Min 03/19/2024 City of Wichita Falls
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Item 1 - Call to Order
The City Council of the City of Wichita Falls, Texas, met in a regular session 8:30 a.m. on
the above date in the Seminar Room at the MPEC with the following members present.
Tim Short - Mayor
Bobby Whiteley - Mayor Pro Tem/At-Large
Mike Battaglino - Councilors
Jeff Browning -
Larry Nelson -
Michael Smith -
Tom Taylor -
Darron Leiker - City Manager
Kinley Hegglund - City Attorney
Theodore Ham - Deputy City Clerk
Absent: Marie Balthrop, City Clerk
Mayor Short called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.
Item 2a — Invocation
Pastor Bob McCartney, First Baptist Church, gave the invocation.
Item 2b — Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Short led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Item 3b — Proclamation — Absolutely Incredible Kid Day, Camp Fire North Texas
8:33 a.m.
Mayor Short read a proclamation proclaiming March 21 , 2024 as Absolutely Incredible
Kid Day in Wichita Falls.
Item 3a — Proclamation — American Red Cross Month, American Red Cross
8:36 a.m.
Mayor Short read a proclamation proclaiming March 2024 as American Red Cross Month
in Wichita Falls.
Item 4 — Comments from Citizens
8:39 a.m.
There were no comments from the public.
Item 5-6 — Consent Items
8:39 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 Short, Councilors Battaglino, Browning, Nelson, Smith, Taylor, and Whiteley.
Nays: None
Item 5 — Approval of Minutes of the March 5, 2024, Regular Meeting of the Mayor
and City Council
Item 6 — Receive Minutes
(a) Library Advisory Board, October 4, 2023
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Item 7a — Ordinance 06-2024
8:39 a.m.
Ordinance authorizing the City Manager to execute all documents necessary to apply for
and accept $1 ,329,000 in Texas Department of Transportation Aviation Division grants
for hangar and utility projects at Kickapoo Downtown Airport.
Moved by Councilor Nelson to approve Ordinance 06-2024.
Motion seconded by Councilor Browning and carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Short, Councilors Battaglino, Browning, Nelson, Smith, Taylor, and Whiteley.
Nays: None
Item 8a — Resolution 28-2024
8:43 a.m.
Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a new Potable Water Purchase
Contract with the City of Holliday
Moved by Councilor Browning to approve Resolution 28-2024.
Motion seconded by Councilor Smith and carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Short, Councilors Battaglino, Browning, Nelson, Smith, Taylor, and Whiteley.
Nays: None
Item 8b — Resolution 29-2024
8:45 a.m.
Resolution authorizing the City of Wichita Falls' continued participation with the Atmos
Cities Steering Committee and authorizing the payment of five cents per capita to the
Atmos Cities Steering Committee to fund regulatory and related activities related to Atmos
Energy Corporation.
Moved by Councilor Nelson to approve Resolution 29-2024.
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Motion seconded by Councilor Smith and carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Short, Councilors Battaglino, Browning, Nelson, Smith, Taylor, and Whiteley.
Nays: None
Item 8c — Resolution 30-2024
8:48 a.m.
Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute all documents necessary for the
purchase and installation service to Allison Aquatics Group in the amount of $1 ,675,700
for a new Mat Racer Attraction and Timing Light System at Castaway Cove Water Park.
Moved by Councilor Browning to approve Resolution 30-2024.
Motion seconded by Councilor Taylor.
Blake Jurecek, Assistant City Manager, spoke on the importance of adding a new
attraction to the Castaway Cove Water Park and stated that the City's plan has been to
add a new attraction every five years. The Aqua Loop was the last item added back in
2015 and that COVID-19 caused some delays to the timeline, preventing the City from
adding or updating any attractions prior to now. The proposed addition would be an
update to an existing attraction with the funds coming from fund balance and the
Castaway Cove Operating Budget. The City originally anticipated on adding a new
attraction in 2023 but H-Two Management & Marketing suggested that the City reinvest
back into the park before making any additions. After realizing there had been some
deferred maintenance, H-Two Management & Marketing and staff created a five-year
capital improvement plan to take a look at what needs to be addressed at the water park
and stay on top of regular maintenance.
James Holmes, H-Two Management & Marketing, addressed staffing issues and stated
that part of the issue was COVID-19 and that many businesses struggled to hire people
as late as 2022. Pay was increased in addition to the inclusion of morale boosting
opportunities to encourage staff retention. Mr. Holmes stated that H-Two Management
had several goals in mind when taking over management of the water park including
making the park look better and less haggard, improve the guest experience, and
performing other necessary maintenance. Attendance, overall revenue, and net profit
increased thanks to the updates done to the park last year. He said that 2024 is the 20-
year anniversary of the park and they have plans to market that as well as the new
attraction which would be available for guest use in the 2025 season. Mr. Holmes stated
that the Mat Racer is popular and would have a positive economic impact for the City.
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Councilor Browning said that we have to invest in this quality of life feature and that we
need to keep advancing.
