City Council Meeting - September 9, 2025 Tuesday, September 09, 2025 06:00 PM City Hall, 120 El Chico Trl., Suite A, Willow Park, TX 76087

CALL TO ORDER AND DETERMINATION OF QUORUM

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INVOCATION

PUBLIC COMMENTS (Limited to five minutes per person)

To address the City Council, residents must complete a speaker form and turn it in to the City Secretary at least five (5) minutes before the start of the meeting.  The Rules of Procedure state that all comments are to be limited to five (5) minutes for each speaker provided that there are no more than ten (10) speakers. If there are more than ten (10) speakers, the Mayor and/or the City Council may reduce the applicable time limits to speak to three (3) minutes. Pursuant to the Texas Open Meetings Act, the Council is not permitted to take action or discuss any item not listed on the agenda.  The Council may: (1) make a statement of fact regarding the item, (2) make a statement concerning the policy regarding the item; (3) propose the item be placed on a future agenda (Tex. Govt. Code 551.042). Each speaker shall approach the podium or designated speaker location and state his/her name and address before speaking.  Speakers shall address the City Council with civility that is conductive to appropriate public discussion.  Speakers may only address the City Council and not individual officials, commission members, committee members, or employees.  The public cannot speak from the gallery, but only from the podium or designated speaker location.

CONSENT AGENDA

These items consist of non-controversial or "housekeeping" items required by law.  Items may be considered individually by any Council member making such request prior to a motion and vote on the Consent Items. 

• 1.City Council meeting minutes for July 8, 2025.

• 2.City Council Special meeting minutes for July 15, 2025.

• 3.City Council Special meeting minutes for July 28, 2025.

REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS

• 4.Discussion & Action: to consider approval of Engagement Letter for City Attorney Services with Messer Fort; and discussion of permanent vs. temporary; procurement/process and authorization for Request for Qualifications procedure. (Council Member Chawn Gilliland; Mayor Pro Tem Nathan Crummel)(Mayor Teresa Palmer) 

• 5.Discussion & Action: to accept the resignation of Council Member Greg Runnebaum, Place 3. (Mayor Pro Tem Nathan Crummel; Council Member Scott Smith)

• 6.Discussion & Action: to discuss, consider, and act on to setting the date, time, and place for a public hearing on the tax rate and  proposed budget for the period beginning October 1, 2025 thru September 30, 2026.  (City Manager Bryan Grimes)

  In accordance with Section 551.043 of the Texas Local Government Code, the City of Willow Park provides the following Taxpayer Impact Statement for the upcoming fiscal year budget: For the median-valued homestead property a comparison of the current property tax bill in dollars pertaining to the property for the current fiscal year (“FY”), an estimate if the proposed budget is adopted for the upcoming FY, and an estimate of a balanced budget at the no-new-revenue tax rate for the upcoming FY is below: 

  Taxpayer Impact Statement

  Property Tax Due on Median Valued Homestead

  2024 Rate vs. 2025 Proposed Rate vs. 2025 No New Revenue Rate

                                        Rate per $100 of Median Valued                    Tax Due

                                                   Value                    Homestead Property

  2024 Adopted Tax Rate          $0.432546                   $357,677                    $1,547.11

  2025 Proposed Tax Rate        $0.421646                   $380,310                    $1,603.56

  2025 No New Revenue Rate  $0.424084                   $380,310                    $1,612.83

• 7.Discussion & Action: to discuss, consider and act on approving a proposed ad valorem tax rate for the period beginning October 1, 2025 thru September 30, 2026 and Setting the Public Hearing date and time. (City Manager Bryan Grimes)

• 8.Discussion & Action: Each City Council Member and Mayor Palmer will choose 1 candidate from the list to Interview for the Vacancy of City Council Place 3; and City Council to appoint and fill City Council Member, Place 3 vacancy; and administer Oath by Mayor Palmer. (Mayor Pro Tem Nathan Crummel; Council Member Scott Smith)(Mayor Teresa Palmer)

• 9.Discussion & Action: to consider the appointment of Deputy City Secretary and/or the possible engagement of a search firm, such as Strategic Government Resources (SGR), for interim city secretary services. (Mayor Pro Tem Nathan Crummel; City Manager Bryan Grimes)(Mayor Teresa Palmer) 

• 10.Discussion: Texas Legislative update and its impact on Open Meetings Act. (City Manager Bryan Grimes)

• 11.Discussion/Action to review the practice of having "sponsorships" for agenda items. (Councilmember Eric Contreras)

• 12.Discussion & Action: to approve an interlocal agreement with Parker County for jail services. (WPPD Chief Ray Lacy; Lt. Quincy Hamilton)

• 13.Discussion: Home Rule Charter Commission Report to the Mayor and City Council. (Mayor Teresa Palmer)

EXECUTIVE SESSION It is anticipated that all, or a portion of the discussion of the foregoing item will be conducted in closed executive session under authority of the Section 551 of the Texas Open Meetings Act. However, no action will be taken on this item until the City Council reconvenes in open session. 

• 14.Section 551.071, Consultation with Attorney; Section 551.074, Personnel Matters - City Manager; Employment Agreement; Severance Agreement.

• 15.Section 551. 071, Consultation with City Attorney; Section 551.087, Economic Development Negotiations, Dean Ranch Development.

• 16.Section 551.071, Consultation with City Attorney regarding pending or contemplated litigation: Beall Dean Ranch Development (Demand Letter from City of Fort Worth and City of Aledo).

• 17.Section 551.074, Personnel Matters – Deliberate the appointment of Planning & Zoning Commission members.

RECONVENE into Open Session and consider action, if any, on the item discussed in Executive Session.

• 18.Discussion & Action: on the possible engagement of a search firm, such as Strategic Government Resources (SGR), for interim city manager services. (Mayor Teresa Palmer) 

INFORMATIONAL

City Manager Comments

City Council Comments

Mayor Comments

ADJOURN

As authorized by Texas Government Code, §551.127, one or more Council members or employees may attend this meeting remotely using video conferencing technology.

The City Council may convene a public meeting and then recess into closed executive session, to discuss any of the items listed on this agenda, if necessary, and if authorized under chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code. Situations in which a closed executive session may be authorized by law include, without limitation: (1) consulting with the Council’s attorney to seek or receive legal advice concerning pending or contemplated litigation, a settlement offer, or any other matter in which the ethical duty of the attorney to the Council clearly conflicts with the general requirement that all meetings be open, § 551.071; (2) discussing the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property, § 551.072; (3) discussing a prospective gift or donation, § 551.073; (4) discussing certain personnel matters, §551.074; and (5) discussing security personnel or devices, § 551.076.

CERTIFICATION I, the undersigned authority, do hereby certify that this Notice of a Meeting was posted on the bulletin board at City Hall, 120 El Chico Trail, Suite A,  Willow Park, TX 76087, a place convenient and readily accessible to the general public at all times and was posted on the city website, and said Notice was posted on the following date and time: September 3, 2025 at/by 6:00 p.m. and remained so posted continuously for at least three (3) business days before said meeting is to convene.