[00:00:01]
GOOD MORNING. IT IS NOW 8:30 A.M., AND I CALL THIS MEETING OF THE ABILENE CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER.
MOST GRACIOUS HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TO YOU TODAY ALWAYS ASKING FOR NOT ONLY GUIDANCE, BUT LORD, COMPASSION. LET US BE GIVING NOT ONLY TO OURSELVES AND OUR FAMILY, BUT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
LORD, GIVE US WISDOM. GIVE US THE THE MOTIVATION AND THE GUIDANCE TO MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT INFLUENCE NOT ONLY THIS CITY, BUT EVERYONE AROUND US. LORD, WE ALWAYS PRAY FOR THOSE WHO KEEP OUR COUNTRY SAFE AND FREE.
WE PRAY FOR OUR MILITARY. WE PRAY FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO.
IN JESUS NAME, AMEN, AMEN, AMEN. I HAVE CHANDLER RIGHT HERE AND HIS MOTHER, BRANDY IS HERE.
AND THEN I HAVE MADELINE AND HER MOTHER, BRITTANY IS HERE.
THEY'RE BACK IN THE CORNER AND THEY ARE FIFTH GRADERS AT BOWIE.
AND THEY HAVE KINDLY JOINED US THIS MORNING TO LEAD US IN OUR PLEDGES.
SO Y'ALL TURN AROUND RIGHT WHERE YOU'RE AT. 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.
AND THE TEXAS HONOR, THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE INDIVISIBLE. THANK YOU. SIR. THANK YOU.
DON'T YOU WANT TO COME UP HERE AND TAKE PICTURES? STAND RIGHT HERE. YEAH. YOU CAN GET UP.
COME ON. THIS WAY. WATCH YOUR STEP. COUNCILMAN REAGAN WILL BE DOING OUR PROCLAMATIONS TODAY.
[PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PROCLAMATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS]
GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. SO I ALWAYS HAVE TWO EMOTIONS WHENEVER I WALK OUT.AND I SEE THE FULL, FULL ROOM AND I GO, YES, PEOPLE ARE HERE, THEY'RE INVOLVED.
THEY'RE WANTING TO BE INVOLVED WITH THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. AND THEN THE SECOND EMOTION IS CRAP.
WHY ARE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE? WHAT DID WE SCREW UP ON? SO IT'S ALWAYS KIND OF A RELIEF WHEN I REALIZED THAT WE'RE DOING PROCLAMATIONS.
SO I'LL HAVE THE CHIROPRACTORS UP HERE. WHERE ARE YOU GUYS? HOW MANY DO WE HAVE, DOCTOR ANTHONY? YOU ALL RIGHT? COME UP HERE AND LET ME READ THIS, AND THEN IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK, I'LL LET YOU.
WHEREAS CHRONIC MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AROUND THE WORLD DUE TO FACTORS SUCH AS THE AGING POPULATION, AN INCREASE IN OBESITY AND SEDENTARY LIFESTYLES.
HOWEVER, DOCTORS ENCOURAGE PATIENTS TO TRY NON-DRUG TREATMENTS FIRST, LIKE CHIROPRACTIC CARE.
AND WHEREAS CHIROPRACTORS ARE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS WHO FOCUS ON DIAGNOSIS, CARE, AND PREVENTION IN A SAFE, NONINVASIVE. NON NOT IN A NONINVASIVE, DRUG FREE APPROACH TO PAIN MANAGEMENT, INJURY PREVENTION, AND HEALTHY LIVING. AND WHEREAS RESEARCH STUDIES DEMONSTRATE THAT PATIENTS WHO RECEIVE CHIROPRACTIC SERVICES 1ST MAY BE ABLE TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE OR ELIMINATE THEIR RELIANCE ON PRESCRIPTION OPIOIDS. AND WHEREAS, WITH THE THEME GET STARTED WITH CHIROPRACTIC.
NATIONAL CHIROPRACTIC HEALTH MONTH REMINDS CITIZENS THAT CHIROPRACTORS CAN HELP THEM MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFETIME AND MAY ALSO HELP THEM REDUCE THEIR NEED FOR PRESCRIPTION PAIN MEDICATIONS.
AND NOW, THEREFORE, AS ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL, I AM PLEASED TO PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2025, IN THE CITY OF ABILENE AS NATIONAL CHIROPRACTIC HEALTH MONTH.
THANK YOU. I HAVE A FEW WORDS. JUST A FEW WORDS I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS.
THANKS FOR HAVING US AND THANK YOU FOR THE PROCLAMATION.
ON BEHALF OF CHIROPRACTORS IN TEXAS AND ACROSS THE NATION, WE LOVE SERVING PATIENTS.
I KNOW THE PTS ARE HERE AS WELL, AND THEY DO A LOT OF THE SIMILAR THINGS THAT WE DO.
[00:05:03]
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GET A PICTURE. WE GIVE THIS TO HIM.YEAH YEAH. IF HE TAKES US HOME WHERE WE KEEP IT OKAY.
WE SHOW THAT TO YOU. THANK YOU. BEFORE YOU CONTINUE, DOCTOR ANTHONY, THANK YOU FOR A LOT OF US ARE IN PAIN, AND SOME PEOPLE HELP US KEEP GOING. AND HE IS IN MANY WAYS.
WHILE I'M ABLE TO WALK SOME DAYS. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
AND I SEE WHY THE MAYOR LET ME READ THAT ONE.
THERE WERE A LOT OF BIG WORDS IN THAT, SO THAT WAS TOUGH.
WOW. OKAY. NOT LYING. ALL RIGHT. THIS ONE IS FOR THE PHYSICAL THERAPIST AND PHYSICIAN'S ASSISTANTS.
YOU GUYS WANT TO COME UP HERE WITH ME? ALL YOU STUDENTS COME UP.
YOU GUYS WANT TO GET HERE? AND HERE. EITHER SIDE, EITHER SIDE.
AND ACTUALLY, MY SISTER FROM A LARGE FAMILY. MY SISTER IS A DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY.
AND THEN ONE OF MY BROTHERS JUST GOT OUT OF THE ARMY, AND HE IS STARTING HIS PA SCHOOL ROUTE.
WHEREAS PHYSICAL THERAPY PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN IMPROVING THE HEALTH, MOBILITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES, AND PHYSICIAN'S ASSISTANTS PROVIDE ESSENTIAL EVIDENCE BASED CARE IN COLLABORATION WITH PHYSICIANS, BOTH SERVING AS TRUSTED MEMBERS OF HEALTHCARE TEAMS. AND WHEREAS, BOTH PHYSICAL THERAPY AND PHYSICIAN'S ASSISTANT PROFESSIONS ARE INTEGRAL TO PROMOTING HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES, PREVENTING DISEASE, REDUCING THE NEED FOR COSTLY INTERVENTIONS, AND ENSURING ACCESS TO QUALITY CARE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND WHEREAS, THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION HAS DESIGNATED OCTOBER AS NATIONAL PHYSICAL THERAPY MONTH AND THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATES HAS DESIGNATED OCTOBER 6TH THROUGH 12TH AS NATIONAL PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT WEEK TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THESE ESSENTIAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.
AND WHEREAS WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE BOTH THE HARDIN-SIMMONS UNIVERSITY PHYSICAL THERAPY AND PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAMS HERE IN ABILENE, TEXAS, WHERE THEY LEAD THE PACK IN TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF COMPASSIONATE, KNOWLEDGEABLE, AND HIGHLY SKILLED OLD PROFESSIONALS SERVING BOTH THE BIG COUNTRY AND COMMUNITIES FAR BEYOND.
NOW, THEREFORE, ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL, I'M PLEASED TO PROCLAIM IN THE CITY OF ABILENE THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2025 AS PHYSICAL THERAPY MONTH AND THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 6TH THROUGH 12TH, 2025 AS PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT WEEK.
AND WE'LL WHO WANTS TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF WE'LL DO THE WE'LL DO YOU GUYS FIRST.
WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR 30 YEARS, AND WE HAVE OUR BUILDING JUST DOWN THE STREET ON PINE THAT HAS BEEN THERE, THAT WE PURCHASED FROM THE CITY OF ABILENE, AND THAT WE HOUSE 80 STUDENTS AT A TIME IN THERE, AND WE HAVE 140 ON TOP OF THAT 120 STUDENTS TOTAL.
THE THIRD YEARS ARE USUALLY IN THE CLINIC FULL TIME. BUT YOU'VE BEEN SUCH GREAT PARTNERS TO US.
WE'VE TRIED TO GIVE BACK TO YOU. WE HAVE MANY SERVICE PROJECTS WE DO THROUGH THE YEAR, LIKE BOUNCE SCREENS, LIKE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, LIKE OTHER THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY. WE JUST WANT TO GIVE BACK TO YOU GUYS BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THAT YOU'VE BEEN SO GOOD TO US. SO THANK YOU FOR PARTNERING WITH PHYSICAL THERAPY BECAUSE YOU'RE VERY KIND TO US. SO GOOD TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE PHYSICIANS.
JUST WHAT A WHAT A GIFT THAT THIS COMMUNITY IS FROM ALL AREAS OF HEALTH CARE.
SO WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT WE GET TO NOT ONLY HAVE OUR STUDENTS IN ABILENE, BUT GET TO SERVE ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY IN, IN MULTIPLE AREAS. SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU GUYS ARE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO SQUISH IN.
SQUISH IN. AND I COULDN'T STEP FORWARD, YOU GUYS.
OH, I'M SO SLEEPY. I KNOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
[00:10:03]
THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN. REAGAN. BEFORE WE MOVE ON, MARTY, WE'RE KIND OF IN AND OUT ON THE LIVE FEED.I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE RECORDING. IT'S JUST THAT.
[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. DOES ANYONE ON THE COUNCIL WISH TO CONSIDER ANY ITEM INDIVIDUALLY? ITEM SEVEN AND 12. COUNCILMAN ESPINOZA.AND WE'LL START WITH CARDS. I HAVE MULTIPLE CARDS ON ITEM NUMBER 15, WHICH IS A REGULAR AGENDA ITEM.
OUR NEIGHBORS, VETERANS, SENIORS, AND OTHERS WHO DEPEND ON PROPERLY MARKED HANDICAPPED SPACES TO LIVE THEIR DAILY LIVES WITH DIGNITY AND INDEPENDENCE SINCE 2022, MY FRIEND MR. BELLMAN HAS BEEN FIGHTING TO BRING ATTENTION TO THIS PROBLEM.
HE HAS DOCUMENTED AND REPORTED DOZENS OF LOCATIONS ACROSS ABILENE WERE HANDICAPPED.
UNDER TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE SECTION SIX, 81.009 AND 681 .010, HANDICAPPED PARKING SPACES MUST HAVE PROPER SIGNS AND PAVEMENT MARKINGS BEFORE ENFORCEMENT IS VALID.
FADED OR MISSING MARKINGS ARE UNACCEPTABLE WHEN THE CITY FAILS TO MAINTAIN THEM.
SENATE BILL 904, EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2023, CLARIFIES HOW THOSE SAME ACTIONS ARE ENFORCED.
HOWEVER, IT ALSO SAYS THAT WHEN THE REQUIRED ABOVE SIGN OR ABOVE GRADE SIGNS ARE MISSING, OFFICERS MAY ISSUE ONLY A WARNING, NOT A CITATION. SO WHILE SENATE BILL 904 REAFFIRMED THE NEED FOR CLEAR, MARKED SPACES, IT DID NOT FIX THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM.
THIS IS A STATEWIDE AND CITYWIDE FAILURE ACROSS BUSINESS LOTS, APARTMENT COMPLEXES, SHOPPING CENTERS, PUBLIC FACILITIES, AND EVEN SCHOOLS. ABILENE HAS FAILED TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH BOTH STATE AND STATE LAW AND AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.
MR. BELLMON REPEATEDLY REACHED OUT TO CITY OFFICIALS, INCLUDING ROBERT HANNA, THE DISGRACED CITY MANAGER, WHO PROMISED THAT ENFORCEMENT WOULD TAKE PLACE.
BUT THOSE PROMISES WERE NEVER KEPT. AND HERE WE ARE THREE YEARS LATER, FACING THE SAME PROBLEMS. YOU WOULD THINK THAT MR. HANNA WOULD HAVE PRIORITIZED THE VERY CITIZENS WHO HELPED FUND HIS $439,305 SALARY THAT YOU GUYS APPROVED, THE THIRD HIGHEST OF ANY CITY MANAGER IN TEXAS, EVEN EXCEEDING THAT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
THAT LEVEL OF PAY WITHOUT RESULTS OR ACCOUNTABILITY REFLECT A SERIOUS LACK OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
OUR CODE COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENT ALREADY HAS THE TOOLS TO ADDRESS THIS.
