Min 01/21/2025 City of Wichita Falls ,.
City Council Meeting
.�- Minutes `.'
January 21 , 2025 �� dK�.'\ 44 a
TEXAS (4 'rai
4F/unz5kie5'4eiden,0ipa1'tunotieS
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
Austin Cobb - At-Large
Whitney Flack - District 1
Robert Brooks - District 2
Mike Battaglino - District 4
Tom Taylor - District 5
James McKechnie - Interim City Manager
Kinley Hegglund - City Attorney
Marie Balthrop - City Clerk
Absent: Jeff Browning, Mayor Pro Tem/Councilor District 3.
Mayor Short called the meeting to order at 8:32 a.m.
Item 2a — Invocation
Dr. Mark Bender, First Christian Church, gave the invocation.
Item 2b — Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Short led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Item 3a — Proclamation — Crime Stoppers Awareness Month, Wichita Falls Area
Crime Stoppers
8:34 a.m.
Mayor Short read a proclamation proclaiming January 2025 as Crime Stoppers
Awareness Month in Wichita Falls.
Item 3b — Presentation — Calling All Leaders: Principal for the Day on February 12th
— Dr. Donny Lee
8:37 a.m.
Dr. Donny Lee gave a presentation highlighting the changes and accomplishments in the
Wichita Falls Independent School District and encouraged community leaders to
participate in Principal for the Day on February 12, 2025.
Item 4 — Comments from Citizens
8:50 a.m.
Jack Browne, 2000 Margaret Dr., discussed the importance of the Crisis Aid Response
Team and thanked the Council for allowing this program to go forward.
Item 5-7 — Consent Items
8:53 a.m.
James McKechnie, Interim City Manager, gave a briefing on the items listed under the
Consent Agenda.
Moved by Councilor Taylor to approve the consent agenda.
The motion was seconded by Councilor Battaglino and carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Short, Councilors Battaglino, Brooks, Cobb, Flack, and Taylor.
Nays: None
Item 5 — Approval of minutes of the Mayor and City Council
(a) December 23, 2024, Special Meeting
(b) January 7, 2025, Regular Meeting
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
January 21, 2025
PAGE 2 OF 8
Item 6a — Ordinance 03-2025
Ordinance authorizing the City Manager to approve a request from United Regional
Health Care System to close, vacate, and abandon two concrete paved alleys located
between Alma and Marshal Streets, north of Huff Street
Item 6b — Ordinance 04-2025
Ordinance authorizing the City Manager to approve a request from Vincente Martinez-De
La Cruz to close, vacate, and abandon an alley adjacent to 1801 Westcliff and Red Fox
Road.
Item 7 — Receive Minutes
(a) Wichita Falls-Wichita County Public Health Board, November 8, 2024
(b) Planning and Zoning Commission, November 13, 2024
(c) Central Wichita Falls Neighborhood Revitalization Committee, December 3,
2024
(d) Central Wichita Falls Neighborhood Revitalization Committee, December 17,
2024
Item 8a — Ordinance 05-2025
8:55 a.m.
Ordinance approving the transfer of various aged receivable accounts to dormant status
as part of the City's fiscal year end closing process.
Moved by Councilor Battaglino to approve Ordinance 05-2025.
The motion was seconded by Councilor Cobb and was carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Short, Councilors Battaglino, Brooks, Cobb, Flack, and Taylor.
Nays: None
Item 9a — Resolution 05-2025
8:57 a.m.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
January 21, 2025
PAGE 3 OF 8
Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a professional services agreement
with Corlett, Probst & Boyd, PLLC for engineering services related to the 2025 Sanitary
Sewer BUIP and Lift Station Rehabilitation projects in the amount of $187,770.00.
Moved by Councilor Battaglino to approve Resolution 05-2025.
The motion was seconded by Councilor Taylor and carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Short, Councilors Battaglino, Brooks, Cobb, Flack, and Taylor.
Nays: None
Item 9b — Resolution 06-2025
9:01 a.m.
Resolution authorizing the purchase of one (1)Alley Sideload solid waste collection truck
through the Houston-Galveston Area Council (HGAC) Purchasing Cooperative from
Bruckner's Truck Sales, Inc. In the amount of$332,668.00.
Moved by Councilor Battaglino to approve Resolution 06-2025.
The motion was seconded by Councilor Taylor and was carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Short, Councilors Battaglino, Brooks, Cobb, Flack, and Taylor.
Nays: None
Item 9c — Resolution 07-2025
9:03 a.m.
Resolution authorizing the City Manager or his designee to make application for a grant
from the Gary Sinise Foundation, First Responders Outreach Grant Program in the
amount up to $39,000.00.
Moved by Councilor Battaglino to approve Resolution 07-2025.
The motion was seconded by Councilor Taylor and was carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Short, Councilors Battaglino, Brooks, Cobb, Flack, and Taylor.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
January 21, 2025
PAGE 4 OF 8
Nays: None
Item 9d — Resolution 08-2025
9:05 a.m.
Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute all documents necessary to replace
the chain link fence fabric, post extensions, replacement and/or repair of gates as needed
on Fields 1 , 2, and 4 at the Sports Complex by Sozo Services LLC in the amount of
$72,000.00.
Moved by Councilor Battaglino to approve Resolution 08-2025.
The motion was seconded by Councilor Taylor and carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Short, Councilors Battaglino, Brooks, Cobb, Flack, and Taylor.
Nays: None
Item 9e — Resolution 09-2025
9:07 a.m.
Resolution authorizing the purchase of a tree trimming truck for the Parks Maintenance
Division through The Interlocal Purchasing System (TIPS) purchasing cooperative from
Chuck Nash Chevrolet Buick Inc. (dba Chuck Nash Chevrolet Buick GMC) in the amount
of $111 ,449.75.
Moved by Councilor Battaglino to approve Resolution 09-2025.
The motion was seconded by Councilor Taylor and was carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Short, Councilors Battaglino, Brooks, Cobb, Flack, and Taylor.
Nays: None
Item 9f— Resolution 10-2025
9:10 a.m.
Resolution adopting the 2025 Parks and Recreations Master Plan and directing City staff
to develop approaches to implement the strategies outlined therein.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
January 21, 2025
PAGE 5 OF 8
Moved by Councilor Taylor to approve Resolution 10-2025.
The motion was seconded by Councilor Battaglino.
Kendall Howard, Halff Associates Inc., gave a presentation and overview of the proposed
Parks and Recreation Master Plan and discussed community involvement and input.
Blake Jurecek, Assistant City Manager, discussed the plan's recommendations, the 25
high-priority items identified with public input, and the need to create a Parks Foundation
to assist with future funding needs.
There was a brief discussion regarding the proposed projects, opportunities to improve
access, timelines for completing the high-priority projects, the thoroughness of the plan,
and the need for regular tracking. The Council expressed their appreciation to the Park
Board and staff that worked on the plan.
Ricky Lowe, 212 Fair St., asked about the priority for parks in District 2. Mr. Jurecek stated
that they have the same priority and discussed some improvements already made.
Steve Garner, 2806 S. Shepherds Glen, stated that this plan has been well thought out
and had more community involvement than any plan in the past. He stated that it is the
responsibility of the Council and staff to put a timeline on the plan and discussed the
potential for community growth and the importance of quality of life opportunities.
It was noted that the City is currently recruiting to hire a Parks Director who will be
responsible for moving this plan forward.
The motion was carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Short, Councilors Battaglino, Brooks, Cobb, Flack, and Taylor.
Nays: None
Item 10 — Announcements concerning items of community interest from members
of the City Council. No action will be taken or discussed.
9:44 a.m.
Councilor Cobb thanked the Parks Board and staff for their work and thanked Dr. Lee for
his presentation regarding Principal for the Day. The Pancake Festival is this weekend,
and he invited everyone to attend and support the Kiwanis Club.
Councilor Brooks thanked everyone for attending and expressed his appreciation to his
constituents for being there.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
January 21, 2025
PAGE 6 OF 8
Councilor Flack thanked Kendall, Blake, and Terry for their work on the parks and
extended her condolences to John Hirschi's family, highlighting his dedication to the city,
philanthropy, and generosity. As we lose citizens who serve our community, she
encouraged citizens to step up as we are on the cusp of great things and it is our turn to
serve. She thanked everyone for attending and watching and encouraged people to get
involved in committees or other ways to serve.
Councilor Taylor expressed his thanks for the work on the Master Park Plan and
discussed the importance of ADA accessibility and the need for inclusiveness and access
to the Circle Trail for Shepard Air Force Base. He expressed his appreciation for all of the
input today.
Councilor Battaglino expressed his appreciation to Dr. Lee for his presentation on
Principal for the Day. He also gave a shout out to everyone who worked on the Martin
Luther King Prayer Breakfast and Parade, which were both awesome events. He also
thanked the Texas Association of Vietnam Veterans for the opportunity to carry a flag in
the parade.
Mayor Short welcomed Lindsay Lewis back to work and gave kudos to all involved in the
Park Master Plan, and expressed his pride in the results, which will help set the City apart.
He also shared his admiration for young women he met at the Martin Luther King Prayer
Breakfast, who successfully petitioned the school to officially recognize Martin Luther King
Day as a WFISD holiday twenty-four years ago.
Item 11 — Executive Sessions
City Council adjourned into Executive Session at 9:50 a.m. in accordance with Texas
Government Code §551.087, §551 .074, and §551 .071 .
Mayor Short reconvened the meeting in open session at 11 :39 a.m. and announced that
no votes or polls were taken.
Item 12 — Adjourn
Mayor Short adjourned the meeting at 12:56 p.m.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 4th day of February 2025.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
January 21, 2025
PAGE 7 OF 8
Tim Short, Mayor
ATTEST:
c , B
Marie Balthrop, TR , MMC
City Clerk
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
January 21, 2025
PAGE 8 OF 8