Mar 08, 2024 City Council Retreat

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:23]

TODAY TO THIS RETREAT TO PLAN AHEAD FOR THE YEAR. WE KNOW THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US MANY BLESSINGS. ESPECIALLY THE MOST RECENT RAIN. WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO BLESS US. WITH STEADY RAIN NOT ALL AT ONCE BUT JUST SPREAD OUT OVER TIME. WE THANK YOU FOR NOT LETTING ANYONE GET STUCK TO OUR KNOWLEDGE ANYWAY UNDER THE UNDERPASS. TODAY LORD WE COME TO YOU WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF GUIDING OUR CITY FOR THE NEXT YEAR. GIVE US THE WISDOM AND INSIGHT TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES TO ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS. TO GIVE GOOD INSIGHT AND DIRECTION TO OUR STAFF. AND HELP US HEAR THE CONCERNS OF OUR CITIZENS AND TO PASS THOSE ON TO OUR STAFF SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE ABILENE A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL OF US.

AMEN. >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH

LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER

REAGAN. >> WE WILL FIRST MOVED TO

[PUBLIC COMMENTS]

>>> TAMMY VOGEL. I'M JUST CURIOUS I ONLY SAW ON THE AGENDA THIS WAS THE ONLY PUBLIC COMMENT. IS THERE A PLACE THERE MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAPPY PUBLICCOMMENT LATER SECTIONS OR ARTICLES ONLY FOR DISCUSSION QUESTION NEXT MONTH KNOW WHAT COMMENTS ARE MADE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT. THAT IS JUST A LITTLE SITE NOTE.

THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE THAT. >> I WILL CLOSE PUBLICCOMMENT.

[2. Core Purpose, Core Values, Strategic Priorities]

THIS IS AN EXTRA DAY WE PUT IN EVERY DAY. THIS IS REALLY JUST TODAY WHERE WE GET SOME IDEAS FROM OUR STAFF. AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE ARE GOING TO GO TO WORK THE YEAR. IT IS COUNSEL'S DECISION TO MAKE TO GIVE DIRECTION TODAY TO STAFF AND THAT IS WHAT STAFF IS GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR IS DIRECTION.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO GET INTO MINOR DETAILS. MINOR PLANS.

JUST AN OVERVIEW AND THAT IS WHAT THIS IS FOR TODAY. SO THAT WE CAN LOOK AT HOW WE INTEND TO SPEND OUR TAX DOLLARS IN THE FUTURE THIS YEAR. I WOULD LIKE TO TURN THIS OVER TO

ROBERT HANNA. >> THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL. EVERY YEAR WE HAVE A COUNSEL RETREAT. THE POINT OF THIS EXERCISE IS TO PROVIDE THE CITY MANAGER INPUT INTO THOSE PRIORITIES YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE INCLUDED IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. AS WE MOVE INTO THE BUDGET PLANNING PROCESS THIS REALLY HONESTLY I THINK IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MEETINGS OF THE YEAR. IT SETS THE TONE FOR THE BUDGET WHAT WE TRIED TO FIND OR NOT FUN. WE HAVE SOME CHALLENGES AHEAD OF US. FISCAL YEAR 25 IS GOING TO BE PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT YEARS TO FIND THE CITY OPERATIONS. THE NINE YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE. THERE'S A NUMBER OF REASONS FOR THAT. THE FIRST OF WHICH IS WE ARE DOWN -- [INAUDIBLE]. COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE DID A MASSIVE AUDIT ADJUSTMENT. LAST MONTH. CLAWBACK $4.6 MILLION. THAT IS OVER 10% OF OUR ANNUAL SALES TAX. FOR AN AUDIT ADJUSTMENT

[00:05:03]

NOT JUST ABILENE TEXAS WHICH IS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE THAT MUCH MONEY CLAWBACK. NO WARNING OR INDICATION IT WAS HAPPENING. JUST BAM. SO WE ARE WORKING ON A PLAN TO ADDRESS THOSE FISCAL REALITIES AT THE MOMENT. THE GOOD NEWS IS THE STATE WILL ALLOW US TO PAY THAT BACK OVER A 42 MONTH PERIOD. SO, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT. THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT JUST GOT SOME NEWS JUST THIS VERY MOMENT THAT THAT MAY BE SHIFTING AND CHANGING. WE MAY NOT GET ALL THE 4.6 MILLION BACK. WE MAKE IT A PORTION.

THAT IS GOING TO CHANGE OUR CALCULUS FOR THE REST OF THIS FISCAL YEAR AS WELL. WE WILL HAVE EXPENDITURE ADJUSTMENTS FOR THIS NEXT SCHOOL YEAR FY 24. I WILL BRING THOSE AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING. THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING IN MARCH DEPENDING AS SOON AS I GET ALL THE INFORMATION AND RESEARCH TOGETHER. SO WE CAN HAVE AN INTELLIGENT DISCUSSION. BUT WE ARE IN A DECLINING REVENUE ENVIRONMENT. AND SO THAT IS JUST WHERE WE ARE AT. AS WE GO THROUGH THIS THE INTENTION OF THIS EXERCISE IS NOT THE STATE LOOK AT ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS WERE GOING TO DO. THE INTENTION OF THE EXERCISES FOR COUNSEL TO SAY THESE ARE THE PRIORITIES WE HAVE. SHOULD WE HAVE AVAILABLE REVENUE IN FISCAL YEAR 25 TO FIND SOME OF THESE THINGS, THIS IS THE ORDER WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT DONE IN. WE HAVE MULTIPLE BUCKETS OF MONEY. WE HAVE OPERATIONAL DOLLARS. WE HAVE CAPITAL DOLLARS. WE HAVE SPECIAL REVENUES THAT CAN ONLY BE SPENT ON SPECIAL THINGS. WE HAVE GONE DOLLARS THAT CAN ONLY BE SPENT ON THINGS THE VOTERS APPROVED. SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT OUR CAPITAL EXPENDITURES THAT ARE REALLY SEPARATE AND APART FROM THE OPERATING DOLLARS. WE COULD THEORETICALLY MOVE CAPITAL DOLLARS TO THE OPERATING SIDE AND GET A ONE-YEAR HIT. ALL YOU'VE DONE IS HURT YOURSELF SEVERAL YEARS DOWN THE ROAD. YOU CAN GET THE PROJECTS DONE THAT NEED TO BE COMPLETED AND YOU'VE SPENT MONEY THAT YOU DON'T HAVE NEXT YEAR. ON OPERATING EXPENSES YOU WOULD NOT DO IT AT YOUR HOUSE. IF YOU'VE GOT A CAR LOAN YOU WOULD BUY YOUR CAR AND MAKING PAYMENTS. YOU WOULD NOT NECESSARILY PAY YOUR LIGHT BILL WITH IT. BECAUSE YOU WOULDN'T HAVE A CAR THEN YOU STILL OWE MONEY ON THAT CAR YOU DON'T HAVE. WE HAVE TO BE SMART WITH THE DOLLARS. THE COMMUNITY HAS ENTRUSTED US WITH. LET'S GET INTO THIS. BEFORE WE DO THAT DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT ALL FOR THE LAY OF THE LAND?

>> WE ALWAYS TRY TO WORK OUT CORE PURPOSE AND CORE VALUES INTO THE DISCUSSION FIRST. I WOULD LIKE TO DO THIS -- IN THE COMMUNITY. WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT IN OUR MISSION STATEMENT OR CORE PURPOSE IS TO WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN A COMMUNITY FOR PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. OUR CORE VALUES RESPECT INTEGRITY SERVICE ABOVE SELF AND EXCELLENCE IN ALL WE DO. THE STRATEGIC GOALS COUNSEL HAS ESTABLISHED AND HAVE REMAINED RELATIVELY CONSISTENT OVER THE LAST NINE YEARS IS PRACTICING EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE.

EXERCISING SOUND FINANCIAL DISCIPLINE . WORKING TOWARDS A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE. WELL-MAINTAINED AND RELIABLE INFRASTRUCTURE. PROVIDING EXCELLENT SERVICE TO ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND ACTIVELY FOSTERING AND SEEKING AN ENGAGED COMMUNITY. BEFORE THE PRIORITIES COUNSEL SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSED BECAUSE THESE ARE COUNSEL PARTIES. DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT. EFFICIENT AND COST-EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT. A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND A PLAN TO ADDRESS IT. STREET MAINTENANCE. THOSE ARE THE FIVE PRIORITIES THAT WE FOCUSED OUR FUNDING ON. OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD THIS COUNSEL HAVE QUESTIONS ON THESE OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO CHANGE SOME OF THEM?

[3. Organization]

>> OKAY. MOVING INTO OUR FIRST TOPIC IS COMPENSATION FOR YEARS OF SERVICE. THE LAST BUDGET PROCESS THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED A PAY PLAN SET OUR MARKET RATE SO THE INJURY RATE OF PAY WAS SET AT 94% OF MARKET. WE DID THAT BECAUSE IT WAS ABOUT A AFFORDABILITY. WE COULD NOT AFFORD 100% OF MARKET. THERE IS STILL A 6% GAP. AS YOU MOVE THROUGH THE PAY PLAN YOU GOT TO MIDPOINT FOR EXAMPLE YOU ARE WELL OVER THE 100% OF MARKET. THE PAY PLAN WORKS. WE NEEDED A SET POINT. THAT IS THE SETPOINT COUNSEL SHOWS. WHAT I'M PROPOSING TO DO AND WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH THE PAY PLAN SO FAR

[00:10:03]

THE WAY THE PAY PLAN FUNCTIONS. BUT I GOT WHAT WE HAVE ACROSS THE ORGANIZATIONS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HERE FOR 8 TO 20 YEARS, YOU'RE NOT MAKING SO MUCH MORE THAN THE PERSON THAT JUST STARTED. THERE IS A DISPARITY IN THAT. WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING WHEN I'M PROPOSING IS TO USE OUR STABILITY PAY PROGRAM TO HELP ALLEVIATE SOME OF THAT AND CREATE A MECHANISM WHERE YOU HAVE REWARDING PEOPLE FOR YEARS OF SERVICE IN A MEANINGFUL WAY. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A PROGRAM STABILITY PAY.

IT IS FOR NON-CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES. CIVIL-SERVICE SIDE HAS A SIMILAR PROGRAM CALLED LONGEVITY PAY. STABILITY PAY IS CAPPED AT 2880 PER YEAR. IT IS CALCULATED ON A FORMULA THAT SETS YOUR SALARY TIME TO YEARS OF SERVICE -- .005. THAT IS HOW MUCH MONEY YOU GET. AN EMPLOYEE WITH $53,000 A YEAR SALARY LET'S SAY THEY WORK FOR 14 YEARS. THEY WOULD REACH THE MAX OF 2880. OUR CURRENT STABILITY PAY REWARDS HIGHER PAID SHORTER TENURED EMPLOYEES FASTER THAN LONGER TENURED EMPLOYEE PAID EMPLOYEES BECAUSE THE HIGHER PAID EMPLOYEES WHICH THE CAP FASTER. SO IF THE FORMULA IS BASED ON YOUR SALARY TIMES YEARS OF SERVICE IF YOU'RE MAKING $100,000, YOU'RE GOING TO REACH THE CAP FAR FASTER THAN SOMEONE MAKING $25,000. THAT SEEMS PRETTY EVIDENT. THERE IS NOT A LARGE INSTANCE OF ON THE LOWER LEVELS OF THE PAY PLAN.

OUR EMPLOYEES ARE NOT SEEING THE STABILITY PAY AS MUCH AS A BENEFIT AS IT OUGHT TO BE. THE DOLLARS ARE JUST SMALLER. NO MATTER HOW HARD THEY WORK IT IS A SMALLER DOLLAR AMOUNT. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO USE -- STABILITY PAY CONCEPT TO ADDRESS OUR USER SERVICE AND PROVIDE SEPARATION. HOW WE DID IT THIS WAY. WE SET A NEW CAP OF $10,000. FULLY PAYABLE AT 20 YEARS OF SERVICE.

IT WOULD BE AN ANNUAL RATE OF $500 PER YEAR OF SERVICE. HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR SALARY. HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH YEARS OF SERVICE. UNDER THIS FORMULA THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO MOST NEED COMPENSATION CAN RECEIVE IT AT A RATE THAT IS MORE IMPACTFUL TO THEM THAN HIGHER PAID EMPLOYEES. ALL EMPLOYEES ARE EQUITABLY RECEIVING THE SAME AMOUNT. FOR EXAMPLE REGARDLESS OF SALARY AN EMPLOYEE WHO WORKS FOR 10 YEARS WILL GET A $5000 CHECK. WE TYPICALLY PAY OUR STABILITY PAY ONE TIME A YEAR.

IT IS THE FRIDAY PAY PERIOD AFTER THANKSGIVING OR PAY PERIOD CLOSES PAY PERIODS AT THANKSGIVING. COST FOR THIS PROGRAM YOU LOOK AT THE CHART HERE AT THE $10,000 CAP RATE.

SO THE CURRENT 20 8080 COST $574,000. THE $10,000 CAP WOULD ADD $1 MILLION TO THAT CHARGE. FOR THE GENERAL FUND.

ALMOST $1 MILLION FOR ALL OTHER FUNDS COMBINED. IF COUNSEL WANTED TO LOOK AT $12,000 CAP WHICH IS SOMETHING ELSE WE MODELED YOU COULD DO THAT. AGAIN IT IS JUST MORE MONEY.

SAME CONCEPT JUST MORE MONEY. IF YOU IF WE DID THIS WE COMBINED IT WITH A MODEST 1% COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT TO THE CITY'S PAY PLAN. OUR PAY PANEL WOULD MOVE THROUGH AND REMAIN RELEVANT WITHOUT BACKSLIDING TOO MUCH. THE 1% WOULD ADD APPROXIMATELY ANOTHER $344,000 TO THE GENERAL FUND OR $244,000 FOR ALL OF OUR FUNDS. SO IF YOU COMPARE THAT WITH WHAT WE TYPICALLY DO FOR NON-CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES WHICH IS A 3% COLO, THAT EMPLOYEE WOULD GET A 42 CENTS RAISE. UNDER THIS PROPOSAL THE 1% COLO PLUS THAT NEW STABILITY PAY CONCEPT THE EMPLOYEE WOULD GET A $.30 $.38 RAISE FOR YEAR ONE. THE SECOND-YEAR EMPLOYEE WHICH WE HAVE FAR MORE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FOR OVER A YEAR. THEY WOULD GET A $.62 RAISE. IT IS MORE MONEY FOR THEM ACTUALLY THAN A 3% COLO ESPECIALLY AT THE INVESTMENT PAY SKILL LEVELS. THE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THAT 3% AND THIS COMPENSATION PLAN I'M PROPOSING AFTER 18 TO 36

[00:15:02]

IT IS JUST BASIC MATH. SO I WILL SAY THIS ON BEHALF OF THE DIVISION MANAGERS AND DIRECTORS OF THE ORGANIZATION. THERE'S NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THEM THAT WOULD NOT WANT TO GIVE THEIR EMPLOYEES MORE MONEY. AND TAKE A LITTLE LESS. SO I'M CONFIDENT I'M CREATING DRAMA FROM THE LEADERSHIP OF THE ORGANIZATION. I KNOW -- THE CALIBER OF THE LEADERS WE HAVE AND THEY CARE ABOUT THEIR PEOPLE MORE THAN THEY CARE ABOUT THIS. THIS IS A GOOD MODEL FOR OUR LINE LEVEL EMPLOYEES. IT GIVES THEM MORE MONEY. WHAT QUESTIONS DO YOU ALL HAVE CONCERNING THIS CONCEPT?

>> AT THE BOTTOM OF THAT CHART, THE SCALE I ASSUME AT THE BOTTOM YOU ARE TALKING PER HOUR.

>> IT JUMPS FROM 19 TO 50. THIS MEANT WE HAVE A SEPARATION OF PAY GRADE. OUR HOURLY EMPLOYEES STOP A GREAT 19.

SALARIED EMPLOYEES START A GREAT 50. SO 20 THROUGH 49 AREN'T PRESENTLY USED AT THE MOMENT.

>> THESE ARE PAY GRADES. >> I THINK I HAD A QUESTION IN REGARDS TO UNDERSTANDING IS YOUR OBJECTIVE CULTURAL FURTHER CULTURE? IS IT FOR PAY? WHAT IS THE MAIN OBJECTIVE FOR YOU CONSIDERING THE COMPENSATION PIECE?

>> MY OBJECTIVE IS WHEN I MEET WITH I MEET WITH EVERY EMPLOYEE ONCE A YEAR. THE CONSISTENT THEME I HEAR FROM THE EMPLOYEE AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THE ORGANIZATIONS IS WE NEED A WAY TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HERE LONGER ARE COMPENSATED FOR THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE. WE JUST OUR PLAY PLAN IS NOT STRUCTURED THAT WAY. WE TRIED TO DO IT. WE TRIED TO DO IT IS STEPPING GREAT FOR EVERYBODY AND HE GOT SO RIDICULOUSLY COMPLICATED BECAUSE WE ARE ALREADY PAYING PEOPLE -- JUST UNRAVELING IT ALL. IT WAS MORE EFFECTIVE TO DO WHAT WE DID. SO I'M TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT CULTURALLY TO MAKE SURE WE ARE REWARDING PEOPLE FOR TENURE. AN EMPLOYEE WHO WAS HIRED TWO YEARS AGO IS A GOOD EMPLOYEE. EVEN THOUGH THEIR JOB DESCRIPTION MAY BE THE SAME AS THE GUY WHO IS BEEN HERE FOR 15 YEARS, THAT EMPLOYEE OF 15 YEARS OF SERVICE IS FAR MORE VALUABLE IN TENURE THAN THE NEW EMPLOYEE. THERE COMPENSATION SHOULD BE DIFFERENT ENOUGH THAT THERE IS

RECOGNITION FOR THAT SENIORITY. >> YOU WOULD HAVE TO WORK 20 YEARS TO GET TO THE MAXIMUM 10,000 -- DO YOU THINK THAT THAT DIFFERENTIAL IS ADEQUATE TO REWARD LONGEVITY?

>> I DO. IS THERE $10,000 THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EMPLOYEE WHO IS BEEN HERE 20 YEARS DOING THE SAME YEARS AS AN EMPLOYEE THAT JUST ARCTIC? IS THERE MORE VALUE PROBABLY. WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT. THIS IS A MILLION-DOLLAR CHANGE IN OUR CURRENT FINANCIAL SALARY CONTRIBUTION. IT IS NOT INSIGNIFICANT. THE FOLLOWING YEAR GO BACK TO -- YOU CAN DO YOU WOULD JUST CONTINUE DOWN THE LINE. YOU WOULD DO THIS SYSTEM YOU TAKE THE HIT THE FIRST YEAR AND NO ADDITIONAL

[00:20:02]

>> YOU DO ONE PLUS THIS IS THE CONCEPT.

>> CAN YOU BACK UP A SLIDE ? I WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND.

THERE YOU GO. SO, THE HIT THERE TO QUOTE ANTHONY THE DELTA THERE OF THE 1,022,000, THAT IS JUST I UNDERSTAND THAT IS NOT IF WE DO THIS, SO IF WE DO THE 1% WITH THAT, IT IS THE 1.2 MILLION WERE 1.1 MILLION. BUT IT IS NOT THAT WE DO THAT, HOLD ON. I JUST ANSWERED MY OWN QUESTION. NEVERMIND. I ANSWERED MY OWN QUESTION. WHAT I WAS THINKING OF IF WE DO THAT BUT THEN WE CHANGE THIS WILL THAT LOWER THAT NUMBER. THAT IS THE NUMBER OF DOING THE 1% AND THIS AND THEN MOVING BACK WHICH MOVING BACK TO THE 3% THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

>> I ANSWERED MY OWN QUESTION. SUBMIT THIS MILLION DOLLARS IS

JUST THE STABILITY PAY. >> JUST STABILITY PAY. THE 1%

ADDITION IS ANOTHER $322,000. >> BUT THIS IS THE ONE TIME WE WOULD DO FOR FY 25. FY 26 IT WOULD GO BACK TO THE 3%. THANK

YOU. >> THIS WOULD BECOME THE NEW STANDARD. EVERY YEAR YOU WOULD GET ANOTHER $500. THAT WOULD CONTINUE. THIS NUMBER WILL GROW OVER TIME. JUST LIKE SALARIES GROW OVER TIME. IT CAPS AT A CERTAIN RATE.

>> I WANTED TO CIRCLE BACK FOR A SECOND. I APPRECIATE YOU SHARING THE OBJECT OF PEACE. AND I THINK IT WILL HELP PROBABLY WITH RETENTION AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT FOR SURE. I WOULD SAY THAT CAVEATS COULD BE SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE HIRING LATER AND MAYBE HAVING A CLOSER RANGE IN TERMS OF SALARY COULD BE BECAUSE POSSIBLY THEY HAVE PROFESSIONAL OR PERSONAL THINGS THEY BRING TO THE TABLE THAT OTHERS MAY BE THE PREDECESSOR STONE. I DON'T ALWAYS THINK THAT -- I 100% BELIEVE THE CULTURE AND HAVING THAT KNOWLEDGE IS VALUABLE. BUT SOMETIMES PEOPLE THAT COME AFTER YOU POSSESS THINGS THAT MAY BE OTHERS DON'T AS WELL.

THE ONLY THING I WOULD SHARE IS I AGREE I LOVE IT. IT IS BENEFICIAL AND IT CAN BE SUPER HELPFUL. THE CONCERN I SHOULD NOT SAY CONCERN. THE CHALLENGE I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR HOW YOU'RE GOING TO ADDRESS IS HOW DO YOU GUARD AGAINST POTENTIAL HIERARCHY ISSUES OF IF SOMEONE FEELS BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN THERE LONGER, THERE IS COMPLACENCY THAT SETTLES AND .

IN THE ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN THERE LONGER. AND YOU CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE A HEALTHY CULTURE AND IT ISN'T

JUST RELEGATED TO TENURE? >> TWO THINGS. ONE, IF I HAVE AN EMPLOYEE THAT WE ARE GOING TO HIRE THAT HAS A SPECIAL SKILL SET SPECIAL EDUCATION INITIAL CREDENTIALING CERTIFICATION THAT EXCEEDS THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE POSITION. WE OFFERED TO HIRE THEM AT A HIGHER RATE THAN ENTRY-LEVEL. WE CAN HIRE UP TO THE MIDPOINT OF THE SALARY RANGE. WE TRY TO RECOGNIZE PRIOR HISTORY OF EMPLOYMENT.

MAY HAVE COMES FROM ANOTHER CITY OR ANOTHER POSITION IN A PRIVATE SECTOR. WE WANT TO COMPENSATE THAT. WE HAVE TO BE COMPETITIVE. BUT, THE OTHER ASPECT OF THIS IS THAT IT IS HONESTLY GEARED TOWARDS GIVING THE LOWER WAGE EARNERS OF THE ORGANIZATION A BOOST EARLY ON IN THEIR CAREER. TO KEEP THEM HERE. SO WHEN YOU -- YOU GET THE STABILITY PAY AND IT IS NICE. IT IS NICE TO HAVE THAT. ESPECIALLY IN A LUMP SUM CHECK. IF YOU ARE A LOWER WAGE EARNER AND BEEN HERE FOR 5 YEARS IT IS JUST A COUPLE HUNDRED BUCKS. IT DOES NOT MOVE THE NEEDLE. THIS WILL BE SOMETHING MORE IMPACTFUL FOR THEM. REGARDS TO COMPLACENCY AND LEADERSHIP, THAT IS A REALITY FOR ALL ORGANIZATIONS. MANAGEMENT THAT IS WHERE MANAGEMENT COMES IN. WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE INVIGORATING INDIVIDUALS. WE ARE CHALLENGING INDIVIDUALS TO GROW PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RETURN TO WANT TO WHAT THEIR JOB IS SUPPOSED TO BE DOING. THEN HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THEY ARE NOT.

IT DOESN'T MEAN GET RID OF THEM NECESSARILY. YOU HAVE TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE TO PROGRESS THEY ARE TRYING TO MAKE AS A DEPARTMENT. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?

>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. >> WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SO WE'VE GOT THE GENERAL FUND -- AND THEN THE

[00:25:05]

DOING THIS AND DOING 83% COLO? >> IT IS APPROXIMATELY THE SAME. THAT IS WHY IT IS ABOUT THE SAME. THAT IS WHY I GAVE THAT EXTRA 1%. IT IS GOING TO BE CLOSE TO A 3% TOTAL.

>> LATER TODAY WE ARE LOOKING AT APD AUTHORIZED STRENGTH.

AND HIRING NEW PATROL OFFICERS DETECTIVES AND JUST LOOKING AT THE ROUGH AMOUNT LOOKS LIKE 1.8 MILLION. THEN THE NOTE AT THE BOTTOM OF THAT SLIDE IS THERE IS CONCERN WHETHER THESE NEW POSITIONS CAN BE RECRUITED IN ADDITION TO OUR CURRENT RECRUITING EFFORTS. AND HERE DEPENDING ON WHICH ROUTE IS CHOSEN, YOU ARE LOOKING AT ROUGHLY 1.8 OR 1.9 COMBINED THAT WOULD BE ALMOST 4 MILLION IF BOTH FULLY AUTHORIZED STRENGTH IN THIS . WE ARE LOOKING AT 4 MILLION NEW SPENDING. WOULD THAT BE ACCURATE?

>> IN YEAR THREE OF THE APD RAMP-UP THAT WOULD BE ACCURATE.

BUT IT WOULD NOT BE ACCURATE FOR YEAR ONE. IT WOULD ONLY BE IF YOU LOOK AT LET'S SAY IT IS 1.3 MILLION BECAUSE WERE GOING TO DO THE 1%. AT ANOTHER HALF $1 MILLION TO THAT. IT WOULD BE CLOSER TO $2 MILLION FOR THE FIRST YEAR.

>> TO TRAVIS'S POINT , TALKING ABOUT THIS COMPENSATION FOR YEARS OF SERVICE IS GEARED TOWARDS RETENTION AND CULTURE.

FOR THE MOST PART. IS THERE A CONCERN THAT IF WE REGARDLESS OF WHICH ROUTE WE TAKE WE TAKE THAT MONEY AND WE ARE PUTTING IT TOWARDS EMPLOYEE STAFF THAT WE ALREADY HAVE. NOW THERE IS SOME TURNOVER. THEY MAY LEAVE AND GO DALLAS IS PLAYING MORE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE. IN GENERAL, IN BUSINESS OR EMPLOYEES WANT TO HAVE AN EMPLOYEE THE LIKELIHOOD OF THEM LEAVING AS LONG AS THEY ROUGHLY COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES THE LIKELIHOOD OF THEM LEAVING DIMINISHES. AND SO IF WE WE'VE RAISED IT UP TO 94%, COMPARED TO PAY. SO THE LIKELIHOOD OF EMPLOYEES LEAVING DRAMATICALLY IS DIMINISHED. IS THERE A CONCERN IF WE PUT MORE MONEY TOWARDS THAT RETENTION EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NOT A HIGH CONCERN THEY ARE, AND WE ARE LOOKING NOW WE HAVE TO HIRE NEW ADDITIONAL STAFF AND THEN WE ARE LOOKING AT APD. WE HAVE TO DO INCREASE IN PATROL AND DETECTIVES POTENTIALLY THE NEXT THREE YEARS. WHICH WOULD BE ROUGHLY JUST UNDER 2 MILLION.

IS THERE A CONCERN WE ARE PUTTING MONEY TOWARDS RETENTION ON WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT EVEN MORE MONEY AND MAYBE INCREASE THE SALARY BECAUSE IT CONCERNED THE NEW POSITIONS ARE HARDER TO FILL. THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TERM WOULD BE BACK LOADING. WE SHOULD BE FRONTLOADING MONEY ON NEW HIRES. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

>> I THINK WHAT I HEAR YOU SAY IS ARE WE OVERCOMPENSATING ONE PART OF THE PAY PLAN VERSUS THE OTHER PART OF THE PAY PLAN

. >> POTENTIALLY

>> I THINK THE PAY PLAN CAN BEAR THAT FROM THE DESIGN. I THINK IT WILL BEAR OUT IT IS OKAY. BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS BEING TREATED THE SAME. THEY GET THE SAME DOLLAR AMOUNT PER YEAR. SO AND IT IS AN INCENTIVE TO STAY. AT THAT POINT IN TIME. STABILITY PAY. IT IS LONGEVITY PAY RETENTION PAY IS ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING IT. SO YOU ARE NOT IF YOU WERE JUST GIVING THIS TO THE SALARY WAGE EARNERS OR THE LOWER WAGE EARNERS ON OUR SCALE OVER HERE, THE PEOPLE WHO ON THE HOURLY EMPLOYEE SIDE. IF THEY WERE THE ONLY ONES GETTING THIS AND YOU ARE NOT GETTING IT TO THE SALARIED EMPLOYEES YES I BELIEVE YOU COULD CREATE A PRETTY LARGE DISPARITY IN THE PAY PLAN. YOU HAVE SO MANY POSITIONS WHERE A LINE LEVEL EMPLOYEE IS MAKING SUBSTANTIALLY MORE THAN THEIR SUPERVISOR. SO, BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS TREATED THE SAME YOU DON'T NECESSARILY SEE THAT. WHAT YOU WOUD SEE POTENTIALLY IS YOU WOULD SEE A SENIOR EMPLOYEE HOURLY EMPLOYEE AND THEY HAVE A YOUNG SUPERVISOR THAT HAS JUST BEEN HIRED. BUT THE SENIOR EMPLOYEE HAS 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. THE SAME THING WITH THE MILITARY. A 20 YEAR MASTER SERGEANT IS WORTH MORE THAN A FIRST LIEUTENANT BAR NONE HANDS-DOWN

[00:30:02]

YOUR QUESTION. >> JUST ONE FOLLOW-UP JUST TO GET INTO THE KIND OF GAMING IT OUT. IF WE HAVE A FINITE AMOUNT OF MONEY. IT IS SOMEWHAT DIMINISHING THIS YEAR. IT IS GOING TO BE A TOUGH YEAR. WE HAVE FINITE MONEY AND WE PUT A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THAT A LARGER PERCENTAGE UNDER THIS PROPOSED PLAN TOWARDS RETAINING. AND WE'VE GOT TO HIGHER MORE PEOPLE WHETHER IT IS PARKS ALL THE WAY POLICE WHATEVER. AND THE COST TO CONVINCE A NEW PERSON TO COME ON BOARD. MAYBE THEY ARE HERE MAY BE THE ARE OUTSIDE OF ABILENE. WE FIND WE ARE ALREADY HAVING TROUBLE. WE HAVE TO THIS POSITION NORMALLY PAYS 40,000 BUT TO GET SOMEONE IN THIS YEAR WE'VE GOT TO PAY THEM AN EXTRA 5000 TO GET THEM IN THE DOOR. SO WE FIND WE ARE HAVING TO SPEND MORE JUST TO GET PEOPLE LOCKED DOWN HERE. FIRST DAY OF WORK. IS THERE A CONCERN I GUESS THAT IS WHERE I'M GOING IS THERE A CONCERN WE PUT TOO MUCH MONEY TOWARDS RETENTION AND WE FIND WE HAVE TO PAY MORE PEOPLE TO GET IN EVEN IN THE DOOR TO GET THEM HERE. WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO GET THEM IN THE DOOR.

>> I THINK WE WILL BE FINE. OUR PAY PLAN ACCOMMODATES THESE SORTS OF THINGS. THEY GO UP OR DOWN DEPENDING ON CERTAIN CONDITIONS. DEPENDING ON TIME OF YEAR AND HOW THE OIL PATCH IS DOING YOU MAY HAVE TO PAY MORE. OUR PAY PLAN CAN CONTEMPLATE IT IS A BROAD BANDED SYSTEM. WE HAVE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT OF THE MIDPOINT OF THE PAY PLAN TO HIRE A NEW EMPLOYEE COMING ON BOARD. BASED ON THEIR EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS. BASED ON MARKET CONDITIONS. A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS. THE REASON WHY I'M STRUCTURING IT FOR SUGGESTING A STRUCTURE IT THIS YEAR VERSUS DOING A COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT BECAUSE WE CANNOT AFFORD TO DO BOTH. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO CREATE A SYSTEM THAT HELPS CORRECT THE YEARS OF SERVICE OR TIMING GREAT CONCEPT AND PROVIDED 3% KOLO. THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY FOR US TO DO THAT.

AND FRANKLY PROBABLY SHOULDN'T EVEN IF WE COULD PICK THE COMPENSATION WOULD BE SIGNIFICANT DURING THAT ONE YEAR PERIOD. IT COULD CREATE PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD FROM JUST A PAY PLAN MANAGEMENT STANDPOINT. SO I THINK THE WAY THIS IS STRUCTURED IS GOING TO AVOID THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. WILL THERE BE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES? OF COURSE 5 TO 10 YEARS FROM NOW SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN WE DID NOT THINK ABOUT. BUT OUR PAY PLAN IS ROBUST ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT. IT HAS ROOM TO GROW. THAT IS WHY WE HAVE 2249 IS CUT OUT. AND THIS AGAIN IS SOLELY FOCUSED ON RETENTION ESSENTIALLY. IT IS EQUITABLY APPLIED ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION. IT DOES NOT

DISRUPT THE BANDS AT ALL. >> WHAT WOULD BE THE BENEFIT -- AS YOU MENTIONED WE RAISE UP TO 94%. WE HAVE THIS PROPOSAL AND LET'S SAY THE COUNCIL SAYS INSTEAD OF THIS PROPOSAL WE WANT TO SHOOT FOR INSTEAD OF 96%. ARBITRARY NUMBER. 95/98.

IT WOULD BE THE PRO FOR THIS PROPOSAL OVER SAYING PICKING A

HIGHER PERCENTAGE? >> PICKING A HIGHER PERCENTAGE IS GOING TO INCREASE PEOPLE'S PAY. ACROSS THE BOARD. JUST LIKE A 3% KOLO WOULD IT DOESN'T SOLVE THE DISPARITY IN THE PAY PLAN FOR PEOPLE THE RETENTION THE CONCEPT THE TIME AND GREAT CONCEPT. SO, WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS RESOLVE THAT PROBLEM IN ONE YEAR. THEN GO BACK TO BUSINESS AS USUAL.

BECAUSE I CAN'T DO BOTH. >> THANK YOU.

>> ROBERT >> THE GOAL OF GETTING AT LEAST ENTRY-LEVEL BUT ALL EMPLOYEES TO AT LEAST A 94% OF OUR -- COMPARISON I DOING A 1% KOLO WITH THIS ADJUSTMENT IN THE PLAN, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE ANYBODY FALL BELOW THAT 94%

THRESHOLD? >> WE ARE ALREADY THERE. THIS FISCAL YEAR EVERYBODY IS AT 94%.

>> GOING FORWARD DO YOU EXPECT THAT OTHER CITIES ARE GOING TO OUTPACE US AND THAT WE ARE GOING TO END UP HAVING TO READJUST. I LOOK AT 94% AS THE STARTING POINT NOT THE ENDPOINT FOR HOW WE COMPENSATE. I WOULD LOVE TO MOVE THAT TO

97 OR 100 OR 103 OVERTIME. >> SO I'M CLEAR ON THE 94%.

[00:35:03]

MARKET? >> 110% OF MARKET. THAT IS MAX. MIDPOINT IS GOING TO BE BETWEEN 94 AND 110. OUR PAY PLAN IS ALREADY EVERYBODY IS AT LEAST 94% OR MORE. BASED ON WHAT COUNSEL DID THIS FISCAL YEAR FOR PAY. THE 1% COELHO DOES NOT KEEP UP WITH INFLATION. DECEMBER INFLATION WAS 3.9% YEAR-OVER-YEAR. WE ARE NUMBER 2.9% LOW. WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO EVERYTHING. SO, EITHER WE ARE GOING TO BE COMFORTABLE WITH THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOT COMPENSATING FOR TIME IN GRADE OR EXPERIENCE THROUGH SOME MECHANISM. WE JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT.

WHICH IS PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE ANSWER. AND WE PAY LIKE WE HAVE HISTORICALLY DONE SOME COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT. OR WE DO THIS AND THEN GO BACK TO A COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT.

THE OTHER PAY CONCEPT YOU CAN DO IS PAY FOR PERFORMANCE.

WHICH SOUNDS REALLY NICE EXCEPT IT IS DIFFICULT TO AFFORD. YOU SAID SOME PERCENTAGE AND THERE IS 5% OUT THERE. EVERYBODY GETS A PERCENTAGE BASED ON HOW THEY ARE REVIEWED AND PERFORMED. MANY ORGANIZATIONS HAVE MOVED BEYOND THAT CONCEPT BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET TO A YEAR LIKE WE ARE ABOUT TO GO INTO IN FY 25, YOU SAY WHAT A WONDERFUL EMPLOYEE YOU ARE. YOU ARE A TOP PERFORMER. HERE IS $50 THAT IS ALL WE CAN AFFORD TO DO. YOU TRAINED THEM TO SAY I'M GOING TO GET A BIG CHECK BECAUSE I'M A TOP PERFORMER AND YOU JUST GAVE THEM $50. IT IS A KICK IN THE PANTS. YOU CAN HAVE A DEMORALIZING AFFECT ON YOUR ORGANIZATION MORE THAN IT CAN HAVE A BUOY TO MORALE. OVER TIME.

>> LET'S LET SOME MORE QUESTIONS.

>> AS I READ THROUGH THIS I WAS VERY PLEASED TO SEE THE FOCUS ON THOSE HOURLY EMPLOYEES. BEING BETTER COMPENSATED IN A WAY THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. AS YOU SAID YOU GET TO THANKSGIVING YOU GET $50. THE DOESN'T BUY A LOT OF CHRISTMAS TOYS FOR YOUR KIDS. SOMEBODY THAT IS AN HOURLY EMPLOYEE THAT MAKES 25 TO 30,000 BUT HAVE BEEN HERE 15 YEARS THEY HAVE GOT A REALLY NICE END OF YEAR BONUS. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROPOSED CHANGE. I'M GLAD BRIAN ASKED THE QUESTION ABOUT THE COMPARISON BETWEEN THIS APPROACH AND THE 3%. THAT WAS WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU WHEN WE GET SOME MAY OR JULY RATHER WHEN WE HAVE OUR WORKSHOP. MAKE SURE WE CAN SEE THE COMPARISON IF WE GO JUST 3% OR IF WE GO THIS AND IF 3% IS TOO FAR OFF AND THEN WHAT WOULD IT BE WITH A 7500 KAPP WERE ADJUSTING THE CAPI LITTLE BIT. I APPRECIATE THE INTENTION OF TRYING TO HELP THOSE WHO NEED IT THE MOST. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS COME UP IN PRIOR YEARS IN DISCUSSIONS AND HOW CAN WE HELP THOSE THAT ARE AT THE LOWER END OF THE SCALE? I'M GLAD THAT WE ARE ABLE TO CONTEMPLATE THIS AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS TO US TO CONSIDER. I I AM SUPPORTIVE.

>> I AGREE. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE IDEA. ONE STATEMENT ONE QUESTION. THE QUESTION WOULD BE, WHEN DESTINY WHAT IS THE EFFECT ON BOTH THOSE CONTRACTS WITH REGARDS TO PAY AGREEMENTS?

>> THIS IS STABILITY PAY. IT DOES NOT IMPACT [INAUDIBLE].

THEY HAVE LONGEVITY COPULATIONS. I FULLY EXPECT THEM TO SAY WE WOULD LIKE THIS [INAUDIBLE]. THAT IS A BARGAINING OPPORTUNITY WE CAN TALK ABOUT.

>> THE ONLY THING IWILL ASK FOR IT WHEN WE GET TO JULY I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME DIFFERENT THRESHOLDS BEYOND 10

TO 12. SEE A GRADUATED LIST. >> HELP ME SHAPE THAT. WHAT

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE? >> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING STARTING AT EIGHT MOVING TO 15. SOMEWHERE IN THAT RANGE. JUST TO SEE WHAT THE IMPACT WILL BE ON THE

BUDGET. >> WE CAN BRING THAT TO YOU FOR CONSIDERATION. APPRECIATE THAT DIRECTION.

>> FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR SOMEONE WHO DOES HAVE TO MAKE PAYROLL AND HIRE EMPLOYEES AND KEEP EMPLOYEES . ANY BUSINESS OWNER WILL TELL YOU IT IS MORE FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE TO HAVE

[00:40:05]

>>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY I THINK WITH REGARD TO THE RECRUITING ASPECT , THIS IS A TOOL OR SOMETHING YOU CAN USE IN THE RECRUITING EFFORT TO SAY, YOU COME HERE YOU GET TO SEE THIS EVERY YEAR. CONSISTENTLY.

>> TO QUESTIONS OF THAT. IF WE HAVE A LATERAL MOVE WE PULLED SOMEONE FROM FORT WORTH AND THE DIVISION LEVEL, THEY DID 15 YEARS THERE BUT THEY ARE COMING IN DAY ONE HERE. HOW WOULD THIS APPLY TO THAT? THEY HAVE THE EXPERIENCE BUT IT WASN'T WITH THE CITY OF ABILENE. SMITH THEY WOULD START

WITH -- >> IF YOU ARE POLICE OFFICER YOU GET RECOGNITION FOR IT IS NOT YEAR FOR YEAR BUT THEY HAVE -- YOU ARE NOT STARTING AS A ONE YEAR OFFICER. THEY CAN ADVANCE UP TO TIER 3 OR FIVE. I FORGET WHICH. SO JUST DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU'RE COMING IN THE ORGANIZATION. FOR THIS PROPOSAL FOR THE NON-CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES, IT WAS

START AT YEAR ONE. >> I'M IN FAVOR. I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR ABOUT RETENTION AND BUSINESS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE JUST SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT ROUTES AND KIND OF WHAT WE ARE TRADING OFF AND ON. WOULD BE TO SEE WE ARE AT 94%. IF WE SAY INSTEAD OF THIS LIST DUDE 95 OR LET'S SHOOT FOR 90% FROM A LACK OF BETTER WORD A MARKETING PERSPECTIVE. I FEEL LIKE THAT IS AN EASIER SELL ON THE CITY'S PART OF HATE, WE ARE TRYING TO RECRUIT THESE PEOPLE AND WE ARE AT 98%. THAT IS A GOOD MARKETING TACTIC TO BRING AND POTENTIAL NEW HIRES VERSUS POTENTIALLY SOMETHING LIKE YOU STAY WITH US FOR 20 YEARS YOU WILL GET HERE.

IT IS AN EASIER SELL TO RECRUIT IF WE ARE STARTING OFF COMPETITIVELY PAYING TO WHAT THE OTHER CITIES. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT COMPARISON. IT MAY BE IT WILL COST THE CITY FOUR TIMES MORE TO GO TO 98% IN THIS PROPOSAL. SO WE GO THIS IS A GREAT BANG FOR OUR BUCK. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MAY BE WHAT 96% WOULD COST VERSUS THIS. THAT WAY WE CAN DO A

COMPARISON. >> I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT FOR EVERY 1% THAT IS 300 SOMETHING THOUSAND DOLLARS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR ON THE CONCEPT. IF SOMEONE COMES INTO THE ORGANIZATION AND NEEDS TO MAKE MINIMUM PLUS X FOR US TO HIRE THEM. WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO HIRE THEM AT MINIMUM PLUS X UNDER OUR CURRENT PAY PLAN AND WE OFTEN DO. DEPENDS ON THEIR KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES. SOME PEOPLE COME TO TRAVIS'S POINT WITH DIFFERENT LEVELS OF SKILL SET. WE WANT TO COMPENSATE THAT ACCORDINGLY. I DON'T BELIEVE OUR CURRENT PAY PLAN IS COSTING US EMPLOYEE OPPORTUNITY. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO MEET THE PAPER UNLESS IT IS A SPECIFIC POSITION. FOR EXAMPLE AN ENGINEER. A CPA. THOSE ARE POSITIONS THAT ARE HIGHLY SKILLED. SPECIAL LICENSES. AND WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND THE ROLE YOU WILL HAVE A HARD TIME COMPETING WITH THAT. ANOTHER ONE THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE IS GIS TECH. WE HAVE A GUY WHO WE HAD AN EMPLOYEE WHO WAS MAKING I DON'T KNOW 50 OR 60 SOMETHING LIKE THAT. DOUBLED HIS SALARY. GETS TO WORK FROM HOME. HE IS LIKE SEE YOU. I CAN'T BLAME HIM. WHAT A GREAT JOB. WE CAN'T COMPETE WITH THAT. THERE ARE CERTAIN JOB CLASSES NO MATTER WHAT WE DO WE ARE JUST NOT STRUCTURED TO COMPETE WITH. AND PROBABLY SHOULD NOT. SO THAT IS WHAT WE RELY UPON. THIRD-PARTY SERVICE CONTRACTS AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS. WE WILL DO THAT ANALYSIS SO YOU GUYS CAN SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. THAT IS

NOT A PROBLEM. >>> I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS PLAN.

