24. Ordinance (Final Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Authorizing The Issuance Of City Of Abilene, Texas, Combination Tax And Limited Surplus Revenue Certificates Of Obligation; Establishing Procedures And Delegating Authority For The Sale And Delivery Of The Certificates; Providing An Effective Date; And Enacting Other Provisions Relating To The Subject (Marjorie Knight)

[24. Ordinance (Final Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Authorizing The Issuance Of City Of Abilene, Texas, Combination Tax And Limited Surplus Revenue Certificates Of Obligation; Establishing Procedures And Delegating Authority For The Sale And Delivery Of The Certificates; Providing An Effective Date; And Enacting Other Provisions Relating To The Subject (Marjorie Knight)]

>> I MOVE TO ITEM 24 AND I WILL ASK MARJORIE NIGHT, DIRECTOR OF

FINANCE TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. >> GOOD MORNING. DIRECTOR OF FINANCE. BEFORE YOU TODAY IS THE FINAL READING OF THE ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF UP TO 8.3 MILLION OF CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION BONDS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND AIRPORT PROJECTS. THE PROJECTS INCLUDE A PUBLIC SAFETY MICROWAVE COMMUNICATIONS UPGRADE AND AN AIRCRAFT RAMP.

THE DEBT SERVICE OF THE BONDS WILL BE FUNDED WITH PROPERTY TAXES BEGINNING IN 2026, FISCAL YEAR. NO DEBT SERVICE WILL BE

[00:15:01]

DUE DURING 2025. ON THIS SLIDE , SHOWS THE FINANCIAL IMPACT TO THE CITY AND THE TAXPAYER. WE ESTIMATE THAT THE TAX RATE IMPACT WILL BE .0069 PER $100 VALUE. THAT IS BASED ON CURRENT TAXABLE VALUES, WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE NEXT YEAR.

THE APPROXIMATE ANNUAL COST TO THE TAXPAYER IS ESTIMATED AT 11 IS 76 AND ANNUAL DEBT REQUIREMENTS IN THE RANGE OF 627,000 TO 632. ALL OF THOSE AMOUNTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DEPENDING UPON THE SALE OF THE CERTIFICATES. WE ALSO HAVE GEORGE HERE AND HE IS WITH HILLTOP SECURITIES TO DISCUSS

THE PROSPECTIVE PRICING. >> MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. GEORGE WITH HILLTOP SECURITIES. FOR THE RECORD, GOOD TO BE BACK. YOU ALL HAVE A BOOK IN FRONT OF YOU AND I'M SORRY IT IS NOT ON THE OVERHEAD OR PROJECTED. WE GOT EVERYTHING TOGETHER AND IT WAS IN CURRENT INFORMATION NEEDED. AT ANY RATE I WILL GO THROUGH IT QUICKLY. IT IS TO SUMMARIZE WHAT WILL BE COMING AS FAR AS PRICING. THE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION ISSUE. AND ON THE COVER FOR ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE, WE ALREADY HELD RATING DISCUSSIONS , MR. HANNA, MINDY AND MARJORIE PARTICIPATED AND DID A JOB AS USUAL. BUT THEN THE ECONOMY, THE STRONG FINANCES, ALL OF THE GOOD ASPECTS OF CITY OF ABILENE ARE REFLECTED IN MAINTAINING THE RATINGS, AA 2 WITH MOODY'S AND AA PLUS WITH FITCH. WE HAVE THOSE IN PLACE IN THE PLAN IS TO PRICE THE ISSUE NEXT WEEK , TRY TO GET IT DONE BEFORE THANKSGIVING AND SO ALSO WHAT YOU HAVE IN THE BOOK IS A COPY OF THE COVER OF THE PRELIMINARY OFFICIAL STATEMENT WHICH IS THE OFFERING DOCUMENT, MORE OR LESS LIKE A PROSPECTUS AND OTHER SECURITIES OFFERINGS. AND YOU WILL SEE BEHIND THAT , RIGHT NOW WE ARE PLANNING TO GENERATE $8.24 MILLION AROUND AMOUNT OF PROCEEDS FOR THE TWO PROJECTS AND AGAIN THESE ARE ROUND NUMBERS 7.764 FOR THE AIRPORT PROJECT AND $476,000 FOR THE MICROWAVE . FOLLOWING THAT YOU WILL SEE PROJECTED DEBT SERVICE AND THIS IS BASED ON VERY CURRENT INTEREST RATES OF WHAT MARJORIE SHOWED, SHOWS OVER 625,000 EXPECTED ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE, MAYBE MORE. AS OF YESTERDAY, REAL RATES, WHAT HAPPENED EFFECTIVE RATE OF ABOUT 3.85 AND AS YOU SEE, AVERAGE ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE UNDER 620,000. THAT IS OUR HOPE AND WE HOPE CONDITIONS STAY FAVORABLE , NEXT WEEK. IF NOT, IF THERE IS ANY REASON WE WOULD TRY TO PROBABLY PUSH TO THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY AND GET EVERYTHING WRAPPED. IT IS A GOOD TIME. I HAD ANOTHER ENTITY CELL EARLIER THIS WEEK AND AS WE DISCUSSED THERE IS A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY AS TO WHAT LONG-TERM RATES MAY DO AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR. AND THEY HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT VOLATILE LEADING UP TO AND AFTER THE ELECTION. IT IS GOOD TO GET FINANCING BEHIND BEFORE THE YEAR ENDS AND SO ON. THIS WILL BE LIKE REFUNDING ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE PAST WHERE COUNCIL TODAY IS ACTING ON AN ORDINANCE THAT ESTABLISHES PARAMETERS BUT DELEGATES PRICING APPROVAL TO CITY MANAGERS OFFICE AND/OR MARJORIE TO APPROVE THE FINAL PRICING. AND LIKE YOU SAID, THE PLANS ARE TO TRY TO GET EVERYTHING OUT NEXT WEEK AND ALSO INCLUDED SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE BOND BUYER INDEX AND ANOTHER INDEX. SEE YOU CAN SEE HOW VOLATILE AND HOW RATES HAVE SHOT UP SLIGHTLY THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS. BUT THEN BACK .

