Jul 21, 2020 Special City Council Budget Workshop

[CALL TO ORDER]

[INVOCATION: 1. Mayor Anthony Williams]

[PLEDGE TO THE UNITED STATES FLAG AND THE TEXAS FLAG]

[00:01:25]

>> NOW FOR THE PLEDGES. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, NOW THE TEXAS PLAQUE WILL FLAG. HONOR THE TEXAS PLAY. I PLEDGE TO THEE TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD. ONE INDIVISIBLE. I AM GOING TO INVITE ROBERT HANNAH TO PRESENT THE BUDGET ON THIS MORNING. UP TO THIS POINT, THIS IS A CITY MANAGER'S BUDGET AS WELL AS STAFF. THIS PROCESS IS A HAND OFF AND THEN IT BECOMES THE BUDGET OF THE ABILENE CITY COUNCIL. WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TODAY IS GO OVER AS PRESENTED AND MAKE ANY NEEDED MODIFICATIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE.

THERE WILL NOT BE A PUBLIC HEARING IN REGARDS TO THE PROCESS.

EXCEPT FOR THE VERY END, EITHER TODAY OR TOMORROW WE WILL VOTE ON FOUR DIFFERENT THINGS.

WE WILL VOTE ON A REVISED BUDGET. WE WILL VOTE ON A PROPOSED BUDGET. WE WILL ALSO VOTE TO A TAX RATE AS WELL AS A FEE SCHEDULE.

AT THAT TIME, YOU WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AND I SAY YOU, THE COMMUNITY, TO PROVIDE ANY INPUT YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE AT THE TIME. ON AUGUST 13TH, WHICH WILL BE THE FIRST MEETING IN AUGUST, WILL BE A FINAL PUBLIC HEARING OF THE BUDGET PROVIDING YOU THE ABILENE CITIZENS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE INPUT AT THAT TIME TO THE BUDGET.

COUPLE THINGS I WILL SAY PRIOR TO MR. HANNAH MAKING THE PRESENTATION.

THE COUNCIL IS EXPLICIT WITH OUR C.E.O. WE WANT A VERY SENTENCE BUDGET IN THE CLIMATE WE LIVE IN. WE HAVE A BUDGET THAT HAS INCREASED REVENUES OF ABOUT $900,000. PROPOSED IS A NON-TAX RATE INCREASE.

TAKING NOTE THAT 74% OF GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS PERSONNEL. THIS BUDGET REPRESENTS A 5% ACROSS THE BOARD REDUCTION BY ALL DEPARTMENTS TRYING TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE CLIMATE THAT WE FIND OURSELVES IN NOW. NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED IN THAT REGARD TO THIS YEAR'S BUDGET COMPARED TO LAST YEAR'S BUDGET. YOU NEVER KNOW, AND I'M CAREFUL TO SAY THIS.

I DON'T ANTICIPATE A VERY LONG PROCESS ON TODAY BECAUSE THERE HAVE NOT BEEN A LOT OF CHANGES.

THE TWO THINGS I'M GOING TO INTERJECT WHEN IT'S APPROPRIATE, MR. HANNAH.

I WANT TO INTERJECT A COMMUNITY SERVICE ALTERATION EITHER IN THIS YEAR'S CURRENT BUDGET OR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET AND THEN I WANT TO SPEAK AND LET MY PEERS HEAR ABOUT ADDITIONAL HOLIDAY FOR THE CITY THAT I WILL TALK ABOUT IN JUST A BIT. WITH THAT, I WILL TURN THINGS

OVER TO MR. ROBERT HANNAH, OUR CITY MANAGER. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND

[SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS: 2. Presentation: Revised FY20 and Proposed FY 2021 Budgets and Complete Budget Review]

MAYOR, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR GOING OVER THE BUDGET TIMELINE.

TODAY WE DO HAVE GEARED UP FOR Y'ALL, I HOPE TO CONSIDER THE BUDGET AND HAVE THE FIRST

[00:05:01]

>> MR. HANNAH, I DIDN'T FOLLOW MY SCRIPT. DO I NEED TO READ THAT FOR

LEGALITY PURPOSES? >> ALL RIGHT. YOU'RE GOOD.

THERE'S A PRESCRIBED FORMULA FOR SURE FOR THE TAX RATE. WE DON'T WANT TO MESS THAT UP.

AND AUGUST 13TH WE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC INPUT AND THOSE AS WELL.

I DO WANT TO SAY BRIEFLY THAT OF THE TAX REVENUE THAT'S BEING RAISED THAT WAS MORE THAN LAST YEAR, 69% OF THAT IS FROM NEW PROPERTIES. AND THAT'S $623,000 AND THEN THE REMAINING $283,000 IS EXISTING TAX BASE. LOOKING AT OUR REVENUE, THE GENERAL FUND IS 42% OF THE REVENUE. WATER AND SEWER IS A UTILITY AND ENTERPRISE FUND ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING THIS. IT SHOULD BE SELF SUPPORTING.

TRANSIT, THREE %. MANY TIED TO FEDERAL GRANTS FROM THE FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION AGENCY. STREETS ARE 3%. THE VAST MAJORITY IS FROM THE STREET MAINTENANCE FEE. SOLID WASTE. ANOTHER SELF-FUNDED UTILITY.

6%, INTERNAL SERVICES IS CATCH ALL FOR A VARIETY OF THINGS IN EACH DEPARTMENT MAY INCUR FROM A COST STANDPOINT. WATER, ANOTHER SELF SUPPORTING, 1% OF OUR REVENUE PROFILE.

FROM EXPENDITURE. IT VERY WELL MIRRORS WHAT THE REVENUE PROFILE LOOKS LIKE.

A COUPLE CALL OUTS. STREET ADDITIONAL 4%, THAT ADDITIONAL 4% COMES FROM GENERAL FUND TRANSFERS IN ADDITION TO THE STREET MAINTENANCE FEE. WHICH IS ALL PART OF THE PLAN WE ADOPTED YEARS AGO TO AUGMENT AND SUPPLANT THE DCOA MONEY AS THAT IS A DIMINISHING REVENUE FOR STREET MAINTENANCE. GOING TO DETAIL IN GENERAL FUND. OUR TOTAL CURRENT REVENUES AND TRANSFERS IN. THE THIRD LINE DOWN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019.

WE HAD $101.8 MILLION. LOOKING AT THE PROPOSED '21 BUDGET, $107 MILLION.

THERE'S AN INCREASE AND IT'S TIED TO MANY OF THE INCREASES ARE TIED TO NEW FIREFIGHTERS THAT WERE APPROVED THROUGH THE SAFER GRANT, COUNCIL MADE AN EFFORT TO ADJUST EMPLOYEE SALARIES ACROSS THE BOARD TO MAKE SURE WE'RE TAKING CARE OF OUR PEOPLE AND PAYING THEM A WAGE THAT IS MARKET BASED. ON EXPENDITURES, YOU CAN SEE THAT COST INCREASE IN THE PERSONNEL SERVICES LINE. 74% OF WHAT WE DO IN THE CITY OF ABILENE IS TIED TO THE WORK FORCE THAT WE EMPLOY. THIS IS A SERVICE-BASED ENTITY AND YOUR SERVICE-BASED ENTITIES HAVE A LOT OF DOLLARS AND PEOPLE. THE BEGINNING FUND BALANCE FROM REVISED BUDGET IS 27.2 MILLION. PROPOSED 22.6 MILLION. PART OF THAT CONTEMPLATES ONE TIME TRANSFER WHICH WE DID EVERY YEAR INTO THE GENERAL FUND AND THAT'S WHY YOU SEE A DECLINE.

IT WAS AN INTENTIONAL SPEND ON OUR PART FOR ONE TIME CAPITAL PROJECTS.

REDUCTION IN GAS FRANCHISE TAX LICENSES AND PERMITS, COVID-19 GRANT REVENUE IS UP.

CHARGES FOR SERVICE DUE TO COVID-19. ALL THE THINGS WE CHARGE PERMIT FEES FOR. LICENSING FEES FOR. REGISTRATIONS FOR.

ALL THE THINGS WHERE THE CUSTOMER COMES IN AND PAYS A SERVICE FEE TO RECEIVE A PARTICULAR SERVICE. WE SEE THOSE DECLINES. COURT REVENUES ARE DOWN AS WELL.

INVESTMENT EARNINGS HAVE TANKED AND REDUCTION IN PERSONAL RECOVERIES DUE TO COVID-19 ARE ALSO DOWN. HOTEL MOTEL TAX IS DOWN. WE DECREASED SOLID FLEET SERVICES TO AUGMENT THE LOSS OF REVENUES AND PREPARED TO SEE A $93,000 DEFICIT BECAUSE WE THINK WE CAN COVER THAT WITH EXISTING BALANCE. OVER TIME COSTS WERE SUBSTANTIAL. OVER TIME COSTS ARE STILL BEING INCURRED FOR THE COVID-19 RESPONSE. WE ARE WORKING HARD TO TRY TO LEVERAGE SOME OF THOSE WITH FEDERAL GRANT DOLLARS TO OFF SET THOSE. BUT THE STIPULATIONS FOR THE FEDERAL GRANT DOLLARS ARE VERY STRICT AND I'M NOT 100% CERTAIN WE WILL BE ABLE TO AUGMENT THOSE CHARGES BY THE CARES ACT. YOU CAN SEE WE MADE BUDGET CUTS IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.

$833,000. WE HAVE ONE TIME CAPITAL OUT LAYS.

[00:10:01]

THE $1.4 MILLION. TOTAL INCREASE $932,000. THE VAST MAJORITY COMES FROM THE TRANSFERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REVENUE IN TO OFF SET THE COVID-19.

BY CATEGORY, AS I MENTIONED, 74% IS PERSONNEL. SUPPLIES, MAINTENANCE AND OTHER CHARGES AND SERVICES. SO ANOTHER WAY OF LOOKING AT THIS IS SAYING THAT FOR EVERY DOLLAR WE BRING IN, $0.74 GOING TO PAY FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THE COMMUNITY.

BY DEPARTMENT YOU CAN SEE THE MIX HERE. YOU WILL SEE THE LARGEST DIDN'TS BY FAR ARE POLICE AND FIRE. COMMUNITY SERVICE WILL BE THE NEXT LARGEST DEPARTMENT, FOLLOWED BY PUBLIC WORKS AND THE REST FALL IN SHORT ORDER. SOME KEY REVENUE CHANGES FROM THE REVISED BUDGET. PROPERTY TAX VALUES WERE UP, SALES TAX WE BELIEVE WILL BE SLIGHTLY UP FROM WHAT WE ADOPTED, WHICH IS ACTUALLY GOOD NEWS.

THAT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS WE MOVE FORWARD. WE HAVE ANOTHER GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN, THAT NUMBER WILL COME DOWN. MIGHTILY.

SO WE ARE WORKING HARD TO PREVENT THAT. LICENSES AND FEES AGAIN ARE DOWN. CHARGES FOR SERVICES, THOSE ARE ALL TIED TO COVID.

YOU CAN SEE A TOTAL INCREASE OR DECREASE OF $651,000. THOSE KEY CHANGES FOR FISCAL '21 VERSUS '20. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER ADOPTING.

SOME KEY CHANGES FROM EXPENDITURES STAND POINT. THE POLICE AND FIRE MEET AND CONFER AND STEP AND GRADE ARE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES. WE HAVE WALKED AND TALKED TO BOTH THE PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION AND THE ABILENE POLICE ASSOCIATION.

WE HAVE TENTATIVE COMMITMENTS FROM THE LEADERSHIP TO TAKE REVISED MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENTS TO THEIR MEMBERSHIP WHEN THEY WILL VOTE ON THAT WOULD DELAY, POSTPONE THEIR SCHEDULED INCREASES FROM OCTOBER 1ST TO APRIL 1ST. THAT ALLOWS US TO FUND THEM.

WITHOUT THAT, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO FUND THAT. WITHOUT INCREASE FOR NON-CIVIL SERVICE PEOPLE, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH REVENUE TO FUND THE MEET AND CONFER LARGE PART TO COVID, I'M HOPEFUL THE ASSOCIATIONS CAN SEE THIS. THEY ARE PART OF THE FAMILY AND I THINK THEY'RE WILLING TO DO THAT. IF THEY AGREE TO THE APRIL 1ST WE ALSO HAVE PROGRAMMED A 2% COLA FOR NONCIVIL SERVICE. THAT'S A $313,000.

WE HAVE TO BRING THE RETURN TO FULL TIME STAFFING AND PART TIME HELP WE SUSPENDED IN THE COVID RESPONSE. A $688,000 INCREASE TO THE BUDGET TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE POSITIONS FUNDED IN 2021. 2020 SALARY AND ADJUSTMENTS, WE MADE CHANGES TO WHAT SOME OF OUR PEOPLE ARE BEING PAID TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE IN A MARKET RATE, MARKET CONDITION.

