The City of Plainview is centrally located in West Texas.  This community of roughly 23,330 offers many of the amenities more often found in larger sister cities, yet Plainview manages to do so while maintaining a hearty hometown feel.  Plainview adjoins I-27 which connects various Texas metropolitans, such as Amarillo to the North and Lubbock to the South.

Often described as the “Lone Star of Texas,” Plainview is truly unique.  Its people embrace its proud heritage, appreciate its growing economy, and look forward to its promising future.  Plainview citizens represent diverse cultures and a rich tapestry of color that help make the City a welcome place.  Realizing that its future rests in the hands of its youth, Plainview whole-heartedly supports a school system with enrollments in excess of 6,000 and an annual budget of over $37 million.

The City of Plainview was chartered on July 3, 1888, and was designated as the county seat of Hale County, Texas, soon thereafter.  The City was incorporated in 1907.

Plainview is designated by the State of Texas as a home rule city.  They may rely upon their general constitutional and statutory powers to pass and enforce ordinances that are necessary to protect the health, life, property, safety, and general welfare of city residents. 

Temperature
	Average Annual	68o
	Average Monthly	January - 53o	July-91o
	Days Between Killing Frost	205
	Average Annual Rainfall	14'
	Days Over 90o	76
	Heating Degree Days Total	3,400
	Cooling Degree Days Total	1,750
Relative Humidity Percent by Hour (Average)
	0000 hr	62%
	0600 hr	74%
	1200 hr	46%
	1800 hr	41%

Wayland Baptist University Library

South Plains College satellite campus

Wayland Baptist University educational system headquarters are located in Plainview where a pioneer doctor established it in 1908. They have campuses in Lubbock, Amarillo, San Antonio, and Wichita Falls, Texas; Clovis and Albuquerque, New Mexico; Altus, Oklahoma; Phoenix and Sierra Vista, Arizona; Fairbanks and Anchorage, Alaska; and Honolulu Hawaii. The university offers undergraduate degrees in 40 academic major fields of study and graduate degrees in business, education, science, and religion. The university has a rich heritage of athletic excellence for men and women in a variety of sports. Wayland has an enrollment of over 1,000 students on the local campus and 7,000 in the total system. Wayland Baptist University website is at: http://www.wbu.edu.

Colleges and Universities within commuting distance are: Texas Tech University, Amarillo College, West Texas A & M, Lubbock Christian University, and South Plains College.  South Plains College also has a satellite campus in Plainview.

Motor Freight

Federal Express, UPS, Central, Yellow, Roadway SAIA, WSKT, Conway, and Beaver Express provide motor freight service in Plainview.

Country Club

The Plainview Country Club has banquet facilities that accommodate 400 people. They have an 18-hole golf course (open to the public). The swimming pool and restaurant are opened to members only.

Unger Memorial Library

The library has approximately 50,000 books on its shelves. The library began in 1912, and was expanded in 1960, and 1967. There is also a genealogy and local history collection within the Library.
Website Link: http://www.myplainview.com/unger

LLlano Estacado Museum

The museum opened in 1976 and has exhibits dating from pre-man through the 1920s. They have approximately 10,000 visitors annually. The Museum is opened daily 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 1:00 5:00 pm, 1:00 5:00 p.m. on weekends.

Airport

The Hale County Airport has approximately 24,000 planes land and takeoff each year. There are two lighted runways: 4,000 feet and 5,997 feet long that are capable of handling small jet aircraft. Fuel, service, sales, and charters are available. Rocket Aviation manages the Airport, and can be reahed at (806) 293-4121. The Plainview Airport Automated Weather Report can be reached at (806) 291-8679.

YMCA

The YMCA has a gym, swimming pool, and racquetball court, weight rooms and Little League ball fields. For more information, call (806) 293-8319.

Symphony

The Plainview Symphony Orchestra performs 4 events annually. The Music Department at Wayland Baptist University sponsors the Symphony and performs in the University's Auditorium.

Churches

There are 51 churches in Plainview and represented by all major denominations.

Daily Newspaper

The Plainview Daily Herald is the local daily newspaper. Other daily newspaper service is also available from Lubbock and Amarillo. See local newspaper website at:

Radio

Plainview is served by local radio stations KKYN and KVOP, and 4 other area radio stations.

