Carrollton City Council Regular Worksession and Meeting - August 6, 2024

The City of Carrollton City Council held a regular worksession and meeting on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. The worksession began at 5:45 p.m. in the Council Briefing Room and covered the Downtown Mural Master Plan, the State of the Workforce presentation, and the FY2025 Proposed Budget. The regular meeting convened at 7:00 p.m. and included consent agenda approvals, public hearings on land use matters, adoption of the CDBG Consolidated Plan, and setting of the proposed property tax rate. The public forum featured several residents speaking about tennis court allocations.

Consent Calendar

• All consent agenda items (9-29) were approved unanimously, including: approval of July 16, 2024 minutes; purchase of fire alarm equipment ($76,412); GIS software maintenance ($277,321); online citizen reporting system ($70,290); sports officials contract ($320,000); plant protection chemicals ($270,000); fertilizer supplies ($270,000); school crossing guard services ($1,624,615); ambulance body and chassis ($318,763); two F-650 trucks ($194,950); change order for Northland Estates paving ($31,612); change order for Woodlake Lake enhancements ($230,000); painting contract for water tower, ground storage reservoirs, and downtown silos ($3,126,958); pavement condition index survey ($97,807); annual service plan updates for Castle Hills PIDs; resolutions for 2024 and 2025 MVCPA catalytic converter grant applications; economic development incentive for 1104 and 1106 West Main Street ($62,965); amendment to development agreement with Trinity Mills Office I Owner, LLC; and appointment of Melvin Chadwick to the Tax Increment Finance Reinvestment Zone #1 Board.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Flexy Fitness Event Center SUP (Item 30): Several nearby residents spoke in opposition to the proposed special use permit for an event center at 2155 Marsh Lane. Paul Worsham, Lynette Sadler, and Marie Libby described years of noise disturbances, late-night parties, and vibrating walls from previous event venues. Rusty Pendleton reported that code enforcement had found inappropriate adult activities on the premises. Speakers urged the council to deny the permit.
• Public Forum – Carrollton Tennis Association (CTA): Multiple members of CTA, the Korean Tennis Association, and individual players spoke against the Parks Department's decision to relocate CTA leagues from the Branch Hollow tennis courts to the MJ Thomas courts. Speakers cited unsafe court conditions (crumbling surfaces, missing netting, inadequate lighting), lack of comparable recreational league offerings from Oak Creek Tennis Center, and the association's 40-year history of serving the community. They requested the council reassess the decision.

Discussion Items

• Downtown Mural Master Plan: Leslie Marshall of Articulation Art presented a proposed mural program for downtown Carrollton, including a style guide, location analysis of roughly 18 potential sites, and an estimated yearly budget of $95,000–$125,000 for three to four installations per year. The plan would also cover the downtown silos as a signature piece. Council expressed consensus to move forward with developing the program through the TOD Committee.
• State of the Workforce: Workforce Services Director Samantha Dean reported a citywide vacancy rate of 4.6%, down from 7% the prior year. Accomplishments included a 5% employee raise approved in FY24, a civil service pay plan restructure that achieved pay parity between police and fire ranks, and a new vacation leave policy that adds additional weeks at 10 and 20 years of service. Council discussed ATBs (Additional Budget Requests) including a half-percent additional raise, adding Juneteenth as an employee holiday, continuation of the compensation study program, the You at Work internship program (requesting $263,000), and the employee referral incentive program.
• FY2025 Proposed Budget: Chief Financial Officer Diana Vaughn presented the proposed budget, highlighting financial challenges including Senate Bill 2 property tax caps, the Comptroller's Rule 3.334 potentially reducing sales tax revenue by over $4 million annually, and aging infrastructure nearing build-out. The general fund has $137.5 million in recurring sources and $135 million in recurring uses. The proposed tax rate (voter-approval tax rate) is 53.9793 cents per $100 valuation. The budget includes a 3% employee raise pool and several council decision points. Council will hold a decision point discussion on August 20, and public hearings and adoption are scheduled for September 10.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda (Items 9–29): Approved unanimously.
• Item 30 – Flexy Fitness Event Center SUP: Denied. Councilmember Carpenter made a motion to deny, seconded by Councilmember Palacios. The motion passed with a simple majority, upholding the Planning and Zoning Commission's recommendation of denial.
• Item 31 – Semihan Learning Child Day Care SUP: Approved unanimously. The special use permit was amended to increase capacity from 130 to 310 children, with revised site and landscape plans and a traffic impact analysis.
• Item 32 – CDBG 2024–2028 Consolidated Plan and PY24 Action Plan: Adopted unanimously. The plan includes a total PY24 budget of $1,528,650, consisting of $711,716 in new HUD funding and $816,934 in unspent prior-year funds. Projects include a land acquisition pilot for affordable housing, Phase 1 of the Carrollton Black Cemetery rehabilitation, park improvements (R.E. Good Park fencing, Francis Perry Park basketball court and turf, Jimmy Porter Park turf, Downtown Square Park lighting and pergola, Ward Steenson Park playground, Thomas Park splash pad controller, and Rhoton Park court resurfacing), housing rehabilitation programs, enhanced code enforcement, and $106,650 for Metrocrest Services homelessness response.
• Item 33 – Property Tax Rate and Budget Schedule: The council set the proposed property tax rate for tax year 2024 at 53.9793 cents per $100 valuation (the voter-approval rate), scheduled public hearings on the proposed tax rate and FY2025 budget for 7:00 p.m. on September 10, 2024, and set the date for consideration of adoption of the tax rate and budget for 7:00 p.m. on September 10, 2024. The motion passed unanimously.
• Appointment to TIF Board: Melvin Chadwick was appointed as a full member of the Tax Increment Finance Reinvestment Zone #1 Board for a term ending December 2025 (approved as part of the consent agenda).