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Residents press council on drainage impacts and clarity about agenda-preparation meetings
Summary
Multiple residents during public comment urged the council to address drainage problems tied to nearby developments and to explain how the city distinguishes agenda-preparation from deliberation under the Texas Open Meetings Act; council agreed to place drainage on a future agenda and to have the city attorney explain agenda-preparation rules.
At the July 7 council meeting several residents raised two recurring concerns: worsening drainage linked to nearby development and a desire for clearer public explanation of how the city conducts and notifies 'agenda-preparation' meetings.
Adnan Tarhoni, a Moss Ridge resident, described recent flooding he attributes to grading and flattening at the McCreary development and asked council to review engineering and field evidence showing new runoff reaching his property. Alan Meyer said he had emailed videos of recent flooding and urged the city to require additional engineering, a berm and a retention pond before approving further plats.
Terry Lynch, a former council member, asked the council to put an item on a future agenda for the city attorney to explain where Parker draws the line between non-deliberative agenda preparation and deliberation under the Texas Open Meetings Act, noting that citizens need to be able to observe decisions that lead to formal agenda items.
Council members acknowledged the concerns, noted that Planning & Zoning will address drainage reviews and that staff and the city engineer would continue investigations; council added a citywide drainage review to future agendas and agreed to schedule time for the city attorney to address the Open Meetings Act questions.
Next steps: staff and P&Z will review drainage issues for Moss Ridge and McCreary and report back to council; the mayor asked the city attorney to brief the council on agenda-preparation vs. deliberation so citizens can better understand the process.
