Happy Saturday!
Here are the draft minutes from the P&Z meeting this past week. https://drive.google.com/open?id=1kX6W95l0biPnElBmcLdAdMv6LSQ4sHNy
Regarding Oak Cliff Metals, there were too many technical issues with the phone system at the P&Z meeting, so that case has been continued to the 05/26/20 P&Z meeting and Council will vote Monday, 05/18/20, to continue the case to the 06/01/20 City Council meeting.
There's only one meeting this week, which is the City Council meeting and I'd like to point out just a couple items of interest.
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Monday, May 18, 2020
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7:00 PM - City Council Regular Meeting
Teleconference
Agenda Packet: https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/document-uploads-001/uploads/video/agenda_file/61899/5-18-20_City_Council_Agenda_Packet.pdf
The only public hearing on the agenda is being continued, so if you'd like to listen/watch the meeting, the online link here is probably the most reliable method. http://www.waxahachie.com/government/city_council/city_council_meeting_live_stream.php If you'd like to call in to listen, please do so via the information provided in the agenda packet above.
A couple of items that are up for consideration and discussion are:
Item # 8 : Consider a petition for relief request for an impact fee waiver associated with First Look Pregnancy Center. This is an interesting scenario and I will be asking if the necessary infrastructure is already in place or not for this building. Impact fees are those fees that pay for infrastructure for developments and buildings. Usually, the developers are able to pass those fees through the cost of the homes that the infrastructure will support. Being able to tie in to city services such as water and wastewater is important, however, First Look is a non-profit. They don't necessarily have the means to pass those fees on to others, but the money for the infrastructure must come from somewhere. If the city waives the fees, then it's quite possible that the funds will come from the sale of bonds or from the general fund (which is largely funded by taxpayers). If the city doesn't waive the fees, then First Look must either have or raise the money to pay for them. As I mentioned, this is an interesting scenario, and I'm not sure how the discussion will go.
Items # 11-13 : These items are regarding Oak Cliff Metals and as stated earlier, due to technical issues with the phone system at the P&Z meeting, the Council will vote to continue the case to the 06/01/20 City Council meeting.
Item # 14 : Discuss and take any action related to the city's response to COVID-19. I requested that we have a discussion about reopening the city's playgrounds, but this item has been listed in such a way so that Council can receive an update on the COVID-19 situation from our emergency response manager and then discuss items such as reopening the playgrounds. Using the data from 05/15/20 (the pictures included at the top of the newsletter), I've calculated how many people in Waxahachie currently have COVID-19 and that would be 0.09% of the population [(31/36,000) * 100]. In Ellis County, that number drops to 0.05% [(73/140,000) * 100]. Given this information, I feel it is safe to open the playgrounds. Not only that, I think that parents should have the right to choose what is best for their children. There may be additional information presented at the meeting, so I will always reserve my final decision for the meeting itself, but this is where I stand on the issue as of now.
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As always, I welcome your feedback on any of these items or anything else that you'd like to contact me about.
I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their weekend and has a wonderful week ahead!
Your Friendly Councilmember,
Melissa Olson
(text) 817-507-5162
molson@waxahachie.com
You’re awesome Melissa! I appreciate you!
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