Watauga City Council Regular Meeting - March 9, 2026

The Watauga City Council held its regular meeting on March 9, 2026, at 6:36 PM at City Hall. The meeting included presentations of employee awards, approval of a consent agenda (with one dissenting vote), several action items including investment pool participation, acceptance of a clean audit, fee schedule amendments, and a tabled discussion on council travel procedures. An executive session was conducted regarding City Manager goals, with no action taken.

Consent Calendar

• Approved all 13 consent items (financial report for January 2026, police racial profiling report, landscape maintenance contract renewal, copier lease authorization, phone system renewal, cancellation of May 2 general election, massage permit renewals, four sets of meeting minutes, Library Board appointment, and cancellation of a special election) by a vote of 4-1-0 (one council member opposed).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments or testimony were presented.

Discussion Items

• Resolution for U.S. Fixed Income Trust (TX-FIT) Participation: Finance Director Jennifer Calvert explained the resolution would authorize participation in an additional local government investment pool to maximize yields. The pool is triple-A rated by Fitch. Approved unanimously (5-0).
• Annual Audit and Single Audit Acceptance: Weaver partner Jackie Gonzalez presented the results for fiscal year 2025 (October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025). An unmodified (clean) opinion was issued for both the financial statements and the federal awards single audit. Total governmental fund assets were over $47.8 million, with total fund balances over $44.3 million (including $9.4 million in the general fund). Revenues were $29.6 million, expenditures were $31.89 million. No material weaknesses or findings were noted. Audit committee reviewed results on February 24. Approved unanimously (5-0).
• Ordinance Amending Various Rates and Fees (Chapter 12): Calvert presented changes to administrative fees (removing a $5 processing fee for damaged/lost items) and park and recreation fees (increasing non-resident membership by $5, increasing family-of-four membership by $20, adding $30 per additional child, adding a $5 replacement card fee, increasing camp fees for both resident and non-resident, adding a late camp pickup fee, and updating facility rental names). Approved unanimously (5-0).
• Procedures for Council Training and Travel Budget: Mayor Minor introduced a subcommittee recommendation to codify travel procedures into council rules. Councilmember Blackburn moved to table the item to the next regular meeting (April 13, 2026) to finalize language with the city attorney. Tabled unanimously (5-0).

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda passed 4-1-0.
• Resolution for TX-FIT participation approved 5-0.
• Annual Audit and Single Audit accepted 5-0.
• Ordinance amending fees approved 5-0.
• Discussion of travel procedures tabled to April 13, 2026.
• Executive session held from 7:17 PM to 7:39 PM; no action taken on City Manager goals.