Weatherford
Weatherford City Council, Sept. 9, 2025: 6 items; Presentation of Life Saving Award
0 consent items, 6 regular items, 1 public hearing, 2 executive-session topics. Written from the minutes.
5.a: Presentation of Life Saving Award. Director of Municipal and Community Services Eric Shumar presented a Life Saving Award to Weatherford Parker County Animal Shelter employee Stephanie Landers for her actions in saving a co-worker’s life during a dog attack in August.
7.a: Hold a PUBLIC HEARING on the proposed ad valorem tax rate of $0.392246 per $100 valuation, including $0.295646 per $100 valuation for operations and maintenance and $0.0966 per $100 valuation for interest and sinking (debt service). Budget Manager Ashley Esquivel explained that the 2025 proposed tax rate of 39.2246 cents per $100 of taxable valuation, used to build the FY26 proposed budget, was equal to the no-new-revenue tax rate and would provide sufficient revenue to meet the City’s needs without increasing property taxes. Mayor Paul Paschall opened the Public Hearing at 6:10 p.m. With no public comments received, Mayor Paschall closed the Public Hearing at 6:10 p.m. No action was required or taken on this item.
7.b: Consider and/or act upon approval of Ordinance O2025-41 adopting the City Manager's Proposed Budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025 and ending September 30, 2026. Budget Manager Ashley Esquivel explained that the FY26 Proposed Budget represented a balanced approach to municipal finance, covering 25 funds, supporting 15 departments, and 332 employees, while preserving and strengthening existing services. She added that it positioned Weatherford for continued fiscal stability, with reserve levels exceeding 120 days, combined revenues of $83.4 million, and total expenditures of $83.2 million, including funding for previously approved outside applications. Mrs. Esquivel noted that since the original proposal, the budget was amended to include a one-time contribution to the Chamber of Commerce for construction of a new facility. On the motion of Luke Williams, second by Zack Smith, the City Council voted unanimously to approve Ordinance O2025-41 adopting the City Manager’s Proposed Budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025, and ending September 30, 2026. The motion carried 4-0 and the ordinance is captioned at follows: ORDINANCE NO. O2025-41 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF WEATHERFORD, TEXAS, ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR OCTOBER 1, 2025 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2026; MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS FOR [...]
7.c: Ratify property tax revenue increase reflected in the FY26 Budget pursuant to Texas Local Government Code Section 102.007. Budget Manager Ashley Esquivel explained that, under the Texas Local Government Code, the City Council must take a separate vote to ratify any increase in property tax revenue reflected in the budget. She noted that the FY26 budget included an increase of approximately $616,000 in property tax revenue due to new construction. On the motion of Luke Williams, second by Zack Smith, the City Council voted unanimously to ratify the adoption of the FY26 budget which will generate more revenue from property taxes than in the previous year. The motion carried 4 - 0.
7.d: Consider and/or act upon approval of Ordinance O2025-42 adopting the ad valorem tax rate of 39.2246 cents per $100 of valuation for the 2025 tax year (2026 fiscal year). Budget Manager Ashley Esquivel reviewed that the proposed 2025 tax rate of $0.392246 would generate the same property tax revenue from existing properties as in 2024, was equal to the no-new-revenue tax rate (meaning the City was not proposing a tax increase), and remained below the voter-approval rate, the highest rate the City may adopt without an election. Heidi Wilder moved to adopt an ad valorem tax rate of 39.2246 cents per $100 of valuation, which is effectively 1.5% decrease in the tax rate and equal to the No-New- Revenue tax rate. This includes a rate of 29.5646 cents for the operations and maintenance of the General Fund and 9.660 cents in order to service the City's debt, and to adopt Ordinance O2025-42. Zack Smith seconded the motion, and it carried 4 – 0. The ordinance is captioned as follows: ORDINANCE NO. O2025-42 AN ORDINANCE LEVYING TAXES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR OCTOBER 1, 2025 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 FOR THE CITY OF WEATHERFORD, TEXAS; ENACTING PROVISIONS RELATING THERETO; PROVIDING FOR APPROVAL OF THE TAX ROLLS PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; REPEALING CONFLICTING ORDINANCES; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
7.e: Consider authorizing the City Manager to execute the Tarrant County Regional Auto Crimes Task Force Interlocal Assistance Agreement with Tarrant County. Chief of Police Jason Hayes reviewed this would be the third fiscal year the Weatherford Police Department would participate in the Tarrant County Regional Auto Crimes Task Force, a program requiring a new Interlocal Agreement each fiscal year. He added that the Task Force investigates motor vehicle theft, burglary, parts theft, and vehicle-related fraud; conducts multi-jurisdictional operations; provides specialized training; gathers and shares intelligence; and engages in prevention and public education efforts across a seven-county region. On the motion of Zack Smith, second by Luke Williams, the City Council voted unanimously to authorize the City Manager to execute the Tarrant County Regional Auto Crimes Task Force Interlocal Assistance Agreement with Tarrant County. The motion carried 4 - 0.
Future agenda items: There were no future agenda items requested.
Action on executive session items: 9.a. On the motion of Heidi Wilder, second by Luke Williams, the City Council voted unanimously to approve Resolution No. R2025-17 authorizing the City Manager to negotiate, finalize, and execute a Master Development Agreement and related documents for a destination and mixed-use development and Qualified Convention Center and Hotel project between the City of We
Executive session topics, as posted: Section 551.087. Deliberation Regarding Economic Development Negotiations: to discuss or deliberate regarding commercial or financial information that the governmental body has received from a business prospect that the ; Section 551.087. Deliberation Regarding Economic Development Negotiations: to discuss or deliberate regarding commercial or financial information that the governmental body has received from a business prospect that the .
Compiled from the city secretary's minutes by the Ledger's extractor, in the minutes' own wording, item by item; the Ledger adds no characterization. Read the minutes for the full record.
Sources: City of Weatherford: council minutes, Sept. 9, 2025 (Granicus); Agenda for this meeting (Granicus); Meeting video (Granicus)