Mar 21, 2023 Citizens Advisory Board for People with Disabilities

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:08]

MY NAME IS JOANNE FLUKE. AND I AM THE CHAIR OF THE CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

AND WE ARE GOING TO START THE MARCH ABOUT CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. AS EVERYONE IS SEATED, WE WILL START AHEAD WITH PUBLIC COMMENT AS USUAL.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT DURING PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING THERE IS NONE.

[1. Approval of Minutes from January Meeting (Discussion and Action)]

>> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: THE MINUTES FOR THE JANUARY MEETING OF THE CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD HAVE BEEN APPROVED.

THIS IS A SMALL ITEM -- I MEAN A SMALL AGENDA, BUT IT IS PRETTY JAM-PACKED IF YOU START LOOKING AT IT.

[2. CityLink Update (Discussion)]

AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 1. THE UPDATE FROM CITYLINK.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. ABOUT.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: GOOD AFTERNOON. >> NORMALLY YOU HAVE AN UPDATE.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: WE DO. >> BECAUSE I DIDN'T BRING A HANDOUT TO EVERYBODY. SO -- PARDON ME WHILE I PUT MY -- SO AS YOU CAN SEE, OUR NUMBERS ARE A LITTLE BIT BETTER FOR LAST MONTH. ON OUR OVERALL TRIPS, OUR -- WE DID GET A LINK DRIVER THIS LAST MONTH DOING VERY WELL ON THAT ONE. WE JUST SIGNED ANOTHER ONE ON THIS WEEK. WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE COMING ON AND SIGNING UP FOR ANOTHER ONE.

THAT IS -- LANK UP PERSON WHO HELP WITH OUR ADA CLIENTS THAT ARE AMBULATORY ONLY. AND WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE COMING IN THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED AND -- THEY HAVE TO COME IN FOR TRAINING LATER THIS WEEK OR EARLY NEXT WEEK DEPENDING ON WHEN THEIR AVAILABILITY IS. HOPEFULLY THAT NUMBER WILL GO UP EVEN MORE AND HELP WITH OUR ON-TIME PERFORMANCES.

WORK AND SCHOOL EVENING SERVICE HAS BEEN HELPED.

AN EXTRA DRIVER GOT THROUGH TRAINING AND STARTED LAST NIGHT ON HIS OWN. WE ARE LOOKING GOOD ON THAT DEPARTMENT. APPOINTMENT ON-TIME FOR THE EVENING HAS GONE UP A COUPLE OF PERCENT.

AND DOCTOR OF COURSE, OUR LINK UP LOOKS BAD BECAUSE OF THE FACT WE DIDN'T HAVE VERY MANY -- IT WAS A -- JUST LEARNING -- THINKS LEARNING CURVE WAS A LITTLE BIT BAD AT THE BEGINNING.

WE HAD SOME TIME WHERE IS HIS CAR BROKE DOWN AND HE HAD TO ACTUALLY GO AND GET SOME WORK DONE ON IT.

SO WE HAD SOME PROBLEMS THERE OVERALL, QUITE AN UPTICK OF APPLICATIONS FOR ADA SERVICES. WE DID GET ALL THOSE PROCESSED AND IMPLEMENTED. SO WE DID THAT OKAY.

AND WE WERE ABOUT EVEN ON OUR SAME -- WITH OUR NIGHT ACTIONS AND OUR GENERAL SERVICES WENT UP BUT THAT IS NOT REALLY THAT BIG OF A NUMBER. SO DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF OUR NUMBERS FOR LAST QUARTER? THE ONLY OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION IS OUR EXPANDED ZIP ZONE WE ARE IMPLEMENTING.

WE HAVE GOOD NEWS ON THAT. WE HAVE TWO ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE FINALIZED BY THE CITY AND BY STRIPES -- STRIPE, SORRY, NOT STRIPES. THAT WAS A MOVIE.

THE COMPANY THAT WE ARE USING TO PROCESS OUR DEBIT AND CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS. WE FINALLY GOT THE VERBIAGE AND EVERYTHING STRAIGHTENED OUT. ONCE WE GET BOTH OF THOSE SIGNATURES DONE, WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET WITH THE APP THAT WE

[00:05:01]

IF YOU WANT TO PURCHASE A SEVEN-DAY PASS, A 31-DAY PASS, A REDUCED ABOUT OR DAY PASS USE WHY YOUR CREDIT AND DEBIT CARD ON THAT SYSTEM ALSO. AS SOON AS WE GET THE SIGNATURE, WE SHOULD BE UP AND RUNNING. IF IT HAPPENS THIS WEEK, WE SHOULD BE LIVE BY THE FIRST WEEK OF APRIL AND, OF COURSE, EVERY WEEK IT TAKES FOR THEM TO SIGN THAT WILL BE PUSHING BACK ANOTHER SEVEN DAYS, BUT THAT'S ALL WE ARE WAITING ON.

JUST A COUPLE OF SIGNATURES AND A COUPLE OF APPROVALS.

EVERYTHING ELSE IS JUST DONE. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH Y'ALL HAVE GOT INFORMATION ON THE ZIP ZONE.

I DID BRING SOME BROCHURES TO HAND OUT TO EVERYBODY IF YOU WOULD LIKE SOME, BUT JUST A QUICK RUNDOWN ON WHAT THE MICRO TRANSIT SYSTEM IS, A CURB-TO-CURB SERVICE THAT WILL RUN FROM ROUGHLY I-20 ALL THE WAY OUT TO ARNOLD BOULEVARD DOWN TO SOUTH FIRST. AND THEN UP AND OVER TO NORTH 10TH. IN THAT AREA ALL THE WAY DOWN TO MOCKINGBIRD. MORNING BIRD NORTH TO I-20 AND OUT AND EXPAND OUT TO THE FIVE POINT AREA.

AN AREA YOU CAN CALL THE SERVICE ON THE PHONE IN THE OFFICE LIKE THE ADA SERVICE AND BOOK A TRIP. YOU CAN BOOK A TRIP ONLINE THROUGH YOUR COMPUTER OR BOOK A TRIP THROUGH THE APP.

WE WILL COME TO YOUR DOOR, PICK YOU UP -- NOT TO THE DOOR, SORRY. TO THE CURB.

YOU WILL GET IN. WE WILL TAKE TO YOU THAT DESTINATION IN THAT ZONE. WE ALSO WILL HAVE TWO MEETING LOCATION FOR THE 9 AND THE 12 TO TAKE CONNECTION TO GET ON THE REGULAR CITY BUSES AND OUR BUS PASSES WILL BE GOOD ON THE ZIP ZONE AND ON THE CITY BUSES. IF YOU HAVE ONE AND PURCHASE ONE THROUGH THE APP IT WILL BE SEAMLESS.

YOU HAVE THE ZIP ZONE, GET ON, SHOW THEM YOUR PASS AND CONTINUE TO RIDE FOR THE REST OF THE DAY, GET BACK AND GET ON.

WE HAVE TIMES SET UP TO MEET THE BUSES AT SPECIFIC BUS STOPS.

WHEN YOU CAN GET ON AND TRADE RIGHT ON TO THE BUS AND KEEP GOING. SO THIS IS LIKE -- WE WILL TAKE YOU RIGHT INTO THE UNITED ON -- ON NORTH 10TH AND WILLIS TO THE CVS AND WALGREEN'S, OTHER PLACES WE GO OVER THERE.

THE BINGO HALL ON AMBER AND WILLIS.

ANOTHER ONE. AND SHERRY LANE AND MIMOSA APARTMENT COMPLEX, JANE LONG MIDDLE SCHOOL.

THE ABILENE NORTH LIBRARY IS ALSO ON THERE.

SO FOUR DOLLAR GENERALS AND A COUPLE OF DOLLAR TREES ARE ON THERE. A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GO SHOPPING AND WITHOUT HAVING TO WALK SO FAR FROM THE CURB TO THE LOCATION. WE WILL TAKE YOU AND DROP YOU OFF RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE STORES.

VERY NICE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE MOBILITY ISSUES TO BE ABLE TO GET CLOSER AND NOT HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS. THAT IS GOING TO GO LEAVE SOON. I HAVE GOT SOME OF THESE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH AND COME AROUND AND HAND THEM OUT TO YOU.

THE ORANGE AREA ON THIS IS JUST WHERE THE -- WHERE THE ZIP ZONE WILL OPERATE. AND WE HAVE PLANS TO EXPAND THIS OUT IN THE FUTURE. I GOT SPANISH.

>> ME TOO. >> I WILL AND THIS OUT FROM THE

OTHER SIDE. >> I WILL BRUSH UP ON MY

SPANISH. >> YOURS IS ENGLISH?

>> LOOK AT YOU. YOU ARE GOOD.

WE ALSO HAVE THEM IN FRENCH AND I THINK ITALIAN, BUT I DIDN'T -- LUCKILY I DIDN'T BRING ANY OF THOSE.

SO WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEW PROGRAM AND SO YOU MIGHT HEAR ABOUT THE ZIP ZONE VAN BEING OUT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT IS NOT LIVE LEFT AND YES DRIVER OUT PRACTICING AND IT WILL GO SEAMLESS WHEN IT GOES LIVE. IF YOU HEAR SOMEBODY SAYING A WEIRD THING WITH ZIP ZONE PRINTED ON THE SIDE.

THAT'S US. NOT A NEW COMPANY, BUT US.

WE ARE JUST PRACTICING. MAKE SURE IT WORKS DIRECTLY WHEN WE GO LIVE. ANY ABOUT THE ZIP ZONE. %-P QUESTION SINCE WE ARE TALKING OF LANGUAGES.

[00:10:03]

BRAILLE IF YOU NEED THAT? >> NOT THAT I AM AWARE OF.

WE MIGHT, I JUST HAVEN'T BEEN INFORMED OF IT.

WE CAN DEFINITELY LOOK INTO THAT.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: I WOULD CHECK INTO THAT.

AND ONE OF THE FIRST PLACES THAT -- I DON'T KNOW AT ONE POINT THERE WAS A MACHINE AT DISABILITY IN ACTION AND SOMEBODY WAS LEARNING HOW TO DO IT, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS

STILL AVAILABLE. >> OKAY.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: JUST A SUGGESTION.

>> THAT IS A GREAT SUGGESTION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I HAVEN'T EVEN -- WE HAVE GONE THROUGH A BUNCH OF OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT THAT WOULD BE A VERY GOOD SUGGESTION AND I WILL

LOOK INTO THAT, YES, MA'AM. >>JOANNE FLUKE: MAYBE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO FIND SOME MORE ONLINE WITH AS MUCH AS EVERYTHING IS

ONLINE NOW. >> SURE.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: THE OTHER THING IS, I THINK THIS IS GREAT FOR MOBILITY INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE CHALLENGES WITH MOBILITY ISSUES.

JUST MAKING SURE, ARE WE, LIKE, ON TRACK LIKE WE ARE WITH ALL THE OTHER BUS LINES WHEN IT COMES TO, LIKE, ACCESSIBLE FOR VISUALLY-IMPAIRED AND -- AND DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING.

>> YES. THE VANS ARE JUST THE SAME AND ACCESSIBLE AS THE REGULAR CITY BUSES AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

JUST THE SAME. >>JOANNE FLUKE: JUST WANT TOP

MAKE -- I HAVE TO ASK. >> A GOOD QUESTION.

I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT UP. JUST THAT -- THAT WAS A VERY GOOD QUESTION ABOUT THE BRAILLE. I WILL LOOK INTO SEEING IF I CAN

GET SOMETHING PRINTED IN THAT. >>JOANNE FLUKE: THAT WILL BE

GREAT. >> NO PROBLEM.

FLAKZ FLAKZ MAYBE IT IF NOT IN BRAILLE.

I KNOW THAT THE VISUALLY-IMPAIRED OR BLIND, THEY DO DO SOME SIGN OF MIC SOFTWARE THAT YOU CAN E-MAIL IT TO THEM THAT THEY CAN HAVE IT IF IT IS NOT BRAILLE.

>> WE DO HAVE ACCESS TO A VOICE-TO-TEXT APPLICATION WHERE WE CAN -- WE CAN PUT THIS IN THERE AND THEY CAN LISTEN TO THE

WHOLE THING. >>JOANNE FLUKE: THAT MIGHT BE.

>> MIGHT WANT TO REWORD IT AND IT MAY BE KIND OF DRY IF IT COMES OUT IN THE VOICE. WHEN WE READ IT, IT IS NOT GREAT. BUT WHEN SOMEBODY IS READING IT TO YOU IT MAY YOU TO SLEEP BEFORE YOU GET ALL THE

INFORMATION. >>JOANNE FLUKE: I WOULD WITH DOUBLE CHECK TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VIRTUALLY IMPAIRED OR BLIND

HAVE ALL THOSE THOSE RESOURCES. >> WE CAN PUT SOMETHING LIKE

THAT ON THE WEB PAGE. >>JOANNE FLUKE: AWESOME.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> A GOOD RESOURCE.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: I AM EXCITED TO SEE IT GROW.

>> ME -- WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT TOO.

