Aug 24, 2023 City Council

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:09]

. 8:30 A.M. AND I WILL CALL THE MEETING OF THE CITY OF ABILENE CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER AND ASK

SHANE PRICE FOR THE INVOCATION. >>SHANE PRICE: LORD, WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THIS DAY AND THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER. WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT ARE OUT AND ABOUT IN THE CITY SERVING US DAY IN AND DAY OUT. FIRST RESPONDERS ARE ARE POLICE, FIRE AND EMTS, DOCTORS, NURSES, WATER DEPARTMENT, PEOPLE IN PARKS DEPARTMENT, WORK ON ON THE PARKS KEEPING THIS EMNICE AND USABLE WHILE IT IS WARM ENOUGH TO BE OUTSIDE.

WE PRAY FOR RAIN. WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD SEND RAIN OUR WAY. WE PRAY THAT YOU WILL BE REQUEST THOSE OFFICERS THAT ARE WORKING ACTIVE FIRES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN MISPLACED AND EVEN LOST LOVED ONE IN FIRES. COMFORT THERE.

WE PRAY YOU BLESS US AS WE MAKE OUR CONSIDERATIONS AND DECISIONS TODAY THAT THEY CAN BE ONE FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY AND GLORY TO YOU IN JESUS'S NAME.

AMEN. >>MAYOR HURT: AMEN.

THANK YOU. TODAY I HAVE A VERY, VERY SPECIAL GUEST. SHE IS KALEY HERRERA AND THIRD-GRADER AT ELK HOOD ELEMENTARY AND SHE IS NOT NERVOUS. [LAUGHTER] HER MOM, KATIE IS HERE. AND HER PRINCIPAL MICHELLE GOSLET IS HERE AND WILL LEAD US IN OUR PLEDGES.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE

AND INDIVISIBLE. >>MAYOR HURT: Y'ALL WANT TO COME UP HERE AND TAKE A PICTURE AND GET A LITTLE CLOSER?

>>MAYOR: A GOOD WAY TO START THE MORNING.

[CONSENT AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS]

DOES ANYONE ON THE COUNCIL WISH TO PULL ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? WE WILL NOW MOVE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. NO VOTES OR FORMAL ACTIONS TAKEN ON SUBJECTS PRESENTED AT PUBLIC COMMENT.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT WILL ONLY ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO PRESENT IDEAS AND INFORMATION TO CITY OFFICIALS AND STAFF.

PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND CITY YOU RESIDE IN FOR THE RECORD AND THERE WILL BE A THREE-MINUTE TIME LIMIT AND

START WITH CARDS. >> I HAVE ONE CARD FROM CARMEN

PRICE. >> GOOD MORNING.

>>MAYOR HURT: GOOD MORNING. >> SO I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE Z 2023-26. AND I AM GOING TO READ.

I HAVE A TEMPLATE HERE. I AM CARMEN PRICE AND I LIVE IN THE HILL CREST NEIGHBORHOOD AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME AND SPEAK TODAY. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS THE FIRST READING FOR ZONING 2023-26. BUT WE WANTED TO ASK FOR AN ADDITIONAL SPECIFICATION TO THE AMENDMENT OF THE PLANNED DEVELOPMENT. THE MAP ON PAGE 7 IN THE STAFF REPORT SHOWS GARFIELD EXTEND TO THE EAST SIDE OF CAMPUS.

AND ON THE MAP SHOWS STOPPING ON THE WEST SIDE OF CAMPUS COURT.

THE STATED INTENTION OF THE PROPONENT IS NOT TO ALLOW CONNECTION FROM THE ACCESS ROAD INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND TO

[00:05:03]

I PLAN ON THE MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 14 AND MAKE THE SAME REQUEST. BUT I WANTED TO GIVE STAFF TIME TO CONSIDER THE REQUEST FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND FOR THE PROPONENT TO PROVIDE ANY FEEDBACK ON THIS REQUEST FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR HURT: THANK YOU, CARMEN. ANY QUESTIONS? SHANE, ANY MORE CARDS? THANK YOU, CARMEN.

