[CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:06] . >>> I CALL THE SINGLE TO ORDER. IT'S 8:38 A.M. ON THIS BEAUTIFUL THURSDAY MORNING. WE DO HAVE SOME VERY SPECIAL GUESTS THAT I'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO IN JUST A BIT. [INVOCATION] BEFORE WE DO THAT I'M GOING TO ASK COUNCILMEMBER ALBUS TO PROVIDE US THE INVOCATION TODAY. >> THANK YOU. >> WE PAUSE THIS MORNING TO THANK YOU, LORD, FOR OUR MANY BLESSINGS INCLUDING WEATHERING THE WINTER STORMS, MAKING GREAT STRIDES IN COMBATING COVID-19 AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO AGAIN PARTICIPATE IN MANY EVENTS THAT MAKE ABILENE UNIQUE AND SPECIAL. WE WOKE TODAY WITH A NEW SENSE OF WONDER AND PURPOSE BECAUSE OF THE RED BUDS, THE BUTTER CUPS AND BLUE BONNETS VENTURING OUT IN FULL BLOOM. AS YOU ARE WELL AWARE, LORD, YOUR CHILDREN AREN'T ALWAYS FUN TO BE AROUND SO PLEASE HELP US GET AND KEEP A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR. HELP US FIND A COMMON SOLUTION IN THE TASK WE APPROACH THAT ARE THE BEST FOR THE CITY. GIVE US WISDOM TO ADDRESS THE MOST IMMEDIATE CHALLENGES, PROTECT OUR PROTECTORS BOTH NEAR AND FAR, SHED YOUR BEAUTIFUL HEALING LIGHT ON US ALL. [PLEDGE TO THE UNITED STATES FLAG AND THE TEXAS FLAG] AMEN. >> THANK YOU. >> I MENTIONED SOME VERY SPECIAL GUESTS AND WE HAVE WITH US AUDIO] >> DONNA SAID [INDISCERNIBLE] TO HAVE A HAT. [PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PROCLAMATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS] >> I DIDN'T. >> . >> WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE A 20-YEAR CITY EMPLOYEE. WILL THAT BE A VIDEO? >> YES. >> IS HE HERE WITH US THIS MORNING? >> I DON'T SEE HIM, SIR, NO. >> ALL RIGHT. WE'LL HAVE A VIDEO. >> HOW DOES 20 YEARS HAPPEN WITH THE CITY? SOME OF IT AMAZING AND SOME OF IT CHALLENGING. I WORK WITH GOOD PEOPLE SO IT'S A GOOD EXPERIENCE. I HAVE GOOD EMPLOYEES WHO DO AMAZING WORK AND THEY'RE VERY SELFLESS AND THEY WORK DURING THE COLD, THE HEAT AND SO ALL IN ALL IT'S BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE. THE BIGGEST THING IS I WISH THE PUBLIC WOULD UNDERSTAND HOW STRETCHED WE ARE FOR RESOURCES. IT IS A CHALLENGE. YOU HAVE SO MANY MILES OF ROAD OVER 1700 STANDARD LANE MILES OF ROADWAY. YOU HAVE EVER 200 MILES OF ALLIES, AND LIMITED DOLLARS AND RESOURCES AND I UNDERSTAND THE CITIZENS HAVE NEEDS AND THEY WANT THEIR AREA WORKED ON BUT IT'S NOT PRACTICAL. IT'S NOT POSSIBLE. THERE'S SO MUCH THAT IT TAKES TO FIX A ROAD. A LOT OF MONEY AND A LOT OF PEOPLE AND I WISH -- I JUST WISH THERE WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE PATIENCE. I'VE GOTTEN BETTER AT NOT FOCUSING ON WORK WHEN I'M ON VACATION. THERE WAS A TIME WHEN I WOULD DRIVE DOWN THE STREET AND HONESTLY I WOULD GAUGE THE STREET SYSTEM I WAS ON COMPARED TO OURS PLUS I LIKED TO SEE OTHER PLACES, HOW THEY'RE DOING THINGS AND IF I'M DRIVING THROUGH A CONSTRUCTION ZONE AND I SEE SOMETHING I'VE NEVER SEEN, A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, I'LL SLOW DOWN AND LOOK AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT ARE THEY USING AND MY WIFE WOULD SAY, "QUIT LOOKING AT THE ROADS. PAY ATTENTION TO THE DRIVING" AND SO I'VE GOTTEN BETTER. [00:05:02] I CREEPS IN FROM TIME TO TIME. >> LET'S GIVE RODNEY A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. >> THIS COMMIT WILL INVEST 185 MILLION. IS THAT RIGHT? $185 MILLION IN STREETS. THAT IS THROUGH THE MPO, CITY AND BONDS 2015 AND NOT THERE YET BUT WE'RE GETTING THAT AWAY. APPRECIATE RODNEY, HIS LEADERSHIP AND ALL OF THOSE WHO WORK WITH HIM. [CONSENT AGENDA] NOW WE'LL MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTING OF ITEMS THREE THROUGH ITEM 8. THESE ITEMS WILL BE CONSIDERED WITH ONE MOTION AND THERE'LL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION UNLESS A COUNCILMEMBER OR A REQUEST SEPARATE DISCUSSION. I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE ONE CARD. >> NOT ON CONSENT AGENDA, MAYOR. >> DOES COUNCIL WANT TO LOOK AT ANY ITEMS SEPARATELY ON THE CONSENT? >> YES. HOLD ON. I LOST THE NUMBER HERE. NO. 5. >> DID THE MINUTES GET OVER HERE? >> IF THE AUDIENCE WANT TO PULL ANY ITEM OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA, ITEMS THREE THROUGH ITEM NO. 8. SEEING NO ONE, I'LL TAKE A MOTION BY COUNCIL ON ITEMS THREE THROUGH EIGHT WITH EXCEPTION OF ITEM NO. 5. >> SO MOVED. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER ALBUS AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HURT. ANY FURTHER GOES? WE'RE READY TO VOTE. >> ALBUS. >> YES. >> HURT. >> YES. >> MCALLISTER. >> YES. >> CRAVER. >> YES. >> MAYOR PRO-TEM PRICE. >> YES. [5. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Awarding a $75,000 Grant Match for Public Art (Mike Warrix)] >> RANTS? >> YES. >> AND MAYOR WILLIAMS. >> YES. >> MOTION CARRIES. >> NO. 5. MS. OF MCALLISTER? >> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT CLARIFICATION BE MADE. IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT WE WERE GOING TO SPEND $200,000 ON THIS AND THAT IS NOT ACCURATE, TO MY UNDERSTANDING, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IF MR. HANNA CAN EXPLAIN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE SPENDING AND WHERE THAT MONEY'S COMING FROM AND WHERE THAT MONEY CANNOT BE SPENT. >> YES, SIR. SO THE ART -- THE CITY RECEIVED A CHALLENGE GRANT MATCH OR A CHALLENGE FOR A GRANT OF $75,000. THE COACHABLE AFFAIRS COUNCIL RECEIVED STATE GRANT FUNDING AND ALSO PRIVATE SECTOR GRANT FUNDING FROM PRIVATE CITIZENS. IT'S A $200,000 TOTAL PURCHASE BUT THE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC FUNDS IN THE PROJECT IS ONLY $75,000 AND IT'S COMING FROM THE TAX REINVESTMENT ZONE. THOSE REVENUES ARE RESTRICTED. THEY CAN ONLY BE USED FOR CERTAIN THINGS SO WE CAN'T REALLY FUND POTHOLES ACROSS THE CITY AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, AND SOME OF THE COMMENTS WE RECEIVED SUGGESTED WE MAYBE PUT THIS MONEY TOWARDS BETTER USE. IT'S IDENTIFIED TO PROVE THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND HAVE A WALKABLE AREA AND CREATE ENERGY IN THE DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR