[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:06]
>> GOOD MORNING. I WILL CALL THIS MEETING OF THE ABILENE CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER. 8:30 A.M.
VERY SPECIAL GUEST I AM GOING TO INTRODUCE HERE IN A MOMENT, BUT I AM GOING TO ASK COUNCILMAN MCCALLISTER IF HE CAN LEAD NEWS
OUR INVOCATION. >> DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ARE BLESSED TO BE HERE TODAY. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND WE KNOW AS IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE NEW SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. WE PRAY THIS MORNING THAT WE WILL MAKE GOOD DECISIONS TO HELP TO CONTINUE TO BENEFIT THIS GREAT CITY THAT WE LIVE IN. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THOSE THAT WORK FOR THE CITY THE PUBLIC SERVICE AND STAFF AND EVERYBODY WHO MAKES KEEP THIS CITY GOING AND SAFE AND PROTECTED AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE WHO WORK IN ALL LEVELS OF THIS GOVERNMENT.
THIS TIME OF YEAR, WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THE PAUSE THAT WE CAN TAKE IN LIFE AND CELEBRATE SO.
OUR FRIENDSHIPS. WE THANK YOU FOR THAT.
WE THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.
AS ALWAYS, GOD, WE PRAY FOR RAIN.
IN CHRIST WE PRAY, AMEN. >> THANK YOU, KYLE.
TODAY I HAVE SPECIAL GUESTS. DANA REYES AND MISS LEWIS AND THEIR INSTRUCTIONAL COORDINATOR GERALDINE WILLS.
BOTH FIFTH GRADERS AT ORTIZ ELEMENTARY AND I HAD A CHANCE TO GO AND MEET WITH THE THIRD GRADERS.
SO GLADS THEY ARE WITH US. THEY WILL HELP LEAD US IN OUR PLEDGE. SO TURN AROUND.
BY PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND
INDIVISIBLE. >> MAYOR, I THOUGHT YOU SAID YOU
WENT TO ORTIZ TO FINISH UP. >> YOU WILL BE ASKED IF YOU DON DON'T.
>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
TOMORROW IS EARLY RELEASE, KYLE. IT IS ALWAYS A GREAT WAY TO
[CONSENT AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS]
START. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. AGENDA ITEMS 2 THROUGH 16.THESE ITEMS WILL BE CONSIDERED WITH ONE MOTION AND NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION UNTIL A COUNCILMEMBER REQUESTS SEPARATE DISCUSSION.
DOES ANYONE ON THE.WEATHER COUNCIL WISH TO CONSIDER ANY ITEM INDIVIDUALLY? WE WILL NOW MOVE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. THERE WILL BE NO VOTES OR ANY FORMAL APPLICATIONS TAKEN DURING SUGGESTS PRESENTED DURING PUBLIC COMMENT. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL ONLY ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO PRESENT IDEAS TO CITY STAFF.
COME FORWARD AND STATE THE NAME YOU RESIDE IN FOR A RECORD.
TWO-MINUTE LIMIT. DO WE HAVE ANY CARDS?
>> WE DO NOT. >> IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AT PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME.
SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
I WILL NOW ASK FOR A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTING OF
>> SECOND. >> A MOTION WHICH COUNCILMAN PRICE. SECOND ONE BY COUNCILMAN REGAN.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE ARE READY TO VOTE.
[17. Ordinance (Final Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving an Ordinance Establishing the 2024 Standards of Care (Lesli Andrews)]
>> YES. >>CLERK: MOTION CARRIES.
>> WE WILL MOVE TO ITEM 17 AND I WILL ASK LESS LESLIE ANDREWS, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. LESLIE ANDREWS, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION. OUR ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE STANDARDS OF CARE FOR THE RECREATION DIVISION FOR THE CITY. THIS IS WHAT GOVERNS OUR SUMMER SCHOOLS, AFTERSCHOOL, WINTER BREAK, SPRING BREAK CAMPS.
