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Farmers Branch Mayor Terry Lynne closed the Dec. 9 City Council meeting with a call for community unity, reflecting on the city's troubled history and urging residents to build bridges across cultural divides.
Lynne shared lessons from a recent conference on antisemitism, drawing parallels between hate directed at Jewish communities and the anti-Hispanic sentiment that put Farmers Branch in the national spotlight in 2006 when the city passed controversial immigration ordinances.
"I know Farmer's Branch is not the same city today it was back in 2006. However, hate is still alive," Lynne said. "Our city is 54% Hispanic. Everyone should feel safe, welcome in our city."
Lynne described attending the conference, presented by Combat Antisemitism Movement, where approximately 300 mayors from across the country gathered to discuss eliminating hate in their communities.
"While at the conference, I had time to reflect back on an issue with the Hispanic community back in 2006 that put our city on the national spotlight for not the right reasons," Lynne said. "It was a bad time for the city and a fight that was not our fight in my opinion and created a lot of ill will."
The mayor acknowledged that while Farmers Branch has changed, fear and division persist, particularly given current national discussions about immigration.
"I'm disheartened by it, and my heart goes out to people who are afraid," Lynne said.
Lynne shared a story from the conference about an Arab man who grew up hating Jews until he stayed with a Jewish exchange family in France, eventually becoming a proud supporter of Israel and the Jewish people.
"I'd like to see the same turnaround in Farmers Branch," Lynne said.
The mayor challenged residents to take small but meaningful steps toward building community.
"I'm asking every resident of our city to do something that might be uncomfortable. Just say hello or hola," Lynne said. "Let's make Farmers Branch a city known for friendship."
Council Member Elizabeth Villafranca thanked Lynne for his remarks. "Thank you very much for your kind words. It was very touching," she said.
The council also conducted routine business, including updates on animal services and historical preservation.
Valerie Pena, animal shelter supervisor, reported dog intakes have decreased significantly since 2024, crediting staff who encourage owners to consider no-kill shelters before surrendering pets. The shelter's August Clear the Shelters promotion resulted in 44 cats and 11 dogs being adopted, with 41 additional animals placed in foster care.
Pena announced a new trap-neuter-release program for feral cats using 20 traps donated by Best Friends Animal Society. When Villafranca asked whether reducing cat populations might increase rodent problems, Pena clarified the program targets population control, not elimination.
"The main thing with the trap-neuter-release program is just getting them fixed so the kittens don't overpopulate the area," Pena said.
Ginny Welch, chair of the Historical Preservation and Restoration Board, announced Wreaths Across America would take place Dec. 13 at 11 a.m. at Keenan Cemetery, Dallas County's oldest cemetery. The board also plans to rebuild three log structures disassembled in 2022, which Welch said are integral to Farmers Branch's early history and missed by school tours.
The council held a public discussion about establishing a Public Facility Corporation for a proposed development near the Havenhurst Apartments. Council Member Tina Bennett-Burton clarified that apartments already exist on the site and are permitted under current zoning.
"There's an apartment complex sitting on that land and it is actually zoned that when the new apartments want to come through, by right we must say yes," Bennett-Burton said.
Council Member David Reid characterized the project as an opportunity to replace aging housing stock with modern apartments. Villafranca agreed the existing apartments "have lived out their course."
The council split its 14 Dallas Central Appraisal District board votes equally between County Treasurer Pauline Medrano and Clyde Hairston. Members also approved Elizabeth Aviz for the Charter Review Committee and finalized liaison appointments, including Council Member Lupe Gonzalez to the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School Board education liaison position.
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