Murphy City Council Regular Meeting - October 5, 2026

The Murphy City Council held its regular meeting on October 5, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. The meeting included public comments, presentations on a rental registration program and flock cameras, and discussion of a pedestrian bridge project. Council voted to terminate the flock camera program, tabled the bridge redesign, and approved a dental office site plan.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda was approved unanimously except for Item 7B (FM 544 pedestrian bridge redesign), which was removed for separate discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Maynard Little (1004 St. Mark Drive) criticized the city for not enforcing the city charter regarding the city manager's residency, and urged the council to cut spending and adopt a no-new-revenue tax rate. He questioned the cost of the FM 544 pedestrian bridge, which originally estimated at $3.4 million, then ballooned to over $7 million, and now is proposed at $4.2 million for a redesigned bridge.
• Mary White (121 Ridge View Drive) called for accountability and transparency regarding City Manager Aretha Adams, asking the council to listen to residents and protect the city charter.
• Rachel Gray (103 Pioneer Path Drive, North Murphy) described a severe erosion issue on her property caused by 65 acres of stormwater runoff. She reported that despite reporting the problem in 2022, the city has taken no action, and a proposed development across the channel may worsen the erosion. She requested immediate remediation and collaboration.
• Rhonda Bellamy Hodge (421 Hawthorne Drive) thanked residents for rejecting a petition to allow liquor sales in Murphy, and suggested the city focus on a library, post office, or community garden.
• Michael Badilla (323 Apache Trail) read Article 3, Section 16 of the city charter, which grants the council power to investigate city officers and employees, and demanded a transparent public investigation into why the city manager does not reside within city limits.

Discussion Items

• Fire Prevention Week Proclamation (Item 6A): The council proclaimed October 4-10, 2026, as Fire Prevention Week, emphasizing safe charging of lithium-ion batteries.
• Rental Registration Program Presentation (Item 6B): Planning Manager Stephanie Scott Sims presented a proposed mandatory rental registration program for single-family homes, duplexes, manufactured homes, and townhomes. The program would require annual registration and a $150 fee, generating an estimated $57,000 in revenue based on 377 identified rental properties. No internal or external inspections are proposed initially. Council members discussed the need for enforcement, potential inspection triggers, and comparison with other cities' programs. The next step is to bring the proposal to a work session for further discussion.
• Flock Camera Program Presentation (Item 6C): The police chief presented the city's flock camera program, which costs $18,000 annually ($15,000 from a state grant, $3,000 from the general fund). He noted that the state has indicated they may no longer fund the grant, and the city has not yet received reimbursement for the 2026 contract year. Council members expressed concerns about privacy, lack of regulation, and the potential for misuse. Options discussed included continuing the program until state funding ends (option B) or issuing a 30-day termination notice (option A). Council unanimously agreed to issue a 30-day termination notice, effective immediately, with the understanding that the city will continue to pursue reimbursement for the 2026 contract year.
• FM 544 Pedestrian Bridge Redesign (Item 7B): Council considered a resolution authorizing $127,900 for engineering services to redesign the pedestrian bridge. Several council members proposed pausing the project until a January retreat to reassess city priorities. Others argued that the project is important for safe crossing over Maxwell Creek and has been in development for years. The item died without a motion, effectively tabling it until further discussion at the retreat.
• Dental Office Site Plan (Item 8A): The council unanimously approved a site plan for a 6,000-square-foot dental office at the northeast corner of Murphy Road and Betsy Lane. The plan includes 24 parking spaces with a shared parking agreement, a six-foot masonry screen wall, full-cutoff lighting, and compliance with the planned development ordinance. Applicant Dr. Ted Ling stated that the practice will relocate from across the street and plans to operate during regular business hours.
• Executive Session (Item 9): The council recessed into executive session at 7:34 p.m. to consult with legal counsel on pending litigation and to discuss the appointment, evaluation, or dismissal of City Manager Aretha Adams. The council reconvened at 9:20 p.m. and reported no action taken.

Key Outcomes

• Flock Camera Program Terminated: Council directed the police chief to issue a 30-day termination notice to Flock as soon as possible. The program will end, but the city will continue to seek reimbursement for the 2026 contract year.
• Pedestrian Bridge Redesign Tabled: The agenda item died without a motion, meaning the project is effectively paused pending a council retreat in January 2027 to reevaluate priorities.
• Dental Office Approved: Item 8A was approved unanimously.
• Future Agenda Item: Councilmember requested adding a review of the lighting ordinance to a future work session, scheduled for October 10, 2026.