>> TAKE-HOME VEHICLES. SWITCHING OF THINGS. I DON'T HAVE MY WATCH ON. IF WE ARE GETTING NEAR TIME THROW A BEANBAG AT ME. SMITH YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

>> CITY OF ABILENE HAS A PRACTICE OF ASSIGNING TAKE-HOME

[00:45:12]

THE CIRCLE GREEN. IS A SPECIFIC ONCE A ONE VEHICLE INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS. THE RED TRIANGLE IS OUTSIDE MULTIUSER.

THE RED CIRCLES OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS AND SINGLE USER.

THIS CHART I THINK SUMS UP THE DISCUSSION BEST. THESE OTHER VEHICLE ASSETS ASSIGNED TO THESE DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS OF THE ORGANIZATION. OF THE PD FLEET 38% IS ASSIGNED TO TAKE-HOME PURPOSES. 78 OF THOSE VEHICLES ARE TAKE-HOME VEHICLES. THEY HAVE FOR THE MOST PART THEY HAVE A ONE-TO-ONE SYSTEM. PUBLIC WORKS 17% OF THEIR 21 VEHICLES THEY DON'T HAVE 21 ONCE A ONE VEHICLES. MOST OF THOSE ARE MULTIUSER VEHICLES. THE VAST MAJORITY ARE MULTI USE. TO BE CONSISTENT WITH OUR NUMBERS I PUT THEM TOGETHER ON THE SAME SLIDE. SO YOU CAN SEE THE DYNAMIC. I WON'T READ IT LINE BY LINE. YOUR BACKUP WAS A COUNCIL POLICY A DRAFT POLICY AND WE WILL SPEND TIME TALKING ABOUT THAT. FOR THE PUBLIC WHAT IT BASICALLY SAYS IS COUNSEL'S DIRECTION IS WE DON'T TAKE VEHICLES OUTSIDE OF CITY LIMITS. THAT IS THE GOAL.

WE MINIMIZE A NUMBER OF VEHICLES THAT HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS. BUT THE CITY MANAGER HAS DISCRETION TO MAKE ASSIGNMENTS FOR EMPLOYEES TO TAKE A VEHICLE OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS. 20 TAKE-HOME STANDPOINT WHERE THE NEEDS JUSTIFY THE DEMAND. FOR EXAMPLE, THIS IS WHY APD HAS SO MANY VEHICLES. THAT ARE TAKE-HOME. WE'VE GOT SWAT.

SWAT RESPONSE TO MULTICOUNTY RADIUS. YOU HAVE THE BOMB SQUAD. -- THEY GET FUNDING THROUGH STATE AND FEDERAL DOLLARS BECAUSE THEY ARE RESPONDING TO MULTICOUNTY RADIUS IS. THE CONCEPT BEING IF YOU GET A CALL FOR THE BOMB SQUAD THEY DON'T NOT ALL OF THEM NEED TO GO. BACK TO PD GET IN THE BOMB TRUCK AND GO. THEY CAN START HEADING TOWARDS THE RESPONSE CALL WHERE THEY NEED TO BE GOING. SOMEONE WILL MEET THEM. SAME THING WITH THE S.W.A.T. TEAM. ONE OF OUR COUNCILMEMBERS WAS A MEMBER OF THE BOMB SQUAD AND THEY CAN EXPLAIN THAT FAR BETTER THAN I CAN. THAT IS THE CONCEPT. .

WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS GET CLEAR DIRECTION FROM THE COUNCIL SO I CAN ADMINISTER THE ORGANIZATION AND KEEP THEM WITH WHAT IT IS YOU ALL WANT TO SEE. BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE HEARD CONSISTENCY IN MY NINE YEARS IS THAT THEY DO NOT LIKE

[00:50:01]

YOU HAVE THAT POLICY IN YOUR PACKETS. I WOULD LIKE TO JUST

HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT IT. >> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS IS I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOME COMMON SENSE HERE. THERE ARE SOME THAT WOULD DISAGREE WITH THAT. WE HAVE ENOUGH COMMON SENSE TO KNOW WHEN THOSE REQUIREMENTS REQUIRE THAT THEY HAVE A VEHICLE OUT OF TOWN. I AM WITH YOU. I SCRATCH MY HEAD WHEN I'M IN AN OUTLINE COMMUNITY AND SEEING ONE OF OUR VEHICLES THERE. IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME. I THINK AS LONG AS WE TAKE CARE OF THE THINGS THAT ARE REQUIRED, THE BOMB SQUAD THE S.W.A.T. TEAM OR WHATEVER, I DON'T WANT US TO DO THINGS JUST BECAUSE IT IS CONVENIENT IT MAKES IT EASIER.

THESE ARE TAX DOLLARS WE ARE DEALING WITH. THIS IS WHERE AND TEAR ON THESE VEHICLES. A GASOLINE COST ALL THAT STUFF -- EVENTUALLY IS PASSED ON TO THE TAXPAYER. I THINK A GOOD STANDARD POLICY THAT GIVES YOU DEFINITE LANES AND DEFINITE GUIDELINES IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO DO.

>> DO YOU HAVE A SUGGESTION WITH THAT LIMIT IS?

>> NOT YET. >> YOU WERE LEADING UP TO

THAT. >> I THINK ONE POINT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT MAYBE WHEN -- IF A VEHICLE IF AN EMPLOYEE LIVES OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS FIGURE OUT A PLACE THEY CAN PARK THAT VEHICLE AT THE CITY LIMIT. KIND OF LIKE YOU SEE IN SOME OF THE BIGGER CITIES THE RIDESHARE -- YOU GET ON A BUS OR A TRAIN OR SOMETHING. I DON'T KNOW I HAVE A SPECIFIC . BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY MOVING PIECES TO THAT. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT WE FIGURE OUT A WAY TO ADDRESS THIS.

>> SHANE DO YOU HAVE -- >> THIS HAS COME UP BEFORE AS ROBERT MENTIONED. I ALWAYS SAID I HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME WITH US PAYING FOR DAILY CONSISTENT USE OF VEHICLES OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS WITH WEAR AND TEAR THE EXTRA FUEL THAT IS ADDED ONTO THEM. WE ARE NOT THERE YET BUT ONE OF THE OTHER ITEMS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TODAY IS EXPANDING PATROL 2121. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT DOES TO THESE NUMBERS IF THEY ARE TAKING THEM HOME HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS. THE EXPECTATION OF WELL, IF IT IS MINE I GET TO TAKE IT HOME EVEN IF I LIVE IN -- [INAUDIBLE] AND HOLLY OR TRENT OR WHATEVER. I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR THE RESPONSE . BUT OUT OF A QUARTER HOW MANY EMERGENCY RESPONSES ARE THERE OUTSIDE OF LIMIT CITY LIMITS BY THE BOMB SQUAD ? ANY OTHER THAT WOULD NEED WATER -- ANYTHING THAT HAS TO GO AND DO A RESPONSE. VERSUS THE DAILY WEAR AND TEAR. THAT IS ADDED TO THE VEHICLE AND REDUCING THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE AND REPLACING IT SOONER. THAT HAS JUST BEEN THE HURDLE THAT I'VE HAD A DIFFICULT TIME OVERCOMING.

OPENING THIS UP TO SAY WELL, LET'S JUST LET PEOPLE DO IT

BECAUSE IT IS CONVENIENT. >> FOCUSING ON THE POLICY LANGUAGE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. WHEN I DRAFTED THIS IS SEEMED TO ME THAT THAT IS THE HEART OF THE ISSUE. AND SO THERE ARE TWO THINGS. THE FIRST STATEMENT SAYS TAKE-HOME VEHICLES SHOULD ONLY BE ASSIGNED IN THE FURTHERANCE OF EXPEDITING RESPONSE TO A CITY EMERGENCY. 2, IT IS EXPRESS INTENT OF CITY COUNCIL TO RESTRICT THE NUMBER OF TAKE-HOME VEHICLES ASSIGNED TO PERSONNEL THAT LIVE OUTSIDE THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY TO AS FEW VEHICLES AS POSSIBLE TO MEET THE PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS. THOSE TWO ARE KEY COMPONENTS TO THE POLICY STATEMENT. WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT YOU ALLUDED TO A ONCE A HOME -- ONE-TO-ONE TAKE-HOME. WE WON'T GET INTO THE MEAT AND POTATO OF THAT TODAY. BUT, AND HAVING

[00:55:07]

2 I THINK IT GIVES AN INSTANCE OF THE HAVE OFFICERS LIVING IN THE CITY LIMITS. RIGHT NOW WE CAN'T COMPEL OFFICERS TO LIVE IN CITY LIMITS UNDER THE STATE OCCUPATION CODE OR STATE LAW.

YOU USE TO BUT YOU CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE. AND THIS PROVIDES AN INCENTIVE THAT IS EQUALLY ADMINISTERED ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT TO MAYBE CHOOSE A PLACE INSIDE CITY LIMITS. IT IS A SMALL THING BUT IT IS SOMETHING. SO I THINK IF COUNCIL WANTED TO GO TO A ONE-TO-ONE VEHICLE WE WILL HAVE THAT DISCUSSION LATER. WE HAVE SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT DRIVING 100 MILES SOUTH OF TOWN.

>> THAT IS WHERE I'M COMFORTABLE WITH IS THE CITY

LIMITS PERSONALLY. >> I WILL SAY SEND CITY LIMITS. CERTAINLY THAT MAKES SENSE. WE THOUGHT ABOUT APPROACHING THIS DIFFERENTLY. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT TAKE-HOME VEHICLES FOR PEOPLE THAT NEED TO RESPOND AND MAYBE WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT IT AS WHICH VEHICLES NEED TO RESPOND.

QUICKLY. SO, POLICE OFFICERS THAT MAKES SENSE. THEY NEED THEIR VEHICLE TO BE ABLE TO DO THEIR JOB. IF ALL YOU ARE TRYING TO DO IS GET A BODY TO A PLACE AND THEN SOMEBODY ELSE IS BRINGING THE GEAR FOR BOMB SQUAD OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU DON'T NEED THAT VEHICLE AT THE LOCATION. YOU NEED THE PERSON. HAS THERE BEEN ANY LOOK AT MILEAGE INSTEAD OF A TAKE-HOME VEHICLE? COMPENSATE THE INDIVIDUAL FOR USING THEIR PERSONAL VEHICLE TO REACH THE LOCATION. JUST PAY THEM THE STANDARD GOVERNOR GOVERNMENT MILEAGE. AND YOU OFFSET THAT MILEAGE COST WITH A REDUCE THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES OR MAYBE LESS WEAR AND TEAR ON THE EXISTING VEHICLES SOMETHING

LIKE THAT. >> IF AN OFFICER IS GOING TO A BOMB SQUAD HE NEEDS TO BE IN A PATROL VEHICLE TO GET THERE QUICK. IF HE TAKES HIS CAR HE CAN'T SPEED. IF HE -- HE

NEEDS TO GET THERE. >> NOT SUPPOSED TO SPEAK.

>> NOT SUPPOSED TO SPEED. >> BEFORE YOU ANSWER LET ME OFFER A COUPLE THOUGHTS. THIS CONVERSATION IS AT LEAST 26 YEARS OLD. FOR MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. I WILL OFFER SOME I HAD A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT OPINION THAN THE CITY LIMIT BOUNDARY. LET ME OFFER SOME THOUGHTS. YES I WAS ON THE BOMB SQUAD. I ALSO WAS SPENDING A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF MY CAREER CALL IN CID RESPONDING TO CHILD ABUSE IN HOMICIDE CASES AFTER HOURS. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE IN THOSE SCENARIOS. THE DETECTIVES THAT WORK THOSE CASES TYPICALLY CARRY A LOT OF GEAR IN THEIR TRUNK. CRIME SCENE. GET DELIVERED TO THE SAME AS OPPOSED TO DRIVING TO THE STATION. PICKING A BUNCH OF STUFF UP AND GOING. I'VE BEEN THE GUY STANDING IN THE PARKING LOT LOOKING AT MY WATCH WAITING ON PERSONNEL TO ARRIVE AT A SCENE SO WE CAN GET TO WORK. UNNECESSARY DELAYS CALLS PROBLEMS. I THINK THERE ARE TWO CRITERIA YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT. WHEN YOU ARE EVALUATING A TAKE-HOME CAR POLICY. ONE, NOT EVERY RESPONSE NEEDS TO BE AN EMERGENCY. IT IS JUST NOT. NOT EVERY DIVISION IN RESPONSE TO EMERGENCIES. THEY'RE VERY DIFFERENT DYNAMICS DIVISION TO DIVISION. IN TERMS OF THE TIME BEING OF THE ESSENCE TO GET TO THE SCENE. THE BOMB SQUAD FOR EXAMPLE REALLY DRIVES STRAIGHT TO THE SAME. THEY GO TO THE STATION THAT IS WHERE ALL THEIR EQUIPMENT IS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE PICKUP THAT CARRIES A BUNCH OF THINGS. THE S.W.A.T. TEAM HAS TO RESPOND FROM WHEREVER THEY LIVE RIGHT TO THE SCENE WHEREVER IT IS WITHIN 21 COUNTIES OF ABILENE. CID IS THE SAME WAY. WHEREVER THEY LIVE THEY DON'T GO TO THE STATION AND PICK UP A BUNCH OF STUFF.

THEY GO STRAIGHT TO THE SCENE. YESTERDAY'S HOMICIDE EVERYBODY LEAPT FROM WHEREVER THEY WERE ONCE STRAIGHT TO THAT SCENE.

THAT WAS TO HAPPEN AT 2:00 IN THE MORNING THAT IS WHAT YOU NEED TO HAPPEN. WE WENT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH MULTIPLE ITERATIONS OF THIS OF THE YEARS. I THINK WE NEED A FERAL EVALUATION FROM EACH DEPARTMENT HEAD IN THE CITY AS A

[01:00:02]

SINCE WE CAN'T COMPEL I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD COMPEL PEOPLE TO LIVE INSIDE CITY LIMITS. I THINK THE DEPARTMENT HEADS NEED TO SIT DOWN WITH THEIR COMMAND STAFF AND SAY WHO REALLY NEEDS A CAR AND WHO DOESN'T? TAKE A STAY AT THE STATION BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THEIR POSITION VERSUS

SOMEBODY ELSE'S. >> I'VE GIVEN THE IMPRESSION IT IS THE WILD WEST OUT THERE. IT IS NOT. DEPARTMENT HEADS HAVE IDENTIFIED POSITIONS THAT NEED A CAR OR NOT NEED A CAR.

WHAT THE CHALLENGE IS WITH OUR CURRENT POLICY IT IS A CIRCLE.

AND YOU GET SOMEBODY WHO LIVES JUST OUTSIDE THE CIRCLE. BUT THERE IS AN EXIGENT NEED FOR THEM TO HAVE THAT VEHICLE. A LEGITIMATE NEED. IT IS A S.W.A.T. OFFICER. ARE WE REALLY GOING TO SAY I'M SORRY YOU CANNOT DRIVE THAT VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH YOU LIVE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET FROM THE BOUNDARY LINE? SO, YOU ARE CREATING A FALSE SENSE OF DIRECTION WHEN YOU DO THAT. I'M TELLING YOU THAT PERSON I'M GOING TO APPROVE THAT EVEN THOUGH IT VIOLATES COUNSEL POLICY. BECAUSE IT IS A COMMON SENSE APPROACH. IT IS NOT FIVE MILES OUT. IT IS LITERALLY UP THE STREET. THE POLICY I'VE WRITTEN AS THE FIRST TWO STATEMENTS AND THE THIRD ONE IS NO EMPLOYEE WHO RESIDES OUTSIDE THIS CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY SHALL TAKE A VEHICLE ASSIGNED FOR THEIR PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY USE THAT THE EXPRESS WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE CITY MANAGER. SUCH PERMISSION SHALL BE RENEWED ANNUALLY. WE END UP HAVING IS RIGHT NOW YOU GET SOMEONE WHO MAY HAVE HAD A TAKE-HOME VEHICLE AND YOU WILL BE SHOCKED TO LEARN SOMETIMES THEY PERCEIVE IT AS AN EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT. NOT NECESSARILY THE PUBLIC SAFETY URGENCY THAT IT SHOULD BE INTENDED TO BE. THEY DON'T AMAZING THE END UP KEEPING THAT VEHICLE. SO THIS CREATES AN ANNUAL AUDIT PROCESS TO MAKE SURE DO YOU STILL NEED IT? IS THE DIRECTOR STILL BELIEVE YOU NEED IT ? DOES THE CITY MANAGER CONCUR? I'VE HAD SOME DEPARTMENT HEADS ARGUED THIS POSITION NEEDS THAT VEHICLE. I'VE SAID TO YOUR POINT, IT IS GOING TO TAKE YOU 30 MINUTES TO GET TO THE CITY AT THAT POINT IN TIME THE EMERGENCY IS OVER. WHATEVER IT WAS IT IS GONE. SO THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SERVING THE CITY'S INTEREST IT IS SERVING THE EMPLOYEES INTEREST. WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT. AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO KEEP AN ACCURATE RECORD OF IT ALL. THAT IS THE OTHER SIDE. IF THIS LIST CHANGES DEPARTMENTS ARE MOVING PEOPLE AROUND THOSE ROLLS AND THEY NEED THE FREEDOM TO DO THAT. BUT I NEED AN ACCOUNTABILITY MATRIX FOR IT. AND I THINK THIS CAN HELP PROVIDE THAT. YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE SPACE THAT VEHICLE OUTSIDE OF CITY LIMITS. IT IS JUST THE REALITY OF IT. WHAT POSITIONS ARE THOSE? PROBABLY S.W.A.T. IS THE ONE THAT CAN I CAN MOST THINK OF. BOMB SQUAD MAY BE. I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT IT. I TRUST OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT THE LEADERSHIP OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO GUIDE THE DISCUSSION AND PROVIDE SOME

BOUNDARIES ON THAT. >> I LIKE TO PROPOSAL ESPECIALLY WITH NUMBER THREE. FROM MY POINT SEEMS TO ADDRESS YOUR CONCERNS NUMBER THREE IS THAT FAIR OR DO YOU STILL HAVE CONCERNS AFTER NUMBER THREE IS IN THEIR? WHERE ROBERT CAN IMPROVE APPROVE OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS AND IT KIND OF BILLS IN AN ANNUAL REVIEW PROCESS AUTOMATICALLY. DO WE NEED TO ADD MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE LET OUTSIDE THE CITY OR NOT? IT ALLOWS THAT DISCRETION OF YES THEY NEED TO BE OUTSIDE WE ARE

[01:05:02]

>> I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THE CAR BEING OUTSIDE OF CITY LIMITS. I THINK THAT IS PRUDENT. ONE OF THE ISSUES IS JUST THE GEOGRAPHIC SHAPE OF OUR CITY. IF I LIVE AT THE LAKE AND NOT 50 MILES FROM DOWNTOWN -- IF I LIVE IN -- FIVE MILES FROM THE CITY LIMITS AND I CAN'T HAVE A TAKE-HOME CAR. IT IS MORE COMPLEX THAN JUST SETTING AN

ARBITRARY BOUNDARY. >> WHICH IS WHY I DON'T --

>> I'M SUPPORTIVE OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS. I JUST THINK I JUST FEEL LIKE WE BETTER DO IT THE REAL JOB OF REVIEWING THE POSITIONS THAT NEED IT. IT IS NOT JUST THE BOMB SQUAD. THERE IS MORE PEOPLE THAT NEED THOSE CARS. BUT THERE HAS TO BE A LIMIT. I CAN'T BE A HOMICIDE DETECTIVE AND LIVE IN WINTERS. THAT DOESN'T WORK. IT TAKES TOO LONG TO GET TO THE SCENE SO YOU DON'T NEED A CAR.

>> THE OTHER DIFFERENCE IS IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAKE YOU ARE PAYING THE TAXES FOR THOSE VEHICLES VERSUS IF YOU ARE LIVING INPUTS ALSO YOU ARE NOT. HAVING THE BOUNDARY OF THE CITY LIMITS WITH THE CITY MANAGER FLEXIBILITY THAT IS PROVIDED IN THIS DOCUMENT. THIS DRAFT THAT YOU HAVE.

ADDRESSES THAT IN A WAY THAT IS FAIR TO THE RESPONDENT. TO MEET THE CITY'S NEEDS AND THE TAXPAYERS THAT ARE PAYING FOR THAT A DAILY BASIS. CANNOT JUST ON THE -- AND FREQUENT EMERGENCY THEY MAY BE RESPONDING TO.

>> THAT IS A NUMBER WE WOULD PROBABLY LIKE TO SEE. HOW MANY AFTER OUR CALLOUTS HAVE THERE BEEN WHERE PEOPLE ARE USING CARS AFTER HOURS. THAT NUMBER WILL SHOCK YOU. IT IS WAY MORE

THAN YOU. IT IS. >> S.W.A.T. GOES OUT ABOUT ONCE A MONTH. YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE DON'T BROADCAST IT. BOMB SQUAD DOES NOT GO OUT IS OFTEN BUT THEY

GO OUT. >> 2011 WHEN I WAS THE CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS SERGEANT MY UNIT GOT CALLED OUT 76 TIMES IN A YEAR. AFTER HOURS. BETWEEN THAT AND CHILD ABUSE. IT IS A BUSY YEAR. IT IS A LOT MORE THAN YOU THINK IT IS.

>> THEY ARE USED AND AGAIN WE BEAT UP ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THAT IS THE MAJORITY OF THE ONE-TO-ONE ASSIGNED VEHICLES FOR THIS POSITION OR DISCUSSION. NONE OF THEM THERE ARE SOME WE CAN HAVE CONVERSATIONS ON DO WE NEED THAT IN THE CHIEF IS LOOKING AT THAT NOW. AND THERE WILL BE SOME CHANGES. IT IS NOT GOING TO BE FLIPPING THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN. MOST OF THE VEHICLES THAT ARE ASSIGNED TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE BEING USED LEGITIMATELY FOR THE PURPOSE THEY NEED. WE'VE LOOKED AT THOSE NUMBERS. WE CAN PROVIDE THAT TO YOU ALL. WE BRING THIS DOCUMENT FORWARD AS PART OF THE FORMAL PRESENTATION.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT. >> WATER DEPARTMENT.

>> A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE WE GET WATER MAIN BREAKS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. THEY HAVE TO HAVE A TRUCK. IF THEY LIVE INPUTS OC WE WANT THEM TO GO TO THE WATER MAIN BREAK AND GET IT

STOPPED. >> WE CAN PROVIDE THAT WILL BRING THE POLICY FORWARD. WHAT I'M NOT ASKING TO APPROVE THE POLICY RIGHT NOW. I'M ASKING FROM A CONCEPTUAL STANDPOINT.

THE SYSTEM WE HAVE NOW COUNSEL HIS SAID HERE IS A RING I THINK IT IS FIT TEEN MILES. DON'T VIOLATE THIS. BY THE NATURE OF THAT STATEMENT WE HAVE POSITIONS WHERE I KNOW WE ARE VIOLATING IT. I DON'T LIKE TO VIOLATE COUNSEL POLICY. IT IS BAD GOVERNANCE. AND IT IS NOT THE WAY IT WORKS. I'M TRYING TO HAVE A POLICY THAT REFLECTIVE OF THE REAL WORLD AND ACTUALLY IT ADDRESSES THE CONCERNS I'VE HEARD EXPRESSED MULTIPLIED TIMES BY MULTIPLE COUNCILMEMBERS ON VEHICLES OUTSIDE OF CITY LIMITS. EVERYBODY HAS RECOGNIZED IN SOME SITUATIONS WE HAVE TO HAVE A VEHICLE OUTSIDE OF CITY LIMITS. THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE DON'T WANT TO BECOME AN EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT FOR AN EMPLOYEE. WE WANT IT TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF ABILENE. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

>> I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THE DEPARTMENT HEADS WHEN YOU SAY SOMEBODY LIVING IN WINTERS WORKING CRIME SCENES. THAT WILL BE UP TO THE DEPARTMENT HEADS WHERE THEY PUT INDIVIDUALS ON THOSE JOB SPECIFICATIONS. IF THEY LIVE 30 MILES OUT DIRTY MINUTES THE EMERGENCY IS OVER BEFORE THEY CAN GET HERE. THEY DON'T NEED TO BE IN THAT POSITION IN THE FIRST PLACE.

PUTTING PEOPLE IN THOSE POSITIONS IN THE FIRST PLACE IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT ALSO WITH OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS.

>> WHAT YOU ARE ASKING FOR IS DISCRETION. RATHER THAN NUMBERS OR A RADIUS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I SUPPORT GIVING YOU THAT DISCRETION WAS A GENERAL DESIRE TO

[01:10:06]

TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND. >> THEY DON'T. THOSE ARE MORE THAN LIKELY MULTIUSE VEHICLES. THEY WILL BE ON CALL. WHY IS THE PARK SYSTEM ON CALL? YOU COULD HAVE AN IRRIGATION LEAK.

>> THE EMPHASIS NEEDS TO BE DO YOU NEED THE VEHICLE NOT THE PERSON. IF THE PERSON NEEDS TO BE THERE, LET'S PAY THEM MILEAGE. THEY CAN DRIVE OVER. IF THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE THERE, TIME MATTERS. THEN THAT IS FINE.

>> I HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. I WANT TO BE CLEAR THERE ARE SOME PERSONS THAT GO WITH THE VEHICLE. LIKE A S.W.A.T.

OFFICER HAS TO STUFF IN THEIR ASSIGNED VEHICLE. SAME THING FOR WATER -- WE JUST DON'T IF YOU ARE ON CALL. IF YOU HAVE A TAKE-HOME VEHICLE IT IS BECAUSE THAT VEHICLE AND YOU GO TOGETHER. IT IS NOT BECAUSE AND IT IS A PERSONALLY ASSIGNED VEHICLE. IT IS A ONE-TO-ONE RELATIONSHIP. THERE ARE THINGS IN THAT VEHICLE YOU NEED TO RESPOND TO WHATEVER. THE SITUATION WE DON'T CARE WHO IT IS THEY JUST NEED A VEHICLE, IT IS A MULTI USE VEHICLE. IT IS TYPICALLY HERE IS MY SET OF WATER TOOLS OR HERE IS MY WHATEVER I NEED. IT IS A RESPONSE TRUCK LIKE SOMETHING BREAKS I GOT THE CALL I WILL BE THERE IN 10 MINUTES KIND OF THING. I THINK WE DO THAT A LITTLE BIT . TO YOUR POINT ABOUT PAYING MILEAGE AND HAVING THE PERSON DRIVE AND WHEN YOU'RE ON CALL WE ALREADY COMPENSATE EMPLOYEES. I DON'T KNOW IF WE ARE PAYING MILEAGE.

WE HAD COMPLAINTS A LOT ABOUT OUR EMPLOYEES FROM OUR EMPLOYEES ABOUT OUR ON-CALL PAY AND WE RECTIFY THAT . I THINK WE ARE ADEQUATELY COMPENSATING TO PAY ON CALL NOW. WE CAN GET INTO ALL OF THAT WE BRING THE POLICY FORWARD. I THINK I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE ASKING.

>> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS?

>> OKAY -- APD AUTHORIZED STRENGTH. SO LAST COUNSEL RETREAT HERE IN FACT, THE CHIEF PRESENTED SOME OPTIONS FOR APD STAFFING. COUNSEL AGREED THIS CONCEPT OF 19 ADDITIONAL OFFICERS WAS GOOD. THE INTENT WAS TO ADD SIX SPECIALIZED POSITIONS. SIX ADDITIONAL PATROL OFFICERS AND SEVEN ADDITIONAL DETECTIVES. THE CHIEF AND I HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS TOGETHER. HE DOES NOT HAVE ANY DRAMATIC CHANGES TO THE CONCEPT OF THAT. AND SO WHAT WE ARE PUTTING FROM A SPECIALIZED PATROL OFFICER -- WHEN WE ARE ASKING IS ASSUMING THE CITY HIRES 12 ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS OR PATROL OFFICERS AND SEVEN ADDITIONAL DETECTIVES HOW TO IDENTIFY THE FUNDING. IT IS $1.8 MILLION AT THE END -- WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DOING IS PHASING THIS IN FIVE OFFICERS AND TWO DETECTIVES IN FY 25. $625,000. YOU CAN READ THE MATH YOURSELF. THE END OF THE DAY IT IS 1.78 MILLION. THERE IS A CONCERN WHETHER THESE POSITIONS CAN BE RECRUITED. A POLICE OFFICER IS A RARE COMMODITY. IN OUR WORLD TODAY. WE ARE NOT GETTING THE APPLICATIONS FOR THE POSITIONS LIKE WE ONCE DID. IT IS NOT BECAUSE OF PAY. WE ARE COMPENSATING I'M PROUD OF HOW WE COMPENSATE OUR POLICE OFFICERS. WE'VE WORKED HARD TO GET THERE PAY UP. IT IS NOT THE HIGHEST OF OUR CITIES. IT IS CERTAINLY COMPETITIVE IN THE MARKET. THEY EARN EVERY PENNY OF IT. IN ABILENE, IT IS SUBSTANTIAL. THE AVERAGE ABILENE AND DOES NOT MAKE WHAT ARE POLICE OFFICERS MAKE. AND THAT IS NOT A BAD THING. I DON'T THINK PAY IS THE REASON WHY. I THINK IT IS THE REALITY OF THE WORLD WE ARE LIVING IN RIGHT NOW. POLICING IS HARD. AND YOU HAVE A CULTURAL CHANGE THAT IS MAKING IT HARDER IN SOME WAYS. WE ARE ASKING A LOT OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS . HISTORICALLY WE NEVER ASKED THOSE THINGS OF THEM. WE'VE ALWAYS ASKED A LOT OF THEM. SO EVEN IF COUNSEL SAID WE ARE GOING TO HIRE THOSE THAT IS OUR

[01:15:01]

AND IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE. >> IT TAKES AT LEAST A YEAR TO

HIRE THEM. >> THAT IS RIGHT YOU HAVE TO TRAIN THEM. EVEN IF YOU GET A LATERAL THEY GO THROUGH A

SPECIAL ACADEMY. >> 10 MONTHS LONG. THEN YOU

START THE ACADEMY. >> 25 TO 26 THAT IS AN $87,000 DIFFERENCE FOR THE SAME AMOUNT OF PEOPLE. WHY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ONLY 12 PATROL OFFICERS AND SEVEN DETECTIVES?

>> SPECIALIZED DIVISIONS ARE PATROL OFFICERS. THEY MAY GET MOVED OUT OF PATROL BUT THEY ARE ALL ESSENTIALLY PATROL OFFICERS. SO YOU HIRE A NEW ONE. YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HIRE TAKEN OFFICER THAT IS EXISTING IN PATROL AND MOVE THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THAT SPECIALIZED DIVISION. THE DOLLAR AMOUNT IS BASED OFF THE CHANGE IN THE RATE OF PAY FROM A ONE-YEAR OFFICER TO A TWO-YEAR OFFICER.

THIS IS THE ACTUAL COST AS THEY MOVE THROUGH THEIR PAY

STRUCTURE. >> I KNOW THE CHIEF IS HERE. IS THIS -- I WILL ASK HIM IS THIS A DOABLE NUMBER? WE CAN GET ALL OF THEM THE FIRST TIME. BUT IF WE DO THIS, DOES THE CHIEF DO YOU FEEL LIKE THIS WILL ALLOW US TO MAINTAIN THE LEVEL OF SERVICE TO OUR CITIZENS THAT WE WANT TO PROVIDE IF WE INSTEAD OF DOING ALL 19 AT ONCE WE DO FIVE IN TWO AND TWO AND THREE. WILL THAT ALLOW US TO KEEP UP WITH ATTRITION RETIREMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT? DO WE NEED TO LOOK AT

HIRING MORE ON THE FRONT AND -- >> I WILL ASK THE CHIEF TO

ADDRESS THAT. >> GOOD MORNING CHIEF.

KEEPING UP WITH THE ATTRITION IS THE DIFFICULT THING. WITH ALL THE RETIREMENTS AND OTHER THINGS THAT HAPPEN. RIGHT NOW WE ARE AT 196 AS OF THE 22ND OF THIS MONTH. WE SUPPOSED TO BE AT 217. SO YOU CAN SEE WE ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP WITH THE NUMBERS WE ARE ALLOWED. GETTING TO THIS NUMBER IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE BIT. HONESTLY THE RECRUITING WE ARE DOING NOW I THINK WILL GET BETTER JUST FROM THE OFFICERS WHO ARE THE ONES THAT DO THE BEST AND MOST RECRUITING FOR US. WITH HOPEFULLY THE STABILITY I'M BRINGING WILL IMPROVE THAT. GETTING TO THIS NUMBER AS POSSBLE BUT IT WILL

TAKE A LITTLE BIT TO GET THERE. >> THE FIVE PATROLMEN AND TWO DETECTIVES DO YOU FEEL THAT IS A GOOD ENOUGH IT DOES NOT NEED TO BE SIX AND TWO -- SPREADING OVER THREE YEARS. IN YOUR OPINION ALLOWS US TO KEEP THE SAME QUALITY OF SERVICE THAT OUR CITIZENS HAVE COME TO EXPECT AND DESERVE?

>> YES AT THIS POINT. THE MAIN THING IS WE HAVE TO BUILD MY ARE PATROL BASE. THOSE OF THE PEOPLE THAT ANSWER THE CALLS THAT WE CANNOT KEEP UP WITH CURRENTLY. WE HAVE TO EXPAND THAT FIRST. WHEN WE GET TO THESE OTHER POSITIONS WE HAVE TO REEVALUATE AND SEE IF THAT IS WHERE WE NEED THEM TO

CHANGE. >> I THINK OUR DEPARTMENT IS HANDS-DOWN THE BEST. I THINK MR. -- MENTIONED THE NATURE OF POLICING I THINK THAT HAPPENS IN OTHER CITIES. I THINK THAT HAPPENS HERE. I WOULD TELL IN THE OFFICER IF THEY WANT TO COME TO A CITY WHERE THEY ARE RESPECTED COME TO ABILENE. THIS COMMUNITY RESPECTS ARE POLICE OFFICERS. THEY ARE GOOD QUALITY PEOPLE AND WE APPRECIATE THE JOB THEY DO EVERY SINGLE DAY.

>> YOU ARE NOT GETTING OUT OF THE TICKET.

>> ANYBODY ELSE? >> THIS IS PREFERABLE TO YOU RATHER THAN PUTTING ALL 19 ON THE BOOKS AT ONCE? YOU

PREFERRED THIS METHOD ? >> I BELIEVE IT IS THE PROPER WAY TO GO FOR THE CITY SIR. IN THAT PERSPECTIVE. I CAN'T DO

IT ALL AT ONCE ANYWAY. >> THERE IS NOT A RUSH.

>> WE MIGHT FORGO SOMETHING ELSE WE COULD DO IN THE MEANTIME. IF WE ARE BUDGETING FOR ALL 19. AS LONG AS YOU ARE COMFORTABLE DOING THIS GRADUALLY .

>> YES SIR I AM. >> THANK YOU CHIEF.

>> THANK YOU. >> I WILL SAY IF A MIRACLE HAPPENS AND HE HAS 30 QUALIFIED CADETS THAT ALL GRADUATE I WILL BE COMING TO YOU ABOUT A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO

KEEP THOSE OFFICERS. >> THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

>> AND A NEW SOCCER REFEREE. >> OKAY, YOU GUYS NEED A

BREAK AT ALL. >>

[01:20:22]

ROBERT, THANK YOU. >> NEXT TOPIC IS THE CHILDCARE BENEFIT. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IN MY MEETINGS WITH EMPLOYEES CONSISTENTLY COMES UP IS THE COST OF CHILDCARE. COULD WE RECRUIT RETAIN ATTRACT BY OFFERING A DIFFERENT BENEFIT WE HAVE NOT OFFERED IN THE PAST? THIS IS A CONCEPT I WILL WALK YOU THROUGH IT. THERE IS -- IS A NONPROFIT DAY CARE CENTER ADJACENT TO CITY HALL. THEY HAVE ANOTHER FACILITY -- LEVEL ORANGE. THEY HAVE AGREEMENTS WITH AREA BUSINESSES AND LARGE EMPLOYERS THAT WE WOULD MIMIC. THERE IS EXISTING OPPORTUNITY HERE. WE DID A SURVEY OF OUR EMPLOYEES ABOUT 75 EMPLOYEES WERE IN NEED OF CHILDCARE. AND SO SOME OF THEM ON THE SURVEY WERE PAYING $2000 A MONTH OR MORE. FOR CHILD

CARE. WHICH WAS SHOCKING TO ME. >> THAT SEEMS LIKE AN AWFULLY LOW NUMBER FOR AN ORGANIZATION OF OUR SIZE.

>> THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO RESPONDED. NOT NECESSARILY --

>> 75 PEOPLE THAT NEED IT AND DON'T HAVE IT OR 75 PEOPLE

THAT ARE CURRENTLY USING? >> I DON'T WANT TO LIE TO YOU. DO YOU REMEMBER ON THE CHILDCARE SURVEY IS THAT 75 PEOPLE THAT NEED IT AND DON'T HAVE IT OR 75 TOTAL WEST NECK

>> THAT WOULD USE IT. THERE WERE ELIGIBLE FOR CHILD CARE COULD RECEIVE CHILDCARE. WHAT THE CONCEPT WOULD BE IS WE WOULD PARTNER WITH THIS NONPROFIT NURSERY PROVIDER DAYCARE PROVIDER, THE CITY WOULD PAY 50% OF THE EMPLOYEES CHILDCARE COSTS DIRECTLY TO THE PROVIDER. NOT TO THE EMPLOYEE.

WE CAN'T PAY YOU AND GRANDMA WATCHES THE CHILD. IT HAS TO GO TO THE PROVIDER. ANOTHER REASON WHY WE DO THAT IS CAP A DOLLAR AMOUNT BECAUSE AT SOME POINT IN TIME YOU END UP GETTING INTO A TAXABLE BENEFIT UNDER TEXAS LAW. IF YOU STAY BELOW THE $5000 IT IS NOT A TAXABLE BENEFIT. WHICH MAKES EVERYBODY'S LIVES EASIER. ASSUMING 40 EMPLOYEES TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS. THE CITY'S COST WOULD RANGE FROM 161,000 $290,000 ANNUALLY DEPENDING ON THE AGE OF THE CHILD. CHILDREN HAVE A DIFFERENT COST BASED ON THEIR AGE. SO THE CITY'S COST WOULD BE AROUND $4030 -- PER EMPLOYEE PER YEAR AND WE'D ALWAYS CAP IT EVEN IF COSTS WENT UP WE WOULD CAP IT AT THAT. 4999. WE ARE NOT GOING TO GO ABOVE $5000. IT IS A PRETTY SIMPLE CONCEPT. YOU IDENTIFY A PARTNER AND WORK WITH THAT PARTNER . THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE SPACE CONSTRAINTS AND AVAILABILITY. WE ARE NOT BUYING SPOTS. IT IS A FIRST CART FIRST SERVE FIRST-SERVED BASIS. IF MARKET CONDITIONS THEY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO ACCOMMODATE ABILENE EMPLOYEES THAT IS JUST THE WAY IT GOES. THAT IS HOW THEY RUN THEIR OPERATIONS AND WE HAVE TO RESPECT THAT. MY QUESTION TO COUNSEL IS IS THERE VALUE IN PURSUING THIS CONCEPT FURTHER OR IS IT NOT SOMETHING WE WANT TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF.

>> I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS. ARE WE GOING TO LIMIT THIS TO ONE PROVIDER OR ARE WE GOING TO ALLOW THE EMPLOYEE TO CHOOSE WHERE THEY WANT TO GO TO DAYCARE AND SUBSIDIZE THAT?

>> ONE PROVIDER >> BECAUSE THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT ARE LOWER. THAN WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE A PRIVATE DAY PROVIDER. PRIVATE NURSERY PROVIDER. AND FROM ADJACENCY TO THE CITY HALL FOR EXAMPLE, THEY ARE THERE. THEY ARE NOT FAR FROM THE LARGE BODY OF CITY EMPLOYEES. BUT TO YOUR POINT ABOUT IS THAT FAIR TO THE OTHER PROVIDERS? OR FEAR TO THE EMPLOYEES. WE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO OFFER A DAYCARE BENEFIT. I THINK WE CAN STRUCTURE IT HOWEVER WE WANT

TO. >> I DON'T LIKE LIMITING IT TO ONE. LET'S PAY THE CAP AND LET THEM CHOOSE WHERE THEY WANT TO GO BASED ON WHERE THEY LIVE IN THE DRIVETIME. AND EVERYBODY WORKS AT CITY HALL. MY CHURCH IS BUILDING A DAYCARE RIGHT NOW. I DON'T KNOW OF A DAYCARE IN TOWN THAT DOESN'T

[01:25:06]

ACCOMMODATE THE SPOTS? >> MY CONVERSATION IS THAT THEY HAVE AVAILABLE SPACE TO ACCOMMODATE 40 TO 50 EMPLOYEES POTENTIALLY. AT THE TIME I HAD THAT CONVERSATION. IT MAY HAVE GONE UP OR DOWN DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENED WITH THEIR BUSINESS. BUT THERE IS AVAILABILITY. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STAFF UP TO COVER MORE PEOPLE IF THEY HAD MORE STAFF.

THAT IS THE PROBLEM. >> ANOTHER QUESTION FOR FOOD FOR THOUGHT IS THIS SOMETHING WE DECIDED TO DO THIS SHOULD WEED TO RESTRICT IT TO A CERTAIN INCOME LEVEL OF EMPLOYEES? DO WE OFFER THIS BENEFIT TO THOSE THAT CAN LEAST AFFORD IT BUT NEED IT OR OPEN IT UP TO EVERYBODY IN THE

ORGANIZATION POTENTIALLY? >> I THINK THIS GOES BACK TO OUR VERY FIRST CONVERSATION. EMPLOYEE RETENTION. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY HELPFUL TOOL FOR EMPLOYEE RETENTION. I SOMEWHAT AGREE ABOUT NOT JUST RESTRICTING IT'S ONE. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WOULD BE A NIGHTMARE ON BOTH KEEPING OR WHAT. ON THESE BENEFITS PAID TO THE EMPLOYEE OR WOULD WE PAID THE FACILITY DIRECTLY FOR THE CHILDCARE?

>> I WOULD ENVISION PAYING THE FACILITY DIRECTLY. THAT WAY I COULD ENSURE -- NOT THAT IN THE EMPLOYEE WOULD GAME THE SYSTEM. SOME MIGHT. THIS PROVIDES A SAFEGUARD AGAINST

THAT. >> THAT WAS MY CONCERN. I'M OPEN TO OTHER FACILITIES THAT WOULD -- BUY INTO THIS CONCEPT. IF THEY CAN PROVIDE IT I DON'T GUESS WE CAN -- I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE AT LEAST SOMEWHAT EQUAL TO WHAT WE WERE

PAYING. >> IF YOU JUST PAY UP TO THE CAP AND SHOP AROUND, THE EMPLOYEE WILL USE MARKET FORCES TO STRETCH THE DOLLAR IS BEST THEY CAN.

>> I AGREED MAYBE SOME CHOICE. DOWN THE ROAD THERE MIGHT BE SOMEONE THAT SAYS, I SEE A NICHE MARKET. I WANT TO OPEN UP A DAYCARE CENTER AND MARKET IT TO CITY OF ABILENE EMPLOYEES.

I THINK ALLOWING FOLKS IF TAXPAYERS ARE GOING TO PAY ALLOWING FOLKS TO MAYBE FIND THE BEST PROVIDER THAT MAY BE AS CLOSE TO THEIR HOUSE. IF THEY LIVE SOUTH OF TOWN AND IT IS EASIER FOR THEM TO DROP OFF AND COME TO WORK AND PICK UP ON

THE WAY HOME. >> I HAD THE DISADVANTAGE OF

NEVER HAVING YOUNG CHILDREN. >> IT IS A PROBLEM I NEVER

EXPERIENCED. >> YOU HAVE US.

>> I WOULD TO YOUR QUESTION EARLIER, IN TERMS OF OPENING IT UP TO INCOME. THE ONLY THING THAT I FEAR IF WE DO BASE IT OFF OF THE INCOME PIECE, IT COULD IMPACT WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO INCENTIVIZE IN TERMS OF MORALE. POTENTIALLY. I DON'T KNOW. THAT IS A HARD ONE. MY HEART STRING IS DEFINITELY TOWARDS THOSE THAT FOR SURE NEED IT MORE THAN

OTHERS. >> TO TRAVIS'S POINT IF WE RESTRICTED IT TO SAY WHATEVER THE INCOME LEVEL IS BUT A PERCENTAGE. DOES THAT MEAN WE WOULD BE ABLE TO PAY MORE FOR IF WE SAID YOU HAVE TO MAKE UNDER THIS AMOUNT -- HALF THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD QUALIFY THAT HAVE CHILDREN. DOES THAT MEAN WE WOULD DOUBLE THE AMOUNT WE PAY ? WILL PAY MORE FOR THE LOWER INCOME PEOPLE. THE CITY JUST SAVES MONEY.

>> I DON'T THINK WE WOULD SAVE ANY MONEY. IF YOU OFFER THE BENEFIT WE HAVE A BUDGET I STILL THINK IT WOULD NEED TO BE ON A FIRST-COME FIRST-SERVED BASIS SORT OF THING. YOU COULD JUST SET A DOLLAR AMOUNT ALLOCATE A DOLLAR AMOUNT IN THE BUDGET AND WHEN IT IS GONE IT IS GONE. BUT, IF YOU CAP IT BELOW THE TAXABLE AMOUNT THAT IS THE MAX WE WOULD BE ABLE TO PAY. THEY SHOPPED AROUND AND GOT A CHEAPER PRICE, THEIR 50% IS CHEAPER AND OUR 50% WOULD BE CHEAPER. WE COULD STRETCH

THE DOLLAR MORE. CORRECT. >> A SLIDING SCALE -- THE MORE MONEY YOU MAKE THE LESS BENEFITS YOU GET.

>> THAT IS A GREAT IDEA. THIS IS THE PER FIRST PUBLIC DISCUSSION WE'VE HAD ON THIS. THAT MAY BE A SOLUTION THAT

ANSWERS THE QUESTION. >> HAVE TO GUARD AGAINST I GOT A RAISE OR A PROMOTION AND I LOST MY CHILD CARE. THAT IS A

BAD SITUATION. >> YOU ARE CORRECT

>> YOU COULD ACTUALLY LOSE MONEY.

>> I THINK THE CAP FOR THE -- FEDERAL TAX PURPOSES IS

[01:30:07]

>> I'M SURE THAT THERE IS CERTIFICATION LEVELS OR SERVICE LEVELS. CERTAIN MINIMUM NUMBER OF CAPACITY OF 10 OR 20 WHATEVER MAKES SENSE THAT YOU CAN APPROACH THAT. BUT JUST MAKING IT ONE LOCATION I THINK LIMITS THE BENEFIT TO SOME PEOPLE. FOR HOME IT WOULD BE REALLY INCONVENIENT. -- WE ALWAYS WANT TO AVOID PICKING A WINNER. IN THIS MARKET. IF WE CAN INCENTIVIZE MORE DAYCARE FACILITIES TO DO THIS TO OPEN UP AND MAY BE GATHERED A COUPLE OF THE CITY SUBSIDIZED EMPLOYEES. AND THAT MEANS THERE IS MORE DAYCARE

FACILITIES. THAT IS A WON. >> WHAT BLAZE WAS SHARING IN TERMS OF THE SALARY AND MATCHING OTHER LARGER CITIES, THIS INITIATIVE COULD POTENTIALLY BE A GAME CHANGER IN TERMS OF THE ENVIRONMENT YOU ARE CREATING WITH THE PEOPLE YOU ARE BRINGING IN. THAT ALONE CREATES A STRESS-FREE WORK ENVIRONMENT KNOWING YOUR KIDS ARE AT A PLACE THEY ARE SAFE. I 100% LOVE THIS. I'M ALL FOR IT.

>> THE OTHER THING WE SHOULD PROBABLY THINK ABOUT IN TERMS OF CRITERIA. AND DON'T LET THIS SCARE YOU. THERE ARE AT HOME DAYCARE'S THAT ARE UNLICENSED BECAUSE THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF CHILDREN IS BELOW THE THRESHOLD. THE A PERFECTLY LEGITIMATE AT-HOME CARE FACILITIES. SOME PARENTS PREFER THEIR KID TO BE IN A SMALLER HOME ENVIRONMENT VERSUS A DAYCARE. LET'S FIGURE OUT ARE WE GOING TO REQUIRE IT TO BE A LICENSED DAYCARE FACILITY OR ALLOW IT TO NOT BE?

>> WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM COUNSEL YOU WANT THE EMPLOYEE TO HAVE A CHOICE. AND YOU DON'T WANT TO PICK A WINNER OR LOSER. I THINK IF WE DECIDE TO DO THIS WE CAP THE BENEFIT OF $5000 FOR THE YEAR. SO WE AVOID THE TAXABILITY THE EMPLOYEE VOICE TAXABILITY AND PROVIDE SOME CAP. WHETHER IT PAYS FOR 50% OR ALL OF IT OR WHATEVER. THEY WILL GET UP TO THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT. THEY ARE ON THEIR OWN. THAT IS WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM

THE CONVERSATION SO FAR. >> I LIKE THE IDEA OF THE SLIDING -- SCALE BASED ON SALARY. THERE IS NOT A HEART

CUT OFF WERE YOU JUST LOSE IT. >> THAT ADDRESSES THE QUESTION

OF EQUITABLY EQUITY. >> WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS --

>> THAT IS RIGHT >> TOO SOON.

>> WE GET -- >>> THANK YOU FOR THAT DISCUSSION. IT WASN'T LONG BUT IT WAS IMPACTFUL AND VERY HELPFUL ON YOU AUST TEMPERATURE ON THAT QUESTION.

THIS NEXT TOPIC IS COMPLICATED. IT IS COMPLICATED BECAUSE IT DOES NOT IT SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD BE EASIER TO DO THIS THAN IT ACTUALLY IS. CERTAINLY LESS EXPENSIVE THAN IT TURNS OUT TO BE. HISTORICALLY TEXAS MUNICIPAL RETIREMENT SYSTEM HAS A COLA OPTION. IT IS A RETROACTIVE REPEATING COLA.

WHICH MEANS IT GOES BACK TO YOUR INITIAL DATA OF RETIREMENT AND IF YOU DID NOT GET A COLA AT THAT TIME OR THE COLA WAS LESS THAN WHAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THEY MAKE UP FOR ALL OF THAT. IT RESULTS IN A VERY LARGE FINANCIAL IMPACT.

>> >> DO I NEED TO LEAVE THE ROOM

SINCE I AM A RETIREE? >> I DON'T BELIEVE SO.

>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. >> SEVERAL CITIES AMARILLO BEING ONE OF THEM SEVERAL POLICE ASSOCIATIONS APD I THINK WAS PART OF THE DISCUSSION AT THE LEGISLATOR PAST SESSION. TWO SESSIONS AGO OPENED UP AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A NON-RETROACTIVE COLA. SO THIS DOESN'T LOOK BACK AT THE BEGINNING OF TIME. AND PAY EVERYBODY FOR THE DIFFERENCE.

IT JUST SIMPLY SAYS HERE IS THE CPI. HERE IS THE PERCENTAGE WE ARE GOING TO APPLY TO THAT. YOU GET THAT MOVING FORWARD. WE HAVE HISTORICALLY NOT BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE COLAS. WE HAD IT BEFORE. AND THEN IN THE MIDST

[01:35:03]

HERE IS WHAT THAT MEANS IN REAL TIME. SO I ASKED TMR S TO GIVE ME I DON'T KNOW THE NAMES. I CAN SEE THE RETIREMENT DATE AND I CAN SEE THE ANNUITY AMOUNT THAT THEY GET. WE JUST DID IT VERY SIMPLE MODELING TO LOOK AT THE AVERAGE AND LOOK AT THE MEDIAN. THAT IS WHAT THE MONTHLY ANNUITY IS. THIS IS OUR ACTUALLY DATA FROM THE TMR IS THE DATA. THE AVERAGE IS $1600. THE MEDIAN THE ONE THAT IS RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE IS $1100. SO A 30% INCREASE AT 3.4% THOSE OF THE NUMBERS THAT YOU GET. 30% ON THE AVERAGE YOU GET A $16 INCREASE IN YOUR CHECK. IF YOU PERCENT YOU GET $27. IS 70% YOU WOULD GET $38.

>> THAT IS BASED ON THE 3 POINT FOR. IN THE CPI YOU WAS

TO .8 IT WILL BE LOWER. >> IF IT WAS HIGHER.

>> IF IT WAS 12% IT WOULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER. BUT NONE OF US WOULD BE HERE IF THAT IS THE CASE. SO WHAT IS THE REAL DOLLAR IMPACT FOR THAT? YOU WILL SEE ON THE GENERAL FUND 30% COLA OF A NON-RETROACTIVE SIDE IS $1.8 MILLION. ON ALL OTHER FUNDS IT IS 784,000. THAT IS EIGHT $2.6 MILLION HIT.

2050% COLA IT IS FOR THE HALF-MILLION DOLLAR NEW REVENUE. NEW EXPENSE. 70% COLA IS 6 1/2 MILLION DOLLARS. THE BIGGER ISSUE IS WHAT DOES IT DO TO YOUR FUNDED RATIOS? YOUR PLANS FINANCIAL SOUNDNESS. EVERY PLAN STANDS ALONE. THERE IS A BIG UMBRELLA AND THERE IS A BUNCH OF LITTLE UMBRELLAS UNDER THAT BIG UMBRELLA. EACH CITY HAS THEIR OWN PLAN. OUR PLAN CAN BE 100% FUNDED. MAYBANK ARE MALAKOFF'S PLAN TO CITIES I JUST TOLD OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD -- THEY MAY BE 50% FUNDED. IT DOESN'T AFFECT ANY OF OUR PLAN OR RETIREES.

SO FOR OUR PLAN WE ARE CURRENTLY AT A FUNDED RATIO OF 94.2% . BY ANY ACTUAL REAL METHODOLOGY THAT IS A WELL-FUNDED PLAN. VERY FINANCIALLY SOUND. AT A 30% COLA IT GOES DOWN TO 88.2%. 50, 84.3. AND 7080 POINT FOR.

THOSE ARE CONSIDERED THOSE WOULD BE CONSIDERED TO BE WELL-FUNDED. NOT AS NICE AS 94.2%. TYPICALLY ANYTHING ABOVE 80% PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO GET TOO UPSET ABOUT. UNLESS YOUR GOAL IS 100% WHICH THE STATE HAS SAID IT IS. I WON'T GET ON THAT SOAPBOX. THAT IS THE REALITY OF THE TMR AS NON-RETROACTIVE COLA. IN MY OPINION IT COST A LOT OF MONEY TO PROVIDE A SMALL LEVEL OF BENEFIT. TO THE EMPLOYEE. $16 IS $16. BUT THAT OPPORTUNITY COST IS $2.6 MILLION. WHAT ELSE

[01:40:05]

THERE IS NO RETIREMENT SYSTEM LIKE TMR S IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. NONE IT DOESN'T EXIST. THEY ARE ALL GONE. IT IS AN INCREDIBLE BENEFIT. THAT ALSO IS A RETENTION TOOL IN MY OPINION. OUR YOUNGER EMPLOYEES DON'T ALWAYS SEE THE VALUE OF THAT. BECAUSE THEY HAVE LIFE THINGS THEY HAVE TO DO. BUT , WE ALSO FORFEIT -- EMPLOYEE SHOULD BE INVESTING IN THAT 457 PLAN. IF ALL OF YOUR EGGS ARE IN ONE BASKET IT CREATES PROBLEMS FOR YOU. THAT IS MY THOUGHT PROCESS ON THIS. THERE ARE THOSE IN THE ORGANIZATION TO FEEL DIFFERENTLY. THERE ARE RETIREES THAT FEEL STRONGLY THEY SHOULD BE RECEIVING A COLA. ONE OF THE REASONS WHY ANNUITIES ARE LOW IS BECAUSE HISTORICALLY WE HAVE NOT PAID OUR EMPLOYEES WELL. WHAT WE PAID HISTORICALLY OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS FRANKLY IS WRONG. SAME THING GOES FOR OUR NON-CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES. WE ARE MAKING CHANGES TO THAT.

OUR MONTHLY ANNUITIES IN RETIREMENT THE EMPLOYEE THAT STARTS TODAY WILL HAVE A FAR BETTER RETIREMENT THAN SOMEBODY WHO RETIRES TODAY. THE SAME POSITION BECAUSE THE SALARY STRUCTURES ARE SO MUCH BETTER. THAT IS THE REAL PROBLEM. WE DID NOT PAY THESE EMPLOYEES ENOUGH WHEN THEY WERE WORKING FOR US. THAT IS WHY THERE ANNUITIES ARE LOW. DO

YOU ALL HAVE QUESTIONS ON THIS? >> SO THIS IS A NON-RETROACTIVE COLA. SO WE DON'T HAVE TO LOOKING BACK TO CATCH UP. BUT IF WE WERE TO APPROVE ONE OF THESE OPTIONS, MOVING FORWARD WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? EACH YEAR ONCE WE LOCK IN EACH YEAR WE HAVE TO INCREASE BY A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE TWO YEARS FROM NOW?

>> WE CHOSE A 30% INCREASE. IN 2025 WE GOING TO DO A 30% INCREASE. WE WILL GET IT DONE. BECAUSE THAT IS HOW IT WORKS.

EVERYBODY WOULD GET WHATEVER CPI YOU AS OF DECEMBER 2023 AND 2024 THEY WOULD GET 30% OF THAT INCREASE. LET'S SAY IT WAS 3.4% . THEY WOULD GET $16.67. ON AVERAGE. IN 2026, BECAUSE WE CAN TURN IT ON OR TURN IT OFF OR CHANGE IT STILL BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE THAT WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY. LET'S SAY YOU WANTED TO GO TO 50%. YOU COULD DO THAT. ONCE YOU DO THAT YOU ARE STUCK AT 50% UNLESS YOU WANT TO TURN IT OFF COMPLETELY. AND YOU CAN DO THAT. YOU CAN TURN IT OFF COMPLETELY. SO SOME ORGANIZATIONS AND SOME COMMUNITIES ARE DOING THAT. USING THIS IS A ONE TIME COLA ADJUSTMENT. THEY INTEND ON TURNING IT OFF. OTHERS ARE SAYING WE WANT TO DO THIS FOR OUR RETIREES AND WE ARE KEEPING IT ON. THEY MAY START AT 30 AND GO TO 50 OR 70 JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITY TO GRADUATE THAT OVER TIME. IT IS

NOT AS BIG OF A FINANCIAL HIT. >> YOU HAVE UNTIL I THINK DECEMBER 31ST OF 2026. I THINK THAT IS RIGHT. 25? DECEMBER 31ST YOU HAVE UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST OF 2025 TO MAKE A DECISION. IF YOU DON'T DO IT BEFORE THEN YOU DON'T GET AN

OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT. >> I HAVE A QUESTION. JUST FOR HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE FOR THE COUNCIL. THE EARLY 2000 SYSTEM AND THE SISTER CITY MODEL CAME INTO PLAY. AND WE BEGAN TO CHASE THE AVERAGE OF THE 10 SISTER CITIES AND SALARIES BEGAN TO CLIMB. PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO STARTED AT 98 RECEIVED THE BENEFIT OF THAT JUST WITHIN THE FIRST COUPLE YEARS OF MY CAREER. MY PAY STARTED CLIMBING THEREFORE MY RETIREMENT STARTING GETTING BETTER. THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN TROUBLE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT DID NOT REALIZE THAT BENEFIT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT >> I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A WAY -- I'M EXCLUDING MYSELF FROM THIS. BUT THE PEOPLE THAT WERE PRIOR TO THAT ERA OF THE 10 SISTER CITIES STARTING TO GET MORE MARKET DRIVEN AND PAPER I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A WAY TO GET COLAS TO THEM AND NOT THE REST. BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE WHEN I FIRST STARTED WE MADE $400 A WEEK. PEOPLE THAT PROMOTED TO SERGEANT -- MUCH BIGGER THAN THIS JUST THE POLICE. PAY REALLY WAS DISMAL BACK THEN.

THAT IS WHAT THEIR RETIREMENT WAS CAPTIVATED ON PRE-MID 2000.

THEY DON'T MAKE VERY MUCH MONEY.

>> NO THEY DON'T. >> POVERTY LEVEL TYPE

[01:45:02]

RETIREMENT. >> COUPLE HUNDRED BUCKS A MONTH. OUR LOWEST ANNUITY IS -- FOUR DOLLARS A MONTH. THAT IS BECAUSE THEY CAME TO THE ORGANIZATION THEY PROBABLY HAD 20 YEARS OF SERVICE SOMEPLACE ELSE THEY QUICKLY RETIRED. THE ARE STILL PART OF THE SEAS OF THEM SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY

RETIRED FROM ABILENE. >> IS SPILLED OUT INTO ALL

OVER THE CITY . >> WE BEGAN TO USE THAT AS THE MARKET DRIVER. BEFORE THAT TIME THEY DON'T MAKE VERY MUCH

MONEY. >> FOCUS MORE IN THAT

DIRECTION. >>> NO THERE IS NOT. AT UNDER THE LAW. IT IS LIKE THE MUSKETEERS. NOR CAN YOU SAY HERE IS A BATCH OF EMPLOYEES WE JUST GOING TO GIVE YOU A CHECK.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IS LAWFUL.

>> FOR UNDERSTANDING THE ONES THAT ARE RECEIVING FOR A FIVE

DOLLARS A MONTH -- >> THAT IS AN EXTREME EXAMPLE.

>> THAT IS SOMEONE WHO CAME FROM ANOTHER CITY. THEY WORKED FOR ABILENE FOR 6 MONTHS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND THEN

RETIRED. >> THIS IS A VETERAN WHO SPENT 25 YEARS IN THE ARMED FORCES. WE TIRES. COMES TO WORK FOR THE CITY AND BECAUSE OF THEIR PRIOR SERVICE CREDIT THEY ARE NOW ELIGIBLE TO RETIRE. THEY HAVE OVER 20 YEARS OF SERVICE. THEY DON'T -- THEY WERE HERE FOR 5 YEARS BECAUSE THEY ARE BESTED. BUT THEY RETIRED. THERE IS NOT A LOT IN THERE BECAUSE THEY DID NOT STAY LONG ENOUGH. THEY ALREADY HAVE A RETIREMENT SYSTEM THAT HAS A COLA. THAT IS THERE FEDERAL SYSTEM. THAT IS AN EXTREME EXAMPLE. ON THE OTHER END WE HAVE AN ANNUITY THAT IS $12,000 A MONTH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BOTH OF THOSE ARE THE EXTREME END OF THE CYCLE. I REFERENCE THE CHART THE AVERAGE IS $1600 A

MONTH. >> ONCE AGAIN THE 30% INCREASE WE ARE AT 94.2%. 30% INCREASES REDUCES IT TO WHAT?

>> THAT IS FOR THAT IS THE INTEGRITY OF THE FUND FOR ALL

RETIREES. >> THIS IS REALLY TRYING TO

HELP VERY FEW. >> I WOULD ARGUE --

>> THAT IS THE REALITY. THERE IS A FEW PEOPLE THAT WORK BEFORE THE PRIOR -- THAT ARE GREATLY AFFECTED BY THIS. BUT YET IT HURTS THE INTEGRITY OF THE FUND FOR EVERYONE THAT IS

IN THE FIND IT NOW. >> IT DOES. IN FAIRNESS 88.2% IS A WELL-FUNDED PLAN BY ANY STANDARD HISTORICAL RULER AND 88 MEASURING TAPE. 88.2% FUNDED RATIO IS GOOD. IT IS NOT EXCELLENT BUT IT IS GOOD. IT IS HEALTHY. ANYTHING ABOVE 90 I WOULD CONSIDER EXCELLENT.

>> HOW DOES THIS -- YOU JOKED YOU DON'T HAVE KIDS.

I'VE NEVER RETIRED. I DON'T KNOW HOW PRIVATE-SECTOR RETIREMENTS AND COLAS WORKED FOR PRIVATE SECTORS. SO, IS THERE ANY WAY TO -- MAY BE I DON'T KNOW. IF YOU WORK IN A PRIVATE SECTOR JOB LIKE WHERE I WORK. IF I RETIRE FROM THEM AND I GET A RETIREMENT FROM THEM IS THERE A COLA BUILT INTO PRIVATE-SECTOR RETIREMENT PLANS?

>> DEPENDS. IF YOU WORK FOR BOEING YOU HAVE A CORPORATE PENSION SYSTEM AND THERE VERY WELL MAY BE. MOST RETIRE -- I WOULD SAY THAT BECAUSE I HAVE A FRIEND THAT WORKED FOR BOEING AND HE HAS A RETIREMENT PLAN. MOST PRIVATE-SECTOR RETIREMENT VEHICLES ARE GOING TO BE YOUR 401(K) CONCEPT. THERE WILL BE A MATCH. SO, CITY OF ABILENE EMPLOYEE PUTS IN 7%. CITIZENS MATCH IT 14%. IT IS 2 TO 1. 21% OF YOUR ANNUAL INCOME IN THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM. IT IS GUARANTEED TO GROW AT 5% UNDER STATE LAW. IT BEATS THAT 5% ON A REGULAR BASIS. EMPLOYEES DON'T SEE THAT . IT GOES TO THE BIG BUCKET OF CITY MONIES.

IT JUST DOESN'T EXIST ANYMORE.

AND SO FROM A PRIVACY PRIVATE-SECTOR COMPARISON IF YOU HAVE A 401(K) YOU ARE YOUR COLA. YOU ARE FUNDING YOUR COLA. YOU WILL TAKE IT AT A CERTAIN RATE POTENTIALLY. THERE IS A FORMULA WHERE YOU WITHDRAW AT A CERTAIN RATE PER BUT ALL THAT IS DONE ON THE FINANCIAL PLANNING SIDE. THE INDIVIDUAL

[01:50:02]

RETIREMENT. >> AS PART OF THIS JUST SO THAT WE AND THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND. HERE WE ARE LOOKING AT THE MEDIAN. 1163. THE COUNCIL SAYS WE WOULD DO A 30% INCREASE. THAT PERSON IS RECEIVING 1163 A MONTH WOULD GET AN ADDITIONAL $11 A MONTH. IN THAT EXAMPLE SOMEONE RECEIVING -- FOR ME ANYWAY THE BENEFIT IS THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE RECEIVING JUST A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS. I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE ONE OUT THERE GETTING THE 12,000 A MONTH. BUT, GETTING A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS THERE INCREASE AT MAX WOULD BE $11. REALLY THEY WOULD GET A FEW DOLLARS MORE PER MONTH. FIVE OR SIX DOLLARS. SOMEONE BRINGING IN $500 A MONTH UNDER THIS 30% INCREASE THAT WOULD GET MAYBE FIVE DOLLAR INCREASE PER MONTH. IS THAT ACCURATE?

>> IF WE DID A 30% COLA THERE ANNUITY IS $500 A MONTH WOULD

GET FIVE DOLLARS. >> THIS BENEFITS THE HIGH EARNERS. THE ONES THAT ARE GETTING FIVE OR 10,000 A MONTH THEY WILL GET THE LARGE INCREASE. THAT IS WHERE THE 2.6

MILLION IS REALLY GOING. >> IT DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM . IT DOES PROVIDE A COLA. IT DOESN'T SOLVE THE

PROBLEM. >> WHAT ARE OTHER OPTIONS WE HAVE? IF YOU'RE GOING TO SAY THAT IS A DIFFERENT DISCUSSION

LET'S MOVE TO THE NEXT TOPIC. >> IS A GREAT DISCUSSION. THE OPTION YOU HAPPY FOR YOU YOU CANNOT GO BACK. FOR EXAMPLE OUR FIRE PENSION IS NOT 94.2% FUNDED. WE CAN'T GO BACK AND CHANGE THE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE 20 YEARS AGO OR 15 YEARS AGO 10 YEARS AGO THAT GOT TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY ON THAT PLAN. WE CAN ONLY DO WHAT IS GOING FORWARD. I CAN'T FIX THE SINS OF THE PAST. I CAN ONLY MAKE SURE WE DON'T SEND IN THE FUTURE. THE WAY TO SOLVE THIS IS YOUR EMPLOYEES WELL. NOT OVER THE TOP. COMPENSATE THEM APPROPRIATELY FOR THE WORK THEY PERFORM. IF COUNSEL WANTED TO CONSIDER MATCHING A 457 CONTRIBUTION WE DON'T DO THAT RIGHT NOW. THERE IS SPACE FOR THAT CONVERSATION. FRANKLY I THINK GIVING THE EMPLOYEE THE SALARY INCREASE ALLOWS THEM TO MAKE RESPONSIBLE ADULT CHOICES ON HOW THEY WANT TO SPEND THEIR DOLLARS. IF WE WEREN'T MATCHING THE TEAM TMR S SYSTEM AT 14% I WOULD ARGUE A 457 CONTRIBUTION MATCH WOULD BE NICE. WE ARE MATCHING ON PAPER 14%. OUR MATCH IS LESS THAN THAT. AROUND 11%. BECAUSE WE ARE 94.2% FUNDED. THAT PROVIDES AN ADVANTAGE. IT PROVIDES A BENEFIT. WE DON'T HAVE TO FUNDED AT THE FULL AMOUNT BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A LOT OF MONEY IN THERE AND IT IS HANDLED. SO IN MY OPINION IS YOUR CITY MANAGER. I'VE ARGUED THIS MY WHOLE CAREER. IT IS THE EMPLOYEE'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THEIR RETIREMENT FROM COST-OF-LIVING STANDPOINT. THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY AND THE T AND THE T IM RS SYSTEM IS SO GENEROUS. WE DID NOT HAVE TMR AS WE ARE ABSOLUTELY APPROPRIATELY MAKING 457 CONTRIBUTION SUPPLEMENTS. WITH TMR AS IT IS HARD TO ARGUE THAT WE ARE DOING LESS THAN WE NEED TO BE DOING.

>> JUST FOR CLARITY, THE 30% FOR EXAMPLE -- 2.6 MILLION IS NOT JUST THE SEA. IT IS ADDED TO THE BUDGET ONGOING. S IT GETS MORE EXPENSIVE OVER TIME BECAUSE SALARIES INCREASED OVER

TIME. >> IT IS AN ONGOING --

>> YES SIR >> I DON'T WANT TO OPEN PANDORA'S BOX WITH THIS QUESTION. OUTSIDE OF THIS LET'S SAY COUNSEL SAYS THIS ONLY BENEFITS THE ALREADY ONES THAT ARE RECEIVING A LARGE ANNUITY MONTHLY. WE DON'T WANT TO MESS WITH THIS. IS THERE A WAY OUTSIDE OF THIS TR MS : THAT THE COUNCIL CAN DO A EITHER A ONE OFF OR AN ANNUAL BASIS . FOR THOSE THAT ARE MAKING THE MEDIAN AND LESS WE GIVE YOU X NUMBER OF DOLLARS. IS THAT POSSIBLE OR THAT IS NOT

ALLOWED? >> I DON'T BELIEVE YOU CAN USE PUBLIC FUNDS TO PAY A PRIVATE PARTY. I PERSONALLY DON'T BELIEVE IT IS LAWFUL OR CONSTITUTIONAL. I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY. STANLEY THE STANLEY IS THE ATTORNEY. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU RESEARCH THAT QUESTION ENOUGH.

>> THAT WAS A QUESTION I ASKED ROBERT. IS THERE ANY WAY TO DO JUST A FLAT AMOUNT? AND NOT A PERCENTAGE. THAT IS NOT

ALLOWED EITHER. >> THAT WOULD HELP THOSE AT

[01:55:01]

THE LOWER END. >> I THINK IF YOU PAY OUTSIDE THE TMR S SYSTEM YOU ARE OPENING THE DOOR FOR PROBLEMS.

>> MY OPINION IS THAT IT IS A LARGE CHUNK OF CHANGE THAT SEEMS TO ONLY BENEFIT THE VERY ALREADY HIGH EARNERS FROM THE ANNUITY. I'VE OPENED TO SOME OTHER TYPE OF PLAN IF ONE EXISTS THAT WE COULD TARGET THOSE THAT ARE AT THE MEDIAN OR UNDER. IT SOUNDS LIKE THOSE OF THE ONES THAT NEED THE MONEY.

IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THIS WOULD BENEFIT THE ONES THAT REALLY

DON'T NEED IT AT THIS TIME. >> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR

DISCUSSION ON THIS TOPIC ? >> I AGREE.

>> OKAY I'M DONE TALKING FOR A LITTLE BIT. MAX.

>> WHAT A GREAT DAY TO TALK ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS. GOOD

[4. Capital Improvements]

SO, YOU SEE THE DIFFERENT COORDINATED COLORS. TO THE YEARS IN WHICH WE DID THESE IMPROVEMENTS. FROM 2016, WE HAVE TOUCHED 26% OF THE ROADWAYS IN ABILENE. THAT IS IN DIFFERENT VARIANTS OF REPAIR. THAT COULD BE A SEAL FOR NEWER ROADS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO MAINTAIN AND GET THE MAXIMUM LIFE OUT OF THE ROADS. THAT CAN BE IN MILL AND FILL WITH WHICH IS THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD TO TAKE THE SURFACE OFF. ALL THE SUB GRADE IS GOOD. WE PUT IN A NEW ASPHALT SURFACE ON. OR THAT IS GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE SUB GRADE RE-COMPACTING EVERYTHING AND PUTTING A NEW ROAD SURFACE ON. SO, SINCE 2016 $125 MILLION HAS GONE INTO OUR ROADWAY REPAIRS. THAT IS FROM BONDS.

THAT IS FROM THE FEE. THAT IS FROM OTHER SOURCES THAT WE HAVE PUT INTO THE ROADWAYS. 46 MILLION OF THAT HAS BEEN FROM THE FEE. WHICH WE STARTED COLLECTING IN 2019. ANY

QUESTIONS OR ANY OF THAT? >> SOLD 2024 THAT IS THIS YEAR. THESE ARE THE PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE ARE DOING.

ON THE LEFT OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS. THESE ARE WORK ZONES THAT YOU MAY HEAR. AND LISTED THERE BAKER HEIGHTS WE JUST COMPLETED. THAT WAS A 2023 THAT KIND OF CAME OVER INTO A PORTION OF 2024. CANTERBURY TRAILS WE JUST STARTED. THEN THE OTHER THREE FAIRWAY OAKS PASADENA AND WEST ROSE PARK THOSE WILL START BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF THE YEAR. FOR LINEAR PROJECTS THESE ARE ROADWAYS THAT GO FROM ONE POINT TO ANOTHER. YOU CAN SEE LISTED THERE THE THREE THAT WE HAVE THIS YEAR. THESE ARE STRATEGICALLY CHOSEN AS KIND OF THE WORST SEGMENTS OF THESE ROADS THAT WE CAN AFFORD ALL AT ONCE. INSTEAD OF DOING THE ENTIRE ROAD WE DO A SECTION OF THE ROAD THAT WE FEEL NEEDS TO BE DONE. AND WE CAN DO MULTIPLE LINEAR STREETS AROUND THE CITY. THE INTERSECTIONS, THE THIRD ONE ANTLEY MEMORIAL WE HAVE WARRANTED THAT A SIGNAL IS -- IS WARRANTED TO BE PUT AT THAT INTERSECTION. SO BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR WE SHOULD SEE A NEW TRAFFIC SIGNAL. AT MEMORIAL AND ANTLEY WHICH IS GOING TO IT IS TRAFFIC COMING FROM SAM'S AS WELL AS NEIGHBORHOODS. AND A GROWING POPULATION DOWN THERE. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET ONTO ANTLEY FROM MEMORIAL ESPECIALLY DURING HIGH TRAFFIC TIMES. THAT WILL MAKE THAT AREA A LOT SAFER. THEN WE'VE GOT SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH 27 CORE DOOR. THESE ARE LOOKING AT SIGNALS AND IMPROVING SIGNALS. TO CREATE A FLOWING CORE DOOR THROUGH THAT AREA. ANY QUESTIONS ON 2024?

>> THIS IS STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE STREET

[02:00:01]

MAINTENANCE ADVISORY BOARD. >> YES SIR. STAFF RECOMMENDS WE GO TO THE STREET MAINTENANCE BOARD. THEY THEN RECOMMEND TO YOU GUYS WHO ULTIMATELY APPROVED THE PROGRAMS.

>> FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE ADVISORY BOARD I KNOW I BELIEVE THE MAYOR'S RECOMMENDATION WHEN HE WAS A COUNCILMAN. HOW DOES THAT ADVISORY BOARD WORK AND HOW HAS IT WORKED ON A PRACTICAL LEVEL?

>> WE MEET TWICE A YEAR. THE STREET MAINTENANCE ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS WE ASKED THEM TO KIND OF GO AROUND AND LISTEN FOR INPUTS FROM THE COMMUNITY. AS WELL AS SO WE FROM THE EVALUATIONS WE HAVE DONE HAVE KIND OF A LIST OF ROADS AS WELL AS MY STREET MAINTENANCE STAFF. RECOMMEND ROADS TO OUR ENGINEERS. HE THEN PUT A LIST TOGETHER AND WE GATHER ALL OF THAT AND BRING IT TO THE BOARD. WITHIN THE BOARD TALKS AND FROM INPUTS THEY'VE GOTTEN FROM THE CITY AS WELL AS INPUTS THEY TAKE FROM STAFF THEN THEY DETERMINE THAT LIST TO GO FORWARD. SEE YOU GUYS FOR APPROVAL. THEN IT COMES TO US

TO EXECUTE. >> FROM A COUNCIL POLICY PERSPECTIVE ANYTHING THAT YOU GUYS WOULD WANT US TO TWEAK AS FAR AS THAT? THAT IS RELATIVELY A NEW VEHICLE. IS THE BOARD NEEDS TO BE LARGER OR SMALLER IS IT SOMETHING IT IS REALLY

WORKING WELL AS IS? >> I BELIEVE IT IS WORKING WELL. AGAIN I SAY IT IS BIANNUAL. WE MEET TWICE A YEAR.

AS WE ARE PREPARING FOR THAT, WE DEFINITELY HAVE CONVERSATIONS. WE CONTINUALLY ALL YEAR-ROUND ARE LOOKING AT THE NEXT WHAT ARE THE NEXT ROADS WHICH YOU WILL SEE IN THE

NEXT SLIDE. >> THE BOARD IS SERVING THE INTENT OF THE COUNCIL HAD WHEN THEY CREATED THE BOARD. IF THAT INTENT IS CHANGING WE SUPPORT WHATEVER YOU GUYS DECIDE TO DO.

RIGHT NOW IT IS WORKING VERY WELL.

>> SO THESE ARE I HATE TO SAY IT IS A TOP 10. BUT THESE ARE SOME OF STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE PROJECTS IN DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. YOU WILL SEE -- THE FULL DEPTH REPAIRS. ARE THE ROADWAYS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT. GO ALL THE WAY TO THE SUB GRADE. MOST EXPENSIVE ROADS TO REPAIR. TO THE RIGHT OF THEY ARE THE PARTIAL DEPTH THOSE ARE SOME OF THE WORK ZONES THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SUB GRADE. WE GO BRING THE SURFACE OFF WHEN THEY NEED TO DO SOME SPOT REPAIRS. ON THE SUBSURFACE. BUT AGAIN THOSE ARE A LITTLE LESS COSTLY TO REPAIR THOSE AREAS. AND THEN THE LINEAR STREETS THOSE ARE OUR WHAT WE'VE SAID OF THE TOP 10. AND THOSE CHANGE AS THE BOARD CHOOSES SOME OF THOSE STREETS. THOSE COME OFF. WE ADD MORE ON AS WE GO ALONG. AND THOSE MAY THE ONES THAT WE HAVE UP HERE, WE TRIED TO TAKE TO EACH BOARD MEETING IF THEY HAVE TAKEN OFF TO EITHER GET BUMPED UP. WE ALSO REEVALUATE.

SO WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING AT THAT TOP 10 LIST OF STREETS.

>> ANY QUESTIONS? >> HOW IS THE TURNOVER? I DON'T REMEMBER THE YEAR MAYBE 2016 OR SO THE NUMBER WAS THAT WE NEEDED 400 MILLION PUT TOWARD STREETS. IT LOOKS LIKE WE'VE SPENT 125 OR 125 MILLION SINCE 2016. OBVIOUSLY STREETS THE GRADE AS SOON AS YOU LAY THEM DOWN. ARE WE PUTTING ENOUGH MONEY TOWARDS THE STREETS TO BRING THEM UP TO SPEED FAST ENOUGH BEFORE THEY START DEGRADING. WE'VE TOUCHED 26% OF THE STREETS. BASICALLY ARE WE DOING IT FAST ENOUGH AND THROWING ENOUGH MONEY AT IT FAST ENOUGH BEFORE THEY DEGRADE? ARE WE IMPROVING OR DEGRADING?

>> THE BEST I CAN TELL YOU WE ARE MAINTAINING. THE NUMBERS -- I DID NOT PUT PCI ON THE SLIDES. FOR DUE PURPOSE.

BECAUSE PCI'S WHEN WE GET THE OVERALL EVALUATION 10 YEARS AGO VERSUS FIVE YEARS AGO THE PCI GREATLY DEGRADED. IT WILL CONTINUE TO DEGRADE BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF THOSE HIGH-COST FULL RECLAMATION ROADWAYS. AS WE ARE GOING AFTER THOSE, AND WE ARE IMPROVING THOSE IN GETTING THOSE UP TO THE STANDARD, WE ARE DOING WELL SIR WITH THE MONEY WE ARE PUTTING INTO IT. WE CAN ALWAYS USE MORE.

>> LET ME ADD TO THAT. WHEN WE ORIGINALLY ADOPTED THE STREET

[02:05:03]

AND I THINK THE CONCEPT THAT MAYOR WILLIAMS SAID IT WAS TOO MUCH AND TOO SOON. THAT GOT QUOTED AROUND THE WORLD. AND SO, -- COUNSEL ASKED FOR SOLUTIONS STAFF PROVIDED THE SOLUTION. YOU ALL SAID I LIKE THE IDEA BUT THIS IS WHAT IT NEEDS TO BE. THIS IS HOW WE HAVE DONE IT. WE HAD A PLANT RATE INCREASE THAT WAS PAUSED BECAUSE OF COVID. WE ADDED THAT RATE INCREASE AND ALSO ADDITIONAL DOLLARS TO THE STREET MAINTENANCE FEE THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND AND OTHER FUNDS. THE STREET MAINTENANCE FUNDS TO PAY FOR ROAD IMPROVEMENT. WE SHOULD SEE IF WE ARE ABLE TO WORK THE PLAN ACCORDINGLY AND INCREASE TO THE PCI OVERALL AT THE END OF THE NEXT FIVE YEAR PERIOD. THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WE FACE IS OUR IN CEREALS WE ARE MAKING HEADWAY IN IMPROVING THE PCI OF OUR ARTERIALS. IT IS OUR RESIDENTIAL ROADS THAT ARE BRINGING THAT AVERAGE DOWN SO DRAMATICALLY. SO WHAT YOU SEE WITH THE NEXT FIVE-YEAR APPROACH IS A REAL ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS SPECIFICALLY SOME OF OUR RESIDENTIAL AREAS SO WE CAN INCREASE THE PCI OVERALL. THERE ARE SOME RESIDENTIAL STREETS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT I AM FEARFUL OF TURNING BACK TO GRAVEL IF WE ARE NOT ABLE TO FULLY FIX. MORE MONEY IS ALWAYS HELPFUL. AT SOME POINT THE COMMUNITY IS PAYING WHAT IT CAN PAY. AND I THINK WE ARE PROBABLY CLOSE TO THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT. YOU WILL NOT SEE ME RECOMMENDING IN THE STREET FEE EXPENDITURE REDUCTIONS AS PART OF WHATEVER REDUCTIONS WE HAVE TO MAKE AS PART OF OUR REALITIES WE ARE FACING WITH SALES TAX. THIS COMMUNITY HAS SAID IT LOUD AND CLEAR THEY WANT STREETS REPAIRED. UNLESS YOU ALL PROVIDE DIFFERENT DIRECTION

THAT IS WHERE WE ARE HEADING. >> CAN YOU SPEAK TO I GET A LOT OF EMAILS ABOUT STREETS. CITIES IGNORING MY STREET.

THEY ARE NEVER GOING TO FIX IT. WHAT IS THE PROCESS JUST IN A FEW WORDS WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF HOW THE CITY GOES AROUND TO IDENTIFY STREETS ? WE HAVE GUYS GOING OUT IN TRUCKS -- WHAT IS

THE PROCESS? >> ABSOLUTELY. AS WE HAVE A TEAM ON THE STAFF THAT DOES THE STREET THE POTHOLES. PATCHES THOSE KIND OF THINGS. THEY ARE DRIVING AROUND CONTINUOUSLY.

AS THEY SEE ROADS THAT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED OR WE'VE DONE SO MANY PATCHING IT LOOKS LIKE A WAR ZONE. OR SO MANY POTHOLES IT LOOKS LIKE A WAR ZONE. THOSE ARE SPOTS THAT DIDN'T GET PUSHED UP TO SUPERVISORS. AND WE LOOK AT MAYBE WE NEED TO DO A PATCH FOR THE WHOLE ROAD. MAYBE THAT NEEDS TO BE SHOVED OVER TO THE ENGINEERS. THIS IS A POTENTIAL WE NEED TO TAKE AND GET ELEVATED QUICKER THAN MAYBE WHAT THE STUDY SAID.

>> SO QUICK FIXES ANOTHER AVENUE. ALWAYS USING IT. THE BOARD -- BOARD MEMBERS ARE ALWAYS A GREAT WAY THAT WE TAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ROADWAYS. AND JUST A PLUG JUNE 20TH IS THE NEXT STREET MAINTENANCE BOARD MEETING. AS YOU MAY BE GETTING COMMENTS ABOUT STREETS. GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO COME AND GIVE THEIR INPUTS ON THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD OR MAY BE OTHER PLACES AROUND THE CITY.

>> HAS THE PUBLIC REALLY TAKEN A HOLD STARTED USING --

>> QUITE A BIT. >> WE GET MANY INPUTS IN.

BOTH FOR THE STREETS AS WELL AS WHAT IT WAS INTENDED FOR. A LIGHTS OUT STOP SIGN IS DOWN. THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

>> CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW WE USE THE THE SOFTWARE -- TO ANALYZE APPROPRIATE TREATMENTS AND HOW THAT COMES BEFORE THE BOARD AND THE DECISION PROCESS -- WE PUT A PACKAGE TOGETHER AND HOW DO WE GET THAT ESTABLISHED?

>> WE DID IN I THINK IT WAS 2011 AND THEN 18. WE BROUGHT IN A COMPANY TO EVALUATE ALL OF OUR ROADWAYS. THEY DROVE AROUND ALL OF OUR ROADS AND DID RADAR TREATMENTS . AND GAVE THE FINAL REPORT AS TO WHAT THE CONDITION OF NOT ONLY WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SURFACE. WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE SUBSURFACE AS WELL. IF THERE IS CRACKING GOING ON. WE USE THAT REPORT FOR EACH SEGMENT OF THE ROADS. SO ONE ROAD MAY HAVE 10 SEGMENTS ON IT. SO WE CAN BREAK DOWN AS TO THIS PORTION IS GOING TO NEED REPAIR PRIOR TO THIS PORTION. THAT IS AGAIN

[02:10:01]

>> HOPE THAT ANSWERS THE QUESTION.

>>> I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION. SO WE ARE MAINTAINING. WHAT WOULD IT TAKE DOLLAR AMOUNT PER YEAR TO ACTUALLY START MAKING HOWEVER YOU WANT TO CATEGORIZE 5% IMPROVEMENT ?

>> WE ARE MORE THAN MAINTAINING. IF ESHMONT THE PLAN THAT WAS ADOPTED FOR THIS FIVE-YEAR PERIOD OF THE RATE MODEL IS AN INCREASE IN PCI OVERALL. IT IS MOVING UPWARD.

IS A 15%? ABSOLUTELY NOT. IT IS A SMALL NUMBER BUT WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS. THE CONCEPT THAT YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO GET TO MY STREET. I FEEL FOR THAT. I'M SYMPATHETIC TO THAT CAUSE. WE PROBABLY GOT ANOTHER 15 YEARS OF THIS. HOW WE ARE DOING IT NOW TO BE ABLE TO HIT ALL OF OUR STREETS. AND GET THEM TO THE POINT WHERE THEY NEED TO BE. WE WILL HAVE TO GO AND START DOING IT AGAIN. WE DID NOT GET HERE OVERNIGHT. IT IS GOING TO TAKE A WHILE TO GET IT CORRECTED. BUT IF YOU WANTED TO SEE 5 TO 10 TO 15% INCREASE IMPROVEMENT YOU HAVE TO BRING TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THE TABLE. WE HAVE DONE THAT ANALYSIS AND WE CAN BRING THAT BACK IF THAT IS A COUNCIL WANTS TO DO. WITH THAT DISCUSSION WAS HAD WHEN WE ADOPTED THE FEE STRUCTURE WE HAVE FOR THIS FIVE-YEAR PLANNING PERIOD.

