Weatherford City Council Meeting - April 28, 2026
Weatherford City Council Regular Session – April 28, 2026
On Tuesday, April 28, 2026, the Weatherford City Council met at 6:00 PM at City Hall (303 Palo Pinto Street) for its regular session. The meeting covered a proclamation, approval of minutes, a consent agenda, four regular agenda items, and an executive session for the annual city manager evaluation. All actions were taken unanimously. The meeting recessed at 6:31 PM for executive session, reconvened at 8:46 PM, and adjourned at 8:47 PM.
Community Interest & Proclamations
- Aaron Spicer (Assistant City Manager) highlighted community events: the success of Taste of Parker County, upcoming library boot fashion show (May 1), Bruno Mars tribute concert (May 9), Storytime at Shandor Gardens (April 29), library book sale (April 30), and Food Park Lounge Night (May 5).
- Councilmember Heidi Wilder promoted the July 11 Peach Pedal bike ride.
- City Manager James Hotopp noted that churches are already covered under the recently expanded sex offender residency restriction (from 1,000 to 2,000 feet), clarifying a point from the April 14 meeting.
- Mayor Paul Paschall proclaimed May 2026 as Building Safety Month, with the theme "Built to Last."
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes of the City Council Retreat (April 3, 2026) and regular meeting (April 14, 2026).
- Approved consent items 7a through 7e as a single block:
- 7a: Ordinance O2026-12 amending the FY26 Adopted Budget.
- 7b: Acceptance of the FY26 Second Quarter Investment Report.
- 7c: Authorization for a professional engineering services contract with Schwarz Hanson Architects (up to $191,400; total aggregate $251,100) for Public Works and Parks Department warehouse design.
- 7d: Authorization for a contract with Kimley-Horn & Associates (up to $40,000; total aggregate $1,179,500) for Center Point Road Median Improvements.
- 7e: Resolution R2026-06 authorizing a grant application to the Office of the Governor for an armored rescue vehicle for the regional SWAT team.
Discussion Items
- 8a – Zoning Map Amendment (395 Jones Road): Public hearing held; no public comment. Council approved changing the zoning from Agricultural (AG) to Industrial (I) for a 10.764-acre tract, consistent with the general plan. The Planning and Zoning Commission had previously recommended approval 6-0.
- 8b – Final Plat – EOG Addition (395 Jones Road): Approved the final plat for one commercial lot on the same 10.764 acres. P&Z had recommended approval 6-0.
- 8c – Conditional Use Permit – OHV Sales/Service with Outside Storage (2217 Old Dennis Road): Public hearing held; no public comment. Applicant Houston Sutton explained the business is currently used-only but may eventually sell new equipment. Discussion focused on Condition #2 ("Display of equipment are limited to new items"). Councilmember Smith and other members expressed strong support for Sutton as a community partner. Council voted to remove Condition #2 entirely, allowing displays of quality used equipment. The amended motion carried unanimously, with the understanding that the permit conditions run with the property and that any change of use or six-month vacancy would require a new CUP.
- 8d – Fire Code Amendment – Outdoor Burning: Fire Marshal Kevin Dozier presented an amendment to Section 4-4-1 of the city code to correct minor numbering errors and add language prohibiting burning of hazardous materials (treated wood, plastics, tires, etc.). Public hearing held; no public comment. Council approved the ordinance.
Key Outcomes
- All votes passed unanimously (no dissenting votes recorded).
- The executive session under Section 551.074 (Personnel – Annual Evaluation of City Manager) was held; no action was taken afterward.
- No citizen comments were made during the non-agenda comment period.
- Meeting adjourned at 8:47 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for being here. Before we call our meeting to order, we're gonna have a slight pivot. David Slider was supposed to lead us in her invoication. Understandably he couldn't make it. We'll have him back another time soon. But we're gonna ask Councilmember Matt Tiskus to lead us in her invitation. Matt. All right, let's pray. Lord, we're certainly thankful for the opportunity that we have to meet uh tonight. And uh we're thankful for the rain, but we we do pray over uh those even in this very moment uh who uh might be experiencing some difficulty due to uh the weather. We we pray that your hand would be with them and that they would be uh safe and that you would protect them. And uh, we pray for our neighbors in Springtown and other places who've experienced uh loss because of storms. We just pray uh that uh through uh good neighbors and through your provision that they could be made uh whole with the things uh that have been lost, and so we just pray for your uh will to be done in their lives. And now as we turn our attention to this meeting, uh we ask for your will to be done. We pray for wisdom for this body uh that we would make good and wise decisions that would honor you. We're thankful for our citizens, and we're thankful for the opportunity that we have uh to serve in this capacity, and I pray that as uh as members of this body we would never forget that this is an opportunity to serve and that we would maintain that mentality uh tonight as we meet together. And we ask and pray all of these things in the name of Christ. Amen. Thank you for that, Matt. We sure appreciate that. It is 6 03 p.m. I'm gonna call the being to order announce we have a quorum present. All council members are in attendance. Um item three on the agenda is pledges of allegiance to the United States and Texas flags will be led by Councilmember Luke Williams. For which the stands one nation with liberty and justice for all. On the Texas flag, uh pledged allegiance, Texas one state under God one and of this one. Luke, thank you for that. We'll shift down to item four on the agenda items of community interest. Aaron Spicer, welcome. Mayor and Council, before we jump into business, I have a few community highlights because good things are happening out there, and somebody needs to recognize it. So it turns out our city council isn't afraid of getting their hands a little dirty or smoky. Council members Zach Smith and Luke Williams spent time training alongside our Weatherford firefighters this past week, tackling everything from flashover simulations to forcible entry and search and rescue. I think it's safe to say that they gained a whole new appreciation for the job and maybe can even sleep a little better at night, knowing our fire department is the ones doing it for real. Our parks crew is the definition of behind the scenes heroes. From setup to cleanup, they put in the work that makes community events possible. And this week was no exception. Despite this the steady rain this past Tuesday, they powered through to make sure the taste of Parker County went off without a hitch. Their dedication, flexibility, and pride in what they do doesn't go unnoticed. And it's time to dust off those Justin Ropers, the friends of the Weatherford Public Library are hosting their spring luncheon and boot fashion show on Friday, May 1st at the DOS Heritage Center. Guest speaker Janine Coonell will, she's a former FBI agent author and founder of Fierce Fearless Females. We'll share her wisdom from her book, When Your Boots Are Tired, and Proceeds benefit the Weatherford Public Library Summer Reading Program. And if you ever wanted to know what it feels like to be front row at a Bruno Mars concert without paying those front row at a Bruno Mars concert prices, mark your calendar for May 9th. 24 Carat Magic, the self-proclaimed number one tribute van to Bruno Mars is coming to Heritage Park. Don't believe them, just watch. The show kicks off at seven. You can't make this stuff up there. I don't know any more Bruno Mars songs, so that was all yeah. We'll be singing that for three days. But if you need more ideas for things to do around town on April 29th, bring the little ones to Storytime at Shandor Gardens.
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