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Council approves four-year stepped funding agreement with Downtown Weatherford Inc.; merchants urged to 'buy in'
Summary
Council approved a four-year agreement backing Downtown Weatherford Inc., with city funding stepping down from $150,000 in FY2025 to $75,000 by FY2028; councilmembers debated the step-down as a tool to increase merchant financial participation and asked for annual financial reporting and a 90-day out clause.
City Manager Brad Brunettis presented a four-year agreement between the city and Downtown Weatherford Inc. (DWI/DWSI) that reduces city contributions each year: $150,000 in fiscal 2025; $125,000 in 2026; $100,000 in 2027; and $75,000 in 2028. Councilmembers emphasized the goal of fostering merchant "buy-in" and discussed whether a stepped reduction would encourage downtown businesses to contribute more directly to programming and events.
Lindsay Montgomery, DWI's executive, reviewed the organization's recent work—membership outreach, event growth (2nd Saturday Market, wine-and-whiskey walk, weekend brunches), and a new gift-card program for downtown merchants—and described the group’s plans to increase merchant engagement. City staff confirmed the contract includes a 90-day termination clause and annual financial reporting requirements; staff also noted the organization has capacity to raise match funds. After discussion and clarifications on reporting and the ability to terminate the contract if performance standards are not met, the council voted to approve the agreement as presented.
