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[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:05]

>>> I BRING THE ABILENE CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER.

IT IS 4:30 P.M. ON THIS DAY JULY 23RD.

[1. Executive Session City Council will convene into Executive Session at 4:30 p.m. Reconvene City Council will reconvene into open session at 5:30 p.m.]

AT THIS TIME WE'RE RECESSING TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

SECTION 551.071 WITH OUR ATTORNEY.

SECTION 551.073 ABOUT GIFTS AND DONATIONS.

SECTION 551.074 PERSONNEL MATTERS.

SECTION 551.076 ABOUT SECURITY DEVICES.

AND SECTION 551.07 ABOUT BUSINESS PROSPECTS AND ECONOMIC

>>> IT'S NOW 5:30 P.M., WE'LL RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION.

NO VOTES OR ACTION WERE TAKEN. WE'LL ASK COUNCILMAN JACK RENTZ

[INVOCATION]

TO LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION AND PRAYER.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE RAIN THAT'S COME OUR WAY, WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE THAT. FATHER, I ASK YOU CONTINUE TO WATCH OVER US AS WE GET BACK TO SOME FORM OF A NORMAL LIFESTYLE.

WE ASK THAT EACH OF US ARE ABLE TO TAKE THE DECISION TO MAINTAIN OUR OWN HEALTH AND THOSE AROUND US.

WE'RE THANKFUL FOR OUR MEDICAL COMMUNITY, AS MANY OF THEM WORKING LONG HOURS TO HELP KEEP THOSE WHO HAVE CONTRACTED THIS VIRUS HEALTHY AND NOT PUTTING THEIR OWN LIVES AT RISK.

I ESPECIALLY ASK FOR YOUR WATCH AND CARE OVER OUR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AS THEY STRUGGLE WITH THE ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIRUS. PLEASE WATCH OVER OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, MEN AND WOMEN IN THE MILITARY AND KEEP THEM SAFE.

IN YOUR NAME I PRAY, AMEN. >> AMEN.

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

>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

[CONSENT AGENDA]

>> WE'LL NOW MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA WHICH CONSISTS OF ITEMS 3 TO ITEM 14. THESE ITEMS WILL BE CONSIDERED WITH ONE MOTION AND THERE WILL BE NO CIVIL DISCUSSION UNLESS A COUNCIL MEMBER OR CITIZEN REQUESTS CIVIL DISCUSSION.

WE WILL PULL ITEM NUMBER 8. IS THERE ANY REQUEST FOR AGENDA ITEMS BEING PULLED WITH CONSENT? ON 14.

AND ITEM 8, BUT THAT ITEM WILL NOT BE DISCUSSED TONIGHT PER STAFF WAS NOT READY TO PRESENT IT.

>> SO WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 14. ANY OTHER CITIZENS WANT TO PULL ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, THAT'S ITEMS 3 THROUGH ITEM NUMBER 14? OKAY.

I ACCEPT THE MOTION FOR ITEMS 3 THROUGH 14 WITH EXCEPTION OF NUMBER 14. I HAVE A MOTION AND NUMBER EIGHT IS PULLED. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MCALISTER. SECOND BY RENTZ.

WE'RE READY TO VOTE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER PRICE.

>> YES. >> COUNCIL MEMBER MCALISTER.

>> YES. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CRAVER.

[14. Ordinance (First Reading) CUP202004: Receive a Report and Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing on a request from AT&T, agent David Draper, for Conditional Use Permit to allow construction of a 75’ tall monopole within General Retail (GR) zoning district located at 3309 N. 10th Street, Abilene, Taylor County, Texas (Mike Warrix)]

>> YES. >> AND MAYOR WILLIAMS.

>> YES. >> COME TO THE PODIUM, STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD ON ITEM 14.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. DAVID SCWARTZ.

TODAY YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU A CONDITION OF USE PERMIT FOR SALE SITE. THE CHURCH IS JUST TRYING TO MAKE A LITTLE MONEY OFF OF THEIR PROPERTY.

I'M NOT AGAINST THE CHURCH DOING THAT.

I'M AGAINST AT&T'S PROPOSAL FOR WHAT THEY HAVE RIGHT NOW.

THEIR HANDWRITTEN LETTER IN THE PACKET, IT SAYS AT&T COULD NOT FIND A BETTER LOCATION AND THEY WANT TO PUT UP A 75-FOOT POLE.

[00:05:03]

75 FEET. YOU KNOW MOST WOODEN UTILITY POLES AT LEAST ON OUR STREET, SOME OF THE ONES DOWN TOWARDS THE END ARE 70 FEET SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FIVE MORE FEET.

YOU KNOW CHASE BANK THAT'S AT LEAST 80 SOMETHING FEET, BUT I KNOW THEIR ANSWER IS GOING TO BE WE DON'T WANT TO GET ON A BUILDING AND GET KICKED OFF AND LOSE OUR SITE THERE.

BUT I WOULD DARE SAY THE ABILENE HIGH AUDITORIUM WHICH WOULD BE IN THE LINE OF SIGHT OF THIS IS ABOUT 2 OR 3 BLOCKS AWAY, THAT IS AT LEAST 75 FEET. 75 FEET IS A BAND AID.

REAL WORLD IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

IT'S BEEN EVER SINCE THE DECEMBER 18 OR JANUARY 19, AT&T SERVICE AND JUST WEST OF DOWNTOWN IT IS HORRIBLE.

AT MY HOUSE THE LAST THREE MONTHS, IT'S GOT WHERE YOU SEND A TEXT IT WILL SAY YOUR MESSAGE DID NOT GO THROUGH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRY AGAIN OR IT WILL SAY YOUR SEARCH COULD NOT, WHEN YOU HAVE DATA SERVICE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DO IT.

THIS 75-FOOT LIKE I SAID IS A BAND AID.

75-FOOT I WENT OUT ON BUSINESS 20 OUT THERE AND LOOKED AT THE TWO SIDES THAT WERE 75-FOOT. I THOUGHT THE REASON THEY PUT THOSE SHORT SIDES IN IS A QUARTER MILE TO GO OVER 322.

OR INTERSTATE 20 OUT THERE. NO, YOU'RE PUTTING A 75-FOOT ANTENNA AND THAT'S JUST THE TOP. THE ANTENNA MIGHT REACH 6 OR 8 MORE FEET. PREVIOUSLY THE COUNCIL APPROVED A SITE OVER AT ROSE PARK THAT'S 120-FOOT FOR THE COMPETITOR.

I HOPE THEY GET IT OPERATIONAL IF THEY WOULD GO AT LEAST 100 OR 175 WE WOULD SEE SOME SERVICE IN OUR AREA.

I TOLD THEM TO GO ON THE BANK LIKE IN THE '80S WITH THE ORIGINAL CELL SYSTEM AND THEY WOULD HAVE COVERAGE ALL OVER AT 286 FEET. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL, FOR LISTENING TO ME THIS AFTE

AFTERNOON. >> WE ARE ON PUBLIC HEARING AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 14. DOES ANYONE ELSE WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER 14? DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? DOES ANYONE ELSE WANT TO RESPOND ON ITEM 14, SEEING NONE WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS

ON NUMBER 14? >> ONE OF THE LIMITATIONS WE FACE OR THEY WOULD FACE IS IT HAS TO BE ABLE TO FALL WITHIN THE PROPERTY IS THAT'S A LIMIT ON HEIGHT.

IS THAT AN ACCURATE STATEMENT? >> YES, THAT'S AN ACCURATE

STATEMENT. >> COULD YOU JUST REPEAT THE QUESTION AND ANSWER IT SO THOSE IN TV LAND MAY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S

BEEN COMMUNICATED? >> I'LL LET COUNCILMAN PRICE

REASK THE QUESTION. >> THE HEIGHT OF THE TOWER IS LIMITED BY THE DISTANCE TO THE PROPERTY LINE, THE CLOSEST PROPERTY LINE IS MY UNDERSTANDING BECAUSE IF THE TOWER WERE TO FALL IT HAS TO FALL WITHIN THE PROPERTY.

>> YES AND WE HAVE ORDINA NCES THAT EXPRESS THAT QUICKLY.

THEY DID NOT PROVIDE ANY CALCULATIONS IN THIS PARTICULAR APPLICATION THAT WOULD DEMONSTRATE THAT.

SO IT'S POSSIBLE. >> DOES COUNCIL HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? IS THERE A MOTION FOR THIS

AGENDA ITEM? >> SO MOVED.

>> A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN PRICE. >> SECOND.

>> SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MCALISTER.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE'RE READY TO VOTE.

[15. Resolution: (remove from table) Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving an Extended Term Street Use LicenseTTY Holdings, LLC (Michael Rice)]

>> MOTION CARRIES. >> THIS ITEM WAS REMOVED FROM THE TABLE SO I ACCEPT A MOTION FROM THE COUNCIL TO REMOVE IT

FROM THE TABLE. >> SO MOVED.

>> A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURT. A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN PRICE, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, WE'RE READY TO VOTE.

[00:10:02]

>> MAYOR PROTEM. >> YES.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER PRICE. >> YES.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER MCALISTER. >> YES.

>> MOTION CARRIES. >> I'LL INVITE THE CITY MANAGER

TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE SAME ITEM THAT WE DID REVIEW DURING YOUR LAST COUNCIL MEETING. AS A REVIEW THIS IS A LOCATION SHOWING WHERE THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN MADE.

WANTING TO LOCATE THAT ON THE NORTH RIGHT OF WAY OF NORTH 5TH FOR THE PURPOSE OF BUILDING A RAMP AND ALSO A HISTORIC LOADING PLATFORM. THIS HAS BEEN REVIEWED AND FOUND TO BE COMPLIANT IN RESPONSE TO THE MEETING LAST WEEK, WE HAVE MET IN PERSON WITH THE APPLICANT.

WE HAVE WORKED OUT OUR MISUNDERSTANDING, AND I BELIEVE AT THIS POINT WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE.

WITH THAT STAFF DOES RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS STREET USE

LICENSE. >> THANK YOU.

QUESTIONS OF MR. RICE FROM COUNCIL?

>> THANK YOU, SIR. >> AT THIS TIME I OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM.

IF SO, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

>> COUNCIL, MR. MAYOR, AND MR. CITY MANAGER, TIM MANDEL.

AND I WANT TO SAY ON BEHALF OF TTY HOLDINGS, I REALLY EXTREMELY APPRECIATE MR. RICE. I KNOW THAT MR. RICE WAS AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING KIND OF PINCH HIT AND THERE WAS BIG SURPRISES. SO I WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TONIGHT FOR HELPING THIS ALL GET WORKED OUT AND SO WE APPRECIATE IT AND THE TREMENDOUS HELP THAT THE CITY STAFF HAS BEEN ON THIS PROJECT. AND SO THANK YOU TO THE STAFF AND TO COUNCIL AND TO YOU, MR. MAYOR.

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

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. DOES COUNCIL HAVE ADDITIONAL

QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM? >> MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

>> SECOND. >> A MOTION AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN ALBUS. READY TO VOTE.

>> DEPUTY MAYOR. >> YES.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER PRICE. >> YES.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER RENTZ. >> YES.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER MCALISTER. >> YES.

[16. Presentation: Receive a Report and Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing and Provide Direction on Downtown OnStreet Parking (Michael Rice)]

>> COUNCIL MEMBER CRAVER. >> YES.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. BEFORE YOU IS A PRESENTATION ON THE DOWNTOWN PARKING. AS YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER WE DID PRESENT THIS BACK TO YOU IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR.

AT THAT TIME I THINK COUNCIL ASKED US TO GO BACK AND TO RECEIVE MORE PUBLIC INPUT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PROCESS WAS VETTED BY THE PUBLIC. JUST TO REMIND YOU THE STUDY AREA FOR THIS STUDY IS FROM NORTH 6TH TO NORTH 1ST, NORTH TO SOUTH. AND FROM GRAPE STREET TO TREADWAY WEST TO EAST. THE GOAL FOR THE WORKSHOP WAS ONCE AGAIN FOR STAFF TO GET CONSTRUCTIBLE, SAFE, AND ON STREET PARKING FOR THE AREA WITH THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF TRYING TO INCREASE ON STREET PARKING. HERE'S JUST A LIST OF SOME OF THE 1 WAY STREETS AS A REFERENCE OF WHAT WE REVIEWED BACK IN OCTOBER. THIS IS A MAP SHOWING THE DIFFERENCE STREET WIDTHS WITHIN THOSE RIGHT OF WAY PLATFORMS. AS YOU CAN SEE MOST OF THE PURPLE STREETS WERE IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN AND THOSE WILL BE THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF OUR DISCUSSION HERE IN JUST A SECOND.

SO WE DID ACTUALLY USE SOME NATIONAL STANDARDS AS FAR AS DETERMINING WHAT A PARKING SPACE SHOULD LOOK LIKE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. AS THE TIME HAS PROGRESSED FROM THE BEGINNING OF DOWNTOWN, CARS HAVE CHANGED IN SIZE AND IN MANY CASES GOTTEN LOUDER. SO THE BASIC FOOTPRINT FOR A PARKING SPACE IS ACTUALLY NINE FEET WIDE AND 18 FEET LONG.

AND THEN BASED UPON THE CONFIGURATIONS THEY MUST FIT WITHIN THAT AREA TO PROVIDE SAFE ACCESS BOTH INTO AND OUT OF THOSE PARKING SPACES. AND THESE ARE SOME EXAMPLES THAT YOU CAN SEE THAT WE HAVE USED IN DIFFERENT AREAS.

THE FIRST ONE ON THE LEFT I BELIEVE BEING FROM SAN DIEGO AND ANOTHER ONE BEING FROM ANOTHER TRAFFIC MANUAL THAT WE HAVE USED. ALL OF THE DIFFERENT COLORS BASICALLY ARE POINTING TO THE EXACT SAME DIMENSION JUST FOR REFERENCE AND WITH THAT YOU CAN SEE SOME PICTURES OF WHAT THOSE WOULD ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE DEPENDING UPON THE STREET CONFIGURATION. WE DO HAVE TWO LANE, 3 LANE, AND 4 LANE STREETS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

WITH THAT WE'VE COME UP WITH A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PARKING CONFIGURATIONS THAT WILL BE RECOMMENDED BY STAFF.

THE ONES AT THE BOTTOM IN GOLD RECOMMENDATIONS 1, 2, 3, AND 4 IS WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO YOU LAST TIME.

[00:15:03]

THIS KIND OF SHOWS WHAT THEY WOULD LOOK LIKE.

SO STAFF RECOMMENDATION ONE WHERE YOU ONLY HAVE A 50-FOOT STREET, THE MOST PARKING YOU CAN ACQUIRE IS PARALLEL PARKING ON ONE SIDE AND 60 DEGREE PARKING ON THE OTHER.

ON RECOMMENDATIONS 2 AND 3 SIMILAR CONFIGURATIONS ONCE AGAIN LOOKING AT WHETHER WE HAVE TWO LANES OR WHETHER WE HAVE THREE LANES. AND THEN THE LAST ONE WHICH WILL BE FOR YOUR BIG STREETS, PINE AND WALNUT STREET, OUR ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATION WAS FOR THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC WITH ANGLE PARKING ON BOTH SIDES. I BELIEVE IN OUR LAST DISCUSSION THERE WAS A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE NOT MAKE CHANGES TO PINE STREET AND TO LEAVE THAT FOUR LANES.

AND IF THAT DOES TAKE PLACE, THIS FIGURE WOULD CHANGE A LITTLE BIT WHERE WE WOULD HAVE ANGLE PARKING ON ONE SIDE BUT THERE WOULD ONLY BE ENOUGH ROOM FOR PARALLEL PARKING ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STREET. SO WE DID HOLD A TOWN HALL MEETING WITH THE PUBLIC. THEY WERE KIND ENOUGH TO HOLD THE VENUE SPACE FOR US. WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY CAME. THESE WERE SOME OF THE EXAMPLES OF THE QUESTIONS ACTUALLY ASKED. I'LL GO THROUGH THESE WITH YOU.

HOW MANY PARKING SPACES, HOW MANY ADDITIONAL SPACES WILL BE CREATED, I'LL PRESENT YOU A TABLE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES THAT WILL ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

WHAT ARE THE CURRENT ADA PARKING REQUIREMENTS, WILL THEY BE INCLUDED? YES THEY WILL BE.

WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE AT LEAST 1 1ADA PARKING SPOT PER BLOCK. THIS IS A QUESTION ON HOW DO WE DO OUR PAVEMENT MARKINGS. THERE'S DIFFERENT ONES THAT DO THAT YOU CAN USE A REGULAR PAINT, YOU CAN USE A THERMAL PLASTIC PAINT WHICH IS LONGER LASTING AND MORE DURABLE, OR YOU CAN USE THE BUTTONS WHICH IS THE USE THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE IN ABILENE FOR YEARS. THE ANSWER IS YOU'RE NOT REQUIRED TO USE ANY OF THEM, BUT YOU ARE REQUIRED TO MARK THE STREET SO PEOPLE WILL KNOW WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE.

WHAT ABOUT PARKING METERS AND CURRENT TIME LIMITS.

THIS WAS OUTSIDE OF THE PARKING SPACE DISCUSSION.

I WILL TELL YOU THIS HAS ALSO BEEN DISCUSSED WITH THE DOWNTOWN TASK FORCE THAT HAS LOOKED AT WHAT'S GOING ON.

THEY HAVE MADE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE PARKING METERS BE REMOVED FROM AROUND THE COURTHOUSE AND THE POST OFFICE. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE POSTMASTER OVER THERE AT THE POST OFFICE.

HE IS NOT OPPOSED TO REMOVING THE PARKING METERS, BUT HE IS CONCERNED ABOUT ANY TIME LIMITATIONS.

WE BOTH AGREED THAT ONE HOUR WOULD PROBABLY BE SUFFICIENT FOR THE POST OFFICE. THE RECOMMENDATION BY THE DOWNTOWN TASK FORCE IS TWO HOUR PARKING FOR THE REST OF THE DOWNTOWN PARKING AREAS. THE NEXT QUESTION CAN WE CREATE ADDITIONAL PARKING? ABSOLUTELY IF WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY. BUT IT IS VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE TO TAKE A STREET AND REMOVE WHAT'S THERE TO WIDEN IT AND RECONSTRUCT IT, MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE THAN CHANGING THE PAINTS AND THE BUTTONS ON THE STREETS.

