21. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Take Action on Amending Resolution 200-2019 Regarding Public Information Act Requests (Robert Hanna)

[21. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Take Action on Amending Resolution 200-2019 Regarding Public Information Act Requests (Robert Hanna)]

>> ITEM 21. >> I APPRECIATE ROBERT BRINGING THIS TO US AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLARIFY THE RELEASE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION. I SPOKE WITH STANLEY , AND FROM WHAT WAS IN THE ORIGINAL PACKET ON FRIDAY, AFTER DISCUSSION, I ASKED HIM TO ADD A CLARIFYING STATEMENT AND IT IS HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW . THESE CHANGES WE ARE MAKING WHICH WOULD BE WITHIN THE CHARTER OF CITY COUNCIL, AND DOES NOT APPLY TO STATUTORILY OR INDEPENDENTLY CREATED BOARDS. SO THERE MAY BE BOARDS THAT WE VOTE TO PUT NUMBERS ON, BUT THEY ARE INDEPENDENT. IT IS SET UP STATUTORILY. THE NEW DISTRICT, THE 911 AND P.O., THERE'S VARIOUS BOARDS THAT ARE NOT COMPLETELY CITY BOARDS. WE HAVEN'T REACHED OUT TO HAVE DISCUSSION WITH THOSE TO SEE WHAT THE IMPACT OF MAKING CHANGES LIKE THIS WOULD HAVE ON THEM, SO I WOULD PREFER THAT WE LIMIT THIS TO THE ONES THAT THE CITY HAS DIRECT FULL CONTROL OVER. THAT'S WHAT IS IN THE LATEST RELEASE.

>> AND TO SUMMARIZE, ROBERT, WE ARE ESSENTIALLY -- IF AN ITEM IS ON THE AGENDA OR GOING TO BE ON THE AGENDA, ALLOWING CITIZENS TO BYPASS THE REQUEST AND JUST PROVIDING THE DOCUMENT. IS THAT AN ACCURATE SUMMARY?

>> CORRECT. IF SOMETHING IS ON THE AGENDA AND FOR SOME REASON ON THE BACKUP AND BEING DISCUSSED IN OPEN SESSION AND NOT CLOSED SESSION, THERE'S NO REASON TO REQUIRE THE CITIZEN TO WAIT 10 DAYS. EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY NOT AWAITED THAT FULL PERIOD , LET'S JUST GET THEM THE INFORMATION. I THINK THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH COUNCIL'S DESIRES AND I THINK THE OPEN

RECORDS ACT. >> MY ONLY ISSUE IS, I THINK MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. I DIDN'T KNOW THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO DO IT. I DIDN'T WANT US TO START RELEASING PUBLIC INFORMATION TO MAKE IT COMMUTE USING HER HAVING SEVERAL PEOPLE DOING IT. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS BEING DONE LEGAL. THAT WAS MY ONLY ISSUE.

THE MORE I LOOKED AT THIS, I JUST WANT US TO BE CONSISTENT

ON IT. >> I THINK THIS RESOLUTION IS LEGAL . I ASKED STANLEY TO DRAFT IT, SO I'M ASSUMING HE DRAFTED A LEGAL RESOLUTION. STANLEY.

>> WE DID. WHEN WE START RELEASING THIS INFORMATION, IT GOES THROUGH ALL OF OUR GUIDELINES.

>> IT CERTAINLY WILL. THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS, THE ORDINANCE LANGUAGE SAY -- I'M LIKELY GOING TO DESIGNATE THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE BECAUSE THEY ARE RECEIVING THE INFORMATION REQUEST ANYWAY FOR THIS. AND IT JUST -- IT CREATES A PROCESS THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE IS NECESSARILY CHASING OUR

TAILS SO MUCH. >> THIS INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE. IT MAY TAKE A LITTLE -- IF SOMEONE WANTS INFORMATION AND FOR WHATEVER REASON CAN'T GET A HOLD OF YOU WHAT THE CITY SECRETARY, THE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.

>> 99% OF THE TIME. THE CASE THAT BROUGHT THIS ITEM BEFORE YOU ALL, THE INFORMATION WAS ACTUALLY NOT IN THE PACKET BECAUSE IT WAS DELIVERED AT THE TIME OF THE MEETING. AND SO IT JUST WAS A TIMING ISSUE. BUT I THINK IT'S A BELT AND SUSPENDERS APPROACH, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

>> BUT MOST OF THE TIME -- >> 99% OF THE TIME. YES, SIR.

[00:20:02]

>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO EITHER FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 21? PLEASE COME FORWARD.

>> TAMMY VOGEL. I WAS JUST GOING TO SPEAK ON THIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, ROBERT HANNA, FOR YOUR PART IN JUST HELPING BRING CLARITY AND EASE OF COMMUNICATION, BECAUSE LIKE MCALISTER SAID, MOST OF THE TIME, EVERYTHING IS AVAILABLE .

BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT FALLS BETWEEN THE CRACKS. IT SHOULD JUST BE EASY TO GET A HOLD OF. THE OTHER THING I WOULD JUST ADD TO IS, WOW, YES, THERE ARE OUTSIDE BOARDS THAT ARE PARTNERED WITH THE CITY , A LOT OF TIMES, THE CITY DOES RUN OR HAS ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION BEFOREHAND DURING THE PUBLIC OPEN SESSION. AND SO IT IS JUST HARD THAT MINUTES AREN'T AVAILABLE, PRESENTATION SLIDES AREN'T AVAILABLE. THERE ARE MANY TIMES THAT THE INFORMATION IS NOT AVAILABLE. I UNDERSTAND IS A PROCESS, BUT I APPRECIATE THE DESIRE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION LIKE YOU ALL WANT US TO, AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING. I ALSO HAVE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT I FORGOT TO DURING MY FIRST TIME WAS TO THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT. THEY HAVE STEPPED UP AND REALLY TRY TO GET THE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC, WHETHER THEY ARE ABLE TO PAY ATTENTION TO IT, THEY ARE TRYING TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ONTO THE STREET. I DO THINK IS ANOTHER HUGE MOVE, I APPRECIATE THE EFFORT THAT WENT INTO THAT AND I KNOW IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO GET THE CONTENT OUT, BUT I DO THINK IT HELPS IN OUR DAY AND AGE. I KNOW WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE OPEN COMMUNICATION, BECAUSE IT HELPS YOU ALL HAVE TO DO WITH LESS JUNK WHEN WE UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON, AND I AM ALWAYS GRATEFUL FOR BEING ABLE TO POINT PEOPLE TO WHERE THEY CAN LOOK AND FIND OUT THE INFORMATION THE SELVES WITHOUT HAVING TO ASK SIMPLE QUESTIONS THAT ARE SOMETIMES -- I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL REMEMBER THE COMEDIAN THAT WAS A HERE'S YOUR SIGN, IT'S RIGHT HERE FOR YOU. ANYWAY,

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 21? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OR EMOTION

AND A SECOND? >> I VOTE TO APPROVE WITH THE

MODIFICATION THAT WAS MADE. >> SECOND.

