[00:00:09] COUNCILMAN CRAVER TO LEAD US IN OUR INVOCATION. [CALL TO ORDER] PLEASE BOW WITH ME. LORD JESUS, AS WE GATHER TODAY, ENTRUSTED WITH YOUR STEWARDSHIP OF OUR CITY, WE PAUSE TO GIVE YOU THE GLORY SEEKING GUIDANCE THAT TRANSCENDS OUR INDIVIDUAL PERSPECTIVES. GOD AND GRANT US THE CLARITY OF MIND AND THE PURITY OF INTENTION. THAT WE MAY DISCERN THE COMMON GOOD AMIDST COMPETING INTERESTS, AND INSTILL IN US A SPIRIT OF HUMILITY. TO LISTEN DEEPLY TO ONE ANOTHER, ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WHOSE VOICES ARE SELDOM HEARD. MAY OUR DELIBERATIONS BE MARKED BY RESPECT, EMPATHY, AND A SINCERE DESIRE FOR JUSTICE. REMIND US OF EACH AND EVERY DECISION THAT WE'RE MAKING IS SHAPING NOT ONLY POLICIES, BUT DAILY LIVES AND HOPES OF OUR NEIGHBORS INSPIRE US TO ACT WITH COURAGE AND COMPASSION, AND BE MINDFUL OF THE DIGNITY OF THE INTENT IN EACH AND EVERY PERSON MAY BE VIGILANT GOD AND STEWARDS OF OF THE RESPONSES THAT ARE ENTRUSTED TO US, AND WISE IN OUR PLANNING, AND GENEROUS IN OUR SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR THOSE THAT SERVE US IN WAYS THAT AREN'T ALWAYS RECOGNIZABLE. THANK YOU FOR SEEING US AND LOVING US, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, GUIDING US TO BE STEWARDS OF YOUR LOVE AND GRACE HERE ON THIS EARTH AND SEE YOUR NAME. WE GIVE THANKS AND WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CRAVEN. TODAY FROM PURCELL ELEMENTARY. PURCELL ELEMENTARY I HAVE KINSEY KINSEY REGISTER HERE. AND HER MOTHER, CRYSTAL IS HERE WITH US. AND THEN I HAVE ABBY AND HER MOTHER. JENNIFER IS WITH US. AND MISS JIMENEZ, THEIR PRINCIPAL IS HERE, AND THEY ARE GOING TO LEAD US IN OUR PLEDGES. SO YOU GIRLS TURN AROUND RIGHT WHERE WE'RE AT. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO BE TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE. MISCELLANEOUS. IF YOU GUYS WANT TO COME AND TAKE YOUR PICTURES, YOU CAN. I DID TAKE IT FROM HERE. HOW'S THIS? YOU'RE RATTLING AROUND OUT THERE. COME ON. THIS IS GREAT. THANK YOU. SO GREAT. LAST FEW DAYS. COME ON DOWN. WATCH YOUR STEP. RIGHT THERE. I'LL GIVE YOU SOME SPACE. WATCH YOUR STEP. YEAH. YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED WE HAVE SOME GUEST WITH US TODAY. [PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PROCLAMATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS] WITH OUR OUR WILY DESTINATION IMAGINATION BUNCH. AND I'M JUST GOING TO ASK KIM CHIK TO COME UP. IS KIM HERE? AND KIM, I'M JUST GOING TO LET YOU TAKE OVER. WELL. THANK YOU. I AM REALLY EXCITED TODAY TO BRING THREE TEAMS THAT ARE GOING TO REPRESENT OUR CITY AND OUR OUR GREAT STATE. IN KANSAS CITY, WE LEAVE MAY 21ST, 22ND, AND OUR STUDENTS WILL BE COMPETING AGAINST OVER 30 TEAMS ALL OVER THE WORLD THAT WILL BE COMING IN. EACH TEAM HAS A SPECIFIC CHALLENGE THAT THEY WORKED IN, FROM A TECHNICAL CHALLENGE TO THE FINE ARTS TO THE SCIENTIFIC CHALLENGE. AND I'M WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THEM. THIS IS A PROGRAM WHERE KIDS HAVE TO WORK ON SOMETHING FOR MONTHS LEARNING ABOUT INVESTIGATIVE RESEARCH. PROCESSING THAT DATA, PUTTING IT TOGETHER IN AN INNOVATIVE, CREATIVE WAY, AND THEN WORKING THROUGH ALL THE ISSUES THAT COME ALONG. BEING PART OF A TEAM. LEARNING TO LISTEN TO ONE ANOTHER, PROBLEM, SOLVE, WORK WITHIN A BUDGET, AND THEN PERSONALITY DIFFERENCES. AND SO YOUR PRAYER THIS MORNING WAS WHAT WE PRAY OVER OUR KIDS ALL THE TIME. AND WE WANT TO BE THAT EXAMPLE WITH REPRESENTING OUR GREAT CITY. SO WE THANK YOU FOR LETTING US COME THIS MORNING. CAN I RECOGNIZE THE TEAMS? YES. PLEASE DO. PLEASE DO. PLEASE DO. OUR FIRST TEAM MAKING THE VERY FIRST TRIP TO GLOBAL FINALS. [00:05:02] BRING THEM ALL UP. GOLDEN GIRL GANG. LET'S ALL STAND. THESE LITTLE GIRLS WON REGIONALS AND OUR STATE AND ARE IN THE FINE ARTS CHALLENGE. AND THEIR COACHES, MACY HANNER AND MELISSA CONNELL. ARE Y'ALL HERE? OH, YOU GET TO COME UP HERE, TOO? YES. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TURN AROUND AND TAKE A PICTURE, TOO. YEAH. WE GOT A LOT OF PROUD PARENTS HERE TODAY. ABSOLUTELY. SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO LEARN TO BE INNOVATIVE IN OUR WORLD. AND THESE THIS GROUP OF GIRLS HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND. AND WE'RE SO PROUD OF THEM. AND SO GIRLS HAVE DONE. WANT TO TURN AROUND? YEAH. YES. THERE WE GO. OKAY. Y'ALL NEED TO GET USED TO THIS BECAUSE WE WILL TAKE YOUR PICTURE. AWESOME. THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT GROUP. THIS WILL BE THEIR SECOND APPEARANCE AT GLOBAL FINALS. WE HAVE AN INDIE. YOU KIND OF HAVE A CODE NAME, AND YOU'RE FOREVER KNOWN AS THAT. AND THERE'S ALWAYS STORIES BEHIND OUR GOLDEN GIRL GANG. I'LL WEAR A LITTLE LADY WIGS FOR THE GOLDEN GIRLS. AND BUT NOW WE HAVE OUR SCREAMING BEETLE TACOS. SO WE'RE DREAMING. BEETLE TACOS. AND COACHES ANGEL BAG AND MATT OLIVER. AND I JUST WANT TO BRAG. JUST A MOMENT OR SHARE, NOT BRAG. THIS TEAM GOT TO COME TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING LAST YEAR, AND THEY WERE IN THE ENGINEERING CHALLENGE. THIS GROUP OF BRIGHT KIDS, ONE THIRD PLACE IN THE WORLD. LAST YEAR THEY. SAID TO END THIS YEAR THEY CHOSE TO GO SCIENTIFIC IN ITS OWN SPACE INNOVATION. AND THEY HAVE BEEN CONCENTRATING A LOT ON THE PHOENIX GALAXY AND WASP 18 BEE. SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS AT GLOBALS THIS YEAR. SO GUYS, IF Y'ALL WILL TURN AROUND AND THERE IS A PLACE I CAN FIND OUT. SCREAMING BEETLE TACO. THERE'S A WEBSITE THAT TELLS ME ALL ABOUT THAT NAME. I DON'T THINK WE'D PUBLISH IT. OKAY, OKAY. SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD FOOD TRUCK, THOUGH. ONE MORE. PLEASE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IN OUR NEXT GROUP WE HAVE REPRESENTING WYLIE HIGH SCHOOL. THEY'VE BEEN TOGETHER SINCE THEY WERE IN THIRD AND FOURTH GRADE. AND THEY ARE KNOWN AS THE DETECTIVE DUCKS. SO, DETECTIVE