Council to vote on renaming Avenue H
By ANGELA K. BROWN
Avalanche-Journal
City Council members will vote for the first time Thursday on renaming part of Avenue H for Lubbock native and music legend Buddy Holly.
But before that happens, residents will get to voice their opinions once more.
The meeting is set for 10 a.m. and the public hearing for 10:30 a.m. in council chambers of City Hall, 1625 13th St.
The Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing at its November meeting and now recommends the name change, which was proposed five months ago by the Chamber of Commerce.
Avenue H from Municipal Drive to about 24th Street at Interstate 27 was temporarily christened Buddy Holly Avenue in September to coincide with Lubbock’s first music festival that climaxed on what would have been the singer’s 60th birthday, Sept. 7.
Four of the five council members will be at the meeting Thursday. Victor Hernandez is in San Antonio at the National League of Cities meeting.
Because four members make up a quorum, interim Mayor Alex “Ty” Cooke said, he doesn’t plan to recall either of the two members who recently resigned, although he has that power.
David Langston stepped down as mayor in September to seek the District 28 state Senate seat vacated by John Montford, Texas Tech’s first chancellor.
Windy Sitton resigned as District 3 councilwoman to run for mayor.
The mayoral and council elections are set for Jan. 18.
Until then, Langston and Sitton can be called back to serve on the council if there isn’t a quorum, Cooke said.
In other business Thursday, council members are to vote on making the Jan. 18 city election a joint election with the county, in which residents will vote on creating an 8-cent dedicated property tax to pay for the expanded Lubbock County Youth Center.
