GOOD MORNING. IT IS NOW 8:30 A.M. AND I CALL THIS MEETING OF THE ABILENE CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER.
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I'M GOING TO ASK COUNCILMAN MIGUEL ESPINOSA TO LEAD OUR INVOCATION AND OUR PLEDGES THIS MORNING.PLEASE BEAR WITH ME. LORD, THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE BLESSED US WITH. LORD, THANK YOU FOR THIS RAIN THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US.
LORD, I ASK THAT THOSE MORE HEAVILY, HEAVILY AFFECTED BY THOSE STORMS, LORD, THAT YOU JUST BE WITH THEM, LORD, AND HELP THEM AND GUIDE THEM THROUGH JUST SORTING OUT WHATEVER DAMAGE MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED.
LORD, I THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY WORKING FOR THE CITY.
LORD, I ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO GUIDE THEM. GIVE THEM STRENGTH. LORD PLEASE GIVE US ALL DISCERNMENT TODAY, LORD, TO MAKE WISE AND GOOD DECISIONS FOR THE CITY.
LORD, WE LOVE YOU AND IT'S YOUR SON, JESUS NAME THAT WE PRAY.
AMEN. AMEN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE.
TEXAS. ONE STATE, UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.
OH. HERE'S WHERE I MESSED UP ON.
[ PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PROCLAMATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS]
THE BACK OF THE REAR LOADERS. THE ONES THAT GO THROUGH THE ALLEYS AND MANUALLY DO THE BULK PICKUP.FURNITURE AND TREE LIMBS. I GOT MY CDL SLOWLY KIND OF MOVED UP FROM THERE.
BECAME A DRIVER FROM A DRIVER, BECAME A CREW CHIEF, AND THEN NOW A SUPERVISOR.
FRONT LOADER IS FUN. IT'S KIND OF LIKE A BIG OLD VIDEO GAME.
YOU GOT YOUR JOYSTICK AND YOUR STEERING WHEEL. ONCE YOU GET IN THERE, YOU'RE LIKE IN A CAGE, YOU'RE ALMOST IN LIKE A COCKPIT. AND YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT YOUR JOYSTICK THAT OPERATES THE FORKS AND THE FINGERS TO PICK UP THE DUMPSTERS, AND YOU GOT ALL KINDS OF BELLS AND WHISTLES.
YOU'VE GOT A CAMERA AND A MONITOR. YEAH. ONCE YOU GET IN THERE, IT'S IT'S GAME TIME.
A LOT OF THE GUYS GET HERE AROUND 430. YOU KNOW, THEY'LL PRE-TRIP THEIR TRUCKS.
THEY'LL DO VISUALS ON THAT CHECK TIRES AND EVERYTHING.
IT'S STILL DARK OBVIOUSLY, BUT WE LIKE TO TO HIT THE ROAD.
LIKE I SAID EARLIER, WHEN THERE'S NO TRAFFIC AND YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT, THAT GET SICK AND PEOPLE THAT TAKE VACATION AND TRYING TO MANAGE THOSE ROUTES WITH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE STAFF THAT I HAVE IT, IT'S A JUGGLING ACT, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO GET ALL THOSE ROUTES ACCOMPLISHED.
YOU KNOW, WE DO THE BEHIND THE SCENES, TRY TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY CLEAN.
ALL RIGHT. ZEKE, ARE YOU HERE? OR IS IT ZEKE? THEY TELL ME IF IT WAS ZEKE OR ZEKE. COME RIGHT HERE.
ZEKE. 20 YEARS IS A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT. AND WE KNOW WE'LL GET YOU ABOUT 25 MORE.
AND ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SAY? CITY MANAGER? NO, JUST. THANK YOU. ARE YOU SURE THAT'S IT? WELL, WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO.
YOUR CREW. Y'ALL ARE WONDERFUL. Y'ALL ARE GOOD, GOOD SERVANTS FOR THE CITY OF ABILENE.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANKS.
CAN I ASK A ROSS EVANS TO COME UP? AND ANYONE ELSE WITH YOU? FOR SOCIAL WORK. HELLO. HELLO. GOOD TO SEE YOU.
GREETINGS. NO. THIS PROCLAMATION IS PRESENTED TO HONOR SOCIAL WORK MONTH.
WHEREAS, SOCIAL WORKERS ARE DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS WHO SERVE INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES WITH COMPASSION, INTEGRITY AND COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL JUSTICE. AND WHEREAS PEOPLE HAVE ENTERED THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION FOR GENERATIONS BECAUSE THEY GENUINELY CARE ABOUT HELPING TO IMPROVE THE WELFARE OF OTHERS BY EMPOWERING THEM TO OVERCOME LIFE'S CHALLENGES.
AND WHEREAS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING PROFESSIONS IN THE UNITED STATES, SOCIAL WORKERS PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES, ADVOCATING FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, AND PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.
AND WHEREAS, THROUGH ADVOCACY, COUNSELING, CRISIS INTERVENTION, CASE MANAGEMENT AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL WORKERS HELP EMPOWER PEOPLE TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES AND ACHIEVE STABILITY AND INDEPENDENCE.
AND THIS YEAR'S THEME OF UPLIFT, DEFEND, TRANSFORM.
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REALLY SPOTLIGHTS THE POWERFUL IMPACT THESE PROFESSIONALS MAKE ON THE INDIVIDUALS THEY SERVE IN OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.NOW, THEREFORE, AS MAYOR, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL, I AM PLEASED TO PROCLAIM IN THE CITY OF ABILENE THE MONTH OF MARCH 2026 AS SOCIAL WORK MONTH. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. WE APPRECIATE IT.
SOCIAL WORKERS WORK VERY HARD IN THE COMMUNITY.
THEY WORK IN MANY AGENCIES AND DO ALL THEY CAN TO HELP THE COMMUNITY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR WORK IS SO IMPORTANT AND SO INCREDIBLE TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH. THANKS. THANK YOU.
AND NOW I'M GOING TO ASK KINSEY TO COME UP. KINSEY HERE.
OH, THERE SHE IS. THIS A LITTLE SPECIAL TODAY? KINSEY. NICE TO MEET YOU. THIS PROCLAMATION IS PRESENTED TO HONOR KINSEY.
IS IT COLMERY? I GOT IT RIGHT. WHEREAS THE CITY OF ABILENE PROUDLY RECOGNIZES AND CELEBRATES THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF ITS CITIZENS TALENTS, DEDICATION, AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS. WHEREAS KINSEY COLMERY, A SEVENTH GRADE STUDENT AT WILEY WEST JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, NOT ONLY EXCELS IN HER SCHOOLWORK, BUT IS ALSO A TALENTED AND RISING YOUNG ACTORS.
AND WHEREAS KINSEY IS A MEMBER OF THE SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AND HAS APPEARED IN HBOS THE STAIRCASE, NETFLIX, THE WATERFRONT, AND MANY OTHER FILMS AND COMMERCIALS.
AND WHEREAS ONE OF HER FILMS EVEN PREMIERED AT THE TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL IN 2025, WHERE SHE REPRESENTED THIS COMMUNITY WITH PROFESSIONALISM AND POISE.
AND WHEREAS KINZIE'S INFLUENCE HAS EVEN EXTENDED BEYOND THE SCREEN AS SHE WAS FEATURED ON THE BACK OF OUR GENERAL OUR GENERATION GIRL DOLL BOXES LAST YEAR, SERVING AS AN INSPIRATION TO YOUNG GIRLS EVERYWHERE.
AND WHEREAS WE'RE THRILLED THAT SHE WILL CONTINUE TO REPRESENT ABILENE WELL IN THE UPCOMING HORROR COMEDY FILM SCARED TO DEATH, THAT HIT THEATERS ON MARCH 13TH. AND NOW, THEREFORE, AS MAYOR, IN BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL, I AM PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE KENZIE'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND PROCLAIM MARCH 13TH, 2026 IN THE CITY OF ABILENE AS KENZIE COLMERY DAY.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH. WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU.
AND NOW, MARI, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING YOU AND YOUR TEAM UP.
LAST TUESDAY, WE HAD A STATE OF THE CITY, WHICH WAS A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT FOR ABILENE.
AND THIS CREW HERE PUT TOGETHER AN OUTSTANDING PROGRAM.
AND WHAT A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL PROGRAM THAT WAS.
AND WE JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND LET YOU RESPOND.
ABSOLUTELY. WELL, LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE TEAM. AND I THINK FOLKS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE AS THE YEARS PROGRESSED AND OUR TEAM HAS GROWN, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO MORE WITH STATE OF THE CITY.
AND WE ALL JUST BELIEVE VERY PASSIONATELY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND THE POTENTIAL WE HAVE, WE HAVE AS A COMMUNITY AS WE GROW THAT. SO EVERYONE ON THE TEAM HAS A DIFFERENT SKILL SET THAT COMPLEMENTS EACH OTHER SO WELL AND SO, AND THEY READ MY MIND, WHICH IS REALLY GREAT BECAUSE GETTING WHAT'S IN THE BRAIN OUT SOMETIMES IS VERY HARD.