DUCKS, IF Y'ALL COME ON. THANK YOU. SO OUR DETECTIVE DUCKS, THEY ALSO HAVE SOME STUDENTS THAT ARE AT THE JUNIOR HIGH. THEY DID NOT WANT TO BREAK UP AS A TEAM. SO THEY ARE WORKING TOGETHER ACROSS CAMPUSES. AND I LOVE THAT TEAMWORK APPROACH. DETECTIVE DUCKS HAVE GONE TO GLOBALS MULTIPLE TIMES. AND THEIR FIRST YEAR. ONE THIRD PLACE IN IMPROV. LAST YEAR THEY COMPETED IN ENGINEERING, ENGINEERING, DESIGNING A CATAPULT THAT THAT WOULD HIT A SPECIFIC TARGET AND ONE SIXTH PLACE IN THE WORLD. AND THIS YEAR THEY HAVE GONE TECHNICAL WITH MACHINE DESIGN. SO WE ARE VERY EXCITED WITH THESE FUTURE ENGINEERS WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO. SO THIS IS THE DETECTIVE DUCKS. OH, REGINA, WHERE ARE YOU? I ALMOST FORGOT, REGINA PENNY. AND WE DON'T HAVE LEANNE THIS MORNING, DO WE? OKAY. SO COACHED BY REGINA PENNY. SO, DETECTIVE DUX, IF Y'ALL WILL TURN AROUND AND SMILE. YEAH. YEAH. CAN WE JUST THANK YOU ALL THIS MORNING? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE CAN GET ALL THE D-I STUDENTS TO COME UP BEHIND US. OH, WONDERFUL. GUYS, YOU GET TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH THE WITH THE TEAM IN ABILENE. ALL RIGHT. IF YOU WILL COME UP HERE. WE'RE NOT MOVING OUT OF THE WAY. OKAY. ARE WE? NO. SO, KIM, YOU KNOW, MY PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT. MY YOUNGEST SON IS 36 YEARS OLD AND HE WAS A STUDENT. AND THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY SPECIAL TO ME. AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO. YOU'RE A TRUE HERO FOR EVERYTHING. [00:10:01] THANK YOU. IT IS A TEAM EFFORT. AND YES, BRANSON WILL ALWAYS LOOK LIKE THAT. THAT LITTLE BOY TO ME. SO TO SEE HIM BE SO SUCCESSFUL IS AN HONOR. YEAH. Y'ALL, Y'ALL CAN MOVE UP A LITTLE. DID YOU WANT THE TALLER PEOPLE? YOU CAN GO. TRAVIS. YOU'RE SICK. TRAVIS, QUIT WALKING THE KIDS. SORRY. AWKWARD. IT'S NOT. IT'S NOT ABOUT. YEAH, YOU GOT ME. I WAS TRYING TO HELP THE HEIGHT DIFFERENCE. IS THAT OKAY? ARE YOU HAPPY? YEAH, YEAH. FIND A WINDOW. FIND A WINDOW. AND Y'ALL. Y'ALL HOLD THESE POSES. WE GOT LOTS OF PEOPLE TAKING A LOT OF PICTURES IS GOING TO BE TAKEN HERE. OKAY. GOOD JOB. WE JUST KIND OF LOOK AT IT THAT WAY. Y'ALL CAN COME FORWARD. THAT'S AWESOME. THIS IS A LITTLE SARCASTIC. OKAY. BUT HEY, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS. HOW LONG HAVE I GET HERE? ARE YOU READY? HOLD ON. HOLD ON, HOLD ON. HOLD ON. HOLD ON. HOLD ON. RIGHT THERE. THERE YOU GO. SEE YOU. BEETLE TACO. THANKS, Y'ALL. THANK YOU, GOLDEN GIRLS. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. KIM. THANK YOU. AND JUST IN CASE, IT WAS NOT ABOUT US? OH, NO. ALL THOSE CAMERAS WERE FOR HIM. I WAS LITERALLY JUST MOVING OUT OF THE WAY. THEY WILL. THEY WILL EDIT US OUT OF THIS PICTURE SO FAR. GOOD LUCK GUYS. GOOD LUCK. I CAN TAKE CARE OF THAT. YOU'RE WELCOME. GOOD LUCK. GOOD LUCK, GOOD LUCK. GOODBYE. AND THERE'S NOBODY LEFT. YEAH. Y'ALL DON'T WANT TO STAY FOR THE REST OF THE MEETING. IT'S GOING TO BE EXCITING. YEAH, MAYBE. OH, SCHOOL. GOOD TO SEE YOU. COME AROUND HERE. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THAT'S OUR HEART'S DESIRE. YOU'RE WELCOME. WELL, THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD WAY TO START A MORNING. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. [PUBLIC COMMENTS] THERE WILL BE NO VOTES OR ANY FORMAL ACTIONS TAKEN ON SUBJECTS PRESENTED DURING PUBLIC COMMENT. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL WILL ONLY ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO PRESENT IDEAS AND INFORMATION TO CITY OFFICIALS AND STAFF. PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND CITY THAT YOU RESIDE IN. FOR THE RECORD, AND I WANTED TO SAY THAT COUNCILMAN PRICE AND COUNCILMAN REAGAN ARE NOT HERE TODAY. THEY SEND THEIR BEST REGARDS. SO CARDS. WE HAVE ONE CARD, MR. MAYOR, FROM REVEREND. PINS. ANDREW. PINS. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. I AM ANDREW PEN, SENIOR PASTOR OF BATAVIA MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, THE CITY OF ABILENE, TEXAS. AS I COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND OUR CITY STAFF THIS MORNING, I COME WITH A CONCERN OF A CLUB THAT HAS OPENED IN THE CARVER NEIGHBORHOOD. AND SINCE THAT CLUB HAS BEEN OPEN. IT'S AN AFTER HOUR CLUB AND I LIVE AT 702 MESQUITE STREET. AND ANYTIME FROM ABOUT 2 TO 3:00 IN THE MORNING, I'M BEING WAKED. WAKING UP HERE IN MUSIC FROM THAT CLUB, NOT ONLY MYSELF, BUT OTHERS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS VOICED CONCERN. THERE'S A SINGLE LADY THAT LIVES JUST ON THE EDGE OF SIXTH STREET, JUST BEYOND THE PARKING LOT OF CITY HALL, AND SHE'S NOW AFRAID TO EVEN STAY AT HOME AT NIGHT ON THE WEEKENDS BECAUSE OF THE NOISE THAT'S GENERATED. THERE HAS BEEN ONE DEATH THAT HAS ALREADY OCCURRED AT THE CLUB ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO. THERE HAS BEEN A SHOOTING ABOUT 8 TO 9 ROUNDS THAT WENT OFF. I HAVE GRANDCHILDREN THAT OFTEN COME AND STAY WITH ME ON THE WEEKEND. THERE ARE OTHER NEIGHBORS THAT HAVE CHILDREN, AND THERE ARE SINGLE INDIVIDUALS THAT'S IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN THAT AREA OF SIXTH STREET. FROM SIX TO NORTH EIGHT. AND I'M SURE IT'S ALSO BEING HEARD ON PLUM STREET AS WELL AS ASH STREET. [00:15:05] ON SUNDAY MORNING, I PREPARE TO GO TO STAND BEFORE MY CONGREGATION. I GO TO BED AT NIGHT TO GET A GOOD NIGHT'S REST AND SLEEP, SO I CAN BE ENERGIZED FOR THAT MORNING. AND IF I'M HEARING MUSIC AT 3:00 IN THE MORNING, THAT'S REALLY DISCOURAGING. I'VE ALREADY SPOKE WITH PLANNING AND ZONING CODE ENFORCEMENT. ALSO, I HAVE MADE SEVERAL PHONE CALLS TO APD. NOW, TOMORROW NIGHT, I'M SURE THEY WILL PROBABLY GEAR UP. AND ONCE AGAIN, I WILL BE ON THE PHONE TO CALL TO GET SOMETHING DONE TO THAT CLUB. WE HAD TO DEAL WITH IT SEVERAL YEARS BACK ON NORTH 13TH STREET DURING THE YEARS OF MRS. GLADYS ABAR, AND IT'S NOW ON SIXTH