City manager reviews, looks forward
Top happenings in 2013
Cowboys development
"The Dallas North Tollway Warren Parkway plan ... that's where the Cowboys new headquarters and training facility will be."
Exide Technologies
"I think we made some good progress on Exide this last year. A lot of the buildings came down; a lot of the plant came down. So there was good progress on Exide."
NCAA Championship game
"We got an extension on the NCAA Championship game for three additional years. That's been very successful and hopefully it will continue to be here."
Frisco economy trends up
"Housing permits have started a good climb back up, so obviously the economy is improving. Our property tax base has turned around and started growing again. It's over $15 billion for the first time. Sales tax collections are starting to move upward again."
Maintaining top ISO rating
"We were successful in continuing our ISO 1 rating through the fire department. That's been a big issue for the council in years past. That's pretty much a city-wide effort because it has more to do than just with the fire department. It has to do with the water department, street circulation and all those kinds of things. It shows a general good reflection on the overall city."
Expectations for 2014
Cowboys development
"That certainly was a big one from 2013. Now folllowing through with that plan is going to be a big issue for 2014."
Exide Technologies
"We hope this year in 2014, all the decisions will be made about what needs to be done to finalize the cleanup. I think realistically it will be 2015 before it all gets done, but hopefully the decisions will be made in 2014."
Grand Park
"We are going to do our best to get Grand Park under construction in 2014. I expect the plan to clean up the creek to be approved, so that would be the only thing that might get in the way with that."
Commercial development
"One of the council's goals has to do with continued development of commercial properties. I think that's a big goal for next year; is continuing the momentum we've got with the new office projects going in and hopefully we are going to have some more started next year."
Library, parks master plans
"I think something really positive that's going to be happening this year is we are going to update our park master plan and our new library master plan and John [Lettelleir, city development director] is going to get started updating the master plan for the overall city. I think that's going to be really positive to get those master plans updated."
Frisco City Council
Frisco Mayor Maher Maso has been on the council since 2000 and has served as mayor since 2004. His current term ends May 2014.
Councilman Bob Allen was elected to the council in 2002, 2004, 2009 and 2012. His term expires May 2015.
Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Cheney has served on the council since 2007. His current term expires May 2016.
Councilman Will Sowell has served on the council since 2012. His term expires May 2015.
Councilman and Deputy Mayor Pro Tem John Keating has served on the council since 2010. He was re-elected in May 2013 and his term expires May 2016.
Councilman Tim Nelson has served on the council since 2011. His term expires May 2014.
Councilman Scott Johnson has served on the council since 2008. His term expires May 2014.
2014 Election information
The 2014 city election is May 10, 2014, in accordance with the Texas Election Code.
Frisco residents will elect a mayor, as well as council members in places 5 and 6.
Jan. 29 is the first day to file for a place on the ballot. The filing deadline is Feb. 28. The last day to register to vote is April 10. Early voting is April 28 through May 6.
While a bond committee was formed in 2013, the council decided not to call for a bond election in 2014 because the master plans for the parks and recreation department and library have not yet been completed.
The council expects to possibly call for a bond election in spring 2015 instead.
