Sunday, September 27, 2020

The Week of September 28th - October 2nd, 2020 in the City of Waxahachie

Hello Friends,

 I hope everyone is doing well.  We have quite a few meetings this coming week, so let's get started.  As always, please refer to the City's website to see if new meetings have been added after this has been posted.  http://www.waxahachie.com/calendar.php

 ------------------------------------
Monday, September 28, 2020
-------------------------------------
4:00 PM - City Council Work Session
Council Conference Room, City Hall
 
 
2. Discuss Impact Fee Capital Improvement Plan Land Use Assumptions, Calculations and Recommended Fees
 
3. Discuss solid waste services proposals and staff recommendations - This is important because we will be discussing how we will go forward with our residential trash services and hear about what bids we received regarding this.  Formal action will most likely be taken the following Monday at our Council meeting.
 
This meeting will not be live-streamed, but it is open to the public, should you wish to attend.  The first part of the meeting might be kind of dry, but hearing the proposals for our trash service will be really interesting.  This is one example of how decisions made by the city council affect all our daily lives.
 
-------------------------------------
Tuesday, September 29, 2020
-------------------------------------
6:15 PM - Planning & Zoning Commission Briefing
Council Conference Room, City Hall
 

This meeting is to conduct a briefing to discuss items for the 7:00 PM regular P&Z meeting

This meeting will not be live-streamed, but is open to the public should you wish to attend.
=================================
7:00 PM - Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting
Council Chamber, City Hall


There are several items on the agenda, but they are all fairly routine.

This meeting is open to the public, but will also be live-streamed and will be accessible via the following link: http://www.waxahachie.com/government/city_council/city_council_meeting_live_stream.php

-----------------------------------------
Wednesday, September 30, 2020
-----------------------------------------
11:30 AM - Economic Development Commission Meeting
Council Conference Room, City Hall
 
 
3. Reorganize the Board
 
5. Consider tax abatement incentives for Nutrenare-AG for a proposed expansion at their current facility and take any necessary action.
 
6. Consider tax abatement incentives for Timco Logistics Systems for a proposed expansion at their current facility and take any necessary action.
 
7. Consider tax abatement incentives for Kinro Texas for a proposed expansion at their current facility and take any necessary action.
 
There is no additional information provided regarding these proposed tax abatement incentives.  Generally speaking, I'm not in favor of them unless they make a huge difference for the economy (like creating a LOT of good paying jobs).  Once this commission hears the information, they will send recommendations to the City Council for action. 

This meeting will not be live-streamed, but it is open to the public.  One note as is stated on the agenda, "The Economic Development Commission reserves the right to go into Executive Session on any posted item," so please be aware that this could occur, should you attend the meeting.

----------------------------------
Thursday, October 1, 2020
----------------------------------
12:00 PM - Civil Service Commission Meeting
Council Conference Room, City Hall


This is a fairly routine meeting, but all the details are in the agenda packet, linked above.

The Meeting will be open to the public, should you wish to attend, but it will not be live-streamed.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I hope y'all enjoy the rest of your weekend and have a wonderful week ahead!

Your Friendly Councilmember,

Melissa Olson
molson@waxahachie.com
(text) 817-507-5162


at No comments:

Sunday, September 20, 2020

The Week of September 21st - 25th, 2020 in the City of Waxahachie

 Hello Friends!

I hope that everyone is doing well and enjoying this great weather!  There have been several meetings lately and I've scanned in the draft minutes for your review.  You can access them via this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AImtXlmU0C5-oYR8nol7e__VA2NoGykd/view?usp=sharing

The only meeting so far on this week's calendar is the regular City Council meeting on Monday.  We won't even have a briefing for it because there is such a short agenda and the items are pretty routine.  The only items not routine are items 10 & 11. 

-------------------------------------
Monday, September 21, 2020 
-------------------------------------
7:00 PM - Waxahachie City Council Regular Meeting
Council Chamber, City Hall


10 - Convene into Executive Session for deliberation regarding real property.

