[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:05]
>>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR JOINING US. WE
WILL HEADING GET STARTED >> BOW WITH ME PLEASE.
>> THEIR HEAVENLY FATHER. WE THANK YOU FOR THE CITY, THE STAFF, FOR THE RESIDENTS , AND FOR ALL THE PEOPLE YOU PLACED HERE. PLEASE GIVE US A LISTENING EARS, DISCERNING WISDOM , AND HELPFUL HEARTS. WE ARE THANKFUL FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR US. IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.
>> GOOD MORNING. BEFORE WE START OUR FORMAL MEETING WE WILL BEGIN WITH PUBLIC COMMENTS . YOU ARE WELCOME TO COME TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO TALK ON ANY ISSUE. AND WITH THAT WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC
[1. Service Awards]
COMMENT PORTION. WE WOULD TALK TO ITEM NUMBER ONE.PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PROCLAMATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS. THESE ARE SERVICE AWARDS.
>> GOOD MORNING, BORED. CHRIS GIBSON, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND WRECKS. THIS THING IS LOUD. THERE WE ARE. I'M HERE TODAY STEPPING IN FOR JESUS, WHO WAS RUNNING LATE THIS MORNING . I WILL PRESENT OUR SERVICE AWARD. THE FIRST WE HAVE IS FOR PARKS . MARTY, YOU WANT TO COME APPEAR REAL QUICK? THIS IS MARTY MARTINEZ . HE HAS BEEN WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND IS ONE OF OUR FOUNDING , STANDARD GO TO PEOPLE. HE HAS A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE AND IS BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE. 10 YEARS IN SERVICE FOR THE CITY OF ABILENE AND PARKS DEPARTMENT AND HE IS A GREAT PERSON TO HAVE ON YOUR TEAM AND ONE OF THE REASONS WE CAN DO WHAT WE DO . HE HAS BEEN IN A LOT OF AREAS OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IN 10 YEARS. WE APPRECIATE YOU, MARTY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE HAVE A LITTLE
SOMETHING FOR YOUR. >> THANK YOU.
>> YOU BET. >> YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING?
>> THIS IS MY SECOND AT TWO YEARS. 20 YEARS TOTAL. I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MARTY. >> OUR NEXT SERVICE AWARD AND I WILL CALL UP JAMIE, THE DIVISION MANAGER.
>> HELLO, HOW IS EVERYBODY DOING? FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I HAVE NOT BEEN HERE 15 YEARS BUT THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS I'VE BEEN WITH JERRY, HE HAS BEEN KIND AND GENEROUS AND HE ALWAYS HAS A SMILE ON HIS FACE AND HE GREETS YOU WITH A JOKE EVERY DAY. I DON'T KNOW HOW THE LAST 15 YEARS HAVE BEEN BUT I HOPE I HAVE ANOTHER 15 WITH YOU. CONGRATULATIONS AND HERE IS TO 15 YEARS .
