Dec 12, 2023 City Council Regular Meeting

AHEAD AND OFFICIALLY CALL OURSELVES TO ORDER.

[1. Call to Order]

[00:00:02]

SO, UH, WE DO HAVE GREG DOWELL HERE FROM THE, UH, CENTRAL CHURCH OF CHRIST.

IF GREG COULD COME FORWARD, UH, AND IF EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE RISE FOR OUR INVOCATION AND FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGES.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I'D LIKE TO OFFER THE FOLLOWING PRAYER.

WRITTEN BY DEBBIE MCDANIEL.

PRAY WITH ME, PLEASE.

DEAR GOD. HELP US TO FOCUS ON YOU TODAY.

REMEMBERING THAT THE GIFT OF CHRIST, EMMANUEL, IS OUR MOST TREASURED GIFT FOR THE THE WHOLE YEAR THROUGH.

FILL US WITH YOUR JOY AND PEACE.

DIRECT OUR HEARTS AND OUR MINDS TOWARDS YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR REMINDER THAT BOTH IN SEASONS OF CELEBRATION AND IN SEASONS OF BROKENNESS, YOU ARE STILL WITH US. YOU NEVER LEAVE US.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR DAILY PRESENCE IN OUR LIVES THAT WE CAN BE ASSURED YOUR HEART IS TOWARD US.

YOUR EYES ARE OVER US AND YOUR EARS ARE OPEN TO OUR PRAYERS.

THANK YOU THAT YOU SURROUND US WITH FAVOR.

AS WITH THE SHIELD, WE ARE SAFE IN YOUR CARE.

WE CHOOSE TO PRESS IN CLOSE TO YOU TODAY.

IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.

AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU SIR.

THANK YOU. YOU'LL JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE, PLEASE.

PLEASE BE SEATED.

SO LET'S DO ARBOR DAY DOWN THERE AND LET'S DO CERTIFICATES.

SO WE'RE GOING TO COME DOWN WHICH ONE FIRST.

UH WE'RE GOING TO DO ARBOR DAY.

OKAY. UM, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PRESENTATIONS HERE.

[5. Proclamation]

WHEREAS ON APRIL 7TH, 1872, THE FIRST ARBOR DAY IN AMERICA WAS OBSERVED.

JAMES STERLING MARTIN, A NEBRASKA JOURNALIST, HAD PROPOSED THE NEBRASKA BOARD OF AGRICULTURE THAT A SPECIAL DAY BE SET ASIDE FOR PLANTING OF MORE THAN 1 MILLION TREES IN NEBRASKA.

AND WHEREAS ARBOR DAY IS NOW OBSERVED THROUGHOUT THE NATION AND THE WORLD.

AND WHEREAS ARBOR DAY IS CELEBRATED NATIONALLY IN APRIL AND BY THE STATE OF TEXAS IN NOVEMBER.

AND WHEREAS TREES CAN BE A SOLUTION TO COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE BY REDUCING THE CORROSION OF EUROPEAN, I'M SORRY, EROSION OF OUR PRECIOUS TOPSOIL BY THE WIND AND WATER CUTTING, HEATING AND COOLING COSTS, MODERATING THE TEMPERATURES, CLEANING THE AIR, PRODUCING LIFE, GIVING OXYGEN, AND PROVIDING HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE.

AND WHEREAS TREES ARE RENEWABLE, RESOURCES GIVEN US PAPER WOOD FOR OUR HOMES, FUEL FOR FIRES AND COUNTLESS OTHER WOOD PRODUCTS.

WHEREAS URBAN TREES INCREASE PROPERTY VALUE, ENHANCE THE ECONOMIC VITALITY OF A BUSINESS AREA AND BEAUTIFY OUR COMMUNITY.

WHEREAS IN 2023, THE CITY OF AMARILLO PLANTED OVER 200 TREES TO IMPROVE THE MARTIN ROAD AND JEAN HOWELL PARK.

NOW, THEREFORE, WE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE 12TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2023 AS ARBOR DAY IN AMARILLO AND URGE ALL CITIZENS TO SUPPORT EFFORTS TO PROTECT OUR TREES AND WOODLANDS FOR THE WELL BEING THERE AND THE FUTURE GENERATIONS.

SIGNED BY THE MAYOR CALLED STANLEY COUNCILMAN JOSH CRAFT, COUNCILMAN DON TIPPS COUNCIL AND TOM SCHERLEN AND COUNCILMAN LES SIMPSON.

[00:05:13]

ANYONE THAT'S WITH YOU.

Y'ALL COME GET IN THE MIDDLE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANKS.

Y'ALL GOT IT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU. YEAH.

