Weatherford City Council Regular & Executive Session Meeting - September 23, 2025
Weatherford City Council Regular & Executive Session Meeting - September 23, 2025
The Weatherford City Council met in regular session at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at City Hall Council Chambers. All council members were present. The meeting included approval of consent agenda items (with several pulled for discussion), public hearings, adoption of ordinances, nomination of appraisal district board candidates, and an executive session regarding code enforcement litigation at 1419 Bankhead Highway. The meeting adjourned at 7:33 PM.
Presentations & Proclamations
- Mayor Paul Paschall and Councilmembers presented a proclamation designating September 17–23, 2025 as Constitution Week in Weatherford, with the Weatherford chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in attendance.
Consent Calendar (Approved as a Block)
- Items 7A, 7D, 7E, 7F, and 7G were approved without discussion: professional services contract with SMEZ84 Consulting ($130,000), legal services contract with Taylor Olson Adkins Sralla & Elam ($400,000), Ordinance O2025-47 amending FY25 budget, Ordinance O2025-46 adopting FY26 fee schedule, and support contract renewal with Azteca Systems ($64,512). All passed unanimously.
Discussion Items (Items Pulled from Consent)
Item 7B – Purchase of Freightliner Trash Truck ($288,042)
- Councilmember Luke Williams asked about the vehicle's age (11-year-old truck with ~12,000 hours/360,000 miles) and delivery timing (expected October 2025). Motion to approve passed.
Item 7C – Fleet Maintenance Services (RFP 2025-024, up to $125,000 annually)
- Councilmember Heidi Wilder asked whether the service agreements overlapped with existing maintenance contracts for leased vehicles. Assistant City Manager Dawn Brooks explained that the agreements expedite service and do not duplicate existing contracts. Approved.
Item 7H – Purchase of Brush Truck for Fire Station No. 4 ($334,334)
- Councilmember Zack Smith questioned whether the vehicle was 4x4 as stated in the agenda item versus 4x2 as shown on the BuyBoard pricing worksheet. Fire Chief Jonathan Peacock clarified that all brush trucks are 4x4, but the agenda description required verification. The item was approved contingent on confirmation that the chassis is 4x4. Mayor Paul Paschall expressed frustration with the 18–24 month delivery timeline and 10% contingency, calling it an unreasonable business practice but supporting the purchase for public safety.
Item 7I – Purchase of Brush Truck for Fire Station No. 5 ($258,290)
- Councilmember Williams asked about delivery timeline: 120–150 days for the chassis plus queue time at the builder (Wildfire). The truck will be gas-powered with a 18-horsepower pony motor. Councilmember Wilder asked about the 10% contingency; City Manager James Hotopp clarified it is locally added to cover potential price changes or tariff fees. Approved.
Item 7J – Purchase of Police Pursuit Vehicles ($483,660)
- Councilmember Smith requested an itemized breakdown of the $260,000 upfitting cost, as the packet only included vehicle prices. Chief Jason Hayes explained the upfits include lighting, push bumpers, breaching tools, and secure storage for K9 vehicles. Councilmember Wilder moved to approve the purchase with a follow-up report at the next meeting detailing the upfit costs. Motion passed.
Regular Agenda Items
Item 8A – Adoption of Fiscal Year Meeting Schedule
- City Manager Hotopp presented the proposed schedule with single meetings in November, December, and July due to holidays. Councilmember Williams argued for two meetings in December and July to ensure availability for citizen business. Councilmember Ticzkus favored the traditional single-meeting schedule, citing efficiency. After debate, a motion to hold two meetings in December (on the 2nd and 16th) and two in July (on the 14th and 28th) and one in November (on the 18th) passed.
Item 8B – Nomination of Candidates to Parker County Appraisal District Board of Directors
- Council nominated Richard Barrett (incumbent) and Joe Wilkinson (replacing Jerry Durant) for the two open seats. Both were approved unanimously.
Item 8C – Ordinance O2025-44 (Zoning Notice/Sign Updates)
- Public hearing opened and closed with no comments. The ordinance updates zoning change signage requirements to comply with state law (HB 24). Approved 7-0.
