[00:00:01]
IT'S A REMARKABLE DAY, LIKE WE'RE GOING TO GET TO LOOK BACK ON THIS.
[1. Call to Order]
AND IT'S A CEREMONIAL MEETING.WE GOT A LITTLE BUSINESS TO DISCUSS TODAY.
APPRECIATE YOU GUYS BEING HERE.
JUST AN INFORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON OUR MICROPHONES AND ON OUR SYSTEM, SO WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO DO A REALLY GOOD JOB OF PUTTING OUR OUR FACE RIGHT UP TO THIS SO THAT YOU GUYS CAN HEAR WELL.
AND THEN AS WE HAVE PEOPLE COME UP AND SPEAK, IF YOU CAN MOVE THAT MICROPHONE AS CLOSE TO YOU AS POSSIBLE UNTIL WE GET EITHER A, YOU KNOW, A NEW PA SYSTEM OR WE WORK ALL THE BUGS OUT WITH THIS ONE.
SO JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HOUSEKEEPING RIGHT THERE.
AND THEN JUST WANT TO THANK ALL YOU GUYS FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
SO AT THIS TIME, I THINK WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE TO 3:00.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER.
IF YOU GUYS WOULDN'T MIND ALL STANDING AS MURRAY COMES FORWARD.
LORD, WE DO THANK YOU THAT YOUR LOVING KINDNESS INDEED NEVER CEASES.
THEY ARE NEW EACH MORNING AND AFTERNOON.
OH, LORD. FATHER, WE WANT TO PRAY FOR SOME FOLKS TODAY.
WE PRAY FOR COLE. WE PRAY FOR JOSH, TOM, LEE.
DON, WE'RE GRATEFUL, LORD, THAT YOU HAVE MOVED THESE FOLKS INTO THESE IMPORTANT POSITIONS.
WE ASK LORD THAT AS THEY WORK TOGETHER, LORD, THEY WOULD SEEK YOUR FACE.
MAY THEY KNOW YOUR WILL, OH LORD, AS THEY TOUCH MANY LIVES AND HAVE IMPORTANT POSITIONS.
WE THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS DAY.
OH, LORD, IN CHRIST NAME WE PRAY.
Y'ALL JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE, PLEASE.
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.
AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO DO PUBLIC COMMENT AND I WILL ASK OUR CITY SECRETARY, DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? WE DO NOT AT THIS TIME, MAYOR.
BUT YOU ARE WELCOME TO SPEAK AT THE NEXT ONE THIS NEXT TUESDAY.
IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING OR YOU CAN REACH OUT TO ANY OF US INDIVIDUALLY.
[5.A. CONSIDER RESOLUTION NO. 07-05-23-1]
AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM FIVE ON OUR AGENDA ITEMS, AND WE WILL CONSIDER THE RESOLUTION NUMBER 07-05-23-1, MISS CITY SECRETARY.THANK YOU, MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS.
TODAY WE ARE CANVASING THE RESULTS OF OUR RUNOFF ELECTION THAT WAS HELD ON JUNE 24TH.
WE HAD A TOTAL OF 11,715 VALID AND LEGAL BALLOTS CAST IN THIS ELECTION.
JOSH CRAFT RECEIVED A MAJORITY OF THE VOTES CAST AND WAS DULY ELECTED AS COUNCIL MEMBER PLACE ONE.
LES SIMPSON RECEIVED A MAJORITY OF THE VOTES CAST AND WAS DULY ELECTED AS COUNCIL MEMBER PLACE FOUR.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS CITY SECRETARY? I DON'T. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 07-05-23-1 AS PRESENTED ON THE AGENDA.
THE CITY SECRETARY. I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN SCHERLEN A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN TIPPS.
DO I HAVE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM, GENTLEMEN? NO. OKAY.
AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THAT MOTION PASSES WITH A 3-0 VOTE.
[5.B. OATH OF OFFICE]
THAT BRINGS US MORE TO OUR CEREMONIAL DUTIES HERE.AND SO WE ARE GOING TO TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE.
AND SO I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY ARE WELCOME.
WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO ASK YOU GUYS TO TAKE YOUR OATH, YOUR SWEARING IN DOWN HERE ON THE FLOOR WITH YOUR JUDGE, ALLOW YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS TO COME UP AND TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS WHILE YOU'RE DOWN THERE. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE YOU SEATED UP HERE ON THE DAIS AND ALLOW YOU TO MAKE YOUR REMARKS FROM UP HERE ON THE DAIS.
