Amarillo City Council to consider spending nearly $2.7 million – The Amarillo Pioneer

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

Most of the items on the agenda are on the consent agenda, meaning they will likely all pass by a single vote. Much of the money for this part of the program will go toward various projects at Rick Husband International Airport. These items total nearly a million dollars.

Another eye-catching expense item on the consent agenda is the first expense item listed, a $95,000 contract with the law firm Hyde Kelly. The contract will make attorney George Hyde a special advisor to the Amarillo City Council. This was brought forward as a discussion point by Mayor Cole Stanley at the last council meeting. The council expressed concerns that the city attorney, under the city charter, is appointed by and reports to the city manager. Recently, an attempt to propose a charter amendment to have the city attorney be appointed by the council (as is the case in most Texas cities) failed to gain committee approval. revision of the Amarillo charter.

The two spending items not included in the consent agenda are both Amarillo Economic Development Corporation projects. The first is an element allowing the AEDC to provide matching funding of up to $450,000 for professional training. $300,000 will go to WTAMU, with the remaining portion going to various local school districts.

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

Before the action items on the agenda are several discussion points. There will first be a discussion on the 2021 Energy Code, followed by an update on the 311 and Digital Human projects. The council will then discuss possible child care tax credits and receive an update on facility construction projects, as well as an update on upcoming AEDC projects. Council members serving on the Beautification and Public Arts Advisory Council and the Parks and Recreation Council will then provide an update on recent meetings of these councils.

Two points of annexation 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 subject to a second and final vote on July 9, after which the area will be officially 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 Avenue and Lakeside Drive. The proposed date for the public hearing and first reading is July 9, while the second and final reading will take place on July 23. This second annexation is requested by Highland Park ISD, which is working to build a new campus near the area.

The meeting will begin at 3 p.m. on Tuesday June 25. The full agenda and agenda file can be viewed at this link. A table summarizing the expenditure items is included below.