Agenda Items: rezoning old Willow Park Baptist Church from residential to commercial; new City mowing schedule; Municipal Court Confidentiality Policy and Agreement; City's updated Drought Contingency and Emergency Water Plan; Quarterly Department Reports; Executive Session, real property 205 Canyon Ct.; Beall Development Agreement; Halff & Associates Litigation.
• Location and Time: El Chico City Hall, 120 El Chico, Suite A, Willow Park, Texas 76087, 6PM
• minutes approved during the next meeting
• Youtube video
• Latest Update: updated 16 May 2024 minutes; 02 May 2024 WPC Blog; updated 24 April 2024 three WPC Blogs; FB video posted 22 April 2024
Public Comments
[None]
Agenda Items
2. PUBLIC HEARING: to consider a request for Zoning Change from “Class II – Residential: ‘R-1’ Single-Family District” to Commercial “Class III – Business: ‘C’ Commercial District” for 129 South Ranch House Road: 5.686-acre tract of Lot 1, Block 1 of the Willow Park Baptist Church Addition; 0.737-acre tract of Lot PT 1-B, Tract A and 1.463-acre tract Lot PT Tract B, Block 1 of the Eastern Parker County Industrial Park, City of Willow Park, Parker County, Texas.
3. Discussion/Action: to adopt an ordinance for a Zoning Change from “Class II – Residential: ‘R-1’ Single-Family District” to Commercial “Class III – Business: ‘C’ Commercial District” for 129 South Ranch House Road: 5.686-acre tract of Lot 1, Block 1 of the Willow Park Baptist Church Addition; 0.737-acre tract of Lot PT 1-B, Tract A and 1.463-acre tract Lot PT Tract B, Block 1 of the Eastern Parker County Industrial Park, City of Willow Park, Parker County, Texas.
• Background:
The subject property is the previous home of Willow Park Baptist Church, 129 S. Ranch House Rd. The Journey Church will be leasing the property to operate as such, and The Premier Academy of Fine Arts of North Texas intends to sublease areas within the campus to operate as a private high school. Although a church can occupy any zoning district, a private school usage requires Commercial zoning, hence the request for change in zoning from “R-1” Residential to “C” Commercial.
Please note, the Application on file states the requested zoning district to be “Local Retail”, which allows “Day care nursery or schools” per zoning ordinance Sec. 14.06.013(7), but the “Commercial” designation per zoning ordinance Sec. 14.06.014(9) specifically allows “Business colleges and private schools operated as a commercial enterprise”; therefore, since Commercial zoning is more applicable, the Applicant approved Staff to amend the request accordingly.
Per the Applicant, enrollment for Year 1 is expected to be about 100 students with approximately 20 members of faculty/staff, the typical number of people on campus each weekday. Operating days are Monday through Friday, with most weeks being Tuesday through Friday, from 8:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., beginning September 9, 2024 through May 15, 2025. All traffic will be commuter (no bus service); a traffic study has not been done by the school.
The Commission conducted a public hearing to consider comments regarding this zoning change, with no public comments. [Willow Park Civics Blog > 16 April 2024 P&Z Meeting]
• Exhibits: Zoning Change Application & Attachments Aerial Photo of Subject Property (GoogleMaps – circa 2022) *Proposed Ordinance will be available prior to meeting.
• Willow Park Civics Research
• Willow Park Civics Blogs >
4. Discussion Action: to renew a contract with I & E Landscape for mowing services.
• Background: I&E Services, Inc. was awarded the landscaping and mowing for the City in April 2022, for a two- year contract with the option to renew for up to two years more. This contract presented to City Council is for the extended professional services of landscaping and mowing for all of the City’s parks, including the addition of the newly acquired 30-acre Kings Gate Park, and the new City Hall property at 120 El Chico Trail. The additional maintenance of these properties has increased the mowing substantially, totaling $48,900/yr including City Hall and what will add $18,000 for the year for Kings Gate Park, for an annual total of $66,900. Proposed professional services contract for April 2024-25 is $71,460.
• Exhibits: I&E Services, Inc.’s Contract Proposal
• Willow Park Civics Blog > Willow Park's new public area mowing schedule.
5. Discussion/Action: to approve a Municipal Court Confidentiality Policy and Agreement.
• Background:
On February 20, 2024, the Texas Supreme Court issued Final Approval of Amendments to Texas Rule of Judicial Administration Rule 7. Newly created Rule 7.1 (“Court Confidentiality Policy Required”) applies to municipal courts. In fact, it applies to all courts in Texas. Under Rule 7.1, every court must, no later than May 1, 2024, adopt a policy governing court confidentiality. The policy must: (1) define who it applies to, (2) define confidential information, (3) impose a duty of confidentiality on all court staff that continues after employment at the court ends, (4) address when, if ever, the disclosure of confidential information is authorized, (5) provide the language of relevant laws, (6) address negligent or accidental disclosure of confidential information, (7) warn of potential penalties for improper disclosure, and (8) require all court staff to acknowledge receipt of the policy in writing. The policy must be provided to all new court staff members and training on it must given prior to the new staff member beginning any substantive work for the court. Furthermore, all existing court staff members must be provided with the policy biannually. [Direct quote from source 1, below.]
