Highland Village City Council on Sept. 23 approved four formal items by unanimous votes that affect capital planning, insurance coverage and the city’s advisory boards.

Summary of votes

- Interlocal funding for Highland Shores Boulevard: Council approved Resolution 2025‑3210 authorizing an interlocal cooperation agreement with Denton County so county bond funds can cover the county’s share of design and reconstruction costs for Highland Shores Boulevard. Council accepted updated project cost estimates (city estimate rose from about $9.3 million to $10.2 million) and accepted that Denton County will fund its 50% share; County Commissioner Mitchell agreed to contribute up to $5,540,000 toward the project. Motion carried 7‑0.

- Consent agenda (items 12–15): Council approved minutes from the Sept. 9 regular meeting; renewed employee health and dental plans with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (Resolution 2025‑3212); authorized an interlocal agreement for workers’ compensation insurance via the Texas political subdivisions joint self insurance fund (Resolution 2025‑3212); and canceled the Nov. 25 and Dec. 23 council meetings (Resolution 2025‑3213). Motion to approve consent items 12–15 carried 7‑0.

- Removal from Parks & Recreation Advisory Board: Council voted 7‑0 to remove Patrick Finch from the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board (place 2) prior to completion of his current term, using the attendance and performance review process set out in City Code Sec. 2.04.0037.

- Appointments to boards and commissions: Council approved Resolution 2025‑3211, appointing members to the Board of Ethics, Community Development Corporation (citizen reps), Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, Planning & Zoning Commission and Zoning Board of Adjustment. Appointments took effect Oct. 1, 2025 and were adopted 7‑0. Staff reported the city conducted volunteer recruitment, meet‑and‑greet sessions and contacted incumbents before the appointments.

Motion details and outcomes (as stated on the record)

- Consent agenda (items 12–15)
- Motion: "I'd like to make a motion that we approve consent agenda items 12 through 15 as read." (mover not specified on the record)
- Second: Mayor Pro Tem Villarenza
- Outcome: approved; carried 7‑0

- Resolution 2025‑3210 — Denton County interlocal (Highland Shores Blvd.)
- Motion: motion to approve agenda item number 17, authorizing the interlocal cooperation agreement with Denton County for design and reconstruction of Highland Shores Boulevard (mover not specified on the record)
- Second: Kevin Cox
- Outcome: approved; carried 7‑0

- Removal of a Parks & Recreation Advisory Board member
- Motion: "I'd like to make the motion that we remove Patrick Finch from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, place 2." (mover: Robert)
- Second: not specified on the recording
- Outcome: approved; carried 7‑0
- Notes: Motion invoked city ordinance authority to remove a member prior to the end of an unexpired term based on attendance/performance review.

- Resolution 2025‑3211 — Appointments
- Motion: council member read the slate of appointments for multiple boards (naming each appointee and place); mover: not specified on the record, second: not specified on the record
- Outcome: approved; carried 7‑0
- Notable appointments (terms commencing Oct. 1, 2025): Board of Ethics — Peter Casey, Maha Radhi, Sri Koran, Alina Meehan; Community Development Corporation (citizen reps) — Megan Glass, Matt Enslin; Parks & Recreation Advisory Board — Kevin Pearson (place 4), Ryan Melson (place 5), alternates Steve Tawadres (alt 1) and Janet Gershenfeld (alt 2); Planning & Zoning Commission — Spencer Wilk (place 1), Omer Tamir (place 4), Scott Campbell (place 5), alternates Aaron Bouchard and Ryan Echols; Zoning Board of Adjustment — Lucy Turick (place 1), Jeremy Booker (place 2), Angela Garcia (place 3), alternates Laura Henson and Ben Samaro; Animal Shelter Advisory Committee — Animal Control Officer Wes Fittis (required by state law).

What happened in the meeting

Council heard a staff presentation that Denton County had agreed to cover its share of the Highland Shores Boulevard reconstruction and formally moved to authorize the interlocal agreement that permits the county to release bond funds for the city’s project share. Councilor questions focused on updated cost estimates and county funding commitments.

Council also reviewed annual attendance records for board and commission members as part of the regular appointment process. After discussion in the work session, council used its authority under the city code to remove one parks advisory board member for attendance issues and voted to adopt a slate of appointments for multiple boards and commissions. Staff said it performed standard outreach and recruitment and held a meet‑and‑greet with applicants.

Next steps and implementation

- Staff will execute the interlocal agreement with Denton County to allow county bond funds to be applied to Highland Shores Boulevard design and reconstruction costs.
- Staff will process appointment paperwork for the newly appointed board and commission members (terms commence Oct. 1, 2025).
- The removed parks board seat will be filled through the normal volunteer/recruitment process, per council direction.

(Reporting note: motions and resolution numbers are recorded as read in the meeting; vote tallies were announced verbally as "carries 7‑0" and are reported accordingly.)