III. Proclamations.
1. Taylor Lipsett Day. City recognized the achievements of paralympian, Taylor Lipsett. He showed the mayor his gold medal, which the mayor passed around council. Surprisingly, no one on council spent 30 minutes grandstanding - they saved that for later.
After the presentation, the mayor told Mr Lipsett and his entourage that they were welcome to stay for the rest of the meeting. They left. (Must have been to council before?)
IV. Consent Agenda.
None pulled. The 2nd reading of speed limit change for 3097/Horizon Rd. Still don't know what the change is. They must be lowering it to match the speed of the majority of drivers who like to go 20 mph under the posted speed limit. (That is when heading south, they like to go 20 mph over when heading north, guess they think that makes it even.)
V. Appointments.
1. P&Z Vice Chair Phillip Herbst talked about the site plans and public hearing items on tonights agenda. P&Z recommended approval of SUP's for 2 antique stores, so long as they don't have any outside displays. Concern about the stores the stores looking too much like an antique store and such.
They did not approve a request by Olive Garden to use fake stone over natural stone. The only fakeness allowed, is the authenticity of the food.
2. Resident wants to build a shade structure on the take-line. Weird restrictions by city of Dallas prevent things from being built below certain a certain sea level. (438ft) Dallas has to get involved and approve.
There were concerns that the structure, which is smaller than a gazebo which the city allows without begging, being built would hinder views that a gazebo (which he wouldn't have to come to council and beg) would obstruct. The question is only in regards to the city of Dallas restriction of being built below a certain sea level.
Of course, this doesn't stop council from getting involved to address issues that didn't exist until they magically appeared in their heads.
3. A rep for the downtown shops has some concerns. Not enough parking, and the parking that does exist, no lights. People can't cross Fanin street, cars come too fast. More planters and benches, or move the ones that are there. Black street lights would be better than bronze street lights. Trippy. Lots more Christmas decorations. (Presumably during Christmas.)
Council mentioned that many of the concerns were already being discussed and are in planning stages. Council not getting people directly affected involved in the planning stages of a project? Unpossible.
Kind of a long discussion, would have been shorter if there wasn't an open seat for the Mayor's race next year...
VI. Public Hearings.
1. 1st antique store. Lady won't have any outside displays, doesn't want to have outside displays, and even if she did want either, she wouldn't be allowed.
Council approved 7-0.
2. 2nd antique store. Pretty much same as before, except this applicant finds out at the last minute that she won't have anywhere for her customers to parking, nor anyplace to accept deliveries. The owners of the parking lot behind her shop sent a letter to council stating such.
One of the mayoral candidates, wanting to appear as the great moral arbiter, proposed postponing the request until the parking situation which has nothing to do with the city could be worked out.
The current mayor smartly suggested passing the 1st reading and allowing it to move forward so as not to delay the desired opening date of July 15.
17 hours later with the issue so fart pounded into the ground that Australians were now involved, they passed first reading of the ordinance, 7-0.
Mayor Cecil then spent 10 minutes letting non-regulars to the meeting know that the council likes to move meetings along quickly. Guess I missed those.
VIII. Action Items.
1. City starting process to take over the cemetery along 205. Passes 7-0.
Back to VI. Public Hearings.
3. Bunch of code/ordinance "clean up". passes 7-0.
VIII. Site Plans/Plats.
1. The undeveloped area around Best Buy is about to be developed. Yay.
Developers want some variances for the architectural requirements.
Power point.
Some of the new stores coming in: Home Goods, Joann, Freebirds, Vitamin Shoppe, SmashBurger, another secret tenant, and Olive Garden. (<-- WARNING don't click if very easily offended)
Councilman Scott (in one of his blind squirrel finding a nut moments) asked the developer if they could get a Chuy's and Dairy Queen. (Attention U-haulers - we had one, closed long time ago.)
Chuy's passed, DQ not asked.
He also asked about a clock tower that no one remembered.
The Olive Garden rep then presented to council samples of the fake stone they want to use on the facade. Council liked.
Both variances approved 7-0.
Showing posts with label cemetery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cemetery. Show all posts
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Rockwall City Council 02 February
This meeting took over as the number one spot for "Most Tedious Council Meeting" ever.
Number two is all the rest.
III. Proclamations.
1. Black History Month celebrating contributions and achievements of African-Americans. Why hasn't the name "Black History Month" succumbed to the compulsion of political correctness?
