[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6383466,"mediaKeyId","2124231-c5ef86efede5dc5673f7245ab892deeb","parentId",2124231,"title","Mesquite council approves consent agenda of equipment purchases and amends zoning to allow Frog Academy daycare","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1003000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2124231-c5ef86efede5dc5673f7245ab892deeb&start=1003&end=1003","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2124231-c5ef86efede5dc5673f7245ab892deeb/thumbnail_1003000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6383466/Mesquite/Dallas-County/Texas/Mesquite-council-approves-consent-agenda-of-equipment-purchases-and-amends-zoning-to-allow-Frog-Academy-daycare","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6383466-e119010e8b81a37cda24c029ee0a4590/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147447&Signature=nPh8apU74yPoK8wy16ZZZuqAjd~GyBdIxpUhYiGSG7oFtXftTXS8jsLfk7Be6N4YCm-b7skYw0AZ4XIqXP~Q7JJW7N~VVIhYrYGl27C8yVU~zZpQJ7sAWzukSLB51XxGcRY-AySIDRrqj4RbnXZS7eJvXddUKM6qMgEeGHZTGBWfSnDgMLBemxS8MaIjExD9fz0W9pkzmp-mR3hGQ3PrVEEDa693YpoUQd0uxm46u6PYHHWDy9RH0ES4OaDcjAA3jRfeVc~Z~VNhBNDacrFyv~Mehe9nQCMpb5DtuFWvS9XjfM4-gMwxiC7Cf2pu9SY5qIAZKzLZMOeAAosIdX6vgA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Mesquite TX ","date","2025-01-06T00:00:00Z","article","The Mesquite City Council voted 7-0 to approve consent agenda items 2 through 11 and later approved an ordinance amending a Planned Development office zoning to allow child day care services at 2850 East Glen Boulevard.

Councilmember Kenny Green moved to approve items 2–11 as presented; Tandy Burrows seconded, and the motion passed unanimously (7-0). The consent items approved routine purchases and contracts included: annual landscaping and mowing for environmental code enforcement; procurement of body-worn cameras, in-car cameras and related software for the marshal’s office to be paid from the municipal court budget; purchase orders for multiple Ford pickup trucks (funded from the fiscal year 2024–25 capital outlay budget with utility enterprise funds used for specified units); a 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe for the police department (paid from the police budget); three Ford Ranger trucks (two funded from capital outlay and one from the Utilities Enterprise Fund); annual supply contracts for 48‑gallon Toter trash carts; and the police department’s annual uniforms and clothing purchase already included in the 2024–25 operating budget. City staff told the council that some vehicle purchases are financed through bond financing over a five- to seven-year schedule rather than all-upfront cash.

Later in the meeting the council held a public hearing and voted unanimously to approve zoning application Z1124-376, submitted by Michelle (Vichele) Franklin of Frog Academy, to amend Planned Development (office) Ordinance No. 3961 to allow child day care services at 2850 East Glen Boulevard. Planning staff presented that the site is owned by Calvary First Baptist Church and that Frog Academy will occupy space under a lease without relocating the church. Planning staff noted the daycare does not anticipate external changes beyond adding a fenced playground and will make interior improvements to meet state and local licensing and fire requirements. Garrett Langford of Planning and Development Services told the council the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval and that one public notice response in favor and one courtesy response in opposition (likely intended for another case) had been received. Frog Academy executive director Vichele Franklin said the center serves children birth through 12 and partners with Mesquite ISD for pre-K; she told the council the center’s hours are “We are open year round Monday through Friday from 6:15 AM to 6:15 PM.”

The votes were recorded as unanimous for both the consent motion and the zoning ordinance: Kenny Green, Tandy Burrows, Elizabeth Rodriguez Ross, Jeff Casper, Brandon Martin, B.W. Smith and Daniel Oliver Jr. voted yes on the consent agenda and on the zoning ordinance. No amendments to the consent items or the zoning ordinance were offered on the council floor.

The council also announced that the Planning and Zoning Commission’s conditions and the proposed ordinance language were included in the council packet; staff said required permits and inspections (building, fire marshal) remain part of the licensing and occupancy process for the daycare.

