City Council

January 12, 2026 On this the 12th day of January 2026 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 Brent Loflin, Council Member David Gonzales, Council Member (arrived at 6:58 p.m.) Leander Davila, City Manager/City Secretary Not Present: Esmeralda Mills, Council Member Others present included: Becky Upton, Friona Public Library Anahi Gomez, Friona Public Library Clint Mears, Friona Star Wendy Carthel, Friona Economic Development Corporation Mia Reyna, Water Utility Clerk Marie Samarron, Friona Municipal Court Judge Slater Elza, City Attorney 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. Mayor Pro-Tem Monroe gave the Invocation and Council Member Loflin led the Pledge of Allegiance. ITEM 3 HEAR PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments REGULAR HEARING: The regular hearing was opened at 6:38 p.m. ITEM 4 CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 8, 2025, REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MOTION Mayor Pro-Tem Monroe made the motion to approve the minutes of the December 8, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting. The second to the motion was made by Council Member Loflin and the motion passed with a 3/0 vote. Note: Item 5 was moved to be heard after Item 11. ITEM 6 CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON APPROVAL OF ACCOUNTS PAYABLE FOR DECEMBER 2025 City Manager/City Secretary Davila reviewed Accounts Payable MOTION Council Member Loflin made the motion to Accounts Payable for December 2025. The second to the motion was made by Council Member Alexander and the motion passed with a 3/0 vote ITEM 7 CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON APPROVAL OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR DECEMBER 2025 City Manager/City Secretary Davila reviewed the Financial Statement MOTION Mayor Pro-Tem Monroe made the motion to approve the Financial Statement for December 2026. The second to the motion was made by Council Member Loflin and the motion passed with a 3/0 vote ITEM 8 CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON APPROVAL OF FIRST QUARTERLY FINANCIAL STATEMENT OCTOBER 2025 THROUGH DECEMBER 2025 MOTION Mayor Pro-Tem Monroe made the motion to approve on the first quarterly financial statement October 2025 through December 2025. The second to the motion was made by Council Member Alexander and the motion was passed with a 3/0 vote. ITEM 9 DISCUSSION REGARDING THE UPCOMING 2026 CITY OF FRIONA ELECTIONS AND CRITICAL DEADLINES City Manager/City Secretary Davila reviewed the 2026 City of Friona Election Calendar and reviewed the documentation supporting the Student Poll Worker Program. Those positions up for election include the Mayor (Lewellen) and two Council Member positions (Gonzales and Loflin). ITEM 10 DISCUSSION AND BRIEFING ON THE UPCOMING FRIONA CITY MANAGER RECRUITMENT PROCESS City Manager/City Secretary Davila provided an update on the City Manager recruitment. ITEM 11 CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NO. 2026.01.12 AMENDING THE CITY CODE TO REMOVE THE CITY SECRETARY POSITION AND DUTIES FROM THE CITY MANAGER; ESTABLISHING THE CITY SECRETARY AS A SEPARATE POSITION FROM THE CITY MANAGER; PROVIDING THAT THE CITY SECRETARY SHALL REPORT TO THE CITY MANAGER; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE MOTION Council Member Alexander made the motion to approve Ordinance No. 2026.01.12 amending the City code to remove the City Secretary position and duties from the City Manager; establishing the City Secretary as a separate position from the City Manager; providing that the City Secretary shall report to the City Manager; providing for severability; and providing an effective date. The second to the motion was made by Council Member Loflin and the motion was passed with a 3/0 vote. ITEM 5 HEAR DEPARTMENTAL REPORT FROM THE FRIONA MUNICIPAL COURT REGARDING BUDGET, EXPENSES, PERSONNEL, AND UPCOMING EVENTS MOTION Judge Samarron provided the City Council with a departmental report from the Friona Municipal Court, which included updates on the court’s budget, expenses, personnel, and upcoming events. Judge Samarron requested to go into executive session as well to speak to the City Council about personnel matters and consultation with the City Attorney. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Mayor Lewellen went into Executive Session at 7:01 p.m. ITEM 12 CITY COUNCIL WILL CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.074, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE (PERSONNEL MATTERS), TO DELIBERATE THE DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND CONTINUED ELIGIBILITY OF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL RELATED TO THE MAYOR’S OFFICE Mayor Lewellen went out of Executive Session at 7:52 p.m. REGULAR HEARINGS: ITEM 13 RECONVENE INTO REGULAR SESSION AND CONSIDER ACTION IF ANY, ON ITEM 12 DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION No action taken on Item 12 or Judge Samarron’s discussion in Executive Session. ITEM 14 ADJOURNMENT With no further business at hand the meeting was adjourned at 7:53 p.m. APPROVED: Greg Lewellen, Mayor ATTEST: Leander Davila, City Secretary