At Tuesday’s (6/10/25) City Council meeting, the City of Anna showcased its commitment to community engagement, thoughtful planning, and economic growth. From recognizing graduates of the Neighbor Academy who are stepping up to serve the city, to unveiling plans for the upcoming community survey, and approving key downtown development funding, the Council balanced progress with careful consideration. Amid spirited discussions on development safety and future infrastructure needs, the meeting highlighted the city’s dedication to building a thriving, connected, and safe community for all residents.

1. 7th Neighbor Academy Class Recognized
2. Community Survey Returns with New Focus
3. Surduken Resolution Denied (For Now)
4. Anna City Council Approves CDC Resolution on Downtown Development Loans
5. Summary

7th Neighbor Academy Class Recognized

During Tuesday’s City Council meeting, the Anna City Council recognized the graduates of the 7th Neighbor Academy.

Assistant to the City Manager, Kimberly Winarski, spoke about the program’s role in civic engagement and its growing impact on the city:

“It’s a program we host twice annually.”

“The purpose of the program is to educate our neighbors—people in our community—about what the government does.”

“Having that wealth of knowledge in the people who’ve gone through this program is fantastic.”

“Please be involved. We’re proud to say we have:
– Two City Council members
– 14 current board and commission members (of 44 total), including a chair
– 34 city volunteers
– Two current City staff members (in addition to one already on staff)
…all from the Neighbor Academy.”

The Neighbor Academy continues to serve as a pipeline for informed, involved residents ready to serve their city.

Community Survey Returns with New Focus

Also mentioned at Tuesday’s City Council meeting: the City’s community survey, done every three years, is returning—but with a few changes this time around.

Public Affairs Manager Frances La Rue briefed the council on what to expect:

“We do a community survey every three years. The first one we did was in 2022.”

“Our goal is to understand our neighbors perspectives on key issues affecting quality of life.”

“Helps us have statistically valid benchmark data.”

“The goal is to ensure that our planning and budgeting align with priorities that matter to our neighbors.”

“Conducted in partnership with Polco, they are the national leader in civic survey research.”

“We are now adding a page of custom questions related to transportation.”

Key Dates:
– Survey release: June 23
– Open participation begins: June 30
– Data collection closes: August 4
– Final report from Polco: September 1

“Eventually we will have open participation that will be a separate link so we can keep our sample size separate from the open participation.”

“Gives neighbors a voice in local decision-making.”

“Hopefully we get a lot more participation in this survey than we do in the elections.”

Council members also offered suggestions and requests:

Councilman Manny Singh:
“Can we add some questions about communication, how can we communicate better to the community? What have we seen that we’ve been doing better, what can we improve on—town halls, website, some type of communication—whatever, let’s see what they’re looking at and how we can improve that because I think alongside with infrastructure there’s a opportunity there.”

Frances confirmed:

“There is a question in the survey directly related to that, how are you getting your information about the City?”

Council members expressed interest in using the survey data to help track progress and identify future needs.

Councilman Kevin Toten:
“I do have one ask, before we receive results for this year can we, can the council, see some new and I-myself would like a reminder of the results from 2022 so we can kind of see the pattern and you know some differences and stuff like that.”

Councilman Manny Singh added:
“For the data—can we take a look at the last three data sets and can they provide variances so number one the reason I ask that can we tell a story on what we’ve improved on and can we tell a story of where do we still have opportunities–?”

In response, Frances La Rue emphasized the potential of the data to guide future action:

“I love the idea, once we actually get the information back from everyone that’ll be a great story for us to tell where have we improved where do we still need to. And then of course we can be aligning our priorities based off of that feedback.”

As the City prepares to launch this year’s survey, both staff and council are hopeful the results will offer more than just numbers—they aim to capture a clearer picture of where Anna is thriving, and where it still has room to grow. With resident participation, the survey could become a roadmap for decision-making grounded in the community’s own voice.

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Surduken Resolution Denied (For Now)

The Anna City Council revisited a development plat that had previously been tabled at an earlier meeting. City Planning Manager Lauren Mecke began the discussion by clarifying something many people may wonder. What is a development plat?

“(It) is a requirement for properties in the ETJ (extra territorial jurisdiction) that wish to develop to ensure they’re following your subdivision regulations.”

Councilman Stan Carver II started the debate with background on the issue and the reason for the delay:

“One of the reasons council wanted approval to pull this item is because it was a public topic in the previous session and I wouldn’t say it was necessarily controversial but we didn’t want it to look like we’re trying to make something happen behind the scenes… never want to be accused of not being transparent with our voters and community.”

