September 8 was budget night, and the money is now final. The Council adopted the FY 2026-2027 budget (Ordinance 947-26), ratified the property-tax increase reflected in it (Resolution 2026-34), and adopted the tax rate of $0.429041 (Ordinance 948-26), all by unanimous roll-call votes after public hearings. The rate is the no-new-revenue rate, and because median taxable values fell this year, the city’s Taxpayer Impact Statement shows a typical homestead paying about $46 less even as total collections rise, mostly from new construction.
The Council also approved both James Oxer Survey annexations (the 0.82-acre Bar-Ko and 0.33-acre Willow Park Services parcels), 5 to 0 each. A committee appointment was tabled after the Mayor noted the item was posted incorrectly, and moved to the September 15 special meeting. The Flock camera ordinance was sent back to staff and the city attorney to rework, to be revisited after a police chief is named. The charter-election item drew no action, and the executive session produced no reportable action.
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. Invocation: Mr. Marc Povero. Adjourned: 8:38 PM.
The minutes record two residents present to speak: Gene Martin and Houston Wingard. Comments on the budget public hearing are noted with that item below.
Mayor Palmer read a Bible verse and recognized a new business, Whit’s Frozen Custard on South Ranch House Road. She and Councilmember Gilliland then presented a proclamation to Freedom House recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Willow Park. The item was ceremonial.
The Council approved the consent agenda in one motion (Contreras / Gilliland, 5 to 0): the August 18 special and August 25 regular minutes, the Parker County Sheriff interlocal agreements for jail and dispatch services for FY 2026-2027, and the FY 2026-2027 holiday schedule.
The Council held the required public hearings and adopted the budget and tax rate for the year beginning October 1. At the budget hearing (Item 6), Carol Wagner and Marcy Galle spoke; the tax-rate hearing (Item 9) drew no speakers.
| Budget (Item 7) | Ordinance 947-26 adopted, roll call 5 to 0 (Contreras / Smith) |
| Tax increase ratification (Item 8) | Resolution 2026-34 approved 5 to 0 (Contreras / Crummel) |
| Tax rate (Item 10) | Ordinance 948-26 adopted at $0.429041, roll call 5 to 0 (Contreras / Wright) |
The adopted rate of $0.429041 is the no-new-revenue rate (debt $0.259929, maintenance and operations $0.169112). It raises about $124,891 (3.38 percent) more in total property taxes than last year, almost all of it from new construction added to the tax roll, which is why the separate ratification vote was required. Councilmember Contreras thanked Fisher and Guelker for delivering a balanced budget at the no-new-revenue rate.
After public hearings with no speakers, the Council approved both voluntary annexations in the James Oxer Survey: the roughly 0.82 acres owned by Bar-Ko Land Company (Property ID 118980), 5 to 0 (Gilliland / Crummel), and the roughly 0.33 acres owned by Willow Park Services (Property ID 125053), 5 to 0 (Smith / Gilliland). City Planner Kirkland noted the Planning and Zoning Commission had recommended them unanimously.
Mayor Palmer recommended tabling this item, noting it had been posted incorrectly: the agenda read “Capital Improvement Advisory Committee” when the intended action concerned the Comprehensive Planning Advisory Committee. To save time, the City Manager suggested adding the correct item to the September 15 special meeting. The Council voted to table it and move it to that meeting, 5 to 0 (Gilliland / Contreras).
After a lengthy discussion, the Council did not vote to adopt the Flock camera ordinance. It was suggested the item be taken up again after a Chief of Police is appointed. The Council instead directed staff and the city attorney to rework the guidelines using the comments made at the meeting and additional information on Police Department guidelines and the intended use of the cameras, 5 to 0 (Contreras / Wright).
Mayor Palmer, who placed the item, asked to confirm the city is on track for the November charter election, noting the charter must be mailed and received at least 30 days before the election. Staff said the necessary steps are in process. No action was taken.
The Council recessed into closed session at 7:20 PM for four matters: the Beall-Dean Ranch lawsuit (CV26-0175); the Halff and Associates matter (Fort Worth Water Project); a legal consultation on employee complaints; and a legal consultation on the Mayor’s requests for confidential documents. It reconvened at 8:31 PM and reported no action on any item.
The minutes record that as the Mayor read the executive-session items, she began to discuss two of them in open session. The City Attorney advised that the Council needed to adjourn to executive session, and the Mayor continued to speak. Councilmember Smith moved to adjourn to executive session, seconded by Councilmember Contreras. The Mayor declined to call for the vote, and Mayor Pro Tem Crummel called it; the motion carried 5 to 0. WPCN is reporting what the minutes state.
City Manager Fisher thanked Deputy City Manager Michelle Guelker for the budget work, including a first-of-its-kind budget book, and noted National Night Out on October 6 at The District. Councilmember Contreras thanked Fisher and Guelker for the budget and congratulated resident Brian Grimes on his appointment as Parker County Manager. For future agenda items, Mayor Palmer asked to continue the discussion on data centers, and Councilmember Gilliland asked for an item on employee recognitions and introductions.
The Council adjourned at 8:38 PM.
