[CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:07] >> I WILL CALL THE CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER. IT'S 8:30 A.M. ON THIS VERY LAST DAY OR LAST MEETING WE HAVE IN 2022. WE HAVE SOME VERY SPECIAL GUESTS. I WILL GIVE PROPER INTRODUCTION IN A BIT. I WILL ASK COUNCILMEMBER BEARD TO GIVE INVOCATION THIS MORNING. >> FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY. WE THANK YOU THAT WE LIVE IN PLACE THAT WE GET TO LIVE IN THIS PROCESS AND GOVERN OURSELVES. HELP US TO NEVER FORGET THE VALUE OF ONE ANOTHER. YOU CREATED US ALL IN YOUR IMAGE. FATHER, I PRAY YOU GRANT US WISDOM TODAY AND EVERY DAY AS WE MAKE DECISIONS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR CITY. WE PRAY FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND MILITARY, LORD, AND ALL OF OUR CITY WORKERS THAT ARE OUT HELPING OUR CITY TO FUNCTION. WE PRAY THESE THINGS IN JESUS NAME, AMEN. >> AMEN. >> I DO HAVE TWO VERY SPECIAL GUESTS WITH US. WE HAVE KATE AND SAWYER. SAWYER, HER MOTHER IS HERE AND HER FRIEND, BFF IS HERE SOMEWHERE. AND THEN KAIDEN HAS ALL HIS PARENTS BUT ALSO HIS GRANDPARENTS. THEY WILL LEAD THE PLEDGE THIS MORNING. TURN AROUND. >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> NOW THE TEXAS FLAG. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG; I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. >> IF YOU ALL WANT TO COME UP HERE AND TAKE A PICTURE. >> MERRY CHRISTMAS YOU ALL. >> WE NOW MOVE TO THE [CONSENT AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS] CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTING OF ITEMS 2 THROUGH ITEM NO. 14. ONE MOTION AND NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION UNLESS A COUNCILMEMBER REQUESTS SEPARATE DISCUSSION. ANY COUNCILMEMBER REQUEST CENTRAL DISCUSSION ON THE ITEMS ON 2 THROUGH 14? >> >> WE'LL NOW MOVE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. THERE WILL BE NO VOTES OR ACTION TAKEN DURING PUBLIC COMMENT. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO PRESENT IDEAS AND INFORMATION TO THE OFFICIALS AND STAFF. PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND CITY YOU RESIDE IN FOR THE RECORD. DO WE HAVE ANY CARDS? >> WE WILL HAVE THREE MINUTE LIMIT ON PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. DAVID SCHWARTZ FOR THE RECORD. ORIGINAL OLD TOWN WEST IN ABILENE. I'VE BEEN DOING SOME RESEARCH ON OUR FINE COMMUNITY ABOUT OUR HISTORY. AND I'VE DISCOVERED A BIG PROBLEM. TURNS OUT THE LITTLE CITY OUTSIDE THAT WE STOLE THE COUNTY SEED FROM BUFFALO GAP. BUFFALOS ARE NOT INDIGENOUS TO NORTH AMERICA. THEY WERE NEVER IN NORTH AMERICA. WE WITHIN TOLD A FIB OUR WHOLE LIVES ABOUT THAT. THEY ARE BISON. THE REASON YOU KNOW THEY ARE BISON BECAUSE THEY HAVE A HUMP ON THEIR BACK. SHORTER HORNS, AND THEY HAVE A GOATEE OR A BEARD. THE BUFFALO IT LOOKS MORE LIKE AN OX. AND THEY ARE FOUND IN ASIA AND PARTS OF AFRICA. ALL OUR LIVES THAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD, OH THE GREAT PLAINS THE BUFFALO AND ALL THAT; THIS OLD WEST SONGS, BUFFALO ON THE RANGE, BUFFALO DID NOT ROAM. BISON HAVE A FAMILY. THAT'S WHY THEY ROAM IN HERDS. [00:05:01] ALL THIS TIME, WE'VE BEEN TOLD WRONG ABOUT IT. YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE THEY COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SCHOOL NAMES, LAST YEAR AND CHANGED THEM. WE SHOULD CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY IF YOU WANT TO BE ACCURATE THAT WE SHOULD CHANGE TO BISON ON SOME OF THESE THINGS. ESPECIALLY THE NEW BRANDING THEY PUT THAT SHOWS A PICTURE. IT REFERS TO IT AS BUFFALO. IT'S NOT A BUFFALO. IT'S A BISON. IT HAS A GOATEE. IT'S A BISON. THE AMERICAN THINKS WHEN THAW DISCOVERED THE LAND THEY CALLED ATE BUFFALO. BUT IT HAS NEVER BEEN ANY BUFFALO IN NORTH AMERICA. SO NOW THAT WE HAVE THAT STRAIGHT ABOUT OUR HISTORY THAT GOES BACK ALL THE WAY BACK, THE LAST FRIDAY WILL BE DECEMBER 16TH. 78 YEARS AGO SINCE THE START OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE IN WORLD WAR II. SOMEONE'S GRAND DAD OR DAD MAY HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIFE SO WE CAN BE THERE WITH OUTSIDE FACISM. REMEMBER THAT WHEN YOU ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY WEEKEND THE GUYS IN BASTONE DIDN'T HAVE ANY FOOD HARDLY AT ALL UNTIL THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS WHEN THEY WERE AIR DROPPED IN FOOD. BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S TRUE. BUT PATON TOOK CREDIT FOR IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH THIS MORNING. COUNCIL. >> DOROTHY KLEIN. >> GOOD MORNING. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY STAFF AND CITY OFFICIALS. TALK ABOUT RESEARCH. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT MATERIALS THAT ARE CHILDREN EXPOSED TO HAS A TREMENDOUS CAPACITY TO TEACH. COULD BE BOOKS, INTERNET, ET CETERA. EXCESSIVE USE OF THAT MATERIAL ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CONTENT IS VIOLENT OR SEXUALLY EXPLICIT IS SKEWED CHILDREN'S VIEW INCREASES HIGH-RISK BEHAVIOR AND CHANGES THEIR CAPACITY TO HAVE SUCCESSFUL AND MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS. DOCTORS SHARON COOPER FORENSIC PEDIATRICIAN AND FACULTY MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA MAINTAINS THAT IMAGES DEFINITELY EFFECT CHILDREN WHEN THEY ARE EXPOSED TO UNHEALTHY SEXUAL IMAGES ABOUT ADULT PORNOGRAPHY. ACCORDING TO DR. COOPER, THEY EXPOSURE TO PORNOGRAPHY NORMALIZES SEXUAL NORM BY PORTRAYING LACK OF EMOTIONS IN RELATIONSHIPS. SHE GOES ON TO ARGUE THAT CHILDREN AND YOUTH ARE MORE VULNERABLE TO PORNOGRAPHIC IMAGES THAN ADULTS. BECAUSE A MIRROR RUNS IN THEIR BRAINS WHICH CONVINCES THEM THEY ARE ACTUALLY EXPERIENCING WHAT THEY SEE. MARA PLAYS A ROLE IN HOW CHILDREN LEARN. CHILDREN LEARN FROM LARGE PART BY IMITATION. WITH MIRROR N NEURONS IMSTATING THE BEHAVIOR. PORNOGRAPHY MAY HAVE STRONGER EFFECTS AMONG CHILDREN AND YOUTH THAN ANY OTHER FORM OF MEDIA BECAUSE IT SHOWS A MUCH HIGHER DEGREE OF SEXUAL EXPLICITNESS. I BELIEVE THAT THE MAJORITY OF ABILENIANS WOULD AGREE WITH ME THAT WE SHOULD PLACE THE PROTECTION OF OUR CHILDREN ON A MUCH HIGHER PLAIN. THEY ARE OUR FUTURE. WE NEED TO INVEST THEM IN TO ENSURE THEY ARE HEALTHY. MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY, PSYCHOLOGICALLY AND YES, PHYSICALLY. WE SHOULD LOVE OUR CHILDREN. AND I BELIEVE ABILENE DO. I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THIS TIME TO SHARE THE RESEARCH THAT I HAVE LEARNED AND I PRAY THAT YOU HAVE BEEN EDUCATED TODAY ABOUT THAT AS WELL. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR [00:10:01] YOUR TIME. AND YOUR ATTENTION, AND I DO HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY AND A MERRY CHRISTMAS. HEATHER WARGO. SHE TOOK HER SON TO THE REST ROOM. >> THAT'S ALL THE CARDS I HAVE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. THE REST OF THEM ARE ON AGENDA ITEMS. >> WE ARE STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND JUST BE -- JUST NOTE IF THERE'S AN AGENDA ITEM THAT YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON, ON THE REGULAR AGENDA, YOU WILL BE PROVIDED THAT OPPORTUNITY. IT WILL BE A PUBLIC HEARING ON EACH REGULAR AGENDA ITEM. >> MY NAME THE RYAN GOODWIN. I'M A CITIZEN OF ABILENE. FIRST OF ALL, I THINK WE SHOULD CALL BUFFALO GAP AND CHANGE TO BISON GAP. WE WERE TALKING THAT ABOUT THAT. IF YOU COULD REACH OUT TO THEIR MAYOR AND WE COULD WORK SOMETHING OUT. TODAY THERE'S A DIFFERENT CROWD. WE HAVE SOME HOT TOPICS. I WANT TO PRAY FOR YOU REAL QUICK AS WE JUMP INTO THIS. I KNOW YOU'VE STARTED THAT. I WANT TO JOIN YOU AND PRAY FOR YOU JUST FOR A MINUTE. TWO MINUTES. >> DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER WE THANK YOU FOR OUR SERVANTS HERE OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS THAT REPRESENT OUR CITY. WE THANK YOU FOR ROBERT, SHANE, FOR LYNN, FOR DONNA, FOR ANTHONY R FOR WELDON, FOR KYLE FOR TRAVIS AND FOR STANLEY. AND WE JUST ASK THAT YOU WOULD JUST GUIDE THEM WITH WISDOM. THAT WE JUST THE THING THAT KEEPS GOING THROUGH MY MINE MY KINGDOM COME AS EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. WE PRAY THE PEOPLE IN THE SEATS YOU'VE PLACED THEM IN, IN TIME. EQUIP THEM AND GIVE THEM THE WISDOM THEY NEED TO REPRESENT OUR CITY WELL. LORD, WE ASK THAT FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE SEATS YOU PROTECT THE FAMILIES. YOU PROTECT THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU. YOU JUST PUT A HEDGE OF PROTECTION OVER ALL OF THEIR FAMILY. LORD, WE JUST ASK THAT YOU GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO REPRESENT OUR CITY WELL. SO LORD WE THANK YOU NOR OUR SERVANTS. FOR THE HEARTS THEY HAVE FOR YOUR KINGDOM AND LORD WE ASK YOU CONTINUE TO GUIDE AND DIRECT THEM. IT'S IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. IS HEATHER WARDOW BACK? >> >> GOOD MORNING COUNCIL. AS WE'VE LEARNED FROM DANIEL TIGER WHEN YOU HAVE TO GO POTTY, YOU STOP AND GO RIGHT AWAY. IRONICALLY, DANIEL INSPIRED A CONVERSATION ON THE WAY HERE THIS MORNING. I WAS TRYING TO GATHER MY WORDS. AND PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT KNOW ME KNOW THAT ASIDE FROM BEING MOM. IDECENTLY ROBUST AND GET MY POINT ACROSS CONCISELY. THIS MORNING IT WASN'T THE CASE. MY EMOTIONS ARE REALLY BIG THIS MORNING. BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE IN OUR TOWN THAT REALLY CARE ABOUT OUR TOWN. VERY MUCH. AND PEOPLE THAT WE KNOW AND WE'VE KNOWN A LONG TIME. BUT WE'RE HAVING A HARD TIME LETTING EVERYONE MAKE THEIR OWN BODY CHOICES. AND IT GIVES MY EMOTIONS A REALLY HARD TIME. I HAVE BIG FEELINGS ABOUT THIS. JUST LIKE WE TRUST EACH OROTHER TO MAKE OUR OWN BODY CHOICES OUR WANT OUR TOWNS PEOPLE TO TRUST EACH OTHER TO MAKE THEIR OWN BODY CHOICES WHETHER IT'S MONITORING THE BOOKS YOUR KIDS CHECK OUT FROM THE LIBRARY. WE DO HAVE LOT OF DINOSAURS IN OUR FAMILY. OR THE EVENTS THAT YOU ARE GOING TO IF YOU WANT TO GO TO DRAG BRUNCH. IF YOU DON'T, DON'T. IF YOU WANT TO GO TO A PLAY, YOU SHOULD GO. IF YOU DON'T, DON'T GO AND PROTEST. I HAVE A HARD TIME THIS MORNING, BECAUSE WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE OUR OWN BODY CHOICES FOR OUR OWN BODIES. JUST WHEN YOU HAVE TO GO POTTY YOU STOP AND GO RIGHT AWAY. I WANT PEOPLE IN OUR TOWN TO TRUST EACH OTHER TO MAKE OUR OWN CHOICES FOR OUR OWN BODIES AS LONG AS WE ARE NOT HURTING ONE ANOTHER. WE NEED TO TRUST ONE ANOTHER. TO MAKE OUR CHOICES. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY THIS MORNING. >> WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE DINOSAUR? >> I DON'T KNOW. >> SO MANY GOOD CHOICES. >> IS THERE ANYONE THAT ELSE THAT WANTS TO APARTMENT THIS MORNING. >> SEEING NO ONE I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT. I WOULD ASK A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> SO MOVED. >> WE HAVE A MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM HURT AND SECOND [00:15:04] WHICH COUNCILMEMBER CRAVER. I WILL ABSTAIN FROM ITEM NO. 7. >> SAME HERE, MAYOR. >> DUALLY NOTED. >> AND MYSELF. I'M ABSTAINING FROM 7. >> ALSO NOTED. >> WE'RE READY TO VOTE. [15. Ordinance (Final Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on approving an Ordinance establishing the 2023 Standards of Care (Lesli Andrews)] WE'LL NOW MOVE TO THE REAL AGENDA. MOVE ON TO 15. I WILL ASK LESLI ANDREWS PARKS & RECREATION TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. >> I'M HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY FOR OUR ANNUAL ADOPTION OF THE STANDARD OF CARE. BACK IN 1997 THE 74 LEGISLATURE PASSED A LAW THAT SAID LOCAL NEW MUNICIPALITIES CAN PASS THE STANDARD THE WAY WE TAKE CARE OF CHILDREN IN OUR PROGRAMS. SO WE'RE HERE TO BRING BEFORE YOU THE 2023 STANDARDS OF CARE. THIS WILL GOVERN THE SUMMER CAMPS AS WELL AS THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM. THIS IS FOR AGES 6 THROUGH 13. PARENTS ARE PROVIDED A COPY OF THIS STANDARD OF CARE AND OF COURSE IT IS POSTED ON OUR WEB SITE ON A REGULAR BASIS. THERE'S MANY BASI BASICALLY -- BASIC REQUIREMENTS. OUR STAFF GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE KIDS IN OUR PROGRAMS ARE WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND REALLY SUCCEEDING. BUT THESE ARE JUST A FEW THINGS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO. PART OF ADOPTING A STANDARD OF CARE TO GET US TO THIS POINT IS WE HAVE AN INTERNAL INSPECTION. WE HAVE AN INSPECTION FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT. AS WELL AS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND WE ALSO HAVE AN OUTSIDE ENTITY THAT COMES IN AND DOES AN INSPECTION AND THIS YEAR IT WAS TRAVIS PENS. HE'S THE ATHLETIC COORDINATOR FOR WICHITA FALLS. HE CAME ON NOVEMBER 8TH. THE STANDARD OF CARE DIDN'T HAVE RECOMMENDATION FOR CHANGES FROM 2022. IT IS BASICALLY THE SAME STANDARD OF CARE. JUST A DIFFERENT YEAR. WE WANT TO PARKS BOARD MOVER 15TH AND THEY RECOMMEND ADOPTION. CAME BEFORE YOU ON FIRST READING ON DECEMBER 1ST. AND WE'RE HERE FOR PUBLIC HEARING AND VOTE ON DECEMBER 15TH. I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> ANY QUESTIONS OF LESLI PRIOR TO HEARING FROM THE COUNCIL? >> DON'T WE HAVE A WINDER PROGRAM FOR KIDDOS IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. WHAT DATE IS THAT? >> IT WILL START ON TUESDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS. IT GOES TWO WEEKS HOLIDAY THAT THE SCHOOL IS OUT. >> DECEMBER 27TH IS MONDAY. >> WE WILL GO INTO JANUARY FOR TWO WEEKS. WE ALSO HAVE A SPRING BREAK CAMP. >> YOU DO A GREAT JOB. >> THANK YOU. >> AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM. IF SO PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR NOT. >> SO MOVED. >> WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER PRICE AND THE SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER ALBUS. ANY DISCUSSION. WE'RE READY TO VOTE. [16. Ordinance (Final Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Certifying the Charter Amendments Approved by Voters on November 8, 2022 and Incorporating the Amendments into a Single Form (Stanley Smith)] >> MOTION CARRIES. WE WILL MOVE TO ITEM 16. I WILL ASK STANLEY SMITH TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS NOVEMBER WE HAD AN ELECTION FOR SOME CHARTER AMENDMENTS FIVE OF THE SIX OF THOSE CHARTER AMENDMENTS PASSIONED. BY THE VOTERS, THOSE AMENDMENTS WERE CANVASSED BY THIS COUNCIL. STATE LAW ALSO REQUIRES THAT THE GOVERNING BODY IN AN ORDER APPROVING THE CHARTER AMENDMENT. THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THIS ORDINANCE TODAY. AND THE SECOND PURPOSE OF THE ORDINANCE TO COMBINE THE AMENDMENTS INTO A SINGLE DOCUMENT. WE HAVE A SINGLE CHARTER RATHER THAN MULTIPLE AMENDMENTS. THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE ORDINANCE TODAY. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. SMITH PRIOR TO HEARING FROM THE COUNCIL? AT THIS TIME. I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? IF SO PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NO ONE I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. I WILL TAKE A MOTION FROM THE COUNCIL. >> WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER BEARD AND SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER [17. Ordinance (Final Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Amending Chapter 5, "Ambulance Services," Article I, "In General," Abilene Code of Ordinances. (Cande Flores)] MCALISTER. [00:20:02] . >> WE MOVE TO TO ITEM 17 I WILL ASK CANDE FLORES, FIRE CHIEF TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. CHIEF FLORES ASKED ME TO PRESENT A PORTION OF THIS, MAY MAYOR. BACK IN OCTOBER OF 2015 THIS COUNCIL ADOPTED AN AMBULANCE SERVICES ORDINANCE WHICH CREATED AN EXCLUSIVE FRANCHISE FOR ONE AMBULANCE PROVIDER PROVIDING AMBULANCE DRIVERS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS AND FOLLOWING THE ADOPTION OF THAT ORDINANCE WE DID REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL AND AND THE COUNCIL ULTIMATELY APPROVED THE AWARD OF AMBULANCE TO AMBULANCE METRO CARE. RECENTLY IN FOLLOWING THE HENDRIX PURCHASING THE SOUTH HOSPITAL. HEN CONTRIBUTION APPROACHED THE HOSPITAL BY PROVIDING INTRATRANSFER, TRANSFERS BETWEEN THEIR OWN FACILITIES, AND THE QUESTION WAS POSED TO THE CITY ABOUT THAT. OUR ORDINANCE DIDN'T PROVIDE THAT. THERE'S A COUPLE OF EXCEPTIONS WITH THE ORDINANCE WHERE THE FRANCHISE DOESN'T APPLY. ONE BEING IF YOU HAVE AMBULANCE SERVICE OUTSIDE OF THE SERS SERVICE OUTSIDE THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE EXCLUSIVE FRANCHISEE. AN INTRAFACILITY TRANSFERS NOT AN EXCEPTION INTO OUR ORDINANCE. WE BEGAN DISCUSSIONS WITH HENDRIX AND OUR CURRENT PROVIDER METRO CARE AS TO HOW COULD THIS WORK. AND METRO CARE TO THEIR CREDIT SAID AGREED THAT YOU KNOW THERE'S CERTAIN INTRAFACILITY TRANSFERS THAT WE'RE OKAY WITH. WE'RE OKAY WITH GIVING IT THAT EXCLUSIVE FRANCHISE. THE ORDINANCE TODAY HAS I BELIEVE SIX INTRAFACILITY TRANSFERS THAT WOULD CARVE OUT TO THAT EXCLUSIVE EXCEPTION. THEIR FACILITIES WITHIN THE HENDRIX SYSTEM. THIS WOULD ALLOW HENDRIX TO USE THEIR OWN AMBULANCE SERVICE OR ANOTHER AMBULANCE PROVIDER OR METRO CARE AND THE PARTIES METRO CARE IS MANAGING AGREEMENT TO THAT. WE WILL ULTIMATELY IF THIS ORDINANCE PASSES WE WILL BE AMEND THEIR CONTRACT TO DO THE CARVE OUT FOR THE DIFFERENT FACILITIES. THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE ORDINANCE TODAY. >> STANLEY, AND ROBERTS. METRO CARE IS OKAY. THEY ARE FINE WITH THIS IN THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM. AND WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEIR SUPPORTING THIS AS PRESENT INSTEAD >> YES, SIR. I RECEIVED A TEXT LAST NIGHT METRO CARE IS IN FULL AGREEMENT WITH THE SIX FACILITIES LISTED IN THE ORDINANCE. >> BATTALION CHIEF THE BEST CLASSMAN WE HAVE BY THE WAY. MY CLASSMATE WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MICHAEL. COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING? >> I HOPE THIS WILL HELP. I KNOW I HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER WHO SAT IN THE HOSPITAL ABILENE SOUTH FOR A LONG TIME WAITING TO GET AN AMBULANCE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT AN EMERGENCY. AND SHE SAT THERE FOR QUITE A WHILE. I'M HOPING THIS WILL HELP ALLEVIATE SOME OF THAT TO ALLOW FOR THE NONEMERGENCY TRANSFER OF PATIENTS. >> THAT'S THE REASON WHY IT'S BEEN REQUESTED. METRO CARE HAS BEEN GRACIOUS AND GOOD PARTNER TO AGREE TO AMEND THE CONTRACT TO PROVIDE THIS OPPORTUNITY. >> THANKS TO YOU FOR THAT. >> ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING? >> AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEAR SOMETHING. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM, IF SO PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. I WILL TAKE A MOTION AND SECOND FROM THE COUNCIL. >> SO MOVED. >> WE MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER MCALSTER AND A SECOND BY CRAVER. DISCUSSION? >> WE'RE READY TO VOTE. [18. Ordinance (Final Reading) Z-2022-24 Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on A Request From Leticia Leija, Represented By Matthew Muzechenko, To Change The Zoning Of Approximately 5 Acres From Agricultural Open (AO) To Heavy Commercial (HC) (Tim Littlejohn)] WE WILL MOVE TO ITEM 18. AND I WILL ASK TIM LITTLEJOHN TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. ALTHOUGH TIM IS NOT WITH US EITHER. IS TIM ON VACATION. >> HE HAS FAMILY MEMBER WITH FOOTBALL. HE'S INVOLVED IN STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS. >> THE BEARCATS? >> ATD STADIUM. >> YES. THAT'S RIGHT. GO BEARCATS. WE'RE ALL BEAR CALLS TODAY. >> I'M ANDY ANDERSON ASSISTANT DIRECTOR. FIRST ITEM I WILL TALK ABOUT BOTH INNER RELATED. I WILL USE THE GRAPHICS ON THE SECOND ITEM TO TELL THE STORIES OF THOSE IF YOU DON'T MIND. THE FIRST PROPERTY IS LOCATED NEAR THE CORNER OF THE LOOP AND INTERSTATE 20 [00:25:02] IN THIS LITTLE BOX THAT'S SHOWING YOU THERE. THE SECOND PROPERTY SURROUNDS IT AND THE GREEN TO THE WEST OF THE SOUTH OF THAT PROPERTY. BOTH OF THE PROPERTIES ARE UNDEVELOPED. VACANT. DEFINITELY COMMERCIAL TYPE PROPERTIES. THE POINTS THAT WE WANTED -- THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND YOU ALL TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT WHEN IT COMES TO ZONING THE CITY COUNCIL HAS ESTABLISHED A PRECEDENT OUT IN THIS AREA. THE PROPERTY TO THE EAST IS RIGHT NOW IT IS ZONED GENERAL COMMERCIAL. THE PROPERTY TO THE SOUTH ACROSS NORTH 10 ETHSTREET IS ZONED GENERAL COMMERCIAL NEAR THE INTERSECTION WITH THE LOOP AND 10TH STREET. THE CITY COUNCIL HAS ESTABLISHED PRECEDENT OF GENERAL COMMERCIAL BEING THE APPROPRIATE ZONING DISTRICT IN THIS AREA. THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY WOULD LIKE THESE TWO PROPERTIES BOTH TO BE ZONED HEAVY COMMERCIAL TO ALLOW A SPECIFIC USE ON THE PROPERTY. I WOULD POINT OUT THAT SPECIFIC USE IS ALSO PERMITTED IN THE G-C DISTRICT WHICH IS WHAT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION WAS. ONLY IT WOULD REQUIRE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT. APPLICANT PROVIDED THE GRAPHICS THAT WE PASSED OUT TO YOU THIS MORNING. SO YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO ESTABLISH. I WILL LET HIM TALK ABOUT HERE IF HE'S HERE THIS MORNING. THE POINTS THAT THE STAFF WANTED TO MAKE, WITH YOU THIS MORNING IS THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT ZONING CHANGE, YOU DON'T LOOK AT NECESSARILY ONE PARTICULAR USE IN THAT DISTRICT. YOU LACK AT THE WHOLE BASKET OF USES THAT ARE ALLOWED IN THAT DISTRICT. THAT'S ONE REASON WHY WE SHOW YOU WE SHOW YOU THESE GRAPHICS. WHEN SOMEONE IS ASKING FOR H-C THEY MAY HAVE ONE IDEA IN MIND TODAY. BUT IDEAS CHANGE. PROPERTY OWNERS CHANGE. IT'S A LONG-TERM DEAL. WHEN YOU ZONE PROPERTY IT'S FOREVER. UNTIL SOMEONE ASK YOU TO CONSIDER A CHANGE END ZONING. ANY OF THESE USES IN THE AC-DISTRICT ARE PERMITTED. SOME MAY NOT BE COMPATIBLE WITH PROPERTIES ACROSS THE STREET AND COMPATIBLE WITH THOSE ZONED GENERAL COMMERCIAL IN THE AREA. WE -- THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING THE ZONING BE DOWN ZONED FROM WHAT THEY REQUESTED TO G-C, COMMERCIAL USES ARE WHAT'S RECOMMENDED IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. EITHER DISTRICT WOULD FIT. BUT WE BELIEVE BECAUSE THE PROPERTY TO THE EAST AND SOUTH ARE ZONED GENERAL COMMERCIAL. THAT PRECEDENT EXISTS. AND THE OTHER CONCERN WE HAVE IS THAT THE PROMPT TO THE SOUTH AS YOU SEE HERE ON THE OVERHEAD YOU JUST CREATED TURF NUMBER 3. WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT THIS DEVELOPMENT ON THAT DEVELOPMENT AS WELL. WE BELIEVE THAT GENERAL COMMERCIAL USES GENERALLY HAVE LOWER IMPACTING ON LOWER -- ON THE LOWER INTENSITY ZONING IN THE AREA. FOR THAT REASON, WHY THE STAFF IS ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER DOWN ZONING THE REZONING APPLICATION FROM THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE REZONING AS SUBMITTED. I WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS NOW OR AFTER YOUR PUBLIC HEARING. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. SO WE ARE CLEAR, THE APPLICANT REQUESTED HEAVY COMMERCIAL. STAFF RESERVATION WAS TO DENY HC-HEAVY COMMERCIAL AND RATHER A GC GENERAL COMMERCIAL BUT BEFORE US IS PNZ'S APPROVAL OF HEAVY COMMERCIAL. JUST WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT AS WE NAVIGATE THROUGH THIS. >> DOES COUNCIL HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS IN REGARD TO THIS ITEM PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING? >> I HAVE A QUESTION MAYBE MORE FOR STANLEY. GENERAL COMMERCIAL IS LESS INTENSIVE THAN HEAVY COMMERCIAL. SO WE CAN CONSIDER THAT ZONING. BECAUSE THE NOTIFICATION WAS FOR HEAVIER USE. >> THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. IT'S MORE INTENSIVE. >> MORE RESTRICTIVE LESS INTENSIVE. >> SNCE THE PARTICULAR USE THAT THE APPLICANT HAS REQUESTED OR HAS INTENDED BY THAT HEAVIER USE, CAN WE APPROVE THE G-C OR GC-ZONING WITH THAT CONDITIONAL USE? >> NOT TODAY. >> CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT IS NOT BEFORE THE COUNCIL TODAY. IT'S STRAIGHT ZONING TODAY. >> ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING? >> THANK YOU. >> AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? IF SO GIVE YOUR NAME AND [00:30:02] CITY YOU RESIDE IN FOR THE RECORD. >> I'M MATTHEW, I WILL WORK PAL JOHNSON AND ASSOCIATES. I LIVE IN ABILENE, TEXAS. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME HERE. TO KIND OF GET YOU AN IDEA HOW THE PLANNING AND ZONING WENT, I ORIGINALLY ASKED FOR LIGHT INDUSTRIAL. BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE HEAVY MACHINERY. THEY DO WORK ON THE HEAVY MACHINERY. IT'S ALL GOING TO BE IN DOORS. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE OUTDOORS. LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ALLOWS A LOT OF DIFFERENT USES. THE ZONING SAID WE PREFER YOU GO HC. SO I SAID OKAY. HEAVY COMMERCIAL. IF THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO. ON THE DAY OF THE ZONING, THE PLANNING AND ZONING SAID, WE REQUEST DENIAL. AND WANT GC. SO I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT THAT. I SENT AN E-MAIL. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION ON THE SILENT PLAN OR THE PLAYOUT. I BROUGHT THAT TO ADAM YESTERDAY MORNING. HC, THEY REALLY NEED THE HC ZONING TO BE COMPATIBLE FOR WHAT THEIR USE IS. YELLOW HOUSE IS ALREADY IN ABILENE, TEXAS. THEY ARE RIGHT OFF OF EAST HIGHWAY 80. JUST EAST OF JUGILI. THEY HAVE 25 TO 30 EMPLOYEES IN ABILENE. THEY WILL BE BUILDING A NEW FACILITY AND NOT PLANNING ON MOVING OUT. IT'S GOING TO BE A FIVE TO 10 MILLION BUILDING. IT'S NOT SOMEONE THAT'S JUST COMING IN HERE ZONING HC AND THEN SEE YOU LATER IN FIVE YEARS. THEY WILL BE THERE FOR A LONG TIME. AND THE WAY THE LAYOUT OF THE HY, HE HAD TO HAVE ACCESS TO GET BACK TO 10TH. STANDFORD IS ALL ONE WAY. HE HAS A LITTLE SECTION OF A ROAD ON THE SITE PLAN IT WOULD BE ZONED HC AND THAT'S CLOSER TO EAST NORTH 10TH. YOU COULDN'T BUILD ON THAT LITTLE PIECE OF A ROAD ANYTHING. IT'S REALLY JUST FOR ACCESS. TALKING TO THE COMMITTEE ZONING THEY SAID, WELL, WE DON'T SEE IT BEING AN ISSUE BECAUSE THE BUILDING AND EVERYTHING ELSE WILL BE VERY CLOSE TO I-20. AND THAT IS TYPICAL HC ZONING FOR INTERSTATE 20. THE CORNER IS ZONED GENERAL COMMERCIAL. IT WAS BOUGHT A LONG TIME AGO. THE SPOT BELOW THAT'S NOT OUTLINED IN YELLOW, THAT IS WHAT THE SELLERS IS RETAINING. THAT DEFINITELY WE CAN SEE THAT GOING GENERAL COMMERCIAL. >> I HAVE ONE QUESTION. DID YOU SAY -- MAKE SURE I HEARD YOU CORRECTLY. INITIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH STAFF RECOMMEND YOU GO HC. IS THAT WHAT YOU SAID? >> YES. >> ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL PRIOR FROM THIS CITIZEN? >> THANK YOU. >> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? >> SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. COUNCIL HAS ANY QUESTIONS AND OR COMMENTS. >> WELL, THE -- THIS PARTICULAR AREA THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING RIGHT NOW IS WHERE THE BUILDING WILL BE. AND THAT'S WHAT NEEDS TO BE THE HC OR GC WITH THE CONDITIONAL USE. THE DRIVEWAY COULD BE PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING. AND SO I'M COMFORTABLE WITH HC FOR THIS PARTICULAR BLOCK. I WANT TO GIVE OTHERS A CHANCE TO TALK. PNZ RECOMMENDATION WHICH APPROVED. >> THE PORTION THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE WHICH IS WHAT 2601, I MEAN, THAT'S I'M COMFORTABLE WITH HEAVY COMMERCIAL. IT'S FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM OTHER AREAS AND IT'S RIGHT UP ON THE INTERSTATE. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HC. IF THAT'S WHAT THE CLIENT NEEDS TO GET THEIR WORK DONE. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. >> QUESTION FROM COUNCIL. >> I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION. >> MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF RECOMMENDATION FROM PNZ. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A [00:35:01] SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? WE'RE READY TO VOTE. >> MOTION CARRIES. WE WILL MOVE TO ITEM 19. [19. Ordinance (Final Reading) Z-2022-25 Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on A Request From Mike And Buffi Awtry, Represented By Matthew Muzechenko, To Change The Zoning Of Approximately 5.27 Acres From Agricultural Open (AO) To Heavy Commercial (HC) (Tim Littlejohn)] I WILL ASK -- WHO IS DOING THIS? DIRECTOR TO PRESENT THIS. >> ANY COMMENTS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION. WITH THE PLANNING AND ZONING RECOMMENDATION. OTHERWISE, I WILL WAIT UNTIL THE PUBLIC HEARING. >> ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME? AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM. PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. >> WILL YOU SPEAK AGAIN? >> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE MORE DISCUSSION FROM COUNCIL? >> MR. HANNA, IF YOU WILL I'M OBVIOUSLY IN AGREEMENT WITH THE HC ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF 2601. YOU WE'RE TO THE ADJACENT PROPERTY. COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CONCERN OF HC VERSES GC ON THIS SECTION. >> IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THEY ALLOW CONDITIONAL USE FOR THIS LOCATION. APPLICANT TO DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WITH GC AS WELL. THE CONDITIONAL USE ALLOWS THE COUNCIL AND THE PNZ AS THIS AREA DEVELOPS OVER TIME AND THE RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION GOES ON. OTHER CONDITIONS CAN BE ADDED TO THE TIME OF THE APPLICATION AT THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT FOR SCREENING. FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE HAVE USED AS TOOLS IN THE PAST TO PROVIDE A GREATER LEVEL OF COMPATIBILITY BETWEEN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMERCIAL USE. STAFF ISN'T SUGGESTING IT'S NOT A GREAT USE. IT'S A WONDERFUL USE. THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO. DAY ARE TRYING TO GIVE THE FREEDOM AT THE LATER DATE WHEN THE APPLICATION CAME IN TO MAKE CONDITIONS SO THERE'S COMPATIBILITY BETWEEN THE TWO USES. YOU HAVE A LARGE RETAIL CENTER WE'RE PROUD TO HAVE IN ABILENE CENTER. AND LARGE MAINTENANCE FACILITY THAT WE'RE PROUD TO HAVE WITH YELLOW HOUSE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S MAXIMUM OPPORTUNITY FOR COMPATIBILITY WITHIN THE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY AS WELL. THAT'S THE INTENT. TO COUNCILMEMBER PRICE'S POINT THAT PARCEL THAT WE JUST CONSIDERED COULD BE ZONED HC AND THIS COULD BE ZONED GC. I THINK THAT'S WHERE HE IS HEADED. THAT ALSO MEETS OUR CONCERNS. SATISFIES THAT AS WELL. IT'S UP TO YOU ALL. WE WERE JUST TRYING TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COMPATIBILITY DOWN THE ROAD. >> THIS PROPERTY INTERFACES WITH SOME OF THE AREAS OF CONCERN MORE THAN THE PREVIOUS PROPERTY. >> FAR MORE. YES, SIR. >> COULD YOU OR -- MAYBE HAVE STAFF TALK. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CONCERNS WITH THE HC'S? THE CONFLICT THAT COULD HAPPEN WITH HC VERSES GC. >> DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE REASONING AND LOGIC UPON THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION? >> >> THE LOGIC BEHIND THE RECOMMENDATION WAS THAT EVEN THOUGH IT'S A NARROW SPACE, YOU COULD HAVE STORAGE MATERIALS. YOU COULD HAVE ANYTHING THAT THEY ARE STORING. PIPE, FILL, LIKE A CONTRACTORS A YARD TYPE OF THING. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE EVENTUAL USE OF THE PROPERTY MAY BE IN THE FUTURE. WHEN YOU HAVE HEAVY COMMERCIAL ZONING, IT DOES ALLOW OTHER USES THAT DO REQUIRE A LOT OF OUTDOOR STORAGE AND LOT OF OUTDOOR USES ON A PROPERTY. AND GENERAL RETAIL TENDS TO HAVE THEIR MATERIALS BEING ENCLOSED IN A BUILDING. THE STRUCTURE. SO THAT AND THE TRUCK TRAFFIC. THAT'S ARE THE PRIMARY CONCERNS WE HAD WITH HEAVY COMMERCIAL. WITH A CUP BEING REQUIRED, WE CAN REQUIRE THEM TO BRING IN THE SILENT P SITE PLAN THAT SHOWS EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. IF WE NEED TO ADD A BUFFER YARD TO MAKE SURE IT FITS WITH THE OTHER PROPERTIES, THAT ARE TO THE SOUTH, THAT WE HAVE BETTER CONTROL OF HOW THAT BACK PART OF THE [00:40:04] PROPERTY FUNCTIONS. AND WHAT WHAT GOES ON BACK IN THERE. WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS USE. IT'S THE OTHER ASPECT OF THE HEAVY COMMERCIAL APPLICATION ARE WHAT THE CONCERNS ARE. >> MATTHEW? DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS? >> THIS PIECE RIGHT HERE, THEY HAD TO HAVE BOTH PIECES TO MAKE THIS STILL WORK. 2601 THE PERFECT SQUARE SQUARE. THAT'S WHERE MOST OF THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE GOING TO BE ON. THIS OTHER PIECE A LOT OF IT IS IN THE 100-YEAR FLOOD. NONE OF IT WILL BE BUILT ON. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS GOT ANY OF MY INFORMATION, BUT I HAD A SITE PLAN THAT SHOWS WHERE THE BUILDING IS. IT KIND OF SHOWS -- THEY SAY DEMONSTRATION OR YARD TO THE SOUTHWEST CORNER DOWN THERE. THEY ARE PROBABLY JUST GOING TO HAVE SOME VEHICLES PARKED CLOSER TO I-20 FOR VISIBILITY BECAUSE THEY LEASE OUT THOSE BIG VEHICLES AND WORK ON THEM. THEY HAD TO HAVE ACCESS BECAUSE OF THE ONE-WAY. THEY -- THE SELLER WANTED TO RETAIN A MAJORITY OF THAT BOTTOM PIECE BECAUSE IT'S OUT OF THE FLOOD. AND THAT'S GOING TO BE GENERAL COMMERCIAL IN THE FUTURE. WE CAN SEE THAT HAPPENING. HE KEPT A LITTLE SLIVER TO GET ACCESS FOR HIS ROAD. BUT HE IS GOING TO MEET UP AT THE TOP. I MEAN IF YOU ARE HC LIKE THEY SAID AND WAL-MART AND THAT YOU'VE GOT TO PUT EVERYTHING BEHIND THE BUILDING AND FENCE IT UP. AND THEY WILL WANT THAT FACILITY TO LOOK SIMILAR LIKE JOHN DEERE IS ON 322. OR THE WAY WARREN CAT WILL LOOK ON 322. I DON'T SEE -- HE'S NOT GO JEOPARDIZE HIS BUSINESS. THIS GIVES HIM A LITTLE BIT MORE. I WOULD NOT LIKE TO GO BACK TO TRY TO DO A GC WITH THE CONDITIONAL USE. BECAUSE THAT'S JUST GOING TO PUT US ANOTHER 60-PLUS DAYS OUT. I UNDERSTAND GENERAL COMMERCIAL AND WHAT'S AROUND THERE. I DON'T SEE ANYTHING HAPPENING OUT OF THE ORDINARY WITH THIS PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT. >> THANK YOU. >> IF WE DID GO GC, THEY WOULD HAVE TO APPLY FOR CUP LAYER. WOULD THERE BE FEES. >> WE COULD WAIVE THE FEES. THE INTENT IS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE DISCUSSION ON BETTER COME PAT WBLT COMPATIBILITY. THE INTENT IS THAT. IF COUNCIL DOESN'T SEE VALUE IN THAT CONVERSATION, NO ONE WILL DIE ON THEIR SWORD IN THE STAFF. IT'S YOUR ALL'S DECISION. I RESPECT THE DECISION YOU MAKE. WE JUST THOUGHT IT WOULD BE -- BECAUSE BOTH OF THEM ALLOW THE SAME USES TO DEVELOPER CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT TO UNDER GC WITH A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT. IT WOULD GIVEN A OPPORTUNITY FOR DIALOGUE WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE THERE WITH HC ZONING. BUT BOTH WORK. . >> UNDERSTAND IT'S A 30-FOOT ENTRANCE. IF I WAS INVESTING IN THIS. I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE IFFY IN THIS FOR 60 MORE DAYS. >> IF WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT CONFLICTS THAT DON'T AND WE HAVE PEOPLE IN THE COUNCIL THAT CAN'T ATTEND. THAT CAN DRAG OUT. IT'S THE WAY THE PROCESS WORKS, UNFORTUNATELY. >> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? I WILL MOVE WE JUST APPROVE [00:45:03] IT AS HC. >> I SECOND. >> I HAVE MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BEARD AND SECOND BY COUNCIL WOMEN ALBUS. READY FOR VOTE. [20. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action Establishing Rules and Regulations for the Abilene Public Library Strictly Prohibiting Obscene and Harmful Material and Performance, and Discussion of Progress of Implementing Prior Council Direction Regarding the Library's Collection Policy (Robert Hanna)] >> >> WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM NO. 20. I WILL HAVE ROBERT HANNA OUR CITY MANAGER TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. FOR THE RECORD, IT IS HANNA. [LAUGHTER] >> NO H. >> I'M GOING TO HAVE JULI OUR LIBRARY DIRECTOR ASSIST WITH THE INITIAL PART OF THIS PRESENTATION. I WANT HER TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPROVEMENTS THEY HAVE MADE AT THE COUNCIL'S DIRECTION FROM THE LAST TIME WE DISCUSSED THIS TOPIC AND RECEIVED HER DIRECTION. HER STAFF HAVE WORKED HARD TO DO THIS. I WANT HER TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO UNVEIL THE FEATURES AND TELL THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THEM. >>> I APPRECIATE INNER-HANNA. YOU AND JULIE AND HER BOARD AND STAFF RESPONDING TO DIRECTIVES FROM THE COUNCIL. I THINK THE COUNCIL DID A GOOD JOB OF LISTENING TO ALL SIDES IN TRYING TO GIVE SOME DIRECTION TO PUT FORTH AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO CITIZENS IN A WAY THAT REPRESENTS AIL OF OUR COMMUNITY. I APPRECIATE YOUR PROFESSIONALISM, JULIE AND YOUR STAFF AND YOUR BOARD FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE. YEAH GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON SOME OF THE NEW SERVICES. >> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? >> WE WILL NOT -- I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU UPDATE ON THE NEW SERVICES AT THE LIBRARY. AND SOME OF THOSE NEW SERVICES STARTING WITH THE KIDS CATALOG. THAT IS A DIFFERENT CATALOG THAN OUR DIFFERENT CATALOG, THAT IS LIMITED TO ONLY JUVENILE ITEMS ABILENE PUBLIC LIBRARY. AND YOU CAN REACH IT IN TWO WAYS. YOU CAN CLICK TOWN KIDS LINK FROM OUR MAIN CATALOG SCREEN. OR THERE'S A DIRECT LINK TO THE CARED KID'S CATALOG. EITHER WAY YOU CAN GET WILL. GO DIRECTLY TO IT OR THROUGH THE REGULAR CATALOG SCREEN TO GET THERE. AND THIS IS A SCREEN SHOT OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. IT IS IMAGE-BASED. FOR EARLY READERS IT'S MORE READER FRIENDLY. AND WHAT IT DOES, IT IS DOES A BASIC SUBJECT SEARCH. IF YOU CLICK ON ANIMALS, I WILL SEARCH FOR ANIMALS. IT'S PRETTY BASIC. IT JUST KIND OF MAKES SENSE TO ACTUALLY ADULTS TOO. IT'S VERY SIMPLE. AND NO ELECTRONIC TITLES ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH THIS CATALOG. IT'S ONLY GOING TO SHOW BOOKS THAT ARE OWNED AT ABILENE PUBLIC LIBRARY. NOTHING FROM ANY OTHER CONSORTIUM LIBRARIES OR ELECTRONIC TITLES. THERE ARE STILL OPTIONS WHERE YOU CAN GET TO MY ACCOUNT. YOU CAN LOOK AT HOLDS AND DO ALL YOUR NORMAL CATALOG ACTION WITH YOUR ACCOUNT. YOU CAN DO THAT JUST FROM THE KIDS CATALOG WITHOUT CHANGING. THAT'S BASICALLY IT. I CAN SHOW YOU A SCREEN. IF YOU CLICK ON ANIMALS. I WILL BRING YOU -- NEXT PAGE FURTHER BROKEN DOWN ANIMAL. YOU GO TO DINOSAURS, YOU CAN CLICK ON DINOSAURS, IT WILL BRING UP ALL THE BOOKS ON DINOSAURS. >> ARE WE GOING TO CHANGE THAT TO BISON. >> I THINK WE CAN CUSTOMIZE THAT A BIT. I FORGET TO POINT OUT THAT WE DO HAVE A CUSTOM TEXAS I CON. KIDS DO INK RESEARCH ABILITY TEXT TECHNIQUES HISTORY CAN CLICK ON THAT BUTTON TO FIND IT. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT CATALOG SEARCH RESULTS BRING UP. IT'S JUST GOING TO BRING UP BOOKS ON DOGS. AND YOU WILL SEE THERE THAT IT SHOWS WHICH LIBRARIES HAVE BOOKS ON DOGS. YOU CAN DO SEARCHING BY AUTHOR, FORMAT MATERIAL TYPE AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT YOU COULD DO. THAT'S KIND OF THE BASIC IDEA OF THE KIDS CATALOG. MAKING IT SIMPLE FOR PARENTS AND KIDS TO USE. [00:50:01] THE NEXT ITEM THAT COUNCIL ASKED US TO WORK ON IS THE ORDER REVIEW PROCESS. I'M REALLY PROUD OF THIS. THIS IS A BRAND-NEW PROCESS. AND THIS IS WE CAN DO THIS ONLINE. ABILENE PUBLIC LIBRARY ADULT CARD HOLDER CAN COMMENT ON THE JUVENILE AND YOUNG ADULT BOOKS ON ORDER BY LOGGING ON TO ORDER REVIEW SITE. THAT'S NOT ACTIVE YET. IT WILL BE ACTIVE AFTER COUNCIL. WE CAN MAKE THAT LINK LIVE ON OUR WEB SITE. THAT'S. >>> THEN THAT'S ALL AUTHENTICATED THROUGH THE LIBRARY WEB SITE. YOU USE YOUR PIN NUMBER. AND THEN IT WILL BRING UP DIFFERENT CARTS. AND IT'S KIND OF LIKE AN AMAZON CART. IF THAT SOUNDS SIMILAR TO YOU. IT'S KIND OF -- YOU CAN OPEN A CART AND IT WILL BRING UP DIFFERENT TITLES A THEN YOU WILL NOTICE A COMMENT ON THIS BUTTON BY EACH TITLE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON A PARTICULAR TITLE, YOU CAN CLICK ON THAT BUTTON AND THEN YOU CAN ENTER WHATEVER COMMENTS YOU WOULD LIKE. IT AUTO FILLS YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS AND YOUR NAME. AND THEN YOU CAN ENTER IN THE COMMENT AND THOSE COMMENTS WILL POPULATE A SPREADSHEET AND THOSE WILL BE SENT TO LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION. AND THOSE ALL OF THOSE COMMENTS WILL GO TO THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD BEFORE THEIR NEXT MEETING WHERE THEY WILL CONSIDER THE ORDERS THAT ARE POTENTIAL ORDERS FOR THE LIBRARY. ONCE THE LIBRARY BOARD MAKES RECOMMENDATION, THAT RECOMMENDATION WILL GO TO ME. THE DIRECTOR OF LIBRARY SERVICES AND THEN I WILL MAKE THE FINAL DETERMINATION ON WHAT IS ORDERED. ANOTHER NEW SERVICE. RESTRICTED ACCESS JUVENILE CARDS. THIS SOMETHING REQUESTED. THIS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO RESIDENT AND NONRESIDENTS OF ABILENE. PARENTS OR LEGAL GUARDIANS CAN REQUEST THIS CARD FOR THEIR CHILDREN AT ANY LIBRARY LOCATION. AND THEY ARE PRETTY -- THERE'S A LIST OF RESTRICTIONS FOR THESE CARDS. ONLY JUVENILE BOOKS CAN BE CHECKED OUT. NO YOUNG ADULT OR ADULT MATERIALS CAN BE CHECKED OUT WITH THIS CARD. NO HOLDS FROM ANY OTHER LIBRARY CONSORTIUM LIBRARIES. THERE'S NO INNER LIBRARY LOAN ACCESS AND THERE'S NO ACCESS TO DIGITAL MATERIAL. THERE'S NO INTERNET ACCESS ALLOWED AT LIBRARY COMPUTER LABS. THE OTHER UPDATE IS THE REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION THAT THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD HAS RECEIVED. THEY RECEIVED 30 REQUEST BETWEEN AUGUST 21ST AND OCTOBER 1ST, AND THESE 30 REQUESTS OUT OF THE 30 REQUESTS, IT WAS ACTUALLY 26 TITLES, BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME DUPLICATES. THE REVIEW COMMITTEE PRESENTED THEIR RECOMMENDATION ON NOVEMBER 7TH AT THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING. THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD DECIDED NOT TO TAKE ACTION ON THEIR RECOMMENDATION AT THAT POINT BECAUSE THEY WANTED MORE TIME TO REVIEW TITLES. THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY DOING. THAT RECOMMENDATION WILL COME UP AT THEIR NEXT MEETING AND WILL BE RECONSIDERED. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> ON THE BOOKS ON ORDER. I WANT TO CLARIFY TWO THINGS. THAT ALLOWS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT PRIOR TO DELIVERY OF THE BOOK; IS THAT CORRECT? >> PRIOR TO ORDERING. >> AND THEN WHAT IS THE TIME FRAME THAT WE WOULD ALLOW FOR COMMENT BEFORE -- WILL IT TIME FRAME VARY DEPENDING ON WHEN THE NEXT LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD IS? OR DO WE HAVE A SET TIME FRAME IN MIND TO ALLOW FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR DELIVERY? >> WE'RE WORKING THAT OUT. BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AT LEAST A MONTH OR MORE BETWEEN LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD QUARTERLY METINGS. >> THEN THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD WILL HAVE ACCESS TO COMMENTS? >> THEY WILL RECEIVE ALL THE COMMENTS. . >> THANK YOU. >> ONE QUESTION I HAD. ROBERT, I THOUGHT WE HAD SOME CONVERSATION IN REGARDS TO CITIZENS MAKING REQUEST FOR CERTAIN TITLE. SHE MAKES THAT DECISION. I THOUGHT YOU WOULD MAKE THE FINAL DECISION; IS THAT NOT CORRECT? >> THAT IS CORRECT. ON A RECONSIDERATION PROCESS THAT ENDS WITH ME ON THE -- THERE'S ANOTHER PROCESS IN HERE THAT ENDS. JULIE ON WHAT COLLECTIONS -- WHAT BOOKS ARE ADDED TO COLLECTION ON THE PROCUREMENT STANDPOINT. JULIE HAS THAT AUTHORITY. SHE WORKS FOR ME. IF THERE'S A CONFLICT, SHE -- IF I FEEL DIFFERENTLY THAN HER. I WILL HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH HER AND WE'LL COME TO AN AGREEMENT. BUT THE RECONSIDERATION PROCESS DOES END AT MY DESK; YES, SIR. >> ANY QUESTIONS OF THE COUNCIL PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC? [00:55:03] >> WE HAVE MORE PRESENTATIONS. >> THIS NEXT PART IS SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY COUNCIL HAS ASKED STAFF TO WORK ON. STANLEY SMITH WORKED ON DRAFTING THIS. AND I APPRECIATE HIS CONSIDERATION AND WORK ON THIS. THE RESOLUTION BEFORE THE COUNCIL THIS MORNING STRICTLY -- AND LET ME SAY THIS BEFORE I GO INTO THIS. THIS ORDINANCE CONTAINS -- THIS RESOLUTION CONTAINS LANGUAGE THAT SOME MAY FIND OFFENSIVE. IF YOU ARE OFFENDED BY TALKING ABOUT HUMAN SEXUALITY YOU MAY NOT WANT TO LISTEN TO THIS. IF YOU HAVE A SMALL CHILD YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR CERTAIN THINGS ABOUT HUMAN SEXUALITY. YOU MAY NOT WANT TO HAVE THEM ON THE ROOM. THIS RESOLUTION STRICTLY PROHIBITS THE DISMRAI PROMOTION OR AVAILABILITY OF ON SEEN MATERIAL PERFORMANCES IN ANY HARMFUL MATERIAL THAT ARE WITHIN THE ABILENE PUBLIC LIBRARY. BY MAKING IT THE POLICY OF THE CITY OF ABILENE AND THE CITY MANAGER OR MY STAFF MEMBERS CALL LOU OR AUTHORIZE THE DISPLAY PROMOTION, OR AVAILABILITY OF ANY ON MATERIAL WITHIN THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. WE CANNOT STAFF CANNOT AUTHORIZE A DISPLAY PROMOTION OR AVAILABILITY OF HARMFUL MATERIAL FOR MINORS WITHIN THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. IT DIRECTS ME AND CITY MANAGER TO REMOVE ANY ON SEEN MATERIAL FROM THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. AND DIRECTS THE CITY MANAGER TO REMOVE ANY HARMFUL MATERIAL THAT DISPLAYED PROMOTED OR AVAILABLE TO MINORS AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. AND IT DIRECTS ME TO CEASE ANY ANY ON SEEN PERFORMANCE. ALL ARE DEFINED IN STATUTE IN THE PENAL CODE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND I WON'T READ THESE WORD-FOR-WORD. WE'RE ALL ADULTS. WE CAN READ THEM OURSELVES. BUT IT'S CLEARLY DEFINED THIS LANGUAGE HAS BEEN ON THE TEXAS PENAL CODE BOOK ALL NOW. DEFINES OBSCENITY. DEFINES WHAT IT IS AND ISN'T. IT TALKS ACT BASICALLY OFFENSIVE, REPRESENTS DESCRIBES HUMAN SEXUALITY, REPRESENTS OR DESCRIBES OTHER PORTION OF HUMAN SEXUALITY. MATERIAL IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ALL GET OUR HEADS AROUND. IT MEAN A LOT OF THINGS AS LONG AS DOESN'T OBTAIN A THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECT. PERFORMANCE MEANS A PLAY, A MOTION A PICTURE, DANCE, OR ANY EXHIBITION PERFORMED BEFORE AN AUDIENCE. STORY TIME, FOR EXAMPLE, WOULD BE A PERFORMANCE. PATENTLY OFFENSIVE ANYONE SO OFFENSIVE CURRENT COMMUNITY STANDARD OF DECENCY. THERE'S SOME DISCUSSION ON HOW CAN YOU DEFINE COMMUNITY STANDARDS? AND MY DISCUSSION WITH STANLEY THERE'S SOME CASE LAW THAT HELPS ESTABLISH. LARGER THAN THE COUNTY. WE KNOW THAT. IT MAY BE AS LARGE AS THE STATE. SOMEWHERE BETWEEN LARGER THAN THE COUNTY AND THE STATE OF TEXAS. MINOR IS PRETTY CLEAR. INDIVIDUAL UNDER 18. THOSE THREE ITEMS THERE. ITEM C THE ONE OFTEN DIFFICULT. THE DIFFICULT UTTERLY REDEEMING SOCIAL VALUE FOR MINORS. AND THEN THIS OF MOST IMPORTANCE. BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ENFORCING THE TEXAS PENAL CODE HERE. WE'RE -- THIS IS NOT ME TO GO ON WITCH HUNT AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ARREST PEOPLE. WHAT THIS IS WE'RE TAKING THE DEFINITION IN THE TEXAS PENAL CODE AS USING AS GUIDELINES AND STANDARD HOW WE MANAGE OUR COLLECTION ON THE BOOKS WE PURCHASE AND MAINTAIN AT THE LIBRARY. PART OF THIS IS COUNCIL CHOOSES TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION PROVIDE THAT CLEAR POLICY DIRECTION, IS ME ASKING JULIE TO USE THE NEW DEFINITIONS IN THE CREATION OF COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT POLICY THAT WE WILL USE TO HELP SHAPE AND GUIDE THE BOOKS THAT WE HAVE AT THE ABILENE PUBLIC LIBRARY. DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CAN JOOM? >> THIS DOES NOT GO BEYOND STATE STATUTE. THIS KIND OF AMPLIFIES WHAT STATE LAW IS ALREADY, PROVIDE CLARITY. THERE'S SOME AMBIGUITY IN REGARD TO THE CITY. AND DIFFERENT COMPANIES THAT WERE HAD EARLY ON THIS SUMMER. BUT THEY JUST DOUBLED DOWN AND SAID WE WILL BE CONSISTENT WITH STATE LAW IS. CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> AND I WILL BE REMISS COUNCILMAN BEARD. [01:00:02] THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN REGARDS TO PUTTING SOMETHING FORTH TO STANLEY AND TO THIS POINT. WE WANT TO BE SURE WE CAN GET YOU PROPER RECOGNITION FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. WITH THAT SAID, ANY QUESTIONS FROM MR. HANNA OR JULIE PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING? >> AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? IF SO PLEASE GIVE YOU NAME FOR THE RECORD. YOU WILL HAVE THREE-MINUTE LIMIT. WE DO HAVE A FEW THAT HAVE FILLED OUT COMMENT CARDS. WE'LL ALLOW THEM TO GO FIRST AND THEN EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PUBLIC HEARING WITH A THREE-MINUTE LIMIT. >> ANN COROZA. >> GOOD MORNING. I WILL USE MY NOTES. OUR PUBLIC LIBRARIES ARE FOR ALL OF US. I HOPE THAT WILL BE CONSIDERED WHEN IT IS DETERMINED WHAT IS OBSCENE AND DANGEROUS OR HARMFUL. I GREW UP HOME FATHER, MOTHER AND FOUR KIDS. MY DAD WAS A PREACHER AT THE LOCAL CHURCH OF CHRIST. I KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO LEARN ABOUT THE LOVE OF GOD. THE LOVE OF YOUR NEIGHBOR, AND THE IDEALS REPRESENTED IN THE BIBLE. AS A TWIST, TWO OF MY THREE SIBLINGS ARE GAY. SO I ALSO KNOW THE STRUGGLES THAT THEY FACE, THE CONVERSION THERAPY IS A MYTH. AND THAT IS POSSIBLE FOR US ALL TO OVERCOME OUR DIFFERENCES WITH LOVE. I KNOW THE MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY ARE PEOPLE. PEOPLE BY NO CHOICE OF THEIR OWN WERE BORN THIS WAY. FOR EVERYONE WHO FLAP BOY IANT MAYOR OFFENDS TWO OF YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE LIVING IN TERROR OF BEING OUTED AND REJECTED. THEY ALL DESERVE NOT ONLY OUR LOVE COMPASSION AND UNDERSTANDING, BUT ALSO OUR RESPECT, SUPPORT AND PROTECTION AS MEMBERS OF THE LARGER COMMUNITY. REGARDLESS OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. AMERICAN VALUES IS GUARANTEED IN THE CONSTITUTION. PUBLIC LIBRARIES SHOULD REFLECT AND BENEFIT ALL OF US. MATERIALS THAT ADDRESS THINGS LIKE CONFUSING ADOLESCENCE FEELING, SEXUALITY, SELF-HARM AND SUICIDE ARE VITAL. AND THEY CAN ACTUALLY AIDE ALL FAMILIES IN COMMUNICATION. AS WELL AS HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE IDEAL NUCLEAR FAMILY. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU. BUT OUR SOUTHERN FAMILY DIDN'T TALK ABOUT UNPLEASANT OR CONTROVERSIAL THINGS. BUT THEN WE GREW UP. THESE MATERIALS CAN ALSO TEACH CHILDREN IN UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD AROUND THEM. A WORLD THAT IS A HOME TO ALL HUMAN BEINGS. WHO HAVE THEIR UNIQUE VIEW OF THE WORLD. KEEPING THIS MATERIALS AVAILABLE TO ALL. IS NOT AN ATTACK ON MORALITY OR ANYONE RELIGION BUT A PRIVILEGE WE SHOULD ENJOY. WITH OUR SOARING RATES OF SUICIDE. HATE CRIMES AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE AND SCHOOL SHOOTINGS THE BETTER AND VARIED MATERIALS THE MORE IT BENEFITS OUR ENTIRE SOCIETY. LABELLING ANYONE AS OTHER IS NOT ONLY HATEFUL, BUT DANGEROUS. TO ALL OF US. CONCERNED PARENTS IF YOUR CHILDREN HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT SOMETHING THEY SAW AT THE LIBRARY, ANSWER THEM. THAT'S YOUR JOB. YOUR UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO GIVE THEM THE APPROPRIATE ANSWERS. YOU ARE THERE THEIR BEST GUIDE. >> KAYLA LEMONS. >> I RESIDE HERE IN ABILENE. I JUST WANTED TO BRING BEFORE YOU SOME THOUGHTS AND SOME IDEAS FROM SOMEONE WHO WAS RAISED IN CHURCH OF CHRIST. NOT HERE IN TEXAS. BUT I COME TO YOU WITH THE PLEA THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER THE ROLE OF PARENTS IN OUR CHILDREN'S UPBRINGING. THE CONCERNS OF ACCESS TO MATERIALS THAT ARE NOT APPROPRIATE WOULD ONLY BE AT THE RISK OF HAVING NOT SUPERVISED YOUR CHILDREN. PARENTS WHO CAN'T HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEIR CHILDREN ABOUT DIFFICULT TOPICS, HAVE SOME GROWING UP TO DO AS PARENTS. ROBBING CHILDREN OF THE ACCESS THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM [01:05:04] TO FEEL ACCEPTED, UNDERSTOOD OR OTHER SOCIALLY APPROPRIATE, IS NOT HEALTHY FOR THEM AS YOUNG PEOPLE GROWING UP. TO BE HAVE FEELING THAT ARE THE SUBJECT OF BEING CONCLUDED OR MAKE THEM SEPARATE WHEN WE ALL AS A HUMAN RACE SHOULD BE WORKING TOGETHER TO PROVIDE UNITY AND SUPPORT FOR ALL HUMANS. THE BANNING OF HARMFUL MATERIAL IS ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT. BUT THAT DEFINITELY IS TO EXCLUDE THINGS THAT HAVE VALUE. WHETHER IT'S LITERARYIA VALUE OR SCIENTIFIC VALUE. AND THAT VALUE HAS TO COME FROM A NONBIAS PERSPECTIVE. HAS TO COME FROM PERSPECTIVE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE INTEREST OF THE MOVING FORWARD IN THE INTEREST OF LEARNING IN THE INTEREST OF GROWING FROM EVERY POINT IN LIFE. WE HAVE OUR LIBRARY RESTRICTIONS AVAILABLE AS THAT ARE COMING INTO PLACE. AND I CAN'T HATE THAT. I CAN'T HATE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PARENTS TO PLAY A ROLE IN THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATION. BUT I CAN'T ALSO ABSOLVE THEM OF THE RIGHT BY TAKING AWAY THE MATERIALS THEY MAY NOT APPROVE OF. >> THANK YOU. MANDY RHODES. >> MY NAME THE MANDY RHODES. I LIVE IN ABILENE. AIM HERE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO PASS RESOLUTION LEADING TO ABILENE PUBLIC LIBRARY. IT'S OUR LOCAL MARKETPLACE FOR IDEAS. THIS MUST REMAIN FREE FROM CENSORSHIP OR DISCRIMINATION. I'M NOT INTERESTED IN ANY GOVERNMENT POLICY THAT RESTRICTS PERSONAL FREEDOM. FREEDOM FROM GOVERNMENT INFLUENCE IS NOT LIMITED TO ISSUE YOU AGREE WITH. MY PERSONAL BELIEVE SHOULD NOT EFFECT THE FREEDOMS OF ANOTHER. IT'S EITHER FREE SPEECH FOR ALL OF US OR FREE SPEECH FOR NONE OF US. THIS ISN'T ABOUT PROTECTING THE CHILDREN. IT'S NOT THE GOVERNMENT JOB TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN. IT'S MINE. I DON'T COPARENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT ON ANY ISSUES. THE RESOLUTION PRESENTED BY CITY COUNCIL WOULD HAVE BOOK BANNING IN THE LIBRARY. I DON'T SUPPORT A. I THINK THE TERRIBLY WOULD BE REMISS FOR OPENING THE SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE TO TAKE FREEDOM AWAY FROM INDIVIDUALS IN THE COULDN'T. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE HATEST LANGUAGE TOWARD MY LGBTQ PLUS FRIEND WRITTEN INTO THE ORDINANCE SCREEN SHOTS. I'M ALLY AND I DON'T SUPPORT LIBRARY POLICY THAT RESTRICTS REPRESENTATION FROM ENTIRE GROUP OF PEOPLE. I WANT IT ON THE RECORD DISAGREE THAT MY CHILDREN NEED PROTECTION FROM INDIVIDUALS UNIQUE AND DIVERSE. MY CHILDREN NEED TO LEARN THAT IT'S OKAY TO BE EXACTLY WHO YOU ARE AND THAT WE LIVE IN A WORLD THAT ACCEPTS AND LOVES INDIVIDUALINGS. MY CHILDREN NEED TO BE PROTECTED FROM HATE, PARTNERSHIP ACCURACY AND GOVERNMENT CONTROL OVER THEIR LIVES. PLEASE COUNCIL PROTECT THE LIVES OF YOUR CONSTITUENT AND VOTE YES AND RESOLUTION AND SHUTDOWN BOOK BANNING ORDINANCES TODAY. >> CHRISTY COMPTON DIDN'T WANT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION. MARIE PARSON. HELLO. >> I'M LISA. FORGIVE ME. I FORGET MY GLASSES. I'M LISA PARSON. SOCIAL IMMEDIATE MEDIA WRITER SINCE 2040. COOPER HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE. 1988. TH THORN. GOOD CONDUCT, SAILOR QUARTER SPRING 994. USS YELLOWSTONE, 8041 OUT OF 3,000. FOUR ADULT CHILDREN. YOUNGEST BORN HENDRIX. APRIL 1997. IN NOVEMBER, 2021, I ANSWERED THIS CALL. FACEBOOK AD FROM HAYESELTON MEDITATION. PLEASE SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE STRENGTH AND HOPE. FOR THIS NEW MEDITATION BOOK LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND. DAILY MEDITATIONS WERE ASKING THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE IN RECOVERY SHARE YOUR WORDS OF HEALING AND HOPE. YOU KNOW WHAT YOU EXPERIENCE. YOU KNOW HOW YOU RECOVERY EFFECTED BY YOUR SERVICE. YOU KNOW HOW TO HELP YOURSELF AND HOW TO HELP EACH OTHER. I FELT DIFFERENT MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY AFTER THE [01:10:11] HYSTERECTONY REMOVING CERVICAL CANCER. >> JUST A SYMBOL SHARED A STORY TO ME WHILE HE WAS IN THE NAVY ON MED CRUISE IN 1994 WHEN LISTENING TO MUSIC COLLECTION. MY DIVISION OFFICER CONSIDERED PRINCE'S MUSIC ON SEEN. I TOLD HIM RESPECTFULLY IF HE WANTED HIS WORK DONE TO LEAVE THE SHOP AND ALLOW ME TO LISTEN TO MUSIC I WANTED TO HEAR. HE OBLIGED. THIS IS A MUTE POINT TODAY. NOW THAT WE HAVE EAR BUDS AND THE INTERNET TO SHARE VARIOUS TYPES OF MUSIC FREELY WITH FRIENDS THAT SHARE A COMMON INTEREST. I DIDN'T HAVE A POSITION UNTIL MONDAY THIS WEEK WHEN I RESERVED MEETING SPACE FOR A GENDER FLUID TRAUMA RECOVERY GROUP WHERE WE WOULD LEARN PRINCIPALS TO ADVOCATE OUR VOICE. THIS BRANCH WAS MY CHOICE DUE TO DEMOGRAPHIC POPULATION IN THAT AREA. AND I ALSO LOVED THE LIBRARIANS THERE. WHEN I HEARD ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO ANOTHER GENDER GROUP THAT MET THERE. I IMMEDIATELY BECOME INVOLVED. THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY. REVOLUTION 22:11. THE MESSAGE. TIME IS ABOUT OUT. LET EVIL DOERS DO THEIR REST AND THE DIRTY MINDED GO ALL OUT IN POW POLLUTION. >> REBECCA LEE. >> HI. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME THE REBECCA LEE. I USE THE PRONOUNCES, MY HUSBAND IS VETERAN. OUR SON IS A SENIOR AT ABILENE HIGH SCHOOL. EYE BEEN A TEACHER FOR 20 YEARS. MY FIRST 15 WERE SPENT ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO WHERE I'M FROM. AND THE MOST RECENT FIVE IN ABILENE HIGH SCHOOL. I WANT TO SHARE A FEW SHORT STORIES ABOUT HOW REPRESENTATION REALLY MATTERS. FEW YEARS AGO WHILE TEACHING AT ABILENE HIGH. MY STUDENTS EXAMINING THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. ONE YOUNG SCHOLAR IN MY CLASS HOW CAN NATION SERVE ITS PEOPLE IF I DOESN'T REPRESENT THEIR IDENTITY. REPRESENTATION MATTERS. AND OUR YOUTH NOTICE THESE THINGS. AS AN EXAMPLE ON CURRENT LIST OF 115 APPROVED NINTH GRADE TEXT, 86% ARE WRITTEN BY WHITE AUTHORS. EVEN THOUGH ONLY 33% OF THE YOUTH AT ABILENE HIGH SCHOOL IDENTIFY AS WHITE. AS AN EDUCATOR I SPEAK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I WANT EMPHASIZE THAT REPRESENTATION MATTERS. I AGREE WITH THE PORNOGRAPHY AND THE VIOLENT. LOVE LEARNING AND I LOVE TEACHING AND I ALWAYS HAVE. AND IT'S NO ACCIDENT MY MOM IS A LIBRARIAN. I GREW UP AROUND BOOKS AND CRITICAL THINKING AND CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS MY WHOLE LIFE. IN FACT NOT TOO LONG AGO, I WAS ACCEPTED TO HARVARD'S GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND EVENTUALLY EARN MIND MASTER'S DEGREE IN LEARNING TEACHING AND INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP. WHILE ATTENDING HARVARD, I MET A COHORT NAMED TURNER. HE WAS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL LIGHT IN EVERY CLASS. WHEN HE GRADUATED HE EARNED THE AWARD INTELLECTUAL AWARD. BUT HE TOOK HIS OWN LIFE. TWITCH RECENTLY TOOK HIS OWN LIFE. BOTH OF THESEMEN ARE GAY BLACK MALES. I MENTION THEIR DEATH BECAUSE I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT HOW OUR TOWN RAE CURRENTLY BECOME A SANCTUARY CITY FOR THE UNBORN. I HEARD COUNCILMAN BEARD THAT WE ALL REMEMBER AND VALUE EACH OTHER. BUT I WONDER WHEN WE WOULD BECOME A SANCTUARY TO THE LIVING. IF TRULY VALUE EACH OTHER, THEN WE WOULD ELEVATE AND CELEBRATE EACH OTHER RATHER THAN CENSOR EACH OTHER OR REFER TO EACH OTHER'S LIFESTYLE AS OBSCENE. WHEN WE FAIL TO REPRESENT EVERYONE'S IDENTITY WHAT HAPPENS PEOPLE LIKE TURNER AND TWITCH DON'T FEEL SAFE. I ASK THAT OUR LIBRARIES BE A SANCTUARY TO THE LIVING. >> THANK YOU. >> THAT'S ALL THE CARDS I HAVE. >> WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. [01:15:02] IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? >> COME FORWARD. STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND THE CITY YOU RESIDE IN. >> I'M AMY BOONE. I'M FROM ABILENE. DR. ALLEN JACOBS, PROFESSORER SAID IN HIS BOOK HOW TO THINK. TO CONSIDER QUOTE THE IMPORTANCE OF ACTING POLITICALLY WITH AWARENESS THAT PEOPLE YOU AGREE WITH WON'T ALWAYS BE IN CHARGE. WE MUST MAKE A COMMITMENT TO WHAT POLITICAL PHILOSOPHERS CALL PROCEDURALISM. POLITICAL ADVERSARIES NEED TO GO BY THE SAME RULES. THIS IS HOW WE MAINTAIN SOCIAL ORDER. USING EXISTING RULES AGAINST YOUR OPPONENTS. OR FORMULATING NEW ONES WITH THE EXPLICIT PURCHASE OF MARGINALIZING THEM. EVEN WHETHER THEY MAY BE TURNED AGAINST YOU SOME SOMEDAY. WHEN THE POLITICAL WINS BLOW IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. SUCH AS THE POWER OF SHEER DISABLING OUR ETHICAL AND PRACTICAL JUDGMENT. I ASK YOU TO ACT ON THE SHARED VALUE OF FREE SPEECH. PARENTS HAVE THE ABILITY AND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT THEIR CHILDREN SEE AT THE LIBRARY OR ON NETFLIX. LET'S NOT GO DOWN THE ROAD OF CONSTRUCTING A SOCIETY WHERE OTHERS DETERMINE WHAT OUR CHILDREN CAN OR CAN NOT SEAT. WE ALL HAVE FREE SPEECH OR NONE OF US HAVE FREE SPEECH. LET'S CHOOSE FREE SPEECH FOR EVERYONE. I ASK THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE LIBRARIANS. AS THE PROFESSIONALS THEY ARE, AND TO STAND AGAINST ANY RHETORIC THAT QUESTIONS THEIR PERSONAL INTEGRITY OR THEIR PROFESSIONALISM. I ALSO ASK THE COUNCIL TO STAND SQUARELY TOWN SIDE OF EVERY CITIZEN IN THE CITY, INCLUDING ALL WHO BELONG TO LGBTQ AND RETAIN DIALOGUE WITH THOSE PUSHING HOMOPHOBIC NARRATIVES. THANK NOW FOR YOUR WORK. I STAND WITH THIS RESOLUTION. I'M HANNA OSHIELD. I USE PRONOUNS SHE AND HER. A MARK OF EDUCATED MIND TO BE ABLE TO ENTERTAIN A THOUGHT WITHOUT ACCEPTING IT. THIS WAS WRITTEN AND PAINTED TOWN WALLS OF MY CLASSICAL CHILDREN SCHOOL WHEN I GREW UP. ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, MY MOM WAS DOING WHAT MANY HERE ARE DOING TODAY. SIGNING PETITIONS AND BASICALLY WORKING SO HARD TO BAN BOOKS. WHEN GAY PEOPLE IN THEM TO PROTECT ME BUT THE SPOILER ALERT I WAS GAY ALL ALONG. INSTEAD OF MAKING ME FEEL PROTECTED AND SAFE, IT MADE ME FEEL ALONE AND INVINCIBLE AND ASHAMED. YOU SEE, LGBTQ KIDS ARE NOT JUST BORN INTO LIBERAL FAMILIES. LGBTQ KIDS ARE BORN INTO ALL KINDS OF FAMILIES ACROSS RELIGIOUS, POLITICAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS. ALL IT DID WAS TEACH ME SHE DIDN'T ACCEPT ME. THE THINGS THAT SHE WAS PROJECTING TO PROTECT ME THEY ALL WENT STRAIGHT TO MY HEART. WHICH PUT ME TWO TIMES HIGHER CHANCE OF BEING SUICIDAL, HIGHLY DEPRESSED OR SELF-HARMING. THANKFULLY I'M STILL ALIVE AND STANDING HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF OTHER TRUTHS I LEARNED IN THE BIBLE WHICH IS THAT I WAS CREATED BY GOD IN MY MOTHER'S WOMEN EXACTLY THE WAY I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE. GOD LOVED ME THE WAY I WAS. HAVING REPRESENTATION IN BOOKS AND MEDIA IS LINKED TO IMPROVED MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES. SHOWS A MESSAGE TO LGBTQ KIDS THEY DESERVE HAPPY ENDING. IN REALITY YOUR KIDS ARE GOING TO ENCOUNTER PEOPLE AND MATERIALS THEY DON'T ALIGN WITH. THE REALITY IS JUST THERE. RATHER THAN PUTTING ENERGY INTO EDITING THEIR ENVIRONMENT TEACH THEM CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS THINK WHAT COMES INTO THEIR MIND AND REALIZE THEY HAVE POWER TO EXAMINE AND CONSIDER WITHOUT ACCEPTING THOSE THINGS. ONE IN FIVE IDENTIFY LGBTQED ON THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE. SOME AS MANY AS HALF. THEY DESERVE MATERIAL THAT REPRESENTS THEM. I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO AFFIRM THE RESOLUTION BROUGHT BY THE LIBRARIANS. I WORK IN CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES WITH VICTIMS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT EVERY DAY. LONG HOURS I MIGHT ADD. AND THE BEST THING YOU CAN ACTUALLY DO TO PROTECT YOUR KIDS FROM ABUSE HAVE OPEN COMMUNICATION, TEACH HEALTHY BOUNDARIES. IT'S EASY TO POINT AND SAY, THESE PEOPLE OVER THERE. [01:20:01] THEY ARE THE ONES YOU SHOULD BE PROTECTED AGAINST. IN REALITY, THE ONES MORE LIKELY TO VICTIMIZE YOUR CHILDREN ARE THOSE THEY KNOW AND TRUST. LIKE I SAID, IT'S THE MARK OF EDUCATED MIND TO BE ABLE TO ENTERTAIN A THOUGHT WITHOUT ACCEPTING IT. INSTEAD OF BANNING MATERIAL YOU DON'T AGREE WITH FROM THE LIBRARY ENGAGE WITH YOUR KIDS. OPEN COMMUNICATION. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> IT MADE THE BILL OF RIGHTS THE TEN MOST IMPORTANT THINGS ABOUT OUR COUNTRY. YOU KNOW, NUMBER ONE, FREEDOM OF SPEECH. NUMBER TWO, THE RIGHT TO BARE ARMS. THEY THOSE WERE THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO START WITH. AND DURING THE PRESENTATION BY OUR LIBRARIAN TALKING ABOUT HAVING A YOUTH LIBRARY CARD LIKE I SAID, I'M OPPOSED TO THAT. WHETHER YOU ARE 8, 18 OR 88. YOUR LIBRARY CARD SHOULD BE GOOD FOR ANYTHING YOU NEED TO CHECK OUT. SHOULDN'T BE RESTRICTED. YOU KNOW, SEVERAL YEARS AGO I MENTIONED IT SEVERAL TIMES. I USED TO GO TO LIBRARY HERE MOSTLY ON MOCKINGBIRD. I WOULD NEED TO USE THE COMPUTER WORK STATION FOR A FEW MINUTES. THEY WOULD GIVE YOU TEMPORARY LOG-ON. AND THEN YOU COULD DO IT. ONE OF THE GENTLEMAN LIBRARY SAID IT WILL BE SO MUCH EASIER IF YOU HAVE A CARD. SO HE SAID HERE'S LET'S GET YOU A CARD. I GOT ONE. IT TURNS OUT THAT WAS ONLY GOOD FOR THREE MONTHS. THEN IT DEACTIVATES. I WENT IN TO TRY TO USE THE LIBRARY. CARD DIDN'T WORK. >> IT DEACTIVATES. IT'S ONLY GOOD FOR THREE MONTHS. THEN I GOT IT REACTIVATED. THEN IT'S GOOD FOR SIX MONTHS. YOU KNOW. YOU GO IN AND TRY TO USE THE WORK STATION. DOESN'T WORK. THEN THE NEXT TIME THEY SAY IT'S GOOD FOR A YEAR. I LOOKED ALL IN THE CITY'S WEB SITE AND THERE'S NO MENTION IN THE LIBRARY RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT THERE'S A TIME LIMIT ON YOUR LIBRARY CARD. YOU KNOW. I'M PRETTY MUCH A LIFELONG RESIDENT ACCEPT FOR DELIVERING IN COLLIDE, AMERICA WHEN WE WERE MARRIED. OTHER THAN I'VE LIVED IN ABILENE MY WHOLE LIFE. LIKE I SAID BEFORE IF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE WOULD GIVE ME A COMPUTER ID, IT'S GOOD FOR 24/7 ACCESS. INTO ANY BASE IN THE WORLD. AND I SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE TRUSTED TO HAVE A LIBRARY CARD THAT DOES NOT EXPIRE. I'M DEFINITELY AGAINST RESTRICTIONS ON ANY LIBRARY CARD WHETHER IT'S FOR YOUTH OR REGULAR. BECAUSE THERE'S NO -- THE RULES AND REGULATIONS SAY THERE'S A TIME LIMIT. YOU'RE TRYING TO CHANGE IT. YOU ARE RESTRICTING ONE DEAL. THAT GOES BACK TO FIRST AMENDMENT. IT WAS ABOUT BANNING BOOKS AND BURNING THEM. THANK YOU. >> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? YOU CAN SIT IN THE FRONT ROW, MA'AM, IF YOU WANT TO. >> I'M KELLEY ELLIOTT. I'M FROM ABILENE. I WANTED MOSTLY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF MY LGBTQ NEIGHBORS WHO I THINK ARE PROBABLY FEELING PRESSURE. AND I WANT TO STAND HERE AS AN ALLY OF THOSE NEIGHBOR WHOSE ARE A VERY VALUABLE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. I ALSO WANTED TO TELL YOU ALL HOW PROUD I AM TO LIVE IN THE STORY BOOK CAPITAL. WE'VE LIVED HERE FOR ABOUT 13 YEARS. I WORK AT ACU. WE CAME TO WORK HERE. I HAVE KIDS IN ABILENE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND WE LOVE THE CAP FESTIVAL. I'VE SEEN A COUPLE OF YOU IN THE PARADE. AS I READ OVER THE RESOLUTIONS, THIS WEEK, I WAS THINKING ABOUT WHAT A BITTER IRONY IT WOULD BE FOR THE STORY BOOK CAPITAL TO INSTEAD KNOWN AS PLACE THAT RESTRICTS CHILDREN'S ACCESS TO LITERATURE AND BOOKS. I HOPE THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN AVOID HERE. I ALSO WANT TO SPEAK AS AN [01:25:04] ACADEMIC. AS A FACULTY MEMBER AT ACU. WE ARE THE FIRST PART OF THE BROADER LIBRARY CON S CON CONCIORTIUM. THESE ARE THINGS THAT THE ABILENE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM TO LEAVE THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION WOULD BE RESTRICTED. WE WOULDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE THINGS ANYMORE. AS THE FACULTY MEMBER THAT TEACHES HISTORY AT ACU, I OFTEN HAVE STUDENTS RESEARCHING THE HISTORY OF GENDER AND SEXUALITY. AND WHO USE INNER LIBRARY TO ACCESS THE MATERIALS. THAT THEY NEED FOR RESEARCH. I HAVE STUDENTS THAT GO ON TO PH.D. PROGRAM AND THE HISTORY OF SEXUALITY. AND NEED RIGOROUS TRAINING IN THOSE AREAS. THEY NEED TO KNOW THE THEORY AND THE HISTORY. SO THEY CAN GO FROM ABILENE TO OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY IN THE WORLD AND BE SUCCESSFUL IN ACADEMIC PROGRAMS ELSEWHERE. AS A PARENT, WHO WANTS TO SEE CHILDREN REPRESENTED IN THE IT WLITERATURE AVAILABLT ALSO AS THE HISTORY PROFESSOR I DON'T WANT TO SEE THE CITY RESTRICT OUR ACCESS TO LIBRARY MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN OR ADULTS. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> HELLO. MY NAME THE ELIZABETH POWELL. I'M A RESIDENT OF ABILENE. I USE SHE, HER PRONOUNS. I FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT TO SET THE TONE FOR THIS DISCUSSION. IN THE PREVIOUS DISCUSSION OVER THE SUMMER CONCERNING ONE BOOK WHICH HAS SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN REMOVED. THERE WAS HATE SPEECH FROM THIS PODIUM IN THIS ROOM TO THIS COUNCIL. IF ANYONE OTHER GROUP IN ABILENE CALLED DISCUSSING OR GROOMER OR OBSCENE, THERE'S NO WAY THAT WOULD BE ALLOWED. SOME OF THE RHETORIC ARGUMENTS IT HEARD IN THE LAST DISCUSSION ABOUT BOOKS IN ABILENE PUBLIC LIBRARY HARMFUL TO THE LGBTQ-PLUS COMMUNITY. IT WAS DANGEROUS. AS WE CONTINUE WITH THIS DISCUSSION, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE REMEMBER THREE THINGS. NUMBER ONE, OUR LIBRARIANS ARE TRAINED AND HIRED TO DO A JOB AND IT'S MY FIRM AND MOVABLE BELIEF WE SHOULD TRUST THEM TO DO THE JOB THEY'VE BEEN TRAINED TO DO. WE SHOULD TRUST THEM TO DO THAT JOB. UNDERMINING THEM AND MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO CONDUCT THEIR JOB IS HARMFUL. NUMBER 2, I BELIEVE IT'S ESSENTIAL FOR CITY COUNCIL TO COMMIT TO STOPPING ANY HATE SPEECH THAT MIGHT OCCUR DURING THESE DISCUSSIONS OR ANY DISCUSSIONS. RHETORIC THAT DEHUMANIZING VILLAIN IZES A GROUP OF PEOPLE SHOULD BE KEPT OUT OF THE FORUM. RECOGNIZE THAT EVERYONE HAS DIGNITY AND FOSTERING AND SEEKING ENGAGED COMMUNITY. THE CORE VALUE OF RESPECT CAN'T BE OBTAINED IF CITIZENS ARE DISRESPECTED. WE CAN HAVE DIFFERENT WITHOUT DISRESPECTING SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE. NUMBER 3 THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD APPROVE THE RESOLUTION BEFORE THEM TODAY PROHIBITING ON SEEN MATERIALS. IT'S AN EXCELLENT STEP IN KEEPING OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY SAFE. THIS SIMPLE SOLUTION TO ISSUE THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED HERE AND IN OTHER FORUMS. AND WILL ALLOW THE CITY TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN OF ABILENE WITHOUT RESORTING TO EXTREME OR DRACONIAN MEASURES. I AS THE BI-SEXUAL WOMEN NOT ON SEEN. I'M A DAUGHTER, SISTER, MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL. A FRIEND, A STUDENT ADVOCATE A VOLUNTEER A TEXAN AND AB-ABILENIAN. I PLAN TO BE AN ABILENIAN FOR THE REST OF MY. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE. PLEASE COM FORWARD. >> I'M RAVEN COOKE. I'M A CITIZEN OF ABILENE. THIS MORNING I HAVE A FEW STATEMENTS THAT I WANT TO MAKE. MY FIRST FOREMOST CLEARLY I WANT TO STAND WITH MY LGBTQ COMMUNITY. THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF ATTACK ON MY FAMILY. AND I WILL NOT STAND FOR THAT. [01:30:04] THEY ARE NOT OBSCENE. THEIR LIFE IS JUST ANOTHER LIFE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. I BELIEVE THE LIBRARY SHOULD BE SAFE THEY HAVE ENFOR ALL TO EDUCATED AND VIEW ALL VIEWS OF LIFE. WHERE THAT BE DIFFERENT FROM YOURS, FROM YOUR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OR FROM WHAT YOU'VE GROWN AND THOUGHT AND WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN. I BELIEF THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO RESTRICTIONS. THERE SHOULDN'T BE A WAY TO CENSOR WHAT NEEDS TO BE LEARNED. THERE NEEDS TO BE REPRESENTATION. THERE SHOULD ALWAYS BE REPRESENTATION IN YOUR LIBRARIES. I BELIEVE THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. AND NEEDS TO BE UPHELD. SO I AM HERE TO SAY THAT I'M HERE FOR THIS RESOLUTION. BUT I'M AGAINST THE ORDINANCE. THANK YOU. >> IS IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? >> >> I'M JASON HERNANDEZ. I RESIDE HERE IN ABILENE. I'VE BEEN HERE, 19 YEARS. I CAME FROM SMALL TOWN NORTH OF HERE. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M FOR THE RESOLUTION. ALSO TODAY I DID LEAVE A SMALL TOKEN OF MY APPRECIATION TO YOU GUYS. YOU MAY HAVE AN AWESOME PIN UP THERE FROM ME. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SERVE ON THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD THE LAST YEAR. WHEN I WAS CALLED AND ASKED TO BE ON THE BOARD, I THINK I SAID NO ABOUT TWO OR THREE TIMES AND THEN MAYOR, YOU KEPT BOTHERING ME ABOUT BEING TOWN BOARD. WE REALLY NEED YOU. AND SO I ACCEPTED THAT POSITION. AND THEN, OF COURSE, THIS YEAR MY TERM WAS COMPLETED. I DID NOT ACTUALLY REAPPLY TO BE ON THE BOARD. I JUST WANTED THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO KNOW THAT I WAS NOT KICKED OFF OR I WAS NOT WELCOMED BACK. IT WAS JUST I DIDN'T REAPPLY MY APPLICATION TO THE BOARD. I WAS CALLED. AND WAS TOLD AND WOULDN'T BE REAPPOINTED. AND, OF COURSE, I KNEW THAT WAS TO COME. JUST BECAUSE WHAT WE EXPERIENCED IN THE LIBRARY BOARD THIS YEAR. AND I BELIEVE IT WAS TOLD TO ME THAT I WAS NOT REAPPOINTED BECAUSE OF LARGE ADVOCACY FOR A CERTAIN GROUP. AND OF MY BIASSED OPINIONS. I'M PRETTY SURE WE ALL HAVE BIASSED OPINIONS. THAT'S WHAT MAKES US COME TOGETHER AND TRY TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER. AND TO JUST KIND OF KEEP KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT WE DO TOGETHER. THAT THERE'S JUST NOT ONE BIASSED OPINION FOR AN ENTIRE GROUP. I WAS HURT WHEN THAT WAS TOLD TO ME. IT BROUGHT ME IMMEDIATELY TO POINT IN MY LIFE WHERE I WAS BULLIED AND AT A POINT WHERE I FELT ALONE. I WISH MAYBE THERE WAS A DIFFERENT WAY OF BEING TOLD THAT I WAS NOT TO RENEW MY TERM. WHICH I UNDERSTAND. BUT, OF COURSE, I AS THE PERSON HERE -- I AM ACCEPTING. AND I AM FORGIVING AND OF COURSE I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AUFOR MY SERVICE IN THE LAST YEAR. IT WAS A GREAT TO BE A PART OF THE BOARD. THE 19 YEARS I'VE BEEN IN ABILENE. I'VE DONE A LOT OF AMAZING THINGS IN THIS TOWN. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS I CAN TOOT MY OWN HORN ABOUT VOLUNTEERING IN THIS TOWN THROUGH THE CHAMBER, BEING NAMED ONE OF THE 20 UNDER 40 AND TONS AND TONS OF RECOGNITION IN ABILENE. I RECEIVED MY DEGREE IN RELIGION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS. AND OF COURSE, I JUST KNOW IT WASN'T U-MAYOR THAT MADE THE DECISION. IT WAS YOU AS THE COUNCIL THAT DECIDED NOT TO BRING ME BACK. THAT IS OKAY. BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY MOVING FORWARD, YOU GUYS SOMETIMES IN THE COMMITTEE HIRED ME TO HELP WITH YOUR WEDDING YOUR EVENTS YOU ASKED A LOT OF ME. BUT YOU DON'T WANT ME TO HAVE CERTAIN RIGHT. I AM FOR THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU AND YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT DAY. >>MAYOR: IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? >> HELLO. MY NAME THE ELIZABETH DOUGHTY. I'M A RESIDENT OF ABILENE. WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR A DECADE. I'M ACTUALLY A NEIGHBOR OF THE MAYOR. I'M A WOMAN. I'M A WIFE OF AN ACU [01:35:01] PROFESSOR. I'M A SCIENTIST WHICH SURPRISE A LOT OF PEOPLE. I'M A MOTHER OF TWO AND I GREW UP IN THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST AND STILL ATTEND. I'M A CHRISTIAN. BUT I AM FOR THIS RESOLUTION. AND AGAINST ANY FORM OF TRYING TO CENSOR IDEAS. AS A SCIENTIST, PARTICULARLY, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE EXPOSE OURSELVES TO DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW THAT WE LEARN DISCERNMENT. WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN ALL OF THE TIME, RIGHT FROM WRONG. WE ARE ABLE TO PROTECT THEM BASED ON THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE. WE ARE ABLE TO HELP GUIDE THEM BECAUSE THEIR EXPOSURE TO THINGS WILL LEAD THEM TO BELIEVE THINGS THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT I BELIEVE AND DIFFERENT FROM THE WAY I WAS RAISED. AND THAT IS PART OF THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT HAVING FAMILY, ABOUT HAVING COMMUNITY, ABOUT HAVING PROGRESS. IF WE ALL BELIEVED THE THINGS THAT WE WERE RAISED TO BELIEVE, WE WOULDN'T HAVE TECHNOLOGY, WE WOULD NOT HAVE ART. WE WOULD NOT HAVE A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CULTURE AND THE THINGS THAT WE VALUE AS PART OF OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT. SO I AM DEFINITELY FOR THE RESOLUTION. I THINK THAT WE ALREADY HAVE LAWS IN PLACE THAT HELP PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY. AND HELP PROTECT OUR CHILDREN AND WE ALSO HAVE DUTIES AS PARENTS. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. >> MY NAME IS RYAN GOODWIN. I'M HERE BASICALLY BECAUSE I FELT GOD ASKED ME TO JOIN AND SUPPORT AND WALK BEHIND A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE LIBRARY CLEANED UP A LITTLE BIT. AND SO I'M REPRESENTING TODAY AND THIS IS FIRST TIME THAT I'VE GOT UP HERE AND REPRESENTED ABILENE. PROTECT ABBY FAMILIES. WE TALKED AS THE GROUP OF PEOPLE ABOUT HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ARE ALL DOING. THE CLEARING OF THE LIBRARY. THE ALREADY MIND IT. THE TIME THAT ROBERT AND JULIE HAVE PUT BEHIND IT. WE KNOW THIS IS A THING THAT YOU ALL HAVE REALLY THOUGHT THROUGH. WHEN WE DO THAT, I THINK THERE'S A FEW THINGS WITH THIS RESOLUTION THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. SO I'M KIND OF SIDE ARMING. NOT REALLY MEANING TO ROBERT ON THIS. THERE ARE CONCERNS WITH THE RESOLUTION. THE FIRST ONE IS THE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM. THE SECOND ONE IS THAT THE CITY MANAGER HAS A LOT OF WEIGHT PUT ON HIS SHOULDERS AND THERE'S A LOT OF INTERPRETATION FOR THE CITY MANAGER. I THINK THAT ROBERT IS GREAT GUY. ALL THINK HE SHARE A LOT OF MY CONCERNS. BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF HE CHOOSES TO GO TO THE BAHAMASS THIS YEAR AND RETIRE. THEN WE GOT A GUY THAT'S COMING IN THAT MIGHT HAVE DIFFERENT MORALS, DIFFERENT INTERPRETATION OF WHAT THIS RESOLUTION IS TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE'S NO CLEAR BOUNDARIES AND THEN THIS LEAVES THE CITY OPEN FOR A LAWSUIT AS WELL. WHAT I BELIEVE AS WE HAVE TEMPORARY FIX TO A PROBLEM THAT IS GROWING. AND SO WHAT I'M PROPOSING AND THIS IS GOING TO BE JUST A LITTLE BIT OUT OF LEFT FIELD. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING IS TO VOTE DOWN THIS RESOLUTION OR AT LEAST TABLE IT AND HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT AN ORDINANCE. THIS AN ORDINANCE CALLED THE SAFE LIBRARY PATRON PROTECTION ACT. AND SO THIS WAS WRITTEN BY JONATHAN MITCHELL WHO HELPED WORK ON THE TEXAS HEART BEAT BILL. THE GUY WHO WROTE SANCTUARY CITIES. THERE'S 6 2 SANCTUARY CITIES. JONATHAN MITCHELL IS WILLING TO COME HERE AND SPEAK TO IT. YOU WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT WHO HE IS. AND SO BASICALLY, WE WANT TO PUT FORWARD AND ORDINANCE AND HAVE CONVERSATION. SIT DOWN WITH COUNCILMEMBERS AND SEE YOUR CONCERNS. THIS SOMETHING WE FEEL AND WE HEARD WHEN WE BROUGHT FORWARD DESTINY ORDINANCE YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO TALK AND HAVE A CONVERSATION. WE WANT TO DO THAT. WE BELIEVE THIS ORDINANCE CAN BE A VEHICLE LIKE A CADILLAC COMPARED TO THE RESOLUTION LIKE MORE LIKE A LEMON, THIS CADILLAC, ORDINANCE CAN CARRY FOR GENERATIONS. WE HOPE YOU SEE OUR HEART. THIS IS JUST A HEART THAT WE WANT MORE OF CONCRETE SOLUTION EVEN WHEN WE HAVE A NEW CITY MANAGER. THIS IS OUR HEART. I WILL HAND THIS TO YOU RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU FOR BEING WILLING TO SEE OUR HEARTS. FOR THIS. AND HOPEFULLY YOU SEE THIS NONAN AMBUSH. THIS MORE OF ANOTHER SOLUTION AND TRYING TO WALK WITH YOU GUYS AND SUPPORT YOU AND YOUR DECISION MAKING. GIVING YOU JONATHAN MITCHELL'S ORDINANCE IS MORE OF A RESOURCE IN OUR EYES. HOPEFULLY THAT'S HOW IT COMES ACROSS. THANK YOU. >> JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR. YOU WANT TO CHIME IN A [01:40:04] LITTLE BIT ROBERT. OFTEN THE CITY COUNCIL WE ARE THE POLICY MAKERS. WE ARE PROFESSIONAL, HE HAS A STUFF. AND THOSE THINGS -- AS THE CITY MANAGER, ULTIMATELY, WE'RE HIS BOSS AND WE HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE. I FEEL COMFORTABLE IN REGARDS TO NOT JUST WHAT'S PROPOSED BUT THE WAY WE'VE DONE BUSINESS. WE HAVE COMMUNITICATION. RESPONSIVE CITY MANAGER. WE ARE HOLD HIM OR HER ACCOUNTABLE IF WE HAVE ADDITIONAL CITY MANAGER. THAT'S CONSISTENT HOW WE HANDLE THINGS AND HOW FROM A GOVERNMENT SET UP WHERE THE POLICY MAKERS, WE HAVE A PROFESSIONAL IN THE STAFF, ADMINISTRATORS OF THE CITY. >> WE FOLLOW THE RULE OF LAW IN THIS COMMUNITY AND THIS COUNTRY. AND IF THIS LEGISLATIVE BODY WHICH IS THE GOVERNING BODY OF OUR COMMUNITY PASSES RESOLUTION THAT DIRECTS ME TO DO SOMETHING. IT'S INCUMBENT UPON ME TO DO AS THE RULE OF LAW. IF I WILLFULLY VIOLATE IT AND JUST THUMB MY NOSE AT IF COUNCIL, THEY FIRE ME. >> I WOULDN'T BE VERY WISE. >> I DON'T HAVE PROTECTION UNDER MY EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT BECAUSE I WILLFULLY DIDN'T FOLLOW THE DIRECTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL. THEY ARE THE ELECTED BODY OF THE COMMUNITY. I HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY. THAT'S ALL I PLAY. >> THANK YOU. >> AND THE REALITY IS, SOME DAY YOU WILL RETIRE. >> IT WILL BE UP TO COUNCIL TO SELECT THE REPLACEMENT FOR THAT POSITION. THAT IS PART OF THE THOUGHT PROCESS OF WHATEVER FUTURE COUNCIL REACHES THAT POINT. WE'LL HAVE TO CONSIDER. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. DOES ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK TODAY IN REGARDS TO FOR OR AGAINST? >> GOOD MORNING COUNCIL. BRANT FISCHER. I LIVE IN 1140 COUNTY ROAD 257 IN ABILENE JUST OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS. MAYBE ONE DAY WE'LL BE CLOSE. >> WE'LL TAKE THAT APPLICATION. >> TELL ME HOW IT WORKS. >> YOU CAN REQUEST -- [LAUGHTER] >> I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO STANLEY SMITH. AND ROBERT HANNA. I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE WORKED WITH US FOR MONTHS ON COMING UP WITH SOME RESOLUTIONS, SOME THINGS TO HELP US MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER AS THE COMMUNITY. ONE THING THAT I THINK REMAINS CLEAR IN THE MEETING TODAY JUST FROM WHAT YOU SEE THERE TRULY IS DIVISION. AND ONE THING THAT I SEE THERE'S ONE SIDE OF THE CITIZENS THAT FEELS COMFORTABLE WITH THE LIBRARY AS IT SITS. WITH VERY LITTLE CHANGE. AND THEN THE OTHER SIDE THAT IS CONCERNED. AND THERE'S A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE REPRESENTED IN THAT, THAT ARE CONCERNED. WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT ALL BOOKS ARE BAD. WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT ANY BOOKS SHOULD BE BANNED. IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO BAN BOOKS BECAUSE YOU CAN GO ON AMAZON AND ORDER IT. YOU HAVE TO BAN IT AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL AND MAKE IT ILL LEGAL. IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. WE'RE JUST SAYING BOOKS HAVE TO EARN A PLACE ON THE SHELF. AND SPECIFICALLY, WHEN IT COMES TO MINORS. THOSE KIDS ARE SO IMPRESSIONABLE. BOTH SIDES KNOW THAT. BOTH SIDES KNOW THAT, THAT'S A REASON WE SEND KIDS TO GET EDUCATED. THEY KNEES TO BE TRAINED AND TAUGHT. WHEN THEY PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION THEY CAN MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS. IN THE STATE OF TEXAS IF THEY ARE A MINOR THEY NEED TO BE PROTECTED. THIS ORDINANCE LACKS SEVERAL THINGS. RYAN MENTIONED A FEW. AND ALTHOUGH AT FIRST GLANCE IT REALLY SOUNDS GOOD. BUT IT'S PRETTY MUCH JUST STATING THE OBVIOUS. IT'S STATING WHAT IS ALREADY CLEARLY DEFINED IT THE TEXAS PENAL CODE. THE REASON NOTHING CAN BE DONE BECAUSE THERE'S GRAY AREAS. THERE'S GRAY AREAS IN THE DEFINITION OF THE LAW WHERE IT SAYS THAT THE PROSECUTION UNDER THE SECTION THAT THE SELL OR DISTRIBUTION OF EXHIBITION WAS BY PERSON HAVING SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATION A GOVERNMENT OR SIMILAR JUSTIFICATION. THEY ARE PROTECTED BY ON OBSCENITY EXEMPTION. IT COULD BE REMOVED THIS SESSION. THAT WOULD MAKE MAJOR CHANGES THAT EVERY CITY IN STATE OF TEXAS WOULD HAVE TO ADRESS. THIS IS NOT A CITY OF ABILENE ISSUE. IT'S A STATEWIDE. IT'S A NATIONWIDE ISSUE. SO I WOULD ASK THAT YOU TABLE THE DISCUSSION ON THE RESOLUTION. LET US HAVE MORE COMMUNICATION TO WORK TOGETHER. AND COME UP WITH SOMETHING. I APPRECIATE LIKE I SAID ALL YOU HAVE DONE. AND WE WANT TO WORK WITH YOU. WE WANTED TO BE A TEAM. WE WANT BOTH PARTIES TO FEEL SAFE. NOT JUST ONE. >> >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> MY NAME TAMMY BOGAL. RESIDENT OF ABILENE. [01:45:02] THE PLEA AMPLE OF CITY CHARTER READS, WE THE FAMILY OF THE CITY OF ABILENE DEDICATED TO THE PRINCIPLE LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT BY THE LIGHT OF REASON AND AT MINISTER TO SECURE JUSTICE DO INVOKE THE GUIDANCE OF GOD IN ESTABLISHING A MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT CAPABLE OF EFFICIENTLY TRANSLATING THE WISHES OF THE VOTERS INTO EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION AS PROPERLY AND ECONOMICALLY AS POSSIBLE. ORDAIN THE PROVISIONS FOR THE CHARTER OF OUR CITY. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER HANDLER THE INTENTION OF ITS WRITERS AND FOLLOW THE GUIDANCE OF GOD. ONE SIGNIFICANT ALLY WE HAVE IN THIS EFFORT IS JONATHAN F. MITCHELL. HE'S AN AMERICAN ATTORNEY, LAW PROFESSOR AND FORMER PUBLIC SERVANT. HIS CREDENTIALS INCLUDE HAVING CLERKED FOR SUPREME COURT JUSTICE SKALIA. HIGHS SOLICITOR GENERAL OF TEXAS HAVING ARGUED FIVE TEXTS BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT. SANFORD LAW SCHOOL. THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SCHOOL OF LAW. GEORGE MASON SCHOOL OF LAW, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO SCHOOL OF LAW. MITCHELL IS CREDITED WITH THE DEVICING THE NOVEL ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS. THAT'S CIVIL ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM THAT EMPOWERS PRIVATE CITIZENS TO BRING LAWSUITS AGAINST THOSE WHO VIOLATE THE STATUES RATHER THAN THE GOVERNMENT BEING ACTIVE ARM OF ENFORCE. THIS MECHANISM IS WHAT HAS ALLOWED SUCH LAWS AS TEXAS HEART BEAT ACT AND SANG WEARE CITY FOR UNBORN ORDINANCE TO BE UPHELD UPON JUDICIAL REVIEW IN FEDERAL COURT. HAVING BEEN CALLED BRILLIANT MIND WHOSE IDEA QUOTED MITCHELL HAS LONG HISTORY OF DEFENDING CULTURAL WARS AND RELIGIOUS LEGAL CHALLENGES. MUNICIPALITIES WHO ADOPT THE CITY WHO FACE LEGAL CHALLENGES HAVE HIS PROMISE. TO BE REPRESENTED PRO BONO AND WITHOUT COST. TO THE TAX PAYERS. HE IS HONORED THE PROMISE WHEN THEY FACE LEGAL CHALLENGES AFTER ADOPTING THE ORDINANCE AND IT WAS SUCCESSFULLY UPHELD IN FEDERAL COURT. AS I PREVIOUSLY SAID, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY BEFORE US. AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE TRAILBLAZERS IN THIS EFFORT TO PROTECT CHILDREN. WHEN WE ADOPT THE SAFE LIBRARY, PATRON PROTECTION ORDINANCE, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE FIRST CITY IN THE NATION TO BRING THIS LEVEL OF PROTECTION TO THE CHILDREN OF OUR CITY. LISTEN TO FOLLOWING KEY EXCERPTS FROM THE ORDINANCE. >> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK OUT? >> I'M RIHANNA MATHIS. I LIVED IN ABILENE 30 YEARS. GRADUATED IN 2020. THERE'S A LOT OF MY HEART TODAY. I GREW UP IN THE CITY. WE MOVED HERE WHEN I WAS NINE YEARS OLD. I OBVIOUSLY GREW UP GOING TO PUBLIC LIBRARIES. GOING TO THE SCHOOL LIBRARIES, AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION. I THINK THAT THE LIBRARIES HERE DO A LOT OF GOOD WORK. AND WE SHOULD TRUTH OUR LIBRARIANS. I'M A GA GAY WOMEN WHO LIVES HERE. A LOT OF IT CAME FROM READING STORY LIKE ME AND ESCAPE THE STORIES WHERE MAYBE BEING AN OUT-GAY WOMAN WASN'T SO SCARY. I HAVE CLINICAL DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY. THAT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR ME SINCE I WAS 14 OR 15. AND, AGAIN, READING THE STORIES THAT ACKNOWLEDGE BEING DEPRESSED, ACKNOWLEDGED HAVING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT LIFE LOOKS LIKE WITH THOSE THINGS, MADE A BIG IMPACT. AND HONESTLY HELPED ME BE HERE TODAY. IT HELPED ME CHOOSE NOT TO DO THAT AROUND I JUST TO BE HERE EVERY DAY. A LOTTED OF THAT COMES FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO READ AND WHAT I'VE HAD ACCESS TO. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT I SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION. AND THANK YOU ALL. >> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? >> GOOD MORNING. [01:50:11] I'M FRANCIS KA RODRIQUEZ. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. I WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK ROBERT HANNA, JULIE HATTON WHO WORKED HARD AT HELPING WITH US THE CULTURE WARS THAT WE FIND OURSELVES IN. AND MR. BEARD, IF I TOOK ANYTHING FROM YOUR PODCAST, I WANT TO SAY THAT I HOPE TODAY THAT WE TREAT ONE ANOTHER LIKE SOMEONE WE WANT TO SEE IN HEAVEN. AND SO SWITCHING TO WHY I'M HERE. I'M HERE TO STATE THAT OPPOSE THE LIBRARY RESOLUTION. FOR SOME OF THE REASONS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN STATED. I ALSO WANT TO SHOW SUPPORT INSTEAD FOR THE SAFE LIBRARY PROTECTION ACT. ONE YOU MENTIONED PENAL CODE 43.21 LEAVES A BIG LOOPHOLE. IF WE HAVE ANOTHER BOOK LIKE LET'S TALK ABOUT IT. THERE'S A PATRON THAT COMES INTO THE LIBRARY AND HE WANTS TO READ THAT AT STORY TIME. IT MAY NOT BE TITLED DRAG QUEEN STORY TIME. HE COULD READ THAT BOOK. BECAUSE IT HAS AN EXEMPTION. ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAVE AWARDS LIKE THE BOOK IN QUESTION. LET'S TALK ABOUT IT. WE HAVE A BIG LOOPHOLE WHERE WE LEAVE OUR CHILDREN EXPOSED. THE SECOND REASON IS THAT IF THAT SPATRON WAS STOPPED AT THE LIBRARY, THAT PATRON COULD THEN JUST MOVE THEIR SHOW ON THE ROAD AND READ IT IN THE CITY PARK. OR THE ZOO. AND SO STILL WE'RE ALLOWING OUR CHILDREN TO BE UNPROTECTED. AND SO IN 1986, WE HAVE ALREADY PASSED AN ORDINANCE BY A COUNCIL SIMILAR TO YOU AND THEY SAID THAT ANYTIME YOU HAVE SEXUAL PERFORMANCES AT THAT TIME, IT GEARED TOWARDS ADULTS. BUT WE'RE HERE TO PROTECT CHILDREN. ANYTIME YOU HAVE A SEXUAL PERFORMANCE YOU GOT TO MOVE THAT OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS. LET'S RELOOK AT THAT, BECAUSE IN THAT SITUATION, WE HAVE ALL OF OUR CITY PROTECTED. NOT JUST THE LIBRARY. I JUST WANT TO SAY TOO, THAT WE KNOW THE ENEMY IS COMING. AND SO LET'S BE BETTER PREPARED TO THE DECEITS WITH THE SAFE LIBRARY ACT. THERE'S ONE WORD IN THERE WHEN YOU GUYS GET A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT. IT SAYS NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER LAW. THAT MEANS REGARDLESS OF THE LOOPHOLE OF 43.21, THIS ORDINANCE WOULD OVERRIDE. GIVES US MORE POWER. THAT'S WHAT WE NEED. WHEN WE'RE IN THE BATTLE THIS DEEP. LET'S BIND UP THAT STRONGMAN. LET'S CAST HIM OUTSIDE OF OUR CITY LIMITS. AND PROTECT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN. >> WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. >> GOOD MORNING COUNCILMEMBERS. MR. SMITH, MR. HANNA, JULIE HATTON, MY NAME THE ERIKA BATTO. I'M SO APPRECIATIVE FOR THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU HAVE STARTED WORKING ON AND I KNOW THAT IT HAS NOT BEEN AN EASY TASK. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS RESOLUTION. I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS. I KNOW WE BEEN HERE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. AND WE'VE SEEN ALL OVER THE NEWS AND SOCIAL MEDIA THAT THIS ISSUE HAS SURFACED IN LIBRARIES ALL ACROSS OUR NATION. AND EACH CITY OR TOWN HAS BEEN FORCED TO ANSWER THE QUESTION. HOW ARE WE GOING TO HANDLE THIS FOR OUR CITY? ABILENE LEANS CONSERVATIVE AS A TOWN WHEN IT COMES TO MORAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES. AND ULTIMATELY, WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT OUR LIBRARY HAS APPROPRIATE MATERIALS SPECIFICALLY IN THE SECTION DESIGNATED FOR MINORS. THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION IS A WONDERFUL START FOR PROTECT INMINORS IN THE LIBRARY. THE PROPOSED CHANGES THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT IN SEC SECTION 3, 4 AND 5 ACCOMPLISHES THAT PROTECTION. THAT PORNOGRAPHY IN SECTIO 3 DOESN'T BELONG IN A [01:55:03] LIBRARY. AND LIBRARY SHOULDN'T BE A HOST FOR PORNOGRAPHY. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO CHILD PORNOGRAPHY. IF ADULT BOOKS STORES ARE REQUIRED TO BE OUTSIDE OF CITY LIMITS, THEN CHILD PORNOGRAPHY DOESN'T BELONG ON OUR LIBRARY SHELVES FOR KIDS IN OUR BOOKS. ON OUR LIBRARIES. I LOVE FREEDOM. AND I WANT EVERYONE TO MAKE AND CHOOSE THE LIFESTYLE THAT THEY WANT. BUT SOMEONE REFERRED TO YOU KNOW BEING FREE TO WATCH NETFLIX. OR IN HOLLYWOOD, THEY EVEN LABEL THEIR BOOKS. THEY KNOW WHAT -- WHATTEN -- WHAT EVEN THEY DETERMINE. >> ONE OF MY 21 AND 8-YEAR-OLD WANTED TO WATCH RATED R MOVIE. WE CAN'T WATCH THAT WITH OUR YOUNGER ONES AROUND. BUT WE KNEW WHAT WE WERE GETTING INTO WHEN WE MADE THAT DECISION. AND I LOVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH. I WANT PEOPLE TO SAY WHAT THEY WANT. BUT EVEN THAT HAS BOUNDARIES. WE NEED TO CONSIDER THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR -- MY NAME REBECCA GINGRICH. I'M HERE TO OPPOSE THE RESOLUTION. I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH BOTH ROBERT HANNA AND JULIE. AND IN ALL SINCERITY WE'VE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH THEM A LOT. THEY'VE BOTH BEEN INCREDIBLY HELPFUL. I CAN'T THANK THEM ENOUGH. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DEFINITELY IS NOT IN THE RESOLUTION BUT IS PART OF POLICIES AND SOMETHING THEY DID CONFIRM IN AN E-MAIL, THAT THE ADVISORY BOARD IS LOOKING TO REQUIRE WHEN WE PUT FORTH A RECONSIDERATION REQUEST, THAT WE READ THE BOOK IN ITS ENTIRETY. THAT'S WHAT I DON'T WANT TO BE FILLING MAY MIND WITH. I DEFINITELY DO NOT WANT THAT TO BE PART OF A POLICY. WHAT I'M SPEAKING IN THE ORDINANCE THAT WE ARE PROPOSING IS THE FACT THAT WHAT ARE WE SUPPORTING? WE'VE ASKED THAT THE CITY AND THE LIBRARY NOT BE PART OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, THE TEXAS LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, BUT YOU MAY ASK THE QUESTION WHY? WE HAVE POLICIES IN PLACE THAT ALL OUR POLICIES INDICATE THEY WERE ALL ADOPTED BY THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION AND SEVERAL OTHER LIBERAL SUPPORTERS THAT DEFINITELY ARE OPEN ABOUT FREE SPEECH. AND ALL OF THESE HAVE BEEN APPROVED AND SUPPORTED BY THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. BUT I JUST WANT TO READ SOMETHING. ORDER TO BE A MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION THEY SAY YOU HAVE TO ALIGN WITH THEIR THINKING AND THEIR THOUGHTS. AND WHAT THAT POLICIES ARE. ONE OF THEIR POLICIES ON THE SCHOOLS AND MINOR RIGHT, THE ALA STATEMENT AND POLICIES ON SCHOOLS AND MINOR RIGHT, THEY INDICATE THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION OPPOSES ALL ATTEMPTS TO RESTRICT ACCESS TO LIBRARY SERVICES, MATERIALS AND FACILITIES, BASED TOWN AGE OF LIBRARY USERS. MINOR AND ONLINE ACTIVITY. THEY PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY OR THE BILL OF RIGHT. YOU WILL FIND THE LIBRARY BILL OF RIGHTS IS RIGHT IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. IF DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT OFFERS OPPORTUNITY FOR ACCESSING INFORMATION CREATED BY OTHERS AND FOR CREATING AND SHARING NEW INFORMATION. THE RIGHTS OF MINORS TO RETRIEVE INTERACT WITH AND CREATE INFORMATION POSTED ON THE INTERNET IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ARE EXTENSION OF THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT. AGAIN WHAT ARE WE SUPPORTING WHEN WE LOOK AT THE POLICIES FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND WE ARE LOOKING TO DO THE COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT POLICY. THE REQUEST IS DEFINITELY IN THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE. LET'S TAKE A LOOK. WHAT ARE THE POLICIES? ARE WE ALIGNING WITH THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION? WHAT IS THAT OUR POLICIES AND QUITE FRANKLY PROCEDURES, WHAT ARE THEY. I GAIN IF SOMEONE SAYS THEY WON'T REVIEW MY BOOK UNLESS I READ IT, THERE'S GOING TO BE OTHER ISSUES TO DEAL WITH. NOW SOMEONE IS FORCING ME TO READ WHAT I AM DEFINITELY AGAINST. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> GOOD MORNING COUNCIL. [02:00:07] I'M ERIC BAYNES. I LIVE IN ABILENE. TO START WITH, THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MR. HANNA AND JULIE. AND YOUR ONGOING WORK IN TRYING TO COME TO SORT SORT OF RESOLUTION ABOUT THIS LIBRARY. I BELIEVE THAT POSITIVE STEPS ARE BEING MADE. AND THEY ARE BEING TAKEN IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO PROTECT OUR KIDS. TO THAT POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE COUNCIL TAKE UNDER CONSIDERATION THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE SAFE LIBRARY PATRON PROTECTION ACT. YOU HAVE A COPY OF THAT WITH YOU. THIS IS MUCH MORE DETAILED WHAT IS NOT ALLOWED IN THE LIBRARY SYSTEM. WHETHER BOOKS DISPLAYS OR EVENTS. THIS ORDINANCE IS SET UP IN THE SAME MANNERS AS THE SANCTUARY CITY ORDINANCE THERE THAT CITY CITIZEN WOULD BE ABLE TO BRING A CIVIL LAWSUIT AGAINST ANY PERSON THAT VIOLATES THE PROVISION SET OUT IN THE ORDINANCE. AFTER READING THE CITY'S PROPOSED RESOLUTION, I BELIEVE THAT OUR CITY MANAGER IS BEING GIVEN A WEIGHT THAT IS GREAT TO BARE. THERE ARE NO REAL CLEAR BOUNDARIES IN WHAT HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR AND IT'S OPEN TO INTERPRETATION. AS WE LOOK AT THAT PROPOSED RESOLUTION HAS EIGHT PARTS. FIVE OF THOSE WERE LINKED TO THE CITY MANAGER, TO THE RESOLVING OF ON OBSCENE OR HARMFUL MATERIALS IN OUR LIBRARY. IT GIVES A DIRECTION IN THE RESOLVING OF THOSE ISSUES, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE DISCOVERY ASPECT OF IT. WHAT IS THE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM TO GET IT TO THE CITY MANAGER? WHAT IF A FUTURE CITY MANAGER IGNORES OR DELAYS OR POSTPONES. WHAT IS MY RECOURSE AS AN ADVOCATE FOR FOR OUR CHILDREN AND OUR COMMUNITY? WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR ME? TO PROTECT MY CHILD IF MATERIALS ARE FOUND THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITY STANDARDS. I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S REALLY ANY TEETH TO THE RESOLUTION. SEEMS IT LEFT ONE PERSON THE CITY MANAGER TO DO THE RIGHT THING. WHEN THAT CHANGES, WILL THAT STILL BE THE CASE? I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CITY ST TABLE THE RESOLUTION. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PRO PRO PROPOSE ORDINANCE IS LOOKED AT. IT'S NOT SET IN STONE. IT'S MALLEABLE, IT CAN BE TWEAKED. WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF THAT PROCESS IN THE FUTURE FOR WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE DONE AT THE LIBRARY. THANK YOU. >>MAYOR: IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? >> GOOD MORNING COUNCIL. IN MY NAME THE SCOTTY SHELTON. I HAVE A DAY JOB WHERE I WORK FOR AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS OPEN AND AFFIRMING AS WELL AS IT IS OUR HOSPITAL. HEN HENDRIX MEDICAL CENTER WHERE THEY CELEBRATE NOT ONLY LGBTQ EMPLOYEE BUT EVERYTHING THEY DO IN THE MINISTRY OF JESUS CHRIST. WHAT I HEAR A LOT HERE TODAY IS THAT I'M A DANGER TO CHILDREN. MY LIFESTYLE IS DANGEROUS. AND THAT IS DANGEROUS LANGUAGE. ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE THINKING OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT'S TRYING TO BRING IN TALENT INTO OUR COMMUNITY THAT IS LGBTQ POSSIBLY. WHAT IS THE MESSAGE THAT'S BEING SENT TO THEM. THAT'S A VERY PAINFUL ORDINANCE. VERY PAINFUL TO READ. BECAUSE THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT ME. I'VE BEEN OUT SINCE I WAS 18. SINCE 1973. I'M OLD ENOUGH TO BE GRANDMOTHER TO A LOT OF PEOPLE IN HERE. AND YOU ARE TELLING ME MY LIFE. I'M HEARING WORDS THAT SAY I AM A DANGER. WE HAVE PROTECT OUR CHILDREN FROM ME? FROM MY COMMUNITY? THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME. BECAUSE I CAME FROM A HOME THAT WAS MY MOTHER REALLY TRIED TO RECRUIT ME INTO BEING HERERO SEXUAL. IT WASN'T ME. [02:05:04] IT WASN'T WHO I WAS. THAT'S WHAT I HEARD HERE TODAY. SO WHAT I WOULD ASK THIS COUNCIL TO DO IS REPRESENT THE THE DEMOCRACY THAT WE LIVE IN. WE'RE NOT A THEOCRACY. I NEED YOUR PROTECTION. OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS YOUR PROTECTION; THE CHILDREN COMING UP THEY NEED YOUR PROTECTION. THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LGBTQ. I ASK THAT THE RISE IN SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION. AND I ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER THIS WITH ALL OF US BEING ABLE TO HAVE OUR OWN THOUGHTS, OUR OWN BELIEFS, OUR OWN FREEDOM OF SPEECH, AND I THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING. I KNOW THIS IS HARD. I KNOW THIS IS HARD. IT'S HARD TO BE A DEMOCRACY. IT'S HARD TO BE A REPUBLIC. IT'S UPON THAT WE STAND. THANK YOU. >> I STILL LIVE AT 1234 PARK AVENUE. I WANT TO THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE THIS LAST SIX MONTHS-PLUS. I THINK WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT OUR GOAL HERE IS OUR CHILDREN. AND WE'RE TRYING TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN. I TOLD THE STORY LAST TIME ABILITY IT. AS THE KID THAT FOUND PLAYBOY IN THE WOODS. WE LOOKED AT IT AND WE KNEW IT WAS WRONG. WE HID IT BACK WHERE WE GOT IT. IF YOU CHOOSE TO BE FOLLOWED THE LGBTQ -- IF YOU CHOOSE TO LIVE THE LIFESTYLE THAT'S ON YOU. OUR MAIN FOCUS IS TRYING TO PROTECT OUR KIDS. THANK YOU JULIE AND ROBERT AND ANTHONY AND THE REST OF YOU GUYS AS FAR AS TRYING TO PROTECT OUR KIDS. I AM CONCERNED THAT A LOT OF THIS RESOLUTION FALLS ON ONE MAN'S SHOULDERS. THAT SHOULD BE MORE REPRESENTED BY THE GREATER MEMBERS HERE. AND I WILL MAKE THAT ONE PERSON HAVE SO MUCH RESPONSIBILITY. MY UNDERSTANDING THE RESOLUTION IS KIND OF A SUGGESTION. ALMOST IF WE WENT OUT ON I-20 AND I CHANGED THE SPEED LIMIT SIGN. INSTEAD OF SAYING 70. I SAID, SUGGESTED SPEED LIMIT. 70. AND SO ON A GOOD DAY I'M GOING TO GO 70, 75 ON A BAD DAY I'M LATE AND IF IT'S JUST SUGGESTED AND THE POLICE CAN'T DO ANYTHING. MAYBE I RUN 120. I FEEL LIKE THE ORDINANCE THAT'S BEEN PASSED OUT HOPEFULLY HAS MORE MEAT AND POTATOES TO IT. I'M CONCERNED IT OPENS -- I FEEL LIKE THE RESOLUTION OPENS UP OUR CITY TO POTENTIAL LAWSUITS. WHEREAS THE ORDINANCE HAS SOME TEETH TO IT THAT CAN PROTECT OUR CITY FROM LAWSUITS. I PROPOSE THAT WE TABLE THE RESOLUTION THAT WE LOOK AT THE ORDINANCE, AND SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME MORE MEAT TO IT. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS. THIS IS TOUGH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? >> >> GOOD MORNING. I'VE LIVED IN ABILENE SINCE 1998. I LOVE THIS CITY WITH ALL MY HEART. IN MY PERCEPTION THIS CAN BE REDUCED TO SIMPLE CONCEPT. FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT. NOT ONLY THE RIGHT TO SPEAK BUT THE RIGHT TO ACCESS AND USE THE RESOURCES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY FREE FROM MY CENSORSHIP THAT ARISES FROM DISAPPROVAL OF BOOK'S CONTENT OR VIEWS. OUR COURT OF LAW INCLUDING THE SUPREME COURT STATED A DECISION BY LIBRARY BOARD TO REMOVE A BOOK FROM LIBRARY BECAUSE THE BOARD DISAPROVES OF THE WORDS IDEAS, OPINIONS CONTAIN IN THE BOOK IS VIOLATION OF FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT. WELL THE FIRST AMENDMENT PROMISES FREEDOM OF BELIEF AND THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS THAT BELIEF IT DOESN'T GUARANTEE A RIGHT TO DICTATE TO LIBRARY BOARD OR THE PUBLIC WHAT IDEAS OR BELIEFS MAY BE FOUND IN PUBLICLY FUNDED LIBRARIES.RI'M PRETT APPROACHED ANY ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE SPOKEN IN OPPOSITION TO THIS RESOLUTION, AND TOLD THEM YOU NEED ME. IN THIS PARTICULAR GROUP OF PEOPLE TO KEEP YOUR CHILDREN SAFE. THAT WOULD BE HIGHLY OFFENSIVE AND RIGHTFULLY SO. THE RIGHT TO DETERMINE WHAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO ACCESS AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY SHOULD BE LEFT TO THE PARENTS OF THOSE CHILDREN. THAT THE THEIR RIGHT AS PARENTS. IT REALLY IS JUST THAT SIMPLE. ANYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO HATE [02:10:03] ME. THEY CANNEN TWIST MY EXISTENCE INTO SOMETHING UGLY AND GROTESQUE IF THEY CHOOSE. THEY DON'T HAVE RIGHT TO IMPOSE THEIR BLEACH -- BELIEFS ON ME OR ANY OTHER CITIZENS OF THE CITY. I HOPE THIS RESOLUTION IS PASSED TODAY. THANK YOU. >> HELLO COUNCIL. I'M MARTHA MCGHEE. I'M ABILENE CITIZEN, MOM, AND LIBRARIAN. I THINK ALL THE DECISIONS TO COME DOWN TO FIRST AMENDMENTS RIGHT AND BEING REASONABLE. YOU'VE HEARD BOTH SIDES. EVERYBODY THINKS THEY HAVE A GREAT ARGUMENT. BUT IN SIMPLE TERMS THE FIRST AMENDMENT GUARANTEES YOU THE RIGHT TO THINK YOUR OWN THOUGHTS. SPEAK YOUR OWN OPINIONS AND READ AND WRITE WHAT YOU WANT. BEING REASONABLE MEANS AGREEABLE TO REASON OR SOUND JUDGMENT. LOGICAL. NOT EXCEEDING THE LIMIT PRESCRIBED BY REASON. NOT EXCESSIVE. CAPABLE OF RATIONALE BEHAVIOR. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. FIRST AMENDMENT BEING REASONABLE. SUPPORTING THE CITIZENS OF ABILENE, TEXAS. AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCIL AND MR. HANNA AND THE DIRECTOR. I KNOW IT'S TOUGH FOR YOU. MAKE THE REASONABLE DECISION. THE RESOLUTION IS THE REASONABLE DECISION. I'M AGAINST THE ORDINANCE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMEMBER, I'M AN EDUCATORS MY APOLOGIES FOR BEING TARDY TO THE PARTY. YOU KNOW I'M AN EDUCATOR. I HAD TO STOP LISTENING AND SO. MY APOLOGIES IF I REITERATE OR ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF OTHER SPEAKERS. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LISTEN. BUT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO READ THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE FOR THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA. AND I JUST SIMPLY WANT TO STATE THAT I STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THE LANGUAGE AND THE IDEALS THAT BACK THIS CITY ORDINANCE. I'LL LEAVE MY THEOLOGICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL REASONS TO MORE DIALOGUE INDIVIDUALLY OR COLLECTIVELY. BUT AS AN EDUCATOR, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT -- ACTUALLY LET ME ROLL IT BACK. I DON'T THINK ANYONE IN THIS ROOM AND I APPRECIATE MISS DOROTHY. I GOT TO WATCH HER. IS OUT TO HARM CHILDREN. BELIEVES ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN THE EARLY EXPOSURE TO PORNOGRAPHY IS NEGATIVE. AND AS AN EDUCATOR I'VE SEEN THE EFFECTS OF THAT. BUT WHAT THIS ORDINANCE DOES IN MY OPINION, IS IT DOESN'T PROTECT CHILDREN. AND IT FURTHER OSTRACIZES AND MARGINALIZES AND OPENS THE DOOR FOR VIOLENCE, AGAINST OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND SIBLINGS AND FELLOW CITIZENS, WHO ARE IN THE LGBTQ-PLUS COMMUNITY. WE'VE SEEN SO MANY INSTANCES LATELY THAT WHEN WE OPEN THE DOOR, FOR LANGUAGE THAT EFFECTIVELY SAYS YOUR PRESENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY IS NOT WELCOME OR WANTED. AND FRANKLY YOU'RE THE PROBLEM. THAT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN DIRECTLY HAPPENS FROM THAT IS ACT OF VIOLENCE AND ACTS OF FURTHER DAMAGE TO PEOPLE. IN ONE WAY, BY NOT -- I APOLOGIZE. I DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING EVERYONE HAS SAID. WE'RE DAMAGING PEOPLE AND DAMAGING CHILDREN JUST BY THE VERY LANGUAGE IN THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE. IN MY MIND THAT'S NOT HELPFUL TO US AS THE COMMUNITY. WE WANT TO BE WELCOMING. WE WANT TO BE OPEN AND AFFIRMING OF ALL PEOPLE. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU ARE ALL DOING. AND SO I OPPOSE THE PROPOSED. >> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE RESOLUTION. YOU'RE AGAINST THE RESOLUTION. >> I'M FOR THE RESOLUTION. >> THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE THAT I'VE SEEN RIGHT HERE. IF I MISSPOKE. MY APOLOGIES. >> THE ORDINANCE WAS JUST [02:15:06] DELIVERED TO US. IT'S NOT -- >> THE RESOLUTION I'M AGAINST THE RESOLUTION. MY UNDERSTANDING THAT -- >> BEFORE US IS JUST -- >> I'M SORRY. >> BEFORE US CONSIDERATION FOR A RESOLUTION THAT LOOKS AT STATE STATUTE AND PROVIDES FOR THE CLARITY IN REGARDS TO AS WE CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION. WE'VE ALSO -- THE PRESENTATION WAS MADE KIND OF AN UPDATE IN REGARDS TO JUST THE LIBRARY PARAMETERS. BEFORE YOU, BEFORE US FOR VOTING IS JUST A RESOLUTION. CRAFTED BY CITY ATTORNEY THAT LOOKS AT STATE STATUTE AND ALLOWS THE CHARITY HERE IN ABILENE. >> MY APOLOGIES FOR HERE. I HEARD MISS MCGHEE. THAT'S MY PERSPECTIVE AS WELL. >> CITIZENS BROUGHT FORTH AN ORDINANCE. >> WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WANTS TO SPEAK IN REGARDS TO THIS ITEM EITHER FOR OR AGAINST? >> SEEING NO -- DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK, MA'AM? GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS. I'M NEW TO THE ABILENE COMMUNITY. AND THE FIRST THING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS THIS IS MY FIRST COUNCIL MEETING TO ATTEND IN PERSON. AND I FEEL COMPELLED TO SAY TO MY FRIENDS WHOSE FEELING -- >> DIRECT US. TO MY FRIENDS WHO FEELING HAVE BEEN SO HURT, AND FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN PERSONALLY ATTACKED AND TOLD THEY ARE DISGUSTING AND THEY ARE UNWANTED IN THIS COMMUNITY. I WOULD LIKE TO TELL THEM THAT MY SENTIMENT IS THAT THEY ARE NOT HATED AND THEY ARE NOT DISGUSTING. AND I DON'T GET THAT FEELING FROM THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE MET HERE IN ABILENE. BUT I CAN SAY THAT THE PORNOGRAPHY, THAT IS IN OUR LIBRARIES AND THAT IS IN OUR CURRICULUMS IN THE SCHOOLS, IS TO ME DISGUSTING AND OFFENSIVE. THAT DOESN'T TRANSLATE INTO FEELINGS ABOUT PEOPLE. THOSE ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT THINGS AND I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION THAT WE NEED TO MAKE. I AM A MOTHER. I'M A TEACHER THAT WAS IN THE CLASSROOM FOR MORE THAN A DECADE. AND I WOULD LIKE TO JUST TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THE CLASSROOM. I WAS ON A COMMITTEE THAT LOOKED AT THE PROPOSED BOOKS THAT WERE GOING TO BE IN OUR HEALTH CURRICULUM. AND WE LOOKED AT THROUGH EVERY BIT OF THAT MATERIAL. AND I SAW THINGS THAT I DID NOT NEED TO SEE AS THE GROWN ADULT THAT WERE PROPOSED TO OUR KIDS. THE THINGS IN OUR LIBRARIES WERE NOT FOR BANNING BOOKS. WE DO NEED TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN. WE ALL KNOW AS PARENTS THAT YOU NEED TO TAKE CARE OF WHAT YOUR KIDS SEE. HAVING BEEN TOWN IN AUSTIN, WE ARE ALREADY HAVE OVER 70 BILLS FILED RELATING TO SEXUALIZING CHILDREN. AND GETTING RID OF THE OBSCENITY EXEMPTION. WE HAVE THE LEGISLATURE WON'T GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL JANUARY 10TH. BUT WE HAVE THAT MANY BILLS FILED. WE KNOW THAT SOME OF OUR LOCAL LEGISLATORS ARE GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THOSE BILLS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE ALL ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS. >> THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. >> WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE -- >> GOOD MORNING,MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. CITY ATTORNEYS, CITY [02:20:03] MANAGER, MY NAME THE JAMES SERGEANT, ABILENE CITIZEN. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID IS MAKING THE LIBRARY SAFE FOR ALL CITIZENS. HOW CAN THE LIBRARY BE SAFE WHEN COUNTLESS STUDIES HAVE PRESENTED AND PROVEN THE HARM THAT PORNOGRAPHY CAUSES TO CHILDREN. WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THE CERTAIN TYPE OF PORNOGRAPHY. IT'S PORNOGRAPHY IN GENERAL. MY RECOMMENDATION THAT WE TABLE THE RESOLUTION AND CONSIDER THE ORDINANCE. PUT ON THE AGENDA ITEM AS BEEN STATED THE ORDINANCE MALLEABLE. IT'S FLEXIBLE. THAT'S HAVE THAT DISCUSSION. LET'S DISCUSS WHAT'S BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY STANDARD OF THE CITIZENS. THE RESOLUTION HAS VAGUE COMMUNITY STANDARDS. AND OPENS ITSELF UP FOR LAWSUITS WITHOUT A PLAN OF ACTION. WHEREAS THE ORDINANCE HAS BEEN STATED JONATHAN MITCHELL WILL SHOW UP AND PRO BONO, DEFEND THIS ORDINANCE. IF A LAWSUIT COMES FORTH. ON THE TEXAS STATUTE, IT'S BEEN STATED WITH THE RESOLUTION THERE'S NO ENFORCEMENT. IT'S THE SAME LOOPHOLE THAT'S BEING UTILIZED ALREADY. TO EXPOSE OUR CHILDREN TO PORNOGRAPHY. YOU KNOW ANOTHER THING THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD REQUEST THAT WE READ THE BOOK IN FULL; A LOT OF THE BOOKS YOU DON'T NEED TO READ IN FULL TO SEE THE WHOLE PICTURE. YOU CAN READ THE BULK AND GET ENOUGH OF THE PICTURE THAT IT'S A LOT OF IT IS OFFENSIVE. OUR CHILDREN DON'T NEED TO BE EXPOSED TO THAT PORNOGRAPHY. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TAX-PAYER FUNDED PORNOGRAPHY. ONE INDIVIDUAL SPOKE ABOUT BUSINESSES. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT BURNING BOOKS. OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. WE'RE NOT SAYING YOU CAN'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE BOOKS. THERE'S PLENTY OF PRIVATE ENTITIES THAT YOU CAN GO AND PURCHASE BOOKS. THERE'S PLENTY OF OTHER RESOURCES. BUT WHY DO WE NEED TO SPEND TAX PAYER DOLLARS ON PORNOGRAPHY. WHY IS LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD ASK WE READ THE BOOK IN FULL WHEN THEY DON'T READ THE BOOK IN FULL THEMSELVES. THE ORDINANCE WILL GIVE THE RESPONSIBILITY THE FREEDOM, AND THE POWER BACK TO THE CITIZENS OF ABILENE. AND IT SOUNDS LIKE ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS, THAT'S WHAT WE ULTIMATELY WANT. THE RESPONSIBILITY AND FREEDOM AND POWER TO DO SO. I THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. >> WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANY -- >> SORRY I'M LATE. BUSY DAY AT THE OFFICE. JUST WANT TO START OFF AGAIN THANKING EVERYONE FOR THEIR HARD WORK. AND ALL THE CONSIDERATION THAT YOU'VE PUT INTO RESOLUTION. SO POWERFUL. I SEE YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION AS I READ IT. JUST WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ABOUT MY HISTORY. I WAS BORN IN THE 70S. AND WE HAVE AN AUNT WHO WAS GAY IN THE 70S. ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING LADIES I'VE EVER MET IN MY LIFE. I'M EMOTIONAL ABOUT IT. SHE JUST PASSED AWAY FROM CANCER. SHE WAS LIKE A PROTECTOR TO ME. I LOWVED HER. I HAVE UNCLES THAT WERE GAY. MEN THAT I WOULD STAND NECK AND NECK WITH. IF ANYONE FELT LIKE THEY'VE BEEN YOU KNOW DEEMED AS LIKE DISGUSTING OR SOMETHING. THAT'S RUBBISH. BECAUSE WE'RE ALL GOD'S PEOPLE. I HAVE A LOT OF COMPASSION AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE STOOD UP HERE ARE MY FRIENDS. SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SPOKE UP HERE FOR THE DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS OR GROUPS THAT OUR CITY REMEMBERS OR REPRESENTS. HAVE BEEN MY BUSINESS PARTNERS. I'VE BEEN OPENLY GAY BUSINESS PARTNER; I DON'T DISCRIMINATE. I WANT TO SET THAT FOUNDATION OF THE LENS LOOKING AT SOME THINGS. AND THEN ABOUT COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO I ATTENDED A HIGH-RISK HIGH-REWARD MEN'S BOOT CAMP. AND I GOT TO HEAR THESE AMAZING STORIES AND TALKS FROM MEN ALL OVER OUR CITY. AND ABOUT 98% OF THEM STARTED OUT WITH WHEN I WAS A LITTLE BOY, I FOUND PORNOGRAPHY. AND SO I'VE SEEN THE EFFECTS OF LIKE MAN THIS IS AN ISSUE. EVERY MAN THAT'S GETTING UP [02:25:02] IS BEING EFFECTED BY PORNOGRAPHY. I ATTEND MEN'S GROUPS AND IT ALL STARTS OFF WITH THIS. I STARTED THINKING ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE MANY PLACE AS FAR AS COMMUNITY STANDARDS. SOME OF THEM I HOPE WILL APPLY. IF THEY DON'T JUST DISREGARD THEM. BUT WE HAVE SO MANY COMMUNITY STANDARDS IN PLACE. ONE OF THEM IS LIKE 12-YEAR-OLD CAN'T GET A TATTOO. THAT'S A COMMUNITY STANDARD. RIGHT. A 12-YEAR-OLD CAN'T BUY BEER. THAT'S A COMMUNITY STANDARD. WE HAVE EXPLICIT LYRICS. THIS IS SPEECH TYPE OF YOU KNOW COMMUNITY STANDARD. OUR COMMUNITY STANDARDS SAY, HEY THIS HAS EXPLICIT LYRICS. FAIR WARNING. UNDERSTANDING. THAT'S A LIMITATION OF HOW YOU KNOW WHAT YOU CAN SAY ON RECORD. IF YOU SAY ON RECORD. YOU HAVE TO BE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT COMMUNITY STANDARD THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE. ONE OF THEM -- >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? >> GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS TIME. I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF ABILENE. I WILL DISPUTE YOUR CLAIM ABOUT THE BEST HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATING CLASS. I THINK OAK 2 WAS PRETTY GOOD. I HAVE FOUR KIDS. RANGING FROM 13 TO 3. THAT THREE OF WHICH ARE IN THE AISD. I'M HERE -- I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY. I WANTED TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR THIS RESOLUTION AND STATE THAT I DON'T THINK IT NEEDS TO BE TABLED. I THINK IT NEEDS MOVE FORWARD EYE HEARD A LOT OF TALK TODAY ABOUT PROTECTING OUR KIDS. AND WHILE I DO WANT OUR COMMUNITY TO HAVE STANDARDS ABOUT THAT. I ALSO WANT TO BE PRIMARY PERSON THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR MY PROTECTING MY OWN CHILDREN. I DON'T WANT TO PUT IT ON THE BACK OF THE COUNCIL OR THE LIBRARIANS TO DECIDE FOR ME AND MY KIDS WHAT THEY SHOULD BE READING. I WANT THE PROTECT THEM. I KNOW WHEN I TAKE MY KIDS TO THE LIBRARY, I KNOW WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT. BECAUSE I'M WITH THEM AND OR I'VE -- THEY ARE WITH MY WIFE OR SOMEONE THAT WE TRUST. I CONSIDER THAT MY RESPONSIBILITY. NOT THE GOVERNMENT'S JOB TO DECIDE WHAT MY KIDS GET OUT OF THERE. AS A TRADE, I'M ARBORIST. THAT'S WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING. OR ONE OF THE MANY THINGS I DO FOR A LIVING. FOR A LONG TIME IN THE ARBOUR WORLD IT WAS THOUGHT THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO FOR TREE WHEN PLANTING A NEW TREE IS YOU DIG THE HOLE AND THEN YOU AMEND THE SOIL AROUND IT AND MAKE IT REALLY, REALLY GOOD SOIL FOR THAT TREE TO GROW IN. IT'S NOT A BAD IDEA. BUT RESEARCH HAS SHOWN OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, OVER THAT TIME THAT TREE IS GOING TO GROW OUTSIDE OF THE BOUNDS OF THAT CULTIVATED SOIL. TREES ARE JUST TOO BIG AND THE BENEFITS OF DOING WAY TOO MUCH TO TELLTY CULTIVATE ENDS UP NOT MATTERING THAT MUCH. WHEN I HEAR SOME OF THE THINGS PROPOSED HERE, SOME OF THINGS I HEAR PROPOSED. IS AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE -- TO PROTECT OUR KIDS IN A WAY THAT IS NOT GOING TO MATTER IN A LONG TERM. EVENTUALLY THEY WILL GET OUT IN THE WORLD AND THEY WILL MAKE THE CHOICES FOR THEMSELVES. I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO BE USING THE GOVERNMENT TO CONTROL WHAT OUR KIDS ARE READING RIGHT NOW. PLEASE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. >> WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? >> GOOD MORNINGI'M A RESIDE. I'M OPPOSED TO RESOLUTION. FOR MANY OF THE REASONS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED. I WILL NOT GET INTO THAT. I AM IN FAVOR OF CONSIDERING THIS ORDINANCE THAT HAS BEEN PUT OUT. AS OPPOSED THE RESOLUTION. I HAVE REVIEWED SOME OF THE BOOKS THAT HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO AND MENTIONED. AND THEY ARE PURELY AND [02:30:08] PLAINLY PORNOGRAPHIC. THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO DESCRIBE THEM. THIS I BELIEVE WE DO NEED TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN FROM. NO ONE IS ATTACKING. I HAVE NO ANIMOSITY TOWARD ANY GROUP OF ANY INDIVIDUALS. I MEAN NO HARM TO ANYONE. BUT I CERTAINLY WANT TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN. AND I DON'T HEAR ANYBODY ATTACKING ANY GROUPS IN FACT. THE ONLY ONES THAT I HAVE HEARD MENTION SPECIFICALLY ANY GROUPS OR ORGANIZATIONS ARE THE PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT OR PART OF THOSE GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHERE THIS SPIN OF FEAR AND FEAR OF DANGER AND FEAR OF BEING ATTACKED AND FEAR OF BEING HURT IS COMING FROM. BECAUSE IT CERTAINLY CAN'T COMING FROM ME OR ANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE AM INVOLVED WITH. LIKE I SAID, OUR BOTTOM LINE IS PROTECTION OF OUR CHILDREN. A LOT OF THESE BOOKS THAT I LOOKED AT WERE BOOKS THAT WERE DEEMED APPROPRIATE FOR AGES FOUR AND UP. FIVE AND UP. SIX AND UP. ANYONE IN HERE THAT'S A PARENT OR HAS BEEN A PARENT KNOWS A 5-YEAR-OLD CAN'T EVEN FIGURE OUT WHAT FLAVOR OF ICE CREAM THEY WANT. THEY DON'T HAVE MATURITY TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT SEXUAL THINGS. AS I SAID IN THE BEGINNING, THE BOOKS ARE -- THEY ARE PURELY PORNOGRAPHY. THEY DIDS DON'T NEED TO LOOK AT THAT STUFF. WE'RE TRYING TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN. THAT'S AS SIMPLE AS SHIRT. JUST TRYING TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN. WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE. WE APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING. WE KNOW THAT IT'S NOT EASY. IT'S A BIG BIG BATTLE. AND WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU. AND I APPRECIATE THE TIME TO COME UP HERE AND SPEAK TO YOU ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AND OR COMMENTS? >> I WILL ADDRESS A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT CAME UP. ONE IS THE PERCEPTION THAT THE RESOLUTION LACKS TEETH. I THOUGHT WE MADE IT PRETTY CLEAR. THE RESOLUTION IS DIRECTIVE TO THE CITY MANAGER ON BEHALF OF STAFF AND IT'S CLEARLY STATING OUR EXPECTATIONS AND THE TEETH THERE IS THAT ROBERT KNOWS IF HE SAYS I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT; THEN HE'S MAKING A CHOICE OF PERSONAL STANCE VERSES THE JOB POSITION. THERE ARE TEETH IN THAT. IN THE SENSE THAT WE HAVE CLEARLY STATED EXPECTATIONS FOR STAFF THROUGH ROBERT. THE COMMENT MADE ABOUT LAWSUITS. THEN TEN OR SO LAWSUITS AGAINST THE CITY NOW. WE CAN BE SUED OVER ANYTHING. BUT WHAT WE ARE CLEARLY STATING HERE, THIS IS THE STATE PENAL CODE. AND WE'RE FOLLOWING THE STATE PENAL CODE. SOMEONE CAN CHOOSE TO FAIL A LAWSUIT BECAUSE WE'RE FOLLOWING STATE PENAL CODE. BUT IT WILL GET TOSSED OUT BECAUSE WE'RE FOLLOWING WHAT STATE LAW IS. AND ONE PERSON BROUGHT UP THE ALA SPECIFIC LANGUAGE AND EXPECTATIONS FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE MEMBERS. WHAT OUR DIRECTIVE IS SUPERSEDES A NATIONAL SUGGESTION FROM AN ORGANIZATION. BECAUSE THIS IS POLICY THAT WE ARE ADOPTING AS THE LEGISLATIVE BODY THAT WE'RE EXPECTING STAFF TO FLOW. THAT SUPERSEDES ANY GROUP, SUGGESTION THAT WOULD COME IN. I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE'RE BROUGHT UP WITH REGARD TO THE RESOLUTION. VERSES THE OTHER. AND ROBERT HAS BEEN VERY INTEGRAL IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS POLICY AND THERE'S CONCERN RAISED THERE'S TOO MUCH ON HIS SHOULDER. HE'S THE ONE THAT'S BEEN PART OF THE PROCESS AND WILLING TO BARE THAT BURDEN AND SHOULDER THAT BURDEN. JUST LIKE WITH MANY OTHER ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS THAT WE PASS, OUR EXPECTATION IS THAT ROBERT IS THE CEO IS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. THIS IS NO DIFFERENT FROM THOSE. I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THAT BURDEN BECAUSE HE'S CHOSEN THAT AS PART OF HIS ROLE OF CITY MANAGER. >> ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? >> ONE OF THE COMMENTS MENTIONED THAT THIS ORDINANCE WOULD GET THE RESPONSIBILITY BACK TO THE PARENTS. COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I'M [02:35:08] SORRY. ITS MENTIONED THAT TO GET RESPONSIBILITY BACK TO PARENTS. COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WE PASSED WHAT WAS CALL PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT. FOR OUR LIBRARY AND WE GOT COMPLAINED TO ABOUT THAT. BECAUSE THE RESPONSE WAS IS THAT THE CITY NEEDED TO TAKE MORE RESPONSIBILITY. AND SO WE HAVE -- THERE'S RESPONSIBILITY IN PLACE FOR THE PARENTS. THE OTHER THING IS I THINK WE'VE KIND OF GOTTEN A LITTLE BIT OFF POINT HERE. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IN HERE WANTS TO EXPOSE OUR KIDS TO PORNOGRAPHY. THERE'S NO ONE THAT EXPOSE KIDS TO OBSCENITY. THAT'S WHAT THIS DESIGNED TO DO TO SAY WE ARE GOING TO FOCUS ON PROTECTING OUR KIDS FROM OBSCENITY. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE -- THAT'S WHAT UNLESS I HAVE READ THIS WRONG, MANY TIMES. OUR ROLE TODAY IS TO SAY IF SOMETHING IS OBSCENE, BY THE DEFINITION OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, THIS RESOLUTION ALLOWS OUR CITY MANAGER TO REMOVE THAT BOOK FROM THE AREA. I DON'T KNOW ANYONE AGAINST REM REMOVING OBSCENE MATERIALS FROM KIDS. THAT'S WHAT I FEELS THIS DOES. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF IT TO REMOVE AND PUT UP BARRIERS TO PROTECT OUR KIDS FROM OBSCENITY. WHICH IS WHAT IS STATED IN THIS RESOLUTION. >> ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL. >> I WANT TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF THINGS REAL QUICK. I WANT TO ECHO SHANE'S COMMENTS. THE COMMENT ABOUT ALL OF THIS BEING ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE CITY MANAGER, AGAIN, AS SHANE SAID THERE'S A LOT ON HIM ALREADY. BUT IF REGARDLESS OF WHICH CITY MANAGER IS IN PLACE AT THE TIME THAT MAKES THOSE DECISIONS AFTER THESE PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN FOLLOWED, ULTIMATELY AUTHORITY RESTS WITH COUNCIL TO GIVE DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER IF YOU AS THE CITIZEN WERE TO DISAGREE WITH A DECISION HE MADE. AND YOU HAVE AN AVENUE AND RECOURSE TO US. TO HAVE THAT REMEDIED. AND THEN THE DIRECTION WE GIVE HIM IS BINDING. AS FAR AS TABLING THE RESOLUTION, THE WORD MALLEABLE IS USED WITH REGARDS TO THE DRAFT ORDINANCE THAT RYAN GAVE US. WELL THE RESOLUTION IS TOO. WE CAN GO BACK AT ANY TIME, AFTER -- I WELCOME THOSE DISCUSSIONS. I KNOW WE'VE HAD THE CONVERSATIONS. I HOPE WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. I WILL BE AVAILABLE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS. I THINK IS GOOD JUMP OFF. IT GETS SOMETHING ON THE BOOKS WE WANT TO CODIFY THAT CLEARLY COMMUNITY INDICATES OUR DESIRE AS THE BODY TO STAFF ABOUT WHAT WE EXPECT WITHIN THE LIBRARY. AS TIME GOES ON IF THERE'S THINGS WE NEED TO CHANGE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. WE CAN CHANGE IT. WE CAN ALTER THINGS. COMPLETELY TABLING IT AND NOT DOING ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, IS THAT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING AND EVEN IN IT'S NOT EVERYTHING THAT YOU WANT RIGHT NOW. WE CAN DO SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CHANGE AS TIME GOES ALONG. AS WE ENGAGE IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS. >> JUST ADDING TO THAT IN REGARDS TO ACCOUNTABILITY AND REGARDS WHAT'S DESCRIBED. WE HAVE GOVERNMENT. WE'RE ACCOUNTABLE TO YOU. TWICE A YEAR YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY THIS YEAR, THREE TIMES, THREE OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO SELECT WHO WILL GOVERN, WHO WILL BE THE POLICY MAKER. THERE'S ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE CITY MANAGER AND COUNCIL THAT GOOD WORK HAS BEEN DONE APPRECIATIVE OF JULIE AND THE BOARD AND MR. HANNA. REGARDS TO WHAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT BEFORE US. WITH AN EXPECTATION THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL WORK DONE THIS SPRING TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT THE LAST SIX MONTHS. WITH THAT, IS THERE A MOTION BY THE COUNCIL? >> MOVE FOR APPROVED. >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER BEARD AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER PRICE. ANY MORE DISCUSSION FROM THE COUNCIL? >> WE'RE READY TO VOTE. [EXECUTIVE SESSION] [02:40:04] >> SIT NOW 11:10 A.M. WE'LL RECESSION INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. SECTION 551.071. CONVERSATION WITH OUR ATTORNEY. 551-072, REAL PROPERTY. 551-073, GIFTS AND DONATIONS. 551, 074 PERSONNEL MATTERS. 551.076. AND 551.087 DISCUSSION A >> IT'S 11:46. WE RECONVENE TO OPEN [22. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving DCOA Project Little Giant (Misty Mayo)] SESSION. NO VOTES OR ACTION WERE TAKEN DURING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. I WILL MOVE TO ITEM 22 AND I WILL ASK MISTY MAYO CEO OF THE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO GIVE THIS ITEM. >> I'M THE CEO AND PRESIDENT OF THE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF ABILENE AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF PRESENTING ON BEHALF OF THE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF ABILENE BOARD OF DIRECTOR. WE MANAGE THE BRAND DEVELOP ABILENE SO FOLKS CAN LOOK AT DEVELOPABILENE.COM FOR COMPETITIVE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR CITY OF ABILENE AS WELL AS ANNOUNCEMENTS AND INFORMATION THEY MAY FIND INTERESTING ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY. COUNCILMEMBERS AND CITY MANAGER, I BRING TO YOU TWO PROJECTS TODAY. WE WILL START WITH PROJECT LITTLE GIANT. YOU ALL IN THE COMMUNITY HEARD FROM ME MANY TIMES THAT THE VISION OF THE DCOA IS TO CREATE THE FUTURE ABILENE. IT'S ABOUT THE CREATION OF JOBS. IT'S ABOUT THE CREATION OF OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILIES OF ABILENE. FOR KIDS OF ABILENE AND FOR RESIDENTS OF ABILENE. OUR MISSION AT THE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF ABILENE IS TO LEAD ECONOMIC GROWTH IN ABILENE BY ATTRACTING AND SUSTAINING INDUSTRIES THAT SUPPORT JOB CREATION, FOSTER STRONG BUSINESS, AND ENSURE A PROSPEROUS COMMUNITY. YOU WILL SEE ON THIS SLIDE THE SIX PRIMARY AREAS OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN. WHICH ARE SUPPORTED BY OUR OBJECTIVES FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS. OF WHICH BUSINESS ATTRACTION AND ARETENTION AND EXPANSION ARE TWO CRITICAL COMPONENTS. BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION IS WORKING WITH LOCAL EXISTING COMPANIES CREATING A CULTURE THAT ENGAGES, EXISTING TARGETED INDUSTRY BUSINESSES AS THE CATALYST FOR SUSTAINING AND GROWING OUR ECONOMIC BASE. LOCAL EXISTING COMPANIES ARE CRITICAL TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE WANT WALK ALONGSIDE AND SUPPORTING THOSE TYPE OF BUSINESSES IN ORDER TO ENSURE THEY CAN GROW AND PROSPER IN ABILENE. MY PRIVILEGE TO BRING TO YOU TIGA. THEY ARE LEADING MANUFACTURER OF WAKE BOARD AND WAKE SURFBOARDS. THEY HAVE BEEN IN ABILENE SINCE 1994. THAT'S OVER 25 YEARS OF COMMITMENT IN ABILENE. AS THEY EXPERIENCE EXPONENTIAL GROWTH. THEY PLAN TO BUILD A FACILITY THAT WILL ENHANCE THEIR CURRENT EXISTING FACILITY ON THEIR CURRENT EXISTING SITE. THEIR CURRENT LOCATION ON HIGHWAY 36 FOR THEY ARE LOCATED OUT BY THE ABILENE AIRPORT. THEY ARE LOOKING AT A PROJECTION OF INCREASING THEIR PRODUCTION BY NEARLY 45%. AFTER THE 8-YEAR PROSECUTORED THAT WILL -- PERIOD THAT WILL INCLUDE CAPITAL INVESTMENT OF $12 MILLION THAT'S INCLUDING THE FACILITY OF WAREHOUSING AND A BOAT MOLD SHOP. THEY WILL HAVE 500 TOTAL EMPLOYEES AT THAT TIME. WE ARE ASKING THE COUNCIL TO RATIFY THE DCOA BOARD OF DIRECTOR'S VOTE TO SUPPORT DCOA INCENTIVE OF A LOAN THAT WILL BE REPAID OVER THAT 8-YEAR PERIOD TIME TO DCOA. THAT LOAN BEING REPAID TO CROA1.8 MILLION DOLLARS AND AN EARNED GRANT INCENTIVE WHICH IS A CASH INCENTIVE THAT WILL BE UP TO $825,000. THE DCOA EVERYTHING THES THE [02:45:08] ECONOMIC IMPACT LACKS AT A TEN-YEAR PERIOD TIME. FOR EVERY DOLLAR THE DCOA PUTS TOWARD THE INCENTIVE. THIS WILL REALIZE OVER 336 DOLLARS INVESTED BY THE COMPANY IN A DIRECT AND INDIRECT IMPACT OF THE 12 MILLION EXPANSION. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS MAYO? >> THANK YOU MISTY. I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. >> SEEING NO ONE I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION BY THE COUNCIL. MISTY, I WANT THANK YOU FOR THE OUTSTANDING JOB. I KNOW EVERYONE UP HERE. RETENTION IS VERY IMPORTANT. SEE 215 NEW JOBS AT OVER 51,000 ANNUAL SALARY. THAT'S ALWAYS SOME GOOD STUFF. WE'RE ALWAYS GLAD TO HEAR WHAT YOU BRING US. THANK YOU. >> IS THERE ANY MORE DISCUSSION OR I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. FURTHER DISCUSSION. WE'RE READY TO VOTE. [23. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving DCOA Project Fox Hill (Misty Mayo)] >> MOTION CARRIES. WE H MOVE TO ITEM 23 AND I WILL BEGIN ASK MISTY MAYO TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. >> AND, AGAIN, THIS IS LOCAL EXISTING COMPANY. ALWAYS MY PRIVILEGE AND TO COUNCILMEMBER'S POINT TO ALL OF YOU ALL EXPRESSING YOUR INTEREST IN ENSURING THAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON LOCAL EXISTING COMPANIES. WHAT I LIKE TO CALL IT IS THE SERVICE AFTER THE SALE. BECAUSE WE WORK SO INTENTLY ON RECRUITING NEW BUSINESS TO OUR COMMUNITY FOR THAT GUARANTEE OF A PROSPEROUS FUTURE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TREATING OUR EXISTING CUSTOMERS IN A WAY THAT ENSURES WE MAKE SURE THEY ARE PART OF THE FUTURE AS WELL. >> OKAY. THIS IS PROJECT FOX HILL THAT I BRING TO YOU TODAY. I WILL NOT I WILL CONTINUE TO REFER AS PROJECT FOX HILL. BECAUSE THE DCOA I'M STILL IN ACTIVE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THIS COMPANY. THE COUNCIL IS WELL AWARE OF THE COMPANY'S NAME AND WE WILL DISCLOSE THAT TO THE PUBLIC AS SOON AS THE CONTRACTS ARE SIGNED. THIS DOES INVOLVE A REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION. THIS IS A COMPANY THAT HAS ASKED US TO SUPPORT THEIR CONTINUED GROWTH IN ABILENE AND CONTINUED COMMITMENT OF CAPITAL INVESTMENT BY SELLING THEIR FACILITY TO THEM ABOUT 11 MONTHS EARLIER THAN IS CONTRACTED. THE RESOLUTION ASKED THE COUNCIL TO RATIFY THE DCOAS A BOARD DECISION FOR THE SALE OF THE PROPERTY IN ESPECIALLY FOR $15 MILLION IN CAPITAL INVESTMENT THAT THIS COMPANY IS COMMITTING. INVOLVED THE PURCHASE OF THEIR FACILITY AS OUTLINED IN THEIR ORIGINAL 2015 AGREEMENT AS WELL AS AN ADDITIONAL NEW 15 MILLION DOLLARS IN CAP-X. THE 119 JOBS RETAINED AND 171 JOBS CREATED ARE ALSO CURRENTLY STATED IN THE AGREEMENT WHICH IS 2021 AGREEMENT. WE WILL ENTER NEW AGREEMENT THAT ALLOWS THE COMPANY TO PURCHASE THE BUILDING, MAKE A COMMITMENT FOR 15 MILLION IN NEW CAPITAL INVESTMENT. AND THE INCENTIVE WILL BE UP TO 1,372,988. >> I'M OPEN FOR QUESTIONS. SEEING NO ONE I WILL AT THIS TIME OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM; PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME AND CITY FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE MORE DISCUSSION OR I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION. >> MOTION AND A SECOND. WE'RE READY TO VOTE. [02:50:19] MAYOR PRO TEM, IF I MAY ADD CERTAINLY THE OPPORTUNITY VERY QUICKLY TO THANK ALL OF YOU ALL BECAUSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS IN A COMMUNITY REQUIRE LEADERSHIP. THEY REQUIRE VISION. AND THEY REQUIRE SUPPORT. THANK YOU FOR ALL THREE OF THOSE. IT HAS BEEN A FANTASTIC YEAR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS FOLLOWING LAST YEAR'S FANTASTIC YEAR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THAT ULTIMATELY BENEFIT THE FAMILIES OF ABILENE. THE PEOPLE OF ABILENE. IT'S EXCITING TO HEAR STORIES FROM CITY STAFF THAT SAY HEY, MY BROTHER GOT A JOB AT GREAT LAKES CHEESE. OR MY SISTER GOT A JOB AT PRIMAL PETS. WE'RE A PART OF SOMETHING IN THIS VERY SPECIAL COMMUNITY AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO THE DCOA BOARD AND AS ALWAYS THANK YOU TO MY AMAZING TALENTED STAFF. I HAVE ONE HERE. BECAUSE WE HAVE A COMPANY IN TOWN TODAY. AND WE HAVE DEVELOPERS FROM TOWN TODAY. THERE'S MUCH GOING ON. BUT I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THEIR AMAZING EFFORTS. SO THANK YOU ALL. >> WE DEFINITELY LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR. [24. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Chapter 380 Economic Development Agreement with Rainy Creek Abilene LP, a Texas Limited Partnership (Robert Hanna)] ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT YOU WILL BRING US. WE APPRECIATE IT. >> WE WILL MOVE TO ITEM 24 AND I WILL ASK ROBERT HANNA CITY MANAGER TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. >> THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL. >> INTENDS TO DEVELOP 180 MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL UNIT AND A MINIMUM OF 6,000 SQUARE FEET OF RETAIL SPACE. TOTAL VALUATION WILL BE APPROXIMATELY 60 TO 80 MILLION. COULD BE UP TO 100 MILLION JUST DEPENDS ON THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION AT THAT TIME. IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE THE DEVELOPMENT FOOTPRINT. THE DEVELOPER HAS HAD TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF COMMITTING THE FLOOD SURVEY AND ENGINEERING WORK TO AMEND THE FLOODPLAIN BROWNDRY AND RECLAIM THE FLOODPLAIN. WHILE THIS IS UNUSUAL. IT'S NOT UNUSUAL IN THE REST OF THE WORLD. THE COST FOR THIS SURVEY ASSOCIATED WITH DOING THIS AND THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENT TO FEMA AND THE CITY ABOUT $75,000. BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE GRIFFITH ROAD REMAINS SUBSTANDARD AT THAT LOCATION AS WELL. THE ATTACHED CHAPTER 380 AGREEMENT TO THIS ITEM WILL AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO REIMBURSE THE DEVELOPER THE 75,000 FOR THE COST OF THE FLOODPLAIN SURVEY AND RECLAIMMATION WORK IN ADDITION COMMITS THE CITY CONSTRUCTING REMAINING PORTION OF THE ROAD AND WAIVES PERMIT FEES ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT INCURRED ON OR AFTER THE DATE OF AGRAEMENT AND FOR THE TERM OF THE AGREEMENT. GIVEN THE CURRENT ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY; THE AGREEMENT HAS FIVE-YEAR TERM. REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE FLOODPLAIN RECLAMATION CAN'T BE MADE UNTIL AFTER CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY IS ISSUED. THE CITY ABILENE WON'T CUST 75,000 CHECK AND NEVER SEE PROJECT DEVELOPED. IT'S ANTICIPATED THAT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE IMPROVEMENT THAT WOULD NORMALLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE DEVELOPER APPROXIMATELY 242,000. WITH THAT AND WITH THE FLOODPLAIN RECLAMATION COST YOU LOOK AT A TOTAL INCENTIVE FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT NOT EXCLUDEING THE BUILDING PERMIT FEES, $317,000. STAFF IS ASKING COUNCIL TO APPROVE THIS AGREEMENT AS DISCUSSED A COUPLE OF TIMES NOW IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> THANK YOU MR. HANNA. IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. HANNA? >> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GRIFFIN ROAD BE COMPLETED FROM WHERE IT HAS BEEN IMPROVED. WE REALLY NEEDED TO DO THAT EITHER WAY. IT'S NICE TO SEE THIS DEVELOPMENT COME IN WITH THAT. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANYONE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. >> SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION. >> SO MOVED. >> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. WE'RE READY TO VOTE. >> MOTION CARRIES. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ONE THING. IS THE PA SYSTEM WORKING BETTER? MAYBE IT'S JUST MY HEARING IS BETTER. I WOULD LIKE TO COMPLIMENT. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE PA IS BETTER. IT'S 12:01 P.M. AND THIS MEETING OF THE ABILENE CITY [02:55:04] COUNCIL IS ADJOURNED. >> MERRY CHRISTMAS. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.