>> TODAY IT IS STAY THE COURSE NOT LOOKING FOR AN INCREASE OR

DECREASE. >> THAT IS FAIR. WE WANT TO SHOW YOU WAS TO WHAT IS UPCOMING. WHAT IS ON THE BLOCK SO TO SPEAK FOR THE STREET MAINTENANCE BOARD TO LOOK AT.

IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS OR THAT OR CONCERNS OR THINGS HE WANTED TO SEE. YOU HAD MENTIONED SOME ROADS.

>> SEVENTH AND REBECCA. REBECCA IS ITS UNIQUE ANIMAL.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE POINT THAT WE TRY WITH OUR IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM WE DO LOOK AT THE INCONVENIENCE OF THE TRAVELING PUBLIC. RIGHT NOW BUFFALO GAP IS I'M SURE -- A TON ON BUFFALO GAP. WE TRIED TO AVOID PROJECTS IN THAT AREA FOR THE TIME BEING. WHILE BUFFALO GAP IS UNTIL IT IS COMPLETION WE ARE NOT GOING TO GO AFTER REBECCA TO PUT MORE INCONVENIENCE INTO THAT AREA. WE KNOW IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

IT IS HIGH ON THE PRIORITY. BUT WE DO EVALUATE THAT TO LOOK AT WHAT AVENUES ARE PEOPLE TRAVELING AROUND AND HOW ARE THEY TRYING TO GET AROUND BUFFALO GAP.

>> IT HAS BEEN IT IS REALLY ONLY FOUR YEARS SINCE WE IMPLEMENTED THE FEE. WE HAD THE ELECTION AND IT TOOK A FULL YEAR OF COLLECTING FEES TO GET TO START THIS. SO ABOUT FOUR YEARS. I REALIZE WE'VE HIT ABOUT 26% OF THE STREETS. THAT MEANS 74% HAVE NOT BEEN. I REALIZE THAT. YOU START FEELING I'M PAYING FOR MY NEIGHBOR STREET IMPROVEMENT. WE ARE DOING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT MORE THAN BEFORE. I REALIZE IT IS GOING TO TAKE TIME. BUT UNLESS I DON'T THINK THE CITIZENS WANT TO PAY THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IT WOULD COST TO EXPEDITE THIS PROCESS. IT IS SLOW BUT WE STARTED WAY BEHIND . I THINK THE FEE HAS DONE ITS JOB. IT IS JUST GOING TO TAKE TIME.

>> WE ARE LOOKING MORE LONG-TERM AS WELL. WE ARE DOING THOSE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE. WE ARE CHANGING THE OIL IN THE CAR MORE OFTEN NOW TO GET THE ENTIRE LIFETIME

OF THE ROAD OUT THERE. >> IT IS CHEAPER TO MAINTAIN.

>> I KNOW THAT A GOOD CHUNK OF THE 2016 BOND WAS SPENT TO IMPROVE INTERSECTIONS. THERE WERE INTERSECTIONS THEY WERE JUST ASPHALT . BECAUSE OUR STREETS ARE STORM WATER SYSTEM, WE WERE FIXING THOSE SAME INTERSECTIONS OVER AND OVER. WE PUT A BIG CHUNK OF MONEY INTO MAKING THOSE CONCRETE WHERE WE DID NOT HAVE TO GO BACK AFTER EVERY YEAR.

AND REBUILT HIM. THAT WAS SMART. YOU DON'T GET TO SEE THE BENEFITS THE FLASHING IS OF THAT. OVER TIME THAT WILL PAY

[02:15:03]

SOME BENEFITS. >> WE ARE EIGHT YEARS INTO IT

IF YOU GO BACK TO THE 2016 -- >> BUT WE DID NOT START SPENDING IT UNTIL 2016. I'M USING THE RAINBOW CHART AS THE BASELINE. WE'VE BEEN AT IT FOR 8 YEARS. 26% HAVE BEEN TOUCHED. THAT IS A 31 TO 32 YEAR CYCLE. IS THAT ADEQUATE

TO MAINTAIN ? >> LET ME FINISH ASKING.

CERTAINLY I THINK THIS IS A GOOD PACE. AND YET UNSATISFYING IF WE HAVE ANOTHER 24 YEARS FOR PEOPLE IF THAT IS YOUR -- I KNOW YOU SAID 15. DO WE NEED TO RAISE THE STREET MAINTENANCE FEE? DO WE NEED TO SEEK ANOTHER SOURCE OF FUNDING? ARE WE ON A GLIDE SLOPE THAT WILL BE SATISFACTORY FOR THE CITIZENS WHO ARE COMMUNICATING THEIR DISSATISFACTION REGULARLY? DO WE NEED TO LOOK AT MORE? I'M NOT CRITICIZING WHAT WE HAVE DONE WHAT WE ARE DOING. I'M SAYING THIS MIGHT NOT BE ENOUGH.

>> THE ANSWER LIES WITH COUNSEL. PROFESSIONALLY I THINK WE ARE DOING A GOOD JOB WITH THE RESOURCES WE'VE BEEN GIVEN TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. A COMMUNITY OF OUR SIZE SPENDING $12 MILLION A YEAR ON STREETS IS UNHEARD OF WITHOUT FINANCING THAT DEBT. WE ARE NOT USING STREET BONDS. WE ARE NOT ALONE IN DOING THIS. THE CITY OF FORT WORTH IS CONSIDERING THIS VERY THING. THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT CHARGING THEIR RESIDENTS NORTH OF NINE DOLLARS. IF ALL THE HOUSEHOLDS THE CITY OF FORT WORTH HAS NINE DOLLARS PER HOUSE THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT BRINGING IN I DON'T KNOW 60 SOMETHING MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR. FOR THEIR -- FORT WORTH STREETS ARE NOT GOOD PICS THAT IS WHAT THE STAFF WAS SAYING.

>> IT MAKES US LOOK REALLY GOOD. I THINK THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON OUR STREETS HAVE GONE DOWN DRAMATICALLY FROM WHEN I FIRST CAME TO ABILENE. IN A LARGE PART BECAUSE OF THE BONDS. IN THE STREET MAINTENANCE FEE. TO YOUR QUESTION OF SHOULD WE SPEND MORE? THAT IS UP TO YOU ALL.

WE CAN HIT THE THROTTLE AND GO FASTER. IT IS GOING TO REQUIRE MORE REVENUE. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE THE STREET FEE TO GET IT. BECAUSE IT CAN COME FROM OTHER PLACES. UNLESS YOU WANT TO CUT A PROGRAM OR SERVICE WHICH I'M HAPPY TO DO.

WE NEED TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.

>> 32 YEARS -- >> I DON'T THINK THE CYCLE IS

32 YEARS. >> THE STREET MAINTENANCE FEE WAS INJECTED INTO THE REVENUE STREAM THREE YEARS INTO THE

PROGRAM. >> YOU THINK IT IS A 15 YEAR

CYCLE? >> WE HAVE TO GO ANOTHER 15 YEARS BEFORE WE TOUCH THE NUMBER OF STREETS TO SEE

SIGNIFICANT PCI IMPROVEMENT. >> WITH THE STREET MAINTENANCE FEE BEING IMPLEMENTED THE MONEY JUST STARTING TO BE SPENT IN 2019. WE NEED TO A THREE YEARS TO LOOK AT THIS TO SEE WHERE WE ARE GOING. MORE THAN NOW. I DON'T WANT TO PUT IT OFF UNTIL HE GETS BAD AGAIN. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A TRUE FACTOR ON HOW THE STREET MAINTENANCE FEE HAS WORKED SO FAR WITH JUST

FOUR OR FIVE YEARS. >> ONE POINT TO MAKE IF WE DO PUSH A LOT MORE MONEY INTO IT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT YOUR WHO IS DOING THE REPAIRS AS WELL. YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE -- DO THEY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO WORK ON OUR LOCAL STREETS AS WELL AS THE REQUIREMENTS TEXT.HAS ANOTHER REQUIREMENTS IN THE AREA? MONEY IS ALWAYS GOING TO TALK. I'M SURE THEY'RE GOING TO FIND CAPABILITY IF WE BRING THE MONEY TO THE TABLE. BUT, IN A SMALLER CITY LIKE WE HAVE IN ABILENE WE ALSO HAVE THAT

LIMITATION. >> WE DO HAVE A LIMITATION.

THIRD-PARTY CONTRACTORS OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS. WE HAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ROAD IMPROVEMENTS THROUGH A STATE PROGRAM. WE ENDED UP GETTING A CONTRACTOR OUT OF HOUSTON THAT SAID THEY GOT ALL THE BUSINESS. THEY GOT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TENS OF MILLIONS DOLLARS OF WORK. HE SAT THERE FOR 5 YEARS.

THEY DID ALL THE WORK. THEY ARE THE ONES THAT LITTLE BIT AND THEY GOT TO WORK. IF YOU START SPENDING THE DOLLARS AND START ATTRACTING NON-REGIONAL PAPERS FOR STATEWIDE CONTRACT PAPERS. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ATTRACT THEM. IT WILL IRRITATE YOUR LOCAL PERFORMANCE BUT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ATTRACT HIM.

>> THAT IS A MINOR ISSUE. IF YOU HAVE MONEY SOMEBODY WILL DO IT.

[02:24:59]

[02:25:04]

THE STREETS. >> THERE IS NOT EXCESS MONEY.

OFF. WE ARE DOING THIS OR THAT, LET'S PUT IT TOWARD THE STREETS. THAT IS WHERE WE NEED TO BE VIEWING IT.

>> THANK YOU. >>> REALLY, REALLY FAST.

>> WHAT WOULD ALSO BE HELPFUL, THIS IS JUST SOMETHING IN REGARDS TO THE PUBLIC. IF YOU ARE SHARING WITH US , STREET MAINTENANCE PROGRESS , HAVE YOU AND YOUR TEAM PUT TOGETHER ANY TYPE OF INTERACTIVE DASHBOARD, OR VIDEO THAT CAN ALSO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC WERE BE A VISIBLE REMINDER OF THE PROGRESS THAT IS POTENTIALLY BEING MADE? THAT WAY THERE IS NOT AN ASSUMPTION OF , WHAT IS OR IS NOT BEING DONE? I KNOW WORDS ON THE PAGE ARE HELPFUL, BUT IT HELPS TO BUILD TRUST AND

EQUITY IN THE COMMUNITY. >> WE HAVE A SECTION ON THEIR WEBSITE, YOUR TAX DOLLARS. MARINE KNOWS THE NAME OF IT.

YOUR ABILENE INVESTMENT. IT TALKS ABOUT THOSE THINGS , SPECIFICALLY. WE ARE REVAMPING IT NOW DUE TO THE NEW BOND PROGRAM. THAT WAS APPROVED. WE WILL A PROJECT UPDATES FOR THAT. WE DID THE SAME THING IN 2015. I THINK THE INFORMATION IS OUT THERE. DO WE DO A GOOD JOB OF ALWAYS GIVING UP FRONT OF MY FOR PEOPLE? WE DO NOT. DO PEOPLE ALWAYS WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT? PROBABLY NOT. I THINK WE COULD DO A BETTER JOB OF EDUCATING THE CITIZENS ON WHERE THEY CAN GO FOR INFORMATION. I AM HAPPY TO DO THAT. THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR GROWTH AND IMPROVEMENT ON COMMUNICATION, ALWAYS.

>> IF YOU WOULD LIKE US TO PUT TOGETHER SOMETHING THAT ADDRESSES THAT PARTICULARLY, LIKE WHAT WE HAVE DONE WITH ROADS SO FAR? WE ARE HAPPY TO DO THAT. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR

QUESTION? >> IT DOES. THANK YOU.

>> IT IS SAFE TO SAY, REGARDLESS OF HOW YOU WANT TO ROACH THE PLANNING OR THE ANALYSIS, OR THAT STREETS ARE

VERY IMPORTANCE PRIORITY . >> 100%.

>> WE HEAR THAT LOUD AND CLEAR FROM THE CITIZENS. I THINK COUNSEL AGREES , THIS REMAINS TOP OF MIND. WE ARE NOT DONE.

WE HAVE NOT FINISHED WITH THIS AS AN ISSUE.

>> I THINK THEY ARE GETTING BETTER, BUT THEY ARE CLEARLY NOT GOOD. WE ARE NOT WHERE WE NEED TO BE. THEY HAVE YEARS OF WORK TO GET WHERE THE COMMUNITY'S EXPECTATION IS.

>> IT IS NOT REALISTIC OR DESIRABLE TO ASK THEM ALL AT ONCE. YOU JUST KICK THE CAN FOR 15 OR 20 YEARS AND YOU HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I SEE VALUE IN BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE A SIMPLE CONCEPT SUCH AS, YEAH, WE HIT EVERY STREET EVERY 20 YEARS. I DON'T HAVE A FAVORITE NUMBER. IT IS KIND OF MAD TO SAY IN NUMBER. IF WE CAN COMMUNICATE THAT, IT ALLEVIATES A LOT OF THE CONCERN AND PEOPLE WILL BE WILLING TO LET THE PROCESS PLAY OUT AS OPPOSED TO A WE WILL GET TO IT

WHEN WE HAVE MONEY IDEA. >> I HEAR THE CONCERN AND THE REQUEST. I DON'T THINK THE PIE SLICES UP THAT NEATLY. IT IS NOT A PIE, IT IS AS WEIRD, MULTI-SHAPED THING. WE TOUCH EVERY STREET EVERY 20 YEARS, WE CAN SAY THAT , BUT THERE ARE DIFFERENT DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN PLAY IN ANY GIVEN YEAR. WE CAN

[02:30:03]

EXACTLY. >> THAT IS THE GOAL .

>> WE HAVE HAD ONE INCREASE ALREADY.

>> YES SIR . YES SIR. >> OKAY, TROY, ARE YOU WITH US? I WOULD LIKE TROY TO GO THROUGH THE TECHNOLOGY NEEDS AND I WILL ADD THIS COMMENT ON THE FIRST ONE THAT MICROSOFT LIMITATION SERVICES IS NOT CURRENTLY IN THIS BUDGET. WE WILL COME TO YOU ALL WITH A SERIES OF AMENDMENTS IN KEEPING WITH THE SALES TAX REALITIES THAT WE ARE FACING. WE HAVE OPERATING DOLLARS AND CAPITAL DOLLARS. OF THAT AMENDMENT WILL FUND THIS. UNLESS YOU SAY OTHERWISE, TODAY , AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO DISCUSS THAT IN GREATER DETAIL.

>> SHANE, ARE YOU READY TO GO?COMMENTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TOWARD SHANE.

>> WILL SHANE BE ARC SPOKESMAN? >> GOOD MORNING, ALL. I APPRECIATE THE PREVIOUS DISCUSSION. IT REVOLVED AROUND LANDING AND THE NEED FOR A LIFECYCLE ANALYSIS OF ASSETS.

TECHNOLOGY IS NOT ANY DIFFERENT . ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT IS CREATING A FIVE-YEAR I.T. MASTER PLAN. IT RECOGNIZES ALL DEPARTMENTS NEED AND FORECAST THOSE NEEDS ACROSS ALL THE DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES. WHAT WE ARE PRESENTING TODAY IS THE INTRO TO THAT. AS WE ACHIEVE THAT OVER TIME, WE HAVE A MORE FORMAL PRESENTATION. WE WANT TO INFORM THE BUDGET PROCESS AND THE NEED FOR THE TECHNOLOGY LIFECYCLE REPLACEMENT AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW SYSTEMS. ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE HAVE HERE BEFORE US ON THIS SLIDE IS THE MICROSOFT IMPLEMENTATION. A FEW MONTHS AGO, WE MADE THE DECISION TO GO FROM A GOOGLE LICENSE MODEL TO A MICROSOFT LICENSING MODEL. IT HAS US SHIFTING TECHNOLOGIES OVER TO THE MICROSOFT ENVIRONMENT. ONE OF THE PRIMARY, LARGE MILESTONES AS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED BEFORE WE ARE COMPLETE WITH THAT IS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A TOOL CALLED MICROSOFT EXCHANGE TO PUT OUR EMAIL SYSTEM ON. THAT RICK WIRES US TO TRANSITION FROM THE GOOGLE EMAIL THAT WE USE TODAY, AND ALL OF THE LICENSING AND THE SECURITY THAT GOES WITH IT TO THE MICROSOFT TENANT. WHEN WE DO THAT, THERE IS A LARGE MILESTONE AROUND THAT EXCHANGE SERVER AND THE CHANGE FROM OUR DOMAIN NAME FROM THE PREVIOUS GOOGLE ENVIRONMENT TO MICROSOFT. WE COULD PROBABLY DO THAT INTERNALLY ON INTERNAL RESOURCES, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THAT X DUTIES. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING SKILLS. DOING THAT AT THE COST OF ALL OF THE OTHER INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE GOING ON WITH THE CITY. IT WILL TAKE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESOURCES TO ACCOMPLISH THAT. IF WE WERE TO ACQUIRE THAT , I COULD DO SO IN A SHORTER AMOUNT OF TIME , WITH QUALITY, AND NOT HAVE TO SHUT DOWN OTHER INITIATIVES. WE ARE LOOKING TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT AND CONTINUING THE MICROSOFT IMPLEMENTATION AND SUPPORTING THE POTENTIAL USE OF SERVICES TO SUPPLEMENT OUR CAPABILITIES AND ACCOMPLISH THOSE TASKS. IN ADDITION, WE ARE LOOKING IN THAT TECHNOLOGY AREA, AND THE OPTICS NATURE OF THINGS. WE HAVE THE SKILL SHORTAGE IN THE DATABASE ENVIRONMENT, SIMILAR TO THE STORIES THAT YOU HEAR OF US NOT BEING ABLE TO HIRE FOLKS. WE LOST A DATABASE ADMINISTRATOR. WE NEED TO HAVE THAT SKILL TO NOT JUST MOVE TO THE MICROSOFT LICENSE MODEL, BUT TO CONSOLIDATE THAT ENVIRONMENT. WHEN I CAME IN, WHAT I FIND IS , WE HAVE POTENTIALLY HUNDREDS OF DATABASES ACROSS DOZENS OF SERVERS. THAT IS A VERY EXPENSIVE LICENSE MODEL . I WANT TO CONSOLIDATE THAT DOWN TO LESS DATABASES ON JUST A COUPLE SERVERS. WE WILL NEED THAT OUTSIDE SERVICES SKILLS TO ACHIEVE THAT. IT IS LIKELY A TEAM THAT WILL COME IN AND ASSESSES OUR NEEDS , DESIGNS A SOLUTION AND HELPS US IMPLEMENT THAT. WE ESTIMATE THAT IN THE CALIBER OF $175,000 OVER A SIX MONTH TO NINE MONTH PERIOD. SHAREPOINT IS ANOTHER LARGE TOOL . IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH GOOGLE ENVIRONMENT, WE HAVE GOOGLE DRIVE. AS WE GO TO THE MICROSOFT ENVIRONMENT, WE HAVE

[02:35:02]

THAT'S WERE ALL ELECTRONIC FILES GO OF ALL TYPES. WE CAN CREATE LISTS, CALENDARS, AND LIBRARIES OF DOCUMENTS THAT WE CAN EXECUTE WORKFLOW. IT IS A PROCESS IMPROVEMENT TOOL AS WELL. WE DON'T HAVE THAT SKILL ON BOARD. WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY THAT HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO IT. WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD THOSE SKILLS INTERNALLY. IT IS A VERY SOPHISTICATED TOOL. IT NORMALLY TAKES A MOLD OLD ROLES AND MULTIPLE PEOPLE TO ADMINISTER. WE WILL NEED HELP DESIGNING THAT SOLUTION AND STEPPING INTO THAT IMPLEMENTATION. THAT IS ABOUT A 6 TO 9 MONTH PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE AND ABOUT $160,000 IN VENTS. THAT SAID, THE MICROSOFT INITIATIVE NEEDS TO CULMINATES IN 18 MONTHS. OUR GOOGLE LICENSE IS PAID OUT THROUGH 20 MONTHS OR 23 MONTHS. WE NEED TO REACH THAT MILESTONE OF BEING ONTO THE MICROSOFT LICENSE PLATFORM IN ADVANCE OF THAT. WE HAVE SOME ABILITY, AFTER CONVERSION TO MICROSOFT TO CREATE A STABILITY OPPORTUNITY BEFORE WE FINALLY PULL THE PLUG ON THE GOOGLE LICENSE MODEL. THAT LICENSE MODEL WILL END IN DECEMBER 2025. THOSE OF THE MICROSOFT ONES. DUE TO THE OTHER SLIDES, THAT IS A DIFFERENT SUBJECT, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE?

>> WHAT TYPE OF REDUNDANCY IN THE DATABASE CONSOLIDATION ARE WE IMPLEMENTING? IF THE SERVER CRASHES, WILL WE HAVE REDUNDANCY FOR MIRRORING SO WE ARE NOT DOWN AS WE PUT MORE AND MORE ON A SINGLE SERVER? THAT MEANS MORE OF THEM GO DOWN

IF WE LOSE THE SERVER . >> YES SIR, THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT HAS HARDLY ANY REDUNDANCY OR ROBUST NATURE TO IT. THAT IS ONE OF THE GOALS. WHEN YOU MOVE FROM THE SPREADOUT ENVIRONMENT ACROSS MANY BOXES THAT ARE NOT SO WORDED IN THAT MANNER, THE TARGET IS TO GET TO TWO TYPES OF BOXES. WE WOULD TARGET THREE BOXES, TECHNICALLY. ONE IS A CLUSTER OF TWO BOXES THAT BACK EACH OTHER UP. IF EITHER OF THOSE TWO FAIL , THE OTHER ONE AUTOMATICALLY TAKES OVER.

THE THIRD BOXES TYPICALLY USED FOR CERTAIN SYSTEMS AND APPLICATIONS WHERE THEY CANNOT BE HOSTED ON A CLUSTER BOX. IT IS A TECHNOLOGY LIMITATION. THAT IS THE TARGET IS THREE BOXES. BEHIND THAT, WE ARE LOOKING AT A HYPER CONVERSION ENVIRONMENT, WHERE WE HAVE DISCS AND SYSTEMS THAT BACK EACH OTHER UP. THE UNDERLYING HARDWARE THAT IS SUPPORTING THE GEAR ALSO HAS ITS OWN REDUNDANCY. THAT IS ON THE NEXT SLIDE. WHEN WE ACHIEVE THAT, THE DATABASES COULD INDOOR AND OUTRIGHT FAILURE OF ONE PIECE OF HARDWARE AND IT

WOULD KEEP ON MOVING. >> WILL THEY ALL BE HERE?

>> WE HAVE TWO SITES THAT WE SUPPORTS . THERE IS THE CITY HALL SITE AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> IF THERE WAS A FIRE ONE, THE REDUNDANCY ADDRESSES THAT

>> CORRECT. WE HAVE SITE REDUNDANCY AS WELL. IF ONE SITE GOES DOWN THE OTHER ONE CONTINUES TO GO. THAT IS CURRENTLY IN EFFECT FOR A COUPLE DIFFERENT ITEMS. WE WANT TO EXTEND THAT TO THE ENTIRE ENVIRONMENT.

>> THE MICROSOFT , THAT IS NOT JUST MOVING THE DOMAIN . IT IS

BIGGER THAN THAT? >> YES, THE DOMAIN IS A LARGE, ONE TIME AND EFFORT OVER A LONG WEEKEND. THERE IS ALL OF THE WORK THAT GOES AHEAD OF THAT TO GET FOLKS READY TO MOVE FROM THE GMAIL ACCOUNT TO THE EXCHANGE ACCOUNT. THERE IS A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY THAT NEEDS TO BE PUT IN LACE BEFORE WE DO THAT. IT HAS TO BE DONE IN A VERY STRATEGIC MANNER . WE DON'T WANT TO HARM THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY UP UNTIL THE FRIDAY THAT WE DECIDE TO MAKE THE CONVERSION. WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO STAND UP ALL OF THE NEW TECHNOLOGY. OVER ONE WEEKEND, WE WOULD CUT TO THE NEW SYSTEM. THERE IS A LOT OF PIECES. IT IS TOO SIMPLISTIC TO SAY THIS JUST EXCHANGE. IT

IS MUCH MORE THAN THAT. >> WILL HOST OF THE EXCHANGE

HERE? I WILL BE CLOUD-BASED? >> THINK EVEN I QUESTION , IT IS A QUESTION OF WHETHER WE HAVE THAT ON A COMPUTER RUNNING HERE IN OUR BUILDINGS OR OUT OF THE CLOUD. THE SHIFT FROM THE MICROSOFT PERSPECTIVE IS TO SHIFT TO A CLOUD-BASED SOLUTION. IT COMES WITH A LOT OF FEATURES THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN, INCLUDING ENCRYPTING THE EMAIL AND MAINTAINING SECURITY. IT HAS ITS OWN ROBUSTNESS. WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF HARDWARE TO PROVIDE THAT HERE OF SIZING CAPABILITY. IF WE GO TO MICROSOFT, THEY PROVIDE THAT AS

[02:40:02]

SERVICE. >> THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE THROUGH

GOOGLE, IT IS CLOUD-BASED? >> YES. WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY

ABOUT ANYTHING ON PREMISE. >> THANK YOU.

>> THE PRICE TAG FOR THIS IS HIGH . IS IT BETTER TO CONTRACT THIS OUT BECAUSE WE THINK THIS IS A SEARCH CAPABILITY RATHER THAN SPEND THE MONEY TO ATTRACT STAFF AND HAVE THEM DO THIS? I GUESS WHAT I'M GOING IS , DO YOU SEE THE NEED FOR THIS EXPERTISE THAT WE ARE ACCESSING THROUGH THE OUTSIDE CONTRACT DO YOU SEE THAT GOING AWAY AND DIMINISHING SUCH THAT THE STAFF WILL BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT ONCE IT IS

CHANGED OVER? >> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION , SIR. THE SERVICES IN MY MIND ALLOWS US TO TAP INTO THE EXPERTISE OF SOMEBODY THAT HAS A VARIANCE AS A TEAM TO ENSURE OUR SUCCESS. AS PART OF THAT SERVICE , I WANT TO ENSURE THEY ARE DELIVERING ENOUGH TRAINING AND DOCUMENTATION AND BUILD THE SKILLS TO ON THE PROPERTY WITH THE CURRENT STAFF . WE WILL ALWAYS TRY TO GROW THE STAFF. YOU WILL SEE WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT DIFFERENT POSITIONS TO TALK ABOUT BUILDING THE CAPABILITY IN SKILLS AND QUANTITY. I'VE A LIMITED STAFF AND A VERY LARGE SCOPE. WE WILL BE DOING BOTH THINGS. WE WILL USE THE SERVICES FOR THE SEARCH , THE ONE-TIME IMPLEMENTATION. WE WILL USE THE SAME SERVICES TO EDUCATE THE CURRENT STAFF. WILL SET THE STAGE TO DO THE ROLE DEFINITION TO HIRE NEW BLOOD IN TO PROVIDE THE SAME FUNCTIONS.

>> THE I.T. EXPERTISE FOR THIS IS NONTRIVIAL. THERE IS A LOT TO IT . IT IS NOT JUST CERTIFICATIONS, IT IS WORKING WITH IT AND LIVING WITH IT. THE AIR FORCE REMEMBERS THIS. 15 TO 20 YEARS AGO, THEY WENT THROUGH THE SHAREPOINT CONVERSION. SHAREPOINT IS A BEAST. IT IS MUSCULAR AND BEEFY. YOU CAN DO A LOT OF THINGS. THE TRANSITION TO ITS WAS WAY MORE THAN SETTING UP DATABASES AND CONNECTIONS. IT WAS A CULTURE CHANGE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT HAD TO USE IT ON A DAILY BASIS. THE WAY YOU USE IT IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT. ARE YOU SATISFIED THAT THIS TIGER TEAM AND THE MICROSOFT IMPLEMENTATION WILL BE ADEQUATE TO HELP US WITH THAT CULTURE

CHANGE? >> AS WE ACQUIRE THE SERVICES, WE WOULD DO IT THROUGH AN RF BE BRINGING THROUGH, AND AWARD TO THE BENDER THREE YOU FOLKS . WE WILL SOLICIT THE EXPERIENCE, THE APPROACH, WE WILL EVALUATE THAT AS OF THE SCORING TO ENSURE WE ARE GETTING THAT OUT OF THE VENDOR. I HAVE PRESIDED OVER A SHAREPOINT INVITATION. I KNOW, WHAT WE NEED TO ACCOMPLISH AND HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THAT EVENT.

>> ARE YOU PREPARED TO GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE? ALRIGHTY. THAT WAS THE 24 SCOPE. HERE I AM TRYING TO LAY OUT THE OPPORTUNITIES IN 2025. AGAIN, TO THE PRESENTATION IMACS WITH PLANNING A LIFECYCLE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT DESKTOPS AND LAPTOPS, THE TYPICAL LIFECYCLE IS ABOUT 5 YEARS. THAT IS WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE. THAT MEANS REPLACING ABOUT 1/5 OF THE GEAR, ENDPOINT OR JUST POINT LAPTOPS EVERY YEAR. WE ARE FAR BEHIND ON THAT. TO THE POINT WHERE A GOOD HALF OF THE GEAR WE HAVE IS IN A GENERATION THAT IS NOT SUPPORTED TO MOVE FORWARD AS MICROSOFT MOVES FORWARD . OUR GEAR CANNOT MAKE THAT JUMP. WE ARE GETTING LEFT BEHIND. IT IS ALSO A CYBER SECURITY ISSUE. WE HAVE MITIGATED THAT FOR YOUR HELP.

WE DID IMPLEMENT A TOOL THAT GIVES US A LAYER OF SECURITY ON ALL OF THAT GEAR. THAT IS HOW WE ARE PROTECTING IT TODAY. AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER SURGE, WHICH IS A GREAT WORD. IT WILL BASICALLY REPLACE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THAT GEAR TO PROTECT THE CITY. WE SEE THE RANSOMWARE EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD AND AROUND TEXAS. WE WANT TO PROTECT AGAINST THAT. THIS MOVE HERE, 405,000, THIS WOULD REPLACE 300 TO 400 COMPUTERS ALLOWING THE CITY TO MOVE FORWARD TOWARD THE GOAL OF REPLACING THE DESKTOPS AND LAPTOPS ON A FIVE-YEAR CYCLE. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE BUMP FORWARD. IN ADDITION, ON THE BACKSIDE, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE LIFECYCLE AND THE

[02:45:06]

THESE TWO ARE INTERDEPENDENT, THE MICROSOFT INITIATIVE AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO MOVE FORWARD. WE ARE LOOKING , AS THIS IS THE 25 COMMITMENT TO INVESTING IN THE INITIATIVE AND CYBER SECURITY AND TECHNOLOGY. THE NEXT THREE ARE RELATED TO ACCESS CONTROL AND SURVEILLANCE. THESE PROJECTS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR OVER TIME. KIRBY LAKE AND THE SURVEILLANCE AROUND IT IS AN ESTIMATED $160,000 . THAT WOULD BASICALLY ALLOW US TO OBSERVE AND WATCH THAT ENVIRONMENT ACROSS VIDEO SURVEILLANCE GEAR. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUILDING HAS A SEPARATE ACCESS CONTROL FROM THE REST OF THE CITY. IT IS AS TO . THE COST IS AROUND THE NUMBER OF DOORS AND ACCESS THAT THEY HAVE IN THAT AGILITY. THE S2 SYSTEM, IF NOT REPLACED WITH VERKADA, WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT UPGRADING THAT SYSTEM. WE WILL BE LOOKING AT , AS WE BRING THAT FORWARD, WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THE FINANCIAL MODEL OF WHICH ONE HAS WHAT KIND OF COST, AND IF THE NEW TO THE MOVE TO THE NEW SYSTEM GIVES US A LOWER COST OF OWNERSHIP OVER TIME WE HAVE A PROPOSAL SIMILAR TO KIRBY LAKE. THIS IS ANOTHER VIDEO SURVEILLANCE OPPORTUNITY. ARE THERE ANY

QUESTIONS. >> OF THE SETTINGS INTENDED TO BE CONNECTED TO A PV LIKE THE OTHER VIDEO CAMERAS THAT WE

HAVE AT INTERSECTIONS? >> THERE IS A PROJECT , THE REAL-TIME VIDEO ACQUISITIONS. WITH THAT TOOL , THEY CAN LICENSE CAMERAS AND QUANTITY TO BE VIEWED BY THAT SYSTEM. WE HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY MORE CAMERAS AROUND THE CITY THAN THE SYSTEM IS LICENSED FOR. IT BECOMES A CHOICE WHETHER WE WANT TO ACCESS THE KIRBY LAKE VIDEO CAPABILITY ON THAT SYSTEM SO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN SEE IT HOLISTICALLY FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE. IT IS MOSTLY A LICENSE AND CONCERN. WE HAVE SEVERAL HUNDRED CAMERAS AND WE ONLY HAVE 300 LICENSE THIS .

>> IF IT WILL NOT BE USED FOR THAT, WHAT WE HAVE VIDEOS

AROUND THE WHOLE LAKE FOUR X >> THE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM IS USED BY THE DEPARTMENTS TO VIEW THEIR SYSTEMS, PROCESSES, AREAS, SECURITY,. WE HAVE VIDEOS IN THE LIBRARY THAT WE DELEGATE OR HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL OVER THERE THAT CAN LOOK AT THE VIDEOS, SAME THING AS PARKS AND REC WITH THE AQUATIC CENTER.

THEY CAN USE THIS SYSTEM TO VIEW THE MANAGEMENT OF THOSE PROCESSES. WE HAVE CAMERAS IN THE CITY LINK BUS AREA THE VENDOR THE WORSE FOR THE CITY THAT OPERATES A PART OF THE BUSINESS IS USED TO MONITOR THEIR ENVIRONMENT. THE CAMERAS ARE USED BY MORE THAN JUST THE POLICE. THEY ARE USED TO MONITOR BUSINESS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE.

>> THE VERKADA CAMERAS ARE ALL ON ONE WEBSITE. I CAN LOG IN AND SEE THEY CAMERAS ON THE VERKADA SYSTEMS. THE REAL-TIME INFORMATION IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS ON DISPLAY ALL THE TIME

, IS THAT FAIR? >> YES.

>> ALL OF THE CAMERAS ARE SET UP TO BE AUTHORIZED TO THE PERSONNEL THAT HAVE THE ABILITY TO VIEW THEIR CAMERAS. VERY FEW OF US HAVE THE ABILITY TO SEE ALL CAMERAS. WE WATCH THAT FROM

A SECURITY PERSPECTIVE. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> MY LAST SLIDE, I MENTIONED PERSONNEL. THEY ALSO MENTIONED THE GIS SPECIAL AREA WE HAVE DIFFICULTIES IN HIRING FOLKS.

[02:50:16]

THEY TYPICALLY MANAGE THE WORK, THE TECHNOLOGY, AND THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CONTRACTS AND THE MONIES BEING SPENT, THE BUDGETING, AND THE IMPACT TO OPERATING AND THE CAPITAL ENVIRONMENTS. THE SECOND POSITION IS THE AUTOMATION SYSTEMS. THAT IS FOR SOMEBODY THAT KNOWS THE MICROSOFT ENVIRONMENT, SHAREPOINT, OR OTHERWISE AND IS NOT TECHNOLOGY . THEY KNOW THAT THROUGH THEIR EXPERIENCES AND THEY CAN PERFORM AT A SIGNIFICANT LEVEL. WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR AN ENTRY-LEVEL PERSON. WE WANT SOMEBODY THAT CAN COME IN AND HELP US ON THE SYSTEM WELL. AS I HAVE STEPPED UP TO THE CITY'S NEEDS AROUND APPLICATION SUPPORTS , AND GETTING OUT THERE JUST FOR THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, WE HAVE RECOGNIZED THAT WE NEED ADDITIONAL PEOPLE TO MANAGE ALL OF THE DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS. A CITY OF THIS SIZE HAS OVER 50 PRIMARIES SYSTEMS. I AM LOOKING AT A SPAN OF CONTROL OF 6 TO 8 SYSTEMS PER PERSON. WE ARE CURRENTLY WELL ABOVE THAT.

THIS WOULD ALLOW ME TO SPREAD OUT THE WORK OF AND ACHIEVE A BETTER SPAN OF CONTROL. ANYBODY IN THE MILITARY KNOWS WHAT YOU GET PAST ABOUT 10, STARTS BECOMING DIFFICULT TO MANAGE THE WORK AND THE KNOWLEDGE TO PERFORM THAT WORK. A DATABASE ADMINISTRATOR THAT I MENTIONED BEFORE I ARRIVED, THE CITY HAS LOST THAT ROLE. WE HAVE NOT SOLICITED IT AS OF YET, WE ARE LOOKING TO BRING THAT BACK BECAUSE WE WILL NEED THAT AS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE . IT IS A PRIMARY SUPPORTER OF THE SHAREPOINT SYSTEM. A COMPUTER TECHNICIAN IS SIMILAR TO THE APPLICATION, WE ARE STEPPING INTO A NEW ERA. WE ARE MANAGING MORE AND MORE TECHNOLOGY AT THE DESK FOR ALL OF THE INDIVIDUALS. IT IS ENVISIONED BY 2025 THAT I WILL EXCEED THE CAPABILITIES OF OUR CURRENT TECHNICAL STAFF TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES. IT IS A FULL HOUSE RIGHT NOW. WE ARE GETTING BY AND GETTING THE TICKETS DONE, BUT WE ARE MONITORING ON A WEEKLY BASIS AND WE ARE JUST GETTING THERE AND GETTING THE TICKETS DONE THAT NEED TO BE DONE. BY 2025, WE BELIEVE THAT WILL EXCEED OUR CURRENT CAPACITY. WHEN YOU ADD THAT UP WITH RAPID RATE, THAT IS APPROXIMATELY A $400,000 LABOR IMPACT. ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO PUT ALL THOSE GUYS, TROY?

>> I FEEL IT IS A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE TO TRY TO HAVE TO FIND NEW PLACES AND SEATS FOR FOLKS. WE HAVE A FEW ALTERNATIVES. WE HAVE STORAGE SPACE DOWN WHERE I SIT IN THIS BUILDING THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO RECONSTRUCT TO CREATE OFFICES. WE HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT EMBEDDING FOLKS. THERE ARE VARIOUS FUNCTIONS THAT WE PROVIDE TO CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO PLACE PEOPLE WITH THOSE FOLKS SO THEY ARE CLOSER TO THEIR CUSTOMERS. WE HAVE THOUGHTS THAT WE CAN

FOLLOW THROUGH ON. >> I HAVE A QUESTION AND AN OBSERVATION , FIRST, I KNOW WE WENT THROUGH , I THINK WAS LAST MEETING ABOUT THE HIRING OF THE BOTTOM . IT IS THAT BALANCE OF HIRING SOMEONE WITH THE QUALIFICATIONS, AND IF REMOTE WORKERS CHARGE LESS, THERE IS THE BALANCE OF RINGING SOMEBODY HERE , BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY THEM MORE. KEEP THAT IN MIND. MY OPINION IS, WE WANT TO GET THE BEST OF BANG FOR OUR BUCK. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US , WE HAVE FIVE POSITIONS RIGHT THERE ON THAT ONE SLIDE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, IF POSSIBLE, EVEN AFTER WE PAY THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE TO BRING THOSE POSITIONS HERE. THE RIPPLE EFFECTS OF THEM BEING HERE, PHYSICALLY , THERE ARE A LOT OF BENEFITS TO THE CITY OF HAVING GOOD PAYING TECHNOLOGY JOBS HERE. WE MAY GET TO PAY THEM LOWER IF THEY ARE REMOTE, BUT WE GET TANGIBLE

[02:55:04]

THREE SLIDES? >> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION , THERE ARE TWO PARTS. LET ME ANSWER THE LABOR ONE FIRST. I AGREE WITH YOU . EVEN THROUGH MY TIME HERE , THE REMOTE WORKERS THAT DO REMOTE AND SHOW UP ON SITE, I GET MUCH GREATER VALUE WHEN THEY ARE ON SITE. THAT IS AN IMPERATIVE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HIRE FOLKS HERE. FROM THE TECHNOLOGIST AND THE CITY OF ABILENE, I ALSO THINK IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE BRING THAT SKILL TO THIS TOWN AND WE START SHOWING AND DEMONSTRATING THAT THE CITY KNOWS HOW TO DELIVER TECHNOLOGY. WE MIGHT ENCOURAGE OTHER TRANSITIONS IN A SIMILAR WAY. I WANT TO REACH OUT AND IMPACT THE COMMUNITY THAT WAY AS WELL. TO THE PRIORITIES , IT IS INTERESTING, WHEN YOU LOOK AT PRIORITIES. I HAVE SOFTWARE SERVICES AND HARDWARE, TYPICALLY. IT IS NOT UNLIKE A HOUSE. THE HARDWARE IS THE FOUNDATION. ON THAT FOUNDATION, I CAN BUILD A GREAT MANY THINGS I DIFFERENT QUALITIES. IF THE FOUNDATION IS NOT THERE, I DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO ANYTHING ELSE. IF WE WERE TO SAY THERE IS A PRIORITY, IT WOULD BE THE HARDWARE. THAT SAID, HARDWARE SITTING IN A BOX IN THE OTHER ROOM WITHOUT THE SKILLS OR SERVICES TO IMPLEMENT IT DON'T DO ME A LOT OF GOOD EITHER. WE SHOULD EMPHASIZE HARDWARE, BUT RECOGNIZE THAT WE WILL NEED AT LEAST SOME SERVICES TO MAKE GOOD ON THAT.

THERE IS ROOM FOR COMPROMISE. THE THING WAS SERVICES AND PEOPLE IS, IT MIGHT TAKE ME A GOOD STRONG RUN TO TEACH PEOPLE , SOME EDUCATION OR TRAINING , BUT I MIGHT BE ABLE TO REPLACE SERVICES WITH GOOD PEOPLE THAT I CAN GET UP TO SPEED ON

THOSE PRODUCTS. >> THANK YOU.

>> I'M CURIOUS IF THERE IS ANY KIND OF AI-BASED TOOLS THAT ARE BEING DEVELOPED, THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF THAT WOULD HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THE NEEDS WE HAVE WITH REGARD TO MANAGING DATABASES OR IMPLEMENTING SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE DO THAT ARE SOFT SKILLS THAT ARE NOT HANDS-ON ? SOMETHING THAT A COMPUTER PROGRAM COULD ADDRESS?

>> THAT IS AN EXCELLENT QUESTION. THE ROOT OF IT IS, CAN WE ACHIEVE SAVINGS FOR THE CITY THROUGH TECHNOLOGIES OR ACHIEVE FASTER PROGRESS THROUGH IMPLEMENTATIONS . WE ARE SEEING THAT IN THE NETWORKING ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE NETWORK IS ABLE TO LEARN BETTER THAN WE CAN TO CONFIGURE ITSELF. IT WORKS MORE EFFICIENTLY. SOME OF THE SERVERS, AND HOW THEY BACK THEMSELVES UP, AND HOW THAT WORKS IS BETTER TODAY WITH SOME OF THE AI. THE OTHER AREAS ARE AROUND ANALYTICS AND THE ABILITY TO ANALYZE DATA TO MAKE DIFFERENT DECISIONS. WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT FRONTS. WE HAVE SOME OF THE AI STUFF OR WE CAN FEED THE MODELS AND ASK IT A QUESTION AND IT CAN COME BACK WITH THAT ANALYSIS. WE ARE ALSO TRYING TO BUILD SKILLS INTERNALLY ON HERE THAT ALLOW US TO THROW GRAPHICS AND ANALYSIS TOGETHER FOR DEPARTMENTS , SO THEY CAN MAKE NEW BUSINESS DECISIONS. ONE OF THE THINGS I SEE IN THE NEW ECONOMIC TIMES IS THE TECHNOLOGY CAN BRING TO THE TABLE, OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO IMPROVE HIS PRACTICES , SUCH THAT THEY CAN REDUCE THEIR BUDGETS AS A RESULT OF THOSE EFFORTS, MAKING GOOD DECISIONS . THAT IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO HELP PROVIDE FOR

THE CITY. >> FOR THE PROPOSED POSITIONS, DO YOU HAVE MUCH INSIGHT INTO THE LANDSCAPE IN TERMS OF TECHNOLOGY THAT YOU ARE WANTING TO FILL?