>> 15 YEARS GOES BY FAST. I THINK THE ONLY THING I COULD SAY IS WHEN YOU WORK WITH GOOD PEOPLE, WHICH I HAVE A GOOD DEPARTMENT AND CREW , IT GOES BY FAST. IT'S NOT WORK. IT'S MORE FUN. RATHER THAN WORK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE
>> 20 AND 15 YEARS IS AMAZING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR FAMILY'S SERVICE AND WHAT YOU DO FOR US. THAT'S
[2. Minutes (Discussion and Action)]
INCREDIBLE. THANK YOU BOTH. AT THIS POINT WE WILL GO INTO AGENDA ITEMS NUMBER TWO. REVIEW OF THE MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING. THIS WILL BE DISCUSSION AND POTENTIALACTION. >> I MOVE WE APPROVE THE AUGUST
>> THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? THAT WILL CARRY. WITH
[3. Recommendation to Designate Cedar Creek Waterway as a Purple Heart Trail (Discussion, Public Hearing and Possible Action)]
THAT WE GO INTO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE. RECOMMENDATION TO DESIGNATE CEDAR CREEK WATERWAY AS A PURPLE HEART TRAIL. THIS WILL BE DISCUSSION, PUBLIC HEARING AND POTENTIAL ACTION .>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, POOR PEER CHRIS GIBSON ASSISTANT DIRECTOR PARKS AND RECREATION. WE WANTED TO BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION TODAY DURING THE BOARD MEETING AND WE ARE SEEKING YOUR APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DESIGNATION OF CEDAR CREEK WATERWAY AS A PURPLE HEART TRAIL . BUT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE BACK STORY AND THE MEANING OF WHAT A PURPLE HEART CITY IS. THE PURPLE HEART WAS ONE OF THE FIRST AMERICAN SERVICE AWARDS OF DECORATION IN THE UNITED STATES ARMED SERVICES. IT'S GIVEN TO THOSE WARRIORS WHO HAVE BEEN WOUNDED OR HAVE PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR OUR FREEDOM IN THE UNITED STATES. THE CITIES PAY HOMAGE TO THOSE AND RECOGNIZE THOSE VETERANS THAT HAVE MADE THAT SACRIFICE. IN DOING SO, WE WANT TO SHOW THAT WE ARE A SUPPORTER OF THAT . THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO DO THAT.
ONE IS DESIGNATION AS A PURPLE HEART CITY, WHICH IS WHAT THE BACKGROUND IS HERE. AND IT IS TAUGHT TO MAKE AWARENESS IN THAT RECOGNITION . HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY YOU CAN ALSO
[00:05:04]
DESIGNATE DIFFERENT AREAS OF YOUR CITY. ONE OF THOSE THINGS IS A TRAIL TO BE DEDICATED AS A PURPLE HEART TRAIL . WE TALK ABOUT THE MISSION OF THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART. IT IS TO OFFER THAT GOODWILL IN RECOGNITION AND PROMOTE THE PATRIOTISM AND ALWAYS KEEP IT AWARE AND IN FRONT OF US OF WHAT THAT SACRIFICE IS FOR THOSE FOLKS.THAT IS WHAT WE ARE HERE TODAY . ULTIMATELY TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT PICKED THE CITY OF ABILENE POTENTIALLY BEING DESIGNATED AS A PURPLE HEART CITY AND TO SUPPORT THAT AS THE PARKS BOARD, WE WOULD LIKE TO DESIGNATE THE CEDAR CREEK WATERWAY AS A PURPLE HEART TRAIL. THAT'S WHAT WE ARE HERE TODAY FOR. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
>> WHAT IS THE FULL SCOPE OF THIS? IS IT A SIGN AND ANYTHING ELSE? COULD YOU ELABORATE ON THAT?
>> GREAT QUESTION. WE PUT A TRAILHEAD SIGN IN, REPRESENTED IN THE IMAGE THERE. YOU CAN KIND OF SEE IT THE STANDARD SIGNAGE IS TO HAVE THE PURPLE HEART IMAGE GRAPHIC PICK WE WOULD PUT THAT PROBABLY AT THE TRAILHEADS ON BOTH ENDS OF THE CEDAR CREEK WATERWAY AND IT IS TO ESTABLISH THAT WE DESIGNATED THIS IN RECOGNITION OF THAT. IS ALSO TO HELP SUPPORT AS THE CITY MOVES FORWARD TO DESIGNATE THE CITY AS A PURPLE HEART CITY SO IT'S IN SUPPORT OF THAT. IS PRIMARILY SIGNAGE.
>> AND YOU SAID WE ARE UP TO BE DESIGNATED AS A PURPLE HEART
CITY? >> THERE IS AN INTEREST TO BE DESIGNATED AS A PURPLE HEART CITY. THAT IS DONE THROUGH PROCLAMATION THROUGH CITY COUNCIL.
>> OKAY. >> AS ALWAYS, I APPRECIATE STAFF LOOKING FOR WAYS TO HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED AS WELL AND EXCITED THIS IS A POSSIBILITY. THANK YOU.
