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[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:08]

>>> IT IS NOW 4:30 P.M. WE RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION.

[EXECUTIVE SESSION]

WE'RE GOING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

SECTION 551.072. SECTION 551.073.

SECTION 551.074. SECTION 551.076.

SECTION

>>> IT IS NOW 5:30 P.M. WE RECONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

[INVOCATION]

TODAY WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL PLEASURE THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OLDER THAN OUR NORMAL PLEASURE. I'LL EXPLAIN WHY IN JUST A BIT.

>> LORD, WE'RE CELEBRATING THE BEGINNING OF SUMMER AND ALL OF THE LIFE SUSTAINING RAINS WE'VE BEEN BLESSED WITH OF LATE.

WE'RE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE FULL LAKES, FLOURISHING TREES, FLOWERS AND GREEN GRASS. WE ARE THANKFUL.

SOMETIMES WE NEED AN OUTSIDE MESSENGER TO REMIND US HOW FORTUNATE WE ARE TO LIVE IN ABILENE.

THE ILLUSTRATOR IN THIS FAMILY SERVED IN THAT CAPACITY AS THEY STATED AGAIN AND AGAIN HOW HOSPITABLE ABILENE WAS.

AS CITY COUNCIL WE MUST CONSIDER AND RECOGNIZE ALL OF OUR CITIZENS AND THEIR CONCERNS. HELP US IN MAKING GOOD AND LASTING DECISIONS THAT WILL BE FAVORABLY IMPACT THE MASSES EVEN WHEN THEY'RE NOT POPULAR. BLESS OUR CITY EMPLOYEES, PLACE AN EXTRA LAYER OF PROTECTION AROUND OUR FRONT LINE WORKERS.

HELP US GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT KEEPING COVID AND ITS VARIANTS AT BAY WITH A SINGLE SHOT. BRING PEACE TO ALL WHO ARE HURTING AND IN NEED OF YOUR GENTLE TOUCH.

AMEN. >> THANK YOU.

WE LIVE IN THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD AND IT IS GREAT BECAUSE IT IS THE HOPE OF NOT JUST THOSE OF OUR CITIZENS BUT THE HOPE OF THE WORLD. NORMALLY WE SELECT FIFTH GRADERS TO LEAD OUR PLEDGES AND WE'VE DONE THAT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

TODAY WE DON'T HAVE A FIFTH GRADER.

WHAT WE HAVE IS MR. WAYNE KRUEGER.

HE'S A CITYLINK EMPLOYEE. HE JUST CAME TO BE A U.S.

CITIZEN ON JUNE 9TH.

>> HE LIVED IN THE UK UNTIL HE WAS 28.

THEN HE GOT MARRIED AND CAME TO THE GREAT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. HE'S BEEN HERE SINCE 2015.

HE HAS A 6-YEAR-OLD, A SON IN WILEY.

SO WE HAVE A WILEY BULLDOG. TODAY HE IS GOING TO LEAD US IN

[PLEDGE TO THE UNITED STATES FLAG AND THE TEXAS FLAG]

OUR PLEDGES. LET'S GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS. ONE STATE, UNDER GOD, ONE AND

[00:05:10]

INDIVISIBLE. >> YOU CAN BE SEATED.

[CONSENT AGENDA]

WE NOW MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTING OF ITEMS THREE THROUGH ITEM NUMBER 14. THESE ITEMS WILL BE CONSIDERED WITH ONE MOTION. AND THERE WILL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION UNLESS A CITIZEN OR COUNCIL MEMBER REQUESTS SEPARATE DISCUSSION. DOES ANYONE ON THE COUNCIL CONSIDER ANY OF THESE ITEMS SEPARATELY? I WILL PULL ITEM NUMBER FOUR FOR A SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.

ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER WANT TO PULL ANY ITEM OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA? DO WE HAVE ANY CITIZEN WHO REQUESTS TO PULL ANY AGENDA ITEM SEPARATELY?

>> I HAVE TWO CARDS, ITEM FOUR AND ITEM NINE.

>> SO WE HAVE 4 AND 9. >> 4 AND 9.

>> OKAY. ANY OTHER CITIZEN? I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION OF THE COUNCIL ON ITEMS 3 THROUGH 14 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM NUMBER FOUR AND ITEM NUMBER

NINE. >> SO MOVED.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE'RE READY TO VOTE.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER HURT. >> YES.

>> DEPUTY MAYOR. >> YES.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER PRICE. >> YES.

>> COUNCILMEMBER BEARD. >> YES.

[4. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Making June 26th of Every Year "Mark Rogers Day" in the City of Abilene]

>> MOTION CARRIES. >> WE'LL GO TO ITEM FOUR, AND THIS IS FOR A RESOLUTION TO DECLARE JUNE 26TH BY RESOLUTION MARK ROGERS DAY. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS BODY HAS DONE SO. AFTER THE PASSING OF CLAUDIE ROYALS WE HAD SIMILAR RESOLUTIONS.

CLAUDIE ROYALS WAS AN ACTIVIST IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR OVER 50 YEARS. AND DR. LEO SCOTT WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO BE ELECTED TO THE ABILENE CITY COUNCIL.

SO WE SET A DAY ASIDE FOR BOTH OF THEM AND JUST RESPECT FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION. I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT HONORING MARK ROGERS IN THIS WAY IS CONSISTENT WITH IDENTIFYING GREAT ABILENIAN WHO HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS.

WE WILL ALLOW A PUBLIC HEARING AND I'LL ALLOW THOSE WHO WANT TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS TO DO SO.

WE'LL HAVE A THREE MINUTE LIMIT. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS ON THAT.

I BELIEVE COUNCILMAN HURT, WE HAD A RESIDENT.

ANYBODY ON THE COUNCIL WANT TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING? AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? IF SO COME UP AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. I'LL START WITH YOU

MR. SCHWARTZ. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL.

DAVID SCHWARTZ FOR THE RECORD. THE ONLY THING I HAD WAS, I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE COVERED. I JUST WONDERED IF IT WAS A DAY OF RECOGNITION OR ACTUALLY SOME TYPE OF PAID HOLIDAY.

YOU ALLUDED TO IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S JUST A DAY OF RECOGNITION.

OF COURSE I DON'T HAVE A LOT EVER MEETING MARK ROGERS, I ONLY KNOW HIM FROM HIS TELEVISION BROADCAST WHEN HE WAS A SPORTS PERSONALITY ON ONE OF THE TV STATIONS.

I THINK IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD THING, BUT I WOULD HOPE SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE, COUNCIL, SINCE WE'RE DOING THESE RECOGNITION DAYS, BACK IN THE 80S AND 90S, ABILENE'S BIRTHDAY WAS ALWAYS BROUGHT UP. I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE EVER HAD A COUNCIL RESOLUTION OR MAKING MARCH 15TH THE ABILENE'S BIRTHDAY WHEN IT WAS TOWN LOTS WERE SOLD IN 1881.

I KNOW LIKE I SAID IN THE '80S AND '90S IT WAS ALWAYS BROUGHT UP WITH THE RAILROAD FESTIVAL AND THEY GO DOWNTOWN AND PAINT ON THE STREET DOWN THERE ON 6TH AND CYPRESS.

BUT I'M NOT OPPOSED AT ALL TO THIS I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF IT

[00:10:02]

WAS SIMPLY A DAY OF RECOGNITION. AND I HOPE A FUTURE COUNCIL MEETING WILL CONSIDER ABILENE'S BIRTHDAY ALSO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH THIS EVENING.

>> THIS IS FOR A RECOGNITION. THIS IS A RESOLUTION, NOT AN ADDITIONAL CITY HOLIDAY. WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. DOES ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? IF SO, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND

GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL.

TRAVIS RUIZ AND I HAVE THE DISTINCT PLEASURE OF SERVING AS THE CHAIR FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS BIG BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS ABILENE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE AND THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING HONORING OUR GREAT FRIEND MARK ROGERS. I SAY OUR BECAUSE HE WAS A FRIEND OF EVERY ONE OF US HERE IN THIS ROOM.

AND THE LEGACY THAT HE LEAVES IS BEYOND THAT OF ANY OTHER PERSON THAT I'VE KNOWN IN THIS CITY. WHEN I MOVED HERE FOUR AND A HALF YEARS AGO, MARK WAS ONE OF THE VERY FIRST PEOPLE THAT I GOT TO MEET. HE SOLD ME ON THE MISSION OF BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS. AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF HAVING MY OWN LITTLE WHO I MET FOR THE FIRST TIME YESTERDAY.

AND THE FIRST PERSON I WANTED TO CALL WAS MARK BECAUSE I KNOW THAT HE WOULD BE SO PROUD TO KNOW THAT HIS LEGACY IS CONTINUING. AND SATURDAY WOULD HAVE BEEN HIS 40TH BIRTHDAY AND HOW FITTING IS IT THAT WE AS A CITY CAN HONOR A MAN THAT HAS NOT ONLY TOUCHED ME, BUT HAS TOUCHED SO MANY PEOPLE. AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO USE HIS LEGACY TO HONOR OTHERS, NOT ONLY THROUGH THE MISSION OF BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS, BUT THROUGH EVERYTHING THAT EACH OF US DOES EVERY SINGLE DAY. I THINK WE CAN ALL MAKE OUR MARK. AND SO ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE STAFF OF BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS, THANK YOU FOR HONORING LIKE I SAID OUR FRIEND.

>> ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM?

>> GOOD EVENING COUNCIL. SO MY NAME IS LINDON GRAY.

AND A FEW WEEKS AGO I WAS A STUDENT ATHLETE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA. BUT NOW I STAND BEFORE YOU AS A PROUD WILDCAT. MARK ROGERS WAS BEYOND A DEAR FRIEND TO ME AND MY FAMILY. HE CAN BE CREDITED WITH RAISING ME WITH MY FATHER AND THEY WERE COLLEGE ROOMMATES HERE AT ACU.

MARK WAS ALWAYS SOMEONE THAT I ADMIRED FOR HIS INDIVIDUALITY AND OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE AND HEAR FROM HIM IN MY MORE RECENT YEARS WAS ALWAYS A BLESSING. HIS SMILE RADIATED GENUINE CARE AND HIS SMILE WAS A REMEDY TO LIFE'S HARDSHIPS.

MY PARENTS CALLED ME ON THE EVENING OF MARCH 13TH AND TOLD ME MARK HAD PASSED. I IMMEDIATELY FELL TO THE FLOOR AND WEPT. A BLINDING LIGHT HAD BEEN TAKEN FROM THE WORLD AND THERE WAS NO SENSE TO BE MADE FROM IT.

I LATER RETURNED HOME FOR THE SUMMER AND ATTENDED MARK'S MEMORIAL SERVICE. I SAT ON THE RAIL WITH OLD FOOTBALL PLAYERS WHO INSISTED I KNEW THAT THEY ONCE CHANGED MY DIAPERS. WE ALL WATCHED MARK'S LIFE THROUGH PICTURES, VIDEOS, AND PERSONAL STORIES, ALL OF WHICH CAUSED A SHARED INTERNAL REFLECTION ON HOW PATHETIC OUR LIVES HAVE BEEN IN REFLECTION. MARK LIVED HIS 41 YEARS TO THE ABSOLUTE FULLEST. MULTIPLE PEOPLE, SOME OF WHOM I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW, TOLD ME HOW MUCH MARK LOVED ME.

MARK AND HIS NEIGHBORS WOULD FREQUENTLY WATCH THE COWBOYS GAMES TOGETHER. BUT ONE GAME DAY HE INSISTED IT BE RECORDED AND WATCHED LATER, HE WANTED TO WATCH MY MATCH INSTEAD. THERE'S A PICTURE OF HIM POINTING AND SMILING AT MY FACE ON TV ON THE BENCH ON A TIMEOUT.

MY FAMILY AND I LEFT HIS SERVICE IN WORSE SHAPE THAN WE ARRIVED.

QUESTIONS OF WHY HEAVILY CIRCULATED IN THE CAR.

IT IS IN THESE MOMENTS THAT CONVICTION HOLDS ITS GREATEST POWER. WITH NO COMPREHENSIBLE ANSWER WE LOOKED FORWARD TO OUR CHANGED LIVES.

DURING THE MEMORIAL SERVICE, A MAN SPOKE ABOUT MARK'S ROLE IN BIG BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS AND IN HIS ROLES IN ANY ABILENE COMMUNITY EVENT. NOT MUCH LATER, I THOUGHT TO MYSELF I WANT TO SERVE LIKE MARK DID.

AND I FELT A PUNCH FROM SOMETHING UNSEEN INTO MY CHEST WITH THE WORDS GO TO ACU. SO I DID.

AND I KNOW GOD USED THAT MOMENT OF UNDERSTANDING MARK'S SERVICE TO DIRECT ME TOWARDS HIS WILL. IN HIS DEATH, MARK HAS BECOME THE ULTIMATE SERVANT EXPANDING GOD'S KINGDOM AND INSPIRING OTHERS TO FOLLOW HIS LEAD. MARK'S LEGACY WILL NOT ONLY LIVE ON WITH THOSE HE INSPIRED BUT ALSO WITH THOSE YET TO BE SERVED. A DAY HONORING MARK IS A DAY HONORING FAITHFUL DEVOTION, SERVITUDE.

A LIFE HONORING MARK IS A LIFE HONORING THE LORD.

[00:15:02]

THANK YOU.

>> ANYONE ELSE? A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT STORY, SO ONE OF THE TOP VOLLEYBALL ATHLETES IN THE STATE WAS AT AN SEC SCHOOL AND TRANSFERRED BACK TO ACU BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT SHE COULD MAKE HER MARK. THAT PREACHES.

THANK YOU. WE'RE STILL IN A PUBLIC HEARING.

ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

I WANT TO RECOGNIZE URBAN AND MELISSA ROGERS, THE PARENTS OF MARK ROGERS. THEY ARE HERE TODAY.

I GOT A TEXT MESSAGE FROM JEN EARLIER TODAY.

HER AND THE CHILDREN WERE IN YOUTH CAMP THIS WEEK AND SHE COULD NOT BE HERE BUT WANT TO SEND HER REGARDS AND HER APPRECIATION FOR THE COUNCIL CONSIDERING THIS RESOLUTION THAT IS BEFORE US. DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY COMMENTS

OR ANY REMARKS >> I'D LIKE TO SAY JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK WORDS. MARK HAD AN ABSOLUTE CONTAGIOUS ENERGY THAT YOU COULD FEED OFF OF.

IF YOU WANT TO GET SOMETHING DONE, YOU FIND THE BUSIEST PERSON YOU CAN TO GET IT DONE. AND HE COULD COMPLETE THE JOB.

>> ANYBODY ELSE? >> I'LL SAY SOMETHING.

I KNOW I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE ROGERS FAMILY, I HOPE YOU GUYS HAVE TAKEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AROUND THIS ROOM.

I KNOW YOU'VE SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN TOUCHED BY YOUR SON. BUT THIS IS INCREDIBLE.

THANK ALL OF YOU GUYS FOR BEING HERE.

THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE THAT REPRESENT ACU, FIRST FINANCIAL AND SO MANY DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF OUR CITY.

IT'S NICE TO SEE ALL OF YOU GUYS HERE.

I'M A HUGE FAN OF MAYA ANGELOU AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE HEARD THE PHRASE PEOPLE OFTEN FORGET WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THEM, BUT THEY'LL NEVER FORGET HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.

AND MARK MADE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US IN THIS ROOM FEEL SO SPECIAL EVEN THOUGH HE WAS AS YOU SAID THE BUSIEST MAN IN THE ROOM. SO THANK YOU FOR EMBARKING ON A JOURNEY TO RAISE A YOUNG MAN WHO WAS SO AWARE OF HIS CALLING TO LIVE BEYOND WHO HE IS. SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR THAT.

>> COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION AND SECOND

IF NOT. >> SO MOVED.

>> I HAVE A MOTION BY DR. TRAVIS CRAVER.

IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND.

>> SECOND BY COUNCILMAN PRICE. MADAME SECRETARY, WE'RE READY TO

VOTE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER PRICE.

>> YES. >> COUNCIL MEMBER BEARD.

>> YES. >> MAYOR PRO TEM.

>> YES. >> MAYOR.

>> YES. >> THE MOTION CARRIES.

>> I'M GOING TO PRESENT TWO PLAQUES.

I'M GOING TO PRESENT ONE PLAQUE TONIGHT FOR URBAN AND MELISSA.

AND WE'LL GET THE OTHER PLAQUE TO JEN.

ALSO IS JACOB IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT? MARK'S LITTLE. OKAY OUR CONTINUED PRAYERS FOR JACOB AND ALL OF THOSE WHO LOVE MARK.

I WANT TO PRESENT THIS PLAQUE TO THE ROGERS.

ALL OF THOSE WHO CAME OUT THIS EVENING TO SUPPORT THE EFFORT, STAND AND WE'LL RECOGNIZE YOU. DON'T BE SHY.

THE PEOPLE STARTED TALKING WHILE AGO.

I WANT TO FIRST OF ALL SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR FOR THIS HONOR. MARK LOVED ABILENE.

WE SENT HIM OFF TO SCHOOL FROM PLANO AND HE NEVER LEFT.

[00:20:08]

WE KNEW THAT HE KNEW A LOT OF PEOPLE WHEN WE MOVED HERE, BUT WE HAD NO IDEA OF THE VAST NUMBER OF PEOPLE RANGING FROM JUST ALL THE SOCIOECONOMIC SPECTRUM OF ABILENE.

HE WAS VERY CONNECTED AND INTO ALL OF THOSE AND FROM THE TIME HE WAS LITTLE HE WAS ALWAYS TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE AND HIS COUNSELOR AT CHRISTIAN CAMPS AND THINGS GROWING UP.

AND ONE OF HIS BUDDIES HE PLAYED FOOTBALL WITH IN HIGH SCHOOL, SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THERE'S A FACEBOOK GROUP CALLED MARK ROGERS STORIES. AND YOU CAN GO ON THERE AND READ SOME OF THESE THINGS. BUT RYAN WAS TELLING US THAT ONE DAY HE WAS YELLING AT SOME OTHER PLAYERS BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T HUSTLING. WELL THE COACH GOT MAD AT HIM AND MADE HIM RUN SOME EXTRA GASSERS.

AND MARK, EACH GASSER WAS LONGER AND LONGER.

SO EVENTUALLY THE WHOLE TEAM WAS OUTSIDE THE FENCE THAT SURROUNDED THE TRACK. SO WHEN RYAN HAD TO DO THIS, MARK JUMPED THE FENCE AND RAN THEM WITH HIM.

