Carrollton City Council Regular Worksession and Meeting - April 15, 2025

The City Council of Carrollton, Texas convened for a Regular Worksession at 5:45 PM and a Regular Meeting at 7:00 PM on April 15, 2025, at City Hall. The agenda included a briefing on the Lewisville ISD bond election, a presentation from a community Juneteenth committee, several ceremonial presentations, and the approval of a substantial consent agenda. A vote to waive the 12-month waiting period for a denied short-term rental special use permit was also approved.

Consent Calendar

The council reviewed items 12 through 23 during the worksession and voted to approve them unanimously during the regular meeting.

• Approved the minutes from the March 25 and April 1, 2025 regular meetings.
• Authorized an agreement with Charlesworth Consulting, LLC for risk management consulting services in an amount not to exceed $59,895 annually, for a total three-year contract amount not to exceed $179,685.
• Authorized an agreement with Lowe's Home Centers, LLC through the Omnia Purchasing Cooperative for maintenance, repair, and operations supplies in an amount not to exceed $80,000 annually.
• Authorized a four-year agreement with Medium Giant Company, Inc. d/b/a Dallas Morning News for newspaper legal advertising and public notice services in an amount not to exceed $213,000 annually, for a total contract amount not to exceed $852,000.
• Authorized an agreement with ICOS Management, LLC for crack and joint sealing services in an amount not to exceed $499,375.40.
• Ratified a prior emergency expenditure for repairs at Oak Creek Tennis Center and Woodlake Tennis Courts due to storm damage from March 4, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $87,300.
• Appointed Forvis Mazars, LLP as the city's independent auditor and authorized a professional services contract in an amount not to exceed $150,000.
• Designated The Dallas Morning News as the official newspaper for the publication of matters pertaining to the city.
• Authorized professional services contracts for appraisal services with JLL Valuation and Advisory Services, LLC and Angel Valuation Services, LP in an aggregate amount not to exceed $150,000.
• Authorized a license agreement with Carrollton Farmers Branch Independent School District (CFBISD) for installing fiber optics on city property to provide a secure secondary route for Creekview High School.
• Adopted the updated Community Funding Policy for the FY2026 funding cycle.

Public Comments & Testimony

No members of the public approached the podium during the public comment period for agenda items or the public forum.

Discussion Items

• Lewisville ISD Bond Election Briefing: Lewisville ISD Superintendent Dr. Rabbit provided an update on the implementation of the 2023 bond election and the state of the district. He reported that the district serves over 47,000 students across 127 square miles. Enrollment has declined from a peak of 53,000 in 2017 and is projected to stabilize near 45,000 students. The district recently made the difficult decision to retire five elementary schools to align with lowered enrollment. The economically disadvantaged student population has risen to 39.5%. Dr. Rabbit advocated for an increase in the state's basic allotment, which has not been adjusted since 2019, citing significant cost increases in insurance, electricity, and elections. Councilmembers asked questions regarding the criteria for school closures and the definition of economically disadvantaged.
• Juneteenth Committee Presentation: Councilmember Christopher Axberg presented the plans of the Carrollton Juneteenth Committee, a community group he convened. The committee, made up of long-time residents, proposed a "Juneteenth: Telling Your Story" event at the library on June 15 and a downtown food and jazz concert. Councilmember Axberg noted that the events are community-driven and a formal funding request will be brought before the council at its first meeting in May.
• Transit 2.0 and DART Update: Mayor Steve Babick informed the council about plans to schedule a special worksession for a briefing on Transit 2.0, the EY report on transit funding, and updates from DART and the Regional Transportation Council (RTC). He noted that the RTC had recently taken votes on legislation and local mediation efforts. The Mayor will coordinate scheduling with council members.
• Mayor and Council Reports and Information Sharing: Councilmembers reported on attending various community events. Staff provided an update on storm debris collection following the March 4 storm, reporting that Crowder Gulf collected 8,646 tons of debris across the city, and regular collection services have resumed. The initial two-week collection by Republic Services yielded 1,242 tons, compared to an average monthly tonnage of 547 tons.
• Citizens Government Academy: Councilmember Rowena Watters highlighted the success of the inaugural program, where 14 residents graduated after a six-week course covering city operations.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda (Items 12-23): Approved unanimously by a vote of 7-0.
• Item 24 (Rolling Hills STR Wait Period Waiver): A motion to waive the 12-month waiting period to allow a new special use permit application for a short-term rental at 2925 Rolling Hills Drive was approved by a vote of 5-2. Councilmembers Axberg and Klein voted in opposition.
• A special worksession will be scheduled to receive a formal briefing on Transit 2.0 and DART.