BIG SHOUT OUT THOUGH, BECAUSE WE HAD A LOT OF FOLKS ACROSS OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT HELPED US OUT, WHETHER IT BE PUBLIC WORKS AND HR, ANSWERING OUR CALL TO HELP US MAKE THE BALLOON DROP HAPPEN.
WE HAVE NOTES ON HOW TO MAKE BALLOON DROPS HAPPEN FOR THE FUTURE.
ALSO IN PARTICULAR, ALEX WINTERS, HE'S A MULTIMEDIA SPECIALIST IN HEALTH AND MICHAEL WHITE ALSO, HE'S A PUBLIC INFORMATION COORDINATOR AND COORDINATOR IN WATER.
THEY REALLY HELPED US A LOT WITH OUR VIDEO ASPECTS.
AND SO A LOT OF THAT REALLY FUN AI STUFF HAPPENED TOO, BECAUSE OF ALEX'S WORK AND THE DRONE WORK FROM, FROM MICHAEL AS WELL. SO, SO BIG HELP THERE. CONVENTION CENTER STAFF, THEY'VE GOT SOME BALLOON DROP EXPERTISE THERE TOO.
THERE'S JUST SO MANY PEOPLE THAT WERE PART OF THAT AND ANSWERED OUR CALL. EVEN SEAN AND CAITLIN.
SO BIG THANKS TO EVERYONE AS A GROUP EFFORT. YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT WAS A GREAT EFFORT AND A GREAT PROGRAM. MARI, CAN WE GET A PICTURE? FOR LIKE. TWO. THREE. FOUR. FIVE. SIX.
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THANK YOU.[ CONSENT AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS]
I'LL MOVE THE CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTING OF ITEMS FIVE THROUGH 14.ITEM EIGHT IS BEING PULLED FROM CONSIDERATION TODAY.
[8. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion, and Take Action to Approve a Lease with the U.S. General Services Administration for Office, Breakroom and Storage Space Utilized by the Transportation Security Administration. (Don Green)]
THESE ITEMS WILL BE CONSIDERED WITH ONE MOTION AND THERE WILL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION UNLESS A COUNCIL MEMBER REQUESTS SEPARATE DISCUSSION.DOES ANYONE ON COUNCIL WISH TO CONSIDER ANY ITEM INDIVIDUALLY? WE NOW MOVE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. THERE WILL BE NO VOTES OR ANY FORMAL ACTIONS TAKEN ON SUBJECTS PRESENTED DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.
PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND CITY YOU RESIDE IN. FOR THE RECORD.
WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THREE FIRST CARD IS MR. JACK HADLOCK. MY NAME IS JACK HADLOCK. I LIVE AT 1209 LITTLE ACRES DRIVE.
MY NEIGHBOR TO THE NORTH HAS PUT UP A FENCE AND THAT'S FINE.
YOU CAN SEE DOWN THE STREET COMING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY EITHER DRIVING OR BACKING.
AND THE NEIGHBOR. AND THEN WHEN THE LEAVES COME OUT, YOU CANNOT SEE DOWN THE STREET.
AND MY NEIGHBOR WILL NOT CUT AND WON'T LET ME CUT.
AND HE'S EVEN PUT CAMERAS OUT THERE IN CASE I GET OUT THERE TO CUT THEM.
SO I NEED SOME HELP. THANK YOU. OKAY. AND MY OTHER NEIGHBOR DOWN THE STREET, SHE HAS.
SHE LIVES AT 15. 59 LAKERS DRIVE AND HER WATER METER IS STICKING OUT OF THE GROUND ABOUT THIS FAR. AND IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO HER DRIVEWAY, WHICH IS DIRT.
AND HER FRIENDS ARE RUNNING OVER IT AND RUINING TIRES AND WHEELS.
AND I'VE ASKED THE WATER DEPARTMENT TO GO LOWER IT, AND I CAN'T GET ANYBODY TO DO ANYTHING.
SO I'M ASKING FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT OF HELP.
THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT CARD. NEXT CARD IS COLTON BLACK.
GOOD MORNING. COUNCIL. MY NAME IS COLTON BLACK AND I SERVE AS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE ABILENE PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION. I REPRESENT THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO RUN INTO BURNING BUILDINGS, RESPOND TO MEDICAL EMERGENCIES, AND IN GENERAL SHOW UP ON YOUR WORST DAY.
WE LOVE ABILENE, AND WHAT HAPPENS HERE MATTERS TO US.
I WANT TO SPEAK HONESTLY ABOUT OUR MOST RECENT NEGOTIATION PROCESS.
NOT TO ASSIGN BLAME, BUT BECAUSE TRANSPARENCY WITH THIS BODY IS IMPORTANT TO US.
TO CREATE A TIMELINE, WE FIRST APPROACHED THE CITY TO NEGOTIATE OUR CONTRACT IN THE SPRING OF 25.
WE UNDERSTOOD AND WE WERE PATIENT WHEN THINGS WERE SOMEWHAT OPERABLE AGAIN.
WE REACHED OUT TO TRY AND RENEW A CONTRACT. MR. HANNA RETIRED. THE SEARCH WAS PUT OUT TO FIND HIS REPLACEMENT.
WE WERE PUT ON HOLD, BUT WE UNDERSTOOD WE WERE PATIENT.
WE UNDERSTOOD AND WE WERE PATIENT. WE UNDERSTOOD AND WE WERE PATIENT.
JUST LIKE IN 2020, WHEN WE WERE APPROACHED BY THE CITY TO POSTPONE THESE AGREED UPON SALARIES.
IT WAS COVID. THERE WERE A LOT OF UNKNOWNS. WE WERE TOLD IF WE HAVE THE MONEY, WE WON'T DELAY.
RAISES STILL POSTPONED. WE UNDERSTOOD WE WERE PATIENT.
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WE WERE ASKED TO COME TO THE TABLE FOR OUR FIRST MEET AND CONFER AT THE END OF FEBRUARY 26TH, WITH A HARD DEADLINE OF APRIL 1ST, RESULTING IN REVERTING BACK TO 143.IF AN AGREEMENT IS NOT MADE, I WANT TO BE CLEAR WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING EXTRA.
THE AVERAGE PLUS 4% FRAMEWORK HASN'T MADE US WEALTHY, BUT IT HAS ALLOWED US TO HIRE AND RETAIN QUALITY FIREFIGHTERS AND KEEP US COMPETITIVE IN THE MARKETPLACE. THIS FRAMEWORK HAS SERVED THE CITY OF ABILENE WELL.
THE FIREFIGHTERS OF ABILENE SHOW UP EVERY DAY WITHOUT HESITATION.
THEY DON'T NEGOTIATE ON THE FIREGROUND. THEY JUST SERVE.
ALL WE ASK IS THAT WHEN WE DO COME TO THE TABLE, IT FEELS LIKE A TABLE WE'RE BOTH SITTING AT. WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO THIS CITY, TO THIS PROCESS, AND TO FINDING SOLUTIONS THAT WORK FOR EVERYBODY.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO A STRONGER, MORE COLLABORATIVE PROCESS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JARED CROCKETT.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JARED CROCKETT.
I REPRESENT THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT WORK AT THE ABILENE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
FOR THE PAST DECADE, OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY HAS BEEN SOMETHING BOTH SIDES COULD BE PROUD OF.
THAT PARTNERSHIP HAS CREATED A DEPARTMENT. OUR COMMUNITY CAN RELY ON.
AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE PROUD TO SERVE. IN FACT, WE HAVE HAD FIREFIGHTERS LEAVE ABILENE FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND THEY LATER CHOOSE TO COME BACK. THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERYWHERE. THEY COME BACK BECAUSE THE CULTURE HERE IS STRONG.
BUT PRIDE IN THE DEPARTMENT ALONE CANNOT SUSTAIN A WORKFORCE LONG TERM.
FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS, OUR CONTRACT HAS USED A TEN CITY AVERAGE AS A BENCHMARK TO KEEP FIREFIGHTER WAGES COMPETITIVE WITH COMPARABLE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS TEXAS. THE APPROACH HAS PROVIDED STABILITY, TRANSPARENCY AND FAIRNESS FOR BOTH THE CITY AND FOR FIREFIGHTERS.
OUR GOAL HAS NEVER BEEN TO BE THE HIGHEST PAID DEPARTMENT.
OUR GOAL HAS SIMPLY BEEN TO RETAIN OR REMAIN COMPETITIVE SO THAT WE CAN RECRUIT RETAIN HIGH QUALITY FIREFIGHTERS THAT THE CITIZENS OF ABILENE DESERVE. RIGHT NOW, WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE PROGRESS THAT WE HAVE MADE OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES IS AT RISK.
COMPETITIVE PAY IS NOT JUST ABOUT COMPENSATION.
IT'S ABOUT RETENTION. IT'S ABOUT RECRUITMENT.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU ARE THE VISIONARIES OF THIS CITY.
