Jul 09, 2024 Mayor's Advisory Board for People with Disabilities

[00:00:11]

AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. THIS IS THE MAYOR'S ADVISORY BOARD FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND WE'VE GOT PEOPLE HERE TODAY. LET ME BEGIN. WE -- IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE WANT TO CHANGE BEFORE WE START WITH MOVING AROUND OF

[PUBLIC COMMENTS]

>> I'D LIKE TO COME UP RIGHT NOW.

>> OKAY, THAT'S GREAT. >> THANK YOU.

>> JUST BE SURE TO STATE YOUR NAME.

>> YES. IS THIS TURNED ON? YES IT IS. MY NAME IS AL COOL AND WITH REGARDS TO PUBLIC COMMENTS, I'M STILL -- I LIVE IN AN AREA THAT'S NOT CURRENTLY, ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN IN PAST, BEEN SERVICED WITH CITY LINK AND THE A.D.A.

PARATRANSIT VIN. SO MY CONCERN IS AT WHAT POINT WILL THAT SERVICE BE RESUMED? IN THE PAST WHEN THE SERVICE TO MY AREA WAS DISCONTINUED AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEN AND NOW, IN THE PAST THEY WOULD STILL CONTINUE TO DO MEDICAL VISITS AND NOW THAT'S NOT AN OPTION ANYMORE. SO AT THE VERY LEAST, I WOULD THINK THAT MEDICAL VISITS SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT'S CONSIDERED. AND AS FAR AS PICKING ME UP AT MY ADDRESS, I AM WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS AND I AM THREE MINUTES AWAY FROM WHERE THEY DROPPED ME OFF. IT WOULD TAKE THEM AN ADDITIONAL THREE MINUTES OR I WALK AN ADDITIONAL 40 MINUTES ALONG THE HIGHWAY. AND I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S RIGHT. THE AREA OF THE CITY I LIVE IN WAS ANNEXED INTO THE CITY IN THE '80S. IF THE CITY OF ABILENE DID NOT WANT TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES TO THAT AREA, POSSIBLY THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE ANNEXED IT INTO THE CITY. AND IT'S ALSO THE AREA OF PROBABLY THE GREATEST RESIDENTIAL GROWTH IN THE CITY. SO THERE'S CERTAINLY A NEED FOR IT. NOT HAVING TRANSPORTATION THERE HAS AFFECTED ME BY I'VE HAD TO CANCEL DOCTOR'S VISITS AND ALSO I HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS THAT I'M HAVING TO DO THINGS MUCH DIFFERENTLY AND MUCH MORE EXPENSIVELY IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. IN THESE DAYS OF TRIPLE DIGIT TEMPERATURE, IT'S ALSO NOT AN INCONVENIENCE. IT'S A HARDSHIP TO WALK 40 MINUTES TO ANTLEY. IT'S A 40 MINUTE WALK ALONG ONE OF OUR MOST BUSY HIGHWAYS. THANK YOU.

>> CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION? >> YES OF COURSE, ANYTHING.

>> WHO HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH ABOUT THIS ISSUE?

>> I'VE SENT EMAILS TO THE MAYOR. I HAVE SENT EMAILS TO CITY COUNCIL. I HAVE SENT EMAILS TO I BELIEVE IT WAS MINDY PATTERSON. AND I THINK THERE'S BEEN ANOTHER COUNSEL MAN I ADDRESSED, ALSO. AND ALSO TO YOUR SELF AS A CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD. AT THIS POINT, UNLESS I MISSED IT, AND I'VE SENT EMAIL ALSO TO DON GREEN, MR. GREEN, SO AT THIS POINT, UNLESS I MISSED IT, I'VE NOT HAD ANY RETURN RESPONSE WITH

THAT. >> OKAY. I DID NOT SEE THE EMAIL, IF YOU SENT ONE RECENTLY, BUT I WILL SAY YOU AND I HAVE DISCUSSED SO I VERY MUCH THANK YOU FOR BEING DILIGENT, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST YOU THAT YOU'RE ADVOCATING FOR. YOU'RE ADVOCATING FOR THE WHOLE

COMMUNITY. >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> DON'T STOP. >> MY QUESTION ON THAT IS HOW

[00:05:03]

THAT IS A LOT. >> SO ON OUR AGENDA TODAY I WANT TO KNOW IF YOU WERE ABLE TO SEE IT.

>> NO. >> OUR AGENDA ITEMS, NUMBER THREE NECK, WE WILL BE DISCUSSING CITY LINK SERVICES

AND MANAGEMENT. >> I'M SORRY, CAN YOU SAY THAT

AGAIN? >> CITY LINK SERVICES AND MANAGEMENT. SO THEY ARE HERE ALREADY, SO THEY'VE HEARD YOUR COMMENTS AND IF THOSE ARE NOT ADDRESSED DURING THAT TIME, LET US KNOW AND WE ARE GOING TO GET THIS FIGURED OUT BUT I REFUSE

TO JUST NOT DROP THIS, SO -- >> I'VE ALSO CHALLENGED, AND THIS MAY BE -- I KNOW IF I HAVE GOOD WATER SERVICE FROM THE WATER DEPARTMENT BECAUSE I USE YOUR SERVICE. I KNOW IF I HAVE GOOD TRASH SERVICE, WASTE SERVICES, BECAUSE I SEE IT EVERY DAY. BUT I CHALLENGE THE CITY -- NOT THE CITY, THE CITYLINK PEOPLE TO COME WITH ME OR USE THE SERVICE AND SEE IF YOU REALLY WOULD BE PROUD OF IT OR NOT. IT'S FROM AN OFFICE, FROM A DISTANCE IT ALL LOOKS GOOD AND I'VE HAD PEOPLE ON THIS COUNCIL TELL ME THAT WHEN THEY'VE ONLY USED THE SERVICE OCCASIONALLY, THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD SERVICE, BUT WHEN THEY FOUND THAT THEY WERE MORE DEPENDENT ON IT ON A REGULAR BASIS, THE ATTITUDE, THEIR OPINION CHANGED GREATLY . SO I CHALLENGE YOU ALL TO USE YOUR SERVICE OR COME ON A TRIP WITH ME. THAT WOULD OF COURSE ENTAIL FIRST A 40 MINUTE WALK TO THE BUS STOP AND THEN WAITING AN ADDITIONAL UP TO HALF AN HOUR FOR THE VIN. AND THEN THE SAME ON THE RETURN TRIP. THANK YOU.

>> ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME?

>> YES. >> OKAY, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO

COME UP. >> SOMEBODY HELP ME UP THERE?

>> I WOULD BE GLAD TO HELP YOU, JAMIE.

>> TURN RIGHT HERE AND THEN ABOUT TWO FEET AND YOU'LL BE

IN FRONT OF THE PODIUM. >> SO RIGHT HERE?

>> I'M GOING TO STAND UP HERE BE FINE YOU.

>> YES, I'M JIM LOHSE. I'M BLIND. I'VE BEEN BLIND FOR 32 YEARS AND BEFORE I HAD ASSISTANCE, BEFORE, BUT THEN I GOT A DIVORCE SEVERAL YEARS AGO, BACK IN 2010, AND I'VE BEEN DEPENDENT UPON CITYLINK FOR THE PAST 14 YEARS TO TAKE ME TO THE MEDICAL, TO THE STORE, AND YOU KNOW, WHEREVER I NEED TO GO. CHURCH. AND 14 YEARS AGO CITYLINK WAS -- YOU COULD RELY ON CITYLINK TO PICK YOU UP AND TAKE YOU WHEREVER,

[00:10:01]

YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO PICK YOU UP, AND ALSO, THE FIRST DRIVER THAT PICKED ME UP 14 YEARS AGO, HIS NAME WAS GREG AND HE WAS A VERY GOOD BUS DRIVER. AND HE GOT HURT AND THEN HE GOT TO BE A DISPATCHER AT CITYLINK AND I JUST HEARD TODAY THAT HE QUIT, AND THAT WAS -- GREG I THINK IS ONE OF THE BEST PEOPLE OR WORKERS THAT CITYLINK HAS AND ALL IN ALL, I HEAR ABOUT THESE DRIVERS. THERE WAS A DRIVER NAMED BILL. HE GOT FIRED TWO, THREE TIMES. HE GOT REHIRED, AND THERE WAS MYRON.

HE GOT FIRED. HE GOT REHIRED TWO OR THREE TIMES AND THERE WAS VINCENT, AND I CAN GO ON AND ON. AND WHAT I HEAR IS THEY CAN'T KEEP DRIVERS. THEY JUST GIVE THEM TOO MUCH, TOO MANY WORKLOADS TO PICK UP. AND I WISH THAT SOMEBODY COULD CHECK INTO THIS. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, JIMMY. ANYONE ELSE? IF NOT, I AT THIS POINT

[MINUTES]

>> I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THEM.

>> IS THERE A SECOND? A SECOND? YES. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. THE MINUTESFROM THE LAST MEETING HAVE BEEN

[2. Discussion with Mayor Regarding the Charge and Duties of the Board (Discussion)]

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, THANK YOU, JOANNE. I JUST WANT TO SAY AGAIN HOW GRATEFUL I AM TO THIS BOARD, THE TIME THAT YOU ALL GIVE TO GIVE BACK TO THIS COMMUNITY. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. JUST A VERY IMPORTANT BOARD THAT YOU ALL SURVIVED AND Y'ALL'S TIME IS WELL SPENT, AND I'M JUST HERE TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH YOU. I ENJOY WHEN WE'VE MET. SO WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE DUTIES AND THE CHALLENGES OF THE BOARD, Y'ALL ARE ALREADY DOING A GREAT JOB. YOU'RE GREAT ADVOCATES. I THINK WE'VE MADE STRIDES WITH OUR DISABLED COMMUNITY. MAYOR WILLIAMS PRIOR TO ME HAD REALLY MADE EFFORTS AND I COMMEND HIM FOR THAT. I THINK Y'ALL WOULD AGREE ON THAT. AND WE JUST WANT TO CONTINUE THOSE EFFORTS. SO TODAY, WHAT I REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS NOT POLICIES, BUT WHAT IT IS, THE DUTIES OF THE BOARD, AND THIS THERE'S SOMETHING, TOPIC SPECIFIC THAT YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS, OR WE'VE HAD LETTERS BEFORE BACK AND FORTH, BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS THERE ARE ISSUES ON THIS BOARD. LET'S TAKE IT ONE TOPIC AT A TIME. LET'S DISCUSS IT AND LET'S SEE WHERE WE CAN WORK THIS BOARD TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.

