Carrollton City Council Worksession & Meeting – January 6, 2026

The Carrollton City Council met in a combined Worksession and Regular Meeting on January 6, 2026, beginning at 5:45 PM and concluding at 7:59 PM. The evening included updates on Denton County 2022 bond funding for three projects, a discussion of the proposed $235 million 2026 bond election, unanimous approval of 10 consent agenda items, two public hearings on zoning cases, an executive session concerning pending litigation, and public forum comments. During the Council reports segment, members also announced the MLK Parade on January 17 at 9:30 AM, the opening of candidate filing for the May 2 election (January 14 – February 13), and that volunteer award nominations and drainage art submissions are due January 31 and January 15 respectively.

Consent Calendar

• Items 8–9: Approval of the November 18, 2025 and December 2, 2025 Regular Meeting minutes, as stipulated.
• Item 10: Authorized the City Manager to enter a five-year agreement with Hilltop Securities Asset Management LLC for arbitrage rebate compliance services at $32,000 annually (five-year total not to exceed $160,000). Staff explained these services ensure compliance with IRS regulations on tax-exempt bond proceeds.
• Item 11: Authorized the City Manager to enter an agreement with Total Safety U.S. Inc. for firefighter protective clothing not to exceed $250,000. The Fire Chief stated this will outfit approximately 45 firefighters on a four-year replacement cycle.
• Item 12: Authorized the City Manager to purchase a Type 6 wildland brush truck from Rebel Strike for $347,800. Though not the lowest of six bids submitted, Rebel Strike was selected because the apparatus is already built and ready for delivery within months, while competing vehicles have 12-month lead times.
• Item 13: Authorized Change Order No. 3 with Camino Construction, LP for the Country Villas Street Reconstruction Project in the amount of $257,045, increasing the total contract to $8,047,045. The change order covers replacement of approximately 700 linear feet of a deteriorated 40-year-old water line on Keller Springs Road and associated pavement. The construction duration will extend 90 calendar days to 530 total days.
• Item 14: Authorized the City Manager to enter agreements with Beacon Emergency Services Team (BEST EMS) for Medical Director services and EMS continuing education totaling $115,000. The medical director contract is approximately $43,000 plus an additional $15,000 for increased on-site presence (one day per month rather than one week every two months); the education component is approximately $45,000.
• Item 15: Adopted an ordinance amending the City Code to add specific parking prohibitions consistent with the Texas Transportation Code and authorizing Public Safety Officers (PSOs), in addition to sworn peace officers, to enforce parking violations, with a penalty of up to $500.
• Item 16: Approved a resolution nominating James Lawrence, a former council member, to fill a vacancy on the Denton Central Appraisal District Board of Directors, Place 5, for the remainder of a term ending December 31, 2027.
• Item 17: Authorized Contract Amendment No. 1 with Dallas, Garland & Northeastern Railroad, Inc. (DGNO) for review of railroad sidewalk construction plans associated with the Country Club Drive Improvement Project, in an amount not to exceed $20,636 for a revised total contract of $46,640.

All consent items were approved unanimously. Mayor Pro Tem Axberg made the motion; Councilmember Cline seconded.

Public Comments & Testimony

No members of the public spoke during Citizen Comment on consent agenda items. During the Public Forum:

• Sonia Abraham, a junior at Hebron High School and Carrollton resident, proposed creating a Carrollton Youth Advisory Council. She stated that 60% of young people do not feel qualified to participate in politics, and noted that over 45 Texas cities, including Lewisville and Farmers Branch, have implemented similar councils. She argued the council would be cost-neutral using existing resources, consist of 15–20 students selected through an open application process, and serve in a non-binding advisory role to the City Council.
• Joel Munoz (1839 Arundel Drive) raised ongoing concerns about a neighboring property at 1841 Arundel Drive, stating that despite prior city action, the property continues to be used for short-term rentals in a single-family residential district, with tenants arriving without public Airbnb listings. He requested further enforcement.

Discussion: Denton County 2022 Bond Funding Updates

Jonathan Wheat, Director of Engineering, provided an update on three projects funded through the Denton County 2022 bond. Key details:

• Hebron Parkway: $25 million in county funding (50% city match). Design is over 60% complete for central and east sections; the western section is at 60% design. Current pavement condition scores: west 58.7, central 65, far east 61–62.
• Frankfort Road (Old Denton to Standridge): $7.875 million in county funding (50% match). Approximately 90% complete on design. Phase 2 (Dickerson Parkway to Old Denton) will follow. Pavement condition scores are in the 55–60 range.
• Frankfort Road Bridge repairs: Approximately $250,000 in county funding.
• Two interlocal agreements have been executed with Denton County. The projects are reimbursable as construction is completed.
• Council discussed coordinating construction staging to minimize traffic impacts on the west side of the city; members requested future briefings on traffic management timing.