AND HE'S JUST THAT WAY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND FOR THE LOVE AND SUPPORT THAT WE'VE BEEN SHOWN AND THAT ABILENE IS SUCH A WONDERFUL PLACE. WE MOVED HERE ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO BECAUSE HE SAID HE WANTED TO BE THE ONE TO TAKE CARE OF US WHEN WE GOT OLD. HE'LL HAVE TO DO IT A DIFFERENT WAY NOW. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES FOR MENTORING TO THIS FAMILY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER

[9. Ordinance (First Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Amendment of the Schedule of Rates and Charges for the City of Abilene Stormwater Services (Greg McCaffery)]

NINE. ONE OF YOU COME AND WE'LL ENTERTAIN YOUR QUESTIONS ONE AT A TIME.

>> THANK YOU AGAIN, COUNCIL. THIS IS AN INCREASE IN RECORD.- STORMWATER FEE AGAIN. I REMEMBER MY GRANDPARENTS AND PARENTS SITTING AROUND LOOKING AT THE NEWSPAPER IN THE '80S AND THE '90S SAYING WELL WE'RE VOTING FOR BONDS AGAIN TO CLEAN OUT THE CREEKS. THEY THOUGHT EVENTUALLY THAT WOULD BE ALL OF IT. THEY PROPOSE A 5% INCREASE.

THE PROBLEM IS YOU'RE PENALIZING 43,000 PEOPLE THAT ARE WATER CUSTOMERS ONLY. NOBODY ELSE IS PENALIZED.

IF YOU PUT THIS IN THE GENERAL FUND, YOU WOULD BE INCLUDING PROPERTY TAX AND SALES TAX. IT WOULD BE A LOT MORE FAIR.

THE WATER CUSTOMERS WHICH I'M GOING BY THE NUMBERS RECENTLY BY THE MEDIA THAT THEY HAVE THE BRUNT OF THE WATER STORM FEE AND THE STREET MAINTENANCE FEE. I BET IT TOOK ALL DAY FOR SOMEBODY AROUND THIS BUILDING TO THINK UP WE CAN CHARGE THEM FOR AN ACT OF GOD WHETHER IT RAINS OR NOT.

AND IF THEY DON'T PAY, WE'LL CUT THEIR WATER OFF.

PREVIOUSLY IT WAS ANNOUNCED IN THE NEWS YESTERDAY ABOUT THE MAYOR SAYING WE'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH WITH CEDAR RIDGE. THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION LIKE THEY SAID ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL HAS SPENT I'VE HEARD UPWARDS OF

[00:25:04]

A QUARTER OF A BILLION FOR THE CEDAR RIDGE, HOW MUCH WOULD THAT PAY FOR STREETS AND HOW MUCH WOULD IT PAY FOR THIS STORM SITUATION? ROUGHLY IF YOU SAY JUST MAKE IT $5 AND IT WAS 40,000 UTILITY CUSTOMERS OR WATER, THAT'S $200,000 A MONTH THAT THEY'RE GOING TO RAKE IN.

THAT'S $2.4 MILLION A YEAR. LIKE I SAID IT NEEDS TO BE MOVED BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND. AND I WOULD URGE EVERYBODY OUT THERE HEARING THE SOUND OF MY VOICE, IF THEY PASS THIS, THEY COULD CONSULT AN ATTORNEY AND SEE WHAT IT TAKES TO GET IT ON A BOND OR GET IT BACK OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE A KID IN THE OLD DAYS, WHEN I WAS A KID WHEN YOU SPEND YOUR ALLOWANCE UP, YOU HAD TO FIND UP SOME OTHER WAY TO GET YOUR MONEY. SO WHAT YOU DO IS YOU PUT FEES OR A MUNICIPAL STATEMENT. IF YOU KEEP GOING ON AND ON YOU'RE GOING TO FEE US TO DEATH. I CAN SEE IN THE FUTURE MAYBE THERE WILL BE A FEE, OH WE'VE GOT TO WORK ON THE PARKS, I'LL HAVE A DOLLAR FOR THAT. MAYBE WE RENT ALL THE SPACE OUT FOR THE LIBRARIES, MIGHT BE MONEY FOR THAT.

LIKE I SAID BACK IN OUR GRANDPARENTS AND PARENTS WHEN THEY VOTED FOR THEIR CREEK CLEAN OUTS, THEY JUST LAUGHED AND SAID WE'RE VOTING AGAIN. WELL LIKE I SAID SOME OF THIS INVOLVES STREETS, SO I THINK SOME OF IT SHOULD BE COVERING THE STREET MAINTENANCE. BUT I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE TAKEN OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND WHERE YOU DON'T PENALIZE JUST 43,000 PEOPLE, THE WATER UTILITY CUSTOMERS AND INSTEAD DO IT FROM THE SALES TAX AND PROPERTY TAX. THANK YOU, COUNCIL.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE MODEL WE HAVE IN REGARDS TO THE VARIOUS FUNDS AND THE STRUCTURE AND THE RATIONALE BEHIND THAT.

>> THE STORMWATER FEES USED TO MITIGATE STORM WATER IMPACTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. IT WAS IMPLEMENTED AFTER THE LAST MAJOR FLOODING EVENT WE HAD IN ABILENE, TEXAS.

AND IT WAS PASSED IN ORDER TO HELP FUND CREEK MAINTENANCE THAT WAS NOT TAKING PLACE AND ALSO OTHER PROJECTS TO HELP MITIGATE STORM WATER. SO COUNCIL APPROVED A MASTER PLAN HERE RECENTLY. THAT MASTER PLAN HAS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS IN IT THAT NEED FUNDING.

AND THIS RATE INCREASE FUNDS THE WORK ASSOCIATED WITH THAT MASTER PLAN TO CONTINUE TO MITIGATE FLOODING AND STORM WATER IMPACTS. IF YOU DON'T WANT ABILENE TO FLOOD, NO ONE DOES, WE HAVE TO TAKE PROACTIVE MEASURES TO DO THAT. THE STORM WATER MASTER PLAN IS CERTAINLY A GOOD INSTRUMENT AND A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE FUNDED. YOU COULD MOVE THIS IN THE GENERAL FUND AND GET YOU HAVE TO RAISE PROPERTY TAXES.

THIS FEE DOESN'T GO AWAY IF YOU GET RID OF THE STORM WATER FUND.

WE CHOSE TO DO IT THIS WAY, I WASN'T HERE BUT I CAN ONLY IMAGINE BECAUSE IT WAS A DEDICATED REVENUE STREAM THAT COULD ONLY BE USED ON THAT PURPOSE.

SO THERE WAS NO WAY IT WAS GOING TO BE PEELED OFF TO USE FOR POLICE OR FIRE OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT MONEY COULD GET TRICKLED AWAY FOR IN THE GENERAL FUND. IT'S A DEDICATED FUNDING STREAM FOR THE STORM WATER PURPOSE. THANK YOU.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO INDICATE I'VE HEARD $5 THROWN AROUND.

IT'S NOT $5, IT'S 5%. SO IF YOU LOOK AT A RESIDENTIAL FOUR CUSTOMER IS GOING TO PAY $0.22 MORE A MONTH.

SO IT'S NOT $5 MORE A MONTH, IT'S 5%.

>> RESUME THE PUBLIC HEARING. >> GOOD EVENING.

I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

I REMEMBER 19 HAS SOME BONDS IN THERE REGARDING STORM WATER WORKS AND SEWER. THERE'S A COUPLE OF COMBINATION TAX PLUS REVENUE, CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATIONS.

I KNOW THAT'S NOT THIS ITEM, BUT MY QUESTION IS DO THESE BONDS HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE STORM WATER DEAL THAT YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO PASS TODAY? THAT'S JUST A FACTUAL QUESTION

FOR SOME FACTUAL -- >> NO.

>> IT DOESN'T? OKAY.

AND THEN REGARDING, IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE CAN GET THAT PRESENTATION? BECAUSE I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT YOU GUYS WOULD PRESENT AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK SO THAT WAY INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE WATCHING KIND OF KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT IS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

>> IN THE FIRST READING WE DON'T DO THE PRESENTATION.

IF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO DIRECT ME TO DO SOMETHING I'D BE HAPPY

TO DO IT. >> IS THAT A POSSIBILITY? I THINK IT WOULD ALLEVIATE ANY CONFUSION ON THE TAXPAYER'S END BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

[00:30:04]

>> PART OF OUR CUSTOM IS ON THE SECOND READING WE'LL HAVE THE PRESENTATION. WE DO THIS AND PART OF OUR TRADITION IS TO DO IT TWO TIMES FOR THAT NOTICE SO WE'LL MAKE A

PRESENTATION ON SECOND READING. >> SO IS THAT A NO THAT YOU

CAN'T SHOW THE POWERPOINT? >> WE'LL DO IT ON THE SECOND

READING. >> IS THAT A NO THAT YOU CAN'T

PRESENT IT TODAY? >> IT'S NOT A NO IT'S THAT WE'RE CHOOSING TO DO IT ON THE SECOND READING.

>> ANY CITIZEN WHO WANTS TO SEE THIS CAN REVIEW IT AND DOWNLOAD IT ALL THE WANT TO. BUT I'VE HEARD THE MAYOR PRESENT THIS IN DETAIL AT THE SECOND PUBLIC READING.

>> THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S JUST A POWERPOINT.

I KNOW IT'S NOT SPECIFIC TO WHAT YOU'RE PASSING RIGHT NOW, BUT THERE IS A HOLE ON GREEN WHICH I'M SURE YOU'RE ALL AWARE OF.

I BELIEVE IT HAS TO DO WITH STORMWATER.

CAN WE GET CLARIFICATION WITH WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THAT PARTICULAR AREA OF TIME? FACTUAL INFORMATION.

>> CYNTHIA, THAT'S NOT AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA.

BUT IF YOU WANT AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S GOING ON, GREG MCCAFFERY IS HAPPY TO TALK WITH YOU AFTER THE MEETING.

>> HOW CAN WE ACTUALLY GET THAT ON THE AGENDA SO THAT WAY HE CAN COME UP AND GIVE THAT INFORMATION TO EVERYONE AND NOT JUST MYSELF ONCE THE MEETING IS OVER? FACTUAL INFORMATION IS BASICALLY WHAT I'M REQUESTING.

IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN GET IT ON THE AGENDA TO DISCUSS?

>> IF THE COUNCIL DIRECTS ME TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA, I WILL.

HAVE WE HAD THE FUNDING ON THAT ALREADY? SO IT WILL BE COMING TO COUNCIL FOR FUNDING OF THE PROJECT ONCE THE BIDS ARE IN AND HAVE BEEN RECEIVED.

SO YOU'LL HAVE AN ITEM TO COME AND TALK ALL ABOUT THAT WHEN THE COUNCIL AWARDS THE PROJECT TO FIX THE DRAINAGE PROJECT.

>> GREAT. THANK YOU.

>> ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM?

>> MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> WE HAVE A MOTION BY

COUNCILMAN PRICE. >> SECOND.

>> SECOND BY COUNCILMAN MCALISTER.

WE'RE READY TO VOTE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER PRICE.

>> YES. >> COUNCIL MEMBER BEARD.

>> YES. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS.

>> YES. >> MOTION CARRIES.

[15. Ordinance (Final Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Amending Chapter 18, "Motor Vehicles and Traffic," Article XIII, "Schedules," Section 18-286, Decreased Speed Limits - School Zones," of the Abilene Municipal Code, By Amending Certain Sections (Greg McCaffery)]

>> WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER 15.

I'LL ASK THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.

BY THE WAY ALL THOSE WHO HAVE COME HERE FOR AGENDA ITEMS, OF COURSE YOU'RE WELCOME TO SAY AND HEAR THIS ROBUST, EXCITING COUNCIL MEETING. BUT IF YOU CHOOSE TO, YOU CAN MAKE AN EXIT. JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN OUT IF YOU CHOOSE TO. BUT YOU CAN KEEP THE POPCORN AND

STAY WITH US IF YOU'D LIKE. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. GREG MCCAFFERY, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS. THE ITEM BEFORE YOU IS A REQUEST FROM STAFF TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE AS FAR AS REGARDING OUR SCHOOL SPEED ZONES. AS YOU SEE IN THE PACKET, THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF INFORMATION.

THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF MOVING PARTS WITH RESPECT TO THIS.

IN SUMMARY, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO IS REMOVE A NUMBER OF SCHOOLS THAT ARE NO LONGER SCHOOLS THEMSELVES THEREFORE THERE'S NO LONGER A NEED FOR THE SCHOOL ZONE TO BE PLACED AS FAR AS FOR THAT PARTICULAR BUILDING. YOU'LL ALSO SEE ONE OF THE BIGGEST ITEMS I THINK ON THERE BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S BEEN DISCUSSED QUITE A BIT PUBLICLY IS WE ARE RECOMMENDING A NEW SCHOOL ZONE TO BE PLACED AS FAR AS FOR THE NEW ELEMENTARY ON EAST NORTH 10TH. THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE MATERIALS. WE'VE ALSO HAD TO AS FAR AS ADJUST AS FAR AS SOME OF THE SCHOOL ZONES AS FAR AS KEEPING SOME OF THEM BECAUSE THEY OVERLAPPED WITH OTHER SCHOOLS THAT NO LONGER AS FAR AS OUR SCHOOLS THEMSELVES.

SO WITH THAT I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU

MAY HAVE. >> THANK YOU.

>> QUESTIONS PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING? THANKS. AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? IF SO, PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD.

>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MY NAME IS GEORGE MILLER.

I'VE JUST GOT A QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BEEN NOTED BUT THE FORMER YMCA ON STATE STREET IS GOING TO BECOME THE TEXAS LEADERSHIP HIGH SCHOOL SECONDARY CAMPUS. WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY AUGUST 9TH. I HOPE WE CAN GET SOME PUBLICITY ON THAT. MY QUESTION IS IS THAT WHOLE AREA ON STATE STREET GOING TO BECOME A SCHOOL ZONE?

[00:35:01]

THAT'S GOING TO BE MY QUESTION. >> NO, BUT GREG, CAN YOU PROVIDE

SOME LIGHT ON THAT, PLEASE. >> TYPICALLY WHEN WE LOOK AT ESTABLISHING A SCHOOL ZONE, WE NEED TO MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA AS FAR AS THE TRAFFIC CONTROL GOING THROUGH AND EVALUATING THOSE.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT TOOK PLACE HERE RECENTLY WITH THE NEW TAYLOR ELEMENTARY. YES WE KNEW THE SCHOOL WAS GOING IN THERE, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE ACTUAL DATA THAT WILL SUPPORT AS FAR AS THE RECOMMENDATION OF PUTTING THAT REGULATORY IN.

IN THIS CASE AS FAR AS THE SCHOOL THAT THE GENTLEMAN IS INDICATING, WE WOULD LIKEWISE DO THE SAME.

WE CONTINUOUSLY LOOK AT ALL OF THE SCHOOL ZONES TO MAKE SURE THEY INDEED MEET THE CRITERIA. ONE OF THE BIGGEST CRITERIA FOR A SCHOOL ZONE IS HAVING PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC.

THAT'S THE BIGGEST DRIVER AS FAR AS A SCHOOL ZONE.

IT IS NOT INTENDED AS FAR AS TO REALLY SLOW THAT SPEED DOWN OTHER THAN PRIMARILY FOR PEDESTRIANS.

SO THAT'S A KEYNOTE FOR PEOPLE TO BE AWARE OF.

SO IN HIS CASE, YES. IF WE HAVE AN INSTITUTION THAT'S COMING FORTH, WE WILL DEFINITELY TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

AND IF IT MEETS THE CRITERIAS, WE'LL LOOK AS FAR AS TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE, BRING IT BEFORE YOU AND LOOK AT YOUR

CONCURRENCE. >> THANK YOU.

>> ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

COUNCIL HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?

>> JUST APPRECIATE GREG AND STAFF, AS HE MENTIONED A LOT OF MOVING PARTS. AND WE HAVE BACK AND FORTH EMAILS AND SO APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLEAN UP THE ORDINANCE AND HAVE IT REFLECT WHAT'S NEEDED TODAY.

>> IS THAT A MOTION? >> MOVE TO APPROVE.

>> MOTION AND SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?

WE'RE READY TO VOTE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER PRICE.

>> YES. >> COUNCIL MEMBER BEARD.

>> YES. >> COUNCIL MEMBER ALBUS.

>> YES. >> COUNCIL MEMBER HURT.

>> YES. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS.

>> YES. >> MOTION CARRIES.

[16. Ordinance (Final Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on an Amendment to Ordinance 33-2020 Adopting Fees and Charges, by Establishing a Maximum Fee for Subdivision Plat Review (Mike Warrix)]

>> WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER 16 AND WE'LL ASK --

>> DID YOU NOT CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT ITEM?

>> I DID. I'M SORRY I DID NOT HEAR THAT.

>> I DID. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANKS FOR YOUR TUTELAGE, I APPRECIATE THAT.

THE MIKE WARRI X PRESENTING ITEM NUMBER 16.

>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING IS A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ORDINANCE 33-2020 WHICH IS OUR CITY FEE SCHEDULE. WHAT WE'RE DOING IS ESTABLISHING A MAXIMUM FEE FOR SUBDIVISION PLAT REVIEW.

THE CURRENT FEE IN THE FEE SCHEDULE FOR PLAT REVIEW IS $500. THE BASE FEE FOR THE FIRST FOUR LOTS PLUS $20 PER LOT THEREAFTER PLUS THE FILING FEES AT THE COUNTY. THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE ORDINANCE THAT'S INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKETS WOULD LIMIT OUR PLAN REVIEW FEES TO A MAX NUMB -- MAXIMUM $2,500.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THE FEE STRUCTURE TENDS TO DRIVE OUR FEES HIGHER THAN MOST COMMUNITIES.

AND THEY'RE SOMEWHAT SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN SOME COMMUNITIES. SO WE'RE PROPOSING VIA THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO PUT A LIMIT, A CAP, TO OUR SUBDIVISION PLAT FEES OF $2,500. WHICH WOULD BE APPLICABLE TO PRELIMINARY PLATS, FINAL PLATS, AND MINOR PLATS AND REPLATS.

>> ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. WARRIX PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING?

>> IT'S A CLARITY THAT THAT'S A CAP ON THE REVIEW FEE, IT

DOESN'T IMPACT THE FILING FEE? >> CORRECT, THE FILING FEE IS A

SEPARATE COUNTY FEE. >> AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER 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.

COUNCIL HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF NOT I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND.

>> SO MOVED. >> MOTION.

>> SECOND. >> A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE'RE READY TO VOTE.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM. >> YES.

