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City Council Meeting s
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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
Tim Brewer - Councilors
Jeff Browning -
Steve Jackson -
Larry Nelson -
Michael Smith -
Darron Leiker - City Manager
Kinley Hegglund - City Attorney
Marie Balthrop - City Clerk
Absent: Bobby Whiteley, Councilor At-Large
Mayor Santellana called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.
Item 2a — Invocation
Pastor Michael Hanson, First Presbyterian Church, gave the invocation.
Item 2b — Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Santellana led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Item 3-5 — Consent Items
8:32 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 Nelson and carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Santellana, Councilors Brewer, Browning, Jackson, Nelson, and Smith
Nays: None
Item 3 — Approval of Minutes of the October 3, 2023, Regular Meeting of the Mayor
and City Council
Item 4 — Ordinance 56-2023
Ordinance authorizing the City Manager to award contract to Hedgerow Software US Inc
for the Health Department Environmental Health Systems Conversion Project, in the
amount of $72,000.
Item 5 — Receive Minutes
(a) Library Advisory Board, July 18, 2023
(b) Lake Wichita Revitalization Committee, September 12, 2023
Item 6a(i) — Public hearing on an ordinance finding certain buildings and/or
structures to be dangerous; requiring property owners to demolish said buildings
and/or structures within thirty (30) days of the date of this ordinance and declaring
an emergency and immediate effective date
8:33 a.m.
Mayor Santellana opened the public hearing at 8:33 a.m.
Rita Miller, Code Enforcement & Housing Administrator, discussed the dangerous
structure criteria, demolition process, and notice timeline. Mrs. Miller requested that 304
6th Street, 2009 8th Street, and 1008 Austin Street be removed from the list due to owners
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October 17, 2023
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either making substantial progress on renovation or having demolished the structures
prior to the meeting. She presented the following dangerous structures for demolition:
2614 9th Street, accessory structure — Date of notice January 30, 2023, no taxes are
owed, and water is still connected. There were no public comments.
813 Chance Street, main structure — Date of notice May 31 , 2023, no taxes are owed,
and the water was disconnected on June 5, 2001 . Julie Lewis, 5226 Air Force Dr., asked
for an extension beyond the 30 days to demolish the property since she purchased it less
than a year ago. Rita Miller stated that there is time built into the process due to
environmental evaluations and receiving bids. Ms. Lewis will have time to hire her own
contractor and demolish the property if she chooses.
1102 Corwin Street, main structure — Date of notice October 13, 2022, $3,408.76 taxes
are owed, and the water was disconnected on November 14, 2007. There were no public
comments.
202 Farris Street, main structure — Date of notice January 20, 2023, no taxes are owed,
the water was disconnected November 4, 2008, and animals are inhabiting the structure.
There were no public comments.
1816 E. Fort Worth Street, commercial structure — Date of notice October 14, 2022, no
taxes are owed, the water was disconnected March 19, 2019, and a structure fire was
reported on May 20, 2022. Michael Jones, 103 Chaparral, son of the owner, stated that
his father has dementia, and he is currently using the property for storage. There was
brief discussion regarding the condition of the building, the repairs that would be required,
and how the property would have to meet commercial requirements. Mr. Jones is not the
owner and does not have power of attorney.
1306 Giddings Street, accessory structure — Date of notice January 20, 2023, $2,273.49
taxes are owed, the water was disconnected November 4, 2022, and a structure fire was
reported on August 14, 2022. Manuel Mejia, 4518 Woodcrest Circle, is the lien holder and
is in the process of taking back ownership of the property through the court. Since Mr.
Mejia is not the current owner the City cannot provide him additional time, but he can
continue to work with staff when he takes ownership.
1112 Holliday Street, commercial structure — Date of notice October 13, 2022, no taxes
are owed, and the water was disconnected July 26, 2005. There were no public
comments.
5114 Inlet Drive, main structure — Date of notice November 8, 2022, $2,979.45 taxes are
owed, and the water was disconnected on January 31 , 2023. There were no public
comments.
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2620 Iowa Park Road, AKA 1005 Harlan Avenue, residential/commercial structure— Date
of notice May 31 , 2023, no taxes are owed, and the water meter was pulled on December
15, 1998. The property owner would like to demolish the building. It was noted that there
is time built into the process for the owner to hire a contractor of his choice to demolish
the building.
