[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6070337,"mediaKeyId","3051327-14b612db0a39b3acd991692497dd2a69","parentId",3051327,"title","Votes at a glance: council approves consent agenda, election ordinance and minor charter corrections","audioSeconds",129,"startMs",2534000,"endMs",2663000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3051327-14b612db0a39b3acd991692497dd2a69&start=2534&end=2663","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3051327-14b612db0a39b3acd991692497dd2a69/thumbnail_2534000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6070337/Fate/Rockwall-County/Texas/Votes-at-a-glance-council-approves-consent-agenda-election-ordinance-and-minor-charter-corrections","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6070337-db0b4bb3d86fffc918e97eeec8c7e586/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201127&Signature=U2x5Qbx50X8GvKahEju48-9fdfC-BQx3oBzgTLiYcSkZL5KAdKU05YTMS7ODB3IEDD0b3czbUmgdKe0Geav8Ey4KNRfpq7YxjzTClB7oln68Ue8vwDR8INaKQBL7rlrOZ3STzfccYeeRUQNHPRxcRafxY5aoxrc0CyNx4zQVuQgAfa71udSqKfnvBzTljeK7bZ9hjPDWRDKJVXg2F8M8gfo-9BSgYTnMJuasLndJ3K31JLrUBMYOv0ICZ7faK94A50Hw4KW9SH9nr~HlZMxkheQcXXdPigDZVFVrJ5ywtByGlb-JYcIGLnONREEBt3vpGOAsEruq987yPbfWDlXp1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","CityOfFate","date","2025-02-03T00:00:00Z","article","At its Feb. 3 meeting the Fate City Council approved several routine items by unanimous votes.

Consent agenda: Council approved the consent agenda by voice vote with a recorded result of 7-0.

Ordinance 2025-006 (election notice): Council passed Ordinance 2025-006 ordering and providing notice of a joint general and special election to be held May 3, 2025. The ordinance captures council direction from a prior meeting concerning proposed charter amendment language. Council voted 7-0 to adopt the ordinance.

Ordinance 2025-007 (charter corrections): Council passed Ordinance 2025-007 to correct three minor errors in the city charter prior to the election; the council voted 7-0 to approve the corrections. City staff said the ordinance includes only minor technical corrections and that no substantive charter policy changes were included.

Each of the three items passed without further amendment or extended debate and will be recorded in the minutes and implemented according to city procedures.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Fate - City Council Meeting - February 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council approved the consent agenda and three ordinances/resolutions by unanimous votes; no substantive debate accompanied two of the items.","taxTitle","Fate, Rockwall County, Texas","taxId",69589,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6070342,"Council appoints Cynthia Ferris to Fayette Municipal Development District No. 1 to complete term through July 2025",134,1342000,1476000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3051327-14b612db0a39b3acd991692497dd2a69&start=1342&end=1476","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3051327-14b612db0a39b3acd991692497dd2a69/thumbnail_1342000.jpg","/articles/6070342/Fate/Rockwall-County/Texas/Council-appoints-Cynthia-Ferris-to-Fayette-Municipal-Development-District-No-1-to-complete-term-through-July-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6070342-10ac7b6f3455ca22b7ca423864ee9bc3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201127&Signature=Kz9lrZtYgGVxlMhxkZqg2RQutp4py1d58-5IGihRNOX0c2eykBeWCIT6HcJVilcsvG7K1-UXCwMHfZsgP44TQuXuDJY5RLQYoI4XcJnnSlUShrdA1i9cONemF05kvj-qwucbZsUG53s26UTpu7WxGjOOfVTUZ4ozzvUrtPxuT5b2-pKqm38NCqkAbhKepuXkDBcWHlkiKWXvIO9mB8Wg0r1bklA8byWAuqhaC~eKJZCMD5GCuBEay~v5EalOuDcmX7bz~zw35~8AIskxv5YEgVMH1ICLzmCXlEJRW~tOehQ8uIlBfPbqN7LaR1KT6PYQmzAn3gyGJeeFDkZB8l66fQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fate City Council on Feb. 3 appointed Cynthia Ferris to the Fayette Municipal Development District No. 1 board to serve the remainder of an unexpired term ending July 2025. The council voted 7-0 to approve the resolution appointing Ferris.

