[3. Presentation: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing Regarding Flock Group, Inc.'s License Plate Readers (Rondell Seratte)]

BEFORE WE MOVE TO ITEM THREE, I'D LIKE TO EXPLAIN WE'RE MOVING TO ITEM THREE FOR THIS PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION.

THIS IS NOT AN ACTION ITEM TODAY. THE REASON WE MOVED IT UP IS BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THIS PRESENTATION HAVE SOME TIME CONSTRAINTS.

SO AFTER THIS, WE WILL GO INTO CONSENT AGENDA AND WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.

I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW.

SO WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM THREE AND I'LL HAVE CHIEF CHIEF RON, CHIEF OF POLICE TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR COUNCIL. GOOD MORNING. I WANT TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT FLOCK CAMERAS BEFORE I ASK THE REPRESENTATIVE UP HERE, IF I MAY. AS A POLICE CHIEF, I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT GOVERNMENT OVERREACH, TOO.

WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO PROTECT PEOPLE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO PROTECT CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, PRIVACY AND THE PUBLIC'S TRUST. AT ITS MOST BASIC LEVEL, A FLOCK CAMERA IS A CAMERA TAKING STILL PHOTOGRAPHS OF VEHICLES TRAVELING ON PUBLIC ROADWAYS CAPTURES A LICENSE PLATE, VEHICLE CHARACTERISTICS, AND THE TIME AND LOCATION.

THE VEHICLE PASSED THE CAMERA. IT DOES NOT RECORD CONVERSATIONS, IDENTIFY IDENTIFY THE PEOPLE INSIDE A VEHICLE OR PROVIDE GPS TRACKING.

THE LIST OF CASES IN WHICH IN WHICH THIS TECHNOLOGY HAS HELPED OUR DEPARTMENT IS LENGTHY, BUT I WANT TO GIVE YOU FOUR EXAMPLES BECAUSE THEY DEMONSTRATE THE REAL WORLD VALUE OF THIS TECHNOLOGY. IN APRIL, A 19 YEAR OLD MAN WAS MURDERED.

FLOC HELPED IDENTIFY THE SUSPECT VEHICLE, ESTABLISHED THAT ONE SUSPECT PICKED UP THE OTHER SHORTLY BEFORE THE MURDER, AND COMPARE IMAGES OF THAT VEHICLE TO VIDEO SHOWING IT LEAVING THE CRIME SCENE.

IN MARCH, A SUSPECT ATTEMPTED TO ROB A LOCAL BANK USING A HOAX BOMB AND THEN TRAVELED TO ANOTHER LOCATION WHERE HE ATTEMPTED TO ROB A PAYDAY LOAN BUSINESS.

FLOC HELPED IDENTIFY THE SUSPECT BY HIS VEHICLE DESCRIPTION, AND THAT WAS GIVEN AT THE BANK.

WITHOUT THAT INFORMATION, HE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.

IN ANOTHER MARCH MURDER, A 31 YEAR OLD WOMAN WAS INTENTIONALLY RUN OVER AND KILLED BY HER BOYFRIEND.

THE SUSPECT FLED THE DFW AREA. FLOC INFORMATION SHARED BETWEEN AGENCIES HELPED ABILENE OFFICERS AND U.S.

MARSHALS LOCATE HIM AND ARREST HIM WITHIN 24 HOURS.

AND IN DECEMBER 2024, AN ABILENE POLICE OFFICER WAS AMBUSHED AND SHOT.

FLOC WAS USED TO LOCATE THE IMAGES OF THE SUSPECT'S MOTORCYCLE AS HE TRAVELED THROUGH ABILENE EARLIER THAT DAY.

THOSE IMAGES, INCLUDING IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND THE SUSPECT, WERE USED IN PART TO OBTAIN AN ARREST WARRANT FOR ATTEMPTED CAPITAL MURDER.

THESE ARE JUST FOUR CASES. THE LIST IS MUCH, MUCH LONGER.

NOW, COULD WE POLICE WITHOUT FLOCK? SURE. WE DID IT FOR DECADES.

BUT WITHOUT IT, WE WOULD LOSE INVESTIGATIVE LEADS.

INVESTIGATIONS WOULD TAKE LONGER. SOME CASES WOULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE DIFFICULT TO SOLVE.

WE COULD MAKE IT WITHOUT FLOCK, BUT WE WOULD BE GOING BACKWARD. I ALSO THINK WE NEED TO PUT THE PRIVACY DISCUSSION HERE INTO PERSPECTIVE.

MOST OF US CARRY WILLINGLY AND WITHOUT COMPLAINT.

WHAT MAY BE THE MOST INVASIVE TRACKING DEVICE EVER CREATED IN THE PALM OF OUR HAND? OUR PHONES CAN TRACK OUR LOCATION, SLEEP STEPS, PURCHASES, SEARCHES, CONVERSATIONS, MUSIC, PHOTOGRAPHS, TRAVEL CONTACTS, AND COUNTLESS OTHER ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES.

A FLOCK CAMERA DOES NOT DO ANY OF THAT. IT TAKES A PICTURE OF A VEHICLE THAT IS ALREADY VISIBLE TO ANYONE STANDING ON THAT PUBLIC ROADWAY.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULD BLINDLY TRUST TECHNOLOGY. LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD ALWAYS BE ACCOUNTABLE.

THERE MUST BE CLEAR POLICIES, LEGITIMATE LAW ENFORCEMENT PURPOSES, RESTRICTED ACCESS, AUDITING, TRANSPARENCY, AND CONSEQUENCES FOR MISUSE. WE HAVE ALL OF THOSE IN PLACE.

[00:10:01]

BUT I WOULD ASK ONE FINAL QUESTION. WHO BENEFITS IF WE TAKE THESE CAMERAS AWAY? THE OVERWHELMING, OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF LAW ABIDING CITIZENS WILL NEVER HAVE THEIR INFORMATION SEARCHED IN THE FLOCK SYSTEM.

IN PRACTICAL TERMS, FLOCK BECOMES RELEVANT WHEN SOMEONE IS CONNECTED TO A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.

WHEN SOMEONE IS A VICTIM OF A CRIME, OR WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO LOCATE SOMEONE WHO HAS LOST, ENDANGERED OR OTHERWISE UNABLE TO FIND THEIR WAY HOME.

SO WHO WOULD WE BE PROTECTING BY TAKING THIS TOOL AWAY? AND WHO ARE WE MAKING IT EASIER TO PROTECT BY KEEPING IT? FOR ME, THE ANSWER IS CLEAR. WE SHOULD PROTECT THE PRIVACY AND RIGHTS OF LAW ABIDING CITIZENS, WHILE GIVING OUR OFFICERS THE TOOLS NECESSARY TO PROTECT VICTIMS, FIND VULNERABLE PEOPLE, AND HOLD CRIMINALS ACCOUNTABLE. NOW, AS I TURN IT OVER, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ASK THE HARD QUESTIONS.

YOU DESERVE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT FLOCK DOES, HOW IT WORKS, WHAT IT CAN DO, AND JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, WHAT IT CANNOT DO. WITH THAT, WE HAVE A FLOCK REPRESENTATIVE HERE TODAY, IAN LESLIE, WHO CAN PROVIDE THE MOST CURRENT AND ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PLATFORM.

I WANT YOU TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THE COMPANY, ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS AND GET FACTUAL ANSWERS.

THANK YOU. IAN. OKAY, PERFECT. GOOD MORNING COUNCIL.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR. GOOD MORNING, CITIZENS OF ABILENE.

MY NAME IS IAN LESLIE. I'M ONE OF FLOCKS REGIONAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS MANAGERS. AND I HANDLE THE MUNICIPAL ENGAGEMENT FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS.

TODAY I'M GOING TO BE GOING THROUGH A PRESENTATION THAT WILL HOPEFULLY ADDRESS A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS AND ALSO VALID CONCERNS THAT YOU, OR EVEN THE CONSTITUENTS THAT YOU REPRESENT, MAY HAVE ABOUT FLOCK AND FLOCK SYSTEMS. SO THIS PRESENTATION HERE IS GOING TO GO OVER ALL OF OUR TRUST COMPLIANCE SAFEGUARDS AND HOW WE DEAL WITH PRIVACY THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR TECHNOLOGY.

SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE HERE AT FLOCK BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE DESERVES TO FEEL SAFE REGARDLESS OF YOUR ZIP CODE, WHETHER REGARDLESS OF YOUR RACE, RELIGION, AND WHATEVER BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS YOUR CITY MAY HAVE.

I THINK THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE ON. I THINK ANOTHER THING THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE ON IS THAT THE WORD SAFETY IS SUBJECTIVE IN ITS MANNER.

HOW FLOCK PLAYS A ROLE IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. PROVIDING SAFETY IS ALLOWING OFFICERS TO HAVE THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGY TO DEAL WITH THE MOST HEINOUS CRIMES. THAT CHIEF JUST MENTIONED A FEW MOMENTS AGO.

HE DID GIVE SOME GOOD CASE STUDIES EXAMPLES HERE, SO I WON'T BADGER THIS ONE, BUT I USUALLY LIKE TO START THESE PRESENTATIONS WITH A CASE STUDY OUT OF CHAMBLEE, GEORGIA, WHICH I THINK WE COULD ALL RESONATE WITH.

SO IN THIS CASE IN PARTICULAR, THIS CHILD WAS ABDUCTED FROM THEIR MOTHER.

AND SO I'M JUST GOING TO WALK YOU THROUGH VERY QUICKLY HOW THE FLOCK SYSTEM OPERATED IN PRACTICE.

AT 1233, AN AMBER ALERT WAS ISSUED FOR THE ABDUCTION OF THIS CHILD.

IT SEEMS RATHER PERTINENT THAT EVERY OTHER DAY WE'RE GETTING MORE AND MORE AMBER ALERTS ON ON THE PHONE, WHETHER YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU'RE TRAVELING OR WHETHER YOU'RE AT YOU'RE AT HOME, RIGHT? BUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE THOSE AMBER ALERTS ME PERSONALLY, BEFORE I GOT INTO PUBLIC SAFETY TECHNOLOGY, I WOULD SEE THE ALERT. IT WASN'T, YOU KNOW, ANYBODY OF MY FAMILY. SO I DON'T I DON'T THINK ABOUT IT. RIGHT. AND SO LET'S ALL RESONATE AND THINK ABOUT HOW WE WOULD BE, THE QUESTIONS WE WOULD BE ASKING AND THE STATE WE WOULD BE IN IF IT WAS ONE OF OUR DAUGHTERS, SONS, FAMILY MEMBERS BY ONE ON ONE. AFTER THAT, AMBER ALERT WAS ISSUED, A SEARCH OF THE FLOCK SYSTEM WAS CONDUCTED BY 230.

THAT VEHICLES SUSPECT OR THAT VEHICLE WAS LOCATED.

AND BY 503 THERE WAS A FELONY STOP ARREST. AND BY 6 P.M.

THAT SAME DAY, THAT CHILD WAS RETURNED TO HIS MOTHER.

AND SO IN SECOND, AND OPPORTUNITIES WHERE SECONDS MATTER, WHERE MINUTES MATTER, WHERE HOURS MATTER, HAVING YOUR AGENCY TO HAVE THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGY TO BE USED RESPONSIBLY IS IMPORTANT.

AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND SO THAT LEADS ME INTO HOW FLOCK WAS CREATED.

FLOCK IS BASED OUT OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA, CREATED IN 2017.

WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT FLOCK IS WE ACTUALLY STARTED OUT SELLING TO SMALL HOMES AND SMALL NEIGHBORHOODS DEALING WITH CRIME, SUCH AS SOME OF THE CRIME THAT YOU'RE THAT YOUR CHIEF MENTIONED. OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT SEGMENT IS ACTUALLY ONLY ONE OF OUR NEWER SEGMENTS. AND SO WE HAVE GROWN FROM SELLING TO THOSE INDIVIDUAL HOA'S IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA TO BEING REPRESENTED IN OVER 12,000 CUSTOMERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

COUNTRY 7000 OF THOSE ENCOMPASSING LAW ENFORCEMENT HOMES, SMALL BUSINESSES, AND PRIVATE PRIVATE HOMES AS WELL.

AND SO TO DATE, FLOCK IS HELPING SOLVE ABOUT 20% OF CRIME NATION NATIONWIDE.

AND SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT REVOLUTIONARY TOOLS, REVOLUTIONARY IMPACT INTO COLLABORATIVE POLICING TECHNOLOGY, YOU CANNOT LEAVE OUT LPR IN THAT DEBATE. NOW LET'S GO INTO A LITTLE BIT OF FACTS ABOUT WHAT IS THE FUNCTION AND WHAT IS AN LPR. AND LPR STANDS FOR A LICENSE PLATE READER.

A LICENSE PLATE READER TAKES A POINT IN TIME STILL IMAGE AT A FIXED LOCATION OF THE BACK OF A VEHICLE CAPTURING THE LICENSE PLATE.

MAKE, MODEL, COLOR, AND ANY OTHER OBJECTIVE IDENTIFYING VEHICLE FEATURES ON THAT VEHICLE.

WHAT IT DOES NOT CAPTURE IS WHAT WE CALL PII PERSONAL IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION.

SO IT'S NOT IDENTIFYING THE RACE OF THE DRIVER, THE DRIVER AT ALL, THE GENDER.

IT'S NOT CAPTURING ANY BIOMETRICS. IT'S NOT SCANNING CELL PHONE, IT'S NOT SCANNING.

YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T HAVE FACIAL RECOGNITION, ALL VALID QUESTIONS AND CAPABILITIES OF TECHNOLOGY THAT EXIST TODAY.

[00:15:01]

BUT THAT IS NOT THE CAPABILITIES OF WHAT LPR DOES.

AGAIN, LPR NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH LPR THAT HAS BEEN IN VEHICLES AND THAT MOVED IN UNDISCLOSED LOCATIONS IN A VEHICLE IN AN OFFICER'S VEHICLE.

THIS IS AT A FIXED LOCATION PERMITTED BY YOUR, YOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND WHOEVER THE CITY DECIDES ON THE LOCATION.

THE ONLY ELEMENT WHICH AI AND MACHINE LEARNING IMPLEMENTS INTO THE TECHNOLOGY IS TO IDENTIFY THAT VEHICLE WITHIN REAL TIME SO THAT AI FEATURE IS IDENTIFYING, HEY, THIS IS A RED FORD FOCUS WITH LICENSE PLATE X, Y, Z.

THAT'S THE EXTENT OF THE AI AND MACHINE LEARNING.

AND SO HOW THESE ALPR SYSTEM WORKS IN PRACTICE IS WITHIN 20S OF THAT VEHICLE THAT IS CONNECTED TO A CRIME PASSING THAT CAMERA, YOUR AGENCY IS ALERTED IN REAL TIME THAT, HEY, THIS VEHICLE IS CONNECTED TO A CRIME THAT IS VERIFIED THROUGH NCIC.

NCIC STANDS FOR NATIONAL CRIME INFORMATION CENTER.

AND SO WHEN ANY CRIME OR ANY MURDER, WHEN ANY THEFT OF A VEHICLE, ANY HEINOUS CRIME IS REPORTED THAT GOES THROUGH THAT NCIC TEXAS ALSO HAS ITS OWN DATABASE.

SO TEXAS CRIME INFORMATION CENTER, ALL OUR SYSTEM SIMPLY DOES IS INTEGRATES WITH DEALT WITH THOSE EXISTING HOT LISTS AND ALERTS THAT PD WITH REAL TIME THAT, HEY, THIS LICENSE PLATE OR THIS VEHICLE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH A CRIME.

THAT'S HOW IT WORKS IN PRACTICE. THAT'S IT. THAT'S ALL TO REITERATE, DOES NOT HAVE FACIAL RECOGNITION.

IT IS NOT CAPTURING YOUR BIOMETRICS. IT'S NOT TIED TO DMV RECORDS.

IT DOES NOT EVEN IDENTIFY WHO WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE.

WHAT IT SIMPLY DOES IS GIVES YOUR AGENCY REAL TIME ALERT INTO IDENTIFYING, HEY, THIS VEHICLE, NOT A PERSON WAS IDENTIFIED IN A CRIME THAT THUS THEN BEGINS THE INVESTIGATION WITH THAT INVESTIGATIVE TOOL BEING A RESOURCE TO CLOSE THAT INVESTIGATION.

HOW, HOW YOU KNOW, HOW PER POLICY, HOW A LOT OF THAT WORKS IS ONCE THE ALERT IS RECEIVED, THAT OFFICER CAN THEN VERIFY THROUGH THEIR HUMAN EYES THAT THIS IS A RED FORD FOCUS WITH X LICENSE PLATE. CALL THAT INTO DISPATCH TO VERIFY AGAIN.

AND THEN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE INVESTIGATION. BUT IT DOES NOT GIVE AN OFFICER PROBABLE CAUSE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER.

ONCE THAT ALERT IS RECEIVED. AN OFFICER ALSO GIVES A CONFIDENCE LEVEL BASED ON THE VEHICLE DESCRIPTION THAT THEY ENTERED INTO THE SYSTEM.

AND SO THAT CAN BE USED AS AN ADDITIONAL MEASURE IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ACCURACY WITHIN THE SYSTEM BEING USED.

THE SYSTEM IN ITSELF HAS A 99% ACCURACY RATE WHEN IT'S READING PLATES AND VEHICLES AS WELL.

VEHICLE SIGNATURE. VEHICLE SIGNATURE IS AN ADDITIONAL FEATURE THAT WE HAVE THAT.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S IDENTIFYING THOSE OTHER OBJECTIVE QUALIFIERS OUTSIDE OF THE LICENSE PLATE.

WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT? 80% OF CRIME IS LINKED TO A VEHICLE IN SOME FORM OR FASHION.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THAT LICENSE PLATE IS SWITCHED OUT? WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU KNOW, THE THE CRIMINAL SWITCHES, VEHICLES, ALL OF THOSE ADDITIONAL DETAILS ARE VERY PERTINENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO STARTING AN INVESTIGATION AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, CLOSING AN INVESTIGATION. SO VEHICLE SIGNATURE IS WHAT IS THE WHAT IS WHAT INCLUDES THE OTHER IDENTIFIERS SUCH AS THE MAKE THE MODEL? IS IT A FORD 150 WITH A TOOLBOX? DOES IT HAVE A BIKE RACK THAT JUST SPEAKS TO ACCURACY TO ENSURE THAT THAT INVESTIGATIVE LEAD IS IS LOOKING AT THE CORRECT VEHICLE? AND IF THERE'S 100 FORD FOCUSES WITHIN THE CITY OF ABILENE, WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT ALL 100 FORD FOCUSES, WHICH HISTORICALLY, WHEN YOU PUT A BOLO OUT, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DOING, RIGHT? AND SO AGAIN, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EFFICIENCY, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EFFECTIVENESS, THAT IS WHY THAT IS IMPORTANT.

THIS SLIDE HERE, I WANT TO ALSO DISTINGUISH THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A LIVE VIDEO CAMERA AND AN LPR.

AGAIN, TO REITERATE, AN LPR TAKES A POINT IN TIME STILL IMAGE OF THE BACK OF A VEHICLE.

IT IS NOT CONTINUOUSLY RECORDED AND IT IS MOTION ACTIVATED.

AN LPR CAMERA IS USED FOR REAL TIME, REAL TIME AWARENESS, WHICH IS RECORDING EVERY SINGLE DAY, WHICH IS NO DIFFERENT THAN ANY CCTV CAMERA WE HAVE OUTSIDE OF BUSINESSES, OUTSIDE OF OUR HOMES.

YOU KNOW, THE CAMERA THAT'S LOOKING AT ME NOW, TWO DIFFERENT USE CASES.

SO I DON'T WANT TO CONFLATE AN LPR VERSUS A LIVE TIME VIDEO CAMERA.

TWO DIFFERENT FUNCTIONALITIES. TWO CAMERAS WE DO SELL, BUT TWO DIFFERENT FUNCTIONALITIES.

THIS SLIDE HERE GOES OVER AGAIN THOSE REAL TIME ALERTS. SO AGAIN, NCICTCIC AMBER ALERTS, SILVER ALERTS.

YOUR AGENCY HAS FULL CONTROL OVER WHAT ALERTS THEY DECIDE TO RECEIVE, AS WELL AS WHAT ALERTS THEY DECIDE TO ACT ON.

MOVING FORWARD, I WANT TO GO INTO SOME DETAILS ABOUT HOW THE SYSTEM IS BUILT WITH PRIVACY AND CIVIL LIBERTIES IN MIND.

AND SO I'M JUST GOING TO GO THROUGH THE SIX POINTS THAT I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR ON REGARDING WHO OWNS THE DATA. ABILENE P.D.

AND THE CITY OF ABILENE 100% OWN THE DATA AND IT WILL NEVER BE SOLD.

FLOCK IS NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF SELLING DATA.

AND SO I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR WITH THAT STATEMENT.

PRIVATE CUSTOMERS SUCH AS THOSE HOA'S PRIVATE BUSINESSES LIKE HOME DEPOT, LOWE'S, ANY OTHER PRIVATE ENTITY DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO ABILENE PDS DATA.

IT'S NOT A 1 TO 1 SHARING LIKE ABILENE PD CAN DO WITH OTHER AGENCIES WITHIN THE DFW AREA.

SO PRIVATE ENTITIES DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT DATA.

THE DATA. THE DATA. HOW LONG DOES THE DATA STORED BY DEFAULT? HISTORICALLY, THE DATA HAS BEEN 30 DAYS, AND IT'S HARD TO DELETE IT AND SANITIZE VIA AWS CLOUD.

[00:20:04]

WE HAVE RECENTLY ROLLED OUT ANNOUNCEMENTS, ROLLING THAT DOWN TO SEVEN DAYS BY DEFAULT, BUT IT IS STILL APPLICABLE TO WHATEVER THAT AGENCY WANTS TO DECIDE BASED ON THEIR LOCAL OR STATE ORDINANCES. MOST AGENCIES HAVE DECIDED TO STAY WITH 30 DAYS.

SOME STATES, YOU KNOW, SUCH AS THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, HAVE A 21 DAY STATE APPLICABLE.

BUT AGAIN, THAT IS WHATEVER THE PD DECIDES ON ON WHEN THE DATA IS DELETED, BUT AFTER IT IS DELETED, IT IS DELETED. IT IS GONE. IT'S UNRECOVERABLE.

AGAIN, TO REITERATE, FLOCK LPR IS ONLY TAKING IMAGES OF PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION SO INESSENTIAL.

IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN AN OFFICER STANDING ON THE STREET CORNER AND OBSERVING ROADWAYS AS THEY GO BY.

A CASE CAN BE MADE. IF YOU HAD AN OFFICER, YOU KNOW, ON EVERY STREET CORNER, THEY'RE ACTUALLY OBSERVING MORE INFORMATION THAN A FLOCK.

LPR IS ACTUALLY OBSERVING BECAUSE AGAIN, WE'RE NOT IDENTIFYING WHO IS IN THE VEHICLE.

WE'RE NOT CAPTURING PERSONAL IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION.

IT'S JUST TAKING THAT POINT IN TIME. STILL IMAGE ON THAT PUBLIC ROADWAY.

YOUR LICENSE PLATE IS A PUBLIC IS A IS A GOVERNMENT ISSUED ID IDENTIFIER THAT YOU WERE REQUIRED TO HAVE ON YOUR VEHICLE IN PUBLIC.

AND SO IN TERMS OF PRIVACY, WHEN WE REALLY THINK ABOUT THOSE CONVERSATIONS, I HAVE SOME COURT CASES AND THOSE ARE THE DETAILS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT IN THOSE COURT CASES THAT I'LL SHOW LATER ON. AND AGAIN, YOUR AGENCY DECIDES COMPLETELY IF THEY DECIDE TO SHARE AND WHO THEY DECIDE TO SHARE WITH, AND THOSE DECISIONS CAN BE MADE OR CHANGED AT ANY POINT IN TIME, PER THE AGENCY'S DISCRETION.

AND TO REITERATE AGAIN AND BE VERY CLEAR, THOUGHT CAMERAS DO NOT UTILIZE OR HAVE FACIAL RECOGNITION GOING INTO DATA SECURITY.

AGAIN, WE UNDERSTAND AND WE TAKE DATA SECURITY VERY SERIOUSLY HERE AT FLOC.

AND SO I HAVE LISTED OUT OF HERE SOME OF THE INDUSTRY LEADING CERTIFICATIONS THAT ARE REQUIRED WITHIN OUR SYSTEM, SUCH AS RECEIPT CERTIFIED, NDI, AA CERTIFIED SOC TWO, TYPE TWO CERTIFIED.

THAT IS THE BIG ONE FOR THE IT FOLKS. ISO 2701 CERTIFIED.

AND SO ALL OF THOSE CERTIFICATIONS COME WITH DIFFERENT AUDITING AND PENETRATION TESTINGS IN ORDER FOR US TO MAINTAIN THOSE CERTIFICATIONS.

TO REITERATE WHERE THE DATA SITS AND WHERE IT IS HELD, ALL DATA, ALL CUSTOMER DATA IS HELD WITHIN AWS CLOUD.

SO AMAZON WEB SERVICES, FOR THOSE FAMILIAR OR NOT FAMILIAR WITH AWS, THERE ARE DIFFERENT TIERS TO THE CLOUD SYSTEM.

SO YOU HAVE CORPORATE CLOUD, YOU HAVE ENTERPRISE CLOUD. ALL OF THE DATA SITS WITHIN AWS GOVCLOUD, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST TIER OF DATA STORAGE, THE SAME TIER THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT USES TO HOUSE INFORMATION.

SO IT DOESN'T GET MUCH HIGHER THAN AWS GOVCLOUD IN TURNS TO IN TERMS OF WHERE THE DATA IS STORED.

ALL IN ALL, AGAIN, I AM HERE MORE TO SPEAK MORE ABOUT THE TRUST AND COMPLIANCE, THE SAFEGUARDS THAT WE HAVE BUILT INTO THE SYSTEM AND EDUCATES YOU AS MUNICIPALITY LEADERS. SO THAT WAY YOU CAN ENGAGE IN THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH FACTUAL INFORMATION.

AND SO WHEN I SAY THAT THESE SYSTEM HAS SAFEGUARDS BUILT IN THAT ARE BUILT INTO KIND OF SIX OF THESE BUCKETS.

SO ONE FIRST BUCKET BEING AGENCY CONTROLLED SHARING TRANSPARENCY PORTALS, I'LL GO INTO A LITTLE BIT DEEP DIVE INTO ALL OF THESE ENCRYPTED DATA, MANDATORY OFFENSE TYPES AND FILTERS, AUDIT ASSISTANCE TOOL, AND THEN THAT SEVEN DAY RETENTION THAT I MENTIONED.

LET ME BE CLEAR WHEN, WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THE FLOCK SYSTEM OR WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT A FLOCK LPR SEARCH, EVERY SEARCH, ANY SEARCH REQUIRES AN OFFENSE TYPE, WHICH IS NIBRS CODED.

SO NIBRS STANDS FOR NATIONAL INCIDENT BASED REPORTING SYSTEM.

SO THERE'S ABOUT 82, I BELIEVE, DIFFERENT CODES.

THAT'S THE SELECT THE SELECTION DROP DOWN BOX.

WHETHER IT'S SAYING LIKE A MURDER THEFT, IS IT CONNECTED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE? AND SO IF YOU SEE UP ON THE SCREEN HERE, THOSE THOSE DROP DOWN SELECTIONS IS WHAT I MEAN BY NIBRS CODES.

YOU ALSO HAVE TO PUT IN A SEARCH REASON ON WHY YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR THIS VEHICLE, IN ADDITION TO AN ACTIVE MANDATORY CASE CODE WITHIN THE SYSTEM.

AND SO I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR, WHEN YOU THINK OF A FLOCK SEARCH, WHEN YOU THINK OF AN LPR SEARCH, IT'S NOT JUST AN UNRESTRICTED OPEN ACCESS TO ANYONE.

YOU CAN SEARCH ANYTHING THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

YOU HAVE TO FILL OUT THESE THREE PARAMETERS TO SEARCH.

THE SYSTEM FOR ANY IMAGE IS RETURNED TO YOU. ALSO WITHIN THAT, THE AGENCY SETS PARAMETERS VIA MFA, MFA AUTHENTICATION ON USER ROLES BASED ON AYE BASED ON THE AGENCY'S ROLES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

SO WHETHER THAT'S JUST THE INVESTIGATORS HAVING ACCESS TO THE SYSTEM COMMAND STAFF, WHETHER THAT'S JUST THE CHIEF HIMSELF.

THE AGENCY SET THOSE PARAMETERS ON WHO ACTUALLY EVEN HAS ACCESS TO THE SYSTEM.

PER THEIR JOB DESCRIPTION IN WITHIN THE AGENCY.

TRANSPARENCY PORTAL. SO EVERY CUSTOMER HAS THE ABILITY FOR US TO FULLY CUSTOMIZE THEIR TRANSPARENCY PORTAL TO ANSWER AND ADDRESS A LOT OF THESE QUESTIONS, BUT ALSO TO SHOW THEIR USAGE RATE WITHIN THEIR RETENTION POLICY.

SO LET'S JUST SAY IT'S STANDARD OF 30 DAYS. SO WHAT THAT EXTERNAL FACING PORTAL WOULD BE IS IT WILL SHOW AND PUBLISH THOSE USAGE RATES PUBLISHED POLICIES PUBLICLY AND PUBLISH A LOT OF MYTHS VERSUS FACTS ON HOW THE SYSTEM CAN BE UTILIZED.

AUDIT, ASSIST AND APOLOGIES. SOME OF MY THESE SLIDES HAVE VIDEOS, BUT THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO BE SHOWN.

AUDIT ASSIST IS A FEATURE THAT WE HAVE BUILT WITHIN THE SYSTEM THAT WILL AUTOMATICALLY FLAG ANY ATYPICAL OR UNUSUAL PATTERNS OR ACTIVITY WITHIN THE SYSTEM FOR THE

[00:25:05]

ADMINISTRATOR TO REVIEW. WHAT DO I MEAN BY ATYPICAL OR UNUSUAL ACTIVITY IF I'M, YOU KNOW, INVESTIGATOR LESLIE. AND I'M SEARCHING FOR ONE PARTICULAR CAR TEN TIMES IN A MATTER OF FIVE MINUTES.

RIGHT. NOT TO NECESSARILY SAY EVERYTHING, ANYTHING NEFARIOUS IS HAPPENING, BUT IT'S GOING TO AUTOMATICALLY FLAG THAT ADMINISTRATOR THAT, HEY, JUST COME AND TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE MEETING THE MOMENT IN TERMS OF AUDITING AND TRANSPARENCY AND PUTTING OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS TO HELP OUR HELP OUR CUSTOMERS, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO FIND A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK WHEN IT COMES TO AUDIT RECORDS.

AND SO THAT IS MANDATORY NOW FOR EVERY SINGLE AGENCY IN THE COUNTRY.

NOW, WE ALL KNOW AGAIN, THIS IS THIS IS THE HOT TOPIC ACROSS THE COUNTRIES AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHETHER YOU'RE AT THE CITY, COUNTY OR STATE LEVEL NOW. AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A BIPARTISAN ISSUE UP FOR DISCUSSION.

AND SO HERE ARE JUST TWO QUOTES. I HAVE ONE FROM THE CENTER FOR INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM AND ONE FOR THE CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS.

REALLY JUST REARTICULATING THE CONSTITUTIONALITY AND LEGALITY OF LPR FOR A LOT OF FOR A LOT OF THE REASONS WHY I STATED BEFORE, AGAIN, WE'RE TAKING PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION, PUBLICLY DOCUMENTED, ISSUED ID ON A PUBLIC THOROUGHFARE.

WE'RE NOT CAPTURING PERSONAL, IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION. TWO ALSO, I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT LPR TECHNOLOGY IS NOT THIS NEW.

IT'S NOT THIS NEW OR AN UNEXPECTED TECHNOLOGY.

LPR HAS BEEN AROUND FOR THE PAST 50 YEARS, WAS INTRODUCED IN THE 1970S IN THE UK AND CAME TO THE US IN THE 1990S.

AND SO IT'S NOT AN UNPROVEN TECHNOLOGY AND HAS BEEN USED FOR DECADES NOW.

QUICKLY GOING THROUGH SOME MYTHS VERSUS FACTS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

ONE MYTH OUT THERE IS THAT AGAIN, THAT LPR CAN TRACK PEOPLE AND SHOW POLICE EVERYWHERE THEY GO. THAT IS A MYTH.

LPR TAKES A POINT IN TIME STILL IMAGE, AND IT DOES NOT TRACK YOUR EVERYDAY WHEREABOUTS.

IT CAN TELL A POLICE OFFICER THAT YOU PASSED THIS CAMERA AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

AND TO CHIEF'S EARLIER POINT, IT IS ONLY USED AS AN INVESTIGATIVE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE TOOL.

ANOTHER MYTH OUT THERE IS THAT LPR IS VIOLATE THE FOURTH AMENDMENT.

THERE IS OVER 48 COURT CASES FROM VARIOUS COURTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

REARTICULATING THE LEGALITY AND CONSTITUTIONALITY OF LPR USE.

WHAT'S MORE, MOST RELATIVE TO THIS COURT HERE IS THE FIFTH CIRCUIT CIRCUIT APPEALS, WHICH IN MARCH AGAIN REEVALUATED THE SAME CASES AND STATED THE SAME THING OVER THE LEGALITY AND CONSTITUTION OF LPR. I HAVE SOME OF THOSE COURT CASES LISTED LATER ON IN MY PRESENTATION.

ANOTHER MYTH OUT THERE IS THAT FLOCK IS SELLING CUSTOMER DATA AND COMPILING IT ALL INTO ONE NATIONAL DATABASE.

THAT IS A MYTH. YOU, THE CUSTOMER, 100% OWN YOUR DATA AND WHO HAS ACCESS TO YOUR DATA.

FLOCK DOES NOT SET THOSE PARAMETERS WHATSOEVER.

ANOTHER MYTH OUT THERE, FLOCKS ARE PRIVATE. CUSTOMERS HAVE ACCESS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT INFORMATION.

AGAIN, THAT IS NOT TRUE. IF AN HOA, IF A PRIVATE BUSINESSES HAS AN LPR CAMERA, THEY DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO PD INFORMATION BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO BE CERTIFIED TO TO DEAL WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS SUCH AS NCIC AS WELL.

ANOTHER MYTH OUT THERE, FLOCK LPR, IS USE FACIAL RECOGNITION OR CAPTURE PRIVATE INFORMATION.

AGAIN, I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR. FLOCK CAMERAS DO NOT AND DO NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITY AND DO NOT HAVE FACIAL RECOGNITION WITHIN THEM, AND DO NOT CAPTURE PII PERSONAL IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION.

A FLOCK KIT DOES NOT EVEN IDENTIFY WHO IS DRIVING THE VEHICLE.

SO IN ADDITION TO SOME OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OR 7000 OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THAT WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE ALSO HAVE TRUSTED COMMUNITY PARTNERS SUCH AS THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN AND MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING, WHO ARE ALSO TWO HEAVY PARTNERS OF OURS THAT UTILIZE OUR TECHNOLOGY.

IN 2025 ALONE, FLOCK WAS UTILIZED IN HELPING BRING OVER 10,000 MISSING PEOPLE HOME, OVER 100 OF THOSE BEING CHILDREN, AND WAS INVOLVED IN OVER A MILLION INVESTIGATIONS.

SAME THING WITH MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING, WHO COMBATS HIT AND HIT AND RUNS AND DRUNK DRIVING OFFENSES.

AGAIN, ANOTHER HEAVY UTILIZER AND PROPONENT OF OUR TECHNOLOGY.

REGARDING VULNERABLE, VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES, THIS.

HERE IS A QUOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE OAKLAND NAACP REINSTATING THE SUPPORT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TECHNOLOGY SUCH AS LPR, BECAUSE IT REMOVES THE BIAS FROM POLICING THAT HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN A FOCAL POINT FOR VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.

SO WHAT WE SEE, WHAT WE SEE IS AS WE EDUCATE FOLKS, AS I'M HERE TODAY, TO DO WITH YOU ALL, AS WE EDUCATE FOLKS ON THE REAL INTENT AND REAL IMPACT OF THIS TECHNOLOGY, WE SEE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT OF THESE TYPES OF TECHNOLOGIES WITH THE PROPER GUARDRAILS IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE CAN REMAIN SAFE.

I WANTED TO ALSO TAKE THE TIME TO GO OVER CUSTOMER DATA.

SO SPECIFICALLY FOR THOSE ON COUNCIL AND FOUR POINT SECTION 4.1 THROUGH 4.6, I BELIEVE IS WHAT OUTLINES SPECIFICALLY WHAT IN OUR CONTRACT OVER CUSTOMER DATA. AGAIN, TO REITERATE, IT'S IN THE CONTRACT IN 4.1 THROUGH 4.6.

FLOCK DOES NOT SELL YOUR DATA. AND WE DO NOT EVEN HAVE GENERAL ACCESS TO YOUR DATA.

I, IAN LESLIE, AS A FLOCK REPRESENTATIVE, CANNOT JUST GO INTO ABILENE PD DATA AND LOOK AND DO WHATEVER I WANT.

[00:30:04]

RIGHT. ONE OF THAT BEING I'M NOT CJ CERTIFIED.

BUT THEN ALSO TWO, THAT WOULD BE A BREACH OF OUR CONTRACT IN AGREEMENT.

I WANT TO CLARIFY PERPETUAL LICENSE. AGAIN, THIS IS A PRETTY STANDARD LANGUAGE THROUGHOUT A MULTITUDE OF INDUSTRIES.

AND SO I WANT TO CLARIFY WHAT THIS MEANS WITHIN OUR CONTRACT AS, AS WE USE OUR TECHNOLOGY AND IT SPEAKS TO ACCURACY AS IT SPEAKS TO RESPONSIBILITY, WE TAKE SMALL SUBSETS OF IMAGES TO TRAIN THE AI AND THE MODEL.

WHAT DO I MEAN BY THAT? IF TESLA WERE TO RELEASE ANOTHER CYBERTRUCK OR ANY TYPE OF VEHICLE, THAT MODEL WOULD HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TRAIN TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THAT SAME THING. IF TEXAS CAME OUT WITH A DIFFERENT LICENSE PLATE, YOU WOULD WE WOULD HAVE TO TRAIN THE MODEL ON THAT. AND SO THAT PERPETUAL LICENSE ALLOWS US TO TAKE THAT SMALL SUBSET OF, OF, OF, OF IMAGES WHICH IS REMOVED OF ITS METADATA.

SO WHAT DOES METADATA MEAN? IT'S REMOVED OF ABILENE PD'S NAME WHERE THE WHAT TIME THE PICTURE CAME FROM, WHAT LOCATION THE PICTURE CAME FROM, WHAT CUSTOMER THE PICTURE CAME FROM.

THAT IS WHAT I MEAN WHEN I SAY METADATA. ALL OF THAT IS REMOVED, AND WE USE THAT SMALL SUBSET TO TRAIN THAT THAT MODEL FOR THE FOR THE SYSTEM.

THESE NEXT COUPLE SLIDES GO OVER THOSE 48 COURT CASES THAT I MENTIONED.

AGAIN, THIS IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE CHALLENGED, BUT IT ALSO ISN'T NEWLY CHALLENGED. A LOT OF THESE COURT CASES GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE EARLY 2000 AS WELL. LIKE I SAID, LPR IS NOT A NEW OR AN UNPROVEN SYSTEM.

AND SO AGAIN, 48 DIFFERENT COURT CASES SUPPORTING THE LEGALITY AND THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF LPR USE.

AGAIN, TO REITERATE WHAT A LOT OF THESE CASES ARE.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE TO BRING UP CHATTER.

CHATTER SPECIFICALLY IS TALKING ABOUT CELL PHONE LOCATION DATA AND TRACKING, WHICH GIVES YOU A LOT MORE PRECISE AND INTIMATE DETAILS OF A PERSON'S MOVEMENTS.

PLEASE DO NOT CONFLATE THAT WITH LPR. TOTALLY DIFFERENT USE CASES.

AND THAT IS THE DEFINING FACTOR IN A LOT OF THESE COURT CASES.

ON THE LEGALITY AND CONSTITUTIONALITY OF LPR VERSUS CELL PHONE LOCATION TRACKING OR GEOFENCE WARRANT DRAGNET TRACKING.

ALL IN ALL, AGAIN, I WANTED TO COME HERE TO PRESENT YOU GUYS WITH THE FACTS, BUT I WANT TO LEAVE YOU GROUNDED BACK IN THE IMPACT THAT THIS TECHNOLOGY IS HAVING IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. LIKE I SAID EARLIER, FLOC WAS INVOLVED IN OVER A MILLION INVESTIGATIONS LAST YEAR ALONE AND HELPING BRING HOME 10,000 MISSING PEOPLE. AND SO HERE IS JUST A SMALL SNAPSHOT.

I KNOW CHIEF GAVE SOME EXAMPLES EARLIER OF HEINOUS CRIMES THAT WHERE FLOC WAS INVOLVED THAT HELPED SPEED AND EXPEDITE THAT INVESTIGATION.

LET ME BE VERY CLEAR. FLOC IS NOT SAYING THAT THESE CAMERAS ARE REPLACING LAW ENFORCEMENT OR DOING THE HARD WORK OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS ON THE STREETS EVERY SINGLE DAY. WHAT WE ARE HERE TO DO IS EXPEDITE AND MAKE THEIR JOBS A LITTLE, TINY BIT EASIER BY GIVING THEM EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGY TO ROLL OUT WHEN THEY NEED TO. WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO CONCLUDE MY PRESENTATION.

BUT IF ANYBODY ELSE OR ANYBODY HERE ON COUNCIL HAS ANY OTHER QUESTIONS AFTER TODAY, WE'RE NOT SHYING AWAY FROM A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS THAT COMMUNITIES ARE HAVING ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SO HERE'S A QR CODE TO WHAT WE'RE CALLING OUR TRUST HUB THAT DIRECTLY ADDRESSES A LOT OF COMMON QUESTIONS REGARDING PRIVACY, DATA SECURITY, CIVIL LIBERTIES THAT COMMUNITIES ARE HAVING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND WITH THAT, I WILL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS, COUNCIL.

I HAVE A COMMENT BUT NOT A QUESTION. GO AHEAD.

WELL I CAN WAIT IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS QUESTIONS.

QUESTIONS OF THIS GENTLEMAN. ANY QUESTIONS OF CHIEF BEFORE COMMENTS.

THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANKS, IAN.

AS I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING AND PREPARATION FOR THE DISCUSSION TODAY.

BEFORE I GET INTO SOME OF THE THINGS I FOUND CONCERNS I HAVE IS I WANT TO BRING UP SOMEWHAT SIMILAR, BUT NOT, NOT FLOCK SPECIFICALLY OR LPR, BUT THERE'S A, THERE WAS A NEWS STORY FROM DALLAS WHERE THEY HAVE PUT CAMERAS ON THEIR TRASH TRUCKS THAT ARE TAKING PICTURES OF HOMES TO GET CODE COMPLIANCE CASES INITIATED.

AND I. FLOCK, YOU KNOW, HE MENTIONED THE CONTRACT AND SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF THE CONTRACT THAT'S NOT COME TO COUNCIL.

I HAVEN'T SEEN THE CONTRACT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S IN THE CONTRACT WITH FLOCK. AND I MY REQUEST IS THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO PURSUE SOMETHING LIKE THIS FROM THE STAFF LEVEL, THAT IT COME TO US FOR A GREEN LIGHT BEFORE WE DO LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, TRY AND DO CODE COMPLIANCE BECAUSE I PERSONALLY, I'M NOT IN SUPPORT OF THAT COUNCIL AS A WHOLE, MAYBE A MAJORITY, THAT IS.

I JUST WANT THAT TO BE A PUBLIC DISCUSSION AND NOT SOMETHING THAT JUST HAPPENS.

AND THEN WE FIND OUT LATER WITH WITH FLOCK, YOU MENTIONED THAT 99% ACCURACY RATE.

THERE'S MULTIPLE STORIES OF LIKE ROSEVILLE, CALIFORNIA, 71% OF STOLEN VEHICLE REPORTS WERE.

[00:35:04]

INCORRECT. LAPD CHOSE NOT TO RENEW THEIR CONTRACT.

THEY HAD 32.3% FALSE POSITIVE RATE ON STOLEN VEHICLES.

YOU MENTIONED WE OWN THE DATA. WE CONTROL WHO HAS ACCESS TO THE DATA.

LAST MONTH, PFLUGERVILLE VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO TERMINATE ITS CONTRACT BECAUSE THEY HAD APPROVED 83 AGENCIES ACCESS TO THEIR DATA.

AND AN AUDIT SHOWED THAT 459 OUTSIDE AGENCIES HAD ACCESSED THEIR DATA.

THERE'S YOU'VE SHARED SOME DRAMATIC STORIES THAT YOU'VE SHARED SOME DRAMATIC STORIES.

THERE ARE MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS OF PEOPLE BEING PULLED OVER AT GUNPOINT BASED ON FALSE POSITIVE LOCK CAMERA DATA.

THERE WAS ONE, YOU KNOW, YOU SHOWED A DRAMATIC STORY OF A LADY WITH A CHILD THAT WAS ABDUCTED AND RETURNED.

ON THE OTHER SIDE, THERE'S A LADY IN FLORIDA THAT WAS ARRESTED AND HELD IN JAIL FOR 13 DAYS ON FALSE DATA.

SO, I MEAN, WE CAN GO BACK AND FORTH ON, ON, ON SENSATIONALISM.

AND THERE'S OFFICERS AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE USED THE SYSTEM, ABUSED THE SYSTEM TO TRACK EX WIVES OR EX-GIRLFRIENDS AND ANYONE THAT THEY'RE SEEING. THERE'S REPORTS OF YOU KNOW, INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM GOING IN.

THEY'VE, THEY'VE FOUND THINGS LIKE THERE'S NOT EVIDENCE OF FACIAL RECOGNITION CAPABILITIES IN THE FLOCK CAMERA ITSELF, BUT THE FACE IS IN THE PICTURE, WHICH IS THEN GOING TO A COMPUTER.

AWS, AWS CERTAINLY DOES HAVE FACIAL RECOGNITION CAPABILITIES.

SO JUST BECAUSE THE CAMERA DEVICE ITSELF DOESN'T HAVE FACIAL RECOGNITION DOESN'T MEAN FACIAL RECOGNITION CAN'T BE APPLIED TO THE IMAGES THAT ARE BEING CAPTURED. AND AND THE D.C. POLICE UNION, THEY LEARNED IN JULY THAT THEIR INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATIONS HAD BEEN USING FLOCK CAMERAS TO TRACK THEIR OWN OFFICERS WHO WERE UNDER INVESTIGATION WITHOUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND FILED A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT ON YOUR YOU'VE STARTED RECENTLY TO PROMOTE A CONVOY ANALYSIS FEATURE WHERE INSTEAD OF LOOKING FOR A SPECIFIC CAR, YOU CAN SAY, OKAY, HERE'S, HERE'S SHANE PRICE'S LICENSE PLATE NUMBER.

I WANT TO KNOW WHO ALL IS TRAVELING AROUND THE SAME TIME AS HE IS.

AND, AND TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHO MIGHT BE AN ACCOMPLICE.

JUST BECAUSE THEY HAPPEN TO BE TRAVELING AT THE SAME TIME. AND AND SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, THIS, IT'S A SINGLE SHOT. IT'S NO DIFFERENT FROM AN OFFICER STANDING AT A CORNER TAKING PICTURES.

IT'S VERY DIFFERENT FROM AN OFFICER STANDING IN A CORNER IN PICTURES, BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT THIS HISTORICAL DATA THAT YOU'RE GOING IN WITH AI AND ABLE TO PULL INFORMATION. ANOTHER CONCERN I HAVE IS I FOUND DIFFERENT REPORTS OF THE LOGINS.

VALID LOGINS BEING SOLD ON THE DARK WEB FOR, FOR SALE IN RUSSIA AND CHINA WITH DYESS AIR FORCE BASE HERE.

WE COULD BE A TARGET FOR FOREIGN COMPANY OR FOREIGN COUNTRIES WHO WANT TO TRACK PATTERNS OF AIRMEN, ESPECIALLY LIKE THEIR CAPTAIN OR SOMETHING, AND THEY CAN SELL.

OKAY. CAPTAIN. SO AND SO USUALLY TAKES HIS WIFE OUT IN THE EVENING, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN HE STOPPED SHOWING UP AND, AND THEY START SEEING THAT THERE'S A BUNCH OF THEM AREN'T THERE ANYMORE.

THEY MUST HAVE DEPLOYED. AND SO THAT I, I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE'VE, THAT WE LOCALLY HAVE RECEIVED SOME ACTIONABLE INFORMATION AND INTELLIGENCE THAT HAVE HELPED US AND THAT.

A DECISION NOT TO CONTINUE WITH FLOC WOULD REMOVE AN EFFECTIVE TOOL.

BUT THERE'S THERE'S NOT JUST THE POTENTIAL FOR ABUSE.

THERE'S A HISTORIC HISTORY OF ABUSE THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING, AND A HISTORY OF INACCURACIES AND A HISTORY OF CONCERN OF ISSUES THAT HAVE HAPPENED.

AND SO I'M NOT GOING TO TRY AND ARGUE. I'M NOT A LAWYER, SO I'M NOT GOING TO TRY AND GET INTO FOURTH AMENDMENT OR WHETHER THINGS ARE LEGAL OR ILLEGAL. BUT AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN, I'M NOT DOING ANYTHING WRONG.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN I WANT ANYBODY TO JUST BE ABLE TO TRACK WHERE I'M GOING.

AND IT MAY BE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE 13 CAMERAS TODAY, AND MAYBE THAT'S NOT ENOUGH TO GIVE ME A PICTURE, BUT IT'S 100 CAMERAS, ENOUGH TO WHERE IT GIVES A FULL PICTURE OF WHERE SOMEONE.

AND AT SOME POINT YOU CROSS A LINE WHERE THE DRAGNET THAT YOU MENTIONED BECOMES A REALITY BECAUSE YOU'RE BASICALLY TAKING A PICTURE OF EVERYBODY.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT LINE IS. AND SO I'D RATHER NOT TRY AND STEP MY TOES RIGHT UP TO THE EDGE.

SO PERSONALLY, I JUST I'M HAVING A. I'M UNSUPPORTIVE OF THE, OF CONTINUING WITH WITH, WITH FLOCK. AND FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE LICENSE PLATE READER CAMERAS.

