[CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:06] CITYWIDE CHALLENGES. WE ASK THAT YOU HELP US MAINTAIN A HEART OF GRATITUDE FOR ALL OF THE BLESSINGS THAT MAKES ABILENE A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE. WE HAVE GOOD PEOPLE, GOOD NEIGHBORS, GOOD CITY EMPLOYEES, AND GOOD LEADERSHIP. WE ASK THAT YOU LOOK OVER US AND CONTINUE TO BLESS THIS CITY AS WE GROW INTO THE FUTURE. IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. AMEN. I'M GOING TO ASK FORMER COUNCILWOMAN ELVIS TO STEP OUT AND LEAD US. WELL. ALL RIGHT. YOU WANT TO COME UP HERE? OKAY. I'M DOWN HERE WITH THOMAS. AMEN. OKAY. JOIN ME. PLEASE. 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. THE TEXAS PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG. TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. AND WHEN YOU GET YOUR PICTURE MADE WITH I DON'T HAVE A BUCKET. I'M SORRY. CAN I GET A PICTURE WITH. WELL, THEN, COME ON NOW. GOT IT. I'M SORRY. EAGLE. I'LL GET YOU. YOU GET. NO, NO STUFFED ANIMAL. YOU CAN HAVE PART OF KYLE'S WHATABURGER DRINK. YES. THIS IS PROBABLY THE ONE THAT'S LEGIT. SURE. [PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PROCLAMATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS] PROGRAM'S BEEN AROUND. FROM WHAT WE KNOW. TO THE 70S, I GUESS WITH THE ZOO, I TAKE IN NATIVE WILDLIFE JUST BIRDS AND REHAB THEM AND RELEASE THEM OUT TO THE WILD. AND SO WE GET A LOT OF BIRDS THAT COME IN. THAT PEOPLE FIND ON THE GROUND OR THE NEST FELL DOWN. OR THEIR CAT BROUGHT IT TO THEM ON THEIR FRONT PORCH. BUT THEN WE DO GET A LOT OF BIRDS THAT DO COME IN THAT'S INJURED. A LOT OF TIMES THAT COULD BE CARS OR WINDOW STRIKES. BABY BIRDS REQUIRE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF FOOD, DEPENDING ON WHAT IT IS. MAINLY THE SONGBIRDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO, LIKE THE ROBINS THAT I'M FEEDING THIS HOUSE FINCH, THEY GET FED PRETTY MUCH LIKE, EVERY HOUR. BUT BIRDS GROW REALLY FAST. YEAH, WE'RE GIVING THEM FORMULA. I GIVE THEM THE TWEEZERS AND GIVE THEM SOLID FOODS. SO GIVE THEM BUGS, FRUITS, VEGGIES, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT. WHEN WE GET A LOT OF RAPTORS IN WHICH WOULD BE LIKE OWLS AND HAWKS AND THINGS, AND WE HAVE QUITE A FEW OWL CHICKS RIGHT NOW, SO THEY'RE GETTING FED. YOU KNOW, ONLY ONCE A DAY NOW. BUT THEY WERE FED MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY AND THEY GET MICE AND THINGS LIKE THAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY WOULD EAT. THE CASE WITH THE EAGLE. THAT BIRD CAME TO US FROM TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE. AND GAME WARDEN BROUGHT IT TO US. WE SAVED THE WING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, AND HE'S NOT RELEASABLE. SO HE CAN'T GO BACK OUT IN THE WILD, OBVIOUSLY. BUT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE HIM A DIFFERENT HOME. AND IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THAT THAT BIRD WILL MAKE A HOME HERE AT OUR ZOO. RYAN, COME ON UP. GOOD MORNING RYAN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR 20 YEARS OF SERVICE. I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER BEEN AT THE ZOO THAT YOU HAVEN'T HAD A SMILE ON YOUR FACE AND JUST HAPPY TO BE THERE, AND I HAVE TO SAY, THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST GIGS TO BE OUT THERE AT THE ZOO EVERY DAY. SO WE JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR 20 YEARS OF SERVICE AND FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR OUR ANIMALS. THANK YOU. WELL, RON, JUST JUST WATCHING THAT VIDEO, IT'S IT'S OBVIOUS HOW PASSIONATE YOU ARE AND HOW KIND AND CARING YOU ARE, AND THAT THAT MEANS A LOT IN THE POSITION THAT YOU'RE IN. AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR WHAT YOU DO AT OUR CITY. I'VE GOT YOUR 20 YEAR PLAQUE, A COIN FOR YOU, AND I'M SURE YOU'LL FIND SOMETHING IN YOUR ACCOUNT THAT SHOWS OUR APPRECIATION. WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK TO ANYONE YOU'D LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? THANK ANYONE. YEAH. I MEAN, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE. THIS IS SOMETHING I DIDN'T KNOW IF I WOULD EVER, YOU KNOW, BE THE DOING. I GUESS MY CAREER IS. BUT THIS HAS BEEN A REWARDING CAREER. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO REHAB. I MEAN, I START OFF AS DUDE KEEPING STUFF, BUT ENDED UP COMING AND I'VE ALWAYS DONE REHAB BUT HAVE MADE THIS MY FINAL PART OF MY CAREER, [00:05:01] I GUESS IS DOING THIS AND JUST IT'S A UNIQUE JOB THAT THERE'S REALLY, I GUESS, NO ONE ELSE AROUND HERE THAT KIND OF DOES MY JOB. SO IT'S IT'S COOL THAT I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT I DO AND SEE THE BENEFITS OF IT. SO I THINK AND AND I WANT TO SPEAK TO RYAN'S HIS HIS PASSION TO BIRD REHABILITATION. I'M A MAMMAL GUY. I CAME FROM THE SEAWORLD PARKS, AND I HAD A PASSION ABOUT RESCUE AND RELEASE. WE DID THAT REALLY WELL AT SEAWORLD. AND SO WHEN I CAME TO ABILENE ZOO AND KNEW THAT THEY HAD A BIRD REHABILITATION CENTER, I'M LIKE, OH MY GOSH, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I LOVE. AND THIS IS WHAT YOUR ZOO DOES BEST IS CONSERVATION OF ANIMALS, BUT REHABILITATION OF NATIVE WILDLIFE BIRDS. AND RYAN IS AN EXPERT OF THAT. AND HE DOES IT PERFECTLY. HE HE RECENTLY GOT. ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STORIES IS WE HAD THESE OUTLET OUTLETS, LITTLE BABY OWLS THAT WERE RESCUED, AND WE HAVE THIS GREAT HORNED OWL MOTHER THAT'S DEEMED NON RELEASABLE BY THE US GOVERNMENT. AND SO WE HAVE HER AT OUR ZOO AS A DISPLAY ANIMAL. WELL RYAN HAD THE EXPERTISE. HEY LET'S TRY THIS MOTHER WITH SOME OUTLETS AND SEE IF SHE'LL REAR THEM. AND HE SUCCESSFULLY DID THAT. SO THEY HAD A REAL MOTHER ACTUALLY REAR THEM AND THEN GO BACK OUT IN THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF HIS EXPERTISE AND INGENUITY, INGENUITY TO DO THAT. SO THANK YOU, RYAN. YOU'RE A GREAT EMPLOYEE AND WE APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH. I KNOW CARMEN'S HERE. I WAS TOLD. ARE YOU? ALL SPREAD OUT. COME ON IN. HEY, EVERYBODY, COME ON IN. ALL RIGHT, I'M SAYING THIS RIGHT. THIS IS A GOOD LOOKING CREW. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY. ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH. WHEREAS OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS CONTRIBUTE TO THE WELL-BEING OF THIS CITY BY WORKING, CAREGIVING, VOLUNTEERING, AND ACTIVELY PRESERVING CUSTOMS, RITUALS AND TRADITIONS. AND WHEREAS AS WE AGE, WE BUILD MOMENTUM BY ACCUMULATING KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, INSIGHT AND WISDOM THAT CAN BE SHARED TO ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS ABUSE OF OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IS A COMMUNITY CONCERN AFFECTING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ACROSS TEXAS, WITH 123,852 REPORTS OF ABUSE OF OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN 2024. AND WHEREAS THIS TYPE OF ABUSE IS GROSSLY UNDERREPORTED BECAUSE OF SOCIAL STIGMA, EMBARRASSMENT AND FEAR. WHEREAS ABUSE AFFECTS MEN AND WOMEN OF ALL INCOME AND ABILITY LEVELS, ALL CULTURE AND ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS AND ALL COMMUNITIES. WHEREAS ELDER ABUSE IS EVERYONE'S BUSINESS AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO STRENGTHEN OUR EFFORTS TO PREVENT, REPORT AND ADDRESS ELDER ABUSE. AND NOW, THEREFORE, AS MAYOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, I AM PLEASED TO PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MAY 2025, IN THE CITY OF ABILENE AS ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH. OKAY. WHO'S TALKING? I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. WE WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND STAKEHOLDERS FOR THEIR UNWAVERING SUPPORT. YOUR COMMITMENT AND COLLABORATION EMPOWER US TO CONTINUE TO PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE ADULTS. TOGETHER, WE ARE MAKING POSITIVE CHANGES IN OUR CLIENTS LIVES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. A BUNCH IN FOR A PICTURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. [CONSENT AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS] WE'LL NOW MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. ITEM NINE IS BEING PULLED FROM CONSIDERATION TODAY. IT WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. SO NOW MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA WHICH CONSISTS OF ITEMS OF ITEMS FOUR THROUGH 22, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM NINE, IS THERE ANYONE ON COUNCIL THAT WOULD LIKE TO PULL A SPECIFIC ITEM? NUMBER SEVEN. ANYONE ELSE? WE'LL NOW MOVE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. [00:10:06] THERE WILL BE NO VOTES OR ANY FORMAL ACTIONS TAKEN ON SUBJECTS PRESENTED DURING PUBLIC COMMENT. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD 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 YOU RESIDE IN FOR THE RECORD. AND PLEASE THERE WILL BE A THREE MINUTE LIMIT. WE'LL ASK YOU TO ABIDE BY THE THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT, AND WE'LL START WITH CARDS. I BELIEVE IT'S WILLIAM TUCKER. I GOT THE LAST NAME RIGHT. I'M I'M JUST DOING ONE. I'M NOT DOING THE PUBLIC PART. OKAY. MARK SPURLOCK. HAVE SOME HANDOUTS FOR THE COUNCIL. MARK SPURLOCK, ABILENE, TEXAS. THAT'S OKAY. YES. THANK YOU. AND I SEE MY TIME HAS ALREADY STARTED. GOOD MORNING. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MARK SPURLOCK. I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING STEAMBOAT CYCLING CLUB. I'VE BEEN BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, PRIMARILY DURING THE MONTH OF MAY, AS A PART OF NATIONAL BICYCLE SAFETY MONTH AND THE ANNUAL RIGHT OF SILENCE THAT OCCURS ON THE THIRD WEDNESDAY IN MAY. SINCE 2016, OUR CLUB HAS BEEN SPONSORING THE RIDE OF SILENCE HAS STARTED IN DALLAS 2003 TO HONOR A NATIONALLY RANKED CYCLIST WHO DIED AFTER BEING HIT BY A DALLAS AREA SCHOOL BUS ON AN OPEN ROADWAY. IT HAS NOW BECOME AN INTERNATIONAL EVENT PROMOTING CYCLING SAFETY AND HONORING THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO HAVE DIED IN CYCLING RELATED CRASHES WITH MOTOR VEHICLES. THERE HAVE BEEN 11 ABILENE CITIZENS WHO HAVE DIED IN THIS MATTER, INCLUDING ONE OF YOUR OWN CITY EMPLOYEES, SUSAN JARED, IN MAY OF 2010, WE HAVE HELD OUR EVENT AT MCMURRAY WITH COUNTY JUDGE PHIL CROWLEY AS OUR GUEST SPEAKER. WE HAVE ALSO HAD THE SUPPORT OF THE ABILENE MPO OFFICE AND THE TEXT DRIVE SAFE PROGRAM. WE HAVE ALWAYS SECURED AND PAID THE $300 FEE FOR THE SERVICES OF TWO APD OFFICERS, WHO ESCORT THE RIDERS FOR A SHORT, 4 TO 5 MILE RIDE THROUGH THE STREETS OF SOUTH ABILENE. OUR ATTENDANCE HAS BEEN ANYWHERE FROM 25 TO 75. HOWEVER, FOR THIS YEAR, DUE TO THE NEW CITY EVENT POLICIES, OUR CLUB WAS REQUIRED TO PAY A $100 SPECIAL EVENT FEE AND SECURE THIRD PARTY LIABILITY INSURANCE OF ABOUT $400. NEITHER OF WHICH HAVE WE HAD TO DO IN THE PAST, AND OUR CYCLING CLUB DECIDED THAT SPENDING A TOTAL OF ABOUT $800 FOR AN EVENT THAT LITERALLY TAKES ABOUT AN HOUR OF TIME TO COMPLETE WAS NOT SOMETHING WE COULD SUSTAIN YEAR AFTER YEAR. THEREFORE, WE DECIDED TO CANCEL THE TRADITIONAL FORMAT AND JUST STOP FOR A MORE SIMPLER RIDE, STARTING AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION. HOWEVER, ON THE WEEKEND BEFORE THE EVENT AND I POINT TO THE BACK HERE, ONE OF OUR CLUB OFFICERS PROVIDED US THE DETAILS OF THIS NEW POLICY THAT WE WERE NOT AWARE OF. THE POLICY HAD TO DO WITH A PROCESSION BEING 25 OR MORE INDIVIDUALS, MOVING TOGETHER ON A PUBLIC ROADWAY, AND PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS. AND I QUOTE HERE AND ABBREVIATE SOME ANY PERSON FIRM, PARTNERSHIP, CORPORATION. ET CETERA. ET CETERA. THEREOF WHO VIOLATES ANY PROVISION OF THE GOVERNING ORDINANCE SHALL BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR AND FINED NOT TO EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF $500. WELL, OBVIOUSLY, WITH THIS, OUR CLUB DECIDED IT WAS NOT IN OUR BEST INTEREST TO DO SO, AND SO WE CANCELED THE EVENT. OUR CYCLING CLUB FIRMLY BELIEVES THAT THIS EVENT PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN PROMOTING CYCLING SAFETY AND HONORING THOSE WHO HAVE DIED IN CYCLING RELATED CRASHES. WE SINCERELY HOPE THE CITY RECOGNIZES THE VALUE OF THIS EVENT AND WILL PROVIDE SOME FLEXIBILITY TO ASSIST US IN CONTINUING THE RIGHT OF SILENCE, AND POSSIBLY EVEN INVOLVE THE ABILENE POLICE DEPARTMENT BIKE UNIT IN COOPERATION WITH OUR CLUB. A SPONSORSHIP OF THE RIGHT OF SILENCE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BRADY. HOLCOMB. BRADY HOLCOMB. ABILENE, TEXAS. GOOD MORNING. CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR MEETING WITH EVERYONE TODAY. MY NAME IS BRADY HOLCOMB. I AM A PROFESSOR IN THE SCHOOL OF PHYSICAL THERAPY DOWN THE ROAD AT HARDIN SIMMONS. AND I ALSO MAINTAIN CLINIC HOURS AT HENDRICK AS A PHYSICAL THERAPIST, AS MY MAIN TRADE. SO I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUE ALLISON ROBINSON AS WELL, WHO IS UNABLE TO BE AT THE MEETING AS SHE IS TEACHING CLASS RIGHT NOW. BUT WHEN THERE BEING AN ISSUE BEFORE YOU TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO VOICE MY CONCERNS REGARDING THE USE OF INDIVIDUALS USING POWER CHAIRS AS A PRIMARY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION ACROSS TOWN. I'VE NOTICED SEVERAL NEWS STORIES IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS OF INDIVIDUALS BEING STRUCK BY VEHICLES WHILE DRIVING POWER CHAIRS IN THE STREET. EVERY TIME I SEE ONE OF THESE STORIES, I WONDER IF IT IS ONE OF MY FRIENDS. I WORK WITH CLIENTS WHO RELY ON CITYLINK FOR TRANSPORTATION TO ARRIVE AT APPOINTMENTS. THESE CLIENTS FREQUENTLY REPORT DIFFICULTY WHILE USING CITYLINK AND AS A RESULT, PREFER TO DRIVE THEIR POWER CHAIRS ACROSS TOWN. THESE POWER CHAIRS ARE NOT DESIGNED FOR REGULAR LONG DISTANCE TRAVEL, [00:15:01] AND USING THEM IN THIS MANNER PUTS THE INDIVIDUAL AT A RISK FOR INJURY OF BEING HIT BY OTHER CARS AS WELL OF BECOMING STRANDED FAR FROM HOME. I'VE SPOKEN TO OTHER REHAB THERAPISTS AT BOTH HENDRICK AND WEST TEXAS REHAB. THEY FREQUENTLY HAVE CLIENTS LATE OR MISS APPOINTMENTS, OR HAVE RIDICULOUS WAIT TIMES FOR PICKUP DUE TO TRANSPORTATION ISSUES WITH CITYLINK. I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHAT BARRIERS ARE ARE FOR THE CITYLINK IN PROVIDING RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. IF THERE'S ANYTHING, ANYTHING WE CAN DO AT HARDEN SIMMONS, TX TO ASSIST IN THE EDUCATION OF ASSISTING INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITY. WE WOULD LOVE TO BE A PART OF THAT SOLUTION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. HARD TO READ THE LAST NAME ON THIS ONE, BUT FIRST NAME? AL. YES. EVERYBODY HAS TROUBLE WITH THAT NAME. POWELL. MY NAME IS AL HULL. I'M A RESIDENT OF ABILENE FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS. THE PAST FOUR YEARS OR SO, I'VE BEEN DISABLED AND USING CITYLINK PARATRANSIT AS MY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. I HAVE FOUND IT A VERY DIFFICULT. NOT AN INCONVENIENT, BUT A VERY DIFFICULT SERVICE. I FIND THAT THE DRIVERS AND THE DISPATCHERS WORK VERY HARD AT DOING THEIR JOBS, BUT THEY ARE FREQUENTLY PUT IN A POSITION WHERE THEY CANNOT SUCCEED. WHEN I SAY THEY CANNOT SUCCEED, I'VE HAD DRIVERS AND VANS PICK ME UP AS MUCH AS TWO HOURS LATE OR NOT PICK ME UP. SHOW UP AT THE INCORRECT ADDRESS. BE ON THE VAN FOR AN EXCESSIVE PERIOD OF TIME FOR UP TO CLOSE TO TWO HOURS. I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A SHARED RIDE SERVICE, AND YOU WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT SOME OF THESE THINGS COULD OCCUR, BUT THIS HAS BECOME THE NORM IN THE PAST YEAR. THERE HAVE BEEN MONTHS UPON MONTHS WHERE HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS OF THIS COMMUNITY DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO CITYLINK AT ALL. WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO CITYLINK PARATRANSIT SERVICE, YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO MEDICAL. YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO BANKING. YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO EDUCATION, GROCERIES, PHARMACY, ALL OF IT. I'VE HEARD TODAY THAT THIS IS A VIBRANT COMMUNITY. THE DISABLED PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS VIBRANT COMMUNITY. WITHOUT PARATRANSIT, YOU CAN'T DO IT. I'VE HEARD TODAY ABOUT ELDER ABUSE. WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE PARATRANSIT, YOU ARE PUT IN A POSITION WHERE YOU RELY ON OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE SOMETIMES DON'T HAVE YOUR BEST INTENTIONS AND YOU BECOME VULNERABLE. MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT USE PARATRANSIT ARE VULNERABLE, AND THEY ARE FRAIL, AND THEY ARE PUT IN AN UNSAFE POSITION. THERE IS A LOCAL REALTOR THAT HAS A WEBSITE THAT IDENTIFIES TEN REASONS TO MOVE TO ABILENE. TEN REASONS TO NOT MOVE TO ABILENE. I WOULD HAVE TO ADD AN 11TH REASON TO NOT MOVE HERE. IF A PERSON PLANS ON MOVING HERE, ANTICIPATING THAT THERE WILL BE RELIABLE, EFFECTIVE TRANSPORTATION ON PARATRANSIT, THEY MIGHT WANT TO INVESTIGATE THAT FURTHER. THANK YOU. IT'S NEXT. IT'S LESLIE, AND I THINK IT'S HOLMAN. I CAN'T REALLY. IS THAT RIGHT? I GET THAT RIGHT. HI, MY NAME IS LESLIE HOLMAN. I'M A RESIDENT OF ABILENE. I'M COMING AND SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF. MY CLIENT. SHE IS DISABLED AND SHE IS ALSO INVOLVED WITH DISABILITY IN ACTION. I'M HER CARETAKER AND I WISH TO SPEAK ON THE CITYLINK ISSUE ALSO. OKAY, SO DISABILITY ACTION IS A GROUP DEDICATED TO ADVOCATING FOR THE RIGHTS AND NEEDS OF THE DISABLED COMMUNITY. AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A CRITICAL ISSUE THAT PROFOUNDLY IMPACTS OUR LIVES. THE GLARING LACK OF ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN OUR BELOVED SMALL CITY, AND FOR MANY OF US, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH DISABILITIES, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ISN'T A LUXURY. IT'S A LIFELINE. IT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INDEPENDENCE AND ISOLATION, BETWEEN PARTICIPATING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND BEING SHUT OUT. IMAGINE NEEDING TO GO TO A DOCTOR, GO TO WORK, PICK UP GROCERIES, OR SIMPLY VISIT A FRIEND AND FACING INSURMOUNTABLE ODDS AND BARRIERS WITH NO RELIABLE WAY TO GET THERE. OR IF YOU GET THERE, NO RELIABLE WAY BACK. THIS IS A REALITY FOR MANY DISABLED RESIDENTS IN OUR CITY. AND NOT JUST DISABLED RESIDENTS, BUT NORMAL RESIDENTS ALSO WHO HAPPEN TO TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FOR LACK OF A VEHICLE. WE LIVE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE BUS ROUTES ARE LIMITED AND OFTEN DON'T EXTEND TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES OR RESIDENTIAL AREAS, AND FREQUENTLY OPERATE ON SCHEDULES OUR CITY HAS BUDGET CONSTRAINTS ABOUT, AND WE ARE NOT HERE TO DEMAND THE IMPOSSIBLE. WE NEED TO INVEST IN EXPANDING OUR BUS ROUTES, ENSURING THEY REACH MORE AREAS AND OPERATE DURING HOURS THAT ARE TRULY SERVING THE [00:20:01] COMMUNITY. WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE THE MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADE OF ACCESSIBLE FEATURES ON ALL PUBLIC VEHICLES, AND IMPLEMENT MANDATORY, COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING FOR ALL OF THE TRANSPORTATION STAFF. WE NEED THEM TO HAVE AWARENESS, AND WE NEED TO HAVE THEM BE ABLE TO ASSIST PEOPLE WHO ARE DISABLED AND TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE CLIENTS THAT THEY'RE SERVING. WE ALSO NEED TO EXPLORE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS, SUCH AS AN ON DEMAND PARATRANSIT SERVICE THAT TRULY MEETS THE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO CANNOT USE FIXED ROUTE TRANSPORTATION. THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT DISABILITY, IT'S ABOUT BUILDING A MORE INCLUSIVE, VIBRANT, AND ECONOMICALLY STRONG CITY FOR EVERYBODY. WHEN WE IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION FOR THE DISABLED, WE IMPROVE IT FOR SENIORS, FOR FAMILIES, FOR TOURISTS, AND FOR ANYONE WHO CHOOSES NOT OR CANNOT DRIVE. WE URGE OUR CITY LEADERS TO ENGAGE WITH DISABILITY ACTION AND THE BROADER DISABLED COMMUNITY. LET'S WORK TOGETHER. CAN YOU GET A THOROUGH ASSESSMENT OF OUR CURRENT TRANSPORTATION FROM AN ACCESSIBILITY PERSPECTIVE, AND ALLOCATE RESOURCES AND IMPLEMENTS TO MANAGEMENT TO MAKE MEANINGFUL IMPROVEMENTS? LET'S MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE IN OUR CITY IS LEFT STRANDED OR UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LIFE OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. JOANNE. FLUKE. I KNOW YOU GUYS CAN'T SEE ME, SO YOU'LL GET TO. OH, YEAH. OKAY. THERE IT IS. GOOD MORNING. ABILENE. OUR LEADERS OF ABILENE. IT'S GREAT TO SEE ALL YOUR FACES. I FEEL LIKE I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE FOREVER. I ACTUALLY AM HERE FOR TWO REASONS. TO REPRESENT THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY. I HAVE BEEN BLESSED AND HONORED TO REPRESENT THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY THROUGH CHAIRING THE MAYOR'S BOARD FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. IF YOU DON'T KNOW, THAT BOARD HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 2017. SO IT'S VERY MUCH HAS BEEN A PART OF THE CHALLENGES. BUT ALSO WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF SUCCESSES GOING TO SUCCESSES IN 2023. MY LIFE CHANGED AND YOU USED TO SEE ME HERE QUITE A BIT, BUT IN 2023 I HAD SOME MAJOR HEALTH ISSUES. TO THE POINT THAT MY DANCING STOPPED, MEANING THAT I NO LONGER WAS DOING ZUMBA. I WASN'T DOING WHEELCHAIR BALLROOM DANCING BECAUSE OF MY STRENGTH IN MY ARMS. SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT POWER WHEELCHAIRS, THAT CHANGES YOUR LIFE COMPLETELY. YOU NO LONGER CAN GET INTO A VEHICLE, A NORMAL VEHICLE. SO I REALLY GOT TO UNDERSTAND THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY QUICKLY WITH USING CITYLINK AND PARATRANSIT, AND IT WAS GREAT. BUT I WILL HAVE TO SAY THAT IT DECLINED VERY DRAMATICALLY, PROBABLY IN THE LAST YEAR. I WILL GO BACK THOUGH. WE HAVE DONE A ROLLER COASTER. CITYLINK DOES A ROLLER COASTER. SO IF IT COULD BE CALLED CITYLINK ROLLER COASTER, IT WOULD FIT. OUR PARATRANSIT AND TRANSPORTATION IN GENERAL. CURRENTLY, WE ARE GOING UP A HILL. I WORK NOW AT DISABILITY IN ACTION. I STARTED BACK THERE IN OCTOBER AND THEY HAD TO CLOSE DOWN PARATRANSIT THE BEGINNING OF MAY. AND I KNOW, LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE DID NOT KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITY DID NOT KNOW THAT. NOW WE ARE GETTING READY. WITH COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT OF CITYLINK. OF THE CITY AND CITY LINK GETTING READY TO OPEN BACK UP FULL. SO THAT MEANS ALL RIDES, MEDICAL WORK AND LIFE. BUT THE LAST MONTH, THAT'S ONLY BEEN MEDICAL. AND THAT HAS TOTALLY SHUT DOWN OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES. SO I WOULD JUST HOPE THAT YOU WOULD OPEN UP YOUR THOUGHTS AND WE GET ABILENE UP AND MOVING AGAIN. THANK YOU. JOANNE. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL THE CARDS? IT'S ALL THE CARDS. WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? [00:25:04] GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS CASEY NIELSEN. I LIVE HERE IN ABILENE. I'M A DIALYSIS SOCIAL WORKER FOR FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE. IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH DIALYSIS, DIALYSIS IS THE MECHANISM THAT KEEPS PEOPLE ALIVE. LITERALLY. WHEN THEIR KIDNEYS STOP FUNCTIONING. WE HAVE SEVERAL PATIENTS WHO ARE DEPENDENT ON CITYLINK TO GET TO AND FROM TREATMENTS. THREE TREATMENTS A WEEK IS THE NORM. MOST OF THE TIME, THOSE PEOPLE ARE SITTING IN THEIR DIALYSIS CHAIRS FOR ABOUT FOUR HOURS AT A TIME. THEY HAVE NEEDLES IN ONE ARM TAKING THEIR BLOOD OUT AND RETURNING IT, AND A BLOOD PRESSURE CUFF ON ANOTHER ARM. AND WE DON'T USE LA-Z-BOY CHAIRS, UNFORTUNATELY. SO THEY ARE OFTEN SITTING VERY UNCOMFORTABLY FOR AT LEAST FOUR HOURS. MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING USE SOME MODE OF WHEELCHAIR MOBILITY AID, THINGS LIKE THAT. WHAT JOHANNA SAID IS CORRECT. WHEN YOU ARE USING A MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIR, THAT LIMITS YOUR ACCESS TO TYPICAL MODES OF TRANSPORTATION. YOU CAN NO LONGER USE A NORMAL BUS ROUTE BUS. YOU NOW HAVE TO USE PARATRANSIT. AND OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS, MY CLINIC, THE CLINIC ON THE SOUTH SIDE, AND THE LONE STAR CLINIC OFF OF SOUTH THIRD HAVE HAD SEVERAL PATIENTS WHO HAVE MISSED TREATMENTS COMPLETELY OR ARRIVED MORE THAN TWO HOURS LATE AND WERE NOT ABLE TO COMPLETE THEIR FULL TREATMENT, OR THEY COMPLETE THEIR TREATMENT, AND THEN THEY HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER TWO HOURS AFTER THEIR TREATMENT IS COMPLETED, BEFORE THEY'RE ABLE TO GET BACK HOME, BE PICKED UP, AND START THE JOURNEY TO GET BACK HOME. THAT IS A LONG TIME FOR ANYBODY WHO HAS BEEN SITTING UNCOMFORTABLY IN A CHAIR. PEOPLE WHO HAVE INCREASED IMMUNE ISSUES, WHO HAVE INCREASED WOUND ISSUES. THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT KIND OF WORK TOGETHER TO REALLY IMPACT THEIR, THEIR PHYSICAL HEALTH. AND WHAT WE KNOW AND WHAT RESEARCH DEMONSTRATES IS THAT MOST TREATMENTS OF DIALYSIS RESULT IN AND MORE FREQUENT HOSPITALIZATIONS. AND AT SOME POINT BECOME FATAL. WE HAVE BEEN VERY FRUSTRATED AS A DIALYSIS TEAM THAT OUR PATIENTS CAN'T ACCESS THEIR TREATMENTS CONSISTENTLY. AND WE ARE VERY HOPEFUL THAT SOMETHING IN THE CITY BUDGET OR SOMETHING CAN CHANGE TO MAKE MEDICAL TREATMENTS EASIER TO ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WHO DEPEND ON PARATRANSIT SERVICES. THANK YOU. STILL, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MAYOR. I'M SO THANKFUL YOU PULLED SEVEN BECAUSE NOW I CAN TALK ABOUT IT SEPARATELY. I STARTED DOING THIS BECAUSE SOMETHING REALLY EMBOLDENED ME TO BE PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN OUR CITY. AND I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THAT WAS THE INCORRECT WAY TO DO IT. AND WHEN YOU DO THINGS INCORRECTLY IN THE CITY, SOME PEOPLE CANCEL YOU COMPLETELY AND WILL NOT ENGAGE WITH YOU AFTER THAT POINT. IT'S INTERESTING THAT FORMER COUNCILWOMAN DONNA ALVIS IS HERE BECAUSE IT WAS ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO TODAY WHERE SHE APPROACHED ME AT A MEETING AND SAID THAT BECAUSE I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT HOW THE CITY WORKED, THAT I NEEDED TO GIVE HER MY NUMBER SO SHE COULD LET ME KNOW HOW THINGS WORKED IN THE CITY. AND I EXCITEDLY ANTICIPATED HER PHONE CALL. BUT YET I NEVER GOT IT BECAUSE THAT'S THE PROBLEM. NO ONE REALLY WANTS TO LEND A HELPING HAND TO SHOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED THEY'RE HERE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS, TO BE A PART OF WHAT GOES ON THE CITY. AND AN EASY SOLUTION WOULD BE LIKE I'VE REQUESTED JUST TO MOVE THE NAMETAGS UP ON TOP. SO WHEN THE VIDEOS ARE SHOWED, YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE WHO'S TALKING AND WHO'S PRESENT BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT BOARDS AND I DON'T KNOW ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS. AND THAT WAS DENIED. AND I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO WAY THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT I CAN'T READ THE NAMES. THEY WANTED THEM ON THE LITTLE LEDGE WHERE IT FIT. THERE'S BEEN OTHER EXAMPLES WHERE I'VE TRIED TO OFFER SOME THINGS THAT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR ME AS A CITIZEN, TO ENGAGE WITHOUT HAVING TO CONSTANTLY REACH OUT AND AND ASK PEOPLE QUESTIONS. BUT THAT SEEMS TO BE THE WAY THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED. FOR EXAMPLE WHEN I REACHED OUT ABOUT CLERICAL ERRORS ON THE AGENDA MEMO, IT WASN'T SAID, OH, THANKS FOR POINTING THAT OUT. IT WAS, WELL, LET ME ANSWER YOUR QUESTION AND IGNORE THE FACT THAT THERE ARE CLERICAL ERRORS. IN FACT, I MADE THE MISTAKE OF POINTING OUT CLERICAL ERRORS IN THE MINUTES, AND NOW THE MINUTES BASICALLY HAVE NO INFORMATION, JUST A PERSON'S NAME. SO I SEE THAT WHEN YOU BRING UP ISSUES, YOU GET DINGED AND PUNISHED FOR DOING THAT. NOT EVERYONE, BUT THAT'S KIND OF THE WAY IT GOES. AND SO WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS? THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK IS CHALLENGING IS THERE WAS A COUNCIL MEETING SUPPOSED TO BE YESTERDAY. IT WAS CANCELED. I THANKFULLY GOT THE EMAIL THAT IT WAS CANCELED, [00:30:02] BUT THEN IT WAS CANCELED AGAIN. SO THEN I WAS LIKE, WELL, DID I MISS THE MEETING BECAUSE IT WAS CANCELED OR WAS IT ACTUALLY CANCELED? AND I JUST DIDN'T KNOW. IT'S REALLY CONFUSING TO STAY IN THE LOOP. THE THING THAT I WANT TO POINT OUT WITH THE LAST TIME THAT I HAVE IS THE CLERICAL ERRORS ARE FRUSTRATING. I COUNTED THERE'S 22 CONSENT ITEMS, TWO REGULAR ITEMS, AND NOT INCLUDING THE MINUTES. THERE ARE SIX RESOLUTIONS, 12 ORDINANCES. AND OF THOSE FOUR ITEMS WHICH ACTUALLY HAVE IMPACT ON OUR BUDGET, HAVE NO FUNDING SOURCES. ONE ITEM, IT SAID IT WAS BUDGETED, BUT IT DIDN'T SAY WHAT SOURCE. SO HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO COME AND ASK GOOD QUESTIONS AND FOLLOW ALONG WHEN I BRING UP ISSUES? AND THEN I'M TOLD, I DON'T KNOW ALL THE INFORMATION. YOU'RE PURPOSELY LEAVING THAT OUT LASTLY, OR LAZILY LEAVING IT, I DON'T KNOW WHICH. LASTLY, I INVITED ALL OF YOU TO THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER AND I RECEIVED ONE RSVP. IT DOESN'T TAKE THAT LONG TO LET A CITIZEN KNOW IF YOU CAN OR CAN'T MAKE AN EVENT THAT THEY'RE INVITING YOU TO. SO PLEASE JUST DO THE DECENT THING AND BE HONORABLE AND TRY AND MAKE THIS EASIER FOR US. BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ALL OUT TO GET YOU AND UNSEAT YOU. WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE OUR CITY BETTER. THANK YOU. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? HI, I'M DONNA ALVIS. I'VE ONLY BEEN A CITIZEN SINCE 1968, SO I GUESS I QUALIFY. YEAH, WE'VE GOT SOME CHALLENGES, BUT LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING. RIGHT. WE JUST HOSTED 88 WOMEN FROM ALL OVER THE STATE TO COME TO ABILENE AND SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING LOCALLY. WE STARTED OUT AT THE DOWNTOWN HOTEL AND THEY DID AN AMAZING JOB. FIRST OF ALL, A PROCLAMATION PRESENTED BY MISS SHAUNA, PRESENTED BY OUR FABULOUS MAYOR SET THE STAGE TO WELCOME TO OUR CITY. WE HAD ALL SORTS OF FORUMS WHERE PEOPLE FOUND OUT WHAT WE WERE DOING ECONOMICALLY, WHAT WE WERE DOING TO HELP ALL OF OUR CITIZENS. WE HAVE OVER 100 WOMEN THAT HAVE GRADUATED FROM THIS PROGRAM. 83 ARE STILL ON OUR ROSTER. OF THOSE 83. 42. HELP FINANCIALLY AND PHYSICALLY. QUITE AN AMAZING NUMBER. WE DID EVERYTHING WELL. FIRST OF ALL, KATE ALVAREZ AND REBECCA BRIDGES GOT THE DOWNTOWN CLEANED UP SO WE COULD PRESENT OUR BEST SIDE. WE WENT TO THE GRACE, THE PARAMOUNT, THE CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ARTS, WHERE REBECCA WELCOMED US. EVEN SO, SOME ART. WHILE WE WERE THERE, WE WENT TO TOOK THEM TO TEXAS TECH HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER, LAURA BUSH INSTITUTE. GOT THEM BACK TO THE HILTON AND AND ALLOWED THEM 30 MINUTES TO CHANGE CLOTHES AND GET READY FOR THE NIGHT'S ACTIVITY WHERE WE HAD THE BUSSES MEET UP OUTSIDE THE STORYBOOK GARDEN, HAD THE SIX WHITE HORSES TAKE THEM TO FRONTIER TEXAS, THEIR OWN PRIVATE PARADE. AND THERE THE COWBOY BAND MET THEM WITH THE EYES OF TEXAS, SEVERAL OTHER SONGS, AND ENDED UP WITH ABILENE. ABILENE. THEY WERE BLOWN AWAY WITH ABILENE AND THE HOSPITALITY THEY RECEIVED HERE. ALL OF THEM DECLARED, THEY'RE COMING BACK. SOME OF THEM EVEN SAID THEY WANTED TO MOVE HERE, SO MAYBE THEY CAN COME AND HELP WITH OUR CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE. BUT I HAD ONE LADY ASK IF I WOULD MEET WITH HER THE NEXT DAY. I DID, AND SHE SAID SHE TALKED TO A RECENT BABYLONIAN AND SAID, ARE THESE PEOPLE REAL? ARE THEY JUST PUTTING ON A SHOW FOR US? AND SHE SAID, WELL, I WAITED ABOUT SIX MONTHS TO COME TO A CONCLUSION AND I DECIDED THEY'RE REAL. THANK YOU DONNA. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR INPUT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTING OF ITEMS FOUR THROUGH 22, WITH THE EXCEPTIONS OF SEVEN AND NINE. I WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION AND A SECOND. MOVE FOR APPROVAL. A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BEARD. SECOND. SECOND. BY COUNCILMAN PRICE. OUR DISCUSSION. WE'RE READY TO VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER BEARD. YES. [00:35:02] COUNCIL MEMBER MACALLISTER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. CRAVER. YES. MAYOR PRO TEM. YATES. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM MORGAN. YES. WITH ABSTAINING ON 11. COUNCIL MEMBER PRICE. YES. AND. MAYOR. YES. MOTION CARRIES. SO WE NOW MOVE TO ITEM SEVEN. [7. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Take Action on the Approval to Support the Emergency Purchase of Various Products and Services from Vendors Regarding the City’s Cyber Attack Event (Troy Swanson)] AND COUNCILMAN BEARD, YOU HAD PULLED THIS ITEM. YEAH. I THINK COUNCILMAN PRICE AND I BOTH HAD SOME QUESTIONS. DO YOU PERSONALLY. WELL, AS WAS DISCUSSED EARLIER. MENTIONED EARLIER. MOST OF THE THINGS THAT WE APPROVED FOR PURCHASING ARE APPROVED DURING THE BUDGET CYCLE. AND IT MAY NOT BE SPECIFIED IN THE AGENDA WHICH LINE ITEM IT'S COMING OUT OF THE BUDGET, BUT WE DID BUDGET IT DURING THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S BUDGET CYCLE. THE CYBERATTACK INTRODUCED VARIABLES THAT WE WERE NOT PREPARED FOR AND WE DIDN'T BUDGET FOR. SO THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE SPENDING IN RESPONSE TO THAT. AND SO COULD YOU JUST SAY, TELL US WHERE THE MONEY'S COMING FROM. IF THERE WERE ANY PROJECTS THAT WE HAD TO PUT ON HOLD BECAUSE OF SPENDING IT FOR THIS. JUST KIND OF CLARIFY THAT FOR THE PUBLIC AND FOR OUR BENEFIT. ABSOLUTELY. SO WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF THIS. AND SO SOME OF THESE WERE EMERGENCIES THAT WE NEEDED TO PURCHASE IMMEDIATELY TO BE ABLE TO FUNCTION AND SERVE THE CITIZENS. AND SO THESE WILL BE INITIALLY FUNDED THROUGH THE MIP. WE'RE IN, IN THE PROCESS WITH THE INSURANCE. SO ANY INSURANCE CLAIM THAT WE RECEIVE WILL BE REIMBURSED BACK TO THE MIP AS PART OF THAT. OKAY. ARE THERE ANY PROJECTS THAT WE'RE HAVING TO PUT ON HOLD THAT WE WERE GOING TO FUND FROM THE MIP? WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHERE THIS IS GOING TO END UP. IF YOU'LL REMEMBER, AT THE END OF THE YEAR WE TRANSFER SALES TAX EXCESS TO THE MIP. SO WE DON'T THINK THERE'LL BE ANYTHING THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DO. BUT UNTIL WE GET THE THE INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT, UNTIL WE SEE WE'RE REALLY AT WE WON'T KNOW THAT GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU. THAT WAS MY QUESTION. MINE. MAYBE THIS IS FOR YOU OR YOURS, TROY. NORMALLY WHEN WE EXPEND MONEY LIKE THIS, WE SEE, YOU KNOW WHAT THE CONTRACTS ARE, WHAT THE MONEY IS BUYING. AND I KNOW WE HAVE VENDORS LISTED IN THE PACKET. CDW SYRIAN, DELL SERVER SUPPLY SUMMARY AND TELECOM. BUT IT DOESN'T LIKE HOW MANY COMPUTERS ARE WE BUYING? WHAT ARE EACH OF THESE VENDORS? WHAT SERVICE ARE THEY PERFORMING? THAT'S THAT'S KIND OF WHERE MY QUESTION IS. TROY SWANSON, THE IT DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR GOING DOWN TO THE LIST. CDW WE WERE ABLE TO BUY A FEW MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS TO SUPPORT THE PERIPHERALS AND THINGS THAT WE NEEDED TO REPLACE. SHERIDAN WAS A PIECE OF SOFTWARE NECESSARY TO BRING THAT SYSTEM BACK UP ONLINE. AND THE DELL IS THE PREDOMINANCE OF THIS. AND IN DELL, WE ACQUIRED A COUPLE DIFFERENT THINGS OF DIFFERENT TYPES. AND WE PURCHASED APPROXIMATELY A 200 MDX. THESE ARE THE MOBILE DATA TERMINALS THAT WE USE IN EMERGENCY SERVICES, AND APPROXIMATELY 300 DESKTOPS AND SERVER SUPPLIES. IS SOME OF THE RAM OR MEMORY THAT GOES INTO THE SERVERS THAT WE NEEDED TO RECOVER. AND THE SUMMARY IS CYBERCRIMES, COMPUTERS THAT WE USE TO WORK THE CYBER CRIMES INITIATIVE THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. AND TELECOM IS A MIXTURE OF PHONE AND SERVICES, 100 PHONES TO BRING RESTORE THE PHONE SERVICE THAT HAD BEEN DAMAGED. DO WE KNOW WHAT? WHAT'S THE DURATION OF THE CONTRACT IS AT ONE TIME? YOU KNOW CONTRACT FOR ONE TIME PURCHASE TYPE SITUATION, CORRECT? COUNCIL MEMBER THE ALL OF THESE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TELECOM WERE ONE TERMS, ONE TIME PURCHASES TO REPLACE RECOVER SYSTEMS IN THE TELECOM. A CATEGORY IS A HOSTED PHONE SERVICE THAT WE'RE PAYING ON A MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION ON A MONTH TO MONTH BASIS AS WE RECOVER THE PHONE SYSTEM. OKAY. THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION. I KNOW WE'RE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF IT, AND THIS SEEMS LIKE IT'S MAINLY HARDWARE. DO WE HAVE A SENSE OF ALL RIGHT, THIS IS GOING TO BE ROUGHLY WHAT'S EXPECTED ON THE HARDWARE SIDE. ARE WE GOING TO BE IN IN TWO WEEKS LOOKING AT ANOTHER MAJOR HARDWARE PURCHASE OF ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS? DO WE HAVE A SENSE WE DO NOT HAVE A SENSE OF THE CALIBER AT THIS TIME? WE'RE STILL IN THE STRATEGY AND REPLACEMENT, AND WE ARE WORKING WITH THE INSURANCE CLAIM. THE NATURE OF THE CONTINUED HARDWARE RECOVERY IS IN THE NETWORK SERVER AND STORAGE, AND THOSE ARE ALL BEING CONDUCTED AS A REQUIREMENT, SPACE REPLACEMENT. AND WE'LL GO THROUGH THE NORMAL PROCUREMENT CHANNELS, AND YOU WILL SEE THE CONTRACTS AND THE NECESSARY DETAILS TO APPROVE THOSE ITEMS. OKAY. SO JUST JUST FOR MY OWN CLARIFICATION, THIS HARDWARE PURCHASE HERE DOES THIS REPLACE ALL THE TABLETS AND PHONES, ETC. FOR EMPLOYEES? OR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER ASK BEFORE US VERY SOON TO TAKE CARE OF THE [00:40:04] OTHER HALF OF THE EMPLOYEES OR WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT? SO FROM A DESKTOP AND USER FUNCTION, THIS IS A PREDOMINANCE OF IT. WE ARE ABLE TO GO THROUGH TIME AND AND WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE NEAR FUTURE. RECOVER A LOT OF THE PRIOR ASSETS IN DESKTOPS, LAPTOPS AND TABLETS. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON NOW IS ACTUALLY RESTORING THOSE DEVICES TO SERVICE. SO WE SHOULDN'T SEE SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS IN DESKTOPS AND LAPTOPS AND THEN GO FORWARD BASIS SHOULD NOT OR WE SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT. OKAY, GUYS, WE'RE FIXING SOME OF THE ONES THAT WE'RE RECOVERING WHAT WE CAN. EVERY EFFORT WE MAKE IS TO SPEND THE LEAST AMOUNT AND RECOVER AS MOST AS WE CAN. OKAY. THANK YOU. I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, I THINK I GUESS, AND IT WAS TO BLAZE'S POINT, I, I HEAR, AS WE ALL KNOW, DEALING WITH INSURANCE SOMETIMES IT'S IT'S IT ISN'T A COMPLETE FINAL RESOLUTION TO FINANCIAL GAIN BACK ON IN TERMS OF WHAT IT COULD POTENTIALLY COST US. SO I'D LOVE TO KNOW. AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE TIME, BUT I'D BE CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT DO YOU HAVE SOME LONG TERM VISION BECAUSE A LOT OF THIS SEEMS MORE IMMEDIATE NEED. SO I'D LOVE TO KNOW WHAT'S THE LONG TERM VISION IN TERMS OF THE CYBERSECURITY MOVING FORWARD, OR WE MORE THAN LIKELY JUST FOCUSED ON THE IMMEDIATE NEED OF WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO OPERATE IN THE DAY TO DAY. I'D LIKE TO TAKE THAT AS TWO PARTS IN THE IMMEDIATE NEED. WE ARE TRYING TO RECOVER BUSINESS FUNCTION AS FAST AS WE CAN, AND WE'LL DO WHATEVER THAT TAKES AT THE SAME TIME. IN EACH MOVE, WE WORK WITH THE INSURANCE AGENT TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS SOME KIND OF CLAIM OPPORTUNITY IN EACH OF THOSE EXECUTION. SO WE ARE WORKING WITH THAT VENDOR AND THAT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS. AS ANYBODY WHO'S WORKED WITH INSURANCE AGENCY KNOWS. AND SO WE DON'T HAVE A DEFINITIVE ANSWER AT THIS MOMENT, WHAT WILL ACTUALLY BE CLAIMABLE UNTIL WE ACTUALLY RECEIVE THAT? THE SECOND PART I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS IS KIND OF MORE OF A VISION IN CYBERSECURITY. EVERY MOVE THAT WE MAKE, EVERYTHING THAT WE ACQUIRE, EVERY SERVICE THAT WE RESTORE. WE'RE PAYING VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED A HIGHER LEVEL OF CYBERSECURITY ON A GO FORWARD BASIS, AND WE HAVE LOFTY TARGETS THERE WHERE WE'RE BASICALLY NOT ALLOWING ANYTHING THAT WOULD ALLOW THIS KIND OF THREAT VECTOR OR THREAT SURFACE HAPPEN AGAIN. WOULD YOU SAY THAT WE HAVE A TEAM THAT IS SPECIFICALLY INCLUDING HOW MUCH IT IN COMPARISON TO CYBERSECURITY TRAINING, DO WE AS A TEAM HAVE? WE'VE LEVERAGED A NUMBER OF BUSINESS PARTNERS IN THAT REGARD. SOME COME TO US AS VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS. AND SOME COME TO US AS A PAID SERVICE THAT WE ALREADY HAD ON CONTRACT. BUT IN ALL CASES, WE'RE DEFINITELY REACHING OUT TO THE EXPERTS IN THE INDUSTRY TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE CYBER SECURE ON A GO FORWARD BASIS. AND PRIOR TO THIS ATTACK, WAS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE KIND OF INVESTED IN IN TERMS OF OUR TEAM? CORRECT. PREVIOUSLY WE HAD THE SAME VISION, BUT WE WERE LIMITED IN OUR ABILITY TO RESOURCE THAT, FUND THAT AND MOVE FORWARD AGGRESSIVELY. THIS HAS CREATED OR TRIGGERED AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE, AND IT ALLOWS US TO MOVE FORWARD AT A MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE PACE. BUT ON OUR TWO YEAR APPROXIMATELY HORIZON, WE HOPE TO ACHIEVE THE SAME NET EFFECT, BUT HAD NOT ACHIEVED THAT TO THIS DATE. OKAY. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? ENJOY. THANK YOU. BUT 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. TAMMY FOGEL, RESIDENT. I'M SORRY, I THOUGHT I COULDN'T HEAR WHO PULLED IT, SO I'M SORRY. LYNN BEARD AND PRICE, IF YOU ALL POURED THAT. THANK YOU. I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS IS IN THIS SEASON. WE'RE IN HOW THIS IS NOT PULLED AS A REGULAR AGENDA ITEM. NOT BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO, BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE HEARD VERY LITTLE, IF ANY INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE CYBER ATTACK AND REPAIRS AND ALL THOSE THINGS. WE'RE TOLD EVERYTHING IS FUNCTIONING RIGHT. BUT I HAVE FRIENDS WHO CAN'T ACCESS POLICE RECORDS TO HELP THEM IN THEIR EMERGENCIES BECAUSE THERE'S NO ACCESS TO THAT. SO WE HAVE TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT. AND THAT'S WHAT CRAVER CALLED ME OUT ON, SAYING I WANTED MORE TRANSPARENCY, I DO, I READ ALL THE PAGES, I LOOK UP THE INFORMATION, I'VE DONE THE HOMEWORK, AND I'M TRYING TO FOLLOW ALONG AND NOT ONLY FOLLOW ALONG, BUT HELP OTHERS KNOW ACCURATE INFORMATION. SO IT'S IT'S FRUSTRATING WHEN THESE THINGS ARE NOT BROUGHT TO THE FOREFRONT. AND I'M THANKFUL THAT Y'ALL BROUGHT IT OUT, BUT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOT EVEN CONSIDERED A CONSENT AGENDA ITEM BECAUSE THIS IS IMPORTANT INFORMATION. [00:45:01] I ACTUALLY IF YOU READ THE T THE TOTALLY EASY AGENDA, YOU LEARNED MORE ABOUT WHAT THIS STUFF PURCHASED THAN YOU DID EVEN FROM THE ACTUAL AGENDA PACKET. AND I THINK THAT'S CONCERNING BECAUSE WHEN I AM READING THE PACKET, I SHOULD GET ALL THE INFORMATION. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO AND READ AN ADDITIONAL SOURCE THAT'S MADE FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T READ THE PACKET. THAT'S PROBLEMATIC TO ME. SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP. I THINK THAT THESE LINE ITEMS SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXPLAINED IN THE AGENDA MEMO. THERE WAS NO FUNDING IMPACT, AND WHILE IT WAS A TEMPORARY SOLUTION, THERE'S NO REASON WHY THE MIP SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN PUT AS THE TEMPORARY FUNDING SOURCE. AND THE NEXT TWO ITEMS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN PULLED. EIGHT AND I KNOW NINE WAS PULLED FROM THE DISCUSSION TOTALLY. BUT THOSE DON'T HAVE ANY FUNDING SOURCES. WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS IS COMING FROM. AND MY CONCERN IS THAT I COME UP HERE AND SAY, WHY ARE WE NOT FUNDING THIS CORRECTLY? OR HOW ARE WE DOING THIS? AND YOU'RE LIKE, OH, WELL, WE HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION, BUT THE INFORMATION IS NOT FORTHCOMING. IT SHOULD BE PRESENTED IN THE PACKET OR IN THE MEETING SO THAT CITIZENS CAN KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. AND IF THIS IS THE BULK OF WHAT WE'RE SPENDING ON FIXING IT, THAT'S A GOOD SIGN. WE'VE BEEN TOLD IT COULD BE UPWARDS OF 15 MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OR $15 MILLION. SO IF IT'S ONLY GOING TO BE ABOUT $1 MILLION, THAT'S A GOOD THING. WHY ARE WE NOT LETTING THE CITIZENS KNOW SO WE CAN BREATHE A LITTLE EASIER AND THEN START TO DEAL WITH WHAT THE DATA BREACH LOOKS LIKE? AND IF THERE IS A DATA BREACH, IF OUR STUFF HAS BEEN EXPOSED. BUT THERE'S BEEN LITTLE INFORMATION AND I HAVE REALLY DONE A GOOD JOB GIVING YOU ALL LOTS OF GRACE. MAINLY THE CITY. I'M LOOKING AT THE COUNCIL. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR ROLE AND HOW YOU CAN ENFORCE SHARING MORE INFORMATION. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, BUT I'VE BEEN GIVING LOTS OF GRACE BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE. I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS. I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS. BUT I DO THINK THE CITIZENS DESERVE MORE INFORMATION. AND WHAT WE'RE BEING GIVEN IS VERY LITTLE IF TO NONE. AND MOVES LIKE THIS WOULD HAVE GONE A LONG WAY IF YOU JUST PUT IT ON THE REGULAR AGENDA SO PEOPLE COULD AT LEAST HAVE THIS CONVERSATION. SO THANK YOU FOR PULLING IT, BECAUSE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN WHAT WE DID IN THE FIRST PLACE, BECAUSE CITIZENS NEED TO KNOW HOW OUR TAXPAYERS ARE BEING SPENDING AND WHAT'S COMING OUT, AND IF PROJECTS ARE BEING SIDELINED OR NOT. I JUST WANT MORE INFORMATION. THANK YOU. STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON ITEM SEVEN, WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? WILLIAM TUCKER ABILENE. I ACTUALLY CAME TO SPEAK ON 17, BUT WHILE HE WAS TALKING, I GUESS IT KIND OF CONFUSED ME TO WHEN YOU WERE ASKING HIM, LIKE, IF WHY SHOULD WE DO THIS IF THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE LIKE THE TOTAL OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND? KIND OF LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE LIKE REMODELING SOMETHING OR YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING, YOU DON'T BUY A LITTLE BIT AND THEN COME BACK LATER AND BUY A LITTLE BIT. AND I FEEL LIKE WHEN YOU DO THAT TOO, IT'S GOING TO GIVE PEOPLE MORE STRESS BECAUSE IT'S LIKE, OH, WE SPENT A MILLION AFTER WE JUST FOREVER AGO TALKED ABOUT WANTING TO RAISE TAXES AND THEN COME BACK TWO WEEKS LATER AND SAY, OH, WE GOT TO SPEND ANOTHER MILLION BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GET IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. SO I THINK THAT SHOULD BE SOMETHING TO LOOK AT BETTER THAN. LET'S FIGURE OUT WHAT WE NEED TO SPEND RIGHT NOW. IT'S BEEN IN BULK. I'M SURE THAT'LL ALSO SAVE MONEY IF YOU BUY EVERYTHING TOGETHER INSTEAD OF SEPARATING IT OR WHATEVER. SO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE WANT TO SPEND AND THEN SPEND IT. THEN INSTEAD OF DOING THIS. LITTLE BY LITTLE. THANK YOU. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON ITEM SEVEN. ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCIL? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT. I WANTED TO ASK A COUPLE OF MORE IF TROY COULD COME UP. I HAD A COUPLE OF MORE THOUGHTS COME TO MIND. I'D LOVE TO ASK. IF YOU CAN CLARIFY FOR ME IN REGARDS TO THE DATA BREACH, I'D LOVE TO KNOW WHAT TOOLS THAT WE SPECIFICALLY HAVE IN PLACE AT THE TIME FOR DETECTING AND RESPONDING TO THE CYBER INTRUSION. SO WE USE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TOOLS AND NOT TO NAME THOSE TO CREATE SOME KIND OF OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE OUT THERE IN THE WORLD. WE HAVE TOOLS THAT MONITOR THE ANTIVIRUS STATE OF THE SYSTEM, AND THEY REPORT IN WHETHER THERE'S BEEN A BREACH OR NOT. AND THEN WE HAVE TOOLS THAT MONITOR THE ACTUAL ACTIVITY OF THE SERVERS TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE WORKING PROPERLY AT THIS EVENT. OUR FOLKS NOTICED WITHIN ABOUT 30 MINUTES OR SO THAT THERE WERE THERE WERE CHARACTERISTICS OF HOW THE SERVERS WERE RUNNING THAT WERE NOT APPROPRIATE. AND SO WE HAD PEOPLE COME IN PHYSICALLY TAKE A LOOK AND FROM LIKE A 4 A.M. TO A 7 A.M. TIMELINE, WE IDENTIFIED THAT WE HAD A PROBLEM AND WERE ABLE TO TURN OFF THE SYSTEM AND MITIGATE SOME OF THE DAMAGE. AND THAT'S KIND OF TO MY POINT. I'M CURIOUS. SO WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE ANYTHING THAT ALERTED US BEFORE. I WOULDN'T SAY UNRESPONSIVE, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT ALERTED US BEFORE. THE SYSTEM WAS NOT OPERATING IN THE CAPACITY THAT IT TYPICALLY DOES. CORRECT. CORRECT. IT WAS NEFARIOUS ACTIONS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED VERSUS THE PREPARATORY STUFF THAT WOULD GO BEFORE THAT. THERE ARE OTHER TOOLS THAT WE DIDN'T OWN AT THAT TIME THAT WOULD HAVE PROVIDED THAT SERVICE. AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING AT ON A GO FORWARD BASIS TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THOSE TOOLS IN PLACE NOW GOING FORWARD. [00:50:02] OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. FOR OUR DISCUSSION. DO WE HAVE. I DO HAVE ONE THING. DO WE HAVE SOMETHING IN PLACE THAT I KNOW WE HAVE RESPONSE DETECTION, RIGHT. BUT IF YOU BACK ONE STEP UP, DO WE HAVE WHAT DO WE HAVE IN PLACE THAT WOULD STOP THIS? THAT'D BE. THAT'D BE MY QUESTION. PREVENTING IT FROM GETTING IN IN THE FIRST PLACE. YEAH. VERY GOOD QUESTION. SO THERE'S IN THE SUITE OF TOOLS THAT WE HAVE. THERE'S PREVENTION AND PROTECTION. SO THAT'S THE PRE STAGED STUFF THAT ALLOWS US TO ENSURE THE CYBER SECURITY OF THE SYSTEM. THOSE SYSTEMS ARE TYPICALLY LIKE ANTIVIRUS TOOLS THAT YOU WOULD USE AT HOME ON A COMPUTER. OURS ARE MUCH MORE SOPHISTICATED. AND THEN WE HAVE MITIGATION TOOLS THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO MONITOR THAT SERVICE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT IT'S WORKING CORRECTLY AND HASN'T BEEN COMPROMISED. THOSE ARE TYPICALLY IN THE FORM OF A MONITORING OR ALERTING TOOL. AND IN THOSE TWO CATEGORIES, WE HAD A LOT ON THE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION. WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT ON THE MONITORING CAPABILITY. THOSE TOOLS ARE TYPICALLY MORE EXPENSIVE, AND WE HAD NOT EMPLOYED THOSE TO DATE ON A GO FORWARD BASIS. WE WILL HAVE THOSE. DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? NO. OKAY. SO LET'S TRY AGAIN. SO LET ME TRY IT OUT. AND I'M NOT AN IT GUY. SO JUST GIVE ME A LITTLE GRACE HERE. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I HEARD YOU SAY WAS US. WE HAVE RESPONSE PREVENTION TOOLS IN PLACE, BUT NOT MONITORING. BUT WHAT I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SAY THE FIRST TIME WAS THE MONITORING SOFTWARE IS WHAT CAUGHT THE SERVERS BEHAVING IN AN UNCHARACTERISTIC WAY, WHICH CLUED US IN THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING AMISS. AND MY QUESTION IS GOING BACKWARDS FROM THERE. WHAT WOULD HAVE STOPPED THIS? WHAT DID WE HAVE IN PLACE, OR WHAT WILL WE HAVE IN PLACE WITHOUT BEING SPECIFIC TO STOP THIS FROM EVER STARTING? THAT'S MY QUESTION. SO IT WAS THE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION TOOLS THAT DID ALERT US. DUE TO NOT HAVING MONITORING TOOLS, THOSE TOOLS WERE BEING COMPROMISED. AND THEY REPORTED IN THAT THEY WERE BEING COMPROMISED. AND SO THAT'S A REAL TIME VERSUS MONITORING AND PREDICTING ON A GO FORWARD BASIS, WE'VE ENHANCED AND WE HAVE LIKE THREEFOLD THE LEVEL OF PREVENTION, PRODUCTION, PROTECTION TOOLS THAT WE HAD BEFORE. SO WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT TOOLS THAT ARE PROVIDING THAT SERVICE. AND WE'RE ABOUT TO EMPLOY A NEW MONITORING SERVICE THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO MONITOR THE ENVIRONMENT PROACTIVELY AND THROUGH THOSE TOOLS. WHAT HAPPENS IS, IS WE ACTUALLY SEE THAT NEFARIOUS ACTION OCCUR IN THE LOGS AND THE ACTIVITY THAT'S ON THE NETWORK LONG PRIOR TO WHEN THEY ACTUALLY TAKE ACTION. SO THAT'S THE EQUIVALENT OF DETECTING PENETRATION THAT THEY'RE TRAIPSING AROUND ON OUR NETWORK. THEY'RE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING TO OUR NETWORK. THOSE TOOLS WOULD ALLOW US TO MORE PREEMPTIVELY OR PROACTIVELY SHUT THAT DOWN BEFORE IT EVER GAINS TRACTION. AND THOSE ARE THE TOOLS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO EMPLOYING ON A GO FORWARD BASIS. OKAY. ARE YOU ARE WE MONITORING ANY OF THAT DATA TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY INFORMATION THAT POTENTIALLY COULD BE SHARED OR IS BEING SOLD. RIGHT. THE THREE PROTECTION AND PREVENTION TOOLS DO ALLOW US TO MONITOR THAT AND TO BASICALLY SEE IF ANY DATA IS BEING COMPROMISED AND USED TO TRANSPORT IT OFFSITE, ETC.. THOSE TOOLS ARE VERY EFFECTIVE AND ARE WORKING AS WE SPEAK, TODAY IN OUR NEW ENVIRONMENT. SOMEBODY JUST CLICKING ON AN EMAIL SPAM LINK HAS FIRED THAT OFF. AND JUST ONE INDIVIDUAL, ONE OCCASION, ONE EVENT HAS ALLOWED US THAT GRANULARITY AND FIDELITY OF DETECTION, SO WE KNOW IT IS WORKING. COUNCILMAN ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT CURRENTLY MONITORING? CORRECT. SO WE ARE IN I BELIEVE WE MEET THREE TIMES A WEEK WITH THE CYBERSECURITY EXPERT AS WELL AS THE INSURANCE, AND THEY ARE MONITORING THE DARK WEB AND ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS. AND THEY'LL NOTIFY US IMMEDIATELY WHEN THAT WHEN IF AND OR WHEN THAT THAT HAPPENS. THANK YOU. WE GET A 8 A.M. MORNING MEETING DEBRIEF ON THAT EVERY MORNING, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. AND YOU. MOVE FOR APPROVAL. I THINK THERE WAS SOMEONE THAT WAS. YEAH. THE PUBLIC. WE'RE NOT. ARE WE? NOT CLOSE WHEN YOU ASK FOR A MOTION. WE ALREADY CLOSED THE PUBLIC. OH, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU DID. OKAY. YEAH. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. AND YOU? FOR A MOTION. OKAY. I JUST SHOWED UP JUST BARELY LATE. THAT'S WHY I WAS LOOKING FOR IT. ALL RIGHT. CAN WE OPEN IT, OR CAN I MOVE THAT? WE OPENED UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT. PERIOD. I'LL SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN REAGAN. I HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND TO OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM SEVEN. WE'RE READY TO VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER CRAVER. YES. MAYOR PRO TEM YATES. [00:55:01] YES. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM. REAGAN. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. PRICE. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. BEARD. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MCALLISTER. YES. AND. MAYOR. HURT. YES. MOTION CARRIES. STATE YOUR NAME, PLEASE. JOSHUA FARROW. I WORK IN CYBERSECURITY, SO I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING ALONG WITH THIS WHOLE THING. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL HAS BEEN ASKED, I APOLOGIZE. I WAS COMING IN FROM A MEETING AT WORK. MY QUICK QUESTION ABOUT A LOT OF THE BUDGET OR THE PROPOSAL HERE. IS THERE ANY. ARE WE INCREASING THE STAFFING FOR THE DEPARTMENT AT ALL AS IT RELATES TO SECURITY? BECAUSE AS IT AS I'VE SEEN FOR THE CURRENT QUALIFICATIONS, THE CISO IS PHILIP BREWER. NOTHING. I'VE NEVER MET THE MAN. AND SO I'M NOT TRYING TO ATTACK HIS CHARACTER AS IT RELATES TO HIS SKILLS. HE'S THE CHIEF INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER. AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT'S POSTED ON HIS LINKEDIN. ACCORDING TO GOVERNMENT SALARIES, HE'S THE SECURITY ANALYST. I'M NOT SURE WHICH TITLE HE HOLDS OFFICIALLY, BUT A CHIEF INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER USUALLY MAKES AROUND 200,000 A YEAR. HE'S MAKING AROUND 73,000. THEY USUALLY HAVE A QUALIFICATIONS UPWARDS OF 10 TO 15 YEARS, IF NOT 20IN THE INDUSTRY. HE HAS ABOUT TWO. SO MY QUESTION IS, IS WHY IS HE AS THE CSO AT THIS MOMENT AND IS HE QUALIFIED TO LEAD THIS DEPARTMENT ALSO? IS THERE A BIGGER SECURITY DEPARTMENT THAT'S GOING TO BE DEVELOPED OUT OF THIS BUDGET OR OUT OF THIS PROPOSAL? ARE WE GOING TO JUST STACK THAT THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES ON THE EXISTING IT DEPARTMENT? BECAUSE THAT'S THAT'S A LOT TO DO. I'VE DONE THIS FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS. I KNOW HOW THIS GOES. A LOT OF TIMES THE IT DEPARTMENTS GET STACKED WITH SECURITY. THEY'RE NOT TRAINED TO DO SO. AND SO THEREFORE THEY JUST HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT ON THE FLY. IF WE'RE NOT ACTIVELY FIGURING OUT STAFFING FOR THIS AND TRAINING, OR AT LEAST AT THE VERY LEAST OUTSOURCING THIS TO SOMEONE LIKE AN MSP, YOU'RE ASKING TO GET HIT AGAIN AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE WATCHING THIS, AND THEY'RE GOING TO KNOW IF YOU GUYS ARE STAFFED AND CAN ACTUALLY HANDLE THIS. YOU CAN GET FANCY EQUIPMENT, BUT IF NO ONE'S ADMINISTRATING IT CORRECTLY, IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING. SO THAT'S MY MAIN QUESTION IS WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE WAY OF THAT? WHO'S ADMINISTRATING THIS AND WHO'S GOING TO BE CONSISTENTLY TUNING IT AND MAKING SURE IT'S IT'S HOW IT NEEDS TO BE. WILL THERE BE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES THAT WE CONTINUE TO PAY FOR? OR ARE WE JUST GETTING NEW, NEW EQUIPMENT AND THAT'S IT. ALSO, WHY ARE WE GETTING NEW EQUIPMENT? THAT'S USUALLY NOT THE RESPONSE TO A RANSOMWARE ATTACK. NORMALLY IT IS TO JUST RECOVER WHAT YOU CAN DO, IF YOU CAN FROM BACKUPS. IF YOU CAN'T, YOU REBUILD THE SYSTEMS. MGM GRAHAM LAST YEAR WAS HIT DURING THE SUMMER. I'M I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, THEY DON'T HAVE A SMALL SECURITY SYSTEM. THEIR CASINO. THEY DIDN'T REBUILD THEIR WHOLE INFRASTRUCTURE AFTER THAT. THAT WOULD BE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. IF EVERY ORGANIZATION DID THAT, THEY'D BE BANKRUPT. SO WHY ARE WE DOING THAT? IS IT BECAUSE WE DO NEED TO UPGRADE THE EQUIPMENT? IF WE DO, THAT'S FINE. LET'S CALL IT THAT. LET'S NOT SAY THAT THAT'S GOING TO PREVENT SECURITY EVENTS. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT DOES. THAT MEANS YOUR TIME. GOTCHA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JOSH. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? AT THIS TIME? NO ONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OF A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN PRICE AND A SECOND BY. I DON'T THINK IT'S BEEN SECONDED YET. I'LL. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. COUNCILMAN REAGAN. I'LL SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE'RE READY TO VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER PRICE. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. BEARD. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MCALLISTER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. CRAVER. YES. MAYOR PRO TEM. YATES. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM. REGAN. YES. MAYOR. HURT. YES. MOTION CARRIES. CARRIES. WELL, I'LL MOVE TO ITEM 23, AND I'LL ASK MARJORIE KNIGHT, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. MARJORIE KNIGHT, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, BEFORE YOU TODAY IS THE AUTHORIZATION TO ISSUE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION BONDS. THESE ARE FOR ENERGY IMPROVEMENTS AT VARIOUS CITY FACILITIES AND THE PURCHASE OF GENERATORS AT WATER TREATMENT PLANTS. AN ESTIMATED 10 MILLION WILL BE SUPPORTED WITH PROPERTY TAX REVENUE, AND 15 MILLION WILL BE SUPPORTED WITH WATER AND SEWER REVENUES. SINCE THIS PRESENTATION WAS PREPARED, WE DO HAVE FINAL NUMBERS. SO REGARDING THE NEXT ITEM ON THE PRESENTATION FOR THE PROPERTY TAX RATE, THE IT'S ACTUALLY 0.0081 PER $100 PROPERTY VALUE, OR THE EQUIVALENT OF ABOUT $8.10 ANNUALLY PER $100,000 HOME VALUE. [01:00:02] ON THIS SLIDE, THIS JUST SHOWS THE BREAKDOWN AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PROPERTY TAX SUPPORTED DEBT AND THE WATER AND SEWER REVENUE SUPPORTED DEBT. FINAL NUMBERS DID COME IN JUST BARELY HIGHER. WITH THE ESTIMATED ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE IS SEE ABOUT 807,000, AND WITH THE DEBT SERVICE FOR THE WATER AND SEWER FUND ABOUT 1.204 MILLION. AND WE ALSO HAVE GEORGE BOULEVARD WITH HILLTOP SECURITIES TO DISCUSS PRICING. GEORGE, HOW ARE YOU? GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. FOR THE RECORD, GEORGE WILLIFORD WITH HILLTOP SECURITIES. AS MARJORIE INDICATED, THE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION ISSUE WAS ACTUALLY PRICED OR MARKETED YESTERDAY TO INVESTORS. AND THEREFORE, THE INTEREST RATES WERE ESTABLISHED AND FINAL. AND YOU SHOULD HAVE AT YOUR PLACE A PRESENTATION. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS ABLE TO BE PROJECTED BECAUSE WE PUT THE FINAL NUMBERS IN AND COMPLETED THIS JUST LATE YESTERDAY. BUT A COUPLE OF IMPORTANT THINGS. FIRST, WE HAD WRITING DISCUSSIONS WITH MOODY'S AND FITCH AND THEY AFFIRMED BOTH THE RATINGS, THE EXISTING RATINGS, AA TWO BY MOODY'S AND A+ BY FITCH. AND THEN ON THE SECOND PAGE, YOU'LL SEE KIND OF WHO ALL WAS INVOLVED. OF COURSE, WE'RE ACTING AS ADVISOR. AND THEN MCCALL, PARKHURST AND HORTON AS YOUR BOND COUNSEL, SAM GILL. AND HE PREPARED THE FINAL ORDINANCE, WHICH YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY. AND THEN THE UNDERWRITERS WERE FROST BANK AND SAM KO. AND WHAT YOU SEE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THAT PAGE IS A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY OFFICIAL STATEMENT, WHICH WAS THE OFFERING DOCUMENT, MORE OR LESS LIKE A PROSPECTUS FOR THE OFFERING ON PAGE THREE. IT KIND OF SUMMARIZES THE ISSUE SIZE 25.31 5.31 MILLION. AND AS MARJORIE INDICATED, THE EXACT PROJECT PROCEEDS 26 MILLION FOR 88 TO 30. THAT WILL FUND, AS SHE INDICATED, ABOUT 15.86 WATER AND SEWER SUPPORTED AND 10.63 MILLION THAT WOULD BE TAX SUPPORTED. IMPORTANT THING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE IS THE ACTUAL INTEREST RATE, 4.386% IS THE EFFECTIVE RATE ON THE ISSUE. THAT'S A LITTLE HIGHER THAN WHAT THE CITY HAS EXPERIENCED IN THE LAST FEW ISSUES. BUT AS YOU'LL LOOK ON THE VERY LAST PAGE IN THE PRESENTATION, THAT'S HISTORICAL OVER THE LAST YEAR MUNICIPAL INDEX RATES FOR TEN AND 20 YEARS. AND YOU CAN SEE THE, THE ELEVATION OVER THE LAST YEAR AND IN PARTICULAR SINCE APRIL, THE VOLATILITY AND INTEREST RATES THERE'S STILL, AROUND OR BELOW HISTORICAL NORMS, BUT UP A LITTLE FROM WHAT WE'D EXPERIENCED PREVIOUSLY. SO AT ANY RATE, THE FINAL RATE 4.386. ON PAGE FOUR, THERE'S DETAIL WHICH BREAKS DOWN THE SOURCES AND USES. AND THE REASON THE ISSUE SIZE IS BELOW THE AMOUNT OF PROCEEDS IS BECAUSE OF THE PREMIUM DOLLARS NEARLY 1.5 MILLION, 1.496 THAT WERE WAS RECEIVED. AND THAT'S SHOWN ON PAGE FIVE. THE INTEREST COUPONS FOR CERTAIN MATURITIES REALLY? ALL OF THEM HIGHER THAN THE ACTUAL YIELDS. AND SO THEREFORE PREMIUM WAS PAID BY THE INVESTORS AND THOSE DOLLARS COME TO THE CITY AND DOWNSIZE THE ISSUE. AND THEN ON PAGE SIX, AS MARJORIE INDICATED THE TOTAL ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE, AROUND TWO POINT OR $2,009,000 PER YEAR. AND VERY CLOSE TO WHAT SHE HAD BROKEN DOWN 1.2 MILLION. JUST SLIGHTLY ABOVE THAT FOR THE WATER AND SEWER PORTION, AND A LITTLE OVER 800,000 A YEAR FOR THE TAX SUPPORTED. I'D BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SALE OR THE STRUCTURE OF THE ISSUE OR THE MATTER BEFORE YOU, BUT IT WOULD BE OUR RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE AND SALE OF THE CERTIFICATES. QUESTION, GEORGE. JUST JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE VOTING TODAY FOR ACTION THAT WAS TAKEN YESTERDAY. THEY WERE ALREADY SOLD AND WERE APPROVED. YES, SIR. THAT'S THE NORM. IS THAT YOU KNOW, THEY WOULD GO TO MARKET PRECEDING THE MEETING. [01:05:01] AND UNLESS WE'RE DOING SOMETHING WHERE THE PRICING IS DELEGATED FOR SUBSEQUENT SALE, THEN IT'S BROUGHT TO YOU, NOT APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL. THE SALE OF THE CERTIFICATES IS NOT FINAL UNTIL COUNCIL ACTUALLY AUTHORIZES THE ISSUANCE. OKAY. JUST SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT, BECAUSE IT SOUNDED LIKE THE ACTION WAS ALREADY DONE BEFORE WE VOTED. SO JUST SO JUST THE MARKETING AND ESTABLISHMENT OF RIGHTS. BUT THEY'RE ALL SUBJECT TO GOVERNING BODY TODAY. YES, SIR. SO WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT FORCED INTO ACTION BECAUSE IT WAS ALREADY DONE. NO, SIR. I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO BE CLEAR. IT'S NOT THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. YES, SIR. AND THEN I HAD A QUESTION WITH 1.2 MILLION. ARE WE GOING TO NEED TO ADJUST OUR RATES ON THE WATER SIDE TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE PAYMENTS? OR IS THERE ENOUGH REVENUE COMING IN THAT WE CAN MAKE THOSE PAYMENTS? CURRENTLY, THE WATER AND SEWER FUND GENERATES ENOUGH REVENUES TO COVER THIS. SO NOT AT THIS TIME. WE DO HAVE THE FIVE YEAR PLAN OF RATE INCREASES ALREADY IN EFFECT, BUT IT'S NOT FURTHER IMPACTING ANOTHER INCREASE AT THIS TIME. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR AGAINST ITEM 23? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. TAMMY FOGEL, PRESIDENT I, I YOU KNOW, I USED TO EMAIL Y'ALL ABOUT THESE CONCERNS, BUT I FOUND THAT THAT WAS AN INEFFECTIVE WAY OF USING THIS BECAUSE I FIND THAT PUBLIC DISCUSSION. SO THAT'S WHY I'M ALWAYS APPRECIATIVE WHEN Y'ALL DISCUSS THINGS THAT YOU EMAIL IN PRIVATE SO THAT WE CITIZENS CAN BE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION. I AM TRYING MY BEST TO UNDERSTAND, AND I THINK MOST OF YOU CAN SEE THAT AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I MAY DO IT IMPERFECTLY, BUT I'M LITERALLY TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THIS SO THAT I CAN TRANSLATE IT INTO INFORMATION FOR CITIZENS WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS. AND I DON'T NITPICK. I'M NOT ONE THAT TRIES TO PINPOINT EVERYTHING. SO WHEN I HAVE CONCERNS, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW, I FEEL LIKE THERE SHOULD BE SOME PLACE WHERE YOU LISTEN TO IT. BECAUSE IT'S NOT WITHOUT CONCERN. AND SO THIS WEEK, IT WAS COMMUNICATED ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT THESE CEOS, THE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATIONS ARE A TOOL THAT YOU CAN USE WITHOUT RAISING TAXES. NOW, I KNOW WE HAVE COMMON LANGUAGE AND WE HAVE CITY LANGUAGE, BUT THAT SHOULDN'T BE SAID IN A SOCIAL MEDIA POST. AND WHEN I POINTED IT OUT, THEY'RE SAYING, NO, IT DOESN'T RAISE TAXES. BUT IT COULD. AND I DO HAVE CONCERNS BECAUSE WE TOOK OUT AN ADDITIONAL $6 MILLION FOR THE RAMPS LAST YEAR TO GO ON THIS UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. DO WE HAVE THAT BUDGETED? WHERE IS THAT COMING FROM? BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT CO IS NOT GOING TO BE COVERED BY A CURRENT BUDGET. WILL THIS 800 K BE COVERED IN THE BUDGET. IS THAT A LINE ITEM BUDGET. AND WHERE DO CITIZENS GET TO SEE THAT LINE ON A BUDGET. SO THAT WE KNOW THAT THOSE THINGS ARE NOT THAT'S INCLUDED. NOW, I KNOW WE'RE HAVING OUR WORKSHOP IN A FEW AND A FEW WEEKS, AND I'LL BE ENCOURAGING CITIZENS TO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THIS IS DISCUSSED. BUT FOR IT TO BE A ONE TIME DEAL AND FOR THE CITY THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA TO SAY THAT OR TO THINK THAT THIS IS A VIABLE A VIABLE WAY TO COMMUNICATE. CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATIONS. IF IT HAD JUST SAID NOT NECESSARILY RAISING TAXES. THAT'S ONE THING, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU SAID DEBT DOES NOT MEAN A TAX RATE INCREASE, BUT I KNOW THE BUDGET WE WERE WORKING WITH LAST YEAR. ARE WE NOW FLUSH WITH CASH THAT WE HAVE ALL THESE, THIS ROOM FOR EXTRA EXPENSES, AND IF SO, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET TO SEE ALL THE BENEFITS? THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS I HAVE, BUT THERE'S NO REAL DIRECT COURSE FOR ME TO FOLLOW UP WITH AND SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW HOW HOW, HOW CAN I ANSWER THIS? BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, I ASK ABOUT A CLERICAL ANSWER AND INSTEAD OF GETTING LIKE, OH, THANKS, YEAH, WE'LL FIX THAT. IT'S LIKE, WELL, THIS IS WHAT WE MEANT TO SAY. JUST FIX IT. JUST MAKE IT TO WHERE IT'S EASIER FOR US TO UNDERSTAND. AND SO I'M NOT TRYING TO BE DIFFICULT. I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THIS. AND IF I'M FRUSTRATED, THEN PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF HERE ARE NEVER GOING TO WANT TO PAY ATTENTION. NOW, I KNOW YOU GET PEOPLE IN YOUR EARS TELLING YOU THAT EVERYTHING'S GREAT AND YOU'RE HAPPY WITH IT. BUT I'M TALKING TO THE REST OF ABILENE THAT YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HEAR FROM. AND I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT I'M TRYING MY BEST TO MOVE FORWARD AND HELP THINGS, BUT THINGS ARE SAYING THAT THIS WILL NOT IMPACT OUR TAXES. THIS WILL NOT INCREASE OUR TAXES. I DON'T THINK IT'S BEING DISHONEST AS BEING HONEST AT THIS POINT, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE FIREMAN'S FUND. WHERE'S THAT COMING FROM? IS THAT AGAIN JUST GOING TO COME OUT OF MAGICALLY? I MEAN MONEY'S GOT TO COME OUT OF SOMEWHERE. SO PLEASE JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING MORE TRANSPARENT. THANK YOU. ON THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 23. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? OKAY. WILLIAM. ABILENE. I GUESS I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT. AND MAYBE SOMEONE CAN EXPLAIN IT. WHAT EXACTLY WE'RE BUYING AND HOW IS IT GOING TO SAVE US MONEY. [01:10:03] BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO OBVIOUSLY PUT MY. EVEN THOUGH I AM HOMESTEAD, IT'S STILL GOING TO ADD MONEY TO MY TAXES ON MY HOME AND MY LAND AND EVERYTHING, WHICH IS ALREADY GOING UP. SO IF DOING THIS, IS IT GOING TO SAVE US MONEY? IS IT GOING TO SAVE US MORE THAN $2 MILLION IF IT'S NOT GOING TO SAVE US MORE THAN $2 MILLION, WHY ARE WE DOING IT? AND THEN I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE GENERATOR PART, BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD WHEN THE SNOW STUFF HAPPENED. WE DON'T NEED GENERATORS. WE HAVE THREE PLANTS AND IT GOES DOWNHILL AND EVERYTHING. NOW WE'RE BEING TOLD WE NEED GENERATORS. SO, LIKE, IS IT IMPORTANT TO GET THAT? BECAUSE RIGHT NOW I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE'RE IN A LIKE I SAID, EVEN WITH THEM TALKING ABOUT Y'ALL, TALKING ABOUT WHEN TO RAISE TAXES AND NOT HAVING MONEY, WANTING TO SPEND ALL THIS EXTRA MONEY ON THINGS. SO IS IT SOMETHING WE REALLY, REALLY NEED RIGHT NOW WHERE WE COULD TAKE CARE OF SOMETHING ELSE? AND WHAT ARE WE EXACTLY GETTING? BECAUSE I DON'T UNDER EVEN READING EVERYTHING, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE GETTING OUT OF IT. THANK YOU. THE ONLY PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 23? I THINK NO ONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? JUST A SECOND. IS IT IS IT WORTH KIND OF SUMMARIZING THE THINKING BEHIND THE CEO? I'VE GOT SOME COMMENTS. IF YOU DON'T. GO AHEAD. YEAH. YOU ALL RIGHT? SO THIS IS THIS TOPIC IS A LITTLE BIT ARCANE. IT'S A IT'S CONVOLUTED. IT IS NOT AN EASY THING TO UNDERSTAND, BUT THIS IS THE RESULT OF AN EIGHT YEAR PROCESS, I THINK, OF MODERNIZATION AND MAINTENANCE PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE FOR THE ENERGY SAVINGS FOR THE CITY. SO THE FIRST FOUR PHASES ARE COMPLETE. THIS IS THE LAST TWO PHASES. AND THIS IS TALKING ABOUT THE THE PORTION OF IT THAT'S IN THE GENERAL FUND, NOT THE WATER FUND. THAT'S KIND OF A SEPARATE THING. SO THE THE GENERAL FUND PART OF THIS. BASICALLY THERE'S HVAC SYSTEMS ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEMS, ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED OVER DECADES THAT ARE AT END OF LIFE, THAT ARE NOT COMPATIBLE, THAT ARE HIGH MAINTENANCE AND UNRELIABLE. AND SO IF YOU DON'T TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO REPAIRING AND MAINTAINING THOSE THINGS, THEN YOU GET TO FIX THEM WHEN THEY BREAK. AND IN THE SUMMERTIME, WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER BREAKS IT'S REALLY EXPENSIVE. THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPANY IS GOING TO GET CALLED OUT. IT'S GOING TO PROBABLY COST YOU 2 TO 3 TIMES, AND YOU'RE GOING TO END UP WITH WHAT THEY CAN GET AT THE MOMENT, AS OPPOSED TO A SYSTEM THAT IS MORE WELL DESIGNED AND WORKS TOGETHER. SO THIS APPEARS TO BE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF KIND OF A TECHNICAL THING. THIS IS THE END OF SEVERAL YEARS OF EFFORT TO COORDINATE AND BE EFFICIENT. THESE COSTS ARE ABOUT TO HAPPEN NO MATTER WHAT. WE'RE GOING TO PAY THIS MONEY. AND WHETHER THAT'S IN THE FORM OF A CONTROLLED, WELL-DESIGNED AND RESPONSIBLE EXPENDITURE, OR IF WE JUST WAIT FOR THE CRISIS AND SPEND IT. ON THE DAY THAT IT BREAKS THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO BEAR THE BURDEN OF THESE COSTS. THESE ARE NOT OPTIONAL EXPENDITURES. SO REALLY, THAT THIS DOESN'T COME ACROSS AS IT'S PRESENTED IN THAT MANNER BECAUSE WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE THE LAST EIGHT YEARS THAN THE FIRST FOUR PHASES AND THE, THE ENERGY SAVINGS THAT WE'VE ALREADY REALIZED FROM THE THINGS WE'VE ALREADY DONE. THIS IS FINISHING THAT UP. SO THIS IS ACTUALLY THE RESULT OF AN EFFORT TO BE EFFICIENT, TO HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO CITY FACILITIES. TO THE SYSTEMS. TO THE MAINTENANCE. LOOKING AHEAD. IT LOOKS LIKE. OH, WE HAVE TO SPEND $10 MILLION ON THIS STUFF. WELL, IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THAT MONEY OVER THE NEXT 5 TO 10 YEARS ANYWAY IN REPAIRS. AND BY DOING IT THIS WAY, WE CAN GET BETTER SERVICE, MORE RELIABILITY, AND A MORE COMPREHENSIVE WAY TO APPROACH IT FOR THE WATER SIDE OF THIS. I BELIEVE IT WAS STATE MANDATED FOR THE GENERATORS. SO THIS IS PART OF THE ERCOT DISCUSSION FROM WINTER STORM URI. AND THE GENERATORS. WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE. THIS IS ONE OF THE HOW WE DO IT. WE HAVE SOME LEEWAY, BUT THIS IS THE THE WAY TO GO FORWARD. SO THAT SHOULD WE EXPERIENCE A TRIPLE FAILURE IN THE GRID AGAIN IN THE FUTURE? WE'VE GOT THE CAPABILITY TO STILL PUMP WATER. TO, BECAUSE THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENED IS WE COULDN'T PUSH WATER UP INTO THE WATER TOWERS. AND THEN FOR SEVERAL PARTS OF THE CITY, [01:15:02] THEY LOST WATER FOR FOR A WHILE I WAS ONE OF THEM. I DIDN'T ENJOY THAT. WE WERE MELTING SNOW SO WE COULD FLUSH THE TOILETS. WE WEREN'T ALONE. A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE THAT. SO THIS IS AN EFFORT TO MOVE INTO THAT. THIS IS THAT PART OF IT IS COVERED THROUGH THE THE WATER RATES AND IT'S ALREADY PROGRAMED IN. THERE'S ENOUGH MONEY IN THERE, AS MARJORIE SAID, THAT THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAVE AN IMMEDIATE EFFECT ON THE RATES LONG TERM. EVERYBODY KNOWS HOW THAT GOES AS FAR AS RATES. BUT WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING UNUSUAL OR EXCEPTIONAL. AND I HOPE THAT THAT CLARIFIES A LITTLE BIT OF THIS. THERE'S A REASON TO PUT THIS UP AS A CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION. AND THE REASON IS, WHAT IF WE PUT IT UP FOR A VOTE AND THE VOTERS SAID NO? NOT UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE, THE VOTERS WOULD ACTUALLY END UP PAYING MORE OVER THE LONG TERM THROUGH REPAIRS AND RESPONSES AND NOT HAVING A COORDINATED EFFORT. THEN IF WE IF WE DID IT THIS WAY. SO THIS IS A CASE WHERE YOUR REPRESENTATIVES HAVE LOOKED AT THESE ISSUES IN DEPTH. THE CITY STAFF HAS DEVELOPED THESE LONG TERM PLANS, AND ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE ARE COMING TO FRUITION. AND SO THERE'S NO DECEPTION, THERE'S NO OBFUSCATION HERE. WE'RE NOT TRYING TO HIDE ANYTHING. IT'S JUST COMPLICATED. AND I APPRECIATE THE PATIENCE. I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE INTEREST AND AND THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE COMING ABOUT. BUT THERE'S NOTHING BAD GOING ON. THIS MAY OR MAY NOT IMPACT TAX RATE THAT'S COMING IN THE IN THE BUDGET WORKSHOP, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE FINAL NUMBERS ON SALES TAX, WE DON'T HAVE FINAL APPRAISAL VALUES, WHICH THE CITY DOESN'T CONTROL. AND, YOU KNOW, I'M PRETTY SURE EVERYBODY UP HERE WOULD LOVE TO LOWER THE RATE WE DID THAT LAST YEAR. THAT DOES NOT TRANSLATE TO YOU PAY LESS TAX. AS FAR AS PROPERTY TAX. WE LOWERED THE RATE AND ALMOST EVERYBODY PAID MORE TAX BECAUSE THE VALUATIONS WENT UP. THAT THAT'S WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU HAVE AN AD VALOREM TAX. AND THAT'S WHAT THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS CHOSEN IN LIEU OF AN INCOME TAX OR SOME OTHER SOURCE. I DON'T LOVE PROPERTY TAXES AS A TAXING MECHANISM, BUT I DON'T HAVE A BETTER WAY. UNLESS WE RADICALLY CUT CITY SERVICES. SO ALL THIS IS NOT THE FUSS. THIS IS JUST TRYING TO EXPLAIN WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS. IT WAS A GOOD QUESTION, MAINLY. THANK YOU. I'M SORRY. WELL, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY WE HAVE HAD THESE DISCUSSIONS ON WHY WE'RE DOING THIS BEFORE. THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED. THIS IS JUST THE FUNDING MECHANISM AS WE'RE GOING TODAY. 