Council considered two nominees for the vacancy — Cynthia Ferris and Willie Rushing — after a nomination process during the meeting. Members raised that the city could appoint up to two council members to the MDD board but said the council had not advertised that option. Following a voice/hand count, Ferris received the most votes among council members and the council then moved to adopt a resolution to finalize the appointment.

A motion to approve the resolution (identified in the meeting as \"resolution R 2020\" for the appointment) was made, seconded and passed unanimously. Council did not attach conditions or amendments to the appointment during the vote.","Council voted 7-0 to appoint Cynthia Ferris to the Fayette Municipal Development District No. 1 board to fill an unexpired term ending July 2025.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6070347,"New Fate residents raise concerns about Wood Creek amenities, floodplain and HOA accounting during public comment",334,1058000,1392000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3051327-14b612db0a39b3acd991692497dd2a69&start=1058&end=1392","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3051327-14b612db0a39b3acd991692497dd2a69/thumbnail_1058000.jpg","/articles/6070347/Fate/Rockwall-County/Texas/New-Fate-residents-raise-concerns-about-Wood-Creek-amenities-floodplain-and-HOA-accounting-during-public-comment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6070347-6c3ada6944f7a4780634345b09a48775/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201127&Signature=Mi3sFUOcC-Wcgzns~ma2PTcir2J53ax7qJMe40TbIJzDPNKfzhBuRlRPIGlXSvgiWKPw3qXgAMaBVB6bE4GguRHR-5lqP0lJpfDh-EdiVijOu5T-O1Jvcf10IeFhTTD3JxVP7N0BHhRv88E5hYyZTYWbZobFckhuidlP5rH9sMfQzWplfeMVszVKIMOR~8OhfPqaB7lD-~WLzZ-Tj3SeelquSIvGcSLBXrPY0EJveYV48x0C9jsjlqoY6obLL98J63aaY8u3~d29ntPz11guIuepecQuAWn4mZlOO5y~dmGnpEhNXeD3ZlacD9vSPEz3jutfL9yKxq5JevPVSegneA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Emma Jean Smith, who said she and her husband moved to Fate about two years ago, used public comment at the Feb. 3 Fate City Council meeting to raise multiple concerns about the Wood Creek subdivision.

Smith told council: \"We live over in Wood Creek...There is nothing over there. No pond, no playground.\" She said residents have young children and pets but no shared amenities and expressed frustration with property-management changes and responses to residents' requests.

Smith also asked about homeowners association finances and local control. \"They told me they didn't have $1,200 in the account. And I was like, how you gonna have that if you're charging $600 a year?\" she said, asking where HOA funds are going. She asked whether HOA funds could be used to add amenities when a developer has completed required improvements.

Smith asked about setback changes she had heard about, saying she believed a law changed a required separation distance from 10 feet to 5 feet and that the shorter separation was too close for homes in her neighborhood. \"Our homes over here is a half a million plus. So I don't wanna be that close to my neighbor,\" she said.

Mayor asked staff to follow up: \"Michael can you reach out to her or Steven to the floodplain questions and the setback questions,\" the mayor said, and staff pointed Smith to the parks board — which meets the following evening — as the appropriate venue to discuss new park development.

