5. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Take Action on Accepting KittyCorn/Unicorn Sculpture as part of the Storybook Series (Lesli Andrews)

[5. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Take Action on Accepting KittyCorn/Unicorn Sculpture as part of the Storybook Series (Lesli Andrews)]

>> YES, WITH AN EXTENSION ON 12. >> MOTION CARRIES.

>> WE NOW MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER 5.

>> I ASKED FOR IT TO BE PULLED AT THE BEHEST OF A CITIZEN WHO WANTED TO HAVE A SEPARATE DISCUSSION ON THIS.

>> DOES ANYONE ELSE ON COUNSEL HAVE QUESTIONS ON NUMBER 5 AT THIS TIME? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM?

>> ADRIAN FIKE. >> GOOD MORNING. I NAME IS ADRIAN FIKE, I RESIDE IN ABILENE. I'M HERE TO SPEAK -- AND ITS FOR THE CHILDREN. THESE CHARACTERS ARE NOT OFFENSIVE OR EXPLICIT IN ANY WAY. MY FAMILY FINDS THIS BOOK AND ITS CHARACTER SWEET AND DELIGHTFUL. AND MOREOVER, THE RESPONSE TO THE CONFLICT SURROUNDING THIS BOOK AND ITS CHARACTERS IS A MOST COMPELLING ARGUMENT IN MY OPINION IN SUPPORT OF THE STATUTE. QUOTE, SHANNON HALE AND I WROTE THIS BOOK OUT OF A GENUINE LOVE FOR EACH OTHER AND THE REFLECTION OF THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP. WE WROTE IT BECAUSE WE ARE MOTHERS OF CHILDREN WHO ADORE CATS AND UNICORNS. WE WROTE IT BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE CHILDREN LAUGH AS WELL. WE HAD NO INTENTIONS, DESIGNS, OR MOTIVATIONS OVER THIS. I CHOOSE TO BELIEVE THE CREATORS OF THE STORIES AND I HOPE THE STATUTE WILL CONTINUE AS PLANNED. THANK

YOU. >> I HOPE I HAVE THAT

PRONUNCIATION CORRECT. >> MY NAME IS MICHELLE, AND I AM A RESIDENT OF TYLER COUNTY. I AM READING A STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF TAMMY VOGEL, A RESIDENT OF ABILENE. ROSARIO BUTTERFIELD, HOW QUICKLY ALLIES HAVE BECOME GROOMERS. THE ONLY TIME THE WORD PERVERT WAS USED AT A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING WAS AGAINST THE CHRISTIANS WHO SPOKE AGAINST TRANSGENDER IDEOLOGY. THE GOALPOST HAVE BEEN MOVED, AND EVEN THOUGH GOD IS NOT CONSTRAINED BY THIS, YOU ARE AND I AM. CHRISTIANS NEED TO KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS AND DEAL HONESTLY WITH THE WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE. I NEVER EXPECTED THAT THE QUOTE WOULD APPLY SO MUCH TWO HOURS TO THE. SEVERAL CITIZENS SHOWED UP FOR THE FIRST TIME TO ENCOURAGE THE VISUAL ARTS JURY BOARD TO SELECT A LESS CONTROVERSIAL SCULPTURE FOR THE 2020 FORECAST. IT SEEMS THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER OPTICS FOR OUR CITY TO PICK A SCULPTURE THAT WOULD REFLECT OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND NOT JUST ONE PART, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE ILLUSTRATOR HAS ILLUSTRATED OVER 100 BOOKS.

THE ILLUSTRATOR STATES THAT ANYONE WITH A MODICUM OF SENSE AND THREE MINUTES TO READ THIS PICTURE BOOK WOULD AGREE WITH ME. SHE ALSO STATES THAT NEARLY ALL OF MY BOOKS CONTAIN SIMILAR MESSAGES -- LOVE, TOLERANCE, KINDNESS. IT'S INTERESTING FOR THOSE TWO COMMENTS TO BE PUT TOGETHER, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH HER BOOKS, THEN SHE IS VERY NON-TOLERANT OF YOUR IDEAS, LABELS YOU AS A PERSON WITH LITTLE COMMON SENSE. THIS ILLUSTRATOR ALSO WARNS THE GATEKEEPERS OF THE RAGE OF UNSEEN BUT SMALL, WELL KNOWN FACES THAT SHOULD HAVE NO PLACE

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ON DECIDING FOR THE GOOD OF THE MAJORITY. SHE IS TALKING ABOUT ME AND ANYONE WHO HAS AN OPINION THAT DIFFERS FROM HERS. WE ARE NOT SMALL, THAT MANY STILL ARE'S SILENCE BECAUSE OF ATTACKS LIKE THESE. IT ALSO SURPRISES ME HOW WHEN PEOPLE HAVE VERY FEW FACTS TO STAND ON, THEY TEND TO SHIFT ARGUMENTS TO NON SEQUITUR ISSUES, LIKE LABELING US AS PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BAN BOOKS, TO DISTRACT FROM THE VALID POINTS MADE ABOUT HAVING A SCULPTURE THAT REFLECTS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND NOT STEEPED IN CONTROVERSY. LET ME MAKE IT CLEAR THAT NOT ONE OF US WHO HAS STOOD IN OPPOSITION OF USING THIS UNICORN STATUE HAS EVER PROMOTED BANNING LOOKS OR SUGGESTED IT. HOWEVER, THAT IS THE LITTLE APPLY TO US AND THOSE WHO DO NOT LIKE WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY. WHAT IS MORE TROUBLING TO ME THAN HAVING A SCULPTURE THAT DOES NOT REFLECT OUR COMMUNITY IS THE LACK OF INPUT THAT THIS PROCESS HAS REVEALED IN OUR CITY. THERE WAS NEVER A PLACE FOR THE PUBLIC TO HAVE INPUT ON WHAT GOES INTO OUR PUBLIC SPACE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AFTER THE SCULPTURE WAS APPROVED, I APPROACHED LYNN BARNETT TO ASK HER WHAT WOULD BE A BETTER WAY TO HANDLE THIS IN THE FUTURE. SHE WAS UNABLE TO GIVE ME ANY DIRECTION. I'M JUST AN AVERAGE CITIZEN AND I'M DOING THE HARD WORK OF LEARNING HOW TO BE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION. THE MORE I UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS IN OUR CITY, THE LESS I FIND THERE IS TRULY A PLACE FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT IN APPROVED GROUPS TO HAVE ANY VOICE THAT MATTERS. TAMMY VOGEL. THANK YOU.

>> CONNIE ROBINETTE. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS CONNIE ROBINETTE. I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF ABILENE SINCE 1985.

I'M HERE TODAY TO OPPOSE THE KITTYCORN STATUE. I DON'T WANT TO -- I SENT YOU EMAILS WITH THE STORY, THE AUTHORS INTERVIEWS ABOUT IT, AND HER SOCIAL POST. I HOPE YOU WERE ABLE TO LOOK THROUGH THAT AND MAKE CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES THAT LEAD YOU TO THE SAME CONCLUSION THAT MANY OF US HAD.

BUT WHETHER YOU THINK THE MESSAGE IS ABOUT GENDER TRANSITION OR NOT IS REALLY IRRELEVANT, BECAUSE SO MANY OTHERS HAVE COME TO THAT CONCLUSION. SOME ARE EVEN THRILLED WITH IT. FOR EXAMPLE, A POSITIVE REVIEW OF THE PUBLISHERS WEEKLY READS, WHAT OSTENSIBLY STARTS OUT IS ALMOST CRITICALLY CUTE TALE OF A PRETEND PLAY TRANSFORMS INTO SOMETHING MUCH MORE -- A CELEBRATION OF CLAIMING AND NAMING ONE'S IDENTITY AND HAVING IT AFFIRMED BY OTHERS. SO IF YOU APPROVE THIS SCULPTURE, IT WILL BE SEEN BY MANY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE AS AN EMBRACING ENDORSEMENT BY OUR CITY OF THE TRANSGENDER MOVEMENT. SOME WILL CELEBRATE IT, WHILE MANY OTHERS WILL BE UPSET. AND THERE ARE STILL SO MANY CITIZENS THAT HAVE NO IDEA THIS DISCUSSION IS EVEN HAPPENING. I EMAILED A FEW LADIES FROM CHURCH JUST THIS WEEK, AND THOSE I HEARD BACK FROM HAD NO CLUE THIS WAS GOING ON, BUT WERE VERY UPSET TO HEAR ABOUT IT. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THE CONTROVERSY IS ONLY BEGUN AND WILL CONTINUE TO GET WORSE IF THE STATUTE IS APPROVED. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I AM AWARE OF THAT A SCULPTURE THAT IS UP FOR CITY APPROVAL HAS CAUSED SUCH CONTROVERSY AND THE FIRST TIME THAT ANY CITIZEN SHOWED UP AT A VISUAL ARTS BOARD OR EMAILED TO EXPRESS A POSITION. THIS CONTROVERSY REGARDING THE SCULPTURE SHOULD BE A HUGE RED FLAG TO THE CITY COUNCIL. TO AVOID ONGOING CONTROVERSY, HAVE THE BOARD CHOOSE ONE OF THE MANY OTHER BOOKS AND CHARACTERS FROM THE SAME ILLUSTRATOR, ONE THAT CAN APPEAL TO THE MASSES AND NOT STIR UP CONTROVERSY. ONE THAT ALL CITIZENS WON'T MIND HAVING THEIR TAX DOLLARS USED FOR FOR UPKEEP ON CITY PROPERTY. ANOTHER QUICK POINT IS TO EXPRESS MY DISAPPOINTMENT AND FRUSTRATION WITH THIS PROCESS. AS WE CAN SEE FROM THE HEADLINE IN THE ABILNE NEWSPAPER DATED LAST FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20TH, IS THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE SCULPTURE CHOICE AT A LUNCHEON BEFORE THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL. WE EXPRESSED OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE VISUAL ART WORD AT MEETINGS OR BY EMAIL OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS. THIS SHOWS WE BEEN LEFT OUT OF THE PROCESS AND MAKES IT APPEAR THAT YOU HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT OF THE CONVERSATION AND THE APPROVAL PROCESS AS WELL. THANK YOU.

>> KRISTI BROKAW? >> GOOD MORNING. I AM HERE TO SPEAK AND FAVOR OF THE KITTYCORN SCULPTURE. I HAVE MY LITTLE BOY WITH ME WHO IS LOOKING AT THE BOOK RIGHT NOW . PEOPLE SAY WE DON'T SEE THINGS AS WE ARE, WE SEE THINGS AS WE ARE, AND THAT'S

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TRUE ABOUT LITERATURE. WE RECOGNIZE CHILDREN'S ILLUSTRATED BOOKS IS REAL ART AND ORDINARY LITERATURE. THE MEDIA BOTH ART FORMS CAN MEAN SOMETHING SPECIFIC AND UNIQUE TO EACH PERSON. ART IS SUBJECTIVE. SO YES, YOU COULD TAKE A BOOK AND YOU COULD GET A DIFFERENT MESSAGE THAN WHAT I GET FROM IT, OR EVEN A DIFFERENT MESSAGE THAN WHAT THE AUTHOR INTENDS. THAT IS POSSIBLE. BUT WHEN I SHARED WITH MY KIDS, HERE'S WHAT WE GET FROM THE BOOK, AND I READ IT TO ALL OF MY CHILDREN. SAM IS 4, AND HE IS BOTH LITERAL AND SILLY AS ALL FOUR-YEAR-OLDS ARE. HE GIGGLES THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE STORY, AT THE ABSURDITY. HE POINTS OUT HOW THE UNICORN'S HORN IS TIED UNDER HER CHIN. HE SAYS THINGS LIKE, BIRDS DON'T PLAY VIDEO GAMES. SADIE IS 7. HER, IT'S ALL ABOUT KIND SHIP AND EMOTION. SHE RECOGNIZES HOW THE CHARACTERS FEEL BASED ON THEIR EYES AND POSTURE AND SHE WILL SAY, SHE FEELS SAD, OR THE UNICORN LOOKS SCARED. DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT. AND SHE CHEERS OUT LOUD WHEN THE TWO KITTYCORN'S BECOME BEST FRIENDS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU LOOKED AT THE BOOK, BUT THE ENDPAPERS HAVE PICTURES OF HOW THEY ARE MAKING THEIR LITTLE UNICORN HORN AND THEIR LITTLE KITTY EARS. SHE SAYS HERE'S WHAT WE ARE GOING TO NEED IF WE MAKE ONE, AND WILL THAT'S HOW SHE FIGURES THAT OUT. BUT I REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT JUNE, WHO IS 11. JUNE IS RIGHT BETWEEN CHILD AND TEENAGER AND IS AT A STAGE IN LIFE WHERE EVERYTHING WORK HE AND WEIRD ABOUT A PERSON IS PRECARIOUS. IT'S A DANGER OF BEING SACRIFICED ON THE ALTAR OF COOL. SO WHEN WE READ IT, I POINT OUT THESE THINGS TO JUNE.

