Amarillo City Council meeting highlights: Infrastructure, public safety, and animal welfare

The Amarillo City Council held its first regular meeting of the new term on Tuesday, May 7, following the May 3 municipal election. The meeting came just hours after a special session to canvass election results, administer oaths of office to incoming members, and officially call for a runoff election in the Place 3 race.

The session marked a transitional moment for the city, with the departure of outgoing Councilmember Josh Craft and the welcoming of new Place 1 Councilmember Tim Reid. The business that followed set the tone for a term expected to focus heavily on infrastructure, transparency, and community services.

New Agenda Structure Aims to Improve Public Engagement

Mayor Cole Stanley opened the meeting by addressing a change in the council’s typical meeting format—one that many in the audience may not have immediately noticed, but which could significantly affect how future meetings unfold.

Traditionally, the City Council places discussion items before the consent agenda. On Tuesday, that order was flipped. Stanley explained that the switch was a trial aimed at improving both accessibility and efficiency.

“Our discussion items can be six or seven items long, sometimes with complex implications,” Stanley said. “These often happen before 5 o’clock, which can make it difficult for working residents to engage in real-time. This is an attempt to be more inclusive.”

The revised structure also benefits city staff and contractors. Items requiring council approval—such as funding agreements or procurement decisions—can now move forward more quickly without waiting through potentially hours of unrelated discussion.

Stanley emphasized the change is experimental and open to adjustment based on community and council feedback.

Public Safety Investment: Council Approves New Police Motorcycles

The most prominent item pulled from the consent agenda for further discussion was Item 8.G, a proposal to replace the Amarillo Police Department’s aging Harley-Davidson motorcycle fleet with seven BMW police-rated motorcycles. Councilmember Don Tipps requested the discussion, citing the cost and reasoning behind the brand switch as points of interest for constituents.

Interim Police Chief Jimmy Johnson and Assistant City Manager Donny Hooper jointly presented the rationale. Johnson said the Motors Unit officers themselves had requested the switch, citing safety features, performance, and the fact that the Harley-Davidson model in use was no longer in production.

“These are the folks putting themselves in high-speed traffic situations every day,” Johnson said. “They’ve tested the new models and believe they’re better suited for the work they do.”

Hooper added that BMW police motorcycles offer advanced stability systems, better braking, and a longer projected service life, making the investment more cost-effective over time. The council approved the purchase unanimously.

Keeping Amarillo Moving: Focus on Streets and Patching

Infrastructure dominated much of the evening’s discussion, beginning with a presentation from Public Works Director Alan Harder about a $2 million contract for large asphalt patching. While pothole repairs tend to get the most attention, Harder clarified that this contract targets more serious damage—large segments of road that require full-depth replacement.

The $2 million contract is part of a broader $12 million annual street maintenance budget and will allow the city to complete about 1.6 lane miles of patching. That may not sound like much, Harder acknowledged, but the targeted repairs will extend the life of critical roadways and reduce long-term costs.

“It’s about preserving what we have before it gets beyond repair,” Harder said. “This isn’t glamorous work, but it’s essential.”

The council directed Harder to proceed with issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to select a contractor for the work.

Modern Tools for an Old Challenge: Playa Lake Monitoring System Launched

Harder also introduced a new high-tech tool for monitoring Amarillo’s playa lakes—shallow natural basins that collect stormwater and have long presented a flood management challenge.

The new monitoring system, launched earlier that day on the City of Amarillo’s website, uses radar-based sensors and solar-powered cameras to track lake levels. The public-facing interface allows residents to view current and historical lake levels, as well as live images from each site.

“This is a much more scientific approach than what we’ve done in the past,” Harder said. “We used to rely on staff driving out to measure the lakes manually. Now we have real-time, accurate data that informs both city decisions and public awareness.”

The monitoring tool is expected to become an important piece of Amarillo’s broader flood mitigation strategy.

Drainage Projects Move Forward After 2023 Flooding

From lake levels, the conversation flowed naturally into an update on the City’s major drainage bond projects, presented by Assistant City Manager Donny Hooper at the request of Councilmember Tom Scherlen.

Following devastating flooding in summer 2023—particularly around Lawrence Lake—the City Council approved a drainage fee increase to help generate nearly $42.8 million in bond proceeds for critical infrastructure projects. Approximately $39 million of that has been issued, and the city is now progressing through the engineering and design phases.

Hooper presented an updated list of proposed projects, noting that several from the original draft had been removed due to low flood mitigation impact.

Key Projects Include:

Lawrence Lake Pump Station and Force Main ($24.6 million): Will help redirect water to John Ward Memorial Park and ultimately into West Amarillo Creek.

Playa 7 Pump Station ($11.7 million): Designed to handle runoff near the Greenways, linking to the Soncy drainage system.

Lamar Street at 45th Avenue ($1.9 million): Adds inlets and drainage pipes to remove standing water from roads.

Olsen/Western Storm Sewer ($5 million): In design phase; funding is being sought for future construction.

Hooper reassured the council that all projects are being designed with one clear metric in mind—flood mitigation impact. He also noted that engineering contracts would be brought before the council soon, and that timelines are aligned to ensure 70% completion within three years to comply with IRS tax-exempt bond requirements.

Spay & Neuter Pilot Program Targets High-Need Neighborhoods

Shifting from infrastructure to animal welfare, Deputy City Manager Andrew Freeman presented a proposed pilot program from Amarillo Welfare and Management (AWM) to address gaps in pet sterilization services.

The voucher-based program will offer financial assistance to pet owners in four designated Neighborhood Empowerment Zones—North Heights, El Barrio, San Jacinto, and Eastridge. Eligible applicants can receive:

Up to $200 for dogs

Up to $100 for cats

To qualify, pets must already be vaccinated and microchipped, requirements designed to encourage responsible pet ownership while also reducing the city’s stray population.

Councilmember Les Simpson, who serves on the AWM board, highlighted that 2024 marked the first year in several years that AWM had reduced its intake numbers, a trend largely credited to its microchip clinics.

“This program could be another tool in reducing overpopulation before it reaches the shelter,” Simpson said. “It’s a small step, but potentially a big impact.”

A Smooth Start for New Councilmember Tim Reid

As the meeting wrapped, Tim Reid, newly sworn in as Councilmember for Place 1, reflected on his first official meeting.

“I met with the City Manager, a number of department heads, and went through past meeting materials to prepare,” Reid said. “Then I spent a lot of time just thinking and praying over what kind of decisions might come up.”

He expressed relief that the meeting did not bring any controversial or divisive issues, giving him the space to observe and participate thoughtfully. Reid also signaled plans to begin meeting with citizens directly in the coming weeks.

“I’m already getting calls,” he said with a chuckle. “Once I get a better feel for the processes, I want to be out there one-on-one with the people.”

Looking Ahead: Runoff Election and More Projects on the Horizon

While the meeting wrapped up without contention—all non-consent items passed unanimously—the council’s work is just beginning. The runoff election for Place 3, timelines for drainage projects, and further infrastructure investments are expected to shape much of the summer agenda.

Mayor Stanley praised the tone of the meeting and encouraged residents to remain involved as the council moves forward.

“Our job is to serve the public,” Stanley said. “And the more the public engages, the better our city becomes.”