DeSoto City Council members approved several measures during their Jan. 7 meeting, most notably adopting a new neighborhood traffic‑calming policy by ordinance and authorizing applications for regional active‑transportation grants. Council also remanded a large planned‑development rezoning back to the Planning and Zoning Commission and approved a specific‑use permit for a vocational training provider at 10102 Ezell Drive. A separate update to the council’s rules and procedures passed 5–2.

Why it matters: The traffic‑calming ordinance establishes a standardized, data‑driven process for neighborhoods to request measures such as speed humps, chicanes or access management, and sets a path for prioritizing and funding work. The North Central Texas Council of Governments grant applications seek federal reimbursement for multimillion‑dollar pedestrian and bicycle projects that would reshape major corridors in DeSoto.

Summary of formal outcomes

- Neighborhood traffic‑calming ordinance — approved unanimously (7–0).
- What passed: An ordinance adding Article 12.900 to the city code to adopt a Neighborhood Traffic Calming Policy and Guidebook. The policy creates a seven‑step process (application, study, preliminary cost ranking, resident ballot, final design, construction/trial and appeals), defines eligible streets and technical thresholds (for example, 85th‑percentile speed criteria and ADT ranges), and outlines funding options including resident contributions and city funding alternatives.
- Next steps: Staff will post application materials and run an outreach program; funding specifics will be set in budget discussions.

- Grant applications to NCTCOG (Westmoreland Connect and Pleasant Run Connect) — approved unanimously (7–0).
- What passed: Resolutions authorizing the city manager to submit applications to the North Central Texas Council of Governments for up to $10,000,000 per project under the 2025 Active Transportation call.
- Local match: Staff told council there is local funding available in existing capital project budgets (cited amounts: roughly $6.5M identified for Westmoreland and Pleasant Run and $9M in another bond fund) and that the program requires a local match; successful awards are reimbursements, not up‑front grants.
- Timeline: Applications were due in mid‑January; regional scoring and technical committee review occur in the first half of 2025. Staff said bids for funded projects would need to be open by Aug. 31, 2028, under the grant schedule.

- Public utilities administration building professional services amendment (Garver LLC) and street‑lighting conversion — placed on consent and approved (consent motion passed unanimously 7–0).
- Staff authority: Approval authorized an amendment to the professional services contract with Garver LLC for $84,175 and an updated professional‑services budget; the council also authorized negotiation and execution of a supplement for conversion of 340 street lights in specific corridors not to exceed $92,385.

- Specific‑Use Permit (SUP #316) for MT Training Center at 10102 Ezell Drive — ordinance approved unanimously (7–0).
- What passed: Council granted SUP #316 to allow the property (planned development 142 / general retail base zoning) to host a business/commercial trade school. The applicant told council most instruction will be online with hands‑on lab sessions on site; proposed programs include welding, diesel technology, barbering/cosmetology and computerized accounting.
- Capacity and community ties: MT Training Center representatives said roughly 175 students are served annually at their current location, with 42% of students from DeSoto. The applicant indicated plans to partner with DeSoto ISD on certain offerings (including bus‑driver training) and to provide lifelong job‑placement assistance.

- Remand of PD‑193 (East Parkerville Road / South Polk Street, approx. 50.35 acres) back to Planning & Zoning — motion to remand passed unanimously (7–0).
- What happened: The developer requested the item be remanded for review of a revised site plan and to allow staff and the Planning & Zoning Commission to evaluate the new proposal and reissue public notices. Council voted to remand the case for further P&Z consideration.

- City council rules & procedures changes — approved, 5–2.
- What passed: An updated set of council rules and procedures was adopted after discussion; the record shows Council Members Parker and Marks voted no while five members voted yes.

Votes and provenance: Each of the actions above is recorded in the official minutes and the council roll call recorded the hand votes on the floor. Staff presentations and materials were offered for the grant applications, the SUP and the traffic‑calming ordinance; council discussion and roll calls are in the Jan. 7 transcript (see provenance entries below).

What staff said: Planning and development staff and the city manager confirmed local capital funds are available to meet required matches on the active‑transportation grant applications and that grant awards would be paid by reimbursement if approved.

What council members asked: Council members pressed for timelines and for sources of local match dollars on the grant applications, asked for assurances about trial periods and removal options for traffic‑calming devices, and sought follow‑up on outreach and the appeals path under the new traffic‑calming policy.