>> WE ARE DISCUSSING . READY TO VOTE.

>> MOTION CARRIES. >> COUNCILMAN REGAN INADVERTENTLY CALLED ITEM 24 IS THE ONE HE WANTED TO ABSTAIN ON, BUT HE ACTUALLY WANTED TO PULL OUT OF 18. SINCE WE ALREADY VOTED ON THAT -- WHAT DO WE DO?

>> WELL, IT'S ALREADY BEEN VOTED ON. YOU CAN DISCUSS IT IF YOU WANT TO, BUT -- I GUESS YOU CAN REOPEN IT IF YOU WANTED TO.

>> WE CAN DO THAT. JUST TO CLARIFY, JUST BECAUSE THIS IS A WATER ISSUE, ROBERT, IF YOU COULD SPEAK ON THIS -- THIS IS 18 AND RETURNS TO 950 GALLONS OF RECLAIMED WATER. IF YOU CAN JUST SPEAK TO THAT AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THE RESIDENCE.

>> SURE. >> WE HAVE ACTUALLY FORMERLY

REOPEN IT. >> A MOTION TO REOPEN AND RECONSIDER WITH A NEW BOAT. YES.

>> I ACCEPT A MOTION TO REOPEN ON 18. A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN MCALISTER. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE ARE READY TO

VOTE. >> YOU ALL ARE THROWING ME OFF.

I'M SORRY. >> OLD SCHOOL RULES.

>> YOU MEAN THE MOTION? >> YEAH.

[18. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Take Action on Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Water Supply Agreement with Thompson Golf Group, LLC for the Purchase and Use of Reclaimed Water (Rodney Taylor)]

>> WE WILL NOW REOPEN WITH ITEM 18. COUNCILMAN REGAN. YOU HAVE

QUESTIONS, I BELIEVE? >> ROBERT, IF YOU WOULD. GO

AHEAD. >> DIAMONDBACKS GOLF COURSES BEING PURCHASED I A BUYER, AND THE CONTRACT WE HAVE CURRENTLY WITH DIAMONDBACK IS THAT THE CURRENT OWNER. AND SO THE PURCHASER WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE WATER AS THE CURRENT OWNER. IT SOLD AT $.52 PER THOUSAND, THAT'S A TRANSPORT CHARGE. IS ABOUT $7000 WORTH OF REVENUE FOR A 25 YEAR TERM. THIS WATER IS EFFLUENT WATER, WHICH MEANS IT GOES THROUGH OUR WATER

[00:25:02]

TREATMENT PROCESS, AND THAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR SEWER DISCHARGE PERMIT AND EPA NT CQ WATER QUALITY STANDARDS, IT GETS DISCHARGED FROM THE RIVER. THE INSTITUTE THAT ALLOWS IRRIGATORS LIKE GOLF COURSES AND SOME OF THE UNIVERSITIES I THINK ARE ON THE SYSTEM. THEY USE THIS WATER, AND INSTEAD OF USING POTABLE DRINKING WATER, IT ACTUALLY SAVES OUR DRINKING WATER RESOURCES FOR THE PUBLIC. IT IS AT A SIGNIFICANT DISCOUNT, BECAUSE IT IS BASICALLY, WE THREW IT AWAY. IT GOES BACK TO NATURE IN THE RIVER. A GOES DOWNSTREAM, AND SOMEBODY ELSE TO PICK IT UP. BUT BASICALLY WHAT WE ARE BEING ASKED TO DO IS APPROVE ANOTHER 25 YEAR AGREEMENT UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS AS A DEVIOUS ONE SO THAT THE NEW OWNER CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND CONTINUE TO OPERATE DIAMONDBACK GOLF COURSE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> AND SUGGEST A FEW SPECIFIC QUESTIONS. 150 MILLION GALLONS ANNUALLY, I THINK THAT HAS SEVERAL PEOPLE REACHED OUT TO BE JUST A CLARIFICATION ON THIS, SO I JUST WANT TO PASS THESE QUESTIONS ON TO YOU. HUNDRED 50 MILLION GALLONS ANNUALLY IS NOT A CONCERN FOR OUR WATER SYSTEM.

>> NO, IT'S THE SAME CONTRACT AMOUNT THAT WAS GIVEN BEFORE

THE PREVIOUS CONTRACT. >> AND REALLY THE SECOND QUESTION IS, THE RATE, WHICH I BELIEVE IS -- IS IT 52 OR $.53 PER 1000 GALLONS ? AND JUST COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES, I THINK CORPUS CHRISTI -- I BELIEVE LAST YEAR IS DOING THE SAME THING, BUT FOR A DOLLAR AND SEVEN CENTS, SO ROUGHLY DOUBLE WHAT WE ARE CHARGING. THERE'S CITIES AROUND THE NATION DOING EITHER DOUBLE OR TRIPLE THE RATE THAT WE ARE CHARGING. SO IT SOUNDS LIKE WE DID THE SAME DEAL WITH THE DIAMONDBACK 25 YEARS AGO. WE ARE USING THE SAME RATE, HIGHEST. CERTAIN THINGS ARE CHANGED, INFLATION HAS HAPPENED. WHAT WAS THE CONSIDERATION GIVEN ON ADJUSTING THAT RATE TO KIND OF REFLECT 25 YEARS HAVING GONE

BY? >> GOLF COURSES ARE NOT THE MOST PROFITABLE INSTITUTIONS. AND SO I THINK THE PURCHASER WAS INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE THAT HE SECURED THAT AT THE SAME RATE TO MAKE HIS ECONOMICS WORK ON HIS PROJECT. IT IS THE SAME RATE WE CHARGE EVERY OTHER CUSTOMER EXCEPT FOR ONE. IS A CUSTOMER THAT GETS $.12 PER THOUSAND. I'M TALK TO RODNEY ABOUT TRYING TO INCREASE THAT RATE CONTRACTUALLY, BECAUSE IT IS AGRICULTURAL USE, BUT THERE'S NO REASON WHY THAT PERSON SHOULD BE GETTING A DISCOUNT OVER EVERYBODY ELSE.