>> DEPUTY MAYOR. >> YES.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER PRICE. >> YES.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER BEARD. >> YES.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER ALBUS. >> YES.

>> AND MAYOR WILLIAMS. >> YES.

[17. Ordinance (Final Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on an Amendment to Ordinance 33-2020 Adopting Fees and Charges, by Amending Solicitors Permit Fees (Shawna Atkinson)]

>> WHEN I MOVE TO ITEM 17 I'LL ASK THE CITY SECRETARY TO

PRESENT THIS ITEM. >> THIS ORDINANCE IS ALSO A CHANGE TO THE FEE SCHEDULE. THIS IS FOR OUR SOLICITOR PERMIT FEES. THE FEE ITSELF FOR THE APPLICATION IS STAYING THE SAME. IT'S $100 FOR THE YEARLY PERMIT

[00:40:04]

AND $50 FOR A 30 DAY PERMIT. BUT OUR BACKGROUND CHECKS THAT WE RUN CURRENTLY ARE JUST A STATE BACKGROUND CHECK AND I'D LIKE TO START RUNNING A NATIONWIDE BACKGROUND CHECK WHICH IS AN INCREASED FEE. THIS IS JUST TO COVER THAT FEE BASICALLY IN THE TIME IT TAKES TO DO THE PERMIT ITSELF.

I'M PROPOSING IT GO FROM $10 TO $30.

>> THANK YOU. >> QUESTIONS PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC

HEARING? >> JUST TO CLARIFY, THAT WILL ENABLE YOU TO RUN NATIONAL BACKGROUND CHECKS ON THE DOOR TO DOOR SALESMEN, RIGHT? JUST IN CASE SOMEBODY DOESN'T

UNDERSTAND WHAT A SOLICITOR. >> YES, THANK YOU.

>> ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL?

>> AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING, IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? IF SO, PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

COUNCIL, ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND.

>> SO MOVED. >> I HAVE A MOTION.

>> SECOND. >> SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE'RE READY TO VOTE.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER BEARD. >> YES.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER ALBUS. >> YES.

>> DEPUTY MAYOR. >> YES.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER PRICE. >> YES.

>> AND MAYOR WILLIAMS. >> YES.

[18. Oral Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving June 19th, Juneteenth, as an Official City Holiday]

>> MOTION CARRIES. >> WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER 18 AND I'LL ASK ROBERT HANNA TO PRESENT THIS ITEM DISCUSSING ADDING JUNETEENTH AS AN OFFICIAL HOLIDAY.

>> AS YOU KNOW THE PRESIDENT SIGNED A BILL DESIGNATING JUNETEENTH AS A HOLIDAY FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.

I RECEIVED QUESTIONS FROM OTHER CITIES AS WELL AS OUR WORKFORCE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY WOULD OBSERVE THIS HOLIDAY.

OBVIOUSLY THE CITY MANAGER DOESN'T SIGN CITY HOLIDAYS, IT'S A FUNCTION OF THE COUNCIL. AND AFTER VISITING WITH THE MAYOR, WE THOUGHT IT APPROPRIATE TO BRING IT TO THE COUNCIL FOR THEIR DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION AND POTENTIALLY DESIGNATING JUNETEENTH AS A PAID CITY HOLIDAY FOR FISCAL YEAR

2022 AND EVERY YEAR THEREAFTER. >> TEXAS BECAME THE FIRST STATE OF THE UNION IN 1979 TO APPROVE JUNETEENTH AS A HOLIDAY.

SOON AFTERWARDS OTHER STATES FOLLOWED THE LONE STAR STATE'S EXAMPLE. AND OF COURSE AS MENTIONED BE I THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT A WEEK AGO BECAME A NATIONAL HOLIDAY.

SO BEFORE US FOR DISCUSSION IS THAT CONVERSATION, THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC HEARING TO ALLOW OTHERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONVERSATION. BEFORE WE DO SO, DOES ANY COUNCIL MEMBER HAVE ANY COMMENTS THAT HE OR SHE WOULD LIKE TO

MAKE ON THIS AGENDA ITEM? >> OUR CITY EMPLOYEES ALREADY HAVE 11 HOLIDAYS. THEY ALSO GET THREE WEEKS PAID VACATION STARTING ACCRUING AFTER FIVE WEEKS.

SO WE TREAT OUR EMPLOYEES NICELY.

I THINK TO ADD JUNETEENTH AS MAYBE A FLOATING HOLIDAY SO THAT YOU COULD CHOOSE IT IN LIEU OF ONE OF THE OTHER HOLIDAYS WOULD BE APPROPRIATE. WE DO NOT CELEBRATE ALL OF OUR FEDERAL HOLIDAYS. WE DO NOT CELEBRATE WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY OR PRESIDENT'S DAY AS IT'S NOW REFERRED TO.

WE DO NOT CELEBRATE COLUMBUS DAY OR THAT'S INDIGENOUS PEOPLE DAY.

SO I THINK WE COULD INCLUDE JUNETEENTH IN THE ROSTER AND THAT WAY IF IT IS YOUR PASSION TO TAKE OFF ON JUNETEENTH THEN YOU CERTAINLY HAVE THAT OPTION TO DO THAT.

>>. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL

PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING? >> I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT DONNA IS SAYING. SO WE HAVE 11 AND THIS WOULD BE 12. WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, IT'S STILL A HOLIDAY, WE'RE NOT TAKING THAT AWAY, YOU'RE NOT PROPOSING TAKING ANOTHER ONE, THEY HAVE THEIR 11 AND THEN THEY GET A FLOATING HOLIDAY TO TAKE WHENEVER?

NO? >> IT WOULD BE IN LIEU OF ONE OF THE OTHER HOLIDAYS THEY ALREADY HAVE IS MY THOUGHT.

>> SO IF YOU WANTED TO TAKE JUNETEENTH OFF, YOU WOULDN'T TAKE THE FRIDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING OFF?

>> RIGHT. >> HOW MANY PAID HOLIDAYS DO WE

HAVE NOW? >> 11.

>> THIS WOULD NOT BE NUMBER 12 THIS WOULD BE 11?

>> YES. >> ANY COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL

PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING? >> AS I MENTIONED TO YOU AT THE JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION SATURDAY, ONE QUESTION I HAD WAS IF WE APPROVE THIS, THE STATE OF TEXAS CALLS IT EMANCIPATION DAY, THE FEDERAL HOLIDAY IS JUNETEENTH AND SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS

[00:45:04]

APPROPRIATE TO INCLUDE BOTH SOMEHOW IN THE NAME OF WHAT WE DO HERE TO RECOGNIZE THAT HISTORY OF IT BEING THE STATE HOLIDAY FIRST FOR MANY YEARS. FOR ME WHEN YOU LOOK AT PRESIDENT'S DAY OR COLUMBUS DAY AND SOME OF THESE OTHER HOLIDAYS, IT'S A NICE THING TO LOOK BACK ON.

JUNETEENTH WAS WHEN WE FINALLY SAID TO EVERYBODY FREEDOM APPLIES TO EVERYBODY AND SO FOR ME I'M SUPPORTIVE OF HAVING THIS AS A CITY HOLIDAY BECAUSE IT'S AS IMPORTANT AS THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE DAY BECAUSE IT'S TRUE INDEPENDENCE FOR ALL AMERICANS. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF HAVING THE

JUNETEENTH HOLIDAY FOR THE CITY. >> ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM

COUNCIL? >> AS A 12TH HOLIDAY?

>> AS A 12TH HOLIDAY, YES. >> I GUESS I WAS KIND OF MISUNDERSTANDING. I AGREE.

JUNETEENTH IS A VERY IMPORTANT DAY FOR EVERYBODY.

BUT I THINK IF WE ADD THAT AS A HOLIDAY, I WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM ADDING A 12TH HOLIDAY BUT ADDING IT AS A FLOATING DAY.

BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE CAN TAKE JUNETEENTH, SOME PEOPLE CAN TAKE PRESIDENT'S DAY OR WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY.

THEY CAN TAKE THEIR BIRTHDAY. HAVING 11 AND ADDING A 12TH, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. BUT I THINK WE CAN MAKE IT A FLOATING HOLIDAY TO LET FOLKS CELEBRATE IN A WAY THAT THEY

WANT TO CELEBRATE. >> I THINK THE SIGNIFICANCE OF JUNETEENTH IS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTATE.

THE AMOUNT OR THE NUMBER RATHER OF OUR POPULATION THAT IS AFFECTED BY THIS AND HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY IS VERY SIGNIFICANT. THE STATE'S BEEN RECOGNIZING THIS FOR A LONG TIME. I'M GLAD TO SEE THIS FINALLY RECOGNIZED AS A NATIONAL HOLIDAY.

I'M NOT SUPPORTIVE, I THINK WE NEED TO GET WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING IN ORDER BECAUSE WE'RE VOTING ON THE RESOLUTION TO MAKE THIS A CITY HOLIDAY. IF WE HAVE AN AMENDED MOTION ON THE FLOATING HOLIDAY, THAT'S NOT WHAT THE ITEM SAYS SO WE NEED TO HANDLE THAT PROPERLY. BUT I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS

BEING A 12TH CITY HOLIDAY. >> MORE COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL?

>> YEAH, THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT DAY IN OUR HISTORY AND I AGREE WITH THAT. AND I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE 12TH HOLIDAY. BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT IN THE FUTURE AND I KNOW THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING TODAY BUT IF WE ARE GOING TO MAKE THIS A 12TH HOLIDAY, I WOULD LIKE THIS COUNCIL AT A LATER DATE TO LIMIT THE CITY TO 12 PAID

HOLIDAYS. >> COUNCILMAN CRAVER, ANY

COMMENTS? >> I'LL WAIT UNTIL AFTER WE GIVE

THE CITY. >> WE'LL HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT.

I'LL SAY THIS, JUNETEENTH IS A VERY UNIQUELY TEXAS HOLIDAY, IF NOT FOR TEXANS IT WOULD NOT BE A NATIONAL HOLIDAY.

IT COULD BE SAID IF NOT FOR TEXANS, IT WOULD BE SOME SORT OF OBSCURE NOTATION IN HISTORY BOOKS.

AND JUST IN ABOUT A WEEK, OVER A WEEK AS A COUNTRY WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE JULY 4TH, THE BIRTH OF OUR NATION.

JULY 4TH REMINDS US OF THE FREEDOMS THAT ARE REPRESENTED IN THIS COUNTRY; LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

WHAT JUNETEENTH COMMUNICATES IS WE ARE NOT ALL TRULY FREE UNTIL WE ALL ARE TRULY FREE. AND I THINK PROVING THIS AS A 12TH OFFICIAL HOLIDAY MAKES A VERY POSITIVE STATEMENT AND AGAIN TEXAS DID THIS 42 YEARS AGO.

SO ANYMORE COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL BEFORE WE OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING? AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? IF SO, PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

>> SAMUEL GARCIA. VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF MAKING IT A 12TH HOLIDAY. THIS FLOATING IDEA TOTALLY MISSES THE POINT. YOU DON'T CELEBRATE JULY 4TH WHENEVER YOU WANT. YOU DON'T CELEBRATE CINCO DE MAYO WHENEVER YOU WANT. YOU DON'T CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS WHENEVER YOU WANT. TO MAKE IT THAT, THIS KEEPING IT, NOT DOING THAT FLOAT, JUST FORGET ABOUT THAT.

BECAUSE THE IDEA IS WHAT SHANE WAS TALKING ABOUT.

[00:50:01]

AND I'LL GO BEYOND WHAT SHANE JUST SAID.

SHANE SAID THAT WAS A DAY THAT DECLARED THAT WE WERE ALL EQUAL.

THAT WE ALL, BUT DID IT HAPPEN? NO, IT TOOK HUNDREDS OF YEARS BEFORE WE EVEN STARTED TO SEE A DIFFERENT IN WHETHER OR NOT WE WERE ALL EQUAL. PEOPLE WERE HELD AS SLAVES.

THEY WERE PROPERTY. THIS IS A HUGE, HUGE THING.

AND IT TOOK TWO YEARS FOR THE PEOPLE IN GALVESTON TO BE TOLD, YOU GOT TO LET THEM GO, THEY'RE FREE.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO SAY OH IT'S GOING TO BE A FLOATING HOLIDAY, BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE THAT REALLY DON'T BELIEVE, NO.

NO. IT'S THE HOLIDAY.

I GREW UP IN TEXAS, I'VE BEEN CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH SINCE I WAS A LITTLE KID. MY FRIENDS THAT WOULD INVITE ME, WE WOULD HAVE A GREAT CELEBRATION, WHEN I WAS LITTLE.

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT I WAS CELEBRATING, LUCKILY I HAD ENOUGH SENSE TO GROW UP AND UNDERSTAND IT.

BUT TO SIT THERE AND TALK ABOUT A FLOATING HOLIDAY IS ALMOST OFFENSIVE TO BE HONEST WITH YOU BECAUSE IT DOESN'T GIVE THE REAL MEANING OF WHAT THIS DAY MEANS, FREEDOM.

THE IDEA THAT A MAN OR A WOMAN IN THIS COUNTRY CANNOT BE OWNED.

IT GOES EVEN BEYOND THAT, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT.

SO PLEASE, PLEASE JUST MAKE IT THE 12TH HOLIDAY.

CELEBRATE IT ON THE DAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE CELEBRATED AND THEN GO FROM THERE. IF YOU WANT TO TRY TO WISHY WASH THIS THING, I'M JUST TELLING YOU YOU'RE TAKING AWAY FROM THE ESSENCE OF THIS HOLIDAY. THANK YOU.

>> WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

>> MY NAME IS REVEREND ISAIAH LANGFORD.

I'M REALLY MOVED, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD.

I THINK MY BLOOD PRESSURE WENT UP.

I REMEMBER AS A KID, MY GRANDMOTHER WAS A SCHOOLTEACHER.

SHE TAUGHT US ABOUT JUNETEENTH. IT WAS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO HER. HER MOTHER CAME FROM MEMPHIS AND NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE AT 11 YEARS OF AGE ON A SATURDAY EVENING WAS SOLD AT AN AUCTION. AT 11.

SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL GIRL SO THEY MADE HER THE HOUSE GIRL.

SHE DID ALL OF THE COOKING AND ALL OF THE CLEANING.

AND AFTER COOKING BREAKFAST SHE ATE THE SOFT PART OF THE BISCUIT. MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER, THE ONLY TIME SHE RECEIVED A BISCUIT, SHE HAD TO HIDE ONE IN HER APRON.

I'M ONLY THE THIRD GENERATION REMOVED FROM SLAVERY.

AFTER JANUARY OF 1863, IT TOOK TWO YEARS FOR THE NEWS TO REACH GALVESTON, TEXAS THAT TOLD MY FOLKS THAT THEY WERE FREE.

JUNETEENTH, I WAS LIVING IN HOUSTON AT THE TIME WHEN MY FRIEND AL EDWARD, IT TOOK SEVERAL TRIALS BEFORE HE GOT JUNETEENTH MADE A STATE HOLIDAY. MAY HE REST IN PEACE.

HE'S BEEN DEAD 3 OR 4 YEARS NOW. BUT I THINK JUNETEENTH NEEDS TO STAND ON ITS OWN. JUNETEENTH IS JUST AS IMPORTANT TO ME AS THE FOLKS WHO DON'T LOOK LIKE ME AS THE 4TH OF JULY IS. SO HOW COULD YOU EVEN THINK THAT I WOULD BE HAPPY MAKING IT A FLOATING HOLIDAY? MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER WAS BEATEN BECAUSE SOMETIMES SHE DIDN'T FRY THE CHICKEN LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

I MYSELF WENT TO A SEGREGATED SCHOOL.

YELLOW BUS PASSED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, BUT IT DID NOT PICK US UP. THE BUS THAT MADE A DELIVERY FROM THE OTHER COUNTY CAME TO PICK US UP.

IF THERE WERE KIDS THAT DID NOT LOOK LIKE ME, WE DID NOT RIDE

[00:55:01]

WITH THEM. >> THANK YOU, PASTOR.

>> I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR YOU ALL OF YOU.

BUT I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU DON'T RESPECT ME ENOUGH AND WANT TO MAKE IT A FLOATING HOLIDAY. MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

>> STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. >> HELLO.

THE ONLY THING PROBLEM I HAVE WITH MAKING JUNETEENTH A FLOATING HOLIDAY, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH WORKERS IN THE CITY AS IT IS AND THE NATION, IF YOU MAKE JUNETEENTH A FLOATING HOLIDAY, PEOPLE LIKE ME WON'T GET THE DAY OFF IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE IT A FLOATING HOLIDAY BECAUSE THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANYBODY TO WORK OR TAKE MY PLACE IF I'M ON THAT TYPE OF JOB.

SO I WISH YOU WOULD CONSIDER REALLY, REALLY MAKING JUNETEENTH A HOLIDAY. BECAUSE IT DOES NOT DESERVE TO BE FLOATED AROUND. WE'VE ALREADY BEEN FLOATED AROUND FROM MASTER A TO MASTER B TO MASTER C.

SO WE NEED TO TAKE CHARGE AND MAKE SURE THAT JUNETEENTH IS A HOLIDAY WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE A HOLIDAY AND REPRESENTED IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. THANK YOU.

>> STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL.

DAVID SCHWARTZ FOR THE RECORD AGAIN.

LAST YEAR WHEN THIS CAME UP, IT WAS PROPOSED AS A FLOATING HOLIDAY. BUT NOW YOUR HEAVY LIFTING HAS BEEN DONE BY JOSEPH ROBERT BIDEN JR. I DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THIS UNTIL TUESDAY WHEN I HEARD IT WAS IN THE SENATE OR THE HOUSE. AND THEN I DID NOT SEE THE CEREMONY LAST THURSDAY. SO I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW IT WENT, BUT IT'S INCREDIBLE YOU CAN HAVE A HOLIDAY THAT QUICK.

WHEN THE INK WASN'T EVEN DRY, I'M SURE MR. BIDEN TURNED AROUND AND SAID WE'LL BE CLOSED IN THE MORNING.

I ASKED GOOGLE TWICE LAST THURSDAY I SAID WILL THE BANKS AND POST OFFICE BE OPEN? AND IT SAID THEY'LL BE CLOSED.

WELL THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN USA TODAY LAST FRIDAY AND SAID THE POST OFFICE AND BANKS CANNOT ENACT A HOLIDAY IN LESS THAN 24 HOUR NOTICE. BUT THE FEDERAL PEOPLE GOT OFF.

NOW LIKE YOU SAID LAST YEAR YOU WOULD THINK ABOUT IT.

LIKE I SAID THE PRESIDENT HAS DONE ALL OF THE HEAVY LIFTING.

