Richard B. Abernethy

This document summarizes a budget planning and community input meeting for the City of Duncanville, focused on developing an annual budget guided by strategic pillars adopted by the city council. The strategic pillars include reimagining high quality of life (safety, arts, recreation, neighborhood vitality), emphasizing government accountability and efficient processes, fostering development and redevelopment with an economic focus, strategic infrastructure planning and replacement, and enhancing marketing and student community engagement. Key priorities for the upcoming fiscal year involve compensation strategies, project completion, technology infrastructure upgrades, implementation of strategic plan initiatives, and supporting special events and arts. The overall aim is to ensure fiscal responsibility while enhancing public services and community well-being.

The meeting included discussions and actions on the consent agenda, which covered the approval of minutes from the January 6 meeting, consideration of a resolution for a special bids sponsorship package, and a resolution awarding a bid for an on-demand supervisory control and data acquisition software program for water storage facilities repairs, not to exceed $135,000. A significant portion of the meeting involved council deliberation regarding a proposed economic development incentive for the redevelopment of the railroad flats property into town homes. Concerns included the process of selection, the lack of prior RFPs, and the financial impact of the incentive, leading to a decision to table the item until February 17th for further review, with an additional briefing scheduled for February 3rd to address council questions and economic development corporation (EDC) process clarity. The calendar review covered upcoming meetings including a DCDC/TIFF joint meeting, Arts Commission, and Bond Election kickoff. A briefing was also held on Economic Development Advisory Services, specifically introducing Catalyst Commercial as a potential partner to provide real estate transaction support, with the goal of authorizing a contract at the joint meeting on January 26th.

The committee convened to provide recommendations to the council regarding the bond program. Key discussions included receiving public comments and addressing procedural items, such as the introduction of a new committee member representing District 4. The committee reviewed and approved minutes for the March 20th, 2025, and April 7th, 2025 meetings, making necessary corrections to attendance records. A significant portion of the meeting involved a tour of Fire Station 1 and Fire Station 2, focusing on the deteriorating conditions of Fire Station 2 (built in 1995) due to foundation shifting and plumbing issues. The committee discussed the need to develop cost estimates for renovating Fire Station 2 and for the proposed new Fire Station 3, acknowledging that recommendations might impact the tax rate and must be defensible to the City Council and citizens. The draft Capital Improvement Plan, which categorizes needs as short, medium, and long-term goals, was also briefly reviewed ahead of a public hearing.

The meeting commenced with a call to order and acknowledgment of Councilman Tenner Baker's absence. The primary focus of the session was the consent agenda, which included considering the minutes from the December 12, 2025, special call meeting and workshop, as well as the regular meeting from December 16, 2025. The second consent item involved authorizing the City Manager to execute a landscape maintenance agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation for the 2026 Green River project on Interstate 20, covering maintenance and replacement of dead trees. The council also reviewed the January and February calendars, scheduling a meeting with Kimley Horn regarding police and court assessments, and setting dates for board commission interviews due to eight vacancies. A significant portion of the meeting involved a briefing and presentation on the proposed development of 918 East Highway 67 by Corinth Properties, which entails constructing a credit union and a Bojangles restaurant on currently vacant lots. The discussion centered on significant required site infrastructure improvements (water, sewer, drainage), estimated at $250,000, and the proposed incentive structure using a performance-based rebate of 75% of new sales tax generated, capped at $150,000 over five years, to offset these infrastructure costs.

The City Work Plan for Duncanville is driven by a council mission to build a vibrant, inclusive community and a vision for Duncanville as a safe, vibrant, diverse City of Champions committed to excellence. The plan outlines an organizational mission focused on value-added customer service and is supported by several strategic pillars: reimagining a high quality of life through safe and attractive neighborhoods, emphasizing government accountability and customer service, promoting innovative development and re-development, developing an infrastructure improvement strategy, and advancing the city's marketing and community engagement.