Item 8D – Zoning Map Amendment and CUP for 200 Otto Drive
- Applicant Robert Stuckey requested a zoning change from AG to C1 with a conditional use permit for a contractor office with outdoor storage. The Planning & Zoning Commission had tabled the item. Council tabled the public hearing and consideration to October 14, 2025, per the applicant's request. Approved unanimously.
Item 8E – Ordinance O2025-43 (Central Neighborhood District Amendments)
- Public hearing held with no comments. The amendment adds single-family detached dwellings as a permitted use in the CN district, clarifies mixed-use building definitions, and permits household living on upper stories. Approved unanimously.
Executive Session
- Council entered executive session at 7:14 PM under Texas Government Code §551.071 to consult with the city attorney regarding pending litigation related to property at 1419 Bankhead Highway. Returned at 7:32 PM.
Key Outcomes
- Votes passed unanimously on all consent items and regular agenda items except as noted.
- Directives: City staff to provide itemized upfitting details for police vehicles at the next council meeting.
- Referral: The meeting schedule will be adjusted to include two meetings in December and July, with one in November.
- Litigation authorization: Council authorized the city attorney's office to file Chapter 54 code enforcement litigation against the property owner at 1419 Bankhead Highway.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made on any agenda or non-agenda items.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for being here. Before we call the meeting to order, I'm going to uh invite our great friend David Slatter up from Grace First Presbyterian Church. David is going to lead us in our invocation. Thank you for being here, David. Let us pray. And yet it doesn't feel like it, but we know that the around the corner is going to be cooler temperatures. We do pray for rain. We would get some rain that is much needed to replenish your creation. God, we just ask that you would continue to give wisdom and guidance to this council as they lead our city. Pray that we would always keep in mind that it is after you that we follow, not ourselves. And so, God, we always ask that for that wisdom to do that. God, we just pray blessings upon this gathering this evening. We pray these things in Christ's name. Amen. Amen. Thank you again for being here, David. The clock strikes six o'clock, and I will call the meeting to order. Uh, we do have a quorum present. All council members are in attendance and audience members and those watching on television and the internet. We appreciate you being here too. Um, item three on the agenda is pledges of allegiance to the United States and Texas flags be led this evening by council member Luke Williams. Please join me in the pledges. I played on the United States. Honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to the Texas under God. Thank you for that, Councilman Williams. Item for on the agenda's items of community interest. Eric Spice. Mayor and Council, the leaves are changing, the weather is slowly cooling, and somehow there are already Christmas decorations at Walmart. Here are a few quick highlights from around town. This week, our community mourns the passing of Officer Eric Warren after a courageous battle with cancer. Officer Warren dedicated more than 24 years to the Weatherford Police Department and over 30 years to law enforcement, serving as a mentor and friend to many. From his time in the motorcycle unit to training the next generation of officers, his impact on Weatherford will be long lasting. Please keep his family and our Weatherford Police Department family in your thoughts and prayers. Our Weatherford Fire Rescue also honored the follow the fall end of 9-11 through two recent memorial climbs. On September 6th, Firefighter Diaz participated in the Dallas 9-11 stair climb. And on September 13th, Lieutenant Beck, Firefighter Baker, and Firefighter Carver took part in the City Center 9-11 Tower climb in Fort Worth. Recently, police chief Hayes and City Manager James Hotop visited third graders at Curtis Elementary to share lessons on leadership and community. Students had the chance to learn firsthand how local leaders serve Weatherford and the important role teamwork plays in keeping our city strong. And next month, October will be uh fire safety month. Our Weatherford Fire Rescue, Fire Prevention Clowns will be bringing laughs and life-saving lessons to local schools. Kids will learn how to stop drop and roll and practice exit drills in their home and even my messy bedrooms are a fire hazard. Sorry, kids. These fun, memorable presentations prove that when it comes to safety, our clowns don't clown around. And national night out is October 7th. Time to craft some new friendships and build community connections. Join your neighbors and our first responders for an evening that's anything but square. It's like grape expectations meets whiskey business. Oh boy.
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