City of Canyon Commission Meetings

City Commission Meeting May 6, 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, Robyn Cranmer, and Paul Lyons and Commissioner Danny Potter. Also present were the following City Staff: City Manager Joe Price, Assistant City Manager Jon Behrens, City Secretary Gretchen Mercer, Chief of Police Steve Brush, Fire Chief Dennis Gwyn, Assistant Fire Chief Vince Whitfill, Director of Public Works Christ Enriquez, Assistant Public Works Director Tanner DeVenney, Planning and Development Director Lucas Raley, Assistant Planning and Development Director Craig Brown, Communications Director Megan Nelson, Purchasing Manager Beau Boyer, Amarillo Office of Emergency Management Max Dunlap, Amarillo Office of Emergency Management Deputy Director Jaric Hubner, and City Attorney Chuck Hester. Item 1. Call to Order. Mayor Hinders called the meeting to order at 4:34 pm. Item 2. Invocation. Mayor Pro-Tem Jones gave the invocation. Item 3. Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Commissioner Cranmer. Item 4. Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of April 15, 2025. Commissioner Cranmer moved, duly seconded by Mayor Pro-Tem Jones to approve the minutes of April 15, 2025. Motion carried unanimously. Item 5. Public Comment – Comments from Interested Citizens. No comments were made. Item 6. Discussion Regarding Police and Fire Department Pay Scale. HR Director Hector Mendoza, Purchasing Manager Beau Boyer, Police Chief Steven Brush and Fire Chief Dennis Gwyn discussed challenges and possible solutions to address compression and competition of public safety personnel pay as well as ways to increase retention in both departments. Mayor Pro-Tem Jones commented he felt with the hiring problems in the Police Department being directly related to pay, he felt the City of Canyon should focus on getting the Police pay fixed and address the Fire Department later since they are not having staffing issues. Commissioner Cranmer said the issues needed to fixed, not just put a band aide on it and requested true numbers be provided to the Commission at a later date. City Commission Meeting May 6, 2025 Page 2 of 4 Item 7. After Action Report (AAR) – Friday, April 25, 2025 Tornado Disaster Declaration. Fire Chief Dennis Gwyn presented information about the tornado touch down in Madison Park April 25, 2025. Chief Gwyn praised all community partners that showed up to help, Randall County, WTAMU Police, Texas Department of Public Safety, and City of Amarillo. Chief Gwyn also thanked City of Canyon Planning and Development, Public Works, Parks, and staff that assisted with the event. Chief of Police Steve Brush and Public Works Director Chris Enriquez all spoke to the events and how their respective departments were able to assist. Max Dunlap provided information of how the tornado developed so fast and didn’t show up on the radar until it was on the ground and discussed the sirens pointing out they are not intended to be heard inside the home, everyone should rely on alerts available on mobile phones and the First Alert system that can be purchased for individual homes. The City Commissioners all commended everyone for the organized response. Item 8. Update on Unofficial Election Results. City Secretary Gretchen Mercer gave an update on the Public Safety Bond Election held May 3, 2025 with unofficial results showing the $14,000,000 Bond proposition carried the majority of votes. Ms, Mercer said the official Canvass would take place by Ordinance Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 5:00 pm in the City Commission Chambers. Commissioner Cranmer left the meeting at 5:48 pm. Item 9. Consider and Take Appropriate Action on Second and Final Reading of Resolution No. 15-2025, A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Canyon Approving Funding to the Canyon Chamber of Commerce by Canyon Economic Development Corporation Supporting the Annual Independence Day Celebration. City Attorney Chuck Hester presented Resolution No. 15-2025 for the final reading and adoption. Mr. Hester said the EDC has provided support to the Canyon Chamber Fireworks July 4th Independence Day celebration for several years. Mr. Hester stated the Canyon Economic Development Corporation approved a total amount of $13,000 towards the fireworks show for July 4, 2025. After discussion, Mayor Pro-Tem Jones moved, duly seconded by Commissioner Potter to adopt Resolution No. 15-2025 as presented. Motion