City approves permits, reports, budget items

A Specific Use Permit for an electronic billboard on Hwy 7E requiring a zoning ordinance update drew no response at a public hearing to open Monday’s regular meeting of the Center City Council. The update and the permit were approved.

The application, submitted by Robert Adam Reeves of Center, was for conversion of existing signage into a digital/electronic billboard for off-premises advertising. Robert Byron Reeves owns the sign location property.

Drainage Report Proposal

A study to review potential use of “Tax Increment/ Reinvestment Zone #1” was also approved. The study will develop a plan for remedying flooding and enhancing investment while solving stormwater issues from various public properties.

A map in the council packet defined the area as a tract bordered by Roughrider Drive, Hurst Street businesses, including Walmart, Center Motor Company, and Holiday Inn Express, Civic Center Drive, residential property on Moonbeam Drive, and Center ISD high school property.

According to information submitted to the council, the property is an area of drainage that has been a problem with development projects and properties owned by the city and Center ISD, complicated by federal laws regulating the use, obstruction, or modification of floodplain and designated “water bodies of the US.”

The city and county established Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #1 in 2010 to allow the use of anticipated future taxes from new development to pay for development costs of the area.

Development occurred sooner than original fiscal projections, and the fund has grown to potentially take on additional projects if approved by the TIF Board. The council must also approve financing mechanisms as the governing fiduciary agent.

Aiken Plant Pilot Studies

The council approved proceeding with treatment system pilot studies for the Aiken Treatment Plant Rehabilitation. Two proposals were previously presented to the council for conducting a pilot test of treatment units at the Aiken Plant for functionality, efficiency, and effectiveness on actual water supply.

A WesTech proposal was approved, but one from Tonka was deemed incomplete.

The city has since received clarification sufficient to recommend the secondary alternative.

Updated cost projections requested could influence the recommendation to complete either one or both studies.

Budget-Vehicle Replacement The council approved replacement of a Street Department 2016 F-250 slated for replacement next fiscal year that suffered transmission failure sooner than anticipated. Rather than make a costly repair to a unit that is older and ready for replacement, city staff requested authorization to make that purchase as a change to this year’s vehicle replacement fund. Quotes and pricing were obtained for similar ¾ ton units from local dealers and state purchasing coops. The lowest-priced unit is available immediately from a local dealer.

Budget Discussion/Goals

With the budget retreat/workshop meetings coming up at the end of June into July, the council was informed about information they will receive on items impacting budget development, departmental requests, revised revenue estimates, and overall status of financial projections of various funds for elaboration on goals/priorities survey, issues, and priorities. No action was needed.

Items of Interest

Discussion only; no action needed.

• Sales Tax Monthly Report – June (See related story)

• Youth Baseball World Series - July 19-23, 2023

• Youth Regional & District Tournaments- June 24-26 & July 1-3

• TXDoT- Transportation Alternative program nominations were submitted by June 5. Sidewalk requests for Hurst Street and Tenaha Street were submitted as designed, and the Tenaha Street project was designated a “fast track” project that could be initiated within 6-12 months. All were submitted qualifying for Transportation Development Credit use, eliminating local match funding. The “Shared Use/Bike Path” nomination had to be amended as easements along the creek from Arcadia to Crawford were neither large enough nor designated for surface use to be completed without land acquisition. That component was removed from the nominated project.

• Portacool Park - Rotary Donation Equipment Installation Most of the equipment donated by the Rotary Club has been installed. A small portion of the playground was reconfigured to accommodate two additional pieces with a sidewalk. One piece of equipment was shipped late but was received and assembled this week, with installation planned for next week.

• Water System — South Elevated Water Tank construction is structurally complete. Painting was delayed, but the crew was expected June 9 for prep work to install the draping of the tank over the weekend.

— Aiken Treatment Project - Pilot Study, as approved, is being initiated with expected equipment delivery in mid-July, and testing to begin near the end of July after setup is complete.

— Lagoon Cleaning is now set to commence in mid to late August.

— Mill Creek/Lake Center Dam cleaning/maintenance TCEQ requires periodic clearing and cleaning of the downhill sides of dams, and this year’s inspection was not an exception; in fact, to date, possibly requiring significantly more clearing as staff proceeds with response submission, which hopefully can be initiated this year.

— Vegetation at Pinkston seems to have hit a growth period creating intake/pump issues at the shallow intake, requiring pulling and cleaning shafts/impellers to clear obstructions and maintain volume.

7. Damages - Insurance Claims City staff continues to complete hailstorm damage repairs at City Hall. The Civic Center and Police Dept have been submitted as claims for roof damage. The light pole damage claim remains unpaid by the driver’s carrier but may be resolved soon. Downtown had four bollards damaged last week, but the suspects are unknown, which may result in a property claim. The soccer park entrance is being completed.

An older claim from the drunk driver that flipped a car downtown a couple of years ago remains outstanding as well due to a local agent backdating termination of the policy to avoid that claim. Criminal complaints against the agent are being filed with the TX Dept of Insurance and possibly pursued as legal action.

• Fire Department - Drainage Project Field surveying was completed last week. Within the next month, the city expects the engineer’s report and recommendation for remediation and future erosion or damage prevention.

• 2023 Street Construction Program The Street EDC has a meeting scheduled for June 16 to review the upcoming street rehabilitation program and cost estimates to allow bid solicitations for construction.