ALSO INCLUDED COPIES OF THE RATING REPORT SO YOU CAN SEE EXACTLY WHAT THE RATING AGENCIES DOCUMENTED IN THEIR VIEW OF THE CITY. I WOULD BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND ALSO SAM , THE BOND COUNCIL TO THE CITY IS HERE, IF THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ORDINANCE OR LEGAL PROCESS.

>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR COUNCIL? THANK YOU, GEORGE. AT THIS TIME ALL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. AND WE HAVE CARDS.

>> THE ORDER GIVEN, DOUG IS THE FIRST.

[00:20:11]

>> GOOD MORNING. I AM DOUG WILLIAMSON. WHAT AM I? I AM THE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS AT THE ABILENE CHAMBER

OF COMMERCE. >> THE WE GET TO ANSWER THAT?

>> NO THANK YOU. I AM ALSO A LONG TIME ABILENE IN. SINCE THIS AGENDA ITEM DEALS WITH FUNDING FOR THE ADDITIONAL WILD FIRE FIGHTING CAPABILITIES AT THE ABILENE REGIONAL AIRPORT, I LIKE TO PRESENT SOME ECONOMIC STATISTICS ABOUT THE PROJECT. I BELIEVE THAT MUCH OF THIS INFORMATION IS CONTAINED IN YOUR PACKET AGENDA , AGENDA PACKET. THE ABILENE CHAMBER HAS PARTNERED WITH THE CITY IN ADVOCATING IN AUSTIN FOR THE RAMP EXPANSION TO THE AIRPORT. IT IS THERE TO HOUSE THE ADDITIONAL WILD FIRE FIGHTING ASSETS. THESE EFFORTS STARTED MORE THAN TWO YEARS AGO. WE SEE THE NEED AND WE SEE THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT. THE CHAMBER SUBSCRIBES TO AN ECONOMIC FORECASTING SERVICE CALLED M PLAN. IT IS WIDELY RECOGNIZED ECONOMIC MODELING SOFTWARE USED WORLDWIDE BY GOVERNMENTS, UNIVERSITIES, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES AND OTHERS. TO CREATE A REALISTIC AND VERIFIABLE FORECAST FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS. WHEN WE RAN THE ECONOMIC NUMBERS RELATED TO THE RAMP PROJECT, WE FOUND THAT THE CONSTRUCTION PORTION OF THE PROJECT ITSELF WOULD PRODUCE AN ESTIMATED IMPACT OF $46 MILLION. THAT IS THE PLAN BASED ON THE ORIGINAL $22 MILLION PROJECT, NOT THE HIGHER COST PROJECT THAT INFLATION HAS GIVEN US. WE WOULD THINK THAT WITH THE HIGHER COST, PROPORTIONALLY THE ECONOMIC IMPACT WOULD BE HIGHER. OVER A TEN-YEAR PERIOD THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE WILD FIRE FIGHTING OPERATIONS , THE PERSONAL SIDE OF THINGS, BASED AT THE AIRPORT, WITH TOTAL ALMOST $26 MILLION. THAT PLAN IS BASED ON CURRENT CAPACITIES. BUT WITH A PERMANENT BASE , THE CAPACITIES ARE GOING TO MORE THAN DOUBLE . WE CERTAINLY WITH THE THE $26 MILLION WOULD RISE PROBABLY PROPORTIONALLY TO THAT. THERE ARE OTHER ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT WE DID NOT COMPUTE , A LOCAL INSURANCE AGENT EXPLAINED WAS HOW THE FIRE FIGHTING CAPABILITIES DIRECTLY IMPACT INSURANCE RATES CHARGED TO CONSUMERS AND BUSINESSES. THE MORE CAPABILITIES TO FIGHT FIRES, THE MORE DOWNWARD PUSH THERE IS IN RATES. AND FINALLY, AFTER THESE ECONOMIC NUMBERS THERE IS ANOTHER THING. THAT I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER. YOU CAN REPLACE A $200,000 HOUSE OR $50,000 CAR. IT IS A LITTLE HARDER TO REPLACE A FAMILY HEIRLOOM PICTURE AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLACE THE

LIFE. THANK YOU. >> NEXT IS BILL CROWLEY.

>> GOOD MORNING MR. MAYOR, GOOD MORNING , COUNCIL. THE COUNTY JUDGE AND AN ABILENE RESIDENT. FRANKLY, I AM HESITANT TO BE HERE THIS MORNING . I HAVE A BLACK-AND-WHITE RULE THAT I DON'T GET INVOLVED IN CITY ISSUES UNLESS IT DIRECTLY AFFECTS THE COUNTY AND THEN I AM STILL A LITTLE BIT HESITANT BECAUSE OF OUR SPECIAL PARTNERSHIP. NEVER WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO DAMAGE THAT. I WOULD NOT BE HERE UNLESS I THOUGHT IT WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO DO SO. AS YOU ARE AWARE THE COUNTY JUDGE IS THE STATUTORILY THE CHIEF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICER IN THE COUNTY AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHY I'M HERE IN THAT CAPACITY. I AM HERE RESPECTFULLY TO REQUEST THAT THE COUNCIL INVEST IN THIS RAMP FOR AIR TANKERS AT THE ABILENE REGIONAL AIRPORT. I THINK YOU ARE AWARE THE PANHANDLE FIRE LAST YEAR IN FEBRUARY OF 2024 IT BURNED 1 MILLION ACRES, DESTROYED 138 HOMES, AND 15,000 HEAD OF CATTLE PERISHED AS WELL. THE COUNTY JUDGE IN THE PANHANDLE CALLED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DURING THAT FIRE AND SAID , WE NEED PLANES DOWN HERE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW YOU ARE THE WANT TO PROVIDE THEM IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL TOLD HIM, FIRE SEASON HAS NOT STARTED YET. HE TOLD THAT OFFICIAL COME TO THE PANHANDLE AND I WILL SHOW YOU THE FIRE SEASON THAT HAS NOT STARTED YET IN TEXAS. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THE STATE IS CONSIDERING BUYING FOUR PLANES THAT WILL DUMP FIRE RETARDANT AND WATER ON FIRES. I THINK IT IS NO SECRET THAT IF YOU CHOOSE TO INVEST IN THIS RAMP THAT ABILENE HAS A GOOD LIKELIHOOD OF HAVING THOSE PLANES STATIONED HERE DUE TO HER CENTRAL LOCATION AND DUE TO THE EFFORTS OF INVESTMENT. DOUG WILLIAMSON HAS ALREADY COVERED THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT THIS RAMP WOULD HAVE. I DO WANT TO THANK REPRESENTATIVE LAMBERT

