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OAK POINT – English is now the official language of Oak Point, after the City Council narrowly passed a resolution Monday that it wouldn't even consider last month.

The council of the Denton County town approved the measure in a 3-2 vote despite the objections of most of the three dozen people who packed the chambers, as well as the majority of people who e-mailed council members.

The difference this time was additional support from new council member Mark Rakestraw.

"I've heard from quite a few neighbors from the positive side," Mr. Rakestraw said. "They don't want another dime of their tax money spent on" translating government documents into Spanish, he said.

He and council members Jim Almond and Leslie Maynard voted in favor of the resolution.

The few residents who came in support of making English the city's official language said they agreed with Mr. Almond, who has championed the cause.

"People who come here should be learning English," resident Mary Armstrong said.

The resolution is similar to an official-language policy adopted by Farmers Branch, City Manager Richard Martin said. As a resolution, it affects only the city's operating policies and does not regulate individuals or businesses, as an ordinance would.

"Functionally, not a lot would change," Mr. Martin said.

A bilingual sign on the City Hall front door warning visitors not to bring firearms inside the building would remain, for example.

But many who came to protest the measure felt that it would adversely affect the city, including Mary Bell, a member of the Oak Point economic development corporate board. She said media attention about the measure had cast the city in a negative light.

"You, as a council, have to consider whether economic development would be impacted," she said.

Former Mayor Duane Olsen echoed that, saying he has gotten the same questions from people wherever he goes.

"They ask, 'What are you guys trying to do?' " Mr. Olsen said. "I don't have an answer for them."

Another former mayor, Dave Klewicki, disagreed with the estimate that the measure wouldn't cost the city any money, pointing to Farmers Branch and the legal costs it has incurred over its anti-illegal-immigration ordinance.

"People with the best intentions may be considering this, but it always attracts people who don't have the best intentions," Mr. Klewicki said.