WHAT ABOUT BACK IN PARKING, THAT IS AN OPTION USED IN SOME AREAS.

IF YOU'VE BEEN IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN THERE ARE A COUPLE OF AREAS WHERE THEY DO INCORPORATE THIS.

IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN CONSIDER BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING STAFF IS RECOMMENDING AT THIS TIME. WHAT IS ABILENE DOING ABOUT SIDEWALKS? WE ARE LOOKING AT THE SIDEWALKS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND WE ARE MAKING SOME IMPROVEMENTS WITH THAT AS PART OF THE DOWNTOWN CONVERSIONS.

WHAT ABOUT ONE WAY TO TWO WAY TRAFFIC CONVERSIONS.

THAT'S BEEN A HOT TOPIC OF DISCUSSION, I'VE FOUND IT'S A POLARIZING ISSUE. SOME PEOPLE FEEL VERY STRONGLY ONE WAY, SOME FEEL THE OTHER WAY.

AFTER BRINGING THIS BEFORE THE DOWNTOWN TASK FORCE AND SHOWING THEM THE COSTS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS, THEY HAD RECOMMENDED THAT WE NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES TO EXISTING ONE WAY CONFIGURATIONS. THAT WAS UP UNTIL WE HAD NEW INFORMATION BASED UPON THE NEW DOWNTOWN HOTEL.

AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN JUST A SECOND AS WELL.

WILL STREET SWEEPING INCREASE WITH THE NEW HOTEL.

I WILL TELL YOU STREET SWEEPING HAS ALREADY INCREASED WITH THE PURCHASE OF THE NEW STREET SWEEPERS WE HAVE IN PLACE, WE ARE ALREADY SWEEPING THE STREETS MORE OFTEN THAN WE DID IN THE PAST AND WE'RE DOING A MUCH BETTER JOB.

AND HOPEFULLY YOU HAVE SEEN THAT AS YOU'VE BEEN IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. WHICH SIDE OF THE STREET WILL GET PARALLEL PARKING VERSUS ANGLE PARKING, THAT'S JUST TO BE DETERMINED. WE HAVE NOT MADE THAT DECISION.

HOW WILL THIS BE PAID FOR AND WHEN WILL THE CHANGES HAPPEN? STAFF WOULD LIKE FOR THE CHANGES TO HAPPEN AS SOON AS WE CAN INCORPORATE THEM AS LONG AS THEY'RE IN HARMONY WITH THE EXISTING STREET REPAIRS TAKING PLACE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

IF YOU'VE BEEN DOWNTOWN AND SEEN OUR CONTRACTOR HE HAS SOME OF THE STREETS MARKED OFF. THEY ARE WORKING ON DOING CONCRETE REPAIRS, WE HOPE TO GET THAT PROJECT DONE FAIRLY QUICKLY. AND AS SOON AS THAT IS DONE WE PLAN TO COME BACK WITH A RESTRIPING PLAN BASED UPON THE DIRECTION THAT COUNCIL PROVIDES TODAY PRETTY QUICKLY.

THAT ANSWERS MOST OF THOSE QUESTIONS.

THIS IS A RENDITION OF WHAT MAY HAPPEN AND WHAT IS BEING RECOMMENDED. SO ON THIS PICTURE YOU WILL NOTICE THAT YOU HAVE THE HOTEL PROPERTY IMMEDIATELY ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THIS PICTURE. ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE PICTURE IS THE CONVENTION CENTER. SO THERE'S A PIECE OF RED IN THERE THAT IS A FIRE LANE, IT IS NOT A THROUGH STREET.

AND WHAT THAT BASICALLY MEANS IS NORTH 6TH STREET IS BEING RECOMMENDED TO BE REMOVED BETWEEN CEDAR STREET AND CYPRESS STREET. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THAT IS

[00:20:03]

TO CREATE A GREEN SPACE CONTIGUOUS BETWEEN THE CONVENTION CENTER AND BETWEEN THE CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL.

WHAT THAT WILL REQUIRE THOUGH IS FOR US TO CHANGE THE CONFIGURATION OF CYPRESS STREET FROM 1 WAY STREET TO A 2 WAY STREET SO THAT AS PEOPLE COME TO THE HOTEL PEOPLE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE CAN GET OFF AT THE FRONT DOOR.

WE'RE ALSO MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WITH THIS CHANGE PARKING FOR THE HOTEL WILL BE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE BUILDING. IF WE DON'T MAKE A CHANGE TO NORTH 5TH STREET YOU'LL LITERALLY HAVE TO GO AROUND THE WORLD TO GET TO THE PARKING LOT AFTER YOU LEAVE THE FRONT DOOR.

SO WE'RE MAKING A RECOMMENDATION THAT 5TH STREET BE CHANGED FROM ONE WAY EASTBOUND ONLY TO TWO WAY BEGINNING AT HICKORY STREET AND EXTENDING ALL THE WAY EAST AND EVENTUALLY ENDING JUST OUTSIDE OF CITY HALL TODAY. SO THIS WILL BE A LITTLE CHANGE THERE. AND AS YOU CAN SEE WE'RE TRYING TO INCORPORATE ADDITIONAL ON STREET PARKING ON 6TH STREET, CREATING ADDITIONAL ANGLE PARKING ON CYPRESS STREET WHERE WE CAN, AND THEN THE HOTEL IS GOING TO INCORPORATE ALL OF THE WEST SIDE OF CYPRESS BETWEEN NORTH 6TH AND NORTH 5TH.

SO WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE AS FAR AS ADDITIONAL PARKING SPACES? THIS IS A MAP OR JUST A CHART OF SHOWING ALL OF THE DIFFERENT BLOCK BY BLOCK WHAT THE EXISTING PARKING LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT THE PARKING WILL CHANGE TO IF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE INCORPORATED BY COUNCIL.

THIS IS THE EAST WEST STREETS, NORTH 6TH, 5TH, 4TH, 3RD, AND 2ND. THESE ARE THE NORTH SOUTH STREETS, NOW WE'LL POINT OUT THAT THERE ARE TWO CONFIGURATIONS FOR PINE STREET, ONE IS THE ORIGINAL THREE LANES WHICH IS IN THE TOP RIGHT HAND CORNER.

THE TOP CENTER IS PINE STREET WITH FOUR LANES.

WE ARE USING THE FOUR LANE CONFIGURATION FOR OUR TOTALS ON PARKING. IF YOU'LL NOTICE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE WE ARE ESTIMATING AN ADDITIONAL 163 ON STREET PARKING SPACES IF YOU ACCEPT THE PROPOSALS THAT ARE RECOMMENDED BY STAFF AND ALSO SUPPORTED BY THE DOWNTOWN TASK FORCE.

WE'LL TELL YOU THE CHAIRLADY OF THE DOWNTOWN TASK FORCE IS ALSO PRESENT WITH US TODAY. AND WITH THAT I'D BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

>> THANK YOU, MR. RICE. AND I THINK THAT LADY IS MRS. BETZ. I THINK I SEE HER BACK WITH HER FACE COVERING. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AS WELL. IS ANYONE ELSE WITH YOU FROM THE TASK FORCE? BE SURE TO COMMUNICATE OUR APPRECIATION FOR THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO THIS PROJECT OVER THE LAST YEAR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS OF M MR. RICE?

>> ON THE DIAGRAMS ALL OF THE PARKING SPOTS AND HOW THEY WERE LAID OUT, THEY WERE TWO WAY TRAFFIC.

DOES THAT CHANGE IN ANY WAY WHEN IT'S A 1 WAY TRAFFIC STREET AS

FAR AS HOW MANY CAN FIT? >> NOT AS FAR AS NUMBER OF SPACES BUT OBVIOUSLY IF IT'S ANGLED PARKING AND ONE WAY THEY'LL ALL BE FACING THE SAME DIRECTION.

>> IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE COUNT SOMME -- COUNT?

>> OTHER THAN THAT THE COUNTS REMAIN THE SAME.

>> I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RECONFIGURING CYPRESS STREET.

THERE WAS TALK AT ONE TIME OF CLOSING CEDAR STREET TO 5TH TO MAKE MORE PARKING, IS THAT IN THIS?

>> THAT PIECE OF STREET HAS BEEN ABANDONED BY THIS COUNCIL ALREADY. IT WAS INCORPORATED INTO THE PLAT WHICH WAS PART OF THE HOTEL PROPERTY.

>> THANK YOU. >> THIS, AGAIN THIS IS FOR CONVERSATION TONIGHT. BUT WE'VE ADDED ABOUT 163 ADDITIONAL PARKING SPACES. BUT THE DEFICIT WAS IT 800, WAS

THAT THE DEFICIT WE IDENTIFIED? >> IT'S A VERY LARGE NUMBER,

YES, SIR. >> SO I GUESS IN THE BIG PICTURE IN CONSIDERATION FOR STRUCTURE PARKING CAN ONLY ADDRESS THAT I GUESS IN THE MAGNITUDE OF THE DEFICIT PARKING DOWNTOWN.

>> LONG TERM, THAT'S CORRECT, SIR.

>> ALSO ON PINE STREET BY KEEPING THAT FOUR LANES AND NOT GOING TO THREE, THAT'S LOSING 22 MORE SPACES BY DOING THAT.

I UNDERSTAND THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TRAFFIC ON PINE BUT THAT'S REALLY I MEAN JUST A COUPLE OF TIMES A DAY.

AND IF YOU DRIVE DOWN PINE RIGHT NOW EVEN WITH THE FOUR LANES IT'S REALLY HARD TO DRIVE DOWN 4 OF THE LANES RIGHT NOW.

I'M NOT OPPOSED TO GOING TO THREE LANES PERSONALLY BUT

THAT'S JUST MY OPINION. >> I WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT STRUCTURED PARKING, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S A LONG RANGE PLAN, A LONG RANGE TOOL IT'S VERY EFFECTIVE, IT'S ALSO VERY EXPENSIVE AND ONE OF THE THINGS THE TASK FORCE HAS REALLY ENCOURAGED STAFF TO DO AND WE ARE WORKING WITH PARTNER AGENCIES TO DO THIS IS TO LOOK AT ALL OF THE EXISTING SURFACE LOTS THAT ARE OWNED BY PRIVATE BUSINESSES IN DOWNTOWN THAT AREN'T USED AFTER 5:00. AND IS THERE A WAY WE CAN THROUGH THIRD PARTY EFFORTS, PARTNERING WITH NON-PROFITS, PARTNERING WITH PERHAPS THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, PARTNERING WITH COVERING THEIR RISK FOR HAVING PARKING DOWNTOWN AFTER HOURS. LOOK AT SUNSET SQUARE FOR FORT WORTH, PERHAPS WE HAVE SOME OTHER FOLKS THAT CAN HELP US IN

[00:25:01]

REGARDS TO THE PROPERTY THAT THEY OWN THAT CAN BE USED AFTER HOURS FOR POST 5:00 PARKING THAT COULD ALLEVIATE THE NEED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A LARGER STRUCTURED PARKING FACILITY.

IT'S ABOUT $22,000 OR $25,000 A PARKING SPOT IN A STRUCTURED PARKING ENVIRONMENT. THAT ADDS UP VERY QUICKLY OBVIOUSLY. SO IF WE CAN HAVE PARKING SPACES ON THE SURFACE LOT THAT'S THE CHEAPEST WAY TO DO IT.

AND IT COULD BE THROUGH AND IT COULD BE A HUGE TAX SAVINGS TO THE TAXPAYERS OVERALL. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE COUNCIL HAD THE BENEFIT OF THAT. THIS CAME FROM EFFORTS WITH THE TASK FORCE AS ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE'LL BE TALKING

ABOUT IN A LATER MEETING. >> ONE OTHER THING, MICHAEL, YOU MENTIONED THE TRANSITION ON NORTH 5TH FROM ONE WAY TO TWO WAY, YOU ALSO MENTIONED CYPRESS CHANGING FROM ONE WAY TO TWO WAY BUT YOU DIDN'T PROVIDE THE BOUNDARIES.

JUST FOR EVERYONE'S CLARIFICATION, THAT'S JUST FROM

6TH TO 5TH, IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT IS CORRECT.

CYPRESS WILL CONTINUE TO BE ONE WAY NORTH FROM NORTH 1ST TO

NORTH 5TH. >> THANK YOU.

>> YES, SIR. >>> WE'LL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING BUT MS. BASS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING AT ALL?

>> I WILL SAY THAT -- >> FOR THE RECORD.

>> YVONNE BATZ. WE HAVE A GREAT TASK FORCE COMMITTEE AND THEY'VE WORKED VERY HARD.

AND WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK WITH THE CITY AND ENGINEERS AND WE WOULD GIVE THE CHALLENGES AND REQUESTS, AND THEY WOULD GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND I THINK THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB ON COMING UP WITH THIS PLAN. THERE IS A LOT TO DO IN TERMS OF WHAT MR. HANNAH SAID IN THE OFF THE STREET PARKING.

BUT I FEEL LIKE HE'S GOT A GOOD PLAN GOING FORWARD WORKING WITH DIFFERENT ENTITIES AND HE'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO RESPOND TO THE THINGS THAT HE HAS COMMITTED TO AND WE'RE PLEASED WITH IT.

>> AGAIN JUST THANKS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU.

>> THE QUESTION BEFORE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

THIS ITEM IS OPEN FOR PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM, IF SO PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR

THE RECORD. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL.

DAVID SCWARTZ. PREVIOUSLY WHEN YOU BROUGHT THIS UP MONTHS AGO, I TOLD YOU I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO MAYBE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THEY DID WITH THE DFW TURNPIKE THAT EVENTUALLY TURNED INTO TOM LANDRY.

EITHER MAYBE HAVE IT WHERE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA HAVE A MONTHLY PASS OR MAYBE HAVE SOME FLAT RATE FOR SO MANY HOURS A DAY. BUT WHAT YOU JUST MENTIONED IF I UNDERSTOOD WHAT THE MAYOR PRO TEM'S QUESTION WAS THAT YOU ARE GOING TO ABANDON THE CITY'S CEDAR FOR THE HOTEL PARKING.

THAT'S GOOD SO YOU HAVE MORE SACE.

AND ALSO IT WAS BROUGHT UP JUST NOW ABOUT 5TH GOING TO TWO WAYS AND THEN CYPRESS GOING TO TWO WAYS.

IS THERE GOING TO BE ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEMS, ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE TO PUT UP DIFFERENT POLES OR MODIFY THE CURRENT ONES OR SOMETHING WHERE THERE'LL BE ADDITIONAL COST FOR THE TAXPAYERS FOR THAT. BUT AS FAR AS PARKING, I'M NOT SURE ALL OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE NEVER PARALLEL PARKED.

AND THE FEW TIMES I'VE HAD TO COME DOWNTOWN ONE TIME AT FIRST FINANCIAL I HAD TO PARALLEL PARK.

PARALLEL PARKING IS A GOOD WAY TO GET YOUR DOOR TORN OFF, IF YOU EVER SAW SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT HOW YOU CAN LOSE A DOOR.

THE 5TH STREET I PARKED RIGHT HERE ABOUT TWO BLOCKS DOWN AT THE BANK THERE, YOU HAVE TO REALLY LOOK TO MAKE SURE NOBODY IS COMING. AND THEN PREVIOUSLY I PARKED PARALLEL WHEN I WENT DOWN TO THE PARAMOUNT.

NOW THIS IT WAS AGAINST THE OTHER BANK THERE WHICH YOU GOT OUT ONTO THE SIDEWALK. SO THAT WASN'T SO DANGEROUS.

BUT WHEN YOU HAVE TO OPEN UP INTO THE STREET GOING BY, IT'S NOT SO GOOD. I KNOW THEY'VE MET SEVERAL TIMES AND I WENT DOWN THERE AT LEAST TWICE AND THERE WAS NEVER A FORUM, SO I DIDN'T GET TO PUT ANY INPUT AT ALL IN.

[00:30:06]

AND NOW THE CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS HAVE -- I THINK THERE WAS ONE MEETING LAST MONTH. GENERALLY I SEE WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO. BUT IT'S LIKE THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER SAID, IN THE LONG TERM TO MAKE UP THE DEFICIT YOU'RE GOING TO NEED A STRUCTURE. I KNOW THERE'S TALK ABOUT THE OLD NEWSPAPER MIGHT BE GOING AWAY.

AND THEN WE'VE JUST TORN DOWN THIS OLD HOTEL ADJACENT.

EVEN IF YOU CAN PUT UP ONE AND YOU HAVE TO PAY IT OUT LIKE THE TURNPIKE, IT MAY BE A LONG TIME DOWN THE ROAD BUT IN THE END I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO NEED IS STRUCTURED PARKING.

LIKE I SAID MAYBE PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE CAN BUY A MONTHLY PASS AND PEOPLE HERE FOR THE DAY MAYBE A FLAT RATE OR SOMETHING.

THAT'S MY INPUT. THANK YOU, COUNCIL.

>> STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. COUNCIL, ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ON THIS AGENDA ITEM? THIS WAS FOR PRESENTATION ONLY SO THERE WILL BE NO VOTES OR ACTIONS TAKEN THIS EVENING.

BUT ANYMORE QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IS DIRECTION SO THAT YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE STRIPING.

SO WHEN DO YOU WANT THAT DIRECTION FROM US?

>> AS SOON AS COUNCIL IS READY TO MAKE A DECISION, STAFF IS READY TO RECEIVE THAT IN WHATEVER FORM YOU WANT TO GIVE THAT. IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY REQUIRE A FORMAL VOTE. WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GOING THE GENERAL DIRECTION THE COUNCIL WOULD PREFER US TO GO.

>> ON PINE FROM FOUR LANES TO THREE, WHAT WAS THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE GROUP THAT MET, THE DOWNTOWN GROUP.

>> THE ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATION MADE TO THEM WAS FROM STAFF AND THAT WAS TO DIVERT FROM FOUR LANES TO THREE LANES AND THAT WAS WHAT WAS PRESENTED BACK IN OCTOBER.

