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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-06-23 - City Council - Worksession - Agenda City Council Work Session AGENDA TO BE HELD AT 9:00 am, Tuesday June 23, 2026 City Council Work Session Room 100 Fort Worth Trail, Fort Worth, Texas 2 of 17 1 REPORT OF THE CITY MANAGER - JESUS "JAY" CHAPA, CITY MANAGER 1.3.1 IR 26-0075 Fort Worth Population Estimate and City Rankings - Eric Fladager, CMO Assistant Planning Director 1.3.2 IR 26-0076 Illegal Gunfire and Fireworks - André Smith, Police Deputy Chief 1.3.3 IR 26-0077 Proposed Rio Claro Capital Public Improvement District in Council District 7 - Brady Kirk, FWLab Assistant Finance Director 1.3.4 IR 26-0078 Strategies to Address Unwanted Handbill Distribution - Brian Daugherty, Code Compliance Director 1.3.5 IR 26-0079 Workers’ Compensation Surgical Appeals Statistics - Kristen Smith, Human Resources Director 2.1 Questions Regarding Changes in Membership on Boards and Commissions for June 23, 2026 Council Meeting 2.2 Questions Regarding City Council M&C's for June 23, 2026 Council Meeting 3.1 Update on the NET Force Pilot – Brian Daugherty, Code Compliance Director 3.2 EngageFW Community Academy – Dr. Sana Syed, City Manager’s Office Chief Communications Officer and Madalyn Mackey, Communication and Public Engagement Volunteer Services Coordinator 3.3 Update on Literacy Programs – Midori Clark, Library Director and Monique Hill, Park and Recreation Assistant Director 3.4 Presentation of a Proposed Economic Development Agreement with Mach Industries – Jessica Rogers, Economic Development Director 3 of 17 4 CITY COUNCIL REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS AND/OR REPORTS The City Council may convene in Executive Session in the City Council Executive Session Room in order to conduct a closed meeting to discuss any item listed on this Agenda in accordance with Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code. The location identified on this agenda is the location at which the presiding officer will be physically present and presiding over the meeting. Members of the City Council may be participating remotely in compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act and the Council Rules of Procedure. Fort Worth City Hall and the City Council Work Session Room are wheelchair accessible. Persons with disabilities who plan to attend this meeting and who may need accommodations, auxiliary aids, or services such as interpreters, readers, or large print are requested to contact the City’s ADA Coordinator at (817) 392-8552 or e-mail ADA@FortWorthTexas.gov at least 72 hours prior to the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made. If the City does not receive notification at least 72 hours prior to the meeting, the City will make a reasonable attempt to provide the necessary accommodations. 4 of 17 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SUBJECT: FORT WORTH POPULATION ESTIMATE AND CITY RANKINGS - ERIC FLADAGER, CMO ASSISTANT PLANNING DIRECTOR DATE: 06/23/26 NUMBER: IR 26-0075 TO THE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL The purpose of this Informal Report is to provide information on updated U.S. Census Bureau population estimates for the City of Fort Worth, along with comparison data from other large American cities. On May 14, 2026, the Census Bureau released population estimates for U.S. cities as of July 1, 2025. The following table lists city populations and rankings for the 30 largest cities by population. According to these estimates:  Fort Worth’s population was 1,028,117 as of July 1, 2025.  Fort Worth is now the 10th largest city in the United States by population. In the past year, Fort Worth surpassed the population of Jacksonville and now trails 9th-ranked Dallas by approximately 300,000 people.  Of the 30 most populous cities, Fort Worth continues to be the fastest growing since 2020, with the population growing by 11.9% over the last five years, and 2% in the past year.  Of all cities over 20,000 people, Fort Worth had the 2nd largest numeric increase in population over the previous year, adding 19,512 people between July 1, 2024 and July 1, 2025. Charlotte, NC had the largest population increase of 20,731.  Of the top 30 most populous cities, Fort Worth ranks 23rd in terms of population density (followed by El Paso, Indianapolis, Louisville, Memphis, Nashville, Jacksonville, and Oklahoma City).  The top five fastest-growing cities in the nation with populations of 20,000 or more were all in Texas, with four of them clustered in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. For more on population and demographics, please visit the City’s website at https://www.fortworthtexas.gov/about/population. 