AS YOU CONSIDER THAT VISION IN THIS NEXT FRONTIER, WILL YOU WE SIMPLY ASK THAT YOU WILL HELP TO MAINTAIN THE DEPARTMENT THAT WE HAD THAT REMAINS COMPETITIVE, RESPECTED, CAPABLE OF ATTRACTING THE BEST FIREFIGHTERS POSSIBLE.
THE FIREFIGHTERS I REPRESENT ARE PROUD TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY.
THEY RAISE THEIR FAMILIES HERE. THEY DEDICATE THEIR CAREERS TO PROTECTING THIS CITY.
ALL WE ASK IS THAT THE CITY CONTINUE THE PARTNERSHIP THAT HAS SERVED ABILENE SO WELL OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS TO ENSURE THAT FIREFIGHTER PAY REMAINS COMPETITIVE WITH THE DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE LONG COMPARED OURSELVES TO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE ABILENE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
MICHAEL. GLENN. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, COUNCIL CITY MANAGER. MY NAME IS MICHAEL GLENN. I TOO AM A FIREFIGHTER.
AND YES, I SAID INTERNATIONAL. I'M THE 11TH DISTRICT VICE PRESIDENT.
I COVER ALL THE PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS OF OKLAHOMA, TEXAS AND THE PANAMA CANAL ZONE.
I'M ONE OF 16 DISTRICT VICE PRESIDENTS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.
BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN ABILENE. BEEN SPEAKING TO MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS HERE IN THIS GREAT CITY WHO ARE DOING A TREMENDOUS JOB FOR YOUR CITY AND WHO WANT TO CONTINUE WORKING FOR ABILENE AND HAVE ENJOYED THEIR EMPLOYMENT.
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WHAT I SEE, AND AS I WAS PREPARED TO COME UP HERE AND SPEAK IN ABILENE, I SAW A NEWS ARTICLE HIT MY HIT MY FEED YESTERDAY ABOUT SOME NEW GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN ABILENE, WHICH I THOUGHT INTERESTING.WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN ABILENE AND MORE DOLLARS COMING INTO ABILENE.
BUT WHAT MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS ARE HEARING IS THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO GO AROUND.
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR THEIR THEIR WAGES TO FOR THEIR PAY RAISES.
EACH OF YOU ARE PROFESSIONALS AND EACH OF YOU HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN YOUR OWN RIGHT, WHETHER IT BE AS A CITY MANAGER OR IN YOUR OWN INTERESTS, BECOMING IN YOUR, IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. BEFORE YOU BECAME CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE MAYOR, YOU WANTED A FAIR WAGE, YOU EARNED A FAIR WAGE, YOU NEGOTIATED A FAIR WAGE, WHETHER IT BE WITH THE DEVELOPERS IN YOUR CITY, WHETHER IT BE WITH THE CONTRACTORS YOU WORK WITH, WHETHER IT BE THROUGH MEET AND CONFER OR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.
A CONTRACT IS ABOUT NEGOTIATING BACK AND FORTH FAIRLY WITH GOOD INFORMATION, TRANSPARENT.
WHAT WE ARE SEEING AND WHAT I'VE TAKEN NOTE OF IS THE FACT THAT AS YOU TALK ABOUT THESE TEN CITY SURVEYS, YOU'RE MAKING DATA. AND IT'S INTERESTING THAT I WOULD MENTION DATA AS WE TALK ABOUT DATA CENTERS HERE IN ABILENE.
BUT AS YOU LOOK AT DATA, YOU CAN MAKE DATA, SAY PRETTY MUCH WHATEVER YOU WANT IT TO SAY.
YOU CAN GRAB AND PULL FROM DIFFERENT PIECES OF KAFFIRS, OR FROM DIFFERENT ROPES OR FROM DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS. YOU CAN GRAB WHAT YOU WANT AND THEN AS YOU GRAB WHAT YOU WANT, YOU CREATE YOUR OWN NARRATIVE AND YOU MAKE IT SAY WHAT YOU WANT IT TO SAY AND MAKE YOU SAY WHERE YOU MIGHT WANT TO START COMPARING TO A CITY DOWN IN THE VALLEY OF TEXAS OR ACROSS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE METROPLEX, WHERE YOU BYPASSED CITY AFTER CITY AFTER CITY AFTER CITY AFTER CITY, BECAUSE THERE'S A BUNCH OF THEM IN THE METROPLEX. BUT TO GO TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE METROPLEX, BECAUSE NOW YOU FOUND SOME DATA THAT MAKES THAT CITY FIT YOUR YOUR NARRATIVE FOR, FOR COMPENSATION.
IT'S JUST DISINGENUOUS. THESE BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THESE FIREFIGHTERS, YOUR PUBLIC SERVANTS, YOUR EMPLOYEES ARE LOOKING JUST FOR FAIRNESS.
THEY'RE JUST LOOKING TO BE TREATED FAIRLY, TO BE COMPENSATED FAIRLY SO THAT THEY DON'T FEEL OBLIGATED TO TRY TO LOOK OUT, TO LOOK TO OTHER CITIES TO GO TO SO THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES.
JUST BE FAIR TO YOUR FIREFIGHTERS. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE IT. I'LL APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE IF I SAY THIS WRONG.
HE DID A GOOD JOB. I'M BRANDON GURGANUS. I LIVE HERE IN ABILENE, AND I WANT TO TALK TO YOU THIS MORNING ABOUT THE STRONG NEED FOR OUR CITY'S CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER TO COME OUT FROM THE CITY AND BE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.
THE CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER MODEL IS CONSIDERED THE GOLD STANDARD IN RESPONDING TO CHILD ABUSE.
IT BRINGS LAW ENFORCEMENT, CPS PROSECUTORS, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND ADVOCATES TOGETHER INTO ONE COORDINATED, CHILD FOCUSED SYSTEM. BUT JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE MODEL ITSELF IS THE STRUCTURE THAT IT STANDS ON ACROSS TEXAS AND THE NATION.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF CACS OPERATE AS INDEPENDENT, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
THAT'S NOT BY ACCIDENT. OVER DECADES, COMMUNITIES HAVE LEARNED THAT CACS BEST FUNCTION WHEN THEY ARE MISSION DRIVEN, COMMUNITY OWNED, AND OPERATIONALLY INDEPENDENT.
IN TEXAS, YOU CANNOT EVEN ESTABLISH A NEW CAC WITHOUT IT BEING A NONPROFIT.
MEANWHILE, OUR CAC HAS BEEN A PART OF THE CITY SINCE IT WAS FOUNDED IN 1995.
FOR MANY YEARS IT WAS HOUSED UNDER THE POLICE DEPARTMENT UNTIL ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, WHEN IT WAS MOVED UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WHOSE WORK I RESPECT BUT IS FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT THAN THAT OF A CACS WHO FOCUS ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESSES AND CHILD PROTECTION.
THE NONPROFIT MODEL ALSO OPENS THE DOOR TO ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCES.
INSTEAD OF RELYING PRIMARILY ON TAXPAYER DOLLARS LIKE OURS DOES.
THEY DON'T WAIT FOR BUDGET CYCLES OR ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSES.
CITIES PLAY AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING CASES, BUT SUPPORT AND STRUCTURE ARE NOT THE SAME THING.
A CITY CAN BE A STRONG PARTNER WITHOUT BEING THE OPERATOR.
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THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE PAST. THIS IS ABOUT THE FUTURE.AND THIS IS ABOUT OUR CHILDREN AND THOSE CHILDREN WHO WILL WALK THROUGH THOSE DOORS TOMORROW.
HELLO, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS GARY CHEEK. I LIVE HERE IN ABILENE, TEXAS.
I'M A RETIRED ABILENE FIREFIGHTER. I WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION WHEN WE HAD THE FIRST MEETING CONFER IN THE STATE OF TEXAS IN ABILENE. WHEN WE FIRST STARTED MEET AND CONFER, WE.
WERE LEARNING AS WE STARTED THE WHOLE PROCESS.
WE NEVER ENVISIONED IT ENDING THIS CLOSE TO A TIME DEADLINE THAT BASICALLY WOULD SET US BACK 20 YEARS TO GO BACK TO THE 143 MODEL.
THERE'S, THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS TO PURSUE, BUT FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD AND THAT HAS TO BE FILTERED AS WELL BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION OUT THERE ABOUT THE PROCESS.
SOUNDS LIKE THERE WAS A TIMELINE ISSUE OF STARTING IN FEBRUARY AND HAVING APRIL DROP DEAD DEADLINE THAT I DON'T KNOW HOW REALISTIC THAT IS, ESPECIALLY IF THERE'S POINTS THAT NEED TO BE WORKED OUT.
CITY ADMINISTRATORS AND PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS TAKE CLASSES JUST AS WE DO ON HOW TO DEAL WITH EACH OTHER AND NOT BE A CONTENTIOUS SITUATION TO BE ONE THAT IS BENEFICIAL FOR BOTH CITY AND AND FIREFIGHTERS. THERE'S PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM THAT WORKED ON THE DEPARTMENT BEFORE I DID.
AND THE EQUIPMENT WE HAD BACK THEN WAS WE WERE GLAD TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT ROLLED BASICALLY.
FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST ON DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS.
