Screenshot of Rolling Agenda Planner document by City of Amarillo/Graphic by The Amarillo Pioneer
In a bid to increase transparency, the City of Amarillo has begun to publish a list of upcoming agenda items.
The newly-public “Rolling Agenda Planner” includes a list of planned agenda items for future meetings, giving readers an early preview of items planned to be considered by the council.
The first version of this document released to the public includes planned items for the upcoming October 24th and November 14th meetings.
Discussion items planned for the October 24th meeting include extra-territorial jurisdiction agreements and Amarillo Animal Management and Welfare. Action items include an $88,000 purchase of Dell computers, a seven-year $903,000 contract for two-way radios to replace end-of-life equipment, the first reading of an ordinance updating parking language for downtown juror parking, and voting on PRAD board members.
During the November 14th meeting, the council plans to consider board appointments, a resolution for transit services outside the city limits to service the Randall County jail, an award for credit and debit card processing at the Municipal Court’s customer service windows, and an amendment to Municipal Code’s parking regulations.
Before this change, most agenda items were only made public on the Friday ahead of the Tuesday meeting. Councilman Place 4 Les Simpson, who pushed for the change, noted that it would make it easier for those interested in a particular topic to plan to attend a meeting. Mayor Cole Stanley also spoke about how it will help the public keep the council accountable by tracking instances where a planned item might not make it onto a finalized agenda.
The city has stressed that these previews are not finalized and that they are simply a list of “anticipated” items.
The full rolling agenda planner can be found at this link and is posted on this page on the city’s website.