THEY ARE PROPOSING AN EXPANSION, AND THEY HAVE TO MOVE A UTILITY EASEMENT, WHICH IS INTERNAL TO THE SITE, WHICH IS WHY THEY HAVE TO REPLAT THE PROPERTY.
THERE ARE ALSO GOING PART OF THEIR EXPANSIONS ARE GOING TO INCLUDE SOME WALKWAYS AROUND THE PROPERTY THROUGH THE PROPERTY AND DO SOME NEW WORK TO THE DETENTION AREA. AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY'RE PROPOSING WILL MEET ALL THE ZONING AND BUILDING REGULATIONS.
SO THIS IS A SUBJECT PROPERTY. THEY WILL BE ABANDONING THE UTILITY EASEMENT THERE TO THE SOUTH AND TO THE WEST IS WHERE THE NEW UTILITY EASEMENT WILL BE LOCATED WHEN THEY REPLANT.
SO WE HAVE NOTIFIED NINE PROPERTY OWNERS. NO RESPONSES WERE RECEIVED.
STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL AND PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL 6 TO 0.
ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? ANYBODY SIGN UP FOR COMMENT ON THIS? ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH THAT WE'LL CLOSE THAT ITEM AT 6:04.
ALL RIGHT. ITEM FOUR IS DO WE TAKE ACTION ON IT? OH, MY APOLOGIES. LET'S TAKE SOME ACTION. THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SCOOTING THAT UP NEXT TO YOU.
WE'LL WAIT FOR A MOTION. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE PP 25 0008.
SECOND. SO, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. IT DOES TAKE A TEAM TO GET THIS DONE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. ITEM FOUR DISCUSS AND TAKE ACTION TO NAME THE PAVILION AT LOLITA WILLIS PARK.
[4. DISCUSS AND TO TAKE ACTION TO NAME THE PAVILION AT LOUIDA WILLIS PARK THE “MIKE BELL MEMORIAL PAVILLION.” ]
[00:05:03]
TO MIKE BELL MEMORIAL PAVILION. WE HAVE A REPORT.MAYOR MIKE AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. GOOD EVENING.
HE WAS A COMMUNITY CHAMPION OF ALL SORTS. JUST A GOOD MAN.
PASSED AWAY, UNFORTUNATELY. AND I BELIEVE MISS REEVES AND CERTAINLY SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE PARKS BOARD BROUGHT IT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO NAME THAT PAVILION THE MIKE BELL MEMORIAL PAVILION AT WILLIS PARK.
SO PARKS BOARD SUPPORTS THAT, AND WE'RE BRINGING THAT TO YOU FOR CONSIDERATION TONIGHT.
AND I HAVE A TIMELINE OF THE NEXT 30 TO 40 DAYS HAVING THAT COMPLETELY FINISHED AND READY TO BE OPENED AND ENJOYED BY THE COMMUNITY. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT. COMMENTS, QUESTIONS.
ALL RIGHT. WE'LL LOOK FOR A MOTION. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, MR. MAYOR, TO NAME THE PAVILION AT LOU IDA WILLIS PARK, THE MIKE BELL MEMORIAL PAVILION.
AS WE ALL KNOW, MIKE WAS A REAL CHAMPION FOR DECATUR.
AND ESPECIALLY LULU. IDA WILLIS PARK . HE ALWAYS BROUGHT OUR JUNETEENTH PARADES AND CELEBRATIONS. AND I JUST THINK THAT IT COULDN'T BE NAMED AFTER A FINER MAN.
AND I'M HONORED TO MAKE THAT PROPOSAL TONIGHT.
SECOND. SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSE, SAME SIGN.
[5. DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO APPROVE AN AGREEMENT WITH FIBERFIRST TO PROVIDE INTERNET SERVICES FOR CITY HALL AND THE CITY HALL ANNEX.]
FIRST TO PROVIDE INTERNET SERVICES. MAYOR COUNCIL.THIS ITEM WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR SOME TIME NOW.
THIS IS AN AGREEMENT WITH FIBER FIRST. IT'S A THREE YEAR TERM AGREEMENT THAT WOULD BRING HIGH SPEED FIBER INTERNET TO BOTH THE CITY HALL BUILDING AND THE CITY HALL ANNEX BUILDING. WE WOULD NO LONGER BE SHARING CONNECTIVITY, RELYING ON ONE OR THE OTHER BASED ON THEIR WORKLOAD TO PROVIDE FULL CONNECTIVITY.
TOTAL COST FOR BOTH FACILITIES 1846 PER MONTH.
THAT BREAKS DOWN TO 923 PER FACILITY PER MONTH.
HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS OR DEFER TO TECHNOLOGY SERVICES FOR THE SPECIFICS ON CYBER FIRST CONTRACT.
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL. EVENTUALLY.
THE PRICE TAG AT 923 PER FACILITY IS QUITE STEEP.
BUDGET PERMITTING, OF COURSE. RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. THIS IS AN ACTION ITEM. MR. MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE AGREEMENT WITH FIBER FIRST TO PROVIDE INTERNET SERVICES FOR CITY HALL AND CITY HALL ANNEX. SECOND. ALL RIGHT.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION BEFORE US. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSE, SAME SIGN.
ALL RIGHT. THAT ITEM PASSES. ITEM SIX. DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION.
[6. DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION TO PARTICIPATE IN A GRANT WITH THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (USDOT) RELATED TO THE SAFE STREETS FOR ALL PROGRAM. RESOLUTION R2025-06-17]
TO PARTICIPATE IN A GRANT WITH THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO RELATED TO THE SAFE STREETS FOR ALL PROGRAM.MAYOR AND COUNCIL. YOU'VE HEARD US BRING THIS GRANT TO YOU BEFORE.
HISTORICALLY, WE HAVE FALLEN SHORT, AND THE ITEM WE FALL SHORT ON IS ENGINEERING.
AND IT'S JUST SIMPLY NOT HAVING THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF ENGINEERING DONE AHEAD OF TIME.
ULTIMATELY, THIS USDOT GRANT CAN BE UP TO $525,000 TO DEVELOP AN ACTION PLAN FOR THE SS FOR A GRANT. AND IF WE WIN THAT $525,000 GRANT, WE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR 20% OF THAT GRANT, WHICH WOULD BE $105,000.
THIS IS JUST A RESOLUTION TO ALLOW US TO APPLY.
OBVIOUSLY, EVEN IF WE DO WIN, YOU COULD STILL TURN THAT DOWN IF FUNDS BECAME A BARRIER TO ENTRY.
[00:10:05]
HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. YEAH, I REMEMBER WE APPLIED FOR THIS A FEW YEARS BACK, AND I WAS QUITE SURPRISED BECAUSE IT LOOKS SUCH SO NEEDED AND HIT ALL THE BOXES.BUT SO, THE KIMLEY-HORN BOX NOW IS THE ADDITIONAL BOX.
SO GOOD. GOOD WORK. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? IT'S OUR BEST PREDICTION MAYOR BASED ON THE GRANT PROCESS.
ALL RIGHT. LOOK FOR A MOTION. MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO APPROVE.
I MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION R 2025-0617. SECOND.
GOOD. OKAY, JAKE. SO WE HAVE A MOTION BEFORE US.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. ALL RIGHT. THAT ITEM PASSES.
[7. DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRATE ACTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION TO APPLY FOR A SOLID WASTE GRANT APPLICATION FROM THE NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS (NCTCOG) FOR THE ACQUISITION OF AN AIR CURTAIN BURNER AND TRACK HOE. RESOLUTION R2025-06-18]
MAYOR COUNCIL. THIS IS A SIMILAR STYLE OF GRANT.THIS IS A GRANT BETWEEN THE NCT COG THE COG. AND THIS GRANT IS FOR SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL.
THINK ABOUT THE RECENT STORMS WHERE WE HAVE ALL OF THIS.
WE CALL IT CHIP BRUSH OR BAG LEAVES, OR JUST BROKEN LIMBS THAT HAVE BEEN PICKED UP AND HAULED.
IF WE WIN THIS GRANT, IT WOULD HELP US PURCHASE AN AIR CURTAIN BURNER AND A PIECE OF HEAVY EQUIPMENT TO FACILITATE GETTING RID OF BULK LIMBS, CHIPPING, THAT SORT OF THING IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE US TO JUST SET THE PILE ON FIRE AND DEAL WITH THE SMOKE FOR DAYS AND DAYS.
THE AIR CURTAIN BURNER IS MUCH CLEANER AND THE SMOKE IS BARELY VISIBLE.
AGAIN, THE VALUE OF THIS GRANT IS UP TO $200,000.
HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. IS THERE A MATCH? I DON'T BELIEVE THERE IS A MATCH ON THIS, GREG.
IS THERE NO MATCH? THE ONLY. THE ONLY OUT OF POCKET WE MAY HAVE IS IF THE COST OF THE EQUIPMENT GOES ABOVE THE $200,000 WE WOULD COVER. GOOD QUESTION. VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION R 2025-0617 SECOND.
THAT WAS ONE EIGHT. SORRY. THAT'S OKAY. R 2025-0618.
SECOND. SECOND. OKAY. ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE A MOTION BEFORE US.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. ALL RIGHT. THAT ITEM PASSES.
[8. CONSIDER FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO INCREASE THE CITY TAX EXEMPTION FOR PERSONS OVER 65 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER. ]
MAYOR AND COUNCIL. AT OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP ON FRIDAY, WE BEGAN HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.I GAVE YOU A ONE PAGE SHEET IF YOU HAVE YOUR BUDGET PACKET.