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 YATES FOR DISCUSSION. WE'RE READY TO VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER MCALLISTER. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. CRAVER. YES. MAYOR PRO TEM. YATES. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM REAGAN HAS LEFT. COUNCIL MEMBER PRICE. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. BEARD. YES. AND MAYOR. HURT. YES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. COUNCILMAN REAGAN HAD TO LEAVE TO MAKE A FLIGHT. [EXECUTIVE SESSION] IT IS NOW 9:49 A.M.. WE RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT. SECTION 551.071 CONSULTATION WITH THE ATTORNEY. SECTION 551072 DELIBERATIONS ABOUT REAL PROPERTY. SECTION 551.073 DELIBERATIONS ABOUT GIFTS AND DONATIONS. SECTION 551.07 FOR PERSONNEL MATTERS. SECTION 551.076 DELIBERATION ABOUT SECURITY DEVICES. SECTION 551.087 DELIBERATIONS ABOUT BUSINESS PROSPECTS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. IT IS NOW 9:57 A.M.. WE RECONVENE FOR OPEN SESSION. [RECONVENE] NO VOTES OR ACTIONS WERE TAKEN DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION. [25. 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)] WE NOW MOVE TO ITEM 25, WHICH IS THE APPOINTMENT AND REAPPOINTMENT TO VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD, DAVID WALL, SENIOR CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD, WALTER GOODMAN, CECILIA WILLIAMSON, SIDNEY MOORE, AND JAMES WEBB. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST? ITEM 25? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR ITEM 25. SO MOVED. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN. SECOND, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MCALLISTER. DISCUSSION. WE'RE READY TO VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER BEARD. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MCALLISTER. YES. [01:20:01] COUNCIL MEMBER. CRAVER. YES. MAYOR PRO TEM. YATES. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM REAGAN IS ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER PRICE. YES. MAYOR. HURT. YES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. I WOULD LIKE TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THE NEXT MEETING OF ON THE 26TH OF JUNE WILL HAVE A 10 A.M. START, SO WE'LL JUST MAKE A NOTE OF THAT. I SEE MIGUEL ESPINOSA IN HERE TODAY. CONGRATULATIONS ON A ON YOUR VICTORY ON THE ELECTION. THAT MEETING WILL BE NEXT MONDAY AT THREE TO CANVASS THE ELECTION AND SWEAR YOU IN AS A NEW COUNCILMAN. COUNCILMAN. MCALLISTER. 12 YEARS OF SERVICE. THIS IS YOUR LAST MEETING WITH US TODAY, AND I WAS GOING TO ALLOW COUNCIL TO HAVE ANY REMARKS AT THIS TIME THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEND YOUR WAY. THANK YOU. I'LL GO AHEAD AND START. I DON'T NEED MUCH MORE THAN 12 YEARS AND ENJOY SEEING IT CHURCH ON SUNDAYS AND YOUR YOUR, YOUR PASSION FOR THE COMMUNITY CAN BE SEEN WHEN YOU'RE OUTSIDE OF THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND AND DOING THINGS WITH KIDS AT CHURCH AND ENGAGING WITH VISITORS AND JUST A A LOVE OF LIFE. THANK YOU. AND THE 12 YEARS THAT YOU'VE BEEN HERE HAVE BEEN A BLESSING TO THE CITY. AND WE'LL MISS YOU ON THE COUNCIL. MIGHT BE EASIER TO SEE US UP HERE. WON'T BE AS MUCH OF A BRIGHT GLARE, SOME OF THE CLOTHING. BUT WE WILL GET YOU SHIRT IF YOU WANT ONE. YEAH, MAYBE SOMEBODY ELSE HAVE TO TAKE UP THE MANTLE, BUT NOT ME. BUT I DO APPRECIATE YOU AS A BROTHER IN CHRIST, AS A PERSON WHO HAS SERVED THIS COMMUNITY AND WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY JUST IN A DIFFERENT WAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. WELL, KYLE. 12 YEARS IS NO SMALL FEAT, MAN. THAT'S A LOT OF ELECTIONS AND A LOT OF DECISIONS THAT HAD TO BE MADE. AND A LOT OF THOSE DECISIONS HAVEN'T BEEN EASY. YOU KNOW A LOT'S HAPPENED IN OUR CITY IN THE LAST 12 YEARS. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF GROWTH. AND YOU WERE MOST DEFINITELY A PART OF THE TEAM THAT MADE THE DECISIONS TO MAKE THINGS BETTER AROUND HERE. AND I GENUINELY APPRECIATE THAT. I WAS GOT TO WATCH YOU, AS, YOU KNOW, A MEMBER OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT NOW AS A AS A PEER ON THE COUNCIL. AND I'LL TELL YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE ALWAYS PRIORITIZED PUBLIC SAFETY AND WHAT YOU BELIEVE TO BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR CITIZENS. AND I JUST THANK YOU FOR THE TIME THAT YOU'VE INVESTED. AND THIS IS THERE'S A LOT OF INVESTMENT IN THIS OF TIME FOR THOSE THAT SIT UP HERE AND YOU'VE MADE $12 IN YOUR CAREER, SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT. AND SO I'VE JUST I'VE APPRECIATED SERVING WITH YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. CARL, I FIRST OF ALL, THANKS FOR ALLOWING ME TO SIT NEXT TO YOU HERE THESE LAST TWO YEARS, BUT I'VE. WHEN I CAME BACK TO ABILENE THIS LAST TIME IN 2013, I WAS STILL IN THE AIR FORCE. AND YOU WERE NEW TO THE COUNCIL. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATE OF THE CITY FROM THAT TIME TO THIS TIME, THERE HAVE BEEN DRAMATIC AND IMPRESSIVE IMPROVEMENTS. AND I THINK IT'S IN NO SMALL PART TO YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR HEART FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND YOUR STYLE, YOUR SENSE OF STYLE THAT THAT THAT CERTAINLY HAS BEEN UNIQUE AND ON OCCASION, ENTERTAINING. SO I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR SERVING ABILENE FOR 12 YEARS. FOR SURE. I MADE IT A BETTER PLACE. YOU KNOW, KYLE AND I GET TO SIT BY EACH OTHER ALL THE TIME, AND I'VE GOTTEN TO LEARN A LOT FROM HIM THROUGH THE YEARS AND HAVE APPRECIATED SERVING WITH HIM, HIS FRIENDSHIP AS WELL. BUT I THOUGHT IT ONLY APPROPRIATE, AS I WAS WRITING LAST NIGHT, TO WRITE 12 THINGS THAT I'VE LEARNED AND WE HAVE LEARNED FROM KYLE. NUMBER ONE, DIPLOMACY IS NOT DEAD. IT JUST WEARS OFF IN A HAWAIIAN SHIRT. NUMBER TWO, DOCTOR PEPPER ISN'T JUST A BEVERAGE TO HIM. IT'S A BELIEF SYSTEM. NUMBER THREE, HE ONCE FILIBUSTERED A MOTION BY ACCIDENTALLY TELLING A STORY THAT STARTED WITH BACK IN 1983. NUMBER FOUR KYLE BELIEVES IN TRANSPARENCY, INTEGRITY, AND APPARENTLY SHIRTS SO LOUD THEY NEED THEIR OWN ORDINANCE. NUMBER FIVE WHILE MOST OF US TAKE NOTES AND MEETINGS, HE DOUBLE. HE DOODLES STRATEGIC VISIONS THAT SOMEHOW INCLUDE DUCKS, TRAFFIC LIGHTS, AND A SUSPICIOUSLY DETAILED MAP OF BUCKY'S. TOTALLY MADE THAT UP. OKAY, NUMBER SIX, HE'S THE ONLY COUNCIL MEMBER WHOSE WARDROBE IS SPONSORED BY WHATEVER SECTION OF THE STORE SAYS FOR EXTROVERTS ONLY. NUMBER SEVEN IS IDEA OF COMPROMISE. I'LL GIVE YOU HALF FOR DOCTOR PEPPER IF YOU AGREE TO SEE IT MY WAY. NUMBER EIGHT DURING BUDGET SEASON, HE SOMEHOW TURNS A SPREADSHEET INTO A STAND UP COMEDY SESSION. WE ALL KNOW THAT ONE, RIGHT? NUMBER NINE IF WISDOM CAME IN CANS, IT WOULD BE LABELED DOCTOR KYLE. [01:25:04] ORIGINAL FLAVOR 12 YEARS, AGED UNPREDICTABLY SMOOTH AND SLIGHTLY FIZZY. NUMBER TEN. HE ONCE QUOTED BOTH TEDDY ROOSEVELT AND WILLIE NELSON IN A POLICY DEBATE. AND SOMEHOW IT WORKS. NUMBER 11, HE TREATS CONSTITUENTS WITH HEART, COLLEAGUES WITH HUMOR, AND CITY STAFF WITH THE GRACE OF SOMEONE WHO KNOWS WHAT IT MEANS TO CARRY THE WEIGHT AND STILL SHOW UP AGAIN AND AGAIN WITH A GRIN. AND THEN LASTLY, AND FINALLY, WHILE WE MAY NOT MATCH OR COORDINATE OR EVER BLEND IN, THEN ALWAYS HE HAS ALWAYS STOOD OUT THERE WHEN IT COUNTS AS A SERVANT, A LISTENER, A LEADER WHO LEFT THE CITY BETTER THAN HE LEFT IT. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN. I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE WASN'T A WHATABURGER REFERENCE. I KNOW I WAS RUSHING IT. I WAS TIRED OF READING LAST NIGHT AT ONCE. SO THERE YOU GO. COUNCILMAN MCALLISTER, IT'S WE'VE WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE GOOD AND THE BAD, AND YOU'VE YOU'VE HANDLED IT WITH DIGNITY. 12 YEARS IS A LONG TIME. THAT'S A LONG TIME TO GIVE SERVICE. AND. AND I REALIZE THAT THAT YOU'RE NOT FINISHED GIVING SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY YET. AND WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO. WE APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU'VE BEEN A FRIEND OF OF OF OUR FAMILIES. AND, YOU KNOW, JUST YOUR YOUR EXPOSURE IN THE COMMUNITY IS ALWAYS POSITIVE. AND YOU LEAVE THIS A A BRIGHT. WE ARE SO APPRECIATIVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WELL I WOULD JUST, YOU KNOW, I FIRST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO MIGUEL, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO I HOPE YOU LOOK FORWARD TO TO COMING INTO A GREAT COUNCIL. THIS IS A GREAT COUNCIL. WORKS TOGETHER. I TOLD I TOLD MINDY, I SAID, IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE HERE, I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE EITHER. NO, NO OFFENSE TO EMILY ANYWAY, SO I APPRECIATE IT, GUYS. AND YOU'RE RIGHT. I MEAN, GOD, GOD HAS I KNOW THAT THAT GOD HAS OTHER PLANS FOR ME, AND THAT'S FINE. AND WHERE WHERE I LAND, WE WILL SEE. BUT I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE ALL OF YOU GET SHIRTS FOR CHRISTMAS. WHATEVER. I CAN FIND MY GOODWILL. I WILL DO IT. BUT BUT THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO THE CITIZENS OF ABILENE. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OVER THE PAST 12 YEARS TO HOPEFULLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A POSITIVE WAY. I'VE ENJOYED IT. ABILENE IS STILL MY HOME. I'M NOT PLANNING TO GO ANYWHERE. AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE KIND WORDS. THANK YOU. IT IS NOW 10:06 A.M. IN THIS MEETING OF ABILENE. CITY COUNCIL IS ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.