Lubbock City Council appoints committee to look at roads
During its meeting Tuesday evening, the Lubbock City Council made progress on a number of important issues, continuing conversations on topics like streets and roads, job training and infrastructure needs.
Here are some key takeaways from the meeting.
Citizens Advisory Committee appointed to look at road issue
The City Council designated a 13-person Citizens Advisory Committee to study the possibility a future bond package and recommend whether or not to put it on a November 2022 ballot.
Each councilmember appointed two people to the committee and Mayor Tray Payne appointed one member as the chair.
Those appointed are:
Chair: Heather Keister
District 1: Clyde James, Rudy Leal
District 2: Adam Hernandez, Mercell Ford
District 3: Glenn Patton, David Bruegel
District 3: Marsha Reed, Ron Bartley
District 5: Ken Corbin, John Rantz
District 6: Jordan Lewis, Dean Raymond
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The committee will get to work immediately and likely present its findings to the City Council on July 26, but no later that Aug. 9. They are tasked with reviewing the failed bond, considering alternative streets, recommending whether or not to proceed with a November special bond election and recommending how to present any new bond to the public.
Zoning change approved for halfway house
The council approved a zoning change on second reading for Church on the Rock to change zoning of a property at 3003 Ave. J from high-density apartments and interstate highway commercial to specific-use commercial for "prisons, jails, detention facilities, restitution centers, halfway houses for early release programs from prison, or community-based residential centers certified by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles."
Church on the Rock plans to host a "community-based residential center" on the property. City planning staff recommended denial of the request due to the proximity of residential properties, but the Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended it. The City Council approved the zoning change with Councilwoman Christy Martinez-Garcia abstaining.
EL ROBI to receive ARPA funds from City of Lubbock
The City of Lubbock will grant funds to EL ROBI, the East Lubbock Resident-Owned Business Initiative, which is a non-profit organization that trains and helps employ young people in skilled trades.
The city will provide American Rescue Plan Act funding up to $420,000 to EL ROBI, which will fund $3,000 scholarships for students enrolled in the program. This money comes from the council's previous allocation of $3.5 million in ARPA funding for job training.
More: Lubbock County looking to provide career training in partnership with EL ROBI
EL ROBI is a six-week pre-apprenticeship program that trains its students in trades like HVAC, plumbing, electrical and landscaping in order to "reduce poverty through education and job training, leading to self-sufficiency and individual responsibility," the program's director Reggie Dial previously told the Avalanche-Journal.
Enrollees are employed by one of EL ROBI's partner businesses or organizations before enrolling in the program in order to receive on-the-job training during the day while attending classes in the evening.
Franchise agreement with West Texas Gas renewed
The City Council voted to renew a franchise rights agreement with West Texas Gas, LLC on second reading. This contract is a 15-year renewal of an agreement allowing West Texas Gas to provide natural gas services in the City of Lubbock — one of two companies to do so, along with Atmos Energy.
West Texas Gas will continue to pay a 5 percent franchise fee on its gross revenue to the city. Sixty percent of the franchise fees the city collects goes to the general fund; 40 percent goes to the Gateway Street Projects Fund, which can be used at the discretion of the council to fund certain major road projects.
Freese and Nichols to study infrastructure needs
The council approved several contracts with engineering firm Freese and Nichols, Inc. to study several infrastructure and environmental issues.
Under one of the contracts, Freese and Nichols will complete an updated study of the Canyon Lakes watersheds, which have changed significantly over time, according to City Manager Jarrett Atkinson. This contract will be for $750,000, 75 percent of which will be paid by the Texas Water Development Board. The remaining 25 percent will be paid by the city. The study is expected to take two years.
Freese and Nichols will also conduct a "Water and Wastewater Annexation Serviceability Analysis and Model Update Project," which will update models and recommend improvements to make sure the water and sewer systems will be able to handle continuing growth and additional annexation into the city. This project will cost $85,000 and take two years.
The council approved another contract with the firm to make improvements to the water transmission line that brings groundwater to the city from its wells in Bailey County. The aging line has been in place since the late 1950s, Atkinson said. The contract is for $429,396 with a term of 455 calendar days.
The city will also extend its contract with Freese and Nichols at no additional cost to continue electrical upgrades at the Southeast Water Reclamation Plant.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: 5 takeaways from this week's Lubbock City Council meeting