AND I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT TO WORK ON THIS BOARD ON THAT. SO IS THERE ANYTHING Y'ALL WANT TO ADD

TODAY? >> IF WE COULD START BACK TO WHEN WE SPOKE BACK IN NOVEMBER, WE DISCUSSED SEVERAL THINGS AND IT'S FUNNY THAT OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS WERE ABOUT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TRYING SINCE JANUARY TO GET BOTH OUR MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER IN THE BOARD TOGETHER, AND IT'S JULY. AND I'M JUST GLAD THAT WE FINALLY GOT YOU HERE AND THE BOARD IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO HEAR EXACTLY FROM YOU, NOT JUST ME. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DISCUSSED IN OUR MEETING IN NOVEMBER IS THAT -- LET ME GIVE SOME HISTORY -- WE

[00:15:01]

NEED TO LOOK INTO. >> ON ANOTHER TIMELINE?

>> YES. >> OKAY.

>> THERE ARE SOME MAJOR ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO THIS BOARD AND THEY KEEP GETTING BROUGHT TO THIS BOARD, AND THERE'S A POINT WHEN EXCUSES ARE NO LONGER EXCUSES. THEY'RE FACTS. AND WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE IT BETTER. THE OTHER THING THAT WE DISCUSSED IS HOW TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY, ABILENE, ABOUT HOW TO BE EVEN MORE ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUDED AND DIVERSE IN ALL THAT WE DO. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALSO DISCUSSED IS THAT FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, WE NEED MORE MARKETING IN MEDIA FROM THE CITY BECAUSE HARDLY ANYONE KNOWS ABOUT THIS BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY, WE CAN'T HELP THE COMMUNITY IF THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> OKAY. >> AND SO, IF WE CAN WORK ON THAT -- THE OTHER THING, I APPLIED TO SEE PEOPLE HERE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR IS WE ARE HERE TO MAKE ABILENE THE BEST. I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO BE KNOWN AS THE LITTLE DALLAS OF TEXAS, BECAUSE I THINK WE REALLY HAVE THAT

POTENTIAL. >> I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND WE DO HAVE A GOOD MARKETING TEAM, MARI AND HER TEAM, SO I CAN DEFINITELY GET WITH MANAGEMENT AND GET WITH MARI AND SEE WHAT WE CAN GET STARTED WITH THAT ON MARKETING.

BECAUSE I AGREE, THAT WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT.

>> THAT WOULD BE GREAT. SO REALLY THOSE THREE MAIN THINGS THAT WE EDUCATE AND MARKETING AND I KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE FOR A.D.A. COMPLIANCE. I GET THAT. BUT ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I STAYED IN ABILENE, AND I'VE BEEN HERE SO LONG, IS BECAUSE I TRULY BELIEVE IN THE LEADERSHIP AND I STILL BELIEVE IN THE LEADERSHIP OF ABILENE, THAT WHEN THEY SAID BACK IN 2017, WE ARE NOT JUST GOING TO BE A CITY THAT IS JUST ALL ABOUT A.D.A.

COMPLIANCE. WE ARE GOING TO BE LIKE REALLY LOOKS AT EACH SITUATION, AND IF WE NEED TO GO BEYOND BEING A.D.A. COMPLIANT TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL, THEN WE ARE GOING TO DO OUR BEST TO DO THAT AND I KNOW COVID HIT US HARD BUT IT'S TIME FOR COVID NOT TO BE AN EXCUSE AND IT'S TIME TO SEE ABILENE THRIVE THE WAY THAT WE ALL KNOW THAT IT

CAN. >> RIGHT, AND I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE EXCUSES, EITHER. WE ARE SHORT ON EMPLOYEES AND DON IS GOING TO EXPLAIN THAT. I HAVE A COMPANY TO DELETE. I'M SHORT ON EMPLOYEES. THE STATE OF TEXAS IS SHORT ABOUT 640,000 WORKFORCE RIGHT NOW. WE GET THAT FROM THE ECONOMIST.

LUCKILY IN ABILENE WE ARE NOT QUITE THAT BAD THAT WE ARE, WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF WORKFORCE. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE DON'T NEED TO FIX THINGS AND SO I THINK THAT DON HAS A PLAN.

OF COURSE I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO THAT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE DON IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT BUT I DO THINK THAT I AGREE WITH THIS TRANSPORTATION, WE DO NEED TO HAVE A TIMELINE TO FIX THIS, SAY BY THIS TIME SO THAT WE CAN MARKET THAT.

>> I WILL SAY THAT BECAUSE I HAD USED CITYLINK PRETTY

[00:20:03]

BEFORE 4:00, THEN THAT TRANSPORTATION RIDE WILL BE AVAILABLE, AND I THINK, AND I DON'T KNOW THE WHOLE SYSTEM AT CITYLINK , THAT I WOULD PRESUME THAT IT'S THAT WAY BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE AGENDA COMES OUT FOR TOMORROW, THE NEXT DAY, AND SO IF IT'S CLEAR BEFORE THAT AND IT CAN GET OUT TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO, THEN THAT'S WHY THAT'S CHANGED.

>> OKAY. >> SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED. DO YOU -- WHAT DO YOU SEE AS A BOARD

THAT WE NEED TO BE DOING? >> I THINK THAT ON THIS MARKETING, I THINK THAT IS VERY SMART THAT WE WORK TOGETHER IN MARKETING WHAT IS AVAILABLE, WHAT CAN WE DO, WHAT DOES OUR CITY OFFICE. BUT YOU AS BOARD MEMBERS, WHEN WE ASK YOU TO DO COMMERCIALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, Y'ALL ARE GOING TO NEED TO BE THE FACE AND THE EYES FOR US TO GET THAT MESSAGE OUT THERE, TOO, SO WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND GET THAT MESSAGE OUT. SO THE MARKETING ASPECT, AND NOW JUST CONTINUE -- IT'S HARD TO BE POSITIVE AT TIMES LIKE THIS. IT'S HARD TO BE POSITIVE AND IT'S HARD TO BE POSITIVE AS A MAYOR WITH A BUDGET SHORTFALL ABILENE IS STILL A GREAT CITY. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MAKE IT BETTER. WE JUST NEED TO CONTINUE WORKING

TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS BETTER. >> ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE THE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR OUR MAYOR?

>>

DISCUSSION IF YOU WOULD LIKE. >> BEFORE YOU DO THAT, ARE YOU FINISHED WITH THE MAYOR? IT NEEDS TO BE AT THE END SO DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE MAYOR?

>> IN THE PAST I DO FEEL LIKE CITY LINK NEEDS AT THIS POINT TO BE MORE AT THE TOP. IT'S AN IMPORTANT ASPECT FOR PEOPLE'S LIVES SO THAT'S A GOOD IDEA TO PUT OUR FOCUS ON CITY LEADERS.

>> I WILL LET YOU KNOW, MAYOR, THAT I HAVE NOT DONE THIS AND WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT EMPLOYMENT, YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S REALLY TOUGH RIGHT NOW AND I WOULD SAY THERE'S PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THAT ARE HAVING TROUBLE FINDING A JOB AND ANY WAY THAT WE CAN HELP WITH THAT, I THINK THAT'S

SOMETHING. >> WE NEED TO FILL POSITIONS AND IF WE CAN GET THEM TO FILL POSITIONS, I AGREE ABSOLUTELY.

>> YEAH, EXACTLY. SO IF WE ARE DONE WITH THE MAYOR, WE CAN OPEN PUBLIC COMMENTS. THANK YOU MAYOR KIRK.

>> AL, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME BACK UP, YOU'RE GOING TO GET

YOUR EXERCISE TODAY, I THINK. >>

>> EXACTLY, THIS IS NO BIG DEAL.

>>

>> I WANTED TO COMMENT JUST MAKE A COMMENT WITH MR. MAYOR, THIS IS A GREAT CITY AND I DON'T DISAGREE WITH HIM. I REMAINED IN THE CITY AND ABILENE AFTER MY DISABILITY BECAUSE I RECOGNIZED IT WAS A GOOD CITY. I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE BUT I'LL REPEAT IT AGAIN. I HAD A PATIENT WHO HAD GONE UP IN THE ABILENE AREA AS A YOUNG WOMAN, MOVED TO LOS ANGELES TO PURSUE HER CAREER AND RETIRED BACK TO THE ABILENE AREA. PRIOR TO RETIREMENT, SHE SAID SHE HAD TAKEN A CLASS ON WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A RETIREMENT CITY AND SHE SAID THE CITY SHOULD HAVE THREE THINGS. IT SHOULD HAVE GOOD MEDICAL. IT SHOULD HAVE TRANSPORTATION THAT'S EASY TO ACCESS, WHETHER THAT BE HIGHWAYS OR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, AND IT SHOULD HAVE A WAY TO MAKE SOME

[00:25:01]

APPLICATION. SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? THEN WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS. WE ARE GOING

[3. CityLink Services and Management (Discussion)]

JUST -- >> GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M LAUREN STEVENS, GENERAL MANAGER OF CITYLINK .

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. >> WOW. SO WE KNOW AND WE'RE VERY AWARE OF HOW THINGS HAD BEEN PROGRESSING. I HAVE BEEN WITH CITY LINK FOR ABOUT 12 YEARS IN DIFFERENT CAPACITIES AND HAVE WATCHED THINGS FLUCTUATE BACK AND FORTH, UP AND DOWN, IN ITS AVAILABILITY TO NOT ONLY BE THERE FOR THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY BUT FOR THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. THERE IS NOTHING NEW THAT WE ARE FACING HARDSHIP. IT'S NOT AN EXCUSE WHO I DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO BUY THE SERVICES THAT THE COMMUNITY DESIRES AND DELIVERED HER NEEDS. IT'S A FACT. WE ARE HAVING A VERY HARD TIME FINDING AVAILABLE WORKERS WHO WANT TO WORK AT THE CAPACITY THAT IS NEEDED. I BELIEVE MR. LOPEZ HAD MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT THE TRIP LOAD, THE AMOUNT OF TRIPS THAT ARE ON THE DRIVERS. SO WE, IN YOUR REPORT THAT YOU GUYS GET EVERY TIME, Y'ALL SEE THE AMOUNT OF TOTAL TRIPS THAT ARE PROVIDED WITHIN THE CITY, THE CITY LIMITS. IT'S A LOT WHEN YOU'VE ONLY HAD 4 TO 6 DRIVERS TO GET THOSE PEOPLE FROM PLACE TO PLACE. WE HAD TO SCALE BACK AND MAKE A VERY HARD DECISION TO STOP THE TRANSPORTATION TO THOSE THAT ARE THREE FOURTHS OF A MILE AWAY FROM THE BUS STOPS.

