Coppell City Council Adopts FY27 Budget, Sets Tax Rate, and Debates E-Bikes (September 8, 2026)

The Coppell City Council met on September 8, 2026, for a Work Session at 5:30 PM and a Regular Session beginning at 7:36 PM in the Council Chambers at Town Center. The meeting included a proclamation declaring Senior Center Month, the adoption of the FY 2026-27 Municipal Budget and tax rate, and significant public testimony regarding proposed cuts to the CORE recreation center. Council also deliberated on a new e-bike ordinance for city parks, reviewed plans for renovating the Council Chambers, and refined the non-park building naming policy.

Consent Calendar

All items were approved unanimously via a single motion:

• Minutes of the August 25, 2026 meeting.
• Acceptance of Carla Madrigal's resignation from the Library Board.
• Approval of the Fiscal Year 27 (FY27) Annual Work Plan.
• A Professional Services Agreement with Freese and Nichols, Inc. ($598,414) for the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements Compliance Program.
• A contract award to Custard Construction ($68,359.44) for the remodel of the Cozby Library study room glass doors and front wall.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Citizens' Appearance (6 speakers): Five residents (Allison Matalone, Angela Kaiser, Alexander Harris, and Davin Sanchez) spoke against proposed cuts to the CORE's Sunshine Room childcare service and reduced operating hours. Angela Kaiser proposed increasing the $20/month Kids Club fee rather than eliminating the service. Thomas Burroughs criticized city spending priorities and urged a focus on core services over renovations.
• FY 2026-27 Budget Public Hearing (2 speakers): Venky Venkatraman argued that the proposed budget data did not justify the reductions in CORE hours and the Sunshine Room. Cynthia Linder emphasized the mental health and community benefits of the childcare service for parents.
• Tax Rate Public Hearing: No members of the public signed up to speak.

Discussion Items

• Electronic Bikes (E-Bikes) in Parks: The Police Chief and City Attorney presented a proposal to reclassify bicycles by speed capabilities (including e-bikes, road, mountain, gravel, and recumbent bikes) to prohibit them on park trails and unimproved surfaces. An exemption was proposed for children's bikes (under 26-inch wheels). Councilmembers debated the impact on family recreation and commuting students, and alternatives such as speed limits on trails were discussed. Staff was directed to return with a more refined proposal that considers specific carve-outs.
• Council Chambers & Town Center Renovations: Staff presented plans for remodeling the Council Chambers (rotating the layout, sloping the floor for ADA compliance, increasing capacity from 98 to 109, adding an adjustable-height podium). Construction is anticipated to begin after a contract award on October 13, with a target completion by February 2027. Staff also introduced a potential scope expansion to renovate the four aging public restrooms, estimated at $75,000–$100,000 each. Council expressed strong interest in bundling the restroom work with the main contract for cost efficiency.
• Non-Park Building Naming Policy: Council discussed the threshold for approving building names and revocation. A majority of the council indicated a preference for a 5-2 vote (rather than 6-1) for naming decisions. Other topics included converting the policy to an ordinance, establishing eligibility criteria, and whether to allow naming of rooms within buildings with potential corporate sponsorships. The policy will be revised and brought back for further consideration.

Key Outcomes

• FY 2026-27 Budget Approved (Ordinance OR 2026-1651): The council adopted a balanced general fund budget of approximately $78.6 million (a 3.26% increase over the prior year) after approving three amendments:
  1. Added $24,000 to restore CORE hours until 10:00 PM Monday through Thursday. (Vote: 5-2).
  2. Added funding to restore the Sunshine Room, the recreation coordinator position, and adult athletics. A discrepancy exists between the meeting transcript ($144,596) and the approved minutes ($109,971) on the exact total of this package. (Vote: 5-2).
  3. Added $53,000 in additional funding for the Love Thy Neighbor Service Organization ($2,000) and the Coppell Education Foundation ($51,000). (Vote: 5-1-1).
• Tax Rate Adopted (Ordinance OR 2026-1652): The council unanimously approved a tax rate of $0.441166 per $100 valuation ($0.375371 for operations, $0.065795 for debt service). Although the rate is a 0.86% decrease from the prior year, rising property values result in a projected 4.57% effective increase in property tax revenue. The estimated tax bill on a median-valued homestead ($605,309) is $2,670.42.
• Budget Ratification: The council unanimously ratified the FY27 budget, fulfilling the legal requirement for a separate vote when the budget raises more property tax revenue than the previous year.
• E-Bike Ordinance Direction: Staff will draft an ordinance to regulate bicycle and e-bike use in city parks, considering speed limits and exceptions for families and commuting students.
• Town Center Renovations Direction: The council will consider a construction contract for the Council Chambers renovation on October 13 and directed staff to bring back cost data for potentially including the renovation of the four public restrooms in the project.