Nov 06, 2025 City Council

YEAH. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. IT IS NOW 8:30 A.M., AND I CALL THIS MEETING OF THE ABILENE CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER.

[00:00:07]

PRAY. LORD, WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS SEASON OF THANKSGIVING AND TIME OF TRAVEL THAT'S COMING UP.

WE PRAY THAT YOU BE WITH THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO VISIT OTHERS AND YOU GIVE SAFE JOURNEYS TO THEM.

WE PRAY THAT YOU BE WITH THE MILITARY THAT PROTECTS THE INTERESTS OF THIS COUNTRY, AND SOMETIMES IS FAR AWAY FROM FAMILY.

JUST GIVE THEM A COMFORT WHEN THEY'RE AWAY FROM HOME AND BE WITH THEIR FAMILIES WHO ARE BEHIND.

WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT SERVE THIS COMMUNITY DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

WHETHER IT'S POLICE, FIRE, WATER, LIBRARIES, PARKS, THERE'S SO MANY WAYS THAT DIFFERENT MEN AND WOMEN SERVE THIS COMMUNITY IN A WAY THAT HELPS US ENJOY AND LIVE IN A SAFE WAY. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SON AND HIS SACRIFICE.

WE PRAY IN HIS NAME, JESUS. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN CHRIST. TODAY I HAVE SOME STUDENTS FROM THE HARTFORD LEARNING CENTER, AND WE'RE JUST HONORED AND PRIVILEGED TO HAVE THEM WITH US TODAY.

SO I HAVE ASHER RAISE YOUR HAND. I HAVE OAKLEY, AND I HAVE TRISTAN.

AND ACCOMPANYING THEM, I HAVE GREG RAKE, THE CAMPUS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, AND ANNETTE SADLER, ONE OF THE HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS THAT ARE JOINING THEM ALSO.

AND THEY ARE GOING TO LEAD OUR PLEDGES TODAY.

SO THEY'LL TURN AROUND RIGHT WHERE YOU'RE AT, RIGHT? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

ALL OF THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO TEXAS.

ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

I'M RIGHT HERE NEXT TO YOU. OKAY.

THAT'S FINE. JUST KIDDING. COME ON OUT.

[CONSENT AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS]

THESE ITEMS WILL BE CONSIDERED WITH ONE MOTION, AND THERE WILL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION UNLESS A COUNCILMAN REQUESTS SEPARATE DISCUSSION.

DOES ANYONE ON COUNCIL WISH TO CONSIDER ANY ITEM INDIVIDUALLY? YES, SIR. JUST A SECOND, MAYOR. IT WAS NUMBER FIVE.

THE CONTRACT WITH NEVERS IN IT. I NEVER DID GET A FINAL ANSWER ON THAT, A BID.

OKAY. THANK YOU SIR. ARE WE GOOD? WHICH ONE? NUMBER FIVE.

I THINK IT'S EITHER 5 OR 6 FOR BOTH. I FLIPPED OFF THE PAGE BEFORE I SAW THE NUMBER, BUT IT'S THE ONE WITH NEVERS.

IS ONE OF THE THE BIDS? I'LL LOOK REAL QUICK.

DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING? I DON'T SEE NUMBERS ON EITHER. IS IT THE FURNITURE? THE FURNITURE? OKAY, WE CAN JUST PULL THROUGH.

IT'S ONE OF THE FURNITURE. BIDS FOR THE LIBRARY.

THE FURNITURE ON THE REC CENTERS FOR. IT'S FOR FOUR.

DOES HAVE NUMBERS. YEAH. OKAY. ITEM FOUR, PLEASE.

SORRY ABOUT THAT, MAYOR. YEAH. THANK YOU. IS IT NOT NUMBER FOUR, SHANE? NUMBER FOUR. YES. OKAY.

WE'RE GETTING THERE. YES. ITEM NUMBER FOUR. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

THERE WILL BE NO VOTES OR ACTIONS TAKEN DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, AND THIS WILL ONLY ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO PRESENT IDEAS AND INFORMATION TO CITY

[00:05:02]

THERE WILL BE A THREE MINUTE LIMIT AND WE WILL START WITH CARDS.

EDDIE PUGH. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS EDDIE PUGH.

I RESIDE IN PETOSKEY. MOST OF YOU KNOW MY NAME, BUT YOU DON'T KNOW MY STORY OR WHY I REFUSE TO WALK AWAY.

I RETIRED FROM THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AFTER SIX COMBAT DEPLOYMENTS.

I SPENT HALF MY CAREER WITH AIR MOBILITY COMMAND AND AIR FORCE SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND, MAINTAINING AND TROUBLESHOOTING C-130 COMMUNICATION AND NAVIGATION SYSTEMS UNDER EXTREME PRESSURE TO KEEP AIR CREWS ALIVE AND THE MISSION GOING FOR THE OTHER HALF.

I SERVED AS AN AIRBORNE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS OPERATOR ON THE AWACS, CONDUCTING A REAL TIME MISSION COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THOSE ON THE GROUND AND THOSE IN THE AIR UNDER EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS TO PROTECT AMERICAN AND ALLIED FORCES IN COMBAT.

I DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTED TO ELIMINATING ENEMY FORCES WHO WERE TARGETING OUR TROOPS.

ACTIONS THAT SAVED LIVES AND TAUGHT ME THAT WHEN LIVES ARE ON THE LINE, YOU DON'T FREEZE.

YOU ACT. WHEN I RETIRED, I WANTED TO QUIT OR I WANTED A QUIET LIFE AS A HUSBAND AND A FATHER.

AND FOR MANY YEARS, I LIVED THAT LIFE. BUT THEN I SAW PEOPLE IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY BEING ABUSED, EXPLOITED AND DYING WHILE THE CITY OF ABILENE DID NOTHING.

I STOOD UP FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT COULD NOT STAND FOR THEMSELVES AFTER I EXPOSED THE WRONGDOING.

THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT TARGETED ME. I WAS ARRESTED, CHARGED WITH A THIRD DEGREE FELONY FOR STALKING THE FORMER CITY MANAGER'S WIFE, A PERSON I'D NEVER MET, NEVER CONTACTED, AND DIDN'T EVEN KNOW EXISTED.

SHORTLY BEFORE MY TRIAL, THE PROSECUTOR CHANGED THE INDICTMENT FROM STALKING THE CITY MANAGER'S WIFE TO STALKING THE CITY MANAGER.

THEY SET MY BOND AT 75,000, THEN RAISED IT TO 500,000 BECAUSE I REFUSED TO REMAIN SILENT.

THEY PUT MY ANKLE OR AN ANKLE MONITOR ON ME FOR OVER A YEAR, WITH RESTRICTIONS SO SEVERE THAT I MISSED MY SON'S ENTIRE SEASON OF BASKETBALL HIS SENIOR YEAR. THEY WEAPONIZED THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM, AND THEY USED LAWFARE TO SILENCE ME TO TRY TO BREAK ME.

BUT I DID NOT BREAK UNDER EXTREME STRESS. I CONTINUED MOVING FORWARD.

I COMPLETED MY BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY SO I COULD BETTER UNDERSTAND TRAUMA, HUMAN BEHAVIOR, AND THE WAYS POWER IS USED TO CONTROL AND TO SUPPRESS.

I DIDN'T CHOOSE THE SPOTLIGHT, BUT NOW THAT I'M IN IT, I'M NOT STEPPING OUT.

I'M RUNNING FOR DISTRICT 71, STATE HOUSE BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITIES DESERVE LEADERSHIP THAT IS UNCOMPROMISED, UNBOUGHT AND UNAFRAID. I COULD BE LIVING A QUIET, PEACEFUL, RETIRED LIFE, BUT PEACE MEANS NOTHING IF YOU HAVE TO IGNORE SUFFERING AND INJUSTICES TO KEEP IT. I FOUGHT TO PROTECT LIVES OVERSEAS AND NOW I'M FIGHTING TO PROTECT LIVES HERE AT HOME.

DISTRICT 71. EVERY FAMILY, EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD, AND EVERY VOICE MATTERS.

MY NAME IS EDDIE PUGH, AND I WILL NOT BACK DOWN.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. RUSTY TOWLE. EXCUSE ME.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS RUSTY TOWLE. I LIVE IN THE CITY OF ABILENE. I LIVE ON SHIRLEY ROAD.

I'M A NEIGHBOR TO STARGATE, MAYBE ONE OF THE FEW CITY OF ABILENE RESIDENTS STILL THAT LIVES NEXT TO STARGATE.

AND I WANT TO COME HERE TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO MAKE ABILENE A GREAT PLACE? I GREW UP IN ABILENE. I GRADUATED FROM ABILENE HIGH.

I CAME BACK HERE AFTER A TIME IN THE MILITARY AND GETTING MY DEGREE AND WORKING NATIONAL LABS.

AND FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS, I'VE CALLED ABILENE HOME.

I'VE RAISED MY CHILDREN HERE. THEY'VE GRADUATED FROM ABILENE HIGH. AND. AND NOW I'M LOOKING FOR FOR A PLACE FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN.

SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO MAKE ABILENE A GREAT PLACE. OBVIOUSLY, IT HAS TO GROW AND EXPAND, AND AND I SUPPORT THAT. WHEN DCOA INVESTED IN A LITTLE BITCOIN MINING PROJECT THAT WAS GOING TO BE A GREEN CAMPUS WITH SOLAR PANELS AND A CONVENTION CENTER OUT NEAR MY HOUSE, I, I WENT TO THE GRAND OPENING AS A AS A RECIPIENT OF DCOA FUNDS.

TWICE. I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT THEY'VE DONE FOR THE CITY AND WHAT THEY CONTINUE TO DO.

AND SO IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A SURPRISE WHEN THAT THAT LITTLE GREEN BITCOIN THING MORPHED INTO ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ON THE PLANET AND TRANSFERRED MY, MY SLEEPY LITTLE CORNER OF ABILENE, BABBLING INTO WHAT SOME HAVE REFERRED TO AS SORT OF ALMOST A WARTIME FOOTING IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. RIGHT. THE THE ROAD HAS BEEN SEVERELY DAMAGED THE PEACEFUL LITTLE PLOT THAT I USED TO JOG FOR MILES AROUND IN THE MORNING AND NEVER SEE A CAR OR WAVE TO A CAR,

[00:10:01]

IT'S A IT'S A IT'S NOT THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD.

I APPRECIATE CHANGE. I APPRECIATE WHAT'S HAPPENING. WHAT I'M HERE TO DO IS JUST TO REQUEST THAT AS WE THINK ABOUT EXPANDING THAT AS WE CONTEMPLATE THE POSSIBILITY OF ALLOWING LANSING TO BUILD EVEN MORE I WOULD REQUEST THAT WE ONE HAVE OPEN, CLEAR COMMUNICATION.

I'M THINKING ABOUT NOT JUST WHERE I LIVE, BUT I'M ACTUALLY ENCOURAGING MY CHILDREN TO CONSIDER BUILDING A HOUSE NEXT TO ME.

I DON'T WANT THEM TO BUILD A HOUSE NEXT TO ME.

IF THIS BECOMES A PLACE WHERE IT'S NOT COMFORTABLE TO LIVE.

