[CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:03] PLEASE START US OFF WITH AN INVOCATION. YES. THANK YOU. WOULD YOU BEAR WITH ME, PLEASE? DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL TOWN. IT'S BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE AND OUR WONDERFUL CITY. WE ASK THAT YOU GIVE US WISDOM IN MAKING DECISIONS, THAT WE HEAR THE PEOPLE AND THAT WE LOVE OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU. OKAY. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL ENTER INTO A TIME OF PUBLIC COMMENT. IF THERE IS ANYONE IN THE ROOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO ANY ITEMS REGARDING THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD AGENDA OR OTHER ITEMS IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE ASK YOU TO COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME, AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD. AND AT THIS TIME, WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR COMMENT. AND SEEING NO ONE COMING FORWARD. WE'LL CLOSE OUR PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION THIS MORNING. SO MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM PRESENTATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS. [1. Service Award (Discussion)] WE HAVE A SERVICE AWARD THIS MORNING. HEY. GOOD MORNING. CORONADO PARKS DIVISION MANAGER. THIS MORNING WE HAVE DWIGHT PURDUM, WHO HAS BEEN WITH US FOR FIVE YEARS. DWIGHT IS ONE OF OUR IRRIGATORS WHO HAS TIRELESS JOB OF FIXING IRRIGATION EVERY SINGLE DAY. IT'S NONSTOP. AND DWIGHT AND RYAN DO A GREAT JOB OF PUTTING FIRES OUT. I CAN TELL YOU, THESE GUYS ARE SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE CAN'T DO WITHOUT. SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING DWIGHT DOES DAY IN AND DAY OUT. I KNOW THAT MYSELF AND MIKE FLORES. REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT WHAT THEY DO. SO CONGRATULATIONS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WELL, CONGRATULATIONS. DWIGHT, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS AND YOUR WORK ON BEHALF OF THE IRRIGATION AREA IRRIGATION DEPARTMENT. IT LOOKED LIKE YOU GOT SOME SUPPORTERS OUT THERE, TOO, SO THAT'S GOOD. WE'RE GLAD THAT YOU'RE HERE. SO. OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE MINUTES. [2. Minutes (Discussion and Action)] IF YOU SHOULD HAVE A COPY OF THE MINUTES OF OUR LAST MEETING BEFORE YOU GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND OR REACT WITH ANY ADDITIONS, DELETIONS, CORRECTIONS, AMENDMENTS. I MOVE, WE PASS THE AUGUST 19TH AMENDMENTS. ALRIGHT. MOTION MADE BY ROBIN WERTHEIM, SECOND, SECOND, DAVID PITTMAN. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? OKAY. MOTION CARRIES AND THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED. OKAY, MOVING ON TO OUR AGENDA. [3. Project Updates (Discussion)] PARKS, PROJECTS, UPDATES. WE JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF UPDATE ON LOTS OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON HERE. I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WORKS FOR ME. OKAY. GROVER NELSON HAS SEEN A LOT OF CHANGES. IF YOU'VE BEEN OUT THERE AND AND WATCHING WHAT IS GOING ON. THE PICTURES THAT ARE BEFORE YOU NOW ARE ACTUALLY OF FESTIVAL GARDENS. MOST OF THEM ARE THE FENCE THAT'S IN THAT PICTURE. IN NOVEMBER, WE WILL BE DEMOLISHING THAT FENCE AND GOING BACK WITH A BLACK FENCE THAT MATCHES WHAT IS AT OIZA AND WHAT THEY'VE STARTED