Oct 07, 2024 Town Council

[00:00:05]

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE WESTLAKE TOWN COUNCIL BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING FOR OCTOBER 7TH, 2024.

I CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.

[A. CALL REGULAR MEETING TO ORDER AND ANNOUNCE A QUORUM PRESENT]

A QUORUM IS PRESENT.

COUNCILMAN AND COUNCILWOMAN WHITE ARE OUT TODAY.

I'D LIKE TO START THIS EVENING.

THE INVOCATION LED BY REVEREND ALLEN, BISHOP OF SAINT MARTIN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTHLAKE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING.

LET US PRAY. GRACIOUS AND LOVING GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THESE SERVANTS.

OUR MAYOR, TOWN COUNCIL, CITY STAFF, FIRST RESPONDERS, SCHOOL FACULTY AND ALL GATHERED TONIGHT.

MAY WE ALL HAVE THE WISDOM AND COURAGE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND SEEK THE GOOD OF ALL CITIZENS.

MAY WE ALL PUT THE INTEREST OF OTHERS ABOVE OUR OWN.

MAY WE ALL ACT WITH LOVE FOR THE COMMON GOOD.

MAY WE ALL BE GOOD NEIGHBORS.

RECOGNIZING YOUR IMAGE IN EVERY PERSON WE MEET.

WE THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL THOSE HERE TONIGHT WHO WORK TO MAKE WESTLAKE THE BEST IT CAN BE.

WE PRAY THIS IN THE NAME OF JESUS.

AMEN. AMEN.

THANK YOU, REVEREND.

I NOW ASK YOU TO STAND FOR THE PLEDGE.

THE TEXAS PLEDGE.

ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE VERY LUCKY TONIGHT TO HAVE TWO OF OUR YOUNG LADIES FROM THE ACADEMY HERE TO HELP US WITH THE PLEDGES WE HAVE CAMBRIE BARNARD, WHO'S IN FOURTH GRADE, AND SHE LOVES BEING INVOLVED WITH HER CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES.

AND SHE ALSO HELPS TO SAY THE PLEDGE AT THE ACADEMY.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE MICHAELA BRISENO, AND SHE'S ONE OF OUR GRADE 11 STUDENTS.

AND HER TEACHER DESCRIBES HER AS ONE OF THE MOST ARTICULATE STUDENTS THAT SHE HAS.

AND SHE ALSO HELPS WITH THE PLEDGE AT SCHOOL.

SO THANK YOU, LADIES, FOR BEING HERE.

WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THEN GO INTO THE TEXAS PLEDGE.

READY? THANK YOU.

OF ALLEGIANCE] NOW HAVE THE CEREMONIAL ITEM TO SWEAR IN MICHAEL

[C.1. Administer the Oath of Office to the newly appointed Council Member Place 2 Michael Yackira (Mayor Kim Greaves)]

SO HAPPY TO DO THIS.

RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

I, MICHAEL YACKIRA, SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF TOWN COUNCIL MEMBER PLACE TWO FOR THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE.

I WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION.

THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AND OF THIS STATE, SO HELP ME GOD.

WE'RE SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU ON.

GREAT JOB.

REALLY GOOD WAY TO START THE MEETING.

I AM NOW GOING TO OPEN IT UP.

DO WE HAVE ANY CITIZEN OR PARENT COMMENTS? OKAY, EXCELLENT. I'M GOING TO OPEN UP MR. SASSER. ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST.

[E.1. Items of Community Interest (Communications Director Jon Sasser)]

CONGRATULATIONS. WE HAVE A VERY, VERY BUSY WEEK.

THIS WEEK IS CROSSED THE TOWN AND THE ACADEMY AS WELL.

WE START OFF WITH TOMORROW.

WE'VE GOT A PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING THAT STARTS AT 5:00 RIGHT HERE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

AND THEN ON WEDNESDAY, WE'VE GOT OUR FIRST FALL CONCERT OF THE SEASON.

[00:05:04]

IT'S 5:30 TO 7:30.

IT'S GOING TO BE RIGHT OUT HERE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL PAVILION.

WE'RE HOPING THAT THE WEATHER IS GOING TO BE GREAT.

WE'VE GOT ALL KINDS OF FOOD, DRINKS.

WE'VE GOT A GREAT BUY IN FROM GLEN STAR, THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT HERE THE FOLKS DO A GREAT JOB HELPING US PUT THIS ON, AND WE'VE BEEN ADVERTISING IT A LOT.

SO WE HOPE TO SEE ALL OF YOU GUYS THERE AND YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF FUN.

WE HAVE MONSTER MASH/TRUNK OR TREAT COMING UP ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19TH FROM 5 TO 8.