[00:25:06]

AND HIS STAFF ARE WORKING TO SECURE THE FUNDING AND NOBODY THINK JOE CRAWFORD FOR THEIR INVESTMENT IN THE PROJECT AND WANT TO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERING IT. I WILL SPEED UP A LITTLE BIT. SOMETHING I WANT TO MENTION TO YOU, WE HAD TO HILLTOP FIRE IN THE FALL OF 2023. AND THE ONLY THING THAT WAS ABLE TO CONTAIN A FIRE WHERE THESE PLANS BECAUSE FIREFIGHTERS COULD NOT GET UP DUE TO WHERE THE FIRE WAS. AND RIGHT WHEN I PULLED UP IS WHEN I SAW THAT FIRE SPREADING ACROSS THE HILLTOP AND I THINK AND OTHER PEOPLE ALSO I THINK GOT PTSD FLASHBACKS FROM MESQUITE HEAT.

WE WERE IN DANGER WITHOUT THOSE PLANES AND THE FIRE SPREADING AND CAUSING DEVASTATION. I THINK THE SHERIFF WILL TALK ON THIS BUT I THINK YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT IF WE CANNOT STOP FIRES IN THE COUNTY, THERE IS A LIKELIHOOD IT COULD GET TO ABILENE AND THE SHERIFF WILL TELL YOU ABOUT A FIRE THAT DID GET INSIDE ABILENE CITY LIMITS. AND SO I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST TO MAKE THIS INVESTMENT FOR THE ECONOMIC IMPACT BUT ALSO FOR FIRE PROTECTION FOR THE CITY OF ABILENE , AS WELL. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK ROBERT HANNA, WE WORK ON A DAILY BASIS TO TACKLE PROBLEMS BIG AND SMALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> TRAN09 >> GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING US BE HERE TODAY TO HAVE OUR FIRST WORD. I WAS A VICTIM OF THE MESQUITE HEAT FIRE IN 2022. WE LITERALLY LOST EVERYTHING AND YOU NEVER THINK YOUR HOUSE IS GOING TO BURN UP AND NEVER DID I THINK THAT. BUT I LEFT THAT MORNING AND I CAME BACK AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED.

I HAD JUST GOTTEN HOME FROM WORK AND THANK GOODNESS FOR OUR SHERIFF , RICKY BISHOP. HE HAD SENT THE DEPUTY'S OUT TO EVACUATE HIDDEN VALLEY. HE SAVED OUR LIVES IF HE HAD NOT GIVEN THE WORD, I WOULD NOT BE STANDING HERE TODAY. EVERYTHING WAS MOVING QUICKLY AND AFTER I GOT HOME THERE WAS ASH. I ACTUALLY SAW ASH BUT I NEVER SAW A FIRE. I COULD SMELL A FIRE BUT I THOUGHT WHERE IS THE FIRE? I WAS NOT THAT WORRIED BECAUSE I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING. I WENT IN THE HOUSE AND IT WAS LIKE 10 MINUTES LATER , THE DEPUTY'S KNOCKED ON OUR DOOR IN THE VALLEY AND EVERYONE ABOUT 10 HOMES AND SAY GET OUT NOW. YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO PACK STUFF. YOU NEED TO GET OUT NOW. IT WAS JUST MOVING SO QUICKLY. SO WE GOT OUR SIX DOGS AND I GOT MY MOTHER'S BIBLE, WHICH WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING AND AS I WAS EVACUATING AND GETTING OUT OF THE HOUSE AND GOING DOWN THE HILL , AS I LOOKED IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR I SAW THE FLAMES COMING ALL AROUND US, SURROUNDING THE ENTIRE VALLEY. IN THE HOMES. AND IT WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING, SCARY EXPERIENCE. I KNEW MANY LIVES WERE AT DANGER. I KNEW THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT HERE THAT MAY DIE. AND SO I EVACUATED WITH THE DOGS DOWN TO THE VIEW , OLD STATION WHICH USED TO BE A GROCERY STORE AND THAT IS WHERE WE ALL CONGREGATED. WE WERE WATCHING OUR HOMES BURNED. WE WERE LOOKING AT IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE AND IT WAS OUT OF CONTROL. IT WAS 60 MILES AN HOUR AND THE WIND WAS BLOWING AND I GUESS IT WAS THE PERFECT STORM AS THEY SAY, THE PERFECT FIRE. BUT IT WAS MOST REASSURING WHEN WE LOOKED UP AND SAW THE TANKERS.

AND WE LOOKED UP AND SAW THE RETARDANT COMING DOWN. I CANNOT EXPLAIN HOW RELIEVING IT WAS TO KNOW THE PEOPLE'S LIVES WERE GOING TO BE SAVED . IN CONCLUSION, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE HERE TODAY. TO HEAR MY VOICE AND JUST KNOW THAT HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE A FEELING , THAT SAME FEELING OF RELIEF FOR OTHER PEOPLE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO COME AND COMMUNITIES . WE NEVER KNOW TOTALLY UNEXPECTED WHAT IS WANT TO HAPPEN. BUT TO HAVE THE TANKERS HERE IN ABILENE FOR OUR COMMUNITY , IT REALLY , LITERALLY, SAVE LIVES. I KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT THAT THAT FIRE WOULD HAVE CONTINUED TO SPREAD MORE AND I'M SURE THE SHERIFF WILL TALK ABOUT THAT. BUT THAT TANKER LITERALLY SAVED MANY, MANY LIVES. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK. I AM A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF ABILENE 60 YEARS AND I AM SURPRISE AND HAVE BEEN HERE THAT LONG AND I WANT TO COME HERE AND ON BEHALF OF OUR

[00:30:08]

