Present (April 29 reconvened): Mayor Teresa Palmer; Councilmembers Eric Contreras, Chawn Gilliland, Buddy Wright, Scott Smith, and Mayor Pro Tem Nathan Crummel. The April 28 meeting was recessed at opening due to severe weather and reconvened the following evening with full attendance.
The headline action of the evening was the unanimous removal of Police Chief Ray Lacy, voted on after a one-hour-and-forty-five-minute executive session. Council also unanimously approved the Clearion 82-acre rezoning — the largest residential rezoning of 2026 — along with three other zoning items (Bar-Ko commercial, Havins LR, and a digital sign SUP for Trinity Christian Academy). The Republic Waste rate change from $19.08 to $25.12 per month was approved with direction to staff to negotiate with the five partner cities. The Municipal Court Judge contract was renewed at $1,550/month. New City Attorneys Fritz Quast and Aliecion Cotton appeared for the meeting, replacing Andy Messer.
After a one-hour-and-forty-five-minute executive session (7:40 PM — 9:25 PM), Council reconvened in open session and voted unanimously to remove Ray Lacy as Police Chief, "due to lack of confidence, effective immediately." The motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Nathan Crummel and seconded by Councilmember Eric Contreras.
The Police Chief position now appears as Item 18 on the May 12 executive session agenda. Police Commander Quincy Hamilton has been the visible police representative at recent Council meetings and remains in that role on the May 12 agenda for police-related items.
Council voted unanimously to rezone the 81.706-acre Clearion tract from R-1 Single-Family to PD/CL Planned Development District, and approved the corresponding preliminary plat. The property is located in the W. Franklin Survey (Abstract 468) and A. McCarver Survey (Abstract 910), Parker County (Property IDs 106134, 47776, and 62893).
City Planner Chelsea Kirkland presented and introduced developer Brian Holland of Skorburg Development Company, who gave the developer's brief. The public hearing opened at 6:45 PM. One resident spoke against the project's density; another spoke in favor, stating the developer was "doing things the right way." The hearing closed at 6:50 PM.
At nearly 82 acres, this is the largest single residential rezoning in Willow Park in 2026. The PD/CL Planned Development designation gives the developer site-specific zoning standards rather than the generic R-1 ordinance, allowing the project to proceed with the development pattern presented to Council and Planning & Zoning. With the rezoning ordinance and preliminary plat both approved, the project moves to the construction-document and final-plat stage.
Council voted unanimously to approve the Republic Waste rate ordinance and to direct staff to work with the five other cities in the joint agreement to attempt to renegotiate the contract. Communications Officer Rose Hoffman addressed Council in place of Interim City Manager Michelle Guelker, who was unable to attend.
Hoffman reported multiple resident complaints about the impending rate change from $19.08 to $25.12 per month, as well as concerns about the new carts required under the cart-based collection method beginning May 1. The full pre-tax base rate under the new contract is approximately $23.21; the $25.12 figure includes 8.25% sales tax.
The two-part motion preserves the rate change as approved while opening the door for the partner cities — which jointly negotiated this agreement — to seek terms revisions going forward. The contract is held jointly with five other municipalities.
Council voted unanimously to rezone the 7.290-acre Bar-Ko Land Company tract from R-1 Single-Family to C Commercial. The property is in the James Oxer Survey (Abstract 1029), Parker County. The intended use is a Tractor Supply Co. retail store.
This vote completes the regulatory path begun on April 14 with the Bar-Ko annexation (Ordinance 936-26). With the property now both inside the city limits and zoned commercial, site-plan review and building-permit work can proceed. The public hearing was held with no speakers (opened 6:54 PM, closed 6:55 PM).
Council voted unanimously to rezone the 0.80-acre corner lot at 6603 East Bankhead Highway (Property ID #9527) from R-1 Single-Family to LR Local Retail. The property is in the Havins Subdivision, Block 1, on Lot 7 of the C.E. Beavers Subdivision. The public hearing opened and closed at 6:58 PM with no speakers.