STREET, AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO TOLERATE IT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S A DETERRENT. IT'S A NOISE. IT'S A DISTRACTION. AND ON MONDAY MORNING, AS I DROVE ON SIXTH AND PLUM, THERE WAS BAGS OF TRASH SCATTERED AT THE DUMPSTER FROM OVERFLOWING TRASH. AND WE ARE WANTING TO GET SOMETHING DONE THIS MORNING OR AT SOME POINT FOR THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, REVEREND PENCE. ANY MORE CARDS? NO MORE CARDS, MA'AM. WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. GLAD TO BE BACK. IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS, I WILL TELL YOU, THE LAST FEW MONTHS HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BRUTAL, BUT IT WAS FUN AND I'VE ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE OF IT. BUT LIFE GOES ON, RIGHT? THE ELECTIONS HAPPEN, AND WE KEEP MOVING FORWARD. AND I REALIZED ON SATURDAY NIGHT WHEN THEY ASKED ME TO GIVE A RESPONSE FOR IF I WON OR IF I LOST, AND BASED ON THE TURNOUT, I'D ALREADY KNEW THE RESULTS. BECAUSE IF WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE TURN OUT, THE SAME, PEOPLE GET ELECTED. BUT WHAT I REALIZED IS IT DOESN'T MATTER IF I SIT THERE OR I STAND HERE, I'M GOING TO KEEP DOING THE SAME THING GOD'S CALLED ME TO DO, AND THAT'S TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR CITIZENS. AND SO WITH THAT IN MIND, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE I SIT OR WHERE I STAND, THERE ARE GOING TO BE MORE CITIZENS UNDERSTANDING WHAT GOES ON IN OUR CITY, BECAUSE THE DETAILS ARE THERE AND THE CITIZENS ACTUALLY CARE. BUT WHEN THE CITY DOESN'T EVEN ADVERTISE THE ELECTION OR EVEN TELL ANYBODY IT'S TIME TO VOTE. PROBABLY TURNOUT IS GOING TO BE LOW AND IT'S GOING TO STAY LOW. IN FACT, I'VE ALREADY HAD CITIZENS REACH OUT TO ME SAYING, WHEN IS THE NEXT? WHEN IS THE RUNOFF ELECTION? WHEN CAN WE START EARLY VOTING? SO PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TO ME FOR INFORMATION BECAUSE I'M PROVIDING THEM INFORMATION AND I THINK THEY WANT TO KNOW. THEY JUST DON'T KNOW BECAUSE OF THE LITTLE EFFORT BEING MADE BY THE CITY TO TELL THEM WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHEN. I LET'S SEE HERE. AND WHEN I'M STANDING AT THIS PODIUM, LET ME MAKE IT CLEAR. I'M NOT TRYING TO PASSIVELY CRITICIZE THE CITY STAFF ON WHAT THEY'RE DOING. I'M ADDRESSING YOU ALL AT THE COUNCIL AND THE POLICIES THAT YOU ALL IMPLEMENT. SO I'D APPRECIATE IT IF THERE'S SOMETHING I SAY UP HERE TO NOT REDIRECT IT AS AN ISSUE OF THE STAFF. IT IS ACTUALLY YOU THAT I'M TALKING TO. AND AS SOON AS WE GET ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT IN A BETTER ENVIRONMENT, I PROBABLY CAN HANDLE IT BETTER. SO THE LAST THING I WANT TO POINT OUT, I GUESS, WELL I FOUND OUT THAT ACTUALLY I KNOW A LOT. I PROBABLY COULD SIT ON THAT COUNCIL AND BE JUST AS EDUCATED AS MOST OF YOU ALL. MINUS THE FACT THAT I'M NOT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION. SO WHAT THAT TELLS ME IS CITIZENS CAN KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND WE CAN BE INFORMED. AND IN FACT, THEY CAN BE A PART OF WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IN CITY HALL. AND LIKE MOSTLY IS HAPPENING NOW. AND SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS CONTINUE MY ADVOCACY IN A POSITIVE WAY. AND SINCE WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE TO ATTEND CITY COUNCIL IN THE EVENINGS OR TO ALLOW THEM TO HAVE INPUT OUTSIDE OF THESE MORNING MEETINGS, I'M GOING TO BE MAKING MYSELF AVAILABLE ON THURSDAY NIGHTS AFTER COUNCIL FOR CITY COUNCIL MADE EASY. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO MEET THURSDAY NIGHTS AND TALK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING, BECAUSE I KNOW CITIZENS CARE AND THEY WANT AN AVENUE TO DO IT. AND UNTIL Y'ALL ARE WILLING TO OPEN THE DOORS TO ALLOW MORE CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE, THEN I'M GOING TO DO MY PART TO HELP MAKE SURE THEY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. AND AGAIN, I'VE HAD A BLAST. I LOVE GETTING TO MEET CITIZENS. I LOVE GETTING TO BE A PART OF THIS. AND MY CALLING TO STEP INTO THIS ROLE WAS NOT TO JUST GET TO A POSITION, IT WAS TO BE AN ADVOCATE. AND SO NO WORRIES, I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE AND I'M HOPING TO BRING A LOT MORE PEOPLE ALONG WITH ME BECAUSE CITIZENS CARE AND THEY WANT TO BE INVOLVED. THEY JUST HAVEN'T BEEN INVITED. AND SO EVERYBODY HAS A SEAT IN THIS COUNCIL, AND THE BIGGEST SEAT WE FORGET ABOUT MOST OFTEN IS THE CITIZENS WHO ARE NOT PRESIDENT. SO I'LL DO MY PART TO REPRESENT THEM WELL. THANK YOU. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND I'LL MOVE TO THE REGULAR AGENDA. [3. Minutes: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Take Action on Approving the Minutes from the Regular Meeting Held on April 24, 2025 (Shawna Atkinson)] [00:20:02] I'LL MOVE TO ITEM THREE. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM APRIL 24TH, 2025 MEETING. ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES? SEEING NO CORRECTIONS, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST? ITEM THREE PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NO ONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, I WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION AND A SECOND FROM COUNCIL. SO MOVED. SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN YATES. A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BEARD. READY TO VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER. YATES. YES. MAYOR PRO TEM MCALLISTER. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM CRAVER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. BEARD. YES. AND MAYOR. HURT. YES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM FOUR, AND I WILL ASK TIM LITTLEJOHN, [4. Ordinance (Final Reading) CUP-2025-07: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on a Request from the Owner, to Apply a Conditional Use Permit to Allow Reconstruction of a 120’ Monopole within General Retail (GR). Located at 920X Westview Drive. (Tim Littlejohn)] DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. MAYOR. COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION THIS MORNING IS A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 202507. THE AGENT IS VICTOR WINTERS. I FORGOT HOW TO SAY HIS LAST NAME, I APOLOGIZE. THE REQUEST FOR YOU TO CONSIDER IS THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO REPLACE THE 75 FOOT TALL MONOPOLE WITH A NEW 120 FOOT TALL MONOPOLE WITHIN GENERAL RETAIL DISTRICT, LOCATED AT 920 X WESTVIEW DRIVE. HERE'S THE LOCATION MAP. HERE'S THE CURRENT ZONING MAP. HERE ARE THE ALLOWABLE USES WITHIN GENERAL RETAIL. HERE'S THE PROPERTY VIEWS. THIS WILL BE THE POLE THAT THEY'LL BE EXTENDING. NOTIFICATIONS WERE SENT OUT. WE DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY IN RETURN. THIS REQUEST MEETS ALL THE CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL WITHIN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. PNC DID HEAR THIS CASE, AND THEY ARE RECOMMENDING TO YOU APPROVAL. AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS OF MR. LITTLEJOHN. THANK YOU. TIM. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST? ITEM NUMBER FOUR, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NO ONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION IN A SECOND. SO MOVED. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MCALLISTER. SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN CRAVER. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE'RE READY TO VOTE. MAYOR PRO TEM MCALLISTER. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM CRAVER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER BEARD. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. YATES. YES. AND MAYOR. HURT. YES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. WELL, NOW, MOVE TO ITEM FIVE. AND ONCE AGAIN, I'LL ASK MR. LITTLEJOHN TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. [5. Ordinance (Final Reading) CUP-2025-08: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on a Request from the Owner, to Apply a Conditional Use Permit to Allow a Tattoo Parlor in Neighborhood Retail (NR). Located at 1720 S Clack Street. (Tim Littlejohn)] THANK YOU. MAYOR. COUNCIL, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. IS A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT. 202508 AGENT IS MACK DIAZ. THE REQUEST FOR YOU TO CONSIDER IS A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW A TATTOO PARLOR WITHIN NEIGHBORHOOD RETAIL ZONING LOCATED AT 1720 SOUTH CLARK STREET. HERE'S THE LOCATION MAP. HERE'S THE ZONING MAP. HERE ARE THE CURRENT ALLOWABLE USES WITHIN NEIGHBORHOOD RETAIL. HERE'S THE PROPERTY VIEWS. NOTIFICATIONS WERE SENT OUT. WE DID RECEIVE ONE IN FAVOR AND ZERO OPPOSED. THE ONLY THING WE HEARD AT PNC WAS ONE NEIGHBOR WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SOLID WASTE IN THE ALLEY. I BELIEVE THAT HAS SINCE BEEN ADDRESSED WITH SOLID WASTE, AND THEY CAME UP WITH A CREATIVE SOLUTION FOR THAT. THIS MEETS ALL THE CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL WITHIN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. PNC DID HEAR THIS CASE. THEY ARE RECOMMENDING TO YOU APPROVAL THIS MORNING, SUBJECT TO THE PLAN OF OPERATIONS THAT WERE SUBMITTED. AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS? TIM, IS THAT SOLID WASTE QUESTION YOU TALKED ABOUT IN THE THE APPLICANT IS OKAY WITH THAT AS WELL. YES. HE HAD THE SAME CONCERN. OKAY. YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST ITEM FIVE, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND. SO MOVED. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BEARD. SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN YATES. IT'S FOR DISCUSSION. WE'RE READY TO VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER BEARD. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. YATES. YES. MAYOR PRO TEM MCALLISTER. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM CRAVER. YES. MAYOR. HURT. YES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. WE NOW MOVE TO ITEM SIX. [6. Ordinance (Final Reading) Z-2025-05: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on A Request From The Owner, To Amend The Terms And Conditions Of Planned Development District 15 (PDD-15) To Allow Freight Containers. Located At 4250 Ridgemont Dr. (Tim Littlejohn)] AND ONCE AGAIN, MR. LITTLEJOHN WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. MAYOR. COUNCIL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IS ZONING CASE 202505. THE OWNER IS 1204 HOTEL OPERATING LLC. AGENT IS JOANNE SHELBY. THE REQUEST IS TO AMEND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT PPD 15 TO ALLOW FOR FREIGHT CONTAINERS LOCATED AT 4250 RIDGE BOND DRIVE. [00:25:04] HERE'S THE LOCATION MAP. HERE'S THE ZONING MAP. VIEWS OF THE PROPERTY AND SURROUNDING PROPERTIES. HERE'S THE CONCEPT PLAN THAT GOES WITH THIS REQUEST. AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE GOING WHERE THE EXISTING DUMPSTER LOCATIONS ARE AND SCREENING THOSE FOR CONTAINERS. NOTIFICATIONS WERE SENT OUT. WE DID RECEIVE ONE IN FAVOR. THIS REQUEST MEETS ALL THE CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL WITHIN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. P AND Z DID HEAR THIS CASE. THEY ARE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS. A MAXIMUM TOTAL OF FOUR FREIGHT CONTAINERS ARE ALLOWED. MUST BE SCREENED ON ALL SIDES, MUST BE PAINTED TO MATCH FENCING AND SURROUNDING THE CONTAINERS. AND FRANKLY, THE CONTAINERS MAY NOT BE STACKED AND NOTHING MAY BE STORED ON TOP OF THE CONTAINERS. I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS OF TIM, THE APPLICANT. DID THEY CLARIFY THE LONG TERM INTENT OF THE CONTAINERS? LIKE ARE THEY A TEMPORARY SOLUTION OR PART OF MORE OF A PERMANENT? IT'S MORE OF A PERMANENT SOLUTION FOR STORAGE BACK. THEY STATED THAT BACK WHEN THIS WAS BUILT, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF STORAGE WITHIN THE HOTEL NOW, AND AS NEEDS CHANGED, THEY NEEDED SOME MORE STORAGE FOR THE FOR THE PROPERTY. IS THERE ANY CONCERN WITH COMPLIANCE LONG TERM? AND MAINTENANCE AND LEASING CONDITIONS OR ANY OF THAT WITH THE PROPOSED PROJECT? NO, THERE'S NO CONCERNS FROM STAFF. AND IF THERE IS NOW THAT WE HAVE IT, IF APPROVED, WE HAVE IT IN WRITING. IT CAN BE ENFORCED AS FAR AS THE SCREENING AND THE PAINT. ANYONE ELSE AT THIS TIME? THANK YOU. TIM. SORRY. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST? ITEM SIX, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. DOES THIS MOTION NEED TO STATE THAT WITH THE P AND Z CONDITIONS? JUST JUST THE RECOMMENDATION TO PNC. OKAY. IS FINE. YES. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION IN A SECOND. SO MOVED. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MCALLISTER. SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN CRAVER. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? VOTE MAYOR PRO TEM MCALLISTER. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM. CRAVER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. BEARD. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. YATES. YES. AND MAYOR. HURT. YES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. NOW MOVE TO ITEM SEVEN AND TIM LITTLEJOHN IS UP AGAIN. [7. Ordinance (Final Reading) Z-2025-08: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on a Request from the Owner, to Change the Zoning of Approximately 1.31 Acres from Heavy Commercial (HC) to a Planned Development District (PDD-193). Specifically, to Allow a Base Zoning of Patio Homes (PH) with Alternative Setbacks and Lot Dimensions. Located at 1402 Pine Street. (Tim Littlejohn)] THANK YOU. MAYOR. COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION IS ZONING CASE 202508 THE OWNERS EDGE CONSTRUCTION AGENT, JACOB MARTIN. THE REQUEST FOR YOU TO CONSIDER IS THE CHANGE OF ZONING OF APPROXIMATELY 1.39 ACRES FROM HEAVY COMMERCIAL TO A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT 193, LOCATED AT 1402 THREE 1442 PINE STREET. HERE'S THE LOCATION MAP. HERE'S THE CURRENT ZONING. HERE'S THE CONCEPT PLAN THAT WOULD GO WITH THE PLAN DEVELOPMENT. THERE'S VIEWS OF THE PROPERTIES AND THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES. NOTIFICATIONS WERE SENT OUT. SEVEN IN FAVOR WERE RECEIVED, ZERO OPPOSED. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS PLANNED DEVELOPMENT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO READ IT THOROUGHLY, BUT IT'S A PATIO HOME BASE. IT'S JUST A MODIFIED SETBACKS FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT TO MAKE IT WORK. IT'S IT WAS IT WAS BETWEEN THE AGENT AND STAFF. THERE WERE SEVERAL MEETINGS TO WORK ALL THIS OUT, AND EVERYBODY SEEMS TO BE PLEASED WITH THE RESULTS. BUT THIS REQUEST DOES MEET ALL THE CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL WITHIN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. PNC DID HEAR THIS CASE, AND THEY ARE RECOMMENDING TO YOU APPROVAL THIS MORNING. I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. TIM. GIVE ME A BUNCH OF NURSES. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST? ITEM SEVEN. PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. GOOD MORNING TO ALL FILLING IN FOR THE DEVELOPER. THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF A UNIQUE REQUEST. LIKE TIM SAID, WE WE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH STAFF TO TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF THE FINER DETAILS. I THINK WE WERE LANDED WAS A GREAT SPOT. I FEEL LIKE THE ZONING IS APPROPRIATE. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, YOU KNOW, ALONG PINE STREET, I THINK AS IT CONTINUES TO REDEVELOP I REALLY SEE A LOT OF MIXED USE BEING INCORPORATED ALONG THE THOROUGHFARE. AND AND THIS LITTLE POCKET NEIGHBORHOOD, [00:30:03] I THINK I THINK FITS PRETTY WELL WITH THAT. SO ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT. AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, IF I CAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM SEVEN. I THINK NO ONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? NOT. I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION IN A SECOND. SO MOVED. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN CRAVER. SECOND. I HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN YATES. FURTHER DISCUSSION. READY TO VOTE. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM CRAVER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER BEARD. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. YATES. YES. MAYOR PRO TEM MCALLISTER. YES. MAYOR. HURT. YES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. [8. Ordinance (Final Reading) Z-2025-09: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on a Request from the Owners, to Rezone Approximately 6.49 Acres from Medium Density (MD) to Patio Home (PH). Located Along Nikhil Lane and Nitin Way. (Tim Littlejohn)] WE NOW MOVE TO ITEM EIGHT. AND. TIM. JOHN. THANK YOU. MAYOR. COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION AND ZONING CASE Z202509. THE OWNERS, ABILENE FOREST HILL, LLC. JEAN LANDRETH. THE AGENT IS JACOB MARTIN. THE REQUEST FOR YOU TO CONSIDER IS REZONE APPROXIMATELY 6.49 ACRES FROM MEDIUM DENSITY TO PATIO HOMES. LOCATION IS NICK HILL LANE AND KNIGHTON WAY. HERE'S THE AERIAL LOCATION MAP. HERE'S THE CURRENT ZONING MAP. HERE'S THE PROPERTY VALUES. HERE'S THE CURRENT ALLOWABLE USES WITHIN MEDIUM DENSITY ZONING AND THE PROPOSED USES WITHIN PATIO HOMES. NOTIFICATIONS WERE SENT OUT FIVE AND