Public Notices

The City of Waco regularly posts public information and legal notices to keep the community informed. For more information contact the City Secretary at 750-5750 or come by the office on the 1st floor of City Hall, 300 Austin Avenue.

Current Bids / Meeting Agendas / City Auctions

For Additional Information:
Contact: Patricia Ervin phone (254) 750-5750
or email: Patricia Ervin

NOTICE OF TAX REVENUE INCREASE

The City of Waco conducted public hearings on August 18, 2009 and August 25, 2009 on a proposal to increase the total tax revenues of the City of Waco from properties on the tax roll in the preceding year by 1.20 percent.

The total tax revenue raised last year at last year's tax rate of $0.786232 for each $100 of taxable value was $47,349,850.

The total tax revenue proposed to be raised this year at the proposed tax rate of $0.786232 for each $100 of taxable value, excluding tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll this year, is $46,524,125.

The total tax revenue proposed to be raised this year at the proposed tax rate of $0.786232 for each $100 of taxable value, including tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll this year is $47,639,260.

The Waco City Council of City of Waco is scheduled to vote on the tax rate that will result in that tax increase at a public meeting to be held on September 1, 2009 at Bosque Theatre in the Waco Convention Center at 100 Washington Ave, Waco, TX at 6:00 pm.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET
CITY OF WACO FISCAL YEAR 2009-2010

All interested persons including without limitation the Taxpayers, Property Owners, Residents and Citizens of the City of Waco are hereby given notice that a Public Hearing on the Proposed Operating Budget for the City of Waco Fiscal Year 2009-2010 will be held on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. in the Bosque Theater at the Waco Convention Center, 100 Washington Ave., Waco, McLennan County, Texas. All interested persons may appear at the hearing and speak for or against the proposed budget.

This budget will raise more total property taxes than last year’s budget by $1,360,843, or 1.2%, and of that amount $1,115,135 is tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll this year.

Dated this 30th day of July 2009

Patricia W. Ervin
City Secretary
City of Waco, Texas

2009 Property Tax Rates in City of Waco

This notice concerns 2009 property tax rates for City of Waco. It presents information about three tax rates. Last year's tax rate is the actual rate the taxing unit used to determine property taxes last year. This year's effective tax rate would impose the same total taxes as last year if you compare properties taxed in both years. This year's rollback tax rate is the highest tax rate the taxing unit can set before taxpayers can start tax rollback procedures. In each case these rates are found by dividing the total amount of taxes by the tax base (the total value of taxable property) with adjustments as required by state law. The rates are given per $100 of property value.

Last year's tax rate:

This year's effective tax rate:

This year's rollback tax rate: $44,032,805
Last year's adjusted operating taxes (after subtracting taxes on lost property and adjusting for any transferred function, tax increment financing, state criminal justice mandate, and/or enhanced indigent health care expenditures)

Property Tax Rate Amendment #4

Statement of Increase/Decrease

If City of Waco adopts a 2009 tax rate equal to the effective tax rate of $0.776944 per $100 of value, taxes would decrease compared to 2008 taxes by $273,367.

Schedule A - Unencumbered Fund Balances

The following estimated balances will be left in the unit's property tax accounts at the end of the fiscal year. These balances are not encumbered by a corresponding debt obligation.

Schedule B - 2009 Debt Service

The unit plans to pay the following amounts for long-term debts that are secured by property taxes. These amounts will be paid from property tax revenues (or additional sales tax revenues, if applicable).

Schedule C - Expected Revenue from Additional Sales

Tax In calculating its effective and rollback tax rates, the unit estimated that it will receive $9,366,304 in additional sales and use tax revenues.

This notice contains a summary of actual effective and rollback tax rates' calculations. You can inspect a copy of the full calculations at 215 N 05th St.

Name of person preparing this notice: Tricia Curry
Title: Chief Deputy
Date Prepared: July 28, 2009

Notice of Public Hearing on Tax Increase

The City of Waco will hold two public hearings on a proposal to increase total tax revenues from properties on the tax roll in the preceding tax year by 1.20 percent (percentage by which proposed tax rate exceeds lower of rollback tax rate or effective tax rate calculated under Chapter 26, Tax Code). Your individual taxes may increase at a greater or lesser rate, or even decrease, depending on the change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in taxable value of all other property and the tax rate that is adopted.

The first public hearing will be held on August 18, 2009 at 6:00 PM at the Bosque Theater at the Waco Convention Center 100 Washington Ave, Waco, Tx.

