City Council Meeting Recap by Councilmember Hines - Jan. 26, 2022
Received by City Staff on January 31, 2022
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“Did You Know?”
Our city needs you! We have at least two dozen immediate spots for volunteers to serve on Woodcreek commissions, boards, committees, and ad hoc activities. Typical time requirements are only a couple of hours per month, although the commitments can be heavier at various times and on some teams. The rewards can be immeasurable, though. We have immediate openings on the Planning & Zoning Commission, Parks & Recreation Board, planning committees for special events, and our recently created Tree Board, Ordinance Review Committee, and Platinum Panel working on our roads, transportation and funding.
Jan 26th Special Council Meeting Recap:
Submitted by Councilmember Debra Hines, approved by Mayor Jeff Rasco
Regular Agenda:
Item 1: Presentation by Lt. Dennis Gutierrez regarding the employment of off-duty officers for traffic control in the City of Woodcreek followed by Council discussion. Council voted unanimously to approve the allocation of City funds for traffic control provided by an off-duty officer for a single four-hour shift once per week. This is in addition to the regular, but unscheduled, patrols by the Sheriff’s Office and Constable’s Office. The cost for this to taxpayers is estimated at about $12,500 for the year and will require a budget amendment currently scheduled for the February Regular Council Meeting. This is not a contractual agreement and can be terminated at any time by either party. This service will be for traffic enforcement and some patrol only. Officers will be in marked cars and in full uniform. Any violations that receive a citation from off-duty officers in-service to the City of Woodcreek will be fully enforceable by law. Officers will check in with a designated point of contact for each shift and will work hot spots or designated areas the City has deemed in need of patrol in addition to a variety of weekdays, weekends, and time-of-day.
Item 2: Draft 1 of the Informal Roads Survey was reviewed by Council, edits suggested, and a second draft will be presented to Council during the Regular Council Meeting in February. No action or vote taken as none was needed.
Item 3: Tree City Designation. No action or vote taken as it was established that the City has the requirements to receive this designation in process now and will need to submit the information at the start of 2023 to earn the designation. The City has established a tree care ordinance, is working on creating a community forestry program through the Tree Board, already contributes over $3500 annually for tree care and maintenance, and has an Arbor Day celebration in planning.
Item 4: Updating City building code to address what “alter” means, establish a clear permit timeline process, and designate when permits are needed versus when they are not. This ordinance passed unanimously with amendments to include that a permit is needed when function or use for human occupancy changes, overlays on roofs are added or the material is changed (such as asphalt to metal), and the ordinance clarifies what is meant by a “completed application.”
Item 5: Aqua Texas Franchise Agreement. EXECUTIVE SESSION. No action taken.
Item 6: Returning surface water designation to 100% for impervious coverage calculations of in-ground swimming pools passed unanimously. The goal is to meet valley-wide efforts to reduce and maintain low
impervious coverage and to re-align with the previous Ordinance Review Committee’s guidance in accordance with expert advice from the Meadows Center of San Marcos. The amending ordinance to fully enact this will be on the Council agenda in the near future.
Item 7: Review of the 1st quarter of the fiscal year was requested by Mayor Pro Tem LeBrun. City Manager, Brenton Lewis, provided a report. That summary can be found in the agenda packet starting at page 29 (link: https://mccmeetings.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/woodcreek-pubu/MEET-Pack...) Concerns were expressed over a reduction in sales tax income and interest rates. City staff will continue to monitor and update Council as needed.
Item 8: A report was provided on code violations and warning citations from City Staff to Council. Mayor Rasco noted that, as expected, violations are decreasing overtime as residents become more aware of the code requirements. Councilmember Hines requested that future reports go into deeper detail over the type of violation so that Council can use this data to inform future edits in ordinances to meet resident needs.
Item 9: Political signs and State code. Only discussion occurred on this topic as Councilmember Hines established it was unlikely the City could take any action to limit posting of political signs on personal property due to the guidelines provided by State code. Concern was expressed over the signs posted at the entrance of Woodcreek and it was established that these are NOT placed on City-owned property, and it is an easement owned by Wimberley Springs Partners/Quicksand Golf Course on which the signs are placed. The goal of this item was to reduce the visual clutter of year-round political campaigning and encourage unity among residents. The item was placed on the agenda in response to citizen concerns expressed on social media, but the City cannot regulate political signs on personal property because State Law does not expressly allow it.
Item 10: Discontinuing the use of “Stop Work” signs by the City passed with a 3/2 vote. An amendment was requested by the Mayor to allow the temporary use of these signs on a case-by-case basis, subject to Mayoral review, and in the event of emergency or extreme non-compliance. The amendment was voted down by Councilmembers Brizendine and Grummert in addition to Mayor Pro Tem LeBrun and the main motion passed. The City will now pursue alternative methods of communication with residents to encourage compliance with code and permit processes rather than placing “Stop Work” signs in the yard. Councilmember Pulley confirmed that the IRC (residential building code standards that the City follows) only requires notification of violation and NOT “stop work” signs placed in the ground specifically.
Item 11: Filling a new vacancy on the Planning and Zoning Commission is needed, as one of the recent appointments decided to decline the position. Councilmember Grummert moved to request that the City send a call for another round of applications. This motion passed unanimously. Link for applications to various City Boards and Committees: https://www.woodcreektx.gov/forms
