Pampa City Commission approves street closing, bond issuance and multiple interlocal agreements

The City Commission of Pampa, Texas, adopted a slate of ordinances, resolutions and interlocal agreements at its Jan. 13, 2025 meeting, including the second-and-final reading of an ordinance to vacate a portion of West Street and approval of the city’s Combination Tax and Limited Pledge Revenue Certificates of Obligation Series 2025.

The commission voted on routine business items (minutes and disbursements), approved the county election-services contract for 2025, adopted a legislative agenda for the 89th Texas Legislature, and authorized multiple interlocal and economic-development agreements.

Key actions approved at the meeting included:

- Adoption of Ordinance No. 1817 (second and final reading) to close, abandon and vacate the 200 block of Northwest/West Street between Kingsmill Ave. and Francis Ave.; motion carried by voice vote.

- Approval of Ordinance No. 1818 authorizing issuance of City of Pampa Combination Tax and Limited Pledge Revenue Certificates of Obligation, Series 2025. The offering totaled $4,000,000 in aggregate proceeds as presented in the agenda materials (amounts shown in the official statement: $250,000 attributed to the utility fund and $3,750,000 to the general fund, net of issuance costs). Bids were opened Jan. 13, and the winning bid reported a true interest cost of approximately 3.98 percent. The commission approved taking the winning bid; funds are scheduled to be delivered Feb. 12, 2025. The certificates are repayable over 20 years and callable after 10 years.

- Approval of interlocal and contract items: an agreement with Grey County Elections Administrator for election services (2025); participation in the Park Hill joint sealcoat bid program (about 7.5 miles of streets to be sealcoated, funded from the certificates of obligation); an interlocal with the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission (PRPC) to administer FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program paperwork for two emergency generators (PRPC’s management fee is additional to the $387,000 grant); and a Pampa Economic Development Corporation project agreement supporting Zone Bowling Center’s new lanes (first reading for R25-002 was approved on first reading).

- Adoption of Resolution R25-001 establishing the city’s legislative agenda for the 89th Texas Legislature. The agenda lists priorities the city supports (for example, expanding allowable publication methods for legal notices; continued CDBG funding; broadband expansion; municipal authority on right-of-way/franchise matters; allowing municipal parks as eligible hotel occupancy-tax uses; and allowing sale of park parcels under two acres without an election) and items it would oppose (e.g., additional appraisal/revenue caps, compelled party-registration for local office holders, or limits on home-rule authority).

- Adoption of Resolution R25-003 to join a multi-jurisdictional sealcoat procurement effort and R25-004 appointing Kim Bridal as chairperson to the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) No. 1 board.

Votes were recorded by voice and there were no recorded “no” votes in the meeting transcript; each motion carried after the ayes were called.

The commission recessed into executive session for consultation with the city attorney, deliberations about real property and personnel; no further public action on those matters was recorded at the meeting’s close.

The meeting record indicates city staff and outside advisors were present for several items: Andrew Friedman of Samco Capital Markets presented bidding results and recommended accepting the winning bid on the certificates of obligation; Ryan Bradley, executive director of the Pampa EDC, presented the Zone Bowling Center project; and staff described the proposed street sealcoat map and the PRPC agreement. The ordinances and resolutions referenced are entered into the city’s official minutes and files.