Min 01/18/2022 City of Wichita Falls
City Council Meeting KA
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Item 1 - Call to Order
The City Council of the City of Wichita Falls, Texas met in regular session at 8:30 a.m. on
the above date in the Council Chambers at Memorial Auditorium with the following
members present.
Stephen Santellana - Mayor
Bobby Whiteley - Mayor Pro Tem/At-Large
Tim Brewer - Councilors
Jeff Browning -
Steve Jackson -
Larry Nelson -
Michael Smith -
Darron Leiker - City Manager
Kinley Hegglund - City Attorney
Marie Balthrop - City Clerk
Mayor Santellana called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.
Item 2a — Invocation
Pastor Mark Bender, First Christian Church, gave the invocation.
Item 2b — Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Santellana led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Item 3 — Proclamation — Wichita Falls Area Food Bank 40th Anniversary
8:33 a.m.
Mayor Santellana read a proclamation proclaiming January 18, 2022, as Wichita Falls
Area Food Bank 40th Anniversary Day and encouraged everyone to join him in
congratulating the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank on their 40th Anniversary celebration.
Item 4-6 — Consent Items
8:35 a.m.
Darron Leiker, City Manager, gave a briefing on the items listed under the Consent
Agenda.
Moved by Councilor Browning to approve the consent agenda.
Motion seconded by Councilor Smith and carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Santellana, Councilors Brewer, Browning, Jackson, Nelson, Smith, and
Whiteley
Nays: None
Item 4 — Approval of minutes of the January 4, 2022, Regular Meeting of the Mayor
and City Council
Item 5 — Resolution 03-2022
Resolution authorizing the City Manager to Approve Change Order No. 1 for the 2021
Water Budget Utility Improvements Project for a deduct in the amount of$35,020.00.
Item 6 — Receive Minutes
Lake Wichita Revitalization Committee, December 14, 2021
Item 7 — Public Hearing - Designation of Reinvestment Zone at 726 Scott Avenue,
Downtown, Wichita Falls, Texas
8:36 a.m.
Mayor Santellana opened the public hearing at 8:36 a.m.
Kinley Hegglund, City Attorney, discussed the purpose of the proposed Reinvestment
Zone at 726 Scott Avenue, known as the Petroleum Building, and stated notice was
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January 18, 2022
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published on January 11, 2022, in the Times Record News, and provided to Wichita Falls
ISD, and Wichita County as required by law. Creation of a Reinvestment Zone is the first
step required before the Council can consider Tax Abatement Agreements in the future
should they choose to do so.
Paul Menzies, Assistant City Manager, discussed the proposed project renovating floors
two through ten of the Petroleum Building into 150-170 residential apartments. The
project will be a $14 million private investment, and the Type B Corporation has approved
a Performance Incentive Agreement to assist with the fire suppression system for the
renovation.
Councilor Brewer asked how much tax revenue is collected at this time. Will Kelty, owner,
stated current taxes are approximately $12,000 for the building and $1 ,000 for adjacent
parking. Mr. Menzies clarified that the only taxes that would be abated would be for the
improvements only and would not reduce the current base taxes.
Councilor Jackson asked if there was sufficient parking for the proposed apartments. Mr.
Kelty discussed his proposal with the Type B Corporation for parking, and the bank
requirements for additional parking. Mr. Menzies discussed that the incentive agreement
includes turning over the Lindemann Parking Garage to Mr. Kelty.
Councilor Smith asked if the apartments would be built on the existing footprint of the
current rooms. Mr. Kelty stated that on floors two through four the footprint cannot be
changed, but floors 5-10 will be changed with the exception of the central corridor.
Councilor Smith asked if the apartments will have kitchen facilities, and Mr. Kelty stated
they will all have full modern kitchens.
Councilor Nelson asked Mr. Kelty how he was going to get plumbing to the fifth floor and
above. Mr. Kelty discussed installing supplemental pumps to assist with that. Councilor
Nelson asked if Mr. Kelty would be using split units. Mr. Kelty stated that gas will not be
installed and heating units on the fifth floor up will be individually metered, and the lower
floors will stay on the central meter.
Mayor Santellana closed the public hearing at 8:48 a.m.
Item 8 — Ordinance 02-2022
8:48 a.m.
Ordinance designating property as a Reinvestment Zone that is located at 726 Scott,
known as the Petroleum Building, Wichita Falls, Texas; providing for severability; and
providing an effective date.
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Moved by Councilor Brewer to approve Ordinance 02-2022 with a modification of sections
2e and 2g changing manufacturing facility to multi-family residential project.