5 of 17 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division For questions regarding this information, please contact Eric Fladager, CMO Assistant Planning Director at (817) 392-8011. Jesus “Jay” Chapa City Manager ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS 6 of 17 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SUBJECT: ILLEGAL GUNFIRE AND FIREWORKS - ANDRÉ SMITH, POLICE DEPUTY CHIEF DATE: 06/23/26 NUMBER: IR 26-0076 TO THE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL The purpose of this Informal Report is to provide an update on the coordinated efforts of the Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD) and Fort Worth Fire Department (FWFD) to manage and communicate efforts related to illegal fireworks and gunfire. The Police Department will lead robust enforcement efforts to deter illegal gunfire and fireworks, with support from the Fire Department as appropriate. Both departments will ensure that necessary resources and personnel are available to respond to emergencies and high-priority calls for service. Primary Goals:  The safety of residents and first responders.  Ensure the FWPD and FWFD resources are available to respond to emergencies and high- priority calls.  Clear messaging on the laws regarding illegal fireworks and gunfire. Calls for Service and Incident Trends On the 4th of July, the Police and Fire Departments experience call volume spikes, making it one of the busiest days of the year for dispatchers and call takers. FWPD and FWFD see an increase in fireworks and gun-related offenses. The following data highlights the call volume seen on July 4, 2025: Emergency Communications 911 Calls: 1,772 Hotline Calls: 1,205 Online Reports: 745 FWPD Response Shots Fired Calls: 100% increase Weapons Calls: 67% increase 7 of 17 FWFD Response  19 grass fires  24 Outside  5 structure fires What is the Law? City Ordinance State Law  Texas Penal Code 42.12 Discharge Firearm in Certain Municipalities  Texas Penal Code 42.01- Disorderly Conduct Community Engagement and Education 8 of 17 Digital & Social Media Campaigns  Celebrate Responsibly: A bilingual (English and Spanish) social media campaign conducted by the Police Department and the Communication and Public Engagement Office to address illegal gunfire and fireworks.  Stop Before You Pop: A QR code campaign directing citizens to easily report illegal fireworks online and dedicated fireworks phone number (817.392.4444).  Water bill and City Times: Fireworks messaging was included in the City Times and water bill inserts beginning in May.  Yard Signs and Medians: Strategic placement of educational signage, specifically targeting high-traffic areas like the Lancaster and Rosedale medians.  Track all permitted events  Contact organizers in advance to reinforce expectations  Monitor compliance  Address non-compliance, which may result in shutting down the event early if necessary  Target illegal sales locations  Monitor social media and leverage informants for leads  Conduct Undercover (UC) Operations  Conduct traffic stops to intercept transport and execute seizures  Obtain Criminal Trespass Affidavits for potential gathering spots (e.g., vacant lots, parking lots). 9 of 17 Data-Driven Resource Allocation  Hotspot Analysis: Personnel are deployed based on data-driven hotspots, analyzed using historical calls for service (specifically shots fired and fireworks calls) from July 1st–July 7th over the past three years.  Personnel Optimization: Vacations and training are paused during this window to maximize available staffing. Each Division will additional personnel dedicated to responding to fireworks and shots fired calls.  Supplemental Funding: Strategic Operation Funds (SOF) are utilized to supplement normal patrol operations during this historically high call-volume period. 1. High-Visibility Patrol  Conduct directed patrols within designated hotspots.  Execute targeted traffic enforcement.  Initiate offender-focused warrant roundups. 2. Response Teams  Focus Areas: Illegal fireworks, gunfire, and street takeovers.  Tactics: o Utilize Undercover (UC) officers as spotters. o Monitor surveillance cameras and social media for pop-up events. o Disperse large, unauthorized gatherings. 3. Covert Enforcement  Deploy and monitor surveillance cameras in key areas.  Conduct UC surveillance  Execute buy/bust operations targeting illegal fireworks sales For questions regarding this information, please contact André Smith, Police Deputy Chief at 817-392-3264. Jesus “Jay” Chapa City Manager ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS 10 of 17 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SUBJECT: PROPOSED RIO CLARO CAPITAL PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT IN COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 - BRADY KIRK, FWLAB ASSISTANT FINANCE DIRECTOR DATE: 06/23/26 NUMBER: IR 26-0077 TO THE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL The purpose of this Informal Report is to provide an overview of the proposed Rio Claro Capital Public Improvement District (the “District”) in Far Northwest Fort Worth and the proposed capital improvements to be funded by its accompanying assessment. The Rio