HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 25-0097INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 25-0097
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
August 19, 2025
Page 1 of 2
SUBJECT: COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM — THE MR FRED ROUSE
MEMORIAL
This informal report is provided to inform you of the City Manager's Office (CMO) upcoming
recommendation to appropriate Community Partnership funds in the amount of $232,377.00 to
support the Mr. Fred Rouse Memorial as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 budget process.
Overview of the Community Partnerships Program and the Mr. Fred Rouse Memorial
Community Partnerships Program
The Community Partnerships program is funded via PayGo each year as part of the annual budget
process. Its purpose is to foster community investment, improve local services, and address
specific community needs. Requests for Community Partnership funds are evaluated based on
predetermined criteria, including alignment with municipal strategic vision and priorities, impact on
community well-being, feasibility, sustainability, and evidence of community support.
The Mr. Fred Rouse Memorial
On December 11, 1921, Fred Rouse was lynched at the corner of NE 12t" Street and Samuels
Avenue by a white mob. The Mr. Fred Rouse Memorial will honor the only documented Black
person to be lynched in Fort Worth, serving as a place of remembrance and rejoicing Mr. Fred
Rouse's life that ended in tragedy.
The Mr. Fred Rouse Memorial will be constructed at 1000 NE 12t" Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102
and will have public access.
Evaluation
Evaluation of qualifying project criteria for Community Partnership funding includes:
• Projects must serve a large subset of the community
• Community organizations are expected to pledge private partnership, foundation, or other
agency funds of equal or equivalent value to the requested use of City funds
• Funding requests must be used for one-time capital expenditures (no landscaping,
operations, maintenance, etc.) and City funds are not required to subsidize ongoing
operations
• A maintenance plan must be presented and funded by other sources
• Funds cannot be used to supplement projects previously budgeted
• Private or other non -City funds will be expended first before City contributions
• Assets created by these partnerships will belong to the City upon completion unless
otherwise noted
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 25-0097
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
August 19, 2025
Page 2 of 2
SUBJECT: COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM — THE MR FRED ROUSE
MEMORIAL
Background on Request
Tarrant County Coalition for Peace and Justice (TCCPJ) submitted an initial funding request to the
City of Fort Worth in April 2024 to fund construction of the Mr. Fred Rouse Memorial. An updated
Opinion of Probable Construction Cost (OPCC) and construction schedule was submitted in June
2025. TCCPJ provided a detailed funding schedule totaling 85% of the OPCC from community
organizations such as the Rainwater Foundation, Episcopal Diocese, and the Mellon Foundation.
TCCPJ will merge with Transform 1012 in the first quarter of 2026 and will provide maintenance
and ongoing operational cost for the Mr. Fred Rouse Memorial. TCCPJ will own the Mr. Fred Rouse
Memorial and upon merger, will be owned by Transform 1012.
The City of Fort Worth's Community Partnership funds would supplement the final remaining
financing gap in the amount of $232,377.00 needed for construction of the Mr. Fred Rouse
Memorial.
If you have any questions, please contact Christianne Simmons, FWLab, at (817) 392-6222 or
April Rose Escamilla, FWLab, at (817) 392-7371.
Jesus "Jay" Chapa
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS