Place 2 Council Member· 2023-2027
Don Tipps
Amarillo
About
Don Tipps is seeking reelection to the Amarillo City Council, emphasizing his commitment to public safety and fiscal discipline. He intends to leverage his background in insurance to engage in necessary and potentially difficult discussions for the betterment of the city.
Campaign promises (3)
- public-safetyPrioritizing public safety.
- taxesMaintaining fiscal discipline.
- transparencyUsing his experience in insurance to have tough conversations for the city.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 28
- Total speaking time
- 5:45:08
- Avg per meeting
- 12:20
- Segments
- 5421
Want every word Tipps has said?
The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Tipps said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.
Top issues during term (20)
Proposed 2026/2027 Fiscal Year Tax Rate
Affects all property owners in Amarillo through ad valorem tax rates and utility fee adjustments.
Hospital District Budgeting
Determines the annual operational expenditures and financial planning for the hospital district.
Airport Infrastructure Modernization
Projects involve capital expenditures budgeted for airport maintenance and facility upgrades.
Addressing Substandard Structures and Public Nuisances
Property owners may incur costs for demolition or clean-up, while the city expends staff and legal resources on code enforcement.
Departmental Operations and Updates
The vendor selection for BVB 416-26 directly impacts how PID assessment funds are spent.
Water Infrastructure and Drought Management
Potential future utility rate adjustments and capital bonding to fund hundreds of millions in necessary water and sewer projects.
Clearview AI Privacy Concerns
Ongoing costs for camera software subscriptions and maintenance are integrated into the police department budget.
Mandatory Microchipping Ordinance
Enforcement and registration processes may involve administrative adjustments.
Election Ballot Procedures
Your vote could shape city spending and taxes, so make it count!
Utility Billing Accuracy
The city has already issued over $545,000 in billing credits, and a proposed relief fund could add roughly $500,000 more; utility revenues hit $112.7 million in sales this year.
City Manager Evaluation and Personnel Review
Direct financial impacts depend on executive contract terms discussed in confidence.
Fiscal Year 2026/2027 Municipal Budget Adoption
Maintains the total tax rate at $0.43070 per $100 valuation while increasing fee schedules for water, animal services, and recreation.
Amarillo City Transit Coordinated Plan
Will shape federal and state funding allocations for regional transportation infrastructure over the next two decades.
Personnel Actions Review
Personnel actions impact the municipal payroll and department budgets.
Playa Lake 7 Drainage Improvements
Potential future utility infrastructure or dredging costs if detention basin capacities are impacted.
Visit Amarillo Strategic Planning and Tourism Initiatives
Financial impacts involve the distribution of arts marketing grants and allocation of resources toward the new strategic plan.
Personnel Actions Review
The full request for 27 new positions is estimated at $2.4 million, but the city is currently managing overtime through existing budget savings.
FY 2026-27 TIRZ #3 Annual Budget and Financial Oversight
Determines the allocation and management of tax increment funds for infrastructure projects within the East Gateway zone.
Hotel Market Study
Evaluates commercial hospitality investment potential in downtown Amarillo.
Transition of Public Art Programs
Financial impacts will be determined through future budget allocations for the expanded public art program.
Moved or seconded (2)
Motions Tipps personally put forward or seconded. Attribution comes from the minutes; where the minutes name somebody we cannot match to the roster we leave it out rather than guess, so this is a floor, not a total.
- secondedpassed2026-03-25
Jason Fenton made a motion to pass the adoption of the plan; Don Tipps seconded.
- secondedpassed2026-03-25
Phyllis Golden made a motion to approve the minutes; Don Tipps seconded.
Decisions during term (352)
Recorded while Tipps was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Consent Agenda (Items 7.1–7.10)
Ordinance No. 8273 — Town Square alcohol-use rezoning (second reading)
Ordinance No. 8279 — Vineyards final phase rezoning (public hearing, first reading)
Ordinance No. 8280 — Downtown parking garage fee increase (first reading)
Resolution No. 10-27-26-1 — Korn Ferry Tour OccuNet Classic state funds
Resolution No. 10-27-26-2 — Rodney Rhoades as Interim City Manager
Resolution No. 10-27-26-3 — Denial of SPS large-customer electric tariff amendments
Fleet Parts and Supply Agreement — NAPA (Item 8.7)
Flow Control Valves for River Road Xcel High Lift Station (Item 8.8)
Consent Agenda - It is recommended that the following items be approved and that the City Manager be authorized to execute all documents necessary for each transaction. The following items may be acted upon by one motion. No separate…
Consider Approval of Minutes. This item is to consider approval of minutes for the October 13, 2026 regular meeting. (Stephanie Coggins, City Secretary)
Consideration of Ordinance No. 8278. This item is the second and final reading of an ordinance to consider the vacation of a 0.02 acre portion of a 10-foot wide public utility easement, located within Lot 1A, Block 8, Western Express…
Consideration of Resolution No. 10-27-26-3. This item is the first and final reading to consider a resolution denying Southwestern Public Service Company’s request for approval of amendments to its proposed “Large General Service –…
Approval of October 5, 2026 P&Z Meeting Minutes
Consideration of Plat 2026-240-P City View Estates Unit No. 23
Approval of September 12, 2026 Minutes
Deferral of Aquatic Feasibility Study Recommendation
Approval of Minutes This item is for the Board to discuss and consider the approval of the minutes of the meeting held September 12, 2026.
Approval of Minutes from the August 19, 2026 Animal Welfare and Management Advisory Board Meeting
Minutes Approval
Voting record (102)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.