After tabling the issue at their previous meeting, the Lubbock City Council Thursday evening took up the issue of the interim police chief for the Lubbock Police Department.

In late June, City Manager James Loomis demoted then-chief Roger Ellis to the rank of captain and named Jerry Brewer the interim police chief. The city council was expected to confirm Brewer at their July 9th meeting, but due to the absence of two council members from that meeting, that forced the postponement of the vote.

When the agenda item to confirm the interim chief came up, a rarely used parliamentary procedure was used.  District 3 Councilman Jeff Griffith motioned for approval of Brewer and then motioned for a 'Call to Question'. A Call to Question in parliamentary procedure closes debate on an issue and forces a vote.  The Call to Question was approved 6-1 with District 1 Councilman Victor Hernandez dissenting. Then the vote to confirm Brewer occurred with the same 6-1 vote with Councilman Hernandez dissenting again.

The city council also approved the Second Reading of two different annexation proposals.

The first proposal of annexing 157 acres of land south of FM 1585 and east of University Avenue was approved by 5-2 vote. Council members Latrelle Joy and Victor Hernandez voted against the proposal. Joy was against the annexation due to the city having to spend an additional $500,000 for new water lines to 'loop in' the city's existing water supply.

The second annexation proposal was approved 6-1 with Councilman Hernandez dissenting again. The 223 acres annexed near the Lubbock Business Park (east of FM 1294 and east of I-27) will allow LEDA (Lubbock Economic Development Alliance) to construct phase 2 of the railport for the Lubbock Business Park.

Finally, the city council rejected proposed changes to the city's Speed Limit Ordinance by a 2-5 vote, with council members Karen Gibson and Victor Hernandez voting for the changes.

The main point of contention with Mayor Glen Robertson, and other members of the council, was the proposed 50 mph speed limit for a section of Frankford Avenue.  In the proposed ordinance, Frankford Avenue from 98th Street to 114th Street would have had its speed limit reduced from 55 to 50 mph.

Mayor Robertson felt the proposed 50 mph speed limit was too high due to Lubbock-Cooper ISD's West Elementary being located at 101st Street & Frankford.

Council member Gibson also voiced concerns about the 50 mph speed limit, but said she was willing to discuss changes to the proposed ordinance during its Second Reading.

City staff will have to come up with a new Speed Limit Ordinance proposal for the city council at a future meeting.

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