Several residents spoke out against the $5 fee for the Pilot Point Community Center at the city council meeting on Oct. 8.
At the Sept. 24 meeting, council approved amendments to the fee schedule, including a $5 monthly membership fee to cover additional exercise classes at the community center.
“While $5 per month may appear modest, it represents an additional financial burden for many attendees who regularly rely on the community center for recreation, wellness and community engagement,” Parks and Recreation Board member Alvin Korbel read.
He added that he understands the city’s reason for adding the fee but prompted the council to consider other funding options.
Other Parks & Recreation Board members spoke, too.
“Let's not infringe on the needs of our citizens,” Parks & Recreation Board member Cindy Farris said. “Let's reconvene, discuss and find a reasonable solution that takes into account the input of our citizenry, an informed decision, a conscientious decision, together.”
City Manager Britt Lusk clarified some of the misconceptions.
“The fee is part of the budget process, and it's not an advisory board process,” Lusk said. “... It's set by council and not an advisory board. That's why advisory boards don't renew fees. … It's a budget issue that goes through council.”
He added that the fee covers the cost of adding additional classes.
The council approved establishing a 2027 legislative task force based on the Georgetown model.
“The total would be nine residents to hear presentations from staff and others … and evaluate the bills and legislation that's going to be coming before us in the 2027 legislative session, so that's to end in effort or to educate the residents and to create the grassroots process,” Lusk said.
The task force would have five members who live inside city limits and four from the extraterritorial jurisdiction.
“That way the city residents would still hold the majority of the committee,” Lusk said.
The process will mimic the advisory boards' processes.
Anyone interested in joining can fill out an application, and the council would select members from the applications.
Lusk said the goal is to open the application process for two weeks and get them back by the last meeting in October.
The council approved a City Council Legislative Subcommittee to represent at the 90th Texas legislative session in Austin.
The subcommittee members are Mayor Chad Major, Mayor Pro Tem Andrew Ambrosio and council member Brian Heitzman.
Council and the police department again discussed the use of golf carts, UTVs and ATVs within city limits.
The police maintained their position.
“The police department recommends that we only do a golf cart for the city of Pilot Point,” Assistant Chief of Police Timothy Gill said.
Several council members and the mayor retained their positions, saying they want UTVs within city limits.
“I don't personally want to hamstring the police department in their efforts to make the city safer, because I applaud you for that, and I want you to do that,” council member Ray Dane said. “But I think that either you or [the council is] going to get a lot of pushback if we don't include UTVs.”
The proposed ordinance mentioned would cover golf cart/UTV registration, insurance, a valid driver’s license requirement, curfews and exemptions.
Gill said the department will work with the Pilot Point school district and the city to educate students and families about any changes.
The council will review and approve a final revised version of the proposed ordinances at a later date.
Two city employees, Street Crew Leader Otis Jackson and Pilot Point PD Officer Alyssa Phillips, were recognized as the Pilot Point PROMISE Champions for July and August.
Jackson, the winner for July, was recognized for “his willingness to consistently go the extra mile in support of public works operations and the broader needs of the city,” Lusk read.
Phillips, the August winner, was recognized for “going above and beyond” in an investigation.
“Alyssa's can-do attitude and service-oriented mindset constantly buoy the spirits of people she interacts with in this department and in our community,” Lusk read.