TO PROMOTE BUSINESS AND TOURISM AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT CONCEPT. SO THE ACTUAL TOTAL AMOUNT THE CITY WOULD FUND FOR THIS $200,000 PROJECT IS $75,000. THE REMAINING AMOUNT WILL COME FROM OTHER SOURCESES, NONABILENE TAXPAYER SOURCES. >> AND THIS 75,000 IS NOT COMING OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND? >> NO. COMING OUT OF THE TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE. >> THANK YOU. >> IT'S A LITTLE COMPLICATED TO UNDERSTAND BUT IT'S SIMPLE TO UNDERSTAND ONCER YOU UNDERSTAND IT, FOR LACK OF A BETTER PHRASE. >> I WANT TO MAKE SURE. >> SAY THAT AGAIN. LIKE THAT, I UNDERSTAND. >> STANLEY, IF THIS IS INCORRECT, CORRECT ME A BIT IN REGARDS TO THIS. ABILENE WAS THE VERY FIRST MUNICIPALITY TO PUT IN AND TACK A TIFF WHICH IS CALLED THE TURS AND LOOKS AT THE IDENTIFIED PARCELS OF LAND IN THE AREA AND THAT TAKES EVALUATION OF THE VALUES, AND ANY INCREMENTS ABOVE THAT ESTABLISHED AMOUNT IS REINVESTED IN THAT AREA. THE IDEA BEHIND THAT IS TO CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PRIVATE SECTOR AND OTHER INVESTMENT TO OCCUR IN THAT SAID AREA AND SO THERE IS MONEY THAT'S PUMPED ASIDE ALREADY. COUNCILMEMBER MCALLISTER, SET OUT FOR THAT VERY PURPOSE, SO THIS OPPORTUNITY WOULD BE TAKING [00:10:02] $75,000 AND ALLOWING THE BALANCE WHICH EXCEEDS I BELIEVE $200,000 TO ACCOMPLISH THIS AND SO THAT MAY ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE, DONNA. BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CLARITY BECAUSE THE INFORMATION PRESENTED VIA MEDIA MAY HAVE PROVIDED SOME AMBIGUITY IN REGARDS TO WHAT IS BEFORE US. >> IF I COULD ADD, MAYOR, I WANT TO THANK THE CULTURAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL FOR ALWAYS TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT DO NOT REQUIRE TAXPAYER DOLLARS. MOST OF THE SCULPTURES THAT YOU SEE AROUND TOWN WERE DONATED OR BOUGHT THROUGH PRIVATE FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE CULTURAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL DID. SOME CITIZENS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE PUBLIC ART IN ABILENE, TEXAS, WAS PAID FOR BY PRIVATE DONATIONS. >> I DO SEE LYNN BARTON IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY WHO LEADS THAT EFFORT, YOU KNOW, AND ABILENE IS THE CAPITAL OF AMERICAN AND THE CALF FESTIVAL IS A FEW MONTHS AWAY AND THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE CREATED WITHIN THAT FESTIVAL FAR EXCEEDS THE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC FUNDS THAT ARE PARTNERED WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN THAT REGARD AND I JUST WANT TO PROVIDE THAT CLARITY. THIS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT ALSO BUT I THINK IT'S VERY HELPFUL TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY IN A MORE PALATABLE WAY. ANY MORE COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING? IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NO ONE I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? >> I MAKE A MOTION. >> WE HAVE A MOTION. SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION. >> [VOTE]. [9. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action to Approve the Airport Master Plan (Don Green)] >> MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM NO. 9 AND I'LL ASK THE DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION TO PRESENT THIS ITEM, MR. GREEN. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, DON GREEN, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES. WE HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY THE AIRPORT MASTER PLAN AND THIS IS A REVISION BUT IT IS A VERY LARGE REVISION OF THIS DOCUMENT THAT IS CRITICAL TO DEVELOPMENT OF THE AIRPORT. IT IS A LARGE DOCUMENT AS YOU'VE SEEN, OVER 400 PAGES, VERY INVOLVED AND VERY COMPLEX STUDY OF THE AIRPORT, OUR CURRENT FACILITIES, FORECASTING WHERE WE WOULD BE IN THE FIVE, TEN, 20 YEARS OUT, WHICH IS VERIS DIFFICULT TO DO BUT WE WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE GARBER ENGINEERS AS OUR FIRM THAT HAS THE MASTER CONTRACT FOR OUR CONDITIONING WORK ON THE AIRFIELD. THEY DID THIS, THIS EFFORT, ALONG WITH SOME PARTNER SUBCONTRACTOR OFFICIALS BUT SUSAN PATEN IS HERE WITH US TODAY AND SHE LED THAT EFFORT AND DID AN EXCELLENT JOB AND WE'RE VERY PROUD, IF YOU LOOK AT THIS TODAY, AND PRESENT IT TO YOU FOR APPROVAL AND AFTER YOUR APPROVAL WE'LL PRESENT IT TO FAA FOR THEIR STAMP OF APPROVAL WHICH MAKES IT OFFICIAL. THIS DOCUMENT IS -- COMES TOGETHER AFTER A LOT OF EFFORT AND A LOT OF INVOLVEMENT. WE HAD PUBLIC MEETINGS. WE HAD INVOLVEMENT WITH OUR TENANTS AND STAKEHOLDERS SO EVERYBODY HAD A CHANCE TO GIVE INPUT INTO WHERE THEY THINK THE AIRPORT IS GOING, WHAT MATTERS TO THEM AS FAR AS DEVELOPMENT OF THE AIRPORT AND THIS OVERALL STUDY IS WHAT YOU FIND AS THE RESULT. WE HAD A STEERING COMMITTEE AND OPEN HOUSES AND THEN WE HAD AND STILL DO THE PUBLIC WEBSITE SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THIS THROUGHOUT THE PROGRESS OF THE DOCUMENT. SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING ARE -- THE HARD PART ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT SINCE IT'S SO LARGE IS A LOT OF THE DATA WAS DATA AT THE TIME IT WAS COLLECTED. WE STARTED THIS PROCESS IN NOVEMBER OF 2016 WHEN COUNCIL APPROVED THE TASK WITH GARBER. A LOT OF THE DATA YOU SEE IS OLDER DATA BUT IT'S ALWAYS A [00:15:04] SNAPSHOT IN TIME AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS A CHALLENGE WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT SOMETHING NOW THAT WHEN YOU'RE SEEING DATES THAT HAVE ALREADY PASSED BUT THIS IS -- BELIEVE ME, WE AS AIRPORT STAFF KNOW WHAT OUR CURRENT NUMBERS ARE AND HOW WE'RE PROGRESSING FROM THIS BUT IT'S A MEASUREMENT IN TIME SO YOU CAN SEE THAT IN 2019 WE HAD GROWTH GOING OVER, OVER 2018, AND PAYMENTS, WE DON'T NEED TO MENTION WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR. WE LOST ABOUT 92 PERCENT IN APRIL AND MAY OF LAST YEAR AND THEN WE CLIMBED OUT OF THAT HOLE TO END 2020 PROBABLY AT ABOUT 56 PERCENT OF WHERE WE WERE IN 2019 AS FAR AS PASSENGER ACTIVITY GOES. ALL