Min 12/03/2024 City of Wichita Falls
City Council Meeting Gam .
4/
ro
.....� Minutes
4 15
\-1111)1C.
5TEXAS7(
December 3, 2024 <6+ "'
Rime-Skres 46,ides-CiTelftmitres +L "
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
Whitney Flack - District 1
Robert Brooks - District 2
Jeff Browning - District 3
Mike Battaglino - District 4
Tom Taylor - District 5
James McKechnie - Interim City Manager
Kinley Hegglund - City Attorney
Marie Balthrop - City Clerk
Mayor Short called the meeting to order at 8:32 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 3a — Employee of the Month — Karen Montgomery-Gagne
8:34 a.m.
Mayor Short recognized Karen Montgomery-Gagne as Employee of the Month for
December 2024 and shared a brief video. He congratulated Ms. Montgomery-Gagne and
presented her with a plaque, letter of appreciation, dinner for two, and a check and
thanked her for her service.
Item 3 — Comments from Citizens
8:38 a.m.
Kenny Jordan, 408 Sullivan, discussed an issue with a water line that erupted in front of
his house at 300 Bridge Street, pumping sand into the water lines in the house. He has
spoken with Risk Management and asked for help getting the issue corrected.
Pam Hughes Pak, Atmos Energy, provided information regarding energy assistance and
winter energy savings tips and wished everyone Happy Holidays.
Item 5-6 — Consent Items
8:43 a.m.
James McKechnie, Interim 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 Taylor and carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Short, Councilors Battaglino, Brooks, Browning, Flack, Taylor, and Whiteley.
Nays: None
Item 5 — Approval of Minutes of the November 19, 2024, Regular Meeting of the
Mayor and City Council
Item 6 — Receive Minutes
(a) MPO — Transportation Policy Committee, July 24, 2024
(b) Planning & Zoning, October 9, 2024
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
December 3, 2024
PAGE 2 OF 7
Item 7a(i) — Public Hearing
8:44 a.m.
Conduct a 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.
Mayor Short opened the public hearing at 8:44 a.m.
Terry Floyd, Director of Development Services, discussed the dangerous structure
declaration and the process for utilizing Community Development Block Grant funding to
demolish the properties. Owners will have 30 days to obtain a restoration permit or
demolish the structures before the City takes action.
Alex Borrego, Code Enforcement, discussed the following dangerous structures and
notice timelines.
2002 11 th Street, main structure— Date of notice June 26, 2024, and structure fire on May
1 , 2024.
1817 9th Street, main structure — Date of notice September 13, 2024, and structure fire
on August 9, 2024.
2132 Avenue H, main and accessory structures— Date of notice July 24, 2024, $1 ,751 .24
taxes owed, water disconnected December 14, 2022, and structure fire April 17, 2024.
1301 N. 1st, main structure — Date of notice October 14, 2022, and structure fire on June
17, 2022.
1208 N. Rosewood, main structure — Date of notice September 7, 2023, structure fire on
October 27, 2021 .
1902 E. Fort Worth Street, mobile home — Date of notice November 16, 2022, and
structure is dilapidated and unsecured.
Councilor Taylor noted that three of these properties go back to 2021 and 2022 and asked
why it has taken this much time to address them. Mr. Borrego stated that notices were
sent, but property owners changed, and the notice period restarted.
Mayor Short closed the public hearing at 8:53 a.m.
Item 7a(ii) — Ordinance 65-2024
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
December 3, 2024
PAGE 3 OF 7
8:53 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 Taylor to approve Ordinance 65-2024.
The motion was seconded by Councilor Browning and carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Short, Councilors Battaglino, Brooks, Browning, Flack, Taylor, and Whiteley.
Nays: None
Item 8a — Resolution 155-2024
8:54 a.m.
Resolution authorizing the City Manager, or his designee, to make application to FEMA
for the FY 2024 Assistance to Firefighters Grant to support emergency medical service
delivery by adding 14 cardiac monitors at a cost of $852,423.46.
Moved by Councilor Browning to approve Resolution 155-2024.
