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With council members divided over resident costs, unfinished park projects and development timelines, the Farmers Branch City Council approved millions in new spending Tuesday, May 19. The council also advanced a long-discussed Josey Lane development project after debating how quickly construction should begin.
Much of the meeting focused on how the city should use $2.765 million in general fund balance above its 90-day reserve target following completion of the annual audit.
The debate comes as city leaders continue weighing infrastructure investments against concerns from some residents about rising utility and service costs.
Finance Director Jay Patel said the amount came in addition to $2.3 million already allocated by the council in November using preliminary estimates before the audit was finalized. Staff recommended using the additional money for one-time expenses rather than ongoing operational costs.
Patel told council members the city is facing approximately $1.9 million in increased costs tied to the regional NTECC radio system, including $685,000 in capital infrastructure expenses.
While council members largely agreed on funding technology and public safety upgrades, they split over whether the remaining surplus should immediately fund park projects or remain unspent for future discussions.
Councilmember Lupe Gonzalez said the city should prioritize completing Mercer Park and Squire Park improvements after years of delays.
“I feel like we really need to finish what we’ve started,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez said she wanted Squire Park fully completed rather than minimally improved because she expects the park to draw more children after a nearby school soccer field is no longer available.
Councilmember Tina Bennett-Burton agreed the city should complete both projects now instead of risking higher costs later.
Bennett-Burton said delaying the projects could ultimately increase construction costs for the city.
Councilmember David Reid said delaying the projects further would likely increase costs as construction prices continue rising.
“We are the city in the park,” Reid said. “Let’s finish what we started.”
But Councilmember Roger Neal questioned whether the city should continue spending surplus funds each year while residents face increasing fees and utility costs.
“We’ve increased their water fees. We’ve increased various permit fees. We’ve included a new trash fee,” Neal said. “It just seems we’re just asking more and more of our residents.”
Neal said he supported the park projects and public safety upgrades but preferred keeping the remaining funds in the city’s capital improvement program until council members reviewed more detailed spending information.
Councilmember Elizabeth Villafranca also raised concerns after learning updated project estimates had been shared with Bennett-Burton but not the full council.
“I think we should keep it in the general fund until we have all of the information and we all have the same information,” Villafranca said.
Mayor Terry Lynne said the city should carefully review project costs before committing additional spending.
“Let’s make sure that we’re being really good stewards,” Lynne said.
The council ultimately approved a supplemental budget amendment allocating $600,000 for citywide IT modernization, $685,000 for NTECC radio infrastructure upgrades and placing the remaining $1.48 million into the city’s capital improvement fund for future Mercer Park and Squire Park improvements.
The measure passed 3-2, with Neal and Villafranca opposed.
Later in the meeting, the council approved the sale of city-owned property at 13309 Josey Lane for a proposed development project by developer Thomas Cusick after debating how much flexibility he should receive on construction deadlines.
The discussion centered on whether construction should begin within 24 months under the revised agreement or within 18 months, as proposed by Bennett-Burton.
“If we’re doing this, he needs to turn dirt,” Bennett-Burton said.
Villafranca argued the developer had already spent years navigating the process and said additional flexibility was reasonable.
Reid reminded residents the vote only concerned the land sale and that the development itself must still return for future zoning and council approvals.
Neal added that multiple bids had previously been reviewed for the property and said no public grant funding was tied to the agreement.
The council ultimately amended the agreement to require construction to begin within 18 months and be completed within 36 months before approving the amended contract in a 4-1 vote, with Villafranca opposed.
Earlier in the meeting, the council unanimously approved a special use permit allowing upgrades to an existing cellular telecommunications tower at 1641 Keenan Bridge Road. City staff said the action brings the tower back into compliance after a previous permit expired in 2011 and will streamline future equipment upgrades without requiring repeated council approvals.
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