Carrollton City Council Regular Worksession and Meeting - June 6, 2023

The Carrollton City Council convened for a Regular Worksession and Regular Meeting on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at City Hall. The Worksession included an update from Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). The Regular Meeting featured a large Consent Agenda, a contested rezoning case for the "Enclave" subdivision, and several zoning text amendments. Councilmember Jason Carpenter and Councilmember Daisy Palomo participated in their first regular meeting following their assumption of office on May 16, 2023.

Worksession: DART Update

• DART Board Representative Doug Braband and Executive Vice President Dee Leggett provided an update on the agency. Key highlights included the ongoing Silver Line project (on track for a late 2025 opening), the near-completion of the DGNO Mercer Yards relocation, and a focus on rider safety through initiatives like the "DART Clean Team," elevator attendants, and increased security.
• Discussion topics included the possibility of DART reimbursing the city for placing Carrollton police officers on trains, parking policies at transit stations, and the progress of the DCTA connection into Downtown Carrollton.

Consent Calendar

The following items were approved unanimously in a single block vote (Items 8-16, 18-28):

• Approval of the May 2, 2023, and May 16, 2023, Regular Meeting Minutes.
• RFP #23-016: Parks Department recreation facilities refresh from various vendors ($118,395.66).
• Purchase of Cardio/Weight Equipment: For the Rosemeade Recreation Center from Comm-Fit ($310,178.12).
• Bid #23-021: Asphalt Supplies 2023 from Austin Asphalt, Inc. ($90,000 annually).
• Bid #23-018: Traffic Signal Equipment for Public Works ($400,000 annually).
• Bid #23-009: Purchase and Installation of Commercial AMI Water Meters from Fortiline, Inc. ($11,000,000), covering the replacement of approximately 10,000 commercial meters.
• Crosby Estates Section 1: Construction contract with 3D Paving and Contracting for paving and drainage improvements ($3,831,573.37) funded in part by the 2018 bond program.
• Woven Health Clinic: Authorizing a contract for $100,000 for low- and moderate-income assistance programs.
• Fire Department Reorganization: Reclassifying positions by reducing Sub-Apparatus Operators from 15 to 12 and increasing Firefighters from 79 to 82, with no net change in total authorized positions.
• Property Tax Exemption: Increasing the Over-65 and Disabled Persons homestead exemption from $80,000 to $87,000 for Tax Year 2023.
• Floodplain Ordinance (Ch. 174): Amendments to require manufactured homes and mechanical equipment to be at least one foot above the design flood elevation to maintain the city's CRS flood insurance rating.
• Professional Services: Contracts for independent auditing (FORVIS, LLP, $143,500), DART drainage amendment (Carrollton Heights, $173,357.56), Downtown Streetscape Infill design (Gresham Smith, $371,380), and a second amendment to the Trinity Mills Station Master Development Agreement.
• Various ordinances amending municipal code sections for consistency with state law.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Hebron Parkway Guardrail Project (Item 17):
  • Matt Garrett, HOA President of the Estates of High Country, expressed full support for the guardrail project, citing its importance for public safety and the long history of traffic incidents.
  • Caitlin Parks, a resident of Meadow Drive, provided harrowing testimony about a car crashing into her fence, urging swift action.
  • Keith Vanderberg, a long-time resident, endorsed the need for the guardrail and discussed the history of the issue.
• The Enclave (Public Hearing - Item 29):
  • Tom Dabowski, a resident of Creekdale Court, expressed concerns about the northern portion of the site, drainage, and potential impact on his property.
  • Brian Farlow, representing the Parkside Estates HOA, spoke in support of the applicant's revised plan, noting the applicant agreed to join the HOA and abide by stricter deed restrictions.
• Public Forum:
  • Susanna Dooling raised concerns about damage to wetlands and tree removal in the TC Jester Park area.

Discussion Items

• Item 17: Hebron Parkway Guardrail Project: The item was pulled from the Consent Agenda due to Council concerns. Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Cline questioned the design's compliance with ADA requirements, the lack of passing areas on the 4-foot sidewalk, and the discrepancy between the project rendering and the actual proposed guardrail height. Director of Engineering Jonathan Wheat explained the project's evolution from a screening wall to a guardrail due to right-of-way limits and cost increases. He acknowledged the single bid of $772,501 was well over the $465,000 engineer's estimate but strongly recommended approval citing the critical safety hazard. The Council approved the motion 6-1, with Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Cline opposing.
• Item 29: The Enclave (Case PLZPD 2022-196): Staff presented the rezoning request for a 3.8-acre tract to establish a Planned Development (PD) with six single-family lots. The vote required a supermajority (6 votes) because owners of 20% or more of the adjacent land filed written protests. The Council discussed the development standards, including the minimum floor area of 3,000 square feet, the 80-foot minimum lot width, and alley-loaded garages. The HOA represented the revised plan had strong neighborhood support. The motion passed unanimously (7-0), meeting the supermajority threshold.
• Item 32: TMTC Minimum Building Height: The Council approved an amendment to the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance reducing the minimum building height in the Trinity Mills Transit Center District from 6 stories to 5 stories. Staff cited market trends, construction costs, and that recent projects had received waivers for 5 stories.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously (Items 8-16, 18-28).
• Item 17 (Hebron Guardrail): Approved 6-1 (Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Cline opposed).
• Item 29 (The Enclave): Approved 7-0 (supermajority threshold met).
• Item 30 (Integrity Branding SUP): Approved 7-0.
• Item 31 (Repeal of Two SUPs): Approved 7-0.
• Item 32 (TMTC Height Reduction): Approved 7-0.
• Item 33 (Repeal of PD-159): Approved 7-0.