Public Meetings - Fort Worth, Texas

The Downtown Design Review Board (DDRB) held a public hearing on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at 3:30 PM. The meeting included two certificate of appropriateness cases: a streetscape waiver for a hotel renovation at 309 West 7th Street and a single-family container home at 1305 Waterman Street. The board also heard an announcement about the JA Inspired Career Expo and approved the minutes from the January 9, 2026 meeting. Consent Calendar - January 9, 2026 Meeting Minutes approved unanimously. Public Comments & Testimony - Case DG 2026-002 (309 West 7th Street): - Melissa Konore, representing Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. (DFWI) Design Review Committee, expressed strong support for the project, noting the building has been vacant and underutilized for a long time. She emphasized that DFWI staff works thoroughly with applicants on tree and infrastructure feasibility before cases reach the board. - Case DG 2026-003 (1305 Waterman Street): - Melissa Konore again expressed DFWI's continued support for the container home project. Discussion Items - Case DG 2026-002 - 309 West 7th Street: - The applicant, Samantha Garbarino (Bennett Partners, architect), presented plans to renovate the historic Oil and Gas Building into a boutique hotel. The project includes a valet lane on West 7th Street (utilizing an existing drop-off zone) and a drop-off zone on Taylor Street (for hotel service and event space entrance). Because the building's basement extends nearly to the curb on Taylor Street and there is extensive underground infrastructure (Encore electrical vault, water lines, data cables) on both sides, the applicant requested waivers from the street tree and sidewalk width standards. In lieu of street trees, they proposed planters with vertical landscaping. Staff recommended approval subject to coordinating with staff and DFWI on streetscape improvements. - Board members discussed the feasibility of street trees and the possibility of requiring planters as a condition. Commissioner Burns suggested tethering the waiver approval to the installation of landscape enhancements such as planters, a view supported by Chairperson Redima. The design team expressed willingness to explore landscape solutions. - Case DG 2026-003 - 1305 Waterman Street: - Applicant Michael Stearns (Truly Yours Property Group) presented the second iteration of the container home project. The project had been approved by the DDRB in January 2026 for a different lot, but that property was sold the same day as the hearing. The applicant then acquired the adjacent lot at 1305 Waterman Street and returned with the same design, incorporating board feedback: extending the porch to align with a window, adjusting railing attachments, adding a more prominent front door, and planning enhanced landscaping. No public opposition was heard. Key Outcomes - Case DG 2026-002 (309 West 7th Street): Approved (6–0) with conditions: - Certificate of appropriateness granted for the valet lane on West 7th Street and drop-off zone on Taylor Street. - Waiver from the sidewalk standards (minimum 10 feet) approved to allow a width of 9.24 feet (or later adjusted to approximately 7.5 feet as required by Transportation Development Services). - Waiver from the street tree standards approved, with the condition that the applicant install substantial landscape enhancements (such as planters) acceptable to staff. Staff will continue to work with the applicant to finalize the streetscape design and will report back to the board if an agreement cannot be reached. - Case DG 2026-003 (1305 Waterman Street): Approved unanimously for the certificate of appropriateness and all three requested waivers (roof pitch, container home materials, and five-foot sidewalk). The approval is subject to final coordination with staff on landscape elements. The next DDRB meeting is scheduled for March 5, 2026.

