Cedar Hill council approves youth-park standards, development plat and multiple contracts

Cedar Hill — The Cedar Hill City Council on May 13 approved an ordinance establishing youth standards of care in the city's parks and a series of development and design contracts, including a final plat for Old Town Estates phase 1 and funding authorizations for street and park improvements.

The council approved Ordinance No. 2025-850, amending Chapter 15, Article 8 of the Cedar Hill Code of Ordinances to add definitions and provisions related to youth standards of care in park and recreation facilities. Councilmember Hayden made the motion for approval; the council recorded the vote as unanimous. "This is kind of a normal thing we have to do each year to set this up in the summer," Councilmember Hayden said during the public hearing.

Why it matters: the ordinance codifies rules the city applies to youth activities in parks and allows staff to apply consistent standards during summer programming and similar activities.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 2025-850 (Youth standards of care in parks): approved (motion: Councilmember Hayden; second: not specified; vote recorded as unanimous; exact tally not specified). Referenced in meeting as a public hearing item. - Final plat FP706-2025, Old Town Estates Addition Phase 1 (approx. 45 lots, minimum house sizes stated as 1,600 to 2,800 sq ft): approved (motion: Councilman McCurdy; second: Councilwoman Nazin; vote recorded as unanimous; exact tally not specified). - Contract with Spark Lighting LLC for Highland South (Huttons South) Park walking path lighting, not to exceed $106,000: approved (motion: Councilman Glover; second: Councilmember Hayden; vote recorded as unanimous). - Authorization for Decker LLC design contract for renovation of the former library, not to exceed $320,000: approved (motion by Pro Tem Sims; second: not specified; vote recorded as unanimous). - Agreement with SmithGroup for architectural and engineering services for a senior center addition to Allen E. Sims Recreation Center, not to exceed $992,000: approved (motion: Councilmember Glover; second: Councilwoman Aziz; recorded as unanimous). - Consent agenda items approved as presented, including (selected): - Authorization for mayor to execute agreement with Brandon Industries to replace mailboxes in High Point PID No. 1, amount not to exceed $172,344. - Construction contract with Texas Standard Construction LTD for improvements to Dougalville Road and Bear Creek Road intersection, amount not to exceed $723,408. - Work authorization No. 25-02 with Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc., $216,800 (Mount Lebanon water line extension design). - Work authorization No. 25-03 with Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc., $3,371,400 (Straus Road realignment/visibility study design). - Authorization to submit continuation grant application to Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority for ALPR lease (Resolution R25-754). - Authorization to submit solid-waste information grant to North Central Texas Council of Governments (Resolution R25-755). (Council pulled items D and F for brief separate discussion before approval.)

Details and context The final plat for Old Town Estates Phase 1 was discussed during the meeting. Developer and builder Heritage Development Group (applicant Eric Richardson) described a phased build plan that was requested by staff to accommodate a future road alignment. The developer said houses would range roughly from 1,600 to 2,800 square feet; during council Q&A the developer said the top-end price would be about what was spoken as "$4.75" and mid-range as "$3.99"; those figures were presented verbally in the meeting and understood to mean approximately $475,000 and $399,000, respectively. Councilmembers pressed staff and the applicant on the number of staff comments in the planning package and asked that city staff continue close oversight during review and construction.

Lighting and safety Councilman Glover introduced the Highland South walking path lighting contract after a local crime-watch meeting; resident Thomas Haggerty addressed the council in support of the project, saying, "we really need those lights, and we thank you for pulling that and getting it approved for us." The council approved the contract not to exceed $106,000.

Design and facilities Council approved a $320,000 design contract with Decker LLC for a future renovation of the former library property and a separate agreement with SmithGroup for up to $992,000 to design a senior center addition to the Allen E. Sims Recreation Center. Council members described both as straightforward, community-serving projects and recorded unanimous votes.

Consent items The council approved a routine consent agenda that included procurement and design authorizations, grant application approvals, and the quarterly investment report. Councilmember McCurdy pulled the final plat (item D) for comment; Councilman Glover pulled the Highland South lighting contract (item F) for discussion and public comment.

What the council did not decide No substantive changes to the ordinance text were proposed during the hearing and no members of the public spoke for or against Ordinance 2025-850 during the public hearing.

Next steps Contracts and work authorizations approved by the council move to execution by the mayor and staff; the final plat will proceed in accordance with conditions on the plat and city requirements.

Ending Council adjourned at roughly 8:31 p.m. after completing the evening's agenda.