7. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Take Action on Authorization of a Downtown Coordinator Staff Position (Robert Hanna)

[13. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on awarding a bid to The Crowe Group, Inc. for the Fallen Hero Memorial Plaza (Lesli Andrews)]

>>BLAISE REGAN: YES. >>MAYOR HURT: YES.

MOVE ITEM 13, LESLEY ANDREWS, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECOGNIZE

TO PRESENT THIS. >> LESLEY ANDREWS, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION. I AM HAPPY TO BE BEFORE YOU TO TALK OF A PROJECT THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN WORKING ON FOR A FEW YEARS. AND THAT IS A FALLEN HERO MEMORIAL PLAZA. WE LOOKED AT MULTIPLE LOCATIONS WITHIN ABILENE, AND LIKE THIS LOCATION AT THE CORNER OF THE ABILENE CONVENTION CENTER IS A GREAT LOCATION.

WE HAVE 15 PEOPLE IN THE CITY THAT HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE LINE OF DUTY AND FEEL THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THEM AND THEIR SERVICE TO ABILENE.

THOSE 15 PEOPLE ARE ONE FROM PARKS, ONE FROM SOLID WASTE, FIVE FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND EIGHT FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WHAT THE -- WHAT THE MEMORIAL WILL BE IS -- THERE WILL BE SHADE TO REALLY EMPHASIZE THE LOCATION. THERE WILL BE A MARKER FOR EACH OF THESE 15 PEOPLE WITH A PICTURE OF THEM.

WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE A LOT OF BACKGROUND IN HISTORY AND FINDING PICTURES THAT WE ARE GOING TO ENHANCE.

A PICTURE OF THE PERSON, THEIR NAME, THE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY WORKED IN AND THEIR BIRTHDATE AND DEATH DATE.

THAT WILL BE ON DISPLAY. THERE WILL BE SIX HISTORICAL MARKERS. WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH JAY MOORE AND EDDIE SMITH RESEARCHING THE HISTORY OF ABILENE AND WHERE IT IS TODAY. THAT WILL BE PRESENT THERE AS WELL. THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY TO ADD MORE MARKERS IF UNFORTUNATELY SOMEBODY DOES LOSE THEIR LIFE IN THE LINE OF DUTY. THE COMMITTEE DID DO A LOT OF RESEARCH TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMPANIES WE ARE WORKING WITH HAVE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE AROUND A LONG TIME. IF UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE A NEED TO ADD ANOTHER NAME, THAT WILL BE POSSIBLE.

WE DID GO OUT FOR BID FOR THIS IN SEPTEMBER 2023.

TWO COMPANIES RESPONDED. CO GROUP WAS LOW BID AT AND HERE TO ASK FOR APPROVAL IN THE CONTRACT RIGHT SIDE AND WILL BE

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >>MAYOR HURT: ANY QUESTIONS

OF LESLEY. >> WHEN DO YOU ANTICIPATE STARTING AND HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THE PROJECT WILL TAKE?

>> REALLY WE CAN START ALMOST ANY TIME.

I DO NOT HAVE A TIME FRAME HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE.

TIM MCCLARTY, THE ARCHITECT ON RECORD IS HERE AND MAYBE ANSWER

IT. >> I KNOW WITH STREETS, WE DON'T DO IT DURING CERTAIN WEATHER -- WEATHER CONCERNS WITH REGARD TO

ACCESS TO THE CONSTRUCTION? >> REALLY THERE IS NOT IN THIS LOCATION. THE MAIN THING WOULD BE SETTING THE CONCRETE TO MAKE SURE THE POLES DON'T MOVE.

IF IT IS BELOW FREEZING, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT, WEATHER SHOULDN'T HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON

IT. >>MAYOR HURT: ANY MORE QUESTIONS

OF LESLEY? >> JUST ONE QUESTION.

IT LOOKS LIKE PAGE 331 OF THE PACKET, I COULDN'T LET THIS GO, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE -- AS PART OF THE PROJECT, SHADE STRUCTURES THERE INCORPORATED IN.

AND DO WE HAVE AN IDEA HOW MUCH -- WILL IT COVER 20%, 100%.

