Page 346 - Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council

BENBROOK HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

In October 2013, after thirty-six years of dedicated and conscientious service with the City of Benbrook, David Ragsdale,
retired as the City’s Finance Director. With his retirement, the Budget Director was promoted to Finance Director. The
new Finance Director continued her other responsibilities as Budget Director, Purchasing Manager, Risk Manager, and
Payroll Process Coordinator. An Accountant with certified public accountant credentials was hired. Three activities –
Finance, Customer Services, and Budget and Research – were consolidated into the Finance Activity.

2014

The City of Benbrook’s focus in 2015 was on growing a community. The City, in partnership with our community,
strives to guarantee that our physical environment in a safe responsible, and desirable direction. City departments are
tasked with assuring that infrastructure projects meet or exceed certain standards that protect the public, provide
access, and meet the needs and expectations of our community – now and in the future. In 2014, the following
significant projects, some coming to fruition after years of careful planning and collaboration, moved forward:
Community Garden, Benbrook City limits, schools, residential development, and public investments.

Benbrook Community Garden

The location of Benbrook’s community garden was changed in 2014 to Timber Creek Park. The community garden
includes thirty-eight garden plots (4x16), bench and seating areas, a native plant demonstration garden, an herb
garden, and a potential orchard. The estimated cost to acquire the infrastructure for the community garden was
approximately $20,000; cost estimates include supplies/materials and contracting costs for fencing and gates, cinder
block garden plots and storage bins, irrigation, concrete sidewalks, and park benches/tables. Council approved
$30,000 for the garden.

City of Benbrook Land Swap with City of Fort Worth

In 1968, the City of Fort Worth and the City of Benbrook adopted an apportionment agreement allowing Fort Worth
to annex a 10-foot strip surrounding Benbrook. Minor adjustments to that boundary occurred in 1980, 1984, and
1987.

Following the initial 2005 meeting, the two cities approved a minor boundary adjustment to allow access to Skyline
Ranch through Benbrook. Benbrook also offered fire service to Skyline Ranch on an interim basis. The two cities
CITY OF BENBROOK 2018-19 ANNUAL BUDGET
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