[1. Call to Order] [00:00:07] AND START BY SAYING IF YOU AREN'T COMFORTABLE STANDING AND YOU'RE ONE OF THE FOLKS STANDING, THE ROOM 305 IS OPEN AND HAS SOME SEATING THERE AND THEY ARE STREAMING IT. SO YOU CAN WATCH THE CEREMONY AND THE REMARKS FROM 305 IN A CHAIR, IF THAT'S YOUR PREFERENCE. OTHERWISE, I WOULD INVITE BOB SCHROEDER FROM HILLSIDE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. THANK YOU, BOB, FOR BEING HERE TODAY TO DO OUR INVOCATION TO THE PODIUM. AND WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER. LET'S STAND AND JOIN ME, PLEASE. FATHER TODAY WE PAUSE AND WE RECOGNIZE WHO YOU ARE. YOUR GRACIOUSNESS TO US, YOUR POWER OVER US. AND WE'RE IMMEDIATELY GRATEFUL FOR WHAT YOU'VE SENT OUR WAY. THE MOISTURE IS SO APPRECIATED. FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS CITY, FOR THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO SERVE. FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED AND THOSE WHO WILL. WE ASK YOUR BLESSING OF WISDOM AND LEADERSHIP TO BE ON EACH ONE. FATHER, WE GIVE YOU THIS MEETING TODAY. PRAY YOUR BLESSING IS ON IT. IN CHRIST'S NAME, WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. AMEN. WOULD YOU JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEASE? AT THIS TIME I'LL PASS THE MICROPHONE TO OUR CITY SECRETARY TO MODERATE OUR PUBLIC ADDRESS. [4. Public Address] THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING. YOUR INPUT AND YOUR OPINIONS ARE IMPORTANT TO US AND WE ARE GLAD THAT YOU'RE HERE TO SHARE THEM TODAY. AT EACH POSTED MEETING, WE INVITE OUR FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ADDRESS CITY COUNCIL REGARDING POSTED AGENDA ITEMS. EVERY SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL AT THE END OF 2.5 MINUTES A WARNING BEEP WILL SOUND TO ALERT YOU THAT YOU HAVE 30S LEFT TO WRAP UP YOUR THOUGHTS. WE ASK THAT YOU STAY WITHIN YOUR ALLOTTED THREE MINUTES. SPEAKERS ARE ASKED TO LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO ITEMS ON TODAY'S POSTED AGENDA. WHEN YOU COME TO THE MICROPHONE, WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME WHETHER OR NOT YOU LIVE IN THE AMARILLO CITY LIMITS. AND IF YOU'RE SPEAKING ON FOR OR AGAINST THE AGENDA ITEM THAT YOU'RE HERE TO ADDRESS COUNCIL ON. FIRST, TODAY, WE'LL BE SCOTT LATHAM AND AFTER MR. LATHAM ON DECK IS CLAUDETTE SMITH. HELLO, COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME A FEW MOMENTS TO SPEAK TODAY. MY NAME IS SCOTT LATHAM AND I'VE BEEN A CITIZEN OF AMARILLO MY WHOLE LIFE. I OWN SEVERAL SMALL BUSINESSES HERE AND PAY MY FAIR SHARE OF PROPERTY FRANCHISE AND SALES TAX. I THINK THE OUTGOING COUNCIL DESERVES A THANK YOU. FIRST, I'D LIKE YOU TO THANK YOU FOR NATIONALLY HUMILIATING OUR CITY AS OUR ELECTED MAYOR SHAMEFULLY VIOLATED FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS BY REMOVING FREE SPEECH FROM HER CHAMBERS. THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF HELPING OUR CRIME RATE INCREASE. AS OUR CITY'S CLAIM TO FAME WENT FROM SO MANY WRITTEN SONGS, FAMOUS LANDMARKS AND FRIENDLY PEOPLE TO ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS CITIES IN TEXAS. WE NOT ONLY SIT AT CURRENTLY AT NUMBER SIX IN MOST DANGEROUS CITIES IN TEXAS, BUT WE ALSO SIT AT NUMBER 45IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES. OUR GREAT CITY IS ALSO ON THE LIST FOR HAVING THE LOWEST PAID FIRST RESPONDERS IN ANY CITY OF OUR SIZE. IT'S A FANTASTIC ACHIEVEMENT. MY LOVE AND PASSION FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT AS CHAIR FOR THE TEXAS PANHANDLE 100 CLUB FOR MANY YEARS. WE WERE ABLE TO FUND PROJECTS SUCH AS THE SWAT VEHICLE AND FIRE EQUIPMENT THAT THE CITY COULD NOT FIND MONEY FOR. I FIND IT SURPRISING THAT YOU COULDN'T FIND $365,000 IN THE BUDGET TO PROTECT THOSE THAT PROTECT US, BUT SOMEHOW HAD THE MONEY TO SPEND $2 MILLION ON GOLF CARTS AND BUILD A NEW $7.9 MILLION SWIMMING POOL THAT SITS MOSTLY EMPTY DAY AFTER DAY. ON BEHALF OF THE FIRST RESPONDERS AND GENEROUS CITIZENS OF AMARILLO, THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR HELPING AMARILLO ACHIEVE NATIONAL RECOGNITION BY ATTEMPTING TO ILLEGALLY USE TAXPAYERS MONEY TO FUND A CIVIC CENTER PROJECT THAT WAS CLEARLY VOTED DOWN. IT'S ALWAYS NICE WHEN LAWS ARE WRITTEN AT THE STATE LEVEL TO DECREASE CORRUPTION BASED ON TYRANNICAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN A SMALL WEST TEXAS TOWN. THIS WAS GREAT EXPOSURE FOR OUR CITY. THANK YOU FOR SHUTTING DOWN ALL OF MY BUSINESSES DURING COVID WHILE KEEPING YOURS OPEN. NOT JUST OPEN, BUT WORKING OUT A DEAL WITH LOCAL HOSPITALS TO HOUSE TRAVELING NURSES AT YOUR HOTELS, THUS INCREASING YOUR BOTTOM LINE. ON THAT NOTE, THANK YOU FOR THE BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN PROJECT THAT FURTHER INCREASED YOUR WEALTH. LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR LEAVING THE CITY IN A HOLE THAT WILL TAKE THE LEADERSHIP OF THE NEW LEADERSHIP YEARS TO DIG OUT OF NOT JUST FINANCIALLY BUT REPUTATIONALLY, RESPECTFULLY AND TRUSTWORTHINESS. MAYOR NELSON, YOU AND I HAVE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS, AND ALTHOUGH YOU'RE A GOOD TALKER, TALK IS ALL THAT IT EVER IS. [00:05:06] NOT ONLY HAVE YOU ILLEGALLY BROKEN MANY PROVISIONS OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, BUT YOU'VE ALSO FOUND IT YOUR DUTY TO REMOVE PEOPLE FROM OR DISSOLVE COMMITTEES AT YOUR WILL? IF YOU ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EFFICACY OR FINANCIAL STURDINESS OF THE COMMITTEE. FOR THE RECORD, NOT A SINGLE CENT OF THE FIRST RESPONDERS EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION FUND THAT WAS SET UP TO ASSIST WITH FIRST RESPONDERS NEEDS WAS EVER RECEIVED BY OR USED FOR THE SWAT VEHICLE AS STATED BY THIS COUNCIL. GINGER IT'S A GOOD THING THAT YOU'RE AN ATTORNEY BECAUSE I HAVE A FEELING YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE NEEDING IT. COLE WELCOME TO THE SEAT, SIR. AMARILLO IS BEHIND YOU AND WE ARE EXCITED THAT AMARILLO CITIZENS HAVE A VOTE AGAIN. NEXT UP IS MISS SMITH. AND ON DECK AFTER MISS SMITH WILL BE NOAH DAWSON. CLAUDETTE SMITH. ARE YOU IN THE ROOM? AND AGAIN AFTER MISS SMITH. MR. DAWSON, YOU'LL BE ON DECK. ALL RIGHT. SO I FIGURED TODAY WOULD BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT SETTING. SO I HAD A LITTLE SOMETHING ELSE PLANNED TO SAY, BUT I'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND SPEAK. UM, I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MAYOR NELSON AND TO THE REST OF THIS COUNCIL FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS THAT YOU HAVE SERVED. UM, IT IS EVEN IN THE TIMES I'M TRYING TO THINK OF HOW TO SAY THIS, REALLY. BUT IT'S A THANKLESS JOB IF YOU STAND TO GAIN NOTHING FROM IT. AND SO A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HOW TOUGH THIS JOB IS. IT'S A VERY TOUGH JOB AND IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE TO TAKE ON A TASK LIKE THIS. SO I DO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. BUT QUITE FRANKLY, I AM GLAD TO SEE YOU ALL GO. MR. STANLEY, AS FOR YOU, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON SOME THINGS IN THE BACKGROUND WITH SOME LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. AND ONCE YOU TAKE OVER, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE THOSE THINGS. I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. THE HOTELIERS AND THE ISSUES THAT THEY'VE SUFFERED AS WELL. THOSE ISSUES NEED TO BE ADDRESSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I KNOW THAT WE'RE WE'RE APPROACHING A RUNOFF ELECTION, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, THERE'S SEVERAL WEEKS WHERE YOU AND OTHERS WILL BE IN HERE. AND I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS PUT THOSE AT THE TOP OF YOUR LIST. AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT YOU'VE BEEN ELECTED AND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU, MISS SMITH. NEXT IS MR. DAWSON. AND ON DECK AFTER MR. DAWSON, OUR LAST SPEAKER WILL BE MADELEINE NELSON. TODAY I ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL MOSTLY ON BEHALF OF THE AMARILLO PIONEER. I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPECTING THAT THE PIONEERS JOB IS DONE. WE FINALLY GOT NELSON OUT TO ANYONE WHO'S THINKING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THEM THE PIONEER PREDATES GINGER NELSON'S MAYORSHIP AND WE PLAN TO STILL BE HERE LONG AFTER TODAY'S MEETING IS OVER. NOW. YES. ALL THREE OF THE NEW MEMBERS ARE GOING TO BE SWORN IN TODAY. WE ENDORSED. BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN WE AREN'T GOING TO BE HOLDING Y'ALL ACCOUNTABLE. I'VE ENJOYED MANY OF THE VOTES YOU'VE HAD ON THIS COUNCIL, MR. STANLEY. BUT AGAIN, WE ARE NOT GOING TO STOP HOLDING ANYONE ACCOUNTABLE. YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN TO MANY EVENTS WHERE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PRESS AND ALL DUE RESPECT, IT OFTEN FEELS LIKE I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT'S ACTUALLY ASKING ANY QUESTIONS. I REMEMBER WHEN THE GROUNDBREAKING WAS HAPPENING FOR THE NEW CITY HALL PROJECT. EVERYONE WAS ASKING ABOUT HOW COMFY THE NEW CHAIRS WILL BE AND HOW GREAT IT'S GOING TO BE. I ASKED ABOUT, WELL. WHY DOES THE CITY SEEM TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM WHERE WE DON'T ADDRESS THINGS UNTIL THEY BECOME AN EMERGENCY? BECAUSE THAT WAS THE WHOLE PREMISE BEHIND THAT PROJECT AND TRYING TO RUSH IT THROUGH. IT WAS THE WHOLE PREMISE BEHIND THE WAY THAT THE JOHNSON PARK POOL WAS DONE. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? IF THAT KIND OF STUFF KEEPS HAPPENING. WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO REPORT ON IT. WE ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. BUT I DO LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT CHANGES WILL HAPPEN. I LOOK FORWARD TO [INAUDIBLE] AND WE AREN'T GOING TO BE ALL NEGATIVE. WE'VE NEVER BEEN ALL NEGATIVE. WE HAVE ALSO A MAINTAINED A OUR PRIDE IN THE FACT THAT WE REPORT THINGS THAT ARE TRUE, WHETHER OR NOT SOME PEOPLE LIKE IT. WE DO NOT EXAGGERATE, UNLIKE SOME FACEBOOK PAGES. WE EVEN HAVE CALLED THEM OUT FOR DOING THAT. SO I WOULD LIKE EVERYONE TO KNOW. INCLUDING ESPECIALLY THE CRITICS PIONEER BUT ALSO TO THE NEW MEMBERS ARE GETTING ELECTED, MANY OF WHOM I DO LIKE. [00:10:02] I'VE WORKED WITH TOM SEARLE ON VARIOUS THINGS BEFORE, BUT THIS IS JUST A WARNING. WE AREN'T GOING ANYWHERE. WE AREN'T GOING TO STOP HOLDING THE CITY ACCOUNTABLE. THANK YOU, MR. DAWSON. MS.. NELSON. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. AS I CONSIDER THE LAST SIX YEARS AND THE WORK THAT EACH OF YOU HAS DONE FOR OUR CITY, I'M FILLED WITH AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF GRATITUDE. THIS COUNCIL HAS LED OUR CITY WITH VISION, PASSION AND A GROWTH MINDSET. EACH ONE OF YOU HAVE MADE DECISIONS FOR OUR CITY, NOT OUT OF A DESIRE FOR SELF GRATIFICATION OR ACCOLADES, BECAUSE THOSE CERTAINLY HAVEN'T COME BUT OUT OF A FORWARD THINKING AND VISIONARY DESIRE TO MAKE THE CITY OF AMARILLO THRIVE. THESE SIX YEARS HAVE BEEN ANYTHING BUT EASY. THIS OUTGOING COUNCIL HAS LED THE CITY THROUGH A PANDEMIC, AND I BELIEVE THE CITY OF AMARILLO'S RESPONSE TO COVID REFLECTS OUR COMMUNITY VALUES OF COMPASSION, KINDNESS AND EFFICIENCY. THIS COUNCIL PLAYED A FUNDAMENTAL ROLE IN THE CREATION OF THE CITYWIDE VACCINE CLINIC THAT VACCINATED 18,000 PEOPLE IN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS THAT IT WAS OPEN. GOVERNOR ABBOTT CALLED IT A MODEL CLINIC FOR OTHER CITIES TO EMULATE. THIS COUNCIL HAS PRIORITIZED PUBLIC SAFETY IN OTHER WAYS AS WELL. THEY'VE INCREASED THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET EVERY YEAR OF THEIR TENURE. WHEN THESE OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBERS ENTERED OFFICE IN 2016, THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET WAS JUST UNDER $87 MILLION. THIS YEAR, COUNCIL APPROVED A PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET OF OVER $106 MILLION. SO BY THAT CALCULATION, I THINK UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET HAS INCREASED BY OVER $20 MILLION. THIS COUNCIL HAS ALSO MADE INCREDIBLE STRIDES IN HELPING PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN AMARILLO THROUGH INITIATIVES LIKE THE COMING HOME PROGRAM AND TRANSFORMATION PARK. THIS COUNCIL OVERSAW IMMENSE IMPROVEMENT ALSO IN THE COMMUNICATION AND CUSTOMER SERVICE AT CITY HALL. THEY CREATED THE STATE OF THE CITY EVENT TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY AND COMMUNICATION WITH CITIZENS. THEY CREATED A CUSTOMER SERVICE POSITION IN THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO HELP BUILDERS AND DEVELOPERS SOLVE PROBLEMS AND GET QUICKER ANSWERS, AMONG MANY, MANY OTHER THINGS. THIS COUNCIL NEGOTIATED AND SIGNED THE LEASE WITH ELMORE SPORTS GROUP FOR OVER 30 YEARS OF MLB AFFILIATED BASEBALL. THEY SUPPORTED THE THRIVE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. THEY FOUGHT FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE TEXAS TECH VET SCHOOL AND RAISED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR COMMUNITY AND OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR IT. THEY DEVELOPED NEW NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS AND INITIATED PROJECTS TO BUILD COVERED BUS STOPS. ALL OF THESE BEING SMALL EXAMPLES OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THIS OUTGOING COUNCIL, WHICH WILL CONTRIBUTE TO OUR CITY'S GROWTH FOR DECADES TO COME. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I GENUINELY BELIEVE AS A YOUNG CITIZEN OF AMARILLO. BEFORE I CLOSE, MAYOR NELSON, IF YOU'LL HUMOR ME FOR A MINUTE, I DID A LITTLE BIT OF MATH TODAY, ASSUMING THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN FIVE HOURS A DAY TO BEING MAYOR AND RECOGNIZING THAT MAYBE SOME DAYS YOU GAVE A LITTLE LESS AND A LOT OF DAYS YOU GAVE A LOT MORE. YOU HAVE LOGGED 10,950 HOURS SERVING OUR CITY OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS. BY MALCOLM GLADWELL STANDARDS, I THINK THAT MAKES YOU AN EXPERT IN PUBLIC SERVICE. AS A CITIZEN OF AMARILLO AND AS YOUR DAUGHTER AND SOMEONE WHO ADMIRES YOU SO DEEPLY, THANK YOU AND WELL DONE. I WISH BLESSINGS AND FAVOR OVER THE NEW COUNCIL AS YOU PROCEED TO LOVE THIS CITY AND SERVE US. WE ALL HAVE A SHARED HEART AND LOVE FOR AMARILLO AND FOR THAT I AM INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS NELSON. MAYOR. THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC ADDRESS. THANK YOU. OKAY AT THIS TIME, MOVING TO THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS TO [5.A. CONSIDER RESOLUTION NO. 05-16-23-1] CANVASS THE ELECTION AND CALL THE RUNOFF ELECTION. SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION WITH REGARD TO CANVASING THE RESULTS FROM OUR ELECTION? YES, MAYOR, WE DO. ARE WE LOOKING AT ITEM FIVE? A YES. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. SO I MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER ZERO FIVE DASH 1623-1, CANVASING THE RETURNS AND DECLARING THE RESULTS FOR THE REGULAR ELECTION HELD IN THE CITY OF AMARILLO ON THE SIXTH DAY OF MAY 2023 FOR CITY OFFICES, ORDERING THE RUNOFF ELECTION OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO TO BE CONDUCTED ON THE 24TH DAY OF JUNE 2023, IN THE CITY OF [00:15:01] AMARILLO, TEXAS, DESIGNATING POLLING PLACES AND PROVIDING FOR THE CONDUCT OF SUCH ELECTION. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MOTION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ANYONE OPPOSED? OKAY. THAT MOTION PASSES WITH A 5-0 VOTE. SO AT THIS TIME WE WILL MOVE TO ITEM SIX. [5.B. REMARKS BY OUTGOING ELECTED OFFICIALS] ON THE AGENDA WAS, WHICH IS REMARKS BY OUTGOING ELECTED OFFICIALS. AND I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH MISS FRIEDA POWELL, PLEASE. OKAY. DO YOU MIND BEING OUR STARTER? NOT AT ALL. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT. TODAY I AM FILLED WITH MIXED EMOTIONS. ON THE ONE HAND, I'M PROUD OF THE WORK WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED TOGETHER DURING MY SIX YEARS ON THE CITY COUNCIL. ON THE OTHER HAND, I'M SADDENED TO BE LEAVING THIS POSITION THAT HAS MEANT SO MUCH TO ME. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE GRATITUDE TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. MY COLLEAGUES ON THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY STAFF, THE EMPLOYEES, AND THE CITIZENS OF AMARILLO FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND DEDICATION TO THIS CITY. THE CITY STAFF AND THE EMPLOYEES ARE THE ONES THAT MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. I EXTEND MY CONGRATULATIONS TO COLE STANLEY. AND THE NEWLY ELECTED CITY COUNCIL. I BELIEVE THEY WILL WORK TO MAKE OUR CITY A BETTER PLACE, AND I WISH THEM ALL THE BEST AS THEY TAKE ON THIS HUGE RESPONSIBILITY. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS SPENT HER ADULT LIFE SERVING THE CITIZENS OF AMARILLO, I WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT MY LOVE FOR THIS GREAT CITY CONTINUES. I WILL PRAY FOR THE SUCCESS OF OUR NEW MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. AND I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO DO THE SAME. I HAVE SAID THIS BEFORE. OUR CITY FACES MANY, MANY CHALLENGES, BUT I AM CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN OVERCOME THEM BY WORKING TOGETHER AND SUPPORTING ONE ANOTHER WITH KINDNESS, GOODWILL AND RESPECT. IN CLOSING, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE ONCE AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY THAT I LOVE SO DEARLY. I AM HONORED TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF THIS COUNCIL AND TO HAVE WORKED WITH ALL OF YOU. SO AGAIN, I SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITIZENS, BUT MY SPECIAL THANK YOU GOES TO THE STAFF AND TO THE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SAUER. OKAY. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FIRST OFF, TO MY WIFE TINA TO MY FAMILY. WHO'S HERE TO FRIENDS. ACTUALLY, I REALLY OWE A HUGE DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO MY PATIENTS BECAUSE I PICKED UP AND LEFT THE OFFICE ON A MOMENT'S NOTICE AND EVERYBODY FOR THIS PAST SIX YEARS. HAS BEEN VERY, VERY UNDERSTANDING. TO MY TEAM AT SHEMAN DENTAL GROUP AND FOR ALL OF THE WILLINGNESS OF THEM TO. I DON'T KNOW HOW I WOULD SAY THAT TO CONFORM TO WHAT MY NEW SCHEDULE WAS DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME. I SO APPRECIATE THEM. THIS WAS THE MOST EXCITING, EXHILARATING AND REWARDING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE. I'M SO HUMBLED BY THE CITIZENS OF AMARILLO. THAT THEY WOULD CHOOSE ME TO REPRESENT AND SERVE THEM ON CITY COUNCIL THIS PAST SIX YEARS. IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR. THAT I. I CAN'T EVEN PUT INTO WORDS. I'VE HAD TO MAKE SOME OF THE HARDEST DECISIONS AND SOME OF THE EASIEST DECISIONS OF MY LIFE, AND THERE'S NOT MUCH LOOKING BACK THAT I WOULD CHANGE. I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE MET SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE FOR AMARILLO. THIS SERVICE IS SO WORTH IT. ANY OF YOU ALL WHO ARE SITTING OUT THERE EVER CONSIDERING IT? IT'S WORTH IT. AND I WOULD IF YOU COME TALK TO ME, I WOULD TELL YOU TO DO IT. IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY. [00:20:05] TO MY FELLOW CITY COUNCILMAN AND MAYOR. WE STARTED THIS THING TOGETHER. WE LEARNED TOGETHER. WE GREW UP TOGETHER. WE SERVED TOGETHER THROUGH THICK AND THIN. I CONSIDER YOU FAMILY. YOU EACH HAVE MY UTMOST RESPECT AND HONOR. MAYOR, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE AND AN HONOR TO SERVE UNDER YOU. INCOMING CITY COUNCIL. KNOW THAT. I'LL BE PRAYING FOR YOU GUYS. I'LL BE ROOTING FOR YOUR SUCCESS. BECAUSE YOUR SUCCESS. MEANS THAT AMARILLO SUCCEEDS. THERE'S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT. TO THE STAFF AT THE CITY. MAN. YOU GUYS ARE THE MOST PHENOMENAL GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU THAT I SEE OUT THERE THAT ARE IN THESE LEADERSHIP POSITIONS. YOU'RE SOME OF THE BRIGHTEST AND BEST IN AMARILLO. AND I KNOW THAT I HAVEN'T TOLD YOU THAT ENOUGH. OUR CITY SUCCEEDS BECAUSE OF YOU AND BECAUSE OF THE HARD WORK AND THE DETERMINATION THAT YOU'VE PUT IN. I AM SO PROUD OF YOU GUYS. I AM SO PROUD OF YOU GUYS. I WILL STAND UP FOR YOU. I WILL DEFEND YOU AT ANY GIVEN DAY OR TIME. YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN PHENOMENAL. YOU PROVE OVER AND OVER THAT YOU HAVE AMARILLO'S BEST INTEREST IN YOUR MIND AND IN YOUR HEART. AND I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU GUYS. I'VE GOT A LIST OF NAMES HERE, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO READ THEM OFF BECAUSE I'LL LEAVE SOMEBODY OFF. AND THERE ARE SO MANY OF YOU GUYS THAT I'VE HAD THE ABILITY TO BECOME FRIENDS WITH, TO TALK WITH TO SUPPORT WITH. TO WORK WITH. AND I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU GUYS. I LOOK BACK OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS AND I THINK OF ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ENDED UP HAPPENING, THE WAY AMARILLO GREW, THE WAY THAT THE THINGS THAT ENDED UP THAT WE DID. AND I LOOK AT AMARILLO TODAY AND AMARILLO SIX YEARS AGO AND I'M PROUD TO SAY I WAS A PART OF THAT. AND FOR YOU ALL THAT ARE COMING ON TO COUNCIL. MY PRAYERS THAT YOU ALL WOULD BE ABLE TO SAY THE SAME THING WHENEVER YOU WALK AWAY FROM YOUR POSITION TOO. IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE. AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS SIX YEARS. COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH MAY BE THE ONLY PERSON NOT GIVING REMARKS TODAY. I ASSUME YOU'RE RESERVING YOUR TIME FOR YOUR LAST MEETING BECAUSE TODAY IS NOT YOUR LAST MEETING. IT'S NOT? YEAH. SO I'VE SERVED LIKE A LITTLE OVER 200 COUNCIL MEETINGS. I'VE MISSED, I THINK, FIVE. A 200 AND SOMETHING. BUT YOU'RE HAVING ME TO MAKE UP. I KNOW. EXACTLY. WE'RE GOING TO HOLD YOU OVER. I LOVE IT. 6 OR 7 MORE WEEKS. YEAH, I LOVE IT. THAT'S GREAT. FINAL THOUGHTS TODAY, EDDY AND TINA, JUST YOUR COMMITMENT AND YOUR COURAGE. EDDY YOU'VE SERVED ON MPO, ON LGC WITH ANIMAL MANAGEMENT AND WELFARE, WITH PARKS AND REC, AND WE'VE COUNTED ON YOUR COURAGE TO SAY DIFFICULT TRUTHS. EVEN IF THE TRUTH WAS UNPOPULAR AND YOU'VE DONE IT. YOU'RE A THINKER AND YOU CAN ALWAYS SEE AND VERBALIZE THE FUTURE IMPACTS OF DECISIONS, AND YOU'VE BEEN A VERY VALUABLE TEAM MEMBER. I LOVE YOU AND I APPRECIATE YOU. IF I DIDN'T LOVE YOU PEOPLE SO MUCH, THIS MIGHT BE EASIER. WHEN WE GOT MARRIED I GOT A LECTURE THE DAY BEFORE FROM KEVIN ABOUT NOT BEING TOO EMOTIONAL DURING THE CEREMONY. I DID FINE WITH MY VOWS. IT WAS KEVIN THAT COULDN'T MAKE IT THROUGH HIS WHILE MY DAD AND MY GRANDDAD WERE WEEPING ALSO. [00:25:06] SO I'M GOING TO CHANNEL THAT GINGER. GIVE ME JUST A SECOND. UH, HOWARD AND CAROL, YOUR PERSISTENCE AND YOUR PRESENCE. HOWARD SERVED ON LGC, THE BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY COMMITTEE, ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE, THE CROSS BAR RANCH WORKGROUP, THE BROADBAND COMMITTEE, THE CIVIC CENTER, THE MLK STREET COMMITTEE. I TELL YOU, IF YOU WANT A SUCCESSFUL COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU SHOULD LET HIM SERVE ON THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR TEN