OF OUR METRICS THAT MEASURE THE AIRPORT'S PERFORMANCE TOOK A HIT THAT YEAR AS WELL. SO WHAT THE MASTER PLAN DOES, IT INVER INVENTORIES ALL OF THE FACILITIES ON THE AIRPORT AND LOOKS AT THOSE AND THEN GARBER CAN USE ACCEPTED BEST PRACTICES TO DETERMINE WHEN WE NEED TO DO WORK TO THOSE FACILITIES PARTICULARLY OUR RUNWAYS AND TAXIWAYS BUT ALSO THE TERMINAL. PARKING AND EVEN ADDING NEW RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY SURFACES. SO WE ALSO TOOK A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT LOOK AT THIS FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT OF THE AIRPORT AND WE'VE SET ASIDE SOME AREAS OF THE AIRPORT THAT WE WANT TO FOCUS ON FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WE DETAILED THAT IN A LATER PLAN THAT YOU'LL SEE HERE SHORTLY IN AN UPCOMING MEETING BUT WE FOCUS ON MORE DETAILS FOR DEVELOPING OPEN LAND FOR THE AIRPORT AND HOPEFULLY BRING NEW VERY GOOD JOBS TO THE CITY OF ABILENE. SO YOU CAN SEE THOSE AREAS THAT ARE OUTLINED IN BLUE, WE HAVE RERECATEGORIED THOSE WITH THE FAA. SO WE CAN GO OUT AND ATTRACT BUSINESSES WORKING WITH DCO AND AIF TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES TO COME HERE THAT MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE AVIATION-TYPE BUSINESSES. FAA RESTRICTS US TO AVIATION USE ON THE AIRPORT. WE WERE ABLE TO GET SOME OF THOSE AREAS RECLASSIFIED THROUGH THIS PROCESS TO NONAERONAUTICAL USE WHICH WILL GIVE US THE FLEXIBILITY WE NEED IN ATTRACTING BUSINESSES. YOU'LL ALSO SEE THE RED AND YELLOW PAVEMENTS, THOSE ARE NEW PAVEMENTS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED. SOME OF THAT IS FOR FAA REQUIREMENTS WHERE WE HAVE TO RECONFIGURE TAXIWAY SYSTEMS. AND WF HAVE THOSE PROGRAMS IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT WE LOOK AT IS THE TERMINAL AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH THERE AND BOARDED A FLIGHT AND STOOD IN THE LINE AT THE JEAN CHECK POINT YOU KNOW HOW TIGHT THAT IS. THAT IS A CHOKE POINT FOR US. BUT WE HAVE COME UP WITH SOME DESIGN ALTERNATIVES AND IMPROVEMENTS THAT USE THE EXISTING BUILDING FOOTPRINT AND EXPAND ON THAT AND RECONFIGURE THINGS IN THE TERMINAL TO COME UP WITH A VERY USEABLE AND EXPANDED TERMINAL SPACE THAT WOULD SEE US WELL INTO THE FUTURE. THOSE ARE TIMES, IF YOU'LL REMEMBER LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT PHASES OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, WE HAVE TERMINAL IMPROVEMENTS TIMING THROUGHOUT THAT SO WE CAN HAVE PHASES. THIS IS WHAT -- THIS IS A CONCEPT THAT WE CAME UP WITH WORKING WITH THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE AND THEN THE AIRPORT BOARD BUT WE'RE EXPANDING THE LOWER LEVEL, SO IT RECONFIGURES A LOT OF THAT LOWER LEVEL AND ADDS A THIRD BAGGAGE BELT. AGAIN, THIS IS A LONG-TERM CONCEPT. WE'RE NOT THERE YET BUT WE DO WANT TO HAVE THAT PLAN TO REACH THESE POINTS AS OUR TRAVEL INCREASES AND OUR PASSENGER DEPLOYMENTS INCREASE. THIS WOULD ALSO INCLUDE A NEW BAGGAGE TUNNEL WHICH THE AIRLINES USE TO BRING AIR CAST -- BRING BAGGAGE TO AND FROM THE TERMINAL, BETWEEN THE TERMINAL AND THE AIRCRAFT. WE HAVE OUR UPPER LEVEL AND WE NEEDED MORE SPACE SO YOU CAN SEE [00:20:01] THAT KIND OF SALMON-COLORED AREA. I'M NOT SURE WHAT KIND OF COLOR YOU WOULD CALL THAT BUT I'LL USE MY DAUGHTER'S TERM, A SALMON COLOR, ON THE LEFT SIDE WHERE IT GIVES US ENOUGH SPACE FOR THREE CHECKPOINTS, THREE SECURITY CHECKPOINTS. AGAIN, THAT IS A LONG-TERM BUILD-OUT IF WE EVER REACH THAT CAPACITY TO NEED THAT. AND THEN IT LOTS TURNS THE AIRLINE COUNTERS AROUND TO FACE THE INTERIOR OF THE LOBBY AND IT ACTUALLY EXPANDS, YOU MAY RECALL, THAT WILL THE UPPER-LEVEL DRIVE IS COVERED. THIS EXPANDS -- THAT ACTUALLY CLOSES THAT UPPER-LEVEL DRIVE AND EXPANDS THE FRONT OF THE TERMINAL THERE AND ALL OF THE VEHICLE TRAFFIC WOULD GO ON THE LOWER LEVEL BUT IT GIVES US ADDITIONAL SEATING AND ADDITIONAL CLOSED SPACE. THIS IS JUST AGAIN SHOWING THE TERMINAL AREA, HOW THAT WOULD BE DEVELOPED. WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT WE HAVE ADEQUATE PARKING TO SERVICE WITH 740 SPACES WE BUILT IN 2008. WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE AND WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE FOR THE FUTURE. AGAIN, MOST OF THAT WORK WILL BE FOCUSED ON THE TERMINAL. THIS AGAIN LOOKS AT SOME OF THE AERONAUTICAL FACILITIES, HANGARS IN PARTICULAR THAT YOU CAN SEE DEVELOPING. AGAIN, IT'S A CONCEPT. SO SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD USE AS A GUIDE AS THE AIRPORT DEVELOPMENTS AS WE HAVE INTEREST IN COMPANIES COMING IN AND BUILDING HANGARS OR THE DEVELOPMENT, THAT WE WOULD USE THAT TO GUIDE US IN PLACING THOSE TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT. THIS IS LOOKING AT THE SAME THING. IT ALSO SHOWS THE TRAPEZOIDAL SHAPES AT THE EARNED OF EACH RUN WAY. THOSE ARE RUN WAY PROTECTION ZONES THAT HAVE TO STAY CLEAR OF DEVELOPMENT AND WE PROTECT THOSE SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN THE FULL LENGTH OF OUR RUNWAYS. WE HAVE DIFFERENT PHASES OF DEVELOPMENT. THE MASTER PLAN LOOKS AT FIVE, TEN, AND 20 YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT AND FORECASTING. THIS, WHEN IT WAS DEVELOPED, WAS VERY ADEQUATE AND VERY ACCURATE BUT, AGAIN, WE HAVE SLID DOWN AND I WANT TO EXPLAIN TO YOU TOO, WE HAD WANTED TO BRING THIS TO COUNCIL LATE IN 2019 BUT WE WERE WORKING ON A RUNWAY CLOSURE. RUNWAY 422, 3,600-FOOT-LENGTH RUNWAY USED FOR GENERAL AND WE WERE CLOSING THAT AND BECAUSE FAA SAID THEY WON'T SUPPORT MAINTENANCE OR ANY KIND OF WORK ON THAT RUNWAY, IT WOULD BE UP TO THE CITY, AND THAT DOES NOT MAKE ECONOMIC SENSE BECAUSE OF HOW LITTLE THAT RUNWAY IS USED. WE WENT THROUGH THE CLOSURE PROCESS. FAA KIND OF CHANGED THE GAME IN THE PROCESS AND SAID WE NEED A FULL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, AN EA ON THIS, AND SO GARBER DID THAT WORK AND IT TOOK ABOUT A YEAR TO GET THAT DONE, SO WE LOST -- WE GOT THE FINAL RESULT ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO THAT WILL FAA ACCEPTED THE EA THAT GARBER DID FOR US AND THAT RUNWAY, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE APPROACHES