WE ALL WORK TOGETHER TO SEE EACH OTHER'S SIDE.
I WOULD PROPOSE TO THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER. I KNOW YOU CAN'T RESPOND TO ANYTHING.
WE'RE SAYING THAT WE. BRING SOMEBODY IN TO MEDIATE OR MEDIATE, MAYBE A SCARY WORD TO PEOPLE, BUT IT'S WORKED IN THE PAST IN THE CITY WHEN WE HAD ISSUES WITH ONE OF OUR FIRE CHIEFS AT ONE POINT, AND WE HAD A GOOD OUTCOME FOR FIREFIGHTERS AND THE CITY.
I THINK THIS DEPARTMENT IS THE GREATEST IT'S EVER BEEN.
THAT'S WHY I WORE THIS SHIRT. NOT NOT BECAUSE OF THE BOXING FIGHTING THING.
IT'S BECAUSE THE GREATEST AND AND OUR DEPARTMENT IS, IS THE GREATEST IT'S EVER BEEN.
IN A FEW DAYS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CELEBRATE THE 140TH YEAR OF THE DEPARTMENT.
AND I, I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD NOT RUSH TO PUSH THIS BACK TO THE 143 THAT WE WE GOT AWAY FROM. LET'S BRING SOMEBODY IN THAT THAT CAN BRING THIS THING TOGETHER.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL THE CARDS. ALL THE CARDS.
WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL AND MAYOR. I'M TAMMY FOGEL, RESIDENT OF ABILENE.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN A CATCH 22 HERE AS THE PUBLIC, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS FOUGHT AND ASKED FOR TRANSPARENCY AND OPEN COMMUNICATION AND MORE COMMUNICATION SINCE I'VE BEEN COMING TO COUNCIL MEETINGS IT'S FRUSTRATING BECAUSE WE CAN GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND RESOLVE THESE ISSUES. AND THEN SOMETIMES WE REACH OUT TO YOU AND SAY, HEY, CAN YOU FIX THIS? AND YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T REALLY THE ISSUES DON'T GET TAKEN CARE OF. SO THEN WE'RE, WE'VE SCREWED UP BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T MADE IT PUBLIC. AND SO I THINK THESE FIREMEN HAVE BEEN OPERATING IN GOOD FAITH. THEY'VE EXTENDED THE DEADLINE MULTIPLE TIMES TO RESOLVE THIS CONTRACT.
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THEY OPERATED IN GOOD FAITH IN THAT. THEY OPERATED IN GOOD FAITH THAT YOU WOULD KEEP THEIR CONTRACT AND KEEP THEIR COMPETITIVE PAY.AND THE THE SITUATION THAT THEY HAD, BECAUSE THEY WERE WILLING TO EXTEND IT.
AND THEY HAD GOOD FAITH TO NOT INVOLVE THE PUBLIC UNTIL IT WAS ULTIMATELY NECESSARY.
AND I THINK THAT THEY HAVE SHOWN THEIR WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH YOU.
AND WHAT I HAVE SEEN AS A CITIZEN, ONE OF THE ONLY CITIZENS TO ATTEND THESE PUBLIC MEETINGS.
IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING TO HEAR ABOUT THE THE PEER CITY REVIEWS BEING MENTIONED IN DECEMBER.
AND THEN YOU HAD A STRATEGIC PLANNING RETREAT WHERE YOU DIDN'T MENTION THE PEER CITIES.
SO IF THE PEER CITIES ARE NOT ABOUT THE COMPETITIVE PAY AND THEY'RE ABOUT THE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT I WOULD THINK THEY ARE, THEN WHY WOULDN'T YOU DISCUSS THAT DURING YOUR PRIORITY, YOUR TIME TO TALK ABOUT IT WITH EACH OTHER? IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE IT'S MORE ABOUT THE COMPETITIVE PAY THAN WE'VE BEEN LED TO BELIEVE.
NOW THAT THE PUBLIC IS INVOLVED, IT'S LIKE, WELL, NOW WE'RE HITTING THE CITY AGAINST THE CITIZENS. THE CITIZENS ARE MISINFORMED. THE CITY IS DOING THE RIGHT THING. THE FIREFIGHTERS. IT'S JUST, IT'S, IT'S SO MUCH DRAMA THAT'S NOT NECESSARY AND THAT THEN I WISH THAT WE COULD RESOLVE IN A IN A TIMELY MANNER. EVEN YOUR STRATEGIC PLANNER WHO FACILITATED YOUR STRATEGIC PRIORITY MEETING.
HE SAID THAT YOU HAVE TO BE COMPETITIVE IN YOUR PAY.
SO WHY WOULD YOU REDUCE THE TIMELINE TO TWO YEARS INSTEAD OF THE FOUR YEARS, WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIVE YEAR CONTRACT? YOU'VE REDUCED IT AND THEN PUT A CAP ON IT. THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE GIVING ANY WIGGLE ROOM TO THE FIREFIGHTERS TO SAY YES TO THAT, AND THAT THE LOOMING DEADLINE OF APRIL 1ST IS COMING UP AND IT WILL RESORT BACK TO 143 IS A LITTLE CONFUSING TO ME AS A CITIZEN, BUT THAT WE THAT THE WHOLE GOAL WAS TO EXTEND IT ANOTHER SIX MONTHS.
AND THIS HAS GONE ON FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW. WHY WOULD WE EXTEND IT? WHY WOULD WHY WOULD WE NEED TO EXTEND IT ANOTHER SIX MONTHS? I THINK THAT SO MANY TIMES I'VE SEEN BAD DECISIONS BEING MADE BY PEOPLE IN LEADERSHIP HERE IN THIS TOWN, AND INSTEAD OF PIVOTING AND GOING, YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT PROBABLY WASN'T THE SMARTEST THING. LET'S PIVOT AND DO THE RIGHT THING. IT'S LIKE YOU DOUBLE DOWN AND DO IT EVEN HARDER. AND I HAVE BEEN THE BRUNT OF A LOT OF THAT MISINFORMATION AND THE THINGS THAT I TRY AND POINT OUT IN THE CITY.
AND I, YOU KNOW, AM TO THE POINT OF JUST FRUSTRATION BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIGHT FOR THIS FOR THE LAST 3 OR 4 YEARS, AND I HAVEN'T SEEN MUCH, MUCH MOVEMENT ON THAT.
THANK YOU. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS ERIC BILLINGS.
I AM A RESIDENT AND CITIZEN OF ABILENE. I'M HERE THIS MORNING TO ASK YOU TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT EXTENSION FOR THE ABILENE FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION. THE CONTRACTORS SERVED OUR COMMUNITY WELL IN THE PAST AND HAS BEEN RE-APPROVED TWICE, DEMONSTRATING THAT ITS TERMS REMAIN FAIR AND WORKABLE FOR BOTH THE CITY AND THE FIREFIGHTERS.
OUR FIREFIGHTERS DESERVE STABILITY AND CERTAINTY.
THESE MEN AND WOMEN SHOW UP AT ANY TIME, DAY OR NIGHT, TO THE WORST POSSIBLE CAR WRECKS, HOUSE FIRES, MEDICAL EMERGENCIES. OUR WORST DAYS. ABILENE NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE THEIR SERVICE TO US, THE CITY AND THE. THE CITY OF ABILENE. THE CITIZENS OF ABILENE AND PAY THEM ACCORDINGLY.
I ASK THAT YOU VOTE YES ON THIS EXTENSION. THANK YOU.
MR. BANKS STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? GOOD MORNING. COUNCIL. MY NAME IS BAKER BRYANT. I'M ALSO A CITIZEN OF ABILENE.
I'VE BEEN A FIREFIGHTER FOR ALMOST 37 YEARS. I'VE BEEN A LIEUTENANT FOR 30 YEARS.
I WAS ALSO ON THE COMMITTEE THAT WAS IN THE FIRST MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENT.
I'VE BEEN THE A TRUSTEE ON THE FIREFIGHTER PENSION COMMITTEE FOR 20 YEARS AND, AND THE CHAIRMAN FOR ROUGHLY 8 TO 10. IN TRAVELING AROUND TO DIFFERENT CONVENTIONS AND TRAININGS I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO BOAST ABOUT THE, THE COMMITMENT AND THE, AND THE COOPERATION BETWEEN FIREFIGHTERS FROM THE PENSION LEVEL TO THE CITY ADMINISTRATION.
SO I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN THE FUTURE.
[00:35:02]
THE CITY OF ABILENE AND ITS TAXPAYERS. AND SO WE'RE NOT ASKING ANYTHING SPECIAL.THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BAKER STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT. I WILL NOW ASK FOR A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTING OF ITEMS FIVE THROUGH 14, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF EIGHT. SO MOVED. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN YATES, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN REAGAN.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? READY TO VOTE.
ALL YESES. MOTION CARRIES TWO CARRIES. OVER TO THE REGULAR AGENDA.
WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 15. I'LL ASK TIM LITTLEJOHN, DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICE,
[15. Ordinance (Final Reading) CUP-2026-02: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on a Request from the Owner to Apply a Conditional Use Permit to a Property to Allow a Recreation Vehicle Park in Agricultural Open (AO) and General Commercial (GC) Zoning. Located at 309 Arnold Boulevard. (Tim Littlejohn)]
TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. THANK YOU MAYOR. COUNCIL, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.IS A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 202602. THE OWNER IS TYLER WILSON.
HERE'S THE LOCATION MAP. HERE'S THE CURRENT ZONING MAP.
HERE ARE THE CURRENT ALLOWABLE USES WITHIN AGRICULTURAL OPEN SPACE AND GENERAL COMMERCIAL.
HERE'S SOME PROPERTY VIEWS. SURROUNDING AREAS.
HERE'S A CONCEPTUAL PLAN FOR THE RV PARK DEVELOPMENT.
IT DOES MEET ALL OF OUR NEW REQUIREMENTS AS ADOPTED RECENTLY.
THIS MEETS ALL THE CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL WITHIN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
PNC IS RECOMMENDING TO YOU APPROVAL SUBJECT TO THE CONCEPT PLAN AND PLAN OF OPERATION.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS, TIM.
THANK YOU. TIM. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 15? 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 PRICE.
SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN ESPINOSA. DISCUSSION READY TO GO.
I KNOW IT WASN'T. SECONDED. I THINK YOU HIT THE BUTTON.
YOU DON'T BELIEVE HIM? LET ME CANCEL IT AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
HE. MIGHT BE FROZEN. THERE IT GOES. HERE IT GOES.
DO WE HAVE THE MOTION IN THE SECOND? YES. YES.
I CAN DO THAT. IT'S REALLY SIMPLE. OKAY. SECOND THING.
OH, YES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES BEFORE I MOVE, TIM.
ONE ONCE AGAIN, I FAILED TO MENTION THAT COUNCILMAN BEARD AND AND COUNCILMAN CRAMER HAD BUSINESS TODAY, BUT THEY WANTED ME TO ASSURE EVERYONE THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED ALL THE EMAILS AND THE COMMENTS AND EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN COMING TO US AS COUNCIL, AND I HAVE GIVEN IT THEIR DUE DILIGENCE. SO WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 16 AND ASK TIM LITTLEJOHN TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.
[16. Ordinance (Final Reading) CUP-2026-03: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on A Request From The Owner To Apply A Conditional Use Permit To A Property To Allow an RV Park in Agricultural Open (AO) and General Commercial (GC) Zoning within 239.86 Acres. Located at 3799 N Danville Drive. (Tim Littlejohn)]
THANK YOU, MAYOR. COUNCIL, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. IS A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.QP202603 THE OWNER IS SPIT LLC. THE AGENT IS CLINT TAYLOR.
HERE'S THE LOCATION MAP. HERE'S THE CURRENT ZONING MAP.
HERE ARE THE ALLOWABLE USES WITHIN AGRICULTURAL OPEN SPACE.
HERE'S SOME PROPERTY VIEWS. HERE'S THE CONCEPTUAL PLAN SUBMITTED FOR THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
NOTIFICATIONS WERE SENT OUT. WE DID RECEIVE ONE IN OPPOSITION, RESULTING IN A 1.40% IN OPPOSITION.
[00:40:05]
THIS MEETS ALL THE CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL WITHIN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. KIM, CAN YOU GO BACK TO THAT CONCEPTUAL PLAN DRAWING? SO SINCE THIS IS A CUP, WE CAN PUT THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL THESE SETBACKS INTO THAT.
RIGHT NOW THEY'RE PROPOSING 147, BUT THAT GIVES THEM A LITTLE BIT OF ROOM TO EXPAND IF NEEDED, WHICH AS YOU CAN SEE, THE PROPERTY, THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM.
THEY WOULD STILL HAVE TO HAVE THAT 400 FOOT SETBACK. YES, SIR.
THAT'S CORRECT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF TIM? I HAD ONE.
AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET TO THAT ACCESS ROAD IS THE I-20 ACCESS ROAD.
AND WITH TEXDOT DOING THE EXPANSION FROM FOUR LANES TO SIX, IS THAT GOING TO IMPACT ACCESSIBILITY TO THIS PROPERTY? I DON'T THINK SO, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL WORK OUT WHEN WE WORK THROUGH THE SITE PLAN WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS AND PLANNING STAFF.
I'M SURE ALL THAT WILL BE DISCUSSED IN QUITE DETAIL.
BUT IT HASN'T BEEN A CONCERN UP TO THIS POINT.
OKAY, SO WE'LL AT LEAST REACH OUT TO TEXDOT AND MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THERE'S A USE THAT'S HERE.
THERE WILL BE HERE THAT NEED TO MAINTAIN ACCESS.
YES, SIR. AND TEX-DOT WILL BE PART OF THE REVIEW PROCESS.
GREAT. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. FLOODWAY. FLOODPLAIN ISSUES HAVE ALL BEEN RESOLVED ON THAT, RIGHT? YES, SIR. THEY'VE BEEN ADDRESSED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
TIM. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 16? 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 PRICE. FURTHER DISCUSSION? READY TO VOTE? OH, YES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES.
WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 17. AND TIM LITTLEJOHN AGAIN WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM.
[17. Ordinance (Final Reading) Z-2026-05: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on a Request from the Owner to Change the Zoning of Approximately 1.54 Acres from Planned Development (PDD-59) to General Retail (GR) Zoning. Located at 4541 Catclaw Drive. (Tim Littlejohn)]
THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.IS ZONING CASE 2026205. THE AGENTS. ALEX WHITTEN, OWNER IS STEVEN PROPERTIES, LLC.
THE REQUEST FOR YOU TO CONSIDER IS CHANGE THE ZONING OF APPROXIMATELY 1.54 ACRES FROM A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT 59 TO GENERAL RETAIL, LOCATED AT 4.541 CATCLAW DRIVE. HERE'S THE PROPERTY LOCATION.
HERE'S THE CURRENT ZONING MAP. PROPERTY VALUES.
SURROUNDING AREA. HERE ARE THE CURRENT PERMITTED USES, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TRADE RETAIL USES.
HERE ARE THE PROPOSED GENERAL RETAIL ALLOWABLE USES.
THIS MEETS ALL THE CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL WITHIN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE P AND Z.
TIM. AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 17? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND.
SO MOVED. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN ESPINOZA.
SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN YATES. MORE DISCUSSION.
READY TO VOTE. ALL YESES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES.
WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 18. AND I'LL ASK TIM LITTLEJOHN TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.
[18. Ordinance (Final Reading) Z-2026-06: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on a Request from the Owner to Change the Zoning of Approximately 2.80 Acres from Agricultural Open (AO) to Residential Single-Family (RS-6) Zoning. Located at the 1500 Block of Wildlife Trails Parkway. (Tim Littlejohn)]
THANK YOU MAYOR, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. IS ZONING CASE 202606.THE OWNER IS TIMOTHY YANDELL. THE REQUEST FOR YOU TO CONSIDER IS CHANGE THE ZONING OF APPROXIMATELY 2.8 ACRES FROM AGRICULTURAL OPEN SPACE TO RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT SIX, LOCATED AT 1512 WILDLIFE TRAIL.
HERE'S THE LOCATION MAP. HERE'S THE CURRENT ZONING.
HERE ARE THE CURRENT ALLOWABLE USES WITHIN AGRICULTURAL OPEN SPACE.
[00:45:01]
AND THE REQUESTED HOURS. DISTRICT RS SIX. TO BE SPECIFIC.CURRENT PROPERTY USE. NOTIFICATIONS WERE SENT OUT.
WE DID RECEIVE ONE IN FAVOR TWO ZERO IN OPPOSITION.
THIS MEETS ALL THE CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL WITHIN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE PLANNING AND ZONING.
QUESTIONS TO TIM. I'M STRUGGLING TO UNDERSTAND THE WHY.
I DON'T HAVE A CONCERN WITH APPROVING THIS, BUT THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION IS A LAKE, AND THE PACKET SAYS THAT THE OWNER WOULD LIKE TO REZONE THE PROPERTY TO ALLOW THEM TO PLAT THE PROPERTY IN ORDER TO BUILD A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE ON AN ADJACENT PARCEL.
SO HOW DOES CHANGING THE ZONING ON THIS PARCEL ALLOW THEM TO BUILD A HOUSE ON AN ADJACENT PARCEL THAT I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING? FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM THE OWNER, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE IF THE AGENTS HERE THAT ARE REPRESENTING HIM IS THEY WANTED TO PROTECT THE POND FOREVER FOR THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES AND MAKE THE OTHER ONE A LITTLE MORE MARKETABLE TO WHERE THEY COULD SELL AND BUILD A HOME ON IT.
EVENTUALLY THE LOT NUMBER 102, WHICH IS THE PROPERTY TO THE SOUTH EVENTUALLY, MAYBE LATER ON.
THERE IS SOME SOME OPEN AREA OUTSIDE OF THE FLOOD THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR OUR HOME TO BE BUILT.
BUT THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THIS WAS TO BE ABLE TO BUILD A HOME THERE.
