Min 07/02/2024 City of Wichita Falls i
J ,-„,,,,-...--,:;----
City \n :
Council Meeting ,r ,� > >
r ¢}
.....� Minutes ,�� ";� �.�_ �
)��• 14 July 2, 2024 5 9m�Pit '`'b " 4
TEXAS \� f L TL -i
B/u�Skies Gf6,/dest efforiiemetW 4
Item 1 - Call to Order
The City Council of the City of Wichita Falls, Texas, met in a regular session at 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
Marie Balthrop - City Clerk
Mayor Short called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.
Item 2a — Invocation
Minister Scott Franks, Edgemere Church of Christ, gave the invocation.
Item 2b — Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Short led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Item 3a — Employee of the Month— Stephanie Willson, Public Works
8:32 a.m.
Mayor Short recognized Stephanie Willson as Employee of the Month for July 2024 and
shared a brief video. He congratulated Ms. Willson and presented her with a plaque, letter
of appreciation, dinner for two, and a check and thanked her for her service.
Item 3b — Proclamation and Comments Regarding Tennis Day
8:34 a.m.
Mayor Short read a proclamation proclaiming July 10, 2024, as Johnny Simmons Tennis
Day in Wichita Falls and encouraged citizens to thank him for his more than half a century
of service to the tennis community.
Item 4 — Comments from Citizens
8:37 a.m.
Roderick Abinet, 831 Bartlett Road, Sealy, TX, Pioneer Engineering Chemical Company
(PENCO), addressed the Council regarding the bulk chemical bid awarded on June 18,
2024. He discussed item numbers 24 and 25 of the bid, addressed previous issues with
the company in 2017, and asked for reconsideration. He stated that the company has
new staff and will do whatever it can to satisfy its customers.
Item 5-6 — Consent Items
8:40 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.
The motion was 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 June 18, 2024, Regular Meeting of the Mayor
and City Council
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
July 2, 2024
PAGE 2 OF 7
Item 6 — Receive Minutes
(a) Library Advisory Board, March 5, 2024
(b) Landmark Commission, May 21 , 2024
Item 7a — Public Hearing on the Proposed Substantial Amendment to the 2019
Annual Action Plan to Reallocate $207,354.80 and Continue Certain Previously
Awarded Funding Through the Community Development Block Grant —
Coronavirus (CDBG — CV) program
8:41 a.m.
Mayor Short opened the public hearing at 8:41 a.m.
Terry Floyd, Director of Development Services, discussed the plan to reallocate
$207,354.80 of CDBG-CV funds, the need to amend the Action Plan, the timeline, and
the subcommittee recommendation to fund various park projects.
Councilor Browning stated that although Bridwell Park is receiving quite a bit of this
funding, other Parks are getting attention from other funds, and the Conoco Dog Park is
a new project.
Councilor Battaglino asked staff to discuss the Conoco Dog Park and why that location
was chosen. Blake Jurecek, Assistant City Director, discussed the need for a Dog Park
on the North side of town closer to Sheppard Air Force Base.
Councilor Taylor, a former member of the Park Board, stated that they have been
discussing and planning this Dog Park for several years and expressed his appreciation
to the committee for funding this project.
Councilor Smith also expressed his appreciation and asked about future Dog Parks in
other areas of town.
Mayor Short closed the public hearing at 8:48 a.m.
Item 7b — Public Hearing on Action Plan to allocate $1,202,286 in FY 2024-2025
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, Reallocate $200,000 in Prior
Year CDBG Funding, and $349,481 in FY 2024-2025 HOME Investment Partnership
Program (HOME) funds
8:48 a.m.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
July 2, 2024
PAGE 3 OF 7
Mayor Short opened the public hearing at 8:48 a.m.
Terry Floyd, Director of Development Services, discussed the allocation of 2024-2025
CDBG funds, the reallocation of prior year CDBG funds, and the allocation of the 2024-
2025 HOME funds as recommended by the subcommittee and staff. He discussed the
external and internal projects being funded with CDBG funds and projects funded by
HOME funds.
Councilor Nelson asked about cameras at the Martin Luther King Center, and Mr. Jurecek
said it would be part of the rehabilitation project there.
Councilor Smith noted that these are federal funds and discussed how the programs
funded by the grants assist citizens in many ways.
Mayor Short closed the public hearing at 8:55 a.m.
Item 8a — Resolution 75-2024
8:56 a.m.
Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute all documents necessary to purchase
144 computer workstations from Unique Digital Technology, LLC in the amount of
$128,504.
Moved by Councilor Nelson to approve Resolution 75-2024.
The motion was seconded by Councilor Battaglino and carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Short, Councilors Battaglino, Browning, Nelson, Smith, Taylor, and Whiteley.
Nays: None
Item 8b — Resolution 76-2024
8:58 a.m.
Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute all documents necessary to purchase
products and services from CDW Government LLC to upgrade the City Business Phone
System in the amount of $140,561 .36.
Moved by Councilor Nelson to approve Resolution 76-2024.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
July 2, 2024
PAGE 4 OF 7
The motion was seconded by Councilor Browning and carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Short, Councilors Battaglino, Browning, Nelson, Smith, Taylor, and Whiteley.
Nays: None
Item 9a - Announcements concerning items of community interest from members
of the City Council. No action will be taken or discussed.
9:01 a.m.
Councilor Taylor thanked staff and others who assisted with making the District 5 Town
Hall Meeting a success and stated that residents were very appreciative and are starting
to see results already. He expressed his appreciation to Ron Kitchens for his participation
in the meeting. With July 4th coming up, he asked that everyone keep our military
personnel and their families stationed worldwide in our thoughts and prayers, as they are
currently on high alert.
Councilor Whiteley congratulated Johnny Simmons and Ms. Willson, Employee of the
Month. He stated that he had received phone calls from contractors in town regarding
concerns about the rules changing in permitting and inspections without notice. It was
discussed at the quarterly stakeholders meeting Friday, and he asked that if changes are
going to be made in the future, the contracting community needs to be notified, as it costs
them time and money. Mr. Leiker stated he would be happy to meet with him and
contractors to put systems in place to help resolve the issue, as this is the first time he
has heard about this particular issue. Councilor Whiteley expressed concerns about poor
communication and his frustration with receiving these phone calls.
Councilor Browning agreed with Councilor Whiteley and asked to attend that meeting
since he has also had issues. He wished everyone a Happy 4th of July.
Councilor Smith wished everyone a happy and safe July 4th. Please keep your pets in
and protect them while fireworks are being displayed, and stated that fireworks should
not be used inside city limits.
Councilor Battaglino invited everyone to Freedom Fest on July 4, 2024, and thanked
Lindsay for her work. He discussed a couple of tough losses in the community over the
past couple of weeks, including the loss of Steve Hudman, who worked at the YMCA, and
stated his heart goes out to his family. He also mentioned the loss of Dorcas Chasteen,
who served on the Parks Board and encouraged attendance at her service Friday
morning. The District 4 Town Hall will be held July 15th from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the
Thomas Fowler American Legion Post 169 at 4615 Lakeshore Drive. He encouraged
citizens to attend and express their concerns.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
July 2, 2024
PAGE 5 OF 7
Councilor Nelson discussed his awareness program and how he works with restaurants
to assist them with their issues with the inspection department. He discussed issues with
regulations being enacted without Council discussion and how some issues have been
resolved. He discussed concerns about vehicles and the time it takes to receive new
ones. Mr. Leiker discussed how they are working to resolve the supply issue and how
vehicles are shared between departments.
Mayor Short encouraged everyone to put their phones down, get outside, talk to their
neighbors, not just talk about their neighbors, enjoy our beautiful city, and help us build
this community. God bless everyone. Happy 4th of July, and he will see everyone at
Freedom Fest.
Item 10 — Executive Sessions
The City Council adjourned into Executive Session at 9:15 a.m. in accordance with Texas
Government Code §551 .071 .
Mayor Short reconvened in open session at 9:53 a.m. at Memorial Auditorium, 1300 7th
Street, and announced that no votes or polls were taken.
Item 11 — Memorial Auditorium Tour to meet at the City Council Chambers,
Memorial Auditorium, 1300 Seventh Street.
9:55 a.m.
Anthony Inman led the tour and discussed the demolition and asbestos abatement
currently being completed and changes in department locations with the remodel.
Item 12 — Adjourn from 1st floor of Memorial Auditorium, 1300 Seventh Street.
Mayor Short adjourned the meeting at 10:47 a.m.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 16th day of July 2024.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
July 2, 2024
PAGE 6 OF 7
Tim Short, Mayor
ATTEST:
cam, B(. ,
Mane Balthrop, TRMC, MMC
City Clerk
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
July 2, 2024
PAGE 7 OF 7