SO WHAT IS THE SOUND POLLUTION, THE LIGHT POLLUTION, THE AIR POLLUTION THAT'S GOING TO BE GENERATED BEFORE WE COMMIT TO ALLOWING THAT CAMPUS TO EXPAND? I WOULD REQUEST THAT WE UNDERSTAND THOSE IMPACTS FULLY.

AS I'VE TOURED THE CAMPUS AND VISITED WITH LANCOME MANAGER, THEY DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND EXACTLY THE SOUND OR LIGHT POLLUTION THAT WILL BE THERE UNTIL THEY UNDERSTAND AND THE CITY UNDERSTANDS IT, I WOULD ENCOURAGE NOT MOVING FORWARD. I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE.

I THINK ABILENE HAS TO MOVE FORWARD AND WE'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.

BUT PLEASE, LET'S CONTINUE TO MAKE IT A PLACE WHERE WE CAN ALL LIVE AND ENJOY.

I'M DELIGHTED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. I'D BE DELIGHTED FOR YOU TO COME OUT AND SIT AT MY BREAKFAST TABLE AND DRINK A CUP OF COFFEE AND LOOK AND SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE OUT MY BACK WINDOW NOW. IT'S A IT'S EXCITING FOR ABILENE, BUT LET'S NOT LET THE GROWTH INTERFERE WITH THE QUALITY OF LIFE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL THE CARDS, MAYOR.

WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? WELL GOOD MORNING I'M DIANE BRADLEY. I'M WITH FROM ABILENE AND I'M WITH THE AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY UNIT 61.

THIS IS ONE OF OUR MEMBERS. WE'RE BOTH VETERANS.

SO THIS IS VETERANS DAY HERE IN CITY COUNCIL.

OUR THEORY IN AMERICAN LEGION IS WALKING THE WALK AND TALKING THE TALK.

WELL, TALKING THE TALK AND WALKING THE WALK, REALLY.

AND WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE SOMEBODY TODAY THAT HAS JUST REALLY OVERWHELMED OUR UNIT WITH LOVE, COMPASSION. AND HE DEFINITELY TALKS THE TALK.

BUT HE ALSO GETS OUT THERE AND WALKS THAT WALK.

MR. REAGAN, WOULD YOU PLEASE COME DOWN HERE? YOUR TURN.

BLAZE HAS ATTENDED A COUPLE OF OUR EVENTS. HE'S COME OUT TO OUR MEETINGS.

HE'S EXPRESSED ALL SORTS OF INTEREST. HE'S GIVEN US GREAT IDEAS, AND WE HAVE A LITTLE AWARD THAT WE'VE CREATED EVERY QUARTER WE GIVE OUT TO SOMEBODY IN ABILENE WHAT WE CALL THE BEYOND, ABOVE AND BEYOND AWARD.

AND THIS EMPHASIZES PEOPLE THAT TALK THE TALK, WALK THE WALK, AND GOES THE EXTRA MILE IN WHATEVER THEY DO.

AND THEY HELP VETERANS IN OUR COMMUNITY. WELL, BLAZE GOT A UNANIMOUS VOTE AT OUR LAST MEETING FOR THIS AWARD.

MR. REAGAN, I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO JOIN ME HERE.

THIS SAYS AMERICAN LEGION UNIT 61 ABOVE AND BEYOND AWARD RECOGNIZES BLAZE REAGAN IN RECOGNITION FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE ABILENE COMMUNITY AND OUR VETERANS. IT IS RARE TO FIND A PERSON THAT LEADS BY EXAMPLE AND NOT JUST WORDS.

YOU TAKE THE TIME TO GET TO KNOW YOUR CONSTITUENTS BY LISTENING AND SHOWING UP.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. MR. REAGAN WILL GIVE YOU A THANK YOU COIN FROM US.

THANK YOU. WE TOTALLY LOVE YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I NORMALLY DON'T LIKE SURPRISES, BUT THIS IS ONE I'LL TAKE EVERY DAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS WAS SUCH AN HONOR. THANK YOU.

THE ONE THAT NOMINATED YOU. OH, WELL, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE IT. THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO START THE MORNING. SO THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME. SURE. EVERYBODY GET IN HERE. THANKS.

THANK YOU. AND ONE OF OUR MEMBERS SAID IT WASN'T.

IT WASN'T SO BAD THAT HE WAS GREAT ON THE EYES, TOO.

OH. YIKES. WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. THE RIGHT WAY. GOOD MORNING. MAYOR COUNCIL TAMMY FOGEL, RESIDENT OF ABILENE. I REMEMBER SOMETIMES I SAY THINGS THAT I WANT YOU ALL TO LISTEN TO, BUT IT'S HARD TO LISTEN.

I LIKE TO READ THINGS LATER. SO THIS IS EXACTLY THE QUOTE I'M READING.

AND IN 2020, EVERYTHING CHANGED FOR ME. I TOOK A COURSE ON THE CONSTITUTION AND REALIZED I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT OUR COUNTRY.

[00:15:02]

AND I THOUGHT, THAT'S CRAZY TALK. EVERYONE CALLS THIS A DEMOCRACY.

AND SO I DECIDED TO SET A CHALLENGE FOR MYSELF TO READ 100 BOOKS A YEAR.

AND I'VE BEEN DOING THAT SUCCESSFULLY, EXCEPT FOR WHEN I DECIDED TO RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL.

AND THAT'S PROBABLY THE ONLY THING THAT CAME OUT OF THAT. THAT WAS KIND OF NEGATIVE. I COULDN'T READ AS MUCH, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS, THAT WORDS MATTER AND UNDERSTANDING WORDS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

AND SO AS I'VE BEGUN TO DO MORE READING AND RESEARCH IN THE FOUNDING OF OUR NATION AND WHERE WE'RE AT THE CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC IS ACTUALLY WHAT WE ARE, AND IT MATTERS IN HOW WE GOVERN. WE GOVERN DIFFERENTLY IF WE UNDERSTAND WHERE A REPUBLIC AND NOT A DEMOCRACY.

AND SO, IN THE PROCESS OF READING A GREAT BOOK, I SHARED THIS QUOTE WITH MY HUSBAND.

HE SAID, YOU HAVE TO READ THIS TO THE COUNCIL AND THE SCHOOL BOARD.

AND MIND YOU, HE NEVER TELLS ME TO GET UP AND TALK. IN FACT, HE'S ALWAYS LIKE LESS TAME IS ALWAYS BETTER.

SO WHEN HE SAID THAT, I WAS LIKE, OKAY, SO OUT OF DUE DILIGENCE, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL TALKING AND USING THE SAME TERMS, BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S VERY TRICKY ABOUT OUR CULTURE IS THAT TERMS ARE BEING USED, THE SAME TERMS ARE BEING USED, BUT DIFFERENT MEANINGS ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED.

SO LET ME READ THIS TO YOU FROM CHARLOTTE ISERBYT, WHO ACTUALLY SERVED UNDER REAGAN IN THE OER IN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

SHE LEFT THE COUNTRY FROM 71 TO 83 AND SHE SHE REPLIED IN REGARDS TO THAT, WHEN I RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES, I REALIZED THAT THE THAT AMERICA'S TRANSITION FROM A SOVEREIGN CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC TO A SOCIALIST DEMOCRACY WOULD NOT COME THROUGH WARFARE, BULLETS AND TANKS, BUT THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION, IMPLANTATION AND INSTALLATION OF THE SYSTEMS IN ALL AREAS OF GOVERNMENT, FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL. THE BRAINWASHING FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION, WHICH COMES IN SO MANY NEW LABELS, THE MOST RECENT LABEL BEING OUTCOME BASED EDUCATION SKINNERIAN MASTER LEARNING OR DIRECT INSTRUCTION.

IN THE 1970S, THIS WRITER AND MANY OTHERS WAGED WAR AGAINST THE VALUES CLARIFICATION, WHICH WAS LATER NAMED CRITICAL THINKING.

I'M SORRY, THERE'S A TYPO WHICH, REGARDLESS OF THE LABEL, THERE ARE BOUND TO BE MANY MORE LABELS ON THE HORIZON.

IT'S NOTHING BUT PURE, UNADULTERATED DESTRUCTION OF ABSOLUTE VALUES OF RIGHT AND WRONG, UPON WHICH STABLE AND FREE SOCIETIES DEPEND, DEPEND, AND UPON WHICH OUR NATION WAS FOUNDED.

SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, AS I'VE LEARNED, THIS IS THE HARDEST LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT TO HONESTLY WORK IN BECAUSE WE LIVE AND DO LIFE TOGETHER. IT'S WAY EASIER TO GO TO AUSTIN. IT'S WAY EASIER TO GO TO D.C.

BECAUSE YOU DO WORK WITH PEOPLE IN KIND OF A BUBBLE.

BUT HERE YOU ACTUALLY SHOW UP AT THE GROCERY STORE, SHOW UP TO EVENTS AND PARTICIPATE IN OUR LIFE.

SO I WANT TO COMMEND YOU AND SAY THANK YOU FOR SOMEWHAT SEEMINGLY DOING THE HARDEST JOB IN OUR NATION, BECAUSE WITHOUT YOU SERVING, OUR NATION WOULD FALL APART AND WE WOULD BECOME A DEMOCRACY.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO. STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? YES, SIR.

GOOD MORNING GENTLEMEN. I'M DEFINITELY PLEASED TO BE HERE IN FRONT OF YOU.

I HAVE ONE REQUEST THAT I'D LIKE TO MAKE. IS YOUR NAME.

MY NAME IS JOSEPH SCRAGGS. THANK YOU. I LIVE ON NORTH 10TH 4072 NORTH 10TH.

MY REQUEST IS THAT SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER, WE SLOW DOWN THE TRAFFIC AT THAT AREA.

I LIVED WEST OF OF WESTWOOD DRIVE. I'VE LIVED AT 4072 FOR ABOUT 23 YEARS NOW, AND IN THAT PERIOD OF TIME I'VE SEEN ABOUT TEN ACCIDENTS.

THREE OF THEM WOUND UP IN MY FRONT YARD. ONE OF THEM WAS UPSIDE DOWN.

JUST LAST NIGHT WE HAD ANOTHER ACCIDENT. AND THE REASON WHY WE HAVE THOSE ACCIDENTS IS BECAUSE THERE'S A VERY BAD CURVE THERE.

AND A LOT OF TIMES, PEOPLE ARE EXCEEDING THE SPEED LIMIT.

IT'S 35MPH. BUT I GUARANTEE YOU MOST PEOPLE ARE GOING 50 AT LEAST VERY RARE.

DO THEY GO 35? I GUESS MY REQUEST IS SIMPLE. I GO DOWN TO 77 QUITE FREQUENTLY BECAUSE IT'S A AND MY WIFE, MY DAUGHTER LIVES DOWN THAT WAY ON THOSE BIG CURVES.

THEY HAVE A A CHEVRON. SEVERAL TIMES THEY HAVE SOLAR PANELS ON THEM.

MY REQUEST IS THAT WE PUT ONE OF THOSE AT THAT CURVE.

YOU KNOW, BEFORE MY HOUSE. I THINK IT WOULD SAVE LIVES.

