[CALL TO ORDER INVOCATION]
[00:00:10]
>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: WELL, GOOD MORNING. IT IS 8:30 A.M., WE'LL CALL THIS MEETING OF CITY OF ABILENE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO ORDER. WE HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST THAT I'LL INTRODUCE IN JUST A BIT. BEFORE I DO, I'LL ASK MAYOR PRO-TEM HURT TO PROVIDE
INVOCATION. >> MOST GRACIOUS HEAVENLYFATHER WE COME TO YOU TODAY SO GRATEFUL FOR LORD, HELP US TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE BEST FOR OUR CITY. LORD, PLEASE LOOK OVER OUR MILITARY HERE, OUR, FELLOW FRIENDS AT DAIS AND THOSE THAT SERVE ALL OVER THE WORLD. LORD, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, ALWAYS, THAT THEY'RE THERE IN THE CRITICAL SITUATIONS, LORD, WE ASK YOU TO LOOK OVER THEM. LORD, AND EVERYONE ELSE THAT WORKS FOR THIS CITY, LORD, HELP US TODAY AND GUIDE US THROUGH THIS WITH COMPASSION AND LOVE. IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN.
>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: THANK YOU, WE HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST ON THIS MORNING. WE HAVE WITH US MARTIN TREVINO, HE'S A BULL DOG FROM BONHAM ELEMENTARY, AND HIS MOM IS HERE AND SHE'S PRETTY PROUD OF HER SON. HE'S GOING TO LEAD US IN OUR PLEDGE THIS MORNING.
AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL."
>> >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: AND NOW THE TEXAS FLAG.
>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: WE HAVE ONE PROCLAMATION THIS MORNING.
[RECOGNITIONS, PROCLAMATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS]
COMMUNITY SCHOOLS OF THE BIG COU COUNTRY. COMMUNITY SCHOOLS OF THE BIG COUNTRY. THE VITALE THROUGH THEIR MISSION AND EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO STAY IN SCHOOL AND ACHIEVE IN LIFE, THE SCHOOLS OF THE BIG COUNTRY IMPACTS THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS, WHO WITHOUT THEIR ASSISTANCE WOULD NOT GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL. EACH YEAR THEY PROVIDE DRIVE-BY PREVENTION SERVICES TO HELP IMPROVE THEIR SCHOOL PERFORMANCE IN AREAS OF ACADEMICS, ATTENDANCE, BEHAVIOR, MENTAL HEALTH AND BASIC NEEDS. FOR 22 YEARS, SCHOOLS OF BIG COUNTRY HAVE BEEN CHANGING RELATIONSHIPS IN THOUSANDS OF SCHOOLS IN THE CITY AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AS MAYOR OF ABILENE AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL, I'M PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS OF THE BIG COUNTRY FOR DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR GREATEST RESOURCE, OUR YOUTH. I HEAR CLAIM FEBRUARY 23RD, 2023, AS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS DAY. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. AND PAUL WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE THOSE WITH YOU, ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO THE COMMUNITY.>> MY NAME IS PAUL WALLACE AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IN THE BIG COUNTRY. WE CASE MANAGE AROUND 121400 STUDENTS EVERY SCHOOL YEAR IN OUR BIG COUNTRY AREA.
MOST OF THOSE STUDENTS RESIDE IN THE CITY OF ABILENE. WE'RE SO THANKFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT. FOR MAYOR WILLIAM'S SUPPORT. I HAVE KRISTEN, OUR DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND JUSTICE WHITELY IS THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.
THANK YOU, MAYOR WILLIAMS AND THANK YOU TO ABILENE FOR
SUPPORTING US FOR 22 YEARS. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: THANK YOU, AND PAUL HAS DONE A GREAT JOB. YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THEY CASE MANAGE NOW, COMPARED TO WHEN YOU TOOK OVER, IT'S PHENOMENAL. SO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND WHAT YOU DO AND HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND IT'S TIME
[00:05:02]
FOR A PHOTO OP, PAUL, WE ALWAYS LIKE THOSE HERE.[CONSENT AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS]
>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: DOES ANYONE ON COUNCIL WANT TO PULL
ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? >> MAY I MAKE A COMMENT, I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE FOR 19, I WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND THERE'S BEEN A REQUEST TO CONSULT WITH ATTORNEY ON THIS ITEM, THAT'S WHY 19'S BEEN PULLED. COUNSEL'S HAVE QUESTIONS OF A LEGAL NATURE AND THAT'S THE REASON IT'S BEEN
PULLED. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: WE NOW MOVE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. THERE'LL BE NO VOTES OR FORMAL ACTIONS TAKEN ON SUBJECTS PRESENTED IN PUBLIC COMMENT HEARINGS. PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME, CITY YOU THAT RESIDE IN FOR THE RECORD. WE HAVE A FEW CARDS.
>> WE HAVE A FEW CARDS AND SEVERAL OF THEM ARE WITH NUMBER 19. YOU'RE STILL FREE TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS ITEM IN PUBLIC COMMENT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO. SO, JANICE TIST.
>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: IT WILL BE A 3-MINUTE TIME LIMIT ON PUBLIC
COMMENT THIS MORNING. >> >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS, I'M JANICE COCRAN TIST. I WORKED FOR THE PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND I WAS A REPORTER FOR TELEVISION AND RADIO FOR 17 YEARS. AND, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I BELIEVE THAT THE COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT POLICY AS DEVELOPED BY THE ABILENE PUBLIC LIBRARY LEADERSHIP AND APPROVED BY THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD IS WELL THOUGHT OUT AND CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE FOR Y'ALL TO SUPPORT. I KNOW THAT ALL OF YOU RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF READING FOR EVERYONE. NOT JUST FOR CHILDREN, BUT, CERTAINLY FOR CHILDREN. AND THAT TEST ONE OF THE GREATEST GIFTS THAT WE COULD GIVE OUR CHILDREN TO ALLOW THEM TO READ AND HONESTLY, TO READ FREELY. NOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE BOOKS IN THE PUBLIC LIBRARY COLLECTION THAT ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN. AND, I UNDERSTAND THAT IS THEIR PREROGATIVE TO THINK THAT. BUT, THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IS HERE FOR EVERYONE.
NOT JUST PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE AS I DO. NOT JUST PEOPLE THAT YOU DO. BUT, I FULLY BELIEVE IN PARENTAL CONTROL, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE LIBRARIANS SHOULD HAVE TO ACT IN LOCAL PARENTIST, LIKE I DID WHEN I WAS A CHILD. THEY WOULD TAKE AWAY A BOOK IF THAT IS NOT A SUITABLE BOOK FOR YOU TO READ. THAT IS NOT OUR JOB TODAY. OUR JOB IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE PLACE FOR LEARNING, FOR GROWTH AND UNDERSTANDING FOR THE CHILDREN.
I'M ALL FOR PARENTAL CONTROL, AS I SAID. I BELIEVE THAT PARENTS HAVE THE FINAL SAY ON WHAT THEY WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO DO, WHAT THEY WANT THEM TO READ, WHAT THEY WANT THEM TO LEARN.
HOWEVER, I DO NOT BELIEVE THEY HAVE THAT RIGHT OVER MY CHILDREN. OR MY GRANDCHILDREN. AND THAT THE LIBRARY NEEDS TO REMEAN AN OPEN PLACE, A UNIVERSITY FOR THE PEOPLE AS IT HAS BEEN. I ALSO HAVE A QUICK READING FROM AN ARTICLE THAT WAS PUBLISHED BY DR. CHERYL BACON IN THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE 2:
[00:10:04]
>> AND ANOTHER THING SHE WRITE IN A ARTICLE SAYS IF CHRISTIANS CAN BAN BOOKS TODAY, OTHERS CAN BAN BIBLES TOMORROW. THE HISTORY OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SPARES NO HEROS FROM GLARING LIGHT. THE SPIRIT INSPIRED IT ALL AND LEFT US TO LEARN AND DISCERN. FEAR IS A TERRIBLE THING THAT CAN STOP US FROM LEARNING AND THING THINKING AND IT CAN CLOSE A MIND. THAT'S WHY OUR JESUS SAID, BE NOT AFRAID. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME. >> CARRY YOUNG DIDN'T WANT TO SPEAK BUT WANTED TO BE IN SUPPORT OF 19. SUZANNE MELBOURNE DOESN'T WISH TO SPEAK BUT IS IN OPPOSITION TO BANNING BOOKS. KAYLA HEWITT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK?
>> >> GOOD MORNING, I'M KAYLA HEWITT AND I BELIEVE IN ABILENE.
I HAVEN'T BEEN PRESENT IN MOST OF THE PREVIOUS CITY COUNCIL AND LIBRARY BOARD MEETINGS, BUT, I'VE GONE BACK TO WATCH THE VIDEOS AVAILABLE ONLINE TO FAMILIARIZE MYSELF WITH WHAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED. I HAVE TWO KIDS AND OUR WHOLE FAMILY IS ACTIVE USE OF LIBRARY SERVICES. I'M INVESTED IN THIS TOPIC. I WANT TO THANK THE LIBRARY BOARD, AND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE THOUGHTFUL ACTIONS THEY'VE TAKEN SO FOR. I HAVE NO CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR VISIONS. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS, THAT USE THE TERMS OF PORNOGRAPHY. JUST BECAUSE A BOOK CONTAINS DESCRIPTIONS OF A SEXUAL ACT DOES NOT MAKE IT PORNOGRAPHIC. OF COURSE, THERE COULD BE REASONABLE DISAGREEMENT ABOUT WHAT AGE IS AAPPROPRIATE FOR ADOLESCENTS TO READ THESE BOOKS THOSE ARE DECISIONS THAT THEIR PARENTS CAN MAKE. TAKING IN ACCOUNT THEIR FAMILY'S VALUES. DOES NOT MEAN THE PUBLIC LIBRARY CAN CHOOSE TO EXCLUDE THEM TORE ALL PATRONS.
ADDITIONALLY, SOME OF THE LANGUAGE I READ IN THE ORDINANCE PUBLISHED SEVERAL WEEKS AGO INDICATES THAT SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THE VERY EXISTENCE OF CONTENT OF LGBTQ IS OBSCENE.