SO I THINK YOUR RESOLUTION SHOULD BE WE OBSERVE THE HOLIDAY EXACTLY THE DAY THE FEDS DO IT. AND NEXT YEAR IT WILL BE 20TH OF JUNE BECAUSE JUNETEENTH FALLS ON DAD'S DAY ON SUNDAY.

AND THERE AFTERWARDS THEY WILL TAKE OFF THE NEXT DAY.

BUT I'M DEFINITELY IN SUPPORT TO ADD A REGULAR HOLIDAY OBSERVED AS THE FEDS DO FOR JUNETEENTH. SO I WOULD SAY NEXT YEAR IT WILL BE THE 20TH AND YOU CAN LOOK IT UP, BUT I KNOW YOU ALREADY HAVE.

SO I'M IN SUPPORT OF IT. AND THERE'S NO REASON WHY IT NEEDS TO BE A FLOATING HOLIDAY IF THE FEDS ARE GOING TO OBSERVE IT, JUST SHUT DOWN THE CITY OFFICES LIKE THE FEDS DO.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ON THAT SUBJECT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL. >> STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM?

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS SHANTAY CLEMMONS.

TO THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING OUT TO OUR JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION.

IT WAS SUCH A GREAT EXPERIENCE TO SEE ALL OF YOU GUYS THERE.

WE MISSED ONE, BUT IT WAS OKAY, WE HAD A BLAST.

COUNCILMAN MCALISTER, HE STILL DID CHEAT PLAYING THAT TOURNAMENT. I WAS TOO BUSY, BUT YOU DID CHEAT WINNING FOR THAT KICKBALL TOURNAMENT THERE.

I WOULD LIKE A REMATCH ON THAT KICKBALL TOURNAMENT.

>> AS LONG AS I DON'T GET THOSE LITTLE KIDS, THEY HAD WAY MORE

ENERGY. >> BUT REALLY GUYS, TO SEE THE CITY COUNCIL TO SEE ALL OF THE SUPPORT THAT WAS THERE, TO SEE EVERYBODY THAT CAME OUT AND JUST FILL THE PARK UP, IT MADE ABILENE LOOK GREAT. WE FELT THE LOVE.

WE FELT THE CONNECTION. WE FELT LIBERATED TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE THAT DAY WITH EVERYONE.

THE KIDS HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE EVERYBODY

[01:00:04]

OUT THERE, THE PEOPLE, THE COMMUNITY NEEDED TO SEE ALL OF US TOGETHER WORKING TOGETHER, TALKING TOGETHER.

AND WHAT THAT DID WAS THAT MERGED THAT GAP WE'VE BEEN HAVING. THAT BRIDGED SOMETHING.

THAT'S WHAT ABILENE IS. THAT'S WHAT PULLS US TOGETHER.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID FOR JUNETEENTH.

WE SHOW ABILENE WE ARE BIGGER THAN ALL OF THE RACIAL, ALL OF THE OUTSIDE THINGS, ALL OF THE POLITICAL THINGS.

WE ARE TEAM ABILENE AND WE STICK TOGETHER.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING AND SUPPORTING THAT. IT MEANT A GREAT DEAL TO US AND IT MEANT A GREAT DEAL TO SEE YOU ALL THERE AND THE KIDS AND THE ABILENE RESIDENTS LOVED IT. AND WE JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT. FOR THE HOLIDAY YOU GUYS KNOW WHICH WAY I'M COMING. I AM IN TOTAL SUPPORT OF THAT HOLIDAY. NOT FLOATING, BUT THE WHOLE HOLIDAY BEING RECOGNIZED. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN TO OUR PARKS AND RECS AND ALL OF OUR SPONSORSHIPS WE HAD OUT THERE. JUST THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING.

THANKS. >> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE?

>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. I WAS HONORED TO BE ABLE TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME THIS WEEKEND WITH ALL THREE OF THE DIFFERENT JUNETEENTH CELEBRATIONS HAPPENING BOTH DOWNTOWN AS WELL AS AT THE STEVENSON PARK. I HAVE TO SAY I AM INSPIRED BY SO MUCH OF THE YOUNG BLACK LEADERSHIP THAT IS REALLY COMING TO FRUITION THESE LAST FEW YEARS AROUND ABILENE.

THERE ARE ABOUT 1,000 WAYS THAT THIS COMMUNITY COULD COME AROUND THESE LEADERS TO SUPPORT THEM, TO ENCOURAGE THEM, TO BUILD THEM UP. AND HAVING JUNETEENTH AS A SET CITY HOLIDAY IS JUST ONE OF THOSE POSSIBILITIES, BUT IT IS A GREAT STARTING POINT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANKS. >> WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO

SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? >> ALTHOUGH I AM NOT SURPRISED BY SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT I'VE JUST NOW HEARD, I AM SHOCKED THAT WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS SITTING ON COUNCIL THAT DON'T EVEN RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT JUNE 19TH SIGNIFIES.

AND SITTING BACK THERE WITH THE REVEREND I THINK BOTH OF OUR BLOOD PRESSURES WERE ABOUT TO HIT THE ROOF.

AND I PRAY TO GOD THAT ONE DAY I CAN HAVE THAT MUCH RESTRAINT.

IGNORANCE, THAT'S THE ONLY WORD I CAN DESCRIBE RIGHT NOW.

AND THAT'S WITH ALL DUE RESPECT. I WOULD ADVISE THAT ANYBODY THAT VOTED FOR A FLOATING HOLIDAY, DO A LITTLE BIT OF EDUCATING ON ONCE YOU LEAVE THIS COUNCIL ON WHAT EXACTLY THE SIGNIFICANCE IS BEHIND JUNE 19TH. ANOTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND IF Y'ALL DON'T DO IT ALREADY IS A LITTLE BIT OF CULTURAL COMPETENCE CLASSES. I DON'T KNOW IF OUR TAX DOLLARS CAN PAY FOR THAT AND SEND YOU GUYS TO SOME KIND OF CULTURAL COMPETENCE TRAINING. BECAUSE THE THINGS THAT I HEARD TONIGHT ARE DISGUSTING THAT WE ARE SO, IT'S 2021.

AND WE'VE GOT PEOPLE OVER HERE WANTING TO MAKE A FLOATING HOLIDAY OF JUNE 19TH. THAT IS A SLAP IN THE FACE.

I'M NOT AFRICAN AMERICAN, I'M BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST.

I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO BE AN AFRICAN AMERICAN AND DISCRIMINATED AGAINST.

BUT THIS IS JUST THE PERSON I AM AND THE STUFF THAT I JUST HEARD OUT OF SOME OF Y'ALL'S MOUTH IS THE MOST DISGUSTING THING AND I'M NOT SURPRISED BECAUSE THIS ISN'T OUR FIRST RODEO WITH SOME OF YOU GUYS. BUT GET Y'ALL SOME CULTURAL COMPETENCY CLASSES, TRAINING, SOMETHING.

PUT OUR DOLLARS TO USE, BECAUSE THIS IS UNNECESSARY.

BUT THAT'S WHAT I GOT TO SAY. THANK YOU.

>> WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO PARTICIPATE THIS EVENING? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?

>> I WILL SPEAK AND I'LL SAY SOMETHING.

THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR JUST SHARING WHERE YOU ARE AND WHERE YOU LAND. MR. GARCIA SAID SOME THINGS EARLIER AND IT JOGGED A LITTLE BIT OF THOUGHT IN MY MIND AND I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THIS BRIEFLY WITH YOU GUYS.

MY HUMANITY IS BOUND IN YOURS FOR WE CAN ONLY BE HUMAN TOGETHER. I THINK AS WE CONTINUE TO EDUCATE AS CYNTHIA ALLUDED TO EARLIER, WE UNDERSTAND THAT FREEDOM IS ONLY FREEDOM WHEN WE ALL UNDERSTAND WE ARE A PART OF

[01:05:04]

THAT EQUATION. AND SO A LITTLE BIT OF MICRO EDUCATION, THERE'S NO OTHER GROUP IN HISTORY THAT'S EVER HAD TO MIGRATE WITHIN ITS OWN WALLS, U.S. WALLS, OTHER THAN AN AFRICAN AMERICAN GROUP. SO WHEN REVEREND LANGFORD SPOKE ABOUT WHERE HE WAS BORN, WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE FAIL TO RECOGNIZE IS AND I DON'T KNOW YOUR FAMILY HISTORY, BUT I CAN ASSUME WITH SOME OF THE READING AND RESEARCH I'VE DONE IS MORE THAN LIKELY THAT THIRD GENERATION, WHATEVER PRECEDED THAT THIRD GENERATION WAS BORN IN THE SOUTH AND THEY HAD TO MIGRATE NORTH BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED TO BE FREE. AND THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE A LOT OF THINGS THAT PROGRESSED AND BECAME WHAT WE OFTEN KNOW AS MOTOWN, THE FOUNDER OF MOTOWN, WHAT OFTEN WE KNOW AS AN OPRAH WINFREY, ANYONE YOU CAN THINK, MICHELLE OBAMA, WHO ON, THEIR RELATIVES HAD TO MIGRATE FROM THE SOUTH.

SO UNLESS YOU UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THE HISTORICAL RECOGNITION OF HOW A COLONIZED GROUP WITHIN ITS OWN WALLS HAD TO MIGRATE TO BE FREE WITHIN ITS OWN WALLS.

SO THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR JUST SHARING A LITTLE BIT OF THE HISTORICAL COMPONENT, YOUR HEART COMPONENTS.

I'M ALL FOR IT BEING A HOLIDAY, NO QUESTIONS ASKED, BECAUSE I THINK THAT QUOTE, US ALL BEING FREE MEANS SO MUCH.

SO THANK YOU. >> WITH THAT I'LL MAKE A MOTION ON THE RESOLUTION BEFORE US MAKING JUNETEENTH A FULL HOLIDAY, NOT A FLOATING HOLIDAY, AS PRESENTED IN OUR PACKET.

>> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BEARD. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, MADAME SECRETARY, WE'RE READY TO VOTE.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER PRICE. >> YES.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER BEARD. >> YES.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER ALBUS. >> YES.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER HURT. >> YES.

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS. >> YES.

>> MOTION CARRIES.

[19. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Directing Publication of Notice of Intention to Issue Combination Tax and Revenue Certificates of Obligation for Convention Center Facilities (Mike Rains)]

>>> WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER 19.

I'LL ASK CITY MANAGER ROBERT HANNA TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. TONIGHT BEFORE YOU IS AN ACTION THAT HAS BEEN LONG IN THE MAKING.

WELL OVER FOR THIS COMMUNITY OVER 30 YEARS.

BUT CERTAINLY THE LAST SIX YEARS OF MY TENURE HAVE BEEN SPENT ON THIS PROJECT AT THE DIRECTION OF THE COUNCIL.

SO I'D LIKE TO REVIEW AT THE TOP LEVEL WHAT THE PROJECT IS AND THEN GO INTO DETAIL THE IMPORTANCE OF TONIGHT AND HOW THE FINANCING IS STRUCTURES. THE COVER SLIDE IS JUST AN IMAGE OF THE HOTEL, WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE IF YOU'RE STANDING ON THE FRONT PORCH OF THE CONVENTION CENTER TODAY LOOKING SOUTH TOWARDS THE HOTEL. THIS WOULD BE THE EAST ELEVATION IF YOU'RE ON CYPRESS LOOKING WESTWARD, YOU WOULD SEE THE CONFERENCE CENTER AND THE HOTEL. AND THIS WOULD BE THE 5TH AND CYPRESS LOOKING AT THE HOTEL, THAT SOUTHEAST ELEVATION.

THE NORTH ELEVATION, OR 6TH AND CEDAR.

THIS IS A ROUGH SITE PLAN, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT 6TH STREET CHANGES. 6TH STREET NOW STOPS THERE AT THE CORNER OF 6TH AND CYPRESS AND YOU'LL END UP DRIVING SOUTH ONTO 5TH. 5TH BECOMES TWO WAY.

WE CLOSE CEDAR STREET BETWEEN THE HOTEL AND THAT NEXT HALF BLOCK AND THAT BECOMES PART OF PARKING FOR THE HOTEL.

THE AREA IN BETWEEN THE CONVENTION CENTER AND THE HOTEL IS DEVELOPED INTO A PEDESTRIAN PLAZA DEVELOPMENT PARK LIKE SETTING WITH PAVERS THAT WE HAVE LABELED THE FESTIVAL DISTRICT.

JUST BRIEFLY THIS IS A FULL SERVICE HOTEL.

IT'S 200 KEY FULL SERVICE DOUBLETREE HILTON HOTEL.

YOU'LL HAVE A LOBBY BAR, A LOUNGE, FULL DINING, A LIBRARY LOUNGE WHICH IS A MORE INTIMATE SPACE BY THE BAR.

OBVIOUSLY THERE WILL BE ROOM SERVICE BECAUSE IT IS A FULL SERVICE HOTEL. YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE SECOND TERCIARY AMENITIES. THESE ARE ALL ELEMENTS YOU WOULD FIND IN A FULL SERVICE HOTEL. YOU CAN SEE ON THIS IMAGE THE CONVENTION CENTER AND PUBLIC MEETING SPACE.

[01:10:02]

A, B, C, AND D WOULD BE IN THAT IMAGE THAT YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN AHEAD OF YOU NOW IS A 12,151 SQUARE FOOTBALL ROOM.

THERE'S A TOTAL OF THREE BREAKOUT ROOMS. THERE'S A 723 SQUARE FOOT BOARD ROOM AS WELL.

ALL OF THOSE ARE THE PUBLIC SPACES THAT THE CITY OF ABILENE IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE CONSTRUCTION PRICE.

EVERYTHING ELSE NORTH OF THAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT BE PART OF THE HOTEL IS ALL PART OF THE HOTEL REVENUE BONDS THAT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION.

THIS IS AN IMAGE OF THE SECOND FLOOR.

I WANTED TO SHOW THAT BECAUSE THERE AT THE FAR WEST OF THE HOTEL, YOU CAN SEE THE SECOND STORY ABOVEGROUND POOL, ABOVE DECK POOL, AND A FITNESS CENTER LOOKS OUT ONTO THE PATIO ENVIRONMENT. THIS IS A TYPICAL FLOOR FOR THE HOTEL. AGAIN I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A FEEL FOR THE TYPE OF HOTEL THAT IT IS.

THIS IS A PLAN OF FINANCE, SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO SEE HERE THAT, I'LL TRY TO WALK THROUGH THIS. BUT THE TOP LEVELS IN BLUE ARE THE HEADINGS AND THEN THAT FALLS BENEATH IT.

AND EACH COLUMN REALLY IS A SOURCE OF FUNDING.

THE SERIES 2021A FIRST LIEN BONDS, THESE WILL BE ISSUED BY THE HOTEL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

IN ADDITION THE 2021B BONDS ARE ALSO NONRECOURSE TO THE CITY.

THAT'S A FANCY LANGUAGE FOR THE TAXPAYERS DON'T HAVE TO PAY THEM BACK. THEY'RE PAID FOR BY THE PEOPLE WHO STAY AT THE HOTEL. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT EQUITY CONTRIBUTION THAT REMOVED A THIRD LIEN.

IF YOU RECALL WHEN WE FIRST WENT TO THIS PROJECT OVER A YEAR AGO NOW, THERE IS A THIRD LEAN THE TAXPAYERS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO UNDERWRITE. AND THAT THROUGH A GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION THAT HAS GONE AWAY. IT'S JUST A GRANT, IT'S JUST CASH MONEY THEY'RE PUTTING TOWARDS THE PROJECT.

CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION BY THE CITY AND THE CITY CONTRIBUTION IS 23.1 MILLION. THAT NUMBER REALLY HASN'T CHANGED FROM LAST YEAR. I'LL GO INTO DETAILS ON THAT IN THE NEXT SLIDE. AND TOTAL PROJECT FINANCING IS HIGHER THAN WHAT IT WAS OR FIRST WAS BUT IT'S ALL DUE TO CONSTRUCTION COSTS GOING UP. WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW IN THE WORLD AND THE MARKET THAT WE LIVE IN AND THIS IS A DIRECT REFLECTION OF THAT. THE SLIDE BENEATH THAT OR THE LITTLE GRAPH BENEATH THAT, THAT GREEN LINE IS THE AMOUNT OF HOTEL REVENUE GENERATED BY THIS HOTEL.

SO THE NIGHT STAYS, THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE, THE ROOM SERVICE, THE WHATEVER, THE DRINKS AT THE BAR, THAT'S ALL REVENUE GENERATED BY THIS HOTEL THAT GOES TO PAY FOR THOSE FIRST TWO LIENS, THE FIRST LIEN AND SECOND LIEN BONDS, THAT 2021A AND 2021B.

THAT REVENUE WILL PAY OFF THAT PORTION OF THE DEBT SERVICE.

YOU CAN SEE THAT THE REVENUES IF IT PERFORMS ACCORDING TO PLANNED, THOSE REVENUES ARE COVERED SUBSTANTIALLY.

THE DEBT SERVICE IS SUBSTANTIALLY COVERED.

THIS IS A MORE PEELING BACK THE ONION AND LOOKING AT THE SOURCES AND USES OF THE FINANCES. THAT GREEN BOX IS US THE CITY OF ABILENE. WE HAVE CREATED THE ABILENE CONVENTION AND HOTEL CORPORATION THROUGH A CHAPTER 431 TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE ALLOWANCE. AND SO THE ABILENE CONVENTION CENTER AND HOTEL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IS GOING TO ISSUE THE $53 MILLION IN DEBT TO BUILD THE HOTEL.

AND SO YOU HAVE THOSE TWO LIENS, THE FIRST LIEN AND THE SECOND LIEN. IT'S A 30 YEAR REPAYMENT, HOTEL REVENUE BOND SUPPORTED DEBT. AND AS I SAID IT'S NONRECOURSE TO THE CITY. SO LET'S SAY THAT WE'VE BUILT THE WORLD'S LARGEST BOAT ANCHOR. THEN THE TAXPAYERS NEVER ON THE HOOK FOR THAT. THE CITIZENS OF ABILENE DON'T HAVE TO PAY THAT BACK. THEY'RE PROTECTED FROM HAVING TO PAY THAT BACK. THE BONDHOLDERS HAVE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE LAW TO GET THEIR MONEY BACK.

BUT IT WON'T BE FROM THE TAXPAYERS.

THIS THIRD COLUMN, THE $16.8 MILLION IN ABILENE IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION, IT'S PROJECT EQUITY.

$11 MILLION WOULD BE USED FOR THE HOTEL SIDE.