WE'VE HAD ONE YOUNG MAN KILLED. HE WENT THROUGH ABOUT THREE FRONT YARDS BEFORE HE WOUND UP AT MY

[00:20:01]

IT WAS A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. LAST NIGHT WE HAD AN ACCIDENT.

NO ONE WAS KILLED. NO ONE WOUND UP IN MY FRONT YARD.

BUT I'M VERY, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THAT STREET.

AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT SOMEONE HITTING THE FRONT FRONT BEDROOM OF MY HOUSE, PARTICULARLY IF SOMEONE'S SLEEPING THERE.

THERE WAS A BIG BOULDER ON THE LEFT LEFT SIDE OF MY NEIGHBOR'S YARD.

MY PREVIOUS NEIGHBOR SAID HE'D LIVED THERE FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS.

HE'D HAD 12 CARS COME THROUGH HIS FRONT YARD.

HE PUT A BOULDER ON THE LEFT SIDE. AND ON ONE OF THE ACCIDENTS, THE YOUNG MAN HIT THAT BOULDER AND KNOCKED IT ALL THE WAY ACROSS MY NEIGHBOR'S YARD. THE BOULDER CAME OVER AND HIT MY HOUSE ON THAT.

AND ON THE RIGHT SIDE WHERE? THAT BEDROOM WHERE THAT BEDROOM IS LOCATED.

I GUESS MY PLEA IS THAT SOMEONE WOULD TAKE THE TIME TO LOOK AT THAT.

I'VE TALKED TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. NOTHING'S BEEN DONE.

OCCASIONALLY THEY'LL HAVE A POLICE OFFICER THERE, BUT I GUESS THAT MEANS I NEED TO STOP.

THANK YOU, MR. GREG. WE APPRECIATE IT. AND WE HAVE THAT ADDRESS. I REALLY WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF SOMEONE WOULD NOTIFY THE RIGHT PERSON AND WE COULD GET A CHEVRON.

WE HAVE A CHEVRON THERE, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE A SOLAR PANEL WITH A LIGHT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. DO YOU NEED A MAP? I MADE A MAP. HOLD ON. JUST DO IT.

SORRY. THAT'S ME. STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD.

THANK EVERYONE FOR THAT INPUT. NOW MOVE TO ITEM NO.

EXCUSE ME. I WILL NOW ASK FOR A MOTION FOR ITEMS TWO THROUGH TEN WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FOUR.

SO MOVED. HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN REAGAN.

SECOND. SECOND. COUNCILMAN BEARD. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? READY TO VOTE. ALL YESES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES.

[4. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Take Action on the Purchase of FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures, & Equipment) for the New Recreation Centers (Cesar Chavez & G.V. Daniels) from O'Kelley Office Supply Omnia Partners Purchasing Cooperative, (JSI) Contract #R240107 and (Darran – NCPA) Contract #07-82 and TIPS Purchasing Cooperative, (Groupe Lacasse) Contract #210305 and (Nevers) Contract #240301 (Lesli Andrews)]

INCLUDED IN THIS LIST OF QUOTES FOR FURNITURE WERE QUOTES FROM NEVERS.

AND THE DATES ON THE QUOTES WAS SEPTEMBER 25TH, AND IT SAID THAT THERE WERE ONLY GOOD FOR 30 DAYS, AND I'D ASKED IF THAT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THEY WOULD HONOR THE QUOTES.

SO I HADN'T HEARD BACK. SO I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM BEFORE WE APPROVE THIS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HONOR THAT.

GOOD MORNING. LESLIE ANDREWS, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATIONS. YES, WE SENT THAT TO THEM ON MONDAY.

THEY UPDATED THE QUOTE DATING THE QUOTE OF NOVEMBER 3RD AND FOR THE 30 DAY PERIOD.

BUT THEY ALSO SAID IN THE EMAIL THAT THEY WILL HONOR IT THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST.

I SENT IT TO SEAN AND CAITLIN AND IT ACCIDENTALLY WENT TO JUNK MAIL.

SO I APOLOGIZE THAT YOU DID NOT RECEIVE THAT BEFORE TODAY.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE BEFORE WE APPROVED IT THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'D ACTUALLY GET. APPRECIATE THE OTHER UPDATES THAT WERE MADE TO THE QUOTES. THAT WAS FURTHER QUESTIONS ON ITEM FOUR.

THAT WAS MY ONLY QUESTION. THANK YOU. THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST? ITEM FOUR? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. 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 PRICE. SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN YATES.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? READY TO VOTE? ALL YESES.

MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 11 ON THE REGULAR AGENDA.

[11. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Oil & Gas Drilling Permit with Teal Exploration, LLC, Permit No. 903971 (Max Johnson)]

GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL. MAX JOHNSON, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.

TODAY, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, IS A DRILLING AND OPERATIONAL PERMITS FOR TEAL EXPLORATION.

THEY HAVE PUT IN AN APPLICATION AND WE ARE CONSIDERING IT TODAY.

THIS IS A LOCATION, YOU SEE I-20. THIS IS NORTH OF I-20 NEAR JOLLY ROGERS ROAD AND CALDWELL ROAD.

WE HAVE NOTIFIED THE PROPERTY OWNERS 500FT AWAY FROM THIS PROPOSED LOCATION.

AND STAFF HAS REVIEWED THE APPLICATION AND HAS FOUND IT COMPLETE AND RECOMMEND YOUR APPROVAL.

ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS OF MAX ON THE ON THE MAP 500FT, PROPERTY OWNER NOTIFICATION RADIUS.

[00:25:11]

SO WERE THE IF IT TOUCHES THE PROPERTY, WE WERE NOTIFIED.

SO BOTH LEFT AND TOP LEFT WERE NOTIFIED. OKAY.

AND THIS IS I GUESS TWO QUESTIONS WOULD BE TO THE RIGHT.

TO THE RIGHT OF THAT IS THAT A IS THAT A CREEK OR A WATERSHED? IT IS. THAT'S THAT'S OUR PROPERTY. THAT'S CITY PROPERTY.

AND NO CONCERN ABOUT POLLUTION OR CONTAMINANTS INTO THAT CREEK.

THAT'S ALL PART OF THE EVALUATION FOR THE PERMIT.

OKAY. VERY GOOD. AND THEN FINALLY, I BELIEVE LATER, WE'RE CONSIDERING A DEVELOPMENT JUST NORTH NORTHWEST OF THIS THE JOLLY ROGERS AND CALLED CALDWELL ROAD. UP, UP ABOVE THAT.

ANY POTENTIAL DOWNSIDE OR EFFECTS TO THAT FUTURE NEIGHBORHOOD IF APPROVED? I DID NOT GET ANY, SIR, I CAN I CAN RESEARCH THAT A LITTLE MORE, BUT NOT OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD.

THAT THAT WOULD AFFECT. OKAY. NO, SIR. THANK YOU.

YES, SIR. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST? ITEM 11. PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION IN A SECOND.

MOVE FOR APPROVAL. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BEARD.

SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN PRICE. FURTHER DISCUSSION.

READY TO VOTE. YESES. MOTION CARRIES. MR. CARRIES WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 12.

[12. Ordinance (Final Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Authorizing the Issuance of City of Abilene, Texas, General Obligation Refunding Bonds (Marjorie Knight)]

MARJORIE KNIGHT, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, ITEM 12, BEFORE YOU TODAY IS AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF 2025 REFUNDING GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS. THIS ORDINANCE WILL DELEGATE AUTHORITY FOR THE SALE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS TO REFUND OUR 2016 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, OUR 2017 GEO BONDS AND OUR 2017 CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.

THE ORDINANCE IS DELEGATING AUTHORITY TO SELL THE BONDS UNDER CERTAIN PARAMETERS, WHICH INCLUDE A PRINCIPAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 40 MILLION NET PRESENT VALUE, DEBT SERVICE SAVINGS OF NOT LESS THAN 6%, TRUE INTEREST COSTS NOT TO EXCEED 5%, AND A FINAL MATURITY OF BONDS NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 2038.

THE AUTHORITY WILL EXPIRE WITHIN A YEAR. THE SAVINGS WE ARE ESTIMATING ON THIS REFUNDING IS VALUED AT ALMOST $3.9 MILLION. ALMOST 3 MILLION OF THAT IS FOR TAX SUPPORTED BONDS, WITH ANOTHER 987,000 FOR WATER AND SEWER.

WE ANTICIPATE THE ANNUAL SAVINGS WILL RANGE BETWEEN 200 AND 60 6000 TO $370,000, AND WE ALSO ESTIMATE THE TAX RATE WILL DECREASE APPROXIMATELY 0.0031 PER $100 VALUE.

WE ALSO HAVE GEORGE WILLIFORD WITH HILLTOP SECURITIES HERE THAT I'D LIKE TO INVITE UP HERE TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE SALE OF THE BONDS.

THANK YOU. MAYOR HURT, MR. CRAWFORD, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

GOOD TO BE BACK BEFORE YOU WHAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, I BELIEVE IN YOUR PACKAGES IS SOME INFORMATION THAT WE HAD PREPARED AND UNDERSTAND.

IT'S NOT REALLY SET UP TO VIEW OVERHEAD, BUT IT'S REALLY DETAILED.

TIED TO WHAT MARJORIE JUST REVIEWED. AND IF I MIGHT GET INTO THAT SLIGHTLY.

AND FIRST I KNOW THERE'S ALWAYS DISCUSSION OR QUESTION ABOUT, WELL, WHAT WHAT IS REFUNDING MEAN.

AND IT'S REALLY JUST REFINANCING ANALOGOUS TO IF INTEREST RATES DROP AND YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REFINANCE YOUR HOME MORTGAGE TO SAVE PAYMENTS.

IN BOND TERMINOLOGY, IT'S THE SAME THING. A REFUNDING IS A REFINANCING.

AND AS MARJORIE INDICATED, SAVINGS ARE ATTRACTIVE IN THIS CASE.

ON AGE OF WHAT WE HANDED OUT, IT DETAILS THE THREE ISSUES.

THE SERIES 2016 GEO ISSUE HAS ABOUT 17.6 MILLION THAT IS REFUNDABLE.

AND THEN THE 2017 CO IS ABOUT 12.3 AND THE 17 GEO IS 9.1.

AND ALL TOTAL. THAT'S $39.1 MILLION OF CALLABLE MATURITIES.

AND OVER ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THAT PAGE, YOU CAN SEE THE INTEREST RATES ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF THOSE OUTSTANDING MATURITIES.

[00:30:04]

AND THAT'S ONE THING THAT'S GOOD ABOUT THE DELEGATED AUTHORITY TO THE CITY MANAGER AND THE FINANCE DIRECTOR.

IF RIGHTS ARE SUCH THAT THERE MAY BE A REASON TO LEAVE SOME OF THOSE OUT AND REFUND THE REST THAT HAVE THE 5% INTEREST, THEY HAVE THE DISCRETION TO MAKE THAT DECISION ON THE NEXT PAGE.

THIS IS WHAT MARJORIE INDICATED. IT SHOWS THE ANNUAL SAVINGS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF THOSE ISSUES, BUT IN AGGREGATE ABOUT $360,000 PER YEAR PROJECTED.