YEARS BEFORE HE COMES OVER HERE. BECAUSE HOWARD IS A COMMUNITY SERVANT. SOMETIMES THE BRAVEST AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO, BRENÉ BROWN SAYS, IS JUST TO SHOW UP. AND HOWARD AND CAROL ARE SO GOOD AT THAT. THE BEST AT IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. I LOVE YOU. FRIEDA AND DENNIS. PREPARATION AND STRENGTH. FRIEDA HAS SERVED ON THE MPO, THE NATIONAL THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING COMMITTEE, THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU BOARD, THE MLK STREET COMMITTEE. AND FRIEDA NEVER COMES INTO A MEETING WITHOUT HAVING DONE THE WORK TO BE THOROUGHLY PREPARED. SHE THINKS AROUND CORNERS, AND THEN SHE CHECKS IN WITH PEOPLE WHO NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S COMING AROUND THOSE CORNERS. I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM THE QUIET STRENGTH OF YOUR LEADERSHIP. YOU, MY FRIEND, ARE THE PERFECT MODEL OF RESPECTING OTHERS WITH KINDNESS AND CIVILITY. THANK YOU. I LOVE YOU. STAFF. THE STRUGGLES THAT WE HAVE FELT TOGETHER ARE WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO MAKE PROGRESS. PROGRESS INVOLVES STRUGGLE, AND WE CAN DO IT WELL. WE CAN DO IT WITH CIVILITY. WE CAN DO IT WITH RESPECT, AND WE CAN DO IT WITH LOVE. YOU ALL MODEL CIVILITY, RESPECT AND LOVE FOR EACH OF US SO WELL. THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO SAY YES. AND AND AS YOU SERVE AND LOVE THE RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY, OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS WILL CONTINUE TO BE WITH YOU. THANK YOU. WE LOVE YOU ALL VERY MUCH. UM, TO MY PARENTS. ALL FOUR OF YOU. DENNIS AND JUDY NELSON. BOB AND JACKIE PIERSON. THANK YOU FOR MODELING PUBLIC SERVICE AND SUPPORTING US. FROM THE FOUR OF YOU. WE'VE SEEN YOU SERVE AS MAYOR. WE'VE SEEN YOU SERVE ON THE CITY COUNCIL. WE'VE SEEN YOU SERVE ON THE SCHOOL BOARD. WE'VE SEEN YOU BE SELECTED AS CITIZENS OF THE YEAR OR SUPERFANS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. COMMUNITIES ARE BETTER PEOPLE. WHEN PEOPLE GET OFF THE BENCH AND GET IN THE GAME OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE. YOU HAVE MODELED THAT FOR US. THANK YOU. TO MADELINE AND JACE WHO ARE WITH ME HERE TODAY, AND ALSO TO PIERCE. THANK YOU. YOU THREE HAVE SACRIFICED A LOT IN ORDER FOR OUR FAMILY TO SERVE. AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. MY PRAYER IS THAT YOU'VE LEARNED THE LESSON THAT LOVING PEOPLE CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT, BUT IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK THAT WE DO. AND KEVIN, THANK YOU FOR LEADING ME WITH WISDOM AND WITH TRUTH. THAT WAS SOMETIMES VERY HARD TO SAY AND SOMETIMES VERY HARD TO HEAR. BUT YOU'VE GIVEN MORE TO SERVING THE CITY THAN ANYONE ELSE I KNOW. WELL, MAYBE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF JENNY HARPOLE, JOE, BOB MCCARTT, CHARLOTTE SIZEMORE, NANCY SELIGER AND A FEW OTHERS ON THAT FIRST SPOUSE LIST, AND TWO MRS STANLEY, WE SPEAK A BLESSING OVER YOU AS WE WELCOME YOU TO THAT LIST OF SERVICE. THANK YOU. I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH. JUST IN CLOSING, MY DAD USED TO HAVE A 1957 CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE. WAS IT A 57 OR 59, DADDY? 59. OKAY. HE HAD A 59 CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE THAT WAS RED. IT HAD WHITE END STRIPES. THE SEATS WERE RED AND WHITE. IT WAS SHARP. AND SOMETIMES KEVIN AND I WOULD GET UP THE NERVE WHEN WE WERE IN HIGH SCHOOL TO ASK TO TAKE IT OUT ON A DRIVE ON A SATURDAY NIGHT. AND IT WAS SO FUN TO DRIVE. THE SHIFTING COLUMN WAS REAL TIGHT AND MAN, THAT CAR WAS FAST. [00:30:04] NOT THAT NOT THAT I KNEW HOW FAST IT WAS, BUT WE HAD A LOT OF FUN DRIVING THAT CAR FOR THE MOMENTS THAT MY DAD LOANED IT TO US. AND THIS SEASON IN OUR CITY IS KIND OF LIKE DRIVING A 1959 CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE FOR AMARILLO. WE'RE GROWING AND WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES LIKE WE'VE NEVER HAD BEFORE. AND AFTER COVID, WE DIDN'T COME OUT SURVIVING. WE CAME OUT THRIVING. WE HAVE MORE BUSINESSES. WE HAVE MORE JOBS, AND WE HAVE MORE EDUCATION THAN WE'VE EVER HAD BEFORE. WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE. WE HAVE MORE NATIONAL ATTENTION FOR THINGS LIKE THE TEXAS TECH SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE AND PRODUCER OWNED BEEF. THE EYES OF THE NATION ARE ON US, AND IT IS OUR REPUTATION THAT WE'RE BUILDING. WE HAVE A VISION FOR AMARILLO AS A GLOBAL FOOD HUB. AMARILLO OUR ENGINE IS RUNNING AND OUR TANK IS FULL. WHAT A GREAT TIME TO BE LIVING IN AMARILLO, TEXAS. FOR A MOMENT, OUR HEAVENLY DAD IS LOANING US HIS SUPER CAR. SUPER COOL, SUPER FAST CAR. I HAVE A LOT OF HOPE AND EXCITEMENT ABOUT THE JOURNEY THAT'S IN FRONT OF US AS A CITY, BECAUSE WHO DOESN'T LIKE DRIVING FAST CARS? OF COURSE, ALWAYS. WE'RE DRIVING WITHIN THE SPEED LIMIT. RIGHT, GUYS? OF COURSE. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHERE WE GO AS A CITY, WHAT WE ACCOMPLISH IN OUR FUTURE TOGETHER. SO LET'S STEP ON THE GAS. LET'S DO IT TOGETHER. LET'S DO IT WITH KINDNESS AND LET'S DO IT WITH TREATING OTHERS THE WAY WE WANT TO BE TREATED. I'D LIKE FOR MY. I'D LIKE FOR MY FINAL WORDS SPOKEN FROM THE MAYOR'S CHAIR. TO BE GOD'S WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO US. AND THEY CERTAINLY REFLECT MY HEART AND MY PRAYER FOR EACH ONE OF US WHO HAS THE PRIVILEGE OF NOT JUST SERVING IN OUR CITY, BUT LIVING IN OUR CITY. IT FROM ROMANS 12, VERSE TEN. MAY WE SHOW FAMILY AFFECTION TO ONE ANOTHER WITH BROTHERLY LOVE? AND MAY WE OUTDO ONE ANOTHER IN SHOWING HONOR? THANK YOU. NOW THAT THE MASCARA IS RUNNING EVERYWHERE, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE PICTURES. SO IF THOSE IF HOWARD, IF YOU DON'T MIND JOINING US DOWN HERE, BUT I'D ASK THE THREE OUTGOING MEMBERS JUST TO STEP DOWN AND WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE AND THEN WE'LL MOVE TO THE SWEARING IN CEREMONY. OKAY. [00:37:37] SO I THINK AT THIS TIME, IF THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL JOIN AT THE FRONT AND I KNOW I SAW THE [5.C. OATH OF OFFICE] JUDGE, JUDGE HAMILTON AND JUDGE DENNY BOTH ARE HERE. SO, JUDGE HAMILTON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME FORWARD, PLEASE, MA'AM? THANK YOU. FOR THOSE THAT WE ARE SWEARING IN TODAY, YOU ARE WELCOME TO BRING YOUR SPOUSE OR YOUR CHILDREN OR YOUR FAMILY UP HERE TO STAND WITH YOU WHILE YOU GIVE YOUR OATH. I DON TIPPS. I DON TIPPS. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE. THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE. THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBER OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBER CITY OF AMARILLO CITY OF AMARILLO, TEXAS. STATE OF TEXAS. AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND. PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS. THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME GOD. IT'S OFFICIAL. THANK YOU. YEAH. DO YOU WANT. DO YOU WANT TO GIVE. WHY DON'T YOU SIGN THIS FIRST? SO IT'S OFFICIAL. OFFICIAL AND THEN. YES, SIR. SO, SO MUCH ARE WE GIVING REMARKS RIGHT NOW? I SAID, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT. AFTER YOU ALL ARE ALL SWORN IN, YOU CAN SIT AT THE DAIS AND GIVE YOUR. OH, OKAY. OKAY. SO, JUDGE DENNY, I THINK YOU'RE NEXT. AND MR. SHERLOCK. STAY RIGHT THERE. OR YOU CAN. THANK YOU. TOM, WHERE ARE YOU AT? [00:40:11] REPEAT AFTER ME. I, TOM SCHERLEN. I, TOM SCHERLEN, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE, THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBER CITY OF AMARILLO OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBER CITY OF AMARILLO STATE OF TEXAS STATE OF TEXAS. AND WILL THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND WILL THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS. THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME GOD. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. IT'S YOUR TURN. ARE YOU? YOU'RE RIGHT. YOU'RE RIGHT. ONE OF THEM WILL HOLD IT AND YOU PUT YOUR HOLD ON. I, COLE STANLEY, I COLE STANLEY, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR AND AFFIRM. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR AND AFFIRM THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE. THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF MAYOR. THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO. OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO. OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND WILL, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. PRESERVE, PRESERVE, PROTECT, PROTECT AND DEFEND AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION, THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME GOD. [APPLAUSE] [00:45:19] THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, AMARILLO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FOR THE ATTENDANCE HERE TODAY. UM, CAN WE DO ONE THING BEFORE WE DO INCOMING REMARKS BY PLACE TWO AND THREE. CAN WE GIVE A VERY HEARTFELT THANK YOU AND APPLAUSE ONE MORE TIME TO THE EXITING COUNCIL AND THE HONORABLE MAYOR GINGER NELSON. OKAY. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF COUNCIL MEMBER TIPPS HAS ANY OPENING REMARKS AND THANK YOU'S TO SAY [5.D. REMARKS BY INCOMING ELECTED OFFICIALS] ABSOLUTELY. MR. SCHANKE SPEAKING TO MY MY MIC HERE FOR YOU. SO, ONE, I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF READING, BUT AFTER ALL THE TWO MINUTE AND ONE MINUTE SPEECHES ON THE CAMPAIGN, I'M GIVING MYSELF A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK. SO I'M GOING TO READ THIS ONE OF ONE. THANK YOU TO FOR ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE COME OUT, ALL OF YOU THAT SUPPORTED THE CAMPAIGN AND WHETHER YOU VOTED FOR ME OR YOU DIDN'T, WE JUST WE APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY BEING INVOLVED. SO TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU WITH INTENSE GRATITUDE AND A DEEP SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AS YOUR NEWLY SWORN IN CITY COUNCILMAN IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO SERVE THIS INCREDIBLE CITY THAT WE CALL HOME. I WANT TO EXPRESS MY HEARTFELT APPRECIATION TO ALL THOSE THAT HAVE PLACED THEIR TRUST IN ME AND HAVE GIVEN ME THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT YOUR VOICES AND ASPIRATIONS. AMARILLO IS A CITY KNOWN FOR ITS WARMTH AND HOSPITALITY, STRONG FAMILY VALUES, A THRIVING COMMUNITY, AND A STRONG COMMUNITY SPIRIT. AS YOUR COUNCILMAN, I PLEDGE TO WORK TO PRESERVE AND ENHANCE THESE QUALITIES THAT MAKE AMARILLO SUCH A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, WORSHIP, AND RAISE A FAMILY. TODAY MARKS A NEW BEGINNING OR A BEGINNING OF A NEW CHAPTER IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY. AND TOGETHER WE WILL EMBRACE THE CHALLENGES THAT LIE AHEAD. WE FACE NUMEROUS ISSUES THAT DEMAND OUR ATTENTION FROM FOSTERING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES TO ENHANCING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENSURING PUBLIC SAFETY. EACH OF THESE CHALLENGES PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BUILD A BETTER AMARILLO TOGETHER. MY VISION FOR OUR CITY IS ONE OF UNITY, COLLABORATION, AND PROGRESS. I BELIEVE BY WORKING TOGETHER, WE CAN ACHIEVE REMARKABLE THINGS. I WILL ACTIVELY SEEK INPUT FROM ALL SECTORS OF OUR COMMUNITY BUSINESS LEADERS, PASTORS, HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS, RESIDENTS AND ANYONE ELSE WILLING TO PUT FORTH THEIR OPINION TO ENSURE OUR DECISIONS ARE INFORMED BY THE DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES AND NEEDS OF ALL OF OUR CITIZENS. ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES IS TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND AMARILLO. I WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES, ENTREPRENEURS AND DEVELOPERS TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT ENCOURAGES GROWTH AND JOB CREATION BY ATTRACTING NEW INDUSTRIES, SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES, AND INVESTING IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, WE CAN BUILD A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR OUR CITY'S FUTURE AND PROSPERITY. WE NEED TO RETAIN AND ATTRACT THE NEXT GENERATION. AS YOUR COUNCILMAN. I WILL ALSO COMMIT TO PRIORITIZING, PRIORITIZING PUBLIC SAFETY. OUR CITIZENS DESERVE TO FEEL SAFE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, WORKPLACES AND PUBLIC SPACES. I WILL COLLABORATE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND RESIDENTS TO DEVELOP EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS CRIME AND PROMOTE COMMUNITY POLICING. I JUST ASKED. LET US EMBARK ON THIS JOURNEY TOGETHER, UNITED BY OUR LOVE AND OUR PASSION FOR THIS CITY OF AMARILLO AND OUR SHARED DESIRE TO SEE IT FLOURISH. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO STAY ENGAGED, TO VOICE YOUR CONCERNS AND IDEAS AND HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE AS AN ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE. TOGETHER, WE CAN BUILD A STRONGER AND MORE PROSPEROUS AMARILLO A CITY THAT EMBRACES THE FUTURE WHILE HONORING ITS RICH HERITAGE. LET US WORK HAND IN HAND TO CREATE A CITY THAT WE ARE ALL PROUD TO CALL HOME. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS. AMARILLO. COUNCILMAN TIPPS. I SAY THIS WITH THE MOST HEARTFELT INTENTION, LIKE I AM SINCERELY LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. YOU YOUR SHOULDERS ARE BROAD AND YOU ARE STRONG AND WE ARE IN GOOD HANDS WITH YOU HERE IN THE CITY OF AMARILLO AND I AM EXCITED FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BRING TO THE TABLE AND AND THE STRONG LEADER THAT YOU ARE. [00:50:04] I KNOW YOU DID GET MORE VOTES THAN I DID, BUT I'M I'M SLOWLY GETTING OVER IT AT THIS TIME. WE'RE GOING TO SEE IF COUNCILMAN SCHERLEN WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A REMARK. DEFINITELY. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. I DIDN'T PREPARE ANYTHING. I WANTED TO TALK FROM MY HEART TO YOU, THE CITIZENS OF AMARILLO. I WANT YOU TO KNOW I'M HERE TO SERVE YOU. TO REPRESENT YOU EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. I'M ALWAYS OPEN MY PHONE, I WILL ANSWER MY EMAILS, I WILL RETURN. I WILL SPEAK TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU WHENEVER POSSIBLE. I KNOW I MAY NOT BE THE BRIGHTEST BULB IN THE PACK, BUT WITH ALL OF Y'ALL, I'LL BE ONE. I FELT THE CHALLENGES DELIVERED TODAY BY THE OUTGOING COUNCIL. THEY CHALLENGED US TO A JOB. THEY CHALLENGED US TO AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW UPON WHAT THEY HAVE DONE. AND I TAKE THAT CHALLENGE SERIOUSLY. BECAUSE AS A COUNCILMAN, WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING. WE WANT A GREAT COMMUNITY, WE WANT A GREAT AMARILLO BECAUSE WE HAVE GREAT CITIZENS. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING YOU ALL THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. I ASK ONE IMPORTANT THING YOU PRAY FOR ME EVERY DAY. PRAY FOR WISDOM BECAUSE I KNOW ALL OF US HERE ARE GOING TO NEED IT. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SOME GOOD DECISIONS. WE'LL MAKE SOME BAD DECISIONS. BUT I'M SURE I WILL LIVE WITH ANY DECISION I MAKE. AND THANK YOU FOR ENTRUSTING YOUR VOTE TO ME TO REPRESENT YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN SCHERLEN. YOU HAVE SOME BIG SHOES TO FILL AND I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE WISDOM AND THE SEASONED VETERAN THAT YOU ARE ALL OF THE YEARS OF BUSINESS EXPERIENCE THAT YOU BRING AND THE MINDSET THAT YOU BRING AND WHAT WHAT AN ASSET YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR THE CITY. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU, SIR. COUNCILMAN SMITH I KNOW WE GET TO WORK TOGETHER FOR SIX MORE WEEKS. THAT'S 3 OR 4 MORE MEETINGS DEPENDING ON HOW THAT FALLS, I GUESS. AND I AM EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU AND THEN HEAR YOUR YOUR REMARKS AT THAT TIME. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SAY HERE THIS THIS AFTERNOON? THANK YOU, SIR. MAN THANK YOU. SO, UM, MAYOR NELSON, I KNOW THIS SEAT FEELS DIFFERENT, AND I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH TO YOU HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU. AND I KNOW FROM THE PUBLIC AND THE OPTICS THAT IT LOOKS DIFFERENT OUT THERE. BUT I'M INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR HOW THE LORD HAS USED YOU IN MY LIFE FOR THE WAYS IN WHICH I HAVE LEARNED, FOR THE THINGS IN WHICH WE'VE STRUGGLED THROUGH THAT MADE ME STRONGER. I RESPECT YOU. I RESPECT YOUR YOUR DILIGENCE AND YOUR TENACITY AND YOUR DRIVE AND ANY FOUNDATION THAT YOU'VE LAID THAT WE CAN BUILD UPON. WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT FOR OUR PREVIOUS MAYOR AND COUNCIL. AND I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS TRULY FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE SACRIFICED. THE SIX YEARS THAT YOU'VE SERVED IS GREATLY, GREATLY APPRECIATED AND NO ONE KNOWS THE WEIGHT UNLESS YOU'VE CARRIED IT. SO THANK YOU. MATTHEW 633 SEEMS FITTING, BUT SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE ADDED UNTO YOU. IF WE STOP. IF WE STOP AND WE LOOK INTO OURSELVES AND I LOOK AT MY 25 YEARS OF BUSINESS EXPERIENCE, LIMITED CAPACITY TO REMEMBER THINGS, OVERWHELMING URGE TO NEED TO BE 50 DIFFERENT PLACES AT ONCE. I CAN'T DO THIS JOB. YOU KNOW I CAN'T SERVE YOU AND I CAN'T HELP YOU. BUT IF WE LOOK