HomeMy WebLinkAboutSPC 2017-06-08 Minutes MINUTES OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN COMMITTEE OF THE
CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS
HELD IN THE CITY HALL 4301 CITY POINT DRIVE
JUNE 8, 2017
1. Call to Order
The Strategic Plan Committee of the City of North Richland Hills, Texas met on the 8th day
of June, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Work Session Room.
Present: Tim Welch City Council member, Chairman
Rita Wright-Oujesky City Council Member, Vice Chairperson
Tim Barth City Council member
Jerry Tyner Planning &Zoning Commission
Justin Welborn Planning & Zoning Commission
Amy Steele Committee Member
Blake Hedgecock Committee Member
Brent Barrow Committee Member
Brian Crowson Committee Member
Danny Beltran Committee Member
Karen Russell Committee Member
Mark Wood Committee Member
Skip Baskerville Committee Member
Tracye Tipps Committee Member
Lee Knight Alternate Committee Member
Absent: Suzy Compton Committee Member
Staff Members: Paulette Hartman Assistant City Manager
Craig Hulse Director of Economic Development
Jennifer Stephens Economic Development Specialist
Mary Peters Director of Communications
Clayton Comstock Planning Manager
Clayton Husband Principal Planner
Chad VanSteenberg Planner
John Chapman Planning Technician
Chairman Tim Welch called the meeting to order at 6:06 p.m.
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2. Discussion & review of the May 11, Strategic Plan meeting.
Assistant City Manager Paulette Hartman discussed the May 11 Strategic Plan
meeting mobile tour of the City. Ms. Hartman also disclosed results from the
meeting's survey and reviewed comments from Strategic Plan Committee Members.
Council member Dr. Tim Barth commented that the City's revitalization efforts in the
southern residential areas are an impressive story.
Council member Rita Wright-Oujesky stated that it was interesting to see the City
from a bus rather than driving a car.
Committee member Karen Russell asked what percentage of North Park Estates is
rental properties. Ms. Hartman stated that neighborhood falls between 36% to 39%
rental rate. Ms. Russell then asked if there is a policy that would only permit a
neighborhood to reach a threshold of rental units. Ms. Hartman stated no, but that the
city does have a rental property ordinance requiring rentals to be registered and be
re-inspected for new certificates of occupancy.
3. Approve minutes of the May 11, 2017 Strategic Plan Committee meeting.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMITTEE MEMBER CROWSON, SECONDED BY
COUNCIL MEMBER OUJESKY TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MAY 11, 2017
STRATEGIC PLAN COMMITTEE MEETING. MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 14-0.
4. Presentation of the NRH Community Profile, including demographics,
economic development and market trends, existing land uses and
vacant land inventory, 2015 Citizen Survey results, and other
information.
Assistant City Manager Paulette Hartman introduced the North Richland Hills
Community Profile topics for the evening and asked Economic Development Director
Craig Hulse to present the city demographics.
Mr. Hulse presented the city demographics.
Planning & Zoning Ex-Officio Justin Welborn arrived at 6:20 p.m.
Committee Member Danny Beltran asked if an other cities were recognized by Dallas
Morning News. Mr. Hulse stated Allen, Frisco, McKinney were also ranked, but North
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Richland Hills was the only city to be ranked from Tarrant County.
Committee Member Blake Hedgecock noticed the population percentages did not add
to 100 percent for North Richland Hills.
Committee Member Brian Crowson made the comment that the daytime population in
the 76182 zip code does not support sit down restaurants. Mr. Crowson also asked
there was a breakdown of educational degrees compared to age cohorts. Staff
remarked that they would gather this information.
Committee Member Karen Russell asked if the Asian demographic included
Middle-Eastern, and Indian. Mr. Hulse replied yes.
Council Member Rita Wright-Oujesky stated that household income figures contribute
to lack of sit down restaurants. Ms. Oujesky continued to state that households do not
have enough disposable income to eat at sit down restaurants. Ms. Hartman stated
the reason this statistic was included is to not necessarily plan to change the
statistics, but to understand what the city looks like.
Ms. Hartman commented that the reason both 76180 and 76182 zip codes are shown
separate was to put each into context in comparison to the city as a whole.
Mr. Hulse continued to present commercial statistics and economic development
trends.
Planning Manager Clayton Comstock began the next portion of the presentation,
including existing land uses.
Council Member Barth asked if there were more multifamily developments planned.
Mr. Comstock stated there are future developments planned for the Transit Oriented
Development and Town Center areas.
Council Member Oujesky asked for clarification on residential rental percentages. Mr.
Comstock stated there is a higher rental rate in the 76180 zip code due to a much
larger amount of multifamily developments.
Ms. Hartman highlighted a few statistics from the presentation and asked the
Committee to think about how the city can position itself for its best possible future.
Chairman Welch commented on Dallas' redevelopment in certain areas to
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accommodate Millennials.
The Committee recessed at 7:28 p.m. and reconvened at 7:36 p.m.
Public Information Officer Mary Peters presented the 2015 Citizen Survey to the
Committee.