THAT'S AT RELATIVELY CURRENT RATES. AND I KNOW PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY, WELL, WHAT ABOUT WHATEVER THE FEDERAL RESERVE DOES? WELL, LAST WEEK THEY CUT THE DISCOUNT RATE. AND WHAT YOU SAW IS INTEREST RATES WENT UP.

AND THE REASON IS EXPECTATION OF WHAT THEY PROBABLY OR MAY NOT DO IN DECEMBER.

AND THEN WHAT INFLATION MAY OR MAY NOT DO AFFECTS RATES MORE THAN JUST THEIR ACTION AT A AT A GIVEN POINT IN TIME.

SO WE'RE WE'RE AT A PERIOD OF LOW RATES BUT ALSO VOLATILITY WITHIN A RANGE.

THEY'RE BOUNCING AROUND. AND SO THIS IS CURRENT.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THE PRESENT VALUE BASED ON THESE NUMBERS SAVINGS WAS 8.3% OF THAT OVERALL 39 MILLION REFUNDED AMOUNT. THE NEXT PAGE IN WHAT YOU HAVE BROKE THE SAVINGS DOWN BETWEEN TAX SUPPORTED AND WATER AND SEWER SUPPORTED AND ONLY THE 17 CO HAD A WATER AND SEWER SUPPORTED COMPONENT.

AND OUT OF THOSE 360,000 ROUGHLY SAVINGS IS MARJORIE INDICATED ABOUT 90,000 OF THAT WOULD BE WATER AND SEWER.

THE REST OF IT WOULD ALL BE TAX SUPPORTED. THE NEXT PAGE IN THE PACKAGE SHOWS A SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS.

AND BOTTOM LINE IS, AS MARJORIE INDICATED, THE MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE SAVINGS UNDER THE ORDINANCE THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING A 6% PRESENT VALUE.

AND IF YOU KIND OF MOVE ALONG THIS CONTINUUM ON THIS CHART, YOU CAN SEE THAT VERSUS WHAT I SHOWED YOU EARLIER.

INTEREST RATES WOULD HAVE TO GO UP ABOUT 45 BASIS POINTS, OR A LITTLE UNDER A HALF A PERCENT TO HIT THAT OR DROP TO THAT 6% LEVEL.

AND AT THAT ANNUAL SAVINGS WOULD IN ALL LIKELIHOOD BE AROUND OR JUST UNDER AROUND $250,000 PER YEAR.

BUT HOPEFULLY RATES WILL HOLD AND WE'LL BE CLOSER TO THE PROJECTIONS THAT WE SHOWED YOU EARLY ON.

THE VERY LAST PAGE IS A CALENDAR, AND BASED ON IF THE COUNCIL APPROVES THE ORDINANCE TODAY, WE'D PROCEED TO HAVE A RATING CALL NEXT WEEK.

AND MARJORIE'S RESPONDING TO THE RATING AGENCIES QUESTIONS.

AND WE WOULD PLAN TO PRICE OR BE IN A POSITION AT LEAST TO PRICE THE ISSUE IF EVERYTHING'S FAVORABLE.

THE MONDAY, TUESDAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING. IF THAT DIDN'T LOOK GOOD AS FAR AS MARKET CONDITIONS AND SO ON WE WOULD, IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, THEN LOOK AT BUMPING IT TO THE FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER OR AS SOON THEREAFTER AS EVERYTHING LOOKED IN ORDER.

BUT WITH THAT, I'D BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.

ALSO SAM GILL WITH MCCALL, PARKHURST AND HORTON.

THE CITY'S BOND COUNCIL IS HERE AS WELL. QUESTIONS FOR GEORGE.

NOT SO MUCH A QUESTION. JUST A REQUEST THAT SINCE THIS IS GOOD FOR UP TO A YEAR AND WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN IT MIGHT HAPPEN OR HOW MUCH ASSUMING IT HAPPENS BY THE THE ANNUAL FEBRUARY BUDGET DISCUSSION, CAN WE GET AN UPDATE TO US JUST TO SAY IT HAPPENED? THIS IS HOW MUCH WE SAVED. THIS IS WHAT THE RATES WERE OR IT HADN'T HAPPENED YET.

JUST SO COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR THE OUTCOME OF THE ACTION, SINCE IT'S ABSOLUTELY DELEGATED TO YOU ALL.

THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? TWO QUESTIONS ON THIS.

IF WE DO REFINANCE THIS, DOES THIS AFFECT THE CITY'S OVERALL CREDIT RATING? WE ARE ISSUING NEW NEW DEBT TO TO REFINANCE IT.

IS IT A GOOD THING FOR OUR CREDIT RATING? BAD NEUTRAL.

WHAT'S THE THINKING IN THIS CASE IT'S A GOOD THING BECAUSE THIS WOULD EXTINGUISH OUR OR PAY OFF THE OUTSTANDING DEBT, REPLACE IT WITH LOWER INTEREST COST NEW REFINANCING ISSUE AND SO ON.

AND AS I SAID, MARJORIE IS INTERACTING WITH THE RATING AGENCIES RIGHT NOW.

SO OUR EXPECTATION EXPECTATION IS THAT THERE WOULDN'T REALLY BE ANY IMPACT ON THE CITY'S RATING.

AND I'VE GOTTEN QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS OVER THE LAST WEEK OR SO.

AND JUST TO CLARIFY, I THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE THINKING HOUSE RATES ARE CERTAINLY NOT BETTER NOW THAN 2016 AND YOU WOULD NOT WANT TO REFINANCE NOW.

[00:35:05]

AND SO NOW IT IS A GOOD TIME TO REFINANCE. IS THAT THE SYNOPSIS? TO SOME EXTENT, YES, SIR. BOND RATES HAVE WHAT'S CALLED A COUPON RATE AND THEN A YIELD.

AND TYPICALLY THE COUPON RATES ARE HIGHER. AND THAT'S WHY ON A NEW MONEY ISSUE, NORMALLY WE, THE CITY WILL RECEIVE PREMIUM DOLLARS WHERE BUYERS PAY FOR THAT HIGHER COUPON BUT GET A LOWER YIELD.

AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S A GOOD THING FROM THE STANDPOINT THAT YOU'VE GOT 5% COUPON RATES.

THE YIELDS ON THOSE BONDS WERE IN FACT LOWER.

BUT IT GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK AND REFINANCE AND LOWER THE ACTUAL INTEREST COST.

EVEN THOUGH THE YIELDS MAY NOT HAVE DROPPED MATERIALLY.

THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU GEORGE. 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 12? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

TAMMY VOGEL, RESIDENT OF ABILENE. ALL RIGHT, SO THIS IS WHERE I DO HARD THINGS BECAUSE I REALLY TRY MY BEST TO UNDERSTAND.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING US AN UPDATE. THAT MADE ME JUST KIND OF WANT TO CLAP BECAUSE.

NOT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. IT'S JUST SOMETIMES IN THE DAY TO DAY BUSINESS, THOSE THINGS DON'T GET MADE OUT TO THE PUBLIC.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT EXTRA STEP. I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED AND THAT'S NOT SURPRISING.

I DO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE REFINANCING AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S HARD ABOUT READING THROUGH THE PACKET AND EVEN TRYING TO ASK QUESTIONS BEFOREHAND IS I DON'T HAVE THE PRESENTATION.

AND SO I WANT TO HEAR THE PRESENTATION. THEN I'M ABLE TO ACTUALLY ASK FOR SOME MORE INFORMATION AND TRY AND UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME IS WE'RE TRYING TO HOPEFULLY SAVE ABOUT 10% OF THE OVERALL COST.

MAYBE THAT'S WRONG BECAUSE IT'S 39 MILLION AND WE'RE LOOKING TO SAVE ABOUT 3.9 MILLION.

THE CONFUSING PART TO ME IS I KIND OF DID A LITTLE OF RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT WE ACTUALLY STILL ONLY OWE ABOUT 25 MILLION IN PRINCIPAL.

SO THAT'S WHERE THIS NUMBER IS CONFUSING TO ME BECAUSE IT'S THE 39 MILLION INCLUDING PRINCIPAL.

OR IS IT IS THAT SEPARATE OR I MEAN, NOT INCLUDING PRINCIPAL, INCLUDING INTEREST? OR IS THAT A SEPARATE NUMBER OR DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY ANSWERS TO WHAT THE DIFFERENCE OF THOSE TWO NUMBERS ARE? OKAY. AGAIN, I'M JUST TRYING TO BECAUSE I LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, I PRINT THIS OUT THINKING I ACTUALLY CAN READ IT, WHICH IS QUITE FUNNY. YOU CAN'T READ IT, YOU CAN ONLY READ IT ON THE COMPUTER.

AND SO I TRIED TO PUT UP ALL THESE THE, THE THINGS, THE LAST THING I WILL ADDRESS, THE ONLY THING I DON'T LIKE ABOUT WHEN WE REFUND BESIDES SAY, WELL, NO, I LIKE I LIKE REFUNDING BECAUSE WE SAVE MONEY.

I DON'T LIKE IT THAT EACH ONE OF THOSE PROJECT TITLES THAT WENT WITH THAT BOND DISAPPEAR, LIKE THE FIRST 2016 BOND.

THAT'S ACTUALLY A REFINANCE OF A PREVIOUS BOND.

AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT PROJECT WAS FOR. AND SO AS A CITIZEN, I'D LIKE TO SEE WHERE SOME OF THIS MONEY IS GOING.

AND I CAN'T GO BACK IF I HAVEN'T BEEN PAYING ATTENTION SINCE PRIOR TO THAT.

SO IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU WHEN YOU REFINANCE IN THE DESCRIPTION BOX TO JUST CONTINUE TO LIST WHAT THINGS THOSE BONDS WERE FUND FOR.

AND AND IF WE HAVE NO MONEY LEFT ON THESE BONDS, I'M STILL TRYING TO LEARN THIS PROCESS.

REFINANCING AGAIN, I GUESS THAT THREE THREE, THE 39 MILLION IN THE 25 MILLION IS THE ONLY DISCREPANCY.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW TO RESOLVE. AND I ACTUALLY LOOKED UP YOUTUBE VIDEOS TO FIND THIS OUT.

AND THE ONLY VIDEOS OR INFORMATION IS ABOUT HOW TO INVEST IN THEM, NOT TO HELP EDUCATE CITIZENS ON WHAT THIS ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE AND HOW THIS PROCESS WORKS.

SO AGAIN, KUDOS TO YOU ALL FOR REFINANCING AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE US MONEY.

MY QUESTION ALSO, WILL THIS TAX RATE DECREASE WHEN THIS HAPPENS? WILL THAT IMMEDIATELY BE CHANGED? OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE WAIT UNTIL WE UPDATE THINGS, OR WILL THE CITIZENS SEE THAT? WILL YOU HAVE AN ANSWER? YES, MA'AM. SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THE AMOUNT OF DEBT THAT THE CITY HAS TO REPAY IS IN OUR INTEREST IN SEEKING.

YES. AS FAR AS OUR TAX RATE. AND SO WHEN WE SET THE TAX RATE NEXT WE WILL SEE THAT SAVINGS AT THAT TIME.

