City of Canyon Commission Meetings

City Commission Meeting March 18, 2025 The City Commission of the City of Canyon met in regular session at 4:30 p.m. in the City Commission Chambers of the Civic Complex. Mayor Gary Hinders presided over the meeting with the following Commissioners in attendance: Mayor Pro-Tem Cody Jones, and Danny Potter. Commissioners Paul R. Lyons and Robyn Cranmer were unable to attend. Also present were the following City Staff: Assistant City Manager Jon Behrens, City Secretary Gretchen Mercer, Chief of Police Steve Brush, Police Lieutenant Matt Coggins, Fire Chief Dennis Gwyn, HR Director Hector Mendoza, Director of Public Works Chris Enriquez, Assistant Public Works Director Tanner DeVenney, Water Superintendent Eric Whitten, Director of Planning and Development Lucas Raley, Assistant Planning and Development Director Craig Brown, Code Inspector Stan Barnard, Communications Director Megan Nelson, Purchasing Manager Beau Boyer, and City Attorney Chuck Hester. Item 1. Call to Order. Mayor Hinders called the meeting to order at 4:33 pm. Item 2. Invocation. Commissioner Potter gave the invocation. Item 3. Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Pro-Tem Jones. Item 4. Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of March 4, 2025. Mayor Pro-Tem Jones moved, duly seconded by Commissioner Potter to approve the minutes of March 4, 2025. Motion carried unanimously. Item 5. Public Comment – Comments from Interested Citizens. No comments were made. Item 6. Consider and Take Appropriate Action on Hospital Drive Proposed Street Name Change. WTAMU Police Chief Shawn Burns presented a proposal to change the name of Hospital Drive to Monty Platt Drive with the construction of a new WTAMU Police Station on Hospital Drive. Chief Burns said Monty Platt was an officer for the WTAMU Police Department and passed due to complications from an injury while on duty. Chief Burns stated WTAMU President, Dr. Wendler, and VP for Business and Finance, Randy Rikel were both in support of the proposed street name change. Chief Burns said Palo Duro Village Retirement was the only property addressed to Hospital Drive and he had visited with the Palo Duro Village Board about changing the address, the Board then polled all residents with a majority agreeing to the street name change. Several Palo Duro Village residents were present at the Commissioner meeting and confirmed the Village residents were in favor. City Commission Meeting March 18, 2025 Page 2 of 4 Planning and Development Director Lucas Raley said he didn’t believe 911 or the Post Office allowed 2 name street names as standard policy. Chief Burns said they would be consulted. After discussion, Mayor Pro-Tem Jones moved, duly seconded by Commissioner Potter to approve Hospital Drive be changed to Monte Platt Drive. Motion carried unanimously. Item 7. Consider and Take Appropriate Action on the Audit of Financial Statements of the City of Canyon and the Canyon Economic Development Corporation for the Year Ended September 30, 2024 as Presented by Doshier Pickens & Francis. Purchasing Manager Beau Boyer introduced John Merriss of Doshier, Pickens & Francis who presented the 2024 Audits for the City of Canyon and the Canyon Economic Development Corporation for approval. Mr. Merriss reported the City of Canyon and the CEDC are doing good and received a clean audit for 2023-2024. Mr. Merriss Commended Canyon Finance Director Joel Wright and the Finance Department for keeping great financial records and commented on Mr. Wright taking on creating a very professional audit report to be reviewed by Doshier, Pickens & Francis. Mr. Merriss commented he thought there were only two other cities in the Panhandle with Finance Directors that have the capabilities to do this. After discussion, Commissioner Potter moved, duly seconded by Mayor Pro-Tem Jones to approve the 2024 audit of the financial statements for the City of Canyon and the Canyon Economic Development Corporation as of and for the Year Ended September 30, 2024. Motion carried unanimously. Item 8. Consider and Take Appropriate Action Engagement of an Auditor for the City of Canyon’s Financial Statement Audit for Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2025. Purchasing Manager Beau Boyer recommended the appointment of Doshier, Pickens & Francis as the City of Canyon’s Auditor for FY 2024-2025. Mr. Boyer said he and Finance Director Joel Wright both feel the firm has been great to work with over the years and continue to provide a great service. Mr. Boyer said they were available anytime needed to talk through questions or issues providing answers backed with professional experience. Mr. Boyer said Doshier, Pickens & Francis specialize in governmental