Mar 10, 2026 Mayor's Advisory Board for People with Disabilities

[00:00:01]

GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.

[ CALL TO ORDER]

AND I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE HERE.

AND I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER BY STARTING OFF WITH PUBLIC COMMENTS.

[ PUBLIC COMMENTS]

[ MINUTES]

I'LL SECOND. SECOND. IT'S BEEN FIRST AND SECONDED THAT THE MINUTES FOR JANUARY'S BOARD MEETING HAS BEEN APPROVED.

WE HAVE I HOPE A REALLY GOOD DISCUSSION TODAY ON OUR AGENDA ITEMS.

[2. City Sidewalks (Discussion)]

AWESOME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU LESLIE.

THANK YOU. BOARD. SO REALLY NOT A PRESENTATION, BUT MORE JUST A OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO ASK QUESTIONS.

IN THE CITY OF ABILENE, WE'RE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN MOST CITIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. WE DO NOT OWN THE SIDEWALKS, NOR DO WE MANAGE OR MAINTAIN THE CURBS AND GUTTERS WITHIN THE CITY OF ABILENE.

AND THAT IS BY MUNICIPAL ORDINANCE.

SO WHAT HAPPENS IF A SIDEWALK FALLS INTO DISREPAIR? IT IS UP TO THE PROPERTY OWNER TO ADDRESS THAT.

WHEN WE BECOME AWARE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE IT IS IN BAD SHAPE.

WE WILL DO A COURTESY NOTICE TO THE PROPERTY OWNER, AND WE WILL ASK THEM TO WORK WITH US TO GET THAT REPAIRED.

BEYOND THAT, THAT REALLY IS THE SIDEWALK REPORT.

THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS FOR SIDEWALKS AND NEW SUBDIVISIONS.

HOWEVER, AS WITH ANY OTHER ORDINANCE, THERE'S ALWAYS EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE AND A LOT OF THE SUBDIVISION SIDEWALKS ARE PUT IN WHEN THE HOUSE IS BUILT, NOT NECESSARILY WHEN THE STREETS ARE PUT IN.

SO AS YOU HAVE HOUSE BY HOUSE, UNLESS EACH OF THEM SIDE BY SIDE ARE PUT TOGETHER, YOU MAY END UP WITH GAPS WITHIN THE SIDEWALK.

SOMETIMES THAT MAKES IT A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT FOR THOSE THAT ARE TRANSVERSING FROM POINT A TO POINT B, BUT WE DO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THOSE SIDEWALKS ARE PUT IN, WE DO HAVE A PROCESS WHEREBY THEY GET A PERMIT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WILL INSPECT THAT, TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS BUILT TO THE STANDARDS, TO ONCE AGAIN, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALSO FOLLOWING THE ADA REQUIREMENTS FOR BOTH SIDEWALKS AND CURB RAMPS WHERE THEY EXIST.

I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT SIDEWALKS WITHIN ABILENE, IF YOU HAVE ANY.

I HAVE ONE. SURE. A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY WHO'S WHO'S IN A WHEELCHAIR AND ALSO BLIND AND HAS TROUBLE WALKING ON THE SIDEWALKS BECAUSE THE LITTER IS THE LEAVES AND ALL OF THAT. AND WHERE HE CROSSES THE STREET WHERE IT COMES DOWN IN A RAMP, HE SAID, THAT'S OFTEN UNDER WATER WHERE HE CAN'T GET THROUGH IT AT ALL.

IS THERE ANYTHING DOES THE CITY MAINTAIN ANY PART OF THAT? SO THE DRAINAGE THAT IS WITHIN THE ROADWAY, IF THERE'S A PUDDLE AND SOMETHING IS SETTLED, WE'RE HAPPY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

IT JUST DEPENDS UPON THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

IF THAT IS THE CASE, STREET DEPARTMENT WILL GO OUT AND THEY WILL TRY TO ALLEVIATE THAT.

IF THERE'S BEEN SOME TYPE OF FAILURE OF THE CURB AND GUTTER ITSELF THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE STREET. IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A GRAY AREA.

IF IT'S JUST THE CURB FAILING BY ITSELF ONCE AGAIN, THAT TRADITIONALLY FALLS UPON THE PROPERTY OWNER TO MAINTAIN AND TO CORRECT THAT.

BUT IF THE STREET FAILS, WHICH THEN THEREBY CAUSES THE CURB AND GUTTER TO FAIL. THEN WE TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY AND WE FIX BOTH.

OKAY. AND WHAT ABOUT WHERE THE STREET SWEEPERS PUSH STUFF UP AGAINST IT WHEN THEY COME THROUGH? THAT'S CAUSING A PROBLEM TOO, BECAUSE HE CAN'T GET THROUGH THE THE RUBBLE THAT THE STREET SWEEPER LEAVES.

OKAY, SO THERE REALLY SHOULDN'T BE ANY RUBBLE THAT'S LEFT OVER UNLESS THE STREET SWEEPERS COMPLETELY FULL. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE PICKING UP THE MATERIAL, NOT LEAVING A PATH BEHIND.

IF THAT HAPPENS, MAKE SURE THAT YOU NOTIFY PUBLIC WORKS, AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE GO BY AND DO ANOTHER PASS BY THERE TO MAKE SURE WE GET THAT CLEANED UP. THAT IS NOT THE WAY THAT THE STREET SWEEPER OPERATION IS SUPPOSED TO FUNCTION. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM.

I HAVE A QUESTION. SURE.

SO THE GENTLEMAN THAT VISITED WITH US AT THE MEETING IN JANUARY IS IN A WHEELCHAIR.

HE HAS A SERVICE DOG, AND HE CAME TO US AND SHARED THAT AN ISSUE HE'S HAVING. HE DID BUY A HOME IN ONE OF THE NEWER SUBDIVISIONS, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY'RE ALL UNIFORM. THE SIDEWALK IS STRAIGHT ALL THE WAY ACROSS.

HE IS HAVING AN ISSUE WITH CARS, PARKING AND BLOCKING THE SIDEWALK.

HE JUST WANTED TO COME TO US AND ASK IS, YOU KNOW,

[00:05:01]

IS IT ENFORCEABLE FOR THE APD OR ANYONE IN THE HOA TO SAY, HEY, WHEN YOU PARK, YOU CANNOT BLOCK SIDEWALK ACCESS? Y'ALL CAN BACK ME UP. BUT I THINK THAT WAS THE ISSUE THAT WE WERE JUST WANTING TO GET CLARIFICATION ON FOR HIM AS TO HOW HE WOULD HANDLE THAT.

SO THERE'S MULTIPLE LEVELS OF YOUR QUESTION THERE. LET ME START WITH THE HOA.

SO HOA IS ONCE AGAIN, THE CITY HAS NO AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO THE HOA COVENANTS AND WHAT THEY ENFORCE OR WHAT THEY DON'T ENFORCE.