FLUKE FLUKZ YEAH. AND ESPECIALLY WITH ABILENE

GROWING. >> OH, YES.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: LIKE, HERE, EVEN IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

I THINK THE MORE THAT WE CAN GET EVERYONE DOWN INTO THOSE ACTIVE

PARTS OF ABILENE. >> ONE OF THE BIGGEST PERKS ABOUT THE SYSTEM YOU MAY NOT -- WE ARE HOPING THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT AN HOUR TO GET BACK HOME.

YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET OVER AND GET INTO CVS AND GET YOUR PRESCRIPTION AND GET A RIDE BACK IN 15 TO 20 MINUTES INSTEAD OF -- WELL, THE BUS WILL BE HERE. OKAY, WOW, THE BUS.

AND GOT TO RIDE ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE STATION AND THEN YOU GO THE TO GO -- BECAUSE YOUR STOP IS ON THE WAY BACK HOME.

SOME THIS MIGHT BE A LOT BETTER FOR THAT.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WALK FROM YOUR HOUSE TO THE BUS STOP.

WE WILL DROP YOU OFF AT YOUR CURB AND YOU WILL BE ABLE TO WALK RIGHT INTO YOUR HOUSE. THAT WILL BE A LOT BETTER, I THINK. I THINK PEOPLE WILL TAKE A LOT MORE ADVANTAGE OF IT THEN -- HOPEFULLY THAN THEY DO NOW.

NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT AT ALL.

A SILLY THING TO SAY. BUT WE ARE HOPING THAT IT WILL SERVE THE COMMUNITY A LOT BETTER THANK THANES BUSES ARE.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: YOU ALREADY FIGURED OUT THE MARKETING WITH

IT. >> WE HAVE BEEN WITH THE CITY MARKETING. ALL SORTS OF STUFF.

MULTIPLE OUTREACH SEMINARS AND PROGRAMS AT THE ABILENE NORTH LIBRARY. WE HAD GOOD TURNOUTS FOR 75% OF THEM. WE DID ONE A LITTLE TOO EARLY IN THE MORNING, I THINK. AND WE DIDN'T HAVE VERY GOOD TURNOUT ON THAT. MANY PEOPLE SHOWING UP AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ASKING QUESTIONS. A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE INTERESTED IN THE PROGRAM. SO I THINK WE WILL HAVE A GOOD TURNOUT AND A SOLID SYSTEM THAT DO GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU WILL SEE THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING POSSIBLY USING MORE?

[00:15:06]

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS.

I THINK THIS MIGHT BE NEW INFORMATION FOR THEM.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: SO I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WHEN YOU ARE DOING MARKETING, CAT, DO YOU FEEL LIKE IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THEM TO --

>> I CAN TEASE FOR THEM TOO. >>JOANNE FLUKE: LIKE CLOSED CAPTIONING -- CLOSED CAPTIONING, BUT I KNOW THAT CAN BE A CHALLENGE SOMETIMES. BUT MAYBE WHEN YOU ARE DOING SOME OF THE MARKETING, MAYBE A LIVE INTERPRETER OR SOMETHING SO THEY -- OR OBVIOUSLY CAT IS OUR GO-TO PERSON FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING. SO I WOULD --

>> I KNOW A FEW PEOPLE WHO DO RIDE AND TAKE THE TRANSPORTATION SER FROM CITYLINK AND I CAN MEET WITH THEM ONE ON ONE TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THE NEW PROGRAM AVAILABILITY. IF YOU PLAN ON MOVING IN TO FACEBOOK OR TO OTHER MEDIA PLATFORMS, AS WELL AS THE APP, I CAN COMMUNICATE THAT INFORMATION TO THEM TOO.

>> THANK YOU. >>JOANNE FLUKE: AWESOME.

THANKS, CAT. >> YOU ARE WELCOME.

>> I AM NOT THAT FAMILIAR WITH THIS.

IS THERE A SPECIAL REASON IT IS ONLY THIS AREA OF TOWN? I'M JUST CURIOUS. I KNOW THERE WAS A REASON.

>> A GOOD TEST AREA FOR US TO TRY IT OUT ON.

AND RIGHT NOW THE NUMBER 10 BUS WILL STOP AT AMBLER AND WILLIS AND GO A LITTLE NORTH OF THERE ABOUT FOUR BLOCKS AND STOPPED.

WE WEREN'T SERVICING ANY O OF AMBLER OFF TO WILLIS FREEWAY AND ALL THE WAY UP TO I-20. AND THEN WHEN WE GOT OUT TO THE INDUSTRIAL CENTER UP ON FIVE POINTS, WE WILL START AT THE CORNER OF ARNOLD AND FIVE POINT. IF YOU WANTED TO WALK ANYWHERE A QUARTER TO HALF A MILE TO WORK AND WE WEREN'T SERVICING THAT AND THE CITY WAS TELLING US THAT THE PAROLEE -- THE PAROLE OFFICE MOVED TO EAST STANFORD ROAD AND I-20 AND ALMOST TWO MEALS.

PEOPLE LET OUT IF AT AN INTERSECTION AT A STOP SIGN IN THE MID LE OF THE ROAD AND WALK TWO MEALS TO GET TO THEIR PAROLEE HEARING AND TWO MILES TO COME BACK.

WITH HE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO SAID WE NEED TO FIX THAT.

WELL, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO A BUS ROUTE FOR THEM.

AFTER A LOT OF TALKING AND EVERYTHING ELSE, WE SAID LET'S TRY THIS MICROTRANSIT SYSTEM TO SERVE THE WHOLE AREA AND SEE HOW IT WORKS. WE ARE SERVING EVERYBODY IN THE AREA BECAUSE EVERYBODY FROM -- LIKE FROM WILLIS -- FROM NORTH 10 TO AMBLER ALL THE WAY TO WILLIS FREEWAY.

ALL THOSE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO COMPANY OF A BUS TO NORTH 10 OR WILLIS TO CATCH THE 10.

NOW THESE PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE A VAN GO TO THEIR HOUSE RIGHT IN FRONT ON THEIR CURB AND GET SERVICE.

WE THOUGHT LET'S TRY THIS. WE FOUND AND DID RESEARCH.

A LOT OF OTHER CITIES AND -- WELL, EVERYONE, ARE GOING TO THIS MICRO TRANSIT SYSTEM AND SEEING HOW IT WORKS AND IT IS WORKING VERY WELL FOR THEM. WE TRIED A PILOT PROGRAM AND DID SOME RESEARCH AND HOW THE ON-CALL SYSTEM IS WORKING, DOING WELL ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN SERVICING THE HOSPITAL.

AD MAINLY THE HOSPITAL AND, OF COURSE, THE INDUSTRIAL CENTERS OUT ON LOOP 332. WE THINK THAT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF TOWN WILL BE A GOOD AREA TO TRY IT AND THAT IS WHAT

WE IMPLEMENTED IT ON. >>JOANNE FLUKE: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. MICHELLE, JUST TO GET YOU CAUGHT UP. GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>>MICHELLE DANIELS: THANK YOU. >>JOANNE FLUKE: THEY WERE DISCUSSING THE BUS LINE THAT THE BUS IS GETTING READY TO ROLL

OUT. >>MICHELLE DANIELS: AWESOME.

FLUKE FLUKZ SO -- AND THEY ALSO WENT OVER THE CITYLINK REPORT.

THE NUMBERS PRETTY MUCH LOOK LIKE THEY HAVE STAYED PRETTY STEADY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

>> YOU ARE WELCOME. >>JOANNE FLUKE: TRYING TO BETTER

THE COMMUNITY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR

[3. Egg-Stravaganza Event (Discussion)]

TIME. >>JOANNE FLUKE: THANK YOU.

NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS THE EGG-STRAVAGANZA EVENT WHICH IS

[00:20:02]

>> I WILL PRESENT THIS. THIS IS AN EVENT THAT THE RECREATION DIVISION OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT HOSTS EVERY YEAR. ONE OF THE THINGS EPPS THAT WEED PROBABLY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WAS HAVING AN ADAPTIVE TIME FOR PEOPLE THAT MAY NEED JUST A LITTLE LESS CONGESTION WITH PEOPLE RUNNING AROUND. WE ARE HOSTING THIS EVENT AT STAFFORD SPORTS COMPLEX. USED TO BE LEE COMPLEX ON NORTH 10TH AND THE LOOP. THESE ARE THE AGES AND THE ADAPTIVE TIME IS 10:30 A.M. ON APRIL 1, SATURDAY.

WE INVITE THE WHOLE COMMUNITY TO COME OUT TO WHATEVER TIME SLOT

THEY WANT TO COME TO. >>JOANNE FLUKE: I KNOW LAST YEAR YOU DID SOME ADAPTIVE -- CAN YOU EXPLAIN SOME OF THE ADAPTIVE STUFF YOU HAVE DONE SO THE COMMUNITY KNOWS.

>> FOR THIS EVENT? >>JOANNE FLUKE: YES.

>> FOR THE ADAPTIVE TIME FRAME, WEAPON DO -- SOMETIMES -- WE DO DIFFERENT THINGS BUT LIKE SPECIAL EGGS THAT MAY MAKE A CLICKING NOISE FOR PEOPLE THAT CAN'T SEE.

OR THEY HAVE DIFFERENT. PRIZES, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY, INSIDE SOME OF THEM FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE OTHER DISABILITIES.

SO A MIXTURE OF A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

BUT THE EGGS ARE ADAPT I HAVE IT TO HELP SERVE THAT COMMUNITY.

ABOUT. >>JOANNE FLUKE: AWESOME.

YOU GUYS WILL BE RUNNING AROUND A LOT THAT MORNING.

>> YES, WE WILL. ABOUT AMAZING HOW FAST THEY PICK UP THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF EGGS.

>> WILL NOT PICK UPMENT ROOM THAT FAST.

>> NO, THEY WILL NOT. >>JOANNE FLUKE: SO DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EGG-STRAVAGANZA? YOU ARE RIGHT. YOU GUYS STARTED THIS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND I HEARD NOTHING BUT GOOD THINGS.

SO I -- ONE OF THESE YEARS I AM GOING TO GET OUT THERE AND PLAY

WITH YOU ALL. >> WE HAVE THE AUTISM WALK THE SAME DAY AND TAKE THEIR EASTER EGGS AND GO HOME AND WEAR THEM

[4. Present and Future of Citizens Advisory Board for People with Disabilities (Discussion and Action)]

>>JOANNE FLUKE: SO THE NEXT THING ON OUR AGENDA IS -- I KNOW THAT THE BOARD STARTED THIS DISCUSSION IN OUR -- IN THE MEETING IN JANUARY, THE PRESENT AND FUTURE OF THE CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

THIS WAS BROUGHT UP. WE WERE ASKED AND I THINK IT IS GREAT THAT WE WERE REQUESTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL TO PRETTY MUCH -- THEY REALLY LOOK AT THIS BOARD AS ADA COMPLIANT, AND I -- AS A BOARD, I THINK WE WOULD AGREE ON THAT.

THAT IS WHAT THIS BOARD IS FOR. BUT THEN, ON THE OTHER HAND, WHAT DO WE WANT TO SEE BEYOND? AND WHAT CAN THE REALMS OF BEYOND LOOK LIKE? AND JUST ABOUT TO FIND OF GIVE YOU A TIMELINE. I WOULD LIKE THIS NOT TO BE A TOPIC THAT WE JUST KEEP PUTTING ON TO THE NEXT MONTH -- NEXT MEETING. SO I REALLY WANT TO HASH THIS OUT TODAY. SO IT IS 3:30.

WE ARE HERE UNTIL 5:00, AND SO I WOULD HOPE THAT THE ULTIMATE GOAL AFTER THE DISCUSSION IS WE HAVE BEEN REQUESTED FOR A LETTER TO THE. ABILENE COUNCIL AND WE CAN GET A ROUGH 2KR569. GET THAT SENT OFF TO THEM.

AND THEN HAVE THAT PRESENTED AND BROUGHT BACK BY JULY AT THE LA LATEST I WANT TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO TALK. THE AWESOME THING ABOUT THIS BOARD AND THE REASON THIS BOARD WAS CREATED WAS, CREATED SO EVERY PART WE COULD THINK OF WITHIN 9 DISABILITY COMMUNITY OF ABILENE IS REPRESENTED HERE. SO I WANT TO MAKE SUR DISABILIT ABILENE IS REPRESENTED HERE. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURT DISABILIF ABILENE IS REPRESENTED HERE. SO I WANT HE DISABILITY COMMUNI OF ABILENE IS REPRESENTED HERE. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WHAT WE WENT TO THE BOARD AND THE COUNCIL IS WHAT YOU HEARD FROM

[00:25:04]

SO WITH THATTING SAID, I THINK THAT IS A GOOD WAY TO START OFF.

>> ONE CLARIFICATION I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IS THIS IS SUPPOSED TO OF COURSE TO IT BE LETTER TO GO TO MR. HANNA.

THIS IS A LETTER TO MR. HANNA. >>JOANNE FLUKE: I MISUNDERSTOOD.

>> CAT HAS A QUESTION. SEND A LETTER FOR WHAT?