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THERE IS A COPY WE ALWAYS KEEP ON FILE, GIVE TO ALL THE PARENTS. THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT WE DO AS BASIC REQUIREMENTS. WE ALWAYS GO ABOVE AND BEYOND BUT THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE STANDARDS THAT WE MAKE SURE WE FOLLOW ON AN EVERYDAY BASIS. MENT BIGGEST THING IS THE RATIO OF 20-1. WHERE WE HAVE 20 KIDS TO ONE STAFF MEMBER. THAT REALLY IS IMPORTANT WHEN YOU ARE OVERSEEING CHILDREN OF VARYING AGES TO MAKE SURE TO KEEP THAT RATIO. WE GO THROUGH REGULAR INSPECTIONS. WE HAVE DAILY INSPECTIONS BY BOTH THE STAFF AND THE DIVISION MANAGER.WE ARE INSPECTED ANNUALLY FROM ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE ALSO HAVE AN INSPECTION THIS YEAR BY CARL WHITE FROM THE CITY OF ST. ANGELO.
AND HIS COMMENTS ARE IN THE PACKET.
THE ONE CHANGE IN 2024 INSTEAD OF BEING REQUIRED TO BRING IN SOMEBODY FROM AN OUTSIDE CITY THAT WE BE ALLOWED TO BRING SOMEBODY IN THAT LIVES WITHIN THE CITY LIMIT THAT HAS A VESTED INTEREST IN OUR RECREATION CENTERS.
THEY WILL BE OUTSIDE OF OUR DEPARTMENT, WHETHER ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL AT THE CITY OR WHETHER IT IS SOMEBODY OUTSIDE OF THE CITY, BUT WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OR A NONPROFIT FOR PEOPLE THAT REALLY DO HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN WANTING US TO BE THE BEST THAT WE CAN BE. THIS WAS APPROVED BY PARKS BOARD ON NOVEMBER 21. THE FIRST READING WAS ON DECEMBER 7. AND WE ARE HERE YOU TODAY FOR A PUBLIC HEARING AND APPROVAL IF YOU SO FIT.
I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> ANY QUESTIONS OF LESLIE? >> JUST TO CONFIRM.
AN ADMINISTRATOR THAT IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE CITY OF ABILENE SAY OPEN ENOUGH TO ALLOW NONCITY EMPLOYEES TO COME AND DO
THE INSPECTION AS WELL? >> YES, SIR, WE MADE SURE WE SAID OUTSIDE OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
>> YOU USED "ADMINISTRATOR." I DON'T KNOW IF THAT LIMIT IT TO ADMINISTRATORS WITHIN THE CITY STRUCTURE?
>> NO, SIR, WE -- AS LESLIE HAS INDICATED WE WILL FIND PEOPLE WITH AN INTEREST AND HEART TO THIS.
>> I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WORD SUPPORTED THAT.
>> I THINK IT DOES, SIR. >> NO MORE QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, LESLIE. AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM NUMBER 17. PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND.
>> SO MOVED. >> A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN
MCCALLISTER AND FIRST BY CRAVER. >> YES.
[18. Ordinance (Final Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action regarding recommendations from the Sanctuary City for the Unborn Ordinance Amendment Committee, to Amend Chapter 20, "Offenses," Article VIII, "Abortion," Section 20-86, "Definitions," and Section 20-87, "Abortion Prohibited," Code of Ordinances (Stanley Smith)]
>>CLERK: MOTION CARRIES. >> MOTION CARRIES.
MOVE TO ITEM 18. I WILL ASK STANLEY SMITH, CITY ATTORNEY TO PRESENT IN ITEM. STANLEY, FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE ACTUALLY HAD A MAYOR'S COMMITTEE FOR THIS AGENDA ITEM PREVIOUS TO THIS MEETING.
WE HAD RYAN GOODWIN. I KNOW RYAN IS IT HERE.
