Carrollton City Council Regular Worksession & Meeting - October 22, 2024

The City of Carrollton City Council convened for a pre-meeting Worksession at 5:45 PM and a Regular Meeting at 7:00 PM on October 22, 2024. The Council unanimously approved a 32-item consent agenda encompassing over $13 million in contracts for vehicles, technology, infrastructure, and public safety equipment. The Council recognized the Finance Department with a national procurement award, appointed members to ten city boards and commissions, and authorized the city's share of the purchase of property for a new regional public safety communications center (NTECC). During the Public Forum, residents raised concerns about utility fees, infrastructure projects, and police response times.

Presentations

• Achievement in Excellence in Procurement: Don Barry from the National Procurement Institute presented the City of Carrollton's first-ever Achievement of Excellence in Procurement award to the Finance Department's Purchasing Division. The city was recognized as 1 of 198 agencies across the U.S. and Canada, and 1 of 72 cities to receive the award.

Consent Calendar

• Vehicles & Equipment (Police, Fire, Public Works): Authorized the purchase of ten Police Tahoes ($826,937), two sewer trucks ($172,772 and $522,413), an environmental workboat for pond dredging ($126,325), a fire pumper truck ($601,430), fire hoses and nozzles ($81,000), and Stryker patient transport systems ($276,000). During the Worksession, Councilmember Jason Carpenter questioned whether the cost of the Tahoes was split with school districts; staff confirmed that only salaries and benefits for School Resource Officers are shared, not vehicle costs.
• Infrastructure & Golf Course: Approved contracts for the Neighborhood Improvement Program for concrete repairs ($1.1M annually, $3.3M over three years), tennis and pickleball court resurfacing at W.J. Thomas and Martha Pointer Parks ($72,176), and bunker repair at Indian Creek Golf Course ($1.2M, funded by the course's enterprise fund).
• Technology, Professional Services, & Municipal Facilities: Renewed Oracle software maintenance ($131,624), contracted for IT staffing services through Catapult Staffing ($1.2M), approved electrical services change orders ($225K), approved AV upgrades for two municipal courtrooms ($133,107), approved an amendment for AECOM project management ($600K), and approved the replacement of the original City Hall elevator ($191,844).
• Community Services & Health: Renewed an interlocal agreement with Dallas County Health and Human Services ($23,823 annually, $119,115 over five years) and allocated $106,650 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to Metrocrest Services for homeless assistance programs.
• Public Safety Communications (NTECC): Authorized the City Manager to execute an agreement with Addison, Coppell, and Farmers Branch for the acquisition of 4.1 acres from the Metrocrest Hospital Authority for a new consolidated public safety communications center. The city's share of the purchase price and closing costs is $1,561,020.80 (48.78%).
• Resolutions & Appointments: Approved a resolution for LED streetlight replacement with Oncor and authorized furniture purchases ($550,000 cap) through cooperative agreements. Approved appointments to ten boards and commissions including the Capital Improvements Plan Advisory Committee, Library Board, and Parks and Recreation Board, among others.

Public Comments & Testimony

During the Public Forum (Agenda Item 39), four residents addressed the Council:

• Mary Forbes asked for details on the scope, lane configuration, and traffic impact of the planned Frankfort Road improvement project.
• Doug Forbes criticized the water billing cycle, stating that an 11-day window between the bill date and late fee assessment is excessively short and burdensome for residents who pay by mailed check.
• John Castelli, President of the Indian Springs Homeowners Association, expressed concern about the planned expenditure on a wrought iron fence along the Indian Creek/Indian Springs project. He argued the funds would be better spent on ditch cleaning and flood mitigation and raised questions about long-term maintenance.
• An anonymous speaker reported a one-hour police response time to a burglar alarm at a home with a pregnant woman and infant. He urged the Council to review the dispatch priority list and consider implementing a callback verification system to ensure resident safety.

Discussion Items

• Worksession Review of Consent Agenda: Councilmembers reviewed numerous items in the pre-meeting Worksession. Fire Chief Michael Thomson provided details on the fire pumper truck, noting it is a commercial production model (not a custom build), allowing for faster delivery (mid-spring). Executive Director of Public Safety Rex Redden presented the NTECC property acquisition, highlighting the prime location adjacent to Medical Parkway, the MHA's unanimous approval of the sale, and an estimated 18-24 month construction timeline aiming for a 2027 operational date.
• Council Member Reports: Councilmembers shared updates on community events attended over the past month, including the Texas Municipal League conference, National Night Out, Culture Fest, the Metrocrest Services Community Picnic, various cultural galas, and the annual memorial for fallen Officer Steve Notham. Mayor Steve Babick encouraged voter participation in the upcoming November 5th election.

Key Outcomes

• Unanimous Vote: The consent agenda (Items 7-38) was approved via a 7-0 roll call vote.
• NTECC Property Acquisition Forwarded: The Council formally approved the city's participation and expenditure for the new joint communications center. The property sale is scheduled to close on December 6, 2024.
• Award Accepted: The Council accepted the Achievement of Excellence in Procurement award from the National Procurement Institute.