TOWN STAFF REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS
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Discuss, consider and act regarding Resolution 25-11 appointing a Capital Improvement Advisory Committee for the purposes of advising the Town Council on the adoption of Impact Fees for Water, Wastewater and Roadway Facilities under Chapter 395 of the Texas Local Government Code and declaring an effective date (Cheryl Taylor, P.E., Director of Public Works)
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STAFF: Cheryl Taylor, P.E., Director of Public Works
BACKGROUND:
Chapter 395 of the Local Government Code requires the appointment of a Capital Improvement Advisory Committee (CIAC) to review land use assumptions and the Capital Improvement Plan proposed for the adoption of impact fees. If adopted, the CIAC’s role will expand to include monitoring and evaluating the implementation of impact fees.
DISCUSSION:
As a rapidly growing community, the Town of Westlake has an opportunity to consider the implementation of water, wastewater and roadway impact fees that will allow for development to participate in the cost of necessary future improvements to serve the community. An impact fee is a charge or assessment on new development that generates revenue for funding or recouping the costs of capital improvements or facility expansions attributable to new development. It is a tool that can be used to recoup, from property developers, some of the costs that new development places on City infrastructure. Impact fees ensure that those who place additional demand on the roadway, water, and wastewater systems help pay the costs required to meet that demand.
Chapter 395 of the Texas Local Government Code requires the appointment of a capital improvement advisory committee. The committee shall consist of no less than five (5) members of which not less than forty percent (40%) must be representatives of the real estate, development, or building industries who are not employees or officials of a political subdivision or governmental entity. The Planning and Zoning Commission “may act as the advisory committee if the commission includes at least one representative of the real estate, development, or building industry who is not an employee of official of a political subdivision or governmental entity. If no such representative is a member of the planning and zoning commission, the commission may still act as the advisory committee if at least one such representative is appointment by the political subdivision as an ad hod voting member of the planning and zoning commission when it aces as the advisory committee.”
The role of the advisory committee is to serve in an active capacity and is established to:
1. Advise and assist the Town Council in adopting land use assumptions;
2. Review the capital improvement plan (CIP) and file written comments;
3. Monitor and evaluate implementation of the CIP;
4. File semiannual reports with respect to the progress of the CIP and report to the Town Council any perceived inequities in implementing the plan or imposing the impact fee; and
5. Advise the Town Council of the need to update or revise the land use assumptions, CIP, and impact fee.
Project kickoff for the impact fee study was in January 2025 with nine (9) months anticipated for completion. Consideration of adoption of impact fees shall be by the end of the calendar year.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact for the appointment of the Capital Improvement Advisory Committee.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of Resolution 25-11 appointing a Capital Improvement Advisory Committee for the purposes of advising the Town Council on the adoption of Impact Fees for Water, Wastewater and Roadway Facilities under Chapter 395 of the Texas Local Government Code and declaring an effective date.
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Resolution 25-11
TOWN COUNCIL ACTION/OPTIONS:
1) Motion to approve
2) Motion to amend with the following stipulations (please state stipulations in motion)
3) Motion to table
4) Motion to deny