WE ARE OBLIGATED FROM THE FEDERAL TRANSIT AT THE READY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY FROM THREE-QUARTER MILE BUFFER AROUND THE BUS STOPS. THAT IS WHAT THEY SAY IS A MUST. THE CITY OF ABILENE, THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE TRANSPORTATION FOR THE WHOLE CITY LIMITS, EVERYBODY WITHIN CITY LIMITS. THOSE OF YOU WHO TRAVELED FROM FEBRUARY, MARCH, APRIL AND MAY, YOU FELT THE PINCH AND THE HARDSHIP, PEOPLE NOT GETTING RIDES BECAUSE THE SYSTEM SAID THERE'S AN OVERLOAD ON THE VAN SO THEY KICK THEIR RIDES OUT, SO THE MANIFEST DOESN'T CARRY THEIR RIDES ANYMORE. IT KICKS OUT INTO THE BACKGROUND. YOU HAD, WHEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ON THE BUS FOR LONGER THAN AN HOUR, WHICH THEY SHOULD NOT BE ON THE BUS LONGER THAN AN HOUR, PICK UP TIMES, 2-3 HOURS BEHIND, BECAUSE WE HAVE AN HOUR SLOT THAT CONTAINED 30 OR MORE TRIPS WITHIN THAT HOUR. IF YOU HAVE SIX DRIVERS, GETTING AROUND ABILENE IS ANYWHERE FROM ABOUT 15 TO 20 MINUTES WITH THE ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND DIFFERENT THINGS GOING ON, FROM ONE POINT TWO ANOTHER. AND IF YOU ARE HAVING TO PICK UP ONE OR TWO PEOPLE, HOPEFULLY TWO TRAVELING THAT 15 MINUTES , LET THEM OFF, TRAVEL ANOTHER 15 MINUTES TO PICK UP ONE OR TWO PEOPLE, YOU CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH WITHIN AN HOUR. WE ARE DOING OUR VERY BEST. OUR DRIVERS ARE VERY STRESSED. A LOT OF THEM ARE

[00:30:06]

>> SO MY QUESTION IS I KNOW YOU'RE DOING THE BEST YOU CAN BUT WHAT ARE THE STEPS? LIKE THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE COMMUNICATION WITH -- SO I KNOW FOR A FACT BACK IN DECEMBER, MAYBE, THAT TOWARDS THE END OF LAST YEAR, YOUR TEXTS THAT WOULD BE PROVIDED, LIKE THE NIGHT BEFORE, THEY QUIT. LIKE THEY JUST QUIT. NO ONE WAS GETTING THEIR TEXTS AND SO YOU KNOW THIS IS MORE WORK, BUT I KNOW THAT THERE IS A WAY THAT YOU CAN TEXT THE CUSTOMER AND MAYBE -- I KNOW IT'S THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. THAT'S WHY IT WAS LIKE TODAY, WE HAD A BUS, DONE, AND THEN THAT HAPPENS, IS THERE A WAY THAT YOU CAN COMMUNICATE TO THAT UPCOMING PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING PICKED UP, LIKE THIS IS AN ISSUE, BECAUSE THAT'S ONE THING. WHEN IT COMES TO MEDICAL APPOINT MENTZ, IF -- THERE'S SOME DOCTORS THAT ARE LIKE IF WE DON'T HEAR FROM THEM, YOUR CLIENTS IS GETTING CHARGED BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T MAKE IT BUT IF THEY KNEW IN ADVANCE AND THEY HAD TO CALL AND SAY, YOU KNOW, HEY, I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE IT TO THE MEETING BECAUSE OF TRANSPORTATION, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD HELP THE RIDER. SO THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE COMMUNICATION. INSTEAD OF O, YOUR PICKUP TIME HAS CHANGED. YOU JUST DON'T SAY THAT. YOU'RE GOING TO GET MORE EMPATHY FROM YOUR RIDERS WHEN THERE IS BETTER COMMUNICATION AND THEY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

BUT JUST LIKE YOU JUST HEARD, WE'VE GOT TO HAVE ] AND YOU KNOW WHAT? SOMETIMES YOU DON'T REACH THOSE GOALS BUT AS LONG AS YOU'RE COMMUNICATING THAT AND YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S STUFF THAT'S THE AND WORK OUT, THAT'S BETTER THAN HEARING THE SAME THING EVERY TWO MONTHS, OF YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH DRIVERS, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH -- SO THERE NEEDS TO BE BETTER COMMUNICATION. NUMBER TWO, YOU JUST HEARD TWO OF YOUR RIDERS AND I MEAN THERE'S SEVERAL OF THEM HERE IN THE BUILDING. IF YOU USE THAT MEDICAL, THAT'S NOT JUST IMPACTING THAT APPOINTMENT. THAT'S IMPACTING THAT PERSON'S HEALTH. THAT'S GOT TO CHANGE. AND IF IT'S MEDICAL, I TRULY -- I REALLY THINK THAT CITY LINK NEEDS TO THINK ABOUT THAT. IF IT'S MEDICAL AND THEY CAN'T GET TO AN APPOINTMENT BECAUSE OF TRANSPORTATION, TO ME THAT OVER SEEDS CALLING SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO WALMART OR SOMEWHERE TO SEE IF THEY CAN GET PICKED UP A LITTLE BIT LATER. AND I AGREE WITH AL, IF THAT TRANSPORTATION ISN'T THERE, YOU LOSE MEDICAL, YOU LOSE VOCATIONAL, AND WE DON'T HAVE THE BEST ABILENE THAT I KNOW ABILENE CAN BE.

>> SO IN RESPONSE TO THAT, I KNOW THAT EVERYBODY IS NOT AWARE OF THIS BECAUSE I WASN'T FOR THE LONGEST TIME BUT THE A.D.A. REGULATIONS THAT GUIDE US AND TELL US WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO DOES NOT ALLOW US TO PRIORITIZE. WE CANNOT PRIORITIZE WHAT KIND OF TRIPS ARE OVER OTHER TRIPS AND

THAT'S HARD. >> I CAN PROVIDE THAT, YES.

[00:35:05]

ABSOLUTELY. >> OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF YOU CAN. IF YOU CONSIDERED IT.

>> YEAH, BECAUSE -- I MEAN WE HAVE ASKED THIS AMONGST OURSELVES. IT'S BEEN ASKED FROM DISPATCHERS AS THEY'RE TAKING THE TRIP REQUESTS, WHY CAN'T WE DO THAT. SO YEAH, I WILL ABSOLUTELY GET THAT FOR YOU.

>> THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE, NOT ON CITY LINK.

>> FROM THE 88 IT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.

>> I KNOW MANY CLIENTS HAVE SAID THE SAME THING, THEY'RE STRUGGLING TO GET TO THEIR HEALTH APPOINTMENTS AND THERE MET CHECKS AND WHAT NOT BECAUSE OF TRANSPORTATION, WHICH CAN BE VERY DETRIMENTAL TO THEIR NEEDS, RESULTING IN CRISIS AND WHATNOT BECAUSE THEY ARE ABLE TO GET THEIR MEDS, GET SEEN, GET THEIR NEEDS TAKEN CARE OF. SO I DECIDED TO DO SOME WORK WITH THEM ON A COMMITTEE AND THAT WAS A THING THAT THEY HAD ADDRESSED, WAS FOR A LOT OF THEIR CLIENTS, WAS CITYLINK BEING ABLE TO GET THEM TO THEIR APPOINTMENTS.

>> IS THERE SOME KIND OF THING THAT WE CAN DO TO SUPPLEMENT? YOU KNOW, SOMETHING TO -- YOU KNOW, AS WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS AVAILABLE. I HAD TROUBLE WITH MY MEDICAL STUFF YESTERDAY.

ENDED UP MY BROTHER TOOK ME AND STUFF. IF WE COULD JUST -- MAYBE GETTING OTHER PEOPLE, A CONTRACTOR. I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT. THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME KIND OF ANSWER. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT TO SAY AND I'M SORRY THAT I DIDN'T INTERRUPT YOU.

>> YOU DIDN'T. YOU'RE FINE. >> I HAVE A QUESTION. SO IT SEEMS LIKE, AND I MAY BE WRONG BUT IT SEEMS LIKE MAYBE THERE'S BEEN A BIT OF TURNOVER. IS THERE ANY SORT OF FEED BACK THAT COMES BACK FROM THEM AS FOR WHY THEY HAVE LEFT THEIR JOB BUT MAYBE WE CAN LOOK AT, TOO, AS A SOLUTION TO ADDRESSING A PROBLEM. IS IT PAY? IS IT WORKLOAD? IS IT WORK ENVIRONMENT? WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, BECAUSE THEN MAYBE WE COULD TAKE THAT STUFF AND CONSIDER --

>> WE'VE HAD SEVERAL DIFFERENT REASONS. JUST TAKE THE LAST 30 DAYS. THERE HAVE BEEN A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO LITERALLY JUST DON'T COME BACK. THEY DON'T CALL. THEY DON'T SHOW UP. THEY JUST DISAPPEAR. AND THERE'S BEEN A FEW PEOPLE THAT SAY PERSONAL REASONS. FROM FAMILY ISSUES AT HOME TO THEY CAN'T WORK THE HOURS ANYMORE, TO PERSONAL HEALTH REASONS. IT IS AN OLDER POPULATION THAT WE HAVE IN SOME OF THE DRIVERS. THAT PLAYS A LOT WITH IT. AND THEN THERE ARE SOME THAT HAVE BETTER OPPORTUNITIES. THEY CAN GO WORK SOMEWHERE ELSE FOR MORE MONEY WITH LESS RESPONSIBILITY AND FEEL LIKE THEY'RE NOT BEING OVERWORKED.

>> I THINK A SUGGESTION MIGHT FROM DRIVERS. I THINK YOU NEED TO DO AN INSIGHT SURVEY WITH YOUR EMPLOYEES. LIKE WHY ARE THEY FRUSTRATED? LIKE WHAT IS GOING ON? BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE ISSUE, YOU CAN'T FIX IT.