Motion seconded by Councilor Smith and carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Santellana, Councilors Brewer, Browning, Nelson, Jackson, Smith, and
Whiteley
Nays: None
Item 9a(i) — Public Hearing — Eligibility and Intention to Participate in the Texas Tax
Abatement Program, Guidelines, and Criteria
8:50 a.m.
Mayor Santellana opened the public hearing at 8:50 a.m.
Mr. Hegglund discussed the requirement to approve guidelines for participation in the Tax
Abatement Program every two years, and reviewed the nine guidelines for participation.
Councilor Whiteley stated that all nine items are in the agenda that is posted online for
the public to review.
Mayor Santellana closed the public hearing at 8:55 a.m.
Item 9a(ii) — Resolution 04-2022
8:55 a.m.
Resolution declaring the City of Wichita Falls' eligibility and intention to participate in the
Texas Tax Abatement Program to promote development and redevelopment and adopt
guidelines and criteria for tax abatement in the City of Wichita Falls.
Moved by Councilor Brewer to approve Resolution 04-2022.
Motion seconded by Councilor Nelson and carried with the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Santellana, Councilors Brewer, Browning, Nelson, Jackson, Smith, and
Whiteley
Nays: None
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Item 9b — Resolution 05-2022
8:56
Resolution approving the programs and expenditures of the Wichita Falls 4B Sales Tax
Corporation Board of Directors and amending the budget to include funding up to
$133,000 to Kirk Laney, dba Picker's Universe LLC, to renovate the existing building at
1000 Indiana into a mixed use retail and restaurant establishment
Moved by Councilor Brewer to approve Resolution 05-2022.
Motion seconded by Councilor Smith.
Mr. Menzies discussed the proposed $2.5 million renovation project previously supported
by the Wichita Falls 4B Sales Tax Corporation, and stated although this is a new
agreement; it is effectively an extension on the project due to delays relating to COVID
and supply chain issues.
Motion carried with the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Santellana, Councilors Brewer, Browning, Nelson, Smith, and Whiteley
Nays: Councilor Jackson
Item 10 - Announcements concerning items of community interest from members
of the City Council. No action will be taken or discussed.
8:59 a.m.
Councilor Smith stated that the Council and citizens appreciate the continued support of
downtown development, and the Council wants to do their part by approving downtown
projects.
Councilor Browning stated that although he voted yes on the previous item, he feels the
owner should be present when asking for additional funding.
Councilor Whiteley agreed with Councilor Browning and thanked Mr. Kelty for being
present today. He gave kudos to Public Works staff for taking care of a recent dumpster
issue and being professional, courteous, and timely.
Councilor Nelson also agreed that property owners should be present when asking for
funding, but he does agree with improvement for downtown. He thanked everyone for
attending.
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Mayor Santellana thanked everyone for attending. He stated most of the items today
dealt with downtown development and he thanked Jana Schmader and Downtown
Wichita Falls Development staff, the Chamber of Commerce, City Council, and staff for
their efforts, and the Type A and Type B boards for vetting these projects. He is excited
to see derelict structures being restored and put back on the tax rolls, and thankful for the
private/public partnerships. Mayor Santellana encouraged everyone to participate in
upcoming elections with Early Voting beginning in February.
Councilor Brewer asked Lou Kreidler, Director of Health, for a COVID update. Mrs.
Kreidler stated that last week was a record-breaking week with our highest weekend
totals, highest one-day total last Friday, and our highest positivity rate. They have sent
samples for sequencing but have not received results, but they know that 93% of tests
sequenced in Texas have been the Omicron variant. Omicron spreads very easily and
she believes this is why we are seeing a high rate of increase in cases. She discussed
the new federal government site to order free home tests, the plan to provide
reimbursement for home tests, and stated that home tests are very hard to find locally.
In areas where Omicron started, they have begun to see a plateau or decrease in cases.
In Wichita Falls, she anticipates an increase in cases over the next few weeks before we
begin to experience a decrease.
Item 11 — Comments from the Public to Members of the City Council Concerning
Items That Are Not on the City Council Agenda
9:06 a.m.
Annie Jackson, 1027 Crescent Lane, Wichita Falls, addressed the Council and read a
prepared statement in reference to covenants with God, Government, the Constitution,
and individual rights and freedoms. She discussed a recent article published regarding
the update of the sick leave policy, stated that the Mayor and Councilors are elected to
represent the employees, and expressed her concerns regarding the change to the sick
leave policy.
Item 12 — Executive Session
No executive session was held.
Item 13 —Adjourn
Mayor Santellana adjourned the meeting at 9:10 a.m.
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PASSED AND APPROVED this 1st day of February 2022.
MOfen Santellana, Mayor
ATTEST:
epZucA B
Marie Balthrop,LTRMC, MMC
City Clerk
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