SHRINK THE AMOUNT OF ACRES THAT ARE THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT PARCEL.
AND THEN BY SHRINKING IT, IT REQUIRES IT TO BE REZONED.
THAT WAS JUST APPROACHED TO US BY THE APPLICANT.
I DON'T KNOW IF I KNOW ALL THE EXACT REASONS AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE AGENTS HERE.
YES, HE IS HERE. HE COULD PROBABLY EXPLAIN SOME OF THE, SOME OF THOSE REASONS TO YOU.
BETTER THAN I CAN, SIR. I JUST BECAUSE LOOKING AT THE MAP THAT THE FLOOD MAP, IT LOOKS LIKE ALMOST THE WHOLE PROPERTY, BOTH THE ONE BEING QUESTIONED TODAY OR CONSIDERED TODAY, AND THE ONE TO THE RIGHT THAT IS THE ADJACENT PROPERTY THEY MIGHT BUILD ON IS IN THE FLOODWAY. SO OR I GUESS IT SAYS UNSTUDIED A ZONE, BUT IT'S A FLOOD.
THERE'S I MEAN, THERE'S WATER STANDING WATER THERE. SO AND AT THE TIME OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING, THE AGENT DID SAY THEY'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LETTER OF MAP REVISION.
AND SO FAR AT THAT POINT, THAT WAS GOING TO SHRINK QUITE A BIT.
I'M SURE HE HAS EVEN MORE UPDATED INFORMATION TODAY AS THAT THAT PROCESS HAS PROGRESSED FURTHER, AND HE COULD PROBABLY ANSWER THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE WEREN'T MAKING SOMEBODY GO THROUGH A WHOLE PROCESS WITH ZONING WHEN IT WASN'T NECESSARY.
SO NO, IF THEY'RE CONSIDERING A HOUSE ON THAT PROPERTY AS WELL, THEN YES, SIR.
YES. MAKES SENSE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES, SIR.
OF COURSE. 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 18? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. GOOD MORNING.
COUNCIL BJ PRITCHARD ENGINEERING REPRESENTING MR. YANDELL. SHANE, TO YOUR QUESTION. SO THE INTENTION IS ACTUALLY FOR THEM TO BUILD A HOME ON THE WEST SIDE OF THAT POND THAT IS THERE NOW. THERE IS ABOUT 9000FT² OF BUILDABLE SPACE WITHIN THAT LOT THAT WE'RE CREATING THE SMALLER TWO ACRE LOT THAT THEY CAN BUILD ON.
IT IS ACTUALLY CURRENTLY OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN NOW.
THE INTENTION IS TO ESTABLISH BASE FLOOD ELEVATIONS ON THE MAP AND ESTABLISH FLOODWAY ZONES SO THAT AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, PROPERTY CAN BE RECLAIMED. ON THE OTHER SEVEN ACRE PIECE TO BE ABLE TO BUILD ANOTHER HOME ON THAT SIDE.
SO. THANKS, BJ. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU BJ. THANKS. STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 18? NO ONE.
I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN PRICE. SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN YATES.
DISCUSSION. WE'RE READY TO VOTE.
DO YOU WANT ME TO PUSH? YOU GOT IT. COUNCIL MEMBER ESPINOSA IS ABSTAINING, BUT THE REST ARE YESES.
[00:50:04]
MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. NOW MOVE TO ITEM 19.I WILL ASK EMILY CRAWFORD, CITY MANAGER, TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.
[19. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on the Approval of City Council Priorities and Guiding Principles (Emily Crawford)]
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. AS YOU RECALL, ON FEBRUARY 5TH, WE HAD A COUNCIL STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHOP.THE POINT OF THIS EXERCISE WAS FOR COUNSEL TO BE ABLE TO HAVE AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME TO DISCUSS CURRENT STATUS OF THE CITY, THE NEW GROWTH THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING, AND IDENTIFY WHAT OUR PRIORITIES WILL BE FOR THE NEXT 3 TO 5 YEARS.
WE DID THIS WITH A FACILITATOR FROM SSGR. THERE ARE FIVE COUNCIL STRATEGIC PRIORITIES THAT CAME OUT OF THAT WORKSHOP THAT WE ALL WORKED ON. PRIMARILY. IT WAS A COUNCIL, BUT WE ALSO HAD THIS DIRECTORS HERE FOR STAFF SUPPORT.
SO I'LL GO OVER THOSE. FIRST IS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AS A PRIORITY.
AND OF COURSE THAT REFERS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION.
BUT AS WELL AS INTERNAL COMMUNICATION AND AND INCREASING OUR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION INTERNALLY AND WITH THE PUBLIC. THE SECOND WAS SUSTAINABLE GROWTH. AND THIS ACTUALLY COVERED MULTIPLE AREAS, INCLUDING HIGH DEMAND JOBS WITHIN THE CITY THAT WE'RE HAVING TROUBLE FILLING, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO RESPOND TO THE GROWTH WITH THOSE HIGH DEMAND JOBS.
ALSO REGARDING ENSURING THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING MAJOR CONSTRUCTION INITIATIVES SUCH AS PREPARING FOR THE DYESS EXPANSION THE AI PLANTS AND VARIOUS INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIRS THAT WILL NEED TO BE DONE WHEN THOSE PROJECTS ARE FINISHED.
AS WELL AS CONTINUING TO INVEST IN OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AMENITIES FOR ATTRACTION AND RETENTION OF, OF, OF RESIDENTS. AND THEN WE ALSO DISCUSS DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES WITH CONCERN OVER PROPERTY TAX AND ITS CONTINUANCE BASED ON SOME STATE LEGISLATION THAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED.
MAKING SURE THAT WE WOULD HAVE THE REVENUE SOURCES TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES.
WE ARE, WE ARE, WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
WE ARE IN THE FINAL, FINAL, FINAL, FINAL REVIEW.
AND WE'LL BE PRESENTING THAT TO THE COUNCIL SOON.
PROMOTE INFRASTRUCTURE READY AREAS FOR HOUSING.
I SAW THAT MAP FOR THE FIRST TIME YESTERDAY, SO WE WILL BE ABLE TO BE GETTING THAT OUT SOON TO OUR BUILDERS AND DEVELOPERS CREATE A DEVELOPER ENGAGEMENT PROCESS. THIS ALSO HAS BEGUN GETTING SOME HEADWAY IN TRACTION WITH MAKING SURE WE HAVE A WAY TO PROVIDE ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT THE CHAMBER, THE DCOA, AND THE CITY IS GATHERING IN REGARDS TO HOUSING, PUTTING THAT OUT IN A WAY THAT'S MEANINGFUL FOR OUR BUILDERS AND DEVELOPERS, AND THEN FINALLY LOOKING AT WAYS TO ADDRESS FLOOD FLOODPLAIN AND FLOOD WAY CONSTRAINTS DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF LAND WITHIN THE CITY THAT IS IN THE FLOODPLAIN AND FLOOD ZONE. IF THERE ARE SOME OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN DEAL WITH THAT PROPERTY TO MAKE IT MORE DEVELOPABLE.
INFRASTRUCTURE IS DEFINITELY A PRIORITY. THAT'S NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT STREETS AND WATER AND SEWER.
WE ARE AN OLDER TOWN AND OUR INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS CONTINUAL UPDATES AND IMPROVEMENTS.
CLEARLY, WE ARE ALSO WANTING TO CONTINUE TO PROTECT OUR WATER RESOURCES AND CREATE NEW ONES.
THUS THE CEDAR RIDGE RESERVOIR. PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE.
SO MAKING SURE THAT WHEN WE DO HAVE NEW ASSETS, WE'RE ALSO CREATING WAYS TO MAINTAIN THOSE.
OVER THE LIFE OF THOSE ASSETS INSTEAD OF JUST CONSTANTLY RESPONDING BY EMERGENCY REPAIR.
WE ALSO WANT TO REESTABLISH A FIVE YEAR CIP PROGRAM SO THAT USING OUR MASTER PLANS AND THE COUNCIL PRIORITIES, WE CAN START CREATING THAT MORE COMPREHENSIVE CIP AND THEN FINALLY MAKING SURE THAT WHAT WE ARE INVESTING IN, IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS KEEPING UP WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
THE FIFTH WAS ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE. THIS IS REGARDING HIRING, WHICH IS CERTAINLY CURRENTLY A CHALLENGE IN SOME OF OUR DEPARTMENTS WITH HIGHER DEMAND JOBS THAT WE HAVE A PLAN FOR HIRING AND SUCCESSION PLANNING.
ALSO LOOKING AT TECHNOLOGY AS A WAY TO MAXIMIZE OUR EFFICIENCY USING SOFTWARE AND TOOLS.
SO THAT IF WE DO HAVE A SMALLER STAFF, WE'RE STILL ABLE TO HAVE EFFICIENT WORK.
ESTABLISHING A CIP PLAN SPECIFICALLY FOR TECHNOLOGY.