“This item the council has spent a lot of time doing their homework on… the laws are in a lot of flux at the state and county level and there’s a bit of politics going on with the proposed ESD… basically the servicing of the fire district outside of the city boundaries of all of the cities in the county of Collin.”

“It’s been handed down to us to try to govern… within the limitations of the ETJ… this is the first one of this kind – not set a precedence for other people wanting to do similar or what may seem similar.”

Stan then invited Mr. Surduken himself to explain his proposal:

“The whole process of this was my daughter-in-law has a heart for family… we’re looking to build a house there and then… maybe build a smaller house that we can house people that need temporary quarters like spouses abused… someplace where people can really unwind and find themself.”

City Manager Ryan Henderson then recommended holding off on action:

“Mayor, Council, if I may… I would recommend that you do not take an action on this item tonight… allow staff to get involved with Mr. Surdoken and see what we can just work out.”

“Public safety concerns still with 8 houses presents challenges… if there’s a way of trying to make this smaller… I would welcome the opportunity to at least sit back with the staff, talk through this, and come back in a future meeting and have some action on it.”

Mr. Surduken responded:

“The way development plats work, if you put it on a development plat you never have to come back to the city again… The subdivision ordinance per the state says we can put as many houses we want on that property as long as it is within the requirements.”

Councilman Jody Bills asked for clarification:

“Based off of what you just said, a lot of moving pieces, are you saying that your preference is for us to get it all done in one fell swoop so that you can be done? Or are you willing to potentially—because you just said in 20 years, there’s no telling, right? We have no crystal ball. And I agree. But knowing that fact, if we don’t know what’s going to happen year 3, 5, and 7, and there’s a way we could work with you to where you could get started on the two or the three, and that wouldn’t break any rules as far as fire and all those are concerned—Is that something you’d be willing to talk to the City about?”

Surdoken replied:

“Yeah, sure. But my question is, I don’t understand why we even have to do that if the subdivision warrants that the state has… we still meet the state’s requirements…”

Councilman Kevin Toten interjected:

“That has nothing to do with why the staff was against this to begin with, it’s about safety.”
(Jody Bills echoed: “It’s about safety.”)

“No, I’m not going at him. I’m reminding everyone else—we’re not talking about the plat. If he says he’s going to build 8, because who knows how big this gets, who knows how much need is needed until it’s there, available. The concern that the council had, and the concern that the council asked staff to look into—and they did—was safety. And now we’re coming up with more reasons. We had our chances last meeting, and now we’re back and we’re just adding more stuff to it. We covered what the concern the council had last meeting. That’s what our city attorney did. It’s frustrating that we’re going to waste this gentleman’s time and call him back for another meeting.”

Councilwoman Kelly Herndon reaffirmed:

“It’s still about safety for me. And that has not been answered yet.”

Councilman Manny Singh requested clarification:

[Asked for statistics related to the plat to be reviewed publicly]

But before Councilman Manny‘s question could be answered Mayor Pete Cain then moved the discussion toward postponement:

“We should do what Ryan said… Council if you have a question have it sent to Carrie by tomorrow evening… and we can deal with this at our next meeting.”

The council voted unanimously to postpone the item to the next meeting (7-0-0), with staff and Mr. Surdoken expected to revisit options for moving forward.

In the end, despite heartfelt intentions and an earnest back-and-forth between the applicant and council members, the proposal’s complexity proved too much for a same-night decision. The Council remained focused on its core concern—public safety—especially as the project originally proposed up to eight homes in a fire-service-challenged area of the ETJ. While Mr. Surdoken emphasized flexibility and a desire to help vulnerable community members, the Council felt more clarity was needed before moving forward.

The discussion also highlighted broader issues: the difficulty of balancing compassion-driven projects with long-term zoning implications, the blurred jurisdiction in ETJ governance, and how a single plat decision can set a precedent far beyond one family’s property.

For now, the project remains in limbo, with staff directed to revisit the details and revisit the discussion at a future meeting.

Anna City Council Approves CDC Resolution on Downtown Development Loans

At Tuesday night’s meeting, the Anna City Council approved a resolution allowing the Anna Community Development Corporation (CDC) to restructure nearly $2.5 million in loans for downtown property development and parking improvements.

Bernie Parker, Director of Economic Development, laid out the details of the loan and its intended impact.