>>JOANNE FLUKE: SO THIS LETTER WILL REALLY GIVE THE LEADERSHIP OF OOUR CITY MANAGER BUT ALSO H WILL BE IT -- HE WILL ALSO BE KIND OF BE GUIDED WHERE THE COUNCIL TAKES THIS.

WHAT THIS LETTER IS SUPPOSED TO DO REALLY SPECIFY WHAT THIS BOARD -- WHAT WE WANT TOP SEE FROM THIS BOARD.

WE KNOW AS THE BOARD, LIKE, SITUATIONS THAT COME UP WHEN IT COMES TO ADA COMPLIANCE. THOSE COME TO THE BOARD.

BUT IS THAT ALL THAT THIS BOARD, WHAT WE WANT TO SEE IT? IF NOT, THEN WE NEED TO BE MORE SPECIFIC.

BECAUSE LET'S BE HONEST, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE MEET AND WE DON'T HAVE A LOT TO TALK ABOUT AND WE KNOW THE REALM OF THIS BOARD. IT IS CITY -- LIKE, IT'S THE CITY. IT IS NOT PRIVATE PROPERTY.

IT IS NOT ANYTHING THAT THE CITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR, THAT IS WHAT WE CAN ASSIST WITH. WE CAN'T GO TO THE SCHOOL AND SAY, HEY, WE THINK WE SHOULD DO THIS.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? >> I HAVE A QUESTION.

CAN WE MAKE IT MORE INCLUSIVE? EDUCATE THE ADULTS WHAT A BLIND PERSON IS. BECAUSE I HAVE HAD KIDS COME UP TO ME AND ASK ME, WHAT IS MY CANE FOR.

THEIR PARENTS TELL THEM DON'T BOTHER HER.

LET HER GO ON ABOUT HER BUSINESS.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: YES, SO LET ME -- IN YOUR PACKET, THE RESOLUTION, THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION IS IN YOUR PACKET, AND I KNOW -- I AM GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ WHAT ITS.

AND I AM NOT GOING TO READ ALL OF IT, BUT THERE ARE SOME POINTS THAT I KNOW YOU GUYS CAN ALL READ, BUT THERE ARE SOME POINTS THAT I REALLY WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT.

SO IT SAYS, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF ABILENE, TEXAS, ESTABLISHING THE CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. WHEREAS, THE CITY OF ABILENE SEEKS TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN A COMMUNITY OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY FOR PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.

AND WHEREAS, THE CITY OF ABILENE MUST FULLY UNDERSTAND THE BARRIERS TO ACCESS FOR THOSE CITIZENS WHO ARE DISABLED.

AND WHEREAS, THE CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WILL SERVE AS AN ADVISORY BOARD AND VOICE FOR THOSE WITH DISABILITIES TO HELP SHAPE AND CRAFT A MORE ACCESSIBILITY COMMUNITY. THEN IT GOES CONTINUE TO SEVEN PARTS, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ABILENE, TEXAS, PART 1, THAT THERE IS HEARBY ESTABLISH THE CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FOR THE CITY OF ABILENE, TEXAS, PART 2.

THE PURPOSE OF THE BOARD IS TO SERVE AS A POINT OF CONTACT IN A VOICE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF CITY OF ABILENE TO THE CITY COUNCIL CONCERNING MATTERS OF ACCESSIBILITY, USE, AND BENEFIT TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TO REVIEW AND DISCUSS MATTERS REFERRED TO THE BOARD TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY

[00:30:05]

PART 4, THAT THE AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT COORDINATOR FOR THE CITY OF ABILENE OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE SHALL BE AN EX-FISHERY NONVOTING MEMBER OF THE -- EX-OWE FISHERY MEMBER OF THE BOARD AND ACT AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD, LESLIE TO LET TO ISSUE KNOW. NOT JUST A LOVELY FACE THAT GETS TO SHOW UP PART 5, THE ABILENE BOARD WILL HAVE RULES AND ABOUT PROCEDURES AS EXCEPT MAY BE MODIFIED FOR THIS RESOLUTION.

PART 6, THAT THE BOARD SHALL MEET AS REQUESTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OR CITY MANAGER, BUT IN ANY OF THE EVENT SHALL MEET IN JANUARY AND JULY AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO BRING UP WITH OUR LETTER AND LET THEM KNOW WHY WE ARE NOT JUST SAYING TWICE A YEAR. LIKE I DON'T THINK WE.

I THINK WE NEED TO SHOW THAT THERE IS DEPTH.

AND 7, THIS RESOLUTION TAKES PLACE IMMEDIATELY UPON 9 AOPTION TO. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I SAY

HAVE AT IT. >> I THINK MOST OF IT IS ALMOST BOILERPLATE OF THE WAY THE MEETING SHOULD BE ON IT AND COMMITTEE SWORN. THE ONLY THING THAT I WILL TO COMMENT ON IS NUMBER 6, WITH THE MEETING TIMES.

EVERYTHING ELSE SEEMS TO ME PRETTY MUCH IN ORDER.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: WELL, SO -- I AM GOING TO STAY QUIET.

>> I DEFINITELY AGREE, 6. I THINK IF WE FIND THE THINGS WE NEED TO CONTINUE WORKING ON AND ADDRESSING THAT TWO TIMES A YEAR MAY NOT BE BENEFICIAL SHALL. WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW WOULD SERVE BETTER. OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE TO HAVE THE CONTENT AND THE AT THETH TO CONTINUE THAT.

I MEAN, I GUESS GUILT AHEAD BECAUSE I GET CONTACTS FROM -- FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PARENTS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE CITY ACTIVITIES GEARED TOWARD THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE THE ADOPTED WHICH IS FANTASTIC BUT DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FOR UNDER 18 IN THAT ASPECT.

CAMPS RUN BY THE CITY. NO INCLUSION FOR THEM.

THE PARENTS ARE TOLD IF THEY WANT THEIR KID TO COME, THAT THEY HAVE TO COME. SORT OF DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF SENDING YOUR CHILD TO A SUMMER PROGRAM.

I LIKE THAT WE HAVE INCORPORATED SOME SPECIAL DAYS WITH OUR WATER PARK. I THINK THAT IS FANTASTIC.

BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, ANY C CITY-RUN ACTIVITIES LIKE SPORTS WOULD BE IDEAL. CTCHES.

AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. I AM HOPING -- AND I DON'T WANT TOP GET MY HOPES TOO HIGH, BUT I HAVE SOMEWHAT FOLLOWED THE RECENT DISCUSSIONS OF THE PLAYGROUND SITUATION.

AND I AM HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN SEE ANOTHER ADAPTIVE PLAYGROUND AND MAKE THAT MORE OF THE NORM IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I'M NOT SAYING LET'S TAKE EVERYTHING -- THAT IS EXPENSIVE, BUT MAYBE THE MORE WIDELY USED PLAYGROUNDS ARE THE ONES THAT NEED THE MOST RENOVATION. WE FIND MORE ADAPTIVE WAYS WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT THE GROUND NOT PUTTING IN PEBBLES OR WOOD CHIPS. THAT WE LOOK -- I KNOW THE TURF HAS SORT OF BEEN A TOUCHY SUBJECT LOOKING AT IT BEING AT THE PARK, BUT GROUND THAT WOULD BE INCLUSIVE TO THOSE WITH MOBILITY AND VISH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT.

THROWING IT OUT THERE FOR FEAR THAT IS NOT OURS.

[00:35:03]

WHAT ACTIVITIES CAN MY KID DO. WE CAN'T RUN THE CITY-RUN THING.

THEY DON'T TAKE OUR CHILDREN AND CAN'T HANDLE OUR CHILDREN.

I WILL BE MORE HAPPY TO FACILITATE AND WORK ON WAYS TO GET THAT TO HAPPEN. I AM SURE WE CAN FIND A WAY.

CITY RUN LEAGUES. USE THE BALL FIELDS.

THE ONLY ADAPTIVE SPORT WE OFFER AND I AM NOT INCLUDING SPECIAL OLYMPICS BECAUSE A WHOLE SEPARATE ENTITY AND SEPARATE REQUIREMENT. BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THESE ACTIVITIES.

SO MANY FAMILIES THAT WANT THEM. AND I THINK THAT THIS COULD BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO SAY, SURE, LET'S -- I AM NOT SAYING DO IT ALL IN ONE DAY. OVER TIME, LIKE THESE ARE THE THINGS WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK. MAYBE HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH FAMILIES ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS. PRIORITIZE.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THIS OR, YOU KNOW, I WISH PARENTS WOULD COME, BUT THEY ALL SAY THIS IS DURING WORK HOURS, SO I UNDERSTAND THAT OR THEY DON'T HAVE CHILD CARE AND DON'T WANT TO BRING THEIR CHILD. I GET THAT TOO.

BUT I JUST THINK IF WE CAN FIND MORE WAYS TO PROVIDE INCLUSIVITY THROUGH OUR CITY RUN ACTIVITIES, IT WILL DEFINITELY START BRIDGING THE GAP AND GROW PROGRAMS THAT WE DIDN'T EVER EXPECT TO SEE HAPPEN. BECAUSE I HAVE TO TAKE HIM TO DIALYSIS TO DO MOST OF HIS ADAPTIVE SPORTS WHICH STINKS.

THATCH IS MY TWO CENTS. I WILL PASS IT ON FOR OTHERS WHO

WOULD LIKE TO THROW IT IN. >> IS ANYBODY INTERESTED IN RIDING HORSES, THERE IS A PERSON THAT IS IN BIG SPRINGS THAT DEALS WITH CHILDREN DISABILITIES, TEACHING THEM HOW

TO RIDE A HORSE. >> WE HAVE CAMP EAGLE BUFFALO GAP, EQUINE SERVICES FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN WITH IS DISABILITIES. THAT WILL SAVE YOU A TRIP.

YOU CAN DO IT LOCALLY. THEY HAVE GREAT PROGRAMS. BUT THAT'S MORE OF, LIKE, A PRIVATE ENTITY AND THEY WORK IN SOME OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND STUFF, BUT THAT AS MUCH -- THAT

IS OFFERED OUT HERE. >>JOANNE FLUKE: I AM REALLY GOING TO LOOK AT -- IF I REALLY WANT TO HEAR FROM -- MICHELLE, I AM REALLY GLAD YOU ARE HERE. BECAUSE I REALLY WANT TO HEAR FROM THE VISUALLY-IMPAIRED AND BLIND AND THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING. BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ALL GO THROUGH ON A DAILY BASIS. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TOP -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE A PART OF THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY FEELS MORE INCL INCLUDED.

BECAUSE THAT IS REALLY THE GOAL OF CITIZENS OF ABILENE THAT WE ARE ALL INCLUDED I HAVE AGREE WITH YOU, MICHELLE, ONE OF THE THINGSES THAT DO NEED TO COME UP -- AND I DO THINK IT IS A CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO GIVE THE COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND TOP HELP EDUCATE THEIR COMMUNITY TO MAKE ALL INCLUDED.

AND SO ITCH DO THINK THAT IS PART OF IT. I DO THINK THAT IS OF IT. SO DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY -- WITH THOSE TWO PARTS OF THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY.

>> WELL, IT IS NOT REALLY ON THAT, I THINK.

BUT READING THIS, THIS IS NOT IN HIS ABOUT WHAT WE DO.

THE WHOLE THEY THINK. IT IS JUST HOW THE COMMITTEE IS FORMED -- OUR BOARD IS FORMED AND EVERYTHING THERE.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: RIGHT. >> I DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE GOING TO GET INTO ALL THIS OTHER STUFF.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT THIS BOARD DOES.

LIKE WHAT ABOUT DO MUCH OUR RESPONSIBILITIES NEED TO BE.

BECAUSE WHEN THIS BOARD STARTED, WE WERE DOING A LOT.

WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE HOTEL.

[00:40:03]

AND WE TOTALLY -- I MEAN -- COVID WAS HARD FOR EVERYONE, BUT IT WAS ALSO HARD FOR THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT REALLY ISOLATED THEM, US, EVEN MORE, I FEEL LIKE.

AND SO I CAN REMEMBER HAVING -- TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH OUR MEETINGS. AND WE TRIED TO DO ZOOM ONE TIME. OOH -- THAT WAS NOT PRETTY.

IT WAS -- IT WAS VERY CHALLENGING.

AND BUT, ON THE OTHER HAND, DOWN THE LINE, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THAT MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL, IF -- THAT'S -- THAT'S DOWN THE ROAD BUT REALLY WHAT THEY WANT TO KNOW IS WHAT -- WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE THIS BOARD TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE FIRST THREE THINGS, UP UP AT THE TOP, IT SAYS, MS. THE CITY OF ABILENE SEEKS TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN COMMUNITY -- "COMMUNITY," THAT MEANS ALL, OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY FOR PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.

I WILL TELL YOU -- AND SOME OF YOU HAVE HEARD THIS STORY -- WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH -- AND WITH GREAT LEADERSHIP IN ABILENE THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. AND WHEN OUR LEADERSHIP CAME ON BOARD, THAT IS ONE OF MY QUESTIONS.