The second public hearing will be held on August 25, 2009 at 6:00 PM at the Bosque Theater at the Waco Convention Center 100 Washington Ave, Waco, Tx. The members of the governing body voted on the proposal to consider the tax increase as follows:

FOR:Virginia DuPuy, Wilbert Austin Sr., Alice Rodriguez, Randy Riggs, Toni Herbert, Jim Bush
AGAINST:
PRESENT and not voting:
ABSENT:

The average taxable value of a residence homestead in City of Waco last year was $93,752. Based on last year's tax rate of $0.786232 per $100 of taxable value, the amount of taxes imposed last year on the average home was $737.11.

The average taxable value of a residence homestead in City of Waco this year is $96,611. If the governing body adopts the effective tax rate for this year of $0.776944 per $100 of taxable value, the amount of taxes imposed this year on the average home would be $750.61

If the governing body adopts the proposed tax rate of $0.786232 per $100 of taxable value, the amount of taxes imposed this year on the average home would be $759.59.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend the hearings and express their views.

Federal Grant Review

Click here for: Copy of documents from the National Park Service

The City of Waco is working with the National Park Service (NPS) and others to develop a Memorandum of Agreement for mitigation of adverse impacts to historical property and the conversion of property at Fort Fisher to remove recreational use only restrictions relating to a 1967 Land and Water Conservation Fund (L&WCF) Grant. 

In 1967, the City of Waco obtained a L&WCF grant for Outdoor Recreation through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) for development of parks along the Brazos River.  The grant was to assist (a) with acquisition of 4.62 acres to complete a 35 acre Lake Brazos Recreation area and (b) with the construction of service storage building, concession building, restrooms and shower facilities, camping units, picnic units, fishing piers, hiking, trails and walks, roads, parking facilities and utilities in the Park site.  The land that was used for the L&WCF project included several tracts that had been acquired by the City of Waco at different points in time and had been used as a cemetery as well as property obtained from Southern Pacific Railroad through condemnation. 

When Byron Johnson was hired as the Director of the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum in 1996, one of his charges was to develop a master plan for the Museum. He attempted to locate records relating to the work done starting in 1967, but located very few records.  In the period between 1967 and 1996, files related to the initial L&WCF project and grant agreement in 1967 were misplaced, lost or disposed of.  The files that were maintained were stored and not indexed in a manner that allowed them to be easily located.  Consequently, the development of master plan did not take into consideration the restrictions of the L&WCF grant.  Mr. Johnson was aware that a cemetery had been located in at least portions of Ft. Fisher Park, so out of an abundance of caution he proposed that the City conduct an archaeological survey prior to beginning work the foundation for the proposed Texas Rangers Headquarters and Education Center to see if anything remained from the cemetery underneath the proposed site for the new building.  American Archaeology Group (“AAG”) was retained to perform the survey. 

The October 2006 archaeology survey of the planned building footprint area was conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit Number 4255 issued by the Texas Historical Commission (“THC”).  During the survey, two burial features, i.e., crypts, were found, but no remains.  AAG’s report to THC concluded with the recommendation that “the City of Waco be allowed to proceed with the current proposed project and archaeological monitoring is not necessary.”  That report was filed with THC on or about October 22, 2007.  THC accepted the recommendation of AAG on or about December 6, 2007. 

When work on the building foundation started, some remains were discovered on May 11, 2007.  Additional remains were discovered when work began on a sewer line a short time later.  Since that time, several different Antiquities Permits have been acquired from THC to perform archaeological work on the site in conjunction with the Texas Ranger Headquarters and Education Center and the Riverwalk extension. 

The City of Waco is seeking removal of the Ft. Fisher area from the 1967 L&WCF grant restrictions regarding outdoor recreation use by substituting another parcel for outdoor recreation use.  A Section 106 review of the Ft. Fisher area is a necessary part of the conversion process under the NHPA.  As part of the Section 106 process, it is necessary to develop a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the National Park Service, the Texas Historical Commission, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the City of Waco to minimize or mitigate adverse impacts on historic properties. 

The National Parks Service, as the agency responsible for the oversight of the conversion process, has now issued a second draft of a proposed MOA.  The NPS cover letter and that MOA draft can be downloaded for review.  Interested parties are invited to review the draft MOA and provide their comments to NPS.  Comments may be sent to:

Mr. Roger Knowlton
Outdoor Recreation Planner
Recreation Grants Division
National Parks Service
601 Riverfront drive
Omaha, Nebraska 68102
Roger_Knowlton@nps.gov

NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS

November 3, 2009                                            
                                                                                      
City of Waco                                       
P O Box 2570                                                  
Waco, Texas 76702-2570                                  

Phone: (254) 750-5656                                             

On or about the 23rd of November, 2009 the City of Waco will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds under Title I of the of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (PL 93-383), as amended, and HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) funds under Title II of the Cranston-Gonzales National Affordable Housing Act of 1990, as amended to undertake the five activities listed below for the purpose of providing affordable housing and improving the housing stock in the City of Waco for low-to moderate-income persons.