>> A LOT OF THEM ARE FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THERE IS TOO MUCH WORK TIME, NOT ENOUGH PERSONAL TIME, AND WE KEEP ASKING, THESE LET US EXTEND YOUR HOURS TODAY. WE HAVE SEVERAL RIDES AND WE NEED TO ASK YOU IF YOU'LL GO OVER A COUPLE OF HOURS. SOME OF THEM WILL DO IT. SOME OF THEM ARE SO EXHAUSTED THEY DON'T WANT TO DO IT. THERE'S JUST SO MUCH PEOPLE CAN DO, WHAT THEY ARE WILLING TO DO. THIS IS THEIR JOB, NOT THEIR LIFE. WE'VE HEARD THAT. SOME OF THEM, VERY FEW OF THEM WILL SAY PAY.

THAT'S I THINK EVERYWHERE. >> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, NOT JUST ASSUMING. AND I WOULD THINK THE CITY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT, TOO. LIKE WHY ARE WE HAVING THIS TROUBLE? LIKE I KNEW BEFORE COVID. LIKE I SAID, COVID IS DONE. I MEAN IT'S NOT

DONE. >> WE'VE GOT TO LOOK . I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE YOUNGER PEOPLE COMING IN HAVE COME BACK AND TOLD US, HEY LOOK, THIS ISN'T FOR US. WE HAVE SUCH A GREAT AVAILABILITY OF JOBS. WE CAN AFFORD TO JOB HOP UNTIL WE FIND

[00:40:03]

>> AND THAT'S TRUE. >> AND IT HURTS, TOO.

>> IT DOES. >> WHAT ABOUT MAYBE AN EXIT INTERVIEW? ALL THE TURNOVER AND STUFF LIKE THAT, SEE WHY PEOPLE ARE LEAVING AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

>> WE DO DO THAT. >> A KIND OF A MORALE COMMITTEE. TO KIND OF HELP THE WORKPLACE. I MEAN I DON'T KNOW. THIS IS JUST IDEAS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, MAYBE.

>> YOU SAID THAT MOST OF THE DRIVERS ARE OLDER. I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO MARKET, MAYBE BRING IN MAYBE A YOUNGER CROWD, SOMETHING -- JUST TO, I GET IT AS YOU GET OLDER, YOUR ABILITY TO HANDLE A LARGER WORKLOAD CAN BE IMPACTED, ESPECIALLY DRIVING AROUND ALL DAY AND GETTING EVERYONE WHERE THEY NEED TO BE. I CAN SEE HOW IT CAN BE TAXING AND AMENDING MAYBE LOOK AT A MARKETING WAY TO TRY AND BRING IN AND ENTICE A YOUNGER CROWD THAT MIGHT --

>> THAT HAS BEEN A HUGE DISCUSSION ABOUT TRANSPORTATION AS A WHOLE, NOT JUST HERE BUT ACROSS THE STATE. NOBODY HAS COME UP WITH A REAL SOLUTION. I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE OTHER, NOT JUST THE RURAL BUT SMALL URBAN AND LARGE URBAN HAVE HAD STUDY GRANTS OUT THIS YEAR BECAUSE THAT WAS A HUGE TOPIC BACK IN JANUARY, MEETING SEMIANNUAL TWICE A YEAR FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS AND SO FAR THERE HASN'T BEEN ANYTHING POSITIVE COMING UP, SO THAT HAS BEEN A DISCUSSION.

>> I JUST -- I AM IN A NORTH TEXAS GROUP WITH LOTS OF DISABLED FAMILIES AND THIS HAS BEEN -- IT'S NOT JUST LOCAL.

IT'S EVERYWHERE. SOME PEOPLE HAVE SAID -- AND I'M JUST THROWING OUT THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD. THEY'VE OFFERED LIKE SIGN-ON BONUSES AND DIFFERENT LITTLE INCENTIVES AS THEY COMPLETE TRAINING AND MAKE THE ONE MONTH MARK AND HIT GOALS THAT THEY NEED TO TRY TO BOOST MORALE AND KEEP THEM MOTIVATED TO STICK AROUND. I KNOW LIKE LARGER CITIES THAT'S EASIER TO DO BECAUSE THEY MAY HAVE A BIGGER, DIFFERET BUDGET THAN US BUT BECAUSE I TALK WITH A LOT OF FAMILIES THROUGHOUT NORTH TEXAS, THEY THEMSELVES AS A PARENT DON'T DRIVE AND THEY HAVE A DISABLED CHILD SO THEY HAVE TO COUNT ON THAT TO GET THEM TO APPOINTMENTS AND THERAPIES AND JOBS THAT THEIR CHILD MAY BE DOING SO JUST TRY TO THINK OF IDEAS THAT I HEARD FROM THEM, MAY BE ABLE TO CARRY OVER SOMEHOW FROM A

]. >> OBVIOUSLY IT'S THE SAME THING GOING ON, LIKE WE ARE HAVING TROUBLE RETAINING STAFF, SO MY QUESTION TO YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE AN IDEA OUTSIDE OF THE BOX. WEIRD, SILLY, BUT IT MAY WORK. THAT'S WHY ANY IDEA

ON THAT LEVEL. >> WE HAVE BEEN A REFERRAL BONUS. WE'VE DONE A SIGN-ON BONUS IN THE PAST PROBABLY FIVE YEARS DURATION. VERY LITTLE RESULTS FROM THAT. WE WERE HOPING TO SEE BIGGER RESULTS FROM THAT. HERE IN THE PAST PROBABLY SIX MINUTES WE'VE THROWN THE IDEAS BACK OUT AT OUR EMPLOYEES AND THERE HAS BEEN REALLY NO GOOD POSITIVE FEEDBACK. IT'S EITHER ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, WE DON'T KNOW PEOPLE OR WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE PEOPLE WE KNOW WORKING HERE WITH US, INSIDE OF OUR WORK LIFE THAT'S SEPARATE FROM OUR PRIVATE LIFE, TO IT JUST WASN'T WORTH IT BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO DID COME IN DIDN'T STAY THE DURATION TO ALLOW THEM TO GET THEIR BONUS. WE'VE EVEN CHANGED THE VEHICLES FROM -- EXCUSE ME, FROM CDL TO NON-CDL VEHICLES FOR THE VANS, TRYING TO GET IN DRIVERS WHERE OKAY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE CDL PORTION. YOU CAN DRIVE WITH THE LICENSE YOU HAVE. SAW A LITTLE BIT OF AN IMPACT ON THAT BUT THEN THEY GOT BURNED

OUT AND THEY LEFT US . >>'S OF THESE THINGS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, IS IT BEFORE COVID OR AFTER COVID?

>> BOTH. SO PRE-COVID, LIKE FROM 2019 TO JUST ABOUT SIX OR

SEVEN MONTHS AGO. >> SO I'M GOING TO ASK, HOW

CAN WE HELP? >> I DON'T KNOW, ANYMORE, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, OTHER THAN THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, I

[00:45:06]

>> FOR. >> THAT IS HORRIBLE. WHEN THERE WERE -- IF THERE WAS MORE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO UNDERSTOOD THE IMPACT THEY CAN HAVE ON A WHOLE DIFFERENT COMMUNITY AND WERE WILLING TO SAY, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO COME IN AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK FOR CITYLINK OR FOR SOMEBODY ELSE WHO IS WILLING TO GET THE VEHICLES THEY NEED, AND SEE THE IMPACT THAT WE CAN MAKE, AND WE CAN MAKE MANY FOR OURSELVES, MIGHT MAKE AN IMPACT ON THEM AND THEY MIGHT BE MORE WILLING TO HELP. BUT WE GET THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN AND THEY LEAVE VERY QUICKLY FOR AMAZON, FOR UPS, FOR FEDEX. THEY WOULD RATHER GO MOVE PACKAGES THAN PEOPLE. THAT'S HARD.

>> ABOUT POTENTIALLY LIKE A JOB FAIR KIND OF THING, AND HAVE PEOPLE COME IN AND SHOW VIDEOS, AND HAVE MAYBE RIDERS GIVE TESTIMONIES OF THE IMPACT THAT IT HAS ON THEM WHEN THEY CAN'T GET THERE TRANSPORTATION AND WHEN THEY ARE ABLE TO GET THERE TRANSPORTATION. I THINK REAL LIVE FEEDBACK MIGHT TUG A LITTLE BIT AND LIKE THIS REALLY IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE. MS. -- MEETING HERE, I CAN GET THESE PEOPLE TO THEIR JOB, I CAN GET THESE PEOPLE TO THEIR MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS BUT MAKE IT MORE INTERACTIVE. HAS VIDEOS OF THEM TRANSPORTING THEM AROUND, SHOWING THEM GETTING IN AND OUT OF VEHICLES BUT THEN ALSO HAVING RIDERS WHO MAY BE WILLING TO COME IN AND SHARE THEIR STORIES, TO KIND OF MAKE IT MORE PERSONAL, MIGHT BRING IN THE RIGHT PEOPLE WHO REALLY WANT TO. BECAUSE THE OTHER THING, PEOPLE LOOKING FOR A JOB, I WORK IN HOME HEALTH.

THAT'S NOT FOR EVERYONE, DOING ALL THOSE THINGS. BUT IT'S A QUICK JOB AND IT WILL BRING IN SOME MONEY. THIS IS KIND OF FEELING LIKE THAT SIMILAR VIBE OF GO WORK FOR CITYLINK, YOU CAN MAKE MONEY. LATE, I FOUND ANOTHER OPTION, GOODBYE . IF THEY SEE THE REAL-TIME IMPACT THEY ARE HAVING, THAT MIGHT SPRING IN THE RIGHT CROWD THAT IS DRAWN TO DOING THOSE KIND OF THINGS. IT'S JUST KIND OF A THOUGHT I CAME UP WITH.

>> THAT'S A GREAT THOUGHT. THAT WOULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL.

>> SO I FEEL LIKE THE BOARD IS GIVING YOU SOME GREAT SUGGESTIONS AND I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE A TIMELINE. WE MEET EVERY OTHER MONTH. I DON'T THINK YOU CAN DO THE -- I DON'T THINK YOU CAN WAIT EVERY LINK UNTIL SEPTEMBER. I THINK OUR FACILITATOR IS LESLIE AND SHE CAN GET THE INFORMATION TO US, TO THE BOARD. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING IN A MONTH, LIKE SOMETHING FROM LESLIE, FROM YOU GUYS, IN AN EMAIL SAYING THIS IS WHAT WE STARTED AND THEN WHEN WE COME BACK IN SEPTEMBER, HOPEFULLY WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME PROGRESS.

AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A DEPARTMENT CHAIR FOR TRANSPORTATION HERE AND JUST A THOUGHT, ARE WE STILL JUST LOOKING AT CITYLINK AS THE ONLY TRANSPORTATION AT THIS POINT?