THEY ALSO HAVE TO FOLLOW STATE LAW AND THEY CAN ONLY ENFORCE WHAT IS WITHIN THE COVENANTS. OKAY. AND IF THEY DECIDE THAT THEY WANT TO ENFORCE SOMETHING, IT HAS TO BE LAWFUL. AND SO ONCE AGAIN, I REALLY CAN'T SPEAK TO THE HOA AND WHAT THEY MAY OR MAY NOT DO. AND WE ARE NOT HOA EXPERTS NOR DO WE HAVE A ADVISE.

SO THAT IS THAT AS FAR AS THE PROPERTY OWNER THEMSELVES, IF THEY'RE PARKING WITHIN THE DRIVEWAY, THAT IS EXACTLY WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO PARK. OFTENTIMES, THE DRIVEWAYS MAY NOT BE A SUFFICIENT LENGTH OR WIDTH, AND SOMETIMES THEY MAY NOT BE NECESSARILY NOT BLOCKING THE SIDEWALK.

THEY MAY BE ON THE DRIVEWAY, BUT ALSO PARTIALLY ON THE SIDEWALK ITSELF.

I DON'T BELIEVE THE CITY OF ABILENE HAS ANY ORDINANCE THAT PROHIBITS THE BLOCKING OF A SIDEWALK. I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE STATE STATUTES THAT HAVE THAT AUTHORITY.

SO IF IT'S A STATE STATUTE, THEN THE ONLY ONES THAT REALLY CAN ENFORCE THAT WOULD BE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

IT WOULD NOT BE CITY STAFF.

SO OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT COULD NOT GO OUT AND ACTUALLY ADDRESS THAT AND ISSUE CITATIONS.

WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO SO.

SO WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS IS YOU'LL PROBABLY WANT TO TALK WITH MR. MASON BEHIND ME IN JUST A SECOND ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THEN THE DISCRETION THAT THEY MAY HAVE. BECAUSE OFTENTIMES WHEN THERE'S A CONFLICT LIKE THAT, THEY HAVE TO USE A LITTLE DISCRETION ON WHAT THEY CAN OR SHOULD ENFORCE DEPENDING UPON WHAT WHAT'S GOING ON. IT IS INCONVENIENT FOR ONCE AGAIN THAT SIDEWALK TO BE BLOCKED.

WE REALIZE THAT'S NOT THE INTENT OF THE SIDEWALK, BUT IN ABILENE, THAT IS WHERE THE INTERSECTION TAKES PLACE, OFTENTIMES IS BEHIND THE CURVE ACROSS THOSE DRIVEWAYS.

A LOT OF THE DRIVEWAYS HAVE NOT.

MORE THAN HALF OF THEM ARE ACTUALLY ON THE STREET, NOT IN THE ALLEY, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST DON'T HAVE ALLEY ACCESS.

SO THE ONLY ACCESS THEY'VE GOT IS TO THE STREET.

AND EVERY PLACE YOU'VE GOT A HOUSE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A CONFLICT. OKAY, WELL THANK YOU. AS LONG AS THE BOARD FEELS THAT WE HAVE CLARIFICATION ON HOW TO HANDLE, YOU KNOW, CITIZENS THAT COME TO US WITH ISSUES LIKE THAT.

I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.

YEAH. I THINK AT THIS POINT, IF YOU'RE OKAY.

MADAM CHAIRMAN, I JUST ASK ANDREW TO COME ON UP AND TO ADDRESS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S CONCERNS WITH THIS ISSUE.

AND YOU CAN ASK HIM QUESTIONS DIRECTLY, BECAUSE I DO NOT SPEAK FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THEY'RE BIG BOYS.

THEY CAN SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. OKAY.

WHEN THEY SPEAK. YEAH.

SO I'M SERGEANT ANDREW MASON.

MASON. I'M THE TRAFFIC DIVISION SERGEANT.

SO A LOT OF THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT PARKING ON A SIDEWALK, THEY COME DIRECTLY TO ME.

SO THIS IS KIND OF OUR WHEELHOUSE, SO TO SPEAK.

SO WE'VE SEEN ISSUES WITH THIS OVER THE YEARS AND PRIMARILY THAT'S, THAT INITIALLY STARTED IN THE, I DON'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT IT'S LIKE COTTON CANDY, SUGAR BERRY, LIKE IT'S OFF MAPLE. JUST JUST LIKE THIS ONE NEIGHBORHOOD IS, I THINK IT'S JUST NORTH OF THE STATE SCHOOL WHERE THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS HAVING A COMPLAINT ABOUT CARS PARKED ON THE THE SIDEWALK.

SO THERE IS STATE LAW THAT GOVERNS PARKING OR STOPPING OR STANDING ON A SIDEWALK.

AND SO TYPICALLY, AND HISTORICALLY, THE WAY THAT WE'VE REALLY DEALT WITH THAT IS WE HAVE HAD TO EXERCISE SOME DISCRETION.

JUST BECAUSE SOME OF THESE NEWER SUBDIVISIONS HAVE VERY SHALLOW DRIVEWAYS AND THEN THEY'RE ALL BUILT WITH SIDEWALKS.

SO INEVITABLY, IF YOU HAVE A LARGER CAR, A TRUCK, A SUBURBAN, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND YOU WANT TO PARK IN YOUR DRIVEWAY, CHANCES ARE YOU'RE THE BACK END OF YOUR VEHICLE IS GOING TO BE PROTRUDING OUT AND OVER THE SIDEWALK. SO TYPICALLY HOW WE'VE HANDLED THIS, AND I THINK IT'S WORKED FOR THE MOST PART FOR US.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE EVER WRITTEN A CITATION FOR ANY HOMEOWNER THAT'S PARKED IN THEIR DRIVEWAY WHO'S BLOCKING THE SIDEWALK.

TYPICALLY WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE WILL RESPOND TO THAT LOCATION AND EDUCATE THE HOMEOWNER ABOUT THE STATE LAW. ASK THEM TO PARK, YOU KNOW, IF THEY HAVE A LARGER VEHICLE, ASK THEM TO PARK ON THE STREET.

AND THAT HAS BEEN SUFFICIENT THUS FAR.

NO ONE'S REALLY PRESSED US ON IT, PRESSED US ON IT TOO MUCH.

BUT AS YOU CAN UNDERSTAND YOU KNOW, MOST HOMEOWNERS THAT PURCHASE A HOME OVER THERE, OVER THERE PROBABLY NOT THINKING ABOUT THE LENGTH OF THEIR VEHICLE.

AND I THINK MOST OF THE TIME THEY WOULD WANT TO PARK IN THEIR DRIVEWAY WHERE FEASIBLE.

AND YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OF JUST TRYING TO BE

[00:10:04]

I THINK THERE IS A POTENTIAL TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE COMPOUNDING ISSUES WHEN YOU START PUSHING THOSE VEHICLES, LARGER VEHICLES OUT ON THE STREET.

