Carrollton City Council Regular Meeting and Worksession - January 10, 2023

The Carrollton City Council held its regular worksession and meeting on Tuesday, January 10, 2023. The worksession covered council meeting dates for April through September 2023. The regular meeting included a proclamation recognizing Gordon Johnson for 30 years of holiday lights, the approval of a consent agenda with fleet purchases and a BuzzBallz economic development agreement, and public hearings on redistricting, a Planned Development text amendment, and a Special Use Permit for used auto sales.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes: Approved minutes from the November 15, November 22, and December 6, 2022 meetings.
• Ambulance Purchase: Approved the purchase of one ambulance from Frazer LTD for $358,867.
• Electric Vehicles: Approved the purchase of three Chevrolet Bolt EVs for $83,704.50.
• Parks Equipment: Approved the purchase of two reel mowers, one Gator, and one tractor for $284,280.29.
• Ridgecrest Street Project: Approved a construction contract with La Banda, LLC for $3,086,959.44.
• Fire Department Positions: Approved an ordinance reclassifying positions, decreasing Sub-Apparatus Operators from 20 to 15 and increasing Firefighters from 74 to 79.
• Official Newspaper: Designated the Dallas Morning News as the official city newspaper.
• Public Notice Payment: Authorized up to $188,710 for public notices in FY2023.
• Benefits Consulting: Authorized a contract with HUB International ($60,000/year, $240,000 total).
• HRIS Project Management: Authorized a contract with Berry Dunn for $165,000.
• BuzzBallz Economic Development Agreement: Authorized an agreement with BuzzBallz (50% tax rebate on new value, max $400,000 over 5 years) for a multi-million dollar expansion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No speakers addressed items on the regular meeting agenda during the public comment period.
• During the Public Forum, resident Terence Vidovic spoke about an incident involving his arrest and Police Chief Redden.

Discussion Items

• Council Meeting Calendar (April – September 2023): Council reviewed the proposed meeting schedule. They moved the June 20 meeting to June 27 to accommodate a potential runoff election canvass.
• Item 15: Redistricting Places 1, 3, 5, 7: City Attorney Meredith Ladd presented Plan A from an outside consultant to bring district populations into compliance with the City Charter and federal "one person, one vote" standards. The maximum deviation was reduced from 22.97% to 6.73%. Councilmember Fleming criticized the lack of council involvement in the map-drawing process. Councilmember Sung questioned the population data source (2020 Census vs. city estimates). The ordinance was adopted.
• Item 22: Planned Development (PD) Text Amendment (PLZT 2021-249): Planning Manager Loren Shapiro presented a staff-recommended amendment allowing PD districts on lots under 5 acres for infill development. Modified language explicitly excludes properties within existing single-family, townhouse, or duplex residential neighborhoods. Councilmember Polter expressed concern that parcels merely adjacent to single-family neighborhoods were not excluded, finding the language ambiguous and the policy developer-friendly. Councilmember Fleming opposed the process. The amendment was approved.
• Item 23: Glass Doctor Special Use Permit (PLSUP 2022-138): The council heard a request for a SUP to allow used automobile sales at 2001 Midway Road. Staff recommended denial, finding the use inappropriate for the multi-tenant shopping center. The Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval with stipulations (5 vehicles, rear display only, limited hours, no banners). Applicant Larry Patterson explained it is a fleet vehicle operation for his glass business, not a retail car lot, and has operated since 2018 without complaints. The council approved the SUP unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Passed unanimously.
• Item 15 (Redistricting): Passed (7-1, Councilmember Fleming opposed).
• Item 22 (PD Text Amendment): Passed (6-2, Councilmembers Polter and Fleming opposed).
• Item 23 (Glass Doctor SUP): Passed unanimously.
• Calendar: Finalized meeting dates, moving the June meeting.
• Proclamation: Gordon Johnson recognized for his 30-year holiday light display tradition.