Rockwall City Council 21 February

I can't seem to find my notes on this meeting, so I'll be relying solely on my memory for the content. This shouldn't affect the accuracy, or inaccuracy as I have been repeatedly accused of from sitting councilmen during multiple council sessions.

Exectuive session items:

Some money was spent, was it 3 things? Only one I remember was hiring a lobbyist to get a bill passed that has something to do with private water service providers in municipal boundaries, or something like that.

IV. Consent Agenda.

I think the anti-bum ordinances were pulled.

(1)It will be ok for Shriners and Firemen to hold up traffic and distract drivers, but not others. (1st reading)

(2)Camping in public places passed on 2nd reading.

V. Appointments.

1. P&Z Vice Chair Connie Jackson, also current candidate for city council, coincidentally gave the P&Z report for the second week in a row. Not as much verbosity or micromanaging this time.

2. Police Chief Moeller gave his racial profiling report (as mandated by state law, I think). No reports of racial profiling for the past year against police officers. Against code enforcement in Lake Rockwall Estates however....

3. Lady who wants fees waived at Harbor so she can have a fundraiser got it. ($400 rental fee plus other fees waived.)

VI. Public Hearings.

1. Guy wants a large accessory building to replace two existing. Passed.

2. Kroger wanted to add a gas station. This would have shorted the parking lot 8 spaces that would be required. City council decided that Kroger doesn't know anything about customers' needs and are more knowledgeable than Kroger about the retail business and denied the request 4-2-1. (Russo and Nielsen supported Kroger, Sweet abstained.)

3. Church needed an SUP to engage in their first amendment rights of religion and peaceable assembly. Was some discussion about adding a parking ban that hasn't been a problem for the empty lot adjacent to the building, don't know if that was removed in the final motion. Either way, the church will be able to continue practicing their natural rights - with government's permission. Passed 6-1, Scott opposed.

VII. Action Items.

1. AquaTexas (Water service provider in LRE) isn't getting the green light to raise water rates, yet.

2. City staff thought it would be a good idea to tack on a 5% fee for absolutely no good reason to citizens natural gas bills (Atmos). Council was like, "Oh, no you din't". Failed 7-0.

3. Big-ass trashcans will not be forced upon citizens. Several, if not all, council received over 100 emails opposed to the idea of giant trash cans and recycling bins as well as the reduction in services while increase the cost.

Mayor Pro Tem/ Mayoral Candidate Glen Farris was the only one who did not support the motion to keep the current, perfect trash service exactly the way it is. Basically he stated the 100 emails were not enough to sway him as the 34,900 people who didn't convey opinion one way or the other to council mattered more.

FYI, absolutely nothing prevents one citizen in Rockwall from having big-ass trashcans or big-ass recycle bins if so desires. Anyone can have big-ass cans, all you have to do is call the city and request one (or both). The difference between the failed plan and current situation is that (1) robots won't pick up your big-ass trashcans, (2) You have have to pay a couple bucks more a month, but only if you rent them from Allied. You can go to Home Depot or Lowe's and get big-ass trashcans if you want, and (3) No one is forced by the city to have big-ass trashcans.

4. Item about creating a PR position tabled.

5. Art in Public Places - on all future bonds passed, 1% of the money will go to an art project. (THIS IS HOW IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME: If we pass a bond, 1% of the amount will go to fund an art project, but only at the site of the bond passed. The money will not be used to fund any art project or other art related projects throughout the city.) Passed 7-0.

6. City creating a citizen cheer leading citizen committee to promote passage of the c.$40,000,000 bond package election in November.

7. The new Mi Cocina restaurant needs a sign variance - passed WITHOUT any discussion.

8. Police department is buying a SWAT Rapid Deployment Vehicle - around $50,000, but it won't cost taxpayers anything as the money comes out of seized property.

9. City once again talking about somehow broadcasting meetings over the internet. I think they are going to start out doing what the county has done, basic audio streaming.

If I find my notebook, I may edit this with some snarky comments. But then again, Black Ops calling my name...

Banning and No-ing Commission.

I was not present at this meeting; a little birdie was my source for the following info, so if any of the information is wrong, blame that person.

Planning and Zoning a public hearing for a proposed 7-11. An SUP is needed for "retail store with gasoline product sales with more than 2 dispensers". 7-11 would like to install 6 pumps.

I clarify: 7-11 needs an SUP to get more pumps than currently allowed (2) by the Planned Development zoning.

This item was before P&Z not too long ago, and 7-11 withdrew to make changes to things P&Z objected. And they did. They improved the "look" as they were asked.

HOWEVER, some of our more central planning minded and micromanaging commissioners have once again put up a roadblock to progress.

Some of the new objections from some commissioners:

-A DVD rental kiosk designed to be outside located outside
-Propane rental located outside (Unlawful to locate anywhere else, but who cares, amiright?)
-An ice machine located outside (The stupid is strong with this one)
-Anything located outside - (Only low-life jerks like things displayed outside, I guess.)
-7-11 (Opposed just cuz)
-6 pumps because there are already enough pumps on 3097 (!!!)

Some of the objections from the Fox Chase HOA (1 of only 4 neighborhoods at that corner):

-Kids will cross 3097 to get to the 7-11. Why was there no opposition to the crosswalk that was painted there as well? AND, people (including kids) already cross 3097 to get to the Park at Fox Chase. I am unaware of ANY incident/accident ever happening at that intersection. But, people do like to use false claims of unsafe conditions to get their way.

Did I mention people cross that intersection all day long?

-People will buy alcohol and take it to the park. By people, I think they mean "those" people at Lake Rockwall Estates. Also, it is unlawful to drink any alcohol in any park in the city. Well, except the Harbor, the "Outdoor Entertainment Area" that isn't a park which is just an area that is used for entertainment outdoors.

-There will be an increase in traffic. I assume they don't mean people who drive passed that intersection already, and instead they mean people all over Rockwall will pass several convenience stores already in town and go way out of their way just to use this 7-11. Plus, there is no traffic light and that will further increase the traffic problem because people will line up for miles and miles just to get a Big Gulp.

-There will be lights. Similar to the bevy of lights at the Hospital right next door?!?

The Hospital likes the idea and supports the idea. They would love to have a convenient convenience store.

Rob Whittle (developer) noted that the plan for this area was done in 1986, and has turned out better than envisioned. The plan for that corner has always been for a convenience store. There is also a plan to put a retail center around the 7-11.

After 2 dead-locked votes of 3-3 (Minth, Stubbs and Buchanan were the anti-business side, while Chairman Hunter, Vice Chairman Herbst, and Jackson were the pro-business side.)

Mr Hayes was absent, hence the deadlock. A motion to table until next meeting was passed.

Rocwkall may have the "most pro-business council ever seen" as I was once told, but this action by P&Z sure doesn't reflect that.

Even it passes, what will that really mean? More sales tax and property tax for the city? Maybe the-anti business commissioners are right, we can always use rainbows and unicorns to pay for needed services.