THEY CAN INSPECT, NOTIFY AND ENFORCE CORRECTIVE ACTION WITHOUT MAJOR COSTS TO THE CITY. WHAT'S MISSING IS CONSISTENT OVERSIGHT, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND LEADERSHIP. I'M ASKING THIS COUNCIL FOR FORMAL ACTION.
PLACE THIS ISSUE ON THE NEXT CITY AGENDA SO THAT THIS CAN BE DISCUSSED, BECAUSE OUR DISABLED INDIVIDUALS DESERVE PROPER SIGNAGE AND PROPER PLACES TO SPEAK. SO HOPEFULLY THAT'S NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR YOU, SIR. STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? GOOD MORNING. MAYOR COUNCIL. TAMMY FOGLE, RESIDENT OF ABILENE.
THERE WAS JUST A COUPLE. THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT I WANTED TO ADDRESS.
I NOTICED, BECAUSE I'VE LEARNED TO CHECK THAT THERE WERE FOUR ADDITIONAL PAGES ADDED TO THE PACKET,
[00:15:02]
BUT I HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GO THROUGH THE 300 PLUS PAGES NOT TO FIND.AND I'M JUST CURIOUS, IT SAYS IT'S JUST FOR THIS RENOVATION PERIOD. SO WILL THERE THERE'LL BE AN END DATE WHERE WE'LL COME BACK, AND THEN YOU'LL CHANGE IT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL CODE, OR WHERE THIS GOLF CART BE A PERMANENT PART OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE CODE.
BUT THE MAIN CONCERN I HAVEN'T REALLY HAD A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT, AND I'LL JUST ADDRESS IT QUICKLY, IS THIS IDEA OF STAKEHOLDERS? A LOT OF TIMES WE DON'T UNDERSTAND.
SOMETIMES WORDS HAVE MEANINGS. SOMETIMES WORDS ARE CULTURAL CHANGES THAT WE ADAPT OVER TIME.
AND SOME WORDS ARE USED TO INDICATE WE ARE AWARE AND KNOW THE INFORMATION WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW FOOD INSECURITY USED TO IS A NEW TERM THAT WE USE AND JUST SORT OF TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO STRUGGLE TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR THEMSELVES OR WORDS LIKE EQUITY. WE USE THAT INSTEAD OF EQUALITY BECAUSE WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CHANGING THE OUTCOMES RATHER THAN PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES.
IT'S TO PROMOTE OVERALL ORGANIZATIONAL SUCCESS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.
NOW THAT'S JUST A THEORY, AND THAT APPLIES MAINLY TO BUSINESSES, I WOULD THINK.
BUT WE ACTUALLY ARE GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS NOT A BUSINESS.
AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE CITIZENS, NOT STAKEHOLDERS.
AND THE REASON WHY WORDS MATTERS IS BECAUSE A STAKEHOLDER IN THIS DEFINITION, I FOUND, IS ANYONE INVOLVED OR AFFECTED BY A SPECIFIC ISSUE, OFTEN WITH AN VESTED INTEREST, WHILE A CITIZEN CAN BE A WHILE CITIZEN IS A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY WHO HAS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
WITHIN THAT CONTEXT, STAKEHOLDERS CAN INCLUDE CITIZENS BUT DOESN'T HAVE TO.
I HAVE ANOTHER DEFINITION HERE THAT IT SAYS NORMATIVELY.
ALL ADULT RESIDENTS HAVE CLAIMS TO BE CITIZENS, BUT NOT ALL CITIZENS CAN BE STAKEHOLDERS.
Y'ALL'S JOB IS TO TAKE CARE OF CITIZENS, NOT STAKEHOLDERS.
AND CITIZENS ARE WHAT SHOULD MAKE AN IMPACT IN YOUR DECISIONS, NOT STAKEHOLDERS WHO ARE ELECTED BY NO ONE, WHO ARE APPOINTED BY WHOEVER DECIDES THEY'RE APPOINTED, AND EXCLUDE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT PROMOTE THE RIGHT LINE.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
THANK YOU REAL QUICK. THIS MOTOR VEHICLE CODE, DOES IT EXPIRE? IT IS NOT EXPIRED. WOULD NEED TO BE REPEALED.
CAN BE REPEALED. YES. THANK YOU. STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
SO MOVED. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN ESPINOSA.
SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN YATES. NO DISCUSSION.
WE'RE READY TO VOTE. ALL YESES, MOTION CARRIES.
MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM SEVEN.
[7. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Take Action on Approving the Abilene Convention Center Hotel Development Corporation's FY 2026 Budget (Marjorie Knight) ]
AND, COUNCILMAN ESPINOSA, YOU ASKED FOR THIS ITEM TO BE PULLED.DID YOU NEED THE PRESENTATION? YES, PLEASE. MARJORIE KNIGHT, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE. ITEM SEVEN IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE ABILENE CONVENTION CENTER.
HOTEL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION FY 2026 BUDGET.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CORPORATION'S BYLAWS, THEIR BUDGET MUST BE APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL.
THE CORPORATION OPERATES AS THE DOUBLETREE HILTON ABILENE DOWNTOWN CONVENTION CENTER.
PRIMARILY, THERE'S BOND INTEREST AND SOME NON-OPERATING EXPENSES.
THIS IS A PRELIMINARY BUDGET. HILTON WILL SUBMIT ITS FINAL CALENDAR YEAR BUDGET IN NOVEMBER, AND STAFF WILL LATER RETURN TO COUNCIL WITH ANY REVISIONS NEEDED.
PRELIMINARY FIGURES REFLECT $15.99 MILLION IN OPERATING REVENUES, 14.51 MILLION IN OPERATING EXPENSES AND 1.48 MILLION IN NET OPERATING INCOME. NON-OPERATING EXPENSES TOTALED 1.99 MILLION, WHICH IS PRIMARILY THE BOND INTEREST.
[00:20:06]
SUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO MEET THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 DEBT SERVICE WITH A SURPLUS OF APPROXIMATELY $119,000.DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS, MARJORIE.
YES. SINCE THIS IS MAKING A PROFIT FROM A BUDGETARY STANDPOINT, WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT 1 MILLION? IT WOULD REMAIN IN THE FUND. JUST FOR FUTURE USE.
FOR FUTURE USE ON THIS. WE WOULD JUST ROLL IT OVER NEXT YEAR. OR WILL COUNCIL NOW HAVE THAT TO USE FOR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES? SO IT IS IN A FUND THAT'S RESTRICTED AS TO USE IT WOULD BE PRIMARILY USED TOWARDS MEETING DEBT SERVICE REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO THE HOTEL CONVENTION CENTER, HOTEL PROJECT, WHETHER IT'S THE CITY'S DEBT SERVICE OR THE CORPORATION'S DEBT SERVICE.
OKAY. SO IT IT WILL BE SPENT THIS YEAR OR IT WILL BE ON OTHER DEBT SERVICING OR WHAT'S THE PLAN? SO AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME IT WILL. THIS BUDGET DOESN'T ANTICIPATE NEEDING THE LOAN, SO IT WOULD REMAIN IN FUND BALANCE AND ROLL FORWARD.
WHAT IT WOULD DO IS IT WOULD PROVIDE REVENUE FOR FUTURE YEARS IN THE EVENT THAT WHILE OPERATIONS ARE GOOD RIGHT NOW, WE HOPE THAT IT WILL CONTINUE AT THE CURRENT CURRENT LEVELS, BUT IT REMAINS AS KIND OF A CONTINGENCY IN FUTURE YEARS.
OKAY. AND THEN HOW LONG IS THE CITY KIND OF BACKSTOPPING THE HOTEL.
SO IT'S A DECISION THAT CAN BE MADE ANNUALLY ON WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE PROVIDING SUPPORT.
OKAY. PERFECT. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. ANYONE ELSE QUESTIONS FOR MARGERY OKAY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST? ITEM SEVEN, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
TAMMY FOGLE, RESIDENT OF ABILENE. I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY PRESENTED IN PUBLIC, BECAUSE MOST CITIZENS DON'T EVEN KNOW WHEN THESE BOARD MEETINGS ARE HELD, AND I'M PROBABLY ONE OF THE FEW, VERY FEW SELECT CITIZENS THAT ACTUALLY HAVE ATTENDED ONE OF THESE BOARD MEETINGS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'M ONLY HUMAN, AND I MISSED THE LAST MEETING.
WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE I KNOW FINANCIAL DISCUSSIONS WERE HELD BECAUSE EVEN IN PREVIOUS YEARS WHEN I'VE REQUESTED THIS DOCUMENT, IT HAD THE BUDGET, IT HAD FINANCIAL INFORMATION IN IT.
AND SO THIS IS BASICALLY A WORTHLESS DOCUMENT THAT CITIZENS DO NOT HAVE.
BUT I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT THE CORPORATION, THE ABILENE CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL DOWN.
AND TO ME THAT'S PROBLEM BECAUSE WHEN WE'RE USING CITY DOLLARS TO PAY FOR THE BUILDING OF IT AND AGAIN, WE DO HAVE THE THE HOTEL TAX OCCUPANCY FEE TO HELP COVER THE COST OF THIS REVENUE BOND.
AS IT WAS DISCUSSED, WE HAVE $1 MILLION SITTING IN THIS CORPORATION IN CASE THEY NEED IT.
AND NOW WE'RE INTO A YEAR OF PROFITABILITY AND WE'RE NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT WINDING IT DOWN.
AND MY QUESTION TO THAT IS IT'S DISCREET. IT'S VERY DISCREET THAT NO ONE KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND AGAIN, IF YOU KNOW WHO YOU KNOW, THEN YOU CAN KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
BUT AN AVERAGE CITIZEN CANNOT KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND WHEN WE'VE DONE THIS AS A PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP, WHERE I BELIEVE WE LEASE THE LAND THAT THIS PROFITABLE HOTEL SITS ON FOR A DOLLAR LIKE THAT, TO ME, SEEMS LIKE AN A BACKWARDS, UPSIDE DOWN SITUATION FOR THE CITIZENS.
THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO POINT OUT WAS THAT THAT WE'VE ALREADY LOANED THEM SOME MONEY.
SO MY QUESTION IS, WHERE IS IT DISCUSSED THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET PAID BACK THAT MONEY? IS THAT PART OF THE PLAN OF DISCUSSION? IS THAT CONSIDERED IN THE MILLION DOLLARS, OR CAN WE TAKE THE MILLION DOLLARS OUT AND LET THEM SLOWLY PAY BACK TO BUILD UP THAT MILLION DOLLAR FUND? THERE'S A LOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS, AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU'LL HAVE TO TALK ABOUT BECAUSE IT'S A THIRD PARTY.
IT'S A PRIVATE PARTY. THIS CORPORATION IS DISCREET AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS.
AND SO IT'S A VERY FRUSTRATING THING AS A CITIZEN, ESPECIALLY WHEN I MADE NOTES.
AND I'M PROBABLY GOING TO RUN OUT OF TIME HERE THAT YOU KNOW, EVEN WITH THE PROJECTED END GOALS, WE ARE ACTUALLY OVER EXPENSES AND UNDER REVENUE OF WHAT WE PROJECTED.
[00:25:06]
WHO KNOWS HOW LONG. BUT IT'S JUST IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS NOT VERY WELL DISCLOSED.AND THAT'S WHY STAKEHOLDERS DON'T HAVE TO DO PUBLIC THINGS, BUT CITIZENS NEED PUBLIC ACCESS TO IT.
AND STAKEHOLDERS DON'T DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.
AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT, NOT JUST THIS PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND.
SO MOVED. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN ESPINOZA.
SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BRASS. DISCUSSION READY TO VOTE.
ALL YESES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 12.
[12. Ordinance (First Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Take Action to Amend the Fee Schedule Ordinance to Increase the Permit Fee For Certain Food Establishment Permits (Annette Lerma)]
AND ONCE AGAIN, COUNCILMAN ESPINOZA, YOU ASKED FOR THIS.DID YOU NEED THE PRESENTATION? YES, SIR. ON ITEM 12, PLEASE.