$5 MILLION WILL BE USED FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER FACILITY SIDE.

GOING ON THIS NEXT GREEN RECTANGLE YOU SEE THE CONVENTION CENTER FACILITIES, THIS IS WHERE THE CITY'S MONEY COMES INTO PLAY. THE 5.12 MILLION, THAT'S THE PREDEVELOPMENT EXPENDITURES. THAT'S ALREADY BEEN SPENT.

1.5 MILLION OF THAT WAS A GRAN. AND THE -- WAS A GRANT.

AND THE REMAINING IS CASH ON HAND FROM THE CITY OF ABILENE.

$8 MILLION IS COMING FROM CITY OF ABILENE CASH ON HAND.

ANOTHER $5 MILLION IS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, HOTEL AND TRAVEL AND TOURISM IS AN ELIGIBLE EXPENSE SO WE'D LIKE TO USE $5 MILLION OF THAT TO PAY FOR THIS PROJECT.

IT WAS DELAYED BECAUSE OF COVID. IT'S AN ELIGIBLE PROJECT COST.

THE CITY WOULD NEED ADDITIONAL $4.98 MILLION IN PROJECT

[01:15:03]

DEARRIVED REVENUE. SO WE'RE GOING -- DERIVED REVENUE. IT'S ABOUT A $6 MILLION ISSUANCE BECAUSE YOU HAVE SOME CAPITALIZED COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. WHEN YOU ADD ALL OF THAT UP IT BECOMES $28.1 MILLION. AS THE TOP HASH BOX INDICATES THIS IS HOTELS OWNED BY THE ABILENE CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL CORPORATION. ALL REVENUES OF THE HOTEL ARE USED TO PAY THE BONDS FOR THE HOTEL FACILITIES.

THEY'RE RETURNED TO A SURPLUS REVENUE FUND, THIS IS KEY.

AND THAT FUND WILL BE ULTIMATELY TRANSFERRED BACK TO THE CITY AND USED TOGETHER WITH THE TAX REVENUES TO FULLY RETIRE THE DEBT SERVICE FOR THE CITY FACILITIES, THE CONFERENCE FACILITIES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. ONCE THE CITY IS DEBT RETIRED, TE REVENUES FROM THE SURPLUS REVENUE FUND WILL BE USED TO RETIRE THE HOTEL REVENUE BOND SUPPORTED DEBT, OR IT COULD BE USED FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE THE COUNCIL MAY CHOOSE TO USE IT FOR. I WANTED TO SHOW YOU WHAT THE CITY'S PORTION OF THAT DEBT LOOKS LIKE.

SO THIS IS A $6 MILLION ISSUANCE.

WE STRUCTURED THE PAYMENT OVER TEN YEARS JUST TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE STATE'S HOTEL TAX AND THE STATE SALES TAX THIS PROJECT IS ELIGIBLE FOR. THAT TOP GREEN LINE IS THE ACTUAL HOTEL TAX REVENUES AND CITY HOTEL TAX REVENUES, STATE TAX REVENUES AND CITY SALES TAX REVENUES DERIVED FROM THIS ONLY.

IF THE PERFORMER PERFORMS AT 100%, THAT'S THE TOP GREEN LINE.

NOTHING IN THE WORLD EVER GOES 100% ALL THE TIME.

SO I WANTED TO STRESS TEST IT A LITTLE BIT.

SO WE PROVIDE A 25% DISCOUNT TO THOSE NUMBERS.

SO IF THE REVENUE IS 75% OF 100%.

THAT'S THAT MIDDLE GREEN LINE. IF THE REVENUE IS 60% OR 40% OF THAT TOTAL AMOUNT, THAT'S THAT LOWER THIRD GREEN LINE.

AT THE THIRD GREEN LINE, WE OVER COLLECT DEBT SERVICE BY 68 MILLION STILL. I AM AS CERTAIN AS WE CAN IN AN IMPERFECT WORLD WITH IMPERFECT INFORMATION, I'M AS CERTAIN AS I CAN BE THAT THERE IS SUFFICIENT PROJECT REVENUES TO COVER THE DEBT, AND THIS WILL BE SELF-SUPPORTED DEBT BECAUSE OF THE PROJECT REVENUES THAT WILL BE USED TO PAY THIS OFF.

WE HAVE CREATED OVER THE LAST REALLY COVID MONTHS, THIS COVID PERIOD, WE HAVE WORKED HARD TO CREATE A HOTEL MODEL THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THE PUBLIC, THAT WOULD IMPLEMENT WHAT COUNCIL HAS ASKED ME TO DO, BUT DOES SO THAT IT SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES THE RISK TO THE ABILENE TAXPAYER.

THE CASH IN THIS PROJECT BECAUSE OF THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THIS COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ABILENE IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION IS SUBSTANTIAL. THAT THIRD LIEN IS COMPLETELY GONE BECAUSE OF THOSE GIFTS, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING.

AND I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.

I'M ALSO APPRECIATIVE OF COUNCIL'S WILLINGNESS TO CONSIDER THE CASH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE CITY OF ABILENE THAT BUYS DOWN THE RISK EXPOSURE TO THE TAXPAYER.

MAYOR, AS YOU POINTED OUT IN CONVERSATIONS WITH ME EARLIER, THAT SURPLUS REVENUE CAN BE USED TO REIMBURSE THE CITY BACK FOR THOSE COSTS SO WE CAN GO BACK AND USE THOSE FOR THINGS THAT WERE ELIGIBLE EXPENSES. SO IN SUMMARY, WE'RE LOOKING AT A 200 ROOM FULL SERVICE DOUBLETREE BY HILTON.

THERE WILL BE A SECOND STORY POOL AND BAR.

THE PORTIONS THE CITY OF ABILENE IS PAYING FOR IS A BALLROOM, MEETING SPACE, AND 723 SQUARE FEET FOR A BOARDROOM.

MAYOR, THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.

>> THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC HEARING AND ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCIL TO PARTICIPATE WITH SOME QUESTIONS.

BUT FIRST I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, MR. HANNA.

FROM DAY ONE THIS HAS BEEN A TASK ASSIGNED TO YOU BY THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR THE DUE DILIGENCE AND HARD WORK. COUNCILMAN PRICE, I MADE MENTION TO THE COUNCIL SOME MONTHS BACK. THE FIRST HOTEL CONFERENCE CALL AFTER FOUR AND A HALF HOURS I THINK SHANE PRICE WAS BETTER FIT THAN ME TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT AND SHANE PRICE HAS DONE SO FOR A NUMBER OF MONTHS AND APPRECIATE YOU, SHANE, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THAT REGARDS. AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION THE FORMER MAYOR AND PLANTED THE SEED IN 2014 THAT LED TO THIS MOMENT. ROBERT, A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT YOU TO PROVIDE CLARITY TO IN REGARD TO THIS PROJECT.

THIS IS A DIFFERENT MODEL THAT EXISTED PRIOR TO COVID-19.

WE ARE STILL USING HOT TEXT, I WANT YOU TO EMPHASIZE WHAT THAT

[01:20:02]

LOOKS LIKE FROM THE CITY SIDE AND STATE SIDE HOW THAT STILL IS PART OF THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTION, TALK ABOUT THOSE ARPA FUNDS WHICH IS ADDITIONAL MONEY THAT WILL SET ASIDE FOR TOURISM THAT WE'RE USING FEDERAL MONEY TO HELP CREATE SOME LEVERAGE.

AND ALSO TALK ABOUT THE SPECIFIC INCREASE.

I WANT TO SAY PRIOR TO COVID-19, IT WAS ESTIMATED AROUND $66 MILLION INCREASED TO NOW ALMOST $81 MILLION IS REALLY MOSTLY DUE TO THE INCREASE IN BUILDING MATERIAL.

AND THEN TALK ABOUT WHO IS THE AIC.

BE SURE THAT WE KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT A CITY ENTITY AND THIS WE'RE REALLY HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF A $16 MILLION GIFT FROM AN ANONYMOUS DONOR IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT IS MAKING THIS PROJECT VIABLE. AFTER COVID-19 IT WAS DEBATED IF IT WAS VIABLE OR NOT. BECAUSE OF THAT GENEROSITY AND TAKE AWAY A THIRD LIEN, IT MAKES IT MORE VIABLE.

AGAIN TALK ABOUT HOT TAX HOW IT'S USED FOR, TALK ABOUT ARPA, WHO IS THE AIC, AND TALK ABOUT THE CHANGE IN THE BUSINESS

MODEL. >> YES, SIR.

SO LET ME START WITH THE AIC BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY A NEW COMPONENT TO THIS WHOLE THING. THE ABILENE IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION WAS FOUNDED SEVERAL YEARS AGO TO BUY AND HOLD AND SELL PROPERTY ALONG PINE STREET TO HELP REVITALIZE THE CORRIDOR.

AND IT'S DONE THAT. THE CITY HAS PARTNERED WITH THEM IN THE PAST. THEY'RE A 5013C, THEIR BOARD IS NOT APPOINTED BY THE CITY. THEY DON'T WORK FOR THE CITY.

I'M NOT A MEMBER OF THE BOARD. I ATTEND THEIR MEETINGS WHEN IT INVOLVES A CITY PROJECT POTENTIALLY.

>> AND NO COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

NO CITY STAFF ARE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

>> NO, SIR, NO CITY STAFF ARE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

IT'S AN INDEPENDENT 501C3 THAT JUST EXISTS TO IMPROVE THE PINE STREET CORRIDOR. AND AS YOU MENTIONED, AN ANONYMOUS DONATION WAS RECEIVED BY THEM FOR THIS PROJECT AND THEY ARE PUTTING THE MONEY INTO THIS PROJECT.

IT REMOVES THE THIRD LINK COMPLETELY AND IT'S A WONDERFUL GIFT. TO TALK ABOUT THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX. SO I THINK SOME PEOPLE CAN BE CONFUSED THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THE HOT TAX THE CITY RECEIVES. WE'RE NOT, WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE HOT TAX, THIS HOTEL, THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY PRODUCES.

IT WILL REPAY THE BONDS THE CITY ISSUES AT $6 MILLION IN DEBT.

OR YOU NOTICE UP TO 23.1, BUT WE BELIEVE IT WILL BE $6 MILLION AT THE END OF THE DAY. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING ON.

THROUGH A STATE LAW THAT WAS PASSED WITH THE HELP OF REPRESENTATIVE LAMBERT AND SENATOR BUCKINGHAM.

I THINK IT WAS FOUR YEARS AGO TODAY, WE'RE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF STATE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES AND STATE SALES TAX FOR THIS PROJECT. IN ADDITION TO THAT WE CAN USE OUR OWN STATE SALES TAX GENERATED BY THIS PROJECT AND OUR OWN STATE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX GENERATED BY THIS PROJECT TO PAY BACK THE LOANS ASSOCIATED WITH BUILDING THIS CONFERENCE FACILITY. WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BUILD A HOTEL. THE CITY OF ABILENE IS NOT ALLOWED TO BUILD A HOTEL. SO WE CREATED THIS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WHICH IS ALLOWED TO BUILD A HOTEL.

SO THE ISSUANCE OF THE HOTEL REVENUE BONDS WILL BE FROM THAT SIDE OF THE FENCE. THE ARPA FUNDS, THAT FIRST COLUMN WITH $5 MILLION INTERGOVERNMENTAL ON IT, THOSE ARE FEDERAL FUNDS THAT WERE PASSED HERE JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THE CITY RECEIVED THEIR INITIAL ALLOTMENT.

WE'D LIKE TO USE A PORTION OF THAT, NOT ALL OF IT, BUT A PORTION OF THAT FOR THIS PROJECT.

ONE OF THE ALLOWABLE USES OF ARPA FUNDS IS FOR HOTEL CONVENTION TOURISM INDUSTRIES AND THINGS THAT HELP THOSE INDUSTRIES DEAL WITH ECONOMIC RECOVERY ASSOCIATED WITH COVID.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE TREASURY'S GUIDELINES IT'S PRETTY CLEAR HE STATES THAT IF YOU HAD A PROJECT THAT WAS DELAYED OR CANCELED DUE TO COVID, YOU CAN USE THESE MONIES TO HELP REINVIGORATE THAT PROJECT WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE. $8 MILLION CASH ON HAND IS MONEY THAT THE CITY HAS SAVED OVER THE LAST 4 OR 5 YEARS WITH THE MINOR IMPROVEMENT FUND. THIS DOES NOT DEPLETE THE MINOR IMPROVEMENT FUND. THE MINOR IMPROVEMENT FUND HAS ADDITIONAL DOLLARS IN IT. AND SOME OF THOSE FUNDS WE'RE GOING TO COME TO COUNCIL AND ASK TO SPEND ON OUR PARK SYSTEMS IN FISCAL YEAR 22. SO WE'LL GET INTO THAT IN JULY.

THE $5.12 MILLION IN CASH IS MONEY WE'VE ALREADY SPENT IN THE PROJECT. WE'VE ALREADY SPENT THAT MONEY,

[01:25:02]

MR. GARCIA ASKED DURING ONE MEETING HOW MUCH HAVE WE ALREADY SPENT? ABOUT 5.12 MILLION HAS BEEN A TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT ALREADY SPENT ON THIS PARTICULAR RUN AT THE HOTEL. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CITY SPENT ON PRIOR RUNS BECAUSE WE'VE TAKEN AN ATTEMPT AT THIS BEFORE.

BUT THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY. AND THEN THIS LAST COLUMN IN BLUE WILL BE ACTUALLY DEBT ISSUED BY THE CITY.

WE THINK IT WILL BE $6 MILLION. MAYOR, DID THAT ANSWER ALL OF

YOUR QUESTIONS? >> I THINK YOU HAVE.

AND IF NOT, SHANE, WE'LL IDENTIFY THEM.

DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS TO MR. HANNA PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC

HEARING? >> OF THE 5.12, YOU MENTIONED THIS, NOT ALL WAS SPENT, SOME WAS A DONATION?

>> CORRECT. >> THAT CAME FROM WHERE?

>> IT CAME FROM AN ANONYMOUS DONOR.

>> CAN WE GO TO THE SLIDE, I THINK IT'S THE NEXT ONE.

I JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE AGAIN WHEN IT SAYS 100%, THAT'S NOT 100% OCCUPANCY, THAT'S 100% OF THE PROJECTED OCCUPANCY.

>> YEAH, SO THIS IS NOT HOTEL OCCUPANCY.

THIS IS JUST THE TAX REVENUES THAT ONE CAN DERIVE FROM THE NIGHT STAYS. SO HOW MANY NIGHT STAYS YOU MIGHT HAVE IF IT PERFORMS AS IT INDICATES IT MIGHT AT 100%, NOT 100% EVERY NIGHT, BUT IF THE REVENUE MODEL IS 100%, SO THAT'S A 72% OCCUPANCY RATE AND THERE'S AN AVERAGE DAILY OR A ROOM RATE OF ABOUT $184, $82 PER NIGHT. WE DON'T ANTICIPATE OBVIOUSLY THE HOTEL TO BE 100% OCCUPANCY EVER.

NO HOTEL REALLY EVER IS. SO 72% AT STABILIZATION IS THE OCCUPANCY RATE. SO IN THIS MODEL, YOU COULD REDUCE THAT BECAUSE ALL OF YOUR REVENUE IS TIED TO YOUR NIGHT STAYS. YOU COULD REDUCE THAT BY 25%, THOSE NIGHT STAYS, OR YOU COULD REDUCE IT BY 45% AND THOSE WOULD BE THE DIFFERENT REVENUE PROFILES, YOU WOULD BE LOOKING

AT. >> SO EVEN ON THE LOW END, THIS

WOULD BE 40% OF 72% OCCUPANCY? >> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> WHAT'S THE RECOURSE TO THE CITY AFTER THE ANONYMOUS GIFT?

>> LET ME ASK THE QUESTION AGAIN, ARE YOU ASKING ME WHAT IS

THE TAXPAYER ON THE HOOK FOR? >> YES.

>> THE TAXPAYER IS ON THE HOOK FOR WOULD HAVE TO PAY BACK THAT $6 MILLION ISSUANCE. THAT'S WHY THIS SLIDE IS SO

IMPORTANT. >> ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. HANNA

PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING? >> I'M GOING TO AGAIN THANK YOU, ROBERT, FOR THE TIRELESS WORK AND SHANE, YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE'S NOBODY BETTER TO LISTEN TO OUR PHONE CALL.

>> FOUR HOUR. >> FOUR HOUR PHONE CALL.

AND UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THAT'S SAID IN IT.

SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR WHAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE.

>> THANK YOU. >> AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK -- ONE MORE QUESTION PRIOR TO PUBLIC HEARING.

>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE AND I ACKNOWLEDGE I'M A LITTLE BIT NEW TO THE GAME ON THE HOTEL DISCUSSION, BUT I'VE BEEN STUDYING IT FAIRLY DILIGENTLY. SO THE STATE SALES TAX, STATE HOTEL TAX, LOCAL SALES TAX, LOCAL HOTEL TAX, THE REVENUE GENERATED BY THIS PARTICULAR HOTEL WILL SERVICE THE 6 MILLION

IN DEBT, IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT, SIR.

AND THAT'S WHAT THAT SLIDE INDICATES EVEN AT A 40% DISCOUNT

IN THE REVENUE MODEL. >> SO THE CITY AND SUBORDINATE LEANS ARE FUNDED BY HOTEL REVENUE SEPARATE FROM THOSE

TAXES COLLECTED, CORRECT? >> CORRECT, SIR.

IF WE GET TAX REVENUE OFF THAT $100 ROOM, RIGHT, THEN THE $100 ROOM PAYS FOR THE HOTEL REVENUE BONDS OF THE DEBT ASSOCIATED

WITH THAT. >> IF YOU COULD EDUCATE ME JUST A LITTLE, BUT THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AND THE MODEL OF THE DOWNTOWN CONVENTION CENTER ITSELF ALL ACROSS THE NATION IS VERY SIMILAR TO THIS, NOT IN TERMS OF THE FUNDING MECHANISM, I DON'T KNOW THAT. BUT THE DALLAS OMNI FOR EXAMPLE WAS A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT. THERE ARE SOME CONVENTION CENTER HOTELS THAT ARE ALL PRIVATELY FUNDED.

BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF FULL SERVICE CONVENTION CENTER HOTELS NOW, THE INFORMATION I'VE BEEN ABLE TO FIND, IS SOME SORT OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE IS PART OF THAT PROCESS.

PARTLY BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST TOO DARN EXPENSIVE.

>> THIS WILL BE A $41 MILLION PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT.

>> MAYOR, I BELIEVE IT'S MORE THAN THAT.

