Recap of City Council Meeting - 5/11/2022 - by Councilmember Hines
May 11th Regular Meeting of the Woodcreek City Council
Submitted by Councilmember Debra Hines and approved by Mayor Jeff Rasco
Councilmember Judy Brizendine absent.
Consent Agenda:
Item 1: Minutes from April 20th 2022 passed unanimously by all present with no discussion.
Regular Agenda:
Item 2 Presentation by Financial Advisor on Road Funding Options
Andre Ayala from Hilltop Securities presented to update City Council on current interest rates and more regarding debt services to fund road improvements. Highlights from that presentation and discussion:
- Recently the United States has seen high inflation and this in turn causes the Fed to raise interest rates to try to reduce demand and stabilize inflation. Right now the interest rate for bonds, like what the City is considering to fund roads, is about 3.27 percent, but that is expected to rise another half cent in the near future. Mr. Ayala noted that interest rates are still historically low but are higher than two years ago at the start of the Covid pandemic.
- While the City does not have a Bond rating yet, Mr. Ayala believes Woodcreek would receive an “investment grade” rating in the respectable range of BBB or A. This gives the City confidence that a bond election could be successful if the voters approve.
- One clarification Mr. Ayala made to information presented at the Town Halls in the Fall of 2021, was that there is not a required waiting period on tax notes once one is issued. He did go on to state that the ability to borrow more without raising tax notes would require waiting several years for the note to be paid down enough to borrow again without raising the interest rate to support new debt.
- Mr. Ayala discussed the trends of increased home values and growth rate for the City and how these two factors tend to drive the tax rate down over time. However, he also noted that as a single resident’s home value increases, it can mean they may pay more tax dollars at the same rate. When the City of Woodcreek took out its first tax note debt in 2017, the initial tax rate for the citizens on that debt was 8.73 cents. Since the note has been paid down, and Woodcreek has seen growth in the numbers and values of homes, the rate is now at 7.8 cents. Next year it is expected to drop to 7.25 cents, but issuing new debt (tax notes or Bond) would drive that loan service tax rate back up. But again, as the number and values of homes increase over time, that rate will go down.
- Mr. Ayala clarified that tax notes can only be used for essential projects now per State regulation, this includes roads, utilities, sewer but does not include building projects such as constructing a new City Hall.
- He also mentioned that if the City decides to pursue a Bond election and it fails, that officials would need to wait two years before they could go to a Bond election again for the same project. The City could however issue a tax note immediately after.
- Mr. Ayala used the current average home value in Woodcreek ($426,000) to calculate their annual taxes with the 3 cent increase on 7.8 cents current tax rate. That homeowner would pay $128 a year and about $11 a month to fund road improvement projects totaling at $3,811,974.
- Mr. Ayala shared a packet of information with City Officials. You can request the full scope of that information from staff, but some of the most relevant visuals are presented in the attachments.
Item 3 Nominations to the Ordinance Review Committee
The following individuals received unanimous approval for appointment by all those present: Peg Wolfe, Karen Duncan, Carroll Wilson, and Emma Davenport. Mayor Rasco named David Lowe to be appointed as an alternate and all Councilmembers present supported this nomination. Councilmember Judy Brizendine declined to appoint anyone via written communication with the Mayor prior to the meeting. Council may, by majority vote, fill the seat on her behalf. One regular member and one alternate member remain to be appointed. There are enough members to begin holding meetings and make a quorum. Some discussion occurred around the procedures for nominating an individual without an application on file. City Attorney Bud Wymore said that the applications are not a requirement for any of the boards, panels, and committees on the agenda for the day. Mayor Pro Temp LeBrun expressed that they are a show of commitment to serve and thus valued. Appointments were allowed without formal applications in some cases.
Item 4 Nominations to the Roads Platinum Panel
The following individuals received unanimous approval for appointment by all those present: Jill Bloom, Cody Abney, Ed Fleming, and Joe Green. Linnea Baily received an appointment by majority vote of the Council in place of a recommendation by Councilmember Judy Brizendine. Alternate members remain to be appointed. There are enough members to begin holding meetings and make a quorum. Appointments were allowed without formal applications. All those nominated without application had previously expressed interest in volunteering.
Item 5 Nominations to the Woodcreek Tree Board
The following individuals received unanimous approval for appointment by all those present: Monica Rasco, Iris Ramos, Cynthia Jones, and Jacob McElroy. One regular member and two alternate members remain to be appointed. There are enough members to begin holding meetings and make a quorum. City Attorney Bud Wymore confirmed that there was no concern of nepotism. Mayor Pro Tem LeBrun spoke of the importance of valuing volunteers and commended those who step up to serve. She also gave a reminder that there had been many advertisements for these positions and many opportunities for citizens to fill out an application.
Item 6 Council Liaisons for all City Boards, Committees and Panels
Designation of Council Liaisons by Mayor Rasco received unanimous approval by all Councilmembers present. The following assignments were given: Judy Brizendine will be asked to serve as liaison for Planning and Zoning, Debra Hines will serve as liaison for Ordinance Review, Brent Pulley will serve as liaison for the Tree Board, Chrys Grummert will serve as liaison for Parks and Recreation, and Mayor Pro Tem Aurora LeBrun will serve as liaison for the Platinum Panel. The goal of the creation of liaisons is to facilitate communication between City Council and all City boards, panels, and committees. They will work on generating agenda packet materials in coordination with the head of the board, panel, or committee. Liaisons are encouraged to attend their designated board, panel, or committee meetings to answer questions during discussion. Councilmember Grummert stressed that the role of a liaison should not be to influence voting or sway discussion and that City boards, committees, and panels should function autonomously. Mayor Rasco stated that liaisons have been a practice of the City in the past.