audits. After discussion, Mayor Pro-Tem Jones moved, duly seconded by Commissioner Potter to engage Doshier, Pickens & Francis to perform an audit of the City of Canyon’s financial statements as of and for the year ended September 30, 2025. Motion carried unanimously. Item 9. Consider and Take Appropriate Action on the Canyon Police Department 2024 Annual Report and 2024 Racial Profiling Report. Chief of Police Steve Brush presented the Canyon Police Department 2024 Annual Report and 2024 Racial Profiling Report in accordance with City Ordinance 70.58. After discussion, Mayor Pro-Tem Jones moved, duly seconded by Commissioner Potter to approve the Annual Report and Racial Profiling Report for 2024 as presented. Motion carried unanimously. City Commission Meeting March 18, 2025 Page 3 of 4 Commissioners commended the Police Department on doing a great job for the citizens of Canyon. Item 10. Consider and Take Appropriate Action Related to a Request from the Police Department for the Expenditure of CCP Chapter 59 Seized Funds for the Purchase of Emergency Response Team Training and Travel. Chief of Police Steve Brush presented a request to use funds from the seized fund account for training 3 officers that are part of the Emergency Response Team. Chief Brush said the team consists of 6 officers and a supervisor and deal with high-risk situations beyond the capability of the on-duty shift and the training ensures officers have the skills to function as part of the team. Chief Brush stated the amount needed for training is $4,230.00 for all three officers and includes tuition ($600.00 per officer totaling $1,800); estimated cost of food at $50.00 per officer per day (total of $750.00) and cost for hotel rooms ($1,680.00). Chief Brush stated Chapter 59 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure authorizes and regulates the forfeiture of contraband by law enforcement agencies and the attorney representing the state. Chief Brush said the Police Department / Finance Department maintains a fund of monetary forfeitures and it is included in the city’s annual financial audit. Chief Brush said Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 59.06 prohibits expenditure of seized funds without the approval of the governing body. Chief Brush stated the current balance in the fund after the last audit on February 27, 2024 is $13,281.22 After discussion, Mayor Pro-Tem Jones moved, duly seconded by Commissioner Potter to authorize the use of funds from the Chapter 59 Seized Fund Account for Basic SWAT Training for three Canyon Police Department Officers. Motion carried unanimously. Item 11. Consider and Take Appropriate Action on Resolution No. 12-2025, A Resolution by the City of Canyon, Texas, Supporting the Application and Acceptance of a FY24 FEMA Safer Grant for the Hiring of Four Fulltime Firefighters for the Canyon Fire Department; and Authorizing the Fire Chief to Represent the City in All Matters Pertaining to the Administration of the Grant. Fire Chief Dennis Gwyn presented Resolution 12-2025 for consideration of applying for the FY 24 FEMA Safer Grant for the hiring of 4 fulltime firefighters for the Canyon Fire department. Chief Gwyn said if the grant were awarded, it would cover 36 months of base salaries and employee benefits at 100%. After discussion, Commissioner Potter moved, duly seconded by Mayor Pro-Tem Jones to adopt Resolution No. 12-2025 as presented. Motion carried unanimously. RESOLUTION NO. 12-2025 A RESOLUTION BY THE CITY OF CANYON, TEXAS SUPPORTING THE APPLICATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF A FY24 FEMA SAFER GRANT FOR THE HIRING OF FOUR FULLTIME FIREFIGHTERS FOR THE CANYON FIRE DEPARTMENT; AND AUTHORIZING THE FIRE CHIEF TO REPRESENT THE CITY IN ALL MATTERS PERTAINING TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE GRANT. City Commission Meeting March 18, 2025 Page 4 of 4 Item 12. Update on Public Safety Bond Committee Progress. Communications Director Megan Nelson gave an update on public education and dissemination of information pertaining to the 2025 Public Safety Bond Election. Item 13. Executive Session Pursuant to §551.071 Consultation with Attorney, §551.072 Deliberation About Real Property, and 551.087 Deliberation Regarding Economic Development Negotiations. Mayor Hinders indicated the City Commission would not adjourn into Executive Session. Item 14. Consider and Take Appropriate Action on Items Discussed in Executive Session. Commissioners did not adjourn into Executive Session. Item 15. Adjourn. There being no further business, Mayor Pro-Tem Jones moved this meeting be adjourned at 5:48 pm. ______________________________ Gary Hinders, Mayor ATTEST: ________________________________ Gretchen Mercer, City Secretary