I SAY, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO THINK YOU'RE TOO MUCH OR NOT ENOUGH. BUT I HOPE THAT YOU WILL LEAN IN INSTEAD FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE TO THE PEOPLE WHO SEE YOU AND ADMIRE THE THINGS THAT MAKE YOU, YOU. THE UNICORN SAYS TO THE KITTY CAT, SHE'S SOMEONE WITH EVERYTHING SHE ADMIRES AND LOOKS DOWN AND SAYS, I SO ADMIRE YOU. I SO ADMIRE YOUR LITTLE PUFFY EARS AND YOUR TALENT FOR LISTENING, YOU COULD SAY. I SO ADMIRE YOUR HORN, YOUR POWERFUL CONFIDENCE. WE ARE NOT SO DIFFERENT. THEY ARE PLAYING TOGETHER, THEY ARE DOING THINGS THEY BOTH LIKE, THEY ARE FROLICKING IN THE SUN. IT'S JUST HOW FRIENDSHIP WORKS. I'M TRYING ON THE QUALITIES I ADMIRE IN YOU. YOU ARE TRYING ON THE QUALITIES YOU ADMIRE IN ME. IN THIS WAY, WE CHANGE EACH OTHER IN GOOD WAYS AND WE CREATE A CONTAGION FOR THOSE QUALITIES WHEREBY THEY CATCH ON TO THE PEOPLE AROUND US. YOU SEE ON THE ENDPAPERS, THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SO UNKIND TO START TO BECOME KINDER TOWARDS THE OTHER CHARACTERS. CARRIAGE, CURIOSITY, EMPATHY, HUMOR, TRYING THESE QUALITIES ON IS THE KITTYCORN

WAY. >> CHRISTOPHER SMITH.

I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF ABILENE SINCE 2002, AND I AM HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THE ACCEPTANCE OF THIS PARTICULAR STATUTE. THE NAME OF THE GAME WITH THE STORY AND THE POLITICAL CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE BOOK IS, OF COURSE, PLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY. IT IS SAYING THAT, OH, THE FACT THAT A STRANGER ADULT COMES UP AND FINDS THIS LITTLE -- THIS CHILD WHO IS SEEING SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN THE MIRROR SHOWS AND PROCEEDS TO FORM A FULL-TIME RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS KID. AND THAT IS JUST COMPLETELY NORMAL. HOWEVER, BESIDES ALL OF THAT -- AND I WILL LEAVE THAT TO OTHERS -- I WANT TO ECHO SOME OF THE OTHER COMMENTS AND SIMPLY POINT OUT THAT AS THE STORYBOOK CAPITAL THAT ABILENE IS TRYING TO BE, WE ARE CELEBRATING HIGH-QUALITY LITERATURE. WE HAVE DR. SEUSS. WE HAVE STUART LITTLE. WE HAVE CHARLOTTE'S WEB. AND WHILE THERE IS A LARGE AND WIDESPREAD FAN BASE, NO DOUBT, OF THIS PARTICULAR BOOK, I SIMPLY DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT RISES TO THE LEVEL OF QUALITY OF LITERATURE THAT DESERVES TO BE PUT ALONGSIDE THE EXISTING ONES WE HAVE. I AM NOT HERE TO SAY, DON'T APPROVE THE STATUE BECAUSE CONTROVERSY . DON'T APPROVE THE STATUE -- WHATEVER. I AM HERE TO SAY THAT I THINK THERE'S A LOT THAT ARE LITERATURE WE COULD'VE CHOSEN. THERE'S A LOT BETTER LITERATURE THAT STILL CAN BE CHOSEN. AND WE CAN REPRESENT THE CITY OF ABILENE WITH HIGHER QUALITY THAN THIS PARTICULAR STATUTE. THANK YOU.

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>> CHRISTIE SMITH. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS CHRISTIE SMITH. I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF ABILENE SINCE 2021.

OTHERS HAD BEEN MY COMMENTS FOR ME VERY WELL, I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT, THOUGH IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO INTERPRET LITERATURE IN DIFFERENT WAYS, MUCH IN THE SAME WAY THAT A RAINBOW MIGHT MEAN DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE. IF YOU PAINT A CROSSWALK RAINBOW, THAT MEANS A PARTICULAR THING IN OUR DAY AND AGE AND CULTURE. IF YOU LOOK AT LIBRARY LIST, LIKE THE LUCY ROBIN WELLS LIBRARY IN CONNECTICUT WHERE THE RAINBOW READS BOOK LIST FOR 2021, CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS LIKE ALLISON DONALD, PARENTS AND EDUCATORS, AMAZON AFFILIATE SITES LIKE SHEPHERD BOOKS, THEY ALL LIST THIS BOOK AS LGBTQ FRIENDLY AND AFFIRMING. TO PUT A STATUE UP OF THIS BOOK ALIGNS US WITH THE CULTURAL DECISION TO ADOPT THAT BOOK AS A FRIEND OF CHILDREN. THAT'S ALL HE WANTED TO SAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

OPPOSED. DANIEL J KNIGHT? IN SUPPORT. KATHY TAYLOR IN

SUPPORT. JOEL ROSS. >> GOOD MORNING. ABILENE IS MY TOWN RIGHT NOW. I OBJECT TO THE SUPPOSITION THAT THE STATUE IS ANYTHING NEFARIOUS. WE HAVE READ THIS MULTIPLE TIMES IN DIFFERENT VARIATIONS. NEMO DIDN'T ACTUALLY TALK. PRINCE DIDN'T ACTUALLY COME FROM A FROG. THESE ARE ALL STORIES THAT HAVE UNDERLINING MEANINGS THAT ARE GOOD, MUCH LIKE WITH THE MORAL STORIES IN THE BIBLE. THEY JUST TEACH US TO BE WELL, TO LIKE OTHERS, AND JUST GENERALLY DON'T BE A JERK. SO I WILL MAKE UP FOR EVERYONE ELSE IT TOOK OVER THEIR TIME AND GIVE MY BACK. THANK YOU.

>> KAYLA HEWITT. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS KAYLA HEWITT, AND I RESIDE HERE IN ABILENE, TEXAS. I AM IN SUPPORT OF THE KITTYCORN SCULPTURE . I FIRST HEARD ABOUT THE CONTROVERSY FROM THE NEWSWEEK ARTICLE, AND I WAS A LITTLE BIT SURPRISED, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN A FAN OF SHANNON HALE, THE AUTHORS WORK, SINCE I'VE BEEN IN COLLEGE. AND I REALLY DIDN'T IMAGINE THAT SHE WOULD WRITE ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE CONTROVERSIAL. AND SO I CHECKED OUT THE BOOK, AND I READ IT WITH MY SIX-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER. AND I -- AFTER I READ IT, I WAS STILL CONFUSED, BUT BEYOND BEING CAN USED, I WAS KIND OF ANGRY. AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO STAY CALM HERE AND I DON'T WANT TO HURT ANYONE'S FEELINGS, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE THIS IS A MANUFACTURED CONTROVERSY, AND IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE PEOPLE JUST WANT TO BE ANGRY ABOUT SOMETHING. AND I AM REALLY ANGRY, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S WASTING TIME, AND WE HAVE A PROCESS IN THE CITY AND REALLY, JUST IN LIFE, WHERE THERE'S PEOPLE WHOSE JOB IT IS, WHETHER PAID OR VOLUNTEER TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS. YES, WE HAVE INPUT. I BELIEVE PEOPLE SPOKE AT THE VISUAL ARTS MEETING, AND AS CITIZENS, WE DO HAVE INPUT. BUT A BIG PART OF OUR INPUT IS VOTING FOR THE COUNCIL, WHO APPOINTS DIFFERENT COMMITTEES AND WHO MAKES FINAL DECISIONS.

AND IN VOTING, WE HAVE SELECTED YOU ALL, AND I TRUST YOUR DECISION-MAKING AND I TRUST THE DECISION-MAKING OF THE PEOPLE IN THE VISUAL ARTS BOARD. AND I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO ALL THE CONTENT OF THE BOOK OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT IS ACTUALLY THE POINT. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU ARE DOING, THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THIS CULTURE. I APPRECIATE PARTICULARLY THAT WE ARE HAVING AN ARTIST WHO IS A WOMAN AND A WOMAN OF COLOR REPRESENTED, BECAUSE A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO BEEN AUDITED IN THE PAST HAVE BEEN MEN, WHICH IS GREAT, BUT I'M EXCITED TO SEE SOME DIVERSITY, TOO. I HONOR THE WORK YOU ALL HAVE DONE AND AM VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THE STATUE IN MY SIX-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER IS AS WELL. THANK YOU.

>> PAMELA TIPPIN DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK BUT IS IN SUPPORT. --

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DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK BUT IS IN SUPPORT. LYNN BARNETT, YOU HAVE WISH TO SPEAK AND DO NOT WISH TO SPEAK. DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK? GOOD FOR YOU TO LEAVE YOUR OPTIONS OPEN.

>> WELL, I WASN'T SURE. I'M LYNN BARNETT, I'M A RESIDENT OF THIS DITTY, AND I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL AND THE DONORS AND ALL THE LIBRARIANS AND EVERYONE WHO HAS HELPED US FOR OVER THREE DECADES NOW WORK TO DEVELOP THE STORYBOOK CAPITAL OF AMERICA, THE STORYBOOK GARDEN, AND OF COURSE, THE CITY HAS BEEN A HUGE PART OF THAT. I THINK EVERYONE AGREES THAT READING AND CHILDREN AND FAMILIES BEING TOGETHER IS A WONDERFUL THING TO BE KNOWN FOR IN OUR COMMUNITY. I WILL ADDRESS CONNIE'S REFERENCE TO LAST WEEK.

THERE WERE . SO WE ARE VERY COGNIZANT OF THE FACT THAT IT WAS NOT A DONE DEAL. WE HAVE ACTUALLY STOPPED MOVING FORWARD ON IT UNTIL WE HEAR WHAT YOU ALL DECIDE TODAY. BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AS KRISTI POINTED OUT, SHE WAS SHOCKED, SHE WAS HURT, SHE WAS DISMAYED WHEN SHE HEARD ABOUT THE CONTROVERSY, AND SHE WAS VERY APOLOGETIC TO ME. SORRY YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, TOTALLY UNNECESSARY. AT ANY RATE, YOU HAVE READ HER INTENTIONS. IF YOU GO TO YOUTUBE, THERE SEVERAL INTERLUDES WITH HER TALKING ABOUT THEIR INTENTION. IT WAS VERY ORGANIC. THEY ARE TOGETHER ONE DAY, THEIR KIDS LOVE UNICORNS, AND KITTIES. SO I JUST WANTED TO AGAIN SAY THANK YOU. I HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER THE INTENT AND WHAT THEY SAID WAS WRITTEN, RATHER THAN WHAT MORGAN CALHOUN IN KATY, TEXAS, STARTED WITH HER SUPPOSITION -- AND I'M GOING TO ATTACH THESE -- THIS REASON TO THIS BOOK, WHICH MANY OF US THINK IS NOT VALID. ONE QUOTE, AS I WAS READING LAST WEEK, I THOUGHT, I WISH IT WERE MY QUOTE. IT'S MARCUS O'REILLY US, BUT IT IS, OUR LIVES ARE WHAT OUR THOUGHTS MAKE OF IT.

