Min 10/15/2024 City of Wichita Falls AWL
Council Meeting
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October 15, 2024,IlC 14
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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 -
Paul Menzies - Acting 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
Pastor Craig Lile, Faith Baptist Church, gave the invocation.
Item 2b — Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Short led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Item 3a — Proclamation — Cancer Awareness Day, American Cancer Society
8:33 a.m.
Mayor Short read a proclamation proclaiming October 12, 2024, as Cancer Awareness
Day.
Item 4 — Comments from Citizens
8:35 a.m.
There were no comments from citizens.
Item 5-7 — Consent Items
8:36 a.m.
Paul Menzies, Acting City Manager, gave a briefing on the items listed under the Consent
Agenda.
Moved by Councilor Nelson to approve the consent agenda.
The motion was seconded by Councilor Smith 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 October 1, 2024, Regular Meeting of the Mayor
and City Council
Item 6a — Resolution 126-2024
Resolution authorizing the purchase of a 2024 John Deere 310P Backhoe for the Street
Department through the C&F Sourcewell Purchasing Cooperative from Yellowhouse
Machinery Company in the amount of $150,973.32 for the Streets Division.
Item 6b — Resolution 127-2024
Resolution authorizing the purchase of one (1) commercial front-end loader solid waste
collection truck through the BuyBoard Purchasing Cooperative from Bond Equipment
Company, Inc. in the amount of $414,289.00.
Item 6c — Resolution 128-2024
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Resolution authorizing the purchase of one (1) Automated Side Loader solid waste
collection truck through the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) Purchasing
Cooperative from Bruckner Truck Sales, Inc. in the amount of $415,417.00.
Item 7 — Receive Minutes
(a) Public Safety Assessment Committee, August 8, 2024
(b) Central Wichita Falls Neighborhood Revitalization Committee, September 17, 2024
Item 8a — Ordinance 55-2024
8:37 a.m.
Ordinance amending the code of ordinances Chapter 50, Article II, Section 34 to increase
the number of Fire Captains from 15 to 16 for the purposes of adding a Deputy Fire
Marshal position to assist with fire code enforcement and fire investigation.
Moved by Councilor Nelson to approve Ordinance 55-2024.
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 — Resolution 129-2024
8:39 a.m.
Resolution establishing Wichita Falls as a Purple Heart Community in recognition of the
service and sacrifice of our combat-wounded veterans.
Moved by Councilor Browning to approve Resolution 129-2024.
The motion was seconded by Councilor Battaglino.
John Burrus, Director of Aviation, Traffic, and Transportation, recognized Sharon
McCann, Patti Cook, and the Public Information Office team for their work on this project.
He also recognized all veterans and Purple Heart recipients, introduced Ismael Sagredo,
and read his Silver Star award citation.
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Ismael Sagredo, retired Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant, thanked the Council, staff,
citizens, and all veterans for their service and read a statement explaining the purpose
and criteria of the Purple Heart community designation and the purpose and history of the
Purple Heart award. Mr. Segredo recognized Wichita Falls Purple Heart recipient Army
2nd Lieutenant Thomas Weldon Fowler, who passed away from wounds suffered on the
battlefield in Italy at the age of 22. He is buried in Wichita Falls at Crestview cemetery,
and American Legion Post 169 is named in his honor.
Austin Cobb, 3603 Cedar Elm, Chair of the Lake Wichita Revitalization Committee,
expressed his support of this resolution and discussed future plans to recognize Purple
Heart recipients at the Veterans Memorial at Lake Wichita Park and to add a Thomas
Fowler memorial.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Short, Councilors Battaglino, Browning, Nelson, Smith, Taylor, and Whiteley.
Nays: None
Item 9b— Resolution 130-2024
8:51 a.m.
Resolution authorizing the Acting City Manager to execute all documents necessary to
provide for paramedic training from Axon Education, LLC d/b/a Texas EMS School in the
amount of $169,560.00.
Moved by Councilor Nelson to approve Resolution 130-2024.
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 9c — Resolution 131-2024
8:59 a.m.