DOING AT THE ZOO TO MAKE IT MORE CONSISTENT AND MORE APPEALING. ALSO, THE AREA WHERE WE USED TO HAVE A SHOP HAS BEEN DEMOED, AND SO WE'RE GOING TO INCORPORATE THAT INTO FESTIVAL GARDENS. SO WE LOST A LITTLE BIT OF ON THE SOUTH SIDE. WHEN WE PUT IN THE BOULEVARD. THE SOUTH END OF FESTIVAL GARDENS SHRUNK A LITTLE BIT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE GAINING SPACE ON THE NORTH SIDE. SO JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON ON THAT ISA. THE BOULEVARD IS OPEN. THERE'S STILL FINISHING UP SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS. STILL HAVE A COUPLE OF MONTHS TO GO. SO YOU STILL SEE PEOPLE OUT THERE WORKING AND THINGS HAPPENING, AND MORE OF THE SHADE TYPE STRUCTURES AND THINGS LIKE THAT ARE WHAT'S HAPPENING. I BELIEVE THEY HAVE ALL OF THE SAW IT IN ON THE ZOO PARKING LOT SIDE THAT IS SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE. THEY ARE DOING THEIR PUNCH LIST STUFF. THEY ARE ALSO DOING A FEW OTHER ITEMS THAT WE ASKED THEM TO DO, BUT YOU CAN ACTUALLY PARK IN THE PARKING LOT NOW, WHICH WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT AND WAS OPEN IN TIME FOR BOO AT THE ZOO, WHICH WAS A TREMENDOUS, TREMENDOUS HELP. AND SO WE APPRECIATE THAT. AND. I THINK ALL OF YOU KNOW, THE SAD NEWS THAT WE RECEIVED A WEEK AGO THAT [00:05:07] SOMEONE DID BURN DOWN FORT IMAGINATION. STAFF WORKED TIRELESSLY ON ON THAT DAY AND A COUPLE DAYS AFTERWARD GETTING ALL THAT CLEANED UP. WANT TO THANK ABILENE. ABILENE ENVIRONMENTAL. LANDFILL. WE WERE ABLE TO DISPOSE OF ALL THE DEBRIS FROM THIS AT NO CHARGE. THANKS TO THANKS TO THEM, THEY UNDERWROTE THAT COST. SO WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THEM. AND WE ARE IN CONVERSATIONS WITH MULTIPLE PEOPLE, WE'VE HAD DIFFERENT GROUPS REACH OUT TO US ABOUT REBUILDING FORT IMAGINATION, AND WE ARE GOING THROUGH THE INVESTIGATION. WE ARE GOING THROUGH THE INSURANCE ITEMS INSURANCE ISSUE THAT COMES WITH THAT. THIS WASN'T INSURED PLAYGROUND AND THE COST TO REPLACE IT IS ABOVE OUR DEDUCTIBLE. SO WE'RE GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS. WE HAVE EVERY INTENTION OF REPLACING THE PLAYGROUND. IN MODERN MODERN DAY. BUT TRY TO ADHERE AS CLOSE AS WE CAN TO WHAT WAS THERE BEFORE. AND SO THERE WILL BE A NEW PLAYGROUND GOING IN. I DON'T HAVE A TIMELINE YET ON ON WHEN THAT WILL BE. AND I MENTIONED ALL THE CHANGES THAT OIZA HERE IS A PICTURE OF THE BUILDING THAT IS SUPPORTING THOSE FIELDS. A PICTURE OF THE ENTRANCE. THEY STARTED PLAYING GAMES AND IN EARLY SEPTEMBER THEY'VE GOT THEIR FIRST TOURNAMENT, I BELIEVE, COMING IN NOVEMBER. IF I'M CORRECT, I MAY BE OFF A LITTLE BIT ON THAT, BUT IF YOU ARE OUT THERE ON CERTAIN NIGHTS OF THE WEEK, THERE ARE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ALREADY USING THOSE FIELDS. I HAPPEN TO BE OUT AT THE ZOO LAST WEEK, LEAVING THE ZOO AFTER AN EVENING EVENT. AT THE SAME TIME, SOME OF THOSE PRACTICES ENDED AND IT WAS VERY BUSY OUT THERE FOR 8:00 IN THE EVENING, SO I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ROCK, THE DODGE ISA ON ALL THE SYNERGY THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DEVELOP WITH THEM, WITH THE PARKS AND WITH THE ZOO OUT IN NELSON PARK, THAT PART OF THE PARK HAS REALLY CHANGED WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, AS WELL AS IN TOURISM AND WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO FOR THE FOR THE LOCAL KIDS IN ABILENE AND THEN FOR TOURISM HERE IN, IN ABILENE. HERE'S A QUICK UPDATE ON THE RECREATION CENTERS. THEY ARE COMING ALONG QUITE WELL. THEY ARE SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETE IN EARLY 2026. DON'T HAVE A COMPLETION DATE YET. THAT'S STILL PENDING WEATHER AND GETTING THROUGH GETTING THROUGH WINTER. BUT THAT IS MOVING ALONG, AND WE DO EXPECT TO OPEN THEM IN THE SPRINGTIME. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DID WANT TO, TO THROW OUT THERE IS WE DO HAVE AT SOME POINT WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PARKS BOARD TO TAKE A TOUR. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE WORKING WITH YOU ON ON DATES AND TIMES FOR THAT AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE. WE DO NEED TO LET THE THE BUILDINGS GET FAR ENOUGH ALONG THAT IT'S SAFE TO, TO BRING YOU THROUGH. BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE THAT WISH TO TO TAKE A TOUR OF THE FACILITY SOMETIME IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. AND THEN, OF COURSE, AGAIN FOR GRAND OPENING. AND THEN SOUTHWEST PARK, WE IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW, CHICK FIL A IS OPEN. AND CHICK FIL A WAS THAT CHICK FIL A FOR MANY PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW, IS ACTUALLY BUILT ON PARKLAND? AND SO WE HAVE ACTUALLY LEASED THAT LAND TO THEM. AND NOW THAT THEY ARE OPENING OPEN, WE ARE STARTING TO GET A SMALL LEASE PAYMENT. AND SO WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND THE THINGS THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO. BEHIND CHICK FIL A IS SOUTHWEST PARK. RIGHT NOW IT IS A BUNCH OF DIRT AT ONE TIME. AND WE WILL GET TO THIS AGAIN. BUT THERE WAS A IT WAS GRASS. IT WAS ACTUALLY A DETENTION POND. AND PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO GO OUT THERE AND PRACTICE SOCCER OR RUGBY OR LACROSSE OR, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT. SO WE WILL NOW THAT ALL THE CONSTRUCTION HAS ENDED, WE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO START LETTING GRASS GROW AGAIN SO THAT IT CAN BE USED FOR SPORTING EVENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THAT'S REALLY A QUICK UPDATE ON SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON OVER THE LAST MONTH OR TWO. THIS IS JUST A SMALL BLIP ON THE BIG PROJECTS. THERE'S A LOT OF LITTLE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING, BUT HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. HAVE THEY HAD ANY, EXCUSE ME, HAVE THEY HAD ANY GOOD LEADS ON THE ARSONS? IF THEY HAVE, THEY HAVEN'T TOLD ME. OKAY, I KNOW THEY HAD SOME LEADS, BUT WHETHER THEY'RE GOOD LEADS, I DON'T KNOW. YOU SAID THAT THE EXPENSE IS PAST THE DEDUCTIBLE. SO. GOOD. GREAT. WHAT DO WE JUST HAVE A RESERVE FUND FOR? [00:10:03] FOR THAT KIND OF STUFF. ARE WE GOING TO BE DOING FUND RAISING OR WHAT'S. WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO RAISE MONEY FOR THAT KIND OF A PARK? MOST LIKELY IT'S GOING TO BE FUND RAISING. OKAY. THAT IS STILL YET TO BE DETERMINED. BUT THAT'S THE DIRECTION, BECAUSE THIS WAS A PRIVATELY FUNDED PLAYGROUND AND A COMMUNITY BUILD BUILT PLAYGROUND. WE ARE EXPLORING THE OPPORTUNITY OF DOING IT THAT WAY AGAIN. OKAY. DOES THAT IS THAT MOSTLY STAFF WORK OR THE FUNDRAISING SIDE OF THINGS, OR DOES THE PARKS BOARD GET INVOLVED IN THAT, OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? THAT IS ALL TO BE DETERMINED. WE TYPICALLY HAVE NEVER ASKED PARKS BOARD TO DO FUND RAISING. NOW, PRIVATELY, IF YOU CHOSE