7. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Take Action on Approving a Professional Services Contract with La Terra Studio, LLC (Michael Rice)

[7. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Take Action on Approving a Professional Services Contract with La Terra Studio, LLC (Michael Rice)]

>> ALL YESES, MOTION CARRIES. >> WE WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 7.

COUNCILMAN REGAN, YOUR QUESTIONS ON THIS.

>> YES, THANK YOU. SO THIS IS FOR THE LAND BETWEEN NORTH FIRST AND NORTH SECOND , RIGHT ACROSS FROM SIEBER STREET STATION FOR THE ABILENE REPORTER BUILDING USED TO BE.

ROBERT, WOULD YOU MIND JUST GIVING US A QUICK OVERVIEW OF

WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED HERE? >> SURE. WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, AND WE CONSIDER THIS AS A GIFTED DONATION EARLIER -- TWO ANONYMOUS DONORS WILL BE DONATING GENEROUS SUMS TO CONSTRUCT A PEDESTRIAN PLAZA IN THIS LOCATION , AND THE CITY WILL CONSTRUCT A PARKING LOT OF ABOUT 142 SPACES FURTHER EAST OF THAT IN THE PLAZA, SO THE PLAZA IS GOING TO BE ROUGHLY A 60 FOOT STRIP OR SO. I THINK THERE IS AN IMAGE IN THE BACK -- MICHAEL, SINCE YOU ARE DOWN THERE, WHY DON'T YOU RUN THROUGH JUST TO SHOW THAT SLIDE SO I CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THIS.

THANK YOU, SIR. >> THIS IS AN ILLUSTRATION OF WHAT THE CONCEPT COULD POSSIBLY LOOK LIKE.

>> AND SO WHAT WE HAVE, YOU CAN SEE JUST ON THE TOP OF THAT SCREEN, YOU HAVE THE NUMBERS 24, AND THOSE ARE THE NUMBER OF

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PARKING SPACES IN THAT SECTION AND IT CONTINUES ALL THE WAY UP TO PINE STREET. THE PEDESTRIAN PLAZA WILL BE THE AREA YOU ARE LOOKING AT THERE. IT IS ALL PRIVATE FUNDS THAT IS PAYING FOR THIS. THE CITY WILL BUILD A PUBLIC PARKING LOT WITH PUBLIC FUNDS. THAT IS A LEGITIMATE USE OF THOSE DOLLARS. AND THAT CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT ONCE THE DESIGNS APPROVED. WE ARE DOING THE DESIGN IN-HOUSE, SO THERE'S NO CONTRACT TO BE APPROVED WITH THAT. BUT THE ACTUAL ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN WORK ASSOCIATED FOR THE PARK IS BEING DONE BY LA TERRA STUDIO, LLC AND THEY ARE ALSO ENGAGING THE CIVIL ENGINEERING PORTION

OF THIS. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. JUST A FEW QUESTIONS. SO THIS, ON OWNERSHIP OF THE PROPERTY, THE CITY WOULD PAY 148 FOR THIS DESIGNER ARCHITECT TO COME IN.

WHO WOULD OWN THE LAND ONCE IT BECOMES A PARK, AND MAINTENANCE

WISE, WHO WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE? >> THE LAND IS STILL GOING TO BE OWNED BY THE ABILENE IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION, AND WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM FOR THIS PURPOSE AND FOR THE PARKING LOT. FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES, WE WILL MAINTAIN AND OPERATE THE FACILITY. BUT THE ACTUAL TITLE TO THE LAND IS CONTEMPLATED TO BE UNDER AIC OWNERSHIP. AND SO --

>> THE CITY IS PAYING 148 FOR THE DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURAL CONTRACT, BUT IT IS OWNED BY AIC. WHY IS THE CITY PAYING

THAT? >> SO THE MONEY THAT WILL BE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECT, THAT INCLUDES DESIGN WORK AS WELL. THE CITY IS GOING TO END UP BEING REIMBURSED FOR THAT, FOR THE MONEY WE ARE FRONTING FOR THIS. PROJECT. WE GET REIMBURSED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR ON THAT. WE HAVE TO HAVE THE DESIGN, AND WE HAVE TO KNOW THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION COST, SO WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THAT PROCESS. INDEED, WE HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED SOME FUNDS FOR THIS. WE WILL BE RECEIVING THEM SHORTLY. SO WE HAVE THE FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR THIS PROJECT.

>> LONG-TERM, IS THIS -- WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR THIS LONG-TERM? IS THIS PERMANENT FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS?

>> THE LONG-TERM PLAN FOR THIS WOULD BE THE PEDESTRIAN PLAZA.

ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE TALKED ABOUT KEEPING IT UNDER AIC OWNERSHIP IS , IF THE PRIVATE SECTOR WANTED TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE -- TO USE AN EXAMPLE TO GET USED AROUND A LOT, TOYOTA WANTS TO PUT THE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AT THIS LOCATION, SINCE IT IS UNDER AIC OWNERSHIP, IT COULD BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. IT DOESN'T MEAN THE PEDESTRIAN PLAZA WOULD HAVE TO GO AWAY. IT'S A REALLY NICE AMENITY, BUT THE PUBLIC PARKING COULD BE RECONFIGURED AND YOU COULD END UP PUTTING A STRUCTURE THERE AND YOU COULD END UP PUTTING A PARKING GARAGE DEPENDING ON HOW THE DESIGN WAS DONE . BUT THAT WAS THE REASON AND THE GENESIS FOR KEEPING IT UNDER AIC OWNERSHIP. BECAUSE IF IT IS TO THE OWNERSHIP, DIVESTING OURSELVES OF THE PROPERTY IS DIFFICULT. AND IF IT IS A DEDICATED PUBLIC PARK, IT BECOMES NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO DIVEST THE CITY OF THE PROPERTY. SO THIS IS WHY WE STRUCTURED THIS WAY.

>> JUST A FEW MORE QUESTIONS. SO OPEN SPACE RIGHT THERE ON CYPRUS, WHICH WE ARE DEVELOPING CYPRESS STREET TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS ON -- WE ARE, IN EFFECT, JUST MAKING A LARGE, WIDE OPEN SPACE. IS THERE CONCERN ABOUT PEOPLE JUST KIND OF CAMPING OUT THERE AND DETRACTING FROM WHAT WE ARE

TRYING TO BUILD THERE? >> IS A GOOD QUESTION, BUT WE HAVE THE SAME QUESTION FOR THE SAME CONUNDRUM IN WINTER PARK AND EITHER PARK ON EITHER SIDE OF THIS, AND WE DO IT THAT WHEN THAT COMES UP. THERE'S A STATEWIDE CAMPING BAN , BUT IF SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PARK AND ENJOYING THE PARK, THERE'S NO INFLUENCE. IF THEY ARE SLEEPING ON THE GROUND, THEY ARE SLEEPING ON A BENCH, WE HAVE WAYS OF ADDRESSING THAT THAT IS -- WE WORK WITH OUR NONPROFITS, AND SOMETIMES WE MOVE THEM ALONG . LOOK AT THE STATE CAMPING BAN ORDINANCE

STATUTE IF NECESSARY. >> WOULD WE BE ABLE TO DO THAT SINCE IT IS NOT CITY-OWNED PROPERTY? THE MAC YES.

>> OKAY. AND THEN -- WE TALKED ABOUT MY CONCERN , THIS IS THE BEST PARK IN DOWNTOWN , BUSINESSWISE, COMMERCIAL USE WISE. WE HAVE VENTURE PARKED TO THE LEFT, WE HAVE EVELYN PARK TO THE RIGHT. ANOTHER PART, IN MY OPINION, IS NOT THE BEST USE OF PERHAPS THE BEST LOCATED BLOCK THAT WE HAVE IN TOWN. IF WE ARE WANTING TO BRING PEOPLE TO DOWNTOWN TO SHOP, TO LIVE,

[00:20:02]

TO MAKE IT VIBRANT, IF WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY OTHER PARKS, I WOULD BE ALL FOR THIS. I HAVE ALREADY WANT TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. SO I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE BEST USE OF PROPERTY. I MAY BE THE ONLY ONE WHO BELIEVES THAT, BUT MY POSITION IS, LET'S KEEP THIS OPEN AND AVAILABLE FOR COMMERCIAL

DEVELOPMENT. >> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? I AM IN DISAGREEMENT. I BELIEVE THIS IS THE BEST USE, PERSONALLY. IT COMBINES THOSE PARKS, IT CONNECTS THEM, IT MAKES A BEAUTIFUL SPACE IN DOWNTOWN ABILENE. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 7? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NO ONE COME I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ? I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND.

>> I HAVE A QUICK COMMENT. I WANT TO THINK THE FOLKS INVOLVED IN THIS DESIGN. I THINK ONE OF THE BEST WAYS WE CAN SUPPORT THE EXISTING BUSINESSES IN DOWNTOWN -- THE CONSISTENT COMPLAINT I GET DOWN THERE IS LACK OF PARKING.

ADDING 140 PARKING SPOTS WILL ENABLE MORE PEOPLE TO GO INTO DOWNTOWN AND SUPPORT THE PLACES THAT ARE THERE AND HAVE BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME. I THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD USE OF

THIS. >> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN PRICE . A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BEARD. IS THAT

CORRECT? >> YES, SECOND.

>> IS ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? READY TO VOTE.

>> ALL WERE IN FAVOR WITH THE EXCEPTION OF COUNCILMEMBER

[10. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Take Action on Accepting Plum/Turtles Sculptures as part of the Storybook Series (Lesli Andrews)]

REGAN. >> MOTION CARRIES. SO WE WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 10. WHEN YOU MAKE A MISTAKE LIKE I MADE A MISTAKE, I'M GOING TO COME OUT AND ADMIT IT, BECAUSE ACTUALLY WANTED TO PULL ITEM 12 AND IT'S ALREADY BEEN VOTED ON, SO WE CAN'T DISCUSS THAT. SO WE WILL MOVE TO ITEM 10. I DON'T HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON IT. DOES ANYONE ON THE COUNCIL OF DISCUSSION ON ITEM 10? OKAY. BUT I WILL NOW OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 10? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR

THE RECORD. >> ANNIE VOGEL, RESIDENT OF ABILENE. IT'S A HAPPY ACCIDENT, AS I WAS SURPRISED YOU PULLED IT, TOO. I JUST WANTED TO AGAIN ADDRESS THE SCULPTURE PROCESS. I AM ALL FOR EXPEDIENCY AND MAKING THINGS STREAMLINED, BUT WHEN THERE IS NO PLACE FOR THE PUBLIC TO HAVE INPUT ON SOMETHING GOING ON PUBLIC PROPERTY, IT'S A LITTLE DISCERNING. WHAT I FOUND WAS THAT THE VISUAL ARTS BOARD GETS THE SCULPTURE , USUALLY ABOUT SEPTEMBER, AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER.

THEY APPROVE IT, AND THEN THEY HAVE A BIG REVEAL THAT THEY DO , TYPICALLY AT ACU WHERE THEY HAVE ALL THE CHARACTERS FOR THE SCULPTURE GOING ON, AND THEN THE COUNCIL GETS IT, THEY APPROVE THE SCULPTURE. IT'S A LITTLE CONFUSING BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE MORE IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE SCULPTURE BEFORE THEY MAKE A PUBLIC DISPLAY OF WHAT IS GOING ON, AND THAT JUST SEEMS TO BE A BETTER PROCESS. I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE CHANGED, BUT I REALIZE THIS YEAR IT WAS EXACTLY THE SAME. WHEN WE PASSED IT ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, IT'S NOT A PLACE FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON, BECAUSE IT'S JUST PASSING AGAIN. I SEE THERE IS NO ONE HERE BUT A COUPLE OF US THAT REALLY HAVE INPUT AT THIS MEETING, SO I UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS EXPEDIENT TO PUT IT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT THE PROCESS EXCLUDES ANY INPUT FROM THE CITIZENS, AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THEY HAVE THE SOMETIMES TWO YEARS IN ADVANCE. SO IF WE ARE NOT GETTING UNTIL THE TIME THE SCULPTURE HAS BEEN REVEALED, THEN WE ARE NOT CHANGING THE SCULPTURE. AGAIN, LAST YEAR WAS NOT ABOUT BOOK BANNING. IT WAS ABOUT PICKING SOMETHING THAT WOULD UNIFY THE CITY, AND NOW WE HAVE A SCULPTURE IN THE GARDENS THAT IS A REMINDER THAT WE ARE NOT UNIFIED IN THAT GARDEN. AND SO I WOULD HOPE THAT, AGAIN, I HAVE REQUESTED THAT YOU PUT SOMETHING IN THE GARDENS THAT -- I KNOW THIS IS FOR THE SCULPTURE, BUT WE NEED TO PUT SOMETHING IN THERE THAT SAYS, THESE CULTURES WILL BRING UNITY TO OUR CITY, NOT DIVISION. AND SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE CAN'T DO THIS. THE SCULPTURE IS GREAT . I THINK FOR MOST OF THE YEARS THEY PUT IN SCULPTURES, THEY HAVE BEEN GREAT. YOU WOULD'VE THOUGHT THAT BY BRINGING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION LAST YEAR FOR MANY CITIZENS, YOU WOULD'VE TAKEN PAUSE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, YOU ALL DID NOT. WHILE THE MAJORITY WANTS IT, IT'S REALLY DISINGENUOUS, BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE ARE GOING TO EMAIL YOU BECAUSE I DON'T REALLY THINK IT MATTERS. IF YOU DON'T GET A BUNCH OF EMAILS SAYING WERE NOT OKAY WITH IT, YOU ARE GOING TO KNOW. I DON'T THINK MOST OF PEOPLE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR, AND THAT'S WHY I'M CONTINUING TO MAKE SURE THAT CITIZENS HAVE -- PLAY A PART IN ACTUALLY BEING GOVERNED, OR HOW