AND NOW PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE ROADWAY BEING CLOGGED UP AND TRAFFIC HAZARDS AND INABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO SEE AS THEY'RE PULLING OUT OF THEIR DRIVEWAY BECAUSE THESE VEHICLES ARE PARKED ON THE STREET.

AND SO IF IF THIS. IF THIS GENTLEMAN THAT YOU ARE REFERRING TO, IF HE HAS ISSUES, I'M MORE THAN WILLING TO GIVE YOU ONE OF MY CARDS OR SOMETHING IF YOU WANT TO PROVIDE IT TO HIM, AND HE CAN CALL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND SPEAK DIRECTLY TO ME, AND WE CAN TRY TO GO OUT TO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND EDUCATE HOMEOWNERS IN THE AREA WHO MAY BE BLOCKING THE SIDEWALK.

BUT YES, SIDEWALKS ARE DEFINED IN THE TRANSPORTATION CODE IN TEXAS.

AND I THINK HE HAS THE LAW ON HIS SIDE.

BUT OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, WE TRY TO EXERCISE SOME DISCRETION AND PRIORITIZE EDUCATION AND JUST VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE FROM OUR CITIZENS.

SO ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I LIKE THE EDUCATE. I DON'T THINK A LOT OF HOMEOWNERS KNOW ALL OF THAT.

SO IF WE CAN EDUCATE THROUGH THE PROCESS, I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

SO. RIGHT. THANK YOU. WELL, BEFORE I LEAVE, I DON'T KNOW.

I CAN GO SNAG A BUSINESS CARD OR SOMETHING AND LEAVE IT WITH ONE OF YOU.

IF THEY. YES, PLEASE. IF YOU HAVE THIS PERSON'S CONTACT INFORMATION, JUST GIVE THEM THAT CARD.

AND JUST IN CASE YOU DON'T HAVE THE CARD WITH YOU, THEY COULD ALWAYS GO TO THE WEBSITE AND EMAIL THROUGH THE WEBSITE AND I WOULD GET THAT AND BE ABLE TO FORWARD IT.

SURE. RIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. YES. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

THANK YOU. SO A QUESTION THAT'S BEEN ASKED FROM THAT I HAVE IS. WHEN WE'RE SEEING CONSTRUCTION BEING DONE CURRENTLY.

SO I KNOW THAT THERE'S CONSTRUCTION BEING DONE BY WHAT IS THAT? JUDGE E.LI AND STAMFORD RIGHT THERE AT THE CORNER WHERE TWO APARTMENT COMPLEXES ARE.

THERE IS CONSTRUCTION BEING DONE RIGHT THERE RIGHT NOW.

AND MY QUESTION IS, WHO WOULD WE NEED TO CONTACT TO SEE IF THERE IS GOING TO BE A SIDEWALK BEING BUILT THERE? I THAT'S WHY WHEN YOU ASKED FOR THE POLICE TO COME UP, I WAS LIKE, OH YEAH, I'M NOT DONE.

I'M HERE AS LONG AS YOU NEED ME. OKAY.

AS FAR AS CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS THEMSELVES, WE DO HAVE AN INSPECTION GROUP OVER IN PUBLIC WORKS THAT LOOKS AT STREET RECONSTRUCTION, SUBDIVISION CONSTRUCTION, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

IF IT'S A CONSTRUCTION OF A BUILDING, LIKE AN APARTMENT COMPLEX, A HOUSE, A BUSINESS, THERE'S ACTUALLY TWO DIFFERENT PROCESSES, BUT IN BOTH, WE ACTUALLY DO TAKE A LOOK TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SIDEWALKS, THE RAMPS ARE ALL CONSTRUCTED APPROPRIATELY.

IF IT'S A TXDOT PROJECT, ONCE AGAIN, WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY, NOR DO WE GO OUT AND INSPECT THAT.

SO IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ON STANFORD ITSELF AS PART OF THE INTERSTATE PROJECT, THAT WOULD BE THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

OKAY. SO EACH OF THOSE DIFFERENT ENTITIES HAS THEIR OWN AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY.

JUDGE LEE WOULD BE THE CITY OF ABILENE.

IF IT'S THE PRIVATE PROPERTY, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE BUILDING INSPECTION AS FAR AS ANY TYPE OF ACTIVITY ON THE PRIVATE PROPERTY, OR IF IT'S WITHIN THAT STATE RIGHT OF WAY, OR THE INTERSTATE.

THAT WOULD BE TXDOT. YEAH, IT'S RIGHT ALONG.

JUDGE E.LI IF IT'S ON JUDGE LEE ITSELF, IS IT CONSTRUCTION OF THE STREET OR IS IT BEHIND THE CURVE? IT IS BEHIND THE CURVE.

OKAY. IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE A SITUATION THAT TIM LITTLEJOHN AND HIS GROUP, AS FAR AS BUILDING INSPECTIONS, WILL BE THE ONES THAT WILL BE TAKING A LOOK AT THAT AS PART OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHAT'S GOING ON ON THAT PROPERTY.

OKAY. OKAY. NOW I WILL TELL YOU THAT TIM AND PUBLIC WORKS MAXJOHNSON, THEY TALK ALL THE TIME AND THEY WORK TOGETHER IS A PRETTY GOOD TEAM. IF ONE FEELS UNCOMFORTABLE, THE OTHER ONE IS ALWAYS WILLING TO STEP UP ONCE AGAIN.

FILL THE GAP. OKAY, OKAY.

SOUNDS GREAT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I JUST KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION GOING ON ALONG CITY ABILENE STREETS. YES, MA'AM. AND JUST TO MAKE SURE, WHAT A PERFECT TIME TO WORK ON SOME OF THE

[00:15:05]

CONSTRUCTION'S GOING ON.

VERY GOOD. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. SO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS COMMUNICATION.

[3. Communications Follow Up (Discussion)]

COMMUNICATIONS MARKETING DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY. I WANT TO FIRST APOLOGIZE. THIS IS A MISCOMMUNICATION ON OUR END ABOUT THE INTERPRETER FOR TODAY'S MEETING.

WE HAD HAD A NETWORK ISSUE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS THAT KEPT US FROM HAVING INTERPRETERS AT THIS MEETING OR COUNCIL, AND THAT JUST CAME BACK ONLINE FOR OUR LAST COUNCIL MEETING.

SO THAT WAS JUST A MISCOMMUNICATION WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT ABOUT GETTING IT SCHEDULED FOR TODAY. SO MOVING FORWARD SHOULD TOTALLY, TOTALLY BE THERE.

