Sep 26, 2023 Special City Council

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:12]

>> GOOD MORNING. IT IS NOW 9:00 A.M. AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING OF ABILENE CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER.

WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL GUEST I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE BUT AT THIS TIME I WILL INTRODUCE COUNCIL MEMBER MCALISTER TO LEAD

US IN PRAYER. >> DEAR LORD WE THANK YOU IN THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE WE HAD THIS GREAT CHANCE TO COME TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR CITY.

I PRAY THIS MORNING THAT YOU WILL HELP TO GUIDE US IN GOOD DECISIONS AND GOOD DISCUSSION. GOD, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THOSE THAT WORK SO HARD FOR US EVERYDAY, FIRST RESPONDERS, THOSE AT WORK BEHIND THE SCENES, EVERY EMPLOYEE BEHIND THIS GREAT CITY THAT GETS UP EVERY DAY FOR ALL OF US AS CITIZENS.

PRAY FOR UNDERSTANDING TODAY IN GOD AS ALWAYS WE PRAY FOR RAIN

IN CHRIST WE PRAY. >> TODAY I HAVE JULIAN H AND HER PARENTS JOSHUA IN MORGAN ARE HERE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. SHE IS GOING TO TAKE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD US AND PLEDGE THIS MORNING.

>> 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 THE BEAUTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. DO YOU WANT TO COME APPEAR AND GET A PICTURE? DO YOU HAVE A CAMERA?

[2. Discussion: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Provide Direction on the Cypress Street Improvement Project (Robert Hanna)]

>> WE WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM TWO AND I WILL ASK ROBERT HANNA CITY MANAGER TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. JUST TO CLARIFY SOMETHING, THIS ITEM HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED AND PRELIMINARY DESIGN AND PREVIOUS DISCUSSION. WHAT WE ARE HERE TODAY FOR IS TO MAYBE SET SOME GUIDANCE IF WE WANT TO MOVE IN A SIMILAR OR

DIFFERENT DIRECTION. >> YES, SIR, THE COUNCIL HAS ALREADY APPROVED THE PLAN AND CONCEPT AND DESIGN GUIDE TO DESIGN THIS. IN THE STAFF REPORT WE MENTIONED THAT COUNCIL MEMBER REGAN AND I WERE DISCUSSING THIS AND HE EXPRESSED THE DESIRE TO REVIEW THE PROJECT AND DISCUSS WITH THE COUNCIL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHER AMENITIES AND IMPROVEMENTS.

THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT IF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO SEE DESIGN CHANGES, NOW IS THE TIME TO PROVIDE THAT INPUT.

IF COUNSEL DOES NOT MAKE ANY DESIGN CHANGES TODAY WE WILL ADVERTISE FOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGER RISK WHICH WILL BE THE PROCUREMENT METHOD FOR THIS PROJECT TOMORROW, WE WILL START THAT PROCESS TOMORROW, RADICALLY WERE READY TO MOVE FORWARD AND THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THIS DISCUSSION NOW RATHER THAN A COUPLE WEEKS FROM NOW.

>> ARE YOU PRESENTING THIS ITEM. >> I'M PRESENTING THIS TO THE EXTENT THAT ALL PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT NOW FOR PROBABLY THE LAST 18 MONTHS FOR SURE, WE ARE FUNDED SUBSTANTIALLY IN SEALS THAT WERE ISSUED AND REPAID AND WILL BE REPAID BY THE RE-ZONE DOWNTOWN AREA. AS WILL BE USING GENERAL FUND REVENUES TO PAY FOR THIS, IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT WE WILL NEED A $750,000 IN FUNDING TO REACH THE 9 MILLION ENGINEERED OPINION OF PROBABLE CAUSE THAT WE SET OUT ORIGINALLY WHEN WE DESIGN THE PROJECT AND THAT COULD COME THROUGH ADDITIONAL MIP OR THE SIDEWALK FUNDS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE AS WELL.

ONCE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MARKET SAYS THE PRICE WILL BE, WE WILL PUT THE FINAL BUDGET TOGETHER IN THE FINANCE IMPLANTING COUNSEL. THE POINT IS THE REVENUES ARE THERE AND WE WILL HAVE TO ISSUE ADDITIONAL DEBT.

[00:05:11]

THE WISE, WHY ARE WE DOING THIS. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR, THANK YOU, COUNSEL FOR HAVING BECOME A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY ON TERMS OF HOW WE GOT HERE. AS DEVELOPMENT BEGAN TO POP UP DOWNTOWN, THE CITY APPROACHED JACOB AND MARTIN TO PROVIDE THE DESIGN GUIDE. LET'S IDENTIFY SOME DESIGN TYPICAL THROUGHOUT THE DOWNTOWN AREA VIA STREETLIGHTS, BENCHES, WASTE RECEPTACLES, EVERY ELEMENT THAT YOU MIGHT SEE SO AS DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES WHETHER THAT WAS A CITY DRIVEN PROJECT OR A LOCAL DEVELOPER THAT THEY HAD A DESIGN GUIDE TO REFERENCE AND TO SAY THIS IS HOW WE CREATE A CONTIGUOUS COHESIVE DOWNTOWN AND WE NEEDED TO START WITH THE TOOL A COMPREHENSIVE DESIGN GUIDE IN ORDER TO GET THE. WHILE IT WAS GENERAL IN NATURE FROM THAT STANDPOINT WE FOCUSED ON TWO STREETS DURING THE PROCESS ON NORTH FIRST AND CYPRESS AS AN EXAMPLE OR TWO POOLS, THE CYPRESS STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT WAS NOT YET BORN AT THAT POINT BUT WE WERE USING CYPRESS STREET IN NORTH FIRST AS WHAT WOULD THIS LOOK LIKE IN REALITY ON THE GROUND SO IT WASN'T COMPLETELY CONCEPTUAL IN NATURE.

THE OBJECTIVES OF THE EFFORT WERE TO IDENTIFY THE STANDARD ELEMENTS THAT WE WANTED TO INCREASE PEDESTRIAN WAY AND MAKE IT MORE WALKABLE FOR CITIZENS AND MAKE A BUSINESS FRIENDLY.

LIGHTING, SECURITY AND SAFETY THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN WE WANTED TO IMPROVE OUR LIGHTING POSTURE, INCREASE WAYFINDING AND SIGNAGE AND WHERE DO I GO HOW DO I FIND DIFFERENT PLACES.

CREATE A SENSE OF PLACE OR IDENTITY THROUGH BRANDING EFFORTS OR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE A PLACE WHEN IT SHOWS UP ON FACEBOOK OR INSTAGRAM YOU KNOW WHERE THAT IS, THIS IS ABILENE DOWNTOWN IN THE PLACE THAT WE ARE PROUD OF THAT WE WANT TO PROMOTE ET CETERA AND IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW, WE'VE ALL BEEN STOPPED AT RED LIGHTS DOWNTOWN IN THE NEXT RED LIGHT AND THE NEXT RED LIGHT. WE WANTED TO LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE TRAFFIC, PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICULAR TRAFFIC. SOME SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS THAT WERE DISCUSSED EARLY ON IN THE PROCESS WERE TREES, THEY HAVE BEEN AROUND AND WE ARE PROUD OF THE TREES THAT WE HAVE IN THE BEYONCÉ THAT THEY CREATE IN THE HERITAGE BECAUSE OF THOSE AND WE WANTED TO PRESERVE THAT. ALSO PARKING AS DOWNTOWN CONTINUES TO DEVELOP THAT WAS A HOT TOPIC AND CONTINUES TO BE A HOT TOPIC. WE WANTED TO ADDRESS THE AND STUDY THE BEST WAY TO APPROACH THAT.

FOCUS ON BUSINESS FRIENDLY TAKING CARE OF OUR EXISTING BUSINESSES AND PROMOTE NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR BUSINESS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SOMEHOW DID NOT COMPROMISE THE PARADE ROUTE AND WE WANTED TO PRESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO PARADES AND SPECIAL EVENTS AND OUR DOWNTOWN AREA AS WELL. JUST A QUICK SLIDE TO LOOK AT A LITTLE HISTORY OF ALL THE INTERACTIONS WITH COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.

MULTIPLE MEETINGS WITH CITY ADMINISTRATION BUT BEYOND THE MEETING WITH CULTURAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL IN THE BUSINESS OWNERS UP AND DOWN CYPRESS STREET TO GET A DIALOGUE GOING TO GET THEIR IDEAS AND INCORPORATE THOSE INTO THE DESIGN GUIDE PROCESS AND ONCE A CYPRESS STREET PROCESS REALLY GOT KICKED OFF AS WELL THERE HAS BEEN CONTINUE CONVERSATIONS THERE AS WELL. I DON'T OF THIS IS A COMPLETELY COMPREHENSIVE LIST BUT OUR BEST EFFORT TO RECONSTRUCT THE PROCESS. JUST LOOKING AT A FEW OF THE MAIN ELEMENTS OF WHAT THE DESIGN GUIDE AND INTO THE CYPRESS STREET PROJECT INCLUDES, DECORATIVE INTERSECTIONS.

WE ARE LOOKING TO CHANGE THE GRADE FROM A TRADITIONAL DROP CURVE TO A HYBRID OR AN ACT GREAT EXPERIENCE FROM BUILDING EDGE TO BUILDING EDGE. WE ARE LOOKING TO CHANGE THE CYPRESS STREET CORRIDOR FROM A ONE-WAY, TWO LANE ONE-WAY TO A TWO LANE TWO-WAY. ONE LANE EACH DIRECTION GO IN BOTH DIRECTION LIMITING STREETLIGHTS SO THEY WOULD BE

[00:10:01]

SAY STOP SIGNS? >> WE NEED STREETLIGHTS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THOSE. THANK YOU.

BUT TRAFFIC SIGNALS WE'RE GOING TO ELIMINATE THE STREETLIGHTS WERE STREET STOP SIGNS. I THINK WERE CLEAR, BUT TO MOVE ON PUTTING FOUR-WAY STOP SIGNS TO ALLOW TRAFFIC TO CONTINUE TO FLOW IN PARALLEL PARKING WHAT WILL THAT DO FOR US THAT WILL INCREASE THE PEDESTRIAN WAY ON AN 11-FOOT CORRIDOR TO A 19-FOOT CORRIDOR ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET IN OUR ORIGINAL TODAY WE HAVE 87 ANGULAR PARKING PLACES UP AND DOWN CYPRESS STREET, THAT WILL BE REDUCED TO 57 PARKING SPACES.

A PARKING LOSS OF 30. IF THE CONVERSATION STOPPED THERE, THAT WOULD BE PROBABLY A MIC DROP, BAD MOMENT.

BUT WE HAVE PARKING OPPORTUNITY AT THE ABILENE REPORTER NEWS.

ON THE SOUTH SIDE AND SOME OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE IN PROGRESS THAT WILL YIELD SOME ADDITIONAL PARKING ON THE NORTH SIDE.

IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 150, TWO ADDITIONAL PARKING THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN WE CERTAINLY FEEL LIKE THAT IS MITIGATION OF THE PARKING LOSS OF THIS PROJECT WILL EXPERIENCE RIGHT ON CYPRESS STREET THIS WILL BE A PLACE OR PEOPLE WANT TO GO IN SPEND THEIR TIME AND INCREASE THE AMOUNT TIME THAT THEY SPEND THERE.

I CAN'T VERY LIGHTING SYSTEM. THAT IS THE STREET LIGHTING THAT WERE TALKING ABOUT. IP ADDRESSABLE LED LIGHTING THAT CAN CHANGE THEMATICALLY WITH SEASONS SO AT CHRISTMAS TIME WE HAVE READING GREEN AND ONE OF THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS OR UNIVERSITIES WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP, WE CAN ELIMINATE THE STREET AND CREATE A THEME DOWNTOWN FOR ALL KINDS OF EVENTS.

YOU WILL NOTICE THE ALLY ADJACENT TO CYPRESS STREET STATION BETWEEN FIRST AND NORTH SECOND AND WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE THE ALLY TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC AND ALMOST EDGE GREEN SPACE IN TERMS IT A BE LIT WITH SEATING AND LANDSCAPING AND WORKING THROUGH SOME OF THOSE ISSUES AS WELL, MIDBLOCK CROSSWALK HERE ARE THE DIMENSIONS ON THE CUT AWAY FROM THE PARKING.

ALSO AT GRADE IMPROVEMENTS, WE ARE NOT STEPPING DOWN TO CROSS AT THE MID LOCK AS WELL AS INTERSECTIONS.

AND WHERE THE WATER FLOW LINE IS.

WERE LOOKING AT ADDING TRENCH DRAINS.

I SAT THERE FROM ANKLE-DEEP SOAKING WET.