OKAY. AND THAT'S GREAT. THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST TIMES I'VE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION ENOUGH TO NOTICE. SO I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR SO THAT I CAN CELEBRATE OUR SAVINGS AND GETTING A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY IN OUR POCKET. HOPEFULLY. SO. ALL RIGHT, WELL, YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.

IF YOU LOOK ON PAGE 322 OF THE PACKET, WHEN YOU LOOK, THE PRINCIPAL IS 42 MILLION, NOT 25 MILLION.

OKAY. WELL, I WAS JUST GOING OFF OF THIS. THAT'S WHERE THE AS OF SEPTEMBER 30TH, THIS IS WHAT THAT SAID 25 MILLION.

THOSE THREE BONDS. THAT'S OKAY. AND I PRINTED IT OUT 30 PAGES.

I LEFT THAT PART AT HOME. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF THE CITIZENS AND MYSELF COULD SEE THOSE CHARTS ON THIS.

BUT PAGE, WHAT DID YOU SAY? PAGE 22 322 I'LL LOOK THAT UP.

THANK YOU. THAT'S WHERE I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHICH INFORMATION DO I LOOK AT AND AND WHAT IS CORRECT AND WHERE AM I MISGUIDED OR OR LOOKING AT THE WRONG NUMBER.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT HELP I APPRECIATE IT. THANKS.

STILL, IN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 12, WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME?

[00:40:05]

SECOND, HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN ESPINOSA.

SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BEARD. FURTHER DISCUSSION.

VOTE. ALL YESES. MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 13.

[13. Ordinance (Final Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Authorizing the Issuance and Sale of City of Abilene, Texas Combination Tax and Surplus Revenue Certificates of Obligation, for Waterworks and Sewer System Improvements (Marjorie Knight)]

ITEM 13 IS AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION FOR THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD LEAD SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT PROJECTS. THIS ORDINANCE WILL AUTHORIZE $410,000 OF COES FOR THIS REPLACEMENT PROGRAM.

THE FINANCE IS BEING PROVIDED THROUGH AN INTEREST FREE LOAN FROM THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD.

DEBT SERVICE WILL BE FUNDED BY WATER AND SEWER REVENUES BEGINNING IN FISCAL YEAR 2027.

WE DO ANTICIPATE THE CURRENT RATES ARE SUFFICIENT TO COVER THE INCREASED ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE, WHICH IS ESTIMATED AT ABOUT $82,000 ANNUALLY OVER FIVE YEARS.

COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. 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 13, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION IN A SECOND. SO MOVED.

HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN REAGAN. SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN CRAVER.

FURTHER DISCUSSION. READY TO VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER BEARD IS ABSENT, BUT THE REST ARE YESES.

MOTION CARRIES. NOW MOVE TO ITEM 14. AND ONCE AGAIN I'LL ASK MARJORIE TONIGHT TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.

[14. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving the Execution and Delivery of a Principal Forgiveness Agreement for Waterworks and Sewer System Improvements (Marjorie Knight]

SO THEY APPROVED A TOTAL OF $836,735 FOR THE LEAD SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM.

THE PREVIOUS ITEM WAS AN INTEREST FREE LOAN OF 410,000.

THIS ITEM IS FOR PRINCIPAL FORGIVENESS OF $426,735.

THIS RESOLUTION WILL AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF THE PRINCIPAL FORGIVENESS AGREEMENT OF THAT AMOUNT WITH THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD.

DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? QUESTIONS? I GUESS ONE THOUGHT I HAD AND I JUST WROTE HOW DO THEY DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF PRINCIPAL FORGIVENESS? DO YOU KNOW HOW THAT WORKS? THAT PROCESS? IT MAY NOT BE, I KNOW THAT THEY SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION FOR FUNDING AND IT WAS WHAT THEY CAME BACK WITH. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR PROCESS IS ON DETERMINING HOW MUCH THEY HAVE FOR WHICH PART OF THE PROGRAM THOUGH.

SO. OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 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 WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND. SO MOVED. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN YATES.

SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN CRAVER. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE'RE READY TO VOTE. OH, YES. MOTION CARRIES.

MOTION CARRIES. SO NOW MOVE TO ITEM 15, AND I'LL ASK TIM LITTLEJOHN, DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT,

[15. Ordinance (Final Reading) Z-2025-32: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on A Request From The Owner, To Change The Zoning Of Approximately 20.61 Acres From Agricultural Open (AO) And Medium Density (MD) To Multi-Family (MF). Located At The 400 Block Of Jolly Rogers Road. (Tim Littlejohn)]

THIS MORNING IS ZONING CASE 202532. THE OWNERS BRUCE EDWARDS AGENT IS KELLY GOMEZ.

THE REQUEST FOR YOU TO CONSIDER CHANGE THE ZONING OF APPROXIMATELY 20.61 ACRES FROM AGRICULTURAL, OPEN SPACE AND MEDIUM DENSITY TO A STRAIGHT ZONED MULTIFAMILY.

THIS IS LOCATED AT THE 400 BLOCK OF JOLLY ROGERS ROAD.

HERE'S THE LOCATION MAP. HERE'S THE CURRENT ZONING MAP.

AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S SPLIT. HERE ARE THE CURRENT ALLOWABLE USES WITHIN THE AGRICULTURAL OPEN SPACE AND THE CURRENT ALLOWABLE USES WITHIN THE MEDIUM DENSITY ZONING.

AND HERE ARE THE ALLOWABLE USES IN THE REQUESTED MULTIFAMILY ZONING.

HERE ARE THE PROPERTY VIEWS. WE SENT NOTIFICATIONS OUT.

WE DIDN'T SEE. WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY AND WE DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY IN RETURN.

THIS REQUEST MEETS ALL THE CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL WITHIN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.

[00:45:03]

AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. 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 15. PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ARE THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION IN A SECOND. SO MOVED.

I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BEARD. SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN ESPINOSA.

FURTHER DISCUSSION. WE'RE READY TO VOTE. ALL YESES.

MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 16.

[16. Ordinance (Final Reading) Z-2025-34: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on A Request From The Owner, To Change The Zoning Of Approximately 2.88 Acres From RS-8/COR And AO/COR To GR/COR. Located at 6144 Buffalo Gap Road. (Tim Littlejohn)]

THANK YOU. MAYOR. COUNCIL UP FOR CONSIDERATION IN ZONING CASE 202534.

THE OWNER IS JEAN CASEY. AGENT IS STEPHEN MARKHAM.

THE REQUEST FOR YOU TO CONSIDER IS TO CHANGE THE ZONING OF APPROXIMATELY 2.8 ACRES FROM RS.

EIGHT CORRIDOR AND AGRICULTURAL OPEN SPACE SLASH CORRIDOR TO GENERAL RETAIL WITH THE CORRIDOR OVERLAY.

THIS IS LOCATED AT 6144 BUFFALO GAP ROAD. HERE'S THE LOCATION MAP.

HERE'S THE CURRENT ZONING MAP. HERE ARE THE ALLOWABLE USES THAT ARE IN PLACE CURRENTLY.

HERE'S THE REQUEST TO CONSIDER. PROPERTY VIEWS.

NOTIFICATIONS WERE SENT OUT, WE DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY IN RETURN.

THIS MEETS ALL THE CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL WITHIN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.

PNC DID HEAR THIS CASE AND THEY DO RECOMMEND TO YOU APPROVAL THIS MORNING, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

TIM. QUESTIONS, TIM. THIS IS TO BE A MCDONALD'S.

THAT'S THE PROPOSED USE. YES, SIR. NO CONCERNS I KNOW WE HAD THE THE ISSUES WITH THE CHICK FIL A ON THAT CORNER WITH THE DRIVE THROUGH BEING BACKED UP OUT ON THE STREET.

WOULD THIS BE IN BUFFALO GAP, A MAJOR, MAJOR ARTERY? NO CONCERNS AS FAR AS THEIR LAYOUT, AS FAR AS BACKUP OF OF THEIR DRIVE THROUGH LINE OUT ONTO BUFFALO GAP? NOT AT THE MOMENT. THEY'VE GOT PLENTY OF ROOM FOR STACKING.

THERE'S. THAT WAS BROUGHT UP DURING THE PNC MEETING, AND YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.

COUNCIL MEMBER THEY HAVE A SPECIALIZED ENTRANCE TO.

YES, SIR. ON ON THE VERY FRONT OF IT, IT'S A LEFT RIGHT TURN OR NO LEFT TURN RIGHT OUT OF THE FRONT OF IT.

YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY GO DOWN A LITTLE BIT. I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THAT BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'VE ADDRESSED THAT.

YES, SIR. MCDONALD'S PEOPLE AREN'T AS CRAZY AS CHICK FIL A PEOPLE.

THE QUESTION IS, CAM, AND THAT'S THAT'S REALLY UP TO TEX-DOT ON APPROVING THOSE DRIVEWAY CUTS INTO THE.

YES, SIR. IT'S LOOKING LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE A RIGHT IN, RIGHT OUT.

IT'S WHAT WAS STATED FROM THE APPLICANT. THANK YOU TIM.

AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST? ITEM 16. PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND.

SO MOVED. HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN REAGAN.

SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN PRICE. FURTHER DISCUSSION.

READY TO VOTE. ALL YESES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES.

NOW MOVE TO ITEM 17. AND TIM LITTLEJOHN AGAIN TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.

[17. Ordinance (Final Reading) Z-2025-35: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on A Request From The Owner, To Amend The Terms And Conditions Of A Planned Development District (PDD-136). Located at 1699 S. 1st Street (Tim Littlejohn)]

IS ONLY CASE 202535. THE APPLICANT IS ABILENE.

HERITAGE SQUARE. THEY'RE LOOKING TO AMEND THE TERMS AND CONDITION OF THE PLAN.

DEVELOPMENT 136 TO ACCOMMODATE SOME NEW CONSTRUCTION.

THIS IS LOCATED AT 1699 SOUTH FIRST STREET. HERE'S THE LOCATION MAP.

CURRENT ZONING MAP. PROPERTY VIEWS.

NOTIFICATIONS WERE SENT OUT. WE DID RECEIVE FOREIGN OPPOSITION, RESULTING IN A 5.68% IN OPPOSITION.

WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO DO IS THEY'RE ADDING THEY'RE AMENDING THE THE PD TO ALLOW FOR A LIBRARY DROP OFF BOX.

AND THEN ALSO TO, DUE TO THE CONSTRUCTION IS TO COVER UP SOME WINDOWS WITH SOME LIGHT MATERIALS.

AND THAT'S ALL BEEN APPROVED THROUGH THE LANDMARKS.

IT'S A PRETTY SIMPLE LITTLE AMENDMENT, BUT THIS THIS DOES MEET ALL THE CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL WITHIN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.

AND PNC IS RECOMMENDING TO YOU APPROVAL THIS MORNING, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

QUESTIONS TO TIM. WE HAD SEVERAL OBJECTIONS ON THIS, AND I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY.

[00:50:05]

WE'RE NOT MOVING BECAUSE THE HERITAGE WANTS ALL OUR HOMES FOR PARKING.

