Texarkana City Council Takes up Road Extension

The Texarkana, Texas City Council meets for the final time in February beginning at 6PM today at City Hall.

The council will be conducting public hearings for the extension of Pavilion Parkway, from Gibson Lane to McKnight Road. City leaders will also vote on the dispute between the City and Forest Point Apartments concerning water bills.

Here is a complete rundown of the agenda for tonight's meeting:

I. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL, ESTABLISHMENT OF QUORUM

II. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE BY COUNCIL MEMBER JEAN MATLOCK

III. MAYOR'S OPENING REMARKS
Upcoming City Council Meetings:
Monday, March 14, 2016 at 6PM
Monday, March 28, 2016 at 6PM
Monday, April 11, 2016 at 6PM
Monday, April 25, 2016 at 6PM

U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Meeting
The Fort Worth District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will host public scoping meetings on February 23 and 24, for the ongoing Sulphur River Basin Feasibility Study. The meetings will inform the public on the proposed reallocation of flood storage to water supply at Wright Patman Lake, located in Bowie and Cass Counties, Texas.

The February 23 meeting will be held beginning at 6PM in the Great Room of the Truman Arnold Student Center at Texarkana College, 2500 North Robison Road, Texarkana, Texas.

The February 24 meeting will be held beginning at 6PM at the Mount Pleasant Civic Center located at 1800 N. Jefferson Avenue, Mt. Pleasant, Texas.

Parks & Recreation Events:
February 25th - 26th
24th Annual Fishing Derby
Spring Lake Park

March 12th
March Into Spring-Softball Tournament
Karrh/Wallace Park

Appointments to Boards & Commissions

IV. OPEN FORUM: COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC (LIMIT 5 MINUTES EACH)
Items scheduled for "Public Hearing" or have been heard at a previous "Public Hearing" are not to be addressed at the "Open Forum".

V. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION

Consent Items

1. Consider approval of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the City Council held on Feb. 8, 2016 at 6PM.

The City Council will convene in closed session pursuant to section 551.071, Texas Government Code, for a private consultation with the City Attorney to seek advice regarding the breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and malfeasance assertions / settlement offer by Claire Jaynes / Forest Point Apartment Homes [cf. proposed Resolution 2015-140].

Reconvene into Open Session
Action Items
1. Resolution No. 2015-140 finding and determining no valid basis supporting claims made by Forest Point Apartment Homes of being overcharged for water and sewer services; requiring Forest Point Apartment Homes to make full payment; authorizing alternative short-term payment plans; directing enforcement of Code provisions in the event Forest Point Apartment Homes fails to make full payment of its account balance.

Public Hearing: January 11, 2016
Second Briefing: January 25, 2016
Council Vote: February 22, 2016

2. Ordinance No. 2016-001 rescinding Ordinance No. 188-08, which established a list of external professional engineering and surveying service providers.

Public Hearing: January 25, 2016
Second Briefing: February 8, 2016
Council Vote: February 22, 2016

VI. FIRST BRIEFINGS

1. Ordinance No. 2016-020 amending the budget estimates of the expenditures in the 2003 and 2005 Bond Funds for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016 to include funding to complete Shilling Road and Bringle Ridge Drive reconstruction project.

Public Hearing: March 14, 2016
Second Briefing: March 28, 2016
Council Vote: April 11, 2016

2. Ordinance No. 2016-021 granting a Specific Use Permit to allow a 100' monopole cellular telecommunications tower and maintenance platform on a 0.0980 acre tract of leased space being a part of a 5.65 acre tract of land in the George Brinlee HRS, A-18, located at 910 Franklin Street. Walnut Street Church of Christ, owner. Hart Mason, J. Mark Hodges, Inc., agent.

Public Hearing: March 14, 2016
Second Briefing: March 28, 2016
Council Vote: April 11, 2016

3. Resolution No. 2016-022 authorizing the City Manager to enter into a memorandum of agreement for the Heritage Gateway Public Artwork Project

Public Hearing: March 14, 2016
Second Briefing: March 28, 2016
Council Vote: April 11, 2016

VII. PUBLIC HEARINGS

1. Ordinance No. 2016-007 amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Texarkana, Texas Chapter 44-Taxicabs Section 44-108 providing for a rate increase for Taxicab services.

Public Hearing: February 22, 2016
Second Briefing: March 14, 2016
Council Vote: March 28, 2016

2. Resolution No. 2016-017 approving the International Paper Mill Water Treatment Plant Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan for Wholesale Public Water Suppliers.
Public Hearing: February 22, 2016
Second Briefing: March 14, 2016
Council Vote: March 28, 2016

3. Resolution No. 2016-018 approving the addition to the TIRZ #1 Project List for the funding or partial funding of an extension of Pavilion Parkway in an amount not to exceed $2,500,000 and for an addition to the Bringle Lake Trail in an amount not to exceed $213,000.

Public Hearing: February 22, 2016
Second Briefing: March 14, 2016
Council Vote: March 28, 2016

4. Resolution No. 2016-019 authorizing the City Manager to enter into a contract or contracts with one or more parties for the funding of street construction and improvements for an extension of Pavilion Parkway from Gibson Lane to McKnight Road; approving the reimbursement of the approved construction costs using funds generated from future development revenue from the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #1 Fund in an amount not to exceed $2,500,000.

Public Hearing: February 22, 2016
Second Briefing: March 14, 2016
Council Vote: March 28, 2016

VIII. SECOND BRIEFING WITH UPDATES

1. Resolution No. 2016-011 authorizing support for Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) housing tax credit development application for Heritage Pines.

Public Hearing: February 8, 2016
Second Briefing: February 22, 2016
Council Vote: March 14, 2016

IX. SECOND BRIEFING WITHOUT UPDATES

1. Resolution No. 2016-005 establishing and adopting a policy related to citizen submitted petitions.

Public Hearing: February 8, 2016
Second Briefing: February 22, 2016
Council Vote: March 14, 2016

X. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

Staff Updates

The City of Texarkana, Texas Investment Report for the Quarter Ended December 31, 2015 is now available for viewing on the City’s website.