Rockwall City Council 04 January

First council meeting of the year!

Meeting opens with Mayor Cecil recognizing a UN delegation.

A girl who was a foreign exchange student (3 years ago) from Brazil got the honor to sit in Mark Russo's seat (not with Mark, he was sick). She also received a/the key to the city.

Another local resident from Cameroon was also present. The mayor recognized him and his father and mother-in-law. Either the son-in-law or father-in-law had received the key a/the key to the city a few years ago.

Hope that isn't too expensive making all those keys. We need to get a security deposit from recipients, just in case they lose em.

III. Open Forum

1. Pastor Joe Robbins commended the city on a "job well done". Not sure which job he was referring.

He also thanked the city for the construction of 205. Did the city do that? I thought that was a state project.

2. Former P&Z Chair Bill Bricker thanked the city for allowing some development signs awhile back. He wasn't sure if the signs helped, but they didn't hurt.

IV. Consent Agenda.

All passed without any pulled.

Nothing too anger inducing. 2nd reading of annexation from previous meeting.

V. Action Items.

1. Expansion of notification of zoning changes. Currently, property owners within 200 foot radius are notified. Councilman Scott wants that extended to 1000 feet. Staff recommends a tiered approach (based on acreage of land with zoning change) as well as fee changes. Margo Nielsen expressed support of this idea.

The basis is that people don't get notified sufficiently when a zoning change occurs relatively nearby their home or business.

Mr Bricker got the opportunity to read a statement expressing his views as a developer. He seemed generally opposed to the expansion of the notification. Changes such as this can negatively affect a developers decision where to develop.

Mr Bricker also noted that people who are attentive by doing things such as subscribing to eNews and reading the city's website are already informed about things such as zoning changes.

Mr Bricker was called the "exception to the rule" for his due diligence. I like to think Mr Bricker's interest in his city is the rule, not paying attention is the exception.

Matt Scott made the point that many times the city passes an action then receives a lot of flack after the fact.

I encourage everyone to go to council, get eNews, etc. I tell them it's 50% their fault if the city does something they don't like (the other 50% belonging to council). More often than not, there are multiple opportunities to give input to the city prior to an issue ever even making it to council for vote. (For example, zoning changes will have multiple public hearings at P&Z and council.)

Mr LaCroix pointed out that the Rockwall network in a recent case was more effective stirring up a neighborhood, even before any notices went out.

Mayor Cecil thought it was going overboard to send out even more notices than already sent. Also, an issue may get feedback from a party for whom it will not affect.

Glen Farris wants the city to implement social media to assist in getting news from the city out to the public. He also opposed the increase in the cost of implementing this.

Cliff Sevier noted that no matter how far you extend the distance of notification, there will always be one party 10 inches from the barrier who will complain about not getting notified.

Councilman Scott then accused Mayor Cecil and Councilmen Sevier and Farris that they were "not concerned about informing citizens."

Councilman David Sweet expressed his support and his incredulity at the opposition's view.

Cliff noted that even at 200 feet, most notices never comeback with any feedback from citizens.

(note: Very few public hearings ever have more than a couple people show up, if that even. A couple hearings have had a lot of people, but that is pretty rare.)

Mayor Cecil then directed staff to send out notices via eNews and post on the website.

This then further angered Councilmen Scott (Sweet too, I think) that those receiving eNews are the very people who Mayor Cecil didn't think would be affected by an issue.

Mr Scott then demanded to know from the Mayor if his opposition was because "it wasn't his (the Mayor's) idea."

That reminds me, some store called. They were running out of him.

Mayor Cecil heroically chastised Councilman Scott for his inappropriate question and refused to answer.

Failed 3-3.

CORRECTION: Allied does not hand out the recycling as stated in previous post. The city of Rockwall does. Also, a shout out to Mary Smith, Director of the Finance department. One of those (Mr X) who couldn't get his recycling bin was able to get one thanks to Ms Smith going above and beyond and retrieving one for Mr X to take home. Now he can save the planet just like me!

Also, I think regarding the city contribution for the matching grant thing for John King Blvd is $150,000, not $400,000. As one council man told me, "A Savings for the city!!!". Only a politician can spend $150,000 and call it saving money.