Rockwall City Council 19 January

Full council present for the full meeting, how'd that happen?

Actions from executive committee:

1. Reappoint Councilman Sevier to Fire Dept Pension board.

2. Julia Marianat? (Sounded like Julia, a marionette, but that can't be right) appointed to Architechtural Review Board.

III. Consent Agenda.

4 Pulled by Glen, 2 Pulled by Mark

2. Minutes approval.

Remainder approved 7-0.

4. TxDOT wants to put an antenna on a water tower for controlling or monitoring traffic signals. Glen pulled because he wanted information on an electronic sign (which I heard is around $70,000) the city wants to put somewhere on TxDOT right-of-way. TxDOT has yet to even visit Rockwall for the purpose of finding an appropriate site for the sign, which has been a long time coming.

Glen motions to table until next meeting, hoping that TxDOT will visit Rockwall, but according to City Manager and Parks Dept Director probably won't happen.

IV. Appointments.

1. P&Z Chairman Hunter presented recent actions of the P&Z for the upcoming public hearings.

V. Public Hearings.

1. Fella wants to build a car port on the back of his house and needs a replat to do so. Twenty-eight (28) notices went out to neighbors, zero (o) came back to P&Z. Maybe shoulda sent notices out 1000'!

Passes 7-0

2. Proposed 7-11 at the corner of Tubbs and Horizon. Failed P&Z 4-3 mainly (as I understand) because it wasn't as fancyas the new one at 552 and 205. Applicant withdrew case, so no council action and no public hearing.

3. Some guy wants to build a 4,000 sqft building on his 8.5 acre lot, exceding city's max allowed sqft of 2,000. SUP would also allow considerations for not meeting height maximum and exterior requirements. Of the notices that went out, neighbors opposed because they would have to look at the building. Applicant could not make the public hearing, and it is continued until next council meeting.

4. City changing terms of P&Z commissioners from 2 years to 3 years. Passes 7-0.

VI. Action Items.

1. City teaming or getting involved with a health/fitness initiative. Will get some logos and links placed on some websites promoting fitness activities in Rockwall.

2. Rockwall Honda Yamaha's existing sign cannot be seen from I-30 when travelers are estbound. It also fails to meet franchise requirements Yamaha has for franchisees. They would like a sign 20' higher than it is now.

Mayor Cecil makes a motion to approve, Councilman Scott seconds.

Then begins Concilman Farris' ever diligent and irrational opposition to any type of useful or visible sign directing customers to businesses.

Glen oppositions:

1. The new sign will not be visible from the interstate.

2. He hates signs that can be seen by anyone who isn't looking directly at one from a distance of more than 1 meter (i.e monument signs).

3. If the council allows this sign, others may follow in their desire to more effectively promote their business.

4. Too much "sign clutter" already, many of which predated Glen's arrival to Rockwall.

5. Rockwall Honda's marketing is good enough (particularly email) that Rockwall Honda needs no other help a new sign may or may not offer even if the majority of Rockwall Honda's sales are impulse purchases, and not a result of email marketing or repeat business.

Matt Scott, saying what everyone familiar with Glen's crusade were thinking: that we could get though this issue without Glen's speechifying.

Councilman Scott stated that this was reasonable and agreed with the request.

Margo Nielsen agreed with the problem of "sign clutter", but stated signs that people can see and are useful for increasing business are a good thing. [emphasis mine]

Cliff asked how long Honda has been there. Answer: 8 years, and the owner said it has been a problem since opening.

David Sweet commended Glen's jihad against signs. I think he then said the size increase won't be that great an improvement. (I THINK.)

Mark Russo then added that no signs or hard to see signs makes it hard to find businesses (note: just visit, Plano, Stonebriar, Frisco)

Passes 6-1, Glen opposed.

3. An existing city ordinance requires that if your business holds a special event (like a tent sale), the event must be affiliated with a non-profit who must carry the permit, whether or not the non-profit actually receives a benefit. (Only a government could think of such a rule.)

The change would be that a business would no longer have to have a non-profit get the permit, but would limit the number of "events" to 4 per year.

Last year, 10-12 business were denied special event permits because no non-profit organizations were involved.

Margo made a motion to approve. Mark asked to remove the limit of 4. Glen seconded the motion, but not with the limit removed. More than 4 can happen with a variance.

Passed 7-0 (I think)

4. At a recent conference, it was determined that city's should be "known for something". "Capital of this" or "Biggest something", etc.

By a 7-0 vote, Rockwall will now be known as "Live Music Capital of North Texas".