>> WITH THIS , MAYBE MAKE THIS TRAIL A MORE ATTRACTIVE VENUE FOR THINGS LIKE CHARITY 5K'S, FOR VETERANS AND THINGS LIKE THAT? DO YOU ANTICIPATE PEOPLE SHOWING THEIR SUPPORT AND DEMONSTRATING OUR VALUES AND THIS IS ONE OF OUR VALUES , BY APPEARING AT THIS TRAIL AND FOSTERING THE KIND OF
ENVIRONMENT? >> YES IS A GREAT WAY TO REMIND PEOPLE MERELY. EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT THE MILITARY AND THE ORDER ITSELF AND THE PURPLE HEART AND THE SACRIFICE OF THOSE VETERANS PICK IT COULD TURN INTO A DESIGNATED AREA FOR PEOPLE TO COME IN AND DO THOSE TYPES OF ACT TWO BUDDIES WHETHER IT'S WALKS OR RUNS OR HIKES IN THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
ANYTHING WE CAN DO , IN THE ORDER OF CREATING RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILY AND ALSO RECOGNIZING AND HONORING THOSE WHO SERVED IS ALWAYS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US.
>> I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION. DOES THE PURPLE HEART TRAIL GET RECOGNIZED ON ANY KIND OF LIST THAT IS ACCESSIBLE BY THE PUBLIC TO CREATE MORE EXPOSURE FOR THE WATERWAY?
>> YOU KNOW, I'M SURE IT IS . I'VE NOT SEEN A LISTING OF THAT BUT I'VE NEVER ACTUALLY SEARCHED FOR THAT. BUT WE DO REGISTER IT -- THERE'S A PORTION OF IT AND WE ARE IN CONTACT OF THE PERSON OVER THE DESIGNATIONS FOR TRAILS AND THAT'S WHO I HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING WHAT THE PROCESSES ARE IN THOSE TYPES OF THINGS SO I'M SURE THERE IS A WAY YOU GO IN AND IDENTIFY THOSE CITIES THAT HAVE PURPLE HEART TRAIL DESIGNATIONS AND CITY DESIGNATIONS BUT I HAVE NOT GONE OUT AND SEARCHED FOR THAT.
>> I THINK I HAVE A PROCESS QUESTION. WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR THE PROCESS. IS IT AN APPLICATION?
>> WAIVED ON ALL THE WORK AS FAR AS THAT GOES IN IDENTIFYING. PRIMARILY THEY WANT YOU TO PUT UP THE SIGNAGE PICK IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A CEREMONY OR RIBBON-CUTTING, YOU CAN DO THAT. WHAT THE CITY WANTS TO DO. THAT'S PRIMARILY IT. WE HAVE DONE ALL THE INFORMATION GATHERING AND THOSE
KINDS OF THINGS. >> WHAT WOULD BE THE TIMING? DO YOU THINK TO HAVE THE SIGNS AVAILABLE AND READY TO POST?
>> WE HAVE TO GO OUT AND CREATE THE SIGNS. RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE AN APPROVED GRAPHIC SO WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
THE FIRST STEP IS GETTING IT ACKNOWLEDGED AND SUPPORTED , AND THEN WE WILL COME UP WITH A TIMELINE ON WHICH WE WERE ACTUALLY SET THOSE UP. AND WE DO HAVE PURPLE HEART RECIPIENTS IN OUR AREA AND SO WE WILL REACH OUT TO THAT COMMUNITY AND SEE IF WE CAN BRING PEOPLE IN TO HAVE THE DESIGNATION
OFFICIAL. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> THOSE ARE GREAT QUESTIONS. >> WE ARE MOTIVATED THIS MORNING. THANK YOU FOR THAT. THIS DOES GO INTO A PUBLIC HEARING PORTION SO THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. WITH THAT
[00:10:02]
WE WILL TAKE TIME TO GO INTO PUBLIC HEARING. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR THOUGHTS ON THE TOPIC, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF. OVER THERE. AND WITH THAT WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD?ANYBODY LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? >> SURE. I MOVED TO DESIGNATE
>> ALL IN FAVOR OF THIS DESIGNATION FOR CEDAR CREEK WATERWAY ? OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, CHRIS , AND EVERYBODY YOU'VE DONE FOR THIS. THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE AND A NO-BRAINER FOR US. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE.
