The Ledger

Fate City Council Special Meeting - Strategic Planning Workshop - February 27, 2023

Fate Gazette

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The Fate Gazette — Ledger Entry

City Council Meeting

Special City Council Meeting – Strategic Planning Workshop
Date: February 27, 2023
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 7:48 p.m.
Location: Fate City Hall, 1900 CD Boren Parkway, Fate, Texas

Call to Order and Quorum

  • Mayor David Billings called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
  • City Secretary Victoria Raduechel confirmed a quorum.

Council Members Present:

  • David Billings, Mayor
  • Heather Buegeler
  • John Brandt, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem
  • Scott Kelley
  • Allen Robbins, Mayor Pro Tem
  • Jim DeLand
  • Lance Megyesi

Council Members Absent:

  • None

City Staff Present:

  • Michael Kovacs, City Manager
  • Justin Weiss, Assistant City Manager
  • Jon Thatcher, City Attorney
  • Victoria Raduechel, City Secretary
  • Spencer Foster, Assistant to the City Manager
  • Shelbi Stofer, Public Engagement Coordinator
  • Lyle Lombard, Director of Public Safety
  • Ryan Wells, Director of Planning and Development Services
  • Steve Gilbert, Director of Community Services and Building Safety
  • Scott Monaghan, Director of Public Works
  • Raju Anthony, Director of Finance
  • Teresa Stevens, Accounting Manager
  • Leigh Corson, Director of Human Resources
  • Suzy Lawrence, Community and Economic Development Manager
  • Michael Wright, IT Manager

Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

  • Michael Wright, IT Manager, gave the invocation.
  • The Council led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American and Texas Flags.

Public Comment

  • No speakers were present.

Strategic Planning Workshop

A. Good Governance Presentation

  • Hilary Shine, Leadership Development Coordinator with Strategic Government Resources (SGR), delivered a presentation on good governance.
  • Topics presented included:
    • Purpose and vision setting
    • Effective elected officials
    • Governance challenges
    • Leadership strategies
    • Trust-based leadership
    • Dealing with critics
    • Public trust in government and media
    • Degrees of impact
    • Prioritization of issues
  • Ms. Shine answered questions from the Council.

B. Celebration of Accomplishments

City Council List of Accomplishments (from pre-interviews):

  • Budget process
  • Day-to-day operations
  • Team performance
  • Commercial development
  • Road bond projects
  • Fate Department of Public Safety
  • Grant funding efforts
  • Parks
  • Responsible infrastructure expansion
  • Council discussion followed regarding accomplishments and continuous improvement.

Staff List of Accomplishments (reviewed by Ms. Shine and explained by the City Manager):

  • Completion of the Comprehensive Plan and Unified Development Code update
  • Updated Parks Master Plan
  • Increased communications efforts, including the website
  • Implementation of compensation and classification study recommendations
  • New economic development agreements
  • Addition of DPS positions
  • Recognition as the #8 Safest City
  • Development phases at Fate Station Park and Joe Burger Park
  • Infrastructure maintenance and improvements

C. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats Assessment

  • Ms. Shine reported results from pre-interviews with Council Members.

Strengths Identified:

  • Community character
  • Fate DPS
  • Engaged Council
  • Fiscal focus
  • Land availability
  • Long-term planning
  • Low tax rate
  • Financial analysis systems
  • Innovative planning approaches
  • Use of citizen surveys

Weaknesses Identified:

  • Project coordination and timing
  • Reliance on single-family permits
  • Project execution
  • Limited commercial tax base
  • Engagement levels
  • Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) and Public Improvement Districts (PIDs)
  • Roads and parking
  • School traffic issues
  • Government process speed
  • Staffing challenges

Opportunities Identified:

  • Improved execution
  • Economic development planning
  • City visibility
  • Innovation
  • Organizational culture
  • Reduction of red tape
  • Smart and responsible development

Threats Identified:

  • State-level influences
  • Development quality
  • Debt capacity
  • Disaster preparedness
  • Retail diversity
  • Politicization
  • Tax burden on residents
  • Discussion occurred among Council, staff, and Ms. Shine.

D. Trend Report

  • Assistant City Manager Justin Weiss presented information on current trends, including:
    • Population data for 2000, 2010, 2020, and estimates for 2022 and 2023
    • Single-family permit data from FY2020 to present
    • Remaining single-family lots and projected permit revenue timelines
    • General Fund sales tax collections using 12- and 36-month moving averages
    • Projected staffing levels per 1,000 population under alternative growth scenarios
  • City Manager Michael Kovacs reported:
    • Sales tax revenue trends were positive.
    • Permit revenue was declining faster than expected.
    • Discussion included economic uncertainty and potential city responses.
  • Ms. Shine outlined next steps:
    • Next meeting scheduled for March 27, 2023
    • Follow-up from the first session
    • Review and potential revision of strategic pillars
    • Establishment of goals for the upcoming budget and future periods

Adjournment

  • Council Member Allen Robbins moved to adjourn.
  • Council Member Scott Kelley seconded the motion.
  • Vote: Unanimous approval.
  • Meeting adjourned at 7:48 p.m.

Approval

  • Approved by the City Council on April 3, 2023.
  • Attested by City Secretary Victoria Raduechel.
  • Approved by Mayor David Billings.

Record Note
This Ledger entry records the publicly observable proceedings of the meeting listed above. It does not offer analysis or commentary.

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