The Fort Worth City Council held a work session on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 3:52 PM (with a brief recess from 1:02 PM to 1:56 PM). The meeting included staff reports, employee recognitions, presentations on the Convention Center expansion and naming rights, an economic development agreement, a proposed charter election, and requests for future agenda items. No public comments were heard. Organizational Updates and Employee Recognitions - City Manager Jay Chapa announced organizational updates: Economic Development will now report to Dana Burghdoff and Public Events to Dianna Giordano, effective after a transition period. - Development Services was recognized as number one in the nation for permitting efficiency. Staff presented a video highlighting streamlined processes and customer focus. Council praised the department's leadership and collaboration with the development community. - Fort Worth Public Library was recognized for being in the top 20% of all Texas public libraries, receiving the Texas Municipal League 2025 Achievement of Excellence in Libraries Award. Midori Clark accepted the award. Informal Reports (Discussion Items) - 2026 Recommendations for 9% Housing Tax Credit Applications: Kacey Thomas presented resolutions of support for applicants that comply with city policy. Councilmember Hall expressed concern about community engagement for one project (View at Alta Mesa) in District 6, noting a virtual meeting had no attendees and occurred during an ice storm. Staff agreed to ask the developer to hold another meeting. Councilmember Lauersdorf emphasized the seven-day notice requirement. Councilmember Nettles clarified that the resolution only indicates support per ordinance; zoning changes will be considered separately. - Next Steps on Council Priorities: Christianne Simmons presented; no questions from council. - Collegiate and Vocational Student Internship Placement: HR Director Kristen Smith outlined a new framework for citywide internships, standardizing hourly pay ($15/hour), minimum age (16), and maximum hours (240 hours per fiscal year per intern, with specific guidelines for council interns). Council discussed supplementing with district funds, flexibility for part-time arrangements, and alignment with the Next Gen program. Councilmember Nettles requested flexibility for longer part-time internships. City Manager Chapa noted the need to follow IRS guidelines. - Floodplain Management Plan 5-Year Update: No questions. - Panther Island Public Improvement District: Brady Kirk explained that the petition is led by property holder Seiko, not city staff. Councilmember Martinez asked about the process; Kirk clarified staff supports but does not lead. - Proposed Council-Initiated Zoning Change for 5329 and 5335 East 1st Street: LaShondra Stringfellow presented. Councilmembers Peoples and Martinez thanked staff for quick work to protect floodplain areas in Districts 5 and 11. - Proposed Subdivision Ordinance Amendments to Promote Infill Development: D.J. Harrell presented amendments to ease infill development inside the loop by reducing bureaucratic steps. Councilmember Hill asked about the relationship with the Planning Commission; Harrell confirmed no change in authority and noted the ordinance was presented to the commission three times. Presentations - Fort Worth Convention Center Phase II Expansion Schematic Design: Michael Crum, Bob Jameson, and Michael Bennett presented. Phase II will add 359,000 square feet of space, including a 40,000-square-foot ballroom, expanded exhibit halls, and new meeting rooms. Construction completion is targeted for December 2029. The design features a transparent facade and an iconic tower. Council expressed excitement. City Manager Chapa announced a leadership transition: Michael Crum will become deputy director, and Cynthia Sir Sanchez Serrano will become director of Public Events, with Crum consulting part-time. - Convention Center Naming Rights: Michael Crum proposed seeking a naming rights partner, with an estimated initial value of $450,000–$500,000 per year. The process will take multiple years, with a goal to have a partner by the 2030 reopening. Councilmember Blaylock asked for comparison; Crum noted Huntington Place in Detroit gets $1.5M annually. No potential partners have been approached yet. - Weir Minerals Economic Development Program Agreement: Josh Giles presented a retention agreement for Weir Minerals, a global mining technology company. The company will expand its lease at 777 Main from 11,000 to 15,000 square feet with a minimum $3.4 million capital investment. The city proposes a three-year grant capped at $185,000 (5% participation rate), retaining 67 full-time jobs with an average salary of $160,000. The project supports downtown office occupancy and hotel stays. Council had no questions. - Charter Election: Assistant City Attorney Gavin Midgley presented nine propositions (G–O) for the May 2026 ballot, to be combined with a bond election. Key items include: council pay increase to $60,000 for mayor and $50,000 for council (effective October 1, 2026); removal of public hearing requirements for department directors and council appointees; allowance for budget adoption at the same meeting as a budget hearing; and other cleanups. After discussion, council agreed to remove proposition H (changing the quorum requirement from two-thirds to a simple majority). Propositions I and J will remain but with simplified language. The effective date for pay increases was set to the start of the next fiscal year. Key Outcomes - Staff directed to request an additional community meeting for the View at Alta Mesa housing tax credit project. - Charter election propositions were finalized: propositions G and K–O will appear on the May 2026 ballot; proposition H was removed; propositions I and J will have simplified language. Council pay increases will take effect October 1, 2026. - Multiple requests for future agenda items were accepted: Councilmember Hill requested a report on fluoride removal impact; Councilmember Beck requested reports on fee/fine structures for development violations and third-party inspector operations; Councilmember Martinez requested an ordinance to ban hourly hotel rates and a report on yard parking citation enforcement; Councilmember Lauersdorf requested an update on the Veteran Owned Small Business Contracts Program; Councilmember Nettles requested a report on citations issued to homeless individuals; Councilmember Peoples requested an update on water disconnection policies during inclement weather; Mayor Parker requested monthly breakdowns of water disconnections by council district and notification options. - The work session concluded at 3:52 PM.