Major Employers

Azteca Corn Milling
Cargill Meat Solutions
Wal-Mart Store
Wal-Mart Distribution Center
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Covenant Hospital Plainview
City of Plainview
County of Hale
Plainview Independent School District
Wayland Baptist University
US Fiberglass                                                                                                                 

Hospital

Covenant Hospital Plainview is a 100-bed hospital, and is a part of the Covenant Hospital System of Lubbock. It is a state-of-the-art hospital with modern equipment.

Covenant Hospital Plainview
Azteca Corn Milling	Cargill Meat Solutions
Nor-Am

David W. Evans, Executive Director
Plainview/ Hale County Industrial Foundation
1906 W. 5^th
Plainview, Texas 79072
Email: phcif@nts-online.net
Website: www.phcif.org
Phone: (806) 293-8536   Fax:  (806) 293-9554

Memorial Day                    Last Monday in May

Independence Day             July 4th

Labor Day                          First Monday in September

Thanksgiving                      Fourth Thursday & Friday in November

Christmas                          December 25th & 26th

The Community

The City of Plainview is comfortably nestled in West Texas.  This community of roughly 22,000 offers many of the amenities more often found in larger sister cities, yet Plainview manages to do so while maintaining a hearty hometown feel.  Plainview adjoins I-27, which connects various Texas metropolitans, such as Amarillo to the North and Lubbock to the South.

Often described as the “Lone Star of Texas,” Plainview is truly unique.  Its people embrace its proud heritage, appreciate its growing economy, and look forward to its promising future.  Plainview citizens represent diverse cultures and a rich tapestry of color that help make the City a welcome place.  Realizing that its future rests in the hands of its youth, Plainview whole-heartedly supports a school system with enrollments in excess of 6,000 and an annual budget of over $36 million.

Its citizenry enjoy numerous entertainment, cultural, business, and educational opportunities.  Plainview is one of the few cities throughout the entire State which, for a city its size, supports its own symphony and concert associations.  Over 50 churches, together with 130 civic clubs, provide other community outreach opportunities.

The City fosters other cultural venues, such as: the historic downtown area which is home to the antique district famed within the region; Wayland Baptist University, an institution renown for the quality of its instruction and its ever-increasing student enrollments; the recently refurbished Fair Theatre located in the heart of downtown Plainview which captures the spirit of days gone by; together with its own museum, art gallery, libraries, country club, newspaper, and radio stations.

Plainview’s economy is based primarily in agriculture.  It is home, though, to such other corporate citizens as Excel, Wal-Mart Distribution, Azteca Milling, Covenant Hospital, and the Wheeler & Formby Units of TDCJ.

Plainview fosters good ol’ fashioned West Texas hospitality.  It’s the kind of place where neighbor helps neighbor, and no one’s a stranger.  It’s the kind of place you can be proud to call home.

The Organization

The City of Plainview was chartered on July 3, 1888, and was designated as the county seat of Hale County, Texas, soon thereafter.  In 1906 the Pecos & Northern Texas Railway reached town and brought with it an agricultural and an industrial boom.  The growing City was incorporated in 1907.

The City of Plainview is designated by the State of Texas as a home rule city.  Home rule cities may rely upon their general constitutional and statutory powers to pass and enforce ordinances that are necessary to protect the health, life, property, safety, and general welfare of city residents.

The Mayor is elected at-large by the citizenry, while the other seven members of the City Council are elected by their respective districts.  They serve four-year terms of office.  The terms overlap so that with each biennial election one-half of the Council seats come up for election.

The City of Plainview adopted the Council / Manager form of government in 1964.  Under this form of government, the elected Councilmembers appoint the City Manager, a professional who serves as the chief administrative officer and who carries out the Council’s directives.  The City Manager is responsible to the Mayor and Councilmembers for the proper administration of all affairs of the City.

The City relies upon a staff of 211 employees within 26 departments and divisions to carry out its mission to serve.  Each department employs professional and skilled staff members to carry out the City’s functions.  Staff members, each possessed with a high degree of technical competence, are public-service oriented and interested in positive community relations and growth.

The City of Plainview adheres to a budget totaling roughly $12 million annually.  The organization stresses anti-cipation, flexibility, efficiency, effectiveness, intro-spection and vision.  Progress, conservative fiscal management, and proper planning have been the legacy of Plainview’s management team.  The stage for this success, of course, was set by the citizens who have consistently elected capable, qualified, dedicated people as their representatives.

