[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6466690,"mediaKeyId","5822717-eca890ac4c4454bd8d63f0dbade709e0","parentId",5822717,"title","Council raises Civic Center concession minimum to $500,000; staff says facility limits revenue growth","audioSeconds",349,"startMs",3087000,"endMs",3436000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5822717-eca890ac4c4454bd8d63f0dbade709e0&start=3087&end=3436","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5822717-eca890ac4c4454bd8d63f0dbade709e0/thumbnail_3087000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6466690/Amarillo/Potter-County/Texas/Council-raises-Civic-Center-concession-minimum-to-500000-staff-says-facility-limits-revenue-growth","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466690-b55c5dc3ef41d1cf417d64c4be89816a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775993369&Signature=ANWl7kVx9ZhYH3IrrxsOS-WMh~FjED-chLX5zOpyR7WBWB7CDBd-F-0fax-cANqbC6y37B~eDTOGQS-zu2h0euZ56nays9KHks5wmIjsTy3Z2UaUwa3PxTgW95gey6~crY0DUr3V3lkRUMweC5LTt-bU6ITsv9oVs4nVbb-hSom8x2TQraUoegmv2DHAahZCg4opXVuzzESixA~C3CtVX3ss1alT3zirkhB5sktmNPrLA-vIX5n4ft99q8NxrM5OPKIdRlg3uMpa0ysi4BoJJB35vbFsUZhpffPUmZNzhH7r9PJtI2yxTh6JgH9jPBXedyVo7nIDR2Y-D6Z0WCj9DQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Amarillo","date","2025-09-23T00:00:00Z","article","The Amarillo City Council on Sept. 23 approved a new concession revenue contract for the Civic Center that raises the guaranteed annual minimum payment to the facility from $400,000 to $500,000.

City staff said the contract increases the guaranteed floor for concession revenue by $100,000 annually but does not itself create significant new revenue unless the Civic Center’s physical infrastructure — notably a commercial kitchen and expanded catering spaces — is upgraded.

“This particular contract is actually a revenue contract…we’re actually raising that minimum to 500, which gives us a guarantee of another $100,000 a year out of our concession sales,” said Rich Guyon, city staff, describing the new agreement. He added that the facility’s lack of a larger kitchen and catering infrastructure limits the city’s ability to expand concession operations and further reduce the hotel-occupancy-tax subsidy currently covering a portion of Civic Center operations.

According to staff comments during the meeting, the Civic Center’s total operating cost this fiscal year was about $5.6 million, and the budgeted subsidy from hotel occupancy tax was approximately $2.323 million. Staff projected the subsidy would decline in the current year as operations improve and efficiency measures take effect, possibly falling nearer to $2.1 million in updated actuals.

Council members said the city is examining “cost recovery” across revenue-generating services and targeting reductions in general-fund subsidies where possible. The mayor noted that hotel-occupancy tax revenues normally fill the Civic Center subsidy, and council discussed that significant additional concession revenue likely requires capital investment in kitchen and service areas.

The council approved the contract on a recorded motion; the item passed without further amendment.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Amarillo - City Council Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The City Council approved a new concession contract for the Amarillo Civic Center that increases the guaranteed minimum payment from the vendor and discussed long-term subsidy and facility limitations that constrain greater revenue generation.","taxTitle","Amarillo, Potter County, Texas","taxId",2812,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6466694,"Amarillo residents press council for transparency on Fermi America AI project and water deal",1946,1197000,3143000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5822717-eca890ac4c4454bd8d63f0dbade709e0&start=1197&end=3143","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5822717-eca890ac4c4454bd8d63f0dbade709e0/thumbnail_1197000.jpg","/articles/6466694/Amarillo/Potter-County/Texas/Amarillo-residents-press-council-for-transparency-on-Fermi-America-AI-project-and-water-deal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466694-9a1dadfd8d31381f1d488e06ad883cf8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775993369&Signature=fqhig5hza4QwLZI9Or0mH7BwJiSGZobPYOio1uOVfMHzj3MCq~tMDOroJfZqzhzrWZu9M6Y7syHotSXemEaNK7aGfX7yj2uabZU1CkFNJ-bfvYbmXqDjMs8NVco8e2zlg-atpmfQsa1cKVLVYsSGHDUaBUU~KyRRcBywTUUcMSlPgG5R9URoFR7tVUtJdpi8hjz6QgM2yNGy~M9t3D2FvRBEIOqN4hxS1AsdcnmtuShKydEC338-9Q6WiF4BzW4eafuPRChi~CUuZTuDUjHvxyhz7g7hVPjqJy3BY9bsW1P6dDXPt-GiAXxh4vMGdO8LZtgVShsPt~rGtFCzdPZ2MQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of Amarillo residents used the City Council public-comment period on Sept. 23 to press elected officials for greater transparency about discussions with Fermi America over water and energy for a proposed AI data center and adjacent nuclear-generating facility.