SO AT THIS TIME, WE ARE GOING TO START WITH COUNCILMAN PLACE ONE.
JOSH CRAFT, IF YOU'D COME FORWARD, SIR.
AND THEN I ALSO HAVE JUDGE GARCIA FLORES HERE THAT IS HERE TO SWEAR YOU IN.
[00:05:13]
RIGHT.DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE.
THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE DUTIES OF AMARILLO CITY COUNCIL MEMBER PLACE ONE AMARILLO CITY COUNCIL MEMBER PLACE ONE 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 THE CONSTITUTION AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE AND OF THIS STATE.
SO HELP ME GOD. CONGRATULATIONS [APPLAUSE].
I JUST WANT TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE THEM TAKE ANY PHOTOS RIGHT HERE.
WE'RE GOING TO STEP OFF TO THE SIDE.
ANY OTHER FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF MR. CRAFT, PLEASE COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME.
Y'ALL CAN MOVE THAT MICROPHONE JUST RIGHT BEHIND YOU.
OKAY. COUNCILMAN CRAFT IS COMING BACK UP HERE AT THIS TIME.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE COUNCILMAN SIMPSON COME ON UP WITH HIM AND HIS FAMILY AND THAT'LL BE JUDGE HAND.
I LES SIMPSON. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF OFFICE THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF OFFICE OF CITY OF AMARILLO COUNCIL MEMBER PLACE FOUR THE CITY OF AMARILLO COUNCIL MEMBER PLACE FOUR STATE OF TEXAS.
STATE OF TEXAS. AND I WILL DO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
AND I WILL DO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY TO PRESERVE, TO 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.
ANY FAMILY MEMBERS OR FRIENDS OF.
[00:11:35]
SO AS COUNCILMAN SIMPSON SIGNS THAT AND THEN HE WILL TAKE HIS SEAT UP HERE IN PLACE FOR YOU'VE ALREADY SIGNED YOURS AND GIVEN IT BACK.RIGHT? GREAT. WE'LL GIVE HIM JUST A MINUTE TO GET UP HERE AND GET ADJUSTED.
ALL RIGHT. AMARILLO. WELCOME TO A FULL COUNCIL, FINALLY [APPLAUSE].
I'M GOING TO GO OUT ON A LIMB HERE AND SAY THAT I DON'T JUST SPEAK FOR MYSELF, BUT I THINK I SPEAK FOR ALL FIVE OF US AND THEN EVERY CANDIDATE THAT RAN IN THIS RACE THAT WE ARE THOROUGHLY EXCITED AND THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL THAT THE ELECTION PROCESS IS FINALLY OVER, THAT ALL THE CAMPAIGNING CAN BE FINISHED AND COMPLETED, AND THAT WE HAVE A FULL TEAM THAT'S READY TO GO TO WORK FOR YOU AND THAT WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS TEAM AND THAT WE COULDN'T BE HAPPIER ABOUT THE TWO YEARS IN FRONT OF US AND THAT WE TRULY ARE READY TO GET SOME WORK DONE.
ALL RIGHT. Y'ALL HEAR ME OUT THERE? IS IT WORKING? ALL RIGHT, MAN, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
THIS PAST SIX MONTHS HAS BEEN A RIDE, AND I JUST WANT TO THANK MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS AND MY COWORKERS, THE CITIZENS OF AMARILLO, FOR FOR TRUSTING ME AND PUTTING THEIR FAITH IN ME TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS.
AND I KNOW ALONG THE WAY WE MAY MAKE SOME BAD DECISIONS AS WELL.
BUT I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN THAT IN ORDER TO EARN GRACE, YOU HAVE TO GIVE GRACE.
AND I KNOW MOVING FORWARD, I'LL SERVE YOU TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES.
AND THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR FOR ELECTING ME AS AMARILLO CITY COUNCIL MEMBER PLACE NUMBER ONE.
GREAT JOB. COUNCILMAN CRAFT, COUNCILMAN SIMPSON.
THANK YOU. AND I JUST SAY I'M HONORED TO BE IN THIS SEAT.
HONORED TO BE SELECTED BY THE CITIZENS OF AMARILLO TO SERVE IN THIS POSITION.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING SO.