>> THANK YOU. >>MAYOR HURT: WE ARE STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO COME

FORWARD AT THIS TIME. >> GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS MICHELLE SHULAY AND A RESIDENT OF TAYLOR COUNTY.

I RESIDE IN TUSCOLA, TEXAS. OFTEN MANY TIMES WHEN YOU HEAR FROM THE CITIZENS IT IS A PROBLEM AND ISSUE WE WANT TO BRING BEFORE YOU. TODAY I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW AS ELECTED OFFICIALS AND CITY EMPLOYEES ROAR IT IS YOUR DUTY TO PROTECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS, OUR CHILDREN.

THAT IS WHY TODAY I COME BEFORE TO YOU LET YOU KNOW THAT ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT SB 12 THAT PROTECTS OUR CHILDREN FROM BEING EXPOSE TO PERFORMANCES THAT DISPLAY A INTEREST IN SEX. WE AS A COMMUNITY STAND WITH YOU AS YOU ALSO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN THROUGH SB 12.

THANK YOU. >>MAYOR HURT: WE ARE STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT. I WILL NOW ASK FOR A MOTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTING OF ITEMS 2-17.

>>KYLE MCALISTER: SO MOVED. >>SHANE PRICE: SECOND.

>>MAYOR HURT: A MOTION AND SECOND.

. >>KYLE MCALISTER: YES.

>>TRAVIS CRAVER: YES. >>SHANE PRICE: YES.

>>LYNN BEARD: YES. >>BLAISE REGAN: YES.

>>BRIAN YATES: YES. >>MAYOR HURT: YES.

[18. Ordinance (Final Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Amending the City Code by Adding Chapter 13, Health & Sanitation, Article VI. "Public Swimming Pools and Spas" (Annette Lerma)]

>>CLERK: MOTION CARRIES. >>MAYOR HURT: MOTION CARRIES.

I WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 18. AND I WILL ASK ANNETTE LERMA, K57 HEALTH DIRECT TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.

>>ANNETTE LERMA: GOOD MORNING. ANNETTE LERMA, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH. WE ARE HERE TODAY TO HELP YOU TO CONSIDER ENACTING AN ORDINANCE THAT RESTORES PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITY TO REGULATE PUBLIC POOLS AND SPAS AND INTERACTIVE WATER FEE COMMUTERS. SO FOR JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIVISION USED TO BE UNDER PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND OPERATED UNDER THE CHAPTER LISTED IN THE POWERPOINT.

AND WHEN THEY REDID SOME OF THE WORDING IN THAT AND ADOPTED A NEW ORDINANCE, THEY ADOPTED THE INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING POOL AND SPA CODE AND LEFT OFF PORTIONS OF THE TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE. THE INTERNATIONAL POOL CODE REGULATES THE POOLS AND THE TEXAS CODE OPERATES THE REGULATION AND MANAGEMENT OF POOLS.

AND SO WE ARE ALSO ASKS FOR THE -- LET'S SEE.

I AM AHEAD OF MYSELF. SO THE TWO CHAPTERS THAT WE ARE ASKING TO ADOPT IS LISTED. ONE, ADOPTS THE PUBLIC POOLS AND SPAS AND ADDRESSES THE PUBLIC POOLS AND SPAS AND THE OTHER ADDRESSES THE WATER FEATURES. THE ITEMS THAT ARE IN THE TEXAS CODE THAT ARE THE INCLUDED IN THE SWIMMING CODE, TO HAVE POOL OPERATOR, CERTAIN SIGNAGE AND SAFETY FEATURES.

BUT WE ARE ALSO ASKING FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO REVOKE A PERMIT IF THERE IS MAJOR VIOLATION OF A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS JUST THE PORTIONS OF THE TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE THAT WILL ALLOW THE PUBLIC HEALTH TO

[00:10:03]

THIS IS JUST A COUPLE OF THE INSTANCES, RECENT INSTANCES THAT HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT HEALTH INSPECTOR DO.

