What is the latest on The Route 66 emblem on the Independence water tower (2021-2023)?

Mar 29, 2023: City holds a Route 66 Water Tower Celebration. The CVB executive director invited the CVB board on March 22, 2023 to the Route 66 Water Tower Celebration "on Wednesday." Route 66 News reported on March 28 that the City was holding the event Wednesday morning at Smitty's Food Park on Sixth Avenue, and that the tower had been repainted with a Route 66 logo through the efforts of the City, Dixie Painting and several organizations.

How far back does this record of The Route 66 emblem on the Independence water tower (2021-2023) go?

To May 25, 2021: Speakers ask the council to allow a Route 66 emblem on a City water tower. The storyline has 9 dated events in all.

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Storyline · 9 events · May 25, 2021 – Mar 29, 2023

The Route 66 emblem on the Independence water tower (2021-2023)

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What is the latest on The Route 66 emblem on the Independence water tower (2021-2023)?: Mar 29, 2023: City holds a Route 66 Water Tower Celebration. The CVB executive director invited the CVB board on March 22, 2023 to the Route 66 Water Tower Celebration "on Wednesday." Route 66 News reported on March 28 that the City was holding the event Wednesday morning at Smitty's Food Park on Sixth Avenue, and that the tower had been repainted with a Route 66 logo through the efforts of the City, Dixie Painting and several organizations. Read the event
How far back does this record of The Route 66 emblem on the Independence water tower (2021-2023) go?: To May 25, 2021: Speakers ask the council to allow a Route 66 emblem on a City water tower. The storyline has 9 dated events in all. Read the event

On May 25, 2021 two speakers asked the Amarillo City Council to allow a Route 66 emblem to be painted on the City water tower near S. Independence Street and S.W. 6th Avenue (Route 66) in the San Jacinto neighborhood, and the council listed a water tower emblem policy or ordinance as a future agenda item. The council approved an amendment to the municipal code's rules for emblems on City-owned properties and facilities on first reading 4-0 on July 27, 2021 and adopted it as Ordinance No. 7919 on the August 10 consent agenda, 5-0. The same day the Beautification and Public Arts Advisory Board voted $6,000 toward the emblem, and on September 14 it recommended the design to the council with requested changes. Neighborhood and Route 66 groups reported meeting an $18,000 fundraising goal in October 2021, including $4,000 from the Convention and Visitors Bureau. On November 9, 2021 the council voted 5-0 to approve the emblem and waive the application fee. The 15-by-16-foot emblem appeared during the tower's repainting in February 2023, and the City held a celebration in March 2023.

A storyline groups dated events in order. It is a chronology, not an argument; it does not say why anything happened. All storylines

May 25, 2021 · Origin
Speakers ask the council to allow a Route 66 emblem on a City water tower
Two speakers at the May 25, 2021 council meeting asked the council to consider painting the Route 66 emblem on the water tower. Among the items the council discussed or listed for future agendas was "Discuss Water Tower Emblem Painting Policy or Ordinance."^[1]
- ✓ Verified
  The May 25, 2021 council minutes record two speakers on Item 1E "asking Council to consider painting the Route 66 emblem on the water tower" and list "Discuss Water Tower Emblem Painting Policy or Ordinance" among the current matters and future agenda items. ^[1]
Jun 23, 2021 · Related development
CVB director reports the San Jacinto water tower project needs about $18,000
Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Kashion Smith told the CVB board that San Jacinto had received City Council approval to move forward on the water tower project, that the Route 66 shield would be added as the tower painting came into rotation, and that about $18,000 would need to be raised; the CVB might set aside funds the next fiscal year to help.^[2]
Kashion Smith
- Budget & taxes
- Downtown & development
- ✓ Verified
  June 23, 2021 CVB minutes: "San Jacinto has received approval from City Council to move forward on the water tower project. As the tower painting comes into rotation, the Route 66 shield will be added. They will need to raise approximately $18,000 to fund the project, we may set aside some funds next fiscal year to help." The council minutes read for this storyline record no council vote on the project before July 27, 2021. ^[2]^[1]
  Fundraising target
  $18,000
Jul 27, 2021 · Related development
Council approves on first reading an amendment to the rules for emblems on City property, 4-0
The council held a public hearing, with no speakers, on an ordinance amending Municipal Code Sections 4-6-153 to 158 "for regulation of emblems on City owned properties and facilities." The minutes note that the San Jacinto Neighborhood had recommended placing a Route 66 logo on a water tower in the neighborhood. The first reading passed 4-0.^[3]
- Downtown & development
- Leadership & governance
- ✓ Verified
  Item 3A on July 27, 2021 was the first reading of an ordinance "amending the Amarillo Municipal Code, Title IV, Chapter 4-6, Article III, Division 4, Section 4-6-153 to 158 for regulation of emblems on City owned properties and facilities." No one spoke at the public hearing. Mayor Nelson, Mayor Pro Tem Powell and Councilmembers Stanley and Smith voted aye; the motion carried 4-0. ^[3]
  Votes for
  4
  Votes against
  0
Aug 10, 2021 · Starting point
Council adopts Ordinance No. 7919 on emblems on City-owned property; arts board votes $6,000 toward the emblem
Ordinance No. 7919, the second and final reading of the emblem amendment, described as "related to the San Jacinto Neighborhood Plan recommending a possible Route 66 logo be placed on a water tower in the neighborhood," was approved as part of the consent agenda, 5-0. The same day the Beautification and Public Arts Advisory Board voted unanimously that $6,000 of its beautification budget be donated to help three neighborhood and Route 66 groups cover the cost of painting the emblem.^[4]^[5]
- ✓ Verified
  Consent item 2B on August 10, 2021 was "the second and final reading to consider an ordinance amendment related to the San Jacinto Neighborhood Plan recommending a possible Route 66 logo be placed on a water tower in the neighborhood," Ordinance No. 7919. The consent agenda, except item F, carried 5-0. ^[4]
  Votes for
  5
  Votes against
  0
- ✓ Verified
  The board's August 10, 2021 motion was "that $6,000 be donated to help The Historic 6th on Route 66 Association, San Jacinto Neighborhood Association, and Route 66 Association of Texas cover the cost of painting the Route 66 Emblem on the water tower in San Jacinto"; it passed unanimously. In September staff described the money as coming from "the FY20 Beautification Project budget." ^[5]^[6]
  Board contribution
  $6,000
Sep 14, 2021 · Related development
Arts board recommends the emblem design to the council, asking for the road-sign "66" font and red boots
Planning staff told the Beautification and Public Arts Advisory Board that under City ordinance water tower emblems must be reviewed by the board before the council. Representatives of the Historic Route 66 Association and the San Jacinto Neighborhood Association said they had raised $8,000 of the $18,000 needed; a board member said the $18,000 was for costs above the portion the City would cover. The board voted unanimously to recommend the project, asking if possible that the "66" be changed back to the road-sign font and the boots in "Amarillo" be made red.^[6]
- ✓ Verified
  September 14, 2021: "per City ordinance, water tower emblems must be reviewed by the Board prior to review by City Council." The groups "raised $8,000 of the $18,000 required," and a board member "clarified to the Board that the $18,000 needed is for costs over and above the portion of the project that the City will be covering." The motion recommended the project to council and requested, "if possible, to change the 66 back to the road sign font and to make the boots in Amarillo red." ^[6]
  Raised
  $8,000
  Required
  $18,000
- ✓ Verified
  None of the sources read states the City's own cost for the emblem or for the tower repainting it was added to; the board minutes say only that the $18,000 was for costs "over and above the portion of the project that the City will be covering." ^[6]^[7]
Oct 28, 2021 · Related development
Route 66 and neighborhood groups report meeting the $18,000 goal; CVB gave $4,000
Route 66 News reported that the San Jacinto Neighborhood Association, the Historic 6th on Route 66 Association and the Route 66 Association of Texas had met their $18,000 fundraising goal for the emblem, and that the CVB's director of tourism said the bureau gave $4,000.^[8]
- Budget & taxes
- Downtown & development
- ✓ Verified
  Route 66 News reported on October 28, 2021 that the three groups met their $18,000 fundraising goal for the emblem, and in an update that the CVB's director of tourism said in an email that the Convention and Visitors Bureau gave $4,000 for the project. ^[8]
  Cvb contribution
  $4,000
Nov 9, 2021 · Peak
Council approves the Route 66 emblem on the Independence water tower and waives the fee, 5-0
After a public hearing at which one resident and CVB Executive Director Kashion Smith spoke, the council voted 5-0 "to waive the application fee and approve the addition of a 'Route 66' emblem on the Independence water tower located in the vicinity of S. Independence Street and S.W. 6th Avenue." Assistant Planning Manager Emily Koller presented the item.^[9]
Freda Powell Eddy Sauer Kashion Smith
- ✓ Verified
  Item 3A on November 9, 2021: the motion "to waive the application fee and approve the addition of a 'Route 66' emblem on the Independence water tower located in the vicinity of S. Independence Street and S.W. 6th Avenue" was made by Councilmember Powell and seconded by Councilmember Sauer; Mayor Nelson and Councilmembers Powell, Sauer, Smith and Stanley voted aye, 5-0. The minutes do not state the amount of the fee waived. ^[9]
  Votes for
  5
  Votes against
  0
Feb 15, 2023 · Resolution
Route 66 emblem appears on the water tower during repainting
Route 66 News reported on February 15, 2023 that the emblem had appeared on the tower while it was being repainted. It described the emblem as 15 by 16 feet, expected to last seven to 10 years, with a maintenance fund set up by the neighborhood.^[10]
- Downtown & development
- Public art
- ✓ Verified
  Route 66 News (February 15 and March 28, 2023) described the emblem as 15 by 16 feet, said it "should last seven to 10 years," and said the neighborhood had established a maintenance fund. ^[10]^[7]
Mar 29, 2023 · Context
City holds a Route 66 Water Tower Celebration
The CVB executive director invited the CVB board on March 22, 2023 to the Route 66 Water Tower Celebration "on Wednesday." Route 66 News reported on March 28 that the City was holding the event Wednesday morning at Smitty's Food Park on Sixth Avenue, and that the tower had been repainted with a Route 66 logo through the efforts of the City, Dixie Painting and several organizations. It listed the CVB, the City, Center City and three Route 66 and neighborhood groups among the funders.^[11]^[7]
- Budget & taxes
- Downtown & development

