Jul 27, 2021 City Council Budget Workshop

[00:00:02]

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: GOOD MORNING. I WILL NOW CALL THE

[CALL TO ORDER]

JESUS'S NAME, AMEN. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: WE HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST WITH US. WE HAVE JACKSON DAVIS 1/5 GRAGREATER.

MOM WORKS FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, LIVE WHITE, SHE IS PROUD AND WE WILL DO THE PLEDGES AND THEN AFTERWARDS WE WILL GET A GOOD PHOTO UP WITH YOUR FAMILY WOULD YOU LIKE TO

LEAD US IN THE PLEDGES? >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH

LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: NOW THE

TEXAS PLEDGE. >> HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO YOU TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD

INDIVISIBLE. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: USUALLY OUR PLEDGES ARE TIMID AND JACKSON WAS NOT TIMID.[LAUGHTER]

>> I AM PROUD! >> COME UP HERE AND WE WILL GET A PICTURE.

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: BEFORE WE BEGIN THE BUDGET SESSION I WOULD LIKE TO REVIEW FOR THOSE IN ATTENDANCE OUR SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK. WE ARE SCHEDULED TO HAVE BUDGET SESSIONS STARTING TODAY AT 9 AM AND WE WILL ALSO MEET AGAIN TOMORROW AT 9 AM AND IF NEEDED ON THURSDAY JULY 29 AT 5:30 P.M.. DURING OUR REGULAR SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING IF THIS IS CONCLUDED TODAY WE WILL NOT MEET TOMORROW OR HAVE BUDGET ITEMS DURING THURSDAY'S MEETING. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT

[PUBLIC COMMENTS]

>> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING COUNSEL, DAVID SCHWARTZ FOR THE RECORD GOOD MORNING DEPARTMENT HEADS, ALSO. THE FIRST THING THAT CAUGHT MY EYE IN THE 2022 BUDGET SENIOR SERVICES CUT 60,000 P LET'S KEEP THAT SAME. THIS YEAR IT WAS 902, IT'S GOING TO BE CUT TO 842 AND I URGE ALL SENIORS WATCHING THIS OR ANYONE ELSE CALL THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND TELL THEM WE DON'T WANT OUR SENIOR CENTERS CUT. AGAIN, SENIORS ESPECIALLY, CALL AND TELL THEM ABOUT IT. IF YOU CAN BE HERE THURSDAY AT 5:00 TO TELL THE COUNCIL IN PERSON. THE SECOND IS WE JUST HAD ON THE MEETING ABOUT THE SEVEN NEW OFFICERS COMING ON. DOES THAT MEAN IN THE FUTURE WE ARE LOOKING AT SEVEN NEW TACOS AT $60,000 A PIECE? I'M GOING TO SUGGEST AGAIN AS I DID

[00:05:05]

>> THANK YOU. DOES ANYONE ELSE WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT. BEFORE GOING TO ITEM 2 THIS BUDGET PROCESS DIFFERS FROM THOSE THAT I HAVE BEEN A PART OF BECAUSE OF COVID-19 AND THE OTHER VARIOUS IMPLICATIONS OF COVID-19 AND ITS IMPACT ON OUR BUDGET IS BEING PRESENTED. THINGS ARE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. ONE THING THAT REMAINS THE SAME THIS BUDGET UP TO THIS POINT IS THE CITY MANAGER'S BUDGET. AND STAFF.

LYNN BEARD WHEN WE CONCLUDE THIS PROCESS THIS WILL BE OUR BUDGET. WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AS A COUNSEL TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT STAFF AND AMONG OURSELVES HERE IN THIS FORUM AND AT THE END ADOPT A BUDGET THAT IS OUR BUDGET. THIS IS A RESULT OF OUR WINTER WORKSHOP MEETING WITH DIRECTION TO STAFF AND ROBERT AND HIS STAFF LISTEN TO WHAT WE HAVE SAID IN THIS BUDGET REPRESENTS THE PLANNING AND IS ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE VARIOUS ITEMS. AND SO I AM EAGER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS AS WE BEGIN. MR. HANNAH? IN Q AND YOUR STAFF FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE UP TO THIS POINT AND WITH

[2. Presentation: Revised FY 2021 and Proposed FY 2022 Budgets and Complete Budget Review ]

WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM FOR US. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU MR. MAYOR.

P >> SPEAKER: OKAY, HAVE QUICKER WILL TRAVEL. MAYOR AND COUNCIL THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS BUDGET TO YOU THIS MORNING AND BRIEFLY THIS WILL BE THE FIRST READING OF THE BUDGET AND WE WILL GO TOMORROW IF NECESSARY AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY ON THURSDAY TO DO THAT. AUGUST 12 WILL BE THE FINAL READING OF THE BUDGET

[00:10:02]

THAT'S A VERY LARGE PART DUE TO ONE-TIME REVENUE TRANSFERS.

PERSONNEL MAKES UP THE MAJORITY OF OUR BUDGET WE ARE A SERVICE INDUSTRY AS WE HAD SAID IN THE ARTICLE WE DO NOT PRODUCE WIDGETS OTHER THAN WATER. AND THE TREATMENT OF SOLID WASTE AND WASTEWATER SERVICES. WE ARE A SERVICE ORIENTED INDUSTRY AND PEOPLE ARE OUR COST. 74 PERCENT OF COST ARE PEOPLE AND PENNIES FOR EVERY DOLLAR ARE ALLOCATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THAT CHART. THIS PARTICULAR YEAR AS WE DISCUSSED IN THE BUDGET RETREAT BROKE THE ORGANIZATION UP INTO PROGRAMS. OVER HALF OF WHAT WE DO IS PUBLIC SAFETY RELATED 15 PERCENT IS COMMUNITY SERVICES RELATED AND 11 PERCENT INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT 15 PERCENT GENERAL SERVICES AND 15 PERCENT IS ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. KEY REVENUE CHANGES FROM THIS YEAR TO NEXT YEAR PROPERTY TAX VALUE INCREASED A LITTLE BIT AND SALES TAX IS FLAT. WE HAD SOME INTERFUND TRANSFERS AND THE PAYMENT TAX WHICH IS NEW IN THE COUNCIL WILL RECALL HENDRICK AND THE CITY NEGOTIATED A PILOT PROGRAM WHEN THEY BOUGHT REGIONAL. WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE TAX IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CITY OF ABILENE MOVING A LARGE TAX VALUE IF IT WAS MOVING TAXES OFF THE TAX ROLL AND HENDRICK AGREED, VOLUNTARILY, I MIGHT ADD, AS A GOOD CITIZEN TO DO A PAYMENT OF TAXES AND THIS IS A THREE YEAR DECLINING SCALE SO SHE WILL BE LESS AND THAN THE YEAR AFTER THAT IT WILL BE ZERO. IT WILL HELP THE CITY TRANSITION AWAY FROM THE LOSS OF THAT TAXPAYER. WE ARE EXPECTING IN INCREASE IN BUILDING PERMIT. WE WILL NOT HAVE THE CARES ACT THIS YEAR BUT WE WILL HAVE RESCUE PLAN MONEY COMING INTO THE CITY. WE DO NOT ANTICIPATE THE EXTENT TO SELL THE LAND AND THAT WAS 1.3

[00:15:02]

KEY CHANGES IN THE BUDGET FROM FY 21 TO FY22 POLICE, FIRE DIFFER 6 MILLION THEIR FULL OBLIGATION FOR FY22 AND THE CATCH-UP PROVISION AND I APPRECIATE THEY ARE AGREEING TO IT TO HELP THE CITY THROUGH WHAT WE ANTICIPATED TO BE A LARGER INCOME HIT WITH THE TAX FREEDOM ACT THEN MATERIALIZED, THANKFULLY. SO LOOKING AT A TWO PERCENT COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT IN ADDITION TO A TWO PERCENT MARKET ADJUSTMENT SO NON-CIVIL SERVICES PROGRAM TO FOUR PERCENT TO INCREASE THE BUDGET. FULL STAFFING OF FUNDING A FULL YEAR OF PAY RAISES FOR 2021 AND SO THAT IS AS YOU WOULD RECALL WE DIDN'T GIVE A FULL 12 MONTH PAY RAISE SO WE WILL DO THAT AND IT IS INCLUDED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AS WELL. THE STEP PROMOTIONS ARE IN THERE FOR CIVIL SERVICE AND SUPPLIES AND MAINTENANCE HAS GONE UP IN UTILITY SAVINGS. WE WILL REINSTATE THE TRANSFER FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER. LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL RESTRAINTS WE DID NOT TRANSFER THAT MONEY TO THE CONVENTION CENTER WE HELD ONTO THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTS AND POLICY. THERE WILL BE A MINOR IMPROVEMENT FUND TRANSFER AND YOU CAN SEE ALL IN TOTAL THERE'S ABOUT A 9.2 MILLION DOLLARS DECREASE. LOOKING AT TAX RATES, AS WE HAVE REMAINED THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS FAIRLY STABLE. WE ARE PROGRAMMING A SMALL DECREASE IN THE TAX RATE THAT AMOUNTS TO $169,000 TOTAL MORE OR LESS. IT IS A SMALL AMOUNT BUT IT IS HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR THE TAXPAYER ANYTHING THAT IS IMPORTANT. LOOKING AT THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION RATE AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE TAX RATE IS PRETTY STABLE SINCE 2021. WE ARE SEEING DEBT SERVICE DECREASE AND MAINTENANCE IS A LARGER COMPONENT OF THE TAX RATE.

INTO THE WATER AND SEWER OPERATING FUND YOU HAVE GOT A LITTLE MORE REVENUE FROM FY 21 TO FY22 THE FUND BALANCE IS BEING SPENT DOWN INTENTIONALLY FOR ONE-TIME CAPITAL PROJECTS.

IT IS NOT ANYTHING BUT INTENTIONAL SPENDING. YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WATER AND SEWER OPERATING FUND VERSUS THE GENERAL FUND PERSONNEL IS ONLY 15 PERCENT BECAUSE THEY DO PRODUCE THAT AND YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENT PERFORMANCE AND THEY HAVE A 24 PERCENT DEBT SERVICE BURDEN AS PART OF THEIR FUNDING. YOU WOULD RECALL THAT WITH THE MASTER PLAN THE COUNCIL APPROVED THIS LAST MEETING WE WILL BE ABLE TO CASH FUND A MAJORITY OF MONEY COMING FORWARD. THE NEXT CYCLE OF IMPROVEMENTS FOR UTILITY SYSTEMS IS A HUGE MILESTONE.

IT DOES NOT COME WITHOUT A COST, DON'T GET ME WRONG, BUT THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WE SAVE IN INTEREST IS IMPORTANT FOR THE TAXPAYER. INCREASE IN OPERATING FUND BY $655,000 THE WAREHOUSE FUND IS BEING TRANSFERRED BACK INTO THE UTILITY FUND IS THAT CORRECT, MIKE? THE WAREHOUSE FUND HAS NOT CHANGED IN YEARS AND IS NOT A FUNCTION WE CURRENTLY USE AND THIS IS THE REASON WE ARE TRANSFERRING IT BACK TO THE UTILITY FUND. YOU CAN SEE THE OPERATING FUND CHANGES, FY 21 REVISED FROM THE ORIGINAL AND THERE IS AN INCREASE OF $396,000. THE INCREASE IS BECAUSE WE HIRED WORKERS AND OUR WATER DISTRIBUTION WILL BE A COST REDUCTION. CHANGES FROM THIS YEAR TO THE NEXT WE WILL SEE AN INCREASE OF 1.5 MILLION A THREE PERCENT CHANGE FOR CHARGE OF SERVICE GOING UP FROM A REVENUE MODEL. THE COST WHERE IS THAT MONEY BEING SPENT? WE SEE AN INCREASE OF $10 MILLION THINK RODNEY DID AND JOB OF WALKING THROUGH WHERE THOSE DOLLARS WERE SPENT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING AND WE WALKED THROUGH THE MASTER PLAN AND HOW TO FUND IT. THERE WAS A LARGE INCREASE IN PERSONNEL DRIVEN BY A NEED TO MEET CUSTOMER SERVICE DEMAND RESPONSES. WE RECEIVED THIS IN THE SYSTEM AS A GROWTH FOR THE COMMUNITY. THIS IS A NEW FUND AND YOU WILL SEE THIS HAS A

[00:20:04]

TOTAL REVENUE OF 18 MILLION AND A FUND BALANCE AT THE END OF THE DAY ABOUT $2.4 MILLION. AS WE IDENTIFY THIS FISCAL YEAR AS PROJECTS GO OUT IN THE MAIN MONEY THROUGH PROJECT SPENDING'S WE WILL DO ANOTHER CALL FOR PROJECTS AND ISSUE ADDITIONAL FUNDS. WE WILL TRY TO EXTEND THE FULL BUDGET AUTHORITY AUTHORIZED BY COUNSEL AND WE DO THAT IN CONSULTATION WITH AND DIRECTION FROM THE STREET MAINTENANCE REPORT. THE FIRE OPERETTAS FUND LAST YEAR WE SAW SOME FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT CAPITAL PROJECT PURCHASES AND THIS YEAR WE DID NOT HAVE ANY.

IT IS A REBUILDING YEAR. THIS FUND BALANCE WAS STARTED ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO AND IT HAS PROVEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL IN HELPING CASH PAY AND CASH FINANCE THE FIRE APPARATUS EQUIPMENT. IT IS FUNDED THROUGH 2040 THROUGH THE CURRENT MODEL FOR THE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM THAT THERE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS PUT IN PLACE AND YOU WILL HEAR FROM A SECOND THE POLICE APPARATUS FUND AND WE WOULD LIKE COUNSEL TO CONSIDER AT SOME POINT IN TIME IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS FUND SOLVENT NEED A $4.1 MILLION ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION AND THE ONLY WAY THAT REALLY HAPPENS IS TO LEVY AN ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX OF 1.7 PENNIES. I AM NOT RECOMMENDING WE DO THAT THIS FISCAL YEAR. I AM RECOMMENDING IF COUNSEL WANTS TO DO THAT CERTAINLY CAN RAISE TAXES IF YOU WANT TO WE HAVE THE HEADROOM IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT BUT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION WOULD HAVE IT BE POLICY PRIORITY FOR THE COUNCIL AND

[00:25:02]

WE FULLY ANTICIPATE UNDER THE RESCUE PLAN TO HAVE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS TRANSFERRED INTO THE FUND THE REVENUE PLACEMENT ALONE UNDER THE IRS INTERIM RULE ALLOWS THE CITY TO USE UP TO $14 MILLION OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FOR OPERATORS AND GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES OR PURPOSES. WE HAVE AMPLE HUB ROOM TO USE FOR GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES AS COUNSEL IF THEY CHOOSE TO DO SO. WE WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THE FINAL TREASURY RULES ARE ANNOUNCED BEFORE WE MAKE THESE TRANSFERS. IT IS JUST A LITTLE EXTRA LEVEL OF CAUTION OR TREASURY RULES ARE

SUBJECT TO CHANGE. >> COUNCILMEMBER: DO KNOW WHEN

THAT WILL BE? >> SPEAKER: MIKE, DO WE HAVE

ANY INDICATION? >> SPEAKER: NO. I WOULD EXPECT

IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. >> SPEAKER: WE HAVE REGISTERED AND THAT USUALLY THE TYPICAL STAGE BEFORE IT BECOMES FINAL.

THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL COUPLE THINGS I WANT TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO THE REPLACEMENT FUND HAS VEHICLES AND WE HAVE A BIG $5.4 MILLION IN TOTAL REPLACEMENT THIS YEAR ALL SCHEDULED AND IT HAPPENS TO BE A BIG YEAR. THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT TALKED ABOUT THAT TO AN $0.7 MILLION THIS FISCAL YEAR AND THEY HAVE TO BE FULLY EXPECTED BY A MEMBER BY 2023. WE HAVE A TIMELINE SO WE CAN'T HOLD ON TO THEM FOREVER.