AND I THOUGHT, THAT IS SO INTERESTING IN TERMS OF THE CONTROVERSY AND THE DIFFERENT APPROACHES THAT WE SEEM TO HAVE TOWARDS THIS. BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> CASE BALDING DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK BUT IS IN SUPPORT.

SPALDING DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK BUT IS IN SUPPORT. PRUITT DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK BUT IS IN SUPPORT. MCMURRAY DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK BUT IS IN SUPPORT.

PAIGE SPROLES AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE STATUE.

I HAVE LIVED IN ABILENE THAN LONGER THAN I HAVE NOT LIVED IN ABILENE. MANY OF YOU MIGHT RECOGNIZE ME OF YEARS OF BEING ON THE STAGE HERE. SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW ME FROM MY 23 YEARS AT THE ABILENE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR CURRENT POSITION AS A SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR THAT SUPPORTS PUBLIC EDUCATION. I CURRENTLY SERVE ON THREE CHILDREN'S ART BOARDS AND I HAVE SERVED AS A WORSHIP LEADER AND HAVE TRAVELED THE WORLD SHARING THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. I COME BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING TO EXPRESS MY OPINION. I WAS RAISED BY PARENTS WHO TAUGHT ME RIGHT FROM WRONG IN THEIR OPINION. I GREW UP FORMING MY OWN OPINIONS AND THEN RAISED A CHILD USING MY OPINION ON WHAT MAKES A GOOD HUMAN BASED ON THOSE THINGS THAT I HAD BEEN TAUGHT. I NOW HAVE GRANDCHILDREN BEING RAISED AND INFLUENCED BY MY OPINIONS. THE DIFFERENCE BEFORE US TODAY IS THAT SOME PEOPLE, WHILE ENTITLED TO THEIR OWN OPINION, ARE TRYING TO FORCE OTHER PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THEIR FAMILY INTO THINKING THE SAME WAY THEY DO. AS A PARENT AND GRANDPARENT, I HAD THE RIGHT TO TEACH AND ASK THOSE MY CHILDREN AND MY GRANDCHILDREN TO THINGS THAT I FEEL ARE RIGHT AND GOOD.

I DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO GO TO SOMEONE ELSE'S HOME AND TELL THEM HOW TO THINK AND HOW TO RAISE THEIR CHILDREN, BECAUSE THAT IS NOT MY JOB. IF I DON'T LIKE SOMETHING BEING TAUGHT OR SHARED WITH MY CHILD OR MY GRANDCHILD, THAT I HAVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE THAT AWAY AND EXPLAINED TO MY CHILD WHY I FEEL THAT WAY. I DON'T TAKE IT AWAY FROM YOURS. THAT IS YOUR JOB. IF YOU DON'T LIKE KITTYCORN, DON'T READ IT. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO LOOK AT A STATUE THAT YOU FEEL SYMBOLIZES SOMETHING YOU DON'T AGREE WITH, DON'T GO SEE IT. IT'S THAT SIMPLE. OVER THIS NEXT WEEKEND, THERE WILL BE MILLIONS OF LITTLE CHILDREN, BOTH ROAN AND YOUNG, DRESSED UP AS PUMPKINS, NINJAS, PUPPIES, AND YES, EVEN DEMONS. THESE CHILDREN ARE NOT CREATED TO BE THESE

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THINGS, BUT THEY ARE SIMPLY PLAYING MAKE-BELIEVE. SOMETHING SOCIETY IS SLOWLY TRYING TO STRIP AWAY FROM US. AS AN ACTRESS, I PLAYED MANY ROLES ON STAGE, AND I'VE ALSO DIRECTED CHILDREN'S PRODUCTIONS THAT HAVE ENCOURAGED CHILDREN TO BE CHESHIRE CATS, AND DANCING MICE, OR BALLOON BUZZ. I WAS IN THIRD GRADE WHEN I PLAYED MARY, MOTHER OF CHRIST. I CAN PROMISE YOU I DID NOT WALK AWAY FROM THAT PLAY THINKING I WAS HURT OR I COULD EVER BE HER. WE NEED TO BECOME PEOPLE WHO JUDGE LESS AND LOVE MORE. QUIT CONDEMNING OTHERS WITH YOUR OPINIONS. TEACH YOUR OWN CHILDREN, MOST CERTAINLY, BUT ALSO TEACH THEM THAT IT IS OKAY TO BE DIFFERENT AND HAVE A DIFFERENT OPINION THAN YOURS. I WILL END WITH THIS QUOTE THAT I QUOTED AT THE ARTS COUNCIL BEFORE, BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT IS RELEVANT TO TODAY AND THE ANGER THAT PEOPLE FEEL OVER SOMETHING AS PRECIOUS AS A UNICORN AND A KITTEN, ONE OF WHICH IS NOT A REAL THING. IT IS MAKE LEAF. THE QUOTE IS BY A BISHOP, DAVID HOSKINS. IF GOD DID NOT SEND JESUS INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN IT, I DOUBT HE

SENT YOU. THANK YOU. >> STEVE NEVIS DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK BUT IS IN SUPPORT. ALLISON DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK BUT IS IN SUPPORT. THOMASON DOES AND DOES NOT SPEAK. IN SUPPORT. OKAY, ALL RIGHT. KRISTI COMPTON DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK BUT IS IN SUPPORT. DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK, BUT IS IN SUPPORT. DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK BUT IS IN SUPPORT. AND KATE STOVER DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK, BUT IS IN SUPPORT. THAT'S ALL THE CARDS FOR THIS ITEM.

>> IS OR ANYONE WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST EITHER NUMBER 5? PLEASE COME FORWARD. WE NEED YOU TO COME FORWARD AND SAY YOUR NAME, PLEASE.

>> I WILL MAKE IT SHORT AND SWEET. I'M LINDSAY MINTER, I AM A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF ABILENE. MOST OF MY LIFE. I AM IN SUPPORT

OF THE STATUTE. >> YES, MA'AM?

>> GOOD MORNING. I AM SUSAN PERRY, A RESIDENT OF ABILENE OF MANY YEARS. I WANTED TO SAY THAT THIS WHOLE SITUATION KIND OF REMINDED ME OF THAT EPISODE OF THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW WHEN BARNEY FIFE SAID WITH A SMIRK THAT HE HAD HIS GIRLFRIEND IN HIS BACK POCKET. WELL, YOU KNOW THAT WHEN SHE HEARD THAT, YOU BETTER BELIEVE THAT HE GOT THE COLD SHOULDER. WELL, IT KIND OF SEEMS TO ME LIKE THE ABILENE CULTURAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL THINKS THAT THE ABILENE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE IN THEIR BACK POCKET. CELEBRATING THEIR CHOICE WITH A STORYBOOKS CULTURE A WEEK BEFORE EVEN PRESENTING IT TO YOU -- TO ME, THAT SEEMS KIND OF BACKWARDS. MAYBE EVEN HIGH-HANDED, AND IT IS DISRESPECTFUL. NOT ONLY TO THE COUNCILMEMBERS, BUT TO THE CITIZENS OF ABILENE. TO THE MAJORITY OF THE CITIZENS. THE MAJORITY OF CITIZENS I AGREE WANT JUST WHOLESOME AND NONCONTROVERSIAL BOOKS, AND ITEMS FOR THEIR KIDS TO READ AND LEARN FROM. IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK? THEY DONE THIS FOR MANY YEARS. IT HAS BEEN FABULOUS. IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL. WHAT CHANGED THIS YEAR? THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO KNOW AND TO FIND OUT. THE ILLUSTRATOR CHOSEN FOR THIS NEXT SUMMER'S CALF HAS A NUMBER OF ILLUSTRATIONS, SHE HAS ILLUSTRATED OVER 100 BOOKS. AND MOST OF THEM, THEY LOOK FANTASTIC. AND MANY OF THESE CHARACTERS WOULD IT BEAUTIFULLY IN THE SCULPTURE GARDEN. LET'S USE ONE OF THEM. BE COURAGEOUS, BE STRONG, AND SHOW RESPECT TO YOUR BOSSES -- US, THE CITIZENS. THANK YOU.

>> WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 5? RESIDENT OF ABILENE, AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE COURAGEOUS AND RESPECT YOUR BOSSES, THE PEOPLE OF THE ABILENE, AND REALIZE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE HERE AND A MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE AT THE ARTS ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS BEAUTIFUL STATUE. THEY HAVE A LITTLE LOCKOUT ON THE TABLE AT THE ARCH STREET. IT WAS VERY CUTE AND VERY BEAUTIFUL, AND I'M

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EXCITED TO SEE IT. THANK YOU. >> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. THIS COUNCIL HAVE A NEW

DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 5? >> I'D LIKE TO SPEAK FOR JUST A MINUTE OR TWO, AND I APOLOGIZE. I LOST MY VOICE EARLIER THIS WEEK AND IT'S JUST COMING BACK, SO IT MAY SOUND A LITTLE ROUGH.

BUT I WANTED TO START OFF BY SAYING FIRST THAT THIS HAS BEEN BOTH HOTLY CONTESTED HERE AND STATEWIDE AND NATIONALLY. I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD EVERYONE THAT I HAVE HEARD FROM, BOTH IN EMAILS AND BEING STOPPED IN THE STREET, IN STORES ON THIS ISSUE AND I'VE ONLY BEEN ON THE COUNCIL FOR ABOUT FIVE OR SIX MONTHS. IN MY OPINION, THIS HAS BEEN FEEDBACK WISE THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL ONE THAT I HAVE RECEIVED THE MOST FEEDBACK ON. AND I'VE BEEN IMPRESSED WITH EVERYONE, THAT EVERYONE HAS BEEN VERY CORDIAL AND VERY RESPECTFUL. THERE HAS BEEN NO NAME SHAMING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, POINTING FINGERS ON THE OTHER SIDE. BOTH TYPES OF BEEN VERY RESPECTFUL AND WILLING TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE. WE DON'T ALWAYS SEE THAT. YOU KNOW, IN OTHER CITIES OR ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT. THIS IS A HOTLY DEBATED ONE. I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO CULTURAL AFFAIRS FOR ALL THE WORK THEY DO. THIS IS AN EXCEPTION. YOU GUYS ARE NORMALLY IN A GOOD WAY, FLYING UNDER THE RADAR IN A GOOD WAY BECAUSE YOU ARE HITTING HOME RUNS, AND THE STATUES ARE GOOD AND WHOLESOME AND THEY ARE SYMBOLS OF WHAT WE BELIEVE IN AS AN ABILENE COMMUNITY. AND SO I WANT TO SAY THERE'S A LOT OF WORK GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES THAT YOU GUYS DO, AND IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.

THANK YOU FOR THAT. ON THIS, THOUGH, I HAVE NOT -- I HAD NOT READ THIS BOOK BEFORE, IT TRICKLED THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE.