THAT CONTRACT WAS ENTERED INTO YEARS AND YEARS AGO. I DON'T KNOW THE CONDITIONS OF WHY IT WAS $.12 TO THE THOUSAND GALLONS. MAYBE SOME GOOD REASONS WHY, I'M JUST IGNORANT OF THAT. BUT EVERYBODY ELSE PAYS THE SAME RATE. THEREFORE, IF COUNCIL WANTS TO DISCUSS RAISING THE RATE, THEY CERTAINLY CAN. THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. I DO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE BUYERS ABILITY TO MAKE IT RUN AS A FOR-PROFIT ENTITY IF YOU CHANGE ONE OF THEIR PRIMARY COST DRIVERS WITHOUT FURTHER DISCUSSION, SO THAT IS WHAT

STAFF IS RECOMMENDING. >> AND WE HAVE A YEAR . I THINK THIS CONTRACT ENDS AUGUST OF 2025. MY CONCERN TO SOME PERSONAL LEVEL IS, WE ARE INCREASING THE RATE FOR RESIDENTIAL WATER FEES, EVERYTHING ACROSS THE BOAD ALMOST ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. AND FOR COMMERCIAL BUSINESS TO GET THE SAME DEAL THAT THEY GOT 25 YEARS AGO, I UNDERSTAND IT'S A NEW BUSINESS. IT SEEMS TO BE FOR BELT-TIGHTENING ACROSS THE BOARD . WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THIS AS WELL. I WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION IS THAT WE LOOK AT THIS AND GO, WELL, WHAT ARE OTHER CITIES DOING ? AND MAYBE WE INCREASE IT, YOU KNOW, TO A DOLLAR AND STILL BE BELOW WHAT I'M SEEING THE NORM IS OUT THERE. BUT AT LEAST SHOWING, HEY, EVERYONE IS FEELING THE BITE OF THIS, NOT JUST OUR RESIDENTIAL HOMEOWNERS. IS MY

THINKING. >> ALL RIGHT. SO I HAVE A CLARIFYING QUESTION HERE. RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL

RATES HAVE GONE UP. >> CORRECT.

>> THIS IS JUST THE RATE FOR TREATING AFFLUENT WATER, CORRECT? IT'S BEING SPREAD OUT ACROSS BUSINESS AND RESIDENTIAL FOR REGULAR WATER SERVICE. THIS IS ONLY FOR TREATED WATER THAT WAS SELL OR PUMP DOWN THE RIVER.

>> CORRECT. THANK YOU.

>> I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT THE REASON BEHIND OUR PLAN LONG TERM , THIS WAS 15 YEARS AGO, I THINK. IT WAS AN EFFORT TO REDUCE THE MUNICIPAL USE -- OR THE USE OF THE MUNICIPAL

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TREATED WATER BY USING THIS EFFLUENT WATER, THIS TREATED WASTEWATER THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE USED TO COME BACK INTO OUR WATER SYSTEM. LIKE YOU SAID, SLOWING DOWN THE RIVER IF WE DON'T SELL IT. WERE GOING TO USE THAT WATER TO IRRIGATE GOLF COURSES. LARGE USERS WITH -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY LOW IMPACT, BUT IT IS KIND OF LOW IMPACT. AND IT WAS SUCCESSFUL OVER TIME -- I DON'T THINK IT REDUCED OUR MUNICIPAL USE, BUT IT SLOWED THE GROWTH OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT 10 YEARS. AND IT WAS A BIG SUCCESS STORY. AND WE DON'T WANT TO DISINCENTIVE EYES NOW THAT EFFLUENT WATER USE FOR THESE PURPOSES BY PRICING THEM OUT OF THE MARKET.

>> I ALSO WANT TO ADD, WE DO HAVE DROUGHT PROVISIONS IN THIS, WHERE WE END UP NEEDING THE WATER, WE CAN RECLAIM IT IN

A DROUGHT SITUATION, CORRECT? >> THAT IS CORRECT. IN ORDER TO MAKE THE MOST USE OF THAT WATER, WE WOULD HAVE TO DO SOME DESIGN CHANGES TO OUR WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY AGO FROM AN INDIRECT SYSTEM TO A DIRECT SYSTEM . SO THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF ENGINEERING, A LOT OF COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. IT COULD BE USED -- IN A TIME OF DROUGHT, IT COULD BE USED, YES, SIR. CONTRACTUALLY, WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

>> THE ONE COMPANY THAT'S GIVING $.12, EVERYONE IN ABILENE WHO USES THE AFFLUENT WATER OR WHATEVER IS DOING THE

SAME RATE? >> EVERYONE IS PAYING AT THE SAME CONTRACTUAL TERMS. YES, SIR.

>> FURTHER QUESTIONS? >> ECHO MR. GATES POINT , I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE AT ALL WITH THESE TYPES OF BUSINESSES USING THIS TYPE OF WATER. I THINK IT'S A GOOD USE. MY POINT HERE, I THINK, IS THAT IF WE OFFERED ANY RESIDENT FOR THEIR HOME OR IN NORMAL BUSINESS USING POTABLE WATER, THE SAME RATE THAT THEY WERE PAYING 25 YEARS AGO, THEY WOULD LOVE IT. SO IF WE SAY NO, EVERYONE ELSE, YOU HAVE TO -- YOU KNOW, WE GOT TO NEGOTIATE TO INCREASE THOSE. WELL, WE ARE GOING TO CARVEOUT THIS EXCEPTION FOR THESE GUYS USE EFFLUENT WATER AND NOT GOING TO INCREASE YOUR RATES FOR 25 YEARS. IT SEEMS TO BE A DISCONNECT, AT LEAST IN MY MIND. AS I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE SHOULD OVERCHARGE THEM OR TAKE THAT -- I WILL CALL IT EXCEPTION, BUT THE DEAL THEY ARE GETTING BECAUSE THEY ARE USING EFFLUENT WATER. ALL I'M SAYING IS, HEY, WERE BRINGING EVERYONE ELSE UP. WE SHOULD ALSO BE DOING THE SAME THING WITH THEM. I UNDERSTAND IT IS AFFLUENT WATER, BUT THEY ARE STILL PAYING , AND IF WE ARE BELT-TIGHTENING ACROSS THE BOARD, I THINK THEY SHOULD BE BROUGHT ALONG WITH OUR RESIDENTS AND ALL OUR OTHER BUSINESSES. THAT IS MY THINKING.