I'M CONCERNED THAT THE LANGUAGE TO PROTECT CHILDREN IS A THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY IS ENTITLED A RIGHT. I FULLY SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD, THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY MANAGER AND THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR SO FAR IN ADDRESSING THE CONCERNS ARISED. I THINK THE THAT PROCESS HAS BEEN TRANSPARENT AND FAIR. THANK YOU.
>> >> KRISTIE COMPTON DID NOT WISH IS SPEAK BUT WAS IN SUPPORT OF ATONGS COLLECTION POLICY RECOMMENDED BY THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD. THE NEXT CARD IS JOSHUA GROBES.
>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR WILLIAMS AND CITY COUNCIL. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT ITEM 21, THE MCKIN PSI HOUSE AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR CONSENTING TO PUSH THIS THROUGH. THE MCKINSIE HOUSE HAS A LONG TIME LEGACY TO HOSPITALITY TO ACU. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR QUESTIONS AT HAND REGARDING THE CITY.
>> THAT'S ALL THE CARDS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, DOES ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO
[00:15:04]
WELL THIS MORNING. I HAVE A COUPLE OF ISSUES AS TO WHY I'M HERE. ONE ISSUE IN PARTICULAR IS OUR ISSUE IN HAVING THINGS BEING PLACED ON THE AGENDA WHETHER ON THE BOARD OR HERE AT THE CITY COUNCIL. AND, IN MY OPINION, WE'RE BEING BLOCKED.WE'RE BEING BLOCKED FROM HAVING RENOVATIONS OR ORDINANCES, OR, ZONING REQUESTS BEING BLOCKED AT THE BOARD LEVEL AND AT THE CITY COUNCIL LEVEL. IT IS A HUGE ISSUE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T PROVIDE US WITH THE ABILITY TO GAIN THE REPRESENTATION THAT WE'RE REQUESTING. SO, JUST SOME THINGS FOR YOU GUYS TO THINK ABOUT, IF YOU COULD PLEASE GO BACK AND LOOK AT OUR BOARD MEMBERS, PARTICULARLY, MAY BE, THE MAYOR SINCE HE'S THE ONE APPOINTING THEM AND HE'S THE ONE APPROVALING THEM. WHEN I SAY IGNORANT, I IN KNOW WAY MEANING IT TO BE DISRESPECTFUL. BUT, YOU HAVE BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE EXTREMELY IGNORANT IN WHAT'S GOING ON IN ORDINANCES BUT ALSO OUR TAX DOLLARS. ANOTHER ISSUE THAT CAME UP IN THE PARKS AND RECS MEETING IS THAT WE ARE LENDING OUT LAND. NOT WAY UP OF YOUR BOARD MEMBERS KNEW THAT, BUT, YET INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE REQUESTING TO BE ON THE AGENDAS FOR THOSE PARTICULAR MEETINGS ARE BEING DENIED THAT REQUEST.
AND THEY'RE EXTREMELY INFORMED ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH NOT ONLY THE LOCAL PARKS, BUT, ALSO WHERE THE MONEYS ARE BEING ALLOCATED.
SO, WE'RE GOING TO, AGAIN, REQUEST THAT THE RENOVATIONS WE REQUESTED THREE YEARS AGO, THAT DAVID PITMAN HAS BEEN SITTING ON FOR THREE YEARS, BE ALLOCATED TOWARDS SEARS PARK AND BE PLACED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. I'M IN THE SURE HAD IF YOU CAN REMEMBER, BUT IT WAS $1.75 MILLION OF RENOVATIONS BEING REQUESTED ON SEARS PARK. I'M GOING TO ASK THAT IT BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA AT THE PARKS AND REC'S BOARD AND ALSO,
THE CITY COUNCIL. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THIS MORNING IN THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD? >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL, BRANDT FISHER, I LIVE JUST OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS OF ABILENE, TEXAS. I WANTED TO SPEAK BRIEFLY JUST ON THE PROCESS THAT WE'VE HAD WITH YOU GUYS SINCE MAY, WORKING WITH THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD AND WORKING WITH THE MAYOR ON THE DISCREPANCIES WE'VE HAD WITH THESE BOOKS FROM THE BEGINNING.
IT'S BEEN A LONG PROCESS. TO THIS POINT, WE HAD ONE BOOK EARLY ON REMOVED BY MR. HANNA, AND WE HAD 26 ADDITIONAL BOOKS THAT WENT BEFORE THE LIBRAR BOARD THAT A RECOMMENDATION WAS PROPOSED IN NOVEMBER, IT WAS TABLED AND THEN, ON DECEMBER 16TH, YOU GUYS UNANIMOUSLY PASSED THE RESOLUTION THAT TALKS ABOUT OBSCENE AND HARMFUL MATERIAL.
SO, THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD RECONVENED JUST A FEW WEEKS AGOND A WITH THAT NEW DEFINITION DID NOT MAKE CHANGES TO THEIR RECOMMENDATION THEY HAD PRIOR AND THEY FORWARDED THAT ONTO MR. HANNA, AND MR. HANNA MADE THAT DECISION WITHIN THE LAST WEEK, ALL OF THOSE THAT SENT IN RECONSIDERATION REQUESTS RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE CITY STATING THAT NO ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN ON THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE BOOKS, THERE WERE A HANDFUL MOVED ACROSS THE I'LL TO THE ADULT SECTION. OF THE MORE MINOR BOOKS. I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE RESOLUTION JUST TO REFRESH OUR MEMORY. WHAT WAS PASSED WAS THE RESOLUTION TO STRICTLY PROHIBIT THE DISPLAY PROMOTION OR AVAILABILITY OF OBSCENE MATERIAL OR PERFORMANCE OF ANY HARMFUL MATERIAL AT OR WITHIN THE ABILENE PUBLIC LIBRARY, MAKING IT THE POLICY THAT THE CITY OF ABILENE, THAT THE CITY MANAGER NOR ANY EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY MAY ALLOW OR AUTHORIZE THE DISPLAY PROMOTION OR VIABILITY OF OBSCENE MATERIAL AS DEFINED BY THE TEXAS PENAL CODE 42.4. THAT PENAL CODE DOES NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT MINORS FOR OBSCENE. IT DOES FOR HARMFUL. OKAY. SO, TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO READ AND WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU IMAGES OF BOOKS THAT YOU DECIDE WETHER OR NOT THEY MEET THAT DEFINITION. AND I'LL GIVE YOU THE DEFINITION THAT CAME BEFORE YOU GUYS ON THE SLIDE THAT YOU COULD LOOK UP THAT OBSCENE MATERIAL ACCORDING TO 43.21 MEANS OBSCENE PERFORMANCE OR
[00:20:03]
MATERIAL THAT THE AVERAGE PERSON APPLYING CONTEMPORARY COMMUNITY STANDARDS WOULD FIND THAT TAKEN AS A WHOLE, APPEALS TO THE PURENT INTEREST IN SEX, DEPIBLTHS OR DESCRIBES PATENTLY OFFENSIVE REPRESENTATIONS SUCH AS SEXUAL INTERCOURSE, SODOMY, SEXUAL BESTIALITY, MASTERBATION, SAIDISM, IT TALKS ALSO ABOUT USING TOYS AND ALL OF THESE, WHICH WILL BE DISPLAYED. IF THERE ARE ANY CHILDREN IN THE ROOM, I WOULD ASK YOU TO LEAVE BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO DISPLAY FROM THESE IMAGES AND READ FROM THE BOOKS. IF YOU DON'T WANT YOUR KIDS TO HEAR THEM. I JUST WANT TO REFRESH YOU, I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS, BUT, PLEASE, ASK THE QUESTION, IS THIS STUFF OBJECT STEIN AND HARMFUL, IS IT PORNOGRAPHY, WOULD YOU WATCH IT, WE'RE NOT CRAZY, WE'RE ASKING YOU TO DO WHAT YOU SAID.>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: WE'RE STILL IN PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
>> GOOD MORNING, I'M JAY CLARK FROM ABILENE, TEXAS. I WANT TO READ SOME TIDBITS FROM THE BOOK CALLED "LUCKY". AND I WANT TO ASK YOU HOW THIS MATERIAL IS NOT DEEMED HARMFUL ON THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU PASSED ON DECEMBER 14TH. AGAIN, WE ASK
CHILDREN TO LEAVE THE ROOM. >> YOU'RE THE WORST BITCH I'VE EVER DONE THIS TO, HE SAID. I'M A FOSTER CHILD, SHE SAID, I DON'T KNOW WHO MY PARENTS ARE, PLEASE DON'T DO THIS, I SAID.
HE SAID LIE DOWN. HE CALLED ME BITCH, HE TOLD ME I WAS DRY, I'M SORRY, I NEVER STOPPED APOLOGIZING, HE SAID. STOP LOOKING AT ME, IT SHUT YOUR EYES. I STARED HARDER THAN EVER AT HIM, HE BEGAN TO KNEAD HIS FIST AGAINST THE OPENING OF MY VAGINA, INSERTED HIS FINGERS INTO THREE OR FOUR TIMES, SOMETHING SORE, I BEGAN TO BLEED THERE, I WAS WET NOW, IT MADE HIM EXCITED. HE WAS INTRIGUED AS HE WORKED HIS WHOLE FIRST UP INTO MY VAGINA AND PUMPED IT. I WENT INTO MY BRAIN. STOP STARING AT ME, HE SAID. HE LIKED THIS, HE STARTED HUMPING AGAIN WHILE THE BASE OF MY SPINE WAS CRUSHED INTO THE GROUND, GLASS CUT ME IN BEHIND, HE KNEELED MY BACK, RAISE YOUR LEGS, HE SAID, SPREAD THEM. HE WAS STANDING NOW AND I WAS ON THE GROUND TRYING TO SEARCH AMONG THE FILTH FOR MY CLOTHES.