[00:40:02]

ANYONE ELSE. I THINK TO, TO SHANE'S POINT, I THINK THERE'S A.

THERE WOULD BE A BENEFIT FOR US TO MAYBE EVEN DISCUSS ABILENE SPECIFICALLY WHAT OUR POLICIES ARE IN REGARDS TO THE USE OF THESE CAMERAS, HOW THEY'RE USED WHEN THEY'RE USED I'VE TO READ STORIES FROM OTHER PLACES.

AND THERE'S DOES SEEM TO BE A LOT OF DIFFERENCES IN HOW SOME OF THESE OTHER PLACES ARE USING THEM VERSUS MAYBE HOW WE'RE USING THEM.

AND FROM A COUNCIL PERSPECTIVE, IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A DECISION ON IT.

I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE, IF WE WERE TO EXPAND USE OF THIS TOOL, THAT WE'D BE NOTIFIED AND EXAMINE WHAT THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THAT EXPANSION IS BECAUSE I DO.

TWO SHANE'S POINT ALSO AS WELL, THERE IS A LINE OF, YOU KNOW, DO YOU DO YOU NEED A CAMERA ON EVERY STREET CORNER? I WOULDN'T BE IN IN FAVOR OF THAT, BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE, THERE IS A GOOD REASON FOR US TO REVIEW WHAT, HOW ARE WE USING IT INTERNALLY AND WHAT IS OUR LEVEL OF APPROPRIATENESS THERE? AND ANALYZE THE SITUATION BASED ON ABILENE SPECIFICALLY VERSUS KIND OF LOOKING ON THE OUTSIDE AND THESE PLACES THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE DOING THINGS WRONG AND US LEARN FROM THEM AND PUTTING SPECIFIC SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE FOR US TO AVOID YOU KNOW, MISUSE IN SOME OF THESE ACCIDENTS THAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED WITH THE TOOL THAT COULD BE AVOIDED IF WE WERE USING IT PROPERLY HERE.

I, I DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY A TOOL FROM, FROM A PD.

BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT THEM, I WANT THEM TO HAVE THE APPROPRIATE POLICY IN PLACE FOR THEM NOT TO MAKE MISTAKES AND AVOID SOME OF THESE MISUSES OF CAMERAS. THIS ISN'T A REALLY A STATEMENT EITHER FOR OR AGAINST.

IT'S MORE OF JUST A WONDERMENT. ONE IT SAID IT'S IT'S NOT, IT DOES NOT COLLECT OR YOU CAN'T PERSONAL IDENTIFY ANYONE. I FIND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE BECAUSE ANYTIME I DRIVE IN DALLAS, I GET A, A LETTER A WEEK LATER FROM THE TOLLWAY WITH MY LICENSE PLATE NUMBER IN IT.

AND AND THEN I HAVE TO I HAVE TO PAY THAT. SO THEY THEY KNOW MY ADDRESS FROM IT.

SO THEY CAN MAIL IT TO ME. SO I KIND OF FIND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IT DOES NOT COLLECT, THAT YOU CANNOT PERSONALLY IDENTIFY SOMEBODY.

BUT IT GOES BACK TO I. WHAT IS THE LEGALITY AND WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TOLLWAY DOING THE SAME THING? I DON'T KNOW THAT ANSWER. I, I'M JUST SITTING HERE KIND OF THINKING.

THOSE PICTURES THAT YOU HAVE UP THERE, WE GET THAT MAILED TO US, RIGHT? IF WE IF YOU DRIVE ON A ON THE NORTH TEXAS TOLLWAY, YOU'RE GETTING THAT MAILED TO YOU.

SO I, I DON'T KNOW THE THE ANSWER TO THAT. I DON'T REALLY HAVE AN OPINION AS FAR AS I'M KIND OF JUST I, I THINK THAT'S. OVERREACHING A LITTLE BIT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT DOES IT DOES IT DOES BEAT HAVING TO STOP AND PAY YOUR TOLL. SO I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER.

I JUST THINK THAT'S AN INTERESTING THOUGHT TO KEEP IN MIND FOR EVERYBODY OF, OF GOING INTO THIS THIS CONVERSATION IS JUST LIKE THE CELL PHONES, WE CAN TRACK EVERYTHING.

WE WE'RE, I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE BEING TRACKED OR WHATEVER, BUT WE, THE CAPABILITIES ARE A LOT MORE THAN JUST THESE CAMERAS.

AS FAR AS IT BEING A TOOL. THERE'S A LOT OF TOOLS OUT THERE THAT ARE A LOT MORE PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION IDENTIFYING LIKE YOUR DNA, YOUR FINGERPRINTS PLEASE USE THOSE. AND SO I THINK ALL OF THOSE THINGS WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT IS IN THIS CONVERSATION IS, IS, IS HOW MUCH CAN WE, HOW MUCH DATA CAN WE GIVE THEM? OR ARE WE WILLING TO GIVE UP? I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF DATA OUT THERE THAT THE LICENSE PLATE TAKING A PICTURE OF MY LICENSE PLATE IS ALREADY THERE, RIGHT? I HAD TO REGISTER FOR IT.

SO WHEN I GO DOWN AND I REGISTER MY LICENSE PLATE, MY, MY, MY PERSONAL INFORMATION IS ALREADY THERE.

SO JUST SOME THOUGHTS THAT I THINK ALL OF US SHOULD, SHOULD GO INTO.

AND THAT'S NEITHER HERE FOR IT OR AGAINST IT, BUT IT'S JUST SOME THOUGHTS THAT WE, I THINK, NEED TO GO INTO THIS CONVERSATION OF WHAT IS OVERREACH, BECAUSE I THINK WE'VE ALREADY GONE INTO OVERREACH.

SO ANYWAY, THAT'S, THAT'S MY JUST MY THOUGHTS ON IT.

ANYONE ELSE? I'LL JUST ONE MORE THING WITH CELL PHONE, THERE'S CLEARLY DEFINED PRECEDENT ON WARRANTS THAT ARE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO USE CELL PHONE DATA. WITH LPR YOU JUST LOG IN AND YOU DO A SEARCH.

AND SO THAT'S THAT'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DATA THAT YOU ARE WILLINGLY ACCEPTING IS BEING COLLECTED ON BY CARRYING A PHONE VERSUS

[00:45:07]

DRIVING ON THE STREET. SO. ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU.

YEP. NO PROBLEM. WHAT I WILL SAY BEFORE I GO SIT DOWN IS COUNCIL.

ALL THESE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ARE VALID. AND EVEN IN THIS PRESENTATION, 20 MINUTE PRESENTATION COULD BE NUANCED.

SO I DEFINITELY WANT TO OFFER MY ABILITY TO COME AND TALK WITH YOU ONE ON ONE TO ADDRESS A LOT OF YOUR CONCERNS.

I HAVE OF ANSWERS FOR A LOT OF THE THE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS THAT WERE LISTED HERE.

SO DEFINITELY USE ME AS A RESOURCE IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO SO.

ON ANSWERING A LOT OF THESE QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.

WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. I DO WANT TO CLARIFY THIS IS NOT AN ACTION ITEM TODAY.

IT IS FOR DISCUSSION. WE MAY GIVE STAFF DIRECTION, BUT THERE WILL BE NO ACTION OR VOTES TAKEN ON THIS ITEM TODAY.

THAT BEING SAID, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST ITEM THREE? PLEASE COME FORWARD. GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. THERE'LL BE A THREE MINUTE LIMIT. MAYOR, I DO HAVE CARDS FOR ITEM THREE. I'M SORRY. WE NEED TO START WITH CARDS.

MY APOLOGIES. I HAVE SUSAN PERRY. THERE'S NO ITEM NUMBER LISTED ON HERE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO CHECK IF THIS WAS FOR NUMBER THREE.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. I'M SUSAN PERRY, I'M FROM ABILENE, AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO STOP AND PAUSE AND CONTINUE.

COUNCILMAN PRICES. PRAYER. ALMIGHTY GOD, WE HONOR YOU TODAY AT THIS MEETING.

WE ARE THANKFUL THAT YOU PUT US IN THIS COUNTY, STATE AND COUNTRY AND CITY AT THIS VERY TIME TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THE CITIZENS OF ABILENE. IT IS NO MISTAKE THAT WE ARE HERE RIGHT NOW FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS.

I PRAY BLESSINGS AND PROTECTION OVER OUR COUNCILMAN MR. HURT, MR. PRICE, MR. BEARD, MR. PATTERSON, MISS, MR. BAILEY, MR. ESPINOSA, AND MR. CRAVER. PLEASE GIVE THEM YOUR STRENGTH, WISDOM, COURAGE, INTEGRITY AND COMMITMENT TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR US, THEIR FELLOW NEIGHBORS. WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD HELP THEM LISTEN AND CONTINUE TO WORK HARD AS PUBLIC SERVANTS FOR US, THEIR EMPLOYEES, THEIR EMPLOYERS. WE PRAY AGAINST ANY EVIL THAT WOULD HURT OR IMPOVERISH THE PEOPLE IN THIS CITY.

PLEASE CAST IT OUT IN THE NAME OF JESUS. WE PRAY YOUR BLESSINGS ON THE CITY MANAGER AND ALL HER STAFF IN CITY HALL AND ALL CITY EMPLOYEES.

PLEASE GIVE THEM EXTRA WISDOM, SHREWDNESS, STEWARDSHIP, ESPECIALLY WHEN DEALING WITH MONEY AND CONTROLS AND CONTRACTS.

CONTRACTS. WE PRAY AGAINST ANY TEMPTATION TO MISMANAGE RESOURCES.

WE PRAY EXTRA BLESSINGS AND PROTECTION OVER OUR POLICE, OUR FIREFIGHTERS, AND OTHERS WHO WORK TO PROTECT US.

WE PRAY THAT THEY WILL PROTECT ALL CITIZENS IN A LAWFUL WAY AND PUNISH THOSE WHO BREAK THE LAW.

WE KNOW THAT OUR RIGHTS COME FROM YOU. SO MANY OF OUR.

SO MAY OUR LOCAL OFFICIALS PROTECT THEM ACCORDINGLY AND MAY MORE CITIZENS GET INVOLVED.

LORD, YOU CONSTITUTED GOVERNMENT, FAMILY, GOVERNMENT, CIVIL GOVERNMENT, CHURCH, GOVERNMENT.

MAY WE FOLLOW YOUR LEAD IN THIS CITY GOVERNMENT IN THE DAYS, WEEKS, YEARS TO COME AND MAKE IT A BLESSING TO ALL WHO LIVE HERE.

YOU WERE HERE WITH THE HARD WORKING PEOPLE WHO STARTED ABILENE BACK IN 1881 AS A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, RAISE FAMILIES AND YOU ARE STILL HERE WITH US TODAY.

PLEASE, LORD, MAKE OUR LEADERS MAKE DECISIONS TODAY AND IN THE DAYS TO COME TO KEEP ABILENE A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.

AND WE PRAY ALL OF THIS IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS.

AMEN. AMEN. MELISSA WEAVER.

CAN I GIVE YOU GUYS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION YOU CAN TAKE? YOU CAN LOOK AT IT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO JUST. OKAY.

SIR. ALL RIGHT, GUYS. HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING TODAY? MY NAME IS MELISSA AND I'M AN ABILENE RESIDENT. YESTERDAY, THE US SENATE HELD A HEARING EXAMINING FLOCKS NATIONWIDE SURVEILLANCE NETWORK AND RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT PRIVACY, CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS, DATA SHARING AND POTENTIAL MISUSE.

SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR ABILENE? APD OPERATES 13 FLOCK CAMERAS.

THERE ARE 37 IN THE AREA. THEY'RE NOT ALL ABILENE, OF COURSE.

FLOCKS, FLOCKS NETWORKS NOW INCLUDE MORE THAN 6000 LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ACROSS 49 STATES.

THAT DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN EVERY AGENCY CAN ACCESS ABILENE'S DATA, BUT IT RAISES A CRITICAL QUESTION WHO CAN? APD SAYS SEARCHES MUST HAVE LEGITIMATE LAW ENFORCEMENT PURPOSE, AND THAT SEARCHES ARE RECORDED AND AUDITED.

BUT WHERE IS THE PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY? ACU OPERATES ONLY FOR FLOCK CAMERAS, YET IT PUBLICLY EXPLAINS ITS SEARCHES, SEARCH REQUIREMENTS, ACCESS POLICIES, DATA RETENTION AND AUDITING PROCEDURE.

[00:50:01]

APD HAS NO COMPARABLE PUBLIC FLOCK TRANSPARENCY PORTAL THAT I'M AWARE OF THAT I COULD FIND.

I'VE ALSO PRINTED RECORDS FROM A WEBSITE. HAVE I BEEN FLOCK.COM? THESE ARE JUST EXAMPLES. THEY'RE JUST RANDOM SCREENSHOTS I TOOK OF EXAMPLES TO SEE THE SEARCHES.

THE SEARCHES ARE BEYOND 30 DAYS. THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT'S THE RETENTION, BUT MY QUESTION IS LIKE, WHAT IS THE RETENTION FOR THE FOR THE RECORDS? SO IF IT'S DELETED AFTER 30 DAYS, AFTER SEVEN DAYS, HOW ARE, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE WE SEARCHING FOR LIKE A MONTH AT A TIME OR 45 DAYS AT A TIME? FLOCK NOW SAYS IT'S STANDARD RETENTION. OKAY. SEVEN DAYS.

THAT'S, THAT WAS MY QUESTION. SORRY. THAT LEAVES THREE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS.

WHO IS SEARCHING ABILENE'S FLOCK DATA WHICH OUTSIDE AGENCIES CAN ACCESS IT? BECAUSE IF YOU SEE ON SOME OF THESE EXAMPLES, THERE'S MULTIPLE AGENCIES.

NATION IN THE NATION THAT ARE ACCESSING THEM.

AND THEY HAVE GIVEN AUDITS THESE OTHER AGENCIES.

THAT'S HOW THESE ARE AVAILABLE. DOES APD REQUIRE A CASE NUMBER FOR EVERY SEARCH? IF SO, WHERE CAN THE PUBLIC REVIEW THAT INFORMATION.

THESE CONCERNS ARE NOT HYPOTHETICAL. WE HAVE SEEN DOCUMENTED CASES INVOLVING MISUSE OF SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY, INCLUDING INNOCENT PEOPLE BEING WRONGLY CONVICTED AND IDENTIFIED PUBLIC SAFETY MATTERS.

BUT PUBLIC SAFETY SHOULD NOT MEAN SURVEILLANCE WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY, OR MEANINGFUL PUBLIC OVERSIGHT. I'M ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL. I KNOW IT'S NOT AN ACTION DAY, BUT TO TO SUSPEND THE CONTRACT.

ABILENE RESIDENTS DESERVE TO KNOW WHO IS ACCESSING OUR INFORMATION, WHY THEY'RE ACCESSING IT, HOW LONG IT IS RETAINED AND WHO ELSE CAN SEE IT.

OUR RESIDENTS DESERVE PRIVACY UNLESS THERE IS A LEGITIMATE REASON TO INVESTIGATE THEM, NOT SURVEILLANCE BY DEFAULT.

PLEASE CHOOSE TO DEFAULT. ABILENE. THANK YOU.

GREAT BRITAIN.

MY NAME IS BRADY BRUTON. I'M AN ABILENE RESIDENT, AND PROFESSIONALLY, I WORK IN CYBERSECURITY AS A THREAT HUNTER.

I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE PRIVACY, GOVERNANCE, SECURITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE SYSTEM.

FIRST, WHEN WERE THESE CAMERAS INSTALLED? WHO AUTHORIZED THEIR DEPLOYMENT AND WHAT OPPORTUNITY TO RESIDENTS HAVE TO PROVIDE INPUT.

A LICENSE PLATE VISIBLE ON A PUBLIC ROAD ISN'T PARTICULARLY PRIVATE.

WHAT CONCERNS ME IS AGGREGATION. FLOCK ADVERTISES THE ABILITY TO SEARCH DETAILED VEHICLE CHARACTERISTICS, CORRELATE SIGHTINGS ACROSS JURISDICTIONS, PERFORM NATURAL LANGUAGE AI SEARCHES THROUGH FREEFORM, INTEGRATE OTHER SYSTEMS, AND GENERATE REAL TIME ALERTS.

WHAT CAPABILITIES HAS ABILENE PURCHASED OR ENABLED, AND WHAT CAN OUR EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT? WHAT OTHER FLOCK PRODUCTS, VIDEO SYSTEMS, THIRD PARTY DATA SOURCES, DEVICE FINGERPRINTING TECHNOLOGIES, OR ANALYTICAL CAPABILITIES CAN OR PLAN TO BE INTEGRATED WITH ABILENE LPR DATA.

LOCATION, TIME, VEHICLE CHARACTERISTICS, AND REPEATED OBSERVATIONS CAN REVEAL PATTERNS ABOUT WHERE PEOPLE LIVE, WORK, WORSHIP, SEEK MEDICAL CARE, AND ASSOCIATE WITH OTHERS.

WHAT PREVENTS MISSION CREEP INTO LONGER TERM TRACKING, AUTOMATED ENFORCEMENT, OR ANALYSIS OF OTHERWISE LAWFUL ACTIVITY? ARE THOSE CASES PROHIBITED OR SIMPLY NOT CURRENT PRACTICE.

WHAT PUBLIC OR COUNCIL APPROVAL WOULD BE REQUIRED TO MATERIALLY EXPAND CAPABILITIES, RETENTION AND SHARING OR PERMISSIBLE USES, AND WHO REVIEWS THE AUDIT LOGS TO ENSURE AUTHORIZED USERS AREN'T MISUSING THE SYSTEM.

WE'VE SEEN RECENT CASES WHERE ERRONEOUS OR MISINTERPRETED FLOC DATA HAS CONTRIBUTED TO INNOCENT PEOPLE BEING DETAINED OR ARRESTED.

WHAT INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION DOES APD REQUIRE BEFORE ACTING ON A FLOC ALERT OR VEHICLE MATCH? MY OTHER MAJOR CONCERN IS CYBERSECURITY. AS A THREAT HUNTER, I DEAL WITH SOPHISTICATED CRIMINAL AND STATE SPONSORED ACTORS AND FOREIGN ADVERSARIES.

A LARGE, SEARCHABLE NETWORK OF VEHICLE LOCATION INFORMATION HAS SIGNIFICANT INTELLIGENCE VALUE.

ONE CONCERN IS COMPROMISED LEGITIMATE ACCESS.

IF AN ATTACKER COMPROMISED AN AUTHORIZED ACCOUNT, WHAT PREVENTS THEM FROM ACCESSING FLOC THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL PROXY VPN OR STOLEN SESSION AND APPEARING TO BE A LEGITIMATE USER? FLOC DESCRIBES CONTROLS INCLUDING MFA AUDITING AND ANOMALY DETECTION, BUT WHAT CONTROLS DETECT AN AUTHENTICATED ACCOUNT CONDUCTING MALICIOUS RECONNAISSANCE IN REAL TIME, INCLUDING ATTEMPTS TO SURVEIL U.S. CITIZENS, AND HOW MUCH OF THE BROADER FLOC NETWORK COULD ONE COMPROMISED ABILENE ACCOUNT REACH FOLLOWING THE CITY'S CHILLING RANSOMWARE ATTACK LAST YEAR? WAS ANY FLOC RELATED ACCOUNT CREDENTIAL DATA INTEGRATION, OR SYSTEM AFFECTED, AND WAS FLOC INCLUDED IN THE CITY'S POST-INCIDENT SECURITY REVIEW? FINALLY, IF FLOC DATA IS EXPORTED INTO CITY SYSTEMS, WHAT'S ITS LIFE CYCLE? WHERE IS IT STORED? HOW LONG IS IT RETAINED? WHO CAN ACCESS IT AND HOW IS CHAIN OF CUSTODY MAINTAINED? MY CONCERN ISN'T AS MUCH WHETHER THE SYSTEM IS BEING USED RESPONSIBLY TODAY, IT'S WHETHER THE TECHNICAL AND POLICY SAFEGUARDS ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO PROTECT ABILENE RESIDENTS AS ITS CAPABILITIES AND THREATS EVOLVE.

SPENCER BUTCHER MAYOR. THAT'S THE LAST ONE. MR.

[00:55:03]

BUTCHER. GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL. I'M SPENCER BUTCHER TAXPAYER HERE IN ABILENE.

I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING THE AIR FORCE HERE TODAY.

I'M AN AIR FORCE RETIREE, AND OVER THE YEARS, AS AN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE ANALYST, I GOT TO SEE A LOT OF NEW TOOLS.

A LOT OF NEW TOOLS WERE BOUGHT BY THE TAXPAYERS TO GIVE US AN EDGE IN EVERY ARENA.

AND WE ALWAYS APPRECIATED GETTING NEW TOOLS. UNFORTUNATELY, WITH EVERY NEW TOOL COMES A DUD.

ONCE IN A WHILE, THE CONTRACTOR DIDN'T QUITE DELIVER ON WHAT THEY PROMISED.

SO THINGS FALL BY THE WAYSIDE AND THEY FAIL. TAX DOLLARS ARE WASTED AND EVERYONE IS DISAPPOINTED.

I GET THAT FEELING ABOUT FLOCK TO THE CITIES, INVESTED A LOT OF MONEY, AND PROBABLY SOUNDS LIKE IT'S GOING TO INVEST EVEN MORE, BUT I WONDER WHAT THAT RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS GOING TO BE.

WHAT IS THE THE COST OF FLOCK TO OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND SO FORTH? STATISTICALLY, THE SYSTEM HAS A 30 TO 70% FAILURE RATE.

CAMERAS ROUTINELY MISREAD LICENSE PLATE CHARACTERS IDENTIFY WRONG STATES, CAPTURE BLURRY IMAGES OR COMPLETELY MISS PASSING VEHICLES.

MANY CITIES REPORT PROBLEMS WITH STALE HOTLIST.

THE LAPD WE HEARD THIS MORNING DIDN'T AUDIT, AND THIS YEAR FOUND THAT OVER ONE THIRD OF THEIR HOTLIST ALERTS WERE FALSE POSITIVES.

THEY DIDN'T RENEW THEIR CONTRACT. THEY CITED CIVIL LIBERTIES, CIVIL RIGHTS, AND PRIVACY ISSUES.

THE INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE CHALLENGED CATALOGED OVER 27 CASES WHERE THIS YEAR, WHERE INNOCENT DRIVERS WERE STOPPED, WEAPONS DRAWN AND ILLEGAL SEARCHES AND SEIZURES OF PERSONAL PROPERTY OCCURRED, ALL BECAUSE OF FLOCK ALERTS.

THEN THERE'S THE UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS. MR. PRICE, YOU MENTIONED THIS PFLUGERVILLE.

THEY DISCOVERED THAT OVER 400 OUTSIDE AGENCIES ACCESSED THEIR FLOCK DATABASE.

THEY ONLY HAVE 83 PARTNERS ON THEIR LIST. PFLUGERVILLE SHUT THAT DOWN.

DID NOT RENEW WITH FLOCK. WHAT ABOUT THE UNSCRUPULOUS OFFICERS ACCESSING THE SYSTEM TO TRACK EX-GIRLFRIENDS AND SPY ON FRIENDS.

OFFICER ZACHARY KLINE, 11 YEAR MEMBER OF THE LUFKIN PD, WAS ARRESTED, INDICTED ON 100 FELONY CHARGES OF MISUSE OF FLOCK CAMERA DATA IN KATY, TEXAS. OFFICER SERGEY RODRIGUEZ WAS FIRED AND INDICTED FOR USING FLOCK CAMERAS TO TRACK HIS EX-PARTNER OVER 2000 TIMES WITHIN AN 11 MONTH PERIOD.

SADLY, THIS LIST IS GROWING EVERY DAY. DID YOU KNOW THAT FLOCK HOLDS A PATENT FOR THE TECHNOLOGY THAT STATES, QUOTE, THE SURVEILLANCE NETWORK IS A DYNAMIC, IS DYNAMIC BECAUSE EMBODIMENTS OF SYSTEM AND ARE NOT CONSTRAINED BY THE GEOGRAPHIC FOOTPRINT ASSOCIATED WITH SET NETWORK OR SURVEILLANCE DEVICES.

THE TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS UNRELATED SURVEILLANCE DEVICES CONFIGURED TO UPLOAD VIDEO STREAMS, VIDEO STREAMS TO THE SYSTEM.

FLOCK DOES MUCH MORE THAN WE'RE BEING LED TO BELIEVE.

NO WONDER FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL AGENCIES HAVE COME OUT AND SAID THIS IS NOW A LIABILITY RATHER THAN AN ACCESS SET.

FLOCK IS A DUD. IT'S BROKEN. IT'S GOING TO BE BROKEN.

THERE'S NEW SYSTEMS COMING ON BOARD, PROBABLY WORSE SYSTEMS. BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND HOPE YOU LOOK AT THIS SERIOUSLY.

THANK YOU. STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM THREE.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO START US OFF, PLEASE? I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT EARLIER.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT. IT'S EARLY. HOW Y'ALL DOING? MY NAME IS RILEY FROM ABILENE. I DON'T I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF STATISTICS TO GIVE YOU ALL.

I'M JUST HERE AS A CITIZEN THAT APPRECIATES MY PRIVACY IN RURAL TEXAS.