LIKE, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE EVERYTHING ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL? AND ONE REASON THAT I STAYED, THIS LITTLE GIRL FROM KANSAS IN ABILENE, TEXAS, WAS BECAUSE WE -- OUR HIGHEST STANDARD WAS NOT JUST TO BE ADA COMPLIANT. W WANTED TO BE LIFE COMPLIANT.

AND LIFE COMPLIANT MEANS UP LOOK AT ALL THE SITUATIONS.

AND THOSE SITUATIONS MAY NOT HIT ADA COMPLIANT.

LIKE THEY NAY BE ABOVE ADA COMPLIANT THAT WE NEED, BUT AS A COMMUNITY, WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO BE LIFE COMPLIANT.

SO ABOVE ADA COMPLIANT. BUT I THINK THE ISSUE IS, HOW CAN WE ASK OUR LEADERSHIP FOR THAT, TO KEEP STRIVING FOR THAT, IF WE CAN'T GIVE THEM EXAMPLES AND RESOURCES.

AND SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, THAT IS ONE OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES IS TO PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF -- THIS HAS BEEN PRESENTED. AND THAT IS THE OTHER THING.

WE AREN'T GETTING THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY'S VOICE IN HERE SO WE CAN HEAR. AND THAT'S WHY I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD REQUEST FROM THE CITY IS ASSISTANCE ON -- I MEAN WE TALKED TO -- SOME OF OUR UP AND COMING CANDIDATES AND MANY OF THEM DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS BOARD.

AND THAT IS SAD. BECAUSE WE ARE PART OF THE COMMUNITY. AND SO THAT.

THAT'S WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HELP.

IT IS A CITY THING. NOT AN EDUCATION THING.

BECAUSE IT IS DEALING WITH THE COMMUNITY.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MEDIA AND MARKETING HELPING US GET THE WORD OUT SO THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE.

"THEY" MEANING THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY.

AND THEN ULTIMATELY I KNOW WE NEED TO TAKE THIS A STEP AT A TIME, BUT ULTIMATELY, GUYS, I WOULD LOVE FOR THERE TO BE A POINT WHEN WE DON'T NEED THIS BOARD.

AND THAT BEING SAID IS BECAUSE THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY IS BEING REPRESENTED ON ALL LEVELS AND NOT EVERYTHING IS JUST COMING TO US AND, HEY, HELP US FIX THIS.

LIKE WE ARE PART OF THE ZONING. WE ARE PART OF PARKS AND REC.

WE ARE PART OF COUNCIL. YOU KNOW.

BUT WE ARE NOT THERE YET. IF WE CAN'T GET PEOPLE TO COME AND HELP US, LIKE, AS -- LIKE HELP US BE THEIR VOICE, THEN WE

DON'T HAVE A REASON. >> CAN WE GET A D.I.A. INVOLVED? THE ONES THAT ARE DISABLED TO COME OUT?

[00:45:02]

>>JOANNE FLUKE: COME OUT AND DO -- LIKE, TRAINING OR EDUCATION?

>> TRAINING OR EDUCATION. >>JOANNE FLUKE: SO I HAVE THINK ONE OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES -- LIKE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE A PART OF THIS MEETING BECAUSE IT WOULD IMPACT -- WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE, LIKE, LISTEN TO OUR BOARD, BUT IF WE CAN GET IT OUT THERE MORE, LIKE THIS IS GOING ON, THE SECOND TUESDAY OF EVERY OTHER MONTH, AND YOU HAVE, LIKE, A TEN-MINUTE PRESENTATION ON HOW TO MAKE A PERSON WHO USES A CANE FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE. LIKE THAT IS -- THAT IMPACTS THE WHOLE COMMUNITY. THAT DOESN'T JUST IMPACT THE SCHOOL. LIKE THAT IMPACTS ABILENE.

AND SO PART OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY GOES BACK TO WHEN IT SAYS THE THIRD ONE, WHEREAS THE CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY SERVE AS A ADVERSARY BOARD IN PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES A MORE ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITY.

TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, WE HAVE GOT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE A BOARD. THERE ARE CITIES THAT DON'T.

AND WE ARE GETTING READY TO MAKE SOME BIG CHANGES.

LIKE THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN JUST IS GETTING READIED TO COME TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE SECOND TIME AND THERE WAS RECOMMENDATION -- REPRESENTATION FROM THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY FROM THE PLANNING. THOSE THINGS ARE COMING BACK FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. THAT IS WHEN THEY NEED TO COME.

WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM ADVICE, SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. SO I THINK IF THERE IS SITUATIONS THAT COME UP WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO HAVE A PLACE, BUT LIKE I SAID, THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T SNOW ABOUT THE BOARD, LIKE, I THINK IT SHOULD AFTER BEING AROUND SINCE -- THIS IS IN 2017. SO SIX YEARS.

SOME I WOULD SUGGEST JUST AS BEFORE NOVEMBER, WE HAD A FULL QUORUM I THINK -- OR CLOSE TO IT.

AND EVERYBODY WAS LIKE, NO, WE NEED TO MEET EVERY MONTH.

AND ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE HAVE NOT GONE -- LIKE WE HAD GOP BACK TO EVERY MONTH IS BECAUSE -- I MEAN WE HAVE GONE TO EVERY OTHER MONTH IS PAUSE THAT REALLY -- IF YOU LOOK AT PLANNING, IF YOU DO A MONTHLY MEETING, IT TAKES AT LEAST 72 HOURS TO A WEEK TO GET AN AGENDA TOGETHER. SO THAT TAKES AWAY ONE WEEK AND SO THEN YOU HAVE THREE WEEKS LEFT.

AND YOU NEED TIME TO DO PLANNING AND ITS JUST -- IT IS JUST A LOT AND WE DIDN'T HAVE A QUORUM. WE TO HAVE A FFULL -- FULL BOAR NOW AND I THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT, BUT I APPLAUD YOU ALL.

THERE ARE FIVE OF US TODAY. THAT'S GREAT.

BUT WHAT I THINK -- I UNDERSTAND LIKE THE CITY KNOWS THAT THIS IS THE BOARD WE WOULD TAKE SUGGESTION, RECOMMENDATIONS TO WHEN IT COMES TO, LIKE, JUST EXAMPLE, THE PARKS AND REC WHEN THEY DID -- THEY DID THE PARK. BUT THE OTHER THEY THINK IS I LOVE OUR CITY. BUT I ALSO FEEL LIKE THEY -- THEY HADN'T HAD A BOARD LIKE THIS.

AND SO THEY DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT THIS BOARD NEEDS TO BE A PART OF IT FROM STEP ONE, TO STEP TWO, TO STEP THREE.

AND WE ARE NOT ALWAYS A PART OF THAT.

I MEAN, WE GET A RECOMMENDATION. WE GIVE SUGGESTIONS.

AND WE SEE WHAT OUR -- WHAT OUR SUGGESTIONS -- MOST OF THE TIME COME OUT WHAT WE HAVE RECOMMENDED, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE

[00:50:04]

THERE MEET HAVE BEEN SOME CHALLENGES, BUT WE DIDN'T, YOU KNOW. DIDN'T GET THAT.

YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP -- HELP WITH THAT.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, IT'S -- IT IS ALMOST 3:00.

ALMOST 4:00. WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A LETTER AND -- AND I -- I AM GOING TO GIVE YOU GUY AS TIMELINE.

I WILL LET YOU. AND WE WILL DISCUSS THIS LITTLE MORE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT UPCOMING TO TOPICS. BUT I AM NOT PHYSICALLY GOING TO BE HERE IN MAY. WE HAVE HEALTH ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO GET TAKEN CARE OF. THAT IS WHY WE HAVE ASSISTANT CHAIR WHICH IS JAMIE THOMAS. AND SHE WILL BE HEADED THIS UP.

I HAVE ALREADY TOLD HER, LIKE, GIVING HER PERMISSION IF SHE HAS QUESTIONS OR IF SHE JUST NEEDS TO GET -- GET TO -- I KNOW, IF SHE NEEDS TO ASK QUESTIONS OR ANY SUGGESTIONS, I'M HERE.

BUT YOU GUYS, THERE IS A REASON WHY YOU ARE ON THE BOARD.

I TOTALLY TRUST EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO MAKE -- MAKE GREAT DECISIONS FOR THE CITY OF ABILENE.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I AM GOING TO COME --

>> ONE THING THERE. I SAID A WHILE AGO, MOST OF IT LOOKED GOOD EXCEPT FOR NUMBER 6. THAT IS WHAT I WANTED TO GET TO BEFORE I GOT TO THE LETTERED STUFF.

HIT THAT FORMAT. >> WHY DON'T WE GO TO THAT AND GO TO IT THE LETTER. SO WHAT ARE YOU --

>> IN MY MIND, I THINK IT SHOULD BE MONTHLY.

HIT THAT. IF WE COME IN HERE AND FIND OUT ABOUT SOMETHING. AND GIVE ADVICE AND IT IS TWO MONTHS BETWEEN IT. THERE IS A TWO-MONTH WORK FLOW AND I FEEL LIKE THAT IS TOO LONG.

I WAS REALLY SURPRISED THAT THE BOARD WAS NOT MEETING MONTHLY BEFORE BECAUSE OF THAT. I KNOW SOME OF THE STUFF TAKES LONGER AND EVERYTHING DEFINITELY.

LIKE YOU SAID, MORE TIME INVOLVED OF PUTTING THE MEETING

ON AND EVERYTHING. >>JOANNE FLUKE: RIGHT.

>> THAT IS PRETTY MUCH MY THOUGHT.

JUST THE WORK FLOW GOING THROUGH IS TOO LONG.

SOME WE ARE ON THE TOPIC OF TIMES OF MEETING.

>> I MEAN, I SEE BOTH SEED. I GUESS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR A WHILE NOW. I FELT WE WERE PRODUCTIVE MEETING MONTHLY, THE PROBLEM WAS THERE ARE TEAMS WE WOULD SHOW UP AND COULDN'T HAVE A MEETING TO DISCUSS THE TOPICS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE A QUORUM. IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THAT WOULD BE A PROBLEM NOW. BECAUSE WITH JOANNE.

IF WE STARTED NEXT MONTH BEING MONTHLY, THAT ALREADY OMITS ONE PERSON. SOME WE WOULD BE HAVE TO BE COULD A-- COULD ANY VAN IN THE THAT THE REST OF US -- ALL OF US TAKE TIME OUT OF OUR DAY AND WE SHOW UP.

AND WE CAN'T GO FORWARD WITH THE AGENDA BECAUSE WE TONIGHT HAVE EVERYBODY THERE. I GUESS I SEE IF WE DISCOVERED THAT WE HAD SO MANY THINGS TO RECOVER THE NECESSITY FOR IT.

BUT I ALSO SEE THE SEED OF IF WE CAN'T GET EVERYBODY HERE, THEN IT IS JUST THE SAME AS IF WE WERE EVERY OTHER MONTH BECAUSE THOSE TOPICS ARE NOW BEING PUSHED TO THE NEXT MEETING.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW I GUESS IF THERE WAS A STRONG COMMITMENT THAT EVERYONE WILL HAD BEEN FOLLOWING DO THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT THE SECOND TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH THAT WAS OUR DAY TO BE HERE AND DISCUSS THE ISSUES THAT WE FOUND THAT WARRANTED IN YOU HAVE TO MEET MONTHLY, I MEAN, I WOULD BE BEHIND IT.

BUT, AGAIN, SEEING WHERE WE WERE AND NOT HAVING ENOUGH AND HAVING -- YOU KNOW, THE FEW THAT DID SHOW UP NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE

[00:55:02]

PLUS THE THINGS WE WANTED TO HIT FOR THAT MONTH AND THINGS STARTED GETTING -- WE DON'T WANT TO PUSH THINGS OFF EITHER.

SO I GUESS I -- I AM GOOD EITHER WAY.

BY CAN BE HERE. MY SCHEDULE IS SET TO KNOW THAT EVERY OTHER TUESDAY. OVER OTHER MONTH ON THE SECOND TUESDAY WE ARE HERE. BUT IF I HAD TO ADAPT TO HE MONTH, I WILL BE WILLING 20 DO THAT ALSO.

PAUSE THIS IS IMPORTANT TO ME AND I WANT TOP DO MY PART DESERVE -- TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY THE WAY I AGREED TO PER THIS RESOLUTION. SO I MAINTAIN FLEXIBILITY HOWEVER WE WANT TO DO IT. I WOULD BE -- I THINK DISCOURAGED IF WE ONLY DID TWICE A YEAR.

I THINK THAT WOULD LEAVE WAY TOO MUCH.

AND I FEEL LIKE WE MAY LOSE OUR VALIDITY TO WHAT WE ARE DOING.

AND THERE CAN BE MISSED OPPORTUNITIES.

SO I MEAN, I WOULD REALLY NOT TO SEE US AT TWICE A MONTH -- TWICE

A YEAR. >> I AGREE WITH YOU, JAMIE.

BEFORE WE HAD A BIGGER NUMBER PEOPLE COMING IN FOR QUORUM, BUT AFTER COVID, I HAVE NOTICED A DECREASE IN MEMBERS SHOWING UP FOR THE BOARD. AND IF WE PROVIDE MORE ADVERTISEMENT, WORD OF MOUTH, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD SEE MORE PEOPLE COMING IN ON -- MORE PEOPLE COMING IN FROM THE BOARD PLUS FROM THE PUBLIC IF WE WERE TO CHANGE TO MONTHLY MEETINGS.