THAT'S ON THE WESTLAKE ACADEMY CAMPUS.

OUR NEXT TOWN COUNCIL MEETING IS MONDAY, OCTOBER 21ST AT FOUR, 4:00.

AND THEN OUR SECOND CONCERT OF THE FALL IS GOING TO BE WEDNESDAY THE 23RD, FROM 5:30 TO 07:30.

RIGHT OUT HERE AGAIN AS WELL.

IT'S A TAYLOR SWIFT COVER BAND.

WE'VE ALREADY HEARD A LOT OF INTEREST.

WE PUT IT OUT THERE AS AN EVENT ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS.

WE'VE ALREADY GOTTEN A LOT OF RSVP, SO THAT SHOULD BE REALLY EXCITING.

AGAIN TONS OF FOOD, GAMES EVENTS FOR THE KIDS, THAT KIND OF THING.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME VENDORS OUT THERE AS WELL.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF FUN.

AND THEN FINALLY, A QUICK LITTLE CHANGE HERE.

THE NEXT PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING THAT'S COMING UP LATER IN THE MONTH WAS MOVED FROM OCTOBER 20TH 9TH TO NOVEMBER 12TH.

SO THAT'S OF NOTE.

I JUST WANTED TO DO A COUPLE OF LITTLE RECAPS HERE.

WE HAD OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSIONS MEETINGS THE LAST WEEK.

WE HAD TWO IN-PERSON AND TWO VIRTUAL AS WELL, WHERE STAKEHOLDERS, RESIDENTS, PARENTS AT THE ACADEMY, BUSINESS OWNERS THAT STAFF MEMBERS AS WELL FROM BOTH THE TOWN AND THE SCHOOL TOOK PART IN GIVING THEIR FEEDBACK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF WESTLAKE AND WESTLAKE ACADEMY.

SO WE WERE REALLY APPRECIATIVE THAT THE FOLKS WERE BEING ENGAGED IN AND COMING OUT AND BEING A PART OF THAT.

THE SEGUE TO THAT IS GOING TO BE A SURVEY THAT WE JUST RELEASED JUST A FEW DAYS AGO.

THE DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 11TH.

WE SENT THAT OUT TO ALL OF THOSE FOLKS THAT I JUST MENTIONED.

SO STAFF MEMBERS, PARENTS, RESIDENTS, STAKEHOLDERS, BUSINESS OWNERS, DEVELOPERS AS WELL.

SO EVERYBODY THERE'S ACTUALLY THREE DIFFERENT SURVEYS.

WE SEND IT TO THE PROPER FOLKS.

AGAIN, OCTOBER 11TH IS SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

IF YOU IF YOU DO HAVE THAT LINK, ONE OF THOSE LINKS, YOU CAN FIND THAT ON OUR WEBSITE.

YOU CAN FIND IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE'VE SENT OUT MULTIPLE EMAILS THROUGH NEXT DOOR AS WELL.

TEXT ALERTS. SO WE NEED THAT FEEDBACK.

AND WE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATIVE OF EVERYBODY TAKING PART IN THAT SURVEY.

IT'S ONLY ABOUT A TEN MINUTE SURVEY.

I TOOK IT, IT WAS INCREDIBLY EASY.

BUT THAT FEEDBACK IS GOING TO BE INVALUABLE MOVING FORWARD.

HEY JOHN, DO WE KNOW THE RESPONSE RATES YET? DO WE HAVE ANY DATA AROUND THAT? YES. SO FAR I BELIEVE WE'VE GOTTEN 77 RESIDENTS WHO HAVE RESPONDED THUS FAR.

OKAY. SO WE'RE OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GOING TO BE PUSHING EVERY DAY ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE 11TH, OKAY.

TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE, I THINK WE'LL PUT OUT A REMINDER, MAYBE A REMINDER VIDEO TOMORROW SOMETIME TO EVERYBODY TO DO IT.

OKAY. ABSOLUTELY. YOU BET.

AND THEN FINALLY, WE WANTED TO BRING SOME GOOD NEWS.

OUR FALL CLEANUP EVENT THAT HAPPENED OVER THE WEEKEND ON SATURDAY WAS A BIG HIT, FROM WHAT WE'RE TOLD, DIANA AND PUBLIC WORKS AND OBVIOUSLY SHE WORKS HEAVILY WITH THE FINANCE FOLKS AS WELL PUT ON A GREAT DEAL FOR RESIDENTS TO COME BY AND DROP OFF ALL THEIR UNWANTED HOUSEHOLD ITEMS. WE SAID, I GUESS THERE WAS, WHAT, 30 PEOPLE WHO SHOWED UP, WHICH WAS GREAT.