AND WE WANT TO TRY TO PREVENT THOSE.

I BROUGHT AN EXPERT WITH ME IF YOU HAVE ANY TECHNICAL QUESTIONS, BUT I WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANYTHING THAT YOU

HAVE. >>MAYOR HURT: ANY QUESTIONS OF

ANNETTE. >> ONE OF THE BULLET POINTS TO HAVE PUBLIC POOLS TO HAVE A CERTIFIED POOL OPERATOR AND CERTAIN SIGNAGE. LIKE A HOTEL WITH THE POOL.

WHO IS THE POOL OPERATOR. NOT A LIFEGUARD --

>>ANNETTE LERMA: SOMEBODY WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE MANAGEMENT MAKING SURE THEY ARE CHECKING THE CHEMICAL.

CLAUDETTE, IS THAT -- YEAH. >> THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR HURT: ANY MORE QUESTIONS? AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM.

ITEM 18, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION.

>>KYLE MCALISTER: SO MOVED. >>BRIAN YATES: SECOND.

>>MAYOR HURT: A MOTION AND SECOND.

READY TO VOTE. >>KYLE MCALISTER: YES.

>>TRAVIS CRAVER: YES. >>SHANE PRICE: YES.

>>LYNN BEARD: YES. >>BLAISE REGAN: YES.

>>BRIAN YATES: YES. >>MAYOR HURT: YES.

>>CLERK: MOTION CARRIES. >>MAYOR HURT: MOTION CARRIES.

[EXECUTIVE SESSION]

SECTION 551.087, DELIBERATIONS ABOUT BUSINESS PROSPECTS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WE WILL BE BACK.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR IT IS NOW 9:21 A.M. AND WE WILL RECONVENE TO OPEN THE SESSION. NO VOTES OR ACTIONS WERE TAKEN

[20. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Creating the GLC Enterprise Zone Designation (Misty Mayo)]

ABILENE TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. >>MISTY MAYO: GOOD MORNING.

MAYOR HURT, COUNCILMEMBERS AND CITY MANAGER HANNA.

I'M HERE TODAY TO BRING AN ITEM ABOUT CREATING THE GREAT LAKES CHEESE ENTERPRISE ZONE DESIGNATION.

MR. HANNA'S ITEM. TO PREP TO NOT ONLY YOU OR THE COMMUNITY OF A FEW POINTS OF ENTERPRISE ZONE DESIGNATIONS.

I ALSO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT WHEN THE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF ABILENE WORK TO ATTRACT NEW COMPANIES TO OUR COMMUNITY, IT LIKELY AND MOST OFTEN TAKES YEARS TO SECURE A COMPANY AND THEIR COMMITMENT. AND I USE THE WORD "COMMITMENT" BECAUSE IT IS TRULY A PARTNERSHIP.

AND IN THAT PARTNERSHIP WE AS A COMMUNITY ARE COMMITTING OUR SUPPORT. AND THAT SUPPORT IS TO HELP THE COMPANIES ENSURE THAT THEY CAN GROW, STAY AND PROSPER IN ABILENE. THAT IS ALSO THE REASON WHY THE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF ABILENE HAS A FOCUSED STRATEGIC EFFORT ON BUSINESS, RETENTION AND EXPANSION.

THAT MEANS OUR STRATEGIC INITIATIVE FOCUSES ON ENSURING THAT WE ARE PARTNERING WITH LOCAL EXISTING COMPANIES SO THAT THEIR GROWTH AND THEIR EXPANSION WILL HAPPEN IN ABILENE WHENEVER THEY -- WHENEVER THEY HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY OR WHENEVER THEY ARE TO THAT POINT. SO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE WALK IN LOCKSTEP WITH COMPANIES THAT WE ARE ATTRACT TO ABILENE AND ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH EXISTING COMPANIES. IN ABILENE, OUR JOB GROWTH WILL COME FROM 80% TO 90% OF OUR EXISTING COMPANIES.

