[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:04]
GOOD MORNING. IT IS NOW 8:30 A.M., AND I CALL THIS MEETING OF THE ABILENE CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER.
I HAVE A VERY SPECIAL GUEST THAT I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE HERE IN A MOMENT.
BUT FIRST I'M GOING TO ASK COUNCILMAN CRAVER TO LEAD US IN OUR INVOCATION.
PLEASE, PLEASE PRAY WITH ME. MOST GRACIOUS AND HEAVENLY FATHER GOD, WE COME TO YOU THIS MORNING FIRST AND FOREMOST, GOD THANKING YOU FOR LIFE. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WAKE UP AND SEE THE LIGHT OF A NEW DAY.
GOD, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR AS EVIDENCED IN THIS ROOM, MANY MEN AND WOMEN WHO GIVE THEIR LIVES FOR THE SAFETY OF US EACH AND EVERY DAY SELFLESSLY. GOD, THANK YOU FOR THOSE THAT ARE OFTEN BEHIND THE VEIL, THE LOVED ONES WHO SACRIFICE SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO ENJOY THE FREEDOMS THAT WE ENJOY. FATHER GOD, THANK YOU FOR JUST WHAT YOU'RE DOING, THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR LIVES ON THIS JOURNEY THAT WE CALL LIFE CONSISTENTLY. LET US BE REMINDED OF OPPORTUNITIES TO BE A CONDUIT IT AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE INHIBIT GOD LET US CONSISTENTLY DAUGHTER OURSELVES, GOD, AND WHATEVER THAT LOOKS LIKE SO THAT WE CAN TAKE UP OUR CROSS AND BE A VISIBLE REPRESENTATION OF YOU IN EACH AND EVERY SPHERE OF OUR LIVES. I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU'RE CONSISTENTLY DOING HERE IN THE CITY OF ABILENE SO THAT WE'RE GOOD STEWARDS COMMUNITY CITIZENS OF OF THE GIFTS AND THE BLESSINGS THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US BE WITH US THIS DAY AND ALL DAYS.
IT'S IN YOUR NAME. WE GIVE THANKS AND WE PRAY.
AMEN, AMEN, AMEN. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CRAVER.
TODAY I HAVE DEREK, AND HE IS FROM MARTINEZ ELEMENTARY.
AND HIS MOTHER, HERMINIA, IS HERE WHO IS ALSO A TEACHER AT MARTINEZ.
AND THEN HIS PRINCIPAL, MISS MCCUTCHEON, IS ALSO HERE, AND HE'S GOTTEN UP EARLY TO BE WITH US THIS MORNING, AND WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE HIM LEAD US IN OUR PLEDGES.
TURN. 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.
NOW THE TEXAS HONOR, THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. I.
WILL TAKE. YOU CAN TAKE IT IF YOU WANT A PICTURE OF HIM.
YOU'RE LIKE, HERE WE GO. WHO'S TAKING. IT. YOU ALL RIGHT? THANK YOU.
[PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PROCLAMATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS]
ALL RIGHT. THIS IS ALWAYS AN EXCITING DAY, AND WE TEAM WITH OUR MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AND TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF OUR, OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR FRIENDS AND OUR FAMILY OUT AT DYESS AIR FORCE BASE.THERE'S JUST SO MANY THINGS THAT GO ON OUT THERE AT OUR BASE THAT WE DON'T THINK ABOUT IN THESE INDIVIDUALS NOT ONLY ARE KEEPING OUR COUNTRY SAFE, BUT THEY'RE PUSHING THE ENVELOPE, PUSHING THE LIMITS, AND DOING SUCH A FANTASTIC JOB.
AND SO WE'D REALLY LIKE TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF THEM NOW.
SO I'M GOING TO ASK CAPTAIN. OKAY. A TURSKI PETOSKEY IS CAPTAIN HERE.
WE DO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE. OKAY. A REPRESENTATIVE FOR HIM.
THAT'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT BLAKE. OH, HERE WE GO.
INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND HELP ME OUT HERE. HOW YOU DOING, SIR? THANKS. YOU MIGHT START TO GET THE PRIVILEGE TO WORK AT THE THREE 17TH MXG.
SO FIX THOSE C-130S. IN MY OPINION, FAR SUPERIOR THAN B-1S, BUT B-1 ARE LOUDER, SO I GUESS THEY'RE COOL, TOO. I WORK WITH TECH SERGEANT. HE IS A SUPER HARD WORKER.
SUPER SMART GUY. HE JUST HAS DEDICATED HIS HIS TIME.
I MEAN, HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN IN NOW? EIGHT.
EIGHT AND A HALF. AND HE'S JUST DOING SUPER WELL IN HIS CAREER.
BEEN AT DYESS THE WHOLE TIME. AND, YOU KNOW, HE'S BEEN PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.
GOT MARRIED, STARTING A FAMILY. PRETTY EXCITING STUFF.
BUT ON THE JOB, HE'S HE'S ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT HOW TO MAKE THE PLACE BETTER, IMPROVE.
SO HE'S BEEN AN AWESOME GUY AND AND DEFINITELY PROUD OF HIM.
AND I THINK HIS WELL, EARNED THIS RECOGNITION.
[00:05:01]
THANK YOU. SERGEANT. COME UP AND JOIN US, PLEASE.IS THAT RIGHT? WITH THE DYESS AIR FORCE BASE EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE AWARD AS MAYOR.
AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL, WE ARE HONORED TO RECOGNIZE THE OUTSTANDING AIRMAN OF DYESS AIR FORCE BASE AND THE UNWAVERING DEDICATION AND VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS THEY MAKE TO THE ABILENE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANKS. HIS FIRST LIEUTENANT FOR ANDREW HERE.
ALL RIGHT. WHO'S MY REPRESENTATIVE FOR? STAFF SERGEANT KENNEDY.
ALL RIGHT, WELL. THANK YOU. INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. TECH SERGEANT CRABTREE FROM THE SEVENTH MUNITIONS SQUADRON. I'M HERE TODAY TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF STAFF SERGEANT PRESTON KENNEDY. SO I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING STATIONED HERE AT DYESS FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS NOW.
AND IN THAT TIME, I'VE WORKED A LOT OF MY HOURS ALONGSIDE PRESTON KENNEDY.