BUT I WANT TO DO I DO WANT TO PAINT A BIT OF A MORE OF A NUANCED PICTURE FOR THIS AREA.

IN JANUARY, OUR PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED THAT STARGATE WAS GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST PROJECT.

BY MARCH, THE DHS HAD DECIDED TO LABEL PEOPLE WHO WERE ANTI AI AND ANTI DATA CENTER A RISING DOMESTIC TERRORIST GROUP.

AND IN JULY, FOX CEO FLAT OUT LABELED PEOPLE WHO ARE ANTI FLOCK DOMESTIC TERRORISTS.

THIS IS WHO YOU'RE NEGOTIATING A CONTRACT WITH.

AND THIS IS HOW YOU'RE MAKING US FEEL AS UNSAFE.

IF THE IDEA OF THIS TECHNOLOGY IS TO BRING SAFETY INTO THIS COMMUNITY, I CAN PROMISE YOU I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR EVERYBODY IN HERE, BUT MOST OF US DO NOT FEEL THAT WAY WITH THAT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW SAFE YOU WOULD FEEL IF YOU FELT LIKE YOU WERE BEING MONITORED ALL DAY.

THERE'S 13 CAMERAS. ALRIGHT. THAT'S THAT OUGHT TO BE ENOUGH.

WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER. WE DON'T NEED THE 13 OF THEM.

IN MY OPINION. WE DON'T NEED 100. WE DON'T NEED 13.

BEN, YOU LAID IT OUT. THEY, THEY SEND US A TICKET ON A TOLL TICKET WHEN WE GO ON I 20.

I THINK THAT'S ENOUGH OVERREACH. I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO GO ANY FURTHER. THE THE SITUATION WE ARE IN, IN THIS COMMUNITY IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN A LOT OF OTHER COMMUNITIES. AS YOU GUYS ARE WELL AWARE, THERE'S BEEN QUITE A BIT OF BACKLASH ON WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON HERE.

[01:00:03]

AND NOW WE HAVE A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT IS BEGINNING TO BOW UP TO ITS CITIZENS.

THEY ARE LABELING US DOMESTIC TERRORISTS BECAUSE WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT A MASSIVE FACILITY.

WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT GOVERNMENT OVERREACH AND THEIR OWN CEO OF THIS EXACT COMPANY.

NOT ANOTHER ONE, NOT ANOTHER STATEMENT, GUYS, THE GUY THAT OWNS THIS PLACE AND CAN LOOK AT OUR DATA SAID THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE ANTI FLOCK ARE DOMESTIC TERRORISTS AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. SO THAT IS NOT SOMETHING I WANT.

AND I'LL CLOSE WITH THIS FROM A QUOTE, A PARAPHRASE FROM ONE OF OUR FOUNDING FATHERS, THOSE WHO WILL SACRIFICE THEIR FREEDOM AND THE AND THE PURSUIT OF SECURITY DESERVE NEITHER. THIS IS AMERICA. WE HAVE OUR INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS. WE'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THE OVERREACH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

HI, MY NAME IS SAMUEL GARCIA. I LIVE AT 2734 BRENTWOOD.

I HERE IN ABILENE. I JUST WANT TO GO OVER A FEW THINGS.

I AM SO GLAD THE YOUNG MAN, THE TECHNOLOGY KID, GOT UP HERE AND TALKED ABOUT WE'RE NOT EXACTLY THE THE BEST EXAMPLE OF CYBER SECURITY AS THE CITY OF ABILENE.

WHAT WE SUFFERED IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS OF BEING HACKED AND US AS CITIZENS HAVING TO DEAL WITH EVERYTHING THAT THAT WE'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH.

Y'ALL LITERALLY DIDN'T HAVE PHONES FOR A WHILE. SO THAT OUGHT TO BE LIKE A VERY HIGH PRIORITY FOR YOU, ESPECIALLY WHAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH. AND THE CITIZENS, WE WENT THROUGH IT, WE'RE STILL GOING THROUGH IT IN SOME CASES. SO THAT OUGHT TO BE A HUGE DEAL. I'M REALLY INSULTED BY THE CHIEF OF POLICE TO HEAR HIM TALK ABOUT WHAT? YOU GOT A CELL PHONE ON YOU? I WAS LIKE, YOUR JOB IS AS THE POLICE OFFICERS TO GET THE TOOLS FOR YOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

RIGHT? BUT YOU OUGHT TO BE A LITTLE MORE NEUTRAL IN DECIDING HOW MUCH FREEDOM I'M GOING TO HAVE AND HOW MUCH YOU'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING OVER MY SHOULDER.

ALL RIGHT. I WANT YOU TO BE A LITTLE MORE OBJECTIVE IN THAT I FIND IT A LITTLE INSULTING THAT THE CHIEF TRIES TO USE US HAVING CELL PHONES AS A WAY THAT THAT WE ARE.

WE'RE JUST KIND OF SILLY FOR EVEN THINKING ABOUT THIS. SORRY, CHIEF, BUT THAT'S OKAY.

I'M WORRIED ABOUT THAT. THE OTHER THING IS, YOU SHOULD TAKE YOUR TIME DECIDING THIS, ALL RIGHT? I'M TOTALLY AGAINST THESE. ANY EXPANSION. IF WE IF WE CURRENTLY HAVE SOME EXPANSION.

BUT HERE'S THE DEAL. I HAD TO COME TO THREE DIFFERENT MEETINGS TO GET A PARK RENAMED.

YOU KNOW, IN THE CITY OF ABILENE. WE OUGHT TO TAKE OUR TIME IN EXAMINING THIS AND GIVING PEOPLE A CHANCE TO COME BACK AND TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS.

ALL RIGHT. SO THIS IS NOT ABOUT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE DECIDED EASILY, ESPECIALLY WHAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED FROM A TECHNOLOGY STANDPOINT, HOW WE'VE BEEN HACKED, AND WE WERE AT THE MERCY OF PEOPLE THAT GOT INTO OUR SYSTEMS. LAST THING IS, I WANT TO POINT OUT THESE ARE SALESMEN THAT ARE UP HERE.

THEY'RE HERE TO SELL YOU A PRODUCT. BUT THE THING THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION WAS THE ONE OF THE VERY LAST THINGS THAT SALESMAN SAID.

HE SAID, WE'RE NOT HERE TO REPLACE THE POLICE.

THIS IS A TEENY TINY DIFFERENCE. WELL, IF IT'S A TEENY TINY DIFFERENCE, THOSE ARE HIS WORDS.

HE JUST SAID THAT THIS IS A TEENY TINY DIFFERENCE.

ARE WE GOING TO PAY ALL THIS MONEY FOR A TEENY TINY DIFFERENCE? GO BACK AND WATCH IT. I COULDN'T BELIEVE HE SAID THAT. I WAS LIKE, YOU'RE ACTUALLY I THINK YOU'RE BEING HONEST, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. WHEN HE SAYS THAT HE'S NOT TALKING ABOUT THIS GIGANTIC CHANGE BECAUSE THE CHIEF MADE IT SOUND LIKE IF WE DON'T HAVE THIS, OH MY GOSH, WE GOT A PROBLEM HERE. HE DESCRIBED IT AS A TEENY TINY DIFFERENCE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WELL, IF IT'S A TEENY TINY DIFFERENCE, MY PERSONAL FREEDOM AND MY PRIVACY IS NOT TEENY TINY.

MY PRIVACY MEANS THE WORLD TO ME. THANK YOU. I'M STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

THANK YOU. MY NAME IS NICHOLAS HOOKER. I'M A LOCAL HOMEOWNER TAXPAYER.

I'M A VETERAN AND A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER. I DIDN'T PLAN TO SPEAK TODAY.

I HAVE NO PREPARED STATEMENT, JUST A SIMPLE THOUGHT OF THE THE STATISTIC IF IF REPRESENTATIVE IS ACCURATE AND WE HAVE A 99% EFFECTIVENESS ON THESE CAMERAS.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE SHEER NUMBER OF VEHICLES PASSING BY THESE CAMERAS EVERY SINGLE DAY, LET'S JUST REFER TO EVEN HIGHWAY 20. IF 1 IN 100 OF THOSE IS BEING FALSELY LABELED IN SOME WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, THAT MIGHT NOT EVEN CAUSE AN ISSUE FOR THAT ONE DRIVER AT A TIME.

BUT WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE NATIONWIDE SPREAD OF THESE CAMERAS, THE SHEER NUMBER OF VEHICLES, IF I GO OUT FOR ERRANDS, I MIGHT DRIVE PAST FOUR OF THESE CAMERAS THREE IN LOWE'S PARKING LOT, ONE ON THE WAY PAST AQ, ONE IN OR OUT OF TOWN.

I'M GETTING TAGGED MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE TIMES. HOW MANY TIMES ARE YOU GOING TO GET FALSELY IDENTIFIED? FALSELY LABELED AS LIKE, OH, WELL, YOU'RE OFF ONE DIGIT ON YOUR LICENSE PLATE.

THE CULPABILITY OF AN ACTUAL STOP. AND AS WE'VE HAD REFERENCE TO INDIVIDUALS GETTING STOPPED WITH WEAPONS DRAWN AND ALL THAT IS AGAIN,

[01:05:05]

A LOWER PERCENTAGE RATE. WHAT ARE THE ODDS THAT YOU'RE GETTING TAGGED AS A FALSE VEHICLE OR A VEHICLE THAT IS FALSE POSITIVE? ON AND ON AND ON. 99% IS ALREADY JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH, PARTICULARLY WITH THESE AI DEVICES WHO ARE CALLING OUT, THAT'S THE CRIMINAL, THAT'S THE PERSON. STOP THEM WITH ALL DUE FORCE AND ALL THAT POLICE OFFICER MIGHT NOT HAVE IN THE MOMENT.

LET'S SAY YOU, YOU KNOW, DECIDE TO PIT MANEUVER, DECIDE TO STOP.

OH, THIS PERSON'S A SERIOUS CRIMINAL. THERE'S A LOT OF RISK GOING INTO TRUSTING A MACHINE TO SAY THAT RIGHT THERE IS A SERIOUS THREAT.

DEAL WITH THEM QUICKLY. YOU KNOW, THESE ALERTS GO OUT.

I DON'T KNOW THE WAY THAT IT IS PRESENTED TO POLICE OFFICERS.

BUT AGAIN, AS WE'RE SEEING AS THIS NETWORK EXPANDS AND IT JUST TURNS INTO LIKE, OH, WELL, THAT WAS JUST A FALSE POSITIVE. OH, SORRY. SORRY ABOUT THAT. FALSE POSITIVE. THESE ARE PEOPLE'S LIVES.

I DISLIKE THE IDEA OF PASSING THIS OFF ONTO MACHINES.

AND AGAIN, IT'S ONE OF A THOUSAND GROWING ANXIETIES THAT WE AS AMERICAN CITIZENS ARE DEALING WITH.

YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND TALK ABOUT, OH, WELL, YOUR PHONE'S LISTENING TO EVERYTHING. YEAH, I GET AN AD EVERY TIME I MENTION, OH, I NEED A NEW TOILET. WELL, IMMEDIATELY I GET AN AD FOR A NEW TOILET ON MY YOUTUBE. IMMEDIATELY MY DATA IS OUT THERE.

I DON'T LIKE THAT EITHER. IF I CAN REEL BACK IN ONE PLACE AND WE START PUSHING BACK AS CITIZENS AND SAY, LET'S NOT HAVE OUR DATA OUT THERE, LET'S PULL IT BACK A LITTLE MORE ON THE SAME THING AS THE THE TEXAS EXPRESSWAY GETTING A TICKET IN THE MAIL.

WHAT IF WE NORMALIZE THIS? WHAT IF WE START? THEY START PUSHING AND SAY, WELL, NOW HOW ABOUT FLOC STARTS ISSUING SPEEDING TICKETS? WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS? IF WE NORMALIZE THIS NOW, I THINK THAT THERE'S PROBABLY ALTERNATIVES.

I THINK THAT WE DON'T NEED TO NECESSARILY TRUST THE MASSIVE NATIONWIDE NETWORK PROGRAM LIKE FLOC.

HAVE WE LOOKED INTO A LOCAL LICENSE PLATE READER? WE HAD SOME DEGREE OF LICENSE PLATE READERS AND RED LIGHT CAMERAS ALREADY.

WHY DO WE NEED THE MASSIVE AI NETWORKED NATIONWIDE SYSTEM IMPLEMENTED ON OUR CITIZENS HERE WHO, AS WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED, MOST OF US ARE NOT DOING SOMETHING TO BE WORRIED ABOUT.

WHY ARE WE GETTING CATALOGED? WHY ARE WE GETTING RECORDED? THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY, EVERYBODY. GOOD MORNING.

COUNCIL AND MAYOR TAMMY FOGEL, RESIDENT OF ABILENE.

THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU. THIS IS THE WAY OUR GOVERNMENT IS SUPPOSED TO WORK.

YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE, CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DISCUSSION, AND THEN Y'ALL ARE IN THE ELECTED POSITION TO MAKE DECISIONS ACCORDINGLY.

NOW, I'M NOT SAYING YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISION I WANT, BUT I'M SO APPRECIATIVE OF HOW THIS IS THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK. AND WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM ALL ACROSS THE CITY, PEOPLE THAT SOME PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM CANNOT STAND ME.

BUT WE AGREE ON THIS ISSUE. AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS WHY WE DO THIS.

AND THIS IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. AND I THINK THIS IS WHAT WE NEED MORE OF.

FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S NO INFORMATION GIVEN TO US WHERE THIS CAME INTO OUR CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WHEN WAS THAT DECISION MADE? WHERE'S THE DOCUMENTATION? WAS IT A RESOLUTION? WAS IT AN ORDINANCE? I MEAN, WHERE WAS THAT AND WHAT YEAR WAS THAT DONE? AND HAVING THAT PRESENTED AGAIN SO WE COULD LOOK AT IT AND SEE, OH, THEY DO HAVE ALL THESE QUESTIONS.

A LOT OF OUR QUESTIONS COULD HAVE BEEN RESOLVED.

FIRST, I THINK I REALLY NEED TO SAY IS WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF SAFE? THAT PRESENTATION STARTED OFF. WE ALL WANT TO FEEL SAFE.

WELL, I GUARANTEE THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, AND WE CAN COME UP WITH 100 DIFFERENT WAYS OF WHAT WE DEFINE AS SAFE.

SO SAFETY IS, LIKE THE PRESENTER SAID, SUBJECTIVE.

AND SO WHAT MAKES ME FEEL SAFE IS NOT HAVING THESE CAMERAS.

I'M NOT I DON'T FEEL SAFE. I DON'T LIKE IT WHEN I GO INTO LOWE'S AND SEE THAT FLOCK CAMERA. I DON'T LIKE IT WHEN I SEE THEM EVERYWHERE I DRIVE. NOW, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TOLL ROAD AND THESE CAMERAS IS THAT YOU CAN CHOOSE NOT TO GO ON THE TOLL ROAD.

YOU CAN CHOOSE NOT TO HAVE YOUR INFORMATION. PHOTOGRAPHED IN ABILENE.

I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHERE ALL THE CAMERAS. CAN I CIRCUMVENT THESE CAMERAS? DO I HAVE A CHOICE, OR AM I NOW UNDER SURVEILLANCE BECAUSE YOU ALL DECIDED IT WAS MORE CONVENIENT FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS? AND AGAIN, I DON'T DISPARAGE THE POLICE OFFICERS WANTING IT TOOLS TO HELP THEM.

THAT'S A WIN. BUT SOMETIMES JUST BECAUSE IT'S A GOOD TOOL DOESN'T MEAN IT'S THE RIGHT TOOL.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN DOES A LINE GET CROSSED? IT'S BEEN MENTIONED THAT, YOU KNOW, CRIMES, CERTAIN CRIMES ARE IDENTIFIED.

BUT I RECALL DURING COVID, IF YOU JUST WANTED TO LIVE YOUR NORMAL LIFE, YOU WERE CONSIDERED SOMEONE WHO WAS BREAKING THE LAW, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO LAW THAT YOU'RE BREAKING, YOU WERE STILL PENALIZED AND ARRESTED FOR FOR CONTINUING YOUR PLACE OF BUSINESS.

SO ARE WE GOING TO GO BACK TO THAT? WHEN WILL THAT HAPPEN? I DON'T THINK OUR CHIEF AND I DON'T THINK THE CURRENT COUNCIL HAS ANY PLANS TO DO THAT. BUT WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE WHEN SOMEONE WHO DOES HAVE THAT POWER GRAB WANTS TO TAKE OVER THAT? ARE THERE LIMITATIONS IN PLACE TO PREVENT US? THE BEST WAY IS TO NOT HAVE THEM AT ALL. I DO THINK WE CONFLATE, THE BRAND FLOCK AND THE LPR.

I THINK IT'S HARD TO HAVE THESE INDEPENDENT DISCUSSIONS BECAUSE EVEN THE PRESENTER MENTIONED THEM BACK AND FORTH INTERCHANGEABLY. FLOCK IS A BRAND LPR AND LIKE AS MENTIONED, WE HAVE OTHER LPR. ANYWAY, I THINK THAT OTHER CITIES HAVE ALREADY AND COUNTIES HAVE ALREADY DECIDED THAT THIS IS NOT THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS, THAT THEY'RE CANCELING THESE. AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD DECISION. YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO BE A LEADER IN THIS DECISION, OR YOU CAN BE A FOLLOWER AND WAIT UNTIL IT'S REQUIRED TO BE

[01:10:04]

REMOVED. LET'S BE A LEADER AND MAKE A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM THREE.

WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? MY NAME IS JERRY. I'VE BEEN IN ABILENE, EXCUSE ME, SINCE 1977, AND I'VE NEVER LEFT SINCE.

AND THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TO WORK TODAY. WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS I'M NEITHER FOR OR AGAINST THE FLOCK CAMERAS, BUT ONCE WE HAVE THEM, IT'LL BE HARD TO GET RID OF THEM.

AND WE HEARD FROM THE SALESMAN TODAY. DID ANYONE EVER BUY A USED CAR? WE NEVER HEAR THE BAD PART ABOUT THE USED CAR.

EXCUSE ME? WE ALWAYS HEAR THE GOOD POINTS, WHICH A GOOD SALESMAN WILL DO THAT.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'LL COST. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COST IS GOING TO BE IN THE FUTURE.

I JUST THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE SOME DISCUSSION LIKE WE ARE TODAY.

AND. THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU JERRY.

THANK YOU. ON THE PUBLIC HEARING. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? HELLO, MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER DELEON. I JUST WANT TO THERE'S A BUNCH OF LEGALESE THROWN AROUND BY A COUPLE COMPLIANCE PEOPLE, LAWYERS. WHEN PEOPLE SAY SUCH AS LG TVS AND OR FLOCK CAMERAS OR AXON CAMERAS.

ALPERS, THEY SAY THEY DO NOT SELL THE DATA, BUT THEY CAN SHARE THE DATA WITH ANY OF THEIR PARTNERS OR SHELL COMPANIES THAT THEY BUILD, AND THOSE COMPANIES CAN SELL IT. I JUST WANT THAT TO BE ON THE RECORD FOR A LITTLE BIT.

THINK ABOUT THAT. ANOTHER THING, SAFETY VERSUS LIBERTY.

I WOULD RATHER MUCH, MUCH RATHER BE FREE ON THESE ROADS THAT ARE OPEN FOR EVERYBODY AND NOT BEING WATCHED.

I UNDERSTAND THEY SAY IT'S A STILL PICTURE, BUT IN ORDER FOR A STILL PICTURE TO BECOME A VIDEO IS YOU JUST NEED 30 OF THEM IN ONE SECOND, AND A STILL PICTURE BECOMES A VIDEO LIKE THAT.

MY NAME IS CHRIS. I HOPE YOU GUYS DECIDE TO GET RID OF IT.

THANK YOU CHRIS. THANK YOU. STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? GOOD MORNING COUNCIL.

THANK YOU ALL FOR DOING THIS. JUSTIN WALLACE.

ABILENE. I JUST WANT TO SAY A COUPLE THINGS. FIRST, THERE'S MORE THAN 13 CAMERAS IN THE CITY.

THE CITY'S OWN PURCHASING ORDERS SHOW THAT THERE ARE ALSO TWO CONDOR CAMERAS.

I DID A FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST. IT WAS HIDDEN BEHIND A $5,000 FEE.

SO OF COURSE, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. BUT I DON'T WANT TO COVER WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS.

BUT LOOKING AT THIS FROM AN OPERATIONAL SECURITY STANDPOINT, BEING A STRATEGIC BOMBER BASE AND BEDDING DOWN THE B-21 LAST WEEK, A CAMERA WAS CUT OFF A POLE. THEY WERE ABLE TO TAKE OFF OVER 1.6 MILLION IMAGES, 27,000 VIDEOS.

THAT'S A SOFT TARGET ON A STICK FOR AN ADVERSARY.

SO JUST THINK ABOUT THAT AND WHERE WE AT AND THE TIMES WE LIVE IN.

THANK YOU. STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

SORRY, IT TAKES ME A WHILE TO GET HERE. MY NAME IS SCOTT GIDLEY.

I'M A RESIDENT OF ABILENE, GREW UP HERE, MOVED AWAY FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND CAME BACK AFTER LIVING IN FORT WORTH FOR A LONG TIME.

AND I CAN TELL YOU AS A MOTORCYCLE RIDER, THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE NOTHING THAT'S GOING TO PROTECT ME ON THE STREETS.

THESE CAMERAS ARE NOT GOING TO PROTECT ME ON THE STREETS.

AND EVERY DAY THAT I RIDE, I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT EVERY SINGLE DAY AND I RIDE IT EVERY DAY.

WE HAVE HAD THREE FATALITIES IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS.

TWO OF THEM WERE WITHIN A QUARTER MILE OF MY HOME.

THESE CAMERAS ARE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING TO PROTECT US.

WHAT WE NEED IS WE NEED LAW ENFORCEMENT. YES, SIR.

CHIEF LAW. SIR. CAN YOU SPEAK TO US, PLEASE? THANK YOU.

I'M SPEAKING TO EVERYBODY HERE. IT'S MY. IT'S MY.

MY RIGHT. I CAN SPEAK TO EVERYBODY, AND I'M CALLING IT OUT THAT WE ARE.

YOU CAN GO TO ANY INTERSECTION IN ABILENE AND SIT THERE FOR 30 MINUTES.

I GUARANTEE YOU YOU WILL SEE FIVE PEOPLE RUNNING RED LIGHTS, LOCK CAMERAS.

[01:15:04]

NOT GOING TO HELP US WITH THAT. AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SO MANY ACCIDENTS.

WE HAVE A THREE SECOND YELLOW LIGHT, THE STANDARD IN MOST LARGE CITIES, WHICH WE ARE BECOMING A LARGE CITY, IS 4 TO 5 SECONDS ON THE YELLOW LIGHT. THOSE MINOR DETAILS ARE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT, NOT JUST SAYING, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SYSTEM THAT MONITORS EVERYTHING.

AND AGAIN, IT WAS BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WHO SAID THAT THOSE WHO WILL SACRIFICE A FEW FREEDOMS FOR SAFETY HAVE NO SAFETY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM THREE.

WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I WANT TO THANK THE PUBLIC FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

THIS GIVES US SOME GUIDANCE. AND, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WE THOUGHT WAS IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS PRESENTATION TODAY.

THIS IS NOT AN ACTION ITEM. ONCE AGAIN, I DO WANT TO REITERATE, WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE BEING HERE TODAY.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA WHICH CONSISTS OF ITEMS FOUR THROUGH

[ CONSENT AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS]

23. THESE ITEMS WILL BE CONSIDERED WITH ONE MOTION.

THERE WILL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION UNLESS A COUNCIL MEMBER REQUEST SEPARATE DISCUSSION.

DOES ANYONE ON COUNCIL WISH TO CONSIDER ANY ITEM INDIVIDUALLY? NUMBER SIX PLEASE.

THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

THERE WILL BE NO VOTES OR ANY FORMAL ACTIONS TAKEN ON SUBJECTS PRESENTED DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO PRESENT IDEAS AND INFORMATION TO CITY OFFICIALS AND STAFF.

PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND CITY YOU RESIDE IN. FOR THE RECORD. DO WE HAVE ANY CARDS? YES. THERE'LL BE A THREE MINUTE LIMIT. START WITH CARDS, PLEASE.

CHAD CARTER, ITEMS SEVEN AND 15.

CHAD CARTER, CITIZEN OF ABILENE. FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS.

ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO, I WORKED FOR THE CITY OF ABILENE.

I KIND OF UNCOVERED WHAT I BELIEVED WAS FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE BEING COMMITTED BY THE CITY ATTORNEYS AND THE CITY MANAGEMENT.

WHAT I, WHAT THE CITY OF ABILENE FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE POLICY SAYS IS THAT IF YOU ARE AN EMPLOYEE WITH THE CITY OF ABILENE, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO GO TO THE INTERNAL AUDITOR.

OKAY. THEN THAT INTERNAL AUDITOR IS SUPPOSED TO GET WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY, THEN THAT, YOU KNOW, AND IF THE CITY MANAGER IS INVOLVED, THEN THE CITY MANAGER GOES DIRECTLY TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

THAT'S HOW IT WAS WRITTEN BACK THEN. THAT'S HOW IT'S WRITTEN NOW.

