Citizen Comments - According to Lubbock City Council Rules, any citizen wishing to appear in-person before a regular meeting of the City Council, regarding any matter posted on the City Council Agenda below, shall complete the sign-up form provided at the meeting, no later than 5:30 p.m. on July 18, 2024. Citizen Comments provide an opportunity for citizens to make comments and express a position on agenda items.

Sign ups:

Review and Discuss Adopted Lubbock City Council Priorities and Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Budget Preparation.

Topics may include: planning, goals, and budget priorities for the Lubbock City Council and the City of Lubbock, and the programs, expenditures and policies of the City Council and the City of Lubbock, including but not limited to the Lubbock City Charter, ARPA funding, annexation and growth, aquatics, substance abuse, municipal fees, transportation, infrastructure, solid waste, streets, Gateway Fund, Civic Center, Lubbock Animal Services, libraries, community engagement, capital improvements, facilities, parks and recreation, development services, legislative agenda, public safety, public health, public safety infrastructure, code enforcement, staffing levels, and future needs. This discussion may include a wide range of topics related to the programs, operations, and policies of the City Council and the City of Lubbock.

Action may be taken by the City Council to give direction to the City Manager in regard to determining the priorities and goals discussed.

Jarrett Atkinson, city manager, introduced the item, gave comments, and answered questions from City Council.

The following priorities were identified and discussed by members of the City Council:

(The topics listed below were the subject of discussion by members of the City Council. This list is not indicative what each member of council considered the noted topics as their priority.)

Public Safety:

Ensure adequate staffing, adequate funding, and competitive salaries for Lubbock Police Department, Lubbock Animal Services, and Lubbock Fire Department; focus on crime reduction; reduce dog attacks; and reduce loose animals.

Infrastructure and Core Services:

Infrastructure funding for utilities, water, and streets; maintenance of current infrastructure and established neighborhoods; and long-term infrastructure planning.

Fiscal Discipline:

No increases to the tax burden on citizens and maintain lower tax rates; reduce spending where appropriate; and reduce outside consulting.

Quality of Life:

Parks, including park maintenance and planting of new trees; and planning for the future construction of swimming pools.

Growth and Development:

Economic growth; grants for economic development and downtown businesses; growth of downtown Lubbock; and business expansion.

There was a consensus among City Council to exclude funding for the construction of a new swimming pool, and to consider repairing the Clapp Park swimming pool in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget.

City Council gave direction to the city manager to prepare presentations on a budget with a no new revenue tax rate and a budget with a population plus inflation tax rate.