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THE TIME IS 5:30 P.M. IT IS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH. I'M GOING TO CALL THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO ORDER. WOULD THE CITY SECRETARY PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? MITCHELL. HERE. HEIZER. HERE.
RIZZO. ZUNIGA. PRESENT. HARRIS. HERE. MCKINNEY. HERE. TOBIAS. PRESENT. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE SIX
[II) Citizen Comment Period with City Council]
MEMBERS PRESENT. WE HAVE A QUORUM. NEXT UP IS CITIZEN COMMENTS. PERIOD. AT THIS TIME, WE ASK ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK ON ANY ITEM TO PLEASE DO SO. WE ASK THAT YOU LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES, AND THAT YOU DIRECT THOSE COMMENTS TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL. WE ALSO ASK THAT YOU FILL OUT A CITIZEN COMMENTS FORM AND SUBMIT THAT TO EITHER MYSELF OR THE CITY SECRETARY. I HAVE THREE REGISTERED TO SPEAK. FIRST UP, MOSES LEOZ. GOOD EVENING. COUNCIL AND MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M MOSES LEOZ AND I'M A RESIDENT HERE. 268 WESTERN DRIVE. AND TODAY I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE UPCOMING EXECUTIVE SESSION. ITEM ONE BE PERTAINING TO THE PROPERTY AT 110 BY AROUND 110 WESTERN DRIVE.AND I WANT TO BEGIN BY JUST KIND OF STATING THIS. JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN DOESN'T ALWAYS MEAN THAT YOU SHOULD. WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING BIG DECISIONS IN LIFE, I FEEL LIKE THIS IDIOM SHOULD HAVE LARGER MEANING. FOR EXAMPLE, I DEFINITELY HAVE THE POWER TO BUY A 100 INCH TELEVISION FOR THE UPCOMING SUPER BOWL. BUT JUST BECAUSE I CAN DOESN'T MEAN I SHOULD. MOSTLY BECAUSE I COULD END UP BEING BROKE AT THE END OF THE MONTH AND POSSIBLY SLEEPING ON THE COUCH FOR MY BAD DECISION. WHICH BRINGS ME ALL TO THE PROPOSED VIBE TRAIL, A GRANDIOSE PROJECT THE CITY SAYS WILL IMPROVE CONNECTIVITY ACROSS TOWN AND DRAW ADDITIONAL TOURISM. BUT WHAT WORRIES ME AND SO MANY OF MY FELLOW NEIGHBORS, IS THE FEELING THAT KYLE MIGHT BE TRADING CONVENIENCE FOR SAFETY. SPECIFICALLY, WHEN IT COMES TO THE SPRING BRANCH PORTION OF THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT. CURRENTLY, THIS PART OF THE TRAIL IS SLATED TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED AS DRAINAGE EASEMENTS, AND PART OF THAT INCLUDES AN AREA BEHIND MY HOME WHICH SITS WELL WITHIN THE 100 YEAR FLOODPLAIN, IS ROUGHLY A 100FT AWAY FROM A SMALL CREEK, AND IS WHERE PART OF THE TRAIL IS SUPPOSED TO GO. MY NEIGHBORS AND MY FAMILY HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW TREACHEROUS THE RAPIDLY RUNNING RAINWATER RUNOFF CAN BE IN THIS DRAINAGE EASEMENT FOLLOWING A MAJOR STORM. THIS IS BUT ONE OF A FEW MAJOR ISSUES THAT OUR SILVERADO NEIGHBORS HAVE HARBORED ABOUT THIS PROJECT. GOLF CART TRAFFIC. POTENTIAL GOLF CART TRAFFIC.
