Fort Worth City Council Meeting: Recognitions, Development Agreement, and Public Comment on Data Centers (June 23, 2026)
Fort Worth City Council Meeting (June 23, 2026)
The Fort Worth City Council convened on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, starting at approximately 12:30 p.m. CDT (17:30 UTC). The meeting began with recognitions for community leader Marie Love, Military Appreciation Month, America's 250th anniversary, LGBTQ+ Pride Month ("y'all means all"), and the Fort Worth Vaqueros soccer club. The council then considered a consent agenda, pulled items, and held public hearings on multiple zoning cases. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to public comment, with many speakers addressing data center development, ethics concerns, and community issues.
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda was approved unanimously after two speakers addressed an item (West 7th Bridge lighting improvements; cost $2,141,825.84, originally budgeted $2.5 million). City staff clarified the contract was design-build due to the bridge's pre-formed nature.
- Two items were withdrawn (MNC 26-0543 and MNC 26-0549) and two zoning cases were continued: ZC 26-062 to August 11, 2026, and ZC 26-41 to August 25, 2026.
- Items pulled from consent for separate votes: MNC 26-0525 (second east fee increase), MNC 26-0529 (Brown Ranch Hines Development Agreement), and MNC 26-0539 (CCPD emerging partners grant).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Adrian Smith (District 6): Opposed West 7th Bridge lighting improvements, arguing the cost (total $4.6 million) was excessive and safety should be prioritized over aesthetics.
- Chris Wood: Advocated for expanding victim assistance services and public education on safety for women, urging the council to prioritize survival over politeness.
- Kevin Carlson (District 10): Requested rezoning of a parcel at Heritage Trace and Blue Mound Road to neighborhood commercial restricted, citing safety and property value impacts from nearby construction.
- Adrian Smith (second appearance): Raised ethics concerns regarding Mayor Parker's husband (David Parker), a registered lobbyist for the Data Center Coalition, citing increased lobbying compensation from ~$1 million (pre-2021) to up to $1.8 million in 2026 year-to-date. Also criticized a 78% tax abatement (approx. $2.1 billion exemption) for a Google warehouse in White Settlement, calling it fiscally irresponsible.
- Krista Irby (District 3): Urged the council not to reduce public comment time; clarified that no such reduction was on the agenda.
- Nor Wadi (Faith Power Alliance): Called for a data center moratorium, citing environmental and economic harms. Also noted the lack of a permanent ethics commission and alleged conflict of interest regarding the Mayor's husband's lobbying.
- Michael Rawlerson: Criticized the council for accepting campaign contributions from Black Mountain and for not addressing ethical ties. Demanded a moratorium on data centers.
- Lauren Ivy Chong (District 9): Shared her experience of being denied a constituent meeting with Councilmember Beck, urging the council to engage directly with residents rather than relying solely on staff reports, especially regarding data center regulations.
- Steven Sanchez (audio engineer): Presented recordings showing that existing data centers produce a low-frequency hum not accurately captured by standard dBA measurements. Advocated for using C or Z weighting and longer studies to assess noise impacts.
- Jeff Pointer (Moser Valley descendant): Requested the city honor its obligations to Moser Valley, a historic Freedman's town annexed in 1960. Cited lack of paved roads, illegal dumping, and unaddressed concerns. Called for transparency on city-owned land and recognition of the Moser Valley Property Owners Association.
- Deanna Bowles (Councilmember): Thanked Mr. Pointer and noted a meeting scheduled to discuss Moser Valley preservation.
- Michael Howell (retired USAF): Urged stewardship, warning that data center development could lead to toxic runoff and increased costs. Cited a $70 million budget gap and Carswell groundwater lawsuits.
- Ellis Maxwell: Criticized the June 2 work session on data centers as skewed toward industry interests. Argued that AI data centers do not benefit everyday people and that faster permitting timelines reduce necessary assessment.
- Brian Patman: Opposed a proposed Black Mountain data center near Weston Gardens, describing the industrial incursion into a rural neighborhood. Questioned whose progress is served.
- EJ Carrion: Read excerpts from the Declaration of Independence, accusing the council of establishing a tyranny of corporate interests. Threatened to vote out unresponsive members.
- Conley Brewer (District 6): Opposed new rules requiring speakers to pre-categorize their comments (for/against/neutral), arguing it restricts open expression. Called for fewer participation barriers and greater accountability after recent council pay increases.
- Alexander Montalvo: Renewed calls for a data center moratorium, criticized the council for not listening, and cited Fort Worth ISD's state takeover and ICE actions as evidence of failed leadership.
- Bob Willoughby: Called for voter education in schools, alleged rigged elections (4% turnout), and demanded removal of the mayor for removing free speech from agendas.
- Elena Montalvo: Urged a data center moratorium, criticized the council for ignoring community concerns, and stated that new leadership is needed.
Discussion Items
- Brown Ranch Hines Development Agreement (MNC 26-0529): Assistant City Manager Dana Bergdoff explained the shift from a Capital PID to a Municipal Utility District (MUD) due to state legislative changes limiting municipal control in the ETJ. The agreement secures off-site road improvements beyond typical requirements (Walsh Ranch Parkway north and south, West Point Boulevard, Old Weatherford Road), park dedication, floodplain dedication, and a $1 per $100 assessed valuation property tax rate. Councilmember Crane moved to approve with an amendment to add a master roadway network alignment exhibit and direct staff to bring forth a corresponding amendment to the master roadway network.