>> YES. I WORK WITH THE ADMINISTRATION , WRITING GOOD, SOLID, JOB DESCRIPTIONS BEFORE I EVER SOLICIT FOR THEM.

THROUGH THAT, WE BASICALLY WRITE DOWN COMMON ENOUGH DETAIL TO SOLICIT THE CORRECT SKILL FOR OUR NEEDS.

>> AND YOU CAN GET THEM? >> THAT IS DEBATABLE. WE HAVE MANY THINGS, WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THAT, EVEN TODAY WITH STABILITY PAY , AND THE LATER COMPENSATION PLAN, THOSE THINGS HAVE ALL BENEFITED US AS A DEPARTMENT. AS WE LOOK AT

[03:00:08]

PURPOSE. THAT IS MY GOAL. >> THAT IS GREAT.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> THANK YOU.

>> COULD YOU EDUCATE BRIAN ON THE PERILS OF STILL HAVING AN

IPHONE THREE? >> THAT IS MESSED UP.

>> WOW. >> SHOTS FIRED, FOLKS.

>> WE ARE GOING TO GO INTO A QUICK DISCUSSION OF FACILITY NEEDS. I WILL RUN THROUGH THIS SLIDE AND INVITE LESLIE UP IN JUST A SECOND. THE ROOFS HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM FOR THE CITY SINCE I HAVE BEEN YOU. WE HAD A HAILSTORM IN 2014, AND WE ENDED UP HAVING TO SUE OUR INSURANCE CARRIER , BECAUSE THEY DID NOT WANT TO PAY THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS THAT WE THOUGHT WE WERE OWED.

WE ENDED UP SETTLING FOR A MUCH LARGER NUMBER THAN WE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN OTHERWISE. NOT THAT IT WAS A FUN EXPERIENCE, BUT IT WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE TAXPAYERS. WE STILL HAVE ROOFS THAT NEED TO BE REPAIRED AND HAVE AGED DOUBTS. THAT IS THE LIST. THERE'S ABOUT $1 MILLION WORTH OF ROOFING NEEDS.

THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING HAS A SUNNY ROOF, THE COST TO REPLACE THAT IS NEAR HALF $1 MILLION. WHAT WE RECOMMEND DOING IS PUTTING AN ASPHALT SHINGLE ON THERE. THESE ARE ARCHITECTURAL SHINGLES. YOU WOULD NO LONGER HAVE THE STANDING METAL ROOF. IN ACTUALITY, IT WILL PROBABLY PERFORM BETTER ANYWAYS. THE NEXT HAILSTORM WILL DENT THE METAL ROOF, THEN YOU HAVE AN ATTRACTIVE ROOFING SYSTEM.

WHEREAS, YOU CAN JUST REPLACE THE SHINGLES. ANY QUESTION ON

THIS? >> WOULD HAVE LARGER DISCUSSIONS ON SOME OF THEM, LIKE THE TREATMENT PLANT. THE ROOF IS IN NEED OF REPAIR. WE KNOW WE HAVE THE LIFESPAN FOR THAT BUILDING, IS IT WORTH THE $40,000 BEFORE WE MOVE OUT OF IT? WE WILL LIKELY BE THERE ANOTHER 5 TO 10 YEARS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS NOT LEAKING ON PEOPLE. WHEN WE GET IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS FROM THE BUDGET STANDPOINT, WE WILL HAVE MORE

ANALYSIS FOR YOU ALL. >> THE NEXT SLIDE IS ABOUT SNYDER LEDGER, THIS IS A COMPANY WE USED MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGH THE COURSE OF ABILENE'S HISTORY. I THINK WE ARE ON PHASE 4 OR FIVE WITH THEM. THEY ARE AN ENERGY SERVICES COMPANY. THEY COME IN AND DO AN INVESTMENT GRADE AUDIT. THEY LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE ENERGY IMPROVEMENTS THROUGH INFRASTRUCTURE AND HVAC UNITS, AND BUILDING ENVELOPE IMPROVEMENTS. HOW WE USE THE POWER, WHY WE USE THE POWER? ALL SORTS OF THINGS. THEY PUT TOGETHER THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY YOU CAN SAVE IN MAKING THE CHANGES THAT THEY ARE SUGGESTING. THOSE SAVINGS, THE ENERGY SAVINGS PAYS FOR THE DEBT SERVICE FOR DOING THOSE FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS. WE HAVE USED THIS PROCESS WITH SCHNEIDER MULTIPLE TIMES TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR FACILITIES. IT'S ONE OF THE STRATEGIES WE USE TO ADDRESS COUNSEL HALSEY ON MAINTAINING INFRASTRUCTURE . WE LOOK AT THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE COST AND MAINTAINING INFRASTRUCTURE.

WHAT WE HAVE, BEFORE COUNSEL TODAY IS AN ANALYSIS OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST. WE HAVE 37 BUILDINGS IN THE PORTFOLIO.

WE HEADED 27.5% REDUCTION IN UTILITY USAGE DUE TO THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE FROM THESE IMPROVEMENTS. THESE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE TO GET DONE ANYWAY. YOU ARE REPLACING HVAC UNITS. YOU CAN LEVERAGE THE FINANCING THROUGH THE STATE OF TEXAS. IT IS GUARANTEED. IF YOU GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, AND THE ENERGY SAVINGS DON'T PAY FOR THE SERVICE, UNDER STATE LAW, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO MAKE THE DEBT SERVICE PAYMENT FOR YOU TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE. THAT'S THE OTHER REASON WHY YOU DO IT. TO DATE, WE ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE SAVED ABOUT $1.1 MILLION. WE HAVE SAVED CLOSER TO $1.6 MILLION. WE HAVE A NEW NUMBER, I DON'T HAVE IT ON THE SLIDE ,

[03:05:02]

>> WE ARE LOOKING AT PHASE 5 FOR THE SCOPE OF WORK. WE ARE LOOKING AT BUILDING SYSTEM AUTOMATION UPGRADES. WE HAVE BUILDING AUTOMATION THROUGH MANY OF OUR BUILDINGS. IT IS TIME TO REPLACE THOSE STRUCTURES AND FACILITIES.

MECHANICAL UPGRADES, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF HVAC UNIT WITH REFRIGERANT. YOU CANNOT REALLY GET THE REFRIGERANT ANYMORE. WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT THESE THINGS. THEY ARE ASKED AND SAID TO MAINTAIN BECAUSE IT IS DIFFICULT TO FIND PARTS FOR THEM. WE WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT REPLACING ALL OF THESE UNITS IN THE CITY. IN OUR PORTFOLIO OF HVAC UNITS. THIS WILL EXTEND THE BUILDING'S LIFE. WE HAVE NEW HVAC UNITS IN THEM. ILLOGICAL UNITS AND SWITCHING GEARS AND CABINETS.

WE HAVE BUILDINGS WITH KNOWN FIRE HAZARDS. WE SHOULD REPLACE THOSE. ELEVATOR REFURBISHMENTS , THE FACILITIES DEPARTMENT WILL TELL YOU SAY A PRAYER OF HER EVERY TUESDAY OVER ELEVATORS. AS THEY GO DOWN, WE MAY NOT BE OLD TO GET PARTS FOR THEM. THEY DO A GOOD JOB OF KEEPING THEM WORKING. THE MAIN EXAMPL IS THE MAIN LIBRARY. IT LOST A MOTHERBOARD. BECAUSE IT IS SO OLD, IT WAS BUILT IN THE 1960S, THEY FOUND A COMPANY THAT HAS IT, BUT IT IS LIKE $80,000. OTHER THINGS NEED TO GET FIXED AS WELL. THESE ARE ALL COMPONENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELECTRONICS OF THE ELEVATOR. WE NEED TO HAVE THE ELEVATOR. WE HAVE TO HAVE A FUNCTIONING ELEVATOR TO MEET ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS. THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO GO THROUGH AND RETROFIT AS PART OF THIS AS WELL. THERE WILL BE ENERGY SAVINGS OFF OF THAT. ANOTHER THING WE WANT TO LOOK AT IS IMPROVING THE BUILDING ENVELOPE UNDER THE LARGER STRUCTURES. WE WANT WEATHERPROOFING AND MAKING SURE WE DON'T HAVE CRITTER INTRUSIONS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. SOMETHING ELSE WE LOOKED AT AND WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IS RETROFITTING STREETLIGHTS. WE HAVE A VERY LARGE STREETLIGHT NETWORK. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS ONCE BEFORE.

WE SPENT OVER $1 MILLION FOR STREETLIGHTS . THERE ARE MULTIPLE PRONGS TO DO THIS . YOU CAN WORK WITH AEP AND CHANGING ALL THE FIXTURES OVER TO LEDS AND PAYING THE LOWER TARIFF ON THOSE , YOU ARE NOT CAPTURING THE FULL VALUE OF THE L.E.D. FIXTURE, BECAUSE THEY HAVE A MAINTENANCE COST IN THEIR . THEY HAVE CAPITALIZATION OF THOSE FIXTURES IN THE AIR. THEY HAVE STUFF BEHIND THE ENERGY COST, AND THEY SHOULD. THEY ARE DOING MORE THAN JUST PROVIDING THE ENERGY. SOME COMMUNITIES ARE PURCHASING SYSTEMS FROM THE UTILITIES THEMSELVES AND OWNING AND RETAINING THEM THEMSELVES. WE WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THOSE AVENUES AND SEE WHICH IS A BETTER AVENUE FOR THE CITY OF ABILENE. MAYBE NONE OF IT IS THE ANSWER. I THINK THERE IS ENOUGH ENERGY SAVINGS THERE TO BENEFIT THE TAXPAYERS TO AT LEAST TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

WE'RE CALLING THIS PHASE 6. THIS GOES BACK TO THE WINTER STORM, OR THE ARMAGEDDON, OR THE APOCALYPSE, OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, IT WAS REALLY COLD. AS EVERYONE UNFORTUNATELY REMEMBERS , WE WERE OUT OF POWER FOR A LONG TIME AND WATER AS WELL. THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS MADE CHANGES TO WHAT THEY REQUIRE MUNICIPALITIES TO DO. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE COMPLIANT WITH THOSE CHANGES. WE WILL LOOK AT TWO APPROACHES.

ONE IS THE CREATION OF THE MICRO GRID WHICH WOULD COST US $22 MILLION. THE OTHER IS PERHAPS MORE COST-EFFECTIVE, BUT MAYBE NOT AS ROBUST, BUT IT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS. USED TO BE CALLED DISTRIBUTE GENERATION. IT IS A LARGE DIESEL GENERATORS THAT WE WOULD PARK OUT PERMANENTLY IN THE EVENT OF A POWER OUTAGE, WE CAN POWER OUR WATER PLANTS AND ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. IF THE POWER GOES OUT TO THE BASE , WE HAVE EIGHT OF THEM . IF THE POWER GOES OUT OF THE BASE, THEY CAN POWER ITSELF. WE DON'T HAVE THOSE CAPABILITIES. IT IS EXPENSIVE . I'M SURE THAT IS WHY THE FEDS HAVE IT. WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT AND GIVE COUNSEL OPTIONS ON HOW WE CAN MAKE IMPROVEMENTS. THE PLAN IS TO DO THIS OVER TIME. WE HAVE ENERGY OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU GET ON THE GRID BY BRINGING

[03:10:04]

OWE THE COST OF THAT. >> ON THE MICRO GRID GENERATORS, RIGHT AFTER THAT EVENT, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, WE LOOKED AT THE COST AT THAT TIME OF THE MICRO GRID GENERATORS. I KNOW SHANE WAS ON COUNSEL AT THIS TIME, WHERE

YOU WANT TIME WITH THAT? >> WE MADE THE DECISION THAT PERHAPS IT WAS NOT AS COST-EFFECTIVE AT THAT TIME FOR THE SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IT WAS USED. IS THIS

SIMILAR TO THAT DISCUSSION? >> IT IS THIS DISCUSSION. WE DO REMEMBER , WE NEED TO DO THIS, BUT WE WANT TO DO IT AS WE IMPROVE OUR WATER PLANTS. WE HAVE THE NORTHEAST TREATMENT WATER PLANTS . ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE LOOKING AT IS A MICRO GRID COMPONENT TO THAT. THIS MAY BE A MEANS OF PAYING FOR THAT THAT USES EXISTING REVENUES . IT IS NOT NEW TAX DOLLARS, BUT EXISTING DOLLARS TO PAY FOR THIS DUE TO THE ENERGY SAVINGS THAT WE CAN CREATE, OR LEVERAGE THE MONEY THE STATE MIGHT GET FOR PULLING SOMETHING ON OR OFF THE GRID . THIS ALLOWS US TO EXPLORE CREATIVE WAYS OF DOING THAT THAT DOES NOT REACH INTO THE POCKETS OF THE RATEPAYERS , RIGHT? WE USE MONEY WE HAVE FOR THAT TO SOME EXTENT. I ACTUALLY THINK, IT IS NOT AS ELEGANT AS A MICRO GRID, BUT IT WORKS. YOU DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO HAVE A MASERATI, SOMETIMES THE CHEVY WILL GET YOU THERE. THE DIESEL GENERATORS ARE PRETTY RELIABLE . THEY CAN ALWAYS PUT MORE FUEL IN THEM, RIGHT? IT IS SOMETHING I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FULLY LOOK AT AND DECIDE TO EITHER DO IT OR NOT DO IT BEFORE LOOKING AT ANOTHER $20 MILLION WORTH OF IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE MICRO GRID . DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?

>> YES. >> ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT SCHNEIDER STUFF? W.H.O. ON PHASE 5, IS THERE VALUE IN LOOKING AT THE ADDITION OF THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL LIGHTS AND CONVERTING , WE HAVE SOME THAT ARE L.E.D., BUT THERE ARE MANY

THAT ARE BOLD. >> MY UNDERSTANDING, I ASKED THIS QUESTION BEFORE , MAX OR MICHAEL, CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG, WHEN WE HAD THE TRAFFIC ENGINEER, I ASKED THAT, HE SAID THEY ARE ALL CONVERTED TO LEDS. THEY MAY HAVE A COVER THAT LOOKS LIKE IT IS NOT. EITHER HAD BAD INFORMATION, BUT I WILL ASK MICHAEL, HE SAYS THAT IS TRUE. THEY ARE ALL GOLF COURSE DISCUSSION. WE WILL COME BACK TO FACILITIES AND

PARKS. >> THE CITY OF ABILENE HAS A LEASE WITH WEST TEXAS GOLF SYSTEMS FOR MAXWELL GOLF EXPIRING SEPTEMBER 30 OF THIS YEAR. THEY ARE ASKING THE CITY TO CONSIDER A LONG-TERM LEASE. IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS RIGHT HIM

[03:15:03]

>> YES, SIR. THOSE ARE OUR COSTS . IT IS NOT A LOT. WE DON'T SUPPORT MAXWELL A LOT. AND HISTORICALLY, I THINK I WOULD GET INTO THIS, THE LEASE AGREEMENT TALKS ABOUT, I CAN GET INTO THAT ON A DIFFERENT SLIDE. LAST YEAR, THE YEAR BEFORE LAST, WE DID SOME CART AND BRIDGE REPLACEMENT THAT COUNSEL'S REQUEST. HISTORICALLY, WE DON'T SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON CAPITAL EXPENDITURES FOR MAXWELL EITHER. OUR COSTS HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN THE EFFLUENT CHARGES. THIS IS AN AERIAL IMAGE OF THE GOLF COURSE IN 2005 . THIS IS JUST AFTER THE THIRD PARTY AGREEMENT TOOK PLACE. TO THE LEFT WE HAVE THE ABILENE COUNTRY CLUB. ON THE RIGHT, YOU HAVE MAXWELL GOLF COURSE. THE CITY ENTERED INTO THIS AGREEMENT'S , THESE ARE THE GREENS AND WE DID NOT DO A GOOD JOB OF MAINTAINING. LOOKING AT 2023 , YOU CAN SEE, AGAIN , THE IMAGE ABOUT 19 YEARS LATER. YOU HAVE A CC ON THE LEFT AND MAXWELL ON THE RIGHT. THE GREENS HAVE CONTINUED TO DETERIORATE. IT IS NOT A REFLECTION ON THE OPERATOR . MY POINT IN THE PRESENTATION IS THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH MONEY GOING INTO THE MAINTENANCE OF THE GREENS BECAUSE THERE IS JUST NOT ENOUGH MONEY. THERE IS A COMPANY CALLED CLUB BENCHMARKING AND THEY DO GOLF CLUB SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT. THE PORTION IN YELLOW IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART. THE NATIONAL MEETING IS 30% OF GROSS PROFIT GOING TO COURSE MAINTENANCE. THE REASON THEY CHOOSE THAT IS BECAUSE REGARDLESS OF THE SIZE OF THE CLUB, IT WILL BE A PERCENTAGE OF PROFIT GOING TO COURSE MAINTENANCE. ON AVERAGE, 30% OF GROSS PROFIT GOES TO COURSE MAINTENANCE. CURRENTLY , THE BEST I CAN TELL, 10.5% OF GROSS PROFIT IS GOING TO COURSE MAINTENANCE OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS. THIS CREATED A DEFICIENCY OF ABOUT $136,000 PER YEAR, ON AVERAGE. WE ARE $683,000 OVER THE COURSE OF THE FIVE-YEAR PERIOD. AGAIN, THAT IS NOT A REFLECTION ON MANAGEMENT, IT IS TOTALLY A REFLECTION ON, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH REVENUE COMING INTO THE COURSE TO SUPPORT IT. WHAT I AM ABOUT TO SHOW YOU, I DON'T THINK HE CAN CHARGE ENOUGH REVENUE AND BE COMPETITIVE WITH THE COURSE FACILITY THAT HE HAS. YOU CAN LOOK AT THIS ANALYSIS . WE CALL IT AREA GOLF COURSES OR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT DID . THEY PUT THIS TOGETHER.

THIS IS NOT AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON, THEY ARE SLICING AND ICING IT DIFFERENTLY . IT IS OUR BEST EFFORT AT GETTING ALL OF THE APPLES TO LOOK LIKE ORANGES, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

THE AVERAGE MONTHLY FEE IS $194. MAXWELL, WITH THE CARTS AT 240 . THOSE FEES RANGE UP AND DOWN THE LINE. THIS IS MY PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL BELIEF, THE CURRENT PARTY OPERATORS ARE NOT CHARGING ENOUGH FOR MAXWELL TO SUSTAINABLY MAINTAIN THE COURSE FOR THE LONG-TERM. THE AREA ANALYSIS SUGGESTS THAT THEY ARE CHARGING A MARKET RATE AND THEY CANNOT CHARGE MUCH MORE THAN WHAT THEY ARE CHARGING WITHOUT HAVING CUSTOMERS TO PLAY. WITHOUT SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC INVESTMENT , MAXWELL GOLF COURSE WILL CONTINUE TO DETERIORATE AND GOLF COURSES WILL BE DIMINISHES BECAUSE THE GREENS WILL NOT BE COMPETITIVE. I HAVE A SERIES OF QUESTIONS FOR COUNSEL, ARE WE INTERESTED IN ENTERING ANOTHER LONG-TERM LEASE? IF SO, ARE WE INTERESTED IN ACTUALLY HAVING A FIRST-CLASS MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE FACILITY? THAT WILL REQUIRE US TO PUT MONEY INTO

[03:20:07]

>> DO WE HAVE ANY MORE NUMBERS? DO WE KNOW HOW MANY

PEOPLE ACTUALLY USE IT? >> IT IS USED. I DON'T HAVE THE USAGE NUMBERS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. HE HAS A GOING BUSINESS. YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO TELL THE AVERAGE MONTHLY PLAY.

IT IS A USED FACILITY. >> IF THE LEASE IS RENEWED, WHAT KIND OF CAPITAL EXPENSES ARE WE PROJECTED TO BE SPENDING

OVER THE NEXT 3 YEARS? >> GUY AND I SPOKE ABOUT A MONTH AGO NOW. THERE MAY NEED TO BE SOME INVESTMENTS IN THE GREENS. THERE WAITING FOR THE WARM SEASON TO COME TO SEE WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH THE SEEDS, TO SEE IF THEY NEED TO REDO THE GREENS. IF THEY DO, THERE WILL BE A COST TO THAT. IT WILL BE A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THAT. IS THAT FAIR? I THINK IT IS TOO EARLY TO TELL. WE ARE JUST KIND OF WAITING. THAT ENGENDERED THE QUESTION, WILL I HAVE ANOTHER LONG-TERM LEASE? I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS AND NOT HAVE OR BE ABLE TO MAKE THE EXPENSE BACK OVER TIME .

>> HOW LONG IS LONG-TERM? >> WE HAVE FIVE-YEAR OPTIONS,

HISTORICALLY. >> IF HE IS CHARGING MARKET RATES , OR A BIT OF BOTH , WHY AREN'T THERE ENOUGH DOLLARS TO FIX THAT? MIKE LET'S LOOK AT THE COUNTRY CLUB, FOR EXAMPLE .

EVEN AS A CLUB MEMBER, YOU PAY TO PLAY GOLF. YOU HAVE A

MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP FEE . >> YES, THE COUNTRY CLUB, YOU HAVE THE FEE AND THEN YOU HAVE A FOOD FEE, AND YOU HAVE $20 EVERY TIME THAT YOU PLAY , FOR THE CART. ALSO, WHAT THEY HAVE IS, THEY WILL ASSESS YOU IF THEY PUT IN NEW TRAILS OR SAND TRAPS. THE MEMBERSHIP IS WHERE THEY WILL ASSESS YOU A FEE FOR THINGS THAT THEY ARE DOING. ANYWAY, THAT IS WHAT I KNOW ABOUT THAT. WHETHER THEY ARE MAKING MONEY OR NOT, OR THEY ARE IN DEBT, I HAVE NO IDEA. I HEAR THINGS. THEY MAKE IT IS A DIFFERENT REVENUE MODEL. I THINK GUY IS DOING A GOOD JOB OF MANAGING THE COURSE, THERE IS JUST NOT ENOUGH REVENUE. MY QUESTION TO COUNSEL IS, IF WE WANT TO MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE, WHERE TO PUT MONEY INTO THE THING. IF YES MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION ON IT, I DON'T BELIEVE WE CAN AFFORD TO DO THAT. EITHER HAD TO BE COMFORTABLE WITH THE STATUS OF THE COURSE AS IT IS, AND EXTEND A LONG-TERM LEASE TO GUY, OR LET GUY KNOW THAT WE DON'T INTEND TO RENEW THE LEASE SO HE CAN MAKE APPROPRIATE PLANS . STOMACH I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A MUNICIPAL GOLF WORSE. I DON'T GOLF, I'M NOT EVEN A BAD GOLFER. TO SAY I'M A BAD GOLFER'S IS AN OFFENSE TO BAD GOLFERS. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE , THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY LIVE FOR AND THEY ENJOY. THEY PROBABLY CANNOT AFFORD THE COUNTRY CLUB OR SOME OF THE OTHER PLACES . I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVEN'T. YOU ARE RIGHT, THERE IS THE

FINANCIAL ASPECT. >> THEY PLAY CLOSE TO 30,000 ROUNDS. HE USES THERE. PEOPLE THAT PLAY OUT THERE ARE LOWER

[03:25:04]

YOU KNOW, THERE IS DEFINITELY A NEED THAT WE SEE. THE PLAY HAS BEEN INCREASING IN THE LAST 3 YEARS, SINCE THE COVID THING.

GOLF HAS TAKEN OFF. WE ARE AT PROBABLY 30% ON THE PLAY SINCE

THEN. >> 30,000 ROUNDS? 30,000

PEOPLE HAVE GONE THROUGH? >> THAT IS THE ROUNDS. WITH

THAT WE LIKE A FOR SOME? >> MANY OF THEM ARE MEMBERS THAT PAY THE MONTHLY FEE AND THEY PLAY EVERY DAY.

>> I'M TRYING TO GET OUT THE NUMBER , AND HOW MANY MONTHLY

SUBSCRIBERS DO YOU HAVE? >> IT IS NOT THAT BIG , MAYBE

60 . >> 30,000 ROUNDS A YEAR,

THAT'S 82 ROUNDS PER DAY. >> LIKE I SAY, THE PUBLIC GOLF COURSES, WHERE THE MEMBERSHIP IS REALLY CHEAP , LESS PEOPLE THAT WANT TO PLAY ALL THE TIME, I WAS A, 80% OF THE REVENUE IS

OFF OF A DAILY FEE. >> HOW MUCH IS THE DAILY FEE? 45 ON WEEKENDS AND 38 ON WEEK DAYS. THAT IS WITH A CART.

>> HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO DIAMONDBACK AND SHADY OAKS .

>> SHADY OAKS IS 70. THEY HAVE A HUGE MEMBERSHIP , ABOUT 400 TO 500 MEMBERS. THEY ARE NOT LOOKING FOR PUBLIC PLAY.

DIAMONDBACK IS ABOUT THE SAME, IT IS MAYBE 80.

>> FOR THE DAILY PLAY , EXCUSE ME, HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK YOUR CLIENTELE WOULD ACCEPT AS AN INCREASE? I KNOW YOU JUST INCREASED IT, BUT IF IT IS 45 OR 38, EXCUSE ME, I WILL KEEP PAYING IT AT THIS RATE ? WHAT COULD YOU GO TO?

>> OUR PLAN IS TO GO UP 10% PER YEAR. WE HAVE DONE THAT ON THE MEMBERSHIP FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS . THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN 4 YEARS THAT WE HAVE GONE UP ON THE DAILY FEE.

>> CAN YOU GET IT TO A LEVEL THAT YOU WOULD WANTED TO BE AT, WHAT TYPE OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURES WOULD YOU EXPECT OVER THE NEXT TWO OR 3 YEARS FROM THE CITY?

>> RIGHT NOW, THE GREENS , IT DEPENDS ON THE WINTER. LAST YEAR, WE THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE GREENS. HE HAD OVER A FOUR DAY PERIOD, WE HAD ICE COVERING THE GREENS. THEY DID NOT COME OUT'S . WE SPENT ABOUT $10,000. WE DID A SPECIAL PROCEDURE. WE HIRED A GUY TO LOOK AT SOIL AND PUT US ON A DIFFERENT PROGRAM . THE GREENS CAME BACK. THIS YEAR, WE ARE NOT HAVING A ALBUM. WE DON'T HAVE ANY BARE SPOTS. WE HAVE NOT HAD THE WINTER THAT WE HAD. THERE WILL BE A YEAR, MAYBE , WHEN THE GREENS ARE COVERED WITH ICE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND IT WILL NOT COME BACK.

>> AS FAR AS IMPROVEMENTS THAT YOU WOULD HOPE FOR THE CITY TO BE INVESTED IN LIKE WITH THE BUILDINGS OR CAR PATHS, OR EQUIPMENT, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IF WE RENEW THE LEASE?

>> SOME OF THEM WOULD BE THE WATERING SYSTEM . THAT IS WHY THIS MEETING IS IMPORTANT ME. THE COUNTRY CLUB HAD THE EXACT SAME WATERING SYSTEM. THEY SPENT 1.25 FOR A BRAND-NEW WATERING SYSTEM. I BOUGHT A LOT OF STUFF FROM THEM. I HAVE MORE STUFF THAT I CAN BUY TO KEEP THE WATERING SYSTEM GOING.

WE MAY LOOK AT A PLAN TO REPLACE THREE HOLES AT A TIME,

OR SOMETHING. >> BUILDING AND CART PATHS?

>> THE PRO SHOP IS 50 YEARS OLD . LIKE I SAY, WE HAVE SOME LEAKS. WE NEED SOME WORK DONE ON IT. THE BUILDING , A NEW BUILDING WOULD BE $300,000, OR SOMETHING.

>> THE 10% INCREASE? THAT IS THE LIMIT IN THE CONTRACT?

>> HE CAN GO UP TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT .

>> 10% ON THE LEASE IS THE MAXIMUM. WE WOULD HAVE TO

AMEND THE LEASE. >> WE COULD ALWAYS RAISE THAT

[03:30:02]

SOMETHING WE MAY WANT TO CONSIDER, YOU ARE LOOKING AT A COURSE MAINTENANCE DEFICIT. A DEFICIENCY OF $136,000. YOU ARE DOING 30,000 ROUNDS OF GOLF. IF THEY CHARGE FIVE DOLLARS PER ROUND, YOU GENERATE $155,000 PER YEAR THAT COULD BE USED FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE GOLF COURSE. YOU CAN PUT THAT IN A LEASE AGREEMENT IT WOULD GO INTO A SINKING FUND THAT CAN ONLY BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE, IT WOULD ALLOW THE GOLF COURSE TO RECEIVE REVENUE FOR IMPROVEMENTS. IF WE ARE GOING TO DO IT, WE SHOULD FUND IT IN SOME WAY. WE DON'T HAVE AVAILABLE REVENUE TO PUT TOWARD THAT. IF PEOPLE WANT TO USE THE FACILITY , IN ADDITION TO HIS CHARGE, THE TRADITIONAL FIVE DOLLARS, SO THE COURSE IS IMPROVED, NOT JUST RUN, BUT IMPROVED, ANNUALLY, I THINK WOULD BE A GOOD TRADE-OFF.

>> IT WOULD BE YOUR 10%, +5 DOLLARS . AT SOME POINT, IF YOU GOT AHEAD OF THE CURVE, MAYBE THAT COMES DOWN A LITTLE BIT, OR GOES AWAY . I KNOW IT IS LIKE OUR STREETS, JUST WHEN YOU GET THEM FIXED, YOU HAVE TO START ALL OVER. THAT IS THE THING, IF YOU THINK YOUR PLAYERS OUT THERE WOULD BE AMENABLE TO A, COSTS MORE MONEY TO RUN THESE THINGS, I HAVE TO RAISE 10 AND THEN THROW IN AN EXTRA FIVE, YOU KNOW YOUR CLIENTELE BETTER THAN I DO. IT'S BEEN I DON'T THINK PEOPLE

WILL GET THAT. >> THE FIVE WOULD BE THE CITY, IT WOULD NOT BE HIM, HE WOULD BE COLLECTING IT, BUT IT IS LIKE SALES TAX. IT IS BENEFITING HIM INDIRECTLY . IT COMES TO THE CITY IN A FUND THAT IS ALLOCATED FOR DEDICATED, SET ASIDE SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS.

>> IT COULD BE MANAGED SO THAT HE COMES TO PRESENT A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN THAT THE PARKS GROUP SAYS YES TO. THERE IS ACCOUNTABILITY AND A MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE FOR THEM .

THAT IS CERTAINLY A WAY WE CAN LOOK AT DOING THAT.

>> LOOKING AT THE CRYSTAL BALL FUTURE OF THAT COURSE , YOU SAID YOU ARE AT 60 MEMBERS RIGHT NOW, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> APPROXIMATELY, YES . >> WHAT WAS IT 10 YEARS AGO OR 5 YEARS AGO? HAS IT BEEN A DOWNWARD TREND? TO MAKE IT HAS BEEN AN UPWARD TREND. THE LAST 3 YEARS, SINCE COVID, GOLF HAS GOTTEN MORE POPULAR AS AN OUTDOOR SPORT. PEOPLE FLOCK TO US DURING COVID . THEY GOT ADDICTED TO GOLF. THEY ARE

GOLFERS NOW. >> YOU EXPECTED NEXT YEAR, LOOKING AT THE MEMBERSHIP , ARE YOU PROJECTING THAT WILL INCREASE, MAINTAIN, OR DECREASE?

>> I EXPECT PLAY TO INCREASE. THE MEMBERSHIP IS WHAT IS TOO CHEAP . WE DO NOT ADVERTISE MEMBERSHIP . WE DON'T ASK

PEOPLE TO JOIN , OR ANYTHING. >> EVEN THOUGH THAT IS THE MOST

LUCRATIVE. >> IT IS DEFINITELY NOT. IT IS

20% TO 30% OF THE BUSINESS. >> ONCE YOU LOCK THEM IN, THEY

ARE JUST PAIN, RIGHT? >> WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, THEY ARE PAYING $12 PER ROUND TO PLAY . WE HAVE THE SENIOR MEMBERSHIP THAT IS FIVE DAYS PER WEEK, THEY ARE PLAYING FOR

$12. >> ARE THOSE TYPICALLY REPEAT

CUSTOMERS PAIN DAY RATES? >> A LOT OF THEM ARE. A LOT OF THEM ARE OUTSIDE EVENTS. WE HAD THE BILBO FUNDRAISER. WE HAVE A LOT OF BIG TOURNAMENTS. IT IS ALSO PEOPLE PASSING THROUGH.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN. COLLEGE KIDS ARE LAYING GOLF A LOT. ANYWAY, THE BIGGEST PART OF THE BUSINESS, IF YOU JUST HAD THE MEMBERSHIP, THERE IS NO WAY YOU COULD STAY OPEN. THEY ARE NOT PAYING ENOUGH TO PLAY.

>> ONE WAY TO LOOK AT IT, WOULD BE LIKE AMAZON PRIME. YOU PAY THE MEMBERSHIP, AND IS GRAVY FOR AMAZON. IT IS $10-$12 PER MONTH. THEY DON'T CARE HOW MUCH YOU USE IT, IN THIS CASE.

THAT IS JUST PURE PROFIT FOR AMAZON. YOUR MEMBERSHIPS ARE PURE PROFIT, YOU DON'T CARE IF THE MEMBER GOLFS ONCE OR 365 TIMES, IT IS MONEY FOR YOU.

>> WITH THE GAS AND THE CARDS.

SPEAKERS ] >> WHEN I TRY TO GET BACK,

[03:35:07]

>> INCREASE PLAY AND PRICE, YES.

>> I LIKE THE IDEA , WHAT YOU NEED TO CHARGE, AND SOMETHING ON TOP OF THAT . I THINK THAT IS A GOOD OPTION. HONESTLY, IF PEOPLE BALK AT IT , YOU CAN SAY HEY, CITY COUNCIL THROUGH THIS ON HERE. IT IS DESIGNED, YOU COULD SELL IT. THIS MONEY IS GOING DIRECTLY BACK TO THAT GREEN AND THAT CART PATH.

>> IF THEY UNDERSTAND THAT CHOICES ARE CLOSING AND THEY DON'T GET TO PLAY THERE, OR THEY PAY FIVE EXTRA DOLLARS,

THERE IS NOT ANY DOUBT. >> WILL $150,000 PER YEAR BE ENOUGH TO KEEP IT AS GOOD AS IT IS?

>> THE DANGER OF THROWING THESE OUT LIKE THIS IS THEY CAN CATCH ON FIRE SOMETIMES. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO, LET ME REPEAT WHAT I THINK I HEAR COUNSEL SAYING. YOU ALL ARE INTERESTED IN THE CONCEPT OF HAVING A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FEE ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONTRACT . I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO TALK WITH LESLIE AND GUIDE TO HELP MAP OUT WHAT THE KNOWN IMPROVEMENTS MIGHT BE, WHAT THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS MIGHT BE, WORK BACKWARD TO THAT NUMBER AND BRING YOU ALL A LEASE AGREEMENT THAT WOULD

REFLECT THOSE CHANGES. >> THAT SOUNDS GREAT.

>> I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE , NOT THAT WE ARE THE BANK IN THIS CASE, BUT IF BUSINESSES GO TO THE BANK AND SAY THIS IS WHAT I WILL DO TO TURN THE BUSINESS AROUND, THIS IS WHAT I WILL DO ON MARKETING AND MEMBERSHIPS AND DAILY RATES, IN THIS CASE, I THINK WE WOULD BE WELL SERVED BY SAYING, WHAT WILL BE DIFFERENT ABOUT NEXT YEAR OR THE NEXT 5 YEARS? HOW WILL THIS TURNAROUND? I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT. I LIKE THE FIVE DOLLAR IMPROVEMENT FEE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, THIS WILL BE DIFFERENT AND THIS IS WHY WE SHOULD LOCK IN FOR ANOTHER 5 YEARS. I AM ALL FOR BEING A GOOD SERVICE AND HAVING A GOLF COURSE, IF IT IS MAKING SENSE FOR THE GROUP OF PEOPLE USING IT. IT ALSO NEEDS TO MAKE FINANCIAL SENSE AS WELL.

>> IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE A NEW CLUBHOUSE OR A RESTAURANT WHERE MY DAUGHTER WENT, WOOD WATERS GREAT TO LOOK AT THEIRS.

OF COURSE, THEY HAVE A LOT MORE MONEY THAN WE DO. IT IS A

NICE LOOK. >> JUST DON'T CALL IT THE 19TH HOLE. PLEASE DON'T DO THAT.

>> WHAT WE ARE BASICALLY SAYING, IF WE ARE GOING TO SUPPORT THE PUBLIC GOLF COURSE, IF THERE ARE DEFICIENCIES, WE WILL HAVE TO SUBSIDIZE IT. WE ARE LOOKING FOR OTHER WAYS TO DO IT. WE WILL STILL BE THE ONES SUBSIDIZING IF THERE IS A

SHORTFALL. IT'S >> IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A PUBLIC GOLF COURSE, THAT IS A SUSTAINABLE MODEL, IT NEEDS ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. I WANT TO SAY THIS AGAIN, I THINK I SET A FIVE TIMES, IT IS NOT A REFLECTION ON GUY, AT ALL, IT IS A FUNCTION OF, THERE IS JUST NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO MAINTAIN THE COURSE. THEY ARE EXPENSIVE. THAT'S WHY CITIES ARE GETTING OUT OF THE BUSINESS, OR THEY ARE DUMPING MONEY INTO IT LIKE WICHITA FALLS PUTTING $1.5 MILLION IN LAST YEAR. JIMMY HAS ALL THE NUMBERS. IT IS LIKE $6 MILLION OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS THAT THEY PUT INTO THE GOLF COURSE. THEY HAVE IT LEASED TO SOMEBODY. THE CITY PAYS , THEY NEED WORK ON THE RESTAURANT , THAT IS THE CITY'S BILL. ANYWAY, IT IS A COMPLICATED DEAL . THEY ALSO SHARE SOME OF THE REVENUE.

>> YOU MENTIONED A RESTAURANT, IS THAT SOMETHING YOU HAVE LOOKED AT PARTNERING WITH THE THIRD-PARTY THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN PUTTING ON, IT IS CITY PROPERTY. AS FAR AS RESTAURANT, IT WILL BE LIKE A HALFWAY HOUSE . IT WILL JUST BE BURGERS AND HOTDOGS. IT WON'T BE A SITDOWN IN THERE. IS THE MAKER SUMMIT WITH A MOBILE TRUCK, OR SOMETHING. THEY MAKE

EXACTLY, LIKE A TRUCK. >> I AM NOT SUPPORTIVE OF GENERAL FUND DOLLARS DOING THIS. IF THE COURSE CAN GENERATE, THROUGH FEES, WHAT IT NEEDS TO MAINTAIN ITSELF AND

[03:40:01]

>> I LIKE TO SEE THAT NUMBER. WELL, GET TO WORK. TONIGHT LET'S GO BACK TO WHERE WE WERE . I WANT TO INVITE LESLIE TO

COME ON UP. >>> THANK YOU FOR THE DIALOGUE AND CONVERSATION ON MAXWELL. IT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.

WHAT WE HAVE A UR FACILITY NEEDS IN PARK IMPROVEMENTS. WE WANT TO BRING TO YOU TODAY. ONE OF THE ITEMS IS A NEW ROSE PARK RESTROOM. IF YOU HAVE BEEN TO THE RESTROOM AT THE SKATE PARK AND THE NEW PLAYGROUND, IT IS ONE OF OUR OLDEST RESTROOMS. IT IS NOT THE MOST PLEASANT LOOKING RESTROOMS. IT IS A HIGHLY USED RESTROOM. ESPECIALLY WITH THE NEW GROUND GOING IN. IT IS ONE OF OUR BUSIEST RESTROOMS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR PARK SYSTEM. BEING ABLE TO DEMOLISH THE BATHROOM AND REPLACE IT WITH A LOT OF THE RESTROOMS YOU SEE AT THIS LUSH PADS, THE DROP IN PLACE RESTROOM IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING

FOR. >> I THOUGHT WE RENOVATED THE RESTROOMS BY THE PICKLE BALL , THIS IS ONE BY THE PLAYGROUND? PLAYGROUND AND THE SKATE PARK. IT IS BASICALLY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PARK. THE OTHER ITEM WE ARE PROPOSING IS THE ROSE PARK WALKING TRAIL. WE DID REDO THE REDBUD NELSON AND SEARS WALKING TRAILS. THE ROSE WALKING TRAIL WAS NOT PART OF THAT PROCESS. THERE ARE SOME STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN IN ROSE PARK , WHICH WILL AFFECT THE CURRENT TRAIL. THIS WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO HAVE A PARTNERSHIP THIS IS ONE OF OUR HIGHLY USED WALKING TRAILS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR PARK SYSTEM. THE PRESENT OR BATHROOM IS A PROPOSAL.

>> THEY HAVE OUTGROWN THE SPACE THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY SYSTEM WAS PUT IN BUT IT IS FAR BEYOND IT'S USEFUL LIFE. THE CAMERAS ARE NOT WORKING THE WAY THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO. IT WAS ON A LOCAL SERVER THAT IS END OF LIFE AND WE WOULD LIKE TO BE SYSTEM LIKE OUR OTHER PARKS ARE IN SO WE HAVE THE ABILITY BOTH AS PARK STAFF AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SUCCESS TO THOSE CAMERAS AT

ANYTIME. >> QUICK QUESTION ON THAT. YOU MENTIONED THE ROSE PARK RESTROOM THAT YOU ARE AT THE FIRST BULLET. S HEAVILY USED AND THE BRUSH CENTER BATHROOM IS SOMETHING BRAND NEW THAT IS NOT THERE. IT IS THE SAME DOLLAR AMOUNT. IS IT THE SAME SIZE RESTROOM GOING INTO BOTH EVEN THOUGH THAT ONE IS HEAVILY USED AND ONE WOULD BE LIGHTLY USED? IS IT NOT MULTI-STALL HAD AND A SINGLE STALL A SINGLE

STALL OR? >> IT IS A GOOD QUESTION. I THINK ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT THE BATHROOM. THERE IS A COST THAT WE HAVE NOT FULLY IDENTIFIED YET. I THINK WHAT LESLIE IS DOING IS TAKING OUR AVERAGE COST OF BATHROOMS AND PUTTING AN EARMARK THERE SO WE HAVE A

GOOD BUDGETING UNDERSTANDING. >> SO THE ROSE PARK RESTROOM

WOULD BE BIGGER. >> IT COULD BE BIGGER THAN THIS. WE NEEDED THE BRUSH CENTER AS A BATHROOM AND A HAND WASHING STATION. SO YOU COULD HAVE A MUCH -- YOU COULD HAVE A SMALLER FOOTPRINT FOR SURE BUT WE STILL HAVE TO GET UTILITIES

AND THINGS OUT THERE. >> I THINK WE HAVE THAT ALREADY. . THE BUSH CENTER YOU ENVISION LIKE IN ONE UNISEX

BATHROOM OR SINK OR? >> THAT IS IS WHAT I WOULD ENVISION. I DON'T THINK WE NEED A MASSIVE RESTROOM FACILITY OUT THERE. WE NEED A TOILET AND WE NEED A SINK AND WE NEED A SPOT THAT WE CAN SECURE.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MOVING ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE. ONE OF

[03:45:07]

ABILENE. >> I'M A BIG FAN OF. THIS I KNOW WE HAVE TALKED BUT I DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT SOFTBALL OR BASEBALL. I'M A FOOTBALL FAN BUT JUST FROM A CITY REVENUE PERSPECTIVE LOOKING AT ALL OF THE SURROUNDING AREAS ALL THE WAY UP INTO OKLAHOMA THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE AND SALES TAX THESE SALES GENERATE ARE IMPRESSIVE.

AND SO IT SEEMS LIKE I DON'T REMEMBER THE NUMBERS OF FIELDS WE WOULD NEED BUT TO BRING IN THESE LARGE TOURNAMENTS I THINK YOU ARE LOOKING AT MAYBE LIKE A 12 FIELD OR 12 TO 16 FIELD SOFTBALL OR BASEBALL APPARATUS. SO I AM CERTAINLY BEHIND IT. I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT IS BEING RECOMMENDED AS FAR AS IS THIS ONE KIND OF GIANT COMPLEX WHERE WE COULD REALLY HOST THESE GIANT TOURNAMENTS OR IS THIS KIND OF ADDING IN A FIELD OR TWO AROUND THE CITY? I'M VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF.

