Council and AEDC to hold special working session on leadership, permanent board and director search

Council discussed scheduling a special working session with the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation after an AEDC update was not available for the meeting because the AEDC chair or executive was ill.

Mayor Collins and councilors asked whether to delay the AEDC presentation until the regular February 25 meeting in the new City Hall or hold a special session sooner so the public would not have to wait. Council considered holding a joint working session after the AEDC's Tuesday morning meeting or on the following Friday, and staff said the Civic Center and other City Hall meeting rooms are possible venues.

Topics expected at the working session include finalizing a temporary board, discussing whether to establish a permanent board, deciding whether the temporary board should conduct a national search for a director or the city should engage a search firm specializing in economic-development executive searches, and setting next steps for AEDC operations.

Council direction and timeline Deputy Freeman and staff will coordinate with AEDC leadership and Mayor Collins to confirm availability; councilors expressed availability on several days and asked staff to narrow to Tuesday after AEDC's 9 a.m. meeting or the fallback Friday. Councilman Smith asked staff to prepare a list of search firms with experience in economic development corporations; Councilman Simpson and others emphasized urgency to resume AEDC activity.

Next steps Staff will follow up with AEDC Chair Fairley and other members to set a meeting time, prepare the AEDC presentation materials and assemble a short list of qualified search firms and other background materials for council and the temporary board to review before the session.