BUT SORRY ABOUT THAT. I HAVE SOME JUST SORT OF UPDATE NUMBERS FOR THE VIDEOS THAT WE PUT OUT IN THE LAST YEAR. AND SO AS WE LOOK AT THOSE HERE ON OUR WEBSITE BETWEEN OCTOBER 1ST OF 2025 AND FEBRUARY 28TH HERE OF THIS YEAR THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 141 UNIQUE VIEWERS TO THAT PAGE AND 686 TOTAL VIEWS.

SO THAT'S AS ONE INDIVIDUAL MIGHT COME BACK TO LOOK AT THINGS OR CLICK AROUND OUR FIRST PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS SORT OF PROFILE VIDEO THAT WAS POSTED ON JANUARY 4TH OF 2026.

ON LINKEDIN, WE HAVE 737 VIEWS, 51 ENGAGEMENTS, WHICH IS CLICKS, INTERACTIONS OR SHARES ON X OR FORMERLY KNOWN AS TWITTER THAT HAD 369 VIEWS, TEN ENGAGEMENTS.

INSTAGRAM HAS 945 VIEWS WITH 17 ENGAGEMENTS.

AND THEN FACEBOOK, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, OUR MOST ACTIVE OF PROFILES THERE THAT HAS 2597 VIEWS, 33 ENGAGEMENTS AND YOUTUBE HAD 44 VIEWS OF THAT VIDEO.

AND THEN AS WE GET TO THE SECOND PSA THAT WAS POSTED JANUARY 17TH OF THIS YEAR, LINKEDIN WELL, I SAID THIS, THIS ONE HAS, HAS DIPPED DOWN FROM THE LAST.

LINKEDIN HAS 376 VIEWS, 11 ENGAGEMENTS X PROFILE WENT TO 168 VIEWS, FIVE ENGAGEMENTS, INSTAGRAM HAD 716 VIEWS, EIGHT ENGAGEMENTS.

AND THEN ON FACEBOOK WE WENT UP THERE WITH 3687 VIEWS AND 56 ENGAGEMENTS, AND YOUTUBE WENT TO EIGHT VIEWS ON THAT ONE.

SO ALL IN ALL, SOME PRETTY SOME PRETTY GOOD NUMBERS ON OUR FACEBOOK PLATFORM.

OF OF ALL OF THEM. AND NOT TOO BAD FOR INSTAGRAM TOO.

IT'S KIND OF HARD TO, TO GET, YOU KNOW, OUR INSTAGRAM VIEWS ALWAYS ARE A LITTLE LOWER. AND IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT KIND OF PLATFORM WITH WHAT PEOPLE ARE REALLY LOOKING FOR THERE. SO, BUT WE, WE CERTAINLY STILL POST OUT THERE.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S HOW THINGS ARE LOOKING FOR THOSE, THOSE PIECES. ANY QUESTIONS? YES. JUST A QUESTION OF LIKE KIND OF FOLLOWING UP WITH OUR LAST TOPIC ON SIDEWALK AND EDUCATION.

WOULD THERE EVER BE A WAY THAT BOTH.

SO WE JUST HEARD THAT THE CITY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR.

THE SIDEWALKS IF IT'S ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.

CORRECT. SO IF IT IS A CITY PROPERTY THOUGH, OR MAYBE HELPING THE POLICE EDUCATE, WOULD THERE EVER BE A WAY THAT WE COULD DO SOME TYPE OF PCA PSA ON THAT? IT WOULD, IT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE'D NEED TO CONSIDER SORT OF IN THE LARGER SORT OF LIST OF THINGS TO DO, YOU KNOW, AS, AS WE DO THAT.

AND IF IT WAS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, IF ADMINISTRATION WANTED TO MAKE A PRIORITY OR WHATNOT, THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CERTAINLY FOLLOW THE DIRECTION ON, ON WHAT TO, TO MAKE AND PUT OUT AND THAT KIND OF THAT KIND OF SITUATION. AND SO BUT I MEAN, GIVEN OUR STAFFING NUMBERS, WE DO HAVE TO JUST PRIORITIZE WHAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF THING. BUT, BUT WE ARE AT THE SERVICE OF, OF COUNCIL CITY MANAGER SO WHATEVER, WHATEVER THEY SEND US TO DO, WE DO SO IN THAT SITUATION.

YEAH. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS.

YEAH. THANK YOU. THANKS, MARI.

GREAT JOB. AND I DON'T SEE ANYONE

[4. CityLink Report (Discussion)]

AND, JANINE, IF YOU CAN FLIP ONE MORE SCREEN.

WE DO HAVE THE REPORT.

AS YOU. I'LL WING THIS ONE.

YOU'LL SEE IN FEBRUARY THAT OUR NUMBERS ARE UP SUBSTANTIALLY FROM BOTH JANUARY AND

[00:20:03]

OVER JANUARY 3056 IN DECEMBER OF 3001 THE NUMBER OF TRIP DENIALS WERE ZOO WAS ZERO NUMBER OF ON TIME TRIPS YOU'LL SEE ALMOST DOUBLED FROM JANUARY TO FEBRUARY.

I'M GOING TO GUESS THAT SOME OF THAT HAD TO DO WITH THE ICE STORM AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING TROUBLE TRAVELING.

PERCENTAGE OF ON TIME DID DIP IN FEBRUARY.

WE HAVE RECEIVED 43 APPLICATIONS OR THEY HAVE RECEIVED 43 APPLICATIONS AND DID DENY FIVE.

AND ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL HAVE, I'LL BE HAPPY TO PASS ALONG.

I THINK THE THE DIP IN PERCENTAGE MAY HAVE BEEN FROM THE ICE STORM AS WELL.

THAT DIP IN NUMBERS. THAT'S RIGHT. IT WAS IN FEBRUARY.

YES. YEAH. ALSO THE PRESIDENT ON TIME.

I WILL JUST SAY THAT THEY HAVE BEEN JUST FROM EXPERIENCE THEY HAVE BEEN SHOWING UP BEFORE ON TIME. SO I WOULD SAY THAT THE WRITERS ARE GETTING USED TO THAT.

SO. VERY GOOD. YEAH. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? NO. THAT'S GREAT. YEAH.

OKAY. SO THE NEXT TOPIC IS SPECIAL EVENTS ACCESSIBILITY CHECKLIST.

[5. Special Events Accessibility Checklist (Discussion)]

AND I WOULD LIKE TO I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD AND JUST HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE BEFORE WE PROCEED.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID THE VERY FIRST ONE IS ACCESSIBLE WALKWAYS.

I DID DO SOME RESEARCH IN THE ADA COMPLIANCE IS 36 INCHES WIDE. SO IF WE CAN KEEP WITH THAT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

AND THEN ALSO. I DID SOME THINKING ABOUT SOME.

LIKE I LOOKED AT OTHER CITIES AND I LOOKED AT WHERE THEY ARE.

I WENT BACK TO BRYAN COLLEGE STATION.