WHEN THEY MET LAST MONTH, I BELIEVE IT WAS MAYBE EVEN EARLY THIS MONTH, THEY BASICALLY DECIDED TO BRING BACK THE SAME RECOMMENDATION TO YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

>> SO THEY WOULD PREFER TO SEE IT GO TO THREE LANES OR THEY'RE JUST COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING OR THEY DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE A STAND ONE WAY OR THE OTHER?

>> THEY BASICALLY JUST REITERATED THEY WERE GOING TO LEAVE THEIR RECOMMENDATION THE SAME.

>> AND THAT IS? >> THE THREE LANES.

>> THREE LANES. OKAY.

BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A DOG IN THE FIGHT EITHER WAY.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT STAYING FOUR LEANES, I DON'T HAE A HEART BURN ABOUT IT GOING TO THREE LANES BUT THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE HOW WE HANDLE THE STRIPING.

AND I KNOW THEY'RE WORKING ON FINISHING UP THOSE PROJECTS AND WHEN THEY'RE DONE THEY NEED TO KNOW HOW TO STRIPE.

>> SO MY RECOMMENDATION SPEAKING FROM THE STAFF WOULD BE TO MAINTAIN THE FOUR LANES. YOU HAVE PINE STREET ESSENTIALLY MAIN STREET YOU WILL SACRIFICE A NUMBER OF PARKING SPOTS TO DO THAT. BUT THERE ARE TIMES OF THE DAY WHEN FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC ON PINE STREET ARE FULLY UTILIZED.

THERE ARE TIMES IN THE DAY WHEN IT'S NOT.

I THINK IF YOU'RE GOING TO SERIOUSLY EXPLORE REDUCING THE NUMBER OF DRIVE LANES ON PINE FROM 4 TO 3, WE OUGHT TO HAVE SOME VERY DETAILED DISCUSSIONS WITH THE BUSINESSES ALONG PINE STREET AND GET WRITTEN SUPPORT FROM THEM TO DO THAT BEFORE WE

WOULD FORMALLY ADOPT THAT. >> AND THE THREE WOULD BE THREE TRAVEL LANES OR 2 TRAVEL LANES AND A TURN LANE?

>> I BELIEVE YOU WOULD HAVE 2 TRAVEL LANES AND A TURN LANE.

>> LIKE I SAID I DON'T HAVE STRONG FEELINGS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. IF THE RECOMMENDATION IS WE LEAVE IT AS IS, I'M FINE WITH THAT TOO.

>> SO IS STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION FOUR LANES?

>> MY RECOMMENDATION AS CITY MANAGER IS FOUR LANES, YES, SIR.

>> I LIKE WHAT I HEAR. AND I'M OKAY WITH THAT.

I REALLY LIKE WHAT I HEARD YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT HAVE PARKING LOTS AND SIT DOWN WITH THEM AND FIND A WAY TO USE THAT AFTER HOURS, I THINK WITH MANY CASES THAT'S DOABLE AS LONG AS WE WORK THE GUIDELINES OUT, THEY'RE

PRETTY AGREEABLE PEOPLE. >> YOU HAVE EXISTING STRUCTURE PARKING DOWNTOWN NOW. SO IF WE'RE ABLE TO LEVERAGE THIS FULLY, IT COULD BE YOU SAVE THE TAXPAYERS $20 MILLION.

>> HOW DOES IT WORK TO NEGATE THE LIABILITY FOR THAT BUSINESS

OWNER? >> WHAT WE'RE ENVISIONING IS PARTNERING WITH A THIRD PARTY, EITHER A NONPROFIT THAT'S YET TO BE ESTABLISHED, CREATING SOMETHING SPECIFIC FOR THIS PURPOSE, A LOCAL GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION OF SOME SORT, MAYBE PARTNER WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OR AN EXISTING NONPROFIT AND ENTERING INTO AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT

[00:35:02]

WITH THEM TO OFFSET THE COST OF AN INSURANCE POLICY THAT WOULD ENSURE THE LANDOWNER OF THAT PARTICULAR PARKING ASSET OR PARKING LOT FROM LIABILITY ASSOCIATED WITH HAVING A PUBLIC PARKING LOT AFTER HOURS. THAT'S THE THEORY, THAT'S THE CONCEPT, THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT WE'RE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF RESEARCHING OR I'M WORKING, STAFF IS WORKING WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO KIND OF HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE LANDOWNERS TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY DESIRE ON THEIR PART.

WE STARTED THAT DISCUSSION PRIOR TO THE COVID PANDEMIC.

AND IN THE MIDST OF THE COVID PANDEMIC WE HAVE PROBABLY NOT BEEN AS DILIGENT WITH THAT. SO AFTER THIS DISCUSSION WITH THE TASK FORCE WE INTEND TO PICK THAT UP VERY QUICKLY.

>> I GUESS IT WILL BE SOME SORT OF A NOMINAL FEE FOR THE PATRON TO HAVE AN OFFSET THAT IT CREATES FOR THE ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURES, IS THAT HOW YOU ENVISION THAT?

>> FOR THE PARKING? >> YES.

>> I WOULD ENVISION FREE PUBLIC PARKING.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I THOUGHT HELPED REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH WAS THE PUBLIC DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY AFTER 5:00. FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT, IF THEY WANTED TO USE THEIR LOT TO GENERATE INCOME OR REVENUE DURING BUSINESS HOURS, IT'S THEIR LOT, THEY GET TO DO THAT.

>> INPUT FROM THE COUNCIL? >> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE PINE STAY AT FOUR BECAUSE HERE'S WHAT I CAN ENVISION, IF YOU'VE ONLY GOT 2 TRAVEL LANES AND A TURN LANE, THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO JOCKEY INTO THAT TURN LANE TO CROSS OVER, AND THAT BACKS UP, ALL OF A SUDDEN PINE IS STOPPED.

RIGHT NOW IF YOU HAVE TWO PEOPLE TURNING AGAINST EACH OTHER, THERE'S STILL A LANE ON EITHER SIDE.

I CAN SEE AT TIMES IF YOU ONLY HAVE 1 TURN LANE AND PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO TURN ACROSS EACH OTHER, YOU CAN SEE A LITTLE OF A BOTTLENECK THERE. I THINK THE FOUR LANES IS THE BETTER WAY TO GO BECAUSE THAT ALMOST ENSURES YOU AT LEAST HAVE ONE LANE OF TRAFFIC TRAVELING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.

>> TO BE CLEAR, WE'LL DO WHATEVER Y'ALL WANT US TO DO.

MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION IS THAT FOUR LANES ALONG PINE MAKES SOME SENSE. IF IT'S THIS BODY'S PLEASURE TO GO TO THREE LANES, I REALLY THINK YOU NEED TO GET THE WRITTEN SUPPORT OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THE OWNERS ON PINE. I CAN'T IMAGINE DOING IT ANY OTHER WAY TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS ON BOARD WITH THAT CONCEPT, IT'S A MAJOR CHANGE TO A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE.

THANK YOU. >> AND I WILL CONCUR COUNCIL MEMBER MCALISTER. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF FOUR LANES.

AND I DON'T THINK THE FAVIC FORCE WITH ALL OF THE DUE DILIGENCE THEY'VE PUT IN AND ALL OF THE WORK AND MONTHS THAT WENT BY, THANK YOU AGAIN. ANYMORE DIRECTION FROM THE

COUNCIL? >> DOES THIS ADDRESS EVERYTHING

THAT YOU WERE LOOKING FOR? >> WHAT I HEAR COUNCIL SAYING IS THAT THEY'RE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE TASK FORCE DIRECTION.

I'M GOING TO GO ON A LIMB AND SAY YOU'RE SUPPORTIVE OF FOUR LANES ON PINE. AND THAT WE GO FORWARD WITH HASTE TO IMPLEMENT THE RESTRIPING PROGRAM AND BRING

THAT TO YOU TO COUNCIL APPROVAL. >> THAT'S ACCURATE.

[17. Presentation and Resolution: Receive a Report and Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing on the City of Abilene Municipal Solid Waste Cost of Service Analysis, and Proposed Future Rate Increases (Max Johnson)]

MOVING TO ITEM NUMBER 17. WE'LL ASK MAX JOHNSON, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS MAX JOHNSON I'M THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR PUBLIC WORKS.

AND TONIGHT IT IS MY HONOR AND TO PRESENT THE SPEAKER OF THE RESULTS FOR OUR SOLID WASTE FOLKS.

>> GOOD EVENING. I'M THE MANAGING DIRECTOR FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICE AT NEW GEN.

LET'S JUST JUMP RIGHT INTO IT. SO FIRST OF ALL JUST TO CLARIFY WHAT OUR SCOPE OF ANALYSIS WAS. WE WERE TASKED WITH CONDUCTING A COMPREHENSIVE COST OF SERVICE STUDY.

AS PART OF THAT WE WERE BUILDING OUT A FIVE YEAR REVENUE REQUIREMENT FOR FISCAL YEARS 21 THROUGH 25 TO MAKE SURE SOLID WASTE UTILITY IS IN GOOD SHAPE THAT FINANCIAL PERIOD.

CALCULATED REVENUE UNDER REALIZED CURRENT RATES AND THEN PROVIDING ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RATE INCREASES IF THEY WERE NEEDED AND THEN PRESENT THOSE FINDINGS WITH A FINAL REPORT AND

[00:40:02]

A PRESENTATION TO YOU FOLKS. IN DEVELOPING AND CONDUCTING A COST SERVICE, THE FIRST THING WE HAVE TO DO IS DEVELOP A TEST HERE. SO WE USE YOUR FISCAL YEAR 2020 BUDGET. THEN WE DEVELOP THAT FIVE YEAR REVENUE REQUIREMENT FORECAST WHICH I'LL DEFINE AND SHOW TO YOU IN JUST A SECOND. AND THEN WE ALLOCATE THE COST TO THE SERVICE CATEGORIES. THOSE ARE ALL OF THE DIFFERENT SOLID WASTE SERVICES YOU PROVIDE AND I'LL PROVIDE THOSE IN A LISTING IN JUST A MINUTE ALSO. THEN WE ALLOCATE THOSE TO YOUR CUSTOMER CLASSES AND DETERMINE THE COST OF SERVICE.

WHAT'S A REVENUE REQUIREMENT? ALL IT IS IS WHAT'S YOUR TOTAL OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE EXPENSES ARE, YOUR OUTSTANDING DEBT WHICH YOU HAVE VERY LITTLE DATE FOR THE SOLID WASTE UTILITY AND THEN VEHICLE REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE REPLACEMENT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS.

IT'S FUNDED, THE WAY YOUR CITY DOES IT AND HOW IT'S WHAT WE RECOMMEND KIND OF CONSIDERED A BEST PRACTICE, PAY AS YOU GO, YOU FUND IT THROUGH THE RATES SO YOU GET THE CASH SO YOU CAN BUY THE TRUCKS AS YOU NEED THEM AND PAY CASH VERSUS LEASING OR ISSUING DEBT. HERE ARE ALL OF THE DIFFERENT SERVICES YOU PROVIDE. SO FOR EACH OF THESE SERVICES WE CAME UP WITH THE SPECIFIC COST WAS FOR THE ALLOCATION OF LABOR AND THE ROLLING STOCK, THE EQUIPMENT THAT'S USED.

SO YOU HAVE YOUR RESIDENTIAL REFUSE GARAGE COLLECTION, BULK COLLECTION, UNDER COMMERCIAL YOU HAVE REFUSE COLLECTION WHICH IS WITH YOUR FRONT LOAD TRUCKS, COMMERCIAL ROLL OFF, YOU PROVIDE QUITE A BIT IN THE ROLL OFF SERVICE BOTH FOR REFUSE AND RECYCLING. THEN YOU OFFER A NINE RECYCLING DROP OFF CENTERS. YOU ALSO HAVE A CARPORT COLLECTION PROGRAM. THEN YOU HAVE YOUR CONTRACT FOR THE DISPOSAL AT REPUBLIC LANDFILL.

YOU ALSO HANDLE SPECIAL EVENTS WHEN THOSE ARISE.

IN DEVELOPING THE FIVE YEAR REVENUE REQUIREMENT WHICH I'LL SHOW YOU IN JUST A SECOND. ONE OF THE KEY THINGS WE SPENT TIME WITH YOUR STAFF ON WAS LOOKING AT WHAT'S THE ESTIMATED LIFE FOR YOUR EQUIPMENT, HOW OFTEN DO YOU HAVE TO REPLACE IT SO YOU HAVE GOOD TRUCKS THAT THESE ARE VERY EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN IF, IT'S NOT LIKE DRIVING A 10-YEAR-OLD CHEVY PICKUP. IF IT'S A 10 OR 12-YEAR-OLD GARAGE TRUCK THOSE GET A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN.

SO YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE THOSE AT THE END OF THEIR USEFUL LIFE. WE'VE GOT THAT PUT IN PLACE.

IT'S ALSO KEY WE ADDED FOR ADDITIONAL AS THE CITY HAS GROWN, TWO SIDE LOAD ROUTES WERE ADDED FOR FISCAL YEAR 21 AND IN 24. AND THEN A REAR LOAD ROUTE IN 2022 AND THEN A FRONT LOAD ROUTE IN 2023.

AND THEN FRANCHISE FEES ARE INCLUDED AT THE 5%.

SO BOTTOM LINE, WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS THE TOTAL COST TO OPERATE YOUR SOLID WASTE UTILITY IS ABOUT $16.2 MILLION AND IT WOULD GROW GRADUALLY OVER A FIVE YEAR PERIOD TO ABOUT 18.8 MILLION. IT'S ABOUT A 16% INCREASE.

SO LESS THAN BASICALLY INFLATION IF YOU'RE GOING OVER A FIVE YEAR PERIOD. IT'S REALLY ABOUT A 3% A YEAR COMPOUNDED WHICH IS GOOD FROM A COST CONTROL STANDPOINT.

RESIDENTIAL COST SERVICE, WE BROKE OUT THOSE SPECIFIC COSTS AGAIN FOR THE RESIDENTIAL REFUSE, THE BULK COLLECTION, CONTAINER MAINTENANCE, THE RECYCLING SERVICES, ALL OF THOSE ITEMS. BOTTOM LINE PROVIDING YOUR RESIDENTIAL COST OF SERVICE IS ABOUT 9.3 MILLION AND AGAIN WOULD GROW TO ABOUT 10.9 MILLION OVER THE FIVE YEAR PERIOD KEEPING IN MIND THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S CAUSING THAT INCREASE IS ADDING THOSE ADDITIONAL ROUTES.

SO BOTTOM LINE IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT WHAT YOUR COST OF SERVICE IS, FOR RESIDENTIAL IT'S ABOUT $20.90.

AND AGAIN INCREASES TO $22.67 OVERABOUT A FIVE YEAR PERIOD.

SO IT'S BASICALLY GOING UP ABOUT $1.75 OVER FIVE YEARS OR REALLY IT'S ABOUT $0.30, $0.35 A YEAR, PRETTY REASONABLE.

COMMERCIAL SERVICE YOU DO QUITE A BIT IN THE COMMERCIAL FRONT LOAD AND ROLL OFF. HERE'S YOUR FRONT LOAD.

THAT'S ABOUT A $4.7 MILLION BUSINESS.

COST OF SERVICE CAN GROW TO ABOUT 5.5 MILLION.

YOUR ROLL OUT BUSINESS JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, THEY'RE DOING AROUND 11,000 PULLS A YEAR. SO IT'S A PRETTY BIG OPERATION THERE. THOSE ARE THE BIG 20, 30, OR 40 YEAR ROLL OFF CONTAINERS. AVERAGE COST FOR THAT IS ABOUT $166 GROWING GRADUALLY OVER TIME.

[00:45:03]

SO BOTTOM LINE AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE ALWAYS LOOK AT.

IF OVER THE FIVE YEAR PERIOD YOU DON'T RAISE RATES, WHAT'S THE FINANCIAL SITUATION. SO STARTING IN 2021 YOU'D BE UNDER RECOVERING ABOUT $466,000 A YEAR.

THAT WOULD GROW OVER TIME TO AN UNDERRECOVERY OF 2.1 MILLION IF YOU DON'T RAISE RATES. THE UTILITY IS IN REALLY GOOD SHAPE. THE RATE INCREASES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE MODEST. AND SO I'LL SHOW THOSE IN A SECOND. HERE'S WHERE I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSED RATE RECOMMENDATIONS.

FIRST OF ALL ON THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE, WE ARE NOT RECOMMENDING A RATE INCREASE FOR THIS UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR 2021.

WE WOULD RECOMMEND IN 2022 SO STILL OVER A YEAR AWAY THAT YOU INCREASE THE RATE BY $1.89 PER MONTH.

SO YOU'D GO FROM THE $19.91 BASICALLY UP TO ABOUT $21.80 AND THEN ANOTHER $0.50 IN 2024. SO BOTTOM LINE WE'RE LOOKING AT BASICALLY ABOUT A $2.40 INCREASE.

ALSO AGAIN TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE, IF YOU ADD THAT UP IT'S LESS THAN 12% OVER A FIVE YEAR PERIOD.

SO WE'RE TALKING VERY NOMINAL INCREASE, 2.5% TO 3% PER YEAR.

AGAIN NOTHING IN THIS UPCOMING YEAR.

ON THE COMMERCIAL FRONT LOAD RIGHT SIDE WE DO NOT PROPOSE AN INCREASE IN YOUR COMMERCIAL FRONT LOAD RATES FOR 2021 EITHER. WE WOULD RECOMMEND AND I'M GOING TO FLIP THROUGH THESE HERE, WE DO SHOW THE INCREASES FOR THE DIFFERENT CONTAINERS. VERY BRIEFLY I WILL TELL YOU YOU PROVIDE GARBAGE COLLECTION SERVICE WITH FRONT LOAN DUMPSTERS, YOU OPERATE ANYTHING FROM 2, 3, 4, 6, AND 8 CUBER YARD DUMPSTERS PICKED UP. NO RATE INCREASE FOR THE CURRENT YEAR. STARTING IN FISCAL YEAR 2022 AND BEYOND, WE WOULD RECOMMEND SOME INCREASES.

BOTTOM LINE, YOUR SMALLER CONTAINERS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY UNDER RECOVERING WHAT THEIR COST OF SERVICE IS.