$632,000 INCREASE. WE WILL REDUCE THE OVER TIME BECAUSE THAT'S A ONE-TIME EXPENSE. GROUP INSURANCE, WORKERS' COMP IS UP.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, FROM A FISCAL YEAR '21 EXPENDITURE TO EXTENT, THERE'S A DECREASE OF $462,000. LOOKING AT THE TAX RATE. WE ARE STATIC THIS YEAR.

WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT WE DO NOT INCREASE OR DECREASE THE TAX RATE.

AT THE LAST ROUND OF NUMBERS WE RECEIVED FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, THEORETICALLY, YOU COULD REDUCE THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION RATE BY ABOUT $73,000. I THINK THAT'S ABOUT $0.60 PER INDIVIDUAL IN ABILENE. USE THAT RECOGNIZE WE ARE UNDER THE 3.5 % CAP WITH THAT, AND WE CAN USE THAT MONEY TO OFFSET ANY FUTURE DOWNTURN WE EXPERIENCE WITH THE COVID STUFF AND KEEP IT WITH THE POWDER ROOM TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE AMMUNITION IN THE EVENT WE HAVE ANOTHER GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN. YOU CAN SEE THE MNO RATE. IT IS DOWN BUT BRINGS IN THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY. THIS IS THE EFFECT OF 3.5 % PROPERTY TAX CAP.

WE ARE TRYING TO BRING IN ROUGHLY THE SAME AMOUNT OF DOLLARS.

[00:15:05]

PERSONNEL IS AN INCREASE. YOU HAVE GOT A SLIGHT INCREASE IN DEBT SERVICE AND OPERATING TRANSFERS AS YOU ZERO IT OUT FROM A FUND BALANCE STANDPOINT, YOU SEE THE FUND BALANCE BEING RELATIVELY STATIC. PART IS REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN GOOD ORDER AND DISCIPLINE IN OUR OPERATIONAL EXPENSES. ANOTHER IS TIED TO CAPITAL PROJECTS.

YOU SAW SPIN DOWN IN THAT. YOU WON'T SEE THAT AGAIN QUITE AS MUCH I THINK IN THE NEXT YEAR. THIS IS THE WATER AND SEWER EXPENDITURES BY CATEGORY.

PERSONNEL IS THEIR LARGEST EXPENSE OUTSIDE OF DEBT SERVICE. AND THIS INSTANCE, DON'T FORGET THAT THIS COMMUNITY STARTING IN 2014 OR A LITTLE BEFORE THEN ALMOST A QUARTER OF A BILLION DOLLARS MAKING SURE WE HAD WATER RESOURCES FOR THE DROUGHT AND SO WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF PAYING THOSE OFF. WE SECURED WATER FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS AND THAT DID COME WITH A PRICE TAG AND WE'RE WORKING TO PAY THAT OFF. ONCE THE RATES COME DOWN, YOU CAN PAY THAT OFF. WE LOOK AT OUR PEER COMMUNITIES. WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE BRACKET OF OUR PEER COMMUNITIES IN I REMEMBER CORRECTLY. 2020 CHANGES OVER THE ADOPTED BUDGET YOU SEE A DECREASE OF $254,000. REVISED EXPENDITURES, DECREASE OF $1.5 MILLION. '21 REVENUE CHANGES VERSUS REVISED BUDGET.

THERE'S AN INCREASE TIED AND MICHAEL MAKE SURE I'M SAYING THAT RIGHT.

A PREAPPROVED RATE INCREASE. YES? SO COUNCIL WILL RECALL WHEN WE ADOPTED THE MASTER PLAN FOR WATER, WE ADOPTED AN ORDINANCE THAT APPROVED RATE INCREASE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT TO FUND THE CAPITAL PROJECT WITH THAT. IF COUNCIL WANTED TO TAKE A BYE YEAR, YOU COULD BUT YOU WOULD HAVE TO TEMPORARILY SUSPEND THAT.

OUR RECOMMENDATION IS WE CONTINUE BUT IT'S YOUR DECISION TO MAKE.

I WANT TO CALL THAT OUT SO YOU'RE FULLY INFORMED WITH MAKING A DECISION IN THAT REGARD SAYS. LOOKING AT EXPENDITURES. YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A NET CHANGE OF 10%. FOR FY '20 OVER '21. THE MAJORITY COMING OUT OF UTILITIES SPECIAL SERVICES. I BELIEVE THAT'S THE ONE TIME CAPITAL I WAS DISCUSSING.

SOLID WASTE SERVICE FUND. WE HAVE TRANSFERS THAT ARE EXTRAORDINARY.

IT'S WHAT WE DID TO HELP BALANCE THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET. THAT'S THE, IT'S THE OPERATING TRANSFERS JUST ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAD TO DO TO COVER THE REVENUE LOSS.

THAT'S COMING OUT OF THE REVISED BUDGET. WE DO NOT HAVE THAT PROGRAMMED IN FOR THE 2021 BUDGET. THEY GO BACK TO WHAT IS CONSISTENTLY THEIR NORMAL FUND BALANCE. NORMAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE GENERAL FUND.

RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS ANOTHER WAY TO SAY THAT. STORMWATER.

IT'S OKAY SHAPE. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CONSIDER A RATE INCREASE IN A FUTURE YEAR ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE GOING TO IMPLEMENT THE STORMWATER PLAN THAT COUNCIL HAS SEEN A FEW RENDITIONS OF. SELF INSURANCE FUND. WE SPEND TIME TALKING ABOUT IT AND EVERY YEAR WE THINK WE HAVE IT WHIPPED. EVERY YEAR CLAIMS ARE HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED. THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR WE WILL ABOUT BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD AGREEMENTS WITH THE INSURANCE COVERAGE. AND PRELIMINARILY, THE NUMBERS ARE COMING DOWN. SEVERAL MONTHS WE HAVE HAD UNDER THE NEW PLAN, OUR LOST NUMBERS HAVE DECREASED BASED OFF THE NEW PLAN CONTRACTS THAT BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD HAS.

I AM HOPEFUL THAT YOU WILL SEE THAT $8.9 MILLION VERSUS THE $10.6 MILLION REDUCTION.

IN OUR SELF INSURANCE FUND. BUT WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL WE KNOW. ONE OF THE REASONS WE TRANSFERRED MONEY IN FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO SELF INSURANCE FUND WAS TO MAKE SURE WE HAD THAT PROTECTION. IF THAT HITS A POINT WHERE IT'S ZERO, WE REALLY DON'T HAVE INSURANCE. THIS IS ALSO ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE RECOMMENDED THAT WE LOOK AT GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE. THOSE SORTS OF THINGS. WHICH COUNCIL APPROVED A FEW MEETINGS BACK. LOOKING AT WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO DO IN THE HEALTH INSURANCE

[00:20:06]

WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT A 5% INCREASE IN THE CITY CONTRIBUTION.

THAT'S THE FIRST TIME THE CITY HAS HAD A MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION IN THREE TO FOUR YEARS.

MAYBE FOUR OR FIVE. IT'S BEEN A BIT. WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT PRESCRIPTION COPAY. AND THERE'S A PHARMACY ROLL OUT. IF YOU PARTICIPATE, YOU GET REDUCED PRICING IN YOUR PHARMA AS A PLANNED MEMBER. MAKING IT VOLUNTARILY BECAUSE THE VOTERS AND OBLIGATIONS WE SIGNED WITH BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD.

IF WE MANDATED IT, WE WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK OUT TO THE MARKET AND I'M NOT SURE WE COULD GET THE SAME SAVINGS WE DID BECAUSE THEY CONTEMPLATED CERTAIN THING IN THE RFP WITHOUT HAVING THIS VOLUNTARY PROGRAM. WE THINK WE CAN PUSH IT AND SAVE MONEY.

YOU CAN SEE THE BAR CHART FOR THE HEALTH CONTRIBUTIONS COMPARED TO HEALTH CLAIMS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. AGAIN, STARTING IN 2015, WE SWITCHED.

I THINK IT WAS 2015 WE SWITCHED TO AETNA. YOU CAN SEE AN INCREASE IN HEALTH CLAIMS AND ADMINISTRATIVE COST BASED OFF THAT HEALTH INSURANCE CARRIER.

WE ARE HOPING TO SEE THAT BAR GRAPH CHANGE AGAIN. BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD HAS BETTER CONTRACTS WITH PROVIDERS IN OUR REGION AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT. THE STREET MAINTENANCE FUND. THE STREET MAINTENANCE FUND IS STILL DOING WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE DOING, WHICH IS GREAT. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS OUT THERE BEING PAID. WE ARE TAKING IN $8.3 MILLION IN REVENUE.

WE ARE EXPENDING $9 MILLION IN REVENUE. WE WILL HAVE A FUND BALANCE OF $2.7 MILLION AT THE END OF FISCAL YEAR '21 FOR THE STREET MAINTENANCE FUND.

ALL OF THOSE DOLLARS ARE TIED TO ACTUAL ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

I WANT TO REITERATE THAT. WE'RE NOT JUST AS COUNCIL ASKED US TO, THAT MONEY IS BEING SPENT TO PAVEMENT. NOT BEING SPENT ON PEOPLE OR THINGS ALONG THOSE LINES.

THERE'S ENGINEERING AND DESIGN BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF PAVEMENT PROCESS BUT NOT SPENDING ON SALARIES AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS. THE FIRE APPARATUS FUND.

WE SET THIS UP SEVERAL YEARS AGO. IT IS FUNDED WE BELIEVE THROUGH 2040. WE CONTINUE TO MAKE THE CONTRIBUTIONS WE PROGRAMMED.

WE BELIEVE, I STILL BELIEVE THIS IS ONE OF BEST THING WE HAVE EVER DONE IN THIS COMMUNITY IS FIND A WAY TO CASH PAY FOR FIRE APPARATUS AND PROGRAM PLAN FOR IT.

IT'S NOT EVERY TIME WE NEED TO BUY AN ENGINE. HOW CAN WE GET THIS DONE?

IT'S GOOD FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. >> MINOR IMPROVEMENT FUND. WE STARTED THIS A COUPLE YEARS AGO. SOME PEOPLE CALL IT A RAINY DAY FUND.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT THE SAVINGS WE GENERATE TO NOT SPENDING ON THIS OR THIS PROGRAM CAME IN LESS THAN WE THOUGHT. AND IT SERVES AS A PIGGY BANK OF PROJECTS.

WE HAVE $3.4 MILLION BALANCE. WE'RE NOT PROPOSING ANY MAJOR PROGRAMS OR PROJECTS SPENT ON MINOR IMPROVEMENT FUND FOR FY '21 BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I HAVE FLEX IDENTIFIED FOR COVID-19 RESPONSE. IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THE ECONOMY, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS IN ABILENE THAT REQUIRES US TO DIG DEEP, I KNOW THAT'S REVENUE AVAILABLE FOR EXPENDITURE.

FROM A VEHICLE REPLACEMENT STANDPOINT. $232,000 FOR WATER CAN SEWER.

SOLID WASTE IS REPLACING A NUMBER OF THEIR TRASH TRUCKS. $2.5 MILLION FOR END OF LIFE.

ALL PURCHASES EXCEEDING $50,000 WILL REQUIRE COUNCIL APPROVAL AND ALL PURCHASES WILL MEET COUNCIL'S ADOPTED VEHICLE POLICY. THAT IS A QUICK RENDITION OF THE

BUDGET. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, DOES COUNCIL HAVE

QUESTIONS OF MR. HANNAH? >> I HAVE GOT A COUPLE. ROBERT.

I ASKED YOU EARLIER, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE MIP FUND. IF OUR ECONOMY GOES STAGNANT AND WE'RE NOT ABLE TO COLLECT THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THE BUDGET TO SPEND?

>> I DO. ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE HAVE GOT OUR NON-CIVIL SERVANTS

[00:25:11]

COUNCIL MEMBER HURT, WE IDENTIFIED 10 TO $12 MILLION OF LIQUIDITY IN ALL OUR DIFFERENT FUNDS THAT COULD BE TAPPED IN INTO BEFORE WE HAD TO HIT OUR GENERAL FUND RESERVE.