The activities proposed are categorically excluded under HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58 from National Environmental Policy Act requirements. An environmental review strategy has been prepared and as a result of this strategy it has been determined that the only applicable requirements of 23 CFR part 58.5 and 58.6 for this activity are historic preservation, floodplains, clear zones, flood insurance, manmade hazards, wetlands, noise, and environmental justice. An Environmental Review Record (ERR) that documents the environmental determinations for this project is on file at the City of Waco, Housing and Community Development Services office, City Hall, 300 Austin Avenue, Waco, Texas and may be examined at this location or copied weekdays from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

PUBLIC COMMENTS
Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the City of Waco, Housing and Community Development Services, 300 Austin Ave., Waco, Texas 76702-2570.  All comments received by November 20, 2009 will be considered by the City of Waco prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds.

RELEASE OF FUNDS

The City of Waco certifies to HUD that Larry D. Groth in his capacity as City Manager consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied.  HUD's approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities, and allows the City of Waco to use Program funds.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS

HUD will consider objections to its release of funds and the City of Waco’s certification received by December 9th, 2009 or for a period of fifteen days following its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the City of Waco; (b) the City of Waco has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the project have committed funds or incurred costs not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality.  Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58) and shall be addressed to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Texas State Office, Office of Community Planning and Development, 801 Cherry Street, Unit #45, Ste. 2500, Fort Worth, Texas 76102. Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

Larry D. Groth, P.E.
City Manager
City of Waco
300 Austin Ave.
Waco, Texas 76702

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY FOR REVIEW OF CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT (C.A.P.E.R.) FY 2008-2009

The Department of Housing and Urban Development Consolidated Plan regulations require the City to make annual performance reports for federal grants available to citizens for a sufficient period of time (15) days to permit citizens’ comments on the reports before they are submitted to HUD.

The 2008-2009 C.A.P.E.R. will accomplish the following:

• Provide a description of how the City carried out its activities and housing plan during its last program year that was funded with Community Development Block Grant, and HOME Investment Partnership Program Funds;

• Evaluate projects designed for the rehabilitation or conversion of buildings for use as emergency shelter for the homeless, for the payment of certain operating and social service expenses in connection with emergency shelter for the homeless, and for homeless prevention activities;

• Evaluate projects designed to expand the supply of decent, affordable housing for low and very low income families; strategies for building the local capacity to carry out affordable housing programs and strategies for providing coordinated assistance to participants in the development of affordable low income housing; and

• Evaluate federal, state and local, and private resources directed toward housing for low and very low income households and how these resources were used to meet housing needs and recommendations as included in Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy portion of the Consolidated Plan.

Draft copies of the annual performance report will be made available to the public from November 13 through November 27, 2009 at the following locations:

City Secretary Office                                           Housing and Community Development Services
City of Waco                                                        City of Waco
City Hall                                                 City Hall, Basement
300 Austin Avenue                                             300 Austin Avenue
Waco, Texas 76702                                              Waco, Texas 76702

Waco-McLennan County Library locations:
Main Library                                                         East Waco Library
1717 Austin Avenue                                           901 Elm Street
Waco, Texas 76701                                              Waco, Texas 76704

R.B. Hoover Library                                             South Waco Library
Lake Air Court                                                      2737 South 18th Street
1428 Wooded Acres #104                                  Waco, Texas 76706
Waco, Texas 76710
 
A Public Hearing will be held on December 1, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. in the Bosque Theatre at the Waco Convention Center.
Written comments on the report may be submitted to Community Development Services at the address listed below no later than 5:00 p.m., November 27, 2009.  Reports and copies of the documents may also be obtained by contacting:

Housing and Community Development Services
City of Waco
P.O. Box 2570
Waco, Texas 76702-2570
Patricia W. Ervin
City Secretary

NOTE: Persons with disabilities who plan to attend this meeting and who need auxiliary aids or services should contact Patricia Ervin, City Secretary, at (254) 750-5750 at least twenty-four (24) hours before this meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

IT IS THE OPINION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE THAT THIS MEETING IS BEING HELD AND CONDUCTED AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 551 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMETN CODE.
                                                                   
LEAH HAYES, CITY ATTORNEY

To Publish November 13, 2009; Waco Tribune Herald (Acct #231- 4501- 555-5700)

To be posted on the City of Waco Web Page.

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Telephone: (254) 750-5600 main
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