Council approves Safety Action Plan

With temperatures expected to dip again before the end of the evening, the Weatherford City Council made efficient use of its time at its meeting on Tuesday. Jan. 27

It was appropriate that in the name of safety, then, that the Weatherford Comprehensive Safety Action Plan (WCSAP) was approved. 

After a brief introduction by Matt Leppla, Weatherford’s Director of Public Works, Kimley Horn’s Monica Lucia detailed the highlights of the plan, beginning with how it started and ending with the action steps recommended to take. The goal of the plan is to help eliminate traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries.

Paid for in part by a grant awarded to the City of Weatherford, WCSAP began in October 2024 and spanned 11 months with input from city staff and Weatherford police and fire officials, among others. 

Using a safety framework called the Safe System Approach that incorporates six key principles, Weatherford can actively take steps to achieve safer roads and identify problem areas. 

Not surprisingly, from 2019-2023, distracted or impaired driving and speeding caused the most accidents in the areas studied, including U.S. Highway 180 and Rick Williamson, U.S. Highway 180 and Main Street and Main Steet and I-20. 

Once high-risk areas are identified, other potentially hazardous areas can be determined by whether they share the same factors as the other arteries and countermeasures like sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and appropriate speed limits can then be taken. Grants offered by TxDOT can help offset expenses. 

Now that the WCSAP has been approved, City staff and departments can begin implementation. 

Additionally, Council:

• Received an update from Scott McDonald, Director of Development Services, on Short-Term Rental Compliance. Of the 21 total active listings, six have been permitted, 11 applications are pending, and four are still not awaiting contact from the owner. McDonald said that next month, final letters for compliance will be sent but that he felt the City was in a “very good place” with where it was. Mayor Paul Paschall admitted to having his doubts when initially presented to Council but that he was “appreciative” of the positive update;
• Authorized the City Manager to execute a contract with JR West Texas Concrete, LLC for drainage improvements for Front Street. The amount will not exceed $1.1 million; 
• Called for the May 2 election for places 1 and 2, if needed, and authorized a conditional contract with Parker County Elections Administration for that election. If there are no races that are contested, the contract and the election will be canceled. 

Council meets next on Feb. 10.