Building Trades And Fire Code Board of Appeals (BTFCBA)

Administered by the Code Administration Department: this board consists of seven board members and four alternates. As a minimum membership has to consist of a building contractor, a licensed master electrician, a representative from the local electrical service provider, a licensed master plumber, a representative from the local gas service provider, and two individuals with a working knowledge of the representative trades. The four alternates can posses any of the above requirements. It meets as needed, but when a meeting is called, normally it will be at 7:30 PM on the third Thursday of the month at City Hall, 901 Broadway, in City Council Chambers.

The BTFCBA was created in 2000 to combine the functions of, and replace the three construction trade boards which existed at that time. Those were: the Board of Electrical Examiners, the Building Fire Code Board of Appeals, and the Plumbing Board.

The BTFCBA makes recommendations for the adoption, improvement, enforcement, and administration of the National Electrical Code (NEC), the Uniform Building Code (UBC), the Uniform Fire Code (UFC), the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), the Uniform Sign Code (USC) and the National Life Safety Code (NLSC).  Recommendations for local amendments and standards as well as permit and licensing standards associated with those codes are developed by the board and staff and forwarded to the City Council for their consideration as ordinance amendments.  The BTFCBA also acts in an appeals capacity regarding the decisions of the Building Official and Fire Marshall as they concern building construction and fire prevention issues.  Either official's decision may be appealed to the BTFCBA and affirmed, modified or overturned.  The BTFCBA may consider appeals regarding interpretations and applications of the above referenced codes, and to consider alternative means of compliance and alternative materials and methods of construction not addressed by those codes.

Level of Authority: Recommendations for ordinance amendments are forwarded to the City Council for consideration.  On other decisions, the BTFCBA is the final authority on all matters for which it is responsible, unless the decision is appealed to the City Council.

Civil Service Board (CSB)

Administered by the Civil Service Coordinator, the commission consists of three members and meets quarterly in City Hall, 901 Broadway, Council Chambers, unless a need arises to call a special meeting.

The CSC is a regulatory commission appointed by the City Manager and confirmed by the City Council.  Its duties are to adopt rules and regulations for the administration of the City's Civil Service system.  It also serves as a hearing tribunal for all classified employees appealing actions of demotions, suspensions or terminations.  More specifically, the CSC responsibilities include:

·         Administration of the civil service law in accordance with the City Charter and state law.

·         Adoption and implementation of all civil service rules and regulations necessary for the proper conduct of commission business.

·         Investigation and reporting on all matters relating to enforcement of the civil service law.  During investigations, the commission may administer oaths (an oath administered or a subpoena issued has the same force and effect as an oath administered by a magistrate in the magistrate's judicial capacity); issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers, documents, and accounts relating to the investigation; and cause the deposition of witnesses residing inside or outside the state.

·         Administration of all entrance employment and promotional merit system examinations.

·         Ruling on all employee appeals concerning employment and disciplinary issues filed with the CSC.

Level of Authority:  Unless appealed to the City Council or the courts, the CSC is the final authority on all matters for which it is responsible.

Human Relations Commission (HRC)

The Human Relations Committee consists of seven (7) members appointed by the City Council. Each member has to be a resident of the City of Plainview. As nearly as is reasonably possible, the membership shall be fairly representative of all the several economic, religious, cultural, ethnic and racial groups comprising the population of the city. The HRC shall have the following duties:

·         To advise and consult with the city council and the city manager on matters involving racial, religious or ethnic discrimination;

·         To recommend to the city council and the city manager measures designed to eliminate prejudice and discrimination;

·         To promote and encourage communication between and cooperation of all groups interested in bettering community relations.

Minimum Housing Standards Board (MHSB)

The MHSB is administered by the Code Administration Department and consist of seven members who shall be residents of the City of Plainview and are appointed by the City Council. The board consists of seven (7) members and meets as needed. When scheduled for a meeting t will meet on the first Thursday of the month at 7:30 PM in Council Chambers, 901 Broadway. The MHSB shall provide a final determination and hear appeals of the decision of the Building Official on buildings or structures which from any cause endanger the life, limb, health, morals, property, safety, or welfare of the general public or their occupants.

Level of Authority: Recommendations for ordinance amendments are forwarded to the City Council for consideration. On other decisions, the MHSB is the final authority on all matters for which it is responsible. An appeal of the MHSB must be directed to District Court rather than the City Council

Parks Advisory Commission (PAC)

Administered by the Public Works Division, it consists of eight board members and meets quarterly on the 2nd Thursday of the each month at 4:30 PM in City Hall, 901 Broadway, City Council Chambers.

