Friday, October 23, 2009

Rockwall City Council 19 October

Very short this one! I will of course give credit to several members of council who seemed to try and stretch out the meeting.

III. Proclamations.

1. Something for schools. RISD asked to do the presentation at a school (or all the schools?). Which school will be the lucky recipient?

IV. Consent Agenda.

1. Pulled by Margo. (Relating to minutes of meeting when she was absent) Passes 6-0

3. Pulled by Glen. Something about a facilities agreement. Glen asked what type of business and Cliff wanted to know if there was going to be paved parking. Passes 6-0.

2. Stone Creek development changes approved, 6-0.

V. Appointments.

1. Chairman Michael Hunter from the P&Z Commission. Mentioned P&Z recommendations for an SUP for some solar panels coming up in the public hearing.

2. Citizen's Police Academy Alumni Association thanked council for the quasi-police cruisers. Also, they presented a check in the amount of $277,929.60 symbolic of the 13,362 hours donated to the city over the last few years. Mayor Cecil, a CPA Alumnus, has donated more than 800 hours of his time.

Chief Moeller received a grant check for $10,000 to be used for various police purchases. So, the police department has to go out and beg the state or feds for grants? 10 Grand? That was about the cost of "dedication" plaques for the new fire stations. Sheesh. Glad we have our priorities straight.

VI. Public Hearings.

1. Some guy wants to put in some solar panels. Glen loves the idea and fully endorses it. (Why not make it easier then? Why do people have to come begging the city for something like this? Why isn't there at least an ordinance allowing this to be done by permit?)

Mayor Cecil asked what the expected return of investment would be. Since the homeowner is doing the installation himself, it will only cost $10,000, AND it will pay for itself 100% the "DAY IT GOES IN." That is a helluva lot of electricity!!!!!!

Glen was real curious about the estimated savings.

VII. Action Items.

1. Boat dock at Harbor project, allow the project to proceed. For some reason there was a waiver of some fire code, no one said what exactly. Passes 6-0.

2. Fire Chief getting some grant money to buy a new "brush truck". Again with the grants? As I recall the fire chief was the one asking for the $10,000 plaques. I'm no fire expert, but maybe plaques are as instrumental in putting out fires as a fire truck.

3. 3rd time for water rate hike discussion. Margo asked it be tabled since Mark was not present. She thought it respectful to honor the request of council members who ask that items be tabled when they are unable to attend a council meeting. Was that a dig at actions from the previous meeting? If so, Bravo.

4. City bout to do some wreckin in LRE. 3 house going down! This is great news...for the property owner. The city spends the money (around $2,000) and puts a lien on the property. All the owner has to do is wait a few years for the property value to increase to sell it and not really lose any money! I would even guess the city spending $2,000 will make the land more valuable immediately!

City Attorney Pete Eckert wanted to make sure the owners weren't present in the audience, and had the Mayor call their names. They weren't.

How much will this cost the city over the next few years if unable to collect? There's a BUNCH of home marked as demolishable.

5. YAC Bylaws approval. Approved.

Few things I like more than a do nothing government!

"To do nothing at all is the most difficult thing in the world. The most difficult and the most intellectual." -Oscar Wilde

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