The motion was seconded by Councilor Taylor and carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Short, Councilors Battaglino, Brooks, Browning, Flack, Taylor, and Whiteley.
Nays: None
Item 8b— Resolution 156-2024
8:55 a.m.
Resolution authorizing the City of Wichita Falls to adopt the Wichita Falls Community
Wildfire Protection Plan to ensure the City continues to mitigate and reduce the overall
damage caused by Wildfires that will impact the City of Wichita Falls.
Moved by Councilor Battaglino to approve Resolution 156-2024.
The motion was seconded by Councilor Browning.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
December 3, 2024
PAGE 4 OF 7
Al Vitolo, President of the Wichita Falls Professional Firefighters Association, commended
Chief Hughes and his staff for their work on the plan, stated that Wichita Falls is in the
94th percentile for wildfire dangers, and encouraged the Council to seek other funding
options if we do not receive the Wildfire Defense Grant.
The motion was carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Short, Councilors Battaglino, Brooks, Browning, Flack, Taylor, and Whiteley.
Nays: None
Item 8c — Resolution 157-2024
9:02 a.m.
Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute all documents necessary to make
application for the Community Wildfire Defense Grant up to 10 million dollars with no
match waiver.
Moved by Councilor Battaglino to approve Resolution 157-2024.
The motion was seconded by Councilor Browning and was carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Short, Councilors Battaglino, Brooks, Browning, Flack, Taylor, and Whiteley.
Nays: None
Item 8d — Resolution 158-2024
9:04 a.m.
Resolution confirming an appointment to the Firefighters and Police Officers' Civil Service
Commission.
Moved by Councilor Browning to approve Resolution 158-2024.
The motion was seconded by Councilor Taylor and carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Short, Councilors Battaglino, Brooks, Browning, Flack, Taylor, and Whiteley.
Nays: None
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
December 3, 2024
PAGE 5 OF 7
Item 9 — Announcements concerning items of community interest from members
of the City Council. No action will be taken or discussed.
9:06 a.m.
Councilor Flack said she hoped everyone had a great Thanksgiving, and as we get ready
for Christmas, she hopes everyone is looking forward to a happy holiday season. She
thanked the Fire Department for their work, and she is excited about the adoption of plan.
Councilor Whiteley discussed some of the homes that have been on the dangerous
structure list for multiple years, and asked that communication be sent out to the Fire
Department regarding when utilities are disconnected. He appreciates Pastor
McCartney's comments today about all city employees. We have over 1000 city
employees, and he encouraged everyone to find ways to keep our well educated and
trained employees in Wichita Falls. He missed the presentation yesterday at the Police
Department but wanted to congratulate Leland Wright and Charlie Eipper on their
retirement.
Councilor Browning wished everyone a Merry Christmas.
Councilor Taylor gave kudos to the Fire Department for all of their work, and he thanked
all City employees who kept the City running over the holiday. He discussed the quality
of life and the appearance of our city, which contributes to the growth of the economy. He
encouraged citizens to report concerns so they can be addressed because the
appearance of the City is important to our economic growth. He appreciates Code
Enforcement for all they do.
Councilor Battaglino discussed various events coming up in the next two weeks and
encouraged everyone to participate.
Mayor Short welcomed the two new councilors again, thanked Councilor Taylor for his
tenacity regarding the Fire Mitigation Plan, and thanked all of the staff involved. He was
unable to attend yesterday's retirement ceremony and congratulated Charlie Eipper and
Leland Wright on their retirement.
Item 10 — Executive Sessions
City Council adjourned into Executive Session at 9:13 a.m. in accordance with Texas
Government Code §551.071 and §551 .074.
Mayor Short reconvened the meeting in open session at 10:23 a.m. and announced that
no votes or polls were taken.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
December 3, 2024
PAGE 6 OF 7
Item 11 — Adjourn
Mayor Short adjourned the meeting at 10:24 a.m.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 17th day of December 2024.
Tim Short, Mayor
ATTEST:
Marie Balthrop, TRMC', MMC
City Clerk
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
December 3, 2024
PAGE 7 OF 7