Page 376 - FY 2021-22 ADOPTED BUDGET

City Hall/Fire Station was built on Del Rio Avenue, just off Highway 377, in 1951. Also, in 1951, the
City Council voted by a two-to-one margin to outlaw taverns. In August 1955, the City adopted its

first subdivision ordinance which required developers to dedicate and construct adequate street
and drainage facilities.

1960s and 1970s

The census of 1960 indicates that Benbrook had grown to 3,254 people. In 1961 the Texas Education
Agency performed a study of the costs of building a Junior/Senior High School to educate Benbrook
students. The estimated construction cost of $5,000,000 plus annual operating costs of $75,000

required a tax increase of 240 percent. As a result of this study, in 1962 the Benbrook Common
School District became part of the Fort Worth Independent School District; the Chapin School
District also merged with Fort Worth. By 1970, Benbrook had grown to 8,169 people. In 1972 City
Staff had grown to thirty-one employees under the direction of City Administrator H. W. Jett. A new
City Hall was built in 1976 on the corner of Winscott Road and Mercedes Street. In 1977, the City
updated its Comprehensive Plan in a series of three reports, including: Land Use Studies; a Parks,
Recreation, and Open Space Plan; and a Housing Element. The 1977 Plan proposed a mix of land
uses that do not differ substantially from the City's current Plan - with the exception that the area

south of Mary's Creek and west of Highway 377 was proposed for single family residential. The Park
Plan proposed a series of nine new neighborhood parks, along with protection of flood plains and
existing parks, and construction of a recreation facility/library. In 1978 voters approved bonds for a
new fire station and for streets; a proposed bond issue for a recreation facility failed. A revised bond
issue for drainage projects was approved in 1979. The Housing Element stressed conservation and
rehabilitation of older stock housing.

Texas State law allows cities with populations over 5,000 to elect to have a home rule charter to

provide more flexibility and authority of municipal government. Benbrook's first Home Rule Charter
Commission was appointed in April 1975 to draft a charter, but the proposition failed on the ballot
in January 1977. A second Charter Commission was appointed in April 1977, but the measure failed
in August 1978. A third Commission was elected in April 1982 and the Charter finally passed in April
1983. The Charter was amended in 1990 and again in 1997.

1980s

In 1980, Benbrook had a total population of 13,579. A $4.1 million bond issue for streets and
drainage was defeated at the polls in 1980. In May 1980, numerous homes were damaged by a hail
storm; a tornado was sighted but not officially confirmed. Loop 820 was completed from Hulen
Street to U. S. Highway 377 in 1981 and the remainder opened in 1982. In 1981 an election to merge
the City with the Benbrook Water and Sewer Authority failed. Benbrook experienced a tremendous

269