JENNIFER BELL IS HERE. JACKIE ZIMMERMAN -- JACKIE, WAS SHE ABLE TO ATTEND? ALONG WITH COUNCILMAN BEARD AND COUNCILMAN REGAN. I WANT TO LET ALL OF Y'ALL KNOW THAT I APPRECIATE THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND EFFORT YOU SPENT ON THIS. THE EFFORT THAT YOU TOOK TO LOOK THROUGH IT. WE ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF WHAT YOU DID. IF THE -- IF THE COUNCIL HAS ANY QUESTIONS OF Y'ALL OR DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. IF YOU NEED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STEPPING UP AND DOING THIS WORK. SO, STANLEY.
>> MAYOR, THANK YOU, AS YOU STATED THIS WAS REALLY A COMMITTEE-DRIVEN REVIEW OF THE ORDINANCE AT THE ASK OF THE COUNCIL TO SEE WHAT SOME CITIZENS WOULD -- WOULD POSSIBLY RECOMMEND TO SOME 5789S TO THE ORDINANCE.
JUST AS A RECAP, THE ORDINANCE WAS PASSED BY THE CITIZENS OF ABILENE A YEAR AGO, LAST NOVEMBER.
AFTER THAT TIME, THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION AND SOME DEBATE.
AND AMONG CITIZENS AS TO WHAT SOME OF THE TERMS OF THE ORDINANCE MEANT AND HUE TO POSSIBLY REWORD AND RESTATE SOME THINGS IN THE ORDINANCE TO MAKE IT MORE CLEAR.
SO THE COMMITTEE WAS APPOINTED. THAT THE COMMITTEE REVIEWED THE ORDINANCE AND CAME BACK WITH THREE RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS TO THE SANCTUARY CITY FOR THE UNBORN ORDINANCE.
THE FIRST OF THOSE IS A CHANGE TO -- IN THE DEFINITION OF "ABORTION" TO CHANGE THE WORD "ACCIDENTAL" TO "SPONTANEOUS" IN MY UNDERSTAND SOMETHING A MEDICAL TERM AND THE FOLKS IN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY BETTER UNDERSTAND THAT.
ALSO A CHANGE TO THE DEFINITION OF "ABORTION INDUCING DRUGS" TO
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MAKE THAT MORE CLEAR. AND FINALLY, A CHANGE TO PROHIBITION TO POSSESSING OR DISTRIBUTING ABORTION INDUCING DRUGS TO MAKE THAT -- THAT CRIMINAL OFFENSE MORE CLEAR.SO THOSE ARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT OF THE COMMITTEE, BUT SINCE IT WAS COMMITTEE-DRIVEN, ANY COMMITTEE MEMBERS OR LEONARD BLAZE IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON ANY OF THESE THINGS.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE. >> THANK YOU, STANLEY.
ANY QUESTIONS OF COUNCIL? AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM, PLEASE COMED FOR AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND THERE IS A THREE-MINUTE LIMIT.
>> GOOD MORNING, Y'ALL. MY NAME IS BRITTANY HILL.
AND I WAS HERE LAST TIME, OF COURSE, TO SAY THAT THESE AMENDMENTS DO NOT GO FAR ENOUGH. I APPROVE OF SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE, BUT AS FAR AS ANY DRUGS THAT ARE USED TO TERMINATE THE LIFE OF A PREGNANCY BEING CONSIDERED BANNED OR RESTRICTED, PROHIBITED, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO TERM IT. THERE IS A LOT OF GRAY AREA THAT OPENLESS UP ESPECIALLY AS WOMEN -- A LOT OF THE TIME YOU WILL BE PRESCRIBED SOMETHING THAT IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH A PREGNANCY TAKING PLACE OR STICKING AS YOU WANT TO CALL IT.
AND WE KNOWINGLY TAKE THOSE MEDICATIONS.
