City council to discuss future community center construction at special meeting
By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press
The Copperas Cove city council will hold a special meeting on Monday, starting at 9 a.m. at the Police Department community room located at 302 E. Ave E.
The 11-item workshop agenda kicks off with a presentation and discussion of the 2015 citizens' survey results by city manager, Andrea Gardner.
The council will receive an update on the old city hall property at 507 S. Main St., and Gardner is seeking possible direction on the sale of that property by the city.
The city is also looking ahead to the construction of a new civic/community center and recreation center, to possibly be partly paid for using hotel occupancy tax funds along with 2017 certificates of obligation bonds to pay for the rest. Andrea Gardner is presenting the example of a 20,000-square-foot community center constructed by the city of Cleveland, Texas for $3.5 million. The current civic center would be turned into a recreation center. A possible location for the new construction would be on the east end of the city. Gardner is seeking direction and input from the council on this proposed project.
The Copperas Cove Economic Development Corporation's bylaws will be discussed, with the council being asked to provide direction to the EDC's board regarding amendments to the CCEDC bylaws. Specific items to be addressed in the bylaws include expenditure thresholds which would require council approval, monthly instead of quarterly financial reporting to the council, along with setting term limits for board members.
The use of Hotel Occupancy Tax funds is also on the agenda. The city's budget director, Ryan Haverlah, is seeking direction from the council for amending the city's HOT policy, as far as eligible activities are concerned. After the Aug. 11, 2015 city council meeting, the city manager started discussions with applicants applying for HOT funds, as well as with the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association (THLA), the Texas Department of Transportation, and the Governor's Office on Economic Development and Tourism.
The city manager will also give a presentation regarding the city's annexation processes and plan. She is seeking direction from the council regarding the path forward for annexation. The presentation will include the whys of annexation, along with the goals of annexation specific to Copperas Cove. It also includes information about Texas statutes regarding annexation.
Another discussion item is the possible development of a Code of Conduct for the Copperas Cove City Council as well as the city's advisory boards.
The council will also discuss possibly amending an ordinance that establishes procedures for applications, nomination and selection of city advisory boards, along with general provisions regarding members of those groups.
Also up for discussion is the city possibly participating in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), and also discussing future healthcare initiatives for emergency services in the city.
The city's new director of parks and recreation, Joe Brown, will round out the agenda by asking the council for direction on preparing, advertising and accepting Request for Proposals for concessions at the city's parks, the municipal golf course, and special events.
A time for public comment is also listed on the agenda.