I WANT A BLOW JOB. HE HELD HIS DICK IN HIS HAND, I DON'T KNOW HOW, HE SAID. WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T KNOW HOW. I'VE NEVER DONE IT BEFORE, I'M A VIRGIN. IT WAS SMALL, HOT, CLAMMY AND THROBED INVOLUNTARILY AT MY TOUCH, HE SHOVED MY HEAD FORWARD AND HE PUT IT IN. I SUCKED IT HARD, NOT LIKE THAT, HE SAID, AND BROUGHT MY HEAD AWAY. DON'T YOU KNOW HOW TO SUCK A DICK, NO, I TOLD YOU, I SAID, I'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE. BITCH, HE SAID, HE HELD IT WITH TWO FINGERS AND PEED ON ME. I DON'T NEED TO GO ANY FURTHER IN CONCLUSION, THE BOOK SEEMS TO IN MY OPINION SEEMS TO GLORIFY RAPE AND NOT. YOU CAN READ THIS, YOU COULD READ THE BOOK YOURSELVES. AGAIN, I WOULD ASK YOU HOW ASK THIS MATERIAL NOT DEEMED OBSCENE OR HARMFUL AS DEFINED BY THE RESOLUTION YOU PASSED ON DECEMBER 15TH? THANK YOU.
>> >> GOOD MORNING, I'M ERIC BANKS AND I LIVE IN ABILENE.
I'M READING FROM A HAND MAIDEN'S TAIL INGRAPHIC MODEL. THIS BOOK IS IS IN PAGE 34, THE ILLUSTRATION DEPICTS A SO MANIED IN VIEW OF TWO INDIVIDUALS WITH CLOTHS AROUND THEIR HEADS HANG BY A NOOSE AROUND THEIR NECKS. THE ILLUSTRATION ON THE RIGHT OF THE PAGE DEPICTS A PICTURUR PAPAGE 42, OPEN UP, HONEY, I COD HELP YOU. WHAT? I CAN HELP YOU, I'VE HELPED OTHERS. HELP ME
[00:25:01]
NOW, HOW DO YOU THINK. THE ILLUSTRATION DEPICTS A MALE DOCTOR PULLING THE PINK BLANKET UP AND DEPICTS A GLOVED HAND GRASPING. PAGE 62, I COMMITTED ABORTION, I WAS RAPED, I WAS 14, A GROUP OF MEN, BUT, WHOSE FAULT WAS IT. WOMEN SITTING AT DESK SAYING, HER FAULT, HER FAULT, HER FAULT, WHO LED THEM ON? THE WOMEN ARE SAYING, SHE DID, SHE DID, SHE DID. PAGE 101, THE I WILL ILLUSTRATION. THERE'S A NUDE WOMAN. SHE HAS A COLLAR AROUND HER NECK WITH A CHAINED LEASH. A MAN'S SHOES AND PANTS ARE PICTURED IN FRONT OF THE WATER BOWL. ANOTHER WOMEN'S TORSO IS SHOWN WITH HER DRESS PULLED UP ABOVE HER HIPBONES A KNIFE IS BEING HELD TO HADAR TORSO JUST UNDER HER LEFT BREAST. ANOTHER ILLUSTRATION SHOWS A ZOOMED IN VIEW. HER HEAD IS UP TURNED WITH HER EYES CLOSED HER GUN IS PLACED ON HER MOUTH WITH A FINGER ON THE TRIGGER. ANOTHER WOMAN IS SHOWN LAYING ON HER SIDE WITH HER HANDS TIED BEHIND HER BACK AND HER HANDS TAPED. HER EYES ARE WIDE. THERE'S ANOTHER WOMEN LAYING ON HER BACK, BREAST EXPOSED, SHE HAS PANTIES AND STOCKINGS ON, THERE'S A POOL OF BL BOARD UNDERNEATH HER TORSO. THE MAN IS NUDE FROM THE WASTE DOWN AND ANOTHER WOMAN IS SITTING BEHIND THE FIRST WOMAN'S HEAD HOLDING THE WOMAN'S HANDS BEHIND HER HEAD. THIS IS A SMALL SAMPLES OUT OF HAND MAIDEN'S TALE. THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD RECOMMENDED PLACING THIS BOOK BACK ON THE SHELVES WHICH THE CITY MANAGER DID. MR. PRICE IN THE DECEMBER 15TH MEETING YOU SAID THERE'LL BE ACCOUNTABILITY. MR. MCALISTER IN THAT SAME MEETING, YOU SAID NO ONE WANTED PORN IN OUR LIBRARY, BUT, HERE IT IS. THIS IS OBSCENE, IT'S PATENTLY OFFENSIVE, BUT OUR MINORS HAVE ACCESS TO IT. THANK YOU.>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: >> GOOD MORNING, I'M JOE BINGES AND I'M A RESERVATION DENT OF ABILENE. I'M READING FROM THE BOOK "YOLK". PAGE 2 # 5, I GET IT, DON'T TAKE YOUR JOHNSON OUT AND START WHACKING OFF IN FRONT OF THE LADIES, PARDON THE VULGARITY. BUT, WHY WOULDN'T SHE TAKE A POSITION WITH A DEAR FRIEND WHO CAN HELP HER OUT? PAGE 301: I HAVEN'T HAD SEX IN MONTHS, AND IMI'M EFFIN RELIEVE THIS NOMADIC THRUSTING. PAGE 296: ALL I CAN THINK WHILE HIS HANDS ARE GROPING MY BREASTS WAS THAT I HOPED I WOULDN'T GO FOR MY PANTS, I HEARD THAT YOU COULD CONTRACT TETANUS IN OUR SIR VICES IF YOU GOT FINGERED BY A GUY WITH DIRTY FINGER NAILS, I TRIED TO CHECK HIS NAILS BUT IT WAS DARK AND WHEN HE SWITCHED FROM SUCKING ON MY NECK AND EVEN IF THEY DON'T WANT TO. IT WAS SURREAL, WHEN HE TOOK MY HAND AND GUIDED IT TO MY FLY. IT WAS I WAS SHOCKED BY HOW SUDDENLY I WAS TOUCHING HOLLAND D HOW HOT T IT WAS NOT UNLIKE PETTING AN UNSEEN CAT, WHEN THE SPURT OF OOZE LANDED ON MY HAND, IT GLASS ENNED AS I COOLED. I COULDN'T TELL IF I WAS SICK FROM GIDDINESS, OR LOATHING, I KNEW THIS WAS THE PART I WOULDN'T TELL ANYBODY ABOUT. I CHECKED MY OWN FINGER NAILS, THEY WERE CLEAN. PAGE 301, I TRY NOT TO ENVISION MY SISTERS NAKED BODY SQUIRMING UNDER SOME FINANCIAL DOUCHE AND FAIL. PAGE 206, I GOT TO GET KNOCKED THE F UP RIGHT NOW, OKAY. I RAISE MINE TO YOU, CONCEIVING, HOWEVER BRIEFLY AT YOUR SECRET
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HYSTERECTOMY PARTY. WITH CLINK GLASSES AND TO THE SCIENCE FICTION HORROR, SHOW OFF ME GIVING BIRTH TO MY OWN UTERUS AND OVARIES. BUT, HAVING SEX WITH A STRANGER IS EFFIN WEIRD.PAGE 150: JANE IS A CHINK SLUT.
>> PAGE 322: I STARTED HOOKING UP WITH THIS GRIFTER WHO MOVED INTO MY APARTMENT AND HE FN A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER
PEOPLE. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: THANK YOU,
SO MUCH, YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS PATRICK BAT TON, I STILL LIFE AT 1134 PARK AVENUE. I'M GOING TO START BY READING SOMETHING NOT QUITE SO BAD, I'M GOING TO READ FROM THE ABILENE REPORTER NEWS YESTERDAY.
THE BOYS, WHILE HE EDGES, ABILENE HIGH, WILILY BEETS ABILENE HIGH 1-0. NO BIG DEAL, RIGHT? MCALISTER, YOU REFED THAT GAME, DID WILILY BEAT ABILENE HIGH?
>> NO. >> NO THEY DIDN'T. ABILENE REPORTER NEWS PUTS IT IN PRINT, DOES THAT MAKE IT RIGHT BECAUSE WE HAVE SOMETHING IN PRINT, SOMEBODY PUBLISHES IT? DOES THAT MAKE IT OKAY. DECEMBER 15TH, QUOTE FROM KYLE MCALISTER, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IN HERE WANTS TO EXPOSE OUR KIDS TO PORNOGRAPHY OR OBSCENITY. AND THAT'S WHERE THIS, TALKING ABOUT THE RESOLUTION IS DESIGNED TO DO. IT FOCUSES ON PROTECTING OUR KIDS FROM OBSCENITIES. NOT MAKING IT ACCESSIBLE TO MINORS, REMOVING PUT UP BARRIERS TO PROTECT OUR KIS FROM OBSCENITIES. I KNOW KYLE MCALISTER, AND I BELIEVE 100% THAT WHAT HE SAID, ON DECEMBER 15TH HE MEANT.
DECEMBER 15TH, SHANE PRICE, I KNOW MR. PRICE, HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS RESOLUTION, SOME PEOPLE SAID MYSELF INCLUDED THAT IT LACKED TEETH. THE RESOLUTION, AND THIS IS A QUOTE IS A DIRECTIVE TO THE CITY MANAGER ON BEHALF OF STAFF AND IT CLEARLY STATES OUR EXPECTATION IN THE TRUTH THERE IS THAT ROBERT KNOWS AND SAYS, I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT. HE'S MAKING A CHOICE OF PERSONAL STANCE VERSUS THE JOB POSITION AND SO, THERE ARE TEETH IN THAT WE HAVE CLEARLY STATED THE EXPECTATIONS FOR STAFF THROUGH ROBERT. TALKING ABOUT LAWSUITS.