ENVIRONMENTAL WORRIES, NOISE POLLUTION, ALL VALID ISSUES. BUT IT FEELS LIKE TIME AND AGAIN, THE CITY CONTINUES TO WANT TO PURSUE THEIR CURRENT COURSE OF ACTION. AND QUITE FRANKLY, IN MY OPINION, AND MAYBE IN MY PERSONAL IMPRESSION, IT JUST FEELS LIKE THE CITY IS MAINTAINING THIS IDEA THAT THIS TRAIL IS GOING TO BE BUILT COME HELL OR HIGH WATER. I HOPE IT DOESN'T COME TO THAT. I URGE YOU ALL TO PAUSE ON THIS LAND ACQUISITION, AND I IMPLORE YOU, UPON PUTTING THIS TRAIL AND TO IMPLORE YOU TO HOLD ON PUTTING THIS TRAIL WHERE IT'S CURRENTLY PROPOSED TO GO. AND I ALSO CALL UPON YOU TO MAYBE REALIZE THAT NOT EVERYTHING IN THIS TOWN NEEDS TO BE PAVED. BECAUSE WHEN THE HIGH WATER ARRIVES AND IT WILL IN OUR AREA, I CANNOT FOR THE LIFE OF ME THINK THAT OUR CITY COULD BE PUTTING ANYONE IN DANGER, ESPECIALLY THOSE OUT-OF-TOWNERS WHO MIGHT BE WANTING TO VISIT THIS PROPOSED TRAIL. GOD FORBID WE EXPERIENCE A TRAGEDY TAKING PLACE. NO ONE WANTS THAT. OF COURSE NO ONE WANTS THAT. BUT I REALLY DO HAVE TO ASK, IS THE CITY PREPARED TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE? SORRY? IS THE CITY PREPARED TO EXPLAIN TO ITS CITIZENRY HOW PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES, WALKING ON A TRAIL THEY KNEW WAS PLACED IN A DANGEROUS AREA? JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN BUILD A TRAIL ON THIS PROPERTY DOES NOT MEAN YOU SHOULD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MOSES. ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP IS TERRELL HENSLEY. OR TERRY.
SORRY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL WITH WHAT? MOSES HAD SAID. I I'VE, I'VE HAD IN MY BACKYARD. I'VE HAD TO RESCUE THREE PEOPLE OUT OF THE WATER. BUT THAT WAS BACK THERE. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT WE'RE ALSO WE'RE ADVISED THAT. SHOULD A GOLF CART, YOU KNOW, A KID PLAYING ON ONE OF THOSE MINI BIKES OR WHATEVER, IF WE GET HIT. IF OUR IF OUR GATE OR OUR FENCE LINE GETS HIT, WE'RE
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RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. WELL, WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT I DIDN'T VOTE ON, THAT I DIDN'T WANT AND. IT'S WHAT THE ANSWER WAS GIVEN TO ME WAS USE YOUR HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION. WELL, I DON'T WANT TO PAY OUT OF MY HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION, AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO IF THIS IS GOING ON TO BE BUILT, THEN, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND OWN THE RESPONSIBILITY. AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE PRICE OF WHAT IS BEING, WHAT IT'S BEING BOUGHT FOR IS. SO I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO SAY CHEAP, BUT SO UNREASONABLE AS FAR AS WHAT THEY'RE PLANNING ON, WHAT THEY PROPOSE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BUY IT FOR. AND WE HAD ASKED IF WE COULD, SINCE NOW THAT IT'S UP FOR SALE, WHY WEREN'T THE RESIDENTS ALLOWED TO PURCHASE THAT AREA OF THEIR BACKYARD AND CUT IT UP INTO, YOU KNOW, AND THEN WE'D HAVE TO MAINTAIN, YOU KNOW, CUT IT UP INTO PROPERTY LOTS AND WE WOULD HAVE TO MAINTAIN IT, KEEP IT CUT. I DO ANYWAY. I ALREADY CUT MY BACK, YOU KNOW, SO AND NOT TO MENTION WHAT'S BACK THERE IS UNBELIEVABLE. THE WILDLIFE, THE DEER. I'VE HAD A BULL IN MY BACKYARD. I'VE HAD A COW IN MY BACKYARD. I'VE HAD CHICKS. DEER, YOU KNOW, TO TWO OF HER BABIES. SO MANY PEOPLE DO ENJOY THAT AREA OUT THERE. YOU KNOW, WE DON'T MIND THE KIDS RIDING THEIR BIKES, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY JUST RUN, RIGHT? GO RIGHT THROUGH THE PATH OR BUT AT THE SAME TIME, A LOT OF THEM GET STUCK. AND IF WE DIDN'T HEAR HELP, HELP, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THOSE KIDS. WE HAD A PARENT THAT PULLED UP AND SHE WAS LIKE, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, DO YOU KNOW WHERE MY DAUGHTER IS? I SAID, NO, WE'VE GOT HER. NO, WE'VE WE'VE SAVED HER BECAUSE SHE WAS LOOKING FOR HER DOG. AND SO THAT AND THAT, THAT'S ALL I GUESS I CAN SAY AT THIS POINT. I COULD GO ON AND ON, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO PROVE A POINT HERE OF THE THINGS THAT GO ON. IN CASE YOU GUYS DIDN'T, YOU KNOW, KNOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS RAQUEL SALINAS. HI. GOOD EVENING. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M A HOMEOWNER IN THE SILVERADO NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL.MY HOUSE IS ONE OF THE HOUSES THAT WILL BE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE VIBE TRAIL THAT IS BEING PROPOSED. THE VIBE TRAIL IS SLATED TO BE BUILT ON A PIECE OF LAND THAT IS DESIGNATED AS A SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREA. ZONE A, AS YOU ALL KNOW, AND IT'S BEEN DESIGNATED THIS BY FEMA.