I BELIEVE IT'S 52 OR 53, THAT'S THAT PREVIOUS SLIDE.

>> NOW WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.

[01:30:01]

IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE

RECORD. >> SAMUEL GARCIA.

TWO YEARS AGO I GOT UP HERE AND TOLD YOU I WASN'T GOING TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST, I'M GOING TO MAKE IT REAL CLEAR.

I'M GOING TO TELL YOU I'M AGAINST IT.

I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE SQUARE FOOTAGE.

TWO YEARS AGO THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE BALLROOM WAS 38,700 FEET AND ON THIS ONE THE SQUARE FOOTAGE IS 12,000.

AM I LOOKING AT THAT RIGHT? WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BECAUSE I WENT BACK AND READ AND THERE'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE THERE.

>> I UNDERSTAND WHY THAT COULD BE CONFUSING HOW IT'S WRITTEN.

THE BALLROOM HASN'T DECREASED IN SIZE.

THAT'S THE ENTIRE CONFERENCE CENTER SPACE, SO THAT'S GOING TO BE THE BREAKOUT ROOMS, THE BALLROOM, THE BACK OF THE HOUSE KITCHEN, THE HALLWAYS, THE BATHROOMS, THAT'S THAT LARGER NUMBER, THAT'S THAT TOTAL LARGER NUMBER.

>> SO IT'S STILL 38,700. BECAUSE THAT IS TOTALLY NOT CLEAR WHEN YOU GO BACK AND READ THE MINUTES FROM THAT MEETING, IT SAYS MEETING SPACE AND BALLROOM IS 38,700 WHEN YOU READ THIS IT SAYS 20,000 FOR THE EXACT SAME WORDING SO YOU NEED

TO CLARIFY THAT. >> I APPRECIATE YOU ASKING THE

QUESTION. >> OK OTHER THING I WANT TO KNO IS DID YOU DO ANOTHER FEASIBILITY STUDY BECAUSE THE MAYOR AND I KNOW SHANE AT ONE TIME SAID WE WILL DO ANOTHER FEASIBILITY STUDY. WAS ANOTHER FEASIBILITY STUDY

DONE? >> YES, SIR, IT WAS.

AND IT WAS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE COVID ON THE HOSPITALITY

INDUSTRY. >> THE REASON I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS IS I HATE ANONYMOUS DONATIONS TO THE CITY GOVERNMENT. YOU MADE A POINT TO SAY WE'RE NOT ON THAT BOARD, NO COUNCIL IS ON THERE.

WE DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO GET THE IMPRESSION THAT WE'RE IN ANY WAY INFLUENCING THIS ORGANIZATION. WELL THAT'S SMART, BUT IT'S ALSO SMART TO KNOW WHERE IS ALL OF THE REVENUE COMING FROM.

WHEN I SAT ON THE SCHOOL BOARD ONE TIME WE HAD AN ANONYMOUS DONATION MADE TO PAY FOR OUR LAWSUIT TO SUE THE STATE FOR FUNDING. THEY SAID IT'S AN ANONYMOUS DONATION, I SAID UH-UH, NO, NO, NO.

THE PUBLIC DESERVES TO KNOW WHERE ALL OF THE FUNDING IS COMING FROM BECAUSE IF THERE'S A QUESTION LATER ON AS TO WHO'S RUNNING THE HOTEL, WHO'S DOING THIS, WHO'S DOING THAT, DID ANY INFLUENCE COME FROM THE PERSON THAT DONATED $16 MILLION OR THE PEOPLE THAT DONATED OR THE GROUP THAT DONATED.

IT IS NOT A GOOD PRACTICE TO HAVE AN ANONYMOUS DONATION.

AND WHEN YOU GO FROM 66 MILLION TO $81 MILLION AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I FEEL LIKE THE GUY WHO TRIED TO SELL MY DAD LIFE INSURANCE WHEN I WAS A LITTLE KID.

MY DAD WAS ILLITERATE, HE COULDN'T READ OR WRITE.

BUT MY DAD ASKED REAL SIMPLE QUESTIONS BECAUSE THE GUY WAS TELLING HIM THINGS REALLY QUICK AND MY DAD SAID YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS JUST DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT I'M NOT GOING TO BUY IT.

COME TO FIND OUT HE MADE THE RIGHT DECISION BECAUSE THE GUY WAS TRYING TO SWINDLE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THAT'S HOW THIS FEELS TO ME. I'VE BEEN ASKING QUESTIONS FOR MONTHS NOW ABOUT THIS HOTEL. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT JUST COMES OUT OF NOWHERE. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE ALREADY DEAD SET ON BUILDING IT, IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

I SHOULDN'T GET UP HERE AND TALK BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE 7-0 AND THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT MORE HARDER QUESTIONS IN THE

PUBLIC FOR YOU GUYS. >> WE ARE STILL IN THE PUBLIC

HEARING. >> HELLO.

I AM LUKE MILLER FROM BOY SCOUT TROUPE THREE.

I'M WORKING ON MY CITIZENSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY.

I HAVE ONE SIMPLE QUESTION. I DO NOT PAY TAXES, BUT WILL CITIZENS TAXES GO DOWN AFTER THE HOTEL IS BUILT?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. WE DON'T ANTICIPATE THEM GOING UP BECAUSE OF THIS HOTEL AND EVERY FISCAL YEAR WE LOOK AT THE TAX RATE. AND EVERY FISCAL YEAR IF THE TAX RATE CAN STAY THE SAME, WE TRY TO KEEP IT THE SAME.

IF COUNCIL ADOPTS THE BUDGET THAT I'M GOING TO PRESENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 22, THERE IS A CHANCE RIGHT NOW AS LONG AS VALUES HOLD THAT THE TAX RATE COULD GO DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

THE VALUATIONS HAVE GONE UP, SO YOUR ACTUAL TAX LIABILITY PROBABLY GOING TO GO UP A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE VALUATIONS HAVE GONE UP. BUT THE TAX RATE CAN COME DOWN A LITTLE, NOT A LOT BUT A LITTLE. BUT THAT WILL BE A COUNCIL DECISION. WE'RE ALSO GOING TO SUGGEST SOME THINGS TO THEM. THEY MAY WANT TO LOOK AT FUNDING, THEY MAY RAISE THE TAX RATE, BUT THAT'S AGAIN THEIR DECISION TO DO. SO THE HOTEL SHOULD BE, THE WAY WE HAVE THIS STRUCTURE, IT'S GOING TO BE INDEPENDENT OF THE TAX RATE. THE TAX RATE WON'T BE INCREASED BY THE HOTEL, AND THE TAX RATE LIKELY WON'T BE LOWERED BECAUSE OF THE HOTEL BECAUSE OUR PROPERTY TAX RATES AREN'T INVOLVED IN THE DEBT ISSUANCE OF THIS HOTEL AT ALL.

THERE'S NO COMMINGLING OF THAT. >> THANK YOU, MR. HANNA.

>> BE SURE TO COME BACK WHEN YOU'RE AN EAGLE SCOUT.

>> PLEASE, WE WANT TO SEE THAT. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL.

[01:35:11]

DAVID SCHWARTZ WANT -- ONCE AGAIN.

IF I UNDERSTAND MR. GARCIA, INITIALLY YOU HAD TO FIGURE 66 MILLION. I SAID THAT'S NOT A GOOD NUMBER TO DO ANY PROJECT WITH. AND I THINK IF I UNDERSTOOD YOU RIGHT OR MR. GARCIA WAS CLOSE THAT IT'S UP TO 80 MILLION.

WE JUST HAD THE -- FESTIVAL. WE HAD ALL OF THE UNIVERSITIES GRADUATE, WE HAD THE WESTERN HERITAGE.

IT'S BEEN EXACTLY 20 YEARS AGO MY SECOND COUSIN GRADUATED, MCMURRAY, HER DAD HAD TO STAY IN SWEETWATER AND COMMUTE IN FOR HER GRADUATION IN MCMURRAY BECAUSE THERE WAS NO HOTEL SPACE. REPORTED THROUGH THE MEDIA JUST IN THIS LAST MONTH WHEN THE WESTERN HERITAGE AND THE CALF WAS HERE THIS TIME THAT AGAIN HOTEL SPACE WAS AT A PREMIUM ESPECIALLY DURING THE WESTERN HERITAGE AND THE GRADUATION CEREMONIES FOR THE THREE UNIVERSITIES.

I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF TECHNICAL QUESTIONS SINCE MR. HANNA PUT UP, YOU MENTIONED NORTH 5TH WILL BE TURNED INTO TWO WAY.

IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, THERE'S NO TRAFFIC POLE THAT WOULD BE NEEDED IF YOU'RE GOING WEST ON 5TH THERE.

YOU SAY 6TH WOULD BE CLOSED WHERE THE MIDDLE OF THE CIVIC CENTER IS. WOULD THAT REQUIRE ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC SIGNALIZATION THERE AND WOULD THAT BE INCLUDED IN A FUTURE REQUEST FOR ANY ITEMS THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE INSTALLED FOR TRAFFIC SIGNALS LIKE I SAID ON 5TH OR 6TH OR ANY WIRING, ANY ADDITIONAL CONTROLS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? I KNOW THIS IS AN ENGINEERING QUESTION, I'M SURE YOU DON'T HAVE IT. BUT YOU SAID ON THE SECOND FLOOR, YOU MENTIONED THERE WILL BE A POOL THERE.

IF YOU'VE EVER WORKED IN THE OIL FIELD ANY, YOU KNOW A GALLON OF WATER WEIGHS EIGHT POUNDS. SO I'M SURE THEY'RE TAKING INTO A FACT THAT THERE'S A POOL, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S AN OLYMPIC SIZE POOL OR JUST A REGULAR SIZE, BUT THAT'S A LOT OF WEIGHT ON A SECOND FLOOR. I'M SURE THEY'RE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT OF THAT, BUT I JUST WANT TO BRING THAT UP FOR PUBLIC RECORD. IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN IN THE OIL FIELD HOW MUCH ONE GALLON OF WATER WEIGHS, EIGHT POUNDS.

OTHER THAN THAT ABOUT THE SIGNALIZATION AND IF YOU HAVE TO CHANGE ON 5TH AND THE 6TH POSSIBLY A SIGNALIZATION.

THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE IN COMMENT ABOUT THE HOTEL.

I KNOW SOME PEOPLE ARE OPPOSED BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT CONVENIENCE WHEN THEY HAVE THE REHAB TELETHON.

I THINK IT WILL BE GREAT WHEN YOU HAVE THE CALF FESTIVAL AND THE THREE UNIVERSITIES GRADUATING AND WESTERN HERITAGE.

I THINK IT WILL BE AN ASSET IN THE FUTURE FOR OUR CITY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> WE'RE STILL IN PUBLIC COMMENT, PUBLIC HEARING. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK FOR OR

AGAINST? >> HELLO, MY NAME IS COLBY HATCHET. I'M AN ABILENE AND TAYLOR COUNTY TAXPAYER. WITH BUILDING MATERIALS AT NEAR ALL TIME RECORD HIGHS, DO Y'ALL THINK IT'S RESPONSIBLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS HOTEL PROJECT, AN $80 MILLION PROJECT? I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROJECT, HAVE BEEN FOR YEARS SINCE WE FIRST HEARD ABOUT IT. AND I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THE CITY HAS BEEN ANYTHING BUT TRANSPARENT WITH THE TAXPAYERS ABOUT IT. NOT ONLY IS THIS PROJECT AN EXAMPLE OF GOVERNMENT USING TAX MONEY TO DIRECTLY COMPETE WITH PRIVATELY OWNED BUSINESSES. BUT THESE PROJECTS JUST DON'T HAVE A VERY GOOD SUCCESS RATE. THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES WHERE THESE HOTELS REPEATEDLY UNDERPERFORM EXPECTATIONS YEAR AFTER YEAR AND EVENTUALLY THEY GET SOLD FOR PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR OR EVEN WORSE, THE LOCAL POLITICIANS REPEATEDLY ASK FOR MORE MONEY TO PROP UP THE FAILING VENTURES.

AND IN EVERY ONE OF THESE EXAMPLES, A POLITICIAN PROMISED THE TAXPAYERS THAT THEIR HOTEL PROJECT COULDN'T FAIL.

NO RISK. DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR? AN ENTIRE 500 PAGE BOOK WAS WRITTEN ON THE EXACT TOPIC OF HOW AND WHY TAXPAYER FUNDED HOTELS AND CONVENTION CENTERS SIMPLY DON'T WORK. THE IDEA OF BUILDING A TAXPAYER FUNDED DOWNTOWN HOTEL IS NOT NEW OR CUTTING EDGE.

ARE YOU AWARE THAT AS OF 2020 IN TEXAS ALONE, NO FEWER THAN 17 CITIES OF SIMILAR SIZE TO ABILENE WERE WORKING ON SIMILAR PROJECTS WITH HOTELS AND CONVENTION CENTERS? AREN'T WE SMARTER THAN THIS? IF IT'S SUCH A GREAT INVESTMENT, THEN A PRIVATE INVESTOR WOULD SWOOP IN AND BUILD THAT HOTEL,

[01:40:04]

RIGHT? WHY HASN'T A PRIVATE INVESTOR SHOWED UP TO DO SUCH? BECAUSE IT MAKES NO ECONOMIC SENSE. IT WOULD BE FUNNY IF IT WASN'T SO SAD, BUT THE CITY OF ABILENE IS GOING TO SIMULTANEOUSLY SPEND TAX DOLLARS TO BUILD A HOTEL AND PROPOSE A THIRD TAX TO FIX STREETS AND INCREASE EVERYONE'S WATER BILLS.

WHY DOESN'T THE CITY FOCUS ON THE PRIMARY FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT? HOW ABOUT LOWERING TAXES FOR EVERYONE AND ALLOWING PEOPLE TO KEEP MORE OF THEIR MONEY SO THEY CAN INVEST IN EXISTING BUSINESSES, INCREASE WAGES FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES AND CREATE MORE JOBS? YOU FOLKS UP THERE ARE DUPING THE CITIZENS BY PROMISING THEM THAT THEIR LIVES ARE GOING TO BE BETTER, THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE BETTER PAYING JOBS AND THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME MAGICAL ECONOMIC BOOM IN ABILENE. AND WHY? BECAUSE THE TAXPAYERS ARE GOING TO BUILD A HOTEL DOWNTOWN? IF YOU VOTE YES TONIGHT, THEN YOU'RE ADMITTING THAT YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT WHAT THE VOTERS AND TAXPAYERS WANT OR THINK.

THEY OUGHT TO HAVE A RIGHT TO VOTE.

SO NOW I'VE COME FULL CIRCLE TO THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER. AT AN ABILENE CITY COUNCIL MEETING IN APRIL 2019, CITY MANAGER ROBERT HANNA SAID THAT THE STUDY AND MARKET ANALYSIS FOR HIS DOWNTOWN HOTEL COULD BE QUOTE RELEASED NOW TO THE PUBLIC.

THAT'S BEEN OVER TWO YEARS AGO. OVER TWO YEARS OF REQUESTING THIS AND OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE HOTEL, TAXPAYERS HAVE RECEIVED NOTHING THAT HAS BEEN REQUESTED.

AS A MATTER OF FACT COUNCILMAN PRICE STATED AT A 2019 TAYLOR

COUNTY -- >> CONCLUDE SHORTLY.

>> THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.

COUNCILMAN PRICE STATED AT A 2019 REPUBLICAN PARTY MEETING THAT NEITHER HE OR ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER WHO VOTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DOWNTOWN HOTEL PROJECT HAD SEEN A FULL FEASIBILITY CITY OR A PRO FORMA OR ANY OTHER SPECIFIC AND DETAILED FINANCIAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROJECT, BUT THEY VOTED FOR IT ANYWAY. SO ON BEHALF OF THOUSANDS OF TAXPAYERS, I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU VOTE NO TO ISSUE MORE DEBT TO THE HARD WORKING AND STRUGGLING PEOPLE IN THIS AREA.

I ASK THAT YOU VOTE YES TO ALLOW THE VOTERS TO HAVE A SAY.

AND I HAVE THREE QUESTIONS I'LL END WITH THESE THREE QUESTIONS.

FIRST, IS THE CITY OF ABILENE GOING TO RELEASE FEASIBILITY STUDIES, MARKET ANALYSES, AND THE PRO FORMA TO THE TAXPAYERS AND ALLOW THEM TO REVIEW THESE DOCUMENTS BEFORE MOVING FORWARD WITH YOUR DOWNTOWN HOTEL? THAT'S ONE.

TWO, IN 2017 WHILE STILL TRYING TO SELL THE IDEA OF A TAXPAYER FUNDED HOTEL IN DOWNTOWN ABILENE, ROBERT HANNA STATED A RECENTLY PASSED TEXAS HOUSE BILL QUOTE WILL PAY FOR 80% OF THE HOTEL IF NOT MORE, END QUOTE. IS THIS TRUE OR IS THIS SIMPLY SAID, WAS IT EVER TRUE OR WAS IT SIMPLY SAID TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE ON BOARD WITH THE PROJECT? AND MY THIRD AND FINAL QUESTION, WILL YOU LET THE TAXPAYERS VOTE ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT YOUR DOWNTOWN HOTEL? WHY NOT LET THE VOTERS HAVE A SAY? AND DON'T JUST SAY THAT WELL THE VOTERS ELECTED US BECAUSE I DON'T REMEMBER ANY OF YOU CAMPAIGNING ON CONSTANTLY RAISING EVERYONE'S TAXES, ISSUING DEBT AND INCREASING PEOPLE'S WATER BILLS.

BECAUSE IF YOU WOULD HAVE STATED THOSE THINGS DURING THE CAMPAIGN THEN NONE OF YOU WOULD BE SITTING UP HERE TONIGHT.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR, IF I CAN ADDRESS THE PUBLIC RECORD COMMENT. AND SIR, YOU'RE VERY WELL SPOKEN. I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.

SO WE CAN'T ISSUE THAT UNTIL IT GOES TO THE S&P REVIEW AND THE BONDS ARE SOLD, BECAUSE IT JEOPARDIZES SOME OF THE INFORMATION AND THIS IS WHAT OUR ATTORNEYS ARE TELLING US.

WHEN OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS WERE MADE, WE SENT OUR RESPONSE IN TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AGREED WITH US, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DISCLOSE THAT

INFORMATION YET, YOU CAN'T -- >> THE CITY SUED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO WITHHOLD INFORMATION, CORRECT?

>> I'LL DEFER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY ON THAT.

BUT I DON'T BELIEVE WE'RE REQUIRED TO RELEASE THE

INFORMATION YET? >> MR. HATCHET HAS A CURRENT PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST NOW SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT NOW.

