[00:00:01] WE'RE WAITING. OKAY. GOOD MORNING. IT'S 8:30 A.M., [CALL TO ORDER] AND I CALL THIS MEETING OF THE ABILENE CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER. I HAVE SOME VERY SPECIAL GUESTS THAT I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE HERE IN A LITTLE BIT. AND BUT FIRST OF ALL, I'M GOING TO ASK COUNCILMAN LYNN BEARD IF HE WOULD DO HER INVOCATION PRAYER WITH ME, PLEASE. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. HANG ON JUST A SECOND. YEAH. FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY ON A DAY THAT FEELS EXTRA HEAVY. PRAY, LORD, FOR THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND FOLLOWERS OF CHARLIE KIRK. PRAY YOU WILL DRAW NEAR TO THOSE WHO ARE GRIEVING AMIDST AN UNSPEAKABLE TRAGEDY THAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY. AND TODAY, FATHER IS RIGHT. NOW, AS PEOPLE ARE GATHERING AROUND THE COUNTRY TO REMEMBER NINE OVER 11. REMINDED OF THOSE THAT DON'T FEEL NINE OVER 11 IS SO FAR AWAY. WE'RE STILL GRIEVING, FATHER. WE PRAY YOU'LL DRAW NEAR TO THEM. WE NEED YOU NOW MORE THAN EVER, FATHER. WE PRAY THAT JUSTICE WILL BE SWIFT AND RIGHTEOUS. BUT WE PRAY YOU WILL COMFORT THOSE WHO ARE GRIEVING TODAY. PRAY YOU'LL GUIDE OUR DECISIONS THIS MORNING, AND WE'LL HONOR YOU AND HONOR OUR CITY IN JESUS NAME. AMEN. AMEN. I HAVE SOME SPECIAL GUESTS TODAY, THEIR SECOND GRADERS AT BASSETTI ELEMENTARY. AND. AND IF Y'ALL NOTICE, ZOE'S GETTING REALLY EXCITED. ZOE'S HERE WITH US, AND HER MOTHER, TIFFANY IS HERE. AND THEN TJ AND HIS PARENTS, JEROME AND HAILEY ARE HERE. AND I THINK THERE'S SOME GRANDPARENTS HERE, TOO, SO EVERYBODY WAVE. WE'RE SO GLAD Y'ALL ARE HERE, BUT THEY ARE GOING TO LEAD US IN OUR 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. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. I MEAN. I LOVE IT. THAT'S YOURS. GOOD JOB. GOOD JOB. I KNOW. SOME PROCLAMATIONS THIS MORNING. [PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PROCLAMATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS] IT IS. SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH. WHO IS HERE? COME UP HERE. YOU DID. SUICIDE PREVENTION. WHEREAS IN 2023, SUICIDE WAS THE 11TH LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH OVERALL IN THE UNITED STATES. WITH OVER 49,000 LIVES LOST IN THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG INDIVIDUALS AGE 10 TO 34. AND WHEREAS IN 2023 AN ESTABLISHED 12.8 MILLION ADULTS AGED 18 YEARS OR OLDER REPORTED HAVING SERIOUS THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE. 1.5 MILLION ADULTS ATTEMPTED SUICIDE IN THE PAST YEAR, AND 2 IN 10 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED ATTEMPTING SUICIDE IN THAT TIME FRAME. AND WHEREAS OVER 90% OF THOSE WHO DIE BY SUICIDE HAVE A DIAGNOSABLE AND POTENTIALLY TREATABLE MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS. ALTHOUGH OFTEN AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT CONDITION IS NOT RECOGNIZED AND TREATED. AND WHEREAS THE NEGATIVE ATTITUDES ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS WORK AGAINST SUICIDE PREVENTION BY DISCOURAGING PEOPLE AT RISK. WHEREAS PROMOTING AWARENESS, REDUCING STIGMA, AND INCREASING ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE ARE ESSENTIAL STEPS IN PREVENTING SUICIDE AND SUPPORTING THOSE IN CRISIS. AND WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING BETTER. AND NOW, THEREFORE, AS MAYOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL, I AM PLEASED TO PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2025 AND THE CITY OF ABILENE SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T JUST TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INVITE YOU ALL TO PARTICIPATE [00:05:03] IN ABILENE'S OUT OF THE DARKNESS WALK FOR SUICIDE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION. WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING THAT ON OCTOBER THE 18TH AT REDBUD PARK AT 10 A.M., AND YOU CAN REGISTER AND OR DONATE AT. ABILENE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I KNOW THAT THIS IS A I KNOW THE STAFF. THIS IS THEIR MOST EXCITING PROCLAMATION DAY, BUT NATIONAL SERVICE DOG MONTH, IF YOU ALL COULD JOIN ME UP HERE, PLEASE. COUNCILMAN YATES IS WONDERING IF HE CAN COME DOWN AND PET EVERYONE. HE ALREADY DID. ONLY THE DOGS. THANK YOU. Y'ALL KNOW HIM TOO? OKAY. WOW. WOW. EVEN AT THEIR NATIONAL SERVICE DOG MONTH. WHEREAS SERVICE DOGS ARE SPECIALLY TRAINED ANIMALS THAT PROVIDE VITAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES OFFERING INDEPENDENCE, SECURITY AND COMPANIONSHIP. AND WHEREAS, WITH SIGNIFICANTLY MORE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE U.S. WITH DISABILITIES THAN THERE ARE WORKING SERVICE DOGS, WE NEED MORE TRAINED SERVICE ANIMALS AND IT IS VITAL. AND WHEREAS CANINE COMPANIONS IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT ENHANCES THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES BY PROVIDING EXPERTLY TRAINED SERVICE DOGS AND ONGOING SUPPORT. AND WHEREAS HARDIN-SIMMONS UNIVERSITY AND HENDRICK HEALTH HAVE PARTNERED WITH CANINE COMPANIONS SINCE 2021 TO PROVIDE SERVICE DOGS FREE OF CHARGE TO PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES BY CO RAISING PUPPIES AND TRAINING THEM TO MEET THESE NEEDS. AND WHEREAS, THESE SERVICE DOGS EMPOWER PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO LEAD LIVES WITH GREATER INDEPENDENCE EVERY DAY. AND WHEREAS NATIONAL SERVICE DOG MONTH AIMS TO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF SERVICE DOGS AND THE LAWS PROTECTING THEM. AND NOW, THEREFORE, AS MAYOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL, I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO CELEBRATE SERVICE DOGS AND BE RESPECTFUL OF THE RIGHTS AFFORDED TO THE ADULTS, CHILDREN AND VETERANS WHO LEAD MORE INDEPENDENT LIVES BECAUSE OF THEIR ASSIST. AND I AM PLEASED TO PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER IN THE CITY OF ABILENE AS NATIONAL SERVICE DOG MONTH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I THINK IT'S WORKING. YES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE WITH FOUR OF OUR PUPPIES IN TRAINING. AND VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE SUPPORT THAT THE CITY OF ABILENE HAS GIVEN US FOR RAISING SERVICE DOGS. WHAT STARTED AS ONE PUPPY RAISED BY THE PHYSICAL THERAPY DEPARTMENT AT HSU FOUR YEARS AGO HAS GROWN INTO TEN PUPPIES BEING RAISED IN ABILENE BY PHYSICAL THERAPY, NURSING, ENGINEERING AND PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAMS, AND THE REGISTRAR'S OFFICE AT HARDIN-SIMMONS. PLUS, HENDRICK HOSPITAL IS NOW INVOLVED AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, INCLUDING AN INDIVIDUAL AT THE WELL WHO WORKS IN THE DISABILITY MINISTRIES, WHICH IS REALLY GREAT FOR THE SERVICE DOGS. AND THERE'S ALSO TWO MEMBERS OF THE ABILENE COMMUNITY WHO ARE NOW ON THE WAIT LIST TO GET A SERVICE DOG TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR DISABILITY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE SUPPORT AND WE WANT IT TO KEEP GROWING. SO THANKS EVERYONE IN ABILENE. YEAH I KNOW. YEAH. MR.. A MILLION PEOPLE TRYING TO TALK TO HIM. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANKS. THAT CANNOT BE MY DOG. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YEAH. THANK YOU. SEE YOU GUYS. EVERYBODY. HAPPY NOW? BRIAN. YES. COUNCILMAN REAGAN SENDS HIS BEST REGARDS TODAY. HE ACTUALLY WOKE UP UNDER THE WEATHER AND DIDN'T WANT TO EXPOSE EVERYONE, SO WE WISH HIM A SPEEDY RECOVERY AND PRAYERS TO HIM. WE NOW MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA WHICH CONSISTS OF ITEMS THREE THROUGH 13. [CONSENT AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS] THESE ITEMS WILL BE CONSIDERED WITH ONE MOTION AND THERE WILL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION UNLESS A COUNCIL MEMBER REQUESTS SEPARATE DISCUSSION. [00:10:03] DOES ANYONE ON THE COUNCIL WISH TO CONSIDER ANY ITEM INDIVIDUALLY? NUMBER EIGHT PLEASE. IS THAT THE ONE YOU WANT? YES. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. THERE WILL BE NO VOTES OR ANY FORMAL ACTIONS TAKEN ON SUBJECTS PRESENTED DURING PUBLIC COMMENT. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL 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, WE WILL START WITH CARDS. THERE WILL BE A THREE MINUTE LIMIT. MELISSA WEAVER. HELLO. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. SO I JUST HAD A FEW THINGS TO SAY. I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION WITH SOME LOCAL LEADERS. I WOULDN'T SAY LEADERS, BUT PEOPLE ABOUT THE PRIDE FESTIVALS THAT ARE GOING TO BE TAKING PLACE ON THE 20TH AND WANTING TO GET IT CANCELED. AND SO I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF WE ARE THE TYPE OF CITY THAT WANTS TO BE INCLUSIVE AND OR NOT INCLUSIVE. YOU KNOW THIS EVENT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND I DON'T THINK THAT I'M LIKE, SORRY, I'M A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS HERE. I DON'T THINK IT'S OKAY FOR PEOPLE TO BE TRYING TO GET THIS CANCELED. YOU KNOW, IT'S IF PEOPLE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ANYTHING THAT'S, YOU KNOW, AT THE PARADE OR WHATEVER, THEY DON'T HAVE TO ATTEND. SO IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, DON'T SHOW UP. BUT DON'T MAKE THOSE CHOICES FOR OTHER PEOPLE. WE SHOULD ALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO GO AND ATTEND IF WE WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND, OR HAVE OUR CHILDREN ATTEND, IF WE WOULD LIKE FOR THEM ATTEND TO ATTEND. OKAY. THAT'S YOU KNOW, THAT'S BEEN ON THE AGENDA, APPARENTLY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S ALL THE CARDS I HAVE FOR NON-REGULAR AGENDA. OKAY. WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? HOWDY. HEY, HEY, HEY. SO I'M TAKING HIS HELMET OFF. SORRY. STILL A LITTLE UNWELL RIGHT NOW. IMMA GO FAST SINCE Y'ALL ALREADY STARTED MY TIME. I'M STILL UPSET ABOUT THESE PUMP JACKS BECAUSE IT IS STILL, BY OUR OWN LAWS, ILLEGAL FOR THEM TO BE HERE. I'M GONNA KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S UNSAFE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE IN HERE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT WE KNOW IT. BUT WE'RE SKIPPING PAST THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT AS EASY TO CONVINCE. SO MY NEXT CONCERN IS THE WATER SPECIFICALLY DROUGHT TOLERANT BEHAVIOR. I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE MEANT TO BE IN DROUGHT RELIEF BEHAVIOR. I HAVE A SOLUTION FOR THIS ALREADY. I AM OFFERING IT. CITIES LIKE AUSTIN ARE ALREADY OFFERING REBATES TO CITIZENS WHO MANUALLY WATER THEIR GRASS. I DID THE MATH IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FEDERAL STANDARD FOR A HOUSE, AND IN ABILENE, APPROXIMATELY $40 IS THE AMOUNT THAT LEVELS IT BACK TO BEING ABLE TO SURVIVE. WATERING OUR GRASS TAKES, ACCORDING TO THE MY RESEARCH, LIKE AN INCH AND A HALF OF WATER RAIN EVERY WEEK, RIGHT? THAT'S WHEN I DO THE MATH ABOUT 1200 GALLONS. AND WHEN WE ACCOMMODATE THAT, IN ADDITION TO FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE AND LIKE THE PRICE OF LIVING, THE COST OF LIVING IN ABILENE, BECAUSE I'M ALSO ACCOUNTING FOR THE AVERAGE SIZE OF A LAWN IN ABILENE. $40 BRINGS US DOWN TO THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD THAT THE FEDERAL STANDARD IS. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO BE DOING STUFF. WE'RE WONDERING WHY. BUT AGAIN, IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE SICK. THE GRASS IS DYING. IT'S FALL. SO YEAH, IT'S WORSE THAN WHAT IT WOULD NORMALLY BE. BUT IF WE'RE CONSTANTLY OUTSIDE EXPOSING OURSELVES TO THINGS THAT ARE DYING, WE ARE INHALING THE THINGS THAT DECOMPOSE THE STUFF. SO, I MEAN, INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE BEING HEALTHY AND THEN THEY GET HEALTHY AND THEN THEY ACTUALLY WANT TO WORK. AND THEN WE HAVE LESS THINGS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT. THINGS GET. THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE ACCOMPLISH. I WANT TO TALK VERY BRIEFLY ABOUT THIS APA THING. I'M NOT A PART OF THE BOARD. I'M A PART OF THE COMMUNITY THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. I LIVE LIFE, AND I DON'T LIKE TO HIDE. I COME HERE, I TALK. I'VE BEEN HERE. I'VE ALREADY SAID THAT I'M IN ACCORDANCE WITH THESE PEOPLE. AND I'D SAY THAT I AM A VERY HIGH STANDARD HOLDING CITIZEN. PLEASE DON'T TAKE THINGS AWAY FROM ME. PLEASE DON'T TAKE THE LITTLE THINGS THAT I HAVE AWAY FROM ME. I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THESE BIKE LANES REAL QUICK, BECAUSE I'LL BE RIDING MY [00:15:02] ROLLERBLADES AROUND TOWN AS PART OF MY TRANSPORTATION. I FIND THEM VERY IMPORTANT. WE DON'T HAVE SIDEWALKS ON EVERY ROAD. I FIND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO WALK AROUND BECAUSE OF THAT. I'VE HAD PEOPLE CALL THE POLICE ON ME FOR WALKING CORRECTLY ALONG THE ROAD IN ACCORDANCE WITH STANDARDS, AND THEN I'M BASICALLY GIVEN THE OPTION BECAUSE THE POLICE ARE THERE OF EITHER GOING WITH THE AMBULANCE OR GOING WITH THE POLICE FOR CAUSING ENOUGH CONCERN FOR SOMEBODY TO CALL WHEN THAT'S NOT EVEN MY FAULT IN THE FIRST PLACE. IT'S THEIRS FOR CALLING UNNECESSARILY. SO PLEASE, THAT'S A LOT TO CONSIDER. THANKS. THANK YOU. STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MAYOR. I'M TAMMY FOGLE, CITIZEN OF OR RESIDENT OF ABILENE. YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR WORLD. IT FEELS AT TIMES IT'S ON FIRE AND IT CAN BE A LITTLE OVERWHELMING. BUT ONE THING I HAVE LEARNED IS THE VALUE OF CIVIL DISCOURSE. AND I HAVE TO COMPLIMENT ALMOST EVERY ONE OF YOU BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I STARTED OFF KIND OF ROUGH. I DIDN'T ALWAYS HANDLE THINGS PROBABLY IN THE BEST WAY OR THE WAY THAT PRODUCED THE RESULTS I WANTED IN, IN THE TIME THAT I WANTED. BUT I'VE LEARNED A LOT ALONG THE WAY BECAUSE IT WAS ACTUALLY ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO WHEN I MADE A PUBLIC COMMENT IN REGARDS TO PROTECTING CHILDREN. AND IRONICALLY, AFTER MAKING THAT COMMENT AT A PUBLIC MEETING, MY FACE WAS SCREENSHOTED BY A CERTAIN GROUP AND THEN SENT OUT TO EVERYBODY SAYING TO WATCH OUT FOR ME BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE WERE DANGEROUS PEOPLE. AND WHAT'S ALSO FUNNY IS THAT THAT THAT EVENT, THEY WERE SAYING, WATCH OUT FOR THIS PERSON. I WAS ABLE TO GIVE LOTS OF HUGS TO PEOPLE, AND NO ONE SEEMED TO BE CONCERNED WITH ME. SO IT'S INTERESTING WHEN YOU STAND UP TO PROTECT CHILDREN, YOU CREATE A LOT OF TARGETS ON YOUR BACK. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS IS, IS IN SPITE OF THE WAY I HAVEN'T ALWAYS HANDLED THINGS THE BEST WAY. MY INTENT WAS ALWAYS TO PROTECT CHILDREN. AND I HAVE TO COMPLIMENT YOU BECAUSE IN SPITE OF SOMETIMES ME BEING OFFENSIVE TO YOU, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF ALMOST EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU HAS BEEN WILLING TO MEET WITH ME AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS. AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT, WHAT WE NEED IN TODAY'S SOCIETY, IT'S NOT ABOUT WHO'S RIGHT AND WHO'S WRONG. IT'S ABOUT HAVING CONVERSATIONS SO THAT WE CAN GET TO A GOAL WHICH IS MAKING A BETTER PLACE. I MEAN, LOOK AT ME, I'M STILL SHAKING AFTER HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I DONE THIS? BECAUSE IT'S AN INTIMIDATING THING TO STAND UP AND SHARE. YOUR IT CAN BE INTIMIDATING, BUT ONCE YOU DO IT, IT'S LIKE, IT'S SO IMPORTANT. AND WE NEED TO RESTORE THAT IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT PEOPLE CAN TALK FREELY ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT WITHOUT HAVING TO FEAR FOR THEIR LIFE OR FEAR THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE CANCELED. AND SO THIS BRINGS ME TO THE POINT THAT I REALLY WANTED TO BRING UP TODAY. RECENTLY, THERE WAS A FIFTH CIRCUIT. WELL, IT WASN'T TOO RECENT, BUT YEAH, A FIFTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS MADE A DECISION THAT THAT DOES SAY THAT NO ONE HAS A FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO HAVE WHATEVER BOOK THEY WANT IN THE LIBRARY, AND WE CAN REMOVE OBSCENE MATERIAL. AND BECAUSE OF THAT DECISION AND WHAT IT BROUGHT TO LIGHT IN THE BATTLE AND THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IT COST FOR BONNIE WALLACE TO FIGHT AGAINST PEOPLE'S MISUNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE CONSTITUTION SAYS AND WHAT OUR RIGHTS ARE. THIS DECISION THAT CAME OUT BROUGHT UP A VITAL CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLE THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT CANNOT BE FORCED TO PROMOTE MESSAGES OR MATERIALS THAT VIOLATE THE CONSCIENCE OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS. AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TO BLINDLY JUST DO WHATEVER WE'RE TOLD IS THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT. THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO VIOLATE BECAUSE WE ALSO HAVE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, AND WE ALSO HAVE THE RIGHT AS A COMMUNITY TO HAVE A CONSCIENCE TOWARD CERTAIN THINGS. THE LAST THING I WANTED TO SHARE WAS. THIS RULING PROVIDES A CLEAR LEGAL FOUNDATION FOR SCHOOL BOARDS, LIBRARY COUNCILS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS TO ACT BOLDLY AND LAWFULLY IN THE DEFENSE OF CHILDREN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MAYOR. HI THERE. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MISS FOGLE FOR. WHAT IS YOUR NAME, MISS? OH, MY NAME IS HARLEY WATSON. SORRY, I'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE. SHE'S RIGHT. WE DO HAVE A LOT OF RIGHTS, BUT ONE RIGHT WE DO NOT HAVE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS THE RIGHT TO DETERMINE HOW OTHER PEOPLE LIVE THEIR LIVES. WE DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE OTHER PEOPLE LIVE INSIDE THE BOUNDS OF WHAT WE CONSIDER TO BE CORRECT. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ON FACEBOOK AND OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA SITES THAT NOT ONLY DO WE WANT TO GET, WE NOT ONLY DO PEOPLE WANT TO GET THE PRIDE PARADE CANCELED, BUT ALSO WOULD LIKE TO PUT AN END TO DRAG STORY HOURS. THESE DRAG STORY HOURS, PEOPLE MISS THEM. THEY THINK IT'S SOME SORT OF ADULT SHOW BEING PUT ON. THESE DRAG QUEENS WENT IN FRONT OF CHILDREN LOOK LIKE PARTY CLOWNS. THEY HAVE VERY VIBRANT MAKEUP, RIDICULOUS, OUTLANDISH OUTFITS. IT'S NOT SOMETHING OBSCENE TO HAVE A CHILD LOOK AT A CLOWN, ANY MORE THAN IT IS TO LOOK AT A DRAG QUEEN. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO DO OUTREACH TO OUR CHILDREN. THEY'RE TRYING TO HELP OUR CHILDREN MANAGE THEIR EMOTIONS THROUGH CHILDHOOD STORIES. THEY'RE TRYING TO ENTERTAIN THEM, TO CREATE IN THEM A LOVE OF EDUCATION. [00:20:03] THESE ARE ALL GOOD THINGS. IF YOU DON'T WANT YOUR CHILD TO ATTEND A DRAG STORY HOUR, YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO THAT. NO ONE CAN FORCE YOU TO RAISE YOUR CHILD IN A WAY YOU DEEM INAPPROPRIATE, BUT YOU ALSO CANNOT SINGLE HANDEDLY DENY OTHER PEOPLE THAT RIGHT. AS FAR AS THE PRIDE PARADE GOES, THERE ARE GAY TEXANS. I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT. I KNOW SEVERAL AND YOU KNOW WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. THEY WANT TO DO WHAT EVERY OTHER TEXAN DOES. THEY WANT TO LIVE THEIR LIVES. THEY WANT TO AFFORD GROCERIES. THEY WANT TO SEE THEIR KIDS SUCCEED. THEY WANT TO GET BY ANOTHER DAY IN A JOB THAT'S ROUGH. THE WAY WE ALL THINK, OUR JOBS ARE ROUGH. IT DOES NO GOOD TO A COMMUNITY TO DENY THAT THESE PEOPLE EXIST WHEN THEY ARE NOT A HARM TO OUR COMMUNITY, TO SAY THAT SOMEONE IS A DANGER TO OUR CHILDREN BECAUSE THEY LIVE A DIFFERENT WAY OF LIFE, THAT IS NO LESS MORAL, IN MY OPINION PERSONALLY, THAN THE WAY SOMEONE ELSE WHO IS A LITTLE BIT MORE LET'S SAY OLD FASHIONED IN THEIR IDEAS, CHOOSES TO LIVE. THAT IS A FREEDOM IN THE UNITED STATES THAT WE ALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO OUR OWN LIFE, OUR OWN LIBERTY, AND OUR OWN PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. AND I AM PERFECTLY HAPPY TO LET PEOPLE WHO DO NOT WANT TO TAKE PART IN THESE EVENTS IGNORE THEM. DON'T BE A PART OF THEM. YOU DON'T HAVE TO SUPPORT THEM. YOU CANNOT ALLOW ONE PERSON OR ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE TO DICTATE WHAT ALL CITIZENS OF ABILENE, TEXAS DO. THANK YOU. STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MONICA WARREN WALKER. I AM A CITIZEN OF ABILENE, AND I'M ALSO A RETIRED AISD EDUCATOR OF 35 YEARS AND A FORMER A RETIRED PASTOR SPOUSE. I'M A MOTHER AND A GRANDMOTHER, AND ALSO A PROUD MEMBER OF THIS LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND ON THE BOARD OF ABILENE PRIDE ALLIANCE. CALLING DRAG QUEEN STORY TIME GROOMING IS FALSE AND ALSO DANGEROUS. WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS AT THESE EVENTS? AND ADULTS IN A COSTUME READS CHILDREN'S BOOKS ABOUT KINDNESS, FRIENDSHIP, UNIQUENESS AND ACCEPTANCE. THERE'S NO SEXUAL CONTENT, NO SECRET AGENDA, AND PARENTS ARE RIGHT THERE THE ENTIRE TIME. THE REALITY IS SIMPLE DRAG STORY TIME BUILDS LITERACY, IMAGINATION, AND EMPATHY. IT'S ALL ABOUT BOOKS, NOT GROOMING. IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN THE DAY I DRESSED AS THE CHARACTER AMELIA BEDELIA TO READ A BOOK FROM THAT SERIES TO MY CLASS OF THIRD GRADERS. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH AMELIA BEDELIA TODAY, WE WOULD SAY SHE'S THIS FICTIONAL CHARACTER WITH WAS AUTISTIC. SHE WAS MADE FUN OF FOR BEING DIFFERENT. NOW, HOW MANY KIDS CAN RELATE TO THAT? MY CLASS LEARNED A LOT OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE DIFFERENT AND HOW TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO ARE. THAT'S WHAT THE HOPE IS. WITH DRAG STORYTIME. WE HOPE TO TEACH KIDS EMPATHY OR SHOW THEM THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE. AND WE DO IT IN A FUN AND ENGAGING WAY. NO, NO ONE ACCUSES SUPERHEROES OR PRINCESSES OF DREAMING WHEN THEY'RE DRESSED UP AND READING TO KIDS, AND DRAG IS NO DIFFERENT. KIDS ARE EXCITED TO SEE SOMEONE DRESSED UP AND READING COOL STORIES AND USING FUN VOICES. IT'S ABOUT ENGAGEMENT WITH THE KIDS. THE GROOMING CLAIM HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PROTECTING CHILDREN. IT'S ABOUT SPREADING FEAR AND STIGMATIZING THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY. IF THE GOAL WAS ACTUALLY TO PROTECT CHILDREN, WHY WAS THERE NO PUBLIC OUTCRY FROM THESE SAME PEOPLE? WHEN TEACHERS, LOCAL TEACHERS WERE ARRESTED IN THE PAST YEAR FOR PORNOGRAPHY AND GROOMING AND MOLESTATION? OR HOW ABOUT THE CHURCH DAYCARE WORKERS AND THE YOUTH DIRECTORS THAT HAVE BEEN ARRESTED IN THIS CITY FOR MOLESTING CHILDREN? NONE OF THESE PEOPLE WERE DRAG QUEENS OR EVEN PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. BUT YET OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO BEAR THE BRUNT OF THESE GROOMING LIES. OUR THEME THIS YEAR FOR PRIDE IS THE RAINBOW REVOLUTION. IF YOU'VE SEEN ANY OF OUR PUBLICITY, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THE LETTERS L, O, V, E ARE HIGHLIGHTED AND BACKWARDS TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THEM IN THE WORD REVOLUTION. WHAT KIND OF LOVE DO WE MEAN? WE MEAN THE AGAPE KIND OF LOVE THAT GOD CALLS US TO HAVE. THAT KIND OF LOVE IS ACTION, LIKE THE WAY OUR COMMUNITY SPEARHEADS THE FREE MEAL, HAIRCUTS AND HEALTH CHECKS EVERY MONTH FOR ALL IN THE CITY OF ABILENE. WE PROVIDE A CLOTHING CLOSET TO ANYONE IN THE CITY OF ABILENE WITH NO RESTRICTIONS. OUR REVOLUTION IS ABOUT LOVE, EVEN IN THE FACE OF DISPARAGING WORDS MEANT TO STOP US. OUR CITY IS DIVERSE, AND EACH COMMUNITY DESERVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THAT DIVERSITY. THAT IS AGAPE LOVE. THANK YOU. [00:25:02] STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? YES, SHE ALREADY SPOKE. YOU'VE ALREADY SPOKEN. THANK YOU. SORRY. MY NAME IS FIORELLA DE RENFORD. I JUST WANT TO GIVE THANKS TO EVERYONE HERE WHO'S SHOWN UP TO SUPPORT THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY HERE. I'M THE VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR WITH ABILENE PRIDE ALLIANCE, AND IT'S REALLY TOUCHING TO SEE EVERYONE COME HERE AND SPEAK ON OUR BEHALF. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT WAS PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD. JOE, BEING A RESIDENT OF ABILENE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE THE DRAG QUEEN HOUR. THESE MEN ARE DRESSED UP, AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED THAT IT LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE DRESSED UP IN A CLOWN OUTFIT TO SHOW LOVE TO THE CHILDREN AND TO READ THE BOOKS AND TO HELP THE CHILDREN WITH THEIR PROBLEMS. WELL I DON'T I WOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM IF THEY'RE DRESSED UP LIKE A CLOWN, BUT THEY'RE DRESSED UP IN WOMEN'S, LIKE, WOMEN'S SEXY CLOTHING. NEGLIGEES. AND STUFF. AND IF YOU HAVE SEEN ANY OF THEM, THEY'RE DANCING AROUND PROVOCATIVELY. THEY'RE GYRATING. THEY'RE TAKING MONEY FROM PEOPLE LIKE DANCERS DO. YOU KNOW, AT AT CERTAIN CLUBS. AND I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THEM SHOWING LOVE TO CHILDREN, BUT WHY DO YOU HAVE TO DRESS UP IN A NEGLIGEE OR SEXY CLOTHING TO DO THAT? LIKE I SAID, I THINK IT'D BE FINE IF THEY WERE DRESSED UP LIKE A CLOWN, BUT. BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE. THEY'RE DRESSED UP LIKE A WOMAN AND THEY'RE MEN. AND AGAIN, THEY'RE MAKING CERTAIN SUGGESTIONS WITH THEIR BODIES TRYING TO BE SEXY. AND I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW THAT THAT SHOWING LOVE TO CHILDREN AND HOW THAT THAT'S HELPING THEM WITH THEIR PROBLEMS. I JUST THINK THERE'S A BETTER WAY TO DO THAT. AND I DON'T THINK THAT REPRESENTS ABILENE VERY WELL. THANK YOU. STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? MY NAME IS SAMUEL GARCIA. I LIVE AT 2734 BRENTWOOD. MOST OF YOU KNOW ME. AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS YOU HEAR ABOUT ME IS I'M A FIGHTIN TEXAS AGGIE CLASS OF 88. AND I'M GONNA READ SOMETHING REAL QUICK FROM THE DAILY BULLETIN. STAG DANCE WILL BE HELD TONIGHT IN THE GYMNASIUM. A STAG DANCE WILL BE HELD IN THE GYMNASIUM TONIGHT, BEGINNING IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PICTURE SHOW. THERE WILL BE GOOD MUSIC AND ALL ARE INVITED TO COME. THE HANDSOME MEMBERS OF THE STUDENT BODY WILL COME ARRAYED IN FEMININE ATTIRE. THE DATE OF THIS ARTICLE IN THE DAILY BULLETIN IN COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS WAS JANUARY THE 12TH, 1923. MY MY ALMA MATER WAS AN ALL MALE SCHOOL, AND OVER A HUNDRED YEARS AGO THEY WOULD HAVE A DANCE. SO THEY WOULD WANT TO DANCE WITH OTHER PEOPLE OF THE OPPOSITE, RIGHT? WELL, THERE WAS NO THE OPPOSITE. SO THE FRESHMEN WOULD PUT ON DRESSES AND THEY'D GO TO THE DANCE. SO YOU THERE WAS THE PEOPLE THERE WITH DRESSES ON DANCING WITH AGGIES OVER 100 YEARS AGO. THIS WAS IN THE PAPER. CAN WE PLEASE, PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE OF US WHO FIGHT FOR THOSE WHO ARE DON'T HAVE THE BLESSINGS THAT WE HAVE. AND I'M A VERY BLESSED INDIVIDUAL. I'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN WHAT I DO WITH MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS, MY BUSINESS. SO I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T. I CAN ACTUALLY BE HERE THIS MORNING AND SPEAK INSTEAD OF TRYING TO MAKE SOME MONEY AND JUST PUT MORE MONEY IN MY POCKET. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO ARE NOT OUT THERE, THAT DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO SPEAK, OR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AS I DO. CAN WE PLEASE MOVE ON FROM TRYING TO TREAT PEOPLE THAT DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO COMMUNICATIONS WITH YOU, THAT DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO BE ABLE TO JUST BE WHO THEY WANT TO BE. AND YOUR JOB AS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, AS THE MAYOR, IS TO SUPPORT THEM JUST AS MUCH AS ANY OTHER CITIZEN IN THIS COMMUNITY. [00:30:02] WE'VE GOT BIGGER PROBLEMS. I'VE BEEN UP HERE BEFORE, AND I WAS REALLY I WAS ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE THAT GOT UP AND SAID, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS AI STUFF. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS, THIS, THIS. A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, I DROVE TO GO DO MY WALK AT REDBUD, AND THERE'S THIS GIGANTIC DUMP TRUCK PARKED IN THE YARD. AND I THOUGHT, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE HAVING TO PUT UP MORE PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE. HOTELS ARE COSTING AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING USED. AND AND CITIZENS THAT JUST LIVE HERE CAN'T AFFORD RENT. CAN WE ADDRESS REAL ISSUES INSTEAD OF TRYING TO CREATE ISSUES THAT OVER 100 YEARS AGO WAS NOT A BIG DEAL? THANK YOU. THANK YOU. STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR INPUT. I WILL NOW ASK FOR A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTING OF ITEMS THREE THROUGH 13, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF EIGHT. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN PRICE, SECOND SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BEARD. DISCUSSION. WE'RE READY TO VOTE. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM REGAN IS ABSENT. ALL YESES, MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM EIGHT. [8. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Take Action on the Approval of the Acquisition of Network Switches and Security Products and Services from CDW-G (Troy Swanson)] AND, COUNCILMAN PRICE, YOU HAD PULLED THIS ITEM. THE NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT ON THE RESOLUTION IS 1.45 MILLION. WE RECEIVED AN EMAIL RECENTLY LAST DAY OR TWO THAT THE ACTUAL AMOUNT THAT'S BEEN NEGOTIATED IS 1.5, 1.25, 2 MILLION AND SAID, SO IS IS NOT TO EXCEED. AND SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO HAVE US ADJUST THE LANGUAGE OF THE RESOLUTION TO REFLECT THE NEW, NOT TO EXCEED THAT VALUE. OKAY. NOW YOU'RE JUST JUST TO MAKE A SHORT COMMENT ABOUT THAT. I DID DISCUSS THAT WITH CITY ATTORNEY SMITH, AND WE DISCUSSED WHETHER OR NOT TO CHANGE THE RESOLUTION. IT'S NOT NECESSARY. IT'S CERTAINLY YOUR, YOUR YOUR OPTION TO DO THAT. IF WE DID ADJUST THE RESOLUTION, THEN CERTAINLY THAT WOULD CAP US IN THE EVENT THAT WE NEEDED TO PURCHASE ANY ADDITIONAL ITEMS THAT WE MAY HAVE MISSED. BUT CERTAINLY THAT'S THE COUNCIL'S DECISION AS TO WHETHER TO CHANGE THE NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT. GOOD QUESTIONS. I DID HAVE QUESTIONS ALSO ON THIS. THE WHEN YOU'RE LAYING OUT THE IMPACT OF THE CYBER ATTACK AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'VE ALREADY SET ASIDE, EARMARKED, IF YOU WILL, WITHIN THE MINOR IMPROVEMENTS FUND FOR THIS ADDITIONAL AMOUNT. IS ANY OF THAT WAS THAT CONSIDERED IN IN OUR EXISTING IT BUDGET AS PLANNED UPGRADES AS A PORTION OF THAT? OR IS THIS ENTIRELY NEW MONEY THAT WE WEREN'T PLANNING TO SPEND AT ALL? I WOULD DEFINITELY REFER TO. TROY SWANSON FOR THAT, IF YOU DON'T MIND ADDRESSING THAT QUESTION. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THIS IS ALL THIS PARTICULAR PURCHASE IS ALL RELATED TO THE CYBER EVENT AND UPGRADING OUR NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE. GOOD MORNING. TROY SWANSON, THE I.T. DIRECTOR AND CIO HERE AT THE CITY OF ABILENE. TO YOUR QUESTION. WE DO HAVE A BUDGET FOR THE REOCCURRING REPLACEMENT OF HARDWARE IN EACH ANNUAL FISCAL YEAR, AND THIS IS ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT FOR GEAR THAT WILL HAVE TO REPLACE AS A RESULT OF THE LOANED EQUIPMENT THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED AFTER THE CYBER EVENT. AND WE'VE RECOVERED QUITE A BIT OF THE PREVIOUS GEAR, BUT THERE IS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF THAT GEAR THAT WE DID NOT RECOVER, THAT WE'RE USING THE EXISTING BUDGET TO BUY THE REMAINING BALANCE OF EQUIPMENT TO REDEPLOY THE EQUIPMENT HERE AT THE CITY. SO THAT BALANCE OR THAT BUDGET IS APPROXIMATELY 360,000 ANNUALLY. AND WE LEVERAGE THAT TO REPLACE THE BALANCE OF GEAR THAT WAS NOT RECOVERED OR RESTORED AS PART OF THIS EVENT. SO FOR THE $3 MILLION THAT THIS TOTAL EXPENDITURE REPRESENTS I KNOW THAT MISS CRAWFORD HAD HAD SENT US THE SOME OF THE NUMBERS ON WHAT HAS BEEN REIMBURSED TO DATE, NOT NECESSARILY WHAT WE'RE HOPING FOR. CORRECT. BUT CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT? AND I'M ASKING THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE 300,000 OR SO THAT WAS, THAT WERE USING THE EXISTING BUDGET FOR, IS THAT IN ADDITION TO THE 3 MILLION? IS THE ENTIRE EVENT MORE LIKE 3.3 MILLION. SO THE THE EVENT IS GOT AN EXPENSE OF THE 3 MILLION, [00:35:04] THE 360,000. IT REPRESENTS A A FEW HUNDRED MACHINES THAT WE WERE PLANNING TO REPLACE AS PART OF LIFE CYCLE REPLACEMENTS. THOSE MACHINES WERE AGED OUT AND AT END OF LIFE OF SERVICE. SO THE CYBER EVENT AFFECTED A NUMBER OF MACHINES THAT WERE CURRENT. AND WE USED THAT EFFORT, THAT PROJECT, TO REPLACE THOSE. THE EXISTING IT BUDGET WAS USED TO REPLACE THE LEGACY OR THE MOST OLDEST OF ALL, THE GEAR. AS PART OF THAT PART OF THE PROGRAM, I UNDERSTAND THAT EXTRA IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN EITHER WAY. IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN ANYWAY. THAT IS A GOOD QUOTE. THANK YOU. DID YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT INSURANCE? YES, CERTAINLY. SO THE INFORMATION THAT THAT STAFF AND I PUT TOGETHER THIS WEEK THAT I SHARED WITH YOU IS THAT OUR CYBERSECURITY INSURANCE DOES HAVE A $75,000 DEDUCTIBLE, WHICH WE HAVE MET. AS YOU ARE AWARE WE ALSO HAVE HAD TOTAL EXPENDITURES TO DATE OF 01,375,900. ROUGHLY. THIS EXPENDITURE THAT WE HAVE PUT BEFORE YOU TODAY IS THAT 1.252 MILLION WE BELIEVE THERE IS ANOTHER 200,000 OR SO TO HELP US GET OUR WIRELESS NETWORK BACK BUILT UP. SO THOSE ARE THE TWO REMAINING ITEMS IS THE PURCHASE THAT IS BEFORE YOU TODAY AND THEN ABOUT 200,000 FOR OUR WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURE. TO DATE WHAT WE HAVE RECEIVED IN TOTAL INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT IS $273,651. WE WILL SUBMIT THIS PURCHASE SHOULD IT BE APPROVED TODAY THROUGH OUR INSURANCE PROVIDER FOR REIMBURSEMENT. I WILL ALSO BE WORKING WITH OUR INSURANCE COMPANY TO SEE IF THEY ARE ALSO ABLE TO HELP ADVOCATE FOR US. THE INSURANCE PROCESS HAS BEEN CHALLENGING IN DEFINING WHAT IS REPLACEABLE AND WHAT IS NOT. AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE. I SUPPORT ADJUSTING THE RESOLUTION TO THE CONTRACTUAL NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT. THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS. OKAY. WELL, I MEAN, IF WE DO THAT, IF THERE'S MORE THAT'S NEEDED, IT'LL JUST COME BACK TO COUNCIL. THAT'S TRUE. WE WOULD COME BACK TO YOU. ABSOLUTELY. AND I THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE. YEAH. AGREED. THANKS. THANKS, TROY. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST? ITEM EIGHT. COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. TAMMY FOGLE, RESIDENT OF ABILENE. THANK YOU FOR PULLING THIS AND HAVING THIS CONVERSATION. I'VE BEEN A BIG PROPONENT OF TRANSPARENCY. NOW, THIS THING IS CROOKED. AND I THINK THAT JUST HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS PULLED OUT OF CONSENT AGENDA IS VERY HELPFUL BECAUSE WE KNOW THE REALITY OF PEOPLE ACTUALLY READING THE PACKET. AND SO FOR YOU TO MAKE THIS JUST AN EASIER STEP FOR PEOPLE TO BE ENGAGED IN THIS CONVERSATION, BECAUSE I LOVE HEARING THAT THE STEPS THAT Y'ALL ARE TAKING TO GET REIMBURSED AND I RESONATE WITH THE CHALLENGES OF MEETING LIKE IT JUST BUILDS CAPACITY AND TRUST. AND I THINK THAT'S ALWAYS A WIN FOR US. IN FACT I WAS RECENTLY MADE AWARE OF TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 552 IN THE CONSTITUTION. AND I JUST WANTED TO READ THIS QUICKLY WITH THE TIME I HAVE LEFT, BECAUSE I THINK IT MATTERS. AND I THINK IT HELPS REMIND US OF THE PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENT AND THE PURPOSE OF OUR POSITIONS AS PEOPLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION THAT IS BEING HANDLED WITHIN THE CITY HALL. AND, YOU KNOW, LOCALLY IS WHERE I'M FOCUSED RIGHT NOW. BUT IT SAYS UNDER THE FUNDAMENTAL PHILOSOPHY OF THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTIONAL FORM OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT THAT ADHERES TO THE PRINCIPLE THAT GOVERNMENT IS THE SERVANT AND NOT THE MASTER OF THE PEOPLE, IT IS THE POLICY OF THE STATE THAT EACH POLICY IS ENTITLED, OR EACH PERSON IS ENTITLED, UNLESS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PROVIDED BY LAW AT ALL TIMES, TO COMPLETE INFORMATION ABOUT THE AFFAIRS OF GOVERNMENT AND THE OFFICIAL ACTS OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES. THE PEOPLE, IN DELEGATING AUTHORITY, DO NOT GIVE THEIR PUBLIC SERVANTS THE RIGHT TO DECIDE WHAT IS GOOD FOR THEM TO KNOW, AND WHAT IS NOT GOOD FOR THEM TO KNOW. THE PEOPLE INSIST ON REMAINING INFORMED SO THAT THEY MAY RETAIN CONTROL OVER THE INSTRUMENTS THEY HAVE CREATED, AND I THINK THAT'S GOOD. I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE REMINDED AS PEOPLE, AS CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT STATE AND THIS CITY, THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW INFORMATION. AND IT'S NOT A BAD THING TO ASK BECAUSE LIKE TODAY, I'M SO GLAD WE WERE ABLE TO HEAR THIS INFORMATION. IT ENCOURAGES ME AND MAKES ME FEEL LIKE, WOW, THAT'S THAT'S SOMETHING I DIDN'T KNOW. AND I'M GLAD I NOW KNOW BECAUSE AGAIN, I WANT TO BE THE CHAMPION PERSON OUT THERE TALKING ABOUT THE GREAT THINGS OUR CITY IS DOING. AND THIS GIVES ME ANOTHER TOOL TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND I'VE I'VE MADE A COPY FOR EACH OF YOU OF THIS, THE FIRST PAGE OF THIS CHAPTER, BECAUSE IT'S 163 PAGES AND I WASN'T, I WASN'T THAT KIND TO PRINT THAT OUT FOR YOU. BUT THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE TAKING TIME FOR [00:40:02] THIS PRESENTATION. IT'S STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. IS ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM EIGHT SEEING NO ONE? I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. AND COUNCILMAN PRICE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE THAT MOTION? I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION. AFTER ADJUSTING THE AMOUNT TO REFLECT THE NEWLY NEGOTIATED, NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF 1,252,000. THAT MOTION BY COUNCILMAN PRICE, SECOND SECOND BY COUNCILMAN YATES. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? READY TO VOTE? ALL YESES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE DISCUSSION. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO THE REGULAR AGENDA. [14. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action to Consider and Adopt a Resolution Directing Publication of Notice of Intention to Issue Combination Tax and Surplus Revenue Certificates of Obligation for TWDB Lead Projects (Marjorie Knight)] WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 14. I'LL ASK MARJORIE, FINANCE DIRECTOR, TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. MARJORIE KNIGHT, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE. BEFORE YOU IS THE NOTICE OF INTENT TO ISSUE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION FOR THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD LEAD SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. THE CITY WAS APPROVED FOR $837,000 IN FINANCING FOR LEAD SERVICE LINE INVENTORY. THIS AMOUNT INCLUDES A $410,000 INTEREST FREE LOAN AND ALSO 427,000 $426,735 IN PRINCIPAL FORGIVENESS. ELIGIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS CONTINGENT ON THE CITY'S ISSUANCE OF THESE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION. WE ARE REQUIRED TO PUBLISH THIS NOTICE OF INTENT AT LEAST 45 DAYS PRIOR TO APPROVING THE BOND ISSUE, WHICH WE HAVE SCHEDULED FOR THE NOVEMBER 6TH COUNCIL MEETING. DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS? I HAVE ONE, MARJORIE. SO MAYBE I MISREAD IT. OR MAYBE I'M JUST UNCLEAR. SO IF YOU CAN CLARIFY FOR ME. THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD PROGRAM THAT WE'RE ACCESSING HERE INCLUDES A LOAN FOR 410,004 26 IN PRINCIPAL FORGIVENESS. SO IN PRACTICE, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE ISSUING A CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION, WE'RE NOT HAVING TO PAY BACK THE PRINCIPAL. IS THAT A TRUE STATEMENT? I BELIEVE WE STILL HAVE TO KIND OF FIGURE OUT THE LOGISTICS OF HOW THIS WORKS. IF I WAS GUESSING, IT WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD INITIALLY ISSUE THE FULL AMOUNT AND THEN IMMEDIATELY HAVE PRINCIPAL FORGIVENESS. BUT WE STILL NEED TO WORK THOSE DETAILS OUT WITH THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD ON HOW EXACTLY THAT WORKS. BUT AND SO THE CEOS GO OUT AND BASICALLY THE $410,000 LOAN COMES TO US INTEREST FREE. YES. THIS SOUNDS LIKE WE GET TO GET THIS LUMP OF MONEY. AND IN PRACTICE, THERE'S NO COST TO US BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL BACK AND THERE'S NO INTEREST. SO WE'RE WE'RE USING THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD'S MONEY TO SOLVE THIS LEAD PIPING PROBLEM, AND THEN THEN WE'LL PAY IT BACK. BUT BUT IT'S EFFECTIVE. IT'S IT'S AT NO COST TO US AS OPPOSED TO, I DON'T KNOW, SAVING UP THE MONEY TO, TO DO THIS PROJECT OURSELVES. THIS THIS SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD DEAL. AM I MISUNDERSTANDING HOW GOOD THIS IS? THIS IS A VERY GOOD DEAL FOR US. WE'RE GETTING TO BUY ALL OF THIS FOR ABOUT HALF THE COST. SO THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO THANK YOU. SO THE QUESTION THAT YOU ARE STILL TRYING TO WORK OUT. WE'LL KNOW THAT BY THE NOVEMBER 6TH. YES. WE SHOULD HAVE ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. FURTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. MARJORIE. 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 14. PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. 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? READY TO VOTE? OH, YESES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. NOW MOVE TO ITEM 15. I'LL ASK TIM LITTLEJOHN, [15. Ordinance (Final Reading) Z-2025-21: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action On A Request From The Owner, To Rezone Approximately 30.91 Acres From A Planned Development District (PDD-58) To A Planned Development District (PDD-195). Located At 1873 Maple Street. (Tim Littlejohn)] DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THIS MORNING IS ZONING CASE 2025 21. THIS AGENT IS JACOB MARTIN. THE REQUEST FOR YOU TO CONSIDER IS TO CHANGE THE ZONING OF APPROXIMATELY 30.91 ACRES FROM A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT 58 TO A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT 195, LOCATED AT 1873 MAPLE STREET. [00:45:01] HERE'S THE AREA LOCATION MAP. HERE'S THE CURRENT ZONING MAP SHOWING THE CURRENT PD IN PLACE. THE CURRENT PDM PLACE WAS MORE OF A RECREATIONAL CENTER TYPE PLACE AS IT WAS PROPOSED. I THINK IT USED TO BE A GO KART PLACE IN THE PAST. THAT'S BEEN CLOSED FOR QUITE A LONG TIME NOW. HERE ARE THE PROPERTY VIEWS. HERE'S THE CONCEPTUAL PLANS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER. THESE WILL BE 5000 SQUARE FOOT MINIMUM. LOTS. IT'S GOING TO BE AN RS6 BASE, BUT THEY'RE PROPOSING 5000 SQUARE FOOT LOTS WITH THOSE APPROPRIATE SETBACKS. NOTIFICATIONS WERE SENT OUT. WE DID RECEIVE TWO IN FAVOR AND ONE IN OPPOSITION, RESULTING IN A 0.029% IN OPPOSITION. THIS REQUEST REQUEST MEETS ALL THE CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL WITHIN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. PNC DID HEAR THIS CASE AND THEY DO RECOMMEND TO YOU APPROVAL THIS MORNING. I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. TIM, I KNOW THAT WITH THE DEVELOPMENT EAST OF THERE AND WITH THE EXISTING PROPERTIES, THESE ARE THERE. THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME DRAINAGE AND FLOODING PROBLEMS. IS THAT BEEN ADDRESSED? THAT'S BEEN ADDRESSED. THE AGENT IS HERE. MOST OF THIS PROPERTY DRAINS TO THE WEST. THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY ADDITIONAL DRAINAGE HEADACHE TO THE EAST OF THIS PROPERTY. ARE THEY PLANNING ANY RETENTION PONDS OR FACILITIES, OR IS IT JUST IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS? IT'S GOING TO BE THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS. THEY'RE IN THE DESIGN PHASE NOW. I KNOW THE AGENT IS HERE. HE CAN PROBABLY SPEAK MORE TOWARDS HOW FAR THEY ARE ON DESIGN. THE CONCEPT PLAN DOES HAVE A RETENTION POND. IT'S DESIGNATED. IT'S NEAR THE GO KART TRACK ON THE MAP. I SEE IT, YES. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? TIM. THANK YOU. TIM. THANK YOU. THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP THE OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST? ITEM 15, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. CLAYTON, FARRELL, JACOB AND MARTIN, AGENT FOR THE DEVELOPER. THIS IS A THIS ZONING REQUEST TO SUPPORT THE CONTINUED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THIS AREA. THE THE FEEL AND THE SIZE OF THE LOTS IS GOING TO MATCH THE ADJOINING NEIGHBORHOODS. BUT I DO WANT TO MENTION A COUPLE OF THE THE THINGS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP. THE FLOODPLAIN IS ON THE WEST SIDE OF MAPLE. THIS SITE DOES DRAIN VERY MUCH, LARGELY TO THE WEST, AND WE'RE GOING TO ACCOMMODATE DETENTION ON THAT WEST SIDE AS WELL. WE ALSO MET WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER THAT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT DRAINAGE ON EAST OF HERE. AFTER PLANNING AND ZONING AND ARE WORKING WITH THE CONTRACTOR TO GET ALL THAT RESOLVED. SO THAT'S ONGOING. BUT I WOULD AGREE WITH STAFF THAT THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE USE FOR THIS AREA, AND WE SEEK YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS I CAN ANSWER? YEAH, I'D LOVE TO KNOW. HOW DOES THE PROPOSED LOT SIZE COMPARED TO THE EXISTING ZONING STANDARDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S CHARACTER IN REGARDS TO THIS PROJECT? THE EXISTING ZONING IS THE LOT SIZE IN TERMS OF LOT SIZE, I GUESS IS MY QUESTION. I'M NOT SURE I CAN ANSWER THAT. THE EXISTING ZONING IS AMUSEMENT PARK. SO DO YOU MEAN TO COMPARE IT TO LIKE, RS SIX? YES. OKAY, SO STANDARD RS SIX, WHICH IS OUR SMALLEST SINGLE FAMILY STANDARD ZONING RIGHT NOW IS 60 FOOT WIDE, 60 BY 100 OKAY. WITH SIX FOOT SIDE SETBACKS. WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED IS LEAVING THAT AS THE BASE ZONING, WITH A MODIFICATION DOWN TO 50 FOOT WIDTH AND FIVE FOOT SIDE SETBACKS. OTHERWISE, EVERYTHING WOULD REMAIN THE SAME AS RS6. BUT THE LOTS EAST OF THERE ARE THE 50 FOOT LOTS. THE LOTS. IF. CAN WE GO BACK TO THE MAP? DO I HAVE THAT? IS THAT THIS? CAN WE GO BACK? ONE MORE. RIGHT THERE. RIGHT THERE. SO THE LOTS IN YELLOW ARE R6 60 BY 100. THE THE SIZE HOUSES ARE, ARE MEANT TO FIT ON A 50 FOOT. IT JUST THE, THE DEVELOPER AT THAT TIME DID NOT GO BACK AND REZONE THAT PROPERTY TO A SMALLER PROPERTY. THAT WAS PHASE ONE OF THAT PROJECT SOUTH OF THERE WHERE IT SHOWS ADDITIONAL PD THAT THAT WAS REZONED TO A SIMILAR PD TO WHAT WE'RE ASKING TODAY. SO THOSE ARE GOING TO BE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME SIZE LOTS AS WHAT IS BEING REQUESTED THIS MORNING. AND I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, THESE ARE NOT 40 FOOT LOTS OR 50 FOOT LOTS. THAT'S ACCURATE. ARE THERE ANY CONTINGENCY PLANS OF FLOODING WORSENS DUE TO THE CHANGES IN THE LAND USE? ARE THERE ANY THAT YOU GUYS HAVE IN TERMS OF. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE AT ALL? I MEAN, WE WOULD ALWAYS TRY TO DO WHAT WE COULD TO PREVENT FLOODING IF THERE THERE IS AN EXISTING IF THERE IS AN EXISTING ISSUE WITH THE DETENTION ON THE FAR EAST OF THE PREVIOUS PROJECT, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE CONTRACTOR TO CORRECT IT, BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE IT WAS BUILT AS IT WAS DESIGNED. I'M NOT SURE HOW TO ANSWER. NO, NO, WE DO HAVE PLANS TO TO MITIGATE STORMWATER IN THIS PROJECT. [00:50:05] OKAY. GREAT. THANK YOU. STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 15? PLEASE COME FORWARD. HELLO AGAIN. WE BROUGHT UP THE WATER AND THE FLOODING AGAIN. SO I'D LIKE TO SPEAK AGAIN ABOUT HOW THIS PLAN THAT I HAVE IS ACTUALLY ALSO BENEFICIAL FOR THE FLOODING. A LARGE PART OF THE PROBLEM WITH OUR SOIL IS THAT IT IS NOT ACCUSTOMED TO RECEIVING WATER. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, IT SOLIDIFIES. IT HARDENS. WE DON'T OVERTURN IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT ACCUSTOMED TO RECEIVING THE WATER. IT DOESN'T SINK LOW ENOUGH INTO THE GROUND. AND THAT'S THE REASON FOR THE FLOODING. IF WE FOLLOW THROUGH WITH MY REBATE PLAN IT WILL AID IN ALL OF THE PROBLEMS. IT WILL AID IN THE FLOODING. THE GROUND WILL BECOME MORE ACCUSTOMED. I'M GOING TO READ HERE AN EMAIL THAT I MADE ATTEMPTS TO SEND TO EMILY, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF I'LL. THINGS GO. IT'S JUST ABOUT THE SUGGESTION. I HAVE A SUGGESTION FOR DROUGHT RELIEF EFFORTS I HAVE. HOLD ON. LET ME SKIP AROUND. A BIG PART OF THE ISSUE. AIDING IN THE PERSISTENCE OF DROUGHT STEMS FROM HOARDING THE RESOURCE OF WATER IN OUR OWN CITIES PIPING SYSTEMS. THE WATER HAS LITTLE TO NO WAY OF RETURNING TO THE WATER CYCLE, MAKING SURE WE BECOME ARID AND DRY. THE LACK OF MOISTURE BECAUSE OF THIS DETERS LARGE PORTION OF RAINSTORMS FROM EVEN REACHING ABILENE. THEY AVOID US. THEY DON'T COME IN UNTIL AFTER THERE'S BEEN RAIN TO DRAG IT DOWN, TOP DOWN. A REBATE ON THE WATER FOR THE CITIZENS WHICH MANUALLY WATER THEIR LAWNS AS AN INCENTIVE AFTER WORKING THE MATH I KNOW IN OUR SITUATION THAT A $40 REBATE IS THE ANSWER IN ORDER FOR HOMES TO MATCH WITH THE GOVERNMENT STANDARD. THE BASIS FOR LIVING IS A THREE PERSON HOME WITH TWO INCOMES, MEANING THE COST OF MINIMUM WAGE IS SET FOR THREE PEOPLE. HOWEVER, THE AVERAGE HOME IN ABILENE IS BETWEEN 4 AND 5 PEOPLE ON AVERAGE. PEOPLE WITHOUT ACCOUNTING FOR LAWN MAINTENANCE USE 82 GALLONS OF WATER PER DAY. THAT'S EACH INDIVIDUAL. THIS PUTS THE AVERAGE WATER BILL WHEN ACCOUNTING FOR OUR NUMBERS IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STANDARD FOR LIVING AT APPROXIMATELY, A BILL OF $52 BEFORE ADDING FEES. HOWEVER, WHEN WE ACCOUNT FOR THE ACTUAL SIZE OF A HOME IN ABILENE, THE BILL COMES TO BEFORE ADDING FEES BETWEEN 84 AND $87. A $40 REBATE LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELD FOR OUR BIGGER FAMILIES, GIVING THEM THE ABILITY TO LEVEL WITH APPROPRIATE COST IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STANDARDS, AS WELL AS OFFER AN INCENTIVE FOR HELPING WITH DISASTER RELIEF EFFORTS BY COVERING THE COST OF ADDITIONAL WATERING FOR LAWNS. THE MATH SHOWS THAT 0.623 TIMES THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF A PROPERTY EQUATES TO THE AVERAGE WATER A LAWN REQUIRES TO GROW IN HEALTH DURING A MONTH, OR 125 GALLONS PER 1000FT² PER WEEK. THIS IS WITH THE AVERAGE SQUARE FOOT OF A HOUSE IN ABILENE BEING 2110FT² ADDS APPROXIMATELY 14.53 GALLONS OF WATER TO EACH HOUSE. I'M GONNA FINISH. EACH HOUSE. ABOUT $10 TO THE BILL, LOWERING IT BACK TO LIVABLE STANDARDS. DROUGHT RELIEF EFFORTS WILL INHERENTLY ADD IN OVERALL HEALTH OF OUR CITIZENS, AS IT WILL AIM TO NATURALLY BEGIN TO LOWER TEMPERATURES, EVEN MILDLY. THANK YOU, SIR, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT WILL LOWER OUR EXPOSURE TO THE DECOMPOSING MATERIALS. THANK YOU. THANKS. STILL, ON THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 15, WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION. AND A SECOND. SO MOVED. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN CRAVER. SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN ESPINOSA. FURTHER DISCUSSION. WE'RE READY TO VOTE. ALL YESES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. WHEN I MOVED TO ADAM 16 AND TIM LITTLEJOHN WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM. [16. Ordinance (Final Reading) Z-2025-22: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action On A Request From The Owner, To Change The Zoning Of Approximately 33.89 Acres From Medium Density (MD) And General Retail (GR) To Agricultural Open (AO). Located In The 1600 Block Of E. Lowden St., Parcel ID 75888. (Tim Littlejohn)] THANK YOU TIM. THANK YOU MAYOR. COUNCIL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IS ZONING CASE 202522. OWNER IS RAINEY CREEK LLC. THE AGENT IS CLINT ROSENBAUM. THE REQUEST FOR YOU TO CONSIDER IS TO CHANGE THE ZONING OF APPROXIMATELY 33.89 ACRES FROM MEDIUM DENSITY AND GENERAL RETAIL TO AGRICULTURAL OPEN SPACE LOCATED AT THE 1700 BLOCK OF EAST LOUDON. HERE'S THE LOCATION MAP. HERE'S THE CURRENT ZONING MAP. HERE'S THE ALLOWABLE USES WITHIN THE MEDIUM DENSITY AND THE ALLOWABLE USES WITHIN GENERAL [00:55:04] RETAIL. HERE'S THE REQUESTED USE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER. CURRENT PROPERTY VIEWS. NEWS. NOTIFICATIONS WERE SENT OUT. WE DID RECEIVE ONE IN FAVOR AND TWO IN OPPOSITION. THE TWO IN OPPOSITION DID RESULT IN A 35.16% IN OPPOSITION. THIS WILL REQUIRE A SUPERMAJORITY VOTE FOR THIS DECISION. THIS REQUEST DOES MEET ALL THE CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL WITHIN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. PNC DID HEAR THIS CASE AND THEY ARE RECOMMENDING TO APPROVAL THIS MORNING. I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS TO TIM. THANK YOU TIM. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST? ITEM 16. PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. MAYOR COUNCIL. MY NAME IS LARRY HILL. I'M A FOURTH GENERATION ABILENIANS BEEN AROUND HERE A LONG TIME, SO THAT MAKES IT GO WAY BACK, AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE WHITE HAIR HERE. BUT I DID SPEAK WITH THOSE. I'M. I'M THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY AS WELL. I DID SPEAK WITH THE TWO THAT WERE IN OPPOSITION, GAVE THEM TOURS, AND THEY'RE HAPPY. THEY'RE FINE WITH IT, WITH WHAT OUR INTENT IS. SO WE WE LOOK FORWARD TO DEVELOPING THIS. I'M A FOURTH GENERATION BUSINESS PERSON HERE IN THE COMMUNITY. AND MY GREAT GRANDFATHER STARTED BUSINESSES HERE. SO MY GRANDFATHER AND THEN MY DAD. SO WE'VE BEEN AROUND HERE A LONG TIME AND TEND TO HAVE LONGEVITY WITH THIS PROJECT AS WELL. ANYWAY, MR. CHAIR, I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AS THE DEVELOPER TO TO GIVE US SOME MORE INSIGHT. I THINK YOU IN THE FUTURE, WE ARE GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE PICKY ON RV PARKS WITHIN OUR CITY LIMITS. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR PLAN AND YOU BEING HERE TO REPRESENT THIS. ABSOLUTELY. AND AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, THIS WAS DECIDED BEFORE I AI CAME INTO TOWN. THIS WAS THIS IS A RETREAT, A TOURISM TYPE SITUATION. SO. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO COLLABORATE, WHICH HELPED STRENGTHEN DECISION MAKING AND CONTEXTUALLY LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THE DECISION. EVERYTHING WAS IN WORKS BEFORE A LOT OF WHAT'S TRANSPIRING TODAY. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES. APPRECIATE YOU. STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 16? CLINT ROSENBAUM, AGENT FOR THE OWNER I WILL SAY THAT THIS IS A THIS IS THIS RELATES TO THE NEXT CASE. BUT BUT WE'RE STILL ASKING FOR THE DOWN DOWNGRADE TO A FROM THE GENERAL RETAIL TO THE MD. SO TRY NOT TO GET THE TWO CONFUSED. WE'D STILL LIKE TO BE ABLE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT WHAT THE NEXT CASE, HOW THE NEXT CASE GOES FORWARD. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANKS, CLINT. STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 16? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION IN A SECOND. MOVE FOR APPROVAL. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BEARD. SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN CRAVER. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? READY TO VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER BEARD. WILL YOU PRESS IT AGAIN, PLEASE? THANK YOU. ALL YESES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 17. [17. Ordinance (Final Reading) CUP-2025-15: 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 Approximately 33.89 Acres Currently Zoned Medium Density (MD) And General Retail (GR) But Seeking A Re-Zone To Agricultural Open (AO) To Allow For An RV Park. Located In The 1600 Block Of E. Lowden St., Parcel ID 75888. (Tim Littlejohn)] AND TIM AGAIN. HI, TIM. THANK YOU. MAYOR. COUNCIL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. IS THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 202515. THE OWNERS RAINY CREEK AGENT IS CLINT ROSENBAUM. THE REQUEST FOR YOU TO CONSIDER IS TO ALLOW AN RV PARK WITHIN AGRICULTURAL OPEN SPACE AT THE 1700 BLOCK OF EAST LOUDON. HERE'S THE LOCATION MAP. HERE'S THE NOW APPROVED ZONING. ALLOWABLE USES WITHIN AOE. HERE'S A CONCEPTUAL PLAN THAT THEY ARE PROPOSING. CURRENT PROPERTY VIEWS. NOTIFICATIONS WERE SENT OUT ONE IN FAVOR, TWO OPPOSE, RESULTING IN A 35.16% IN OPPOSITION. THIS REQUEST 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 REMOVING PROPOSED SPACES FROM THE UNSTUDIED FLOOD ZONE. THE AMENDED CONCEPT PLAN AND A PLAN OF OPERATION. [01:00:01] I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS? TIM, CAN YOU GO BACK A SLIDE, PLEASE? LEAST ON THE. I WAS LOOKING AT A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR AN RV PARK THAT WE APPROVED A COUPLE YEARS AGO, AND ONE OF THE CONDITIONS EXPLICITLY SAID THE WIDTH DESIGN AND EACH TURNING RADIUS OF THE INTERNAL RING ROAD SHALL BE SUBJECT TO PUBLIC WORKS AND FIRE MARSHAL APPROVAL. IS THAT KIND OF INHERENT OR IMPLIED NOW? AND THAT'S WHY IT'S NOT REQUIRED AS AN EXPLICIT LISTING UNDER THE CUP. IT'S IMPLIED, AND THAT'S ALL TAKEN CARE OF DURING THE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROCESS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. YES, SIR. IT WAS DESIGNED WHERE FIRE TRUCKS COULD GET IN THERE. YES, SIR, I UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, TIM? AND THIS BASICALLY COMPLEMENTS THE PREVIOUS ITEMS. YES, SIR. CORRECT. THANK YOU. TIM. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 17? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. HELLO AGAIN, MRS. SUE. WAY. I'M GOING TO FINISH SPEAKING READING THIS EMAIL BECAUSE IT STILL CORRELATES ALONG WITH THE FLOODING. AND SINCE WE BROUGHT UP THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. SO I'M JUST GOING TO JUMP RIGHT INTO THE THING THAT I'M SAYING HERE. ADDITIONALLY, DROUGHT RELIEF WILL BE REVITALIZING TO THE NATURAL FLORA THIS BEAUTIFYING THE CITY. THE DECREASE IN DECOMPOSITION NATURALLY MAKES OUR CITIZENS LESS SICK, THEREFORE MAKING THEM CAPABLE AND WILLING TO WORK. I HAVE THE CHIEF OF POLICE AS PART OF THIS CONVERSATION. OR NOT? POLICE? SORRY. THE CHIEF OF FIRE IS PART OF THIS CONVERSATION. BECAUSE DROUGHTS AND FIRE JUST CORRELATE NATURALLY. AND BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN THE SMALLER FIRE TRUCKS IN WHICH I BELIEVE ARE FOR PATROLLING AND KNOW THAT THEY ARE AND CAN BE FOR THE USE OF INSPECTIONS, VERIFYING WHICH PEOPLE ARE AND ARE NOT MANUALLY WATERING THEIR GRASS. I AM COMMUNICATING THAT HAVING THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS DEPARTMENT'S UTILIZED THESE OFFERS THEM EXPOSURE INTO THE COMMUNITY. SO IT CONNECTS OUR PEOPLE WITH OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT NATURALLY, BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY WATCHES THE NEWS. ALLOWING US TO BETTER SEE THEM AND APPRECIATE THEIR EXISTENCE. ADDITIONALLY, WITH INSPECTION IN MIND, IT OFFERS A RESOURCE FOR PEOPLE TO APPROPRIATELY RECEIVE THE REBATE. I WOULD EVEN GO SO FAR AS TO ALLOW THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AS A SORT OF OUTREACH, TO BE THE ONES COMMUNICATING THE PLAN. THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON ITEM 17. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? THIS IS LARRY HILL AGAIN. I DID WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE WE FOUNDED OUR I FOUNDED HILL RESOURCES BACK IN 1991, AND ITS SERVICE FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED HERE IN ABILENE. THE IDD POPULATION WERE THE LARGEST PROVIDER. HERE IN ABILENE. WE SERVE ABOUT 225 IN RESIDENTIAL. AND THIS THIS PROGRAM, THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT WILL BENEFIT THEM AS WELL. THEY'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF SOME OF OUR HIGHER LEVEL FUNCTIONING INDIVIDUALS AND GETTING TO DO SOME LAWN MAINTENANCE AND WEED EATING AND THAT SORT OF THING. WE DO HAVE A LANDSCAPE CREW UP, AND OUR PROPERTIES HAVE BEEN KEPT UP REALLY NICELY. AND SO THIS IS GOING TO BE A REALLY QUALITY PROJECT. I KNOW COUNCILMAN BAIRD WAS NOT HERE LAST TIME I WAS ABLE TO SPEAK AND SHARE ON THIS, AND BUT I WANTED TO POINT OUT WE'VE ALREADY WE ALREADY HAVE A BEAUTIFUL POND. IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO ACU WITH A STACKED ROCKS BELOW. THERE'S WALKING TRAILS. THERE'S GOING TO BE SCRIPTURES AND THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN ENJOY. SO IT'S GOING TO BE A RETREAT ENVIRONMENT, AND I THINK IT'LL BE AN ASSET TO ABILENE, THOSE WHO TRAVEL TO ABILENE. BUT ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 17. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? CLINT ROSENBAUM, AGENT COUNCILMAN PRICE WE WE'VE SAT DOWN WITH THE THE CITY STAFF AND AND HAVE VISITED WITH JEREMY WILLIAMS, THE FIRE MARSHAL, AND EVERYBODY. SO WE'RE WE'RE ALREADY KIND OF IN THE PROCESS. LIKE LARRY SAID EARLIER, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR A LONG TIME, AND SO WE'VE KIND OF RUN EVERYTHING. AND OF COURSE, THE SITE PLAN WILL GO THROUGH SITE PLAN REVIEW WITH THE CITY, AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS WILL HAVE TO BE TAKEN, TAKEN CARE OF. BUT WE'VE ALREADY SAT DOWN WITH WITH THE CITY STAFF AND GOT EVERYBODY'S INPUT. SO WE'VE KIND OF GOT A REALLY GOOD IDEA OF WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING AS FAR AS AS LAYOUT. GREAT, THANKS. YOU BET. CLINT. STILL ON ITEM 17. PUBLIC HEARING. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN PRICE. [01:05:01] SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN YATES. FURTHER DISCUSSION. WE'RE READY TO VOTE. ALL YESES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM 18. [18. Ordinance (Final Reading) Z-2025-23: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action On A Request From The Owner, To Change The Zoning Of Approximately 4.46 Acres From Planned Development (PDD-42) To Agricultural Open (AO). Located At 4051 W Lake Road. (Tim Littlejohn)] AND, TIM LITTLEJOHN, YOU'RE UP AGAIN. THANK YOU. MAYOR. COUNCIL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. IS THE ZONING CASE 202523. THE OWNER IS MARLA. PAULETTE. CHANGE. THE REQUEST FOR RECONSIDER IS CHANGE THE ZONING OF APPROXIMATELY 4.46 ACRES FROM A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT 42 TO AGRICULTURAL OPEN SPACE LOCATED AT 4051 WEST LAKE ROAD. HERE'S A LOCATION MAP. HERE'S THE CURRENT ZONING MAP. THEY'RE LOOKING TO REPLACE THAT FRONT HALF. I THINK IT'S WORTHY TO NOTE THAT THIS THIS ENTIRE PARCEL DOES HAVE A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO TIE TO IT. THE THE PORTION IN THE REAR IS DESIGNED FOR AN RV PARK. IT IS SPECIFIC IN THAT CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT THAT THE RVS ARE ALLOWED IN THAT PORTION ONLY. THE CHANGING OF THIS ZONING WOULD NOT ALLOW THE RV PARK TO EXPAND. THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME THROUGH COUNCIL AGAIN TO AMEND THEIR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO EXPAND THAT RV PARK. THE INTENT, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM THE APPLICANT, IS TO CHANGE THE ZONING, SINCE THE PD IS A COMMERCIAL BASE, IS THEY'RE WANTING TO BUILD THEIR PERSONAL HOME IN THE FRONT. SO THIS WOULD ALLOW THEM TO DO THAT. SO THE BASE FOR THE PD IS COMMERCIAL. I THINK IT WAS GENERAL COMMERCIAL, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY. IT'S BEEN A MINUTE SINCE I'VE READ CHANGING THE BASE. BASICALLY WE'RE JUST CHANGING IT TO GENERAL. AND THEY WANT TO BUILD A HOUSE, RIGHT? THEY ALLOW THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO DO THAT. HERE THE ALLOWABLE USES WERE IN THE AGRICULTURAL ZONING DISTRICT. HERE ARE THE PROPERTY VALUES. NOTIFICATIONS WERE SENT OUT. WE DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY IN RETURN. THIS MEETS ALL THE CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL WITHIN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. PNC DID HEAR THIS CASE, AND THEY ARE RECOMMENDING TO APPROVAL THIS MORNING. AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS FOR TIM. THANKS FOR THE CLARIFICATION. YES, SIR. REGARDING THE CUP AND THAT NOT CHANGING JUST BECAUSE WE CHANGED THE UNDERLYING ZONING. YES, SIR. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. TIM. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST? ITEM 18. PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. I HAVE ONE CARD ON THIS ITEM. MAYOR. IS IT MICHAEL JANIS? I THINK I MISPRONOUNCED THAT LAST TIME. JANIS. YES. 19 OH 19. OKAY. OH MY APOLOGIES. OKAY. SORRY ABOUT THAT. I WROTE THE WRONG NUMBER. WE'RE STILL ON 18. 18. IS THERE ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THAT? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION. AND A SECOND. SO MOVED. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BEARD. SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN PRICE. FURTHER DISCUSSION. WE'RE READY TO VOTE. ALL YESES, MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 19, [19. Ordinance (Final Reading) Z-2025-24: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action On A Request From The Owner, To Change The Zoning Of Approximately 140.25 Acres From Agriculture Open (AO) To Patio Home (PH). Located At 3802 Stewart Road. (Tim Littlejohn)] AND TIM LITTLEJOHN WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM. THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AS A ZONING ZONING CASE. 202524. THE OWNER IS PRESTIGE STEWART OF ABILENE, LLC. THE REQUEST FOR YOU TO CONSIDER IS THE CHANGE OF ZONING OF APPROXIMATELY 140.25 ACRES FROM AGRICULTURAL OPEN SPACE TO PATIO HOMES LOCATED AT 30 802 STEWART STUART ROAD. HERE'S THE LOCATION MAP. HERE'S THE CURRENT ZONING MAP. HERE ARE THE ALLOWABLE USES WITHIN AGRICULTURAL OPEN SPACE. AND HERE ARE THE PROPOSED USES WITHIN PATIO HOMES. HERE'S THE CURRENT PROPERTY VIEWS. SURROUNDING AREA. NOTIFICATIONS WERE SENT OUT. WE DID RECEIVE ONE IN FAVOR AND THREE IN OPPOSITION, RESULTING IN A 0.87% IN OPPOSITION. THIS REQUEST MEETS ALL THE CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL WITHIN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. PNC DID HEAR THIS CASE, AND THEY DO RECOMMEND TO YOU APPROVAL THIS MORNING, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS. TIM, SINCE THIS DOES ABUT THE FENCE LINE AT DYESS, ARE THERE ANY DEVELOPMENT CONSIDERATIONS THAT ARE PARTICULAR TO THAT IS A REQUIREMENT? DOES THAT CHANGE ANYTHING SINCE IT'S IN THE ZONE? [01:10:02] THE THE THE DYESS AIR FORCE BASE WILL BE A PART OF THE SITE PLAN REVIEW FOR THIS CASE WHENEVER WE GET TO THAT POINT. THANK YOU TIM. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST? ITEM 19. PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, AND WE'LL START WITH THE CARD. SIR. MY NAME IS MICHAEL JANIS. I LIVE IN ABILENE. I CURRENTLY RESIDE 4010 STEWART ROAD. AND SO THIS PROJECT IS UP AGAINST MY PROPERTY ON TWO SIDES. MY FAMILY BOUGHT THIS PROPERTY 45 YEARS AGO. MY DAD BUILT THE HOME THERE. HE RETIRED THERE FROM THE SERVICE. MY WIFE AND I CURRENTLY RESIDE IN THE HOME AND PLAN TO RETIRE THERE. AND I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT 140 ACRES OF PATIO HOMES DIRECTLY BEHIND MY HOUSE AND TO THE WEST OF NORTH OF MY HOME. THAT'S A VERY HIGH DENSITY POP, YOU KNOW, HOME. A LOT OF PEOPLE LIVING THERE. THERE'S ONLY WAY FOR US TO TO GET OUT OF OUR HOME IS TO BUY 277 RIGHT THERE. AND IT'S ALREADY VERY DIFFICULT FROM AUTUMN SAGE AND THE OTHER STEWART ROAD TO GET ONTO 77. AND I JUST HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE OUR LOSS OF PRIVACY AND THE THE HIGH DENSITY, THE THE TRAFFIC AND TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, NAVIGATE HIGHWAY 277 TO COME AND GO TO OUR PROPERTY. AND I APOLOGIZE, I WAS TRAVELING. I WASN'T ABLE TO ATTEND ANY PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS, AND I'M HOPING THAT NO ONE HAS CONTACTED ME WITH ANY INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THE PLANS ARE OR HOW IT WOULD AFFECT US. AND YOU KNOW, THIS IS POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, VERY SERIOUS CONCERN FOR MY FAMILY. SO I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU GUYS WOULD CONSIDER MY OPPOSITION TO THIS. AND I APPRECIATE YOU LETTING ME SPEAK ON IT. ANY QUESTIONS OR. THANK YOU, MR. JAMES. IS THERE A TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT AUTUMN SAGE IN 277? NO, SIR. YEAH. IT COMES IN AT KIND OF AN ANGLE TO 277. AND DIRECTLY ACROSS IS KIND OF A SHORTCUT TO GET TO REBECCA LANE. AND SO IT IT'S KIND OF A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA FOR PEOPLE COMING DOWN. 277 CUTTING ACROSS TO GO TO THE MALL AND STUFF LIKE THAT. AND SO IT'S ALREADY DIFFICULT. AND I'M LIKE THE ONLY ONE LIVING BACK THERE. THERE'S ONLY A FEW HOUSES. IT'S ALREADY DIFFICULT GETTING ACROSS THERE. IT'S DANGEROUS REALLY. AND WITH, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY 140, YOU KNOW, PATIO HOMES ARE NOT EVEN A QUARTER A QUARTER ACRE. I MEAN, THAT'S HUNDREDS OF HOMES BACK THERE. AND SO IT'S IT'S VERY CONCERNING. THANK YOU SIR. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. STILL ON ITEM 19. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? MY NAME. MY NAME IS KELLY GOMEZ. I'M WITH CRG CIVIL ENGINEERS. WE'RE LOCATED AT 2150 SOUTH CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY, SUITE 200IN MCKINNEY, TEXAS. 75072. AND PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION WAS GENUINELY EXCITED ABOUT THIS ZONING CHANGE SINCE IT WAS CLOSE TO THE AIR FORCE BASE AND ALL. AND I HOPE YOU ARE TOO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 19. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? HELLO AGAIN. HAD TO TAKE A SECOND TO TRANSITION FROM THE WATER. MY NEXT CONCERN WITH KIND OF EACH OF THESE ZONING THINGS IS THESE PLANTS. I TRULY BELIEVE IN ERGONOMICS. THAT'S LARGELY THE REASON FOR MY COMMUNICATION ABOUT THE WATER, WATERING THE GRASS. WE'RE WORKING WITH THE ENVIRONMENT AND NOT AGAINST IT BECAUSE WHEN THE PLANET IS HEALTHY, WE ARE HEALTHY. SO MY CONCERN IS THESE PLANTS AND I'M PASSING IT. PLEASE. WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH THEM? I'M REDIRECTING. I WOULD PREFER THAT WE TRANSITION THEM AND MOVE THEM RATHER THAN [01:15:05] JUST COMPLETELY DESTROYING THEM. DISPLACEMENT. I UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE EXPANDING, AND THAT PART OF THE PROCESS IS BUILDING THESE HOMES AND TAKING THIS SPACE. BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE IN DESTROYING EVERYTHING. THERE MUST BE A WAY TO INCORPORATE WHAT ALREADY IS HERE INTO WHAT WE ARE BUILDING, EVEN IF IT TAKES MOVING THE PLANTS THAT ARE THERE FROM ONE LOCATION TO ANOTHER. I KNOW WE CAN'T SAVE THEM ALL, BUT IT'S NOT EVEN JUST ABOUT SAVING THE PLANTS. IT'S ABOUT SAVING THE OXYGEN. IT'S ABOUT NOT WANTING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH ANOTHER CLIMATE DISASTER. THAT'S WE'VE ALREADY GOT THE DROUGHT LIKE. PLEASE CONSIDER THE PLANTS, BECAUSE WHEN WE CONSIDER THE PLANTS, WE CONSIDER OURSELVES. I WANT ABILENE TO BE HEALTHY. I WANT TO BE HEALTHY. I'M HERE WEARING A MASK. I DON'T LIKE BEING SICK. I'M SURE NOBODY ELSE DOES EITHER. IT'S AS MUCH AS I'M GONNA SAY ABOUT IT IN THIS MOMENT. THANK YOU. SOON, THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 19. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND. YES. ONE QUESTION FOR TIM. REAL QUICK, PLEASE. DURING THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT WITH WITH THE DEVELOPER, DOES THAT TRIGGER TRAFFIC STUDIES ON ROADS THAT SUPPORT THAT? IT'S OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THE ZONING DECISION. BUT DO WE DOES THAT AUTOMATICALLY TRIGGER THAT OR IS THAT SOMETHING WE WOULD WANT TO KIND OF DIRECT AS FAR AS TRAFFIC FLOW. TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS IS KIND OF A TRICKY WORD. I'M LOOKING AT PUBLIC WORKS BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REQUIRE. BUT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT COULD POSSIBLY TRIGGER THAT. YES, SIR. ON THIS PARTICULAR CASE, WITH THAT BEING A TXDOT ROAD, I'M SURE PUBLIC WORKS IS GOING TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT OF COURSE, THE ROADS ARE IMPROVED. THEY'LL HAVE TO BE WIDENED AND IMPROVED AND THEN WORK WITH TEX DOT ON SOME OF THEIR APPROVALS AND GIVE THEM A HEADS UP ON THE ADDED TRAFFIC COUNT THERE AND SEE IF THAT WOULD TRIGGER AN INSTALLATION OF A LIGHT. IF THAT'S NOT AUTOMATICALLY TRIGGERED, I THINK IN THIS CASE THAT THAT INTERSECTION, THAT AUTUMN SAGE, WHICH IS BEEN A PROBLEM IN THE PAST THIS THIS MIGHT CHANGE THE CRITERIA, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE PUTTING A BUNCH OF PATIO HOMES THAT, THAT IT IS GOING TO INCREASE THE TRAFFIC. YES, SIR. I THINK THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO PAY ATTENTION TO AS WE GO FORWARD. MISS CRAWFORD, DO YOU NEED THAT TO BE SOMETHING MORE FORMAL OR. I DON'T THINK WE GOT THAT. YEAH, WE DON'T HAVE. THAT. THE ZONING CHANGE. WE CAN'T DO THAT. REQUIRE TRAFFIC STUDY. ZONING CHANGE. SO CERTAINLY NOT AS PART OF THIS ZONING CHANGE. SO THIS IS OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THAT. BUT BUT THERE'S IMPACTS TO THIS ZONING CHANGE THAT. YES, SIR. SO AS FAR AS THE COUNCIL'S DISCUSSION, I HAVE NOTES THAT WE NEED TO GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE TRAFFIC AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO WITH TXDOT TO ANALYZE THE IMPACT. SO WE WILL WE WILL TAKE THAT FROM HERE. GOOD. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. THANKS, JIM. ANY MORE QUESTIONS? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND. SO MOVED. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN YATES. 28. SECOND. SECOND. AND ESPINOSA, FOR THE DISCUSSION. WERE READY TO VOTE. ALL YESES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. IT IS NOW 09:49 A.M., [EXECUTIVE SESSION] AND WE RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. PURSUANT TO THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, SECTION 551.071. CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY. SECTION 551.072. DELIBERATIONS ABOUT REAL PROPERTY. SECTION 551.073. DELIBERATIONS ABOUT GIFTS AND DONATIONS. SECTION 551.074. PERSONNEL MATTERS. SECTION 551.076. DELIBERATIONS ABOUT SECURITY DEVICES. SECTION 551.087. DELIBERATIONS ABOUT BUSINESS PROSPECTS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WELL, BRIAN HAD TO LEAVE, SO IT WAS WAY MORE QUIET. IT IS NOW 11:13 A.M.. WE RECONVENE TO TO OPEN SESSION. [RECONVENE] NO VOTES OR ACTIONS WERE TAKEN DURING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE NOW MOVE TO ITEM 21, APPROVING THE ANNUAL EVALUATION OF THE CITY [21. Oral Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving the Annual Evaluation of the City Attorney] ATTORNEY, STANLEY SMITH. WE DID PERFORM THAT EVALUATION EVALUATION. WE HAD NO ISSUES OR DISCREPANCIES AT THIS TIME. I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST? ITEM 21? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. HOWDY. MY NAME IS CHAD CARTER. [01:20:01] MY PHONE NUMBER IS (325) 665-9520. ABOUT A MONTH AGO, I PRESENTED TO YOU THAT I USED TO WORK HERE. I WAS A CITY ENGINEER. I UNCOVERED BASICALLY FRAUD AND CRIMES BEING COMMITTED BY CITY ATTORNEYS AND CITY MANAGEMENT. AND SO YOU MAY BE THINKING, WELL, WHY ARE YOU TALKING TO US NOW, CHAD? WELL, THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT IS IS THE CITY MANAGEMENT OFFERED ME MONEY NOT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE CITY WAS DOING, AND I'M. I'M A RED BLOODED AMERICAN. I DIDN'T TAKE IT. AND SO SO STAN'S PROBABLY SITTING THERE THINKING, WHAT? CHAD, WHY IN THE WORLD ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THIS? BUT WHAT I'M AFRAID OF IS THAT WHAT HAPPENED TO ME IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED THAT NO CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE. AND WHEN I SAY THAT THE IT IS MY BELIEF THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO BE AN ENGINEER. YOU DON'T NEED TO BE A LAWYER. YOU DON'T NEED TO BE A CITY MANAGER TO KNOW RIGHT FROM WRONG. I THINK I THINK SECRETARIES, I THINK TRASH MEN. I THINK LITTLE KIDS KNOW RIGHT FROM WRONG. AND WHEN THEY SEE SOMETHING THAT'S WRONG, THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO REPORT IT. OKAY. BUT THE CITY CURRENTLY AT LEAST MY UNDERSTANDING MADE NO CHANGES TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO REPORT CRIMES. STAN, I JUST THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE HELPED ME. I THINK IT WAS OBVIOUS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME WAS WRONG. AND I THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE HELPED ME. YOU KNOW, YOU CLAIMED I SHOULD HAVE FILED A GRIEVANCE PROCESS, AND I AGREE. I WAS NOT RAISED TO FILE LAWSUITS. I WAS RAISED THAT. HEY, LET'S WORK THIS OUT. THE CITY ATTORNEYS CLAIMED I SHOULD HAVE FILED A, YOU KNOW, ASKED FOR A GRIEVANCE PROCESS. ONE DOES NOT EXIST. AS FAR AS I KNOW. THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO PRODUCE ONE. CITY ATTORNEYS THAT HAD MASSIVE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. TWO OF THEM HAD SPOUSES THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THE CRIMES THAT I REPORTED. THEY WERE INVOLVED IN MY WHISTLEBLOWER LITIGATION TRYING TO PREVENT ME FROM GETTING WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION. AND SO MY UNDERSTANDING, NO PROSECUTION, NO CHARGES WERE EVER FILED IN ANY OF THE CRIMES THAT I REPORTED. AND SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, AND MAYBE I'M WRONG HERE, BUT WHAT CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE SINCE THAT TIME? STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING? WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 21? 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 PRICE. FURTHER DISCUSSION. READY TO VOTE. MAYOR PRO TEM YATES AND DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM REGAN ARE ABSENT. ALL YESES. MOTION CARRIES. MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO ITEM 22 APPROVAL EVALUATION OF THE CITY SECRETARY, [22. Oral Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving the Annual Evaluation of the City Secretary] SHAUNA ATKINSON. WE DID PROVIDE THAT EVALUATION AND THERE WERE NO DISCREPANCIES OR ANY PROBLEMS AT THIS TIME. DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY COMMENTS? AT THIS TIME? I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST? ITEM 22, 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 IN A SECOND. MOVE FOR APPROVAL. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN CRAVER SINCE HE'S YOUR FAVORITE. SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN ESPINOSA. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE'RE READY TO VOTE. ALL YESES, MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. IT IS NOW 11:18 A.M.. AND THIS MEETING OF THE ABILENE CITY COUNCIL IS ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.