THIS WAS PROVIDED ON FRIDAY, BUT YOU SHOULD SEE THIS AT YOUR PLACE AT THE DAIS.
CURRENTLY FOR PROPERTY TAX, THE OVER 65 DISABLED EXEMPTION IS SET AT $25,000.
SO IF YOU READ DOWN THE LIST THERE, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU CHOSE TO INCREASE THE EXEMPTION FROM 25 TO $30,000 AND YOU APPLIED THIS YEAR'S VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE, IT WOULD SAVE THE RESIDENT THAT HAS THAT EXEMPTION $167.
BUT IT WOULD WE WOULD ESTIMATE THE LEVY LOSS ON THE CITY SIDE AT AROUND $102,000.
SO IT'S AT THIS POINT IT'S WE NEED SOME DIRECTION.
WE WOULD WE IF WE WANT TO APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE, WE HAVE TO HAVE IT TO THE TAX OFFICE WITH THE MINUTES OF THIS MEETING BEFORE JULY 1ST, SO THAT WE CAN EFFECTIVELY ADMINISTER IT AS PART OF THIS YEAR'S TAX RATE PREPARATION.
THAT IN THE SCHOOL TAX RATE IS HIGHER, OF COURSE, THAN OUR TAX RATE.
SO THE TAX BILL ON THE AVERAGE CITIZEN IS GOING TO BE LESS THIS YEAR THAN IT WAS PREVIOUS YEAR.
NOBODY'S TAXING PROPERTY TAX HAS STAYED VIRTUALLY THE SAME THIS YEAR.
IF YOU LIVED WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS AND THIS ONLY AFFECTS THE PEOPLE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS.
[00:15:09]
ANOTHER $100,000 FOR EVERYBODY ELSE IS A LOT OF MONEY.AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO COME UP WITH IT. AND EVERYBODY'S TAX BILL IS GOING TO BE LESS THIS YEAR THAN IT WAS LAST YEAR, JUST FROM THE STATE LEVEL. SO. OKAY. ANY OTHER THOUGHTS? WELL, I THINK I'M THE ONE THAT BROUGHT IT UP BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO SEE INCREASES.
AND I KNOW THAT I'VE HEARD FROM SEVERAL RESIDENTS THAT FALL IN THIS CATEGORY ABOUT HOW HARD IT IS TO MEET THEIR, THEIR TAX ISSUES. AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER I DON'T THINK WE CAN CONSIDER GOING ABOVE 30,000, BUT I'D LIKE TO CONSIDER RAISING IT TO 30,000.
OTHER COMMENTS. I'M TORN BECAUSE I'M ALSO IN THAT TAX AGE BRACKET, BUT I ALSO SEE THE COST OF WHAT IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THE CITY AND LOOKING AT WHAT THE BUDGETS LOOK LIKE.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS COME TO THE AGENDA A COUPLE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD WHEN WE HAVE MORE TAX MONEY COMING IN, BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE ROOFTOPS IN PLACE AND EVEN POSSIBLY MORE BUSINESSES IN PLACE.
AT THIS POINT, THE 25,000 IS THE MAX THAT I THINK OUR BUDGET CAN STAND.
SO IF THESE IF THIS SHEETS, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING THE SHEET CORRECTLY, IF WE GO UP TO 30,000, IT'S ONLY A DIFFERENCE OF $17,000 OUT OF OUR POCKET.
CORRECT. OR IS IT AN ADDITIONAL 102 OVER THE 85? JAKE, MAYBE SAYING IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.
LOOK DOWN TOWARDS THE BOTTOM HALF OF YOUR SHEET.
SO ESSENTIALLY FOR EVERY $5,000, YOU'RE LOSING ROUGHLY 16,000 $17,000 IN ESTIMATED LEVY.
OKAY, BUT IF WE GO TO 30, WE'RE ONLY INCREASING 5000.
YES, SIR. OKAY, SO IF WE INCREASE 5000, THE TOTAL OUT OF OUR BUDGET IS 17,161, ACCORDING TO THIS SHEET AND THESE NUMBERS. AND IT WOULD SAVE AN ADDITIONAL $27 PER CITIZEN BY THESE NUMBERS.
$27 A YEAR? YES. YEAH. AND THAT'S BECAUSE 615, THIS IS YOUR NUMBER.
$17,000. IT'S PROBABLY A LITTLE LESS THAN THAT.
SO YOU'RE TALKING 27 BUCKS. IT'S NOT VERY SUBSTANTIAL.
YEP. SAID DIFFERENTLY IF YOU IF YOU WENT FROM $25,000 EXEMPTION, $25,000 EXEMPTION TO $30,000 EXEMPTION, THE SAVINGS WOULD GO FROM $139 PER HOUSEHOLD TO $167 PER HOUSEHOLD THAT HAS THAT EXEMPTION.
WHEN YOU'RE ON A FIXED BUDGET, I THINK EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS.
AND THE PEOPLE THAT CALL ME ARE ON FIXED BUDGETS, SO THAT'S WHY I SPEAK UP FOR THEM.
MY OPINION IS EITHER WAY. I. WASN'T RAISING IT FIVE.
BUT I FEEL LIKE IT'S MORE OF A MARKETING PLOY THAN I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHATEVER.
YOU KNOW, I THINK ONE OF THE OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO BE GOOD STEWARDS.
WE WANT TO HAVE GOOD THINGS FOR OUR CITIZENS.
THERE'S A LOT OF ITEMS ON THAT BUDGET WORKSHOP.
I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TAKEN THIS KIND OF STAIR STEP APPROACH TO TRY TO HELP US MEET,
[00:20:01]
MEET THOSE GROWING NEEDS. AND I THINK THAT I THINK THAT'S A REAL POSITIVE WAY TO HANDLE THAT.AND I ALSO APPRECIATE THE CANDOR OF OUR DIRECTORS IN COMMUNICATING WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE.
I FEEL LIKE THIS IS KIND OF A NICE STAIR STEP APPROACH TO TRYING TO ASSIST, YOU KNOW, OUR CITIZENS WHO MORE THAN LIKELY DON'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE THEIR OWN. THEY DON'T HAVE THAT ADDITIONAL REVENUE.
THEY'RE KIND OF IN THAT STATUS OF MY FIXED INCOME IS HERE.
I MEAN, TO ME, MAYBE IT'S NOT A BAD OPPORTUNITY TO JUST TO TAKE THAT UP TO A $30,000 EXEMPTION LEVEL, AS WE DISCUSSED. I MEAN, I JUST DID THE SIX, 15 TIMES I GUESS I TOOK THAT AND IT CAME TO 16,000 TOTAL DIFFERENCE. BUT GOSH, YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD HOPE WE WOULD STAIR STEP APPROACH IN OUR SALES TAX AND ALL THOSE OTHER KIND OF THINGS WILL CONTINUE TO HELP GROW. AND MAYBE THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO JUST KIND OF BRIDGE ALL THESE THINGS AS WE GO THROUGH.
SO I'M GOING TO STOP RIGHT THERE. MAY I ADD ONE MORE LAYER JUST FOR CONSIDERATION? SINCE I CAN TELL THIS IS KIND OF WEIGHING ON EVERYBODY'S MIND, IF YOU MAINTAIN A VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE FOR FY 26.
THAT VOTER APPROVED TAX RATE IS THE TAX RATE THAT WE'RE CONCEPTUALIZING HERE IN THIS EQUATION.
THAT IN AND OF ITSELF, REMEMBER, AS VALUES RISE, THE RATE ITSELF FALLS.
YOU'D BE LOWERING YOUR TAX RATE FROM 0.57 $0.07 TO 0.55 $0.08.
WE DON'T KNOW THE ACTUALS. BUT THAT ACTION OF ITSELF BY THE RATE ROLL DOWN THROUGH TRUTH AND TAXATION WOULD SAVE $19.44 PER $100,000 OF VALUE. SO THERE IS SOME IMMEDIATE SAVINGS SIMPLY IN THE TAX FORMULA.
AND THEN WHAT THE PLEASURE OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE IS TO MOVE FORWARD THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL ON THIS ITEM? WELL, WE WILL LOOK FOR A MOTION. OH, IT'S A FIRST READING.
HEY, WE'RE. I'M SO GLAD WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS.
YEAH. WE JUST NEED TO KNOW THE AMOUNT TO FILL IN THE BLANK ON THIS FIRST READING.
GOTCHA. YOU DON'T NEED. I DON'T NEED A VOTE. BUT I DO NEED TO KNOW HOW TO FINALIZE THAT ORDINANCE.
WELL, I FEEL LIKE WE'VE HEARD SOME ARTICULATE STEPPING THAT UP TO 30,000, BUT WE'VE ALSO HAD OUR ARTICULATION ABOUT MAYBE THIS ISN'T THE RIGHT TIME, BUT TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN, I'LL FINALIZE IT AS 30 AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE YOUR SECOND READING.
AND YES, YOU CAN VOTE THEN. THANK YOU. IS THAT GOOD WITH EVERYBODY.
THERE'S YOUR CONSENSUS ON AND YEAH THANK YOU.
GREAT FEEDBACK GOOD CONVERSATION. AND PLEASE BETWEEN NOW AND OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION TO BE COMFORTABLE WITH THIS WHEN YOU SEE IT AGAIN, JUST PLEASE REACH OUT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU EVERYBODY.