WE DON'T HAVE A RIVERS RUNNING DOWN CYPRESS STREET.

IN THE LARGE EVENT WE'RE GOING TO USE THE STREET TO CONVEY THOSEINTHE HIGH-INTENSITY EVENTA COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF THE TRENCH DRAIN IN THE PARALLEL PARKING SYSTEM LOOKS LIKE IN COMBINATION AND THIS IS INSPIRATIONAL IM IMAGES.

THIS IS A TECHNOLOGY THAT WAS USED AND WE SCANNED ALL OF HER DOWNTOWN HE LOOKING AT BILLIONS OF POINTS THAT ARE SURVEY TEAM COLLECTED FOR US IN THE TAKE AWAY WE WANT YOU TO SEE THE

[00:15:03]

THIS IS AN UPDATED RENDERING TO WHAT WE PRESENTED AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING FROM A CONCEPTUAL STANDPOINT.

TWO LANE TRAFFIC FLOW MIDBLOCK CROSSWALK AT GRADE IMPROVEMENTS HERE. PARALLEL PARKING SYSTEM OVERHEAD, THE STREET SIGN, WAYFINDING AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR BRANDING AND THE CROSSWALKS THESE ARE CONCEPTUAL, WE HAVE NOT YET. TEXAS, BISON, 1881 WHICH I REALLY LIKE IS THE POWER DRAWN AND LOOKS THE SAME UPSIDE DOWN AS IT DOES GOING FORWARD AND WERE ALSO GOING TO HAVE AN AUDIO SYSTEM DOWNTOWN, CHRISTMAS TIME SPECIFICALLY WE WILL BE ABLE TO CREATE A REAL PLACE OR IDENTITY AND AN AMBIENCE THROUGHOUT HER DOWNTOWN AREA TO REALLY THEME THAT AND HAVE PEOPLE ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE OF WALKING UP AND DOWN SHOPPING, GRABBING DINNER, GET A DRINK, ET CETERA. ALSO GATEWAY MONUMENTS THAT YOU SAW AT THE BEGINNING. WE WILL GO THROUGH A FEW OF THE ELEMENTS QUICKLY. AND WE DID LOOK AT SHADE I KNOW THAT'S BEEN A CONCERN MAYBE THAT WASN'T ON OUR RADAR AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE PROJECT AND CAME UP TO THE PROCESS IT WOULD BE A GOOD ELEMENT TO LOOK AT AND EVALUATE.

WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS A LITTLE CLOCK FROM THE MORNING TIME AND THE SLIDE CONTINUES TO LOOP AND STUDY.

BECAUSE THE STREET RUNS NORTH AND SOUTH WHICH IS UNIQUELY DIFFERENT THAN STREETS THAT RUN EAST AND WEST IN TERMS OF EXPOSURE THEY PROVIDE QUITE A BIT OF SHADE FOR YOUR.

TREES ALSO ADD TO THIS DYNAMIC ALL.

WE'RE GOING TO REMOVE THE TREES ON CYPRESS AS PART OF THE PROJECT, BIG DISCUSSION BACK AND FORTH WE DID THE TREE STUDY AND EVALUATED THE HEALTH AND VIABILITY OF THE TREES, THE PROBLEM THE BIGGEST PROBLEM SOME ARE NOT HEALTHY AND THEY WERE PARTICULARLY PUT IN A TREE WELL THAT IS CONDUCIVE TO A DOWNTOWN TREE SURVIVING AND THRIVING THE WAY IT SHOULD AND MOREOVER WHEN YOU INCREASE PEDESTRIAN CORRIDOR THE TREES ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SIDEWALK. THE PROPOSAL IS TO REPLACE THE TREES WE WILL LOOK AT THE SPECIMENS IN A MOMENT.

THIS IS FROM FOURTH, FIFTH SO WE CHOSE TWO BLOCKS TO LOOK AT FOR MACHINE STANDPOINT. AGAIN TREE PLANTINGS AND OTHER NATURAL LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENT CAN ENHANCE ON THE SIDEWALK SOME OF THE SHADE THAT IS AVAILABLE BUT YOU ARE STILL BETWEEN NOON AND 3:00 O'CLOCK. BOTH OF THESE MODELS ARE MODELED ON JUNE 21 WHICH IS THE LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR.

AFTER THAT IT GETS BETTER SO THEREFORE END AUGUST YOU WOULD HAVE MORE SHADE THAN WHAT THIS MODEL SHOWS MEANING THE WINDOW OF NO SON WOULD BE SHORTER.

WHEN IT IS 110 DEGREES OUTSIDE, SHADE OR NO SHADE I AM NOT SITTING OUTSIDE. OPEN TO SOME FEEDBACK ON THINK WE MODELED IT IN A WAY THAT CREATES THE PICTURE OF WHAT THE REALITY IS ON THE GROUND AND AGAIN, THE FACT THAT THE STREET RUNS NORTH AND SOUTH IS UNIQUELY DIFFERENT THAN THE STREET

[00:20:04]

AGAIN RIGHT AT THE NORTH SIDE OF THE HOTEL.

CROSS INTERSECTION SOME OF THE CONCEPTS WE CAME FROM ARTWORK OR SYMBOLS WOULD BE THE TEXAS AND ABILENE'S LOCATION.

THIS IS TO SHOW THE MIDBLOCK CROSSWALK IN TERMS OF IMPROVEMENTS. IN 1881 THE TEXAS STAR IN THE AMERICAN BISON, DIFFERENT CONCEPTS IN TERMS OF WHAT WE CAN DO TO BRAND AND CREATE A PLACE WE WANT THE IMAGERY THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT TO SAY ABILEN. A SLIDE ON LANDSCAPE, OBVIOUSLY THE ABILENE REPORTER BUILDING IS NO LONGER THERE AND THAT'S A GOOD THING. WHEN THAT BUILDING COMES DOWN.

IN TERMS OF BENCHES, NATURAL LANDSCAPING, PLANTERS, BIKE RACKS, WASTE RECEPTACLES THESE WERE THINGS THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE STREETSCAPE MASTER PLAN DESIGN GUIDE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER. THESE ARE SOME OF THE ELEMENTS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR WORKING SCULPTURE AND SOME OF THE LANDSCAPE AREAS. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE STREET CORRIDOR OR THE PEDESTRIAN WAY INCREASING TO 19 FEET WE ALSO HAVE THE LANDSCAPE ABOUT OF 8.6. YOU ARE REALLY 27 FEET FROM BUILDING EDGE TO FLOWLINE WILL BE BUMPED THOSE OUT.

YOU REALLY GOT SOME OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME NI NICE THINGS FROM E LANDSCAPING, TREES TO IRRIGATE AND THAT THOSE PROPERLY AND INCREASE BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BE THE HEALTHY TREES AND LANDSCAPING THAT THEY WANT TO HAVE THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

AND A COUPLE OF AREAS OF MODERATE OAK AND WE WOULD TRANSPLANT AT A HEIGHT OF 16 FEET A IS ANYWHERE FROM 40 - 80 FEET WITH A CANOPY OF 4. IT WOULD BECOME A VERY MATURE TREE AND IT IS LIVE OAK LOOKING AND IT'S ALMOST COMPLETELY EVERGREEN AND IT LOSES ITS LEAVES SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 2 - 8 WEEKS A YEAR IS LARGELY A LIVE OAK AND IS A LOW WATER ALTHOUGH WE WOULD IRRIGATE EMBED THE TREES PROPERLY.

THE SECOND SPECIMEN IS THE CEDAR ELM ALSO THIS IS A DECIDUOUS TREE AND IT DOES CHANGE COLOR IN THE FALL SO WOULD PROVIDE A NICE ENHANCEMENT TO PROVIDE A FALL COLOR IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA WE CAN FIND SPECIMENS AND TRANSPLANT AT 35 FEET SO YOU HAVE A NEW PLANTING AT 35 FEET AND THEY ARE NATIVE TO THIS AREA AND THEY DO REALLY, REALLY WELL AND THEY GROW TO A TOTAL HEIGHT OF 50 - 70 FEET AS WELL TO SPECIMENS THAT ARE EXCELLENT REPLACEMENTS FOR THE EXISTING TREES THAT WE DO HAVE ON THE CYPRESS QUARTER AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT PLACEMENT AND WORK THROUGH ALL THE DETAILS. STREET LIGHTING THIS IS THE LIGHTING SYSTEM THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IN THE CANNERY LIGHTING SYSTEM THAT WILL PROVIDE LIGHTING TO EXTREME PEDESTRIAN WAY IN A PHOTOMETRIC STUDY THAT I WILL SHOW YOU IN JUST A MOMENT AND WE KNOW HOW MUCH LIGHT WE ARE CASTING AND WHAT AREAS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT THROWING WINDOWS AND KENNY ROGERS ROASTERS UP INTO PEOPLE OR BUSINESSES AND WINDOWS ALONG CYPRESS STREET. MAKING SURE THAT WE CAST THE

[00:25:04]

PHOTOMETRIC STUDY IS ENGINEERING STAFF BUT REALLY QUICK WE LOOKED AT MAKING SURE WERE GOOD TO GET THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF LIGHT ON THE PEDESTRIAN WAY AND IN THE STREET CORRIDOR TO MAKE SURE THIS IS A SAFE AND WALKABLE AND NEEDED FOR CITIZENS.

WE DID A SOUND STUDY AS WELL. WE TALKED ABOUT THE AUDIO SYSTEM AND WE DID WHAT IS NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE WHERE AND WHAT KIND OF AMPLIFIER AND SPEAKERS THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED UP-AND-DOWN THE COURT WERE TO HAVE UBIQUITOUS SOUND EXPERIENCE ALL THE WAY UP AND DOWN CYPRESS STREET.

>> I HAVE TO LEAVE FOR ANOTHER MEETING BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THIS. I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO THINK I WAS WALKING OUT ON YOU. I AM BUT IT'S NOT PERSONAL.

>> THE GOOD NEWS I THINK WE ARE JUST ABOUT DONE.

I THINK THAT IS MY LAST SLIDE. >> THINK YOU WILL.

>> IT IS YOUR SHOW I'M HAPPY TO GO AFTER QUESTIONS.

>> I'M FINE WITH HEARING ROBERT FIRST.

>> I WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF THE WHY AND WILL GAVE A NUMBER OF BULLET POINTS AT THE BEGINNING BUT CITIES THAT ARE ATTRACTING AND RETAINING MODERN WORKFORCE HAVE PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED SPACES THAT ARE BUILT ON A PEDESTRIAN SCALE IN THE DOWNTOWN IS PREDOMINATELY BUILT ON A VEHICLE OR SCALE.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CONSISTENTLY TALK ABOUT IN ABILENE IS THE NEED TO ATTRACT AND OBTAIN WORKFORCE. CREATING QUALITY OF LIFE AMENITIES LIKE THIS DEVELOPMENT IS EXACTLY WHAT ATTRACTS AND RETAINS A MODERN YOUNG WORKFORCE AS THEY COME INTO TOWN GIVEN THE SPACE FOR FAMILIES TO WALK AROUND AND FEEL SAFE GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY AND A VENUE TO INTERACT WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE SPACE THAT IS PEDESTRIAN SCALE AND PURPOSE BUILT IS IMPORTANT, THE DANGER OF SOME COMMUNITIES THEY HAVE GONE ALL THE WAY ONE WAY AND THEY COMPLETELY REMOVE VEHICLES FROM THE EQUATION. THAT WILL NOT WORK IT DOES NOT WORK AND WHAT I THINK WE TRIED TO DO IS STRUCK A BALANCE THAT ALLOWS FOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC BUT CREATES A SAFE PEDESTRIAN GARMENT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CONSISTENTLY TALKED ABOUT IN THE DESIGN PROCESS IS THE NEED FOR PARKING. THERE ARE WITH REPORTER NEWS EVEN THOUGH WE ARE LOSING SPACES WITH THIS DESIGN AT THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN NORTH FIRST TO NORTH SECOND WHERE THERE IS A LOT OF COMMERCE TAKING PLACE IN RETAIL TRADE RIGHT NOW.

WE WILL HAVE AN INCREASE OF 50 SPOTS ON THE REPORTER NEWS SIDE.

WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH THE ABILENE CORPORATION TO SEE IF THERE'S NOT A WAY TO OPEN UP THE SPOTS WHILE THIS PROJECT IS GOING ON SO WE DO NOT IMPACT AND WE MINIMIZE THE IMPACT THAT WERE GOING TO HAVE THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY IN THE A AREA. FINALLY ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE CYPRESS QUARTER WERE WORKING COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL 90 PARKING SPOTS THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC TO INCREASE THE PARK DENSITY ON THAT PART OF THE QUARTER AS WELL. I THINK WE WILL END UP ADDRESSING ON EXERCISE A PAPER ONLY, THE PARKING CONCERNS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROJECT, NOT TO DIMINISH OR DISMISS ANYBODY'S CONCERNS, THE REAL AND THEY NEED TO BE HEARD AND I WANTED TO SAY WE INTENTIONALLY TRY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE.

