[ CALL TO ORDER] [00:01:04] IN TIMES OF DISAGREEMENT, GOD, LET US RESPECT OUR WITNESS. FATHER, I JUST PRAY THAT YOU BLESS THIS COUNCIL WITH THE UNITY OF SPIRIT AND STEADFAST VISION. SO THAT THE WORK DONE HERE TODAY HONORS BOTH OUR NEIGHBORS, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOUR DIVINE CALLING. ON PUBLIC SERVICE. THIS IN YOUR NAME. WE GIVE THANKS AND WE PRAY. AND WE SAY TOGETHER. AMEN. AMEN. WELL, I HAVE TWO VERY SPECIAL GUESTS TODAY, AND THEY ARE BOTH FROM ALKORTA ELEMENTARY. I HAVE ROBERT, ROBERT, RAISE YOUR HAND. AND I HAVE CALEB. AND WE'RE JUST HONORED TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY. AND WITH THEM WE HAVE AMANDA AND JEREMY, STAFF, TEACHERS. I HAD BIG TITLES, BUT I'M GOING TO SAY STAFF TEACHERS. AND WE DO APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE. AND I THINK AMANDA, YOUR MOTHER ALSO. IS THAT CORRECT? SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. AND THESE TWO GENTLEMEN ARE GOING TO HELP LEAD US IN OUR PLEDGE. SO WE ALL TURN AROUND RIGHT WHERE YOU'RE AT. GREAT AMERICAN FLAG. PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE. TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. GOOD JOB, SIR. YOU GUYS WANT YOU CAN TAKE A PICTURE OF THE DAY. TURN RIGHT BACK AROUND. THIS WAY. YOU GOT THAT? GOOD. DOUBLE, DOUBLE. THAT'S A THAT'S A GOOD ELECTED OFFICIAL. RIGHT. NOW. OKAY. YEAH. THERE WE GO. OKAY. GOING TO HAVE A RECOGNITION NOW, AND I'M GOING TO ASK COUNCILMAN BEARD TO GO DOWN FRONT. [ PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PROCLAMATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS] THIS WAS ACTUALLY HIS IDEA. AND WE DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE SOME GREAT EMPLOYEES. BUT COUNCILMAN BEARD I'M GOING TO HAND THIS OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU MAYOR. IF ALL OF YOU GUYS IN THE FLUORESCENT WILL COME UP HERE. SO THIS IS OUR WASTEWATER COLLECTION TEAM. OH, NO. COME ON UP HERE. THEY'RE TRYING TO HIDE. YEAH, I KNOW THIS THRILLS YOU GUYS. SO FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT WERE AT THE LAST MEETING YOU REMEMBER US TALKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED OVER THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY WITH THE SEWER BREAK? IF THERE'S EVER BEEN A CASE STUDY IN MURPHY'S LAW, IF IT CAN GO WRONG, IT WILL GO WRONG. IT IT WAS THAT. SO FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW THE STORY WE HAD A PRETTY SERIOUS SEWER BACKUP WITH SEWER OVERFLOW IN NEAR A CREEK. SO IT BECOMES PRETTY IMPORTANT TO RESPOND TO THAT PRETTY QUICKLY. AND I THINK IF I REMEMBER THE STORY RIGHT, EVERYTHING YOU FIXED CAUSED SOMETHING ELSE TO GO WRONG, OR SOMETHING ELSE WENT WRONG RIGHT AFTER YOU FIXED ONE THING YOU CAN SEE HOW HAPPY THEY ARE TO RELIVE THIS STORY. AND SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE WEEKEND OF THANKSGIVING. THEY'RE ALL AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES. IT'S LATE AT NIGHT. IT'S COLD. SHAUNA, IF YOU'LL BRING UP THOSE PICTURES. YEAH. SO WHO'S THE GUY IN THE HARD HAT? IN THE BUCKET IN THE DIGGER? WHICH IS ONE OF Y'ALL? IS THAT ONE OF Y'ALL? 60. KEITH? YEAH. I WONDER WHAT HE SAID TO THAT OPERATOR BEFORE HE GOT IN THAT BUCKET. DON'T DROP ME. SO THEY'RE DEALING WITH SEWER WATER. IT'S COLD. AND IT WAS PRETTY REMARKABLE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT THEY WENT THROUGH TO TRY TO GET THAT REMEDIED. [00:05:02] FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT REMEMBER THE MAP, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE DEALING WITH SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT DISTANCES AND LONG LINES AND A LOT OF DIGGING, AND THEY DUG 2 OR 3 PLACES AND HAD TO GO DIG OTHER PLACES AND ALL THAT KIND OF THING. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL, WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU ALL DID, NOT JUST THAT NIGHT, BUT ELSEWHERE. YOU GUYS KIND OF WORK BEHIND THE SCENES IN SPITE OF YOUR CLOTHING. EVERYONE CAN SEE YOU. BUT THAT WAS A REALLY AMAZING JOB AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANKS. I KNOW COUNCIL'S APPRECIATIVE, OUR CITIZENS ARE APPRECIATIVE. AND I'M GLAD WE KIND OF GOT TO SEE THIS AND TELL THE STORY. I KNOW YOU GUYS DO STUFF LIKE THIS ALL THE TIME. THIS DEPARTMENT DOES. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO SHAKE YOUR HANDS AND SAY THANKS. WHO'S RAMRODDING THIS OUTFIT? I'M GOING TO GUESS BY YOUR FACES. YOU DON'T WANT TO TALK. SO WE'LL JUST SAY THANKS FOR Y'ALL. JOIN ME IN THANKING THESE GUYS. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. WHAT YOU'RE DOING? YES, SIR. THANK YOU ALL. APPRECIATE YOU GUYS. ALL RIGHT. YOU CAN GO BACK TO YOUR HAPPY PLACE NOW. APPRECIATE YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN BEARD. YOU KNOW, WE WE HAVE STAFF THAT CONTINUOUSLY GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT, THAT TRULY CARE ABOUT THIS CITY. BUT IT IS NICE TO SOMETIME TO TO STEP BACK AND TAKE A BREATH AND RECOGNIZE SOME OF THESE INDIVIDUALS FOR SUCH A GREAT, WELL DONE JOB. BUT NOW MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM WHICH CONSISTS OF ITEMS THREE THROUGH NINE. [ CONSENT AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS] THESE ITEMS WILL BE CONSIDERED WITH ONE MOTION. THERE WILL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION UNLESS A COUNCIL MEMBER REQUESTS SEPARATE DISCUSSION. DOES ANYONE ON COUNCIL WISH TO CONSIDER ANY ITEM INDIVIDUALLY? WE'LL NOW MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. THERE WILL BE NO VOTES OR ANY FORMAL ACTIONS TAKEN ON SUBJECTS PRESENTED DURING PUBLIC COMMENT. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL ONLY ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO PRESENT IDEAS AND INFORMATION TO CITY OFFICIALS AND STAFF. PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND THE CITY YOU RESIDE IN. FOR THE RECORD, THERE WILL BE A THREE MINUTE LIMIT AND WE WILL START WITH CARDS. WE HAVE TWO CARDS, MAYOR. FIRST IS JARED CROCKETT. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR COUNCIL, I'M JARED CROCKETT. I LIVE IN ABILENE. I REPRESENT THE ABILENE PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION. I REPRESENT ABOUT 200 MEMBERS OF OUR DEPARTMENT. AND I WANTED TO SHARE SOMETHING WITH YOU ALL THIS MORNING THAT I DON'T TAKE LIGHTLY. DURING 2021, DURING WINTER STORM URI, I AND MY CREW WERE CAUGHT IN A FLASHOVER WHILE THE CITY OF ABILENE WAS OUT WITHOUT POWER AND WATER. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT A FLASHOVER IS IT WHEN EVERYTHING IN THE ROOM SIMULTANEOUSLY COMBUSTS ALL AT THE SAME TIME? WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET OUT OF THERE, BUT THERE ARE MANY IN OUR PROFESSION THAT DON'T. AND SO THAT'S THE RISK THAT OUR MEN AND WOMEN TAKE WHENEVER THEY SERVE ON OUR DEPARTMENT. WHEN THEY GET ON THE APPARATUS, THEY PUT ON THAT GEAR, THEY'RE TAKING ON THAT RISK. AND THE RISK DOESN'T STOP THERE, BECAUSE WHENEVER THEY ARE TAKING ON THIS PROFESSION, THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY TO GET CANCER THAN THE NORMAL PERSON FROM THE POPULATION. AND SO THOSE ARE RISKS THAT WE UNDERSTAND ARE PART OF THE PROFESSION. AND OUR MEMBERS TAKE ON THOSE LONG TERM RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROFESSION WILLINGLY AND HONORABLY. THIS DEPARTMENT ALSO SERVES FAR BEYOND OUR CITY. WE SEND PEOPLE FOR DEPLOYMENTS MS DEPLOYMENTS. WE HAVE OVER 40 MEMBERS OF OUR DEPARTMENT THAT ARE PART OF VOLUNTEER DEPARTMENTS AROUND OUR AREA. AND SO I UNDERSTAND TODAY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING THE PEER CITIES IN YOUR EXECUTIVE SESSION. AND I'M NOT HERE TO PRESSURE THAT CONVERSATION. ALL I WAS HERE TO DO WAS TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE MAKING THIS DECISION FOR, IT REALLY, REALLY MATTERS TO US. AND WE REALLY WANT YOU TO CONSIDER THAT AND NOT TAKE IT LIGHTLY. THE WAY THAT WE HAVE OUR STRUCTURE DESIGNED IS HERE, SHOWING A REGIONAL AREA AND PAY THAT'S COMPARABLE SO THAT WE CAN HIRE YOUNG AND QUALIFIED APPLICANTS TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. AND THE THE METHODOLOGY THAT'S BEEN PRESENTED BEFORE DOES NOT HAVE ANYTHING ABOUT SERVICE LEVEL. IT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT SHOWS COMPARISONS BETWEEN OUR DEPARTMENTS TO THE CITIES THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT IN THAT METHODOLOGY. AND SO I'M ASKING SIMPLY FOR US TO KEEP THE CITIES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE. THIS CONTRACT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO RENEW HAS BEEN IN EFFECT SINCE 2019. MANY OF YOU HAVE SIGNED FOR ITS EXTENSION BEFORE. AND SO I'M JUST ASKING TO KEEP THE PEER CITIES WHERE THEY ARE AND KEEP THE SAME CONTRACT THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST. OUR ABILENE FIREMEN LOVE SERVING THE CITY OF ABILENE, AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO HIRE YOUNG, [00:10:02] QUALIFIED APPLICANTS TO DO THAT. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY. THANK YOU. MELISSA WEAVER. HI, AND GOOD MORNING. I JUST WANTED TO COME TODAY AND TALK ABOUT SOME THINGS THAT I KNOW THAT THE A LOT OF ABILENE RESIDENTS ARE EXPERIENCING CURRENTLY. LET'S SEE. WE'VE WE'VE EXPERIENCED A LOT OF ECONOMIC GROWTH IN ABILENE RECENTLY. A LOT OF NEW BUSINESSES, A LOT OF INFLUX OF PEOPLE. AND THERE'S A HOUSING CRISIS. AT THE CURRENT MOMENT RENT PRICES HAVE INCREASED ABOUT $1,000 OR MORE IN THE LAST YEAR. A LOT OF FAMILIES ARE HAVING TO EITHER MOVE OUT OF ABILENE OR WE'VE ALSO SEEN FAMILIES IN YOU KNOW IN THE ENCAMPMENTS, WHICH IS UNUSUAL. YOU KNOW, IT'S USUALLY NOT FAMILIES THAT YOU SEE, BUT PEOPLE ARE BEING PRICED OUT OF, OF THEIR HOMES. AND CURRENTLY RENTS, I MEAN, LEASE IS NOT BEING RENEWED SO THAT THEY CAN RENT TO, TO THESE NEW WORKERS THAT ARE COMING INTO ABILENE, WHICH WE WELCOME. YOU KNOW, WE WELCOME THE GROWTH, BUT WE ALSO NEED FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD HOUSING. AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S NOTHING LEGALLY YOU CAN DO. I MEAN, THIS IS A IT'S CAPITALISM, LIKE, IT'S, YOU KNOW, FREE MARKET DEMAND, SUPPLY AND DEMAND. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT TO BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND THIS GROWTH, WE HAVE TO HAVE RESPONSIBLE GROWTH. AND WE WOULD. I WOULD LIKE FOR THIS TO BE PUT ON THE AGENDA TO DISCUSS WHAT WE CAN DO FOR THE CITY OF ABILENE TO HELP ITS RESIDENTS, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HURTING RIGHT NOW. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE BEING PRICED OUT AND THEY'RE HAVING TO LOOK FOR OTHER PLACES TO, TO GO TO LIVE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE RENT. I MEAN, WE'RE SEEING HOUSES IN, YOU KNOW, NORMAL EVERYDAY. MY NEIGHBORS ARE PAYING $4,500 A MONTH FOR RENT. I PAY A THOUSAND, AND THE HOUSES ARE VERY SIMILAR, BUT THEY'RE CHARGING EACH PERSON THAT'S LIVING THERE WHAT THE HOUSE WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, RENT WOULD BE FOR THAT ONE HOUSE. THEY'RE TRIPLING IT. AND IT'S THIS IS HARMING US. THIS IS HARMING OUR CITY. IT'S GOING TO HARM OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. IT'S GOING TO HARM EVERYONE INVOLVED. SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE IF THIS COULD BE PUT ON THE AGENDA AT SOME POINT SO THAT WE CAN DISCUSS WHAT WE CAN DO FROM HERE ON OUT, LIKE FURTHER TO HELP OUR CITY GROW RESPONSIBLY. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL THE CARDS, MA'AM. STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? GOOD MORNING. COUNCIL AND MAYOR. I'M TAMMY FOGLE, RESIDENT OF ABILENE, AND I'M SPEAKING AS A CITIZEN. A LITTLE RECAP I DECIDED IN 2021 TO ATTEND MY FIRST CITY COUNCIL MEETING EVER, AND I WAS THE ONLY GUEST IN THE ROOM AND CALLED OUT DURING PUBLIC COMMENT. WAS A LITTLE EMBARRASSING BECAUSE I WASN'T EXPECTING TO BE ADDRESSED PERSONALLY BEING IN THE BACKGROUND. BUT EVER SINCE, I'VE BEEN WORKING TO UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS, KNOW THE RULES, AND WORK THROUGH THE SYSTEM SO THAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THINGS NOT ONLY AS A CITY, BUT AS CITIZENS, BECAUSE A LOT OF CITIZENS DON'T HAVE THEIR VOICE. AND I'VE BEEN TRYING TO RECAPTURE WHAT IT IS THAT WE ACTUALLY NEED TO BE DOING AS CITIZENS. SO BEING A PART OF THIS CREW REGULARLY IN THE, IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, NO ONE CAME IN AND SAID, HEY, CAN I HELP YOU? LET ME SHOW YOU THE ROPES. LET ME GIVE YOU AN ADVICE. BUT ANYTIME I ASK FOR HELP, THERE WAS PEOPLE WHO WERE WILLING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, AND I THINK I'VE PROVEN MYSELF TO BE SOMEONE WHO'S PRETTY HAS GOOD MOTIVES TRYING TO MAKE OUR OUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE. AND UNKNOWINGLY, IN JANUARY OF 2025, I ATTENDED THE CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP OR RETREAT AND WAS MADE LIGHT OR MADE AWARE OF THE PENSION SHORTAGE FOR THE FIREMEN, THEIR PENSION FUND SHORTAGE. AND I WAS SHOCKED AND IT WORKED OUT FOR ME TO START ENGAGING AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT THAT. AND SO I'VE BEEN LEARNING ABOUT IT FOR THE LAST YEAR AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO AS A CITY AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO RESOLVE THIS. AND WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT UP IN SEPTEMBER, IT WAS IT WAS MENTIONED TO ME THAT IT'S NOT OPEN TO PUBLIC DISCUSSION YET BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE. AND I'M JUST CONCERNED WITH THAT BECAUSE WE ARE THE PUBLIC. THIS IS OUR REVENUE THAT WE'RE GIVING TO YOU. OUR FUNDS ARE GOING TO YOU. WE NEED TO KNOW HOW IT'S BEING SPENT AND WHY, AFTER SEVERAL PEOPLE ON THIS COUNCIL HAVE BEEN SITTING ON THAT BOARD, HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO COME TO TERMS WITH A HEALTHY RESOLUTION FOR THAT. AND SO I WAS EQUALLY DISTURBED WHEN I HEARD THAT THE MEETING CONFIRMED IN DECEMBER. WHEN I HEARD IN DECEMBER THAT THE MEET AND CONFER FOR THE FIREMEN WERE WAS DELAYED AGAIN OR EXTENDED AGAIN. AND I'M LIKE, MAN, WHAT IS GOING ON? WHY CAN WE NOT TAKE CARE OF OUR FIREMEN? [00:15:01] AND AS A CITIZEN WATCHING, I'M NOT I'M NOT GOING INTO ALL THE DETAILS THAT I'VE LEARNED. BUT AS A CITIZEN WATCHING THIS, IT'S VERY CONCERNING. AND THEN AT THE STRATEGIC PLANNING MEETING THAT YOU'LL HAVE PRIORITY MEETING WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT UP, THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION BECAUSE ONE OF THE COUNCILMEN WHO KNEW THEM WAS SITTING ON THE BOARD WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT THAT MEETING. AND IT'S TROUBLING THAT THE REST OF THE COUNCIL COULD NOT HAVE AN HONEST DISCUSSION ABOUT IT. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE CHANGING OUR PUBLIC, OUR PRIORITIES TO INCLUDE PUBLIC SERVICE, WHICH I THINK IS GOOD, BUT WE'VE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO. AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY. NOW THE MEET AND CONFER IS BEING I ATTENDED THE MEET AND CONFER ON MONDAY BECAUSE IT WAS MADE AWARE TO ME AS A PUBLIC CITIZEN OR AS A CITIZEN THAT IT'S BEING THEY'RE BEING ASKED TO EXTEND IT AGAIN. AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE CAN'T GET THIS RESOLVED. THIS SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF. THE REQUESTS DON'T SEEM TO BE, AS A CITIZEN, SOMETHING THAT IS OUTLANDISH THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR. IT'S SOMETHING REASONABLE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED SO THAT YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD AND START PLANNING FOR THE NEXT CONTRACT. BUT TO WITHHOLD THIS AGREEMENT AND EXTENDED ANOTHER SIX MONTHS SEEMS TO BE NOT WHAT WE THE PEOPLE WANT AND APPRECIATE. SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING SWIFT ACTION ON THIS. PUBLIC COMMENT. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? NO ONE. I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME I WILL ASK FOR A MOTION FOR AGENDA ITEMS THREE THROUGH NINE. SO MOVED. SECOND. COUNCILMAN PRICE SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BEARD. IS THAT CORRECT? YES. DISCUSSION. READY TO VOTE? PLEASE NOTE MY ABSTENTION ON NUMBER NINE, PLEASE. ALL YESES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM TEN, AND I'LL ASK MAX JOHNSON, [10. Ordinance (Final Reading):  Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Amending Chapter 27, "Solid Waste," Article IV, "Prohibitions," Section 27-26, "Prohibited Acts" and 27-27, "Exceptions," of the Abilene Municipal Code. (Max Johnson)] PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MAX JOHNSON, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS. BEFORE YOU TODAY IS A MINOR ORDINANCE CHANGE. IN CHAPTER SEVEN OF THE CITY CODE. THIS MODIFIES SOME OF THE THE LANGUAGE IN THERE WHICH CLARIFIES THE CODE FOR OUR REFUSE AND MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE COLLECTION WITHIN THE CITY. ANYTIME THERE IS AN EXCEPTION TO OUR SOLE RESPONSIBILITY TO COLLECT THE MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE. AND THAT'S WITH DEBRIS FROM CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION OR RECYCLABLE. WE ALSO HAVE A PERMITTING PROCESS FOR RECYCLABLE. IF THERE IS THIS COLLECTION OF THE CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS THAT'S MIXED WITH MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE THAT THEN BECOMES THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY. SO ANY QUESTIONS I CAN ANSWER. AND THEN I HAD ASKED THE QUESTION BEFORE THE FIRST READING, JUST BY EMAIL. BUT IF THERE WERE A NATURAL DISASTER, LIKE A TORNADO OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEN IN THE MAYOR'S PROCLAMATION THAT COULD ADDRESS EXTENDING THAT TO OTHER PEOPLE TO DRAW? ABSOLUTELY. THAT MIGHT INCLUDE MUNICIPAL WASTE. ABSOLUTELY, SIR. THANK YOU. MAX, CAN YOU SPEAK TO. I'VE HAD A FEW QUESTIONS ON THIS, AND MISS CRAWFORD AND I HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT IT, BUT FOR THE RESIDENTS OUT THERE WHY DOES THE CITY CARE IF OTHER PEOPLE OR COMPANIES WANT TO PICK UP, YOU KNOW, TRASH OR DEBRIS? WHY ARE WE EXCLUDING THEM FOR THE MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE SIDE OF THE HOUSE? IT'S THE REVENUE THAT COMES IN THAT WE CAN KEEP OUR OUR SOLID WASTE UP TO DATE TECHNOLOGY AND TRUCKS AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS. THING. SO BY SPREADING THAT OUT TO THAT REVENUE, OUT TO OTHERS, IT WILL TAKE AWAY FROM THE CITY. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. I GUESS ONE THOUGHT I HAD. AND ARE THERE ANY COMMUNICATION EFFORTS THAT ARE PLANNED SO THAT THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS KIND OF THIS TRANSITION? SO IT ISN'T A CHANGE. THIS IS THE HOW THE CODE HAS BEEN. THIS IS JUST CLARIFYING A LITTLE BIT TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE WE HAVE THE TEETH TO BE ABLE TO ENFORCE. YES, SIR. DOES THIS INCLUDE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK ACROSS THE STREET, THERE'S A THIRD PARTIES ROLL OFF SITTING OVER THERE AT THE CONSTRUCTION SITE. THAT'LL BE A CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS. AND AS LONG AS THEY DON'T, THEY AREN'T COLLECTING ANY MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE IN THERE. SO ANYTHING THAT'S COLLECTED THROUGH A BUSINESS OR OR A RESIDENTIAL CONVENTIONAL DUMPSTER PICKUP. YES, SIR. BEHIND BUSINESSES, THE ROLL OFFS, THE ALLEY DUMPSTERS, THINGS LIKE NOT CONSTRUCTION SITES. CONSTRUCTION SITES ARE ARE AN EXCEPTION. AND THAT'S LISTED IN THE CODE. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. YEAH. EVEN IN A RESIDENTIAL, IF THEY'RE RENOVATING A HOUSE, THEY CAN HAVE A ROLL OFF THERE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS OR THE DEMOLITION DEBRIS. JUST NOT TO COLLECT THE THE HOUSES. NORMAL. NORMAL TRASH? YES, SIR. ON A PRACTICAL LEVEL, HOW DOES THE CITY DECIDE? [00:20:03] OKAY, THIS IS NO LONGER UNDER CONSTRUCTION. ONCE THEY GET A CEO OR FOR THAT BUSINESS TO KNOW. OKAY, IT'S REALLY WHAT'S GOING INTO THE ROLE, OFFICER. IF YOU YOU HAVE THE WOULD YOU HAVE THE CONCRETE? YOU HAVE THOSE KIND OF THINGS. BUT IF YOU'RE PUTTING BAGS OF OF REGULAR GARBAGE IN THERE, THEN IT BECOMES A MIXED USE. AND THEN THAT WOULD BE OUR RESPONSIBILITY. FURTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU MAX. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST ITEM TEN. PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND. SO MOVED. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN CRAVER. SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN YATES. FURTHER DISCUSSION. VOTE. ALL YESES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. [11. Ordinance (Final Reading): Z-2026-02: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on a Request from the Owner to Change the Zoning of Approximately 3.65 Acres from Planned Development District (PDD-116) to General Commercial (GC) Zoning. Located at 2002 Jameson Street. (Tim Littlejohn)] WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 11. NOW, I ASKED TIM LITTLEJOHN, DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. IN ZONING CASE 202602, THE OWNER IS HIT VENTURES, LLC. THE REQUEST FOR YOU TO CONSIDER IS TO CHANGE THE ZONING OF APPROXIMATELY 3.65 ACRES FROM A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT 116 TO GENERAL COMMERCIAL LOCATED AT 2002 JAMESON STREET. HERE'S A LOCATION MAP. HERE'S THE CURRENT ZONING. HERE'S SOME PROPERTY VIEWS AND SOME SURROUNDING PROPERTIES. HERE ARE THE USES THAT FOR YOU TO CONSIDER. 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. 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 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. SO MOVED. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN REAGAN. SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BEARD. DISCUSSION. WE'RE READY TO VOTE. ALL YESES, MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 12 AND I'LL ASK TIM LITTLEJOHN TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. [12. Ordinance (Final Reading) Z-2026-07: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on a Request from the Owner to Change the Zoning of Approximately 3.87 Acres from General Retail (GR) to Light Industrial (LI) Zoning. Located at 5601 Memorial Dr. (Tim Littlejohn)] THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. IS ZONING CASE 202607. THE OWNER'S WINDMILL CIRCLE APARTMENTS AGENT IS CLINT ROSENBAUM. THE REQUEST FOR YOU TO CONSIDER IS CHANGE. THE ZONING OF APPROXIMATELY 3.87 ACRES FROM GENERAL RETAIL TO LIGHT INDUSTRIAL, LOCATED AT 5401 MEMORIAL DRIVE. HERE'S THE LOCATION MAP. HERE'S THE CURRENT ZONING. PROPERTY. VIEWS. HERE ARE THE CURRENT USES WITHIN GENERAL RETAIL. HERE ARE THE PROPOSED USES AS REQUESTED. NOTIFICATIONS WERE SENT OUT. WE DID RECEIVE ONE IN OPPOSITION, RESULTING IN A 17.29% IN OPPOSITION. THIS MEETS ALL THE CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL WITHIN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. PNC DID HEAR THIS CASE, AND THEY DO RECOMMEND TO YOU APPROVAL THIS MORNING, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS OF TIM. TIM. WAS THERE AN ASSOCIATED PARCEL JUST TO THE SOUTH OF THIS THAT WAS A SIMILAR REQUEST. DID WE ALREADY DO THAT OR YOU JUST DID THAT AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING? YES, SIR. SIR. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. TIM. LET'S SEE. THE OPPOSITION IS THE ONE JUST TO THE RIGHT OF OF THE PROPERTY. IT'S ALSO A COMMERCIAL. YES, SIR. THE OPPOSITION IS COMMERCIAL AS WELL. YES, SIR. HAVE THEY KIND OF CITED ANY REASON WHY THEY'RE OPPOSED TO IT? I DIDN'T SEE IT. NO. WE USUALLY GET ONE THAT'S CHECKED. NO. THANK YOU. FURTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. TIM. THANK YOU. 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. CLINT ROSENBAUM ROSENBAUM, ENGINEERING AGENT FOR THE OWNER. COUNCILMAN. THAT'S KIND OF UNUSUAL, BECAUSE WE'RE ASKING FOR LIGHT INDUSTRIAL, AND THAT'S WHAT THAT PROPERTY IS ZONED TO. SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT'S ABOUT, BUT COUNCILMAN YATES, YOU ASKED LAST TIME ABOUT. YES. THIS IS. WE ZONED REZONE THE LOT TO THE SOUTH OF IT. THIS IS THE LOT TO THE NORTH OF IT THAT ACTUALLY FACES MEMORIAL. AND THE ONE THAT'S SOUTH FACES WINDMILL CIRCLE. YOU ASKED IF WE WERE GOING TO WHAT THE SITE PLAN WOULD LOOK LIKE IN ABOUT A CUT THROUGH OR SOME CONNECTOR BETWEEN WINDMILL CIRCLE AND MEMORIAL. [00:25:04] THE THE DEVELOPER OF THIS PROPERTY WANTS TO PLAT THE TWO, TWO LOTS TOGETHER. OBVIOUSLY, THE LOT THAT WE DID LAST LAST COUNCIL MEETING AND THEN THIS LOT, AND THEY DO NOT WANT TO CONNECT TO MEMORIAL. THEY WANT TO FACE WINDMILL AND EVERYTHING WILL FACE WINDMILL. SO THERE WILL BE NO NO WAY TO CONNECT THROUGH AND CUT THROUGH THERE. ALL RIGHT. WELL WILL THEY HAVE ACCESS OFF OF MEMORIAL IF THEY NEED IT FOR THEIR PROPERTY, THOUGH? THEY WE CAN PUT ACCESS OFF MEMORIAL, BUT THEIR PLAN IS NOT TO DO THAT SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE. YEAH. SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE CUTTING THROUGH THE PROPERTY. OKAY. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, MR. ROSEN. ROSENSTEIN STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 12. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION IN A SECOND. SO MOVED. HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN. SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN CRAVER. SECOND. DID SOMEBODY BEAT ME? YEAH. SHANE. THANKS, SHANE. YOU'RE WELCOME. I STAND CORRECTED, THAT WOULD BE A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN PRICE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE'RE READY TO VOTE. ALL YESES, MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 13. AND OF ALL MEMBERS, VINCENT CANTU, OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT QUARTER COORDINATOR, [13. Presentation: Receive a Report and Hold a Discussion on the January 23, 2026, Winter Weather Event (Vincent Cantu)] TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. GOOD MORNING. MAYOR COUNCIL VINCENT CANTU EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR HERE AT THE CITY OF ABILENE. I'M HERE TO PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF OUR JANUARY 23RD, 2026 WINTER WEATHER QUICK LOOK REPORT. THIS IS A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE IMPACTS OF THE STRENGTHS AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT AND ENHANCEMENT THAT WERE EXPERIENCED DURING THIS WINTER WEATHER EVENT. A MORE DETAILED, MUCH FURTHER DETAILED AFTER ACTION REPORT CAN BE DEVELOPED UPON REQUEST. ALL RIGHT. HERE'S OUR EVENT SNAPSHOT. AND WHAT HAPPENED? WE HAD ARCTIC AIR MOVE INTO THE ABILENE AREA AND BROUGHT IN WITH IT EXTREME COLD ICE AND SNOW WITH THE MAJOR PORTION OF THOSE IMPACTS EXPERIENCED BETWEEN JANUARY 23RD THROUGH THE 27TH. OUR CITY POSTURE, THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER MAINTAINED A MONITORING POSITION, MEANING WE WERE MAINTAINING SITUATIONAL AWARENESS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, CHECKING IN WITH OUR DIRECTORS, CHECKING IN WITH OUR INDIVIDUALS, IN OUR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS COMMUNICATIONS, WATER, ENERGY, TRANSPORTATION. WE HAD AN INDIVIDUAL FROM AEP IN THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER TIED IN THE HIP WITH US. LUKE ROBERTSON, WHICH WAS EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE. IMPACTS. WE HAD HAZARDOUS ROADWAYS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, WHICH CAUSED CLOSURE OF A FEW CITY DEPARTMENTS WHICH WERE THE AIRPORT AS WELL AS CITYLINK ONLY TEMPORARILY. ALSO CAUSED A SURGE IN SHELTER DEMAND IN THE CITY. BOTTOM LINE THERE WERE NO MAJOR INCIDENTS. ESSENTIAL SERVICES WERE LARGELY MAINTAINED. A FEW OF OUR STRENGTHS. EARLY NOTIFICATION AND SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. MANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE SPOKE WITH HERE AT THE CITY FOUND THAT OUR ABILITY TO KIND OF TELL THE STORY OF WHAT WE EXPECT TO SEE HERE, AS FAR AS WHAT IMPACTS WOULD BE HAD FOR THIS WINTER WEATHER EVENT, REALLY HELPED OUR OUR DEPARTMENTS PLAN A PLAN ACCORDINGLY. OUR PUBLIC MESSAGING SUPPORTED TRAVEL AND SAFETY DECISIONS VERY WELL. I THINK WE FOUND THAT A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE PUBLIC FELT THAT OUR MESSAGING TO THE PUBLIC WAS APPROPRIATE, AND OUR INFRASTRUCTURE STABILITY WAS ALSO STRONG AS WELL. UTILITIES WERE LARGELY STABLE. THERE WAS A BRIEF AEP OUTAGE THAT RESTORED RATHER QUICKLY. WATER WASTEWATER IMPACTS WERE VERY LIMITED AND WERE TIED IN THE HIP WITH MATT DAMON'S SHOP AS WELL, ONE OF THE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS. ENHANCEMENTS IN NEXT STEPS. EVEN WHEN THINGS GO WELL AS FAR AS INCIDENTS GO AND DISASTERS, THIS WAS THIS WAS NOT THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT JUST REALLY CAME AND WENT. WE DIDN'T SEE ANY DISASTER DECLARATIONS. YOU KNOW, WE WE STILL HAD ELECTRICITY. LIGHTS WERE TURNING ON, PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO LARGELY STAY WARM AND WATER FLOWED OUT. BUT WE DID CAPTURE A FEW AREAS THAT WE COULD ALWAYS ENHANCE AND DO BETTER, AND WE'LL CERTAINLY WILL. BUT OUR SINGLE SOURCE OF TRUTH STANDARD UPDATING PROCESS. SO THIS IS KIND OF AN INTERNAL DEAL. WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT OUR THE VOICE IS COMING FROM ONE SPOT, ONE PLACE THAT WE KNOW WHEN WE'RE GOING TO GET UPDATED. WE KNOW WHO THAT WHO THAT INDIVIDUAL IS AND WHERE THAT MESSAGE IS COMING FROM. IT'S OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION. IT'S SOMETHING THAT THROUGH EVERY INCIDENT THAT WE WORK, EVERY EXERCISE, EVERY REAL WORLD DEAL, IT'S SOMETHING ACROSS EVERY JURISDICTION IN THE UNITED STATES. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS ALWAYS A BIT OF A STRUGGLE OPERATIONAL COORDINATION, OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION. BUT I THINK OVERALL WE DID PRETTY WELL IN THIS SPECIFIC PUBLIC CLOSURE MESSAGING. WHAT IS CLOSED, OPEN AND OPEN BY FACILITY? THERE ARE SOME DIRECTORS THAT SHARED THAT. THERE WAS THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION IN THE PUBLIC WHERE PEOPLE WERE STILL SHOWING UP, ASSUMING THAT SOME SERVICES WERE STILL OPEN. AND I THINK MAYBE WE CAN GET A LITTLE BIT [00:30:05] AHEAD OF THAT, JUST A BIT MORE COLD WEATHER SHELTER COORDINATION PROTOCOL. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONTINUE DOING THIS. BUT HAVING FURTHER INTEGRATION WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO BETTER DEFINE WHAT OUR ROLE IS AS A CITY AND WHAT WE EXPECT THE COMMUNITY'S ROLE TO BE FOR SHELTERING. IT IS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TO OPEN COLD WEATHER SHELTERS OUTSIDE OF A DECLARED DISASTER OR INFRASTRUCTURE FAILURE. AND FINALLY, A CRITICAL FACILITY FREEZE CHECKS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS BROUGHT UP THAT WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A SCHEDULE OF CHECKING OUR FACILITIES. I THINK DURING THE 2021 WINTER FREEZE, THERE WAS A FEW PIPES THAT WERE BUSTED THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION THAT WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE INDIVIDUALS. WE WERE EVERYONE WAS AT HOME AND THERE WAS SOME DAMAGE THROUGHOUT THE THE INCIDENT FROM BUSTED PIPES AND WATER FLOWING IN THESE FACILITIES. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK WILL DO A BETTER JOB OF INTEGRATING INTO OUR INTO OUR PLANS AND PROCESSES MOVING FORWARD. FOLKS. WITH THAT, I THINK IN SUMMARY, THE CITY FARED VERY WELL DURING THIS EVENT. LIKE I SAID, WE CAPTURED A FEW AREAS FOR ENHANCEMENT THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT INTO OUR PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES. WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS OF VINCE. I'M CURIOUS. THE CRITICAL FACILITY FREEZE CHECK THAT YOU MENTIONED. IS THERE A WAY WE CAN HAVE THAT DONE ELECTRONICALLY, WHERE THERE'S SENSORS IN DIFFERENT BUILDINGS THAT JUST IF IT DROPS BELOW A CERTAIN TEMPERATURE OR EVEN ABOVE A CERTAIN TEMPERATURE, IF THAT'S A CONCERN THAT IT SENDS AN EMAIL OR A TEXT ALERT OR SOMETHING TO, OR WILL OUR SMART METERS TELL US, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND NOT A QUESTION. THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I KNOW AT THIS TIME, BUT I'D BE HAPPY TO LOOK THAT INFORMATION UP AND GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT. BUT I DO KNOW AS FAR AS IF WE HAVE HVAC RUNNING IN THOSE FACILITIES AND THOSE FACILITIES ARE WARM, THEY'RE LESS LIKELY TO HAVE THOSE THOSE BREAKS IN THOSE PIPES. IN 2021, WHEN THOSE PIPES DID BREAK, IT'S OF COURSE, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ELECTRICITY. THOSE PLACES WEREN'T WARM. AND THEY SUCCUMBED TO THOSE, THOSE TEMPERATURES. BUT THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. SOMETHING I'LL LOOK INTO. THANK YOU. YEAH, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND ALL THE CITY STAFF FOR WORKING YOU KNOW, A PRETTY, PRETTY BAD FREEZE AND THE FACT THAT I DIDN'T GET ANY COMPLAINTS YOU KNOW, AND SILENCE IN THIS WORLD TYPICALLY MEANS THAT A JOB IS BEING WELL DONE. YOU HEAR FROM THE COMPLAINTS, BUT YOU GUYS DID A PHENOMENAL JOB. AND LUKE IN THE BACK WITH AEP, I KNOW YOU GUYS DID A GREAT JOB AS WELL. SO THIS WAS A GOOD, I THINK, COORDINATED PROJECT THAT YOU GUYS DID. HOPEFULLY A LOT OF LESSONS WERE LEARNED. ONE ONE THING AND I ALWAYS GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT IT. SHELTERS DO YOU HAVE JUST OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD AN IDEA OF CAPACITY WISE, HOW ONE HOW MANY SHELTERS WE HAVE AND HOW CLOSE WE CAME TO CAPACITY DURING THAT EVENT? SURE. SO WHEN FROM THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE, WHEN WE'RE TALKING SHELTERS, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS TYPICALLY FOCUSED ON CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FAILURES OR THERE BEING A DISASTER. AND WHEN WE SET UP OUR SHELTER AGREEMENTS WITH OUR PARTNERS, THERE'S AN EXPECTATION WHEN WE SET UP THOSE AGREEMENTS, THAT WE'RE GOING TO USE THOSE SHELTERS NOT JUST FOR OUR NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, BUT FOR GENERAL POPULATION WHEN THERE IS THAT INFRASTRUCTURE FAILURE, WHEN THERE'S NO PLACE TO GET WARM, WHEN THERE'S NO WATER FLOWING, THAT'S WHEN THE CITY REALLY THROWS OUR WEIGHT BEHIND IT. AND, YOU KNOW, THOSE SHELTERS ARE MORE LIKE I SAID, GENERAL POPULATION WHEN WE'RE TALKING TRANSIENT OR NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, THOSE SHELTER IT REALLY IT REALLY VARIES AS FAR AS CAPACITY GOES. IT'S WHO'S OPEN THAT DAY. YOU KNOW, SALVATION ARMY'S ALWAYS A GOOD PARTNER AND THEY'RE OPEN TYPICALLY FOR THAT COMMUNITY. BUT I THINK IT'S CERTAINLY SOMEWHERE THAT YOU KNOW, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. WE RUN INTO THIS DURING EVERY WINTER WEATHER INCIDENT. AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I, WE TYPICALLY WORK WITH OR WORK WITH THAT COMMUNITY ON TO REALLY HELP THEM CONNECT THE DOTS AND SEE IF THEY NEED FEEDING, IF THEY NEED A FACILITY, IF THEY NEED VOLUNTEERS, IF THEY NEED COTS. IT'S KIND OF SOMETHING THAT WE HELP TO GET GOING DURING THE EVENT. BUT AS FAR AS AFTERWARDS OR AS FAR AS BEFOREHAND, IT'S HARD TO SAY WHO'S GOING TO OPEN THEIR DOORS AND WHO'S NOT. SO CAPACITY IS A BIT HARD TO DETERMINE, BUT IT'S USUALLY DURING THE EVENT WHEN THEY SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'RE AT CAPACITY, WE NEED SOME HELP. AND IT'S IT'S HARD TO SAY. DID THE FEEDBACK FOR THIS EVENT COME BACK OF, HEY, SOME SOME FACILITIES WERE AT CAPACITY OR THIS ONE? WE WERE GOOD. I GUESS WHERE I'M LOOKING AT IS DO WE NEED TO COORDINATE NOW MORE SHELTERS FOR THE NEXT EVENT OR. WE WEREN'T EVEN NEAR CAPACITY FOR THIS. WE WERE AT CAPACITY. WE WERE. THAT WAS THAT WAS MADE CLEAR VERY EARLY. AND SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE WORK NOW. [00:35:04] WE WORK WITH OUR PRIVATE, OUR COMMUNITY OR OUR LOCAL SECTOR JUST TO ASK WHAT THEY PLAN TO DO. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO? I HAVE OFFERED TO A FEW OF THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY ALREADY SOME TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, SOME WITH THE RED CROSS. WE'VE AGREED TO COME TOGETHER AND JUST FIND THOSE COMMUNITIES WORKING WITH THE WEST TEXAS HOMELESS NETWORK TO SEE WHO WOULD BE WILLING IN THE CORRIDOR WHERE WE MOST OFTEN SEE THE TRANSIENT POPULATION DOWN BUTTERNUT DOWN DOWNTOWN. YOU KNOW WHAT? RESOURCES ARE ALREADY AVAILABLE. WHAT ORGANIZATIONS ARE FAMILIAR WITH THAT COMMUNITY? AND JUST KIND OF MEETING THEM WHERE THEY'RE AT AND SEEING WHAT THEY NEED TO KIND OF GET OVER THE HUMP AND WHO CAN OPEN THOSE DOORS. BUT WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN LOCALLY TO SUPPORT. SHORT OF ACTUALLY HAVING THE CITY OF ABILENE OPEN A CITY OWNED SHELTER WHERE AS WE RESERVE THOSE FOR THOSE ABSOLUTE, YOU KNOW, LAST STAND TYPE MOMENTS. THANK YOU. I GUESS BASED ON KIND OF WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY, ARE THERE ANY THINGS THAT YOU'RE THINKING THAT ARE IN THE WORKS TO IMPROVE, YOU KNOW, OPERATIONAL CHANGES OR METRICS THAT MAYBE COULD BE DEVELOPED TO IMPROVE KIND OF THE COORDINATION BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, SHELTER, COMMUNICATION TIMELINES OR LIKE INTER-DEPARTMENTAL PROTOCOLS. SO I THINK IT'S CERTAINLY A CONVERSATION THAT'S GOING TO NEED TO BE HAD HERE AT CITY HALL. AND BRINGING A FEW OF THE DECISION MAKERS TOGETHER TO SEE EXACTLY WHERE WE STAND AND HOW MUCH WE AS A CITY IS WILLING OR WILLING TO SUPPORT YOU KNOW, SHELTERING. I THINK RIGHT NOW, THE PARADIGM OR THE BEST PRACTICE IS TO HAVE THE LOCAL COMMUNITY REALLY STAND UP AND AND TRY TO TRY TO SUPPORT THEM AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO GET THEM TO OPEN THEIR DOORS BEFORE WE RELY ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT. YOU KNOW, WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT, IT, FIRST OF ALL, YOU KNOW, PARTNERS LIKE THE RED CROSS, PARTNERS LIKE THE RED CROSS WILL NOT SUPPORT TRANSIENT ONLY SHELTERING. IT'S THEY ONLY RESPOND TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND EXPECT THEIR MISSION TO ONLY BE FOR GENERAL SHELTERING AS WELL. SO I THINK THERE'S A FEW COMPONENTS AT PLAY THAT WE'LL NEED TO WORK THROUGH. BUT IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT FROM THE STRATEGIC SIDE ON, YOU KNOW, SHOULD WE AND WHERE SHOULD WE PULL THOSE RESOURCES FROM TO SUPPORT SOMETHING LIKE THIS? ANYONE ELSE? THANKS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU AND YOUR SMALL STAFF CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOU. AND ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE VERY LOTS OF LITTLE SLEEP. YOU HAD EVENTS AGAIN AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. APPRECIATE THE REPORT. THERE WILL BE NO VOTES OR ACTIONS ON THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. IT IS NOW 9:08 A.M. [ EXECUTIVE SESSION] AND WE RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, SECTION 551.071 CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY. SECTION 551.072 DELIBERATIONS ABOUT REAL PROPERTY. SECTION 551.073 DELIBERATIONS ABOUT GIFTS AND DONATIONS. SECTION 551.074 PERSONNEL MATTERS. YOU'RE MAKING ME NERVOUS. 551.076 DELIBERATIONS ABOUT SECURITY DEVICES. SECTION 551.087 DELIBERATIONS ABOUT BUSINESS PROSPECTS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. YES. ALL HE WANTED TO BE THE FIRST. YEAH, YEAH. MAKES MORE SENSE. YEAH. YEAH. WHAT? OH, THERE IT IS. OKAY. YEAH. I'M WAITING FOR MY GREEN LIGHT. FOR THE GREEN LIGHT? IT IS NOW 10:15 A.M.. WE RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION. [ RECONVENE] NO VOTES OR ACTION WERE TAKEN DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE ADJOURN. I WOULD LIKE TO LET EVERYONE KNOW SOME DATES. WE ARE IN THAT SEASON, WHICH IS ELECTION. EARLY VOTING ENDS TOMORROW FEBRUARY 27TH AND ELECTION DAY IS MARCH 3RD. AND FOR MUNICIPAL ELECTION, EARLY VOTING IS APRIL 20TH THROUGH APRIL 28TH, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TUESDAY THE 21ST. IS THAT BEING SAN JACINTO DAY. LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE FOR THAT ELECTION IS APRIL 2ND AND ELECTION DAY FOR THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION, WHICH WOULD BE PLACED FOR CITY COUNCIL AND I BELIEVE TWO WILEY SCHOOL BOARD SEATS. CORRECT, IS MAY 2ND. AND SO JUST SO WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO VOTE AND THOSE ARE THE VOTING DATES. THANK YOU. ALSO YOUR STATE OF THE CITY. OH, I'D LIKE TO MENTION THAT THE STATE OF THE CITY. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PRICE. YEAH, HE WAS GOING TO LEAVE THAT OUT, BUT IT'LL BE MARCH 3RD. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO COME. I KNOW THAT MOREY AND STAFF AND EVERYONE HAVE PUT TOGETHER A REALLY GOOD PRESENTATION. EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T COVER ALL TOPICS, WE TRY TO COVER SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TOPICS IN THE CITY WHICH INCLUDES DATA CENTERS, [00:40:07] HOUSING AND THE B-21. SO. AND DIES ALWAYS DIES. SO THAT BEING SAID, THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PRICE. IT IS NOW 10:16 A.M. THIS MEETING. THE ABILENE CITY COUNCIL IS ADJOURNED. HEY, SHAUNA, I DON'T THINK YOU'RE. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.