Plainview council approves consent items, honors SPCAA, adopts ordinance, selects Kidsville designer and confirms municipal judge

The Plainview City Council on July 22 approved a package of routine matters and several individual items: the consent calendar, a resolution recognizing South Plains Community Action Association, an ordinance on the undesignation of a street, selection of an architectural firm for Kidsville playground design, and confirmation of a municipal court judge. Councilmembers also recessed briefly into closed session on an economic development incentive matter and returned with no action required.

The consent calendar included minutes, the quarterly investment report, authorization for an audit letter and signatures for a tech school account; Mayor Pro Tem Weiss moved adoption and Councilmember Rodriguez seconded. The mayor announced the consent calendar was approved and recorded as unanimous.

The council adopted resolution R25-667 recognizing the service and contributions of the South Plains Community Action Association (SPCAA). Andy Cates and Henry Tarrago represented SPCAA at the meeting and explained the organization’s programs and the group’s outreach to partner communities seeking municipal resolutions. Councilmembers praised SPCAA’s work, noting the agency’s role in utility assistance, weatherization and other household support programs. Councilmember Rascon moved approval; Councilmember Dickerson seconded. The resolution was approved unanimously.

On ordinance business the council held a second-reading vote on Ordinance No. 25-3777. The ordinance, described at the meeting as an undesignation of a street to provide it to adjacent properties (the parcel currently used for access on Eighth Street), was adopted on its second reading. The motion to adopt was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Weiss and seconded by Councilmember Hernandez Martinez; the motion passed unanimously.

The council approved staff’s recommendation to select Jacob Martin (Jacob Martin Architectural Services) as the architect/engineer for the Kidsville playground design RFQ. Tim Crosswhite told the council the city received four RFQ responses, a selection committee ranked Jacob Martin highest (score reported as 91.2), and that the firm will work from its Lubbock office. City staff said the Kidsville application seeks a $750,000 Texas Parks and Wildlife grant with a required 50 percent local match; staff expects to learn whether the grant is awarded in January. The motion to approve Jacob Martin was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Weiss and seconded by Councilmember Rascon; the council approved the selection unanimously.

Assistant City Manager Jeff Johnston presented the candidate for municipal judge. The council confirmed the appointment of Bobby Shaw as municipal court judge. Johnston explained the municipal judge position is appointed for a two-year term under the city charter, performs judicial duties under state law for Class C misdemeanors and municipal ordinance violations, and is a part-time position (approximately 15–18 hours weekly but not to exceed 1,001 hours per year). Johnston summarized Shaw’s background: more than 11 years of legal experience, an associate degree in paralegal studies from South Plains College, work at law firms, work for Texas Child Protective Services and legal aid. The motion to confirm was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Weiss and seconded by Councilmember Dickerson; the council confirmed the appointment unanimously. Shaw took the oath of office at the meeting; the appointment term begins July 2025 and runs for two years.

The council then convened into an executive session under Texas Government Code section 551.087 to discuss an economic development incentive for a prospective business. The meeting recessed to closed session at 7:10 p.m. and returned to open session at 7:29 p.m.; the mayor reported no action was required following the closed session and the meeting was adjourned.