Lubbock council unanimously approves police vehicle laptops, five zoning changes and annexation agreement

The Lubbock City Council unanimously approved several routine but consequential items on April 22, 2024: a procurement to equip police vehicles with new Getac laptop units (Item 6.5), five zoning changes (Items 7.1–7.5), and an annexation municipal‑services agreement for roughly 121.8 acres south of Loop 88 and west of Milwaukee Avenue (Item 7.6).

Getac devices for police vehicles: The council approved replacing in‑vehicle computing units with Getac units at a total cost of $5,815 per vehicle. City staff broke the price down to a $3,114 hardware unit plus costs for preloaded software, mounting hardware and installation and the labor to remove and redeploy older units. City Manager Atkinson said many existing units will be redeployed to lower‑intensity uses (public works, codes, environmental health) rather than discarded. The city will pay for the purchase with cash via internal IT internal‑service rates; the vendor arrangement described in staff documents provides the units all at once, paid over three years at 0% interest with a $1 per‑unit buyout at the end of the term. Staff estimated a five‑year usable life for the new units. The motion to approve Item 6.5 was made by Dr. Wilson and carried unanimously.

Zoning decisions (Items 7.1–7.5): The council conducted a consolidated public hearing and voted to approve five rezoning requests. Staff presentations and Planning & Zoning Commission recommendations were unanimous in each case; staff reported no objections for most cases and limited public responses on some. Brief summaries: - Zone Case 3520 (Hugo Reed & Associates): request to rezone from SF‑2 (low‑density single family) to Light Industrial; property near Bluefield and North Guava; staff and P&Z recommended approval. - Zone Case 1901a (7B Building and Development LLC): rezone from Medium‑Density Residential/Neighborhood Commercial to Auto Urban Commercial for a proposed car wash site south of 50th west of Slide Road; staff and P&Z recommended approval; public responses included five in favor and one opposed (traffic/noise concerns). - Zone Case 3519 (AMD Engineering LLC): rezone from SF‑2 to Auto Urban Commercial near Quaker and Woodrow; applicant noted the comprehensive plan envisions a commercial node at that corner; staff and P&Z recommended approval. - Zone Case 3518 (AMD Engineering LLC): rezone from SF‑2 to Heavy Commercial south of Loop 88 east of Milwaukee Avenue; property owned by a church with a future plan for development; staff and P&Z recommended approval. - Zone Case 3521 (AMD Engineering LLC): rezone from SF‑2 to Neighborhood Commercial north of 104th west of Milwaukee Avenue; staff noted part of the acreage is in a flood zone but recommended the district given proximity to Milwaukee Avenue; P&Z recommended approval. The council voted to approve all five zoning cases by unanimous vote following the public hearing.

Annexation and municipal‑services agreement (Item 7.6): The council approved a municipal services agreement for a proposed annexation of 121.8 acres. Planning staff explained the agreement lists city services to be available to the property (police, fire, GIS, building inspections, animal services) while infrastructure such as water, sewer and paving will be the developer’s responsibility. Council voted to move forward; an ordinance to finalize annexation will be brought to the next council meeting.

Votes at a glance: minutes approval (03/25/2025): approved unanimously; Consent agenda (with 6.5 pulled and approved separately): approved unanimously; Item 6.5 (Getac units): approved unanimously (mover: Dr. Wilson; second: Mayor Pro Tem); Items 7.1–7.5 (zoning): approved unanimously; Item 7.6 (annexation MSA): approved unanimously.

Ending: The approvals were routine and came with staff assurances about financing, equipment life and developer obligations for infrastructure. No items were continued or tabled.