The Public Safety Committee convened on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM to discuss lift assist fees for private facilities, opioid settlement fund allocations, public safety partnerships with homeless strategies, and future information requests regarding illegal gunfire campaigns, parks damage, diversion programs, and workers' compensation. Consent Calendar - Motion to approve the December 2, 2025, meeting minutes passed unanimously. Discussion Items - Lift Assist Fees for Private Facilities: The committee reviewed a report on non-emergency lift assist calls to private facilities (e.g., independent living facilities), which consume significant Fire Department resources. Committee members expressed support for a fee structure targeting institutions (not individuals) to recover costs, noting many facilities call due to liability concerns. Staff indicated they are evaluating multiple fees and will return with recommendations later this year as part of the budget process. - Opioid Settlement Fund Allocations (Presentation by Keisher Light): The city has received three payments totaling approximately $1.5 million from pharmaceutical settlements, with an anticipated total of $4.6 million over 18 years. Two funding requests were discussed: - Fire Department: $410,204 for a peer support specialist, expanded treatment access, and community engagement (to increase overdose response team from 2 to 4 days per week). - Homeless Strategies: $221,385 for a chemical dependency counselor contracted through MHMR and medication to support the High Impact Program. - The committee favored future allocations staying within city departments rather than outside agencies. Interest earnings ($75,000) may be used to supplement reduced amounts. - Public Safety Partnerships & Homeless Strategies (Presentation by Tara Perez): - High Impact Program (17-month pilot): 86% housed; 95% of clients have severe mental illness; 73% have substance use disorder. Psychiatric service acceptance rose from 15% to 63% over time through creative rapport-building. - Targeted Outreach: Six workers in high-impact areas; met with 613 unsheltered individuals in Q1. Emphasis on connecting people to housing, employment, or treatment. - Information Requests: - Councilmember requested a presentation on the Hope Team, including historical resource allocations for fire and police. - Councilmember Dr. Hall requested a citywide educational campaign on illegal gunfire, citing five homicides in District 6 in Q4 2025 and additional deaths. - Councilmember requested information on: 1. Damage to parks equipment (burned playgrounds, roofs) from unsheltered populations. 2. Overview of diversion programs for youth (proactive vs. reactive, utilization rates). 3. Workers' compensation claims process and accountability for first responder care, including cosmetic injuries. Key Outcomes - Staff will bring a report on lift assist fees and other fee structures later in the year. - Proposed opioid settlement allocations will be presented to City Council on February 24, 2026, for approval. - Staff will provide information on the Hope Team, parks damage, diversion programs, and workers' compensation processes at future meetings. - No formal votes were taken on substantive items; discussion concluded with direction to staff.

Introductory paragraph: The Audit and Finance Committee met on February 3, 2026, to approve previous meeting minutes and receive a briefing from the City Auditor on recent audit work and data analysis activities. Consent Calendar - Approval of December 2, 2025 meeting minutes: Motion passed unanimously. Discussion Items - City Auditor Report (Patrice Randall): Since the last meeting, three audit reports and one data analysis report have been released: - City Hall Contracting Audit: Contractors generally complied with contract terms; minor noncompliance regarding insurance was noted. - Fort Worth Housing Finance Corp Audit: Expenses were properly reviewed and approved, but control weaknesses were identified: (1) segregated duties – some expenses were approved under a generic user ID (e.g., "administrator"), preventing identification of the actual approver; (2) blank check stock control issues; (3) documentation lacking support (e.g., bus passes issued without records of recipients); (4) lack of formal written policies and procedures. The department has begun deactivating generic user accounts. - Tree Mitigation Fund Audit: Processes for tree canopy preparation and fee assessment/collection are in place, but the Park Department’s manual process reduces accountability (permits and receipts not pre‑numbered). Recommendation to automate. Additionally, city code for tree mitigation fees assessed by the Park Department was unclear; the department was using standard operating procedures based on a prior ordinance. Parks and Development Services should work with the City Attorney’s office to update the code. - Data Analysis: - Duplicate payments: One duplicate was identified and refunded; a prior duplicate from an earlier report was also refunded. - Hotel occupancy taxes: Three hotels previously identified as non‑compliant; two have paid. Alex Lawfer (Treasurer) noted continued coordination with legal to send delinquency notices and possible referral to collection agent Lime Barger for the remaining non‑compliant hotel. - Warranties on automobile batteries and vehicles: Some invoices were paid for batteries replaced during the warranty period. Property Management will begin reconciling NAPA billings and technicians will check for frequent battery replacement issues. For police/fire vehicles, tows may be considered for warranty coverage. - Intranet Page Update: The City Auditor’s department is creating an intranet page to track the status of audit recommendations (outstanding, implemented, not implemented), include committee presentations, and provide audit tips. Target completion: no later than March 31, 2026. Key Outcomes - The committee received and discussed the audit reports and data analysis. No formal votes were taken on the findings. The meeting adjourned by motion.