OUR GENERAL FUND RESERVE IS SUBSTANTIAL. I DON'T FORESEE US HAVING TO DIP INTO OUR GENERAL FUND. THAT WOULD EXHAUST OUR FLEET REPLACEMENT, INSURANCE AND ALL THE FUNDS COUNCIL COULD OBLIGATE FOR SOMETHING ELSE IF THEY CHOSE TO DO SO BEFORE HAVING TO HAVE MASSIVE LAYOFFS OUR FURLOUGHS. IF WE END UP HAVING A LONG-TERM STATE GOVERNMENT MANDATED SHUT DOWN FOR OUR ECONOMY, LIKE WE HAD THE FIRST TIME, IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO DO THIS WITHOUT FURLOUGHS. I WILL BE HONEST WITH YOU. I DO NOT, I HONESTLY DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT HAPPENING AGAIN. I DON'T THINK THE LOCAL TEXAS ECONOMY CAN ABSORB IT.

THAT'S MY PERSONAL OPINION AND I KNOW THOSE DECISIONS ARE MADE ABOVE MY PAY GRADE AND WE WILL RESPOND ACCORDINGLY. I WOULD LIKE TO EXHAUST THE MIP FUND BEFORE WE END UP ASKING OUR EMPLOYEES TO TAKE A HIT. THEY ARE ON THE FRONT LINES SERVING THIS COMMUNITY.

WE'RE NOT JUST SITTING AT HOME GATHERING A PAYCHECK. PUBLIC EMPLOYEES WORK FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND THE CITY OF ABILENE AND SERVE THIS PUBLIC EVERY DAY AND OUT THERE DOING THINGS TO MAINTAIN OUR RIGHT-OF-WAYS, OUR PARKS TO USE. IF YOUR POLICE OR FIREFIGHTERS, YOU'RE LITERALLY ON THE FRONT LINE AND I WOULD HATE TO FURLOUGH THEM UNTIL WE

ABSOLUTELY HAD TO. >> THANK YOU. >> ALSO, IS THERE ANY TALK OF TAX RELIEF FOR BUSINESSES WE FORCED TO SHUT DOWN? WE CLOSED THEM AND STILL WANT

THEM TO PAY THEIR TAXES. >> WELL, NO. THERE'S NOTHING IN THE BUDGET FOR THAT, SIR. WHAT I HAVE TALKED AND MAYOR WILLIAMS HAS TALKED TO CONGRESSMAN ARRINGTON'S OFFICE TO LOOSEN THE RESTRICTIONS WITH THE CARES ACT FUNDING.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING VERY LIKELY NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR REQUEST BY THE WAY, MAYOR, I THINK IT'S UNDER MITCH MCCONNELL'S NEXT VERSION OF ROUND OF RELIEF FOR COVID.

REDUCE RESTRICTIONS AND RED TAPE. WE HAVE AND WERE.

IT'S A WILD RANGE PROBABLY FROM SIX TO $10 MILLION WORTH OF CARE ACT MONEY THAT'S BEEN EARMARKED FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS, ADMINISTERED FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

I CAN'T SPEND IT BECAUSE OF THE RESTRICTIONS LIMITED TO IT. 25% OF WHAT WE SPEND CAN BE SPENT ON SMALL BUSINESS. BUT THAT'S ONLY LIKE $100,000 AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WHICH IS HELPFUL IF YOU GET IT, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO GO AROUND. SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE ASKED CONGRESSMAN ARRINGTON TO BE AGGRESSIVE ABOUT IS LOOSENING THAT AND ALLOWING THE CITIES TO USE THAT FOR SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT. IT IS A NEED.

I RECOGNIZE IT'S A NEED. AND WE'RE HOPEFUL THIS WILL BE WAY TO DO THAT.

>> THANK YOU. >> I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT CONGRESSMAN ARRINGTON AND HIS EFFORT ON A CONFERENCE CALL LAST WEEK. ROBERT SUBMITTED YESTERDAY SOME SPECIFIC RESPONSES TO THAT CONFERENCE CALL. ONE OF WHICH, WELDON WAS TRYING TO ADDRESS AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE FUNDS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. APPRECIATE THAT.

I ALSO WANT TO YOU MR. RAINS, TO YOU MISS PATTERSON, ROBERT, I THINK WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IN REGARDS TO RESPONDING TO COVID-19 HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY. EVERYTHING FROM THE REDUCTION OF FUNDS IDENTIFIED IN THIS COUNTRY FISCAL YEAR LEADING UP TO WHERE WE ARE NOW, EVEN TO THE $1.6 MILLION OF REDUCTIONS IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. I FEEL PRETTY GOOD IN REGARDS TO COVID-19 AND WHAT IT MAY AFFECT OUR BUDGET GOING FORWARD. BUT JUST A GREAT JOB THE THREE OF YOU HAVE DONE WITH YOUR TEAM OF IDENTIFYING WAYS TO ADDRESS COVID-19.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE I THANK YOU YOU PUBLICLY. >> QUESTIONS OF THE COUNCIL?

>> BACK UP TO UTILITIES SPECIAL SERVICES DEDUCTION ON $5 MILLION.

[00:30:05]

LINE IMPROVEMENTS WE HAVE DONE THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR. >> WE WILL

FORWARD. >> YES. >> IN GENERAL, WILL WE NOT SPEND MONEY UNTIL WE HAVE TO? IT MAYBE IN THE BUDGET BUT WAIT SIX OR EIGHT MONTHS.

DRIVE A VEHICLE A LITTLE LONGER UNTIL WE KNOW WE'RE OUT OF THE DESERT RIGHT NOW?

>> THE ONLY PROGRAMMED VEHICLE REPLACEMENTS ARE THE ONES WE WENT THROUGH.

SOME OF THESE WE HAVE DONE WITH THE STORMWATER, THOSE ARE TRACTORS AND WE DELAYED THE PURCHASE OF NEW TRACTORS LAST YEAR. I SAID GET ANOTHER YEAR OUT OF

THEM AND WE DID >> I DON'T THINK WE CAN GET ANOTHER YEAR OUT OF THEM.

THE SAME THING WITH THE SOLID WASTE FLEET. THESE VEHICLES HAVE A LIFE CYCLE. THE LONGER THEY'RE IN THE SHOP, THE LESS USEFUL.

SOME OF THESE HAVE TO BE DONE. TO YOUR POINT, ARE WE GOING TO SPEND ON OCTOBER 1ST IF WE DON'T HAVE TO, WE WON'T. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE TO BE ORDERED IN RESPONSE TO RECEIVE THEM. WE WILL DO WHAT WE NEED TO HAVE ROLLING STOCK.

>> I WAS THINKING PRESERVE ALL THE CASH YOU CAN. YES, SIR.

>> QUESTION OF ROBERT. I HAVE ONE JUST A BIT. COUNCIL MEMBER MCALISTER.

>> ON THE MEET AND CONFER IN THE COST THERE, YOU SAID WELL, LET ME ASK YOU THIS, WHEN WILL WE KNOW IF YOU SAID THE FIRE LEADERSHIP AND THE POLICE LEADERSHIP WERE GOING TO TAKE IT FOR A VOTE. IF THEY DON'T APPROVE FROM OCTOBER TO APRIL, WE MIGHT HAVE TO HAVE A TAX INCREASE. WILL AND IF I HEARD YOU WRONG, I APOLOGIZE.

WHEN WILL THEY HAVE THAT VOTE SO WE WILL KNOW? >> WELL A COUPLE STATEMENTS.

LET'S PLAY THIS OUT. LET'S SAY THE ASSOCIATION SAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THIS.

I THINK AT THAT POINT IN TIME, COUNCIL COULD REFUSE TO RAISE THE PROPERTY TAX AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO SIT DOWN ON THE TABLE AND TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING. BUT THAT'S NOT WHERE THEIR HEADS ARE AT. THEY UNDERSTAND THIS. THEY LIVE HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY. THEY SERVE THIS COMMUNITY AND SEE THINGS.

THEY ARE PART OF THE FAMILY AND UNDERSTAND HOW THIS WORKS. I'M CONFIDENT BASED ON WHAT WE'RE DOING BECAUSE MY INTENT IS TO MAKE THEM WHOLE IN THIS AGREEMENT OVER THE LIFE OF THE AGREEMENT. SO WHILE THEY MAY TAKE THE DELAY OF PROPOSED DELAY IN THIS FIRST YEAR, WE WILL MAKE IT UP IN THE NEXT TWO FISCAL YEARS. THAT'S SIX MONTH REDUCTION.

THREE MONTHS IN FISCAL '22 AND THREE MONTHS IN FISCAL YEAR '23. THEY WILL BE MADE WHOLE FROM A CONTRACT STANDPOINT. WE HAVE OTHER THINGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TO HELP MAKE SURE IF YOU'RE A RETIREE, YOU RETIRE AND YOU ARE ENTITLED TO THAT, YOU MAY GET THAT AS PART OF A ONE TIME AS PART OF YOUR RETIREMENT PAY. WE'RE TRYING TO BE CREATIVE AND RESPONSIBLE. THE DOLLAR IMPACT OF THAT RETIREE PORTION IS MINIMAL.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU. IF YOU'RE RETIRING. IT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR RETIREMENT PORTFOLIO. THE INTENT WAS NOT TO PUNISH ANYBODY OR HURT THEM BY HELPING US MANAGE AND LEVERAGE OUR FISCAL CONSTRAINTS. I CAN'T PREDICT OR PREDETERMINE A VOTE. I FEEL FAIRLY CONFIDENT NEITHER THE ASSOCIATIONS ARE GOING TO

PUT US IN THE SITUATION WE HAVE TO HAVE. >> AND THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT IS, LET'S SAY LIKE THEY DO, LET'S SAY LIKE THEY DO VOTE TO DELAY IT, AND THEN IN THREE MONTHS, MAN EVERYTHING GOES GREAT AND THE ECONOMY PICKS UP AND EVERYTHING IS FINE.

CAN WE THEN GO BACK IN AND SAY, YOU GUYS PUSHED TO APRIL, WE WANT TO MAKE IT JANUARY.

DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE IT SOONER? >> WE DO.

THAT WAS DISCUSSED WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE ANOTHER WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE WILL EXTEND THAT TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SO WE'RE TREATING BOTH EQUALLY. THAT'S FUNDAMENTALLY FAIR. AND PART OF THAT LANGUAGE IS IS FOR SOME REASON, WE ALL GO BACK TO FULL EMPLOYMENT AND LIFE IS GOOD, THEN CITY MANAGER HAS THE DISCRETION TO GO AHEAD AND PAY THAT RAISE ANY TIME BEFORE APRIL 1ST.

>> OKAY. IT WOULD BE PRORATED BASED OFF THE MONTHS WE WEREN'T ABLE TO

[00:35:01]

PAY. >> ON THE SELF INSURANCE FUND, THE 5% INCREASE.

HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO OTHER PEER CITIES OR CITIES IN TEXAS? I KNOW YOU'RE ON THE PHONE WITH

OTHER CITY MANAGERS QUITE OFTEN. >> EVERYBODY RAISES THEIR RATES A LITTLE EACH YEAR.

I HAVEN'T DONE A SURVEY AND WHAT DOES THAT COMPARE. THE LAST TIME I LOOKED AT OUR RATES, I THINK THEY WERE VERY COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER EMPLOYERS IN ABILENE, TEXAS.

OUR BENEFITS AREN'T AS RICH. SO, IT'S KIND OF AN INVERSE DEAL.

SOME OF OUR BENEFITS ARE RICHER STILL. DEPENDS ON WHO YOU LOOK AT.

WE HAD TO FIND A WAY TO FUND OUR INSURANCE FUND AFTER TAKING THE LOSSES ASSOCIATED FOUR OR FIVE YEARS. THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS REDUCE BENEFITS AND INCREASE CONTRIBUTIONS. THAT'S THE FORMULA WE USED. THAT'S THE TRIED AND TRUE METHOD OF MAKING SURE YOU HAVE MONEY TO PAY THINGS AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAD TO DO.

I THINK WE'RE STILL COMPETITIVE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. WE HAVE A COMPETITIVE HEALTH PLAN COMPARED TO OTHER PRIVATE SECTOR HEALTH PLANS. PEOPLE ARE GRATEFUL, I WILL SAY THAT, WHEN THEY COME FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND THEY SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO PAY HERE, THEY ARE VERY HAPPY ABOUT IT. SOME OF US WHO LIVE IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR DON'T ALWAYS

APPRECIATE THE VALUE ASSOCIATED WITH THE HEALTH COVERAGE. >> YOU MENTIONED COVID RELIEF FUNDS. THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS WHEN WE VOTED AS A COUNCIL TO EXTEND THE GOVERNOR'S ORDERS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ELIGIBLE FOR THOSE.