SHANE PRICE SAYS, WE COULD BE SUED OVER ANYTHING, BUT, WE ARE CLEARLY STATING HERE IS THAT THIS IS A STATE PENAL CODE AND WE'RE FOLLOWING STATE PENAL CODE. TALKING ABOUT IN RAMPS TO THINGS BEING OBSCENE AND HARMFUL. QUOTE, SHANE PRICE: ROBERT IS THE CEO AND ULTIMATELY, RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. I'M GOING TO BE READING FROM "THIS BOOK IS GAY". AND IT'S OKAY, THE TRUTH IS, IF I RUN OUT OF TIME, I'M GAY MAN HAVE LONGER AND THICKER WINKIES, EXCELLENT, SO, WE HAVE BIGGER DICKS AND WE'RE HORNIER, THINK ABOUT IT, KNOW WHAT GAY MEN LIKE, BIG HAIRY MEN WITH BIG PECKERS. HERE WE CAN ENCOURAGE KIDS, THIS IS FOR KIDS HOW THE SEX APPS WORK, UP LOAD A TINY PICK OF MYSELF. IT'S OKAY, I'LL BE BACK AT THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO CONTINUE TO READ. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK
YOU, MR. HANNA. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: IS THERE
ANYBODY ELSE? >> I'M CONNIE HOWARD AND I LIVE IN ABILENE, TEXAS. I HAVE WORDS OUT OF A BOOK CALLED "FOUL IS FAIR". THIS IS THE BOOK SUMMARY, A 16-YEAR-OLD GIRL SEEKS REVENGE FOR HAVING BEEN RAPED AT A PARTY WHILE OTHERS WATCHED. I'M NOT GOING TO READ ALL THE WORDS THAT ARE IN HERE, THEY'RE VERY OFFENSIVE. I DON'T USE THE F-WORD, IT'S NOT IN MY V VOCABULARY, I KNOW IT. AND I'M GOING TO SAY IT JUST HOW IT IS. THE WORD, FUCK IS IN THIS BOOK
[00:35:03]
181 TIMES. BITCH IS IN HERE 35 TIMES. AND, THE LADY THAT SPOKE FROM THE LIBRARY, I'M NOT WANT WANTING TO CENSOR BOOKS, I'M WANTING CHILDREN NOT TO BE EXPOSED AT YOUNG AGES TO SUCH TRASH, IT WASN'T IN A LIBRARY WHEN I WENT TO SCHOOL, AS A MATTER OF FACT, BOOKS WERE PUT OUT FOR PARENTS TO GO THROUGH BEFORE EVER BEING PUT ON THE SHELVES, AND NOW WE'RE BLATANTLY HIDING IT. SHE QUOTES JESUS, OKAY. WELL, LET ME QUOTE JESUS, BECAUSE, THE WORST THING YOU COULD DO IS TO COME AGAINST GOD'S CHILDREN. AND THIS IS A FIGHT FOR THE CHILDREN'S MINDS AND SOULS. AND, PHILOSOPHY 101, THEY TEACH YOU THAT SOME OF THE GREATEST PHILOSOPHERS SAID YOU CHANGE A GENERATION BY STARTING WITH THE YOUNG IN THE MOVIES THEY SEE, THE BOOKS THEY READ. THEY'RE EXPOSED TO IT AND THEN YOU CONDITION THEM. YOU CONDITION THEM TO MAKE THEM BELIEVE THAT TEST OKAY TO BE RAPED. IT'S OKAY FOR A MAN FOR A MAN TO WANT YOU TO PERFORM ORAL SEX. IT'S NOT OKAY. SEX IS TO BE A BEAUTIFUL THING THAT GOD CREATED BETWEEN A MAN A WOMAN. I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE LGBTQ WHATEVER ALL THE INITIAL ARE, THAT'S YOUR PREROGATIVE I'M NOT AGAINST WHAT YOU DO. THAT'S YOUR PRIVILEGE, BUT, YOU'RE NOT A SPECIAL SET OF PEOPLE. IT IS HOW YOU PREFER SEX. LET'S GET DOWN TO WHAT IT IS. AND WE'RE PUTTING IT BLATANTLY IN BOOKS. NOW, THIS, THIS GIRL'S BEEN RAPED AND THIS IS ON PAGE 316. I SAY WE'RE NOTHING TO EACH OTHER, I'M JUST A GIRL YOU WANTED TO FUCK. YOU'RE JUST A BOY I LET FUCK ME BECAUSE I WANTED TO SEE HOW MANY OF YOUR FRIENDS I CAN MAKE YOU KILL. SO, NOW WE'RE BRINGING IN WE'REGOING TO KILL. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: THANK YOU.
>> DON'T YOU THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH OF THAT. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: >> I'M DR. RICHARD SANDERS, PH.D. I'M A RESERVA RESIDENT OF ABILENE, A BUSINESSMAN AND A REFUGEE FROM CALIFORNIA. I'M A HATER. I'M PART OF A GROUP LABELLED AS HATERS BECAUSE OF MISUNDERSTANDING OUR PURPOSES AND JUMPING TO UNFOUNDED CONCLUSIONS. BUT, I AM A HATER. QUITE AWHILE AGO, A FELLOW NAMED JESUS SAID, YOU CAN'T SERVE TWO MASTERS, YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE THE OTHER AND HATE THE OTHER, YOU CAN NOT SERVE GOD AND SATAN AT THE SAME TIME. DILLON ALSO SAID THE SAME THING, YOU GOT TO SERVE SOMEBODY, IT MAY BE THE DEVIL OR THE LORD BUT YOU GOT TO SERVE SOMEBODY. SO, ACCORDING TO JESUS, WE'RE ALL HATERS, THOSE OF US ALIGNED WITH JESUS HATE THE DEVIL AND VICE VERSA.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS I HATE. I HATE THE RISE OF IN YOUR FACE SATANIC ACTIVITY AND WORSHIP. I HATE WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THIS COUNTRY. I HATE THE LACK OF JUSTICE THESE EVIL JUDGES WEAPONIZE AGENCIES LIKE THE FBI, THE DOA, THE C.D.C. AND ALL THE REST OF THEM. I HATE THE DEEP STATE'S WAR ON UKRAINE, IT'S A TAKE OVER OF OUR COUNTRY AND THE NATIONS AROUND THE WORLD. I HATE CENSORSHIP, I HATE LIARS. I HATE THE LOSS TILE TAKE OVER. SOCIAL MEDIA, CORRUPTION OF LEADERSHIP, I HATE BIG PHARMA, I HATE IT'S PUSH TO VACCINATE KIDS AND ADULTS WITH GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT, TO KILL US AND TO DESTROY OUR HEALTH. I HATE SEX TRAFFICKING. I HATE T SEX SLAVERY, I HATE THE PEOPLE WHO BUY AND SELL SEX. I HATE CARTELS, MONEY-LAUNDERING, DRAWING TRATRAFFICKING AND PORNOGRAPHY. I HATE THE BOOK "ALL BOYS AIN'T BLUE". AND I'LL READ THIS. AS WE KISSED, HE BEGAN UNZIPPING MY PANTS, IT WAS
[00:40:02]
CLEAR TO ME IN THIS MOMENT THAT HE WASN'T NEW TO THIS, HE REACHED HIS HAND DOWN AND PULLED OUT MY DICK, AND QUICKLY WENT TO GIVING ME HEAD. I JUST SAT BACK AND ENJOYED AS I CAN TELL HE WAS TOO. HE WAS ALSO DEFINITELY EXPERIENCED IN WHAT HE WAS DOING BECAUSE HE WENT TO WORK QUITE CONFIDENTLY. HE THEN CAME UP AND ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO TRY IT ON HIM. I SAID SURE, I BEGAN, HE SAID, WATCH YOUR TEETH. FOR THE FIRST FEW MINUTES WE DRY-HUMPED AND GRINDED. I DON'T NEED TO READ ANYMORE OF THIS. 71 YEARS OF LIFE, I'VE NEVER HAD TO READ THAT KIND OF MATERIAL, NEVER WANTED TO, NEVER NEED IT HAD INMY LIBRARIES. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: IS THERE
ANYONE ELSE? >> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS THOMAS INGLE MIRE AND I'M A RESERVATION OF ABILENE. THIS IS A PICTURE FROM 313, "QUEER A GRAPHIC STORY". TELL ME HOW THAT IS NOT PORNOGRAPHY? YOU HAVE A WOMAN WITH SOME KIND OF STRAP-ON DEVICE ON HER KNEES BEHIND A MAN ON ALL FOURS, I THINK THAT WE COULD UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON THERE. HOW IS THAT NOT PORNOGRAPHIC BY OUR OWN RESOLUTION. I APPRECIATE THE TIME. I KNOW THERE ARE SOME OF YOU HOPING THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO AWAY. AND I CAN'T SAY SPEAK FOR ANYBODY ELSE, BUT I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF, I'M NOT GOING AWAY. THIS HAS GOT TO STOP.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: ANYONE
ELSE? >> HELLO, I'M ELIZABETH AND I LIVE INSIDE ABILENE. IF WE TAKE THE DEFINITION OF OBSCENITY THAT WAS READ TODAY. THEN EVERY PERSON THAT HELD UP THESE BOOKS WAS COMMITTED A CLASS C MISDEMEANOR. THE OBSCENE MATERIAL ALSO WHEN TAKEN AS A WHOLE HAS TO LACK SERIOUS LITERARY, ARTISTIC, POLITICAL OR SCIENTIFIC VALUE. THAT IS THE IMPORTANT PART HERE, I'LL USE THE MOST POPULAR BOOK THAT I HEARD THEM READ SO FAR "HAND MAID'S TALE". IT HAS POLITICAL VALUE, IT IS AN IMPORTANT POLITICAL STATEMENT IN BOOK FORM. AND ALL OF THESE BOOKS HAVE SOME KIND OF ARTISTIC OR LITERARY OR POLITICAL VALUE THAT MAKE THEM NOT OBSCENE AND MAKE THEM IMPORTANT TO HAVE IN OUR LIBRARIES. OUR POLICIES ARE BEING FOLLOWED. THE POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED HERE, ACCEPTED IN THE LIBRARY VOICERY BOARD MEETINGS, PUT IN PLACE BY YOU AND THE LIBRARY, THOSE POLICIES ARE BEING FOLLOWED.
JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T LIKE THE OUTCOME DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE POLICIES ARE WRONG WHEN OR THAT WE NEED TO MAKE A FIT ABOUT IT.