THE TRANSFER, USING THEM FOR REVENUE REPLACEMENT IS A LEGITIMATE USE AND LEGITIMATE EXPENDITURE ON THAT TIMELINE AND WE HAVE ALREADY USED A MAJORITY OF THEM TO QUALIFY THE PROGRAM TO KEEP THOSE FUNDS AND THOSE FUNDS CAN BE IDENTIFIED AS ALLOWABLE EXPENSE. THE 14 MILLION DOES NOT NEED TO BE SPENT AT THE END OF 2023 THE EXTENT TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY, PERHAPS WE SHOULD. THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION AND I KNOW TYPICALLY WE TURN IT OVER TO THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL AT THAT POINT IN TIME AND THE STAFF IS PREPARED TO

ANSWER QUESTIONS. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS AND I AM SURE MY COLLEAGUES HAVE QUESTIONS. IN REGARD TO THE STREET MAINTENANCE FUND THE CONDUIT, HE DID NOTICE THAT THERE IS, I SAW 8.4 MILLION BEING TRANSFERRED FOR PROJECTS BUT $1 MILLION IS SET ASIDE FOR MAINTENANCE AND SIDE STREET MAINTENANCE. WHAT IS THAT

EXACTLY? >> SPEAKER: THAT IS WHERE YOU WILL SEE FUNDING FOR THE POTHOLE AND ALLEYWAY MAINTENANCE. WE CAN PROVIDE MORE LINES FOR SPECIFIC DETAILS BUT IT IS SPECIFICALLY WHERE WE SEE OUR DAY-TO-DAY MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES AND THOSE LARGE CAPITAL OUTLAYS ARE WHERE YOU WILL SEE THE CITY PAYING FOR THE STREET OVERLAY OR MINOR REHAB PROJECTS ARE MORE SENSITIVE IN NATURE THAN JUST A POTHOLE OR ALLEYWAY MAINTENANCE.

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: THE APPARATUS NOT BEING PROPOSE THIS YEAR BUT JUST FOR THE PUBLIC TO COMMUNICATE EXACTLY, WHAT IS THE VISION OF THAT MOVING FORWARD OR SOMETHING AS

CONSIDERATION? >> SPEAKER: SEVERAL YEARS AGO THE COUNCIL PUT TOGETHER POLICY OR AN EXPRESSED DESIRE TO SEE THE CITY OF ABILENE TO HAVE LESS OF A RELIANCE ON DEBT.

WE'VE DONE A COUPLE OF THINGS THIS FISCAL YEAR TO ACCOMMODATE THAT AND ONE I HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT YET. WE STARTED TRANSFERRING AT THE END OF THE THREE OR FOUR YEAR BUDGET CYCLE FOR FIVE PERCENT OF THE TAX REVENUE INTO THE MINOR IMPROVEMENT FUND. WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE WE ISSUED CEOS EVERY YEAR TO PAY FOR MINOR IMPROVEMENTS. AND, THAT WAS OUR PRACTICE. WHEREVER THE DEBT SERVICE DECREASED WE WOULD ISSUE AN OFFSETTING AMOUNT TO KEEP THE DEBT SERVICE RELATIVELY FLAT. WE USE THAT MONEY IN DEBT SERVICE AS A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND THIS ALLOWS US TO CASH FUND THAT. THE INTEREST IN SAVING THE TAXPAYER IS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TENS OF MILLIONS IN SOME CASES HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER THE LIFE OF THE BONDS AND THAT IS AN IMPORTANT STRATEGIC PIVOT THAT THE COUNCIL HAS MADE AND IT WILL

[00:30:04]

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: HISTORICALLY WITH RADIOS I REMEMBER WE HAD A BUDGET CONVERSATION RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FISCAL YEAR WE HAD TO COME UP WITH DOLLARS FOR RADIOS TO TRY TO ACCOMMODATE THIS AND WHAT THIS DOES IS A FORWARD THINKING PROCESS PROVIDES LONG-TERM PLANNING THAT WOULD PUT THAT FUTURE COUNSEL IN PREDICAMENT IN REGARDS TO FUNDING. ONE MORE QUESTION AND THEN I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES.

GIVEN NUMBER OF DIFFERENT REVISION STRUCTURES, COMMUNITY SERVICES, THE LIBRARY AND OTHERS. TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE AIRPORT IN THE PROCESS OF WHAT THE STAFF IS DOING IN REGARDS TO THE SEGMENTATION OF SOME OF THOSE

AREAS. >> SPEAKER: WHAT I TRIED TO DO IN THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET PROCESS AND DURING THIS COUNSEL RETREAT IS THE BUDGET PROCESS HAD NOT BEEN CHANGED IN A LONG TIME, DECADES. WOULD LIKE TO START CHANGING THE WAY WE RECEIVE OUR INFORMATION AND TO COUNCILMEMBER PRICE'S POINT, THAT'S GREAT, WE WANT TO TRY TO DO THAT THIS YEAR, TOO. I

THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. >> COUNCILMEMBER: I APPRECIATE

THAT. >> SPEAKER: IF YOU LOOK AT PAGE 15 UNDER THE EXPENDITURES COLUMN YOU SEE THIS BROKEN UP INTO COMMAND CASE AND, GENERAL SERVICES, INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY. THESE ARE THE PRIMARY PROGRAMS THAT THE CITY PROVIDES. WHATEVER SERVICE GOVERNMENTAL OR NONGOVERNMENTAL SERVICE THAT THE CITY OF ABILENE PROVIDES IS HOUSED IN ONE OF THESE FIVE CATEGORIES. THE INTENT OF THIS IS TO EVENTUALLY SHOW REVENUE IN, REVENUE OUT FOR THESE PARTICULAR PROGRAMS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE IF THEY ARE SELF FUNDING OR NOT. SOME OF THEM WON'T BE HERE FOR EXAMPLE POLICE OR FIRE WILL NEVER BE SELF FUNDING AND THEY NEVER SHOULD BE AND THAT IS WHAT PROPERTY TAXES PAY FOR AT THE AIRPORT, THOSE SORTS OF ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE SELF FUNDING AND FOR THE MOST PART THEY ARE. WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS THE GOAL. THE ATTEMPTS FROM THE RESTRUCTURING STANDPOINT IS TO BETTER REFLECTS WHAT I FEEL IS A MORE TRANSPARENT BUDGET PROCESS AND ALSO RESTORES FROM A STANDPOINT SOME OF THE DEPARTMENT LANGUAGE IN THE CITY CHARTER FOR EXAMPLE COMMUNITY SERVICES IS A PROGRAM NOW THAT THE ACTUAL DEPARTMENTS TECHNICAL NAME IS GOING TO BE PARKS AND RECREATION BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT HAS BEEN FOUND IN THE CHARTER. MIRRORING WHAT WE HAVE IN THE FOUNDING DOCUMENT IS AN IMPORTANT THING TO DO.

IT IS A MINOR CHANGE AND DOESN'T CHANGE SOMEONE'S DAILY LIFE BUT WE NEED TO SET THAT UP AS WRITTEN. THIS IS AN ATTEMPT

TO DO THIS AS WELL. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: SIGNIFICANT.

HAD THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT EATING MORE TRANSPARENT AND GIVING THE GENERAL FUND THREE AND $1 MILLION PROVIDES A LAYPERSON TO NAVIGATE IT EASIER TO SEE HOW THE MONEY IS BEING SPENT IN THE COMMUNITY. WITH THAT I TURN THINGS OVER TO THE COLLEAGUES FOR THE CITY MANAGER AND STAFF AT THIS TIME.

>> SPEAKER: I THINK CHIEF DUDLEY WOULD ARGUE THAT THE POLICE CARS ARE BLACK AND WHITE AND SHINY. THE FIRE IS RED AND SHINY. AS FAR AS THE PENNIES FOR THE POLICE FUND WOULD BE INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT THAT IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS SOONER THAN LATER. IF IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO TACKLE NOW I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THAT. THE SECOND QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH THE COST FOR THE INCREASE IN THE EMPLOYEE

[00:35:05]

>> THE CITY OF ABILENE HAS COMPETITIVE HEALTH INSURANCE RATE COMPARED TO THE MARKET. IF YOU LOOK AT THE OTHER DIRECT COMPETITIVE FROM A LARGE STANDPOINT THE CITY OF ABILENE IS COMPETITIVE. IF YOU LOOK AT A PRIVATE STANDPOINT OUR HEALTH CARE IS EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE. IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ARE COMPARING YOURSELF TO. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO DO IS TO LOOK AT YOUR OWN. SINCE WE ARE SELF-INSURED ARE WE SELF SUPPORTIVE? PORTIVE? DO WE COVER OUR COSTS AND DO WE HAVE IN INSURANCE PROGRAM? WE SAID THIS BEFORE IF THIS GOES TO ZERO YOU DON'T HAVE INSURANCE ANYMORE BECAUSE YOU ARE BANKRUPT. WE NEED TO HAVE A HEALTHY FUND BALANCE AT THIS POINT IN TIME WE ARE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. WE ARE NOT MARRYING ANY RATE DECREASES BASED ON THE FUND BALANCE A COUPLE OF BAD CLAIM EVENTS CAN BURN THROUGH THAT AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE STOCK LOSS INSURANCE COVERAGE. AS QUICKLY AS THIS COMES UP IT CAN COME DOWN. WE DON'T HAVE AT THIS POINT IN TIME ANYWHERE NEAR A FIRST FUND RESERVE AND IT IS DEFINITELY HEALTHIER THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN AND WE ARE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. WE ARE COMPETITIVE WITH THE RATES AND I THINK SEEING THAT MONITOR INCREASE IS DOABLE AND AFFORDABLE WITH THE SALARY COMPENSATION THAT IS BEING DISCUSSED RIGHT NOW. TO THE EMPLOYEES, THE FOUR PERCENT FRAUD SERVICE BUT THAT NEEDS TO BE THE COUNCIL'S DECISION.

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: A QUESTION MR. HANNAH?

>> SPEAKER: IN REGARDS TO THE POLICE APPARATUS FUND I UNDERSTAND THE INTENT OF IT CERTAINLY. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE OUR ABILITY TO MEET CURRENT NEEDS FOR THINGS WE WOULD USE THE FUNDS FOR IN THE FUTURE VERSUS NOW AS OPPOSED TO FUNDING THEM FROM THE POLICE APPARATUS FUND?

>> SPEAKER: I WILL INVITE CHIEF DUDLEY FOR THE NEEDS AND HE'S GOT A COUPLE. WHAT WOULD BE CURRENTLY FUNDED THIS YEAR WOULD BE REQUESTED THIS YEAR AND THE FUND WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH THE RP AND THERE IS NO RECURRENT REVENUE AND THAT IS THE TRICK OR THE FIRE APPARATUS FUND WE HAVE OCCURRING REVENUE 1.1 MILLION 1.3 MILLION WHATEVER IT IS GOES INTO THE FUNDS AND IT IS SELF-SUSTAINING. AND I THINK WE CAN GET THERE IN A COUPLE FISCAL YEARS WITH PRUDENT PLANNING AND AS THE REVENUE GROWS ORGANICALLY THROUGH APPRAISALS I THINK WE CAN GET THERE. CERTAINLY, I THINK YOU CAN SHAVE THE TAX IMPACT OFF THE TAXPAYER AND AT THE END OF THE DAY IT MIGHT BE REQUIRED TO SUSTAIN THAT BUT WE CAN GET IT DOWN TO LESS THAN SOMETHING LESS THAN 1.75. CHIEF DUDLEY COULD YOU COME AND TALK ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT AND WHERE YOU

THINK THINGS ARE? >> COUNCILMEMBER: I WANT TO CLARIFY SOMETHING TODAY WE ARE CASH FUNDING?

>> SPEAKER: THINK YOU CHIEF. I THINK THE APPARATUS FUND IS AN OUTSTANDING IDEA. I KNOW THAT WHEN WE GOT TO MY POSITION I ASKED OUR FOLKS TO TAKE A LOOK OUT AND TELL ME LONG-RANGE WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT WITH EQUIPMENT THAT HAS TO BE ACQUIRED BECAUSE ONE THING I FOUND OUT RIGHT AWAY IS FOR EXAMPLE WITH THE LICENSE PLATE READER TECHNOLOGY THERE WAS AN ANNUAL AMOUNT THAT CAME TO AND WE WERE PREPARED FOR IT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE FUNDING FOR IT AND WE ENDED UP LOSING A COUPLE OF MONTHS OF USE OF THAT TOOL AND IT IS A GREAT INVESTIGATIVE TOOL UNTIL WE COULD FIGURE OUT WHERE THE FUNDING WAS TO PAY FOR THAT. THE LONG RATE AND PROJECTION WE IMMEDIATELY SAW A NEED FOR NEW BODY WORN CAMERAS AND OUR INQUIRY ÃCAMERAS WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL FOR WHAT WE DO. RIGHT AWAY WE SAW THAT THE COST FOR THAT WAS GOING TO BE $1.8 MILLION TO REPLACE THAT EQUIPMENT. AND THAT IS NOT AN EASY AMOUNT TO COME UP WITH.

OUR CITIZENS AND COUNSEL DESERVE TO KNOW WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE LONG-RANGE ITEMS? WE INCLUDED THE RADIOS IN THERE, WE INCLUDED E TICKETING EQUIPMENT SO WE COULD

[00:40:02]

>> WE ARE REQUIRED IN CASE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW I KNOW THIS FROM A PREVIOUS LIFE WE ARE REQUIRED TO PRODUCE A RACIAL PROFILING REPORT IN MARCH SO LIKE THOSE DASH CAM'S AND BODY CAMS GATHER THAT STATISTICAL DATA AND ALLOWS US TO MEET THE RACIAL PROFILING THAT WE HAVE TO TURN IN EVERY MONTH TO STATE TAXES AND I THINK THAT IS WHY IT IS PRETTY IMPORTANT FOR THIS. THESE ARE COMPLIANCE ISSUES NOT JUST DESIRES.

>> COUNCILMEMBER:THANK YOU CHIEF.

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: JUST A QUESTION FOR THE COUNCIL?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THE POLICE APPARATUS AND THE FUND WAS STARTED AFTER THE 2009 ECONOMIC COLLAPSE AND WE HAD TIGHTENED THE BUDGET DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY AND SAW THE SALES TAX THE FOLLOWING YEAR INCREASE AND WE HAD A SURPLUS. BEFORE THAT WE WERE USING THE CIP TO FUND FIRE APPARATUS SO EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS WE COULDN'T DO ANY KIND OF BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND WE WERE HAVING TO INVEST IN A FIRE TRUCK OR FIRE ENGINE AND WE TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAD WITH THAT ONE TIME EXTRA FUNDING TO SET UP THAT FUND AND WITH WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT NOW WITH THE EXTRA FUNDING THAT WE HAD FROM THE SALES TAX WITH WHAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS GIVEN INDIVIDUALLY TO PEOPLE BUT ALSO WITH THE CITY AND AS THE COUNSELOR WAS BRINGING UP NOW IS THE TIME TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ESTABLISH THE FUND AND PROVIDE SEED MONEY AND YEAR IN THE BUDGET HAVE AN EXPECTATION THAT THAT IS GOING TO BE THE ONGOING FUNDING TO BE ESTABLISHED. PERSONALLY THAT IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS US ADDRESS THIS AND WITH THE POLICE, THEIR VEHICLES ARE ALREADY FUNDED IN HOW THEY BUDGET IT. THIS ISN'T JUST TALKING ABOUT APPARATUS OR WHAT THEY DRIVE IN LIKE IT IS FOR THE FIRE BUT THEY HAVE OTHER EQUIPMENT NEEDS THAT ARE SIGNIFICANT COST. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE THE SALES TAX AND ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO DO THAT. THE BEARCAT WAS PAID FOR AT THAT TIME AS WELL WITH THE FUNDING THAT WE HAD IN THE ADDITIONAL SALES TAX FUNDING.

>> SPEAKER: THERE'S NO ISSUE WITH THAT AT ALL. WE COULD PROVIDE SEED MONEY OR THE APPARATUS FUND IN THE SYSTEM RECURRING. I DON'T THINK WE CAN GET 1.1 IN FY 24 OR 23 OR 24 WITHOUT A TAX INCREASE. I WOULD LIKE TO TRY TO DO IT WITHOUT RAISING PROPERTY TAX IF POSSIBLE AND IT MAY TAKE US TO

[00:45:05]

>> COUNCILMEMBER: I AM IN FAVOR OF THAT APPROACH. NOTICES OFF COUGH AND HE DIDN'T ASK EARLIER BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAVE SAVED OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS FROM NOT BORROWING MONEY TO BUY ALL OF THE FIRE TRUCKS AND FIRE ENGINES WE HAVE BOUGHT SINCE 2010. AND SO THAT IS WHAT WE ARE WORKING FORWARD TO WITH THE POLICE AND EQUIPMENT AS WELL IS HAVING FUNDS AVAILABLE AND NOT HAVE THE TAXPAYERS PAY THE INTEREST.

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: IS THAT THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: I HAVE A NUMBER IN MIND.