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THEY WANT TO BE GOVERNED, RATHER THAN JUST EVERY MAY WHEN WE HAVE AN ELECTION THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T TURN OUT FOR. SO I AM EXCITED THAT THERE ARE STILL POSSIBILITIES TO PUT FORWARD AND I WILL CONTINUE TO RALLY THE TROOPS, BECAUSE I THINK ONCE PEOPLE REALIZE THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL REPRESENT US IN THE MAJORITY OF ABILENE, NOT JUST A CERTAIN SECTION, THEN I THINK WE'LL START TO SEE ABILENE DO SOME THINGS THAT ARE MORE BENEFICIAL FOR EVERYBODY.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AND PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> STILL ON ITEM 10, WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> AND I JUST POINT OUT ONE PROVISION? THIS WAS JUST ADOPTED IN THE M.O. YOU COUNCIL ADOPTED, BUT IT IS PARAGRAPH 12. ANY ADDITIONS OR IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO BENCHES, SIGNAGE, OR OTHER WORKS OF ART TO BE PLACED IN THE SCULPTURE GARDEN SHALL BE APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL PRIOR TO IT BEING PROCURED OR COMMISSIONED BY THE CAC, THE CULTURAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL AND PRIOR TO ANY ANNOUNCEMENT OR ADVERTISEMENT OR ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS BY THE CAC. SO WHILE IT IS NOT SPECIFIC WHAT MISSES VOGEL IS REQUESTING, I THINK I JUST WANT TO MAKE CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC WHO MAY BE LISTENING AND NOT HAVE READ THIS PARTICULAR PART IS THAT THE COUNCIL HEARD THE COMMUNITY, AND REQUIRED THAT THIS NEW SCULPTURE GARDEN HAVE A PUBLIC PROCESS . THE PUBLIC GETS TO COME IN AND HAVE THESE COMMENTS. SO IT'S NOT WHAT EXACTLY WE WERE ASKING FOR, BUT WE DO HAVE THE PUBLIC PROCESS EMBEDDED IN THIS NOW IN A WAY THAT I THINK IS MORE TRANSPARENT THAN IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST.

>> THANK YOU, ROBERT. >> I KNOW WE KEEP GOING BACK TO THIS. LAST YEAR , WHEN WE HAD THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE KIDDIE CORN SCULPTURE, WE HAD A PUBLIC HEARING, AND IT WAS ALMOST THREE OR FOUR TOTAL IN FAVOR OF KIDDIE CORN SCULPTURE. I BELIEVE THAT YOU LOOK AT ALL THE SCULPTURES WE HAVE DONE, AND THOSE HAVE HAD THE SUPPORT OF THE CITIZENS OF ABILENE. AND I WILL MAKE A MOTION, UNLESS SOMETHING WANTS TO ADD TO THAT.

>> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MCALISTER. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN CRAVER. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? READY TO VOTE.

[11. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Take Action on Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Guaranteed Maximum Price for the G.V. Daniels and Cesar Chavez Recreation Centers (Lesli Andrews)]

>> ALL WERE IN FAVOR, SO MOTION CARRIES.

>> WE WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 11, AND COUNCILMAN REGAN, YOUR

QUESTIONS ON ITEM 11. >> YES, THANK YOU. SO THIS IS DEALING WITH THE JB DANIELS TWO REC CENTERS . FROM A BUDGET STANDPOINT, IT CAME UNDER BUDGET. AND SO THAT IS AWESOME.

GREAT JOB WITH THE STAFF, AND PARK HILL AS WELL TO MAKE ALL THIS HAPPEN. MY ONLY CONCERN WITH THIS, AND WHY I PULLED IT, IS THIS THE FIRST TIME, AT LEAST I'M SEEING IT, FOR MOST OF THE COUNCIL, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE ARE SEEING THE VIEW OF IT. WE ALSO HAVE THE MOCKUPS, WHEN THE BOND WAS BEING PROPOSED, AND IT WAS A HUGE FACADE ONE. AND THEN SEEING THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME, REALLY, MY ONLY ISSUE ON THIS IS FROM THE OUTSIDE, THE APPEARANCE OF IT. I SAW THAT, AND IN THE PACKET ON FRIDAY, I WAS A LITTLE BIT IN DISBELIEF AND A LITTLE DISHEARTENED . A FEW PEOPLE HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME ABOUT IT WITH MUCH STRONGER WORDS, BUT MY -- MY WISH HERE IS THAT WE COULD HAVE THIS DESIGNED IN SUCH A WAY, MAYBE WITHOUT MESSING WITH THE BLUEPRINTS AND ALL OF THAT , AESTHETICALLY FROM THE OUTSIDE, IMPROVE THIS. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS, I THOUGHT THIS WAS A TEARDOWN, TO BE HONEST. I THOUGHT, AND LOOKS LIKE AN 80S BUILDING. THE LOOK OF IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT INSPIRES THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE ARE PUTTING THIS INTO, AND I THINK THAT WE AS A COUNCIL AND A CITY, WE RARELY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DESIGN SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO REALLY PROMOTE THE LOOK AND FEEL OF THE CITY , BECAUSE MOST OF THE TIME, IT IS PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT. WE ARE JUST DOING ZONING CHANGES, OR PROMOTING THAT. WE ARE NOT ACTUALLY GETTING INTO THE DESIGN OF IT. AND SO HERE, I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY MAKE

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SOMETHING G TO INSPIRE AND REAL IMPROVE THE LOOK OF THE REC CENTERS, BUT ALSO THE NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND -- BOTH OF THESE ARE ON THE NORTH SIDE, AND ONE OF THEM IS GOOD TO BE RIGHT ON TREADWAY. AND SO YOU GOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC, A LOT OF VISUAL. AND SO THAT IS MY CONCERN ABOUT THIS PROJECT. I LOVE THAT IT IS UNDER BUDGET. THAT IS A RARITY AND NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED BY FLUKE. I UNDERSTAND THAT HIS STAFF AND PARKS WORKING HARD ON THIS. I KNOW THERE'S VALUE ENGINEERING HAPPENING, AND THAT'S WHY IT'S UNDER BUDGET, AND SO THAT TOOK A LOT OF HARD WORK. THE LOOK OF IT, I'M SURE, IS REFLECTED SOMEWHAT OF THAT. OF THAT VALUE ENGINEERING. THAT IS MY CONCERN THOUGH, IS THAT THIS IS, FROM A VISUAL STANDPOINT, AND OBVIOUSLY, I MAY NOT LIKE IT, AND THE NEXT WHY PEOPLE MIGHT LOVE THE LOOK OF IT. JUST COMPARING AND CONTRASTING FROM THE MOCKUP WE HAD FOR THE BOND PROPOSAL TO THIS IS NIGHT AND DAY. AND THAT IS A HUGE CONCERN FOR ME. OBVIOUSLY, I'M A BIG FAN OF THE PROJECT, AND SO WHAT I AM PROPOSING IS THAT WE HAVE PARK HILL IMPROVE THE EXTERIOR SO THAT BOTH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE FUNCTIONALITY ON THE INSIDE, WHICH I'M A BIG FAN OF, OBVIOUSLY, AND THAT HAVE

THE BETTER OUTSIDE. >> DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE

COMMENTS? >> I EMAILED LAST NIGHT , BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAD SLIPPED UNDER MY RADAR WAS THAT WE ARE PUTTING LIBRARIES IN BOTH OF THE REC CENTERS. IN THE SIGNAGE ON THE OUTSIDE JUST AS REC CENTER. WE SHOULD HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT THERE'S LIBRARIES INSIDE.

>> WE CAN, IF THAT IS A COUNCIL WANTS US TO DO. WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS JUST A REPRESENTATION OF THE FACADE THAT WOULD BE CONSTRUCTED. AND IF THEY PUT A SIGNAGE ON THEIR, WE CAN SAY AND LIBRARY ON IT IF THAT WAS COUNCIL'S DECISION.

>> LIKE I SAID, IT KIND OF FLEW UNDER THE RADAR. AND THEN THE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT OUR JANUARY BUDGET PROCESS , AND THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE LIBRARY CHANGES RELATED TO THE REC CENTERS. BUT IN ALL THE MOCKUPS, I CAUGHT THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE LIBRARIES IN THERE, TOO. I WOULD LIKE IT ADVERTISING THE FACT THAT THERE ARE LIBRARIES IN THE CENTERS.

>> WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT, IF THAT'S WHAT COUNCIL WOULD

LIKE. >> ROBERT, SO -- I'M LOOKING AT PAGE 133 IN THE PACKET. IS THIS THE -- IS THIS JUST ANOTHER RENDERING THAT WE -- THIS IS NOT ACTUALLY WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE, SIMILAR TO THE MOCKUP THAT WAS DONE FOR

THE BOND PROPOSAL? >> THIS IS HOW WOULD LOOK, SIR.

UNLESS COUNCIL GIVES ME DIRECTION TO ADD MORE MONEY TO THE BUDGET TO INCREASE THE FACADE, WE CAN DO THAT.

>> WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FROM A DESIGN -- AGAIN, I MAY BE THE ONLY ONE, BUT IF WE TABLED THIS, AND THEN PARK HILL DESIGNED SOME IMPROVEMENTS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE FACADE, AND THEN COME BACK -- I KNOW I'M PUTTING YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT FROM A TIMELINE AND COST PERSPECTIVE, WHAT WOULD WE BE LOOKING AT? I KNOW IT'S VERY DETAILED SPECIFIC.

>> IT IS, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO END UP CHANGING THE DRAWINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONSTRUCTIBILITY OF THE PROJECT. YOU'RE GOING TO CHANGE THE EXTERIOR WALL SYSTEMS. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY EVEN CHANGE MECHANICAL, POTENTIALLY CHANGE LIGHTING. THERE'S GOING TO BE SUBSTANTIAL REDESIGN ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, SO YOU WILL SEE INCREASED ARCHITECTURAL FEES. YOU'LL HAVE TO GO BACK OUT TO THE TRADES. THEY WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE THE PRICING, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT A WEAK PROJECT, THAT IS PROBABLY SEVERAL MONTHS. PRICING WILL INCREASE, SO THERE WILL BE A CASCADING EFFECT. AND THE GLASS CURTAIN THAT WAS DEFINITELY VERY ATTRACTIVE -- I WILL VENTURE TO GIVE YOU A FIRM NUMBER, BUT I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED HAVING DEALT WITH THE PROJECT, THEY ORIGINALLY HAD THIS ENORMOUS GLASS CURTAIN, THAT YOU WILL BE APPROACHING SEVEN FIGURES OF THE CONSTRUCTIBILITY CHANGES AND THE FACADE CHANGES.

>> IS THERE A WAY TO -- I UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING YOU'RE SAYING THERE OF THE CASCADING EFFECT. IS THERE A WAY INSTEAD TO GO, WE LIKE THE LAYOUT, WE LIKE THE FUNCTIONALITY OF IT.

LET'S JUST IMPROVE THE OUTSIDE COSMETICALLY , SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DO ALL THOSE BASIC DESIGN CHANGES. WE ARE JUST GOING IN AND IMPROVING THE FACADE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT

[00:35:02]

WOULD LOOK LIKE. >> IF IT IS A SECTION OR AN ISSUE COLOR SELECTION, I THINK WE CAN CERTAINLY CHOOSE DIFFERENT COLORS. IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT CHANGING THE CONSTRUCTION METHODOLOGY OF THE FACADE, YOU ARE GOING TO INCREASE COST S FAIRLY DRAMATICALLY.

>> MY LAST QUESTION WOULD BE, FOR YOUR FUTURE REFERENCE, OR AT LEAST FOR MINE AND I THINK THE PUBLIC'S AS WELL, WE GET THE RENDERINGS AS WELL IN TWO YEARS, FIVE YEARS, WHATEVER.

AND WE ARE SEEING THAT IMAGE OF, OKAY, THIS IS WHAT WERE VOTING ON FOR 28 MILLION. WERE GOING TO GET BASICALLY TWO OF THESE. AND THEN GOES THROUGH, WHILE IT'S APPROVED, WE GET TO THIS POINT. AND IF YOU PUT THAT PICTURE NEXT TO THIS ONE, COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. YOU WOULDN'T KNOW THAT THEY WERE RELATED IN ANY WAY. AND I UNDERSTAND AGAIN FROM A VALUE ENGINEERING, THAT HAS TO BE CHECKED HAPPEN IF THERE WAS CHANGES. FOR SUCH A STARK DIFFERENCE, HOW DO WE -- YOU KNOW, SOMEONE USE THE PHRASE BAIT AND SWITCH. HOW DO WE PREVENT THAT PERCEPTION FROM HAPPENING? THAT IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT -- EVEN GLASS WISE, THE GLASS OPTION WASN'T AN OPTION, AND YET IT WAS INCLUDED IN THE RENDERING, AND THAT WAS A HUGE PART OF THE PROPOSAL AND REALLY THE BUY-IN FROM THE PUBLIC. SO , HOW DID WE GET FROM THERE TO THIS? AND HOW DO WE PREVENT THAT IN THE FUTURE?