ANY IDEA IF THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN? YOU KNOW WHEN IT MIGHT HAPPEN

AND HOW THAT COULD IMPACT THIS BUDGET? >> SO THE CARES ACT FUNDING HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIAL. TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAVE BEEN COMMITTED THROUGH DEBT SERVICE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. AND AS I WAS TELLING COUNCIL MEMBER HURT, WE HAVE SIX TO EIGHT, $10 MILLION EARMARKED TO THE CITY OF ABILENE AS A PASS THROUGH GRANT AND CAN ONLY BE SPENT ON PARTICULAR THINGS. THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT SAYS THESE ARE THE ELIGIBLE ITEMS. IT WAS BASED OFF THE HOUSE BILL THAT WAS PASSED. WHAT WE'RE WORKING TO DO IS TO SEE SOME OF THOSE RESTRICTIONS LIFTED. IT IS A POLITICAL PUSH AND SHOVE MATCH. WRESTLING MATCH IN WASHINGTON. YOU HAVE A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR. I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE IT'S GOING TO GO.

YOUR GUESS IS AS GOOD AS MINE. BUT, I WILL SAY THIS. IF ANYBODY IN WASHINGTON IS LISTENING, THERE ARE PEOPLE HURTING AND NEED HELP. THERE ARE TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO HELP THESE PEOPLE AND IT'S CAUGHT UP IN GOVERNMENT NONSENSE.

WE NEED CLARITY AND NEED TO HELP PEOPLE. >> JUST FOR CLARITY.

ALTHOUGH NOT YET RATIFIED BY TWO ASSOCIATIONS IN YOUR CONVERSATIONS WITH LEADERSHIP OF BOTH ASSOCIATIONS, YOU FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL SUPPORT THIS ENDEAVOR? BECAUSE WHAT THIS BUDGET REPRESENTS A DELAYED RESPONSE FOR CIVIL SERVANTS BUT A DELAY FOR THE THE CITY 2% FOR CITY EMPLOYEES. IN ADDITION TO THE BUDGET, YOU KNOW BACK TO WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? I THINK TO SAY THAT MIKE RAINS IS CONSERVATIVE IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. I THINK THAT WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THINGS MUCH EARLIER AND BY THE WAY, I LIKE HIS APPROACH.

YOU KNOW BUT I THINK THERE ARE BUILT IN PROTECTIONS FOR THE CITY THAT WILL ALLOW US TO DO A PIVOT THIS FALL WHEN WE REALIZE WE HAVE MORE REVENUE THAN WHAT WE ANTICIPATED.

>> I THINK YOU PLANNED FOR THE WORST AND HOPE FOR THE BEST. >> DEFINITELY DOES.

I WANT TO JUST HAVE A CONVERSATION. THIS IS COMMUNITY SERVICE CAPITAL PROJECT. I KNOW THAT COUNCIL, A FEW COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ALREADY ENGAGED SOME CITIZENS IN THE COMMUNITY. I THINK WE LOOK AT PARKS AND ALSO RECREATION. REALLY THE LAST 40 YEARS. THE CITY HAS NOT MADE ANY SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS TO PARKS OR RECREATION FOR VARIOUS REASONS.

SPECIFICALLY I WANT IT TALK TO THE RESTROOM AT STEPHENSON PARK. YOU CAN ARGUE THE RESTROOMS ARE NOT THAT MUCH WORSE THAN OTHER RESTROOMS IN OUR PARKS. BUT MY ARGUMENT IS THIS, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING. WE NEED TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT. I THINK WHEN YOU HAVE A GROUP OF CITIZENS THAT RESPOND IN A VERY PROFESSIONAL WAY, USING ETIQUETTE AND WORKING WITH STAFF, YOU REWARD THAT INFORMATION. ROBERT YOU SENT US INFORMATION

[00:40:01]

I KNOW WE DO HAVE A FUND BALANCE AVAILABLE IN THE MIP AND I WOULD STRONGLY URGE AND WHEN APPROPRIATE, MAKE A MOTION TO MAKE THAT INCLUSIVE OF ADDRESSING THOSE RESTROOMS AT STEPHENSON PARK IN THIS YEAR'S FISCAL BUDGET. AND THEN ALSO GIVE DIRECTION TO STAFF TO LOOK AT OUR WHOLE PARK SYSTEM TO LOOK AT WAYS WE CAN ELEVATE OUR PARKS.

ONE THING COVID-19 HAS TAUGHT US, IT'S FORCED US TO RECREATE MORE AND GO OUTSIDE.

THAT'S GOOD FOR MY WAIST LINE AND GOOD FOR OTHERS TOO. WE OUGHT TO PUT OUR BEST FOOT FORTH. I WILL JUST SAY THIS. THE NEWEST OPERATING REC CENTER IN ABILENE TEXAS WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1962. THE YOUNGEST REC CENTER WAS CONSTRUCTED 1982 AND IT'S DARK RIGHT NOW. THAT'S THE CEDAR CHAVEZ REC CENTER ON CHERRY. SO, SPECIFICALLY, I AM IN FAVOR AND SUPPORT OF MAKING AN INVESTMENT IN OUR PARK SYSTEMS, SPECIFICALLY AT STEPHENSON PARK WITH OUR RESTROOMS. I KNOW THAT WE HAVE AN APPROXIMATE NUMBER. AROUND $276,000.

$280,000 AM I WILL SUGGEST TO USE THE MIP PROGRAM FOR THAT. I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND SENDS A VERY POSITIVE MESSAGE. WITH THAT, I WOULD LOVE TO GET INPUT IN THE PEERS IN THE DAIS. BEFORE I DO SO, ROBERT, ARE YOU SUPPORTIVE OF THAT AND USING THE

MIP FUNDS FOR THAT? >> THERE'S MIP FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR THAT PURPOSE IF THAT'S WHAT COUNCIL WANTS TO DO. THAT WOULD PUT OUR FUND BALANCE AROUND 3.1 MILLION.

I ASK YOU EARMARK $300,000 FOR THE BATHROOM. THERE ARE THINGS YOU DON'T KNOW AND FIND OUT THROUGH THE PROJECT. THIS IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN WE THOUGHT. THE RANGE GIVEN WAS $260,000 TO $270,000.

WHATEVER IS NOT SPENT REMAINS IN THE I FUND. >> MAYOR, I SPEND FOUR AND A HALF HOURS ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON GOING FROM PARK TO PARK CHECKING OUT BATHROOMS. I FOUND OUT THE ONE AT STEPHENSON PARK IS ONE OF BETTER ONES.

THE STALLS IN IT ARE EXACTLY LIKE THE STALS IN SEARS. IT'S THE ONLY ONE IN THE WHOLE SYSTEM THAT HAS FOUR HOLES ON BOTH SIDES. THE ONE AT THE SPLASH PAD AT SEARS AND AT STEPHENSON ARE THE BEST IN THE SYSTEM. THERE ARE SOME PARKS THAT ONLY HAVE PORTO POTTIES. I DID NOT GO IN THOSE. I KNOW WHO A PORTO POTTY LOOKS LIKE. THERE IS ONE PARK THAT DOES NOT EVEN HAVE A RESTROOM.

YES THE BUILDING AT STEPHENSON COULD USE SOME GLITZ AND GLAMOUR, IT'S HAYDITE BLOCK BUILDING. COULD USE NEW FASA BOARD AND PAINT.

PEOPLE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT NOT FLUSHING, YOU CAN'T DEAL WITH ROCKS IN THE SYSTEM.

YOU KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY IS GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE PRIDE IN.

YOU CAN'T BUILD A NEW BUILDING IN THAT AREA EXCEPT WHERE IT'S LOCATED BECAUSE IT'S IN A FLOOD PLAIN. I THINK MONEY BETTER SPENT IN THAT AREA WOULD BE FIXING UP THE BASKETBALL COURTS SO THE KIDS COULD PLAY LIKE THE ONE AT GV DANIELS.

YOU KNOW WE HAVE AN $80,000 MOBILE RESTROOM. WHY DON'T WE PUT IT THERE? WHEREVER THEY HAVE AN EVENT IN AREA? I DON'T KNOW WHY WE BOUGHT IT IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO USE IT. IT IS QUITE A DISTANCE FROM THE REGULAR PLAY GROUND, BUT SO ARE OTHER PARKS. IT'S JUST A CONDITION. IF YOU CAN'T BUILD IT CLOSER TO THE PLAY GROUND, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE ACCOMPLISH BY TEARING IT DOWN.

WHY NOT JUST REHAB IT? SO, THOSE ARE MY FINDINGS. AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S ONE OF THE

BETTER ONES IN THE WHOLE SYSTEM. >> YEAH. I WOULD SAY, ONE OF THE BETTER ONES IN THE WHOLE SYSTEM MAY NOT BE SEEING A WHOLE LOT. AND I THINK IN THE LARGER PICTURE, I THINK WE'RE ALL AWARE OF THE CEDAR CREEK WATER WAY PROJECT AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY. ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS IS AN EXTENSION OF THE WATER WAY ALL

[00:45:03]

IT'S BEEN A FIVE YEAR CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT BUT, UNDERSTAND THAT AND ONE THING YOU SAID THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT IS THE WHOLE COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP AND INVOLVEMENT.

ONE THING THAT HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY IN LAST MONTH IS THE SIGNIFICANT LEADERSHIP THAT HAS ARISEN AND REALLY TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PARK. GOVERNMENT CAN ONLY DO CERTAIN THINGS. NOT PART OF OUR ROLE TO DO OTHER THINGS.

I THINK PROVIDING MOMENTUM FOR NOT JUST THAT PARK BUT THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL AS THOSE CORE CONSTITUENTS SENDS THE RIGHT MESSAGE. I THINK IN THE END, THE INVESTMENT WITH THE RESTROOMS HAS THE SIGNIFICANT RETURN FOR THE CITY OF ABILENE.

>> WHY NOT ADD A GAZEBO OR EXPANDED AREA COVERED AREA? THEY CAN HOST THEIR EVENTS AND

ALL. >> SO THAT WE CAN ALL ATTEND. >> I THINK SO.

THEY HAVE ASKED FOR IS RESTROOMS. AND SO I THINK YOU KNOW WHEREVER I GO IN TO A NEIGHBORHOOD OR AN AREA, I TRY NOT TO SUPPOSE WHAT THEY WANT BUT MAYBE LISTEN FOR

WHAT THEY WANT. >> THAT IS ONE ASK. >> AND WHAT THEY HAVE ASKED SPECIFICALLY IS FOR RESTROOMS. AND I THINK THAT THE ASK IS NOT UNREASON.

WE DO HAVE THE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. >> IF, WE DO HAVE THE PORTABLE, AND I KNOW THAT BEING PORTABLE YOU WOULD HAVE TO MAINTAIN IT AND SWAP IT OUT, IN THE SHORT TERM, IS THAT A POSSIBILITY TO LEAVE IT THERE? I THINK, AND I WILL LET ROBERT

OR LESLIE ANSWER THIS >> THE INTENT OF THE PORTABLE IS TO PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY FOR THE CITY AND NOT USE IT FOR PERMANENCY BUT TO RESPOND TO LARGE GROUPS FROM SOFTBALL TO FOOTBALL AND SPECIFICALLY WE TALKED ABOUT THE INABILITY TO DO A WHOLE LOT UNTIL THE RESTROOMS AT CURLY HAYS FOOTBALL FIELD SPECIFICALLY. I THINK AND ROBERT YOU AND ADDRESS THAT, WE WANT TO PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY FOR THAT PORTABLE AND NOT MAKE ANY SORT OF

LONG-TERM COMMITMENT. >> I UNDERSTAND. I'M SAYING UNTIL WE GET

SOMETHING IN PLACE. >> MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE TO FIX THE BATHROOMS WE HAVE UNTIL WE'RE ABLE TO REPLACE THEM IF THAT'S COUNCIL'S PLEASURE. THE MOBILE BATHROOMS WERE NEVER INTENDED FOR LONG-TERM USE. THEY'RE FANCY PORTO POTTIES ON A TRAILER.

THEY LOOK GOOD BUT THEY'RE FANCY PORTO POTTIES. THEY ARE INTENDED FOR WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE A GOOD SOLID OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE PERMANENT RESTROOM.

THEY'RE NOT INTENDED TO BE LONG-TERM SOLUTION. >> AND YOU KNOW, IF YOU SOMETIMES BUY IN BULK, YOU SAVE. SO IS IT POSSIBLE, I KNOW WE WERE TALKING ABOUT OR I WAS THINKING ABOUT AT LEE PARK, THE PARK ACROSS FROM LEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THE RESTROOM, IT WAS JUST ONE UNIT THEY CAME AND DROPPED IN. IF WE WERE TO BUY FOR ALL OF OUR PARKS AND REPLACE THEM ALL, IS THERE A FINANCIAL SAVINGS FROM DOING THEM ALL AT ONCE SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BID, IF WE GO TO A MANUFACTURER AND SAY, WE WILL BUY FOUR, WILL YOU GIVE US A PRICE CUT. OVER TIME SAVE US MONEY FOR BUYING THEM AT ONCE AND START AT

STEPHENSON AND WORK AROUND TO REPLACING ALL RESTROOMS. >> I DON'T BELIEVE THE VOLUME DISCOUNT WOULD BE ENOUGH TO RISK SPENDING MORE OF OUR MIP FUNDS IN THIS FISCAL YEAR.