GOOD MORNING, ANNETTE LERMA, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH. BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT IS THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO A COUPLE OF SENATE BILLS, HOUSE BILLS THAT WAS PASSED IN THIS LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
AND SO WE ARE LOOKING TO INCREASE THE FEES FOR FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS BY 10%.
SO SENATE BILL 1008, IN EFFECT, LIMITS THE FEES THAT WE'RE ALLOWED TO CHARGE.
IF THE STATE DOES NOT HAVE THE EXACT SAME FEE, THEN WE'RE UNABLE TO CHARGE IT.
AND IT ALSO SAYS THAT WE CANNOT EXCEED THE STATE'S FEES FOR FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS.
WE HAVE TO SEND A COPY OF OUR FEE SCHEDULE TO THE STATE, AND WE NEED TO NOTIFY OUR PERMIT OR PERMIT HOLDERS 60 DAYS PRIOR TO THE REVISION TAKES EFFECT. HOUSE BILL 2844, IN PART, IS NOT EFFECTIVE UNTIL JULY 1ST.
AND AT THAT TIME, WE WILL LOSE THAT REVENUE TO PERMIT MOBILE FOOD VENDORS.
SO WE STILL DON'T KNOW THE FULL FINANCIAL IMPACT, BECAUSE WE ARE ASSUMING THAT THE STATE WILL.
AND WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE STATE WOULD LIKE TO PARTNER WITH US TO ENTER INTO A COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENT TO CONTINUE THOSE FOOD INSPECTIONS. ALTHOUGH THE STATE WILL HOLD THE AUTHORITY TO REGULATE THEM.
SO, AS I MENTIONED, WE CAN NO LONGER CHARGE A FEW OF THE FEES THAT WE HAVE, SUCH AS DAYCARE KITCHENS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. THERE'S SOME RESTRICTIONS ON LATE FEES AND REINSPECTION FEES.
ANNUAL FEES MAY NOT EXCEED WHAT THEY CHARGE BIANNUALLY, WHICH THEY JUST RELEASED THEIR NEW RULES AND THEIR FEE SCHEDULE, AND THEY'RE SWITCHING TO A AN ANNUAL FEE SETUP AS WE HAVE.
SO BELOW ARE LISTED THE FEES THAT WE WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO CHARGE.
HERE IS A COPY OF THE CURRENT FEE SCHEDULE, AND THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE OTHER FEES THAT WE CHARGE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES SUCH AS SWIMMING POOL AND SPA AND MOBILE FOOD UNITS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS.
WE ARE PROPOSING A 10% INCREASE. THERE ARE MANY JURISDICTIONS AROUND THE STATE THAT HAVE TAKEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE THEM THE SAME AMOUNT AS THE STATE. AND WE DID NOT WANT TO WE WEREN'T LOOKING TO IMPACT FOOD ESTABLISHMENT OWNERS SIGNIFICANTLY, BUT LOOKING TO RECOUP A LITTLE BIT OF THE COST THAT WE WE WILL STILL CONTINUE TO HAVE.
WE ARE ESTIMATING THAT WE WOULD LOSE SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $34,500 WITH A LOSS OF THE MOBILE FOOD UNIT FEES. AND WITH THIS 10% INCREASE, THE ESTIMATE TO INCREASE FEES WOULD BE 14,775.
AGAIN, I TALKED ABOUT WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MATCH THE STATE'S FEE.
IF THAT WERE THE CASE, WE WOULD EARN $137,000.
A 25% INCREASE WOULD ESSENTIALLY ALLOW US TO BREAK EVEN TO RECOUP THE AMOUNT THAT WE HAD LOST.
BUT AGAIN, JUST SOME OF THE CONSIDERATIONS THAT WE TOOK INTO ACCOUNT AS WE PROPOSED.
THAT'S JUST A SUMMARY OF WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR WITH THE 10% INCREASE.
REGISTER OUR FEES WITH THE STATE, PROVIDE THE 60 DAY PRIOR NOTIFICATION CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE STATE TO SEE IF WE WILL BE ENTERING INTO A CONTRACT WITH THEM AND THEN CONTINUE TO EVALUATE THE IMPACT ONCE THE STATE RULES ARE IMPLEMENTED ON JULY 1ST.
[00:30:05]
QUESTIONS. ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.I GUESS FOR THE THE PLAN FOR THE 10% INCREASE, IS THAT GOING TO CONTINUE TO GET INCREASE AS TIME GOES ON TO KIND OF GET THOSE FEE SCHEDULES KIND OF WHERE THEY NEED TO BE EVERY YEAR? WHAT WE DO AT BUDGET TIME IS JUST EVALUATE WHERE WE ARE.
WAS THERE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN OUR COSTS AND WE TRY TO COVER ALTHOUGH IN IN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, WE DON'T COVER ALL OF THE COSTS THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE, IT COSTS US MORE TO TO PAY STAFF AND DO THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE DO.
SO WE'LL MONITOR THAT EVERY YEAR. OKAY. SO IF THERE WAS A BIG COST CHANGE, WOULD THAT COME BEFORE COUNCIL AGAIN IF WE NEEDED TO DO A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE? ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND JUST TO CLARIFY, ONE OF THE SLIDES THAT HAD BASED ON THE NEW LAW, WE'RE LOSING ABOUT 34,000 IN REVENUE. AND THEN WITH THE PROPOSED CHANGE INCREASES TO 10%.
INCREASE WAS A NET POSITIVE OF 14,000. JUST TO CLARIFY FOR THE RESIDENTS, WITH THE INCREASE OF THE 10%, WE GAINED 14,000, BUT WE'RE STILL LOSING 34,000.
SO WE'RE STILL AS A NET OF ROUGHLY AROUND -20,000.
OKAY, I DON'T WANT TO WHERE WE'RE ABSORBING PART OF IT WITH THE LOCAL FOOD ESTABLISHMENT OWNERS.
OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. SEE IF WE WERE MAKING IT ALL BACK UP TO 34,000 THEN, PLUS 14,000.
BUT NO, WE'RE JUST MAKING 14,000, SO WE'RE STILL A NEGATIVE OF 20,000.
CORRECT. OKAY. AND THEN IS THERE. WELL THAT'S FINE.
OKAY. YEAH. I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW, BASED ON THE PROJECTIONS, ESPECIALLY FOR SENATE BILL 1008, DO YOU FEEL LIKE THERE WILL BE A QUALITY OR FREQUENCY IMPACTED AS A RESULT? THAT'S THE CONCERN FROM PUBLIC HEALTH. AND I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN I HAVE ATTENDED SOME MEETINGS WITH THE STATE HEALTH COMMISSIONER.
THEY DID NOT WANT TO TAKE THIS OVER, BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THE GOAL WAS TO BE BUSINESS FRIENDLY.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, WITH THE MOBILE FOOD VENDORS, THEY'RE VERY MOBILE. THEY TRAVEL ALL OVER THE STATE AND THEY WERE HAVING TO COMPLY WITH EACH LOCAL JURISDICTIONS SET OF RULES. AND SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS VERY CONFUSING.
THEY DID NOT RECEIVE ANY NEW MONEY TO COMPLY WITH THIS.
AND SO THEY ARE GOING TO ATTEMPT TO HIRE ENOUGH HEALTH INSPECTORS AT THE STATE LEVEL.
BUT OUR CONCERN IS THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO HIRE ENOUGH.
AND SO WE WANT TO PLAY A ROLE IN THAT AND SOMEHOW TO ENSURE THAT OUR LOCAL CITIZENS WHO LOVE TO TO GO EAT OUT, I'M INCLUDED IN THAT. AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE STILL COMPLYING WITH TEXAS FOOD ESTABLISHMENT RULES.
SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO PLAY A ROLE SOMEHOW. WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE REGULATORY AUTHORITY.
AND I GUESS IN SENATE BILL 2844, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, DOES IT CHANGE A LITTLE BIT OF OUR AUTHORITY IN TERMS OF A LOCAL MUNICIPALITY? AND ARE THERE CONCERNS FOR HOW TO ADDRESS A POTENTIAL EMERGENCY OR SUCH? SO THROUGH OUR HEALTH AUTHORITY, WE WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO SHUT AN ESTABLISHMENT DOWN IF WE FELT LIKE THERE WAS AN IMMINENT HEALTH HAZARD.
BUT WE COULD NOT REVOKE A PERMIT FOR NONCOMPLIANCE WITH TEXAS FOOD ESTABLISHMENT RULES.
SO THAT'S WHERE THE DIVISION WILL LIE. GOTCHA. THANK YOU.
FURTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. MA'AM. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST? ITEM 12, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
AND I DO THINK WHEN WE MODEL HOW WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THINGS THAT AFFECT OUR CITY, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH THIS TACTIC AND DON'T THINK THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO. SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I'M DOING, IS TRYING TO SHOW CITIZENS WE CAN HAVE QUESTIONS AND ASK THINGS IN A IN A PUBLIC MEETING.
THAT'S WHAT THIS HAS CREATED FOR US TO BE PRESENT FOR.
THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT SIMPLIFIED FOR THE BUSINESSES. OKAY. SO THEY'RE TAKING OVER THAT BURDEN.
THE CITY NO LONGER HAS TO DO IT. AND TO ME, THIS SHEET RIGHT HERE, THIS SLIDE HERE SHOWS THAT THERE'S A LOSS OF REVENUE, BUT THE CITY IS NO LONGER HAVING TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES.
OKAY. SO WE'RE NOT HAVING TO DO THOSE SERVICES ANYMORE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO RECOUP IT BY GETTING OTHER PEOPLE TO PAY MORE MONEY.
ALL RIGHT. WE'RE NOT TRYING TO MAKE A PROFIT.
SO IF OUR SERVICES ARE GOING DOWN. WE DON'T NEED TO REPLACE THOSE SERVICES.
WE NEED TO UTILIZE THE TOOLS AND FOCUS ON THE TOOLS OR THE THE ACTIVITIES WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
[00:35:05]
SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY NON-PROFITS AND DAYCARE CENTERS, ALL THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY MORE MONEY BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT.THE FOOD TRUCK IS NO LONGER BEING DEALT WITH AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
IT WAS SAID THAT AND I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY HEALTH.
I MEAN, I KNOW THERE'S HEALTH CONCERNS, BUT THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM NOW.
AND SO I THINK THAT REMINDS ME OF THIS BYOB PERMIT.
WE TOOK OVER AN AREA THAT WE THOUGHT WOULD BE POTENTIALLY A PROBLEM, BUT INSTEAD OF JUST DOING THE THING WE SHOULD HAVE DONE IN THE FIRST PLACE, IT'S GO. GO STRAIGHT TO TAKING MORE CONTROL. AND WE DON'T HAVE WE'RE NOT GOOD AT COLLECTING REVENUE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S BEEN RECTIFIED. WE ARE NOW TALKING ABOUT CITYLINK.
WE HAVE BEEN CHARGING THEM THE RIGHT FEES FOR TEN YEARS OR ALMOST TEN YEARS.
IT'S NOT WHAT GETS OUR OUR THINGS ACCOMPLISHED IN OUR CITY.
IT'S PART OF WHAT YOU DO TO MAKE IT MORE EFFECTIVE AND GET PEOPLE TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.
BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE CATCH ALL END ALL FOR REVENUE.
SO IT'S FRUSTRATING TO ME AS A CITIZEN TO GO, WHY, IF THE STATE'S TAKING OVER IT AND THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HIRE BY CONTRACT SERVICES, THE CITY EMPLOYEES TO DO THE JOB, THAT MEANS THE STATE'S GOING TO BE PAYING FOR SOME OF THESE SERVICES.
WHY DON'T WE WAIT AND SEE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BEFORE WE JUST, YOU KNOW, PULL THE TRIGGER AND START COLLECTING MORE MONEY FROM CITIZENS BECAUSE YOU'VE ALREADY RAISED OUR TAXES. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS WANTING TO RAISE MORE TAXES.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE JUST HAVE TO SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH SOMETIME, AND I WISH THAT Y'ALL WOULD HAVE THESE KIND OF DISCUSSIONS MORE FREQUENTLY SO CITIZENS CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON. AND IF IT IS ABOUT REVENUE, THEN THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING MORE THAN WHAT YOU ACTUALLY HAVE SERVICES YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING IT FOR. SO THANK YOU. STILL A PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 12.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION. AND A SECOND. SO MOVED.
I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN ESPINOZA. SECOND.
