ROCKWALL —
A day later than its usual Monday meeting, the Rockwall City Council met Sept. 6 for its last time before council member Mark Russo resigns.
Banner signs were again a hot topic, with the proposed sign ordinance allowing non-profit organizations to use banner signs on-premise failing by a vote of 3-4 with Mayor David White and councilmembers Dennis Lewis and Michelle Smith voting in favor.
“Over the last couple of years we have had a lot of conversation internally as a council and with staff dealing with banners and signage,” Mayor David Sweet said. “Folks have a certain opinion as far as outside signage is specifically with non-profit on-site advertising. I really don’t struggle too much with an organization using banners on their location for their specific events.”
Council has advised city staff to bring an amended form of the ordinance back to the council for a vote next meeting that will allow the non-profits to phase these banner signs out over time.
The council then appointed new members to the Youth Advisory Council; the council’s pet program to get students involved in their community. Among the new members are seniors Andrea Alvarez and Trevor Reichardt as well as juniors Sharon Maguire and CJ Chidozie.
“I’m pretty excited about this group of kids,” Mayor David Sweet said. “I have heard nothing but good things about them.”
The meeting held a public hearing for residents to voice their concerns with the city’s budget for the fiscal year 2012. The council will make the final vote on the budget at the Sept. 17 council meeting. Currently the budget is expected to reduce the tax rate to 50.25 cents.
Approved in the consent agenda was $136,801 for two items related to the Corporate Crossing Improvement project with the funds coming from the 2005 bond funds. These items will allow the city to enter into contracts that utilize engineering and studies as well as working with utility companies to move lines and purchase right-of-ways. The project will widen FM 549 between I-30 and FM 276 from two lanes to four.
The council will be interviewing all 33 candidates who applied for the council position being vacated by Mark Russo. The interviews will take place Sept. 10 and the council hopes to make a decision by that night.
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City council nixes banners for non-profits
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