I THINK THIS DEVELOPMENT IS GOING TO CONTINUE THE BUSINESS FRIENDLY AND FAMILY ENVIRONMENT THAT WE HAVE AT OUR DOWNTOWN AND ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AS PART OF HER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AND REALLY LEAN INTO THE CAPITAL OF AMERICA BY CREATING THE SPACE FOR ITS FAMILY ORIENTATED BUSINESS FRIENDLY. THANK YOU, COUNSEL.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR, THANK YOU ROBERT FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. THE SPECIAL MEETING I KNOW YOU HAVE A PERSONAL LIFE OUTSIDE OF THIS INSTEAD OF ON THURSDAY.

[00:30:01]

THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING. I KNOW THIS IS BEEN A LONG PROCESS YOUR HEARING FROM 30, 40, 50 DIFFERENT VOICES AND TRYING TO COLLATE AND COME UP WITH A COHESIVE PLAN THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED AS A TESTAMENT TO YOU SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

I'VE HEARD ABOUT THIS FOR QUITE A WHILE AND OVER THE LAST SIX OR NINE MONTHS IT'S BEEN ONE OF THE TOP THREE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE HAVE COME UP TO ME AND SPOKE TO ME ABOUT.

I WILL SAY TO MY KNOWLEDGE I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK TO EVERYONE.

EVERYONE IS EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT KNOW WHAT IS SUPPOSED THAT I'VE HEARD FROM BUSINESS OWNERS OR PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. I THINK EVERYONE IS VERY PRO THIS PROJECT AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR EVERYONE.

I CERTAINLY AM AND WHAT I'M AWARE OF IS THAT WE BASICALLY GET ONE SHOT THIS IS A HUGE PROJECT, 9 MILLION AS OF RIGHT NOW $9 MILLION ON THIS CORRIDOR AND FROM ABILENE DOWNTOWN THERE THE CYPRESS STREET OF DOWNTOWN WE GOTTA GET THIS RIGHT AND GET IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. FOR ME WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE LOOK OF IT BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE FUNCTION GOING FOR THE CHARITIES IN THE BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT ON THE QUARTER AS WELL. A LOT OF THE CONCERNS HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED TO ME OVER THE LAST SIX OR NINE MONTHS ABOUT A FEW THINGS. I WANT TO TOUCH ON THOSE AND I'M HOPEFUL TO HEAR DOWNTOWN AS WELL AFTER WE FINISH OUR QUESTIONS.

SHADE, LIGHTING AND PARKING IS A TOP THREE ISSUE THERE'S GOING TO BE NEGATIVES AND PODS ENTER POSITIVES TO EVERY PROJECT LIKE THIS. WE JUST WENT THROUGH A SUMMER THAT CONSISTENTLY HIT 109, 1084 A LOT OF BUSINESS OWNERS, THIS WAS THE WORST SUMMER EVER DOWNTOWN.

THEIR SALES DROPPED THROUGH THE BOTTOM, HORRIBLE.

DUE TO THE HEAT AND THE SUN BEATING DOWN THE WINDOWSHOPPING BETWEEN 1030 AND FOUR BASICALLY BECAUSE OF THE HEAT, THE DIRECT SUNLIGHT, SHADE, YOU TALKED ABOUT TREES, CUTTING DOWN SOME TREES, PUTTING IN SOME NEW TREES, JUST ON THAT POINT ALONE ON THE TREE SHADE, IS IT NEGATIVE OR IN INCREASE IN SHADE FROM TREES AFTER THE PROJECT IS FINISHED.

>> I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION. I THINK THE GOAL IS TO BE NEUTRAL FOR ONE REPLACEMENT. I THINK WE WILL DO BETTER AND HAVE MORE PLANTINGS THAT ARE EVEN HERE TODAY BUT THE GOAL WOULD BE AT LEAST A MINIMUM 1 1 - 1 MAJOR TREE SHADE GIVER.

>> BUSINESS OWNERS AND CHERRIES DOWNTOWN SHOULD NOT EXPECT TO HAVE THE CUSTOMERS WE WILL HAVE MORE SHADE NOW AFTER THIS PROJECT IS DONE. MOST LIKELY NEUTRAL AND MAYBE A

SLIGHT GAIN, WOULD THAT BE FAIR? >> GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE TREES ARE GOING TO BE HEALTHIER AND HAVE A BETTER CANOPY TO WORK WITH. I THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER I REALLY DO. I UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT AND IS WELL TAKEN. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK AROUND THE LIGHTING SYSTEM BECAUSE WE CANNOT SEND THE TREE THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF OUR INVITING SO TO SOME DEGREE THAT DICTATES WHERE WE CAN PLACE THE NEW PLANTINGS BUT LET'S TARGET E WE'RE AT IN THE SHADE NEUTRAL EXPERIENCE, I THINK WE CAN IMPROVE THAT BUT NOT A BASELINE I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE

EXPECTATION, YES, SIR. >> I WAS IN FREDERICKSBURG RECENTLY AND THEY HAVE THE ENTIRE SIDEWALK BOTH SIDES, HOWEVER, MINISTRIES 10 STREET OR WHATEVER IT IS ALL THE WAY DOWN 100% COVERED WITH THE PERMANENT AWNINGS, FULLY I WANT TO SAY 12 OR 15 FEET WIDE FULLY COVERED THE SIDEWALK AND THERE IS A LOT OF REASONS WHY THE FREDERICKSBURG AS THE NUMBER OF TOURIST THAT THEY HAVE. JUST ON THE SHADE SHOPPING CHAIN UP TO SHOP AT THE STORE, WALKOUT AND SHOP AT THE STORE THE AWNINGS WITH THE PERMANENT SHADE WAS THE REASON THEY ARE THERE SHOPPING AND WILLING TO DO IT FOR SIX MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR.

HAS THAT BEEN PART OF THE DESIGN INITIALLY.

IF IT WAS, WHY WAS IT REMOVED? AND IS IT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY RINGBACK AND IMPLEMENT IF IT STANDALONE SHADE WITH THE

[00:35:05]

I KNOW THERE IS ISSUES WITH ATTACHING IT TO BUILDINGS DIRECTLY BUT IT SEEMS LIKE A SHADE PERSPECTIVE THIS PROJECT WAS 12 OR 18 MONTHS AND AT BEST A VERY SLIGHT INCREASE IN SHADE.

WAS IT 18 MONTHS WORTH OF CONSTRUCTION FOR THAT HOW WOULD

YOU RESPOND TO THAT. >> I WOULD SAY IT WAS NOT PART OF THE ORIGINAL SCOPE OF THE PROJECT.

YOU CAN DO ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO DO IT JUST TAKES MONEY AND THE GENIUSES FOUND IN THE TENSION BETWEEN EVERYTHING THAT YOU POSSIBLY WANT TO DO IN THE BEST BALANCE BETWEEN WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO FROM A FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY STANDPOINT, THE BANG FOR THE BUCK IF YOU WILL. WE TRIED TO SPEAK TO THAT AND THE SILVER STUDY ITSELF. FROM THAT STUDY WE CAN GO BACK AND LOOK AT IF WE NEED TO WHERE WE NEED TO LOOK THROUGH THAT IT IS THE HOURS FROM NOON TO THREE, 3:30 P.M. WHERE THE SHADE, THE EXPENSE OF CYPRESS STREET IS DIFFERENT THAN EAST-WEST IT'S JUST THE WAY IT WORKS ESPECIALLY IF A BUSINESS OWNER ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE EAST-WEST STREET THOSE MIGHT REALLY MAKE SENSE THERE. HERE WE HAVE PRETTY TALL BUILDINGS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET AND PRETTY NATURAL SHADE THAT IS BETTER THAN YOU THINK. IT'S ABOUT 3 - 4 HOURS WHERE THERE IS NO PLACE TO GO. THE SHADE STRUCTURE UNLESS WE GET IN FREDERICKSBURG APPROACH ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE SHADE STRUCTURE BEST SHOW UP IN A GREEN SPACE AS OPPOSED TO CONTIGUOUS QUARTER. OPEN TO THE IDEA AND THE FEEDBACK THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY WE WANT TO DESIGN AND WHAT THE CITY WANTS TO MOVE FORWARD. I WILL TELL YOU THIS IS WHAT ARE THE GREAT PRIVILEGES OF MY JOB GETTING TO DESIGN AND LISTEN AND WORK WITH TO DEVELOP A CONCEPT OF DESIGN AND A PLAN BECAUSE I LIVE HERE AND I GO TO DINNER ON THE STREET AND I WALKED THE STREETS MYSELF SO WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN MY TOWN AND MY CITY THEN IT'S EXTRA SPECIAL FOR US AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET IT RIGHT.

NOT COMING TO COUNSEL WITH AN ATTITUDE OF THIS IS THE WAY IT IS, WE'RE LISTENING BUT IS NOT PART OF THE ORIGINAL SCOPE AND I THINK THERE ARE LIMITED BENEFITS ON CYPRESS STREET SPECIFICALLY FROM A LONG CONTIGUOUS RUNNING SHADE STRUCTURE AND WE ALREADY HAVE TALL BUILDINGS AND WHERE WILL THE IMPACT OF THE LANDSCAPING FEATURES AND ALL THOSE THINGS CREATE THE SPACE.

>> I'M JUST THINKING BACK TO THE FESTIVAL I SAW IT WAS VERY WELL ATTENDED, MAYBE RECORD ATTENDANCE.

AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE DAY I'M LOOKING OVER AND EVERYONE IS CROWDED UNDER THE TEXAS STAR BALCONY FOR THE SHADE IT WAS A HOT DAY AND EVERYONE WAS PACKED. THERE IS A LOT OF VALUE TO SHADE AND FOR ASKING AND HELPING PEOPLE TO COME TO THE STREET WE HAVE GOT TO PROVIDE SOME TYPE OF SHADE.

THE OTHER TWO BIG ISSUES PARKING AND LIGHTING THEY SOMEWHAT GO HAND-IN-HAND. YOU MENTIONED IT WOULD BE 57 PARKING SPOTS, A LOSS OF 30 SPOTS AND MY UNDERSTANDING THAT PARKING DESIRE OR ACCESS WILL BE PUSHED TO THE SIDE STREETS OR OTHER STREETS OR ABILENE REPORTER NEWS PARKING LOT BUILDING WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, FIRST OFF ON THE ABILENE REPORTER NEWS BUILDING THAT'S NOT A CITY DEVELOPMENT THAT IS A PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT SO WE CAN ATTACH CONDITIONS ON THAT OR WHATEVER I AM ASSUMING BUT WE DO NOT KNOW WHEN THAT WILL BE FINISHED, CORRECT IT COULD BE THREE YEARS OR 20 YEARS.

>> I WILL COMMENT ON THAT. WE HAVE INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE BUILDING CAME DOWN AND WE HAVE LEVERAGES IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND PART OF THE WHOLE PROCESS AND THE COMMITMENT THAT COUNSEL MADE WHEN THEY WORKED TO BRING THE BUILDING DOWN AND GET THE DEMOLITION WORK WAS A REQUIREMENT THAT THERE BE PUBLIC PARKING.

WE ALREADY TALKED TO THE AIC ABOUT AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE

[00:40:04]

ACCESS TO PARKING. >> PUSHING THE PARKING TO PINE OR CEDAR WERE TO THE FURTHER STREETS.

I AM NOT OPPOSED TO THAT AND I THINK IT INCREASES WALK ABILITY TRAFFIC TO THE OTHER BUSINESSES, I'M GOING TO THIS BUSINESS OR CHARITY EVENT ON CYPRESS I HAVE TO PART TWO STREETS OVER AND WALKING PATH OF THE BUSINESSES I'VE NEVER KNOWN EXISTED THOSE BENEFIT BY THE CROSS TRAFFIC SO THERE IS BENEFIT THEIR HOWEVER, IF WE SAY PART OF OUR PARKING PLAN WE'RE GOING TO TAKE 30 SPOTS AWAY AND HOPEFULLY EVENTUALLY WHATEVER THE TIMELINE IT WILL INCREASE THROUGH THE ABILENE REPORTER NEWS BUILDING BUT WERE TAKING SPOTS AWAY AND WE SAY PARK ON THE OTHER STREETS BUT WERE NOT PROVIDING LIGHTING FOR SAFETY OR COMFORT ON THE SIDE STREETS UP SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH AS PART OF THIS PROJECT THAT SEEMS A LITTLE BIT WISHFUL THINKING OR WERE TAKING 30 SPOTS AWAY EVENTUALLY MAYBE WE WILL GET ABILENE REPORTER BUT FOR THE TIME BEING YOU'RE WALKING THROUGH THE DARK TO GET TO CYPRESS STREET AS WERE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME DOWN THE COST YOU GOTTA WALK THROUGH UNLIGHTED AREAS OF BLOCK OR TWO BLOCKS AWAY TO GET TO THIS. IS THAT SOMETHING PART OF THIS PLAN I KNOW IT'S NOT CURRENTLY PART OF THE PLAN THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT LIGHTING TO PINE AND CEDAR ON SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH SO PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE TO PART STREET OVER BUT NOW IT IS NICE, LIT AND I CAN SEE WHAT OTHER BUSINESSES ARE HAPPENING AROUND AND GO TO CYPRESS STREET. ASIDE LIGHTING AND OPTION.

>> ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION IS OF COURSE.

IN THE DEVELOPMENT WORLD WE HAVE ACTIVITY BREEDS ACTIVITY.

THIS IS A STRATEGIC DECISION NOT A DESIGN DECISION, THIS IS ABOVE MY PAY GRADE. WHAT YOU ARE DESCRIBING IS THERE GOING TO BE REQUIREMENT BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THIS PROJECT THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS AND WHEN DO WE NEED TO ADDRESS IT.

THE ANSWER IS WE HOPE SO AND I'M PRETTY SURE THE IMPACT OF THE PROJECT IS GOING TO BE SYNERGISTIC IN NATURE THAT THIS ACTIVITY WILL BREED AND DRIVE FUTURE ACTIVITY AND REQUI REQUIREMENTS. I'VE BEEN WALKING FROM THE PARAMOUNT TO THE BEEHIVE IN THE DARK THAT'S BEEN AN EXISTING CONDITION FOR THE LAST WHILE. IT'S GETTING BETTER AND ACTIVITY CONTINUES TO CONTINUE. THE QUESTION FOR COUNSEL AND STAFF WILL BE THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT.

CURRENTLY THE PERIPHERAL SIDE STREETS AND LIGHTING IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THAT ARE NOT PART OF THIS PROJECT.

COULD THEY BE, THAT IS UP TO THEM IN THIS BODY.

>> IS THIS A ROBERT OR WILL QUESTION, TO INCLUDE LIGHTING IN THE PROJECT SECOND, THIRD FOURTH WITHOUT INCREASING THE COST WE WOULD HAVE TO JETTISON SOMETHING.

IS THAT DOABLE? IF YOU CAN END UP ADDING LIGHTING ON NORTH SECOND, NORTH THIRD, NORTH FOURTH WHY NOT HIT NORTH FIFTH WHILE YOU'RE AT IT. THAT WILL HAVE AN INCREASING COST. IF THAT IS THE DIRECTION COUNSEL WANTS TO GO HERE'S WHAT I WOULD CITE ADDING LIGHTING NOW GIVEN THE CURRENT SIDEWALK SITUATION ALONG THE STREETS SOMEHOW PEOPLE FROM THE TREES IN A NUMBER OF THINGS YOU MAY BE SPENDING GOOD MONEY AFTER BAD OR BAD MONEY AFTER GOOD.

WHATEVER IMPROVEMENT THAT YOU PUT THERE WHEN WE GO TO FUTURE PHASES OF THIS PROJECT WE HIT NORTH SECOND AND NORTH THIRD WE MAY HAVE TO PULL ALL OF THAT OUT BECAUSE THE SIDEWALK ALIGNMENT MAY CHANGE SOME HE MIGHT HAVE A DIFFERENT LIGHTING STANDARD.

I WOULD MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD A PLAN AND DESIGN THAT WAS DONE AND WE WOULD IMPLEMENT PHASE ONE AS LIGHTING SO WE KNOW WHERE THEY WERE GOING IN THE FINAL STAGE SO WE WOULD NOT BE SPENDING GOOD MONEY TO RIP OUT AND DO IT AGAIN.

HIS ONLY CAUTION I WOULD HAVE AND I THINK THE DESIGN COULD HELP PLAN FOR THAT IF THAT'S WHAT COUNSEL WANTS TO DO.

>> MY CONCERN ON THIS, THE PROJECT HAS AN IMMEDIATE EFFECT

[00:45:05]

INTERESTED IN SEEING A STUDY ON. >> ABOUT SOMETHING THE COUNCIL WANTS US TO DO THAT IS A POLICY, POLICY LEVEL DECISION AND IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WERE HAPPY TO DO IT WE JUST NEED THE

DIRECTION FROM COUNSEL. >> WHILE WERE ON THAT DOES ANYBODY ELSE ON COUNSEL HAVE ANY INPUT AT THIS TIME.

>> I HAVE ONE MAIN ONE. TIMELINE THIS SEEMS TO BE THE MAIN CONCERN FOR THE CHARITIES AND BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN 12 - 18 MONTHS HAS BEEN MENTIONED. AS ALL ONCE OR BROKEN UP BY BLOCK, THE CHARITY BUSINESSES HAVE COME OUT OF A PANDEMIC, THE REVENUE IS DOWN IN THE TRYING TO GET BACK UP AND WE AS A CITY ARE SAME WORKING TO DO CONSTRUCTION, THAT'S CAN AFFECT THE SIDESTREETS FROM LEFT AND RIGHT TO BODEGA AND ON THE OUTSIDE UP-AND-DOWN. IT HAS A RIPPLE EFFECT, TIMELINE WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO BUILD THE PROJECT.

>> A QUESTION. WE PUT CONSIDERABLE THOUGHT IN TERMS OF OUR APPROACH BUT WE ARE THE DESIGN FIRM NOT THE CONSTRUCTION FIRM IN ONE OF THE ACTION ITEMS THAT I THINK IS ON THE TABLE AFTER THIS DISCUSSION WOULD BE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROCUREMENT OF HIS CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK.

THE CONTRACTOR IN THIS CASE WOULD BE AN ENTITY THAT WE WOULD WANT TO REALLY COMBINE OUR HEADS AND ALONG WITH STAFF AND THINK THROUGH A PROCESS A 30000-FOOT VIEW OUR THOUGHTS ARE BETWEEN 18 POSSIBLY 24 MONTHS TO MAKE SURE THE IMPACT IS MITIGATED WE WANT TO AVOID THE CHRISTMAS SEASON ALL SEASONS ARE IMPORTANT TO ALL OF HER BUSINESSES. CONSTRUCTION GOING ON FIRST TO SECOND THIRD TO FOURTH ALLOW EAST-WEST TRAFFIC DURING THE CONSTRUCTION CYCLE IN THE SECOND PHASE SECOND THIRD FOURTH AND FIFTH GIVE THEM . I DON'T THINK CONSTRUCTION WOULD TAKE THAT'S MORE LIKE EIGHT MONTHS TO DO THEM CONTINUOUSLY AND GET IT CRUNCHED IN 18 MONTHS ARE GOING TO CHRISTMAS SEASON SO WE MIGHT STEP BACK AND SLOW THE CONSTRUCTION.

DOWN TO THE BENEFIT OF THOSE COMMUNITY BUSINESSES AND THEIR PRIORITIES WHICH IS ALL WORKING LIVING DOCUMENT TYPE STUFF THAT WE CAN MASSAGE. AND TO DO SO EFFECTIVELY IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE A CONSTRUCTION MANAGER ON BOARD AND THE THREE OF US WORKING TOGETHER FOR THOSE GOALS.

>> LET ME PAUSE FOR A SECOND, SOME MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH THAT TERM WE HAVE MULTIPLE PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PROJECT IN THE MOST TRADITIONAL DESIGN BID BUILD, THE DESIGN IS DONE AND WE PUT IT ON THE STREET AND WE CHOOSE THE LOWEST BIDDER, IT GETS BUILT THAT DOES NOT NECESSARILY RESULT IN THE HIGHEST LEVEL COOPERATION BETWEEN THE DESIGN TEAM AND THE CONTRACTOR. THIS PROJECT IS COMPLEX AND IS GOING TO IMPACT PEOPLE THERE IS NO WAY TO SAY THAT IF WE DID NOT SAY THAT WE WOULD BE LYING. WE WANT TO MINIMIZE THE CONFLICT IN THE IMPACT AS MUCH AS WE CAN, GETTING THE DESIGNER AND THE CONTRACTOR WORKING TOGETHER AS THEY GO THROUGH THE FINAL DESIGN ELEMENTS OF THIS THING STAGING, SCHEDULING, ALL OF THAT IS CRITICAL. WE INTENTIONALLY TALKED ABOUT A CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT RISK PROCUREMENT METHOD FOR THIS BECAUSE OF THE FLEXIBILITY IT PROVIDES, THE CONTRACTOR AND THE DESIGN TEAM TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE LIMIT THE RISK EXPOSURE TO THE BUSINESSES AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.

ONE OUTCOME TO PLAYOFF EVEN IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL DESIGN CHANGES, THE OUTCOME OF THE DISCUSSION WITH COUNSEL.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH FINDING A CONSTRUCTION MANAGER RISK AND EVEN NOW THE BETTER, IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL DESIGN CHANGES THEY NEED A SEAT AT THE TABLE TO

[00:50:01]

>> ON THE TIMELINE WHAT WOULD BE THE RAMIFICATIONS INSTEAD OF STARTING THIS IN JANUARY IF WE STARTED THE SEX LEADER OR A YEAR LATER. AGAIN I THINK EVERYONE IS IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT WHERE MY MIND THE BUSINESSES AND CHARITIES ARE COMING OUT OF IT TOO, TO A HALF-YEAR PANDEMIC AND ARE NOT AS STRONG AS THEY WERE IN 2019 AND ASKING THEM TO GO TO ANY FOUR MONTHS AND TAKE A HIT A BEAKER DOWN THE ROAD WHAT WOULD BE THE RAMIFICATIONS IF WE SAID WORKING TO DO THIS PROJECT BUT WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU AN EXTRA SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR TO GET BACK

TO NORMAL SO YOU SURVIVE. >> I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A GOOD TIME TO DO A PROJECT LIKE THIS.

TO YOUR POINT ARE THERE BETTER TIMES, THAT IS WHAT YOU GET PAID THE BIG BUCKS FOR BUT I WILL SAY THIS, I KNOW WHAT CONSTRUCTION COSTS HAVE DONE OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS AND I WOULD EXPECT THEM TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND INTEREST RATES WHETHER THEY COME DOWN OR COME UP SOME SAY THERE TO COME DOWN SOME SAY THE GET GO UP IN YOUR CRYSTAL BALL IS GOOD AS MINE ON THAT.

IF YOU WANT TO DELAY THE PROJECT I DO ANTICIPATE A CONTRIBUTORY INCREASE IN A CONSTRUCTION PRICING AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE WILL HAVE TO PLAY FOR HIM PROBABLY FIND OTHER ENDING

SOURCES TO COVER. >> LET ME GO BACK WITH ONE THOUGHT. THE MANY CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD WITH STAKEHOLDERS THE ONE RESOUNDING THEME THAT I HEAR IS PLEASE DON'T MESS WITH MY CHRISTMAS SEASON, SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER, ALL MONTHS ARE IMPORTANT BUT THOSE OF THE MOST CRITICAL BASED ON THE FEEDBACK. THEREFORE IF WE THINK THIS IS AN EIGHT MONTH PER SECTION THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT TWO BLOCKS AT A TIME FOR EXAMPLE THE BEST WINDOW OF THE TIME IS JANUARY TO AUGUST PHASE AND THEN WE COULD DO SOME OTHER MINOR IMPACTS THE.

THE BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY IS FOR THE CHAMBER IN OTHER ENTITIES TO RALLY BEHIND THOSE IMPACTED BUSINESSES AND HELP SUPPORT AND PROMOTE AND CATER AND FIND ALTERNATIVE WAYS.

THERE IS GOING TO BE IMPACT THEIR JUSTICE.

WE TALKED ABOUT CONCRETE BOLLARD SO THE CONSTRUCTION WILL BE DOING THE HEAVY LIFTING DURING THE EXCAVATION AND TYING BACK IN THE STORM SEWER INDUSTRY RECONSTRUCTION THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE INSIDE OF THE BARRIERS AND THE REST OF THE STREETS WOULD ESSENTIALLY FUNCTION AS THEY WOULD AND ONCE THE STREET IS READY THE CONSTRUCTION BARRIERS COME OUT AND COMPLETE THE SIDEWALK. THERE IS STILL IMPACT BUT IS MITIGATED. WE HAVE SOME OF THE IDEAS WORKING WITH THE CONTRACTOR TO HELP FINE TUNE AND POLICIES OUR

APPROACH IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS. >> WHAT I HEARD YOU SAYING AND I WANT TO UNDERSCORE AND HIGHLIGHT THURSDAY TO BE AN INTENTIONAL EFFORT TO MINNESOTA UNDER MINIMIZE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES DURING THE FOURTH QUARTER WHICH IS ONE BUSINESS OWNER TOLD ME 40% OF THE REVENUE. IS THAT CORRECT.