[9. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED CHANGES TO ORDINANCES TO ALLOW FRONT YARD FENCES UNDER CERTAIN PARAMETERS.]
UNDER CERTAIN PARAMETERS. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.SO IN REVIEWING THIS WE HAD A WHOLE LOT OF THOUGHTS THROUGH THAT SECTION 7.5 FOR SCREENING, FENCING AND BUFFERING, WHICH IS ALL ENCOMPASSED WITH THAT.
AND SO WE'RE BRINGING THIS TO YOU TONIGHT JUST AS AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM, SO THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED TO US OR BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD TO US THROUGH DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS AND THROUGH THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM THE PUBLIC OFF OF THIS ON DIFFERENT ITEMS. AND WE WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM THE PUBLIC, WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING POSING FOR THE ORDINANCE.
CHANGE AND GET COUNCIL FEEDBACK ON ANY ITEMS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO CHANGE OR KEEP THE SAME ON THIS.
SO I'VE KIND OF SEPARATED THIS OUT INTO TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
SCREENING AND BUFFERING AND THEN FENCING OFF THIS.
AND SO WE'LL START WITH SCREENING AND BUFFERING.
AND SO IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE CURRENT CODE THAT WE HAVE FOR SCREENING AND BUFFERING, IT SAYS ITS PURPOSE IS TO CREATE A VISUALLY APPEALING TRANSITION BETWEEN MULTIFAMILY OR NONRESIDENTIAL PROPERTY THAT BORDER SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS.
[00:25:06]
THE ONLY PRESCRIPTIVE METHOD WE HAVE FOR THAT IS A 6 TO 8 FOOT MASONRY SCREENING WALL.YOU CAN IMAGINE WITH THAT TYPE OF WALL, YOU'RE GOING TO END UP WITH A BURDENSOME EXPENSIVE, AND NOT ALWAYS VISUALLY APPEALING. WALL. SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE KIND OF LOOKED AT THIS AFTER SOME OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE RECEIVED OVER THE SCREENING AND BUFFERING. AND WE'RE PROPOSING SOME ALTERNATIVES THAT WILL ALLOW SOME FLEXIBILITY BASED ON THE USES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SCREEN WHILE PRESERVING THAT RESIDENTIAL PRIVACY AND VALUE. THIS THESE PROPOSALS WILL ALLOW STAFF TO ADMINISTER WITHIN A PRESCRIBED SCOPE AND ALLOW FOR AN APPEAL PROCESS IF NEEDED.
AND SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE EXAMPLES THAT WE CAME UP WITH FOR MASONRY SCREENING WALLS.
AND THEN THE OTHER ONE WITH TROPHY. TROPHY RIDGE APARTMENTS OVER ON DEER PARK.
THEY'RE VERY LARGE, SCREENING WALLS THAT ARE SOLID MASONRY WALLS IN THERE.
SO WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS A BUFFER AREA COMBINATION THAT WOULD WORK TOGETHER WITH PRIVACY WALLS, FENCES OR EARTHEN BERMS SUPPLEMENTED WITH LANDSCAPING.
AND IT WOULD ALLOW THEM SOME DISCRETION TO BE ABLE TO BE USED BASED ON THE USE THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO SCREEN ON THIS RIGHT NOW, REGARDLESS OF THE TYPE OF USE YOU'RE SCREENING FROM, WHETHER IT'S AN INDUSTRIAL USE TO A RESIDENTIAL OR AN OFFICE TO A RESIDENTIAL THAT PRESCRIBED 6 TO 8 FOOT MASONRY SCREENING WALL IS ALL THAT'S OUT THERE FOR GUIDANCE ON THAT.
BUT THIS WOULD ALLOW FENCES AND WALLS ALSO TO BE ABLE TO OFFSET SOME OF THE REQUIRED LANDSCAPING IF THEY CHOSE TO JUST DO WALLS WITH THOSE FENCES AND WALLS. THEY'D HAVE TO SUBMIT THEIR DESIGN AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S VISUALLY APPEALING AND THAT THE MATERIALS ARE APPROVED THROUGH THE PLANNING DIRECTOR.
BUT WHENEVER THEY USE TREES, SHRUBS AND LANDSCAPING THEY WOULD SUPPLEMENT THESE THINGS, BE INSTALLED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE WALL SO THAT IT'S PROVIDING THAT SOUND BUFFERING BETWEEN THESE MORE INTENSE USES AND THE RESIDENTIAL USES THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO PROTECT FROM THAT.
SO WHAT WE HAD LOOKED AT ON THIS WAS COMING UP WITH THESE PRIVACY WALLS OR FENCING, AND THEN THAT COMBINATION OF TREES, SHRUBS AND LANDSCAPING AND FINDING AN AREA BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY GUIDANCE IN THE CODE TO GIVE US ON HOW THESE PLANTINGS SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. SO WE'VE COME UP WITH A MINIMUM PLANTINGS BASED ON THE BUFFER AREA THAT'S BEING PROVIDED.
AND LISA WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO COME UP WITH THIS MATRIX THAT COMES ALONG WITH THIS TO SHOW WHAT THAT LANDSCAPING STRIP WOULD BE, ALONG WITH SOME TYPE OF SCREENING WALL. SO, IF YOU'RE PROVIDING A MULTIFAMILY SCREENING FROM A SINGLE FAMILY, YOU SEE THAT THERE'S A TEN FOOT BUFFER IN THERE.
AND THEN IF YOU GO BACK TO THIS, YOU SEE THE TEN FOOT BUFFER.
YOU HAVE FOUR TREES AND 35 SHRUBS AND 100 LINEAR FOOT.
GIVE SOME EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THESE ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS AND FENCING.
THE IMAGE ON THE RIGHT IS JUST A STOCK IMAGE.
WE WERE ABLE TO FIND THAT JUST ONLINE AND USE THAT TO THROW IN THERE.
THERE'S A NICE LANDSCAPING BAND WITH WOODEN FENCES ON THE BACK SIDE OF THAT TO PROVIDE THAT SCREENING AND BUFFERING FROM THAT COMMERCIAL USE. AND SO IT WOULD BE SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THAT.
IT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT MOVING FORWARD TO AND PROVIDING SOME GUIDANCE ON HOW TO USE THAT.
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES GOING IN THERE.
THIS IS A NICE USE OF METAL AND WOOD FENCING TO DO THOSE SEPARATIONS, BUT IT DOES.
THIS IS GOING TO ALLOW STAFF TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME GUIDANCE ON THIS, AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A EASIER WAY TO SCREEN AND BUFFER BETWEEN USES WITHOUT HAVING TO PROVIDE THAT 6 TO 8 FOOT MASONRY SCREENING WALL.
[00:30:02]
THESE ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS AND DESIGNS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WOULD BE MORE COST EFFECTIVE THAN THE MASONRY SCREENING WALLS.THE VEGETATION THAT IS PROVIDED IN THE LANDSCAPING AREA WOULD HELP CONTROL EROSION AND WOULD HELP WITH THE ESTHETICS. WITH SOMETHING THAT'S AS IMPOSING AS A BIG MASONRY WALL OR LARGE WALL THAT'S IN THERE.
AND SO THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT ON THE BUFFERING AND SCREENING.
SO IS THERE ANY THOUGHTS OR IDEAS ON WHAT'S GOING ON? SO IF YOU HAVE A MULTIFAMILY, GO IN NEXT TO A SINGLE FAMILY.
IS IT REQUIRED THAT THEY PUT A BUFFERING. OKAY.
SO, I GET WHERE YOU'RE GOING NOW. THE ONLY MY ONLY SUGGESTION OR CONCERN WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, WOOD FENCES ROT. AND YOU KNOW, I WOULD BE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH, YOU KNOW, TREX OR A, YOU KNOW, A, A PLASTIC TYPE, TYPE OF A VINYL FENCE. YEAH.
THEN JUST YOUR A WOOD FENCE AT THE MINIMUM TREATED.
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO REQUIRE THE AT LEAST TREAT IT.
ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS.
SO AS WE MOVE INTO THE FENCING REQUIREMENTS, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT WE'VE GOT SOME ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR FENCES WITH. IT TIES IN WITH THESE SCREENING WALLS.
AND THEN WITH THE SHRUBBERY OR THE SHRUBS. WOULD THEY HAVE TO LIKE HAVE IRRIGATION TO THEM AS WELL.
AND SO ALL OF THOSE THINGS WOULD TIE TOGETHER.
IT JUST SEEMS LIKE LONG TERM. I MEAN, I DEFINITELY AGREE THAT WE NEED TO COME UP.
YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PUT A MASONRY WALL IN YOUR BUFFER.
BUT WE DEFINITELY NEED SOME TYPE OF REGULATION.
IT'S NOT GOING TO LAST. AND THEN YOU LOOK AT SOME TYPE OF COMPOSITE TYPE MATERIAL THAT WOULD BE USED RATHER THAN WOOD FENCING THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THEIR COST, THEIR COST FROM A MASONRY FENCE.
IT'S STILL MORE EXPENSIVE THAN A WOOD FENCE, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THEY WOULD BE APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO USE METAL FENCING AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WHICH IS GREAT.
I MEAN, I KNOW THAT'S ALSO AN ISSUE WHERE IT KIND OF BECOMES IMPOSING AND LESS VISUALLY APPEALING.
OH, ADD SOME LANDSCAPING TO BREAK THAT UP. YEAH, A LOT OF TIMES THAT'LL HELP OFF OF THAT.
