By James Rincon
Pflag reporter

Members of the City Council Tuesday unanimously approved a motion to create an exploratory committee for the purpose of investigating whether Pflugerville residents who represent various international cultures and ethnicities would be interested in an opportunity to celebrate their heritages with a citywide festival.
“One of our strengths is our diversity,” said Councilman Wayne Cooper. “[The international festival] is a day that people can show their heritage in the city.”
The council discussed various international communities that may exist in the city such as Vietnamese, Indian, German, Lebanese and Greek communities.
Mayor Jeff Coleman said he has encountered many new Pflugerville residents who cite the city’s diversity as a quality that attracted them to it.
“They like the fact that we are a racially diverse community, so I think we can celebrate that,” Coleman said.

Committee appointments
Council also unanimously approved the re-appointment of Linda Atkins and Kathy Vance to the Budget and Finance Committee. The re-appointment marks the beginning of Atkins’ and Vance’s final terms as committee members.
Coucilman Mike Marsh echoed the sentiments of City Manager Brandon Wade, who recommended the city begin focusing its appointments to the Budget and Finance Committee on accounting or financial professionals who have experience managing large budgets. The council approved Marsh’s request to seek Wade’s counsel in the process of drafting an advertisement to recruit qualified individuals to the committee. Wade will also advise council on the potential of adding positions to the committee for qualified candidates.

Digital mapping of the city
Councilman Marsh pulled an item from the consent agenda concerning the approval of a $73,400 professional service agreement with Walker Partners of Austin. After discussion council unanimously approved the agreement, in which Walker Partners will provide digital orthophotography services as well as photogrammetric and topographic mapping of 50 square miles of Pflugerville and its Extraterritorial Jurisdiction in preparation for the design of Wilbarger Creek Sewer.
City engineer Felix Benavides said imaging such as this has everyday use for the engineering and development departments, though the new images will be an improvement from those the city uses now.
“The contours that we have now are totally unacceptable… the 2 foot contours from this will be very helpful,” Benavides said.

Zoning designation changes
The council amended and approved (3 votes to 2) the second reading of an ordinance to change the zoning designation of a three-acre tract of land located along the south side of Kingston Lacy Boulevard, east of Heatherwilde Boulevard from agricultural/conservation to neighborhood services.
The original agenda item provided for a discussion and vote to change the zoning designation to retail space, but Mayor Pro Tem Victor Gonzales amended the change to neighborhood services space with support from councilmen Marsh and Darelle White.
Mayor Coleman did not vote on the item, but stated in the discussion that not allowing the land for retail use “infringes on property owners rights.”
The item will undergo a third reading at the next council meeting.

Cooper votes against car wash
Before going into executive session the council approved 4-1 the second reading of an ordinance that established a special district to permit development of a car wash in the urban level 4 district. Councilman Cooper was the lone dissenter.
“I just don’t think this particular amendment is satisfying the overall goals of the city in this area,” Cooper said.
For more information, contact James Rincon at 255-3733 or by e-mail at
jmrincon@pflugervillepflag.com