Fair Oaks Ranch moves ahead with early July

4th party

FAIR OAKS RANCH — Approving a partnership with the Fair Oaks Ranch Homeowners Association to sponsor a July Fourth parade topped City Council’s Thursday meeting, as well as a debate about tree-cutting permits.

The council also approved an expenditure that will lead to slightly higher utility bills.

During the March 5 session, council members unanimously agreed to an expenditure of $3,800 with the HOA to fund various activities to observe the nation’s 250th birthday.

Kristin Swarek presented a proposal which included a parade starting on Robin Dale Drive down to Saratoga Lane on June 7, not July Fourth, to avoid a conflict with the city’s annual light-and-laser show.

Also planned June 7 is a walk/run marathon, a luncheon or breakfast for local veterans, a youth essay contest on patriotism, and a patriotic decoration contest for homes.

“This would be a fun way to get our community involved,” said Swarek, the wife of Councilman Jonathan Swarek. “Not just certain neighborhoods.”

The $3,800 will in part cover law-enforcement protection for the parade and marketing materials.

Meanwhile, after much discussion about a potential comprehensive plan for requiring residents to purchase a permit before cutting down a heritage tree, the council instead decided to focus on fixing loopholes for developers and single-plat properties.

During the session, City Planner Jessica Relucio and Aithne Loeblich, the city’s environmental project manager, noted neighboring cities such as Boerne required permits from their residents for removing the trees.

Fair Oaks Ranch does not.

Relucio and Loeblich presented a potential questionnaire that could be sent to residents for feedback, along with their opinions on incentives for maintaining and preserving heritage trees.

Councilwoman Emily Stroup advocated moving forward with a potential permitting requirement.

“I’ve been very vocal about supporting this,” Stroup said. “This aims to protect heritage trees.”

But Councilman Scott Parker dissented, citing government overreach on private properties. Mayor Greg Maxton agreed with Parker.

“This is an overextension of government,” Maxton said. “I don’t think it’s enforceable. For me right now, I don’t see the purpose of trying to limit cutting trees on your property.”

Stroup noted there were already restrictions on private property, including required permits for swimming pools and adding in driveways.

In other business, the council approved moving forward with Pesado Construction for the wastewater treatment plant project, an expenditure of $5.6 million – $1.56 million more than the original estimate.

Project manager Kelsey Delgado said the cost increase is attributed to estimates made years earlier and a formula error on a spreadsheet.

The expenditure will add an additional 45 cents to residents’ utility bills, the council heard.

Also, Jarrett Lee, a water operator for the Public Works Department, was named employee of the first quarter, and Officer Allen Paz was praised for his 10 years with the Police Department.