CITIZENS. THESE TANKERS AND THIS CAPABILITY NOT ONLY MATTERS TO THE CITY OF APP -- ABILENE BUT THE ENTIRE AREA BECAUSE THEY DON'T JUST STAY AROUND HERE BUT THEY GO TO OTHER AREAS AROUND HERE AND FIGHT FIRES AND BECAUSE OF THE REMOTE LOCATIONS OF SOME OF THESE PLACES THE AIRCRAFT IS THE ONLY WAY TO FIGHT SOME OF THESE. THE HILLTOP FIRE WAS A PRIME EXAMPLE AND MOST OF THE FIREFIGHTING THEY GOT DONE, THE FIRST PART WAS DONE WITH AIRCRAFT BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION AND REMOTE IN THE PROBLEM IS IT DIDN'T STAY REMOTE. IF IT CONTINUES DOWN TO THE NORTH DOWN THAT HILL INTO THE CITY LIMITS IT COULD BE RAPID AND THANKFULLY BECAUSE OF THE AIRCRAFT, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AND I ASK YOU GUYS TO STRONGLY CONSIDER IN INVESTING IN THIS AIR TANK A RAMP FOR ABILENE IN THIS AREA AND THESE FIREFIGHTERS AND FOR PEOPLE WHO DID LOSE EVERYTHING. IF WE CAN PREVENT THE LOSS OF SOMEBODY'S PROPERTY OR THE LOSS OF LIFE WITH THIS MOVE, THEN MAKE THAT MOVE. WE ALL SERVE THE SAME PEOPLE AND CITIZENS. LET'S WORK TOGETHER ON THIS AND THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS FOR OUR AREA AND CITY. I APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH IN YOUR SERVICE TO OUR

COMMUNITY. >> DID YOU SAY YOU WERE 60?

>> IT'S MY MOISTURIZER A -- I USE.

>> MY NAME IS CAMERON WHILE -- WHILE HE AND I AM A VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION OF SERVING AS THE CHAIR. IT IS A COALITION OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND THE UNITED WAY OF ABILENE DESIGNED TO RESPOND TO AND PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR ANY DISASTER HE -- IN THE BIG CAN'T -- COUNTRY. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE I UNDERSTAND YOUR WORK IS MEANINGFUL AND RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING GOOD STEWARDS AND PRIORITIZING NEEDS AND WANTS AND WITH THAT SAID I BELIEVE THE PROPOSED FIREBASE IN PARTNERSHIP OF THE FORESTRY SERVICE IS A CRITICAL NEED FOR OUR IMMUNITY IN SEVERAL YEARS AGO WE WERE ONE OF MANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT RESPONDED TO THE FIRE AND DURING THAT CRISIS WE SAW A VITAL ROLE AIR ASSETS PLAY IN FIRST RESPONDERS AND THE DAMAGE COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE. THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS LOCALLY ISN'T JUST A BENEFIT FOR THE BIG COUNTRY REGION BUT ENHANCE THE STRATEGIC RESPONSE CAPABILITIES FOR WEST TEXAS, THE STATE AND THE MIDWEST. WITH THAT I WANTED TO EXPRESS MY FULL AND UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR THIS INITIATIVE.

>>> GOOD MORNING. SHERIFF RICKY BISHOP AND FIRE CHIEF. IT IS HARD TO COME AFTER THESE FOLKS BECAUSE THEY HAVE SPOKE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS AND THINK -- THINGS I WANT TO COVER. BUT THIS IS EXTREMELY VITAL NOT ONLY FOR OUR AREA BUT SURROUNDING AREAS BUT SEVERAL TIMES WE HAVE ALMOST LOST IN TIGHT -- ENTIRE TOWNS AND IF IT WEREN'T FOR AIRCRAFT WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO WHAT WE DID. I HAVE HEARD FROM PEOPLE OVER TIME THAT IT WON'T AFFECT ME AND IT DOESN'T AFFECT ME. WE DON'T NEED TO SPEND THE MONEY OR WHATEVER THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE. THIS DOES AFFECT EVERYBODY. EVEN IN THE CITY LIMITS OF ABILENE BECAUSE IF YOU REMEMBER YEARS AGO THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO THERE WAS A FIGHT -- FIRE NEAR THE HAMPTON HILLS AREA THAT STARTED IN THE COUNTY AND BURNED INTO TOWN.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HELP SUPPRESS THIS WAS TANKERS THAT CAME IN TO SLOW IT DOWN AND BUILD LINES AND GET WHERE THEY NEEDED TO GET EVERYBODY FOR A WHILE REMEMBERED THE EASTER BLUES FIRE WHICH HAPPENED ON EASTER IN THE CAMP AREA BUT AIRCRAFT WAS VITAL IN THAT ONE AS WELL AS THE HILLTOP. AND I WANT TO SAY EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT IT CAN DO BESIDES THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT THAT COMES TO THE CITY. AND I DON'T THINK I HAVE EVER DONE THIS PUBLICLY AND BE ABLE TO THANK THE CITY FOR THEIR EQUIPMENT AND

[00:35:02]

PERSONNEL SENT BECAUSE IT WAS DEFINITELY WELCOMING FOR EVERYBODY BECAUSE EVERYBODY COMING TOGETHER CAN GET A LOT DONE BUT ONLY A FEW OF US CAN'T GET AS MUCH DONE AS NEED BE TO PROTECT THE CITIZENS AND NOT ONLY OF ABILENE BUT THE COUNTY AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> WE ARE STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO

SPEAK ON ITEM 24? >> TAMMY VOGEL AND A RESIDENT OF ABILENE. I WILL JUST SAY GOING AFTER ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE FEELS A LITTLE INTIMIDATING BECAUSE THEY ARE PEOPLE I LOOK UP TO AND APPRECIATE ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK AND WHAT THEY CONTRIBUTE TO OUR COMMUNITY. WITH THAT SAID, I HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE, YES, I AGREE 100% THAT WE DEFINITELY WILL BENEFIT FROM HAVING THIS. I AM CURIOUS AS TO WHY IT HAD TO GO THE WAY IT DID. WHEN THIS WAS BROUGHT 45 DAYS AGO, WHERE IT WAS BROUGHT BEFORE US BECAUSE YOU HAD TO DO IT BY LAW TO ANNOUNCE IT WAS COMING, WE HAD JUST BEEN DROPPED A BIG BOMBSHELL SAYING IT WOULD COST US 5.8 MILLION DOLLARS MORE IN DISCUSSION THAT WAS LIKE LET'S LOOK INTO THIS AND TO SEE IF THERE ARE OTHER WAYS AROUND IT AND WE WILL PUT THIS ON THE COUNTER JUST IN CASE AND WE CAN'T FIND ANYTHING BETTER AND WE WILL MOVE FORWARD AND I SAID THIS IS A DONE DEAL. IT IS REALLY FRUSTRATING TO BE SOMEBODY WHO IS PAID ATTENTION TO THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF OR MORE ON THIS TOPIC AND HAVE WATCHED HOW IT HAS BEEN HANDLED AND I AM SHOCKED BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER HEARD OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DOING A FEASIBILITY STUDY AND WHY IS IT NOW ON THE DAY YOU ARE PASSING IT YOU MENTION THE $46 MILLION IN THE $26 MILLION YOU PASS INTO ME THAT IS SOMETHING YOU START WITH. YES. IT IS A LOCATIONAL THING AND WON'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT IF WE HAVE ATTACKERS ARE NOT -- AIR TANKERS OR NOT. WHY WASN'T THAT INFORMATION SHOUTED FROM THE ROOFTOPS. IT MAKES NO SENSE. WE HAD TO REPAY TAXES IN MARCH WHICH IS THE BOMBSHELL IN THE CITY DECIDED WITH NO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AT ALL EXCEPT FOR COUNCILMAN REAGAN IS WE WILL SPEND $1 MILLION ON THE DOG PARK AND THEN WE HAVE AN ISSUE OF A MILLION-DOLLAR NEED FOR A CATASTROPHIC FIRE STATION PARKING LOT REPAIR AND THEN CHOOSE BETWEEN HIRING POLICE OFFICERS ARE CUTTING SERVICES BECAUSE WE ARE IN A FINANCIAL CRISIS BECAUSE MONEY IS TIGHT WITH NO REVENUE COMING IN. AND I DID WRITE ONE MORE DOWN AND THEN WE HAVE TO CLOSE THE CIVIC CENTER TO DO REMODELS TO SAVE $1 MILLION AND THERE IS ALL THIS MONEY COMING OUT OF SOMEWHERE. I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT IS. IF I AM A CITIZEN PAYING ATTENTION AND I KNOW MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. BUT WHILE I APPRECIATE WHAT IT DOES FOR OUR COMMUNITY, I AM TIRED OF GETTING HIT BY WAVE OF WAVE AFTER CONFUSION AND WILL WE RETIRE THAT DEBT OR ADDING? SO WHILE I THINK THIS LOCATION WILL IMPROVE A LOT OF LIVES AND PROTECT A LOT OF LIVES AND PROPERTY, I WANT TO TAKE CARE OF OUR CITY AND MAKE SURE WE MAKE GOOD DECISIONS AND SPEND $1 MILLION FOR DOGS AND TAKING OUT DEBT FOR FIRE. WE COULD'VE USED SOME OF THAT BECAUSE IT'S FROM THE SAME PROJECT. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND I AM EXCITED WHAT IS COMING BUT NOT HAPPY WITH THE PROCESS.

>> WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 24? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION

BY THE COUNCIL? >> I WANTED TO ECHO SOMETHING THAT THE JUDGE MENTIONED ABOUT THE WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION AIRCRAFT AND WHILE IT IS TRUE WE CAN'T GOVERN ON WHAT IS I WAS LOOKING HERE AT A STATEMENT FROM THE REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE AND THE STATE OF TEXAS IS LOOKING TO SPEND ROUGHLY 369 MILLION-DOLLAR FOR WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION AIRCRAFT IN THE JUDGE MENTIONED THAT AND I THINK WE SHOULD GO AFTER THAT AND I DO KNOW THAT ROBIN WILL BE DOING THAT AND IT IS ANOTHER GREAT POSSIBLE IMPACT AND NOT A GREAT DONE DEAL BUT THE PLUSES ON THIS ARE SO MUCH FOR THE SAFETY AND ECONOMIC IMPACT. I MAKE A MOTION UNLESS SOMEBODY WANTS TO JUMP IN.

>> A MOTION. >> SECOND.

>> ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? READY TO VOTE?

[25. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action to Approve a Contract with Webber Construction to Build the Air Tanker Ramp at Abilene Regional Airport (Don Green)]

[00:40:05]

>> COUNCILMEMBER BEARD IS ABSTAINING BUT THE REST ARE

YES. THE MOTION CARRIES. >> I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS. I WILL ASK THE TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR, JACOB & MARTIN PRESENT ITEM NUMBER 25.

>> GOOD MORNING . I AM DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION AND SERVICES.

HERE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IS THE AWARD OF THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE RAMP WITH WEBER LLC AND WHEN WE BID THIS WE HAD TWO BIDS AND IT WAS THE LOW BID AND OVER BUDGET AT 26,000,005 21 860 AND WE HAVE LOOKED AT THIS IN VARIOUS WAYS AND WHEN WE DO HAVE A BID LIKE THIS THE FIRST INSTINCT IS TO NEGOTIATE SOME CHANGE IN QUANTITIES AND SUCH WITH THAT CONTRACTOR. HOWEVER, SINCE THIS IS FUNDED PRIMARILY WITH A $21 MILLION GRANT THROUGH TEXT.THEY DON'T ALLOW THAT TYPE OF VALUE ENGINEERING. WE WERE NOT ABLE TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION WITH A CONTRACTOR TO GET THIS CLOSER TO OUR BUDGET AND WE ALSO CONSIDERED REBIDDING THE PROJECT BUT OUR ENGINEER TALKED TO OTHER CONTRACTORS THEY TALKED TO PRIOR TO THE BID AND WE WERE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO GET AS MANY CONTRACTORS INTERESTED IN THIS PROJECT TO BID ON IT IS POSSIBLE TO INCREASE THE COMPETITION. BUT THE DISCUSSIONS WITH THOSE CONTRACTORS ARE THAT THEY ARE IN A TIGHT POSITION WITH LABOR AT THIS POINT. WE DON'T THINK BY REBIDDING WE WOULD HAVE GENERATED MANY ADDITIONAL BIDS, IF ANY AT ALL. NOR DO WE THINK WE WOULD HAVE SEEN SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS OVER THE BID FROM WEBER. SO WITH THAT, THAT IS WHY I DO HAVE A RECOMMENDATION IS TO PROCEED WITH THIS PROJECT OF COURSE WITH THE FUNDING THROUGH THE CO. SO WE ALSO DID ALSO LOOK WHEN WE DID REBID THE POSSIBILITY OF RESIZING THE PROJECT AND TRYING TO FIND SAVINGS JUST IN REDUCING THE SIZE OF THAT RAMP. AND IF WE DID DO THAT WE ARE BILLING TO WHAT THE TEXAS A AND M FOR SERVICE IN THE U.S. FOR SERVICE TO SOME DEGREE AND WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THEM DURING THE DESIGN OF THAT PROJECT IN TRYING TO GET WHAT THEY WANT HERE ON THE GROUND IN ABILENE TO SUPPORT THE OPERATIONS THEY ENVISION HAVING HERE IN WHAT WE HAVE SEEN AT THE AIRPORT THEIR IMPACT ON OUR OPERATIONS AND THE AMOUNT OF SPACE THEY TAKE UP IN VARIOUS PLACES. IT IS WITH THAT THAT WE DO RECOMMEND THIS BID EVEN THOUGH IT COMES AT A HIGHER COST OF WHAT WE ANTICIPATED. THAT IS A RECOMMENDATION. AND THE BOARD CONSIDER THIS LAST MONTH AND APPROVED ITS RECOMMENDATION TO YOU FOR THIS.