>> IT'S BEEN IN FOR OVER TWO YEARS.

>> HE'S MADE SEVERAL. >> YOU'VE MADE SEVERAL IN MY UNDERSTANDING. WHEN WE'RE REQUIRED WE'LL RELEASE THE INFORMATION. WE'RE NOT HIDING ANYTHING, THERE'S A TIMING TO THINGS WE HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT ONE, UNDERMINING THE PROJECT FROM A BOND ISSUANCE STANDPOINT AND NOT THE PUBLIC DEBT SIDE, BUT THE ACTUAL PRIVATE BUSINESS OWNERS ARE PRIVATE CITIZENS THAT BUY THESE BONDS, THE HOTEL REVENUE SIDE BONDS.

AND YOUR COMMENT ABOUT TAXPAYER MONEY BEING ISSUED OR TAXPAYER

[01:45:01]

DEBT BEING ISSUED, WE'RE CONTEMPLATING ONLY $6 MILLION IN TAXPAYER DEBT BEING ISSUED. THE HOTEL SIDE OF THIS IS ALL PRIVATE BONDS THAT ARE BEING SOLD BY THE HOTEL DEVELOPMENT

CORPORATION. >> SO THEY'RE PRIVATE INVESTORS INVESTING IN A HOTEL IN DOWNTOWN ABILENE?

OR THEY'RE INVESTING IN BONDS? >> THAT'S HOW IT WORKS, YOU BUY BONDS AND THEY ARE HOTEL REVENUE BONDS --

>> SO BUYING BONDS. >> THEY'RE BUYING THE BONDS, THAT'S HOW YOU DO THAT. THAT'S HOW THAT WORKS.

THERE ARE -- SO I APPRECIATE YOUR QUESTIONS AND I APPRECIATE THE TONE IN WHICH YOU'RE DOING IT AND THE CORDIALITY OF IT.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK FOR OR

AGAINST THIS ITEM? >> I'M GARY COLLINS.

I'M AN ABILENE TAXPAYER AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.

I'M KIND OF NEUTRAL ON THE HOTEL ITSELF.

EVERYTHING HAS AN UPSIDE AND DOWNSIDE TO IT.

BUT WHAT I WANTED TO COMMENT ON IT IS THAT I WANTED TO ASK THE QUESTION WHETHER THERE IS A PLAN TO HAVE SOLAR PANELS ON THE TOP

OF IT? >> NO.

NO, SIR. NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE.

>> WHY WOULD THAT NOT BE A GOOD PLAN? I'VE GOT A BRIEF ONE PAGE ARTICLE HERE, I'VE GOT 20 OF THESE. I'LL LEAVE THEM SITTING RIGHT UP

HERE -- >> IF YOU'D LEAVE IT HERE, I'D

ENJOY READING THAT. >> WHAT IT'S ABOUT IS A GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME OF DALE ROSS WHO IS THE MAYOR AT GEORGETOWN, TEXAS. AND I'M NOT GOING TO READ THE WHOLE THING, JUST A COUPLE OF BRIEF PHRASES THAT I'VE HIGHLIGHTED. IN MANY WAYS, TALKING ABOUT GEORGETOWN, IN MY WAYS IT'S A CONVENTIONALLY RUN MUNICIPALITY THAT TENDS TO ATTRACT RETIREES EXCEPT THAT IT'S POWERED ENTIRELY BY WIND AND SOLAR ENERGY.

THE CITY OF GEORGETOWN. OKAY.

AND THEN IT GOES ON TOWARDS THE END, SOURCING THE ENTIRETY OF GEORGETOWN'S ENERGY NEEDS FROM RENEWABLE SOURCES WASN'T JUST POSSIBLE, ROSS REALIZED, IT ALSO MADE SOUND FINANCIAL SENSE.

SO CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT, I REALIZE THAT THAT WOULD ADD TO THE COST OF THE HOTEL, I DON'T THINK THAT IT WOULD ADD VERY SIGNIFICANTLY, BUT ANYONE WHO'S HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF SOLAR PANELS IS THAT THAT WOULD DRASTICALLY REDUCE THE UTILITY BILL AND IT WOULD EVEN ENABLE THE CITY OF ABILENE TO SELL SOME OF THAT POWER BACK TO THE UTILITY COMPANIES.

SO WHY WOULD THAT NOT BE A GOOD PLAN? NOT ONLY ON TOP OF THE HOTEL BUT ON TOP OF SOME OF THE OTHER CITY BUILDINGS. SO THAT'S MY COMMENT.

I DO HAVE ANOTHER ITEM THAT I WANTED TO PRESENT TODAY, BUT IT'S NOT RELATED TO THE HOTEL, SO IF I NEED TO SIT DOWN AND

THEN COME BACK UP -- >> WE'LL ALSO HAVE A PUBLIC

COMMENT PERIOD TOWARDS THE END. >> VERY GOOD.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

DOES ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? YOU CANNOT GO AGAIN. WE GAVE YOU MORE THAN YOUR THREE MINUTES, BUT YOU CANNOT GO AGAIN.

>> I ASKED THREE QUESTIONS, WOULD Y'ALL MIND --

>> WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL BE SURE, I INVITE YOU TO TALK TO MR. HANNA AND SEND AN EMAIL. WE ARE STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK FOR OR

AGAINST THIS ITEM? >> SO THE THREE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE IS WHETHER THE CITY OF ABILENE RELEASE THE FEASIBILITY

STUDIES, FACTUAL QUESTION? >> THAT QUESTION HAS BEEN

ANSWERED. >> CAN YOU ANSWER IT AGAIN,

PLEASE? >> NO, I'VE GIVEN MY ANSWER.

>> WAS IT A NO OR A YES BECAUSE I DON'T REMEMBER?

>> YOU CAN GO BACK AND WATCH THE VIDEO BUT I'VE ANSWERED THE QUESTION AND SPENT ABOUT 15 MINUTES.

>> THAT'S A LITTLE UNPROFESSIONAL.

CAN YOU JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION.

>> I'VE ANSWERED THE QUESTION. >> OKAY.

DID THE CITY OF ABILENE SUE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO KEEP THE FEASIBILITY STUDY FROM BEING ACCESSIBLE TO THE TAXPAYER?

[01:50:01]

THAT'S A FACTUAL QUESTION IF I CAN GET A FACTUAL ANSWER.

>> I'VE ANSWERED THAT QUESTION TOO.

>> WHAT WAS IT, YES OR NO? >> IT WAS ALREADY ANSWERED.

>> SO THE CITY OF ABILENE DID SUE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL --

>> I'VE ALREADY ANSWERED THE QUESTION.

>> OKAY, THAT'S A YES. AND THEN THERE WAS A STATEMENT APPARENTLY MADE, HOUSE BILL IS GOING TO PAY 80% OF THE HOTEL

PROJECT, IS THAT TRUE? >> THE HOUSE BILL TAX REVENUES, THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX REVENUES FROM THE STATE AND THE SALES TAX PAY A LARGE PORTION OF THE CITY'S POTENTIAL $6 MILLION ISSUANCE. WHETHER IT'S EXACTLY 80% TODAY,

I HAVEN'T DONE THE MATH. >> SO THAT'S AN ITEM WE DON'T KNOW. AND THEN MY QUESTION IS WHY ARE WE GOING WITH A CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION INSTEAD OF PUTTING IT UP FOR A BOND? FACTUAL INFORMATION AS TO WHY

THAT'S EVEN HAPPENING. >> IT'S A VIABLE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT THE CITY HAS ACCESS TO.

>> OBVIOUSLY Y'ALL THINK THAT THAT'S A VIABLE --

>> THE STATE OF TEXAS DOES TOO BECAUSE IT'S A LEGAL MEANS OF

DEBT. >> OKAY.

NEXT QUESTION IS THERE'S A LOT OF -- A LOT OF THIS INFORMATION IS EXTREMELY CONFUSING FOR A LOT OF US.

I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS REGARDING THE BOARD AND IT'S DIRECTLY RELATED TO THIS BECAUSE THE HOTEL IS LOCATED THERE AND SOME OF THOSE MONIES HAVE GONE TO FUND THE HOTEL.

MY QUESTION IS REGARDING THE BOARD MEMBERS SO BASICALLY JUST FACTUAL INFORMATION. THERE'S A ROBERT STORMY HIGGINS.

DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHERE HE WORKS? FACTUAL INFORMATION. I'M ASSUMING THAT'S A NO.

WHAT ABOUT A KELLY, THERE'S A KELLY YOUNG ON THE BOARD.

AND THE RESEARCH THAT I'VE DONE AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M ACCURATE BECAUSE NONE OF THESE BOARD MEETINGS ARE RECORDED SO ANOTHER REQUEST I'M GOING TO SAY IS CAN WE GET THOSE RECORDED SO WE CAN SEE WHO'S MAKING THE DECISIONS REGARDING THE MONIES.

I'M ASSUMING THAT KELLY YOUNG AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M CORRECT IS ASSOCIATED WITH ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY.

AND HE IS WITH ALSO THE ABILENE CHRISTIAN INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT CORPORATION. SO I DON'T KNOW IF I'M CORRECT OR NOT, CAN SOMEONE PLEASE GIVE US SOME INFORMATION, FACTUAL INFORMATION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THIS INDIVIDUAL IS THAT PERSON?

>> SO STORMY HIGGINS FIRST OF ALL IS A FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER, I'M NOT SURE HE'S WORKING FOR ANYONE RIGHT NOW.

HE WAS A COUNCILOR. KELLY YOUNG WAS A FORMER BOARD MEMBER, I DON'T BELIEVE HE'S A BOARD MEMBER NOW.

>> CORRECT. >> HE'S NOT A BOARD MEMBER NOW.

>> BUT HE WAS AT ONE POINT IN TIME?

>> HE WAS. >> DID HE ASSIST IN CREATING THE

POLICIES AND CERTAIN THINGS -- >> THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE POLICY IN REGARDS TO THE OBJECTIVES THEREOF.

>> RIGHT, BUT HE IS ASSOCIATED WITH ACU?

>> ARE THREE MINUTES PAST? >> THE ISSUE IS IT'S ALL CIRCLING BACK. IT'S ALL CIRCLING BACK AND INDIVIDUALS LIKE MYSELF AND MY FAMILY WE HAVE POTHOLES IN OUR STREETS AND YOU'RE USING THE MONEY AND FREEZING IT UP.

AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THAT.

AND SOMEONE IS BENEFITTING FROM THE MONIES.

WE'LL EVENTUALLY FIND IT OUT. THERE'S A LOT OF FIRST FINANCIALS IN A LOT OF THE BOARDS.

THERE'S A LOT OF ACU ON A LOT OF THE BOARDS AND THE CITY COUNCIL.

SO THERE IS NO TRUST AND CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THE MONIES. BUT THE MAJORITY OF ABILENE DO NOT TRUST A LOT OF YOU GUYS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE Y'ALL APPOINT TO SIT ON THE BOARDS. BECAUSE THESE BOARDS MAKE THE DECISION AND THEN YOU APPROVE THEM.

SO THE MONIES ARE JUST BEING RECYCLED.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT YOU GUYS ARE BEING THE WAY THAT YOU ARE TODAY, MR. HANNA. BUT THAT'S OKAY.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOU GUYS HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

>> THANK YOU. >> WE ARE STILL IN THE PUBLIC

HEARING. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS BOB THOMAS. I'LL MAKE THIS SHORT AND SWEET.

MR. HANNA, YOU'RE STATING THAT THE TAXPAYERS ARE GOING TO BE

OBLIGATED BY BOND, $6 MILLION. >> THAT'S WHAT WE BELIEVE, YES,

SIR. >> THAT BEING SAID, IF THIS COUNCIL DOES VOTE TO GIVE SUCH AUTHORITY, WHAT IS THE CAP THAT WE'RE GOING TO PLACE ON THIS? WE KEEP SEEING DIFFERENT FIGURES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AFTER YOU PRESENTED THE GREEN LINE PERFORMANCE WHICH YOU'RE CALLING THE NEW PRO FORMA OF THE HOTEL. BELOW IT WAS THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION SIZING. WE STARTED OUT ORIGINALLY WITH A $23.1 MILLION FIGURE RIGHT THERE THROUGH GRANTS AND THROUGH VARIOUS GOVERNMENT GIFTS AND PROGRAMS, WE HAVE DROPPED THIS DOWN TO $6 MILLION. HOWEVER IF CERTAIN COSTS OR CERTAIN PROCEDURES, CERTAIN COSTS OF GETTING OUT OF THE GROUND EXCEED THIS $6 MILLION, ARE WE GOING TO BE COMING BACK

[01:55:01]

TO THE COUNCIL FOR MORE OBLIGATION BONDS, OR IS THIS GOING TO COVER A FULL 23.1 MILLION AS A BLANKET?

>> SO AS IT STANDS TODAY, WE BELIEVE THAT $6 MILLION ISSUANCE IS THE GAP THAT NEEDS TO BE FUNDED WITH THAT SERVICE, YES.

>> ONE OTHER QUESTION IS TOO, WHAT IS GOING TO BE CONSIDERED THE ASSET GAP OF THIS PROJECT? ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THAT TERM?

>> WELL I MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH HOW YOU'RE USING IT SO HELP

ME UNDERSTAND IT. >> THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IS PLACED INTO A PROJECT VERSUS ITS MARKET

VALUE. >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS PROPERTY IS GOING TO BE APPRAISED AS BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T DONE AN INDEPENDENT APPRAISAL ON THE VALUE OF THE HOTEL.

BUT I KNOW THAT IT'S UNDER UNDERWRITING REVIEW RIGHT NOW FROM A BOND RATING AND IT'S GOT A FAIRLY HIGH LOAN VALUE RATIO BECAUSE OF THE CASH GOING INTO THE PROJECT.

BOB, THIS ISN'T AN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, BUT IT'S AN ATTEMPT TO ANSWER IT. THIS HOTEL WON'T GO FORWARD FOR TWO REASONS, ONE, COUNCIL DECIDES NOT TO DO THIS.

OR TWO, S&P COMES BACK AND SAYS WE CAN'T RATE THIS PROJECT.

>> SO YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT WE DON'T HAVE AN S&P RATING ON ANY

OF THESE BONDS YET? >> NO, THAT'S THE PROCESS WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW. WE MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT AND

THEN -- >> WE HAVE NO GUESS AS TO WHAT

S&P WOULD EVEN BEGIN TO DO? >> I WOULD HOPE S&P ON THE CITY SIDE WOULD GIVE US A DOUBLE A PLUS BECAUSE OF OUR CURRENT CREDIT RATING. ON THE REVENUE SIDE IT'S UNDER REVIEW AND WE'LL SEE HOW THAT PROCESS COMES OUT.

THE HOTEL SIDE IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, IT DOESN'T INVOLVE

THE CITY'S CREDIT RATING. >> I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING THERE. BUT YOU'RE ALSO IN UNCHARTED TERRITORY ON THIS BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PROJECTS PRECEDED THIS ONE IN OTHER CITIES IN WHICH THE ASSET GAP HAS BECOME A MAJOR CONCERN NOW THAT THEY'RE FINISHING UP THE PROJECTS AND IT'S THAT THEY HAVE PLACED MORE MONEY INTO THE PROJECT THAN WHAT IT IS ACTUALLY MARKETABLE AND WORTH.

>> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S THE CASE FOR ABILENE.

>> ONE OTHER QUESTION IF I MAY, MAYOR WILLIAMS. HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN AND READ THE HOTEL PRO FORMA ON THIS COUNCIL? ANYBODY CARE TO VENTURE A GUESS? YOU'VE BEEN HIDING BEHIND THIS PRO FORMA DUE TO TRADE SECRETS.

I'M SORRY, I CAN'T SUPPORT SOMETHING WHERE SEVEN PEOPLE, THE CITIZENS OF ABILENE HAVE PLACED THEIR TRUST IN, HAVE NOT READ OR ARE SEEING THIS RIGHT HERE.

I'M SORRY, BUT I CAN'T SUPPORT IT.

>> I UNDERSTAND. AND THEY HAVE BEEN PRESENTED THE PRO FORMA IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND COUNCIL HAS BEEN BRIEFED ON THE FINANCES OF THIS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION MULTIPLE

TIMES. >> SO IF AND WHEN THIS WERE BUILT, IF WE WERE TO ASK THE COUNCIL SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT SOMETHING EVEN THOUGH IT MAY BE IN RETROSPECT AND BEAR NOTHING LIKE THAT, THEY CAN ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT YOU UNDERSTAND, HOW AM I GOING TO SIT HERE AND SAY WE HAVEN'T SEEN TRANSPARENCY. IT'S HIDING BEHIND THE TRADE SECRETS WITH A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT IS EXTREMELY DISTURBING. AND THIS IS A TREND THAT IS CONTINUING ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

AND I GUARANTEE YOU, I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL COME BACK AND BE A BIG FINANCIAL BITE ON A LOT OF PROJECTS.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. >> STILL IN A PUBLIC HEARING.

JUST FOR CLARITY, THIS IS A 41 PLUS MILLION DOLLAR PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT THAT'S NEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD.

THERE IS A PRO FORMA THAT'S A VIABLE PRO FORMA THAT EACH COUNCIL MEMBER HAS BEEN BRIEFED ON AND ARTICULATED IN A VERY EXHAUSTIVE PROCESS. AFTER THE DEAL IS DONE WHEN WE SECURE THE PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT, THERE IS NO NEED TO NOT PRESENT THE PRO FORMA FOR EVERYONE TO READ, UNDERLINE AND MAKE OTHER NOTATIONS. THE REASON WHY IT'S NOT BEEN DONE THUS FAR, LEGAL COUNSEL, LEGAL BOND COUNSEL SAYS IT'S NOT GOOD BUSINESS TO DO SO. NO ONE IS TRYING TO HIDE INFORMATION, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS BE GOOD STEWARDS AND PROVIDE GOOD INFORMATION FOR THE INVESTORS SO THAT THIS IS A VIABLE PROJECT. WE ARE STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AND/OR COMMENTS ON THIS AGENDA ITEM?

>> MR. HATCHET, I THINK HE LEFT. HE INDICATED HE SAID THAT SO MANY POLITICIANS HAD SAID NO RISK, IT WILL NOT FAIL.

WE HAVE NEVER SAID THAT. WE HAVE ALWAYS SAID AS WITH ANYTHING THERE IS ALWAYS A RISK. AND THERE IS ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY WITH ANYTHING. I MEAN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT PUTTING NEW LIGHTS IN HERE AT SOME POINT.

THEY MAY FAIL. NOTHING IS 100% GUARANTEED.

