Hester Rhodes moved a step closer to developing Rhodes Estates Monday night, but not before leveling a few complaints about the progress of her residential development project.

Tuesday, December 07, 1999

Hester Rhodes moved a step closer to developing Rhodes Estates Monday night, but not before leveling a few complaints about the progress of her residential development project.

Rhodes, 1501 17th St. SW, saw council members give unanimous approval to the final plat for Rhodes Estates.

According to Craig Hoium, city planning and zoning administrator, the land consists of 4.15 acres that will be developed into 10 single-family residential lots.

The southwest Austin project received the Austin Planning Commission’s recommendation for approval, but the city’s request that parkland be dedicated by the developer delayed final approval until Monday night’s meeting.

Because only 0.8 acre would be available for development as a park, the city elected to accept a park dedication fee of $521.

Dennis Maschka, city Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department executive director, told Hoium the 0.8 acre of land would not be large enough for a park.

The developer agreed to pay the city $521, but Monday night she had other issues to raise.

Rhodes told council members she received a bill from the city for $147 after the city mowed the land.

She said a rural Austin farmer contracted with her to mow the grass and take the hay, and receiving a bill was wrong. "I really don’t think that’s right," she said.

Also, because the road into her development appears to be of the wrong elevation – in Rhodes’ opinion – she wants the city to provide her with fill dirt.

Also, she said contractors left ruts in her yard and she wants that repaired.

Mayor Bonnie Rietz directed Assistant City Engineer Dan Fick to meet with Rhodes this week and resolve the issues around the proposed residential development.

There were no objections to the proposed final plat and Dick Lang, Third Ward council member, made the motion to approve the final plat and Gloria Nordin, Third Ward council member, seconded it. All seven council members voted in favor of the plat.

In other action Monday night, the council:

– Approved cancellation of $1.37 million ad valorem tax levies for certain Tax Increment Financing and Austin Pork Authority projects. According to Tom Dankert, director of finance, the action is a formality and the city’s notice that citizens are not being taxed for the TIF or Port Authority projects. Jeanne Poppe, Second Ward, made the motion to approve, and Dick Chaffee, At Large, seconded it. The motion was approved by a 7-0 vote.

– Adopted the eighth consecutive "as-is" property tax levy in the amount of $2.16 million for 2000. Poppe, Second Ward and chair of the finance committee, praised Dankert’s presentation at last Monday’s Truth In Taxation hearing in sharing levy and budget information. "As a citizen, I am extremely pleased and as a council member, I am enormously proud," Poppe said of the city’s ability to hold the line on the property tax levy. Motion to approve by Poppe, second by Neil Fedson. Approved by a 7-0 vote.

– Adopted a 2000 city budget in the amount of $20.27 million. Chaffee praised Poppe’s leadership on financial matters that began last May and culminated with last Monday’s TNT hearing. Motion to approve by Poppe and second by Chaffee. Approved by a 7-0 vote.

– Delayed action on street vacation in Sterling Place 4th Addition until the Dec. 20 meeting.

– Approved a recommendation by City Administrator Patrick McGarvey to deed property in Northeast Industrial Park, the Packers Engineering and Equipment Co. Inc. property, from a 1995 economic development project from the city to the Austin Port Authority. The 4.24-acre lot is located at 2003 14th St. NE. The Port Authority built the speculation building in 1995. Now, Carter Wagner is seeking the property to relocate The Joseph Co. from its present location at 18th Avenue NW. The sale of the property, including the existing building, is for $630,000, according to McGarvey’s memo to council members and the mayor. Motion to approve by Chaffee, seconded by Lang. Approved 7-0.

– Approved an orderly annexation request from Michael and Elaine Wagner, 2106 18th Ave. SW. According to planning and zoning administrator Hoium, the Wagners own about 0.87 acre of land they want the city to annex. The Austin Township and Minnesota Municipal Boards each have approved the proposed annexation. No objections were heard. Motion to approve by Todd Penske, Second Ward, and seconded by Poppe. Approved 7-0.

– Approved a request for subdivision of property from Betty Srock of Crosby and David Buxton, 819 Second Ave. NE. The petitioners desire to develop two single-family residential lots into four such lots. Motion to approve by Lang, seconded by Nordin, Approved 7-0.

– Approved request from city planning and zoning administrator to have garbage removed at 706 Ninth Ave. NE. According to Hoium, the city has received "numerous complaints in the last two weeks" and conversations with the property owner, Dale M. Greenlee, have resulted in only "minimal improvements." Motion to approve request by Lang, seconded by Fedson. Approved 7-0.