WE RECEIVED FIVE IN FAVOR AND ZERO OPPOSED. THIS REQUEST MEETS ALL THE CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL WITHIN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. PNC DID HEAR THIS CASE AND THEY ARE RECOMMENDING TO YOU APPROVAL THIS MORNING. AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. AND THIS IS ACTUALLY LESS DENSITY. IT'S LESS DENSITY. YES, SIR. ANY QUESTIONS TIM. YEAH I NOTICED THAT. SO WELL THE THE SAME OVERALL DENSITY RIGHT. BUT THE REDUCED SIZE YARD WOULD BE REDUCED. IT'LL BE LESS DENSITY AS FAR AS UNITS. GOTCHA. IS WHERE YOU GET THE LESSER DENSITY FROM, BUT THEY'LL ADJUST THE PROPERTY LINE SO IT WILL FIT THE PATIO HOME DISTRICT THE CLOSER PROXIMITY OF THE STRUCTURE. IS THERE ANY CONCERN IN TERMS OF EMERGENCY ACCESS OR DRAINAGE OR ANY OF THOSE THINGS? NO. ALL THE RIGHT OF WAY AND THE STREETS THAT ARE CURRENTLY OUT THERE HAS BEEN APPROVED. OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU. TIM. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST ITEM EIGHT. PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. GOOD MORNING. TILE FILLING AGENT FOR THE PROPERTY OWNER. THIS ZONING REQUEST REZONING REQUEST IS, IS DRIVEN BY A LITTLE BIT OF A MARKET SHIFT IN THE AREA. IT IS A BIT OF A DOWN ZONING. THE INTENT WAS DUPLEXES. THERE'S ALREADY SOME IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD DUPLEX DUPLEXES THAT EXIST, AND AND THOSE THAT MULTIFAMILY OR MEDIUM DENSITY WILL REMAIN. THE THE IDEA HERE WAS TO SHIFT BACK FOR THESE TWO CUL DE SACS TO A MORE OF A SINGLE, DETACHED, SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED STRUCTURE. AND SO THAT'S FOR THE REQUEST. WE DO BELIEVE IT FITS WELL WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM EIGHT? SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND. MOVE FOR APPROVAL. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BEARD. SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN CRAVER. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE'RE READY TO VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER BEARD. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. YATES. YES. MAYOR PRO TEM MCALLISTER. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM CRAVER. YES. AND MAYOR. HURT. YES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM NINE. [9. 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 18-286, "Decreased Speed Limits-School Zones," of the Abilene Municipal Code (Max Johnson)] AND HEY, NOW WE GET TO SEE MAX JOHNSON FOR CHANGE OF FACE. TIM TO DO IT. TIM. TIM. TIM DOESN'T GET ALL THE FUN TODAY. GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. MAX JOHNSON, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS. UP BEFORE YOU TODAY IS A FINAL READING FOR AN ORDINANCE ADDITION TO THE ORDINANCE. THIS IS ADDING A SCHOOL ZONE OVER AT WYLIE WEST ELEMENTARY. IT IS ON WALDROP BETWEEN TUSCANY AND HARTFORD. HARDWICK. EXCUSE ME. AND IT SLOWS THE TRAFFIC IN THIS RESIDENTIAL AREA DOWN TO 20 MILES AN HOUR. DURING SCHOOL TIMES. THIS IS A MAP OF WHERE IT IS DOWN SOUTH THERE ON WALDROP. AND I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU MAY HAVE QUESTIONS. MAX. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MUCH. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST? ITEM NINE, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NO ONE WILL CLOSE [00:35:03] THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND. SO MOVED. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN CRAVER. SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN MCALLISTER. READY TO VOTE. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM CRAVER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. BEARD. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. YATES. YES. MAYOR PRO TEM MCALLISTER. YES. MAYOR. HURT. YES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. IT IS NOW 9:05 A.M., AND WE RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO THE OPEN [EXECUTIVE SESSION] MEETINGS ACT, SECTION 551.071 CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY. SECTION 551.072 DELIBERATIONS ABOUT REAL PROPERTY. SECTION 551.073 DELIBERATIONS ABOUT GIFTS AND DONATIONS. SECTION 551.07 FOR PERSONNEL MATTERS. SECTION 551.076 DELIBERATIONS ABOUT SECURITY DEVICES. SECTION 551.087 DELIBERATIONS ABOUT BUSINESS PROSPECTS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. [RECONVENE] IT IS NOW 9:37 A.M.. WE RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION. NO VOTES OR ACTIONS WERE TAKEN DURING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. WELL, WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 11, WHICH IS THE APPOINTMENT FOR REAPPOINTMENT TO [11. 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 (Shawna Atkinson)] VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. THAT IS FOR THE WEST CENTRAL TEXAS MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT BOARD, NORM ARCHIBALD, RUSSELL BERRY, AND ROBERT BYNUM. DID I SAY THAT RIGHT? YEP. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 11? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. TAMMY FOGEL, RESIDENT OF ABILENE. SO I THINK THIS IS GOOD THAT WE'RE APPOINTING PEOPLE TO BOARDS. BUT THE BAD THING IS, IS CITIZENS CAN'T KNOW ABOUT VACANCIES UNTIL THEY'RE ACTUALLY APPOINTED. AND SO IT'S A PROBLEM FOR THESE BOARDS THAT ARE THE WAY FOR YOU TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY, BUT YOU DON'T ACTUALLY LET US KNOW THE VACANCIES BEFOREHAND. AND AS ONE WHO'S APPLIED AND NOT BEEN ACCEPTED, AND I UNDERSTAND BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT DIVISIVE PEOPLE OR PEOPLE WHO SPEAK THEIR MINDS ON THE BOARDS. I'M NOT GOING TO BE APPOINTED ANYTIME SOON, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO CHANGE THAT PROCESS SO THAT THERE'S AT LEAST A FLOW. AND ONE OF THE THINGS I SAW THAT HAPPENED IN CITY OF AMARILLO IS ACTUALLY POSTED THE NAMES OF PEOPLE WHO WERE APPLYING BEFORE THEY WERE ACTUALLY APPOINTED. SO I THINK THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO MOVE AND TO ACTUALLY ENGAGING CITIZENS THROUGH THIS PROCESS, RATHER THAN JUST GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS AND PRETENDING LIKE IT'S ACTUALLY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THE OTHER THING I WANT TO POINT OUT IS WITH THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD, I HOPE WE HAVE PLANS TO COMMUNICATE BETTER. WHAT'S GOING ON. I THINK I KNOW THE MEDIA IS A GOOD PLACE TO TELL US ABOUT THE PIPELINE BREAKING WITH THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE WATER SCALPING FROM THE BRAZOS RIVER. HOWEVER, IT SHOULD SAY SOMETHING ON THE WEBSITE, AND I KNOW, OR EVEN SOCIAL MEDIA, IT DOESN'T COST US ANYTHING TO PUT ANYTHING ON SOCIAL MEDIA. AND IT'S A REALLY GREAT WAY TO COMMUNICATE, LIKE LIVE STREAMING THESE VIDEOS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WHICH I'LL STOP DOING SEVERAL YEARS AGO. AND I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT, LASTLY THAT I RECENTLY HEARD ABOUT CANYON LAKE BEING DEPLETED OF ITS WATER DUE TO OVERDEVELOPMENT OF NEW BRAUNFELS. AND THERE ARE ACTUALLY HOUSES BEING BUILT THAT DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO WATER. AND SO I HOPE THAT WE ARE WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN HERE, BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN WE BRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THAT IS A LARGER GROUP OF HOUSING FOR PEOPLE, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE BALANCE WITH MAKING SURE OUR WATER IS ABLE TO BE SUPPLIED AND NOT DEPLETED. AND SO ANYWAY. COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION IS ALWAYS, I THINK, A GREAT MANTRA TO HAVE AND MAKE SURE THAT AGAIN, THE CITIZENS ARE WELCOME TO THIS TABLE, EVEN THOUGH SOMETIMES WE CAN FORGET THAT THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY PRESENT, BUT VERY MUCH INTERESTED AND WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR CITY. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'M STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THESE BOARD APPOINTMENTS? SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION. IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND I WILL BE ABSTAINING FROM THIS VOTE. SO APPROVALS. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BEARD, A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN CRAVER. FURTHER DISCUSSION. WE'RE READY TO VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER BEARD. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER YATES IS ABSTAINING. MAYOR PRO TEM MCALLISTER. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM CRAVER. YES. AND MAYOR. HURT. YES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 12, WHICH IS THE APPOINTMENT OF A NEW CITY [12. Oral Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Appointing a City Manager] MANAGER. WHEN WE LEARNED THAT ROBERT HANNAH WAS RETIRING, WE IMMEDIATELY SET INTO MOTION THE PROCESS TO HIRE A NEW CITY MANAGER. THE CITY MANAGER IS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE COUNCIL. ONE OF OUR FOUR EMPLOYEES THAT WE ACTUALLY DO HIRE. AND SO WE HIRED A SEARCH FIRM CALLED SDR TO GO THROUGH THAT VETTING PROCESS. AND THEIR PROCESS WITH WITH THE QUALIFICATIONS THAT WE HAD ASKED FOR, THEY'RE ACTUALLY OVER 70 APPLICANTS. THEY DID THE ORIGINAL VETTING TO SEE THOSE THAT WERE QUALIFIED OR NOT QUALIFIED AND PUT [00:40:05] THEM INTO TIERS. THEN WE WENT THROUGH A PROCESS OF VETTING THAT DOWN TO LESS THAN TEN WITH WITH THAT THERE WERE QUESTIONNAIRES, INTERVIEWS OR VIDEO INTERVIEWS OF, OF THOSE 8 OR 9 INDIVIDUALS. THE SDR COMPANY ALSO DOES ALL YOUR BACKGROUND RESEARCH SOCIAL MEDIA'S RESEARCH IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NO SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET, IF YOU WILL. AND SO I'M VERY PROUD OF THE PROCESS BY WHICH WE WENT THROUGH TO FIND THIS SEARCH FOR THE NEW CITY MANAGER. THE NEW CITY MANAGER IS A IS AN APPOINTMENT BY THE MAYOR AND AND THEN AFFIRMED BY COUNCIL. SO THE MY APPOINTMENT BEFORE DISCUSSING MY APPOINTMENT IS MISS EMILY CRAWFORD, CURRENTLY THE BROWNWOOD CITY MANAGER, AND SHE WILL BEGIN SERVICES ON JUNE 25TH IN ABILENE. AFTER THE AFFIRMATION OF THE CITY COUNCIL. ANY DISCUSSION? WELL, I JUST WANT TO SPEAK. FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS, MRS. CRAWFORD. WELCOME TO ABILENE. IN SIX WEEKS, TECHNICALLY. THIS IS. I JUST WANT TO SPEND JUST A MOMENT TALKING ABOUT THIS PROCESS AND HOW LENGTHY IT IS. THE FIRM THAT WAS HIRED, WE'VE USED FOR OTHER SEARCHES FOR OTHER KEY POSITIONS IN THE LEADERSHIP TEAM WITHIN THE CITY. THEY HAVE HISTORICALLY PRODUCED VERY GOOD RESULTS. THEY ARE EXTREMELY THOROUGH IN THEIR RESEARCH. THEIR VETTING PROCESS. THE INTERVIEW PROCESS. I DON'T KNOW, WHAT WAS THE APPLICANT POOL? DO YOU REMEMBER 70 SOMETHING? YEAH. SO THEY TOOK A LOT OF APPLICATIONS. CLASSIFIED THOSE CANDIDATES INTO TIER ONE. TIER TWO CANDIDATES. THERE WERE FURTHER VETTING THAT TOOK PLACE AFTER THAT, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, ABOUT A LOT OF RESEARCH, VIDEO INTERVIEWS, QUESTIONNAIRES. THAT WAS NARROWED DOWN TO ABOUT NINE TIER ONE AND THEN WE VETTED THEM BEYOND THAT AND CAME TO A UNANIMOUS CONCLUSION. SO THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN EXTREMELY LENGTHY, AS IT SHOULD BE. THIS IS A, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE KEY POSITIONS IN THE CITY. IT'S BEEN VERY THOROUGH, AND I'M CONFIDENT 100% THAT WE HAVE ARRIVED AT THE CORRECT CANDIDATE. SO THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. I'LL GO AHEAD AND ECHO THE THE COMMENTS ABOUT THE PROCESS. I THINK IT WAS A EXCELLENT PROCESS TO GENERATE QUALITY CANDIDATES, WHICH WE CONSIDERED CAREFULLY. I