I THINK THIS IS FOR MAYBE AROUND FIVE-YEAR-OLDS AND I READ CONSISTENTLY AT AN EIGHT OR NINE-YEAR-OLD LEVEL. AND SO I REALLY HAD TO, YOU KNOW, AS IT TRICKLED IN, I THOUGHT, OKAY, THIS IS GOING TO BE A HOTLY DEBATED TOPIC. LET ME LOOK INTO IT AND SEE WHAT IT'S ABOUT. READ THE STORY, LOOKED AT -- AS AN ATTORNEY, I LIKE TO SAY, LET ME LOOK AT THE SOURCE. I LOOKED AT INTERVIEWS WITH THE AUTHOR, AND ONE THAT WAS VERY ENLIGHTENING TO ME WAS, I BELIEVE IT WAS ON CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEWS.COM, OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT. AND THAT WAS WHERE THE INTERVIEWER SAT DOWN WITH THE AUTHOR, AND IT WAS A LONG TRANSCRIBED INTERVIEW ABOUT WHAT HER OTHER BOOKS ARE ABOUT, AND WHAT THIS BOOK WAS ABOUT. AND MOST OF THE CONVERSATION WAS ABOUT TRANSGENDER -- HER BOOKS AND HER BELIEF IN THAT, AND THERE'S A MIDDLE SECTION THERE WERE TALKS ABOUT THIS BOOK IN PARTICULAR, AND SHE TALKS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, AND WE CAN'T BE TOO DIDACTIC AND PREACHY. YOU CAN'T BE TOO WHIMSICAL OR SENTIMENTAL. YOU NEED TO WALK THAT LINE. AND SO SHE TALKS ABOUT THIS BEING, YOU KNOW, A TRANSGENDER ISSUE BOOK. AND SO FOR ME, AT THAT POINT, I SAID, OKAY. THIS IS NOT A RANDOM PERSON PULLING THIS OUT OF THE AIR. THE AUTHOR OF THE SOURCE IS SAYING, THIS IS HOW IT IS.

WHATEVER WE TAKE FROM IT, THAT'S ON US. FOR ME AT THAT POINT, I SAID, OKAY, THIS IS A TRANSGENDER BOOK, OR THAT IS HER INTENT AS THE AUTHOR. SO THEN WE HAVE TO LOOK AT, WELL, THIS IS IN RELATION TO THE STORYBOOK GARDEN STATUES. THE STATUES, THEY ARE DIFFERENT FROM BOOKS. I WANT OPPOSING VIEWS. I WANT THINGS THAT I DON'T AGREE WITHIN THE ADULT BOOKS SECTION SO THAT I CAN READ AND EDUCATE MYSELF. I FEEL LIKE THE DIFFERENCE WITH TATTOOS THOUGH IS THAT THEY AS A COMMUNITY SHOULD EMBODY WHAT WE AS A COMMUNITY AND AS A WHOLE ACTUALLY AGREE ON. IT MAY BE TOUGH, BUT THOSE OF THE VALUES THAT WE AGREE UPON BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING EMBODIED IN THE STATUES. AND AS EVIDENCED TODAY AND THROUGH THE FEEDBACK THAT I RECEIVED, THIS IS A VERY CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE, AND BOTH HERE AND NATIONALLY, WE SEE IT.

FOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS TO CONGRESS. IT IS A HOTLY DEBATED ONE. AND SO MY CONCERN IS THAT WE ARE TAKING WHAT HAS BEEN A GREAT PROJECT BY A GROUP OF DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS, AND THE STORYBOOK GARDENS, AND IMPORTING CONTROVERSY THAT MAY NOT BE NECESSARY. SOME PEOPLE SAY, JUST BECAUSE THERE'S CONTROVERSY, WE SHOULDN'T STEP BACK. AND I WOULD SAY YES IN REGARDS TO BOOKS.

CONTROVERSY IS GOOD. I WILL STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND DEFEND HAVING CONTROVERSIAL BOOKS IN THE ADULT BOOKS SECTION EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK. THINGS THAT I DON'T AGREE WITH. BUT I THINK

[00:50:06]

THE STATUES, ESPECIALLY IN THE STORYBOOK GARDENS, ARE DIFFERENT. THEY SHOULD EMBODY THINGS THAT WE ALL AGREE ON.

SOMEONE MAY STAND UP AND SAY, I DON'T AGREE WITH THE HAIR, OR I THINK THAT STATUE IS TOO BIG. BUT THIS ONE, IT SEEMS TO SPEAK TO THE CORE OF THE STATUE AND ITS INTENT, WHETHER YOU READ IT AND TOOK THAT AWAY FROM IT OR NOT. WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT A LARGE SEGMENT OF OUR RESIDENT POPULATION DOES, AND WHETHER WE AGREE WITH IT OR WHETHER IT'S A PASSIONATE ISSUE OR NOT, WE HAVE TO PUT THAT ASIDE AND SAY, THIS IS A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE. THIS BOOK WAS JUST WRITTEN TWO YEARS AGO. THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT LITERATURE OVER THE LAST 20 OR 50 YEARS, AND THERE'S HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OTHER CHILDREN'S CHARACTERS WE CAN CHOOSE FROM.

THIS IS A CONTROVERSY THAT I WOULD SAY WE ARE NEEDLESSLY IMPORTING INTO A VERY SPECIAL, GOOD PLACE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH CONTROVERSY ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA, AND OUR REGULAR CONVERSATIONS, THAT THIS IS A GREAT PLACE THAT PARENTS CAN TAKE THEIR CHILDREN AND SAY, HEY. THIS IS A SAFE, GOOD ENVIRONMENT. TAKE WHAT YOU WILL FROM IT, BUT WE ARE NOT HAVING STATUES ABOUT THE ISSUES IN THE GARDEN OR HAVING STATUES ABOUT NOSTALGIA. OR MAYBE IT'S THE CORE BASE VALUE THAT WE WANT TO IMPART TO OUR CHILDREN.

BECAUSE CHILDREN'S BOOKS, CHILDREN STATUES ARE VERY IMPORTANT. THEY LAID THE FOUNDATIONS FOR BELIEFS, AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE VERY COGNIZANT THAT, WELL I NORMALLY WILL NOT BE AFRAID TO ADDRESS CONTROVERSY, I THINK THE FACT THAT THERE IS CONTROVERSY BOTH HERE AND NATIONALLY IS A CONCERN THAT WE ARE INTRODUCING NEEDLESSLY INTO OUR CHILDREN'S PARK. FOR THOSE REASONS, I WOULD OPPOSE THIS, AND I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE THE CULTURAL AFFAIRS AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS ISSUE TO FOCUS ON THINGS THAT UNIFY US.

WE MAY HAVE OUR OWN PET ISSUES, BUT THEY SHOULDN'T TAKE PLACE IN THE CHILDREN STATUE STORYBOOK GARDEN. THANK YOU.

>> ANYONE ELSE? >> I THINK PAGE MENTIONED HALLOWEEN COMING UP. A LOT OF KIDS ARE GOING TO BE DRESSING UP OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. LAST YEAR, I WAS SPEED RACER. I LOVE HALLOWEEN. I DO. I LOVE DRESSING UP WITH THINGS LIKE THAT. IT DIDN'T MAKE ME TELL EVERYONE I WAS SPEED RACER, SO I THINK COSTUMES ARE NOT AN ISSUE. I'VE HEARD SEVERAL TIMES, EVER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY INPUT. THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW. AND THE OTHER THING I'VE HEARD A LOT FROM IS WE NEED TO REFLECT -- I THINK SOMEONE SAID WE NEED TO REFLECT WHAT OUR BOSSES SAY, WITH THE MAJORITY OF ABILENE WANTS. AS OF THIS MORNING, I'VE GOTTEN 50 EMAILS IN FAVOR OF THE STATUE AND 12 AGAINST. THIS MORNING, I SEE WE'VE HAD 23 IN FAVOR AND 6 AGAINST. I THINK, IN MY OPINION, THE MAJORITY HAS SPOKEN ON THEIR FEELINGS ABOUT THE STATUE. ALMOST 4 TO 1 AND IN FAVOR OF

THE STATUE. >> ANYONE ELSE?

>> I WAS GOING TO ADDRESS THE PROCESS, BECAUSE THAT WAS BROUGHT UP AS A CONCERN. JUST SO PEOPLE DON'T FEEL LIKE THINGS -- DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE BEHIND THE SCENES, THE CULTURE COUNSEL IS A PART OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. IT'S NOT A PART OF THE CITY OF ABILENE. SO THEY HAVE THEIR MEETINGS, JUST LIKE THE CHAMBER DOES, WITH THEIR MEMBERS. AND THE SCULPTURES, ALL OF THEM THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE ALREADY AND THE ONE THAT IS PROPOSED WERE FUNDED ENTIRELY THROUGH PRIVATE DONATIONS THAT THOSE BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF WENT OUT AND RAISED THE FUNDS AND HAD A VISION FOR WHATEVER IT WAS AND WHAT WE HAVE IN PLACE TODAY, AND SO IT WASN'T THAT THE PUBLIC WAS BEING EXCLUDED, OR THAT WE WERE TRYING TO MAKE THESE PRIVATE DECISIONS. IT WAS JUST THAT AT THAT POINT IN THE PROCESS, IT IS BEING DONE BY A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION WITH PRIVATE FUNDING. SO THERE'S NOT A PUBLIC MEETING. WHERE IT BECAME A PUBLIC MEETING WAS WHEN THEY WENT TO THE BOARD, WHICH IS A BOARD FOR THE CITY OF ABILENE, AND THEIR RESPONSIBILITY WAS TO ACCEPT THE PROPOSED STATUTE, AND THAT IS HOW IT HAS BEEN DONE OVER THE YEARS, AND AT THAT POINT, IT WAS A PUBLIC MEETING WITH THE CITY BOARD. WE ARE CONSIDERING TODAY -- IT'S NOT APPROVING THE STATUE, PER SE, IT'S ACCEPTING IT TO BE PLACED INTO THE GARDEN. THIS IS A

[00:55:04]

SECOND OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT. I AM UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE PERCEPTION BEING PUT OUT THERE THAT THE PUBLIC IS BEING EXCLUDED AND KEPT IN THE DARK ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING. IT IS TWO SEPARATE PIECES. ONE IS A PRIVATE PEACE, PRIVATE MONEY. PRIVATELY DONE BY THIS OUTREACH AS A WAY TO PROMOTE ABILENE. THE STORYBOOK GARDEN IS A CENTRAL FOCAL POINT ALONG CYPRESS STREET, AND NORTH FIRST WITH THE DIFFERENT STATUTES CELEBRATING CHILDREN'S LITERATURE, AND THE ILLUSTRATORS, WHO HAVE SUCH GREAT TALENT. AND WE HAVE STEVE RIGHT THERE ON THE FRONT ROW. WHAT A TALENTED ARTIST AND SCULPTOR, AND IT'S ALWAYS AMAZING TO SEE THAT IN THERE.

WHEN THIS FIRST CAME TO MY ATTENTION A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO NOW, MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS, MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET IN THE SCENE WHERE THE CHARACTER THEY PLAY SANTA CLAUS, CHRIS KRIEGEL, IS TALKING WITH THE LITTLE GIRL ABOUT HER IMAGINATION AND TEACHING HER HOW TO PRETEND TO BE A . AND I THOUGHT OF WHEN I WAS A KID, I WOULD BE OUTSIDE LOOKING AT CLOUDS AND SEEING A HAWK OR A FALCON. WOULDN'T IT BE FUN TO BE ABLE TO SOAR ABOVE EVERYTHING AND GET PLACES FAST? IMAGINATION FOR ME IS HEALTHY AND HELPS BUILD PEOPLE INTO SOMEONE THAT CAN SEE OUTSIDE THE OLD AND TO BE EMPATHETIC TO OTHERS. AND THERE ARE -- THE RAINBOW WAS BROUGHT UP EARLIER. AND FOR ME, IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT HAS ONE MEETING AND PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO PUT IT INTO A DIFFERENT MEANING, I CAN JUST SIT BACK AND GO, WELL, I'M GOING TO JUST GIVE IT UP. IMAGINATION IS IMPORTANT. I FEEL THAT WE NEED TO CELEBRATE IMAGINATION, AND SO -- I HAVE GONE BACK AND FORTH WITH THIS, I'VE STRUGGLED WITH THIS, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU SHARED, COUNCILMAN RAGAN. BUT I -- AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHERE I LAND ON THIS IS JUST THE VALUE OF IMAGINATION. AND WHEN I READ THE BOOK, I WAS LIKE, I'M JUST NOT SEEING THAT IN THE BOOK. I'M NOT SEEING THE WHOLESOMENESS IN THE BOOK. I'M SEEING A CELEBRATION OF SOMEBODY WHO IS LOOKING OUTSIDE THEMSELVES AND SEEING ANOTHER PERSON LOOK BACK AT THEM, AND HELP THEM SEE THE POSITIVES THAT THEY HAVE AS THEY SEE THE POSITIVES IN THE OTHER. THE STRENGTHS IN OTHERS. THAT'S WERE I'VE LANDED ON THIS PARTICULAR PLACE. I HAVE A HARD TIME SAYING THAT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE THIS.