Councilor Taylor agreed with Councilor Browning. This is an important addition for quality
of life and the economic impact it will provide.
Councilor Whiteley stated that Castaway Cove has previously received a lot of negative
commentary in the past but that it has proven its worth over time. He also commented
that with the updates to the softball fields this will draw families who come to attend and
participate in games to the water park. He commended staff for their work.
Councilor Battaglino asked if this attraction will draw more people to our park versus
making a drive to the DFW metroplex.
Mr. Holmes confirmed that the attraction has proven very popular in other water parks
and that it would draw more people to Wichita Falls.
Motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Short, Councilors Battaglino, Browning, Nelson, Smith, Taylor, and Whiteley.
Nays: None
Item 9a — Staff Reports — Short Update on Strategic Planning Process — Paul
Menzies, Assistant City Manager.
9:04 a.m.
Paul Menzies, Assistant City Manager, gave a brief update on the drafted strategic plan
highlighting that of the 33 goals, 27 of them are brand new to the plan. Mr. Menzies
reviewed the six items that are staying and confirmed that although redeveloping
downtown is no longer listed as a specific goal, it still remains vital to the City of Wichita
Falls. Mr. Menzies indicated that this update was for informational purposes and that the
final draft of the plan would be brought forward to Council at a later date for approval and
discussion.
Item 9b - Announcements concerning items of community interest from members
of the City Council. No action will be taken or discussed.
9:09 a.m.
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Councilor Taylor gave kudos to the Fire Department after witnessing several fire fighters
assist a stranded motorist in moving their vehicle out of the roadway. He also wanted to
give a shout out to the Park Master Plan community input meeting next week on March
26th and encouraged members of the public to come out and say what they believe should
be included in the plan. When he arrived at 7:30 a.m., he noticed that the Delta Hotel
parking lot was at least three-quarters full. A comment he recently received from a citizen
is that the Delta Hotel is a great experience for the City. It is the only hotel venue of its
quality here and is good for attracting new people and businesses. He also complimented
staff on the new meeting space and set up.
Councilor Whiteley has heard good things recently about how well the Delta Hotel and
restaurant are doing. He echoed that the strategic plan is not going to forget about
downtown and that it is still a priority. Anyone who participated in the events downtown
this past weekend in the rain can say how busy they were with the St. Paddy's Day
Festival and Guns & Hoses BBQ Competition. The Guns & Hoses BBQ Competition has
been a conduit of charitable funds to the tune of a few hundred thousand dollars since its
inception which goes right back into the community. He gave kudos to the Chiefs and the
community for their involvement.
Councilor Browning gave kudos to City Council for choosing to support the new waterslide
at Castaway Cove and showing that Council is forward thinking and positive. He
complimented staff on the new meeting place and addressed some small concerns for
possible adjustments for future meetings.
Councilor Smith commented on the strategic planning process. It is done every other year
with Council receiving input from City staff and citizens. He wishes more members of the
public would come and participate. From what he saw, he thinks the plan looks good, and
we are on the right track. He introduced Mark Southard who is the new Utilities Operations
Manager and keeps Council updated weekly with the current lake levels. He has noticed
over the last few weeks that the lake levels are dropping. He reminded everyone that we
have a drought protection plan and reviewed the five different levels. He asked that the
public be aware and hopes that we'll get more rain in April and May. This is an ongoing
thing and asked for the community's cooperation.
Councilor Battaglino said that he had an awesome time downtown this weekend. There
was a blood drive at our American Legion, and there is always a need for blood donations
so please donate if you can. On March 26th at 11 a.m. is a ribbon cutting for the Lake
Wichita parking lot. Some events to look forward to next month are Thor on the 13th, and
Cajun Fest the following weekend. He will be the MC for the tug of war at Cajun Fest and
encouraged everyone to please come out for that. On April 27 and 28, there will be an
airshow at Sheppard Air Force Base. He has never seen airshow line up this exciting and
strongly encouraged the public to attend if possible. He also expressed his appreciation
for the Circle Trail and encouraged everyone to get out and enjoy it.
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Councilor Nelson stated that another feasibility study needs to be done on the other park
for the turf out there and that in general, more staff directly involved with day to day
operations should be involved in feasibility studies. There will be another pizza place
coming downtown next month. He thanked staff on the work done for the new meeting
place.
Mayor Short thanked everyone for showing up and congratulated Mark Southard on his
new position. He also congratulated Downtown Development on their hard work on the
St. Patrick's Day Festival and said that it is a great time to be in Wichita Falls.
Item 12 — Executive Sessions
City Council adjourned into Executive Session at 9:22 a.m. in accordance with Texas
Government Code §551 .071 and §551 .072.
City Council reconvened at 10:43 a.m.
Mayor Short reconvened in open session and announced that no votes or polls were
taken.
Item 11 —Adjourn
Mayor Short adjourned the meeting at 10:44 a.m.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 2nd day of April 2024.
Tim Short, Mayor
ATTEST:
Marie 13althroP, TRMC, MC
City Clerk
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