Marble Falls City Council looked and sounded wary during its recent meeting, as one key financial representa tive presented a petition to dissolve the Thousand Oaks Public Improvement District.
Next, after the district is dissolved, return to square one and “recreate” the area.
During the July 16 regular meeting, Mayor Dave Rhodes recalled council members stamped its approval of the district several months ago.
At that time, plans called for development of the district over more than 450 acres near U.S. 281 and CR 403, near Burnet and Blanco county lines and the Horseshoe Bay exterritorial jurisdiction.
Then, several people proceeded to purchase lots within the district, Rhodes added.
However, as construction of the district got underway, COVID-19 hampered its progress, Bond Counsel Gregory Miller told the council.
“The pandemic kind of threw a monkey wrench into it,” said Miller, a partner with Wickerstaff, Heath, Delgado and Acosta.
Miller offered no technical details related to the breakdown, other than to mention, recently, the adverse situation prompted developer Kerby Ventures to postpone previous assessments of property values in the planned district, and then, resolve to recreate the development, Miller said.
“This is not an everyday experience,” Miller added.
“What about the people who bought those lots?” Rhodes asked. “Will they agree to a new assessment?”
“Best case scenario – yes,” Miller said.
In fact, the developer owns most of the property within the district, Miller added.
Be that as it may, Rhodes worried whether the city could be held liable for any financial losses aggravated by the reassessed, recreated district.
“That is my major concern,” Rhodes said. “I want to make sure the city isn’t holding the bag on it.”
City Attorney Josh Brockman-Weber advised council members he believes all future financial "obligations would be on the developer” and the city could not be held liable for any property value grievance.
The council agreed to hold another hearing on the issue during its Aug. 6 meeting.
Wildlife Feeding
Turning to other matters, council heard the first reading of a proposed amendment to a city ordinance to prohibit feeding wildlife within city limits, including public-owned streets and sidewalks, especially migratory ducks and geese who scavenge for food left or provided by friendly humans as they roam through Johnson Park.
Such well-intentioned but negative activity distracts wild fowls from following their natural flying, hunting, mating, nesting and protective instincts, City Parks and Recreation Director Lacey Dingman told the council.
“It is not healthy,” said Dingman, intimating about the potential build up of excessive fowl excrement. “It is not good for the birds, and it is not good for the public.”
Warning signs to indicate violations of the ordinance – which could trigger a fine of $500 would be posted in city parks, she added.
The council agreed to hold a second reading of the ordinance during its Aug. 6 meeting.
Park Grant
As the meeting continued, the council authorized an application to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for a grant of $750,000 for improvements to Westside Park near Backbone Creek and the Avenue Q and Second Street intersection.
More than half of the $750,000 would be set aside to help support development of a new “all abilities” playground at Westside Park, Dingman said. “All abilities” is a phrase used to denote handicap access accommodations.
“Everybody would be welcome (to the park),” Marble Falls Inclusive Playgroup Vice President Ashley Crouse told the council. The group is a nonprofit organization comprised of parents who advocate for expanded access amenities for the disabled.
The new playground would benefit all patrons, including adults and children hindered by “mobility issues” who use canes, walkers or wheelchairs, she added.
“I think it is a phenomenal project,” Rhodes said. “It is a longtime coming.”