BUT THAT THAT DOESN'T REALLY RELATE TO WHAT WE'RE BEING ASKED TO DO HERE, RIGHT? IT'S NOT A PARKING ISSUE. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTOOD AT THE PLANNING AND ZONING, WHICH IT WAS COVERED VERY WELL BY THE APPLICANT, IS THEY WERE CONFUSED OF THE NOTIFICATION MAP AND HOW THE BOUNDARIES WERE DRAWN.

THEY WERE ASSUMING THAT THAT MIGHT BE THEIR EXPANDING HERITAGE SQUARE, BUT I BELIEVE THAT'S BEEN WORKED OUT.

BUT THEY DIDN'T FORMALLY REMOVE THEIR OPPOSITION, SO WE HE HAD TO LEAVE IT.

OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. TIM. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST? ITEM 17. PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND CITIZENS.

I'M TAKING MY TURN OVER HERE. I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF SHEETS FROM OUR SLIDE PRESENTATION.

WE PUT TOGETHER TO ADD FURTHER CLARITY TO OUR OUR REQUEST.

AND THINKING BACK TO 2011, I WAS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ABILENE PRESERVATION LEAGUE.

WE WERE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CITY AND ALSO WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK EVERYBODY INVOLVED.

CURRENT COUNCIL, PAST COUNCIL STAFF MEMBERS FOR THIS GREAT PARTNERSHIP THAT IS RESULTING IN SOMETHING THAT IN MAY IS GOING TO BE OPENING UP.

AND A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL THING FOR EVERYBODY.

BUT IN 2011 WE WERE THINKING, WHAT IS THIS BUILDING GOING TO BE? ALL WE KNEW IS THAT WE DIDN'T WANT IT TO BE PAINTBALL PLACE OR TO BE DEMOLISHED.

AND SO THERE WERE TWO THINGS BASICALLY IN DRAFTING THAT ORDINANCE THAT, THAT WE HAD TO HAND IN AND WITH WORKING WITH THE STAFF IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION FOLKS OVER HERE. AND, AND THOSE WERE DON'T FILL IN WINDOWS PARTICULARLY ON THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING.

THE SITE THAT'S HISTORIC FROM SOUTH FIRST. AND DON'T PUT A DRIVE IN.

DON'T MAKE IT A MCDONALD'S OR SOMETHING. DON'T PUT A DRIVE IN, DRIVE THROUGH FACILITY.

SO HERE WE ARE TODAY. WE DIDN'T KNOW THEN IT WAS GOING TO.

THAT LIBRARY WAS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE USES.

SO A DRIVE THROUGH OR A BOOK DROP REALLY IS NOT A DRIVE.

IT'S NOT ANYTHING LIKE A TRANSACTIONAL SITUATION.

IT'S THAT THE CURRENT LIBRARY ON CEDAR STREET HAS A BOOK DROP.

SO THAT BECAME PART OF THE PROGRAM. SO THAT'S THAT'S WHY WE WE HAVE THAT IN THERE.

AND THE OTHER IS THESE THE WINDOWS THAT ARE FILLED IN ARE NOT ON THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING, NOT REALLY VISIBLE. THEY'RE JUST BECAUSE OF THE NEW CONSTRUCTION OF THE LIBRARY IS, IS DOING THAT.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE GLAD TO TRY TO ANSWER THEM QUESTIONS.

IT'S LOOKING GOOD. THANK YOU. STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? MOVE FOR APPROVAL. HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BEARD.

SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN PRICE. FURTHER DISCUSSION.

READY TO VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER BEARD. I HID IT.

SECOND BY MCDONALD'S. OH, YES. MOTION CARRIES.

MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS FACILITY.

[18. Ordinance (Final Reading) Z-2025-36: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on A Request From The Owner, To Change The Zoning Of Approximately 5.23 Acres From Agricultural Open (AO) To Heavy Commercial (HC). Located at 3329 Maple Street. (Tim Littlejohn)]

THANK YOU. MAYOR. COUNCIL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

IS ZONING CASE 202536. THE OWNER IS 108. REAL ESTATE APPLICANT IS JACOB MARTIN.

THE REQUEST FOR YOU TO CONSIDER IS TO CHANGE THE ZONING OF APPROXIMATELY 5.23 ACRES FROM AGRICULTURAL OPEN SPACE TO HEAVY COMMERCIAL LOCATED AT 3329 MAPLE STREET.

HERE'S THE LOCATION MAP. HERE'S THE CURRENT ZONING.

HERE ARE THE ALLOWABLE USES CURRENTLY. HERE'S THE PROPOSED USES.

HERE OF USE AS A SUBJECT PROPERTY. THIS IS LOOKING TO DEVELOP RIGHT BEHIND THE INDOOR BATTING FACILITY FOR D-BAT.

AND THIS WILL BE AN OUTDOOR TRAINING FACILITY THAT WILL COMPLEMENT THE USE IN THE FRONT.

NOTIFICATIONS WERE SENT OUT. WE DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY IN RETURN.

[00:55:04]

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.

THANK YOU. CAN I OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST? ITEM 18. PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

GOOD MORNING. TAL FILLINGIM, AGENT FOR THE PROPERTY OWNER.

THIS ZONING REQUEST IS TO SUPPORT THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT JUST IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE EXISTING D-BAT FACILITY.

THE USE IS GOING TO BE VERY SIMILAR. SOME OUTDOOR BUT ALSO SOME INDOOR AS WELL.

LIKE PLANNING AND ZONING AND AND STAFF. WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE ZONING AT THIS LOCATION AND WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF I CAN. QUESTIONS TO TOWN.

THANK YOU. YOU. STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 18.

WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION IN A SECOND. MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN CRAVER, THE ATHLETE.

SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN ESPINOSA. HE'S MAD BECAUSE HE'S AN ATHLETE TO.

FURTHER DISCUSSION. WE'RE READY TO VOTE. OH! YESES.

MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. AND YES, LYNN BEARD PLAYED FOOTBALL AT HARDIN-SIMMONS.

NOW, MAYBE I DIDN'T CALL ME AN ATHLETE. I'M NOT SURE WE GET THAT IN THE MINUTES.

BRAD LOBBIED HIM FROM THE GALLERY. GOOD ITEM 19.

[19. Ordinance (Final Reading) Z-2025-37: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on A Request From The Owner, To Change The Zoning Of Approximately 44.90 Acres From Agricultural Open (AO) To Residential Single-Family (RS-6) And General Commercial (GC). Located At 3009 Dub Wright Boulevard And 3010 Bishop Road. (Tim Littlejohn)]

THANK YOU. MAYOR. COUNCIL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. IS ZONING CASE 202537.

OWNER IS LEGACY FUNERAL HOLDINGS. APPLICANT IS JACOB MARTIN.

REQUESTS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER IS CHANGE THE ZONING OF APPROXIMATELY 44.7 ACRES FROM AGRICULTURAL OPEN SPACE TO GENERAL COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY RS6. THIS IS LOCATED AT 3009 BOULEVARD. HERE'S THE LOCATION MAP.

HERE'S THE ZONING MAP. HERE ARE THE CURRENT ALLOWABLE USES THERE.

HERE ARE THE PROPOSED USES FOR THE GENERAL COMMERCIAL.

HERE'S THE REQUESTED RESIDENTIAL ZONING. HERE'S THE EXHIBIT SHOWING THE PLACEMENT OF WHERE THE GENERAL COMMERCIAL AND THE RS6 WOULD BE LOCATED ON THAT PROPERTY. IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED FOR QUITE A WHILE AND THAT'S BEEN TRANSITIONING IN THAT AREA.

SO IT'S A IT'S A GOOD FIT. HERE'S THE VIEWS. NOTIFICATIONS.

WORSE THAN THAT, WE DID RECEIVE THREE IN FAVOR AND ZERO IN OPPOSITION.

IT 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 FOR TIM.

THANK YOU. NO TRAFFIC STUDY. 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. TAL FILLINGIM, AGENT FOR THE PROPERTY OWNER.

THIS ZONING REQUEST IS A LITTLE BIT UNIQUE IN THAT WE HAVE GENERAL COMMERCIAL IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL.

THIS IS A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT. OUR INTENTION IS TO CREATE SIGNIFICANT BUFFERING BETWEEN THOSE TWO ZONING CASES.

UNLIKE SOME OF THE ZONING CASES THAT YOU SEE COME FORWARD WITH GENERAL COMMERCIAL BEING IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS.

THIS IS A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT. AND SO WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT ADEQUATELY.

SO WE ALSO BELIEVE IT'S APPROPRIATE LAND USE AT THIS LOCATION.

AND WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF I CAN.

QUESTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 19? I THINK NO ONE. I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION IN A SECOND VOTE FOR APPROVAL.

I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN PRICE. SECOND SECOND BY COUNCILMAN YATES.

DISCUSSION. WE'RE READY TO VOTE. ALL YESES. MOTION CARRIES.

MOTION CARRIES. TIM LITTLEJOHN, AGAIN FOR ITEM 20.

[20. Ordinance (Final Reading) Z-2025-38: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on A Request From The Owner, To Change The Zoning Of Approximately 0.48 Acres From Heavy Industrial (HI) To Light Industrial (LI). Located At 525 S Treadaway Blvd. (Tim Littlejohn)]

[01:00:01]

THE REQUEST FOR RECONSIDER HAS CHANGED THE ZONING OF APPROXIMATELY HALF AN ACRE FROM HEAVY INDUSTRIAL TO LIGHT INDUSTRIAL.

LOCATED AT 525 SOUTH BROADWAY BOULEVARD. HERE'S THE LOCATION MAP.

HERE'S THE CURRENT ZONING. HERE ARE THE CURRENT ALLOWABLE USES.

HERE'S THE REQUESTED ALLOWABLE USES. PROPERTY VALUES.

PURPOSE OF THIS REQUEST IS TO DOWN ZONE IT TO AN ALLEY, TO ALLOW FOR SOME MORE USES AND MAKE IT A MORE MARKETABLE PROPERTY.

NOTIFICATIONS WERE SENT OUT. WE DID RECEIVE ONE IN FAVOR, ZERO IN OPPOSITION.

THIS MEETS ALL THE CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL WITHIN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, AND PNC DID HEAR THIS CASE.

THEY DO RECOMMEND TO YOU APPROVAL THIS MORNING.

I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS FOR TIM.

THANK YOU TIM. AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 20? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION IN A SECOND. SO MOVED.

WHO GOT IT? I DID HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BEARD, A SECOND ATHLETE.

GOT IT. MAYOR SECOND. THE SECOND, MY COUNCILMAN ESPINOSA.

HE THOUGHT IT WAS A CHEESEBURGER. FURTHER DISCUSSION.

WE'RE READY TO VOTE. ALL YESES. MOTION CARRIES.

MOTION CARRIES. IT IS NOW 9:32 A.M., AND WE RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT,

[EXECUTIVE SESSION]

SECTION 551.073 DELIBERATIONS ABOUT GIFTS AND DONATIONS.

SECTION 551.074 PERSONNEL MATTERS. SECTION 551.076 DELIBERATIONS ABOUT SECURITY DEVICES.