WHAT I THINK. NOW, THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH THAT, IS THAT WHEN I REPORTED THAT THE FRAUD AND THE WASTE AND THE ABUSE TO THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY ATTORNEY, THEY THEN THREATENED ME, TRIED TO BRIBE ME, THEN THEY FIRED ME.

OKAY. THEN I REQUESTED TO TO DO A TO MEET WITH THE CITY. I HAD ALREADY GOTTEN ANOTHER JOB, BUT I WANTED TO TALK TO THE CITY, AND I GOT THE STIFF ARM.

AND SO THEN I DID WHAT'S CALLED REQUESTED WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION.

AND THAT CASE IS, WAS HERE IN TAYLOR COUNTY. IT'S 10138 D AND I WAS AWARDED A SETTLEMENT.

BUT REALLY THAT WASN'T WHAT I WANTED. WHAT I WANTED WAS FOR THINGS TO BE DONE RIGHT AT THE CITY.

WHAT? SO HERE'S WHAT MY CONCERN IS RIGHT NOW IS THAT FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE POLICY.

HAD I JUST GONE TO THE INTERNAL AUDITOR? THE INTERNAL AUDITOR DOES NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO INVESTIGATE, REGULATE, PROSECUTE, OR THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE ENFORCE.

OKAY. AND I HAD PICKED UP ON THAT. I THE ATTORNEYS WERE BREAKING THE LAW, SO THEY WEREN'T GOING TO LEAD ME TO DO THE RIGHT THING, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. BUT I DID PICK UP THAT, HEY, I CANNOT REPORT IT TO THE INTERNAL AUDITOR BECAUSE THAT INTERNAL AUDITOR DOES NOT HAVE ANY OF THAT ABILITY. I THINK THE FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE POLICY NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.

[01:20:07]

I THINK THAT ONE SOLUTION THAT I MIGHT THROW OUT THERE IS THAT, HEY, THE INTERNAL AUDITOR, INSTEAD OF BEING UNDER THE CITY MANAGER AND UNDER THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, I THINK THAT INTERNAL AUDITOR SHOULD BE PLACED UNDER THE THE POLICE CHIEF. THE REASON IS, IS THAT NOW I DON'T KNOW IF LEGALLY THAT WOULD PROVIDE THE RIGHT PROTECTION, BUT THAT'S A THOUGHT THAT I HAVE AND I RECOMMEND, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT EXPLORED.

THANK YOU, MR. CARTER. JERRY NASH. ITEM 18. I'M ONLY AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

OKAY. THANK YOU. JERRY. RUSTY TAO. ITEM 20.

GOOD MORNING. MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. MY NAME IS RUSTY TAO.

I GREW UP HERE IN ABILENE. WENT TO FRANKLIN JUNIOR HIGH AND ABILENE HIGH.

I SEE YOU MOVED AWAY FOR 11 YEARS, SERVED IN THE NAVY AND WORK AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT NATIONAL LABORATORIES.

BEFORE I MOVED BACK TO ABILENE 25 YEARS AGO TO TO SET MY ROOTS HERE AND RAISE MY FAMILY HERE.

WE BOUGHT A PROPERTY ON THE VERY NORTHWEST CORNER OF ABILENE AND WE.

WE BUILT THE HOME. I BUILT A HOME WITH MY OWN HANDS THERE ON PROPERTY THAT WAS ZONED OPEN AG IN AN AREA THAT WAS OPEN AG AND RESIDENTIAL.

BUILT A HOME, BUILT A SECOND HOME, MOVED MY PARENTS IN THE FIRST HOME AND WE REALLY ENJOYED THAT PROPERTY.

A FEW YEARS AGO STARGATE MOVED IN AS A NEIGHBOR.

AND WHILE IT WASN'T WHAT WE DESIRED, IT WAS ON THE, IN THE DISTANCE ABOUT A YEAR AGO AS WE WERE SPENDING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WITH ARCHITECTURE FIRMS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO LEGALLY AND APPROPRIATELY GO THROUGH REPLATTING AND REZONING AND WORKING WITH LIVING NEXT TO THE CREEK TO GET THAT PROPERTY SITUATED TO ALLOW MY DAUGHTERS TO BUILD A HOME NEXT TO ME.

THERE WAS A A REZONING REQUEST FOR THE PROPERTY NORTH OF ME TO GO FROM OPEN AG TO HEAVY INDUSTRIAL.

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS GROUP APPROVED THAT. AND SO NOW I LIVE AND MY 80 YEAR OLD PARENTS LIVE A FEW HUNDRED YARDS FROM WHERE A POWER PLANT WILL BE BUILT. THAT'S MORE THAN TEN TIMES WHAT THE CITY OF ABILENE NEEDS THAT THAT ZONING CHANGE HAS HAPPENED.

WHAT WHAT WAS WHAT HAPPENED ACROSS THE ROAD FROM ME ON SHIRLEY ROAD, THE PROPERTY THAT'S UNDER DISCUSSION HERE.

IT CAME UP ABOUT A YEAR AGO. COULD WE? THAT PROPERTY STARTED WITHOUT A REZONING REQUEST.

THEY STARTED BULLDOZING THE TREES, THE HILLS, AND FLATTENING THAT PROPERTY.

AFTER IT RAINS, THE MUD RUNS ACROSS SHIRLEY ROAD INTO MY TANK.

AND I ASKED THE CITY, WAS THIS APPROPRIATELY ZONED? THE CITY ENGINEERS TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANYTHING HAPPENING ON THAT PROPERTY.

I SHOWED THEM PICTURES. THEY SAID THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE AND TO THEIR CREDIT, THEY INVESTIGATED AND THEY TOLD ME THEY ISSUED A STOP WORK.

I CAN ASSURE YOU FOR THE PAST YEAR, THERE'S BEEN NO STOP WORK ON THIS 54 ACRE PARKING LOT THAT'S USED AS A LAY DOWN LOT.

IT'S MOVED AHEAD AND THEY'VE DONE WHAT THEY'VE WANTED TO, DESPITE NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES OF THE CITY.

I WOULD REQUEST THAT THE CITY COUNCIL NOT ALLOW THIS REZONING.

I BOUGHT A HOUSE, I BOUGHT PROPERTY, BUILT A HOME IN AN AREA THAT WAS OPEN AG AND RESIDENTIAL.

PLEASE DON'T CHANGE THE ZONING FROM RESIDENTIAL TO ALLOW THIS COMPANY TO REWARD THIS COMPANY THAT'S MOVED FORWARD, NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITY CODES, BUT IN DEFIANCE OF THEM.

PLEASE DON'T REWARD THEIR BAD BEHAVIOR BY REZONING THIS.

THAT'S MY REQUEST. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. THANK YOU.

STANLEY, I HAVE A QUESTION. CAN CAN I PULL ITEM 20? SINCE WE'VE ALREADY CLOSED, IT HADN'T BEEN VOTED ON.

SO YOU CAN PULL IT. OKAY, I'M GOING TO REQUEST TO PULL ITEM 20.

WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT. ANY MORE CARDS? YES, MARK. LEON. ITEM 21. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MARK LEON WITH CROSS ARCHITECTS.

OUR ADDRESS IS 879 JUNCTION DRIVE, ALLEN, TEXAS.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 21. IT'S A TEN ACRE TRACT LOCATED AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF BUFFALO GAP ROAD AND WAGON WHEEL AVENUE.

WE'RE REQUESTING TO REZONE APPROXIMATELY TEN ACRE TRACT TO MULTIFAMILY.

WE ARE WORKING WITH THE, THE CHURCH AND THE PROPERTY OWNER WHO OWNS THAT PROPERTY NOW.

AND WE HAVE LAID OUT WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS A 216 UNIT MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT.

AS THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL IS MORE AWARE THAN I AM, THE CITY OF ABILENE HAS A MASSIVE NEED FOR HOUSING IN THE CITY.

[01:25:07]

JUST GO TO ANY HOTEL IN THE CITY OF ABILENE, CHECK OUT PRICES AND WHEN THEIR NEXT AVAILABILITY IS.

AND YOU'LL SEE THAT THE THAT HOUSING ISSUE IS BECOMING A CRISIS RIGHT NOW.

WHAT WE'RE REALLY LOOKING TO DO IS COME DELIVER AN AMAZING PRODUCT TO THE CITY.

I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT THIS PRODUCT IS NOT TAX CREDIT.

IT'S NOT AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IT'S NOT SECTION EIGHT.

THESE ARE LUXURY HIGH END MARKET RATE APARTMENTS IS WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING.

WE'RE ALSO VERY INTENTIONALLY ONLY DOING ONE AND TWO BEDROOM UNITS.

WE'RE NOT TRYING TO BRING THREE BEDROOM UNITS THAT ARE GOING TO OVERLY TAX THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS. WE'RE ALSO BEING VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT OUR LAYOUT AND TRYING TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS. IF YOU, I KNOW IT'S NOT AVAILABLE ON THE SCREEN, BUT I'M SURE YOU'VE SEEN IT AS WELL.

ON OUR SITE PLAN LAYOUT, WE VERY INTENTIONALLY PLACED THE FIRE LANES AROUND THE OUTSIDE PERIMETER OF THE PROPERTY, AS WELL AS PROVIDING LANDSCAPE BUFFERS AND SETTING ALL OF OUR BUILDINGS INTERNAL TO THE PROPERTY.

SO THERE'S NO BUILDING WITHIN 80FT OF A PROPERTY LINE.

THERE'S ALSO NO SINGLE FAMILY IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO OUR PROPERTY.

WE'RE ALSO PLANNING ON PROVIDING HIGH END LUXURY AMENITIES.

SO LUXURY POOL HIGH END FINISHES IN ALL OF OUR UNITS.

OUR, OUR GOAL IS ESSENTIALLY TO PROVIDE THAT HIGH END SINGLE FAMILY CUSTOM HOME LOOK TO AN APARTMENT USER THAT MAY NOT HAVE THE FINANCES TOGETHER IN ORDER TO PUT DOWN THAT LARGE DOWN PAYMENT WITH TODAY'S MARKET.

REALLY OUR CLIENTELE WHERE WE'RE AIMING FOR, WE'RE AIMING AT FIRST RESPONDERS, WE'RE AIMING AT TEACHERS, BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS AND YOUNG FAMILIES THAT HAVE RECENT NEWBORNS.

SO THAT'S KIND OF THE, THE DEMOGRAPHIC THAT WE'RE AIMING FOR THE PRODUCT TYPE THAT WE'RE PROPOSING.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS I'M THE ARCHITECT OF RECORD ON THE PROJECT.

I'M FLUENT WITH THE PROJECT AS WELL AS WITH THE OWNER THAT'S DEVELOPING IT.

SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HERE AND AVAILABLE. THANK YOU.

THIS IS THE FIRST READING. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. CHAD CHENEY FOR ITEM 22. OKAY. AND THE LAST CARD IS FOR ITEM 25 ON THE REGULAR AGENDA.

SO THE LAST CARD. WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? TAMMY FOGEL, RESIDENT OF ABILENE.

OKAY, SO LET ME SEE IF I CAN FIGURE THIS ALL OUT BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS. I DO BELIEVE THAT I HAVE TO SAY, I'M. I'M NOT SHOCKED VERY OFTEN BY WHAT Y'ALL DO HERE AS COUNCIL.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, I WASN'T HERE AT THE LAST MEETING. AND WHEN I FINALLY GOT TO WATCH IT, I WAS SHOCKED THAT THE CONVERSATION FOR REPLACING OR FUNDING FULLY FUNDING THE FIREMEN'S COMPETITIVE PAY INCREASE OR WHATEVER WAS ENGAGED WITH BY CUTTING A FUTURE EMPLOYEE POSITION.

AND I WAS VERY SURPRISED AND EXCITED BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHEN ALL WE DO IS MOVE FORWARD AND WE DON'T EVALUATE WHAT WE'RE DOING, WE CAN HAVE PROBLEMS. AND THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF WE HAD JUST AGREED TO THE THE CONTRACT.

ALL THE CITY MANAGER AGREED TO BACK IN MARCH AND NOT PULL THE RUG OUT FROM UNDER THEM AND MADE THEM SCRAP TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO COME TO THE BALLOT AGAIN IN THE FALL TO GET SOME ACTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THIS, TO PREVENT THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR IN THE FUTURE.

BUT THE POSITION WAS FLUFF BECAUSE AS A CITIZEN, I'VE COME TO THESE MEETINGS PRETTY REGULARLY FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, AND WHEN I WALK IN THIS ROOM, I SIT BY MYSELF AND I TALK AND I TALK TO NO ONE UNLESS I GO OUT AND TALK TO SOMEBODY.

AND SO THAT COMMUNITY POSITION WAS NOT GOING TO CHANGE.

OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT POSITION WAS NOT GOING TO CHANGE IT. IT WAS JUST GOING TO ADD MONEY TO INCENTIVIZE SOMEONE TO DO A JOB.

AND I DON'T HAVE ANY FUNDING GOING INTO COMING TO THIS MEETING.

NO ONE PAYS ME, BUT I MANAGED TO FIND OUT. THE BEST WAY FOR ME TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY IS WHEN SOMEONE SHOWS UP TO THIS MEETING.

I GO OUT AND SAY, HEY, I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU HERE BEFORE.

WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO THE MEETING TODAY? BECAUSE IT GIVES ME INSIGHT TO WHAT MATTERS TO PEOPLE AND WHAT GETS THEM INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OR IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

I'VE NOT SEEN ONE OF YOU COME IN BEFORE THE MEETING. I THINK IT'S STANDARD PROTOCOL FOR YOU ALL TO HANG OUT IN YOUR LITTLE ROOM BEFOREHAND. I'VE NOT SEEN ANY OF THE STAFF WELCOME OR GREET ANYONE AND SAY, DO YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT? HERE'S THE FORM. ANY OF THAT INFORMATION. SO WHY IS IT THAT WE THINK THAT WE ONLY HAVE TO PAY PEOPLE TO DO A JOB THAT SHOULD BE DONE ALREADY? YOU ALL CAN INSTRUCT THE COUNCIL TO ENGAGE DIFFERENTLY IN THIS MEETING, SO THAT IT'S NOT INTIMIDATING TO COME INTO THIS PLACE AND HAVE A CONVERSATION.

I'VE HEARD FROM MANY CITIZENS WHO SAY, YOU KNOW, I EMAILED THE COUNCIL AND THEY DON'T EVEN RESPOND TO ME. I DON'T THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE.

SO THIS IS A GOOD STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BECAUSE WE EVALUATED THE MEDICAL FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL ARE NOT FUNDING ANYMORE THOSE PROGRAMS. WE NEED TO EVALUATE THOSE PROGRAMS. WE DON'T NEED TO GO WELL. WE'VE ALWAYS HAD THEM, SO LET'S KEEP FUNDING THEM. SO I'M GLAD SOME OF THAT CAME OUT OF, WELL, IT DIDN'T EVEN COME OUT OF THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T TOUCH GOVERNMENT PROVIDED HEALTH CARE. THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS BECAUSE SHOULD GOVERNMENT BE PROVIDING HEALTH CARE? I DON'T KNOW. WE HAVE A REALLY BIG HOSPITAL IN TOWN THAT HAS A VERY MISSION MINDED TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE.

WHY DON'T WE UTILIZE THEIR SERVICES BETTER THAN THE TAXPAYER DOLLARS?

[01:30:01]

I THINK THERE'S CONVERSATIONS THAT NEED TO BE HAD, AND THEN TOUCHING THE FIREMAN APPARATUS FEE IN LIEU OF KEEPING THIS UP TO PAY FOR THEM, THAT'S KIND OF A DOUBLE HANDED SLAP IN THE FACE TO TAKE AWAY SOME OF THEIR APPARATUSES JUST SO THAT YOU CAN FUND THEIR RAISES THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE GIVEN IN THE FIRST PLACE THAT YOU AGREE TO IS SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO HAPPEN. SO THANK YOU FOR DOING SOMETHING THAT SURPRISED ME, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. I HAD ITEM SEVEN AND I. WOULD THAT BE. MR. CARTER, COME UP, PLEASE.

I CAN'T HEAR YOU. ITEM SEVEN. THOSE ARE BOTH CONSENT AGENDA. SO THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DURING PUBLIC COMMENT. OKAY.

OKAY. CAN I DISCUSS THOSE? I'VE ALREADY SPOKE.

NO, YOU'VE ALREADY SPOKEN. MAY YOU READ MY CARDS? FOR ITEM SEVEN AND 15. THE SPECIFICATIONS ARE NOT SEALED BY A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER ON ITEM SEVEN AND ON 15, THE FIRM IS REQUIRED TO DECLARE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.

OKAY. THANK YOU. WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

I'LL NOW ASK FOR A MOTION ON CONSENT AGENDA FOR ITEMS FOUR THROUGH 23, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SIX AND 20.

SO MOVED. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN PRICE.

SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BAILEY. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? READY TO VOTE? MY SCREEN'S NOT ON. OH. I'M GOOD.

THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER BEARD AND CRAVER ARE ABSENT.

ALL YESES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM SIX.

LET'S TAKE A QUICK TEN MINUTE BREAK. THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING US A QUICK BREAK.

WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM SIX. AND COUNCILMAN PRICE, YOU HAD PULLED THIS ITEM.

[6. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion, and Take Action to Approve a Contract with Axon Enterprise, Inc. for the replacement of Body-Worn, In-Car Cameras and Evidence Management (Rondell Seratte)]

YES. I JUST HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS AND THEN JUST A SIMILAR CONCERN, BUT IN THE CONTRACT IT TALKS ABOUT COMMUNITY LINK. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S INCLUDED WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING? I DIDN'T SEE A LINE ITEM FOR IT, BUT IT'S ALL INCLUSIVE.

YES, SIR. IT IS BUILT IN DESCRIBING THAT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR ME.

SO THAT'S FINE. I'M NOT I'M NOT ASKING FOR A FULL DESCRIPTION.

I JUST WANTED IT IS ALL INCLUSIVE. YES, SIR. WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE IS IT SAYS AXON WILL NOT TREAT COMMUNITY LINK CUSTOMER CONTENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH FBICGIS SECURITY POLICY REQUIREMENTS AND DOES NOT AGREE TO THE CGIS SECURITY ADDENDUM FOR THIS ENGAGEMENT OR ANY OTHER SECURITY OR PRIVACY RELATED COMMITMENTS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED BETWEEN AXON AND CUSTOMER, SUCH AS AND LIST SOME THINGS.

WHY? WHY ARE THEY NOT FOLLOWING THE FBI SECURITY REQUIREMENTS? I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT WOULD BE DATA THAT'S NOT RELATED TO ANYTHING QUALIFIED AS CJIS OR NCIC OR WHAT THAT COULD BE, I DON'T KNOW. I CAN LOOK INTO THAT FOR YOU THOUGH. OKAY.

IS THERE SOMEONE HERE FROM AXON? NO, NO, JUST MY IT GUY THAT WENT OVER THE CONTRACT WITH THEM.

DO YOU? WELL, THAT JUST JUMPED OUT AT ME AND I WAS I WAS LIKE, WELL, TED CAN ANSWER THAT IF YOU.

I THINK IF YOU WANT THIS TED HARVEY ARE MY IT DIRECTOR.

OKAY. SO EXXON COMMUNITY LINK IS AN APPLICATION THAT ALLOWS THE PUBLIC TO SUBMIT EVIDENCE TO US. SO COMMUNITY LINK ITSELF HANDLES THE TRANSPORT OF EVIDENCE INTO EVIDENCE.COM AND TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHERE IT'S SUBJECT TO FBI AND US AND ALL OF THAT.

BUT COMMUNITY LINK ITSELF DOESN'T. OKAY. SO THAT'D BE LIKE IF THERE WAS A WITNESS TO SOMETHING AND THE OFFICER SAID, WELL, HERE, SEND THE PICTURES THAT YOU TOOK ON YOUR PHONE TO THIS THING.

THAT'S THE COMMUNITY. EXACTLY. OKAY. AN OFFICER WILL BE ABLE TO PULL OUT HIS CELL PHONE AND HOLD UP A QR CODE.

YOU SCAN THE QR CODE, ATTACH YOUR PHOTOS STRAIGHT UP.

THAT MAKES MORE SENSE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. AND CHIEF, THE.

THE CONTRACT INCLUDES THE AXON OUTPOST POLE, AND I'M GUESSING THAT THAT IS THE EQUIVALENT TO THE FLOCK POSTED CAMERAS FOR THE LICENSE PLATE READERS.

[01:35:03]

IT IS? YES, SIR. WELL, FOR ME, AS I MENTIONED ON THE FLOCK DISCUSSION, THAT I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH THE REST OF THE ITEMS THAT WE'RE WE'RE BUYING.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INTERVIEW ROOM CAMERAS AND TASERS AND THE TRAINING MODULES AND ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO HELP OFFICERS WITH WHAT THEY'RE DOING. THAT'S, THAT'S THE ONE THING FOR ME THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE NOT INCLUDED.

BUT THAT'S JUST ONE PERSON. SO I JUST MAKE THAT STATEMENT.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE CONCURS, BUT THAT'S WHERE I AM.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WOULD CHANGE THE CONTRACT IN THE SENSE OF THE PRICING WAS BASED ON THE WHOLE THING.

AND SO IT WOULDN'T BE JUST SOMETHING YOU CAN PULL OUT.

IT WILL NOT CHANGE THE CONTRACT. THEY THREW THAT IN FOR THE PRICE IT WAS ALREADY AGREED TO.

OKAY. SO WOULD CHANGE NOTHING. NO, SIR. THAT'S MY PERSONAL PREFERENCE IS TO NOT INCLUDE THE AXON OUTPOST POLES.

ANYONE ELSE HAVE INPUT ON THAT? THAT WAS MY ONLY QUESTION OR QUESTIONS.

ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU CHIEF. THANK YOU. THANKS, CHIEF.

THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST ITEM SIX? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. TAMMY FOGEL, A CITIZEN OF ABILENE.

THANK YOU FOR PULLING THIS ITEM. COUNCILMAN PRICE AND THE GOOD DISCUSSION.

YOU KNOW, I WISH I HAD A LOT OF TIME TO READ ALL THE NUANCES OF THE CONTRACTS LIKE YOU, BUT I'M NOT QUITE THERE YET. MAYBE ONE DAY I CAN GROW UP AND BE AS COOL AS YOU IN READING ALL THE DETAILS. BUT I DO WANT TO ADDRESS THIS BODY.

CAM I. IT'S A STANDARD OPERATING TOOL FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS.

I MEAN, JUST LIKE THEIR WEAPONS, JUST LIKE THEIR BELTS. JUST LIKE THEIR UNIFORMS. SO MY QUESTION IS, WHY ARE WE PAYING FOR IT WITH THE MIP? WHY IS THIS NOT A BUDGET BUDGETED ITEM ON? I ALWAYS SAY THIS WRONG. A BUDGETED LINE ITEM.

A LINE ITEM ON THE BUDGET. THIS MAKES. THIS MAKES.

THIS FOLLOWS ALONG THE PATTERN OF. WE JUST KIND OF PAY FOR IT AS WE GO.

AND THE PROBLEM IS, IS OUR OUR BUDGET IS INCREASING EVERY YEAR.

I THINK IT WAS AT 24% INCREASE THIS YEAR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

OR MAYBE THE FUNDING, THE TAXPAYERS, I DON'T KNOW.

I'M PULLING THAT OUT OF MY HEAD, BUT IT'S INCREASING EVERY YEAR YET WE'RE STILL HAVING TO PAY CASH FOR ITEMS THAT ARE PART OF THE STANDARD EQUIPMENT OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS.

AND THAT'S THE WAY WE DO IT WITH OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING A BETTER JOB IN OUR WATER DEPARTMENT, OUR PARKS AND RECS.

WE WE DON'T TAKE CARE OF THEM. WE JUST PAY FOR THEM. WHEN WE FINALLY HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO REPLACE PARKS, THERE'S NO PLAN FOR MAINTENANCE AND MAINTAINING THESE THINGS.

AND SO IT'S JUST CONCERNING TO ME THAT WITH SO MUCH MONEY GOING OUT AND NOT HAVING ACCOUNTABILITY, WE'RE WILLING TO SET ASIDE MONEY FOR FUTURE PROGRAMS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE FUNDED.

WE'VE GOT TO START HAVING REAL DISCUSSIONS. AND WHEN YOU HAVE REAL DISCUSSIONS, IT INCLUDES HOW DO YOU REDUCE THE BUDGET AND HOW DO YOU REMOVE ITEMS WHEN YOU'RE HAVING BUDGET TALKS? IT'S NOT JUST SAYING, WELL, THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO IS INCREASE IT AND THEN SAYING, WE DON'T HAVE ANY PLAN FOR ANYTHING ELSE. THAT'S NOT A GOOD USE OF OUR FUNDING.

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE LIKE, I DIDN'T MENTION THIS EARLIER, BUT THERE WAS A CHANGE IN COST FOR THE AIR TANKER RAMPS THAT MOST CITIZENS DON'T KNOW THAT THEY PAY FOR IN THEIR TAXES BECAUSE IT CAME OUT OF A BOND THAT WAS NOT VOTED ON FOR $7.8 MILLION.

AND THINGS LIKE THIS IS FRUSTRATING AS A CITIZEN WHO'S SAYING, GIVE US OPTIONS TO TO WORK WITH, AND YOU'RE SAYING THERE ARE NONE YET. WE CAN'T PAY FOR OUR FIREMEN BECAUSE OUR BUDGET IS TOO TIGHT.