>> IS THAT ACCURATE STATEMENT, THEM BEING THE SAME AS 25 YEARS AGO? OR IS IT A 25 YEAR CONTRACT?

>> IS A 25 YEAR CONTRACT. IT IS THE EXACT SAME RATE.

>> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS ITEM 18? PLEASE COME FORWARD. SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I WILL ACCEPT EMOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM 18. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MCALISTER , SECOND BY COUNCILMAN YATES.

>> JUST FOR CLARITY, MAYOR, WHAT IS EMOTION?

>> I'M SORRY. I MAKE A MOTION ON ITEM 18 AS PRESENTED.

>> AND I SECOND THAT. >> READY THE VOTE.

[24. Ordinance (First Reading) Z-2024-25: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Take Action on a Request from the Owner, to Change the Zoning of Approximately 0.47 Acres from Office (O) to Neighborhood Retail (NR), Located at 317 North Willis Street (Tim Littlejohn)]

>> ONE KNOW FROM COUNCILMAN REGAN, THE REST ARE YESES. THE

MOTION CARRIES. >> SINCE WE DID NOT VOTE ON ITEM 24 IN THE CONSENT AGENDA, I WILL OPEN UP ITEM 24. I KNOW COUNCILMAN REGAN HAD TO NAME. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM 24? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 24? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

>> IN MOURNING, COUNCIL. I AM KAREN LUNT, AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY ABOUT THIS PROPERTY

REZONING. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> YES. >> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE LIKE

[00:35:04]

TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?

>> AS A REMINDER, THIS IS JUST THE FIRST READING.

>> THANK YOU. >> WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MCALISTER. A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN PRICE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? READY THE VOTE.

>> COUNCILMEMBER REGAN IS ABSTAINING. ALL THE REST ARE

YESES . MOTION CARRIES. >> WELL, THAT WAS A FUN EXPERIENCE. WE NEED TO GET SOMETHING IN THERE QUICK. WE

[25. Ordinance (Final Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on amending Chapter 8, Article VI, "Code and other Regulations", Division 2,"Building Code" Section 8-481 and Division 7 "Residential Code" Section 8-581 (Tim Littlejohn)]

WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 25, AND I WILL ASK TIM LITTLEJOHN , RECORD PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICE, TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. OF FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY IS A COUPLE OF AMENDMENT FOR THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE AND THE VOCATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE.

THE FIRST ONE IS TO DELETE SECTION 423.4 OH CITY OPERATIONS. THIS IS WHERE THE REQUIREMENTS ARE WITHIN THE CODE. AND THEN THE RESIDENTIAL CODE, WE ARE LOOKING TO AMEND TABLE 503.2.1 TO REMOVE SHEATHING FROM THAT TABLE. THE 2021 IDC , SECTION 423.4 OPERATION , WHEN REVISED , THE CODE COUNCIL DID NOT GIVE SPECIFIC DESIGN REQUIREMENTS WHEN THEY PUT THAT REQUIREMENT IN THE CODE. THIS CAME TO LIGHT WITH A REVIEW OF THE NEW FIRE STATION. THEY DO REQUIRE SOME SORT OF A STORM SHELTER, BUT THEY DIDN'T GIVE US ANY KIND OF DESIGN REQUIREMENTS FOR US TO ADHERE TO THAT CODE, SO THEREFORE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO MEET THAT CODE. THEY DID ADMIT THE MISTAKE OF THAT OVERSIGHT AND WILL FACE THAT IN LATER EDITIONS. SO THEY CHOSEN JUST TO REMOVE IT FOR NOW. AND THEN IN THE RESIDENTIAL CODE, THEY'RE LOOKING TO AMEND TO REMOVE THE PROVISION FOR SHEATHING. IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS USED IN THIS AREA, AND IT'S HONESTLY JUST TOO THIN OF A SHEATHING FOR ROOMS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. IT WOULD JUST BE TOO UNSTABLE FOR THIS AREA. I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS

YOU MIGHT HAVE . >> YOU SAID THEY ADMITTED THEY

MADE A MISTAKE? >> THEY DID. WE SHOULD HAVE

RECORDED THAT. >> I MACHINE PAUL EVEN TOLD

THEM. >> THANK YOU, TIM.

>> THANK YOU. >> AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS ANYBODY LIKE THIS WEEK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 25? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

I WILL DISCUSS AND ACCEPT EMOTION AND A SECOND. A MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER PRICE. A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN CRAVER.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? READY THE VOTE.

[26. Presentation: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing Regarding Lead Service Line Inventory - Water Utilities Department (Rodney Taylor)]

>> ALL YESES. MOTION CARRIES. >> ITEM 26.

>> MAYOR, BEFORE RODNEY BEGINS, HIS DEPARTMENT HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM . THEY SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON IT. HAD A LOT OF CONTACT WITH CITIZENS AND OTHER THINGS, AND I JUST WANT TO COMPLEMENT HIM AND HIS TEAM, HIS ENTIRE DEPARTMENT. THEY HAVE GONE ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE A SAFE COMMUNITY, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HIS PRESENTATION AND EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY ON WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED. RODNEY.

>> THANK YOU, ROBERT. RODNEY TAYLOR, DIRECTOR OF WATER AND UTILITIES. BACK IN JULY, WE HAD AN ITEM BEFORE THE COUNCIL WERE YOU APPROVED FUNDING FOR A SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM, AND AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT OUR REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE LEAD COPPER REVISED TO PROVIDE FOR AN INVENTORY OF OUR SERVICE LINES THROUGHOUT OUR WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR BOTH THE CUSTOMER AND THE UTILITY.