>> FROM LISTENING TO THE BUSINESSES INTERACT, THAT IS THE MESSAGE AND THE STRATEGY AND THE TACTICS THAT WE ARE APPROACHING

AND I THINK IT IS THE RIGHT ONE. >> I HAVE NO MORE QUESTIONS

RIGHT NOW. >> THAT WAS PROBABLY THE MAJORITY OF THE QUESTION. THANK YOU FOR ASKING GREAT I WAS JUST CURIOUS IN TERMS THAT IT'S GREAT TO KNOW THAT YOU GUYS ARE COLLABORATING TOGETHER WITH THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE GREATLY IMPACTED BY THE CONSTRUCTION.

I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT. I'M DEFINITELY EXCITED TO BE HERE ABOUT THE POTENTIAL WAYS THEY ARE TRYING TO UNDERSCORE WHAT WERE LOSING IN TERMS OF SHADE IDENTICAL THINK IT'S WORTH HAVING TO CONTINUE CONVERSATION IF IT IS FINANCIALLY SOMETHING WE CAN'T DO NOW BUT SOMETHING WE CAN CONNECT DOWN THE ROAD I THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL AS A COUNSEL TO CONSIDER.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE I HEARD THIS RIGHT AND OTHERS POTENTIAL CLOSINGS DOWNTOWN IN TERMS OF ALLEYWAYS IS THAT WHAT ARE THE

THINGS THAT YOU SHARED. >> ONLY ALLY THAT WERE TALKING ABOUT CLOSING IS ALLY THAT RUNS EAST-WEST BETWEEN GREECE AND CYPRUS STREET TO THE MID BLOCK GOING TOWARD CEDAR RUNNING WEST, THE GRACE HAS A PARKING LOT THAT JUMPS INTO THE ALLY AND FEEDS TO CEDAR THAT WOULD REMAIN OPEN TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC THE HALF BLOCK ALLEYWAY BETWEEN FIRST AND THE NORTH-SOUTH ALLY BETWEEN CYPRUS.

AN OPPORTUNITY. >> IT IS NOT USED FOR A TON OF STREET TRAFFIC AND IT WOULD CREATE ANOTHER GREEN SPACE IF YOU WILL FOR GOOD SHADE RIGHT IN THEIR.

[00:55:05]

IF YOU GO TO THE NEW DATIVE DOWNTOWN PROJECTS ACROSS THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY THEY ARE INCORPORATING ALLEYWAYS AND WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK AND A LOT OF UTILITIES AND EVERYTHING IN HER ALLEYS. BUT THIS IS A CANDIDATE FOR CONCEPT AND WITHOUT MUCH IMPACT. POSITIVE IMPACT RELATIVELY EASY TO EXECUTE AND BASED ON THE WAY THAT THAT FUNCTIONS IT WOULD DRIVE FUTURE ACTIVITY AND OPPORTUNITIES.

>> I THINK ALSO OUR STAFF OBSERVATION THAT IS FUNCTIONING AND PREDOMINANTLY THE SECTION THAT IS A PEDESTRIAN THOROUGHFARE NOW MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IT DOES NOT MEAN VEHICLES DON'T GO DOWN IT. BUT IT SEEMS TO BE PREDOMINANTLY FUNCTION AS A PEDESTRIAN QUA QUARTER.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN FOR SOLID WASTE.

>> NOT AT THIS TIME. >> YOU MENTIONED THE TRAFFIC WEST AND ELIMINATE A COMPLEXIONED MID BLOCK WITH

TRAFFIC WERE NOT. >> THAT IS ALL THE QUESTIONS

THAT I HAVE. >> I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ADDING THE PARAMOUNT TO YOUR PRESENTATION THAT WAS ON THE FIRST ONE IT WAS NOT LISTED AS ONE OF THE PARTNERS AND THEIR INTEGRAL TO CYPRUS SO WE APPRECIATE YOU.

WE HAD SOME SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, HOW HIGH IS THAT AND IS THERE CONCERN WITH SEMI TRAFFIC OR DELIVERY TRUCKS COMING THROUGH

POSSIBLY HAVING A HEIGHT. >> WE APPRECIATE IT, WERE LOOKING TO 18 FEET THE PARADE ROUTE, SEMITRUCK I THINK WE WOULD TRY TO MOVE SEMITRUCK OFF-SITE PROCESS THE EXTENT THAT WE COULD. WE ALSO WANTED TO SHOW YOU DELIVERY METHOD SPACES ON THE EAST-WEST STREET EACH BLOCK.

WERE ALSO PROVIDING ACCOMMODATIONS FOR FEDEX AND DELIVERY TRANSPORT AND SOME OF THE RESTAURANTS WILL HAVE THEIR OWN ACCOMMODATION MAY BE THROUGH ALLEYWAYS AND OTHER THINGS THE REMAINS UNCHANGED. THOSE ACCOMMODATION AND PARAMOUNT SPECIFICALLY THERE IS A 40-FOOT LANDING ZONE AS PART OF THAT. AS 30 SPACE PARKING LOT PLUS A 40-FOOT ZONE THAT IS TWO SPACES THERE.

IT MAY BE A LOSS OF 28 TECHNICALLY.

>> THE CROSS STREETS DON'T HAVE THE LIGHTING TRAFFICKING GO

THROUGH THEIR. >> THEY WILL OVER THE INTERSECTIONS. THEY WILL THROUGH THE INTERSECTIONS IN HERE YOU SEE BASICALLY A SQUARE AROUND IT.

BUT I 18 FEET IS NOT GOING TO PRECLUDED EBUDDY THE STANDARD HIGHWAY INTERSECTION AT 16-FOOT 3 INCHES.

I THINK WE ARE HIGH ENOUGH THERE IS GOING TO PROVIDE GREAT ILLUMINATION TO THE PEDESTRIAN INDUSTRY QUARTER AS WELL AS FUNCTION FOR ANY APPLICATION OF HER STREETS THAT WE NEED.

>> WITH THEM CRISSCROSSING THE OTHER QUESTION ARE THE CONCERNS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH THE AERIAL.

IS THAT GOING TO IMPEDE THEM WITH THAT TYPE OF FIRE.

>> I DO NOT BELIEVE IT WILL, NO. >> I DID NOT KNOW IF THERE'S A

WAY TO TAKE THE MULTIPLE. >> FOR THE RECORD MY OWN PAST EXPERIENCE WILL TELL YOU THEN YOU WILL REMOVE THOSE IF THEY

NEED TO IN THAT EVENT. >> WHAT ARE THE REASONS WE ARE DOING IT THIS WAY WITH THE LIGHTING SYSTEM YOU MENTION POWER, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE NEED TO TURN ON IF WE NEED TO SO WE CAN DISCONNECTED WE KNOW THE POWER CONNECTIONS WILL BE IN THE DISCONNECTED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING WITH AN EMERGENCY STANDPOINT WE WILL BE ABLE TO DOMINATE THOSE NEEDS.

>> ABSOLUTELY. >> WITH THE TREES THAT WERE BRINGING IN, ONE CONCERN EITHER SAP THERE CERTAIN TIMES OF YEAR WHEN YOU DOWNTOWN AND YOU WANT TO WASH YOUR CAR THAT YOU CAN

[01:00:01]

>> EVERY TREE HAS AN UNDESIRABLE QUALITY.

THE CEDAR ELMS TO HAVE SOME SAP, THOUGH NOT THE WORST BUT IT DOES EXIST. ON THE ACORN I THINK WE'VE DONE A BETTER JOB A MUCH BETTER JOB SENSITIVE GUN STREET SWEEPERS TO MITIGATE THE ACORN PROBLEM, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL HAVE TO STAY ON TOP OF. WE CAN MANAGE ALL OF THOSE, THERE IS NO PERFECT TREE AND I THINK THE TWO SPECIES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND A GOOD STREET TREE CANDIDATE BECAUSE THEY DO LESS OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. THE MODERATE OAK DOES DROP ACORN GOOD LARGER THAN THE ACORN. WE WILL HAVE TO WORK TO MITIGATE

THAT JUST LIKE WE DO NOW. >> THE REVISED GRADE OF THE STREET I THINK WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE STREET SWEEPING CRUISE TO PROPERLY MAINTAIN THE AREAS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT THE NOOKS AND CRANNIES AND THINGS WILL BE A LITTLE BIT MORE

ACCURATE AND FRIENDLY. >> THE MID BLOCK CROSSWALKS, ARE WE GOING UP PUSHBUTTON FOR BLINKING LIGHTS FOR PEOPLE THAT

ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED. >> WE WILL HAVE TO MEET ADA STANDARDS. WE WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT

ABOUT THAT. >> YES AND NO.

IT'S PROBABLY BEYOND MY PURVIEW EXACTLY WHAT THE ADA STANDARDS ARE TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THEM. WILL DUNCAN IS HERE AND WE WILL COMPLY WITH ADA AT A MINIMUM IF WE WANT TO INCLUDE SOME ENHANCEMENTS TO THAT AND WE HAVE THE BUDGET TO DO SO, THEN CERTAINLY CAPABLE TO DO THAT AND AGREEABLE TO DO THAT.

THAT IS ONE THING AT THE DESIGN PROCESS WE ARE STILL SITTING AND

WILL WORK WITH CITY STAFF. >> I THINK THEY CONNECT INTO THE

STREET. >> I WOULD SAY IF COUNSEL WANTS TO BE INTENTIONAL AND ADD IMPAIRMENT CROSSWALKS SO IF YOU HAVE A VISUAL IMPAIRMENT YOU CAN HEAR THE CHIRPING WITH THE DIFFERENT NOISES WE CAN CERTAINLY WORK TO DO THAT.

>> WE CAN GET STOP SIGNS AT THE INTERSECTION.

>> WE COULD DO ALL THE THINGS THAT COUNSEL WANTS US TO DO.

ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE NOTING IS BUILT WE CAN MAKE WHATEVER DESIGN CHANGES ARE REQUIRED.

>> WITH REGARD TO ADDRESSING LIGHTING ON THE SIDE STREETS.

MY PREFERENCE TO FOCUS ON THE EXISTING PROJECT AND BE INTENTIONAL OF THE DESIGN AND LOOKING HOW DO WE EXPAND OUT FROM THERE IN HER FUTURE PROJECT THAT IS MY PREFERENCE SINCE THAT CAME UP AS A DISCUSSION. THANK YOU MAYOR.

>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUICK THINGS FIRST I AGREE WITH BLAISE IN THE NEEDS AND WE WANT TO CREATE A WELCOMING CORRIDOR INTO THE DOWNTOWN CYPRESS STREET CORRIDOR AND I HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN AFFORD AND WHEN SO I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THE FUTURE IN SEEING THE CONCEPTUAL WHAT WITH THE SOCRATIC IN PHASE II AND PHASE THREE IN THE LONGER TERM VISION OF THE CYPRUS RECORDER AND AS WE MOVE OUT I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT AND HEARING THIS TODAY, MY CONCERN, ROBERT THIS IS PROBABLY QUESTION FOR YOU. WE HAVE A GREAT DESIGN, I LIKE IT AND I REALLY DON'T SEE ANYTHING I DON'T LIKE.

THE LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE OF THINGS LIKE THIS IS A QUESTION I HAVE. THIS IS NOT GOING TO LOOK AT IF EVERY OTHER LIGHTBULB IS OUT IN THE TRENCH DRAINS FILL OUT WITH ACORNS AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN OVER TIME.

OBVIOUSLY I THINK WE COULD BE ON THE HOOK FOR THE LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE OF THE QUARTER SO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AND I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT THE TRENCH DRAIN A LITTLE BIT IN THE PAST THAT I NORMALLY TRAVEL AROUND TOWN THERE IS ONLY ONE SIMILAR THAT I CAN THINK OF WHICH IS SOUTH OF 14TH STORM WATER DRAIN HOW ARE WE GOING TO KEEP THOSE CLEAN.