- West 7th Bridge Lighting (from consent): City staff clarified that the $2.1 million contract is not additive to the original $2.5 million budget; it is a design-build contract due to the bridge's pre-formed structure.
- Zoning Cases: Several zoning cases were approved, including companion cases for development agreements. ZC 26-022 (near Fort Worth Nature Center) was denied with prejudice to protect environmental concerns. Recusals were noted for Councilmember Hall on ZC 26-065 and ZC 26-067 due to employment with Fort Worth ISD.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved unanimously.
- MNC 26-0525 (second east fee increase) approved.
- MNC 26-0529 (Brown Ranch development agreement) approved with amendment to add master roadway exhibit and direct staff to bring forth amendment to master roadway network.
- MNC 26-0539 (CCPD emerging partners grant) approved after Councilmember Beck recused.
- CP-338, 339, 340 (waivers of park fees) approved.
- Board appointments approved for Districts 2 and 10.
- Zoning cases:
- ZC 26-022 denied with prejudice to protect the Fort Worth Nature Center.
- ZC 26-41 continued to August 25, 2026.
- SP-26-008 continued to August 11, 2026.
- ZC 26-062 continued to August 11, 2026.
- Multiple other zoning cases approved as moved.
- No action taken on reducing public comment time (agenda item not considered).
- Meeting adjourned after public comment.
Meeting Transcript
Join me on the dais. Good morning and welcome to the City Council meeting. Before Mayor Parker calls the meeting to order, we ask that you please be seated and silence all electronic devices. City Council meetings are conducted for the official business of city council and to receive input from residents. Members of the public attending meetings shall observe rules of decorum and shall not engage in the conduct that interferes with the ability of those present to observe or to participate in the meeting without disruption or fear of intimidation, threats or hostility. An individual engaging in disruptive conduct may be removed from the chamber and could be arrested for disruption of a meeting. Speakers who engage in disruptive conduct could have their mute mic muted and may be removed from the chamber and arrested for disruption of the meeting. Disruptive conduct includes yelling, screaming, clapping, and other noise creating acts. For those of you who have requested to speak, when your name is called, please come forward to the center podium. The countdown clock is displayed on the left monitor and will indicate how much time is remaining. The bell will sound when you have 30 seconds remaining. Before you begin your comments, please state your name and city of residence. Thank you. Good morning and welcome to Fort City Council meeting. We are now called to order. Today's invocation will be by Reverend Joel McMaster McAllister from First Christian Methodist Church. Please rise for the invocation and remain standing for the pledges of allegiance. Amen. Dear Lord God, we come before you this day, asking for your continued grace, asking for your loving kindness, asking for your mercy. We thank you, God, for we know that the earth and the heavens were created by you. We thank you for waking us for starting us on another day's journey. For giving us, O Heavenly Father, not only access to be able to breathe the breath of life, but giving those here, these elected leaders and officials and all these representatives with the privilege, the responsibility, as well as the opportunity to care for your people in this city, in this state, in this nation and in this world. Allow us, oh God, to hear the hearts and the cries and the concerns as well as the needs of your people. Speak to us, speak through us, use us as vessels for your glory. We thank you, O God, for what you've already done. We thank you, oh God, for what you're doing right now. We thank you, oh God, for what you have promised to do and will do. Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and lift them up, ye everlasting doors. And the King of Glory shall come in. We thank you, we praise you, and we seek you because we need you. Through Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. We will begin with special presentations, which in the first one is a presentation of recognition to Marie Love for her longstanding leadership and service with the United Communities Association of South Poor. All right, good morning, uh Council. Um, I want to take the time to acknowledge a special person and introduce someone to you as well to councilwoman Marie Love. Yeah, I mean, yeah, yeah, y'all got to know the councilwoman. And so all the things that is approved in District 8, if it's not ran by this beautiful young lady, um, it's a problem. And I don't know if y'all have ever heard of Eric Mays. This is the female lady of Councilwoman Marie Love. We really want to take the opportunity to really um acknowledge Miss Marie Love for her astounding work. Uh, what we do in Southeast is a little bit different. We try to be community oriented, and so we have a lot of neighborhood associations, and many years ago, and I think Marie will tell us uh they conducted our established United United Communities Association of Southeast, which is an association that oversees all the neighborhood associations and they come together and make sure that the uh businesses, the development, the homes that come to Southeast for Work is all the same. And so we really wanted the opportunity to really thank you, Miss Marie Love for uh your continued support. And so each year we do an all-star award, and this year, for some reason, we didn't wasn't able to give Miss Marie Love the award. So we wanted to make sure we take time out this morning and honor her for her community impact all-star awards, honor our community leader, United Communities Association of South Fort Worth, Miss Marie Love. It is an honor and a privilege to represent you on the Fort Worth City Council. Your dedication and your commitment to this city is well appreciated. Today we honor you and we honor your family and uh Fort Worth District number eight for all-stars. Thank you, Miss Marie Love. Thank you, Councilman uh Nettles.
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