THEY WERE ONE OF THE FIRST ONES WHEN I MOVED TO TEXAS THAT WAS WORKING ON THIS WITH THEIR INDEPENDENT CENTER LIVING INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTER, WHICH IS DIA IS OUR INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTER HERE IN ABILENE.

SO IF AT SOME POINT WE WANT TO.

INVITE THEM TO COME IN AND MAYBE EDUCATE US.

THAT MIGHT BE A POSSIBILITY.

THE CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING HERE IN ABILENE.

BUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I FOUND ARE LET'S SEE HERE.

I DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS BECAUSE IT'S A LOT.

ONE THING THAT IT SHOWS THROUGH ALL OF THIS IS GREAT COMMUNICATION.

SO WHEN EVENTS ARE STARTING IF AN EVENT IS HAPPENING, THERE WOULD NEED TO BE A DEADLINE TO SHOW THAT THE ACCESSIBILITY HAS BEEN DONE WITH THE EVENT COORDINATOR THAT IS ASKING TO WORK WITH THE CITY.

AND THEN. WHEN LOTS OF SIGNAGE, JUST LOTS OF SIGNAGE LETTING THE AUDIENCE OR COMMUNITY KNOW WHERE THE EMERGENCY TABLE IS, WHERE THE ACCESSIBLE RESTROOMS ARE WHERE LIKE WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THE AREA FOR SERVICE DOGS WHERE THERE'S A PLACE FOR ACCESS LIKE A QUIET AREA IF A

[00:25:02]

AND WITH THAT SIGNAGE, IT CAN'T BE SMALL.

IT'S GOT TO BE LARGE PRINT, OBVIOUSLY FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO YOU ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND THEN ALSO HAVE SIGNAGE FOR WHERE ACCESSIBLE PARKING IS.

SO LIKE IF WE USE THE PARADE FOR AN EXAMPLE YES, THERE IS ACCESSIBLE PARKING THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN, LIKE SPREAD OUT, BUT IT WOULD BE RECOMMENDED OR ENCOURAGED THAT THE CITY WOULD HAVE ACCESSIBLE PARKING NEAR WHERE THE ACCESSIBLE SEATING IS SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO WALK AND GO EVERYWHERE.

AND THEN IF THERE WOULD BE DROP OFF ZONES BY WHERE THE ACCESSIBLE SEATING IS.

SO IF THE ACCESSIBLE PARKING IS FULL, THEN THERE COULD BE AT LEAST A DROP OFF ZONE THAT THEY COULD DROP OFF THE INDIVIDUAL WITH THE DISABILITY AND THEN GO PARK SOMEWHERE.

SO ON TOP OF HAVING ACCESSIBLE PARKING, THERE WOULD BE A DROP OFF ZONE.

AND THEN THE PATHWAYS ARE AS STURDY AS POSSIBLE.

SO LIKE I'M TRYING TO THINK OF ANY EVENTS AND YOU MAY BE ABLE TO HELP US RONNIE WITH THIS THAT ARE DOWNTOWN OR LIKE WHEN WE HAVE CAF IN.

IF THERE AREN'T LIKE SMOOTH PATHWAYS.

CAN YOU ELABORATE? WELL, SO LIKE A SIDEWALK IS A SMOOTH PATHWAY.

OKAY. I WAS DOWNTOWN BY THE CONVENTION CENTER THIS LAST WEEK, AND I NEED TO GO WALK IN THE GARDEN AGAIN BECAUSE I JUST WALKED BY IT.

BUT I KNOW THAT THAT MIGHT BE GRAVEL.

I CAN'T REMEMBER. I THINK IT'S JUST REGULAR, LIKE A, IT'S A REGULAR SIDEWALK, ISN'T IT? IT'S CRUSHED GRANITE. OKAY.

GRANITE. GRANITE. I LOVE THAT, YOU KNOW THAT.

I LOOKED. SO I DID NOT GET ON IT.

SO I'M SURE IT'D BE SMOOTH.

IT WAS. IT MAY NEED SOME BRUSHING EVERY NOW AND THEN, DEPENDING ON IF WE HAVE A RAIN.

BUT WE DO MAINTAIN IT FOR WHEELCHAIRS AND WALKERS AND THE STROLLERS FOR KIDS.

YES. I'VE WALKED. I THINK IT'S VERY GOOD.

I THINK THE WHOLE STORYBOOK GARDEN IS VERY THOUGHTFULLY DONE.

I'VE. I WOULD SAY IT'S VERY INCLUSIVE.

AWESOME. THEY DID A GREAT JOB ON IT.

BUT ARE THERE ANY SO LIKE ANY EVENTS THAT WOULD NEED A SMOOTH PATHWAY? JUST TO MAKE SURE. AND THEN.

WHAT ELSE? OBVIOUSLY THE STAGE EVENT AREA. IF THERE WERE EVENTS AND I'VE HAD TROUBLE WITH THIS BEING ON STAGE IN THE PAST, LIKE THEY INVITE YOU TO AN EVENT TO BE A PART OF THE EVENT, BUT IT'S NOT AN ACCESSIBLE STAGE.

AND SO THEN IT BECOMES A CHALLENGE.

SO IF THE STAGE IS ACCESSIBLE THE PODIUMS ARE ACCESSIBLE ACCESSIBLE BACKSTAGE. SO STAGING MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S INTERPRETERS WHERE THERE NEEDS TO BE. DEFINITELY MAKE SURE THAT THE, I MENTIONED THIS ALREADY AND IT'S ON OUR

[00:30:01]

AND WE BROUGHT THIS UP OVER THE PARADE, LIKE.

THERE WOULD BE FOOD VENDORS AROUND THAT AREA.

AND SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO WALK 2 OR 3 BLOCKS FOR FOOD.

AND THEN. PRETTY MUCH.

THAT'S IT. I, I THINK IT WOULD BE AWESOME.

THE MORE EVENTS THAT START TO SHOW UP HERE IN ABILENE FOR THE CITY IF THERE COULD BE FOLLOW UP AFTER THAT EVENT.

SO WE CAN KEEP IMPROVING OUR ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL I THINK WE GET DONE WITH THE EVENT AND I'M JUST AS MUCH TO BLAME WHEN I COORDINATE EVENTS LIKE WE'RE DONE. BUT IF WE COULD SEE AFTERWARDS HOW THAT EVENT WENT.

SO. YOU CAN COME ON SATURDAY, I KNOW.

YEAH. AND THEN WE CAN TALK NEXT WEEK.

I KNOW, SO THAT'S WHAT I ALL THE RESEARCH THAT I HAVE DONE ON THIS BOARD IS ONCE AGAIN, IT'S NOT MANDATED, BUT IT IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED.

AND I JUST KEEP ON. AS ABILENE AND AS MUCH AS I LOVE ABILENE, I WANT US TO BE ABOVE BOARD AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

AND SO WHEN I SEE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED A LOT, I'M LIKE, THAT'S ABILENE. WE'RE BEYOND STRONGLY ENCOURAGED.

