A tweak to the city's code to loosen parking restrictions prompted public confusion and frustration that spilled into the Aubrey council chambers on Aug. 27.
Several residents spoke against making parking more strict, and city staff attempted to clarify what Ordinance 971-26 would actually mean for the community.
'Currently, our ordinance only allows a resident's vehicle parked in the street for a 24-hour period,' Aubrey Police Chief Richard Brooks said before the vote was held. 'After that, it is in violation of ordinance. In reviewing that, that would mean if you work Monday through Friday and you, on the weekend, park your vehicle on the street at your home on the street at 6 o'clock Friday evening, at 6 o'clock Saturday, you would get a violation.'
The existing ordinance was changed to remove the words 'motor vehicle and truck' so residents can stay on the roadside for more than one day at a time.
'We're aware of this flyer that's going around on social media,' City Manager Charles Kreidler said. 'We have worked for two days to try to verify the information in it. The information contained therein is not true. This ordinance does not do anything of what is described in that flyer.'
The same flyer said the council had changed the rules regarding parking in the right-of-way.
'We can't find any information or any ordinance that you passed that affected right-of-way in the last four meetings,' Kreidler said.
He encouraged people to contact the city staff directly if they have concerns.
Brooks passed out copies of his business card, going to his car to retrieve more when he ran out.
He also confirmed that nothing in the ordinance changed where people can park on their own property.
Also at the meeting, the council adopted the next fiscal year budget and the tax rate of $0.45 per $100 valuation.
That was the same rate that was adopted in 2025.
'Surpluses are planned for both the general fund and enterprise fund,' Finance Director Mike English said. 'General fund budgeted revenue is $25.2 million compared to $22.4 million for the current year. Enterprise fund budgeted revenue is $13.7 million compared to $11.4 million.'
English also explained that new property value from the growth meant the city did not have to increase the tax rate, keeping it lower than the nonew- revenue rate of $0.47 and well below the voter approval rate of $0.61.
Both the budget and the tax rate received unanimous approval.
During the public hearings for additional residential developments coming into Aubrey's city limits, resident Glenda Whitson expressed her frustration about the explosive growth in the area.
'It's time this high density—eight houses on one acre—stops,' she said.
Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Perry explained the council's approach to the residential growth.
'There are restrictions on what we can do, what we can't,' Perry said. 'We don't necessarily like the growth any more than you do. But I would encourage you to reach out to your state representative and the legislature and try to get them to give us some more standing. We've got very little legal standing as far as what we can do, regardless of what people say here.'
Council member Candace Stone echoed that.
'The legislation that changed most of the city control was in 2019, so starting there is why there is a difference why Aubrey has different growth than, say, Flower Mound,' she said. 'I'm not going to go into all of that, but that is a good place to start with your representative.'
The council also voted to transfer ownership of 500 S. Main St. from the city to the Aubrey Municipal Development District for the cost of the land and the improvements that have been completed.
'Under the agreement, the property must be used exclusively for commercial purposes, with at least 90% of the business revenue generating sales tax to the city, and residential use is prohibited,' Kreidler said.
Also at the meeting, Sandbrock resident Rick Abraham encouraged the city to reach out to Prosper regarding concerns about Project Tomahawk, a proposed data center on the outskirts of that town that would be across the street from parts of Aubrey near the intersection of Parvin Road and FM 1385.
The Prosper Town Council is set to consider the proposed data center, which was rejected in a 7-0 vote by the Prosper Planning and Zoning Commission, at 6:15 p.m. on Tuesday at 250 W. First St.
Public Works Director Dean Rylant also provided a look at the wastewater treatment plant that is still under construction.
Assistant City Manager Leanne Wilson also presented the professional engineering services agreement for several capital improvement projects related to water 'in preparation for the 2028 Upper Trinity delivery of the water supply': two 16-inch water mains, five 12-inch water mains and a 1-million-gallon elevated storage tank.
The council also approved a 'no thru commercial truck zone' on East Blackjack Road between U.S. 377 and FM 2931.
Mayor Chris Rich also mentioned that there will soon be a light at the intersection of FM 428 and FM 2931.