THIS I DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT BASEBALL OR SOFTBALL BUT I'M

VERY MUCH BEHIND THIS. >> THE NEXT ITEM IS RECREATION MASTER PLAN. IS IT TRUE COUNCIL APPROVE D APPROVED ENTERED INTO DOING THE CONTRACT. WE DID MEET WITH THE ASSOCIATION FEBRUARY 29TH. WE HAD A DEDICATED MEETING JUST FOR THE ASSOCIATION AND SPENT A FEW HOURS WITH THEM GIVING FEEDBACK. WE HAVE BEEN DOING AN ONLINE SURVEY. THAT ACTUALLY ENDS THIS WEEKEND AS OF TODAY. WE HAVE 858 PEOPLE WHO HAVE RESPONDED TO THAT SURVEY. WE ARE DOING ONE LAST BIG PUSH TO TRY AND GET SOME OF THOSE MORE PEOPLE TO TAKE THE SURVEY AND THEN WE WILL BE HAVING AN OPENED HOUSE ON MARCH 28TH.

REALLY FOR ALL OF ABILENE TO SEE WHAT THE SURVEY RESULTS HAVE BEEN BUT ALSO TO CONTINUE GIVING US THE FEEDBACK AND RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEY SEE FOR FORT PHAM. THIS COVERS EVERYTHING FROM PROTECTED AREAS FOR THE WILDLIFE, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BOAT RAMS, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PARKS FACILITIES, IMPROVEMENTS FOR CAMMING AND OTHER AMENITIES. IT REALLY COVERS IT ALL OVER. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THREE MONTHS INTO

THIS OUGHT MONTH PROCESS. >> AFTER THE EIGHT MONTH PROCESS IS FINISHED, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE SO PEOPLE HAVE A BETTER TIMELINE? WE GO THROUGH THIS MASTER PLAN PROCESS EIGHT MONTHS, WE WRAP THAT UP S THERE ANOTHER STEP BEFORE BUILDING? WHAT DOES THAT PROCESS LOOK LIKE?

>> WHAT IT WILL BE IS A PLAN THAT HAS BEEN ADOPTED BY THE PARK SPORT AND CITY COUNCIL TO SAY THIS IS THE DIRECTION WE WANT TO GO WITH THE LAKE. THEN IT WILL BE UP TO CITY COUNCIL TO DECIDE WHAT DO THEY WANT TO TACKLE AND HOW MUCH EXPENSES AND WHERE IS THE REVENUE GOING TO COME FROM TO BE ABLE TO TACKLE WHAT THEY WANT TO FIRST. SO AT THIS POINT WE ARE TOO

[03:50:03]

THE NEXT STEPS. >> WHY I ASK IS BECAUSE IF WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS PROCESS IN ABOUT FIVE OR SIX MONTHS SO LET'S CALL IT AUGUST, UM, IS WHEN THE PLAN WOULD HOPEFULLY BE FINALIZED AND HAS TO GO THROUGH PARKS AND REC W. WE ARE LOOKING AT FALL THING. WE ARE LOOKING AT WHAT WE ARE DOING.

OPTIMISTICALLY MAYBE EARLY 2025 IS WHEN WE ARE LOOKING FOR CONTRACTORS AND BUILDERS OUT THERE TO PUT THINGS TOGETHER.

ARE THERE THINGS THAT WE COULD BE DOING IN THE MEANTIME OVER THE NEXT YEAR I THINK I'VE TALKED TO ROBERT ABOUT JUST SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS PUTTING LIGHTS ON THE BOAT RAMP. CAUSE WE HAVE TO DO THE BUILD DOWN. IT DEPENDS WHAT IS FOCUSED.

THIS IS A MULTIYEAR PROJECT THAT POTENTIAL THINK BOAT RAMS MAY NOT BE ADDRESSED FOR FOUR YEARS. THEY MAY BE ON THE BACK END OF THIS PLAN. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WE DO SOMETHING TEMPORARY AS FAR AS LIGHT JUST TO GIVE THE BOAT RAMS WITH THE UNDERSTANDING WE MAY END UP MOVING THE BOAT RAMS BUT AT LEAST OVER THE NEXT TWO, THREE, FOUR YEARS WHILE THIS PROCESS IS GOING THROUGH WE HAVE LIGHTING ON THE BOAT RAMP. IT BLEW MY MIND. UH MET WITH THE ASSOCIATION A FEW TIMES AND I WAS VERY SURPRISED WE DIDN'T HAVE LIGHTING ON THE BOAT RAMPS. I THOUGHT THERE IS AN ISSUE THERE. IT IS ALSO MAYBE GRAVEL AND NOT PAVED TO THE BOAT RAMPS. SIMPLE THINGS LIKE THAT WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THIS MASTER PLAN MAY CHANGE ALL THAT I WOULD LIKE SOME TEMPORARY MEASURES THAT COULD BE HAD OVER THE NEXT ONE, TWO, THREE YEARS, SIMPLE THINGS LIKE LIGHTING OR SOMETHING LIKE. THAT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE THOSE AT LEAST COST WISE LOOKED AT! THAT WOULD BE APPROVED BY

THIS COUNCIL, TOO. >> YOU ARE RIGHT, YES. THAT WOULD BE MY WISH AS FAR AS A POLICY TO TIE US OVER FOR TWO OR THREE YEARS. JUST AND THAT IS ALL OF MY SLIDES. I'M HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS FROM BEFORE LUNCH OR NOW AS WE HEAD ON QUITE A FEW DIFFERENT TOPICS.

>> KWOIL ALREADY GOT EVERYTHING BEFORE.

>> I DO HAVE A QUESTION. I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW THE STRATEGIES THAT YOU HAVE IN PLACE TO ENSURE, UM, THAT IT ALIGNS WITH MAYBE THE BRIGHTER HOPE AND PERSPECTIVE OF HAVING FACILITIES THAT ARE, UM, FROM A SUSTAINABILITY PERSPECTIVE, UM, MAKES SENSE SEW SO WE DON'T REVISIT WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH ROADS AND SUCH. I GUESS I WROTE IT DOWN. I WAS THROWING THE STRATEGIES YOU HAVE IN PLACE AND IMPROVEMENT, HOW IS IT ALIGNED TO OUR GOALS FOR US STAIN ABILITY, RESILIENCY IN THE TERMS OF THE SPACES THAT ARE POTENTIALLY BEING BUILT OR WILL BE BUILT? LIKE HOW ARE WE ENSURING THAT MATERIAL, PRODUCT, ET CETERA IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE A LONG LASTING QUALITY BRUKT SO THAT KIT LAST AS LONG AS IT CAN BUT AT THE SAME TIME FROM A VISIBILITY PERSPECTIVE IT IS HIGH QUALITY

AS WELL. >> IF I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION CORRECTLY ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK STAFF IS A LOOK AT AND HAS SPENT THE LAST FEW MONTHS LOOKING AT IS TRYING TO TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT OUR BUILDINGS, WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT WE CAN DO DO THEM TO GET AS MUCH LIFE OUT OF THEM AS POSSIBLE. I THINK THROUGH THAT PROCESS ALSO THROUGH EDUCATING OURSELVES I THINK WE ARE RIDING SPECIFICATIONS BETTER FOR WHAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING THE QUALITY THAT WE NEED AND THE -- AND THE ITEMS THAT WE NEED TO LAST AS LONG AS WE CAN. SO, UM, IT IS NOT THAT WHEN WE ARE RIDING SPECKS FOR A PROJECT THAT WE ARE JUST TRYING TO GET THE LOWEST THING THAT WE CAN. WE MAY BE SPENDING AN EXTRA FEW DOLLARS BUT WE GET 20 YEARS LIFE INSTEAD OF 10 YEARS LIFE. WE DO HAVE A FLU FACILITY DIVISION MANAGER THAT CAME TO US FROM SEVEN YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH THE CITY OF FRISCO. HE BRINGS TO US A LOT OF EXPERTISE THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD IN THE PAST. SO WE ARE ALREDY SEEING SOME IMPROVEMENTS AND SOME THINGS THAT I THINK WE WILL BE ABLE TO EMPLOYEEMENT TO TAKE THIS EVEN FAVRTER BUT WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO GET AS MUCH LIFE OUT OF OUR BUILDINGS AS WE CAN. NO MATTER WHAT DEPARTMENT THAT IT

IS FOR. >> SURE. THAT IS PERFECTLY ANSWERED. THANK YOU FOR THAT. I APPRECIATE THAT.

>> I WANT TO COMMEND YOU GUYS ON THE CITY CREEK WALK WAY. I USE THAT QUITE OFTEN. I THINK THAT IS A GEM. I'VE TOLD YOU

[03:55:02]

THERE? >> MAPLE STREET TRAIL SOCIAL SECURITY UNDER CONSTRUCTION AS A MAPLE STREET PROJECT WAS FOR.

THAT IS A MULTI-YEAR PROJECT AND WE ARE IN PHASE TWO OF THAT PROJECT DESIGN OF TWO. SO WE HAVE GOT MULTIPLE YEARS AHEAD OF US IN CONSTRUCTION. THAT WILL EVENTUALLY GO FROM EAST SOUTH 11TH AND WE WILL DAY VISE A WAY TO CONNECT IT TO THE CITY CREEK TRAIL SYSTEM. IT WILL GO SOUTH ON MAPLE ALL THE WAY TO COLONY HILL ROAD AND THERE IS NO CONNECTION TO IT. THAT INITIATIVE FAILED AND WE HAVE NOT PUT ANY PENCIL TO THE PAPER ON TO DO WE TRY TO FUND THIS SOME OTHER WAY? I THINK IN LARGE PART BECAUSE WE NEED TO AREN'T WHAT THE VOTERS HAVE SAID. THEY DON'T WANT THAT TRAIL. SO WHAT ELSE COULD WE DO THAT THE VOTERS MIGHT WANT? WE HAVE TWO REC CENTERS AND A ZOO FACILITY. WE ARE FOCUSSING ON THOSE PROJECTS. I DO THINK TRAIL SYSTEMS ARE IMPORTANT. I THINK THEY ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO NOW PEOPLE ARE SEEING THE VALUE OF IT AND I THINK OVER TIME SUPPORT WILL GROW FOR THOSE SORT OF THINGS.

THERE IS NO PLAN THAT STAFF IS WORKING ON RIGHT NOW TO CONSTRUCT A KIRBY LAKE TRAIL SYSTEM.

>> THE OTHER QUESTION I GET AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS ONE WOULD FALL UNDER PARKS OR ONE OF THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS BUT BIKE LANES. THAT COMES UP QUITE OFTEN. I WENT AND LOOKED BACK AND I THINK WE HAD A 2015 BIKE MASTER PLAN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND IT HAD THE DOTS FOR THE PROPOSED LANES AND THE SOLID LANES WERE. I THINK THERE WERE SOLID LINES OR MAYBE ONE.

DO WE HAVE PLANS AS PART OF THE PARKS IF IT IS UNDER A PARKS PER VIEW FOR BIKE LANES AND KIND OF WHERE HAVE WE MOVED IN

THE LAST NINE YEARS? >> SO THE BIKE PLANS WERE THE FIRST THINGS THAT WERE ADOPTED WHEN I GOT HERE. IT DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO HAVE IF ANY INPUT. IT IS MUCH LIKE OUR PREVIOUS PLAN FOR THE ONE WE JUST ADOPTED. IT IS A BUNCH OF LINES ON A PIECE OF PAPER. FROM AN ENGINEERING PERSPECTIVE IT MIGHT BE IMPOSSIBLE TO DO. THEY SHOW DEDICATED LANESES THERE.

THERE IS NO RIGHT OF WAY. YOU WILL BE IN PEOPLE'S FRONT YARDS OR THE PARKING LOTS. THERE IS NO WAY YOU COULD DO THAT. THERE MAY BE VALUE AT LOOKING AT THAT WHOLE THING AGAIN. WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH THE BIKE PLAN IS WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT IT WE DO. SO WHAT YOU WILL SEE LIKE ON ANTLEY WHICH HAD A BIKE PATH, WE ADD THE BIKE PATHS. WE ARE NOT ADDING -- WE WILL STRIPE A BIKE LANE IF THERE IS RIGHT OF WAY AVAILABLE. IT DOESN'T CAUSE A PROBLEM. WE HAVE DONE THAT IN SOME AREAS. WE ARE NOT BUILDING DEDICATED BIKE PATHS AT THIS TIME. CEDAR CREEK IS A 10 FOOT WIDE TRAIL. IT IS INTENDED FOR BICYCLES AND PEOPLE. BUT YOU RAISE A GOOD POINT. THE BIKE PLAN HAS SOME -- THE BIKE PLAIN HAS SOME FUNDAMENTAL FLAWS TO IT THAT COULD BE LOOKED AT AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU. I WILL JUST ADD TO THAT, WITH REGARD TO THE PATH SYSTEM, MY ROLE AS CHAIR TALKED WITH TXDOT ABOUT THE CONNECTIVITY BECAUSE GETTING ACROSS SOUTH 11TH IS HIGHWAY 36. SO THEY CONTROL THAT. THEY HAD IDENTIFIED A DIFFERENT LOCATION FOR A PATH GOING THROUGH ABILENE. I SAID WELL YOU NEED TO GET WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT TXDOT HAS ON A MAP, ALIGNS WITH WHERE WE ARE ACTUALLY WORKING ON ADDING THESE PATHS. UM, THEN THEY HAVE THEIR SIDEWALK THAT IS GOING EAST WEST ALONG EAST SOUTH 11TH AND SO YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ON A TRAIL SYSTEM THE SIDEWALK SYSTEM GO FROM KIRBY LAKE ALL THE WAY TO COLONY HILL ALL THE WAY UP TO SOUTH 11TH AT WHICH POINT YOU COULD GO TO THE WEST AND UP NORTH ON CEDAR CREEK PATH WAY OR YOU CAN GO TO THE -- TOWARDS THE ZOO AND THEN THAT HAS A PATH THAT GOES UP THE BOULEVARDTO ACU. THERE IS A LOT OF CONNECTIVITY THAT WILL BE DONE ONCE TXDOT FINISHES

[04:00:04]

>> IT MAY BE RAISING AWARENESS THROUGH SIGNAGE OR WHAT NOT OF

WE HAVE THESE AVAILABLE NOW. >> SURE.

>> THAT IS GOOD TO HEAR. >> SHANE IT FOLLOWS THE ALIGNMENT THAT HAS THE INVESTMENT ON. UM --

>> ANOTHER PLACE WHERE THEY HAD THAT WAS AT I-20. THEY HAD IT AT CEDAR KREEVENLTH I SAID IF WE ARE PUTTING THE OVERPASS THERE, THEN THAT IS A NATURAL PLACE TO HAVE IT. CAUSE YOU HAVE ACTUAL WAY TO GET ACROSS THE INTERSTATE SAFELY.

>> WE ARE JUST A FEW PARCEL ACQUISITIONS AWAY FROM BEING ABLE TO HAVE A CLEAR SHOT FROM WHERE WE ARE NOW. WE OWN A LOT OF LAND IN BETWEEN THERE AND WE JUST HAVE TO ENTER A COUPLE OF AGREEMENTS WITH PROPERTY OWNERS TO ACCESS THE PORTION OF THE PROPERTY AND IMPROVE THE TRAIL AND WE WOULD HAVE THE RIGHT OVER WAY NECESSARY TO CONNEC ALL THE WAY. SO IT IS NOT OUT OF THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY. IT COULD BE DONE. IT IS A MATTER

OF FUNDING THE CONSTRUCTION. >> UM, FROM A PARKS FUNDING PERSPECTIVE, WE HAVE KICKED THIS AROUND FOR SEVERAL YEARS BUT WHAT ARE THE BARRIERS TO US SETTING UP THE PARKS

FOUNDATION? >> WHY DON'T YOU GO INTO THAT?

>> UM, WE ARE ACTUALLY IN THE PROCESS OF SEEING WHAT ALL THE STEPS WOULD BE TO TAKE THAT, START A PARKS FOUNDATION. WE HAVE ENTERED INTO AGREEMENT WITH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR A POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM. WE HAVE VISITED WITH A COUPLE TO SEE IF THEY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN CHAIRING A PARKS FOUNDATION. I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER BACK FROM THEM YET. I DID PUT TOGETHER A TIMELINE ON WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO HAVE ONE UP IN GOING THAT I'VE SUBMITTED TO THE ADMINISTRATION EARLIER THIS WEEK. SO THE IDEA OF A PARKS FOUNDATION STAFF HAS ALSO LOOKED AND HAD VISITS WITH OTHER PARKS FOUNDATIONS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THERE IS A NATIONAL PARKS FOUNDATION ORGANIZATION THAT WE ARE STARTING TO TRACK AND PARTICIPATE IN TO GET IDEAS ON HOW TO GET THIS UP AND GOING

AND FUNDED. >> VERY GOOD.

>> LESLIE, ALONG THOSE LINES THE PARKS BUCKS T$1 ON THE WATER BILL IS A VOLUNTARY OPPORTUNITY. WHY CAN'T WE ADD

A $1 OR $3 AND A $5 OPTION? >> DUO HAVE A $1, $3 AND $5 OPTION. WHAT WE CAN'T DO IS HAVE A BLANK FOR THEM TO FILL IN THE AMOUNT THEY WANT. THE WAY THE SOFTWARE WAS SET UP AND I'M AFRAIDLY HAVE TO DEFER TO RONNIE ON THE SPECIFICS. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IS THE ONLY WAY THE SOFTWARE WOULD ALLOW IT WITH THE PROGRAM WE HAD. THEY CAN CHOOSE 1, 3 OR $5. THEY JUST CAN'T PICK A NUMBER.

>> OKAY. I AM THE CITY MANAGER AND I'M NOT AWARE OF THAT SO, UM, AND I'VE THOUGHT I'M PAYING THE MOST I CAN TO SUPPORT THE PARK SYSTEM. I DON'T KNOW HOW WELL THAT IS BEING ADVERTISED TO THE COMMUNITY. WE MIGHT HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO BETTER PROMOTE THAT AND WE ARE INSTALLING A NEW BILLING SYSTEM SO WE WILL SEE IF WE CAN CORRECT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, TOO. I GET THE BLANK AMOUNT.

BUT BEING ABLE TO CHOOSE ON SIGN UP COULD BE SOME COMMUNICATION OPPORTUNITIES THERE.

>> UH-HUH. >> WITH THAT LETTER GOING OUT

WE COULD ADD THAT. VERY GOOD. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SPEAKING OF WATER UTILITIES, RODNEY TAYLOR. WHO HAS THE RECORD FOR THE LONGEST PRESENTATION IN THE CITY OF ABILENE'S HISTORY BUT HE PROMISED NOT TO --

>> NOT DAY. >> YEAH, NOT TODAY.

>> DON'T DO THAT. >> IF ANYBODY FALLS ASLEEP DURING RODNEY'S PRESENTATION GIVING $100 TO THE PARKS.

>> I THOUGHT WE COULD ONLY DO ONE, THREE OR FIVE.

>> THAT IS RIGHT! WELL NOW THAT YOU MENTIONED IT, TODAY'S DISCUSSION HOPEFULLY IT IS A DISCUSSION IS A CONTINUATION OF AN INITIAL DISCUSSION QUITE A FEW YEARS AGO ABOUT CAPITAL NEEDS FOR THE WATER UTILITY AND A PLAN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STAYED AHEAD OF THE GAME ADDRESSING AGING INFRASTRUCTURE. UH, WE HAVE PREPARED PLANS OVER MANY YEARS.

DURING THE DROUGHT STRATEGIES WE REALLY CHANGED DIRECTION AND FOCUS MOST OF OUR ENERGY AND OUR DOLLARS TOWARDS MAKING SURE

[04:05:07]

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT DIFFERENTLY THAN WE HAVE IN THE PAST IS TYPICALLY WE HAVE PROVIDED A LIST OF PROJECTS VERY SPECIFICALLY AND WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT BUT THE FIRST FOUR LINES ON EACH OF THESE FIVE YEARS OF SLIDES HAVE SOME NEW ITEMS THAT YOU WILL NOTE. WE ARE REALIZING THAT MANY OF OUR TRANSMISSION LINE VALVES ARE PROBLEMATIC AND SO WHEN WE HAVE PROBLEMS LINE LOWS OUT OR WHATEVER, THE LINE TYPICALLY IS GOOD SO WE DON'T HAVE A PROJECT NECESSARILY TO REPLACE THE LINE BUT THE VAL OFS ARE NOT. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT VALVES FROM 18 TO 48 INCHES. SO THEY ARE VERY EXPENSIVE BUT WE ARE IDENTIFYING NOW SMALLER PROJECTS THAT WILL ADDRESS LARGE VALVES IN OUR SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE WE CAN ISOLATE OUR SYSTEM IN A WAY TO MAINTAIN WATER SUPPLY SERVICE WHILE WE MAKE REPAIRS. ALSO WE GOT AN AGING COLLECTION SYSTEM AND MANHOLES ARE A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THAT. FOR MANY MANY YEARS MANHOLES WERE CONSTRUCTED WITH BRICK AND MORTAR AND OVER THE YEARS THOSE TEND TO DETERIORATE AND AT A MUCH FASTER RATE. IT WOULDN'T JUSTIFY DOING A PIPELINE PROJECT TO FIX THE MANHOLES SO WE ARE MORE FOCUSED ATTENTION ON JUST DOING MANHOLE REHAB AS UNIQUE POCKET OF MONEY. SOME OTHER THINGS WE ARE REALIZING YEAR TO YEAR AND DECIDED TO ADDRESS THEM IS UTILITY RELOCATES REPLACEMENTS AND A LOT OF THIS IS ASSOCIATED WITH A GOOD STREET PROGRAM THAT THE CITY HAS DEVELOPED. WE SHARE A LOT OF COMMON SPACE THERE AND SO IT MAKES SENSE WHEN A STREET PROJECT IS COMING UP THAT WE LOOK AT THE UTILITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT SAME AREA AND MAKE DECISIONS ON WHETHER THERE NEEDS TO BE UPGRADES OR RELOCATION OF EXISTING PIPES THERE AND SO THIS IS A NON-SPECIFIC POCKET OF MONEY AS THESE OPPORTUNITIES COME UP. WE HAVE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO JUMP IN THERE AND MAKE THESE CHANGES AHEAD OF THE STREET PROJECT. THEN THE HOPE IS THAT WE WILL HAVE LESS PATCHES IN OUR REHAB STREETS GOING INTO THE FUTURE IF WE WILL ADDRESS THESE BEFORE WE GET THE PAVEMENT BACK IN THE GOOD CONDITION. ALSO WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF UNPLANNED PROJECTS FROM YEAR TO YEAR AND IT TENDS TO DISRUPT OUR NORMAL PLANS FOR LISTED PROJECTS AND SO WE ARE RECOGNIZING THAT AND POCKETING MONEY SPECIFICALLY FOR UNPLANNED PROJECTS. WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS WE ARE NOT GOING TO RUN OUT OF THOSE UNPLANNED PROJECTS. THERE IS ALWAYS THINGS THAT BREAK THAT WE HAD NOT ANTICIPATED WE WILL NEED FUNDS TO REPAIR. THAT IS WHAT THOSE FOUR ITEMS ARE. IF YOU LOOK IN THE DESCRIPTION SOME OF THESE PROJECT AT THE END IT WILL HAVE A YEAR ONE OR TWO YEAR TWO. WE ARE LOOKING AT HOW WE FUND OUR PROJECTS. ON THOSE PROJECT CLOUDS SEE YEAR ONE WHERE THE FIRST YEAR EBS PRESENCES AND SO WE SPLIT THAT COST BETWEEN THE YEARS AND IT GIVE USE BETTER IDEA OF WHAT WE ARE ACTUALLY SPENDING YEAR TO YEAR ON WATER UTILITIES. YOU CAN SEE THE LIST OF PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE GOT THERE. THERE IS TEN IDENTIFIED PROJECTS USING CAPITAL FUNDS THAT ARE DESIGNATED FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND THAT IS THE FUND WE HAVE BEEN USE FOG MANY YEARS. JUST A FEW YEARS AGO WE ALSO IMPLEMENTED A UTILITY CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT FUND WHICH IS A CHARGE TAKEN OFF THE TOP OF WHATEVER OUR REVENUE IS AND IT IS PUT IN A SPECIAL FOR USE HOPEFULLY RELATED TO DEVELOPMENT AND THAT DEVELOPMENT CAN BE FLU DEVELOPMENT OR IN FIELD DEVELOPMENT. WHAT WE TRIED TO DO IS FOCUS THIS ON IN FIELD DEVELOPMENT. SO THINGS THAT WE HAVE A SPECIFIC NEED FOR. THE COTTON WOOD STREET WATER LINE.

THIS IS A VERY OLD WATER LINE THAT CARRIES A LOT OF WATER

[04:10:05]

HAPPY TO DO THAT. >> CAN YOU TALK JUST A FEW SECOND ABOUT THE REVERSE CONCENTRATE LINE?

>> YES SIR I CAN. >> IS THAT THE RETURN BACK?

>> THAT IS. THAT ROUGHING FACILITY IS DESIGNED TO REMOVE SALT OR TOTAL DISSOLVE SOLIDS FROM THE WATER IN POSSUM KINGDOM LAKE AND MAKE THAT WATER COMPATIBLE AFTER TREATMENT WITH THE WATER THAT WE GET OUT OF THERE. WE DID THAT CONSTRUCTION IN TWO PHASES. THE SECOND PHASE YOU RECENTLY AWAR ADD CONTRACT FOR AND THEY ARE MOBILIZING AT THIS TIME TO GET THAT PROJECT STARTED. THAT IS THE LAST OF OFF SITE CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. SO AT THAT POINT THE PLANT WILL BE THERE PLACE. SO IF WE GET READY TO PULL THE TRIGGER ON THAT AT SOME POINT ALL OF THOSE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES WILL BE COMPLETE. SO WE STILL WILL HAVE SOME WORK TO DO INSIDE THE PLANT OF DOING A START UP AND INSTALLING THE MEMBRANES. BE EVERYTHING WILL BE READY TO GO.

>> SO I'M CURIOUS ON THAT WHEN YOU COMPARE IT. WE DON'T PUMP THE CONCENTRATE BACK TO IVY. WE HAVE THOSE BIG AREA WHERE WE DUMP THE WATER AND LET IT EVAPORATE AND HAVE THE FANS AND ALL OF THAT. IS THAT -- WHY DO WE CHOOSE THIS ROUTE VERSUS

DOING WHAT WE DO THERE? >> WELL, THE PLAN TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE OUR CONCENTRATED SALT AND THE PLANT WAS A GOOD PLAN AND CERTAIN YEARS IT IS NOT EASY TO MANAGE. WE DO NOT EVAPORATE ENOUGH WATER OFF IN WET YEARS TYPICALLY WHERE WE ARE CATCHING RAINFALL ON OUR PONDS AND HAVING LESS SUNLIGHT IN EVAPORATION AND SO IN THOSE YEARS WE ACTUALLY ARE CHALLENGED TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE THE AMOUNT OF CONCENTRATE THAT IS PRODUCED. WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO SEND IT DOWN THE LINE, PUT IT IN OUR SEWER COLLECTION SYSTEM AND THEN IT WOULD PROCESS THE PLANT. KEEP IN MIND THAT NOW WE ARE RETURNING OUR ADVANCED TREATED WASTE WATER INTO THERE. IF YOU PUT A LOT OF SALT IN YOUR WASTE WATER THAT COULD ACTUALLY END UP INCREASING THE SALT CONTENT AS THAT CYCLE CLOSES. SO IT WAS A BETTER MEANS FOR US IN THAT PROJECT RATHER THAN TRYING TO EVAPORATE THAT ON SITE WHICH WE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF PROPERTY ROOM ANYWAY TO DO THAT. IT WAS MORE COST EFFECTIVE TO RETURN IT TO THE LAKE.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> YEAR 2025, AGAIN WE HAVE THE START OF SEVERAL PROJECTS WHERE YOU SEE A YEAR ONE ON TAGGED ON TO THE END OF THE DESCRIPTION. WE WILL START WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE 1.5 STORAGE STAN THAT CAN IS PLANNED FOR THE GENERAL AREA OF HIGHWAY 277 SOUTH AND REBECCA LINE. THAT IS A NEEDED ADDITIONAL STORAGE CAPACITY RIGHT NOW THAT TCQ HAS INFORMED US KINDLY THAT WE ARE DEFICIENT ON STORM WATER CAPACITY. AND SO THIS PROJECT WILL ADDRESS THAT IN THE LONG TERM. ALSO HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER WATER LINE PROJECTS AND THEN THEY ALSO STARTING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE REHAB OF

[04:15:02]

THIS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING HIGH LAND TANK WHICH IS SOUTH 19TH AND HIGH LAND STREET AREA. THAT PARTICULAR TANK IS AN OLD TANG BUT IT IS IN GOOD SHAPE. HOWEVER IT IS LOCATED IN AN AREA WHERE THERE IS NOT SUFFICIENT HEIGHT OF THE ELEVATED STORAGE STAN TOOK PROVIDE THE PRESSURE THAT WE NEED IN THAT SERVICE AREA. THAT IS A RIDGE WITHIN ABILENE. AND SO WE ARE EXPANDING THE SECOND PRESSURE PLAIN INTO THE FIRST PRESSURE PLAIN AND THAT HAS BEEN ON THE BOOKS FOR QUITE A LONG TIME AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT WE ARE RELOCATING THAT STORE ELEVATED STORE WATER FOR THE PLAIN IN A NEW LOCATION OUTSIDE OF THAT BOUNDARY THAT IS THE EXPANDED SECOND PRESSURE PLAIN. THAT WILL ALSO ADDRESS SOME STORED WATER CAPACITY

ISSUES THAT WE ARE AWARE OF. >> AND THE PRISON ELEVATED

STORAGE TANK, IS THAT NEW? >> IT HAS BEEN THERE SINCE THAT FACILITY WAS CONSTRUCTED. THAT TANG HAS NEVER BEEN REHABBED.

IT IS A CHALLENGE TO DO BUT IT NEEDS TO BE DONE CAUSE THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT 1990 WHEN THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED. SO THERE

IS QUITE A BIT -- >> I KNOW -- WHEN WE LOST THE

WATER LINE THAT WAS A BIG DEAL. >> YEAH.

>> AND SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF HAVING A MORE CAPACITY WAS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BENEFIT THEM IF WE HAVE ANOTHER BREAK

IN THE LINE OR SOMETHING. >> YES. AND THERE IS A PROJECT THAT IS NOT ON THIS FIVE YEAR PLAN THAT WOULD PUT A GROUND STORAGE TANK AND A PUMP STATION THERE AT THE BASE OF THAT TOWER THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO UTILIZE OUR EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE. IT WOULD PUT ADDITIONAL STORAGE CAPACITY

THERE TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE. >> NORTHEAST WATER TREATMENT REHAB, IT IS LISTED AS DEBT. IS THAT A BOND THAT WE WILL PUT OUT OR IS THAT COS GUARANTEED BY THE CPF FUNDING?

>> IT WOULD BE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION WHICH IS HOW WE

ALWAYS ISSUE WATER DEBT. >> AND WE DON'T STICK WITH OUR STRATEGY OF TRYING TO WEAN OFF OF A DEPENDENTS ON DEBT ISSUE BUT THE INTENT WAS TO NEVER BORROW MONEY AGAIN. THERE IS A TIME WHEN IT IS PRACTICAL BUT WE DO WANT TO MINIMIZE THAT.

THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT BY NOT ENDURING ADDITIONAL

INTEREST. >> WOULD THAT DEBT GO OUT THIS YEAR? THAT IS NOT TILL 2026 AND THE PROJECT WOULD START AFTER

THAT. >> THE PROJECT WILL START IN EARLY 2025 AND SO THE PLAN WOULD BE IS RIGHT AT THE END OF THIS YEAR FISCAL YEAR OR THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. WE WOULD ISSUE THAT AS WE ARE READY TO

ADVERTISE THAT PROJECT. >> DEPENDING ON WHEN WE ISSUE IT WOULDN'T THE TYPICALLY THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEBT SERVICE THE FIRST YEAR COST CAN BE DELAYED 12 MONTHS. SO IT WOULDN'T BE -- IF WE ISSUED IN 25 YOU WOULD SEE NIT 26 BUT PART OF THIS AND WHAT IT WILL LEAD UP TO IS WE WILL BRING RATE DISCUSSION TO Y'ALL TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ADEQUATELY

CAPITALIZING ON THIS PLAN. >> AND WE HAVE ALSO THE WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT PRODUCES SOLIDS, SLUDGE AS PART OF IT'S PROCESSES. WE HAVE HAD A SURFACE DISPOSAL UNIT THERE FOR MANY YEARS THAT SLUDGE HAS COLLECTED IN AND WE ARE REACHING THE END OF LIFE OF THAT PARTICULAR BASIN. SO? 2027 WE WILL BE LOOKING AT COUPLE OF OPTIONS. ONE OF THOSE IS CONTINUED TO HAVE A SURFACE DISPOSAL UNIT AT AN ALTERNATE LOCATION OR TRANSITIONING TO A MECHANICAL MEANS OF TRY DRIVING THE SLUDGE OUT AND HAULING IT OFF SITE SIMILAR TO WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH THE OTHER WATER TREATMENT PLANTS RIGHT NOW. BUT THIS NEEDS TO BE IN THIS SLOT BECAUSE AGAIN WE ARE IN THE LAST YEARS OF USE OF THIS FACILITY WITHOUT SOME SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN THAT BASIN.

>> WHAT DOES THAT COST REFLECT? IS THAT THE DRYING OR IS THIS

[04:20:05]

THE OFF SITE? >> THIS COST IS FOR PUTTING IN A LINED CERTIFIED LINE BASIN THAT WOULD RECEIVE ALL ADDITIONAL SOLID WASTE AS SIMILAR TO WHAT OUR CURRENT PRACTICE IS. IT WOULD BE AN ADJACENT FACILITY AND THE MECHANICAL DRAWING IS GOING TO BE MORE COSTLY AND SO THAT NUMBER DEPENDING ON THE TECHNOLOGY WE GO WITH, THAT NUMBER COULD BE HIGHER IF WE CHOOSE TO GO A MECHANICAL

PROCESSING ROUTE. >> IS THERE ROOM FOR THAT OR ARE YOU TALKING AN ADDITIONAL FACILITY FOR THE DRYING?

>> FOR THE SERVICE DISPOSAL UNIT THERE IS A SALE THAT WAS ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED. HOWEVER IT IS NOT A CERTIFIED LINE. SO WE WOULD HAVE TO GO IN THERE AND ACTUALLY RECONDITION THE SOILS THERE AND MAKE SURE THAT ANYTHING WE PLACE THERE WOULD NOT BE A POTENTIAL NEGATIVE IMPACT TO THE ENVIRONMENT OR TO THE GROUND WATER IN THAT AREA. SO THAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A CERTIFIED LINER. THAT IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT COST TO CONSTRUCT THAT. AND THEN ALSO LOOK AT THE INSTALLING A LOOPED LINE ON THE NORTH END OF LAKE FORT HILL, WE HAVE TWO WATER MAINS EXTENDING OUT, ONE ON EACH SIDE OF THE LAKE AND THEY DO END AT THAT NORTH END OF THE LAKE. AND THAT DOES NOT GIVE US THE BEST SERVICE TO THOSE CUSTOMERS. ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS A LEAK OR SOMETHING. IT IMPACTS CUSTOMERS AND WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO FEED FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.

CLOSING THAT LOOP WILL IMPROVE FIRE FLOW PROTECTION AND ALSO PROVIDE A HIGHER LEVEL OF SERVICE TO THOSE CUSTOMERS

AROUND THE LAKE. >> IS THAT IMPACTED AT ALL BY

THE MASTER PLAN? >> IT SHOULDN'T BECAUSE IT IS

A RECREATION MASTER PLAN. >> YEAH.

>> WELL, OKAY. IS RECREATION MASTER PLAN GOING TO DRIVE FACILITY LOCATIONS WHICH ARE GOING TO DRIVE WATER USAGE?

>> WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT WILL IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY OF

WATER, CLOSING THE LOOP. >> YEAH, IT COULD GIVE THE PARKS ADDITIONAL SERVICE AREA IN CAPACITY SHOULD THEY WANT TO PUT IN WATER DEPENDENT RESTROOMS OR THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. THIS LOOP WOULD DEFINITELY HELP THAT BY IT IS NOT INTENTIONALLY FOCUSED ON THE IMPROVEMENTS AT THE LAKE

ITSELF. >> OKAY.

>> AND THEN FIRST PARISHIONER BOUNDARY MODIFICATIONS, AGAIN THIS IS THE WATER ELEVATED STORAGE TANKS, THE COMPLETED FIRST AND SECOND PHASES OF LINE INSTALLATION AROUND REBECCA LANE FROM BUFFALO GAP TOWER UP TO THE NORTHWEST STATION. THOSE ARE COMPLETE. WE ARE UNDERWAY ON CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW PUMP STATION AND THIS WILL ALLOW US TO DECOMMISSION THE HIGH LEVEL PUMP STATION WHICH IS ONE OF THE NOTICE OF VIOLATIONS THAT WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH WITH TCQ OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. THIS WILL RESOLVE THAT GREATER PROBLEM AND WE WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN REDUNDANCY OF OUR SYSTEM SO THAT WHEN MAJOR THINGS HAPPEN IN OUR SYSTEM WE HAVE GOT ANOTHER WAY TO MOVE WATER FROM NORTH TO SOUTH AND EVEN EAST TO WEST BY THIS SET OF PROJECTS THAT WE ARE WELL INTO RIGHT NOW. AND THIS FIRST, SECOND BOUNDARY MODIFICATION IS THE LAST STEP OF THAT GROUP OF PROJECTS. SO ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT WATER UTILITY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS?

>> I APPRECIATE YOU BREAKING IT DOWN KIND OF OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS WHAT WE CAN KIND OF EXPECT PROJECTS WITHIN THAT YEAR FOR 2024 AND 2025 FEOFFMENT . IF WE HAVE TO DO SOME BELT TIGHTENING THIS YEAR, CONCERNS HERE ON FUNDING OF

LET'S SAY 202024 AND 2025? >> YEAH, NO BECAUSE THIS ISN'T THE GENERAL FUND, IT IS ALL OF OUR PROBLEMS ARE IN THE GENERAL

FUND. >> OKAY.

>> GOOD QUESTION! I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT FOR OUR RESIDENTS

[04:25:02]

TO TAKE ALL THIS INTO EFFECT. >> THAT IS GOOD TO KNOW.

>> GOOD JOINT IN A QUESTION FOR YOU. UM, SEVERAL YEARS AGO WE HAD CONCERNS BROUGHT TO US REGARDING THE DAM AT LAKE KIRBY AND AT THE TIME WE PUT SOME IN. YOU SAID THERE WERE OTHER THINGS WE NEEDED TO DO THERE BUT WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING ELSE. IS THAT SUFFICIENT? HAS THAT STABILIZED THE ISSUE? NO MORE CONCERNS WITH THAT? ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT DOING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE DAM AT KIRBY LAKE?

>> WE DO NOT HAVE ANY SCHEDULED SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS THOUGH THAT PROJECT ACTUALLY DID ADDRESS THE MAJOR CONCERN WITH

THE STABILITY OF THAT DAM. >> OKAY. AND THEN SIMILAR QUESTION WITH LAKE FORT WITH TXDOT MOVING ON TO IT'S OWN PATH. WOULD WE NEED TO DO ANY WORK TO SURE UP ANYTHING OR TO DO ANYTHING AFTER THEY ARE FIRST NAMED WITH THAT PROJECT

FOR THE DAM? >> YES SIR. WE WILL NEED TO DRESS UP THE CREST OF DAM. OBVIOUSLY THAT IS IN VERY BAD CONDITION. WE WILL NO LONGER HAVE PUBLIC TRAFFIC ACROSS THAT BUT WE DO NEED TO RESTORE THE CREST ELEVATION WE NEED SOME TYPE OF TOPPING ON THAT TO ADDRESS POTENTIAL EROSION FROM RAINFALL AND CRACKING THAT COULD HAPPEN WHICH WOULD ALLOW

WATER TO SEEP INTO THE CREST. >> SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT

WILL COME UP? AT. >> AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> NEW OTHER QUESTIONS ON CAPITAL? AS ROBERT HAD MENTIONED WE FELT LIKE WE DID A VERY GOOD JOB WITH PLANNING FOR THE COST OF OPERATING, MAINTAINING OUR SYSTEM AND DOING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. THE REALITY THAT WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IS INFLATION HAS HIT THE WATER UTILITY VERY HARD AS WILL. AND SO SOME OF THESE PROJECTS THAT WE ARE SHOWING HERE ARE MARKED UP SIGNIFICANTLY FROM WHAT THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE WAS AND SO THAT IS SOME OF THE CONVERSATION THAT WE WILL NEED TO HAVE BEFORE LONG BECAUSE THE REVENUE THAT WE HAVE PLANNED FOR THIS FIVE YEAR PERIOD OF OUR RATE STRUCTURE NOW IS NOT GOING TO BE ADEQUATE JUST DUE TO INFLATION THAT WE HAVE REALIZED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. THAT INFLATION COULD CORRECT ITSELF A LITTLE BIT BUT IT IS NOT REASONABLE TO BELIEVE THAT THESE PRICES WILL EVER RETURN BACK TO THE ORIGINAL PLAN PRICE. SO WE ARE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT AND MOVE ON AND IT WILL BE A DECISION THAT YOU CAN MAKE OF EITHER DO LESS WORK, LESS PROJECTS OR WE PRODUCE ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO CONTINUE ON THE PATH OF OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN. SO THAT TAKES US DOWN ANOTHER COURSE OF PROJECTS EXPANDING THE NORTHEAST PROJECT T CROSS TOWN PIPELINE TO GET HOVERED WATER TO THE SOUTH SIDE PLANT AND THE EXPANSION OF THE SOUTH SIDE PLANT IN OUR FUTURE BECAUSE THE IMAGINE IS PLAN IS TO REPLACE

THEM. >> THANK YOU.

>> NO FURTHER QUESTIONS ? WE WILL MOVE INTO ANOTHER DISCUSSION . WATER RESOURCE PLANNING IS A BIG PART OF

[04:30:05]

IN PLANNING WE LOOK AT SCENARIOS BASED OFF OF PROJECTED POPULATION GROWTH AND DEMANDS THAT THE EXISTING AND PROJECTED POPULATION I BELIEVE -- POPULATIONS INCREASES WILL HAVE ON THE SYSTEM. THERE IS A PERIOD WHEN THE WATER SUPPLIES WERE THE MOST STRESSED. IF YOU ARE AWARE OF THE LAST DROUGHT WHICH IS THE NEW DROUGHT OF RECORD, THAT WAS A VERY PAINFUL TIME FOR ABILENE AND REALLY ACROSS THE STATE. IN PARTICULAR IT HIT ABILENE VERY HARD. THERE IS ABOUT $200 MILLION PLUS OF DEBT. SO THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THIS PROCESS OF MAKING SURE THAT AS WE LOOK AT ON THE HORIZON WHAT CAN WE EXPECT AS FAR AS WATER NEEDS AND THEN WHAT ARE OUR SOLUTIONS SO THAT WHEN WE GET THERE WE ARE PREPARED. KEEP IT MIND IT TAKES A LOT OF YEARS, ESPECIALLY ON A LARGE RESERVOIR PROJECT OR A VERY LARGE COMMITMENT OF WATER A LOT OF YEARS TO DEVELOP THAT IDEA, THAT CONCEPT, FIND WAYS TO FUND THAT AND CONSTRUCT IT.