SECOND BY COUNCILMAN CRAVER. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? READY TO VOTE? ALL YESES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES.
WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 14 ON THE REGULAR AGENDA.
[14. Ordinance (Final Reading) Z-2025-25: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on A Request From The Owners, To Amend The Terms And Conditions Of A Planned Development District (PDD-104), Specifically To Allow For Multi-Family (MF) Base Zoning In Tract 4. Located Along East South 27th Street. (Tim Littlejohn) ]
AND I'LL ASK TIM LITTLEJOHN, DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THIS MORNING IS ZONING CASE 2025 25.
THE OWNER IS NGE INVESTMENT CORPORATION. THE REQUEST FOR YOU TO CONSIDER IS TO AMEND THE TERMS OF PLANNED DEVELOPMENT 104 SPECIFICALLY TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL MULTIFAMILY USES USERS WITHIN THE 700 BLOCK OF EAST SOUTH 27TH STREET.
HERE'S THE AERIAL LOCATION MAP. THIS OUTLINES THE PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.
HERE ARE SOME PROPERTY VIEWS. THIS AMENDMENT SPECIFICALLY IS AFFECTED AFFECTING TRACK FOUR WITHIN THAT PLAN DEVELOPMENT. THIS IS WHERE THEY'RE REQUESTING TO HAVE ALLOWABLE MULTIFAMILY USES WITHIN TRACK FOUR.
TO THE WEST OF THIS TRACK FOUR, THERE'S SOME MORE MULTIFAMILY THAT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW.
HERE'S THE CONCEPTUAL PLAN THAT THEY'RE PROPOSING.
NOTIFICATIONS WERE SENT OUT. WE DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY IN FAVOR, BUT WE DID RECEIVE TWO OPPOSED, RESULTING IN A 2.89% IN OPPOSITION. THIS REQUEST MEETS ALL THE CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL WITHIN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
PNC DID HEAR THIS CASE AND THEY ARE RECOMMENDING TO YOU APPROVAL THIS MORNING.
AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS FOR TIM.
JUST A QUICK ONE. CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE COLOR TRACK MAP? THE TRACK FOUR THAT'S HAVING THE ZONE CHANGE IS NOT THE FULL YELLOW TRACK FOUR.
SO DOES THIS CHANGE THE BOUNDARIES OF TRACK FOUR IN ANY WAY OR.
NO, IT'S THE SAME. THE LINES THERE ARE NOT PROBABLY QUITE ACCURATE AS IT SHOULD BE.
OKAY. BUT YEAH, IT SHOULD ACTUALLY EXTEND DOWN TO THE SOUTH JUST A LITTLE BIT.
IT SHOULD COMPLETELY COVER THE YELLOW. RIGHT. OKAY. I JUST I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS CHANGING THE BOUNDARY OR. NO, SIR. NO THANK YOU. FURTHER QUESTIONS. 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 14. 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.
SO MOVED. HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN PRICE. SECOND.
SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BEARD. DISCUSSION. WE'RE READY TO VOTE.
[00:40:08]
ALL YESES, MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 15.[15. Ordinance (Final Reading) Z-2025-27: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on A Request From The Owner, To Change The Zoning Of Approximately 0.23 Acres From Multi-Family (MF) To Mixed Use (MX). Located At 1365 Sayles Boulevard. (Tim Littlejohn)]
AND ONCE AGAIN, I'LL ASK TIM LITTLEJOHN TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. THANK YOU.MAYOR. COUNCIL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. IS ZONING CASE 2025 27.
THE OWNER IS ERIC LUNSFORD. THE REQUEST FOR YOU TO CONSIDER IS CHANGE THE ZONING OF APPROXIMATELY 0.23 ACRES FROM MULTIFAMILY TO A MIXED USE DISTRICT LOCATED AT 1365 SALES BOULEVARD. HERE'S THE LOCATION MAP.
ZONING MAP. HERE ARE THE ALLOWABLE USES IN THE CURRENT ZONING ON THIS PROPERTY.
HERE ARE THE PROPOSED REQUESTED USES WITHIN MIXED USE ZONING.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO IS THEY BOTH ALLOW THE REQUESTED USE.
BUT MIXED USE DOESN'T HAVE A LIMIT LIMITATION ON HOURS OF OPERATION.
NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE DOES, WHICH WOULD BE 6 A.M.
TO 11 P.M.. SO WOULD IT FALL UNDER THE PERSONAL SERVICES? IT WOULD FALL UNDER THE OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL PROFESSIONAL OFFICE.
YES, SIR. THANK YOU. HERE ARE THE PROPERTY VIEWS AND SOME SURROUNDING PICTURES.
NOTIFICATIONS WERE SENT OUT. WE DID RECEIVE TWO IN FAVOR AND SIX OPPOSED.
WHICH? WITH, WHICH RESULTED IN A 12.98 IN OPPOSITION.
THEY ARE RECOMMENDING DENIAL OF A MIXED USE BASE AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER.
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS OF TIM, CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE OPPOSITION? I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE RESPONSE. SO THE CENTER IS THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION FOR THE ZONE CHANGE.
AND IMMEDIATELY TO THE SOUTH IS A RED DOT FOR OPPOSITION.
AND THAT PARTICULAR PROPERTY OWNER SENT A FOLLOW UP LETTER RESCINDING HIS OPPOSITION.
SO I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE DIDN'T REMOVE THE DOT AND THE CALCULATION FOR OPPOSITION.
YEAH, THAT WAS WE. THERE WAS ACTUALLY THREE LETTERS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THAT PROPERTY.
OKAY. THAT'S WHY WE DIDN'T REMOVE IT. IT WAS KIND OF CONFUSING. I MISSED THE THE SEQUENCE THERE.
YES, SIR. APPRECIATE THAT. TIM, FOR THE ZONING AND EXISTING KIND OF AROUND THAT AREA ALREADY.
I KNOW IT SAYS LAW OFFICE. IS THAT REFERRING TO THAT CPA OFFICE? YES. OKAY. SO IF WE WENT TO NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE, THAT'D BE SIMILAR ZONING TO FOR THAT AS WELL.
IT WOULD BE SIMILAR ZONING JUST WITH SOME LIMITS ON THE HOURS OF OPERATION.
OKAY. SO THAT CPA OFFICE CURRENTLY THEY DON'T HAVE A LIMIT ON OFFICE HOURS.
NO, SIR, THEY DO NOT. FURTHER QUESTIONS. TIM.
DOES NOT CPAS. YEAH. THANK YOU. TIM. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST? ITEM 15. PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, AND WE WILL START WITH CARDS IN THAT ORDER DANIELLE DELON.
GOOD MORNING I'M DANIELLE DELON FROM MY HOUSE ON SALES BOULEVARD INCLUDING MY MY NEIGHBOR ALL THE WAY DOWN SALES BOULEVARD TO MAYBE SOUTH THIRD NEAR HIGHLAND CHURCH OF CHRIST IS ALL A NICE, QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD. AT AT THE FIRST FIRST READING ACCORDING TO THE THE REALTOR IN THE, THE PA HEY. SOUNDED LIKE THE LAS VEGAS STRIP.
I MEAN, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT 13 RESIDENCES THAT WERE OPERATING AS BUSINESSES, AND IT KEPT REFERENCING A TATTOO PARLOR, WHICH, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, IS ABOUT HALF A MILE AWAY, NOT ON SALES, BUT ON SOUTH 14TH TOWARD HEB.
[00:45:12]
THERE SHE SAID THERE WAS A GAS STATION RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.WELL, I'M RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, AND, YOU KNOW, A NICE LITTLE BLUE HAIRED PRESBYTERIAN DEACON, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW. BUT ANYWAY I WISH YOU COULD HAVE SEEN ALL THE PEOPLE THAT SHOWED UP IN OPPOSITION AT THE ORIGINAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ZONING HEARING IN, IN OPPOSITION AND THEY, IN FACT, VOTED AGAINST IT.
BUT WHEN SHE APPEALED OF COURSE, IT WENT BACK ON THE AGENDA AND PASSED LIKE, YOU KNOW, EASILY.
SO I JUST I ALREADY HAVE I HAD A GUY LIVING IN MY ALLEY WITH LITTLE WHAT WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? PALLETS OUT OF PALLETS THAT I COULD LEAN OUT MY BEDROOM WINDOW AND SAID, GOOD NIGHT, JOHN BOY. YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST THERE'S THERE'S ENOUGH GOING ON IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ALREADY WITHOUT DISPENSING DRUGS AT 2 A.M. CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE NEXT CARD. I WANT TO KIND OF DO A CLARIFICATION.
SO IT DIDN'T PASS. IT JUST WAS VOTED TO MOVE ON TO THIS MEETING.
I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND THAT. SO NO, I'M NOT CORRECTING YOU.
I'M JUST TRYING TO HELP EVERYONE UNDERSTAND. IT SCARED ME.
THIS UNANIMOUSLY JUST MOVES TO THIS MEETING WHEN WE TAKE FINAL ACTION.
BUT I APPRECIATE YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT. NEXT CARD, ERICA LUNSFORD.
HI. I NEVER DREAMED THAT THIS WOULD GARNER SO MUCH ATTENTION BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS IS MY RESIDENCE, WHICH I'M MAKING IT LOOK NICER THAN A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER HOUSES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT A PAIN MANAGEMENT CLINIC.
I'M NOT DISPENSING NARCOTICS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, MY WEBSITE CLEARLY SAYS NO NARCOTICS BECAUSE I'M VERY TIRED OF DEALING WITH THOSE TYPE OF PEOPLE AND THE EMERGENCY ROOM, WHICH IS WHY I'M TRYING TO TRANSITION TO DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
SO IF ANYTHING, MY PLANS FOR THAT BUILDING AND MY PLANS FOR TURNING THE GARAGE INTO A SMALL OFFICE MAKES THE NEIGHBORHOOD SAFER AND MORE ATTRACTIVE. AND, I MEAN, AND AND I AM I CAN SEE I CAN SEE EVERYTHING GOING ON AT THE GAS STATION FROM MY LIVING ROOM WINDOW.
AND I COULD HAVE EASILY DONE THIS. THERE'S AN EDWARD JONES BUILDING THAT JUST SOLD.
THAT WAS A RESIDENTIAL HOME CONVERTED TO COMMERCIAL.
I MEAN, I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BECAUSE OF THE HONESTLY BECAUSE OF THE, THE PAWN SHOP AND THE PARLOR AND LINGERIE SHOP AND EVERYTHING, WHICH IS LESS THAN HALF A MILE, I CAN EASY TO WALK TO.
I THOUGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, REZONING THIS WOULD BE NO ISSUE, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I'M KEEPING THE HOUSE OF RESIDENCE, WHICH SEEMS TO BE A BIG CONFUSION. I'M SHOCKED THAT THE NEWS CAME TO MY DOOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, AND THEY WERE WANTING TO, YOU KNOW, I'M TEARING EVERYTHING DOWN ON THE INSIDE, AND THEY WERE WANTING TO, LIKE, TAKE PICTURES OF WHAT I'M DOING ON THE INSIDE OF THE HOUSE.
I SAID, THIS IS MY HOUSE. THIS IS NOT THE THIS IS NOT MY THIS IS NOT THE BUSINESS.
THIS IS WHERE I'M LIVING. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BUSINESS. AND THE RENOVATIONS THAT I'M DOING HAVE TO DO WITH WHAT I'M DOING FOR MYSELF AND MY FAMILY TO MAKE IT A COMFORTABLE PLACE TO LIVE, WHICH AGAIN, GIVES THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD A A FACELIFT, SO A LOT OF HOMES IN THAT AREA COULD USE A FACELIFT AND YARD CARE AND NEW DOORS AND NEW WINDOWS. AND THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING TO THAT HOUSE.
AND NO ONE WOULD. IT'D BE LIKE HAVING A BEAUTY SALON WHERE I DID FIVE PEOPLE'S HAIR LIKE A DAY.
I PROBABLY COULD HAVE BUILT ALL MY PRIVACY FENCE AND EVERYTHING, AND HAD A FEW CARS OVER THERE PARKING IN MY NEW DRIVEWAY THAT I'M GOING TO BUILD, AND NO ONE WOULD EVER KNOW. BUT I'M TRYING TO DO IT THE LEGAL WAY AND THE RIGHT WAY SO I DON'T GET IN TROUBLE.
[00:50:03]
SO. BUT I REALLY THINK ULTIMATELY IT'LL BE BEST.IT BE BEST FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'LL BE BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY.
