City Council Meeting 1/25/Recap by Councilmember Hines and Approved by Mayor Rasco

January 25th Special Council Meeting

Submitted by Councilmember Debra Hines and approved by Mayor Jeff Rasco

Councilmember Linnea Bailey was absent

REPORTS

P&Z – No report

Ordinance Review – No report

Parks & Recreation Board – Formed sub-committees to work on the park improvements, a land survey has been scheduled for Creekside Park to establish its boundaries and identify all trees over 6 inches in diameter. The survey will be digital so playground equipment and design can be visualized and planned. 

Platinum Roads Panel - Approved the chipseal projects and passed it on to Council, and is working on the RFP for the Bond and plans to have it ready by early summer

Tree Board – Oak Wilt Assistance application will be on regular February meeting for discussion and action

Par View Greenspace Project – Tree work has occurred including root crown excavation, compost and mulching plus a transplant. Large boulders were placed to deter parking on the greenspace which is prohibited by ordinance. A little free library was donated by Hill Country Spirits and will be installed with a plaque acknowledging their contribution. A picnic table with new, treated lumber was donated by CYJ. It has been placed and a plaque acknowledging their contributions will be placed on it. All the tree work and boulder placement labor were donated. The City has only paid for equipment rentals and the soil, mulch, and compost needed. Less than $600 has been spent to date on this project. Thank you, Simple Leaf Tree Care, owned and operated by resident and Tree Board member Jacob McElroy, for that time and labor donation!

City Manager – City Manager Rule made the following reports:

  • POSAC grant funds have been received.
  • A neighborhood drainage meeting for Brookhollow and Westwood occurred. K Friese will be updating plans to address citizen concerns and input. They will generate an updated proposal.
  • Advisory Board member volunteer training is in progress. Anyone on a City board, committee, commission, etc. received an invitation to attend a training course at City Hall on the Open Meetings Act and Robert’s Rules/Parliamentary Procedure. Attendance was good with over 20 individuals in attendance. Additional training will be offered in the future.
  • The cart barn on the golf course is not moving. It is getting a total remodel.

City Secretary – No report

SPECIAL REPORTS

ARPA – Meeting with Grant Works next week

Chapters 154+ Update - Chapter 154-Site Development has been submitted and is under review by the Ad Hoc group. The Subdivision and Environmental Protections chapters are close to follow. A larger code overhaul is being discussed as redundancies, inconsistencies, and other issues are being identified.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS AND GENERAL ORDERS

Item 1: (Occurred after Item 3) Monica Rasco was named as alternate to the Parks Board and Joe Branco was named alternate to the Ordinance Review Committee. Previous alternate to Ordinance Review, David Lowe, had resigned leaving an open alternate position. A full member position on Ordinance Review remains.

Item 2: Aurora LeBrun and Mike Wimmer were appointed to the Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) Committee. Mike Schneider resigned from his previous appointment and this created an additional vacancy to be filled by Councilmember Pulley. The key components of all those possibly involved in a HOT are now represented on the Committee. Mike Wimmer is a representative from the Double J Ranch Golf Course, Danny Rose represents CYJ, and two major lodging operators (Messina Inn and Cypress Falls) are on the committee. Mayor Rasco noted the synergistic benefits of representatives from all of these organizations getting together via the HOT committee and getting to know each other.

Item 3: Nanci Coddington was appointed to the Tree Board.

NEW BUSINESS

Item 4: Ann-Tyler Konradi was appointed Chairperson for the HOT Committee and Tomas Palm will serve as Vice-Chair. Both are Woodcreek residents, and both have extensive experience running lodging rentals and are familiar with HOT. Councilmember Hines noted the benefit of neither of them being directly impacted by a HOT in Woodcreek as a positive since it will allow them clear objectivity in running meetings and setting agendas.

Item 5: Council unanimously voted to accept the Hill Country Land Improvement proposal for the addition of a parking space at Par View, but limited it to only one 10x30 spot to run parallel to the street on the west side of the greenspace. Bids were sought from ten local companies, and four were returned.

Item 6: Council unanimously voted to accept the Hill Country Land Improvement proposal to install sign posts, but limited it to two. Bids were sought from three companies and only one was received. The total cost of the Par View Greenspace project is set to come in under budget.

Item 7: Changes to chapter 32.01 were unanimously approved. This was a “housekeeping” item to bring code more into alignment with state requirements and city operations. This section of the code pertains to the Investment Policy for the City of Woodcreek.  The code update now satisfies the State regulations and directs residents to seek the Investment Policy from staff.

Item 8: The RFP for chip seal produced by K Friese was unanimously approved and will be posted on the City website, Civ Cast, the Wimberley View and letters will be mailed to local businesses. A committee comprised of Councilmember Linnea Bailey, Chairperson Cody Abney from the Platinum Panel, City Manager Rule and a K.Friese representative will review proposals. There will be a public opening announced about 1 month after the posting of the RFP.  Aaron Jones from Hays County Road Dept will be advising the City with this project. Nine streets will be addressed with an optional tenth for consideration depending on cost. Page 144 in the packet contains a map highlighting the streets to be improved in this project.

Item 9: RFP for a City Arborist was accepted unanimously. Minor edits were made and a discussion over checking for full coverage on insurance occurred.