The first Lubbock City Council meeting for Mayor Glen Robertson and District 6 Councilwoman Latrelle Joy turned out to be a very long and eventful session.

The Council heard citizen comments beginning at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, specifically regarding the demolition of the City Auction Building, and a group’s plan to use the area for disc golf, the renaming of a section of a Lubbock park, and the possible location of a dog park in the city.

A group spoke in favor of naming an area of Lubbock’s Aztlan Park after a late community leader. Friends and family members of Carlos A. Quirino Sr. voiced their support to rename the portion of the park normally referred to as “The Arroyo” to memorialize the man.

The Council unanimously approved renaming that particular section of the park as the “Carlos A. Quirino Sr. Memorial Arroyo Esplanade.”

Also discussed was the possibility of making a section of Stumpy Hamilton Park, near Lubbock High School, into a dog park, if Lubbock wins a contest that would provide $100,000 in funding for the purpose.

One resident, Bill Curnow, spoke in favor of having Hamilton Park serve this purpose, but two other residents voiced their displeasure over the idea, as well as the loss of the park’s baseball diamond, which has already been dismantled. The Council chose to hold off on any decisions regarding a dog park until the next meeting, to allow for more locations to be considered.

A budget amendment was considered, specifically regarding the return of $56,000 in federal funding which the City was unable to use for a home weatherization program. The funds will be redirected to South Plains Community Action Association.

Also approved were new amenities at the Sam Wahl Recreation Area at Lake Alan Henry. 32 new shelters are to be constructed at the recreation area, which currently only offers primitive camp sites. The cost for these new shelters is $422,600. The item passed 6 to 1, Robertson dissenting.

Lubbock Police vehicles will also soon be outfitted with new digital video recorders. The cost for the 50 recorders is more than $202,000, and the money is provided out of seized funds.

The Council also approved an interlocal agreement allowing Lubbock County law enforcement to use the Lubbock Police Department Firing Range facilities, at no cost to the City. The item passed 5-1, with District 4 Councilman Paul R. Beane dissenting and District 2 Councilman Floyd Price recusing. Beane explained his vote, saying that it was in protest of Lubbock County’s lack of participation in the City of Lubbock Health Department.

A presentation regarding possible changes in stormwater fees was also delivered, though the Council took no action on the proposed changes and addition of different tiers for the stormwater fees.

A few board appointments were also made, with Clayton Isom being appointed to fill the spot on the Electric Utility Board left by Robertson.

The meeting adjourned around 4:30 p.m., without work session discussion regarding the feasibility of recording City boards and commission meetings, as well as possible changes to moving Council meetings to the evening hours. Those items are likely to be addressed at the next Council meeting scheduled for June 7th.

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