>> I WILL DEFER THAT QUESTION TO MR. MCCLARTY.

>> I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION. I KNOW IT WILL HAVE A LITTLE INFORMATION. I AM CURIOUS IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT CAN GIVE A LITTLE MORE INSIGHT INTO THE EDUCATION OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BEING A HE HERO IN A SENSE A MORE BROADER. IS THERE ANY WAY TO GIVE SIGNIFICANCE TO THAT JUST SO MAYBE SOMEONE WHO IS YOUNGER HAVE A GREATER GRASS CAN OF WHAT THIS IS ABO

POSSIBLE. >> IT IS POSSIBLE.

THE HYSTERICAL -- NOT HYSTERICAL, HISTORICAL MARKERS ARE FINALIZED. THEY ARE MORE ON THE HISTORY AND THE SIGNIFICANCE WHERE THE ACTUAL MARKERS OF THE PEOPLE ARE LIMITED REALLY TO THEIR PICTURE NAME AND DEPARTMENT.

>> MR. CRAVER, WE CAN SOUTHEASTERNLY PROVIDE SOME SORT OF DEDICATION PLAQUE OR SOMETHING THAT EXPLAINS THE

[00:30:05]

BROADNESS OF HERO AND ARTICULATE THESE ARE ALL HEROES AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND WE CAN CERTAINLY ADD THAT AS

PART OF THE EXPERIENCE. >> I THINK THAT WILL HELP

PERSONALLY. >>MAYOR HURT: THANK YOU, LESLEY.

AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THE ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

TIM, I AM SORRY, GO AHEAD. >> HELLO, MY NAME IS DREW ELLIOTT. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN ABILENE, TEXAS. I MOVED AWAY FROM A LITTLE WHILE. I CAME BACK AND I AM NOW RAISING MY FAMILY HERE IN TOWN. THIS MONUMENT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO ME. MY FATHER, JEFFREY ELLIOTT, WAS FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER.

HE LOST HIS LIFE IN SERVICE OF THE CITY.

HE WAS IN A LEADERSHIP SUPERVISORY ROLE AND INSTEAD OF PUTTING HIS PEOPLE AT RISK, HE TOOK THE JOB ON HIMSELF.

AND THAT IS WHY IT EVENTUALLY CAUSED HIM TO LOSE HIS LIFE THAT DAY. THINK OF LANDSCAPERS AND GARDENERS AS HEROES. SOUNDS PRETTY HEROIC TO ME AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED. I GREW UP TO BE LIKE MY FATHER IN A LEADERSHIP, SUPERVISORY ROLE, UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PEOPLE WORK WITH YOU. IT IS YOUR FAMILY.

NOT YOUR BLOOD FAMILY, BUT THAT'S WHO YOU TAKE CARE OF.

HE DID THAT THAT DAY. THAT IS THE TRUE DEFINITION OF A HERO. HE IS FROM PARKS.

NOT A FIRE FIGHTER FIRE FIGHTER OR POLICE OFFICER OR ANYTHING ELSE. THAT IS THE DEFINITION OF A HERO. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK LISA, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, AND TIM, THE ARCHITECT ON THIS JOB, HE DID A GREAT JOB REACHING OUT. HE REACHED ALL THE WAY OUT TO MY GRANDMOTHER, MY AUNT'S MOTHER IN NEW YORK TO FIND OUT INFORMATION ON MY FATHER TO FIND OUT WE WERE LIVING FIVE MINUTES DOWN THE ROAD WHEN HE FINALLY SAW US. A HUGE THANKS TO HIM.

I APPRECIATE YOU HEARING IT THIS MORNING AND I HOPE THAT YOU PASS

THIS. >>MAYOR HURT: STILL IN THE

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. >> MY NAME IS EDDIE PUGH.

I THINK THIS IS AN OUTSTANDING IDEA.

I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT ABILENE NEEDS TO FOCUS ON MORE THAN CONTROVERSIAL STATUES. AND MR. CRAVER, I THINK THAT IS AN IGNORANT STATEMENT THAT YOU MADE.

THEY DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY AND THEY ARE A HERO.