YOU KNOW, I WENT TO THE CITY WEBSITE TODAY TO LOOK AT THE NAMES OF THE PREVIOUS PEOPLE.
THIS IS A POINT WHERE YOU NEED TO SAY A JOKE TO GET ME.
AND IT'S HUMBLING TO BE UP HERE.
I'VE HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE OF GETTING TO KNOW SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE.
[00:15:03]
I DON'T KNOW. GLEN PASSED AWAY NOT TOO LONG AGO, BUT HE HAD SOME OF MY FAVORITE SAYINGS.WHICH ONE WAS WHICH I'VE BEEN MAYOR FOR AMARILLO AND I'VE GOT THE SCARS TO PROVE IT.
BUT I THINK HIS TESTAMENT TO THAT AND WHAT HE WAS SAYING, AS WELL AS MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT I'VE KNOWN THAT HAVE STOOD UP HERE, AND THEN THE NAMES OF THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE SEEN IN PREVIOUS COUNCILS DATING BACK TO THE FOUNDING OF THE CITY AND MANY OF THOSE WHO WERE RECOGNIZED AS BEING COMMUNITY LEADERS IS WHEN YOU STEP UP HERE, YOU PLACE YOUR PERSONAL WANTS, NEEDS AND DESIRES TO THE SIDE.
YOU YOU WORK TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE FOR THE BEST OF THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST FOR A SELECT FEW.
AND THOSE ARE GOING TO BE TOUGH DECISIONS.
BUT THOSE ARE THAT'S WHAT YOU DO HERE.
YOU PUT YOUR PERSONAL NEEDS AND DESIRES TO THE SIDE AND DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE CITY OF AMARILLO.
AND NOT ONLY AM I EXTREMELY HONORED TO BE SITTING IN THIS SEAT, BUT I'M EXTREMELY HONORED TO BE SITTING WITH THESE FOUR INDIVIDUALS HERE WHO THE VOTERS HAVE SELECTED ALONG WITH ME TO BE ABLE TO WORK AND SERVE.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THAT.
WE HAVE LOTS OF CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE, BUT I'M CONFIDENT THAT THE GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT YOU SEE SITTING BEFORE YOU WILL WORK AS HARD AS ANY COUNCIL HAS EVER HAD TO WORK IN SOLVING THOSE CHALLENGES AND PROBLEMS. AND I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS.
THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. IT'S A UNIQUE THING TO HAVE A LEVEL OF EMOTION THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THIS BECAUSE WE TRULY TRY TO TREAT IT AS JUST, WELL, I SIGNED UP, I WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I CAN DO, BUT I'M WILLING TO GO DOWN THERE AND GET INVOLVED.
AND THEN ONCE YOU GET INVOLVED, YOU SEE THINGS.
AND HE SHOOK MY HAND AND HE SAID, I'M GOING TO BE THE MAYOR IF YOU DON'T DO A GOOD JOB.
AND I THINK HE MIGHT BE ONE DAY, YOU KNOW, BUT I DIDN'T INTEND TO TO TRY TO BE THE MAYOR.
AND HONESTLY, THERE'S A LOT ABOUT THAT THAT I DON'T EVEN LIKE.
BUT THE THINGS THAT I LOVE ABOUT IT IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS EXPERIENCE.
LIKE COUNCILMAN SIMPSON SAID, IT TRULY IS HUMBLING TO BE ABLE TO AFFECT AND IMPACT YOUR COMMUNITY.
IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LIKE AS PARENTS WE GET TO DO WITH OUR KIDS.
NOBODY HAS A BIGGER IMPACT ON YOUR CHILDREN THAN YOU.
AND SO THE WAY IN WHICH WE DO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE AN ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE.
BUT WE'RE FIVE INDIVIDUAL VOICES THAT REPRESENT YOU, AND NONE OF US ARE IN A DISTRICT.
NONE OF US ARE EXCLUDED FROM ANY ONE PERSON.
AND WE TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY IN THE WAY IN WHICH WE TRULY WANT TO REPRESENT THE REPUBLIC THAT WE SERVE HERE IN REPRESENTING OUR CITIZEN AND OUR RESIDENTS. AND WE ARE READY HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALL BE TREATED VERY WELL THROUGH STAFF TO BE ONBOARDED.
AND IT IS A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY.
AND SO RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS PATIENCE FROM YOU GUYS.