THE ONLY OTHER. GO AHEAD. THE ONLY OTHER COMMENT I MEAN, I HAVE NOT A CONCEPT OF THE NUMBER OF SHRUBS OR TREES PER LINEAR FOOT ON THAT. I'M NOT SURE IF I MEAN, YOU GUYS DO THIS EVERY DAY, BUT IT SEEMED LIKE A LOT IN MY HEAD.
THAT'S YET. WHAT'S THAT? ONE SHRUB FOR EVERY THREE FEET.
SO MAYBE IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE. THAT'S KIND OF ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO.
I MEAN, IF YOU LANDSCAPE YOUR HOUSE, YOU'RE ABOUT THREE FEET IN BETWEEN YOUR HOLES.
AND THE PURPOSE BEHIND IT IS, OF COURSE, TO HELP ABSORB NOISE AND TRAFFIC.
AND AGAIN, IT'S JUST YOU'RE THE LEGEND OF TEN FOOT BUFFER AREA VERSUS THE 1520.
MAYBE. I DON'T COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE.
IS THIS THE SETBACK? YES. WHAT? SO YOU WOULD HAVE A TEN FOOT BUFFER AREA THAT'S IN THERE.
AND YOU CAN PLANT IN THAT BUFFER AREA. THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE LINEAR ALL IN A LINE.
ALL RIGHT. SO THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE FENCE OR THE BUFFER AREA.
YOU ARE REQUIRING THE PLANTING OF THE TREES IN ADDITION TO THE FENCE.
RIGHT, THERE IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS PROVIDING SOME GUIDANCE TO BE ABLE TO JUST USE A FENCE BUT CREATE SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE BIT NICER WHEN YOU'RE JUST DOING A FENCE.
SO MAYBE IF YOU'RE DOING A MASONRY FENCE, THEN ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS THE FENCE.
BUT IF YOU'RE DOING OKAY, I LIKE THAT. WELL AND OH SO GO AHEAD.
[00:35:04]
IT'S NOT LIKE IF IT'S GOING UP AGAINST JUST A PASTURE OR RIGHT.IT IS. SO IT IS THE MORE INTENSE USE THAT IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THE BUFFER.
I'M KIND OF THINKING ABOUT THE NEW DEVELOPMENT.
THAT'S THAT NATURE RESERVE THAT'S GOING IN. AND YOU'VE GOT THE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S DOWN THERE CALLED THAT NEIGHBORHOOD CALLED FOR THE. YEAH, MELVILLE PARK. AND THEN YOU'VE GOT A HOMEOWNER ON THE OTHER END THAT'S JUST THEIR LAND WHO'S VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS DEVELOPMENT GOING IN.
SO WHAT WOULD THEY BE REQUIRED TO DO IN THOSE TWO AREAS? THEY WOULD BOTH BE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL.
SURE. AND WHEN YOU SAY PASTURE, IT'S WHATEVER THAT PASTURE IS ZONED.
THAT PASTURE IS ZONED MULTIFAMILY, THAT MULTIFAMILY, THEN YOU'VE GOT TO FOLLOW THOSE RULES.
IF IT'S COMMERCIAL, IF IT'S SINGLE FAMILY, RIGHT.
I THINK TAKE SOUTH MARTIN BRANCH, FOR EXAMPLE, BECAUSE IT BACKS UP TO A LARGE OPEN AREA.
AND SO, I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THOSE REQUIREMENTS WOULD BE.
SO, WHAT WE'RE MAINLY TRYING TO DO IS TO SCREEN AND BUFFER THE COMMERCIAL USES TO THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY SO THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO KEEP THAT PRIVACY FOR A RESIDENTIAL SETTING AND THAT MAINTAIN THAT VALUE OF THAT HOMEOWNERS PROPERTY.
AND THE OTHER OH, GO RIGHT AHEAD. SO, WAYNE, IF THEY CHOOSE TO USE THE SHRUBS AND THE TREES AND DON'T MAINTAIN THEM AND IT BECOMES AN EYESORE, HOW DOES THAT WORK IN YOUR WORLD? SO RIGHT NOW, WE DO NOT HAVE MUCH GUIDANCE ON HOW THAT WORKS.
HOWEVER, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING THROUGH OUR LANDSCAPING ORDINANCE FOR SOME FOR DIFFERENT THINGS, INCLUDING ZERO SCAPING TO EXPAND THAT USE THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND DIFFERENT ZONING DISTRICTS.
BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ADDRESS WITH THAT ALSO.
WOULD IT BE MORE IN LINE TO HAVE THAT IN PLACE BEFORE WE MAKE THIS AN ACTIVE POLICY? WE COULD, BUT IT IS A I MEAN, THESE ARE COMING ON THE HEELS OF EACH OTHER.
THIS A SIMILAR TYPE SITUATION WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO WALK THROUGH IT AND GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT WE'RE PLANNING ON CHANGING ON THIS BEFORE IT ACTUALLY COMES TO YOU IN AN ORDINANCE FORM. I'D JUST LIKE TO SEE A COMPLETE PACKAGE TO KNOW IF WE CHOOSE TO DO THIS, THEN THIS IS WHAT THE RAMIFICATIONS ARE.
IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW THROUGH AND WITH EVEN WITH THIS ORDINANCE, WE COULD PLACE REQUIREMENTS IN THERE FOR THEM TO MAINTAIN THAT VEGETATION, PROVIDE LANDSCAPING LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION ON IT.
THERE'S LOTS OF OPTIONS THAT WE CAN INCLUDE WITH THIS ORDINANCE.
WAIT, WOULDN'T IT BE EASIER TO HAVE THE IRRIGATION BEFORE THE LANDSCAPING? IT'S KIND OF LIKE PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE, IN MY OPINION. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SOURCE. IT'S GREAT THAT WE SAY, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE YOU OR HAVE YOU MAINTAIN SAID LANDSCAPING, BUT WITHOUT MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE WATER REQUIREMENTS IN PLACE.
IT GETS THE WATER BILL ON THAT. IT'D BE THE PROPERTY OWNER.
WELL, I'M NO EXPERT ON HOW THINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE WORDED ON THESE.
IN MY HEAD, IT'S LIKE MAYBE IT'S JUST A PLANT SHRUB EVERY THREE FEET, ONE TREE FOR EVERY WHATEVER FEET, BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE'S GOING TO HAVE 100 LINEAR FEET.
IT'S GOING TO BE 87 OR SOME ODD NUMBER. RIGHT.
JUST FOR CLARITY. FOR DETERMINATION. SURE, SURE.
AND BUT AGAIN, THAT'S NOT MY PUT SOME LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT THAT THAT CAN BE.
OKAY I GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. BUT THE PROBLEM IS THEN IF YOU GET AN OVERZEALOUS INSPECTOR, YOU COME OUT THERE AND YOUR SHRUBS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE EVERY 2.4IN, AND THIS ONE'S 2.6, OR I THINK YOU'RE JUST OPENING YOURSELF UP.
OH, NUMBER OF SHRUBS PER. BUT THAT'S WHAT HE HAD BECAUSE HE WAS ALREADY NUMBER.
[00:40:07]
YOU ALWAYS ROUND UP. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AS LONG AS YOU CAN WRITE IT, IT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO BE MAKING THE DETERMINATION YOU WILL.ABSOLUTELY. AND WE'LL BRING THIS BACK. OF COURSE.
THIS THIS IS A WOULD BE A ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT.
SO WE'LL HAVE TO GO THROUGH PLANNING AND ZONING.
WE PLAN ON. YOU'LL SEE. I'VE GOT A SCHEDULE UP HERE ON HOW WE WANT TO MOVE THIS THROUGH THIS.
WE'LL PROBABLY BE TAKING IT TO PLANNING AND ZONING AT THE NEXT MEETING.
IN THE JULY MEETING AS AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM SIMILAR TO THIS.
AND THEN WE BRING IT THROUGH PLANNING AND ZONING FOR A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL.
WILL THERE BE ANYTHING INCLUDED IN HERE TO ADDRESS OTHER ISSUES OF FRONT YARD FENCES? YES, TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS VERY CLEAR AND CONCISE OF WHAT THE PARAMETERS ARE.
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES. I'VE GOT SOMETHING THAT THAT'S COMING UP IN THIS.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER INPUT? WOULD LOVE TO HEAR ANYTHING THAT YOU'VE GOT.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SIR. SO HANG ON FOR A SECOND BECAUSE WE'RE MOVING INTO FENCES AT THIS POINT.
ALL RIGHT. THAT WAS JUST THE FIRST PART. CAN'T WAIT.
ALL RIGHT. SO WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT FENCING.
ALL OF THESE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO US AT DIFFERENT LEVELS AND FROM DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS THAT HAVE COME TO US THE FIRST BEING FENCES ALLOWED IN FRONT YARDS. AND IF THEY ARE ALLOWED WHAT TYPES OF FENCES WOULD BE ALLOWED? THE HEIGHT OF THOSE FENCES AND SETBACKS FROM EASEMENTS, SIDEWALKS AND INTERSECTION VISIBILITY AREAS.
THEN THE SECOND AREA THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT ON THAT IS FENCE MAINTENANCE.
AND THEN THE THIRD AREA WOULD BE FENCE MATERIALS THAT ARE ALLOWED IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.
SO WE'RE GOING TO START OFF WITH FRONT YARD FENCES AND WHAT WE HAVE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
WAYNE, JUST REAL QUICK, CAN YOU HAVE A FRONT YARD FENCE AT THIS POINT OR ARE YOU GOING TO GET TO THAT? LET ME GET THERE. HERE IN JUST A SECOND. MY BRAIN'S, THERE'S VARYING TYPES.
