Weatherford City Council Regular Session – July 14, 2026

The Weatherford City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at Weatherford City Hall. Mayor Paul Paschall presided; all council members were present. The meeting was called to order at 6:01 p.m., recessed from 6:30 to 6:38 p.m., and adjourned at 6:58 p.m. The council approved the prior meeting minutes, a consent agenda, a construction contract, a precious metal and gem dealer ordinance, and a board nomination.

Call to Order, Invocation, and Community Interest

• Pastor Neil Roa of Waterhouse Church led the invocation; Councilmember Luke Williams led the pledges of allegiance to the U.S. and Texas flags.
• Aaron Spicer delivered community interest announcements, including the 41st annual Parker County Peach Festival; Weatherford firefighters placing fifth out of 23 teams in an international rope rescue competition in Belgium; Sprouts Farmers Market scheduled to open July 31 at Weatherford Point; Tip a Cop on July 23 at Texas Roadhouse benefiting Special Olympics Texas; a back-to-school backpack drive; Chill with Weatherford PD on July 15; and the library summer reading finale on July 29.
• Councilmembers thanked staff, the Chamber of Commerce, and volunteers for Spark in the Park and the Peach Festival. Mayor Pro Tem Zach Smith noted attendance estimates of more than 10,000 at Spark in the Park and a little over 30,000 at the Peach Festival, with the Chamber still verifying a final number.

Presentations & Proclamations

• ESGR, the Department of War Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve, presented the City of Weatherford with the Pro Patria Award and the Above and Beyond Award. City Manager James Hotopp accepted them on behalf of the city.
• Hotopp also received a Patriotic Employer Award, nominated by Major Chad Marbut. Fire Chief Jonathan Peacock received a Patriotic Employer Award, nominated by Staff Sergeant Sarah Allen.
• ESGR representatives said the Pro Patria Award is one of five given in Texas, and Weatherford is the Texas public-sector finalist for the national Freedom Award, with the nomination now in Washington. They also said about 10 percent of the city's roughly 400 employees are veterans and about a third of the police department are prior service members. Hotopp signed an ESGR Statement of Support pledging compliance with USERRA and support for guard and reserve employees.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved the consent agenda as a body on a motion by Mayor Pro Tem Zack Smith, seconded by Councilmember Luke Williams.
• Awarded an audit services contract to Pattillo, Brown & Hill, L.L.P. for fiscal years ending September 30, 2026, 2027, and 2028, with an option for two additional fiscal years.
• Increased the annual spend with Sargent's R&B1 LP to an amount not to exceed $150,000 for fleet maintenance services.
• Increased the combined annual spend with Black Fox Services and 2033 Automotive to an amount not to exceed $175,000.

Public Comments & Testimony

• A Millsap, Texas resident identified as Annalee asked whether the proposed precious metal and gem dealer ordinance would apply to existing brick-and-mortar businesses already regulated by the Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. She expressed concern about an additional fee burden on small businesses and asked whether the permit could apply only to pop-up or temporary dealers.
• Bobby Whitehead, owner of a pawn shop at 1415 South Main Street, described 25 years as a licensed, second-generation pawnbroker and voluntary participation in LeadsOnline. He reported zero police confiscations and zero stolen property recovered the previous year, with two items recovered the year before. He raised concerns about mobile and hotel-based precious metal buying events creating an unfair competitive environment and being difficult to track down after sales, and asked the council to consider that issue.

Regular Agenda Items

• 8A – Development Services and Parks Administrative Office Renovation: Jaycob Kirkpatrick, Director of Parks, Recreation, Special Events and Facilities, presented the next construction phase, including the building expansion, drying in, re-roofing, sewer connections, rough-end plumbing, interior framing, and new windows. The council authorized the City Manager to execute a construction contract with DRI Construction through TIPS Contract No. 23010402 for $503,986, for a total aggregate fiscal year expenditure of $1,724,803. Construction was expected to begin August 1, with a final phase presented August 25 and completion scheduled for January.
• 8B – Precious Metal and Gem Dealers Ordinance: Police Chief Jason Hayes presented Ordinance O2026-24, which would add Chapter 16 to Title V of the City Code. He said the ordinance closes regulatory gaps because precious metal and gem dealers are currently regulated by the state but not the city. It requires permanent and temporary dealers to obtain a city permit, verify seller identification, electronically report transactions, photograph purchased property, and maintain records. It does not add new requirements to pawn shops, which remain governed by the Texas Pawn Shop Act. Hayes cited FBI figures that $1.4 billion in jewelry was stolen in 2024 and only 2 percent was recovered. In response to public comments, he clarified that no fees were being adopted with the ordinance; a future fee schedule would be publicly posted and could include options such as waivers or credits for local businesses. The council adopted the ordinance.
• 8C – TML Intergovernmental Risk Pool Board Nomination: City Manager James Hotopp explained that the Texas Municipal League dates to 1913 and has about 1,200 members, and its Intergovernmental Risk Pool provides workers' compensation, property, liability, cyber, and auto coverage. The pool's 15-member board includes 12 elected members serving staggered six-year terms. The council nominated Hotopp for Place 4 on the Board of Trustees; the nomination passed unanimously. The election itself will occur at a later date.

Future Agenda Items and Adjournment

• The City Manager reminded the council that the annual budget process will officially begin in August, including adoption of the annual budget and tax rates.
• No citizen comments were offered on non-agenda items. The meeting was adjourned at 6:58 p.m.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the minutes of the June 23, 2026 council meeting. A minutes document was not provided in the source materials, but the transcript records the approval on a motion by Councilmember Matt Ticzkus, seconded by Councilmember Luke Williams.
• Approved the consent agenda as a body.
• Authorized the DRI Construction contract for $503,986, with a total aggregate fiscal year expenditure of $1,724,803.
• Adopted Ordinance O2026-24 regulating precious metal and gem dealers.
• Nominated City Manager James Hotopp to the TML Intergovernmental Risk Pool Board of Trustees for Place 4, passing unanimously.