11 - Reconvene and take any necessary action.

I don't know what the topic of the discussion will be nor if we will take any action on that item.
 
The meeting will be live-streamed and accessible via this link: http://www.waxahachie.com/government/city_council/city_council_meeting_live_stream.php The meeting is also open to the public, should you wish to attend in person.

---------------------------------------------------
I hope that y'all have  a great rest of your weekend and a wonderful week ahead!

Your Friendly Councilmember,

Melissa Olson
molson@waxahachie.com
(text) 817-507-5162

at No comments:

Sunday, September 13, 2020

The Week of September 14th - 18th, 2020 in the City of Waxahachie

Hello Friends!

For those who haven't seen my Facebook post, I want to update you on the tax rate.  The tax rate of $0.66 and budget were approved at the last meeting.  Even though I wanted the rate to be $0.64 or even better, $0.6304, I voted to approve the $0.66 tax rate because it was the lowest tax rate we've had in 9 years.  In 2011, there was a several cent tax rate increase and this is the first time, that rate has gone down at all during this time period.  This is what we've been fighting for so hard and therefore, I did vote for it.  It was not an easy vote, however, because the $0.66 rate will still increase the tax burden on residents approximately $37 per year; BUT, after prayer and reflection, knew that voting for that decreased rate was the right choice.  I appreciate your understanding and I will continue fighting for decreased spending and taxes at the City level. 

--------------------------------------
Monday, September 14, 2020
--------------------------------------
8:30 AM - Firemen's Relief & Retirement Fund Regular Meeting
Waxahachie Fire Station #1
407 Water St.

Agenda Packet:  https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/document-uploads-001/uploads/video/agenda_file/75564/9-14-20_FR_R_Agenda_Packet.pdf

4. Consider Retirement Horizons, Inc. Letter of Engagement for an Actuary Study

5. Hear report from Ed Peschke, Frost Bank, and take any necessary action

6. Hear report from Claude Parenteau, Parenteau Analytics, and take any necessary action.

This meeting will not be live-streamed, however it is open to the public should you wish to attend.

---------------------------------------
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
---------------------------------------
5:30 PM - IFCIAC - Impact fee Capital Improvements Advisory Committee Regular Meeting
Council Conference Room, City Hall

Agenda Packet: https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/document-uploads-001/uploads/video/agenda_file/75617/9-15-20_IFCIAC_Agenda_Packet.pdf

5. Presentation to disucss Impact Fee and Collection Rate (10-year and Full System)

6. Recommend to City Council the adoption of the Capital Improvement Plan Land Use Assumptions

7. Recommend to City Council approval of Capital Improvement Plan approach, and corresponding fees.

This meeting will not be live-streamed, but it is open to the public.

=========================================
7:00 PM - Planning & Zoning Commission Regular Meeting
Council Chamber, City Hall

Agenda Packet: https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/document-uploads-001/uploads/video/agenda_file/75616/9-15-20_P_Z_Agenda_Packet.pdf

There is actually not a briefing for this P&Z meeting as the agenda is very short and doesn't have any public hearings on it.  The only matters will be approving the past P&Z minutes and considering two plats in the city's ETJ (Extra Territorial Jurisdiction).

This meeting will be live-streamed and available for view via the following link: http://www.waxahachie.com/government/city_council/city_council_meeting_live_stream.php  It is also open to the public, should you wish to attend.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
That is all for this coming week. As always, please check back on the city's calendar to see if more meetings have been added.  That link is: http://www.waxahachie.com/calendar.php

If you'd like one of my campaign signs or had one that blew away, please let me know (text is usually the best contact method) and we will get one out there for you. We are doing a round of signs this week.  We are in the home stretch now as there are only a few weeks left until early voting starts on October 13th (per Abbott's early voting extension).

I hope that y'all have a great rest of your weekend and a wonderful week ahead!