SOME OF THEM ARE HISTORIC. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS BROUGHT FORTH TO US WAS, HEY, I DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING WITH MY PROPERTY TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS OR TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PLANNING, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO DO ANYTHING WITH MY FENCE, BECAUSE THAT FENCE HAS BEEN THERE FOR GENERATIONS.
SO FRONT YARD FENCES IN 2015, OUR ZONING ORDINANCE WAS FAIRLY CLEAR ON THIS.
BUT IT SAYS IT'S NOT PERMITTED AT ALL. AND THEN IN 2020, AN AMENDMENT TO THE ZONING ORDINANCE WAS PROPOSED, AND IT WENT THROUGH PLANNING AND ZONING AND MOVED THROUGH CITY COUNCIL.
AND THAT AMENDMENT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD. BUT IN READING THAT ORDINANCE AND ACTUALLY READING WHAT IT SAYS, IT DOES ALLOW FENCES IN A FRONT YARD, BUT ONLY IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE STREET FRONTAGES.
SO THINK OF CORNER LOTS. BUT IT ALSO ALLOWED YOU TO BUILD A SIX FOOT FENCE IN THOSE CORNER LOTS AS LONG AS YOU'RE TEN FEET OFF OF THE STREET.
SO THIS WAS THE 2015 CODE THAT SAID NO FENCE OR WALL SHALL BE PERMITTED WITHIN THE REQUIRED FRONT YARD OF ANY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOT THAT IS ADJACENT TO A PUBLIC STREET. AND SO THAT WAS WHERE EVERYTHING LANDED WITH THAT IN 2020.
AN AMENDMENT WAS PROPOSED AND WORKED ITS WAY THROUGH THE SYSTEM.
AND THIS IS WHERE WE ENDED UP ON THIS. AND IT SAYS BASICALLY THE SAME THING, BUT THEN PROVIDES AN EXCEPTION, EXCEPT ON LOTS WITH MULTIPLE STREET FRONTAGES, TO WHICH A SIDE YARD HAS NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED BY PLATT IN THESE INSTANCES.
NO FENCES OR WALLS GREATER THAN SIX FEET SHALL BE PERMITTED WITHIN THE FRONT YARD, FACING A PUBLIC STREET TO WHICH THE RESIDENTIAL LOT IS ADDRESSED OF A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOT THAT IS ADJACENT TO A PUBLIC STREET.
[00:45:03]
PUT SOME RESTRICTIONS ON THERE THAT IT HAS TO BE AT LEAST TEN FEET BACK, AND IT HAS TO HAVE MULTIPLE STREET FRONTAGES LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT, OR AT LEAST FIVE FOOT BEHIND A SIDEWALK, WHICHEVER IS GREATER.SO THAT IS THE CURRENT ORDINANCE THAT WE HAVE THAT IS ON FILE.
WELL, I REMEMBER DOING THIS AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS THERE WAS A CORNER LOT AND THEY HAD NO FRONT YARD.
YOU KNOW, THE OTHER WAY. SO THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO PUT A FENCE IN AT ALL.
SO THEY DIDN'T HAVE A FRONT YARD TO NOT PUT A FENCE IN.
AND SO THEY WERE SAYING THAT YOU COULDN'T PUT A FENCE IN AT ALL.
OKAY. SO THAT'S WHY WE CHANGED THE ORDINANCE.
BUT I GUESS IT DIDN'T GET CHANGED FOR THE INTENT, BECAUSE WE, WE NEVER I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAD SWAGIT AT THE TIME OR NOT, BUT IT WAS NOT SWAGIT AT THE TIME. WE'VE LISTENED TO THOSE, AND IT'S VERY GRAINY AND VERY HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.
I CAN REMEMBER CLEARLY, WE ALL DID NOT WANT A FENCE IN THE FRONT YARD, BUT WE ALSO WANTED, AND I THINK IT WAS EVEN I THINK IT WAS THE HOUSE OVER ON COLLEGE HILL AND COLLEGE, THAT HOUSE.
AND SO THEY COULDN'T PUT A FENCE IN ANYWHERE.
AND JAKE, I THINK BECAUSE AT THAT POINT IN TIME THERE WERE THINGS OF, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, I WILL WRITE IT AND THEN I'LL GO IN AND KIND OF SHORTLY AFTER THAT, WE HAD A FEW THINGS THAT WERE DIDN'T ALWAYS COME BACK THE WAY WE THOUGHT WE HAD ASKED FOR THEM TO BE. SO THAT'S WHEN WE WOULD BRING EVERYTHING BACK BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE, OH, WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE WRITTEN THIS WAY, AND THEN IT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE GOTTEN WRITTEN THAT WAY.
BUT, I MEAN, THAT WAS THE HOUSE THAT WE WERE ALL TALKING ABOUT.
AND THE GAGE HOUSE, OR WAS IT THE THERE WAS ANOTHER THERE WERE ACTUALLY LIKE 2 OR 3 AT THE SAME TIME, BUT WE WERE ALSO WORRIED THAT WE DON'T WANT FIVE AND SIX FOOT FENCES IN FRONT YARDS BLOCKING THINGS OFF IN STREETS.
I CAN FIND THAT. YEAH. YEAH. THAT HOUSE IS ON HERE.
OH. YEAH. THAT ONE RIGHT THERE ON THE RIGHT. YEAH.
SO I REMEMBER THAT CASE. YEAH. BUT THAT WAS, AGAIN, I DON'T REMEMBER THE CHANGES AND EXACTLY HOW THEY CAME ABOUT IN THERE, BUT THAT'S WHERE WE ENDED UP ON THIS. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL REQUESTS FOR FRONT YARD FENCES. SAID WE'D BRING IT TO COUNCIL, SEE WHAT THE OPINION WAS AND WHERE WE WANTED TO GO WITH THAT.
IF YOU'D LIKE, I'LL RUN THROUGH SOME OF THE PROPOSALS.
IF YOU ALLOW FRONT YARD FENCES OR WE CAN EXIT ALTOGETHER.
I KNOW I'VE SEEN A FRONT YARD FENCE GOING IN BECAUSE THIS IS OUR ORDINANCE NOW, AND OKAY, I HAVE TO I HAVE TO FOLLOW. YEAH, I KNOW, I KNOW, I GET IT, I GET IT.
YEAH. AND AS I DRIVE AROUND TOWN IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS, THE THREE AND A HALF, FOUR FOOT OR 3.5FT METAL WROUGHT IRON FENCE IS VERY ATTRACTIVE. IT KIND OF GOES BACK TO THE WHITE PICKET FENCE OF, YOU KNOW, THE DAY.
AND I THINK THEY'RE VERY ATTRACTIVE FENCES. I THINK AS WE GET MORE AND MORE NEW SUBDIVISIONS, WE WILL NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THE SUBDIVISION WON'T ALLOW IT.
SURE. BUT I THINK THERE IS A PLACE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT THESE FENCES MAKE SENSE.
AT A CERTAIN HEIGHT AND A CERTAIN MATERIAL. YES.
YES, SIR. WELL, CAN I MOVE ON THROUGH AND SHOW YOU WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING? 97%. OKAY, 97%, I LIKE THAT. OKAY, SO PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE FRONT YARD FENCES WOULD NOT ALLOW FOR SOLID PANEL FENCES. MUST HAVE. WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS 50% VISIBILITY THROUGH THE FENCE.
[00:50:02]
SO IF YOU'VE GOT A FOUR INCH BOARD, YOU NEED FOUR INCHES.BESIDE THAT, YOU'VE GOT A SIX INCH, YOU NEED SIX INCH BESIDE THAT, WHATEVER THAT IS, TO GIVE YOU 50% VISIBILITY THROUGH THAT FENCE SO THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO SEE THROUGH THAT FENCE. IF A CHILD IS RUNNING OUT OF THAT PROPERTY, OR IF SOMEBODY IS BACKING OUT, OR IF SOMEBODY IS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND YOU'RE BACKING OUT.
NO BOUNDARY WALLS. SO CREATING COMPOUNDS ON THIS WITH WALLS WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED.
WE HAVE PROPOSED NOT IN EXCESS OF 36IN IN HEIGHT.
IT WAS BOUNCED BACK AND FORTH TO GO UP TO 48.
YOU. IF YOU SIT IN A VERY SMALL CAR AND YOU LOOK OUT THAT WINDOW AND AT 48IN.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME IMPEDED VISIBILITY.
AND SO WE BROUGHT IT BACK DOWN TO 36IN. BUT WE CAN GO WITH EITHER WAY ON THAT.
DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE IF THIS ITEM WAS IN PLACE.
WHEN WE REVIEWED THE HOME, WE JUST LOOKED AT WHAT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED.
REVIEWED THE HOME THAT WE THAT I DON'T KNOW. YEAH.
I DON'T KNOW THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THAT BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT WAS A PLATTED LOT.
GOTCHA. SO THE HILL. I THINK HILL STREET IS STILL ON THAT PARTICULAR HOUSE, THE FRONT YARD.
SEE, I THOUGHT HE CHANGED HIS FRONT YARD TO COLLEGE.
AND I BELIEVE THAT HE WAS ORIGINALLY ADDRESSED OFF OF COLLEGE.
HE REPLATTED TO MAKE THAT A SIDE YARD. OKAY. SO HE WAS ABLE TO HAVE THAT FENCE.
SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, HE IS WITHIN LIMITS.
RIGHT SIDE YARD. VERY GOOD. SO ALONG WITH THAT, WE'D WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FENCES ARE AT LEAST TEN FEET FROM A PROPERTY LINE, BUT NOT LESS THAN FIVE FEET FROM SIDEWALK, AND THEN NOT PERMITTED IN ANY UTILITY EASEMENT.
THAT WAY, WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR UTILITY PROVIDERS ARE ABLE TO MAINTAIN, INSTALL, AND REPAIR ANY UTILITIES THAT ARE IN THAT EASEMENT.
WE'D WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAINTAINING THESE CORNER VISIBILITY AREAS.
YOU CAN SEE UP THERE. THIS IS THE SKATE PARK ACROSS THE STREET OVER HERE.
THEY CUT ACROSS THAT CORNER UP THERE TO PROVIDE THAT VISIBILITY AROUND THAT CORNER, SO THAT IF YOU PULL UP TO THAT, THAT FENCE ISN'T BLOCKING YOUR VIEW OF WHATEVER'S COMING RIGHT THERE.
AND THEN THIS IS A FENCE. YES. AND SO YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY'VE GOT A, OH, WELL, THEY'VE GOT A CORNER CUT OFF ON THAT FOR THAT SAME PURPOSE.
SO IT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO COME ALL THE WAY OUT TO THAT PROJECTED CORNER AND IMPEDE VISIBILITY.
MORE FENCES, OF COURSE. THERE'S A WROUGHT IRON FENCE.
THAT LOOKS VERY NICE UP AGAINST THAT HOUSE. AND SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE ON FRONT YARD FENCES RIGHT NOW.
SO THAT ONE. YOU DIDN'T PUT MINE ON THERE. I DID NOT THE ONE THAT THE WROUGHT IRON THAT WAS IN THE OTHER ONE.
NOW THAT'S NOT THAT'S NOT SET BACK FAR ENOUGH.
IT IS NOT OKAY. IT IS NOT. BUT THAT FENCE IS EXISTING WHERE IT IS.
AND SO WE WOULD NOT WANTED TO MAKE SURE IN MY MIND I KNEW.
YOU KNOW, IF SOMEBODY DROVE THROUGH IT, WE WOULD LET THEM BUILD IT BACK WHERE IT'S AT AND REPAIR IT.
BUT IF THEY TOOK IT OUT COMPLETELY AND THEN THE NEXT PROPERTY OWNER SAYS, OH, YOU KNOW, BACK IN 25, WE HAD A FRONT YARD FENCE. WE'D LIKE TO PUT THAT BACK IN.
NOW YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO MOVE IT BACK. AND WOULD THIS BE A CIRCUMSTANCE THAT IF THEY TRIED TO REPLAT THEIR PROPERTY, THEY COULD NOT, BECAUSE THEIR FENCE IS NOT IN THE BOUNDARIES? NO, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD. IT WOULDN'T IMPACT PLANNING? YES. AND IF AND ANYTHING, THEY WOULD GET A SPECIAL EXCEPTION.
[00:55:04]
YES BOA. OKAY. AND IT'S JUST FOR CORNER LOTS.I HAVE ONE NEXT TO ME THAT PUT ONE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT LOT.
I MEAN THE BLOCK. SO WHO DETERMINES THE ESTHETICS.
SO, IF YOU SCROLL A COUPLE PICTURES UP BACK OR FORWARD? FORWARD RIGHT THERE. RIGHT THERE. SO THE BOTTOM CORNER PICTURE.
YES. IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO PUT THAT ON I DON'T KNOW.
TWO BLOCKS OFF THE SQUARE. WOULD THAT BE AN OKAY FENCE TO PUT UP? IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THE STANDARDS ARE THAT WE PUT IN PLACE FOR FENCES IN THE FRONT YARDS RIGHT NOW.
BUT RIGHT NOW, AS THE ORDINANCE WAS ADOPTED, IT WOULD BE ALLOWED.
IT HAS VISIBILITY. IT'S, IT DOES OKAY HEIGHT ON THERE.
IT'S NOT SET BACK. BUT IF THAT HIT ALL THE PARAMETERS ESTHETICALLY, WOULD THAT BE AN ACCEPTABLE FENCE IN THE HISTORICAL AREA? WELL, MORE IMPORTANTLY, MORE IMPORTANTLY, ALONG THOSE SAME LINES, THE TOP LEFT, YOU KNOW THAT.
YEAH. THAT THAT HAS VISIBILITY. IT HAS IT'S THE PROPER HEIGHT.
IT'S IN THE CORNER. SO TECHNICALLY A CHAIN LINK FENCE AND AM I CORRECT WHERE WE CAN'T REGULATE WHAT TYPE OF MATERIALS THEY USE. I KNOW WE CAN'T. ON THE HOUSE.
YOU CAN REGULATE WHAT'S ON THE HOUSE. IT STILL HAS TO BE APPROPRIATE BUILDING. YOU CAN'T SAY IT HAS TO BE BRICK. RIGHT? YEAH. AND I THINK MAYBE IF IT'S AN APPROPRIATE BUILDING MATERIAL, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE SOMEONE'S LIKE, WELL, YOU CAN BUILD A HOUSE OUT OF PLASTIC. NO, IT'S NOT A PERFECT CODE, BUT CHAIN LINK IS AN APPROPRIATE BUILDING MATERIAL.
TECHNICALLY, FENCES ARE NOT NECESSARILY REGULATED BY THE CODE, AND THEY'RE STRUCTURAL.
WE HAVE ADOPTED ORDINANCES TO REGULATE FENCES IN DECATUR.
AND THAT INCLUDES FENCES OR. NO, I THINK IT POTENTIALLY COULD, BUT NOT THESE FENCES.
THESE FENCES WOULD NOT QUALIFY AS BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS.
SO ARE YOU SAYING THEY COULD BE BUILT OUT? IT COULD BE THAT.
YES. THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE. AND WE HAVE NO WAY.
WE HAVE NO WAY TO REGULATE AGAINST A CHAIN LINK FENCE.
IF WE WERE TO ADOPT A REGULATION, YOU CAN WE CAN YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY SET WHATEVER THE EXPECTATION IS FOR THAT FRONT YARD FENCE. NOW WE HAVE TO VOICE THAT EXPECTATION.
IF A RAIL FENCE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE THEN WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE.
WE WOULD CALL IT OUT. IT'S NOT ALLOWED. RIGHT. YES.
OKAY. AND PERIOD. ARE THERE IS THERE A WAY TO HAVE DIFFERENT FENCE REQUIREMENTS IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT BECAUSE IT'S THE HISTORIC DISTRICT RATHER THAN THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY.
SURE, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO. YOU WOULD HAVE TO DEFINE THAT HISTORIC DISTRICT.
WELL, WE HAVE A HISTORIC DISTRICT THAT'S OUTLINED THAT DOESN'T FALL INTO THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
RIGHT. WHAT ABOUT THE NEW ONE THAT'S BEING PUT IN? IT DOES NOT FALL INTO THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
I THINK IT DOES BECAUSE WE INCREASED THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, MAIN STREET.
WE HAVE THE MAIN STREET DISTRICT, AND THEN WE HAVE A HISTORIC DISTRICT, RIGHT.
THE MAIN STREET DISTRICT GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN.
DOESN'T GO THAT FAR. BUT IT'S IT DOES. IT DOES BECAUSE WE CHANGED, I THINK WE CHANGED IT.
BUT I'LL CHECK INTO THAT BECAUSE I JUST WE JUST PRINTED A BOUNDARY ON IT THE OTHER DAY.
HISTORIC DISTRICT ENDS. BUT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MAIN STREET AND THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
YES. AND DO WE ACTUALLY HAVE A HISTORIC DISTRICT ACCORDING TO THE STATE OF TEXAS OR DO WE.
IT'S AN OVERLAY DISTRICT. IT'S CREATED BY THE CITY.
IT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT'S STATE REGULATED BY THE STATE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
AND ISN'T THAT SOMETHING THAT THE STATE ALLOWS US TO REGULATE, REGULATE BUILDING MATERIALS IN A YOU CAN MAKE YOU CAN MAKE CONCESSIONS IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT. YES. SO THERE ARE WAYS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
WELL, YEAH. BUT YOU'RE I MEAN, YOU'RE NOT PROTECTING THE WHOLE CITY IF AGAINST A CHAIN LINK FENCE GOING UP NEXT TO THAT, I JUST, I MEAN, I'M POINTING OUT THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
[01:00:09]
FRONT YARD FENCES ARE CONCERNING BECAUSE THE MAINTENANCE IF SOMEBODY LETS IT GO, THEN THE IMPACT IS HUGE.AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S JUST A, AN EYESORE IN A LOT OF SITUATIONS.
AND I'M SURE YOUR STAFF DOESN'T HAVE JUST ENDLESS AMOUNT OF HOURS TO HAVE TO MAINTAIN THAT.
YOU'RE RIGHT. AND WHAT HAPPENS IF WE TELL YOU TONIGHT THAT WE DON'T WANT FRONT YARD FENCES TO PEOPLE THAT ARE CURRENTLY INSTALLING FRONT YARD FENCES? UNDER THE PRIOR ORDINANCE, THEY'RE ALLOWED UNDER THE CURRENT ORDINANCE.
THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO ALLOW THAT. YEAH. SO ANOTHER QUESTION.