DON? >> GOOD AFTERNOON. DONTE GREENE, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES. AS FAR AS CITYLINK IS THE TRANSIT PROVIDER FOR THE CITY, WE ARE EXPLORING DIFFERENT WAYS AND WITH TECHNOLOGY THERE ARE NOW A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE CAN PROVIDE AND SUPPLEMENT THAT SERVICE WITH CONTRACTS. ONE IS ZIP ZONE THAT I THINK YOU GUYS ARE AWARE OF AND WE ARE LOOKING AT WAYS TO EXPAND THAT. SO THOSE THINGS COME AT A COST, THOUGH. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE THE SAME COST AS RIDING THE BUS SO WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT HOW WE EXPAND THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT.

[00:50:06]

IT'S JUST IT TAKES TIME. THERE ARE A LOT OF CONSIDERATIONS THAT MAKE US HAVE TO STOP AND SAY WE CAN SERVE THIS POPULATION BUT AT THE COST OF THIS POPULATION. AND JUST A LOT OF CONSIDERATIONS. WHAT LAUREN WAS EXPLAINING EARLIER ABOUT THE VA ONE SERVICE, THREE QUARTERS OF A MILE FROM A BUS STOPVERSUS THE BA.2, WHICH IS OUTSIDE OF THAT, THAT WAS -- WE HAD TO STOP AT SERVICE, THE BA 2 SERVICE, BECAUSE WE ARE REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW TO PROVIDE SERVICE THAT HAS THE TIME, THEN THE PERFORMANCE METRICS TIED TO IT IN THE BA 1, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT OUR FEDERAL GRANT MONEY PAYS FOR.

BE A 2 IS NOT FEDERALLY MANDATED. WE DO THAT, THE

>> WHO I HAVE TALKED WITH MANY TIMES, EVEN IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, HE IS NOT SHY ABOUT CALLING, WHEN THERE IS AN ISSUE

>> THAT IS GOOD. >> I, I, I AGREE. I MEAN, IT IS

-- >>

>> WE WANT TO DO THAT, YOU SAW LAUREN'S COMMITMENT ONCE YOU GET UP HERE, THE COMMITMENT THE CITY LINKED EMPLOYEES HAVE TWO SERVING THEIR PASSENGERS. PARTICULARLY OUR PARATRANSIT OFFICERS BECAUSE THEY FORM A BOND WITH THE PEOPLE THEY ARE SERVING AND IT DOES MEAN SOMETHING TO THEM AND NOBODY, NONE OF US LIKE MAKING THAT DECISION AND WE PUT IT OFF AS LONG AS WE POSSIBLY COULD, HOPING THINGS WILL TURN AROUND.

BUT , THERE HAVE BEEN IMPROVEMENTS. JUST IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, BUT THERE ARE A LITTLE SETBACKS TOO, AS FAR AS GETTING NEW EMPLOYEES. THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH TRAINING, GO THROUGH EXTENSIVE TRAINING. SO, I THINK THEY ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND YES, WE WILL BE GLAD TO PROVIDE A MONTHLY REPORT ON WHERE THEY ARE. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A TIMELINE TO SAY WE ARE GOING TO BE 100%, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU NEVER. NEVER.

WE WILL FILL 100% OF PHYSICIANS, IF WE CAN OVERFILL BY THREE AND THAT WAY, WE ARE READY FOR THE NEXT PERSON TO SAY I AM DONE, WE WANT TO BACKFILL IMMEDIATELY PICK

>> I DON'T KNOW THIS ANSWER, YOU MAY NOT EITHER, WHAT IS UBER DOING OR ANY OF THE OTHER TRANSPORTATION , LIKE NATIONALLY, DO THEY SEE THERE IS A NEED FOR THIS? WHAT ARE THEY DOING IF THEY DON'T SEE A NEED? THAT IS PART OF, YOU KNOW, I MENTIONED THIS, CONSULTING, THAT'S PART OF THE STUDY. TO LOOK AT THE UBER AND LYFT TO INCORPORATE THEM INTO HOW THEY USE THEM AND IT MIGHT BE THAT DURING CERTAIN HOURS OF THE DAY THAT THE CITY, FOR THOSE WHO ARE PARATRANSIT

[00:55:01]

CONSULTANTS ON THE VERY THING. >> AND ON THE PAST, THERE HAVE BEEN CONTRACTS TO THE ACTION AND LIFT, AND THOSE ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE? YEAH, IT WAS DISABILITY IN ACTION? OKAY, BECAUSE OF THEIR OWN ISSUES , THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO CONTINUE THAT CONTRACT WITH US. WE ALSO HAD A CONTRACT WITH A TAXI COMPANY IN TOWN. THEY HAVE DROPPED THAT AS WELL. THE CONTRACT WAS NOT RENEWED WITH HIM. UBER AND LYFT, WE CONTACTED THEM OR TRIED TO CONTACT THEM SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED IN PARTNERING WITH US AT ALL. WE THINK WITH THE CONSULTANT WE HAVE TALKED TO, THEY ARE ALREADY DOING THIS AND OTHER CITIES IN TEXAS AND THIS IS A TEXAS COMPANY, SO WE THINK THERE IS POSSIBILITY TO GET AN ARRANGEMENT WITH UBER AND LYFT TO GET THAT TYPE OF SERVICE TO SUPPLEMENT OUR PARATRANSIT FANS.

>> ONE THING WE DID FIND OUT FOR SURE, THERE WAVE, WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHICLES, THEY CALL THEM WAVE, THOSE ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN IN THOSE TYPES OF INCIDENCES BECAUSE THE PEOPLE HAVE TO PURCHASE THEM THEMSELVES AND BE PAID BY ENTITIES TO OFFER SERVICES. SO, THAT IS ANOTHER DILEMMA.

>> WE FOUND A JOB FOR YOU. >> THERE YOU GO.

>> I KNOW THIS IS A CHALLENGE, I KNOW THIS IS AND PLEASE DON'T EVER THINK THAT WE DON'T SEE THAT. I, AS LONG AS WE KNOW THERE IS COMMUNICATION GOING AND WE ARE MOVING FORWARD, THAT IS ALL WE ASK. BUT, WE KNOW THE PRIORITIES, YOU KNOW? LIKE , STILL, YOU'VE GOT ME FIRED UP ABOUT THIS A.D.A. REQUIREMENT. I AM GOING TO START LOOKING INTO THAT BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T HELP THE ECONOMY, NUMBER ONE, IF YOU DON'T HAVE HEALTHY PEOPLE LIVING IN YOUR ECONOMY, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO GO OUT AND THAT WILL NOT HELP OUR FUNDING.

SO, -- >>

>> THEY WOULD JUST USE 911 AND TIE UP THOSE SERVICES, SO YOU

DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. >> SO, IF YOU ARE OKAY, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING IN A MONTH FROM NOW, SO WHEN WE COME BACK TOGETHER, WE CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION OF PROGRESS. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A TIMELINE, BUT AS LONG AS WE KNOW THAT, BECAUSE, I MEAN, YOU JUST SAW IN THE COMMUNICATION JUST NOW, LIKE SOME GREAT IDEAS CAME FROM THAT, SO MAYBE THAT NEEDS TO BE PART OF OUR TIME WHEN YOU GUYS GIVE YOU A REPORT, LIKE LET'S HAVE THAT DISCUSSION ONCE A MONTH, SO WE CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION THAT ARE LIKE -- NEXT MEETING, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK AT PRIOR TO THE MEETING SO WE CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION PRIOR TO THE MEETING, OKAY? IS EVERYONE

OKAY WITH THAT? OKAY. >> JOANN, CITY LINK IS NOT CITY EMPLOYEES, SO WE CANNOT DIRECT THEM SPECIFICALLY. THEY ARE NOT

CITY EMPLOYEES. >> GOOD POINT, LESLIE, BUT I WILL EXPLAIN HOW THAT WORKS, CITY LINK IS OPERATED BY TRANS-DEV, WHO HAS SET UP A TRANSIT MANAGEMENT OF ABILENE , AND LAUREN WORKS FOR TRANS-DEV, THEY HAVE MULTIPLE CITIES WHERE THEY OFFER EIGHT THE TRANSIT SYSTEM AND I WILL COME BACK TO THAT POINT BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT. SO, THEN TRANSIT MANAGEMENT, ALL THE OTHER CITY LINK EMPLOYEES ARE EMPLOYED BY TRANSIT MANAGEMENT. THEY ARE NOT CITY EMPLOYEES, THE CITY

[01:00:01]

IT COMES THROUGH THE GRANTS WE RECEIVED FROM THE FDA AND THE GENERAL FUND DOLLARS THAT ARE BUDGETED THROUGH THE CITY. THAT IS HOW CITY LINK OPERATES. AS FAR AS TRYING TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS, ABILENE IS NOT UNIQUE, AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT BECAUSE THAT IS AN EXCUSE, THAT IS JUST THE REALITY.

LAUREN AND I HAVE MEETINGS WITH TRANSDEV FOLKS ALL THE TIME, HOW DO WE SOLVE THIS? SAM LOOKING AT HOW THEY ARE DOING IT IN OTHER CITIES AND EVERYBODY IS FACING THE SAME ISSUES. THE PARATRANSIT SYSTEM IS OF COURSE, THE MOST TAXING, BID -- BECAUSE THAT REQUIRES THE MOST ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE OPERATOR AND A PASSENGER BECAUSE THE ASSISTANCE THAT'S REQUIRED IN MANY CASES. AND THE TIME REQUIREMENTS. WAY OF THOSE IN THE BA1 AREA, YOU CAN BE LATE COMING OF A TIME CONSTRAINT YOU HAVE TO BE IN , YOU CAN BE LATE TO PICK THEM UP OR DROP THEM OFF. ALL TRAN SYSTEMS HAVE TO WORK WITHIN THE SAME FRAMEWORK. SO, WE HAVE, WE HAVE THE BENEFIT OF BEING ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, . TRANSDEV'S EMPLOYEES BRAINS TO ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SO, WE ARE NOT UNIQUE, BUT I THINK ABILENE, WE ARE VERY GOOD AT LOOKING OUTSIDE, THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX AND TRYING TO GET , TRYING THINGS, THEY MAY NOT WORK , BUT I KNOW OUR CITY MANAGER GIVES US THE ABILITY TO GO AHEAD AND TRY SOMETHING AND IF IT DOESN'T WORK, WE WILL TRY SOMETHING ELSE, AS LONG AS OUR INTENT IS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF OUR CITIZENS, THEN WE ARE DOING IT FOR THE RIGHT REASONS. I MADE NOTES THROUGHOUT THE COMMENTS AND EVERYTHING AND LAUREN AND I WILL GET BACK AND ADDRESS THOSE, WE WILL SEND YOU REPORT MONTHLY TO SAY WHAT'S GOING ON, I WILL SEND IT TO LESLIE AND SHE LESLIE CAN SEND IT OUT THROUGH THE BOARD AND WE WILL GO FROM THERE AND MAKE SURE THERE IS DIALOGUE, EVEN WHEN THERE ISN'T ONE FOR THE MEETING, YOU KNOW?

