Page 34 - Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council

TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE NEIGHBORHOOD QUALITY AND VALUES

Neighborhood quality and values are protected and enhanced through the funding of programs designed to make
Benbrook streets more attractive and safe, passage of ordinances to improve the quality of life, and programs and
purchases to make neighborhoods more secure. When Benbrook leaders originally identified this goal as one of the
primary concerns of the City, they developed a strategy to form neighborhood associations to work with residents to
strengthen and improve relations between neighborhoods and the City of Benbrook. A list of the neighborhood
associations currently active in Benbrook is included on page 303 of the 2018-19 Budget Document.

SAFER AND MORE ATTRACTIVE STREETS, NEIGHBORHOODS, AND FACILITIES

The 2018-19 Budget includes funds to re-surface streets within Benbrook through joint efforts with Tarrant County in
the City/County street overlay program. The 2018-19 Budget includes expansion of the City’s street overlay program
and the rebuilding of Benbrook streets by increasing the budget allocation by $250,000 and by transferring $100,000
from the Road Damage Fund. This special revenue fund was established to repair City streets damaged from the
transport of natural gas equipment and vehicles. Funds are also included as General Fund revenue for street cuts and
repairs for projects completed with the Benbrook Water Authority.

PUBLIC SAFETY RELATED PROGRAMS AND PURCHASES FOR 2018-19

New programs and purchases are financed in the 2018-19 Budget to improve the quality of life in Benbrook by
enhancing public safety. The Budget includes the use of up-to $920,000 in General Fund reserves to purchase an
improved and upgraded communications system that is compatible with the City of Fort Worth’s system. Funds are
included in the Police Department’s Budget to replace five patrol cars with five sport utility vehicles. Funds are also
included for new light bars for vehicles. All purchases are funded through the General Fund.

FIRE DEPARTMENT

Additional Positions, New Equipment, and Continued Special Programs

The 2018-19 Budget includes significant staffing changes for the Fire Department. Three new full-time Firefighter/EMT
positions are funded in the Budget for nine months with a scheduled start date of January 1, 2019. The cost of the
additional personnel was partially offset by the elimination of two part-time positions assigned to the Auxiliary City

CITY OF BENBROOK 2018-19 ANNUAL BUDGET
33