“Just to give a little background on where we want it and where we are today. In 2022 the city Council, the CDC, and the EDC board conducted a joint workshop identifying downtown properties acquisition as a key priority to advance this initiative. The CDC selected multiple properties in the downtown area which we own approximately 5 acres. The one we are talking about tonight is located at the northeast section of FM-455 as well as W 8th Street along Interurban. This approximately 2.1 acres. On May 1st, the CDC held a public hearing and on May 22nd approved the resolution authorizing the loan that was just mentioned in these first 2 readings.”

“This loan will be used as mentioned with an existing loan with Lamar Bank to construct a future parking lot on a portion of the lot’s acreage. Ensuring continued progress property development on Powell Parkway and W 8th Street. Also mentioned on May 22nd the CDC board directed staff to allocate funds designated to downtown land acquisition in the 2025 CDC budget toward reducing the principal on the government capital portion of the taxable loan.”

“The impetus behind this is that their group at Lamar Bank has been a joy to work with, it’s just the structure of that loan is contingent on using existing buildings and land as collateral, whereas Dove Cap, which we have a previous loan with, allocates future sales tax which gives a little bit more flexibility as far as economic incentives for future development.”

Councilman Stan Carver II pressed for clarification on the financial specifics asking,

“We talk about our credit worthiness at the city level, what’s our creditworthiness like, how’s this effect it… You know we have our score, double A score, how’s it effect…?”

Bernie Parker, Director of Economic Development, responded,

“It does not impact it.”

Carver pressed further,

“I mean does… I’m asking the wrong question… how does… does the EDC run under it’s own score separate from the city?”

Parker then clarified,

“We have AA, we have the same as the city, credit rating,”

Carver remarked loudly,

“And obviously it’s really healthy because one of our newest banks is financing this.”

Parker affirmed,

“Initially before Lamar Bank did this, it was going through Dove Cap. So Dove Cap restructured this loan whereas Lamar Bank had to utilize buildings that are on there right now as well as the land as collateral. If I could, I didn’t explain a little bit more: there are existing probably 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 homes that are on these lots right now, and for the advancement of some potential future investment we need to remove these homes. There has become a safety issue, we did have one of our structures broke into. So we’re using this to go ahead and remove those structures to where we’ll have vacant use of property. As mentioned before, the portion on the W 8th and Interurban, we’re looking to construct a parking lot there.”

Carver closed his line of questioning with a show of support,

“Sure, and by the way anybody listening there heard the word governmental organization removing homes. Most of the landowners hadn’t heard any say otherwise and had been waiting for this day to be able to transition their properties over to something for the city. Keep up the good work, move fast, make good things happen.”

Councilman Kevin Toten then praised the focus on parking,

“I just appreciate that y’all are thinking parking before anything else. I think we’ve learned from other cities around us in Collin County that—”

Parker quickly interrupted with enthusiasm,

“I’m sorry, and I’d like to take the time also to brag on Greg and his staff and also this council as far as also having that forthright vision around parking. You see here off of Wiggins, also along 7th St., there’s a lot of great things that are happening downtown.

He also offered a “shameless plug” for the CDC’s upcoming developer forum: July 17 at 8:00 AM, where officials hope to announce a major new development coming to the downtown core.

The council voted unanimously to approve the resolution, clearing the way for financing, demolition, and next steps.

Summary

At Tuesday’s Anna City Council meeting, several key community topics were addressed. The Council recognized graduates of the 7th Neighbor Academy, highlighting the program’s success in engaging residents and preparing many for city service roles, including current council members, volunteers, and staff.

The City’s triennial community survey was announced, set to launch June 23, with added questions focused on transportation and communication. Councilmembers expressed interest in using the survey data to track progress and better align city planning with resident priorities.

A development plat proposed by Mr. Surduken, aiming to build up to eight homes including temporary housing for vulnerable community members, was discussed but ultimately postponed due to unresolved public safety concerns related to fire district servicing in the extra territorial jurisdiction (ETJ). Council members emphasized the need for staff to work further with the applicant before reconsidering.

The Council unanimously approved a resolution allowing the Anna Community Development Corporation (CDC) to restructure nearly $2.5 million in loans to advance downtown property acquisitions and parking improvements. The CDC plans to demolish existing homes on acquired lots to clear the way for future development and a new parking lot near FM-455 and W 8th Street. The meeting also promoted an upcoming developer forum to announce a major downtown project.

Overall, the meeting reflected the city’s ongoing efforts to engage residents, improve infrastructure and safety, and foster downtown growth while balancing compassion and long-term planning.

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Written by Brayden R. Heath