THE LAND IS ON A 100 YEAR FLOODPLAIN. AS MOSES MENTIONED, WHEN IT RAINS, WE HAVE HAD TO, LIKE TERRI SAID, SAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN STUCK OUT THERE IN THE MUD. AND WE'VE SEEN LOTS OF OTHER THINGS, YOU KNOW, KIDS KAYAKING OUT THERE WHEN THE WATER RISES AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THE WATER, THE RUNOFF ALREADY COMES PRETTY NEAR TO OUR FENCE LINE. IT'S ALREADY AT OUR FENCE LINE, AND I'VE LIVED IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD FOR OVER 20 YEARS, AND THE RUNOFF FROM THE RAIN IS GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO OUR HOMES DUE TO ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE BEING CONSTRUCTED, AND THERE IS LESS SOIL AND VEGETATION FOR SATURATION. THEREFORE MORE WATER ACCUMULATION. AS WE ALL KNOW THAT HAPPENS. BUILDING A 12 FOOT CONCRETE TRAIL BY OUR HOMES WILL ONLY WORSEN THE SITUATION AND INCREASE THE CHANCES OF OUR HOMES BECOMING FLOODED. THE SAFETY OF OUR NEIGHBORS IS BEING JEOPARDIZED FOR A RECREATIONAL PATHWAY. THERE IS A REASON WHY FEMA HAS REGULATIONS AROUND BUILDING ON A 100 YEAR FLOODPLAIN, AND WHY CENTEX ALSO HAD RESTRICTIONS ON THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF LAND, ALTHOUGH I SAW THAT THEY ARE SUDDENLY REMOVING THESE RESTRICTIONS AFTER BEING ASSURED THAT NOTHING WOULD BE BUILT ON THIS LAND. WHEN WE BOUGHT OUR HOME. IF ANYTHING, THE FLOODPLAIN HAS GOTTEN WORSE.
LIKE I SAID, WITH THE REMOVAL OF ALL THE SOIL AND VEGETATION AROUND OUR AREA. NOW THERE'S
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OTHER CONCERNS AS WELL. THE OTHER CONCERNS INCLUDE INCREASED TRAFFIC, WHICH IS ALREADY A PROBLEM IN SILVERADO, AND WE'VE HAD TO ACTUALLY CALL THE POLICE. AND WE'VE HAD WE'VE BEEN TOLD TO CALL THE POLICE BECAUSE OF THESE INCIDENTS WITH TRAFFIC, BUT ALSO INCREASED VAGRANCY, WHICH WE'VE ACTUALLY FOUND HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS OUT THERE IN THE PAST AND DISRUPTION TO THE WILDLIFE THAT CURRENTLY LIVES THERE. SOME OF THE WILDLIFE LIVING THERE ARE ACTUALLY FEDERALLY PROTECTED BIRDS. THERE ARE REGULATIONS PROTECTING THESE BIRDS AS WELL. SO PLEASE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION HOW THIS WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE RESIDENTS OF SILVERADO. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT THE LAYOUT OF THE LAND SO YOU CAN SEE FOR YOURSELVES HOW BUILDING A TRAIL ON DRAINAGE OR DETENTION EASEMENTS WILL CAUSE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS AND PLACE OUR NEIGHBORS IN HARM'S WAY. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND OUR HOA BOARD HAD PREVIOUSLY VOTED NO TO SELL THIS LAND AND SUDDENLY VOTED TO SELL IT WITHOUT THE INPUT OF ANY OF THE HOMEOWNERS THAT ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THIS. SO MY QUESTION TO YOU ALL IS WHO WILL BE ASSUMING RESPONSIBILITY WHEN THE NEW CONSTRUCTION OF THE VIBE TRAIL CAUSES MORE FLOODING AND DAMAGE TO OUR HOMES? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THOSE ARE ALL THE FORMS THAT I HAVE. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE, WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE CITIZEN
[III) Executive Session]
COMMENTS. CITIZEN COMMENTS IS NOW CLOSED. NEXT UP IS EXECUTIVE SESSION. THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS AGENDA ITEMS ONE A THROUGH G. PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS 551 ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. THE TIME IS 7:02 P.M. IT IS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH. I'M GOING TO CALL THIS REGULAR. ACTUALLY. I'M SORRY. I'M GOING TO BRING THIS CALL, THIS MEETING BACK TO ORDER. THERE WAS* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.