SO I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF HIS RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
AND I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING A LITTLE BIT LONGER. BUT JUST ADDING SOME DATA TO THE TO THE METRICS, IF YOU WILL APPRECIATE SERGEANT KENNEDY PLAYED A DECISIVE ROLE IN EXECUTING A TIME SENSITIVE AIR FORCE GLOBAL STRIKE COMMAND DIRECTIVE, LEADING A RAPID BREAKOUT AND ISSUANCE OF 101,500 SMALL ARMS ROUNDS TO THE SECURITY FORCES SQUADRON.
IN A SEPARATE CRITICAL OPERATION, STAFF SERGEANT KENNEDY LED A SQUADRON RESPONSE TO A SUSPECTED SERVICE LIFE INTEGRITY FAILURE TO THE SEVENTH MUNITIONS SQUADRON CLUSTER BOMB UNIT STOCKPILE ASSETS VITAL TO THE FLYING MISSION.
HIS ACTIONS VALIDATED 26 MUNITIONS, PREVENTING THEIR GROUNDING AND PRESERVING MISSION CAPABILITIES.
THANKS TO HIS TECHNICAL ACUMEN AND DECISIVE ACTION, STAFF SERGEANT KENNEDY SAFEGUARDED $2 MILLION IN MUNITIONS FROM PREMATURE DISPOSAL AND SUSTAINED OPERATIONAL READINESS FOR THE WING.
HIS IMPACT DIRECTLY REFLECTS THE CULTURES PRIORITIES OF COMBAT CAPABILITY.
MISSION. COMBAT MISSION. MISSION. COMMAND AND STRYKER VALUES, TO NAME A FEW.
I'LL TAKE THIS. OKAY. AS THE MAYOR OF THE CITY, I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT THIS CERTIFICATE IN HONOR.
STAFF SERGEANT PRESTON KENNEDY WITH THE DYESS AIR FORCE BASE EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE AWARD.
AS MAYOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL, WE ARE HONORED TO RECOGNIZE THE OUTSTANDING AIRMEN OF DYESS AIR FORCE BASE AND THEIR UNWAVERING DEDICATION AND VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS THEY MAKE TO THE ABILENE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
AND THESE GUYS ARE ON THE FRONT LINES. THEY'RE NOT JUST READING MANUALS.
THEY'RE WRITING MANUALS. THEY'RE LEARNING DIFFERENT WAYS, INVENTING WAYS TO KEEP OUR COUNTRY SAFE AND A MORE EFFICIENT WAY, AND WE DEFINITELY APPRECIATE YOU FROM OUR BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
Y'ALL CAN STAY FOR THE EXCITEMENT, BUT FEEL FREE TO LEAVE.
THANK YOU. JUST A LITTLE BIT. OUR CITY MANAGER, EMILY CRAWFORD, HAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO ANNOUNCE TO YOU AND TO OUR COMMUNITY THE SELECTION OF OUR NEW DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, NOEL BERNAL, WHO IS HERE WITH ME TODAY. NOEL HAS VAST EXPERIENCE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP.
HE HAS SERVED AS CITY MANAGER IN THE CITIES OF LA VILLA AND FALFURRIAS.
HE HAS BEEN THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER IN THE CITIES OF COPPELL AND TAYLOR.
[00:10:08]
AND MOST RECENTLY HE WAS COUNTY MANAGER OF ADAMS COUNTY IN COLORADO.THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT HE HAS SERVED THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WITH HAVE RECOGNIZED HIS PASSION, HIS ENERGY HIS HIS CREATIVITY AND HIS ABILITY TO BUILD AND BRING COMMUNITY TOGETHER. I AM VERY EXCITED TO HAVE NOEL JOIN OUR TEAM AND HIS FAMILY TO TO JOIN US AS NEIGHBORS IN THE CITY OF ABILENE. HE IS MARRIED FOR WITH HIS WIFE, MARIBEL.
THEY'VE BEEN MARRIED 13 YEARS AND HAVE THREE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN.
AND HE WILL BE JOINING US ON DECEMBER THE 8TH, PRESUMING HE CAN FIND SOME HOUSING.
SO IF ANYONE IN THE ROOM CAN HELP US WITH THAT WE'D APPRECIATE IT.
AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ALLOW NOEL TO HAVE A FEW COMMENTS AND INTRODUCE HIMSELF TO YOU.
SURE. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
I'LL JUST KEEP IT VERY, VERY BRIEF. BUT YOU ALL KNOW THE PEDIGREE THAT THAT YOU ALL HAVE IN EMILY.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT AS A STUDENT OF THE PROFESSION, THERE'S ALSO A PEDIGREE THAT ABILENE HAS.
ABILENE IS RENOWNED AS A GREAT COMMUNITY. VERY PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY.
YOU ALL HAVE HAD SOME GREAT CITY MANAGERS HERE.
YOU ALL HAVE DONE SOME GREAT THINGS. SO FOR ME PERSONALLY, PROFESSIONALLY, I'VE EVOLVED SO MUCH.
AND WHAT EMILY JUST DESCRIBED I'M HUMBLED TO TO SAY THAT IN THIS PAST YEAR THAT I'VE BEEN ON THE SIDELINES DOING PRIVATE SECTOR WORK AND FOCUSING ON FAMILY, FOCUSING ON FAITH, FOCUSING ON THINGS THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO ME, THAT FILL MY CUP, THAT GAVE ME THE ENERGY THAT EMILY WAS DESCRIBING.
THERE ARE TIMES IN LIFE WHERE YOU NEED TO RECHARGE.
I'M JUST TICKLED BY THAT. BUT I'M VERY HONORED BECAUSE OF WHAT ABILENE REPRESENTS.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ADDING VALUE AND BEING OF SERVICE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME.
ITEM 23 IS BEING PULLED FROM CONSIDERATION TODAY ON THE REGULAR AGENDA.
[CONSENT AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS]
THESE ITEMS WILL BE CONSIDERED WITH ONE MOTION, AND THERE'LL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION UNLESS A COUNCIL PERSON REQUESTS SEPARATE DISCUSSION. DOES ANYONE ON COUNCIL WISH TO CONSIDER ANY ITEM INDIVIDUALLY? I'M PULLING ITEM 22. ANYONE ELSE? THANKS.PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME AND THE CITY YOU RESIDE IN FOR THE RECORD. THERE WILL BE A THREE MINUTE LIMIT AND WE WILL START WITH CARDS. I HAVE TWO CARDS, MAYOR. THE FIRST ONE IS ON NUMBER 18. LIVES ON NUGENT ROAD.
YOU DID NOT PUT YOUR NAME ON THE CARD, SO I DON'T KNOW THE NAME.