carried unanimously. RESOLUTION NO. 15-2025 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF CANYON APPROVING FUNDING TO THE CANYON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BY CANYON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION SUPPORTING THE ANNUAL INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION. Item 10. Consider and Take Appropriate Action on a Petition to Enter the Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) of Canyon, Annexation into the Corporate Limits of Canyon, and Adoption of Resolution No. 17-2025, A Resolution of the City of Canyon, Texas, Setting a Date, Time, and Place for Public Hearings and Providing for Notice of Public Hearings City Commission Meeting May 6, 2025 Page 3 of 4 in Regard to the Proposed Approval of Landowner Request to Include Unincorporated Property in the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction of the City of Canyon Followed by Annexation of Such Property Upon Petition of the Landowners Prairie Grass Properties, LLC and Montgomery Agricultural Operations, LLC, Texas Limited Liability Companies. City Attorney Chuck Hester presented Resolution No. 17-2025 for consideration. Mr. Hester provided information regarding a petition by Prairie Grass Properties, LLC and Montgomery Agricultural Operations, LLC to add real property to the City of Canyon ETJ and then Annex that property. Mr. Hester presented an annexation calendar that outlined the steps to bring the property back into the ETJ followed by annexation of the property known as Phantom Creek. Mr. Hester said action was needed on the annexation calendar again as there was an error in the first Notice. After discussion, Commissioner Potter moved, duly seconded by Mayor Pro-Tem Jones to adopt Resolution No. 17-205 as presented. Motion carried unanimously. RESOLUTION NO. 17-2025 PHANTOM CREEK ANNEXATION A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF CANYON, TEXAS, SETTING A DATE TIME, AND PLACE FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS AND PROVIDING FOR NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS IN REGARD TO THE PROPOSED APPROVAL OF LANDOWNER REQUEST TO INCLUDE UNINCORPORATED PROPERTY IN THE EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION OF THE CITY OF CANYON FOLLOWED BY ANNEXATION OF SUCH PROPERTY UPON PETITION OF THE LANDOWNERS PRAIRIE GRASS PROPERTIES, LLC AND MONTGOMERY AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS, LLC, TEXAS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES Item 11. Presentation of Capital Improvement Plan. Purchasing Manager Beau Boyer presented an update on the progress of the Capital Improvement Plan. No action. Informational only. Item 12. Consider and Take Appropriate Action on the Request for Qualifications for the Development of a Transportation Safety Plan. Purchasing Manager Beau Boyer presented information regarding Request for Qualifications for the development of a Transportation Safety Action Plan. Mr. Boyer said the City of Canyon was awarded a grant to develop a Safety Action Plan as part of the Safe Streets for All grant program. Mr. Boyer said the plan would further the improvement of roadway safety and accessibility as well as address the needs of all transportation users. Mr. Boyer said the City received 4 responses to the RFQ with scoring results of 95.0 to 76.0 out of a possible 100 score. City Commission Meeting May 6, 2025 Page 4 of 4 HIGHEST The Kimley-Horn Bartlett & TJKM POSSIBLE Goodman West Corporation AVERAGE REVIEWER 100 95.0 87.6 82.0 76.0 SCORE After discussion, Mayor Pro-Tem Jones moved, duly seconded by Commissioner Potter to authorize City Staff to negotiate a contract for the development of a Transportation Safety Action Plan in accordance with the results of the Request for Qualifications. Motion carried unanimously. Item 13. Executive Session Pursuant to §551.071 Consultation with Attorney, and 551.087 Deliberation Regarding Economic Development Negotiations. Mayor Hinders indicated the City Commission would adjourn into Executive Session a 6:26 pm. Item 14. Consider and Take Appropriate Action on Items Discussed in Executive Session. Upon returning from Executive Session at 7:16 pm, no action was taken Item 15. Adjourn. There being no further business, Mayor Pro-Tem Jones moved this meeting be adjourned at 7:16 pm. ______________________________ Gary Hinders, Mayor ATTEST: ________________________________ Gretchen Mercer, City Secretary