>> THE RENDERINGS THAT WERE DONE WERE PREPARED SEVERAL YEARS AGO, BEFORE WE HAD THE INFLATIONARY SPIKES THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH. CONSTRUCTION IS CONTINUED TO GO UP. SO -- YOU MIGHT RECALL THAT WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS WHEN WE DID THE FIRE STATION BOND, AND PRIOR TO YOU BEING ON THE COUNCIL, THE COUNCIL MADE THE DECISION NOT TO PUT THAT ON THE BOND AND COME BACK WITH A SECOND ONE THE FOLLOWING YEAR FOR PUBLIC AMENITIES. AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID. WE HAVE FURTHER DELAYS. SO WE WILL TALK ABOUT CASCADING EFFECT , THINGS GET MORE EXPENSIVE. THE RENDERING THAT WE HAD, IT'S POSSIBLE EQUITY BEEN BUILT WITH DOLLARS BACK THEN, BUT WE ARE JUST NOT IN THAT ENVIRONMENT ANY LONGER. BUT IT CHECKS ALL THE BOXES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT FROM AN AMENITY STANDPOINT AT THE REC CENTER , RATHER THAN ELEVATED OR SUSPENDED WALKING TRAIL . WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET THAT OUT OF THE PRICING THAT WE HAVE. IN THE GYM AREA. AS FAR AS THE OTHER AMENITIES GO, WE ARE ABLE TO MEET MORE OBLIGATIONS AND COMMITMENTS MADE TO THE PUBLIC ON A NEW FIRST-CLASS STATE-OF-THE-ART REC CENTER, AND WE ARE EMBEDDING LIBRARIES IN THEIR TO PROVIDE A LOCAL OPPORTUNITY AND KIND OF A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE AREA. BUT TO YOUR POINT, COUNCILMAN, IT IS -- I AGREE. THIS HAPPENS FAIRLY REGULARLY WITH PROJECTS LIKE THIS, WHERE YOU HAVE KIND OF AN ASPIRATIONAL IMAGE OF WHAT WE LIKE TO BUILD, AND THEN YOU GET INTO THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION OF IT AND YOU CAN'T BUILD IT JUST LIKE THAT.

IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK. IT IS JUST TOO COSTLY. I THINK THE TIME THAT TRANSPIRED FROM THE PROJECT IDEA TO WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY BEING CONSTRUCTED IS A LARGE PART OF THAT. AND I CAN OBVIOUSLY GO BACK AND CHANGE THAT. I AM PROUD OF THE TEAM FOR BRINGING YOU SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE WITHIN OUR BUDGET AND WITHIN OUR MEANS, AND DOES PROVIDE THE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES WE HAVE TOLD THE COMMUNITY WE WOULD DO.

>> IS THAT SHEET-METAL UP TOP ON THE SECOND FLOOR?

>> IT IS ARCHITECTURAL METAL. I DON'T KNOW IF THE ARCHITECT IS HERE OR NOT. DO YOU WANT TO COME AND TALK ABOUT SOME OF

THIS? >> HEY, I'M AN ARCHITECT FOR PARK HILL. THE MATERIALS CURRENTLY ARE STONE, NATURAL STONE HERE . IN THE UPPER MATERIALS ARE METAL PANELS. SO DEALING WITH METAL PANEL UP HIGHER, IT HELPS ELIMINATE HEAVIER STEEL, REDUCING THE COST. SO THAT WAS A MOVE WITH BUDGETARY PURPOSES. IN ADDITION, YOU BRING UP THE GLASS, AND I FULLY UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN ABOUT GLASS.

HOWEVER, GLASSES VERY INEFFICIENT WHEN IT COMES TO LONGEVITY FOR THE BUILDING. WHAT YOU CAN SEE HERE IS THERE ARE A LOT OF OVERHANGS, AND THERE ARE WINDOWS IN KEY LOCATIONS. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE ARE OTHER INTERIOR IMAGES IN THIS PACKET, BUT TO THE FACILITY, THE DESIGN WAS DONE TO ALLOW FOR BRIGHT, INDOOR LIGHTING FROM DAYLIGHT COMING TO THE WINDOWS, AND IF WE HAD JUST DONE ALL GLASS ALL THE WAY

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AROUND, ONE, IT IS MORE EXPENSIVE. TWO, YOUR HEATING AND COOLING BILL GOES UP. SO WE TRY TO BE VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT HOW WE ARE ALLOWING NATURAL DAYLIGHT INTO THE BUILDING, BUT THEN ALSO BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE TO GET NATURAL DAYLIGHT INTO THE BUILDING. HOPEFULLY THAT HELPS EXPLAIN SOME OF THE MATERIALS THERE. THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF PADDLE. ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OVER THERE KIND OF OFF TO THE EDGES A DARKER RED PANEL. AND THEN THE UPPER PORTION IS A PRODUCT THAT IS MORE LINEAR.

>> YEAH, AND I UNDERSTAND ON THE GLASS. I WASN'T SAYING, WE NEED TO HAVE GLASSWARE THAT. I THINK JUST TAKING IT BY ITSELF, I JUST HAVE SOME GREAT CONCERNS AT THIS POINT. AND AGAIN, I MAY BE THE ONLY ONE, AND ROBERT, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO SPEAK IF THE REST OF THE COUNCIL AGREED, AND I MIGHT BE THE ONLY ONE, BUT IF WE SAID NO TODAY, DOES THIS GO BACK AND THEY ARE ABLE TO KIND OF REDESIGNED IT A LITTLE BIT, AND THEN IT COMES BACK TO US? OR WHAT WOULD BE THE EFFECT?

>> YES, SIR. COUNCIL DID NOT WANT TO APPROVE THIS BUT STILL WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT, AND IF THE CONCEPT WAS THE EXTERNAL FEATURES ASSOCIATED WITH THE BUILDING, WE WOULD GO BACK TO THE DESIGN TEAM AND THE ARCHITECT AND WE WOULD COME BACK AND BRING A DIFFERENT PROPOSAL AT THE TIME.

MY ONLY WORD OF CAUTION IS THAT I CAN'T PROMISE YOU THAT WE WOULD BE UNDER BUDGET AT THAT POINT IN TIME. BUT WE WOULD GIVE IT OUR BEST EFFORTS TO DO SO.

>> AND I LOVE SAVING MONEY, BUT THE VOTERS DID APPROVE UP TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT IF WE ARE COMING IN WAY UNDER BUDGET, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE CAN USE A LITTLE BIT OF THAT TO MAKE IT FOR THE NEXT 30, 40 YEARS, NICER, BETTER LOOKING , MORE OF AN INSPIRATION FOR 2 OF THESE NO RECORDS ON EITHER SIDE. I'M A BIG FAN OF THE PROJECT, IT'S JUST TOUGH BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'M SEEING IT. IT'S NOT A TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT SOMETIMES SITUATION FOR US, BUT IT SOMETIMES FEELS THAT WAY.

WHILE I AM NOT AGAINST THE PROJECT, I AM AGAINST THE CURRENT LOOK OF IT. I THINK JUST SOME , WE WILL CALL THEM SIMPLE DESIGN ENHANCEMENTS ON THE EXTERIOR, I THINK THIS COULD BE A GREAT BUILDING . BUT IN ITS CURRENT LOOK, I JUST

CAN'T ACCEPT IT AS IS. >> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, BASED ON A LOT OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE GOT, I CAN RECALL ONE OR TWO PEOPLE EVEN REMOTELY SAYING THEIR PRIMARY CONCERN WAS THE AESTHETIC OF THE BUILDING. I THINK THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE HEARD FROM -- I KNOW WE HAVE A GREAT COMMUNITY LEADER BILLY IN THE AUDIENCE WHO CAN SPEAK TO A BETTER THAN ME, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE WHO CAME TO US WERE TALKING ABOUT THE LITERAL AESTHETICS OF WHAT IT OFFERED, WHAT IT BROUGHT, WHAT IT KIND OF COALESCED TO THE COMMUNITY. AND SO I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY OF THE ARCHITECTURAL FIRM AND THE PEOPLE DESIGNING THIS PROJECT TO MAKE A STATE OF THE ART BUILDING WHILE AT THE SAME TIME COMING UNDER COST. I HAVEN'T HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE CIRCLE BACK TO ME AND TALK ABOUT THE AESTHETICS OF THE BUILDING, MANY WERE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT THE BUILDING WAS ABLE TO HAVE THAT THEY ASKED FOR , AND ALL AT THE SAME TIME COMING UNDER BUDGET.

SO I KNOW WE ALL HAVE OUR PERSONAL PREFERENCES, BUT BEING ABLE TO DELIVER EVERYTHING THAT WAS ASKED, WELL MAYBE NOT ALWAYS BEEN AESTHETICALLY PLEASING TO YOU OR WHOEVER HAS REACHED OUT TO YOU, I THINK THE MAIN CONCERN IS OFFERING -- WHAT WAS THE PRIMARY CONCERN FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND I THINK BY THE DESIGN AND BY EVERYTHING THAT WAS OUTLINED IN THE STRUCTURE DELIVERED ON THAT. SO THAT IS JUST MY TWO

CENTS. >> ANYONE ELSE? WELL, YOU KNOW, WE GET THESE RENDERINGS, I KNOW A LOT OF TIMES, IT IS A DREAM OR A VISION. AND YOU KNOW, I WILL GIVE YOU GOOD EXAMPLES.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WHEN THEY DID THEIR BONDS, WHEN CONSTRUCTION COSTS WENT UP, WE HAD TO CUT A LOT OF IT OUT, BUT COUNCILMAN CRAVER, I AGREE WITH YOU. THESE ARE VERY STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES AND WHAT IS OFFERED INSIDE. AND ONE OF THE THINGS SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IS AESTHETICS.

SO WE ARE EITHER LOOKING AT SPENDING MORE MONEY, PROBABLY QUITE A BIT MORE AND SELLING THESE PROJECTS DOWN, OR WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED. ANYONE ELSE? AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 11? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

>> AMY VOGEL, RESIDENT OF ABILENE. IT'S LIKE CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY FOR ME. ALL OF THE ITEMS THAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT ON AN OBJECT LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES. I AM IN AGREEMENT . IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S GOING TO HOLD ITS

[00:45:01]

AESTHETIC OVER THE YEARS, AND I JUST WISH WE HAD A DIFFERENT STANDARD OF WHAT WE WANT OUR CITIES REPRESENTATION TO LOOK LIKE YOU THE REC CENTERS, AND I'M GLAD THE $5 MILLION IN SAVINGS IS COMING, AND MY CONCERN NOW IS, WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THOSE $5 MILLION IN SAVINGS FOR BONDS? BECAUSE THE BOND HAS TO BE THE REC CENTERS. I KNOW YOU ALL ARE GOING TO ANSWER IT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER IT. BUT I DO THINK IT IS GOOD TO BE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH THE SAVINGS, BECAUSE THE TAXPAYERS ARE GOING TO BE PAYING FOR THEM FOR AT LEAST 40 YEARS, OR -- WELL, THEY WILL BE PAYING IT FOR 40 YEARS. THE SECOND THING I WILL SAY, IS THE MAJORITY WORKS IN THE FAVOR OF THE OPINION OF THE COUNCIL MORE OFTEN THAN THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE. WHILE THERE ARE MOSTLY PEOPLE WHO AGREED WITH THIS CULTURE, BACK IN OCTOBER A YEAR AGO, THAT WASN'T THE CASE WHEN WE HAD ANOTHER ITEM UP FOR BEING AMENDED IN JUNE. THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE SAID, DON'T AMENDED THIS THING WE VOTED ON, AND THE COUNCIL WAS COMPLETELY FINE CHANGING THAT. SO AGAIN, I THINK MAJORITY IS ONLY USED WHEN IT COMES TO THE ADVANTAGE OF THE POSITION YOU ARE HOLDING. IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY VALIDATE WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT, BECAUSE TO SAY THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE A CHANCE TO DESCRIBE THEIR FEELINGS ABOUT A SCULPTURE AFTER IT HAS ALL BEEN PLANNED, AFTER THE WHOLE THING IS BEEN CREATED, EVERYTHING AROUND IT HAS BEEN DESIGNED AND WE CAN SAY, WE DON'T LIKE THAT. YOU ALL CAN SAY, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO BRING IT DOWN. I AM NOT THAT YOUNG TO BELIEVE THAT THAT'S THE WAY IT HAPPENED. THE WAY IT HAPPENS IS, YOU GET A SAY EARLY ON SO THAT BEFORE EVERYTHING IS DESIGNED, THEN IT HAPPENS. AND SO LET'S JUST RECOGNIZE THAT THE PROCESS IS WHAT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH, AND THE PROCESS IS NOT SET UP FOR ANYONE TO HAVE ANY OTHER SAY EXCEPT TO GO ALONG WITH THE ONE PERSON WHO DECIDES THE SCULPTURE, OR THE BOARD WHO THEN APPROVES THE SCULPTURE, AND THE COUNCIL WHO THEN APPROVES THAT. TO SAY THAT WE HAD A FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT IT LAST YEAR IS VERY DISINGENUOUS AND FRUSTRATING, AND WHY I WILL NOT COMMUNICATE WITH SOME OF YOU ABOUT THE THINGS THAT MATTER TO US AS A CITY, BECAUSE THE RESPONSE IS NOT -- THE FAVORABLE PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY DECIDED. I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW. I DON'T REPRESENT EVERYONE IN THE CITY, BUT I DO KNOW THE PEOPLE I TALKED TO ARE FRUSTRATED ABOUT NOT HAVING A SAY IN NOT BEING ABLE TO KNOW HOW THE $5 MILLION IS GOING TO BE SPENT NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE CUT CORNERS AND WE WILL SAVE MONEY, BUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT? THAT'S A CONCERN I HAVE AND I'M NOT FINDING THE ANSWERS ARE MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESOLUTION, SO I WILL CONTINUE TO DO MY PART AS A CITIZEN TO ENCOURAGE OTHER CITIZENS TO DO THEIR PART AND WE WILL WORK TOGETHER TO

FIND A SOLUTION. >> VIA BOND MONEY THAT WE DON'T NEED, WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT?

>> IT HAS TO BE USED BASED ON WHAT THE VOTERS APPROVED FOR.

SO THERE'S BOND COVENANTS, RIGHT? THOSE BOND COVENANTS CLEARLY DETAIL WHAT BONDS CAN AND CANNOT BE SPENT ON. SOPHIA BOND MONEY LEFTOVERS PART OF THIS ISSUANCE, WE WOULD GO BACK TO THOSE BOND COVENANTS AND WE WOULD BRING COUNCIL PROJECTS OR RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEY CAN SPEND THOSE DOLLARS ON.

