The Pilot Point City Council took action toward resolving the city’s drainage issues during the Feb. 13 meeting with a large drainage project dealing with the Eldorado and Summit subdivisions.
Eldorado, platted in 1986, has longstanding drainage problems exacerbated by surrounding developments Mustang Creek and The Summit.
“Because those two subdivisions butt up against each other, it was important to look at them wholistically,” Development Services Director John Taylor said about engaging Summit Engineer Kevin Ware for the plan.
Ware presented the plan, which includes increasing Mustang Creek’s detention pond, expanding Laramie Circle’s drainage system and discharging water toward TxDOT land.
The plan was developed with public safety at the forefront, Ware said.
Ware’s current opinion of construction costs generated specifically for this project came in at $886,000. Staff asked for additional funding to ensure some wiggle room.
CFO Michele Sanchez explained possible funding sources, starting with $300,000 in outstanding bond monies approved in 2018.
“The city has submitted an application for a community development block grant for $750,000 that we can use for drainage projects,” Sanchez said. “That requires a 20% match from the city.”
Notification about that decision should come back within two months, she added in response to Mayor Pro Tem Andrew Ambrosio’s question.
The combined funding would total “just over a million dollars,” Sanchez said.
If the city does not receive the grant, it could approve a reimbursement resolution that would need to be paid through bonds after the Drainage Master Plan is completed.
In the same executive session where council considered the drainage plan, the members discussed the Development Agreement with Green Brick Partners, who returned after council declined their proposal for an alternative funding plan for the Burks Ranch Development at the Oct. 17 meeting.
“Direction from the council at the time was to move forward with a PID/TIRZ structure which we have been doing with staff since that time,” GRBK representative Brad Williams said. “We’ve worked closely with your staff and consultants on this draft of the agreement. Hopefully, it’s acceptable.”
Mayor Elisa Beasley presented the council’s remaining concerns, including the ETJ petition, timeline for annexation and zoning.
Also at the meeting, council debated appointing a parliamentarian, initially listed as Brenda McDonald, the city’s attorney.
“This is basically just codifying what is already happening,” said council member Chad Major, who presented the item.
Beasley opposed the appointment and the need for a recognized parliamentarian. “I sent an email and had a phone call with Brenda a few weeks ago saying the city attorney is here to advise the council, so unless there is a direct question posed to you, Brenda, we don’t need to be having feedback,” Beasley said. “… This council has relied very heavily on having Brenda build cases. I find it very interesting that I sent that email and had that conversation, and the next agenda item was that this was on here.”
McDonald replied, saying she had not divulged that conversation with the council.
“What I did do is looked at our charter and code of ordinances and policies and procedures and discovered there was no one designated as the city’s parliamentarian, and we’ve had a number of Robert’s Rules questions come up,” McDonald said. “… In virtually every city, in describing the duties of the city attorney, describe them as the city’s parliamentarian.”
She said she respected the mayor’s comments.
“To the extent you don’t want it to be me, I have no issue with that,” McDonald said. “What I do think is important is that the city designate some person. I would love not to be in the middle of the issues, but there needs to be someone.”
Beasley did not respond. Ambrosio encouraged further dialogue, asking if it was worth looking into a part-time parliamentarian.
“If you don’t want Brenda to be it, and I hear what you’re saying, … would it be a discussion to bring in a parliamentarian part time?” Ambrosio said. “That would be a completely third-party source if you’re concerned with Brenda getting into our discussions other than legal advice.”
Beasley said she believes it is up to the council to solve the issue of parliamentary procedure for itself.
“If it’s a matter of Robert’s Rules of Order, then how about we all learn how to use [it] first and maybe have someone like Lenette saying, ‘Don’t forget you need to do this,’” Beasley said. “Let’s learn.”
The council voted 6-1 to assign McDonald the role.
