The Fulshear City Council on Tuesday approved several plats to allow development to move forward, heard testimony regarding the reopening of a car wash considered abandoned by the city and more. Here are five things to know from the April 17 meeting:
1. Council appoints Kent Pool to fill vacant council seat after Jim Fatheree's resignation
Kent Pool was selected following an application process agreed upon by the council at their March 21 meeting. Pool will serve the remainder of Fatheree's term, which ends in May 2019.
2. Public hearing regarding adjustments to the city’s zoning ordinance tabled due to notification errors
The hearing was postponed because public signage announcing the hearing did not include the time, date and location as required by city ordinance. The council voted unanimously to table the hearing until all of the requirements had been met. The hearing related to the rezoning of a plot of land at Syms Road and FM 1093.
3. Officials accepts audit report for city’s annual financial report
Christopher Breaux, an audit partner with Whitley Penn, the independent public accounting firm hired by the city to audit the municipality’s 2017 annual financial report, presented the firm’s findings. It was the auditing team’s responsibility to review the AFR and provide an opinion to the city.
Breaux said that Whitley Penn’s auditors had given an unmodified or clean opinion on the AFR, the highest assurance the company can give. He added that property taxes accounted for about 25 percent of the city’s general fund and licenses, while permits and fees accounted for 27 percent of that fund. Breaux said that the 27 percent was unusual, but reasonable considering the city’s growth.
The council accepted a settlement negotiated by J. Grady Randle, the city’s attorney, with GM Equity representatives regarding an easement dispute. The city is accepting a settlement amount of $89,000 of an amount due of just more than $101,000.
Christopher Ginter of GM Equity had entered into an agreement to donate an easement to the city for a utility easement to a then-new Lamar Consolidated ISD campus in 2009. Ginter had agreed to the donation in return for the opportunity to purchase water capacity in the event that land was developed, with three payments to be made to the city afterward. The first two payments were made, but the final payment was withheld because of a dispute regarding the city’s contractor damaging fencing at the property. The difference between the $101,000 and the $89,000 is for pasturing fees for cattle and replacement of the fencing, which GM Equity alleges was not repaired properly.
4. City Manager Jack Harper welcomed, delivers his first report to council
Harper, who began as city manager April 9, said he had been meeting with a variety of local groups to ensure that he was familiar with the stakeholders in Fulshear’s government. Harper said he had met with the governing board of Municipal Utility District No. 172 and the Fulshear Area Chamber of Commerce among others to familiarize himself with the city as he settles into his new position.
“I let them know that the city is open for business. We’re excited to be able to work with our businesses and we’re glad that [the businesses] are here,” Harper said, regarding his meeting with the FACC.
Harper also invited residents to schedule an appointment on his calendar to speak with him about issues affecting the city.
“My days and weeks are filling up, but I do have a calendar and I’d be honored to put you on the calendar and listen to what you have to say and do my best to answer your questions,” Harper said. “If I don’t know the answer, I’ll tell you I don’t know the answer, but I’ll sure get it to you.”
5. Council denies appeal of a denial for an occupancy permit for a car wash to reopen
Hanana Elias and Reema Shahin appealed the decision of city inspectors to deny an occupancy permit for a car wash located at 30414 Fourth St. in Fulshear. The facility, which was previously owned by former Mayor Jamie Roberts, father of current Mayor Jeff Roberts, was considered abandoned because utilities had been disconnected at the facility for more than a year after Elias had purchased the property. According to city officials, the city's zoning ordinance does not allow any businesses related to automotive services in that area. The business would have been grandfathered and exempted from that ordinance, were it not for the lapse in utility services causing the business to be considered abandoned.
The council voted unanimously to affirm the city's prior decision to deny the business a certificate of occupancy.