THAT WOULD BE MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION. >> AND ADDITIONALLY, LAST BUDGET YEAR, WE TALKED ABOUT ENGAGING THAT VERY SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOOD AND ALLOWING THEM TO GIVE US DIRECTION OF WHAT THEY MAY WANT TO SEE AT THAT PARK. THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN DONE.

SO, I WOULD YOU KNOW KIND OF DEFER TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND ALLOW THEM LIKE THIS GROUP TO GIVE US DIRECTION IN REGARDS TO WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND PARK.

>> BUT IF WE WERE TO REPLACE THE RESTROOMS. WOULD IT BE REBUILDING?

>> MY RECOMMENDATION IS YOU PUT THE PACKAGE RESTROOMS WE ARE INSTALLING NEW IN OUR PARKS TODAY. THE CONSTRUCTABILITY OF THEM, THE WAY THEY'RE CONSTRUCTED AND THE THINGS THEY PUT IN FOUNDATIONS TO DEAL WITH THE UNPLEASANTNESS OF AN OUTDOOR

[00:50:01]

PUBLIC BATHROOM ARE WORTH THE COST. >> THOSE ARE THE ONES THEY BRING

IN AND SET IN. >> DO THOSE HAVE THE REMOTE ALARM THAT NOTIFIES PUBLIC WORKS OR PARK SERVICE RATHER LIKE THE ONES FOR THE SPLASH PADS? THERE'S BATHROOMS THERE AND HAS SOMETHING THAT ARK LETTERS THEM THE DOOR HAS BEEN LOCKED FOR TOO LONG OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

IN THE TIME ON THE COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS AND MAYOR WILLIAMS HAS HAD ENGAGEMENT WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES, ALAMEDA WAS ONE THAT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.

IN OTHER COMMUNITIES WHERE HE'S GONE AND LISTENED AND SOMETIMES ASK HAS BEEN VERY SIMPLE.

BUT THE CITY STEPPING IN AND PROVIDING THE NEED THEY HAVE SAID, THIS IS IMPORTANT TO US.

HAS BROUGHT ABOUT A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE FOR THE BETTER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO, THE FACT THAT WE HAVE HAD THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE FROM THIS COMMUNITY COME AND SAY THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO HELP REVITALIZE OUR COMMUNITY, THIS PART OF TOWN, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THAT. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF PURSUING THIS AS WELL IN A WAY TO HELP THAT

COMMUNITY AND ENJOY THAT IN THE PARK. >> COULD WE LAYOUT A PLAN.

IF WE DO STEPHENSON, THE NEXT YEAR WE DO, I DON'T KNOW SEARS PARK AND NEXT YEAR WE DO --

>> COBB IS THE WORST. >> SO IF WE DO THIS, LET'S, I ALWAYS REMEMBER WHEN NORM WAS MAYOR AND SAID HE SAID UNTIL YOU START DOING SOMETHING, IT'S NEVER GOING TO GET DONE.

I WOULD NOT HAVE A PROBLEM SAYING LET'S GO TO STEPHENSON, COBB, LET'S GO TO WILL HARE PARK. LET'S DO IT RIGHT. LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A GOOD PATH TO DO IT. BUT I HAVE NO PROBLEM SPENDING MONEY TO FIX THOSE IF WE, AS LONG AS WE DO IT FOR EVERYTHING. I WANT TO MAKE SURE ALL OUR KIDS ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY HAVE GOOD

RESTROOMS TO GO TO. >> ONE GOOD THING WE COULD DO, EVERY SPRING THE OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES CONDUCTS COMMUNITY BLOCK GRANT CONVERSATIONS.

THEY GO ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND ASK WHAT THINGS DO YOU WANT? WHAT THINGS DO YOU NEED? A VERY EASY PROCESS WITHOUT SPENDING ADDITIONAL STAFF TIME IS TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE WHOLE COMMUNITY AND ALLOW THEM TO BRING BACK THEIR RESPONSES AND PROVIDE ENOUGH DATA FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE AN INTELLIGENT CONVERSATION ABOUT IT.

>> MAYOR, I AGREE, I THINK BEFORE WE JUST START REBUILDING HERE AND HERE, WE NEED ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITIES AS TO WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT FOR THEM.

AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO COMMEND THIS GROUP FROM STEVENSON. THEY COME IN A VERY PROFESSIONAL MANNER. THIS IS A GOOD WAY IN MY OPINION TO GET SOMETHING DONE.

A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT THEY TALKED ABOUT, THE LOCATION OF IT, CONNECTION TO DOWNTOWN.

WHEN YOU HAVE OUT OF TOWN SCHOOL TRIPS, THAT PARK CAN BE UTILIZED.

THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF REASONS TO START AT THIS PARK. THERE MAY BE WORSE, I AM NOT GOING TO DISAGREE WITH THAT. THEY BROUGHT REALLY GOOD LEGITIMATE REASONS FOR US TO

START AT THAT PARK. >> AND ONE GOOD THINGS IF I COULD ADD, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IS THAT THERE IS AN ON-GOING CONVERSATION WITH A WAY TO USE STEPHENSON FOR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR CHILDREN. THOSE ARE AT THE FRONT END BUT THERE ARE SO MANY POSITIVE CONVERSATIONS OCCURRING BECAUSE OF THIS GROUP. I'M TELLING YOU, I AM VERY, VERY CONFIDENT AND I DON'T SAY THIS LIGHTLY. THIS INVESTMENT BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT IT IS, WILL TURN A SIGNIFICANT RETURN ON THAT FOR WHAT IT WILL PRODUCE, PART OF IT IS A TEACHER. THEY WORKED WITH A GENTLEMEN THAT I BELIEVE IS AT JOHNSTON AND ABOUT CREATING DIFFERENT WAYS OF INSTRUCTION FOR CHILDREN SO REALLY TURNING WHAT WAS AN ASSET THAT WAS NOT BEING REALIZED IN OUR COMMUNITY TO SOMETHING THAT PROVIDES A

SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. >> MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I MIGHT ADD, SO IF WE DREW DOWN THE BALANCE OF THE MIP FUND TO EVEN $3 MILLION.

THAT'S OVER $400,000 THAT COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE. TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALBUS' POINT.

MAYBE THE PAVILION NEEDS TO BE FIXED. WE COULD EARMARK THAT MONEY AND

[00:55:09]

SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO THIS FACILITY. >> I HAVE A COMMENT.

>> YES, SIR. IT'S MY TURN. NO ONE HAS SAID ANYTHING ABOUT CAPACITY. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET HERE EARLY.

I GOT A MOWER PART. I WENT TO STEPHENSON AND MAKES A GOOD IMPRESSION WHERE THE CITY STAFF IS MOWING AND WEEDING. I PULLED UP TO THE RESTROOM. HE GAVE ME HISTORY AND WENT INTO THE LADY'S ROOM WITH ME. I WOULDN'T HAVE GONE INTO ON MY OWN.

I WILL SPEAK TO YOU FROM A BUSINESS PERSON. IF THAT WAS MY RESTROOM, IT WOULD NEVER HAVE GOTTEN IN THAT SHAPE. IT NEEDS REPAIR AND WHAT I SAW, OF COURSE WHEN YOU GET PAST THE BEER TABS ON THE GROUND WHICH HAPPENS OVER MANY, MANY YEARS.

THE MEN'S RESTROOM, NEEDS NEW POXY SEAL AND REPAINT THE WALLS. ALL THREE OR FOUR COMMODES FLUSH. HE SAID THE DOORS WON'T STAY SHUT UNLESS YOU PUT THEM SHUT.

HE SAID LET'S GOING TO THE WOMEN'S. ALL OF THEM YOU HAVE TO HOLD THE LEVER DOWN. I KNOW MORE THAN ONE PLUMBER FITS THAT.

THERE HAS TO BE AN OBSTRUCTION IN THE MAIN LINE. IT'S A ROCK.

YOU REPAIR THAT STUFF. AND HE SAID, THEY WOULD LIKE IT TO BE LIKE THE RESTROOM OVER THERE. THERE'S ONE MALE AND FEMALE. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

>> VERY NICE. PROBABLE NEW. GOT A GOOD WATER FOUNTAIN.

I SEE ABOUT $25,000 TO BRING THAT UP TO A PRETTY FIRST CLASS GRADE.

NOW IF YOU WANT TO ANOTHER FOR CAPACITY BECAUSE IT'S NOT BIG ENOUGH FOR A BIG EVENT.

ALL I COULD, IT'S HARD TO GET PART OF THE LACK OF MAINTENANCE I SAW.

MAINTAIN WHAT WE HAVE AND THEN TALK ABOUT BUILDING ONE. BECAUSE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT $280,000 BUDGET WAS FOR FOUR AND FOUR OR WHAT. BUT SURELY THEY WOULD RATHER HAVE WHAT THEY HAVE FOUR AND FOUR AND FOUR AND FOUR MORE. TO TEAR THAT DOWN, NO BUSINESS MAN WOULD EVER TEAR IT DOWN. I HAVE PEOPLE WORKING FOR ME WISH WE HAD ONE THAT GOOD.

IT FITS EVERYTHING I BELIEVE IS WRONG. PROBABLY THE HARDEST THING IS TO THE WATER FOUNTAIN. DARREN BLACK WOULD THAT DONE. WE LET THIS STUFF DETERIORATE.

YOU SURELY WOULD BUILD BACK A CINDER BLOCK BUILDING. I DON'T THINK YOU WOULD GO WITH

SHEET METAL. >> NO, IT WOULD BE'S PREFABBED CONCRETE WALL.

>> COULD BE HALITE BLOCK. I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT THE LAST ONE LOOKED LIKE.

THEY'RE MORE ATTRACTIVE. >> IT WOULDN'T BE SHEET METAL. SOMETHING THAT WON'T CORRODE.

>> SOMETHING DURABLE. THAT'S MY POINT. I THINK WHEN YOU DO THIS, UNLESS

YOU, THEY NEED MORE CAPACITY. SO LET'S TRY TO GET TO CAPACITY. >> ONE OF THE REASONS WHY OUR PARKS ARE MAINTAINED THE WAY THEY ARE BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE HAVE CHOSEN TO MAINTAIN THEM AS A COMMUNITY. WE HAVE NOT CHOSEN TO INVEST IN OUR PARKS.

MOST COMMUNITIES DON'T. IT'S FUNDED AFTER POLICE AND FIRE AND NOT MADE A PRIORITY.

THIS COMMUNITY FOR WHATEVER REASON IN A CHARTER SAYS WE WILL EARMARK MONEY FOR PARKS.

IT'S NOT ENOUGH. WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF PARKS AND A LARGE NUMBER OF AMENITIES.

THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MAINTENANCE DOLLARS TO MAINTAIN OVER TIME. WHAT THEY END UP DOING IS PRIORITIZING. THIS ONE HAS BEEN BUSTED FOR A WHILE.

WE WILL TRY TO WHAT THEY DO TO . SOMETIMES IT'S BAILEY WIRE AND DUCT TAPE TO GET IT FIXED.

THERE'S ALSO AN END OF LIFE CYCLE. I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE BATHROOM WAS PUT IN THERE. YOU GET URINE THAT PENETRATES THROUGH THE CONCRETE.

I HAVE TO CONFESS, I HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE BATHROOM. I WILL AFTER THIS MEETING.

MY COMMITMENT IS WE WILL DO WHAT YOU WANT US TO DO. >> JUST FOR YOUR SUGGESTION AND

[01:00:05]

>> WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THE BATHROOMS AND REMODEL. IF WE CAN SAVE MONEY, WE SAVE MONEY. THAT'S MORE MONEY THAT CAN BE SPENT AT THE AMENITIES IN THE PARK. WE WILL BRING YOU BACK RECOMMENDATIONS.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, IF WE CAN FIX WHAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE IT BETTER, I UNDERSTAND.

BUT IF IT'S, YOU KNOW, IF WE ARE PUTTING A NEW FACE ON AN 80, IT WOULDN'T BE 80, WE WOULDN'T SAVE ANYTHING. WE'RE KICKING THE INEVITABLE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.

>> MR. HANNAH, TAKE TIME TO EDUCATE AND CONTEMPLATE AND MAKE SURE I HEARD FAIR COMMENTS ABOUT THEIR PROFESSIONALISM AND THEIR, IN THE TIME THEY INVESTED THE GROUP.