>> ANYBODY ELSE? >> I'VE BEEN THROUGH THE BOOK TWICE. WATCHED ABUSE, DONE RESEARCH ON THE AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR'S. I JUST DON'T SEE THE TRANSGENDER MESSAGE IN THIS BOOK. I'VE LOOKED FOR IT, AND I JUST DON'T FIND IT. I THINK THE AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR HAVE BOTH ISSUED RESPONSES. THERE'S PLENTY OF INFORMATION OUT THERE. AND I JUST DON'T SEE IT.

>> I THINK FOR ME, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH THE BOARD MANY TIMES AND SEEING HOW THE PROCESS GOES, AND IT WAS KIND OF TWO FOLD FOR ME. I GOT A CHANCE TO READ THE BOOK AND NOT LOOK FOR SOMETHING, AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ THE BOOK AND LOOK FOR SOMETHING. AND I KEPT COMING BACK TO KIND OF SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, SHANE, IS IMAGINATION. ALBERT EINSTEIN SAYS, IMAGINATION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN KNOWLEDGE FOR THE PROCESS AND THE ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES OF THE WORLD. AND I THINK FOR ME, THE WAY THAT I SAW IT, IT STEMS BACK TO THE IMAGINATION PIECE, AND I DO -- I DO ECHO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT

[01:00:02]

WERE SAID . THE PROCESS AND THE RESPECT THAT PEOPLE HAVE HAD AND THE WAY THAT THEY HAVE DIALOGUED AND HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS, I APPRECIATE, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION, BUT ULTIMATELY, IN LOOKING AT SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE IN THE CAPITAL CITY OF THE WORLD, I JUST COULDN'T FIND IT AS WELL. I AM IN FULL SUPPORT. I KNOW THE HEART, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WALK THROUGH LIFE WITH HER AND HER FAMILY FOR MANY YEARS, AND I KNOW THE HEART OF A LOT OF PEOPLE ON BOARD, AND I JUST -- FROM A PERSONAL STANDPOINT, I KNOW THAT THEY WOULD NEVER WANT THAT FOR OUR CITY AS WELL. AND SO I AM IN FULL SUPPORT.

>> ANYONE ELSE? I JUST WANT TO SAY, WE HAVE INNOCENT CREATIVE MINDS IN OUR CHILDREN. IT SEEMS LIKE THE CONTROVERSY IS WITH ADULTS. I WANT OUR CHILDREN TO BE CHILDREN TO USE THEIR MINDS AND IMAGINATION. WE SHOULDN'T BURDEN THEM WITH CONTROVERSY.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN. A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN YATES. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?

>> MCALISTER . COUNCILMEMBER. MARE PRICE. DEPUTY MAYOR BEARD.

COUNCIL MEMBER RAGAN. COUNCILMEMBER YATES. MAYOR

[7. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Take Action on Approving an Agreement with VGI Technology for the Real Time Information Center (Doug Wrenn)]

HURTS. MOTION CARRIES. >> WE WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 7.

>> THIS ITEM IS FOR THE INTEGRATION OF CAMERAS OWNED BY THE CITY INTO THE REAL-TIME INFORMATION CENTER FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND I HAD DIALOGUE WITH A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC LATE YESTERDAY. I SENT THE EMAIL AND HAD SOME FURTHER DIALOGUE LAST NIGHT AFTER HOURS. I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION HE HAD. I'M NOT SURE I LIKE THE ANSWER. AND SO WHAT HE HAD ASKED ABOUT, BECAUSE HE'S NOT A FAN OF US TURNING OFF CAMERAS AS FAR AS KEEPING THE RECORDINGS, BUT JUST TO HAVE A BLACKOUT SESSION, AND JUST FOR THE PUBLIC'S BENEFIT, THE CONCERN WAS, THESE CAMERAS THAT ARE INTERSECTIONS NEW TO PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL POVERTY WHERE THEY CAN LOOK BACK INTO BACKYARDS. HE SAID, CAN WE JUST BLACK IT OUT? I DON'T WANT THE CAMERA NOT USABLE, AS HE WANTS THE BENEFIT OF WHAT IT CAN PROVIDE. BUT IN YOUR EMAIL, YOU SAID THERE REALLY WASN'T A WAY TO DO THAT.

IS THERE NOT A WAY FOR THEM TO BLACKOUT OR BLOCK OUT A PORTION OF THE CAMERA FEED SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE PRIVATE PROPERTY THAT STILL GET THE BENEFIT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE INTERSECTION.

>> DOUG GRAHAM, INTERIM POLICE CHIEF. RIGHT NOW, IT'S IN THE INFANCY STAGES, AND THIS SERVER IS ONLY GOING TO BE THE AVENUE TO GET BACK TO THE INFORMATION CENTER SO THE USER INTERFACE IS NOT SUCH THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO BLURT OUT THE CAMERA AT THIS TIME. SO BEING RESPONSIVE TO THOSE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS, THE IDEA WOULD BE JUST NOT TO USE THOSE UNTIL WE CAN ACQUIRE THAT KIND OF TECHNOLOGY THAT WOULD INDEED BLOCK OUT ANYTHING THAT IS SHOWING PRIVATE RESIDENCES.

>> THE APPROACH THAT WAS BROUGHT UP, ROBERT, IS EITHER A COUNSEL DIRECT GIVE SAYING WE DON'T DO THAT OR JUST AN ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVE. AND I WAS THINKING COUNCIL DIRECTIVE AT FIRST, BUT IF IT IS SOMETHING WHERE WE CAN MAKE IT A SOFTWARE PATCH, BUT THEN TURNS THAT ON, I'D RATHER NOT HAVE TO WAIT FOR US TO HAVE TO TAKE COUNCIL ACTION AGAIN TO UNDO THAT AND JUST SAY IT'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVE THAT UNTIL WE CAN BLOCK OUT RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES FROM THE PORTION OF THE CAMERA ANGLE, THAT GIVES YOU THE FLEXIBILITY OF TURNING THOSE CAMERAS BACK

ON. >> WE CAN WRITE A COUNSEL POLICY THAT ALLOWS THAT FLEXIBILITY. I WILL SAY THIS, MY PREFERENCE IS TO MAKE A COUNSEL POLICY FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS. I THINK IT LETS THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY OF ABILENE TAKES VERY SERIOUSLY FROM THE COUNCIL ON DOWN. AS THE TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES AND WE CAN MAYBE OBSCURE OR BLACKOUT THOSE AREAS THAT ARE PRIVATE ZONES, THAT WE

[01:05:03]

CAN THEN DO THAT AND BRING THE CAMERA INTO THE SYSTEM WITHOUT ANY FURTHER COUNCIL ACTION. WE CAN DRAFT THE POLICY WITH A LOT

OF FLEXIBILITY. >> THAT'S GREAT.

>> WE DON'T HAVE KNOWLEDGE. THE ONE THAT WAS MENTIONED WAS A CAMERA THAT HELP CONTROL AND DOES ACTUALLY APPEAR OVER A FENCE BACK HERE, AND THE CITIZEN IS CONCERNED ABOUT, HEY, THERE IS A CLEAR RIGHT TO PRIVACY OVER MY FENCE, AND WE ALL AGREE. THE INTENT OF THIS IS NOT TO BECOME BIG BROTHER. THE INTENT IS TO USE PUBLIC DOMAIN CAMERAS AND PUBLIC DOMAIN SYSTEMS TO HELP THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PROVIDE A SAFE COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT, TO HELP EDUCATE THE CITIZENS. THEY CAN MAKE DECISIONS WHETHER THEY WANT TO BE OUT ON THE STREET AND INCREMENT WEATHER. IT'S GOT A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES, AND IT IS NOT USED BY ON-AIR CITIZENS.

>> YOUR POINT ON THE PRIVACY, ON A PRACTICAL LEVEL, SAY YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT BUILDING HERE IN THE CAMERA SHOT, AND NEXT TO IT, THERE IS A HOUSE. ARE WE TALKING ABOUT WAITING FOR A SOFTWARE UPDATE THAT WOULD BLIND ABOUT HALF THAT DIGITAL IMAGE?

>> THE FRONT YARD IS PUBLIC DOMAIN. THE PRIVATE AREAS -- WE DON'T WANT CAMERAS PEERING INTO -- FOR EXAMPLE, NO NEIGHBOR WANTS TO HAVE ANOTHER NEIGHBOR WITH A CAMERA THAT LOOKS INTO THEIR BACKYARD. THAT'S A COMPLETE INVASION OF PRIVACY.

AND THEY PROBABLY WOULD BE UPSET ABOUT THAT. THE CITY OF ABILENE DOESN'T WANT TO DO THAT EITHER. THESE INTERSECTIONS WE ARE LOOKING AT WHERE YOU HAVE THAT CAN'T BETWEEN THE INTERSECTION CONTROL AREA AND SOMEONE'S BACKYARD, WE CAN PUT A LIST TOGETHER, BUT THERE'S NOT -- IT'S NOT A LARGE NUMBER. AND SO WHEN YOU HAVE THE CITY GOVERNMENT BUILDING OR ANY BUILDING, AND AS LONG AS IT WASN'T LOOKING INTO PRIVATE AREAS IN A PERSON'S BACKYARD, IT WOULD STILL USE THOSE DEEDS.

>> I ACTUALLY HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION. THIS IS MORE FOR STANLEY. IF THERE IS A COURT ACTION, IF THIS VIDEO WAS USED IN PROSECUTION OF A CASE, I'M ASSUMING, OF THE DIGITAL FOOTAGE ON THE CAMERA IS SUBPOENAED AND -- YOU KNOW, THEY ARE WANTING TO LOOK AT THE BACKYARD OR SOMETHING BECAUSE MAYBE A CRIME WAS COMMITTED, AT THAT POINT, WOULD WE HAVE TO TURN OVER THE FULL VIDEO THAT WOULD SHOW THE BACKYARD?

>> IT'S POSSIBLE. THERE COULD BE DIFFERENT PURPOSES FOR THESE CAMERA FEEDS. F IT'S AN INVESTIGATIVE PURPOSE, THERE ARE LAWS THAT WOULD PROTECT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO YES, POSSIBLY TO A NARROW GROUP OF PEOPLE, BUT NOT TO THE PUBLIC AT

LARGE. >> OKAY.

>> IS THERE ANY REASON TO DELAY APPROVING THE CONTRACT WITH THE G.I. TECHNOLOGY IN ORDER TO DO THIS? ARE WE GOOD TO GO AHEAD AND PROCEED TO THE CONTRACT WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WILL PROBABLY DO A RESOLUTION THAT CREATES PRIVACY CONCERNING THIS ISSUE? THE MAC THAT IS CORRECT. I THINK WE ARE SAFE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CONTRACT OF COUNSEL IS COMFORTABLE WITH IT.