>> SPEAKER: YOU HAVE IN YOUR PRESENTATION ONE POINT ONE

MILLION? >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: IS 4.4 THE BALANCE AFTER THE COMMITTED FUND FOR THE MIP?

>> SPEAKER: IT IS CERTAIN WE WILL ADD ADDITIONAL FUNDS FROM THE RESCUE FUNDS FOR THE MIP WHICH HAVE TO WAIT ON THE RULES. WE HAVE SOME FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR THIS, NO DOUBT.

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: AFTER THE TRANSFER YOU WILL HAVE 4.4?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: I WOULD BE SUPPORTING THIS FOR THE FUNDING THROUGH THE MIP AND THE GENERAL REVENUE.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: WE AS COUNCILMEMBERS TODAY, WE LOOK BACK AND SAY I WISH THEY WOULD HAVE. I DON'T WANT FUTURE COUNSEL TO LOOK BACK AND SAY I WISH THEY WOULD HAVE WHEN THEY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY AND I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO START THAT SEED. TO START THAT PROGRAM BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TRAVIS WHO IS RATHER YOUNG BUT THE REST OF US ARE A LITTLE OLDER AND WE MIGHT NOT BE ON COUNSEL FOR MANY MORE YEARS AND FOR MOST OF US, SHANE WILL BE ON FOREVER!

>> COUNCILMEMBER: SPEAK FOR YOURSELF KYLE, I JUST GOT HERE!

PUT ME IN WITH TRAVIS! >> COUNCILMEMBER: I THINK WE ARE IN THE POINT OF OUR COUNSEL WHERE WE ARE BUILDING FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO START THIS WHERE FUTURE COUNCILS CAN SAVE THAT WAS A GREAT MOVE BY THE COUNCIL

TO SEED THAT MONEY. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: THERE MIGHT BE A CONSENSUS BUT ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR THIS COUNSEL?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: I WILL SAY FULLY FUNDING THIS IT JUST DOESN'T TAKE MUCH TO CIRCUMSTANCES TO OCCUR WITH US NEEDS TO BE REPLACED QUICKLY. WE HAVE GOT TO HAVE EXTRA RADIOS ON HAND FOR WHEN THEY BREAK AND GET WET AND VESTS EXPIRE THERE NOT LONG-LASTING IT'S ABOUT EIGHT THREE TO FIVE-YEAR LIFESPAN FOR THESE VESTS AND THIS WILL KEEP COMING UP AND I THINK WE NEED TO GET IT FUNDED NOW UNTIL WE GET TO THE PLACE WHERE WE HAVE.[INDISCERNABLE].

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER PRICE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW MUCH WE HAVE SAVED IN THE LAST 10 YEARS BY COMMITTING THE FIRE APPARATUS FUND HERE NOT TODAY BUT MAYBE THURSDAY COMMUNICATE AT SO IT INSTILLS ADDITIONAL CONFIDENCE IN THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR THIS ITEM NUMBER

3 FOR THE COUNCIL? >> COUNCILMEMBER: ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD ASKED BY EMAIL THAT I WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW-UP ON IS THE PROPOSED BUDGET HAS A PAY INCREASE THAT GOES INTO EFFECT OCTOBER 1 FOR POLICE AND FIRE BUT DOESN'T GO INTO EFFECT JANUARY 1 FOR ALL THE REST OF THE EMPLOYEES FOR THE CITY OF ABILENE. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT EQUITY OR WE CAN ALL ENJOY THE PAY INCREASE AT THE SAME

TIME. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: IS THAT

JANUARY? >> COUNCILMEMBER: YES SIR, THE AMOUNT FROM THE EMAIL THAT DIFFERENCE WOULD BE 30A TOTAL O 512,000 FOR ALL NON-CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES IS THAT

ACCURATE? >> SPEAKER: THAT IS ACCURATE.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US PROVIDE THAT TO ALL OF THEM. I'M JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE AS A DISCUSSION.

[00:50:04]

>> COUNCILMEMBER: WE WOULD HAVE TO USE OR TRANSFER MONEY OUT OF THE MIP INTO THE GENERAL FUND TO OFFSET THAT DEFICIT EXPENSE BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A REVENUE TIED TO THAT. WHICH IS A FINE PRACTICE AND BUDGETING FOR FY 23 AND THE YEAR AFTER IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT AND YOU'LL HAVE TO HAVE A FULL 12 MONTHS IN THAT BUDGET ANYWAY. THE ONLY THING WE ARE DOING BY DELAYING THAT IS SAVING 1/4 OF THE YEAR WHICH IS WHAT WAS THE INTENT AND I CAN PUT THAT IN THE REVENUE CONSTRAINTS THAT WE HAD PRESENTED WITH A BALANCED BUDGET TO COUNSEL WITHOUT FUNDING OPERATING COST YOU NOTHING PROHIBITS THE COUNCIL FROM DOING THAT ON A ONE-TIME BASIS OR ON AN ANNUAL BASIS BUT I WOULD CAUTION LET'S NOT GET INTO THAT HABIT. WE SHOULDN'T FUND THINGS ON A RECURRING BASIS BUT YOUR INTENT, THE MATHWORKS BECAUSE THE FOLLOWING YEAR GOING TO BE 12 MONTHS INTO IT AND IT IS MY OBLIGATION TO PRESENT THE EXPENDITURES OUT CLOSE TO ZERO AND THAT IS WHAT I WANTED TO DO. I COULDN'T DO

IT WITH THE FULL 12 MONTH. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: WHAT DO WE ANTICIPATE FOR THE ADDITIONAL AARP FUNDS?

>> SPEAKER: 10.7 MILLION THIS YEAR AND NEXT YEAR AND AS I INDICATED EARLIER 14 MILLION OF THOSE HAVE ALREADY BEEN PROPERLY EXPENDED AND WE CAN USE THOSE FOR GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES AND WE CAN USE THIS TO AUGMENT AS WELL. THE OTHER THING IS WE ARE FAIRLY CONSERVATIVE ON OUR REVENUE FORECAST AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB IS NOT OVER ANTICIPATING SALES TAX. YOU CAN OVER INFLATE THAT NUMBER PRETTY QUICKLY BECAUSE IT IS A SCIENTIFIC GUESS. IF YOU NEED MORE CASH YOU UP YOUR PERCENTAGES A LITTLE BIT. YOU HAVE DONE A FAIRLY GOOD JOB THROUGHOUT THE YEARS OF DOING THAT AND IN THIS PARTICULAR YEARS FORECAST WE WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THE LAST THREE YEARS AND LOOKED AT THE LAST AVERAGE OF WHAT THE SALES TAX WAS AND WE BUDGETED THAT INCREASE. IT IS A CONSERVATIVE MODEL THE COUNCIL CAN PUT THAT UP TO AND HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET IF THEY CHOSE TO. IT IS A PRACTICE WE ENCOURAGED TO DO EVERY YEAR BUT ONE BITES OF THAT APPLE IS NOT

BAD. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: COMMENT FROM

COUNSEL? >> COUNCILMEMBER: THE DELTA FOR THE GENERAL FUND IS 360? WHAT IS IT?

>> SPEAKER: 307 AND 204 FOR ALL OTHERS.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO SAY AND I AM GOING TO QUOTE DAVID HERE FOR ALL THE FOLKS IN TV LAND THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY IF PEOPLE ARE WATCHING NOW IS THE TIME TO LET US KNOW WHAT YOU WANT US TO DO. WE WILL HAVE PEOPLE COME UP THE DAY BEFORE THE FINAL HEARING AND SAY DO THIS OR DO THAT BUT TODAY, I MEANT TO MENTION THIS AT FIRST BUT TODAY IS THE DAY WE START THIS PROCESS SO NOW IS THE TIME NEED TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE TAX RATE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT BETWEEN NOW AND AUGUST 12 THAT IS THE TIME TO TALK TO US NOT THE MORNING OF AUGUST 12. WE NEED TO KNOW THESE THINGS TO GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF AND CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE TAX RATE OR IS THAT COMING LATER ON? I WILL SAY THIS. THE TIME TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE BUDGET IS PROBABLY IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY THAT DUE PROCESS THAT ALLOWS MORE FLEXIBILITY WE WILL ENCOURAGE YEAR-ROUND COMMUNICATION WITH CITIZENS IN REGARDS TO

STRENGTHENING THE BUDGET. >> COUNCILMEMBER: CAN WE REVISIT THAT. IS IT A DESIRE TO THAT AS COUNCILMEMBER PRICE

HAS SAID? >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THAT. AS WE TALKED ABOUT NOT GETTING THE SERVICES OR GETTING THE RAISE. SO, I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THAT AS A ONE-TIME USING THAT APPROXIMATE HALF MILLION

DOLLARS RESPECTIVELY. >> SPEAKER: IF THAT DOES NOT REFLECT THE WILL THE COUNCIL SPEAK UP.

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO

ITEM NUMBER 3? >> COUNCILMEMBER: THE LAST ONE I HAD IS ON THE GENERAL FUND FROM THE SUMMARY PAGE WHERE IT HAS THE ENDING FUND BALANCE OF 26.5 MILLION AND IF YOU LOOK AT 25 PERCENT OF THE HUNDRED 10 MILLION IT IS 27.6 MILLION.

ARE WE STILL AT THE THREE MONTH OR AM I MISSING FROM MY

[00:55:03]

CALCULATION? >> COUNCILMEMBER: WE SHOULD BE IN WE EXPECT TO BE THERE IF NOT HAVING AN EXCESS.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE STAYING IN

THAT TARGET. >> COUNCILMEMBER: WE TOOK OUT

AT EXPENDITURE. >> COUNCILMEMBER: THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: QUESTIONS ON NUMBER 2. WHAT I HAVE HEARD CITY MANAGER ARE TWO MODIFICATIONS THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH COUNSEL TO SEED INITIAL MONEY FOR THE APPARATUS FUND FOR POLICE AS WELL AS START RAISES FOR NONCIVIL SERVANTS IN OCTOBER AND JANUARY HAS PROXIMALLY TUNA 70,000 IN THE GENERAL FUND IN 204,000 IN OTHER FUNDS.

[3. Discussion: Receive a Report and Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing on an Employee Vaccine Incentive Program (Robert Hanna) ]

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 3 AND I WILL ASK ROBERT HANNA TO DISCUSS THIS ITEM.

>> SPEAKER: THIS IS A REQUEST FROM A COUNCILMEMBER TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ON WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD HAVE A VACCINE INCENTIVE PROGRAM. I PROVIDED COUNSEL A MEMO THAT IS FAIRLY SUSTAINED AND PROVIDES THE REASONING FROM IT AND I WON'T REGURGITATE THAT YOU'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ IT. IN GENERAL THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF OPTIONS BUT FOR OPTIONS I THINK ARE GENERALLY WELL ARTICULATED IN THE FIRST IS DO NOTHING. YOU CAN MAKE AN ARGUMENT THAT SOME OF DONE SO WELL THAT NONE OF THIS WORKS. WE MUST SIMPLY SOLDIER THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND THE FASTER WE ACCEPT THIS THE FASTER IT WILL BE OVER WITH. OPTION TWO THERE IS A LOTTERY SYSTEM WHICH COULD INCLUDE THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN VACCINATED IN THAT WHICH IS A RECOMMENDATION FROM A FAIRNESS PERSPECTIVE FROM THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. YOU COULD GIVE CASH HARP FUNDS ALLOW FOR THIS THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS ALLOW FOR THIS OR PROVIDE PAID TIME OFF WHICH IS WHAT I ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED DOING PRIMARILY BECAUSE THIS WAS THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE WAY TO HAVE OR NOT SPEND DOLLARS. THE CONCEPT OF DOING A VACCINE INCENTIVE PROGRAM I KNOW IS CONTROVERSIAL IN THE THOUGHT PROCESS BEHIND IT IS THAT AS THE PERSON WHOSE JOB IT IS TO MAKE SURE THE AMOUNT OF SUCCESSFUL EMPLOYEE WORKFORCES SERVE THE CITIZENS OF THE COMMUNITY I HAVE GREAT CONCERNS OF OUR ABILITY TO DO SO IF WE HAVE A FAIRLY BROAD FOCUSED COVID OUTBREAK IN THE COMMUNITY THAT IMPACTS OUR WORK FORCE. WE COULD LOSE THEM THROUGH TIME OFF OR SICK IN RECOVERY THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF FAMILY MEMBERS, IT'S THE SAME THING AND WE ARE ALREADY SHORTSTAFFED BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMY IS WHAT IT IS RIGHT NOW WHEN IT COMES TO LABOR AND THE SHORTAGE OF WORKERS. WE ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY FILLING POSITIONS AND SO IT'S BEST TO KEEP THOSE THAT ARE HERE HEALTHY TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN. I DO NOT BELIEVE MANDATING VACCINES IS THE ANSWER. I KNOW SOME ORGANIZATIONS FEEL THAT IS THE CASE BUT I PERSONALLY DO NOT.

THAT IS A DECISION THAT THE COUNCIL CAN MAKE IF THEY CHOOSE TO BUT MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO NOT DO THAT. I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE BASED OFF OF PERSONAL EDUCATION AND PERSONAL DECISION. AT THE SAME TIME I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH OFFERING AN INCENTIVE TO EMPLOYEES AS WELL.

WE WILL NOT HIT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE FOR VACCINATIONS, THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN VACCINATED AND WE WILL NOT HIT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE STRONGLY OPPOSED BY THE VACCINES AND THAT'S OKAY. THIS IS TARGETING THE MIDDLE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T GOTTEN DONE YET WHATEVER REASON THEY JUST DECIDED THEY WOULDN'T DO IT YET AND MAYBE THIS WAS AN INCENTIVE TO GET THEM TO MOVE TO THE DIRECTION OF THE VACCINE. THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: THANK YOU MR. ROBERT HANNA I APPRECIATE THIS FORM WHERE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNCIL AND OUR EMPLOYEE IN AN EXECUTIVE SESSION THAT WE HAVE CHOSEN TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY IN A VERY PUBLIC WAY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS AND IT WILL ALLOW A PUBLIC HEARING ALSO IN WE WILL ALLOW THOSE COMMUNITIES TO WEIGH IN ALSO IN REGARDS TO ONE THING THAT WE ARE NOT EITHER FROM A CITY MANAGER STANDPONT NOR COUNSEL STANDPOINT MANDATING VACCINES FOR CITY EMPLOYEES. THAT IS NOT THE CONVERSATION. RATHER, I THINK THIS WAS BROUGHT UP BY THE CITY MANAGER TO MITIGATE COVID-19 THAT MOVING TARGET THAT WE HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS. TEXAS FOLLOWS ONLY CALIFORNIA WITH BUSINESS CLOSURES DURING COVID-19 AND IT'S BEEN DEVASTATING. I LOOK FORWARD TO A VERY LIVELY CONVERSATION IN

[01:00:03]

COUNSEL, WHAT SAY YOU? >> COUNCILMEMBER: I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOT OR SINK ANYONE TO GET A VACCINE.

IT IS THE CHOICE OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND THAT BEING SAID WHAT EVER WE DECIDE TO DO I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE INCLUDE THOSE THAT HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN THE VACCINE. IF FOR EXAMPLE WE WERE TO DO A LOTTERY OR A CASH PAYMENT, IF I UNDERSTAND WE CAN USE FUNDS AND THERE IS NO COST AND CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG MR. HANNAH BUT IF WE USE THESE FUNDS THERE IS NO DIRECT COST TO THE CITY BECAUSE THOSE DOLLARS ARE COMING IN AND MY UNDERSTANDING THAT CORRECTLY?

>> SPEAKER: IT IS CORRECT IF YOU OFFER THOSE FOR SOMEONE IT REALLY AS AN INCENTIVE. I THINK THEY USE LANGUAGE CONTRARY TO THAT IS MY OPINION THAT YOU CANNOT USE THOSE FUNDS TO PAY FOR SOMEONE WHO IS ALREADY GOTTEN THE VACCINE.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: CAN USE THOSE FUNDS TO LACK OF A BETTER WORD REIMBURSE THE CITY FOR TIME OFF?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: IF IT IS A REWARD FOR SOMEONE WHO IS ALREADY RECEIVED THE VACCINE I WOULD SAY NO.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: WILL HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT BY JUST FEEL LIKE ANYTHING THAT WE DO FOR PEOPLE TO GET THE VACCINE WE HAVE TO REWARD THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED THE VACCINE.