Resolution authorizing the City Manager or Authorizing Official to apply for non-matching
Grant Funds from the Department of Justice (DOJ) FY 2024 Edward Byrne Memorial
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Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program in the amount of $34,017.00 with co-applicant,
Wichita County Sheriff's Office.
Moved by Councilor Nelson to approve Resolution 131-2024.
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 9d — Resolution 132-2024
9:01 a.m.
Resolution authorizing the purchase of two (2) Automated Side Loaders solid waste
collection trucks through the BuyBoard Purchasing Cooperative from Bond Equipment
Company, Inc. in the amount of $859,706.00.
Moved by Councilor Nelson to approve Resolution 132-2024.
The motion was seconded by Councilor Battaglino and carried by the following vote:
Mayor Short, Councilors Battaglino, Browning, Nelson, Smith, Taylor, and Whiteley.
Nays: None
Item 9e — Resolution 133-2024
9:04 a.m.
Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement
to Biggs and Mathews Environmental, Inc. for engineering services for the City of Wichita
Falls Landfill in the amount of $78,000.00.
Moved by Councilor Nelson to approve Resolution 133-2024.
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
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Item 9f— Resolution 134-2024
9:06 a.m.
Resolution authorizing the purchase of one (1) HG6800TX Horizontal Grinder from
Vermeer Equipment of Texas, LLC dba Vermeer Texas-Louisiana for $1,370,408.00
through the Sourcewell Purchasing Cooperative. To be used for the City Landfill.
Moved by Councilor Browning to approve Resolution 134-2024.
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 9g — Resolution 135-2024
9:08 a.m.
Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute all documents necessary for the
purchase and installation of synthetic turf on the four (4) south fields at the Wichita Falls
Sports Complex by Hellas Construction, Inc. in the amount of $3,687,380.
Moved by Councilor Browning to approve Resolution 135-2024.
The motion was seconded by Councilor Smith and carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Short, Councilors Battaglino, Browning, Nelson, Smith, Taylor, and Whiteley.
Nays: None
Item 10 — Discussion and possible direction to staff related to potential noise
regulations downtown.
9:15 a.m.
Kinley Hegglund, City Attorney, presented information regarding downtown festivals and
concerts, which have resulted in noise complaints. He stated that this discussion allows
all involved parties to discuss whether further regulation is needed, and the Legal
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department drafted an ordinance based on the City of Austin's regulations for outdoor
noise.
James McKechnie, Deputy City Attorney, gave a presentation on the proposed noise
ordinance, which would regulate the noise levels at outdoor concerts and events in the
greater downtown area. Mr. McKechnie discussed the proposed rules regarding the
times, sound levels, permitting requirements, restrictions for permits near residential
homes, exceptions to the rules, and fines for violating the ordinance.
There was a brief discussion of examples of various decibel levels, outdoor events, the
number of residential areas downtown, enforcement, equipment required for
enforcement, punishment for violations, the number of complaints filed, and whether
additional regulations are needed. Councilor Whiteley discussed complaints he has
received from downtown residents and stated he did not think there was a problem, but
there was a need for more specific parameters in the ordinance.
Cathy Dodson, 3503 Glenwood Ave, discussed her concern regarding decibel limits,
concerts held by the City at Bud Daniels Park, and concerns with how the City can
regulate specific noises. Mr. McKechnie clarified that it was for all outdoor noise.
Ron Kitchens, 5307 Waterford Drive, stated that this is one more fee for the business
community that is already struggling. He discussed decibel levels at recent events being
higher than the proposed level, and feels there is a failure to communicate, not a problem.
He asked that the Chamber be allowed to form a committee of involved parties, both pro
and con, and bring back a recommendation to the Council. He expressed concerns about
Police involvement in civic activity, adding more burden on the department, more fees for
businesses, and concerns with the proposed hours and decibel levels as they will deter
future events downtown.
Dusty Potter, Chair of Downtown Wichita Falls Development and board-certified hearing
instrument specialist, discussed the different decibel levels, such as dbA and dbC, and
stated the decibel type should be specified in the ordinance as there are twelve different
types. He expressed his concern about 70 decibels being the highest level, as normal
conversation is between 55-65 decibels. Mr. Potter said you cannot have a concert at 70
decibels, and he feels the proposed rules are a little aggressive and require more
conversation and investigation.
