At its March 19 meeting, Fulshear City Council unanimously approved an ordinance certifying that the candidates running for council member at-large, district 1, district 4 and district 5 were unopposed, and cancelling the May 4 municipal election.
The following Fulshear residents filed their candidacy and will start two-year terms following the post-election canvass:
- At large: Kent Pool*
- District 1: Kevin White replaces Dana Hollingsworth, who did not file for re-election
- District 4: Joel Patterson*
- District 5: Kaye Kahlich*
*Incumbent
Council also discussed new fees to developers and an audit at its March 18 meeting.
Impact fees
Mike Shelton with Kimley Horn provided an update to council about implementing new fees to developers.
Impact fees, Shelton said, are one-time fees assessed to new developments to help fund Fulshear’s water and wastewater infrastructure as residential, commercial and industrial development grows in the city.
He said impact fees provide another funding tool for infrastructure systems and help organize growth in the community.
Funds resulting from these fees can only be used toward certain projects outlined in a 10-year capital improvement program, he said. At least two public hearings will be held regarding the fees before council adopts the ordinance.
According to a proposed timeline, the city could approve the impact fee structure by September, but it would have to wait one year before collecting the fees, Shelton said. This gives developers time to understand the fee structure and incorporate it within their plans, he said.
“We’re looking at a transition to how we do business,” Mayor Aaron Groff said, noting that the city will have to closely examine how existing agreements with municipal utility districts and developers will fit into this new fee structure.
Assistant City Manager Brant Gary noted that implementing impact fees will help standardize the city’s developer agreements. Fulshear has has about 34 and all are have different terms, he and Groff said.
“We won’t necessarily be reinventing the wheel every time we have future development,” Gary said.
Financial audit
The council voted unanimously to receive its audited fiscal year 2018 annual financial report.
The city received an unmodified opinion—the highest opinion level that can be given— from accounting firm Whitley Penn LLP. Firm partner Lupe Garcia presented the findings.
The city’s net position—or total liabilities subtracted from total assets—for governmental activities was $55.7 million, while business activities or utility operations net position was $66.2 million, Garcia said.
Additionally, the general fund balance nearly doubled from $3.6 million to $6.3 million, which can fund the municipal government for about 9 months, Garcia said.
“[That] is a very healthy fund balance for the city,” he said.
