Rosenberg picks new zoning planner

After the first few meetings of Rosenberg's Land Use Plan Committee didn't get off on the right foot, City Council moved quickly, authorizing a contract with a consultant the city manager already knew.

Bill Knesek, chairman of the committee that is hammering out a proposed zoning ordinance for the city, told Council Tuesday night that he did not have confidence that consultant Wayne E. Neumann could lead the committee to concluding its work in time. Informed by City Manager Jack Hamlett that he intended to terminate the professional services agreement with Neumann, Council authorized him to contract with Donald E. Smith, the director of planning for the city of Seguin, where Hamlett served as city manager prior to being hired by Rosenberg two years ago.

“After two meetings, it was doubtful that Mr. Neumann was going to be able to execute the needed work in time,” Knesek told Council. “The more important thing was that, for whatever reason, he did not seem to have the ability to take command of the meetings and instill confidence among the committee members.”

The city will pay Neumann for services rendered to this point, Hamlett said. However, the contract with Smith is not to exceed $15,000 while Neumann's was in excess of $32,000.

The Land Use Plan Committee is charged with drafting a proposed planning and zoning ordinance to present to Council by early 2008. Upon Council's approval, the proposal could be placed on a November 2008 ballot.