>> CAN YOU ADVANCE TO THE PICTURE IN THAT WAY WE CAN SEE

WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE.'S >> THIS HAS WHAT THE FOREST SERVICE CALLS FOUR PITS WHICH IS WHERE THEY LOAD THE AIRCRAFT ACTIVELY. THIS IS BASED ON WHAT THE FOREST SERVICE ANTICIPATES THIS RAMP BEING ABLE TO GROW THEIR ABILITIES TO. IT ALSO HAS FOUR PARKING SPOTS THERE IN THE MIDDLE. WE HAVE DESIGNED THIS FOR WHAT THEY CALL A LARGE AIR TANKER OR LACKED -- LAT WHICH IS WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN PROVIDING HERE FOR MOST PART AND THESE ARE THE LARGER AIRCRAFT THAT CARRY MORE THAN A SMALLER AIRCRAFT BUT IT IS A MCDONALD DOUGLAS 87 AIRFRAME THEY ARE USING OR THAT WE ARE PLANNING FOR BUT THERE COULD BE LARGER AIRCRAFT THAT COULD COME IN HERE AT A CERTAIN TIME IF THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE OR THE STATE OF TEXAS NEEDED TO BRING SOMETHING LARGER. WE COULD HANDLE THAT AS WELL WITH THIS RAMP AND PROBABLY NOT ON A PERMANENT BASIS OR ANYTHING, BUT AS AN EVENT THAT GOT OUT OF HAND AND THEY COULD BRING LARGER AIRCRAFT. WE BELIEVE THIS MEETS THE NEED AND THE FOREST SERVICE BELIEVES IT MEETS THEIR NEED WELL INTO THE

[00:45:01]

FUTURE TO PROVIDE FOREST FIRE PROTECTION FOR NOT ONLY OUR COUNTIES OR THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES BUT WHEN THEY FLY OUT OF HERE, THEY ARE FLYING TO LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEW MEXICO, COLORADO, AND OKLAHOMA. IT IS A REGIONAL TYPE OF THING SOMETIMES WHEN THE U.S. FOR SERVICE GETS INVOLVED SOMETIMES

AS WELL. >> I WAS GOING TO SAY, ARE WE

SELLING THEM FUEL? >> YES. THEY ARE SELLING THE FUEL FOR THAT. ABILENE AERO IS AN ADDITIONAL SIDEBAR HAS COMMITTED TO BUILDING A CREW LOUNGE BASICALLY A DAY LOUNGE FOR THE FIREFIGHTING CREWS, PILOTS AND GROUND HANDLING

CREWS AT THE AIRPORT. >> IS THERE A POSSIBILITY AND I AM LOOKING AT A FUTURE TWO-STORY BUILDING AND IF FOR SOME REASON THEY NEEDED SOME SPACE THIS IS LAID OUT IF THEY NEEDED FOUR MORE BAYS OR REFUELING PLACES ? CANNOT BE EXPANDED TO THE OTHER AREAS ON THE AIRPORT PROPERTY?

>> WE REALLY WANT TO KEEP THE OPERATION CONSOLIDATED IN THIS RAMP AND ALONG WITH THE FOREST SERVICE THIS WILL ENABLE ALL FUTURE OPERATIONS THAT ARE ANTICIPATED HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS I HAD.

>> YOU ARE VERY WELCOME. >> DID YOU HAVE QUESTIONS?

>> AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING AND IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 25? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IF THERE IS ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND.

>> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN PRICE. READY TO

VOTE? >> COUNCILMEMBER BEARD IS

[26. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action to Approve a Task Order with Garver to Perform Construction Phase Services for the Air Tanker Ramp (Don Green)]

ABSTAINING IN THE MOTION CARRIES.

>> WE WILL MOVE TO MOTION 26. >> DON GREEN DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES. WITH A PROJECT THIS LARGE, WE DO LIKE TO HAVE OUR ENGINEER ON SITE WITH A RESIDENT PROJECT REPRESENTATIVE AND THE INSPECTION AND TESTING SERVICES THAT COME WITH CONSTRUCTION SERVICES TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE QUALITY PROJECT OR PRODUCT AT THE END THAT WAS DESIGNED.