SO I WILL SAY IT AGAIN, 80% TO 90% -- I SAID IT BACKWARD AND I WILL SAY IT AGAIN TO CLARIFY. 80% TO 90% OF OUR NEW JOB GROWTH

[00:15:02]

SO THAT IS WHY ONE OF OUR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES WILL CONTINUE TO BE FOCUSING ON LOCAL EXISTING COMPANIES.

NOW I BRING THE GREAT LAKES CHEESE ENTERPRISE ZONE DESIGNATION AND I WANT FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PROGRAM IS A STATE INCENTIVE. IT IS DESIGN TO ENCOURAGE PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND JOB CREATION.

THE TEXAS ENTERPRISE ZONE PROGRAM OFFERS STATE SALES AND TAX BENEFITS TO NEW AND EXPANDING BUSINESS IN ELIGIBLE AREAS IDENTIFIED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS.

I HAVE BROUGHT AN EXPERT. DCOA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS APPLICATION THAT WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE STATE.

AGAIN, I WILL HAND IT OVER TO CITY MANAGER HANNA IN JUST A MOMENT BUT I BROUGHT THE CONSULTING FIRM RYAN AND JONATHAN FERGUSON, THE DIRECTOR OF KRID ITS AND INCENTIVES OF RYAN CONSULTING UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.

MR. HANNA, TURN IT OVER TO YOU. >>ROBERT HANNA: THANK YOU, MISTY. ON THE BRIEF COUNSEL IN EXECUTIVE SESSION OF THE REALITY OF THIS, THIS DOES NOT COST THE TAXPAYERS OF ABILENE ANY OF THEIR REVENUE.

THIS IS ALL PAID FOR BY STATE TAX DOLLARS.

WHAT WE ARE DOING IS PASSING A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT SO THE TEXAS GOVERNOR'S OFFICE UNDER STHANDZ THIS COMMUNITY IS SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ENTERPRISE ZONE DESIGNATION.

DO COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. >> CAN YOU EXPAND A LITTLE OF THE I THINK THAT EXCITES ME THE MOST ABOUT THIS IS THE 35% THRESHOLD FOR HIRING OUT OF LMI NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOW THAT LINES UP WITH THE INFIELD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

WE ALREADY HAVE A PROGRAM THAT IS REHABBING HOMES AND BUILDING NEW HOMES IN SOME OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THIS PROGRAM WOULD REQUIRE GREAT LAKE CHEESE TO HIRE 35% OF THE EMPLOYEES

FROM THOSE AREAS. >>ROBERT HANNA: CORRECT.

THE GLC IS NOT IN THE LOW TO MODERATE NEIGHBORHOOD OR A SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD AS WE SAY IN ABILENE.

WE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE FUNDS BECAUSE THEY CAN HIRE 35% OF THE WORK FORCE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND VETERANS.

WE DON'T HAVE THE DUTY -- THAT IS THE TEXAS COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE THAT HAS THE ACCOUNTABILITY TO DO THAT.

IF THEY CAN'T PROVE THEY CAN DO THAT, THE COMPTROLLER DOESN'T GIVE THEM THEIR INCENTIVE. BUT IT FURTHERS OUR DESIRE TO REVITALIZE AND REDEVELOP OUR HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE IF YOU CAN'T -- IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO IMPROVE YOUR HHOUSE O THE PLACE YOU ARE LIVING, IT -- WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF SUCCESS IN IMPROVING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO CREATING A RISING TIDE OF ECONOMIC HEALTH AND WELL BEING IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE ENTERPRISE ZONE PROCESS CAN DO THAT BECAUSE IT IS SPECIFICALLY TARGETED.