Your Friendly Councilmember,

Melissa Olson
molson@waxahachie.com
(text) 817-507-5162
www.olsonfortexas.com


at No comments:

Sunday, September 6, 2020

The Week of September 7th - 11th, 2020 in the City of Waxahachie

Hello Friends!

Many thanks to those who came out to the Council meeting on Tuesday to let us know how you felt about the tax rate.  The tax rate and budget are set to be approved this coming Tuesday and the tax rate will probably be set at the $0.66 per $100 of valuation rate. 

Here are the draft board minutes from recent meetings: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g2YVd0NDPHe9H59kLTdYle5qeA2SV27l/view?usp=sharing

——————————————
Monday, September 7, 2020
——————————————
Labor Day
City offices will be closed, but residential trash service will run as scheduled. 

———————————————
Tuesday, September 8, 2020
———————————————
3:00 PM - Waxahachie Community Development Corporation (WCDC) Regular Meeting
Council Chamber, City Hall


4 - Discussion related to the WCDC departmental reports
 
5 - Continue discussion of current needs and future direction and priorities of the WCDC and take any necessary action.

This meeting will not be live-streamed, but is open to the public.
=============
5:30 PM - City Council Briefing
Council Conference Room, City Hall

 
This is where we will discuss items for the 7:00PM meeting.  Briefings are highly informational in a more formal setting than the regular meeting, but unfortunately, they are not live-streamed.  They are open to the public, however, and I strongly encourage residents to attend briefings - especially this one.

=============
7:00PM - City Council Regular Meeting
Council Chamber, City Hall


**If anyone wants to address the tax rate or budget, that must be done during Public Comments at the beginning of the meeting. The public hearings, where folks could speak directly on the issue, were held last week.**

16 - I like feedback on all items, but especially this one.  We will be considering amending the Code of Ordinances to modify and adopt new regulations on solicitation activities by repealing existing Chapter 23 "Peddlers" and replacing it with a new Chapter 23, "Solicitation Activities".  This deals mostly with those who go door to door.  The details of the ordinance are in the agenda packet link above.
 
17 - Approving the budget for fiscal year 2020-2021.  Unfortunately, as presented, there are some major expenditures that I just don't think now is the right time for such as the $1+ million for the demolition of the old Baylor hospital and $1.7 million just for design services on the new annex building.  With just ONE of those items deferred for a year, we could lower the tax rate to be at the no-new-revenue rate, so that residents wouldn't see an increase in their city tax bill.
 
22 - Consider a motion to ratify the property tax revenue increase reflected in the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 budget in accordance with the Texas Local Government Code.
 
23 - Adopting the tax rate of $0.66, which is effectively a 4.7% increase in the tax rate.- I do not agree with this tax rate. I’ve been a proponent for lower taxes since before I was elected and believe that this year of all years, we should not be increasing the tax burden on our residents. 

This meeting will be live-streamed and can be accessed through the following link: http://www.waxahachie.com/government/city_council/city_council_meeting_live_stream.php

———————————————
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
———————————————

There are currently not any meetings scheduled for today, but you can check back on the city’s website to see if any are added.  http://www.waxahachie.com/calendar.php

———————————————
Thursday, September 10, 2020
———————————————
4:00 PM - Mid-Way Regional Airport Board Meeting
Upstairs Common Area of Mid-Way Regional Airport
 

This is going to be a very informative meeting with updates on many things including:

10 - Update on Hertz Rental Car Parking

11 - Update on Eagle Scout Project

This meeting is not live-streamed, but it is open to the public who wish to attend.

============
5:30 PM - Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting
Council Conference Room, City Hall
Also via Teleconference


4 - Consider approval of plans for 201 S. College St., Ellis County Museum
 
This meeting is not live-streamed, but it is open to the public who wish to attend.
 
——————————————
Friday, September 11, 2020
——————————————
Patriot Day
We remember those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.  
 
————————————————————
I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the weekend and has a wonderful week ahead! 

Your Friendly Councilmember,

Melissa Olson
molson@waxahachie.com
(Text) 817.507.5162




at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)