BUT THAT IS ON THE CON I THINK IT AG-- CONTINGENCY AND PROMOTI WHY WE ARE HERE. I'M FLEXIBLE EITHER WAY AND THAT IS MAY THOUGHTS IF WE SWITCH MONTHLY MEETINGS.

>>JAMIE THOMAS: I AGREE WITH THAT.

I HAVE SPOKEN TO A FEW CANDIDATES AND THEY ARE LIKE, OH, SOMETHING THAT THE CITY HAS? I AM LIKE, YEAH, THIS IS WHAT WE DO. AND I HAVE SHARED A COPY OF OUR AGENDA AND I FEEL LIKE IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO BE HAVING NEW PEOPLE COMING IN AND SITTING IN THIS OFFICE HERE IN A FEW MONTHS. AND I WANT THEM TO KNOW AND FEEL THE SUPPORT FOR US THAT WE HAD WITH THE CURRENT COUNCILMEMBERS.

I DO MY BEST TO PROMOTE ON. HE SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT WITHOUT MUCH TO GIVE TO THAT IT ONLY GOES SO FAR.

BUT, I MEAN, I THINK THE PROMOTION -- BEING ABLE TO PROMOTE AND MAKE THIS A MORE KNOWN BOARD, I THINK IT WILL HELP US MAYBE GET THE PUBLIC IN TO SHARE.

I AM ONLY SHARING WHAT I KNOW OF THE FAMILIES THAT THAT I WORK WITH AND EXPERIENCE MYSELF. AND I DON'T WANT TO BE THAT BE SOLE VOICE. I WANT THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO FEEL THEY CAN COME IN JUST LIKE THEY WOULD AT A REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING AND SHARE SOMETHING THAT MAY BE GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE NOT EVEN AWARE OF THAT IMPACTS THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY AND SHARE OUR THOUGHTS.

THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO SEE WITH THIS BOARD.

MAYBE NOT GO AS HONG AS THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS BUT TO BRING IN THESE PEOPLE SO WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO SIT HERE AND BE THEIR VOICES BUT THEY FEEL THEY CAN COME AND STAND AT THIS PODIUM AND SAY THIS IS WHERE HOME.

AND I AM A PARENT OF A CHILD OR I AM A DISABLED PERSON MYSELF AND I NOTICED X AREU, Y, Z IS THE COMMUNITY AND HERE IS MY SUGGESTION AND THIS IS WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE. , Y, Z IS TH COMMUNITY AND HERE IS MY SUGGESTION AND THIS IS WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE. I TONE KNOW IF THAT IS ANYONE'S VISION FOR THE BOARD. UP TRY TO PRO MOTH IT.

I TRY TO DO MY PART. WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE WITH THIS BOARD. I DON'T WANT TO SEE IT GO AWAY OR PUSHED FURTHER BACK. I WOULD LOVE FOR US TO BE AS SEEN AS, LIKE, THE OTHER BOARDS THAT SERVE UP HERE.

>> ONE THING -- >> I AM GOING TO INTERRUPT FOR A SECOND. I AM AN INTERPRET AND I WANTED TO BRING A POINT OF -- CAT SAID ADVERTISEMENTMENT THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AND NOT BY WORD OF MOUTH.

[01:00:02]

I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT. >>JOANNE FLUKE: GO AHEAD.

>> JAMIE, ONE THING OF WHAT I HEARD IN WHAT YOU SAID AND I AM SURE THAT IS NOT EXACTLY WHAT YOU MEANT, SINCE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE LETTER AND EVERYTHING, IT ALMOST SOUNDED LIKE YOU WERE SAYING PUT IN THE LETTER THAT WE WANT TO MEET EVERY TWO MONTHS, BECAUSE WE CAN'T -- WE DON'T THINK WE CAN GET A QUORUM ANY

OTHER TIME. >>JAMIE THOMAS: I AM SPEAKING FROM PAST EXPERIENCES. AND I DON'T WANT US TO START DOING THAT AND THEN THE PEOPLE OVER US BE LIKE, WELL, WE ARE NOT MEETING ENOUGH. AND THEN GIVE THEM A REASON TO COME BACK AND SAY MAYBE Y'ALL NEED TO MEET TWICE A YEAR.

I BEEN AT US TO HAVE THAT SUSTAINABILITY, BUT I WANT US TO HAVE THE COMMUNITY BACKING BEHIND US AND THE CITY BACKING BEHIND US WITH THE THINGS WE NEED TO SHOW THEM THAT, HEY, THIS IS WHY WE NEED TO MEET MORE THAN TWICE A YEAR.

THIS IS WHY WE NEED TO MEET MORE THAN EVERY OTHER MONTH.

I DEFINITELY SUPPORT GOING MORE, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WHEN WE ARE ALL IN, THAT WE ARE ALL IN. AND WE ALL ARE AGREEING THIS IS WHAT WE WANT AND WE WILL BE FULFILLING THIS OBLIGATION TO ITS FULLEST, IF NOT MORE SO. THAT'S -- I AM NOT -- I MEAN, THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO SEE FOR US FOR SURE.

>> I WANTED TO CLEAR THAT UP IN MY MIND EXACTLY.

I DIDN'T THINK THAT IS WHAT YOU SAID.

>>JAMIE THOMAS: NO, NO. >>JOANNE FLUKE: CAN I ASK SOME QUESTIONS? AS YOUR FACILITATOR FOR THE CITY. AND IF YOU CAN'T ANSWER, I UNDERSTAND. BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE -- I DON'T WANT TOP SET THIS BOARD UP FOR FAILURE.

THAT IS -- AS A CHAIR. THAT IS NOT A PART OF THIS.

I FEEL LIKE THIS LETTER NEED TO SHOW WHY WE NEED TO MEET TWICE A MONTH. I DON'T THINK WE AS A BOARD HAVE ENOUGH TO STAY WE CAN MEET MONTHLY RIGHT NOW.

AND -- AND I WRITE AT THE CITY MANAGER LOOKING AT THIS SAYING, YEAH, WE ARE QUESTIONING EVEN MEETING EVERY OTHER MONTH.

SO WE YOU NEED TO SHOW US WHY YOU ARE MEETING EVERY MONTH -- OR EVERY OTHER MONTH. AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE BEEN

REQUESTED FOR THIS LETTER. >> THAT IS A QUESTION?

IF. >>JOANNE FLUKE: IS THAT WHY?

>> NO, REALLY WHERE THIS -- WHERE THIS IDEA OF WRITING A LETTER TO THE CITY MANAGER CAME FROM WAS ACTUALLY FROM THIS BOARD. AND LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY AS I KNOW IT FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE FAIRLY NEW, I WAS NOT THE ORIGINALLY AJOHN IN TO THIS -- -- NOT THE ORIGINAL LIAISON TO THIS BOARD AND I DON'T KNOW ALL THE HISTORY BUT I KNOW JUST THE LAST FEW YEARS. MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THIS BOARD WAS ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED TO GIVE ADVICE TO THE CITY COUNCIL ABOUT CITY BUILDINGS. AND REALLY TO HELP THE CITY -- AND SOMETIMES THERE IS SOME CONFUSION BETWEEN BEN PEOPLE SAY THE CITY AND WHEN PEOPLE SAY THE CITY.

WHEN I'M TALKING ABOUT THE CITY, I AM TALKING ABOUT THE CITY OF ABILENE MUNICIPALITY, CITY INFRASTRUCTURE, THE BUILDINGS THAT WE OWN, MANAGE AND MA MAINTAIN.

AND SO THE MEETINGS WERE HAPPENING MORE OFTEN BECAUSE WE WERE TOURING SO MANY BUILDINGS. WE DO NOT BUILD BUILDINGS VERY OFTEN, SO ONCE QUESTION MADE IT THROUGH A ROUND OF TOURING BUILDINGS. GOT FEEDBACK AND WE DID HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THINGS THAT WE HAD IMPLEMENTED FROM THOSE TOURS, THERE WASN'T AS MUCH NEED TO KEEP TOURING THE SAME BUILDINGS MONTHLY IS SOME OF MY UNDERSTANDING IS WHEN I CAME INTO THIS. AND SO A LOT OF -- A LOT OF WHAT I THINK WAS UNDERSTOOD WITH THIS -- OR ONE PART OF WHAT IS UNDERSTOOD WITH THIS BOARD WAS TO REALLY GIVE FEEDBACK OF CITY MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS. ANOTHER ASPECT OF THE BOARD IS THE BOARD THAT CITYLINK REPORTS TO, THAT IS A REQUIREMENT -- MY UNDERSTANDING IS A REQUIREMENT -- A FEDERAL REQUIREMENT FOR CITYLINK TO REPORT TO OUR BOARD. MAN AND MINIMUM IS TWICE A YEAR.

SO I THINK THAT IS WHY IT WAS WRITTEN THE WAY IT WAS THAT AT

[01:05:01]

HAS TO GIVE A REPORT TO SOMEONE. >>JOANNE FLUKE: ORIGINALLY THAT

WAS NOT GOING ON. >> YOU ARE CORRECT.

ORIGINALLY A DIFFERENT BOARD AND SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEAED TO

MERGE. >>JOANNE FLUKE: BECAUSES THAT BOARD WAS NOT MEETING THEIR QUORUM AND WE KIND OF SAVED THAT BOARD TO KEEP THE FUNDING FOR THE TRANSPORTATION, YEAH.

>> REALLY MOREOVER POST COVID, THE LAST TWO YEARS, ESPECIALLY THE LAST YEAR, THERE HAVE BEEN -- I HAVE SEEN MORE OF A DESIRE OF THIS BOARD TO IT BE MORE -- I GUESS MARKETING AND EDUCATIONAL.

AND THAT WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL DIRECTIVE OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO THIS BOARD. SO THE REASON FOR THE LETTER REALLY CAME MORE FROM THE BOARD SAYING IF WE WANT TO EXPAND OUR SCOPE BEYOND.WHAT WAS DIRECTED BY CITY COUNCIL, THIS A PROCESS TO DO THAT. THAT PROCESS IS TO WRITE A LETTER TO THE CITY MANAGER, GET HIS FEEDBACK AND MOVE ON TO THE CITY COUNCIL. THIS IS NOT COMING FROM CITY COUNCIL OR THE CITY MANAGER TO THIS BOARD TO SAY YOU HAVE TO WRITE A LETTER AND EXPLAIN MYSELF.

THIS IS REALLY MORE MULTIPLE MONTHS CAN WE DO THIS? WELL, IT IS BEYOND OUR SCOPE. CAN WE DO THIS? BEYOND OUR SCOPE. I THINK THE MEETING I CAME IN LATE ON I SUGGESTED BASICALLY HAVING THAT WORKSHOP DIALOGUE DISCUSSION TO REALLY GET A GOOD UNDERSTANDING ON WHAT DOES THIS BOARD WANT TO BE. AND ARE WE GOOD WITH TWICE A MONTH -- TWICE A MONTH REVIEWING PLANS AND LOOKING AT BUILDINGS, OR DO WE WANT IT TO BE MORE. IF WE ARE GOING TO ASK FOR MORE, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE. AND IT REALLY IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE MORE ON HIGH LEVEL SIDE OF THINGS, YOU KNOW, MARKETING, EDUCATION, TRAINING, THOSE KIND COUNTY THINGS.

I HEARD WHAT YOU SAID AT THE PETITION BEGINNING.

THAT GETS INTO MORE DIRECT PROGRAMING.

THAT, I DO KNOW, IS A SEPARATE PLOT BY THE PARKS BOARD DEPENDING ON WHAT AREA THAT IT IS IN AND SO WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS ATTAINABLE.

WHATEVER WE ASK FOR, ARE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS ATTAINABLE

FLUKZ NUCLEAR RITSH DSH. >>JOANNE FLUKE: THAT'S RIGHT.

WHY WE PRESENT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS NOT LIKE THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. GOING BACK TO US GOING TO FACILITIES. SOME OF THOSE FACILITIES HAVE BEEN DONE. WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED.

BUT I DO THINK WE NEED TO GO BACK.

THAT WAS PRE-COVID. SO WE ARE LOOKING AT THREE OR FOUR YEARS. SO I BELIEVE THAT WE DO NEED TO GO BACK AND BOARD, TELL ME IF I AM WRONG.

WE NEED TO GO BACK AND -- ON THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE DONE THOSE THINGS.

AND IF THEY HAVEN'T BEEN DONE, WHY.