City staff agreed to follow up with Smith on floodplain and setback questions and directed her to the parks board to discuss possible park development. Council took no formal action on the issues during the meeting.","A new resident, Emma Jean Smith, told council the Wood Creek neighborhood lacks playgrounds, ponds and walking trails and questioned HOA fund accounting and setback changes.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6070352,"Fate City Council approves $20 million general obligation bond for public safety; lower-than-budgeted interest rate reduces tax impact",1088,1535000,2623000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3051327-14b612db0a39b3acd991692497dd2a69&start=1535&end=2623","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3051327-14b612db0a39b3acd991692497dd2a69/thumbnail_1535000.jpg","/articles/6070352/Fate/Rockwall-County/Texas/Fate-City-Council-approves-20-million-general-obligation-bond-for-public-safety-lower-than-budgeted-interest-rate-reduces-tax-impact","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6070352-fb9ac430861d82e2518f450a252ffa34/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201127&Signature=Yz1XRSZ5F-pw-EZZhWJRqjcJH5D-lXuYh~ivE-5sS2ZpUddlLVwcfMJMmeG5hSKqxPfMt7N3Nloc7ZStjKcByBI-TUPRJXKSE6w1yk72ce5f2RYUmAEZZLNRtWmZi5dfAYj0Vks1nBicbTobc1RgZL4Gx-RgQM3KZAB8NsUZDmdE5OeG5~q-qSaZlSMOIPuVn67ly6jmg79MjVH1NXufzFTw23gkG1bGBZ2~3A-MbzrrxetlPSDdVLE8uiZorZbm51RMRMPq5EbEIFJOexRJ01~rZlxAKxY300g2wpoLMIY7aYyVQ6~zgDrcBnZqox2s6VDG4PmxKIgB~JEREE5GNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fate City Council on Feb. 3 approved Ordinance 2025-005 to issue $20,000,000 in general obligation bonds to finance public safety projects, voting 7-0 to adopt the measure.

The bond sale was competitively priced the morning of Feb. 3; Andre Iel, financial advisor with Hilltop Securities, told the council the winning bid came from BofA Securities with a true interest cost of 3.7858%. \"We priced those bonds this morning via a competitive sale,\" Iel said, describing the process and the 12 bids the city received.

The bond will finance $20 million in public safety projects and sold at a premium, producing final bond proceeds of approximately $18,830,000. Iel said the premium lowered the effective borrowing cost and reduced the budgeted tax-rate impact. \"The interest rate that was budgeted back in the summertime was 5% and we're going to end up at 3.79%,\" he said, adding the average annual debt service is now projected at about $1,460,000 versus a budgeted $1,611,000.

City staff and council members discussed project timing and next steps after the sale. Council members asked about the callable feature and refinancing options; Iel said the bonds are callable beginning in 2034 and that the city would evaluate refinancing only if present-value debt-service savings met typical thresholds (he referenced the Government Finance Officers Association guideline of roughly 3% present value savings). \"We would run the numbers and give you a debt service savings schedule per year,\" Iel said.

City staff described anticipated project sequencing once funds are wired after closing. Staff said the city will first order a ladder fire truck (estimated cost about $2,300,000), add other apparatus already in procurement, and proceed with design and construction of a new combined police and administration facility. City staff reported they received 17 architect qualification statements and expect to shortlist and select an architect at a March 3 meeting, then start design (estimated six to nine months) before bidding and construction. Staff estimated construction could take about a year once started, with full occupancy and related renovations pushing some results into a multi-year timeframe.

Iel and staff also presented tax-impact estimates using 2024 certified values: with the lower interest cost, the tax-rate impact fell from an originally budgeted 4.79 cents to about 3.93 cents. Using the city's 2024 average home value projection of $370,247, Iel said the estimated annual tax increase tied to the bond would be about $145.71 per homestead (about $12.14 per month), down from $160.67 under the earlier budget assumption.

The ordinance authorizes issuance of the bonds, directs bond counsel to submit documents for review by the Texas Attorney General's office, and sets the schedule toward a planned closing Feb. 27, when proceeds would be wired for project use. Council voted 7-0 to approve the ordinance.

Council asked staff to provide a detailed project plan and a personnel forecast tied to the new facilities. Staff agreed to return with a more detailed timeline, procurement list and project milestones at a future meeting.","Council approved Ordinance 2025-005 to issue general obligation bonds to finance $20 million in public safety projects after competitive pricing produced a 3.7858% true interest cost. Council voted 7-0 to adopt the ordinance.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: council approves consent agenda, election ordinance and minor charter corrections

Council appoints Cynthia Ferris to Fayette Municipal Development District No. 1 to complete term through July 2025

New Fate residents raise concerns about Wood Creek amenities, floodplain and HOA accounting during public comment

Fate City Council approves $20 million general obligation bond for public safety; lower-than-budgeted interest rate reduces tax impact