>> YES, SIR. >> I TOO WANT TO SAY, I APPRECIATE THE FACT THEY CAME UP HERE PROFESSIONALLY. IF THEY PUT A SOCCER FIELD OUT THERE, I WILL BE FOR IT.

>> ANY MORE ISSUES ON THIS SUBJECT? TRAVIS YOU WANT TO INTERJECT

ANYTHING ON THIS TODAY? >> SURE. I'M CURIOUS IF IT'S POSSIBLE AND I KNOW LESLIE YOU GUYS CAN SPEAK TO THIS, IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO EMPOWER SOME OF THE LEADERS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES NOT PAID POSITIONS OBVIOUSLY SO WE'RE NOT SPENDING ANY MORE MONEY TO BE POSSIBLE OVERSEERS OR COMMITTEE AD HOC COMMITTEES THAT CAN JUST POSSIBLY KEEP THE CITY UP TO TAB

ON LIKE CLEANLINESS OR DIFFERENT THINGS TO MAKE US MORE PRIVY. >> ONE THING WE CAN DO.

WE HAVE A PARKS BOARD AND THE PARKS BOARD IS SET UP FOR THAT VERY REASON.

ONE THING THAT CAN BE DONE IS SETTING ASIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE THE PARK'S BOARD WHICH IS

PROBABLY THE BEST INFRASTRUCTURE. >> I THINK THAT'S RIGHT AND I DON'T THINK ANY CITIZEN NEEDS OUR PERMISSION TO HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE.

THEY CAN ALWAYS CALL MY OFFICE AND I WILL BE RESPONSIVE. >> COULD WE GET A COUPLE PLUMBERS TO JUST LOOK AT PLACE OVER? THE FLUSHING ISSUE.

I KNOW WE CAN ADD CHANGING STATIONS, HAND DRYERS AND WATER FOUNTAINS.

MONTHS AND MONTHS FASTER THAN WE CAN GET ANYTHING APPROVED AND BUILT.

I JUST CAN'T SEE MORE THAN 25,000 TO BRING THAT INTO A PRETTY GOOD CONDITION.

IF YOU WANT TO BUILD ANOTHER ONE, THAT'S MY STORY. >> MY COMMITMENT IS YOU EARMARK $432,000. WE WILL BRING BACK A WELL-THOUGHT OUT PLAN.

THIS IS BEING DISCUSSED HERE TODAY. FOR THE FIRST TIME AND WE HAVE IDENTIFIED MONEY NOT WITH STANDING WHAT THE CITIZEN GROUP HAS COME FORWARD WITH.

WE WILL HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE COMMUNITY AND SAY SAID THEY NEED BATHROOMS. LET'S LOOK IN A WAY THAT BEST UTILIZING THE TAXPAYER'S DOLLARS.

IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE A NEW FACILITY. IF IT'S NEW, WE WILL HAVE THE REASONS WHY WE BELIEVE THAT FROM A STAFF STANDPOINT. IF WE CAN REPAIR AND MAINTAIN AND MAKE BETTER, WE'LL DO THAT. WE'RE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE TAXPAYER'S DOLLARS.

IT WILL BE YOUR DECISION AND BRING IT BACK TO YOU AS A PACKAGE AND PROVIDE INPUT AND

DIRECTION ON WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE. >> MAYOR I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT TRAVELLING AROUND IN ALL OF OUR PARKS, I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW WELL MAINTAINED THE LANDSCAPE WAS IN ALL OF THEM. MOWED, WEED, EDGED. IT WAS REALLY A DELIGHT TO SEE.

KNOWING HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO KEEP MY YARD IN SHAPE. AND TO THINK THAT ALL OF THIS GROUND SPACE AND THE MAINTENANCE THAT OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT DOES WAS PRETTY AMAZING.

AND ROBERT, I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO TELL THEM THAT I BRAGGED ON THEM.

>> I THINK THEY HEARD YOU LOUD AND CLEAR. >> COUNCIL, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS

-- >> YES. >> JUST GOING BACK TO THE GENERAL BUDGET DISCUSSION. I HAVE A FEE THINGS. SOME IS WITH THE FEES.

IT'S A SEPARATE MOTION. >> I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU HAD A DIFFERENT PRESENTATION?

>> I DO NOT. >> ONE OF THE THINGS JUST A COMMENT WITH REGARD TO THE HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN WE TALKED ABOUT, THE INCREASE ON BOTH THE EMPLOYEE AND THE CITY SIDE, THE

[01:05:08]

I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH CITY EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE SAID, WHY IS IT SO HIGH? I SAY, WHY DON'T YOU LOOK AT THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND SEE WHAT THEY PAY AND THEN COME BACK TO ME AND ASK ME THAT QUESTION. AND I HAVE NEVER HAD ONE SAY, THE CITY IS WORSE.

THEY HAVE ALWAYS SAID I HAD NO IDEA IT WAS THAT >> FOR SURE.

>> YES, SIR. SO, AS PAINFUL AS IT IS, FOR THE CITY EMPLOYEES, TO HAVE AN

INCREASE, THEY SHOULD SEE WHAT AM PAYING. >> YES, SIR.

>> WHERE I WORK AND WITH MY WIFE AND EVERYTHING. EVERYONE ELSE UP HERE THAT'S NOT WORKING FOR THE CITY, WE'RE PAYING A LOT MORE. SO THAT IS SOMETHING.

I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT. I'M GLAD WE COULD INCLUDE AN INCREASE ON WHAT THE CITY IS COVERING TO HELP CUT SOME OF THE STING BUT, THAT'S SOMETHING WE REALLY DO, DO A GOOD JOB WITH I

THINK. >> I THINK WE DO. I TEND TO AGREE WITH YOU.

HAVE BEEN IN CITIES WHERE WE HAD A 50-50 SPLIT. AND I HAVE BEEN IN THE CITIES WHERE EARLY ON IN MY CAREER, THE CITY PAID 100%. THERE AREN'T TOO MANY CITIES PAYING 100%. YOUR SALARY IS LESS IN THAT COMMUNITY.

>> I HAD SENT AN E-MAIL AND I APPRECIATE THE LONG RESPONSE, MIKE, TO THAT.

THERE WAS A COUPLE THINGS. ONE OF THEM WAS THE OBESITY PREVENTION.

WE GOT AN UPDATE AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS INCLUDED. ONE OF THE THINGS I ASKED ABOUT IS THERE $1,200 YEAR RENTAL FOR AN ICE MACHINE AND I ASKED WHY WE DON'T SIMPLY BUY ONE.

I REMEMBER WHEN I DID THE TOUR OF THE NEW ABILENE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THERE WAS AN ICE MACHINE THERE. IT SHOULDN'T BE TOO FAR TO COMPARE OUR COSTS WITH THAT COMPARED TO WHAT WE'RE RENTING. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE CONVENTION CENTER.

>> I CAN GET YOU AN ANSWER TO THAT. IT'S AN ACTUAL RENTAL.

WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT ANALYSIS SIR. >> AND THEN SOMETHING ELSE I POINTED OUT. WE GOT AN UPDATE TO THE PACKET. SOME SAY THEY WILL BE ADVERTISED FOR AUGUST 29TH AND 30TH. AS LONG AS THERE'S NOT A STATUTORY REASON WE HAVE THAT

LANGUAGE. >> DURING YOUR PRESENTATION. IF YOU ADDRESSED THIS, I APOLOGIZE BECAUSE I WAS GOING OVER THE BLUE LINES AND THE UPDATED PACKET I GOT BEFORE I WALKED IN. I JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON IT. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I ASKED ABOUT WAS WITH THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE, THERE WAS A FEE FOR A SEARCH FEE.

AND THEY WERE CHANGES MADE. I'M NOT SURE THAT'S, I'M NOT SURE THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE THIS WAY. BECAUSE THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN NOW IS THAT THERE'S A $10 SEARCH FEE ON EVERY COPY OF THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND A SEPARATE SEARCH FEE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER A CERTIFIED COPY IS ISSUED. SO, WAS THAT $10 FEE SUPPOSED TO BE IN THERE TWICE? IS IT ON EVERY COPY OR JUST A ONE-TIME THING? THAT'S ON PAGE 80 OF THE REVISED FEE THAT WAS OUT THIS MORNING. THEN A SIMILAR QUESTION WITH THE DEATH SEARCH RECORD FEE.

>> THE QUESTION IS IS THE AS MUCH FEE IN ADDITION TO THE CERTIFIED COPY FEE?

>> IT'S LISTED. THERE'S A $10, OR $23 FEE FOR BIRTH CERTIFICATE PER COPY.

AND IT SAYS INCLUDES A $10 SEARCH FEE. IS THAT SAYING THERE'S A $10 SEARCH FEE ON EVERY COPY? AND THEN THE SECOND, THE NEXT LINE DOWN SAYS THERE A BIRTH

[01:10:05]

ARE WE CHARGING $10 TWICE FOR THIS SEARCH FEE? >> I WILL GET YOU AN ANSWER TO THAT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE REFLECTING THAT.

ON PAGE 90 OF THE FEES, PAGE 89 HAS SOME FRONT LOADER SERVICES, AGENDA ITEM 17 ON THURSDAY'S MEETING IS ADDRESSING POTENTIAL CHANGES TO THAT, WHICH I ASSUME IF IT'S APPROVED THEN WILL GET REFLECTED IN THIS. BUT ON PAGE 90 WE CHANGING THE ROLL OFF SCHEDULE FEES.

IS THERE A REASON WHY WE'RE DONG THAT HERE AND NOT AS PART OF THURSDAY'S DISCUSSION SINCE WE'RE ADDRESSING ALL THE SOLID WASTE MANAGED COMPETITION EVALUATION?

>> MICHAEL, CAN YOU COME UP AND HELP ME WITH THIS ANSWER PLEASE. MY HOPE WOULD BE THAT WE'RE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION FIRST AND IT WILL BE REFLECTIVE OF WHATEVER OUTCOME WE HAVE ON THURSDAY NIGHT'S DISCUSSION. THE ONLY SOLID WASTE FEE I RECALL US INCREASING WOULD BE THE ROLL OFF FEE. IF THERE ARE OTHER MINOR ADJUSTMENTS, I'M LOOKING AT THIS THING IN BLUE HERE AND NOT SEEING SOLID WASTE CHANGES EXCEPT FOR THE ROLL OFF.

>> IN THIS, THERE'S A CHANGE TO THE ROLL OFF FEE. BUT THEN THURSDAY WHAT WE'RE -- WE WILL BE CONSIDERING A CHANGE TO THE FRONT LOADER FEE WHICH DOES NOT HAVE A FEE IN HERE.

>> CORRECT. >> I'M WITH YOU NOW. >> WHY IS THERE A CHANGE HERE

AND WE'RE DOING A CHANGE HERE AND NOT TALKING ABOUT IT HERE. >> WE'RE NOT RECOMMENDING ANY OTHER SOLID WASTE FEES FOR FISCAL YEAR '21. IN FACT WE HAVE TOLD STAFF IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO RESET THAT PLAN TO START WITH THE POTENTIAL FEE INCREASES ON FISCAL YEAR '22. PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE COVID ISSUE GOING ON.

I DON'T WANT TO SADDLE OUR BUSINESSES ANY FURTHER THEN THEY HAVE BEEN SADDLED WITH COST AND REVENUES AND CLOSURES AND ADDING ADDITIONAL SOLID WASTE COST MAY NOT SOUND LIKE A LOT BUT IT'S A MONTHLY CHARGE THEY HAVE TO PAY. IT'S SOME RELIEF TO WELDON'S POINT, IT MAYBE A LITTLE WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO PROVIDE. THE ROLL OFF AT THIS POINT IN TIME IS A REVENUE GENERATOR.

THERE'S A COMPETITIVE ASPECT TO IT. PRIVATE SECTOR CHANGES WAY MORE THAN WE DO FOR THIS SERVICE. I'M NOT SURE WHY WE'RE SUBSIDIZING A BELOW MARKET RATE WHEN THE PRIVATE SECTOR CHARGES MORE THAN WE DO. IF WE'RE IN THIS BUSINESS AND WE ARE, WHY AREN'T WE CHARGING WHAT AT LEAST TO WHAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR CHARGES FOR THE SAME SERVICE? BUT OUR INTENT WOULD NOT BE, OUR INTENT WITH THE ITEM ON THURSDAY IS TO EDUCATE THE COUNCIL BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING WE PAID FOR AND THE CONSULTANTS COMMITTED TO PAY FOR. WE'RE NOT RECOMMENDING WE IMPLEMENT THAT PLAN UNTIL AT

LEAST FISCAL YEAR '22. >> OKAY. >> SO I JUST, I WAS TRYING TO --

>> I UNDERSTAND. >> I UNDERSTAND YOU NOW. >> I WAS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND ONE VERSUS THE OTHER. I THINK THAT'S IT. EVERYTHING ELSE I ASKED, Y'ALL ADDRESSED. I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO GO THROUGH THAT.