The Fort Worth City Plan Commission met on January 29, 2026, at 9:00 AM (start time indicated by "Good morning") to consider two street/alley vacation requests, review and approve substantive amendments to the subdivision ordinance regarding infill development, and elect officers for the coming year. Nine of eleven members were present, constituting a quorum. Commissioner Colby Adams (Council District 3) was introduced as a new member. Consent Calendar - Approval of January 8, 2026, Meeting Minutes: Approved unanimously by voice vote (motion by Commissioner Johnson, second by Commissioner Gillette). Discussion Items - Case VA25029 – Vacation of a Portion of an Alley (Block 8, South Side Edition, Council District 11): Staff (Alex Parks) presented the request to vacate a dead-end alley north of West Seminary Drive. The applicant, Christian Golobievsky, explained the vacated portion would be paved as a parking lot connecting to an existing driveway, allowing utility access. The applicant owns property on both sides of the alley. No opposition. The commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the vacation to the City Council. - Case VA25031 – Vacation of Portions of Growth Street, Iron Street, and Wallace Street (Council District 11): Staff presented the request to vacate remnant paper streets on both sides of Beach Street, previously vacated in connecting segments. The sole purpose is to clear title for future platting. No applicant or public testimony was offered. The commission voted unanimously to recommend approval. - Revised Infill Subdivision Ordinance (Text Amendments): Staff presented a detailed update to the definition of infill development and proposed amendments to the subdivision ordinance. Key changes included: - Definition: Infill development is now defined as any development within a one-mile buffer of Loop A20 (within city limits, platted before January 1, 2000) OR within Urban Residential (UR), any form-based code district, historic district, or within a quarter-mile of a frequent transit route (bus routes with headways ≤15 minutes and all passenger rail stations). - Connectivity Index: Removed the blanket waiver; the Director of Development Services may now waive or reduce the requirement based on site conditions, topography, and neighborhood character. - Lot Lines: Flexibility for infill to allow lots not perpendicular to street centerlines, considering topography, easements, and built conditions. - Townhome Design: For turn-down townhome lots with access ways perpendicular to a public street, the end lot must front the public street to prevent “turn-down” designs. - Access Ways & Easements: Reduced paved width to 5 feet for infill; reduced corner clips (public open space easements) at alley–street intersections from 10’x10’ to 5’x5’ unless sight distance requires greater dedication. - Alley Construction: For infill, if an alley is required, the developer must build from the property line out to the street; an interim public alley may be paved with materials capable of handling 10,000+ pounds. - Block Face Length: Does not apply to infill under 2 acres, except for UR, form-based code, and edge block districts (which have their own standards). - Staff provided a redline showing changes since the November 2025 presentation. Commissioner questions were addressed, and no public testimony was offered in favor or opposition. The commission voted unanimously (9-0) to approve the subdivision ordinance textual amendments as presented. - Election of Officers: - Chair: Caroline Cranz was elected by acclamation. - Vice Chair: Commissioner Johnson was elected by acclamation. Key Outcomes - VA25029: Approved unanimously (9-0) – recommendation to City Council. - VA25031: Approved unanimously (9-0) – recommendation to City Council. - Infill Subdivision Ordinance Amendments: Approved unanimously (9-0) – action is a recommendation to City Council (the commission’s decision on this text amendment is a recommendation; final adoption requires City Council action). - Election of Officers: Caroline Cranz elected Chair; Commissioner Johnson elected Vice Chair. - Next Meeting: Scheduled for February 2026 (date not specified).