I'M. YEAH, I REALLY BELIEVE THAT I'LL BE HELPING THIS COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU. SHAWNA WILLIFORD.
LUNSFORD AT 1369 SALES AS OUR OFFICE. AND OF COURSE, SHE'S AT 1365.
SO, YES, MISS LUNSFORD IS DOING A LOT OF RENOVATIONS TO THE PROPERTY.
SHE IS BEAUTIFYING THE PROPERTY. IT GREATLY NEEDED A FACELIFT.
IT IS IMPROVING THE BEAUTIFUL BEAUTY OF SALES BOULEVARD.
HOWEVER, OUR CONCERN IS THE HOURS OF OPERATION ARE NOT ENFORCEABLE.
IF IT SWITCHES, IF IT IS REZONED AS MIXED USE.
AS A CPA FIRM, WE OPERATE 8 TO 5, CLOSE OUR DOORS.
WE ARE DONE. WE ARE VERY QUIET. WE HAVE NO, YOU KNOW, ANY ACTIVITY AFTER 5:00.
WHILE THERE ARE A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS WHO SUFFER FROM HOMELESSNESS AND OTHER ISSUES IN OUR AREA, MIGRATION AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT OUR CONCERN IS THOSE PEOPLE MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO MISS LUNSFORD'S WEBSITE, FOR INSTANCE, TO SAY THEY'RE NOT GOING TO KNOW THAT SHE DOES NOT HAVE MEDICAL DRUGS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT ON HER PROPERTY.
SO OUR CONCERN IS BURGLARY. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE IN FACT, UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK MISS LUNSFORD'S PROPERTY HAS ACTUALLY ALREADY BEEN BROKEN INTO WITHIN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. AND SO THAT IS OUR CONCERN.
SOMEONE WHO IS AFTER HOURS WALKING DOWN THE ALLEY IS GOING TO SEE THIS MEDICAL CLINIC IN THE BACK IN THE BACK OF THE PROPERTY, WHICH IS LITERALLY WE SHARE A PROPERTY LINE. SO THAT MEDICAL CLINIC IS LESS THAN TWO FEET FROM OUR PROPERTY.
SO OUR CONCERN IS SOMEONE MAY NOT KNOW THAT SHE DOESN'T HAVE PAIN MEDICINES OR MEDICATIONS THAT THEY ARE IN NEED OF, ESPECIALLY IF THEY SUFFER FROM SOME KIND OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND THEY WANT TO BREAK INTO THE PROPERTY.
AND I DO HAVE A PICTURE, JUST KIND OF A DIAGRAM IF ANYONE WANTS TO SEE.
BUT THE RED LINE IS OUR PROPERTY LINE, AND MISS LUNSFORD'S GARAGE IS RIGHT HERE.
AND IF SHE BUILDS THAT SEVEN FOOT FENCE, THAT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO OBSCURE HER RESIDENCE AND HER VISUAL VISUAL TO THAT GARAGE IN THAT OFFICE CLINIC. SO IT IS CAUSE FOR CONCERN.
I DO KNOW THAT SHE'S UPDATED HER WEBSITE TO SAY TO BE DETERMINED ON THE HOURS OF OPERATION, BUT THERE'S ANOTHER PART OF THE WEBSITE THAT STILL SAYS SHE'S GOING TO OPERATE UNTIL 2 A.M..
SO CONCERN FOR SECURITY OF OUR EMPLOYEES, OUR NEIGHBORS AROUND US, BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, AND WE HAVE SECURITY CAMERAS IN THE TRAFFIC THAT GOES IN AND OUT UNTIL 2 A.M. IN THE AREA IS FRIGHTENING. WE ACTUALLY HAD ONE OTHER, ANOTHER CONCERNED NEIGHBOR COME AND APPROACH US LAST WEEK.
THEY'RE UNFORTUNATELY NOT HERE TODAY. I BELIEVE THEY'RE MILITARY. AND DEPLOYED AS OF THIS LAST WEEK, BUT THEY HAD VIDEO OF AT 2 A.M. ON AMARILLO STREET, ON THE COLLEGE OF AMARILLO, OF A MAN RUNNING AND SCREAMING ACROSS THE YARD AND BEING SHOT AT. AND YOU COULD HEAR THE GUNSHOTS ON THE VIDEO.
SO WE JUST WANTED TO BRING FORWARD OUR CONCERN BEFORE YOU MAKE A DECISION.
THANK YOU. THANKS. CARD. AL. PETRONELLA.
GOOD MORNING. I'M ACTUALLY READING ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE FROM DYESS THAT SHE WAS SPEAKING ABOUT.
IT'S THE CAGLES. HE IS AN ACTIVE COMMUNITY MEMBER.
AND AS A C-130 PILOT FOR DYESS. SO THE REASON REZONING REQUEST BEFORE YOU FOR A MULTIFAMILY TO MIXED USE MAY LOOK LIKE A SMALL CHANGE ON PAPER, BUT FOR THOSE OF US THAT LIVE DIRECTLY BEHIND THE PROPERTY, SEPARATED BY ONLY AN ALLEY, ALLY, THIS IMPACT WOULD BE SIGNIFICANT. WE ARE HOMEOWNERS WE PURCHASED HERE IN THE EXPECTATION THAT THE AREA WOULD REMAIN PRIMARILY PRIMARILY RESIDENTIAL, A PLACE WHERE FAMILIES COULD LIVE IN PEACE. APPROVING MIXED USE ZONING BEHIND OUR HOMES WOULD REPLACE THE QUIET OF A NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THE ACTIVITY OF A LATE NIGHT BUSINESS, AND COMPLETE THE ENTIRE BLOCK INTO A NON RESIDENTIAL NONRESIDENTIAL AT THAT POINT.
ALREADY, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS SEEN AN INCREASE IN PEOPLE LINGERING AND HANGING OUT.
IN THE PAST, WE HAVE CALLED THE POLICE AND NON-EMERGENCY LINE AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES.
WE'VE HAD OUR VEHICLE BROKEN INTO AND RIFLED THROUGH ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.
[00:55:07]
THIS IS NOT AN ABNORMAL EXPERIENCE. WE HAVE MULTIPLE NEIGHBORS VOICE THE SAME ACTIVITIES.WE'VE HAD GUNSHOTS AND PEOPLE WHO APPEAR UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS JUST DOORS DOWN FROM OUR HOUSE, SITTING IN PORCHES AND CHAIRS, PUTTING ACCESS WITH A.
IT SEEMS UNFAIR TO HAVE SOMEONE MOVE IN TO MOVE IN WHO IS NOT FAMILIAR WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, ASSUMING THAT IT COULD BETTER EXTENSION OF OUR STREET WITHOUT TAKING OR GETTING TO KNOW THE AREA BEFOREHAND.
AS I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THIS HONESTLY, IF THIS WAS YOUR BACKYARD JUST ACROSS FROM YOUR OWN ALLEY, WOULD YOU WANT TO QUESTION WHO IS LEAVING AND GOING BEHIND YOUR HOUSE UNTIL 2 A.M.? THE IDEA OF A MEDICAL PERSONNEL ARE AVAILABLE TO ANYONE AT ANY TIME BEGS THE QUESTION OF WHAT THEIR INTENTION WOULD BE PAST NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS THAT DOES NOT BELONG TO BE SEEN IN THE ER AS AN URGENT CARE OR ER, NOT IN A GARAGE.
IT SENDS A SIGNAL THAT THE RESIDENTIAL ALLEY CAN SUDDENLY BECOME A COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR.
THIS IS NOT A VISION, A VISION OF THE STABLE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SANDI FREEMAN. I'M HERE, BUT I HAD NOT PLANNED TO SPEAK.
OKAY. CLAY. FREEMAN. SAME. OKAY. THEY BOTH ARE IN OPPOSITION.
THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL THE CARDS. ALL THE CARDS.
WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 15.
I'VE A RESIDENT OF ABILENE. I'VE WATCHED THIS PROCESS A LOT.
THROUGH WATCHING HOW THE PLANNING AND ZONING DOES IT AND THEN HOW Y'ALL ENTERTAIN THESE IDEAS.
SO WHILE PLANNING AND ZONING HAS DENIED IT, IT'S NOT IN COMPLETE.
IT'S NOT A CRAZY IDEA TO THINK THAT Y'ALL COULD APPROVE IT.
REGARDLESS, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S TWO ISSUES AT PLAY, AND IT'S HARD WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH SOME FEAR AND POSSIBLY NOT KNOWING THE FULL DETAILS THAT YOU MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IT'S LIMITED, IT'S FOCUSED, AND IT'S SO A MOM CAN WORK FROM HER HOME AND IN AN AREA THAT ALREADY HAS THIS MIXED USE, ALREADY HAS THIS GOING ON. SO IT'S KIND OF CONFUSING TO ME AS A CITIZEN TO GO SAY, WELL, THIS HOUSE IS OKAY, BUT THE NEXT DOOR ONE IS NOT. IT'S NOT LIKE THIS IS IN THE MIDDLE OF BETWEEN 13 AND 30.
AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT THE CITY'S LACK OF POLICING THE AREA.
AND I'M THANKFUL FOR PEOPLE LIKE HER BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONS ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS, ARE NOT TREATING US AND TAKING CARE OF US. SO TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S WILLING TO FOREGO GETTING INSURANCE PAYMENTS AND ALL THE BENEFITS THAT COME WITH THAT, TO DO IT ON OUR OWN, TO ACTUALLY PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE, I THINK IS A GREAT ASSET TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO WHILE I DON'T LIKE NECESSARILY STANDING IN OPPOSITION OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, I'VE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT SALE STREET FOR A LONG TIME AND WONDERING WHAT THE DIRECTION OF IT WAS GOING TO BE, AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S MOVING INTO WHERE ESPECIALLY CLOSE TO 14TH AND AND BETWEEN 14TH AND SOUTHWEST, IT'S MOVING INTO MORE MIXED USE HOMES. I MEAN THAT LITERALLY CROSS THE STREET FROM THE PAWN SHOP.
I FORGOT ABOUT ALL THE THE NAIL SALON AND THE LINGERIE STORE.
AND THEN THERE'S SOMETHING EVEN NEXT TO THE SNOW CONE. I MEAN, IT'S IT'S NOT A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. SALES IS NO LONGER JUST ABOUT RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S IT'S MOVED AND IT'S CHANGED. SO I WOULD JUST MAKE SURE THAT HOW YOU VIEW THIS AS YOU SEPARATE THE TWO ISSUES, ONE IS THERE'S A CRIME PROBLEM. WE HAVE HOMELESS PROBLEM, WE HAVE PEOPLE RUNNING THE STREETS IN TIMES THEY SHOULDN'T.
AND THEN WE HAVE A PERSON WANTING TO REZONE HER HOME SO SHE CAN DO SOMETHING OUTSIDE THE BOX.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. STILL, THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 15.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? SEEING NO ONE I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
[01:00:08]
I THINK ONE OF THE EARLIER SPEAKERS ASKED OR MENTIONED THE ENFORCEMENT SIDE OF THINGS AS FAR AS THE HOURS GO.WHAT MECHANISMS DO WE HAVE? IF IT'S, YOU KNOW, IF THEY SAY, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO BE OPEN FROM 9 TO 5 ONLY WE'RE GOING TO BE SHUT DOWN AT FIVE TWO YEARS FROM NOW. WHAT'S WHAT KIND OF ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS DO WE HAVE? SO ZONING VIOLATIONS CAN BE ISSUED A CITATION AND ZONING VIOLATIONS AND ABILENE ARE UP TO A $2,000 FINE PER DAY.
SO IT'S FAIRLY STIFF FOR VIOLATING THE ZONING VIOLATIONS.
SO THAT WOULD BE THE POSSIBLE REMEDY, AMONG OTHERS, MAYBE.
I THINK IT HAD TO RELATE TO BEAUTY OR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT DOWN ON THE OTHER END OF SALES, MAYBE SALES AND THIRD OR FOURTH OR FIFTH. WHAT WAS THE ZONING ON THAT, IF YOU REMEMBER, OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD? THAT ONE WAS NEIGHBORHOOD RETAIL. NEIGHBORHOOD RETAIL.
OKAY. AND THE REQUEST ON THIS. I KNOW WE'VE GOT THREE DIFFERENT KIND OF ZONING SLIDES IN HERE.
JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, WHAT'S THE FINAL WHAT'S THE FINAL REQUEST OF COUNCIL RIGHT NOW AS FAR AS WHAT THEY'RE WANTING US TO ZONE IT AS THE OFFICIAL REQUEST FROM THE APPLICANT ON THIS IS THE MIX IS THE MIXED USE. BUT THE COUNCIL HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DOWN ZONE IT TO A LESS INTENSIVE DISTRICT. BY RIGHT. AND THEN THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE A DOWN ZONE OF WHAT WE SHOWED YOU IN THE SLIDE.
THAT WAY YOU WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO LIMIT THE HOURS OF OPERATION, YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE.
EXCUSE ME. WE COULD DOWNGRADE IT TO NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE.
YES, SIR. OKAY, TIM, IF WE DID DOWNGRADE IT TO NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE, IS THERE ANYTHING IN THAT ZONING THAT WOULD BE MORE STRICT AS FAR AS PARKING IN THAT AREA? NO, IT'S BASED OFF OF ONE PER 500FT². THAT'S THAT'S DICTATED BY THE LAND USE METRICS THAT'S BEEN ADOPTED.
EACH EACH PARTICULAR USE HAS A PARKING REQUIREMENT WITHIN EACH DISTRICT, BUT IT GOES BY USE.
SO THE ACCORDING TO THIS MAP AND I'M LOOKING AT PAGE STOP POPPING UP THE PAGE NUMBER.
BUT ON THE ZONING MAP THE, THE I THINK IT'S THE CPA.
YEAH. THAT ONE THE CPA OFFICE IN BLUE IS THAT NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE ZONED AS NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE? OFFICE? THAT'S JUST STRAIGHT OFFICE. OKAY. OKAY.
OKAY. AND AGAIN, YOU MAY NOT KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT JUST OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD, DO YOU KNOW IF BETWEEN COLLEGE STREET AND LET'S SAY FIFTH ON SALES, IS IT IS IT ALL RESIDENTIAL OR IF WE ARE THERE KIND OF EXCEPTIONS THROUGHOUT.
THROUGHOUT SALES. SALES IS IN THE PROCESS OF SLOWLY TRANSITIONING TO SOME HOUSES, SOME OFFICES. THERE'S SOME RETAIL. JUST LIKE THE BEAUTY PLACE.
IT'S BEING AN ARTERIAL THE WAY IT IS. IT'S A NATURAL PROGRESSION FOR IT TO TRANSITION A LITTLE BIT.
AND STAFF UNDERSTANDS IT'S HARD WHEN THINGS TRANSITION.
IT'S HARD TO ADJUST. BUT THE MARKET KIND OF DICTATES THAT, HONESTLY, JUST THE WAY BUFFALO GAP, YOU KNOW, TRANSITIONED BACK IN THE DAY, IT USED TO BE RESIDENTIAL DOWN THROUGH THERE AS WELL.
BUT AS IT AS THE MARKET DEMANDED, IT TRANSITIONED INTO MORE COMMERCIAL TYPE USES.
AND I THINK THE BLEND, YOU KNOW, PLANNING PRACTICES, THE BLEND OF NEIGHBORHOOD TYPE RETAIL OFFICE OR AN OFFICE IS A GOOD A GOOD BUFFER BETWEEN EXISTING RESIDENTIAL AND SOME OF THE USES THAT ARE WANTING TO GO THERE.
I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY I'M IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THIS AS REQUESTED AS THE MIXED USE.
ZONING IS TO KIND OF ENSURE COMPATIBILITY. AND THERE'S BEEN SOME FEARS EXPRESSED, AND THOSE ARE NOT UNFOUNDED, BECAUSE THOSE ACTIVITIES, THOSE HOMELESSNESS AND AND THOSE THOSE THINGS ARE GOING ON, BUT THEY'RE ALREADY GOING ON.
THIS MAY OR MAY NOT AFFECT IT. THERE'S NO REASON TO THINK THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE A CRISIS.
AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, I LOVE THE IDEA OF A DOCTOR BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE SPECIALIZED CARE.
THAT THAT IS A DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVE THAN THE BYZANTINE MEDICAL SYSTEM THAT WE ALL ENJOY EVERY DAY.
[01:05:08]
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS NEEDED OR HOW TO RUN THIS CLINIC.AND WE'RE POSSIBLY GRASPING FOR SOME MIDDLE GROUND THAT THAT IS NOT BASED ON ANYTHING.
I THINK WE RESPECT THE WISHES OF THE PROPERTY OWNER AND APPROVE THE REQUEST.
BUT A YEAR FROM NOW, IF SHE DECIDES TO CHANGE THAT AND SHE'S GOT, YOU KNOW, SHE'S TAKING FIVE AT A TIME, YOU KNOW, SHE'S GOT FIVE CARS OUT OR TEN CARS OUT, WHATEVER. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S ENFORCEABLE BY US OR WHAT'S TO KIND OF PREVENT A YEAR FROM NOW FROM, FROM THE PARKING SITUATION GETTING OUT OF CONTROL? IT'S GOING TO BE BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE BUSINESS, AND IT'S GOING TO BE ONE PER 500FT².
IF THEY MAINTAIN OFF STREET PARKING FOR THAT AMOUNT, THEN THEY'RE IN COMPLIANCE.
OKAY. THE ONLY REASON THAT WOULD CHANGE IS IF THEY EXPAND.
OKAY. OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? SO IF WE CHANGE THE ZONING.
TIM. I HAVE SEVERAL CONCERNS ABOUT THIS, FRANKLY.
WHETHER WE GO TO MULTIFAMILY OR WE DOWNGRADE TO MIXED USE NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOU KNOW WHAT? WHATEVER IT CREATES. IF IF I'M THINKING INTO THE FUTURE A LITTLE BIT, IF THIS PARTICULAR APPLICANT SELLS THAT PROPERTY, IT ALLOWS ANYBODY TO BUILD BY. RIGHT. ANYTHING THAT'S WITHIN THE USE OF THAT, WHATEVER WE CHANGE THE ZONING TO.
AND THERE. THAT'S A BUILD BY. RIGHT? AND WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO STOP IT.
CORRECT. RIGHT. THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT USES IN THIS I, THE GARAGE BASED, CASH BASED MEDICAL FACILITY AT THE EDGE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD. I JUST DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S COMPATIBLE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I THINK YOU CAN YOU CAN COMPARE ALL THE WAY AT THE OTHER END OF SALES.
YOU KNOW, THE EDWARD JONES BUILDING WAS MENTIONED.
I ASSUME WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ONE AT 20TH IN SALES, I GUESS.
I MEAN, THAT'S A LONG WAYS OFF, AND THOSE AREN'T EVEN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND SO I HAVE SOME MULTIPLE CONCERNS ABOUT THE FUTURE USE OF THIS PROPERTY IN THE LONG TERM.
AND THE USE AS DESCRIBED. RIGHT, RIGHT NOW. I HAD SIMILAR CONCERNS WITH REGARD TO IF WE APPROVE THE MIXED USE ZONING. IT'S THERE UNTIL THE COUNCIL TAKES ACTION TO CHANGE ZONING AGAIN AT THE REQUEST OF THE PROPERTY OWNER.
IF CURRENT OWNER DECIDES THAT SHE WANTS TO MOVE TO A MORE FRIENDLY PART OF TOWN THAT ISN'T RESISTING HER EFFORT TO DO HER HOME OCCUPATION. AND I DON'T KNOW, I'VE BEEN LEANING TOWARDS THE NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE OPTION.
BECAUSE IT'S LESS INTENSIVE. IT'S DESIGNED TO BE NEXT TO A NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT WITH THESE, I THINK ONE OF THE MAJOR, MAJOR CONCERNS THAT WE'VE HEARD IS HOURS OF OPERATION.
AND THAT REALLY DOES KIND OF TAKE CARE OF THAT CONCERN.
TIM, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR HER TO GET A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR HOURS WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE? THE NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE, THE ZONING, THE ZONING DISTRICT ALONE HAS A SET OPERATIONAL HOURS OF 6 A.M.
TO 11 P.M.. THAT'S THE REASON STAFF RECOMMENDED THAT OPTION TO YOU TO CONSIDER.
WHAT WERE THE CLOSING HOURS AT 6 A.M. TO 11 P.M.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO PASS THE REQUEST AS WRITTEN FOR MIXED USE.
[01:10:11]
ARE WE ALLOWED TO PROPOSE PASSING IT WITH NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE? WELL, THIS IS THE MOTION. THIS IS THE MOTION.THE MOTION. FIRST. IF THERE'S NOT A SECOND, THEN ANOTHER MOTION CAN BE MADE.
GOTCHA, GOTCHA. THANK YOU. THERE IS NO SECOND TO THIS MOTION.
SHAUN TO RESET. SORRY. NEVER HAD TO DO THIS BEFORE.
I'LL SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN PRICE, A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN ESPINOSA.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? STANLEY, COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN THE VOTE ON THIS? IT'S ROLL CALL. IS THAT CORRECT? NO. OKAY. SORRY.
I SAID SORRY. READY TO VOTE? ONE NO. FROM COUNCIL MEMBER BEARD, BUT THE REST ARE YESES.
SO I BELIEVE THAT THE MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES.
[16. Ordinance (Final Reading) Z-2025-28: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on A Request From The Owner, To Change The Zoning Of Approximately 32.55 Acres From Agriculture Open (AO), Multi-Family (MF) And General Commercial (GC) To General Commercial (GC). Located At 1755 E Stamford Street. (Tim Littlejohn)]
WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 16, AND I'LL ASK TIM LITTLEJOHN TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.THANK YOU. MAYOR. COUNCIL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
IS ZONING CASE 2025 28. THIS IS OWNER IS RAINY RAINY RAINY CREEK LP AGENT IS JACOB MARTIN.
THE REQUEST FOR YOU TO CONSIDER IS THE CHANGE OF ZONING OF APPROXIMATELY 32.5 ACRES FROM AGRICULTURAL, OPEN SPACE, GENERAL COMMERCIAL AND MULTIFAMILY TO A STRAIGHT ZONE OF GENERAL COMMERCIAL LOCATED AT 1755 EAST STAMFORD STREET.
HERE'S THE LOCATION MAP. HERE'S THE EXISTING ZONING MAP.
CORRECTED ZONING MAP. HERE'S THE ALLOWABLE USES WITHIN.
ALLOWABLE USES WITHIN MULTIFAMILY. HERE'S THE REQUESTED USE.
WE DID RECEIVE ONE IN FAVOR, ZERO IN OPPOSITION.
THIS REQUEST MEETS ALL THE CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL WITHIN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
PNC DID HEAR THIS CASE, AND THEY DO RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO YOU THIS MORNING.
AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS OF TIM.
THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST? ITEM 16. PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
SINCE THAT HAS HAPPENED, THE OWNER IS THE SAME OWNER.
THEY HAVE HAD A CHANGE OF WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO ON THE PROPERTY.
AND WITH SUBSTANTIAL FRONTAGE ON THE HIGHWAY, THE EXPRESSWAY ALSO GRIFFITH ROAD AS PART OF PARALLEL IN PARALLEL WITH THIS PROJECT WOULD BE IMPROVED FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD SOUTH OF HERE, ALL THE WAY UP TO I-20.
I BELIEVE THAT'S IN THE CITIES. THE CITY IS ALREADY WORKING ON THAT PROJECT.
WE BELIEVE IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THIS, FOR THIS PROPERTY AND WOULD SEEK YOUR APPROVAL AS WELL.
I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. CLAYTON. THANK YOU.
CLAYTON. THANK YOU. STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 16.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND. MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BEARD. SECOND. WHO GOT IT? I GOT THE SECOND BY COUNCILMAN PRICE. YOU GOT TO BE FAST FINGERS.
QUICK FINGERS. SAY IT LOUDER NEXT TIME. WE'RE READY TO VOTE.
[17. Ordinance (Final Reading) Z-2025-29: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on A Request From The Owner, To Change The Zoning Of Approximately 106.76 Acres From Residential Single-Family (RS-8) To Residential Single-Family (RS-6). Located At The 6700 Block Of Lantana Avenue. (Tim Littlejohn)]
THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR COUNCIL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.ZONING CASE 2025 29. OWNER IS RED. RED DIRT HOLDING AGENT IS JACOB MARTIN.
[01:15:07]
LOCATION IS A 6700 BLOCK OF LANTANA. HERE'S THE LOCATION MAP.HERE'S THE CURRENT ZONING. HERE ARE THE ALLOWABLE USES WITHIN THE RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICT.