The PAC makes recommendations to the City Council in regard to the open space planning, parks, and recreation planning and/or purchase, disposal, or trade of such lands. It makes recommendations involving the coordination of the Comprehensive or Master Plan, or future plans, within the City of Plainview Parks Department; recommendations on any matter pertaining to open space, parks, recreation, or land planning problems; and recommendations on priorities for spending funds. The PAC shall not lobby the City Council for appropriations, but will merely make recommendations on how appropriated funds should be expended. Further the PAC shall submit quarterly progress reports to the City Council.

Level of Authority:  PAC recommendations regarding fees and rates are considered for approval by the City Council.  On other decisions, the PAC is the final authority in these areas of responsibility, unless appealed to the City Commission.

Plainview Hale County Board of Health (PHCBH)

The Plainview Hale County Board of Health consists of 8 board members, of which four are appointed by the City and four by the County. The Board meets the first Thursday after the second Tuesday of every other month. The meetings are usually held at 12:30 PM at the Plainview Visitors and Convention Center. A physician is appointed by the Department Director to serve as Health Authority and to advise on state and local laws relating to public health.

The Plainview Hale County Board of Health acts as an advisory board to the governing bodies of the participating entities (City of Plainview and Hale County) and makes recommendations from time to time through the minutes of its meetings on matters pertaining to public health.  The board has the power and duty to advise the health authority and administrators of the public health district.

Level of Authority: This board has advisory authority for reviewing and making recommendations on all policies and operating procedures of the public health department. The recommendations of this Board are then heard by the City Council for approval.  Therefore, the City Council hears recommendations from the Public Health Board on various topics, including health code changes, for consideration.

Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z)

Administered by the Planning and Zoning Department; it consist of seven voting members and four alternates. The P&Z meets the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM in City Hall, 901 Broadway, in City Council Chambers.

The P&Z Board is responsible for planning for the future and advising the City Council on matters concerning the orderly growth of the City. The P&Z establishes the overall planning policy in the City and incorporates it into the Comprehensive Plan.  This board reviews special studies and makes recommendations on issues, and is responsible for preparation and update of the Plainview Comprehensive Plan for the physical development of the City.

The P&Z reviews subdivision plats and the vacation and dedication of streets, alleys, easements and other public facilities associated with plats.  The P&Z is responsible for reviewing and advising the City Council on amendments to the subdivision and zoning ordinances; rezoning requests; annexation proposals; and miscellaneous studies. 

Level of Authority: Recommendations for ordinance amendments are forwarded to the City Council for consideration.  The P&Z is the final authority on decisions regarding subdivision plats.  Unless appealed to the City Council, decisions to deny rezoning property, right-of-way vacations and dedications, annexation proposals and miscellaneous studies, are final.

Unger Library Board (ULB)

The Library Department administers the Unger Library Board. It consists of seven board members and meets the 2nd Tuesday of every other month (six meetings per year) at 4:00 PM in the Unger Library Meeting Room downstairs, 825 Austin.

The Unger Library Board makes general recommendations concerning the policies, procedures and development of the public library. More specifically, the ULB makes recommendations on the following areas in the operation of Unger Memorial Pubic Library (All recommendations are subject to review and approval of the City Council):                      

·         Improvement and development projects;

·         Current and long range planning issues;

·         Freedom of speech and censorship issues;

·         Specific items or issues related to Library policies and procedures by Library users and the public;

·         Requests for special Library program and service applications;

·         Library materials management, allocation and associated user charges;

·         Operating policies and procedures for all the library; and

·         Marketing and public relations policies and procedures.

Level of Authority: Unless appealed to the City Staff, the Unger Library Board is the final authority on all matters for which it is responsible.

Youth Advisory Commission (YAC)

The Youth Advisory Commission (YAC) consists of members representing the seventh through twelfth grades of Plainview Independent School District and privates schools. The selection process for new members is determined by the YAC and approved by the City Manager.

The goals and objectives of the commission are to respond to current situations affecting young persons and to develop solutions for problems, which will be presented to the Mayor and City Council, and other interested organizations. The YAC will further work toward unifying the youth of Plainview into a positive force for the good of the community.

Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA)

Administered by the Director of Community Services; the board consists of five members who are residents of the City and four alternate members who serve in the absence of one or more regular members when requested to do so by the Director of Community Services. The ZBA meets on the 4^th Monday of each month at 7:30 PM at City Hall, 901 Broadway, City Council Chambers.

