Murphy City Council Regular Meeting – November 3, 2026

The Murphy City Council met in regular session at 6 p.m. on November 3, 2026, with Mayor Scott Bradley presiding. All council members were present, with Councilmember Janet Butler attending virtually. The meeting included an Arbor Day proclamation, a capital improvement project update, several consent agenda items, a sign code amendment, an executive session, and a post-executive-session action concerning the city manager.

Consent Calendar

• Council approved consent agenda items 7A, 7C, 7D, and 7F in one motion by unanimous vote.
• Items 7B, 7E, and 7G were pulled from the consent agenda and considered separately.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No residents addressed the council during the public comment period for items not on the agenda.

Proclamation: Arbor Day

• Councilmember Ken Oltman presented the Arbor Day proclamation. Mayor Bradley proclaimed Friday, November 6, 2026, as Murphy Arbor Day. The city is a Tree City USA for 15 consecutive years and will give away 100 three-gallon trees at the Murphy Community Center on a first-come, first-served basis.

Capital Improvement Project Update

• FY 2026 sidewalk repairs are about 60% complete; construction is expected to finish by late November to early December 2026. The contractor is moving into the Rinter/Tall Tree area (section two) and recently increased productivity from about three to eight sidewalk replacements per day. A council member noted that even at eight per day, completion would take about two and a half years, and staff said they hope productivity improves further.
• Rodeo elevated storage tank construction began the previous day, with a 180-calendar-day proposed completion around the end of April 2027. The tower must be back in service by the end of February 2027, allowing 120 days out of service.
• The Timbers area cast iron water main replacement is scheduled to begin November 9, 2026, with a proposed completion date of May 7, 2027.
• The FM 544 pedestrian bridge project is on hold and will be discussed further at the January council retreat.
• The Table Rock box culvert extension had a bid opening October 8, 2026; LG Space Construction was the low bidder at $300,000. Construction was planned to begin late November to early December 2026 if approved.
• Design-phase projects include the FM 544/McCreary right turn lane, McMillan Road pavement and drainage improvements, Skyline sanitary sewer rehabilitation, and Timbers area sanitary sewer and paving rehabilitation.
• The East Rinter and Tall Tree intersection improvements were shown as completed.
• Staff reviewed quarterly financials for listed projects.

Individual Consideration: Property Donation (7B)

• Council unanimously approved a resolution accepting the donation of real property at 321 McMillan Road (Lot 1, Block A, Chase Edition), approximately 7.2 acres, to be dedicated to the city after the donors pass away. A minimum of four acres must be used as a public park named after Nathan P. Chase; the remainder may be used as the city sees fit. Andy Chase, a former council member and 40-year public school teacher, and his wife were present, and the mayor thanked them for the donation.

Individual Consideration: Building Systems Service Agreement (7E)

• Councilmember Butler recused from this item. Council approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a Connected Building Services Agreement with Train U.S. Inc. for inspection, maintenance, analytics, and scheduling for city building systems in an amount not to exceed $353,640. Staff described the five-year agreement as including quarterly inspections, preventive maintenance, cloud-based analytics, and a building automation portal, with annual billing and 30-day cancellation notice.

Individual Consideration: Water CCN Transfer Agreement (7G)

• Council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement with the City of Parker to transfer the water CCN service area for approximately 29 acres on McOrta Road to the City of Murphy. Parker had already approved its side. A council member asked how the city would collect the $10,000 reimbursement from the developer; staff said a separate development agreement would be prepared, or the developer could pay directly, and the transfer would not be filed with the Public Utility Commission until a written agreement or check was in hand.

Individual Consideration: Sign Code Amendment (8A)

• Council unanimously approved an ordinance amending Article 26.02 of the Murphy Code of Ordinances to add definitions for billboards and floating signs and to create a new section listing prohibited signs, including billboards, floating signs, other off-premise signs, and portable signs. Staff described it as code cleanup; the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval unanimously.

Executive Session and City Manager Agreement

• Council recessed at 6:20 p.m. into executive session under Texas Government Code Chapter 551 Subchapter D to consult with the attorney regarding pending or contemplated litigation, land use and zoning matters, code enforcement nuisances, litigation under Chapter 54 of the Texas Local Government Code, a formal citizen complaint, and a personnel matter involving the city manager. The council reconvened at 7:58 p.m. No action was taken during executive session.
• After reconvening, council authorized the city attorney to negotiate an agreement with the city manager as discussed in executive session and authorized the mayor to execute that agreement. The motion passed, with at least one council member voting no or abstaining; the transcript is unclear on the exact tally.

Key Outcomes

• Approved consent agenda items 7A, 7C, 7D, and 7F unanimously.
• Approved the Nathan P. Chase property donation (7B) unanimously.
• Approved the Train U.S. Inc. building systems agreement (7E), with Councilmember Butler recused.
• Approved the City of Parker water CCN transfer agreement (7G) unanimously.
• Approved the sign code ordinance amendment (8A) unanimously.
• Authorized negotiation and execution of the city manager agreement following executive session.
• No future agenda items were requested.
• Adjourned at 7:59 p.m.