OUTSIDE OF OURSELVES, IF WE LOOK TO THE KING OF KINGS AND IF WE LOOK TO THE CROSS AND IF WE LOOK TO OUR FATHER GOD WHO'S NEVER DISAPPOINTED US, THERE'S NOT ONE DAY HE'S BEEN LATE IN MY LIFE, I CAN SEEK HIM FIRST AND EVERYTHING ELSE WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT TO BE A GOOD LEADER, YOU MUST FIRST BE A GOOD FOLLOWER. AND SO I COMMIT. AND I DEDICATE THE NEXT TWO YEARS OF MY TIME IN THIS CHAIR TO FOLLOW JESUS CHRIST, TO LOOK TO HIM FOR THE WISDOM THAT I NEED, THE ANSWERS THAT I NEED, THE HUMILITY THAT IT WILL TAKE AND THE ENDURANCE TO, TO PULL THIS CART FORWARD. [00:55:04] I BELIEVE IT WILL BE A GOOD TWO YEARS. I'M EXCITED. I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHAT AMARILLO HAS TO OFFER. I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHERE WE'RE GOING. I'M EXCITED ABOUT ALL THE WORK. THAT'S AHEAD. AND WE HAVE SOME LARGE PROBLEMS. WE HAVE SOME BIG ISSUES. WE'RE A BIG TOWN AND WE'RE GROWING REALLY FAST. AND WITH GROWTH COMES GROWTH PAINS. AND SO I WOULD ASK FOR TWO THINGS FROM YOU TODAY, YOUR PRAYERS AND YOUR PATIENCE AS WE SET OUT ON THIS. I PRAY AND I ASK FOR YOUR PATIENCE TO GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE YOU WELL AND TO GET DOWN IN THE TRENCHES AND TO GET THE WORK DONE. AND I PRAY AND I ASK THAT YOU GUYS WOULD BE PATIENT IN LETTING US LEARN ALONGSIDE OF YOU. LET US BE HUMBLE AS WE COME OUT HERE AND WE TRY TO DO BUSINESS IN FRONT OF YOU AND LET US BE REAL WITH EACH OTHER AND BE CAUTIOUS WITH OUR WORDS AND THE WAY IN WHICH WE USE THEM TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER. AND LET US DO THIS IN THE RIGHT SPIRIT AND IN THE RIGHT WAY AND LET US HAVE FUN WITH IT. AND SO TO THAT, I SAY THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO. LET'S GET STARTED. MM. YEAH. THANK YOU, GUYS. PLEASE. NO ONE. NO ONE. MOVE. IF AT THIS TIME WE HAVE THE HONORABLE MAYOR TRENT SIZEMORE HERE TO GIVE A FEW WORDS OF WISDOM AND A BENEDICTION, MAYOR SIZEMORE, IF [6. Benediction Trent Sisemore] YOU PLEASE, COME FORWARD. THANK. THANK YOU FOR THAT, GRACE. GRACIOUS KINDNESS. MY GOODNESS. I DO WANT TO SAY JUST A WORD. I WAS JUST GOING TO PRAY AND GO. BUT TO OUR OUTGOING COUNCIL, I JUST WANT TO SAY FREDA, THANK YOU, GINGER. THANK YOU. I SAW EDDY. THANK YOU. AND HOWARD, I KNOW YOU'LL BE HERE FOR A LITTLE BIT LONGER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. AND IT'S FUN. I TELL YOU, THERE WAS I WAS EXCITED THE DAY I WAS ELECTED AND I WAS EXCITED THE DAY THAT I FINISHED. IT WAS NO, IT WAS GOOD ALL THE WAY THROUGH. I'M HAPPY. AND SO WITH THAT, I JUST WANT TO I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU COLE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO A FABULOUS JOB. I KNOW YOU ARE. AND DON, COUNCILMAN SCHERLEN AND YOU'RE GOING TO THIS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITIES AND ONE OF THE GREATEST PRIVILEGES THAT YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE. IT'S A BLESSING IN THE TIME WILL GO BY SO QUICK, YOU'LL BE SO SURPRISED. BUT IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO TO BE ENTRUSTED WITH THAT RESPONSIBILITY BY THE CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE. AND SO WITH THAT, LET'S GO TO THE LORD WHO WE SERVE. FATHER, YOU ARE SOVEREIGN OVER ALL. WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF CONSTANT CHANGE. KINGDOMS RISE, KINGDOMS FALL. BUT JESUS, YOU ARE THE SAME. YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER. FATHER, I JUST THANK YOU TODAY. FOR THESE MEN AND WOMEN THAT HAVE SERVED OUR COMMUNITY THESE LAST SIX YEARS. FATHER, THEY'VE GIVEN THEIR TIME AND THEIR EFFORT, AND I PRAY THAT YOU'LL GIVE IT BACK. GOOD MEASURE, PRESSED DOWN, SHAKEN TOGETHER AND RUNNING OVER WHICH IS YOUR REASONABLE SERVICE, FATHER. THANK YOU FOR THEIR SERVICE AND TO OUR INCOMING COUNCIL. AND I JUST PRAY YOUR BLESSINGS UPON THEM. GOD, I PRAY THAT YOU'LL GIVE THEM SUPERNATURAL WISDOM IN THE HARD DECISIONS. REMIND THEM THAT THEY SERVE. RICH AND POOR. BROWN AND WHITE. THOSE WITH A VOICE AND THOSE WITHOUT A VOICE. THAT THEY ARE YOUR STEWARDS AND YOUR SERVANTS. AND LET THEM ENJOY THAT TIME OF SERVANTHOOD. FATHER, THERE'S NOTHING GREATER THAN TO SIT AT YOUR FEET AND TO WASH THE FEET OF JESUS IN DOING TO OTHERS. AND SO I JUST THANK YOU FOR THEM AND I PRAY FOR OUR NEW COUNCIL THAT THEY'LL ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND THE WORDS. ON THE STATUE OF LIBERTY. GIVE ME YOUR TIRED, YOUR POOR, YOUR HUDDLED MASSES YEARNING TO BREATHE FREE, THE WRETCHED REFUSE OF YOUR TEEMING SHORE. SEND THESE THE HOPELESS, THE HELPLESS TOSSED TO THEE. I LIFT MY LAMP BESIDE THE GOLDEN SHORE. ALWAYS ABOUT OTHERS. OTHERS, OTHERS, OTHERS. AND I KNOW THEY WILL. I KNOW THEIR HEART. I KNOW HOW MUCH THEY LOVE YOU. AND I JUST THANK YOU THAT JESUS, TODAY YOU'RE EXALTED IN THIS ROOM. [01:00:05] AND WE PRAY THESE THINGS IN YOUR NAME. THE NAME THAT IS ABOVE EVERY NAME, THE KING OF KINGS, THE LORD OF LORDS, THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA. JESUS CHRIST. LORD OF LORDS. WE PRAY THIS IN YOUR NAME. AMEN. AMEN. AND NOW. OH. SO YOU SAID BENEDICTION. SO I'M JUST GOING TO GET A BLESSING OVER Y'ALL. OKAY, WE'LL TAKE IT. MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU. MAY THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE SHINE UPON YOU. MAY THE LORD BE GRACIOUS TO YOU. AND MAY THE LORD GIVE YOU AND ALL OF YOU HIS SHALOM, HIS PEACE. GOD BLESS YOU. AMEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR SIZEMORE. THANK YOU, SIR. I DO WANT TO SAY IS THAT ROOM 306? YES, SIR. WE HAVE A RECEPTION IN ROOM 306. EVERYONE'S WELCOME TO GO DOWN THERE, SHAKE HANDS, TAKE PHOTOS, ENJOY A REFRESHMENT AND HANG OUT. AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE NO FURTHER BUSINESS. THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.