Speakers said they learned details about the deal through news reports and outreach by neighbors rather than city briefings, and asked for public timelines, contracts and explanations of likely impacts on water supplies, power prices and agricultural uses.

“Before the council starts giving them our water and raising our electricity cost, this really should be an issue that the voters have a say in,” said Jerry Ross, identifying himself as an Amarillo parent and Randall County resident, during public comment. “This company needs Amarillo. Amarillo does not need this company.”

Several speakers urged the city to disclose what well fields or Carson County wells are under discussion, the planned amount of water the project may require, and whether any agreements would limit local control over aquifer withdrawals. “Which of the Carson County wells are y’all talking about? How many of them are y’all leasing and how much is that going to take away from our ability to pump ground water when we’re short?” asked Josiah West, a city resident.

Other commenters raised technical and regulatory questions. Mike Ford, who said he has decades of experience with nuclear projects, warned that certain cooling designs have not been approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and that final water use will depend on how the plant is engineered. “The NRC has not approved these things,” Ford said. He described a large range in potential water use depending on condenser design and urged the city to require qualified nuclear operators and to plan for regulatory impacts.

Lisa Romanelli addressed the council from an economic standpoint, noting Fermi’s plans to seek an initial public offering. She urged the city to seek an explicit return to the community — for example, a civic endowment funded by the company — and to require investments in local education and workforce development rather than rely solely on promises of future jobs.

Several commenters repeated assertions circulating in the public record: that Fermi’s plan could involve multiple nuclear reactors, that the company has discussed limited local use of generated electricity, and that a final cooling design could significantly change projected water withdrawals. Those claims were presented by speakers as concerns or as descriptions of the company’s public materials; the council did not present independent confirmations during the meeting.

Mayor Stanley acknowledged the comments and said the council had taken no action that obligates the city and that contract negotiations are ongoing. “We’ve taken no action. We’ve done nothing to obligate the city in any way, and we want to learn more,” the mayor said, adding that some contract negotiations will take place in executive-session settings because they contain confidential business terms.

City Manager (name not specified in transcript) and staff indicated some negotiations and technical reviews are under way and that certain contract terms remain confidential until formal agreements are ready for public action. Several speakers pressed the council for a clearer public timeline and for city-commissioned analyses of water, energy and economic impacts.

Why it matters: Fermi America’s proposed project, as described in public comments, would involve large water and energy needs in an area that has experienced recent drought and wildfires. Residents said the proposal could affect long-term water availability for households, farms and dairies in Potter and Randall counties, raising stakes for local landowners and the regional agricultural economy.

What the council said it will do: Mayor Stanley told speakers the city will proceed “one step at a time” and promised to provide information when it can, but reaffirmed that some negotiation material will remain confidential while businesses and the city finalize contract language.

What’s not yet clear: No formal water sale or transfer contract was presented to the council during the meeting, and no final technical reports from Fermi America or independent city-commissioned impact studies were presented. Speakers referenced NRC approval processes and public filings but the council did not confirm specific pipeline, well-field, or contract terms during the meeting.

