New Frisco mayor talks economic growth, ethics and viral council meetings

Mark Hill, Frisco’s first new mayor in nine years, has vowed to make City Council meetings a place for “substantive discussion.” But he did not say when the city would restore public comment. 

In June, before Hill was elected, the council suspended the public’s ability to address the council on issues not already on the meeting’s agenda. The move came after the city made national headlines for packed council meetings where speakers, some from outside of Frisco, protested alleged H-1B fraud, the city’s growing Indian population and the construction of a mosque. 

Hill, an attorney, ran on the slogan “Unite Frisco” and was backed by a diverse group of residents, many who expressed concern about outside activists at City Hall. During his campaign, he promised to attract large companies to Frisco and promote economic growth in the affluent suburb that is home to the headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys, the PGA and an A-rated school district. 

The new mayor sat down with The Dallas Morning News for a wide-ranging conversation about new developments in Frisco, how he is balancing his new role with his day job and how he plans to run City Council meetings. 

Hill said he would not allow Frisco City Council meetings to be used as a “platform for speeches that are not issues which the City Council will be deciding on.” In recent months, videos of speakers opposing alleged H-1B fraud in Frisco’s council chambers have gone viral on social media. The city has no jurisdiction over the issue since visas are handled by the federal government.

“Maintaining decorum and maintaining efficient meetings is a job of the mayor,” Hill said. “It’s a job that I take very seriously.”

Hill said the council will think about how to keep meetings focused on city governance and the interests of residents, which he called a “top priority,” when discussing how to approach public comment. He did not say when or if the council planned to resume public comment.

The new mayor said he will focus on making Frisco attractive to businesses and families, especially as surrounding suburbs vie for big corporate campuses. 

“I intend to be very intentional in making sure we are competitive in the business environment,” Hill said. 

He said he looks forward to guiding the progress of several city projects, including the redevelopment of the city’s downtown Rail District and Grand Park, a greenspace expected to be bigger than New York City’s Central Park once complete. He also said he would reinvest in the city’s aging roads and utilities.

In Frisco, serving on the City Council is a part-time position so most elected officials run businesses or have jobs. The mayor gets paid $850 a month and council members get paid $700 a month for their service, according to the city charter. 

Hill’s predecessor Mayor Jeff Cheney, who owned a real estate business, was criticized by some for benefiting from his role as mayor. Cheney previously said that his actions were in line with Frisco’s code of conduct.

Hill co-owns Henry Hill, a law firm with offices in Frisco’s Hall Park. The firm handles cases involving businesses in Texas. Some of Hill’s largest campaign donations came from former clients, some who live in Frisco. 

Hill said he will be aware of potential ethical issues.

“Frisco is a big part of Collin County which is a big part of our practice,” Hill said. “I will certainly be respectful of … conflicts and potential conflicts that may arise,” Hill said.