FOR THAT, GOING THROUGH THE TECHNICAL PART OF THAT FOR THE PILOTS. THAT RUNWAY IS CLOSED NOW. WE CAN REFLECT THAT ON THE MAP OF AN AIRPORT, CALLED AN AIRPORT LAY MARIJUANA DRAWING BUT THAT IS PROBABLY EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN SEEING OLD DATA IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT TABLES TO SHOW THAT THAT RUNWAY IS CLOSED ON THE AIRPORT LAYOUT DRAWING. YOU CAN SEE A LIST OF PROJECTS. THOSE ARE BEING SLID DOWN. FOR EXAMPLE, THE R STATION REPLACEMENT, THAT IS UNDERWAY. THE ACQUIRE AIRCRAFT RESCUE FIREFIGHTING, ARF TRUCK, WE'LL SEE THAT REPLACED IN '23. BUT OTHER THINGS, WE'RE MOVING [00:25:04] THE PASSENGER BOARDING BRIDGE, REHAB, THAT WILL LIKELY BE IN THIS FISCAL YEAR WHEN WE GET OUR FI '21 GRANT FROM FAA WHICH SHOULD BE COMING IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, SO WE'LL BE BRINGING THAT GRANT APPROVAL. WE'LL DO A REHAB OF THE JET BRIDGES THEY THAT WILL BE GUTTING THEM AND SAVING STEEL BOXES AND WE CAN SAVE -- FOR HALF THE COST WE'LL BASICALLY GET A BRAND NEW JET BRIDGE FOR BOTH. WE CHANGED THOSE OUT. THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN IS A FLUID DOCUMENT BEYOND THIS WITH WHAT WE HAVE ON FILE WITH THE FAA, FIVE-YEAR CIP, BUT WE GO MEET WITH FAA AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR, BUT USUALLY TWICE A YEAR TO GO BACK AND RE-EVALUATE. PRIORITIES CHANGE ON THE AIRPORT. WE'LL SEE AN AREA OF DEGRADATION ON THE PAVEMENT OF THE TAXIWAY AND THEN WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT. THE CIP IS A FLUID DOCUMENT AND WE'RE ABLE TO RESPOND WITHIN A YEAR'S TIME TO ADDRESS CRITICAL NEEDS AS THEY COME UP. SO THIS WAS JUST IDENTIFYING WHERE THOSE PROJECTS AS YOU SAW IN THE PREVIOUS TABLE WOULD OCCUR ON THE AIRPORT. AND THEN WE HAVE OUR TEN-YEAR, OUT TO TEN YEARS, THE RUNWAY IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP UP. WE DID A COMPLETE RUNWAY CONSTRUCTION IN THESE AREAS THREE YEARS AGO AND WE DID A MIL AND REPLACE ON THIS HERE FIVE YEARS AGO. THOSE HAVE GIVEN US REALLY GOOD -- WE'VE GOT A SOLID RUNWAY INFRASTRUCTURE OUT THERE BUT WE HAVE TO KEEP MAINTAINING THOSE AND DOING THAT WITH SILK COAT AND OTHER PROJECTS, JUST AN OVERALL REHAB OF THOSE. THERE'S A LOT OF PAVEMENT WORK IN THIS AS WELL AS TERMINAL WORK. AGAIN, THIS IS WHERE THOSE PROJECTS WOULD BE LOCATED. THE LONG-TERM IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, THIS IS REALLY LOOKING WAY OUT INTO THE FUTURE, SO ONE THING IN PARTICULAR, AS YOU CAN SEE, ON THE RUNWAY 17 LEFT, 35 RIGHT, YOU'LL SEE AN EXTENSION WHICH IS GREEN-COLORED AND IT IS NO. 15. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE LEFT ON OUR AIRPORT LAYOUT DRAWING, IN OUR ALP, THE PLAN, EXTENDING, BECAUSE THERE'S THE POTENTIAL, IF WE HAD A CARGO AREA THAT WANTED TO BRING LARGER AIRCRAFT INTO THE AIRPORT, THAT WE WOULD NEED TO EXTEND THE LENGTH OF THE RUNWAY. IF YOU HAVE IT ON YOUR ALP ALREADY IDENTIFIED AS A PROJECT, EVEN THE LIKELIHOOD MIGHT BE NOT SO GREAT, BUT IF IT'S THERE IT'S MUCH EASIER FOR FAA TO GET BEHIND AND EVEN HELP FUND THROUGH THE AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM GRANTS. WE LOOK AT THE COST OF THESE PROJECTS. THESE ARE ESTIMATED COSTS BASED ON '19. TOTAL PROJECT COSTS, AND THAT IS OVER 20 YEARS. MUCH OF THAT IS FUNDED AT 90 PERCENT WITH THE AIP DOLLARS BUT THE CITY AGAIN HAS TO COME UP WITH THAT 10 PERCENT MATCH. THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT ARE ALSO NOT ELIGIBLE FOR AIP DOLLARS THAT THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO FUND THROUGH OUR BONDS OR OTHER MEANS. AND THEN THERE'S ALSO PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN THE AIRPORT THAT IS CONSIDERED FOR THIS AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT COULD BE A COMPANY THAT IS BUILDING A HANGAR. IT COULD BE EVEN A DCOA, CONTRIBUTION TO BUILD A FACILITY LIKE THEY HAVE DONE FOR EAGLE AVIATION SERVICE. THAT IS CONSIDERED IN THERE AS WELL. THIS IS A FINANCIAL PLAN, A FUNDING PLAN. IT DOESN'T COMMIT THE CITY TO THIS AT ALL BUT IT IS JUST KIND OF A ROADMAP OF WHERE WE COULD GO FOR THOSE REVENUE SOURCES TO BUILD THESE PROJECTS. AGAIN, THIS IS JUST KIND OF RECAPPING EVERYTHING. THIS IS THE TEAM THAT PUT TOGETHER THE MASTER PLAN. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE. [00:30:02] WE THINK THEY WERE A GOOD TEAM AND GOT US A VERY GOOD MASTER PLAN THAT WILL TAKE US WELL INTO THE FUTURE. >> THANK YOU, MR. GREEN. COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING? >> I WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION. WE ORIGINALLY GOT THIS BACK IN DECEMBER AND I KIND OF PICKED IT APART AND I APPRECIATE THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT STAFF AND GARBER WENT THROUGH TO ADDRESS THE THINGS I POINTED OUT AND IT IS A VERY LONG DOCUMENT, AS YOU SAID. >> AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR DILIGENCE ON THAT. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL PRIOR TO PUBLIC HEARING? THANKS AGAIN, MR. GREEN. AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANY ONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? IF SO, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NO ONE I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. DOES COUNSEL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? >> MOTION. >> MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER PRICE AND A SECOND BY MCALLISTER. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE'RE READY TO VOTE. [PUBLIC COMMENTS] [VOTE]. >> MOTION CARRIES. >> WE'LL NOW MOVE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. THERE'LL BE NO NOTES OR ANY ACTIONS TAKEN DURING THE PRESENTATION. IT WILL ONLY ALLOW MEMBERS OF PUBLIC TO PRESENT IDEAS TO OFFICIAL AND STAFF. IT'S A THREE-MINUTE TIME LIMIT. >> I HAVE A CARD FOR DAVID SCHWARTZ. >> . >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL, DAVID SCHWARTZ, FOR THE RECORD. I ATTENDED THE DCOA VIRTUAL MEETING ON MARCH 31ST. BOY, I CAN SEE WHY SOME OF THE OTHER PEOPLE COME YOU HERE AND COMPLAIN ABOUT THAT. THEY PLAY PRETTY LOOSE WITH THE ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER. THEY WERE TRYING TO APPROVE THE PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES AND THERE WAS A VOTE AND THEN THEY WENT ONTO A PRESENTATION I BELIEVE BY THE CEO POSSIBLY. ANYWAY THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS TWO MORE PEOPLE WHO CAME ON THE VIRTUAL MEETING AND THEY SAID, OKAY, WE'LL DO THEIR VOTES AND THEN EVENTUALLY THERE WAS SOMEBODY WHO CAME BACK AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS AN ATTORNEY OR SOMETHING AND SAID, I DON'T THINK WE CAN COUNT THAT ONE PERSON'S VOTE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE A VIDEO AND AUDIO FEED AT THE TIME BUT I CAN SEE WHY -- THEY NEED TO START HAVING IN-PERSON MEETINGS AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THIS VIRTUAL MEETING STUFF, MAYBE IT WAS ALREADY LAST YEAR BUT YOU NEED TO HAVE IN-PERSON MEETINGS. ALL THE OTHER CITY BOARDS ARE PRETTY MUCH BACK TO THAT. AND I CAN SEE WHY SOME PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE DCOA, HOW THEY HAVE THE VIRTUAL MEETINGS AND YOU CAN'T REALLY LOOK THEM IN THE EYE AND EVERYTHING. I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT UP. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH CONTROL YOU HAVE OVER THE FORMAT BUT I THINK THEY NEED TO GO BACK TO IN-PERSON MEETINGS. AS FAR AS ANY OF THE OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS I KNOW LAST WEEK WE HAD OUR TORNADO DRILL AND THERE WERE SOME MEDIA REPORTS THAT THE SYSTEM ON THE HOME PHONES, THE CODE RED SYSTEM, IT CALLED DIRECTLY BUT THEN THERE WAS THE WIRE TEST AND THEY DIDN'T GET IT TO WELL AFTER THE HOME PHONE CALLED THEM SO THAT MAY BE SOMETHING TO BE LOOKED INTO. LIKE I SAID BEFORE, THE CODE RED SYSTEM IS IPODS COMPATIBLE, SO SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. YOU'LL NEVER GET 100 PERCENT SIGNUP ON ANYTHING LIKE THAT. AND OF COURSE NOW WE'RE MOVING INTO APRIL, SEVERE WEATHER SEASON. APRIL AND MAY ARE THE PEAK MONTHS FOR OUR AREA AND WE ONLY HAVE TO LOOK APRIL 10, 1979, STRUCK LATE IN THE EVENING BY A TORNADO. APRIL 19, 1986, 35-YEAR ANNIVERSARY COMING UP WHEN SWEETWATER WAS STRUCK BY THE TORNADO AND THAT'S BEFORE WE HAD REALLY A WARNING SYSTEM AND A WEATHER RADIO BECAUSE IT DIDN'T REACH THAT FAR. WE GOT WOKE UP, MY WIFE AND I, WE GOT WOKE UP AND SAID, THERE'S A TORNADO IN SWEETWATER. THE WARNING FOR THAT, WE DON'T HAVE THAT COVERAGE OVER THERE, [00:35:02] THE RADIO SYSTEM. YOU NEED TO HAVE AT LEAST TWO WAYS TO HAVE SEVERE WEATHER. ONE IS THE CODE RED AS MENTIONED AND ANOTHER IS A RADIO, TO SAVE LIVES. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, DOES ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO PARTICIPATE? >>. >> I LIVE AT 1110 ORANGE, AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF INTERESTED CITIZENS OF ABILENE NORTH. I WAS ENCOURAGED TO SEE THAT FROM YOUR RECENT MARCH RETREAT, INFIELD DEVELOPMENT, AND THANK YOU FOR BRING THAT UP, AND MANY COULD ASSUME THIS IS A SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUE BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT'S ECONOMICALLY THE MOST RESPONSIBLE POLICY. IT TAKES CARE OF RESOURCES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE. IT FULLY UTILIZED RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE ALREADY DEVELOPED AND IT MAXIMIZES TAX REVENUE IN EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS. HAVING SAID THAT WILL I DO ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE JUSTICE COMPONENT OF IN-FILL DEVELOPMENT. IN-FILL DEVELOPMENT, IF NOT DONE CAREFULLY CAN EASILY LEAD TO GENERAL ENTREFA INDICATION OF OUR DOWNTOWN LOW TO INNED DER WRIT INCOME NEIGHBORS PUSHING OUT THE LEGACY NEIGHBORS, AND SHUFFLING AROUND THE CITIZENS, VULNERABLE CITIZENS, WHICH IS A BAD IDEA. WE NEED IT WITHOUT DISPLACEMENT, WITH JUSTICE. THE WAY WE DO THIS IS HAVING THE CITY WORK TOGETHER WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS ALREADY WORKING IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS AS THE CITY GIVES FURTHER EMPHASIS. WE NEED TO TOGETHER DEVELOP BETTER HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE LEGACY NEIGHBORS IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. JENTAFAKAISHSHUN. YOU CAN'T STOP IT WHEN IT STARTS TO HAPPEN. WE CAN HELP IT HAPPEN IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T JUST BECOME SOMETHING THAT CONTINUES TO SHUFFLE AROUND OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS AND NEIGHBORHOODS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, DOES ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO PARTICIPATE THIS MORNING? >> MY NAME IS SAMUEL GARCIA. ON THE COMMENTS ABOUT THE DCOA THAT'S SOMETHING I'VE NOTICED FOR A WHILE AND THAT IS THE WAY THEY RUN THEIR MEETINGS. I PRESENTEDDED THIS BEFORE WHERE IN THEIR BYLAWS THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE A SET MEETING TIME. THEY JUST LITERALLY DECIDE THEIR MEETINGS AT THE END OF THE MEETING. I DID A REQUEST FOR A COPY, JUST A VIDEO COPY OF THE LAST MEETING THE ONE HE WAS REFERRING TO EARLIER AND IT'S BEEN EIGHT DAYS TO SEND ME A VIDEO OF THE MEETING. THOSE REQUESTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DONE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, RIGHT. BUT THIS CITY HAS TAKEN THE FULL TEN DAYS EVEN IF IT'S JUST ZOOM. IT'S ZOOM AND RECORDED AT THAT MOMENT AND SHOULD BE READY IN MINUTES AND WHAT'S WRONG WITH EMAILING A COPY OF IT. YOU HAVE TO WAIT EIGHT DAYS JUST TO GET A VIDEO TO WATCH IT BECAUSE WE CAN'T ALL SIT AROUND AND WATCH THE MEETINGS THE WHOLE TIME. THE CITY CONTINUES TO DO A POUR JOB OF PROVIDING INFORMATION WHEN IT'S REQUESTED. I'M HERE TO ASK A FEW QUESTIONS BECAUSE I CAN'T BE HERE FOR THE HEARING ABOUT THE HOTEL. BUT IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS NOW, APRIL OF '19 WHEN THE HOTEL PROJECT WAS APPROVED, AND I JUST SAW AN INTERVIEW WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND THE NEWSPAPER AND WHENEVER THAT TIME COMES I WANT -- THESE ARE THE COMMENTS THAT I READ. THIS IS FOR THE A NOTICE TO PROCEED. IT DOESN'T MEAN WE POW PROVE THIS AND SUDDENLY START, WHICH HAS BEEN TWO YEARS, THE WORD "SUDDENLY" SHOULDN'T HAPPEN