>> THAT IS THE SHORTEST SHANE PRICE HAS EVER -- >> THAT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT

READING THE E-MAIL. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK, SHANE.

>> I'M GOING TO PULL A SHANE PRICE ON PAGE 50. THE FAR RIGHT-HAND COLUMN SHOULD

BE PROPOSED 2020-2021. INSTEAD OF 2019-2020. >> SHANE YOU MISSED THAT.

I'M VERY >> ON WHERE? >> PAGE 50.

UPPER RIGHT HAND PROPOSED SHOULD BE 20. SO MOVE HIS NAME TAG DOWN HERE.

I DID HAVE A QUESTION THOUGH, AND I GUESS IF DON, I THOUGHT I SAW DON.

ANYWAY. ON PAGE 40, WHICH IS THE ABILENE TRANSIT SYSTEM FUNDED CAPITAL OUTLAY, I KNOW THAT SEVERAL, A COUPLE MEETING AGO, THE ISSUE OF BUS SHELTERS WAS BROUGHT UP.

THAT'S NOT PART OF THIS. WANTED TO MAKE SURE IF THERE'S OVERAGE OR SAVINGS, WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT BUS SHELTERS. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES INTO THAT.

ADA RAMPS. >> THE ADA ACCESSIBILITY IS THE HARDEST THING.

WE CERTAINLY CAN DO THAT. MOST OF THESE ITEMS ARE COVERED WITH IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY THE

[01:15:02]

GRANTS WE RECEIVE. >> THANK YOU. >> ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OF

COUNCIL? TO STAFF ON THIS MORNING? >> ROBERT.

>> I LOVE OPTIMISM AS WELL AS THE NEXT FELLOW, I'M WONDERING ABOUT OUR SINCE THE SALES TAX IS 34% OF OUR BUDGET, AND WE'RE PROJECTING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE EVEN MORE NEXT YEAR THAN WE DO THIS YEAR, TML EVEN SAID THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT 1% LOWER THIS YEAR AND 4% LESS NEXT YEAR.

SO I WAS WONDERING HOW DID WE COME UP WITH THOSE FIGURES? >> WELL, I HAVE 20 YEARS OF SALES TAX AND ANALYSIS UNDER MY BELT. MIKE RAINS HAS A NUMBER OF YEARS AND SO DOES MINDY PATTERSON. WE LOOKED AT THE SALES TAX RATE AND THE ECONOMY IN THE REST OF STATE OF TEXAS. WE ARE OUT PERFORMING THE REST OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AT THIS POINT IN TIME. DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SUSTAINABLE OR NOT.

BUT WE ARE. WHAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING WE ADOPT SOMETHING THAT IS PRUDENT.

PRUDENT AND ALSO DOABLE. BUT, YOUR CRYSTAL BALL IS AS GOOD AS MY CRYSTAL BALL.

ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I HAVE THE MIP FUND WITHOUT A NUMBER OF CHARGES OR ANY ONE-TIME PURCHASES IN IT IS BECAUSE THAT REALLY WILL SERVE OUR SALES TAX RESERVE FUND TO MAKE MONEY OUT AND SUBPLANT IT. WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN OUR WORST MONTH WE ALREADY HAD.

THAT WAS THE SALES TAX IN JUNE I BELIEVE. JULY WAS UP A LITTLE BIT.

AUGUST COULD BE DOWN AGAIN. WE DON'T KNOW. I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE.

I THINK IT WILL EITHER BE WHAT WE EXPECTED IT TO BE OR HIGHER. BUT TIME WILL TELL.

AND WE WILL MONITOR THE BUDGET. JUST LIKE WE ALWAYS DO AND WE WILL ADJUST ACCORDINGLY.

ULTIMATELY, SALES TACK IS A GUESSTIMATE. IN ANY FISCAL YEAR.

BUT I'M CONFIDENT THE PEOPLE, IN MY OWN ABILITIES AND MY STAFF'S STABILITIES TO POSE SOMETHING WE THINK IS DOABLE AND REASONABLE. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND A 4% DOWNTURN IN SALES TAX FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR. HOPEFULLY THAT DIDN'T CURSE OUR LUCK WITH THAT.

>> ROBERT ONE THING THAT BROTHER MIKE RAINS PRESENTED WAS A FORECAST OF 25 PERCENT DOWN.

WE ARE DOWN 11%. SOME OF THAT PEOPLE NOT TRAVELLING DOES NOT HAVE THAT MUCH OF ADVERSE AFFECT IN ABILENE. FOR ARLINGTON OR SAN ANTONIO OR

AUSTIN OR HARRIS COUNTY. >> CORRECT. I MEAN FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.

SO WE DON'T HAVE THE RETAIL DENSITY. THERE'S SHOPS HERE AND THERE.

I WILL SAY THIS. A SHAMELESS PLUG FOR LOCAL COMMERCE.

SHOP LOCAL. GET OFF AMAZON. GO TO YOUR NEAREST STORE AND BUY SOMETHING. THOSE PEOPLE NEED YOUR HELP. ANY MORE QUESTIONS OF MR. HANNAH

OR STAFF? >> I HAVE A REQUEST. IT'S NOT A QUESTION.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S IN THE, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE NOTES.

JUST A CHANCE TO TOOT YOUR HORN. ONE OF THE THINGS IN HERE IS THE INS AND THAT WAS CHANGED A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OF THE REFUNDING YOU WERE ABLE TO CLOSE OUT ON AND IF YOU COULD JUST MENTION THAT. WE APPROVED THAT BACK BEFORE EVERYTHING STARTED SHUTTING DOWN. THE BOND MARKETS WENT CRAZY AND TOOK A WHILE BEFORE YOU WERE ABLE TO ACTUALLY PULL THE TRIGGER ON THAT. JUST SHARE HOW MUCH YOU SAVED

THE TAXPAYERS WITH WHAT YOU WERE ABLE TO DO? >> I DIDN'T SAVE THEM.

YOU'LL SAVED THEM BY APPROVING THAT. IT WAS MIKE OFF THE TOP OF MY

HEAD. NINE TO $10 MILLION. >> $9.6 MILLION IN INTEREST CHARGES THAT ARE NO LONGER GOING TO HAVE TO BE PAID. THE MAJORITY WAS WATER DEBT.

THAT WAS TAX RATE PAYER WOULD HAVE TO PAY. THAT WAS A GOOD, PRUDENT MEASURE ON COUNCIL'S PART TO REFUND THAT. JUST THE COST OF ISSUANCE OF

THOSE. GREAT DEAL. >> THAT WAS REALLY GOOD NEWS WHEN WE GOT THAT. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC WAS AWARE OF THE SAVINGS.

>> SEE SECRETARY, THERE ARE FOUR THINGS AT HAND TO APPROVE. ONE BEING THE FIRST BEING THE REVISED BUDGET. FOR 2019-2020. THE SECOND BEING THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 2020-2021. THIRD BEING THE FEES FOR 2020 AND 2021.

AND THOSE ARE ALL IN MY PACKET. I'M MISSING SOMETHING. AND THE TAX LEVY ALSO.

[01:20:06]

IS THAT CORRECT? >> AND BY THE WAY, THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE, ALL THESE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING COMPONENT AND LET YOU SPEAK ON EACH ONE OF THOSE. DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS BEFORE WE PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS EACH ONE OF THESE FOUR ISSUES? ALL RIGHT. SECRETARY MAKE SURE I'M LEGAL IN EVERYTHING I DO HERE.

[ORDINANCES: 3. Ordinance (Consider on First Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving the Revised 20192020 Budget]

AND THIS IS A REVISED BUDGET. THIS IS OF WHICH THAT I WILL MAKE A RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE EARMARK THE $432,000 AS A SET ASIDE TO BE USED FOR STEPHENSON PARK TO ADDRESS RESTROOMS AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO ELEVATE THAT PARK AND LEAVE THAT WITH THE OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES. AND THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

SO BEFORE US IS THE REVISED BUDGET. WE ARE IN A PUBLIC HEARING.

WE WILL HAVE A THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT ON EACH PRESENTATION. GIVE YOUR NAME, FOR THE RECORD.

>> NAME IS NICHOLAS MOSES. COUNCIL, WE THANK YOU AND WE CAME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND DIDN'T THINK THIS WOULD WORK. MY HEART IS JUMPING. I KNOW I'M 41 YEARS OLD BUT FEEL LIKE I'M ABOUT TO HAVE A HEART ATTACK. WE THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING OUR EFFORTS AND AS FAR AS THE COMMUNITY MAINTENANCING CONTROL OR JUST MAINTAINING THE CLEANLINESS OF THE PARK, CHRIS DAUGHTRY AND OTHERS HAVE COME TOGETHER AND ALREADY STARTED A JUST LIKE A GROUP EFFORT AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS BRINGING YOUNG MEN OUT, YOUNG WOMEN JUST TO GET A BETTER, JUST TO TAKE PRIDE IN THE COMMUNITY. WHEN YOU TAKE PRIDE, THERE'S AN OLD FOOTBALL SAYING YOU AND KNOW THIS BECAUSE I BEAT YOU MULTIPLE TIMES ON THE FIELD --

[LAUGHTER] >> IS WHEN YOU LOOK GOOD, YOU FEEL GOOD.

AND YOU FEEL GOOD YOU PLAY GOOD. WHEN YOU PLAY GOOD, YOU JUST ARE GOOD.

AND SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION AND THANK YOU.

>> MOSES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS. AND ALSO A VERY PUBLIC WAY OF SAYING THIS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY AS YOU SERVE OUR

MILITARY. >> AND FOR CLARITY, I NEVER LOST TO MOSES ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD.

WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK FOR OR

AGAINST THIS ITEM? >> HELLO. GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS SHANTAY FLEMING. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU TO MR. HANNAH. THANK YOU TO LESLIE ANDREWS AND RICHARD ROGERS.

MISS DONNA ALBUS, THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT TO THE PARK NUMEROUS TIMES.

GETTING OUT WALKING AROUND. IT WAS HOT OUT THERE. SHE CAME OUT AND SHOWED HER INTEREST. SHE HAD SOME CONCERNS SO WE HAVE BEEN TACKLING THAT.

I WANT TO SAY OVERALL THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT HAS ALLOWED US TO COME OUT THAT HAS ALLOWED US TO SHOW PICTURES. STEPHENSON PARK IS THE ONLY SOCIAL OUTLET FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY. IT MEANS SO MUCH FOR YOU TO COME TOGETHER AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING AND I WANT TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE CITY, WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, WITH THE CITY PARKS WITH MISS DONNA ALBUS AND EVERYONE HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED IS LIKE GETTING DONE. WE JUST WANT SOMETHING THAT'S FAIR.

SO THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS HELPED US WITH THIS AND HAS GIVEN US GUIDANCE.

THANK YOU. >> WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ANYONE ELSE? MY NAME IS JANELLE BLACKMON. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. JUST WANTED TO ADD TO WHAT THEY SAID IN CONCERNS TO STEPHENSON

[01:25:04]

JUST THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING. EVALUATING ALL THE PARKS TO SEE WHAT IT IS STEPHENSON PARK IS LACKING THAT OTHER PARKS HAVE. SO WE'RE GLAD THAT WE HAVE THIS STARTING POINT, BUT TO GET STEPHENSON PARK ON THE LEVEL OF A NELSON PARK, RED BUD PARK.

SEARS PARK, THIS IS GOING TO BE A CONTINUOUS EFFORT SO THERE'S A LIST OF OF ABOUT 20 OTHER THINGS WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND WE KNOW THAT IT'S A PROCESS, AND WE KNOW THAT AGAIN WANTING TO PARTNER TOGETHER, GETTING THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED IS GOING TO BE VERY MUCH BENEFICIAL FOR THAT PARK TO BE AT THE STANDARD WE ALL WOULD LIKE IT TO BE AT. ALSO, I JUST WANT TO PUT THE FOCUS ON NOT JUST FAMILIES AND KIDS IN THAT AREA AND JUST FOR US TO BE ON THE COMMON PAGE OF THE VISION FOR THAT PARK AND HOW IT'S NOT JUST GOING TO BENEFIT THAT COMMUNITY BUT THE VISION JUST BENEFITTING ABILENE AND BEING ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL PLACE WE CAN TAKE PRIDE IN.