SO WE'RE RECOMMENDING A RATE INCREASE FOR THOSE AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IN THE MIDDLE COLUMN. AND THEN THAT CONTINUES FOR 23, 24, AND 25. AND BY 2025 THAT WOULD BE YOUR RATES FOR COMMERCIAL FRONT LOAD. AGAIN NOTHING RECOMMENDED FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR. THE ONLY PLACE WE RECOMMEND A RATE INCREASE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021, IS ON YOUR ROLL OFF BUSINESS, WE RECOMMEND A RATE INCREASE STARTING IN 2021.

THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY ABOUT 2300 POLES A YEAR YOU GET REIMBURSED FOR THEM OR PAID. SO WE WOULD RECOMMEND A $10 INCREASE THERE IN 2021. AND THEN AGAIN ANOTHER $10 IN 2023. BOTTOM LINE, IF YOU IMPLEMENTED THOSE RATE INCREASES THAT I MENTIONED, IF YOU LOOK AT THE SECOND TO THE BOTTOM LINE IN 2021 YOU'RE GOING TO UNDER RECOVER A LITTLE BIT, 373,000 BECAUSE IF YOU REMEMBER WE'RE ONLY RECOMMENDING AN INCREASE IN THE ROLL OFF RATE.

NO OTHER RATE INCREASES. BUT YOU CAN SEE THEN GRADUALLY YOU'RE POSITIVE, BY 2025 YOU'RE JUST SLIGHTLY NEGATIVE.

BUT OVERALL THE UTILITY HAS A POSITIVE CASH FLOW.

SO THOSE WOULD BE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FROM A RATE STANDPOINT. JUST A COUPLE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEN I'M DONE.

WE WOULD RECOMMEND, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FRONT LOAD CONTAINERS WHERE THOSE ARE SHARED WITH BUSINESSES.

THAT'S VERY COMMON PRACTICE. ESPECIALLY IN DOWNTOWN AREAS WHERE IT CAN BE CROWDED. WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT STAFF AUDIT THOSE. IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THOSE BECAUSE SOMETIMES A BUSINESS MAY MOVE OUT AND THEN THEY'RE NOT SHARING, THEY HAVE THEIR OWN AND THAT'S GOOD TO AUDIT PERIODICALLY. FINALLY ALSO MAKE SURE THAT FLEET SERVICE IS TRACKED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS FOR EACH VEHICLE.

THAT HELPS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SPENDING ON YOUR TRUCKS AND WHETHER THOSE NEED TO BE REPLACED SOONER OR THEY CAN RUN LONGER. AND FINALLY YOU HAVE A HUGE ROLL OFF OPERATION SO WE WOULD RECOMMEND A VERY DETAILED TRACKING OF THE TYPE OF ROLL OFF CONTAINERS, THE SIZES, SCHEDULED, UNSCHEDULED. SO ALL THAT'S BEING TRACKED CLOSELY. THAT IS ALL OF MY RECOMMENDATIONS. OVERALL THE UTILITY IS IN GREAT

[00:50:02]

SHAPE. I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY

HAVE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS. QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL PRIOR

TO PUBLIC HEARING? >> PROBABLY KNOWINGLY GOING TO

2021 AND LOSE -- >> PARDON ME?

>> WHY WOULD WE KNOWINGLY GO INTO THIS NEXT YEAR THINKING WE'RE GOING TO LOSE 300 SOMETHING THOUSAND?

>> THE CONSULTANT'S RECOMMENDATION IN THE FIRST SLIDE SHOW, THE FIRST PRESENTATION THEY GAVE DIDN'T HAVE A RATE INCREASE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021.

STAFF ASKED THE CONSULTANT TO PRESENT A DIFFERENT RATE MODEL PREDOMINANTLY BECAUSE OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THE PANDEMIC THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW, THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

WE FELT IT IMPORTANT TO EXTEND AS LONG AS WE COULD NOT INCREASING SOLID WASTE RATES TO COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES AND THE RESIDENTS OF ABILENE. IT WAS AN INTENTIONAL EFFORT ON STAFF'S PART TO ABSORB SOME OF THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SOLID WASTE PROGRAM FOR ANOTHER YEAR UNTIL WE CAN GET THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND THEN HAVE AN APPROPRIATE RATE INCREASE AT THE RIGHT TIME. THE SOLID WASTE FUND HAS THE FUNDS IN THE FUND BALANCE TO COVER THAT LOSS.

SO I'M NOT OVERLY CONCERNED FROM A MANAGEMENT STANDPOINT ABOUT THAT ONE YEAR LOSS. IF WE DON'T RAISE RATES EVER, WE'RE GOING TO BE IN A VERY DIFFERENT SITUATION.

WE DO NEED RATE INCREASES BUT IT WAS INTENTIONAL ON STAFF'S PART TO PRESENT SOMETHING TO THE COUNCIL THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO PASS ON SOME BENEFIT TO OUR BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS DURING

THE PANDEMIC. >> I REALLY APPRECIATE THE RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF THAT PROVIDES A ONE YEAR FORECAST FOR THE BUSINESS OWNER AND THE AVERAGE CITIZEN TO BE ABLE TO MAKE PREPARATIONS FOR INCREASES THAT ARE A YEAR AWAY.

I APPRECIATE THAT. MORE COUNT -- QUESTIONS OF THE

COUNCIL? >> I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

I APPRECIATE THAT. ON THE NO RATE INCREASE 2021 AND THEN A RATE INCREASE 2022, NOT 2023, THEN 2024.

WHY NOT TAKE THAT INCREASE AND SPREAD IT OUT SO THAT IT'S A LITTLE BIT LESS IN 2022 BUT THEN INSTEAD OF NOTHING THE NEXT YOU KNOW GRADUALLY INSTEAD OF A DOLLAR 50 AND WHY NOT SPREAD

THAT OUT OVER FOUR YEARS? >> GREAT QUESTION.

SO AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN IT COMES TO RATE -- OOPS -- THERE ARE COUNTLESS WAYS YOU CAN DO THIS.

ONE OF THE WAYS WE LOOKED AT THIS.

YOU'RE AT $18.11 RIGHT NOW IN YOUR STANDARD RATE AND THEN YOU HAVE AN ENVIRONMENTAL CHARGE OF $1.80.

WE KNOW GOING INTO 2021 WITH DIRECTION FROM STAFF WE WEREN'T GOING TO DO A RATE INCREASE FOR 2021.

SO 2022 WE DO NEED A RATE INCREASE.

WE WANTED TO GET THAT IN BECAUSE YOU ARE UNDER RECOVERING SO YOU KIND OF NEED A BIGGER RATE INCREASE TO KIND OF STABILIZE IT THERE. AND SO THAT'S WHY WE WENT WITH $1.89. IT ALSO GETS IT TO A ROUNDER NUMBER OF 2180. AND WHY WE WAITED ANOTHER YEAR, QUITE FRANKLY YOU COULD AFFORD TO WAIT A YEAR.

THIS BECOMES ONE OF THOSE ISSUES AND AGAIN AT COUNCIL'S DIRECTION YOU CAN ALWAYS DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.

BUT WE HAVE FOUND SOME COUNCILS LIKE SMALL INCREASES EVERY YEAR, OTHERS WE DON'T WANT TO RAISE THEM EVERY YEAR SO CITIZENS DON'T SAY WE'RE RAISING RATES EVERY YEAR.

SO WHAT WE DID WAS '21 NO RATE INCREASE, '22 WE GOT TO GET THAT STABILIZED, '23 WE'RE OKAY, '24 WE NEED A MODERATE RATE INCREASE. THAT'S HOW WE SPREAD IT OUT SO IT'S NOT EVERY YEAR. IT'S TWO INCREASES IN FIVE

YEARS. >> OF COURSE CURRENT COUNCILS CANNOT BOND FUTURE COUNCILS SO THERE'S LATITUDE GOING FORWARD FOR NEXT YEAR FOR A WOULD BE INCREASE.

>> AND MY SECOND QUESTION, AND I KNOW WE BRIEFLY TOUCHED ON THIS TUESDAY. BUT I CANNOT REMEMBER THE CONVERSATION HOW IT ENDED. HOW DO OUR RATES RIGHT NOW ON VERLOFT CONTAINERS COMPARE TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR?

>> SO WITH YOUR RATES AND GETTING INFORMATION FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE IN WHAT THEY WANT TO SHARE. IT ALSO DEPENDS WHO THE VENDOR IS. IT ALSO DEPENDS IF THEY HAVE A NATIONAL CONTRACT OR REGIONAL CONTRACTS.

IF I WON -- WANT A CONTRACT WITH A PRIVATE OPERATOR AND I JUST CALL HIM I'M NOT GOING TO GET A GREAT RATE.

BUT IF I'M UPGRADING ALL OF MY MCDONALDS I'M GOING TO GET A BETTER DEAL BECAUSE THEY HAVE CONTRACTS WITH THE WASTE MANAGEMENT OR WHAT HAVE YOU. THEIR RATES CAN VARY, YOUR RATES

[00:55:02]

ARE IN VERY GOOD SHAPE. IT'S A BUSINESS THAT CAN BE VERY PROFITABLE FOR YOU. SO I THINK YOU COMPETE WELL WITH IT AND SHOULD ABSOLUTELY STAY IN THAT BUSINESS.

>> THANK YOU. >> ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FROM

COUNCIL PRIOR TO PUBLIC HEARING? >> I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

ONE, YOU MENTIONED THAT THE REVENUE REQUIREMENT WAS BASED ON THIS CURRENT YEAR. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, I GUESS ONE POSITIVE FROM AN EXPENSE WITH REGARD TO COVID IS FUEL WENT DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY COMPARED TO HOW IT HAD BEEN.

SO WERE THE M&O PROJECTIONS BASED ON THE LOWER FUEL COSTS THAT WE'VE SEEN THIS YEAR OR ARE THEY LOOKING AT MORE HISTORICAL

FUEL COSTS? >> IT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.

I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR OVER 20 YEARS, SO I'VE SEEN DIESEL WHEN IT'S REALLY CHEAP AND I'VE SEEN DIESEL WHEN IT'S NOT SO CHEAP.

SO WE TOOK YOUR CURRENT BUDGET THAT YOU HAD RIGHT NOW AND WENT FORWARD WITH IT AND THEN HAVE THAT INFLATING SO WE FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH IT. BOTTOM LINE THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME TIMES YOU'RE GOING TO BE OVER, SOMETIMES YOU'RE GOING TO BE UNDER. BUT OVERALL IT KEEPS YOU GOING

CONSTANT. >> SO IT WAS THE BUDGET WE APPROVED LAST SUMMER BEFORE ALL OF THIS HAPPENED?

>> CORRECT. >> AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION IS JUST A CLARIFICATION FOR ANYONE THAT HAPPENS TO BE WATCHING. LIKE THE RESIDENTIAL COST OF SERVICE YOU HAVE UNDER INDIRECT COSTS ADMINISTRATION, RESIDENTIAL REFUSE IS 3.2 MILLION AND THEN ADMINISTRATION IS 2.6 MILLION. I ASSUME THAT THAT INCLUDES CAPITAL COSTS, THAT'S NOT JUST PEOPLE IN ADMINISTRATION --

>> CORRECT. >> WHAT ALL IS IN ADMINISTRATION SO PEOPLE HAVE AN IDEA WHAT THAT LARGE NUMBER COVERS.

>> SO FOR ADMINISTRATION THERE ARE GENERAL FUND TRANSFERS FOR THE DIRECT. THERE'S THE FRANCHISE FEE.

YOU ALSO HAVE SUPPORT SERVICES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED JUST IN THE INDIRECT COSTS. SO IT'S A COMBINATION OF ITEMS.

>> SO THE FRANCHISE FEE, THE EQUIPMENT CAPITAL OUTLAY?

>> THE CAPITAL OUTLAY IS ASSIGNED TO EACH OF THEIR COSTS.

THE CAPITAL OUTLAY TO BE CLEAR IS NOT IN ADMINISTRATION.

>> SO IS THE BULK OF THAT FRANCHISE FEE?

>> A BIG CHUNK IS FRANCHISE FEE. >> THANK YOU.

>> ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS PRIOR TO PUBLIC HEARING OF THE COUNCIL? THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> SO AGAIN IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET THE ONLY INCREASE IN FEES WILL BE FOR ROLL OFF, THIS IS A NOTICE OF 12 MONTHS IN REGARDS TO A POSSIBLE INCREASE NEXT YEAR. NO CURRENT COUNCIL CAN BIND FUTURE COUNCILS SO IT WILL BE A DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE CONVERSATION NEXT YEAR. AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOROR AGAINST -- FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM.

IF SO PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?

>> I'LL JUST MAKE A COMMENT. THIS IS A RESOLUTION AND THE ORDINANCE, THE FEES ARE IN AN ORDINANCE SO WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY CHANGING THE FEE WITH WHAT'S ACCEPTED TODAY WE'RE JUST SAYING THIS IS OUR INTENT. THE ACTUAL FEE ORDINANCE THAT'S PART OF THE BUDGET DISCUSSION IS WHERE THAT FEE CHANGE WILL BE

MADE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER PRICE, AS ALWAYS. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION OR SECOND.

>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND.

>> SECOND BY COUNCILMAN CRAVER. WE'RE READY TO VOTE.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM. >> YES.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER PRICE. >> YES.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER RENTZ. >> YES.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER MCALISTER. >> YES.

[18. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on a Council Policy Statement Regarding COVID19 Reporting Requirements (Robert Hanna)]

>> AND COUNCIL MEMBER CRAVER. >> YES.

>> THE ITEM CARRIES. >> I'LL ASK ROBERT HANNA, CITY

MANAGER TO PRESENT ITEM 18. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

Y'ALL HAVE REQUESTED AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE STAFF DIRECTION ON HOW WE REPORT COVID-19 ON A DAILY BASIS.

SO THIS AGENDA ITEM IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW YOU TO DO JUST THAT. IN YOUR BACK UP I HAVE ATTACHED A SAMPLE DOCUMENT WE COULD USE FOR DISCUSSIONS.

IT'S FAIRLY SIMPLE. IT'S A SPECIFIC TYPE OF TEST, WE USE FOR THE GOLD STANDARD IN ABILENE.

[01:00:02]

TOTAL PROBABLE CASES. TOTAL NEGATIVES, TOTAL ACTIVE CASES WOULD BE THE TOTAL CURRENT PCR CASES THAT ARE ONGOING.

THE AVERAGE AGE OF DEATH, THE AVERAGE AGE OF HOSPITALIZATION.

AND AT THE REQUEST OF SOME OF THE PARTIES, THE HOSPITALS SPECIFICALLY LOOKING AT TOTAL HOSPITALIZATIONS OF IN COUNTY RESIDENTS AND TOTAL HOSPITALIZATIONS OF OUT OF COUNTY RESIDENTS. THE INTENT OF THE POLICY ALSO IS TO PROVIDE SOME MECHANISM FOR WHEN THE STATE OF TEXAS COMES AND SAYS OH BY THE WAY WE NEED YOU TO START RECORDING THIS THAT WE CAN DO THAT WITHOUT HAVING TO AMEND THIS POLICY IF WE HAVE DIRECTION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES WE WOULD FOLLOW THAT DIRECTION, THERE WOULD BE A NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD BE NOTIFIED OF THAT CHANGE IN SHORT OR WITHIN TWO BUSINESS DAYS.

THAT CONCLUDES THE STAFF'S PRESENTATION.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS COUNCIL MAY HAVE.

>> WHO KNEW THAT YOU WOULD NEED PANDEMIC SOFTWARE ELABORATE REPORTING FOR COVID-19. ROBERT, JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT JUST ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PCR TEST, ANTIGEN TEST AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THE STATE IS REQUIRING, THEY CAME OUT AND WAS MORE DEFINITE IN REGARDS TO WHAT THEY EXPECTED AND HOW WHAT STAFF IS PROPOSING KIND OF MIMICS THAT.

>> I SURE CAN. LET ME GRAB MY NOTES REAL QUICK.

>> SO WHILE HE'S GETTING HIS NOTES, ABILENE, IF YOU LOOK AT WEST TEXAS COMMUNITIES, WE REPORT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

I BELIEVE AMARILLO MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

WE REPORT EVERY SINGLE DAY AND SO IN REGARD TO PROVIDING

INFORMATION FOR THE COMMUNITY. >> SO MAYOR, WHAT WE RECEIVED YESTERDAY AFTERNOON IS AN EMAIL FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES, THEY'RE ASKING ALL PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICTS TO START REPORTING PROBABLE CASES TO THEM BY 8:00 A.M. ON FRIDAY JULY 24TH WHICH IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER HERE.

AND SO THEY REFER TO A DOCUMENT, THE EPI CASE CRITERIA GUIDE AND THE EPI CASE CRITERIA GUIDE DEFINES WHAT IS A CONFIRMED LAB POSITIVE CASE. WHAT A PROBABLE CASE IS AND IT IS A LOGIC PUZZLE IF YOU'RE THIS THEN THIS THEN THIS THEN THAT AND THIS OR THIS, IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED MATRIX.

BUT ONE IN WHICH OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS FIGURED OUT.

THE ONE THING IN HERE THAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN OUR NUMBERS WHICH IN FULL DISCLOSURE IS BEING ASKED TO BE INCLUDED ALTHOUGH SEPARATELY FROM THE REST OF OUR NUMBERS IS THE ANTIBODY INDICATIVE OF A NEW OR RECENT INFECTION.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT ANTIBODY TESTS AND THEIR ADVOCACY IN REPORTING A POSITIVE.

NOBODY FROM MY STAFF WILL ARGUE THEY SHOULD TAKE THE PLACE OF A PCR TEST WHICH IS THE GOLD STANDARD AND BY THE WAY THE ONLY ONE THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES SAYS CAN CREATE A LAB CONFIRMED TEST. THE ANTIGEN TEST IS A STRONG POSITIVE, IF YOU RECEIVE A POSITIVE ON AN ANTIGEN TEST IT IS LIKELY POSITIVE. IT HAS A LOWER SENSITIVITY RATE FOR NEGATIVE TESTING. SO IF YOU RECEIVE AN ANTIGEN TEST AND TEST NEGATIVE BUT YOU ARE STILL CLINICALLY SYMPTOMATIC OR YOU HAVE AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL LINKAGE SUCH AS YOU HAVE DIRECT EXPOSURE, A FAMILY MEMBER WITH DIRECT EXPOSURE, YOU LIKELY NEED TO FOLLOW UP WITH A PCR TEST TO CONFIRM THAT NEGATIVE.