AND TO DEVELOP THE MEANS OF PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC. SO I'M GOING TO WALK THROUGH JUST A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION REGARDING THE LEAD AND COPPER RULE, AND THEN

[00:40:03]

WE WILL DO A LITTLE -- VIDEO CLIP OF HOW A CITIZEN CAN ACCESS THAT INFORMATION TO THE CITY'S WEB SIGHT. SO LET HAS BEEN AN ISSUE IN DRINKING WATER FOR MANY YEARS, AND IN 1972, WITH THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT APPROVED BY CONGRESS, LED WAS PUT IN AS A CONTAMINANT OF CONCERN , AND A STANDARD WAS SET TO THAT FOR MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVEL AT THE POINT OF ENTRY FROM THE TREATMENT PLANT INTO THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM. IT WAS REALIZED THAT -- IT IS VERY RARE FOR TREATED DRINKING WATER FROM THE TREATMENT PLANT TO ACTUALLY HAVE LEAD CONTAMINATION IN IT. HOWEVER, IT IS NOT SO UNCOMMON FOR THERE TO BE LEAD CONTAMINATION AT THE CUSTOMER'S TAP. AND SO IN 1991, THEY RECOGNIZED THAT THROUGH REGULATION TO THE LEAD AND COPPER RULE, WHICH AT LEAST ADDED SOME ADDITIONAL SAMPLING AT THE CUSTOMER'S TAP. THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THIS WAS TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE WATER CONSUMER. LEAD AND COPPER CURRENTLY IS REQUIRED EVERY THREE YEARS FROM -- TAKEN FROM THE CUSTOMER'S TAB, AND THE STANDARD FOR THAT IS 15 PARTS PER BILLION. WE HAVE ALSO REQUIRED AS A WATER PROVIDER TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A CORROSION CONTROL PROGRAM , AND THE CITY DID THAT AT THAT TIME.

IT HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN THAT THE RESULTS OF THAT IS THAT WE HAVE NEVER HAD A COMPLIANCE ISSUE WITH LEAD IN ABILENE'S DRINKING WATER FROM SAMPLES TAKING FROM THE TREATMENT PLANT OR SAMPLES TAKEN FROM INDIVIDUAL CUSTOMER TABS. SO I WOULD SAY THE BIG MESSAGE HERE FOR YOU AND FOR THE CITY OF ABILENE, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY INDICATION OF A LEAD ISSUE IN OUR DRINKING WATER SYSTEM. HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE REGULATIONS THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW, WE DO THAT, AND WE DO TAKE THIS ISSUE WITH LEAD AND DRINKING WATER SERIOUSLY AS WE TAKE ACTIONS RELATED TO THE REGULATION. IN 2021, THE LEAD AND COPPER RULE WAS REVISED TO TAKE INTO THE NEXT LEVEL . ONE OF THE THINGS -- BECAUSE LEAD IN DRINKING WATER AND SAMPLES TAKEN FROM THE TAP, IS TYPICALLY THE RESULT OF LED MATERIALS WITHIN EITHER THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM OR IN THE PRIVATE PLUMBING OF A BUSINESS OR RESIDENCE IS ACTUALLY WHAT WOULD RESULT IN THAT MEASURABLE CONTAMINATION.

SO WE ARE REQUIRED TO CONDUCT AN INVENTORY, AND WE HAVE DONE THAT , AND IN DOING SO, WE LOOKED AT EVERY MEEDER CONNECTION WITHIN THE CITY , WHETHER IT WAS AN ACTIVE COUNT OR NOT, IF THERE WAS EVER A METER THERE, IF THERE IS A SERVICE LINE OR WHATEVER, OUR STAFF WENT AND INVESTIGATED IT AND LOOKED AT BOTH THE CUSTOMER SIDE , THE DOWNSTREAM SIDE OF THE METER, THE PIPING LEAVING THE METER AND GOING TO THE HOUSE, AND THE UTILITY SIDE, WHICH IS THAT SECTION BETWEEN THE CITY'S WATER MAIN AND THE WATER METER TO DETERMINE THE TYPE OF MATERIAL THAT WAS USED DURING CONSTRUCTION. TYPICALLY, THE CITY'S OWNERSHIP OF A SERVICE LINE ENDS AT THE METER.

AND SO WE WOULD HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY BEYOND THE METER FOR WHAT WE CONSIDER TO BE THE CUSTOMER'S SERVICE LINE, THE CUSTOMER'S PRIVATE PLUMBING. BECAUSE OF THIS REGULATION AND INTENT TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH. WE ARE NOW REQUIRED TO IDENTIFY THAT , AND AGAIN, REFLECTED BACK TO THE JULY MEETING . THERE ARE PROGRAMS BEING PUT IN PLACE AND DEVELOPED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REPLACE LINES OF CONCERN THAT ARE IDENTIFIED THROUGH THIS INVENTORY. SO WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR? THERE'S FOUR DEFINITIONS AS PART OF THIS REGULATION. THE FIRST IS PRETTY OBVIOUS . IS THAT IT IS DISCOVERED THAT EITHER UTILITY OR THE CUSTOMER SIDE, SERVICE LINE IS THE MATERIAL OF LED, AND THAT IS OF THE HIGHEST CONCERN. ABILENE HAS NOT FOUND ANY LED SERVICE LINES AND IT'S INVENTORY TODAY. GALVANIZED

[00:45:05]

REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. GALVANIZE HAS A UNIQUE CHARACTERISTIC THAT IT WILL ACTUALLY PLAYED OUT LED IF THERE IS LEAD IN THE WATER OR PASSING THROUGH THE PIPE. THOSE LEAD MOLECULES CAN LATCH ONTO THE GALVANIZED SURFACE WITHIN THE PIPE, AND THEN LATER RE-RELEASE UNDER CERTAIN WATER CHEMISTRY CHARACTERISTICS. AND SO GALVANIZED REQUIRING REPLACEMENT ARE THOSE LINES THAT ARE IDENTIFIED AS GALVANIZED , AND THE UTILITY CANNOT PROVE BY RECORD THAT THERE WAS NEVER LED CONNECTION AHEAD OF THAT LINE. SO YOU HAVE TO ASSUME THAT THERE WAS AND TREAT THAT AS A LEAD LINE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A GALVANIZE LINE. SO THAT'S A GALVANIZE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THERE IS -- WHEN WE IDENTIFY A LINE THAT IS PVC OR SOME OTHER MATERIAL, THAT IS NONLEAD, THEN AT THAT POINT, WE CAN SAY, SAFELY SAY THAT THAT LINE IS NONLEAD AND SAFE. AND THEN LEAD STATUS UNKNOWN -- WHEN WE STARTED THIS PROGRAM, EVERY SINGLE SERVICE LINE IN THE SYSTEM WAS A LEAD STATUS UNKNOWN UNTIL WE DID SOME TYPE OF WORK TO VERIFY WHAT THAT STATUS WAS. AT THIS POINT, BECAUSE OF THE EFFORTS OF OUR STAFF, WE CAN SAY THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ANY LED STATUS UNKNOWN WITHIN THE SYSTEM.