AND WE WILL HAVE A STATEMENT PROBABLY IN THE NEXT MEETING CYCLE OR TWO TO ADDRESS YOUR CONCERNS.

>> MOCKINGBIRD IS PROBABLY THE ONE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

>> THAT IS CORRECT. AND THERE'S GOT TO BE IMPLEMENTATION TIME ON IT. THESE WON'T GO ONLINE TOMORROW. THERE IS WORK THAT HAS

TO BE DONE. >> I HAD ONE QUESTION. AND MAYBE COUNCILMAN PRICE WOULD WANT TO ANSWER THIS. HE'S CHAIR OF THE NPO POLICY BOARD. NOW THE TXDOT IS LOOKING FOR SOME MONEY FOR GREAT USE OF CAMERAS AMONG THE CITY, WITH THE SYSTEM BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT WITH THOSE CAMERAS LATER ON?

>> THE MEMBERS OF TXDOT THAT WERE AT THE MEETING EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THAT, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT THEIR DECISION TO MAKE, AND THERE MAY BE TECHNICAL ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE OVERCOME.

THEY ARE PROVIDING THE CAMERA FEED.

>> THAT IS CORRECT. >> IT COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY.

THERE ARE SOME ISSUES WE NEED TO WORK THROUGH, BUT THE INTENT IS

[01:10:04]

TO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS. >> IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST ITEM NUMBER 7? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

>> MINING IS CHRISTOPHER SMITH, A RESIDENT OF ABILENE. I'M NOT WHAT YOU SPEAK DIRECTLY IN FAVOR OR IN OPPOSITION TO HIS PARTICULAR ITEM. I SIMPLY HAD A COUPLE OF COMMENTS AS SOMEONE WHO -- I AM AN ENTREPRENEUR IN THE AREA, AND I HAVE WRITTEN SOFTWARE AND STARTED AND OPERATED A BUSINESS THAT INVOLVES MEDIA MANIPULATION AND HANDLING AT EXACTLY THIS SORT OF TOPICS THAT ARE UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR THE CONTRACT.

AND I WOULD SIMPLY ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO ONE, KEEP IN MIND THE IMPORTANT QUESTION OF WHETHER A REDACTION IS APPLIED TO THE VIDEO FEED BEFORE IT IS SAVED, OR ONLY WHEN IT IS BEING LAUNCHED. SOME ISSUES RELATING TO INVESTIGATION, THAT KIND OF THING, WERE RAISED. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY, MANY CASES WHERE MEDIA, VIDEOS, PHOTOS -- THAT SORT OF THING -- THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE REDACTED WERE IN FACT SAVED IN THEIR ENTIRETY, AND THEY HAVE ONLY KIND OF BLACKED OUT WHEN THEY HAVEN'T WATCHED IN REAL TIME. MUCH MORE THAN WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO OF BEEN SAVED WAS SAVED. I ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE THOSE ISSUES ARE SPECIFICALLY ENTERED. AND THE OTHER, I AM A BUSINESS OWNER WHO SELLS SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE TO MY CUSTOMERS. I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL ALSO TO FINALIZE THE CONTRACT WITH THE G.I. TO ENSURE THAT THE AVAILABILITY OF THIS FEATURE IS INCENTIVIZED IN SOME MANNER, IN TERMS OF A FINANCIAL HOLDBACK, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THE FEATURE THAT IS BEING DISCUSSED IS STRAIGHTFORWARD TO IMPLEMENT. I CAN SAY THAT AS SOMEONE WHO HAS EXPERTISE IN SIMPLY A MATTER OF BUSINESS I ALREADY IS. IF THIS IS IMPORTANT TO THE CITY, LET'S USE OUR CONTRACT LEVERAGE IN THE NEGOTIATIONS TO MAKE SURE IT IS

A PRIORITY FOR THEM, TO. >> IS THERE ANYONE WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON I DON'T NUMBER 7 OF THIS TIME?

>> GOOD MORNING, CYNTHIA ALBEE DRESS FOR THE RECORD. I JUST WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK CHIEF RAN. HE HAS BEEN VERY COMMUNICATIVE WITH ME AND A COUPLE OF INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY WITH SOME ISSUES THAT WE HAVE, SO I WANT TO PERSONALLY AND PUBLICLY THANK HIM AND ROBERT HANNA. THEY HAVE BEEN VERY HELP FULL WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUES WE ARE HAVING, AND IN RELATION TO THE ITEM THAT IS -- I AM IN FAVOR OF IT. I DON'T KNOW IF I WILL HAVE A JOB AFTERWARDS, BUT I AM IN FAVOR OF IT. I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS I WOULD LIKE TO ASK. AND I DIDN'T REALLY DIVE TOO MUCH INTO IT. WILL THE PUBLIC HAVE ACCESS TO THE LIVE FEED OF THE CAMERAS? IS THERE GOING TO BE A PLACE WHERE WE CAN GO AND ACTUALLY VIEW WHAT IS GOING ON LIVE, LIKE HOW YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR OLD SECURITY CAMERAS AT HOME? YOU CAN LOG INTO YOUR CELL PHONE AND SEE IF THERE'S A MOTION IN YOUR BACKYARD OR SOMETHING. YOU CAN GO THERE AND LOOK. IS THERE GOING TO BE AN OPTION TO BE ABLE

TO DO THAT AS IT'S HAPPENING? >> THERE WILL BE, BUT IT WON'T BE AT FIRST AND IT WILL BE ALL THE CAMERAS. FOR EXAMPLE, IF THERE'S A CROWD CONDITION CAMERA, THE WHOLE BENEFIT OF THAT TO THE PUBLIC AS IT IS A LIVE FEED. SOME OF THE TRAFFIC CONTROL CAMERAS, THEY MAY OR MAY NOT BE. WE WILL HAVE TO WORK ON THAT WITH OUR PARTNERS. BUT IF WE HAVE ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY A RECORD THAT IS BEEN CREATED, BECAUSE IT'S BEING RECORDED, AND PENDING SOME SORT OF CRIMINAL REASON WHY IT COULD BE JUST CLOSED WITHOUT CHANGING. THE INTENT IS TO SHARE THE INFORMATION.

>> AWESOME. THE ONLY INFORMATION THAT I HAVE IS THERE HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT THE ANYBODY CAN FOOTAGES FROM CERTAIN INSTANCE IS THAT OF OCCURRED WITHIN THE ABILENE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I THINK THAT CREATES TRANSPARENCY, I THINK THAT WOULD CREATE A LOT MORE TRUST THAN WHAT THERE IS BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE PUBLIC.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA FOR THE CAMERAS. I HAVE A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS THAT AREN'T IN FAVOR OF IT, BUT WHEN I LOOK AT THE CRIME RATE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHEN I LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING

[01:15:03]

ON IN OUR ALLEYS, WE HAD INDIVIDUALS GOING UP AND DOWN THE ALLEYS SO OUT OF THEIR MIND ON DRUGS THAT THEY WERE LIKE ZOMBIES WALKING THROUGH THE ALLEYS. THEY WERE DIGGING IN THE TRASH CANS, LEAVING MESSES EVERYWHERE. AND I KNOW AGAIN THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO NECESSARILY BE IN THE ALLEYS, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON ON CERTAIN SIDES OF TOWN. ANOTHER QUESTION I HAVE, ARE WE GOING TO USE CAMERAS THAT ARE ALREADY ON THE STOPLIGHTS, OR ARE WE IMPLEMENTING MORSE STOPLIGHTS? THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE.

DO YOU GUYS PLAN ON GETTING MORE CAMERAS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF

THE TOWN? >> THE COMPUTER SERVERS WE ARE PURCHASING HAVE CAPACITY FOR ADDITIONAL CAMERAS, BUT THE INTENT OF THE FIRST ROUND IS TO GET THE CAMERAS THAT ARE IN THE SYSTEMS ALREADY PLUGGED INTO THIS COMPUTER SYSTEM. BUT THE WHOLE VISION IS THAT WE HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE NETWORK OF CAMERAS

THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE OF THE. >> AND I MAKE ONE MORE RECOMMENDATION? I WENT TO NEW YORK CITY LAST YEAR. WHEN I FIRST GOT THERE, THEY HAD THE SUBWAY SHOOTER THAT WOMEN WITH THE GAS MASK AND HE GASSED A TRAIN AND STARTED SHOOTING AT EVERYBODY. THEY HAD HIM ON FILM. THAT'S A HUGE REASON I WAS TRAUMATIZED BY THAT ONE PARTICULAR INCIDENT, BUT IT IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO CATCH CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO CATCH NOW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> DOES ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 7 ? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. THIS COUNCIL HAVE ANY

FURTHER DISCUSSION? >> WHAT QUESTION FOR ROBERT. THE POINT HE MADE ABOUT HAVING SOFTWARE REDACTED BEFORE IT IS

SAVED -- >> IF THAT IS COUNSEL'S INTENT, IT CERTAINLY WILL BE THE GROUND PLAN. I WILL DRAFT THE LANGUAGE OF THAT PLAN AND IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE IT, YOU CAN.

>> NOTHING MERTHYR FOR ME. >> I'VE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BEARD, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN GRASS.

>> ARE THERE ANY CONCERNS YOU HAVE ABOUT TIME ON THIS ON

PROVIDING SUCH A SERVICE? >> NO, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT THE ONLY COMMUNITY IN TEXAS THAT IS GOING TO ASK THIS QUESTION. IT'S A QUESTION THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

>> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? READY TO VOTE?

>> COUNCILMEMBER RAGAN. COUNCILMEMBER YATES.

COUNCILMEMBER MCALISTER. COUNCILMEMBER KRAMER. MAYOR PRO TEM PRICE. MAY YOUR HURTS.

[14. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action to Award a Contract to LJA Engineering, Inc. for the Lake Fort Phantom Recreational Development and Parks Master Plan RFP#CB-2317 (Lesli Andrews)]

AND I WILL ASK LESLIE ANDREWS TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.

>> GOOD MORNING, COUNSEL. DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME THIS MORNING. I'M VERY EXCITED TO BRING BEFORE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS HAVING SOME CONSULTANTS COME TO TOWN AND LOOK AT THE RECREATIONAL AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN ALL THE WAY AROUND THE LAKE AND THE OBJECTIVE OF WHEN WE DECIDED TO GO OUT FOR THIS. FORT PHANTOM IS A WONDERFUL ASSET TO THE CITY OF ABILENE, BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT CAN BE DONE OUT THERE AND A LOT MORE USES, ESPECIALLY RECREATIONALLY, THAT CAN REALLY ENHANCE THAT LAKE AND THE CITIZENS OF ABILENE HAVING A VERY CLOSE PLACE THEY CAN GO WITHOUT HAVING TO TRAVEL. WE DID RELEASE AN RFP ON NOVEMBER 1ST 2022 AND THE RESULTSCAME BACK. WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE RESPOND.

