The July 14 meeting was comparatively light on formal action — the only vote on a business item was approval of the prior minutes — but it surfaced a governance tension that is likely to carry forward. On the proposed City Code of Conduct, Mayor Palmer stated she requested the item after learning of an email alleging that the City Manager and City Planner had spoken negatively about her at a Texas Municipal League meeting. No action was taken, but the item — together with the charter-commission discussion and the pending data-center measures — framed a meeting more about direction and process than decisions.
City Manager Toni Fisher opened with employee recognitions, including the city’s new designation as a Film Friendly Texas Certified Community. The Lea Young park dedication and the ETJ data-center regulation item were both discussed without action — the latter tabled to the next meeting. Executive session produced no reportable action. The meeting set up several items now appearing on the July 28 agenda, including the ETJ data-center discussion, the City Manager contract, and the agenda-setting question.
Called to order: 6:00 PM. Presiding: Mayor Teresa Palmer. Present: all five members — Eric Contreras, Chawn Gilliland, Buddy Wright, Scott Smith, and Nathan Crummel (Mayor Pro Tem). Staff: City Manager Toni Fisher; City Secretary Deana McMullen; City Attorney Judy El Masri (for Andy Messer). Invocation: Detective Brian Roberts, Willow Park PD. Adjourned: 9:15 PM.
Two residents addressed the Council during the public-comment period. The minutes record their sign-up to speak but do not detail the content of each comment. Comments made on specific agenda items are noted with those items below.
Mayor Palmer opened with a Bible verse and recognized two businesses on South Ranch House Road: Vintage Floors & Finishes (across from Railhead) and Connect Wellness and Health. The proclamation recognizing the Aledo High School Baseball Team was postponed to the July 28 meeting because the coach and team were out of town.
The Council approved the minutes from the June 23 regular meeting as presented.
| Motion | Approve the June 23, 2026 minutes as presented |
| Moved / Seconded | Wright / Contreras |
| Result | 5–0 · Unanimous (Contreras, Gilliland, Wright, Smith, Crummel) |
City Manager Fisher recognized several employees for recent accomplishments: Parks Director Mandy McCarley (TxDOT Local Government Project Procedures Qualification); Municipal Court Administrator Michelle Lowe (Level III Court Clerk Certification, the highest level in Texas); and Fire Marshal Charlie Schneider and Assistant Fire Marshal Kevin Lockwood (a 36-hour TEEX code-enforcement class — Schneider passed his TDLR exam, with Lockwood set to test the following month).
Fisher also announced that the Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office, within the Office of the Governor, has designated Willow Park as a Film Friendly Texas Certified Community, thanking Communications Director Rosealee Hoffman for completing the multi-step certification. Fisher further thanked Hoffman and McCarley for the USA 250th Anniversary celebration, along with Andy Taylor, Charlie Schneider, and police personnel who assisted. No action was taken.
Councilmembers Wright and Smith brought a discussion of a possible park dedication honoring former councilmember Lea Young, who served Willow Park for over 20 years — including on the Board of Adjustment and seven years on the City Council — and was described as a tireless advocate for the city’s community spaces. City Manager Fisher stated the dedication would most likely come when the city opens a new park. No formal action was taken.
The item to consider possible subdivision regulations in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction as they relate to data centers, brought by Councilmember Contreras, was tabled to the next regular meeting. No action was taken. The item returns on the July 28 agenda.
Mayor Palmer brought an item to consider an ordinance adopting a new City Code of Conduct governing the professional conduct of the City Council, staff, and boards and commissions, stated as a measure to increase public confidence and promote efficient, respectful governance. She asked the Council to consider adopting the ordinance.
Citizen Chris Wood spoke on the item; citizen Gene Martin deferred his comments. Following discussion, no action was taken.
The Council recessed into executive session at 6:37 PM. In attendance were Mayor Palmer, Mayor Pro Tem Crummel, Councilmembers Contreras, Gilliland, Wright, and Smith, City Manager Toni Fisher, and City Attorney Judy El Masri. The session covered five items: the Halff Associates litigation (Fort Worth Water Project); the Fort Worth/Aledo litigation (CV26-0175, including Beall-Dean Ranch and Parker County); charter and charter-commission legal issues; the Police Chief position; and the City Manager agreement. The Council reconvened at 8:59 PM. There were no motions or actions on any item discussed in executive session.
Following executive session, the Council took up an item regarding the City Charter and the possible City Council appointment of a Charter Commission with assigned tasks. Residents Carol Brackeen and Gene Martin spoke on the item. No formal action was taken.
Under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 9, a city adopting its first home rule charter follows a different process than one amending an existing charter. With the deadline to call a November 3, 2026 election approaching in mid-August, whether and how the Council finalizes a charter commission and its tasks remains the central open question. This item has now been discussed at several consecutive meetings without a formal appointment being recorded.
City Manager comments. Fisher noted the National Night Out event on October 6, 2026 at The District at Willow Park. She also announced a new “Muni-versity” resident-education series to be held every other month explaining what each department does, beginning Saturday, July 18 with a session on the budget process and property taxes (8:00–9:00 AM), followed immediately by the City Council budget worksession at 9:00 AM.
Council & Mayor comments. Councilmember Contreras thanked city staff — including Michelle Lowe, Charlie Schneider, and Kevin Lockwood — and praised their work on the Willow Spark event. Councilmember Smith announced his “Coffee with Councilmember” sessions would resume Friday, August 7 (8:30–9:30 AM) and continue monthly on the first Friday. Mayor Palmer requested that the City Manager contract be made public and posted online.
Future agenda items. Mayor Palmer requested an item for the next agenda to set policies for preparation of the meeting agenda — the origin of Item 7 on the July 28 agenda. Councilmember Contreras requested an item, from Assistant City Manager Michelle Guelker and Public Works Director Chase McBride, updating the Council on the progress of the wastewater treatment plant.
With nothing further, the Council adjourned at 9:15 PM.
| Motion | Adjourn the regular meeting |
| Moved / Seconded | Contreras / Smith |
| Result | 5–0 · Unanimous |
