The Blanco City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Pro Tem Martin Sauceda at 6:08 p.m. with council members: Mike Smith, Matt Lewis, Keith McClellan and Deda Divine present. McClellan attended the meeting virtually via GoToMeeting.
After the pledge was recited, the council skipped ahead and discussed action on COVID-19 updates. A lengthy discussion was held on whether or not members of the city staff need to have a mask on at all times or not. In the end, two motions were made. Smith moved that a mask must be worn by anyone present at city meetings (city council, planning & zoning, etc.). A mask will also be required if attending court, and the number of attendees will be limited for both meetings and court. McClellan seconded the motion and the motion carried 4-1, with Sauceda voting no.
The next motion was unanimously passed. This motion was that all city employees must wear a mask while in city hall or other government buildings unless he is at his desk alone and maintaining social distancing. It is similar to the restaurant ordinance where one must wear a mask to enter and while away from the table. This also applies to city owned vehicles meaning if there are two people in the vehicle a mask is required.
Next, the minutes from the previous meeting were approved. A moment of silence took place in honor of the late Tony Vela, who recently died. Vela served on the city council from July 2015 until May 2019. Council members spoke fondly of him.
Will Daves, interim city manager, provided a brief update on the budgets for city hall, water and sewer, and the police department. Right now, the budget is where it needs to be, he said. Daves explained that the city is actually more profitable than predicted this year, but there will be more bills starting in 2021.
The city’s Trash-Off event was very successful, with lots of people participating. The city is looking into purchasing an automatic kiosk outside of city hall for utility and court payments. The council moved to table discussing abandoning a 15th Street property easement for Sta-Built access. Next, the special events ordinance was discussed briefly but tabled. The ordinance will be revised.
The new TxDOT Speed Reduction Ordinance 2020-O-007 was approved. According to the ordinance, “It is hereby determined upon the basis of an Engineering and Traffic investigation that the prima facie maximum speed limit on those portions of US 281 routed in the city of Blanco, is hereby stated, which prima facie maximum speed limit shall be effective at all times and signs will be erected giving notice of the prima facie maximum speed limit so declared towit.” The speed limit will be 50 mph from mile point 30.025 (south Blanco city limit SL163) to mile point 29.175 (775’ South of Blanco Ave.).
Next, the council discussed possibly installing a speed bump on Fulcher Street/River Run. Citizens have complained about the speeding vehicles in the area. The council will contact the county to get input. There is more research that will need to be done including pricing and reviewing regulations before action is taken on the item.
Smith moved to deliberate the removal of probation status for Laurie Cassidy, city secretary. She has been in the position for over 90 days and received a good performance review. Lewis seconded and it carried.
The council adjourned into executive session at 7:51 p.m. After the executive session, the council members authorized Sauceda to make an offer to a new police chief. No additional information was provided from the executive session.