THE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING ARE MIXED.

AND SO I THINK THESE BODY CAMS SHOULD BE A PART OF THE BUDGET.

WE NEED TO MAKE A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS COMING OUT EVERY YEAR.

AND IT SHOULDN'T BE COMING OUT OF THE MIP BECAUSE IT'S NOT A ONE TIME USE.

AND THAT I COMMUNICATED WITH YOU ALL THROUGH EMAIL.

ONE TIME USE DOESN'T MEAN WE PAY FOR IT ONE TIME.

THIS MEANS IT'S AN ONGOING PROJECT THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

AND SO WE SHOULD NOT BE USING THE MIP FOR THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE EXPENSES THAT COME UP THAT ARE NOT EXPECTED FOR LIKE, WELL LIKE THE FACILITY THE FACILITY MANAGEMENT OR THE ASSESSMENT OF ALL THE FACILITIES THAT'S ALSO ON THIS CONSENT AGENDA FOR $150,000.

THOSE ARE ONE TIME FEES. WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT EVERY YEAR, BUT BODY CAMS, WE SHOULD MAKE SURE OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS HAVE THE EQUIPMENT THEY NEED, AND IT SHOULD BE PUT IN THE LINE ITEM OF THE BUDGET.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I JUST A COMMENT WHEN WE WERE HAVING THE ABOVE DISCUSSION.

IF YOU LOOK HISTORICALLY, BACK WHEN WE ESTABLISHED THE FIRE APPARATUS FUND, IT WAS JUST FOR FIRE TRUCKS, FIRE ENGINES, AND THEN IT EXPANDED TO INCLUDE BUNKER GEAR AND STARTED ADDING OTHER THINGS.

THE POLICE APPARATUS FUND IS A NEWER FUND, AND IN THE BUDGET THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT BUILDING THAT UP WITH A FUND BALANCE AS WELL, SO THAT ALL THESE OTHER PURCHASES THAT ARE PERIODIC BUT PLANNED CAN BE ADDRESSED IN THAT.

BUT WE HAVEN'T REACHED THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE THAT. IS THAT YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

AND I WOULD SAY THAT SIMILAR TO THE AXON BODY CAMERA PURCHASE THIS YEAR IN THE MIP, WE ALSO HAVE THE CAT OR MS SYSTEM.

[01:40:04]

SO IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR THESE LARGE TECHNOLOGY EXPENSES TO BE FUNDED UPFRONT OR CAPITALIZE ONE TIME.

WE DO REALIZE THAT WE HAVE TO REPLACE THEM OVER TIME.

WE'RE WORKING ACTIVELY ON A TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP FOR THAT, WHICH WILL GIVE US A FIVE YEAR PLAN THAT WE CAN THEN SEEK TO DO THE SAME CIP TYPE APPROACH WITHIN TECHNOLOGY THE WAY WE DO FOR THE APPARATUS FUND.

BUT THAT TAKES SOME ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT WORK. WE ALSO HAVE TO PICK UP THE SUBSCRIPTION COSTS.

THESE ARE SOFTWARES THAT HAVE HARDWARE ATTACHED, BUT THEY'RE HEAVILY SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE OR SAAS, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD. AND BASICALLY, WE HAVE TO COVER THAT IN OUR TECH FUND.

SO ANY ONGOING EXPENSES DO GET PICKED UP IN THE TECH FUND.

AND THEN WE WILL HAVE TO REPROGRAM INTO OUR CIP, WHICH WE WILL PICK UP IN THE FALL TO INCLUDE EVERYTHING, INCLUDING PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO TECH WILL BE A SUBSET OF THE CIP. THANK YOU GENTLEMEN.

PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM SIX. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? SEEING NONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND. I'D MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT WITH THE OUTPOST.

POLE CAMERAS REMOVED. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN PRICE.

SECOND MOTION FAILED DUE TO A LACK OF A SECOND MOTION FAILED DUE TO A LACK OF.

A SECOND MOTION. FAILED DUE TO A LACK OF A SECOND.

DO I HAVE ANOTHER MOTION? CANCEL THIS VOTE REAL QUICK.

NO MOTION. SHE'S RESETTING THE SYSTEM. YEAH, YEAH, SHE'S RESETTING IT.

SORRY, MY FINGERS ARE TOO FAT. OKAY, I WILL MOTION, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO JUST STATE THAT IN THE FUTURE, IF WE WERE TO HAVE EXPANSION OF CAMERAS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, THAT THAT WOULD COME BEFORE COUNCIL, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE STAFF THAT GUIDANCE. AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'D BE HELPFUL FOR US TO HAVE A, YOU KNOW, REVIEW OF THE POLICY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT QUOTE UNQUOTE ABUSING THIS IN ANY IN ANY WAY AND ALSO HELP PREVENT ANY FUTURE MISUSE, IF THERE WAS ANY, FOR US TO JUST BE SAFE ON A ON A POLICY STANDPOINT AS WELL.

NOW, SECOND, HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN ESPINOZA.

ESPINOZA, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BAILEY. ON ITEM SIX READY TO VOTE.

SO THE MOTION IS TO AS IS AS PRESENTED, AS PRESENTED WITH WITH THE POLE CAMERAS, THE POLE CAMERAS, AND WITH THE ADDENDUM THAT ANY EXPANSION COMES BEFORE COUNCIL.

IS THAT THAT'S JUST STAFF. THAT'S JUST THAT'S JUST STAFF RECOMMENDATION.

OKAY. IT'S IT'S THE MOTION AS PRESENTED. CORRECT.

OKAY. WE'RE READY TO VOTE.

WE HAVE A NO FROM COUNCIL MEMBER PRICE. THE REMAINING ARE YESES, SO MOTION CARRIES.

MOTION CARRIES. NOW MOVE TO ITEM 20 AND I'M GOING TO CALL MASON TEAGARDEN TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.

[20. Ordinance (First Reading) Z-2026-49: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion, and Take Action on a Request from the Owner to Change the Zoning of Approximately 56.27 Acres Zoned Agricultural Open (AO), Multi Family (MF), Medium Density (MD) and Residential Single Family (RS-6) to Agricultural Open (AO). Located at Property ID 16024 and 10803. (Tim Littlejohn)]

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR COUNCIL. MY NAME IS MASON TEAGARDEN.

I'M THE PLANNING MANAGER FOR THE PLANNING DIVISION.

AND I'M GOING TO BE PRESENTING CASE Z 2020 649.

THE AGENT AND THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY IS JAMES JOHNSON, AND THE REQUEST IS TO CHANGE THE ZONING OF APPROXIMATELY 56 ACRES FROM AGRICULTURAL, OPEN, MULTIFAMILY, MEDIUM DENSITY AND RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY TO AGRICULTURAL OPEN LOCATED ON SHIRLEY ROAD.

THERE WE GO. HERE WE HAVE AN AERIAL LOCATION MAP.

AND WE HAVE A ZONING MAP. AS YOU CAN SEE, IT IS ALL SURROUNDED BY A O AND THE PLAN DEVELOPMENT TO THE NORTH IS THE PLAN DEVELOPMENT FOR LANCIUM. HERE WE HAVE SOME PROPERTY VIEWS. THE USES IN RESIDENTIAL ZONING, USES IN MEDIUM DENSITY ZONING, THE USES IN MULTIFAMILY ZONING, AS WELL AS THE USES IN AGRICULTURAL OPEN ZONING.

WE DID SEND OUT NOTIFICATIONS WITHIN A 200 FOOT BUFFER OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY.

WE RECEIVED TWO IN FAVOR AND TWO IN OPPOSITION, RESULTING IN A 9.27% IN OPPOSITION.

[01:45:06]

STAFF HAS DETERMINED THAT THE REQUEST IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THE SURROUNDING USES AND ZONING, THE GENERALLY ACCEPTED PLANNING PRINCIPLES AND THE CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL IN THE LDC PLANNING AND ZONING DID SEE THIS CASE ON SEPTEMBER 1ST, AND THEY RECOMMENDED DENIAL. THE OWNER APPEAL APPEALED THE REQUEST THE SAME DAY.

I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. MASON, IS THERE A HISTORY OF SOME MISUSE OF THIS LAND? YES, SIR. GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT OF INPUT ON THAT. YES, SIR.

SO BACK IN JUNE, AT THE BEGINNING OF JUNE, WE GOT WITH OUR CODE COMPLIANCE TEAM TO ISSUE SOME ZONING VIOLATIONS FOR THE PROPERTY.

BECAUSE THEY BASICALLY DID ALL OF KIND OF THE WORK ON THE PROPERTY.

YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THEY'RE, THEY'RE USING IT AS A LAY DOWN YARD. THEY DID ALL OF THAT WITHOUT PROPER ZONING SITE PLAN PLANNING WHICH ALL INCLUDES FLOODWAY DEVELOPMENT PERMITS AND, AND THOSE SORT OF THINGS.

THEY DID GET STOP WORK ORDERS ISSUED FOR ALL OF THESE AS PART OF THE ZONING VIOLATION PROCESS.

TO THIS DAY, THEY ARE STILL OPERATING IN KIND OF TEARING DOWN THE STOP WORK ORDERS.

BUT WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING ON ALL OF THAT AS WELL.

OKAY. SO THEY HAVEN'T RESPONDED TO WHAT WE'VE ASKED THEM TO STOP DOING.

THEY RESPONDED BY SUBMITTING ZONING CASES, WHICH WOULD BE THIS ZONING CASE, AND THEN THEY HAVE A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT THAT'S GOING TO P AND Z IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

IF THIS DOESN'T GET DENIED TODAY. SO WITH THAT THEY HAVE ALSO SUBMITTED A SITE PLAN.

IT DOESN'T QUITE MEET OUR REQUIREMENTS FOR A SITE PLAN SUBMITTAL.

SO WE HAVE LET HIM KNOW THAT AND WE TOLD HIM TO RESUBMIT AFTER THE ZONING.

BUT HE ALSO HAS EXPANDED FURTHER SOUTH TO I-20 WHILE WE HAVE BEEN IN THIS PROCESS.

AND THAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE SCOPE OF THIS ZONING REQUEST AT THIS TIME.

OKAY. THANK YOU. I WASN'T CLEAR, SO WE ISSUED A STOP WORK ORDER.

DID THEY STOP WORK OR DID THEY KEEP WORKING? THEY ARE THEY ARE KEEP WORK.

THEY. SO THEY'RE IGNORING OUR STOP WORK ORDERS, CORRECT? YES, SIR. OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS UNDERSTANDING THAT AND HAVE EXPANDED TO 20 TY 20 FURTHER SOUTH TO 20.

YES, SIR. WAS THAT EXPANSION WORK ALSO NOT PERMITTED? CORRECT. YES, SIR. FURTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.

YES, SIR. THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 20? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD.

I'M A VERY DISORIENTED, RUSTY TOWEL. THAT'S MY HOME IN THE PICTURE THERE.

SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S HAPPENED ACROSS FROM ME.

I AGAIN, LEGAL THINGS, PEOPLE FOLLOW THE RULES AND THE THINGS YOU DON'T LIKE.

THAT'S ONE ISSUE. THIS IS AN ISSUE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE NOT FOLLOWED THE RULES.

AND SO I WOULD AGAIN ENCOURAGE YOU NOT TO REWARD BAD BEHAVIOR BY APPROVING IT.

SO PLEASE, PLEASE CONSIDER NOT APPROVING THIS REQUEST.

THANK YOU. STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 20.

WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? GOT TOO MANY NOTES GOING ON.

TAMMY FOGEL, RESIDENT OF ABILENE. THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I AM STRUGGLING WITH BECAUSE IT'S LIKE EVERYWHERE, YOU KNOW, 200 HOUSES ON BUFFALO GAP AND Y'ALL, WE HAVEN'T APPROVED IT YET.

IT STILL HAS ONE MORE FINAL READING. WHAT IS THE PLAN? I DON'T SEE A PLAN. I SEE WHERE AND THIS AGENDA ITEM.

ON THIS AGENDA PACKET, WE HAVE FIVE MULTIFAMILY PROJECTS GOING IN.

AND I KNOW THAT CAN BE AS LITTLE AS TOWNHOMES OR, YOU KNOW, OR MAYBE THAT'S A DIFFERENT DISTINCTION, BUT I'M JUST SAYING, WHAT IS THE PLAN? LIKE? WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF PROPERTIES THAT DON'T HAVE HOMEOWNERS. THERE'S NOT HOMEOWNERS.

SO YES, WE'RE PROVIDING HOUSING, BUT WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE WHO OWN THEIR HOMES ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTE AND ARE ABLE TO DO TO DO THINGS BETTER.

AND THAT'S A NUANCED CONVERSATION. I DON'T WANT TO SOUND LIKE I'M A HEEL. I UNDERSTAND WE NEED HOUSING, BUT AT WHAT COST? I MEAN, I DON'T THINK ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO.

IT'S JUST NOT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THERE'S A PLAN.

AND THIS ONE AGAIN. SHIRLEY WROTE. I JUST HAD A GENTLEMAN REACH OUT TO ME.

HE CANNOT GET AHOLD OF SOMEONE TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT. HIS ROAD THAT IS DETERIORATING DOWN THE ROAD IS SUPPOSED TO BE TWO LANES GOING TWO DIRECTIONS.

IT'S NOT EVEN BARELY ONE LANE, AND IT'S IN THE CITY LIMITS AND NO ONE'S RESPONDING TO HIM.

SO WE'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, PUT MULTIFAMILY OUT HERE WHERE THE ROAD CONDITIONS ARE ALREADY TERRIBLE AND Y'ALL AREN'T. AND HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW. I MEAN, HE'S ASKING ME, HOW DO I TALK TO THE CITY ABOUT FIXING MY ROAD? AND I THINK THAT'S A PROBLEM.

THERE'S A BREAKDOWN IN COMMUNICATION. THERE'S NOT A PLAN GOING FORWARD. I DIDN'T MENTION THIS WITH THE FLOCK CAMERAS, BUT TRUST IS AN ISSUE.

AND WHEN I'M NOT TOLD AS A CITIZEN WHERE WE'RE GOING AND I SEE THINGS COME UP, IT MAKES ME LESS LIKELY TO BELIEVE THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING GOOD THAN IF YOU SAID, HERE'S WHERE WE'RE GOING. PRELOAD ME WITH THE INFORMATION, HEY, WE'RE BUILDING 216.

[01:50:02]

WE'RE ALLOWING FIVE MULTIFAMILY HOUSES TO GO HERE BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT A THOUSAND PEOPLE NEED TO LIVE IN THESE HOMES.

AND WE KNOW THAT THE RSA POPULATION IS DIMINISHING, AND WE KNOW WE'RE REDUCING THE LOT SIZES, WHICH MEANS IT'S IT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE DYNAMICS OF OUR CITY.

1 TO 2 BEDROOM HOUSES. THAT'S NOT FOR FAMILIES.

ARE WE A FAMILY ORIENTED CITY OR NOT? I MEAN, ARE WE BUILDING A BUNCH TO BRING IN A SINGLE PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT FAMILIES? I DON'T KNOW, AND I'M DEVASTATED TO HEAR ABOUT THIS POOR GENTLEMAN WHO WAS LAND BLASTED WITH THE DATA CENTER, THE THE THE POWER PLANT. AND NOW THIS IT'S LIKE CRUEL.

AND ONE OF THE GUYS AT THE PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING MENTIONED THAT A.

OH, YOU SHOULD KNOW, IT JUST REPRESENTS WHATEVER YOU WANT IT TO BE IN THE FUTURE, WHICH THAT'S VERY DISTURBING BECAUSE PEOPLE BUY A PROPERTY BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS. SO IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED IN THOSE TERMS AND THAT DEFINITION, IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED, BECAUSE I WASN'T GOING TO ADDRESS THIS NECESSARILY BECAUSE HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THIS? THERE'S NO CONVERSATION BEING HAD ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE MULTIFAMILY. BUT I THINK THAT THIS IS PROBLEMATIC NOT ONLY BECAUSE THE COMPANY IS NOT FOLLOWING THE STOP ORDER WORK, BUT ALSO WHERE ARE WE GOING? I DON'T KNOW, AND IT'S CONCERNING TO ME, AND I WISH I COULD TRUST THAT Y'ALL ARE LEADING US IN A WAY TO GO. BUT THE INFORMATION IS LACKING, SO HOPE WE CAN CHANGE THAT IN THE FUTURE.

UNTIL THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 20. SCOTT GIDLEY, RESIDENT OF ABILENE.

I STILL WALK SLOW. RUSTY, I APOLOGIZE FOR THIS BEING IN YOUR BACKYARD.

I MEAN THAT THE FACT THAT THIS THAT WE ARE NOT ENFORCING A STOP ORDER ON WHATEVER COMPANY THIS IS THAT'S DOING THAT THAT THAT'S THAT'S.

THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY. ALL OF US. WE HAVE A COMMUNITY HERE NOW.

AND, AND I'M NOT ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO'S AGAINST THE AI DATA.

I'M, I'M 100% FOR IT BECAUSE I'VE SEEN BOTH SIDES OF IT.

BUT I'VE ALSO SEEN THE BAD SIDE OF IT. THE PEOPLE LIKE RUSTY, WHO THIS CAME INTO THEIR BACKYARD.

THERE WAS NO PLANNING FROM THE CITY WITH AI. YOU ALL FAILED MISERABLY WITH THE AI PROJECT. THIS HAS BROUGHT A LOT OF GOOD THINGS TO ABILENE, BUT IT'S ALSO BROUGHT A LOT OF BAD THINGS TO ABILENE AND NEED TO STEP UP. AND START OWNING THIS ISSUE.

DON'T JUST PASS IT OFF. IT'S IT'S BEEN VERY BENEFICIAL.

AND OUR TAX REVENUE SHOWS IT. AND EVEN WITH THE TAX WAIVERS THAT THEY HAVE, WE HAVE BENEFITED FINANCIALLY AS A CITY AND AS A COUNTY. AND WE NEED TO INVEST WISELY WITH THAT INCOME THAT'S COME IN.

BUT I FEEL REALLY BAD FOR RESIDENTS LIKE RUSTY, WHO JUST GOT KIND OF GOT SHOVED UNDER THE BUS, AND THAT THE FACT THAT WE'RE NOT ENFORCING A STOP ORDER.

THAT'S THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY. THANK YOU. UNTIL THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 20.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JOSE. I LIVE ABOUT TWO MILES FROM RUSTY.

I HAVE BASICALLY HAPPENED THE SAME THING ON MY SIDE.

WE BOUGHT THE PROPERTY 30 YEARS AGO. MY WIFE AND I DEVELOPED A PLACE.

WELL, GUESS WHAT? WE DIDN'T KNOW. AI COME IN.

WE HAD 15 ACRES. IT'S THE CITY OF ABILENE. DIDN'T DO ANY STORMWATER TESTING OR WHERE STORMWATER IS GOING.

THEY FLOODED OUT MY. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TAKE A NATURAL MESQUITE AREA AND THEN YOU FLATTEN IT OUT, ALL THE WATER COMES TO MY PROPERTY. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

I GUARANTEE YOU, WHEN CHICK FIL A WAS BUILT, THEY DID A STORMWATER STUDY THERE.

THEY DIDN'T. YES. LANCIUM STEPPED UP, BOUGHT MY 15 ACRES, BUT I STILL LIVE RIGHT NEXT TO IT.

AGAIN, IT'S NOT BEING TOLD, BUT THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE THERE IS ANOTHER 190 ACRES THAT'S BEING PURCHASED.

IT'S GOING TO BORDER 800FT OF MY FENCE. SO WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN? I WAS IN HERE A YEAR AGO ASKING, WHAT IS THE PLAN? NOBODY TELLS US THE PLAN. HOW BIG IS THIS PLACE? I'M WITH THE PEOPLE. I LIKE GREAT AMERICANS EARNING A LOT OF MONEY.

I'M WITH IT. BUT WHEN YOU'RE RESIDENT IN THE AREA, IT AFFECTS YOU AND WHAT YOU BUILT.

EVERYBODY, I BET YOU ON THE COUNCIL HAS BEEN TO THE SITE AND IT'S.

I WAS GIVEN A TOUR. IT'S HUGE. IT'S WHATEVER.

BUT NONE OF. NOBODY HAS COME AND VISITED THE RESIDENCE IN.

WHAT'S IT DOING TO US THAT I'VE ORDERED THIS THING?

[01:55:01]

THAT'S WHAT IS HARD TO TAKE. SO PLEASE LOOK INTO IT.

COME VISIT THE RESIDENCE, I OFFERED. I'LL MAKE HOT DOGS, HAMBURGERS.

COME VISIT US, SEE WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 20.

WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? SEEING NONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION BY COUNCIL? MAYOR I THE FACT THAT THEY'VE AVOIDED THE STOP WORK ORDER AND IN ADDITION EXPANDED THEIR OPERATION. AND THE CONSTERNATION WITH RESIDENTS I.

I MOTION TO DENY. I HAVE A MOTION TO DENY BY COUNCILMAN PATTERSON.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? NEITHER A SECOND. I WAS JUST SAYING WE NEED TO PUSH THE BUTTON.

YEAH. ARE WE GOOD? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I'M READY TO VOTE.

ALL YESES FOR A MOTION TO DENY IS APPROVED. MOTION IS DENIED.

SO WHAT? WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WITH REGARD TO THE STOP WORK ORDER? WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE? SO I, I CAN TALK ABOUT THAT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

[24. Presentation: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Possible Action Regarding the Development of a Lead Service Line Replacement Program Utilizing Texas Water Development Board Funding (Matthew Dane)]

WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 24. AND I'LL ASK MATTHEW DANE, DIRECTOR OF WATER UTILITIES, TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.

WELCOME BACK MATTHEW. YEAH. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

IT'S BEEN KIND OF A HEAVY MEETING DAY. HOPEFULLY WE CAN SNEAK IN A A LITTLE BIT OF A GOOD NEWS STORY HERE.

SO IN OCTOBER OF 2024, WE HAD A REVISED LEAD AND COPPER RULE PUT IN PLACE AS PART OF THE REGULATIONS THAT WATER UTILITIES LIVE UP TO.

THERE'S BEEN LEAD AND COPPER MONITORING FOR SOME YEARS.

AT THE TIME, AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THE INTEREST WAS LOOKING AT LEAD MATERIAL THAT IS OUT IN THE SYSTEM FORCING THE REPLACEMENT OF THAT. WHEREAS BEFORE, WHAT WE WOULD DO IS MEASURE LEAD AMOUNTS IN THE WATER, MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE BELOW HEALTHY THRESHOLDS.

NOW IT REALLY PUSHED TOWARDS WHAT IS REPLACEMENT LOOK LIKE.

WHEN WE SAW THIS COMING WE TRIED TO GET AHEAD OF IT.

THE FIRST THING YOU HAD TO DO IS MAKE AN INVENTORY OF WHERE ALL LEAD SERVICE LINES ARE.

WE FOUND ABOUT A DOZEN LEAD SERVICE LINES THAT THE UTILITY OWNED, AND WE GOT THOSE REPLACED AND ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY.

WE WERE FORTUNATE IN THAT WHAT WE FOUND WAS REALLY PRETTY MINOR AND WE WERE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT IN-HOUSE.

THEN WE WENT TO EVERY METERED CONNECTION IN THE UTILITY.

OUR STAFF WENT AND DID AN INVESTIGATION OF WHAT MATERIAL WAS THERE SO THAT WE COULD COMPLETE THAT INVENTORY.

WE HAVE ROUGHLY 45,000 CONNECTIONS ON OUR SYSTEM.

WE FOUND 2200 THAT ARE WHAT'S CLASSIFIED AS GALVANIZED REQUIRING REPLACEMENT.

SO IF YOUR PIPE MATERIAL'S GALVANIZED MATERIAL.

BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN DOWNSTREAM OF LEAD AT SOME POINT IN THE PAST.

THERE'S POTENTIAL FOR THAT GALVANIZED MATERIAL TO ACTUALLY ABSORB THAT LEAD AND THEN PUT IT BACK INTO THE WATER.

SO WE MARK THOSE AS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME AS LEAD AND THAT THEY REQUIRE REPLACEMENT.

BY GETTING THE INVENTORY DONE EARLY AND PUTTING A PLAN TOGETHER, WE WERE ABLE TO COMPETE FOR SOME OF THE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT WAS COMING OUT AT THAT TIME.

AND WE'RE FORTUNATELY ABLE TO WIN SOME OF IT.

AND THE WAY WE PUT IN THE APPLICATION IS, HEY, THERE'S A COST ASSOCIATED WITH THE INVENTORY AND A COST ASSOCIATED WITH REPLACEMENT.

AND WE WANT TO COMPETE FOR FUNDS FROM AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL FOR BOTH.

WE WERE ABLE TO WIN SOME FOR THE INVENTORY. AS A SIDE NOTE.

WE HAVE A COST THAT WAS ASSIGNED TO THAT INVENTORY, BUT WE DID THAT ALL ENTIRELY IN-HOUSE.

YOU SAW A LOT OF UTILITIES WORK WITH OTHERS TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE MATERIAL WAS.

THERE'S PLENTY OF VENDORS AND CONTRACTORS WHO ARE HELPING. SO ONE POINT OF CLARITY IS THAT WE WON $426,000 OF PRINCIPAL FORGIVENESS AND A $410,000 INTEREST FREE LOAN.