1800 McGregor Avenue, main structure — Date of notice March 27, 2023, no taxes are
owed, the water was disconnected December 20, 2022, a structure fire was reported on
December 17, 2022, and a demolition and cleaning lien was signed October 5, 2023.
There were no public comments.
606 Walnut Street, commercial structure — Date of notice January 20, 2023, no taxes are
owed, the water was disconnected May 13, 2015, there is an active commercial roofing
and window replacement permit that was issued February 6, 2023, and extended in July
with no progress. The contractor has pulled a permit, demolished the ceiling and
sheetrock to repair the trusses, and he intends to install a metal roof. Contractor is asking
for an extension of 120 days to obtain a restoration permit.
Beverly Taylor Ellis, 1605 Parkdale, thanked the City Council for agreeing to
accommodate the owner of 606 Walnut Street to repair his property.
Tom Taylor, 2318 Rockhill Rd., seconded Ms. Ellis's comments and applauded all of the
Council for their empathy in handling these issues.
Mayor Santellana closed the public hearing at 9:11 a.m.
Item 6a (ii) — Ordinance 57-2023
9:11 a.m.
Ordinance finding certain buildings and/or structures to be dangerous; requiring property
owners to demolish said buildings and/or structures within thirty (30) days of the date of
this ordinance and declaring an emergency and immediate effective date.
Moved by Councilor Browning to approve Ordinance 57-2023 and remove 604 6th Street,
2009 8th Street, and 1008 Austin from the list, and move 606 Walnut Street, to the list for
repairs.
Motion seconded by Councilor Brewer and carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Santellana, Councilors Brewer, Browning, Jackson, Nelson, and Smith
Nays: None
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Item 6b — Ordinance 58-2023
9:12 a.m.
Ordinance amending Ordinance No. 12-2023 Declaring Certain Structures As Dangerous
By Allowing Additional Time To Rehabilitate 914 E. Scott Ave. (Abandoned Motel).
Moved by Councilor Brewer to approve Ordinance 58-2023.
Motion seconded by Councilor Browning.
Mrs. Miller discussed the desire to allow the new property owner additional time to
rehabilitate the property. This property was previously on the demolition list, was sold at
a Sheriff's Sale to Doyle Property Management, and Mr. Doyle has made improvements
to the property but is unable to pull any permits since it is on the demolition list. David
Doyle, 3500 Noble, Fort Worth, TX, addressed the Council. He has purchased several
properties in Wichita Falls, has invested approximately $2 million, and is currently
focusing on Scott Street and the downtown area. He obtained a report from a structural
engineer and he intends to completely remodel the old Budget Inn Motel at 914 E. Scott
Ave.
Motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Santellana, Councilors Brewer, Browning, Jackson, Nelson, and Smith
Nays: None
Item 6c — Ordinance 59-2023
9:18 a.m.
Ordinance appropriating $950.00 of grant funds pursuant to the FY 2023 Patrick Leahy
Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant, appropriating said funds to the Special Revenue
Fund, and authorizing the City Manager to execute all documents necessary to accept
and share said funds.
Moved by Councilor Browning to approve Ordinance 59-2023.
Motion seconded by Councilor Jackson and carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Santellana, Councilors Brewer, Browning, Jackson, Nelson, and Smith
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October 17, 2023
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Nays: None
Item 6d — Ordinance 60-2023
9:19 a.m.
Ordinance appropriating $37,692.00 of grant funds pursuant to the 2023 Edward Byrne
Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program, appropriating said funds to the
Special Revenue Fund, and authorizing the City Manager to execute all documents
necessary to accept and share said funds.
Moved by Councilor Browning to approve Ordinance 60-2023.
Motion seconded by Councilor Nelson and carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Santellana, Councilors Brewer, Browning, Jackson, Nelson, and Smith
Nays: None
Item 6e — Ordinance 61-2023
9:21 a.m.
Ordinance authorizing the City Manager or his designee, to accept from the Office of the
Governor, Homeland Security Grant Division for the 2023 State Homeland Security
Program, Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Activities — Grant #4727401 , in the
amount of $65,259.00.
Moved by Councilor Brewer to approve Ordinance 61-2023.
