City of Marble Falls Texas news

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The Marble Falls City Council meeting Tuesday, April 17, was the scene of a big announcement about the Children's Day Celebration.

Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) employees are rolling up their sleeves to work side by side with 30 communities to make life better for their citizens in the 4th Annual Steps Forward Day on Friday, April 6.

In Marble Falls, Steps Forward serves as the kick-off day for the city wide 2-18 Keep Marble Falls Beautiful Spring Clean Up event.

LCRA employees will help with clean up of the Marble Falls Historic Cemetery at 400 Avenue S, the back nine of the Westside Park Disc Golf Course and the nearby neighborhoods between Avenue N and Industrial Boulevard. Specifically, that means picking up litter from Avenue N, from Ranch to Market Road 1431 to Second Street, Second Street from Avenue N to Industrial, Industrial from Second Street to RM 1431, and RM 1431 from Industrial to Avenue N.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Following a lengthy presentation on the city's first foray into a Public Improvement District (PID), the Marble Falls City Council approved moving forward on the request for PID for the Gregg Ranch Development.

The development of 242 acres of land bounded both by US 281 and Texas 71 has been long in planning and a year ago the developer, Harvard Investments, submitted the request to follow the PID model for financing. The council's action provides for a March 20 public hearing for public comment on the petition and creation of the district.

Rick Rosenberg of Development Planning & Financial Group, Inc., who guided the council through a workshop on the proposal, praised the work of the city to establish its formal PID Policy adopted in 2015.

“It is very detailed,” he said.

It transfers the cost of infrastructure development to the property owners of the development.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

As Marble Falls moves along a path to annex new property south of current city limits, it may have to negotiate extraterritorial jurisdiction territory with Round Mountain.

The Marble Falls City Council held public hearings on the annexation of 1,290 acres of land on Oct. 24 and Oct. 30 and it was at that second meeting that considerations about Round Mountain came to the agenda. This Tuesday night, Nov. 7, a second executive session will look at the boundaries of their most southerly neighbor.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Public hearings Tuesday, Aug. 15, unveiled a final proposed budget based on a tax rate slightly lower than the effective rate and including proposed utility fee increases lower than anticipated for Fiscal Year 2017-2018 in the City of Marble Falls.

Finance Director Margie Cardenas presented a budget for programs and services of $32 million with general fund expenditures of $10.404 million.

According to the council decision Aug. 1, Cardenas and her staff based the budget on an ad valorem tax rate of .6340, or 63.4 cents per $100,000, lower than the current rate of .6483. Nonetheless, the rate will apply to a certified tax valuation that has risen about eight percent to $726 million for an increase.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The Marble Falls City Council on Tuesday, June 20, approved a five-year extension of the solid waste and recycling contract with Republic Services that included good news for Marble Falls customers, especially those in the commercial category.

“Under the terms negotiated between the city and Republic, once per week residential service will continue at the same cost ($16.52 per month) for two years of this five-year agreement,” said Margie Cardenas, city finance director.. “Future price adjustments of three percent could be petitioned in the final three years of the contract with council approval.”

Recycling services will continue at the $3.30 per month cost, to include a 95-gallon bin pick up every other week, as opposed to the current 18-gallon, once-per-week pick up. Customers will be able to add a second container at no cost.

“Commercial trash pick up is the big news,” said Cardenas.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

As some candidates prepare to go to voters May 6, the candidate for Place 4 on the Marble Falls City Council will apply directly.

Until May 8, City Secretary Christina McDonald is accepting applications for appointment to the place that drew no candidates for the 2017 General Election.

Mayor John Packer filed for re-election, but no other incumbent asked to return. Only two citizens filed for three seats up for election this spring.

David Rhodes will assume Place 2, now held by Mayor Pro Tem Jane Marie Hurst, and Megan Klaeger filed for Place 6, now held by Council Member Ryan Nash. No one filed for Place 4.

As a result, not election will be held and it falls to the city council to appoint the replacement for Council Member Rachel Austin-Cook, now serving in Place 4.

The successful candidate will serve until the May 2018 General Election.

An extra incentive to take pride in your annual spring cleaning will be offered again this year in Marble Falls.

The City of Marble Falls 2017 Spring Clean Up Event will be going on April 1-9 and the city is accepting nominations for the second, and now annual, Community Pride Award.

The city will display a sign at winners' property.

The Community Pride Award aims at encouraging residents and businesses to enhance the appearance of their hometown. This year, awards will be presented for both residential and commercial properties.

To participate in the contest, visit the city website, www.marblefallstx.gov, and complete the nomination form. Submitting pictures is strongly encouraged. 2017 Spring Clean Up dates and information are also available on the city website.

Citizens can take advantage in the Spring Clean Up in two ways—curbside pickup or bulk item drop off.

The City of Marble Falls has approved the first phase construction plans for Gregg Ranch, the 240-acre master-planned residential community under development at Texas 71 and US 281 and the city's largest of its kind is poised for a start.

As part of the first phase, the developer, Harvard Investments, will fund water and waste water extensions for the development. The decision to seek annexation into Marble Falls rather than Round Mountain city limits was made in 2014 on the basis of the availability of its utility service.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The City of Marble Falls grew by almost 76 acres Tuesday night, Feb. 21, when the city council approved the final ordinance accepting the voluntary annexation of land south of Lake Marble Falls.

For now, the property owned by the Ellison Roper Corporation and previously used for wildlife management, will enter the city zoned agricultural. However, the stated goal is to apply for re-zoning at anew Planned Development District (PDD).

The property has been part of the citys extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) and part of a five-year development agreement for voluntary annexation when development was going to take place.

“Voluntary annexations do not count against the total annexation the city is allowed,” said Assistant City Manager Caleb Kraenzel.

The council approved two cooperative agreements to benefit the city.