Mr. Welborn asked if there is a copy of the survey that can be provided to the
Committee. Ms. Peters stated yes.
Committee Member Amy Steele asked if all residents were included. Ms. Peters
stated about twenty-five percent of single family and multifamily were included. Ms.
Peters stated the survey received about 950 responses with a 3.2 percent margin of
error.
Council Member Oujesky asked if the survey disclosed any differences between the
2015 Citizen Survey and the 2013 Citizen Survey. Ms. Peters stated there were
minimal differences between the surveys.
Mr. Welborn asked if the survey could include a question to gauge school districts.
Ms. Peters stated the survey was intended to gauge City services and therefore did
not include any questions about schools.
Alternate Committee Member Lee Knight asked why code enforcement services were
rated so low. Ms. Hartman stated that is was likely due to the age of properties and
past service delivery issues.
Chairman Welch stated that during construction of Loop 820, many of the districts
with the lowest ratings in street conditions also saw the highest amount of
construction traffic.
Council Member Oujesky asked if a copy of the 2015 Citizen Survey could be
provided to the Committee. Ms. Peters stated yes.
5. Small Group Discussion
Planning Manager Clayton Comstock stated the Committee would not break into small
groups due to the amount of time left and would instead discuss items 5.A and 5.B.
as a group in the Council Work Session room.
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5.A. Discuss information discussed in the Community Profile;
Planning Manager Clayton Comstock asked the Committee what stood out the most
during the presentation.
Planning and Zoning Commissioner Jerry Tyner stated that the median income
statistic stood out to him and how that affects the number of sit down restaurants the
city attracts. Economic Development Director Craig Hulse stated that the other side to
this point is daytime population which is a key point to attract sit down restaurants.
Planning and Zoning Ex-Officio Justin Welborn stated he expects to see a higher
demand to fill the last ten percent of vacant land area in the city with multifamily and
mixed-use buildings.
Chairman Welch stated that Odell Street is a great example of older homes
redeveloping into newer homes under current development standards.
Council Member Dr. Tim Barth asked if information was available that identified why
individuals are in North Richland Hills during the daytime.
Committee Member Brian Crowson asked if a policy can be created to standardize
commercial and retail cosmetic updates to ensure the update makes the building
more urban and in line with current design standards.
Committee Member Amy Steele asked if improving underutilized buildings would
attract a larger daytime population such as incentives. Ms. Hartman stated in general,
yes, we do have upgrade standards, but the City cannot always require a business to
update. Starting an incentive program would necessitate funds and grants and could
be possible.
Council Member Oujesky stated the work force contributing to the daytime population
does not make enough disposable income to sit down at restaurants and stated the
Committee should look out for those who live in North Richland Hills.
Committee Member Brent Barrow stated the City should not look to attract more retail
if the current economic trend depicts a decrease in retail space.
Mr. Comstock asked Committee Member Danny Beltran how the daytime population
around NE Loop 820 and Rufe Snow affects Chick-Fil-A. Mr. Beltran stated there is
more foot traffic during lunch, not breakfast or dinner.
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Committee Member Skip Baskerville asked what the next steps for this Committee will
be. Mr. Comstock stated the next steps will include more discussions that will evolve
from the data presented in the NRH Community Profile.
Mr. Beltran stated the perception of the south stood out even though this is the area
of the city with the most retail.
5.B. Identify and discuss prime developable areas remaining in North
Richland Hills; and
Due to time constraints, the Committee did not discuss this question.
5.C. Discuss upcoming 2017 Citizen Survey questions.
Planning Manager Clayton Comstock asked the Committee what question they would
like to add to the 2017 Citizen Survey.
Planning and Zoning Ex-Officio Justin Welborn stated there should be a question
asking about the school system because that is a big drawing factor for families even
though it is not a city service.
Council Member Rita Wright-Oujesky stated that schools are very important and
would also like to see a quality of school question on the next survey.
Committee Member Brian Crowson would like to ask why an individual chose to live in
North Richland Hills.
Committee Member Danny Beltran said to ask, "How would you describe your city,"
and, "How would you want NRH to be described?"
Committee Member Mark Wood would ask, "What's the one thing you would do to
improve the City?"
Committee Member Tracye Tipps would ask, "What kind of activity or experience
would you like to see in North Richland Hills?" Ms. Tipps was shocked at the list of
major retail stores that have declined since the early 2000's.
Regarding the Citizen Survey responses, Committee Member Karen Russell stated
that there should not be a decrease in city services that are activity-related such as
trails, NRH Centre, and parks. Mary Peters stated the average age of survey
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respondents was 55 and perhaps caused a decrease in prioritization of those city
services.
Mr. Comstock discussed what's next for the Commission.
Chairman Welch asked if North Richland Hills has a list of buildings that are vacant
as well as the age of those buildings to determine how the City may be able to
incentivize revitalization.
6. Reconvene in City Council Work Room for summary of small group
discussions.
7. Adjourn
Chairman Tim Welch adjourned the meeting at 8:31 p.m.
Ti a h, Chairman
Attest:
Chad VanSteenberg, Secretary
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