Agenda Items: 1Q Financial Report; use of HOT for billboard; 2023 Racial Profiling Report; Executive Session: Halff & Asso. Litigation
• Location and Time: El Chico City Hall, 120 El Chico, Suite A, Willow Park, Texas 76087, 6PM
• Agenda packet (in .pdf)
• minutes approved during the next meeting
• Youtube video
• Latest Update: 08 March 2024; posted 13 February, 2024
Public Comments
• Minutes: Marsh Weiershausen at 70 Crown Road spoke before the city council regarding his driveway approach. #Streets
Agenda Items
2. Discussion/Action: to approve the City's 1st Quarter Financial Report. #Finance
3. Discussion/Action: to Authorize Use of Hotel Occupancy Tax funds for billboard advertising. #Finance
• Willow Park Civics Blog> Willow Park has a new Billboard at City Hall posted 28 February, 2024
• Background:
At the November 28, 2023 meeting [WPC Blog], City Council approved the use of $31,680 of the City’s Hotel Occupancy Tax funds (“HOT Tax”) for one year of advertising space on the eastbound side of the Lamar billboard located on the southeast corner of the City Hall property. At this meeting, there was also discussion about the replacement of the existing billboard with an electronic screen, but it was discussed that, should this occur, the City would have no control over what advertisements would be sold and displayed; therefore, renting the existing space was in the best the interest of the City, and the eastbound lease was approved. This sign was installed on January 30, 2024 and its feedback has been extremely favorable.
At the time of the eastbound billboard contract, the lease on the westbound sign was due to expire on February 11, 2023, with a priority for renewal by the current lessee. Staff was recently contacted by Lamar to inform us that the contract was not renewed and this space is currently available for rent; however, it should be noted that this reservation is not held.
The rate is the same as it was for the eastbound sign: $31,680 per side, for one year, billed in (13) 4-week intervals, and it includes the initial cost of $480 for the artwork. The fee of $480 is charged each time the City requests a change in artwork.
Funds for this expense are currently available in the City’s Hotel Occupancy Tax account.
• Exhibits: Lamar Contract #4446694
• Willow Park Civics Research
• Willow Park Civics Blog > Willow Park HOT Funds to Hot Idea: City Billboard posted 29 November 2023
4. Discussion/Action: to approve the 2023 Racial Profiling Report. #EMSFirePoliceAmb
• Background: The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure requires that the Chief Administrator of the law enforcement agency submit an annual report to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) and to the Governing body of the municipality.
• Exhibits: Racial Profiling Report
Informational
• Minutes: City Manager Grimes stated the wastewater treatment plant contract has been signed and tentatively scheduling a preconstruction meeting March 1st. #WastewaterTreatmentPlant
• He also mentioned various staff members will be in training over the next month.
• He stated he will be at the TCMA Conference in Grandbury next week.
• The first city council meeting in March is currently scheduled during spring break. He asked the city council to please let staff know if they plan to be out so staff can plan accordingly for the March city council meetings.
Executive Session
• Minutes: City Council did not convene into Executive Session.
5. Section 551.071 - Consultation with Attorney; Halff & Associates Litigation. #FortWorthWater
• Willow Park Civics Research #FortWorthWater
• 13 February, 2024 Council Meeting, Agenda Item 5
• 23 January 2024 Council Meeting, Agenda Item 6. Section 551.071 - Consultation with Attorney; Halff & Associates Litigation
• 09 January 2024 Council Meeting, Agenda Item 12. Section 551.071 - Consultation with Attorney; Halff & Associates Litigation.
• 12 December 2023 Council Meeting, Agenda Item 13 Section 551.071 - Consultation with Attorney; Halff & Associates Litigation.
• Cancelled 28 November 2034 Council Meeting Agenda Item 7. Section 551.071 - Consultation with Attorney; Halff & Associates Litigation
• 14 November 2023 Council Meeting Agenda Item 13. Section 551.071 - Consultation with Attorney; Halff & Associates Litigation.
• Mayor Pro Tem Young reconvened into Open Session at 7:25 pm. A motion was made to approve the filing of the lawsuit against Halff Associates, Inc. Motion made by Councilmember Young, Seconded by Councilmember Runnebaum. Voting Yea: Councilmember Contreras, Councilmember Gilliland, Councilmember Runnebaum, Councilmember Young, Councilmember Crummel
• 24 October 2023 Council Meeting cancelled
• 10 October 2023 Council Meeting cancelled
• 12 September 2023 Council Meeting Agenda Item 11. Section 551.071 - Consultation with Attorney; Halff & Associates Litigation
• 08 August 2023 Council Meeting. Halff & Associates Litigation.
• Willow Park Blog > Council votes to sue designer of Fort Worth Water Project, 27 July 2023
• Willow Park Blog > 18 July 2023 Council Review by The Community News. Council votes to sue water tank designer, 25 July 2023
• 18 July 2023 Special Council Meeting, Executive Session, Halff & Associates possible litigation
• 27 June 2023 Council Meeting, Executive Session Status of negotiations/potential litigation with Halff Engineering
• 13 April 2023 Council Meeting, Executive Session Consultation with Attorney; - Status of negotiations/potential litigation with Halff Engineering
• 28 November 2022 Special Council Meeting, Executive Session, Consultation with Attorney - deliberation about dispute with Halff Associates regarding the Fort Worth Water Project
• 15 November 2022 Council Meeting, Executive Session, Consultation with Attorney - deliberation about dispute with Halff Associates regarding the Fort Worth Water Project
• 12 April 2022 Council Meeting, Executive Session Consultation with Attorney - deliberation about dispute with Halff Associates regarding Fort Worth Water project