Nearly $3 million in spending is on the agenda for a meeting of Amarillo City Council scheduled for Tuesday, August 15th. Other agenda items include proposing a property tax rate, consideration of the AEDC budget, and dissolution of the Amarillo First Responders’ Excellence and Innovation Fund.

Just over half of that amount is found on the consent agenda, which may be passed by the council with a single vote. If these items, the largest is item 8J, which is consideration of a purchase of 270,000 gallons of AC-5 asphaltic cement from Ergon Asphalt and Emulsion, Inc. The item comes with a price tag of $877,500. Ergon Asphalt and Emulsion is also set to be awarded a $156,000 contract renewal for asphaltic emulsion under item 8M.

The second largest item on the consent agenda, item 8L, comes with a price tag of $328,125, and is a renewal of an annual flexible aggregate base contract with J. Lee Milligan, Inc. Notably, according to a bid tabulation sheet published in the agenda packet, two other companies submitted lower cost bids. However, the sheet notes that those bids “did not meet specifications.”

Though most of the spending for the week is included on the consent agenda, the largest spending item for the week, item 9J, is not on the consent agenda. This item, which comes with a $1,216,931 price tag, is set to go to Musco Sports Lighting, LLC, and is “for the demolition of old lighting systems and instillation of new LED walking path, area safety lighting, and lighting control systems” for Sam Houston, San Jacinto, and Medical Center parks. According to a memo included with the agenda packet, the project, if passed, will be partially funded with American Rescue Plan Act funds.

While the tax rate to be proposed at the meeting is not known, staff has suggested that the council propose the maximum rate allowed without calling an election as a placeholder as the council continues budget workshops. Along with proposing a tax rate, the council will officially set a public hearing on the rate for September 19th, 2023.

Consideration of the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation’s budget is also on the agenda. This item was originally on the agenda for a previous meeting. However, the item was tabled to allow the council to have more time to consider the budget. During a city budget workshop held last week, the council discussed the budget with representatives of the AEDC. Following those discussions, it was hinted that the AEDC budget might be modified before final approval by the council.

The council will also consider dissolving the Amarillo First Responders’ Excellence and Innovation Fund. The fund has been criticized as being ineffective since being established. Recently, the newly elected council expressed skepticism regarding the fund during a meeting last month. During that meeting, the council had been set to consider making an appointment to the board overseeing the fund. However, at that meeting, the council chose to not make an appointment and discussed potentially dissolving the fund. If dissolved, the balance of the fund, which is currently about $38,000, would be returned to the Amarillo Area Foundation’s general fund.

Ahead of the regular meeting, which is scheduled to begin at 3:00 pm, the council will meet behind closed doors in an executive session meeting at 1:00 pm to discuss the employment of City Manager Jared Miller.

The full agenda and agenda packet for the regular meeting can be found here. Those wishing to speak during the meeting may sign up here. A full summary of spending items is included below: