On more than more occasion the staff has bragged to council when presenting codes that they are following other cities and/or copying the wording of code enforcement and ordinance.
Let's be like other cities!
The city is on a mission to keep Rockwall from becoming "something bad and mysterious" that is apparently caused by businesses advertising. I have yet to hear from council or staff exactly what it is they are protecting Rockwall from by creating very restrictive sign ordinances.
Increased revenue for the city coffers?
Should Rockwall really be emulating other cities? Is this a sign that other cities are doing things better than Rockwall? I live in Rockwall, and have done so for the last 23 years, because I like Rockwall. If I wanted to live in some crap fest like Plano or Dallas, I would. If you like what other cities are doing, go there if you think it's better. Don't bring it to Rockwall.
Prosperous business is good for the city. That is not a complicated concept.
Signs increasethe chance for a business to prosper. How can this be so??? Because people can find things.
The city may be the worst offender regarding signs. What's the biggest "sign" in the city? The water tower?
How many of those awful pole signs has the city installed over the last 150+ years? How many intersections are there?
Why hasn't the city mandated "monument" signs instead of pole signs for street signs? Answer: because it makes it easier to find things. What a concept.
The city puts up banner signs at several major roadway intersections. No problem. If you have a business that does that in front of your business? Problem.
The city doesn't like your company vehicle with advertising on it where it can be seen, yet the city does so with all of the city's own vehicles!
If those on council are so against "sign clutter", why do they put up their own campaign signs for 2 months? Should they not lead by example? If our most "anti-sign because internet is the best way to market" councilman runs for re-election next year, will he put up signs if he gets an opponent or rely on internet marketing?
Rockwall is the best place to live and work.
Dallas is corrupt and broke and falling apart. Let's not "copy" Dallas (or any other place).
Showing posts with label code enforcement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label code enforcement. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Happy Anniversary!!! (The Zoo one year later)
Today celebrates Lake Rockwall's forced entry in to Rockwall (a city I love)!
Progress:
-Water is still triple city's rate.
-Drainage in the culverts is still virtually non-existent. Which is great if you are immune to malaria.
-The law enforcement who respond are in different uniforms.
-Dogs are no longer dropping dead from being tethered.
-Lots of Selective Code Enforcement. (By selective I mean codes enforced in the Zoo, yet ignored in other parts of the city.)
-Trash service is 5 dollars cheaper than previous service.
-80% reduction in Safari Sight Seeing Tours by city officials. (Been months since I heard someone say, "Driving through Lake Rockwall Estates....")
-We are now eligible to vote in city elections!
Progress:
-Water is still triple city's rate.
-Drainage in the culverts is still virtually non-existent. Which is great if you are immune to malaria.
-The law enforcement who respond are in different uniforms.
-Dogs are no longer dropping dead from being tethered.
-Lots of Selective Code Enforcement. (By selective I mean codes enforced in the Zoo, yet ignored in other parts of the city.)
-Trash service is 5 dollars cheaper than previous service.
-80% reduction in Safari Sight Seeing Tours by city officials. (Been months since I heard someone say, "Driving through Lake Rockwall Estates....")
-We are now eligible to vote in city elections!
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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