COME UP HERE. JUST GIVE US YOUR NAME, SIR. GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. NAME'S JIMMY ROGERS RECENTLY PURCHASED THE PROPERTY 5117 ON NUGENT ROAD. RECENTLY MOVED MY FAMILY HERE WORKING WITH THE AI DATA CENTER WITH DPR.
DURING THE PURCHASE OF THE PROPERTY, IT WAS NEVER DISCLOSED TO US THE POTENTIAL ZONING CHANGE.
SO VERY DISCOURAGED TO HEAR POTENTIAL CHANGE.
OBVIOUSLY, WE PURCHASED THE PROPERTY FOR TO LIVE IN A NICE, QUIET COMMUNITY OUT IN THE COUNTRY AND TO HEAR THAT THERE'S POTENTIAL THERE FOR A INDUSTRIAL PLANT OR WAREHOUSE OR WHATEVER THE END USE IS GOING TO BE IS OBVIOUSLY IT WAS NOT DISCLOSED TO US.
SO AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE ARE PLANNING ON TAKING LEGAL ACTION IF THIS ZONING CHANGE DOES CHANGE.
SO THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
MARY PENA, I BELIEVE, IS PENA.
[00:15:11]
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MARY PENA, AND I'M HERE TO TRY TO SEE IF I CAN TALK TO THE MAYOR OF ABILENE.I'VE BEEN THERE, LIKE, 20 YEARS. DAVID, I CAN'T THINK OF HIS LAST NAME, BUT HE.
HE WROTE ME A CITATION. I PICKED THE CITATION UP IN ON NOVEMBER THE 11TH.
THIRD. I'M SORRY. AND THEY WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT OUR FENCE.
HE WORKS. HE DOES HOUSES AND STUFF. MOTELS AND STUFF.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH. LIKE THAT BAR THAT YOU USED, YOU KNOW, FOR THE TO FOR THE CONCRETE.
HE TOLD ME YESTERDAY, I HAVE TEN DAYS TO MOVE IT.
IT'S NOT. I MEAN, I GOT PICTURES I DID A VIDEO THIS MORNING OF.
IF I CAN SHOW Y'ALL THAT IT'S NOT JUST THROWN THERE, IT'S IN.
AND IT'S RIGHT THERE BY THE FENCE. I MEAN, THEY'RE TRYING TO SAY.
BECAUSE FROM AMBLER TO MY WAY, Y'ALL CAN LOOK IN.
WE STARTED PUTTING THE FENCE. THEY TOLD ME I CAN'T PUT THE FENCE UP.
I ASKED THEM WHY. THEY SAID BECAUSE I COULDN'T.
AND THEN YESTERDAY, THEY TOOK TWO OF MY VEHICLES.
THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD GIVE ME TEN DAYS. IT HAD BEEN OVER TEN DAYS, BUT WE HAVE THAT AS LONG AS WE WERE DOING SOME IMPROVEMENT THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD. OKAY, SO I TALKED TO ANOTHER GUY FROM THE CITY AND HE SAID, OH YES, HE GOES, AS LONG AS YOU GOT THAT FENCE UP AND ALL THIS STUFF, THE CITY CANNOT GO INSIDE YOUR PROPERTY.
THEY CAN'T BOTHER WITH YOU. AS LONG AS YOU CAN'T SEE OUT, YOU KNOW, OUT THROUGH THE PROPERTY.
I SAID, OKAY, SO WE STARTED PUTTING THE BACK PART OF THE FENCE UP YESTERDAY.
THEY WENT THEY TOWED MY VEHICLES. I HAD TO PAY $250 TO TAKE ONE OF THEM OUT THE OTHER ONE.
I'M JUST GOING TO LEAVE IT THERE BECAUSE I DON'T GOT THE MONEY RIGHT NOW TO TAKE IT OUT. THE VEHICLE RAN AND EVERYTHING, BUT IT JUST HADN'T BEEN STARTED, SO THE BATTERY WAS DEAD, SO THEY DIDN'T GIVE ME ANY TIME TO. BUT THEY DIDN'T GO IN THERE AND ASK, WHAT IMPROVEMENTS HAVE YOU MADE? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? I MEAN BY THEM LOOKING AT THE FENCE, THEY COULD SEE THAT. I MEAN, I SPENT $3,000 ON JUST THE POST, THE FENCING AND THE THE GUY THAT WAS GOING TO DO IT FOR ME.
BUT NOW THEY'RE TRYING TO SAY, BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A HOUSE THERE, THAT I CAN'T PUT UP THE FENCE. THEY'RE ALL EMPTY LOTS. SO THEY WANTED ME TO COME UP HERE THIS MORNING AND TRY TO GET IT SIGNED, LIKE TO WHERE I CAN JUST USE THAT ONE HOUSE WITH ALL THE ADDRESSES.
TO SEE IF Y'ALL CAN HELP ME LIKE I. AND THEN THE OTHER GUY SAID, WELL, WE CAN HELP YOU DO THIS.
I'M 60 YEARS OLD. MY. MY MOTHER IN LAW, SHE'S 80 YEARS OLD.
AND WE LIVED THERE BECAUSE MY KIDS AND STUFF, THEY GO TO AUSTIN, THEY GO TO DALLAS FORT WORTH, THEY WORK THERE AND THEY COME AND SLEEP AND, YOU KNOW, ON VACATIONS AND THEN THEY GO BACK.
SO I WAS JUST TRYING TO SEE IF Y'ALL COULD PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER TO HELP ME OR THE MAYOR.
LIKE THE LAST MAYOR WENT OUT THERE. HE APPROVED ALL THAT BACK THEN.
MISS CRAWFORD, COULD YOU EXPLAIN WHAT DEPARTMENT SHE NEEDS TO TALK TO FOR THIS CODE? COMPLIANCE, IF YOU WOULD. THERE WE GO. YES. MR. LITTLEJOHN HERE, WHO JUST RAISED HIS HAND. YES.
HE CAN HELP YOU ACCESS THE ACCURATE INFORMATION AND PERSONNEL TO HELP YOU RESOLVE YOUR CONCERNS.
AND AND CAN I HAVE, LIKE, SOMEONE LIKE HIM GO OUT TO MY PROPERTY AND EXPLAIN TO US, BECAUSE, YES, ONE PERSON WILL NEED TO DO IS VISIT WITH MR. LITTLEJOHN. YES. DEPARTMENT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, SIR.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. STILL UNDER A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
ANY MORE CARDS? NO MORE CARDS. WE HAD TO TURN HER CARD IN.
NO, MA'AM. NO, MA'AM. WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? YES. PLEASE COME UP AND STATE YOUR NAME. TAKE TURNS.
SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A QUEUE. TAMMY FOGLE, RESIDENT OF ABILENE.
BECAUSE I DO HAVE QUESTIONS, AND THERE'S DAYS WHERE I FEEL LIKE I DON'T KNOW IF ALL THE TIME AND ENERGY I'M PUTTING INTO THIS BECAUSE I, I SPEND LOTS OF HOURS DOING THIS, NOT ONLY HERE, BUT WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON SO WE CAN MAKE IMPROVEMENTS. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN MY GOAL TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS. THE ONE THING I WANT IS TRANSPARENCY, AND I'VE SEEN SOME STEPS THAT Y'ALL HAVE MADE TOWARDS TRANSPARENCY. HOWEVER, THIS WHOLE IDEA WITH THEM.
AND THE DATA CENTER IS REALLY TROUBLING TO ME, NOT BECAUSE I THINK YOU'RE DOING NECESSARILY ANYTHING WRONG, BUT THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND LETTING US AS CITIZENS KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
OUR INFRASTRUCTURE WAS ALREADY KIND OF NEEDING A LOT OF HELP.
[00:20:01]
PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY LIVE IN ABILENE BECAUSE OF THE HEADACHES AND THE PROCESSES THAT HAVE JUST THE HEADACHES OF OF THIS DATA CENTER COMING IN.RENT IS OUT THE ROOF. THERE'S NO PLACE TO LIVE LIKE.
IT'S JUST REALLY BEEN A BURDEN ON US THAT I DON'T THINK WE WERE PREPARED FOR ADEQUATELY.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE DEALS BEING MADE, BUT AT SOME POINT YOU'VE GOT TO GIVE US SOME INFORMATION SO WE CAN START NAVIGATING THROUGH THIS IN A WAY THAT WE WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT, RATHER THAN FEELING THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF IT.
FOR THIS NEW TAX ABATEMENT THAT THEY'RE DOING ON DECEMBER 4TH.
AND I'M GLAD WE PUT IT IN THE CITY. T SO AT LEAST PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND THERE'S GOING TO BE A NEW TAX ABATEMENT FOR, I ASSUME, THE 614 ACRES THAT IS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THERE'S A NEW A NEW STORAGE BUILDING HAPPENING ON WEST LAKE ROAD.
AND I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I WAS AT A CITY COUNCIL MEETING SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AND SOME OF THESE PEOPLE WERE HERE SAYING, THERE'S PROBLEMS WITH THIS CENTER. IT IS NOT BENEFICIAL TO US AROUND IT.
AND Y'ALL IGNORED THEM AND MOVED FORWARD FOR WHATEVER REASON YOU DID.
BUT NOW IT'S TIME TO START DOING THIS BETTER.
AND SO I'M UP HERE SAYING, PLEASE START TELLING US WHAT'S GOING ON SO THAT WE CAN KNOW SO THAT IF THERE'S THINGS GOING ON WITH THIS DATA CENTER, IT SHOULD NOT BE PASSED ON. I KNOW IT'S AN ORDINANCE AND IT'S GOING TO BE NEXT, NEXT MEETING AS WELL, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD. AND I DIDN'T REALIZE UNTIL THE WAY OVER HERE THAT I COULD HAVE AT LEAST SAID, HEY, LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS PUBLICLY. LET'S HAVE A PRESENTATION, WHICH IS WHAT Y'ALL SHOULD BE DOING, SO THAT THE CITIZENS KNOW HOW OUR COMMUNITY IS GOING TO BE AFFECTED.
AND I THINK THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME GROWING PAINS AND THINGS ARE GOING TO GET BETTER.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT SEEING THE BENEFITS OF IT.
WE'RE JUST SEEING THE CONGESTION. WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS. AND AND I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE I CAN PLEAD WITH YOU, BUT TO START BEING MORE TRANSPARENT IN THIS AREA, BECAUSE THIS AFFECTS US ALL, WHETHER WE AGREE WITH IT OR NOT.
IT AFFECTS US. AND WE NEED TO BE A PART OF THE THE PART OF THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE HOW MOVING FORWARD IN DAYS LIKE THIS MAKE ME REALIZE WHY I'M DOING WHAT I'M DOING, AND THERE'S A LOT MORE WORK TO BE DONE. SO THANK YOU.
STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? YEAH.
WELL DONE, WELL DONE, I TEXTED YOU. GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS BILL O'NEILL AND I LIVE ON NUGENT ROAD.
AND THERE IS A ZONE REQUEST CHANGE FROM AGRICULTURE OPEN SPACE TO COMMERCIAL. AND IT IS ON THE NORTH SIDE. IT'S A WEDGE OF LAND BETWEEN NUGENT ROAD AND FM 600. LITTLE NUGENT ROAD IS THE ROAD THAT COMES OUT 600.
AND THEN IT'S A SHORTCUT THAT GOES BACK TO FM 3034, WHERE THEY TRAVEL FROM ABILENE TO THE LANDFILLS. ALSO THE DUMP TRUCKS AND CITY TRUCKS.
SCHOOL BUS. ONE SCHOOL BUS. AND SO THE LITTLE ROAD GETS GETS SOME TRAFFIC.
THERE'S OVER A THOUSAND, BUT YOU CAN COUNT POTHOLES.
PEOPLE BACK IN THE 20S OR 30S. AND THAT TRAFFIC IS GOING TO BE GOING OVER THAT.
NOW, MY POINT IS WE DON'T WANT THE THE PEOPLE OUT THERE DON'T WANT THE KIND OF TRAFFIC THAT CAN COME FROM REZONING BACK TO COMMERCIAL AND RUNNING DOWN NUGENT ROAD, BACK TOWARD THE LANDFILL AND BACK IN THE WESTERLY DIRECTION. THE ROAD CAN'T TAKE IT.
WE MOVED OUT THERE TO ENJOY THE AGRICULTURE OPEN SPACE, AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT TRUCKING AND NO TELLING WHAT. NOBODY WILL SAY. WHAT'S GOING THERE? IS IT A SPIN OFF OF AI, THE PROGRAM OUT THERE? WHAT IS GOING TO BE THERE AND HOW MUCH MORE TRAFFIC, BIG TRUCKS POSSIBLY ARE GOING TO RUN DOWN LITTLE NUGENT ROAD AND YOU CAN HEAR THE TRUCKS AS THEY BOUNCE THROUGH THE POTHOLES AND THE UNEVEN ROAD.
YOU CAN SIT IN YOUR HOUSE AND LISTEN TO THEM BANGING.
