2018-032 Attachment-Comprehensive Plan Update

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SECTION 14: MUNICIPAL SERVICES AND NATURAL FEATURES Natural Features & Drainage The city completed a master plan for drainage improvements in 2008; however, those needed improvements were never funded, and the city's old system has continued to deteriorate. In addition, in many cases, basic planning and development principles were not followed. Specifically, increased outflows caused by the development of properties were frequently not accounted for, floodplain areas were allowed to be filled in, finish grades of completed structures were not monitored resulting in flooding of homes that were built too low, and downhill properties were often allowed to be negatively impacted by uphill development. From 2015-17, the city spent $1,840,000 in clearing and cleaning creek ways, culverts, ditches, and other drainage facilities. Also in 2017 the city paid for a study of the 21St NE to 26t" SE/Culbertson/Simpson drainage area, but required improvements were cost prohibitive. The city now requires finished elevations to be measured and certified to ensure run-off created by one developed site does to cause issues for other developed sites. In 2018 the city created a full-time drainage crew for the first time in over a decade, and also wrote and began implementing a drainage maintenance plan and map (Attachment Q. Water Utility System Significant improvements amounting to a total replacement need to occur to the very dated wastewater treatment plant, though the city is at present managing the situation adequately by funding and building improvements piecemeal. The city is also performing major capital projects at the water treatment plant at greatly reduced costs by utilizing in-house forces. A headworks project is scheduled to be completed in 2018 at the WWTP, which should improve the productivity and reliability of the old wastewater plant. In addition, improvements to the southeast lift station will eliminate three lift stations, significantly decreasing downtime and costs. A belt press filter will decrease dependency on private property for spreading residuals at the WWTP. Municipal Code Enforcement The city revised its ordinance regarding property violations so that cases are heard by the Building Standards Commission instead of being appealable to the county judge, and remediation work can now occur much faster. The city also implemented changes to the city's tax delinquent property management program, providing for private sales of seized/foreclosed lots. The city is working with various for-profit and non-profit organizations to try to create more affordable housing. New municipal court process changes are also being implemented. Cox Field In 2017-18 a new hangar was built at Cox Field at a cost of $1.1 million, utilizing a combination of local and federal funds administered by TXDOT Aviation. Both airport ground and hangar leases were standardized and codified. Land was sold to Ag -Pro for expansion. A utilities plan and route were drafted in order to speed the development of wet utilities to serve the airport should significant development occur there. A planned development zoning district (PD) was developed to manage and 32