Town Council Study Session — Highland Park

This item is provided at the request of the Mayor for a member of the Town Council to request that an item be placed on a future Town Council study session agenda for discussion or consideration. Town Council discussion and consideration would be limited to including a potential agenda item and scheduling such on a future agenda. The agenda item would be included in the study session agenda of regular Town Council meetings.

In accordance with the Town Charter, staff prepares a proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The Town Administrator must submit the proposed budget to the Town Council for review and consideration no later than thirty (30) days before the end of the current fiscal year. The development of the annual budget is a collaborative process that incorporates input from Town departments, Town administration, citizens, stakeholders, and the Town Council. The purpose of this agenda item is to provide an opportunity for staff to receive comments from the Town Council regarding the Fiscal Year 2026–27 Combined Operating and Capital Budget (the “FY27 Budget”) process, as well as any items the Council would like staff to evaluate, consider, or incorporate into the FY27 Budget. Although the Town Council will have additional opportunities to provide direction as the FY27 Budget progresses, this meeting is specifically intended to gather input at a stage when the proposed FY27 Budget is still under development. For reference, a copy of the fiscal year 2025-26 adopted budget has been provided to assist the Town Council in identifying items or priorities for staff to address during preparation of the FY27 Budget, together with the most recent version of the FY27 Budget process calendar.

At its April 21 meeting, the Town Council approved a service order for the implementation of alternative transit services to address ongoing on-street parking and mobility challenges. These challenges are driven by a combination of regional traffic traversing the Town and increased daytime construction activity, which have, at times, impacted traffic flow, limited emergency vehicle access, and created pedestrian safety concerns. Consistent with prior Council direction, the approved program includes general on-demand microtransit and paratransit service components designed to enhance mobility, improve safety, and support overall neighborhood functionality. As previously discussed during the February 17 and April 7 Study Sessions, the general on-demand and paratransit services are intended to serve as both a mobility enhancement and a contingency option to avoid disruption for current users of Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), should service arrangements change in the near future. The paratransit component is designed to provide eligible riders with comparable service levels and access to key destinations, while the on-demand service will support connections to nearby regional transit facilities and services. Staff is advancing implementation planning in coordination with the service provider. As part of this process, the Town must establish a fee structure for both the microtransit (on-demand) and paratransit services. A comparison of ​system fees is below: This agenda item is intended to facilitate Council discussion and provide direction to staff on the appropriate fee structure for these services prior to program launch. Staff will incorporate Council feedback into the final program design to ensure the service is accessible, equitable, and financially sustain

This item is provided as an opportunity to update the Town Council on the current year’s Capital Improvements Program ("CIP") projects. A few of the larger, more complex projects are highlighted below: Wycliffe Reconstruction Holland EST Hackberry Creek Phase I Improvements Exall Dredging An update will be provided for the above projects as well as other roadway, utility, stormwater, parks, and facilities projects programmed for FY 2025-2026.