WE NEVER HAD THAT BEFORE. IT'S NOT RIGHT. AND SO MY POINT IS I'M AGAINST THE THE ZONING CHANGE FOR MULTIPLE REASONS, BUT PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THAT AREA. AND WE ENJOYED THE THE OPEN SPACE AND A LITTLE
[00:25:06]
QUIETNESS AND PEACE AND WE'RE AFRAID WE'RE GOING TO LOSE IT ALL AS THIS GOES FORWARD.SO I'M AGAINST THE ZONING CHANGE. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? I WILL, I DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO, BUT I WILL. I'M SORRY.
MY NAME IS SUE ELMORE AND I ALSO LIVE ON NUGENT ROAD, AND I SPOKE TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION AT OUR LAST MEETING, AND I THINK THERE WERE SEVEN OF US WHO LIVE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD THAT OPPOSED IT.
I THINK ALMOST EVERYONE IN THAT AREA OPPOSES IT.
OUR OUR HOMES IN THAT AREA IS A NEIGHBORHOOD.
IF YOU ALL HAVE LIVED HERE IN ABILENE FOR A LONG TIME, YOU KNOW THE LITTLE TRIANGLE ON ELMWOOD AND SOUTH CLOSE TO SOUTH 14TH, THAT LITTLE TRIANGLE ON ITS SOUTH OF SOUTH 14TH, AND THERE'S A LITTLE TRIANGLE THERE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
THAT'S THE LITTLE TRIANGLE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
Y'ALL WOULDN'T ZONE THAT COMMERCIAL AND PUT SOMETHING THERE.
THERE'S ANOTHER LITTLE TRIANGLE AS YOU'RE GOING UP ELMWOOD THAT CONNECTS WITH SYLVAN.
BEAUTIFUL. BEAUTIFUL. DRIVE DOWN IN WOULD DRIVE BEAUTIFUL HOMES AROUND IT.
THAT'S OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS HOMES VALUED FROM $260,000 TO $735,000. MR. ROGERS JUST SPENT OVER A HALF $1 MILLION FOR HIS LITTLE HOME.
WANTING TO REZONE THAT COMMERCIAL PROPERTY, THAT 29 ACRES.
HE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IT. IT SITS IN HIS FRONT YARD.
HE WILL SIT ON HIS FRONT PORCH AND STARE AT WHATEVER IS BUILT THERE.
AND HE DID NOT BUY THAT PROPERTY TO DO THAT. WE HAVE BEAUTIFUL HOMES.
IT'S QUIET PUTTING A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY THERE.
THERE IS NOTHING BUT ACREAGE AND SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AROUND THAT, AND THERE IS DEVELOPMENT GOING ACROSS THE STREET FROM IT THAT IS SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. IT IS NOT. THAT IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT BECAUSE THE LOTS ARE BIGGER AND THE ACREAGE IS BIGGER.
BUT IT'S OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER, WE COMMUNICATE.
THERE IS NO OTHER COMMERCIAL PROPERTY NEAR IT.
THERE IS ONE LITTLE SPOT, A LITTLE BITTY TRIANGLE AT THE VERY BOTTOM THAT YOU MIGHT COULD PUT A ONE CAR GARAGE ON IF YOU'RE IF YOU'RE IF YOU WANT TO FOR SOME REASON THAT IS ZONED COMMERCIAL.
NOTHING ELSE AROUND IT. LEAVE IT AT I 2277 PINE TREADWAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MORE STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
GOOD MORNING. KYLE MCALLISTER 2573 LINCOLN. LONG TIME LISTENER, FIRST TIME CALLER.
CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. EMILY AND MIGUEL AND NOEL.
HE'S COFFEY. I JUST KICKED OVER. I'M SORRY. I WAS GOING TO COME UP HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT ITEM 26.
BUT I HAVE A MEETING I HAVE TO GET TO SO I CAN'T STAY, AND I'M.
I'M JUST GOING TO KIND OF DO A 30,000 FOOT OVERVIEW HERE.
I'M IN FAVOR OF ITEM. I GUESS IT'S 26, 27, 28.
THESE ARE GREAT THINGS FOR THE CITY OF ABILENE.
THESE ARE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CITY OF ABILENE TO GROW.
AND SO I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
YES. ABILENE IS GROWING. I NEVER HAD THE CLOCK BEFORE.
THAT'S PRETTY COOL. BY THE WAY, ABILENE IS GROWING AND THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME GROWING PAINS.
I BELIEVE IN THIS COUNCIL TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS.
[00:30:02]
I KNOW THIS COUNCIL IS DOING THE RIGHT THINGS.AND SO MY MY SUPPORT IS FOR THAT ITEM, THOSE ITEMS A LITTLE BIT LONGER.
SO IF YOU NEED TO SAVE THIS AND THEN REPLAY IT WHEN THAT PUBLIC COMMENT TIME COMES, THAT'S FINE.
BUT AND I ALSO I GUESS LYNN DOESN'T WANT TO LISTEN TO ME.
AND I THINK ITEM 26 IS A GREAT MOVE FORWARD. AND ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE COMING TO THIS CITY AND FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, I GET TO SAY I'M LEAVING. I'M NOT STAYING FOR THE REST OF THE MEETING.
AND Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD DAY. THANKS. THANK YOU.
STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? KATIE PRESTWOOD I SWORE AT THE LAST PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING THAT WOULD BE MY LAST PUBLIC APPEARANCE OR SPEECH.
BUT HEY, WHAT CAN I SAY? I OWN THE LAND DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THE THE THE WAREHOUSE THAT MR. RHODES WANTS TO BUILD. IT'S A IT'S A FARMHOUSE THAT MY CHILDREN LIVE IN.
THE FIFTH GENERATION OF OUR FAMILY HAS LIVED IS IS GROWING UP THERE? IT'S ON NUGENT ROAD. I REMEMBER WHEN NUGENT ROAD WAS A DIRT ROAD GOING ALL THE WAY TO ANSON.
DID I MAKE ANY SENSE AT ALL? PLEASE DON'T DO THIS TO THAT LITTLE COMMUNITY.
IT'S TO RUN THAT. TO RUN THAT THING THROUGH ON NUGENT ROAD IS GOING TO DIVIDE THE COMMUNITY.
AND YOU KNOW ABOUT THE DIVIDE AND CONQUER THEORY.
YOU KNOW, IT'LL SPLIT THAT LITTLE COMMUNITY OUT THERE.
AND IT'S A NICE, NICE, QUIET LITTLE PLACE. NOW I'M A PROGRESSIVE.