SPEWING THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN THOSE FUNDS ARE BEING DISCUSSED AND WE ALSO DISCUSS SOME OF THOSE FUNDS BEING USED IN THE MIP AND SO THOSE FUNDS ARE LIMITED IN SCOPE IN REGARDS TO HOW THEY CAN BE USED BUT THOSE ARE SET FUNDS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. ADDITIONALLY, MR. HANNAH, I'M NOT SURE IF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS READY NOW. I'M NOT SURE IF ANNETTE BROUGHT HER CRYSTAL BALL BUT ANY SORT OF INFORMATION IN REGARDS TO COVID-19, THE DELTA VARIANT THAT MAY BE HELPFUL IN A PROJECTION OF WHAT THIS MIGHT LOOK LIKE IS INJECTING IN THE CONVERSATION AS WE TALK ABOUT THE USE OF THESE FUNDS MIGHT BE

HELPFUL, TOO. >> SPEAKER: YES SIR. I WILL TELL YOU IN THE MEETING WE HAD WITH THE HOSPITAL UNIVERSITIES AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS YESTERDAY ON THE ZOOM CALL TO TALK ABOUT COVID AND WHAT WE ARE SEEING DURING THE HOSPITAL UPDATE THEIR ARE ICU CURRENTLY FULL IN THE ABILENE SYSTEM THERE ARE 34 PATIENTS IN THE ICU, TWO OF WHICH HAVE BEEN VACCINATED THE OTHER 32 HAVE NOT BEEN. THE VAST MAJORITY OF NEW INFECTIONS ARE COMING FROM A YOUNGER POPULATION. THE AVERAGE AGE OF HOSPITALIZATION WENT FROM 65 OR 68 DOWN TO 55 OR 60 AND THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT DECLINE. WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN THE HOSPITAL FROM PEOPLE WHO AREN'T VACCINATED IS PUTTING A STRESS ON THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM. AT THIS POINT IN TIME THE STATE HAS NOT ACTIVATED THE STAR SYSTEM TO PROVIDE FOR NURSING AND IMPORTANT RESOURCES AS IT DID LAST SUMMER DURING THE COVID WAVE OR LAST WINTER'S COVID WAVE SO INTRICATE IS MAKING SURE THEY HAVE ADEQUATE STAFFING TO SEE THIS AS A NEED COMING FORWARD. THE STATE MAY TURN THE STAR SYSTEM BACK ON THEY JUST HAVEN'T DONE IT YET. ANNETTE, CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG ANNETTE, WILL YOU COME UP AND TALK ABOUT WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN THE YOUNGER POPULATION THE NEW INFECTION

RATE. >> COUNCILMEMBER: FOR CLARITY YOU SAID ALL 34 ICU BEDS ARE FULL OF COVID PATIENTS OR ALL IN USE AND MOST OF THEM ARE COVID?

>> SPEAKER: DOCTOR WILEY DID NOT INDICATE WHAT THEY ARE IN THEREFORE HE JUST SAID THERE WERE 34 ICU PATIENTS THAT WERE COVID RELATED AND TWO OF THEM WERE VACCINATED.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: SO THEY ARE COVID.

>> SPEAKER: HE SAID 26, 26 BEDS IN THE ICU AND ALL OF THOSE ARE FULL AND THEY ARE SPILLING OUT INTO OTHER AREAS. THE NUMBER YESTERDAY WAS 36, 38 WHATEVER YOU HAD MENTIONED.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: THERE ALL COVID NOT CAR ACCIDENT?

>> SPEAKER: THEY ARE ALL COVID. WHILE WE WERE SITTING HERE HE SAID THAT JUST IN THE LAST TWO DAYS THEY HAD TO DENY 24 TRANSFERS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY MORE CAPACITY IN THEIR HOSPITAL. I THINK THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THIS WE TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE VERY BEGINNING OF COVID WAS THE IMPORTANCE OF

[01:05:02]

THAT IS GOING TO HELP ALL OF US AND AS WE SAID, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FROM A WORKFORCE POSITION THAT WE LOOK AT WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO PROTECT OUR WORKFORCE SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE CITIZENS OF ABILENE.

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: ON THAT LARGER SCALE I KNOW THERE WAS SOME MODELING IN REGARDS TO WHAT INDIA EXPERIENCED PUTTING MODIFICATIONS STATEWIDE OR EVEN REGIONALLY OF WHAT THAT MAY LOOK LIKE OR IS IT STILL PRETTY AMBIGUOUS?

>> SPEAKER: I WAS LOOKING AT INFORMATION YESTERDAY AND THEY WERE LOOKING AT THE RATE OR THE VELOCITY OF INCREASE IN CASES.

IT LOOKS LIKE THE VELOCITY OF INCREASE RIGHT NOW ACTUALLY EXCEEDS WHAT WE EXPERIENCED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR WHEN IT REALLY GOT AT ITS WORSE. AND SO THAT IS WHAT EVERYBODY IS BRACING FOR IT IS LIKE A CAR, THE FASTER IT BEATS UP YOU CAN ANTICIPATE THAT IT IS GOING TO REACH MUCH HIGHER SPEED OR CASE RATES IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING TO INTERVENE AND AS WE MENTIONED YESTERDAY IN THE MEETING WE KNOW THAT THERE MAY NOT BE WHOLE LOT YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THAT TRAJECTORY IS ALREADY HAPPENING AND IF PEOPLE SUDDENLY GET VACCINATED TODAY IS GOING TO TAKE A GOOD MONTH OR SO TO REACH FULLY VACCINATED STATUS WHERE YOU CAN FEEL LIKE THEY'VE GOT THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY NEED TO STAVE OFF ANY

INFECTION. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: WHO IS

DOCTOR HALLER SAID? >> SPEAKER: HE IS THE

COMMISSIONER FOR TEXAS. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: WHAT DID HE SAY YESTERDAY ABOUT THE INCREASE IN CASES? CAN YOU

TALK ABOUT THAT? >> SPEAKER: I WATCHED HALF THE VIDEO AND I GOT SIDETRACKED. 159 PERCENT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CASES AND I DON'T REMEMBER THE TIMEFRAME. I THINK IT WAS IN THE PAST MONTH. WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT CASES JUST SINCE JULY FIRST. WE HAVE GONE FROM A POSITIVITY RATE OF AROUND ONE PERCENT TO SOMETIMES LESS THAN ONE PERCENT AND AS OF THIS WEEK I THINK IT WAS OVER FIVE PERCENT. THE HOSPITALIZATION RATE WITH THE 15 PERCENT CAPACITY AS YOU WOULD REMEMBER THAT WAS THE GOVERNOR'S THRESHOLD IN GA 32 AND WENT AGAIN FROM BELOW ONE PERCENT INTO NOW I THINK THAT RATE IN YESTERDAY'S CHART WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND FOUR PERCENT.

IT DOESN'T SOUND SIGNIFICANT BUT MOVING THAT QUICKLY WE KNOW IT CAN QUICKLY RISE AND WE KNOW FROM THE HOSPITAL PREVIOUSLY THAT 15 PERCENT IS ARBITRARY. WE ARE IN TROUBLE BEFORE WE HIT THE TEAM PERCENT LOCALLY BECAUSE WE HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES WITH THE ICU. EARLIER, MAYBE IT WAS MR. HOLLAND BUT THEY HAD A MATRIX THAT LOOKED AT THE NUMBER OF INFECTIONS TRANSLATING INTO A NUMBER OF THOSE GETTING ILL IN

[01:10:01]

TO EVEN MEET THAT? >> SPEAKER: I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD ANSWER THAT INTELLIGENTLY BECAUSE I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING THAT ALTERS THAT SO I AM NOT SURE.

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: MR. HANNAH, I KNOW THAT A LOT OF COVID-19 PEOPLE JUST DON'T KNOW. WITH THIS TRAJECTORY NOW, HAVE WE MISSED IT? IS IT WORTH HAVING THAT INCENTIVE?

>> SPEAKER: IS A GREAT QUESTION. WE PROBABLY LIKELY MISSED ANYTHING THAT WILL BE MEANINGFUL FOR THE DELTA VARIANT BUT WE SAW THAT SUMMER SPIKE LAST YEAR AND THE SO THE DOCTOR TALKED ABOUT. THE HEALTH AUTHORITY WE SAW A SUMMER SPIKE AND A WINTER SPIKE AND THE THINGS WE DO NOW COULD POTENTIALLY HELP THE NEXT SPIKE THAT MAY COME FOR THE NEXT VARIANT THAT MAY COME. RULE OF THUMB IS THAT WE ARE NOT DONE WITH COVID. WE MIGHT BE DONE WITH COVID BUT COVID MIGHT NOT BE DONE WITH US. I THINK THIS IS GOING TO HOLD TRUE WITH THE DIFFERENT VARIANT. WE RESPOND BETTER OVER TIME AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE KNOW THE VIRUS BETTER OVER TIME BUT IT STILL HAS AN IMPACT. RIGHT NOW FROM A SCIENTIFIC BASIS BASED ON WHAT I HAVE READ AND WHAT I HAVE SEEN THE AUTHORITIES ISSUE IS THAT THE VACCINE IS OUR BEST DEFENSE AGAINST COVID RIGHT NOW IN ITS VARIOUS FORMS. SO THE INCENTIVE WILL HELP OUR WORKFORCE WEATHER THE STORM AND ALLOW US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.

THAT WAS THE INTENT OF THE INCENTIVE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES THAT MIGHT NOT BE VACCINATED OR HAVE ANTIBODIES IN THAT MEMO THE COUNTY GOES THROUGH THE LOGICAL EXERCISE OF HERE IS THE VACCINATION RATE IN THE COMMUNITY RAISED ON THE SEROLOGY, A BLOOD STUDY THAT THEY LOOKED AT ANTIBODIES ACROSS THE NATION AND IN TEXAS TAKING THE AVERAGE TEXAN THAT HAS ANTIBODIES FROM COVID IN THEIR SYSTEM WHICH MEANS THEY'VE HAD COVID BEFORE AND SUBTRACT THAT FROM THE EMPLOYEE WORK WAS POPULATION AND THERE'S 500 OR SO FOLKS THAT HAVE ESSENTIALLY NOT BEEN VACCINATED OR HAVE NO ANTIBODIES TO COVID AND THAT IS OUR ENTIRE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT IN CIVIL PERSONNEL, COMPLETELY GONE. I KNOW WE HAVE FIREFIGHTERS THAT HAVE BEEN VACCINATED AND POLICE OFFICERS WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED AND I'M SAYING THIS IS A COMPARISON STANDPOINT IT IS A LARGE PART OF THE ORGANIZATION IS THERE A VALUE TRYING TO TAKE UP THE MINDS OF THE MIDDLE? MAYBE. WE COULD BRING THAT FORWARD TO YOU ALL AND ANNETTE AND I CLEARLY BELIEVE IT IS AND THAT IS WHY IT IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVE. I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS AND THE COUNCIL'S RULES AND PROCEDURES SAY IF A COUNCILMEMBER WANTS TO TALK ABOUT IT PUT IT ON THE AGENDA SO I HAVE NO PROBLEM DISCUSSING IT. IF COUNSEL WANTS TO MAKE IT AN ISSUE TO TALK ABOUT THAT'S PERFECTLY APPROPRIATE AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY.

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: ANNETTE, WHILE WE HAVE YOU HERE, I WANT TO SAY AS A COUNTY WE AROUND 32 PERCENT FULLY VACCINATED?

>> SPEAKER: WE RIDE BEHIND THE STATE IN THE NATION IN TERMS OF THE VACCINATION RATE IN TAYLOR COUNTY. I THINK IT WAS NOW, I DON'T HAVE MY PAGE IN FRONT OF ME BUT WAS IT 34 PERCENT, 33

PERCENT? >> COUNCILMEMBER: THE MEMO SAYS

38 PERCENT. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: WE HAVE ONE

SHOT AT 30 PERCENT? >> COUNCILMEMBER: IT'S FULLY VACCINATED. THE ONES WHO ARE 12 AND OLDER WHO ARE ELIGIBLE IT WAS 38.8 WHEREAS TEXAS AND THE NATION IS AROUND 50 PERCENT IF NOT A LITTLE BIT OVER. AND SO, WE LAG SIGNIFICANTLY BEHIND VACCINATION RATES. ATION RATES. CAN WE MAKE IT EASIER? ARE WE TRYING ANYTHING IN REGARDS TO PARTNERING WITH US IN THE COMMUNITY TO HELP GET SHOTS IN ARMS?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: TALKED ABOUT THAT YESTERDAY AND WE WILL WORK WITH OTHER UNIVERSITIES TO DO SOME DRIVE-THROUGH CLINIC OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEDIATRICIANS IN TOWN KNOW HOW TO SIGN UP TO BE PART OF THE VACCINES IF THEY CHOOSE TO THEIR PATIENTS CHOOSE TO GET ENTS CHOOSE TO GET IT PEERED WE ARE STILL WORKING THROUGH THE ACCESSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE IT IS EASY FOR THE VACCINE AND REALLY, THE EASY PART OF THE

[01:15:04]

YOU SAW THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DO A POP UP CLINIC AT THE AIRPORT TO PEOPLE GETTING OFF THE AIR PLANE OR GETTING ON THE AIRPLANE AND I DON'T KNOW HOW EFFECTIVE THEY WERE BUT WE SAW THE STATE OF TEXAS DOING THAT.

HOW DO WE CHANGE THE MODEL FOR THOSE WHO WANTED BECAUSE THEY

WILL GET IT. >> SPEAKER: CAN GET IT WHEN YOU ARE AT SAM'S OR THE GROCERY STORE.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: TO KYLE! WITH WHAT HE RAISED, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER IT IS FINE THEY JUST HAVEN'T DONE IT AND AND INCENTIVE MIGHT SWITCH THEM TO DO THAT. IF WE ONLY GIVE THE INCENTIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVEN'T HAD IT MY GUESS IS THAT THERE'S A FAIR NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO GOT IT THAT WERE JUST AS BLASC) THE JUST HAPPENED TO GET IT AND IF WE SEE THIS IN THE NEWS REPORT THAT THERE MIGHT BE A BOOSTER SHOT NEEDED HAVING AN INCENTIVE THAT AWARDS YOU FOR WAITING MAY ENCOURAGE THAT PORTION OF OUR EMPLOYEE BASE TO GET ONE. IF I HOLD OFF I MIGHT GET SOMETHING GOOD. WE WEREN'T TALKING ABOUT AN INCENTIVE AND MONTH AGO OR LAST YEAR WHEN WE WERE HAVING THESE SURGES. THERE MIGHT BE ANOTHER SEARCH WHERE WE THINK TODAY THIS IS THE ONE AND ONLY THING THAT WE DO BUT IT'S BAD ENOUGH TO SAY WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING AND I AM CONCERNED THAT HAVING A LIMITED INCENTIVE MIGHT HURT FUTURE NEED FOR HAVING VACCINATIONS.

>> SPEAKER: I HAVE HEARD THAT ARGUMENT AND THERE IS A SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION THAT CONSIDERS THEMSELVES TO BE HIGH RISK. WE WILL GET THOSE PEOPLE AND HONESTLY FROM A FAIRNESS STANDPOINT IF WE HAD THE MONEY EARLIER IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT TO OFFER SOME SORT OF INCENTIVE PROGRAM AND WE CAN LOOK AT THINGS LIKE DOING SOMETHING LIKE WHAT HENDRICK IS DOING TO OFFER REDUCTIONS ON EMPLOYEE OF INSURANCE PLANS IN ORDER TO GET IT AND THEY HAVE OFFERED A DAY OFF, THE DATE YOU GET YOUR SHOT YOU GET YOUR EIGHT HOURS OF PTO. IT'S NOT THAT WE ARE AGAINST GIVING IT TO SOMEONE IN A FAIR WAY IS JUST HERE WE ARE, WE CAN'T GO BACK IN TIME AND WE CAN'T MAKE MONEY ALLOWABLE FOR THE OTHER THINGS WE WANT TO USE IT FOR.