>> BECAUSE, I KNOW THE COMMUNITY, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT COME TO US AND ASK, AND IF I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON

, CAN'T TELL THEM ANYTHING. >> I KNOW EVERYONE IS FRUSTRATED, WE ARE FRUSTRATED TOO, BUT IT IS NOT IMPACTING OUR LIVES , PARTICULARLY THOSE IN THE TO HER, AND IT'S AFFECTING EVERYBODY IN THAT BA2 AREA, NOT JUST ONE PERSON. HOW MANY PEOPLE IS IT ? ROUGHLY, ABOUT 130 PEOPLE

>> MY GOODNESS. >> 130?

>> IF THE CITY WANTS TO PROVIDE , I WILL GO WORK FOR YOU GUYS AND I WILL GET PEOPLE IN. BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE THESE PEOPLE LIKE , IT'S SAD BECAUSE I REALLY CAN TELL YOU, THE LAST SIX MONTHS, THIS HAS BECOME PERSONAL, BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THAT INDEPENDENCE LIKE I USED TO RIGHT NOW AND WHEN YOU LOSE THAT INDEPENDENCE, AND IT ROCKS YOUR WORLD.

>> IT DOES. >> SO, I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS AND THEY ARE GOING THROUGH IT, SO, IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT I KNEW I COULD DO, I WOULD BE OUT THERE FOR YOU GUYS.

YEAH, I THINK THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE TO , YOU KNOW PARENTS THAT HAVE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LOGISTICS WILL BE BUT WE WENT THROUGH THOSE PARENTS, WE CAN FIGURE OUT LATE, I DON'T

KNOW, LIKE A BUS ROUTE >> LIKE A SHARE, KIND OF. I WAS

WONDERING ABOUT THAT. >> AND I KNOW THERE IS

[01:05:05]

MAYBE WE CAN WORK WITH THEM? >> IF WE WERE TO GO WITH WEAR AND LEFT MAC -- LYFT, LET'S JUST SAY, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WOULD BE A RESTRICTION WHY SOMEONE WITH AN EQUIPPED VEHICLE COULDN'T SIGN ON WITH UBER AND LYFT TO MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE TO SERVE CITY LINK CUSTOMERS. BECAUSE UBER AND LYFT PROVIDE THAT INSURANCE FOR THE DRIVERS WHILE

THEY ARE ON THE CLOCK. >> WELL, MAYBE THAT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT WHEN YOU GUYS GET FURTHER ALONG WITH THAT. MAYBE THEIR PARENTS AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE THOSE VIA

HOLES >> WANT TO DRIVE OTHER KIDS TO SCHOOL OR SOMETHING? YEAH, THE BIGGEST STRESS FOR OUR PARATRANSIT IS IN THE MORNINGS.

>> FROM 6:15 TO ABOUT 8:00, THEN AGAIN STARTING ABOUT 1:30

TO ABOUT 4:30. >> BECAUSE OF THE GROUP HOMES, AND THEY ARE DOMINATING, THEY DOMINATE PARATRANSIT SERVICE DURING THOSE TIMES. THAT IS THE BIGGEST CAUSE.

>> NOW WHEN YOU GO BACK TO UBER AND LYFT, YOU CAN SAY TO THEM, MAYBE THIS IS AN OPTION? THAT IS A GOOD THOUGHT.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE FOR LAUREN?

>> I UNDERSTAND , I'M TRYING I DIFFERENT IDEAS . FOR THE PAST TWO OR THREE WEEKS, I NOTICE PEOPLE ON MOTORIZED SCOOTERS DRIVING DOWN TO A GAS STATION OR NOT, WHEN YOU BOUGHT THESE , FOR THE PEOPLE MEETING, WHY NOT BY FOR THE MOTORIZED SCOOTERS ? YOU KNOW, HOW COME YOU DON'T HAVE ANY MORE OF THOSE? THE

PAST, THE BUS, ? >> MORE BUSES AND MORE VANS? OR MOTORIZED SCOOTERS? I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE ELIGIBLE UNDER A GRAND, BECAUSE THE GRANTS ARE TO PURCHASE VEHICLES TO SERVICE MULTIPLE PEOPLE AT A TIME, AND BUYING THE SCOOTERS AND SUCH , YOU MIGHT AS WELL JUST BE BUYING A SCOOTER AND GIVING IT TO SOMEBODY, BECAUSE HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET IT

BACK? >> I JUST DON'T THINK THAT IS GRANT ELIGIBLE. AND IF THE POLICE CHIEF -- YEAH, YEAH, IF THE POLICE CHIEF WERE HERE, I'M SURE HE WOULD BE NINE, I REALLY DON'T WANT THOSE GOING UP AND DOWN THE STREET TO BEGIN

WITH BACK >> YOU ARE DOING WHAT YOU CAN.

>> YEAH, THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING, WE WANT TO KEEP TRYING AND TRYING NEW IDEAS AND I APPRECIATE THE

IDEAS. >> THAT IS ALSO THE INDIVIDUAL'S CHOICE TO GET IN THAT STREET.

>> WITH THE LACK OF SIDEWALKS SOMETIMES, THAT --

>> BUT THAT IS A GREAT, GREAT COMMENT. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE

[01:10:02]

? NO? >> I JUST WANTED TO GO BY , ONE BY ONE REVIEW, YOU KNOW? WHILE I'M HERE, IF YOU CAN, WE HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING WE CAN AND I APPRECIATE THAT. PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH AMAZON, FEDEX, REALLY MAKES THAT POSSIBLE.

>> IT'S ABOUT THIS, RIGHT? YOU KNOW?

>> AND, AND, WE WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT. WE DID , WE PROVIDED A RAISE A FEW YEARS AGO, A BIG RAISE TO GET DRIVERS COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER SIMILAR DRIVING OCCUPATIONS IN THE CITY , THAT WAS I -- A, I DON'T KNOW THREE YEARS, FOUR YEARS AGO? SO JUST LIKE THE CITY OF ABILENE, WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN COMPETITIVENESS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES SALARIES, AND IT BECOMES A BUDGET PROBLEM. THAT IS ALL THERE IS TO IT. THE MONEY WE GET IN THE GRANTS FROM THE FTA, FROM TXDOT FOR OPERATING AND MAINTAINING THE SYSTEM IS FINITE. THE CITY'S BUDGET IS PRETTY FINITE TO. -- TOO . SO, WHERE ELSE DO WE HAVE REVENUE? IS FROM THE FAIRNESS. AND YOU KNOW, AT SOME POINT, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE FARES, DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT IS GOING TO BE, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THAT IS GOING TO BE BUT YOU CAN'T MAKE CHANGES AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES OR RAISE THEIR PAY AND THEIR BENEFITS WITHOUT ULTIMATELY IMPACTING ALL OF OUR SOURCES OF REVENUE. SO .

>> I DO REMEMBER MR. GREEN TELLING ME AT ONE POINT, AND IT HAS PROBABLY CHANGE BECAUSE THIS WAS SEVERAL YEARS AO, A TRIP IS LIKE $25, RIGHT? MAINTENANCE AND SALARY AND GAS

, IT'S ABOUT $25, RIGHT? >> I THINK IT'S MORE LIKE 40.

>> IT IS 40 NOW? SO, I GET THE TWO DOLLARS. YOU GUYS HAVE TRIED YOUR BEST TO KEEP THAT AS FEASIBLE AS POSSIBLE. SO WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO GET TO PLACES BECAUSE OF COST, I ALSO KNOW PEOPLE ARE ON A STRICT BUDGET.

I GET THAT. I'M ONE OF THOSE. WE ALL ARE. BUT, SO I APPLIED YOU WITH THE MONEY THAT YOU'VE GOT AND WHAT YOU ARE DOING, SO, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU KNEW THAT. THAT TWO DOLLARS IS NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT IT REALLY COSTS FOR A RIDE.

>> SO, THE EVENING SORENESS -- SERVICE DOES NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT, IT IS OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND, AND FROM FARES, SO EVENING SERVICE HAS TO STAND ON IT DOWN AND WITH THE GENERAL FUND CITIES HELP BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE DON'T LOOK AT SOMETHING, AND THE EMPLOYEE SURVEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP WITH THAT COME IDENTIFY SOME AND WE CAN DO TO INCREASE BENEFITS. WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL WE HEAR FROM THE EMPLOYEES. I THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA. THEY DO THEIR EXIT INTERVIEWS BUT YOU'RE ALREADY TALKING TO SOMEONE ON THEIR WAY OUT, LET'S TALK TO SOMEBODY WHO IS THERE AND WANTS TO STAY THERE.

>> SORRY IF I CUT YOU OFF. >> I KNOW THERE ARE MORE THAN ONE BUS AT POINTS IN THE CITY. I SEE ONES BEING BUILT ALL OVER

[01:15:02]

>> SO, IN THE VERY COMPLICATED WORLD OF HOW WE FINANCE THINGS, BUYING BUSES , BUYING NEW EQUIPMENT IS NOT REALLY OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM. IT IS THE OPERATING COSTS. IT IS, IT IS THE SALARIES AND THE BENEFITS. THIS IS A PEOPLE ORGANIZATION, FIRST AND FOREMOST. YOU HEAR THE SAME THING FROM THE CITY OF ABILENE BECAUSE WE ARE VERY HEAVY IN PEOPLE AND PEOPLE CAN'T MONEY, SO BUYING BUSES IS NOT THE ISSUE. WE ACTUALLY HAVE A FEW BUSES SITTING IN THE YARD THAT ARE NOT BEING USED, WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE DRIVERS FOR THEM AND EVEN IF WE ARE FULLY , IF WE WERE AT FULL EMPLOYMENT WITH SAVE ABILENE, WE WOULD STILL HAVE SPARE BUS . THAT'S PROBABLY DESIGN BECAUSE WE DO NEED SPARES BUT BUYING NEW BUSES IS NOT THAT BIG OF A PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE FTA IS VERY GENEROUS WITH GRANTS TO BUY NEW EQUIPMENT. BUT IT IS AFFORDING THE NEW EMPLOYEES. SO LOOKING AT THE BUDGET, COMING UP WITH WAYS TO INCREASE REVENUES TO SUPPORT ADDING EMPLOYEES. SPAM AGAIN , PEOPLE, YEAH, YEAH. MUST BE PRETTY DIFFICULT TO KEEP A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKING, YOU KNOW? WITHOUT A DOUBT, YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH EVERY SINGLE IDEA YOU COULD POSSIBLY USE.