THANK YOU. >> ANYONE ELSE? AND BY THE WAY, IF YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE, YOU CAN REMOVE YOUR MASK. JUST STAY SIX FOOT AWAY.

>> I WILL LEAVE IT ON. MY NAME IS CHRIS DAUGHTRY. THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT.

WE FOCUS ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. WE WANT TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS.

WE WANT PARTNERSHIPS. WE'RE NOT JUST BANGING ON THE TABLE MAKING DEMANDS.

ONE THING I DO NOT WANT TO DO IS GET FOCUSED ON MAKING PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE, BECOMING TOO AGGRESSIVE AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HEARD AND I WANT TO VERY MUCH THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS TAKEN THE TIME TO LISTEN. IT CAN BE EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU ARE SPEAKING TO SOMETHING AND SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE YELLING INTO THE WIND.

I WANT TO TAKE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO THAT GOING FORWARD. WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMMUNITY. WHATEVER CONVERSATIONS WE CAN HAVE FOR EVENTS AS WE TALKED ABOUT THE FUTURE RIVER WAY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WHERE WE ARE SPEAKING ON CONVERSATIONS ON BETTERING OUR COMMUNITY AND SPECIFICALLY THE STEPHENSON PARK COMMUNITY AND THE YOUTH AND PEOPLE THERE.

IT'S NOT A STRETCH TO SAY THERE'S BEEN SOME TYPE OF DISCONNECT IN THE PAST.

WE DON'T WANT TO CRY OVER SPILLED MILK. LET'S PICK UP THE GLASS, WIPE IT UP AND POUR ANOTHER GLASS. WE APPRECIATE YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND WANT TO START

THIS AS AN OLIVE BRANCH. >> CHRIS IS ALSO A VETERAN AND SPENT THE LAST DECADE WORKING WITH AT-RISK YOUTH. LEADS A GROUP CALLED BOYS TO GENTLEMEN.

CONTRACTS WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. IDENTIFIES YOUNG MEN IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND PROVIDES A NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW THEM TO MAKE BETTER CHOICES.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND PART OF THIS CONVERSATION. ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST? MY NAME IS DEMETRIUS HARTLEY. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR HEARING OUR GROUP OUT. WE CAME RATIONALLY CITY MANAGER HANNAH. IT WAS REALLY PHENOMENAL FOR YOU GUYS TO ACTUALLY HEAR US OUT AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE A WORD AND WE'RE HEARD AND IT'S WORTH IT TO SPEAK TO COUNCIL MEMBER CRAVEN'S IDEA. I HAVEN'T SPOKE WITH THE REST OF GROUP, I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING IN THE DIRECTION WHERE WE'LL ADOPT STEPHENSON PARK AND BECOME FRIENDS OF THE STEPHENSON PARK.

TO MCALISTER'S WORD, IT MIGHT NOT BE A FOOTBALL FIELD, FOOTBALL FIELD, WE'RE LOOKING FOR I SPOKE WITH A COUPLE GUYS IN THE YOUTH FOOTBALL AND WE'RE LOOKING TO HAVE SCRIMMAGES OUT THERE AND BRING MORE ACTIVITY IN THE PARK. THOSE ARE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING

[01:30:13]

FOR IN THE CITY PARKS. >> HOW OFTEN DID YOU BEAT ANTHONY?

>> HE WAS ON BUCKS. THEY HAD A LOT OF POLITICAL STUFF.

>> WE ARE STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. >> MOJO RAN ALL OVER THEM.

>> GOOD MORNING, I AM CHRISTY NEWTON. I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN --

>> NAME FOR THE RECORD. >> CHRISTY NEWTON. IT'S ENCOURAGING TO ME TO SEE OUR COMMUNITY RISE UP AND ASK FOR NEEDS THAT WILL SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR CITIZENS AND OUR CHILDREN. AND MORE ENCOURAGING TO SEE YOU SPEAK TO THAT.

>> STILL A PUBLIC HEARING. >> YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. >> I AM DARRYL REED.

FIRST I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR ALL THEIR TIRELESS WORK YOU PUT IN.

THANKLESS IN A LOT OF WAYS AND REALLY APPRECIATE FOR WHAT YOU DO.

THANK YOU FOR NOT INCREASING OUR TAX RATE THIS YEAR. I KNOW IT'S APPARENTLY THE TOTAL TAX RATE IS STAYING THE SAME AS LAST YEAR AND SO I JUST WENT TO THE TEXAS COMPTROLLER WEBSITE AND SAW A LIST OF THE TAX RATES WITHIN THE STATE. AND YOU KNOW, THE TOP 60 TAXING ENTITIES BASED ON MARKET VALUE, ABILENE RANKED 42ND OUT OF THE, YOU KNOW, IN THE STATE.

AND I THINK WE WERE NUMBER TWO AT THE HIGHEST TAX RATE OF ALL THE TOP 60 THAT I LOOKED AT.

I THINK EL PASO WAS THE ONE CITY THAT HAD A HIGHER TAX RATE THAN ABILENE.

SO THEN I LOOKED AT JUST ABILENE AND THE 20 LARGEST ABOVE US AND THE 20 BELOW US.

SO SIMILAR SIZE MARKET VALUES OF OUR PROPERTY BASED ON PROPERTY EVALUATIONS AND I THINK WE ARE THE HIGHEST. SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF AS WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR TAX RATE, AND HOW WE COMPARE TO TEXAS, IF THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD WANT TO FURTHER CONSIDER AS WE LOOK AT OUR BUDGETING AND HOW WE ARE TO OUR PEER CITIES AND TO THE STATE AS A WHOLE.

>> THANK YOU. STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. IN REGARDS TO REVISED BUDGET.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. COUNCIL ANY OTHER DISCUSSION?

>> THE ANTICIPATION THERE WOULD BE A SECOND DAY SO THE ADOPTED DATE A THE 22ND AND NEED TO BE

THE 21ST. >> ON THE ACTUAL ORDINANCE OUTS.

>> OKAY. >> SINCE WE'RE BEING EFFICIENT AND GETTING DONE A DAY EARLY.

>> THAT'S OUR SHANE PRICE. I WOULD MAKE A MOTION INCLUSIVE OF THE DATE CHANGE, THAT WE APPROVING OR EARMARKING $432,000 AS A SET ASIDE TO ADDRESS RESTROOMS AND OTHER AMENITIES

FOR STEVENSON PARK. >> IS THAT REVISED? >> REVISED USING THE MIP.

>> FOR THIS >> SECOND. >> MOTION AND SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? >> >>

>> YES. >> RENS. >> YES RENTZ, YES.

[4. Ordinance (Consider on First Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving the Proposed 20202021 Budget]

>> CRAVEN, YES. >> COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER THE FIRST READING IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET 2021 BUDGET. BY THE WAY, MR. HANNAH HAD TO EXIT AT THIS TIME TO TAKE CARE OF A MATTER. AND SO INSTEAD WE CALL HER NUMBER TWO.

MINDY PATTERSON WILL ACT AND SERVE IN THAT ROLE. IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT COME UP. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC HEARING.

[01:35:02]

SEEING NONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. MR. HANNAH TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THIS PROPOSED BUDGET. AND I, WE CAN ALSO ADDRESS IT I GUESS AUGUST 13TH.

BUT WE TALKED ABOUT SPECIFICALLY AS A SET ASIDE RECOGNIZING OUR GIVING COUNCIL AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADD AN ADDITIONALOLIDAY FOR THE CITY. AND THAT BEING RECOGNIZING JUNE 19TH AS JUNETEENTH DAY AS A HOLIDAY FOR THE CITY. HOPEFULLY THIS WILL HAPPEN IF THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE TOO YOUNG TO REMEMBER THIS. BACK IN THE EARLY 90'S

>> THE CITY SET ASIDE MLK FOR A HOLIDAY. THE UNIVERSITIES AND SCHOOL DISTRICT FOLLOWED. I PUT THAT FORTH. ROBERT IS IN SUPPORT OF

>> YES MAYOR. THAT IS CORRECT. >> IN SUPPORT OF THAT.

AND WOULD PUT THAT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN THE NEW BUDGET, THE 2020-2021

>> >> THAT'S THE FULL MOTION. >> WITH THE CHANGE OF DATE.

>> CORRECT. AND THE CHANGE OF DATE. >> SECOND.

>> SO MOTION AND SECOND. >> WHY COULDN'T WE GO BACK TO HAVE A FLOATING HOLIDAY LIKE

YEARS AGO WHERE EACH EMPLOYEE COULD CHOOSE WHAT THEY WANTED? >> I TALKED TO ROBERT.

THAT'S WHAT HIS RECOMMENDATION WAS AND I AGREED. THAT'S MY MOTION.

>> SO MOTION AND SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? >> DO WE HAVE INFORMATION ON ANY

PEER CITIES WHAT THEY DO? >> I DIDN'T ASK ROBERT FOR THAT. I KNOW OTHER COMMUNITIES DO.

THE LARGER URBAN COMMUNITIES IN OUR STATE. OF COURSE, JUNETEENTH IS REALLY FIVE STATES. TEXAS, OKLAHOMA, LOUISIANA, AND NEW MEXICO.

>> HOW, I MEAN, HOW DOES THIS IMPACT THE BUDGET? >> HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE

NEUTRAL. >> DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT? >> YEAH.

AGAIN MINDY PATTERSON. IT WILL BE COST NEUTRAL BECAUSE THE BUILDINGS WILL BE CLOSED AND

THE EMPLOYEES WILL GET THE PAY. IT WILL BE COST NEUTRAL ON THAT. >> YOU WILL WORK HARDER THE DAY

BEFORE OR THE DAY AFTER. WE WORK HARD EVERY DAY. >> I DIDN'T SAY YOU

HARD. >> GOOD ANSWER. >> AND TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS, WHEN WE GET TO THE FINAL READING, IF YOU COULD HAVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

COUNCIL TO HEAR. >> YES, SIR. >> AUGUST THE 13TH, 8:30 A.M.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING. >> I WOULD LIKE JUST A LITTLE MORE.

UNLESS I MISSED IT IN KNOWA E-MAIL. THIS IS THE FIRST I'M HEARING

ABOUT THIS. >> SO WE'RE CLEAR. ROBERT BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF IT. WE CAN HAVE CONVERSATION FOR THE

FINAL HEARING ON AUGUST 13TH. >> ABSOLUTELY, WE WILL HAVE THE PEER CITIES

>> THANK YOU. >> MOTION AND SECOND. FURTHER CONVERSATION?

RODE TO VOTE. >> >>

>> YES. COUNCIL MEMBER >>

COUNCIL MEMBER RENTZ. >> YES. >> COUNCIL MEMBER

YOO >> >> YES.

>> XHAR WILLIAMS. -- MAYOR WILLIAMS. >> YES.

>> MAKE SURE I DO THIS RIGHT. COUNCIL WILL NOW CONSIDER THE FIRST READING OF THE ORDINANCE

[5. Ordinance (Consider on First Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Setting the Tax Levy]

IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? IF SO, PLEASE STEP FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SEEING NO ONE.

I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. JUST SPECIAL LANGUAGE AT END.

>> I THINK SO. >> THE MOTION IS -- SO SPECIAL LANGUAGE.

13TH MEETING. >> BE SURE I'M COMPLIANT. >> COUNCIL HAVE QUESTIONS IN

REGARDS TO THE TAX LEVY BEFORE US? >> I WILL TAKE A MOTION

SECOND. >> SO MOVED. >> MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER

MCALSTER. >> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? READY TO VOTE.

>> WE DON'T HAVE TO USE THE SPECIAL LANGUAGE THIS TIME. >> JUST THE FINAL.

>> JUST >> >>

>> >> >> COUNCIL MEMBER

>> >> COUNCIL MEMBER RENTZ. >> YES , SIR.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER >> >>

>> >> MAYOR >> YES.

[6. Ordinance (Consider on First Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Adopting Fees and Charges for FY 20202021 ADJOURNMENT]

>> MOEG CARRIES. FIRST READING OF PROPOSED 52020-2021 FEES AND CHARGES. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP

[01:40:02]

IN SO, PLEASE STEP FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. >> SEEING NO ONE.

I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. DOES COUNCIL HAVE QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO THE FEE SCHEDULE?

>> MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> WE HAVE MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER PRICE.

>> SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER CRAVER. >> WE ARE READY TO VOICE.

HURT, >> >> ALBUS.

YOO YES. >> COUNCIL MEMBER XRIES >>

>> RENTZ. >>S WHY. MCALSTER,

>> MAYOR WILLIAMS. YES. >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

CONSIDERING THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS, AT 11:41 A.M., THIS MEETING THE ABILENE CITY COUNCIL IS OFFICIALLY ADJOURNED. SEE YOU THURSDAY

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.