City Manager David Blackburn said city staff members were still in the process of preparing a packet of information that would include details and maps of the annexation recommendations for the council members as of Wednesday. Until the packets are completed, specific information on the city areas that could be part of an agenda item related to city-initiated annexation would not be available, he said.
“My expectation is that we will have the recommendations prepared by meeting time for the council to consider,” Blackburn said.
The council will also consider issues regarding voluntary annexation requests coming from owners of three tracts in the southern section of the city’s ETJ, located in the vicinity of Witter Lane and Forrester Road near State Highway 93.
The properties include a Central Texas Christian School tract totaling 39.2 acres. Two other tracts were identified as the H.A. Johnson Tract (22.3 acres) and the VB Connected LTD tract (44.5 acres), and are located in the same area as the Christian school tract, according to the city’s planning department.
Blackburn said he could not comment on whether the city-initiated annexation plans involve the same general areas as the areas up for voluntary annexation.
He said if the council approves the recommendations regarding annexation, the timeline from council approval tonight to possible annexation could be about 60 days.
“If the council accepts the initial recommendation, which is to begin to study certain areas of annexation, that process would start the following day,” he said.
Blackburn said a new state law would require that the city offer those in the area being studied for possible annexation who have timber, agricultural or wildlife exemptions be offered a development agreement.
“If a property meets exemptions, they (the landowners) have the opportunity to sign that agreement, and their tract would not be subject to annexation,” Blackburn said. He added the agreement would not be permanent, but would effective for an as yet undetermined amount of time.
He said the city legal department is currently working on agreements, which he anticipates would also be ready in time for the meeting.
Part of the process would involve developing municipal services plans for the areas subject to city-initiate and voluntary annexation.
Prior to the meeting the council will discuss the city building codes and sign ordinances during a 3 p.m. workshop.
rstinson@temple-telegram.com