I'M NOT. LET'S STAY IN THE 50S. I LIVED IN THE 50S, AND THEY WERE GOOD FOR SOME PEOPLE.
SOME PEOPLE IT WASN'T SO GOOD FOR. I THINK WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD AND WE HAVE TO BE PROGRESSIVE, BUT WE DON'T JUST HAVE TO MOW OUR PEOPLE ON OVER, DO WE? I MEAN, CAN'T WE BE CONSIDERATE IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING FORWARD? I ALSO HAVE SOME LAND OUT TOWARD 351, SO I'M GOING TO BE IMPACTED A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT I HAVE SOME AT COLEMAN THAT MAYBE YOU CAN'T GET TO.
THANK YOU. I KNOW WHAT Y'ALL ARE THINKING. OH, LORD, SHE'S GOT A NOTEBOOK.
MA'AM, I NEED YOUR NAME, AND. OH, I'M SO SORRY.
WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND START. MY NAME IS KATHY BUNKLEY.
I LIVE AT 5150 WEST LAKE ROAD, AND I HAVE LIVED THERE FOR 37 YEARS.
THE ITEM 2526 THAT KYLE TALKED ABOUT. HE'S COMPLETELY WRONG ABOUT THE WHOLE THING.
I BET HE HAD NEVER DRIVEN DOWN NUGENT ROAD TO EVEN SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
SITE AND THE TRAFFIC PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE. BUT I COLD CALL MISTER ROGERS TWO DAYS AGO.
I AM HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS MY STRONG OPPOSITION TO THIS CHANGE.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE A LITTLE COMMUNITY. WE WE HAVE A LOT OF.
WELL, WE HAVE 12 PEOPLE HERE. WE HAVE 12 HOMES AND THEIR BIG HOMES.
AND WE ARE A LITTLE SPOILED ROTTEN BEING KNOWN AS AN AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY.
BUT MY PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THIS. AND I GOT TO KNOW MISTER LITTLEJOHN PRETTY GOOD ON EMAIL.
MY PROBLEM IS THE ORIGINAL PART OF THIS THAT WAS DEALT WITH.
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SETTING THIS UP FOR A LONG TIME, ABILENE CITIZENS.
ORIGINALLY, IT WAS DENIED BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMITTEE ON THE SEPTEMBER 2ND MEETING IN OCTOBER HAPPENED, AND WE ALL SHOW UP AT THE NOVEMBER 4TH MEETING.
AND IT'S A DONE DEAL. IT'S NOT DENIED ANYMORE.
IT IS APPROVED. I BROUGHT THIS BECAUSE IT SAYS IT WAS DENIED.
AND EVERY TIME THAT I TALKED TO ANYONE ON THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMITTEE, THEY GO, OH, NO, IT WASN'T. NO ONE DENIED. NOT AT ALL. NOT AT ALL.
[00:35:01]
THE SAME PRIVILEGES AS THIS GROUP THAT IS DOING THIS.AND THAT REZONE CASE FROM LIGHT INDUSTRIAL TO GENERAL COMMERCIAL.
INSTEAD OF LIGHT INDUSTRIAL. I'M SORRY. AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED ANYTHING FROM US GOING FORWARD.
AND THE LAST PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING, WE HAD 13 PEOPLE THAT SPOKE AND NOBODY CARED.
NOBODY WROTE OUR NAMES DOWN. NOBODY ASKED ANY QUESTIONS BECAUSE THIS WAS A DONE DEAL.
YOU'RE NOT YOUR WEBSITE, BUT THE CITY'S WEBSITE.
IT'S A ZONING PROCESS FLOWCHART. AND IT SAYS YOU SUBMIT AN APPLICATION.
I'M SORRY. I REALLY WANT YOU TO JUST COME DOWN NUGENT ROAD.
AND LIKE SUE SAID, YOU CAN COME SIT ON OUR PORCH AND HAVE COFFEE.
DO I HAVE ANY MORE TIME? NO, MA'AM. THANK YOU THOUGH.
STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? HELLO, MY NAME IS MARLA MYERS AND WE ALSO LIVE ON NUGENT ROAD.
WE BOUGHT THE PROPERTY ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. WE WERE MOVING FROM OVERFLOW.
WE LOOKED FOR SEVERAL YEARS FOR PROPERTY. WE'RE HOPING TO BUILD A BIGGER HOME.
WE BOUGHT ON THE ON NUGENT ROAD BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY ESTABLISHED AS A RESIDENTIAL AREA.
THE REASON THAT WE BOUGHT ON THAT ROAD WAS BECAUSE THERE ARE ALREADY HOMES ALL AROUND US.
AND SO, AS YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD, IT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE OVERALL WHAT USE OF THE ROAD TO HAVE THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY ON THE END OF IT? SO TO ME, IT'S A CONCERN NOT ONLY FOR NUGENT ROAD, BUT ON THE NORTH SIDE OF ABILENE.
IT'S MUCH EASIER ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN. I FEEL LIKE IT'S A CONCERN ANYWHERE IF WE DECIDE THAT WE'RE GOING TO SELL THIS PROPERTY, BECAUSE NOW THIS AREA IS GOING TO BECOME MORE OF A COMMERCIAL AREA, I FEEL LIKE IT DECREASES PEOPLE'S CONFIDENCE TO TO BUY LAND AND BUILD HOMES OF VALUE.
SO JUST OVERALL, I FEEL LIKE THE PRACTICE IS A CONCERN THAT A CLEARLY ESTABLISHED RESIDENTIAL AREA CAN SUDDENLY BECOME A MIXED AREA, WHICH, AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED, IS GOING TO CHANGE TRAFFIC AND A LOT OF OTHER THINGS OUT THERE.
BUT I DO AGREE WITH EVERYONE ELSE. IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN OUT THERE TO DRIVE OUT THERE AND LOOK AT THE AREA, IT IS VERY MUCH RESIDENTIAL. THERE ARE HOMES ALL THE WAY DOWN THROUGH THERE, AND WE WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT WE OPPOSE IT.
AND I FEEL LIKE THERE'S OTHER AREAS, MANY OTHER AREAS IN ABILENE THAT ARE ALREADY ESTABLISHED AS COMMERCIAL AREAS, THAT THIS COULD BE HAPPENING. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE IN A RURAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT ITEM 18 THIS IS THE FIRST READING.
SO THIS IS NOT A FINAL ACTION TODAY WITH THE VOTE.
IT JUST MEANS IT WILL MOVE TO THE TO THE NEXT MEETING FOR FINAL ACTION.