Sources

1.Amarillo City Council Regular Meeting Minutes, 2021-05-25 — City of Amarillo, May 25, 2021 · retrieved Oct 14, 2026primarySubject-authoredScanned minutes (read with OCR). Executive session under Sec. 551.071 lists "b. Sanctuary City for the Unborn Ordinance."
2.Amarillo Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors minutes, June 23, 2021 — Amarillo Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors (via City of Amarillo CivicClerk), Dec 8, 2022 · retrieved Oct 22, 2026primarySubject-authoredPublished date is the PDF creation date (no later minutes in the set record approval). Scanned minutes (OCR).
3.Amarillo City Council Regular Meeting Minutes, 2021-07-27 — City of Amarillo, Jul 27, 2021 · retrieved Oct 16, 2026primarySubject-authoredScanned minutes read with OCR. Item 3D: "100 new employees projected ... Incentive of $250.000 for job creation"; item 3E: "Incentive of $500,000 for job creation ($10,000 per new employee)". Both passed 4:0.
4.Amarillo City Council Regular Meeting Minutes, 2021-08-10 — City of Amarillo, Aug 10, 2021 · retrieved Oct 14, 2026primarySubject-authoredScanned minutes read with OCR. States: "CONSIDER AWARD — IDCU COVID-19 CONTACT SUPPLEMENT ... Grant Amount: $311,847", "CONSIDER AWARD — PHWF WORKFORCE ... Grant Amount: $1,000,000" and "CONSIDER AWARD — HEALTH EQUITY ... Grant Amount: $500,000", each from the Texas Department of State Health Services. The consent agenda (except Item F) passed 5:0.
5.Beautification and Public Arts Advisory Board minutes, August 10, 2021 — Beautification and Public Arts Advisory Board (via City of Amarillo CivicClerk), Sep 14, 2021 · retrieved Oct 22, 2026primarySubject-authoredApproved at the September 14, 2021 meeting. Scanned minutes (OCR).
6.Beautification and Public Arts Advisory Board minutes, September 14, 2021 — Beautification and Public Arts Advisory Board (via City of Amarillo CivicClerk), Nov 9, 2021 · retrieved Oct 22, 2026primarySubject-authoredApproved at the November 9, 2021 meeting. Scanned minutes (OCR).
7.City of Amarillo throwing a party to commemorate Route 66-themed water tower — Route 66 News, Mar 28, 2023 · retrieved Oct 22, 2026newsIndependent
8.Amarillo groups meet fundraising goal to paint Route 66 emblem on water tower — Route 66 News, Oct 28, 2021 · retrieved Oct 22, 2026newsIndependent
9.Amarillo City Council Regular Meeting Minutes, 2021-11-09 — City of Amarillo, Nov 9, 2021 · retrieved Oct 14, 2026primarySubject-authoredStates (OCR): "A motion was made to reappoint Councilmember Smith to the Amarillo Local Government Corporation for a for a three-year term beginning January 1, 2022" and "A motion was made to reappoint Roy Urrutia to the Canadian River Municipal Water Authority for a two-year term beginning on January 1, 2022"
10.New Route 66 emblem emerges on Amarillo water tower — Route 66 News, Feb 15, 2023 · retrieved Oct 22, 2026newsIndependent
11.Amarillo Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors minutes, March 22, 2023 — Amarillo Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors (via City of Amarillo CivicClerk), May 31, 2023 · retrieved Oct 22, 2026primarySubject-authoredPublished date is the PDF creation date (no later minutes in the set record approval). Scanned minutes (OCR).