The Week of August 16th - 20th, 2021 in the City of Waxahachie

Hello Friends!

Have you ever thought: 'This crosswalk needs to be restriped?' or 'We could really use a traffic light here?' or any number of improvements that really only you notice because it affects you on a daily basis? Here is the opportunity to relay those ideas/suggestions to the city.  We've created a website where you give us your great ideas to improve Waxahachie.  There's an idea board and this really cool interactive map where you can pinpoint exactly where we need improvement.  You can also use this chance to tell us what you love about Waxahachie and what we've done right!  I can't stress enough how important your input is to the betterment of the city!  Just go to www.waxahachieplan.com and let us know.  We want to hear from you.  Your voice matters!

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Monday, August 16, 2021

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6:00 PM - City Council Briefing Session

Council Conference Room, City Hall

401 S. Rogers St.

 

Agenda: https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/document-uploads-001/uploads/video/agenda_file/130456/CCAgenda20210816B.pdf

 

This briefing session is being held to discuss items for the 7:00 PM regular Council meeting.  These briefings are filled with tons of information and where Council often times does the bulk of the discussion on items.  You are welcome to attend these briefings, but unfortunately, they are not live-streamed at this time.

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7:00 PM - City Council Regular Meeting

Council Chamber, City Hall

401 S. Rogers St.

 

Agenda Packet: https://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/document-uploads-001/uploads/video/agenda_file/130455/8-16-21_CC_Agenda_Packet.pdf

 

There are just a couple of items I'd like to point out.

 

8-11: These public hearings are regarding two clothing donations boxes.  One located at 1713 W. Hwy 287 Business and one at 2100 Brown St.  There is a case for each box to be considered separately.  At the P&Z meeting, they recommended 6-0 for denial of the SUP that would allow these bins to continue operating. The commission is charged with looking at the zoning only, whereas the Council can take other factors into account.  These two boxes are a for-profit operation and supply a third party supplier with the clothing that is donated.  They can't say for sure what happens to the clothing once it has been turned over to the third party.  I understand that these can be unsightly, but Council has the capability to add restrictions to the SUP in order to help that and if those guidelines aren't followed, then the SUP (specific use permit) can be revoked and the bins would have to be removed.  Because these do serve the community in a helpful way to donate clothing as well as them being on private property, I tend to believe they should be allowed to continue with specific guidelines. What are your thoughts?  Do you ever use them?  Do you think they should be allowed?  Do you think they're just eyesores and need to go?  I'd love your input on the issue.

20: Consider setting proposed tax rate and dates for public hearing.  This isn't when we actually adopt the tax rate.  That will likely be done at the 9/7/21 Council meeting.  This item has us set the public hearing, which will most likely be at 6PM on 08/31/21.  It's at that time, you can come speak for or against the proposed tax rate which is planned to be $0.66 per $100 of valuation.  This is the same rate that it was last year when we lowered it from $0.68. The no-new-revenue rate for this year is $0.62588, so I have a tremendous amount of heartburn approving a $0.66 rate.  Why do I say all this?  So that you have the facts of what's happening and what's running through my mind.  I don't enter into this lightly in any way and am struggling with it and will continue to struggle with it until it's done.  I know that people are being taxed too much and wish I could do more to help with that.  I'll announce it again when the dates are set in stone, to make sure you know when the public hearing and adoption will be so that if you'd like to come out and address Council on the issue, that you have the chance to do so.  As always, I appreciate your feedback on this matter and any others that you wish to connect with me about.

21: Consider authorizing an initial guaranteed maximum price (IGMP) for construction activities associated with the City Hall Annex project in the amount of $14,500,000.  $7.5 million of that total was recently approved in the FY 20-21 bond package and another $7 million is included in the FY 21-22 operation and maintenance budget.  There will also be another $1.5 million in additional costs associated with the annex, not related to the actual construction of the facility or included in the figures above.  These additional costs will consist of furniture, fixtures, equipment, technology and moving-related expenses.  Staff anticipates appearing before Council early in FY 2021-2022 to request an additional authorization associated with these expenditures.  This is an awful lot of money, but it's important that you know where your money is going and this building will serve the community for many, many years to come.

The Council meeting is open for you to attend, and we have public comments in the beginning of the meeting where you can address Council on any concern, whether on the agenda or not.  The meeting will also be live-streamed at the following link during the meeting: https://www.waxahachie.com/government/city_council/city_council_meeting_live_stream.php

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I hope that you have a great rest of your weekend and a wonderful week ahead!

Your Friendly Councilmember,

Melissa Olson, CMO

(text) 817-507-5162

molson@waxahachie.com