TO GIVE TO SOMETHING THAT IS UP TO YOU. WE DO NOT ASK PARKS BOARD TO FUNDRAISE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY. OKAY. OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE GOT ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE A SORT OF COMMENT. SO ALL THESE IMPROVEMENTS, WE'VE WORKED ON OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR PARKS. WE'VE HAD PUBLIC HEARINGS, WE'VE HAD BOND ELECTIONS. WE'VE APPLIED FOR GRANTS. THERE ARE CHANCES FOR PEOPLE TO INPUT ON THIS. I'VE HAD A COUPLE OF FAMILIES CALL ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY. AND I KNOW WE WE DISCUSSED THAT AND WE HAVE EXPERTS IN TO TALK ABOUT THAT. AND WE WANT TO AS WE REBUILD THIS NEXT PARK, I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST WE DO THAT AGAIN. OKAY. OKAY. THE TWO RECREATION CENTERS, ARE THEY STILL SCHEDULED TO OPEN UP ROUGHLY THE SAME TIME FRAME? RIGHT NOW CHAVEZ IS RUNNING ABOUT A MONTH BEHIND GV DANIELS. THAT WAS ANTICIPATED. THEY THE TRADE START AT ONE, AND THEN THEY GO TO THE OTHER. AND SO IT CAN BE SEAMLESS. BUT RIGHT NOW THEY'RE IT'S RUNNING ABOUT THREE WEEKS TO A MONTH BEHIND. OKAY. SO WE'LL OPEN ONE AND THEN OPEN THE OTHER. THAT IS STILL YET TO BE DETERMINED BECAUSE THEY VERY WELL MAY CATCH UP WITH EACH OTHER ONCE WE START GOING TO INTERNAL STUFF AND, AND FURNITURE AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THAT IS YET TO BE DETERMINED WHETHER WE WANT TO DO THEM SAME DAY OR WHETHER WE WANT TO HAVE A RIBBON CUTTING AND DEDICATION ON DIFFERENT DAYS. SO WE WILL DETERMINE THAT IN THE SPRING. COOL. OKAY. ANYONE ELSE QUESTIONS? COMMENTS FOR LESLIE? CERTAINLY. KUDOS TO TO CITY STAFF. SO MANY BIG PROJECTS GOING ON AT THE SAME TIME. SO THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR FOR YOUR WORK AND YOUR EFFORTS. GETTING AN OPPORTUNITY TO TOUR SEVERAL OF THESE LOCATIONS. EVEN THINKING BACK TO THE ROCK WHEN I WENT, OH, PROBABLY A MONTH AGO. THE THOUGHTFULNESS OF EVEN ACCESSIBILITY WITH BEING ABLE TO PARK. I REMEMBER WHEN OUR KIDS WERE MUCH YOUNGER AND WE DID SOCCER, AND IT SEEMS LIKE WE WOULD PARK A MILE AWAY FROM THE FIELD TO BE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO WALK OVER TO WHERE OUR KIDS WERE PLAYING. THAT, YOU KNOW, WE FIGURED OUT A WAY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE HAVE FOLKS COME TO THE ZOO AND ALSO BE ABLE TO PARK AT THOSE FIELDS AT THE SAME TIME. THERE'S SUCH COMPLEXITY WITH THAT. WE WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THE TIME AND THE EFFORT THAT STAFF, AND CERTAINLY SOME OF OUR FOLKS HAVE DONE AS WELL TO, TO MAKE THIS ALL HAPPEN. SO THANK YOU ALL. YOU'RE WELCOME. PASS THAT ALONG. SYNERGY OVER THERE IN THAT CORNER OF NELSON AND THE ROCK AND ISA IS WE DRIVE BY THERE QUITE FREQUENTLY AND JUST ENJOY LOOKING AT ALL THE CARS, ALL THE ACTIVITY, ALL THE THINGS THAT TO REALIZE THAT WE DIDN'T USED TO HAVE THAT AND NOW WE DO. AND NOW PEOPLE ARE ARE COMING TO IT AND UTILIZING IS IS ENCOURAGING. IT'S EXCITING TO SEE. IT IS. OKAY. ANYONE ELSE COMMENTS. QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD. THANKS, LESLIE. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA AQUATICS REPORT. [4. Aquatics (Discussion)] GOOD MORNING. BOARD CHRIS GIBSON, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, PARKS AND REC. WE HAVE ONE LAST AQUATICS UPDATE FOR THE SEASON. I WISH IT WERE MORE EXCITING, BUT IT'S REALLY JUST TO MAKE SURE WE OFFICIALLY KNOW OUR SPLASH PADS ARE CLOSED. WE CLOSED THEM ACTUALLY ON OCTOBER THE 5TH, SO OUR AQUATIC SEASON NOW WILL MOVE IN, SHIFT INTO OFF SEASON MODE, WHICH MEANS WE GET TO START WORKING ON MAINTENANCE AND CLEANUP AND GETTING EVERYTHING READY TO GO AGAIN FOR NEXT SEASON. SO WE JUST WANTED TO INCLUDE THIS IN THE PARKS BOARD PRESENTATION JUST TO MAKE IT OFFICIAL THAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE CLOSED DOWN THE AQUATICS FOR THE SEASON, AND WE'LL START GETTING READY FOR NEXT SEASON. IT'S PART OF THE PART OF THE PROCESS. SO ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? ALL RIGHT. CAN WE HAVE A NEW MANAGER. WE DO HAVE A NEW AQUATICS MANAGER. HER NAME IS HANNAH WIDER. SO SHE'S SHE'S TAKING MEG'S PLACE. THAT WAS THE PREVIOUS MANAGER. MEG'S MOVING ON WITH THE COMPANY. AND SO WE'RE. THEY'VE BROUGHT HANNAH IN. SHE'S ACTUALLY WORKED FOR US WORKED FOR THE AQUATICS LOCATION IN THE PAST, SO SHE'S A GREAT ADDITION FOR US. WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE HER. SO GOOD. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS FOR CHRIS OR COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT CHRIS, THANKS SO MUCH. [00:15:01] YOU BET. OUR PARKS REPORT. [5. Parks Report (Discussion)] GOOD MORNING AGAIN. THIS IS CORONADO PARKS DIVISION MANAGER. GOT A COUPLE OF ITEMS FOR YOU TODAY. NOT NOT A LOT OF STUFF. OVER AT THE CEMETERY, WE HAD A FENCE ON THE BACKSIDE THAT YOU CAN SEE THERE. IT'S KIND OF DETERIORATED, AND SO WE'VE GONE THROUGH AND REPLACED THAT FENCE. WE HAD ACCESS TO THAT BACK AREA WAS PRETTY OPEN. SO WE HAVE GONE BACK AND REPLACED THE FENCE. YOU CAN SEE THERE THE GUYS SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME CLEARING ALL THAT STUFF OUT AND AND PUTTING THE FENCE IN. SO REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THEY DID. AND THEN I AM LEAVING RIGHT AFTER THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR TRAPS. WEST REGION IN LUBBOCK. STARTING TONIGHT WITH OUR WELCOME SOCIAL. AND THEN TOMORROW WE WILL HAVE OUR MAINTENANCE RODEO. OUR GUYS WILL BE COMPETING IN ALL THE COMPETITIONS, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN BRING FIRST PLACE BACK. BUT AS YOU CAN SEE THE COMPETITION HAS GOTTEN TOUGHER. WE'VE GOT A TOTAL OF FIVE CITIES COMPETING THIS YEAR NOW. SO LOTS OF TURNOUT. AND THEN WE'LL CONCLUDE ON THURSDAY WITH OUR EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, WHICH THAT'S JUST A OPPORTUNITY FOR PARKS AND REC PROFESSIONALS TO COME AND EARN CEUS AND HEAR FROM OTHER PROFESSIONALS, TEACH ON SOME STUFF. SO THAT'S PRETTY MUCH I GOT IT. THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE. I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. OKAY. DID WE WIN THIS LAST YEAR? WE DID. WE WON THE LAST TWO YEARS. YEAH. SO WE'RE GOING FOR THE THREE PEAT. SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN WE CAN THREE PEAT. BUT BUT LUBBOCK IS HOSTING AND THEY'VE THEY'VE PUT A LOT OF TEAMS TOGETHER. THEY'VE GOT THREE TEAMS JUST WITHIN THEMSELVES COMPETING. WE'RE BRINGING TWO. BUT YEAH THEY'VE GOT THREE, SO WE'LL SEE. YEAH. JUST BE MIDLAND. JUST JUST BEAT MIDLAND. MIDLAND. ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, MIDLAND SAID THEY WERE COMING, BUT THEY'RE NOT COMING AFTER ALL. HE SCARED THEM OFF. IT'S JUST GOING TO BE LUBBOCK, SAN ANGELO AND ODESSA. SO WE BEAT MIDLAND. SO WE BEAT MIDLAND. SO YEAH, I WAS WAITING FOR THEM TO TO SIGN UP, BUT THEY DID NOT. AND THEN THEY REACHED OUT TO ME YESTERDAY AND SAID, WE'RE NOT COMING AFTER ALL. SO YEAH, YOU KNOW, SO THEY'LL MISS OUT. THEY'LL MISS OUT. THAT'S TRUE. YEAH. THAT IS TRUE. COOL. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS COMMENTS. GOOD LUCK. GOOD LUCK. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. TRAVEL SAFELY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD OKAY. LET'S MOVE TO OUR SENIORS REPORT. [6. Seniors Report (Discussion)] GOOD MORNING, ANNE HALL SENIOR SERVICES DIVISION MANAGER. I WAS LIKE, WHAT IS MY TITLE? I CAN'T REMEMBER. IT IS TIME FOR OUR FLU SHOTS. SO NEXT WEEK WE WILL HAVE BARNES AND WILLIAMS COMING TO DO OUR FLU SHOTS. AND THEY CAN ALSO GET OTHER SHOTS THAT THEY NEED AND THEY JUST SIGNING UP. AND WE'VE BEEN HELPING THEM DO THAT. THEY ARE NOT EXCITED ABOUT IT. BUT I TOLD THEM WE DO NOT NEED TO GET SICK THIS YEAR. WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT TRYING TO SHARE GERMS THIS YEAR. YEAH. WE ARE GETTING READY FOR OUR HALLOWEEN BOOGIE. IT'S KIND OF LIKE A LITTLE DANCE CONTEST. SO THEY'RE GETTING READY. THEY'RE JUST WEARING FUN, SPOOKY SHIRTS BECAUSE THEY'RE SAVING THEIR COSTUME FOR ACTUAL HALLOWEEN. BUT I TOLD THEM THEY WANTED TO DRESS UP. GO RIGHT AHEAD. SO THEY'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. AND WE WILL BE HAVING OUR HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST AND OUR BUDDY BINGO ALL ON HALLOWEEN. AND IT'S ALSO BIRTHDAY FRIDAY, SO IT IS GOING TO BE A VERY CRAZY SPOOKY FUN DAY THERE. SO VERY EXCITED ABOUT ALL OUR HALLOWEEN FUN. ANY QUESTIONS? I'VE GOT A COMMENT. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY CHICKEN FRIED STEAK FRIDAY. YES, LUNCH NOT LONG AGO. AND I'M TELLING YOU WHAT, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE, A LOT OF FOLKS, A LOT OF SENIORS THAT COME IN THERE. AND ONE THING THAT THAT WE LEARNED, OF COURSE, AND DOES A GREAT JOB OF ORGANIZING IT AND EVERYTHING WITH THE COLOR CODE CARDS TO GET YOU THROUGH AND EVERYTHING THAT WORKS GOOD, BUT YOU BETTER NOT SIT AT THE WRONG TABLE. YOU BETTER NOT. IT'S LIKE CHURCH PEWS, I'M TELLING YOU, THEY THEY THEY LINE UP. BUT IT WAS IT WAS VERY GOOD. WELL RUN. GOOD FOOD. JUST IT'S JUST A GREAT JOB, Y'ALL. Y'ALL DO A GREAT JOB. SO THANK YOU. YOU'LL HAVE TO COME TO THE NEXT CHICKEN FRIED STEAK DAY. YEAH, I WILL, I WILL. I HAVE A QUESTION. YES. THE SENIORS THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH, ARE THEY MOSTLY STILL LIVING AT HOME OR ANY OF THEM COMING FROM ANY OF THE RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES AROUND BOTH AND GENERALLY THE ONES THAT ARE STILL LIVING AT HOME IS THERE ARE THESE NEIGHBORHOODS ALL ACROSS TOWN, [00:20:04] OR DO YOU ALL HAVE ANY LIKE IDEA OF LIKE SPECIFICALLY WHICH NEIGHBORHOODS ARE MOSTLY REPRESENTED? WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THAT. BUT EVERYBODY THAT DOES COME FROM THEIR HOMES, THEY DO DRIVE THEMSELVES, SO THEY'RE STILL ABLE TO DRIVE. SOME OF THEM CARPOOL. SOME OF THEM ARE FROM LIKE THE SENIOR APARTMENT AREA, THE LIVING AREAS. SO SOME OF THEM COME FROM RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET. OKAY. THEY ALL CARPOOL, TAKE TURNS ON WHO'S DRIVING. ROSTON A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE PUT UP A MAT AND HAD THEM PUT A PIN ABOUT WHERE THEY LIVED, JUST TO TRY AND GET SOME IDEA IT WAS COMPLETELY VOLUNTARY. BUT ABILENE WAS COMPLETELY COVERED A, WELL, REPRESENTATIVE ALL THE WAY TO NORTH SOUTH, EAST WEST. I MEAN, THERE WAS NOT ONE GROUP FROM ANY PARTICULAR AREA. IT WAS IT WAS VERY MUCH WIDE OPEN FROM ALL OF ABILENE. THAT'S COOL. WE HAVE SOME FROM THE SURROUNDING LITTLE CITIES TOWNS AROUND TOO. OKAY. I WAS VERY YEAH. AND ON THURSDAY NIGHTS, THEY COME TO THE DANCES FROM BROWNWOOD AND COLEMAN AND ALL THOSE THINGS. I WAS LIKE, WOW. SO VERY POPULAR. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THEY DO A GOOD JOB WITH OUR SENIORS. SO THANK YOU. APPRECIATE ALL THAT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS QUESTIONS. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ZOO REPORT. [7. Zoo Report (Discussion)] JESSE. JESSE POTTEBAUM, ZOO DIRECTOR OF ABILENE ZOO. QUICK UPDATE. WE RESCUED ANOTHER BALD EAGLE. THIS PARTICULAR BIRD WAS RESCUED BY TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE, AS WELL AS US FISH AND WILDLIFE. SOMEBODY HAD IT ILLEGALLY. THEY DID NOT HAVE THE APPROPRIATE PERMITTING. THEY DIDN'T HAVE THEY DIDN'T COLLECT IT APPROPRIATELY. AND SO THEY REACHED OUT TO US AND WE SAID YEAH, WE'LL DEFINITELY TAKE IT, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THIS PARTICULAR BIRD WAS IMPRINTED TO HUMANS. SO NOW IT CAN BE AN AMBASSADOR BIRD MOVING FORWARD. SO WE NOW HAVE THREE BALD EAGLES. THE OTHER TWO WERE WILD. THEY WERE REHABILITATED AND DEEMED NON-RELEASABLE BY THE US FISH. US FISH AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT AGAIN FEDERALLY PROTECTED. AND BUT THIS BIRD WILL NOW BE ON GLOVE THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY GO TO SCHOOLS. AND IT'S PART OF OUR MANDATE OF BEING A FEDERALLY PROTECTED SPECIES THAT WE DO EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS WITH THIS BIRD. SO HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS WILL SEE IT VERY SOON. BUT THE ZOO HAS BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS. THIS IS THE LAST WEEKEND. OUR FIRST WEEKEND WE HAD ABOUT 6200 GUESTS. LAST WEEKEND WAS ABOUT 8500 GUESTS, AND WE'RE EXPECTING ABOUT 8500 GUESTS THIS WEEKEND. NOT TO SAY THAT'S A OVERPACKED, BECAUSE AGAIN, THAT PARKING LOT HAS BEEN VERY BEAUTIFUL FOR US AS THE FIRST YEAR I'VE BEEN ABLE NOT TO PARK CARS ON THE LAWN. PEOPLE SEEM TO FIND THEIR OWN PARKING SPOTS AS WELL AS THE OVERFLOW IN THE ISA WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL. SO LOTS OF GOOD PARKING. EVEN THOUGH THERE'S 8500 GUESTS, YOU CAN'T TELL. IT FEELS LIKE THAT. IT'S VERY SPREAD OUT THROUGHOUT THE ZOO. LOTS OF GREAT THINGS FOR THE KIDDOS. CORN PITS, HAY MAZES. LOTS OF CANDY. SO IF YOU HAVEN'T COME, PLEASE COME. AND NEW. THIS YEAR WE'RE GOING TO ADD ANOTHER WEEKEND. DIA DE LOS MUERTOS. WE HAVE SEVERAL STAFF THAT HAVE THIS CULTURE AND WERE RAISED IN THIS CULTURE. SO WE WANT TO BRING THAT DAY OF THE DEAD CULTURE HERE TO ABILENE ZOO. SO WE'RE GOING TO BRING IN SOME MARIACHI BANDS AS WELL AS FOLKLORE DANCERS, AND REALLY SPEAK TO THAT CULTURE, AS WELL AS HAVE AN ALTAR FOR PEOPLE'S PAST LOVED ONES SUCH AS THEIR PETS. SO IT'S GOING TO BE AN ALTAR THAT YOU CAN GIVE THANKS TO, AND PRAISE TO YOUR PAST PETS THAT HAVE PASSED ON AND GONE TO THE AFTERLIFE. SO PLEASE ATTEND THAT. IT'S NOVEMBER 1ST AND SECOND AND THAT IS IT. ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? VERY GOOD. THANKS, JESSE. OKAY. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE, LESLIE, THAT WE NEED TO BRING UP BEFORE THIS BOARD? WELL, IF THERE NOT ANYTHING ELSE, THEN WE WILL STAND ADJOURNED. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.