AND WE ARE STILL ENTITLED TO HAVE SEXUAL LIVES WITH OUR HUSBAND. IF BUT -- IF YOU REGULAR LET THAT, AND WE KNOWINGLY TAKE THAT, IS THAT NOT, YOU KNOW, VIOLATING SOME OF THE ISSUES WITH THIS DRUG PROHIBITION? ANOTHER THING IS, THESE MEDICATIONS WERE OFTEN TO SAVE WOMEN'S LIVES WHEN THEY ARE IN A THREATENED STATE OF PREGNANCY.
AND BECAUSE THEY ARE SAFER THAN UNDERGOING SURGICAL PROCEDURES.
ABORTION-INDUCING DRUGS, AS MUCH AS A KNEE-JERK REACTION AS IT IS TO HEAR THAT, THEY SAVE LIVES. AND CONTRARY TO WHAT SOMEONE WAS RECENTLY QUOTED IN ONE OF OUR ARTICLES FROM K-TAB, THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE SAID WOULD HAPPEN AS A RESULT OF THIS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING. WE HAVE SEEN A RISE IN INFANT MORTALITY, MATERNAL MORTALITY AND WE HAVE SEEN A DECLINE IN DOCTORS TAKING RESIDENCIES IN OUR STATE.
THAT IS AN ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IN WEST TEXAS WHERE THERE IS SUCH A DIFFICULT BURDEN FOR PEOPLE TO GET CARE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
AND I AM FROM WEST TEXAS. I AM FROM A TINY TOWN, ALL RIGHT. I KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO PRAY TO GOD THAT YOUR LOVED ONE ACTUALLY MADE IT AN HOUR AWAY TO RECEIVE TREATMENT DURING AN EMERGENCY.
NOW IMAGINE THAT A BOMB IS UNDER GOING AN EMERGENCY AND GET THERE AND IS TOLD SHE CAN'T COME IN. LIKE JC STATTON WHO HAD A MO WILL,AR PREGNANCY. IT IS NOT A PREGNANCY.
IT IS NONVIABLE. AND IT IS A TUMOR ACTUALLY THAT IS CAUSED BY THE NONVIABLE PREGNANCY.
THERE WAS ACTUALLY ANOTHER CASE HERE WHERE CARE WAS DENIED.
AND THEY ALMOST PASSED OUT FROM BLOOD LOSS BECAUSE THEY HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS NOT A PREGNANCY WITH A HEARTBEAT.
NOW, REMEMBER, THIS WAS A SIMILAR CASE TO THE MOLAR PREGNANCY. IT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED HERE.
THESE ARE ISSUES THAT THIS DID NOT TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.
THAT IS MY ISSUE WITH IT. >> THANK YOU.
WE ARE STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 18?
I KNOW. BY -- I AM JENNIFER BELL.
A LONG-TIME RESIDENT. I WAS ON THE COMMITTEE.
SO I DEFINITELY AGREE WITH THE CHANGES.
ANY TIME WE CAN MAKE IT CLEARER FOR MEDICAL PROVIDERS WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO ACT WITHIN THE LAW, THAT IS REALLY GREAT.
I JUST WANT TO REMIND COUNCIL OF MY PERSONAL HISTORY.
AND I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE LETHAL FETAL ABNORMALITY AS AN EXEMPTION. IT IS NOT AT THE STATE LEVEL.
BUT IF THEY CAN FIX IT ON THE CITY.
I LEARNED OF SOME MISCONCEPTIONS.
WHEN A MOTHER -- HER CHILD IS DIAGNOSED WITH A LETHAL FETAL
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ABNORMALITY, IN ABILENE, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT OTHER PLACES, NOT A CLINICAL ABORTION. A MOTHER IS INDUCED UNDER VERY SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES. SHE IS GIVEN MEDICATION.DELIVERS THE BABY NATURALLY -- I MEAN MAYBE A C-SECTION AND NOT THE GRUESOME ABORTION THAT WE ALL THINK IT IS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT ADDED BECAUSE OF MY PERSONAL HISTORY AND THANK YOU TO COUNCIL OUNCIL FOR ABOUT BE WILLING TO DO HARD THINGS AND HARD DECISIONS AND CHANGES.
>> CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW ONE.
>> THANK YOU. >> TILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT, IF I COULD, MR. MAYOR.
I WANT TO ECHO THE MAYOR'S COMMENTS.
THIS WAS A VERY DIFFICULT TOPIC TO TACKLE.
WE SET THE FRAMEWORK VERY EARLY ON WE WERE NOT GOING TO ALTER THE CITIZENS' ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE ORDINANCE LANGUAGE AND THE SOLE INTENT WAS TO CLEAR UP SOME OF THE DEFINITIONS TO MAKE IT CLEARER TO BOTH CITIZENS AND OUR MEDICAL PROVIDERS WHAT THEY COULD DO AND NOT DO. I WANT TO COMMEND THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. EVERYBODY -- NOT EVERYBODY GOT WHAT THEY WANTED BUT EVERYBODY BEHAVED RESPECTFULLY AND HONORABLY TO ONE ANOTHER. A LOT OF COMMUNICATION BACK AND FORTH. TOOK A LONG TIME TO GET THROUGH IT AND TO THE RIGHT RESEARCH. BUT JUST TO STATE CLEARLY SO OUR CITIZENS UNDERSTAND, THERE WERE NO MATERIAL CHANGES TO THIS.
ALL OF THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE IN TERMS OF CREATING THE PROHIBITION ON BORE AND ALL THOSE THINGS REMAIN INTACT AND UNTOUCHED. I DO WANT TO THANK MARK DIXON AND JONATHAN MITCHELL, WHILE THEY WEREN'T FORMER MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, WE CERTAINLY TRADED E-MAILS AND WORKED ON THE LANGUAGE TOGETHER. I WANT TO THANK BOTH OF THEM FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS TO STEP INTO THIS WITH US.
I THINK WE BRO USED A GOOD PRODUCT AND MEDICAL INFORMATION THAT THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY CANNOT USE MEDICATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF ABORTION IN ABILENE BUT THOSE DRUGS HAVE OTHER USES FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT THAT THEY CAN USE THOSE AND I THINK WE ACCOMPLISHED WHAT WE SET OUT TO DO.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO HELPED US GET TO THIS POINT.
IT TOOK A LITTLE WHILE, BUT I THINK THE END PRODUCT IS GOOD.
>> COUNCILMAN BEARD. >> LYNN SUMMED IT UP FOR ME AND
I WILL JUST SAY YES. >> ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? ONCE AGAIN, I AM GREATLY APPRECIATE I I HAVE IT OF ALL THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DID AND THAT THE CITIZENS DID.
IT WAS -- I THINK WE ACCOMPLISHED WHAT WE SET OUT TO DO. I AGREE.
WITH THAT, I WILL TAKE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
>> A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BEARD. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN REGAN.
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
>> YES CLERK MOTION CARRIES. >> MOTION CARRIES.
IT IS NOW 8 K 48 A.M. AND WE WILL RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO THE OPENS MEETING ACT 55.071, CONNOTATION WITH ATTORNEYS. 551.072, DELIBERATION ABOUT REAL PROPERTY. 55 .073, DELIBERATIONS ABOUT GIFTS AND DONATIONS. 55 551.074 DELIBERATIONS OF GIFTS
>> DO YOU MIND IF WE WRAP THIS UP.
[RECONVENE]
>> YES, GRINCH. >> ARE YOU READY? 9:39 A.M. AND THIS MEETING -- 9:39 A.M.
AND WE WILL RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION.
NO VOTES OR ACTIONS WERE TAKEN DURING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
NOW 9:39 A.M. AND THIS MEETING OF THE ABILENE CITY COUNCIL IS
ADJOURNED. >> MERRY CHRISTMAS!
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.