The issue is likely to return to council agendas, and residents asked for a public forum where the city would outline what is being considered and what authority the council has over water supply and energy agreements.","Dozens of Amarillo residents urged the City Council to disclose details of talks with Fermi America, raising concerns about water rights, electrical costs and public oversight of a proposed AI data center and associated nuclear project.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6466680,"Votes at a glance: Amarillo City Council approves rezones, grants, contracts and personnel measures on Sept. 23, 2025",0,3870000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5822717-eca890ac4c4454bd8d63f0dbade709e0&start=3870&end=3870","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5822717-eca890ac4c4454bd8d63f0dbade709e0/thumbnail_3870000.jpg","/articles/6466680/Amarillo/Potter-County/Texas/Votes-at-a-glance-Amarillo-City-Council-approves-rezones-grants-contracts-and-personnel-measures-on-Sept-23-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466680-d78fe83d1a9fc4c30f2e5208a38a061d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775993369&Signature=F~SvMw6XhfT4M7A2abHMWqXGlrN6X3yfmuX6BKZ3aREry~XZmEFUOhCce66LUA56jigjzAigqOHbegcgwJK2uZFz9IWTEDIKZoaKBdfOcUUeXEDC6oZa3q1PVdhRG5FQXR6SHLZYm2-gRRMp3NIXSTDBKTQfNgu8OV4C0Q~yze2txWQeOOdtGkgUgE6qXpbqPUl8Myy5FQIL6uGbZOnPwiYie2Ji~B1BlGfsNDkJQlbrxgA8aabY6auohfhCA6IG89lPohl~fyqt5RLFGxO73X-6~053ukyCaAUE1bK-0syjuDBvrLwMYk9GBLduwyZXruIa0bm1f4PRkg9zwY5eBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Summary of actions taken by the Amarillo City Council on Sept. 23, 2025. This is a compact listing of votes, motion text (as read into the record), and outcomes. Where the meeting did not record a mover or seconder by name, the motion text is presented and vote tallies reflect the roll call outcome announced at the meeting.

1) Ordinance 8220 — Rezoning (Lots 1 & 2, Block 1 Krebs Addition Unit No. 1) — First reading
Motion: “I move to adopt ordinance number 8 2 2 0.”
Outcome: Adopted on first reading; voice vote recorded as 5–0 in favor.
Provenance: Mr. Brady Kendrick presented the item; public hearing opened and closed with no speakers; motion and vote followed.

2) Ordinance 8221 — Rezoning (28.91 acres, Heritage Hills) — First reading
Motion: “I move to adopt ordinance number 8 2 2 1 as presented.”
Outcome: Adopted on first reading; voice vote 5–0.
Provenance: Presented by Mr. Kendrick; no public comments; Planning & Zoning recommended approval (5–0).

3) Ordinance 8222 — Rezoning (56.1 acres, Trails at Tascosa Golf Club) — First reading
Motion: “To adopt ordinance 8 2 2 2 as adopted.”
Outcome: Adopted on first reading; voice vote 5–0.
Provenance: Presented by Mr. Kendrick; Planning & Zoning recommended approval (5–0).

4) Item 8P — Civic Center concession revenue contract
Motion: Motion to approve item 8P as presented.
Outcome: Motion passed (voice vote announced as aye; recorded as passed at meeting).
Provenance: Rich Guyon and City Manager discussed the contract minimum and Civic Center subsidy; motion carried.

5) Item 8W — Utility billing software migration additional funding and contract amendment
Motion: “I move to approve item 8 W as presented.”
Outcome: Motion passed; vote announced as aye; motion carried.
Provenance: City Manager and Jennifer Gonzales explained export/data-cleaning issues; council approved funding for additional testing.

6) Item 10D — Resolution 092325-1 (federal transit grants; FY applications)
Motion: “I move to adopt resolution number 092325 dash 1 as presented.”
Outcome: Motion passed; voice vote announced as aye; item carried.
Provenance: Transit staff presented grant list and a public commenter requested more bus-stop seating; council adopted resolution authorizing grant applications.

7) Item 10E — Ordinance 8216 — PID second and final reading (recusal)
Motion: “I move to adopt ordinance number 8 2 1 6 as presented.”
Outcome: Second and final reading adopted; recusal noted (one councilmember recused); final vote announced as 4–0.
Provenance: Second and final reading; Councilman Tibbs recused; ordinance adopted.

8) Item 10F — COLA ordinance (TMRS retirees; 70% funding)
Motion: Motion to adopt the ordinance to set the 70% cost-of-living adjustment for TMRS retirees.
Outcome: Motion passed; voice vote announced as aye; recorded as 5–0.
Provenance: Staff explained history and legislative context; council adopted the ordinance.

9) Item 10G — Resolution (Potter and Randall Appraisal District nominations)
Motion: Motion to adopt the resolution with nominations (Potter County: Mitzi Wade, Chip Hunt; Randall County: Tom Sherlin, Ginger White).
Outcome: Motion passed; recording announced as 5–0.
Provenance: Miss Coggins presented background and timeline; council nominated and authorized submission of names.