>> IF THEY ARE ACTUALLY AS ACCESSIBLE BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE PRETTY MUCH -- EVERY MAJOR PART OF THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY. IS IT ACCESSIBLE TO SOMEBODY WHO USE AS CANE, A WHEELCHAIR, SOMEONE WHO IS DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING. DOES IT ACTUALLY MEET THE USABLE STANDARD. I MEAN, THERE ARE DIFFERENT VARIATIONS OF WHAT ADA MEANS, BUT IF IT IS NOT -- IF US AS CITIZENS CANNOT ACTUALLY ACCESS THEM, THEN THEY ARE NOT REALLY AS COMPLIANT AS THEY NEED TO BE. BECAUSE IF WE CAN'T GET IN OR SHE CAN'T GET IN THROUGH A WHEELCHAIR THAT MAY MEAN THAT OTHER PEOPLE CAN'T EITHER. DIDN'T HAVE A FOLLOW-UP THE ZOO, A LOT OF THE UNEVEN GROUND AND HEAL THEED AND MADE BRIGHT STRIPES WHERE THOSE -- THAT MAY NOT BE VISUALIZED TO HER SO IS THAT A TRIPPING HAZARD TO SOMEONE VISUALLY-IMPAIRED AND MIND. DID WE EVER GET A FOLLOW-UP FROM

THE ZOO? >> I THINK THAT IS WHEN WE HIT THE COVID AND NOT BEING ABLE TO GET A QUORUM.

>>JAMIE THOMAS: BECAUSE -- I LOVE OUR ZOO.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. WE SPENT MOST OF SPRING BREAK THERE. BUT OFFLOADING THROUGH THE GROUND THERE. I LOVE THAT THEY FIXED WHERE THE ALLIGATOR WAS BECAUSE IT WAS HARD FOR PEOPLE WITH WHEELCHAIR AND WALKERS. THE WHEELS WERE BEING STUCK IN THE WOODED SLATS, BUT I THINK GOING BACK THROUGH AND NOW THAT

[01:10:05]

CAN YOU ACTUALLY USE IT WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF EFFORT THAT ABLE BODY PERSON CAN DO. BECAUSE WE HAVE CHANGED AND EVOLVED AND THINGS HAPPENED. BUILDINGS GET COMPLACENT.

WE GET COME P-- COME PLAY SEPTEMBER.

IF SHE WALKED IN INTO THE POLICE STATION TO ASK FOR A POLICE REPORT. HOW WOULD THEY SERVE HER OR COMMUNICATE WITH HER. YOU KNOW, IF HE NEEDED ACCESS INTO A BUILDING. ARE THE CITY BUILDINGS WITH PUSH BUTTONS, ARE THEY EVEN WORKING. DO THEY HAVE THEM.

HOW CAN YOU GET IN THE BATHROOM OR THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR.

I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE WRONG TO GIVE A CHECK-UP.

I KNOW CERTAIN PLACES UNDER CONSTRUCTION LIKE THE AIRPORT.

GOING BACK THERE RIGHT NOW, BUT THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE AND ONES THAT WE KNOW OF THAT ARE IN COMPLIANCE.

>> THE FOLLOW-UP. I THINK THAT IS ONE THING.

I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS THIS BOARD HAS BEEN KIND OF STAGNANT IS WE GET TO A POINT, AND WE DON'T SEE FOLLOW-THROUGH.

THOSE THINGS MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED.

BUT THEY HAVEN'T COME BACK, YOU KNOW.

WE HAVEN'T GONE BACK TO MAKE SURE -- OH, THEY DID HAPPEN.

SO THE FOLLOW-UP. SO -- AND I HEAR YOU ABOUT ONCE A MONTH, BUT I DON'T WANT TO SAY WE ARE GOING TO MEET ONCE A MONTH AND WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH -- LIKE THAT COMES OUT OF A

MONTHLY MEETING. >> I UNDERSTAND ALL OF THAT.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

>> SO I WOULD SAY IN -- YOU GUYS, I HATE TO GET YOU STARTED ON THIS AND ME GO AWAY. I GUESS MY NEXT QUESTION IS, WHO

WOULD NEED TO WRITE THIS LETTER? >> I DON'T HAVE THE ENGLISH TO WRITE IT. SORRY.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: I GO UNDER MONDAY.

>> DEADLINE. >> IT IS ENOUGH TOO TIME WRITE

THE LETTER. >> I AM ASSUMING IT NEEDS TO

COME FROM SOMEBODY HERE? >>JOANNE FLUKE: IT DOES.

ABOUT. >>JAMIE THOMAS: DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE JUMPING. I WILL DO IT IF NEED BE.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: I AM ASKING IF SOMEBODY HAD THE MEAT OF THE LETTER AND I THINK THAT THE MEAT OF THE LETTER DOES CONSISTENT OF, YES, AS A BOARD, I THINK -- AS A BOARD, WE WILL LIKE TO FOLLOW UP ON THE BUILDINGS THAT WE HAVE MET -- HAVE VISITED IN PRESIDENT PAST. THE FIRST ONE WAS THE CONVENTION CENTER. I KNOW THAT UPDATES HAVE BEEN DONE ON THAT. BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO DOWN EACH. BUT I WILL SAY I THINK THAT IS NUMBER ONE BECAUSE THAT DOES MEET THE ADA COMPLAINTS.

NUMBER TWO -- YOU GUYS, I NEED FOR YOU TO PIPE IN BECAUSE.

NUMBER TWO, I THINK IT DOES SAY IN THE RESOLUTION.

IT TALKS ABOUT ADVERSARY BOARDS. WHEREAS THE CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WILL SERVE AS AN ADVERSARY BOARD AND A VOICE FOR THOSE WITH DISABILITIES TO HELP SHAPE AND CRAFT A MORE ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITY.

THE OTHER THING THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT AND COVID HIT AND WE JUST HAVEN'T POPPED BACK UP IS THE LIFE OF IT.

CHECKLIST. AND THOSE ARE CITY EVENTS.

THOSE NOT SCHOOL EVENT. THOSE ARE CITY EVENTS.

THAT MEANS THE CITY DOES COOPERATE RIGHT WITH THE ARTWALK. DON'T THEY COME TOGETHER FOR THE

ART WALK? >> OUR PART IN THAT IS ALLOWING TO HAPPEN IF THERE IS GOING TO BE A STREET CLOSURE AND IF THERE IS GOING TO USE A PARK. NOT OUR EVENT AND NOT IN THE COLLABORATION OF THE WAY YOU ARE ASKING BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE ON THE RIGHT-OF-WAY, THEY SUBMIT A REQUEST TO BE ENTERED INTO THE WRIGHT RIGHT-OF-WAY AND WE GRANT DENIAL REVIEW OF THAT REQUEST.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I KNOW YOU CAN'T DEMAND THEM TO DO EVERYTHING ON APPEAR CHECKLIST, BUT IF THAT IS PART OF MAKING AN EVENT FOR ALL OF THE COMMUNITY, YOU HAVE A CHECKLIST LIKE WE WERE WORKING ON.

COULDN'T THAT BE ADDED TO A CITY PACKET AS MAKING THE COMMUNITY

[01:15:03]

>>JOANNE FLUKE: OKAY. BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE ARE

LOOKING AT FIRST. >> WE CAN'T REQUIRE A PRIVATE ENTITY AND SOMEBODY OUTSIDE THE CITY.

CERTAIN REGULATIONS AND LAWS THAT WE CAN AND CANNOT REQUIRE.

TAMPA DOESN'T MEAN THERE MAY NOT BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO --

>>JOANNE FLUKE: TO SUGGEST. >> -- TO HAVE IT IS AVAILABLE FOR THEM TO LOOK AT TO MAKE TALKING POINTS.

SUGGEST MAY EVEN BE A STRONG WORD.

I WOULD THINK AND I WILL HAVE TO CHECK ON THAT AND THAT WILL GO IN NEW TERRITORY. ABOUT.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: WHERE THE VOICE AND ADVOCACY TO MAKE THE CITY OF ABILENE ACCESSIBLE. THAT IS THE ADVOCATING PART.

AND LIKE I SAID IN THE RESOLUTION, IT TALKS ABOUT THE VOICE AND THEN I TOTALLY HEAR YOU ALL AS A BOARD THE REASON WE DON'T HAVE A LOT -- A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES COMING UP IS PEOPLE TONIGHT KNOW ABOUT IT. AND I KNOW THAT WE TALKED THAT IN THE PAST. AND I AM NOT SAYING PUT IN A LOT OF MONEY. OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR THAT, BUT, LIKE, IF WE NEED TO CREATE THE CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD FACEBOOK PAGE. IS THE CITY OKAY WITH THAT, YOU KNOW. I WOULD THINK IT IS THOSE KIND OF MEDIA AND MARKETING -- LIKE WE WOULD LIKE GUIDANCE FOR FROM THE CITY BECAUSE I AGREE WITH CAT AND I AM HEARING ALL OF YOU.

SO I THINK THE LET HER NEEDS TO SAY SOMETHING THAT WE DO NEED TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE BUILDINGS. THAT OUR CITY OWNED.

>> WHAT ABOUT STREETS AND SIDEWALKS.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: PART OF THE CITY.

>>JAMIE THOMAS: IF WE ARE TALKING OF MAKING THINGS ACCESSIBLE TO USE, THEN ARE THOSE SIDEWALKS AND TOUGH THAT

ARE -- ARE THEY. >>JOANNE FLUKE: CITY MAINTENANCE. AND SO I DO THINK YOU GO BACK TO THE BUILDINGS, THE MAINTENANCE, THE THEN YOU GO BACK TO, YES, LET'S ADVOCATE TEN MINUTES WITHIN THE FIRST PART OF A MEETING PAUSE THEN THAT GETS ON THE WEB SITE AND PEOPLE CAN COME BACK AND LOOK AT THAT AND THEN BRING IN -- I KNOW THAT THIS

GETS DICEY. >> I THINK YOUR SON WAS TRYING

TO GET YOUR ATTENTION. >> JUST GO TO THE BATHROOM AND

GET -- >>JOANNE FLUKE: I -- I THINK THAT THOSE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS. I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND AND WE WOULD LIKE -- YEAH?

>> NO, SHE WAS -- >>JOANNE FLUKE: -- TO FOLLOW UP WITH -- FOR PRESIDENT BUILDING AND MAINTENANCE OF ABILENE, TEXAS. AND I THINK THAT BE WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH THE CITY TO HAVE A MEDIA PLAN MAYBE OR MARKETING PLAN. HOWEVER THAT NEEDS TO LOOK.

AND PART OF THAT IS MAKING SURE THAT ALL -- LIKE ONCE AGAIN, LIKE, THE MEDIA AND MARKETING IS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL.

AND THEN -- AND THEN THE ADVOCACY PARTICIPANT.

>>JAMIE THOMAS: I WAS GOING TO SAY CAN WE -- I HAVE SEEN THE STUFF THEY DO ON THE ABILENE CHANNEL.

COULD WE NOT DO A LITTLE ADVERTISEMENT -- A LITTLE PLURB WITH HER TO PROMOTE -- OR IS THAT KIND OF GOING OUTSIDE OUR SCOPE AGAIN? I AM TRYING TO BE CREATIVE WHILE UTILIZING CITY ENTITIES, BUT THEN AGAIN, I AM STILL LEARNING.

>> AS FAR AS WORKING WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT TO BE ON CHANNEL 2 TO TALK ABOUT THIS BOARD, THAT IS SOMETHING -- I

[01:20:04]

IF YOU ARE WANTING TO BE PART OF THE ADVOCACY, THAT IS AGAIN, DERRING WITH TO NEED SOME FEEDBACK FROM CITY MANAGEMENT.

>> I WOULD SAY MORE SHARING LIKE WHAT THIS BOARD DOES.

NOT GOING PAST LIKE -- ANYTHING AT LEAST FOR RIGHT NOW, SHOW THE CITY THAT, LOOK, WE WANT TO PUT OUR NAME OUT THERE A LITTLE BIT MORE. AND NOT ASK FOR ANYTHING EXTRA BUT SAY, HEY, IF MAURY PEA GREED TO THIS, CAN WE DO A LIT LITTLE BLURB WHAT THE POINT OF THIS IS AND GET OUT BETTER AND COMMUNICATED BETTER IN THE COMMUNITY.

NOTHING FANCY AND NOTHING LIKE -- YOU KNOW SHORT, SWEET AND TO

THE POINT. >> I WILL TALK TO MARIE.

I THOUGHT SHE WAS HERE. >> THEY KEEP TRADING.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: CAN YOU TAKE SOME NOTES REAL QUICK FOR THE LETTER. EVERYBODY, PLEASE STEP UP.

SO OBVIOUSLY I THINK, LIKE, NUMBER ONE STILL NEEDS TO BE THE MAINTENANCE, THE BUILDINGS. BUT WE WANT TO DO FOLLOW-UP.

AND TO ME -- >> IT IS RECORDED SO YOU CAN

LISTEN TOP THIS. >> MY RIGHT ARM IS OUT OF COMMISSION SO I SHOULDN'T HAVE TURNED MY COMPUTER --

>>JOANNE FLUKE: SO DEFINITELY ADA COMPLIANCE BOTH WITH BUILDING AND MAINTENANCE. THEN I WWOULD ASK FOR SUPPORT WHEN IT COMES TO GET ING THE WORD OUT WITH PRESIDENT CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD OF PEOPLE WITH DISBLTHS AND GET THE WORD OUT.

ADVERTISING AND MEDIA. FACEBOOK PAGE, KNOW.