WHERE DO WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE OUR TIME, ENERGY EFFORTS AND MONEY? AND SO WE THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE YOU.
THERE WILL BE SOME STUFF IN THIS CHAMBER THAT'S JUST DAY TO DAY BUSINESS.
AND SO I COULDN'T BE MORE EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET SOME WORK DONE.
[5.C. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 07-05-23-2]
AND AT THIS POINT, I WILL MOVE US TO ITEM FIVE C.WE HAVE ONE ITEM THAT WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF.
MISS CITY SECRETARY, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO WELL, I GUESS WE CAN JUST LET YOU INTRODUCE WHO'S PRESENTING? MAX DUNLAP, DIRECTOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
AFTERNOON, MAX. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR.
CONGRATULATIONS. IT'S GREAT TO SEE A FULL TEAM AT THE DAIS.
IN A SENSE AND IN SHORT, WHAT THIS DOCUMENT IS SAYING IS THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER YET.
[00:20:05]
THIS IS TELLING AUSTIN THAT, HEY, WE'RE STILL DOING THINGS UP HERE.WE HAVE MANY TEAMS OUT STILL WORKING TIRELESSLY.
UTILITIES IS ONE OF THOSE TEAMS. THEY TOOK ANOTHER HIT THE OTHER NIGHT WITH THE RAINS, AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO STOP.
THAT WILL CONTINUE AS LONG AS THE RAIN CONTINUES TO FALL.
THINGS LIKE THAT WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.
AND THAT RECOVERY BATTLE IS NOT OVER YET.
THE CITY, INCLUDING A HANDFUL OF DEPARTMENTS, A LOT OF THE DIRECTORS, ARE SITTING IN THE BACK LEFT CORNER OF THE ROOM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, UTILITIES, PUBLIC WORKS.
THOSE ARE SOME TEAMS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY AND I CAN'T JUST SPEAK FOR MINE.
IT IS IT IS AMAZING TO WATCH WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE MAY 27TH AND THE HOURS AND MANPOWER AND BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS THAT HAVE GONE INTO RECOVERING OUR CITIZENS IN OUR COMMUNITY BACK TO TRYING TO GET BACK TO A NEW NORMAL AND BETTER.
BUT AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, IT IS NOT OVER.
WE ARE STILL RECOVERING AND THAT PROCESS TAKES A VERY LONG TIME.
SO IN SHORT, THIS THIS DOCUMENT IS JUST THAT.
WE DON'T DO A GOOD ENOUGH JOB.
OUR OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
THEY'RE IN THE BASEMENT, LITERALLY.
AND THEY'RE DOWN THERE, YOU KNOW, 2 A.M.
IN THE MORNING. THEY'RE RESPONDING.
THEY LOVE THEIR JOB FOR SOME WEIRD REASON, LIKE WHEN STUFF GOES WRONG, I THINK THEY GRAVITATE TO IT.
BUT WHAT THEY DO IS A VERY SELFLESS JOB.
YOU KNOW, WHEN THOSE SIRENS GO OFF, YOU JUST THINK THAT THEY WORK LIKE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO.
BUT EVERYTHING TO WORK LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO.
IT REQUIRES THIS TEAM LEADER AND HIS ENTIRE TEAM AND EVERYBODY ELSE THROUGHOUT OUR PANHANDLE COMMUNITY OF COMING TOGETHER TO LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER IN OUR SAFETY AND WELL BEING. AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE OVER THE LAST SIX WEEKS NOW, I GUESS, AND ALL THE EFFORT.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION ABOUT EXTENDING THIS RESOLUTION.
OKAY. I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 07-05-23-2 AS PRESENTED IN THE AGENDA.
I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN TIPPS.
A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN SCHERLEN.
DO WE HAVE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? WELL, I'M THANKFUL TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT PASSES WITH A 5-0 VOTE.
ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE IT UP JUST A LITTLE BIT.
I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
I THINK I'VE JUST BEEN ADJOURNING US AND I THINK THAT'S FINE.
SO THAT CONCLUDES OUR MEETING.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN TODAY? YES, MAYOR.
I MOVE TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.
I'LL SECOND THAT [APPLAUSE]. OKAY.
IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER BUSINESS HERE TODAY, ALL IN FAVOR, LET'S ADJOURN.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING HERE.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING FOR YOU.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.