ANYMORE. IT'S DYNAMIC. IF I KNEW THE EXACT DATE, YOU KNOW, I PUT IT ON THE AGENDA, AND ALSO THE WORD "HOPE," HOPE IT WILL BE IN THE SUMMER. ANY OTHER PROJECT THAT'S THIS SIDE THAT WOULD COME BEFORE YOU THAT WOULD TAKE TWO YEARS THAT YOU HEAR THESE KIND OF DESCRIPTIONS, YOU WOULD BE ASKING QUESTIONS IN PUBLIC. YOU MIGHT BE ASKING QUESTIONS BEHIND THE SCENES IN CLOSED SECTION . I HAVE NO IDEA. BUT THE AVERAGE ABILENEEN DON'T KNOW. THEY SEE EMPTY LOTS AND IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS. WE DESERVE TO KNOW WHAT THE STATUS IS. AND WHEN YOU SEE AN INTERVIEW AND HEAR THE WORDS, HOPE AND DYNAMIC, AND YOU ARE SITTING THERE, DO THEY EVEN KNOW. IF YOU DON'T, SAY IT. WE DESERVE TO KNOW. I OWN A BUSINESS IN ANOTHER PART OF TOWN AND I KNOW SO MANY RESOURCES ARE GOING INTO THIS PROJECT. WE DESERVE TO KNOW. THESE ARE QUESTIONS I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR. [00:40:02] IS THIS PROJECT BASED ON THE FEESABILITY STUDIES DONE OVER THREE YEARS AGO? WHERE IS THE PRIVATE INVESTMENT THE MAYOR TALKED ABOUT. ARE THE COST ESTIMATES OF $66 MILLION STILL ACCURATE? ARE THE FUNDING SOURCES STILL THE SAME? IS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION STILL IN CHARGE OF THIS PROJECT? IF THE PROJECT IS ACTUALLY STARTED THIS SUMMER, WHAT WOULD BE THE TIMELINE FOR COMPLETION? THE PUBLIC DESERVES AND NEEDS MORE ANSWERS SO THEY DON'T JUST DRIVE DOWNTOWN AND SEE EMPTY LOTS. THANK YOU. >> STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO SPEAK THIS MORNING? >> THANK YOU, MAYOR, COUNCIL, I APPRECIATE IT. I APPRECIATE YOUR PRAYER THIS MORNING AND THE PRAYER FOR WISDOM. I PRAY FOR IT OFTEN AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> YOUR NAME? >> I'M SORRY. JACK RICH. I'M HERE AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DCOA BUT ALSO AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN. I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS THIS MORNING. I'M ALWAYS OPEN TO LEARNING AND GROWING AND DOING A BETTER JOB. I DO AGREE THAT I WOULD WISH AND HOPE THAT WE CAN SOON GET BACK INTO IN-LIVE MEETINGS. THERE'S SOME HEALTH CONCERNS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH THAT ARE IMPORTANT AND THOSE TAKE PRECEDENCE IN MY VIEW. THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF WHAT I THINK ARE MISREPRESENTATIONS MADE ABOUT THE DC A. I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO THOSE TODAY BUT I'M HAPPY, IF YOU WOULD LIKE, TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ANSWERS TO ANY QUESTION THAT YOU MAY HAVE NOW OR IN THE FUTURE AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO DO THAT. WE LIVE IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO GROW THE ECONOMY. THAT'S IMPORTANT. ANY CITIZEN CAN MAKE MISLEADING OR MISREPRESENT FACTS AND THAT'S CERTAINLY THEIR ABILITY AND OPINION TO DO SO. BUT I THINK IT HURTS THIS COMMUNITY'S ABILITY TO GROW ECONOMICALLY. I THINK IT HURTS FINANCIALLY IN THE SENSE THAT THE COST OF ANSWERING THE ACCUSATIONS OR THE MISREPRESENTATIONS FAR EXCEED ANY OF THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED IN BOTH DIRECT COSTS AND ATTORNEYS GUYS, AND I THINK THE TIME IS FOCUSED ON THE WRONG ISSUES AS OPPOSED TO BEING FOCUSED ON GROWTH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WHICH IS WHERE WE SHOULD BE SPENDING OUR TIME AND WHERE WE TRY TO SPEND OUR TIME AND I THINK THE MESSAGES OF THE COMMUNITY, THAT IT LEAVES THE MESSAGE THE COMMUNITY IS FOR THE ONE WHERE GROWTH IS IMPORTANT AND FAIRLY REPRESENTED. I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS THAT DON MADE, THAT DON MADE, AND WE WANT TO SEE GROWTH IN THIS COMMUNITY. AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN BUT ALSO AS THE CHAIR OF THE DCOA, THAT'S WHERE I WANT TO STAY FOCUSED, IS ON GROWTH. I WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL ECONOMICALLY. I WANT US TO GROW THE PEOPLE THAT COME TO THIS COMMUNITY TO LIVE AND WORK THAT WILL SPEND MONEY AND RESTAURANTS AND BUSINESSES AND THAT IS OUR GOAL. ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO TO DO THAT. IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC COMMENTS EITHER NOW OR IN THE FUTURE I'LL BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS THEM AND I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU. >> STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO PARTICIPATE THIS MORNING? SEEING NO ONE I'LL CLOSE THE [EXECUTIVE SESSION] PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. IT IS NOW 9:15 A.M. WE'LL RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.071, CONSULTATION WITH THE ATTORNEY, 551.072, REAL PROPERTY, SECTION 551.073, DIRECTIONS ABOUT GIFTS AND DONATIONS, SECTION 551.07, PERSONNEL MATTERS, SECTION 551.076, DIRECTIONS ABOUT SECURITY DEVICES, AND SECTION 551.087, BUSINESS . >>> WE CONVENE TO OPEN SESSION. NO VOTES OR ACTIONS TAKEN DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION. [12. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Appointing Members to Various Boards and Commissions per the City Charter (Shawna Atkinson) Frontier Texas! Board of Directors Mayor's Entertainment District Task Force] WE'RE GOING TO PULL ITEM NO. 11 AND WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM NO. 12 [00:45:05] AND WE'LL TAKE 12A IN REGARDS TO THE APPOINTMENTS TO COMMITTEE. WE'RE MOVING TO ITEM NO. 12, AND I'LL HOPE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM. IF SO, COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NO ONE I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY CONVERSATION OR DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS ON THE ITEM BEFORE US? >> NO CLARITY, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE NEW APPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTMENTS OF FRONTIERS BOARD. >> A MOTION FROM COUNCIL PRICE AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER RENTZ? WE'RE READY TO VOTE. [13. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving a Design-Build Agreement with DPR Construction regarding construction of Downtown Convention Center Hotel, City Facilities and Parking (Robert Hanna)] [VOTE]. >> HURT ABSTAIN. >> MOTION CARRIES. >> NO. 13, THE MANAGER. >> THANK YOU. WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS HAVE COUNCIL APPROVE THE DESIGN BUILD AGREEMENT FOR THE DPR. WE ARE HOPEFUL WE GET THE FINAL TERM SHEET ON SOME THINGS AND THOSE TERM SHEETS ARE STILL BEING WORKED THROUGH SO WE'LL DELAY THAT UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING. I WANT TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY JUST TO PROVIDE A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE HOTEL AS WELL. AND I THINK THE ABILENE REPORTER NEWS RAN AN CART KELL ABOUT QUESTIONS ON THE HOTEL AND DID A FAIRLY GOOD JOB OF KIND OF STATING WHERE WE ARE WITH THE HOTEL WHICH IS BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, COVID-19, A GLOBAL PANDEMIC, HAD AN EXTREME IMPACT UPON THE TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY ACROSS THE GLOBE AND SO IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FOOLISH FOR THE CITY TO JUST GO OUT AND BUILD A HOTEL IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC. AND IN FACT IF YOU RESEARCH PRIOR COMMENTS I'VE MADE I'VE MADE VERY SIMILAR COMMENTS TO THAT. I COULDN'T IN GOOD CONSCIENCE RECOMMEND THE COUNCIL APPROVE THIS SO WE'RE WAITING TO SEE HOW THIS ROLLS OUT. WE ARE WORKING WITH CVRE AND WORKING WITH THE CITIGROUP AND WORKING WITH GARFIELD PUBLIC PRIVATE, THE ARCHITECTS, DPR, THE GENERAL CAULK TARRER AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH HILTON AND THE PROJECT IS MOVING FORWARD. WE'RE DOING THE WORK THAT WE SAID WE WOULD DO FROM A DESIGN STANDPOINT. THAT WORK IS ALMOST CONCLUDED. AND WE'LL BE MOVING INTO A CONSTRUCTION PHASE SOMETIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE. IF I COULD TELL YOU WHEN THAT WAS, I WOULD, BUT I CAN'T. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF VARIABLES THAT STILL HAVE NOT BEEN DETERMINED YET AND I JUST DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR YOU. I DO THINK WE ARE LOOKING MAYBE SOMETIME THIS SUMMER BUT THAT IS AN EDUCATED GUESS. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS A FIRM LINE IN THE SAND SO WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF PREP WORK ON THIS PROJECT AND WE'RER TO BIDDING THIS HOTEL THAN WE HAVE EVER BEEN. SO I LOOK FORWARD WITH SHARING GOOD NEWS IN THE NEAR FUTURE ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTABILITY. I WANT TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS. WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A PUBLIC HEARING AND I AM GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT WE TABLE THIS ITEM BUT WE DO WANT TO THE BE ABLE TO HAVE A CHANCE FOR THE PUBLIC TO WEIGH IN AND ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS AS THEY CHOOSE TO. A COUPLE OF THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT FROM THE ONSET OF THIS CONVERSATION, IT BEGAN IN AUGUST OF 2016, AN RFP, FIVE YEARS AGO, AND THANKS REALLY TO OUR REPRESENTATIVES BOTH IN THE HOUSE, STAN LAMBERT, OUR SENATOR BOOKINGHAM, LEADING AN EFFORT THAT ALLOWED A MODEL THAT WE THOUGHT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE THAT USED SALES TAX FROM THAT VERY SPECIFIC HOTEL TO BE USED TO MAKE THE PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION. I SAY THIS, AND I WANT TO REITERATE THAT THIS WAS NEVER ABOUT USING FUNDS THAT WERE INTENDED FOR STREET OR WATER OR OTHER RESOURCES, TO BE USED FOR THE HOTEL BUT THE REVENUE FROM THAT HOTEL. THE PANDEMIC WAS A GAME CHANGER, NO DOUBT. I BELIEVE I LOOKED AT SOME REPORTS THAT TWO THIRDS OF THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY OVERNIGHT JUST WENT AWAY. CERTAINLY THAT IMPLICATIONS ON THE FEESABILITY OF A HOTEL. WE HAD A FEESABILITY STUDY THAT [00:50:04] MADE A LOT OF SENSE WHEN IT WAS DONE. WE'RE NOT GOING TO USE THAT SAME FEESABILITY STUDY. THAT WOULDN'T MAKE SENSE. WE'RE GOING TO LEAN TO ANOTHER STUDY AND BECAUSE THIS NEEDS A PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT WE'LL SEE WHAT THE FEESABILITY IS. ONE THING THAT WE COMMITTED TO EVEN BACK IN '16 IS THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE IN REGARDS TO THIS HOTEL. I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT MR. HANNA, YOU, YOURSELF, MAYOR PRO-TEM PRICE HAS ATTENDED I BELIEVE WEEKLY MEETINGS THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS AND THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO-TEM PRICE, AND REALLY STUDYING THIS, AND SO I WANT TO THE BE SURE THAT WE'RE CLEAR IN REGARDS TO WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED AND WHAT WILL COME, THAT THERE HAS BEEN WEEKLY DUE-DILIGENCE EVEN THROUGH THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC OF LOOKING AT THE FEESABILITY OF THIS HOTEL AND AS STATED IN THE MIDST OF PUTTING THIS TOGETHER WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE IRRESPONSIBLE ECONOMICALLY SPEAKING IN PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. NOTHING HAS CHANGED IN REGARDS TO THE STRUCTURE. THAT'S STILL IN PLACE. WHAT HAS HAPPENED HAS BEEN A PAUSE, A RESET TO HAVE A CHANCE TO RE-EVALUATE THE FEESABILITY OF THE HOTEL. WE KNOW ABOUT SIGNIFICANT IMPACT OF THE HOTEL AND BY THE WAY WE ARE DOING THIS BECAUSE IN AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN, IT LOOKED AT TEN DIFFERENT OBJECTIVES. ONE OF THOSE TALKED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY VEST IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND HOW THAT HAD ECONOMIC IMPACT BOTH IMMEDIATELY BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IN THE FUTURE. BUT THAT HOTEL WAS TO BE A CATALYST. SO IT'S GOING TO CREATE JOBS, CREATE REVENUE, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT'S PART OF A LARGER PLAN AND SO I DON'T WANT TO PREACH A SERMON BECAUSE I CERTAINLY COULD BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT IN CONTEXT TO PUT WHERE WE WERE AND WHERE WE'RE GOING AND WITH THAT, I'LL YIELD TO MY COLLEAGUES ON THE DAIS. >> WITH REGARD TO THE MEETINGS WE WENT TO EVERY OTHER WEEK DURING THE COVID. >> WE HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS OTHER CITIES BECAUSE THERE'S OTHER CITIES ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING HOTELS AND WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW THAT'S WORKING OUT WITH REGARD TO FUNDING AND JUST THE BIGGER PICTURE OF HOW THAT MIGHT IMPACT OUR PROJECT AND AS FAR AS GETTING THE FUNDING THAT'S NEEDED AND SO WE HAVE -- THREE YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS UP FOR REELECTION LAST TIME THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE HOTEL AND IT WAS I AM FAT KELLEY STATED BY MY CANDIDATES -- EMPHATICALLY STATED THAT IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED. IT NOT THAT WE HAVE TAKEN THE FIRST STEP AND WE'VE COMMITTED TO THE LAST STEP. IT'S WE'RE CONSTANTLY EVALUATING WHERE WE ARE AND DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP AND WE WANT TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO CREATE THIS CATALYST THAT WILL HELP REVITALIZE THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN AND ENCOURAGE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT BY PEOPLE IN THOSE BUSINESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE JOBS DOWNTOWN. BUT IT'S NOT -- WE'RE NOT GOING INTO IT WITH BLINDERS ON OR WITH OUR EYES SHUT. WE WANT TO BE INTENTION NEL IN THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE, THAT WE'RE PROTECTING THE INTERESTS% OF THE TAXPAYERS IN ABILENE AS WE DO OUR BEST TO MOVE TOWARDS THE GOAL OF HAVING THIS DOWNTOWN HOTEL. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO-TEM PLACE. ANY QUESTIONS PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING? >> IN '18 THERE A WAS A SURVEY DONE I BELIEVE BY THE CHAMBER THAT LOOKED AT WOULD YOU A BE INVESTORS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND A SAMPLING OF THOSE INVESTORS COMMUNICATED THEY WERE INVESTING IN THE DOWNTOWN AND IN ABILENE FOR THE HOPE THAT WHAT THE DOWNTOWN OH TELL WOULD BRING. [00:55:03] LOOK HOW MUCH INVESTMENT HAS OCCURRED IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA SINCE TALKING AND HAVING THIS CONVERSATION. AGAIN, THOSE INVESTORS, INVESTING IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, WHEN THEY WERE BROUGHT TOGETHER SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED THE DOWNTOWN HOTEL, A LOT OF THINGS WERE THERE, WATER, IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT, INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT I WOULD ALWAYS ARGUE THAT ECONOMIC VIABILITY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE CAN HELP FACILITATE IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GOOD-PAYING JOBS. WHEN A MAN OR WELCOME HAS A GOOD-PAYING JOB IN THE COMMUNITY THEY HAVE DIG ANY. WHEN THEY HAVE DIGNITY THE FAMILY HAS DIGNITY. AND WHEN FAMILIES HAVE DIGNITY THEY WILL ENGAGE IN WAYS THAT THEY WOULDN'T WITHOUT DIGNITY. MORE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY NEED HE DIGNITY AND THAT'S WHY I'M A PROPONENT OF ANYTHING TO HELP GROW ABILENE, TEXAS. AND WITH THAT, I'LL OPEN IT UP TO PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? IF SO, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. >> I HAVE A CARD FROM DAVID SCHWARTZ. >> DAVID SCHWARTZ. I TOOK NOTES ABOUT NO. 11. TOOK MY THUNDER AWAY. ANYWAY, THE HOTEL, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SPECULATION THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON AND I UNDERSTAND THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE PANDEMIC. AND ON THE CITY COUNCIL -- OR RATHER THE CITY WEBSITE THERE WAS A MEETING THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SCHEDULED FOR THE 6TH AT 2:00 P.M. FOR THE HOTEL BOARD AND I CHECKED THIS MORNING AND THERE IT WAS NOT POSTED. I WOULD HAVE TRIED TO MAKE IT ON TUESDAY BUT MY BACK WAS NOT COOPERATING. I DID SOMETHING TO MY BACK SO I DIDN'T GET TO COME DOWN HERE AND SEE THE MEETING, IF IT ACTUALLY TRANSPIRED AND WAS SCHEDULED [INDISCERNIBLE] 2:00 P.M. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAD THAT OR NOT BUT IT WAS NOT POSTED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. SOMEBODY DROPPED THE BALL. BUT I KNOW PEOPLE ARE WONDERING WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND THAT THERE'S TIMELINES FOR THE USE OF THIS FUNDING, WHETHER IT WAS THE HOT TAX OR THE DIFFERENT -- PEOPLE THAT PLEDGED TO ADD TO THAT. THE ONLY THING IS, YOU'RE GOING TO CHANGE CONTRACTOR. WELL, MAYBE THAT'S A GOOD THING. I HOPE WHEN THE BALL GETS ROLLING EVENTUALLY THAT THEY'LL HIRE SUBCONTRACTORS THAT ARE LOCAL BECAUSE I'M SURE I REMEMBER BACK YEARS AGO WHEN WE BUILT THE BANK TOWER BACK IN I GUESS THE LATE '70S OR VERY EARLY '80S, 500 CHESTNUT, I REMEMBER A FRIEND GOT THE ELECTRIC CONTRACT FOR THAT AND THAT WAS A BIG DEAL FOR HIS COMPANY BACK THEN, THE WIRING OF THAT 20-STORY BUILDING AND I KNOW IT CREATES JOBS WHEN THEY GET IT GOING AND THE CONSTRUCTION, AND I HOPE THE SUBCONTRACTORS WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO BID ON THE JOBS WHEN IT COMES TO PASS. IT'S FRUSTRATING, YOU KNOW, JUST GENERALLY SEEING THE TWO VACANT LOTS, ONE ACROSS THE STREET FROM CITY HALL APPARENTLY AND THE ONE WHERE THE BUS STATION WAS, 5TH AND CEDAR, BACK IN THE '40S MY MOM LIVED AT ONE OF THOSE CORNERS AT 5THTH AND CEDAR AND IF SHE WAS STILL AROUND TODAY SHE WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEE THE HOTEL THAT COMES TO PASS, BUT THAT WAS BACK IN THE 1940S WHEN SHE WORKED AT WT AND [INDISCERNIBLE] DOWNTOWN SO I JUST HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE THE GROWTH DOWNTOWN. I WENT AROUND FRIDAY AND LOOKED AROUND AT THE PLACES THAT ARE OPEN NOW AND THE ACTIVITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, VERY MUCH, COUNCIL. >> STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? >> SEEING NO ONE I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY PARTING COMMENTS? QUESTIONS? FOR STAFF? >> NO. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE IN ITEM. IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. [01:00:01] >> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE'RE READY TO VOTE. >> [VOTE]. >> MOTION CARRIES. >> IT IS 10:13 A.M. AND THIS MEETING * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.