Weatherford City Council, Sept. 8, 2026: 5 items

0 consent items, 5 regular items, 1 public hearing; 3 recorded votes, all unanimous. Written from the minutes.

5.a: Proclamation designating September 17-23, 2026 as Constitution Week in the City of Weatherford. The City Council presented a proclamation to the Weatherford Daughters of the American Revolution declaring September 17-23, 2026, as Constitution Week in the City of Weatherford.

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). Director of Finance Linzy Blain presented the proposed 2026 property tax rate of 39.2246 cents per $100 of taxable valuation, approximately one cent below the No-New-Revenue rate. She explained that the proposed rate would provide sufficient revenue to support the proposed FY27 budget and represented the sixth time in the past seven years that the City has proposed or adopted a rate at or below the No-New-Revenue rate. Blain noted that the proposed rate did not represent an increase in property taxes and was below the rate that would trigger an election. Mayor Paul Paschall opened the Public Hearing at 6:15 p.m. • One resident spoke in support of the City’s efforts to remain fiscally responsible and thanked the Council for not raising city taxes. With no further comments received, Mayor Paschall closed the Public Hearing at 6:17 p.m. No action was taken or required at this time.

7.b: Consider and/or act upon approval of Ordinance O2026-33 adopting the City Manager's Proposed Budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026 and ending September 30, 2027. Budget Manager Ashley Esquivel presented the City Manager's Proposed FY27 Budget, which included 26 funds and 17 departments and provided for 333 employees, encompassing all municipal programs and services, excluding the electric and water utilities. She explained that the proposed $120.8 million citywide budget maintained more than 120 days of operating reserves and included funding for the outside funding applications approved by the City Council on August 25. Esquivel added that the General Fund was balanced with $61.4 million in revenues and $61.3 million in expenditures, resulting in a marginal surplus of approximately $65,000. On the motion of Matt Ticzkus, second by Luke Williams, the City Council voted 5 – 0 to approve Ordinance O2026-33, adopting the City Manager’s Proposed Budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026, and ending September 30, 2027. The ordinance is captioned as follows: ORDINANCE NO. O2026-33 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEATHERFORD, TEXAS, ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR OCTOBER 1, 2026 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2027; MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS FOR SAID YEAR IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CHARTER AND ORDINANCES OF THE [...]

7.c: Consider and/or act upon approval of Ordinance O2026-34 adopting the ad valorem tax rate of $0.392246 per $100 of valuation for the 2026 tax year (2027 fiscal year). Director of Finance Linzy Blain reviewed the proposed 2026 property tax rate of 39.2246 cents per $100 of taxable valuation. She explained that the proposed rate was used to develop the FY27 proposed budget and would provide sufficient revenue to meet the City's needs. Blain noted that the proposed rate was below the No-New-Revenue rate, would generate less revenue from properties on the tax roll in both the current and upcoming fiscal years, would not increase property taxes, and was below the maximum rate that would trigger an election. Zack Smith moved to adopt ordinance number O2026-34 adopting the ad valorem tax rate of $0.392246 per $100 of valuation for the 2026 tax year. Matt Ticzkus seconded the motion, and it carried 5 - 0. The ordinance is captioned as follows: ORDINANCE O2026-34 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEATHERFORD, TEXAS, LEVYING TAXES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR OCTOBER 1, 2026 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2027 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.d: Consider authorizing the City Manager to execute a Design Build Contract for Phase 2 Construction Services related to Fire Station 5 improvements in an amount not to exceed $8,280,000. Assistant City Manager Dawn Brooks reviewed the history and details of the Fire Station 5 project, noting that planning for this project began in 2024. Brian Grossman and Eric Grossman, with Grossman Design Build, presented the site plan, floor plan, and exterior and interior renderings. Brooks reviewed the project timeline, noting a total contract duration of 375 days, with construction beginning September 28, 2026, if authorized, and final completion scheduled for October 8, 2027. On the motion of Luke Williams, second by Rod White, the City Council voted 5 – 0 to authorize the City Manager to execute a Design Build Contract with Grossman Design Build for Phase II Construction Services related to Fire Station 5 improvements, in an amount not to exceed $8,280,000.

Future agenda items: There are no future agenda items requested.

Compiled from the city'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: City Council minutes, Sept. 8, 2026 (Granicus); Agenda for this meeting (Granicus); Meeting video (Granicus)