The City of Pampa Commissioners approved a number of items on Monday afternoon toward the next step in the process for a Panhandle Regional Planning Commission grant.
The Community Development Block Grant was presented by PRPC’s Paige Witthar and City Manager Shane Stokes said the City applied for it last year, and it was received this year.
“Basically the PRPC comes back and we amend the agreement for them to oversee the grant for us,” Stokes said in an interview Tuesday. “I told the Commission it’s worth every nickel to have the PRPC oversee this grant, especially when there is federal money involved. There are so many hoops to jump through.”
The Commissioners re-affirmed a resolution in regards to civil rights policies including Excessive Force Policy, Section 504 Policy Against Discrimination and Grievance Procedures, Citizen Participation Plan and Grievance Procedures, Code of Conduct and Fair Housing Policy. They also approved an item designating April 2022 as Fair Housing Month and an Interlocal Contract with PRPC as part of the grant.
The grant itself is a matching grant for $350,000 with the City’s portion being $220,000 (which was budgeted). The project will be the sidewalks on the north end of Foster and Cuyler.
“It’s from Coney down to Cuyler and Foster and the 100 block of Cuyler in front of Finley’s and Resound down that block. Unfortunately, with how things are nowadays, that’s about what half a million will get you: two sides of two different blocks.”
The project will tentatively start in late fall and the City has two years to complete the project.
The Commissioners also approved a resolution in regards to the posting of all public notices.
“We have installed an e-board in the west entry to City Hall,” Stokes said. “Which is basically a TV screen in the window that can be viewed from the outside. We will post all of our notices along with the interior bulletin board of City Hall. We’re going to abandon the old bulletin board on the north end of the property.”
The Commissioners also approved the following items:
• Approving the minutes of the February 14, 2022, Regular Commission Meeting.
• Excuse the absence of Commissioner Doughty from the February 14, 2022, Regular Commission Meeting.
• City Manager to enter into a Professional Services Agreement with Parkhill for street improvements for the City of Pampa. This is related to the PRPC sidewalk project.
• First reading Ordinance No.1763, an Ordinance of the City of Pampa revising its Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual.
• Accepting the City of Pampa’s 2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) as presented. Dustin Chambers of Brown, Graham and Co. presented the report and Stokes noted it was a clean and smooth audit.
• Approving the List of Disbursements dated January 2022.
• Approving the List of Disbursements dated February 2022.
There was a public comment by citizen Peggy Miller, who had addressed the commission about a squatter in the house next to hers. Stokes said the city officials would look into the matter.
• Approving an application from Open Range Development, LLC for the replat of Edwin Park Blocks 1, 2, 3 and all associated lots and easements including Commons Lots 1-6 as shown in latest Replat.