[02:00:02]

WHAT WE HAVE DONE AND I BELIEVE THIS WITH ALL MY HEART BECAUSE I TRUST IN THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THIS IS THAT WE HAVE DONE OUR BEST TO MINIMIZE THE RISK AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

BASED ON THESE NUMBERS AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT MOVING FORWARD. I THINK THIS WILL BE A GREAT THING FOR ABILENE. BUT NO ONE HERE HAS EVER HAD NO

RISK AND IT WILL NOT FAIL. >> IS THAT A MOTION?

>> THAT IS A MOTION. >> WE HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE ARE READY TO VOTE.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM. >> YES.

>> DEPUTY MAYOR. >> YES.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER PRICE. >> YES.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER BEARD. >> YES.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER ALBUS. >> YES.

>> AND MAYOR WILLIAMS. >> YES.

[20. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Authorizing the City Manager to Expend Project Funds Up to $450,000 for Early Release Packages and Other Pre-Development Expenses for the Downtown Hotel Project (Robert Hanna)]

>> WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER 20, I'LL ASK ROBERT HANNA TO PRESENT

THIS ITEM. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THIS IS AUTHORIZATION TO MOVE THIS INTO THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE. THIS WILL BE A NOT A SINGLE CHECK THAT'S WRITTEN ALL AT ONCE BUT JUST LIKE WE HAD WITH THE PREDEVELOPMENT BUDGET, THIS IS ADDITIONAL FUNDS UP TO $450,000 THIS IS MONEY THAT'S CONTRIBUTED AS PART OF THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTION OF PROJECTS. SO IT GOES AGAINST THAT $23.1 MILLION OF CITY CONTRIBUTION.

>> ANY QUESTIONS OF COUNCIL PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING? AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? IF SO, PLEASE COME FORTH AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NO ONE, I'M CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING. COUNCIL, HAVE ADDITIONAL

QUESTIONS AND/OR COMMENTS? >> MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

>> A MOTION. >> SECOND.

>> SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?

WE'RE READY TO VOTE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER PRICE.

>> YES. >> COUNCIL MEMBER BEARD.

>> YES. >> COUNCIL MEMBER ALBUS.

>> YES. >> DEPUTY MAYOR.

>> YES. >> AND MAYOR WILLIAMS.

[PUBLIC COMMENTS]

>> YES. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

>>> AMEN AND AMEN AGAIN. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. THERE WILL BE NO VOTES OR FORMAL ACTIONS TAKEN DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

I AM GETTING TONGUE-TIED. IT WILL ONLY ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO PRESENT IDEAS AND INFORMATION TO CITY OFFICIALS AND STAFF. AND WE WILL HAVE A THREE MINUTE LIMIT AND IT WILL BE A HARD THREE MINUTE LIMIT.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW AVAILABLE.

PLEASE COME FORTH. >> I HAVE A CARD ON DAVID

SCHWARTZ. >> THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN.

DAVID SCHWARTZ FOR THE RECORD. THIS WEEKEND IS THE AMERICAN RADIO LEAGUE FIELD DAY. IT'S THE 24 HOUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER. AND WHAT IT DOES, IT SHOWS THE COMMUNITY WHAT OUR RADIOS CAN DO FOR YOU.

THIS YEAR IT'S AT 1462 CEDAR CREST.

IT'S AT THE SCOUT HUT BUILDING OR WHATEVER YOU SAY AND IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, SATURDAY 1:00 P.M. TO SUNDAY AT 1:00 P.M.

AND I WOULD SPECIFICALLY ASK FOR ANY COUNCIL MEMBER OR CITY OFFICIAL TO SHOW UP BECAUSE WE GET EXTRA POINTS IF YOU SHOW UP EVEN IF IT'S FOR FIVE MINUTES. WHAT IT WILL DEMONSTRATE IS WE CAN DO DURING DISASTERS FOR THE PUBLIC.

LIKE I SAID IT GOES FOR 24 HOURS.

PREVIOUSLY WE'VE DONE IT AT THE NELSON PARK.

WE'VE DONE IT AT THE STATE SCHOOL PARK WHERE WE SET UP TENTS, FOUGHT MOSQUITOES AND EVERYTHING.

PREVIOUSLY WE'VE DONE IT AT THE RED CROSS CENTER.

WE'VE DONE IT AT THE HAMBY FIRE STATION.

BUT LIKE I SAID IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

ANYBODY CAN COME OUT SATURDAY 1:00 P.M. AT 1462 CEDAR CREST.

IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO ACU DORM. YOU PARK THERE AT THE DORM AND IT'S KIND OF OVER A LITTLE RISE THERE WHERE THE SCOUT HUT IS.

IF YOU KNOW WHERE BOY SCOUT TROUPE 201 IS, YOU WON'T HAVE A PROBLEM. LIKE I SAID IT'S ON CEDAR CREST.

AND AGAIN IT GOES FOR 24 HOURS. THERE WILL BE SOMEBODY THERE ANY TIME YOU WANT TO COME. IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND IT'S ESPECIALLY OPEN TO ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL OR CITY OFFICIAL SO THAT WAY WE CAN GET EXTRA POINTS FOR THE CONTEST.

OTHER THAN THAT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE ON THAT.

AND PREVIOUSLY WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE HOLIDAYS, UNDER FEDERAL CODE IT'S ALWAYS BEEN CALLED WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY. THERE IS NO SUCH ANIMAL AS PRESIDENT'S DAY. THAT WAS MADE UP BY RETAILERS.

YOU CAN LOOK UP THE FEDERAL CODE.

THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION CRACKED DOWN BECAUSE SOME FEDERAL

[02:05:02]

AGENCIES WERE CALLING WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY PRESIDENT'S DAY AND THEY CRACKED DOWN AND PUT OUT A MEMO IN 2008 AND SAID LISTEN, YOU'VE GOT TO CALL IT BY THE OFFICIAL DAY AND THEY GAVE THE CODE NUMBER IN THE FEDERAL LISTING.

I GUESS THAT'S ALL I HAVE. I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND AND WE'LL SEE YOU AFTER THE 4TH OF JULY HOLIDAY.

>> WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO PARTICIPATE ON THIS EVENING?

>> I HAVE JAMES BAILEY AND HALEY JOE OATS.

>> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU THIS EVENING.

MY NAME IS COLONEL RETIRED JIM BAILEY.

WITH ME TONIGHT I HAVE OUR SECRETARY MS. HEATHER BAILEY AND OUR DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON MS. HALEY JOE OATS AS WELL. WITH THOSE OF YOU UNFAMILIAR WITH WHAT OUR ASSOCIATION IS OR WHAT IT DOES, I CAN SIMPLY TELL YOU WHAT IT'S NOT. IT'S NOT A HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION. WHAT IT IS, IT IS ANYONE WITHIN THE ABILENE AREA OR OUTSIDE THE ABILENE AREA THAT HAS A GENERAL INTEREST IN THE LAKE. DON'T NEED TO BE A RESIDENT, DON'T NEED TO BE A PROPERTY OWNER, DOESN'T MATTER.

WHAT DOES MATTER IS THAT YOU BELIEVE IN THE VISION OF THE LAKE ASSOCIATION. THAT VISION IS TO DEVELOP THE LAKE INTO A SAFE, CLEAN, WHOLESOME MODEL COMMUNITY WITH RECREATIONAL AND ECONOMIC ENHANCEMENTS THAT PRESERVES AND PROMOTES THE LAKE'S NATURAL RESOURCES ENCOURAGING GROWTH, TOURISM, RECREATION AND QUALITY OF LIFE.

THE PURPOSE FOR US BEING HERE TONIGHT IS TO REQUEST YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEM TO EXPLORE INITIATIVES AND OPTIONS TO UNLOCK THE FULL POTENTIAL OF FORT PHANTOM HILL LAKE IN CREATING A VIABLE ECONOMIC RESOURCE FOR THE CITY OF ABILENE.

I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO HALEY JOE OATS.

>> YOU ALL LOOK INCREDIBLY FAMILIAR AND IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU TODAY. I'M HALEY JOE OATS A BUSINESS OWNER HERE IN ABILENE. I LOVE ABILENE AND I AM NOW THE HEAD CHAIR OF THE LAKE DEVELOPMENT.

I WANTED TO PRESENT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY OF ABILENE IN HOPES TO BE PUT ON THE COUNCIL'S FALL AGENDA.

I HAVE LIVED AT THE LAKE NOW FOR THREE YEARS, MY FAMILY HAS OWNED PROPERTY THERE SINCE 1984 AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SEEING ALL OF ITS BEAUTY EVERY SINGLE DAY. THE LAKES STAY BUSY AND THE PARKS STAY PACKED WITH FAMILIES CREATING MEMORIES.

BUT THERE IS LIMITED AMOUNT OF PLACES TO STAY AND PEOPLE ARE NOT ABLE TO SPEND THEIR WEEKENDS OUT AT OUR LAKES.

ALTHOUGH THE SAME SIZE OF SURROUNDING LAKES WE DO NOT OFFER THE SAME TYPE OF STAY. OTHERS DO OFFER RV RESORTS, DINING, AND MARINAS, ET CETERA. I LIVE ACROSS FROM 47 ACRES OWNED BY THE CITY OF ABILENE. THIS LAND IS NOT MAINTAINED AND HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED AS A RURAL AREA.

IT'S OPEN TO NONPAYING CAMPERS AND AT TIMES CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

THE LAND IS SIMPLY SITTING AND NOT PROVIDING ANY ECONOMIC GROWTH OR QUALITY OF LIFE. WHAT I'M ASKING IS THE CITY LOOK AT THE LAND AROUND THE LAKE THAT THEY OWN THAT IS JUST SITTING THAT COULD GO TO PRIVATE SECTOR AND RELEASE IT FOR SALE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. TOGETHER WE CAN COME UP WITH A PLAN AND WHAT BEST SERVES OUR COMMUNITY.

I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH DOUG PETERS, PRESIDENT OF THE CHAMBER AND HIS TEAM ON FORMING WAYS TO GET THIS LAKE DEVELOPMENT PLAN MOVING. RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST LITTLE OLD ME UP HERE WITH MY MEMBERS OF THE LAKE ASSOCIATION.

BUT I CAN PROMISE YOU BEHIND ME IS A VERY AMBITIOUS, DRIVEN, PASSIONATE TEAM OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SEE ABILENE THRIVE AND BRING QUALITY OF LIFE TO ABILENE THROUGH PEACEFUL LAKE LIFE AND BEAUTY AT FORT PHANTOM. OUR GOAL IS TO BECOME MORE APPEALING FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO VISIT ABILENE, GIVE THEM MORE REASON TO WANT TO STAY AND PLAY AND SPEND MONEY.

AS THE VISITORS BUREAU SAYS, STAY, PLAY THE ABILENE WAY.

WE WANT TO MAKE IT EVEN MORE OF A DESTINATION SPOT, ALSO BECOME MORE APPEALING FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MOVE HERE AND RAISE THEIR FAMILIES AND EXPAND THEIR CAREERS HERE.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING ME AND I HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER

PUTTING THIS ON YOUR AGENDA. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AGAIN TO ADDRESS YOU THIS EVENING. AND I WOULD LIKE TO PERSONALLY INVITE YOU, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, TO OUR NEXT ANNUAL MEETING WHICH WILL BE ON THE 24TH OF JULY, IT'S A SATURDAY AT JOHNSON PARK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[02:10:03]

>> THANK YOU. >> WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO PARTICIPATE

THIS EVENING? >> I HAVE A CARD ON GARY

COLLINS. >> AS YOU CAN SEE I BROUGHT SOME BUBBLE WRAP. I WANT TO BRING AN ITEM UP THAT ESSENTIALLY HAS BEEN LIKE RETIRED AND YOU MIGHT WONDER WHY I DIDN'T GET UP HERE AT AN EARLIER TIME, WELL I DID NOT.

THE REASON WHY I GOT THIS IS BECAUSE BASICALLY I'M TALKING ABOUT RECYCLING, A RECYCLING PROGRAM WHICH HAS KIND OF BEEN LAID TO WASTE ESSENTIALLY HERE IN ABILENE.

THIS PRODUCT THAT I GOT AT THE POST OFFICE, IT IS MADE FROM 100% RECYCLED PLASTIC. IF YOU GO TO WALMART ANY OF THE STAFF MEMBERS THERE ARE WALKING AROUND WITH A VEST ON THAT SAYS RIGHT IN THE BACK OF IT THAT IT'S MADE FROM RECYCLED PLASTIC BOTTLES. I RECENTLY HAD MY OFFICE RECARPETED WITH A CARPET THAT IS MADE FROM 100% RECYCLED PLASTIC BOTTLES. AND LIKEWISE WHEN I GO TO OFFICE DEPOT OR WHATEVER TO GET FOLDERS OR ENVELOPES, PAPER, I LOOK FOR THINGS THAT ARE MADE FROM 100% RECYCLED PAPER.

AND IT IS ALSO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN IT COMES TO LIKE FOR EXAMPLE ROAD CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, THEY USE RECYCLED GLASS, THEY CRUSH THAT UP AND USE THE ROAD CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS FROM THAT. SO BACK WHEN THE WHOLE RECYCLING PROGRAM DEBATE WAS GOING ON, IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IT WAS DECIDED TO SUBORDINATE OR LOWER THE LEVEL OF RECYCLING HERE IN ABILENE IS THAT THERE WAS NOT A MARKET FOR THOSE RECYCLED PRODUCTS.

AT LEAST THAT IS MY RECOLLECTION THAT THAT WAS ONE OF THE PRIMARY REASONS. SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT IS COMPLETELY INCORRECT. THERE'S A GOOD MARKET FOR THOSE PRODUCTS. SO I BELIEVE THAT THE REAL REASON WHY THE RECYCLING WAS DROPPED WAS BECAUSE IT COSTS THE CITY MONEY. AND THAT'S PROBABLY A VIABLE REASON, BUT GIVEN THAT THERE IS A MARKET, THEN TELL IT LIKE IT IS. SAY THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE MONEY FOR THAT RIGHT NOW INSTEAD OF SAYING THAT THERE'S NOT A

MARKET. >> THANK YOU, MR. COLLINS.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME. >> WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO PARTICIPATE

THIS EVENING? >> I WOULD JUST LIKE FOR YOU GUYS TO CONSIDER OR RECONSIDER THE INDIVIDUALS THAT YOU APPOINT TO BOARDS THAT HAVE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AT THEIR DISPOSAL. IF MY RESEARCH IS CORRECT THERE IS THIS KELLY YOUNG ASSOCIATED WITH ACU.

AFTER HE WAS ON THE BOARD YOU HAVE AN ARL RETAIL LLC THAT COMES OUT AND WHILE HE WAS ALSO SITTING ON THE BOARD THE ALAN RIDGE PROJECT WAS ADDED. I'M GOING TO LET YOU KNOW IN CASE YOU DON'T, IT'S A BLIGHTED AREA THAT THE CITY PROBABLY FORGOT ABOUT YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS, DIDN'T GET ANY KIND OF REPRESENTATION AND THEN BUSINESS OWNERS COME IN THERE, THEY'LL FREEZE OUR TAXES AND Y'ALL USE THAT MONEY, NOT Y'ALL, BUT YOU USE THE MONEY TO REINVEST. AND IT'S NOT FAIR THAT A UNIVERSITY THAT'S WORTH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND HAS AN ENDOWMENT WORTH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT SOME OF YOU INDIVIDUALS SITTING ON THE COUNCIL WORK WITH, THEY LITERALLY GIVE YOU A PAYCHECK AS WELL AS YOUR SPOUSES, GIVE YOU A PAYCHECK OR GIVE YOUR SPOUSES A PAYCHECK, AND MEANWHILE YOU HAVE INDIVIDUALS OVER HERE WHO DON'T EVEN HAVE LIGHTS IN THEIR STREET LIGHTS.

THEY HAVE HOLES IN THEIR STREETS FROM POTHOLES.

AND THEY DON'T HAVE SIDEWALKS. FOR SOME PEOPLE SIDEWALKS AREN'T IMPORTANT, BUT WHENEVER YOUR MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION ARE YOUR FEET AND YOUR BICYCLES, SIDEWALKS ARE HUGE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ELDERLY BECAUSE THAT ALLOWS THEM TO GO IN AND OUT. SO THE INDIVIDUALS APPOINTED TO THESE BOARDS ARE BENEFITTING OFF OF THE TAXPAYER BY SITTING ON

[02:15:03]

THE BOARD. IT'S NOT FAIR.

IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ADDED. THAT'S WHERE THE CONCERNS COME ON OUR END BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE SITTING ON THIS COUNCIL WHO GET A PAYCHECK FROM ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY.

AND AGAIN I HELD THEM IN HIGH REGARDS UNTIL I STARTED DIGGING THROUGH ALL OF THIS STUFF. IT'S NOT VERY CHRISTIAN LIKE I DON'T THINK TO ADD A UNIVERSITY THAT IS WORTH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO A BLIGHTED AREA WHEN THOSE MONIES THAT WERE GIVEN TO THEM THAT COULD HAVE GONE TO MY FRIENDS AND MY FAMILY THAT LIVE IN THIS AREA THAT WERE FORGOTTEN ABOUT BY INDIVIDUALS STILL SITTING ON THIS COUNCIL. SO I'M REQUESTING ONE, EVERY BOARD MEETING THAT HAS TO DO WITH TAX DOLLARS BE RECORDED AND I'M ALSO REQUESTING THAT WHENEVER YOU HAVE SOMEONE SITTING ON THE BOARD, YOU UTILIZE THEIR OFFICIAL NAME.

BECAUSE IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO GO BACK AND LOOK FOR THESE PEOPLE, THE INDIVIDUAL I'M TALKING ABOUT IS STORMY HIGGINS, THAT'S NOT HIS LEGAL NAME. SO I'M GOING TO REQUEST WHEN YOU HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO SIT ON BOARDS THAT YOU USE THEIR LEGAL NAME ON A LEGAL DOCUMENT THAT'S COMING OUT OF CITY HALL.

THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE, BUT IF YOU COULD RECONSIDER WHO YOU'RE APPOINTING TO THESE BOARDS BECAUSE IT'S NOT BENEFITTING PEOPLE LIKE ME. IT'S NOT BENEFITTING MY FAMILY MEMBERS, MY FRIENDS, AND IT'S JUST NOT FAIR.

THANK YOU. >> WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, ANYONE ELSE WANT TO PARTICIPATE THIS EVENING? SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

IT IS 7:46 P.M. >> COULD I MAKE A COMMENT?

>> THE MEETING OF THE ABILENE CITY COUNCIL IS ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.