December City Update & Important Information
Dear Neighbors,
I know everyone must be extremely busy with the holidays right around the corner but there is a lot to report on, so please bear with me.
With all of the changes at City Hall comes great opportunity and I am pleased to announce that former Mayor Bill Glancy has been appointed to serve as Interim Mayor, to fill the unexpired term left by Robert Dye’s resignation. Mayor Glancy will serve until May 2023, when the next regular mayoral election is scheduled to take place.
Please come to City Hall on December 13th for the swearing-in of Mayor Glancy and the December Council meeting.
Additionally, the City Council promoted Ben Williamson to City Manager and Mike Mashburn has been promoted to Deputy City Manager. See below.
Finally, don’t forget there will be a Special Election on January 21 for a new District 3 Council representative to replace the representative for that district who resigned.
See below for all of the December City Events. Come join us! There is a whole bunch to do in Farmers Branch!
Feel free to stay in touch with me if you have a question, comment or concern about things happening in our city.
As a reminder, I am running for Mayor of Farmers Branch next May. If you have questions of me or would like me to visit with you and your neighbors, I would be delighted. Just send me a note and I’ll make it happen. Please support my campaign at www.ElectTerryLynne.com. With your help we will make a difference!
Allow me to wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving. Please make it a safe one also!
DECEMBER CITY COUNCIL MEETING
At present, only one City Council meeting is scheduled for December on Tuesday, December 13th, at 6pm, in the City Council Chambers. The meeting is open to the public. The Study Session will take place at 3:00pm prior in the upstairs meeting room.
Former Mayor Bill Glancy will be sworn-in at this meeting and the public is invited to attend.
Citizens are always welcome to address the City Council on any topic during the Citizen Comment portion of Council meetings or on agenda items at the proper time during a Council meeting provided they have signed-up in advance. Citizen Comment Forms must be submitted no later than 5:30pm on Council meeting days. Citizens are given 3 minutes to speak to any topic as long as they are cordial and don’t make disparaging remarks to Council or staff. This is your time to bring issues to the attention of Council and the City.
The agenda for the Council Meetings and Study Sessions may be found by clicking on AGENDA.
Call 972.919.2503 for more information about speaking.
NEW CITY LEADERSHIP
On November 15, the Farmers Branch City Council unanimously selected Ben Williamson as the next City Manager with a December 3 start date. Ben has been a proven leader with the City since January 2017 and currently serves as the Assistant City Manager. In this role, he has supervised the Fire Department, Sustainability & Public Health, Community Services, Neighborhood Services, and Public Works. Ben has become a familiar, tested and trusted manager in Farmers Branch.
Prior to Farmers Branch, Ben worked for the City of Southlake as the Emergency Management Coordinator/Assistant to the Fire Chief from 2014 to 2017. Ben started his career in public service with the City of Garland as the Emergency Management Planner and quickly moved to Senior Emergency Management Specialist from 2009 to 2014.
Ben holds a Master of Public Administration from UT Arlington and Bachelor of Science in Emergency Administration and Planning from UNT. Ben is also a member of the Texas City Management Association and serves on the City Managers of Tomorrow Committee.
Michael Mashburn has been promoted to Deputy City Manager for Farmers Branch. He was formerly Director of Parks and Recreation. Before this position, he served as the City’s Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation.
Prior to Farmers Branch, Mike served the City of Keller as the Manager of its recreation center, and Superintendent of Recreation. He has been in the recreational management industry for several years and has an extensive background in leadership, event management and facility operations.
Mike and his teams have won numerous awards across local, state, national, and even international levels, the most notable being the 2021 Texas Recreation and Park Society Gold Medal award, recognizing the top agency in the state over a three-year period.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from California State University and a Master of Public Administration from UT Arlington.
GREEN GRABBER PICK-UP SCHEDULE FOR BRUSH AND BULK
The week of December 5th will be Bulk Item Pick-Up Week. The Green Grabber will pick up BULK items on the same day as your recycling bin pick-up. Bulk consists of furniture, mattresses, appliances, etc.
The other weeks of the month the Green Grabber will only pick-up BRUSH.
Please do your part to help us save our landfill by separating your brush and green items from bulk items and put brush out the remaining three weeks of the month.
Residents may call for a “special bulk pick-up” by The Green Grabber. Special Pick-ups are done on Wednesdays. Call 972-919-2597.
FREEBIE FOR ACTIVE ADULTS AT THE BRANCH CONNECTION
The First Monday Breakfast for December takes place Monday, December 5th, at 8:15am at The Branch Connection and will be limited to the first 100 active adults. Free for TBC members and $5 for non-members. Come join us for some good food, meet new neighbors and see what all is happening at TBC!
Join The Branch Connection today and take advantage of these and so many more fun activities! Click NEWSLETTER for The Branch Connection Newsletter and see all the great things happening there!
CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 3 SPECIAL ELECTION… DON’T FORGET TO VOTE
Early Voting Dates and Times @ Farmers Branch Manske Library
Wednesday, January 4 – Friday, January 6 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 7 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 8 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Monday, January 9 – Friday, January 13 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 14 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 15 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Monday, January 16 Polls closed for MLK Holiday
Tuesday, January 17 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 21 – Election Day 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m
Two candidates have filed to run for the District 3 City Council seat…Dr. Tina Bennet-Burton and James Bagby.
I have only received information from one candidate so far…
TINA BENNETT-BURTON:
THE HONEST LEADER WE NEED
Tina Bennett-Burton is a successful small businessowner and mother running for city council
to ensure Farmers Branch remains the best place in North Texas to work and raise a family for
generations to come.
A practical and fearless voice for citizens, Tina got her start in local politics when a creek in her
neighborhood was eroding properties and creating a hazard for the neighborhood kids. After
months of delays, Tina took her neighbors concerns to the council and helped secure vital
repairs to keep the neighborhood safe.
As our next city council member, Tina will use her business knowledge to combat inflation, cut
wasteful spending and reduce our property taxes rates. Tina is also determined to improve
our quality of life by cleaning up “shale mountain” and supporting first responders to keep our families safe.
TINA’S PRIORITIES:
- Reduce Taxes
- Support First Responders
- Clean Up “Shale Mountain”
- Improve Communication with Residents
Each month, I have been telling you about my campaign. It’s really pretty simple…the 4 pillars of my campaign are:
- Accountability
- Integrity
- Respect
- Customer Service
I will work to deliver these attributes to residents as Mayor, just as I did when I served on our City Council. You deserve nothing less.
“Listen First” has also been a constant theme of mine. You cannot represent if you do not listen.
Please consider supporting my campaign by going to www.ElectTerryLynne.com Working to bring back responsible local government!
See interview with Terry on OBBM Network Weekly News.
REDISTRICTING
The City Council voted to approved Map 7 in a hastily conducted 3-2 vote. Map 9 had the most public support and put forth the most balanced plan based on demographics, economics, and all of the other criteria that had to be taken into account.
If you attended any of the Redistricting meetings and have thoughts on either Map 7 or 9, I would like to hear from you. Feel free to send me a note back with your thoughts as to why you would select one plan over the other.
I will forward that information to the Council and City Attorney.
If you are in business in Farmers Branch or would like to do more business in Farmers Branch, check-out the Farmers Branch Chamber of Commerce.
Make plans now to attend the Chamber’s First Friday Lunch, December 2, 11:15am, at Norris Conference Center, 12005 Ford Road, Suite 200.
Come connect with many of the wonderful Farmers Branch Chamber Members and meet new business leaders within the community!
This luncheon will be a Christmas Party in which we will also do our Annual Awards! Members and guests are invited to join our luncheon to enjoy a great meal while networking and supporting our local businesses.
Bring your business cards and appetite.
Registration is required: pre-registration is $25 for Members and $30 for Non-Members; from November 30 till day of the event tickets will go up to $30 for Members, and $35 for Non-Members.
DECEMBER EVENTS IN FARMERS BRANCH
Festivities will kick-off the day after Thanksgiving with Skating Under the Stars, a partnership with the Dallas Stars and the City of Farmers Branch. Enjoy outdoor ice skating among festive lights and holiday music November 25 – January 3 (weather permitting). Skaters are encouraged to reserve skate times, registration is now open.
Farmers Branch residents can skate free on Sundays but must register online at www.ChristmasintheBranch.com
The Christmas Tree Lighting will be held on Saturday, December 3 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Grove at Mustang Station, with free kids activities, visits with Santa, holiday vendors, live performances, a drone show and a spectacular fireworks show after the lighting of our 50-foot Christmas Tree. Entrance and attractions are free.
Check out our Holiday Marketplace at The Grove on December 3, 10 & 17. Entrance and all attractions are free. We’ll have live performances, kids activities, visits with Santa and local vendors selling handmade items. The December 10 Marketplace will feature an Elvis Christmas with Kraig Parker and the December 17 Marketplace will have a Latin twist featuring live music by Las Fenix. 12700 Denton Dr, Farmers Branch, TX 75234
Don’t dump your grease down the drain, recycle it for free instead!
The City of Farmers Branch is participating with other local DFW cities in the annual 2022 Holiday Grease Roundup. (www.DefendYourDrainsNorthTexas.com)
Used cooking oil can be saved and dropped off at the Citizen Collection Center located at 1399 Valley View Lane. Drop-off hours are Thursday-Saturday from 9am to 6pm.
All cooking oil is recycled by a third-party vendor, American BioSource, www.americanbiosource.com
For questions, please call 972-919-2613 or sustainability@farmersbranchtx.gov.
This “Tale as Old as Time” centers around Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. Join us next month for a fun, romantic musical based on the classic Disney film!
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at The Firehouse Theater, Dec 1 – 18, 2022. Get tickets HERE.
OTHER EVENTS…
Feliz Navidog at the Barney Wood Bark Park
Friday, December 2, 6pm – 8pm
Free, furr-tastic evening at the Bark Park with food, dog-friendly vendors and photo ops.
Santa & Cookies at The Manske Library
Wednesday, December 7, 6pm – 8pm
Free event! Listen to a special guest read “Twas the Night Before Christmas” while eating delicious cookies.
Pancakes & Pajamas at The Rec Center
Saturday, December 10, 9am – 11am
$5 Members / $8 Non-Members
Enjoy a pancake breakfast, craft making, and an opportunity to meet Santa! Don’t forget to wear your holiday pj’s!
Christmas Lunch at The Branch Connection
Friday, December 16, 11:30am
Ticket required upon arrival.
Registration is required.
Limited seating available.
Enjoy a delicious holiday meal with your TBC friends.
As you can see, there’s a ton of things happening in our city… Click on the following links to see what else is going on:
Farmers Branch Historical Park
Farmers Branch Chamber of Commerce
Please let me hear from you regarding any questions, comments or concerns you have about our great city. Thank you again for allowing me to be of service to you.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving and a very Merry Christmas!
Terry