I TOLD MR. HANNA, I AM THE FIRST ONE I AM AN EMPLOYEE WHO GOT VACCINATED IN MY EMPLOYEE PERSPECTIVE IS THAT'S NOT FAIR, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO FOR ME? IN A PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIAL ROLE THIS IS GOING TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY AND I HAVE TO PUT THAT ASIDE AND SAY WHAT CAN WE DO RIGHT NOW? IT IS A HARD DECISION AND IT MIGHT NOT BE A POPULAR DECISION DOES IT MOVE THE NEEDLE ON GETTING PEOPLE VACCINATED? THEREFORE AS A PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIAL WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND IT.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: IT'S MY DECISION WE PUT THE PROGRAM TOGETHER TO BE AS BUDGET NEUTRAL AS WE COULD POSSIBLY BE AND MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER WE DID DO WAS FUNDED THROUGH FEDERAL DOLLARS AND NOT TAXPAYER DOLLARS WHICH IS WHY WE DID NOT DO PTO FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED THE VACCINE. IF THAT IS THE COUNCIL'S PLEASURE I HAVE NO OBJECTION. I GOT MY EARLY VACCINE AND I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM ANYWAY. IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO DO THAT TO OFFER A LOTTERY MECHANISM, THAT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY OF DOING THAT IN THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE WAY TO DO THAT. GET YOUR VACCINE SPIN THE WHEEL AND HERE'S WHAT YOU GET. IF YOU LAND ON THE PRIZE. SO TO SPEAK. THAT CAN BE SOMETHING THAT WE CONSIDER IF THE COUNCIL STAYED IN THAT DIRECTION. DOES ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK ON THIS SUBJECT?

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: I HAVE A QUESTION. I THINK I AGREE I THINK THE INCENTIVE IS A GOOD THING BUT THE ONLY THING IS, NOT JUST REWARDING PEOPLE WHO HAVE DELAYED HAGER FOR TRYING TO GET THE VACCINE BUT MAYBE THERE'S PEOPLE WHO HAVE DISABILITIES WHO CAN'T GET THE VACCINE IN A BE THERE'S PEOPLE WHO HAVE RELIGIOUS BELIEFS THAT HINDER THEM FROM GETTING THE VACCINE SO WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO MAYBE SAFEGUARD AGAINST THAT OTHER? I THINK THERE'S WAYS TO INCENTIVIZE OTHER THAN GETTING

[01:20:01]

THEM IN A DIFFERENT WAY. >> SPEAKER: FOR PEOPLE WITH MOBILITY ISSUES WE HAVE BEEN GOING OUT FOR HOME VACCINATIONS. THROUGH MEALS ON WHEELS WE SEND OUT A TEAM AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK AS MORE PEOPLE SIGN UP AND GET ON BOARD. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO. AS FAR AS PEOPLE WHO ARE UNABLE TO GET THE VACCINE FOR WHATEVER REASONS, I THINK THIS IS FOR THEM, TOO. GETTING OTHER PEOPLE VACCINATED IS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO, YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO DON'T REACT TO VACCINES OR PRODUCE ANTIBODIES LIKE YOU WANT THEM TO DO WHEN THEY GET A VACCINE OR WHATEVER REASON.

THIS PROTECTION IS FOR THEM. I AM NOT SURE IF THERE IS SOME OTHER THING WE CAN GIVE THEM OTHER THAN PROTECTING THEM BY GETTING PEOPLE AROUND THEM VACCINATED BUT WE HAVE OFFERED TO GO ON-SITE ANYWHERE AND PROVIDE IT.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: I WAS THINKING OF THE CITY EMPLOYEES IF THEY OPT TO NOT DO IT CAN THEY DO MORE TESTING OR WORK REMOTELY LIKE YOU HAVE TRIED TO INCENTIVIZE?

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: WE DO PROVIDE TESTING?

>> SPEAKER: WE DO. IN SOME CASES WE AUTHORIZE REMOTE WORK THAT I DON'T OFFER IT IN MASS BECAUSE THERE'S WORK PERFORMANCE ISSUES, UNFORTUNATELY IN SOME JOBS YOU JUST CAN'T WORK REMOTELY. IT'S HARD TO BE A GROUNDSKEEPER AND

WORK REMOTELY. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS:

COUNCILMEMBER HURT? >> COUNCILMEMBER: THINK YOU. I DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HOSPITAL BIDS WHAT WAS THE NUMBER LAST YEAR? NOT PERCENTAGES BUT WHAT WAS THE NUMBER? 22 PEOPLE AND TWO WEEKS AGO THERE WAS 22 PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL AND 34 AND OUT INTO OUR VACCINATED. AND, THE VACATION DAY INCENTIVE HAS PAID FOR ARPA FUNDS BUT WERE WE TALKING ABOUT LACK OF REVENUE FOR LACK OF PRODUCTION FOR ALL THE VACATION TIME HE MET I AM A BUSINESSMAN AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO GIVE EVERY EMPLOYEE A WEEKS VACATION AND LOOKING AT IT FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT THAT LOST PRODUCTION IF IT IS THAT EASILY MADE UP AS A BUSINESSPERSON WE ARE SHORTHANDED AND IT MAKES IT LOOK LIKE HE HAD TOO MANY PEOPLE. IF IT'S THAT EASY TO COVER THAT MANY VACATIONS FOR THAT MANY PEOPLE IN ONE YEARS

TIME I'M NOT FOR IT. >> SPEAKER: THE INTENT WAS NOT TO INDICATE WE ARE OVERSTAFFED, IT WAS AN INTENT TO PROVIDE AN INCENTIVE THAT WAS MEANINGFUL TO GET PEOPLE TO MOVE AND WE DIDN'T THINK EIGHT HOURS WOULD DO IT HERE MAYBE WE ARE WRONG BUT Y'ALL ASKED TO DISCUSS IT AND IF IT'S THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IS THE STICKING POINT THEN WE COULD CERTAINLY CONSIDER A LOWER AMOUNT OF PTO IF THAT IS THE COUNCIL'S PLEASURE.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: AS I MENTIONED TO YOU ONLY TALKED ON THE PHONE ABOUT THIS, I WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME VOTING YES FOR THIS AND I RECOGNIZE THAT I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS UNDER YOUR PURVIEW AND I SUPPORTED YOU IN MAKING THAT DECISION THAT YOU FELT WAS BEST IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE INFORMATION YOU ARE GETTING BECAUSE YOU ARE GETTING EXPOSED TO A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT I WAS NOT IN STILL HAVE NOT. THAT IS WHERE I STILL AM. I SUPPORT YOUR AUTHORITY IN BEING ABLE TO MAKE THIS DECISION. I STILL DON'T KNOW IF I CAN VOTE FOR BECAUSE OF ISSUES I HAVE AND I WASN'T INTENDING TO GO INTO A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS TODAY BUT THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE FOR ME.

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: THIS IS A LARGER CONVERSATION THAT I WILL CONCUR IN REGARDS TO THE SENTIMENT ARTICULATED BY COUNCILMEMBER PRICE. THIS BUDGET WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IF YOU LOOK AT THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WE ARE ENTRUSTING YOU, THE CEO WITH, I ALSO WOULD PROVIDE MY SUPPORT FOR YOU FOR THINGS THAT YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT, YOUR ASSOCIATION, YOUR PEERS IN REGARDS TO MITIGATING LOSS OF WORK BUT IF SOMEONE IS COVID-19 POSITIVE WITH THE CDC GUIDELINES THEY ARE MISSING WORK ANYWAY. IN FACT I WOULD ARGUE THAT IT MAY EXTEND JUST BEYOND REGULAR PAY. EVERYONE

[01:25:07]

FOR OUR COUNSEL AND COMMUNITY. >> COUNCILMEMBER: I DO NOT FEEL UNSUPPORTED BY THE COUNCIL AND THE CHARTER IS CLEAR. IF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO DISCUSS SOMETHING IT IS YOUR PURVIEW TO DO IT AND I DON'T TAKE IT PERSONALLY. IT IS HOW THE

PROCESS WORKS. >> COUNCILMEMBER: I WANT TO MAKE ONE THING CLEAR, I AM BEHIND OUR CITY MANAGER 100 PERCENT I JUST DON'T LIKE THIS PROPOSAL.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: I UNDERSTAND AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: I'M NOT TRYING TO PUNT OUR RESPONSIBILITY. I WILL STAND BEHIND THE DECISION AND I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO WHAT COUNCILMEMBER PRICE SAID. IF THIS IS YOUR FULL-TIME JOB AND YOU HAVE MORE INFORMATION TO THE FACTS, YOU CAN GET THEM BUT YOU HAVE MORE FACTS AT THIS POINT, MY CONCERN IS, IF WE CAN MAKE IT AND I HATE TO USE THE WORD FAIR BECAUSE FAIR IS AT THE EXPO CENTER EQUITABLE IS PERHAPS A BETTER WORD. WE CAN MAKE IT EQUITABLE AND IF WE CAN'T AND YOU FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE BEST PATH I AM BEHIND YOU

100 PERCENT ON THAT ONE. >> COUNCILMEMBER: I WOULD SAY BASED ON THE COUNCIL DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A DIVIDED COUNSEL ON THIS ISSUE. I WAS BORN, BUT NOT YESTERDAY AND AM NOT GOING TO INSTITUTE THIS IF IT DOES NOT HAVE THE COUNCIL BACKING ON THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO REVISIT THIS ISSUE AGAIN WITH THE COUNCIL MAYBE WE CAN GIVE IT A WEEK OR TWO AND PEOPLE CAN ASK QUESTIONS IF THEY LIKE AND RECEIVE INFORMATION FROM THE COMMUNITY BUT I DO BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET OUR WORKFORCE VACCINATED. I DON'T THINK YOU CAN SHAME THEM INTO DOING IT NOR SHOULD YOU COMPEL THEM TO DO IT I FORCE AND NOR SHOULD YOU. THE ONLY OTHER OPTION IS EDUCATION INCENTIVES. WE CAN STRICTLY KEEP AN EDUCATION MODEL. I HAD ONE EMPLOYEE WHO WAS EXERCISING THE RIGHT TO SPEAK AND THEY SAID LOOK, IF YOU'RE GOING TO SAY THIS ABOUT PRO VACCINATION I SHOULD BE ABLE TO SAY THIS ABOUT NOT GETTING VACCINATED AND I SIMPLY TOLD THAT PERSON THAT IN THE COURSE OF MY EMPLOYMENT OF CITY MANAGER HAD TO DO THINGS THAT ARE FOR THE GOOD ORDER AND DISCIPLINE OF THE ORGANIZATION AND THAT'S WHAT I DID IN THIS DEAL. THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT DIFFER WHETHER THE VACCINES ARE GOOD OR BAD AND I'M NOT TRYING TO WEIGH IN ON THAT I'M JUST TRYING TO GET THE ORGANIZATION PREPARED FOR WHAT WILL MORE THAN LIKELY BE ANOTHER COVID HIT TO THE COMMUNITY AND I WANT TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE COMMUNITY AND I APPRECIATE COUNSEL'S DIALOGUE.

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A HEALTHY COUNSEL WHERE WE HAVE A CHANCE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION THAT IS IMPORTANT. THOSE WHO GO TO THE BALLOT BOX AND VOTED FOR US IN THIS COMMUNITY I THINK THAT THE VIEWS OF THE COUNCIL EXIST IN THE COMMUNITY AND FROM MY STANDPOINT I AM NOT SUPPORTIVE OF ANY MANDATED VACCINE BUT IF YOU, ANNETTE AND THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE IN CHARGE OF LOOKING TOWARDS THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THE COMMUNITY AND THOSE IN THE DISTRICT AND YOUR EMPLOYEES WE CAN DO THINGS THAT WILL ALLOW US TO CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ABILENE TO BE AT THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL FOR VACCINES AND I THINK THE SCIENCE SAYS THAT THE LESS PEOPLE WHO GET SICK THE LESS PEOPLE DIE AND I'M IN FAVOR OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO ENCOURAGE THAT AND MAKE IT EASIER. WE TALKED ABOUT REACHING OUT TO CHURCHES AND OTHER NONPROFIT AND I WOULD LOVE A CONVERSATION IN THAT REGARDS OF HOW WE CAN PROVIDE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO CHOOSE TO BE INOCULATED. ANY OTHER COUNSEL, IT BEFORE THE PUBLIC HEARING?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING PROACTIVE ON THIS IS HARD TO STEP AND DO SOMETHING THAT IS SO CONTROVERSIAL. MY ONLY ISSUE WITH IT IS THAT I KNOW

[01:30:01]

RELIABLE DATA ON THAT? >> SPEAKER: THERE IS NOT. WE

DO NOT KEEP THE DATA ON THAT. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: WE DON'T

CHECK THE INFORMATION. >> COUNCILMEMBER: I DO NOT KNOW OF ANY OTHER MAJOR ORGANIZATIONS TO CHECK BUT I THINK WE NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT NOT INTENTIONALLY CREATING A SITUATION WHERE WE ARE TREATING SOME EMPLOYEES DIFFERENT AND I KNOW THAT'S NOT YOUR INTENSE BUT EVEN IF WE HYBRIDIZE THE SYSTEM SOMEHOW WE CAN AWARD A LITTLE BIT I THINK 40 HOURS IS WAY TOO MUCH TIME THAT IS A FULL WEEK. I KNOW THAT THAT NUMBER IS THE ONLY ONE I HAVE SEEN BUT FRANKLY THAT'S A LOT OF TIME THAT IS A FULL WEEK OF LOST PRODUCTIVITY.

A SHORTER AMOUNT OF TIME OFF OR EQUIVALENT MONIES, AND WILLING TO ENTERTAIN THOSE DISCUSSIONS. I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING BASED ON LIMITED INFORMATION THAT IS A MOVING TARGET ALL THE TIME AND WE ARE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING AND TO ME DOING NOTHING IS NOT AN OPTION SO WE HAVE TO CONTINUE THIS DISCUSSION.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: PERHAPS GOING FORWARD WE CAN PUT TOGETHER A PROGRAM BECAUSE IT IS A CONSISTENT CONVERSATION AND WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED THE VACCINE, TOO. I HEAR THE COUNCIL AND IF WE PUT TOGETHER A PROGRAM THAT DOES THAT AND PROVIDES ADDITIONAL INCENTIVE MECHANISMS OTHER THAN PTO OR LESS AMOUNTING PTO WE WILL BRING THAT FORWARD TO THE COUNCIL FOR A RESOLUTION AND WE WILL TAKE A FORMAL VOTE ON IT AND EVERYONE'S VOTE WILL BE

REFLECTED. >> COUNCILMEMBER: YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT SOME PLACES, MR. HANNAH, MAY BE YOU KNOW BUT WITH THE HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS DO WE OFFER INCENTIVES WITHIN OUR HEALTH PROGRAM FOR WELLNESS AND IF IT'S?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: HENDRIX MEDICAL CENTER HAS A WELLNESS PROGRAM IF YOU EAT A CERTAIN CRITERIA IF YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE IS >X THEY SAID IF YOU GET THE VACCINE 53 PERCENT OF THAT HEALTH METRICS, 53 PERCENT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED AND IF YOU GET A SCORE OF FOUR THEN TWO POINTS HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED AND IF YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE IS UNDER CONTROL AND YOU HAVE A WAISTLINE OF CERTAIN INCHES WE DON'T HAVE A WELLNESS PROGRAM LIKE THAT SET UP AND FRANKLY WE COULD NOT SUPPORTED OR FUNDED AT THE CURRENT RATE OF OUR SELF-ASSURANCE FUND BUT, WE ARE AT A POINT THE FUND BALANCE WHERE MAYBE WE CAN CONSIDER THAT KIND OF STUFF. MAYBE NEXT YEAR BUT I WOULDN'T CONSIDER IT

THIS YEAR. >> COUNCILMEMBER: YOU MENTIONED THAT COVID IS GOING TO BE HERE FOR A WHILE AND IF WE GO DOWN THIS ROAD WE CAN ADD IT IN THEIR. I APPRECIATE THAT.

