The Aubrey City Council has filled its Place 2 vacancy with a new member, Candace Stone.
Stone, who has served on the Planning and Zoning Commission, was selected after a more than oneand- a-half hour executive session at the top of the June 25 council meeting, during which the mayor and council interviewed candidates.
'The candidates that came all brought unique experiences to the table,' Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Perry said. 'On behalf of the council and the mayor, we really appreciate your time. Thank you for coming in.'
He encouraged those not selected to volunteer on other boards and commissions for the city.
'Please don't get discouraged if you weren't selected,' Perry said. 'We'd love to have you work with us.'
The council voted to approve the plan for Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 3 for High- pointe Ranch.
Jennifer Sloan with MuniCap explained the funding details for the project, in which 'the city participates at a 38% rate,' she said.
'We have a total of 1,450 residential lots, and ... 285,000 square feet of commercial,' she said.
The council also approved the construction and funding agreement for authroized improvements and reimbursement of advances for the Palomino Public Improvement District, which Sloan also explained and which the council unanimously accepted.
Aubrey ISD asked the city to change the Comprehensive Plan designation for a 6.65-acre lot it owns to 'public institution' from commercial and high-density residential.
The use mentioned was the Aubrey ISD administration building, with the extension of High Meadow Drive.
The council unanimously approved the change, with Stone abstaining, as requested by City Manager Charles Kreidler 'out of an abundance of caution.'
'Could we get the new council member to recuse on the P&Z items, since she has already voted on P&Z?' City Manager Charles Kreidler said.
The council also approved the rezoning of part of the lot from multifamily to shopping center, 3-0-1 with Stone abstaining.
It also gave conditional approval for the replat of that same Aubrey ISD property.
Changes to the city's ordinances regarding specific types of signs— blade signs, feather flags and electronic message boards.
The feather signs would be for special events, such as 'for grand openings, holiday events, vacation bible school, those kinds of things,' Assistant City Manager Leanne Wilson said.
Businesses can use such signs for a two-week period with a permit.
The electonic message boards would be limited to city-owned properties in Downtown Aubrey, and blade signs would only be allowed in Downtown Aubrey, based on the ordinance change.
Stone asked about allowing blade signs in other areas of the city.
'As we do grow, I do see that there might be uses for them outside of [downtown],' she said.
The council also voted to limit electric bikes to designated areas in city parks and safety restrictions for their uses in the city.
'There's got to be some kind of communication for these kids to know what they shouldn't be doing,' Mayor Chris Rich said.
Aubrey Police Department Chief Richard Brooks agreed to share the information online.
'We can try to get it into the next water bill,' Kreidler said.
Also at the meeting, Ryan Phillips, Nathan Rigdon, Bryan Mackey and Hayes Mackey were sworn in as members of the Aubrey Fire Department.
Council member Randy Jones was absent from the meeting.