THERE'S ALSO THE POSSIBILITY THAT YOU COULD NOT USE THOSE BOND FUNDS AND GO THROUGH THE PROCESS TO REFUND THE UNSPENT PORTION . BOTH OF THOSE ARE AVAILABLE MEANS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT DOING. ONE IS A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED THAN THE OTHER. BUT I THINK IT CAN BE DONE. WE NEED TO ENGAGE FINANCIAL ADVISERS TO FIND OUT HOW TO BEST PUBLISH THE REFUNDING PORTION, BUT I DON'T THINK WE WOULD HAVE 5 MILLION IN UNSPENT BONDS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE THE NUMBERS OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD OR NOT, BUT IT IS NOT QUITE SO ROBUST.

>> GOOD MORNING, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION. I DON'T HAVE EVERYTHING OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT THAT $5 MILLION, A MAJORITY OF THAT GOES TO ARCHITECTURAL FEES. IT GOES TO ENGINEERING FEES. IT GOES TO THE SURVEYS AND THE PLATS THAT HAD TO BE BROUGHT UP TO DATE. THERE IS 2 MILLION SET ASIDE FOR FURNITURE, FIXTURES, AND EQUIPMENT. IT IS ALSO GOING -- I CAN'T REMEMBER WAS ONE OF THE OTHER CATEGORIES ARE. BUT IT IS GOING TO BE VERY CLOSE TO $5 MILLION WHEN EVERYTHING IS PAID FOR THAT IS GOING INTO THE CENTER. THE 23 MILLION IS JUST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS, WHICH IS WHAT WE BROUGHT IN UNDER BUDGET. THE REST OF THE FUNDS IS GOING TO WHAT IS SUPPORTING THAT AND BREAKING IT ABLE TO BE OPENED.

>> THANK YOU. >> HOW MANY YEARS HAS THE BOND

THAT SERVED US? >> I BELIEVE IT'S A 20 YEAR

NOTE, SIR. >> WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO

SPEAK? >> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS JASON RHODES. I WEAR SEVERAL HATS IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT TODAY I AM HERE JUST AS A PERSON NOT REPRESENTING ANY

[00:50:02]

ORGANIZATIONS I AM WITH. I JUST WANTED TO SHARE REAL QUICKLY THAT MY FAMILY AND I, FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS, MY WIFE AND I SPECIFICALLY HAVE DONE WORK FOR FAMILIES IN THE GV DANIELS NEIGHBORHOOD, AND WHEN I SAW THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, I WAS ECSTATIC. I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH WORDS TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR THE CITY . IT WAS LONG OVERDUE. THAT PLACE SHOULD NOT HAVE LASTED AS LONG AS IT DID WITHOUT BEING UPDATED. AND THE FAMILIES IN THAT AREA ARE NEAR AND DEAR TO OUR HEARTS.

AND THAT REC CENTER IS A GATHERING PLACE THAT HAS MORE MEANING -- IT IS MORE ABOUT THE MEETING THAN THE MONEY IN MY OPINION. THERE'S A LOT OF HISTORY AND HERITAGE THERE. SO I'M NOT HERE SAYING I'M FOR OR AGAINST THE PICTURES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. MY QUESTION IS, WHAT DOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE, WHAT DO THEY THINK ABOUT IT? AND I JUST WANT TO KNOW, IF WE CAN ASK THAT IN A WAY THAT THEY CAN TRULY HONESTLY GIVE THE RESPONSE, BECAUSE MY HEART IS THAT, AS A CITIZEN, I WOULD WANT THEM TO HAVE THIS PLACE THAT, YES, THE FEATURES, OF COURSE. BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE PROUD OF. IT IS SOMETHING THAT HONORS THEIR LEGACY AND ALL THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD OVER THE PAST 50, 100 YEARS, SOMETHING THAT THEY WILL ASPIRE FOR FOR THE FUTURE THAT THEY CAN SHOW THEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN, THIS IS A PLACE WHERE WE CAN LEARN. I LOVE THAT THERE'S A LIBRARY THERE. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT UNTIL TODAY.

THAT'S AWESOME. ONE QUICK STORY, VERY FAST. ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, I GOT A CALL FROM JUSTIN WHITELEY. HE WAS THE DIRECTOR OF THE GV DANIELS CENTER, AND HE HAD THE CARVER YOUTH COUNCIL , WHO WERE TEENAGERS FROM THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THEY WANTED TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE PEOPLE IN THAT COMMUNITY, AND THEY GAVE ME AN IDEA -- I WAS WITH AN ORGANIZATION AND THEY ASKED FOR SPONSORSHIP. THEY SAID THEY WANTED TO DO A PROMPT FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS, AND I SAID, THAT IS AWESOME. I DEFINITELY WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT. WHY A PROBLEM? IT'S A GREAT IDEA. AND WHAT HE TOLD ME IS THAT MANY OF THE SENIOR CITIZENS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO PROM, LIKE A LOT OF US DID. AND THAT ADDED MEANING AND DEPTH TO IT, AND WE DID THAT. WE DID A SENIOR PROM THAT YEAR. AND FOR MANY OF THE SENIORS THAT LIVED IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY HAD NEVER HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY. I GIVE THAT STORY BECAUSE IT IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF THOUSANDS OF HOW SPECIAL THAT PLACE IS. SO I HOPE WE CAN MAKE THAT A PLACE AS BEAUTIFUL AND THAT AESTHETICALLY, IT DOES MATTER, BECAUSE IT HAS MEANING. THANK YOU.

>> STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO COMMENT? SEEING NO ONE , I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I WILL ACCEPT EMOTION AND A SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MCALISTER. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN YATES. NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.

READY TO VOTE.

>> ALL WERE IN FAVOR WITH THE EXCEPTION OF COUNCILMEMBER

REGAN. MOTION CARRIES. >> WE NOW MOVE TO ITEM 18 .

>> HAVE A POINT OF ORDER. IN A RULES AND PROCEDURES, THERE'S A MOTION TO RECONSIDER THAT WE CAN GO BACK TO SOMETHING THAT WAS ALREADY VOTED ON. SO IF YOU ARE WANTING TO PULL 12, WE CAN DO A MOTION TO RECONSIDER AND PULL THAT AND HAVE DISCUSSION

ON THAT. >> 22 MAKE THAT MOTION?

>> ANYBODY THAT VOTED FOR IT CAN MAKE THAT MOTION.

[12. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Take Action on Approving the Special Events Permit Policy (Lesli Andrews)]

>> I HAD A FEW COMMENTS. >> IF YOU WANT TO MAKE THAT

MOTION, I WILL SECONDED. >> I MAKE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER ITEM 12. READY TO VOTE.

>> SHE IS SETTING THE VOTE UP, SIR.

>> OKAY.

>> THANK YOU. >> ON ITEM 12, LESLIE -- CAN I VISIT WITH YOU? WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME , AND A LOT OF THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT DO THE PARADES IN THESE DOWNTOWN EVENTS, FIRST OF ALL, IN VISITING WITH THEM, I WANT

[00:55:02]

TO GIVE ACCOLADES TO STAFF, BECAUSE EVERY ONE OF THEM AS STAFF IS REALLY GREAT TO WORK WITH. I KNOW THAT THIS PROCESS HAD BEEN REDONE REALLY JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND THE PROCESS IS MUCH EASIER. BUT EVERYONE -- JUST THE FEEDBACK I'M GETTING, IS IT IS STILL VERY BURDENSOME AND CUMBERSOME TO GET THROUGH THIS PROCESS. I KNOW ME PERSONALLY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I AM IN TOTAL DISAGREEMENT AS A WAY WE DO THE NOTIFICATIONS. I THINK THAT WE NEED A DATABASE OR SOMETHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH THESE NOTIFICATIONS . ALL I'M TRYING TO DO IS GIVE SOME FEEDBACK , JUST A GENERAL DIRECTION OF, IS THERE WAYS THE USED CAN THINK -- DOES THIS COUNCIL NEED TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF PARADES OR EVENTS THAT WE HAVE DOWNTOWN BECAUSE OF THE STRESS AND BURDEN ON THE STAFF? YOU KNOW, WHAT DO WE WANT AS A COUNCIL TO PROMOTE THIS? SO THIS IS JUST FEEDBACK SINCE THIS ITEM CAME UP THAT I WANTED TO GIVE ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC. MY BIGGEST ISSUE IS THE WAY WE DO THE NOTIFICATIONS. I KNOW YOU SPENT A TON OF TIME ALREADY ON THIS. BUT COULD WE -- CAN WE REVISIT TO SEE IF THERE ARE WAYS TO MAKE THIS EASIER FOR THE PUBLIC?

>> LET ME ADDRESS THIS. 100%, YES WE CAN. THIS IS BEFORE YOU ALL BECAUSE THERE WAS -- I HEARD FEEDBACK FROM STAFF, HEARD FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC, AND SAID, WE NEED TO HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT ADDRESSES THIS , SOUP TO NUTS. I ASKED LESLIE TO LEAD THAT CHARGE, AND I THINK SHE IS ENGAGED IN ORGANIZATIONS , AND NO IT BECOMES YAWLS. LET'S CHANGE IT HOWEVER COUNCIL MIGHT WANT TO CHANGE IT TO REFLECT THE VALUES THAT WE WANT TO SEE IN THIS ORDINANCE IS GOING TO GOVERN SPECIAL EVENTS IN THIS COMMUNITY. IF THAT IS A SUBCOMMITTEE OF COUNCIL SITTING DOWN AND WORKING AND DRAFTING, WE ARE HAPPY TO ACCOMMODATE THAT. IF THAT IS MORE OF A FOCUS SESSION, ANOTHER SESSION WITH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EVENT COORDINATOR IS IN THE CITY, WE ARE HAPPY TO COORDINATE THAT.

WHAT WE NEED IS CLEAR DIRECTION ON WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE.

COUNCILMAN REGAN EMAIL ME SOME QUESTIONS AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT IN THAT EMAIL IS, WE KNOW WE HAVE CERTAIN PARADES PRETTY REGULARLY EVERY YEAR, RIGHT? IF WE KNOW THEY ARE GOING TO HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME AND THEY ALWAYS GET APPROVED, WHY DO WE MAKE THEM GO GET 51%? OR WHERE WE GO GET 51%? LET'S APPROVE THESE AS OUR SPECIAL PARADES. AND IF A COMMUNITY WANTS TO HAVE A SPECIAL PARADE FOR SOME KIND OF SPECIAL EVENT, THEY GET THE PROCESS, BECAUSE IT IS A VERY DISRUPTIVE TO THE BUSINESSES. I KNOW THAT STAFF IS KIND OF DOING THAT NOW, AND THAT WASN'T ALWAYS THE CASE .

AGAIN, TRYING TO REMOVE THAT BURDEN, BUT IT IS STILL VERY PURPOSEFUL. BLAZE HAD A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS,

>> I WILL ALSO ADD TO THAT. WHEN IT COMES TO PARADES OR THE SIX TO SEVEN DOWNTOWN PARADES THAT WE HAVE, STAFF HANDLES THAT, STAFF DOES HAVE A DATABASE, STAFF IS THE ONE WHO DOES THOSE NOTIFICATIONS ACCORDING TO THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS PASSED IN 2022. 100% OF THOSE BUSINESSES HAVE TO BE CONTACTED. 51% HAVE TO GIVE UP APPROVAL. THAT IS ALL HANDLED BY STAFF. WHEN IT COMES TO THE ORGANIZER THAT HAS TO DO THE CONTACTING, THAT IS FOR A STREET CLOSURE. IF SOMEONE IS GOING TO CLOSE A BLOCK TO HAVE AN EVENT, THEN THEY HAVE TO CONTACT THOSE FEW BUSINESSES THAT ARE ON THE BLOCK. WE HAVE A DATABASE. I WILL SAY, I DID NOT REALIZE HOW MANY BUSINESSES COME AND GO, BUT WE BASICALLY MAINTAINED FROM NORTH SEVENTH DOWN TO SOUTH SEVENTH, AND TREADWAY OVER TO CEDAR SO THAT WE CAN TRY AND KEEP UP AND MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR THE ORGANIZERS AND WORKING WITH THEM TO BE ABLE TO KNOW WHO THE PEOPLE TO CONTACT IS IN THOSE LOCATIONS. BUT FOR PARADE SPECIFICALLY, THAT IS ALL HANDLED BY STAFF. IT'S ONLY IF AN ORGANIZATION WANTS TO DO A STREET CLOSURE ON A BLOCK OR A COUPLE OF BLOCKS, THEY ARE THE ONES THAT GO OUT AND CONTACT

THE PEOPLE. >> OKAY. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION

? >> I LIKE THE IDEA OF HAVING THE CONSTANTLY RECURRING PARADES ALREADY SET ON A SCHEDULE WITH AN EXPECTATION THAT THIS IS WHEN IT HAPPENS, WHETHER IT IS THE FIRST MONDAY , OR THE FIRST TUESDAY, OR A SPECIFIC DAY LIKE INDEPENDENCE DAY , THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING

[01:00:04]

THAT IS CONSISTENT , THAT REDUCES THE BURDEN AND NOTIFYING WHEN WE ARE DOING IT ANYWAY. SO I LIKE THAT.

CONCEPT. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE NEEDS TO BE A COMMITTEE THAT

LOOKS AT THAT. >> MINE WERE KELLY J HAD EMAILED ME AND WE HAD A DISCUSSION ON THIS, AND HE HAD A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT POINT, I THINK SOME OF WHICH HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED, AND I HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE LAST TWO EMAILS THAT I THINK ROBERT SENT ME THIS MORNING OR LATE LAST NIGHT. AND SO FOR ME, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE FIRST READING . ARE WE MAYBE TO ENABLE TO PUT A GROUP TOGETHER TO WORK OUT THE DETAILS BETWEEN NOW AND THE SECOND READING? OH, THIS IS A RESOLUTION. I THOUGHT THIS WAS FIRST READING. SO WE NEED TO MAKE THE CHANGES THAT NOW. WE ARE TABLING THIS?