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: THIS DOES CALL FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ANY OTHER COMMENTS PRIOR TO THE COUNCIL: AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE A CARD. WE WILL HAVE A THREE-MINUTE TIME

LIMIT. >> SPEAKER: THINK YOU COUNSEL,

[01:35:06]

THERE IS A BIG FIRESTORM ONE WAY OR ANOTHER AND THE VA ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET A SHOT IF YOU WANT TO WORK FOR THE VA. BACK GENERATIONS SEVERAL GENERATIONS AGO WE WENT TO WAR FOR COUNTRIES FOR DOING STUFF LIKE THAT IN IMPOSING THINGS ON PEOPLE. YOU KNOW? THE SOCIAL MEDIA FIRESTORM WHEN THEY PUT IT ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE TV STATIONS, HOW MANY PEOPLE SCREAMED AND SAID DON'T USE CITY DOLLARS! AND YESTERDAY IN THE MEDIA INTERVIEWS THEY SAID THAT WERE GOING TO USE THE RESCUE PLAN IS WHAT THEY CALL IT NOW BUT IN THE IN IT REALLY GOES DOWN TO PERSONAL CHOICE IT IS NOT A BRIBE. THERE WAS IN THE PACKET I DID READ THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL LISTINGS OF DIFFERENT STATES AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO TRY TO INCENTIVE EMPLOYEES AND ONE THAT CAUGHT ME WAS WARM, AND AMERICAN TERRITORY. IT IS A PACIFIC TOLL. THEY SAID SIX PEOPLE WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR A FREE CAR IF THEY GOT THEIR INOCULATION. DO YOU KNOW IS ONLY 212 SQUARE MILES ON GUAM? WOULD THAT BE A GOOD INCENTIVE? I GUESS IF YOU WERE BACK THERE ONLY TEMPORARY AND YOU SHIPPED THE CAR BACK TO THE MAINLAND THAT WOULD BE GOOD BUT IN THE END IT ALL GOES DOWN TO PERSONAL CHOICE. YOU KNOW? THERE'S SO MUCH MISINFORMATION ONE WAY OR ANOTHER AND THEY INITIALLY SAID THEY INOCULATION WAS 90 SOMETHING PERCENT EFFECTIVE AND FROM THAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE 100 PERCENT THAT YOU WOULDN'T BE IN THE HOSPITAL BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE UK THE MAIN PERSON GOT UP THERE AND SAID 40 PERCENT HAVE BEEN AN OCULAR AIDED IN THE HOSPITAL AND YOU SAID IN YOUR PRESENTATION THAT IT SEEMS LOW BUT I WOULD SAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY IT'S PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT HIGHER. IN THE END IT IS LIKE MR. FAT SHE SAID, IT SAYS HE'S TRYING TO PUT IT ON LIKE IT'S JUST GOING TO BE THE FLU AND EVERY YEAR YOU WILL HAVE TO GET AN UP DATE AND I MEAN, IT ALL GOES BACK TO WUHAN WHEN A RESEARCHER IMPORTED BATS 600 MILES AWAY WITH COVID AND SAID LET'S MIX IT WITH SARS AND SEE WHAT THEY GET AND SOMEHOW IT ESCAPED WHETHER IT WAS INTENTIONAL OR NOT WE WILL PROBABLY NEVER KNOW. IN THE END THIS IS THE RESULTS. ALL OVER THE WORLD WE HAVE THIS SITUATION NOW. THANK YOU VERY MUCH COUNSEL THIS MORNING FOR LETTING ME GIVE YOU THAT TO

SENT. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? SEEING NO I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THAT WAS FOR DISCUSSION ONLY AND BEFORE WE GO TO ITEM NUMBER 4 DO WE NEED A BREAK FOR COUNSEL? WE ASK FOR FIVE

[4. Discussion: Receive a Report and Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing on Potable Water Supply Resiliency Requirements (Rodney Taylor) ]

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: WE WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER 4 AND I WILL ASK RODNEY TAYLOR OF THE DIRECTOR OF WATER UTILITIES TO

PRESENT THIS ITEM. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. RODNEY TAYLOR DIRECTOR OF WATER UTILITIES.

THIS MORNING WILL BE MAKING A PRESENTATION AND GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE POTABLE WATER SUPPLY RESILIENCY REQUIREMENTS. THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO THE FEBRUARY WINTER STORM EVENT. WE HAD ASKED THAT EH T EVALUATE THAT SITUATION AND ALSO LOOK AT THE LEGISLATION THAT RESULTED FROM THAT SITUATION IN THE MEANTIME. WE WILL INTRODUCE LUCY DONE FROM DHT WHO WILL BE MAKING A PRESENTATION AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS BEYOND THE WAY AND I WILL FOLLOW-UP WITH A SHORT VISITATION AND GET A FEEDBACK FROM THE COUNCIL OF WHAT THEIR DESIRE IS FOR A RESPONSE TO OUR OPTIONS AS FAR AS ADDRESSING BACKUP POWER SUPPLY. I WILL TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO LUCY DUNN.

>> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY, HOW ARE YOU?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: WELL, GOOD MORNING.

>> SPEAKER: WE WILL GET INTO THIS PRESENTATION IN JUST A

[01:40:01]

HARRIS COUNTY AND THE ADJOINING COUNTIES HAVE A LARGER POPULATION AND WERE REQUIRED TO HAVE WHAT IS NOW REQUIRED FOR ALL WATER UTILITIES ACROSS THE STATE AS WELL AS RAW WATER SUPPLIERS. SO THIS IS NEW AND WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT ARE WE NOW COMPLIANT OR ARE WE STILL COMPLIANT WITH THE NEW

WORK THAT IS COMING OUT. >> COUNCILMEMBER: FOR CLARITY HAS THE SIN BILL GONE THROUGH AND SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR?

>> SPEAKER: IT WAS SIGNED JUNE 8.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: IT IS EFFECTIVE THE FIRST.

>> SPEAKER: IT HAS NOT BEEN CODIFIED BY THE Q CT HERE THE TEXAS WATER BOARD IS THE OVERVIEW AND BEYOND THAT THE TEXAS WATER QUALITY OVERVIEW IN HOW TO COMPLY WITH THE TEXAS WATER CODE CHANGES IN THE SENATE BILL CHANGES A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS BUT IS SPECIFICALLY CHANGES THE TEXAS WATER CODE AS IT IS RELATED TO THE PRODUCT CODE WE ARE LOOKING AT IN THE RESILIENCE OF THE WATER SYSTEM.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: YES. THE MAIN DEAL FOR THE SENATE BILL IS FOR THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE PRESSURE WITH A POWER OUTAGE LASTING MORE THAN 24 HOURS AND KEEPING THAT PRESSURE UP IN THE SYSTEM FOLLOWING AN INCIDENT. THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF IN HERE BUT I WILL SUMMARIZE WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. THE FIRST THING IS, NOVEMBER 1 THERE'S GOING TO BE A SUBMITTAL IDENTIFYING CRITICAL FACILITIES. MARCH 1 AND EMERGENCY PLAN NEEDS TO BE CEMENTED FOR ALL UTILITIES AND NO LATER THAN JULY 1 OF NEXT YEAR IMPLEMENT THE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN THERE ARE ACTIONS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN.

WE CURRENTLY COMPLIANT? I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE. EH TR THE INTERPRETATION OF THE SENATE BILL AS IT IS WRITTEN RIGHT NOW IS THAT THE CITY OF ABILENE REACHES THE REQUIREMENT.

DURING THE POWER OUTAGE LASTING MORE THAN 24 HOURS THE CITY SHOULD ABLE TO ENSURE THE OPERATION OF ITS WATER SYSTEM WITH MINIMUM PRESSURE WHICH IS THE THRESHOLD LEVEL. THE WAY YOU SHOW THAT IS TO SHOW THAT YOU MEET AT LEAST ONE OF THE PREPAREDNESS OPTIONS THAT ARE PROVIDED IN THIS NEW SENATE BILL. THERE ARE 14 OPTIONS. WE BELIEVE THAT YOU ALL MEET OPTION NUMBER 8 AND AGAIN YOU ONLY HAVE TO HAVE ONE OF THESE OPTIONS TO PUT IN YOUR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN.

[01:45:03]

WE WERE TASKED TO SAY WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO INCREASE THE RESILIENCE? WE LOOKED AT A WIDE ARRAY OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS. WE LOOKED AT STANDBY GENERATORS LOCATED AT THE FACILITIES WITH DIFFERENT SOURCES, FUEL SOURCES AND WE LOOKED AT A MICROGRID SYSTEM WHICH WAS ESSENTIALLY A STANDBY GENERATOR THAT IS OPERATED BY A DIFFERENT, NOT BY THE CITY BUT THE ENGINE DRIVEN PUMPS FOR THE FUEL SOURCE AND NOT ENERGY POWER. IT IS A VERY COMPLEX ISSUE TO LOOK AT, HOUSTON WHICH IS ONE OF THE AREAS THAT DOES HAVE THE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN ALREADY, 20 PERCENT OF THE BACKUP GENERATORS DID NOT WORK

[01:50:02]

FOR ME BEFORE I HANDED OVER? >> COUNCILMEMBER: EITHER QUESTION, THE 25 MILLION IS THAT THE COST THE MAINTENANCE

COST? >> SPEAKER: YES P THE MAINTENANCE COST FOR EACH UNIT RANGES BETWEEN $1000, IS IT $2000? I THINK ALTOGETHER IT'S ABOUT $100,000 PER YEAR IS THE

ANNUAL COST FOR THAT. >> COUNCILMEMBER: THANK YOU.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: ON THE 14 OPTION OPPOSED TO MODIFYING?

>> SPEAKER: ELLA MAKE SURE I GET THE NUMBER RIGHT.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: AND WE THINK THAT THREE DAYS FOR THE NORTHEAST POWERPLANT WOULD GENERATE ENOUGH WATER FOR THE COMMUNITY IN THAT SHORT TIME. IF WE HAVE ANOTHER STORM IS

THAT ACCURATE? >> SPEAKER: LET ME ANSWER THAT.

[01:55:05]

>> COUNCILMEMBER: IN OUR ASSESSMENT OF THAT EVENT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO PRODUCE WATER TO KNOW WHAT THAT DEMAND WAS IN OUR SYSTEM. WE FOUND OUT AS WE RESTORED OUR SYSTEM THAT WE SAW A PEAK SUMMER DEMAND ON A FREEZING COLD WINTER DAY. IF YOU LOOK AT THE OVERLAY OF THE CITY OF LUBBOCK'S WATER DEMAND OVER THE SAME PERIOD OF TIME ABILENE SYSTEM FAILED AND IF YOU WOULD ASSUME THAT YOU WERE OPERATIONAL WE WOULD EXPECT THAT RELEASING THAT MUCH MORE WATER HAD POWER BEEN MAINTAINED AT THE TREATMENT PLANS BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION THAT WE WERE IN WE WOULD NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT WATER TO MAINTAIN A PRESSURE THROUGHOUT THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND MEET ALL OF OUR WHOLESALE CUSTOMER DEMANDS THROUGH THIS SCENARIO AT MAX PRODUCTION THAT WE HAD AT THE TIME.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: THE DEMAND WAS PUSHED BY HYSTERIA PEOPLE HAVING WATER ON DEMAND AS AVERAGE, IN THE WINTERTIME IT

IS LOWER THAN THAT. >> COUNCILMEMBER: THE DAY BEFORE THE FAILURE OUR DEMAND WAS 17 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY.

IT WAS AN ADDITIONAL 20 MILLION GALLONS OF DEMAND.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: WHAT IS THE CAPACITY OF THE WATER TREATMENT

PLANT TODAY? >> SPEAKER: THE RELIED HE OF 23 MILLION GALLONSGALLONS PER DAY.

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: WHAT IS THE RELIABILITY?

>> SPEAKER: IT IS RATED AT 25. WE RECYCLE PART OF THE WATER THAT TAKES UP SOME OF THE CAPACITY AND THAT IS WHERE THE

23 MGD COMES IN AS RELIABLE. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: NATURAL GAS WAS PER POSED AS AN ALTERNATIVE BUT IN THE PROPOSAL IT IS

DIESEL, RIGHT? >> COUNCILMEMBER: THERE ARE SOME OPTIONS THAT PRESENTED AS FAR AS THE NORTHEAST WATER PLANT THE MICROGRID PROVIDED AN OPTION USING NATURAL GAS TO FUEL THAT. THEY LOOKED AT ALL OF THE FACILITIES AND WHAT TYPE OF FUEL IS AVAILABLE AND NATURAL GAS IS ONLY AVAILABLE AT TWO OF THE CITIES FACILITIES WITHOUT NATURE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT TO EXTEND SERVICE NORTHEAST WATER TREATMENT PLANT AND THE NORTHWEST PUMP STATION LOCATED AT THE FIVE POINT IS THIS PART, THERE ARE ONLY TWO THAT COULD AT THIS TIME PROVIDE BACKUP POWER SUPPLY IS IN NATURAL GASES AND FUELS.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: I LEARNED A LOT OF DIFFERENT VARIABLES DOWN TO THE CHANGE TO GET WATERED DOWN FROM THE PLANT TO THE SPIGOT ARE ALL OF THOSE GENERATED IN THIS CONVERSATION?

>> SPEAKER: THE 14 FACILITIES THAT WERE IN HER ORIGINAL LIST ARE THE CRITICAL FACILITIES THAT ARE IN PLACE RIGHT NOW THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND THAT IS ASSUMING THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO KEEP EVERY PUMP STATION, EVERY STORAGE FACILITY AT EVERY TREATMENT PLANT OPERATIONAL WITH THE EXCEPTION OF GRIMES WATER TREATMENT PLANT AND THAT WAS INTENTIONALLY LEFT OUT OF THAT WITH THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE PLANT WILL NOT BE A LONG-TERM SOURCE OF SUPPLY FOR THE CITY OF ABILENE WITH OUR CURRENT WATER SUPPLY STRATEGY AND THAT WOULD PROVIDE US POTENTIALLY WITH UP TO 50 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY AND RIGHT NOW IT WOULD PROVIDE 37 AND AS WE GO THROUGH OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND SHIFT CAPACITY TO NORTHEAST AND SOUTHSIDE WATERSHED GALLONS PER DAY TOTAL CAPACITY IF WE PUT IT AT THE NORTHEAST PLANT.

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: QUESTIONS FOR MR. TAYLOR FROM COUNSEL?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: WITH THE MICROGRID AND NATURAL GAS THERE WAS EVEN FAILURE OF PRESSURE FROM NATURAL GAS FROM THE SNOWSTORM SO THERE'S NO GUARANTEE WE WILL GET NATURAL GAS, CORRECT? WE CAN'T PREDICT EVERYTHING IS WHAT I'M SAYING.

>> SPEAKER: THAT'S THE DEAL THERE ARE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF VARIABLES OUT THERE. TO SAY THAT WE CAN 100 PERCENT CHANCE

[02:00:05]

OUTAGE? WE CANNOT. >> COUNCILMEMBER: SO HOUSTON HAD THAT WATER FAILURE SOY DON'T KNOW HOW YOU COULD DO IT.

>> SPEAKER: THE CITY OF ABILENE INSTALLED A GENERATOR TO BACK UP THE SCREW PUMP STATION. OF COURSE THE POWER FAILED THERE AS WELL AND THE BRAND-NEW GENERATOR DID NOT START AND WOULD NOT START AND HAD TO BE SERVICED TO ACTUALLY GET IT TO RUN AND THUS A BRAND-NEW UNIT. IT HAD BEEN TESTED AND EVERYTHING WAS RIGHT ABOUT IT EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT IT DIDN'T START AND YOU NEEDED IT.

>> SPEAKER: I APOLOGIZE IF WE COVER THIS AND I'VE FORGOTTEN BUT ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAD WAS WITH THERE BE A POSSIBILITY TO GET EVERYTHING ON THE EP BUT TO BRING IN

TAYLOR ELECTRIC? >> SPEAKER: WE HAVE LOOKED AT THAT AND I ASKED RODNEY TO TALK TO TAYLOR ELECTRIC AND OUR ENERGY BROKER WHO WE BUY OUR ENERGY FROM LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IN TEXAS. WE'VE DONE THAT WE HAVE A MEETING WITH BOB FOREMAN AND PPM PEER THEY HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THAT. WE HAVE A FULL REQUIREMENT CONTRACT SO IF YOU RING OUT A LOAD LIKE THE HARPER PLANT COULD PRODUCE PRICING ISSUE FOR US SO I WANT TO BE PART OF THIS PROCESS TO IDENTIFY ALTERNATIVES THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP HARDEN OUR SYSTEM WITHOUT NECESSARILY CHANGING SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT COULD AFFECT THE CONTRACT.

THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE FORTHCOMING AND WE SHOULD HAVE THEM THIS SUMMER I WOULD IMAGINE.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: I WAS THINKING THE SAME THING BUT WITH RESPECT TO THE LIST OF ALL THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED WITH THE POWER WOULD LOOKING BACK TO FEBRUARY, WOULD HAVING TAYLOR ELECTRIC POWER NORTHEAST MADE A DIFFERENCE ON THE PUMPS THAT WERE NOT POWERED? OR HAVE YOU BEEN CREATING WATER WE CAN'T SEND YOU WHERE OR BEING ABLE TO GET RAW WATER?