THAT WAS MORE THAN LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS HUGE.

I THINK THE BIG THE BIG HIT WAS THE CRUD CRUISER.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DROPPED OFF THEIR BATTERIES, PAINT, GASOLINE, POOL CHEMICALS AND OTHER MATERIALS THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT.

OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T WANT THEM IN OUR LANDFILLS OR OUR WATER SYSTEMS. SO, SO GREAT JOB TO DIANA AND ALL THAT CREW FOR PUTTING THAT ON.

SO WE WILL CONTINUE THAT NEXT YEAR.

AND THOSE ARE YOUR ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST.

JOHN I JUST WANT TO THROW SOMETHING OUT FOR A HEADS UP, THAT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A LONG WAY AWAY.

BUT AROUND FEBRUARY OR MARCH, I'VE MET WITH THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION THROUGH CHARLES SCHWAB CONTACTS.

THEY WANT TO BRING THAT WALK HERE TO WESTLAKE, WHICH WE WOULD LOVE TO DO AND AS WE TALKED ABOUT IT, WE'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO COINCIDE WITH THE FIRE STATION AND THE OPEN HOUSE.

THE FIRE STATION AND MAYBE THE CPR TRAINING FOR OUR SENIORS, AND KIND OF PUT ALL THAT TO MAKE IT TO A BIG COMMUNITY EVENT SO VERY EARLY ON.

BUT I WANT TO GET THAT ON YOUR CALENDAR THAT WE'LL START TALKING ABOUT THAT.

YOU BET. IT'LL BE A GREAT EVENT.

INDEED. THANK YOU, JOHN.

OKAY. CONSENT AGENDA ITEM F.

[F. CONSENT AGENDA]

YES, SIR. CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? MOTION TO APPROVE.

CAN I GET A SECOND? SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

D'ARCY, I WAS LOOKING FORWARD YOU TO FILLING US IN ON THIS.

THAT'S AS GOOD AS IT GETS.

ANYWAY, THANKS. I CAN ASSURE YOU WOULD NOT BE ENTHRALLED BY THE INFORMATION.

[00:10:02]

AGENDA ITEM.

[G.1. Discuss, consider and act regarding adoption of Ordinance 1009 Delegating Temporary Plat Approval Authority and Extension Approval Authority Pursuant to the Provisions in Chapter 212 of The Texas Local Government Code, as Amended, and Chapter 82 of the Town of Westlake Code of Ordinances, as Amended, to the Town Planner (Jason Alexander, AICP, CEcD, Deputy Town Manager)]

AGENDA ITEM G1, ORDINANCE 1009.

DISCUSS, CONSIDER AN ACT REGARDING ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 1009, DELEGATING TEMPORARY PLAT APPROVAL AUTHORITY AND EXTENSION APPROVAL AUTHORITY PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 212 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, AS AMENDED, AND CHAPTER 82 OF THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE CODE OF ORDINANCES, AS AMENDED TO THE TOWN PLANNER, JASON ALEXANDER.

THANK YOU, HONORABLE MAYOR.

GOOD EVENING, TOWN COUNCIL.

THIS IS A REQUEST FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT TO AMEND TEMPORARILY THE AUTHORITY TO REVIEW AND APPROVE PLATS. THIS IS DUE TO HOUSE BILL 3699, WHICH WAS ENACTED ON SEPTEMBER 1ST OF 2023.

AND AS PART OF THAT HOUSE BILL, IT AMENDED A LOT OF THE STATUTES DEALING WITH PLANNING FOR MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE. AMONG OTHER THINGS, IT DID INCLUDE THE PROVISION THAT OFFICERS OR EMPLOYEES MAY IMPROVE PLATS, APPROVE PLATS WITH CONDITIONS, OR DENY PLATS, AND THAT IS PART OF THE WHOLE DESIRE OF THE STATE TO MAINTAIN ITS POSITION WITHIN A NATION AS BEING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, FRIENDLY AND PRO-BUSINESS.

AND IT IS ALSO TO HELP MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES EXPEDITE THE PLAT REVIEW AND APPROVAL PROCESS.

AGAIN, THIS ORDINANCE IS ONLY MEANT TO BE TEMPORARY, AND THAT IS TO ALLOW TIME FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT TO GO THROUGH TO REDLINE PROPOSED AND PRESENT AMENDMENTS TO THE TOWN COUNCIL, AS WELL AS THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.

AND THE CONSIDERATIONS THAT ENSUE WITH REGARDS TO THIS ORDINANCE ARE AS FOLLOWS ONE.