Discussion: 2026 Bond Election

Council discussed the proposed May 2026 bond election, following the Capital Improvements Plan Advisory Committee's (CIPAC) year-long review process. Key elements:

• Total proposed: $235 million, with approximately 70% ($164.5 million) allocated to streets and infrastructure and 30% ($70.5 million) to public safety, parks, library, and municipal court facilities.
• 35+ projects are included; $1.4 million is set aside for general residential street projects to allow flexibility.
• Five propositions will be presented to voters: streets, public safety, library, parks, and municipal court.
• Public safety facility projects: Fire Station 4 replacement (northeast area by the water tower on Marsh Lane), a new Fire Station 9 (general area north of the creek and nature preserve), and a Police Department fitness and training building. These three have pay-as-you-go funding from prior jail savings.
• Other facility projects: Municipal court renovation and safety upgrades, senior center expansion, Hebron-Josey Library redesign (entry, meeting room, and children's area), Josey Ranch football field turf replacement, Crosby Recreation Center expansion, trail connections, and Elm Fork Nature Preserve building refresh. The TC Rice Nature Area was not recommended by CIPAC.
• Funding strategy: The bond is designed to maintain a stable debt service tax rate without an increase. Council noted that state law requires all propositions to include a statement that they may increase taxes, even though the City's financial plan does not intend a tax rate increase. Staff and the City are legally prohibited from advocating for the bond but will provide factual information on the city website.
• Timeline: The bond election will be called at the February 3, 2026 Council meeting for the May 2, 2026 election. Holding the election in May rather than November saves the city hundreds of thousands of dollars.
• Council confirmed consensus to move forward with CIPAC's recommendation.

Executive Session

The Council convened in executive session under Texas Government Code Sections 551.071 (legal advice on pending and contemplated litigation) and 551.087 (economic development). Specifically discussed was Mustang Park Homeowners Association, Inc. v. JBGL Mustang, LLC; et al., Case No. 23-7902-467 (Denton). Upon reconvening in open session, Council recommended accepting the mediation settlement in that case.

Public Hearing: PLZ 2025-180 – First United Methodist Church

Council held a public hearing on a request to repeal and replace Planned Development 215 for an approximately 33-acre tract at 2205 East Hebron Parkway, zoned SF-7/14 Single Family Residential. The request sought to reduce the side yard setback from 25 feet to zero feet between two proposed tracts to allow the property to be subdivided and a portion sold. Key facts:

• No new buildings or additional students are proposed. The only physical change is a fire-rated wall in the existing breezeway separating the two buildings.
• The maximum student count remains 779 (650 for the school, 129 for the preschool).
• The existing portable building must be removed within 90 days of a Certificate of Occupancy for Phase 4 (Future Sanctuary).
• Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval 9–0 on December 4, 2025.
• Staff added a stipulation (General condition No. 6) requiring that traffic circulation, parking, and access remain shared between Tracts 1 and 2, consistent with the approved Traffic Impact Analysis. This stipulation was not included in the original P&Z recommendation and was incorporated into the motion.
• No members of the public spoke during the hearing. Written comments were received by P&Z.

Councilmember Carpenter moved to approve with the amended stipulations; Mayor Pro Tem Axberg seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Public Hearing: PLZ 2025-182 – Northeast Corner of Parker Road and Josey Lane (HEB Grocery)

Council held a public hearing on a request to rezone an approximately 17.2-acre tract from LR-2 Local Retail with Special Use Permit 416 (gas station) to a Planned Development to allow, by right, a retail store in excess of 75,000 square feet (120,000 sq ft proposed), a gas station, a car wash, and parking as a primary use on a separate lot. The applicant is HEB Grocery Company. Key details:

• Site layout: 120,000 square-foot grocery store with a drive-through pharmacy on the east side, a drive-through restaurant on the west side, six fuel pumps with a car wash on the north side along Josey Lane, and covered grocery pickup spaces east of the building. Tract A provides 613 parking spaces; Tract B provides 110 spaces for employee parking.
• Outside display: Up to 20% of floor area (increased from the standard 5%) for plants and produce, with trees set back 200 feet from the building to prevent birds from damaging merchandise.
• Screening: A Fencecrete wall, 8 to 12 feet tall along the northern property line adjacent to single-family homes in Lewisville, screens storage areas and truck docks. The wall will not extend along the boundary with commercial property to the east.
• Landscaping: Reduced requirements to accommodate parking demand: one island per 12 spaces (instead of 10), two street trees per 200 linear feet of frontage (instead of per 100 feet), overall landscape coverage reduced from 15% to 10%.
• Traffic mitigation: Three turn bays (two on westbound Parker Road at both driveways, one on northbound Josey Lane north of Parker), a new traffic signal at the main entrance on Parker Road (with TxDOT approval since Parker Road is FM 544). The City will take over control of the existing TxDOT-operated signal at Parker and Josey to coordinate both signals. Right-of-way will be provided for future dual left-turn lanes at all approaches of Parker and Josey, which the City will pursue with TxDOT in parallel with the development timeline.
• Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval 9–0 on December 4, 2025, following public testimony both in support of and in opposition to the project. No members of the public spoke during the Council public hearing.

Councilmember Cline moved to approve; Councilmember Palacios seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda (Items 8–17): Approved unanimously, including all routine approvals, contracts, ordinances, and the nomination of James Lawrence to the Denton Central Appraisal District Board.
• Item 18 – FUMC Rezoning: Approved unanimously with amended stipulations requiring shared traffic circulation, parking, and access between the two subdivided tracts.
• Item 19 – Parker/Josey Rezoning (HEB): Approved unanimously, authorizing development of a 120,000 square-foot HEB grocery store with gas station, car wash, associated parking, and significant roadway improvements including a new traffic signal, turn bays, and right-of-way for future intersection upgrades.
• Executive Session: Council recommended accepting the mediation settlement in Mustang Park Homeowners Association, Inc. v. JBGL Mustang, LLC.
• 2026 Bond Election: Council confirmed consensus to proceed with CIPAC's $235 million bond proposal across five propositions (streets, public safety, library, parks, municipal court). The bond will be called at the February 3, 2026 meeting for the May 2, 2026 ballot. The financial plan is designed to maintain a stable debt service tax rate.
• Denton County 2022 Bond Funding: Progress continues on Hebron Parkway and Frankfort Road projects, with design phases at 60–90% completion. Staff will provide future traffic management briefings as construction approaches.