>>MISTY MAYO: THERE ARE MANY TOOLS THAT THE DCA USES TO ATTRACT LOCAL BUSINESS AND ENCOURAGE LOCAL BUSINESS TO EXPAND. AND I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION BECAUSE IT IS THE INDIVIDUALS FROM THE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED -- WITHIN THAT ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED ZONE OR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE -- WHO ACTUALLY LIVE IN THE ZONE OR QUALIFY THROUGH A COMPANY BEING IN THE ZONE AS THE MANAGER POINTS OUT. GLC IS NOT IN THE ZONE, AND EVEN MORE COMMUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND VETERANS.

AND I THINK THAT IS A REAL FOCUS OF THIS COUNCIL.

I WILL CONTINUE TO LET THE MANAGER HANDLE THE QUESTIONS, BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE TO NOTE A VOICE OF APPRECIATION TO YOU ALL, THE COUNCIL, THE DCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR CONTINUING TO EMBRACE CREATIVE WAY TO IMPLEMENT INCENTIVES AND RESOURCES THAT ARE IN OUR TOOLBOX THAT ENSURES THAT ABILENE STAYS EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE IN GROWING A PROSPERITY AND A FUTURE FOR OUR COMMU

COMMUNITY. >> ROBERT.

>>ROBERT HANNA: SIR? >> THE DESIGNATION OF A NEW ENTERPRISE ZONE LIKE THIS IS MOSTLY DONE ON THE LARGE NEIGHBORHOOD, BIG AREAS. IS IT JUST THE GLC PROPERTY IN THIS CASE THAT IS BEING DESIGNATED?

>>ROBERT HANNA: THEY ARE BEING DECLARED ELIGIBILITY FOR THE ENTERPRISE ZONE DESIGNATION AND JUST THE GLC PROPERTY.

THEIR FOUR CORNERS OF THEIR SITE PLAN OR THEIR PROPERTY THAT IS ELIGIBLE. THEY HAVE TO MEET THE WORKFORCE REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE THEY ARE OUTSIDE AN ECONOMICALLY

DISTRESSED AREA. >> BUT, AGAIN, THAT FALLS ON

[00:20:02]

>>ROBERT HANNA: THAT'S CORRECT. OTHER THAN COUNCIL PASSIONING THIS RESOLUTION AND MAY BE ODD REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FROM HERE AND THERE, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE WORK IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COMPANY AND THE TEXAS COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE.

>>MISTY MAYO: THE DCA ACTS AND REPRESENTS THE COMMUNITY AS THE AGENT TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE COMPTROLLER OFFICE SHOULD THERE BE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. WE SERVE IN THAT CAPACITY REALLY AT YOUR WILL. SO IF -- FOR EXAMPLE, THERE IS -- THERE IS MORE DEPTH OF INFORMATION THAT IS NEEDED, WE WORK DIRECTLY WITH GREAT LAKES CHEESE IN THIS CASE.

WE HAVE ADDITIONAL COMPANIES -- OR AN ADDITIONAL COMPANY RIGHT NOW THAT HAS QUALIFIED FOR THIS DESIGNATION AND ACTIVELY IN THE DESIGNATION. SO WE HAD EXPERIENCE WITH IT AS

A COMMUNITY. >>TRAVIS CRAVER: I THINK SOMETHING THAT COMES TO MIND AND IT WILL BE HELPFUL TO KNOW IS, I LOVE THE INCENTIVE. I THINK HAVING THAT ALLOCATED ALLIES IS IMPORTANT. SO I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO KNOW, HAS THERE BEEN MAYBE LEADERS WITHIN THAT SPECIFIC COMMUNITY THAT YOU GUYS HAVE FELT YOU CAN IDENTIFY? BECAUSE I THINK HAVING SOMEONE THAT COULD BE THAT SPOKESPERSON OR THAT POINT PERSON MAKES IT EASIER FOR THOSE WITHIN THAT COMMUNITY TO FEEL A PART OR FEEL THERE IS LESS BARRIERS IN WHICH THEY CAN FEEL INVESTING BACK INTO THE PLACES IN WHICH YOU ARE

TRYING TO DO. >>MISTY MAYO: SO I KNOW -- I KNOW THAT THE CITY HAS MADE A VERY SPECIFIC INTENTIONAL EFFORT WITH -- WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP AS A COUNCIL AND EVEN THE FORMAL COUNCIL AS A WHOLE. I KNOW THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY LIKE WORK FORCE SOLUTIONS THAT HAVE MADE INTENTIONAL EFFORTS.