PROPERTY VIEWS. THIS IS LOCATED AT ELM CREEK ROAD.
THIS IS THE THE WESTERN EDGE THAT HAS NOT BEEN DEVELOPED YET.
THIS 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 TO TIM. CAN YOU ADDRESS THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT'S COME UP ON THE OPPOSITION MAP.
CAN YOU JUST TOUCH ON THAT? YEAH. THE HOUSE BILL, NUMBER 24 THAT PASSED THIS YEAR HAD CHANGED THE THE SUPERMAJORITY FROM 20% TO 60% WHEN IT HAS TO DO ANYTHING WITH RESIDENTIAL DENSITY.
THAT'S WHY YOU'RE NOT SEEING A SUPERMAJORITY REQUIREMENT TODAY, IS THAT IT DID MOVE FROM 20% TO 60%.
THANKS, TIM. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? TIM? TIM. THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST? ITEM 17. PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
IT ALSO REPRESENTS SOME CHANGING MARKET CONDITIONS. I FEEL A BIT LIKE A BROKEN RECORD, BUT THAT IS ACCURATE FOR THIS PROPERTY AS WELL. SO THIS PROPERTY IS ACTUALLY UNDER CONTRACT RIGHT NOW. AND I'M IN A UNIQUE POSITION THAT WE'RE REPRESENTING THE PROPERTY OWNER IN THIS ZONING CASE, BUT ALSO THE THE BUYER OF THE TRACT, THE THE POTENTIAL BUYER OF THE TRACT. I'M TOLD BETWEEN BOTH OF THEM THAT THERE'S BEEN ONGOING DIALOG WITH THE HOA WHICH I, WE WOULD HAVE ALWAYS ENCOURAGED. I'VE NOT BEEN PARTY TO THOSE CONVERSATIONS, BUT I'M TOLD THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED AND WE WOULD ALWAYS ENCOURAGE WHEN THERE IS A CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP THAT THAT'S FOR TRANSPARENCY SAKE IS ALWAYS A GOOD, GOOD THING.
FINALLY, BECAUSE WE'RE WORKING FOR BOTH ENTITIES, WE'RE IN A, IN A POSITION WHERE WE CAN INFLUENCE AND ENCOURAGE HOW THAT TRANSITION OCCURS BETWEEN THE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHAT IS PLANNED IN THE FUTURE.
I'LL SAY, AS PART OF WHAT WE HAVE LAID OUT AND INTEND TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, IF THIS MOVES ON, IS A VERY INTENTIONAL TRANSITION BETWEEN FROM THE EXISTING ELM CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD INTO WHATEVER IS PLANNED IN THE FUTURE.
I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY OF ME. CHRIS CLAYTON, APPRECIATE THAT.
THANKS. WE'RE STILL ON ITEM 17. PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 17? SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION. AND A SECOND.
SO MOVED. HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN CRAVER.
SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN YATES. FURTHER DISCUSSION.
WE'RE READY TO VOTE. YES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES.
WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 18 AND TIM LITTLEJOHN AGAIN.
[18. Ordinance (Final Reading) Z-2025-30: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on A Request From The Owner, To Change The Zoning Of Approximately 99.45 Acres From Agricultural Open (AO) To Residential Single-Family (RS-6). Located At The 6600 Block Of HWY 277 S. (Tim Littlejohn)]
HEY, TIM. HEY. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.IS ZONING CASE 2025 DASH 30 AGENTS JACOB MARTIN.
THE REQUEST FOR YOU TO CONSIDER IS THE CHANGE OF ZONING OF APPROXIMATELY 99.4 ACRES FROM AGRICULTURAL OPEN SPACE TO AN RS SIX DISTRICT LOCATED ALONG THE 6600 BLOCK OF HIGHWAY 277. HERE'S THE LOCATION MAP.
HERE'S THE CURRENT ZONING MAP. HERE ARE THE PROPERTY VIEWS.
SURROUNDING. SURROUNDING PROPERTY. VIEWS. HERE ARE THE ALLOWABLE USES WITHIN AGRICULTURAL OPEN SPACE AND THE PROPOSED USES WITHIN THE RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICT. NOTIFICATIONS WERE SENT OUT.
WE RECEIVED TWO IN OPPOSITION, WHICH RESULTED IN A 29.94% IN OPPOSITION.
THIS REQUEST MEETS ALL THE CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL WITHIN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
QUESTIONS. TIM. THANK YOU. TIM. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
[01:20:09]
IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST? ITEM 18. PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.JUST OUT ON THE FRONT ROW. CLAYTON FARRELL, AGENT FOR THE PROPERTY OWNER.
THIS IS A ZONING REQUEST TO SUPPORT A SINGLE FAMILY ADDITION TO THIS PROPERTY.
JUST DOWN THE STREET. WE HAD A MULTIFAMILY GET CONSTRUCTED SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
IT'S DONE WELL. AND THIS WOULD BE, WE WOULD THINK, A BIT FURTHER OUT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO TO TRANSITION DOWN TO A SMALLER SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED DEVELOPMENT. AS PART OF THIS PROPERTY WE PROJECT, WE WOULD HAVE TO IMPROVE AUTUMN SAGE.
SO WE BELIEVE IT'S APPROPRIATE AND WOULD SEEK YOUR SUPPORT AS WELL.
I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS FOR CLAYTON.
YOU WANT TO ASK FOR A TRAFFIC SURVEY? WELL, I WAS GOING TO BRING IT UP.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO THIS ONE IS YET ANOTHER RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT THAT IS AT THAT INTERSECTION OF AUTUMN SAGE AND HIGHWAY 277. THAT IS A TEX DOT SIGNAL, I THINK. HAVE WE TAKEN ANY STEPS TO HAVING THEM CONSIDER THE POTENTIAL INCREASED TRAFFIC? YES, SIR. WE ARE TALKING TO TEX DOT ABOUT THESE NEW NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENTS AND THE EXPECTED INCREASE IN TRAFFIC.
WORKING WITH TEXDOT. WE WORK THROUGH THEIR PROCESSES, WHICH GENERALLY INVOLVES A TRAFFIC STUDY, AND UNTIL THERE IS TRAFFIC, THERE IS NOT MUCH TO STUDY.
WE ARE SUBJECT TO THEIR PROCESSES. THANK YOU.
WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 18.
YOU BROUGHT IT UP CONFUSING ME. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 18? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SO MOVED. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN REAGAN.
HE'S ON TIME. SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BEARD.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE'RE READY TO VOTE. OH, YESES.
MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM ADAM 19 AND TIM LITTLEJOHN.
[19. Ordinance (Final Reading) Z-2025-31: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on A Request From The Owner, To Change The Zoning Of Approximately 5.10 Acres From Heavy Industrial (HI) To Light Industrial (LI). Located At 4325 Burl Harris Dr. (Tim Littlejohn)]
ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.IT'S THE ONLY CASE. 202531 OWNER IS ESCO RANCH.
LIMITED AGENT IS HIBBS AND TODD. REQUEST IS TO CHANGE THE ZONING OF APPROXIMATELY 5.10 ACRES FROM HEAVY INDUSTRIAL TO LIGHT INDUSTRIAL LOCATED AT 4325 BERLE HARRIS DRIVE.
HERE'S THE ZONING MAP. HERE ARE THE PERMITTED USES WITHIN THE HEAVY INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICT.
AND HERE ARE THE ALLOWABLE USES WITHIN THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICT.
HERE'S THE PROPERTY VIEWS AND SURROUNDING AREA.
NOTIFICATION IS WORSE THAN THAT. WE DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY IN RETURN.
THIS REQUEST MEETS ALL THE CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL WITHIN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
QUESTIONS OF 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 19.
PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. BJ PRITCHARD EIGHT.
AGENT FOR THE APPLICANT. THIS IS JUST A SIMPLE DOWN ZONE HERE.
HE'S JUST LOOKING FOR A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY ON THAT PROPERTY. I BELIEVE HE'S LOOKING TO DO SOME OFFICES OR SOME OTHER PROFESSIONAL TYPE SPACE THAT HEAVY INDUSTRIAL JUST DIDN'T ALLOW FOR. SO SIMILAR TO EVERYTHING ELSE GOING ON AROUND IT.
AND WE FEEL IT'S A COMPATIBLE USE FOR THE AREA.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS IT IS.
I'M GLAD TO SEE THIS DEVELOPING OUT. THAT'S THAT AREA IS TURNING INTO A NICE DEVELOPMENT.
SO ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. THANKS. STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 19? PLEASE COME FORWARD. 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. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BEARD.
SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN PRICE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE'RE READY TO VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. CARRIES.
WE ARE ABOUT TO RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I'M GOING TO READ THIS OFF, BUT I THINK THERE MAY BE SEVERAL PEOPLE HERE ON MAXWELL.
AND THAT WILL BE THE ITEM WHEN WE COME BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
IT IS NOW 9:55 A.M.. WE RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, SECTION 551 .071 CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY.[01:25:09]
SECTION 551.072 DELIBERATIONS ABOUT REAL PROPERTY.SECTION 551.073 DELIBERATIONS ABOUT GIFTS AND DONATIONS.
SECTION 551.074 PERSONNEL MATTERS. SECTION 551.076.
YEAH, I WAS GOING TO SAY IT'S NOW 10:30 A.M..
[RECONVENE]
WE RECONVENED INTO OPEN SESSION. NO VOTES OR ACTIONS WERE TAKEN DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION.WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 21. AND I'LL ASK EMILY CRAWFORD, CITY MANAGER, TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.
[21. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Accepting a Proposal for Management Services on City Owned Property at 1002 S 32nd Street, known as Maxwell Golf Course (Emily Crawford)]
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I PRESS THE WRONG BUTTON.SO THE LEASE OF MAXWELL GOLF COURSE DID EXPIRE ON SEPTEMBER 30TH.
WE WERE UNSURE WHAT THE MARKET WOULD BE INTERESTED IN OR WHAT OPPORTUNITIES WE HAD FOR MAXWELL IN THE FUTURE, SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE ALLOWING BOTH OF THOSE OPTIONS.
WE DID RECEIVE ONE RFP FOR MANAGEMENT. WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY BIDS FOR THE PURCHASE OF MAXWELL.
WE DO HAVE A CONTRACT WITH A PROFESSIONAL GREENKEEPING GROUP WHO ARE MAINTAINING THE GROUNDS FOR US THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY, SO THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COURSE IS MAINTAINED THAT IT DOES NOT BECOME A CHALLENGE FOR FOR THE CITY OR FOR THE NEXT GROUP WHO WILL BE MANAGING MAXWELL AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU REJECT THE ONE MANAGEMENT PROPOSAL.
QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? DISCUSSION. SO THERE WERE NO OFFERS TO PURCHASE. ON THE ON ON THE PROPOSAL FOR SALE.
MAXWELL. I KNOW WHAT I, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS TO SEE US CONTINUE TO LOOK AT A NEW MANAGEMENT COMPANY FOR THIS, BUT THAT WILL BE, YOU KNOW, UP FOR DISCUSSION.
WE HAD HOPED THAT IT WOULD HAVE NEW OWNERSHIP.
IT'S NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT. THERE WERE NO BIDS TAKEN.
I AGREE, I THINK THAT WE LEARNED WITH THIS THAT PUTTING IT OUT FOR SALE AND FOR BIDS FOR MANAGEMENT AT THE SAME TIME WAS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE. I THINK IF WE ARE VERY CLEAR IN OUR DIRECTION THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO SELL THE PROPERTY, WE'RE JUST GOING TO ASK FOR PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT TO STEP IN, THAT WE MAY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET GOOD OFFERS, GOOD PROPOSALS THAT WE CAN THEN CONSIDER BECAUSE IT'S IT'S A SERIOUS INVESTMENT ON THE PART OF THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY.
IT'S NOT JUST WALK IN AND START RUNNING THINGS.
THEY'VE GOT TO INVEST SOME THINGS. AND IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY THAT THE CITY COULD SELL IT OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THEM, THEN THAT KIND OF CHILLS THE, THE INTEREST. AND I SUPPORT US MOVING FORWARD WITH OPENING UP FOR BIDS AGAIN FOR JUST MANAGEMENT WITH A CLEAR DIRECTION THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO TRY AND SELL.
THANK YOU. YEAH, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS. I THINK THIS IS A GREAT A GREAT DIRECTION.
