Amarillo City Council Approves AEDC Bylaw Changes

The Amarillo City Council approved significant amendments to the governing documents of the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) in a 4-1 vote, with Councilmember Les Simpson dissenting over concerns about public transparency. The changes include renaming the 'Articles of Incorporation' to 'Certificate of Formation' and implementing stricter oversight on budget management, requiring council approval for any fund transfers between line items. Mayor Cole Stanley emphasized the need for accountability in the AEDC's financial operations, especially following a controversial $750,000 wire transfer made without prior council approval. Simpson argued that while he supported the revisions, the rush to approve them without sufficient public review was problematic. The council plans to further address AEDC bylaws and budget matters in a subsequent meeting on January 28. New board members are expected to be appointed soon after multiple resignations from the AEDC board in recent months.