IV. Public Forum.
1. Pastor Joe Robbins talked about the Rockwall Cemetery. He noted that in several meetings with the city, that if the city took ownership, it would always remain a cemetery.
I wonder if 4 or more council members was at that meeting? Surely not, as that seems like it could be seen as a violation of the Open Meetings Act. Maybe not, but isn't it better to be safe than sorry? Of course, I may have just missed the public notice. Or maybe, there was no dealing made that didn't give the rest of the public the opportunity to hear and give input.
2. Ross Ramsay had a meeting with multiple staff members from several departments and had a good experience dealing with them all.
3. The Mayor presented an award from the Chamber of Commerce recognizing the city as a great business partner from businesses that have been allowed to operate in the city.
V. Consent Agenda.
#2 Pulled by Cliff, #5 pulled by Margo.
Rest approved 7-0. 2 new ordinances, the one from last time about "Special Events" and the other granting P&Z commissioners 3 year terms instead of 2. Item 3 authorizes the city to spend $41,084 for some hazardous waste storage tanks, money comes fromt he Recycle Fund.
2. Margo requested a larger zoning map. Approved 7-0.
5. Cliff asked about a $300 per month fee the city will be paying to Union Pacific Railroad for a crossing on John King Blvd for "maintenance". Is this forever? Does it really cost $3600 a year for the railroad to maintain 40-50ft of a railroad crossing? It appears this is the case with every RR crossing, surely we are negotiating this fee?
April 20th, construction at the crossing will be complete.
VIII. Action Items.
1. Rockwall Cemetery. Matt placed it on the agenda after seeing a channel 8 news report with former councilman Sam Buffington expressing concerns the city would develop the land after the city takes ownership. According to Mr Buffington the city did this years ago after Lake Ray Hubbard was built. (Is that the one at Spring Creek and Woodpark?).
One lady with a little help has been maintaining the cemetery for the last 20 years, and is getting beyond her ability to maintain the cemetery.
Sam Buffington then proceeded to make an outburst.
The Mayor proclaimed order!
Mr. Buffington outburst again, and was threatened with removal by the mayor if he made another outburst.
And then he was removed.
Mr. Scott talked to the lady who has been maintaining the cemetery after he had the item placed on the agenda, and decided instead to continue supporting the city's effort to take over the cemetery.
Motion was made to remove the item from the agenda, passes 7-0.
Likely, the state will offer some program to help transfer ownership to the city. Public Hearings will be held during this process.
Motion was made to initiate this process, passes 7-0.
Another motion made to look at more state options, passes 7-0.
(This was a brief moment of excitement in an otherwise tedious meeting.)
VI. Appointments.
1. C3 code enforcement customer satisfaction project. I will only briefly note some points:
- 93% of Rockwall say the code enforcement is great!
- 79% say code enforcement is reasonable! (Shouldn't that equal the first number?)
- 89% please way city is maintained.
- 50% happy the way service is done (but they don't know why)
- Customers want code enforcement to be educational, timely, effective, consistent, and effetive
- City should obey it's own codes
- Nobody wants less enforcement
- People move out because they love code enforcement
- Want to talk to code enforcement officers
- Citizens do not want different levels of enforcement for different neighborhoods
- Treat all neighborhoods the same
(Does this mean the city sill start enforcing the codes in the rest of the city that they so diligently enforce in the Zoo, or does this mean even more heavy handed code enforcement in the Zoo?)
- Customers want code enforcement to drive regular routes (like is done in the Zoo...)
Code enforcement is not the issue, it is those with the influence or power creating codes and ordinances to address pet peeves targeting small groups or individuals.
Several recommendations came out of this. Strangely, putting THE ENTIRE CODE ONLINE AND EASY TO ACCESS AND REVIEW was not one of them.
- Top 7 violations:
1. High Grass (like on the city's property on both sides of Tubbs from Market Center to 3097).
2. Trash
3. Property Maintenance (Neighbor's house needs painting? Just report em!)
4. Zoning (no details given I think)
5. Junk Vehicles (That means anything not running or registered, even if it's your project '55 Chevy)
6. Hanging Limbs - Yikes!
7. House Numbers (too many or not enough?)
- 52% of Rockwall in an HOA
- Only 25% of violations in HOA neighborhoods (That cannot be right, the Zoo has an HOA and I know we get a lot of violations)
The Mayor asked about the city violating it's own rules. These were city watering when no one else can, high grass on city property, not screening it's lighting, lack of stone on a fire station. (Just an FYI for the focus groups, rules do not apply to those in charge of creating or enforcing rules)
Glen asked about the 1500 "open cases". Those may or may not be resolved, but probably may or not be closed.
