OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Weatherford City Council Regular & Executive Session Meeting - June 24, 2025

City Council & Boards — Tuesday, June 24, 2025
BodyWeatherford, Texas
SessionCity Council & Boards
DateTuesday, June 24, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:56:45

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

0:02

Thank you for being here this evening.

0:03

Before we call the meeting to order.

0:07

I'm going to invite Lindel Holloway up from First Baptist Church here in Weatherford.

0:11

Lee us in our invitation.

0:12

Welcome, sir.

0:13

It's good to see you as always.

0:18

God, we just thank you for these leaders that give their time and their effort to govern our city.

0:23

We pray that you would give them wisdom discernment with the issues facing them.

0:28

Our time in the city and that you would guide us in these times.

0:32

It's in the name of Jesus we pray.

0:33

Amen.

0:34

Thank you, sir.

0:37

6 02 p.m.

0:38

on a call the meeting order announcements report in prison.

0:40

All council members are in attendance.

0:41

We appreciate your service and willness to be here.

0:44

Item three on the agenda's pledges of allegiance to the United States and Texas flags.

0:48

Be led this evening by Hattie Wilder.

0:50

Please join me.

1:07

Honoration, Texas once.

1:21

Thank you for that, Addy.

1:23

Item four on the agenda is items of community interest.

1:25

Aaron Spice.

1:27

Welcome.

1:29

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

1:31

Just a quick few highlights from around town because the City of Weatherford does not take a summer break.

1:37

Staff recently attended the American Public Works Association conference to accept a Project of the Year award for the Northwest Quadrant Street Rehabilitation Project in downtown Weatherford.

1:49

Project was recognized in the historical preservation restoration category for small communities.

1:56

The Weatherford Fire Department hosted a pushback ceremony yesterday at Fire Station One to officially welcome Brush Truck One and Fire Engine Four into service.

2:06

Community members join firefighters in the longstanding tradition of pushing the new apparatuses into the bay, a symbolic start to their service and protecting the citizens of Weatherford.

2:18

The Weatherford Police Department wrapped up its junior police academy last week with an award ceremony.

2:24

This is a hands-on program that gives local teens a behind the scenes look at law enforcement with training and tactical driving, crime scene investigation, defensive tactics, and more.

2:47

From popsicles to pickleball, they covered all the major food groups of community outreach.

2:53

And big congratulations to Weatherford Chamber President Tammy Gazola, who just added more letters to her name than most people have in their email passwords.

3:02

She earned an IOM designation from the U.S.

3:05

Chamber and her CFEE certification from the International Festivals and Event Association.

3:12

Way to go, Tammy.

3:13

That is awesome.

3:14

Yeah, sure is.com.

3:56

Thank you so much, Aaron.

3:57

That was a fantastic report mixed with some really good humor.

4:00

I love it.

4:01

Item five on the agenda is presentations and proclamations.

4:04

5A is downtown Weatherford Incorporated by annual update.

4:11

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

4:13

Thank you for having me tonight.

4:14

I am here to give you a bit of an update on Downtown Weatherford Inc.

4:20

So we have celebrated five years as an organization.

4:23

With that, we have an updated mission, vision, and included a promise.

4:27

I'm going to give you some winter updates as well as expound on our 2025 campaign of Explore and then show you how the future is historic.

4:38

These are some of the pictures from the last four years of Wina Whiskey Walk and the last five years of Sunset on the Square.

4:46

This year we changed up the format for Sunset on the Square and went straight down Mark Avenue where we could uh accentuate all of the amazing quad of improvements the city has done.

4:58

Here's some cool real estate and real numbers.

5:01

So since 2022, there have been approximately 9,992,300 private local dollars invested in purchasing and improving property in downtown.

5:15

Those numbers are straight from the property owners as well as the merchants.

5:20

Approximately 20 properties within the central business district have new owners, and each of those owners are local to Parker County.

5:27

This is encouraging because local people are making local decisions that are important to our community.

5:35

This is a really cool slide about wine and whiskey walk.