Motion seconded by Councilor Browning and carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Santellana, Councilors Brewer, Browning, Jackson, Nelson, and Smith
Nays: None
Item 7a — Resolution 120-2023
9:22 a.m.
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Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute contracts with several community
service organizations and organizations that promote the convention and tourism
industry.
Moved by Councilor Browning to approve Resolution 112-2023.
Motion seconded by Councilor Nelson carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Santellana, Councilors Brewer, Browning, Jackson, Nelson, and Smith
Nays: None
Item 7b — Resolution 121-2023
9:23 a.m.
Resolution to accept the written offers as presented for 1 Trustee parcel and authorizing
execution of the Quitclaim Deed to convey title to Akiel Hardy and Andrew Skinner.
Moved by Councilor Brewer to approve Resolution 121-2023.
Motion seconded by Councilor Browning, and carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Santellana, Councilors Brewer, Browning, Jackson, Nelson, and Smith
Nays: None
Item 7c — Resolution 122-2023
9:25 a.m.
Resolution authorizing a contract for professional services to Halff Associates, Inc. to
provide planning services for a new Parks and Recreations Master Plan in the amount
not to exceed $200,000.
Moved by Councilor Browning to approve Resolution 122-2023.
Motion seconded by Councilor Nelson.
Blake Jurecek, Assistant City Manager, discussed the importance of the Master Plan, the
process, opportunities for public engagement, and how the plan is a requirement for some
grant applications.
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October 17, 2023
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Councilor Jackson asked about the number of parks, how we compare with other cities,
and the possibility of reducing the number of parks.
Beverly Taylor Ellis, 1605 Parkdale, applauded Mr. Jurecek for his work on city parks,
and asked that the City consider not weighing heavily on online public input since not
everyone has access to the internet. She discussed community involvement with park
improvements, grant applications, and how the city might consider hiring a grant writer to
apply for the various federal, state, and local grants available.
Tom Taylor, 2318 Rockhill Rd., thanked the Council for allocating funds to this project.
He serves as the vice-chair of the Parks Board, and discussed the review of the 39 parks
completed by the board. They looked at the conditions of each park, completed an
equipment inventory, and discussed the age of some of the equipment. Good parks and
recreation bring businesses, tourists, and new residents to town, and without the Master
Plan we will be limited on grants and other funds to improve our parks.
Mayor Santellana addressed comments he has heard regarding the expense of hiring an
outside company to complete the Master Plan, the importance of the plan, the importance
of community input, and the importance of hiring professionals to complete the process.
Councilor Jackson gave kudos to Terry Points for his work on all of our City parks, and
for staying on top of removing graffiti.
Steve Garner, 2806 S. Shepherds Glen, discussed the importance of recreational
opportunities for quality of life, especially for residents at Sheppard Air Force Base and
students attending Midwestern State University. He encouraged individuals participating
in process to include those groups, and discussed the benefits of park improvements to
our community.
Ayes: Mayor Santellana, Councilors Brewer, Browning, Jackson, Nelson, and Smith
Nays: None
Item 7d — Resolution 123-2023
9:48 a.m.
Resolution authorizing the acquisition of approximately 6.1 acres of land belonging to
Burlington Northern Railway Company for the construction of South Wenonah Boulevard,
and authorizing the City Manager to execute all related documents to purchase said
property for an amount not to exceed $362,500 plus standard closing costs.
Moved by Councilor Brewer to approve Resolution 123-2023.
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Motion seconded by Councilor Smith and carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Santellana, Councilors Brewer, Browning, Jackson, Nelson, and Smith
Nays: None
Item 7e — Resolution 124-2023
10:01 a.m.
Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement
with Biggs & Mathews, Inc. for the design of the South Wenonah Extension in the amount
of $668,500.00.
Moved by Councilor Browning to approve Resolution 124-2023.
Motion seconded by Councilor Nelson and carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Santellana, Councilors Brewer, Browning, Jackson, Nelson, and Smith
Nays: None
Item 7f— Resolution 125-2023
10:03 a.m.
Resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Anthony Inman
Construction, Inc for demolition and asbestos abatement services, as well as, the
purchase and installation of the replacement building HVAC system and electrical switch
gear for Memorial Auditorium with an estimated cost of $1 ,984,293 and delegating
evaluation authority to the City Manager to the maximum extent authorized by Texas
Gov't Code § 2269.053.
Moved by Councilor Brewer to approve Resolution 125-2023.
Motion seconded by Councilor Browning, and carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Santellana, Councilors Brewer, Browning, Jackson, Nelson, and Smith
Nays: None
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Mayor Santellana moved to Executive Session
Item 10 — Executive Sessions
City Council adjourned into Executive Session at 10:15 a.m. in accordance with Texas
Government Code §551 .072 and §551 .074.
City Council reconvened at 10:50 a.m.
Mayor Santellana reconvened in open session and announced that no votes or polls were
taken.
Mayor Santellana returned to item 7g
Item 7q — Resolution 126-2023
10:50 a.m.
Resolution authorizing a two-year lease agreement with Big Blue Properties WF, LLC for
leasing office space for government operations during the Memorial Auditorium
renovation for $17,500 per month.
Moved by Councilor Brewer to approve Resolution 118-2023.
Motion seconded by Councilor Browning and carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Santellana, Councilors Brewer, Browning, Jackson, Nelson, and Smith
Nays: None
Item 7h — Resolution 127-2023
10:59 a.m.
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Resolution authorizing a two-year lease agreement with Wichita Tower, INC. for leasing
office space for government operations during the Memorial Auditorium renovation for
$18,585 per month.
Moved by Councilor Brewer to approve Resolution 127-2023.
Motion seconded by Councilor Nelson and carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Santellana, Councilors Brewer, Browning, Jackson, Nelson, and Smith
Nays: None
Item 7i — Resolution 128-2023
11 :00 a.m.
Resolution of the City Council of the City of Wichita Falls, Texas nominating individuals
to serve on the Wichita Appraisal District Board of Directors.
Moved by Councilor Nelson to approve Resolution 128-2023.
Motion seconded by Councilor Smith.
Marie Balthrop, City Clerk, discussed the changes to the appointment process due to SB
2.
Councilor Smith moved to recommend Glenn Barham and Jeff Taylor for the Wichita
Appraisal District Board of Directors.
Motion seconded by Councilor Brewer, and carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Santellana, Councilors Brewer, Browning, Jackson, Nelson, and Smith
Nays: None
Item 8a — Announcements concerning items of community interest from members
of the City Council. No action will be taken or discussed.
11 :01a.m.
Councilor Jackson encouraged everyone to get out and vote, Early Voting begins October
23, and Election Day is November 7th
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October 17, 2023
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Councilor Brewer asked Russell Schreiber, Director of Public Works, to explain the
importance of the water reuse system. Mr. Schreiber stated the reuse system has been
used nonstop since June 2021, how efficiently it is run, how without it we would be well
into stage 2 drought restrictions, and how we continue with the Lake Ringgold permitting
process to advance our future water supply. There was brief discussion regarding the
cost of service, and services water bill fees cover.
Councilor Smith discussed the need for citizens to stay on top of lawn care before grass
grows too tall. He discussed the new non-profit, Help Me Grow Wichita County, that will
support families with small children and is sponsored by United Way. He attended a
meeting at the State Hospital and there will be a new State Hospital facility built on the
property and construction will begin this fall and it will open in 2027. This Saturday is
Halloween in the Park at the Softball Complex on Sheppard Access Road, and he
reminded everyone of the upcoming election and suggested everyone get the League of
Women Voters Guide that discusses candidates and the constitutional amendments on
the ballot.
Councilor Nelson congratulated Mr. Kelty and thanked him for his work downtown, and
thanked Mr. Doyle for his work. He enjoyed the TML conference and enjoyed networking
with other city officials.
Mayor Santellana discussed the upcoming election, and the importance of the TML
Conference and the classes they provide. He encouraged everyone to grab a buddy and
get out and vote.
Item 9 — Comments from the Public to Members of the City Council Concerning
Items That Are Not on the City Council Agenda
11 :16 a.m.
There were no comments from citizens.
Item 11 —Adjourn
Mayor Santellana adjourned the meeting at 11:17 a.m.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 7th day of November 2023.
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St phen Santellana, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Marie Balthrop, TRMC, MC
City Clerk
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