The council adjourned following the votes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Jan 06, 2025 City Council","oneSentenceSummary","Council approved consent agenda items 2–11 — including vehicle purchases, body-worn cameras and trash carts — by a 7-0 vote, and unanimously amended the planned development office zoning to permit Frog Academy to operate a daycare at 2850 East Glen Boulevard (z1124-376).","taxTitle","Mesquite, Dallas County, Texas","taxId",2785,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6383472,"Mesquite council receives annual ethics refresher covering conflicts, disclosures and recusal rules",673,63000,736000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2124231-c5ef86efede5dc5673f7245ab892deeb&start=63&end=736","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2124231-c5ef86efede5dc5673f7245ab892deeb/thumbnail_63000.jpg","/articles/6383472/Mesquite/Dallas-County/Texas/Mesquite-council-receives-annual-ethics-refresher-covering-conflicts-disclosures-and-recusal-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6383472-4e565acbddaaed3388ed5b73cebb64e7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147447&Signature=SBjqiWxlippNnWSo52pVl9emJHBXVRae4yvlA1vBqP~2IKGa~guC5HIGSOpcRTjskwAhzCIgj6-vYvQyswSzWeuC9BWkpbwm8EbIpCI5qWJq0R6bw-n6wNNHuH756PTNh~NKSYVEZKOk9yDz6va11ryTF~U5Plud3MNZTZDYT9Qq8oJ9yxJpZDlS0nKF54-WG9Cl34jyRNc0htqoO55kYK6pbLbVGHnEK1CCEcggZSlVggVuKqkcz6M8FPgS0zZJch6K9WSvnUjkJ-GvE6ZGaeVR8Dm8UZMMojxxH~HNbNnT5b1iMWwIUCG54lm0WW2WPAmqf7Um6-Pv8ZDe32pGvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tony Cowen, the city’s director of Housing and Community Services, delivered the Mesquite City Council’s annual ethics training on Jan. 6, reviewing state and local rules on conflicts of interest, financial disclosures, gifts and penalties for violations.

The training matters because the city receives federal and state grant funds that make annual ethics training a requirement; Cowen said, “your annual ethics training is required and mandated by the Texas Department of Transportation due to the fact that we receive grant funds from them in our various business dealings.” The presentation summarized where elected officials should look for rules and guidance, including the Mesquite Charter, the Mesquite Code of Ordinances and state statutes governing financial disclosure, business interests and gifts.

Cowen walked the council through key local provisions, including Article 4, Section 34 of the Mesquite Charter, which he read in part about financial interests in city contracts and the consequence of malfeasance, and the City Code sections that lay out definitions, standards of conduct and penalties. He told the council that the code requires elected and appointed officials to disclose personal or private interests in matters before a board and to refrain from participating in discussion or voting; he quoted the Texas law on recusals: “You should not even participate in the discussion of the item. The best practice is to excuse yourself from the meeting while the item is being deliberated, discussed, or and voted on.”

Cowen also reviewed the city’s policy on gifts and outside activities, including the requirement to file an affidavit with the city secretary when a potential conflict exists, and noted that failure to comply can lead to expulsion, reprimand or removal from office under local rules as well as potential state penalties.

During a brief question-and-answer period, Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Casper asked about political contributions from developers and whether contributions could later require a recusal; an official identified in the training as the city attorney advised that a contribution may be prohibited if it exceeds statutory limits or if it is made when a development matter is pending or expected before the council. Cowen and the city attorney emphasized that context and timing determine whether a contribution is prohibited and recommended that officials consult the city attorney and city secretary when they have concerns.

Cowen closed by reminding councilmembers that the city’s Council Policies and Procedures and the Mesquite General Government Policies and Procedures manual provide additional guidance—and that the city attorney’s office is available for case-by-case advice. The council did not take any formal action on policy changes during the meeting.

The training presentation and a printed chapter of the council policies were provided to members at the meeting.","City staff delivered a mandatory ethics refresher to the Mesquite City Council that reviewed relevant state statutes, city charter and municipal ordinances and clarified disclosure and recusal procedures; councilmembers asked questions about political contributions and other hypotheticals.","actionData","errors"]

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Mesquite council approves consent agenda of equipment purchases and amends zoning to allow Frog Academy daycare

Mesquite council receives annual ethics refresher covering conflicts, disclosures and recusal rules