Claro development is an approximately 630-acre master planned community consisting of single-family uses including open spaces and other public and private amenities in the city limits. On June 24, 2025, the City Council authorized a development agreement, executed on August 15, 2025, which included the developer’s intent to create a capital public improvement district for funding infrastructure and other improvements. Capital Public Improvement District Policy Capital public improvement districts (CPIDs) are a tool used to fund capital improvements, generally via assessments charged to property owners after the sale of lots in planned developments. The City’s CPID Policy allows for the establishment of CPIDs to fund major capital improvements when petitioners demonstrate an extraordinary public benefit. Major improvements include arterial streets, bridges, and large water and sewer mains. The City currently has three capital public improvement districts in Walsh Ranch, Rock Creek Ranch, and Veale Ranch. Rio Claro Capital Public Improvement District Petition The proposed District petition was received June 11, 2026 and evaluated by staff pursuant to Chapter 372 of the Texas Local Government Code. Preliminary parcel data suggests that the petition meets the statutory requirements for both appraised value and land area and will be confirmed prior to City Council action on PID establishment. 11 of 17 The proposed capital improvements complement the goals of Rio Claro’s development and satisfy Chapter 372. The supporting materials include:  A high-level description of proposed improvements and services  Preliminary cost estimates and a structure for anticipated funding through assessments and potential public/private contributions  A proposed service plan framework identifying categories of eligible expenses  A boundary map and supporting ownership analysis prepared in coordination with staff Recommended Policy Waivers  Waive the requirement that a proposed CPID must consist of at least 1,500 acres in total developable land area, as the development is roughly 630 acres. The Rio Claro developer also owns 836 acres in the adjacent Tarrant County Capital PID, north of Bonds Ranch Road, which relies in part on planned Rio Claro capital improvements.  Waive the limitation that CPID-funded improvements will be restricted to Major Infrastructure; CPID-funded improvements in the Rio Claro development will also include collector roads, (specifically, Round Ridge Road, Dosier Creek Parkway, and Eagle Quill Road) along with associated expenses, and other authorized improvements in an amount of $15M. 12 of 17  Waive the requirement that developers requesting establishment of a C-PID with the intent to issue bonds must identify land to be donated to the respective and appropriate Independent School District(s).  Waive the limitation that CPID assessments shall only be allowed to be levied for a period of 20 years, allowing the assessment of levies for 30 years.  Waive the limitation that debt obligations secured by and payable from C-PID assessments used to reimburse for Major Infrastructure in the CPID shall be limited to a single issuance or tranche, and no more than one year of interest may be capitalized, allowing instead that capitalized interest funded by CPID bonds for the Rio Claro development may be up to two years and the development may have multiple bond issuances corresponding to separate improvement areas.  Waive the requirement that the estimated appraised value to lien ratio with proposed capital improvements shall be no less than 3:1 on a parcel by parcel basis, allowing a value to lien ratio of 2:1.  Waive the limitation that not more than 80% of the total cost of capital improvements may be included in any debt issuance and at least 50% of the direct transactional costs of debt issuance shall be paid by the applicant without remuneration or inclusion in the debt financing, allowing instead that 100% of capital improvement costs and direct transaction costs be funded through assessments and/or bonds.  Waive the requirement that bond financing will only be considered for CPIDs with a qualified project of $10M or more, with the expectation that individual bond issuances will be less than $10M but the sum of all issuances will exceed that amount,  Waive the requirement that all debt issuances and bond sales for C-PIDs shall coincide with the City’s annual debt financing plan. 13 of 17 Recommendation Assuming the petition meets the minimum statutory requirements following final verification, and acknowledging that proposed PID improvements support the City’s long-term development goals, staff recommends the City Council hold a public hearing, make the required findings under Chapter 372, and consider a resolution creating the District, tentatively scheduled for September 15, 2026. City staff will bring forward a resolution to call the public hearing in August. If you have any questions concerning this information, please