SO WE HAVE COMPLETED OUR INVENTORY. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ALLOWED US SOME GRACE WAS THAT HOMES BUILT AFTER 1988 , PER CITY ORDINANCE AND BY STANDARDS OF THE INDUSTRIES AT THAT TIME , THERE WAS NO LONGER ALLOWED TO BE LEAD IN THE CONTAINING MATERIAL UTILIZED IN PRIVATE PLUMBING. ANY HOME THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED AFTER 1988 OR IN AND AFTER 1988 WAS NOT ACTUALLY TESTED. SERVICE LINES WERE NOT TESTED BECAUSE THERE IS A HIGH LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE THAT THE MATERIAL WAS NOT LEAD CONTAINING. THESE WERE VISUAL INSPECTIONS USING STRAIGHT METHODS TO IDENTIFY THE TYPE OF MATERIAL, WHICH IS A STANDARD PRACTICE FOR THE PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM REQUIRES THAT BECAUSE ABILENE IS A CITY GREATER THAN 50,000, POPULATION, WE HAD TO PROVIDE THE INVENTORY INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC. THE CITY IS USING AN INTERACTIVE MAP. AND BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH CONCERN ABOUT LEAD IN DRINKING WATER -- WE HEAR ABOUT IT IN THE NEWS MEDIA OR CONGRESS OR LEGISLATURE, ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE HAD A LOT OF TALK AND ACTION TOWARDS LEAD . IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE PROVIDE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS WE CAN TO OUR CUSTOMERS, AND THAT INFORMATION IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE. WE ARE GOING TO PLAY A VIDEO THAT WAS PREPARED TO DEMONSTRATE HOW YOU CAN ACCESS THAT INFORMATION THROUGH THE CITY'S WEBS BY AND FIND OUT SPECIFICALLY FOR ANY GIVEN ADDRESS WHAT THE MATERIAL IS FOR BOTH THE CUSTOMER AND THE UTILITY SIDE OF THE WATER METER.

>> HELLO, AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THIS BRIEF OVERVIEW.

TODAY, WE WILL GUIDE YOU THROUGH HOW TO ACCESS AND NAVIGATE THIS IMPORTANT RESOURCE ON OUR CITY'S WEBSITE. TO BEGIN, REACH OUR CITIES HOMEPAGE. ONCE THERE, SCROLL DOWN AND CLICK ON THE WATER UTILITIES BUTTON. SELECT THE LEAD SERVICE LINE INVENTORY. HERE, YOU WILL FIND INFORMATION ABOUT THE STATUS. LOOKING ON THE DASHBOARD TAB, YOU CAN VIEW A QUICK SUMMARY OF THE STATUS. THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY HAS INFORMATION ON UTILITY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE LINES. THE CUSTOMER SITE SHOWN AT THE BOTTOM. TO EXPLORE THE INVENTORY, RETURN TO OUR WEBPAGE FOR THE MATH PORTION ON THE RIGHT. THIS MAP SHOWS A DETAILED VIEW OF OUR CITY. USE THE SEARCH BAR IN THE TOP LEFT CORNER TO FIND YOUR ADDRESS.

ONCE YOU LOOK AT YOUR ADDRESS, YOU WILL SEE DETAILS ABOUT YOUR SERVICE LINE AND ITS CURRENT STATUS. THE LEGEND ON THE RIGHT WILL HELP YOU IDENTIFY THE STATUS. YOU CAN ALSO FIND THIS INFORMATION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN BY ENTERING IN YOUR ADDRESS AND REFLECT THE SAME ADDRESS BELOW WITH SERVICE LINE

[00:50:03]

INFORMATION TO THE RIGHT. THIS PAGE HIGHLIGHTS HER ONGOING COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING SAFE AND CLEAN WATER FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SENSIBLE MENTATION OF THE EPA'S LEAD AND COPPER, ABILENE HAS CONSISTENTLY REMAINED -- FOR MORE INFORMATION, SCROLL DOWN TO THE LEAD AND COPPER RULE . THE CITY'S ACTION PLAN . TIPS ON HOW TO REDUCE LEAD EXPOSURE AND DRINKING WATER, AND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS. FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT AWARENESS, PLEASE REFER TO THE ADDITIONAL PROVIDED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE. WE HOPE THIS OVERVIEW HAS BEEN HELPFUL IN UNDERSTANDING OUR DEDICATION TO ENSURING THE SAFETY AND QUALITY OF ABILENE'S WATER.

>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR PROGRAM, OR THE USE

OF THE WEBSITE? >> I JUST WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT VIDEO AND FOREVER PUT THAT TOGETHER.

>> IS IN THE BACK THERE. HE IS SHEEPISH. WHY DON'T YOU STAND UP, SIR. JUST A QUICK ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

>> VERY GOOD JOB. SO QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.

>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY, RODNEY, GREAT JOB WITH WHAT YOU HAVE DONE AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING NOW. WEST TEXAS, WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT WATER IS. WE ARE SEEING THAT ACROSS WEST TEXAS.

SOME CLOSER TO HOME THAN OTHERS. IT'S HOW IMPORTANT STAYING ON TOP OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUE IS, GETTING AHEAD OF THEM, MAKING SURE WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT JUST GRINDS US TO A HALT. WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO

ON THAT FRONT. THANK YOU. >> HOW MANY CONNECTIONS DID STAFF LOOK AT? BE LIKE ABOUT 48,000 TOTAL. SO THERE'S ABOUT 43,000+ OF ACTIVE ACCOUNTS, AND THEN THERE IS THAT MANY THAT ART INACTIVE ACCOUNTS THAT HAVE EITHER BEEN ACTIVE OR PENDING SOME TYPE OF FUTURE CONSTRUCTION.

>> HOW LONG DID THAT TAKE? A YEAR. OVER A YEAR.

