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Home My WebLink AboutCC Minutes 2005-07-18 Special, Work Session 07/18/05 2350 STATE OF TEXAS )( CITY OF FRIENDSWOOD )( COUNTIES OF GALVESTON/HARRIS )( JULY 18, 2005 )( MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE FRIENDSWOOD CITY COUNCIL THAT WAS HELD ON MONDAY, JULY 18, 2005, AT 5:30 PM AT FRIENDSWOOD CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 910 S. FRIENDSWOOD DRIVE, FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS, WITH THE FOLLOWING PRESENT CONSTITUTING A QUORUM: MAYOR KIMBALL BRIZENDINE MAYOR PRO-TEM DAVID SMITH COUNCILMEMBER JOHN LECOUR COUNCILMEMBER TRACY GOZA COUNCILMEMBER CHRIS PEDEN COUNCILMEMBER MEL MEASELES CITY ATTORNEY JOHN OLSON CITY MANAGER RON COX CITY SECRETARY DELORIS MCKENZIE Councilmember Ewing was absent from the meeting. Mayor Brizendine called the meeting to order. WORK SESSION Discussion was held regarding West Ranch Utility District. City Manager Ron Cox provided a brief overview of the proposed project regarding the Special Finance District and Land Plan and provided responses to questions that Councilmembers had presented prior to the meeting. Friendswood Development Company (FDC) representatives Jeff Anderson, Vice President Joe Stunja, and John Haverstrite with Knudson and Associates, presented an overview of the project and the process for this proposed 765 Single-Family Residential (SFR) with a maximum of 2,065 homes and rezoning of 75 acres for Commercial, including 32.1 acres for a village center and 691 acres for Planned Unit Development (PUD) with a maximum of 1500 homes and a minimum of 30% Open Space. Mr. Cox reviewed the project plan that includes mobility, drainage improvements, commercial/retail office space, school site, parks/recreation and orderly growth plan. Mr. Cox reviewed how the City arrived at the Special Finance District process, approved by the Legislature this session, reviewed the value of this project to the City, and reviewed qualifying facilities. A question and answer session followed, legislation questions were asked regarding the proposed Utility Agreement and the tax limit, slightly more expensive to sell bonds with a tax cap of 65 cent property tax, reviewed financial liabilities, bond proposals could be held at the 65 cent cap and allow the tax rate to not be limited which would provide for flexibility in the event of determined need to increase the tax rate, levy of tax is approved by the Board of Directors, any increase would be passed on to the residents of the districts. Also asked for financial advisor to advise as to what would be a significant difference in the rates and if there is a tax break at a certain level, keep the cost as low as possible. Life of the bonds are based on length of time based on amount of tax rate, costs to future residents, 1100 homes would be serviced by West Boulevard which would be two miles long, discussed risks for Friendswood Development Company which is the up front dollars for infrastructure spent prior to bonds being sold, what would it cost the City if they did not enter into an agreement with the developer to build these infrastructures, to build Brittany Bay Boulevard, a portion of this would be City funded with a majority funded by Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). It would take Council approval to make any changes to agreements, could tie conceptual plan to utility agreement, City master plan and zoning, FDC 07/18/05 2351 will develop homes on the north side first and will develop approximately $100 million value, risk to homebuyer will be in the resale of properties, the added value will be the quality of life and amenities, are the qualifying facilities the normal developer associated costs for development, some costs are greater due to the magnitude of the project, comparative of this development to another subdivision is like comparing apples and oranges, some language in the proposed agreement should have been removed before distribution and will be updated in the next draft, increasing commercial properties would be a incentive for FDC and it would be more attractive in the zoning planning in the early stages rather than making changes after building of residential has begun, it is more difficult to change zoning after the fact, discussed definitions, need consistency and clarity, there are a number of questions regarding the proposed agreement, it was agreed to set up another work session and have Jeanie McDonald, an attorney specializing in special districts and also working with the City, to attend. Discussion was held regarding review of the agreement, questions were asked regarding some of the existing property, if not sold to FDC, could petition City to bring these properties into the district, it would take some time for this to happen, probably after development of the properties, Council asked about some issues that are still out there regarding infringement of these existing properties, preliminary development activities that are going on at the project now, hope that FDC is sensitive of the existing property owners. Mayor Brizendine asked City Manager Ron Cox to move quickly to set up a meeting with Jeanie McDonald. A mo#ion was made and approved to adjourn at 7:24 PM. < c 4 v!/� Mayor Kimball W. Brizen ine Attest: F R�EhO O� s'�y i ,� �-�`" � � v Deloris McKenzie, TRMC City Secretary * * � �,,T� � ��+p�°