SECTION 551.087 DELIBERATIONS ABOUT BUSINESS PROSPECTS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

IT IS NOW 1028 AND WE RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION.

[RECONVENE]

NO MOVE TO ITEM 22, WHICH IS THE REAPPOINTMENT OR APPOINTMENT OR REAPPOINTMENT OF VARIOUS BOARDS,

[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)]

KENNETH BOWLES 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 NONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND.

SO MOVED. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN YATES.

SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN REAGAN. DISCUSSION.

WE'RE READY TO VOTE. ALL YESES, MOTION CARRIES.

MOTION CARRIES. AT THIS TIME, WE ARE NOT PREPARED FOR ITEMS 23 TO 25.

THERE'S STILL SOME LEGAL AGREEMENTS THAT HAVE TO BE WORKED OUT ON THOSE.

SO ITEMS 23 THROUGH 25 WILL NOT BE DISCUSSED TODAY.

SO WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 26. AND I'LL ASK MR.

[26. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving the Development Corporation of Abilene's Incentive for Project Rise, and Amending the Annual Budget for the Development Corporation of Abilene (Misty Mayo)]

THANK YOU, MAYOR HART. AS THE MAYOR SAID, I REPRESENT THE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF ABILENE.

I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO, MISTY MAYO. I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF THE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF ABILENE'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

I HAVE TODAY OUR REPRESENTATIVE BOARD CHAIR, SHAY HALL, AND MANY OF THE DCOA TEAM MEMBERS TO SUPPORT PROJECT RISE. I ALWAYS LIKE TO START WITH THE MISSION AND VISION OF THE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND OUR FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN. TODAY, PROJECT RISE REPRESENTS BOTH BUSINESS ATTRACTION AND BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION, WHICH IS LOCAL EXISTING COMPANIES. ULTIMATELY, PROJECT RISE IS A ALIGNS DIRECTLY WITH THESE TWO PILLARS IN THAT WE'RE PROMOTING ABILENE AS THE PREMIER LOCATION FOR BUSINESS.

AND WE'RE WORKING TO INFLUENCE BUSINESS GROWTH WITH LOCAL EXISTING BUSINESSES IN THE ABILENE COMMUNITY.

PROJECT RISE SUPPORTS LOCAL BUSINESSES FOR FUTURE GROWTH AND EXPANSION AND WILL EXPAND ABILENE'S BUSINESS CONNECTIVITY.

IT ALSO ULTIMATELY WILL STRENGTHEN ABILENE'S ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS.

TODAY, WE'RE ASKING YOU, COUNCIL, FOR SUPPORT OF A THREE YEAR BUDGET COMMITMENT, AND YOU SEE IT

[01:05:07]

I BELIEVE DURING THE BUDGET APPROVAL THERE WAS CONVERSATION ABOUT OUR INCENTIVE LINE ITEM.

THIS DOES ALIGN WITH THAT INCENTIVE LINE ITEM.

AGAIN YOUR APPROVAL TODAY IS FOR THE BUDGET COMMITMENT FOR THREE YEARS.

IT'S SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS PARTNERSHIP.

IT'S A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF ABILENE, THE CITY OF ABILENE, AND THE ABILENE REGIONAL AIRPORT.

BECAUSE WHEN WE ADD CONNECTIVITY AND OPTIONS FOR BOTH OUR CITIZENS AND OUR COMPANIES, ULTIMATELY OUR COMPANIES CAN GROW AND PROSPER IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THAT'S WHAT PROJECT RISE IS ALL ABOUT. SO THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL, FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR HURT. OF COURSE, A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO CITY MANAGER EMILY CRAWFORD AND ABILENE REGIONAL AIRPORT DIRECTOR DON GREEN FOR THEIR DILIGENCE AND WORK IN PARTNERING WITH THE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF ABILENE.

THERE'S SO MUCH MORE I COULD SHARE, AND I HOPE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE ADDITIONAL DETAILS TALES.

HOWEVER, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THERE ARE ADDITIONAL LINE ITEMS OR ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEMS WHERE CITY MANAGER CRAWFORD WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN IN DETAIL THIS PROJECT. AGAIN, THE DCOA IS BRINGING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF THE FUNDING WHICH REQUIRES THE CITY COUNCIL'S APPROVAL FOR THIS THREE YEAR INCENTIVE THAT'S OUTLINED.

THERE ARE BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE PUBLIC'S REFERENCE.

AGAIN, SHAY HALL IS HERE REPRESENTING THE BOARD, AND ONE OF EVERY THREE ABILENE JOBS HAS BEEN AFFECTED AND IMPACTED THROUGH THE WORK OF THE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

SO PROJECT RISE IS AN EXAMPLE THAT WHEN THE CITY SETS A GOAL, A GOAL OF ADDING EXTRA SERVICE FOR BOTH OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND OUR BUSINESSES.

THE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IS COMMITTED EVERY DAY TO BEING A PART OF GROWING THE FUTURE.

ABILENE MR., FIRST OF ALL. OH, LOOK, I WAS ALREADY RUNNING OFF FOR YOUR CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOUR STAFF AND THANK YOUR BOARD FOR THIS FORWARD THINKING FOR SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY NOT PART OF WHAT DC HAS DONE BEFORE, BUT TO IT'S REALLY NOT CREATIVE. IT'S JUST FORWARD THINKING.

AND FOR YOU ALL TO BE PART OF THIS AND FOR YOUR BOARD TO REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO OUR FUTURE, WE APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS, YOUR TEAM EFFORTS, AND YOUR BOARD EFFORTS.

WELL AND MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING THAT, BECAUSE WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER, THAT TEAMWORK TRULY IS GROWING A FUTURE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR RECOGNITION OF THE BOARD FOR THEIR THEIR FORWARD THINKING.

AND THIS WAS THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS EXPRESSED AS A PRIORITY BY THE COMMUNITY, BY THE CITY, BY LOCAL BUSINESSES. AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THE DCOA BOARD QUICKLY GRABBED ON TO THIS AS A PRIORITY AND THEIR SUPPORT HAS BEEN TRULY VISIONARY. SO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THAT.

DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE QUESTIONS OF MISTY? THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 26? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. 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 PRICE. SECOND.

SECOND BY COUNCILMAN CRAVER. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I'M READY TO VOTE. COUNCILMEMBER BEARD IS ABSTAINING, BUT THE REST ARE YESES.

MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. NOW MOVE TO ITEM 27.

[27. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving an Agreement with the Development Corporation of Abilene for Project Rise (Emily Crawford)]

THANK YOU. MAYOR, WE HAVE TWO ITEMS FOR THE COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION.

THE FIRST ONE IS A A CONTINUATION AS MISS MAYO PRESENTED.

WHAT THIS ITEM IS, IS A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE A REVENUE GUARANTEE INCENTIVE REIMBURSEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE ABILENE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT THE PROJECT THAT YOU JUST APPROVED, THIS IS A COMMITMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE DCOA THAT THE DCOA WILL BE FUNDING THIS PROJECT. THEY WILL BE SUBMITTING THE PAYMENTS TO THE CITY, WHO THEN WILL IN TURN PAY OUR CONTRACTOR, WHICH WILL BE OUR NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA FOR APPROVAL.

I DON'T BELIEVE I. THERE WE GO. SO THIS, AS WAS DISCUSSED, WAS APPROVED ON SEPTEMBER 30TH BY THE DCOA.

[01:10:02]

ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS OF EMILY. THANK YOU.

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 27. PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND.

SO MOVED. HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN YATES. SECOND.

SECOND BY COUNCILMAN ESPINOSA. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? READY TO VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER BEARD IS ABSTAINING.

THE REST ARE YESES. MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 28, AND I'LL ONCE AGAIN ASK EMILY CRAWFORD TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.

[28. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold and Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action to Approve a Revenue Guarantee Agreement for Project Rise (Emily Crawford)]

I'M SORRY. WHAT RISE? THE PROJECT RISE IS. SO RISE IS A NEW AIRLINE COMING TO THE ABILENE REGIONAL AIRPORT? IT IS THROUGH AN AGREEMENT WITH SKYWEST, WHICH IS THE NATION'S LARGEST REGIONAL AIR CARRIER.

THEY WILL BE FLYING UNDER THE BRAND OF UNITED EXPRESS.

THE ROUTES THAT THEY ARE BRINGING TO THE ABILENE REGIONAL AIRPORT ARE TWO DAILY FLIGHTS TO DENVER AND ONE DAILY FLIGHT TO HOUSTON.

SO THE CONTRACT BEFORE YOU HERE IS WITH SKYWEST FOR THEIR SERVICES.

THEY ARE SET TO BEGIN ON MARCH THE 17TH OF 2026.

AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE AT THIS TIME.

WELL, THIS HAS BEEN A LONG, LONG TIME COMING.

WE KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE HAD TRIED ANOTHER CARRIER BEFORE AND THAT THING CALLED COVID HIT.

BUT JUST I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR WORK. DON GREEN, APPRECIATE YOUR COUNTLESS HOURS YOU PUT ON THIS ONCE AGAIN TO ALL THE STAFF.

JUST EVERYONE TO BRING THIS TO FRUITION IS SO WONDERFUL THAT WE GET TO MAKE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. ANY QUESTIONS OF EMILY? I'D JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT ON THE PREVIOUS ITEM THAT THAT WAS PRESENTED BY MISTY WITH THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS PRESENTED, THOSE ARE GUARANTEES FOR REVENUE. AND SO IF THEIR REVENUE EXCEEDS WHAT HAS BEEN PROJECTED, WE ACTUALLY WON'T PAY ANYTHING. DCOA WON'T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING.

SO THIS IS JUST A CUSHION TO HELP THEM EASE INTO A NEW MARKET WITHOUT BOB, AND MINIMIZE THE RISK AS THEY MOVE INTO THE NEW MARKET. BUT IF THINGS TAKE OFF BETTER THAN THEY ARE ANTICIPATING, THEN WE COULD END UP NOT HAVING ANY. THAT WAS GOOD.

IT WAS A GOOD PLUG. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN FOR FOR SOME TICKETS.

YES. YES. I FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, ALL OF MY FAMILY'S VACATION PLANS WILL NOW BE WEST FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

COUNCILMAN PRICE IS ALWAYS. THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

ANYONE ELSE? OH. GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD. CAN CAN YOU JUST HIGHLIGHT OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE SIZE OF THE AIRPLANES AND WHEN THE TICKETS WILL GO ON SALE? YES, SIR. SO THESE THIS AIRCRAFT WILL CARRY 50 PASSENGERS.

AND THIS EVENING ABOUT 6:00, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GO ON UNITED'S WEBSITE AND YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS.

FLIGHTS WON'T BEGIN UNTIL MARCH, THE 17TH HOUR, WHEN FLIGHTS WILL BEGIN.

AND THE ROUTES WILL BE TO WHERE TWO DAILY FLIGHTS TO DENVER AND ONE DAILY FLIGHT TO HOUSTON INTERCONTINENTAL.

SO THIS I THINK EVERYONE. I USE THE AIRPORT A TON FOR MY PRACTICE, BUT ALSO FOR VACATION.