IF WE CAN FIND A GOOD MANAGEMENT COMPANY, WE CAN YOU KNOW, WORK OUT THE DETAILS.
[01:30:02]
BUT IF WE CAN IMPROVE ON THE, ON THE COURSE AND THE FACILITIES OUT THERE OVER TIME AND IN A KIND OF A, YOU KNOW, A LONG TERM MANAGEMENT I THINK IT'S GREAT FOR OUR, FOR OUR RESIDENTS.AND JUST BEING ABLE TO HAVE VALUE ADDED TO A MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE IS IMPORTANT.
OBVIOUSLY, THE RECREATIONAL PIECE, AS WELL AS THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PIECE IS IMPORTANT TO US.
I ECHO WHAT SHANE SHARED. I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE INTERESTED, BUT I THINK IT WAS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE IN TERMS OF SELLING AS WELL AS MANAGEMENT, AND IT MAKES ME EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THE POTENTIAL FUTURE LOOKS LIKE.
THANK YOU EMILY. THANK YOU. AND I'LL SAY, I THINK REALITY IS THAT THE CITY OWNS IT.
AND WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO NEED TO LOOK AT INVESTING IN IMPROVING SOME OF THE FACILITIES THERE, THE MAIN BUILDING, THE BATHROOMS. AND AND SO THAT'S JUST PART OF THE DISCUSSION THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO DO YOU HAVE IN THE FUTURE? YEAH, I THINK COUNCILMAN. SO JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT WE KNOW MAXWELL IS NOT OPEN AS OF OCTOBER 1ST.
WE ARE CONTINUING TO MAINTAIN WATER. THE GREENS, MOW IT THE MAINTENANCE THAT IT NEEDS SO THAT IT'S NOT SOME LONG TERM EFFECTS AND THAT WE ARE GOING TO ACTIVELY LOOK FOR FUTURE MANAGEMENT OF MAXWELL.
HOPEFULLY SOONER THAN LATER. AT THIS TIME, I WILL 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. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I'M MIKE FRISCH.
I'M A PLAYER GOLF. AND I WANT TO JUST SPEAK QUICKLY ABOUT MAYBE THE MANAGERIAL TYPE OF COMPANY.
I'M NOT A MANAGERIAL CONSULTANT AT ALL, BUT I WAS JUST LOOKING AT PURE ECONOMICS.
THAT COURSE GENERATES OVER $1 MILLION A YEAR.
THAT'S ROUGHLY 25,000 PLAYERS PLAYING A YEAR AT $40 EACH.
THAT'S ABOUT AVERAGE IN THE UNITED STATES AS FAR AS PLAYING ON GOLF COURSES.
NOW, THE REASON I THINK WE COULD GO TO A MANAGEMENT COMPANY IS THE FACT THAT THIS MILLION DOLLARS, IF YOU BUDGET, IF THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY SAYS, OKAY, WE NEED ABOUT 80% OF THAT, WHICH IS 800,000, THE OTHER 200,000, WHERE DOES IT GO? BACK TO THE CITY.
THE CITY CAN DETERMINE WHAT THEY WANT TO USE THAT $200,000 FOR.
JUST A THOUGHT FOR YOU ALL TO THINK ABOUT IN TERMS OF A MANAGERIAL CONCEPT FOR THIS GOLF COURSE.
GIVE SOME PEOPLE SOME OPTIONS TO PLAY. SO JUST THINK THAT THROUGH IF YOU WILL.
THANK YOU. QUESTION DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
THANK YOU SIR. STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? COME FORWARD.
HELLO. I'M A. GOOD MORNING MARCUS. I AM THE OR WAS THE HEAD INSTRUCTOR FOR MAXWELL GOLF COURSE.
BEEN THERE ABOUT 20, 25 YEARS DOING THIS. AND SO THE PROPOSAL THAT I PUT IN, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, LIKE, DOESN'T HAVE TO BE OVER THIS, BUT, YOU KNOW, WHERE I MISSED OUT ON.
I GET A LITTLE EMOTIONAL BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT NOT ONLY FOR MY SENIORS THAT ARE HERE BUT ALSO THE HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS THAT I COACH FOR THEM TO HAVE AN ADEQUATE PLACE FOR THEM TO LEARN AND WORK ON THE GAME AND GET BETTER, WHICH A LOT OF MY STUDENTS HAVE TO HAVE THAT PLACE AGAIN, A MANAGERIAL GROUP I GET BUT I'VE DONE A LOT OF MANAGERIAL THINGS IN MY CAREER THAT I KNOW HOW TO RUN, AND CUSTOMER SERVICE IS TOP KEY.
I KNOW HOW TO PROMOTE TO GET MONEY BACK INTO THE GOLF COURSE, TO WHERE I CAN'T, YOU KNOW, DON'T WANT TO SAY EVIL THINGS ABOUT THE PAST.
[01:35:02]
BUT I WILL SAY THAT I HAVE A LITTLE MORE, MORE IMAGINATIVE SKILLS AND EXCUSE ME.AND TO CREATE MONEY AND PUT IT BACK INTO THE COURSE AS WELL AS TO THE CITY, BECAUSE AGAIN, I'M, I'M FROM HERE BORN HERE, PLAYED AT MAXWELL SINCE I WAS FIVE YEARS OLD.
SO LIKE I SAID, I HAVE A HUGE EMOTIONAL TIE TO TO THIS.
AND ANYWAY, LIKE I SAID, JUST WANTED TO PUT MY $0.02 IN AND I LET YOU KNOW THAT I REALLY KNOW THAT I COULD, YOU KNOW, REALLY PUSH THIS INTO A GREAT SPECTRUM.
AND ANOTHER WAY OF GETTING MAXWELL BACK TO WHAT IT USED TO BE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS? TAMMY FOGEL, RESIDENT OF ABILENE.
I THINK THAT THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY WITH A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WHERE WE CAN WRITE AND WRITE.
I DON'T WANT TO SAY WRITE THE SHIP, BUT, YEAH, MOVE FORWARD IN A BETTER WAY, BECAUSE WHAT I'VE UNDERSTOOD IS THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME CONCERNS FOR PROBABLY TWO YEARS NOW, OR MAYBE ALMOST TWO YEARS ABOUT JUST HOW YOU'RE GOING TO FIX IT, MAINTAIN IT AND GET IT UP TO SNUFF. AND SO IT WAS GREAT THAT SHE SAID THAT THE OR, I DON'T KNOW WHO SAID THAT THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY WILL HAVE TO INVEST IN THIS.
AND THEN IT WAS REPEATED. BUT THE CITY NEEDS TO ALSO INVEST.
I KNOW IT TOOK ME ONE TIME, NINE MONTHS TO SELL MY HOUSE, SO I REALLY, IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE, AS A CITIZEN THAT Y'ALL TRIED REALLY HARD TO SELL IT.
SO THAT MEANS YOU WANT TO MANAGE IT. YOU WANT TO HAVE A MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE.
AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE WRITE A CONTRACT THAT BENEFITS THE CITY MORE THAN THE MANAGER AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT PAYING FOR MAINTAINING AND FIXING UNLESS IT'S COMPENSATED THAT WE, YOU KNOW, LIKE I KNOW THE CONVENTION CENTER WANTED A $70 MILLION IMPROVEMENT, BUT WE DON'T REALLY HAVE CONTROL OVER WHAT THEY DO AT THE EXCEPT FOR LIKE A FEW DAYS OF THE YEAR.
SO THIS GOLF COURSE MOVING FORWARD NEEDS TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT PROTECTS THE CITIZENS INVESTMENT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHO Y'ALL SERVE AS THE CITIZENS, NOT JUST LOOKING AT IT.
SO MANAGING IS GOOD BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THE CITY HAS THE CAPABILITIES TO MANAGE IT.
WE GIVE STUFF AWAY THAT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN BENEFICIAL TO THE CITIZENS.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST PART. I DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, AND AND I FORGOT TO MENTION IT, BUT WE ARE NOT STAKEHOLDERS IN THIS. WE ARE CITIZENS.
AND SO WHEN YOU GIVE AWAY CITIZEN PROPERTY TO A THIRD PARTY, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THE CITIZENS STILL HAVE ACCESS AND ABILITY TO MANAGE, ENGAGE AND FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON. AND SO WE DON'T HAVE MORE DEBACLES LIKE WE'VE HAD AT THE CONVENTION CENTER.
SO THANK YOU. STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? I'M RAYMOND BLASINGAME, A RESIDENT OF ABILENE FOR A LONG TIME NOW, A GOLFER FOR ONLY ABOUT 15 YEARS.
IF I UNDERSTOOD YOU RIGHT, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SELL THIS PROPERTY.
YOU'RE GOING TO FIND A MANAGEMENT COMPANY TO RUN IT.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA TO ME, BUT I WONDER HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO RAISE COST.
I'M ON A FIXED INCOME, EXCEPT FOR DURING SANTA'S SEASON.
AND SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT SOME KIND OF CONTROLS BE PUT ON.
HOW MUCH CAN BE CHARGED SO THAT I CAN STILL AFFORD TO GO OUT THERE WHEN IT'S NOT SANTA'S SEASON.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? I THINK THAT WAS THE MOST UNIQUE ARGUMENT AGAINST COST CONTROL I'VE EVER HEARD.
IN A CLAUSE. YEAH, YEAH. AND A VISUAL REPRESENTATION.
[01:40:02]
OF. WELL. AND SO I'D SENT YOU ALL A FEW ABOUT A MONTH AGO, A DOCUMENT SAYING HOW $275,000 THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE APPROVED BY Y'ALL DID NOT GET APPROVED BY Y'ALL.AND AND I WAS ACTUALLY THE ENGINEER THAT SEALED THAT.
AND SO I WAS WATCHING THAT VERY CLOSELY. AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OCCURRED WAS THAT I WAS BEING PRESSURED BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSIONER, THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS CITY ATTORNEYS TO DO WORK ON THE FAIRWAY OAKS GOLF COURSE USING THAT CONTRACT.
OKAY. AND THERE WAS NO EASEMENT THAT I WAS AWARE OF.
SO NO OBLIGATION FOR THE TAXPAYERS TO PAY FOR THIS ISSUE.
THAT WAS ON THE FAIRWAY OAKS GOLF COURSE. THE I SENT YOU ANOTHER DOCUMENT KIND OF BACKING THAT UP.
THE REFERENCED THE ABILENE COUNTRY CLUB. THAT IS THE ISSUE AT HAND.
AND THE CITY SHOULD NOT HAVE TRIED TO PAY ME MONEY NOT TO DISCUSS OR REVEAL THE POLICIES AND PRACTICES OF THE CITY, AND THE CITY SHOULD HAVE BEEN WORKING ON MAXWELL MAXWELL GOLF COURSE, IF ANYTHING.
THE YOU KNOW, IN THE END, THE CITY MANAGEMENT, CITY ATTORNEYS.
I'M HERE BECAUSE CRIMES WERE COMMITTED. AND THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN.
INVESTIGATED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY. AND CHARGES FILED.
THAT'S WHAT I THINK SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. VIOLATIONS OF THE TEXAS ENGINEERING PRACTICE ACT IS A IS A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR MISUSE OF CONTRACTS THAT STARTS MOVING INTO FELONY. THOSE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO JUST GO ON AND GET COVERED UP.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE WHAT I'M SAYING HERE IS KIND OF CONFUSING.
SO IF YOU NEED TO TALK TO ME, MY PHONE NUMBER IS (325) 665-9520.
Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD ONE. STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SO MOVED. SO I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BEARD.
OKAY. SECOND. HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN YATES.
YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, COUNCILMAN YATES? BE CLEAR.
BASED ON YOUR MOTION, WE'RE VOTING YES TO VOTE NO.
ONCE AGAIN, STOP VOTING YES TO REJECT. VOTING YES TO REJECT.
DENY. YES TO REJECT. GOT IT? NOT YES TO NO. YES.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ARE YOU GOOD? GOOD. READY TO VOTE? ALL YESES.
MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 22, WHICH IS APPOINTMENT OR.
[22. 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) • Mayor's Advisory Board for People with Disabilities]
AND REAPPOINTMENT TO VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.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 WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND.
SO MOVED. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN PRICE.
SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN REAGAN. DISCUSSION.
WE'RE READY TO VOTE. ALL YESES, MOTION CARRIES.
MOTION CARRIES. IT IS NOW 10:49 A.M.. AND THIS MEETING OF THE ABILENE CITY COUNCIL IS
ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.