SO IF WE CAN AT LEAST GET THIS CHECKLIST AFTER WE'VE ALL LIKE AGREED UPON IT.

AS PART OF THE EVENT PAPERWORK, SO IT'S OUT THERE MORE.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE A HUGE STEP FOR ABILENE, ESPECIALLY AS WE'RE GROWING.

WE ARE. YEAH. ANY COMMENTS EVER ANYONE.

I BEING IN THE EVENT INDUSTRY, I WOULD THE THREE LARGE EVENTS DOWNTOWN OR IN ABILENE ARE OUR EVENT IN CALF AND THE CITY'S CHRISTMAS PARADE.

PROBABLY. MAYBE WE CAN JUST COME TO BLOCK PARTY THIS SATURDAY, AND THEN MAYBE ME AND YOU CAN SIT DOWN AFTER.

AND THEN WE COULD KIND OF JUST THINK ABOUT WHAT SHE SAW AND DISCUSS IT.

MAYBE NEXT MEETING. AND I THINK THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN EVENT THAT SOMEBODY COMES TO AND ATTENDS AND A PARADE.

AND IT DOES REQUIRE TWO, TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND SO A LOT OF WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS KIND OF AUTOMATIC.

PEOPLE JUST DON'T REALLY THINK ABOUT IT WHEN IT IS AN EVENT.

WHEN IT'S A PARADE, IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BALL GAME.

GOT IT. WELL, SO MY QUESTION IS WHEN YOU HAVE WHAT IS IT? IS IT THURSDAY FIRST THURSDAY? THE ART WALK. THEY USED TO BE THE SECOND THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH.

THEY HAVE GONE QUARTERLY ON SATURDAYS.

SO IT'S FOUR TIMES A YEAR NOW ON SATURDAYS AND THEY TRY AND, AND TIME IT WHERE THERE'S OTHER THINGS GOING ON DOWNTOWN.

OKAY. SO.

IS THERE STILL A COMMITTEE FOR DOWNTOWN EVENTS? NOT DOWNTOWN EVENTS. THERE IS THE DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION.

OKAY. WE, WE ON THE DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION HAVE A SUBCOMMITTEE CALLED THE EVENTS COMMITTEE.

YOU COULD ALWAYS COME AND SPEAK AT THE DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION IF YOU WANT TO.

I'M WONDERING IF THAT'S JUST SOMETHING FOR EDUCATION WISE,

[00:35:05]

I THINK YOU'VE GOT A REALLY GOOD LIST HERE. I THINK IT'S A GREAT STARTING PLACE.

AND A PLACE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO GROW IS IS THINGS COME UP.

SO I LIKE IT. I KNOW WE ADDED A LITTLE BIT MORE TODAY.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A REALLY GOOD BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN US AND THE CITY BECAUSE WE'VE GOT YOU WHO OBVIOUSLY IS LIVING IT.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GIVE ME YOUR INPUT.

WE CAN GET IT WORKED OUT.

PASS IT ALONG UP THE CHAIN.

SO I THINK WE'VE GOT A GOOD THING SET FOR RIGHT NOW.

ABSOLUTELY. SO IF WE IF WE COULD ADD TO WHAT WE'VE ADDED, THIS DREAM, THIS LIST AND ADD TO WHAT WE'VE DISCUSSED TODAY AND KNOW THAT THAT'S GETTING INTO THE HANDS AND START WORKING ON THAT.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS I COULD ALSO SUGGEST TO THIS BOARD IS WE HAVE A LOT OF THE SPECIAL EVENT SEASON IS KICKING OFF.

THERE IS A GREAT DEAL THAT OF COURSE IS HAPPENING THIS WEEK WITH SPRING BREAK NEXT WEEK WITH THE LITTLE GREEN MAN, I'M DRAWING A BLANK ON SAINT PATRICK'S DAY, SAINT PATRICK'S DAY. WE'VE GOT TWO PARADES THE FIRST WEEK OF MAY AND BEFORE OUR NEXT MEETING, SO THERE'S QUITE A FEW OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERIENCE SPECIAL EVENTS AROUND DOWNTOWN AND ALL OVER ABILENE BETWEEN NOW AND OUR NEXT MEETING IN MAY TO BE ABLE TO GIVE FEEDBACK.

SO I WOULD SAY, I WOULD ENCOURAGE US IF WE CAN GET OUT TO DO THAT AND BRING THAT INFORMATION BACK. AND THEN.

GET THE KIND OF FEEL LIKE WE'VE GOT A GOOD STRUCTURE AND GET IT OUT AFTER MAY'S MEETING.

DOES THAT SOUND LIKE A GOOD GOAL? YES. I WOULD SAY TO DEFINITELY ELABORATE CLASSIFYING PARADES.

YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU HAVE TO MEET THESE CERTAIN ITEMS IF YOU'RE EXPECTED.

ATTENDANCE IS OVER A CERTAIN NUMBER BECAUSE I KNOW THE ACTUAL CHRISTMAS PARADE IS TWO HOURS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, WHEREAS I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN, BUT I WENT THIS YEAR, THE CINCO DE MAYO PARADE DOWNTOWN IS ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND MAYBE 100 PEOPLE DISPERSE THAT ATTEND.

SO I WOULD JUST SUGGEST HAVING REQUIREMENTS BASED ON ATTENDANCE.

WE CAN'T HAVE REQUIREMENTS.

WE CAN HAVE SUGGESTIONS.

SUGGESTIONS? YES. THANK YOU.

BUT. BUT YES, THE MORE THE PEOPLE, THE MORE IT PLAYS INTO EVERYTHING.

ABSOLUTELY. IT WOULD BE.

WOULD YOU THINK? I MEAN, WHEN YOU SAY THAT, RONNIE, DO YOU MEAN LIKE, OBVIOUSLY THE SPACE.

IF YOU HAVE A 20 MINUTE PARADE, YOU DON'T NEED A BIG.

YES, ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S WHAT I'M REFERRING TO BECAUSE I DON'T, YOU KNOW, WITH THE HANDICAPPED PARKING AND A DESIGNATED SPACE AND DROP OFF, YOU KNOW, WITH THE CINCO DE MAYO PARADE, THERE IS BLOCKS ON BLOCKS AND BLOCKS OF AVAILABLE PARKING AND SEATING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO BUT IF WE COULD JUST START TO, ESPECIALLY WITH BIGGER PARADES, JUST A CONSISTENCY SO THEY WOULD KNOW WHERE IT'S AT, YOU KNOW, FOR YEARS THE PARADE WENT DOWN THE SAME ROUTE AND SO EVERYONE KNEW.

SO IF WE CAN WORK ON CONSISTENCY ONCE WE GET THIS ESTABLISHED, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. BUT I AGREE.

