HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-08-18 - City Council - Budget Workshop - MinutesFORTWORTH.
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Budget Work Session
MINUTES
TO BE HELD AT 1:00 pm, Tuesday August 18, 2026
City Council Work Session Room
100 Fort Worth Trail, Fort Worth, Texas
FORT WORTH
PRESENT:
Mayor Mattie Parker
Mayor Pro Tem Carlos E. Flores
Council Member Michael D. Crain
Council Member Deborah Peoples
Council Member Dr. Mia Hall
Council Member Macy Hill
Council Member Chris Nettles
Council Member Elizabeth M. Beck
Council Member Chris Jamieson
Council Member Jeanette Martinez
ABSENT:
Council Member Charlie Lauersdorf
STAFF PRESENT:
Jay Chapa, City Manager
Leann Guzman, City Attorney
Jannette Goodall, City Secretary
1. CALL TO ORDER - MATTIE PARKER, MAYOR
With a quorum of the City Council Members present, Mayor Mattie Parker called the City
Council Regular Session of the Fort Worth City Council to order at 1:04 pm on August 18, 2026 in
the City Council Chamber of the Fort Worth City Hall,100 Fort Worth Trail, Fort Worth, Texas.
2. OPENING REMARKS - JESUS "JAY" CHAPA, CITY MANAGER
opening remarks were made by Jay Chapa, City Manager.
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3. BUDGET RESPONSES
3.1. BR27-009: FY2027 Vacancy Eliminations and Freezes
Christianne Simmons, Chief Transformation Officer, provided an overview of the Budget
Response.
• Council Member Beck expressed concern regarding the impact on service and
facility hours and requested additional information on impact on facility hours and
how many cuts can be absorbed without reduction of services.
• Council Member Peoples expressed concern as well over impact of reduction of
hours.
• Council Member Flores requested information on how many positions are remaining
in the areas seeing position reductions.
• Council Member Nettles recommended consideration of other options such as
advanced reservation rather than completely closing the facilities on Saturdays.
3.2. BR27-010: FY2027 Recommended Fee Adjustments
Brian Daugherty, Code Compliance Officer, presented an overview of the Budget
Response.
• Council Member Hill requested information on the amount of fees and property tax
increase the average homeowner will experience.
3.3. BR27-011: Overview of Code Compliance Budget Reductions and Impacts
Dave Lewis, Park and Recreation Director provided a brief overview of the Budget
Response.
• Council Members Hill and Beck expressed concern over the impact to the City's live
release rate and requested information on the impact of the reductions on the City's
live release rate.
• Council requested that this item be placed back into the proposed budget.
3.4. BR27-012: Proposed Schedule for Mowing Cycles
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Dave Lewis, Park and Recreation Director provided a brief overview of the Budget
Response.
• Council Members Beck and Peoples requested information on impact to the budget
by restating the service either to the 2026 schedule or by reducing the mowing cycle
to three times per year.
• Council Member Beck recommended developing a pilot project for a program to
allow residents to adopt an alleyway.
• Council Member Martinez requested information on the mowing schedule.
3.5. BR27-013: Scope of Fire HOPE Team and Budget Impacts
James Horton, Assistance Fire Chief, provided a brief overview of the Budget Response.
• Council Member Beck expressed concern over loss of institutional knowledge and
recommended retaining the fire lieutenant position to retain institutional knowledge.
• Council Member Crain requested information on the impact on calls relating to
homelessness.
3.6. BR27-014: FY2027 PayGo Matrix
• Council Member Hall requested additional information on the Neighborhood
Improvement Program.
3.7. BR27-015: Policy and Historical Use of Interest Earnings
• Council Member Beck requested the City look at improving how we budget our
risk rather than relying on interest earnings.
3.8. BR27-016: Peer City Tax Rates and Appraisal Benchmarking
There were no questions relating to BR27-016.
3.9. BR27-017: Updated Long -Term Forecast
There were no questions regarding BR27-017.
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3.10. BR27-018: Water Cast Iron Replacement Program and Lead Service Line Program
There were no questions regarding BR27-018.
4. REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS - MATTIE PARKER, MAYOR
• Council Member Hill requested Council to consider the reduction of Council travel
funds.
• Council Member Martinez recommended looking at using unused funds in the
Neighborhood Improvement Program to cover the costs for BR27-011.
• Council Member Peoples requested an update Friday of the impact on the tax rate
for reinstating the reductions mentioned for BR27-011 and BR27-012.
• Council Member Flores requested additional information on what the gas royalties
are used for.
5. CLOSING COMMENTS - MATTIE PARKER, MAYOR
6. EXECUTIVE SESSION
There was no Executive Session.
7. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor Mattie Parker adjourned the meeting at 2:05 pm.
These minutes were approved by the Fort Worth City Council on the 15th day of September 2026.
Attest:
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Wnette S. Goodall
Secretary
Mayor
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