5:39

We've always broadcast and published wine and whiskey walk nationally and focused on our marketing regionally.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning And Land Use█████████████████████████████29%
Affordable Housing██████████████████18%
Procedural████████████12%
Historic Preservation████████8%
Transportation Safety████████8%
Water And Wastewater Management███████7%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████7%
Budget Equity Analysis████4%
Fiscal Sustainability███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Weatherford City Council Regular & Executive Session Meeting - June 24, 2025

Introductory Summary

The Weatherford City Council met in regular and executive session on June 24, 2025, from 6:02 PM to 8:17 PM at City Hall. The agenda included a bi-annual update from Downtown Weatherford Inc., multiple development items for Avilla Lockwood and Vida Weatherford, adoption of updated building codes, a certificate of obligation issuance, a fueling station density discussion, and personnel action. Key outcomes included approval of the Avilla Lockwood development (annexation, zoning, plat), denial of Vida Weatherford (zoning and plat), approval of $9.99M in certificates of obligation, adoption of 2021 international codes, and appointment of a municipal court judge.

Presentations & Proclamations

  • Downtown Weatherford Inc. Bi-Annual Update – Lindsay Montgomery presented updates since 2022 highlighting approximately $9.99 million in private local investment downtown, 20 properties with new local owners, over 2,000 Wine & Whiskey Walk ticket holders from 115 zip codes (including 11 states), $140,000 spent on cultural arts, and a new green space planned at York Avenue and Spring Street with an estimated $400,000 cost, funding not yet raised. Council members asked for earlier submission of financial materials (10 days before presentation) and clearer breakdown of facade improvement grant information.

Consent Calendar

  • Item 6a: Approved minutes of June 10, 2025 regular session. (Unanimous)
  • Item 7a and 7c: Approved appointments to the Public Library Board (Sarah Davis new; Courtney Butler, Crystal Brown-Woerly, Debbie Browder, Liza Walters reappointed) and Resolution R2025-08 setting the gross receipts charge and return on investment for FY2026 from utility fund to general fund. (Unanimous)
  • Item 7b: Approve preliminary plat for Whiterock Homes Phase 2 – 34 residential lots on 10.273 acres at 1713 E. Bankhead Dr. (Pulled from consent due to speaker card; later approved unanimously after discussion.)

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Whiterock Homes Phase 2 (7b): Amy Hutton (1718 E. Bankhead Dr.) spoke on behalf of neighbors expressing concerns about stormwater runoff and flooding, noting no storm drains on Bankhead and existing flooding issues nearby; also raised sewer capacity concerns. She indicated a prior apartment plan nearby had similar issues.