>> BUT WE ARE OPEN TO OTHERS, YOU KNOW, OTHER IDEAS. THAT IS

WHY THIS DIALOGUE IS GOOD. >> ANYONE ELSE? THEN I THINK YOU, LAUREN. THANK YOU, MR. GREEN, FOR HOPPING IN ON THIS PART, AND WE LOOK FORWARD, YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT GOING TO STOP WORKING WITH YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE A VITAL PART OF THE CITY, SO, KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND WE WILL HELP YOU AS

MUCH AS WE CAN. >> AND I JUST KIND OF REMIND THAT THIS BOARD SERVES A FUNCTION FOR THE CITY, AND OPERATE AS OUR A.D.A. BOARD, SO THIS FEEDBACK IS VERY IMPORTANT AND REPORT THIS TO THE FTA. THAT WE PARTICIPATED IN THIS MEETING AND THE FEEDBACK WE GOT. BECAUSE IT IS PART OF THE REQUIREMENT THAT WE HAVE A FORM WHERE WE CAN GET FEEDBACK FROM

THE PUBLIC. >> WELL, THANK YOU , AND MR.

[4. Airport Terminal Accessible/Assisted Restroom (Discussion)]

>> I WILL DO THAT, YEAH. >> IS THERE A VIDEO FOR THIS? I'VE BEEN WANTING TO SHOW THIS FOR A LITTLE WHILE. THIS WAS COMPLETED IN NOVEMBER, RIGHT A WEEK BEFORE THANKSGIVING AND I PROCESS , THE PLANS FOR THIS, RENOVATIONS ON THE LOWER LEVEL TO THE SPORT ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO AND THIS WAS PROBABLY THE THING WE WERE MOST PROUD OF OUT OF IT. THIS IS A ACCESSIBLE

ASSISTED RESTROOM. >> A WAY TO ENTER .

>> IT IS MOTION CENSORED, IN AND OUT. AND THIS IS AN ADULT SIZED CHANGING TABLE , SO, YEAH, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU ALL KNEW THAT WE HAD COMPLETED THAT. WE ARE PROUD OF THAT, TO

HAVE THAT. >> IT'S SO HARD TO FIND ADULT SIZED CHANGING TABLES ANYWHERE, SO THIS IS HUGE.

>> I WILL TELL YOU, I WAS INSPIRED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT GOT INCLUDED IN THE PROJECT BECAUSE OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE WHO HAS AN ADULT SON AND WHEN THEY TRAVEL, THEY NEED THAT.

[01:20:07]

HAD SOMETHING LIKE THAT TOO. >> YOU NEED TO TALK ABOUT EACH

OTHER . >> YEAH, I FIRST SAW A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THIS AT SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT HAS MADE A COMMITMENT, BACK IN 2019 TO DO A LOT OF THOSE , SO YEAH.

>> YOU ARE WELCOME. ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AIRPORT AS WELL? NO, WE APPRECIATE, SINCE I'VE BEEN WITH YOU SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING OF THAT, ME AND DEBRA BOTH HAVE. OUTTHINK ANYONE ELSE ON THE BOARD THAT IS HERE NOW, THANK YOU FOR OUR , TAKING I CAN SUGGESTIONS INTO CONSIDERATION, AS WE KNOW WE WORK TOGETHER, IT JUST WARMS MY HEART THAT WE KNOW WE ARE WORKING AS A TEAM. THANK YOU.

[5. Code Red (Discussion)]

>> YOU ARE WELCOME. >> THAT IS INCREDIBLE.

>> NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS CODE RED. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY WHILE YOU ARE COMING UP, THANKS FOR FOLLOWING UP.

>> YOU BACK, GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD. ONE THING I WILL SAY IS, YOU HAD ASKED WHEN YOU HAD THE LAST MEETING , FIRE CHIEF , BY THE WAY, I GO BACK AND TRY TO FIND INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT IS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO ARE HEARING IMPAIRED AND SIGHT IMPAIRED AND THAT WAS A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT TO FIND INFORMATION THAN YOU MIGHT THINK. WE EVEN REACHED OUT TO THE VENDOR , SO IT WAS KIND OF HARD. WE TRIED TO PUT TOGETHER A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION, OVER PREPAREDNESS ITSELF AND HOPEFULLY, THAT WILL GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF INSIGHT. SO, AS WE TALK ABOUT STEPS TO TAKE DURING EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, JUST SOME QUICK REMINDERS, WE KNOW EMERGENCIES CAN STRIKE WITHOUT WARNING, WE HAVE SEEN THAT LATELY, AND WE KNOW THAT DIRECT THE EFFECTS THOSE WITH ALREADY DISABILITIES IN A MUCH MORE INTENSE FASHION. THOSE DUE TO PRESENT ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES , AS YOU ALL KNOW. ONE WAY TO PREPARE IS TO CREATE THE PERSONAL SUPPORT NETWORK, ALSO PERFORM A SELF-ASSESSMENT OF WHAT YOU HAVE AROUND THE HOME, WHAT YOU MAY NEED IN THE EVENT OF A DISASTER FALLS INTO MAKING A PLAN, EMERGENCY SUPPLY KIT IS ALWAYS A GREAT THING TO PREPARE, TO KEEP ON HAND, AND THEN STAYING INFORMED, WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT AS WE GO INTO CODE RED. CODE RED IS THE MASS NOTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR THE CITY OF ABILENE. WE HAVE LOOKED AT A FEW OTHERS BUT CODE RED DOES SERVE OUR NEEDS, BASICALLY. THE NOTIFICATION METHODS, YOU CAN HAVE NOTIFICATIONS ON YOUR HOME PHONE , THROUGH THE WORK PHONE, OR CELL PHONE, YOU CAN RECEIVE TEXT MESSAGES. WE CAN SEND THOSE OUT THROUGH EMAIL AND THOSE GO THROUGH THE TDD TRANSMISSION SYSTEM AND THE CODE RED MOBILE APP IF YOU CHOOSE TO DOWNLOAD BUT AS WELL.

THAT IS THE BASICS OF WHAT I COULD FIND OUT AS FAR AS NOTIFICATIONS. THERE WASN'T A WHOLE LOT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AS FAR AS NOTIFICATIONS STRICTLY FOR WHAT YOU ASKED FOR LAST TIME. TO SIGN UP , VERY SIMPLE. YOU CAN TEXT THAT CODE, 29411 , AND YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE ENROLLED.

YOU CAN GO ONLINE TO OUR WEBSITE, ABILENE.GOV OR SIGN UP FOR TO READ UNDER THE ONLINE SERVICES UNDER THE MARQUEE AND THE OPTION FOR SIGNING UP FOR COVID-19 WEATHER ALERTS WHICH WILL PUT YOU IN A CODE RED AS WELL. THERE'S ALSO SOMETHING CALLED STEER, THE STATE OF TEXAS EMERGENCY, YES. THIS IS ALSO A REGISTRY, IT'S A FREE REGISTRY, IT IS MANAGED THROUGH , IF YOU SIGN UP, IT PROVIDES THE LOCAL EMERGENCY PLANNERS,

[01:25:03]

THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS UTILIZED OFTEN BUT THAT'S A GOOD SERVICE BUT IT'S NEEDING TO BE USED MORE OFTEN.

>> A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THEY PUSH THAT, 211 DEAD, UNITED WEIGHED IN, THEY KNEW THE BUDGET CUTS WERE COMING, BUT IF THAT IS SOMETHING LIKE WHEN WE DO MARKETING, THAT MAY BE SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK INTO PUTTING OUT AS PART OF THAT , BECAUSE PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW THAT. THAT'S THE PART TALKING ABOUT WITH CODE RED, BECAUSE THEY GO TOGETHER, RIGHT? GOOD TO KNOW. GOOD TO KNOW IT'S STILL THERE AND WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT, WE WOULD LIKE TO HELP THAT.

>> PUT IT IN AND I WILL TAKE THEM TO THE REGISTRY? I THOUGHT

MAYBE I MISSED IT. >> YOU CAN REGISTER ONLINE AT THE WEBSITE OR YOU CAN CALL TUNE ON ONE AND IT WILL GIVE

THE INFORMATION AS WELL. >> REGISTRATION DOES NOT MEAN YOU WILL RISK EVEN NOTIFICATION, THAT IS WHAT CODE RED IS FOR. THAT REGISTRATION IS STRICTLY FOR THE EMERGENCY

MANAGERS AND RESPONSE OR IS. >> WE KNOW THAT AREA GOT HIT HARD, WE HAVE PEOPLE REGISTERED?

>> FOR MY UNDERSTANDING, AND SPECIFIC LEAVE THE PERSON REGISTERED. THAT COULD BE PART OF IT AS WELL.

>> YOU HAVE TO REGISTER EVERY YEAR.

>> I THOUGHT I READ SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

>> THAT PART I DID NOT KNOW. WE HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT ANY CUTS COMING THROUGH TDAM. WISH I HAD MORE INFORMATION IN THE AREA BUT THAT'S WHAT I NOW. ANY MORE QUESTIONS? IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE HAVE HAD EMERGENCIES AND FIRES AND SUCH, WHEN THAT HAPPENS WITH WINTER STORMS, PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DISPLACED, ALL THAT, DO Y'ALL CONNECT WITH, I MEAN, SAY YOU KNEW WHAT THE WHOLE AREA OF PEOPLE SAY, ELDERLY DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO CERTAIN SUPPLIES, WOULD YOU CONNECT WITH OTHER ENTITIES TO WORK WITH THEM AND SAY HEY, WE HAVE THIS WHOLE AREA OVER HERE THAT DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO SUPPLIES OR NUTRITIONAL THINGS, DO ALL CONNECT WITH THEM? WE DO, AND WE RELY ON EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OF ELYSIAN -- DIVISION TO HANDLE THAT BUT WE WORK WITH RED CRASS, WITH HER HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WHICH HAS MULTIPLE RESOURCES. IF WE CAN'T GET IT LOCALLY, WE PUT IN A REQUEST TO THE STATE AND THEIR EASILY FULFILLED IN A TIMELY FASHION. WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT SPINNING UP SOME OF OUR PLANNING PROCESSES MORE LATELY THAN WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST. A LOT OF THAT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT THROUGH THOSE PROCESSES.

