Amarillo City Hall/Photo by Noah Dawson
Amarillo City Council is set to consider spending items totaling over $14.6 million during their final regular meeting of the year on December 12th. Other items on the ballot include the issuance of water and sewer bonds, a public hearing on the annexation of about 1,000 acres of land, approval and adoption of the 2023-24 Community Investment Program, amending enforcement procedures for illicit discharge into the municipal separate storm sewer system, and a resolution providing for a digital dignity, rights, and privacy policy.
Spending Items
The largest spending item, 10H, would approve the purchase of 11.43 acres of land near Arden Road and Lauder Street for $4,385,000 plus closing costs. According to an agenda memo provided by the city, the “undeveloped land is in proximity to the collapsed sewer main that has been rerouted.” The item will be funded with water and sewer fund revenues.
10H is the only spending item not included in the consent portion of the agenda, meaning it may be the only spending item to receive a discussion and vote separate from other items.
The next largest item, 9DD, would approve a $1,592,255 contract with Duke Electric for terminal emergency power upgrades at Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport. This item is set to be 90% funded through grants.
Two other spending items are worth at least $1 million. Item 9SS is a $1,212,760 professional services agreement with HDR Engineering, Inc. for water main extensions in east Amarillo. HDR Engineering is also set to be awarded a separate $161,010 professional services agreement for engineering services for sampling vaults to monitor stormwater.) Item 9NN is a $1,000,000 contract with MH Civil Constructors “for the turnkey sidewalk and miscellaneous concrete installation including maintenance, repair and removal.”
Another notable spending item, 9LL, would award $620,865.96 to Cintas Uniform Services for a three-year uniform rental contract. Cintas was one of three companies to bid on the contract, along with Aramark and Unifirst. According to a bid tabulation sheet, Cintas had the highest cost of the three, but scored better in all other categories including demonstrated ability to meet, demonstrated ability to address, and references.
A table summarizing all spending items is included at the end of this article.
Other Major Items
The council will consider the issuance of waterworks and sewer system revenue bonds with item 10A. The item does not specify exactly how much debt issuance will be, but it does note that it will be “approximately $20 million.” The revenue from the bonds will be used to pay for the NE interceptor construction project.
Item 10D is a public hearing and first reading of an ordinance annexing just over 1,000 acres of land just north of the airport. The land set to be annexed is owned by the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation and CVMR Texans Inc. The land is set to be used for a “CVMR facility and additional commercial and industrial cites as the Centerport Business Park continues to expand.” A small roughly half-acre tract adjacent to the land being annexed will be surrounded by the city if the annexation is approved. According to an agenda memo, the tract’s “ownership could not be determined.” If approved, the annexation will be set for final approval on January 9th.
Item 10E is a public hearing and first reading of an ordinance approving the 2023-2024 through 2027-2028 community investment program. A draft ordinance included in the agenda packet refers to “a copy of which is attached hereto,” though the agenda packet does not include a copy of the program.
Item 10F is a public hearing and first reading of an ordinance amending enforcement mechanisms for illicit discharge into the city’s storm sewer system. The proposed ordinance would set a penalty of between $100 and $1,000 per violation per day after the issuance of a compliance order.
Item 10G is a resolution providing for a digital dignity, rights, and privacy policy for the city. The proposed resolution includes sections on transparency, data protection, ethical guidelines, feedback, digital participation and engagement, oversight, and open data initiatives. The resolution also includes a section providing for the resolution to be subject to annual review.
Agenda vs Rolling Planner
Several agenda items were included on the agenda that were not on the most recent rolling agenda planner covering the December 12th meeting. These items were the 10G digital dignity resolution, a discussion item on the city manager recruitment process, approval of the minutes for the November 29th work session, and an amendment to the Chapter 380 Economic Development Program agreement with Producer Owned Beef.
There were also several items that were on the agenda planner which did not make it onto the agenda. These included two items regarding land lease renewals for billboards at the airport, an $88,000 purchase of Dell Desktops, an award for a project regarding “Police Department 4th and 5th floors,” and a right-of-way dedication from Jackie Wright to the city for the South Georgia Street reconstruction project. None of these items appear to have been rescheduled for the next meeting according to an updated version of the agenda planner.
Items that did not make it to the agenda that appear to have been delayed to the next meeting, scheduled for January 9th, include a dog and cat food supply contract for Amarillo Animal Management and Welfare, a landscape maintenance contract for the Pinnacle Public Improvement District, a water supply agreement, a professional services agreement for Hollywood Road Wastewater Reclamation Facility headworks rehabilitation, a change order for phase 3 of the automated metering infrastructure project, a new agreement with Randall County for jail services, a resolution for transit services to Randall County Jail, a public hearing on the establishment of a Public Improvement District in the Homestead subdivision, and an amendment to the MPEV lease agreement.
Public Comment Changes
While the city usually has only one public comment period during its meetings, the December 12 meeting will have two. The first, which is scheduled to occur towards the early portion of the meeting, is for “public comment on agenda items and items related to City business,” while the second, scheduled for the end of the meeting, is for “public comment on non-agenda items and items related to City business.” While there are no agenda items related to abortion on the agenda, several speakers on both sides of the issue are expected to speak on the issue. It is expected but not confirmed that those wishing to speak on that subject save their remarks for the second public comment period.
Executive Session
The council is expected to hold a work session meeting focussed on an executive session before their regular meeting. The executive session, which will not be open to the public, will include discussion of the jail services agreement with Randall County, a water supply agreement with Tyson, the purchase or sale of property in northwest Amarillo, the employment of Municipal Court Judge Laura Hamilton, and various projects related to the Central Business District, manufacturing, distribution, aerospace, and infrastructure. The executive session is scheduled to begin at 12:00 pm.
The council is also set to hold another work-session meeting on December 19th at 3:00 pm. The city has not yet published details regarding that meeting, including whether or not it will include an executive session.
General Meeting Information
The regular meeting is scheduled to begin at 3:00 pm on Tuesday, December 12th. It will take place in the Council Chamber on the third floor of City Hall. Those interested in speaking during the meeting are encouraged to sign up online at this link. The full agenda and agenda packet for the meeting can be found at this link.