>> SPEAKER: THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION THAT I CAN'T REALLY ADDRESS EXCEPT FOR PROVIDING ANOTHER SERVICE PROVIDER IN THE AREA OF THE NORTHEAST TREATMENT PLAN AND I'M NOT SURE IF TAYLOR ELECTRIC IS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING THAT TYPE OF LOAD IN

THAT AREA. >> COUNCILMEMBER: EVEN IF IT COULD WOULD IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

>> SPEAKER: IF THE PLANT HAD STAYED RUNNING WE STILL HAD WATER SUPPLY ISSUES INTO THE PLANT THAT WOULD HAVE AT LEAST RIGHTLY LIMITED OUR ABILITY TO PRODUCE WATER.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: AT THE NORTHEAST PLANT IN THE SUBSTATION? IS THAT WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT? IF THAT HAD POWER WHAT WOULD THAT HAVE DONE TO OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE

SERVICE? >> SPEAKER: IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IMPROVE. OBVIOUSLY THERE'S LIMITED CAPACITY AT THE PLANT BUT DURING COLD WEATHER EVENTS DURING THAT TECHNOLOGY WE WERE NOT ABLE TO PRODUCE THE FULL CAPACITY OF THE PLANT THROUGH THE MEMBRANE SYSTEM. IT WAS RATED AT 10 OR 11 AND WE WERE ABLE TO PRODUCE SEVEN AND HALF MGD WHICH WAS THE MOST WE PGOT OUT OF THAT COULD THAT HAV SUSTAINED THE THIRD PRESSURE PLANE? YES IT COULD HAVE. COULD IT SUSTAIN THE CITY OF

ABILENE SYSTEM? >> COUNCILMEMBER: ARE WE STILL GETTING WATER FROM THAT WAS THAT PUMP DOWN BECAUSE THEY

DIDN'T HAVE ANY WATER? >> SPEAKER: AS FAR AS I KNOW EVERYTHING AND THAT AREA WAS DOWN.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: SO IF WE WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED THROUGH AN ALTERNATE SUPPLY WE COULD NOT GET THE WATER OUT? B2 WE WOULD HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF WATER STORED IN THE OVALIS GEORGE TANK AND POTENTIALLY THERE WERE 30 ALIEN GALLONS OF WATER STORED THERE SO IT COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY GOTTEN US

[02:05:04]

30 YEARS? >> SPEAKER: I WOULD DOUBT THAT

PROBABLY 10 TO 15 YEARS. >> COUNCILMEMBER: ARE THE REPLACEMENT COSTS ON TOP OF THAT?

>> SPEAKER: ANOTHER 35? OR 12? SO WHAT THE STAFF IS DONE IS GRADED THIS TABLE OF THREE WITH THE MODIFIED FACILITY COST AND IF THERE WAS A DESIRE TO LOOK AT THE RESILIENCY THESE WERE THE FACILITIES THAT WOULD ALLOW US, WE FEEL, WOULD BE PRUDENT.

I GUESS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR FROM THE COUNCIL TODAY IS THE DIRECTION. DO YOU WANT US TO PURSUE ANY OF THIS?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: THE STAFF IS NOT RECOMMENDING WE DO THIS, IF WE DID THIS IS WHAT YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? HAVING SAID THAT WHAT WOULD BE THE SOURCE? WE KNOW THE WATER WOULD BE THE SOURCE BUT HOW DO WE PAY FOR THAT JUST OUT OF THE RESERVE

NOW? >> COUNCILMEMBER: I WON'T.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: RODNEY BUT IN OUR CONVERSATIONS I THINK IF HE HAD THE ABILITY TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN AT THE STROKE OF A PIN HE WOULD LOVE TO SEE OUR WATER SYSTEM HARDENED. THE JOB WAS TO PROVIDE WATER SERVICES SO IF YOU COULD PROVIDE A MORE RESILIENT SYSTEM I THINK THE CHALLENGE IS BALANCING THE COST WHICH IS WHAT THE COUNCIL IS STRUGGLING WITH RIGHT NOW VERSUS HOW MUCH UPTIME DO YOU GET AND HOW MUCH ADDITIONAL RELIABILITY DO SEE? SO, IN RODNEY'S MEMO, DON'T YOU TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE FUNDING MECHANISMS FOR THIS AND DOING IT OVER TIME IN DOING THE PROJECT LIMITS?

>> SPEAKER: SURE. WE RECENTLY APPROVED A FIVE YEAR RATE PLAN AND ALSO PRODUCED A LONG-TERM PLAN FOR CASH FUNDING INFRASTRUCTURE IN THAT PLAN DID NOT INCLUDE THIS 25 MILLION OR EVEN $10 MILLION WORTH OF EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS.

HE DID NOT HAVE THIS INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO PUT THE NUMBERS TOGETHER AND WE DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE TEMPERATURE OF THE COUNCIL WAS AS FAR AS A DIRECTION. IF YOU JUST WANTED TO ISSUE DEBT FOR $25 MILLION ABOUT ONE CENT OF ALL OF THE VARIABLE WATER RIGHT SO THREE TIERS OF RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL AND ONE CENT ACROSS-THE-BOARD OF THE VARIABLE-RATE WILL PRODUCE ABOUT ENOUGH REVENUE TO COVER THE DEBT SERVICE FOR $1 MILLION. IF YOU WERE GOING TO GO THE FULL PROGRAM AT 25 MILLION YOU CONTACT ON $0.25 TO ALL OF THE VARIABLE WATER RATES OF THE PLAN THAT WE JUST LOOKED AT AND THAT WOULD BE COVERING 20 YEARS OF THE DEBT SERVICE.

IF YOU WANTED TO LOOK AT CASH FUNDING AND PRODUCING THAT MORE QUICKLY IT WOULD TAKE $0.50 OVER ALL OF THE WATER AND SEWER RATE TO PRODUCE ABOUT $5 MILLION PER YEAR ON REVENUE WOULD TAKE 10 TO PRODUCE THAT MILLION.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: ROBERT, TWO QUESTIONS I BELIEVE THIS IS ACCURATE THAT THIS IS ISOLATED ON THE GRID AND THEY HAVE A BID BUT WHAT IS THE PROCESS AND WHAT IS THE PARAMETER ON REGARDS TO THE WATER PLAN AS THEY ARE SEGMENTED AND WE HAVE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THIS PAST FEBRUARY.

>> SPEAKER: WE HAVE GENERATORS ON-SITE AND WE WOULD NEVER BE WITHOUT POWER. THAT'S WHAT THEY INDICATED TO ME WHETHER THERE WAS A SHORT. WHAT I THINK I SEE IN THE MEMO AND WHAT I SEE ROD ASKING FOR SPECIFICALLY IS IF WE TAKE A STRATEGIC APPROACH IN ADDING RESILIENCY WITH WATER STRUCTURE AS WE IMPROVE THE FACILITIES. I COULD NOT SUPPORT ANOTHER RATE INCREASE. IT IS SUBSTANTIAL AND IT IS NOT ANYTHING, IT DID GET THE JOB DONE BUT I THINK ASKING OR MORE ESPECIALLY WHEN WE CAN'T GUARANTEE IT WILL WORK WITH ONE AND TWO, WE CAN SHOW

[02:10:02]

IN QUESTION. >> COUNCILMEMBER: IN REGARDS TO FEDERAL FUNDING, ANY SORT OF WORK IN REGARDS TO THE POSSIBLE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL TO USE FUNDS THAT WOULD BE ALLOWED TO BE USED FOR A PROJECT LIKE THIS:

>> COUNCILMEMBER: WE BELIEVE THIS IS COMPATIBLE AND THERE MIGHT BE OTHER FUNDS AVAILABLE TO US FOR FUN THAT MIGHT BE AVAIL TO US THAT CONGRESS HAS STARTED ONCE AGAIN TO DO COMMUNITY PRIORITY IS WHAT WE CALL IT NOW WE USED TO CALL IT EARMARKS BACK IN THE DAY AND WACO JUST GOT A 1 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLAR EARMARK FOR THE PLAN IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE THAT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL? ABSOLUTELY THERE IS AN WE SHOULD EXHAUST ALL EFFORTS TO USE THAT MONEY RATHER THAN

ABILENE. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: WITH THE COUNCIL ARE WE READY FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE COMMENT YOU MADE THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE INSTANCES IN THIS TIME WERE WE HAVE GOTTEN BY BY THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH WITH THE HARDENING THAT IS BEING LOOKED AT WITH THIS HELP MITIGATE OR REDUCE THE THICKNESS OF THE SKIN OF THE PEOPLE SO WASN'T QUITE SO

POST TO FAILURE? >> COUNCILMEMBER: SKIN AND HER?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: YOU MENTIONED PIPELINE FAILURE SO WASN'T ALL

RELUELECTRIC. >> COUNCILMEMBER: THAT COULD HAVE HELPED IN THESE SITUATIONS. THERE'S TIMES WHERE THERE IS A SNOW EVENT THAT WE HAVE HAD WHERE THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN USEFUL. THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT IT ADDS RELIABILITY AND RESILIENCY TO OUR SYSTEM TO DO THIS.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMEMBER: I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION IN REGARDS TO COMPARING THE MODIFIED PLAN TO THE FULL PLAN WHAT KIND OF CAPABILITY WILL THAT GET US TO MEET DAILY DEMANDS IF WE ARE NOT HEATING THE DAILY AVERAGE IMAGE ED? WILL THAT STRUCTURE DO THAT?

>> SPEAKER: THE MODIFIED FACILITY WILL PRODUCE ANY 3 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY. THAT FACILITY ACROSS TOWN AND TO THE FAR SOUTH END OF THE SYSTEM WOULD BE MET. SO, A LARGE NUMBER OF DAYS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO MEET OUR DEMANDS. ON AVERAGE.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: IT WOULD WORK IF THERE WAS NOT A RUN ON WATER LIKE THERE WAS? AND THE AMERICAN DECLARE A WATER EMERGENCY TO CUT DOWN ON CAR WASHES AND WATERING YARD UNTIL WE GET BACK ON A NORMAL SET OF?

>> SPEAKER: THAT IS CORRECT. I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ANOTHER SYSTEM THAT WOULD CREATE ANOTHER SNOW-MAGEDON. IF I

[02:15:03]

>> COUNCILMEMBER: WE HAVE GOTTEN CLOSE TO THE EDGE BEFORE AS WE ARE INVESTING IN THESE CHANGES INTO THE SYSTEM IT FEELS LIKE IT IS APPROPRIATE AND PRUDENT FOR US TO INCLUDE

SOME OF THESE BACKUP SYSTEMS? >> SPEAKER: THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT

WE ARE SAYING. >> COUNCILMEMBER: MOST OF THEM WON'T HAPPEN IN THE WINTER IT WILL HAPPEN IN THE SUMMER?

>> SPEAKER: YES AND THAT IS THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE MEANS THAT

RESILIENT. >> COUNCILMEMBER: I WILL SHARE A CONCERN ABOUT THE GENERATORS. I WAS SHARE AN EXPERIENCE.

WHEN WE WERE IN HOUSTON AFTER HARVEY WE SENT A TEAM DOWN THERE AND ONE OF THE SCENARIOS WE ENCOUNTERED WAS THE ARE KEMA CHEMICAL PLANT WHERE THEY HAD WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES IN TERMS OF THE POWER OUTAGES COMPARISON, IT WAS SIMILAR THE WHOLE CITY WAS WITHOUT POWER. THIS TICKLER PLAN HAD HAZARDOUS STUFF SITTING IN TRAILERS SITTING ON THE PROPERTY ALL BACKED UP BY GENERATORS. WHEN THE POWER FAILED GENERATORS KICK ON EACH WORKED UNTIL THEY REALIZE THEY COULD NOT GET THE DIESEL PUMP TO THE GENERATOR BECAUSE THEY HAD NO ELECTRICITY OR THEY COULD NOT FILL A TANKER UP AND TAKE IT TO THE GENERATOR BECAUSE IT CAUSED MULTIPLE EXPLOSIONS. IN THE QUESTION THAT GETS ASKED IS CAN THE LOAD THE TRAILER UP SO THEY DON'T COMBUST AND THEY SAID ABSOLUTELY WE CAN. I'M NOT SURE IF WE WERE THAT FAR INTO THE DISCUSSION BUT THE LOGISTICS OF BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN DAYS AND DAYS OF A POWER SYSTEM UNLESS YOU HAVE A REALLY LARGE ON-SITE TANK THAT COULD RUN FOR A WEEK IN A WINTER STORM SCENARIO YOU COULD NOT GET TANKERS TO ANY OF THEM. WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT,

TOO. >> SPEAKER: AGREED. OUR TIMEFRAME IS REALLY THREE DAYS THAT WE HAVE FORECASTED.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: YOU WOULD EXPECT IT TO RUN AT MAX LOAD?

>> SPEAKER: THAT IS THE ADVANTAGE ASSUMING THAT THE NATURAL GAS SYSTEM IS RELIABLE AND THAT IS WHAT WE WOULD FAVOR TO DO WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVING ON THE GAS DELIVERY SITE THAT IS NOT A PRODUCT COOL OPTION WHICH HAS FORCED IT BACK TO DIESEL GENERATORS ON ALL SIDES OTHER THAN THE NORTHEAST TREATMENT PLANT WHICH HAS THE CAPACITY TO

PROVIDE THE GAS THERE ALREADY. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: AND ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING? AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? THESE GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU COUNSEL ONCE AGAIN DAVID SCHWARTZ AND WE SAID PREVIOUSLY IN THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING THANK GOD WE HAD THREE PLANT DURING THE SNOW-MAGEDON AS YOU SAID MAYOR APPEARED WHAT IF WE WOULD HAVE BEEN SAINT ANGELO ONE PLANT? THIS PROPOSAL SAID WE HAD FAILURES AT IV. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF WE HAD A FAILURE YOU CAN GET THE WATER UP HERE LIKE COUNCILMEMBER PRICE SAID WE HAD FAILURE IN HUBBARD AND WE COULD GET THE WATER APPEAR SO YOU ARE SAYING THAT OUR RELIABILITY OVER THE YEARS, 10 YEARS HAD BEEN 99.5 THAT IS REALLY GOOD.

THAT IS REALLY GOOD! OF COURSE IF YOU DO ANYTHING WITH ELECTRONICS OR COMMUNICATIONS YOU ALWAYS EXPECT THE WORST FAILURE AND YOU ALWAYS PLAN OR THAT YOU SAY WELL WE WANT TO DO A MICROGRID FOR GENERATOR. NOW WE HAVE A GENERATOR RIGHT HERE THEY DON'T KNOW HOW YOU MAINTAIN IT BUT IT'S JUST LIKE YOU SAID THE PRESENTATION A BRAND-NEW GENERATOR AT THE BUT CREEK PUMP STATION FAILS. NOTHING IS ABSOLUTE. NOTHING.

SAY YOU WANT TO DO A MICROGRID WITH GAS AS YOU POINTED OUT IN YOUR DISCUSSION YOU COULD HAVE A GAS PRESSURE FAILURE. IF IT'S IN THE WINTER OR SUMMER THAT'S GREAT BUT AGAIN, IT'S NOT THE ISSUE. IT'S THE ISSUE OF RELIABILITY HERE 99.5? I DON'T KNOW THAT .5 IT'S PRETTY HARD TO ACHIEVE LIKE THEY SAID IN THE PRESENTATION. AS A TAXPAYER FIRST THING I THINK IS HOW MUCH WILL IT COST US TO GET THIS PRESENTATION TO US TO SAY WE ARE AT 99.5 ALREADY PEERED TO SAY THAT WE ARE PRETTY GOOD 99.5. THE DEAL IS YOU SAY WE WANT TO DO IT TO HARDEN THE

[02:20:05]

YOU SAY YOU'RE GOING TO IMPROVE THEM BUT THAT'S YEARS AND YEARS AHEAD. 99.5 IS GOOD AS A CITIZEN STANDPOINT. IN Q VERY

MUCH. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: WE ARE STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING WHAT ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. THIS DISCUSSION OR CONVERSATION I WOULD SAY THIS AND I WOULD LIKE TO CHIME IN IS INTERESTING TO SEE, I WILL BE INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT TCEQ SAYS ALSO THERE ARE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE STAFF TOGETHER AN OPPORTUNITY AT THE MICROGRID PROPOSAL 10.4 MILLION TO SEE WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE BASED ON OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHER SOURCES TO PROVIDE FUNDING AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL INCREASE TO OUR REGULAR CHARGES TO COME UP WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS IT SO IF WE DO THIS AND THEY SAY WE ARE NOT COMPLIANT WE HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE TO MOVE FORWARD. COUNSEL: WHAT IS YOUR DIRECTIVE? FROM THE COUNCIL TO

THE STAFF? >> COUNCILMEMBER: WHAT YOU SAID. I AM CURIOUS ON THE MICROGRID. IS THERE A COST TO US OR IS SOMETHING WHERE A THIRD-PARTY COMES IN AND BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE OR WE ARE THE PRIMARY CUSTOMER IF THERE IS A POWER FAILURE OTHERWISE WE ARE PROVIDING POWER INTO THE

GRID AND SELLING IT THAT WAY? >> SPEAKER: THERE IS A COST TO US BUT IT'S LESS COSTLY THAN DOING AN ON-SITE GENERATION AND PART OF THAT IS THAT THEY HAVE A REVENUE MODEL THAT TURNS THE POWER SYSTEM ON TO PROVIDE ENERGY TO THE GRID TO AUGMENT THE ENERGY NEEDS OF THE STATE. WE CALLED IT DISTRIBUTIVE GENERATION TEEN YEARS AGO NOW BUT WE LOOK AT DOING THAT. WE LOOK AT THE COST AND THEY WOULD HAVE USED IT DURING THIS WINTER EVENT AND IF THE GENERATORS WOULD HAVE RESPONDED THEY WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE PLANT AND I THINK THEY ARE LOOKING AT IT AGAIN NOW BECAUSE LIKE MOST OF TEXAS THEY LOST THE PLANT CAPACITY. SO, IT IS MORE AFFORDABLE WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE THINK IT'S A GOOD OPTION AND IT IS ABOUT

$2.2 MILLION COST I BELIEVE. >> COUNCILMEMBER: HAVING THE

SAME CAPACITY AND GENERATOR? >> COUNCILMEMBER: THE MICRO COMPONENT WITHOUT THE MICROGRID IS 12 POINT OR AND WITH THE

MICROGRID IT IS 10 MILLION? >> COUNCILMEMBER: THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: AGAIN OUR AVERAGE USE IS AROUND 22 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY AND THAT'S ON THE AVERAGE BUT THE DAY BEFORE THE SNOW-MAGEDON WE WERE AT 18 MILLION GALLONS THINK THAT'S CORRECT. THE NORTHEAST TREATMENT PLANT HAS A CAPACITY OF 25 MILLION AND WE WERE ABLE TO PUMP AROUND 23 MILLION I BELIEVE IN REGARDS TO THOSE NUMBERS. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR DIRECTIVES FROM THE COUNCIL?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: I SUPPORT THE, EMAILED MAYOR.