Council voted unanimously to approve a Specific Use Permit (SUP) allowing Trinity Christian Academy to update its existing pole sign to an Electronic Informative Digital Message Sign on its 4.392-acre campus (Lot 2, Block 1, Trinity Church Properties Subdivision; Property ID 96818). The SUP is to remain on file with the City Manager's office for ten years. The public hearing opened and closed at 7:01 PM with no speakers.
Council voted unanimously to adopt the updated City Limits / Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) Map and accompanying ordinance. The ETJ map is the official record of the area beyond the city limits where Willow Park retains certain regulatory authority under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 42. The map is typically updated annually and after any annexations or disannexations.
Council voted unanimously to approve a project to loop the water line west along the southern service road of I-20 and East Bankhead Highway. Water line loops increase system reliability and pressure by providing redundant flow paths to customers, and are particularly relevant along corridors with active commercial development.
Following executive session, Council voted unanimously to renew the Municipal Court Judge contract for an additional two years at a monthly pay rate of $1,550. This was the second of two open-session actions taken following the closed-session deliberations.
Police Commander Quincy Hamilton reported speed-trailer data from Kingsgate Drive showing 10 of 15 recorded vehicles speeding, with the highest single reading at 81 mph. The Police Department is running traffic enforcement in the area as available.
Public Works Director Chase McBride outlined the city's existing speed-hump policy: residents in the affected neighborhood must petition for installation, and the petitioning residents are responsible for 50% of the installation cost. The other 50% would be a city expense.
No motion was made and no formal action was taken on this item. The Kingsgate corridor is also addressed indirectly on the May 12 agenda through Item 8 — the TxDOT Advance Funding Agreement for sidewalks and bike lanes on Kings Gate Drive and Meadow Place Drive.
McKnight Lease Extension — Item 14 (5-0). Council approved an extension of the McKnight Lease for 120 El Chico Trail, Suite B. Motion: Gilliland/Wright.
May 26 Memorial Day Meeting Cancelled — Item 15 (5-0). Council voted to cancel the regular City Council meeting scheduled for May 26, 2026, due to the Memorial Day holiday on May 25. The next regular meeting after May 12 is therefore June 9, 2026. Motion: Contreras/Crummel.
The April 29 staff list reflects a change in legal counsel. City Attorneys Fritz Quast and Aliecion Cotton appeared for this meeting, replacing Andy Messer, who had served in that role through previous 2026 meetings. Both Quast and Cotton were also present in executive session per the minutes. The transition was not on the agenda as a separately listed action item, so the public reasoning for the change is not on the record. We will update if more becomes available.
The meeting originally convened at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, April 28. With limited council attendance because of dangerous weather conditions in Willow Park and the surrounding area, Mayor Palmer called for a motion to recess. Councilmember Wright moved and Mayor Pro Tem Crummel seconded the motion to recess until 6:00 PM Wednesday, April 29. The motion carried 3-0 with the council members present.
The full council reconvened the following evening and conducted the substantive business of the meeting on April 29 with all five members and the Mayor present. References to "the April 28 meeting" in city records and minutes generally refer to the substantive April 29 session.
At the close of the meeting, Mayor Palmer flagged two items for future agendas, both of which appeared on the May 12 agenda:
Crown Road condition and repaving timeframe — following Hudson Oaks' sewer line installation in the area. Now appears as Item 11 on the May 12 agenda (status report).
City street re-paving via Parker County — using the County for road work. Now appears as Item 9 on the May 12 agenda (Parker County interlocal renewal).
Council was in closed executive session from 7:40 PM to 9:25 PM (one hour, forty-five minutes). Attendees per the minutes: Mayor Palmer, Mayor Pro Tem Crummel, Councilmembers Contreras, Gilliland, Wright, and Smith; Interim City Manager Toni Fisher; and City Attorneys Fritz Quast and Aliecion Cotton.