BUT A PLAN -- A MARKETING MEDIA ADVERTISING, ALL OF THAT PLAN

AND THEN -- >> ON THAT MAYBE WHAT WE WOULD WANT TO ASK FOR IS THEM GIVING US THE ABILITY TO START A FACEBOOK PAGE. I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WORKS NOW.

>> I AM WONDERING -- I AM ASSUMING SOMEBODY FROM Y'ALL'S SIDE WILL HAVE TO MODERATE, NOT JUST US BECAUSE OF THE CONTENT THAT WILL GO TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CONTENT --

>> THAT IS SOMETHING WE REALLY TRIED TO RAIN IN BECAUSE WE HAD TOO MANY AND TOO HARD TO MANAGE AND CONTROL.

ACTUALLY AS A CITY, WE HA HAVE REINED THAT IN AND PULLED BACK ON HOW MANY PLATFORMS WE WORK WITH GLEN PETITION -- AND

THEN AGAIN FOWLNAREY. >>JAMIE THOMAS: CAN WE USE OUR CITY AND THE CURRENT ONES AND MAKE SURE.

>> THAT GOES BACK TO MAREY. TOM TOMORROW GETTING OUR OWN FACEBOOK. AND IF MARE WHY, GIVES THE GREEN LIGHT THAT THESE MEETINGS BEING A AHEAD OF TIME.

AND ON THE CITY PAGE. >> NOW THAT IS ALREADY

HAPPENING. >>JAMIE THOMAS: IS IT?

>> AN E-MAIL BLAST GOES OUT. THAT IS ALREADY HAPPENING.

>>JAMIE THOMAS: WHERE DOES THE E-MAIL GO? I WAS NOT AWARE OF THAT. OKAY.

SO -- I WAS TRYING TO COMPROMISE, IF WE CAN'T HAVE A FACEBOOK PAGE AT LEAST, MORE ACCESS ON THE MAIN CITY'S PAGE.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THE CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH THE MEDIA MARKETING -- CITY AND

MEDIA MARKETING PERSON. >> COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT.

>>JAMIE THOMAS: HE WAS GOING TO SAY THAT GOT REAL WORDY THAT

FAST. >>JOANNE FLUKE: COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT TO GET THE -- GET THE WORD OUT YOU HAVE BUILDINGS.

YOU HAVE THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT, AND THEN TOMORROW

TOM FOLLOW-UP. >>JOANNE FLUKE: THE BUILDING.

THE FOLLOW-UP. Y

[01:25:04]

YEAH. >> WHAT ARE WE WANTING THE MEDIA MARKETING -- YOU ARE SAYING YOU WANT THE MEDIA MARKETING PLAN TO HELP PROMOTE THE BOARD IN WHAT THEY DO.

>> PROMOTING PEOPLE TO COME. TOM.

>> BUT WHAT IS THAT? I MEAN, RIGHT NOW, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE TOURS AND THE FOLLOW-UP AND BACK TO THE FACIL FACILITIES.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: SO I WOULD SAY THAT THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT COULD ASSIST ON EDUCATING THE CITIZENS OF ABILENE ABOUT THE CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. THE OTHER THING THAT THE XHOO UNOCCASION DEPARTMENT COULD ASSIST WITH IS HELPING THERE BE BE A WAY FOR CITIZENS TO GET THEIR VOICE HEARD I MEAN THAT IS WHY WE CREATED THIS BOARD WAS FOR THE CITIZENS IN ABILENE TO HAVE A PLACE TO HAVE A VOICE, BUT THE THING IS, IS THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT ANYMORE. LIKE I KNOW THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT IT WHEN WE STARTED. LIKE WE WERE ACTUALLY MEETING.

AND I KNOW THAT A LOT CHANGED, BUT THERE WAS ACTUALLY TOWN HALL MEETING SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS BOARD.

AND WE HAD A GOOD 75 PEOPLE THERE.

SO THAT IS GOOD FOR ABILENE. SO THEY WERE ON -- LIKE THE CITIZENS WERE GETTING ON BOARD AND THEN, THE CITY HELPED PUT THAT TOGETHER AND THAT ALL STOPPED.

SO THE CITY WORKED WITH THE CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD TO GIVE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITIZENS TO SPEAK.

THAT IS NOT HAPPENING NOW. AND I THINK THAT IS WHERE THE ADVOCACY COMES IN. LIKE THIS BOARD NEEDS TO BE THAT. -- NO IS NO HAD THE WHAT I MEAN, TO MOVE FOR CITIZENS TO KNOW WHERE THEY CAN GO BECAUSE THEY KNEW, BUT THEN EVERYTHING JUST STOPPED.

WITH COMMUNICATION. SO --

>> I WAS THINKING ALSO ON THAT, NOTIFICATION FOR THE EVENTS.

LIKE THIS -- THIS EXTRAVAGANZA. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING ON IT.

>> IT'S ON THE CITY CALENDAR. >> IT IS ON 9 CITY CALENDAR AND GONE OUT FOR SOCIAL MEDIA FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION

DEPARTMENT AS ABILENE. >> DISABILITY EVENTS.

DOES THAT DETAIL THE DISABILITY TIMES AND SUCH?

>> THIS WHOLE FLIER WAS POSTED, I THINK YESTERDAY, WASN'T IT.

>> WE ARE DOING IT QUITE OFTEN. WENT OUT YESTERDAY AND NOT THE

FIRST TIME THIS WENT OUT. >> THIS WHOLE FLIER IS -- LITERALLY WENT OUT AND AT THE VERY BOTTOM SO.

AND WHAT THAT COMES BACK TO, WHEN WE REQUEST THIS LIKE JAMIE SAID, WE GOT TO GET IT OUT THIS. AND I -- I THINK MAYBE THAT IS WHAT NEED NEEDS TO BE IN THE LETTER.

LIKE WE TAKE RESPONSIBILITY ONCE WE GET ASSISTANCE AND AND THE THEY THINK IS THAT I KNOW WE ARE IN A LULL RIGHT NOW, BUT THE CITY COUNCIL IS ABOUT READY TO APPROVE A NEW COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. AND I KNOW FOR A FACT WHERE THIS -- WHERE THE -- WHERE EVERYTHING IS ALL.

AND THE REASON IT IS ALL IS TO ACCEPT ALL, LIKE ALL ABILITY.

WHEN THAT IS PRESENTED. THAT IS WHY "ALL" IS IN FLORIDA SO MUCH APPROXIMATELY THERE WILL BE SOMETHING IN THAT COMPREHENSIVE THAT WE WILL NOT BE GETTING THE REQUEST WHEN IT IS APPROVED. THAT IS ANOTHER THING AS A CITY THAT WE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IS TO HELP MAINTAIN THE NEW COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. ANYTHING ELSE? BECAUSE YOU ARE RIGHT. WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT PROGRAMMING, THAT IS PART OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

[01:30:01]

SO IT IS NOT JUST, LIKE, BUILDING ASPECTS AND THIS -- IT IS ALL THOSE FIVE PILLARS. AND SO THAT IS WHERE THE DISABILITY -- LIKE, THIS BOARD -- LIKE I SAID, LIKE I WOULD LIKE -- THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO NOT TO BE A DISABILITY ADVISORY BOARD BECAUSE WE ARE INCLUDED IN ALL OF THE -- BUT RIGHT NOW, YOU GOT TO GET THE VOICE STRONG BEFORE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN JUST GO RIGHT TO THOSE BOARDS I FEEL.

>>JAMIE THOMAS: I HAVE BEEN DOING THE ABILENE ACADEMY AND DOING THE CITY WORKS AND WE RAN OVER BECAUSE HAVING GOOD DISCUSSIONS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS BROUGHT UP IS ACCESSIBLE AND AND ADAPTIVE CROSSWALKS WHERE THEY ARE AUDITORY, SO FOR THOSE WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS, THEY STARTED THIS AT OKLAHOMA STATE. THEY WERE TELLING ME ON THE TOUR WITH MY DAUGHTER THAT IT DOES A COUNTDOWN AND SAYS WHEN TO GO.

WHEN TO STOP SO THAT ALL THEIR STUDENTS COMPANY SAFELY ACCESS THE CAMPUS WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. AND I THINK AND GROWING THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND WANTING TO MAKE IT MORE A PLACE FOR EVERYONE TO GO THROUGH THAT WE ENSURE THAT THE CITY SIDEWALKS ARE UP TO PAR SO THAT EVERYONE CAN PARTAKE ON THEM WHETHER IT IS MOBILITY, IT'S VISION, ETC. THAT THERE IS REASONABLE, YOU KNOW, ACCESSIBLE PARKING SPACES. I KNOW THAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE MINIMUM, BUT AS -- AS DOWNTOWN IS GROWING AND GETTING BUSY, IT'S HARDER AND HARDER TO FIND -- AND I WAS SHARING THAT THE OTHER DAY. I WENT TO THE BEEHIVE FOR A LUNCHEON AND I HAD TO ASSEMBLE HIS CAR SEAT -- NOT HIS CAR SEAT BUT WHEELCHAIR PARTIALLY IN THE ROAD PA US OF PARALLEL PARKING AND NO ACCESS TO THE HANDICAP SPOTS BY THE RESTAURANT WERE TAKEN. AND THE WAY THE SIDEWALK WAS DONE, I COULDN'T USE THAT. AND, LIKE, THAT IS NOT GOING TO WORK FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. SO THAT -- AS WE GROW DOWNTOWN AND LOOKING AT THE SPARKING SPACES, THAT WE BE MORE AWARE THAT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE GOING TO BE COMING DOWN THERE AND COULD REALLY UTILIZE THAT.

I MEAN I WAS KIND OF PLAYING FROG WE ARE THE CARS BECAUSE THERE WAS, LIKE, A FOOD TRUCK IN THE ROAD TRYING TO DELIVER STUFF. IT WAS NO NOT THE IDEAL SETTING AND -- OKAY BUT -- BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER WAS, THERE WAS NO SAFE WAY FOR ME TO EVEN ASSEMBLE HIS WHEELCHAIR BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE TO EVEN GO FURTHER DOWN TOP FIND ANOTHER ACCESSIBLE PARKING SP SPACE AND THE WHEELCHAIR AND TRY TO GET THERE AND BE AS REASONABLE AS POSSIBLE AND DETERRENTS FOR PEOPLE COMING DOWNTOWN AS WE WERE DOING SOME OF THAT PARKING. I DON'T KNOW IF -- I KNOW THAT PEOPLE WERE SPOUTING OUT ABOUT A PARKING GARAGE, BUT THAT.

A AND THE MINIMUMS ARE OCCUPIED AND LUNCHTIME. THE GOOD SIGN AND PEOPLE ARE GETTING OUT AND WE ARE LESSENING THE MOBILITY ABILITY FOR PEOPLE

IN OUR COMMUNITY. >>JOANNE FLUKE: I MEAN I ALSO THINK IT NEEDS TO BE REMINDED. YOU ARE RIGHT, IT -- LIFE COMPLIANCE/ADA COMPLIANCE, ONE OF THE THINGS UP THAT BECAME FRUSTRATING WAS WHEN THEY WERE WORKING ON THE PARKING DOWNTOWN, WE GAVE SUGGESTIONS, BUT THERE IS NO FOLLOW-THROUGH.

I MEAN, THERE -- THERE IS, LIKE -- WE GAVE SUGGESTIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW -- AND THAT DISCUSSION -- AND I WENT TO ONE MEETING AND IT WASN'T -- IT NEVER WAS -- IT WAS PRESENTED TO THIS BOARD TWICE, AND WE -- WE GAVE SUGGESTIONS.

AND I KNOW COVID HIT. AND EVERYTHING WAS JUST DONE.

SO I THINK THE -- ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THIS BOARD WAS

[01:35:02]

AND CREDIBILITY. SO I -- I -- WE WANT TO BE ABLE

TO SHOW THAT. >> I THINK THE -- WHEN YOU LOOK AT NOW AND THE THINGS RECOMMENDED FOR PARKING.

HOW MANY WERE DONE AND EVERYTHING, THEN YOU CAN GO BACK TO THE CITY. AND SAY, YOU KNOW --

>> IS GREYHOUND CITY-RUN OR RUN BY GREYHOUND.

>> THEY ARE PRIVATE. >> OKAY.

BECAUSE THEY HAVE ISSUES WITH DISABILITY.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: SO DO WE HAVE -- ARE YOU GOOD WITH WHAT WE --

>> I FEEL LIKE -- >> OUR MEETING EVERY OTHER

MONTH. >> I THINK IT IF YOU --

>>JOANNE FLUKE: I THINK WITH THE LETTER THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP.

I DO THINK YOU NEED TO SHOW THE IMPORTANCE.

AND I THINK THAT THE LIFE COMP-- COMPLIANT/ADA. ARE YOU ALL IN AGREEMENT WITH

THAT? >> I AGREE WITH THAT.

BUT I HAVE ANOTHER COMMENT. AS NUMBER 6 SAID, YOU KNOW, MEET TWICE A YEAR. AND EVERYTHING.

I WOULD SUGGEST ONCE A QUARTER THAT HAS US MEETING MORE OFTEN WHICH THEY ARE EXPECTING US TO DO THAT.