• Exhibits:
Municipal Court of Willow Park, Texas Confidentiality Policy and Agreement. [Excerpts.
Preserving the confidentiality of the Court’s documents and private deliberations is crucial to the Court’s work. More specifically, confidentiality furthers the ability of judges and judicial staff to communicate openly and honestly and to reach the most legally correct outcomes for litigants. Confidentiality also builds public respect for the judiciary and impresses on others the gravity of the judicial process. Any breach of confidentiality would betray not only the Court and the individuals who work here, but also the public’s interest in thorough, considered justice.]
• Willow Park Civics Research
[1] Action Required! Municipal Courts Must Adopt Confidentiality Policy by May 1, 2024, Full Court Press, The Blog Of The Texas Municipal Courts Education Center
6. Discussion/Action: the City Council will consider, discuss and take action on adopting an ordinance setting forth the City's updated Drought Contingency and Emergency Water Plan. The City Council will hear and consider any public input on the proposed updated Plan.#FortWorthWater
• Background: The City of Willow Park is required to adopt a new Drought Contingency and Emergency Water Plan every 5 years. Under the contract with Fort Worth, the City is required to follow the plan passed by the Fort Worth Wholesale Committee. The City of Fort Worth submitted the plan to the wholesale committee for review and the City of Fort Worth will approve the plan themselves on Wednesday morning.
• Exhibits: Copy of the Ordinance
• Willow Park Civics Research
• Willow Park Civics Blog > Willow Park Public Notices for week ending 26 April 2024 Public Notices.
• Willow Park Civics Blog > Willow Park's updated Drought Contingency and Emergency Water Plan, posted 19 April 2024
• Drought Contingency Ordinance 2024 (proposed), Willow Park City Website, 19 April 2024, 9:43AM
The Willow Park City Council will vote on the 2024 Drought Contingency Ordinance at its April 23, 2024 meeting. The ordinance can be read in its entirety here.
7. Quarterly Department Reports
a. Panning and Development and
b. Parks .pdf
• WPC Notes: Fisher. Thanks to Mayor Moss soliciting donations from City businesses and residents, The Weatherford Maintain Bike Club fundraising goal of $16,500, was exceeded with a total of $19,550. The project will start in May.
c. Public Works .pdf
e. [Street] Projects .pdf
f. Police .pdf
• Willow Park Civics Blog > Willow Park Police Department Quarterly Report, April 2024
g. [Municipal] Court .pdf
h. Fire Marshal .pdf
i. Communications .pdf
• Minutes
• Toni Fisher, Planning & Development Director, commented that the WMBC and the City of Willow Park completed the fundraising for the Trinity Track and Kid's Mountain Bike Skills Area at Kings Gate Park with a total donation amount collected in the amount of $19,550, which exceeded the goal. Fisher thanked Mayor Moss and the community of Willow Park for their help and generosity. #Parks
• Mayor Pro Tem Young asked about the Drainage Improvement Project, which Gretchen Vazquez, City Engineer, commented that Channel F was removed from the Drainage Improvement Plan and its expenses were removed from the project total. #StormDrainage
• Mayor Pro Tem Young asked Chief Franklin about the tally for traffic speeds on Crown Road to which he replied that speeders are few, but the ones that have been detected are traveling at very high speeds.#EMSFirePoliceAmb
Informational
• Mayor and Council Comments
• City Manager Comments
• Minutes: City Manager Comments, Bryan Grimes, City Manager, stated that the quarterly financials will be at a subsequent
Executive Session
8. Section 551.072 - Discussing the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property; 205 Canyon Ct. #FortWorthWater
• Minutes: No action taken.
• Willow Park Civics Research
• 12 March 2024 Council Meeting, Agenda Item 4. Section 551.072 - Discussing the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property; 205 Canyon Ct.
• Minutes: To authorize the Mayor to approve a real estate contract for the property located at 205 Canyon Ct., Willow Park, TX pending the appraisal report.
• The Community News council review linked above: "Property purchase / After returning from executive session, the council approved the purchase of a small piece of land, just under a couple acres, at 205 Canyon Ct. The empty lot is adjacent to the water treatment plant and allows for expansion of it should the need arise. / “The idea is if we ever need to expand those facilities, it is an ideal location,” Grimes said."
• Willow Park Civics Research
• 205 E Canyon Ct, Willow Park, TX 76087
• Realtor.com Off Market, 1.28acre lot
• Zillow Sold on 07/20/21
9. 551.087 - Economic Development Negotiations; 551.071 Consultation with City Attorney; Beall Development Agreement.
51.087 - Economic Development Negotiations; 551.071 Consultation with City Attorney; Beall Development Agreement.
• Willow Park Civics Research
• 26 March 2024 Council Meeting, Executive Session Agenda Item 7. 551.087 - Economic Development Negotiations; 551.071 Consultation with City Attorney; Beall Development
• 27 February 2024 Council Meeting, Executive Session Agenda Item 12. 551.087 - Economic Development Negotiations; 551.071 Consultation with City Attorney; Beall Development Agreement.
10. Section 551.071 - Consultation with Attorney; Halff & Associates Litigation. #FortWorthWater
• Willow Park Civics Blog > Index, Lawsuit concerning El Chico Water System. City vs Halff
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