IF WE COULD THE SEPARATION BETWEEN PARADE AND A BLOCK PARTY OR CALF OR.

YOU GUYS ARE QUIET TODAY.

AND THEN. ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS? I THINK WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB.

I KNOW WE'RE QUIET BECAUSE YOU DO SUCH A GOOD JOB. NO NO NO NO NO.

OKAY. SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON IN TO THE SPECIAL EVENT.

NO, NO. AGENDA ITEM SIX.

UPCOMING, IF I COULD INTERRUPT REAL QUICK.

JOHN WAS ABLE TO JOIN US.

DID YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR JOHN OR COMMENTS FOR JOHN?

[00:40:05]

WE SAW THERE WAS A LARGE DIP, BUT WE ATTRIBUTED IT TO THE ICE STORM, WHICH TOTALLY MAKES SENSE.

SO WE JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS FOR STILL LOOKING PRETTY GREAT ON THE NUMBERS.

YES, AND THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT.

AND DON GREEN, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR THE CITY OF ABILENE.

GLAD TO BE WITH YOU GUYS THIS AFTERNOON. SO CITYLINK DID EXPERIENCE A, A, YOU KNOW, THEY DID NOT OPERATE FRIDAY NIGHT AND THEN ALL DAY SATURDAY AND I BELIEVE THEY GOT BACK INTO OPERATION MONDAY AFTERNOON, BUT STAFF DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB I THINK BETTER THAN ANY OTHER SNOW AND ICE STORM THAT WE'VE HAD SINCE I'VE HAD CITYLINK.

SO THEY PUT CHAINS ON THE BUSSES AND THEY WERE READY TO GO.

SO KUDOS TO THEM FOR GETTING OUT THERE.

AND OUR, OUR, OF COURSE, OUR PRIORITY WAS TO GET PARATRANSIT UP FIRST.

IF, IF, BECAUSE THE BUSSES ARE NOT SO MANEUVERABLE ON ICE AND SNOW, GET THE PARATRANSIT SYSTEM UP.

IF, IF, IF THAT HAD WE HAD TO PRIORITIZE BECAUSE WE JUST WANT TO GET PEOPLE TO DIALYSIS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET THEM BACK IN SERVICE AND THEY DID A GREAT JOB DOING THAT. SO YEAH, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I DID MENTION TO THEM THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT NUMBERS ABOUT LIKE ON TIME AND HOW I SAID SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT BE USED TO THIS AND, BUT THE WRITERS THE DRIVERS ARE GETTING THERE EARLY.

AND SO THE WRITERS ARE HAVING TO GET USED TO THAT.

SO THAT MAY TAKE A MINUTE.

SO IF THAT IS AN ISSUE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

LET CITYLINK CITYLINK GM KNOW.

JOE JOE FERNANDEZ BUT IF THAT'S AN ISSUE, BUT THEY SHOULD STILL BE ARRIVING WITHIN THAT WINDOW AND SHOULD NOT BE LEAVING.

IF THEY ARRIVE EARLY, THEY SHOULD NOT BE LEAVING EARLY WITHOUT A PASSENGER. SO THAT 30 MINUTE WAIT TIME OR THAT 30 MINUTE WINDOW, THEY SHOULD STILL BE OPERATING WITHIN THAT.

I'M JUST SAYING, IF THEY GET THERE BEFORE THAT 30 MINUTE WINDOW AND THEN OR THE YOU'RE SAYING THEY SHOULD NOT IF THEY GET THERE EARLY, THEY SHOULD NOT BE LEAVING EARLY WITHOUT A PASSENGER. SO AND IF THAT'S HAPPENING, PLEASE LET US KNOW. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. YOU GUYS ARE DOING GREAT.

GOOD TO HEAR. GOOD TO HEAR.

I LOVE HEARING THAT, TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT TO YOU.

THANK YOU. I'M, I'M VERY THANKFUL TO HAVE THAT SET TO.

YEAH. SO BACK TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX.

[6. Upcoming Board Topics (Discussion)

• This item allows board members to recommend topics to be included and discussed at future board meetings.

I WOULD SAY PROBABLY FOR THE LAST TIME, SPECIAL EVENTS, ACCESSIBILITY CHECKLIST HAVE THAT FINAL DISCUSSION SO WE CAN MOVE AHEAD ON THAT AND.

NO, I'M GOOD. I, I WOULD JUST KEEP ENCOURAGING. THERE WILL BE A TIME WHEN WE FEEL THIS WILL ALL BE LIKE SECOND NATURE. ALL THIS LIFE COMPLIANT, NOT JUST ADA LIKE IT'LL JUST BE PART.

THAT'S MY GOAL FOR THE CITY IS LIKE, INTERPRETERS WILL JUST BE A NORMAL THING.

IT'S JUST PART OF A NORMAL CHECKLIST.

MAKING SURE THAT PICTURE IN PICTURE OR ANY OF THAT IS JUST A NORMAL THING.

AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE GETTING CLOSER TO THAT.

AND SO LIKE WITH CITY EVENTS, WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON NOW, THERE WILL BE A POINT WHERE WE ARE JUST, IT'S JUST SECOND NATURE THAT, OH, WE HAVE AN ACCESSIBLE DROP OFF FOR CHRISTMAS.

AND THIS IS WHERE ACCESSIBLE SEATING IS.

ON THAT NOTE. THEN I WOULD HAVE SOMETHING TO RECOMMEND FOR A POSSIBLE TOPIC THAT WOULD INVOLVE MARI. IF, YOU KNOW, WE DID HAVE THESE GUIDELINES OR JUST EVEN IF WE JUST HAVE AN AREA LIKE A LOCATION AT THE CHRISTMAS PARADE FOR ADA.

IF WE COULD PLAN FOR THE FUTURE, HOW THAT WOULD LOOK MARKETING WISE.

[00:45:04]

JUST TO PUT IN THE HEADS FOR THE FUTURE.

ARE WE LOOKING AT THAT BECOMING AN ANNUAL THING? THE CITY HOSTING IT. DO YOU KNOW YET? I DO NOT KNOW YET. OKAY.

I'M THINKING ABOUT THE THINGS THAT ARE CHANGING.

LIKE WHAT'S AHEAD FOR ABILENE? I KNOW THAT WE HAVE LOOKED AT THE NEW AND UPCOMING AIRPORT, SO I DON'T THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT AGAIN UNLESS THERE'S NEW CHANGES.

AND THEN AGAIN WITH MAYBE THE RECOMMENDATION. WE. I'M ALWAYS CONFUSED WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER.

THAT IS NOT OUR PROPERTY.

THE CONVENTION CENTER IS THE CITY OF ABILENE PROPERTY.

IT IS NOT MANAGED BY THE CITY OF ABILENE.

OKAY. IF YOU'RE LOOKING, IF YOU'RE IF WHERE YOU'RE GOING IS, IS MAJOR CONSTRUCTION.