VII. Public Hearings.
2. Guy wants to put a big shed on his land (Continued from last meeting). Didn't show up again, SUP deined without prejudice (that way he can come back).
3. City wants a requirement from a business wanting to sell alcohol within 200 ft of a city park.
Passed 6-0 with no discussion?
4. The great "Antennas on the Water Tower and Electronic Sign" controversy. TxDOT visited the city and put forth a few acceptable place the city can place an electronic sign on TxDOT right-of-way. I think an agreement was reached.
5. Sign ordinance discussion. Painfully long, so once again jsut some points:
- City will allow "free speech" on commercial signs.
- Glen hates signs.
- Glen may be giving up his fight to make I-30 corridor as flat as Kansas.
- Margo says if you own the land and the property, you should be allowed to park your vehicle (which has been painted with company logos and such) so that passersby can see it.
- Glen thinks parking a vehicle painted with a company's logo where people passing by on the street is a loophole a business uses to get around the sign ordinance.
- Glen claims the purpose of a commercial vehicle with a company logo is to deliver things, not to advertise.
- Mark noted the city has vehicles with city logos.
(It took you .001% of the time to read the above discussion on signs as they spent talking about it.)
5. New million dollar docks at the harbor. The city wasn't presented with 2 layouts and 2 options (one for 50mph wind, and the other for 70mph wind which would cost over $80, 000 and would have to come out of reserves)
Power point!
The budgeted cost is $955,000.
It should last much longer than the paper mache dock the city put in first.
Floating concrete and big dang piers will make it super strong!
David and Matt liked a different layout than the rest of the council.
After what I think was a 9 hour discussion, Glen (a real hero for doing this - no joke) made a motion to approve "layout 1" to withstand 50mph winds. Passes 5-2. Another motion was made to hire a consulting engineer to oversee and make sure everything done correctly. Passes 7-0
Whew!
-
Number two is all the rest.
III. Proclamations.
1. Black History Month celebrating contributions and achievements of African-Americans. Why hasn't the name "Black History Month" succumbed to the compulsion of political correctness?
IV. Public Forum.
1. Pastor Joe Robbins talked about the Rockwall Cemetery. He noted that in several meetings with the city, that if the city took ownership, it would always remain a cemetery.
I wonder if 4 or more council members was at that meeting? Surely not, as that seems like it could be seen as a violation of the Open Meetings Act. Maybe not, but isn't it better to be safe than sorry? Of course, I may have just missed the public notice. Or maybe, there was no dealing made that didn't give the rest of the public the opportunity to hear and give input.
2. Ross Ramsay had a meeting with multiple staff members from several departments and had a good experience dealing with them all.
3. The Mayor presented an award from the Chamber of Commerce recognizing the city as a great business partner from businesses that have been allowed to operate in the city.
V. Consent Agenda.
#2 Pulled by Cliff, #5 pulled by Margo.
Rest approved 7-0. 2 new ordinances, the one from last time about "Special Events" and the other granting P&Z commissioners 3 year terms instead of 2. Item 3 authorizes the city to spend $41,084 for some hazardous waste storage tanks, money comes fromt he Recycle Fund.
2. Margo requested a larger zoning map. Approved 7-0.
5. Cliff asked about a $300 per month fee the city will be paying to Union Pacific Railroad for a crossing on John King Blvd for "maintenance". Is this forever? Does it really cost $3600 a year for the railroad to maintain 40-50ft of a railroad crossing? It appears this is the case with every RR crossing, surely we are negotiating this fee?
April 20th, construction at the crossing will be complete.
VIII. Action Items.
1. Rockwall Cemetery. Matt placed it on the agenda after seeing a channel 8 news report with former councilman Sam Buffington expressing concerns the city would develop the land after the city takes ownership. According to Mr Buffington the city did this years ago after Lake Ray Hubbard was built. (Is that the one at Spring Creek and Woodpark?).
One lady with a little help has been maintaining the cemetery for the last 20 years, and is getting beyond her ability to maintain the cemetery.
Sam Buffington then proceeded to make an outburst.
The Mayor proclaimed order!
Mr. Buffington outburst again, and was threatened with removal by the mayor if he made another outburst.