>> IT SEEMS TOO LONG. IT SEEMS LIKE YOU COULD HAVE DONE THAT

QUICKER. >> THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE TUNING INTO THIS LATE AND MAYBE SAW THE VIDEO PRESENTATION WERE COMING TO LOOK AT THE VIDEO PRESENTATION.

IF THERE'S IS A HOME THAT HAD -- IT IS NOT THE NO LEAD, IT HAS LEAD OR THE POSSIBILITY OF LEAD, AGAIN, CAN YOU SAY, WHAT DOES SOMEONE NEED TO DO WITHOUT?

>> WELL, THE FIRST THING IS JUST HAVING THAT INFORMATION AVAILABLE. AND THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE, THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION THROUGH THE VA THAT THEY CAN ACCESS THAT WILL PROVIDE THEM ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OF WHAT THEY SHOULD DO . IF THEY HAVE A PERSONAL CONCERN ABOUT THEIR PARTICULAR PIPING MATERIAL, BECAUSE IT IS PRIVATE IN NATURE, PRIVATE PLUMBING IN NATURE , A PLUMBER CAN DO FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE THE TYPE OF MATERIAL , AND THEN LAY OUT A PLAN FOR POSSIBLY CORRECTING THAT, IF THAT'S WHAT THE CUSTOMER DESIRES.

>> SO INSTEAD OF HAVING OUT YOUR CELL PHONE NUMBER, WHICH WE DON'T WANT TO DO, IF SOMEONE DOES FIND THAT THEY HAVE THAT -- AGAIN, WE ARE JUST PROVIDING THEM THE INFORMATION.

IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE OR FIX ANYTHING FROM THE WATER METER TO THEIR HOUSE. WE'RE SHARING THE INFORMATION WITH THEM. AND SO THEY SAID, I'VE GOT TO GET THIS REPLACED, THEY DON'T NEED TO CALL US, AS WE ARE NOT THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO REPLACE IT. YOU NEED TO CONTACT THE PLUMBER, WE CAN HELP THEM WITH THE INFORMATION. BUT THIS IS NOT, HEY, CALL THE CITY TO REPLACE THE LINE IN MY HOUSE LAST THE METER. DOES THAT

MAKE SENSE? >> THAT IS CORRECT, AND WE ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY CALLS FROM CUSTOMERS WHO MAY HAVE A TURN.

WE WANT TO HELP THEM BETTER UNDERSTAND THAT. AND ALSO, JUST A REMINDER THAT WE DO HAVE AN APPLICATION IN FOR FUNDING FOR A SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM THAT WILL PROVIDE FUNDS TO HELP THAT CUSTOMER OUT IN THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT SERVICE LINE FROM THE METER UP TO THE POINT OF ACTUAL PRIVATE

PLUMBING WITHIN THE HOUSE. >> OKAY. LET ME EMPHASIZE THAT.

COUNCIL PREVIOUSLY APPROVED AN APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL FUNDING, SO THE CITY CAN ASSIST HOMEOWNERS REPLACING GALVANIZED LINES THAT MAY MEET THE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS. HASN'T BEEN APPROVED JUST YET. WERE THROUGH THE PROCESS OF GIVING THAT FUNDING AND I IMAGINE IT WILL BE APPROVED. AS A REASON WHY CONGRESS SET ASIDE FUNDS FOR HIS PURPOSE. WE ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND CALLS ON THIS. WE ARE HAPPY TO GET THEM IN QUEUE FOR POTENTIALLY RECEIVING FUNDS IF NECESSARY.

[00:55:04]

WE REALLY WANT TO BE HELPFUL AND ADVOCATES FOR HELPING PEOPLE RESOLVE THIS ISSUE . THERE'S NOT THAT MANY, WHICH IS GOOD, BUT THOSE OF POTENTIALLY DO HAVE AN ISSUE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ADDRESS THAT WITH THEM.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION. I'M SURE THAT THE QUESTION IS GOING TO BE ASKED.

>> IS PART OF THE QUALIFYING REGULATION, VERY SHORTLY, BECAUSE BEFORE OCTOBER THE 16TH, ANY ADDRESS IDENTIFIED AS HAVING A CONCERN WITH THE SERVICE LINE WILL BE CONTACTED TO NOTIFY THEM OF -- WHAT THE FINDINGS WERE AS PART OF THIS INVENTORY. AND ALSO, AS WE DO DEVELOP THIS REPLACEMENT PROGRAM, WE WILL INITIATE ANOTHER CONTACT WITH THEM TO INFORM THEM OF THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THAT LINE REPLACE. AT THE COST OF THE FEDS. THAT'S ALWAYS A GOOD THING. WE DO HAVE A COMPONENT OF THAT COST AS WELL, BUT ALSO, IT MEANS THAT THEY CAN GET THAT LINE REPLACED WITHOUT BEING SERIOUSLY FINANCIALLY IMPACTED. AND ANY OF THESE HOMES ARE GOING TO BE OLDER HOMES. MANY OF THEM -- YOU CAN SEE THROUGH THE MAP AS YOU KIND OF ZOOM IN, AS THERE IS PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE PARTICULAR BUILDERS CONSTRUCT HOMES ALL AT ONCE, SO THERE COULD BE A STREET OR EVEN A BLOCK OF HOMES FOR EVERY SINGLE HOME SEEMS TO BE IDENTIFIED AS AT LEAST HAVING GALVANIZED REQUIRED REPLACEMENT.