DECEMBER 21ST OF 2022, AND WE EVALUATED THEM IN 2023. WE DID PUT A PAUSE ON THIS FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS. ONE, TO FINISH THE OVERALL CITY MASTER PLAN, AND TWO, TO GET SOMEWHAT INTO THE NEXT PHYSICAL YEAR AND FINISH UP SOME OTHER PROJECT BEFORE WE LAUNCH INTO A MAJOR MASTER PLAN OF THIS DETAIL THAT THIS ONE WILL REQUIRE. IN THE SCOPE OF WORK, THERE WILL BE THINGS THAT WE WILL BE LOOKING AT, WHICH IS REALLY AN EVALUATION OF ALL THE AREA AROUND THE LAKE. WE DO HAVE FIVE PARKS OUT AT FORT PHANTOM, BUT ONLY TWO HAVE REALLY BEEN DEVELOPED. AND SO WE DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO -- ENHANCE A GOOD DEAL MORE OUT AT THE LAKE FOR RECREATIONAL USE. THIS MASTER PLAN, WE WILL BE LOOKING AT WHAT WE HAVE, AND WE WILL BE CONSIDERING WHAT ARE THE POTENTIALS FOR OUR PARTICULAR LAKE IN WEST TEXAS. LOOKING AT

[01:20:02]

THE COST OF WHAT THOSE POTENTIAL PLANS WOULD BE, IF ANY STAFFING REQUIREMENTS WOULD BE NEEDED, AS WELL AS RECOMMENDATIONS AND PLANS AND SCOPING FOR THE FUTURE. PHASE ONE WILL REALLY JUST BE THE INVENTORY OF WHAT WE HAVE. PHASE TWO WILL REALLY BE THE VISIONING. IN PHASE TWO, PART OF THE REASON WE WENT WITH THIS COMPANY AND THIS PARTICULAR SET UP IS BECAUSE WE WANT TO REALLY ENGAGE THE PUBLIC, AND WE ALWAYS ENGAGE THE PUBLIC IN EVERYTHING WE DO. WE ALWAYS HAVE A PUBLIC MEETING. BUT FORT PHANTOM HAS A LOT OF USERS THAT ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT IT, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HEAR THAT FEEDBACK. AND SO WE REALLY MADE THE EFFORT TO PUT INTO THIS PLAN THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT SO WE ARE TRULY HEARING FROM EVERYONE. ANOTHER KEY GROUP USER FOR FORT PHANTOM IS A LOT OF MILITARY PEOPLE WHERE THEY CAN RENT A BOAT AND GO OUT FOR THE DAY AND THEN RETURN IT. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO HEAR FROM THEM AS WELL. THEY COME FROM ALL AREAS OF THE COUNTRY. SO THEY SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY SOMETIMES THAN WE DO. AND SO WE ALSO -- AND GOOD PARTNERS WITH OUR COUNTERPARTS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ALSO OFFERING GOOD INCENTIVES AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES WHEN THEY ARE HERE IN ABILENE. WE ALWAYS WANT TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO STAY. ONCE WE GO THROUGH ALL OF THE VISIONING, THE STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS, LOOKING AT THE OPINION OF PROBABLE CAUSE, PHASE THREE WILL REALLY BE FINE-TUNING THE PLAN AND PUTTING IT IN PRINT AND TAKING IT -- WHILE NOT LISTED HERE, IT DOES INCLUDE A PRESENTATION TO CITY COUNCIL. CITY COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO ADOPT THE PLAN, AND ANYTHING THAT WE DO MOVING FORWARD WILL COME TO CITY COUNCIL WILL. THE COST IS $126,700, AND WE ARE LOOKING AT 30 WEEKS. HERE IS A PICTURE OF THE PLAN. SOMEWHAT LISTING THE PARKS AROUND THE AREA, AND STAFF IS REQUESTING CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT WITH LG 8 ENGINEERING. ALL THREE COMPANIES THAT WE HEARD FROM WERE FROM OUTSIDE OF THE ABILENE AREA. THIS IS THE ONE COMPANY THAT WAS BASED OUT OF TEXAS AND IS FAMILIAR WITH WEST TEXAS AND HAS A LOT OF PROJECTS THAT THEY HAVE DONE IN WEST TEXAS AND ALSO ARE FAMILIAR WITH FORT PHANTOM.

>> LESLIE, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT. I THINK THIS IS REALLY OUR BIGGEST UNTAPPED GEM, SO I'M EXCITED THAT WE WILL BE MOVING FORWARD ON THIS. REALLY, MY ONLY QUESTION RELATES TO THE 2009 MASTER PLAN FOR THE LAKE. I BELIEVE THE CITY COUNCIL AT THAT POINT ADOPTED THE 2009 MASTER PLAN FOR THE LAKE. I DON'T THINK MUCH CAME OF IT, AND SO IF YOU COULD KIND OF ADDRESS THAT, MAYBE WHY THIS ONE WILL BE DIFFERENT, AND THEN -- DO WE NEED ANYONE? CAN WE JUST USE THE 2009? IF NOT, HOW WILL THIS NEW PLAN RELATES BACK TO THE 2009 PLAN?

>> I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE 2009 PLAN. THAT PREDATES ME BEING IN THIS POSITION, BUT, YES. WE WILL DO OUR RESEARCH AND PULLING UP THE 2009 AND SEEING IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT WE DO NEED TO MAKE SURE WE INCLUDE IN THIS ONE. I DO BELIEVE THIS ONE IS GOING TO PUBLICLY BE MORE DETAILED ON THE PARK SITE OF STUFF. BUT I COULD BE MISTAKEN.

>> ROBERT, CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT?

>> I'M ASSUMING YOU'RE REFERENCING THE LAKE MASTER PLAN. BUILD ENVIRONMENTS, ROADS, UTILITIES, BUILDING SETBACK LINES. WHAT IS ALLOWED FROM THE USE STANDPOINT. IT'S MORE OF A ZONING APPLICATION. WHEREAS THIS RECREATIONAL ASPECT OF THE LAKE AND SURROUNDING AREAS AND HOW WE CAN LEVERAGE IT TO THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY. IT IS AN UNTAPPED RESOURCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE HAVE NOT HISTORICALLY NECESSARILY SEEN IT THAT WAY. WE SEE IT AS A RESERVOIR ONLY. AND IT IS A RESERVOIR, WE CAN'T LOSE SIGHT OF THAT, BUT IT ALSO IS A LAKE IN OUR COMMUNITY IN WEST TEXAS. WE SHOULD TRY TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO LEVERAGE THAT TO MAKE IT A SPECIAL PLACE.

>> THERE MAY NOT BE A GOOD ANSWER FOR IT, WHILE I AM ASKING THAT QUESTION, A LOT OF THE RESIDENCE OUT THERE WENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS LEADING UP TO THAT, AND SO I WAS JUST LOOKING FOR MORE CLARIFICATION FOR THEM. WE ALREADY WENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS, NOW WE ARE DOING IT AGAIN. IT'S A NEW STAFF. ROBERT,

[01:25:04]

YOU WEREN'T THERE IN 2009, LESLI, YOU WERE THERE IN 2009.

WE CAN JUST DUST THAT OFTEN DO THAT, OR -- JUST TO CLARIFY TO THE RESIDENCE OUT THERE, NO, WE CAN'T USE THAT BECAUSE OF ACTS, OR IT WAS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF MASTER PLAN AND THIS ONE WILL BE MORE ABOUT THE PARKS. I JUST WANT TO DUPLICATE THE SAME WORK AND THEY, WE CAME UP WITH THE SAME THING, BUT WE LET OUR MONEY

DOWN. THAT WAS MY REASONING. >> I THINK THE ANSWER IS THAT

THE FOCUS WAS DIFFERENT. >> CAN YOU GO BACK A SLIDE, PLEASE? I'M SORRY, CAN YOU GO BACK TWO SLIDES? THANK YOU. SO I HAVE GOTTEN SEVERAL CALLS FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY PASSIONATE.

SO PHASE TWO, THE PRELIMINARY -- THE STAKEHOLDER TIMEFRAME ON THAT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW, BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO ASK ME AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE -- IT'S 18 WEEKS FROM TODAY. YOU

GOT HOLIDAYS. >> IF COUNCIL APPROVES IT TODAY, PROBABLY STARTING AS SOON AS TOMORROW OR MONDAY, ONCE THE CONTRACT IS EXECUTED, WE WILL SET UP THE FIRST MEETINGS FOR THEM TO COME TO TOWN AND START THE SIX WEEKS PORTION WHERE THEY ARE REALLY DOING THE DATA ANALYSIS. WE WOULD NOT MOVE PROBABLY INTO MEETING WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS UNTIL WE MOVE INTO 2024. WE WOULD NOT DO THAT AS PART OF THE CHRISTMAS AND NEW

YEAR'S HOLIDAY. >> I'M GOING TO SAY ENJOY YOUR

HOLIDAYS. >> ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAYS, FIRST QUARTER 2024, WE WILL BE RINGING YOUR DOORBELL.

>> ON THE MAP, I HAD EMAILED YOU ABOUT BOAT RAMPS, AND THOSE ARE INCLUDED AS WELL EVEN IF THEY ARE IDENTIFIED. IS THAT INCLUDED IN WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S A PRIVATE NONPROFIT LOCATION? IT STILL PART OF THE AMENITIES.

>> THE GUN RANGE IS NOT INCLUDED OF THE RECREATIONAL ASPECT OF THE LAKE. BUT AS YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE A LONG-TERM LEASE WITH THE CITY, AND NOTHING IN THIS PLAN IS GOING TO CONTEMPLATE THE REMOVAL OR USE OF THAT GUN RANGE. THEY HAVE SOME INVESTED RIGHTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE LONG-TERM LEASE.

>> BUT JUST AS PART OF THE BIGGER PICTURE, I DIDN'T KNOW IF

THEY WERE GOING TO BE INCLUDED. >> NOT UNLESS YOU WANT THEM TO.

IF YOU DIRECT US TO, WE WILL DO THAT, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S WITHIN THE SCOPE OF WORK AT THIS TIME.

>> IT MIGHT BE WORTH ACTUALLY LISTING, BECAUSE THERE IS COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES AS JUST AVAILABLE RESOURCES. NOT THINGS THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO INTERACT WITH OR DEVELOP, BUT IT'S A SERVICE TO SAY, HEY, THERE'S ALSO THESE OTHER THINGS

GOING ON. >> WE ARE GOING TO DO EVERY EFFORT TO LISTEN TO ANYBODY WHO IS INTERESTED AND WANTS TO HAVE

SOMETHING IN THIS. >> ANYONE ELSE? I DON'T THINK PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT -- PUBLIC STAKEHOLDERS, I THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT. PHASE ONE AND PHASE TWO, I APPRECIATE, AND I THINK THIS IS VERY PASSIONATE TO MANY EVIL. I THINK THAT WE NEED TO DO A GOOD JOB OF LISTENING. ANYONE ELSE? AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? PLEASE STEP FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME AND LOCATION.

>> HALEY, CAN YOU GIVE YOUR NAME?

>> HELLO, I'M HALEY, THE LAKE FOR FORT PHANTOM HILL PRESIDENT.

I'M SO EXCITED AND IN SUPPORT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AT PHANTOM HILL. I HAVE PERSONALLY WORKED TOWARD THIS FOR SIX YEARS, AND THE LAKE ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN WORKING TOWARDS US FOR OVER 15 YEARS. IT'S BEEN A DREAM OF EVERYONE'S TO MAKE THE LAKE GREAT AND SHOW PEOPLE THE BEAUTY THAT NOT EVERYONE GETS TO SEE.

SOME OF THE THINGS I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING IS ALL THE RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AROUND THE LAKE, ESPECIALLY THE 47 ACRES DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM JOHNSON PARK. I WORKED AT THE PARK WORD ON THIS PROJECT AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT I REALLY WANTED TO HAPPEN. AND IT IS DEVELOPMENT THAT KEEPS PEOPLE HERE, KEEPS PEOPLE AT THE LAKE. RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NOT MANY PLACES TO STAY AROUND THE LAKE, SO IF YOU COME AND GET ON THE WATER, YOU HAVE TO GO BACK HOME. SO IT IS IN DEVELOPED PARKLAND.

