Page 314 - Benbrook FY20 Approved Budget

CITY OF BENBROOK 2019-20 ANNUAL BUDGET

volunteer organizations. The current Benbrook Community Gardens group, with approximately twenty members, includes two Tarrant Area
Master Gardeners, an officer of the Waverly Park Garden Club, lifelong gardeners/farmers, a registered dietician, and experts in organic
gardening practices.

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

also cooperated on an asphalt overlay of Chapin Road, relocation of a Fort Worth sewer main in Mary’s Creek Drive, and a joint flood
study of Mary’s Creek. Benbrook also adjusted the right-of-way along Chapin Road.
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