YOU TALKING DECADES OF TIME TO BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS. IT IS NOT A ONE OR TWO YEAR THING. SO HOW DOES THE PLANNING PROCESS WORK? WELL THEY DEVELOP PROJECTIONS FOR POPULATION GROWTH ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS. IT IS A STANDARD METHODOLOGY. THEY DON'T LOOK AT OUR WAY OF DOING IT ANY DIFFERENTLY THAN THEY WOULD FOR HOUSTON. UM, THIS GRAPH IS JUST WHAT HAS BEEN PROJECTED FOR ABILENE AND ABILENE AREA. I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN CONCERN IN PRIOR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE GROWTH OCCURRING OUTSIDE OF ABILENE CITY LIMITS COMPARING TO THE GROWTH OCCURRING IN THE CITY LIMITS. SINCE WE ARE THE WATER PER VIEWER FOR OUR REGION, WHAT -- HOW DOES OUR GROWTH RELATE TO THEIR GROWTH? YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT LIKE STEAM BOAT MOUNTAIN WATER SUPPLY CORPORATION IS ABOUT 1.88 ANNUAL GROWTH PERCENT PROJECTION OVER THE PERIOD FROM 2030 TO 2080. THAT IS THE PLANNING PERIOD WE ARE LOOKING AT. ON THE LEFT IS ABILENE AT 0.65. SO YOU ARE LOOKING AT ALMOST TRIPLE THE RATE OF GROWTH IN THAT WATER SERVICE AIR COMPARED TO THE RETAIL DEMAND WITHIN THE CITY OF ABILENE. JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT OUR POPULATION IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER SO WE MAY BE ADDING MORE PEOPLE BUT FROM A PERCENTAGE STANDPOINT SEVERAL OF THESE WHOLESALE PROVIDERS, OUR WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS ARE GROWING AT A MUCH MORE RAPID RATE THAN CITY OF ABILENE ITSELF IS. AND YOU CAN SEE ON THE BOTTOM LINE THERE, YOU KNOW PROJECTED GROWTH FOR THE ABILENE AREA UNDER THE MODELING SCENARIO THAT THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD ADOPTED IS AB SHEEN PROJECTED TO BE AT 238,000 PEOPLE IN 2080 FOR ABILENE AND IT'S IMMEDIATE REGION AND SERVICE AREA. AND RIGHT NOW IT IS ABOUT 157,000. IT IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT PROJECTED GROWTH THAT WE HAVE TO PLAN FOR. POPULATION IS AN EASY WAY TO MEASURE WHAT GROWTH IN OUR AREA LOOKS LIKE. TO PUT IT IN A

[04:35:01]

>> QUICK QUESTION FOR CLARITY. ARE THEY IN THE RETAIL OR ARE THEY A WHOLESALE CUSTOMER? THEY.

>> THEY ARE LOOKED AT AS RETAIL. IT HAPPEN TOTS BE LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF ABILENE.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> TO BE FAIR, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY TO CONSIDER THE WHOLESALE GROWTH ALSO. IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE CITY BECAUSE OUR ABILITY TO SAY NO AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE WATER TO THOSE WHOLESALE CUSTOMER SOCIAL SECURITY LIMITED. THEY COULD GO TO THE WATER BOARD AND SAY THEY ARE NOT GIVING US WATER AND THE STATE WOULD SAY YOU HAVE TO GIVE THEM WATER. SO I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER BOTH, NOT JUST -- IT IS NOT THE POINT YOU WERE MAKING BUT YES ABILENE WILL GROW BUT THIS WHOLESALE WATER SIDE IS GROWING ALSO AND IT IS GROWING FASTER THAN ABILENE. WE DON'T REALLY GET TO SAY WHETHER WE WILL GIVE THEM WATER OR NOT. WE LEAK TO THINK THAT. IN PRACTICE POLITICALLY WE ARE GOING TO

GIVE THEM WATER. >> SELL THEM WATER.

>> YEAH. >> PROVIDE THEM WATER. BUT YES WE WILL BE SELLING IT. THAT IS A FAIR POINT.

>> SO WE HAVE LOOKED AT POPULATION GROWTH AND THE RESULT IN DEMAND PROJECTED OVER OUR PLANNING PERIOD JUST BEFORE WE TAKE ANOTHER STEP IS JUST REMIND YOU THAT RIGHT NOW THE CITY OF ABILENE IS IN GREAT SHAPE AS FAR AS THE WATER SUPPLY GOES. HOWEVER, WE HAVE TO DON'T LOOK ON THE HORIZON OF REAL NEEDS AND GROWTH AND THE IMPACTS OF OUR WATER SUPPLY AND HOW THEIR CHARACTER CHANGES OVER TIME. SO, UH, AT LEAST THROUGH THE 2050 DECADE THE CITY OF ABILENE IS IN GREAT SHAPE. THE PROBLEM IS IS THAT ABILENE HAS ALWAYS BEEN CHASING THE NEXT WATER SUPPLY PROJECT REALLY FROM ABILENE FIRST BEGAN AND WE ARE STILL CONTINUING TO BE CHALLENGED EVEN THOUGH WE JUST SECURED A LOT OF POSSUM KINGDOM WATER. WE JUST SECURED SOME GROUND WATER OUT IN FAR WEST TEXAS BUT THE REALITY IS THAT OUR ESPECIALLY OUR SURFACE WATER SUPPLIES WILL CONTINUE TO SHRINK OVER TIME. WE ARE MOVING TONS AND TONS OF NEW SOIL TYPE MATERIAL INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE LAKE EVERY TIME WE GET AN IN FLOW. SO THOSE ADD UP OVERTIME AND THEY TAKE UP WATER VOLUME THAT IS NO LONGER THERE. WE KNOW TEMPERATURES ARE INCREASING. YOU CAN ARGUE ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS AS FAR AS THE

[04:40:01]

RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT AND WE CAN DO THAT IN A COUPLE OF WAYS. ONE OF THEM IS DO A RATE STRUCTURE. THE OTHER ALTERNATE THAT MAY BE MORE DIFFICULT TO ACCOMPLISH IS ACTUALLY REQUIRING THEM TO PARTNER IN THE INITIALED INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPING THE SUPPLIES. IF YOU WANT TO BENEFIT FROM THAT, THEN, HERE, WRITE ME A CHECK FOR THIS AMOUNT TO BASICALLY BUY AND SECURE THEIR SHARE OF THAT NEXT PROJECT.

>> TWO QUESTIONS. ONE, IF FOR WHATEVER REASON CEDAR RIDGE SAYS NO OR WE PIVOT, WHAT IS THE VIABLE ALTERNATIVE? IS THAT WE ARE GOING OUT AND GETTING NO CONTRACTS OR DEVELOPING SOMETHING ELSE OR WHAT IS A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE OTHER THAN

CEDAR RIDGE? >> THERE IS NO VIABLE ALTERNATIVE. THE GROUNDWATER ASSOCIATED WITH THAT WAS OUR VIABLE ALTERNATIVE. WE HAVE SECURED THOSE WATER RIGHTS AND ARE NOW WORKING WITH THE THREE PARTIES TO MIND THEM AND PRODUCE THEM. CEDAR RIDGE IS AN IMPORTANT AND VIABLE PART OF OUR WATER STRATEGY. IT HAS TO BE. WE SPEND WAY TOO MUCH MONEY TO ABANDON IT. IT IS A VIABLE PROJECT. I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND THE TIME TO DO IT. BUT THEY ARE NOT MAKING ANY MORE RESERVOIRS UNLESS YOU MAKE THEM. STREAM FLOWS ARE DIMINISHING IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE ANALYSIS WE HAVE DONE. THE REASON SOME OF THOSE ARE NOT WHAT THEY WERE AND WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM IN FUTURE YEARS IS THAT STREAM FLOWS HAVE DIMINISHED AFTER THE DROUGHT. THEY ARE NOT WHAT THEY WERE PRIOR TO THE DROUGHT. SO NOT TO PAINT A DOOM OR GLOOM, BUT THAT IS OUR STRATEGY. IF OTHER RESOURCES MATERIALIZE, SAY B.R.A. HAS ADDITIONAL WATER AND THEY ARE WILLING TO SELL IT TO THE CITY OF ABILENE, WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. ONE

[04:45:02]

>> I AM GLAD THAT WE ARE. I THINK IT IS A GREAT INVESTMENT.

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU PAY ATTENTION TO A SITUATION WITH WATER IN THE WORLD WHETHER IT IS THE SOUTHWEST ARE ALL THE WAY DOWN INTO MEXICO OR MEXICO CITY. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT EARLIER. THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF WATER. WE WERE SELLING IT TO WHO? PALA PENTO. EVEN CEDAR RIDGE. IF WE CAN MAKE SOME OF THAT INVESTMENT BACK -- I LIKE IT THAT WE ARE GUNG ON CEDAR RIDGE AND DEVELOPING THAT. COULD YOU GIVE SO WE HAVE KIND OF INSIGHT IF WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT THINGS IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO, CAN YOU GIVE US A ROUGH TIMELINE AND COST NOW THAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON CEDAR RIDGE. IS THAT OPTIMISTICALLY 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD AND WE ARE GOING TO BE X, Y, AND Z FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS?

>> WELL, WE HAVE ALREADY ASSIGNED A CONTRACT WITH CONSULTANTS TO HELP US SECURE THE WATER RIGHT PERMITS THROUGH THE TCAQ. WE JUST NEED TO SEE THAT PROCESS THROUGH TO A REAL PERMIT, AND WE BELIEVE THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND OUR CONSULTANTS ARE GOING TO HELP US GET TO THAT POINT. IF WE CAN'T GET THAT, THEN WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO GET THE FEDERAL PERMIT TO ACTUALLY ALLOW US TO CONSTRUCT ON THE WATERWAY. BUT , ONCE WE SECURE THAT, THE NEXT STEP WOULD TO BE TO RE-ENGAGE WITH THE PROCESS WITH THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND THE CONSULTING FIRM ASSOCIATED WITH THAT AND COMPLETE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY, AND THAT WILL DETERMINE WHETHER WE CAN JUSTIFY THE NEED FOR THAT WATER OR NOT. THAT IS WHAT THE PROCESS IS FOR. AND SO IF WE CAN'T JUSTIFY THAT, THEN REALISTICALLY AT THE TIME, THAT PROJECT IS NO LONGER AN OPTION FOR US. SO IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CAN DEMONSTRATE THE NEED -- AND I BELIEVE WE CAN. BUT IF FOR WHATEVER REASON WE CAN'T, THEN WE WILL BE, YOU KNOW, REFOCUSING ON WHATEVER THAT TAKES, WHETHER IT IS ADDITIONAL GROUNDWATER OR SOME OTHER SURFACE WATER THAT WE MAY HAVE TO -- HAVE TO REALLY FIGHT FOR. TO GET OUR FOOT INTO THE DOOR OR, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL WATER FROM POSSUM KINGDOM.

>> WHEN WE KNOW THAT ANSWER POTENTIALLY? LATER THIS YEAR?

FIVE YEARS FROM NOW? >> FIVE YEARS. YEAH.

>> AND BY THAT ANSWER, IS THAT TCQ?

>> THAT IS THE COMPLETION OF THE NEEDS ANALYSIS AND THE DETERMINATION IF THERE IS A NEED. THEN YOU GO THROUGH, DOES THAT INCLUDE THE ALTERNATIVE ANALYSIS ARE JUST THE ANALYSIS?

>> OKAY. THAT INCLUDES THE ALTERNATIVE ANALYSIS AS WELL.

HERE IS THE NEED. DO WE HAVE TO DO THIS BECAUSE WE NEED IT SOMEWHERE ELSE? THE ANSWER IS NO BUT THE FEDS WILL MAKE YOU GO THROUGH IT BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT PROCESS, AND THAT'S FAIR. YES, YOU HAVE A NEED. THIS IS THE ONLY VIABLE ALTERNATIVE OR THE CHOICE THAT PEOPLE WANT TO DO.

THEN YOU CAN GO APPLY FOR YOUR 404 PERMIT AND START THE PROCESS. THEN THE PRICE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHEN I FIRST CAME TO ABILENE WAS $250 MILLION-$250 MILLION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE DAM AND THE NUMBERS HAVE ONLY GONE UP. IT IS GOING TO BE SIZABLE INTO THAT POINT NOT SOMETHING THAT ABILENE NEEDS TO DO ALONE. WE HAVE GOT A WATER DISTRICT. AND AT SOME POINT IN TIME, WE START TALKING TO THEM ABOUT THIS IS A PROJECT THAT REQUIRES THE WHOLE DISTRICT TO PARTICIPATE BECAUSE IT IS THEIR WATER THAT WE ARE SECURING FOR THE FUTURE.

>> IS IT SOMETHING FROM A PENDING PERSPECTIVE THAT WE NEED TO START -- WHAT EVER IT IS -- SETTING ASIDE MONEY? ARE WE HAVE GOT TIME TO SECURE THAT FUNDING?

[04:50:07]

>> WHEN IT COMES TIME TO BUILD THE ACTUAL RESERVOIR, THAT WILL BE LONG ENOUGH ON THE ROAD THAT WE WILL HAVE ADEQUATE TIME TO PUT TOGETHER FUNDING ANALYSIS AND FUNDING PROPOSALS, SOME OF WHICH MAY BE FEDERAL. SOME OF THEM MAY BE STATE. WE ARE A LARGE REGIONAL PROVIDER AND THERE MAY BE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP SPEND OTHER PEOPLES MONEY WHICH IS ALWAYS NICE.

>> THANK YOU. >> AND JUST TO KEEP IT FRESH ON YOUR MIND, IF YOU LOOK AT OUR DAILY REPORTS FOR WATER SUPPLIES AND WATER USAGE, WE ARE SLOWLY APPROACHING THAT 50% OF COMBINED CAPACITY THAT IS THE TRIGGER POINT FOR GOING TO TWO-DAY A WEEK WATERING. THE SIMPLE PART. THIS ALSO WILL TRIGGER THE PROCESS FOR STARTING UP THE PK PLANT.

THERE WILL BE SOME COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT IF WE DO CROSS THAT TRIGGER LEVEL AS WE DO HAVE TO PURCHASE MORE MEMBRANES, BECAUSE WE UTILIZE THOSE MEMBRANES AT THE HARVESTING PLANTS AND WE WILL HAVE TO UTILIZE NEW MEMBRANES, AND WE WILL HAVE TO ENGAGE A CONTRACTOR TO HELP US GO THROUGH THAT STARTUP PROCESS BECAUSE THAT EQUIPMENT THAT IS IN THERE IS ALL IN PLACE. THE DEAL IS IT NEVER WENT TO AN ACTUAL STARTUP PROCESS, WHICH IS VERY TIME-CONSUMING, TEDIOUS WORK TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING -- THAT IS A VERY HIGH TECHNOLOGY TYPE PROCESS. AND SO WE WILL LIKELY HAVE CONVERSATIONS. IF WE DON'T GET SOME BIG ENOUGH THIS SPRING, WE WILL START THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CANCEL ABOUT WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP AND HOW WE ARE PREPARING TO GET THAT FACILITY READY SHOULD WE NEED IT.

>> THE PK? >> WE CANNOT START IT UP WITHOUT HAVING THE MEANS OF DISCHARGING THE R.O. BUT KEEP IN MIND, WE DO ALREADY HAVE A CONTRACT ISSUED FOR THAT PIPELINE AND THEY ARE, AS WE SPEAK, PREPARING TO START THAT CONSTRUCTION SO IT WOULD BE PREPARED BEFORE WE ACTUALLY NEED TO START THE PLAN. ANY OTHER PLANS ON CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR WATER UTILITIES, WATER SUPPLIES? I

APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY. >> THANK YOU. THANKS FOR THE

RECORD. >> IN THE INTERESTS OF TIME, I AM GOING TO SPEAK THROUGH THIS STORM WATER AND SOME ADDED UP.

SORRY, MAX. WE HAD A STORMWATER MASTER PLAN SUMS YEARS AGO. WE DID HAVE A FUNDING MECHANISM IN THERE.

BASICALLY, WE ARE NOT COLLECTING ENOUGH REVENUE TO DO THE PROJECTS. THEY WERE WOEFULLY UNDER CALCULATED ON WHAT THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS HAVE COME BACK, TO THE POINT THAT THE STORMWATER TEAM HAS KIND OF PUT THE BRAKES ON THE WHOLE THING. THESE ARE PROJECTS THAT NEED TO GET DONE. WE HAVE LOOKED AT GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AND HAVE APPLIED FOR SOME BUT WE HAVE ONLY BEEN AWARDED ONE. WE CAN BRING SOME OF THESE PROJECTS FORWARD WITH THAT BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE MONEY IN THE STORMWATER FUND TO DO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. SO WE WILL BE COMING IN AS PART OF A BUDGET PROCESS IN FY25. ONE OF THE THINGS I'M GOING TO ASK FOR HIS MONEY TO DO A FORMAL RATES STUDY FOR THE STORMWATER PLAN TO LOOK AT POTENTIALLY RESTRUCTURING HOW WE APPLY THE RATES. RIGHT NOW, OUR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNERS BEAR THE LARGE FRONT OF THOSE -- OF THE STORMWATER COST RATE AND COMMERCIAL RATES ARE CAPPED AT A CERTAIN RATE, EVEN THOUGH THAT IS WERE ALL THE IMPERVIOUS SURFACES IS. THE COMMERCIAL SIDE OF THE WORLD. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE CANCEL THE INFORMATION ON HOW MOST COMMUNITIES DO THE STORMWATER FEE. AND THE CHARGES APPLY TO THEM QUARTERLY. WE CAN DO IT HOWEVER YOU ALL WANT TO DO IT. I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU A UNIVERSE OF POSSIBILITIES .

PART OF IT IS GETTING A THIRD-PARTY EXPERT TO GET THAT PLAN TOGETHER SO YOU CAN SEE YOUR OPTIONS. THESE ARE SOME PROJECTS THAT WE ARE HOPEFULLY GOING TO MOVE FORWARD ON. WE APPLIED FOR THIS FEMA GRANTS. THIS IS THE SOUTH 11TH CONSTRUCTION PLAN IN PLACE. PUBLIC MEETINGS ARE COMPLETE.

[04:55:03]

ANY QUESTIONS ON THE STORMWATER MASTER PLAN UPDATE? MAX? YOU

SURE? >> THROUGH OUR COLLECTIVE TIMES, AND THIS IS A PROJECT WE ARE WANTING TO MOVE FORWARD

WITH. >> BECAUSE WE HAVE THE GRANT

DOLLARS TO MOVE FORWARD. >> WE ARE COLLECTING FUNDS.

>> WE ARE COLLECTING FUNDS BUT THEY ARE BEING SPENT ON WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW. MAINTAINING THE CREEKS.

>> I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY, SIR.

>> BUT THESE BIG PRIORITY PROJECTS, WE ARE GOING TO IDENTIFY WHAT STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS DO WE NEED TO MAKE ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY TO ACTUALLY CREATE A BETTER STORMWATER CONVEYANCE SYSTEM. NONE OF THESE ARE ABLE TO BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE THE REVENUE STREAM TO FUND

THEM. >> WHAT DID WE SPEND LAST YEAR AND TWO YEARS AGO ON STORMWATER PROJECTS? WE ARE LOOKING AT $24

MILLION A YEAR? >> CREEK MAINTENANCE. THAT IS ALL WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO. CREEK MAINTENANCE. WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF OUR PROGRAM, WITH THE GUYS OUT IN THE CREEKS WITH THAT WEIRD SPIDER THING THAT DOES NOT WORK ANYMORE. ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? YOU KNOW WHERE WE ARE GOING. WE ARE GOING TO COME ASK FOR MONEY IN THE PROCESS PLAN. WHAT IS THAT? CONVENTION CENTER. SO THE CITY OF LITY: ABILENE CONVENTION CENTER WAS AUTHORIZED BY VOTERS IN 1967. IT WAS ACTUALLY COMPLETED AND OPENED TO THE PUBLIC IN 1970 AND WE HAD A CONFERENCE CENTER EXPANSION IN 1990. IN 2015, THE VOTERS APPROVED MINOR IMPROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE AUDITORIUM AREA.

AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE AESTHETICS OF THE EXHIBIT HALL.

THAT IS WHERE WE REALLY GOT THOSE COOL LIGHTS AND UPGRADES TO THE SOUND SYSTEM. THE BUILDING, WITHOUT A DOUBT, IS STRUCTURALLY SOUND. IT IS A BATTLESHIP OF A BUILDING. IT JUST NEEDS MAJOR RENOVATION THROUGHOUT. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS WITH YOU NOW IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A SECOND VENUE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CONVENTION CENTER. SO THE VOTERS APPROVED LAST MAY OR NOVEMBER OR WHATEVER IT WAS A VENUE DISTRICT FOR FRONTIER, TEXAS. WE HAVE UNDER THE STATE LAW -- THAT IS A JOINT CITY COUNTY VENUE. UNDER STATE LAW, THE CITY HAS THE ABILITY TO CREATE THEIR OWN VENUE. IT IS A CITY VENUE. IT HAS TO GO THROUGH THE VOTERS. BUT IT IS THE SAME CONCEPT. HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX. AGAIN, IT IS NOT THE CITIZENS OF ABILENE THAT ARE PAYING THAT. IT IS THE PEOPLE TRAVELING THROUGH ABILENE WHO ARE PAYING THAT TAX. I THINK, DEPENDING ON INTEREST RATES WE COULD GENERATE 11 TO $14 MILLION FOR THAT CONVENTION CENTER, AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS ENTER INTO FORMAL DISCUSSIONS AND CONTRACT ARRANGEMENTS TO BRING THOSE TO YOU FOR APPROVAL WITH ASM GLOBAL AND GARFIELD PRIVATE TO TALK ABOUT DESIGNING THE SHUTTLE-READY COMPONENT FOR THAT VENUE DISTRICT SO WE COULD HOLD AN ELECTION SOMETIME NEXT YEAR. THE INTENT WOULD BE THAT THE VENUE WOULD BENEFIT THE CONVENTION CENTER. WE WOULD USE THIS AS A FUNDING OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THESE IMPROVEMENTS.

GARFIELD WAS A DEVELOPER, ESPECIALLY WITH THE HOTEL. ASM GLOBAL WAS BROUGHT TO US BY GARFIELD. GARFIELD AND ASM GLOBAL HAVE GONE TO THAT CONVENTION CENTER NOW ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES WITH THINGS THEY CAN AND NEED TO DO TO HELP MAKE THE CONVENTION CENTER A COMPETITIVE VENUE AND FACILITY IN COMPARISON TO THE BRAND-NEW HOTEL. RIGHT? THE INTENT WOULD BE TO IMPROVE THE BATHROOMS. IMPROVE THE FOYER. AUDITORIUM.

THEATER DESIGN CHANGES. YOU KNOW? WE LOVE CONTINENTAL SEATING. ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE ON STAGE AND CDS NICE LITTLE SEATS. BUT IF YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT ROW AND HAVE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM, WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO. ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO DO IS CHANGE THE SEAT LAYOUT DESIGN AND CREATE A CENTER ROW BUT WITHOUT LOSING SO MANY SEATS WE DO NOT HAVE A VENUE ANYMORE. GARFIELD HAS THE RESOURCES AND THE EXPERIENCE WITH DESIGNING THESE FACILITIES. THEY BUILT THE BUDDY HOLLY PERFORMANCE CENTER AND LOVICK, SO THEY HAVE GOT THE CHOPS TO DO THIS AND WE KNOW THEY CAN DELIVER PROJECTS.

SO THAT IS THE CONCEPT FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER. WHAT

QUESTIONS DO YOU ALL HAVE? >> SO WE HAVE TO GET THIS?

>> RIGHT. WE HAVE TO HAVE A SHOVEL. WE HAVE TO HAVE A

[05:00:01]

IF WE NEED TO HAVE $30 MILLION THERE IS NO SENSE TO DO A VENUE BECAUSE WE WILL NOT GET THAT KIND OF REVENUE OUT OF IT.

>> YOU MEAN CRATING A VENUE AS OPPOSED TO A NEW ELEMENT OR NEW

STAGE OR SOMETHING? >> YEAH. SO THE CONCEPT RIGHT NOW WOULD NOT BE ADDING SQUARE FOOTAGE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE CONVENTION CENTER UNLESS WE HAD TO AS PART OF THE CREATION OF THAT DISTRICT. WE MIGHT HAVE TO. WE GOT A VISIT WITH OUR ATTORNEYS AND HAVE GOT TO FIGURE THAT OUT STILL. BUT, I THINK, WHAT WE CAN DO IS RENOVATE THE INTERIOR OF THE FACILITY. I BELIEVE. SUBJECT TO FURTHER INFORMATION.

>> THE SECOND VENUE TAX YOU THINK WOULD GENERATE THE

[5. Community]

$11-14? >> I THINK THEY COULD DO IT

ALONE. YEAH. >> OKAY.

>> THEN I AM IN SUPPORT OF IT. YES.

>> NORTH-SOUTH COUNCIL BOUNDARY LINES. SO THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE DISCUSSED IN THE PAST AND I WANTED TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION WITH COUNSEL AGAIN. AND I NEED TO GRAB A LAPTOP.

YOU KNOW, WHERE THE BOUNDARY LINE FALLS IS REALLY ANYBODY'S GUESS. WHAT WE DON'T HAVE -- WHAT WE HAVEN'T HAD A SOMETHING LIKE THIS. LAST COUNSEL SESSION WE JUST KIND OF TALKED ABOUT THE COUNCIL ITSELF. AND WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS SOMETHING WE WANTED TO DO. COUNSEL SAID, HEY, WE DON'T WANT TO DO THIS JUST YET. COUNCIL MEMBER MCALLISTER SAID I WENT TO HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON IT. AND SO THIS

IS THAT OPPORTUNITY. >> AND IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, BECAUSE WE HAD JUST HAD AN AMENDMENT ELECTION, OUR CHARTER SAYS WE CANNOT CHANGE THE CHARTER FOR TWO YEARS.

>> YEAH. NEXT YEAR GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AGAIN. THAT IS RIGHT. SO WITHOUT GETTING INTO TOO MUCH OF IT BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF DATA ON THIS FOR YOU ALL, WHAT IS THE DESIRE ON THE PART OF COUNSEL TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION? WHAT I AM TRYING TO PULL UP QUICKLY HERE IS SOME VERY, VERY HIGH-LEVEL DEMOGRAPHIC WORK THAT WAS DONE THAT IS NOT TRANSLATING INTO PDF.

SO, AT PRESENT, OUR CURRENT BOUNDARY LINE ON NORTH SIDE, YOU HAVE GOT 42,000 PEOPLE. OKAY? AND YOU HAVE GOT 12% OF THAT POPULATION LIVES BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL. IT IS ABOUT 43% LIGHT. 10 1/4% BLACK. 2% HISPANIC OR LATINO. AND SOME OTHER RACE, 11.24%. YOU HAVE GOT 8.7 THOUSAND PEOPLE WITH A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. YOU KNOW? YOU HAVE GOT 3.6 THOUSAND PEOPLE WITH A COLLEGE DEGREE ON THE SOUTHSIDE. 66.6 -- 66,600 PEOPLE. ALMOST 60% WHITE. 8.5% BLACK. 22.25% HISPANIC OR LATINO. YOU HAVE GOT ALMOST 12,000 PEOPLE WITH A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR EQUIVALENCY. AND YOU HAVE GOT 7000 PEOPLE WITH A BACHELORS DEGREE. SO, THE DEMOGRAPHICS, THAT IS KIND OF WHERE WE ARE NOW. 45,000 PEOPLE. 66,000 PEOPLE. IF YOU MOVED TO THIS SECOND OPTION WHICH IS THE PURPLE LINE, ON THE NORTH SIDE YOUR POPULATION GOES TO 71,000 PEOPLE OR 72,000 PEOPLE. AND ON THE SELL SIDE THE POPULATION DROPS TO 40,000 PEOPLE. SO YOU FLIP THE PROBLEM. RIGHT? IF YOU LOOK AT SOUTH 27TH, CLEARLY IT IS A LARGER PROBLEM BECAUSE YOU HAVE MORE IN THE NORTH. ON THE SOUTH SIDE, 25.2%. SO ALL I AM SAYING IS, IF THIS IS SOMETHING YOU WANT TO DISCUSS, WE NEED AN EXPERT TO COME IN AND HELP US MAKE A DETERMINATION ON WHERE

[05:05:02]

NORTH TO SOUTH. IT MAY BE MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT AND I WANTED TO ASK YOU, WHERE DO YOU ALL WANT TO GO.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION. IF WE PURSUE THIS AND HAVE A EXTERNAL COMPANY COME IN AND PROVIDE THIS EVALUATION AND WE MAKE A CHANGE TO THE BOUNDARIES, DOES THAT ALLOW US TO LOCK IN THOSE CHANGES OR IS IT OPENED UP TO WHERE EVERY CENSUS WE NEED TO DO A RE-EVALUATION TO SEE IF THOSE BOUNDARIES ARE STILL APPLICABLE OR IF THEY HAVE TO BE ADJUSTED LIKE THE COUNTY.

>> WE HAVE A SYSTEM NOW THAT IS AT LARGE BY PLACE. AND BECAUSE WE ARE AT LARGE, WE CAN AVOID SOME OF THOSE THINGS. AS LONG AS WE MAINTAIN OUR AT LARGE BY PLACE CONCEPT I THINK WE CAN BE PROTECTED FROM THAT BUT THAT IS A NUANCED QUESTION BECAUSE WE ARE NOW MOVING THE BOUNDARY LINE THAT WAS ESTABLISHED AND WE MAY OPEN UP OURSELVES TO REQUIREMENTS THAT EXPERTS HAVE

TO ANSWER. >> EVERY 10 YEARS OR SO?

>> I DON'T HAVE A SOLID ANSWER FOR YOU.

>> I DON'T MIND LOOKING INTO THAT BUT IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE OPENING UP A LOT OF ADDITIONAL STAFF EFFORT AND COUNSEL TIME.

AND CONCERN FROM THE CITIZENS ABOUT WHERE IS THAT LINE GOING TO BE, WHEN AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE ARE STILL AT LARGE POSITIONS THAT EVERYONE IN THE CITY VOTES FOR. EACH OF US. SO I DON'T WANT TO COMMIT TO A COURSE THAT IS GOING TO COST THE CITIZENS MONEY WITHOUT REALLY CHANGING MUCH.

>> ONE ARGUMENT YOU COULD MAKE FOR NOT DOING IT IS AS THE NORTHSIDE GROWS, THAT DISPARITY DIMINISHES IN POPULATION.

RIGHT? AND THE NORTHSIDE IS GOING. YOU HAVE GOT HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS. YOU HAVE GOT RETAIL. YOU HAVE GOT A HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE BEING ESTABLISHED. MOVES THINGS

FORWARD. >> NORTHEAST?

>> THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT DOING THAT. EAST NORTH. AND HIGHWAY 80. HIGHWAY 36. WHATEVER IT IS. GUESS. THAT IS EXACTLY RIGHT.

>> CONNECTS NORTH OF I-20. >> SO THE MARKET MAY HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THESE CHANGES NATURALLY IF WE JUST GIVE IT TIME TO DO THAT. IT MAY NOT. IT MAY COMPOUND IT AND MAKE IT WORSE. I DON'T KNOW. WHAT I DO KNOW IS IT IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR US TO SAY THIS IS THE BOUNDARY LINE, AND, VOTERS, THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ANALYSIS.

>> WHAT ABOUT JUST ELIMINATING THE FUND? IT IS AN AT-LARGE ELECTION AND THE RESTRICTION IS ON WHERE YOU HAPPEN TO LIVE.

WHAT IF WE JUST TREAT IT LIKE THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHERE YOU ARE STILL RUNNING FOR A CERTAIN PLACE, BUT AS LONG AS YOU ARE ELIGIBLE YOU CAN LIVE ANYWHERE.

>> YEAH. THAT IS HOW IT IS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED. EVERYBODY IS AT-LARGE. EVEN THE MAYOR IS AT-LARGE. EVERYBODY IS AT-LARGE. THERE IS A PLACE BECAUSE THAT IS YOUR SPOT IN THE COUNCIL BUT YOU ARE NOT REPRESENTING A GEOGRAPHIC AREA.

I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY OF ABILENE AND THE RAIL LINE THAT PEOPLE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS ACCURATE REPRESENTATION ON THE NORTH SIDE AND ADEQUATE REPRESENTATION ON THE SOUTH SIDE AND THAT IS WHY THAT BOUNDARY LINE BECAME. BUT, OTHER THAN THAT, YOU CAN LIVE ANYWHERE THERE ON NORTHSIDE OR SOUTHSIDE. BUT YOU HAVE GOT TO HAVE A FEW MEMBERS FROM THE NORTH ARE A FEW MEMBERS FROM

THE SOUTH. >> UNDER THE CURRENT PLAN?

>> IF YOU COULD -- >> IF THERE WERE NO LINE,

ANYBODY COULD LIVE ANYWHERE. >> AND PEOPLE DO THAT. THERE

[05:10:01]

ARE CITIES THAT ARE LIKE THAT. >> IS THERE A DOWNSIDE TO THAT? WANT ALL SIX COUNCIL MEMBERS TO LIVE -- AND I AM JUST SAYING -- I'M NOT TRYING TO SLAM ANYBODY -- BUT IF YOU HAD ALL YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS LIVING IN ONE NEIGHBORHOOD WHICH YOU COULD HAVE UNDER THAT, I THINK THERE COULD BE A PERCEPTION THAT PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE REPRESENTATION BECAUSE EVERYBODY LIVES WITHIN THREE BLOCKS OF EACH OTHER IN ONE NEIGHBORHOOD. I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME KIND OF A DELINEATION BECAUSE BEFORE YOU POPPED THAT MAP UP I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT AN EAST-WEST OR NORTH-SOUTH LINE. IT LOOKS PRETTY. AND DID YOU SAY IT IS ROUGHLY 60% NOW NORTH, 40%

SOUTH. >> 45- 66.

>> MY THOUGHT WOULD BE IF THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE VOTERS WHEN THEY ENACTED THE CHARTER WAS TO ENSURE ACCURATE OR EVEN REPRESENTATION ON NORTH AND SOUTH, THEN THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO STICK WITH. I DON'T THINK NORTH-SOUTH EVER WORKS PERSONALLY, BUT IF THIS IS SOMETHING WE WANT TO DO I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF HOLDING FAST TO THE ORIGINAL WITH THE SENSE OF THE CHARTER WHICH IS TO ENSURE EQUAL REPRESENTATION OF NORTH AND SOUTH. NOW, IF YOU MOVE THAT BOUNDARY SELF THEN ALL YOU ARE DOING IS EQUALIZING RESIDENCY. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO IN MY OPINION ABOUT -- YOU ARE NOT REPRESENTING A BLOCK. THREE FROM THE NORTH AND THREE FROM THE SOUTH CAN RUN. YOU KNOW? MAYBE IT IS SOUTH SEVENTH. SOUTH 11TH TO 14TH. MAYBE IT IS 11TH ALL THE WAY ACROSS TO ELMWOOD. IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL, YOU WOULD END UP WITH SUCH A ZIGZAG LINE IF YOU TRY TO MAKE IT, YOU KNOW, EXACTLY EQUAL. I THINK WE EITHER LEAVE IT ALONE OR REMOVE IT WITH SOME EQUITABLE POPULATION DISTRIBUTION. AND WE CANNOT DO IT ANYWAY. THIS IS A CHARTER

OPERATION. >> YES.

>> VOTERS WOULD HAVE TO DO IT. WE JUST PUT SOMETHING ON A BALLOT. I WOULD NOT BE IN FAVOR OF CHANGING IT OTHER THAN TO SHIFTED A LITTLE TO GET THE SAME NUMBER OF CANDIDATE POOL

ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE LINE. >> THE CHALLENGE IS, IF YOU MOVE THE LINE YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT POPULATION. YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THERE IS EQUITABLE REPRESENTATION FOR ALL MINORITY TYPES. AND, IF YOU DON'T, YOU ARE ASKING FOR TROUBLE. YOU WILL BE SUED AND

YOU WILL LOSE. >> EVEN IF THE CITIZENS DO IT?

>> ABSOLUTELY. >> WELL, I THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE A LARGER DISCREPANCY THAN THIS. AND THAT IS ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS I WAS LOOKING AT. THE POPULATION ITSELF. THIS IS A TRADITIONAL WAY WE HAVE DONE IT IN THIS CITY. AND IF THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, I APPRECIATE US LOOKING AT IT BUT I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM LEAVING AT THE WAY IT IS. WE DO KNOW THAT THE NORTHSIDE IS ACTUALLY GROWING AGAIN. THIS MAY BE SOMETHING WE ACTUALLY WANT TO LOOK AT LATER. I AM PRETTY HAPPY WITH IT NOW, ESPECIALLY LOOKING AT THESE NUMBERS WITH

THE WAY IT IS GOING. >> I WOULD AGREE.

>> YEAH. IT IS CLOSER THAN EXPECTED. A LOT OF THE GROWTH IS OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS. AND WITH THE GROWTH ON 10TH AND 351 AND THEN GEOGRAPHICALLY IT REALLY STRETCHES US NORTH.

MAYBE NOT POPULATION WISE, BUT, YEAH. I WILL KEEP THINGS AS IS.

CONSENSUS AS A CANCEL? >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR

DOINGIT. >> IN CODE COMPLIANCE, WE WILL FLY THROUGH THIS PART OF THE PRESENTATION.

>> ALL RIGHT. CITY COUNCIL HAS IMPLEMENTED THE REBUILD ABI PROGRAM LAST YEAR. IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT TO GAUGE THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF THE PROGRAM AT A TIME. WE DO KNOW WE HAVE THREE ACTIVE AGREEMENTS BEFORE US, AND WE HAVE THREE MORE THAT WILL COME FROM CONSIDERATION NEXT WEEK. WE DO HAVE ABOUT 15 THAT ARE IN THE WORKS. AND THAT WILL BE COMING BEFORE YOU THIS YEAR. YOU CAN EXPECT PROBABLY SOME OF THIS $1 MILLION TO BE

[05:15:07]

AS OF TODAY, WE HAVE ABOUT $91,251 ALLOCATED BETWEEN THE FIRST THREE PROJECTS. WE ALSO HAVE ABOUT 60,900 FOR TWO MORE NEW CONSTRUCTION HOMES THAT WILL BE CONSIDERED NEXT WEEK, AND WE ALSO HAVE OUR FIRST MAJOR RENOVATION COMING INTO CONSIDERATION NEXT WEEK WHICH WOULD HAVE A ALLOCATION OF ABOUT $20,300. OF THE 15 THAT WE KNOW ARE COMING IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO, THAT WOULD HAVE ABOUT AN ENCUMBRANCE OF $456,000 FOR THOSE PROJECTS, AND THAT IS KIND OF PLUS OR MINUS WITH SOME SIDEWALK DEMOLITIONS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. WITH ALL THOSE TOTALED TOGETHER, THAT WOULD LEAVE US A LITTLE OVER $300,000 LEFT, BUT I DO NOT SEE A PROBLEM WITH US USING UP THAT $1 MILLION WITH THE AMOUNT OF PHONE CALLS WE GET AND ALL THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE WE EVEN GET A CHANCE TO MEET WITH THE HBA TO MEET WITH THE BUILDERS. WE ARE SUPPOSED TO MEET WITH THEM NEXT MONTH . SO THAT WILL SPUR SOME MORE

INTEREST, I BELIEVE. >> SIX MONTHS IN, I THINK WE APPROVED THIS ONE IN OCTOBER. WITH THE 6+3, WE ARE ABOUT 21 APPROVED OR KIND OF IN THE PIPELINE FOR SIX MONTHS IN. OUT OF THE 2021, YOU SAID ABOUT 640,000.

>> ABOUT 670. >> THAT IS ABOUT 20 HOUSES. WE HAVE GOT 30 HOUSES THAT CAN BE BUILT UNDER THIS PROGRAM FOR THE $1 MILLION. IS THAT RIGHT?

>> YES. >> AND THAT WILL BE CAPPED

AROUND 203. >> 203 TO THE MAX.

>> BEING BUILT UNDER THIS PROGRAM. SO OUR RETURN ON DOLLAR IS WE ARE GETTING SIX DOLLARS OF VALUE BEING BUILT FOR EVERY ONE DOLLAR THAT WE SPEND UNDER THIS PROGRAM. WITH

THAT BE ROUGHLY ACCURATE? >> THAT IS PRETTY CLOSE. AND STAFF ARE HAVING A REPORT OF THAT TYPE BEFORE THE END OF THE

YEAR. >> I JUST WANT TO COMPLIMENT ROBERT HANNAH ONCE AGAIN ON THIS PROGRAM. I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT IT. HE LOOKED AT SO MANY DIFFERENT SCENARIOS, AND THIS WAS HIS KIND OF BRAINCHILD TO DO IT THIS WAY AND THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN REMARKABLE. THIS IS HOMEOWNERSHIP IN THESE AREAS OF TOWN, AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS A GOOD JUMPSTART. ROBERT, THANK

YOU. STAFF. >> I APPRECIATE THAT, MAYOR.

BUT A GOOD CITY MANAGER HAS GOOD PEOPLE, AND THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB OF TAKING IDEAS THAT WERE TALKED ABOUT AS A TEAM AND FILTERING AND FINE-TUNING THOSE. THIS IS THE WORK OF YOUR TEAM. IT IS NOT THE WORK OF ME.

IT IS THE WORK OF YOUR TEAM. WE HAVE EXCELLENT MEN AND WOMEN

WORKING FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. >> I WAS AT THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS LUNCHEON YESTERDAY AND WAS TALKING WITH THE GENTLEMAN GOING TO THE PROCESS AND HE HAD VERY NICE THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT. I SPECIFICALLY SAID, HOW IS THAT PROCESS? WE ARE STILL LEARNING THE ROPES. WHAT DO WE NEED TO TWEAK? AND HE SAID, I WILL BE HONEST. I WAS VERY INTIMIDATED GOING INTO IT. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU WILL GET WITH THE CITY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF NEW VEHICLES, BUT HE SAID IT WAS VERY FRIENDLY. THE STAFF WAS GREAT. HE SAID ONE OF THE LADIES JUST A, HEY, COME OVER HERE. IT WAS A VERY SURPRISINGLY AND FRIENDLY AND EASY PROCESS TO GET THROUGH THAT. HE WAS VERY ENCOURAGED. SO THAT WAS GREAT. HIS WORDS WERE JUST VERY ENCOURAGING, AND THAT IS A REFLECTION ON ROBERT BUT ALSO YOU GUYS THERE WORKING WITH THEM ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. NOW THAT WE HAVE DONE SIX MONTHS, WE HAVEN'T DONE A FULL YEAR, BUT ANY TWEAKS? OBVIOUSLY, WE WANT THE PROGRAM TO INCENTIVIZE BUT ALSO REALLY TARGET THE ONES THAT ALSO WERE NOT GOING TO BE BUILT WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS. I DON'T KNOW HOW LATE WE GET TO DO THAT. NOW THAT WE HAVE GOT SIX MONTHS, ANY TWEAKS FROM A POLICY LEVEL WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT?

>> I NEED TO HAVE A FULL YEAR UNDER MY BELT. LET THEM GET TO THEIR PROJECTS. SIT DOWN AND SAY HOW CAN THIS WORK BETTER. I THINK THAT IS AN IMPORTANT PART BUT THEY HAVE NOT EVEN

[05:20:07]

COMPLETED THE PROJECTS YET. >> OKAY. THEN FUNDING WISE, WE SAID $1 MILLION. OBVIOUSLY, IT IS VERY EARLY IN THE PROCESS.

BUT IS STAFF THINKING $1 MILLION NEXT YEAR OR DO WE NEED TO INCREASE OR DECREASE? WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?

>> BECAUSE WE HAVE WORKED SO MANY YEARS ON INFIELD DEVELOPMENT, I AM GOING TO TRY VERY, VERY HARD TO KEEP THE $1 MILLION FOR THIS PROGRAM FOR FY25. IT HAS BEEN ON THE COUNCIL PRIORITY SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE. IT IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY THAT COUNSEL HAS. I AM TAKING THAT IS DIRECTION TO KEEP THE MILLION DOLLARS THERE. I DON'T KNOW IF WE WILL BE ABLE TO GROW THE PROGRAM, BUT $1 MILLION IS NOT NOTHING. IT

IS A LOT OF MONEY. >> I DO LOVE THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR EVERY SIX DOLLARS WE PUT IN. I LOVE THAT.

YOU GOOD? >> ALL RIGHT. THE FUN STUFF. WE ARE GOING TO GO OVER SOME TIMELINES SO THAT THE COUNCIL CAN MAYBE HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING ABOUT HOW THE PROCESS WORKS. I KNOW YOU ALL PROBABLY GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS WHENEVER YOU ALL RUN INTO YOUR CITIZENS, AND SOMETIMES THE CITIZEN MAY NOT NOTICE WE HAVE THAT TIMELINE WORKS FOR THE COLD OFFICER. BASICALLY, THE COMPLAINT COMES IN EITHER THROUGH PHONE CALL OR AN OFFICER MAY DRIVE-BY. BACK IN THE DAY, IT WAS ABOUT FIVE DAYS TO REACH AND WORK THAT INSPECTION WITH THE ADDITION OF CODE OFFICERS, OUR AVERAGE LATELY HAS BEEN A DAY TO GET TO THAT COMPLAINT. SO THAT IS A HUGE IMPROVEMENT. THE OFFICER WILL GO OUT AND DO THE FIRST INSPECTION AND LEAVE A DOOR HANGER. AND IF THERE IS SOMEONE ON THE SIDE WHO SPEAKS WITH THAT CUSTOMER AND DISCUSSES WHAT THAT NUISANCE MAY BE, THEN THE NEXT DAY THE NOTIFICATION WOULD BE SENT OUT. THIS IS THROUGH REGULAR MAIL. TO NOTIFY THE PROPERTY OWNER OF THE NUISANCE THAT WAS FOUND ON THE SITE. 10 DAYS LATER, THIS IS ALL COURTESY TIME AND TRYING TO GAIN VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE. THE OFFICER WILL GO BACK AND DO A REINSPECTION AND SEE IF THAT NUISANCE HAS BEEN CLEANED UP.