WHAT ABOUT HOMES THAT HAVE NOT FENCES, BUT SHRUBS THAT ARE 18FT TALL THAT ACT AS A FENCE? WE WOULD WE WOULD NEED THERE'S NOTHING IN MY PRESENTATION THAT DEALS WITH THAT OTHER THAN MAINTAINING VEGETATION, VEGETATION AT FENCE LINES. BUT WE COULD. I DON'T THINK THERE'S A FENCE.
I DON'T THINK THERE IS EITHER. TERRIFIC LOOKING.
APPARENTLY, YOU GUYS ARE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME SHRUBS.
THE SHRUBS. IT MAY BE VERY CLOSE TO THE FENCE.
YEAH, LIKE ACROSS THE STREET. YOU GOT TO BE CAREFUL WITH SHRUBS, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE CITY THAT DON'T WANT TO TAKE THEIR SHRUBS OUT THAT LOOK LIKE A FENCE. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? YOU DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE. I'M JUST SAYING THERE ARE 18FT TALL.
YEAH. AND I'M PROBABLY KNOW WHAT PROPERTY YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, AND.
YEAH. SO IN MY WHAT, I WOULD LIKE WHAT I THINK, LIKE HAVING A FENCE IS WHAT MY.
SURE. I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE WRITTEN LIKE WE WANTED IT TO BE WRITTEN PREVIOUSLY.
WHERE YOU CAN'T HAVE A FRONT YARD FENCE. HOWEVER, IF IT'S A PROPERTY THAT DOESN'T HAVE A FRONT YARD OR, YOU KNOW, IF THEY WANT TO DESIGNATE WHERE THEIR FRONT YARD IS, I DON'T KNOW HOW.
BUT I DO FEEL LIKE SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A FRONT YARD OR THEY LIKE THAT THAT GUY ON HILL STREET, I UNDERSTAND WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT. AND THERE WAS ONE MORE IN THIS TIME PERIOD, I'M TRYING TO THINK OF WHERE IT WAS, BUT THEY HAD A REALLY DIFFICULT TIME. I MEAN, IT WAS LITERALLY THEY ONLY HAD ONE FRONT DOOR AND IT WAS FACING ONE STREET.
AND THEY SAID THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HOUSE WAS HIS FRONT YARD.
SO HE AND IT WAS LIKE HIS HOUSE WAS PUSHED TO THE SETBACK ON ONE SIDE.
SO, HE COULDN'T HAVE A BACKYARD ALMOST. SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE I'M AT.
TEN FOOT FROM THE PROPERTY LINE ON SIDE YARDS.
THERE YOU GO. I GUESS THAT'S WHERE WE FAILED.
ON THE OTHER ONE WAS NOT DEFINING A SIDE YARD FENCE AS OPPOSED TO ANYWAY.
WHAT? ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? I PREFER THE 36 INCH HEIGHT.
WELL, WELL THAT WOULD BE IF WE'RE, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FRONT YARD FENCE.
WHAT DO WE GO AHEAD. AGREE ON WHAT? NO. AGREE ON NO FRONT YARD FENCES.
OKAY. NOT A PROBLEM. AND SO WE CAN DEFINITELY DO THAT.
I WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE THROUGH A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THIS.
WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND BRING FORWARD FENCE MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS.
THAT IS NOT IN OUR ZONING ORDINANCE RIGHT NOW.
THAT THEY MUST BE MAINTAINED. THEY'D HAVE TO REPAIR, REPLACE OR REMOVE IF THEY'RE MISSING PANELS, PICKETS, RAILS, GATES REMOVE DAMAGED OR FALLEN FENCES AND THEN MAINTAIN VEGETATION AT FENCE LINES.
WE CAN ALSO LOOK AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHAT WE WANT.
I'D LIKE TO PICK YOUR BRAIN ON WHAT YOU KNOW, ON THAT PROPERTY THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE, AND THEN GO FROM THERE. YEAH, I UNDERSTAND. BUT WE'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND BRING FORWARD THE FENCE MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS. ABSOLUTELY. AND THEN COME BACK AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT FENCE MATERIALS.
[01:05:04]
SO OF COURSE, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT NO SOLID PANEL FENCES IN FRONT YARDS.BUT AS FAR AS FENCE MATERIALS, WROUGHT IRON MASONRY PICKET, WHETHER IT'S WOODEN OR VINYL FENCES.
BUT THEN YOU'VE GOT A WHOLE LIST OF WIRE FENCES TO GO INTO THAT, WHETHER IT'S CHAIN LINK, AND IF YOU DO CHAIN LINK, IS IT ALL CHAIN LINK OR ONLY VINYL COATED CHAIN LINK AND THEN WIRE MESH HOG PANELS, THINGS LIKE THAT. GOAT FENCES. I'M READING YOUR SCREEN HERE.
IT SAYS PROPOSED CHANGES OF FRONT YARD FENCES.
THIS WOULD BE ALL. YOU'RE JUST. I JUST I'M JUST.
I'M VERY DEFINED TODAY ABOUT WHAT I'M LOOKING AT IN CONVERSATIONS.
UNDERSTOOD. SO YOU'RE GOING TO BRING BACK THAT TO US? I WILL, OR DO YOU WANT SOME DISCUSSION FROM US RIGHT NOW ABOUT THAT? IF YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON ALLOWED FENCE MATERIALS OR MY OPINION WOULD BE ON AT LEAST CHAIN LINK, I DON'T THINK IT MATTERS IF IT'S A BACKYARD ADJOINING ANOTHER PROPERTY, OR A SIDE YARD ADJOINING ANOTHER PROPERTY, BECAUSE YOUR NEIGHBOR CAN PUT UP A WOOD FENCE UP AGAINST YOURS TO NOT SEE IT.
BUT IF IT'S ADJOINING A ROAD LIKE A SIDE YARD WHERE YOU'RE DRIVING.
THE CITIZENS ARE DRIVING DOWN IT AND SEEING IT.
I WOULD PREFER NOT TO HAVE A CHAIN LINK FENCE ON.
IS THERE A WAY TO DEFINE THAT CORNER LOT? RIGHT.
AND THEY HAD A FENCE ALONG THE STREET FRONTAGE.
IT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE CHAIN LINK. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
I WILL HAVE TO. COULD IT BE LIKE IN MY BACKYARD ON PRINTS? NO. CHAIN LINK. RIGHT. THAT WOULD BE UGLY. YEAH.
I AGREE. WE HAVE SEVERAL OF THOSE FENCES NOW.
WHAT'S THAT? SOME OF THE VINYL COATED ONES ARE UGLY.
OF COURSE, I GUESS IF YOU'RE DOING A MAINTENANCE SECTION, YOU KNOW, WEEDS GET GROWN UP IN IT, AND THEN YOU GO TO WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, AND YOU HAVE YOU DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A FENCE OR JUST A BUNCH OF BRUSH THERE.
SO THAT'S A TOUGH ONE TO WHERE IF IT'S A PICKET FENCE, TALL PICKET FENCE, AS LONG AS THEY'RE KEEPING IT, I MEAN, IT'S EASIER FOR THE ORDINANCE OR I THINK FOR YOUR GUYS TO.
THAT'S JUST MY OPINION. I WOULD PREFER NO CHAIN LINK ON A SIDE YARD.
YEAH. OR WIRE LIKE WIRE. YEAH. SO MOVE AWAY FROM THOSE TYPE OF FENCES.
OKAY. ABSOLUTELY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT, WAYNE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT.
WE'LL HAVE THIS BACK. PROBABLY SEEING COUNCIL'S ZEST FOR GETTING THIS BACK IN LINE WITH WHERE YOU WANT IT TO BE. WE CAN WORK ON THAT ONE SECTION TO BRING THAT FORWARD.
I DON'T. I WILL WORK VERY HARD. I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN STILL FIT IT ON.
CAN WE STILL FIT IT ON THE PNC MEETING? IN JULY? YES. YES. SO WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO MOVE THAT FORWARD.
I LIKE THAT PORTION OF IT. AND I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN GET ALL OF IT REWRITTEN IN THAT TIME FRAME, BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY GET THAT PART OF IT BACK IN LINE WITH WHERE WE WANT TO BE.
ALL RIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANKS, WAYNE. ALL RIGHT.
[10. DISCUSS AND APPOINT UP TO THREE COUNCILMEMBERS TO SERVE ON THE BUDGET COMMITTEE.]
ITEM TEN. THIS IS OUR APPOINTMENT OF THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SERVE ON THE BUDGET COMMITTEE.NATE, PRIOR TO DOING THAT, DO YOU HAVE SOME CONCEPTS FOR US ON TIME AND REQUIREMENTS, ET CETERA.? THANK YOU. MAYOR. COUNCIL? YEAH. YOU'RE RIGHT MAYOR.
THIS IS THE TIME PERIOD WHERE WE ASK THE COUNCIL BODY TO OFFER UP THREE PERSONS TO SERVE ON THE BUDGET COMMITTEE WITH MYSELF, JEN SUMMERS, FINANCE DIRECTOR AND HR. LAST YEAR WE MET ON MONDAY, JULY 15TH AND MONDAY, JULY 22ND. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE THIRD AND THEN THE FOURTH MONDAY THAT FOURTH MONDAY WE MET AFTER THE COUNCIL MEETING AND THEN THE YEAR BEFORE THAT WE ACTUALLY MET ON SATURDAYS, TWO, TWO SATURDAYS.
SO THAT'S THE ASK. THOSE MEETINGS LAST ANYWHERE FROM 2 TO 4 HOURS.