>> YES, SIR. >> YEAH, HE HAD SOME CONCERNS.

I WOULD LIKE TO AT LEAST HAVE THOSE KIND OF ADDRESSED TO HIS AND MY SATISFACTION BEFORE VOTING ON THIS, BECAUSE THERE WERE QUITE A BIT, QUITE A FEW OF THEM. AND I JUST HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT YOUR RESPONSES YET, ROBERT. IF WE ARE FINISHED WITH DISCUSSION, --

>> SO TABLE IT WITH THE EXPECTATION OF WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? A SUBCOMMITTEE OF COUNCILMEMBERS, OR JUST

DIRECTIONAL STAFF? >> MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE DIRECTION TO STAFF TO MEET WITH THE COORDINATORS OF THE MAIN PARADE . SO IF WE WANT TO TAKE THE OTHER FOUR BIG ONES AND HAVE STAFF MEET WITH THEM AND RESOLVE THIS AND COME BACK WITH

MODIFIED. >> WE HAVE MET WITH THE ORGANIZERS, AND WE ALSO MET WITH KELLY J . SOME OF THEM, I WAS IN THE MEETING, THE DOWNTIME COORDINATOR WAS IN THOSE MEETINGS. BUT WE HAVE MET WITH ALL OF THEM. SOME OF THEM, MULTIPLE TIMES WORKING THROUGH THIS. WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON

THIS ABOUT SIX MONTHS. >> IF THERE'S CONCERNS FROM COUNCIL, AND NEEDS TO COME BACK TO US SO WE DON'T GET STUCK.

WE HAVEN'T REALLY TALKED ABOUT IT. I DON'T KNOW WHO ALL HAD QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS WITH THE LANGUAGE AND THE CHANGES, BUT

THAT IS MY RECOMMENDATION . >> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME SORT OF A SUBCOMMITTEE, AND OF COURSE, THAT CAN ONLY BE UP TO 3. AND WITH SOME OF THE STAKEHOLDERS, WE CAN GET A LITTLE MORE CLEAR DIRECTION SO THAT THIS IS NOT GOING BACK AND WORTH WITH EMAILS RIGHT BEFORE THIS COMES. I WILL ACCEPT THE MOTION, AND I WILL APPOINT A SUBCOMMITTEE TO ADDRESS THIS BEFORE IT COMES BACK TO COUNCIL.

>> I WILL SECOND THE MOTION TO TABLE.

>> WE DO NOT HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.

>> SORRY. WE WILL NOW OPEN OF THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 12.

WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 12 AT THIS TIME? THANK YOU . I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? READY TO VOTE TO TABLE ITEM 12.

>> IS THAT IS WHAT IS ON THE COMPUTER SCREEN?

>> NO, I WILL MAKE THAT IN A MINUTE. I WILL PUT IN THE MINUTES YOU ALL MADE THE MOTION TO TABLE.

[18. Ordinance (First Reading) OAM-2024-02: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Take Action on a Request from the City of Abilene to Amend the Land Development Code to Amend the Sign Regulations. Specifically, to Allow for Type III Off-Site Signage and Provide Development Standards Including, but Not Limited to, Size, Location, and Separation (Tim Littlejohn)]

MOTION CARRIES. >> THANK YOU ALL. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 18. IS THAT CORRECT?

>> YES. >> AND THIS IS COUNCILMAN

PRICE. >> I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS. WE ARE MAKING CHANGES TO THE ORDINANCE WITH REGARD TO SIGNS. AND FROM THE DIRECTION THAT WAS GIVEN WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, IT HAS THE SODA STREETS IDENTIFIED AS ALLOWING THE TOP THREE SIGNS, BUT THE ONE THING THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT AND WE DIDN'T APPARENTLY GIVE CLEAR ENOUGH DIRECTION ON, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS IS THE DIRECTION WE WANT TO GO, IS THAT IT STILL IS LIMITING OFF-SITE ADVERTISING TO --.

THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THESE OTHER CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT

[01:05:02]

AREAS THAT WE ARE ALLOWING THE SIGNS TO BE PUT IN. THEY ARE STILL NOT ALLOWING OFF-SITE ADVERTISERS. SO BEFORE WE GET TO THE SECOND READING, IS THAT THE INTENTION OF COUNCIL THAT WE DON'T APPROVE THIS EXPANSION OF SIGNS TO ALSO ALLOW FOR OFF-SITE ADVERTISING? THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT, AND I FELT LIKE THERE WAS MORE SUPPORT THAN OPPOSITION.

BUT THE WAY IT IS WRITTEN, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS THE RECOMMENDATION OF COUNCIL IN THE DIRECTION FROM

COUNCIL. >> MY RECOLLECTION IS THAT WE WERE LARGELY IN FAVOR OF OFF-SITE, THAT THE COMPANIES DON'T NEED TO BE REGULATING WHAT PEOPLE PUT ON AN ELECTRONIC BILLBOARD ON THEIR OWN PROPERTY. OBSCENITY AND ALL THINGS ASIDE. THAT'S MY RECOLLECTION OF THAT

DISCUSSION. >> I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT DISCUSSION. LET'S MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT CORRECT.

>> SO BEFORE THE SECOND READING -- I'M NOTHING WE CAN TAKE ACTION TODAY, BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THE SECOND READING, CAN WE ADJUST THAT TO WHERE THESE ADDITIONAL AREAS WHERE WE ALLOW THESE TYPES THREE SIGNS AND IN CENTRAL BUSINESS, IT ALLOWS FOR

OFF-SITE ADVERTISERS AS WELL? >> YOU WANT TO ADD THE LESSER INTENSIVE , IS THAT WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING?

>> F1 A.I. IT'S SIGN STANDARDS. AND THE FIRST -- THE CATEGORY IN SUBSECTION IS ADVERTISING SIGNS ARE PERMITTED IN THE FOLLOWING DISTRICTS. THE MINUTE RUNS INTO CERTAIN THINGS WITH A SPECIAL EXCEPTION. AND THAT IT TALKS ABOUT TYPE THREE SIGNS. FOR THIS IS THE NEW PART, ALLOWED IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT ZONING THAT HAS THE BOUNDARIES AND ALL THAT STUFF, BUT IT DOESN'T ALSO ALLOW FOR ADVERTISING. WHEREVER THAT NEEDS TO BE DOCUMENTED IN THE PROPER WAY, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE EXPAND WHERE WE ARE ALLOWING THE SIGNS, WE ALSO ALLOW FOR THE OFF-SITE ADVERTISING

OPPORTUNITIES. >> THE INTENT IS TO ALLOW TYPE THREE SIGNS TO ALLOW OFF-SITE ADVERTISING.

>> YES. AND THE ITEM LOCATIONS WITHIN THOSE SPECIFIC DISTRICTS

IS BUSINESS. >> TO BE SPECIFIC TO YOUR CONCERN, SHAME, BUT JUST FROM THE CLARITY OF THE LEGAL ISSUE, WE ADDED A SENTENCE THAT TYPE THREE SIGNS PERMIT OFF-SITE ADVERTISING OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES, WITHOUT ADDRESS

YOUR CONCERN? >> IS YOUR CONCERN THAT WE ARE SPECIFYING THE ZONING WHERE IT ISN'T ALLOWED ?

>> WE DON'T WANT THIS IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> WOULD BE BETTER AND LESS RESTRICTIVE TO SAY, YOU CAN'T DO IT IN RESIDENTIAL ZONING , ANYWHERE ELSE IS OKAY. IS THAT

WHERE I'M GOING WITH THAT? >> NO. IT STATES THEY ARE ONLY PERMITTED IN CERTAIN ZONING DISTRICTS, AND WE ARE EXPANDING TO ALLOW THOSE SIGNS ON CENTRAL BUSINESSES THE WAY IT IS WRITTEN , WE ARE NOT EXPANDING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OFF-SITE

ADVERTISING. >> HE JUST WANTS TO BE CLEAR THAT A TYPE THREE SIGN IS ALLOWED ON THE STREETS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE SECOND DISTRICT OF THE DOWNTOWN

AREA. >> I THINK IT SAYS THAT IN THAT

CHART. DOES IT NEED -- >> IT NEEDS TO BE AN ORDINANCE.

>> WE CAN ADDED TO THE LANGUAGE TO BE CLEAR.

>> WE CAN GET THAT FIXED. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? THANK YOU. I WILL NOW OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 18? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

>> KIM SMITH, ABILENE RESIDENT. COUNCILMAN BEARD HELD THE NAIL ON THE HEAD WHEN HE SAID , I THINK I REGULAR GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO BE REGULATING CONTENT. LET'S REMEMBER THAT THE

[01:10:05]

DIGITAL PART OF THIS IS ALREADY ALLOWED AND OKAY. IT IS LITERALLY WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT . AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, WE ADVERTISED PEACOCK PATIO ON THE SIDE OF ANOTHER SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS BUILDING THAT I HAVE AN ARRANGEMENT WITH , BERNARDS REFINISHING, AND THE FIRE ESCAPE. AND I WILL TELL YOU THE REASON I WANTED AND NEEDED THAT. FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, MINE IN THE SODA DISTRICT AS WELL AS PEACOCK PATIO, ARE NOT IN THE HOTSPOT OF DOWNTOWN. WE ARE OFF TO THE SIDE. WE NEED A LITTLE EXTRA OFF PREMISE ADVERTISING, AND I FEEL LIKE THAT SHOULD BE PERFECTLY OKAY. AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNER SHOULD BE ABLE TO CROSS PROMOTE ONE ANOTHER AND ADVERTISE FOR EACH OTHER. YOU KNOW, THERE ARE MANY PLACES IN ABILENE WE COULD HAVE CHOSEN THAT WOULD BE A BETTER LOCATION FOR BUSINESSES. WE CHOOSE TO BE A PART OF DOWNTOWN. WE CHOOSE TO BE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS. WE WANT THINGS TO HAPPEN DOWNTOWN.

WITH THAT COMES A LOT OF RISK AS A BUSINESS OWNER. TRUST ME WHEN I SAY THAT. LOTS OF RISK. LOTS OF UNKNOWNS. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO COUNT ON OUR GOVERNMENT FOR SUPPORT , AND THAT'S WHY I'M SEEKING THIS ORDINANCE CHANGE. IT SHOULD BE ALLOWED IN CENTRAL BUSINESS. BUT IF I CAN'T HAVE THAT, I NEED A PLACE TO MOVE THE SIGNS. WE HAVE THE UPCOMING ANGRY CACTUS PROJECT, WHICH IS GOING TO BE GREAT FOR DOWNTOWN. I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT AND WE ARE ON THE LAST HURDLE BEFORE WE CAN ANNOUNCE IT, FINGERS CROSSED. BUT WITH THAT SAID, I HAVE ANOTHER ONE TO MOVE, AND IT WAS HELD TO TRY TO GET THE ONE OFF THE SIDE OF BERNARDS MOVED TO TREAD AWAY. GOT AN ADJUSTMENT, THEY DIDN'T ALLOW IT. THAT WAS FINE. THEN I WOULD SEND ADAM TO VARIOUS ADDRESSES ALL OVER TOWN LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO MOVE THIS ONE THAT IS ON SOUTH FIRST. THERE'S ALWAYS SOME PROCESS THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE, IT WAS ALWAYS TOO CLOSE TO A BILLBOARD. I HAVE NO ISSUES WITH LAMARR AT ALL. AND THEN THE WAY THE ORDINANCE IS WRITTEN, IT ALLOWS THEM TO ENJOY A MONOPOLY AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES BEING ABLE TO ADVERTISE FOR ONE ANOTHER. AND THAT YOU SHOULDN'T BE OKAY. YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE ORDINANCES THAT HINDER SMALL BUSINESSES. WE NEED THAT LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA ADVERTISING. YOU KNOW, MY REASON FOR HAVING THEM IN THE SODA DISTRICT WAS NOT JUST ADVERTISING. IT WAS DARK OVER THERE. SO I WAS LIKE, WE NEED LIGHT. FEMALE BARTENDERS WALKING ACROSS TOWN THAT ALLIE. IT IS SECURITY, TOO. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

>> MAYBE I AM THICK THIS MORNING. WE ARE NOT FIXING THIS? THIS IS MY QUESTION. I THOUGHT THAT, VERY CLEARLY, WE ARE AGREED THAT WE ARE NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF REGULATING CONTENT ASIDE FROM OBSCENITY , AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING.

I THOUGHT THIS ORDINANCE WAS ACHIEVING THAT. BUT THIS QUESTION THAT I'M GETTING IS, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL

NOT HAPPY WITH THIS. >> I THINK YOU'RE HEARING A CITIZENS OPINION ON EFFICACY , BUT AS FAR AS THE DIRECTION COUNCIL HAS GIVEN TO ALLOW FOR OFF PREMISE SIGNAGE IN THE AREAS OF THE BEEN IDENTIFIED, YES, THIS ORDINANCE CHANGE WOULD ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO ADVERTISE IN THESE AREAS FOR OFF PREMISE ADVERTISING , AS WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING. WE BELIEVE IT SOLVES THE CONCERNS THAT IT BEEN EXPRESSED BY THE

PUBLIC. YES, SIR. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE THING, TOO. THIS WAS OUR ORDINANCE. AND SO THE STAFF WAS ENFORCING THIS ORDINANCE. THE STAFF WAS NOT DOING ANYTHING WRONG. WE ARE ADDRESSING THE SITUATION . ANYONE ELSE?

>> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE WITH THE CLARIFICATION ASSIGNED

ADVERTISING WE TALKED ABOUT. >> SECOND.

>> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN PRYCE, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN REGAN. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? READY TO VOTE.

[01:15:01]

>> MAYOR PRO-TEM MCALISTER IS ABSTAINING. MOTION CARRIES.

>> MOTION CARRIES.

[24. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving the Services Contract with Daupler, Inc. for Incident Response Management System for the Water Utilities Department (Jeremiah Bihl)]

>> WE WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 24, AND I WILL ASK JEREMIAH -- EXCUSE ME. WHAT IS JEREMIAH'S LAST NAME? WE NEED TO MEET YOU.

BIHL? >> MAYOR, IF YOU WILL ALLOW, I HAVE A LAST JEREMIAH BIHL TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. I THINK HE IS THE MOST QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. IF YOU WILL JUST ALLOW ME A MOMENT TO BRAG ON MY TEAM, I DON'T GET TO DO THIS TOO OFTEN. IT'S MADE UP OF A LOT OF REALLY GOOD MEN AND WOMEN , AND I THINK I'M VERY BLESSED TO HAVE A TEAM WITH JEREMIAH BIHL, WHO IS A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER WITH EXPERIENCE WITH THE LOCAL ENGINEERING FIRM HERE IN ABILENE AND ALSO WITH JOHNSON COUNTY WATER SUPPLY. HE HAS BEEN ON OUR TEAM FOR ABOUT A YEAR. HE HAS TEAMED UP IN A VERY POSITIVE AND COMPETITIVE WAY WITH MATTHEW DANE, ALSO A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER, VERY BRIGHT WHO WE WERE ABLE TO ROB AWAY FROM THE CITY MANAGEMENT TEAM AND WHO THE STAFF IN OUR TRANSITION OF THE UTILITY BILLING SYSTEMS. I FEEL LIKE I AM VERY BLESSED AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND A DIRECTOR TO HAVE SUCH A SUPPORT TEAM. I THINK WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE AS A CITY ORGANIZATION TO HAVE THIS LEVEL OF INTELLIGENCE AND TALENT IN THE WATER UTILITY STAFF THAT BRINGS SOME YOUTH, AT LEAST COMPARED TO ME, IN THE ORGANIZATION. JEREMIAH BIHL.

>> THANK YOU, RODNEY. WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY IS A CONTRACT FOR AN INCIDENT RESPONSE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

BACK IN OCTOBER, WE WENT OUT FOR THIS KIND OF SYSTEM. WE RECEIVED TWO PROPOSALS. ONE WAS FROM DAUPLER, WHICH IS A CONTRACT THAT WAS BROUGHT BEFORE YOU. IT WAS FOR $90,000.

THE OTHER WAS FROM ME COMPANY CALLED -- DAUPLER OFFERED AN OFF-THE-SHELF PRODUCT THAT THEY HAD ALREADY DESIGNED AND BUILT AND IMPLEMENTED IN OTHER COMMUNITIES. OFFERED A CUSTOM DESIGNED AND BUILT APPLICATION. THEIR PROPOSAL WAS OVER $300,000. SO JUST LOOKING AT THE COST AND LOOKING AT THE ABILITY TO GET THIS IMPLEMENTED, WE FEEL THAT DAUPLER IS THE BEST OPTION FOR THIS ONE. SO WHAT IS THE SYSTEM THAT WE ARE PURCHASING? WHAT THIS SYSTEM DOES IS IT TAKES ALL THE DATA THAT IS COMING IN WHATEVER WE HAVE ON EMERGENCY AFTER HOURS , SOME LEAK OR SEWER BACKUP. IT COMPILES IT ALL IN ONE AREA AND HELP STREAMLINE THE PROCESSES. HE GIVES US TOOLS SO THAT WE CAN GO BACK LATER ON AND SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR SYSTEM. IS THIS SOMETHING THAT IS HAPPENING ALL THE TIME? WHAT IS OUR RESPONSE TIME , IS IT MEETING THE EXPECTATIONS OF OUR CUSTOMERS? AND HOW CAN WE IMPROVE IN THIS AREA? SO CURRENTLY, AFTER OUR CALLS GET ROUTED TO A PHONE THAT IS WITH OUR NIGHT SHIFT PLANT OPERATORS. SO IN ADDITION TO THEIR NORMAL DUTIES OF CHECKING THE PLANT, MAKING SURE WATER IS BEING PRODUCED, THEY ARE ANSWERING PHONE CALLS FROM CITIZENS, EITHER REPORTING A LEAK, A SEWER OUTAGE, MAYBE JUST TRYING TO PAY THEIR BILL.

SO WHEN THEY GET THOSE CALLS DURING NORMAL DAYS, THEY ARE ABLE TO HANDLE THOSE. THEY ARE ABLE TO DO THEIR DUTIES AND ANSWER CALLS. HOWEVER, WHEN A BIG EVENT HAPPENS, LIKE SOMEONE HIT A FIRE HYDRANT AND BLOCKS OF THE CITY ARE WITHOUT WATER, THOSE CALLS KEEP COMING IN, AND THEY CAN QUICKLY GET OVERWHELMED BY THE NUMBER OF CALLS , PEOPLE TRYING TO LEAVE VOICEMAILS, AND HAVING THEM CALL THEM BACK. IT'S ALSO THEIR JOB DURING THESE EVENTS TO COORDINATE WITH THEIR OTHER TEAMS. THEY GET CALLED IN FOR A LEAK, THEY ASSESS IT, THE LEAK TEAM FIGURES OUT WHAT IS WRONG. THEY CALL THE CITIZEN BACK.

THERE'S JUST A LOT OF COMMUNICATION BACK AND FORTH, AND THAT CAN RESULT IN MISCOMMUNICATION, AND IT COULD ALSO RESULT IN MISSED CALLS. CUSTOMERS CAN OFTEN FEEL LIKE THEY CAN CALL WITH NO ANSWER, I LEFT A MESSAGE, IS ANYONE EVEN

[01:20:01]

THERE ? THERE'S JUST A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE CAN IMPROVE TO COME TO SUPPORT OUR OPERATORS SO THEY ARE PRODUCING WATER, BUT ALSO MAKING OUR CUSTOMERS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE BEING HEARD IN ALL THESE INCIDENTS ARE BEING TAKEN CARE OF. SO WHAT DOPPLER OFFERS IS, FIRST ONE IS AN AFTER-HOURS CALL SOLUTION.

THEY PARTNER WITH U.S.-BASED CALL CENTERS, AND THEY ARE HUMAN PEOPLE THAT ANSWER THE PHONE, AND THEY ARE TRAINED TO ANSWER WATER UTILITY CALLS. DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION, WE PROVIDE THEM WITH A LIST OF QUESTIONS THAT THEY ASK, AND THEY GATHER THAT INFORMATION AND THEY PUT IT INTO THE REPORT SYSTEM. IN THE PHONE CALL IS ALSO REPORTED. ONCE THAT FIRST TRANSACTION HAPPENS, THAT IS WHERE DAUPLER KICKS IN. THEY HAVE A REPORTING SYSTEM AND AN A.I. SYSTEM THAT WILL PULL ALL THAT DATA TOGETHER. THEY WILL REVIEW IT, AND THEY WILL DISPATCH AND START CONNECTING THE RIGHT PEOPLE. IF A CUSTOMER CALLS AND SAYS, I HAVE A METER LEAK, AND THE A.I. PICK SET UP, THE CSR PUT IT'S A METER LEAK, THE SYSTEM KNOWS I NEED TO PICK UP A METER GUY, I NEED TO GIVE THEM ALL THE INFORMATION . IT AUTOMATES ALL THAT. REGARDLESS OF HOW THE CSR RESPONDS REGARDLESS OF ANY OTHER INFORMATION, THEY SAY OH, THERE'S A LEAK, BUT THERE'S ALSO A FIRE HYDRANT. THEY'RE GOING TO CALL WHOEVER ELSE THEY THINK THEY NEED TO CALL. THE IDEA IS THAT THIS IS GOING TO HELP REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CALLS THAT MAY BE DON'T NEED TO BE RESPONDED TO. SOMEONE CALLS AND SAYS, HEY, THERE'S A SPRINKLER LEAKING IN MY FRONT YARD, AND IS GOING TO READ THOSE, AND GET SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT, HEY, THIS IS PROBABLY A CALL WE CAN RESPOND TO LATER IN THE DAY. WE CAN TELL, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A SPRINKLER, WE STILL NEED TO CHECK IT JUST TO BE SURE. ALL OF THAT COMBINED WILL HELP SUPPORT OUR OPERATORS AT THE WATER PLANT. THEY WILL HAVE TO -- THEY WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO BE ROUTING THE CALLS, BUT THEY WILL BE UPDATED IF THERE IS A LEAK. BUT THEY WON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH DISTRIBUTING THAT INFORMATION. SO HERE'S KIND OF A BETTER EXPLANATION. THIS IS WHAT THE CUSTOMER WILL SEE WHEN THEY COME. THEY WOULD CALL THE CITY OF ABILENE, THEY WOULD TALK TO THE AGENT. THE AGENT WILL TAKE ALL THE INFORMATION, AND THEN THE AGENT WILL ASK THE CUSTOMER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE UPDATED ON YOUR INCIDENT? IF THEY SAY YES, THEY CAN EITHER BE PROVIDED A WEB LINK THROUGH AN EMAIL OR COULD BE PROVIDED A TEXT MESSAGE THAT WOULD GIVE THEM THE WEB LINK TO A LIVE FEED, ALMOST LIKE WHEN YOU ORDER PIZZA FROM DOMINO'S, HOW YOU CAN TRACK WHERE YOUR PIZZA IS IN THE PROCESS. THINKING WITH YOUR INCIDENT. IT WILL TELL YOU YOUR INCIDENT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED. JOE HAS PICKED IT UP AND HE IS RESPONDING. HE IS ON HIS WAY. INCIDENT IS FIXED. WITH THIS APPLICATION, THEY CAN ALSO GO IN AND TAKE PICTURES. SO IF THEY DO REPORT IT IS A SPRINKLER LEAK AND THEY GET THERE AND THEY SAY, HEY, WHY DON'T YOU UPLOAD A PICTURE OF THE LEAK, AND THEY UPLOAD IT AND IT'S IN THEIR FRONT YARD, IT'S CLEARLY A SPRINKLER HEAD LINKING, THE ON-CALL GUY, WHEN HE GETS THAT, IN HIS REPORT, HE CAN SEE THAT AND CALL THE CUSTOMER AND SAY, HEY, THIS LOOKS LIKE A SPRINKLER LEAK FROM THE HOUSE THAT IS ON YOUR SIDE . I CAN WALK YOU THROUGH HOW TO TURN OFF THE METER, TURN OFF YOUR CUSTOMER SIDE, BUT IT ISN'T A LEAK THAT WE CAN FIX.

SO THAT IS A BRIEF KIND OF WEB AND PHONE VERSION. IT ALSO ADDS A LITTLE LAYER OF SECURITY. WE CAN INCLUDE A PICTURE OF THE OPERATOR SO THEY KNOW WHO IS ON SITE. PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING IN AND PRETENDING TO BE AN OPERATOR TRYING TO GET INTO SOMEONE'S HOUSE, THEY CAN SEE HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ON SITE, WHERE THEY ARE, THEY CAN ACTUALLY CONFIRM AN ADDRESS WHERE THE LEAK IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING. HERE IS WHAT THE RESPONSE PERSON WOULD SEE. IT WOULD SAY, HUMAN INCIDEN, ARE YOU RESPONDING? THEY WOULD CLICK YES, AND THEY COULD CALL THE CUSTOMER FOR MANY THEY ARE USING AND THEY PROVIDE UPDATES TO THE OP, AND THEN THAT RELATES BACK TO THE CUSTOMER.

SO IT WILL CATEGORIZE ALL OF THE INSTANCE. IS THERE LEAK, IS IT PRESSURE, IS A DISCOLORED WATER? WE CAN GO BACK AND LOOK

[01:25:01]

AT A HEAT MAP TO SAY, DOES THIS AREA NEEDS A MAINTENANCE ? DO WE NEED TO START REPAIRING SOME LINES? IS THIS A COMMON OCCURRENCE? ANOTHER THING I FORGOT TO MENTION IS, WHENEVER THERE IS A BIG INCIDENT AND A LOT OF PEOPLE START CALLING, IT IS SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT, AFTER SO MANY CALLS, IT WILL GIVE THE CUSTOMER AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPT IN TO UPDATES. THE CITY OF ABILENE IS AWARE OF A LEAK IN THIS AREA.

IF YOU ARE CALLING ABOUT THIS, PRESS 1 TO GET UPDATES. THEY CAN PRESS 1 AND THEY WILL GET A MESSAGE TO THE PHONE, THEY CAN LOG IN OR JOIN IN ON THE APP AND SEE ALL OF THE PROGRESS OF WHAT IS GOING ON. THEY DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO CALL AND TALK TO SOMEONE. THEY ALREADY KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING. LET'S GET THEM UPDATED SO THEY CAN STAY INFORMED. A LOT OF THE THINGS , IT IS A BIG NEED. THIS IS AN IMPROVEMENT. THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY ABOUT BEING ABLE TO HANDLE WHAT IS GOING ON NOW, WE JUST LOOK TO IMPROVE OUR SYSTEM AND CUSTOMER SERVICE. WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO SEE HOW THIS APPLIED TO THE PRIORITIES THE COUNCIL HAS GIVEN US THE BUDGET. AND SO WITH THIS PROGRAM, WE BELIEVE WE CAN START TO REDUCE OVERTIME . IF GUYS ARE GETTING CALLED OUT FOR THINGS THEY CANNOT FIX, POOLS DRAINING, THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT'S HOURS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO SPEND AND GET CLOCKED FOR. QUALITY OF LIFE.

