Marble Falls City Council recently approved $206,000 for a consultant to update the city parks, recreation and open space master plan.
During the May 5 regular meeting, Mayor John Packer was the sole dissenter who balked at the price tag for the Parkhill private consultancy. The update would also include the addition of a new city trails plan.
Before council voted, Parks and Recreation Director Lacy Dingman mentioned Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) mandates the city must update its park master plan every 10 years.
“The last time we adopted a master plan was March 2017,” Dingman said.
The city must update the plan to remain eligible for TPWD future grants, Dingman added.
After hearing from the director, Mayor Protem Craig Magerkurth, Councilman Dee Haddock, Councilwoman Lauren Haltom, Councilman Griff Morris and Councilman Richard Westerman voted for the six-figure update. “Very few Highland Lakes communities do the kind of future planning we do,” Westerman said. “We have had very organized growth of our park system since I started serving on council.
“We have added so much park land through the decades. It is amazing what we have done with our parks,” Westerman added. “I think having a premier park system is very important.”
Also, Morris voiced support for the update, as a way to preserve the city’s attractiveness and stability.
“One of the things that draws people to our community are the amenities we offer, and parks are certainly one of them,” Morris said. “In fact, it is a major amenity.”
Too, Haddock favored the update.
“It is a necessary document for us to be successful with our next ten years of planning,” Haddock said.
Haddock recalled, before the meeting, City Manager Caleb Kraenzel told him the city park improvement fund would cover the update cost.
“I think you have to spend money to get money,” Magerkurth added. “I like what it (an updated master plan) is going to bring us.”
However, Packer dissented.
“I think it ($206,000) is too much money,” Packer said. “I love our parks. They are a huge part of the quality of our lives.
“I am not saying we do not need planning. I know we need it for the grants. But I feel it ($206,000) is too much.”
Packer suggested the council could consider the release of a fresh proposal related to the park master plan. However, his idea did not persuade other council members.
MFPD Report The park master plan update was the only action item on the agenda. During time set aside for reports, Marble Falls Police Department Assistant Chief Trisha Ratliff indicated MFPD received more than 9,000 calls for service from last October to April 30.
Population Update Development Services Director Scarlet Moreno informed council the city population is now more than 9,900 residents, and since October, the city has created more than 840 property lots.
“Most of them are residential,” Moreno said.
Councilwoman Karlee Hubble was absent.
rwhelan
@texaslocalmedia.com
