COUPLAND CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 23RD, 2024, 6:00 PM 410 FM 1466 COUPLAND, TEXAS 78615  CALL REGULAR MEETING TO ORDER AND DECLARE A QUORUM members except alderman Wells Mason were in attendance.  Mayor Schmidt called the meeting to order at approximately 6:02pm and declared a quorum. All REVIEW AND APPROVE MINUTES OF PREVIOUSLY HELD COUNCIL MEETING. Once all council members were given the chance to review the previously held meeting minutes, Alderwoman Morosko moved to accept the minutes from December 2023. All members  voted in favor and the minutes were approved. FINANCIAL REPORT BY ACCOUNTANT TERRI ROSE.  Accountant Terri Rose was in attendance for the meeting and provided all council members with two packets: the 2023 Fiscal year (10/1 9/30), and End of Fiscal 2023 and 1st quarter of 2024. There was a discussion of a $9000 (estimation) transfer that should have been made at the end of 2023, and has not come out yet. There has been at transfer of the books from Quicken, to Aside from the awaiting transfer, there was not anything out of the ordinary. Terri Rose gave a breakdown of the packets, including the profit &1 loss and breakdown of itemizations. There was also a discussion of hiring a CPA/external auditor to perform the city's annual audit for the years 2023, and 2024. There will need to be clarification on whether the audit is performed by We will also need to check with TML to see ift there is an issue with the current balance that the Cityi is holding, andi ifi it would potentially affect the ad valorem tax rate and need to lower it. CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS. (THE CITY COUNCIL WELCOMES PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA. HOWEVER, THE COUNCIL CANNOT RESPOND UNTIL THE ITEM IS POSTED ON A FUTURE MEETING AGENDA. CITIZENS WHO WISH TO SPEAK AT A COUNCIL MEETING MUST COMPLETE AN "APPEARANCE BEFORE CITY COUNCIL" FORM AT THE MEETING; THERE IS A THREE-MINUTE LIMIT." There was one citizen in attendance for the meeting, but no communications were desired. Due to an unforeseen financial issue, the Jimenez family are requesting an extension deadline of October 2024. Alderman John Roulston-Bates proposed ar motion to accept the new extension date on the. Jimenez property. Council member Piper seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous in agreement. The extension date of October, 2024 was approved.  Quickbooks, so the records are still being combed through.  calendar or fiscal year.  UPDATE ON. JIMENEZ PROPERTY.    DISCUSSION ABOUT PERMITTING SYSTEM.  Mayor Schmidt suggested creating a permitting system, or a clarification system, for citizens to submit all desired plans that they may have to the city first, and then be able tor receive a permit. There was also a discussion of creating a' "quick-guide" (similar to Taylor or Elgin) fort the subdivision ordinances sot that they become easier to understand/digest. There is caution that if we do that, we have to respond within 30 days, otherwise it becomes "approved". Alderman Roulston-Bates suggested that the City Engineer, Tony Prete, come and present both the current and future recommendations for replacing the ordinances.. The current recommendation from Mayor Schmidt is for citizens to submit all plans tot the city fort their The city secretary will begin researching a system fori individuals making requests for building, andy will look to other entities such as Taylor or Elgin for the permitting system. There was also mention of an addressing issue for the Stephens industrial estate, and an apartment building behind the gas station, both claiming to be 301 Hoxie. Council member  requests regarding Duiding/construction, etc.  Roulston-Bates willf follow up with the post office to clarify thei issue. DISCUSSION ABOUT ILLEGAL DUMPING ON CR4 458.  There has been an ongoing issue of illegal dumping ofr miscellaneous items (tires, roofing, etc.) which results int the city being charged for clean up. There was a discussion of purchasing a solar camera system (estimation of $375) that will be able to record, focus and span. There was as suggestion of mounting the camera on the' "No Thru Truck" sign. The camera system willl be coming out of the' "Road Maintenance" fund. Passed with unanimous consent.  ROAD MAINTENANCE IN THE CITY OF COUPLAND.  Discussion of rubber speed bumps and how they are no longer recommended by the City Engineer. The general consensus was that speed! bumps are not thei ideal solution due to them being a hindrance fort traffic, as well as emergency vehicles. The next solutions proposed for the speeding issue was to either place iluminated speed signs, or a 4-way stop sign at Hoxie & Mayor Schmidt will speak to Tony Prete to discuss the option of placing a four-way stop since it is both traffic calming and non-damaging to vehicles. After hearing from Prete, the council will  Broad and potentially at thei intersection of Austin & Hoxie.  place a vote to address the speedingi issue. COUPLAND ESD10 FIRE DEPARTMENT ACTIVITY.  Alderman Roulston-Bates gave the council a breakdown oft the Fire department's calls for the year of 2023. The department intends on starting the recruitment process int the next 3 months,    for paid day shift workers. The department will still primarily be volunteer workers, but will include 3-person crews stationed between Coupland and Thrall, in a fast response vehicle. The Fire Department willl be doing their chili supper again this year for the community. They are also presenting at the statewide conference for Emergency Service Districts next month in Dallas. They willl be presenting on effectively growing from a volunteer fire department toa  traditional ESD, andy working with & fort the community.  COUPLAND CITIZENSIEVENTSIANTSANNOUNCEMENISIRECOGNIION  CCO will be havingi its monthly meeting on January 29th, 2024 and will be serving chili and cornbread. They will be giving a state of the city, and state of the CCO. The Fire department, the Superintendent, along with Mayor Schmidt willl be there, and are encouraging the community to Ity was also discussed thatt the Texas Municipal League said that the city of Coupland can contract with a city that joins our ETJto do inspections. The city attorney will bel looking into this There was a proposal to have the sewer board come and update the city council on what they THE NEXT COUPLAND CITY COUNCIL MEETING WILL BEI FEBRUARY 20TH, 2024.  come and participate.  to give us clarification.  are doing, and what their future plans are, so that we can be informed.  The meeting was adjourned.  Ldke  Rachel  City Secretary  Russell Schmidt, Mayor  AH