Council approves park renaming, childcare tax break, housing credit support, street project and multiple contracts

Amarillo — The Amarillo City Council on Feb. 25 approved a series of resolutions, contracts and an ordinance that together affect parks, childcare tax policy, affordable housing, tourism planning, city contracts and a major street reconstruction.

Votes at a glance

- Renamed Medical Center Park to John Ward Memorial Park (Resolution 02‑25‑25‑4) — council approved a resolution to rename Medical Center Park in honor of former city manager John Ward following a public hearing and a park board recommendation. Outcome: approved. (Public hearing and vote occurred during the Feb. 25 meeting.)

- Childcare property tax exemption (Ordinance 81803) — council adopted a local option exemption under Texas Prop 2 for qualifying licensed childcare facilities that participate in the Texas Rising Star program and meet income‑mix criteria. Council set the exemption at 100%. Outcome: ordinance adopted.

- Support for Tacovis Terrace affordable housing tax‑credit application (Resolution 02‑25‑25‑6) — council approved a resolution of support for Woda Cooper Development’s application for 9% federal housing tax credits for a proposed 80‑unit affordable development known as Tacovis Terrace and agreed to waive a $500 development fee to help the application score. Outcome: approved.

- CVB long‑range master plan (Resolution 02‑25‑25‑5) — council authorized spending up to $100,000 to contract with Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) for a 20‑year tourism master plan and market research; staff said JLL’s $75,000 base proposal offers in‑house data the city’s hotels trust. Outcome: approved.

- Immunization grant (Consent item 8L) — council approved a vaccine program grant of approximately $261,000 that, according to staff, funds staff and supplies for immunization clinics; vaccines themselves are supplied by the Texas Vaccine for Children program. Outcome: approved.

- Transformation Park / shelter ask (Resolution 02‑25‑25‑7) — council approved a one‑time request (described in the agenda as a $250,000 ask) tied to security‑camera purchases and facility support; the resolution approved staff’s recommendation. Outcome: approved.

- CAB/board bylaws update (Resolution 02‑25‑25‑8) — council approved minor language cleanups to bylaws presented by a board; staff said the changes removed redundant language. Outcome: approved.

- Producer Owned Beef amendment (Item 9g) — council approved the city’s amendment to match dates in the company’s location incentive agreement; the change extends performance and occupancy deadlines by two years. Outcome: approved.

- Landscape maintenance contract renewal (Item 9h) — council approved a renewal of a turnkey landscape maintenance contract covering regional parks, school parks, community parks and undeveloped properties. Staff reported the four‑year total at $9,293,152.24. Outcome: approved.

- Georgia Street reconstruction contract award (Item 9i) — council awarded the Georgia Street reconstruction contract to L.A. Fuller & Sons with a base contract price of $27,364,02 (sic) and including a recommended alternate (street‑lighting infrastructure) for a total award of $27,387,747.90; the project includes widening Georgia Street from two to five lanes, major storm‑drain work and utility relocations. Council included the alternate in the award. Outcome: contract awarded.

Meeting context and public comment

The meeting included public comment from neighborhood representatives and residents on a range of topics. Members of the Barrio Neighborhood Planning Committee spoke in support of the Tocavas (Tacovis) Terrace affordable housing proposal and emphasized proximity to neighborhood services. Several speakers from North Heights described ongoing illegal dumping, code enforcement and infrastructure issues and urged focused city attention.

How council voted and next steps

Most items passed with unanimous vocal approval in the meeting (council members said "aye" when asked). Several of the approved items require follow‑up actions by staff, including legal review and public posting (for the Digital Dignity draft) and detailed budgeting and finance work (for the CVB plan and Georgia Street project). The Georgia Street construction contract and other capital actions will move into procurement and construction scheduling phases under staff oversight.

Ending

Council concluded the meeting by asking staff to return with additional details where requested and to proceed with the approved contracts and resolutions. Several items — notably the Digital Dignity ordinance and the street funding plan — will return for additional council review this spring.