The ZBA is a quasi-judicial appeals board that hears appeals of decisions of the Director of Community Services or his/her designee as they concern enforcement of the Zoning Ordinance.  The ZBA considers requests for variances or deviations from specific zoning ordinance requirements, but does not have the authority to change the zoning of property.  The ZBA considers special exceptions for off-street parking and loading requirements and to allow the restoration of a nonconforming structure to its nonconforming state if it has been destroyed by fire or the elements. Special exceptions are also considered to increase the size of an institutional sign in a residential zoning district or to allow the continued existence for up to one year of any sign with substantial damage.  Under specific guidelines, the ZBA may authorize variances of the height, setbacks, area, lot coverage, landscaping and minimum parking requirements. The ZBA does not have the authority to review or recommend changes to the Zoning Ordinance, although they have on rare occasions suggested changes that the staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission may wish to consider.

Level of Authority: The ZBA is the final authority on all matters for which it is responsible.  Any appeal of a ZBA decision must be directed to District Court rather than to the City Council.

FREE STANDING BOARDS

Canadian River Municipal Water Authority Board (CRMWA):  

Canadian River Municipal Water Authority Board consists of 8 board members of which 2 represent the City of Plainview; meetings are held quarterly either in Plainview, Texas or at Lake Meredith Dam.

CRMWA manages the overall operation of Lake Meredith including sanitary control and the distribution of surface water from the lake to eleven member cities.  CRMWA has overall administrative authority for reviewing and approving all policies, budgets, operating procedures of the Lake and also for hiring a General Manager to oversee the operation and administration of CRMWA.

Level of Authority: CRMWA is the final authority on all matters for which it is responsible.

Housing Authority of the City of Plainview (PHA):

The Housing Authority of the City of Plainview is administered by a board of directors that consist of five (5) members appointed by the Mayor of the City of Plainview. One of the board members must be a tenant of the Housing Authority’s properties.

The purpose of the housing authority is to determine the needs of the City, and the area within five (5) miles of the City, concerning housing and providing solutions to alleviate any housing deficiencies for low income persons.  At least once a year, the committee shall file a report of its activities and finances for the preceding year and make recommendations on what it considers necessary to carry out the purposes of its duties and the State Statute.

Plainview/Hale County Airport Board (PHCAB)

Administered by Hale County the Plainview Hale County Airport Board consists of seven (7) board members; three (3) appointed by the City Council and three (3) appointed by the County. The seventh member is nominated by the appointed members and ratified by the City Council and the Commissioners Court. The PHCAB meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM in the County Courthouse Conference Room, 500 Broadway.

The Plainview/Hale County Airport Board studies and makes recommendations regarding planning, development, improvement, protection and operation of the airport.  More specifically, the Airport Board has decision making authority related to the following areas of operation and use of the airport:

·         Current and long range planning issues;

·         Improvement and development projects;

·         Specific items or issues related to Airport policies and procedures upon request by Airport tenants, users,  and the public;

·         Requests for use of Airport facilities and property;

·         Operating policies and procedures;

·         Lease, rental and use charges and associated policies; and

·         Federal Aviation Administration policy and procedure directives and orders.

Level of Authority: The PHCAB is an administrative board which is responsible to the City of Plainview and Hale County for the efficient and effective administration of the airport.

VARIOUS AD HOC COMMITTEES

From time to time, the City Council will appoint ad-hoc committees to fulfill a specific role or function. This type of committee is considered temporary and meets until their particular function is completed.  An example of an ad-hoc committee is the Redistricting Committee that reviews the census information and develops goals and policies for redistricting if necessary.

CABLE TELEVISION
Cox Communications
806-293-2551

ELECTRICITY
Xcel Energy
800-895-4999

GAS
Natural Gas Atmos Energy
888-363-7427

TELEPHONE
Southwestern Bell
800-464-7928

WATER
City of Plainview
806-296-1134

OLLIE LINER CENTER
South Business 87
806-293-2183
Meeting Rooms Seats 50
Arena 900 Bleachers, 300 Chairs

WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
1900 West 7^th Street
806-296-5521

McLUNG  CENTER
Banquet Seats 700
Meeting Room Seats 20-200

MABEE RESOURCE CENTER
20-200

MUSEUM AUDITORIUM
Seats 94 

HARRAL AUDITORIUM
Seats 1,000

GATES HALL AUDITORIUM
Seats 125

ALUMNI HOUSE
Seat 150