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM THE

COUNCIL? >> COUNCILMEMBER: THE FEDERAL FUNDING, THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW HOW LONG OR SHORT TERM THAT WOULD EVEN BE AS PART OF THE CONVERSATION?

>> SPEAKER: THERE'S NOT. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONGRESS IS WORKING ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN AND LORD KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN. THERE MIGHT BE STATE REVENUE IN THEIR AND THE DETAILS ARE BEING WORKED OUT FULLY. THERE MAY BE IDENTIFIED MANY FOR THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BRING BACK TO THE COUNCIL A POLICY STATEMENT SAYING IT IS COUNCIL'S POLICY TO PURSUE THIS

[02:25:03]

THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMEMBER: FOR THE TIMING ON THAT DO YOU WANT TO WAIT FOR PC Q FOR WHAT WE NEED TO DO OR ARE WE GOOD AND WE CAN MAKE OUR OWN PLANS?

>> SPEAKER: I THINK IT'S PRUDENT TO WAIT. EVEN WITH THIS, IF THEY SAY THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH, WE WOULD HAVE TO DO IT TWICE AND IT IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER. AROUND JULY OF NEXT YEAR WE SHOULD KNOW IF THEY ACCEPTED THE PLAN REJECTED

IT. >> COUNCILMEMBER: ARE WE THAT

PHARRELL UNTIL WE FIND OUT? >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: COUNSEL, I'M WILLING TO CARRY ON UNTIL THE END I DON'T KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY LUNCH OBLIGATIONS ARE WE GOOD? KEEP GOING? ALL RIGHT.

[5. Ordinance (Consider on First Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving the Revised 2020-2021 Budget ]

>> COUNCILMEMBER: NO MR. MAYOR.

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: IF NOT I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE REVISED BUDGET. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER MCALISTER AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER PRICE.

ARE READY TO VOTE. >> SPEAKER: COUNCILMEMBER

PRICE? >> YES.

>> COUNCILMEMBER BEARD? >> YES WITH A REVISION TO THE

AVIATION BUT YES TO THE REST. >> COUNCILMEMBER ALBUS? >>

YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER HURT?

[6. Ordinance (Consider on First Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving the Proposed 2021-2022 Budget ]

>> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER MCALISTER?

>> YES. SPOON ALL RIGHT, AT THIS TIME IT WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR ORGANS THIS ITEM AND IF SO PLEASE PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME FOR

THE RECORD. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU COUNSEL, DAVID SCHWARTZ ONCE AGAIN I KNOW YOUR PRESENTATION, THE BUDGET WOULD REDUCE 60,000 BECAUSE OF TRANSPORTATION I WOULD URGE YOU TO KEEP IT THE SAME AND USE THAT TO EITHER OFFSET OTHER EXPENSES FOR THE SENIORS OR SOME NAME BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE MAY NEVER GET THAT BACK. THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM TO IMPROVE SENIOR SERVICES THE EXTRA 60,000 AS YOU SAID CITY LINK WILL TAKE UP THE TRANSPORTATION COST. I WOULD BE MINDFUL AND TELL EVERYBODY OUT THERE IF YOU WANT YOUR OPINION HEARD CALL THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AGAIN BEFORE THE FINAL READING LIKE THEY SAID, NOW IS THE TIME TO COMPLAIN. AND TELL THEM TO TRY TO KEEP THESE SENIOR SENT HER FUNDING THE SAME EVEN THOUGH THE TRANSPORTATION IS OFF WE CAN PROVIDE THAT FOR THE SENIORS. IN Q.

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: ONE NOTATION IN THE CONVERSATION IN REGARDS TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FUND NON- CIVIL SERVANTS THE RACE WILL GO IN EFFECT OCTOBER 1 FOR A SET AMOUNT OF 7000 GENERAL FUND AND 204,000 FOR ALL AVAILABLE FUNDS AND MONEY SET ASIDE FROM THE MIP TO RECEIVE MONEY FOR THE POLICE APPARATUS FUND. WE ARE STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. DOES ANYONE WANT TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

DOES THE COUNCIL HAVE ANY OTHER RUSSIANS OR DIRECTIVES IN

[02:30:02]

MOTION. >> COUNCILMEMBER: SECOND.

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: WE HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER HURT ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE ARE READY TO VOTE.

>> SPEAKER: COUNCILMEMBER PRICE?

>> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER BEARD?

>> YES, TO THE REMAINING. >> COUNCILMEMBER ALBUS?

>> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER MCALISTER?

[7. Ordinance (Consider on First Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Setting the Tax Levy ]

>> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER CRAVER?

>> YES. MAYOR ANTHONY WILLIAMS?

>> YES. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING AND IF SO PLEASE

GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. >> SPEAKER: ONCE AGAIN COUNSEL DAVID SCHWARTZ AND LIKE I SAID PREVIOUSLY THE CURRENT RATE IS 77 87 AND I PROPOSE LIKE I SAID I WOULD LIKE TO PUT THE WHEELS IN MOTION TO GET FIRE STATION NINE EVENTUALLY GOING. I KNOW IT TAKES A LONG TIME FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO DO ANYTHING SO EVEN IF YOU STARTED THE WHEELS IN MOTION GOING FOR 223 I PROPOSE YOU KEEP THE TAX RATE THE SAME AND MAYBE PUT WITH THE POSSIBILITY CERTAIN MONIES TOWARDS DESIGN OR SOMETHING ON THAT NEW STATION. IF THE CHIEF SAYS WE NEED IT WE NEED IT AND THAT IS WHY I WOULD SUGGEST THE RATE THE SAME BECAUSE IF YOU LOWER IT, IT'S LIKE MY MOM'S GENERATION MY GRANDPARENTS GENERATION THEY SAY IT IS ALL SMOKING MIRRORS YOU THINK YOU ARE LOWERING IT BUT THE EVALUATION WENT UP AND IF YOU KEEP IT THE SAME WITH A LITTLE EXTRA BABY WE COULD GET SOMETHING THAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS, A NEW FIRE STATION OUT THERE AT LAKE CARA B. THANK YOU.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: SEEING NO ONE ELSE I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. MAY I READ THIS CORRECTLY? THERE WOULD BE AND IS HEREBY LEVIED ON OUR PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE CITY OF ABILENE, TEXAS, ON 21 JANUARY 2021 AND IS NOT EXEMPT FOR TAXATION UNDER THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE CITY OF ABILENE AND ADDED THE TAX TOTAL OF 78 AND 5100S OF ASSENT. ON EACH DOLLAR EVALUATION THAT IS THE POINT AS FOLLOWS IS THAT CORRECT? THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. DOES THE COUNCIL HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR I WILL EXCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND AT THIS TIME.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US KEEP IT AT THE 78 77.

IS THAT THE CURRENT RATE? >> COUNCILMEMBER: THAT IS THE

CURRENT RATE POINT EIGHT 77. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: ARE YOU MAKING A MOTION FOR A TAX INCREASE?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER: IS THERE A SECOND? FAILS FOR LACK OF A SECOND.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: WAIT, I HAVE A QUESTION. IS NOT ABOUT THE MOTION WAS WAITING FOR THAT TO FINISH.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: YOU ARE NOT SAYING THERE IS AN INCREASE?

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: HIS MOTION IS TO MAINTAIN THE CURRENT TAX RATE AND I BELIEVE, WHAT IS THERE QUESTION COUNCILMEMBER?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: WHAT IS THE AMOUNT IT WOULD RAISE?

>> SPEAKER: ABOUT $169,000. >> COUNCILMEMBER: I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THIS. WE LET OUR STREETS GET BEHIND SEVERAL YEARS AGO. I DON'T TAKING A STEP BACKWARDS IS GOOD. AN EXTRA 169,000 COULD THAT HELP SOMEWHERE? YOU BET. KEEPING

[02:35:03]

THE TAX RATE AS IS? >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: COUNCILMEMBER YOU UNDERSTAND THERE IS A TAX INCREASE FROM

THE PREVIOUS YEAR. >> COUNCILMEMBER: BECAUSE THE VALUE IS MORE? LET ME PHRASE THIS, I WANT TO KEEP THE TAX

RATE AT .877. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: THATCHER

MOTION IS THERE A SECOND? >> COUNCILMEMBER: A SECOND.

GOING ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? >> COUNCILMEMBER: I HAVE A QUESTION THAT I WANTED TO ASK MIKE BEFORE WE GOT INTO THE VOTING, THIS TAX RATE IS ASSESSED BECAUSE OF THE CERTIFIED TAX RULES. IS THIS THE FINAL NUMBER NEEDED?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: 51 IS BASED OFF THE CERTIFICATION RULE.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: IN THE PAST FEW YEARS THIS IS OUR BEST GUESS THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS INTO ONE TO TO MAKE SURE THIS WAS THE TRUE NUMBER. WE WAITED AN EXTRA WEEK,

UNFORTUNATELY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: WE HAD A MOTION AND IT WAS SECONDED MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER MCALISTER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ALBUS. ANYTHING

ELSE? P>> COUNCILMEMBER: I WANT TO COMMENT THAT WE ARE GOING UP ON THE WATER RATES THAT THE PROPERTY VALUE HAS INCREASED AND THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET A LITTLE BACK AND WE WILL REFLECT THAT IN THE VOTE BUT

THUS THE COMET I HAVE. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: MADAM SECRETARY WE ARE READY TO VOTE.

>> SPEAKER: COUNCILMEMBER THE MOTION FAILS. > COUNCILMEMBER: I WOULD MAKE A MOTION .7851?

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: I WILL SECOND THE MOTION IS THERE ANYONE FOR DISCUSSION? WE ARE READY TO VOTE.

>> SPEAKER: PRICE? YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER BEARD? YES.

COUNCILMEMBER CRAVER? YES. MAYOR ANTHONY WILLIAMS? YES.

THE MOTION CARRIES. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: HIGH DRAMA

[8. Ordinance (Consider on First Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Adopting Fees and Charges for FY 2021-2022 ]

MOTION TO ACCEPT AND A SECOND. >> COUNCILMEMBER: I DO HAVE A COMMENT THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THE QUESTION I HAD ABOUT THE MOWING FEE. I BELIEVE IS GREG HERE TODAY? HE TOLD ME TODAY IF I CAN REMEMBER CORRECTLY LAST MONTH WE AS A CITY MODE MORE ACREAGE THAN WE DID IN ALL OF 2020. IS THAT CORRECT?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: GO AHEAD AND COME UP. COUNSEL NEVER WHAT IS

THE QUESTION? >> COUNCILMEMBER: MY QUESTION IS THE REASON WHY I KNOW WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THIS BUT WE HAD ASKED ABOUT MAKING A CHANGE TO THE FEES BECAUSE WE ARM MOWING A LOT MORE GRASS THAT WE ARE BEING REQUIRED TO MOW AND PEOPLE NOT MOWING THEIR YARDS. BE TO THE MOWING WAS RELATED TO THE STORM WATER SERVICES MOWING THAT WAS TAKING PLACE IN OUR VARIOUS CREEKS AND CHANNELS. SO IT WAS IN REFERENCE TO LAST MONTH A YEAR AGO. WE TRACKED THAT ON A MONTHLY BASIS IN YEARLY BASIS AND SO WHAT HAD OCCURRED IS THAT WE HAD MODE IN THE MONTH OF JUNE, TWICE AS MUCH ACREAGE AS WE HAD MODE A YEAR AGO. THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF RAIN.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: I THOUGHT YOU MEANT WHEN PEOPLE CALL IN FOR

THE HIGH WEEDS. >> COUNCILMEMBER: NO. IT'S

JUST REGARDING THE MOWING. >> COUNCILMEMBER: I THINK YOU FOR LOOKING AT THOSE FEES BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF HIGH

GRASS PEOPLE ARE NOT MOWING. >> COUNCILMEMBER: DOES THAT

COVER THE CONTRACTORS? >> COUNCILMEMBER: YES.

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: IS THERE A MOTION AND A SECOND? WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER HURT AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER CRAVER. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE ARE READY TO VOTVOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES.

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: I WANT TO THANK OUR CITY MANAGER AND STAFF THE PREPARATION OF THE BUDGET IN THE MONTHS OF WORK THAT WENT INTO THIS. THERE WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL BUDGET

[02:40:04]

IS? >> COUNCILMEMBER: AUGUST 12.

COUNSEL PRICE ONE MORE QUESTION BEFORE WE ADJOURN?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: THIS IS MORE FOR THE STANDING THURSDAY NIGHT SINCE THE BUDGET IS ON THE AGENDA EVEN THOUGH WE WON'T CONSIDER IT BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY DONE THE FIRST READING IF THERE IS A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD DURING THE MEETING WILL WE BE ABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS OR IS IT ONLY THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT IT?

>> COUNCILMEMBER: WAYS LISTED NOW FOR THE COUNCIL ON THURSDAY, THE FOUR ORDINANCES WE JUST PASSED WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AT THAT MEETING. BUT IN THE EVENT THAT THE COUNCIL WANTS TO OPEN UP ONE OR MORE OF THOSE TO ALLOW PUBLIC

COMMENT YOU CAN DO SO. >> COUNCILMEMBER: THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND YOU CAN ADDRESS THAT ITEM IF WE CAN ADDRESS THAT WE CAN INTENTIONALLY OPEN IT UP.

>> COUNCILMEMBER: IF YOU WANT TO DISCUSS IT WITH FACTUAL

INFORMATION YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER: CAN PROVIDE FACTUAL INFORMATION AND I WANTED TO THEIR FIVE GOOD I BEEN CONTACTED BY SOME PEOPLE WHO HAD SAID WE DON'T KNOW WHEN WE CAN GET TO THE VOTE OR IF THAT IS A SENTENCING DATE TUESDAY OR WEDNESDAY BUT THURSDAY NIGHT WILL BE PUBLIC

COMMENT. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: AS IS THE PUBLIC COMMENT WE CAN ALWAYS ADDRESS THE FACTUAL INFORMATION WE JUST CANNOT INCLUDE AN EDITORIAL WITH THAT. I WILL ANNOUNCE THERE WILL BE NO MEETING ON TOMORROW JULY 28 AND THERE WILL BE NO BUDGET DISCUSSION ON THE MEETING ON THE 29TH. THERE BEING NO OTHER FURTHER BUSINESS, AT 11:51 A.M., THIS MEETING OF THE ABILENE CITY COUNCIL IS

OFFICIALLY ADJOURNED. >> COUNCILMEMBER: THINK YOU MAY OR AN COUNSEL.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.