[4. Parks Report (Discussion)]
THAT'S GREAT. >> WITH THAT WE GO ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR. THAT IS OUR PARKS REPORT. THIS WILL ONLY BE
A DISCUSSION. >> GOOD MORNING. JESUS CORONADO, PARKS DIVISION MANAGER. WE INSTALLED ANOTHER SIGN, IF YOU NOTICED, THE NEW ANIMAL SHELTER , KINDNESS CENTER . THERE WILL BE AN ENTRANCE TO OUR NEW DOG PARK SO WE WERE TASKED WITH PUTTING ANOTHER SIGN GOING INTO THAT , WHICH IS ACTUALLY CAL YOUNG PARK. CAL YOUNG NOW HAS THREE SIGNS THAT IDENTIFY ENTRANCES TO THAT . THIS WILL GO DIRECTLY INTO THE DOG PARK. LAST MONTH WE WENT THROUGH AND INSTALLED TRAIL MARKERS ON THE TRAIL TO LET PEOPLE KNOW HOW FAR THEY'VE GONE ON THE TRAIL. AS GOOD AS THEY LOOK , THEY WILL BE TEMPORARY. WE ARE WORKING ON ANOTHER PLAN TO DO SOMETHING BETTER THAN THAT . BUT IN THE MEANTIME WE WANTED TO PUT SOMETHING UP TO LET PEOPLE KNOW HOW FAR THEY'VE GONE. LOOK FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT COMING IN THE FUTURE. THIS YEAR, SO FAR, I WANT TO GIVE YOU A HIGHLIGHT OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE, AS FAR AS IN-HOUSE PROJECTS. WE COMPLETED 25 IN-HOUSE PROJECTS AND WE INVESTED 2370 HOURS , STAFF HOURS, IN THOSE PROJECTS. AND ALSO SPENT 119,550 IN PARK IMPROVEMENTS. THAT SHOWS YOU HOW MUCH HAS BEEN INVESTED IN PARKS THIS PAST YEAR. A LOT OF GREAT WORK THESE GUYS DID. SOME OF THE PROJECTS WERE AROUND THE SPLASH PAD AND BALLANTINE PARK. THAT WILL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A SNAP OF WHAT THESE GUYS ARE ABLE TO DO IN-HOUSE . THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY WE ARE SAVING THERE. WE SPENT $119,000 BUT IMAGINE HOW MUCH WE SAVED BY DOING THOSE IN-HOUSE. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
[5. Seniors Report (Discussion)]
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT. AND NOW WE MOVE ON TO OUR SENIORS REPORT. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M STILL GETTING TRANSITION. I WAS SITTING IN THE BACK GOING, THAT'S ME. BEAR WITH ME. WE HAVE STARTED A NEW CLASS . WE ARE DOING SCRAPBOOKING. IT WAS A LOT OF FUN TO WATCH THEM BRING IN THEIR PICTURES AND CUT OUT DOSE SOME OF THEM ASKED ME TO POSE FOR A PICTURE SO I MADE IT TO THE SCRAPBOOK. I WAS LIKE, WELL. I JUST STARTED BUT I'M EXCITED. THEY ASKED ME TO POSE FOR THEM. IT'S BEEN A LOT OF FUN. THEY REALLY LIKE THE CLASS. IT'S FUNNY TO SEE HOW MANY MEN ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS CLASS. I WAS SO EXCITED.