THANK YOU. >> I AM TIM MCCLARTY, AN ARCHITECT ON THE PROBABLY. THE FIRST QUESTION IS, HOW LONG? CONSTRUCTION IS SCHEDULED FOR 180 DAYS.

THEY DO GET EXTENSIONS IN TIME FOR BAD WEATHER AND INABILITY TO ACQUIRE MATERIALS. SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT WE DON'T ANTICIPATE IT TAKING THE FULL 180 DAYS.

WHAT WERE THE OTHER QUESTIONS? >> I WAS PRETTY MUCH ASKING, I THINK, THERE A WAY TO GIVE CONTEXT TO THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HEROES LOSING THEIR LIVES. IF THERE ARE YOUNGER GENERATIONS COMING TOO, THEY CAN HAVE MORE OF AN UNDERSTANDING WHY IT IS SO

IMPORTANT. >> WE HAD SIX HISTORY BILLBOARD IS WHAT I AM CALLING THEM THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE TEXT FOR A LONG TIME. WE HAD SOME DISAGREEMENTS OF DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF IT. PRINCE, ARE THERE BUFFALOS THAT CAME THROUGH HERE OR PIESENS THAT CAME THROUGH HERE.

I NEVER KNEW THERE WAS A DIFFERENCE.

[LAUGHTER] THAT'S RIGHT.

>> SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS -- THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT -- YOU LEARN AS YOU GO. WE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS ABOUT EACH INDIVIDUAL PERSON. SHOULD WE GET MORE INFORMATION AND WRITE A PARAGRAPH WHERE THEY CAME FROM.

WHAT THEY WERE DOING. AND FOUND OUT THAT WAS JUST GOING TO BE TOO MUCH. AND SO I THINK THE PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED AND THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE KIND OF GIVEN -- GIVEN THE PEOPLE A HINT OF WHO THIS PERSON WAS, THE DEPARTMENT THEY WORKED FOR. AND REALLY THE -- THE THING THAT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT, I GUESS, AT LEAST FOR ME, IT DID, IS DOING THE RESEARCH TO FIND OUT WHO THAT PERSON WAS, WHAT THEY WERE DOING, WHY THEY DID IT.

AND HOW THEY GAVE THEIR LIFE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

SO IS YOU MIGHT SAY WE SCATTERED 15 SEEDS OUT THERE FOR PEOPLE TO

[00:35:04]

TAKE. AND DO MORE RESEARCH.

I COULDN'T GET ALL THE RESEARCH. THERE IS MUCH, MUCH MORE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE. CAN WE DO THAT? YES, WE CAN TAKE THOSE BILLBOARDS AND PUT MORE INFORMATION ON IT. WE CAN INTRODUCE MORE BILLBOARDS, BUT AFTER THIS PERIOD OF TIME, IT SEEMS LIKE WE COME TO THE CORRECT BALANCE. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON

THIS. >> I THINK I AM ASKING IT WRONG.

LET ME REPHRASE. DEFINITELY I LOVE THE RESEARCH THAT YOU HAVE DONE. I LOVE RESEARCH -- I AM A RESEARCHER AS WELL. SO I AM THINKING NOT THE INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH, BUT MAYBE SOMETHING -- A CONTEXTUALIZED UNDERSTANDING OF THE SACRIFICES THAT THESE PEOPLE MADE FOR THE GREATER COD. LIKE A CONTEXTUALIZED UNDERSTANDING OF THE SIGNI SIGNIFICANCE OF SACRIFICE I GUESS IS WHAT I AM SAYING TO GIVE YOU AN UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO ENTER INTO, SEE AND EXPERIENCE. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

>> YES, IT DOES. YES, SOMETHING LIKE THAT COULD BE DONE. THERE ARE TWO DEFINITE ENTRY POINTS TO THIS AREA. AND MORE SIGNAGE COULD BE PUT IN. NOW WHEN WE SAY "SIGNAGE" THIS IS NOT A PIECE OF PAPER. THESE ARE QUARTER-INCH STAINLESS STEEL PLAQUES WITH ENGRAVES AND THEY ARE JUST BEAUTIFUL PIECES OF ART YES, WE COULD ADD MORE. ADDITIONAL COSTS BUT CONTINGENCY ALLOWANCES AND MORE TIME TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

AN EASY THIS I THINK TO DO. AN EASY THING TO DO.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> TIM, I HAVE OF A QUESTION OF SHADE. 104, 105 FOUR MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR, WE WANT PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY WALK THROUGH HERE, STOP, ENJOY, READ WHAT HAS BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT THE PERSON.