THE LOAN WAS NEVER TAKEN BECAUSE WE HAD COMPLETED THE WORK AND DONE IT BY THE RULES SET FORTH IN THE FUNDING.

IT WAS ABOUT WHAT IT TOOK TO GET THAT AND WHAT THAT VALUE IS.

AND WE DID GET THE PRINCIPAL FORGIVENESS. SO WE'VE ALLOCATED THOSE DOLLARS IN OUR BUDGET, ANY EXCESS DOLLARS IN THE WATER UTILITY BUDGET BECAUSE WE RUN CASH FUNDED CIP.

EXCESS FUNDS ROLL INTO CIP. SO ONE OF THE GOOD NEWS STORIES THERE, WE COMPLETED THE INVENTORY IN HOUSE.

WE WERE ABLE TO DO IT WITH OUR WITHIN OUR EXISTING FUNDING.

WE'RE ABLE TO COMPETE FOR THESE DOLLARS AND GOT THE 426,000 FEDERAL DOLLARS ROLLED BACK INTO OUR BUDGET.

[02:00:04]

THE SECOND PART OF THIS, THESE FUNDS IS THE REPLACEMENT PORTION.

AND THE WAY THEY AWARDED THOSE FUNDS IS THERE'S PRINCIPAL FORGIVENESS, WHICH IS KIND OF LIKE GRANT MONEY.

THERE'S NO INTEREST OR LOAN ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

YOU JUST, YOU TAKE THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE LOAN AND THEN THAT PORTION IS FORGIVEN UP TO 3.7 MILLION.

AND THEN THE REMAINDER WOULD BE 3.5 MILLION THAT WE CAN USE FOR LOW INTEREST FINANCING.

AND WHEN WE SAY LOW INTEREST, IT'S STANDARD WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD LOANS.

SO AGAIN, THIS IS THIS IS MONEY WE COMPETED FOR BECAUSE WE GOT EVERYTHING FIGURED OUT EARLY.

WE WERE RANKED HIGH IN THE SCORING TO TAKE THESE FUNDS AND BE ABLE TO APPLY THEM TO REPLACEMENT OF THESE SERVICE LINES.

NOW, I'LL SAY THE REQUIREMENTS ARE A MIXED BAG AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

HOW THESE WERE WRITTEN AND ROLLED OUT. THERE'S A LOT OF INS AND OUTS.

I'VE PUT SOME QUITE A BIT OF DETAIL IN THE PRESENTATION.

I'M NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO GO INTO ALL OF THOSE.

YOU JUST NEED TO BE AWARE IN THE FUTURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PLOW THROUGH.

HOW WOULD WE IMPLEMENT REPLACEMENT OF THIS? TODAY'S DECISION IS ABOUT DO WE CLOSE ON THESE FUNDS THAT WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN FOR REPLACEMENT, OR DO WE NOT? YOUR APPROVAL TODAY IS LETTING US MOVE FORWARD WITH WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD TO DO A CLOSING ON THE FUNDS.

THERE IS STILL OPPORTUNITY TO NOT USE THOSE FUNDS IF WE DECIDE TO IN THE FUTURE.

AND SO YOU JUST THAT'S SITUATIONAL AWARENESS FOR WHERE THIS SITS.

I TOUCH ON A COUPLE OF JUST WHY I'M PHRASING IT THE WAY THAT I AM.

THIS PROGRAM CREATES AN OBLIGATION ON THE UTILITY TO ATTEMPT REPLACEMENT.

BUT THE LINES THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IN THE INVENTORY ARE PRIVATELY OWNED.

SO FOR US, WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE HAVE FOUND THE GALVANIZED THE 2200 GALVANIZED REQUIRING REPLACEMENT.

THOSE ARE AFTER THE METER IN THE CITY OF ABILENE.

EVERYTHING THAT IS AFTER THE WATER METER IS PRIVATE, PRIVATELY OWNED, AND EVERYTHING UPSTREAM OF THAT METER IS ON THE UTILITY SIDE.

WE'VE ADDRESSED ALL UTILITY SIZE SIDE LINES THAT WE'VE FOUND, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO SO.

IF SOME ONE, 1 OR 2 SHOW UP, WE'LL REPLACE THEM IMMEDIATELY.

WE HAVE TO. WE CAN'T FORCE REPLACEMENT OF PRIVATE SERVICE LINES.

THEY'RE NOT OURS TO OWN. WE HAVE WON SOME FUNDING TO HELP WITH REPLACEMENT.

THE FEDERAL LAW HAS GIVEN US A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY ON HOW WE TACKLE THAT FUNDING.

ONE OPTION IS TO SAY THAT THE CITY DOESN'T WANT TO USE THESE FUNDS FOR PRIVATE LINES.

BECAUSE THERE IS GOING TO BE A 49% PORTION THAT IS ALONE.

AND AT THAT POINT, EVERYBODY'S UTILITY DOLLARS ARE GOING TO PAY A LOAN THAT IS FOR PRIVATE SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT.

NOW, THE FLIP SIDE TO THAT IS THERE ARE GOODS TO THE UTILITY TO EVERYBODY.

SO ONE EXAMPLE OF THAT WOULD BE WE CAN REQUEST, WE CAN SAY THESE LINES NEED TO BE REPLACED.

WE'D LIKE TO REPLACE THEM. AND A HOMEOWNER CAN SAY, I DON'T WANT TO, I WANT MY LINE LEFT HERE.

I DON'T WANT ANYBODY COMING IN MY YARD AND TEARING THINGS UP. I WANT THE LINE TO STAY.

AND, AND WE HONOR THAT. WE'RE OBLIGATED TO MAKE FOUR REQUESTS TO TRY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

ONCE WE'VE DONE THAT, WE'VE MET OUR OBLIGATION.

THE HOMEOWNER IS IS KEPT IT THE WAY THEY WOULD LIKE IT.

BUT IF A NEW HOMEOWNER MOVES IN OUR FOUR OBLIGATION REQUESTS SHOW UP AGAIN.

SO IF ANYBODY DECIDES TO TELL US I'M GOOD, I LIKE MY LINE THE WAY IT IS.

DON'T TOUCH IT FOR AS LONG AS THAT LINE STAYS, THE UTILITY HAS TO KNOW WHERE THOSE ARE.

WE HAVE TO SEND UPDATES TO ANYBODY. WHEN SOMEBODY MOVES INTO THAT PROPERTY, WE GIVE THEM A NOTICE UP FRONT, HEY, THIS IS WHAT LINE MATERIAL YOU HAVE. AND THEN WE HAVE TO MAKE REQUESTS.

IF WE CAN GET ALL THESE LINES REPLACED, IF WE USE PUBLIC FUNDS TO REPLACE ALL THOSE LINES.

THE IDEA IS THAT SOME OF THE BUREAUCRACY ASSOCIATED WITH RUNNING AND IMPLEMENTING THIS PROGRAM COULD POTENTIALLY GO AWAY.

BUT THAT'S NOT GUARANTEED BECAUSE THERE MAY THERE MAY INDEFINITELY BE SOME FOLKS WHO SAY, I DON'T I DON'T WANT TO REPLACE IT.

AND AT THAT POINT, YOU'RE JUST WAITING FOR ONE DAY IT'LL BREAK AND A PLUMBER WILL COME AND REPLACE IT FOR THEM IF THEY REPLACE A SERVICE LINE.

SO I SAY ALL THAT. THAT'S THAT'S JUST ONE LINE OF EXAMPLE TO SAY THERE'S A LOT OF UNKNOWNS IN HOW THIS PROGRAM IS IMPLEMENTED.

BUT IT COMES BACK TO TODAY, YOU'RE DECIDING, DO WE PROCEED TO CLOSING? DO WE NOT PROCEED? IF WE CHOOSE NOT TO PROCEED, WE STILL HAVE TO HAVE A FUNDING STRATEGY.

BUT OUR FUNDING STRATEGY CAN BE WE THINK THE CITIZENS WHO HAVE THESE LINES SHOULD PAY TO REPLACE THEIR OWN LINES IF THEY WANT TO, WE MAKE THE REQUEST OR WE GO THE FULL. WE SEND A REQUEST TO CITIZENS AND WE SAY, HEY, WE WILL PAY FOR THE LINE.

IF YOU ARE WILLING TO LET US REPLACE IT AND WE CAN HAVE A PROGRAM IN PLACE TO FACILITATE THAT.

[02:05:01]

AND THEN THESE ARE THE FUNDS THAT WE WOULD USE.

AND SO HALF OF THE FUND, THE FUNDING THAT WOULD BE USED FOR REPLACEMENT WOULD BE LOAN AND HALF WOULD BE LOAN FORGIVENESS, PRINCIPAL FORGIVENESS, SIMILAR TO GRANT GRANT FUNDING.

THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF EXAMPLES NOT JUST IN TEXAS ACROSS THE NATION WHO ARE AS FAR INTO THE PROCESS AS WE WERE BECAUSE WE GOT THE INVENTORY KNOCKED OUT.

WE'RE KIND OF SOMETIMES YOU LOOK AT OTHER CITIES TO SEE WHAT'S WORKING AND WHAT'S NOT WORKING.

THE ONLY REAL GOOD EXAMPLE WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS FORT WORTH. THEY'RE JUST A STEP OR TWO AHEAD.

THEY WERE IN A TRIAL GROUP THAT, THAT WERE ABLE TO GET A HEAD START.

AND THEY'RE TAKING A SIMILAR APPROACH. THEY HAVE THE FUNDING LIKE WE HAVE, AND NOW THEY'RE ROLLING OUT A PROGRAM TO INVITE PEOPLE TO REPLACE THOSE LINES, AND THEY'RE YET TO SEE WHAT RESPONSE RATES ARE GOING TO BE.

HOW MANY PEOPLE RESPOND, AND OF THOSE THAT RESPOND, HOW MANY ACTUALLY WANT TO REPLACE IT? IT'S VERY MUCH AT THE MERCY OF WHAT THEIR PREFERENCES ARE. AND, AND SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE THE CLOSEST ONE, BUT THEY ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE SAME FUNDING PROGRAM OF USING THESE PUBLIC DOLLARS THAT WE'VE WON TO DO REPLACEMENTS ON PRIVATE INFRASTRUCTURE.

WHAT'S NECESSARY TO DO THAT IS YOU HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE A PUBLIC GOOD.

THE BENEFIT IS ONLY TO THAT PRIVATE HOMEOWNER.

YOU CAN'T USE PUBLIC FUNDS TO DO IT. BUT IF WE CAN DEMONSTRATE SOME OF THE PUBLIC GOOD, WHY IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR EVERYBODY. IF WE CAN DO THESE LEAD AND GALVANIZED REPLACEMENTS, THAT'S WHAT ALLOWS US TO USE THESE FUNDS. AND IF YOU DIRECT US TO PROCEED, WE'LL, WE'LL GO FORWARD WITH CLOSING AND WE CLOSE ON THOSE FUNDS.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT TOGETHER SOME PROGRAM OF HOW WE THINK THIS COULD ACTUALLY BE IMPLEMENTED.

AND THAT WOULD BE A DISCUSSION TOPIC FOR COUNCIL.

WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO YOU PROBABLY WITH SOME OPTIONS OF HOW WE WOULD APPROACH THAT.

YOU GIVE US THE FEEDBACK AND THEN WE WOULD BEGIN PUTTING THE PROGRAM TOGETHER BASED ON YOUR GUIDANCE.

AND AND, AND THE FUNDS DOES NOT CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT COMPLIANCE WITH THE RULE.

WE WILL BE COMPLIANT NO MATTER WHAT THE OUTCOME IS IN TERMS OF FUNDING.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF WHAT WE PERCEIVE TO BE THE OPPORTUNITY OF USING THESE FUNDS TO ACCOMPLISH SOME OF THE REPLACEMENT.

WITH THAT, I'LL OPEN IT UP TO ANY QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS.

MATTHEW. THIS IS KIND OF AN UNFAIR QUESTION. SURE.

THE 3.731 MILLION IN PRINCIPAL FORGIVENESS AVAILABLE.

DO YOU HAVE A IDEA ON BALLPARK? IS THAT IS THAT SUFFICIENT ENOUGH TO DO THE REPLACEMENTS THAT WE ARE AWARE OF RIGHT NOW? I KNOW IT'S HARD TO PREDICT COSTS, BUT DO WE KNOW LIKE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, 10% OF THE FUNDING PROBABLY THAT WE NEED OR WHAT DO YOU THINK? YEAH. SO HERE'S THE TRICK WITH THAT FUNDING IS, IF WE REPLACE ALL 2200 LINES, THE FULL 3.73.5 IS WHAT OUR ESTIMATE WAS TO DO EVERY LINE.

I HAD HOPED EARLY ON AND FOUND OUT THAT WAS NOT GOING TO BE AN OPTION IS THAT WE COULD USE THE PRINCIPAL FORGIVENESS MONEY FIRST, AND THEN FOR WHATEVER REMAINED, WE WOULD DIP INTO THE LOAN LOAN PORTION.

BUT EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE SPEND ON THIS PROGRAM IS GOING TO BE SPLIT BY THAT 49%, 51%.

SO SO THERE'S NO OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE IT'S NOT FREE MONEY FEDERAL, FEDERAL MONEY THAT, THAT WE WON.

YOU CAN'T JUST USE THAT AND THEN GO INTO THE LOAN.

AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S, SO THE TOTAL AMOUNT REFLECTS EVERYBODY REPLACING.

NOW. THE QUESTION IS HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL SAY, YEAH, I'D LIKE TO HAVE THAT REPLACED AND PAID FOR THROUGH WHATEVER PROGRAM WE HAVE.

AND IT COULD BE THAT THAT NUMBER IS QUITE A BIT LESS EARLY INDICATIONS OF JUST INFORMAL CONVERSATION WITH FORT WORTH IS I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT IT WAS IN THE BALLPARK OF LIKE 10% OF THE INDIVIDUALS THEY ASKED, OFFERED REPLACEMENT, SAID, YES, WE'D LIKE TO. SO INTERESTINGLY, PEOPLE JUST MAY NOT BE THAT INTERESTED IN REPLACEMENT.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW YET. THE OTHER THING THAT WAS HAVING A HARD TIME GRASPING IS IF WE ARE REPLACING PRIVATE LINES, HOW DO WE DEMONSTRATE THAT THAT IS A PUBLIC GOOD? LIKE I'M HAVING A HARD TIME LINKING THOSE TWO CONCEPTS TOGETHER.

THERE IS THAT IS A MAJOR STICKING POINT OF THE CONVERSATION IN A LOT OF PLACES.

I CAN, I CAN OFFER UP A FEW OF WHAT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT AS THE TOP REASONS TO, FOR ME, THE BIGGEST ONE IS SOME OF THE BUREAUCRACY ASSOCIATED WITH MANAGING THE PROGRAM. IF THERE'S ANY HOPE OF RIGHT NOW, OUR BILLING OFFICE IS SENDING OUT NOTIFICATIONS TO ALL THESE ADDRESSES.

IF ALL THAT GOES AWAY, THAT'S ONE LESS PROCESS WE'VE GOT TO DO.

THAT'S A LITTLE BIT LESS TIME BEING USED OF THE, THE US REACHING OUT AND MAKING THESE FOUR REQUESTS, ALL THOSE THINGS THROUGH ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. THAT IS A COST.

THAT'S A BURDEN THAT ULTIMATELY ENDS UP ON OUR RATEPAYERS, WHO THEY'RE PAYING FOR ALL THE STAFF THAT RUN THIS.

SO THAT, THAT IS A CLEAR BENEFIT THAT JUST HITS THE BUDGET AND THE BUDGET AFFECTS EVERYBODY.

SOME FOLKS HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT THE, THERE'S IT'S A RESPONSIBILITY OF THE UTILITY TO MONITOR THE QUALITY OF EVERYBODY'S WATER.

[02:10:02]

AND IF JUST A FEW PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING THE QUALITY OF WATER THAT THEY SHOULD, THAT, THAT IS A BURDEN FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD FROM A UTILITY PERSPECTIVE.

IT'S KIND OF COUNCIL'S JUDGMENT TO DECIDE IF THAT'S A SUFFICIENT BAR TO SAY PUBLIC GOOD.

CERTAINLY CAN SEE SOME OF THAT. THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT IS THE QUALITY OF THE WATER WE DO MONITOR.

WE HAVE TO DO EXTENSIVE TESTING, AND IT'S KIND OF RANDOMIZED SAMPLING ACROSS WE DO CORROSION CONTROL MEASURES.

SO WE WATCH PH AND ALL THESE OTHER PARAMETERS IN THE CHEMISTRY OF OUR WATER.

AND IF YOU KEEP THOSE PARAMETERS IN A CERTAIN PLACE, IT'S VERY UNLIKELY THAT THE LEAD WILL LEACH OUT OF THE MATERIAL AND INTO THE WATER.

SO THAT CORROSION CONTROL METHODOLOGY IS WHAT WE'VE USED.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT. AND THEN THERE'S SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT ACTUALLY NOT BEING A VALID METHOD ANYMORE.

AND SO WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE EXTENSIVE TESTING TO MAKE SURE THE QUALITY IS THERE. BUT THOSE ARE THE TWO BIG ONES THAT HAVE BEEN BEEN DISCUSSED.

THANK YOU. THE ONE THAT CAME TO MIND FOR ME IS IF IT'S GOT THESE OLD LINES, THERE'S PROBABLY NOT A BACKFLOW PREVENTER.

AND SO IF WE EVER LOSE PRESSURE IN THE MAIN SYSTEM, THEN YOU COULD HAVE WATER COMING FROM THESE LINES BACK INTO THE MAIN SYSTEM THAT WOULD AFFECT OTHERS IN THE SYSTEM. THAT'S RIGHT. THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER.

THE WAY I WOULD TWEAK IT A LITTLE BIT IS RESIDENTIAL.

RIGHT NOW THERE'S NO REQUIREMENTS IN BACK AS FAR AS BACKFLOW GOES.

SO THAT KIND OF IS ALWAYS FLOATING OUT THERE NOW.

IT SHOULD BE AN EXCEPTIONALLY UNUSUAL USUAL CIRCUMSTANCE THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO ACTUALLY MOVE WATER BACK THROUGH THE METER.

UNLESS EXCEPT FOR PRESSURE SURGES, IT JUST KIND OF HAVE A, YOU KNOW, A REVERBERATION TO THE SYSTEM.

BUT, BUT ONE OTHER THING RELATED TO THAT WOULD BE LEAKING WATER.

AND SO ANYTIME YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WATER LOSS, THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE UTILITY WATCHES CLOSELY.

IT'S GOOD FOR THE CITIZENS AND THE UTILITY FOR US TO MINIMIZE WATER LOSS WHERE WE CAN.

AND SO IN A LOT OF CASES, THE LINES THAT ARE OLD ENOUGH TO MEET THE CRITERIA FOR REPLACEMENT HERE, THERE ARE ALSO HIGH CANDIDATES FOR WATER LOSS, ALBEIT ON THE DOWNSTREAM SIDE OF THE THE METER.

BUT THOSE DO DRIVE OUR OUR FUNDING TARGETS. AND SO.

THE QUESTION FOR US IS, DO WE WANT TO APPROVE YOU PURSUING THIS FUNDING? THAT IS DEBT. IF WE SAY NO, THAT DOESN'T TAKE US OFF THE HOOK OF FUNDING THE REFUNDING REQUIREMENT TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOAL. AND SO WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A DIFFERENT WAY TO FUND THIS, WHICH WE'VE GOT THE PFAS. WE'VE GOT OTHER THINGS THAT ARE BIG PROJECTS THAT WE ARE WORKING ON TACKLING.

I MEAN, WHERE WOULD YOU SEE US IDENTIFYING ANOTHER FUNDING STRATEGY AS YOU PUT IT ON THE ON THE SLIDE? WELL, THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE WAY THIS HAS ROLLED OUT IS WE CAN SAY AS A FUNDING STRATEGY, THE HOMEOWNER HAS TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THEIR OWN LINE.

THAT DOESN'T FORCE THEM TO REPLACE IT. WE CAN JUST SAY OUR STRATEGY IS IT'S THEIRS AND THEY SHOULD REPLACE IT.

THE THE DIFFICULT THING IS, WHEN YOU GO TO THE EPA GUIDANCE DOCUMENT, IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS, YOU CAN DO THAT UNLESS THE CITIZEN IS UNABLE TO PAY.

I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THAT AS A FEDERAL GUIDANCE FOR HOW TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR SOMEBODY TO BE UNABLE TO PAY, OR IS IT JUST REALLY DIFFICULT TO PAY? SO SO I SAY THAT TO SAY FUNDING COULD BE THE CITY IS NOT GOING TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS.

WE'RE JUST GOING TO FOLLOW THE STEPS OF NOTIFICATION.

WE'RE GOING TO REQUEST THAT YOU REPLACE IT. AND THERE'S NO FUNDING TO OFFER.

YOU NEED TO PAY TO GET IT REPLACED IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT.

HOW MUCH BURDEN WOULD COME BACK ON US FOR THOSE THAT MEET THE CRITERIA OF UNABLE TO PAY? REALISTICALLY, WE WOULD JUST PULL FROM CIP. SO THERE'S JUST, THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTION MARKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BEST WAY TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM.

AND SOMETIMES I'M APPREHENSIVE TO GIVE YOU THE CHANCE TO SAY YES OR NO WHEN WE DON'T KNOW THAT YET.

BUT I'LL REMIND YOU, IN THE CASE OF WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD FUNDING, WE CAN CHOOSE NOT TO USE THESE FUNDS IN THE FUTURE.

CLOSING ON THE LOAN DOES NOT OBLIGATE US TO USE THESE FUNDS.

SO THERE'S TIME TO MAKE THAT DECISION AFTER THE FACT.

BUT JUST SO YOU'RE AWARE. SO WE COULD. EVEN IF WE SAY YES TODAY, WHEN THIS COMES TO US IN THE FUTURE AND WE'VE HAD MORE TIME TO THINK ABOUT, OKAY, WHAT'S OUR APPROACH GOING TO BE? AN OPTION WOULD BE TO DO WHAT YOU JUST SAID. AND THEN FOR THOSE THAT TRULY ARE UNABLE TO PAY, THEY MAY BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE HOME FUNDS OR CDBG FUNDING TO DO THOSE REPAIRS SINCE THOSE PROVIDE FUNDING FOR REPAIRS. AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DISTINGUISH.

I MEAN, WE KNOW HOW SOMEONE IS ELIGIBLE FOR HOME CDBG, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WOULD DISTINGUISH FROM THE EPA GUIDANCE WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO.

[02:15:08]

RIGHT. RIGHT. YEAH. THE, THE ONLY THING THAT'S REALLY FOR SURE IN THE PROGRAM IS WE HAVE TO MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

SO IF WE SAY YES TODAY, WHAT'S THE TIME FRAME YOU'RE ANTICIPATING COMING BACK TO US WITH, OKAY, NOW WE NEED TO DEFINE WHAT IS THE PROGRAM. THE CLOSING ON THE FUNDS HAS TO HAPPEN THIS CALENDAR YEAR.

AND SO AS THAT KIND OF MOVES THROUGH ITS PROCESS, I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE A FEW DIFFERENT POTENTIAL PROGRAMS OR WHAT WE MIGHT DO TO Y'ALL IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT. AND SO THERE'S, WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF TIME.

THIS IS NOT AN URGENT MATTER, BUT TO ME, I'D LIKE IT TO RUN PARALLEL WITH THE FUNDING SO THAT WE CAN MAKE DECISIONS.

WE DON'T HAVE IT JUST SITTING OUT FUNDS, SITTING OUT THERE BEING UNUSED.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF MY ROUGH TIMELINE. I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFICS OF WHEN WE WOULD BRING IT TO YOU.

OKAY. BUT PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT 3 OR 4 MONTHS.

YES, SIR. OKAY. WELL, FOR ME, IF WE SAY NO TODAY, WE'RE, WE'RE DONE WITH THIS.

IF WE SAY YES TODAY, WE CAN STILL SAY NO IN THE FUTURE.

SO I PERSONALLY, I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO SAY YES TODAY.

I AGREE. FURTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU MATTHEW.

THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 24? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND. MAYOR HURT, I'M GOING TO DO A MANUAL ROLL.

EXCUSE ME. I'M GOING TO DO A MANUAL ROLL CALL IF YOU ALL DECIDE TO VOTE ON THIS ITEM.

OKAY? OKAY. SO I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

I'LL SECOND. MAYOR PRO TEM PRICE. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM BEARD IS ABSENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER. PATTERSON. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER.

BAILEY. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. ESPINOSA. YES. AND COUNCIL MEMBER CRAVER IS ABSENT AND MAYOR HURT? YES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. NOW MOVE TO ITEM 25, AND I WILL ASK MATTHEW DANE TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.

[25. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Awarding the Fiscal Year 2027 Bid for Alum (Matthew Dane)]

ALL RIGHT FOR THIS ITEM. JUST SOME SOME BACKGROUND FOR FOR THOSE KEEPING UP, ONE OF THE CONSENT ITEMS WAS OUR CHEMICALS FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT. THE BID ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. BUT ONE OF THE CHEMICALS WHICH WE CALL ALUM WAS THERE WERE TWO BIDS THAT CAME IN AT THE SAME AMOUNT.

