The Fulshear City Council will meet in joint session tonight with the Fulshear Planning Commission to set goals for the city for the remainder of the year.
The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the Irene Stern Community Center, 6920 Katy-Fulshear Rd.
The lengthy agenda includes such discussion items as city staffing, infrastructure, the master plan, parks, development and the emergency operations plan.
Councilman Derek Einkauf proposed the joint session during the council’s January meeting, saying a coordinated effort was needed to ensure the city adequately meets the needs of its growing population.
He said he had hoped to schedule such a meeting last year, but those plans never came to fruition.
“This is something I pushed very hard for last year, and time just got away from us,” Einkauf said. “Without proper planning, things are left undone. This will also give developers and citizens more transparency on what the city wants to do.”
Councilman Stephen Gill agreed the planning session was needed, and recommended city department heads also play a key role.
“I think we should ask the department heads to give us some ideas of things to be discussed,” Gill said.
“No question,” Einkauf agreed, saying both department heads and area developers should be invited to participate.
“This way we can come out with a list of goals and things we want to accomplish this year,” he added.
Among the items listed for discussion under city staffing are hiring a city manager, re-posting the Director of Public Works position and continuing with the hiring process, the police department and the treasury and administration functions of the city.
Under infrastructure, a host of projects are scheduled for discussion. They include:
- Expediting the water/waste system extension east on FM 1093.
- Evaluating and proposing improvements to existing water wells and sewage treatment plant.
- Identifying key road improvement projects to focus on throughout the calendar year.
- Moving the waste and water treatment plant.
- Tie-in of all water systems, including Trendmaker.
- Extend water and sewer north on FM 359 toward Brookshire.
- Extending water down Bois D’ Arc.
- Purchasing land to extend Wallis Street to FM 359 and FM 1093.
- Widening city streets, extending Harris and Front Street to FM 359.
- Preparing a master drainage study for the city and its extraterritorial jurisdiction.
- Finalizing preferred design for FM 1093 between Cross Creek Ranch and Main Street, including how many lanes, location of rail line, esplanade and landscaping.
- Realignment of FM 1093 in downtown Fulshear.
- Review of downtown parking options and implementation of a parking plan.
During the discussion of the city’s master plan, the council and planning commission will take up another lengthy list of issues. They include:
- Management control zoning.
- Expansion of the Westpark Toll Road into the Fulshear area.
- Ordinances preserving the “old town” area.
- A major thoroughfare plan.
- Creating a trail system.
- Determining the most effective way to effectively communication with Fulshear residents.
- Undertaking a study to determine if Fulshear Lake could be turned into a passive amenity for the city.
- Enforcement of the sign ordinance and possible amendments to that policy.
- Ordinances.
- Online ordinances.
- Enforcement of vendors selling along the right-of-way.
- Enforcing the sign ordinance and amending it where necessary.
- Architectural restrictions.
- Permits.
- Platting Process.
- Street weight restrictions
The discussion of Fulshear’s parks will include identifying a possible location for a regional park, obtaining land for a regional park and beautification issues.
Development issues on tap for review include:
- Having each department head develop a list of priorities and goals for 2010 to be reviewed and revised by the mayor and council or city manager in the future.
- City planning
- Discussion of the possible implementation of city council districts.
- Development of a plan to improve pedestrian and bicycle mobility within and around Fulshear.
- Development of City of Fulshear illuminated street sign design, incorporating the city logo, on major thoroughfares such as FM 1093 and FM 359 when new construction of signals occurs. Another option for discussion would be developing a unique non-illuminated sign design for use on signals and side streets.
- Securing additional parking space at the community center.
The last item on the lengthy agenda will be developing a comprehensive, updated emergency operations plan consistent with the rest of Fort Bend County.
Tonight’s meeting is open to the public.