OUR WORK AT THE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION HAS BEEN THROUGH THE COMPANY SPECIFICALLY AND GREAT LAKES CHEESE HAS DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB. WE HAD A FORMER MAYOR AND CURRENT MAYOR THAT SPECIFICALLY WORKED WITH GREAT LAKES CHEESE IN IDENTIFYING EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, COUNCILMAN, IDENTIFYING REPRESENTATIVES. MAKING CERTAIN WE WERE GOING IN -- WHEN I SAY "WE" I MEAN THE COMPANY AND THEIR INITIATIVES MAKING SURE THAT "WE" AS A COMMUNITY WAS RECOMMEND TO THE COMPANY IDENTIFYING INDIVIDUALS GOING INTO CHURCHES, MAKING SURE THAT THEIR JOB RECRUITMENT EFFORTS WERE IN ZIP CODES THAT WERE GOING TO ALLOW FOR THEM TO RECRUIT POPULATIONS THAT PERHAPS WEREN'T HEARING OR WEREN'T HAVING THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES.

SO I THINK THIS PARTICULAR COMPANY HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB OF ACTIVATING STRATEGIES THAT WE, AS A COMMUNITY, AND PARTICULARLY, YOU ALL AS LEADERSHIP, HAVE RECOMMENDED TO

THEM. >>TRAVIS CRAVER: THAT IS GREAT,

THANK YOU. >>MISTY MAYO: WE WILL CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THE STRATEGY IN THE FUTURE WHEN THERE CAN HIRING. GREAT LAKES CHEESE HAS OVER 200 EMPLOYEE. TO MAKE IT ABSOLUTELY CLEAR, WHEN PEOPLE HEAR THESE LARGE JOB NUMBERS, IT IS A LONG COMMITMENT. YOU KNOW THIS IS A CONTRACT THAT LASTS FOR 13 YEARS AND THEIR JOB COMMITMENT IS OVER SEVEN TO TEN YEARS LONG. SO IT IS AN INCREMENTAL THING.

WHEN SOMEONE STARTS AT THAT BUSINESS WHETHER THEY NEED TEN EMPLOYEES OR 500 EMPLOYEES, THESE TYPES OF START-UPS TAKE TIME. AND IT TAKES INTENTIONALITY.

AND IT TAKES, TRULY, AS I STATED, A PARTNERSHIP FROM THE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR CONTINUING TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL EXISTING COMPANIES BECAUSE IT IS A DIFFERENTIATOR FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

>>MAYOR HURT: ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR MISTY OR ROBERT? THANK YOU, MISTY. AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM, ITEM 20, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND.

>>LYNN BEARD: MOTION. >>BLAISE REGAN: SECOND.

>>MAYOR HURT: FURTHER DISCUSSION?

READY TO VOTE. >>LYNN BEARD: YES.

>>BLAISE REGAN: YES. >>BRIAN YATES: YES.

>>KYLE MCALISTER: YES. >>TRAVIS CRAVER: YES.

>>SHANE PRICE: YES. >>MAYOR HURT: YES.

>>CLERK: MOTION CARRIES. >>MAYOR HURT: I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION. AND THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND EFFORT THEY PUT IN GETTING THESE PACKETS READY IN THESE MEETINGS AND THE QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND APPRECIATIVE OF OUR STAFF AT ABILENE.

THE

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.