AND SO WE PULLED THE ALUM BID INTO REGULAR AGENDA BECAUSE THE TYING BID FORCES A DISCUSSION DECISION FROM COUNCIL.

THE REMAINDER OF THOSE CHEMICALS WERE APPROVED ON CONSENT FOR THE UPCOMING FY 27 YEAR.

SO OUR BIDS CAME IN BOTH AT THE SAME UNIT PRICE, 505 EIGHT $558 PER DRY TON.

IT'S BETWEEN H AND E AND VEOLIA. AND THE TOTAL LINE ITEM FOR JUST ALUM IN A YEAR IS 2.39 MILLION.

AND THOSE ARE BASED OFF OF ESTIMATES OF THE RAW WATER THAT THAT WE USE.

THE ACTUAL. SOMETIMES USUALLY ENDS UP JUST BELOW THAT NUMBER.

SO WITH WATER AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT CHEMICALS.

PARTICULARLY THE WATER TREATMENT CHEMICALS OF ALL THE VENDORS WE WORK WITH, THESE ARE ONES THAT ARE PARTICULARLY CRITICAL THAT EVERYTHING IS UP TO THE QUALITY STANDARDS THAT WE'RE OBLIGATED TO USE FOR DRINKING WATER.

THAT SERVICE DELIVERY IS IS TIMELY AND EFFECTIVE.

AND SO WHILE THERE'S ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT OF GRACE WHEN YOU'RE DOING BUSINESS WITH ANOTHER ENTITY, THAT MARGIN IS EXCEPTIONALLY TIGHT IN WATER TREATMENT CHEMICALS.

BECAUSE IF ANYTHING IS DELAYED OR GOES WRONG, IT'S PRETTY SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS.

AND SO NORMALLY WHEN YOU'D HAVE TWO BIDS WITH A TIE, WE ACTUALLY DRAW NAMES OUT OF A HAT, AND WE'RE PREPARED TO DO THAT. THAT IS THAT IS THE OFFICIAL METHODOLOGY.

THE ONE THING WE WANTED TO BRING UP IN THIS IS THAT H AND E IS ONE OF THE BIDDERS.

WE HAVE USED THEM IN THE PAST. THEY'RE RELATIVELY NEW.

WHENEVER THEY FIRST BID, THEY FIRST DID A CONTRACT WITH US.

WE DID EXPERIENCE SOME ISSUES IN TERMS OF SERVICE DELIVERY.

AND THEN AT A LATER TIME THEIR PRODUCT THROUGH A SEPARATE VENDOR, THERE WERE SOME QUALITY CONCERNS.

AND SO STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO RECOMMEND THE AWARD TO VEOLIA BASED ON HISTORIC PERFORMANCE OF ONE OF THE TYING VENDORS. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I CAN, I CAN FORCE IT'S COUNCIL'S DISCRETION TO DECIDE TO ROLL WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION OR

[02:20:08]

TO WITHDRAW THAT THEY ARE BASED ON THE PROCESS WE USE.

THEY ARE A QUALIFIED BIDDER. THERE'S NOTHING DISQUALIFYING IN THE BID.

THERE'S JUST A HISTORICAL REALITY THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.

AS YOU CONSIDER HOW TO MOVE FORWARD. THAT'S IT.

ANY QUESTIONS? I APPRECIATE THE DETAIL YOU PROVIDED IN THE PACKET.

I MEAN, THE CITY HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH HEI SUPPORT Y'ALL'S RECOMMENDATION OF GOING WITH THE OTHER VENDOR INSTEAD OF DOING THE HAT DRAWING PERSONALLY. AND I THINK THE VENDORS HERE PROBABLY WILL BE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS AS YOU DO THE CONSIDERATION.

I HAVEN'T HAVEN'T BEEN DIFFICULT TO WORK WITH.

IT'S JUST THE REALITY IS WE'VE HAD RIGHT, YOU KNOW, SOME ISSUES THAT THAT SHOULD BE WEIGHTED IN THE DECISION.

THANK YOU. THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 25? PLEASE COME FORWARD. GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. I BELIEVE WE HAVE A CARD. YES. MR. DUNGAN, EXCUSE ME IF I MISPRONOUNCED THAT. DEAR MAYOR COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU.

I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THE USA CHEMICALS CORPORATION.

WE USED TO WORK WITH THE CITY OF ABILENE AS MATTHEW MENTIONED.

WE HAD SOME ISSUES ABOUT THE SPILLS AND DELIVERY ON THE TIME AND THE PRODUCT QUALITY.

AND WE ARE HERE TO. WE ARE HERE TO EXPLAIN WHAT WE LEARN AND WHAT WE IMPROVE ABOUT OUR PRODUCT AND THE TRANSPORTATION.

AFTER REVIEWING THE PRODUCTION PROCESS WE NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE RAW MATERIAL, THE ALUMINUM HYDRATE IS REALLY AFFECT OUR PRODUCT DENSITY AND PH. AND AFTER WE NOTICED THAT, WE CHANGED OUR SUPPLIER AND AFTER WE GOT THE NEW RAW MATERIAL, WE TESTED SEVERAL TIMES AND WE CHECKED ALL THE RESULTS.

AND FOR THE TRANSPORTATION PROBLEM, WE ASSIGNED A DEDICATED TRUCK DRIVERS FOR THE CITY OF ABILENE.

HE'S GOING TO BE LIKE THE DEDICATED DRIVERS, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE DRIVER FOR THE CITY OF ABILENE.

AND IF WE HAVE ANY BREAKDOWN ISSUE OR THE ANY DRIVER ISSUE, WE HAVE THE THIRD PARTY THIRD PARTIES FOR THE BACKUP PROCESS.

AND ONE MORE PROBLEM FOR THE FOR THE FOR THE DELIVERY THING, SOMETIMES WE SAY THE FIRST MENTIONED THAT WE ARE LATE, BUT NOW THAT WE HAVE THE TWO SHIFTS. SO WE WILL INCREASE OUR PRODUCTION LIMIT SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS. AND THE TWO MORE REACTOR IS COMING ON THE WAY. ALSO AT THAT TIME WE WILL HAVE THE THE MORE PRODUCTS ALSO.

SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY DELIVERY PROBLEM AT ALL.

AND WE HAVE THE EXTRA LOTS OF EXTRA PUMPS NOW AND LOTS OF EXTRA PIPING EQUIPMENTS.

SO IT WON'T BE ANY PROBLEM FOR THE DELIVERIES OR THE PRODUCTIONS.

YEAH. THIS ALL CHANGE WERE MADE BY BASED ON THE CITY OF ABERDEEN.

AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET EVERYTHING BETTER.

AND WE TOTALLY UNDERSTAND ALL THE CONCERN REGARDING OUR PREVIOUS PERFORMANCE.

AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET BETTER. AND WE ARE REALLY WILLING TO DISCUSS THE PRICING CONSIDERATION AS WELL.

OR IF THE CITY OF ABERDEEN WERE, THEY WOULDN'T CONTINUE WITH US.

WE ARE WILLING TO LIKE TO BE PARTIAL VOLUME OR THE LIKE, THE SPLIT REWARD PROCESS, UNLESS YOU HAVE ANYTHING.

YEAH, IT'S PRETTY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANKS SO MUCH. APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 25.

WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? SEEING NONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION BY COUNCIL? MAYOR, BEFORE, IF I COULD JUST MAKE A STATEMENT REGARDING THE SITUATION, WHICH IT'S ALWAYS UNUSUAL WHEN WE HAVE TWO BIDDERS WITH THE SAME BID.

STATE LAW SAYS IF YOU HAVE THAT SITUATION, YOU BASICALLY DRAW A NAME OUT OF THE HAT.

THAT'S WHAT STATE LAW SAYS. BUT I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING MATTHEW SAID.

THE, THE SITUATION IS, IS IF YOU HAVE TWO QUALIFIED BIDDERS.

NOW, STATE LAW SAYS THAT YOU HAVE TO AWARD TO THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER.

BUT IF A BIDDER IS NOT RESPONSIBLE, THEN THEY'RE NOT QUALIFIED.

SO IF THE COUNCIL MAKES A DETERMINATION THAT H AND E IS NOT A QUALIFIED BIDDER BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR A SITUATION IN THE PAST, THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO MAKE THAT FINDING TO DISQUALIFY H AND E FROM THIS BID, AND THEN YOU CAN AWARD IT TO THE OTHER BIDDER.

IF THE COUNCIL DOES NOT MAKE THIS FINDING OF H AND E BEING DISQUALIFIED BECAUSE OF NOT BEING RESPONSIBLE, THEN THEY WE HAVE TO PULL IT OUT OF A HAT. SO IF YOU DON'T MAKE THAT FINDING, WE HAVE TO DO THE PULLING NAME OUT OF THE HAT.

[02:25:02]

IF YOU MAKE A FINDING THAT THEY'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE BIDDER AND THEY'RE NOT QUALIFIED, THEN THAT JUST LEAVES THE SOLE BIDDER OR VIOLA, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. SO IT'S A TWO STEP PROCESS.

COUNCILMAN PRESS, WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS EARLIER? I. I'M COMFORTABLE GOING WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION OF DECLARING THE H AND E WHAT'S THE CORRECT WORDING? SADLY, THEY'RE NOT THEY'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE.

THEY'RE NOT QUALIFIED. NOT NOT A RESPONSIBLE BIDDER.

YES, SIR. BASED ON THE HISTORY THAT WE'VE HAD AND THE CONCERN THAT THE DIRECTOR HAS.

SO DO WE NEED TO DO THOSE TWO MOTIONS, STANLEY, OR DO WE JUST.

YOU COULD COMBINE IT IF YOU WANTED TO. YES, SIR. OKAY. SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT DECLARES H AND E AS A NON RESPONSIBLE BIDDER FOR THE CITY OF ABILENE AND AWARDING THE BID FOR THIS ITEM TO VEOLIA S TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS.

IS THAT THE RIGHT WAY TO SAY IT? MOTION. COUNCILMAN.

PRICE. SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN ESPINOZA.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? READY TO VOTE.

ALL YESES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES TO STAFF.

RECOMMENDATION. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 26, AND I'LL ASK DON GREEN, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION,

[26. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action to Accept a FY26 Federal Aviation Administration Small Airport Letter of Intent in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $30,000,000 (Don Green)]

TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR COUNCIL.

DON GREEN, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.

SO I WANTED TO BRING TO YOU TODAY THE ACCEPTANCE OF OUR SMALL AIRPORT LETTER OF INTENT FROM THE FAA, FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION. THIS IS AYE.

WE HAD IT AS A NOT TO EXCEED OF $30 MILLION. THAT INCLUDES TWO COMPONENTS.

IT IS A $10 MILLION GRANT THAT WOULD BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE CITY OVER A FIVE YEAR PERIOD.

WE WOULD GET DETAILS OF THAT DISTRIBUTION SOMETIME NEXT MONTH.

FAA HAS NOT ISSUED THAT LETTER TO US YET. HOWEVER, THERE IS ANOTHER COMPONENT WHICH FAA COULD HAVE INCLUDED IN THAT FIVE YEAR PERIOD OF $17.5 MILLION. BUT WE DID FIND OUT RECENTLY THAT FAA IS WILLING TO GIVE US THAT DISCRETIONARY GRANT IN ONE LUMP SUM IN FY 26. SO TO HAVE THAT AVAILABLE TO US BY THE END OF THIS MONTH.

WE ALSO FOUND OUT TUESDAY AFTERNOON, VERY LATE TUESDAY AFTERNOON, THAT INSTEAD OF THE 17.5 MILLION, THEY'RE GIVING US $20 MILLION. SO WE'RE WE THEY INCREASE THAT ANOTHER 2.5 MILLION TO GET US.

REALLY WHAT WHAT WHAT I WAS HAD ON HERE IS A $30 MILLION NOT TO EXCEED.

SO WE ASKED FOR $27.4 MILLION IN THE SALO Y'ALL TOTAL WHEN WE APPLIED FOR THIS BACK IN MARCH.

AND SO NOW WE'RE ENDING UP WITH A FULL $30 MILLION FROM THE F A AYE.

AND IT HAS TAKEN SOME TIME FOR THIS TO KIND OF COME TO FRUITION.

AND A LOT OF WRINGING OF HANDS AND TALKING BACK AND FORTH WITH FRIENDS IN THE, IN THE F A AYE AND IN DC AS WELL. OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS APPLICATION.

AND THEN MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER PRICE AND THE CITY MANAGER AND I MADE A TRIP TO DC TO KIND OF PUSH THIS ISSUE AS WELL A LITTLE EARLIER THIS SUMMER. SO IT IS A VERY REWARDING TO SEE THIS COME TO FRUITION.

AND THIS ESSENTIALLY FULLY FUNDS THE TERMINAL PROJECT.

NOW, OUR OUR CONTEMPLATED FUNDING FROM FAA SOURCES WAS GOING TO BE ABOUT $50 MILLION.

AND THIS PUTS US RIGHT IN THAT BALLPARK NOW. SO ALONG WITH THE $20 MILLION BOND THAT THE CITIZENS PASSED IN MAY OF 2025, WHICH WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN OUR ABILITY TO COMPETE FOR THE DISCRETIONARY GRANTS.

WHEN FAA IS CONSIDERING COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT.

SO IT, THAT, THAT SHOWED FAA AND OUR DELEGATION THAT THE CITIZENS OF ABILENE WERE BEHIND THIS PROJECT AND THAT AS WELL AS THE OTHER DATA THAT WE PUT IN OUR APPLICATION SHOWING THE ACTUAL NEED FOR IT.

BUT ANYWAY, WE'RE, WE'RE VERY EXCITED. AGAIN, I AT THE POINT OF WRITING THE AGENDA MEMO, WE HAD A $17.5 MILLION COMMITMENT FROM THE FAA FOR THE FY 26 DISCRETIONARY GRANT, BUT THAT IS NOW $20 MILLION.

[02:30:02]

SO WE WILL AND WE WILL RECEIVE THAT $20 MILLION THIS FISCAL YEAR.

SO THAT, THAT GRANT WILL BE IN FY 26 GRANT. AND THEN THE $10 MILLION WILL HAVE THAT COME OVER FIVE YEAR PERIOD.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT DISTRIBUTION WILL LOOK LIKE.

SO, AND WITH THESE GRANTS, THAT ACTUALLY HELPS US SPEED UP THIS PROCESS, CORRECT OUR PHASES, WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THESE PHASES QUICKER.

DONNA, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU.

I KNOW I TOOK A TRIP TO DC, ONE OF THESE GRANTS.

WE WERE THE ONLY AIRPORT THAT ACTUALLY APPLIED FOR IT, AM I CORRECT? YES, SIR. THIS SMALL AIRPORT LETTER OF INTENT WAS THE FIRST YEAR A LETTER OF INTENT HAS BEEN AVAILABLE TO AIRPORTS.

OUR SIZE, LARGE HUB AIRPORTS WERE ABLE TO UTILIZE THAT TOOL WITH F A AYE AND HAVE BEEN FOR FOR YEARS AND YEARS IN THE FI IN THE 2024 FAA REAUTHORIZATION. THE SENATOR CRUZ, WHO IS CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMERCE COMMITTEE, GOT THAT LEGISLATION PUT IN THERE FOR THE SALAYA SMALL AIRPORT LETTER OF INTENT.

AND THIS WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT THAT WAS OPEN TO AIRPORTS TO APPLY.

ABILENE WAS THE ONLY AIRPORT IN THE NATION TO APPLY FOR THIS FUNDING TOOL THIS YEAR.

SO WE APPRECIATE YOU ON THAT. YES, VERY MUCH SO.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THAT DOESN'T BRING BACK THE FIREPLACES THOUGH, RIGHT? IT DOES IN MY BOARD WAS ASKING ABOUT THAT YESTERDAY, BUT NOT NECESSARILY. BUT, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE SOME MONEY LEFTOVER IN THERE, RIGHT.

THAT'S AWESOME. THANK YOU DON. THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? DON.

AT THIS TIME. I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 26? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION IN A SECOND.

SO MOVED. I HAVE A MOTION. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN PATERSON, A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BAILEY.

I GOTTA LEARN YOUR GUYS NAMES. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE'RE READY TO VOTE, GUYS. OH, YESES. MOTION CARRIES.

MOTION CARRIES. WHEN I MOVE TO ITEM 27. AND I'LL ASK JEFF.

[27. Ordinance (Final Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Amending Chapter 18, "Motor Vehicles and Traffic," Article XIII, "Schedules," Section 18-286, "Decreased Speed Limits-School Zones," of the Abilene Municipal Code (Jeff Duebner)]

JEFF. IS IT DEUBNER. DEUBNER. I WON'T EVER MESS THAT UP AGAIN.

JEFF. BUT TO PRESENT THIS ITEM, MAX IS STILL WORKING ON THAT.

YOU'RE LOOKING SHARP TODAY. THANK YOU SIR. MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY IS THE FINAL READING FOR A NEW SCHOOL ZONE TO BE PLACED IN FRONT OF WILEY SOUTH ELEMENTARY.

IT IS ON FM 707. EXCUSE ME. BELTWAY SOUTH. JUST WEST IS AT THE VERY BOTTOM LEFT OF THE MAP THERE. IT'S KIND OF HARD TO SEE, BUT AT THE VERY BOTTOM THERE, RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL ZONE.

TEX-DOT HAS COME. THE SCHOOL SYSTEM REACHED OUT TO TXDOT TO SEE IF THEY COULD HAVE THE SCHOOL ZONE IMPLEMENTED THERE.

AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE HAVE TO UPDATE OUR ORDINANCES AND ALLOW FOR THAT LOWERING OF THE SCHOOL ZONE.

SO THAT IS WHAT WE ARE HERE TO ASK FOR TODAY.

OTHER THAN THAT, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE BRIEF ON IT.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS OF JEFF. THANK YOU JEFF.

THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 27? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. ONE QUARTER WITH THE AID.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. WE WORKED WITH WILEY AND TEX-DOT.

THIS ROADWAY. CITY LIMITS, BUT IT'S ALSO TEX-DOT ROADS.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF COORDINATION BETWEEN THAT. ALL OF IT'S BEEN. ONCE IT GOES THROUGH THE CITY ORDINANCE, THEN TEX-DOT WILL BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THAT AND ALLOW THE CONTRACTOR TO INSTALL THE THE NECESSARY SIGNAGE AND MARKINGS FOR THE SCHOOL ZONE.

DO YOU ALL HAVE ANYTHING FOR ME? I CAN ANSWER IT. I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. THANK YOU.

STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 27? 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 ESPINOZA. SECOND.

SECOND BY COUNCILMAN PATTERSON TO IT. IS THAT RIGHT? YES. HE BEAT ME TO IT. WE'RE READY TO VOTE. MOTION CARRIES.

MOTION CARRIES. IT IS NOW 11:09 A.M. WE 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 FIVE FIVE. 1.073 DELIBERATIONS ABOUT GIFTS AND DONATIONS.

SECTION 551.074 PERSONNEL MATTERS SECTION 551.076 DELIBERATIONS ABOUT SECURITY DEVICES SECTION

[02:35:08]

551.087 DELIBERATIONS ABOUT BUSINESS PROSPECTS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WE'LL BE BACK. IT IS NOW 12:21 P.M. AND WE RECONVENE

[ RECONVENE]

FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION. NO VOTES OR ACTIONS WERE TAKEN DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION.

[29. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving a Chapter 380 Economic Development Agreement with SE Wall Street, LLC (Stanley Smith)]

WE NOW MOVE TO ITEM 29, AND I'LL ASK STANLEY SMITH, CITY ATTORNEY, TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.

THANK YOU MAYOR. AS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, THIS IS A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE A CHAPTER 380 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE DEVELOPER, WHO IS PURCHASING SOME PROPERTY ALONG NORTH FIRST STREET AND WALL STREET.

THEY'RE GOING TO REFURBISH THIS PROPERTY AS PART OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WE ARE AGREEING TO RELEASE SOME LIENS THAT THE PLACE THE PROPERTY HAS HAD PLACED ON IT FROM THE CITY, FROM THE PRIOR OWNER WHO LET THE PROPERTY. GO.

I MEAN, THEY LET THE PROPERTY GET IN A BAD CONDITION.

SO THIS NEW PROPERTY OWNER IS GOING TO REFURBISH THAT. ONCE THAT'S DONE AND THE SEALS ARE ISSUED, WE'RE GOING TO RELEASE THOSE LIENS. SO THERE'S NO MONEY GIVEN TO THIS DEVELOPER.

IT'S JUST A GUARANTEE THAT THEY REFURBISH THE PROPERTY. YES SIR. THEY HAVE TO GET THEIR CO BEFORE THEY GET THE THEY HAVE TO GET THE CO BEFORE WE RELEASE THE LIENS.

YES SIR. AND THAT GOES BACK ON THE TAX RULE. AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 29? 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.

A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BAILEY. SECOND.

SECOND BY COUNCILMAN PRICE FOR DISCUSSION. WE'RE READY TO VOTE.

ALL YESES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. WE NOW MOVE TO ITEM 30, AND THAT'S THE APPROVAL OF THE ANNUAL EVALUATION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY,

[30. Oral Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving the Annual Evaluation of the City Attorney]

STANLEY SMITH. WE DID HAVE THE EVALUATION OF ATTORNEY.

ANY COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL AT THIS TIME? I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 30? 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. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN PRICE. SECOND.

SECOND BY COUNCILMAN PATERSON. FOR THE DISCUSSION.

READY TO VOTE. ALL YESES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES.

[31. Oral Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving the Annual Evaluation of the Municipal Court Judge]

WE NOW MOVE TO ITEM 31, APPROVING THE ANNUAL EVALUATION OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE KATY GORE.

WE DID HER EVALUATION. DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 31? 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. SECOND, HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN PATTERSON.

SECOND BY COUNCILMAN PRICE. FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE'RE READY TO VOTE. YESES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES.

IT IS NOW 12:24 P.M.. AND THIS MEETING OF THE ABILENE CITY COUNCIL IS ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.

CALL TO ORDER

PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PROCLAMATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

2. Dyess Airmen Exceptional Performance Recognition:
Technical Sergeant Matthew Beaumier
Airman First Class Jack Katzer

3. Presentation: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing Regarding Flock Group, Inc.'s License Plate Readers (Rondell Seratte)

CONSENT AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS

6. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion, and Take Action to Approve a Contract with Axon Enterprise, Inc. for the replacement of Body-Worn, In-Car Cameras and Evidence Management (Rondell Seratte)

REGULAR AGENDA - ORDINANCES AND PUBLIC HEARINGS - RESOLUTIONS

24. Presentation: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Possible Action Regarding the Development of a Lead Service Line Replacement Program Utilizing Texas Water Development Board Funding (Matthew Dane)

25. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Awarding the Fiscal Year 2027 Bid for Alum (Matthew Dane)

26. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action to Accept a FY26 Federal Aviation Administration Small Airport Letter of Intent in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $30,000,000 (Don Green)

27. Ordinance (Final Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Amending Chapter 18, "Motor Vehicles and Traffic," Article XIII, "Schedules," Section 18-286, "Decreased Speed Limits-School Zones," of the Abilene Municipal Code (Jeff Duebner)

EXECUTIVE SESSION

RECONVENE

REGULAR AGENDA

29. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving a Chapter 380 Economic Development Agreement with SE Wall Street, LLC (Stanley Smith)

30. Oral Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving the Annual Evaluation of the City Attorney

31. Oral Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving the Annual Evaluation of the Municipal Court Judge

Sep 24, 2026 City Council

CALL TO ORDER

PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PROCLAMATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

2. Dyess Airmen Exceptional Performance Recognition:
Technical Sergeant Matthew Beaumier
Airman First Class Jack Katzer

3. Presentation: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing Regarding Flock Group, Inc.'s License Plate Readers (Rondell Seratte)

CONSENT AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS

6. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion, and Take Action to Approve a Contract with Axon Enterprise, Inc. for the replacement of Body-Worn, In-Car Cameras and Evidence Management (Rondell Seratte)

REGULAR AGENDA - ORDINANCES AND PUBLIC HEARINGS - RESOLUTIONS

24. Presentation: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Possible Action Regarding the Development of a Lead Service Line Replacement Program Utilizing Texas Water Development Board Funding (Matthew Dane)

25. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Awarding the Fiscal Year 2027 Bid for Alum (Matthew Dane)

26. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action to Accept a FY26 Federal Aviation Administration Small Airport Letter of Intent in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $30,000,000 (Don Green)

27. Ordinance (Final Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Amending Chapter 18, "Motor Vehicles and Traffic," Article XIII, "Schedules," Section 18-286, "Decreased Speed Limits-School Zones," of the Abilene Municipal Code (Jeff Duebner)

EXECUTIVE SESSION

RECONVENE

REGULAR AGENDA

29. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving a Chapter 380 Economic Development Agreement with SE Wall Street, LLC (Stanley Smith)

30. Oral Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving the Annual Evaluation of the City Attorney

31. Oral Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving the Annual Evaluation of the Municipal Court Judge

PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PROCLAMATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

REGULAR AGENDA - ORDINANCES AND PUBLIC HEARINGS - RESOLUTIONS

REGULAR AGENDA

Sep 24, 2026 City Council

PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PROCLAMATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

REGULAR AGENDA - ORDINANCES AND PUBLIC HEARINGS - RESOLUTIONS

REGULAR AGENDA

Link

Social

Embed

Download

Download Selected Item