THINK THE MAYOR'S APPROACH TO THIS HAS BEEN EXEMPLARY, AND AND WE'VE ENDED UP WITH FANTASTIC OPTIONS FROM WHICH TO CHOOSE. AND WE CHOSE THE BEST. THIS IS PERHAPS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT A CITY COUNCIL CAN DO, WHICH IS TO CHOOSE THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE FOR THE THE THE ENTIRE CITY OPERATION. AND I'M EXCITED AND OPTIMISTIC AND CONFIDENT THAT WE'VE MADE AN EXCELLENT CHOICE AND LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING TO WORK WITH OUR NEW CITY MANAGER. WELL, EMILY, WE WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO ABILENE AND FIRST GENTLEMEN. I GUESS THAT'S THE OFFICIAL TITLE FOR YOU. SCOTTIE, THAT IS NOT RIGHT. IS THAT NOT? NO. WE WE WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE YOU ALL. YOU KNOW, SHANE, UNFORTUNATELY, IS OUT OF TOWN TODAY, WHICH MAKES ME THE, I GUESS, THE NEXT OLDEST COUNCIL MEMBER. AND AND YOU'LL BE CITY MANAGER NUMBER THREE THAT I'M EXCITEDLY LOOKING FORWARD TO. TO WORKING WITH. YEAH. THE PROCESS WAS VERY DETAILED, VERY INTENSIVE. AND YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE REASONS WE DO THAT IS, IS, YOU KNOW, AS ALWAYS, WE HOPE THAT THE THE TOP CANDIDATE WILL RISE. AND YOU DID. AND YOU ARE HERE, AND WE ARE EXCITED TO WORK WITH YOU. AND LOOKING FORWARD TO TO A LONG RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU ALL. FIRST AND FOREMOST, WELCOME. I THINK OF, YOU KNOW, THE PROCESS AND I THINK OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO MEET ALONG THE WAY. THE ONE THING THAT REALLY STRUCK A CHORD WITH ME, AS OPPOSED TO SOME OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES IS I THINK A LOT OF THE TIMES WE HAVE PEOPLE IN POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP WHERE THEY THINK IT IS ABOUT POWER AND THE THE ETHOS THAT YOU EXUDED WAS THE ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE IN A POSITION TO GOVERN, A POSITION TO GOVERN WITH VISION AND COURAGE. AND A BEAUTIFUL SPIRIT OF RESTRAINT. AND I THINK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO AN INCREDIBLE JOB HERE IN THE CITY OF ABILENE. [00:45:05] AND STEWARD A LOT OF THOSE ATTRIBUTES. WELL. BUT I'M JUST AS EXCITED BECAUSE YOUR HUSBAND'S VERY HIGHLY SPOKEN OF. A LOT OF FRIENDS OF MINE LIVE IN BROWNWOOD. AND THINK THE WORLD OF YOU AND ANY OF US THAT SERVE IN LEADERSHIP KNOW IT'S NOT JUST US THAT ARE IN THIS SEAT, BUT IT'S THOSE THAT WE GET TO LIVE LIFE ALONGSIDE. AND SO YOU'RE THE ADDED ICING ON THE CAKE. SO WHAT A BLESSING TO HAVE BOTH OF YOU GUYS HERE IN OUR CITY. SO THANK YOU. I THINK YOU SEE ANOTHER CELEBRITY AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM. OH FORMER MAYOR ANTHONY WILLIAMS. MY MAYOR. GOOD TO SEE YOU TODAY, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 12. PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. YEAH. SO COUNCILMAN PRICE COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY AND THERE ARE NO PROXY VOTES. BUT HE DID WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT. THIS IS FROM COUNCILMAN SHANE PRICE. I WAS HONORED TO WORK WITH THE MAYOR AND THE INITIAL VETTING PROCESS FOR OUR NEW CITY MANAGER. WE WERE FORTUNATE TO RECEIVE STRONG INTEREST IN THE POSITION WITH OVER 70 APPLICATIONS REVIEWED. AS I REVIEWED THE CANDIDATE'S CREDENTIALS, EVALUATED THEIR WRITTEN RESPONSES, AND WATCHED CANDIDATE INTERVIEW RECORDINGS. ONE INDIVIDUAL QUICKLY DISTINGUISHED HERSELF. HER EXCELLENCE WAS FURTHER CONFIRMED THROUGH THE IN-PERSON INTERVIEW DURING HER TIME AS CITY MANAGER. BROWNWOOD HAS SEEN A LOT OF GROWTH AND EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS WITH NEW RETAIL INVESTMENTS, DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION, UPDATED PARKS, AIRPORT TERMINAL IMPROVEMENTS, AND SPORTS TOURISM TO NAME A FEW CORE. CORE VALUES OF I SERVE ARE VERY SIMILAR TO ABILENE'S RISE. CORE VALUES MATCHING OURS WHILE ADDING VISION AND EMPATHY. HER TIME IN BROWNWOOD HAS GIVEN HER INSIGHT INTO THE MANY CHALLENGES THAT CITIES WEST OF I-35 CORRIDOR FACE, INCLUDING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LONG TERM WATER PLANNING. WELL, I'M NOT ABLE TO ATTEND TODAY'S MEETING AND CAST MY VOTE. I ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S DECISION TO APPOINT EMILY CRAWFORD AS ABILENE'S NEXT CITY MANAGER. RESPECTFULLY, SHANE PRICE, ABILENE CITY COUNCIL PLACE ONE. I'M. I WANT TO REITERATE, I'M I'M VERY HAPPY WITH OUR PROCESS. MISS CRAWFORD STOOD OUT HEADS ABOVE THE REST OF THE CANDIDATES THAT WE LOOKED AT. I'M 100% SATISFIED WITH THE PROCESS THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH. I'M 100% SATISFIED THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT CANDIDATE. THAT'S GOING TO BE OUR NEXT CITY MANAGER BEGINNING JUNE 25TH. SO AT THIS TIME, I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION IN A SECOND FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF MISS EMILY CRAWFORD FOR ABILENE CITY MANAGER. MOVE FOR APPROVAL. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BEARD. SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN MCALLISTER. YOU GOT TO SPEAK, BRIAN. WE'RE READY TO VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER BEARD. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. YATES. YES. MAYOR PRO TEM MCALLISTER. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM CRAVER. YES. AND MAYOR. HURT. YES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. YOU'RE WELCOME TO SAY HI TO MISS CRAWFORD TODAY. THERE WILL BE NO MEDIA INTERVIEWS TODAY. THEY'RE GOING TO WAIT. WE'RE GOING TO SET UP A MEDIA DAY IN JUNE FOR HER, BUT FEEL WELCOME TO SAY HI. BUT THERE'LL BE NO MEDIA INTERVIEWS WITH HER. I'LL BE WELCOMED. I'M WELCOME TO TALK TO THE MEDIA AFTER THIS. AND IT IS NOW 950. AND THIS MEETING OF THE ABILENE CITY COUNCIL IS ADJOURNED. OH. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.