SO I'M A HUGE SUPPORTER OF THE AIRPORT. THIS ONE FOR THOSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE REVENUE GUARANTEE.

I HAD I HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THIS THE NUMBERS INVOLVED, FRANKLY AND UP UNTIL VERY RECENTLY, I WAS I WAS LEANING AGAINST THIS FOR FULL TRANSPARENCY.

AND SO FOR THOSE OUT THERE ON THESE PROJECTS, YOU MAY NOT SEE IT, BUT GOOD DISCUSSION IS HAPPENING.

YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE NOT JUST SAYING RUBBER STAMPING AND SAYING YES.

LIKE I SAID, I WAS I WAS LEANING TOWARDS AGAINST THIS, EVEN THOUGH I'M, I'M A HUGE SUPPORTER OF THE, OF THE AIRPORT AND I'VE ALWAYS WANTED ANOTHER AIRLINE HERE.

REALLY? WHAT. I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ONE THING.

AND YOU NEVER KNOW IN THESE DISCUSSIONS WHAT WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.

AND IT WAS YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER ESPINOSA MENTIONED THAT I THINK HE WAS.

I DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. I THINK HE WAS LOOKING AT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT, AND I WAS LOOKING AT IT FROM A DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT WAY. AND SO DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION, I WAS LOOKING AT, WELL, LET ME, LET ME TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT LOOKING AT IT AS AN INVESTMENT. AS WE DO WITH THE MANUFACTURING PROJECT THROUGH DCOA OR ANY OTHER TAX ABATEMENT OR ANYTHING ELSE OF THAT NATURE GOING,

[01:15:07]

IN MY OPINION, THE THE RETURN IS MUCH GREATER BOTH IN, IN QUALITY OF LIFE, BUT ALSO JUST IN A MONETARY STANDPOINT.

AND, AND THAT'S ACTUALLY RIGHT AT THE END IS WHAT SWAYED ME TO TO APPROVE THIS.

I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT. I LOVE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT IT BRINGS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW HAS TO MAKE DOLLARS AND CENTS FOR US AS A COUNCIL MEMBER IN CHARGE OF YOUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

AND AND I THINK IT IT DOES WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT IN LIGHT OF ECONOMIC IMPACT RETURN.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT, BOTH ON A PERSONAL LEVEL AND FROM A CITY, HOPEFULLY AFTER THIS REVENUE GUARANTEE AGREEMENT EXPIRES, THE POPULATION HERE WILL BECOME SO USED TO USING THIS, THIS ADDITIONAL SERVICE THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE ON HERE AND WE WON'T HAVE THAT SAME SITUATION WE HAD IN 2020. I THINK THIS OPENS UP GREAT OPPORTUNITIES.

AND SO I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT. AND I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS.

BUT ALSO ON ON ANY OTHER ISSUES, BE OPEN TO RECEIVING ADDITIONAL VIEWPOINTS BECAUSE I CAN TESTIFY JUST TODAY THAT THAT DID MAKE ME GO, ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO RELOOK AT THIS IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT.

AND THAT DID CHANGE, CHANGE MY OPINION. SO WHETHER IT'S FROM ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER OR FROM THE PUBLIC, YOU GUYS PRESENTING DIFFERENT OPTIONS OR VIEWPOINTS DO MAKE AN IMPACT ON OUR DECISIONS UP HERE.

SO KEEP THAT IN MIND. BUT THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT DCOA DOES.

I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND AND AND I APPRECIATE YOU SHARING THAT TRANSPARENCY.

BLAZE. BUT AGAIN, WHEN THE CEO, MISTY MAYO, CAME UP AND SHARED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TENETS OF WHAT THEY'RE ABOUT.

THAT'S BASICALLY HOW I USE MY THE METRICS IN MY MIND TO MAKE DECISIONS.

AND I KNOW THAT SOME OF THOSE IN TERMS OF RETENTION, GROWTH PLAN, YOU KNOW, CATERING TO BUSINESSES, OPENING UP THE IDEA TO MCGILL'S POINT EARLIER IT EXPANDS OUR REACH, BUT IT ALSO EXPANDS ABILENE IN TERMS OF SHOWING THAT WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT WHAT WHO THE TYPE OF PLAYERS WE WANT TO BE AS WE GROW INTO THE CITY THAT WE REALLY, REALLY WANT TO BE ON, ON A, ON A GLOBAL STAGE. AND I THINK THAT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS DOES.

AND IT OPENS UP THE DOORS TO THE COMMITMENT THAT MANY HAVE ALREADY MADE AND INVESTING IN OUR CITY.

BUT IT CONTINUES TO OPEN UP THE DOOR FOR HER INCREDIBLE TEAM TO DO WHAT THEY DO BEST AND BRING CONTINUE TO BRING THOSE BUSINESSES HERE.

AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT. I KNOW IT'S BEEN SOMETHING ON THE DOCKET FOR A LONG TIME, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I'M EXCITED ABOUT HOW SERIOUS ABILENE IS AND CONTINUING TO TO GROW THAT IMPACT THAT WE'VE SEEN THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AND ESPECIALLY DURING YOUR TENURE AS PRESIDENT HERE. SO NOT TO BELABOR THE POINTS TOO MUCH, BUT, YOU KNOW, ECONOMICS, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOWS, IT'S LIKE AN ONION.

IT'S MULTILAYERED, IT'S COMPLICATED. IT'S HARD TO MEASURE. BUT THINGS LIKE THIS JUST OPEN THE WINDOW FOR SO MUCH DEVELOPMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THIS MAKES WAY FOR DOWN THE ROAD.

AND IT'S THAT FORWARD THINKING. AND I APPRECIATE THEIR WORK ON THIS AND BEING OPEN TO BRINGING MORE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO ABILENE.

THANK YOU. YOU DON'T HAVE ANY ARTICULATE NEW SAYINGS.

OKAY. MISTY, DID YOU HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE HERE THAT WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING? YES, PLEASE. THAT'S GREAT. YEAH, SURE. YEAH. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.

I'M DAN BELMONT. I WORK IN NETWORK PLANNING AT SKYWEST AIRLINES.

AND JUST HAPPY TO JOIN ALL OF YOU TODAY. THERE'S BEEN SOME REALLY GREAT DISCUSSION SURROUNDING THE INTRODUCTION OF THIS NEW UNITED EXPRESS SERVICE WITH A CONNECTION TO TWO ADDITIONAL HUBS HERE IN ABILENE. SO WE CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR ALL THE FORESIGHT AND THE COLLABORATION THAT'S BEEN GOING ON.

REGARDING THE INTRODUCTION OF THIS AIR SERVICE.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU AND PROVIDING ABILENE WITH THE EXPANDED AND ENHANCED CONNECTIONS OUT OF THE AIRPORT HERE.

AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE, AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED, THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR BOTH LEISURE AND BUSINESS TRAVEL AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT THIS WILL HAVE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WELL, WE APPRECIATE YOUR OPENNESS TO WORK WITH US BECAUSE WE KNOW WE YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE WITH A LOT OF CARRIERS.

AND Y'ALL'S OPENNESS TO ACTUALLY SPEAK WITH US HAS BEEN GREAT.

AND WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE ON YOUR END.

THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST.

[01:20:01]

TAMMY FOGLE, RESIDENT OF ABILENE. THIS IS EXCITING.

AND NOW HAVING A PRETTIER AIRPORT, EVEN THOUGH I WASN'T IN SUPPORT OF THAT, IF I'M HONEST, BECAUSE I WANT TO KEEP TAXES LOW. THIS IS GOING TO BE A BEAUTIFUL PARTNERSHIP TO HELP FUND THAT AND HELP KEEP THAT PROCESS GOING IN A GOOD WAY.

SO I'M EXCITED AND I FEEL KIND OF BAD COMING UP BECAUSE THERE'S NO GOOD TIME TO COME UP AND TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE DETAILS, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN A CITIZEN WATCHING THIS AND NOT KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT ALL THIS MEANT.

AND SO I WAS UNABLE TO UPDATE THE PACKET LAST NIGHT, SO I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF THIS WAS UPDATED, BUT TO MY UNDERSTANDING AND I ALWAYS LIKE TO WAIT FOR PRESENTATIONS BECAUSE SOMETIMES I LEARN THINGS IN PERSON.

THAT'S WHY IT'S SO GOOD THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE SHARE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT IT.

AND SO MISTY MENTIONED THAT THE CITY OR I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS IN YOUR PRESENTATION, I THINK IT WAS.

IT SAID THE CITY WILL MANAGE THE FUNDS THE DCOA GIVES GIFTS TO PAY FOR THIS REVENUE AGREEMENT.

IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY, OKAY. WILL WILL GIVE THOSE FUNDS TO.

AND WE'LL JUST KIND OF HOLD IT UNTIL WE NEED IT.

AND THE FIRST YEAR IS ALREADY COVERED. SO THIS IS JUST MORE FOR YEAR TWO AND YEAR THREE. CORRECT.

SO IT'S NOT COMING OUT OF THE CITY BUDGET. IS THAT RIGHT? OKAY. THAT'S GOOD. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE AGAIN, I TRY TO PAY ATTENTION TO THESE THINGS AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND WHERE THINGS ARE GOING. AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S WHAT SHE PRESENTED. AND I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY. SO I'M REALLY EXCITED. I TRY TO GO TO ORLANDO, BUT IT COST SO MUCH MONEY THAT IT WASN'T EVEN WORTH ME DRIVING TO DALLAS OR FLYING OUT OF ORLANDO FLYING HERE, BECAUSE THE FLIGHTS ARE SO FULL.

SO I'M HOPING THIS IS A GREAT SEASON BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY FULL FLIGHTS, SO MUCH GOING ON.

WE NEED SOME WAYS FOR MORE OF US TO TRAVEL. AND EVEN THOUGH I DON'T TRAVEL AS MUCH AS COUNCILMAN REAGAN DOES, I DO LIKE TO BE ABLE TO FLY BECAUSE IT IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN DRIVING TO DALLAS THESE DAYS SPECIFICALLY. SO YAY FOR DCOA! THANK YOU GUYS! I KNOW THAT Y'ALL HAVE A LOT OF MOVING PARTS, AND IT'S BEEN FUN TO WATCH HOW THESE PROJECTS COME TO LIGHT.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR TRYING TO DO WHAT'S BEST YOU CAN.

NO ONE HAS A CRYSTAL BALL. WE CAN'T KNOW WHERE THINGS ARE GOING TO GO. BUT I DO APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO MAKE SURE ABILENE IS GETTING REVENUE TO HELP SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY, AND EVEN IF WE DON'T SEE IT NOW, WE DO BENEFIT FROM IT LATER.

SO THANK YOU. AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY GETTING TO TO UTILIZE THIS NEW, THIS NEW AIRLINE OUT OF THE CITY.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 28.

WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL 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 CRAVER.

SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN REAGAN. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WELL, WHO? WE ARE READY TO VOTE. COUNCILMEMBER BEARD IS ABSTAINING.

THE REST ARE YESES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES.

IT IS NOW 10:48 A.M.. AND THIS MEETING OF THE ABILENE CITY COUNCIL IS ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.