[00:55:04]
BUT WE NEED TO HAVE A PLAN FOR THAT. MAINTAINING WORKFORCE THAT MEETS NATIONAL STANDARDS.SO WE DO HAVE SO MANY NATIONAL STANDARDS IN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY AREAS AND LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN USE THOSE AS SAMPLES AND EXAMPLES FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE CITY TO HAVE THESE SAME KINDS OF STANDARDS. AND THEN MARKET RATE COMPENSATION FOR ALL CITY EMPLOYEES IS A PRIORITY.
FINALLY, THESE ARE GUIDING PRINCIPLES THAT WERE THAT WERE DEVELOPED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.
THERE ARE TEN WHICH ARE A LOT, BUT THESE WERE THE ONES THAT THAT YOU ALL CAME UP WITH.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT BECAUSE WE WERE LIMITED IN TIME TO DEVELOP THESE OBJECTIVES, I DO THINK THERE COULD BE ADDITIONAL OBJECTIVES THAT WE CAN CREATE IN TIME, AS WELL AS STAFF DEVELOPING SOME VERY SPECIFIC ACTION ITEMS ON HOW TO ACCOMPLISH THESE OBJECTIVES.
THANK YOU. QUESTIONS OF EMILY. 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 19? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. YES, SIR.
MR. MAYOR. MICHAEL GLENN WITH THE IAFF. I WASN'T PLANNING ON SPEAKING ON THIS, AND I DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH WHAT'S BEEN PRESENTED, BUT I DO HAVE SOME CONTEXT AS AS A TRAVELER, AS SOMEONE WHO'S COMING IN AND SOMEONE WHO HAS A WIFE WHO'S ALSO BEEN TRAVELING IN.
I STAYED HERE IN A COURTYARD LAST NIGHT. I STAY IN COURTYARDS BY MARRIOTT OFTEN.
MY ROOM RATE LAST NIGHT WAS $401. HERE IN ABILENE, TEXAS.
IT'S A PRETTY HIGH ROOM RATE. WHEN I SPOKE TO MY WIFE AND I SAID, HEY, YOU'VE STAYED HERE BEFORE. SHE SAID, YEAH, IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO THAT SHE WAS PAYING $179 FOR THE SAME TYPE OF ROOM. NICE HOTEL.
IT WAS GREAT. WHAT WAS ALSO INTERESTING IS I JUST FLEW IN YESTERDAY FROM WASHINGTON, DC.
BEGINNING OF SPRING BREAK. I GET IT. SUPPLY AND DEMAND.
LOTS OF HOTEL ROOMS IN WASHINGTON DC. ALSO LOTS OF PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON DC.
I STAYED AT TWO DIFFERENT HOTELS OVER THE WEEKEND. I HAD TO MOVE FROM ONE TO THE NEXT.
$401 IS MORE THAN WHAT I SPENT IN BOTH THOSE HOTELS IN WASHINGTON, DC.
I'VE ALSO BEEN TRYING TO TRAVEL HERE ON A TUESDAY NIGHT IN THE DOUBLETREE WAS SOLD OUT.
THE RESTAURANT. THE BAR AREA WAS FILLED WITH TRAVELERS FILLED WITH PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THE DATA CENTER, FILLED WITH PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS HERE LOCALLY IN ABILENE.
AND MY ONLY POINT IS, IS THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, THAT'S GREAT.
THAT'S IMPORTANT. BUT THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY THAT'S BEING SPENT IN ABILENE THAT'S COMING INTO ABILENE, AND IT MAY NOT BE HERE FOREVER. I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT RIGHT NOW, ABILENE IS NOT STRUGGLING TO TO FIND RESOURCES AND TO FIND SOURCES OF INCOME COMING IN. AND SO I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT ABILENE AND AGAIN, LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, LOOKING AT AN ARTICLE JUST HIT YESTERDAY ABOUT THE GROWTH THAT YOU'RE SEEING.
ABILENE, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON HERE.
IT'S A LOT OF GOOD GOING ON HERE. AND WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE, QUALITY OF LIFE IS IMPORTANT FOR YOUR FIREFIGHTERS.
AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF THE OF THE TAXPAYERS DOLLARS, AS ARE WE, AS ARE YOUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE. BUT BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE GROWTH HERE IN ABILENE AND WHAT'S GOING ON, I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE MONEY'S NOT THERE. TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR EMPLOYEES.
LET ME SEE YOUR BUDGET AND I'LL TELL YOU WHERE YOUR PRIORITIES ARE.
SHOW YOUR FIREFIGHTERS THAT THEY ARE ONE OF YOUR PRIORITIES.
BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE SEEING FROM CITY MANAGEMENT IS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIND EVERY WAY TO TAKE THE DATA, TO SHOW THAT THEY'RE NOT THE PRIORITY, THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SHIFT DOLLARS OR USE DOLLARS, WHETHER IT BE SHIFTING OR NOT USE DOLLARS SOMEWHERE ELSE OTHER THAN FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS.
LET'S LOOK AT THE BUDGET AND LET'S SEE WHERE YOUR PRIORITIES ARE.
NOW IS THE TIME FOR THE COUNCIL TO SHOW YOUR FIREFIGHTERS THEY ARE A PRIORITY.
THANK YOU ALL. TAMY FOGEL, RESIDENT OF ABILENE. SO I WAS ONE OF THE FEW CITIZENS TO ATTEND THIS MEETING AS WELL.
AND I'M SURE THERE MIGHT BE SOMEBODY WHO WATCHED IT. I'M NOT SAYING I'M THE ONLY PERSON THAT CARES, BUT I'VE INVESTED GREATLY IN TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS PROCESS WORKS.
[01:00:07]
SO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WAS ONE OF THE LAST ONES YOU WANTED TO ADD, AND ONLY AT THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE FACILITATOR TO HE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED YOU INCLUDED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. LIKE IT WAS MENTIONED ON HERE, THE PURPOSE WAS TO DEVELOP THIS VISION FOR OUR CITY FOR THE NEXT 3 TO 5 YEARS.IN FACT, I THINK THAT THIS THIS WORKSHOP WAS A COUPLE OF YEARS TOO LATE.
YOU ALL KNEW THE DATA CENTER WAS COMING. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REESTABLISHED THEN. SO WE COULD HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN AHEAD OF A LOT OF THESE ISSUES. IT WAS FRUSTRATING AS A PERSON WHO STAYS REGULARLY INVOLVED IN WHAT Y'ALL DO THAT YOU CHANGED UP THE RETREAT IN FEBRUARY INSTEAD OF SAYING, HEY GUYS, THIS IS GOING TO BE A CHANGE UP FROM THE NORMAL PLAN. WE'RE GOING TO DO THE REGULAR RETREAT WE DO IN FEBRUARY. IN APRIL, YOU DIDN'T GIVE ANY COMMUNICATION, AND IT WAS VERY CONFUSING EVEN TO SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO SHOWED UP THAT DAY, WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE MADE AWARE OF THOSE THINGS.
SB TWO WAS CREATED SO THAT YOU WOULD NOT CONTINUE TO RAISE OUR TAX RATES WITHOUT OUR PERMISSION.
IT'S EASY FOR YOU TO RECAPTURE THAT GROWTH IF YOU HAVE COMMUNITY BUY IN, BECAUSE WE CAN VOTE FOR THAT RATE INCREASE, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE BUY IN. AND I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW. AND I WANTED TO REMIND YOU ALL THAT WE ARE CITIZENS HERE.
SO LET'S FOCUS ON CITIZEN INPUT, NOT STAKEHOLDERS.
LET'S SEE HERE. THE LAST THING I WANTED TO ADDRESS WAS I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT I'VE BEEN HERE COMING SAYING, WHY ARE WE SPENDING MONEY THIS WAY? WHY ARE OUR BONDS THE ONLY SOURCE OF INCOME? WHY DON'T WE PLAN FOR THIS? AND I WAS TOLD THAT THAT WAS THE PLAN.
THIS IS HOW THICK IT IS. THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.
AND I DID LOOK IT UP IN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
IT SAYS THAT THAT 90 BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR TO THE BUDGET YEAR, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR A FIVE YEAR PLAN. WHY HAS NOT BEEN DONE? WHY HAVE YOU NOT DONE IT? WHY ARE WE NOT LOOKING FORWARD? WHY ARE WE ALWAYS PLAYING CATCH UP? AND I'M TIRED OF YOU SAYING WE DIDN'T KNOW.
NOW WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE AWAY THE COMPETITIVE PAY FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS SO WE CAN CATCH UP TO THE NON CIVIL SERVANTS, WHICH IS THE CITY STAFF. WHY ARE THOSE NOT THE PRIORITIES WE ARE FOCUSING ON? WHY ARE WE ALWAYS HAVING TO MAKE EXCUSES. LET'S SHIFT THIS.
LET'S STOP DOING THIS INSANITY, WHICH IS TO JUST THROW THINGS AT THE WALL AND SEE WHAT STICKS.
I HOPE THAT CHANGES DRASTICALLY. STILL, THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 19.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? JOE BIDEN'S RESIDENT OF ABILENE. SO WHEN THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE INTERNATIONAL OF THE FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION CAME UP AND CAME UP AND TALKED ABOUT THE PRIORITIES I FIRST I WANTED TO SAY THAT I ATTENDED THE CITY COUNCIL RETREAT. VERY ENJOYABLE. I THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT THAT YOU ALL HAD SOMEONE TO COME AND FACILITATE THAT THOUGHT.