WE ARE HAVING BUNCO TOMORROW AND YOU MUST WEAR PINK TO PARTICIPATE . WE ARE STARTING AT 1:00 AND WE'RE HAVING SOMEONE , A COUPLE OF BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS SPEAK ON HOW THEY OVERCAME BREAST CANCER . TRYING TO KEEP EVERYBODY LEARNING. WE ARE ALSO GETTING READY FOR OUR FLU SHOTS , BECAUSE NO ONE WANTS THE FLU. WE HAVE BEEN HELPING THEM REGISTER ONLINE WITH , TO RECEIVE THEIR SHOTS. THAT WILL BE ON THE 23RD AND BARNES AND WILLIAMS WAS KIND ENOUGH TO COME AND DO THIS FLU SHOTS FOR US. AND WE ARE GEARING UP FOR OUR SENIOR DAY TRIP AND WE ARE HEADING TO FREDERICKSBURG .
SUPER EXCITED. IS MY FIRST TRIP TO GO ON . THEY WERE ASKING ME SOME FUNNY QUESTIONS. IF IT WAS GOING TO BE OKTOBERFESTS AND I WAS LIKE, NO. NO. NOPE. BUT THEY ARE READY. WE LEAVE BRIGHT AND EARLY AT 6:30 A.M. I'M VERY EXCITED. QUESTIONS?
[6. Zoo Report (Discussion)]
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT. >> THAT BRINGS US TO JESSE AND
[00:15:04]
THE ZOO. >> SAFE , ABILENE ZOO DIRECTOR.
UNFORTUNATE NEWS ABOUT OUR NEWBORN, ZAHARA . SHE WAS FOUND IN OUR BARN CURLED UP AND LAME. SHE HAD A BROKEN HINDQUARTERS LEG. THE STAFF IMMEDIATELY INTERVENED AND GOT HER -- GOT THE HERD AWAY FROM HER AS WE CARRIED HER TO THE VET HOSPITAL FOR ASSESSMENT SHE CRASHED AND DIED OF MORE LIKELY CARDIOMYOPATHY. IT'S STILL UNDETERMINED WHAT HAPPENED, BUT SHE SOME REASON RECEIVED SOME TYPE OF SEVERE TRAUMA TO THE LEG WHICH CRUSHED HER LEG AND DURING THAT STRESS AND THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT SHE PASSED ON. THIS IS AN ANOMALY. I'VE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE IN A GIRAFFE BUT WE ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED , BUT WE DON'T AT THIS TIME HAVE ANY DETERMINED CAUSE OF WHY HER LEG WAS SHATTERED. WE DO HAVE BOO AT THE ZOO, ONE OF OUR BIGGEST FUNDRAISING EVENTS OCCURRING AS WE SPEAK . IS THE LAST THREE WEEKENDS OF OCTOBER.
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY THIS WEEK AND NEXT WEEK. WE DO SEE LARGE CROWDS. THIS PAST WEEK WE SAW 5500 GUESTS IN THE TWO DAYS AND WE ARE EXPECTING 7500 THIS WEEK AND HOPEFULLY 6000 THE FOLLOWING WEEK. IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN IT BEFORE, WE HAVE MANY ZONES FROM OUR HEY MAYS, THE PUMPKIN MAYS . LOTS OF PUMPKIN HOUSES AND DINOSAURS . DINOSAUR DIG PITS. CORN THE KIDS CAN PLAY IN AND LOTS OF GREAT THINGS TO DO SO PLEASE COME AND ENJOY THE ABILENE ZOO FOR THE WHAT -- THE WITH THE ZOO.
THAT'S IT. >> WAS AT LAST YEAR WE WENT FROM TWO WEEKENDS TO THREE WEEKENDS WITH THIS?
>> YES. >> HOW MANY ARE YOU EXPECTING
TOTAL TO COME OUT? >> TOTAL WILL BE A GOAL OF 15,000 PEOPLE IN SIX DAYS, IF THE WEATHER STAYS TRUE AND THE RAIN STAYS AWAY. WE WANT RAIN BUT NOT ON SATURDAY OR SUNDAY.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR JESSE? THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER AGENDA ITEMS TO DISCUSS THIS MORNING AS A BOARD?
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.