To: Aaron Rector, City Manager
From: Kimberly Gauna, Management Analyst
Subject:
Title
Consider a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an Interlocal Agreement between the Cities of Keller, Southlake, Grapevine and Colleyville, Texas, for participation in the Metroport Teen Court Program, effective October 1, 2025.
Background:
The City of Keller is a participating member of the Metroport Teen Court Program, an interlocal cooperative program authorized under Chapter 791 of the Texas Government Code. The program provides juvenile offenders charged with misdemeanor offenses an alternative to the traditional criminal justice process by allowing them to assume responsibility for their actions through peer-led judicial proceedings and community service. Successful completion of the program prevents the offense from being recorded as a conviction on the juvenile’s driving record.
The Metroport Teen Court Program is administered and coordinated by the City of Southlake, which employs Teen Court staff under the direction of the Southlake Municipal Court Manager. Proceedings are conducted at the Southlake Department of Public Safety Headquarters.
Oversight of the program is provided by a Teen Court Advisory Board, which is composed of two (2) at-large members from each participating city and one (1) city council member from each participating city, as appointed by the respective governing bodies. The role and duties of the Advisory Board are established by the Municipal Court Judges of the participating cities, who also set the structure of the proceedings and sentencing guidelines.
During Fiscal Year 2024-25, the Metroport Teen Court Program received a combined total of 391 referrals from all four participating cities. Of those referrals, 75 originated from the City of Keller, reflecting Keller’s continued participation and utilization of the program as an effective diversion option for eligible juvenile offenders
Financial Impact:
Under the terms of the FY 2025-26 Interlocal Agreement, each participating city is required to pay a Service Fee of $36,000 to the City of Southlake upon execution of the agreement. The Service Fee remains unchanged from the prior fiscal year and is intended to fairly compensate the City of Southlake for staffing, administration, and coordination of the Metroport Teen Court Program.
Funding for this expense is available in the FY 2025-26 General Fund budget, and the agreement term runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026.