THAT WAS GREAT. BUT SO MUCH OF WHAT Y'ALL TALKED ABOUT OF COURSE, WAS THE PAY GETTING BACK TO THE FIREFIGHTERS WITH THAT, WITH THEM NEEDING THAT COMPETITIVE PAY AND THE PRIORITIES.
I WANT TO MENTION ONCE AGAIN, THE DOG PARK THAT'S I JUST CAN'T GET OVER THE DOG PARK AND THE BATHROOM THAT WERE BUILT FOR IT BEING ALMOST $1 MILLION.
AND THEN I, I HAVE FURTHER HEARD THAT A LOT OF TIMES THOSE BATHROOMS ARE LOCKED.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW VANDALISM OR SOMETHING, BUT I'VE HEARD ON BY TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT THEY HAD TAKEN THEIR DOGS THERE AND THEY COULDN'T GET INTO THE BATHROOM. SO I JUST LIKE SOME HAVE MENTIONED, I'M HAVING A HARD TIME WITH THE FACT THAT WE'RE SAYING WE DON'T. Y'ALL ARE SAYING YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR THIS COMPETITIVE PAY FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS WHEN WE BUILD NEARLY $1 MILLION OF A DOG PARK IN BATHROOMS. THANK YOU. IT'S ON THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 19.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? YOU KNOW WHEN I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING?
[01:05:01]
IS THERE 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 ESPINOZA. FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE'RE READY TO VOTE. ALL YESES. MOTION CARRIES.
[20. Presentation: Presentation of Abilene Convention Center 2025 Annual Report (Tiffany Nichols, General Manager)]
THIS IS A PRESENTATION ONLY. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR.COUNCIL CITY MANAGER. MY NAME IS TIFFANY NICHOLS, AND I'M THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE ABILENE CONVENTION CENTER, WHICH IS MANAGED BY LEGENDS GLOBAL, FORMERLY KNOWN AS ASM GLOBAL.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SHARE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR 2025 ANNUAL REPORT AND THE CONTINUED IMPACT. THE CONVENTION CENTER HAS ON OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS YEAR MARKED 55 YEARS OF GATHERING FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER.
IT WAS A STRONG YEAR OF GROWTH IMPROVEMENTS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND 2025.
WE HOSTED 177 TOTAL EVENTS, 137 RETURNING EVENTS, 40 NEW EVENTS, AND THREE NEW BIDS SECURED FOR FUTURE BUSINESS. THE CONVENTION CENTER CONTINUES TO SERVE AS A HUB FOR CONFERENCES, COMMUNITY EVENTS, CONCERTS, GRADUATIONS, NONPROFIT FUNDRAISERS AND BUSINESS MEETINGS ACROSS THE BIG COUNTRY.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FINANCIAL OVERVIEW, WE SAW STRONG FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE FOR 2025 1.37 MILLION IN GROSS EVENT INCOME, 1.05 MILLION IN NET INCOME. EVENT COUNT INCREASED FROM ONE.
AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT. OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE CONTINUES TO GROW, WITH FACEBOOK REACHING OVER 1.9 MILLION VIEWS IN 2025, OUR AUDIENCE INCREASING OVER 11,000 FOLLOWERS.
OUR EMAIL MARKETING LIST GREW SIGNIFICANTLY, INCREASING ALMOST DOUBLE FROM THE 77,000 OR 100 SUBSCRIBERS TO THE 13,000 IN 2025, ALLOWING US TO BETTER PROMOTE EVENTS AND ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY.
THE VISITOR DATA FROM WHICH WE GET FROM THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU ALSO SHOWS THAT THE CONVENTION CENTER CONTINUES TO DRAW GUESTS FROM ACROSS TEXAS, WITH STRONG ATTENDANCE FROM DALLAS, FORT WORTH, ODESSA.
MIDLAND AREA, AUSTIN, HOUSTON AND SAN ANTONIO, HIGHLIGHTING REGIONAL IMPACT.
SOME KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS.
THE NEW BANQUET SEATINGS. SO THE NEW CHAIRS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE GOTTEN TO TRY OUT.
THANK YOU TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVING THAT. WE DO HAVE A NEW STATE OF THE ART AUDITORIUM SOUND BOARD.
WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT REPLACED AFTER SOME TIME OF IT HAVING ISSUES.
WE DID LAUNCH IN-HOUSE BARS AND CONCESSIONS. WE DO HAVE A PARTNERSHIP NOW WITH 83 ENTERTAINMENT TO ASSIST WITH BACKSTAGE AND IN-HOUSE AUDIOVISUAL NEEDS. THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REAL IMPACT SERVICE PROGRAM.
WHAT THIS IS, IS SOMETHING THAT IS DONE LOCALLY.
OUR TEAM HAD A SPEAKER COME IN AND JUST KIND OF HELP US COME UP WITH WHAT IS OUR COMMON PURPOSE, WHAT ARE OUR TEAM VALUES? WHAT'S OUR GUEST EXPERIENCE? JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THAT HIGH LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE THAT COMES INTO THE BUILDING? WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR GUEST SATISFACTION, WE HAVE INSIGHT SURVEYS.
98% OF RESPONDENTS RATED THEIR EXPERIENCE AS EXCELLENT OR VERY GOOD.
YOU CAN SEE AN INCREASE IN BOX OFFICE TOTALS.
WE WERE ABLE TO GROW OUR BROADWAY IN THE BIG COUNTRY SUBSCRIBERS FROM 236 AND 2024 TO 314 AND 2025.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE IN-HOUSE HOSPITALITY SUCCESS ONE OF THE BIG CHANGES THAT YOU GUYS ARE AWARE OF IS THAT THE AUDITORIUM AND FOYER BAR OPERATIONS BEGAN MARCH OF 2025. THAT WAS DUE TO INCREASE OF SHOWS CONCESSION OPERATIONS WERE ADDED APRIL OF 2025.
[01:10:08]
AND THEN WE DIDN'T FULLY GO SOLELY IN-HOUSE WITH LIQUOR SERVICE AND BAR SERVICE AND CONCESSIONS UNTIL OCTOBER OF 2025. AND THAT IS BECAUSE OUR LIQUOR LICENSE IS NOW EXPANDED THROUGH THE WHOLE BUILDING.SO YOU'LL SEE AN INCREASE SPENDING OF 17% PER CAPITA.
AVERAGE GAS SPENDING INCREASED FROM 692 TO 809.
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT WE SOLD NEARLY 6000 BEVERAGES IN 4800 FOOD ITEMS. THIS SHIFT HAS STRENGTHENED THE REVENUE PERFORMANCES AND IMPROVED THE GUEST EXPERIENCE, WITH A FULL FINANCIAL IMPACT EXPECTED TO BE SEEN IN 2026.
I ALWAYS LIKE TO BRAG ON THE TEAM BECAUSE WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT OUR INCREDIBLE TEAM.
SO THE CONVENTION CENTER CONTINUES TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER, SUPPORTING LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND WELCOMING VISITORS TO ABILENE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO ENHANCE THE GUEST EXPERIENCE, ATTRACT NEW EVENTS, AND SERVE THE BIG COUNTRY COMMUNITY, AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
ANY QUESTIONS? TIFFANY, WE'RE GLAD YOU HELD ON FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
I KNOW IT'S REALLY CLOSE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO.
I THINK THIS IS A PRESENTATION. THANK YOU TIFFANY.
IT IS NOW 9:42 A.M. AND WE WILL RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT,
[ EXECUTIVE SESSION]
SECTION 551.071, CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY. SECTION 551.072 DELIBERATIONS ABOUT REAL PROPERTY.SECTION 551.073 DELIBERATIONS ABOUT GIFTS AND DONATIONS.
SECTION 551.007 FOR PERSONNEL MATTERS. SECTION 551.076 DELIBERATIONS ABOUT SECURITY DEVICES SECTION 551.087 DELIBERATIONS ABOUT BUSINESS PROSPECTS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
IT IS NOW 10:40 A.M. AND WE RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION.
NO VOTES OR ACTIONS WERE TAKEN DURING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[22.
Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Take Action on Appointing Members to Various Boards and Commissions per the City Charter (Shawna Atkinson)
- Abilene Housing Authority
- Street Maintenance Advisory and Appeals Board
]ABILENE HOUSING AUTHORITY. GAYLA FULLERTON NEW STREET MAINTENANCE ADVISORY AND APPEALS BOARD.
BROCK ISBELL REAPPOINTMENT. ANTONIO PALLARES REAPPOINTMENT.
JENNIFER MARTINEZ REAPPOINTMENT. 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.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND. SO MOVED.
HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN REAGAN. SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN PRICE.
FURTHER DISCUSSION? READY TO VOTE. ALL YESES.
MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. IT IS NOW 10:41 A.M..
AND THIS MEETING OF THE ABILENE CITY COUNCIL IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.