>> THE TRENCH DRAIN, WE WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE THE GRADES ENDED UP VIA MAINTENANCE ACTIVITY AND WILL HAVE TO DO EVERY SO OFTEN AND HOW OFTEN WE WILL LET THE LIFE OF EXPERIENCE IDENTIFY THAT. IT WILL MOVE THE WATER IN A

[01:05:01]

THERE ARE REVENUES THAT CAN HELP US WITH THAT AND THEY CAN'T PAY FOR THE PEOPLE BUT THE CONCERT AND PAY FOR THE SUPPLIES AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS. TO HELP MAINTAIN THIS SO THERE WILL BE SOME GENERAL FUND IMPACT MAKING SURE WE HAVE ADEQUATE PEOPLE TO MAINTAIN THIS BUT WERE NOT TALKING ABOUT ADDING 20 PEOPLE, PROBABLY THREE WILL GET IT DONE.

>> WE WILL NEED A BIRD PLAN I'M SURE.

>> I HAVE SOME IDEAS. >> THEY SEEM TO STICK AROUND ABILENE SO DON'T ATTRACT THEM PLEASE.

>> THE CONVERSATION ALONG THESE LINES WITH VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS AND I HAVEN'T TALKED TO EVERYONE BUT THE OVERARCHING INCONSISTENT CONCERN IS PARKING IT IS THE P-UPPERCASE-LETTER AND IT RANGES FROM CURB PARKING TO SIGNAGE AND WAYFINDING SO SOMEONE VISITING ABILENE COULD FIND A PUBLIC PARKING SPOT AND PARKED THERE.

THE COMMENT THAT I'VE GOT I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE DESIGN TEAM AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO PRIORITIZE THE ALTERNATIVE PARKING DURING THE CONSTRUCTION TO MAKE SURE THE ABILENE REPORTER NEWS SPOT AND THE NORTH END NORTH OF FIFTH THE REPLACEMENT PARKING THE TEMPORARY PARKING IF YOU WILL THAT THAT IS OPEN, ACCESSIBLE AND FUNCTIONAL BEFORE WE BREAK GROUND AND DISRUPT ALL OF THE BUSINESS. THE BEHAVIOR OF THE PEOPLE TO GO TO CYPRESS STREET WILL HAVE TO CHANGE AND THAT IS A DESIRABLE THING WE ARE CREATING A WALKABLE PEDESTRIAN ZONE THAT IS MORE OF A DESTINATION MORE EVIDENT TRACTION THAT PEOPLE WILL GET OUT OF THE CAR AND WALK. EXPECTATION THAT THAT'S WHAT YOU DO CYPRESS STREET NO. YOU PARK AND WALK UP AND DOWN THE STREET THAT WILL TAKE TIME. WE HAVE TO BE AHEAD OF THAT BY PROVIDING THE PLACE TO DO THAT. I THINK IT IS ESSENTIAL BEFORE WE START DISRUPTING BUSINESS THAT WE REPLACE THE PARKING FIRST AND THEN MOVE ON. THAT MAY INCLUDE HAVING TO CHANGE WITH THE PARKING IS OVERTIME AS A CONSTRUCTION CHANGES. I ACCEPT THAT BUT WE CAN GO 30 OR 40 SPOTS AND SAY IT'S BAD FOR 18 MONTHS.

WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT WE CAN BE AHEAD OF IT.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THAT THAT

IS THE PLAN. >> THAT IS THE PLAN.

>> THE SECOND QUESTION I DON'T UNDERSTAND OR HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE ON ADA REQUIREMENTS BUT HER FOR GOING TO PARALLEL PARKING WITH 57 SPOTS ARE THERE A REQUIRED NUMBER OF HANDICAP SPOTS OUT OF THE 57 AND DOES NOT RESULT IN A NET LESS THAN 57 BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES DEPENDING ON THE TIME OF DAY THOUGH SPOTS ARE EMPTY.

>> THEIR PARALLEL SPACES THAT ARE ADA AND THOSE TO BE REPLACED AND I BELIEVE THE REQUIREMENT IS ONE PER BLOCK ON EACH SIDE OF THE STREET. ONE PER BLOCK SO WE WOULD MAINTAIN THAT THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT AND BACK TO YOUR LAST QUESTION ON WAYFINDING WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT DOES PROVIDE AN OVAL LOOKING SIGN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR WAYFINDING FOR CURRENT CITIZENS TO KNOW WHERE PARKING IS AS WELL AS VISITORS TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA TO EASILY IDENTIFY THE LARGER PARKING AREAS THAT WE HAVE AND WHERE THAT MIGHT BE INTO DIRECT THE TRAFFIC FLOW. THAT IS AN UPGRADE IMPROVEMENT IN TERMS OF OUR CURRENT POSITION WE HAVE OFF LOTS THAT ARE

[01:10:03]

WE WILL WORK WITH THE CHAMBER AND AWARD-WINNING CBD TO HELP POLISH THE WAYFINDING OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DIRECT OUR CITIZENS TO THE PROPER AREAS.

>> IT IS MORE THE VISITORS THAT I'M THINKING WHERE DO I PARK WHERE IS THE PLACE THAT I'M ALLOWED TO PARK IF SOMEONE IS A VISITOR TO ABILENE. THE CITIZENS WILL FIGURE THAT OUT AND FIND EVERY NOTE AND CRANNY THAT THERE IS AND THEY WILL TELL THEIR NEIGHBORS BECAUSE THEY'RE MAKING SURE THEY HAVE A PLACE TO GO. THAT IS OKAY, THE LAST THING IS THE DESIGN GUIDE THIS AS A DESIGN GUIDE IS EXCELLENT THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY TO GO ABOUT CREATING A LONG-TERM MULTIPHASE IMPROVEMENT FOR DOWNTOWN AND AS A BASELINE THIS IS A RESOUNDING SUCCESS. I'M NOT PARTICULARLY IN FAVOR OF MOVING INTO THE NEXT PHASE BEFORE WE HAVE THE DESIGN BUT WE AT LEAST HAVE THE ELEMENTS IN THE FEEL AND THE SENSE OF PLACE THAT WE CAN USED TO WORK OFF OF THE NEXT PHASE.

I'M NOT SURE I THINK WE NEED TO DO LIGHTING ON SIDESTREETS YET.

I THINK WE FINISH THIS AND SEE PROBABLY AN ORGANIC RESPONSE IN TERMS OF RETAIL BUSINESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES AND WE CAN SEE WHERE IS THE NEXT PLACE WE WANT TO GO ONCE THIS IS COMPLETE.

THAT IS MY THINKING RATE AGAIN PREDICATED WE HAVE NOT JUST NO LOSS BUT A NET GAIN OF PARKING BECAUSE THE PARKING THAT WE'VE GOT IS INADEQUATE AND THAT HAS BEEN PERCEIVED LOUD AND CLEAR.

OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE IT TO THE NORTH AND SOUTH ENDS TO HAVE A WALKABLE CORRIDOR IS TOO GOOD TO PASS UP.

>> TO QUOTE MR. HANNA. THANK YOU.

AT THIS TIME I WOULD OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING IF YOU WOULD LIKE

TO SPEAK BEFORE. >> THE FIRST ONE IS GLENN AND

CAROL. >> FIRST OF ALL LET ME SAY I'M GOING TO GET THIS OUT WHERE PEOPLE CAN HEAR ME.

CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME, GOOD. FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS MEETING AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN DOWNTOWN. WE HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN WE HAVE A BUSINESS TEXAS START TRADING THAT HAS BEEN HERE 20 YEARS NEXT JULY AND WE WOULD LIKE TO BE THERE A FEW MORE YEARS AND THE PLAN NOT SPEAKING FOR OR AGAINST, I THINK THE PLAN HAS A LOT OF GOOD THINGS AND IF IT COULD BE DONE TOMORROW AND NOT GO THROUGH THE THREE YEAR PROCESS I THINK IT'LL BE A THREE YEAR PROCESS BEFORE IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE AND THAT IS A LONG TIME IN BUSINESS. THE OTHER THING WHEN IT IS FINALLY FINISHED WE LOSE PARKING SPACES THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE AND RIGHT NOW THE HEAD AND PARKING IS MUCH DESIRABLE MORE DESIRABLE THAN PARALLEL PARKING PARTICULARLY FOR OLDER PEOPLE.

AND WHEN THIS FIRST STARTED WE WERE IN A MEETING AND WE ASKED OUR OPINION ON THINGS AND WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THEM TO LOOK AT HEAD AND PARKING IF YOU CAN'T HAVE IT ON BOTH SIDES AT LEAST ONE SIDE AND I STILL FEEL LIKE THAT WOULD BE PREFERABLE IN THE DIFFERENCE OF DESIGN ON THE EASTSIDE AND WESTSIDE WILL BE A DIFFERENT DESIGN ON THE EAST SIDE WHERE IT'S NOT 19-FOOT SIDEWALKS. MAYBE IT'S WHAT WE HAVE NOW BEEN UPGRADED AND STILL HAVE HEAD AND PARKING ON ONE SIDE OF THE STREET. THE PUBLIC PARKING LOT THAT MIGHT COME IN BY ALEXANDER BUILDING IS A GOOD THING AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT BUT UNLESS IT'S GOING TO BE MONITORED IN SOME WAY I AM AFRAID IT'LL END UP BEING MORE OF AN EMPLOYEE PARKING LOT THAN A CUSTOMER PARKING LOT.

I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT THAT THERE ARE PLACES FOR CUSTOMERS TO PARK CLOSE TO THE BUSINESSES. WE CERTAINLY FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT

[01:15:08]

INSTEAD WE'RE GOING TO TEAR UP THE STREET.

I WISH WE COULD HAVE A LITTLE BIT LONGER TO ENJOY THE BENEFITS BEFORE WE DO ALL OF THIS. BUT AGAIN WHEN THAT IS FINISHED I THINK IT'LL BE GREAT AND I LOVE SO MANY THINGS ABOUT THIS PLAN AND THE TWO WAY TRAFFIC AND OTHER THINGS AND I'M OUT OF TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN DOWNTOWN. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE AUTHOR OF THE HECTIC COW DOG.

>> ONE MORE CARD FROM LAURA. SHE IS WAVING.

SHE IS GOOD. THAT IS ALL THE CARDS.

>> STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING IS ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS. PLEASE COME FORWARD.

>> HELLO I AM ALLISON CAROL WITH ONE'S COFFEE SHOP.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING US OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS MEE MEETING. I THINK I LIKE A LOT OF DOWNTOWN BUSINESS OWNERS ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE CONCEPT OVERALL WERE EXCITED ABOUT THE INTEREST IN INVESTING DOWNTOWN AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF PEOPLE LIKE WILL AND COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE TAKEN SO MUCH TIME TO ENGAGE IN THIS ISSUE.

I DO HAVE CONCERNS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE ABOUT THE PARKING AND I THINK UNTIL OR UNLESS WE HAVE ALTERNATIVE PARKING FOR THE COURSE OF THIS PROJECT IT REMAINS A CONCERN.

I AGREE THAT HEAD AND PARKING IS GENERALLY PREFERABLE TO U.S.

PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC SO I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT CONCEPUALLY HAVING ONLY PARALLEL PARKING ON CYPRESS STREET I ALSO WONDER IF THERE IS A WAY THAT WE CAN BE IN THE MIDDLE AND HAVE WIDER SIDEWALKS AND ONLY MAKE ONE SIDE PARALLEL AND I THINK SHADE IS A PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE WHEN WERE TALKING ABOUT LIKABILITY AND SOMEONE WHO SPENDS A LOT OF TIME WALKING AROUND DOWNTOWN ALL TIMES OF DAY. IT'S A BIG CONCERN FOR PEOPLE AND CUSTOMERS WHO ALREADY PARK A FEW BLOCKS AWAY AND WALKED TO THE DESTINATION. AS A BUSINESS OWNER I PREDICTABLY STAFF MY SHOP BASED ON WHEN THE PARADE HAPPENS.

IF THE PARADE IS IN THE MORNING I'M GOING TO GET A LOT OF BUSINESS BECAUSE MY SIDE OF THE STREET IS SHADED.

EVERYBODY STAYS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET.

THOSE TRENDS NOT AS EXTREME ON THE DAY TODAY DO STILL HAPPEN WHEN PEOPLE ARE PLANNING THEIR WALKS OR THEIR TIME AROUND DOWNTOWN. WALK ABILITY ENCOMPASSES MORE THAN JUST A SIDEWALKS I'M SUPER EXCITED TO SEE PEDESTRIAN LIGHTING THAT IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR A WHILE AND I AGREE SOME PEOPLE WHO SPEAK ABOUT NEEDING ADDITIONAL LIGHTING BECAUSE OF HER EXPECTING EVERYBODY WHO VISITS DOWNTOWN TO WALK OVER BLOCKS IT SHOULD BE SAFE AND COMFORTABLE TO DO SO. THAT COMES INTO SHADE AS WELL, OVERHEAD COVERINGS IN A FORM OR FASHION WOULD ALLOW US TO CREATE THE COHESIVE DOWNTOWN LOOK WILL GIVING BUSINESSES TO INDIVIDUALIZE AND WILL ALSO SERVE AS A COVERING DURING RAINY WEATHER OR SNOWY WEATHER AND WERE OPEN IN THE RAIN AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO COME TO US DURING THE TIME.

