The University Park city council celebrated the local restaurant Half-Shells during its Dec. 2 meeting, honoring the 30th anniversary of the seafood diner.
Mayor Tommy Stewart recognized restaurant owners Bill and Lovett Bayne, who opened the original Half Shells in Snider Plaza in 1995 and “worked every job” in its early years.
The proclamation praised the couple for building a restaurant focused on hospitality and community, and for making sure “everyone feels better about life after they leave than before they came in.” Stewart officially declared Nov. 15 as Half Shells Day in University Park.
The council also approved a contract with Stoic Civil Construction to repair the failed retaining wall at Curtis Park, where a century-old section of the Turtle Creek wall collapsed into the pond last spring. The work is expected to take four months and will be funded through the city’s self-insurance fund.
To close the meeting, the council cast its six allocated votes for the Dallas Central Appraisal District Board of Directors.
Members voted to distribute one vote each to:
- Kevin Carbo, Sr., employee of the city of Mesquite
- Clyde Hairston, mayor of Lancaster
- Elishima Myles, Balch Springs city council member
- William David Palmer, former Irving city council member
- America Rodriguez, Hutchins city council member
- Yemi Salau, Balch Springs city council member
Ballots are due on Dec. 15, and the elected representatives will serve two-year terms beginning January 2026.
Also during the meeting the University Park city council:
- Approved a $274,947.99 change order related to ongoing renovations at the public safety building at 5620 Fondren Drive. The request included $193,498.79 for final furniture, fixtures, and equipment, $68,349.20 for labor by CGC General Contractors, and a 5% contingency ($13,100) for unexpected needs.
- Approved the capital projects budget for fiscal year 2026, the first year of the city’s five-year capital planning framework. Finance director Tom Tvardzik presented the plan, noting that roll-forward funding from previous years has been incorporated to keep long-term projects fully resourced. The budget includes funds for parks, public safety, and public works projects totaling $26,237,682.
- Approved a $3 million transfer from the water and sewer fund to the utilities capital projects fund to fully fund the capital projects budget. The transfer allows the city to move forward with scheduled water and sewer replacement work.
