Amarillo City Council has scheduled a special meeting for 2 p.m. Friday(March 27) to consider the filing of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. Council will review and consider receipt of the report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025. The meeting will be held in council chambers at city hall, Room 3400. To see the meeting agenda, go to: https://amarillotx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3058/files/agenda/7238 The meeting will be livestreamed on the City of Amarillo YouTube Channel at: https://www.youtube.com/user/CityofAmarillo

The City of Amarillo (COA) will offer residents a new and improved way to manage and pay their utility bills with the debut of a new Utility Billing System beginning Tuesday (March 31). The upgrade will feature a more modern, user-friendly online experience for customers, including detailed water usage data, flexible payment options and scheduling, enhanced account security and improved customer service tools. “The city is always looking for ways to improve the services we provide to our residents, and this has been a major focus for the Utility Billing Department,” said COA Utility Billing Manager Jennifer Gonzalez. “We are excited to introduce this new system and provide our customers with enhanced features that make managing their utility accounts easier and more convenient.” What residents need to know: Customers can find complete information about the new system, including how to register and access new features, by visiting:  www.amarillo.gov/utility-billing/utility-billing-system/ To prepare for the launch of the new system, Utility Billing services will be temporarily unavailable from Thursday (March 26) through Monday (March 30). During this time, the department will not be able to process payments by phone, online, email or in person. No late fees will be assessed during this transition period. For questions or additional information, contact the COA Utility Billing Department at (806) 378-3030 or by email at waterbill@amarillo.gov. The COA Utility Billing Department is located at Amarillo City Hall, 623 S. Johnson St., Suite 1200.

The City of Amarillo (COA) Office of Emergency Management (OEM), in collaboration with local first responders, is conducting joint hazardous materials (Hazmat) and law enforcement exercises this week with the 6th (TX) Civil Support Team. The exercises are designed to strengthen partnerships between local, state and federal agencies, enhancing collective ability to respond to incidents involving hazardous materials that may exceed local capabilities. Exercise activities will take place in Amarillo and surrounding communities through March 27 and are intentionally planned in areas away from high-population density to prioritize public safety. Residents may observe responder vehicle movement and operational activity within the city. For the safety of both the public and exercise participants, residents are asked to avoid areas marked with “Exercise in Progress” or “TRAINING” signage. Entering these areas could pose a risk due to ongoing training activities. These exercises have been fully coordinated with the OEM and local first responder agencies. For more information contact OEM Director Max Dunlap at (806) 378-9362 or email max.dunlap@amarillo.gov Also for more information, contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager Dave Henry at (806) 378-5219 or by email at David.Henry@amarillo.gov.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has completed a recent inspection and engineering evaluation of the bridge over the BNSF Railroad at 34th Ave. and will be installing updated load-limit signage at the structure. The updated posting will establish a maximum gross vehicle weight of 18,000 pounds and a 7,000-pound axle or tandem axle limit. Installation of the new signage is expected by late March. Load postings are a standard safety measure used nationwide to help ensure bridges continue operating safely while long-term improvements are planned. The bridge is owned by the City of Amarillo and is inspected through TxDOT’s bridge inspection program. Based on the recent evaluation, TxDOT has also advanced plans to rehabilitate the structure through its Off-System Bridge Program, moving the anticipated project timeline from 2030 to 2027. Under this program, the state of Texas will oversee design, railroad coordination and construction. Additional project details will be shared as they become available.