[01:30:08]

IT'S UNDEVELOPED PARKLAND THAT PEOPLE CAMP ON STILL, BUT IT IS VERY ROUGH TERRAIN. IT'S WELL-MAINTAINED AND ACTIVITIES GO ON BEYOND OUR CONTROL ON THE LAND. IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A NICE RV RESORT, A NICE CAMPGROUND WITH AND AN ACTIVITY THAT CAN BE USED FOR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS FOREVER. PUBLIC RAMPS WILL NEED REPAIR, LIKE WE SAID. LIGHTING AND PUBLIC RESTROOMS. I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE THIS PROJECT MOVE FORWARD. THE FORT PHANTOM HILL LAKE ASSOCIATION LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING CLOSELY WITH US TO THE AND ENGINEERS AND THE PARK BOARD ON COMPLETING THE PROJECT. THE OPPORTUNITIES THIS PROJECT REPRESENTS GO FAR BEYOND LAKE FORT PHANTOM WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENTREPRENEURS, SMALL BUSINESSES TO DEVELOP AND THRIVE, TOURISM TO INCREASE WITH RECREATIONAL EVENTS. THIS ISN'T JUST GOOD FOR THE LAKE, IT'S GOOD FOR ALL OF ABILENE AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS. I AM IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT.

>> IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR ITEM 14?

PLEASE COME FORWARD. >> MORNING. MY NAME IS ROBERT PRUE. I'VE BEEN ON THE PHANTOM LAKE FOR MY WHOLE LIFE. I'M A DOCK BUILDER. I'M AN ENTREPRENEUR, I OWNED BUSINESSES IN ABILENE. I'M A PART OF THE BASQUE CLUB, AND A PART OF THE SALE BONUSES ASIAN, I'M A PART OF ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE LAKE. THE BIGGEST COMPLAINT EVERYBODY HAS RIGHT NOW IT RESTROOMS. THERE'S NO PLACE TO PARK THESE HIGH-VALUE BOATS TO GET OUT AND GET ACCESS TO A PUBLIC RESTROOM. ANYONE WHO USES THE RESTROOM ON THE LAKE HAS TO HAVE A RESTAURANT AT THE LAKE.

THERE IS NO BOAT DOCKS EQUIPPED TO HANDLE TWO TO THREE BOATS AT ONE TIME. I AM IN FAVOR. THANK YOU.

>> STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

>> I DO HAVE TWO CARDS FROM PEOPLE WHO DO NOT WISH TO SPEAK.

JOHN BARTON IS IN SUPPORT, AND MOIRA BARTON IS ALSO IN SUPPORT.

CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION BY COUNSEL? I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN PRYCE, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN RAGAN. WE ARE READY TO VOTE.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM PRICE. MAYOR BEARD. COUNCILMEMBER RAGAN.

COUNCILMAN CREATES. COUNCILMEMBER MCALISTER. MAYOR

[15. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving a Professional Services Contract with Enprotec/Hibbs & Todd, Inc. for Cedar Ridge Water Right Support (Rodney Taylor)]

HURT. MOTION CARRIES. >> ITEM 15. WATER UTILITIES WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM.

DIRECTOR OF WATER UTILITIES. ITEM 15 BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING IS AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT WITH ENPROTEC FOR THE CEDAR RIDGE PERMIT SUPPORT CONTRACT. THE CONTRACT VALUE IS $290,000 TO PROVIDE SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PERMIT APPLICATION THAT HAS BEEN IN THE BOOKS SINCE BEING SUBMITTED IN 2011. WE ANTICIPATE THAT THAT IS ABOUT TO BREAK LOOSE, AND WE ANTICIPATE A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION TO ALLOW THEM TO CREATE A DRAFT PERMIT.

AT THAT TIME, WE WILL THEN BE PREPARED TO DO A QUICK TURNAROUND TO REVIEW THAT PERMIT AND GET SOME FEEDBACK. THIS CONTRACT WILL PROVIDE FOR THAT. ENPROTEC/HIBBS & TODD, INC. HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN WATER SUPPLY ISSUES, DROUGHT RESPONSE STRATEGIES, EVALUATIONS FOR AT LEAST SINCE 2006. THEY'VE BEEN HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE PREPARATION AND APPLICATION OF PERMITS PURSUANT TO STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL. SO WE THINK THAT E HT IS THE BEST CONSULTANT TO ASSIST US IN RESPONDING TO THIS PERMIT. WE HAVE -- IN THE PAST, WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS PUBLICLY ABOUT CEDAR RIDGE RESERVOIR, AND IT HAS BEEN RELATIVELY QUIET. IT COMES BACK UP NOW AS WE LOOK AT OUR FUTURE WATER SUPPLY NEEDS AND REALIZE THAT THOSE NEEDS OF THE FUTURE HAVE NOT GONE AWAY, AND THE CITY MUST STILL BE DILIGENT IN LOOKING AT THE VERY LONG TERM AT WATER SUPPLY NEEDS AND TAKING

[01:35:07]

ACTIONS NOW, BECAUSE IT TAKES MANY, MANY YEARS TO MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS TO DEVELOP A WATER SUPPLY. CEDAR RIDGE HAS BEEN ON THE BOOKS FOR A WHILE, AND WE BELIEVE THAT IT IS AN EXCELLENT SITE FOR A RESERVOIR. THERE'S A LOT OF POSITIVE SUPPORT, SO IT IS THE OPTION ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW. SINCE WE'VE ALREADY GOT A PERMIT APPLICATION IN PLACE, IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO CONTINUE TO AT LEAST OBTAIN THE STATE PERMIT. THERE'S ALSO A FEDERAL CLEAN WATER ACT 404 PERMIT THAT IS BEEN SUBMITTED, AGAIN, AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WITH U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS. THE CONTRACT BEFORE YOU TODAY DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR ANY WORK RELATED TO THAT PERMIT. JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S TWO PERMITTING PROCESSES. ONE OF THE STATE LEVEL THAT ALLOWS US TO ACQUIRE RIGHTS OF USE OF THE STATES SURFACE WATER. THAT WOULD BE THE RESULT OF THE PROJECT MOVING FORWARD, AND THEN THE 404 PERMIT IS ACTUALLY THE PERMISSION TO BUILD AND CONSTRUCT ON A WATER BODY OF THE UNITED STATES. AND SO THEY WOULD LOOK AT THE PURPOSE INDEED OF WHY WE NEED THAT AND COMPARE THAT WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF DISRUPTING A WATERCOURSE AND THE IMPACT IT COULD HAVE ON THE ENVIRONMENT, AND THEN DECIDING WHETHER OUR NEED IS GREATER THAN THOSE. THOSE ARE TWO SEPARATE THINGS. THIS IS AT THE STATE

LEVEL TODAY. SO ANY QUESTIONS? >> I AM GLAD THAT WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS. PART OF THE REGION G WATER PLAN LONG-TERM INCLUDES WHAT WE WOULD HAVE AVAILABLE FROM THIS RESERVOIR. SO WE NEED TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE TEMPORARY MEASURES IN PLACE AT THE FACILITY IN BRECKENRIDGE.

BUT THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO PROVIDE FOR OUR FUTURE. SO WE HAVE ENOUGH WATER TO SUPPORT RESIDENCES.

>> JUST TO FOLLOW UP, THIS PERMIT -- OBTAINING THIS PERMIT IS NOT A COMMITMENT LONG-TERM TO BUILD A RESERVOIR. HOWEVER, WHETHER WE FORGO THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SECURE THIS PERMIT, WHICH HAS A PRIORITY DATE THAT IS ESTABLISHED WHEN WE SUBMIT A PERMIT. AND WE ARE BASICALLY WRITING OFF THE FUTURE OPTION. THAT'S WHY WE FEEL LIKE IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE SMALL STEP TO ENSURE THAT WE SECURE THE PERMIT. WITHOUT THAT PERMIT, THERE IS NO FUTURE OPTION ABOUT REAPPLYING AT SOME POINT IN THE

FUTURE. >> WE KNOW THIS IS A BRUTALLY SLOW PROCESS. VERY PROUD OF STAFF AND YOU STAYING ON TOP OF THIS. WE ARE INTERESTED IN THIS PROJECT AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TALK ABOUT A WATER SOURCE IN THE FUTURE. IF YOU LOOK AT OUR POPULATION GROWTH THE NEXT 30, 40 YEARS, WE'RE GOING TO NEED MORE WATER. THANK YOU ALL FOR STAYING ON TOP OF THIS TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WE ARE STILL IN THE BATTERS BOX.

>> THANK YOU, RODNEY. >> AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 15? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. THIS COUNSEL OF ANY FURTHER. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN RAGAN. SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN KRAMER. WE ARE READY

TO VOTE. >> COUNCILMEMBER RAGAN.

COUNCILMEMBER YATES. COUNCILMEMBER MCALISTER. MAYOR PRO TEM PRICE. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM BEARD, MAYOR HURT. MOTION

[16. Discussion: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion, and Public Hearing on the requirements of Sign Ordinance Section 4.2.8.9 (f) (1) Off-site Advertising (Tim Littlejohn)]

CARRIES. >> WE NOW MOVE TO ITEM 16 AND WE LOOK TO TIM LITTLEJOHN TO PRESENT THIS.

>> THANK YOU. TIM LITTLEJOHN, DIRECTOR OF SERVICES FOR YOUR DISCUSSION TODAY IS A DISCUSSION ON THE REQUIREMENTS OF SIGN ORDINANCE SECTION 4.2.8. SPECIFICALLY, THE TOPIC FOR THIS

[01:40:01]

MORNING IS OFF-SITE SIGNAGE, OFF-SITE ADVERTISEMENT. IT'S CURRENTLY ONLY ALLOWED -- ALONG WITH AGRICULTURAL SPACE AND AGRICULTURAL SPACE IS ONLY ALLOWABLE WAS RUSSELL EXCEPTION.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR DIRECTION FROM YOU THIS MORNING AND IF THIS SECTION NEEDS TO BE AMENDED OR NOT. THINGS TO CONSIDER -- WE COULD BE ADDING MORE ZONING DISTRICT THAT ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE ON-SITE SIGNAGE. WE HAVE TO BEGIN THAT DISCUSSION AND ANY THOUGHTS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. THIS MAY COME UP WITH SOME RECENT INTEREST IN HAVING SOME OFFSET SIGNAGE IN ZONING DISTRICT'S THAT ARE CURRENTLY NOT ALLOWED. SO MUCH SO THAT WE FIGURED WE WOULD BRING THAT TO YOU AND LEAVE IT TO THE FLAVOR OF THE COUNCIL TO MAKE AMENDMENTS OR NOT.

>> IF I COULD JUST ADD TO TIM'S REPORT, THERE ARE SIGNS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA PRESENTLY THAT DO OFFER LESS ADVERTISING. TWO OF THEM ARE PROPERLY PERMITTED, AND OFF PERMIT ADVERTISING -- I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE COULD ENFORCE THIS AFTER A CASE HEARING, AND IT'S GONE ALL THE WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT. APPARENTLY, I BELIEVE NOW WE CAN. AT THAT PERMIT BEEN REQUESTED TODAY, BUT THE TIME WHEN THEY WERE PERMITTED JUST A COUPLE YEARS BACK, I DON'T BELIEVE WE NECESSARILY HAD THE AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE THAT. ONE SIGN, THE ONE THAT WAS MENTIONED AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, AT THE TIME WAS NOT PROPERLY PERMITTED. IT IS NOT PERMITTED FOR ON PREMISE ADVERTISING ONLY. I THINK THE OWNER OF THE SIGN WOULD LIKE TO USE IT FOR ADVERTISING. SO THE POLICY QUESTION FOR COUNSEL IS, IS HER DESIRE ON THE PART OF THE THE COUNCIL TO ALLOW OFF PERMIT ADVERTISING IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT? AND IF SO, WE NEED TO THEN GO THROUGH THE PUBLIC PROCESS WITH STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE SIZE LIMITATION? DO WE WANT BIG BILLBOARDS UP THERE, OR DO WE WANT SOMETHING THAT IS MORE THE SIZE OF A TELEVISION SCREEN? THOSE ARE ALL POLICY DISCUSSIONS. WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO GET INTO THEM TODAY, BUT THE QUESTION TRULY IS, DO YOU WANT STAFF TO INVESTIGATE THIS AND USE THE PUBLIC PROCESS THAT REFLECTS THE DESIRE OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE