[ CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:05] >> PLEASE PRAY WITH ME. LOVING FATHER, THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME THAT WE HAVE TOGETHER FOR THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THINGS THAT ARE OF SUCH GREAT IMPORTANCE FOR THE CITY OF ABILENE, FOR THE CITIZENS OF OUR CITY FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF OUR CITY AND FOR EACH OF US. WE THANK YOU THAT WE HAVE A CITY THAT CARES, THAT WE HAVE A CITY FULL OF PEOPLE SOME OF WHOM ARE WORTHY OF BEING NAMED AS THE BENEFACTOR OF A BUILDING LIKE THIS BUT ALSO PEOPLE WHO CARE ENOUGH TO SHOW UP AND TO SHARE THEIR MINDS AND TO ADVOCATE FOR SUCH AN IMPORTANT TOPIC. PLEASE GIVE US WISDOM AND GIVE US GUIDANCE AND GIVE US PEACE. AMEN. >> ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME WE WILL OPEN. [ PUBLIC COMMENTS] WE WILL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. ANYONE WISHING TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT ANY ITEM BEFORE THIS BOARD, PLEASE STEP FORWARD FOR GIVE US YOUR NAME AND YOUR AFFILIATION, AND YOU WILL HAVE . >> GOOD MORNING MY NAME IS SAMUEL GARCIA, I LIVE IN BRENTWOOD. MY PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE FROM SOMETHING THAT I NOTICED THIS PAST WEEKEND. FIRST OF ALL, LESLI, REAL QUICK, YOUR STAFF THAT YOU HAVE ARE SOME OF THE BEST PEOPLE TO WORK WITH I WORK WITH THEM QUITE A BIT. JUST SO YOU KNOW, I WANT TO SAY THIS PUBLICLY ON RECORD. THEY KNOW THAT THEY DO A GREAT JOB. WHEN YOU HAVE CUSTOMERS AS DEMANDING AS MYSELF, AND I WALK AWAY JUST TOTALLY SATISFIED WITH THE WAY THAT THEY HANDLE EVERYTHING, PROMPT, ALWAYS HELPFUL, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT BEFORE I BEGIN. BUT SOMETHING I NOTICED THIS WEEKEND, I WAS GETTING READY TO DO AN EVENT. THIS SUNDAY WAS NATIONAL ICE CREAM DAY I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A FEW YEARS NOW WHERE I SET UP SOMEWHERE AND GIVE AWAY ICE CREAM. THIS YEAR I THOUGHT, I'M GONNA DO IT AT THE SPLASH PAD. SO I DID IT AT THE SPLASH PAD AND WENT AND GOT THE PERMIT IN ORDER FOR THE PARK. AND JUST GAVE AWAY ICE CREAM. BUT WHEN I WENT TO GO CHECK THE PRICING OF THE USE OF THE REC CENTER, I WAS ASTONISHED AT THE HOURLY PRICING. IT IS A HUGE CONCERN. TO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING THAT HAS GOT ALL THESE FEATURES TO IT IS GREAT. BUT IF PEOPLE THAT RIGHT NOW HAVE A HARD TIME AFFORDING GROCERIES, MUCH LESS CANNOT AFFORD IT. I'M NOT SURE IF THAT PRICE SETTING IS DONE BY THIS BOARD, ADMINISTRATIVELY AT THE PARKS LEVEL OR AT THE CITY LEVEL OR WHERE IT'S AT. BUT Y'ALL NEED TO ADDRESS THAT. THOSE PRICES ARE JUST -- I HEARD SOMEBODY SAY TO ME, WELL, WHAT ABOUT THE MARKET? NO, NO, NO. DO NOT TALK ABOUT THE MARKET. WE PAY BOND MONEY TO BUILD THESE THINGS, TAX MONEY IS GOING TO DO THAT. THE CITIZENS ARE PAYING FOR THIS. THIS IS NOT A MARKET BASED THING. THIS SHOULD BE LOWER. THESE ARE SUBSIDIZED. BECAUSE WE SUBSIDIZE THEM AS TAXPAYERS IF SOMEONE WENT OUT AND BUILT REC CENTERS AND WANTED TO BE A CAPITALIST AND SEE WHAT THEY COULD MAKE, FINE, I HAD NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. BUT THIS IS GOVERNMENT OWNED. THIS IS FOR THE CITIZENS. I WOULD ASK Y'ALL SOMEWHERE ON YOUR AGENDA TO TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR PRICING ON THAT. WHEN I ASK IS THERE A NONPROFIT RATE, THE YOUNG LADY SAID NO, THERE'S NOT A NONPROFIT RATE RIGHT NOW. WOW, BECAUSE WE'VE USED THAT IN THE PAST, THE HISPANIC LEADERSHIP COUNCIL AROUND THANKSGIVING DINNERS. WE'VE DONE GIVEAWAYS. WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO USE THAT AS A COMMUNITY CENTER. AND VENUES ARE EXPENSIVE. WE KNOW THAT. THAT IS ONE PLACE WE'VE ALWAYS USED IN ORDER TO DO THAT. I WILL ASK, TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND PUT IT ON YOUR AGENDA SOMETIME AND HAVE A GOOD DISCUSSION I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL KNOW THIS OR IF YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THAT PRICING SCHEDULE. IF YOU HAVEN'T, I WOULD SUGGEST YOU DO THAT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. GARCIA. ALL RIGHT, ANYONE ELSE WANTING TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK ON ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR BEFORE THIS BOARD? SEEING NO ONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE [1. Minutes (Discussion and Action)] PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION. YOU EACH HAVE A COPY OF THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING. AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO REVIEW IT IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY QUICKLY. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE. FOR ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS. [00:05:02] >> I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM LAST MEETING. >> THANK YOU CRAIG DAVID. SECOND. JACK, THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. [2. Service Award (Discussion)Angela Koonsman, Senior Services - 15 years] OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT, SERVICE AWARDS PRESENTATION THIS MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE THIS IS ANGELA KOONSMAN. AND I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT SHE HAS BEEN WITH THE CITY OF ABILENE FOR 15 YEARS NOW. I WANTED TO THANK HER FOR ALL HER HARD WORK AND DEDICATION. WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO HAVE HER ON OUR TEAM FOR ALL THE HELP THAT SHE DOES. IT MAKES OUR LIVES AND MY LIFE SMOOTHER EVERY DAY. SHE NEVER SAYS NO. ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP. SO WE REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SAY? >> I AM JUST ENJOYING WORKING FOR THE CITY FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS. HAS BEEN A GREAT JOB. >> SHE WORKS IN SENIOR SERVICES. >> VERY GOOD. >> WELL THAT'S IT. >> CONGRATULATIONS, THANK YOU, ANGELA. [APPLAUSE] OKAY. AT THIS TIME, I DON'T THINK THERE IS A REASON FOR US TO MOVE [4. Approval of New Recycling Center Temporary and Permanent Location (Discussion, Public Hearing and Possible Action)] INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION SO WE WILL FOREGO ITEM 3 ON THE AGENDA AND MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 4. APPROVAL OF RECYCLING CENTER TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT LOC LOCATION. LESLI. >> YES, WE RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM PUBLIC WORKS. AND THE RECYCLING CENTER THAT HAS BEEN IN THE HEB PARKING LOT NEEDED TO BE MOVED SO THEY REQUESTED TO MOVE IT TO THE RECYCLING CENTER I MEAN, TO MOVE IT TO ROSE PARK. ON THE SCREEN BEFORE YOU NOTE IS THE TEMPORARY LOCATION. THAT IS THE PARKING LOT THAT SERVES ABILENE COMMUNITY THEATER AND THE BRIDGE CLUB. THAT IS THE TEMPORARY LOCATION THAT THEY HAVE REQUESTED TO PLACE THEIR CONTAINERS. PROBABLY FOR SIX MONTHS. THIS LOCATION RIGHT HERE IS ACTUALLY LOCATED BETWEEN THE BRIDGE CLUB AND STORM WATER. IT IS JUST A SMALL PIECE OF GREEN SPACE THAT NOT REALLY ANY ROOM TO DEVELOP IT FOR ANYTHING AND SO THEY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THIS THEIR PERMANENT LOCATION. THE REASON IT WILL TAKE A FEW MONTHS IS THEY WILL HAVE TO GO IN WITH THE PARKING LOT. AND IT IS GREEN SPACE RIGHT NOW SO THEY WILL HAVE TO DEVELOP IT MORE OUT THAN JUST PUT IT DOWN. IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME. THIS IS WHAT THEY ARE REQUESTING TO BE THEIR PERMANENT LOCATION FOR. >> OKAY, IF WE UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, THIS IS ALSO WHERE THEY ARE REQUESTING THE TEMPORARY AS WELL. >> WE ARE LETTING YOU KNOW TEMPORARILY THAT THEY HAVE REQUESTED TO PUT IT IN ROSE PARK AND REQUESTING THIS TO BE THEIR PERMANENT LOCATION. I WILL SAY, IT IS ALREADY THERE IN THE TEMPORARY LOCATION. THEY DID NOT HAVE MUCH TIME TO BE ABLE TO MOVE IT. SO IT HAS ACTUALLY ALREADY BEEN MOVED INTO THE TEMPORARY LOCATION. >> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? >> SO OVER HERE. WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS ORANGE OR RED BOX ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE STRUCTURES THAT ARE AROUND IT. JUST TO IDENTIFY THEM. IT LOOKS LIKE WHAT IS THAT? A SOFTBALL FIELD? SOFTBALL OR BASEBALL. >> BASEBALL FIELD NORTH. IT MATCHES THE BRIDGE CLUB. >> WHAT IS THAT WITH A NUMBER 20 DRAWN ON IT? RIGHT HERE THAT I AM POINTING AT. >> I DON'T KNOW. >> I AM NOT FOLLOWING YOU, JACK. >> I WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NOTHING IT WOULD BE STRANGE TO HAVE A RECYCLING CENTER NEXT TO. >> LOOK AT THE RIGHT HAND PICTURE JUST TO THE NORTH AND A LITTLE TO THE EAST, THERE IS A THIN LONG -- >> I BELIEVE THAT IS A BATTING CAGE. IT IS PART OF THE BASEBALL. >> WE DON'T EXPECT THIS RECYCLING CENTER TO INTERFERE WITH THE USE OF ANY OF THESE STRUCTURES? >> NO, SIR. >> THAT IS ALL. >> WOULD YOU BE ADDING ANY PAVEMENT THERE TO PLACE THESE ON? >> THAT WILL HAVE TO BE DESIGNED BY PUBLIC WORKS. THEY ARE NOT THAT FAR ALONG. I'M NOT SURE IF IT WOULD BE PAVEMENT. THAT WOULD BE UP TO PUBLIC WORKS DO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION ON WHAT THEIR TRUCKS CAN HANDLE. >> WE WOULD BE MOVING EVERYTHING OVER FROM WHERE THAT'S EVERYTHING. THAT IS ALL THE DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF RECYCLING THAT WE DO CURRENTLY. ALL OF IT IS REPRESENTED AT THERE. >> THAT IS AGAIN UP TO PUBLIC WORKS AND THE USAGE AND THE [00:10:04] SPACE. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO DETERMINE. HOW MANY CANS AND HOW MUCH THEY CAN SERVICE THERE. >> WERE THEY THE ONES THAT CAME TO US WITH THIS? >> YES, SIR. >> IS THERE ANY OTHER RECYCLING CURRENTLY BEING DONE ON THE PARK LAND? >> IT WAS NELSON PARK. IT WAS MOVED OUT OF NELSON PARK WHEN THE ROCK WAS BUILT. I AM TRYING TO THINK IF THERE'S ANY OTHER LOCATIONS. WE HAVE HAD IT ON PARK LAND BEFORE. >> WERE THERE ANY ISSUES THAT AROSE? >> WHERE CHICK FIL A WAS, WAS A RECYCLING CENTER. >> ISN'T THERE ONE UNDERNEATH THE -- >> THERE IS. AND I WOULD EXPECT IT TO LOOK MUCH LIKE THAT ONE BUT NOT THAT LARGE. >> HAVE WE EXPERIENCED ANY ISSUES WITH PARK OPERATIONS WHEN WE HAVE HAD THE COMBINATION OF THOSE TWO THINGS? >> NO, SIR. >> BUT THIS IS PARKS LAND. >> IT IS PARKS LAND. AND TO THIS POINT, UNDEVELOPED. IT IS A SMALL LOCATION. THERE IS NOT MUCH THAT WE COULD DO WITH THIS SMALL AREA. AND THEN, STORMWATER AND PARKS. LOOKING WHERE THAT SQUARE IS, STORMWATER AND PARKS IS ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE. AND ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE IS THE BRIDGE CLUB. I GOT MY DIRECTIONS BACKWARDS. FLIP WHAT I JUST SAID. >> I THINK JUST THE OPPOSITE IF I'M LOOKING AT THE PICTURE AND KNOWING WHERE THE BRIDGE CLUB HAS BEEN FOR YEARS AND YEARS. >> DIRECTIONS HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN MY STRONG SUIT. >> BRIDGE CLUB IS CLOSER OR FURTHER AWAY? >> AND THEN ON THE LEFT SIDE AND THEN THE STORM WATER IS ON THE RIGHT SIDE. OKAY, ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, AT THIS TIME WE WILL OPEN THE MICROPHONE UP FOR PUBLIC HEARING FOR ANY COMMENTS FOR ANYONE WISHING TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE STEP FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION AND YOU WILL HAVE 3 MINUTES. SEEING NO ONE STEPPING FORWARD, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION AND MOVE ON TO ACTION. ACTION OF WHAT YOU ARE ASKING US TO DO TODAY ACTUALLY IS TO APPROVE THE RELOCATION OF THIS AT LEAST ON TEMPORARY BASIS. >> FOR THIS ONE, I'M GOING TO COME DOWN TO THIS MICROPHONE IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT EVERYONE THROUGH MUCH OF THIS INFORMATION WE DISCUSSED IN MAY. BUT BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NAMING, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT DOES GO. >> WE HAVEN'T VOTED ON THE TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT ASSIGNMENT. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT LOCATION? >> ACTUALLY MAY I ASK ONE MORE QUESTION? SUPPOSE WE SAY LET'S APPROVE THIS ON A TEMPORARY BASIS AND SEE HOW IT GOES ASSUMING EVERYTHING WILL GO FINE. AFTER THAT PERIOD OF TIME APPROVE IT ON A PERMANENT BASIS? DOES THAT SOUND REASONABLE? OR ARE WE TALKING ABOUT A PERMANENT APPROVAL TODAY? >> THE REQUEST TO SEE IF PARKS BOARD WOULD APPROVE THE PERMANENT LOCATION. IF YOU WANT THEM TO DO THE EVALUATION AND THEN COME BACK TO YOU, THAT IS CERTAINLY WITHIN YOUR RIGHT TO DO SO. >> WOULD THAT BE REASONABLE, OR IS THAT A BIT MUCH? >> IT IS REASONABLE. >> THEN I WOULD MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE TEMPORARY LOCATION FOR A TERM OF 90 DAYS UPON THE EXPIRATION OF WHICH WILL RECONSIDER THE LOCATION ON A PERMANENT BASIS. >> DOES 90 DAYS GIVE ENOUGH TIME FOR THE EVALUATION PROCESS? >> IT IS THERE ALREADY, RIGHT? >> THE TEMPORARY LOCATION IS FINE. WHAT I THINK I HEAR YOU ASKING FOR IS THE DESIGN OF THE PERMANENT LOCATION TO SEE WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE AND WHAT IS GOING TO BE THERE. I BELIEVE 90 DAYS IS ENOUGH. WE COULD PUT IT ON THE AGENDA TO COME BACK IN 90 DAYS. IF THEY ARE NOT READY WE COULD TABLE IT TO A FURTHER DATE WHEN WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE. >> IT IS THERE NOW TEMPORARY. >> THE TEMPORARY LOCATION IS ALL THERE. [INDISTINCT] >> OKAY. SO I WILL AMEND MY MOTION. SO I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO [00:15:05] APPROVE THE NEW RECYCLING CENTER ON A TEMPORARY BASIS FOR 180 DAYS TO BE REVISITED FOR CONSIDERATION OF A PERMANENT LOCATION AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF 180 DAYS. >> A MOTION HAS BEEN MADE. DO I HAVE A SECOND? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED? OKAY MOTION CARRIES. WE WILL GRANT THIS FOR 180 DAYS AND THEN REVISIT IT AT THAT T TIME. VERY GOOD. OKAY. NOW, NEXT ITEM. >> SORRY FOR JUMPING THE GUN. [5. Renaming Sears Recreation Center (Discussion, Public Hearing and Possible Action)] YOU KNOW WHERE MY MIND IS ALL MORNING. AS I WAS SAYING, RENAMING OF THE SEARS RECREATION CENTER, THESE FIRST FEW SLIDES ARE THINGS WE DISCUSSED IN MAY. WANTED TO REVISIT THEM, BECAUSE THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT DECISION. AND THIS GENERAL INFORMATION IS ON AUGUST 17TH OF 2020. THAT IS WHEN THE REQUEST CAME BEFORE THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD TO NAME THE SEARS PARK TO ARTHUR SEARS PARK TO CESAR CHAVEZ. AFTER FURTHER DISCUSSION, A MOTION WAS MADE ON SEPTEMBER 21ST OF 2021 TO NAME THE ARTHUR SEARS PARK, LEAVE IT THE SAME BUT CHANGE THE RECREATION CENTER NUMBER NAME FROM ARTHUR SEARS PARK RECREATION CENTER TO CESAR CHAVEZ RECREATION CENTER. AND THEN ON MARCH 27TH OF 2026, CITY COUNCIL REQUESTED STAFF TO REMOVED THE NAME OF CESAR CHAVEZ FROM THE FACILITY AND GO BACK TO THE ARTHUR SEARS RECREATION CENTER NAME TEMPORARILY UNTIL THE PARKS BOARD COULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE NAMING OF THIS BUILDING. SO, PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITY. THE NAMING OF THE CITY OF ABILENE PARK, PARK AREA, PARK FACILITY IS A SERIOUS MATTER FOR ALL NAMES CONSIDERED BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD SHOULD BE CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE CONSIDERATE, AND ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITIZENS OF ABILENE. THERE ARE MULTIPLE CRITERIAS THAT CAN GO FOR A REASON WHY WE CHOOSE A PARTICULAR NAME. IT CAN BE AN INDIVIDUAL. IT CAN BE A SUBSTANTIAL POINT IN TIME. IT COULD BE DASHED THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A BUILDING TO BE NAMED AFTER. WE DO REQUEST THAT IT NOT BE A DUPLICATE OF A NAME THAT IS ALREADY OUT THERE. THAT IT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT TO THE CITIZENS OF ABILENE. AND HOPEFULLY, IT BE A HEAVY CONTRIBUTOR TO PARKS AND RECREATION AND THE HISTORY OF PARKS AND RECREATION. THE PARKS BOARD DOES HAVE THE ABILITY TO SELECT THE NAME. THAT AUTHORITY DOES RESIDE WITH PARKS BOARD. IT IS NOT A RECOMMENDATION UNTO CITY COUNCIL. IT IS ACCORDING TO THE CHARTER IN THE PURVIEW OF PARKS BOARD. THAT DECISION WILL REMAIN HERE AT THIS LEVEL. IT DOES REQUIRE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS. WHEN A NAME IS SELECTED. SO IF YOU CHOOSE A NAME TODAY, THE SECOND HEARING WOULD BE IN AUGUST. IF YOU WANT MORE TIME TO RESEARCH A NAME OR TO GET MORE FEEDBACK FROM THE CITIZENS AND DON'T SELECT A NAME TODAY, THEN THE FIRST READING WOULD BE IN AUGUST. AND THE SECOND READING WOULD BE IN SEPTEMBER. MAKING SURE Y'ALL UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'VE GOT PLENTY OF TIME TO REALLY THINK THROUGH THIS AND GET CITIZEN FEEDBACK. THIS IS SOME OF THE NAMING CRITERIA THAT I MENTIONED FOR OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL PER COMMON USAGE, IDENTIFYING THE NEIGHBORHOOD, HISTORICAL EVENT OR PLACE, NATURAL OR GEOGRAPHIC FEATURE. AND THEN BENEFITS A ORGANIZATION A POSTHUMOUS ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO HAVE THAT PARTICULAR NAME. IT CANNOT DUPLICATE ANOTHER NAME OR AREA IN THE PARK. IT SHALL NOT ENDORSE OR ADVOCATE ANY SPECIFIC RELIGIOUS GROUP OR HAVE OBSCENE CONNECTION OR PORTRAY DEMON OR INTIMATE RACIAL OR ETHNIC GROUP THE NAME OF THE FACILITY SHALL NOT BE PROPOSED OR CHANGED WITHOUT THE COMPLETION OF THE APPLICATION FORM. AND ONCE THE BUILDING IS NAMED, IT IS FOR 50 YEARS. THAT IS THE STIPULATION THAT PARKS BOARD WHEN THEY DEVELOPED THIS POLICY PUT IN THERE. SO WE DIDN'T CONTINUALLY HAVE PEOPLE WANTING TO RENAME THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER. I REALIZE THAT CESAR CHAVEZ WAS NAMED IN 2021. [00:20:03] THAT IS NOT 50 YEARS. UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF WHAT WAS DISCOVERED AND DETERMINED, IT DOES GIVE PARKS BOARD THE AUTHORITY TO CHANGE THE NAME EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN LESS THAN 50 YEARS. WE DID -- PARKS BOARD AT THE LAST MEETING DID REQUEST OR SET A DEADLINE OF JUNE 30TH FOR APPLICATIONS. WE DID RECEIVE FIVE APPLICATIONS PER THE APPLICATION PROCESS DOES REQUIRE 50 SIGNATURES OF CITIZENS RESIDING IN THE CITY LIMITS OF ABILENE. MR. ENRIQUE, SERGEANT FERNANDEZ AND MR. ROGERS ALL MET THAT STIPULATION. MR. DECKARD DID NOT. THE APPLICATION DID NOT HAVE THAT IT HAD 50 SIGNATURES, BUT NOT 50 SIGNATURES RESIDING WITHIN THE CITY OF ABILENE. SO THESE ARE THE NAMES THAT I AM PRESENTING FOR YOU TODAY TO CONSIDER. MR. ENRIQUEZ SERGEANT FERNANDEZ, AND MR. ROGERS FOR ALL THOSE APPLICATIONS WERE SENT TO YOU PRIOR TO THIS MEETING FOR YOU TO REVIEW. DO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU CAN CHOOSE ONE OF THESE NAMES. YOU CAN DENY ALL OF THESE NAMES AND DECIDE TO LEAVE IT AS ARTHUR SEARS. DID NOT REQUIRE FURTHER RESEARCH. IT DOES NOT REQUIRE AN APPLICATION TO GO BACK TO ARTHUR SEARS. SO YOU COULD CHOOSE TO LEAVE IT ARTHUR SEARS. YOU COULD CHOOSE ONE OF THESE NAMES YOU COULD CHOOSE TO TABLE THIS TILL NEXT MONTH TO GIVE YOU MORE TIME TO CONSIDER ALL OF THIS. OF THESE NAMES, THERE'S TWO THAT STAND OUT. 2-3 OF THEM THAT STAND OUT AS BEING SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTORS TO THE PARKS AND REC SYSTEM OVER MANY DEADES. CAMPOS AND MR. ENRIQUEZ AND MR. DECKER HERE WE DO HAVE PAPERWORK AND DOCUMENTATION WHERE THEY WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THE PARK SYSTEM. NOT THAT SERGEANT FERNANDEZ OR MR. ROGERS DIDN'T ENJOY THE PARKS OR DIDN'T HAVE ANY INVOLVEMENT WITH THE PARKS BUT BETWEEN JUNE 30TH AND TODAY'S MEETING HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO COME UP WITH A LOT OF BACKGROUND FOR THEM IN THOSE AREAS. AND I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> OKAY, ANYBODY HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OR ANYTHING REGARDING THIS? >> I DO HAVE A QUESTION. WE DO HAVE HIS STAFF HERE YOU SAID THEY COLLECTED THE DATA AND EVERYTHING ABOUT INVOLVEMENT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY WITHIN THE PARKS AND REC SYSTEM FROM EACH OF THESE NOMINEES. >> IT HAS BEEN A LIMITED AMOUNT OF RESEARCH DUE TO WHEN THE AGENDA HAS TO BE POSTED. I DO KNOW, MR. CAMPOS AND MR. ENRIQUEZ WERE ON THE SERIES DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. THAT WAS VERY ACTIVE IN THE EARLY 2000S. BOTH OF THEIR NAMES ARE LISTED ON THAT DOCUMENTATION. I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH MISS CAMPOS, I AM FAMILIAR WITH MR. ENRIQUEZ. HE IS THE ONE PERSON THAT MR. ENRIQUEZ AND MR. DECKER ARE BOTH STILL LIVING THROUGH MR. ENRIQUEZ, I HAVE WORKED WITH A LOT IN THE PAST COUPLE OF DECADES. >> OKAY. >> ALL RIGHT. QUESTIONS? >> CAN YOU SAY A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU DID FIND WITH MR. ENRIQUEZ AND MISS CAMPOS WITH THEIR INVOLVEMENT WITH PARKS? >> ALL I HAVE AT THIS POINT IS THEIR NAME IN THE DOCUMENTATION ON THE SEARS DEVELOPMENT THAT THEY WERE PART OF THAT COMMITTEE. AND THE SUB CHAIRS THAT THEY SERVED ON. AND THAT PLAN OR THAT BINDER THAT WAS PRESENTED AND ADOPTED BY PLANNING AND ZONING AND THE CITY COUNCIL BACK IN 2003. I CAN DOUBLE CHECK THAT. >> LESLI, THANK YOU FOR THE CITY AND THE FOLKS PUTTING TOGETHER THIS PROCESS. THIS HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT PROCESS AND A STRESSFUL PROCESS AND TAKEN A LOT OF EFFORT THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED TO DATE. I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE FOR THIS. WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS IS WE CERTAINLY HAVE SOME FOLKS THAT CERTAINLY DESERVE THE HONOR. THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT DESERVE THIS HONOR. IT IS A BLESSING TO SEE WE'VE [00:25:02] HAD SOME FOLKS RISE TO THE TOP HERE I'M SURE THERE'S A LOT MORE NAMES THAT COULD BE LISTED AS WELL FOR IT IS A BLESSING TO BEA CITY THAT HAS EVOLVED TO COLLECT THOSE NAMES. OKAY, ALL RIGHT, THANKS, LESLI. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL OPEN UP THE MICROPHONE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THIS ISSUE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE COMMENTS ABOUT ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR, PLEASE COME FORWARD TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS AND AFFILIATION. AND YOU WILL HAVE 3 MINUTES TO SPEAK. >> GOOD MORNING MY NAME IS MILDRED DECKERT. I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK I AM HERE, I DON'T KNOW. I'M HERE IN HONOR OF MY HUSBAND KENNETH DECKERT. I KNOW THAT SHE SAID HE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH NAMES TO MEET THE CRITERIA. BUT WE START DOING THIS, BECAUSE HE WORKED IN ALL THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES, EVERYBODY WANTED TO PUT THEIR NAME ON THE LIST. AND HE WORKED FOR THE COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM FOR 33.5 YEARS HERE IN ABILENE. AND HE DID A LOT OF WORK. THE OFFICE ORIGINATED THE FAMILY PLANNING WHO IS NOW UNDER HENDRICK HEAD START WHO IS UNDER ABILENE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. THEY DID WEATHERIZATION ON HOMES HERE IN ABILENE WITHOUT CHARGING THE RESIDENTS FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DID. THEY DID SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR THEIR KIDS. ALL THEY HAD TO DO WAS COME AND PICK UP A BACKPACK WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND THAT IS THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO DO THIS FOR HIM. HE WILL BE 81 YEARS OLD NEXT MONTH. AND BECAUSE OF HIS FOOTBALL BACKGROUND, HE HAS SUFFERED FROM DEMENTIA. I WANTED HIM TO SEE SOMETHING THAT HE DID IN THE 33 YEARS WHILE HE IS LIVING. AND SO THAT IS WHY I THOUGHT ABOUT PUTTING HIS NAME ON THE BUILDING, THE SEARS BUILDING. THE OFFICE WAS IN THEIR BUILDING ON THE SOUTH END AT ONE TIME. THE COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM BEFORE THEY BOUGHT ANOTHER BUILDING. SO HE GOES BY WHEN HE SAW IT BEING TORN DOWN, HE WAS UPSET BECAUSE THEY WERE TEARING THE BUILDING DOWN. AND SO I THINK THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT HE COULD LOOK BACK ON EVEN WITH HIS DEMENTIA AND SEE, I WORKED THERE. AND I DID SOMETHING FOR THAT COMPANY. THAT'S WHY I RECOMMENDED HIS NAME FOR THE BUILDING. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. >> GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. I COME NOT ON BEHALF OF MY FATHER, BUT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND EVERYBODY. THERE'S A LOT OF HISTORY. WITH HIM BEING 81, MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE, HE WAS THE FIRST BLACK ATHLETE TO RECEIVE A SCHOLARSHIP AT UNIVERSITY GRADUATED IN THREE YEARS WITH 2 DEGREES. DRAFTED BY THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS. BUT HE DIDN'T STAY GONE. HE CAME BACK TO ABILENE AND BECAME THE COMMUNITY ACTION DIRECTOR FOR 33.5 YEARS AS MY MOM SAID. AND WHEN WE DID PUT THE LIST OF NAMES TOGETHER, I THINK MY WIFE CAN VERIFY I THINK THERE WAS WELL OVER 1700. BECAUSE CAP DIDN'T JUST DO THINGS IN TAYLOR COUNTY. THEY DID THE FIVE SURROUNDING COUN SO MUCH WORK THAT HE WAS ABLE TO DO AND THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE THAT KNOW HIS NAME AS KEN DECKER BEFORE HE BECAME A PASTOR AND ALL OF THAT OTHER STUFF, THEY ARE NOT WITH US ANY MORE. OR THEY HAVE MOVED AWAY. HE STILL GOT A LOT OF FRIENDS THAT ARE LIVING, BUT THEY JUST DON'T LIVE IN THE ABILENE SURROUNDING AREA. SO AS HIS SON TO PUT A STAPLE ON WHAT HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO BE A PART OF, MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT GRANT TAFT, THE GREAT FOOTBALL COACH AT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY, HE WAS MY DAD'S COACH AT MACMURRAY. PART OF THE HISTORY THAT WAS MADE FOR SPORTS AND AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE AS A WHOLE, MY DAD WAS A PART OF THAT. AND SO TO HAVE HIS NAME ON THE BUILDING WHERE HE OFFERS-I.D. FOR YEARS, WHERE HE AND I BOTH I WAS WITH HIM FOR ONE DAY BEFOREE KNEW THAT THEY WERE REBUILDING THE PARK. HE WAS, LIKE, I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY TORE DOWN THAT BUILDING. HE WAS REALLY FUSSING ABOUT IT WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT THEY WERE GOING TO CHANGE THE NAME, I SAID, WHATEVER WE CAN DO, THAT TO ME WOULD BE THE MOST POWERFUL LEGACY TO LEAVE SOMEBODY THAT HAD THAT MUCH OF AN INFLUENCE ON THE CITY OF ABILENE AND THE SURROUNDING AREA. SO FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS FOR HIS NAME TO BE THERE AND BE SEEN, I THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE UNPRECEDENTED. WE REALLY DO HOPE THAT YOU GUYS WOULD CONSIDER THAT. IT'S NOT JUST BECAUSE OF HIS [00:30:02] NAME. IT IS BECAUSE OF WHAT HE HAS DONE AND WHAT HE HAS BEEN A PART OF AS FAR AS HISTORY FOR THE CITY OFABILENE. >> SIR CAN WE GET YOUR NAME PLEASE? >> MY NAME IS MICHAEL DECKER, 2865. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR FAMILY'S HISTORY WITH US. >> ODDLY ENOUGH, I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER YOUR FATHER PLAYING FOOTBALL AT MCMURRAY. [LAUGHS] SO I REMEMBER THE NAME WELL. I SURE DO. OKAY, ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY >> I AM SAMUEL GARCIA I LIVE IN 20 7:30 FOUR BRENTWOOD. I AM THE PERSON THAT PUT UP THE NAME OF CAMPOS. HE WAS NOT ONLY PART OF THE SEARS REVITALIZATION COMMITTEE. SHE ALSO LOOK AT TIES IF YOU HAD GONE INTO THE KITCHEN OR AROUND THE KITCHEN YOU WOULD HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN HER PICTURE UP THERE. WE DEDICATED THE KITCHEN TO HER. SO I AM ASSUMING WE STILL HAVE THAT PICTURE, BECAUSE IT WAS TAKEN DOWN. THAT IS A PRETTY CLOSE TIE TO ACTUALLY HAVE YOUR PICTURE IN THE BUILDING. THE REASON WE DID THAT WAS BECAUSE, WHEN WE WOULD HOST THE THANKSGIVING DINNER, SHE WAS THE ONE THAT WAS IN CHARGE OF ORGANIZING EVERYTHING IN THE KITCHEN TO FEED THE COMMUNITY. SHE ALSO WAS BECAUSE OF HER LONGEVITY SHE WORKED ON FOR 40 YEARS FOR A ISD. SHE ALWAYS INVITED ALL THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS TO COME MEET THE STUDENTS AND THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY SERVED AND SERVE. SHE WOULD GET ADMINISTRATORS, THE SUPERINTENDENTS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO COME AND DO THAT. THAT IS HOW COME THAT WAS HER AREA DURING THAT EVENT. SHE ALSO PARTICIPATED IN QUITE A FEW GIVEAWAYS, BACKPACK GIVEAWAY SPIRIT THEY HAVE THEIR BIG BACKPACK GIVEAWAYS THERE SHE USED TO PARTICIPATE THERE. LIKE I SAID, SHE WOULD PARTICIPATE QUITE A BIT. I WOULD REMIND YOU AS FAR AS THE PREVIOUS DOES THE PARAMETERS WERE SET UP IN ORDER OF HOW TO RENAME PARKS TO FOLLOW THIS. BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW THEM, YOU BASICALLY ARE IGNORING WHAT PAST BOARD DID. THE WORK THAT THEY DID IN ORDER TO COME UP WITH THOSE PARAMETERS BUGANDA'S AS THIS WILL BE A REALLY HARD DECISION FOR THERE'S NOT AN UNWORTHY PERSON UP THERE FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE IS WORTHY. IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A DECISION, A REALLY HARD DECISION, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THOSE PARAMETERS. IF YOU DON'T STICK BY THOSE PARAMETERS, THEN YOU ARE IGNORING WHAT PREVIOUS PARK PUT TOGETHER. THE OTHER THING I'M GOING TO DISPUTE A LITTLE BIT SOMETHING THAT LESLI SAID ABOUT, IF YOU DON'T DECIDE, THEN IT SHOULD GO BACK TO SEARS. I DON'T THINK THAT IS THE CASE TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. I THINK WE HAD A VERY UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCE HERE. I'M THE PERSON THAT GOT UP AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND SAID, TAKE IT DOWN. BECAUSE IT WAS A MISTAKE IT WAS A MISTAKE NONE OF US KNEW ABOUT. WHEN YOU FIND OUT, YOU ADMIT TO IT. I THINK, YOU DO THE HARD WORK AND MAKE A HARD DECISION AND DECIDE AND COME UP WITH A NAME. PEOPLE HAVE GONE THROUGH A LOT OF WORK AND NAMES MAKING SUGGESTIONS. I THINK BY NOT MAKING THE DECISION, YOU ARE IGNORIN ALL THE WORK THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON UP THERE DID TO PUT UP THESE NAMES. BUT I WOULD REMIND YOU THAT FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES LAID OUT. AND THE PARAMETERS. AND I WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. OKAY. >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING. ANTHONY RESIDING AT 1725 TRAILS PARKWAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR THE RESOURCE WORK YOU HAVE PUT IN. I AM STANDING INSTEAD OF MARILYN WHO COULD NOT BE HERE THIS MORNING MARILYN AND OTHERS PUT TOGETHER THE EFFORT TO RECOGNIZE BILLY. I STAND IN HER STEAD THIS MORNING. OVI AND BILLY AND MARK WERE FRIENDS OF MINE, ARE FRIENDS OF MINE. KIN DECKER IS A MENTOR OF MINE AND A FRIEND. ALL VERY WORTHY. AND SO I WANT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF BILLY, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AND ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THE TASK IN FRONT OF YOU THAT IS NOT AN EASY TASK. I DON'T KNOW BILLY'S BIO BUT I WILL SAY A FEW THINGS. BILLY HAS SPENT ALL OF HIS LIFE LIVING IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. NEVER LIVING MORE THAN 3 MILES [00:35:01] AWAY. HE HAS BEEN INVESTMENTS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD FOR 15 YEARS, HE LED A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND FRANKLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL. SEVEN YEARS, HE LED AN INITIATIVE AT THE ELEMENTARY. FOR TEN YEARS, HE LED THE LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL TEAM THERE. AND OF COURSE, FOR TEN YEARS, HE WAS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD. HE HAS MADE THOSE CONTRIBUTIONS. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER FORGOT WHERE HE HAS COME FROM. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS. THERE WAS COMMENTS MADE ABOUT THE WORTHINESS OF NAMING SOMEONE IF THERE'S A LOT. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAD A SIMILAR POLICY BUT MADE A CHANGE WHEN THEY NAMED JOHNSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AFTER COACH PURCELL. THE OLD JACKSON ELEMENTARY AFTER A QUARTER PICK BECAUSE THEY MARRIED IT AS KIND OF A CLICHE T THE MOST SIGNIFICANT SERMONS ARE THOSE THAT ARE NOT ARTICULATE FROM THE PULPIT BUT THOSE THAT ARE LIVED. I WOULD SAY THAT BILLY HAS LIVED HIS SERMON. AS SOMEONE THAT WE CAN ALL RALLY AROUND. AND I WOULD JUST ASK YOU FOR THAT CONSIDERATION AS YOU CONTEMPLATE THE NAMING OF THE REC CENTER FOR A PERSON THAT HAS LIVED HIS ENTIRE LIFE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, WHO HAS SERVED THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. IN FACT, ONE OF THE FIRST TWO PLANTS, BILLY HELPED CONTRIBUTE TO. ACCESS LEARNING PROGRAM WITH JOEL AND ALL THE YEARS AGO, BILLY WAS PART OF THAT. I WILL TAKE MY SEAT. TIME IS RUNNING OUT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONSIDERATION AND PRAYER FOR YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS. >> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR ANYONE ELSE WANTING TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE STEP FORWARD. AT THIS TIME, SEEING THAT THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING SECTION AND OPEN IT UP FOR ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD UP HERE ANY COMMENTS? WE HAVE SOME VERY DISTINGUISHED NAMES THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER FOR THIS IMPORTANT DECISION. LESLI, IS IT POSSIBLE FOR STAFF TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE RESEARCH INTO INVOLVEMENT, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE TWO DAY? >> YES, SIR. >> I APPRECIATE THE UNDERSTANDING THE SUBMITTAL CHALLENGE AND EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE HAD. BUT WE ALSO HAD TWO OF THESE NAMES THAT WERE SPOKEN WELL OF. FRANKLY, WE WANT TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION WE CAN. I THINK AT LEAST IN MY OPINION. DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS? >> MY ONLY COMMENT WOULD BE TO ECHO WHAT MY OTHER COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY SAID. I FEEL SO HUMBLED THIS MORNING TO HEAR THESE STORIES OF THESE PEOPLE WHO MADE SUCH AN IMPACT. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU ALL TOOK THE TIME TO SHARE THAT WITH US. BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW. IT BEARS REPEATING. THANK YOU. >> THERE WAS A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME WHERE IT SEEMED THAT WE WEREN'T GOING TO GET ANY APPLICATIONS FOR THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SEVERAL EXCELLENT APPLICATIONS IS REALLY EXCITING AND ENCOURAGING OBVIOUSLY IT MAKES OUR JOB MORE DIFFICULT. I HAVE BEEN MAKING NOTES ON ALL OF THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND SPEAKING TO US. I AM ALSO MAKING NOTES ON JUST THE OVERALL NAMING CRITERIA POLICY. AND THAT HAS BEEN A LITTLE CLARIFYING FOR ME I WON'T SAY HOW IT IS CLARIFYING. IT HAS BEEN HELPFUL. OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS THE QUESTION OF -- I. HATE USING THIS WORD HERE, BUT WORTHINESS. ARE THE CANDIDATES WORTHY OF THE HONOR OF HAVING SOMETHING NAMED AFTER THEM? I FEEL LIKE THAT IS A RESOUNDING YES FOR EACH OF THESE FINE FOLKS. COMPLETE APPLICATION IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT IS IN THE CRITERIA. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I AGREE THAT WE SHOULD KEEP IN MIND. CONNECTIONS TO PARKS IS OBVIOUSLY IN THE CRITERIA. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS IN THE CRITERIA SPECIFICALLY, BUT I [00:40:01] LOVE THE FACT THAT THE CONNECTIONS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN EMPHASIZED SO MUCH AS WELL. AND THEN JUST THE PUBLIC ADVOCACY ACTUALLY AT THIS MEETING. ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE THINGS THAT FEEL VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO KEEP IN MIND. THAT'S ALL. >> LESLI, REMIND ME I'M TRYING TO THINK BACK TO SIX YEARS AGO WHEN WE STARTE THIS PROCESS BEFORE IF THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSION WITH THE SEARS FAMILY, THE REMAINING SEARS FAMILY IN THE REGION? HAVE THEY BEEN REACHED OUT TO AT ALL? >> WE WILL REACH OUT TO THEM. WE HAVE NOT PRIOR TO THIS MEETING HERE I WILL SAY, I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM. I HAVE NOT GIVEN THEM THIS LIST OF NAMES TO GET THEIR FEEDBACK. I KNOW THEY ARE OPEN TO NEW NAMES. BUT AT THE TIME THAT I HAD THE CONVERSATIONS, I DID NOT HAVE ALL OF THESE NAMES. >> OKAY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? >> I DO WANT TO MAKE ONE CLEAR. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THEIR PERSPECTIVE AS MAKING A DECISION HERE THE IDEA THAT IT IS NOT THAT WE MAY NOT MAKE A DECISION TODAY. I DON'T WANT TO SEEM THAT WE ARE TRYING TO PUT SOMETHING ON HOLD BUT I DO WANT US TO TAKE THE TIME. THIS IS TOO IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAKE SOMETHING QUICK. I DO APPRECIATE THE COMMENT ABSOLUTELY. IF WE GO AWAY FROM TODAY AND WE NEED SOME MORE TIME TO MAKE THIS DECISION, PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THAT AS A SLAP OF THE FACE IN ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION WE MORE THAN ANYTHING WANT TO HONOR NOT JUST THIS COMMUNITY AND NOT JUST THIS BUILDING BUT ANYBODY WHO HAS MADE -- IN CONVERSATION. >> THE NAME IS GOING TO BE THERE FOR 50 YEARS. SO WE DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE THE BEST DECISION THAT WE CAN BASED ON ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE. >> AND ALSO, THIS ALSO CAME TO MIND. I ALSO DON'T WANT IT TO SOUND LIKE IF IT DID FOR SOME REASON GO BACK TO SEARS, LIKE THAT WOULD BE A FAILURE EITHER. AS I WAS LISTING ALL THE THINGS THAT I'M LOOKING AT FOR CRITERIA, THAT FITS FOR ARTHUR EVEN JUST THE CRITERION OF ANY LIVING PERSON SHALL HAVE MADE A WORTHY AND EXTRAORDINARY ENDOWMENT TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT OR BE EXTREMELY PROMINENT. THE FACT THAT HE GAVE THIS LAND. THERE'S NOT MUCH MORE WORTHY ENDOWMENT TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. DIRECTION THAT THIS IS GOING. I VERY MUCH WANT THIS PROCESS TO ALSO HONOR THE GIFTS AND THE WORTHINESS OF ARTHUR SEARS HIMSELF. >> OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY, NO OTHER COMMENTS OR ANYTHING THAT WE HAVE FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH POTENTIAL ACTION. WE WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS. FOR A MOTION TO TABLE OR A MOTION TO REVIEW FURTHER. >> I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO POSTPONE DISCUSSION AND DECISION ON THIS MATTER UNTIL THE NEXT PARKS MEETING. >> OKAY. MOTION HAS BEEN MADE TO FURTHER RESEARCH. >> YES, SIR. >> I AM JUST TRYING TO THINK THROUGH. LESLI, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, IF WE WANTED FURTHER COMMUNITY FEEDBACK, THAT WOULD COME AFTER THE FIRST READING OR THE FIRST DECISION? >> IT REQUIRES TWO HEARINGS ONCE YOU HAVE SELECTED A NAME. >> IF WE SELECTED A NAME, WE WOULD THEN HAVE PUBLIC HEARING FOR FURTHER COMMENT FROM THE COMMUNITY? >> YES. IF YOU SELECTED A NAME, YOU WOULD HAVE COMMENT BETWEEN NOW AND AUGUST IN THE FINAL DECISION WOULD BE IN AUGUST. IF YOU CHOOSE TO TABLE THIS AND DO MORE RESEARCH AND GET MORE. NOW THAT WE HAVE THESE NAMES, GET MORE FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY OVER THE NEXT MONTH. WE CAN MAKE THAT. >> THAT IS ACCEPTABLE. >> THAT IS ACCEPTABLE. WE CAN DO THAT AS WELL. WHEN YOU NAME THE NAME THAT YOU WANT IT TO BE, THAT IS THE FIRST HEARING AND IT REQUIRES A SECOND. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION I THINK WE ALL CERTAINLY WANT PUBLIC COMMENT ON [00:45:01] THIS. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY ON THIS. AS LONG AS WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR THAT, THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IS GIVING US A MONTH TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT IS CERTAINLY HELPFUL. >> WE HAVE A MOTION FOR JACK, DO YOU WANT TO RESTATE YOUR MOTION? >> I NEED TO CHANGE IT. >> ONE CAN I ASK ONE QUESTION BEFORE YOU MAKE YOUR MOTION? CERTAINLY THOSE ARE ALL WORTHY CANDIDATES IF WE WANTED TO CONSIDER ADDITIONAL RESEARCH BEFORE WE MAKE A DECISION, PRACTICALLY SPEAKING, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? WOULD WE NEXT MONTH, SOMEONE IS GATHERING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION? WHO IS GATHERING IT? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE WHEN WE COME BACK WITH THAT INFORMATION? >> THAT CAN LOOK A MULTITUDE OF DIFFERENT WAYS. MY ASSUMPTION IS STAFF WOULD DO AS MUCH RESEARCH AS WE CAN INTO OUR HISTORY AND OUR ARCHIVES OF WHAT WE KNOW. WE HAVE MADE NOTE OF THE FAMILIES OR REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DIFFERENT GROUPS. MY THOUGHT WHILE SITTING HERE WAS TO ALSO REACH OUT TO THEM INDIVIDUALLY AND GET MORE FEEDBACK. TALKING TO THE SEARS FAMILY IS ONE AREA. AND THEN WE CAN DO -- THIS IS PROBABLY NOT THE RIGHT TERM. BUT A PUBLIC CAMPAIGN FOR FEEDBACK AND CITY STAFF WOULD COLLECT ALL THAT INFORMATION. WE WOULD COMPILE ALL THAT TOGETHER AND SEND IT TO THE BOARD FOR REVIEW PRIOR TO THE NEXT MEETING BASICALLY, THE CUT OFF FOR THAT WOULD BE WHEN WE POST THE AGENDA. IT WOULD BE PART OF THE INFORMATION THAT Y'ALL WOULD RECEIVE PRIOR TO COMING TO THIS NEXT MEETING INDIVIDUALLY, Y'ALL ARE WELCOME -- YOU CAN'T TALK TO EACH OTHER. BUT YOU CAN TALK TO ANYONE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. AS YOU ARE GOING AROUND TOWN AND AS YOU ARE HAVING LUNCHES OR DINNERS OR GOING TO DIFFERENT THINGS AND WANT TO BRING UP THE TOPIC AND GET FEEDBACK FROM PEOPLE, YOU ARE WELCOME TO DO THAT AS WELL. IF YOU WANT TO SEND INFORMATION TO ME, I CAN BE THE COLLECTOR OF ALL OF THAT AND PACKAGE IT ALL TOGETHER. OR AS YOU DO YOUR OWN PERSONAL RESEARCH AND TALKING TO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, YOU COULD PRESENT THAT YOURSELVES AT THE NEXT PARKS BOARD MEETING. I HAVE HAD A HUNDRED DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS. THIS IS WHAT HAS RISEN TO THE TOP. IT IS WITHIN YOUR PURVIEW TO DO THAT AS LONG AS IT DOES NOT Y'ALL TALKING TO EACH OTHER. >> IF WE ARE GOING TO PAUSE AND CONSIDER THIS FOR ANOTHER MONTH, I DON'T WANT IT TO BE US CONSIDERING IT FOR ANOTHER MONTH. THAT TO ME FEELS LIKE UNNECESSARY. I WANT THERE TO BE SPECIFIC ACTIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING. TO ME, HAVING THE PUBLIC CAMPAIGN PIECE AND THEN THE CONVERSATION WITH THE SEARS FAMILY TO GET THEIR FEEDBACK WOULD BE THE TWO PIECES OF INFORMATION THAT I WOULD BE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN. I STRUGGLE WHEN THERE IS A PUBLIC CAMPAIGN PIECE. THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF NOISE THAT COMES WITH IT I WOULD ALSO HOPE THERE WOULD BE SOME GEMS OF WISDOM THAT WOULD COME WITH IT TOO. >> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WE HAD THE MOTION. IF YOU WOULD RESTATE IT ONE MORE TIME. >> OKAY. I WILL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE TABLE THE HEARING ON THIS MATTER FOR THE PURPOSE OF SOLICITING FEEDBACK FROM THE SEARS FAMILY AND FROM THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. AND THEN, AT OUR NEXT MEETING, WE WILL REVISIT THIS ISSUE FOR POSSIBLE ACTION. >> OKAY, ALL RIGHT. MOTION HAS BEEN MADE TO TABLE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION AND INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY. AND REFERRING THIS TO OUR AUGUST MEETING. IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED. OKAY, VERY GOOD. WE WILL GET FURTHER INFORMATION, LESLI. COLLECT THIS INFORMATION FOR YOU AT OUR NEXT MEETING. AND GO FROM THERE. IT IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT. AND AS WE HAVE BEEN REMINDED, WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE A QUICK [00:50:02] DECISION. >> THERE ARE WONDERFUL NAMES ON THIS LIST. >> THERE ARE. AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, THIS IS A TOUGH DECISION. IT IS VERY. BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL EXTREMELY WORTHY PEOPLE.% HAVING THE NAME WE COULD BE PROUD OF. ALL RIGHT, VERY GOOD. LET'S MOVE INTO STAFF REPORTS. CHRIS. THANK YOU FOR COMING AND SPEAKING THIS MORNING AS WELL. WE APPRECIATE IT. [INDISTINCT] SPEAKER WE HAD A DEADLINE. YES, MA'AM. IT WAS A DEADLINE THAT WE HAD FOR THAT. [INDISTINCT] >> CORRECT YES, MA'AM. [6. Aquatics Report (Discussion)Water Walkers] THANK YOU. >> CHRIS GIBBS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION HERE FOR THE AQUATICS REPORT IT WILL BE SHORT AND SWEET. SO, OUR WATER WALKERS HAS BLOWN UP. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PARTICIPANTS HERE IF YOU HAPPEN TO GO BY ON MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, OR FRIDAY, AT ADVENTURE COVE, YOU WILL SEE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE STANDING OUTSIDE WANTING TO GO IN HERE I'VE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE CATCH ME OUT IN PUBLIC AND TELL ME HOW MUCH THEY ENJOY THE WATERWORKS PROGRAM. THEY ARE THERE ALL THE TIME AS MUCH. WE'VE HAD TO START ANOTHER DAY. WE HAVE ADDED FRIDAY TO THE LIST AS WELL. GOING THROUGH AUGUST 12TH FOR THIS SERVICE AND EVENT. IT IS 9:00 A.M. UNTIL 10:30 A.M. ON MONDAY WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY. $2 ADMISSION FOR AGES 55 AND UP. YOU CAN SEE THEM GOING AROUND THE LAZY RIVER, THEY ARE TRUCKING. IT'S A GREAT EVENT. IT HAS BEEN REALLY WELL RECEIVED FROM OUR FOLKS OUT THERE. I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. >> MAYBE I MISSED IT, WHETHER YOU'RE AVERAGING 150-175 PER DAY. >> THAT IS BIG. >> FORGIVE ME FOR ASKING THIS QUESTION BUT WHAT IF WE MADE IT $5 ADMISSION? WOULD ANYONE CARE? >> THERE HAS BEEN SOME DISCUSSION ON THAT POSSIBLY MAYBE NEXT SEASON OR SOMETHING. WE DON'T WANT TO PRICE THEM OUT EITHER. >> JUST WONDERING. >> WE COULD DEFINITELY HAVE THAT CONVERSATION. >> THERE'S ALWAYS THE CONVERSATION AROUND THE LONG TERM FUNDING AND MAINTENANCE OF SUCH FACILITIES. IT ALWAYS HAS TO BE DEALT WITH. >> I THINK THE NAME AQUATICS SHOULD ALWAYS BE FOLLOWED WITH DOLLAR SIGNS. THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. WHETHER WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SPLASH PADS OR ADVENTURE COVE. >> I DID LAUGH. WE WERE AT DINNER A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. THE TABLE NEXT TO US WAS A GROUP OF FOLKS TALKING ABOUT THEIR DAY OF WATER WALKING I STARTED LAUGHING I BELLY LAUGHED OUT LOUD THEY WERE HAVING SUCH A GOOD TIME IT WAS THE GREATEST THING THAT NO ONE KNEW ABOUT IN ABILENE. I LOVE THAT IT IS GOING WELL. >> IT IS GREAT. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR [7. Parks Report (Discussion)TRAPS Healthy Play GrantKirby Girls Softball FenceStorm DamageKirby Lake North Pier Demolition] COMMENTS? >> ALL RIGHT, GOOD DEAL. THANKS, CHRIS. >> GOOD MORNING. I WANT TO START OFF WITH THE T.R.A.P.S. HEALTHY PLAYGROUND. WE HAD FUNDS TO REDO THE NELSON PLAYGROUND ON THE WEST SIDE OF NELSON PARK. AND WORKING BEING PART OF THE BOARD WITH T.R.A.P.S., THERE WAS AN INITIATIVE THAT T.R.A.P.S. EXECUTIVE TEAM AND THE STATE OFFICE STARTED -- WHICH BECAME THE TEXAS -- I'M SORRY, THE T.R.A.P.S. HEALTHY PLAYGROUND IN CONJUNCTION WORKING WITH GAME TIME CUNNINGHAM RECREATION AND PLAY CORPS. AND WITH THAT INITIATIVE WAS INITIALLY PUT FOR WAS TO HELP BUILD HEALTHY COMMUNITIES THROUGH OUR PLAY AND RECREATION. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED WAS, THERE WERE SEVERAL DIFFERENT LUNCH AND LEARNS THAT WAS PUT OUT TO THE STATE. WE WERE ABLE TO HOST ONE OF THOSE. WE HAD SOME COMMUNITIES AND RURAL COMMUNITIES OR SO THAT ATTENDED THAT. ONCE THAT WAS DONE, YOU HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THAT AND ABLE TO APPLY FOR A GRANT -- WHICH WE DID. AND WE GOT THE GRANT TO HELP OUT WITH THE BUILDING OF THE NELSON [00:55:03] PLAYGROUND. THAT WILL FUND THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT THERE. IT WILL BE STANDARD EQUIPMENT. IN ESSENCE, WHAT IT DOES, IT MAKES OUR DOLLAR GO FURTHER. WE ARE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ACQUIRE THIS GRANT THROUGH THE T.R.A.P.S. HEALTHY PLAYGROUND FOR. >> THAT IS AWESOME. THERE HAS BEEN A FUND RAISING CAMPAIGN AROUND THAT AS WELL. >> THAT IS FOR FORD IMAGINATION. BEFORE THE STATE TOURNAMENT, GUYS WENT OUT AND DID A LOT OF FENCING REPAIR KIRBY GIRLS SOFTBALL. YOU CAN SEE THEIR, THEY SPENT QUITE A BIT OF HOURS REPAIRING ALL THAT SO THEY WERE READY FOR THE TOURNAMENT. AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT HAD BEEN ON OUR RADAR FOR A WHILE FOR WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT DONE. AS YOU KNOW? STORM DAMAGE IS VERY SIGNIFICANT THROUGHOUT THE CITY. THESE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF PICTURES THAT WE TOOK WHILE WE WERE OUT ASSESSING DAMAGE. THAT'S OUR OLD MAINTENANCE SHOP WHERE THE WALL CAME DOWN AGAIN THAT IS THE SECOND TIME THE WALL HAS COME DOWN AND A TREE A SEARS PARK. WE TOOK QUITE A BIT OF DAMAGE ESPECIALLY AT SEARS. A LOT OF TREE DAMAGE, ROOF WAS BLOWN OFF THE RESTROOM WHICH WE ARE WORKING ON PUTTING BACK. A LOT OF WORK HAS BEEN PUT INTO CLEANING THIS UP. THE GUYS ARE JUST NOW STARTING TO GO BACK TO MOWING. I KNOW WE HAVE HAD SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE MOWING, BUT WE ARE GETTING BACK TO IT BUT WE HAD TO DO SOME CLEANUP. WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING AS WE CAN AND AS WE GO. KEEP LOOKING FOR THAT CLEANUP TO CONTINUE. AND THEN, THERE ARE SOME MORE PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE. YOU CAN SEE THE FENCE THAT LEGACY AND LITTLE LEAGUE WERE MOST OF THE FENCE CAME DOWN AT THE OUTFIELD. TENNIS CENTER ALSO TOOK QUITE A BIT OF DAMAGE ON THE FENCE. IT WAS A PRETTY NASTY STORM. THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE. ALSO, WE STARTED WORK ON DEMOING THE OLD BOAT DOCK AT KIRBY LAKE TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE NEW BOAT DOCK THAT'S COMING IN. THESE GUYS ARE IN THE PROCESS OF FINISHING UP FORMING FOR THE CONCRETE ABILENES FOR THE NEW DOCK. AND THAT DOCK SHOULD BE STARTING TO GET INSTALLED NEXT WEEK SO LOTS, AND LOTS, AND LOTS OF WORK THAT WE ARE HAVING TO DO RIGHT NOW. >> JUST AS A REMINDER, THIS BOAT DOCK WAS THE REPLACEMENT DOCK WAS A TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED. THE DOCK HAS BEEN PURCHASED AND IS HERE OUR IN-KIND MATCH WAS TO DEMO THE OLD DOCK. THAT IS WHAT OUR STAFF IS DOING NOW. THE NEW DOCK WILL BE HERE NEXT WEEK. WE HAD HOPE FOR THIS WEEK, BUT THE RAIN LAST WEEK DELAYED THE WORK. IT SHOULD BE NEXT WEEK. >> IT IS -- >> PARKS AND WILDLIFE. >> IT WAS THE PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT, BUT THE CITY STILL HAS TO WRITE THE GRANT. >> JESUS IS PRETTY INVOLVED WITH THAT I WOULD SAY JESUS AND CHRIS ARE. I WOULD SAY WITH TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE, MICHAEL HOMER IS A WONDERFUL RESOURCE THAT REALLY, REALLY HELPS US I'M NOT SURE THAT WE COULD HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT HIM. >> THANKS, GUYS. >> THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU ALL. ANY QUESTIONS, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER. [8. Recreation Report (Discussion)Miles in MotionSkills ChallengeP.E. Hour - New Tiny Tots HourReady, Set, Play!Stroller Walking Club] >> CRAZY GOOD WORK. >> ALL RIGHT, RECREATION. >> AND HALL, RECREATION DIVISION MANAGER. GOOD MORNING. ALL RIGHT. IN CELEBRATION OF THE ANNIVERSARY OF 250TH YEAR, WE DID A MILESTONE MOTION DISTANCE CHALLENGE. WE GAVE PEOPLE TO GET ACTIVE DOING SWIMMING, WALKING, CYCLING, ALL THE ABOVE TO GET MOVING WE HAD AN EVENT A COUPLE OF WEEKENDS AGO THAT WE ALL MET AT CEDAR CREEK PARK WE STARTED WALKING VERY EARLY ABOUT 7:00. IT WAS VERY HOT. WE WERE HAVING ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO MEET UP AT THE REC CENTERS WE HAVE THE INDOOR TRACK OR IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO GO OUTSIDE AND WALK, THEY CAN GO OUTSIDE. IS THERE A CALL FOR AIR CONDITIONER OR NONAIR CONDITIONER, YOU PITCH ONE YOU WANT. WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE PARTICIPATED. AT THE END OF THE CHALLENGE, WE WILL HAVE A CELEBRATION FOR THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE COMPLETED THE CHALLENGE. IT'S ALSO A GREAT WAY TO MEET NEW PEOPLE THAT ARE ALL MOVING AND GROOVING AT THE SAME TIME. WE ARE COMING UP, NEXT MONDAY, WE WILL HAVE OUR JUNIOR NBA SKILLS CHALLENGE AND WNBA. WE HAVE A LOT OF LITTLE GIRLS SIGNED UP FOR THIS. [01:00:02] THEY TOLD ME TO MAKE SURE TO SAY WNBA ALSO. SO THAT WILL BE AT G V. DANIELS ON NEXT MONDAY. AND THEY WILL HAVE DIFFERENT AGE BRACKETS WHERE THEY WILL COMPETE AND SHOW OFF THEIR SKILLS. ALSO FOR ALL AGES, WE HAVE P.E. HOUR. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMING HERE A LOT OF CHILDREN. THE STAFF DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB IN RUNNING THAT PROGRAM AND GETTING TO MEET ALL THESE DIFFERENT CHILDREN. WE ARE ALSO ADDING TINY TOTS. THAT IS NEW THAT WE ARE STARTING. THAT WILL BE AT 10:30 ON GV. AND AFTER THAT, WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO GO TO THE LIBRARY TO CHECK THINGS OUT. "READY, SET, PLAY!" IS EVERY FRIDAY. IT HAS BEEN PRETTY POPULAR. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING THIS WEEK. I KNOW IT IS A BUNCH OF BEACHBALLS. WE WERE COLLECTING THOSE YESTERDAY. I AM CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT FUN THEY HAVE IN STORE. THEY WOULDN'T GIVE ME VERY MANY DETAILS ON THAT ONE. ALSO VERY POPULAR IS THE STROLLER WALKING CLUB. THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MOMS TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE AND WALK AND MEET FRIENDS. VERY ENCOURAGING TO SEE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE PARTICIPATING. OR YOUNG DADS, YES. WE DID SAY DADS COULD COME, TOO. IT IS NOT JUST MOMS. ANY QUESTIONS? [9. Seniors Report (Discussion)Senior Day TripGorgeous Grandma Day] ALL RIGHT. NOW SENIORS. ALL RIGHT WE ARE PLANNING OUR SENIOR DAY TRIP TO GRANBURY ON OCTOBER 24TH. I WILL SAY THAT WE HAVE 50 SPOTS -- WE HAD 50 SPOTS AVAILABLE PER WE ARE ALREADY HALFWAY FULL THROUGH TRYING TO GET ON AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE THEIR SPOTS SECURED. THEY WANT TO STAY ALL NIGHT I TOLD THEM WE ARE NOT STAYING ALL NIGHT. IT IS A DAY TRIP. IT IS NOT AN OVERNIGHT TRIP. SO WE ARE GOING TO THE HARVEST MOON FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS. THEY ARE VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. AND ALSO, THIS WEEK, WE ARE HAVING OUR GORGEOUS GRANDMA DAY WE ARE HAVING A FASHION SHOW IN THE MORNING WE HAVE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES FOR THE GRANDMOTHERS. THEY GET TO FILL OUT THEIR LITTLE INFORMATION SHEET. IN THE AFTERNOON THEY ARE HAVING AFTERNOON TEA. THEY HAVE BEEN VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. IT IS VERY COMPETITIVE THIS YEAR, I HEARD. IF YOU ARE A GORGEOUS GRANDMA, COME AND JOIN. ANY QUESTIONS? >> VERY GOOD. ANY QUESTIONS? THANKS, AN. >> JESSIE, ZOO DIRECTOR WE JUST [10. Zoo Report (Discussion)Animal NewsConstruction UpdateUpcoming Event] HAD OUR LAST BABY DRAFT FOR THE SEASON BORN. THIS IS THE MOM. THIS IS THE SECOND HALF SHE HAS HAD. SHE WAS BORN AT THE ABILENE ZOO. WE HAVE SOME GENERATIONAL GROWTH THERE. GOT THREE MORE REASONS TO COME TO THE ZOO. IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THEM, THEY GROW FAST. THEY WILL BE AS TALL AS MOM WITHIN A YEAR PLEASE SPREAD TO THE COMMUNITY AND CHECK THESE GUYS OUT. THEY USUALLY GET THE ZOOMIES ONCE A DAY. YOU CAN SEE ALL THREE GALLOPING AROUND AND SUCKING ON EACH OTHER'S FACES. IT IS PRETTY CUTE. COME CHECK THEM OUT. WE ALSO HAD OUR VERY FIRST BLACK AND WHITE LEMUR BORN. SO HE IS ON DISPLAY. IN THE MAIN EXHIBIT, AROUND THE BUILDING, JOINING THE SUN AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RACE WE DON'T HAVE HIM ON EXHIBIT BECAUSE HIS HEAD COULD FIT THROUGH THE CAGING WE DON'T WANT HIM TO GET HIS HEAD STUCK. THE SAME THING WITH THESE GUYS. PUPS. WE DEVELOPED THE ENCLOSURE, WE DID NOT -- WE WERE NOT EXPECTING TO BREED. WE HAD A VERY VALUABLE FEMALE THAT OUR COUNTERPARTS. WE NEED TO BREED HER WE MADE A SECONDARY ENCLOSURE. WE CAN SEE IN THE BACKGROUND ON THE RIGHT, THERE'S BLACK CAGING. THEY CANNOT FIT THROUGH THEIR HEADS. THEY ARE NOT ON DISPLAY, IT'S A SMALL ENCLOSURE ON THE BACK LEG SIDE. LOOK FOR THEM ON THE BLACK ENCLOSURE THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE MAIN EXHIBIT THEY ARE STARTING TO CLIMB LIKE LITTLE PUPS. IF YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW, THESE ARE THE MAIN PREDATORS OF LEMURS AND CAN JUMP JUST AS HIGH IF NOT EVEN FASTER THAN LEMURS. THAT IS WHY THEY ARE THE PREDATOR OF LEMURS. A LITTLE CONSTRUCTION UPDATE. THE CROW GROUP HAS BEEN WORKING REALLY WELL AT THE ZOO. I WILL POINT OUT SOME ENTITIES THAT ARE BEING ERECTED RIGHT NOW. YOU CAN SEE THE BOTTOM TWO SHOWS. THAT WILL BE THE BAND SHELL. THE MAIN SQUARE IN THE MIDDLE IS THE TWO STORY CAFE IN THE UPPER LEFT HAND COLUMN, YOU CAN SEE TWO BUILDINGS THAT ARE HYENA AND CHEETAH EXHIBITS THAT IS THE WARM HOLDING. THE YARDS WILL BE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THEM. TO THE RIGHT YOU WILL SEE AN OVAL SHAPE BRICK THAT'S AN INFRASTRUCTURE OF HABITAT. THAT IS STRAIGHT UP FROM THE CAFE. THE RHINO PADDOCK IS THE OLD ELEPHANT BARN YOU CAN SEE IT HAS [01:05:01] ALL BEEN DEMOLISHED. ALL THOSE CONCRETE WALLS AND SYSTEMS AND EVERYTHING HAVE BEEN LEVELED. JUST A QUICK UPDATE FOR CLEAR ON TIME. THEY ARE NOT BEHIND EVEN WITH ALL THE RAIN WE'VE HAD THIS YEAR, HAS BEEN VERY LIGHT AND THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK AROUND IT. LASTLY COMING TO THE ZOO IS PAW PATROL. IF YOUR KIDDOS OR GRANDKIDS WATCH PAW PATROL, THESE TWO CHARACTERS WILL BE AT THE ZOO. THIS IS INCLUDED WITH THEIR MEMBERSHIP IT'S FREE FOR ALL MEMBERS. OBVIOUSLY IT IS REGULAR ADMISSION FOR ALL OUR GUESTS THAT DON'T HAVE A MEMBERSHIP. CHECK THEM OUT ON AUGUST 29TH. ANY QUESTIONS? >> QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THANKS, JESSIE LESLI, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE NEED TO BRING UP? >> NOT THAT I AM AWARE OF. >> ALL RIGHT, IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN WE WILL BE ADJOUR * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.