THE ANTIGEN NEGATIVE MIGHT NOT BE AS CONCLUSIVE AS WE HOPE.

THERE ARE NO NEGATIVE TESTS, EVEN THE PCR TESTING IS NOT PERFECT. YOU COULD HAVE A FALSE NEGATIVE AND A FALSE POSITIVE ON A PCR TEST IS MY UNDERSTANDING AS WELL. AND WE HAVE HAD EMPLOYEES WHO TESTED NEGATIVE ON THE PCR BUT MORE THAN LIKELY BASED OFF THEIR SYMPTOMS AND WHAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING WERE POSITIVE FOR COVID SO WE SAID PLEASE STAY HOME, DON'T COME TO WORK.

I CAN GO THROUGH THE MATRIX IF YOU'D LIKE, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE NEED TO START REPORTING PROBABLE CASES TO THE STATE OF TEXAS. WE WILL DO SO WITH THIS REPORT.

>> SO THE PCR IS THE GOLD STANDARD.

THE CHALLENGE FOR THE PCR IS THAT WE WERE AT A POINT A FEW WEEKS AGO, IT WAS TAKING 7, 9, 10 DAYS.

NO POSSIBILITY OF TRACING AT ALL WHEN THAT OCCURS.

THE ANTIGEN TEST IS A 15 MINUTE TO 30 MINUTE RESPONSE, NOT AS ACCURATE. BUT THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY FEELS PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT A POSITIVE IS INDEED A POSITIVE.

[01:05:01]

WHAT THE STATE HAS COMMUNICATED IS THAT IT'S APPROPRIATE TO PUT THAT ANTIGEN UNDER A PROBABLE CATEGORY.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S BEFORE US. THAT'S KIND OF THE GIST OF IT,

IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT.

IF YOU READ THE EPI CASE CRITERIA GUIDE, YOU WILL FIND THEY CAN BE CLASSIFIED IF THEY MEET EPIDEMIOLOGICAL AND OTHER CRITERIA, THEY SHOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS A PROBABLE CASE AS WELL. SO IF WE'RE GOING TO REPORT PROBABLES, I COULD MAKE A STRONG ARGUMENT BASED OFF OF THE CRITERIA GUIDE THAT PERHAPS ANTIBODIES SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THAT. I'M NOT AWARE OF A COMMITTEE THAT IS REPORTING ANTIBODIES. I REACHED OUT TO MY CITY MANAGER GROUP, THERE HAS BEEN NO ONE WHO HAS CONFIRMED THEY INTEND TO DO THAT, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE STARTING TO REPORT ANTIGEN TESTS.

IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY THEY LIKELY WILL WITH THIS EMAIL COMING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES.

>> AND IN WEST TEXAS COMMUNITIES THERE ARE SOME THAT ONLY REPORT

PCR FOR THIS? >> YES, SIR.

>> SOME OF THE PCR AND ANTIGEN. >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT IMPACT THIS EMAIL WILL HAVE ON OTHER JURISDICTIONS.

>> QUESTIONS OF MR. HANNA PRIOR TO PUBLIC HEARING FROM COUNCIL?

>> WHEN THIS HAD FIRST COME UP I SENT ROBERT A LINK BECAUSE THE CDC'S WEBSITE ABOUT COVID-19 TEST RESULTS SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT THE ANTIBODY TEST CAN PROVIDE A POSITIVE IF YOU HAVE OTHER CORONAVIRUSES SUCH AS THE COMMON COLD.

SO I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT US INCLUDING THE ANTIBODY TEST IN OUR NUMBERS BECAUSE IF SOMEONE HAD A COLD THAT COULD BE TRIGGERING A POSITIVE COUNT WHICH WOULD OVERSTATE THE IMPACT THAT COVID HAS IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WERE OTHERS ON THE COUNCIL THAT HAD EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT WHAT NUMBERS WE WERE PRESENTING. AND I KNOW I'VE HEARD FROM SOME SAYING WHY IS THIS OVEN A POLITICAL QUESTION.

IT'S A VERY POLITICAL QUESTION BECAUSE WE'RE BEING ASKED TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON THE NUMBERS THAT ARE BEING PRESENTED TO US. SO I WANT TO FEEL COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT THAT THE NUMBERS THAT WERE GIVEN ARE AN ACCURATE REFLECTION OF THE IMPACT COVID IS HAVING ON OUR CITIZENS AND NOT JUST A GUESTIMATE OF WHAT IT MIGHT BE OR MIGHT NOT BE.

SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE INVOLVED IN THE DISCUSSION.

>> YES, SIR. IT'S ALSO A VERY FLUID DISCUSSION. A MONTH AND A HALF AGO I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAD THE ANTIGEN TEST. WE CERTAINLY DIDN'T HAVE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE OUTBREAK OF THE PANDEMIC.

IN TALKING TO OUR MEDICAL COMMUNITY IT SEEMED VERY CLEAR THAT THEY WERE LESS CONCERNED ABOUT ANTIBODY REPORTING.

THEY WERE ADAMANT ABOUT THE REPORTING OF ANTIGEN TESTING RESULTS AS PART OF OUR NUMBERS WHICH IS WHY WE MADE THE CHANGES ORIGINALLY TO THE NUMBERS. IT WAS CLEAR THAT THERE NEEDED TO BE MORE DISCUSSION ON THAT. SO WE REFERRED BACK TO OUR PRIOR REPORTING TEMPLATE AND ARE ASKING COUNCIL TO WEIGH IN ON

THAT DECISION TODAY. >> I HAD A QUESTION.

I KNOW THAT IT'S AN EVER EVOLVING DOOR AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE CONCERNS. I'M CURIOUS IF YOU HAVE ANYONE THAT YOU'VE INVITED FROM YOUR TEAM HERE THAT CAN SPEAK TO HER RECOMMENDATIONS OR WHAT SHE'S SEEN.

I'M SURE YOU'VE SPOKEN AND YOU'VE ALL CONFERRED TOGETHER.

BUT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HEAR NOT JUST FROM US BUT FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE WATCHING, A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL THAT CAN GIVE MAYBE SOME FLESH TO WHAT SHE WOULD RECOMMEND AS WELL.

>> SHE'S NOT ON HERE, SHE'S ON VACATION OTHERWISE SHE WOULD BE HERE. BUT I DO HAVE A NET.

YOU'RE WELCOME TO ASK WHATEVER QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.

>> THE HEALTH CARE COMMUNITY IN REGARDS TO DIFFERENT TESTS AND WHAT YOU'VE GOTTEN FROM THEIR INPUT WHEN ASKED?

>> WHEN TALKING TO BRAD HOLLAND HE WAS INTIMATE THAT ANTIGEN AND PCR TESTS BE REPORTED AS PROBABLE CASES AND ACTIVE CASES, THEY CAN DO THE MATH HE SAID BUT THEY NEED BOTH NUMBERS.

THEY USE THOSE NUMBERS TO MAKE PROJECTIONS.

THE ABILENE MEDICAL SOCIETY, MEDICAL ASSOCIATION IN ABILENE ALSO VERY STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THE REPORTING OF ANTIGEN TESTS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR DAILY REPORTING.

BECAUSE THE POSITIVE ANTIGEN TEST IS SUCH A VERY STRONG POSITIVE, THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY FEELS STRONGLY ABOUT IT.

IT NEEDS TO BE REPORTED BECAUSE IT GIVES A MORE ACCURATE INTERPRETATION OF WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING WITH THE

PANDEMIC IN ABILENE, TEXAS. >> WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE ANTIBODY

[01:10:02]

TESTS -- >> I CAN HAVE ANETTE TALK ABOUT

MORE OF THE SCIENCE THAN I CAN. >> THE APPRAISAL THAT MR. HOLLAND HAS GIVEN YOU ABOUT THEIR APPRAISAL OF THE ANTIBODY

TESTS. >> IT IS NOT SUFFICIENT FOR A CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS AND THE POSITIVE NATURE OF AN ANTIBODY IS NOT SOMETHING THAT -- THEY LOOK FOR EPIDEMIOLOGICAL LINKAGES OR OTHER CLINICAL CRITERIA THAT HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED. THEY BASE THAT ON THOSE RESULTS, THE CLINICAL CRITERIA OR THE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL LINKAGES MORE ON THEY DO THAN THE ACTUAL RESULTS OF THE ANTIBODY.

IT'S INDICATIVE, IT'S HELPFUL IN THE DIAGNOSIS BUT IT'S NOT DEFINITIVE. WHERE THEY LOOK AT AN ANTIGEN POSITIVE IS MORE DEFINITIVE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

>> DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? >> CAN'T THE ANTIGEN TEST BE SEPARATE FROM THE PCR TEST? AND JUST KEEP A RUNNING TOTAL

THAT WAY? >> YES, MA'AM.

AND IN FACT ON THE TEMPLATE WE HAVE THREE COLUMNS.

THE FIRST COLUMN IS MOLECULAR PCR, THEN THE PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL, PEOPLE SEEM TO ENJOY PERCENTAGES, AND SO THE PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL FOR MOLECULAR PCR ONLY AND THEN THIRD COLUMN IS THE ANTIGEN TEST.

YOU'LL SEE ON THE PAGE TOTAL POSITIVES.

YOU'LL SEE THAT BLACKED OUT THE ANTIGEN TEST.

AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE TOTAL PROBABLES AND THAT IS YOU PUT A DIGIT IN THAT PARTICULAR COLUMN AND THEY'RE BLACKED OUT FOR MOLECULAR PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL.

THE INTENT BEING TOTAL PROBABLE CASES WOULD BE YOUR TOTAL ANTIGEN CASES AND YOUR TOTAL POSITIVES WOULD BE YOUR TOTAL

MOLECULAR CASES. >> I ASSUME WHEN THE INFORMATION IS PROVIDED TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, IT HAS A UNIQUE

IDENTIFIER FOR THE PATIENT. >> ANETTE WHY DON'T YOU EXPLAIN SOME OF THE HOW WE TRACK AND TRACE AND SOME OF THE SOCIAL TRACING ACTIVITIES THAT WE DO. THEY KEEP TRACK OF THIS TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITIES. I WOULD LOVE TO SAY THIS IS JUST A SLICK SYSTEM THAT NEVER FAILS AND ALWAYS WORKS PERFECTLY.

BUT I WOULD PROBABLY BE LYING TO YOU.

IT IS A FLUID ENVIRONMENT AND SOMETIMES WE LOSE TRACK OF PEOPLE BECAUSE THE INFORMATION WE RECEIVED JUST ISN'T GOOD.

BUT WE KNOW IT WASN'T POSITIVE, WE JUST DON'T KNOW MUCH MORE THAN THAT. BUT WE DO OUR BEST TO TRACK WHAT WE CAN AND DO THE SOCIAL TRACING ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

>> JUST TO GIVE SOME GUIDANCE TO THE ANSWER, THE QUESTION NOT SO MUCH FOR SOCIAL TRACKING BUT FOR IF JIM COMES IN AND GETS THE ANTIGEN TEST AND IT'S POSITIVE, THEN HE GOES IN AND GETS A PCR, ARE WE THEN TAKING THAT AWAY FROM THE ANTIGEN TEST AND ADDING IT TO THE PCR OR IS IT GETTING COUNTED TWICE, ARE WE MAKING SURE THAT THAT GETS HANDLED SO WE'RE NOT OVERREPORTING THAT

WAY? >> YES, AND ANETTE, DO YOU WANT

TO TALK SPECIFICALLY TO THAT? >> DIRECTOR OF HEALTH SERVICES.

SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IT IS NOT COUNTED TWICE.

SO WHAT WE DO IS WHEN JOHN OR SUSIE GOES TO GET TESTED AT A SITE, WHEN THEY ARE POSITIVE THAT SITE IS GOING TO SEND IN THE ACTUAL LAB REPORT. AND SO OUR PEOPLE WILL TAKE IT AND THEY WILL PUT IT INTO OUR SYSTEM.

THE GREAT THING ABOUT THE NEW SYSTEM THAT D LOT BUILT FOR US IS THAT YOU CAN GO IN AND SEARCH.

AND SO IF WE RECEIVE A SECOND REPORT BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT A CONFIRMATORY TEST THEN WE'RE GOING TO SEE AS SOON AS YOU PUT THAT PERSON'S NAME IN, IT'S GOING TO POP UP AND IT WILL SAY DO YOU MEAN THIS PERSON AND WE WILL SAY YES, THAT IS, DATA ENTRY, PEOPLE ARE VERIFYING DATES OF BIRTH AND ENSURING THIS IS THE SAME PERSON. THERE ARE SLOTS THAT WILL SAY DO THEY HAVE MULTIPLE TYPES OF TESTS AND YOU CAN GO ALONG THAT LINE AND YOU CAN CHECK ALL OF THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TESTS THAT THEY HAVE WITH THE DATES AND ALL OF THAT.

SO IT TRACKS IT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO REPORT THAT POSITIVE ONE

TIME. >> THANK YOU.

>> ANETTE, WE KNOW THAT LEGALLY YOU HAVE TO REPORT A POSITIVE

TEST. >> RIGHT.

>> LEGALLY, DO YOU HAVE TO REPORT A NEGATIVE TEST?

>> THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED BY STATUTE TO REPORT NEGATIVE TESTS TO US. THEY HAVE BEEN ASKED TO REPORT NEGATIVE TESTS TO US. AND SO NOW ALL OF THE SITES HAVE BEEN MORE COMPLIANT WITH THAT BECAUSE OUR EPI TEAM DEVELOPED A SURVEY MONKEY THAT THEY SEND OUT SO THAT POPULATE THAT EVERY DAY WITH ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED AND SO WE'RE COLLECTING THOSE NUMBERS FROM THE TEST SITES.

>> ARE YOU PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE REPORTING TOTAL TESTS?

>> WE ARE REPORTING EVERYTHING THAT IS REPORTED TO US.

[01:15:04]

>> ANETTE, I HAVE A QUESTION. AND I DON'T KNOW THAT IF WE CAN DO THIS, IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE CAN BREAKDOWN PEOPLE WHO DIE FROM COVID VERSUS THOSE WHO DIE WITH COVID? AND I'LL JUST TELL YOU WHERE I'M COMING FROM, WHEN SOMEONE PASSES AWAY AND THEY'RE A 52-YEAR-OLD MAN UNDERLYING CONDITIONS, AND THAT MAY NOT BE SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO AND IT MAY NOT BE BROKEN DOWN THAT WAY, BUT IS THERE ANY WAY TO DO THAT?

>> THERE IS GUIDANCE FROM THE STATE THAT DICTATES WHAT IS TO BE LISTED ON THE DEATH CERTIFICATE.

SO IF SOMEONE IS COVID POSITIVE WHEN THEY PASS AWAY, THAT CAN BE LISTED AS A FACTOR IN THEIR DEATH BUT THEY ALSO CAN LIST WHETHER IT'S THE JP OR THE PHYSICIAN WHOEVER IS FILLING OUT THAT DEATH CERTIFICATE CAN LIST ANY NUMBER OF THINGS THAT THEY FEEL CONTRIBUTED TO THAT DEATH. THE STATE DOES PROVIDE SPECIFIC GUIDANCE TO SAY IF SOMEONE PASSES AWAY AND THEY ARE COVID POSITIVE AND IT WAS A CAR WRECK AND THE OBVIOUS REASON THEY PASSED AWAY WAS BECAUSE THEY SUSTAINED UNSURVIVABLE INJURIES IN A CAR WRECK, THEN THAT SHOULD NOT BE COUNTED AS A COVID DEATH.

SO THERE'S SOME SPECIFIC LANGUAGE IN THE GUIDANCE THAT THE STATE PROVIDES THAT STIPULATES THAT KIND OF

SITUATION. >> THANK YOU.

>> COUNCILMAN HURT. >> CAN WE SAY THAT THESE TESTS

CAN BE INACCURATE? >> ABSOLUTELY.

WE CAN GET FALSE POSITIVES AND WE CAN GET FALSE NEGATIVES AND WE HEAR STORIES ALL THE TIME OF BOTH.

>> SO IF WE HAVE A CONFIRMED FALSE POSITIVE, DOES THAT COME

OFF THE COUNT AS AN ACTIVE CASE? >> SO WHEN YOU SAY A CONFIRMED FALSE POSITIVE, CAN YOU EXPLAIN --

>> SAY THEY HAD AN ANTIGEN TEST AND THEY WERE POSITIVE THEN THEY HAD A PCR TEST AND THEY WERE NEGATIVE.

>> SO WHICH ONE WAS WRONG? >> YOU TELL ME.

THE PCR IS THE GOLD STANDARD. >> SO THAT'S WHY WE ALWAYS SAY THESE ARE TOOLS THAT A CLINICIAN, A TRAINED MEDICAL PERSON CAN TAKE THESE THREE DIFFERENT TOOLS ANTIBODY, ANTIGEN, AND PCR AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT TOOL AND THE RESULT OF THAT TEST, THEY CAN SAY YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS CONSISTENT WITH COVID, WE HAVE TESTED YOU AND YOU'RE NEGATIVE FOR FLU AND STREP AND EVERYTHING ELSE WE KNOW TO TEST YOU FOR.

THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES PRE-COVID IF YOUR WHOLE FAMILY HAS THE FLU AND YOUR FINAL CHILD, THE ONE THAT HAD HELD OUT THE LONGEST, YOU CALL THE DOCTOR AND SAY THEY'VE GOT SOME SYMPTOMS, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO AND THEY SAY I DON'T EVEN NEED TO SEE THAT CHILD I'M GOING TO CALL YOU IN SOME TAMIFLU BECAUSE THEIR CLINICAL JUDGMENT AND EXPERIENCE SAYS EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE HOUSEHOLD HAS THIS, I'M GOING TO PRESUME THAT YOU HAVE IT ALSO.

SO I THINK THAT IN A PRE-COVID ERA THESE ARE ACCEPTABLE PRACTICES FOR THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY.