Discussion Items

  • 8a – Certificates of Obligation Series 2025: CFO Dawn Brooks and financial advisor Marty Shu (Hilltop Securities) reported competitive bond sale with 10 bids, winning bid from Robert Baird at 4.27% true interest cost. Proceeds ($9.99 million) will fund critical water/wastewater projects (water purification plant expansion, elevated storage tank, lift station 17 expansion, Town Creek main trunk line). Ratings: S&P AA, Moody's A2; utility debt rating upgraded to A- (from A+) by S&P – highest ever. Council thanked staff, utility board, and previous councils for strong fiscal policy. (Ordinance O2025-27 adopted unanimously.)
  • 8b – Avilla Lockwood Development Agreement: Josh Eady (Next Metro Communities) presented a 161-unit single-family rental (multifamily) project on ~17.8 acres at SE corner of BB Fielder and Causbie Roads. Amenities include pool, spa, EV chargers, dog park. Developer contributed ~$950,000 for road improvements to Causbie Road. Council questioned parking setback and community outreach; developer noted June 4 community meeting with 3 attendees, all supportive. Council member Williams asked to extend road improvements to second access point; developer agreed up to budget. (Approved unanimously.)
  • 8c – Voluntary Annexation (Avilla Lockwood): Public hearing held (no speakers). Annexation of 17.819 acres owned by Harold Lockwood Jr. plus portions of Causbie and BB Fielder Roads. (Ordinance O2025-24 adopted unanimously, effective immediately.)
  • 8d – Zoning Amendment (Avilla Lockwood): Public hearing held (no speakers). Rezone from AG to R3 Multifamily Residential with Planned Unit Development overlay for 161 units. (Ordinance O2025-23 adopted unanimously.)
  • 8e – Preliminary Plat (Avilla Lockwood): One lot, ~17.8 acres. (Approved with conditions unanimously.)
  • 8f – Vida Weatherford Zoning & Development Agreement: Michael Smith (DBA Architect) presented a 306-unit luxury apartment project (two phases: Phase I 192 units by 2029, Phase II 114 units by 2031) on ~14.17 acres at SE corner of Cleburne Ave and Tin Top Road. Staff recommended approval but council discussed housing study cap (377 units remaining through 2030, now 216 after Avilla), density concerns (37.9% tenant-occupied multifamily in Weatherford vs 14.8% in Parker County rural), and traffic impacts on I-20 (high accident frequency). Council member Wilder moved to deny; seconded. (Denied 7-0? Not specified, but motion passed.)
  • 8g – Preliminary Plat (Vida Weatherford): Tied to 8f. (Denied on motion after 8f denial.)
  • 8h – Conditional Use Permit for Office Building: 215 E. Church St, 0.364 acres. Conditions: hours 7am-8pm, no temporary signs/banners. (Ordinance O2025-26 adopted with conditions unanimously.)
  • 8i – Building Code Adoption: Adoption of 2021 International Codes and 2020 NEC with local amendments; fire sprinkler requirements adjusted based on use and occupancy. Effective December 2025. (Ordinance O2025-22 adopted unanimously.)
  • 8j – RV Park/Campground (James McDonald): Public hearing held (no speakers). Tabled to July 22, 2025, after Planning & Zoning meeting July 16. City manager noted apparent construction had begun without proper process; staff to provide information.
  • 9a – Fueling Station Update: Staff report on existing 31 operating fueling stations (plus 4 approved). Comparison to other cities; discussion on whether to impose radius restrictions vs continue CUP process. Council consensus to keep CUP process with density data included with future applications; no action taken.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved minutes of June 10, 2025.
  • Approved Library Board appointments and FY2026 gross receipts resolution.
  • Approved Whiterock Homes Phase 2 preliminary plat.
  • Approved Ordinance O2025-27 authorizing $9.99 million in Certificates of Obligation Series 2025 (sale at 4.27% over 20 years).
  • Approved Avilla Lockwood development agreement, annexation, zoning, and preliminary plat.
  • Denied Vida Weatherford zoning and development agreement (Ordinance O2025-25) and preliminary plat.
  • Approved conditional use permit for office at 215 E. Church St.
  • Adopted 2021 international building/fire codes (Ordinance O2025-22).
  • Tabled RV park/campground request to July 22, 2025.
  • Following executive session: Appointed Teresa Evans as Municipal Court Judge for unexpired term ending December 31, 2026.
  • Directed staff to provide STR (short-term rental) compliance update at first August 2025 meeting.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for being here this evening. Before we call the meeting to order. I'm going to invite Lindel Holloway up from First Baptist Church here in Weatherford. Lee us in our invitation. Welcome, sir. It's good to see you as always. God, we just thank you for these leaders that give their time and their effort to govern our city. We pray that you would give them wisdom discernment with the issues facing them. Our time in the city and that you would guide us in these times. It's in the name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Thank you, sir. 6 02 p.m. on a call the meeting order announcements report in prison. All council members are in attendance. We appreciate your service and willness to be here. Item three on the agenda's pledges of allegiance to the United States and Texas flags. Be led this evening by Hattie Wilder. Please join me. Honoration, Texas once. Thank you for that, Addy. Item four on the agenda is items of community interest. Aaron Spice. Welcome. Good evening, Mayor and Council. Just a quick few highlights from around town because the City of Weatherford does not take a summer break. Staff recently attended the American Public Works Association conference to accept a Project of the Year award for the Northwest Quadrant Street Rehabilitation Project in downtown Weatherford. Project was recognized in the historical preservation restoration category for small communities. The Weatherford Fire Department hosted a pushback ceremony yesterday at Fire Station One to officially welcome Brush Truck One and Fire Engine Four into service. Community members join firefighters in the longstanding tradition of pushing the new apparatuses into the bay, a symbolic start to their service and protecting the citizens of Weatherford. The Weatherford Police Department wrapped up its junior police academy last week with an award ceremony. This is a hands-on program that gives local teens a behind the scenes look at law enforcement with training and tactical driving, crime scene investigation, defensive tactics, and more. From popsicles to pickleball, they covered all the major food groups of community outreach. And big congratulations to Weatherford Chamber President Tammy Gazola, who just added more letters to her name than most people have in their email passwords. She earned an IOM designation from the U.S. Chamber and her CFEE certification from the International Festivals and Event Association. Way to go, Tammy. That is awesome. Yeah, sure is.com. Thank you so much, Aaron. That was a fantastic report mixed with some really good humor. I love it. Item five on the agenda is presentations and proclamations. 5A is downtown Weatherford Incorporated by annual update. Good evening, Mayor and Council. Thank you for having me tonight. I am here to give you a bit of an update on Downtown Weatherford Inc. So we have celebrated five years as an organization. With that, we have an updated mission, vision, and included a promise.

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