Fort Worth City Council Work Session - October 27, 2026

The Fort Worth City Council held a work session on October 27, 2026, covering community recognitions, police personnel and bargaining updates, cardiac emergency response programs, street funding and coordination issues, the comprehensive plan, a proposed economic development agreement with Beacon Modular, and selection of the 2027 Neighborhood Improvement Program area. The session started late because of a power outage, and the council agreed to postpone the last three planned presentations to a future work session. No agenda or minutes were available, so this summary is based solely on the transcript.

Upcoming Events and Recognitions

• Deanna Giordano announced the annual United Way of Tarrant County fundraiser at City Hall on Thursday, October 29, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with games, food, and a dunking booth.
• Staff noted that Dickies Arena is now Ariat Arena, calling it a positive long-term partnership connected to Ariat's local investment.
• AJ Jackson was recognized as Neighbor of the Year; a video described how he helped form the Riverwalk Residences Neighborhood Association after the July 4, 2024 fireworks and gunfire in the area, and how he advocated for a railroad quiet zone. His wife had nominated him secretly.
• Lisa Biggs, the city floodplain administrator, was recognized as the 2026 Texas Floodplain Administrator of the Year by the Texas Flood Plain Association. More than 1,400 floodplain administrators are in Texas; she has served Fort Worth for 11 years and as floodplain administrator for 3 years. Her work includes valley storage regulations, non-FEMA flood risk area regulations, a new floodplain permit enforcement program, a first-in-Texas vehicle flood notification system, and moving the city's Community Rating System from Class 8 to Class 7.
• The mayor presented an America Recycles Day proclamation. November 15 is the 29th anniversary of America Recycles Day, and October 28 marks one year since the opening of Fort Worth's waste management recovery facility, which can process up to 40 tons per hour. A recycling celebration is planned for November 14 from 1 to 4 p.m. at La Gran Plaza and Hulen Mall.
• Fort Worth Parks and Recreation won the DFW Directors Association six-pack challenge trophy after hosting 32 cities at Gateway Park; events included kickball, cornhole, golf cart polo, and archery.

Informal Reports and Briefings

• Chief Eddie Garcia reported command staff appointments, including Dave Carbajal promoted to executive assistant chief in November, Stephanie Ricks and Chris Daniels appointed assistant chief, Sean Kundura, Andre Smith, and Amy Heisy appointed deputy chief, and Christopher Gorey, Jason Spencer, John Pogue, and Matt Metters appointed commander. He described a focus on developing a younger, diverse officer pool through promotional testing, special operations assignments, and training opportunities.
• Garcia also described new patrol corporal positions: 30 corporals to be split across the six patrol divisions, selected through a civil service test and FTO program, with current investigative corporals allowed to return to patrol by seniority. Staff is working with the police officers association on selection criteria.
• On police bargaining, Garcia said the POA is the sole bargaining agent under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 143 and that two executive board seats are provided to the BPOA and NLEO presidents. Council Member Nettles said minority police associations may not feel heard and asked legal staff to explore ways to give them a stronger voice. Garcia noted that managing multiple bargaining associations is not efficient.
• Dr. Jeff Jarvis and Interim Fire Chief James Horton presented the PulsePoint app and the Cardiac Emergency Response Plan program. PulsePoint alerts CPR-trained members of the public to nearby cardiac arrests within about two square miles. The first activation in far north Fort Worth brought a responder 30 seconds after an ambulance, and crews achieved return of spontaneous circulation. The voluntary business recognition program, developed with chambers, requires an AED, a coordinator, training, and AED registration. Council members asked about language options and first-responder cardiac health following the death of Officer Brian Drentry.
• Kelly Porter presented a history of street-related project funding from Trinity Metro. Trinity Metro once returned about 5 percent of revenue to the city for street maintenance, but that share declined. Houston and Austin transit agencies have similar return programs, and DART issued a one-time refund last year. Staff will provide an estimate of Trinity Metro's pavement management fee contribution to Fort Worth. Council Members Hill and Flores raised damage to historic brick streets, including the Stockyards and Campbell Boulevard, and the higher cost of paver repairs.
• In a risk management fund overview, the city attorney's office said outside counsel performing direct legal services for the city totaled about $4.1 million over six years, or less than $1 million per year excluding bond counsel, and that staff was comfortable with that amount.
• Alison Docker reviewed open space and park acquisitions since January 2020. The 2026 bond program includes $25 million for open space; about $20 million in acquisition opportunities are under due diligence, with possible agreements late this year or early next year.
• Council Member Beck questioned coordination between Transportation/Public Works and the Water Department, citing West 7th Street rebuilt in 2022 and now being torn up in 2026 for a water line. Staff described GIS and Primavera P6 scheduling coordination and announced a process change requiring departments to check each other's project plans before spending consultant funds. The Boat Club area was used as an example of schedule overlap and poor public communication; water capacity work must be complete by summer 2028.
• Casey Thomas provided an overview of the Pro Housing grant pattern book activity; no questions were asked.
• Chelsea St. Louis explained that state law requires an engineering study to lower residential prima facie speed limits from 30 mph, and a blanket council declaration could make citations unenforceable. Staff plans to automate engineering studies using existing data to move toward a targeted 25 mph limit on local residential streets. Several council members asked staff to revisit the legal interpretation, consider 20 mph, and monitor state legislation.
• Michael Owen reported about 650 utility permits per month, roughly 8,000 per year, with 7 inspectors and 1 construction superintendent. Third-party utility contractors often fail to notify residents of lane closures. Permit requirements will be strengthened to require outreach to council offices, school districts, hospital districts, and neighborhood associations, plus proof of notification; a right-of-way management ordinance is also being developed. Council asked for more staff or software resources.
• Brian Doherty said squatter cases are primarily handled through civil/eviction processes with constables, while code compliance can coordinate on vacant buildings heading toward demolition. Cases are increasingly coming before the Building Standards Commission.
• Ari Fernandez reported on proposed federal changes to SBA small business size standards, including moving construction from receipts-based to employee-based thresholds, which would make more businesses eligible. The city is not barred from creating its own definition. Chambers have indicated they prefer current standards; several council members also said they favor maintaining existing definitions to avoid administrative costs and protect smaller businesses.

