Amarillo City Council has nearly $2.7 million in spending items on their agenda for their regular meeting on Tuesday. In addition to spending items, the council will discuss various projects including the Digital Human and take steps to annex over 200 acres.

Most of the spending items on the agenda are on the consent agenda, meaning they will likely all be passed with a single vote. Much of the money on this part of the agenda will be spent on various projects at Rick Husband International Airport. These items together total nearly $1 million.

Another eye-catching spending item on the consent agenda is the first spending item listed, a $95,000 contract with Hyde Kelly law firm. The contract will make attorney George Hyde special counsel for Amarillo City Council. This item was brought forward as a discussion item by Mayor Cole Stanley at the council’s last meeting. The council has expressed concerns regarding the fact that the City Attorney, under the city charter, is appointed by and reports to the City Manager. Recently, a push to propose a charter amendment to make the City Attorney appointed by the council (as is the case with most Texas cities) failed to gain approval from the Amarillo Charter Review Committee.

The two spending items not included on the consent agenda are both Amarillo Economic Development Corporation projects. The first is an item to allow the AEDC to match funding up to $450,000 for job training. $300,000 will go to WTAMU, with the remaining portion set to go to various local school districts.

The other AEDC item is a $250,000 location incentive agreement with Brushwood Acre Farms, Inc. The agreement includes an incentive of $10,000 per job created and will be paid over the course of 10 years.

Ahead of the action items on the agenda are several discussion items. First up will be a discussion on the 2021 Energy Code, followed by an update on the 311 and Digital Human projects. The council will then discuss potential tax credits for childcare facilities and will receive an update on Facilities construction projects, as well as an update on upcoming AEDC projects. Councilmembers serving on the Beautification and Public Arts Advisory Board and Parks and Recreation Board will then give updates on recent meetings of those boards.

Two annexation items are on the agenda. The first is a public hearing and first reading of an ordinance to annex 100.45 acres of land near Interstate 40 and Helium Road. If passed, the item will be up for a second and final vote on July 9th, after which the area will officially be annexed. The second is an item to schedule a public hearing and first reading of an ordinance to annex 168.77 acres near East Hastings Ave. and Lakeside Drive. The proposed date of the public hearing and first reading is July 9th, while the second and final reading will be July 23rd. This second annexation is being requested by Highland Park ISD, which is working to build a new campus near the area.

The meeting will begin at 3:00 pm on Tuesday, June 25th. The full agenda and agenda packet can be found at this link. A table summarizing the spending items is included below.