IT SHOWS MORE PURPOSE THAN WE ARE WORKING FOR BECAUSE MEETING

TWICE A YEAR IS NOTHING. >>JOANNE FLUKE: ARE YOU OKAY WITH -- ANY BOARD THAT JUST MEETS FOUR TIMES A YEAR? THERE IS? I WAS THINKING OF PUTTING IT --

>>THE MINIMUM WE WOULD BE GOING WITH IS A QUARTER AND THE MAX IS

-- >> IF WE WANTED TO GO EVERY

MONTH -- >>JOANNE FLUKE: I DON'T KNOW YOU CAN DO THAT IN A RESOLUTION. GIVE A MAX AND A MINIMUM?

I THINK IT CAN ONLY BE ONE -- >> I AM AFRAID THEY WILL GO WITH

THE MINIMUM HONESTLY. >> I DON'T WANT TO DO IT EVERY THREE MONTHS. I'M GOING THE OTHER WAY.

>> I FEEL IF WE PUT IT IN AND MAYBE -- I'M TRYING TO THINK OF BOTH AND HOW SERIOUS AND PASSIONATE WE ARE.

WE GO BIG. AND WE -- I WOULD SAY -- BIG BUT S SAFE.

FOR NOW LET'S MAINTAIN EVERY OTHER MONTH AND SEE WHAT WE CAN

BUILD. >> WE CAN PUT THAT IN THE

LETTER. >> MAINTAIN MEETING EVERY OTHER MONTH AS WE BUILD THE THINGS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IN HERE.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: AS A BOARD, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HIT THE TOP, ADA, ARE LIFE COMPLIANT -- I WILL SAY LIFE COMPLIANT ADA. AND THEN ASSISTANCE WITH EDUCATING THE CITIZENS OF ABILENE ABOUT THE CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD WITH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

HOPEFULLY WORK -- COMING UP WITH A COMMUNICATION PLAN THROUGH THE C CITY.

AND THEN HELPING TO ADVOCATE AND ADVOCATE WOULD MEAN THAT DOES ENCOMPASS ALL OF THIS IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

BY ADVOCATING, YOU ARE BRINGING UP THE LIFE COMPLIANT BY ADVOCATING, YOU ARE HELPING EDUCATE THE CITIZENS OF ABILENE ABOUT THE IF CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD.

BUT CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD.

BUT CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD.

BUTCITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD.

BUT TO ME ADVOCATING AND EDUCATING IS VERY CLOSE.

SO -- AND EDUCATING WOULD BE. >> ONE OF THE THINGS WANT TO CLARIFY WHEN YOU SAY ADVOCATE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT AS A MUNICIPALITY WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OF IS WE ARE ABLE TO INFORM. WE ARE NOT IN A LOT -- IN A LOT OF INSTANCES, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO GO OUT AND SAY CAMPAIGN FOR ONE

[01:40:04]

"ADVOCATE." >>JOANNE FLUKE: SAY THE WORD

EDUCATE. >> EDUCATE IS WHAT YOU ARE MEANING VERSUS ADVOCATE AND WE ARE PICKING SOMETHING AND GOING

AFTER IT. >>JOANNE FLUKE: EDUCATE.

DON'T USE ADVOCATE. I WANT THEM TO BE LIKE, OH, THEY

GET IT. >> I WILL SAY WHY HE TO YOUR

QUESTION. >>JOANNE FLUKE: THE TOP THREE.

>>JAMIE THOMAS: FOLLOW UP WITH THE ORIGINAL PLACES THAT WE

WENT. >>JOANNE FLUKE: THAT IS NUMBER ONE. THAT IS TOP PRIORITY.

>>JAMIE THOMAS: WAIT, YOU HAVE LIFE COMPLIANCE.

LOOK, I HAVE REWRITTEN THESE NOTES.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: ISN'T THAT THE TOP?

LIFE COMPLIANT ADA IS -- >>JAMIE THOMAS: THAT IS ALL ONE

-- OKAY. >>JOANNE FLUKE: ADA, LIFE COMPLIANT/ADA. THAT IS ALL THE SAME, SORRY.

>> THE OTHER THING AND Y'ALL HAVE NOT TOUCHED ON THIS BUT JUST TO BE CLEAR IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COUNCIL LOOKS AT IS WE DON'T -- COUNCIL TRIES TO BE CAREFUL TO NOT DO SOMETHING THAT SOMEONE ELSE IS ALREADY DOING. SO Y'ALL HAVEN'T MENTIONED DOING ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT THAT IS ONE THE THINGS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE MAKING SURE IS, WE ARE NOT --

>> REINVENTING THE WHEEL. >> NOT TRYING TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT IS ALREADY EXISTS OUT THERE.

WE ARE FILLING A GAP. >> THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT THE CITY RUN. OMITTING THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS AND A WHOLE DIFFERENT QUALIFICATION FOR THAT AND NO CAMPS OR ANYTHING -- PROGRAMS LIKE THAT BECAUSE I DO REMEMBER YOU SAYING THAT LAST TIME. I WANTED TO BE VERY COGNIZANT.

SOMETHING DONE THROUGH THE CITY THAT WE CAN MAKE MORE ADAPT I HAVE IT AND ACCESSIBLE, NOT -- NOT A CUT AOFF.

CAN WE DO SOMETHING SIMILAR FOR THE YOUNGER CROWD.

CAMPS, PROGRAMS, THINGS LIKE THAT THAT THE CITY.

I DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY FROM SOMETHING THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE. I DON'T THINK ANYTHING THAT WE

TALKED ABOUT. >> WE WERE PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THAT TODAY. PROUD OF US.

I MEAN, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD BULK OF THE LETTER.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: SO I WOULD SUGGEST --

>> SOME OF THESE THINGS CAME IN PRIOR TO ME BEING HERE.

I -- SO I NKNOW THAT THE CIVIC CENTER WAS ONE THAT WE DID.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE OTHER. >>JOANNE FLUKE: WE DID THE -- THE CONVENTION CENTER -- IS THAT PART OF US STILL?

>> I KNOW IT IS CONTRACTED OUT. THAT'S --

>> WE OUTSOURCE THAT AND I WILL HAVE TO CHECK AND SEE -- BECAUSE THIS MAY FALL OUTSIDE OF OUR -- WE STILL OWN THE BUILDING.

I AM NOT FAMILIAR ENOUGH WITH THAT MANAGEMENT CONTRACT TO KNOW IF THAT WILL FALL WITHIN OUR PURVIEW OR OUTSIDE OUR PURSUE.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: THAT WAS PART OF MY QUESTION.

>>JAMIE THOMAS: PART OF THE ORIGINAL.

DID THAT CHANGE? >>I WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT.

YOU ARE WILLING TO MAKE THAT NOTE, BUT I WILL CHECK ON THAT.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: THE CONVENTION CENTER WAS ONE -- THE VERY FIRST ONE. THE NEXT ONE WAS CITY HALL.

THAT IS WHY I WAS LIKE, WHERE ARE WE WITH THAT.

BECAUSE CITY HALL. THEN WE WENT TO PARKS.

IF. >>JAMIE THOMAS: BALL PARKS?

>>JOANNE FLUKE: WE WENT TO FIVE. >> WE DID A BUS TOUR OF SOME OF THEM. WE TALKED MORE FROM THE BUS.

I THINK A COUPLE OF THEM. >> ONE OR TWO, YEAH.

>>JAMIE THOMAS: I DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WERE SPECIFICS SO I COULD.

>> WE WILL HAVE TO LOOK BACK AT THE MINUTES.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: I DON'T KNOW THAT.

>>JAMIE THOMAS: I WILL LEAVE THAT AS PARKS.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: CONVENTION, CITY HALL, PARKS --

>> SOME POINT THERE WAS THE AIRPORT.

>> BUT THEY ARE NOT PROCESS OF THAT ONE.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT -- >>JOANNE FLUKE: WE DID NOT GET

TO THE POLICE. >> WE HAVE SINCE THEN.

WITH HE HAD A MEETING OUT THERE. >>JOANNE FLUKE: WE HAD A MEETING

DOWN THERE. >>JAMIE THOMAS: SO BUT WE -- OH

-- >>JOANNE FLUKE: THE ZOO -- THE VERY FIRST. THE VERY FIRST ONE ACTUALLY -- ONE OF OUR VERY FIRST MEETINGS THEY SHOWED US THE PLAN FOR THE

POLICE STATION. >>JAMIE THOMAS: FEEL LIKE THAT

[01:45:03]

WAS ADDRESSED. >>JOANNE FLUKE: WE NEVER DID A WALK-THROUGH BEFORE THEY WENT IN AND EVERYTHING.

>> WELL, SOME OF THOSE LOCATIONS IF THEY ARE COMPLETELY CLOSED

OFF TO THE PRIVATE -- >>JOANNE FLUKE: YOU CAN'T.

>> WE TRY TO FOCUS ON PUBLIC ACCESS.

THOSE WERE THE ONES. THE ZOO IS THE LAST ONE THAT WE

HAVE DONE. >>JAMIE THOMAS: I WAS THERE FOR

THAT ONE. >>JOANNE FLUKE: SO --

>> DID WE EVEN SUBMIT ANY -- DID THAT STOP BECAUSE OF COVID? THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE MADE? WAS THAT EVER HANDED OVER TO THEM OR DONE?

>> RECOMMENDATIONS WERE HANDED OVER TO THE PERSON -- TO THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE AT THAT TIME. I THINK ONE OF MY FIRST MEETINGS WAS WHEN WE. PRESENTED WHAT HAS BEEN DONE SINCE THEN. AND THAT WAS ONE OF MY THIRD MEETINGS AND A LONG PERIOD OF TIME WHERE WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY MEETINGS. I KNOW WE HAVE COME TO THE BOARD LIKE WITH PLANS WHEN THE AIRPORT WAS IN A DESIGN PHASE.

THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. OPEN PARTS TO THAT.

AND I KNOW BUS STOPS. THAT CAME TO THE BOARD FOR REVIEW. I THINK -- THERE WAS SOMETHING AT THE CONVENTION CENTER THAT BY BROUGHT TO THE BOARD FOR REVIEW BEFORE. HE DON'T REMEMBER -- NORTH PLAZA. FLUKZ FLUKE THE NORTH PLAZA.

ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS. >> WE ARE BRINGING YOU PLANS IN

THE DEVELOPMENT PHASE. >>JOANNE FLUKE: NO FOLLOW THROUGH. WE SEE THE DEVELOPMENT, BUT WE DON'T GO BACK AND BE LIKE WHAT HE WILL HAS COME UP AND WHAT DO WE NEED. I KNOW IN YOUR PLANNING THINGS COME UP BUT THE FOLLOW-THROUGH HASN'T BEEN THERE.

THE FOLLOW-THROUGH NEEDS TO HA

HAPPEN. >>JAMIE THOMAS: FOLLOW THROUGH

MORE OF THE MEETINGS OR -- >>JOANNE FLUKE: FOLLOWED THROUGH, THE RECOMMENDATIONS. HAVE THEY BEEN FOLLOWED UP ON AND HAVE OTHER THINGS COME UP. BECAUSE YOU AND I BOTH PERFECT EXAMPLE WITH THE PARK. DON'T KNOW OF THIS LITTLE TURF THING IF CONVERSATIONS THROUGH THE PROCESS AND THAT GOT ALL DONE THE PROCESS BEING MORE OF THE PROCESS.

COMING ON PERSONAL. THE PROBLEM WE ARE FACING RIGHT NOW IS THE -- THE TURF IN THE GROUND.

LIKE IS SEPARATING UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT IS BEING ADDRESSED. BECAUSE BECOME ALL.

GO TO THE PARK AND SERVING THE PURPOSE WELL AND A NEED FOR THE FOLLOW-UP. AND IT IS PERFECT.

>>JOANNE FLUKE: WE HAVE NINE MINUTES.

TO WE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? >>JAMIE THOMAS: I LOVE ALL OF

Y'ALL. >>JOANNE FLUKE: WE ARE GOOD.

ARE YOU PHIS ALL GOOD. WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS AND I AM AROUND TO BE A SECOND SET OF EYES.

BUT I WOULD SAY, YEAH -- >> THROW ONE MORE THING OUT HERE. DON'T SHOOT ME, JAMIE.

DOES THIS BOARD WANT TO CONSIDER HAVING ONE-HOUR MEETINGS INSTEAD OF TWO-HOUR MEETINGS. NOT THAT YOU CAN'T HAVE TWO-HOUR MEETINGS WHEN -- WHEN IT IS -- WHEN IT IS A BIG TOPIC, BUT FOR PLANNING PURPOSES, WHAT IT WOULD BE A BIT MORE BENEFICIAL FOR THE BOARD IF THESE WERE MORE ONE-HOUR MEETINGS VERSUS ENDING 593:37 BUT IT NOT BEING SCHEDULED FOR PICK-UP UNTIL 5

P.M. >>JOANNE FLUKE: PEOPLE WHO USE

[01:50:01]

WHAT? HOW IS IT FOR YOU ALL WHEN YOU

USE -- >> THEY ARE BACKED UP.

IT PUSHES OUR TIME OF GETTING HERE TO THE MEETING LATE.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.