SO GARVER HAS PROPOSED A COST OF $744,200 THAT CONTAINS THE CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION FROM ENGINEERS AND THE ON-SITE RPR RESIDENT PROJECT ENGINEER AND THEN TESTING CONCRETE, BASE MATERIALS AND DIFFERENT MATERIALS THAT GO INTO CONSTRUCTING THIS AND THAT THE CLOSEOUT SERVICES. TYPICALLY, WITH THAT PROJECT, WE DO HAVE THIS AND YOU WILL SEE THIS AND FUTURE PROJECTS BUT WE DID GO AHEAD AND DO THIS FOR THIS ONE BECAUSE OF THE SCOPE OF IT. I ALSO ADDED AND IN TRYING TO BE COST-CONSCIOUS I ADDED ARE ASKED THE OTHER CONSULTANT TO DO AN INDEPENDENT FEE ESTIMATE WHICH IS WHERE THEY TAKE THE SCOPE OF THIS TASK ORDER FROM GARVER AND ALSO ESTIMATE WHAT THE COST WOULD BE TYPICALLY IN THIS MARKET ENVIRONMENT FROM ANOTHER ENGINEERING FIRM. THEY CAME OUT WITH A COST OF OVER $800,000. WE DO BELIEVE THAT GARVER IS GIVING US A FAIR PRICE FOR THIS. THIS IS TO HAVE THAT RPR ON-SITE DAILY MAKING SURE THE CONTRACTOR IS ADHERING TO THE SPECIFICATIONS OF THE PLANS AND WHEN PROBLEMS DO ARISE, WE HAVE A FULL TEAM TO

SOLVE THAT PROBLEM. >> QUESTION TO DON? AT THIS TIME I WOULD OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

>> SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. I ACCEPT A

MOTION AND SECOND. >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> A MOTION IN A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? READY DEVOTE?

[00:50:05]

>> COUNCILMEMBER BEARD IS ABSTAINING. BUT THE REST ARE

[27. Ordinance (Final Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Amending Chapter 18, "Motor Vehicles And Traffic," Article XIII, "Schedules," Section 18-289.1, "One-Way Streets-Certain Times," of the Abilene Municipal Code to Change Traffic Restrictions at Crockett Early Head Start Facility (Max Johnson)]

YES. MOTION PASSES. >> I WILL ASK MAX JOHNSON TO

PRESENT ITEM 27. >> UP FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION THIS MORNING AS AN ORDINANCE AND FINAL READING FOR AN ORDINANCE CHANGE . THIS IS FOR A ONE-WAY DURING CERTAIN PERIODS OF TIME, A RESTRICTION ON SOUTH 13TH NEAR THE CROCKETT HEAD START FACILITY, EARLY HEAD START FACILITY. THESE HAVE BEEN OBSERVED SINCE 2021 AROUND THAT TIME BUT DUE TO AN OVERSIGHT IT WAS NEVER BROUGHT TO UPDATE THE ORDINANCE SO THAT IS WHAT WE ARE HERE FOR TODAY TO CONSIDER UP 80 THAT ORDINANCE. THE HEAD OF THE EARLY HEAD START SUPPORTS THIS AND STEVE AND THE STAFF SUPPORTS THIS. THIS IS THE AMOUNT OF WHERE WE ARE WHERE THE SIGN IS. THIS IS THE SIGN THAT IS UPFRONT RIGHT NOW.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? >> AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 27? COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IF THERE IS NO DISCUSSION I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND.

>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND.

>> A MOTION AND A SECOND. WE ARE READY TO VOTE.

[28. Ordinance (Final Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on an Ordinance of the City of Abilene, Texas, and Providing for the Extension of the Boundary Limits of the City of Abilene, Texas, and for the Annexation of Certain Territory - 7.8 acres - Lying Adjacent and Contiguous to the Present Boundary Limits of the City of Abilene, and Granting to All the Inhabitants of Territory, all the Rights and Privileges of other Citizens and Binding the Inhabitants by All of the Acts, Ordinances, Resolutions and Regulations of the City of Abilene; and Adopting a Service Plan Agreement (Michael Rice)]

>> ALL YESES. THE MOTION CARRIES.

>> WE WILL MOVE TO ITEM 28 AND I WILL ASK MICHAEL TO PRESENT.

>> I DO HAVE THE LAST FOUR ITEMS DEALING WITH ANNEXATION AND ITEM 28 IS FOR APPROXIMATELY 7.8 ACRES THAT WOULD BE ADDED TO THE CITY LIMITS. THIS IS A REQUEST FROM THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT OF WILEY PRIMARILY LOCATED TO THE WILEY HIGH SCHOOL OVER OFF OF ANTLEY ROAD AND YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE FOLLOWED THE STATE STATUTES AS FAR AS THE PROCESS TO MAKE SURE IT IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES AND REGULATIONS AND IT WILL BE ZONED AGRICULTURAL OPEN SPACE WITH THE STAFF SUPPORTING THIS REQUEST AND THIS SHOWS THE LIMITS OF WHAT THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY LOOKS LIKE AND THEY ARE LOOKING TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS AND ARE LOOKING FOR CITY SERVICES AND THEREBY THE NEED FOR THE REQUEST FOR ANNEXATION AND WITH THAT A REQUEST.

>> ONE QUESTION IS AGRICULTURAL OPENED ANTICIPATED TO MEET THE

NEEDS THEY INTEND? >> IT CAN GO INTO ANY ZONING.

>> AT THIS TIME WE WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING AND IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST ITEM NUMBER 28? COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. I ACCEPT A MOTION AND SECOND.

>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND.

[29. Ordinance (Final Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on an Ordinance of the City of Abilene, Texas, and Providing for the Extension of the Boundary Limits of the City of Abilene, Texas, and for the Annexation of Certain Territory - 1.777 acres - Lying Adjacent and Contiguous to the Present Boundary Limits of the City of Abilene, and Granting to All the Inhabitants of Territory, all the Rights and Privileges of other Citizens and Binding the Inhabitants by All of the Acts, Ordinances, Resolutions and Regulations of the City of Abilene; and Adopting a Service Plan Agreement (Michael Rice)]

>> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. WE ARE READY TO VOTE.

>> IT IS ALL YESES. THE MOTION CARRIES.

>> ITEM 29 WITH MICHAEL RICE. >> THIS IS A REQUEST BY THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT A PARCEL OF 1.77 ACRES AND ONCE AGAIN WE HAVE FOLLOWED THE STATE STATUTE AND THEY HAVE REQUESTED THIS BE ANNEXED INTO THE CITY LIMITS AND THIS IS PART OF A NEW TRACT OF LAND WHICH THEY PLAN TO BUILD A NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON BELTWAY. THIS IS AN AREA SHOWING LIBERTY TRIANGLE IN THIS PARCEL EXTENDING TO HIS THE NEW LOCATION OF THE SCHOOL AND ONCE AGAIN THIS HAS BEEN REVIEWED AND MEETS THE STATUTES AND NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL. I WOULD BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY

QUESTIONS. >> AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 29? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

FOR DISCUSSION, I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION AND SECOND.

