Murphy City Council Meeting - March 17, 2026

The Murphy City Council meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Mayor Scott Bradley on March 17, 2026. All council members were present. The meeting covered public comments on property taxes and sidewalk safety, a donation for the veterans memorial, a presentation on 911 services, a proclamation for Women's History Month, staff reports on upcoming events, and approval of a budget amendment.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Michael Padilla spoke on Governor Abbott's six-point property tax proposal, including eliminating school property taxes via constitutional amendment, limiting local government spending to the lesser of population growth or 3.5% annually, requiring two-thirds voter approval for any local property tax rate increase, empowering voters to force a rollback via a petition signed by 15% of registered voters, requiring property appraisal once every five years instead of annually, and reducing the annual appraisal cap from 10% to 3% for all property types. He encouraged citizens to review the plan and contact state representatives, stating, "If we get one of these six items passed, it's a huge win for property owners."
• Joanna Alviso and a neighbor described dangerous sidewalk conditions between Ridgeview and Sunset near Murphy Road. Alviso said she broke her elbow while biking due to a four- or five-inch slab height difference. She noted that a neighbor in a wheelchair now crosses Murphy Road outside a crosswalk to avoid the sidewalk, and that tree limbs, loose wires, and trash are accumulating in the area. The neighbor argued the sidewalks were "low bid, substandard construction" with no doweling, leading to differential settlement. He also cited a lack of code enforcement, specifically a house on Skyline Drive with two shipping containers in the front yard for months, a deteriorating roof, and potential condemnation.
• Dr. Laura Chalkley (former Murphy resident, former vet clinic owner) donated a piece of artwork titled "Yankee Doodle 2012" by artist Tim Yankee. The artwork includes an American flag with the first stanza of the Star-Spangled Banner in the stripes and uses a "Moving Canvas" app to display fireworks, flag movement, and the national anthem. The piece is intended to draw younger people to the veterans memorial.
• Mary Pat Elliott (Murphy resident, Veterans Tribute representative) accepted the donation on behalf of the city, describing Tim Yankee as "a master of blending nostalgic energy imagery with tones of Southwest."

Mayor's Report

• Councilmember Elizabeth Abraham provided an update from the March 11 North Central Texas Emergency Communications District (NCT 911) Board meeting. Key items included:
  • Approval of a one-year pilot project to implement and evaluate AI-enabled translation and transcription tools for 911 calls, with preferential multi-year pricing for up to four additional years (total contract not to exceed $810,000).
  • A resolution supporting a statewide wireless 911 service fee adjustment and sustainable funding model for Next Generation 911. The current fee of $0.50 per device has not changed since 1997, despite increased costs for technology, cybersecurity, and the legislative mandate to implement Next Generation 911 by September 2025 without a long-term funding solution. Councilmember Abraham asked to place this resolution on the April 2 agenda and has sent it to State Representative Candy Noble.
  • Review of the annual financial report for fiscal year ending September 30, 2025.
  • Preparation for FIFA events, including ensuring international calls can access 911 and providing emergency services for large gatherings.
• Councilmember Abraham passed materials to city staff to place the 911 funding resolution on the April 2 agenda.

Discussion Items

• Item 6B: Proclamation – National Women's History Month – Councilmembers Janae Butler, Laura Deal, and Elizabeth Abraham read and presented the proclamation, declaring March 2026 as Women's History Month in Murphy, Texas.
• Item 8B: Budget Amendment – General and Public Safety Donation and Grant Funds – This item was pulled from the consent agenda at Councilmember Scott Smith's request. Questions focused on:
  • A $22,000 shortfall in cable franchise fee revenue, attributed to residents moving away from cable to streaming services. The city lacks authority to impose a franchise fee on telecommunications services.
  • A transfer of approximately $900 from opioid abatement funds for a police department piece of equipment that identifies illicit narcotics. Police Chief confirmed the funds were available in the account but not previously budgeted in the appropriation. The equipment complies with state restrictions on opioid fund use.

Consent Calendar

• Item 8A was approved unanimously by a single motion.
• Item 8B was approved unanimously after discussion, with Councilmember Smith's questions addressed.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda 8A approved unanimously.
• Budget Amendment 8B approved unanimously, adjusting revenue and expenditures in the general and public safety donation/grant funds, with a net impact of an $18,000 increase to the fund.
• Future Agenda Items: Councilmember Smith requested an update on the annual sidewalk program and that the sidewalk prioritization list be posted online. The city manager confirmed a contract award is scheduled for the April 21 meeting, with construction possibly starting in May. The prioritized list was stated to be up to date but not yet online; staff will ensure it is posted.