I THINK WITH WALK ABILITY I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE VISUAL INTEREST AND ACTIVITY-BASED ITEMS. IF THIS IS GOING TO BE A DESTINATION SPOT I THINK ABOUT ALLEN RIDGE IS NOT JUST A PRETTY PLACE, THERE IS REALLY CHEERS AND DIFFERENT THINGS TO DO. I AM OUT OF TIME, THANK YOU SO

MUCH. >> IS ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD

LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME. >> HELLO I AM WILLIAM WOLF A FEW CONCERNS AND I'M SURE YOU CAN ADDRESS THEM LATER THE ONE CONCERN OF LIGHTING WE WILL BE EASILY ABLE TO DETACH EVERY YEAR YOU SEE PACKAGE UNITS IN THE TALL BUILDINGS AND CRANE OPERATIONS HAPPEN SO THEY NEED TO GET TO THEM EASILY OTHERWISE THE CONTRACTOR IS GOING TO GET BULK CUTTERS AND THERE GOES

[01:20:02]

THE PARK IS DARK TONIGHT AS WELL AS ALMOST THE ENTIRE WEST AND OF NORTH THIRD AND PARTS OF THE 300 BLOCK OF CYPRUS.

FROM REPORTS MY BROTHER HAS SUBMITTED AND THE PORT CAME BACK SAYING THAT THE AP AND THE CONVERSATION DIED THERE.

ONE MORE THING ABOUT LIGHTING ALSO DID THE COMPANY DO THE LANDSCAPING FOR YOUR RECOMMENDATION OR IS THAT

ANOTHER COMPANY. >> I WOULD RECOMMEND TALKING TO THE COMPANY ABOUT HOW THEIR NATURAL VEGETATION OR LANDSCAPING WORK HAS WORKED FOR THEM BEFORE WE IMPLEMENT ON THIS SCALE FOR THE CITY. THAT IS IT.

THANK YOU. >> ROBERT DO YOU WANT TO ADDRESS

THE LIGHTING. >> THANK YOU, SIR.

>> SINCE THE CITY IS GOING TO OWN THE POLLS AND MAINTAIN THE LIGHTS I THINK WE COULD HAVE A BETTER TURNAROUND TIME THAN AP AND IF GREG IS LISTENING IT IS A CHALLENGE TO GET THE OTHER LIGHTBULBS AND POLES FIX THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY IN OUR CONTROL BUT THE ADVANTAGE OF THIS WE CONTROL IT AND CONTROL THE LUMINAIRES IN THE LIGHTS AND WE WILL HAVE THE TOOLS AND THE

PEOPLE TO MAINTAIN PROPERLY. >> A LOT OF THE OLDER POLLS AS A SUPPLY ISSUE ON GETTING PARKED IN THE DELAY ON THE OLDER POLLS.

>> THAT IS CORRECT MANY OF THE OLDER POLLS ARE TRULY ANCIENT AND THEY ARE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT BUT THAT'S A WHOLE

OTHER DISCUSSION. >> STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

>> MY NAME IS DAVID CASTLEMAN AND ONE OF THE OWNERS THAT GREEN THEORY ON CYPRESS STREET AND WE WILL SEE THIS WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON US. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR DOING THIS. I'VE BEEN TO A LOT OF CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND THOSE THAT ARE THRIVING HAVE AN AMAZING DOWNTOWN AND A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON AND A LOT OF WALK ABILITY IS PRETTY AND BEAUTIFUL AND I KNOW THERE ARE SOME ISSUES TO BE DEALT WITH, PARKING AND SHADE IN SOMEONE.

SO I FIGURED YOU GUYS WOULD BE ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT.

EITHER WAY I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO HELP US GROW A LOT IN THE FUTURE WE MAY NOT BECOME MAGIC SPURRED BUT I THINK WE GET A WHOLE LOT CLOSER WE'VE BEEN HERE ALMOST THREE YEARS AND IT'S BEEN GOOD IT'S BEEN TOUGH WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS AND WE DON'T HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE DOWNTOWN MAY BE BACK AT 21 THERE WERE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE COMING DOWNTOWN AFTER COVID AND GETTING OUT AGAIN AND WE HAD A HONEYMOON YEAR 22 AND 23 IS NOT THE SAME AND SUMMERS ARE BEING HARD AS WELL BUT WE NEED SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO REALLY BRING THE FOCUS TO DOWNTOWN AND EVERYONE KNOWS ANY DOWNTOWN IS THE HEART OF THE CITY SO I'M VERY THANKFUL, THAT THIS IS EVEN HAPPENING.

I HAVE NOT SEEN THIS BEFORE SO IT WAS GOOD TO SEE IT AND I'M EXCITED. THANK YOU.

>> STILL ON THE PUBLIC HEARING. >> HELLO MY NAME IS JOSH I OWN BODEGAS AND WE ARE NEW TO DOWNTOWN.

I DRESSED UP TODAY AS WELL. GLAD TO BE HERE.

I THINK ALL OF THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN GREAT POINTS AND I THINK THE CONCERNS BROUGHT UP ABOUT PARKING AND WANTED TO BE ADDRESSED FIRST I THINK IS GREAT AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. IT IS A SENSIBLE PLAN IN A FANTASTIC THING THAT WERE DOING FOR DOWNTOWN JUST LIKE DAVID SAID A SECOND AGO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT DOWNTOWN NEEDS HAVING THE FORESIGHT IS INCREDIBLE AND WE ARE THANKFUL TO HAVE THE COUNCIL AND THE CITY MANAGER LIKE WE DO.

ABILENE IS DEFINITELY BLESSED TO HAVE THOSE THINGS.

I THINK HE PUT INTO ACCOUNT LIGHTING THE PLACE WAS TALKING ABOUT AND I KNOW WE KEEP GOING BACK TO SHADE HE SAID SHADE SO

[01:25:01]

IT WAS A GREAT GRAPHIC. IF YOU BEEN ON CYPRESS DURING THOSE TIMES THERE ARE SOME SHADOWS THAT ARE CAST BUT IS NOT QUITE THE IMPACT THAT MADE IT SEEM.

THESE ARE THINGS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT BUT THEY WERE ALL SPOKEN ABOUT. THANK YOU.

>> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE. SEEING NO ONE.

I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. I WANT TO REITERATE THIS CONCEPTUAL PLAN AND THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THIS COUNCIL ALREADY. I LOOK FORWARD TO THESE CONVERSATIONS. WE KNOW IF WE WILL FORWARD WE HAVE TO HAVE A COMBINED EFFORT PARKING WE CAN SAY OVER AND OVER PARKING IS AN ISSUE AND WE HAVE SEVERAL EFFORT WHETHER THIS REPORTER NEW SPACES HAVE BEEN TEMPORARY OR LONG-TERM, THAT IS MY WHOLE DEAL UNTIL THERE'S ASPHALT OR CONCRETE OR STRIPES THOSE ARE NOT PARKING SPOTS THAT ARE USABLE THAT IS NECESSARY FOR THE PROJECT TO MOVE FORWARD IN MY OPINION AT LEAST TEMPORARY IN TIME. I AGREE WE NEED TO LOOK AT FUTURE LIGHTING ON THE SIDE STREETS FOR SECURITY AND TO TIE INTO DOWNTOWN IT DID NOT GO WITH THIS MODEL BUT I DO THINK IN MY OPINION THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT AND WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT PUTTING A PROJECT OFF THERE IS ALWAYS THE ISSUE OF RISING COST AND HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO PUT IT OFF.

BUT THE EFFORT BY EVERYONE WITH HER CITY STAFF AND EVERYONE WE HAVE TO HAVE A UNIFIED EFFORT TO DRIVE BUSINESS TO THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE THERE AND I ALSO WANT TO THINK THE BUSINESSES THAT I PERSONALLY GOT TO MEET WITH. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

IT IS THE PROGRESS AND WHO IS PAYING THE PRICE IT IS THE BUSINESSES THAT WE NO WE HAVE TO HAVE A COMBINED EFFORT TO SUPPORT THEM TO MAKE THEM BE CONTINUOUSLY SUCCESSFUL.

EPIC IS A GREAT PROJECT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

THE TIMING IS IMPORTANT. WE KNOW THAT HAS TO BE COMBINED EFFORT BY ALL. ANYMORE DISCUSSION FROM THE

COUNCIL. >> IF IT IS BEEN A GREAT MEETING AND THIS IS MAINLY BEEN FOCUSED ON INTAKE ENDED UPDATE FOR THE COUNCIL AND ALSO THE BUSINESS OWNERS AND THE CITIZENS OF WHERE THIS PROJECT IS. I THINK THIS IS VERY EDUCATIONAL, THANK YOU FOR THAT. I THINK THERE WERE A LOT OF GOOD SUGGESTIONS FROM THE BUSINESS NEXT THREE OR FOUR WEEKS.

I KNOW ROBERT WANTS TO KICK OFF JANUARY AND MOVE FORWARD ON THE MANAGER. OVER THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR WEEKS TO HAVE WILL COME BACK WITH WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE TO IMPLEMENT SOME SHADE STRUCTURES, LIGHTING SO WE CAN MAKE AN EDUCATED DECISION THAT WE WANTED TO LIGHTING BUT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO DO THAT IN PHASE TWO OR IF WE CUT THIS WE CAN INCLUDE LIGHTING OR SHADE OR AS SOME OF THE SPEAKERS SPOKE ABOUT HEADING PARKING ON ONE SIDE IN PARALLEL ON THE OTHER SIDE AND WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE IF IT WOULD AFFECT THE DESIGN. THOSE THREE SHADE LIGHTING AND PARKING SEEM TO BE THE THREE BIG ISSUES.

I WOULD LOVE TO OVER SHORT-TERM I DON'T WANT TO THROW A HUGE WRENCH IN IT BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE INTO THE MAJOR DECISIONS AND SEE WHAT THEY WOULD LOOK LIKE.

WE MAY COME BACK AND SAY NO WE LIKE IT AS IS WILL DEAL WITH THAT PHASE TWO OR SAY THIS IS GOOD TRADE-OFF LET'S DO THAT.

I DON'T THINK I'M LOOKING FOR ACTION FROM THE COUNCIL AT THIS MEETING. I WOULD LIKE MAY BE MORE INPUT FROM WILL ON THIS IS WHAT THIS WOULD LOOK LIKE ON LIGHTING ET

[01:30:01]

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE. >> I AM ALL FOR US HAVING SHADE STRUCTURE. I THINK THEY WILL BECAUSE PROHIBITIVE BUT I THINK WHAT SOMETHING LIKE WE DISCUSSED.

A THINK THE TRADE-OFF IS GOING TO BE PRETTY HIGH JUST BECAUSE KNOWING WHAT SOME OF THE COST OF THOSE THINGS WOULD BE.

AND PRETTY CURIOUS TO KNOW IF WE NARROW THE SIDEWALKS IF WE COULD GET BACK TO PARKEY WHERE THEY HAVE TO GO IN WITH THEY REMAIN THE SAME WHICH IS PROBABLY THE MOST LIKELY OUTCOME REMAIN WHERE

THEY ARE. >> COULD YOU GO BACK TO THE SLIDE THAT SHOWS THE CROSS-SECTION, IT ANSWERS THE QUESTION. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE INCREASE SPACE IN THE SIDEWALK IS 100% TIED TO THE NOSE AND PARKING,

THERE YOU GO. >> I WILL SAY I'M HAPPY TO LOOK AT COST IMPACT OF SHADE STRUCTURES.

I WILL SAY OF ALL THE PROJECTS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.

NOT PROJECTS. ALTHOUGH IMPROVEMENT ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CURRENT SCOPE IN THE VERTICAL SHADE STRUCTURE WOULD BE THE EASIEST TO COME BACK AND ADD AND PLAN FOR WE MAY NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FUND THE PARTICULAR IMPROVEMENT ON DAY ONE BUT LET'S SEE THE SAID IMPROVEMENTS IN UNDERSTANDING THE COST IMPACT I THINK WE CAN FOLLOW UP AND ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

AND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION WHEN YES IT IS EITHER WERE, IF YOU SIT WITH THE CURRENT SIDEWALK OF 10-FOOT WITH THE PARKING SPACE OR AT THE FULL 19-FOOT SIDEWALK WITH PARALLEL PARKING.

>> WHAT IS THE TYPICAL LENGTH. >> 17 FEET.

>> THE FULL SPACE CONSUMED BY THE IMPROVEMENT.