I WILL NOW ASK ASKED FOR A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTING OF ITEMS FOUR THROUGH 21.
SO MOVED. HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN PRICE. SECOND.
SECOND BY COUNCILMAN ESPINOSA. DISCUSSION. WE'RE READY TO VOTE.
MAYOR HURT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER BEARD IS ABSTAINING FROM ITEM SIX. ALL YESES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES.
[22. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Take Action on Appointing Katie Gore as the Municipal Court Judge (Stanley Smith)]
NOW MOVE TO ITEM 23. EXCUSE ME. 22. AND I, STANLEY SMITH, TO PRESENT THIS.[00:40:07]
THANK YOU. MAYOR STANLEY SMITH, CITY ATTORNEY. THE THE COUNCIL HAS PREVIOUSLY APPOINTED JUDGE GORE AS THE NEW MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE.SO. THE WRITTEN RESOLUTION TODAY WOULD FORMALIZE THE PREVIOUS APPOINTMENT THAT THE COUNCIL MADE FOR JUDGE GORE, AND ALSO SET THE TERM STARTING TOMORROW FOR TWO YEARS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS? 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 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 IN A SECOND.
SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY. LYNN. GOT IT? YEP.
LYNN. GOT IT. HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BEARD.
SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN PRICE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE'RE READY TO VOTE. ALL YESES, MOTION CARRIES.
MOTION CARRIES. AND I THINK AT THIS TIME KATIE GORE IS HERE WE'RE GOING TO SWEAR IN.
SO THEN WE CAN CALL YOU JUDGE GORE. YEAH.
OKAY. YOU'LL RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.
I STATE YOUR NAME. I, KATIE GORE, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES.
THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT.
JUDGE OF THE OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND WILL, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND, PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS, THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME GOD.
CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS, JUDGE GORE, AND I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK COUNCILMAN PRICE AND COUNCILMAN BEARD, WHO WHO WENT THROUGH THE VETTING PROCESS AND EARLY INTERVIEWS AND LOOKING AT APPLICANTS.
AND THIS WE HAD A LOT OF OF GOOD TALENT TO CHOOSE FROM.
AND YOU'VE RISEN TO THE TOP AND WE APPRECIATE YOU.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE REAL CONGRATULATIONS GOES TO YOUR DAUGHTER, WHO HAS BEEN SO QUIET AND SO SWEET, SO GREAT. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. ITEM 23 WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED, SO WE'LL NOW MOVE TO THE REGULAR AGENDA.
[24. Ordinance (Final Reading) Z-2025-41: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on a request from the owner to amend the terms of PDD-177. Specifically, to allow alternative side setbacks adjacent to streets, allow for duplexes within tracts A and B, and to allow residential single-family within tract D. Located at the 3700-4000 blocks of Caldwell Road and the 4200 block of West Lake Road. (Tim Littlejohn)]
I'LL MOVE TO ITEM 24. I'LL ASK TIM LITTLEJOHN TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
THANK YOU MAYOR. COUNCIL, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THIS MORNING IS ZONING CASE 202541.
THE OWNER IS WEST TEXAS LAND LLC. APPLICANT IS STACY HUVAL.
THE REQUEST FOR YOU TO CONSIDER IS TO CONSIDERS THEM IN THE TERMS OF PLANNED DEVELOPMENT. 177 LOCATED AT 3700 THROUGH 4000 BLOCKS OF CALDWELL ROAD AND THE 4200 BLOCK OF WESTLAKE ROAD. HERE'S THE AREA LOCATION MAP.
HERE'S THE ZONING MAP SHOWING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE PLANNED DEVELOPMENT.
HERE'S THE CONCEPTUAL PLAN. HERE'S VIEWS OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY.
NOTIFICATIONS WERE SENT OUT. WE DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY IN RETURN.
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 WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS FOR TRACKS A, B, C, D, AND F, THE LOCAL STREET SETBACK AT TEN FEET THE COLLECTOR STREET SETBACK WOULD BE 15FT.
THE ORIGINAL REQUEST FROM THE APPLICANT WAS FIVE FEET FOR LOCAL AND TEN FEET FOR COLLECTOR.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS TO TIM.
THANK YOU SIR. 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 24, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND. DOES THE MOTION, IF WE WANT THE P AND Z RECOMMENDATIONS NEED TO REFLECT THAT? I THINK WHAT WE CONSIDER IS WHAT RECOMMENDED FROM PNC.
[00:45:03]
OKAY. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND.SO MOVED. HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN YATES. SECOND.
SECOND BY COUNCILMAN REAGAN. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE'RE READY TO VOTE. ALL YESES. MOTION CARRIES.
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
MEETINGS ACT, SECTION 551.071 CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY.SECTION 551.072 DELIBERATIONS ABOUT REAL PROPERTY.
SECTION 551.073 DELIBERATIONS ABOUT GIFTS AND DONATIONS.
SECTION 551.074 PERSONNEL MATTERS. SECTION 551.076 DELIBERATIONS ABOUT SECURITY DEVICES.
SECTION 551.087 DELIBERATIONS ABOUT BUSINESS PROSPECTS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
WE'LL BE BACK. IT IS NOW 10:23 A.M. AND WE RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION.
[RECONVENE]
NO VOTES OR ACTIONS WERE TAKEN DURING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.[26. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving the Development Corporation of Abilene, Inc.'s ("DCOA") Incentive for Project Surf, Amending the DCOA's Budget to Include Expenditures for the Incentive; and Approving an Infrastructure Incentive Reimbursement Agreement with the DCOA for Project Surf (Emily Crawford]
WE NOW MOVE TO ITEM 26 AND I WILL ASK MR. MAYO, ARE YOU PRESENTING THIS? IT SAYS EMILY SAYS EMILY MAYOR, I AM DOING WHATEVER YOU LIKE, BUT I BELIEVE THAT MANAGER CRAWFORD IS STARTING.I HAD TWO SETS OF NOTES. I'LL ASK EMILY CRAWFORD TO PRESENT THIS.
OKAY. MR. MAYO IS HERE IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS.
AND CAN WE FIX THE SCREEN WITH THE INTERPRETER? I THINK THE CAN THEY SEE IT FROM THAT SIDE? CAN YOU SEE THE INTERPRETER? IT'S A LITTLE TINY. OH. YOU'RE A MONSTER. I DON'T THINK HEIGHT OR WORKING ON IT, BUT. YEAH. THERE WE GO. JUST FYI. WELL, THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WE WORK SO CLOSELY WITH THE DCOA THAT THAT WE ARE HAND IN HAND IN THIS IN THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT VENTURE THAT WE HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY. SO FIRST OF ALL, I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE MISTY, AND I KNOW I SEE SOME OF HER STAFF WITH HER TODAY.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DCOA ON AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW, AND IT HAS COME TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE READY TO PRESENT THIS TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
THE PURPOSE IS TO PROMOTE NEW AND EXPANDED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE WITHIN THE CITY OF ABILENE.
