TEXARKANA, Texas - During a regular meeting Monday, the City Council will consider purchase of three new outdoor warning sirens.
The purchase is the first stage of a three-year plan to replace 12 of the city's 13 sirens, which are used to warn residents in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency, according to background information published with the meeting's agenda. The sirens' operating system and software will also be upgraded. Many of the sirens were installed in the late 1970s.
The cost for replacing the first three sirens, almost $72,000, was included in the current city budget.
One of the first sirens to be replaced, which is in Spring Lake Park, will also be upgraded to include a voice option so park visitors can hear official instructions.
The Council will also hear a first briefing on minor ordinance changes related to outsourcing the city's alarm permit program.
In December, the Council voted unanimously to award a contract to PMAM Corp. to handle alarm permitting and fee collection. The company's automated system requires "technical changes" to the related ordinances.
"The changes, if approved, do not fundamentally change the alarm program and they do not have a financial impact," the agenda background states.
Another first briefing concerns updating the city's Electrical Code. The changes would make clear that electricians' licensing exams are administered by the state and that conflicts with city electrical inspectors can be resolved without consulting a city electrical board. The penalty for a code violation that endangers public health would increase to $2,000.
Other first briefings during the meeting include the following zoning and permitting matters:
- revising a site plan to allow new signage for a collision center at 924 Kenwood Road;
- granting a specific use permit to allow a tattoo studio at 3216 Texas Boulevard; and
- rezoning a lot at 2720 Phillips Lane and granting a specific use permit to allow a double-wide manufactured home there.
The agenda includes a public forum during which members of the public may address the Council on any topic for up to five minutes each.
The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 220 Texas Boulevard.