AND YOU KNOW IF IT IS 100, 105, PEOPLE WILL GO IT IS TOO HOT, JUST WALKING THROUGH. I LIKE THAT THERE IS SHADE.

WITH NEW PROJECTS WE ARE INCORPORATING SHADE AS A AT THE FAULT. MY QUESTION WAS, HOW MUCH OF THIS PLAZA WILL BE COVERED IN SHADE?

>> OKAY. THIS IS THE SECOND LEVEL OF THE PLAZA. IT IS AN AREA THAT IS NOT USED.

IT IS AN AREA THAT IS EXTREMELY HOT SO OUR FIRST CONCERN IS WHAT IS GOING TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THAT AREA.

AND THE SHADE STRUCTURES WERE A NECESSITY AND WE JUST PUT A LOT OF TIME ON THAT. IN FACT WE NARROWED IT DOWN TO THE SHAPE AND FORM THAT WOULD ENHANCE THAT AREA.

IT IS HOT UP THERE. BUT THIS SHADE WILL HELP.

I WOULD SAY -- OF COURSE THE SUN TRAVELS IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, BUT DURING THE HOT PART OF THE DAY, HIGH NOON, 60% COVERAGE.

SOME PLAQUES WILL BE IN SHADE AND SOME WILL BE IN SUN AS IT CHANGES. SO THERE IS A LOT OF SHADE THERE NOW. NOW THAT WE ARE PUTTING THIS IN.

NONE BEFORE HAND THIS AREA IS NOT USED AT ALL.

OUR FIRM WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE REDESIGN OF THE WHOLE PLAZA.

AND THAT AREA IS JUST NOT USED. SO THIS IS -- -- IT IS THE FOCAL POINT. YOU LOOK AT THE BUILDING.

THOSE TWO BUILDINGS COME TOGETHER AND IT IS RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF IT. SO ONE OF THE INITIAL THOUGHTS WE HAVE THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO HAVE A SCULPTURE.

I WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS BUILT TO HONOR THESE PEOPLE.

THEN YOU LOOK AT THE COST OF THAT AND THE NEED OF SHADE AND THE OTHER THINGS. IT HAS BEEN A BALANCING ACT ALL THE WAY THROUGH THIS PROJECT. AND IT HAS BEEN AN EXTREME

PLEASURE TO WORK ON IT. >> MAYOR HURT, I WANT TO PAUSE FOR A HOME AND THANK MR. RICE FOR HIS WORK ON THE PROBABLY AND THE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE. THANK THEM FOR THEIR CONTINUED WORK ON THIS PROJECT. WHEN I CAME TO ABILENE EIGHT OR NINE YEARS AGO, ONE OF THE CONSISTENTLY DISCUSSED POINTS ABOUT THE COUNCIL AND BROUGHT UP BY KYLE KYLE WAS SOME MEMORIAL FOR THOSE EMPLOYEE SS THAT GAVE THEIR LIFE IN THE LINE OF DUTY FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THIS IS NOT AN EASY PROJECT.

ONE OF THE REASONS THIS IS TAKING SO LONG BECAUSE GETTING IT RIGHT IS SO IMPORTANT. ENGAGEMENT WITH FAMILY MEMBERS.

ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE STAFF HAVE ALLOWED TO YOU CREATE A DESIGN THAT IS RIGHT.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE IN GETTING THIS DONE.

>> THANK YOU. >> I WANT TO ECHO THIS.

[00:40:03]

I REMEMBER TALKING WITH LARRY GILLEY ABOUT THIS.

NINE, TEN YEARS AGO OF GETTING THIS MOVING FORWARD.