WHEN THE BOOK WAS REMOVED IN THE SUMMER, I WAS NOT PLEASED I'M NOT GOING TO YELL AT Y'ALL, THESE POLLVIES ARE GOOD POLICIES AND WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO FOLLOW EM. IT ALL REALLY COMES DOWN TO THIS. CHILDREN NEED TO BE PARENTED IN THE LIBRARY BY THEIR PARENTS NOT THE LIBRARIANS. LAST I HEARD, WE HAD CREATED A JUVENILE LIBRARY CARD AND NO ONE HAD TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THIS RESOURCE, AND I THINK IF THE PARENTS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RESOURCES THAT Y'ALL HAVE CREATED AND THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD HAVE CREATED. THEN KEEP THEIR CHILDREN FROM THINGS THEY DON'T DEEM APPROPRIATE. OUR LIBRARIANS DO NOT DESERVE THE ATTACKS THAT THEY'VE BEEN GETTING OVER THE PAST NINE MONTHS AND EVEN TODAY. OUR LIBRARIANS DO A GREAT JOB AND THEY SHOULD BE RESPECTED FOR THAT JOB AND WE SHOULD SUPPORT THEM AND NOT STAND UP HERE AND ACCUSE THEM OF CORRUPTING OUR CHILDREN. I'LL SAY THIS AGAIN, IF WE REMOVED EVERY SINGLE BOOK IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES THAT OFFENDS ONE PERSON, FIVE PEOPLE, WE'RE GOING TO END UP WITH AN EMPTY ROOM WITH TWO BOOKS, THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IS THERE FOR EVERYONE AND REPRESENT EVERYONE. AND SO FAR, THESE POLICIES ARE EXCELLENT AND AS LONG AS THEY'RE FOLLOWED I THINK IT WILL CREATE A LIBRARY TO THE COMMUNITY.
>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: WE WOULD LIKE EVERYBODY TO DIRECT ALL COMMENTS TO COUNCIL. I WOULD LIKE TO DISCOURAGE YOU FROM CLAPPING, WE HAVE AN INTERPRETER AND THAT CREATES ISSUES IN REGARDS TO THEIR ABILITY TO ADEQUATELY COMMUNICATE. PLEASE, DIRECT YOUR COMMENTS TO US, AND PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE, YOU
[00:45:03]
COULD PAT BACKS AND SHAKE HANDS IN THE FOYER, AFTERWARDS. AMEN.ANYBODY ELSE? >> MY NAME IS REBECCA GINGRICH.
I PARTICIPATED IN REVIEWS QUITE A FEW OF THE BOOKS. THE ONE THAT THE FORMER CITIZEN INDICATED, I READ THAT AND I WAS TOLD THAT I DIDN'T TAKE THE WHOLE BOOK IN IT'S CONTEXT, I DID. AND LOOKING AT THAT, UM, I'M SORRY, I'M NERVOUS AND MY HEART IS POUNDING BECAUSE HEARING ALL OF THIS, QUITE FRANKLY STRESSES ME OUT TREMENDOUSLY. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT IT'S DOING TO OUR CHILDREN AND I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST, I KNOW THAT 19 HAS BEEN REMOVED, THANK YOU FOR DOING SO, I WOULD ASK THAT NUMBER 15, THAT YOU WOULD REMOVE THAT HAPPEN FOR HOPLA, ONE OF THE BOOKS THAT GOES DIRECTLY TO HOOPLA IS "TRICKS". I KNOW THAT WHEN YOU GO ON TO THE WEBSITE WHICH IS SPONSORED BY THE ABILENE PUBLIC LIBRARY, THERE NO RESTRICTION FOR MINORS, I REACHED OUT TO ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER AND VOICED MY CONCERN. AND KINDLY THEY REACHED OUT AND THE LIBRARIANS INDICATED THERE WERE PARENTAL CONTROLS. I HAD SENT SCREEN SHOTS AND THE PARENTAL CONTROLS ARE FOR 12 AND OTHER, SO, ANYBODY ABOVE THAT CAN READ ANYTHING THAT POPS UP ON HOOPLA.
AND IT DOESN'T ALLOW THE PARENTS TO SCREEN TO KNOW WHAT THE HECK WAS GOING ON BECAUSE THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND. I HAVE TO SAY TO THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER, THIS IS NOT AGAINST LGBTQ, BECAUSE, QUITE FRANKLY, GOD HAS MADE EVERY ONE OF US IN THE IMAGINE OF GOD. HE LOVES EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US. THIS IS NOT ABOUT THAT COMMUNITY, IT'S ABOUT THE FACT THAT OUR KIDS ARE BEING EXPOSED TO A SEXUAL NATURE IN AN AGE GROUP WHERE THEY PHYSIOLOGICAL CAN'T PROCESS THIS INFORMATION. AND IT REALLY DOES LEAVE SCARRING FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. THIS BOOK, "TRICKS" CONTAINS SEXUAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING CHILD RAPE AND ABUSE. THERE IS NO RESTRICTION BECAUSE ANYBODY CAN DOWNLOAD IT OR READ IT. AND I WANT TO BRING TO MIND, WE DO HAVE POSTERS OF SOMETHING CALLED "KITE RUNNER". I WANT TO BE SURE THAT WHAT UNDERSTAND WHAT A GRAPHIC NOVEL IS. I DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT A GRAPHIC NOVEL WAS UNTIL I FOUND ALL OF THESE IMAGES, QUITE FRANKLY, WE'RE MAKING IT FUN, WE'RE MAKING IT LIKE, HEY, CHECK THIS OUT, THIS IS LIKE A COMIC BOOK TO THE LITTLE ONES SAYING THIS IS COOL THIS IS NEAT. IT ISN'T, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT SEX, HOW DO IT, WHERE IT PUT IT. I PERSONALLY CAN'T GO THAT ROAD, AND I DON'T WANT OUR YOUTH TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY. PLEASE MAKE IT TRANSPARENT TO
OUR PARENTS. >> I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE MARKED TO EVERYBODY. I NEVER RECEIVED AN E-MAIL, NEITHER DID MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH LIBRARY CARDS.
>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: THANK YOU, SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. >> I'M TAMMY FOGLE, I'M A RESIDENT OF ABILENE. THIS IS BLACK AND WHITE, IT'S CLEAR WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. BUT, AFTER READING MANY OF THESE BOOKS TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE WORTH BRINGING BEFORE YOU BECAUSE OF THEIRGRAPHIC NATURE, I HAVE TO SAY AS AN ADULT WHO HAS A VERY STRONG FAITH AND UNDERSTANDING WHO HER GOD GIVEN IDENTITY IS, I WALKED IN A CLOUD OF DEPRESSION FOR TWO TO THREE DAYS. IA IMAGINE WHAT OUR MINORS ARE EXPERIENCING WHEN THEY READ THIS STUFF AND NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT IT. IT EFFECTS WHO YOU ARE, AND IT SHIFTS AND CHANGES THE WAY THAT YOU FEEL ABOUT YOURSELF AND PERCEIVE LIFE. AND AS PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GIVE HOPE, THIS IS THE OPPOSITE OF THAT AND IT DOES NOT GIVE THEM A PATH FORWARD IN RESOLVING SOME OF THE IDENTITY STRUGGLES OUR TEENS ARE FACING. AND MIND YOU, NONE OF THE BOOKS THAT HAVE BEEN READ TODAY OR FOR ANYTHING 13 AND OLDER. THIS IS 13-17-YEAR-OLD,
[00:50:05]
THIS IS NOT ADDRESSED BY HOOPLA, AND NOT ADDRESSED BY ANY PROTECTIONS FACED TO OUR CHILDREN. AS IT'S BEEN MENTIONED, KYLE, I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE TRUE WHEN YOU SAY YOU DON'T WANT OUR KIDS EXPOSED TO THIS. NOBODY WANTS OUR KIDS EXPOSED TO PORNOGRAPHY. I BELIEVE SEX TRAFFICKING FITS THAT DEFINITION OF OBSCENE MATERIALS AND WHEN WE EXPOSE OUR KIDS TO SEX TRAFFICKING AND THE ABUSE, THEIR VICTIMS SUFFER, IT FITS THE DEFINITION OF OBSCENE. THE DEFINITION HAS ALREADY BEEN CLEARLY STATED WHAT OBSCENE IS, AND WE WERE TOLD, AS ALREADY STATED THAT THIS RESOLUTION HAS TEETH, AND AGAIN, I'M SORRY, I'M NERVOUS, BECAUSE, I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS. BUT, IT HAS TO BE DONE. TWO WEEKS AGO, THE LAB, THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BARD AGREED THERE WAS NOTHING OBSCENE WITH THIS BOOK. I'VE PARKED ON THE OBSCENITIES IN THIS BOOK, OBSCENITIES BY THE DEFINITIONS PRESENTED BY YOUR RESOLUTION. AND ROBERT HANNA AGREED LAST WEEK THAT THIS BOOK DOES NOT MEET THE DEFINITIONS AND I'M GLAD THAT SHE BROUGHT UP THE EDUCATION PART, BECAUSE, THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH THE RESOLUTION. IF IT MEETS LITERARY AWARDS OR EDUCATIONAL. UNDERNEATH THE WEIGHT OF HIM, I CAN NOT SEE OR MOVE OR BREATH, HE FUMBLES WITH HIS PANTS AND FORCES MY LEGS APART, I GRASP FOR AIR AND KICK AND SCREAM. THAT'S A 13-YEAR-OLD BEING FORCED TO HAVE STEAKS BY A MAN. HE GRUNTS AND STRUGGLES, WITH SUDDEN THRUSTS AND I'M TORN IN TWO. I PLAY THE GODS MAKE THE HURTING GO AWAY. THERE'S A BUCKET OF WATER, BUT, NO MATTER HOW MUCH I WASH, I CAN NOT RINSE THE MEN FROM ME. I THINK THIS FITS THE THEME, THIS IS ON THE BOOK SHE HAVES FOR ANOTHER YEAR AND WE CAN'T RECONSIDER IT. THANK YOU, I'MSORRY FOR MY EMOTIONS. >> >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: IS
THERE ANYONE ELSE? >> JAMES SERGEANT, ABILENE RESIDENT. I WASN'T PLANNING ON SHARING THIS MORNING. BUT, THIS IS A TOPIC IN WHICH Y'ALL KNOW I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN AND SPOKEN ABOUT BEFORE. SO YOU ALL KNOW THAT OBSCENE DEFINITION MEANS MATERIAL PERFORMANCE THAT AN AVERAGE PERSON OR THE ARCH PERSON APPLYING CONTEMPORARY COMMUNITY STANDARDS WITH THE FIND THAT TAKEN AS A WHOLE APPEALS TO APPARENT INTEREST IN SEX. I'VE SHARED THAT MY WIFE AND I FOSTER, AND FIVE WEEKS AGO WE BROUGHT IN ANOTHER CHILD, A 4-YEAR-OLD. I'VE ALSO SHARED OPENLY THAT IN MY PAST, I WAS A VICTIM OF SEXUAL MOLESTATION, IN MY CHILDHOOD. IS THIS THE STANDARDS Y'ALL ARE WILLING TO SET FOR OUR COMMUNITY? THAT Y'ALL ARE WILLING TO PASS AS CONTEMPORARY COMMUNITY STANDARDS, THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE FOR Y'ALL. I BELIEVE IN Y'ALL. I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY, I BELIEVE IN THIS CITY. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMMEMBER CITY MANAGER, IS THIS THE STANDARDS THAT THE AVERAGE PERSON IN ABILENE APPLYING CONTEMPORARY COMMUNITY STANDARDS WOULD SET TO ALLOW ACCESS FOR OUR CHILDREN. MY WIFE AND I ARE BATTLING TO HELP CHILDREN OVERCOME TRAUMA IN THEIR LIFE THAT THEY RECEIVED IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION IN A HOME THAT SHOULD PROTECT THEM AND LOVE THEM AND NURTURE THEM. AND WE CAN'T TAKE THEM TO THE LIBRARY FOR FEAR OF THEM COMING ACROSS THIS MATERIAL. AND TRUST ME, WE'RE HELICOPTER PARENTS, WE'RE RIGHT THERE WITH THEM. BUT, AS MUCH AS IT STIRS UP INSIDE OF ME WITH WHAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH AND WHAT I'VE HELPED OTHER PEOPLE GO THROUGH. I'M A VOLUNTEER CHAPTER IN A LOCAL PRIS ENHELPING GROWN MEN OVERCOME THE WOUNDS IN THEIR PAST THROUGH SOME OF THE SAME MATERIAL BEING DEPICTED IN THESE BOOKS ACCESSIBLE BY OUR CHILDREN. PLEASE HELP US
PROTECT THESE KIDS. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: ANYONE
[00:55:12]
ELSE? >> I'M ERICA BATON AND I'M A RESIDENT OF ABILENE. I WANT TO SAY THIS BOOK "FLAMER" IS ONE THAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT, AND I FIND THIS FOR OUR CHILDREN TO BE HURTFUL AND OFFENSIVE. AND CURRENTLY, IT IS WRITTEN FOR IT'S WRITTEN FOR YOUNG ADULTS, WHICH IS 12 AND UP. AND IT'S CURRENTLY ON OUR SHELF. TO ME, THIS IS OFFENSIVE AND HURTFUL FOR CHILDREN. I SEE WOW, THAT WAS WEIRD AND GROSS AND WRONG, BUT, I FEEL SO EXCITED. THIS, TO ME, FOR YOUNG CHILDREN, IS INAPPROPRIATE, BECAUSE IT HAS A CHILD IN IT, IF AN ADULT WANTS TO GET PORNOGRAPHY, AND IT'S AN ADULT DOING IT, THAT'S ONE THING, BUT, WHEN IT'S A CHILD DOING IT, THAT'S ILLEGAL, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN ANY WAY. THIS ONE RIGHT HERE, HERE'S A BOY, I DON'T KNOW HOW OLD, BETWEEN 8-10, HE SAYS, UH-OH I THINK I FIGURED OUT WHAT TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS IS. AND HE'S SITTING NEXT TO A HAIRY-LEGGED, RIGHT HERE, MAN, WITH HIS PANTS DOWN. IF YOU LOOK ON THE OTHER SIDE, HE'S GOT HIS PANTS DOWN. LOOMING OVER HIM IS ANOTHER PERSON IN THE ROOM. I GUESS HE'S FIGURED OUT WHAT TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS IS, HE LOOKS SCARED. HE DOESN'T LOOK, TO ME, THIS LOOKS HARMFUL FOR ANY CHILD TO HAVE. HERE'S LATER, WE'RE EACH BUSTING A LOAD IN THIS BOTTLE, IF YOU DON'T CUM, YOU HAVE TO DRINK IT. LOOK AT THIS SCARED BOY, IT LOOKS LIKE A MAN PUTTING HIS PANTS DOWN. THIS, TO ME, IS HARMFUL, IT HAS A CHILD IN IT, THIS ISN'T AN ADULT SITTING THERE, MAY BE THIS WAS A BOY OR A GIRL, MAY BE THIS WAS A L A LITTLE GIRL SITTING THERE, IT DOESN'T MATTER. TO ME, THIS IS OFFENSIVE AND HURTFUL, IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING GAY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, IT'S TOO HARMFUL TO OUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: IS THERE ANYONE ELSE?
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL, MY NAME IS MONICA WARN WALKER AND I'M A RESIDENT FROM ABILENE. QUOTES FROM BOOKS TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT CAN BE MADE TO SOUND EVIL. YOU CAN TAKE SNIPPETS FROM THE BIBLE CAN BE HORRIFYING. WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT IN CONTEXT, IT REFERENCES TO THE STORIES. IDEAS ARE POWERFUL, THAT'S WHY INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM IS PROTECTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT. BANS BOOKS CLOSES MINDS AND LIMITS WORLD VIEWS.
IT KEEPS CHILDREN FROM FINDING OTHERS WHO HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCES IN LIFE THAT THEY HAD. HISTORY HAS SHOWN US THAT BANNING BOOKS IS ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS TO DESTROYING DEMOCRACY. LET'S LEAVE THE DECISIONS ABOUT PURCHASING BOOKS TO THE EXPERTS, OUR LIBRARIANS AND THE DECISIONS ON WHICH CHILD GETS THEM OUT TO THE PARENTS. GROOMING DOES NOT HAPPEN FROM A BOOK. I'M TRULY SORRY THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH AND I COMMEND OUR WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN TO ALL OF O CONSTITUENTS AND NOT JUST A SMALL, VOCAL, MINORITY. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: ANYONE ELSE?
>> I'M RYAN GOODWIN. AND I'M NOT READING BOOKS, SO, YOU COULD LEAVE THAT CAMERA ON. YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR A LONG TIME. IT'S MAY, IF FEELS LIKE A YEAR THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE SAME SEXUAL MATERIAL IN OUR LIBRARY. WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT IT. WE HAVE DONE THING WITH THE INTERNET, WE
[01:00:04]
HAVE NEW CARDS AND WE HAVE THINGS GOING ON BUT WE STILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE MEANINGLESS IF WE STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM THAT WE'RE TRYING TO AVOID. I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS POOH WE NEED TO GO AFTER THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. YOU RAZE ALL THE BOOKS THAT WE'VE BROUGHT FORWARD HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED BY THE GROUP THAT ARE HERE WITH THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD. THE PEOPLE THAT WE APPOINTED HERE. MAYOR YOU PICKED THEM, EVERYBODY APPROVED THEM. AND THEY HAVE SAID THESE BOOKS ARE FINE. THE BOOK WE THREW OUT WAS FINE. THAT BOOK WAS TERRIBLE AND EVERYBODY KNEW IT. WE'RE SITTING HERE AND WHAT I'M FEELING THAT'S LACKING IS THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE WITH QUALIFICATIONS TO SERVE ON BOARDS BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE COMMON SENSE TO KNOW WHAT'S GOOD FOR CHILDREN. SEE, I KNOW THAT THAT SOUNDS STRONG, BUT, THE THINGS THAT YOU HEARD TODAY, ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED TODAY, RAPE OF MINORS IS UNACCEPTABLE TO BE IN OUR LIBRARY, ANYTHING WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH THAT AND GETTING TO SEE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND LEARNING PLAY-BY-PLAYS HOW TO DO IT, IS UNACCEPTABLE IN OUR LIBRARIES. WE ASKED FOR EX-SEWELLY EXPLICIT CONTENT.THIS IS WHY I BROUGHT FORWARD THIS ORDINANCE. I WASN'T LOOKING AT LGBTQ, IN FACT, I DIDN'T TOUCH ANYTHING BUT THE NAME. WHAT I WENT TO IS I SAID I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS, I WANT SOMETHING WITH TEETH THAT CAN DO THINGS. TODAY WE'RE FINDING OUT THAT THE ACTIONS MADE AREN'T REALLY BEING REPRESENTED WELL, WE'RE SEEING THE RESOLUTION NEEDS WORK. WHEN YOU SAID THAT WE WOULD WORK TOGETHER THAT WE COULD MAKE IMPROVEMENTS AS WE GO, SO, WHAT I'M ASKING AND I KNOW THAT I KEEP ON HAVING TO TALK ABOUT THESE SOCIAL ISSUES. I DON'T LIKE DOING IT. BUT WE NEED TO STOP AVOIDING THEM. IT'S TIME TO ADDRESS WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR LIBRARY, IT'S TIME TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIAL THAT OUR 17-YEAR-OLDS AND YOUNGER GET TO SEE. WHY DO WE HAVE BOOKS WHICH ARE CARTOON IN OUR LIBRARY THAT HAVE THESE IMAGES, WHO ARE CARTOONS GEARED FOR? I'M ASKING YOU GUYS, LET'S JUST TAKE CARE OF IT. MR. MAYOR, WE SAT DOWN AND MET YOU IN A CONFERENCE ROOM. WE HAD TOO BIG OF A CROWD AND HAD TO GO DOWNSTAIRS TO ANOTHER CONFERENCE ROOM. REMEMBER THAT? WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR A REAL LONG TIME AND IT'S TIME TO DEAL WITH IT. I'M ASKING YOU TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET THIS DONE AND FIGURE IT OUT AND CLEAN UP OUR LIBRARY. LET'S PUT PEOPLE ON THESE BOARDS THAT REPRESENT OUR CHILDREN, TOO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: IS THERE
ANYONE ELSE? >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: WE'LL
CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. >> MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY
SOME THINGS IF I MAY. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: OKAY.
>> LUCKY IS IN THE ADULT NON-FICTION SECTION. HANDMAID'S TALE IS IN THE ADULTGRAPHIC SECTION. THIS BOOK IS GAY IS IN
THE ADULT NON-FICTION SECTION. >> ALL BOYS AREN'T BLUE IS IN THE ADULT NON-FICTION SECTION. FLAMER WAS RECLASSIFIED FOR THE ADULT NON-FICTION SECTION. THE JUVENILE CARD THAT WAS CREATED AS PART OF OUR RESPONSE PROCESS ALLOWS A PARENT TO RESTRICT THEIR CHILDREN TO THE AGE OF 17, ACCESS TO THIS CONTENT. AND THEY DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO DIGITAL CONTENT LIKE HOOPLA OR OVERDRIVE. SO, IF THERE ARE ITEMS ON THOSE PLATFORMS, THE JUVENILE CODE RESTRICTS THAT. I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT I'M FOLLOWING THE RESOLUTION PASSED AND THE GUIDANCE ISSUED WITH THAT RESOLUTION. IF COUNCIL WISHES TO PROVIDE DIFFERENT GUIDANCE AND DIFFERENT RESOLUTION, IF YOU WANT ME TO REMOVE ALL THE BOOKS THAT CONTAIN ANY SEXUAL CONTENT IN THE LIBRARY, I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT. I ALSO AM A VICTIM OF SEXUAL ABUSE. AT 4 YEARS-OLD I WAS VIOLATED AS A CHILD. NOBODY CAN GIVE THAT BACK TO ME. I TAKE THIS ISSUE SERIOUSLY. AND TO THINK THAT I DON'T, OR TO SUGGEST THAT I DON'T IS OFFENSIVE. I'M OFFENDED. I'M OFFENDED BY SOME OF THE STUFF THAT YOU'VE READ. I WISH TO GOD I COULD PULL IT FROM THE SHELVES, THAT'S NOT THE WAY THE LAW WORKS. I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING EMOTIONAL ON THIS TOPIC, BUT, IT IS SOMETHING VERY DEAR
[01:05:03]
TO ME. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: WE'LL NOW
MOVE TO -- >> SINCE I WAS QUOTED, AM I
ALLOWED TO SAY SOMETHING? >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: GO AHEAD.
>> OKAY. I, MR. BATON, QUOTED ME AND I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT EXACTLY I SAID. SO, I'M GOING TO PULL UP THE KTAB HOME PAGE.
THIS IS WHAT THEY SAID I SAID. QUOTE, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WANTS THAT, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WANTS TO EXPOSE OUR KIDS TO OBSCENITY, MCALISTER EXPRESSED. AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS DESIGNED TO DO IS TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON PROTECTING OUR KIDS FROM OBSCENITY. I STILL BELIEVE THAT. I STILL BELIEVE THAT THE POLICY THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE PROTECTS OUR KIDS. THAT'S THE KEY IS PROTECTING OUR KIDS. THE POLICIES THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE DO PUT A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY ON THE PARENTS. AND I'M SORRY, I KNOW THAT'S HARD FOR SOME PARENTS TO HAVE TO BE THAT RESPONSIBLE. I KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU ARE VERY RESPONSIBLE WITH YOUR KIDS, I APPRECIATE THAT.
BUT, WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT THEN AND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW IS TRUE, PROTECTING OUR MINORS, I THINK THAT WE'VE DONE AN AWESOME JOB OF THAT. I APPRECIATE WHAT MR. HANNA HAS DONE, AND WHAT JULIE HAS DONE TO PROTECT OUR KIDS NOT 12 AND UNDER BUT 17 AND UNDER. MY QUOTE WAS EXPOSING OUR KIDS TO OBSCENITY, AND I THINK THAT WE'VE DONE THAT. SO....
>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: I APPRECIATE ALL THE CONSTITUENTS FROM BOTH SIDES. I THINK THAT WE HAVE HAD GOOD DIALOG OVER THE LAST YEAR, I THINK PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE AND I THINK THAT OUR COMMUNICATORS WILL WORK AND REGARDS TO THIS SUBJECT MATTER TO COME TO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR WHAT WE PRESENT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THIS COMMUNITY. I THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR TIME, CONSIDERATION AND COMMENTS THIS MORNING.
>> AND WITH THAT, I WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION FROM COUNCIL ON THE CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTING OF ITEMS 3-25 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
19 THAT HAS BEEN PULLED. >> SO MOVED.
>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: WE HAVE A MOTION BY MAYOR PRO-TEM HURT.
>> SECOND. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BEARD. I'LL BE OBJECT STAINING FROM ITEM NUMBER
21. >> I WILL ALSO ABSTAIN FROM 21.
>> I'LL ALSO ABSTAIN FROM 21. >> MAYOR PRO-TEM HURT?
>> YES. COUNCILMEMBER MCALISTER?
>> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER CRAVER?
>> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER PRICE?
>> YES WITH THAT ONE EXCEPTION. >> COUNCILMEMBER ALBUS.
[26. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Directing Publication of Notice of Intention to Issue Combination Tax and Revenue Certificates of Obligation for Street Projects (Mike Rains)]
>> YES. >> WE MOVE TO 26 AND I'LL ASK MIKE RAINS FINANCE DIRECTOR TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.
>> MIKE RAINS, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE. WHAT THIS RESOLUTION TOES IS THE CITY IS PROPOSING TO ISSUE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION FOR THE CYPRUSS STREET IMPROVEMENTS IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $8 MILLION. AND UNDER STATE LAW WE HAVE TO PUBLIC A NOTICE OF INTENT IN THE NEWSPAPER 45 DAYS PRIOR TO WHEN WE ACTUALLY ISSUE THE BONDS. SO, WHAT THIS RESOLUTION DOES WILL DIRECT STAFF TO PUBLISH THAT NOTICE AND THEN WE WILL COME BACK TO COUNCIL ON APRIL 27TH TO GET FURTHER APPROVAL FOR THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE GO BOND INITIATED BY VOTERS, THOSE WILL BE BROUGHT BEFORE YOU ON APRIL 27TH. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: QUESTIONS OF THE COUNCIL TO MR. RAINS PRIOR TO PUBLIC HEARING? AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? IF SO, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE
YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. >> MY NAME IS RYAN GOODWIN, AND LOOKING AT THIS ON THE PACKET, SO, THE PRINCIPLE IS $8 MILLION BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THIS COULD BE SOMETHING THAT COULD LAST UNTIL 2043. AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE COULD GET TO $11 MILLION WITH THE INTEREST. SO, I WANT US TO BE CAREFULLY THINKING ABOUT THIS. I KNOW THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS ROADS. I KNOW THAT WE NEED TO DO THINGS, BUT, I'M ALSO HEARING A LOT OF BUSINESSES TALKING ABOUT THEIR WATER BILL BEING ONE OF THE HIGHEST BILLS FOR THEIR BUSINESSES. AND STUFF LIKE THAT. SO, AS WE'RE LOOKING AT PUTTING MORE MONEY IN ROADS, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE AND KIND OF AS WE'RE PUSHING MORE ROADS THINK THROUGH THIS A LITTLE BIT. $11 MILLION AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MY KIDS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR.
>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK
[01:10:03]
EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? >> CYNTHIA AVEDRES FOR THE RECORD. SO, IS THERE NO WAY TO TURN THIS INTO A BOND ELECTION INSTEAD OF A CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION, IS THAT NOT AN
OPTION? >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: A BOND IS VOTED ON BY THE VOTERS, AND ANYTIME A COUNCIL CAN VOTE TO PUT AN ITEM ON THE BALLOT THAT WOULD ALLOW VOTING, BUT, THIS IS
A CO. >> RIGHT, SO, YOU GUYS CAN PULL THIS AND PUT IT AS A BOND AND PUT IT TO THE VOTERS, CORRECT? IS THAT AN OPTION THAT YOU POSSES, COULD YOU GUYS DO THAT?
>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: THE COUNCIL COULD CREATE A BOND OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS. IS THERE ANYONE ON THE COUNCIL INTERESTED IN DOING THAT? BECAUSE WE'VE HAD CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATIONS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE BEFORE, THE EXAMPLE OF THAT IS THE HOTEL.
YOU HAD THAT IN A BOND ELECTION, YOU TOLD US NO AND WENT BEHIND OUR BACKS FOR A CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION, NOW, WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR $8 MILLION FOR A HOTEL THAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT WE DON'T WANT. CAN ANYONE DO THAT? CAN Y'ALL PULL THIS FROM THE AGENDA TODAY AND COME TO US VOTERS AND LET US TELL YOU WETHER OR NOT WE WANT YOU TO SPEND $8 MILLION DOWNTOWN IN WHICH YOU DESIGNATED A TERS. AND NOW, YOU'RE WANTING TO SPEND 8 MORE MILLION DOLLAR DOWNTOWN. I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO TELL YOU YES OR NO. WELDON HURT I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE RUNNING FOR MAYOR. I THINK THIS IS A BAD WAY TO GET, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE STARTING IN A HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE WAY. SO I'M PUBLICLY ASKING TO HAVE THIS PULLED FROM THE AGENDA OR CREATE A POND OR TALK TO YOUR FRIENDS FROM THE COUNCIL AND YOU PUT IT TO A BOND AND LET US TELL YOU YES OR NO. I'M TIRED. I'M TIRED OF Y'ALL COMING TO US, TAKING OUR MONEY. YOU'RE NOT ASKING US ANYMORE, YOU'RE JUST TAKING IT. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR Y'ALL TO DO RIGHT BY THE TAXPAYER, BECAUSE, YOU'VE ALREADY SCREWED UP OVER BEFORE. I'M PUBLICLY ASKING THAT Y'ALL PULL THIS ITEM FROM THE AGENDA, Y'ALL GO BACK AND THINK ABOUT IT AND CREATE A BOND AND LET US TELL YOU IF WE WANT YOU TO SPEND $8 MILLION MORE OF OUR DOLLARS THAT WILL EVENTUALLY BE $11 MILLION.
>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING, DOES ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO PARTICIPATE THIS MORNING IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COUNCIL, HAVE ANY COMMENTS AND OR QUESTIONS? IF NOT I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND. I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE INTENTION TO ISSUE A TAX AND REGISTER CERTIFICATES OF
OBLIGATION FOR STREET PROJECTS. >> SECOND.
>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, ANY
DISCUSSION. >> I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT THE $8 MILLION ISSUES TO THE CE USES THE TAX INCREMENT ZONE REVENUES. THIS IS NOT A NEW TAX AND WE'RE NOT ASKING COUNCIL TO RAISE THE TAX RATE TO COFFER THIS. THIS IS EXISTING REVENUES THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED BY THE TERS, AND THE TERS FUNDS ARE
BEING USED TO PAY FOR THIS DEBT. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: THE TERS IS LIST OF DESIGNATED AREAS AND PAR SETTING OF LAND. THOSE PARCELS FROM FROZEN. INCREMENTS ABOVE THAT IS REVENUE TO BE USED. IT'S FROM THAT SAID AREA. IT'S BEEN FROZE, INCREMENTS OF REVENUE FROM TAXES FROM THAT SAID FROZEN ARE GOING TO BE USED IS REQUIREMENT TO BE ABLE TO POST THIS 45 DAYS BEFOREHAND.
SO, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
>> COUNCILMEMBER PRICE? >> YES.
[27. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Adoption of a Resolution Expressing Official Intent to Reimburse Costs of Projects for Street and Fire Department Improvements (Mike Rains)]
>> COUNCILMEMBER BEARD? >> YES.
>> MOTION CARRIES. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: I'LL ASK
MIKE RAINS TO PRESENT ITEM 27. >> MIKE RAINS, DIRECTOR OF
[01:15:03]
FINANCE AGAIN. THIS IS A COMPANION ITEM THAT ACTUALLY ALLOWS US TO REIMBURSE OR SELVES IF WE INCUR COST BEFORE THE BONDS WERE ISSUED. ONCE THE BONDS ISSUED WE REIMBURSE OURSELVES FOR COSTS INCURRED. ONCE AGAIN, THIS COVERS THE FIRE STATION BONDS AND THE COS, AND THEY WILL BE BROUGHT BEFORE COUNCIL ON APRIL 27TH FOR FINAL APPROVAL.>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: ANY QUESTIONS PRIOR TO PUBLIC
HEARING? >> IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM, IF SO, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
>>> KCAN YOU DO IT, WELDON HURT CAN YOU BE TRANSPARENT WITH THE PUBLIC, CAN YOU HAVE THE EMPLOYEES COME UP HERE.
>> YOU'RE MAKING A STATEMENT TO THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE.
>> IT'S A FACTUAL QUESTION, CAN YOU SAY YES OR NO. IT'S A YES
OR NO QUESTION. >> I'LL ADD TO WHAT THE MAYOR SAID IN THAT THIS IS THE ONLY SLIDE FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
>> THERE'S NOT A PACKET? IS THERE A PACKET THAT COMES WITH
SLIDE THAT'S ONLINE? >> CAN YOU PRESENT THAT. Y'ALL
AREN'T PRESENTING THE PACKETS. >> THAT IS WHAT.
>> YOU HAVE BOARD MEMBERS EATING UP MY TIME WHEN I CAME TO THE PARKS AND REC'S BOARD. Y'ALL DIDN'T PRESENT THE PACKET FOR 26. WE'RE PASSED THAT AND ON 27, SO, IF THERE'S A PACKET ATTACHED TO AN AGENDA ITEM, Y'ALL SHOULD PRESENT THE ENTIRE PACKET. WHAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE IS THESE 25 OTHER ITEMS, Y'ALL AREN'T ALLOWING US TO SPEAK ON THIS. YOU'RE GIVING US 3 MINUTES TO LET US TALK ABOUT THESE ITEMS. LITTLE BY LITTLE, YOU'RE TAKING OUR VOICE AWAY AND NOW YOU'RE TAKING AWAY OUR ABILITY TO TELL YOU WETHER OR NOT WE WANT YOU TO SPEND OUR MONEY. NOW ONE OF WELDON HURT NOT STANDING UP FOR ANYBODY, NOT FOR THE TAXPAYER AT ALL, BY ANY MEANS. BY ANY MEANS. YOU DON'T LET US GET ON THE AGENDA SO THAT WE HAVE SOME KIND OF REPRESENTATION IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. OUR PLAYGROUNDS ARE GETTING BURNED UP. WE'RE TELLING YOU THERE'S PEOPLE LIVING OUT OF THE BATHROOMS, AND YOU'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. HONESTLY, ACTUALLY, I KNOW WHY YOU'RE SITTING THERE AND I KNOW WHO YOU ARE SITTING THERE FOR, BUT, IT'S GETTING OLD AND TIRESOME, I KNOW THAT Y'ALL PAY TAXES I HAVE KYLE MCALISTER OVER HERE ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA HARASSING ME, DIGGING THROUGH STUFF SAYING THAT I DON'T PAY TAXES. I PAY TAXES JUST LIKE YOU DO. AND I'M GOING TO ASK THAT YOU STOP COMMENTING ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA. I'M GOING TO PUBLICLY ASK THAT YOU STOP.
IT'S BASICALLY STALKING. YOUR STALKING ME AT THIS POINT. FOR YOU TO KNOW THAT I DON'T OWN ANY PROPERTY IN THIS TOWN IS SCARY.
SO, Y'ALL NEED TO GET IT TOGETHER.
>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OUR AGAINST
THIS ITEM? >> SEEING NO ONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AND OR COMMENTS IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND.
>> DOES THIS ONE REQUIRE THE SAME LANGUAGE? IS.
>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: NO IT DOES NOT.
>> THEN, I HAVE A MOTION. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCALISTER.
COUNCILMEMBER ALBUS. >> WE'RE READY TO VOTE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MCALISTER? >> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER CRAVER? >> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PRICE? >> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER BEARD? >> DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM ALBUS.
[28. Ordinance (Final Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Adding Chapter 2, Article 1, Section 2-6 to the City Code of Ordinances for the Termination of Inactive Campaign Treasurer Appointments (Shawna Atkinson)]
>> I ASK SHAWNA ATKINSON TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.
>> THIS ITEM IS FINAL READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR THE
[01:20:04]
TERMINATION OF INACTIVE CAMPAIGN TREASURE APPOINTMENTS. THE TEXAS CODE ALLOWS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODY TOSS PUT THIS IN PLACE FOR FILERS INACTIVE FOR OVER A YEAR. AND CURRENTLY WE HAVE FIVE. SO, THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN THE PROCESS, IF THIS PASSES TODAY, I'LL THEN NOTIFY ALL OF THE INACTIVE FILERS AND AT THAT POINT WE'LL HAVE AN ACTIVE.>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: DO WE HAVE ANYMORE MATERIAL WITH THIS ITEM
>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: COUNCIL, HAVE ANY COMMENTS PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING? >
>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING, IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM. IF SO, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE
YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. >> IT'S ME, AGAIN, CYNTHIA.
SINCE THIS IS AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA, MR. MCALISTER, CAN YOU LET EVERYONE KNOW WHAT YOU DID TO ME WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE REGARDING CAMPAIGN TREASURE APPOINTMENTS?
>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: WE'RE GOING TO STAY WITH ITEMS
PERTAINING TO THIS AGENDA ITEM. >> IT DOES. WE'RE NOT GOING TO ADDRESS THIS IN ANY WAY. SO, FOR YOU TO SINGLE ME OUT AND REPORT ME TO THE SECRSECRETARY STATE. AND FOR PUBLIC RECORD, I WAS NOT FOUND AT FAULT. BUT, YOU'RE WANTING TO GO AND YOU'RE WANTING THE CITY TO GO DO THIS WORK RIGHT HERE, BUT, Y'ALL COULD HAVE DONE. WHY DON'T YOU TURN THESE PEOPLE IN, THESE FIVE PEOPLE, THESE FIVE INACTIVE NOTIFIED TREASURES OR WHATEVER, WHY DON'T YOU CALL THE SECRETARY OF STATE ON THEM, WHY DID YOU CALL IT ON ME, AGAIN, YOU'RE HARASSING ME. AND I'M MAKING IT PUBLICLY KNOWN THAT YOU ARE HARASSING ME. AND IT'S STALKISH AND OBVIOUS THAT I'M BEING SINGLED OUT. IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, Y'ALL CAN COME AND TALK. SO, WHEN YOU GO LOOK ON YOUR WEB PAGE, THERE ARE THINGS ON THERE THAT ARE OBSERVE THAT I'M BEING SINGLED OUT. THAT'S FINE, I GET IT. I'M GOING TO BE LET IT PUBLICLY KNOWN THAT I HAVE A COUNCILMEMBER GOING UP AND DIGGING STUFF ON ON ME AND GOING AND POSTING THINGS ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE AND TURNING ME INTO THE SECRETARY OF STATE THESE ARE FIVE MORE PEOPLE THAT YOU COULD TURN INTO THE SECRETARY OF STATE MR. MCALISTER, AND I DOUBT THAT YOU WILL DO THAT. SO, AGAIN THIS IS JUST TO PUT IT ON PUB RECORD AND IT HAS TO DO WITH THE AGENDA ITEM. IT HAS TO DO WITH THE AGENDA ITEM. AND FOR YOU TO PREVENT YOUR COUNCILMEMBER FROM SPEAKING WHENEVER I ASK A QUESTION, JUST SHOWS YOUR TRUE COLORS, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. I'M GOING TO LEAVE THIS PODIUM, WHEN I LEAVE THIS PODIUM AND CAN'T SAY ANYTHING. Y'ALL ARE GOING TO START TALKING AND NOT GIVE ME THE ABILITY TO ANYTHING. YOU NEED TO GIVE PEOPLE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. AGAIN, I'M GOING TO LET YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A COUNCILMEMBER MR. KYLE MCALISTER, WHOSE GOING ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE AND HARASSING ME. AGAIN. IT'S A BIT STALKERISH. AND IT MAKES ME FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. YOU GUYS HAVE A LOVELY DAY, BYE-BYE.
>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL
CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS: MOVE FOR
APPROVAL. >> WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL
MEMBER PRICE. >> A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER
BEARD. ANY DISCUSSION? >> COUNCILMEMBER PRICE?
>> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER BEARD?
>> YES. >> DEPUTY MAYOR PRO-TEM ALBUS?
>> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER MCALISTER?
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
>> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER CRAVER?
>> YES. >> AND MAYOR WILLIAMS?
>> MAYOR WILLIAMS: IT IS 9:55 A.M., AND WE WILL RECESS TO EXECUTIVE SECTION TO TEXAS MEETING ACT FOR CONSULTATION WITH YOUR ATTORNEY, SECTION 551.073, DELIBERATIONS ABOUT GIFTS AND DONATIONS. PERSONNEL MATTERS, SECTION SECURITY DEVICES AND SECTION 551.087, BUSINESS PROSPECTS AND ECONOMIC
[01:25:02]
DEVELOPMENT. THANK YOU, AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.INTO OPEN SESSION. NO ACTIONS WERE TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. AND IT NOW BEING STILL, 10:47 A.M., THIS MEETING OF YOUR ABILENE CITY COUNCIL IS OFFICIALLY
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.