And then he was removed.
Mr. Scott talked to the lady who has been maintaining the cemetery after he had the item placed on the agenda, and decided instead to continue supporting the city's effort to take over the cemetery.
Motion was made to remove the item from the agenda, passes 7-0.
Likely, the state will offer some program to help transfer ownership to the city. Public Hearings will be held during this process.
Motion was made to initiate this process, passes 7-0.
Another motion made to look at more state options, passes 7-0.
(This was a brief moment of excitement in an otherwise tedious meeting.)
VI. Appointments.
1. C3 code enforcement customer satisfaction project. I will only briefly note some points:
- 93% of Rockwall say the code enforcement is great!
- 79% say code enforcement is reasonable! (Shouldn't that equal the first number?)
- 89% please way city is maintained.
- 50% happy the way service is done (but they don't know why)
- Customers want code enforcement to be educational, timely, effective, consistent, and effetive
- City should obey it's own codes
- Nobody wants less enforcement
- People move out because they love code enforcement
- Want to talk to code enforcement officers
- Citizens do not want different levels of enforcement for different neighborhoods
- Treat all neighborhoods the same
(Does this mean the city sill start enforcing the codes in the rest of the city that they so diligently enforce in the Zoo, or does this mean even more heavy handed code enforcement in the Zoo?)
- Customers want code enforcement to drive regular routes (like is done in the Zoo...)
Code enforcement is not the issue, it is those with the influence or power creating codes and ordinances to address pet peeves targeting small groups or individuals.
Several recommendations came out of this. Strangely, putting THE ENTIRE CODE ONLINE AND EASY TO ACCESS AND REVIEW was not one of them.
- Top 7 violations:
1. High Grass (like on the city's property on both sides of Tubbs from Market Center to 3097).
2. Trash
3. Property Maintenance (Neighbor's house needs painting? Just report em!)
4. Zoning (no details given I think)
5. Junk Vehicles (That means anything not running or registered, even if it's your project '55 Chevy)
6. Hanging Limbs - Yikes!
7. House Numbers (too many or not enough?)
- 52% of Rockwall in an HOA
- Only 25% of violations in HOA neighborhoods (That cannot be right, the Zoo has an HOA and I know we get a lot of violations)
The Mayor asked about the city violating it's own rules. These were city watering when no one else can, high grass on city property, not screening it's lighting, lack of stone on a fire station. (Just an FYI for the focus groups, rules do not apply to those in charge of creating or enforcing rules)
Glen asked about the 1500 "open cases". Those may or may not be resolved, but probably may or not be closed.
VII. Public Hearings.
2. Guy wants to put a big shed on his land (Continued from last meeting). Didn't show up again, SUP deined without prejudice (that way he can come back).
3. City wants a requirement from a business wanting to sell alcohol within 200 ft of a city park.
Passed 6-0 with no discussion?
4. The great "Antennas on the Water Tower and Electronic Sign" controversy. TxDOT visited the city and put forth a few acceptable place the city can place an electronic sign on TxDOT right-of-way. I think an agreement was reached.
5. Sign ordinance discussion. Painfully long, so once again jsut some points:
- City will allow "free speech" on commercial signs.
- Glen hates signs.
- Glen may be giving up his fight to make I-30 corridor as flat as Kansas.
- Margo says if you own the land and the property, you should be allowed to park your vehicle (which has been painted with company logos and such) so that passersby can see it.
- Glen thinks parking a vehicle painted with a company's logo where people passing by on the street is a loophole a business uses to get around the sign ordinance.
- Glen claims the purpose of a commercial vehicle with a company logo is to deliver things, not to advertise.
- Mark noted the city has vehicles with city logos.
(It took you .001% of the time to read the above discussion on signs as they spent talking about it.)
5. New million dollar docks at the harbor. The city wasn't presented with 2 layouts and 2 options (one for 50mph wind, and the other for 70mph wind which would cost over $80, 000 and would have to come out of reserves)
Power point!
The budgeted cost is $955,000.
It should last much longer than the paper mache dock the city put in first.
Floating concrete and big dang piers will make it super strong!
David and Matt liked a different layout than the rest of the council.
After what I think was a 9 hour discussion, Glen (a real hero for doing this - no joke) made a motion to approve "layout 1" to withstand 50mph winds. Passes 5-2. Another motion was made to hire a consulting engineer to oversee and make sure everything done correctly. Passes 7-0
Whew!
-
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