EVERYTHING THAT IS FAR ENOUGH ALONG TO PRESENT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO THE BOARD.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OTHER THINGS THAT MAY BE COMING ONLINE IN 6 TO 9 MONTHS.

AND WHEN, WHEN THEY ARE READY TO PRESENT THOSE, I WILL MAKE SURE TO GET THEM BEFORE THE BOARD.

BUT THEY'RE SO FAR IN THE EARLY STAGES, THERE'S NOTHING TO, TO PRESENT. YET AT THIS POINT.

WE'RE IN THAT LULL RIGHT NOW WHERE WE'VE APPROVED EVERYTHING THAT IS ON THE HORIZON, WHICH MAKES SENSE BECAUSE WE'RE WORKING ON A BUDGET FOR OCTOBER AND WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT.

WELL. YES. NIKKI, I HAVE SOME SUGGESTIONS FROM A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY THAT IT'S NOT REALLY AN UPCOMING BOARD TOPIC, BUT JUST SOME SUGGESTIONS ABOUT HOW WE DO OUR MEETINGS. AND HE SUGGESTED THAT WE SHARE OUR MISSION STATEMENT AT OUR MEETINGS SO THE PUBLIC KNOWS WHAT OUR MISSION IS AND HOW TO ACCESS MEETINGS BESIDES THE INTERNET, BECAUSE HE SAYS MANY PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE INTERNET ACCESS.

SO SOME WAY TO COMMUNICATE WHEN OUR MEETINGS ARE HELD AND INVITE THE PUBLIC TO COME BECAUSE WE NEED THE PUBLIC'S INPUT.

ACCORDING TO HIS STATEMENT AND WHO TO CONTACT FOR INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT'S WHAT WE DO, OR TO PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT THEY WANT US TO CONSIDER.

AND THEN I THINK THAT'S IT.

I, I WOULD SAY SOMETHING LIKE THE CONTACT PERSON IS ON THE WEBSITE PAGE, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE WEBSITE.

HE'S TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO INTERNET.

IS THERE SOME OTHER WAY TO FIND THAT INFORMATION? THE ONLY OTHER. IF THEY DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO INTERNET, THE ONLY OTHER WAY IS IT'S POSTED HERE AT THE CITY.

OR THEY WOULD HAVE TO CALL THE CITY AND ASK QUESTIONS.

CALL CITY. AND I DON'T KNOW THAT NUMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT I CAN GET IT TO YOU.

AND THEN THE MISSION STATEMENT.

YOU NEVER PUT TOGETHER A MISSION STATEMENT.

THE CITY HAS A MISSION STATEMENT.

OUR BOARDS DO NOT HAVE.

OUR BOARDS DON'T HAVE MISSION STATEMENTS.

WE THE CITY HAS ITS MISSION STATEMENT.

BUT THE NONE OF THE INDIVIDUAL BOARDS HAVE MISSION STATEMENTS.

BECAUSE WE'RE ADVISORY BOARDS TO THE, TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

SO OUR MISSION IS THEIR MISSION.

SO WOULD YOU SUGGEST STUDYING THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETINGS, OR JUST SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT WE DO AS AN ADVISORY BOARD OR NOT TAKE THAT ON.

THAT'S WHAT OUR LETTER WAS SUPPOSED TO.

LAST TWO, A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, TWO YEARS WAS SUPPOSED TO DEVELOP WAS LIKE,

[00:50:07]

Y'ALL DEVELOPED THAT LETTER? YEAH.

PRESENTED IT TO COUNCIL.

THAT WASN'T I DON'T KNOW THAT I WAS ON THE BOARD YET.

I DON'T REMEMBER THAT.

SO MAYBE. I KNOW THAT.

THE INFORMATION FROM THAT LETTER WAS.

THE ONLY CLEAR PART WAS THE FUNDING AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ADVOCATING AND EDUCATING. THOSE WERE THE TWO BIG THINGS THAT CAME FROM.

THAT IS THE LETTER WAS WINNING.

WE WERE ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL WHAT OUR RESPONSIBILITY WAS LIKE, WHAT WAS OUR ROLE, AND I THINK WE SHOULD COMMUNICATE THAT IT'S IN SOME WAY, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO COME THINKING WE CAN FIX THEIR PROBLEMS WHEN THAT'S NOT OUR ROLE. AND I BELIEVE THAT, AGAIN, THAT'S ON THE WEBSITE.

IF THEY DON'T, IF THEY CAN'T ACCESS THE WEBSITE, IT COULD BE PRINTED OUT AND HANDED TO THEM.

BUT THAT'S, THAT IS WHERE WE HOUSE EVERYTHING PUBLICLY.

I REALIZE THAT, BUT I'M JUST RELAYING.

I'M THE MESSENGER HERE.

I THINK A LOT OF THAT IS IF PEOPLE SHOW UP AND THINK WE CAN FIX THEIR PROBLEM, WE EDUCATE THEM THAT WE CAN'T.

BUT WE SURE CAN HELP YOU FIND THE PERSON WHO MAYBE CAN.

SO AND THAT'S THAT'S WHY THERE WERE SOME.

THAT'S PART OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY.

I THINK GETTING TO KNOW LIKE THE CITY COUNCIL AND OUR, OUR LEADERSHIP OF ABILENE AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW WHAT WE DO.

WE ARE GETTING PRETTY FAR OFF TOPIC.

I'M SORRY. I'M TRYING TO SEE IF THIS IS A POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEM HERE OR NOT.

SO I KNOW I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN.

KNOW IF IT'S JUST A QUESTION FOR LESLIE, YOU MIGHT THINK ON IT AND BRING IT BACK TO HER AT A LATER DATE, YOU KNOW.

BUT IF IT'S IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM.

I MEAN, WE CAN TALK, WE CAN CREATE, CREATE THAT IN THIS SENSE, BUT WE CAN'T JUST CONTINUE, YOU KNOW, CHATTING ABOUT SOMETHING IF IT'S NOT TO BE AN AGENDA ITEM.

AND MOVING RIGHT ALONG.

I WOULD JUST SAY IF WE CAN BRING IN.

EDUCATE THE BOARD ON WHAT THE MISSION STATEMENT IS.

OF THE CITY.

ANYTHING ELSE? NO. OH, OKAY.

WELL IT IS. THAT CLOCK'S WRONG.

355. YEAH, THIS IS 253.

SO 355. AND OUR NEXT MEETING FOR THE MAYOR'S ADVISORY BOARD FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WILL BE MAY THE 2ND TUESDAY.

AND IF EVERYONE'S GOOD.

MAY I HAVE A FIRST AND SECOND TO ADJOURN? I MOVE THAT WE ADJOURN.

I'LL SECOND THAT. FIRST AND SECOND, WE ARE ADJOURNED.

GOOD JOB.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.