Page 331 - Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council

BENBROOK HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

1990s

By 1990, the City's population had reached 19,564 and the number of businesses had grown to over 400. However, the
large majority of workers in Benbrook worked elsewhere. In 1991 the Defense Base Closure and Realignment
Commission recommended the closure of Carswell Air Force Base and realignment as a Naval Reserve Center. The
Air Force Base officially closed in December 1993. Voters also defeated a one-half cent sales tax for a library in May
1992. In March 1993 the Lockheed Corporation purchased the General Dynamics Aircraft Plant. In September 1997,
voters approved an $8 million bond issue for streets, drainage, and an indoor community/recreation center. Also in
1997, the community constructed Castle Park Playground using volunteer labor and donated materials; Castle Park's
completion was part of Benbrook's 50th Year of Incorporation Celebration.

In 1998, Benbrook joined with Bled, Slovenia to sign a formal Sister Cities Agreement. Also in this year, Benbrook's
voters approved a half-cent sales tax for the Benbrook Library District; this separate governmental agency has the
authority to collect funds for the construction and operation of a library. In 1999 Benbrook began a street overlay
program with the assistance of Tarrant County to restore and prolong the useful life of residential streets. Also in 1999,
the City held Benbrook's first Household Hazardous Waste Collection.

2000

Benbrook effortlessly emerged into the year 2000 without experiencing any glitches, downtime, or interruption of
services as a result of Y2K. Prior to the beginning of the year 2000, the City replaced the City Hall telephone system,
the Police Department's tape back-up system, the communications system for the Fire Department, and the Fire
Department's telephone system. In 2000, the Benbrook Community Center/YMCA opened and began operating
through a joint venture between the City of Benbrook and the YMCA. The Whitestone Golf Course also opened in the
spring of 2000; this privately-owned golf course serves as a cornerstone for development and is attracting new
homeowners and businesses. In 2000, the Benbrook Library moved into its permanent home, the former Senior
Activity Center. In 2006 the Benbrook Library requested proposals for a construction project to expand the Benbrook
Public Library facility.

CITY OF BENBROOK 2018-19 ANNUAL BUDGET
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