[30. Ordinance (Final Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on an Ordinance of the City of Abilene, Texas, and Providing for the Extension of the Boundary Limits of the City of Abilene, Texas, and for the Annexation of Certain Territory - 1802.91 acres - Lying Adjacent and Contiguous to the Present Boundary Limits of the City of Abilene, and Granting to All the Inhabitants of Territory, all the Rights and Privileges of other Citizens and Binding the Inhabitants by All of the Acts, Ordinances, Resolutions and Regulations of the City of Abilene; and Adopting a Service Plan Agreement (Michael Rice)]

>> A MOTION AND A SECOND. WE ARE READY TO VOTE.

>> ALL YESES. THE MOTION CARRIES.

>> MOVING AND ITEMS SORRY -- ITEM 30.

>> THIS IS PROPERTY OWNED BY THE CITY OF ABILENE . ONCE

[00:55:07]

AGAIN THE CITY HAS REQUESTED ANNEXATION AND WE ARE ALLOWED TO DO THAT UNDER THE TEXAS STATUTE OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE FOLLOWING ALL THE REQUIREMENTS BY THE STATE IN ORDER FOR ANNEXATION TO BE LEGAL AND STAFF HAS REVIEWED THIS AND ARE RECOMMENDING THIS REQUEST. THIS IS AN AREA IN GREEN AND PINK THAT SHOWS THE AREA OF ANNEXATION CALLING THIS THE HAM BEEP PLANT A BECAUSE IT IS AROUND THE HAMBY PLANT.

>> IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR ITEM 30? COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

>> SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND. I DO HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE ARE READY TO VOTE.

[31. Ordinance (Final Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on an Ordinance of the City of Abilene, Texas, and Providing for the Extension of the Boundary Limits of the City of Abilene, Texas, and for the Annexation of Certain Territory - 5.9 acres - Lying Adjacent and Contiguous to the Present Boundary Limits of the City of Abilene, and Granting to All the Inhabitants of Territory, all the Rights and Privileges of other Citizens and Binding the Inhabitants by All of the Acts, Ordinances, Resolutions and Regulations of the City of Abilene; and Adopting a Service Plan Agreement (Michael Rice)]

>> THE MOTION CARRIES WITH ALL YESES.

>> ITEM 31. >> AGENDA ITEM 31 IS THE LAST ANNEXATION ITEM A REQUEST BY 5.9 ACRES WANTING TO ADD TO THE EXISTING FOOTPRINT INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS AND THEY REQUESTED ANNEXATION AND WE HAVE FOLLOWED THE STATE STATUTE CONCERNING NOTIFICATION AND STAFF HAS REVIEWED THIS. WE ARE RECOMMENDING ANNEXATION. IT WILL COME IN AS AO BUT IT IS A COMPANION TO THE EXISTING ITEM ON YOUR AGENDA ITEM 16 IN THE PROCESS OF REZONING THIS FOR THAT TO TAKE PLACE AND MUST BE PART OF THE CITY LIMITS SO IT'S CURRENTLY DOING THAT IS BACKUP. THIS IS A PHOTOGRAPH AND THE CROSSHATCHED AREA IS THE ONE THEY ARE ASKING FOR ANNEXATION TO BE ADDED AND ON THE OTHER SIDE WITH IN PURPLE THOSE ARE ALREADY WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS SO YOU SEE THE NEED TO ADD IT TO THEIR TRACT AND THIS IS AN ACTIVE TRACT UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND WITH THAT I

WOULD ADD OR ANSWER QUESTIONS. >> AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST 31? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR

THE RECORD. >> TAMMY VOGEL RESIDENT AND I SPEAK WHEN IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE CONTRARY TO SOME PEOPLE'S BELIEFS I DON'T LIKE TO HEAR THE SOUND OF MY OWN VOICE. I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THIS AND THIS IS PROBABLY WHEN I STARTED GETTING INVOLVED SEEING THIS WHOLE PROCESS BEING BROUGHT THROUGH AND I BELIEVE THE DCO A AND THIS COMPANY AND IT HAS CLICKED TOGETHER. I DO WANT TO STATE THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE SEE IT A GOOD THING TO BRING IN A COMPANY THAT IS IN COMPETITION WITH WHAT WE DO AS A WEST TEXAS OIL AND GAS AND THE ENERGY DOESN'T MAKE SENSE AND I KNOW THERE ARE ECONOMICS INVOLVED BRINGING IN OR HOPING TO BECOME REALLY BIG BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IN WEST TEXAS WE ARE FOCUSING ON AN ENERGY SOURCE THAT ISN'T WORKING AND SUBSIDIZED BY THE GOVERNMENT. I DON'T SEE IT AS A WISE THING TO DO. IT IS ALREADY DONE. WE ARE MOVING FORWARD BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE KNOW THAT AND WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THE INDUSTRIES AT WORK IN OUR AREA AND NOT BRING ANOTHER ONES THAT COMPETE. I HAVE SEEN THAT HAPPEN IN OUR CITY A LOT THAT THE CITY PARTNERS IN THINGS THAT COMPETE WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OR BUSINESSES AND AND UP GOING OUT OF BUSINESS. I WOULD SAY LET'S BE CAUTIOUS ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OF RENEWABLE ENERGY AND IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE BECAUSE IT HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO BE PROVEN ITSELF TO HOLD ITS OWN WEIGHT AND IT CAN'T. WHY WOULD WE WANT TO COMPETE? WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO DESTROY A LAND. THIS IS DESTROYED BY WIND FARMS AND SOLAR PANELS AND EVERYWHERE AND I KNOW MAYBE THAT IS UNPOPULAR ON AN ECONOMIC SENSE BUT WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE LAND AND AS A CITIZEN I FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT TO SAY SOMETHING ON

THE RECORD. THANK YOU. >> WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO

SPEAK ON THIS? >> I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING SEEING NO ONE. I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. READY TO VOTE.

[EXECUTIVE SESSION]

>> ALL YESES. MOTION CARRIES. >> IT IS NOW 9:29 A.M. AND WE WILL RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO 551.071 WITH CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY, PERSONNEL MATTERS,

[01:00:06]

551.072, ABOUT REAL PROP

[RECONVENE]

>> IT IS NOW 9:59 A.M. AND WE RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION AND

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.

Nov 21, 2024 City Council

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