Fort Worth City Council Meeting – March 31, 2026

The Fort Worth City Council met on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 11:58 AM in the City Council Chamber. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Mattie Parker with all 11 council members present. The meeting adjourned at 3:19 PM. The agenda included special presentations, a consent agenda, council proposals, board appointments, resolutions, ordinances, public hearings, zoning hearings, and city manager reports. Key actions included the deferral of a tax abatement for a data center, the rescission of an honorary street designation for Cesar Chavez, and the denial of a zoning change for an auto repair shop.

Consent Calendar

• The Consent Agenda was approved 11-0. It included 31 items, among them:
  • Ratification of a waiver of parking meter fees ($261,723.56) for Camp Bowie Boulevard utility work.
  • Adoption of the Semi-Annual Progress Report for Transportation Impact Fees.
  • Artwork commission contracts for Eugene McCray Community Center ($55,539) and Fire Station 37 ($133,602).
  • A sewer per acre charge of $2,634.35 for Skyline Ranch and Walnut Creek.
  • Non-exclusive agreements for public safety supplies ($20,500,000 annually) and kitchen equipment ($600,000 annually).
  • A five-year tax abatement for a commercial building and an industrial truck wash in District 11.
  • A contract for McCart Avenue at Westcreek Drive intersection improvements ($2,211,696.25).
  • A correction was read into the record for M&C 26-0225, replacing “this project has been publicly bid” with a statement that the city’s participation is exempt from competitive bidding requirements.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Consent Agenda Speakers: Bob Willoughby expressed concerns about Reserve Officer Michael J. Moore’s appointment and the kitchen equipment contract, questioning the police chief’s qualifications and the use of funds. Adrian Smith spoke in support of the Casa Manana lease addendum (M&C 26-0240), emphasizing the importance of arts funding. Allison Fitzgerald submitted a comment card in support of the OverDrive digital library services agreement.
• Public Hearing – Data Center Tax Abatement (M&C 26-0243): 14 speakers opposed the abatement, 2 supported it, 5 were undecided, and many submitted comment cards. Opponents cited noise, water use, property value impacts, lack of community notification, and the need for citywide data center regulations. Supporters, including Taylor Bair (PMB Capital) and Bill Greenwood (Edge Data Centers), highlighted the project’s economic benefits, waterless cooling technology, and voluntary commitments to grid reliability. Councilmember Crain noted that the zoning was already in place and that the abatement was being considered separately.
• Public Hearing – Alcohol Variance (M&C 26-0205): No public comments were made. The variance was denied.
• Public Hearing – Affordable Housing (M&C 26-0250): No public comments were made. The resolution of no objection was adopted.
• Zoning Hearing – Auto Repair (ZC-26-001): Seven residents opposed the rezoning, citing incompatibility with adjacent residential uses, traffic safety, and property value concerns. The applicant, Wes Hoblit, argued that the proposed protections were stronger than existing allowances. Council upheld the Zoning Commission’s recommendation of denial with prejudice.
• General Public Comments: Speakers addressed various topics: Darmetreis Kilgore (Finding Me Academy) raised concerns about program suspension; Chris Wood discussed air quality; George Chiles criticized the mayor’s “trusted confidant” statement; Bob Willoughby called for abolishing the police monitor position and moving public comments to the top of the agenda; Kevin Carlson opposed a 7-Eleven near his neighborhood; James Smith sought accountability for the Atatiana Jefferson incident; David Martinez spoke on data centers and Hemphill Street infrastructure.

Discussion Items

• Resolution to Rescind Cesar Chavez Honorary Street Designation (26-5865): Councilmember Carlos Flores introduced the resolution to remove street toppers on NE/NW 28th Street due to recent allegations against Cesar Chavez. Councilmembers Chris Nettles and Elizabeth Beck criticized the removal of signs before a council vote, emphasizing the importance of process. Flores noted that all council members were notified via email and that staff acted to avoid continued negative reflection on the city. The resolution was adopted 11-0.
• Ordinance for Temporary World Cup Districts (26-5867): The ordinance suspends certain signage regulations and establishes restrictions for the 2026 FIFA World Cup from June 1 to July 27, 2026. It was adopted 11-0.
• Data Center Tax Abatement (M&C 26-0243): Councilmember Michael Crain initially moved to approve the 10-year, 50% abatement on business personal property with six additional conditions (noise compliance, water limits, annual reporting, site standards, environmental compliance, and a public website). After extensive public testimony, Crain withdrew his motion and moved to continue the item to the May 12, 2026, council meeting to allow for further study of data center regulations. The motion passed 11-0. Staff noted that the site is within an industrial growth center and that the abatement does not apply to real property taxes.
• Zoning Case – Auto Repair (ZC-26-001): Councilmember Alan Blaylock moved to uphold the Zoning Commission’s recommendation of denial with prejudice, citing the proximity to residential areas and the Planning Commission’s unanimous vote. The motion passed 10-0 (Councilmember Nettles off the dais).
• Eminent Domain for Mary’s Creek Force Main (M&C 26-0239 and 26-0242): Two resolutions authorizing condemnation of permanent and temporary easements for the wastewater project were approved as a single motion 9-0 (Councilmembers Lauersdorf and Nettles off the dais).
• Settlement with Craft Culinary Concepts (M&C 26-0235): The council approved a $510,000 settlement plus up to $305,000 in offset payments to terminate a food and beverage services agreement at the Will Rogers facility. The motion passed 9-0.
• Texas A&M University Fee Waiver (M&C 26-0211): The council authorized waivers of development-related fees and license fees for construction staging for the downtown campus. Approved 9-0.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Approved 11-0.
• Council Proposal CP-336: Waiver of festival equipment rental fees for the “Breaking Every Chain of Human Sex Trafficking March” (April 25, 2026) approved 11-0 after suspending rules.
• Board Appointments: Approved for Library Advisory Board, Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission, Board of Adjustment, and Downtown Design Review Board.
• Resolution 26-5865: Rescinded honorary designation of State Highway 183 (NE/NW 28th Street) for Cesar Chavez. Adopted 11-0.
• Ordinance 26-5867: Established temporary World Cup districts. Adopted 11-0.
• Public Hearing M&C 26-0205: Variance for alcohol sales near church denied 11-0.
• Public Hearing M&C 26-0243: Data center tax abatement continued to May 12, 2026. Motion passed 11-0.
• Public Hearing M&C 26-0250: Resolution of no objection for 321-unit affordable housing project adopted 10-0 (Nettles off dais).
• Zoning Cases:
  • ZC-25-172 (Floodplain text amendment): Approved.
  • ZC-26-001 (Auto repair): Denied with prejudice 10-0.
  • ZC-26-014 (Neighborhood commercial): Approved 9-0.
  • ZC-26-023 (Panther Island overlay): Approved 9-0.
  • ZC-26-024 (Remove historic overlay): Approved 9-0.
  • ZC-26-025 (Add demolition delay overlay): Approved 9-0.
  • ZC-26-026 (Remove demolition delay overlay): Approved 9-0.
• City Manager Items:
  • M&C 26-0211 (Texas A&M fee waiver): Approved 9-0.
  • M&C 26-0239 and 26-0242 (Eminent domain): Approved 9-0.
  • M&C 26-0235 (Settlement): Approved 9-0.