During  a special called council meeting on Monday, the Frisco City Council took no action to put the Arts of Collin County on the May ballot for a revote.

The meeting came about after a very long regularly scheduled meeting last week in which the council showed that they were very split on the project. The point on Monday’s meeting was simply to decide if the item should be put back on the ballot to let voters decide if they wanted to continue with the project.

After more than an hour in executive session council came out and shared their thoughts .

Council member David Prince felt strong about letting the voters have a say in such a project.

“This is far too important an issue to be cramming through this fast - no matter which side of the issue you are on.  None of this haste is good for Frisco.  Period,” Prince said. “With all the facts, and information, that I have at this time I firmly believe that this bond request should go back to the voters.”

Prince was alone in his push to get the item back on the ballot. He also suggested a citizen referendum. Other council members agreed that it might not be the right time to sell the bonds but none said it should go back on the ballot.

“The bonds are the same now as they were then,” council man Bob Allen said. “As in all things I think we need to look for a win-win situation and a revote is not the answer.”

Council member Pat Fallon wants to see changes made to the ACC Web site to make what they are doing more transparent. The public meetings that have been held aren’t enough for him. He suggested the commission add a history of the project to their Web site, as well as post a good faith estimate for the cost and additionally the commissions own budgets and salaries that they operate from.

“I don’t think in the economic times I would support the sale of the bonds,” he said. “I just can’t wrap my arms around it.”

Several council members and the Mayor also vowed to take a more active role in the project from here on out. Scott Johnson even suggested that someone from the Frisco City Council join the Arts of Collin County Board.

“I did clearly hear that we are not in the position to move forward selling the bonds,” Mayor Maher Maso said.

The council originally passed a bond package back in 2002 for $19 million. They still have $16.4 million in bonds to sell and the ACC commission was pushing for those bonds to be sold sooner rather than later because they have received a guaranteed maximum price 23 percent lower than originally said and would like to continue with construction.

The Frisco City Council will continue their relationship with the Arts of Collin County but have not indicated when they may sell the bonds.