IF WE CAN RESPOND FASTER, START SETTING UP BENCHMARKS FOR EMPLOYEES TO RESPOND, WE ARE GOING TO IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE FOR CITIZENS. THE HEAT MAP IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF RELIABLE INFRASTRUCTURE. WE WILL GET THAT ON OUR PRIORITY AND GET THAT FIXED. WE HAVE ENGINEERS IN HOUSTON CAN NOW DESIGN PLACEMENTS. IN A FEW DAYS, OUR CREW IS FIXING THAT SO WE CAN PREVENT LEAKS IN THE FUTURE. EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE. AFTER-HOURS AVAILABILITY. THAT'S A BIG THING. IF THERE'S AN EMERGENCY, THEY WANT TO BE HEARD, THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON, AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT CONTRACT THAT IN A SYSTEM THAT IS BETTER THAN WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, AND THEN TRANSPARENT COMMUNICATION, KEEPING THE COMMUNITY ENGAGED, GETTING THOSE UPDATES. THEY ARE IN THE LOOP, THEY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, AND SO THEY CAN TRUST THAT WE ARE WORKING TO GET THE ISSUE RESOLVED. THAT'S ALL I

HAD. >> MAYOR, I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT UTILITIES DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN EXPLORING BIHL KNOW FOR SEVERAL YEARS, WE WERE KIND OF TALKING ABOUT WAYS WE CAN IMPROVE THE PROCESS OF CITIZEN NOTIFICATION AND CITIZEN CALL MANAGEMENT THAT JEREMIAH MATTHEWS STARTED EXPLORING THIS CONCEPT. IT HAS BEEN WELL VETTED BY THE UTILITY DEPARTMENT. WE APPRECIATE THEIR RFP PROCESS AND LOOKING FOR OTHER VENDORS TO POTENTIALLY PROVIDE THAT PROCESS, TOO, NOT JUST GOING WITH THE FIRST PERSON THAT YOU MET. I APPRECIATE THE RESEARCH THE TEAM IS PUT INTO THIS.

>> YOU SAID IT'S KIND OF LIKE A PIZZA APP, LET'S MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW THE LINK ISN'T FIXED WITHIN 30 MINUTES --

>> IT'S FREE, YEAH. >> I LITERALLY GOT A COUPLE OF TEXT MESSAGES THIS WEEK IN REGARDS TO THE SPECIFIC INCIDENT, AND THEN EXPRESSING THEIR EXTREME FRUSTRATION WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH AND NOT KNOWING WHEN A LEAK WOULD BE FIXED, ET CETERA. I APPRECIATE THE STREAMLINED RESPONSE PIECE AND THE ENHANCING COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPARENCY. I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHAT MEASURABLE OUTCOMES , IF YOU THINK ABOUT OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE USED THIS SERVICE, HAVE YOU SEEN PLAY OUT IN THOSE OTHER CITIES IN TERMS OF RESPONSE TIMES, COST SAVINGS, OR EVEN RESIDENT THAT YOU CAN

POINT TO OR ARE AWARE OF? >> ST. PETER'S IN MISSOURI, I THINK IT WAS DURHAM AND NORTH CAROLINA. THEY WERE ALL IMPRESSED WITH THE CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY PROVIDED. THAT WAS THEIR MAIN PRAISE FOR THE SOFTWARE. CUSTOMERS REALLY VALUED JUST A NEW PROCESS. WE HAVE TO SHOW UP AND PERFORM AND

[01:30:01]

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE OUR GUYS ARE PUTTING IN THE INFORMATION CORRECTLY AND PROMPTLY. IT IS NOT JUST THE SOFTWARE, BUT I THINK OUR AM IS UP FOR IT. SPEAKING TO OUR EMPLOYEES, ESPECIALLY OUR OPERATORS, THEY ARE EXCITED TO NOT HAVE TO ANSWER THE PHONE. BUT IT'S ALSO GOING TO PUT A BURDEN ON THE RESPONSES. ONE SUITE START SEEING A RESPONSE TIMES, WE ARE GOING TO SIT DOWN AND SAY, GUYS, WE ARE RESPONDING WITHIN AN HOUR AND A HALF. HOW CAN WE IMPROVE THAT? WHAT CAN WE DO? OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS A TIME WHERE WE ARE GOING TO GET TO THE MINIMUM THAT WE CAN RESPOND. WE HAVE TO GO PULL THE GUYS IN. BUT ONCE WE CAN FIND WHERE WE ARE AT, WE CAN WORK IT

OUT. THANK YOU. >> ON THE COST HERE, LOOKING AT PAGE 418, FOR DAUPLER'S COST FOR A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT, 90,000 -- I ASSUME IF THIS GOES WELL, WE WILL WANT TO RENEW ON AN ANNUAL BASIS OR A LONG-TERM BASIS. SO FOR DAUPLER, CAN WE EXPECT 90,000 TO BE THE ANNUAL COMMITMENT THAT WE WILL NEED TO

MAKE EACH AND EVERY YEAR. >> POSSIBLY. SO SPEAKING WITH THE VENDOR , THE BASE IS 90,000. IF WE DECIDE TO ADD SOME OTHER FEATURES -- IF WE DECIDE THERE'S FEATURES THAT WE DON'T USE AND WE DON'T NEED, THE PRICE CAN BE ADJUSTED THAT WAY. AND THIS IS SOFTWARE, SO THERE'S ALWAYS A CHANCE OF A PRICE INCREASE EVERY YEAR. WE CAN NEGOTIATE THAT WHEN WE GET TO THE CONTRACT WINDOW. ALSO, THEY DO TWO YEAR CONTRACTS, SO IF WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE SOME SAVINGS THERE, WE CAN

DO THAT. >> OKAY. SO WHAT I WAS LOOKING AT IS IT IS 90,000 A YEAR FOR DOPPLER. AN INITIAL COST OF 330 -- THAT'S A LOT MORE. WITH HER YEARLY MAINTENANCE IS ONLY 30,000. IF WE ARE PROJECTING THIS OUT, BY YOUR FOUR, THEY

ARE EVEN COST WISE. >> YES, SIR.

>> IF WE ARE CONSIDERING THIS FOR THE LONG TERM, YOU ARE REALLY JUST LOOKING AT INTERFACE AND CAPABILITY AND WHICH ONE IS BETTER FOR THE CITY AND FOR THE RESIDENCE. AND SO IS IT -- DO THEY HAVE AN APPLICATION ALREADY? OR THEY ARE USING THE 330 TO BUILD THE APPLICATION ?

>> THAT IS CORRECT. THEY HAVE NOT BUILT AN APPLICATION TO FITNESS. THEY BUILT ANOTHER APPLICATION FOR OTHER THINGS.

THEY NEVER DESIGNED OR TESTED ANYTHING . WE WOULD BE THEIR

FIRST TEST RUN. >> LOOKING THIS LONG TERM, YOUR FOUR, IT'S GOING TO BE MUCH CHEAPER IF THINGS STAY THE SAME. WAS THAT KIND OF THE DECIDING FACTOR FOR YOU OF, HEY, DAUPLER HAS THE APPLICATION ALREADY , VERSUS THE UNKNOWN OF THEM CREATING ONE THAT WE DON'T KNOW?

>> CORRECT. AND ALSO, WE ARE WATER ENGINEERS . SO THE IDEA THAT THEY ARE GOING TO GIVE US A NAP, THEY ARE GOING TO PROVIDE MAINTENANCE, BUT WERE GOING TO HAVE SOMEONE ON STAFF WHO CAN WORK THROUGH THAT BEFORE WE CALL THEM FOR SUPPORT, THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER EXPENSE WE WOULD HAVE TO CONSIDER , AND JUST THE BANDWIDTH OF WHAT WE ARE

EXPECTING. >> YOU THINK THE DAUPLER EXTRA 60,000 A YEAR IS BETTER FOR THE KNOWN FACTOR VERSUS THE UNKNOWN

OF DESIGNING A NEW APP? >> I THINK THAT THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY BRING IN THE HISTORY THEY HAVE WITHIN THE

COMMUNITIES IS WORTH IT. >> THANK YOU.

>> THIS IS AN OFF-THE-CUFF QUESTION, SO I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. DO YOU HAVE SOME ESTIMATION OF THE AFTER HOURS CALLS AND HOW MANY OF THOSE CALLOUTS ARE RELATED TO THINGS THAT THE CITY CAN'T FIX , IT'S ON THE CUSTOMER SIDE OF THE METER VERSUS OUR SIDE?

>> I DON'T HAVE A NUMBER EXACTLY, BUT I DID CALL AND IN SPEAKING WITH OUR OPERATORS, I WANT TO SAY IT WAS LIKE 5 TO 1.

FIVE OF THEM WERE REAL CONCERNS, BUT IT DEPENDS ON

WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENS. >> BUT SPECIFICALLY FOR

AFTER-HOURS. >> FOR AFTER HOURS, I DON'T HAVE AN EXACT PERCENT. BUT WHEN I SPOKE TO THEM, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE JOINING THEIR POOLS. AND THE NEXT DAY, THEY THINK IT'S WATER FROM A LEAK. AND THERE'S SPRINKLER LEAKS. THOSE ARE A LOT OF THE CALLS WE ARE SENDING THE CREWS OUT.

>> 5 TO 1, FIVE BEING LEGITIMATE CALLS OF THE CITY NEEDS TO RESPOND TO, ONE BEING IT IS ON THE CUSTOMER SIDE OF

[01:35:02]

THE METER. SO 20% OF OUR CALLS ARE THINGS THAT ARE ON THE

CUSTOMER SIDE OF THE METER? >> CORRECT. I DIDN'T DISCUSS THIS WITH HIM SPECIFICALLY. I ASKED HIM ABOUT CALL THEY SPEND PEOPLE OUT TO. HE ALSO RECEIVES CALLS OF PEOPLE TEND TO PAY THEIR BILL, SO HE HAS TO RESPOND. AND SO THERE IS PEOPLE CALLING ABOUT THEIR ACCOUNT, TO PAY THE BILL. OBVIOUSLY, HE IS NOT TRAINED TO TAKE THOSE CALLS. HE DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE BILLING SOFTWARE. SO THAT HAS TO BE ROUTED FOR THE

NEXT MORNING. >> I'M WONDERING HOW MUCH OF THIS COST WE COULD OFFSET BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF

AFTER-HOURS CALLS. >> DAUPLER IS GOING TO GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRACK THOSE CALLS. EVEN IF THE CALL IS AFTER HOURS, IT WILL SAY, WE RECEIVED A CALL, WE DID NOT SEND ANYBODY OUT TO GO RESPOND. WE CAN GET A BETTER LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS AND PROVIDE THAT.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? JEREMIAH, GOOD JOB. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 24? PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION IN A SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BEARD. A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN MCALISTER. WITH NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, WE ARE READY TO VOTE.

[25. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Resolution Authorizing Application For Financial Assistance From The Texas Water Development Board; And Making Certain Findings In Connection Therewith (Rodney Taylor)]

>> ALL YESES, MOTION CARRIES. >> WE WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 25 AND I WILL ASK RODNEY TAYLOR , DIRECTOR OF WATER UTILITIES, TO

PRESENT THIS ITEM. >> IN MOURNING, RODNEY TAYLOR, DIRECTOR OF WATER UTILITIES. THIS ITEM IS A RESOLUTION TO FILE AN APPLICATION WITH THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD ALONE IN THE AMOUNT OF $49 MILLION. AGAIN, THIS IS NOT AN ACTION IN ITSELF THAT COMMIT US TO A FINANCIAL OBLIGATION AT THIS POINT. THE PURPOSE OF THIS LOAN IS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE NORTHEAST WATER TREATMENT PLANT. THIS IS BEEN A PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN ON OUR MASTER PLAN FOR SEVERAL YEARS. WE KNEW IT WAS COMING. TO DO A STUDY OF THAT PLANT AND LOOK AT THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE , AND THEN DEVELOPED A GENERAL SCOPE OF THINGS FOR REPAIR FOR THIS PROJECT. THESE INCLUDE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CLARIFIERS , VALVE REPLACEMENTS, FILTER IMPROVEMENTS, THE WHOLE IDEA IS TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THE PLANT IN A WAY THAT WE CAN RELY ON THIS PLANT INTO THE FUTURE.

THE NORTHEAST PLANT IS THE WORKHORSE OF THE THREE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS THAT WE HAVE. THE OVERALL COST OF THE PROJECT WITH ALL OF THESE ITEMS IS ABOUT $70 MILLION, SO THE $49 MILLION WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DOES NOT COVER THE FULL COST OF THAT. THERE WAS A LIMIT IN OUR APPLICATION TO THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD . THIS PROGRAM DOES TEND TO OFFER A LOW MARKET RATE AS FAR AS BORROWING MONEY, SO IT IS IN THE ADVANTAGE OF THE CITY TO GET THESE LOWER INTEREST RATES.

I GUESS IT WAS BACK IN 2021, WE BROUGHT THIS TO CITY COUNCIL WITH A FIVE-YEAR RATE PLAN , AND THE FIVE-YEAR RATE PLAN WAS BASED OFF WHAT WE THOUGHT AT THE TIME WAS THE NEEDS GOING INTO THE FUTURE. LITTLE DID WE KNOW AT THAT TIME OF THE IMPACT THAT COVID , WHETHER IT WAS A COINCIDENCE , AND LITTLE WHAT WE KNEW AT THAT TIME, THE IMPACT INCOMING REGULATIONS WOULD HAVE ON THE WATER UTILITY. AT THAT TIME, WE HAD REALLY SOLD TO THE CITY COUNCIL A STRATEGY OF BECOMING

[01:40:02]

CASH-BASED AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY COULD, THAT IS NOT TO SAY WE WOULD NOT BORROW MONEY IN THE FUTURE, BUT WE WOULD TRY TO LIMIT THAT SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE SAVINGS ON INTEREST OVER THE YEARS. THE REALITY IS, IS THAT CALLS HAVE GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY , AND OUR NEEDS HAVE CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY.

JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, THE BOX ON THE LEFT IS OUR MASTER PLAN AT THE TIME THAT WE ARE DOING THAT PLANNING. THE TOTAL COST OF THOSE PROJECTS AT THAT TIME WAS 177 MILLION. IF YOU WORK THAT OUT OVER THE 13 YEARS OF THAT PERIOD, IT'S ABOUT $13.6 MILLION A YEAR. WE HAD THE RATE STRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THAT, AND YOU WERE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT RATE STRUCTURE AT THE TIME.

BECAUSE OF THINGS BEYOND OUR CONTROL, SUCH AS INFLATION AND OF ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS THAT HAVE COME ABOUT NOW . OUR NEEDS FOR THE SIMILAR PROJECTS NOW IS ABOUT 330 MILLION, SO THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE . I AM BRINGING THIS FORWARD AS IT IS NOT A DIRECT IMPACT ON YOUR DECISION TODAY AS FAR AS AN APPLICATION FOR THAT 49 MILLION, BUT JUST TO KIND OF PRIME YOU AT THE PUMP OR PLANT THE SEED OF A CONVERSATION THAT WE WILL NEED TO HAVE WITH THE COUNCIL OF THE COMING WORKSHOP ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT THE WATER UTILITIES IS FACING RIGHT NOW, SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT HAVE OCCURRED THAT ARE CAUSING THAT IN THE DIRECTION THAT WE FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO GO INTO THE FUTURE. SO I JUST WANTED YOU TO BE FULLY AWARE OF OUR SITUATION IN ASKING FOR THIS APPROVAL OF AN APPLICATION ONLY AT THIS TIME FOR THAT $49 MILLION LOAN .

>> THAT WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD AT THE COUNCIL RETREAT ON

JANUARY 31ST, I BELIEVE. >> SO THIS IS JUST THE APPLICATION. AND RODNEY, WE DON'T HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL ABOUT HOW THIS ELECTION WILL AFFECT THIS GOING FORWARD, BUT THERE COULD POSSIBLY BE -- THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE BROUGHT BACK OR REDUCED POSSIBLY. BUT WE DON'T KNOW THAT. WE DON'T HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL. WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS PREPARING US FOR

THIS IF IT HAPPENS. >> THAT IS CORRECT. THE WORK THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS REHABILITATION OF THIS TREATMENT PLANT, THIS $49 MILLION, IS IMPORTANT TO OUR ORGANIZATION . AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THERE IS A CHANGE IN THE ENVIRONMENT AFTER WE TRANSITION TO NEW LEADERSHIP.

>> THIS 49 MILLION -- >> 330 COULD CHANGE. WE HOPE THAT IT WOULD CHANGE FOR THE BETTER, BUT THE $49 MILLION IS A NEED THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW. WE DO NOT HAVE THE CASH ON HAND

TO DO THE SUPPORT. >> MORE QUESTIONS?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO POINT OUT, A BACKUP GENERATOR IS GOING TO BE A PART OF THIS. CAN YOU GO BACK A COUPLE OF SLIDES? I JUST WANT TO GET CLARIFICATION RIGHT THERE. IF YOU OUT OF THE CURRENT COLUMN, THAT IS $62 MILLION A DAY. THAT LEAVES US WITH ONLY 55 MILLION, EVEN WITH THE EXPANSIONS. SO IS 55 MILLION SUFFICIENT SUPPLY FOR

THE PROJECTED WATER NEEDS? >> RODNEY, I DON'T KNOW IF GRIMES COULD ACTUALLY PRODUCE 50 25 MILLION.

>> THAT IS THE KEY POINT. GRIMES ACTIVATING THROUGH THE TC Q OF 25 MGD. AND YOU GOT TO REMEMBER THAT A LOT OF THE COMPONENTS OF THE GRIMES PLANT WAS BUILT IN THE 40S AND 50S.

THE CRITERIA THAT WE HAVE TO MEET NOW COMPARED TO THAT IS A LOT DIFFERENT. IT IS VERY CHALLENGING TO GET MORE THAN ABOUT 15 OR 16 MGD THROUGH THAT PLANT. THE REALITY OF 25 IS REALLY ABOUT 15 MGD, WHICH PULLS US BACK NOW TO THE NUMBER WE HAVE PROJECTED TO OUR MASTER PLANNING A VIRTUE NEEDS GOING FORWARD, WHICH WOULD BE THE 50 MILLION GALLON A DAY. SO WERE

ACTUALLY AT ABOUT 52. >> AND IN THE PROPOSED IS 55?

[01:45:07]

>> YES, SIR. WE BELIEVE THAT IS ADEQUATE TO TAKE US WELL INTO

THE FUTURE. >> TO ANYONE LOOKING AT THESE NUMBERS, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S MORE THAN WE CAN PRODUCE IN OUR

FUTURE PLANNING. >> HUMAN WITH A COST SAVINGS

WERE? >> I DON'T REMEMBER THE SPECIFIC NUMBERS. IT WAS SOMEWHAT CHEAPER, BUT A BIG PART OF THIS WAS THE COMPLEXITY OF TRYING TO TRANSITION THE PLANT THAT WAS BUILT ORIGINALLY IN 1940. MANY OF THOSE PARTS AND PIECES ARE STILL IN PLACE OR TRYING TO BE BUILT BACK ON TOP OF THAT SAME SITE IN CONSTRUCTION. A MODERN PLANT THAT COULD PERFORM AT THE SAME LEVEL, THE COST ARE HIGHER, AND IT IS A MUCH MORE COMPLICATED PROCESS THAN MOVING THE CAPACITY TO THE OTHER TWO SIDES.

>> TWO QUESTIONS. OF THE 49 MILLION, IT'S PART OF THE FULL 70 MILLION. JUST LOOKING -- I THINK IT'S ON THE NEXT SLIDE, EITHER TO THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT, OF THE 2024 PLANT PROJECT, 2026, YOU HAVE THE EXPANSION. THIS 49 MILLION, THAT IS GOING TO ONE OF THOSE? IS THAT COUNTED IN THAT

CATEGORY THERE? >> YES. THE REHABILITATION .

WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THE DISCREPANCY THERE?

>> I BELIEVE TO MAKE THE TWO LISTS COMPARABLE , THOSE ARE FOR THE SAME TYPES OF REHABILITATION AS DESCRIBED IN THE MASTER PLAN. THAT 70 MILLION ACTUALLY INCLUDES AT LEAST ONE PROCESS ITEM THAT IS PART OF OUR STRATEGY FOR MEETING OUR REDUCTION THAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS . THAT'S WHERE THE $70 MILLION CAME FROM.

>> SO ROUGHLY 9 MILLION IS TOWARDS THAT. AND THEN 49 MILLION IS FROM A VERY LOW INTEREST LOAN. THE OTHER ROUGHLY 21 MILLION, WHAT DOES THE FINANCING LOOK LIKE FOR

THAT? >> WELL, WE GOT A COUPLE OF ITEMS WE WILL BE DISCUSSING WITH THE COUNCIL. THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES , THE DRINK WATER FUND, AND THERE ARE SOME OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH PROGRAMS AT THE EPA. EACH OF THOSE HAVE THEIR OWN PECULIARITIES WHEN YOU LOOK AT BORROWING MONEY, BUT I THINK THAT WOULD GIVE US SOME FLEXIBILITY AS WE MOVE INTO THE FUTURE , TO NOT ONLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CASH THAT WE ARE INTENDING TO BUILD, BUT ALSO SOME PART OF THAT. THE EPA MONEY IN PARTICULAR HAS A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY. WE CAN USE IT IN THE SHORT TERM AND POSSIBLY PAY IT OFF EARLY TO AVOID SOME OF THE INTEREST.

>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE ONE STATEMENT TO CORRECT ANY EXPECTATIONS. THE FUNDS WE ARE GETTING, AND MAY NOT BE VARIABLE INTEREST. IT WILL BE LOWER INTEREST. I WISH IT WAS

VERY LOW INTEREST. >> YES.

>> ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU, RANDALL. I WILL NOW OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOUR OR AGAINST ITEM 25? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION WITH THE SPECIFIC MOTION LANGUAGE.

>> I MOVED TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION AUTHORIZING THE APPLICATION FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE TEXAS WATER

DEVELOPMENT BOARD . >> I HAVE THE MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN PRICE. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN BEARD. ANY FURTHER

DISCUSSION? READY TO VOTE. >> ALL YESES, MOTION CARRIES.

[EXECUTIVE SESSION]

>> IT IS NOW 10:19 A.M. WE WILL RECESS TO EXECUTIVE SESSION .

SECTION 551.071, CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY, SECTION 551.073, DELIBERATIONS ABOUT GIFTS AND DONATIONS, SECTION 551.07 FOUR FOR PERSONAL MATTERS. DELIBERATIONS ABOUT SECURITY DEVICES. DELIBERATIONS ABOUT BUSINESS PROSPECTS, AND

[01:50:01]

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WE WILL BE BACK. MERRY CHRISTMAS.

[RECONVENE]

>> IT IS NOW 11:55 A.M., AND WE RECONVENED TO OPEN SESSION. NO

[27. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Appointing Members to Various Boards and Commissions per the City Charter (Kaitlin Richardson)]

VOTES OR ACTIONS WERE TAKEN DURING THE CLOSED SESSION. WE NOW MOVE TO ITEM 27, WHICH IS THE REAPPOINTMENT OF VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS . AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? PLEASE PHONE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE STORY REAPPOINTMENT . THE BOARD IS VERY CAPABLE AND DOES A GREAT JOB. INC. YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND YOUR DEDICATION NOT ONLY TO THIS BOARD, BUT THIS COMMUNITY. YOU DO SO MUCH FOR US, AND WE ARE APPRECIATIVE. WITH THAT, I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND.

IVY SECOND BY COUNCILMAN MCALISTER. WITH NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, WE ARE READY TO VOTE.

[28. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving Project Bay for the Development Corporation of Abilene, Inc. (Misty Mayo)]

>> ALL YESES, MOTION CARRIES. >> WE NOW MOVED TO ITEM 28 AND WE WILL GO TO MISTY MAYO TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.

>> MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CONTINUING TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF ABILENE'S ROLE AND ULTIMATELY OUR ROLE IS TO REINVEST THE PORTION OF THE SALES TAX MONEY AS WELL AS MONIES THAT WE EARNED FROM THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRIAL PARKS , AND I WILL SAY OUR BUDGET IS ABOUT 98% OF THE HALF CENT SALES TAX, AND OUR ROLE IS TO REINVEST THAT MONEY BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY, AND WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT, AND I AM PLEASED TODAY TO BRING WHAT IS THE 40TH PROJECT SUPPORTING AND WORKING WITH COMPANIES FOR EXPANSION WITHIN ABILENE WITHIN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. SO A REAL TESTAMENT TO OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND TO OUR STAFF TEAM THAT IS A GROUP OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EXPERTS . I THANK THEM FOR THEIR WORK. THERE'S A FEW OF THEM HERE. BROCK AND ASHLEY AND OTHERS, THAT ARE WORKING HARD ON BEHALF OF ABILENE, AND A SPECIAL THANKS TO MR. MILLER AND OUR OTHER LEADERS OF THE BOARD. I WILL GO OVER SOME SLIDES FOR THE PUBLIC'S CONSUMPTION OF SOME RECENT AWARDS THAT WE HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED. BOTH OF THE STATE LEVEL AS WELL AS INTERNATIONAL LEVEL. I ALWAYS LIKE TO POINT OUT OUR STRATEGIC PLAN. THE PRIMARY REASON FOR THE TYPE OF GROUP AND THE TYPE OF OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE SOUGHT OUT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE A VISION AND WE HAVE A PLAN, AND WE HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENTING ON THAT PLAN. WHEN I BRING A PROJECT TO CITY COUNCIL FOR RATIFICATION, THAT PROJECT HAS ORIGINATED WITH A STAFF TEAM THAT I HAVE DESCRIBED, THEN ONCE THAT PROJECT IS AT THE POINT IN THE PROCESS, IT GOES BEFORE A BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR CONSIDERATION . THEN, DEPENDING ON THE DIRECTION OF THE INCENTIVE INVOLVED, AND THEN COMES TO YOU ALL FOR RATIFICATION. THIS IS THE JOURNEY, THE CLIFF NOTES VERSION FOR THE PUBLIC'S CONSUMPTION TO SEE THAT TODAY'S VOTE IS ABOUT GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO NEGOTIATE THE MANY, SOMETIMES SEVERAL, RATHER, CONTRACTS THAT MIGHT BE INVOLVED IN THE DEAL POINTS OF THE PARTICULAR EXPANSION THAT THE COMPANY IS CONTEMPLATING. I WILL ALSO POINT OUT THAT WHEN THE COMMUNITY OFFERS AN INCENTIVE -- I'M ABOUT TO OUTLINE WHAT THE INCENTIVE IS FOR PROJECT A, THERE IS ALWAYS WHAT IS CALLED BY STATE LAW A CLAWBACK. SO WHEN WE DO A DEAL AT THE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF ABILENE WITH A PARTNER COMPANY, THAT COMPANY IS COMMITTING DELIVERABLES.

- ANNOUNCER: THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE TELEVISION SERIES IS SUPPORTED IN PART BY TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION -- CONSERVING THE WILD THINGS AND WILD PLACES OF TEXAS,

[01:55:01]

THANKS TO MEMBERS ACROSS THE STATE. ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE TOYOTA TUNDRA. YOUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERS ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT OUTDOOR RECREATION AND CONSERVATION IN TEXAS. ADVENTURE: IT'S WHAT WE SHARE.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.

Dec 19, 2024 City Council

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