BACK TO THE DESIGN STREETSCAPE WE LOOKED AT SIX DIFFERENT SCENARIOS WE LOOK TO COMPLETE STREET CLOSURE, LET'S HAVE A SIDEWALK FIVE BLOCKS LONG TO A SERPENTINE STREET THAT WAS SUPER EDGY AND CREATIVE TO THE ALTERNATING PARALLEL AND HAD IMPROVEMENT THAT HE DESCRIBED. WE LOOK TO ALL OF THE SCENARIOS.

THIS IS THE ONE THE CITY STAFF SELECTED AND SAID THIS IS THE CONCEPT THAT WE THINK BEST SERVES ALL OF THOSE CONCERNS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU HAVE TWO EXTREMES WHETHER IT IS COST AND FUNCTION OR PREFERENCE. AGAIN, THE TENSION IS FOUND IN THE MIDDLE THAT'S WHERE THE REAL GENIUS OF THIS PROCESSES.

I'M NOT SAYING IS OUR GENIUS BUT THE REAL WORK FINDING THE BALANCE BETWEEN ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND THERE'S ALWAYS GOOD TO BE PERSPECTIVES THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT WE CANNOT ADDRESS BUT LOOKING AT POTENTIAL THINGS IN PHASE TWO SAYING WE MIGHT CITE THAT AND HERE'S WHAT IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE AND HOW MUCH IT MIGHT COST THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE COULD DO ON TOP OF THE EXISTING

SCOPE. >> ONE LAST QUESTION ON BRIAN'S POINT ON LOCKING THE PARKEY BEFORE THE PROJECT TAKES OFF AS A COUPLE OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS MENTIONED AS WELL THIS MAY BE TO BOTH YOU AND ROBERT IS THAT POSSIBLE THAT WE HAVE OUTLINED UP AND LOCKED DOWN BY NEXT MONTH OR BEFORE JANUARY WHEN THE CONSTRUCTION POTENTIALLY WOULD START.

>> I'M TRYING TO SAY I BELIEVE WE HAVE A LOCKDOWN ALREADY I DON'T THINK THAT IS A DANGLING PARTICIPLE.

I THINK WE HAVE THAT FIGURED OUT.

IN THE REPORT OF NEWS BUILDING IS NOT GOING TO GET CONSTRUCTED IN THE NEXT 30 DAYS. I THINK WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE LOT AND OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL TO CREATE ADDITIONAL PARKING SPACES ON THE NORTH AND SOUTH CORRIDOR ON CYPRUS.

>> USED TO USE THE ABILENE SPACE AS A PARKING LOT RIGHT NOW.

>> PORTIONS FOR SURE. >> ON A PRACTICAL LEVEL IF WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO USE UPPER PARKING BEFORE JANUARY, THE CURRENT CONDITION DOES NOT REQUIRE CONSTRUCTION WE HAVE TO

GO IN AND REPAVE IT. >> YES WE WOULD HAVE TO SKIM IT WITH SOMETHING. THERE IS A WHOLE PROCESS FOR THAT. I LOVE THE AGGRESSIVENESS OF A JANUARY START DATE BUT SEPTEMBER IS OVER AND OCTOBER WILL BE OVER BY THE TIME WE WERE TO BID AND YOU WILL NOT START IN JANUARY

[01:35:03]

I THINK WE HAVE TIME TO GET ALL THE PARTS MOVING AND STILL MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT IN THE FINDING FOR THIS PROCESS.

>> I AM NOT AT ALL OPPOSED TO SHADE INSIDE STREET LIGHTING AND I DON'T WANT MY COMMENTS TO BE CONSTRUED AGAINST BUT I THINK WE ARE AT THE FISH OR CUT BAIT PHASE OF THIS PROJECT THIS IS NOT A NEW IDEA THIS IS BEEN WORKED ON IN THIS FORM FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS IN THE FORM OF DISCUSSION FOR 10 YEARS.

NOW IT IS TIME TO EXECUTE. I THINK WE NEED TO AFFIRM TO ROBERT THAT WE HAVE A COUNCIL APPROVED PLAN AND WE WANT HIM TOMORROW TO PUT THIS OUT FOR BIDS AND IF WE WANT TO HAVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT SHADE STRUCTURE AND OPTION AND SIDESTREETS EITHER INCLUDED IN THIS PROJECT OR AS AN ADDITIONAL PHASE AFTER THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE, THAT IS GREAT I THINK IT'S INTOLERABLY DESIRABLE AND I THINK THAT WILL COME WITH AN ADDITIONAL DOLLAR COST AND I DON'T SEE ANY ASPECTS OF THIS PROGRAM THAT YOU CAN TRIM OFF AND HAVE SHADE STRUCTURE INSTEAD. I THINK IT IS PART OF A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO A WALKABLE STREETS UNITE ON THINK THERE IS ANOTHER LOCATION IN ABILENE WHERE YOU CAN DO THIS.

THERE IS NOT ANOTHER STREET WHERE YOU COULD CREATE THE PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY ZONE AND HAVE IT BE AFFECTED.

THIS IS IT. THIS IS THE PLACE AND WE MAY BE ABLE TO EXPANDED OUT BUT THIS IS THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN AND I THINK IT IS TIME TO MOVE OUT ON THIS AND IF WE WANT TO CONSIDER ADDITIONAL PROJECTS OR ADDITIONAL ASPECTS OR EXPANSIONS OR FUTURE PROJECTS, THAT IS GREAT BUT I THINK FOR TODAY MY VOTE ON THIS, THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE ENVISIONED AND DISCUSSED IN THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY MAKING EVERYONE HAPPY BUT THIS IS A GOOD THING FOR ABILENE OVERALL AND WE NEED TO MOVE AHEAD.

>> I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT AND AS WILL AND AS WE DISCUSSED THIS IS TAKEN ON VARIOUS VARIATIONS.

WE GET ONE SHOT AND IF WE SCREW THIS UP WIDOW COULD COME BACK IN THREE OR FIVE YEARS AND SAY LET'S DO IT AGAIN.

IT HAS BEEN MULTIPLE YEARS THAT THIS IS BEEN IN THE PROCESS, FOR ME, ONE MONTH WHERE WE SAY LET'S LOOK AND SEE IF WE CAN FINE-TUNE IT. FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THIS IS THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME THAT THEY ARE GETTING TO SEE WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED. IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THE STAKEHOLDERS AND PEOPLE INVOLVED THAT INSTEAD OF US HAVING TO LIVE THROUGH 24 OR 36 MONTHS OF CONSTRUCTION AND AT THE END OF THE DAY SAYING WE HAVE INCREASED SIDEWALKS AND NO SHADE WE HAVE CRISSCROSSED LIGHTING BUT NO SIDEWALK SIDE STREET LIGHTING.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW WHAT THE PLAN IS AND EVERYONE IS NOT JUST TRYING TO SUFFER THROUGH THIS BUT EAGER LOOKING FORWARD TO THE COMPLETION BUT THEY CAN TELL THEIR CO-BUSINESS OWNERS OR THEIR FRIENDS WHEN THIS IS FINISHED, NOT TO HIT ON IT TOO MUCH BUT MORE SHADE OR LIGHTING AND WILL GET THIS AND THIS NOT JUST WIDER SIDEWALKS AND THEY TOOK AWAY 30 PARKING SPOTS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THIS RIGHT I UNDERSTAND IT WOULD BE EASIER IF WE TOLD ROBERT WILL TAKE IT AS IS. MY OPINION WE MAY BE THERE IN A MONTH AND SAY WE'VE GONE THE ALTERNATIVES FROM WILL NOT FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE, NOT FEASIBLE AND WE STICK WITH THE AS IS OR WE TWEAK ONE, TWO, THREE THINGS OR MAKE SURE WE GOT THE PARKEY LOCKED UP BUT FOR ME THIS IS A HUGE PROJECT $9 MILLION IS WORTH AN EXTRA MONTH TO GET ALTERNATIVES AND IF NEED BE WE TWEAK WILL RESCIND GREAT JOB WE GO WITH AS IS.

>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION. >> IF MEMORY SERVES WHEN THIS CAME UP BEFORE ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT WITH THE REGULAR FUNDING THIS IS NOT USING 100% PROJECTED FUNDING.

>> THAT IS CORRECT. >> I THINK THERE IS A PERCEPTION THAT IF WE LOCK-IN AND YOU ALSO MENTIONED SEYMOUR WHICH IS FLEXIBLE, THIS IS NOT SET IN CONCRETE TODAY THAT CANNOT BE CHANGED WITHOUT THE SLEDGEHAMMER WE SAW AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FLEXIBILITY IN ALISA MY PERSPECTIVE WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK

[01:40:04]

I'M READY TO GIVE THE DIRECTION LET'S MOVE FORWARD WITH PHASE ONE AND NOT WITH THE EXPECTATION OF PHASE ONE TO START PHASE TWO AND START PHASE 22 ADDRESSES OF THE CONCERNS.

>> THAT WERE NOT USING THE REVENUES FOR THIS PROJECT THAT WAS UNINTENTIONALLY THE DIRECTION OF THE BOARD AND TO DO OTHER PROJECTS AND OTHER PHASES AND OTHER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS THAT IS A CORRECT STATEMENT CHAIN.

AND WERE HERE BECAUSE I WILL MAKE SURE I'M DOING WHAT COUNCIL WANTS ME TO DO I HAVE MY OWN PERSONAL OPINIONS BUT PROFESSIONALLY I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THIS RIGHT INTO YOUR POINT WHAT LYNN MENTIONED ABOUT A START APPROACH I THINK WE CAN DO THAT. AND ALSO GIVE ME A GREEN LIGHT TO ENGAGE WILL FOR A PHASE TWO ANALYSIS ON THE SHADE STRUCTURE ON NORTH SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH, FIFTH STREET.

WE CAN DO THE ALL THAT THE SAME TIME AND MOVE FORWARD AND TO ADDRESS THE QUESTION THAT IS BROUGHT UP IN THIS IS WAY IS ONLY WAY. ON THING THAT WE HAVE IS A DESIGN TODAY THAT DOES BALANCE THE NEEDS OF PARKING AND PEDESTRIAN LIGHTING IN THE NEEDS FOR ACCESS ON CYPRUS.

AND SHADE IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS AND IF WE WANT TO ADD SHADE STRUCTURE, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE.

IN RELATIVELY EASY FROM A DESIGN STANDPOINT ONCE WE UNDERSTAND THE DESIGN PARAMETERS. WE DON'T KNOW IF SHADE STRUCTURE CAME AND THAT IS DOABLE, FINANCIALLY AND IMPLEMENTATION WISE. IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE US WE HAVE TO DO PARALLEL PARKING AND HEADING ON THE OTHER SIDE OVER TO MAKE THE SHADE STRUCTURE WORK.

WE WANT TO KNOW THAT NOW. I'M FINE WITH A LAYERED APPROACH, THAT MAY BE WHAT YOU GUYS ARE TALKING ABOUT A LAYERED APPROACH WHERE WERE STILL GETTING THE INPUT FROM WILL THAT THESE ARE THE ALTERNATIVES AND WILL GET THOSE IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO BUT WERE ALREADY MOVING FORWARD AND VERY COGNIZANT OF THE TRAIN MOVING AND I'M NOT TRYING TO STOP THE TRAIN BUT I'M TRYING TO TWEAK IT TO WHERE AND WERE GETTING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND I WOULD FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT GETTING ALTERNATIVES LIKE WE DON'T WANT TO APPROVE A CONTRACT FROM THE CITY PERSPECTIVE BEFORE WE HAVE A CONTRACT TO SEE WHAT WE ARE AGREEING TO, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THOSE IMPLEMENTATIONS AND ALTERNATIVES SO WE CAN INTELLIGENTLY VOTE THAT WE WANT TO INCUR THE EXTRA COST OR NO AND I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE AT

[01:45:02]

>> LET ME STOP THIS. THIS IS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL, AND LESS OF A MOTION OR A SECOND, TO CHANGE ANYTHING FROM WHAT WE'VE EARLY APPROVED WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A RECOMMNDATION FROM THIS COUNSEL.

>> AGAIN I'M NOT ASKING THE COUNCIL TO NOT MOVE FORWARD ON THE COUNCIL. WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS ALTERNATIVES PRESENTED BY WILL OVER THE NEXT MONTH AND IF THAT WAY IT CAN BE BROUGHT UP IF IT INCREASES COST THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO VOTE ON.

AT THIS POINT AND AN AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNCIL AND ROBERT AND I DO WANT ALTERNATIVES ON THE SHADE STRUCTURE AND LIGHTING AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OVER THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR

WEEKS. >> CAN YOU FIND THE DISCUSSION.

>> IT IS 10:43 A.M. THIS MEETING OF ABILENE CITY COUNCIL IS A DREAM.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.