10) Item 10H — Resolution O92325-33 (abandonment of unaccepted alley; public utility easement dedication)
Motion: “I move to adopt resolution 0 9 2 3 2 5 dash 3 as presented.”
Outcome: Motion passed; voice vote announced as aye; item carried.
Provenance: Mr. Kendrick described applicant dedication of a public utility easement in exchange for abandonment; staff recommended approval.

11) Items 10I and 10J — TxDOT enforcement grants (commercial and noncommercial vehicle enforcement)
Motions: Resolutions to accept TxDOT grants for traffic enforcement and commercial vehicle enforcement.
Outcome: Both motions passed; voice votes announced as aye; items carried.
Provenance: Police/traffic staff presented as standard annual grants; council adopted the resolutions.

12) Items 10K, 10L, 10M — Employee benefits RFP awards (major medical, fully insured dental and ancillary, FMLA administration)
Motions: Motions to approve award of contracts per RFP #211-25 and accept proposals for medical, dental and FMLA administration.
Outcome: All three motions passed; voice votes announced as aye; recorded as 5–0.
Provenance: Staff and HUB consultants described expected savings and audit plans; council approved awards.

13) Adjournment
Motion: Motion to adjourn; seconded; motion passed and meeting adjourned.","The council approved multiple ordinances, resolutions and contract awards on first or final readings, including rezones, federal and TxDOT grants, a PID ordinance, a 70% TMRS COLA for retirees and awards for employee health benefits.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6466685,"Council approves additional work for utility billing software migration after export problems with incumbent vendor",217,3391000,3608000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5822717-eca890ac4c4454bd8d63f0dbade709e0&start=3391&end=3608","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5822717-eca890ac4c4454bd8d63f0dbade709e0/thumbnail_3391000.jpg","/articles/6466685/Amarillo/Potter-County/Texas/Council-approves-additional-work-for-utility-billing-software-migration-after-export-problems-with-incumbent-vendor","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466685-fcc4572565d6e846fcd7f89957f3ca43/orig.mp4?Expires=1775993369&Signature=aIHYcetNnBqsYSmCWY1yWv1ivU2nhsbIJKw8RPu~2qKVKBYpOgyaiqU2l4FrCUnllRtFx-KZGKE3Of3vDO9aX9gCDwdXDAoLp86SWXAOLEJa388M3WiU-jwBVjDsGa-uV2yxnz9fWIIBndoTt7PHOndyyfjPGflFKiX5-w1ojPKeC2tvMID4qgorV9-T7Oo1YuCZ9u2iymnl5POp~A2VeTP9wHUN5P9iKDXM-pWE4fY08wTZ6Ee2Hhesm6pq2ruAldCy8KNzfiLcOSRWXGPoBvpmfdOvIGvmdabPvC0kIbqtRQ~u2WKLzuzlIYvudamvcMp~rpc39NoKp5fMk3t76A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council on Sept. 23 approved item 8W, authorizing additional time and consulting resources to complete a migration of the city’s utility billing system after repeated problems exporting clean customer and billing records from the incumbent vendor.

City staff told the council that the additional spending covers extra data-cleaning and testing cycles needed to avoid transferring corrupted or incomplete customer records into the new system. The project moved through two full test imports to date, staff said, and an additional full-import test is planned to ensure accurate billing data before cutover.

“We’ve had real difficulty getting a clean export out of our existing vendor, and the support to fix that,” the city manager said. “We’ve had to invest a lot more resources into cleaning that data up to make sure when it goes into the new software, we don’t create issues for our customers.”

Staff said the extra work stems from the current vendor’s inability to provide a dependable export in commonly usable formats, not from connectivity or network issues. The additional resources will be used for scripting, test imports and a side-by-side reconciliation process; staff expect the next clean full import to occur in November, contingent on cooperation from the outgoing vendor.

Councilman Mike Fisher had asked the item be pulled from the consent agenda for discussion and questioned who was at fault for the delay and cost increase. The city’s explanation was that shortcomings in the old software vendor’s export were the primary cause and that staff are acting to protect customers by ensuring clean data is imported into the new system.

The council approved the item as presented.","The council approved extra consulting and testing work to clean and import customer billing data into a new utility billing system after the city encountered problems getting a clean export from its existing vendor.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council raises Civic Center concession minimum to $500,000; staff says facility limits revenue growth

Amarillo residents press council for transparency on Fermi America AI project and water deal

Votes at a glance: Amarillo City Council approves rezones, grants, contracts and personnel measures on Sept. 23, 2025

Council approves additional work for utility billing software migration after export problems with incumbent vendor