Amarillo City Council Regular Meeting 10/13/26

The Amarillo City Council regular meeting on October 13, 2026, included several procurement and infrastructure matters. Council approved the consent agenda except item 6.7, thereby approving a third-party demolition project discussed as costing about $59,000 to remove more than 20 abandoned mobile homes and associated debris. Council took no action on the proposed $49,500 extension for the Emma website assistant; staff said it is assessing whether the technology can be brought in-house and whether remaining ARPA funds may be used for alternatives. The council also discussed a separate audit engagement: 13 firms had been evaluated, five shortlisted, and additional interviews were planned. No firm or scope was selected; options included splitting review of ARPA/CIP accounts and the water and sewer enterprise among firms. Council discussed keeping communications with any eventual auditor through official channels to protect the review’s independence.

Council adopted a resolution authorizing applications for federal and state transportation grants and use of transportation development credits for local-match requirements. It also approved a TxDOT advanced funding agreement for Southeast 34th Avenue Railroad Bridge repairs, a $4.3 million project with a city contribution of $433,250, funded through Streets and the ICIP. A $211,499.95 transfer for a spare variable-frequency drive at the 34th Street Pump Station was approved. Council also discussed a $250,000 CIP transfer for engineering work on the Lift Station 19 redesign/relocation and a possible consolidation of nearby lift stations; the transcript records approval of related item 7.12 but does not clearly capture a separate vote on the transfer. The proposed citywide mandatory pet-microchipping ordinance was discussion-only and is expected to return for possible action.