February 15 City Council Agenda
City Council Agenda
Monday, February 15, 2010 ~ 7:00 p.m.
LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER ~ 1601 East Main Street
1. Call to Order.
2. Approve minutes of January 2010 meetings.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
3. Consider approving all actions and documents necessary for the issuance of the $5,915,000 City of Fredericksburg, Texas General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2010. (Neffendorf)
4. Consider approving allocation of 2010 Hotel Occupancy Tax Funds to various organizations.
5. Discuss and consider offer for expanded avigation easement. (Hoover)
NEW BUSINESS
6. Receive request from Fredericksburg Farmers Market to reserve a pavilion on Market Square from May through September at a reduced rate. (David Clements)
7. Consider approving interlocal agreement with TMLIEBP (Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Employee Benefits Pool). (Kott)
COMMENTS
8. Public Comment.
9. Council Comment.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
10. Executive Session: Discuss and consider offer for expanded avigation easement.
I read all comments and reply directly to the authors by email for follow-up. -Tom
Tom, it is time the City accepts what Gillespie County is offering for the airport easement. This subject has gone on way too long, and has become an embaressment to the community. The local economy has much more to loose with the airport than with the golf course. Please that the bull by the horns and get something done. If you want to become Mayor, now is the time to show your leadership. Now is not the time to be bickering over the money. The county has offered a fair amount, accept it and move on.
Sincerely,
Dennis Hannemann
I agree with the comments by Dennis Hannemann. Even the amount the County is willing to pay seems exhorbitant to me. If the City is wanting to move golf course holes to preserve some type of “view” for its golfers, then they should be the ones to bear that expense. Get it over with!
I regret I have not informed myself of all of the details about the expansion of the airport since I have been on the side of preserving the course and the park. I do remember through our leadership development class the airport was eligible for a grant that would cover a major portion of the expansion and there is some liability the city carries for not doing the expansion. So I see why there is such a big push to do this. Also, money talks, and large aircraft owners can make much more noise than individuals who actually live in our fine city.
One thought is to see who is pushing the hardest and seeing who the land owners are near the airport. They stand to benefit the most in the long run as they see off their land for a large profit.
As we played golf a week or so ago, we noticed one thing. There was only 1 airplane taking off during a 3-4 hour period while we observed a lot of wildlife, people walking, fishing, and children laughing and enjoying learning to ride a bicycle in the park. The course is beautiful in it own way at this time of year. It’s not just the golf course, this expansion will affect the whole park as time goes by.
As we stood on the 7th green and the #8 tee box, we looked across the run way and noticed the airport facilities were very close to the runways and the height of the buildings were much higher than any of the trees on the course.
We still firmly believe we do not need to become a major airport hub for a few. I have logged over 60 hours as a pilot in training and I do love flying. But I think the initial developers of the park and the airport invisioned a balance between the two. I also believe that if Boerne or Georgetown, or Roundrock could return to a nice quiet town they would do it in a heartbeat.
We don’t need to be overrun by big airplanes. If we were all creative, the city would approach the LBJ ranch/park federal folks and work out a deal to use their runway for the big planes. I can’t imagine that that runway couldn’t be used. It can’t possibly be used more than once or twice a month for landings. Benefits and revenue would be created on both side.
Your leadership is fine, slowing this process down is the right thing to do. Once we pave something over and ruined the land for a few large aircraft, we won’t ever be able to regain our unique, great quality of life community. Which is why they want to come here.
The airplane people need to land at Kerrville or drive up from San Antonio and enjoy the land, the clean air, the quiet terra and wildlife that they so deperately desire when they come to visit.
Your run for mayor should not be threated by anyone over this issue. I think most of the discussions have been thoughtful and concerned about what a few want to do to the larger picture and future of Fredericksburg.
The saddest thing about all of this is the trees. We have already lost many on the golf course. I am really surprised these airport supporters don’t just lay low. As we play golf almost every week more of the beautiful trees are dying.
Ha. as one thought, maybe we should take the money and run.
So sad.