By Joni Simon
Contributing Writer

Fair Oaks Ranch City Council's March meeting lasted longer than the typical 20 minutes and as with other Texas cities, large and small, it was all about water.

The council began a four-phase water service plan that starts with a 12-inch line in the northern part of Fair Oaks Ranch and eventually adds an elevated water tower, also in that part of the city where the Stone Creek Ranch development is being built.

Although a water tower is a long way down the road, according to M&S Engineering, the city's consulting firm, the firm advised the council to "get creative because no one wants a water tower in their own backyard." Daniel E. Konstanski suggested painting the city's green and white insignia on the globe, perhaps, or even doing something as fanciful as shaping the tank in the image of a golf ball perched on a tee.

The council initiated the water service goals etched out by M&S by authorizing staff to begin a bidding process for the installation of a water pipeline to service newly annexed properties, the construction of which will cost the city $135,000.

In addition, they'll pay $27,500 to M&S to provide a bid package. Stone Creek Ranch will also pick up some of the expense.

"We're planning the project to begin as close to the end of the school year as possible because this will be a major obstruction," City Manager Roy Thomas said.

Konstanski told the council Fair Oaks Ranch now has three independent water zones: an upper zone, a gravity zone and a lower zone that have nothing to do with each other. The city currently has 2,349 existing connections. With the addition of Stone Creek and S-Bar Ranch, an additional 2,774 connections are projected, bringing the total to 4,451 connections.

"Fair Oaks Ranch is a small city with big city water demands," Konstanski said. "If you would have a major emergency, very quickly, a lot of the city would feel the effect. A lot of connections would be shut down, mostly because pressure zones don't interact with each other."

The elevated water storage tank, holding 350,000 gallons, would be installed during Phase II of the project. Phase III is when the city begins to "really reap the rewards," Konstanski said. The tank would help feed the gravity zone of the city, which would reduce the cost and maintenance of the water system. During Phase IV, all pressures zones would be interconnected.

"Currently, you almost literally have three different water systems," Konstanski said.

In another water matter, the council approved half of what a couple, building a new house on Saratoga, requested for new landscaping. A variance request to Ordinance 162, section IV, landscape design and installation, was granted after City Administrator Roy Thomas recommended a 55,000 square foot variance for permanent irrigation of the property and a limited time to get the lawn started. The new homeowners can irrigate the new grass for 30 days. If they need more time, they can appeal directly to Thomas without going through the council.

"This is a heck of a lot of water and what we don't want is somebody using a heck of a lot of water," Alderman Frank Pickart said. "We're not trying to keep you from having a beautiful home because you will have a beautiful home. It's the big lots we worry about. We can't allow 100,000 gallons of water. You bought a big lot, but that doesn't give you the right to use more water than folks who own garden homes." Homeowner Paul Steldt, who attended the meeting, said he'll cover a back berm with native grass for erosion control and use as much mulch and river rock as possible.

"I can't think of any instance that we've granted that much water use," Alderman Ray Balcer said. "If we have good rains like we had last year, you won't need that much water."

The council kicked off the city's 20th anniversary during the meeting.

An event, slated for May 17, is called "Fair Oaks Ranch - Then and Now." A parade will form at Saratoga and Keeneland. Beginning at 3 p.m., decorated golf carts, riding lawn mowers, tractors, trailers, cars and trucks will parade from Saratoga down Keeneland Drive to Battle Intense. Fire trucks, police escorts, motorcycles and classic cars will also be a part of the parade. Residents may secure a spot in the parade by calling City Hall at (210) 698-0900 no late than May 2.

After the parade, a welcome ceremony begins at 4 p.m. in a covered tent at Keeneland and Battle Intense. A color guard, the national anthem, sung by the Fair Oaks Ranch Elementary School Honor Choir, live music by the Sylvia and Friends Band and various exhibitors are also on the program.