CWS reviews RV park ordinance, VFD contract
Contributed
Brigitte Thomas, left, is sworn in as City of Cottonwood Shores Place 2 City Council Member, by Municipal Judge Don Adams. Thomas was unopposed in the May 6 election and was sworn in June 15.
CUT:
Brigitte Thomas, left, is sworn in as City of Cottonwood Shores Place 2 City Council Member, by Municipal Judge Don Adams. Thomas was unopposed in the May 6 election and was sworn in June 15.
By Glynis Crawford Smith
The Highlander
The Cottonwood Shores City Council on June 15 reviewed two items citizens are likely to see again on the agenda of the meeting to follow their July 6 budget workshop—an ordinance to regulate campgrounds and a finalized contract with the Cottonwood Shores Volunteer Fire Department.
Ordinance 14021 on the table is designed to facilitate development of recreational vehicle parks (RV parks) and permanent camping sites (PC sites) and to minimize possible impacts of their addition to the city.
Although Mayor Donald Orr said no such sites are now proposed, the ordinance would be in place, prohibiting permanent residence and outlining development requirements. a recreational vehicle park and/or permanent camping site could only be developed in areas within the city limits zoned as Light Commercial (C1), Heavy Commercial (C-2) or Planned Unit Development (PUD), he said.
As proposed, new development would require a minimum size of three acres, with a maximum of seven acres. The maximum site density for RV Parks or PC Sites would be 15 sites per acre.
The rest of the council agreed with the suggestion by Council Member Cheri Trinidad for a $1,000 license fee, with an additional $65 per space that could account for the impact of services as a facility grew.
The council hit only one stumbling block in approving and new $30,000 annual contract with the Cottonwood Shores Volunteer Fire Department (CWSVFD). John Marr, representing the VFD, said the contract was acceptable to to department, but the council asked to remove a requirement that the city have a water truck on standby.
The existing truck is out of commission and even a presentation at the meeting by former council member Mary Ann Plumley concerning reduced-cost vehicle repairs from Texas Correctional Industries left council members doubtful they could have one in service quickly.
In May the council approved purchase of three used utility trucks and Police Chief Gregory Palmer told the council it was past time to replace patrol vehicles.
“The fire department met some extreme goals last year,” praised Trinidad, an assessment shared by Mayor Pro Tem Stephen Sherry, who serves as liaison with the department.
“We have five people going for training in July,” said Marr.
The council did adopt a personnel policy regarding conflicts of interest.
“This has come up in discussion of a development because we have an employee who is part of that development,” said Orr. “We can't tell employees they can't invest in something or do something after hours. But, we can say what they can and can't do while working for the city.
“Perception is all there is. We will not allow employees to do any work on anything they have an investment in.”
Participating in the meeting was Brigitte Thomas, who was sworn in at the opening meeting as a new Place 2 City Council Member by Municipal Judge Don Adams. Thomas was unopposed in the May 6 election, but was absent when Mayor Orr and new Place 4 Council Member Stephen Alexander took their oaths of office.
