Southlake council adopts stormwater, water and wastewater master plans after public comment

The Southlake City Council on April 21 adopted three interconnected master plan amendments — an amended Stormwater Master Plan (Ordinance No. 1030A), a Water Master Plan amendment (Ordinance No. 1032A) and a Wastewater Master Plan amendment (Ordinance No. 1034A) — moving all three documents from planning to a policy and implementation phase.

Director Daniel Cortez said adoption launches a cycle in which staff will integrate plan recommendations into operations, evaluate ordinance updates required by the plans, build asset‑management approaches and develop funding strategies. Cortez emphasized that adoption starts an implementation process rather than concluding the conversation.

Members of the public — including Al Zito and representatives of the Big Bear Creek Corridor Coalition — urged the council to create a standing stormwater advisory body, retain professional engineering firms for watershed‑level modeling and prioritize capital improvements to address creek erosion, sedimentation and flood risks. Several written submissions from residents in the Big Bear Creek Corridor described observed erosion, tree loss and property impacts and expressed support for the master plan changes.

Council discussion distinguished local stormwater problems (e.g., Jones Branch, Kirk Wood Branch) from broader regional flows and stressed that the adopted plans aim to address the city’s local infrastructure while working with regional partners when appropriate. Mayor Pro Tem Williamson moved approval of each ordinance; each carried 7–0.

Staff said they will bring forward ordinance revisions, program recommendations and funding strategies in coming months and will return with progress updates as implementation proceeds.