>> AND THEN THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME PEOPLE WHO WANT TO TEST THEMSELVES. THEY WANT TO TEST THEIR WATER. THEY CALL THE CITY, CAN WE HELP THEM WITH INFORMATION ON HOW -- IS THERE AN AT-HOME TEST? BECAUSE THERE WILL BE SOME THAT SAY, WELL, I

WANT TO TEST MY OWN WATER. >> I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THE BUSINESS OF RECOMMENDED PRIVATE TESTING FOR PEOPLE'S WATERLINES. THERE'S ENOUGH INFORMATION OUT THERE ON THE INTERNET. BECAUSE I JUST DON'T -- I DON'T KNOW HOW RELIABLE SOME OF THOSE TESTS ARE. I KNOW WE USE LAB CERTIFIED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OTHER THINGS ARE AND I DON'T WANT TO INVEST IN A SITUATION WHERE WE GIVE SOMEONE A FALSE POSITIVE OR A

FALSE NEGATIVE. >> IS PART OF OUR OWN PROGRAM, BECAUSE WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THOSE HOMES THAT WE WILL SAY OUR HIGHER RISK, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT, PART OF OUR ONGOING SAMPLING PROGRAM WILL NOW SHIFT OVER TO THOSE HOMES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. SO THOSE HOMES, AT LEAST SOME OF THOSE, WILL FALL INTO THE INVENTORY OF HOMES THAT WE WILL SPECIFICALLY SAMPLE. WE WILL NEED THEIR SUPPORT IN COLLECTING THOSE SAMPLES, BECAUSE IT'S A FIRST DRAW SAMPLE FROM A HOME . THE HOMEOWNER WILL COLLECT THAT, AND WE WILL GO AND COLLECT THAT FROM THEM ONCE THEY HAVE CONDUCTED THAT SAMPLE. SO ESPECIALLY THOSE CITIZENS THAT HAVE HOMES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED , WE WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT IF YOU ARE CONTACTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SAMPLING PROGRAM THAT YOU DO WILLINGLY DO THAT. IT IS FOR

YOUR OWN BENEFIT. >> THANK YOU.

>> I APPRECIATE YOU SHARING THAT. I KNOW THAT VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES, HOW ARE WE COMMUNICATING WITH THEM? I DO WANT TO ECHO, IT MAKES ME SO HAPPY -- I HAVE KNOWN MICHAEL FOR A LONG TIME. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNEW THAT. BUT THE COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL MEDIA AND JUST THE MESSAGING AND THE CLEAR WAYS IN WHICH IT FOSTERS TRUST THAT WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD IN THE COMMUNITY, AMAZING JOB. SO PROUD TO SEE WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, RODNEY. I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A LABOR OF LOVE AND PROBABLY OTHER THINGS, ADJECTIVES THROWN IN THERE. BUT THIS IS SO HELPFUL, AND I AM APPRECIATIVE THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO BE ON THE FORWARD MARCH, COMMUNICATING WITH A LOT OF US AS CITIZENS, BUT EVEN MORE SO, THE VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY. THE ONLY CAVEAT I WOULD MAYBE THROW IN IS, I THINK IT WOULD BE HELP WILL THAT THERE IS A WAY TO HAVE -- I LABEL IT SUCCESS METRIC, BUT IT MAY BE HELPFUL FOR THE CITIZENS TO KNOW HOW MUCH WE HAVE DONE -- HOW MUCH WORK WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY DONE AND ARE CONTINUING TO DO, BECAUSE SOMETIMES, LETTING THEM KNOW ALL OF THAT YOU'VE DONE ALREADY KIND OF HELPS THEM UNDERSTAND IT THAT YOU ARE WORKING REALLY, REALLY HARD AND YOU ARE CONTINUING TO LEAN INTO THIS PROCESS. THAT WOULD MAYBE BE SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOU

AND YOUR TEAM. JOB WELL DONE. >> I APPRECIATE THAT.

>> AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 26? PLEASE STEP FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NONE, WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION

[01:00:01]

IN A SECOND. >> THERE'S NO VOTE ON THIS ONE. BE MY THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS ITEM IS FOR PRESENTATION ONLY. NO FURTHER VOTES OR ACTION WILL BE TAKEN. THANK YOU. LUKE ROBINSON HERE AT AP, AND I JUST WANT TO SEND A SHOUT OUT. WE HAVE SOME VERY SPECIAL AP PEOPLE THAT ARE HEADED TO THE EAST COAST IN PREPARATION FOR THE HURRICANE, SO WE SEND PRAYERS TO THEM AND OUR NEIGHBORS AND THOSE EASTERN STATES THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE THE HURRICANE. SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THOSE PEOPLE HAVE POWER.

[EXECUTIVE SESSION]

IT IS NOW 9:31 A.M., AND WE WILL RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO THE OPEN MEETING ACT. CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY. 6.55 1.072, THE LIBERATION OF PROPERTY.

DELIBERATIONS ABOUT GIFTS AND DONATIONS. SECTION 551.074, PERSONNEL MATTERS. DELIBERATIONS , SECURITY DEVICES, SECTION 551.08 SEVEN. DELIBERATIONS ABOUT BUSINESS PROSPECTS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT . I'D ALSO LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE THE NEXT MONTH, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, THE MEETINGS MOVED TO THE FIRST AND THIRD THURSDAYS AT 8:30

A.M.. THANK YOU. >> OUR NEXT MEETING IS NEXT

WEEK. >> OUR NEXT MEETING IS NEXT WEEK.

[RECONVENE REGULAR AGENDA]

>> OKAY , WE NEED TO GO BACK AND PULL 13, 16, 23, AND NUMBER

5 FROM TWO WEEKS AGO. >> LET THAT OUTBURST BE

STRICKEN FROM THE RECORD. >> I SEE HIM COMING.

>> HE IS COMING. IT TAKES HIM A LITTLE WHILE.

>> ARE WE GOOD? IT IS NOW 10:44 A.M. AND WE RECONVENE TO OPEN

[28. Oral Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving the Annual Evaluation of the Municipal Court Judge]

SESSION. NO BOATS OR ACTIONS WERE TAKEN DURING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 28 FOR THE EVALUATION OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE. WE ARE VERY HAPPY WITH OUR JUDGE, BUT AT THIS TIME, WE WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 28? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, IT WILL ACCEPT A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MCALISTER, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN REGAN.

[29. Oral Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving the Annual Evaluation of the City Secretary]

>> ALL YESES , MOTION CARRIES.

>> WE NOW MOVE TO ITEM 29 FOR THE EVALUATION OF THE CITY SECRETARY. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST

NUMBER 29? >> CAITLIN, THIS IS YOUR TIME.

COME ON. >> SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANY REMARKS OR QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? IF NOT, I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND.

>> WHAT? WHAT HAPPENED? >> ARE THE MOTIONS CORRECT?

>> IS CORRECT AS THEY CAN BE. >> COUNCILMEMBER BEARD MADE THE MOTION AND COUNCILMEMBER YATES SECONDED IT. ALL YESES . MOTION

CARRIES. >> IT IS NOW 10:46 A.M., AND THIS MEETING OF THE ABILENE CITY COUNCIL IS ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.

Sep 26, 2024 City Council

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