News

The City of Amarillo Public Health Department (APH) has been recognized by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) for its ability to plan for, respond to and recover from public health emergencies. APH demonstrated these capabilities by meeting the comprehensive preparedness benchmarks required by Project Public Health Ready (PPHR), a unique partnership between NACCHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. APH joins a cohort of more than 550 local health departments across the country that have been distinguished for excellence in preparedness through PPHR, either individually or as part of a region. “This is a huge honor for Amarillo Public Health,” said APH Director Casie Stoughton. “We are proud to have been recognized by Project Public Health Ready for our high level of preparedness. This is a standard for our community that we will always strive to achieve.” PPHR recognition confirms APH has a thorough and coordinated emergency response plan in place and that staff have the training to protect the health of the community during an emergency. Local health departments recognized by PPHR undergo a rigorous evaluation by peer review to assess their ability to meet a set of national standards for public health preparedness. These standards align with federal government requirements and other national best practices. PPHR recognition also requires health departments to collaborate with their state, local, and community partners to develop plans that account for all the constituents in their jurisdictions. NACCHO, the voice of the nearly 3,000 local health departments across the country, provides resources to help local health department leaders develop public health policies and programs to ensure that communities have access to vital programs and services that people need to keep them protected from disease and disaster. Its mission is to be a leader, partner, catalyst, and voice for local health departments in order to ensure

In recognition of Presidents Day, City of Amarillo (COA) offices will be closed on Monday (February 17). The COA service schedule for the week of Presidents Day:  The schedule for Solid Waste services: Ross Rogers and Comanche Trail Golf Complexes will have normal hours of operation. For more information contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager Dave Henry at 806-378-5219 or by email at david.henry@amarillo.gov. ###

City Wins 13th Straight Award The streak goes on for the City of Amarillo (COA) and its financial yearbook – better known as the Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR). For the 13th straight year, COA has earned the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023. “The Popular Annual Financial Report is a quick and convenient way for citizens to see a breakdown of city revenue and expenses among several city departments, as well as the array of services the city provides,” said COA Assistant City Manager and Chief Financial Officer Laura Storrs. “This award reflects our ongoing commitment to providing valuable information to the public and to the community.” According to the GFOA, the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting is a prestigious national award recognizing the highest standards for preparation of state and local government popular reports. In order to receive the award, a government unit must publish a Popular Annual Financial Report whose contents conform to program standards of creativity, presentation, understandability, and reader appeal. To see the COA PAFR (as well as other city financial information), go to: www.amarillo.gov/finance/financial-information/ For more information contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager Dave Henry at (806) 378-5219 or by email at David.Henry@amarillo.gov ###

Amarillo City Transit (ACT) is seeking information on how Amarilloans get around town – even from those who do not use public transportation. The Amarillo community is invited to participate in the ACT Public Survey which will help determine future service and route adjustments for public transportation in Amarillo. In addition, the survey includes data on travel preferences, even from those who do not ride an ACT bus. “The entire Amarillo community is welcome to complete the survey,” said ACT Director Chris Quigley. “ACT is always looking at ways to improve our service in Amarillo, and this data will help ACT provide the best possible public transportation choices.” The ACT Public Survey is available at: bit.ly/40OpPYr Survey data will be used to adjust routes and bus stops and assist with future funding opportunities for bus stop benches and shelters. For more information contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager Dave Henry at (806) 378-5219 or by email at David.Henry@amarillo.gov

Following an extensive community outreach campaign with more than 6,100 responses from the Amarillo community, the City of Amarillo (COA) has compiled 16 proposed street safety projects – part of the COA Safe Streets and Roads for All Plan (SS4A). COA is again providing an opportunity for those who travel Amarillo streets and roads to provide input and feedback on these projects that are a major part of Amarillo infrastructure. Residents can identify their top five projects online at: amarillo.gov/safe-streets The deadline is Wednesday (February 12.) “The response from the Amarillo community for the Safe Streets and Roads for All Plan has been invaluable,” said COA Director of Planning Emily Koller. “We greatly appreciate all who are providing their input to this important public safety initiative.” The SS4A campaign has included a variety of public engagements, including two open houses at the Amarillo Downtown Library and the Southwest Branch Library. Planning for the SS4A Plan began last February. The COA Safer Speeds for Schools Project was awarded $523,440 in federal funding in the FY2024 Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program. The award was announced in November by the U.S. Department of Transportation. COA is providing a local match of $130,860 from the Community Improvement Plan for a total of $654,300. The purpose of the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Plan is to provide a framework to enhance safety for all people moving around Amarillo – whether on foot, bicycle, wheelchair, riding public transit or driving a personal/commercial vehicle. The SS4A Plan is expected to be adopted by city council this spring and implementation will be ongoing as funding becomes available. For more information contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager Dave Henry at 806-378-5219 or by email at david.henry@amarillo.gov. ###