BUT I THINK PEOPLE HAVE A REALLY HARD TIME WITH THIS APPLYING THAT SAME KIND OF LOGIC AND MEDICAL TRAINING TO MAKE THAT SAME KIND OF DECISION. SO IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE A CLINICIAN SAYING WE THINK YOU HAVE COVID.

WHATEVER THE TEST RESULT IS COULD BE POSITIVE, COULD BE NEGATIVE, WE THINK YOU HAVE COVID.

SO IS IT PERFECT? NO.

>> AND I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT JUST LIKE YOU JUST EXACTLY SAID IS WE THINK YOU HAVE.

>> RIGHT. >> AND WE'RE BASING ALL OF THESE NUMBERS ON POSITIVES ON WE THINK YOU HAVE.

>> IT'S THE BEST MEDICAL INFORMATION WE HAVE --

>> I'M NOT DISAGREEING. WE DON'T HAVE VERY GOOD TESTS, THAT'S ALL I'M TRYING TO SAY IS THESE TESTS CAN BE VERY INACCURATE. BUT THESE ARE THE NUMBERS THAT WE'RE HAVING TO PROVIDE AND BASE ALL OF THIS ON.

>> RIGHT. >> I THINK ANETTE FAIRLY EXPLAINED THE NEED TO HAVE BOTH CLINICAL CRITERIA AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL LINKAGES, SAY THAT TEN TIMES FAST, AS PART OF ANY DIAGNOSIS. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT NEVER SAYS YOU HAVE COVID. IF YOU GET A TEST AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT'S DONE, THE RESULTS ARE LOOKED AT AND A COMMENT MEDICAL AUTHORITY WILL RENDER AN OPINION.

NEITHER ANETTE OR MYSELF, WE DON'T PRACTICE MEDICINE OR HAVE

[01:20:01]

THE ABILITY TO DO THAT. WE'RE NOT DIAGNOSING PEOPLE WITH

COVID. >> THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING, WE DON'T NEED TO PUT OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT ON TRIAL HERE.

THESE ARE THE GUIDELINES WE HAVE TO WORK BY AND THEY CAN BE

EXTREMELY INACCURATE. >> I JUST CAN'T THANK STAFF ENOUGH FOR HOW THEY HAVE RESPONDING IN MIDSTREAM TO SET ASIDE I.T. SPECIALISTS AND CREATE SOFTWARE FOR THE PANDEMIC AND THEN TO RESEARCH AND SEE HOW THE COMMUNITY IS REPORTING THINGS AND BY ALSO ENGAGING THE LOCAL MEDICAL COMMUNITY TO RESPOND TO EXPECTATIONS FROM OUR CITIZENS TO ALLOW THEM TO BE EQUIPPED TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR THEIR LIVES.

I APPRECIATE YOU, MR. HANNA, AND ALL OF THOSE YOU'RE WORKING WITH TO RESPOND TO THE PANDEMIC IN ABILENE, TEXAS.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO THANK THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. THEY WORK COUNTLESS HOURS.

AND THEY GET A LOT OF STONES WHICH YOU COULD AT THEM FROM TIME TO TIME PARTLY BECAUSE WE AS A NATION HAVE POLARIZED THIS, FOR RIGHT OR WRONG, WE'VE POLARIZED IT.

AND HISTORY MAY JUDGE US FOR THAT.

BUT THIS IS WHAT WE'RE LIVING IN RIGHT NOW.

I THINK THEY TRY TO DO THEIR LEVEL BEST TO PRESENT TRANSPARENT AND FACTUAL INFORMATION TO THIS COMMUNITY.

I AM PROUD OF WHAT THEY HAVE DONE AND I STAND BEHIND THE WORK

PRODUCT THAT THEY HAVE PRODUCED. >> I'VE GOT ONE MORE QUICK QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW IF ANETTE, BUT WHEN WE HAVE NUMBERS THAT HAVE RECOVERED IS THAT FROM US FOLLOWING UP WITH THE PATIENTS AND CONFIRMING THEY HAVE RECOVERED OR IS THERE LIKE A 14 DAY OR 21 DAY WINDOW AND THEY AUTOMATICALLY ROLL OFF. I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW WE

DETERMINE THAT NUMBER. >> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

SO IN THE BEGINNING PRE-ANTIGEN TESTS WE WERE HAVING CLINICIANS OR NURSES CALL THEM AND FOLLOW UP WITH EVERY POSITIVE PATIENT.

SO WE HAD A SYSTEM THAT WAS CASE MANAGEMENT.

IT WAS A SHARED GOOGLE SHEET AND THEY WOULD GO IN AND MARK THEM AS DID THEY MEET THE TEST BASED CRITERIA OR THE SYMPTOM BASED CRITERIA FOR RELEASE FROM ISOLATION AND IT WAS INDIVIDUALIZED. AFTER ANTIGEN TESTS CAME ON BOARD AND THERE WAS A LOT QUICKER TURN AROUND FOR A NUMBER OF POSITIVES ALL AT ONCE, WE SWITCHED TO A FORMULA.

AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO MIRROR WELL RIGHT NOW WE'RE DOING LIKE A 21 DAY ROLL OFF. SO FROM THEIR TEST DATE IT WILL BE A 21 DAY ROLL OFF. WHEN WE GET A NEW, WE'VE GOT SOME SOFTWARE THAT WE'RE ORDERING AND SO IT WILL BE ABLE TO FIGURE AND DO A LITTLE MORE CONSISTENT OR PRECISE FIGURING WITH OUR NUMBERS. SO IT TAKES BASICALLY 20% OF YOUR ACTIVE CASES BECAUSE ABOUT 20% ARE GOING TO BE HOSPITALIZED. SO IT'S GOING TO GIVE THEM A 30 DAY ROLL OFF AND THEN WITH YOUR SELF-ISOLATED WHICH IS ABOUT 80% OF YOUR ACTIVES, IT'S GOING TO ROLL THEM OFF AT 14 DAYS.

SO IT WILL BE A LITTLE BIT MORE PRECISE BUT RIGHT NOW THE

CRITERIA IS THE 21 DAY ROLL OFF. >> AND EXPLAIN THE PROCESS.

I WAS IN CONTACT WITH A COVID-19 POSITIVE.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS? WE KNOW THAT WE LIVE IN -- I CAN PAY TO GET A TEST, BUT FOR THE HEALTH DISTRICT TO GIVE A TEST, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE, IF I'M IN CONTACT WITH A COVID-19 POSITIVE, DO I AUTOMATICALLY GET THE TEST RIGHT THEN OR WHAT'S OUR POLICY, WHAT ARE THE CDC GUIDELINES?

>> WHEN SOMEONE CALLS TO BE SCREENED FOR A TEST AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DO CALL IMMEDIATELY AFTER AN EXPOSURE BECAUSE THEY JUST DON'T KNOW. USUALLY IT'S NOT HELPFUL TO TEST IMMEDIATELY AFTER AN EXPOSURE BECAUSE YOU WOULD LIKELY GET A NEGATIVE TEST RESULT. THE INCUBATION PERIOD IS BETWEEN 2 AND 14 DAYS. SO WHEN YOU ARE TOLD TO SELF-QUARANTINE BECAUSE YOU'VE HAD AN EXPOSURE THE 14 DAYTIME PERIOD IS BECAUSE THE INCUBATION PERIOD CAN TAKE THAT LONG.

IF SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE TESTED, SAY FOR EXAMPLE LIKE A FIRST RESPONDER, THEY MAY BE TESTED BASED ON AN EXPOSURE, BUT WE LIKE FOR THEM TO WAIT AT LEAST IDEALLY AT LEAST FIVE DAYS BUT BETTER TO WAIT SEVEN DAYS SO THAT IF THEY ARE GOING TO BECOME POSITIVE, YOU'VE GIVEN THAT INCUBATION PERIOD ENOUGH TIME TO DEVELOP THE VIRUS. IT'S NOT HELPFUL TO COME IN ON DAY TWO AFTER AN EXPOSURE BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO GET A NEGATIVE TEST RESULT AND YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE GOING ABOUT YOUR LIFE UNKNOWINGLY EXPOSING OTHER PEOPLE AS YOU DEVELOP THE VIRUS. SO THAT'S KIND OF HOW WE SCREEN PEOPLE. WE'RE GOING TO LOOK FOR

[01:25:02]

SYMPTOMS, WE'RE GOING TO ADVISE ON IT'S BEST TO QUARANTINE FOR NOW BASED ON YOUR EXPOSURE IF YOU CAN.

IF YOU ARE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, YOU'VE GOT A JOB WHERE YOU CAN'T JUST AFFORD TO ISOLATE YOURSELF FOR 14 DAYS, AT LEAST WEAR YOUR MASK WHILE YOU ARE AROUND OTHERS AND IF YOU BEOME SYMPTOMATIC, YOU NEED TO CONTACT YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY. AND THAT'S ONE THING WE ALSO RECOMMEND IS THAT THEY REACH OUT TO THEIR OWN HEALTH CARE PROVIDER. THIS IS SOMEONE WHO KNOWS THEIR MEDICAL HISTORY AND CAN ADVISE MUCH BETTER THAN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE ENCOUNTERED THEM. WE DON'T KNOW YOUR FULL MEDICAL HISTORY. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF RISK YOU'RE AT. IT'S BEST TO REACH OUT TO THEIR OWN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.

>> THANK YOU. >> I HAVE ONE.

IS IT SAFE TO ASSUME THAT WHEN YOU ADMIT THEM TO THE HOSPITAL AND THEY COME UP ON THE MORNING REPORT THAT THEY'RE IN THE HOSPITAL THAT IT'S 100% ACCURATE THEY HAVE THE VIRUS.

THEY MAY HAVE UNDERLYING OTHER THINGS BUT YOU THINK BY THEN

IT'S 100% ACCURATE. >> SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WHEN THEY ARE ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL, THEY DO THEIR OWN TEST. THEY ADMINISTER THE PCR TEST AND

GET CONFIRMATION. >> THAT'S REALLY THE NUMBER I LOOK AT AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT BY CITY OR COUNTY OR OUTSIDE THE COUNTY. BECAUSE THAT TELLS US HOW THE CITY IS DOING AND THAT'S WHERE I LIVE IS IN THE CITY.

>> ALL RIGHT. >> THANK YOU.

>> THAT'S WHAT WE MONITOR AS WELL.

>> FOR MY OWN INFORMATION SO I CAN ANSWER, WHEN WE HAVE THE SIMPLE MATHEMATIC MISTAKES, THOSE COME ABOUT BECAUSE TEST IN AND TEST OUT, HOW DOES THAT COME ABOUT OR IS IT JUST A FLAW IN

THE SYSTEM? >> SO IT JUST DEPENDS.

WHAT HAPPENS RIGHT NOW WITH OUR SYSTEM IS THAT THERE IS A DASHBOARD AND THAT DASHBOARD IS AUTOMATICALLY POPULATED FROM ALL OF THE DATA ENTRY THAT GOES ON ON THE VARIOUS OTHER SHEETS IN THE SYSTEM. AND SO KIND OF THE SAME WAY IT'S ABSOLUTELY 1,000 TIMES BETTER THAN WE WERE DOING WITH GOOGLE SHEETS. BUT YOU CAN STILL HAVE SOME ERRORS IN THERE. IF YOU OMIT CHECKING A BOX SOMEWHERE OR SOMETHING AND IT DOESN'T POPULATE THAT REPORTING DASHBOARD APPROPRIATELY. AND OUR STAFF IS REALLY GOOD ABOUT GOING AND JUST MAKING SURE DOUBLE CHECKING LIKE DOES EVERYTHING ADD UP, IS IT GOOD. BUT SOME OF THOSE DAYS ARE CRAZY AND IT MAY JUST SLIP BY THEM. SO THEY'RE HONEST ERRORS.

WE DO USUALLY KNOW HOW TO DO MATH.

BUT IT'S JUST IN THE MIDST OF A FAST PACED ENVIRONMENT AND A MISTAKE OF ENTRY AND MAYBE NOT CHECKING A BOX IS USUALLY WHAT

IT BOILS DOWN TO. >> SO WE SHOULD JUST INVITE THE PUBLIC IN AND SEE WHAT GOES ON, HUH?

>> WE'RE HAPPY TO HOST PEOPLE AND WALK THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS. THE ONES THAT WE HAVE DONE THAT FOR HAVE BEEN AMAZED AT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IT TAKES TO

MAKE THAT SYSTEM WORK. >> THANK YOU.

>> I DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW PROUD I AM OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HERE.

I GET TIRED OF OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT GETTING BEAT UP.

AND I KNOW MY QUESTIONS WERE KIND OF STERN.

THOSE WEREN'T DIRECTED TO YOU, I'M JUST TRYING TO PUT SOME REAL NUMBERS OUT THERE BECAUSE Y'ALL HAVE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB.

>> I APPRECIATE THAT. >> BUT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING HERE IS OUR POLICIES ON PUTTING THESE NUMBERS OUT.

THE STATE HAS NOT COME OUT WITH ANY UNIFORM TEST INFORMATION THAT THEY WANT. SO WHAT IS UNIFORM? WHAT ARE WE DISCUSSING HERE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT WE PUT OUT, THEY'RE GOING TO SAY DALLAS DOES THIS AND LUBBOCK DOES THIS. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT GUIDANCE TO

GIVE YOU, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING OF THE COUNCIL? THANK YOU.

AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? IF SO, PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME FOR

THE RECORD. >> GOOD EVENING, CYNTHIA.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF SUGGESTIONS THAT I THINK MIGHT BE HELPFUL.

WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT TXDHHS'S WEBSITE THEY HAVE A DATABASE THAT CONTAINS ALL OF THE INFORMATION THEY'RE REQUIRING MUNICIPALITIES TO REPORT. AND SO THEY DO HAVE A FORMAT THAT IS EXTREMELY USER FRIENDLY AND READER FRIENDLY.

I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF CONFUSION ON THE READER'S END WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DATA AND

[01:30:03]

THE WAY THAT IT'S PRESENTED. AND IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE CONSIDERING THE WAY IN WHICH THE REQUIREMENTS ARE CHANGING SO RAPIDLY. IT'S REALLY AT NO FAULT OF ANYONE. BUT ON THE READER'S END IT DOES LOOK A LITTLE, IT'S A LITTLE CONFUSING TO READ ESPECIALLY BECAT IT LOOKS CONTINUES TO CHANGE.

SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS HELPFUL WHEN I LOOKED AT IT.

ANOTHER RECOMMENDATION THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST IS INCLUDING THE SEVEN DAY AVERAGE FOR THE POSITIVITY RATE CONSIDERING THAT'S HOW THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT HE DECIDES TO CLOSE DOWN THE STATE.

AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THE READERS AS WELL AS THE CITIZENS TO KNOW WHERE WE ARE IN REGARDS TO HOW WE'RE DOING IN REGARDS TO COVID-19. SO JUST A COUPLE OF SUGGESTIONS THAT I THINK WOULD HELP ALLEVIATE ANY KIND OF STRESS THAT'S ON THE READER'S END OR THAT'S ON THE CITIZENS END.

IT WILL ALLEVIATE A LOT OF CONFUSION AS WELL AND PROBABLY KEEP PEOPLE FROM COMING UP HERE YELLING AT Y'ALL.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL. DAVID SCHWARTZ AGAIN.

AS THE MAYOR PRO TEM POINTED OUT, THE SIGN SOMETIMES IS NOT EXACTLY ACCURATE. I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, 75 YEARS AGO LAST THURSDAY BEFORE THE TRINITY TEST THEY ASKED THE SCIENTISTS WOULD YOU RUN THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN BECAUSE THEY WERE AFRAID THEY WOULD SET THE ATMOSPHERE ON FIRE AND DESTROY THE WHOLE EARTH. AND THE SCIENTISTS TURNED OUT OH WE MADE A MISTAKE, WE GOT A DECIMAL POINT IN THE WRONG SPOT.

I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF CYNICAL THINGS ON THE INTERNET AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT THE REPORTING AND MISREPORTING OF ALL OF THESE CASES. I KNOW FOR INSTANCE A FRIEND OF A FRIEND FILLED OUT THE PAPERWORK BUT HE GOT TIRED OF WAITING SO HE LEFT. AND ABOUT A WEEK LATER HE GOT A LETTER IN THE MAIL YOU'VE BEEN TESTED POSITIVE.

STUFF LIKE THAT SCARES YOU, YOU WONDER HOW ACCURATE IT IS.

IT'S LIKE THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, MAYBE ONE DAY THEY'RE TESTING REPORTS THIS WAY AND ANOTHER WAY THE OTHER WAY.

AND YOU SEE THESE BRIEFINGS WITH THE WHITE HOUSE.

THEY STARTED THEM UP AGAIN AND YOU'LL HAVE MIKE PENCE ON THERE TALKING ABOUT THIS TEST THEY DO, THEY GO UP AND PRETTY WELL STICK THIS SWAB UP IN YOUR BRAIN AND THEN YOU'LL HEAR THE PRESIDENT SAY I PREFER THIS OTHER ONE THAT IS ONE THAT YOU CAN DO IN 5 OR 10 MINUTES AND HE SAID YESTERDAY IN HIS BRIEFING THAT HE USUALLY GETS TESTED DAILY. AND ALL OF THESE NUMBERS AND THESE DIFFERENT THINGS ABOUT THIS IS A CERTAIN TEST AND THIS IS A CERTAIN TEST AND WHEN YOU SEE THE VICE PRESIDENT AND PRESIDENT SAYING WELL THIS IS THE TEST I PREFER AND THEN THEY TALK ABOUT THE TEST WHERE THEY PUT AND IT WOULD BE NICE FOR US COMMON FOLK TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS TEST THAT THE PRESIDENT OR VICE PRESIDENT TOUTED ABOUT THE 5 OR 15 MINUTE RESULT AND THE ONE THAT THEY PUT THE SWAB UP AND IT TAKES TWO WEEKS OR A WEEK TO GET BACK.

AND THE DIFFERENCE IN THESE POSITIVE AND PROBABLE POSITIVE AND STUFF. AND YOU HEAR ALL OF THIS, YOU JUST WELL WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK.

AND THEN I MEAN THE NEWS MEDIA COMING OUT AND THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT DOING THESE BRIEFINGS AND THEN YOU HEAR THIS FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT EVERY DAY, OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND YOU DON'T KNOW. YOU SAY THERE'S X AMOUNT OF CASES POSITIVE AND THEN YOU THINK WELL IS THAT LIKE THEY WERE JUST DEBATING HERE, IS THAT THIS ONE TEST OR IS IT THIS OTHER TEST OR BOTH OR WHATEVER, IT'S VERY CONFUSING.

