More from this week's Amarillo City Council meeting

The Amarillo City Council covered a wide range of topics during its regular meeting this week, including individual council priorities for the year ahead, economic development updates, infrastructure investments, and major agreements tied to downtown redevelopment and higher education partnerships.

The meeting opened with a new agenda item requested by Councilman Tim Reid, allowing each council member to offer brief personal remarks outlining their vision for serving the community in the coming year. According to the agenda, the remarks were intended to be short statements reflecting individual focus areas rather than policy debates or political messaging.

Reid explained that the agenda item was carefully structured to stay within established boundaries and was reviewed in advance by city leadership.

“They said, as long as we don’t cross these boundaries, you’re well within your range to do that. And so that’s why I wrote mine down, because I wanted to make sure I stayed within any boundaries,” Reid said. “I didn’t want to set up a discussion or argument about anything. It was just, here’s what I’m thinking.”

Reid said the purpose of the agenda item was not to gain political points, but to give residents insight into what individual council members were prioritizing as they approach the year ahead. He emphasized that the City Attorney and City Manager provided guidance on appropriate subject matter so that the council dais would not become what he described as a “bully pulpit.”

Council Members Outline Focus Areas

During the remarks, Councilman Reid emphasized public safety and park maintenance as key priorities. He highlighted Amarillo’s park system, which includes 52 parks covering approximately 2,400 acres, and said maintaining those public spaces is an important quality-of-life issue for residents.

Councilman Don Tipps focused his remarks on public safety and tourism. He spoke about the role tourism can play in easing tax burdens on residents by increasing outside spending in the city, noting that attracting visitors can help generate revenue without placing additional strain on local taxpayers.

Councilman David Prescott praised the level of services currently provided by the city and identified infrastructure modernization as an important need. He highlighted the wastewater treatment plant as a critical facility requiring updates and said technology integration will be increasingly important to maintaining efficiency and reliability in city services.

Councilman Les Simpson called for strategic, long-term planning to guide Amarillo’s future growth. He emphasized the importance of preparing for development in a way that supports sustainability and community needs over time rather than reacting only to short-term pressures.

Amarillo Mayor Cole Stanley concluded the remarks by stressing the importance of service over self in public office. He also emphasized the role of constructive criticism in policymaking, encouraging thoughtful input and collaboration as the council addresses community challenges.

Herring Hotel Redevelopment Moves Forward

Later in the meeting, the council voted to approve a developer agreement related to the proposed restoration of the historic Herring Hotel, marking another step forward for the long-planned downtown redevelopment project.

The agreement is between the Center City Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) #1 and Herring Hotel Partners, LLC, and is the same agreement previously approved by the TIRZ board. With the council’s approval, the project clears another procedural hurdle toward redevelopment.

Under the agreement, the developer is eligible for a 100% annual reimbursement of ad valorem taxes for a period of 10 years, as well as a one-time grant not to exceed $900,000. The grant funds are designated for façade improvements and infrastructure upgrades associated with the project.

In exchange for the incentives, the developer is required to meet several obligations. These include investing $90 million in private funding and completing the redevelopment project as outlined in the agreement. The developer is also responsible for paying accrued interest associated with prior city updates made to the former transit facility located on the hotel property.

That payment totals $244,000 and is intended to clear the interest owed for those improvements. City officials have previously emphasized that such agreements are structured to encourage private investment while protecting public funds through performance requirements.

The Herring Hotel, once a prominent downtown landmark, has been the subject of redevelopment discussions for several years. Supporters of the project have cited its potential to contribute to downtown revitalization efforts, while critics have questioned the use of tax incentives. The approved agreement reflects terms already reviewed by the TIRZ board and now formally endorsed by the full council.

Amendment to Texas Tech Agreement Approved

The council also approved an amendment to the Location Agreement between the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) and Texas Tech University, a move projected to save the city nearly $2 million.

The amendment alters the payment schedule associated with the School of Veterinary Medicine, which is located in Amarillo. Instead of making payments totaling approximately $15.6 million over the next three years, the city will make a single lump-sum payment of $13,653,467.33.

The reduced amount reflects the net present value of the original payments calculated at a 7% discount rate. Interim AEDC CEO Doug Nelson explained that the change benefits both the city and the university.

“That discount amounts to a savings of $1.95 million, so it is literally a win-win situation for us, less taxpayer money going out, and Texas Tech can benefit from receiving that cash early and deploying it in the university,” Nelson said.

The original location incentive agreement was entered into in 2018 during the development phase of the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine. The school began accepting students in the fall of 2021 and has since become a significant educational and economic presence in Amarillo.

City officials noted that accelerating the payment schedule reduces long-term financial obligations while allowing the university greater flexibility in using the funds sooner.

Economic Development Update Provided

Nelson also delivered an update on ongoing and planned activities at the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation.

According to Nelson, three construction projects are currently underway with expected completion dates ranging from October 2026 to December 2028. The projects represent a combined investment of approximately $1.1 billion.

Nelson said that in 2025, the AEDC assisted 26 companies operating under performance agreements. The organization also responded to 13 Requests for Proposals (RFPs), while 61 RFPs received no response. Additionally, staff conducted 54 business retention and expansion visits and assigned 26 project numbers during the year.

Nelson provided updated labor force statistics as well. From September 2023 to September 2025, the civilian labor force in Amarillo grew to 5,585 people, with 5,197 of those individuals employed.

“We’ve been consistently growing our civilian labor force, which is a great sign for our community,” Nelson said.

The city’s unemployment rate currently stands at 3.3% based on the latest available data from September 2025. Nelson noted that the figure represents a slight increase from the 3.1% unemployment rate reported in 2023 and 2024.

City officials indicated that the data reflects broader economic trends while continuing to show relative stability in the local job market.

Looking Ahead

The meeting reflected a combination of forward-looking planning and routine governance, with council members addressing both individual priorities and major policy decisions. From infrastructure needs and public safety to downtown redevelopment and higher education partnerships, the agenda highlighted the breadth of issues facing Amarillo’s municipal leadership.

The approval of the Herring Hotel developer agreement and the amendment to the Texas Tech incentive agreement both represent long-term financial commitments tied to economic growth and revitalization efforts. Meanwhile, updates from the AEDC suggest continued activity in business development and construction, alongside modest changes in labor force trends.

As the council moves into the year ahead, members’ stated priorities and the agreements approved during this meeting are likely to shape upcoming discussions on budgeting, development, and service delivery across the city.