Timnath council approves municipal-adviser engagement, traffic‑calming contract and development‑review extension

The Timnath Town Council unanimously approved three separate resolutions on April 8, 2025, to advance financing work for a potential recreation center, begin neighborhood traffic‑calming implementation, and extend outside development‑review services while the town continues hiring.

The measures matter because they set the town’s near‑term path on a possible voter ballot measure for a recreation center, allocate the first implementation funding for a resident‑driven traffic‑calming program, and close a staffing gap in development review that could slow permit processing.

Director Lisa Gagliardi presented the first item, Resolution No. 26, Series 2025, asking the council to engage UMB Financial Services Inc. for debt advisory and ballot‑issue services tied to a potential recreation center ballot measure. The council approved the engagement unanimously. The contract is staged: if the town does not pursue a ballot issue the advisor’s fee is $5,000; if a ballot measure is pursued but fails the fee is $7,500; if the ballot measure passes the advisor would serve in a debt‑advisory capacity with fees estimated at $2 per $1,000 of bonds (equivalent to $2,000 per $1,000,000), which staff said would equal about 0.2% of the total bond amount given the assumption that the issuance would exceed $22,000,000. Staff said final financing terms and recommended structure would return to the Finance Committee and council, with financing terms expected to be presented in June or July if the town proceeds toward a November ballot.

Mayor Pro Tem Luke Wagner, who supported the motion, said he was “impressed with her work” in reference to the advisor previously retained by the town. Council members expressed that the town’s fixed costs for advisory work would be modest if the ballot measure is not pursued and that costs would be capitalized into any future bond issuance if the measure passes. The resolution passed unanimously.

The council then approved Resolution No. 27, Series 2025, a $46,900 work order with Next Phase Engineering LLC for neighborhood traffic‑mitigation implementation. Director Koivumi described the work as the first implementation step for the town’s newly adopted neighborhood traffic‑calming guidance: the consultant will help evaluate resident requests, perform counts and speed monitoring (including follow up on a prior road‑safety audit of River Pass Road), prepare design concepts and materials for a transportation project fair, and support broader public engagement. Staff said the $46,900 is within the neighborhood traffic‑calming budget approved for 2025.

Council members emphasized data and best practices. Council member Bill Jenkins and others called the contract a prudent early investment; Jenkins said it will help the town use its tools wisely. Staff noted future implementation could include signs, striping, rapid‑flashing beacons, speed trailers, and, on local streets, measures such as speed humps; larger implementations would be prioritized and brought back to council with cost requests as needed. The council approved the Next Phase Engineering work order by a 5‑0 vote.

Finally, the council approved Resolution No. 28, Series 2025, a change order continuing development‑review services with TST Incorporated Consulting Engineers while the town continues recruitment for an in‑house development review engineer. Director Stone said the town began recruitment in November 2024, has candidates in multiple interview rounds, and hopes to fill the position within about 60 days; in the meantime TST will continue work under an amended work order to avoid gaps in review capacity. Council members supported the change order as a pragmatic step to avoid delays on development projects. That measure also passed unanimously.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda (approval of March 2025 special and March 2025 regular meeting minutes): approved unanimously. - Resolution No. 26, Series 2025 — engage UMB Financial Services Inc. for debt advisory and ballot‑issue services: approved unanimously; advisory fee structure: $5,000 (no ballot), $7,500 (ballot pursued but fails), and $2 per $1,000 in debt if bonds are issued (staff estimate based on >$22,000,000 issuance). - Resolution No. 27, Series 2025 — work order with Next Phase Engineering LLC for neighborhood traffic‑mitigation implementation ($46,900): approved 5‑0. - Resolution No. 28, Series 2025 — change order for development‑review services with TST Incorporated Consulting Engineers (amount not specified in the packet): approved unanimously.

Looking ahead, staff said financing‑term recommendations for any recreation‑center bond would return to the Finance Committee and council in mid‑summer if the town pursues a November ballot; the transportation project fair and public engagement on River Pass Road and other traffic‑calming concepts are scheduled for May 12; and the town expects to fill the in‑house development review engineer position within about 60 days.