LIKE I SAID SCIENTISTS CAN BE WRONG LIKE I SAID 75 YEARS.

I HOPE YOU CAN DO IT WHERE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND IT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR DIRECTION FROM

STAFF? >> MAYOR, I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT, I KNOW YOU DON'T LIKE ME TO TALK ABOUT PERCENTAGES, BUT THE DEATH RATE PERCENTAGE IN TAYLOR COUNTY IS .009% OF THE POPULATION. AND THE DEATH RATE OF THOSE WHO HAVE HAD COVID IS -- THAT'S A SMALL, SMALL NUMBER.

WE'VE HEARD THE GOVERNOR AND EVERYBODY ELSE TALKING FACTS ABOUT COVID. BUT THE ONLY FACT I REALLY KNOW AND I WANT TO PUT OUT THERE IS A POLITICIAN CAN'T STOP A VIRUS.

[01:35:05]

>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER HURT.

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL?

>> I JUST THINK THAT WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO DO IS DO OUR BEST WITH AS ANETTE MENTIONED POSSIBLY IMPERFECT NUMBERS.

BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'VE GOT IS TO DO OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE INFORMATION, AS MUCH INFORMATION AS WE CAN GIVE THEM AND FOR SOME PEOPLE THAT WILL NEVER BE ENOUGH AND FOR SOME PEOPLE IT WILL BE MORE THAN WHAT THEY NEED.

BUT IF WE CAN TAKE A STEP TO WHERE WE DO TRY TO PROVIDE THE PUBLIC WITH AS MUCH INFORMATION AS WE CAN I THINK THAT'S A GOOD STEP FOR US JUST TO GET THAT INFORMATION IN THEIR HANDS.

>> I JUST WANT TO COMMUNICATE FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO ON BEHALF OF THIS COUNCIL AND THIS CITY ADMINISTRATION PROVIDE CONDOLENCES FOR THE TWO ADDITIONAL CITIZENS WHO PASSED THIS WEEK, THAT'S 13 TOTAL, VERY MINDFUL OF THAT.

AND I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT OVER 500 WHO HAVE HAD THE VIRUS IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE RECOVERED AND I WANT TO AGAIN JUST APPRECIATE THE RESPONSE. THE RESPONSE OF STAFF AND HOW THEY'VE HANDLED THEMSELVES AND REALLY TRYING TO PUT THE BEST FOOT FORTH IN REGARDS TO ADDRESSING COVID-19 ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IF WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MANAGE IN HINDSIGHT THAT THINGS WOULD BE DONE DIFFERENTLY.

BUT I THINK THAT STAFF HAS RESPONDED WELL.

I THINK THIS COUNCIL HAS RESPONDED WELL.

AND SO WE'RE NOT TAKING THIS LIGHTLY, BUT WE ALSO DON'T WANT TO OVERREACT AND THERE IS A BALANCE.

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OF THE COUNCIL?

>> I JUST WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT AS WAS MENTIONED WE HAVE OUR NUMBERS REPORTED SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

AND THE NUMBERS ARE NOT JUST POPPING OUT OF A COMPUTER, IT'S TAKING STAFF TIME SEVEN DAYS A WEEK TO KEEP UP WITH THAT INFORMATION. AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, OUR PUBLIC HEALTH EMPLOYEES ARE NOT JUST DOING MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 9:00 TO 5:00.

THEY ARE WORKING EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK AND THIS IS A TRYING TIME AND I APPRECIATE WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

>> ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS BEFORE I GET A MOTION AND

SECOND? >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

>> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MCALISTER.

>> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COUNCILMAN PRICE.

READY TO VOTE. >> MAYOR PRO TEM.

>> YES. >> COUNCIL MEMBER PRICE.

>> YES. >> COUNCIL MEMBER RENTZ.

>> YES. >> COUNCIL MEMBER MCALISTER.

>> YES. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CRAVER.

[19. Ordinance (Final Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on an Ordinance amending Chapter 32 "Utilities", Article VI "Water Conservation Plan", of the Abilene Municipal Code by amending Section 32141, Section 32142, Section 32143, and Section 32145. (Rodney Taylor)]

>> YES. >> ITEM PASSES.

>> WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER 19.

AND WE'LL ASK RODNEY TAYLOR DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES TO PRESENT

THIS ITEM. >> GOOD EVENING I'M RODNEY TAYLOR, DIRECTOR OF WATER UTILITIES.

THIS ITEM BEFORE YOU IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE WATER CONSERVATION PLAN OUT OF CITY CODE WATER UTILITY CODE CHAPTER 32. THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO SOME MISSING ELEMENTS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED BY THE TCEQ.

DURING A FIVE YEAR REVIEW OF OUR DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN, PRETTY SIMPLE CHANGES THAT REALLY HAVE VERY LITTLE IMPACT ON THE PLAN, BUT IT IS NECESSARY TO MAKE THESE CHANGES.

JUST QUICKLY ONE OF THOSE IS TO MODIFY THE CONTRACT SO THAT THE WATER PROVIDER, IN THIS CASE THE CITY MANAGER, IS AUTHORIZED TO INITIATE THE ALLOCATION OF WATER SUPPLIES IN A PRO-RATA BASIS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TEXAS WATER CODE.

ANOTHER MODIFICATION IS THAT ALL NEW AND RENEWED WATER SUPPLY CONTRACTS WITH WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS MUST INCLUDE LANGUAGE THAT THE CITY WILL DIVIDE WATER DURING A DROUGHT SITUATION IN A PRO-RATA STYLE AND THAT EACH OF THE WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS WILL BE ENTITLED TO A PROPORTIONAL AMOUNT BASED ON THEIR CONTRACT BASICALLY AS COMPARED TO THE OTHERS AND THERE WILL NOT BE PREFERENCEAL TREATMENT FROM ONE TO ANOTHER.

[01:40:01]

THE TERMINATION OF ANY DROUGHT RESPONSE STAGE SHALL BE IN ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE PUBLIC AND WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS AT A MEDIA CONFERENCE AND WILL BE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, MR. TAYLOR.

ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. TAYLOR PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING? THANK YOU, RODNEY. AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TOO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? IF SO, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTION OR COMMENTS, IF NOT I'LL TAKE A

MOTION AND SECOND. >> MOTION AND SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? READY TO VOTE.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER PRICE. >> YES.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER RENTZ. >> YES.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER MCALISTER. >> YES.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER CRAVER. >> YES.

[20. Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Appointing Members to Various Boards and Commissions per the City Charter (Shawna Atkinson)  Betty Hardwick Center Board  Landmarks Commission  Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Board (TIRZ)]

>> THE ITEM CARRIES. >> I MOVE TO ITEM 20.

PROVIDING THE REAPPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE VARIOUS BOARDS AS OUTLINED IN EXHIBIT A. AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? IF SO PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

>> CYNTHIA. I KEEP TAKING THIS ON AND OFF.

I JUST HAVE A QUESTION IN REGARDS TO WHERE SOMEONE OR A RESIDENT COULD LOCATE INFORMATION IN CONNECTION WITH THE TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT BOARD.

I'M A DIGGER, I DIG. AND I CANNOT FIND IT ANYWHERE ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE. SO I MAY BE LOOKING IN THE WRONG SPOT, I'M NOT REALLY SURE IF, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF IT'S ON THERE. I'M WONDERING IF IT'S NOT ON

THERE, IS IT ON THERE? >> WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION?

>> THE MEMBERSHIP FOR THE COMMITTEE?

>> RIGHT THE NAMES OF THE BOARD MEMBERS IS THAT LOCATED ON THE

CITY'S WEBSITE? >> IS IT ON THERE ?

>> YES, IT IS. >> I'LL KEEP DIGGING.

ANOTHER QUESTION I HAVE IN REGARDS TO THE TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE AND NOT NECESSARILY THE BOARD BUT JUST THE INFORMATION. IS THAT INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE AS TO HOW MUCH MONEYS ARE COLLECTED, WHAT PRIVATE INVESTORS WERE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM TAX INCREMENT FINANCING, I'M NOT ABLE TO FIND ANY OF THAT INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE SO I'M JUST WONDERING IF THAT IS READILY AVAILABLE TO ABILENE RESIDENTS WITHOUT HAVING TO SUBMIT A PUBLIC INFORMATIONS

REQUEST? >> AREN'T THE MINUTES PUBLISHED ON THE WEBSITE? SO THE MINUTES SHOULD CONTAIN

ALL OF THAT INFORMATION. >> AND THAT ALSO CONTAINS THE PRIVATE INVESTORS THAT HAVE BENEFITTED FROM THE TAX INCREMENT FINANCING, IS THERE A LIST OF ALL OF THAT?

>> THE MINUTES SHOULD INCLUDE ALL ACTIVITY.

>> AWESOME, THANK YOU. >> STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. DOES HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR ANY QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO ITEM NUMBER 20? I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND.

>> MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN

CRAVER. >> SECOND.

>> A SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ALBUS.

READY FOR A VOTE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER PRICE.

>> YES. >> COUNCIL MEMBER RENTZ.

>> YES. >> COUNCIL MEMBER MCALISTER.

[21. Emergency Resolution: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Modifying and Extending the Declaration of Local Disaster Issued June 25, 2020 (Robert Hanna)]

>> YES. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CRAVER.

>> YES. >> AND MAYOR WILLIAMS.

>> YES. >> MOTION CARRIES.

>> THIS IS A RENEWAL OF OUR LOCAL EMERGENCY ORDER OR DISASTER ORDER. OURS EXPIRE EVERY SO OFTEN.

I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANY CHANGES FROM THE LAST ORDER, IT'S JUST A RENEWAL BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER IS STILL IN PLACE. HE HASN'T AMENDED ANYTHING SINCE HIS LAST ACTIVITY, IS THAT CORRECT?

PERHAPS I AM WRONG. >> IT'S JUST AN EXTENSION OF WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN DOING.

WE'VE JUST UPDATED THE GA28. >> WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGENDA ITEM TODAY? WHY ARE WE RENEWING THIS OR

EXTENDING THIS? >> WE HAVE TO HAVE A LOCAL DECLARATION IN ORDER TO RECEIVE ANY FUNDING THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE, WE HAVE TO HAVE IT IN PLACE.

>> SO ABSENT OF THIS WOULD JEOPARDIZE YOUR ELIGIBILITY TO BE REIMBURSED FOR POSSIBLE FUTURE FUNDS THAT MAY BE ABLE TO ASSIST US RECOVERED FROM COVID-19?

>> THAT'S CORRECT. >> THANK YOU.

DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. HANNA, PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING? AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM?

[01:45:03]

IF SO PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

DOES COUNCIL HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?

>> I REALIZE THIS IS JUST A CONTINUATION.

BUT IT'S STILL IN MY OPINION A VIOLATION OF OUR RIGHTS.

WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO OPEN OUR BUSINESSES.

I'LL GIVE YOU ANOTHER EXAMPLE OUR GOVERNOR HAS JUST DONE IS OUR BREWERIES AND OUR MICROBREWERIES HAD BEEN ALLOWED TO OPEN THEIR PATIOS UP FOR INSIDE SALES AND CONSUMPTION ON THE PATIOS AND TODAY JUST OUT OF THE BLUE HE SHUTS THAT DOWN.

I'M JUST TIRED OF THIS AND THIS. I WONDER WHEN OUR CITY IS GOING TO STAND UP AND TELL THE GOVERNOR THAT THIS IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, THAT WE'RE TIRED OF BEING TOLD WHAT TO DO AND WE CAN'T OPEN OUR BUSINESSES.

I'VE ASKED OUR LEGISLATORS TO LOOK INTO IT AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO WANT TO GET OFF THE FENCE. BUT I JUST FEEL THAT THE GOVERNOR'S ACTIONS ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

>> THANK YOU, MR. HURT. QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL?

I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION AND SECOND. >> SO MOVED.

>> MOTION. >> SECOND.

>> A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN RENTZ. WE'RE READY TO VOTE.

>> YES.CIL MEMBER PRICE.- >> COUNCIL MEMBER RENTZ.

>> YES. >> COUNCIL MEMBER MCALISTER.

>> YES. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CRAVER.

[PUBLIC COMMENTS]

>> YES. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS.

>> YES. >> MOTION CARRIES.

>> THERE WILL BE NO VOTES OR ACTIONS TAKEN ON PUBLIC COMMENT.

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

IT WILL BE A THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT AND WE INVITE YOU TO

PARTICIPATE IN YOU'D LIKE. >> I'VE GOT CARDS SO WE'LL START

WITH DAVID. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL, AGAIN FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. I'D HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH YOU, COUNCILMAN PRICE, ABOUT THAT 120-FOOT POLE OVER THERE ON 6TH, IF IT FALLS IT'S GOING TO HIT THE STRIP CENTER THERE.

SO I DON'T THINK THAT LOGIC EXACTLY HOLDS UP AS FAR AS THAT GOES. BUT I JUST WENT AND LOOKED AT THAT LOCATION BEFORE COMING TO THE MEETING.

ANYWAY YOU SKIPPED THOSE FOUR ITEMS ABOUT THE BUDGET, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THAT WAS.

BUT I KNOW DURING THE BUDGET YOU MENTIONED A POSSIBLE ADDING A HOLIDAY JUNETEENTH. AND I'M NOT AGAINST THAT BUT I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF IT WAS GOING TO BE PROPOSED IN THAT YOUTUBE VIDEO I SAW IS IT COULD BE POSSIBLY AN OPTIONAL DAY, IF A PERSON DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE IT, THEY COULD TAKE A PERSONAL DAY, THAT WOULD BE FINE I THINK. BUT THEY MENTIONED ALSO IMPACTING BUDGET THE NEXT TWO YEARS, JUNETEENTH WOULD BE ON THE WEEKEND, SO THAT MEANS YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE LIKE THE FEDS AND EITHER TAKE OFF MONDAY OR FRIDAY FOR THAT PURPOSE.

BUT LIKE I SAID I'M NOT OPPOSED TO IT BUT I'M SURE SOME PEOPLE WOULD RATHER TAKE A PERSONAL HOLIDAY MAYBE INSTEAD OF JUNETEENTH OFF. AND THE LAST THING I BROUGHT UP IN THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING ABOUT THE AMI REPLACEMENT METER CONTRACTOR, THEY DID NOT NOTIFY OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT COMING TO HAVE THE METERS INSTALLED. I CALLED THE HOTLINE AND THEY SAID YES, YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AND I SAID WELL I WASN'T NOTIFIED AT ALL. AND IN THE VIDEO THAT MAURY HAD MADE HE SAID YOU'LL BE LEFT A DOOR TAG HANGER SO IF THERE'S AN ISSUE AFTER THE METER IS SWITCHED OUT, I DID NOT RECEIVE THAT. AND LIKE I BROUGHT UP LAST MONTH ON MY UTILITY STATEMENTS HERE I HAVE THE ONE THAT WAS DUE IN JUNE HERE AND IT SAYS NO USAGE, BUT THEN THE ONE THAT WAS DUE ON THE 14TH OF JULY HERE IT SAYS 0 AND 0 BUT THEN THEY'RE BILLING ME FOR WATER. BUT THERE'S NO EXPLANATION ON THAT. AND LIKE I TOLD THEM, I CALLED TODAY AND OF COURSE YOU GET THAT AUTOMATED SYSTEM, YOU'RE CALLER NUMBER 28, YOU'RE CALLER NUMBER 28.

BUT THEY SWITCHED ME SOMEHOW TO THE HOTLINE AGAIN AND I TOLD HER THE PROBLEM IS ON THIS STATEMENT THERE IS NO EXPLANATION, YOU CAN'T SEND OUT A STATEMENT TO SOMEBODY AND SAY YOU USED 0 WATER BUT WE'RE BILLING YOU FOR WATER CHARGE.

IT NEEDS TO SAY JUST LIKE YOUR EECTRIC RETAIL PROVIDER, WE CHANGED THE METER ON THIS DATE, THE OLD METER WAS THIS READING, THE NEW METER WAS THIS READING. IT DOES NOT SAY THAT AND I TOLD

[01:50:03]

THEM THEY NEED TO CHANGE THAT BUT I STILL HAVEN'T GOT THROUGH TO THE BILLING DEPARTMENT. I DON'T KNOW IF I'LL EVER GET THROUGH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL.

>> WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO OVER THE BUDGET PROCEDURES BECAUSE WE TOOK CARE OF THAT ON TUESDAY BUT IT'S POSTED.

I WONDER IF I COULD RESPOND TO THE JUNETEENTH HOLIDAY I SPOKE TO THE OTHER DAY OR IS THAT A VIOLATION?

>> SINCE THE QUESTION WAS ASKED YOU CAN RESPOND.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DAVID. DAVID DOESN'T MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WE APPRECIATE THAT. MR. HAMMOND HAD TO TAKE AN EXIT THE OTHER DAY. WE HAD TALKED AND HAD CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT. HE HAD AN EMERGENCY HE HAD TO ATTEND TO. SINCE THEN, DAVID, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT JUNETEENTH, WHAT'S BEEN OUR POLICY IN THE PAST AND I'M IN SUPPORT OF JUNETEENTH AS A HOLIDAY, WE'VE SURVEYED OTHER CITIES AND HAD THAT CONVERSATION.

AND SO I JUMPED THE GUN MAYBE A LITTLE BIT, MR. HAMMOND.

BUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS THAT WILL NOT BE PART OF THE BUDGET OR CHANGE THIS UPCOMING YEAR.

IT DOES FALL ON A WEEKEND NEXT YEAR AS YOU POINTED OUT.

BUT WE DO WANT TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS LATE FALL, EARLY NEXT YEAR THAT LEADS INTO OUR WORKSHOP IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY TO HAVE ROBUST CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.

COULD BE A FLOATING HOLIDAY, COULD BE OTHER HOLIDAYS.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU.

WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

>> I HAVE A ELDUS SALINAS. I THINK SHE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT

THE BUDGET SINCE IT WAS POSTED. >> AND SO WE'RE ALLOWED TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET SINCE IT WAS POSTED, IS THAT CORRECT?

