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Council adopts Parks & Recreation standards of care ordinance, removes zoo references
Summary
After a public hearing Assistant Director Becky Dreyer presented proposed municipal standards of care required for an exemption from childcare licensing. The council adopted the ordinance but removed references to the zoo following action earlier in the meeting.
The Amarillo City Council adopted an ordinance setting the minimum standards of care for Parks & Recreation municipal recreation programs, a procedural requirement that permits certain municipal programs to qualify for a Texas Health and Human Services exemption from childcare licensing.
Becky Dreyer, assistant director for Amarillo Parks and Recreation, explained the ordinance covers staffing ratios, staff qualifications and training, facility health and safety standards and medication administration rules. She said the parks board reviewed and recommended the standards but asked the city to clarify the medication‑administration section for emergency medications (for example, EpiPens and rescue inhalers). Dreyer said staff provided an alternate option clarifying that staff would provide emergency care but would not routinely administer prescribed or over‑the‑counter medications except under ADA accommodations with parental and medical authorization.
Council moved to adopt the ordinance as presented but explicitly removed references to the zoo within the standards language following the council’s approval of the zoo lease earlier in the meeting. The motion passed by voice vote.
What’s next: Staff will publish the adopted standards and implement the clarified medication‑administration procedures and will work with parks board and program leaders on compliance and training.