AGAIN, HAVING THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF TIME TO REVIEW THE EXISTING PLANNING REGULATIONS AND ENSURING THAT THOSE ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE RECENT AMENDMENTS TO STATE LAW. IT'S AN EXPEDITED DEVELOPMENT REVIEW AND APPROVAL PROCESS.

SO IN THEORY, THE ONLY TIME A PLAT SHOULD COME BEFORE THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION OR THE TOWN COUNCIL IS IF A VARIANCE IS REQUESTED OR IF IT IS DENIED. THE AMENDMENTS TO STATE LAW ARE VERY CLEAR THAT IF A PLAT MEETS ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS THAT A TOWN HAS, THERE CAN BE NO REASON TO DENY THAT PLAT. SO AGAIN, LEADING TO THAT EXPEDITED DEVELOPMENT, REVIEW AND APPROVAL PROCESS, IT DOES LEAD TO A MORE PREDICTABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR INVESTMENT.

NOW THAT DEVELOPERS AND OTHERS ARE AWARE OF WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR PLATING, THAT MAKES FOR A FAR EASIER PROCESS TO NAVIGATE WITH RESPECT TO PLATS.

AND THEN FINALLY THAT THOSE RULES AND REGULATIONS, THEY ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW.

DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DOES RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE AS PRESENTED, AND I WILL PAUSE THERE WITH A LIST OF TOWN COUNCIL ACTIONS AND OPTIONS IN FRONT OF YOU, AS WELL AS TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

YOU SAY IT'S TEMPORARY.

HOW LONG IS IT TEMPORARY? UNKNOWN? YES, BUT I'M HOPING TO GET THAT BACK TO YOU ALL BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

OKAY. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THIS IS A GOOD THING, ISN'T IT? YES, SIR. YEAH. VERY GOOD.

I'M GOING TO ASK YOU A QUESTION.

I KNOW THAT'S NOT. I'M SORRY.

I'M GOING TO APOLOGIZE AHEAD OF TIME.

WHAT WOULD THIS DO TO COMPRESS OUR CYCLE TIMES IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS? WHAT IT WOULD DO IS THAT IT WOULD TAKE OUT THE TIME REQUIRED TO ADVERTISE THE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR PLATS, NOT JUST FOR THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, BUT ALSO FOR TOWN COUNCIL.

THAT'S ALSO WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE 30 DAY SHOT CLOCK, SO IT SHOULD SPEED THINGS UP CONSIDERABLY.

EXCELLENT. GREAT NEWS.

OUR REQUIREMENT IS 15 DAYS FOR EACH.

SO 15 DAYS FOR P&Z, 15 DAYS FOR COUNCIL.

SO AT A MINIMUM IT'S GOING TO SPEED UP 30 DAYS.

THAT'S OUTSTANDING.

WELL DONE.

AS IS THEIR WORKLOAD REDUCTION FOR P&Z AS A RESULT OF THIS.

THAT IS CORRECT, IT WOULD BE THE ONLY TIME THAT THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION WOULD HAVE TO CONSIDER IS IF THERE IS A REQUIREMENT FOR A VARIANCE, OR IF THE PLAT IS DENIED. YES, SIR.

YOU TELL MR. COFFY YOU'RE MAKING HIS LIFE EASIER.

YES, SIR, I WILL.

I THINK WE HAVE TO. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I THINK WE HAVE TO OPEN THIS UP TO, I WILL OPEN IT UP TO A PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE ANYONE WANTING TO SPEAK? I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? CAN I GET A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 1009 AS PRESENTED.

MOTION TO ADOPT AS PRESENTED.

CAN I GET A SECOND? SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

I'M REALLY PROUD TO SAY IT IS 4:15.

[H. EXECUTIVE SESSION]

[00:15:01]

I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THE CREDIT FOR THIS.

I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY BEING HERE AND WE WILL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 551 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, THE TOWN COUNCIL BOARD OF TRUSTEES WILL NOW ADJOURN INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AUTHORITY CONTAINED IN SECTION 551-087 DELIBERATION REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS TO DELIBERATE THE OFFER OF A FINANCIAL OR OTHER INCENTIVE TO A BUSINESS PROSPECT.

IT IS 5:23.

WE'RE OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.

THERE'S NO ACTIONS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN.

WADE, AGENDA ITEM J, ANY FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT? OKAY. STAFF RECAP AND COUNCIL DIRECTION.

ALL JUST IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, SO WE'LL KEEP THAT PRIVATE.

OKAY. PERFECT.

ALL RIGHT, I NOW ADJOURN THE MEETING.

IT'S 5:23 P.M..

THANK YOU ALL.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.