Mission council approves Cimarron public improvement district to fund country club restoration; vote record corrected

The Mission City Council voted to adopt a resolution creating a public improvement district (PID) for the Cimarron subdivision to help fund restoration of the Cimarron Country Club and golf course, a council agenda item and public hearing held Feb. 23 showed. The council adopted resolution No. 1960; the clerk later corrected the roll call to record four votes in favor and one abstention.

Supporters and the city said restoring the golf course is needed to protect drainage and property values for surrounding neighborhoods. David Earl, attorney for the Cimarron Homeowners Association, told the council the golf course was designed as part of the community’s drainage system and that inadequate maintenance has caused downstream flooding risks. "The maintenance of the golf course would be an integral part of the drainage system," Earl said during the hearing.

The petition-backed PID would cover about 370 acres that correspond to the original Cimarron plats. Under the plan presented to the council, a broad range of improvements is eligible for funding, including landscaping, drainage and water and wastewater facilities, roads and park amenities — explicitly including golf-course-related work. Earl and the petition materials said the PID would use assessments on benefited properties, not ad valorem tax increases, and that the petition sets a maximum assessment participation of $18,000,000.

City officials told the council they recently closed on purchase of the country-club property; the city accepted a donation of the golf course and the Mission EDC closed on the clubhouse acreage. After the PID resolution, city staff and the homeowners’ group will finalize a restoration and incentive package, return to council to appoint a PID board and manager, and later adopt the PID’s service-and-assessment plan and budget before assessments are levied.

Several Cimarron residents spoke in favor at the public hearing. Anne Camarillo said neighbors are "very anxious and open to working with you to put together that plan" and thanked the city for acquiring the property. Resident Enrique Castro said restoring the course will provide more local playing opportunities and support community use.

The council’s resolution authorizes proceeding with the PID process; council members then directed staff and the homeowners’ representatives to prepare the required service plan, budget and board appointments for future council action.