IF THE NUISANCE HAS BEEN REMEDIED, THEN THE COURSE OF THE CASE IS CLOSED. ON AVERAGE, ABOUT HALF THE CASES ARE CLOSED WITH THAT FIRST COURTESY NOTICE. HALF THE CASES , WHICH SAVES US ON THAT FIRST NOTICE, ABOUT $30,000 A YEAR. SO THAT FIRST COURTESY NOTICE DOES WORK. IF, BY CHANCE, THE NUISANCE DOES REMAIN, WE DO SEND CERTIFIED MAIL BY THEN.

CONFIRMATION RECEIVED. THAT IS WHEN THE TIME STARTS FOR THE 10 DAYS. AND THAT IS SET OUT IN CHAPTER 19 OF OUR CODE ORDINANCE. THE THIRD INSPECTION IS DONE. IF THE NUISANCE HAS BEEN REMEDIED, THE CASE IS CLOSED. IF THE NUISANCE REMAINS, THE TYPICAL PROCESS IS ONE WE CAN ACTUALLY ABATE THE NUISANCE PROBLEM. SO TYPICALLY 31 DAYS TO GET TO THAT POINT RIGHT THERE IF VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE IS NOT OBTAINED.

FROM THERE IS ONE WE ABATE. OUR AVERAGE LENGTH OF ABATEMENTS IN 2022 WAS 36 DAYS AND THEN 44 DAYS. SO WE HAVE IMPROVED THAT BY 22 DAYS IN THIS PAST YEAR. SO OUR MAIN OBJECTIVE IS TO GAIN VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE BECAUSE THAT SAVES THE TAXPAYERS MONEY AND WE DO NOT HAVE TO GO DOWN THIS LONG PATH FOR COMPLIANCE. ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT PORTION?

>> IS THERE ANYTHING THAT IS SHARED WITH SOMEBODY? LIKE IF YOU INTERACT WITH THEM AND THEY ARE ELDERLY AND PHYSICALLY CANNOT GET OUT TO MOW THEIR YARD, ARE THERE NONPROFITS THAT WE KNOW OF THAT WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS THAT WE SHARE? LIKE YOU CAN REACH OUT TO THIS CHURCH OR NONPROFIT ABOUT GETTING HELP WITH THAT?

>> YES, SIR. THE CODE OFFICERS TO HAVE A LIST THAT OFFER THAT KIND OF HELP AND IN THOSE KIND OF SITUATIONS GIVE THAT TO THE

CUSTOMER. >> GREAT. ALL RIGHT. JUNK

[05:25:05]

>> ARE STUCK BETWEEN TWO TREES. >> OR STUCK BETWEEN TWO TREES.

AND THEN IT IS A CHALLENGE TO GET OUT. IF IT IS NOT ACCESSIBLE, THAT IS WHEN WE GO STRAIGHT TO CITATION AND THE CASE WOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO THEM. AS YOU CAN SEE WITH THE STATS, 2019, 773 JUNK VEHICLES. ALL UP TO 2023, 546. WE HAVE HAD JUNK VEHICLES TOWED FROM 2023 WAS 30. THOSE NUMBERS KIND OF GO UP AND DOWN. THERE IS NO WAY TO SPECULATE HOW MANY YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE EACH YEAR. IS THERE ANY QUESTION ON THAT

PORTION? >> IF WE TOW A VEHICLE, DO WE

BILL THE OWNER? >> WE BILL THE OWNER.

>> AND IF THEY DO NOT PAY? >> THEN IT GOES TO THE LIEN

PROCESS. >> AND IF THEY JUST DON'T WANT IT AND TO GET RID OF IT, THEN --

>> IT GOES TO THE IMPOUND LOT.

>> YES. >> AND AN AUCTION AT SOME

POINT. >> HERE ARE SOME STATS FOR CODE COMPLIANCE. TOTAL PERFECTIONS IN SPORT, 2008 TEAM WAS 6555.

WENT UP TO 546. THIS MEANS WITH THE ADDITIONAL OFFICERS, WE WERE ABLE TO WORK MORE CASES. CODE VIOLATIONS, 2019. NEW CODE VIOLATIONS WAS 6225. 2023 WAS ABOUT 8000 MORE.

2022 WAS 3022. THEN YOU CAN SEE THE AMOUNT OF CASES THAT WE WORK THERE IS BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF RAINFALL WE GET THAT YEAR. AND IF WE GET HEAVY RAINFALL, THEN WE ARE GOING TO WORK A WHOLE LOT MORE CASES. IF IT IS A DRY YEAR, THEN THE CASES ON GRASS AND WEEDS GO DOWN. THE AVERAGE ABATEMENT PROJECT AS STATED BEFORE, 2022, SIX DAYS. 2023 WAS 44 DAYS. THE AVERAGE DAY TO COMPLY WITH THE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS, FISCAL YEAR 2022 WAS 74 DAYS. FISCAL YEAR 2023 WAS 36 DAYS, AND THAT HIS THANKS TO THE ADDITION OF THE MAINTENANCE INSPECTORS. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE GOING TO GET INTO SOME PROPERTY MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS AND COMBINATION PROCESS FROM THE DAY OF COMPLAINT. WE GO LOOK AT THE CASE IN ABOUT A DAY. FIRST INSPECTION. ON DAY ONE, A REPORT IS WRITTEN. THE REPORT IS GIVEN TO THE BUILDING OFFICIAL FOR REVIEW. THAT IS A ONE OR TWO DAY PROCESS DEPENDING ON THE WORKLOAD AT THE TIME. AT THE OFFICIAL DEEMS THAT IT IS STILL A HABITABLE SPACE, THE CASE WILL BE MOVED TO A RESTRUCTURE CASE. WE WILL GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS IN A LITTLE BIT. IF IT IS DEEMED UNINHABITABLE, IT IS CONDEMNED.

THE BUILDING OFFICIAL WILL ASSIGN A AFFIDAVIT AND WILL FILE THAT AFFIDAVIT WITH THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE. AND

[05:30:01]

FROM THAT POINT, CERTIFIED MAIL IS SENT. CERTIFIED MAIL IS SENT WITH NOTIFICATIONS. IT INCLUDES NOTIFICATION OF ISSUES AND A BLANK PLAN WHICH IS TYPICALLY A 30-60 PLAN. 30-60 IS A PLAN WHERE YOU HAVE 30 DAYS TO HAVE IT ESTIMATES OF REPAIR FROM THE CONTRACTORS. AND AND ALSO AND 60 DAYS IS THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE FIRST INSPECTION. I AM SORRY. I GOT TONGUE-TIED THERE FOR A SECOND. THIS PORTION OF THE PROCESS, AGAIN, AS WE TRY TO GAIN COMPLIANCE, THAT GIVES THE OWNER OF THE STRUCTURE A CHANCE TO TRY TO REPAIR IT BEFORE AND ORDER IS PLACED FROM THE BOARD OF BUILDING STANDARDS. ONCE THAT IS SENT OUT AN CONFIRMATION IS RECEIVED, THEY HAVE 30 DAYS BEFORE THAT THIRD INSPECTION. ONCE RECEIVED, THAT IS WHEN THE 30-60 CLOCK BEGINS. BUT THEN THE PROPERTY OWNER MUST SUBMIT A PLAN OF ACTION, CONTRACTOR BIDS, AND APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTS TO RECEIVE THE BUILDING PERMITS FOR REPAIR. IF THE PLAN OF ACTION IS NOT APPROVED BY THE BUILDING OFFICIAL, THEY -- THEY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO CORRECT THAT PLAN OF ACTION. IF NOT, IF THEY REFUSE TO DO IT, IT IS SENT OVER TO THE BOARD OF BUILDING STANDARDS. IF APPROVED, IT GETS ITS PERMITS AND THEN THEY HAVE TO GET THOSE INSPECTIONS WITHIN THE 60 DAYS, AND THEN IT FOLLOWS THE PERMIT PROCESS, REMAINING ACTIVE AS LONG AS THERE ARE INSPECTIONS WITHIN THAT 180 DAY TIMELINE. IF YOU CAN SEE THE STATS DOWN BELOW, IN 2019 WE HAVE 76 CONDEMNATION COMPLAINTS.

CONDEMNATION CASES COMPLETED WAS 52. 2023 WE HAD 82 CONDEMNATION COMPLAINTS. 52 CONDEMNATION COMPLAINTS COMPLETED. PART OF BUILDING STANDARDS AND DEMOLITION PROCESS. IF THE FIRST VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE IS NOT OBTAINED, CERTIFIED MAIL IS SENT AND INCLUDES NOTICE ON THE PART OF BUILDING STANDARDS ME THINK. POSTED 72 HOURS BEFORE THE MEETING. ONCE IT GETS TO THE BOARD OF BUILDING STANDARDS MEETING, THEY HAVE TWO OPTIONS. OFFICIAL ORDER TO REPAIR WHICH IS THE 30-60 AS EXPLAINED EARLIER OR DEMOLITION. IF THERE IS AN OFFICIAL ORDER TO REPAIR, CERTIFIED MAIL IS SENT. THE CONDEMNATION PROCESS CONTINUES. IF IT IS ORDERED TO DEMOLISH, THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS 30 DAYS TO APPEAL TO DISTRICT COURT. IF NOT APPEALED ON THE 31ST DAY, THE CITY MAY DEMOLISH. THE AVERAGE PROCESS IS 10 DAYS. THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS DO TAKE PLACE. THREE BEDS FOR DEMO. EXECUTE A CONTRACT. AND PERMIT FOR DEMOLITION. IT TAKES 30 DAYS FOR THE CONTRACTOR TO COMPLETE A DEMOLITION. THERE IS A FINAL INSPECTION AT THE END OF THAT PROCESS TO MAKE SURE IT WENT APPROPRIATELY, AND THEN IT IS CLEANED OFF ACCORDING TO THE SPECS. ONCE THAT IS COMPLETED, IF THE BILL IS PAID, THE CASE IS CLOSED AND IF NOT THEN THE PROCESS CONTINUES TO PLACE A LIEN ON THE PROPERTY.

IN 2019, WE PRESENTED 22 CASES TO THE BOARD OF BUILDING STANDARDS COMPARED TO 2023 WHEN WE DID 55 CASES PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF BUILDING STANDARDS. IN 2019, WE PERFORMED 21 DEMOLITIONS. IN 2023, WE PERFORMED 30 DEMOLITIONS. I CAN ATTEST THAT WHEN I CAME ON BOARD WITH THE CITY OF ABILENE IN 2016, THEY WERE STILL WORKING CASES THAT WERE 15 YEARS OLD. TODAY, WE ARE TURNING THEM AROUND AT A MUCH FASTER RATE. THIS PORTION OF THE CODE COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENT HAS COME AN EXTREMELY LONG, LONG WAY.

>> THE BORROWER IS LOW. >> BUT THEY HAVE RAISED IT.

[05:35:04]

>> TWICE AS FAST. >> 7 1/2 YEARS.

>> I WOULD SAY WE ARE NOW FOLLOWING A PRETTY STANDARD PROCESS. FROM THE TIMELINESS OF THE PROCESS.

>> IT IS A SOLID PROCESS NOW. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WORK CLOSELY WITH NOW, JUDGE CRAIG. WE WERE REALLY REFINING THAT IN MY FIRST YEAR OF SERVICE HERE. IT HAS, AND EXTREMELY LONG WAY. AND FROM EARLIER ON IF IT IS STILL DEEMED HABITABLE SPACE OR IF IT WORKED AS A DILAPIDATED STRUCTURE, PRETTY MUCH THE SAME PROCESS AS THE FIRST INSPECTION. DOOR HANGERS LEFT. NOTIFICATION SENT BY REGULAR MAIL. THAT IS DONE WITHIN A DAY. THAT IS 10 DAYS BEFORE SECOND INSPECTION. SECOND INSPECTION, IF A MINOR REPAIR IS MADE THE CASE IS CLOSED. AND MINOR REPAIRS CAN BE SOMETHING LIKE A FEW MISSING SHINGLES THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED AND PAINTED. THAT KIND OF STUFF. FOR LARGER REPAIRS, THE CASE IS PUT ON A 30-60 REPAIR PLAN. AND THEY WILL HAVE 30 DAYS TO SUBMIT A PLAN AND RECEIVE PERMITS WITHIN 60 DAYS FOR INSPECTION. IF NOT, CERTIFIED MAIL IS SENT. FIVE DAYS TO RECEIVE. ONCE CONFIRMATION IS RECEIVED, 10 DAYS BEFORE THE THIRD INSPECTION. IF THE REPAIRS MADE, CASE IS CLOSED, THIRD INSPECTION FOR LARGER REPAIR.

THE CASE IS PUT ON A 30-60 REPAIR PLAN. AT THAT POINT, AFTER THE 30 DAYS, THEY DO HAVE THE OPTION OF WRITING A CITATION BUT THEY TYPICALLY TRY TO WORK WITH THESE HOMEOWNERS TO TRY TO GET SOME OF THOSE REPAIRS MADE. IF IT IS A REPAIR THAT IS JUST CONTINUING TO DILAPIDATED, THEY COULD HAVE THE POSSIBILITY OF RECEIVING OUTSIDE CITATION FOR THAT

REPAIR. >> IS THIS WHERE THE HOMEOWNER IS OCCASIONALLY AFFORDED SOME ASSISTANCE BY THE CITY?

>> THAT IS A POSSIBILITY. THE OFFICERS DO REACH OUT AND OFFER THEM EITHER FOR NONPROFITS THAT ARE AROUND TOWN OR THEY WERE FOR THEM TO NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES TO SEE IF THEY QUALIFY FOR ONE OF THEIR PROGRAMS. THAT KIND OF STUFF. BUT THEY ALWAYS TRY TO WORK FOR COMPLIANCE OR FOR ENFORCEMENT. THAT YEARLY STATS OF DILAPIDATED STRUCTURES, AS YOU CAN SEE 2021, BAILEY WORKED 85. 2022 IS WHEN WE STARTEDIMPLEMENTING SOME OF THE MORE AGGRESSIVE INSPECTIONS. THEY WORKED 441 CASES. NOW THAT THAT HAS LEVELED OUT, LAST YEAR THEY DID 225 CASES OF DILAPIDATED STRUCTURES.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS THAT YOU GUYS PRIORITIZE OR COORDINATE TO IDENTIFY DIFFERENT STRUCTURES? ARE YOU SOLELY RELYING ON RESIDENE OR IS THERE SOME OTHER PLACE YOU

HAVE TO IDENTIFY THAT? >> TO IDENTIFY? I AM SORRY.

>> DILAPIDATED STRUCTURES. >> A LOT OF THEM WILL COME IN BY COMPLAINTS. AND WHILE OFFICERS ARE OUT THERE WORKING, THEY WILL SEE VEHICLES. THEY MAY START A CASE THEMSELVES AND

TURN IT OVER TO THE BMY GUYS. >> LAST YEAR I TAUGHT A LAW CLASS AT MURRAY. AND I USED THEM AS KIND OF A POLLING GROUP. HOW MANY OF YOU ARE GOING TO STAY IN ABILENE AFTER YOU GRADUATE AND OUT OF THE 35, 34 HAD PLANS TO LEAVE. I WAS VERY DISCOURAGED AND I STARTED PULLING THEM ON WHAT WOULD KEEP YOU HERE. WHAT ISSUES DOES ABILENE HAVE. AND CONSISTENTLY ACROSS THE BOARD, THE WORD TRASHY CAME UP. NOW, WE HAVE WEST TEXAS WINDOW. IT IS GOING TO BLOW EVERYTHING. BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK CAN BE ADDRESSED AND THIS IS PART OF THE SOLUTION THAT WE HAVE JUST BEEN TALKING ABOUT. I THINK I HAVE EMAILED MAYBE ROBERT ABOUT IT. IF THERE IS ANYTHING TO BE DONE, A LOT OF THE TRASHY LOOK IS NOT NECESSARILY YARDS AND IF IT IS WE ARE ADDRESSING IT THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS. IT IS EMPTY LOTS THAT MAYBE HAVE A LITTLE GROWTH OF A FOOT OR TWO.

THE MESQUITE TREES, IT JUST GRABS EVERY PIECE OF PLASTIC TRASH BAG THAT BLOWS IN THE WIND. YOU HAVE THESE EMPTY LOTS ON I-20 ARE IN THE CITY COLLECTING TRASH OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND THE OWNERS DO NOT CARE ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO BUILD THERE. I WANTED TO SEE IF THERE WAS A MECHANISM WE COULD USE TO EITHER PENALIZE OR INCENTIVIZE

[05:40:02]

EMPTY LOTS? >> YES. THERE ARE CONDITIONS THAT CODE OF COMPLIANCE OFFICERS WORK WHEN IT GETS TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BUT THE TRASH STICKING TO THE MESQUITE TREES, SOMETIMES THEY WILL HAVE THE CONTRACTOR KNOCKED ON THOSE LITTLE ITTY-BITTY MESQUITE AND MOW THEM DOWN OR USE A SHREDDER OR WHATEVER THEY HAVE TO DO TO TEAR THAT DOWN. THAT IS PART OF

THAT PROCESS. >> IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING LIKE, OH, THEY HAVE HIGH GRASS. BUT FOR THE STAFF TO LOOK, THERE IS A LOT OF TRASH COLLECTING THERE. MAYBE IT IS NOT JUST JUNK CARS BUT IT IS WIND BLOWING IN TRASH OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THAT WOULD BE ON YOUR RADAR AS FAR AS EXPECTING THIS PROPERTY AND WE NEED THIS OWNER TO CLEAN THAT UP?

>> WE KNOW THOSE ARE PROBLEM AREAS, SO WE KEEP AN EYE ON THOSE. BUT IF THEY DO HAVE A CONDITION LIKE THAT, TO WHERE THEY HAVE THOSE LITTLE MESQUITE TREES WHICH CAN BE A PAIN IN COLLECTING TRASH. WHEN THEY DO HAVE IT ABATED, AS LONG AS IT IS LESS THAN AN INCH, THOSE KIND OF MESQUITE TREES ARE

TAKEN OUT. >> I WOULD SAY TO YOUR POINT, THE TRIP -- CLASS I TAUGHT SET UP THE BEST THING. THE BEST PART IS IN FIVE YEARS I SEE THEM ON THE STREETS AND THEY ARE BACK IN ABILENE BECAUSE THEY HAVE KIDS.

>> MY MOM SAID IF YOU'RE A BETTER TEACHER -- I WAS TRYING.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SECONDLY TO YOUR POINT, I THINK HISTORICAL CONTEXTS WOULD BE HELPFUL BECAUSE THE DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS MOVEMENT TRIED OBVIOUSLY TO PENALIZE AND HAVE A REQUIREMENT FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT NECESSARILY KEEPING, IN THAT CASE, IN OUR CASE, THE STATE CLEAN. SO WHAT THEY FOUND WAS THE BRANDING OF IT. THE DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS COMMERCIALS AND SUCH. FROM A BRANDING PERSPECTIVE THAT IS WHAT ENDED UP STICKING RATHER THAN PENALIZING. AS WE ALL KNOW, TEXANS DO NOT LIKE TO BE TOLD WHAT TO DO BUT IN THEIR WORDS TO MAKE IT SEXY TO BE A CLEAN STATE. IT MAKES MORE SENSE TO BRAND IT OR COMMUNICATE IT IN A WAY THAT INCENTIVIZES US THAT WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

>> TO THAT POINT, MY QUESTION WAS GOING TO BE HOW DO WE RAMP UP TO KEEP ABILENE BEAUTIFUL? THAT IS PART OF THE NEXT QUESTION AS WELL TO INCENTIVIZE AND BRING IN VOLUNTEERS IN THE COMMUNITY AND BRING IN GREAT PRIDE IN THE CLEANLINESS. IS THAT SOMETHING WE CAN ADDRESS OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR SO OF HALLEY RAMP THAT UP? HOWEVER THAT LOOKS LIKE.

>> I THINK WHAT WORKED WITH ABILENE AND KEEP ABILENE

BEAUTIFUL. >> I HAVE GOT A QUESTION. ON THE TIMELINES THAT WE IDENTIFIED, AND MAYOR HURT, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE TALKED TO ME ABOUT IS HOW CAN WE DO THIS FASTER. ARE THERE THINGS WE ARE DOING NOW THAT ARE NOT REQUIRED BY STATUTE AS PART OF THE TIMELINE THAT WE COULD REMOVE OR DO TWO AT THE SAME TIME THAT WOULD SPEED UP SOME OF THE TIMELINES ASSOCIATED WITH THE VARIOUS COMPLIANCE

PROCESSES? >> NO. THE ONLY THING THAT I THOUGHT OF WAS DURING THE NUISANCE DEBATE. IT WAS THE FIRST REGULAR NOTICE TRYING TO GAIN VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE. AND THAT WAS THE FIRST QUESTION THAT I ASKED THE MANAGER WHEN I SAW ALL THAT. WHEN I SAW THAT I SAID, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE YOU QUIT DOING THAT. AND HE PROVED TO ME WHY THEY ARE DOING THAT WITH THE 50% COMPLIANCE RATE.

>> YEAH. IF YOU HAVE A 50% COMPLIANCE RATE WITH A NUMBER OF CASES YOU WORK THAT IS OVER $30,000 IN SAVINGS TO THE CITY.

DAYS BEFORE SECOND INSPECTION. WELL, THAT HAD THE SAME THING

ON THEIR. >> I GUESS I HAD THE SAME QUESTION FOR COUNSEL. KNOWING THAT THERE IS A SPOT WE COULD GET RID OF BUT IF WE GET 50% COMPLIANCE OUT OF, YOU KNOW, A $.35 STAMP VERSUS A SEVERAL-DOLLAR BILL, DO YOU WANT US TO STOP THE PRACTICE OR SHOULD WE CONTINUE THAT

PRACTICE? >> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 10

[05:45:02]

>> SO, I MEAN, THESE TIMELINES FOR ALL OF THESE ARE BEST CASE SCENARIO. WHAT ARE THE THINGS? BECAUSE THERE WAS ONE IN THERE THAT SAYS IF CMDG FUNDS WERE BEING USED THAT ADDS ANOTHER 45 DAYS. 45 DAYS ADDED IF CMDG FUNDS ARE USED FOR DEMOLITION.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER HICCUPS THAT WOULD SLOW DOWN THIS PROCESS. I MEAN, DO PEOPLE GET LAWYERS? DO THEY SAY I WILL HAND THEM THE LETTER? WHAT IS IT THAT SLOWS SOME OF THESE PROCESSES DOWN, AND ARE THERE ANY THINGS WE CAN DO TO GET

OVER THAT POINT? >> I THINK AT THE VERY MINIMUM THAT THE LAW WOULD ALLOW, THE ONLY THING THAT SLOWS DOWN A DEMOLITION IS A CONTEST TO COURT.

>> THERE ARE HUMAN ELEMENTS, AND IT IS HARD TO RECOGNIZE THAT IS YOUR ONE ASSET ON EARTH BUT WE ARE GOING TO BULLDOZE IT. THAT IS A HARD THING TO DO. SOMETIMES IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET TO THAT PROCESS. WE HAVE GOTTEN BETTER TO TIM'S POINT.

IT USED TO BE 15 YEARS. WE HAVE GOTTEN BETTER AT THAT PROCESS.

BUT IN LARGE PART, OUR BOARD OF BUILDING STANDARDS HAS HEARD THE COUNSEL. AND AT THE DIRECTION THAT HAS BEEN ARTICULATED TO THEM IS RESPONDING ACCORDINGLY. THE CASE IN POINT WAS THE APARTMENT COMPLEX ON MOCKINGBIRD THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE KNOCKING DOWN SOON.

>> NORTH THIRD. >> THANK YOU. NORTH THIRD. THAT WILL BE COMING TO COUNSEL. IT WILL BE EXPENSIVE TO DO BUT THAT IS WHAT YOU HAVE ALL ASKED US TO DO. REMOVE BLIGHT FROM OUR COMMUNITY. THIS IS CERTAINLY AN ATTRACTIVE NUISANCE. WE CAN KEEP KIDS OUT OF IT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON INFIELD DEVELOPMENT? THANK YOU.

>> A JOB. >> OKAY. THEN AGAIN IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, YOU HAVE THIS REQUEST FROM WEST, TEXAS HOMELESS NETWORKING YOUR PACKET. EXCUSE ME. I DO NOT HAVE ANYBODY FROM THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF WEST TEXAS TO TALK ABOUT THIS. YOU ALL MAY WANT TO HAVE AN IN-DEPTH DETAILED DISCUSSION WITH THEM ON THAT, WHICH I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE DO THAT. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT DISCUSSION TO TAKE PLACE. THEY CAN PRESENT THE NEEDS. THEY CAN PRESENT MY CONCEPTUALLY. LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT. I ASKED, HOW CAN THE CITY HELP. HOMELESSNESS IS A PROBLEM FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

IT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE SECOND MOST COMPLAINTS I RECEIVE. AND A CITIZEN SAYS, I WAS ACCOSTED BY A HOMELESS PERSON. SOME HOMELESS GUY YELLED PROFANITIES AT ME AND MY CHILD. SOME DUDE MADE MY FAMILY FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE. IT IS A PROBLEM. SO WHAT ARE WE DOING TO ADDRESS IT OUTSIDE OF THE WEST, TEXAS HOMELESS NETWORK? ONE, PEOPLE NEED TO CALL APD.

IF THEY ARE UNCOMFORTABLE OR FEEL THREATENED IN ANY WAY OR JUST GET A BAD FEELING, CALL APD. WE HAVE OFFICERS THAT ARE TRAINED AND ASSIGNED TO THIS DUTY TO COME HELP AND RESOLVE ANY MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IS THAT MAY BE GOING ON WITH A PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL OR WE WILL MOVE THEM ALONG. WE HAVE PEOPLE TO HELP WITH THAT, TOO. WE HAVE REMOVED THE LAST 60 DAYS TWO, C ENCAMPMENTS. ONE IS THE TENT CITY ENCAMPMENT. THAT WAS ON CITY PROPERTY. WE HAVE REMOVED AND DEMOLISHED THAT ENCAMPMENT. THERE IS AN ENCAMPMENT THAT WAS AT ELM CREEK WHERE WE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF -- A NUMBER OF TEXT MESSAGES ON THAT ONE. THE IRONY IS WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING THAT DIRECTION ALREADY BUT WE DID CERTAINLY ACCELERATE THE RESPONSE. AND SO THAT ENCAMPMENT IS DESTROYED.

SO IT IS NOT LIKE A VIDEO GAME. RIGHT? YOU DON'T DEFEAT THE BIG BOSS AND THEN GO TO THE NEXT LEVEL. RIGHT? THESE ARE PEOPLE. THEY DON'T JUST DISAPPEAR. THEY GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. SOME OF THEM MAY CHOOSE TO MIGRATE OUT OF ABILENE. SOME OF THEM MAY FIND ANOTHER PLACE THAT IS MORE SECRET OR SECURE THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT. THE OTHER THING IS, IF CITIZENS SEE ENCAMPMENTS, THEY MUST ADDRESS THEM. OUR APPROACH IS NOT TO

[05:50:06]

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO DO IS SET SOMETHING UP IN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO TO HAVE THEM COME, PRESENT THEIR CASE AND THEIR ARGUMENT, SO YOU CAN ALL ASK THEM DETAILED QUESTIONS.

BUT I DID NOT JUST WANT TO THROW THEM ON THE AGENDA IF IT IS A HARD STOP. YOU KNOW? SO MY QUESTION TO YOU ALL IS ARE YOU OPENED TO HAVING THAT DISCUSSION?

>> AND, ROBERT, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT I WANT TO CONTINUE WITH WHAT OUR STAFF IS DOING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YOU CANNOT CAMP ON ABILENE CITY PROPERTY. AND PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS, IF THEY HAVE THIS PROBLEM THEY NEED TO CALL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CONTINUOUSLY. BUT I WANT TO WORK WITH EVERY VIABLE RESOURCE SO THAT PEOPLE WHO WANT AND NEED HELP TO BE HOUSED, THAT WE LOOK AT ALL THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

>> RIGHT. ABSOLUTELY. I AM PROUD THE WAY THIS COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO HOMELESSNESS. THERE IS A PERSON THERE. AND I THINK WE ARE RESPONSIVE TO THE FACT THERE IS A PERSON PRESENT.

>> JUST REAL QUICK. THIS KIND OF TIES INTO THIS. WHEN WE GET TO THE BUDGET, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO HAVE A CONFIRMATION THAT TWO CRTS IS ENOUGH OR IF WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT A

THIRD. >> THAT IS GREAT.

>> IT IS SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND, TOO. WITH THIS PROPOSAL, ROUGHLY 200,000. I HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION WITH COURTNEY YESTERDAY. I HAVE KNOWN HER FOR A WHILE. YOU KNOW? THIS IS NOT A BRAND-NEW PROGRAM. THEY ARE LOSING FUNDING FROM AN OUTSIDE CITY SOURCE. SO THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE, OH, THIS IS A GREAT GAME CHANGER. WE HAVE CURED THE PROBLEM. WE ARE BRINGING IN A NAVIGATOR THAT WILL HELP SOME BUT WE ARE STILL GOING TO HELP FIND OTHER SOLUTIONS, SO THIS IS A GOOD

STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. >> SO ADDITIONAL CAPACITY IS

BEING ADDED AT THIS REQUEST. >> EXACTLY.

>> WHEN THEY HAVE THAT DISCUSSION, I WOULD LIKE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE AUTHORITY. IT SEEMS LIKE IT SEEMED LIKE WHAT ALIGNED WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY -- THEY ARE KIND OF A LIAISONWITH ALAN HOUSING AND WHY WE NEED TO HAVE A LIAISON AND WITH WHOSE FOCUS IS DOING WHAT THE LIAISON IS DOING. SO HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT WHENEVER WE HAVE THAT

DISCUSSION. >> I AM 100% CERTAIN COURTNEY HAS AN ANSWER FOR THAT QUESTION. SHE IS VERY PASSIONATE AND WILL GET THAT ANSWER FOR YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON HOMELESSNESS? OKAY. MICRO TRANSIT. AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE PARTNER WITH CITY LINK TO OFFER A FIXED ROUTE BUS SERVICE. WE SPEND ALMOST $6 MILLION A YEAR FOR THIS SERVICE. OF THE $6 MILLION IN REVENUE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTE $3 MILLION TO IN THE STATE OF TEXAS CONTRIBUTES 411.

ALMOST $400,000 IN CHARGES AND FEES SO THE CITY AND THE FUNDING ALMOST $2.1 MILLION FOR THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. IN 2023, THE CITY ON THE FIXED ROUTE PARATRANSIT CHARTER TOTALED 341,000 RIDES. AND THOSE BROKE DOWN AS FOLLOWS.

THE MAJORITY OF THEM WERE FIXED ROUTE SERVICE. 20 68,000 RIDES.

THE COST PER RIDE WAS $10. THAT IS THE COST TO PROVIDE

[05:55:06]

BASED ON THE PRICING THAT I SAW I DOUBT THAT THEY DO. THEY ARE PARTNERING WITH CAPITAL METRO I PROMISE YOU IS CHARGING FOR THE COST OF THE BUS. WHEREAS WE DO NOT HAVE THAT IN OUR MODEL BECAUSE OF THE GRANT RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE. BUT WE ARE PURSUING TWO APPROACHES BECAUSE I THINK MICRO TRANSIT IS THE FUTURE. APPROACH ONE IS A MICRO TRANSIT APPROACH. IS CURRENTLY OPERATIONAL. WE HAVE ROUTE 10 DOING THIS RIGHT NOW. I KIND OF WANTED TO SAY, HEY, ARE WE SAVING MONEY OR NOT SAVING MONEY WITH THIS? THE THOUGHT PROCESS IS WE ARE GOING TO SAVE A LOT OF MONEY. NOT QUITE SO. IF YOU LOOK AT THE COST BETWEEN AUGUST THE 22ND AND JANUARY 23, THE OPERATING COST IS $123,000.

IF YOU LOOK AT IT FOR THE PERIOD, WE HAVE BEEN RUNNING THE MICRO TRANSIT SYSTEM -- THAT GUY -- DOES IT ZONE -- AT $120,000. SO IT ACTUALLY COST US ABOUT $10,000 MORE TO DO THAT. NOW, IT IS MORE RESPONSIVE. YOU ARE NOT JUST SITTING OUT THERE. IT COMES TO YOU. THERE IS A HIGHER REVENUE POTENTIAL BUT WE HAVE NOT FULLY ENGAGED THAT YET SO WE ARE STILL EVALUATING THE PROGRAM. THIS IS VISIT ZONE AREA FOR ROUTE 10. THE RIDES HAVE TO BE SCHEDULED 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE.

YOU HAVE GOT TO CALL IN ADVANCE AND SCHEDULE A PICKUP AND THEY WILL COME PICK YOU UP. BUT IT IS AN ON-DEMAND SYSTEM. YOU'RE NOT JUST HANGING OUT AND WAITING FOR THE BUS. IT DOES PROVIDE A HIGHER LEVEL OF SERVICE FOR REALLY NOT THAT MUCH MORE MONEY. THAT IS DOES IT ZONE. YOU ALL RECALL WHEN WE FIRST DID THIS, YOU RECEIVED A NUMBER OF EMAILS FROM CITIZENS THAT WERE LIKE, HEY, MY PASSES -- I THINK THE PASSES WEREN'T GOING TO WORK. THEY MADE SURE THE PEOPLE'S PASSES WERE GOING TO BE OKAY. OTHER THAN THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED A LARGE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS AND THIS HAS BEEN PRETTY SUCCESSFUL. APPROACH TWO WHICH IS WHAT I ENVISION WHEN I THINK OF MICRO TRANSIT IS USING LEVERAGING TRANSFORMATION NETWORK COMPANIES LIKE UBER, LYFT. IT IS AN INNOVATIVE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT WILL ALLOW ON-DEMAND RIDES TO HAPPEN. LEVERAGING THE POWER OF THE PRIVATE-SECTOR. LEVERAGING THE TMC COMPANIES. AND AT A SUBSIDIZED PRICE. SO, THE CITY, INSTEAD OF PAYING THAT MAINTENANCE COSTS OF THESE BUSES, WE WILL END UP SUBSIDIZING THESE RIGHT COST AND REALLY SEE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE BECAUSE OF THE COST MODEL. SO THAT IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE TYPE OF SERVICE WE WILL RUN AT $41 PER RIDE. ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPLAINT IS I HAVE GOT TO WAIT FOR THE BUS. AND IT IS A CDL TYPE BUS. THEY HAVE GOT TO WAIT LONGER OR WE MISSED THE RIDE OR THEY CANNOT GET THEIR DOCTOR APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED RIGHT. THEY HAVE LEGITIMATE NEEDS FOR TRANSPORTATION. AND IF WE CAN LEVERAGE THE TMC'S TO PROVIDE THAT FOR THEM, THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT. THEY CAN CALL WHENEVER THEY WANT.

WHATEVER THEY ARE WANTING TO. IN THAT PARTICULAR PART. AND IT WOULD, AGAIN, BE A UBER OR A LIFT TYPE CONCEPT. LUBER HAS USE THAT FOR THEIR WORK. THEY ALSO JUST USE IT FOR REGULAR RIDERSHIP. THEY HAVE SEEN SOME GOOD RESPONSES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. COST SAVINGS HAVE GONE DOWN TREMENDOUSLY. SO HOW IT WORKED IS WITH THIS PARTICULAR COMPANY, WE ARE LOOKING AT THE ONE WHO SERVES AND YOU GET A QR CODE AND SCAN YOUR QR CODE AND IT GOES INTO YOUR APP ON UBER AND THAT SERVES IS LIKE A COUPON DISCOUNT. SO ANYWHERE IN THE CITY LIMITS, WE SERVE ANYWHERE ON THAT PARATRANSIT SYSTEM. YOU GET THAT DISCOUNTED

[06:00:03]

>> UNDER THE TNC OPTION, WITH A ROLE ALL THE EXISTING

CUSTOMERS? >> SO THE WAY THEY DO IT IN PFLUGERVILLE IS JUST THAT. IF YOU RIDE, YOU WILL GET THE DISCOUNT. WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE COSTS AND MODELS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. IT COULD BE GREAT BUT WE MAY END SPENDING A MORE THAN WE CAN AFFORD VERSUS JUST FOCUSING ON THE PARATRANSIT RIDERSHIP AND HAVING TO FOCUS ON THAT.

>> YOU WANT TO BOOK IT THROUGH THAT UBER APP OR WHATEVER THEY ARE USING WITH THE SUBSIDIZED PRICE, THEY ARE THEN GETTING AN UBER CAR OR IT IS STILL ONE OF OUR --

>> NO. STEVE DRIVES AN UBER AND GOES AND PICKS HIM UP.

>> THAT PARATRANSIT. >> NOT NECESSARILY. THEY MAY

HAVE -- >> THAT IS WHAT PFLUGERVILLE SAID. THEY MAY HAVE A SPECIFIC --

>> A WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE. >> IT IS WE ARE LOADING.

>> THEY GOT THAT. BUT THERE ARE PARATRANSIT CUSTOMERS WHO DO NOT NEED THAT LEVEL OF SUPPORT BUT ARE STILL ELIGIBLE FOR PARATRANSIT. THEY WILL JUST TAKE A RIDE ON UBER AND IS MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE.

I WANT TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE UNIVERSE OF OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A HIGHER LEVEL OF SERVICE. AND EVEN IF IT IS THE SAME COST, A HIGHER LEVEL OF SERVICE.

>> ONE THING THAT I NOTICED JUST WHEN I WAS LOOKING UP AT YOU HAD ON THE SLIDE. TAKES A 24 HOUR NOTICE FOR THAT. ON THE WEBSITE, I DO NOT SEE ANYTHING ABOUT A 24 HOUR NOTICE. SO IF THAT IS A REQUIREMENT, CAN WE CLARIFY THAT ON THE WEBSITE?

>> COME ON UP, DON. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MAYOR COUNSEL DON GREEN. SO WE ARE GETTING MORE AND MORE TOWARDS AN ON-DEMAND WHERE IT IS LESS THAN 24 HOURS THAT YOU CAN CALL OR BOOK YOUR RIDE IN THE ZIP ZONE WITH THIS ACT. SO WE REALLY WANT THIS TO WORK AS AN ON-DEMAND LIKE ANYONE WOULD USE, UBER OR LYFT HERE IN TOWN AS WELL. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS. YEAH. WE WILL CLARIFY THIS ON THE WEBSITE.

>> I WAS SURPRISED BECAUSE I HAD NOT SEEN IT ONLINE. I WAS LIKE, OH. HIGH HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS.

>> I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE IT, TOO. FRANKLY, I THOUGHT THE MICRO TRANSIT WAS A LITTLE MORE ON-DEMAND.

>> WE ARE PRETTY MUCH THERE NOW. THANK YOU, DON. THAT IS ALL SHE WROTE. HOWEVER, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE HAD SOME SENSE AND UNDERSTANDING OF ALL THE THINGS WE HAVE HAD, ARE THERE CERTAIN THINGS THAT YOU THOUGHT WERE ESSENTIAL PRIORITIES MOVING INTO THE FISCAL YEAR 25 DISCUSSION. SO WITHOUT REGURGITATING THE WHOLE DISCUSSION AGAIN, IF YOU HAD TO PICK ONE OR TWO TOP THINGS THAT YOU WANTED TO MAKE SURE WERE FUNDED, WHAT WOULD BOTH OF THOSE BE?

>> SALARIES. STREETS. >> THE COMPENSATION, FOR SURE,

IS A TOP PRIORITY. >> I WOULD AGREE. I THINK THE CONVENTION CENTER IS GOOD BUT THAT KIND OF FALLS OUTSIDE OF OUR GENERAL OPERATING. BUT I LIKE WHERE THAT IS HEADED. I WOULD AGREE. STREETS AND COMPENSATION. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, A THIRD WOULD BE ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP ELEVATE THAT.

[06:05:04]

BOARD. >> THIS IS NOT REALLY A BUDGET ITEM PER SE. WE ARE JUST CLARIFYING THAT. HOW MANY DO YOU HEAR? ARE YOU ASKING FOR TWO OR THREE FROM US? I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE GOT YOUR TWO OR THREE. BUT THE APD AUTHORIZED STRENGTH ADJUSTMENT, WE TALKED ABOUT IT LAST YEAR AS A FUTURE NEED. AND, AGAIN, TODAY I THINK WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS AS OUR POPULATION GROWS THAT WE NEED MORE POLICE OFFICERS. AND WE ARE ON THE FAR SIDE WITH FIRE STATION NUMBER 9. WE NEED POLICE EXPANSION AS

WELL. >> SO IF I TOOK THE MANDATE AS PEOPLE, STREETS, AND PUBLIC SAFETY, AND NOT NECESSARILY IN THAT ORDER, BUT THOSE THREE PILLARS, AND NOT PLACING WEIGHT ON EITHER OF THOSE, JUST PEOPLE, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND STREETS. THOSE ARE THREE PILLARS YOU WOULD WANT TO SEE IN THE SYSTEM. AND TO WHERE WE CAN BUOY UP OUR PARK SYSTEM. IS

THAT FAIR? >> AND OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF THAT IS GOING TO DEPEND ON OUR SALES TAX REVENUES. MAYBE THE PAST TWO MONTHS HAVE BEEN AN ABERRATION.

>> YOUR MOUTH TO GOD'S YEARS. >> I DO WANT US TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT MAXWELL AND WHERE THEY ARE FUNDING THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS NOT COMING FROM THE GENERAL FUND FRONT FROM THAT ADDITIONAL FIVE DOLLAR OR WHATEVER IT ENDS UP BEING AFTER THE ANALYSIS.

>> I'M GOING TO END UP BRINGING BACK TO THE TAKE-HOME VEHICLE POLICY BEFORE THE BUDGET PROCESS BECAUSE WE ARE READY TO TALK ABOUT THAT NOW AND THEN LESLIE AND GUY AND I ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS MIGHT LOOK LIKE. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL PLAN FOR THE GOLF COURSE. HE NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT THE REVENUE STREAM WOULD LOOK LIKE. THAT, AGAIN, PROBABLY WILL COME BEFORE THE BUDGET PROCESS IS OVER BECAUSE HIS LEASE EXPIRES IN 2030 SO WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A NEGOTIATION BEFORE THAT.

>> YOU COULD IMPLEMENT THAT IN APRIL OR MAY OR WHATEVER WORKS

OUT WELL TIMEWISE. >> EXCEPT RIGHT NOW HE IS LIMITED TO WHATEVER WE CAN CHARGE. THE LAST ONE IS REMOVE CITY PREFERABLE FOR HIS RATES. IF YOU WANT TO RUN A BUSINESS, RUN A BUSINESS. GOT TO ASK PERMISSION FROM THE CITY FROM WHAT TO CHARGE. RIGHT? I AM GOING TO -- AND I THINK WE ARE GOING TO ASSUME THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW. FREEDOM OF RATES. YOU'RE NOT LOCK IN OUR LIMITED AT A CERTAIN LEVEL. IF YOU'RE GOING TO RUN A BUSINESS RUN A BUSINESS. AND THIS CONCEPT OF A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FEE THAT IS COLLECTED BY HIM FOR THE CITY AND RETURNED TO THE CITY SO WE CAN ACCOUNT FOR IT TO MAKE SURE IT IS PROPERLY SPENT. IF WE ARE GOING TO DO THE GOLF COURSE, I THINK WE HAVE GOT TO DO IT

RIGHT. >> UNDER THE PEOPLE CATEGORY, THE CHILDCARE, LIKE HAVING MULTIPLE OPTIONS.

>> THAT IS RIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION. I KNOW IT IS A LONG DAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> AND AS DON GREEN ALMOST, GOOD EVENING. I AM SO OVERWHELMED AT THE EFFORT THAT OUR STAFF PUTS IN BECAUSE YOU ALL TRULY CARE ABOUT THIS CITY AND THE CITIZENS OF ABILENE.

AND THIS IS THE DAY AWAY FROM WORK FOR YOU ALL. YOU HAD TO BE HERE. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF THINGS YOU COULD HAVE BEEN DOING. WE ARE SO, SO APPRECIATIVE. THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING THIS EXTRA DAY TO BE HERE. IT IS NOW 3:26. AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.

SET ON EASTERN TIME.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.