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City of Farmers Branch

Resident applause balances questions

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Mayor Terry Lynne kicked off the State of the City by addressing resident concerns about discord on the council.

Lack of communication and frustration among the six councilmembers has been an issue, the mayor said. It’s easy to get upset at meetings, especially when it seems that some issues have been predetermined. All six people on council have different opinions on how things on the council and within the city should operate.

“We’ve all allowed our frustrations to show, and I’m just as guilty of that, and I apologize for it,” he said.

He said that current council needs to listen to each other, discuss topics reasonably and not walk away from discussions so all the councilmembers’ goals and priorities are achieved both for their districts and the city.

“So, for this new year, 2025, I have one wish, and that’s for us all to get along, to work to get along. I repeat,” he said, turning to look at the Councilmembers Roger Neal, District 5, Tina Bennett-Burton, District 2, and David Reid, District 3, who attended the State of the City and sat parallel to the podium where the mayor spoke, “I’m here to help you. None of us can do what we want to do on our own. So, I’m asking you to accept me as your partner. Harboring bitterness and resentment doesn’t help our city. It’s not a good look. I’m asking for your grace. Let’s have conversations, and I want to thank each of you for serving, and I look forward to being able to help you as we work through the days to come.”

Lynne finished to the first round of applause of the evening, before turning his attention back to the packed City Council Chamber, where every seat was filled and city staff stood along the back wall.

Others listened to the mayor’s remarks from the City Hall lobby.

Lynne heralded the attributes and achievements of the city in 2024.

Poetry filled his speech with phrases such as “convenience of an urban location with the comfort of a close-knit community,” before the video Farmers Branch 2024 Year in Review https://youtu.be/cf7YCKp2Upo?si=PWaghDDEBA0GJpNP played, listing the “nationally recognized Joya Park,” the lowest tax rate in 41 years, two AAA bond ratings, the RYSE Energy StarCenter MultiSport, hosting the UPA World Pickleball Championships, the Minor Home Repair Program, partnerships with Builders of Hope for development of five affordable houses in Valwood Park and Dallas County Replacement Home Program as achievements for the city.

The video also lauded major infrastructure improvements, including the Rawhide Trail Expansion, which widened the trail to 12-feet wide, the Denton Drive Street Configuration, which added 20 more parking spaces and a new 10-foot wide trail, and the Cooks Creek Channel Improvement, which addressed drainage issues and upgraded wastewater lines, waterline replacement projects that replaced 6,600 feet of cast iron water lines.

The video also said the city confirmed that there are no city-owned lead or galvanized materials and that the city complies with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead-Copper Rule Revision.

The city’s public safety teams responded to about 28,000 calls for service in 2024.

“The video we just watched captures our spirit perfectly. In 2024, we proved once again what makes Farmers Branch unique,” Lynne said.

The mayor invited residents to share their thoughts and ask questions. He said city council would address policy questions, and city staff would answer operational questions.

Candace Adams started by saying she is concerned about city’s spending.

She asked why the city spent $36,000 for the electronic nameplates on the city council dais.

Lynne said the money for the nameplates came from the royalties the city receives from the videos the city produces and that the fund had several hundreds of thousands of dollars that had accumulated.

City Manager Ben Williamson confirmed that the funds did not come out of the general fund for that, but that the funds from the video royalties are restricted to audio/visual equipment at city hall.

She also asked about lack of bids for parks and recreation trailers.

Catherine Lee, deputy director of finance, fleet and facilities, said that the city did seek, and does seek bids, for trailers and all other equipment as it is a state requirement. She said city staff does reach out to vendors to let them know there is an opportunity to bid.

Patrick Beal, resident of Branch Crossing, asked about the Spot@Myra, the 55+ housing that was to be located east of Dallas Medical Center, and what the city was doing to make sure something like that never happens again.

Lynne went into the most detail about the legal issues between MarketSpace Capital, which owns the building and bought the property from Prime Healthcare, which owns Dallas Medical Center. MarketSpace Capital filed for bankruptcy

“Obviously, we’ve had to look at the albatross of an incomplete parking garage sitting there way too long a period of time with the crane spinning around in the air. At least we know which way the wind is blowing,” he said.

Lynne clarified that the property deal is with Prime Healthcare and not Dallas Medical Center.

“Dallas Medical Center has absolutely nothing to do with that property and that developer,” he said.

Prime Healthcare had a buy-back agreement in their sales agreement with MarketSpace Capital. MarketSpace Capital has invested about $18 million in the property, Lynne said.

“I don’t think they want to lose their $18 million, but Prime Healthcare has a right to take that property back. They really don’t want to, but that is for Prime Healthcare and their lawyers to figure out,” he said.

He said the city meets regularly with parties from both companies and is keeping up to date with what is happening. They want the project finished as well, he said. “But even more importantly, I want our $2.139 million back from somebody… I’ve had three developers contact me and ask me what they can do about stepping in to complete the project. It’s not for us to say.”

Other topics Lynne and city council staff answered questions about included what residents call the “Tyvek house,” the re-opening of a citizens collection station at the Senlac Service Center and how fees will be implemented for collecting funds to close the Camelot Landfill when the time comes.

One resident finished his comments “you guys have a lot of going and you’re doing a great job … in case no one else says it, you’ve got a lot of balls in the air and we appreciate everything you do,” which was met with applause.

Bennett-Burton addressed what the city has implemented to prevent more issues like the unfinished project at Spot@Myra.

“We’ve added claw-back provisions. Our attorneys are reading everything now,” she said.

Lynne added the city also now requires contractors to have performance bonds on projects.

A resident also asked about capital projects planned for 2025.

Lynne said infrastructure will be on going, water and sewer lines as well as public works crews injecting tar and sealant into roads to maintain roads.

Reid said the city councilmembers will have a driving tour of the city on Feb. 6 so they can create a list of items they want to address in strategic planning.

He also said that construction will be starting soon at Mercer Park, there’s expansion at the Mercer Boardwalk planned and The Branch Connection will be finished this year.

Bennett-Burton said Dutch Village Park, which burned last year, will be rebuilt by the end of this year.

She said the city is also looking at making Rawhide Park safer to traverse through. She said they are looking at the crossing at Rawhide Parkway and Josey Lane specifically.

“Just something to make it safer so as residents walk it, they can walk the circumference of it and be safe with it,” she said.

In addition, she said the city has engaged with a couple of outside developers to work with the city in the Four Corners area, now that two of the corners are going to be up for sale, to see what options are available.

Lynne said City Councilmember Omar Roman prioritizes the building of Mercer Park.

Lynne said re-opening The Branch Connection is very important for him. It is slated to open in the second quarter of 2025.