contact Brady Kirk, FWLab Assistant Finance Director at 817-392-8712 or Brady.Kirk@fortworthtexas.gov. Jesus “Jay” Chapa City Manager ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS 14 of 17 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SUBJECT: STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS UNWANTED HANDBILL DISTRIBUTION - BRIAN DAUGHERTY, CODE COMPLIANCE DIRECTOR DATE: 06/23/26 NUMBER: IR 26-0078 TO THE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL The purpose of this Informal Report is to provide an update on concerns raised by residents regarding unsolicited handbills and newspapers being placed on their properties. Staff has reviewed available approaches and developed a strategy to help residents address this issue. History: For years residents have had these handbills placed on their property and scattered throughout their neighborhoods. Code Compliance previously attempted enforcement; however, these activities are protected under the First Amendment and are not subject to citation. Plan of Action: Code Compliance has developed a plan to assist residents with this challenge. Key components include:  Launching a landing page for residents on how to stop the activity and what their rights are under applicable law.  Distributing a Code Compliance flyer with guidance and a QR code linking to the landing page.  Residents can report the issue on MyFW app which will also direct them to the landing page. These reports will help staff identify hotspots and understand frequency.  Staff will use that information along with resident requests, to attend Neighborhood Association meetings and provide direct education on available options. 15 of 17 The proposed plan provides residents with practical tools to address unwanted handbill distribution while acknowledging the legal limitations on enforcement. It also establishes a mechanism for tracking the issue and understanding its community impact. This approach is intended to increase resident awareness, reduce neighborhood blight, and improve overall community appearance. For questions regarding this information, please contact Brian Daugherty, Code Compliance Director at 817-392-6322. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS 16 of 17 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SUBJECT: WORKERS’ COMPENSATION SURGICAL APPEALS STATISTICS - KRISTEN SMITH, HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR DATE: 06/23/26 NUMBER: IR 26-0079 TO THE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL The purpose of this Informal Report is to provide a follow-up to the March 7, 2026, Public Safety Committee presentation, Workers’ Compensation Overview. Specifically, analysis on the rate of Workers’ Compensation surgical requests that are initially denied but later overturned through guidelines governed by the State of Texas. Background As a public entity, the city is required to provide Workers’ Compensation insurance coverage for employees and is subject to the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act. This coverage is provided to address injuries and illnesses that arise during the course of employment, while performing a compensable task. Surgical requests are evaluated based on Official Disability Guidelines (ODG) and generally follow a review process as noted below. Throughout the review process, prior medical history as well as new supporting documentation may be provided for consideration.  Initial Review Evaluation of medical necessity based on ODG.  Peer-to-Peer Review Collaborative review between the requesting provider and designated peer, based on medical specialty.  Independent Review Organization Neutral third-party review, designated by the Texas Department of Insurance. Analysis The following data is provided for FY2021-FY2026 (as of April 2026).  Surgical Requests Received- 846  Surgical Requests Denied- 190  Surgical Requests Appealed- 45  21 (46%) were upheld; and 17 of 17  24 (53%) were overturned The following represent the primary reasons noted for overturned appeals.  13 were overturned through the medical review process (initial and/or peer-to-peer)  11 were overturned, following submission of additional medical documentation Summary As mentioned, the city is subject to Worker’s Compensation guidelines established by the State of Texas. These provisions include the legal and medical framework for establishing and receiving care, as well as additional provisions for appeal rights and presumptive coverage for certain conditions. The city adheres to these guidelines and partners with a third-party administrator (currently, Sedgwick) to manage claims and support employees with navigating their available options. For questions regarding this information, please contact Kristen Smith, Human Resources, Civil Service and Civil Rights Director at Kristen.Smith@FortWorthTexas.gov or 817-392-2697. Jesus “Jay” Chapa City Manager ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS