City Council

September 8, 2025 On this the 8th day of September 2025 at 6:30 pm the City Council of the City of Friona, Texas, convened in regular session at the regular meeting place thereof, in the Friona City Council Chambers, 619 Main Street, the meeting being open to the public and notice of said meeting having been given as prescribed by Chapter 551 of the Government Code, with the members being present and in attendance, to wit: Greg Lewellen, Mayor Alan Monroe, Mayor Pro-Tem Andy Alexander, Council Member David Gonzales, Council Member Esmeralda Mills, Council Member Leander Davila, City Manager/City Secretary Not Present: Brent Loflin, Council Member Others present included: Mia Reyna, Water Utility Clerk Clint Mears, Friona Star Wendy Carthel, Friona Economic Development Corporation Chief Isidro Jimenez, Friona Police Department Andrew Aguirre, Friona Police Department Jose Guevara, Friona Police Department Alex Licerio, Friona Police Department Leonel Belmonte, Friona Police Department Nathan Rodriguez, Friona Police Department Yurban Salinas, Parmer County Sheriff’s Office Ulises Rodriguez, Citizen Jorge Rodriguez, Citizen Julissa Hernandez, Citizen Yagaira Chagolla, Citizen Amberly Chagolla, Citizen Aaliyah Chagolla, Citizen Juana Vasquez, Citizen Benigno Rodriguez, Citizen Mayor Lewellen called the meeting to order at 6:33 p.m. ITEM 1 ROLL CALL Mayor Lewellen called roll and announced that a quorum was present. ITEM 2 INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Council Member Gonzales gave the Invocation and Council Member Alexander led the Pledge of Allegiance. ITEM 3 HEAR PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments. ITEM 4 SWEARING IN OF FRIONA PEACE OFFICER – NATHAN RODRIGUEZ PUBLIC HEARING: The public hearing was opened at 6:39 p.m. ITEM 5 HEAR COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE PROPOSED CITY BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 No public comments were received. ITEM 6 HEAR COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE PROPOSED 2025 TAX RATE OF $0.642129/$100 VALUATION No public comments were received. The public hearing was closed at 6:41 p.m. REGULAR HEARING: ITEM 7 CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING AUGUST 11, 2025, AUGUST 19, 2025 AND AUGUST 21, 2025 SPECIAL CALLED MEETINGS, AUGUST 28, 2025 PUBLIC TAX RATE HEARING MEETING AND THE AUGUST 28, 2025 BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETING MOTION Mayor Pro-Tem Monroe made the motion to approve of the minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting August 11, 2025, August 19, 2025, and August 21, 2025 Special Called Meetings, August 28, 2025 Public Tax Rate Hearing meeting and the August 28, 2025 Budget Workshop Meeting with changes. The second to the motion was made by Council Member Gonzales and the motion passed with a 4/0 vote. ITEM 8 CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE NO. 2025.09.08 ADOPTING BUDGET AND MAKING APPROPRIATION FOR SUPPORT OF CITY GOVERNMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2025 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 MOTION Mayor Pro-Tem Monroe made the motion to approve Ordinance No. 2025.09.08 adopting budget and making appropriation for support of City Government for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025 and ending September 30, 2026. The second to the motion was made by Council Member Alexander and the motion passed with a 4/0 vote. ITEM 9 CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE NO. 2025.09.08A ADOPTING TAX RATE OF $0.642129/$100 VALUATION FOR USE AND SUPPORT OF THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT GENERAL FUND OF THE CITY OF FRIONA, TEXAS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2025 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 MOTION Council Member Alexander made the motion to approve Ordinance No. 2025.09.08A moving that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of $0.642129, which is effectively a 9.73% percent increase in the tax rate and also designating $0.463200/$100 valuation to the General Fund. Mayor Pro- Tem Monroe made the second. Council Member Mills voted in favor. Council Member David Gonzales voted in favor. Council Member Andy Alexander voted in favor. Mayor Pro-Tem Alan Monroe voted in favor. The motion passed with a 4/0 vote. ITEM 10 CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE NO. 2025.09.08B ADOPTING TAX RATE OF $0.642129/$100 VALUATION FOR USE AND SUPPORT OF THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF THE CITY OF FRIONA, TEXAS INTEREST AND SINKING FUND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2025 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 MOTION Council Member Alexander made the motion to approve Ordinance No. 2025.09.08B moving that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of $0.642129, which is effectively a 9.73% percent increase in the tax rate and also