WE ARE NOT ABLE TO DISCLOSE THE DETAILS OF THIS PROJECT JUST YET.
HOWEVER, WE WILL BE MAKING THAT ANNOUNCEMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
AND I THINK THE MAYOR HAS SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THAT AT THE END.
SO OUR ACTION ITEMS FOR THIS MORNING INCLUDE THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVING THE DCOA INFRASTRUCTURE INCENTIVE AND THEIR THEIR BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THIS PROJECT. THIS PARTICULAR INCENTIVE WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE CITY OF ABILENE, WHO, UPON COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT, WILL PROVIDE THAT INCENTIVE DIRECTLY TO THE COMPANY.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. 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 26.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION. AND A SECOND. SO MOVED.
SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN CRAVER A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BEARD.
READY TO VOTE. ALL YESES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES.
[27. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving a TIRZ #2 Incentive for Project Surf (Emily Crawford)]
WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 27. AND ONCE AGAIN, EMILY CRAWFORD WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM.THANK YOU. MAYOR. THIS NEXT ITEM IS THE APPROVAL OF A TRS NUMBER TWO INCENTIVE FOR PROJECT SURF.
SO IN JULY, THE TRS BOARD DID MEET AND APPROVED AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE FOR PROJECT SURF.
THIS PROJECT IS AN ALLOWABLE EXPENSE FOR THE TRS AS PER THE AS PER THE TRS ESTABLISHED GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES. AS PER OUR AUTHORIZATION, THE CITY COUNCIL DOES APPROVE ANY INCENTIVE PROJECTS OF THE TRS.
AND SO THIS DOES REQUIRE COUNCIL APPROVAL. QUESTIONS?
[00:50:05]
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. TAMMY FOGLE, IT'S A RESIDENT OF ABILENE.
IT'S REALLY FUN TO SIT THROUGH THIS PART BECAUSE WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO PUBLIC COMMENT MAKES NO SENSE. A PUBLIC HEARING MAKES NO SENSE.
WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO SAY? IS IT SOMETHING FOR THE LAKE? LIKE THIS? THIS IS THE EPITOME OF WHAT IS WRONG WITH BEING TRANSPARENT.
LIKE, I UNDERSTAND THAT MAYBE YOU HAVE TO DO THIS, BUT IT'S KIND OF LAUGHABLE TO SIT HERE AND GO, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON. AND WHAT'S FUNNY IS I DID I DIDN'T GET THE TERSE ANNOUNCEMENT BECAUSE THAT'S HARD TO I DIDN'T MAKE THE MEETING IN JULY.
SO I WENT TO LOOK AT THE AGENDA IN THE MINUTES. CAN'T ACCESS IT, SO I CAN'T EVEN LOOK TO SEE WHAT WAS NOT REALLY DISCUSSED, BECAUSE I KNOW MOST OF IT'S IN EXECUTIVE SESSIONS, BECAUSE I'VE ATTENDED THOSE BEFORE. BUT THIS IS JUST REALLY FRUSTRATING BECAUSE KYLE KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON. HE MENTIONED HE'S EXCITED FOR WHAT'S COMING. WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN FOR US AS CITIZENS? SO DOES HE HAVE SPECIAL PRIVILEGE? IS HE CONNECTED TO THE PROJECT? SERVED. WHAT DOES IT MEAN? SO I'M JUST UP HERE KIND OF BAFFLED AT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THREE PUBLIC COMMENTS TO DISCUSS THINGS THAT WE HAVE NO IDEA BECAUSE OF THE NDA.
AND THAT'S THE OTHER FRUSTRATING THING ABOUT A CHAPTER 380 AGREEMENT, WHICH IS THE NEXT ONE IS.
AND AND IT THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS. AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS FALLS IN IT, BUT IT'S IT'S REALLY CONFUSING BECAUSE IT'S HARD FOR US TO EVEN KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO BE EXCITED ABOUT IT OR BE FRUSTRATED. AND PART OF THAT IS I DON'T THINK THAT REALLY MATTERS ON Y'ALL'S DECISIONS, UNFORTUNATELY. SO IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE COULD HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TRANSPARENCY TO MAKE THINGS JUST SOMETHING THAT WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO IN OUR COMMUNITY IN A WAY THAT I DON'T THINK IS CURRENTLY THERE FOR THOSE WHO ARE ON THE OUTSIDE.
THANK YOU. STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
ANYONE ELSE? I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I'LL ACCEPT A VOTE. MOTION AND A SECOND.
SO MOVED MOTION BY COUNCILMAN YATES. SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN REAGAN.
OUR DISCUSSION. WE'RE READY TO VOTE. OH, YES.
MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. I'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 28.
[28. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving a Chapter 380 Economic Development Agreement for Project Surf (Emily Crawford)]
AND ONCE AGAIN, EMILY CRAWFORD WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM.THIS IS THE MASTER AGREEMENT FOR THE INCENTIVE FOR PROJECT SURF.
THE THE PROJECT SURF DOES CREATE APPROXIMATELY 75 NEW FULL TIME JOBS, EXPANDED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE, ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX AND ADDITIONAL SALES TAX TO THE CITY.
DO YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS OF EMILY.
THANK YOU. THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST. ITEM 28.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND.
SO MOVED. HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BEARD. SECOND.
SECOND BY COUNCILMAN ESPINOSA. FURTHER DISCUSSION.
WE'RE READY TO VOTE. ALL YESES. MOTION CARRIES.
MOTION CARRIES. SOMETIMES WHEN WE NEGOTIATE THINGS LIKE THIS WITH OUR DCOA HELPING US AND OUR TEAM AND OUR STAFF THROUGH EXECUTIVE SESSION, THERE ARE VERY. THERE ARE REASONS AS TO WHY THIS IS THIS WAY.
BUT THAT IS THE WAY THE BUSINESS IS DONE. IT IS LEGAL AND WE ARE TRANSPARENT AS WE CAN BE, AND I THINK EVERYONE WILL BE HAPPY WITH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.
IT IS NOW 1031 AND THIS MEETING, CITY COUNCIL IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.