I'M PROBABLY MISSING A LITTLE MORE DETAIL, BUT AT THIS POINT, WE WE'VE IDENTIFIED IF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW LAST YEAR'S PATH, THAT WOULD BE MONDAY, JULY 21ST, AND MONDAY, JULY 28TH.
THOSE WOULD BE THE THIRD AND THE FOURTH MONDAYS.
AND WE COULD MEET IN THE EVENING TIME IF THERE'S ANOTHER DATE THAT'S PREFERRED BY THE COMMITTEE.
[01:10:05]
HAPPY TO TALK THROUGH THAT, WALK THROUGH THAT, OR STAND BY FOR CONVERSATION.AND WITH THE THREE, IF IT'S THREE MEMBERS, BASICALLY THOSE THREE MEMBERS THEN COULD APPOINT TIMES THAT WOULD BE FITTING FOR THEM AND WORK WITH YOU ON HOW THAT WOULD WORK WITH THE CITY.
CORRECT. THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. SO COUNCIL, DO YOU HAVE ANY POINTS THAT YOU WANT TO DISCUSS JUST FOR CLARITY, FOR THE FOR THE COUNCIL BOARD OR THE COUNCIL BODY AND ANYBODY WHO'S WATCHING.
I'M NOT OPPOSED TO POSTING THOSE MEETINGS. IT JUST BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO HAVE THOSE MEETINGS IN THE RIGHT TIME FRAME TO ALLOW FOR A BUDGET TO BE PREPARED AND PRESENTED WITH ALL THE MOVING PIECES OF THE TNT FORMULAS.
BUT WHAT IF WE CHOOSE THREE PEOPLE? BUT THEN YOU POST THE MEETING, AND IF OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN AND WANT TO ATTEND, BASED UPON THE THREE THAT ARE DEDICATED THEMSELVES TO IT, THEY COULD STILL COME.
IS THAT A PROBLEMATIC? YEAH, RIGHT. JUST CONFIRMING IF WE POST THE MEETING AS A POSSIBLE QUORUM PRESENT, THAT'S PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE.
I THINK THAT JUST GIVES EVERYBODY AN OPPORTUNITY IF THEY CAN AND WANT TO COME, THAT THEY COULD.
AND THAT'S JUST AN ALTERNATIVE. BUT I DO THINK THE PEOPLE, WHOEVER THE THREE PEOPLE ARE THAT ARE CHOSEN FOR THAT COMMITTEE CAN DECIDE THEIR MEETING TIMES AND THEN CAN YOU REMIND US WHO WAS ON THE BUDGET BOARD LAST YEAR? COUNCIL REPRESENTATION? I HAD A FEELING SOMEONE WOULD ASK ME THAT.
I BELIEVE IT WAS DEBORAH, DARLENE AND YOU? I BELIEVE THAT'S CORRECT.
IT WAS WILL. DARLENE. AND MISS DEBORAH. YEAH.
WILL OR MELINDA. WILL DARLENE AND DEBORAH. AND THEN I THINK THE YEAR BEFORE IT WAS MELINDA, I WAS ON IT EVERY YEAR UNTIL LAST YEAR. I WAS ON IT.
IT WAS MELINDA, DEBORAH, AND DARLENE YEAR BEFORE.
WELL, I GUESS TO GET IT STARTED. WHO WANTS TO BE ON IT? I'LL BE GLAD TO BE ON IT. I LIKE BEING ON IT, BUT I DON'T WANT TO.
MY SCHEDULE IS CRAZY, SO I DON'T WANT TO HOLD ANYBODY BACK.
THAT'S WHY I SUGGESTED IF WE HAVE AN OPTION TO COME IF WE'RE AVAILABLE, THAT THAT WOULD WORK FOR ME, BUT I DON'T, I DON'T CARE, I'M HAPPY TO SERVE AGAIN.
BUT IF SOMEBODY ELSE WANTS TO COME ALONGSIDE OR STEP ON.
LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE OUR THREE. OH. DO WE? LOOKS LIKE YOU SAID JESS.
YOU SAID JESS. YOU SAID JESS. ARE YOU WANTING TO SERVE? NO. I'M GOOD. JAKE, ARE YOU WANTING TO SERVE? DEBORAH, MIKE AND WILL. ALL RIGHT. SO, GO AHEAD. I CAN MAKE SURE. MELINDA, YOU AND DEBORAH.
THAT'S FINE TOO. IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ME. I'M THE ONE THAT HAS THE CRAZY SCHEDULE.
SO THAT'S WHAT THE MAYOR WANTS TO BE ON IT. I'LL STEP DOWN AND HE CAN BE ON IT.
WELL, I FEEL I FEEL LIKE I MEAN, FOR ME, I STEP DOWN.
WE CAN LET. I WOULD LOVE US JUST TO POST THE MEETING AND HAVE PEOPLE ATTEND AND IF THEY CAN OR NOT.
BUT I DO FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO HAVE AT LEAST THREE PEOPLE TO BE AT THE MEETING.
WELL, THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING THREE PEOPLE THAT ARE DEDICATED ON IT IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE EXPECTATION IS THAT THOSE THREE PEOPLE ARE PLANNING THEIR DAYS AND THEIR SCHEDULES AROUND IT AND WILL BE THERE BECAUSE THAT CONTINUITY IS IMPORTANT WHENEVER YOU'RE GOING FORWARD.
SO, I MEAN, I JUST I DON'T, I DON'T CARE, I DON'T HAVE TO SERVE EITHER.
ALL RIGHT. SO WE'RE REALLY GOOD AT IT, TOO. SO AND SO IS DEBORAH.
SO I MEAN, I THINK THAT PROBABLY EVERYBODY'S CAPABLE AND DOESN'T MATTER TO ME.
[01:15:09]
SO I'M HEARING PEOPLE WANTING TO SERVE, BUT MAYBE NOT SPEAKING UP THEIR IMPORTANCE OF DESIRING TO SERVE.I MEAN, I FEEL LIKE EVERYBODY'S READY TO GO, BUT IT'S JUST A MATTER OF PICKING THREE.
IT GETS CONVOLUTED WHEN YOU HAVE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ON THERE.
IT GETS HARDER AND TAKES LONGER TO GET THINGS DONE.
SO I AM PERFECTLY HAPPY FOR THREE PEOPLE TO STAND UP AND SERVE ON THAT BUDGET.
SO YOU'RE THINKING IT WOULD BE A MORE APPROPRIATE WAY OF HAVING A THREE COMMITTEE MEMBER RATHER THAN POSTING THE MEETING, I DO OKAY. ON COUNCIL. ANY OTHER THOUGHTS ON THAT? SO HEARING NONE I THINK YEAH LET'S DEFINITELY DO THE THREE BODY MEMBER SUBCOMMITTEE PROCESS.
SO THEN IT'S I FEEL LIKE IF WE HAVE THREE, THEY CAN PICK THE TIMES THAT THEY WANT TOGETHER.
SO ULTIMATELY MELINDA YOU WANT TO SERVE ON? DO YOU WANT TO SAY YES OR I KNOW THAT'S BEEN A PASSION OF YOURS. I DON'T MIND SERVING, BUT I REALLY DON'T HAVE TO EITHER.
SO I KNOW THAT I THINK DARLENE AND DEBORAH WANT TO SERVE.
I WOULD RECOMMEND DEBORAH, MIKE AND WILL PUT THAT OUT THERE.
AND IF ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TO SERVE, THEN SAY NO.
BUT THAT'S WHAT MY RECOMMENDATION IS. I SECOND.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND BEFORE US. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? I WANT TO MAKE SURE I HEARD JACKSON MCQUISTON CARPENTER.
IS THAT WHAT WAS SAID? OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION BEFORE US. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. ALL RIGHT. AND DARLENE SHOULD BE ON IT.
SO I'M. OKAY. SO, THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I LOST, SO IF YOU WANT TO BE, YOU CAN HAVE. LET'S DO A VOTE BY HANDS SO WE KNOW WHERE THIS STANDS.
SO WE HAVE A I GOT THE VOTE SIX ONE REEVES AGAINST MISS JACKSON.
DO YOU WANT TO CLARIFY? YOU DID VOTE. I DID NOT VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THAT MOTION SAY I. AND SHOW OF HANDS.
AYE. AND THOSE OPPOSED SAME SIGN. SO. OKAY. SO WE HAVE 1234552.
ALL RIGHT. THAT PASSES. ALL RIGHT. CONSENT AGENDA.
[11. CONSENT AGENDA]
WE'VE GOT ANY ITEMS THERE THAT ANYONE WANTS TO PULL OFF.OTHERWISE, WE'LL LOOK FOR A MOTION. MR. MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ.
SECOND. ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. ALL RIGHT, SO THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
[12. **EXECUTIVE SESSION]
AND I.12 IS AN EXECUTIVE SESSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 551.001, COUNCIL WILL RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING PERSONNEL MATTERS.CITY MANAGER DUTIES REGARDING ANNUAL WORKSHOPS AND THE TIME.
MAYOR AT. THANK YOU. 7:19. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. WE'LL COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 814.
AND DOES ANYONE HAVE A MOTION? NO MOTION. NO MOTION.
ALL RIGHT. HEARING NONE. THERE'S NO ACTION. AND THAT WILL.
IF THERE'S ANY OTHER ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS AND HEARING NONE THAT WILL GET US TO
ADJOURNMENT BY UNANIMOUS. UNANIMOUS CONSENT AT 8:15.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.