designating $0.178929/$100 valuation to the Interest and Sinking Fund. Mayor Pro-Tem Monroe made the second. Council Member Mills voted in favor. Council Member David Gonzales voted in favor. Council Member Andy Alexander voted in favor. Mayor Pro-Tem Alan Monroe voted in favor. The motion passed with a 4/0 vote. ITEM 11 CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON APPROVAL OF FRIONA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2025 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 MOTION Council Member Mills made the motion to approve the Friona Economic Development Corporation Budget for fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025 and ending September 30, 2026. The second to the motion was made by Mayor Pro- Tem Monroe and the motion passed with a 4/0 vote. ITEM 12 CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON ADOPTING A FEE SCHEDULE FOR 2025-2026 MOTION Mayor Pro-Tem Monroe made the motion to approve on adopting a fee schedule for 2025-2026. The second to the motion was made by Council Member Alexander and the motion passed with a 4/0 vote. ITEM 13 CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON APPROVAL OF END OF THE YEAR TRANSFER FROM THE WATER FUND, WATER ACCOUNT TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $45,100 MOTION Council Member Alexander made the motion to approve of the end of year transfer from the water fund, water account to the capital improvement fund for capital improvement projects in the amount of $45,100. The second to the motion was made by Council Member Gonzales and the motion passed with a 4/0 vote. ITEM 14 CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON APPROVAL OF END OF YEAR TRANSFER FROM THE WATER FUND, SEWER ACCOUNT TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $43,590 MOTION Council Member Alexander made the motion to approve of the end of year transfer from the water fund, sewer account to the capital improvement fund for capital improvement projects in the amount of $43,590. The second to the motion was made by Council Member Mills and the motion passed with a 4/0 vote. ITEM 15 CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON CLOSING CITY HALL SEPTEMBER 29, 2025 AND SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 FOR YEAR-END- PROCEDURES MOTION Council Member Gonzales made the motion to approve on closing the City Hall September 29, 2025 and September 30, 2025 for the year-end-procedures. The second to the motion was made by Council Member Alexander and the motion passed with a 4/0 vote. ITEM 16 CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION TO APPROVE MOVING THE OCTOBER 13, 2025 (COLUMBUS DAY) REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO TUESDAY OCTOBER 14, 2025 OR ANOTHER DATE MOTION Mayor Pro-Tem Monroe made the motion to approve moving the October 13, 2025 (Columbus Day) regular City Council Meeting to Tuesday October 14, 2025 or another date. The second to the motion was made by Council Member Mills and the motion passed with a 4/0 vote ITEM 17 CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION NO. 2025.09.08 DESIGNATING THE FRIONA STAR AS THE CITY’S OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER MOTION Council Member Alexander made the motion to approve of Resolution No. 2025.09.08 designating the Friona Star as the City’s official newspaper. The second to the motion was made by Council Member Mills and the motion passed with a 4/0 vote ITEM 18 CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION NO. 2025.09.08B PROVIDING FOR AUTHORIZED SIGNATURES ON BANK ACCOUNTS AND INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE MOTION Council Member Alexander made the motion to approve of Resolution No. 2025.09.08B providing for authorized signatures on bank accounts and investment accounts and providing an effective date. The second to the motion was made by Council Member Gonzales and the motion passed with a 4/0 vote ITEM 19 CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON APPROVAL OF ACCOUNTS PAYABLE FOR AUGUST 2025 City Manager/City Secretary Davila reviewed Accounts Payable for August 2025 with the City Council. MOTION Mayor Pro-Tem Monroe made the motion to approve the accounts payable for August 2025. The second to the motion was made by Council Member Mills and the motion passed with a 4/0 vote. ITEM 20 CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON APPROVAL OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR AUGUST 2025 City Manager/City Secretary Davila reviewed the Financial Statement for August 2025 with the City Council. MOTION Council Member Alexander made the motion to approve the Financial Statement for August 2025. The second to the motion was made by Council Member Gonzales and the motion passed with a 4/0 vote. ITEM 21 ADJOUNMENT With no further business at hand the meeting was adjourned at 7:34 p.m. APPROVED: Greg Lewellen, Mayor ATTEST: Leander Davila, City Secretary