Item 7 Discussion of 65+ and Disabled City Homestead Exemptions
Councilmember Grummert brought this item to Council as a response to a citizen request via email. This exemption (if adopted) is an additional homestead exemption residents can choose to apply for if they are 65 years and older or disabled. It is an exemption on the taxable value of the home and not a dollar amount off the taxes due. The minimum the City could assign is $3000 off the value of the home and the maximum would be 20% of the total value of the home. This was an initial discussion of the item and no action was taken. Councilmember Hines supported the item due to the significant communications on social media showing residents are distressed over rising property values and emails she has received from concerned citizens. Councilmember Hines also noted that according to the 2019 census projections, about 40% of the residents of Woodcreek are likely to be 65 years or older. City Manager Brenton Lewis spoke briefly on the No New Revenue rate cities can choose to adopt and how by going this rate, residents will see little to no change in the amount they owe because it factors in rising housing values and the addition of new homes to establish the baseline needed to maintain the City’s current spending. Mayor Pro Tem LeBrun mentioned this is an optional exemption and that a citizen can chose not to apply for it if they do not support it or feel that the amount they pay the City is manageable. Councilmember Grummert ended the discussion pointing residents to the application forms in the packet and reminding everyone that other County exemptions exist and to consider applying for them if you have not already done so.
Item 8 Tree Planting Event
As a requirement to receive the Tree City USA designation, Woodcreek must hold an annual Arbor Day celebration. Councilmember Grummert brought this item to Council to consider approving a Tree Planting Event for this coming Fall. All those present on Council voted unanimously to approve the event, amending the motion to add “annual,” and it will be sent to the Tree Board for planning. The event details and budget will be forthcoming. Some discussion occurred surrounding the budget for this item and it was established that the City does have funds designated for such events. This fund is titled “Community Outreach” and it is shared by the National Night Out and Spooktacular events. Consideration for those event budgets will need to be taken during planning for this new event. City Manager Brenton Lewis reminded Council that depending on when the event occurred, it could mean planning in the 2022-2023 budget year.
Item 9 Par View Beautification Project
Earlier in 2022, Council approved an annual Spring Beautification effort. These were to be community volunteer events designed to bring neighbors together and to improve the City’s public lands. Councilmember Hines brought a potential Par View project to Council for consideration per resident requests. All those present on Council unanimously approved this area for the first annual Spring Beautification Project pending final site plans and a budget request. Mayor Pro Tem LeBrun inquired as to the status of this area and its zoning. It is currently public land designated as right-of-way but is not a pocket park. The next steps on this project will be to gather volunteers in the Par View area and get their input as to the site design and what signage is desired or needed. Mayor Rasco has volunteered to assist Councilmember Hines in leading the start of this project.
Item 10 Oak Wilt Information Page
All those present on Council unanimously approved the creation of an Oak Wilt informational page to be placed on the city website, in addition to adding a banner to be placed during the months when oak tree trimming is prohibited and requires the placement of signs by staff at City entrances and other appropriate public land to communicate that tree trimming permits are required in addition to when the months of the ban on trimming oaks is in place. Mayor Rasco commented that some Oak Wilt information (in the form of a link to the Texas A&M page located under useful links) is present on the City website now, but that this would create a more detailed page and give it more significant placement on the website. Councilmember Hines, who brought this item to Council, spoke about the importance of education and communication on this topic since Oak Wilt is a risk to all property owners in the area and can be spread easily without proper precautions.
Item 11 Culture of Safe Driving Program
All those present on Council unanimously approved the use of the brochure submitted, with minor edits, and rolling out the sticker competition program. This program was previously approved by Council earlier this year, and the item was a follow-up on the next steps for the program based on the direction given in the previous meeting. Discussion on this item centered around how to distribute the brochure and the sequencing of the roll out of the program. The goal will be to have everything ready on or before National Night Out August 2nd. Suggestions were made to define the size of the sticker and offer a prize for the winner of the sticker. Mayor Pro Tem LeBrun noted it would be good to get a story in the Wimberley View and on the local radio station. The goal of this program is to unite citizens in the effort to maintain safe speeds and being alert while driving in Woodcreek.
Item 12 Naming of the New Parks
All those present on Council unanimously approved asking the Parks and Recreation Board to submit names for consideration for the new parks in Woodcreek. Pat Rawlings, the head of the Parks and Recreation Board, asked for clarification as to what parcels this was in reference to, and Councilmember Hines said this item is specific to the new parks created in 2021. One park is located at 1 Champions Circle and the other is on Brookhollow beside Hog Creek. The purpose of this item was to give the Parks Board the honor of naming the new public parks they worked so hard to create last year. Names will have to be submitted back to Council as a formality.
Item 13 Update Online Zoning and Lot Line Map
All those present on Council unanimously supported this item with the amendment that staff first return with pricing for the potential cost of this needed update. Previously the map was maintained by a volunteer family member of staff, and they no longer have access to the program. Councilmember Hines stressed the importance of the map for regular use to conduct city business and that it is essential that it is regularly updated and maintained.