>> THERE ARE SPECIFIC NONPROFITS THAT DO JUST SUPPLY , THAT HAVE THOSE THINGS, HEALTH HUBS OR MEDICAL CLOSETS IN THE SITUATIONS THAT ARE MORE SPECIFIC TO THIS THOSE WHO ARE DISPLACED, YOU KNOW, BUT DON'T HAVE THOSE SPECIFIC MEDICAL NEEDS, SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CONNECTED OR PARTNERED WITH

HIM. >> WE DO, WE HAVE LOTS OF LOCAL RESOURCES, LOTS OF CHURCHES, LOTS OF FOOD PANTRIES THAT CAN ALSO SUPPLY THOSE THINGS BUT YES. ANYTHING ELSE FOR ME?

>> YES. WE NEED TO OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT. IS THE BOARD DONE ASKING QUESTIONS? WE CAN OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> I'M SORRY, WE NEED YOU TO COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE.

[01:30:06]

>> MY NAME IS AL, CHIEF FLOREZ, WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU SHARED, I LIVE IN A CORNER WHERE THERE IS A FIRE HYDRANT AND BECAUSE OF THAT, SO MANY OF YOUR FIREFIGHTERS,, AND I TALKED TO THEM, AND I APPRECIATE IT. IN A NONTHREATENING WAY, I ASKED THEM, JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY , WHEN WE WERE CHATTING BACK AND FORTH, WHEN I WALK UP TO YOU WITH THIS CAN, WHAT DOES THAT CONVEY TO YOU? AND THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO CLEARLY IDENTIFY THAT A WHITE CANE IS ABLE TO IDENTIFY A BLIND INDIVIDUAL. IN THE BLIND COMMUNITY, THAT IS SIGNIFICANT THAT FIRST RESPONDERS , IF THEY HAVE A BLIND CANE, HE IS

PROBABLY BLIND. >> I DIDN'T HEAR WHAT YOU --

>> I'M SORRY, I LIVE ON A CORNER WHERE THERE IS A FIRE HYDRANT, BECAUSE OF THAT, I HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY COME THERE AND FLUSH IT AND DO THEIR THING, I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW THEM A LITTLE BIT, I WALKED UP TO THE GROUP AND I ASK THEM, AND A NONTHREATENING WAY, JUST WHEN YOU SEE A PERSON WITH A WHITE CANE, WHAT DOES IT IDENTIFY, WHAT DOES IT TELL YOU? AND THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO CLEARLY, CONFIDENTLY IDENTIFY WHAT IT MEANT. ONE.POSSIBLY HARD OF HEARING , AND THEN ONE FINALLY GOT IT RIGHT AND THE OTHER ONE THOUGHT, YEAH, I KNEW THAT BUT IT WASN'T CLEAR THAT THEY REALLY KNEW WHAT IT WAS AND THAT'S A COMMON COMPLAINT THAT BLIND PEOPLE, THAT THE PUBLIC AND FIRST RESPONDERS AND PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE OF THAT THAT WE IDENTIFY OURSELVES BY THE WAY CANE. THANK YOU.

>> I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS, IT WAS JUST AN FYI.

>> ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? THANK YOU. SO, WE ARE CLOSING

[6. CityLink Report (Discussion)]

>> HELLO, AMANDA, ABILITY COORDINATOR. HOW ARE YOU ALL TODAY? DO YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE REPORTS, ABOUT THE REPORT? YOU ALL CAN SEE IT OKAY, I READ? I KNOW IT WAS SMALL.

>> YOUR NUMBERS ARE GOING DOWN. WHEN I SAY THAT, FOR CERTAIN PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE, WE REPORTED HIGH NUMBERS WHEN IT COMES TO CANCELLATIONS, NO-SHOWS , SO I DO APPLAUD YOU ON THAT.

I SHOULD KNOW THE ANSWER. THE SENIOR CITIZENS , ARE THE SENIOR CITIZENS TO HELP THEM WITH THAT? THE SENIOR CENTER? YES, YES, WE STILL DO THAT. DOES THE BOARD HAVE ANY

COMMENTS >> THANK YOU. SO, WE ARE DOWN

[7. Upcoming Board Topics (Discussion)]

[01:35:11]

AND I HAVE A WEAVE THROUGH PUBLIC COMMENTS WITH THE NEW PHANTOM, I KNEW THERE WAS LIKE MEETINGS THROUGHOUT THE CITY WITH DISCUSSIONS, ARE WE DONE WITH THOSE? WE ARE FINISH WHAT THEY PUBLIC COMMENT WHERE WE JUST HAVE AN OPEN HOUSE, NOW WHEN IT'S PRESENTED TO THE BOARD AND PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL, THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITY FOR PUB COMMENT AT BOTH OF THOSE MEETINGS, BUT AS FAR AS HAVING AN OPEN FORUM OR PUBLIC SURVEY, THAT IS COMPLETE.

>> DO YOU KNOW WHERE WE ARE WITHIN THAT PROCESS? DO WE NEED TO SEE , YOU KNOW, AT OTHER MEETINGS?

>> THIS IS A RECREATIONAL IDEAL AROUND THE LAKE, IT IS NOT TO THE DEPTHS OF PLANNING ANYTHING, THERE MAY BE A BUBBLE THAT SAYS PARKING, BUT IT DOESN'T SAY HOW MANY ARE HANDICAP , IT MAY SAY THERE IS A BATHROOM, WILL SAY HOW MANY STALLS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. SO I CAN SEND YOU THE PICTURES, I CAN SEND YOU PICTURES TO WHAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AT THE OPEN, PERIOD , IF YOU WOULD LIKE FOR ME TO. I KNOW THE PATHWAYS ARE

NOT JUST -- >> THERE ARE PICTURES THAT COULD BE, IS TALKING ABOUT, THE TRAIL TO GO HERE, NOT WHERE EXACTLY , WHAT IT'S MADE OUT OF, HOW IT WOULD BE SIGNED, IT

IS JUST, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. >> SO, THE BOARD DOES THROUGH THE CITY COUNCIL? UNTIL WE ARE READY TO GO ONTO THE NEXT PHASE, THAT IS WHEN WE WOULD COME BETWEEN THIS BOARD TO GET FEEDBACK. AT THIS PHASE, IT'S ALL VERY CONCEPTUAL.

>> WITH YOU BEING THE CHAIR , WHAT WOULD BE BEST FOR YOU, LIKE US LOOKING AT THOSE PICTURES NOW AND GETTING SUGGESTIONS , OR WAIT UNTIL IT'S PRESENTED TO CITY

COUNCIL? >> HONESTLY, WOULD BE EASIER AFTER IT'S ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL TO GET FEED BACK THEN, BUT AGAIN, THIS IS PUBLIC RECORD SO I'M HAPPY TO SEND

THE PICTURES TO YOU NOW. >> HONESTLY, THAT WOULD BE GREAT, IF WE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS, WE CAN START

THINKING. >> WE EVEN STARTED THE CONVERSATION ON FUNDING, SO THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE ARE

GOING TO BE DOING TOMORROW. >> OKAY. JUST A REMINDER, THE NEXT MEETING IN SEPTEMBER, AND OCTOBER IS DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH, WHICH DEALS WITH DEPLOYMENT , SO WE WILL NOT MEET AND OCTOBER. THERE SHOULD NOT BE A DECLARATION IN THE FIRST PART OF OCTOBER. AND IN SEPTEMBER,

[01:40:20]

>> IF WE GET MARI TO COME TAKE OVER OUR MARKETING, I BELIEVE THERE IS A PROCLAMATION, IN NOVEMBER, I HOPE TO HAVE THEIR RECREATION CENTERS FOR AS LONG AS I CAN BRING THOSE.

>> WHERE ARE WE AT WITH THE ZOO? I KNOW THEY WERE DOING SOME CONSTRUCTION FOR ACCESSIBILITY, HAVE WE HAD ANY

UPDATES FOR THEM? >> PERSONALLY TO GO OUT, BUT I THINK THOSE WHO ARE MAY BE NEW TO THE BOARD, AND HEAR WHAT

THEIR PLANS ARE TOO. >> THEY ARE, I DON'T BELIEVE THEY WOULD BE READY TO PRESENT TO THE BOARD UNTIL NEXT YEAR.

THAT I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER THINGS GOING ON. I WILL TALK TO

JESSE AND SEE WHAT THEY HAVE. >> I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE. IF WE CAN MEET WITH MARI BETWEEN NOW AND GET SOME TYPE OF PLAN GOING AND POSSIBLY, WOULD BE NICE IF WE CAN GET SOME MARKETING , YOU KNOW, THE PCA, THAT WOULD BE A

GREAT MONTH TO PUSH IT. >> OKAY.

>> SO. DOES THE BOARD HAVE ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS?

>> DEBORAH, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE PROCLAMATION , DO YOU

KNOW WHAT DATE THAT IS? >> IT'S USUALLY OCTOBER 15TH, ISN'T IT? I DON'T KNOW WHAT DAY THAT FALLS ON. SOMETIMES IT'S JUST CELEBRATED AROUND THAT TIME. YOU NOW?

>> USUALLY APPROXIMATION , OCTOBER 10TH.

>> THAT IS CLOSE ENOUGH. >> I KNOW THIS ISN'T, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT, IT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

WITH OCTOBER BEING DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH , I'M WONDERING IF WE COULD GET TEXAS WORKFORCE? HERE TO PRESENT, IS THAT SOMETHING WE CAN DO? I AM ASKING.

>> I DON'T KNOW, I COULD REACH OUT TO THEM AND ASK. I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF THEIR SERVICES CAN BE WAY UNDERUTILIZED.

>> MY SON-IN-LAW HAS CHECKED INTO SOME OF THEM ON BEHALF OF

HIS SON WHO HAS ASPERGER'S. >> IF WE DO THAT IN SEPTEMBER, MAYBE THERE ARE SOME VOLUNTEERS , MAYBE THERE IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE. ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE? AWESOME. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE BOARD, BUT I FEEL LIKE IT WAS A PRODUCTIVE MEETING. I FEEL WE NEED TO JUST FOLLOW UP AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT KNOW ABOUT STEER NOW , START . AND THE TIME IS ACTUALLY 4:51. AND IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO CLOSE THE MEETING? I MADE THE MOTION.

[01:45:02]

>> SECONDED. >> THE BOARD WITH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IS CLOSED AND JUST A REMINDER, WE MEET THE SECOND TUESDAY OF EVERY OTHE

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.