Fort Worth council approves PID assessment filings after property owners raise alarm over security changes in East Lancaster corridor

The Fort Worth City Council voted to file the 2025 assessment rolls for multiple public improvement districts (PIDs) and set a public hearing for Sept. 16, 2025, after property owners in the East Lancaster corridor pressed city staff for explanations about a recent switch from private security to off‑duty police patrols.

Property owners at the podium said they learned after the fact that the PID’s private security contract was discontinued last November but that their 2025 assessment still listed a $300,000 security line item. “We were told the patrol was going away and then this year we got a $308,000 assessment,” said a property owner who identified themselves as part of PID 20 and asked the council to review the security allocation. Another business owner in the district said she relied on the prior private security firm for rapid response and was concerned that the city-directed change left some residents unclear how to request service.

Why it matters: The council’s action advances the administrative step of filing assessment rolls with the city secretary but does not yet approve budgets or service plans. Staff and council emphasized that the step leaves time between today’s vote and the Sept. 16 meeting to resolve disputed line items and to meet with concerned property owners.

Details of the transition and staff response

Economic development staff said the city discontinued the private security contractor in November and replaced that service with off‑duty Fort Worth Police Department patrols. City staff reported the change provides roughly 3,300 additional patrol hours in the Lancaster corridor and said the off‑duty officers patrol in marked Fort Worth police vehicles rather than unmarked private security cars. Staff also said they will mail explanatory materials to PID property owners and meet with affected owners one‑on‑one; the PID management entity said PID meetings occur quarterly and that minutes and materials are posted online.

Council action and next steps

Councilmember Hill moved to close the public hearing and approve the filing of the assessment rolls for the listed PIDs (M&C 25‑0747 through 25‑0753 and 25‑0756 through 25‑0758); the motion passed. City Manager Jay Chapa and staff members said any necessary adjustments to the service plan or budget can be made before the Sept. 16 council vote on the service plans and budgets.

Community context and outstanding requests

Speakers asked the city to consider a refund for last year’s charges where private security was not provided, to restore private security, or to remove the security line item until the service matches the assessment. Staff committed to follow‑up meetings and a mailed notice explaining the shift to off‑duty police patrols and the practical ways property owners should request response (911 for emergencies, and specific nonemergency contact paths for PID concerns).

Ending

The council’s filing action starts the formal public-notice clock; the council will consider the PID budgets and service plans, including any adjustments requested by property owners, at a Sept. 16 public hearing.