Presentations

• Comprehensive Plan Update: Jay Rankins of MIG presented the policy framework and future land use work. The plan has been underway for over a year; a public review draft is expected by January 2027, with adoption targeted for April 2027. The framework is organized around five vision elements, a 12-place-type palette, walkable mixed-use centers, and strategic development areas. In the Reimagined City quiz, 25 percent of participants selected Walkersville, a walkable connected city, followed by transit-focused Lingston and green-focused Greenhaven.
• Beacon Modular Economic Development Agreement: Brianna Brown presented a proposed five-year incentive agreement for Beacon Modular, a subsidiary of Lighthouse Electric. Lighthouse has 1,200 employees in Pittsburgh and 1,500 nationwide, plus plans to add 1,000 jobs within five years outside this project. Beacon proposes a minimum $30 million capital investment, a seven-year lease of over 500,000 square feet under construction, 600 new jobs at a minimum average wage of $91,000, and over $250 million in projected annual taxable sales. The proposed incentive is capped at $500,000 through annual grants of up to $100,000, funded by the Economic Development Investment Fund, with no grant below $25 million in annual taxable sales. Staff estimated the private-to-public participation ratio at $11 to 1 and net new taxes after incentives of $13.4 million. About 60 of the new positions are expected to have apprenticeship components. The item is scheduled for council consideration on November 10, 2026.
• Neighborhood Improvement Program: Casey Thomas reported that all NIP neighborhoods are now 100 percent allocated, and Las Vegas Trail spending rose from under 60 percent in 2023 to 84 percent. The scoring weights are 40 points safety, 40 points neighborhood condition, and 20 points financial hardship. Wedgewood East was selected as the 2027 program area with an overall score of 85 out of 100, including 35 out of 40 on safety, 33 out of 40 on neighborhood condition, and 17 out of 20 on financial hardship. It is split across two council districts and will be championed by Council Members Hall and Beck. Median household income in the area is about 80 percent of the citywide figure, and unemployment and poverty rates are somewhat higher. Funding will be spread across three years due to budget constraints; year one will focus on clean-and-safe activities and planning.

Executive Session

• The council recessed into executive session under Texas Government Code Sections 551.071, 551.072, 551.087, 551.076/551.089, and 551.074 to receive attorney advice and discuss real property, economic development negotiations, security, and personnel matters. No open-session decisions were reported.

Key Outcomes

• Council agreed to postpone the final three planned presentations to a future work session because of the power outage and delayed start.
• Staff will provide Trinity Metro reimbursement estimates and continue work on historic brick street preservation.
• Police and emergency medical staff will report back on first-responder cardiac health and tactical team preparedness.
• TPW and Water will implement a pre-consultant coordination review and improve public communication on overlapping construction projects.
• Utility lane closure permits will include mandatory outreach and evidence requirements; council will consider additional staffing or software.
• The Beacon Modular economic development agreement will be brought back for council action on November 10, 2026.
• Wedgewood East was selected as the 2027 Neighborhood Improvement Program area.
• Staff will prepare future IRs on community centers inventory, early voting and Election Day locations by council district, revenue sources by district, small shopping center redevelopment tools, Flock camera use and impact scheduled for November 17, and an e-bike presentation.