AND I AM GLAD THAT WE ARE GETTING THIS DONE.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE FAMILY

MEMBERS. >> IN MY BUSINESS, YOU GET PROJECTS THAT COME IN. AND YOU LOOK AT THEM AND YOU SAY THIS IS GOING TO BE A BLAST. THIS WILL BE FUN TO WORK ON, LIKE THE ANIMAL SHELTER. THAT IS A FUN PROJECT THAT WE ARE GOING -- THAT WE ARE DOING. AND THEN YOU GET PROJECTS THAT YOU LOOK AT, AND YOU SAY THIS ONE WILL BE A HEADACHE.

AND I WAS CONVINCED THIS ONE WAS A HEADACHE WHEN I FIRST STARTED ON IT. BUT -- BECAUSE YOU ARE DEALING WITH DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES AND TRYING TO GET EVERYTHING TO BLEND. THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING PROJECTS OF MY LIFE. AND I AM DOING THIS FOR 40 YEARS BECAUSE I HAD TO LEARN ABOUT EACH INDIVIDUAL.

AND I HAD TO FIND THAT INFORMATION FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL AND YOU LEARN OF WHAT THEY DID AND HOW THEY DID IT JUST A REWARDING PROJECT. I WOULD HAVE DONE IT FOR FREE, BUT YOU ALREADY HAVE GIVEN ME MONEY.

BUT WE HAVE ANOTHER 180 DAYS TO GO AND IT WILL BE BEAUTIFUL, I

PROMISE. >> THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR HURT: STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 13?

PLEASE TOMORROW FORWARD. >> GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS JACKIE PARKER. AND I AM JEFF ELLIOTT'S SISTER.

DREW'S UP AT. I WANT -- IT HAS -- DECEMBER IT WILL BE 30 YEARS SINCE I LOST MY BROTHER.

DREW WAS A LITTLE KID WHEN IT HAPPENED.

WHAT HAD THE CITY DID BACK THEN, IRONLY, WHAT CAUSED MY BROTHER TO DIE, HE WAS CUTTING DOWN A TREE IN COBB PARK.

SO WHAT HAD THE CITY DID TO HONOR HIM WAS THEY PLANTED A, WHICH WE -- IT NEVER REALLY SETTLED REAL WELL WITH US.

SO THIS PROJECT, HAVING IT BEEN RIGHT THERE WHERE EVERYONE SEES AS THEY WALK INTO THE CIVIC CENTER AND ALL, I THINK IT WILL BE WONDERFUL AND I HOPE THAT YOU ALL WILL APPROVE OF THAT.

AND HE REALLY WAS A HERO. BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU PUT ON A PLAQUE HE DIED CUTTING DOWN A TREE.

THEY ALL WERE -- I MEAN RODNEY HOLDER.

HE WAS A HERO TOO AND HE DIED VERY TRAGICALLY.

HE DIDN'T GET SHOT OR ANYTHING IN THE LINE OF DUTY, YOU KNOW, IT WAS -- IT WAS AN ACCIDENT. BUT ANYWAY -- AND TIM, HE REACHED OUT TO MY MOM. THE ONLY REASON HE GOT MY MOM IN NEW YORK BECAUSE SHE IS THE ONLY ONE WITH A LAND LINE STILL.

HE GOT AHOLD OF HER. WHEN I CALLED HIM, I SAID THIS IS JACKIE PARKER, JEFF ELLIOTT'S SISTER.

HE SAID I AM SO GLAD YOU CALLED ME.

YOU MADE MY DAY. SO THANKS.

THANKS A LOT. HE HAS -- HE HAS WORKED SO HARD ON THIS PROJECT. SO I HOPE THAT YOU WILL APPROVE IT. AND I HOPE WE WILL HAVE A BIG CEREMONY WHEN IT ALL COMES TOGETHER AND A DEDICATION BECAUSE I THINK MY MOM FROM NEW YORK WILL COME DOWN TO SEE IT AND EVERYTHING. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

>>MAYOR HURT: WE ARE STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 13? NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

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

AND A SECOND. >> CAN I SAY SOMETHING REAL QUICK, MAYOR, PLEASE. THIS IS -- THIS IS LONG OVERDUE.

