Grapevine

Grapevine City Council The 2016-17 Grapevine City Council, from left: (back row) Paul Slechta, Chris Coy; (front row) Duff O’Dell, Mayor Pro Tem Darlene Freed, Mayor William D. Tate, Sharron Spencer, Mike Lease[/caption]

Big decisions made in 2016

  • Liquor proposition fails A petition to allow packaged liquor and liquor stores in Grapevine was placed on the November election ballot. The measure, which had the financial backing of Total Wine & More, failed with 54.14 percent of votes in opposition to the measure.
  • City’s first dog park approved Grapevine’s first dog park, which will be located at Big Bear Creek Park, was approved by the council. The park is expected to be 8 acres and open in the summer. A splash area and a wash station will be included.
  • Third water park announced City Council approved an incentive package to bring a third water park to the city. The Stand Rock Hospitality project is estimated to cost $330 million and feature indoor and outdoor water park amenities, a family entertainment center and guest suites.

Top issues for 2017

  • Public Safety Building to open The building, which will open in the spring, will house the city’s police department, municipal court, fire department administration, information technology department and logistics.
  • TEX Rail station work to begin Construction on the city’s TEX Rail station will begin this year at the corner of Main Street and Dallas Road. The station will include a boutique hotel, parking garage, observation deck and outdoor courtyard.
  • Developing the Palmeiro Tract The city purchased a 185-acre tract of land located north of Grapevine Mills in 2013 from former Texas Rangers player Rafael Palmeiro. The tract has already attracted Kubota, a water park, a multifamily development and Mercedes-Benz. City officials said they will focus on building out the tract.

Colleyville

Colleyville City Council The 2016-17 Colleyville City Council, from left: (front row) Mayor Pro Tem Chris Putnam, Tammy Nakamura, Mayor Richard Newton, Nancy Coplen, Mike Taylor; (back row) Bobby Lindamood, Jody Short[/caption]

Big decisions made in 2016

  • Voters approve term limits In November, Colleyville residents voted for City Council to have term limits beginning with the upcoming May 2017 election. Council members will not be able to run for office after two, three-year consecutive terms.
  • New water/wastewater rates established In November, council adopted new water and wastewater rates that went into effect Dec. 1. City Council established an interim rate in August that did away with a tier-based rate system and eliminated a $1.2 million transfer to the general fund.
  • TEX Rail opposition documented Council passed a resolution in May stating the city’s opposition to TEX Rail and permanently barring construction of a station.

Top issues for 2017

  • Revising the comprehensive plan Mayor Richard Newton said a top priority in 2017 is reviewing and revising the comprehensive plan to revise some changes to the plan that were done by the previous council in December 2015.
  • Finding a new city manager In December, the council unanimously accepted City Manager Jennifer Fadden’s resignation, which is effective April 2. The city is currently looking for a new city manager.
  • Getting through SH 26 Phase 2 Colleyville’s largest transportation project, which is from John McCain Road to Brown Trail, began late last year and will continue through 2019. Council and city staffers said a priority for them this year is managing the impact to businesses and residents throughout the construction period.

Southlake

Southlake City Council The 2016-17 Southlake City Council, from left: Shahid Shafi, Chad Patton, Shawn McCaskill, Mayor Laura Hill, Mayor Pro Tem Randy Williamson, John Huffman, Gary Fawks[/caption]

Big decisions made in 2016

  • TD Ameritrade approved Council approved plans for TD Ameritrade’s regional campus in April. The 355,000-square-foot building will be located at 1051 W. Kirkwood Blvd. and consist of a three-story office building and a five-level parking garage on 78 acres.
  • New facility breaks ground Ground broke on The Marq Phase 2 in November. When complete, the Marq will be the city’s largest public facility. Phase 2 includes indoor aquatics and a gym.
  • New hotels approved, open Southlake’s second hotel, Cambria Hotel & Suites, opened in December. Additionally, council approved a revised site plan for a Westin hotel and plans for a Marriott Delta hotel. Prior to Cambria, Southlake had one hotel: Hilton Dallas/Southlake Town Square.

Top issues for 2017

  • SH 114 mobility a priority With several new hotels and businesses planned to open along SH 114, city officials say they will focus on improving mobility and the feasibility of a trolley service.
  • Work on Bicentennial continues Phase 3 of improvements to the park will include a new building, a synthetic turf field, trail system completion and enclosed courts for the Southlake Tennis Center. The $8.8 million project is expected to be done in 2018.
  • New master plan for Carillon City officials expect to see a new master plan for Carillon, a 280-acre development that is expected to contain retail, parks, performing arts and restaurants as well as residential components when built out. Developers also have plans to construct a five-story Hotel Indigo.