Meetings

The council meets at 7 p.m. every second Tuesday at Magnolia City Hall, 18111 Buddy Riley Blvd., Magnolia. 281-356-2266.

Terms and pay

The mayor and City Council serve two-year terms with no term limits. There is no compensation for the mayor or council members.

Coverage

Minutes from each council meeting can be found at www.cityofmagnolia.com.

Big decisions made in 2015

• Zoning code and map - Magnolia City Council approved its first-ever unified development code and zoning map within city limits at its Oct. 13 meeting. Residents seeking to rezone their properties will need to receive final approval from council.
• Utility extension - The city began efforts in mid-2015 to extend its water and sewer pipelines to a 163-acre tract located at FM 1488 and FM 149, which was annexed in June 2014. The utility extension could be complete by the end of January.
• City fire department study - In March, the council unanimously voted to conduct an internal feasibility study over the next few months to determine the requirements and costs associated with the development of a new fire department to serve inside city limits. The study is on hold for now but will be a future topic of discussion as development grows in the newly annexed areas.
• Magnolia Ridge public improvement district - City Council voted Oct. 13 to move forward with a yet-to-be-determined PID fee assessment plan for the 550-acre Magnolia Ridge subdivision after several months of discussion with attorneys. The city also discussed implementing its first in-city municipal utility district by the end of January that would serve a portion of future development at Magnolia Ridge.

Top issues for 2016

• Water infrastructure improvements - The city plans to expand its sewer treatment plant on Nichols Sawmill Road and possibly construct a second one to handle continued population growth. More than 4,000 new homes are projected to be built in the area by 2018.
• Road construction - The overpass project at FM 1488 and FM 149 began construction last March and will be complete in summer 2017. Segment 2 of the FM 1774 widening project, from West Lost Creek Boulevard to FM 149, will be complete in fall 2017. The overpass project at FM 1774 and FM 1488 is scheduled to be sent out for bid in June.
• Effects of oil economy decline - There are many trickle-down effects of the nationwide oil slump that are being felt across the Greater Houston area. It remains to be seen if the price of crude oil will rise this year and if sales tax revenue will stabilize in Magnolia.
• New annexations - The city annexed eight parcels into city limits in the second half of 2014. In 2015, the city annexed a 16-acre property at the corner of Spur 149 and FM 1488 on Oct. 13 and held two public hearings Dec. 8 to annex a 0.855-acre property into city limits for a future H-E-B across the street. The city will look to expand its city limits in 2016 based on requests from developers.