I KNOW MANY OF THE NAMES THAT ARE GOING TO BE ON HERE AND THEIR FAMILIES. AND I WAS PRESENT AT SOME OF THE EVENTS. AND I AM REALLY GLAD TO SEE US DO THIS. I THINK IT IS A GREAT WAY TO HONOR OUR FAMILIES. IT IS IN A GOOD PLACE.

AND THE PUBLIC WALKING BY CAN SEE IT AND STOP.

AND I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT WORKED ON IT.

>>MAYOR HURT: LYNN, IS THAT A MOTION.

>>LYNN BEARD: THAT IS A MOTION. >>MAYOR HURT: A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BEARD. SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEM MEMBER REGAN. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

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

>>BRIAN YATES: YES. >>KYLE MCALISTER: YES KRAFRZ

KRAFRZ YES PHOENIX PRICE YES. >>MAYOR HURT: YES.

[EXECUTIVE SESSION]

>>CLERK: MOTION CARRIES. >>MAYOR HURT: NOW 9:15 A.M. AND WE WILL RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION YOU ARE SUPERINTENDENT TO THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT 551.71 CONSULTATION WITH THE ATTORNEY EXCEPTION 551.07 DELIBERATIONS ABOUT REAL PROPERTY.

551.073, DELIBERATIONS ABOUT GIFTS AND DONATIONS.

[RECONVENE]

[15. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving an Economic Development Agreement and a Lease Agreement with Abilene Youth Sports Authority (AYSA) for Flat Fields at Grover Nelson Park (Robert Hanna)]

[00:45:07]

IT IS NOW 10:0. NO SLOTES OR APPLICATIONS WERE TAKEN DURING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

I WILL MOVE TO ITEM 13, ROBERT HANNA TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.

>>ROB HANNA: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I WOULD LIKE TO GO OVER THE ECONOMIC AUTHORITY FOR THE ABILENE SPORTS AUTHORITY. WE HAVE MEMBERS HERE.

AND SO I WOULD ALSO INVITE THEM IN TO COME SPEAK SO THEY CHOOSE TO AT THE END OF THIS SHORT PRESENTATION.

WHAT IS BEFORE YOU IS AN ECONOMIC AGREEMENT WITH AYSA FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF TEN FLAT FIELDS APPEAR CLUBHOUSE FACILITY. STATE-OF-THE-ART YOUTH SPORT COMPLEX THAT WILL PROVIDE FIELDS FOR SOCCER AND OTHER FACILITIES.

WE ARE ASKING AYSA TO DEVELOP THIS PROJECT ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY. THEY HAVE FUND RAISED AND HAVE GATHERED SUFFICIENT REVENUES TO DO THIS.

YEARS AGO, WE ENTERED INTO A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH AYSA TO DO THIS. THEY WERE REQUIRED TO GENERATE OR DEVELOP AT LEAST $10 MILLION IN PRIVATE FUNDING AND WE WERE GOING TO PUT $5 MILLION OF CITY FUNDS IN THAT THROUGH THE ARPA PROGRAM. WE ARE HERE TODAY TO DO THAT.

THE ONLY CHANGE IS THAT THE DOLLARS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER AS THE ECONOMY HAS CHANGED AND SUPPLY CHAIN HAS CHANGED AND COST OF CONSTRUCTION HAS GONE UP.

SO HAS THIS PROJECT. SO WE HAVE WE HAVE A $ 1 MILLION TOTAL PROJECT. AYSA IS BRINGING IN OVER $20 MILLION FOR THIS PROJECT. AND THE CITY OF ABILENE IS BEING ASKED TO CONTRIBUTE A TOTAL OF ALMOST $10 MILLION TO THIS PROJECT. SO $5 MILLION WILL COME FROM THE MINOR IMPROVEMENT FUND. AND THAT SOURCE OF FUNDING ULTIMATELY IN ARPA, AMERICAN RECOVERY RESCUE PLAN.

$4 MILLION WILL BE PAID OVER A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD OCTOBER 1, 2024 WITH $800,000 A YEAR FOR THAT FIVE-YEAR PERIOD.