Dwayne Jackson, 919 Indiana, Wichita Theater, agreed with Mr. Kitchens that this should
be referred to a committee of involved parties. He discussed the festivals and events that
have moved from the Farmer's Market to behind the Wichita Theater, how this has
affected the theater's attendees and performers, and issues with previous agreements
with sound engineers and event organizers to regulate sound. He feels there is a need
for an ordinance that ties everything together and addresses the location of stages and
both high-end and low-end sounds. Two years ago, they had 343 households 40 miles
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outside of Wichita Falls purchasing tickets, which has increased to over 3500 households,
and everyone deserves a theater experience that is not disrupted by outdoor noise.
Valerie Rhodes, 1706 Avalon Place, discussed the lack of coordination for events and
what could be done to help reduce the concerns while still supporting downtown events.
She also discussed concerns with only regulating downtown noise when there are noise
issues in other areas of town, and concerns with using police time to regulate noise. She
suggested using Code Enforcement employees to enforce noise regulations.
Bill Weske, owner of a downtown business, discussed concerns with food truck generator
noise that affects his outside seating area. He agrees that a committee should be formed
to discuss this, and asked that generator noise also be considered.
The Mayor and Councilors discussed concerns about shutting down events, lost revenue
resulting in possible legal actions, the importance of downtown events, the need for a
stakeholder group to find a solution for all involved parties, and the need for better
communication.
Item 11- Announcements concerning items of community interest from members
of the City Council. No action will be taken or discussed.
9:51 a.m.
Councilor Taylor discussed the Veterans Day parade on November 2nd and encouraged
everyone to participate. He thanked Chief Hughes for his work on wildfire mitigation and
discussed the importance to the community. He also asked for information to help him
understand what it costs the City to provide sanitation services each year.
Councilor Whiteley encouraged citizens to participate in downtown events and said that
they would be missing out if they did not. The Kelly Crush chili cookoff is on Saturday at
P2 and proceeds fund scholarships provided by our firefighters. He expressed his
appreciation for the Purple Heart Community designation and his gratitude and support
for the EMS training.
Councilor Browning discussed the upcoming elections and encouraged everyone to vote.
Councilor Smith thanked everyone for attending, encouraged everyone to vote, and
stated that early voting starts Monday, October 21 st
Councilor Battaglino thanked everyone who attended his Town Hall meeting last night.
He stated that the presentation for the Purple Heart community designation was the most
moving thing the Council has done during the time he has served. He said on November
11 th at 5:30 p.m., there will be a memorial event and unveiling of the Veterans Park master
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plan at the Thomas Fowler American Legion Post 169, and he discussed various other
upcoming community events.
Councilor Nelson discussed Amtrak and the train museum, the need to include all Purple
Heart veterans in town, and the importance of inclusiveness for all things. He encouraged
everyone to vote and expressed his support for public safety. Councilor Battaglino
discussed the plan for a Purple Heart monument to include all recipients in the community.
Mayor Short stated that the City has received Opioid settlement funding and that
$150,000 will be made available through an application process. All information can be
found on the Health Department website. Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on
October 31 st
Item 12 — Memorial Auditorium Tour to meet at the City Council Chambers,
Memorial Auditorium, 1300 Seventh Street.
Mayor Short recessed the meeting at 10:01 to reconvene at Memorial Auditorium on the
first floor. He stated that the live recording would end, the tour would be recorded and
streamed on Facebook Live, and the entire meeting would be posted to the website.
The meeting reconvened on the first floor of Memorial Auditorium for a building tour to
see the renovation progress.
Item 13 — Adjourn from 1st floor of Memorial Auditorium, 1300 Seventh Street.
Mayor Short adjourned the meeting at 11 :05 a.m.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 5th day of November 2024.
Tim Short, Mayor
ATTEST:
✓! � i EJG 11I.7
Marie Balthrop, TRW, MMC
City Clerk
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