TO RESPOND, IS THAT ACCURATE? >> TECHNICALLY YOU'VE ALREADY PASSED THE FIRST READING OF THE BUDGET.

IF YOU WANTED TO GO BACK AND REOPEN ONE OF THOSE BUDGET ITEMS, YOU COULD DO THAT SINCE IT'S ON THE AGENDA.

>> JUST FOR RESPONSE? >> RIGHT.

>> BUT IF THERE'S A FACTUAL QUESTION YOU CAN RESPOND.

>> IF IT'S FACTUAL, WE CAN RESPOND TO A FACTUAL QUESTION.

>> HI. I DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT THIS, BUT I HAD SOME IDEAS AND BECAUSE OF THE COVID AND PEOPLE GETTING CUT BACK ON THE HOURS THAT THEY WORK OUR TAXES ON OUR PROPERTIES HAVE GONE UP, NOT WHAT YOU SAID BUT WHAT

THE -- TAX APPRAISAL DISTRICT. >> THE TAX APPRAISAL DISTRICT APPRAISED OUR HOUSES HIGHER IN THIS TIME.

AND SO YOU GO TO THEM AND YOU ASK FOR THEM TO AT LEAST KEEP IT THE SAME AND THEY DENY IT AND THEY SAID WELL YOU NEED TO GO TO THIS MEETING AND TELL THEM TO SEE IF THEY CAN CUT BACK ON THE TAX RATE SO THAT THE OVERALL YOU PAY LESS.

THAT'S WHAT THEY DID IN WILEY. AND I SAID OKAY, I'LL GO DO THAT BUT I DOUBT THAT THAT WILL HAPPEN.

SO THAT WAS AN IDEA THAT I WAS WONDERING IF YOU GUYS HAD THOUGHT ABOUT THAT FOR JUST THE NEXT YEAR, FOR THIS YEAR AND NEXT YEAR SO THAT OUR TAXES DON'T GO UP A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT IN THIS TIME WHEN WE'VE HAD OUR HOURS CUT BACK, YES WE HAVE A JOB BUT OUR HOURS WERE CUT BACK OR PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS OR LOST THEIR BUSINESSES, THAT TAX ON THEIR PROPERTIES WENT UP.

AND IT'S LIKE IN THIS TIME OF COVID, THEY STILL INCREASED YOUR PROPERTY, THE WORTH ON YOUR PROPERTY.

THEY DIDN'T EVEN TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE DIFFICULTIES THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH. THEY SAID COME TO YOU, GO TO YOUR SCHOOL BOARD, SO THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE FOR.

AND THEN I WAS READING THE NEWSPAPER AND IT SAID YOU HAD A 900,000 EXTRA REVENUE, RIGHT? --

>> SO I THINK THERE IS $936,000 INCREASED IN APPRECIATIONS, OF THAT ABOUT $600,000 A LITTLE MORE THAN THAT WAS ON NEW DEVELOPMENT ADDED. AND SO IT'S AROUND $300,000 IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD OF INCREASED VALUATIONS ON PREVIOUS

APPRECIATIONS OF PROPERTY. >> AND THAT'S WHAT THE TAX APPRAISER WAS SAYING THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH NEW BUILDINGS GOING

[01:55:02]

AROUND THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MANAGE THE BUDGET ON WHAT WE HAVE INSTEAD OF, THAT YOU COULD MAKE THE TAX RATE GO BACK DOWN.

>> YOU CAN FINISH. I TOOK SOME OF YOUR TIME.

>> AND THEN SO IF WE HAD THAT EXTRA THAT THAT EXTRA WASN'T GOING TO BE ALLOCATED FOR LIKE THE LINCOLN LIBRARY PROJECT OR THE PET SHELTER PROJECT NOW THAT YOU HAVE THIS EXTRA MONEY THAT

IS GOING TO GO TO THAT. >> SO FACTUALLY, SO THERE IS NO MONEY, OF THE LINCOLN PROJECT IS A PRIVATE SECTOR PROJECT.

THERE IS SOME SMALL BITS AND PIECES JUST SOME MAINTENANCE THAT MAY BE INCLUDED IN NEXT YEAR'S FISCAL BUDGET.

AND THE PET SHELTER, THAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AT ALL. SO THE TAX RATE HAS REMAINED THE SAME. THERE IS AN INCREASE IN ADDITIONAL DOLLARS AND PART OF THAT IS JUST TRYING TO COMPENSATE SO THAT EMPLOYEES BOTH CIVIL SERVANTS, POLICE AND FIRE WITH 2% RAISES IS A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THAT.

AND AGAIN THE FINAL BUDGET HEARING WILL BE AT 8:30 A.M. ON AUGUST 13TH. IT WILL BE A PUBLIC HEARING AND PLEASE COME AND PARTICIPATE IN THAT ON AUGUST 13TH AT 8:30 A.M.

IN THIS SAME SPOT. >> OKAY.

>> WE'RE STILL IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

>> NEXT I HAVE MARY ROSS. >> MARY ROSS.

I'M WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS. I WOULDN'T NORMALLY WANT TO READ TO YOU BUT I WORKED REALLY HARD ON THIS LETTER SO I'M JUST GOING TO READ IT TO YOU. TO MAYOR WILLIAMS, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY MANAGER ROBERT HANNA.

THANK YOU TO YOUR SUPPORT OF TWO WEST TEXAS EVENTS AT THE ABILENE CONVENTION CENTER. IN TYPICAL ABILENE FASHION WHEN WE REACHED OUT TO MAYOR WILLIAMS ABOUT THE IDEA OF HOSTING A ONE DAY EVENT TO ASSIST CITIZENS WITH WORK REGISTRATION AND A VIRTUAL JOB FAIR TO CONNECT THE EMPLOYERS AND JOB SEEKERS, HE AND THE CITY MANAGER ROBERT HANNA ENTHUSIASTICALLY SAID YES.

WE THEN APPROACHED DR. YOUNG AT ABILENE ISD ABOUT LOANING US 300 CHROMEBOOKS AND HE ALSO SAID YES.

SO WITH JUST TWO CALLS WE SECURED 300 CHROMEBOOKS AND A LARGE SPACE WITH GOOD INTERNET ACCESS AND ADEQUATE ROOM FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING. WE ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK MS. MOLLY MOSEIER AND HER TEAM AT THE CONVENTION CENTER WITH THEIR EXCELLENT ASSISTANCE IN PLANNING, SET UP, AND SUPPORT OF THE EVENT. I ALSO WANT TO THANK MAYOR WILLIAMS FOR AGREEING TO KICK OFF THE EVENT BY DOING A VIDEO TAPE OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO ALL OF THE FOLKS PARTICIPATING.

BECAUSE OF YOUR GENEROSITY IN A SINGLE DAY OVER 100 CITIZENS RECEIVED INDIVIDUALIZED ASSISTANCE TO REGISTER AND WORK IN TEXAS, THE STATE JOB MATCHING SYSTEMS. MANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WERE EXPERIENCING UNEMPLOYMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR ADULT CAREERS AND FELT SOMEWHAT OVERWHELMED BY THE LOSS OF THEIR JOBS IN THE PROCESS OF SEARCHING FOR A NEW ONE. I HAD THE PLEASURE OF BEING A GREETER AT THE EVENT THAT DAY AND OBSERVED A LOT OF THE FOLKS WERE ANXIOUS AND STRESSED AS THEY ARRIVED AT THE EVENT.

UPON EXITING, MANY OF THESE SAME FOLKS MADE A POINT OF STOPPING AND EXPRESSING THEIR APPRECIATION FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPUTER AND RECEIVE INDIVIDUALIZED ASSISTANCE.

IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT REGISTRATION EVENT WE ALSO HOSTED WEST TEXAS SUCCESS, THE RIGHT JOBS RIGHT NOW VIRTUAL JOB FAIR IN THE FOYER AREA. AND AGAIN BECAUSE OF YOUR SUPPORT WE WERE ABLE TO CONNECT 225 JOB SEEKERS WITH 33 UNIQUE EMPLOYERS VIRTUALLY THERE WERE OVER 113 DIFFERENT JOB OPPORTUNITIES REPRESENTING 5,352 JOBS AVAILABLE.

THIS WAS THE FIRST OF MANY VIRTUAL HIRING EVENTS.

AS A MATTER OF FACT WE HAVE ONE ON JULY 30TH TO HELP WEST TEXAS BUSINESSES REMAIN STRONG AND ASSIST WEST TEXANS TO RETURN TO WORK. ON BEHALF OF WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENERAL -- GENEROUS SUPPORT AND WE WANTED TO TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR THE CITIZENS OF ABILENE.

>> THANK YOU, MS. ROSS. >> MARY HEMPT.

[02:00:06]

SOME NEW CITIZENS IN HER TOWN, SHE MADE IT WORK, THANK YOU,

MARY. >> CYNTHIA.

I ALSO CAME UP HERE FOR THE BUDGET WORKSHOP.

THE ONE ON THE 22ND WAS ALSO CANCELED.

SO I'M ASSUMING ACCORDING TO WHAT MR. STANLEY STATED THAT WE'RE STILL ABLE TO DISCUSS THINGS ON THE BUDGET.

SO MS. SALINAS DID BRING UP A GOOD POINT IN THAT APPRAISALS HAVE GONE UP AS HAS OUR TAX RTES.

IT MIGHT NOT BE A TAX INCREASE BUT IT IS AN INCREASE IN REVENUES. SO LISTENING TO HER STORY YOU CAN HEAR THAT PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING.

AND SO ALTHOUGH THE TAX RATE HAS NOT INCREASED YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP IT AT THE .7751, I THINK Y'ALL SHOULD CONSIDER LOWERING THE TAX RATE. I'M RECOMMENDING .765 TO THE 2017 TAX RATE. BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE AN APPRAISAL WITH PROPERTIES AND IT WILL ALLOW YOU TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO WITH YOUR BUDGET AND NOT BURDEN THE BACKS OF ABILENE RESIDENTS. SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF

THAT'S AN OPTION? >> FACTUALLY IT'S AN OPTION.

SO THE BUDGET HEARING ON AUGUST 13TH WILL BE THE FINAL READING AND SO COUNCIL AT THAT TIME CAN MAKE ANY MODIFICATIONS

IT CHOOSES TOO. >> CAN YOU MAKE MODIFICATIONS NOW SINCE THIS IS PART OF THE BUDGET WORKSHOP?

>> IF WE OPEN BACK UP THE BUDGET, THAT COULD HAPPEN.

>> I THINK WE NEED TO DO THAT BECAUSE THERE'S PEOPLE THAT CAME UP HERE TO DISCUSS THE BUDGET, YOU PLACED IT ON THE AGENDA AND IT'S NOT FAIR TO PEOPLE TO NOT HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD AND FOR Y'ALL TO CONSIDER THAT. SO I'M REQUESTING THAT IT BE OPENED BACK UP. I'M REQUESTING THAT .7645 TAX RATE. I ALSO HAVE CITIZENS COME UP TO ME IN REGARDS TO -- PARK THANK YOU FOR GOING TO STEVENSON PARK AND GIVING IT THE REPRESENTATION IT NEEDED.

SO PROUD OF DONNA ALBUS, I LISTENED TO YOU A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AND THE WORK THAT YOU DID IN GOING TO THE PARKS.

THERE ARE CITIZENS WHO ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.

BUT THAT BEING SAID, MR. HANNAH REVEALED THERE'S $3.1 MILLION OF -- FUNDS I'M ASSUMING THAT'S AFTER THE PARK RENOVATIONS, IS

THAT CORRECT? >> 3 MILLION.

>> SO THERE'S $3 MILLION AVAILABLE IN FUNDS, IS THAT CORRECT? IS THAT CORRECT, THERE'S $3 MILLION AVAILABLE IN MIP FUNDS?

>> I THINK THAT'S FACTUAL. >> SO WE HAVE RESIDENTS THAT ARE REQUESTING THE FOLLOWING FOR STEVENSON PARK, $500,000 TO GO TOWARDS THE WALKING TRACK THAT HAS BEEN DETERIORATING THE LAST 5 OR 6 YEARS WHEN WE HAVE HAD THE BOARD, THE PARK ADVISORY BOARD PLACE THAT IN THE BUDGET. IT'S BEEN TAKEN OUT EVERY SINGLE YEAR. THEY'RE ALSO REQUESTING $20,000 FOR SAFETY LIGHTS THAT CONTAIN SECURITY CAMERAS THAT CAN BE LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE PARK BECAUSE THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO GO UP THERE AND WALK AT NIGHT.

THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A CELL PHONE BUT IN THE EVENT THAT MAYBE THEY ARE ROBBED OF THEIR CELL PHONE THEY STILL HAVE ACCESS TO THAT SAFETY BOOTH TO CONTACT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

$100,000 FOR THE ADA ACCESSIBLE FLOORING.

THERE IS A FLOORING AT THE PLAYGROUND THAT CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES CANNOT ACCESS. THAT IS NOT INCLUSIVE AND IT'S A VIOLATION OF ADA COMPLIANCE. THEY'RE ALSO REQUESTING $10,000 FOR WATER FOUNTAINS. I'M NOT SURE IF YOU NOTICED OR -- SO THE WATER FOUNTAINS ARE NOT WORKING AND I'M ASSUMING THAT MAYBE THAT COULD BE BECAUSE OF COVID-19.

THEY'RE REQUESTING $10,000. IT WILL ALLOW RESIDENTS WHEN THEY GO WALKING TO PUT A WATER CONTAINER UNDERNEATH THERE WITHOUT IT HAVING TO ACTUALLY TOUCH THE WATER FOUNTAIN.

SO YOU HAVE RESIDENTS WHO ARE ABLE TO ACCESS WATER.

THAT'S A TOTAL OF $700,000 WORTH OF RENOVATIONS THAT RESIDENTS IN THE SEARS PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ARE REQUESTING.

I'M ASKING COUNCIL TO APPROVE $700,000 OUT OF MIP FUNDS FOR

THE RENOVATIONS OF SEARS PARK. >> THANK YOU.

>> IS THAT GOING TO BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA, ARE Y'ALL GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT TONIGHT BECAUSE THAT'S WHY PEOPLE CAME UP HERE?

>> ARE YOU FINISHED? >> I'M NOT FINISHED.

>> YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK --

>> WE CAME UP HERE FOR THE BUDGET SO CAN THEY NOT DISCUSS THE BUDGET, CAN YOU NOT GET YOUR ATTORNEY'S RECOMMENDATION AS TO WHETHER WE CAN DISCUSS THE BUDGET, THIS IS THE BUDGET

[02:05:01]

WORKSHOP. THAT'S WHY PEOPLE CAME UP HERE.

HOW DOES THAT WORK, HOW IS THAT EVEN FAIR?

>> ACTUALLY THE BUDGET WORKSHOP WAS BUDGET ALLOTTED AS IT IS EVERY YEAR, THIS YEAR FOR TUESDAY AND POSSIBLY EVEN WEDNESDAY. WE HAD IT WEDNESDAY AND LIKE LAST YEAR, YEARS BEFORE IF IT CONCLUDES PRIOR TO THOSE DAYS, THEN IT IS COMPLETED UNTIL THE FINAL HEARING.

AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT. SO WE HAVE THE BUDGET WORKSHOP

ON TUESDAY AND IT WAS COMPLETED. >> CORRECT AND YOUR ATTORNEY JUST SAID YOU CAN OPEN IT BACK UP.

ARE YOU CHOOSING NOT TO OPEN IT BACK UP?

>> THIS IS THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

>> CORRECT THIS IS ALSO THE BUDGET WORKSHOP.

>> IT'S BEEN ABOUT SIX MINUTES. I'M ASKING YOU TO LEAVE THE

PODIUM. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> IT'S STILL A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

DOES ANYBODY WANT TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT THIS EVENING? SEEING NO ONE I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS

EVENING? >> I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT SHE BROUGHT UP WITH REGARD TO THE TAX RATE. ONE THING THAT HAS CHANGED, THE AMOUNT THAT IS DESIGNATED FOR PAYING BACK OUR BONDS WENT FROM .1808 TO .1881 TO PAY FOR BONDS APPROVED IN 2015 THAT WERE SOLD THIS LAST YEAR AND NOW WE HAVE TO START MAKING PAYMENTS ON THAT. SO WHAT'S ACTUALLY BEING THE TAX RATE THAT'S APPLIED TO MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION IS ACTUALLY LOWER THIS YEAR THAN LAST YEAR.

AND SO WE'VE REDUCED WHAT OUR SPEND WAS LAST YEAR DESIGNATED FOR M&O COMPARED TO WHAT'S PROPOSED FOR NEXT YEAR AND WHAT WAS APPROVED IN THE FIRST BUDGET HEARING.

>> THAT'S CORRECT. I'D ALSO SAY THAT OF THE $933,000 IN NEW REVENUE, 680 SOMETHING THOUSAND DOLLARS OF THAT IS NEW PROPERTY THAT WASN'T ON THE APPRAISAL ROLES LAST YEAR. SO THERE'S ONLY AN INCREASE OF 200 SOMETHING THOUSAND DOLLARS AND QUICK MATH FROM A CALCULATOR EARLIER, IF YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THE WATER ACCOUNTS WE HAVE AND ASSUME THAT EVERY WATER ACCOUNT IS A TAXPAYER ACCOUNT, IT'S LIKE I DON'T KNOW, I THINK IT'S LESS THAN $0.40 A MONTH OF AN INCREASE. SO EVERY INCREASE COUNTS, DON'T GET ME WRONG. AND I UNDERSTAND THE COMMENTS FROM THE CITIZEN. BUT I DO WANT TO PUT IT IN

CONTEXT. >> THANK YOU.

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? AND SO FACTUALLY IN THE BUDGET WHEN WE CONSIDER AND THE RESIDENT IS ACTUALLY OVER THE COMMITTEE IN REGARDS TO SEARS PARK HAS MADE NO SUCH REQUEST AND REALLY WANTS ADDITIONAL TIME TO PONDER THEIR DECISIONS FOR THE RECORD TO BE SURE THAT WE HAVE CLARITY IN THAT REGARDS. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTION FROM COUNCIL? IF NOT IT IS 7:37 P.M. AND THIS MEETING FOR THE ABILENE C

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.