OKAY. NEXT WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION FOR NATIONAL WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA DAY, UH, FOR SERVING VETERANS THROUGH A MISSION OF REMEMBER THE

[6. Recognition]

AND FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE 2023 NATIONAL WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA DAY BY LOCALLY BY PLACING WREATHS ON VETERANS GRAVES.

BUT MEMORIAL PARK IN AMARILLO AND FOR LIVING THIS MISSION NOT ONLY IN DECEMBER, BUT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE CITY OF AMARILLO HEREBY PRESENTS A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION TO DIGNITY MEMORIAL USA AND TX 1332P AMARILLO TROOP TEN, IN HONOR OF NATIONAL WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA DAY ON DECEMBER 16TH, 2023.

AND WE THANK THEM FOR THEIR PANHANDLE SPIRIT THAT MAKES AMARILLO A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.

APPRECIATE YOU GUYS. I APPRECIATE Y'ALL COMING UP HERE WITH YOU GUYS. WE'RE PRETTY GOOD.

ARE YOU? ONE MORE. THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE YOU.

NOW WE'RE BACK.

STEPHANIE.

HEY, THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE, GUYS.

UM, LET ME LET ME DO THIS.

WE WE COULD HAVE AN EXTENDED PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD HERE TODAY.

UM, THIS COUNCIL AND I THINK THIS COMMUNITY SEES THE VALUE IN HEARING OUR CITIZENS AND TRYING TO LISTEN AND TRULY GIVE EVERYBODY THEIR TIME.

UH, BUT WE HAVE AN ITEM, ITEM 11 A THAT IS, UH, DUE BY 4:00 HERE TODAY, AND SO AM I.

AM I CORRECT? MRS STORRS.

OKAY. IT'S 320.

SO I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A SHOW OF HANDS.

UM, ANYONE THAT IS HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, UH, ON THE TOPIC OF THE SANCTUARY CITY, UH, POTENTIAL ORDINANCE OR ABORTION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, WOULD YOU RAISE YOUR HAND HERE? OKAY. UM, AND THEN, UH, MISS CITY SECRETARY, YOU HAVE SEVEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

EIGHT. 18 PEOPLE SIGNED UP NOW, SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO ASK IS THIS.

I'M GOING TO ASK THAT EVERYONE THAT'S HERE TO SPEAK AND WOULD LIKE TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE WE VOTE ON ANY OF OUR AGENDA ITEMS, TO BE ABLE TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK, THAT OUGHT TO GIVE US TIME AFTER WE COMPLETE THAT PUBLIC COMMENT TO PULL FORWARD ITEM 11 A DO A WORKING BUDGET OR I'M SORRY, NOT A WORKING BUDGET, BUT A WORKING AGENDA. GET OUR BUSINESS, UH, TAKEN CARE OF FIRST, AND THEN WE WOULD ALLOW EVERYBODY TO OFFER THEIR PUBLIC COMMENT.

THAT WAY WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME FOR EVERYONE, IN CASE YOU DIDN'T RAISE YOUR HAND.

AND YOU STILL WANT TO SPEAK LATER, UH, YOU'LL BE AFFORDED THAT OPPORTUNITY.

SO AT THIS TIME, I AM GOING TO GO AHEAD AND ALLOW US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY, PLEASE.

[8. Public Comment]

[00:10:08]

MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN TODAY'S COUNCIL MEETING.

YOUR INPUT AND YOUR OPINIONS ARE IMPORTANT TO US, AND WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE TO SHARE THEM.

AT EACH POSTED MEETING, WE INVITE OUR FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ADDRESS CITY COUNCIL REGARDING POSTED AGENDA ITEMS. EVERY SPEAKER HAS THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

TODAY. AT THE END OF 2.5 MINUTES, YOU'LL HEAR A WARNING BEEP, UH, LETTING YOU KNOW YOU HAVE 30S LEFT.

TO WRAP UP YOUR THOUGHTS, WE DO ASK YOU STAY WITHIN YOUR THREE MINUTES ALLOTTED SPEAKERS CAN POST.

EXCUSE ME. SPEAKERS CAN SPEAK TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA OR ITEMS RELATED TO CITY POLICY.

PLEASE REMEMBER IF YOU ARE SPEAKING ON SOMETHING RELATED TO CITY POLICY TODAY, COUNCIL CANNOT DISCUSS THAT WITH YOU SINCE IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA.

THEY CAN, UH, ANSWER WITH A STATEMENT OF FACT.

STATEMENT OF POLICY.

THEY CAN REQUEST TO BE PUT ON A FUTURE AGENDA, OR THEY CAN REFER YOU TO STAFF.

SO WHEN YOU COME TO THE MICROPHONE, IF YOU'LL STATE YOUR NAME AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU LIVE IN THE CITY OF AMARILLO LIMITS, AND THEN YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENTS.

SO FIRST ON OUR LIST TODAY, AND I'M GOING TO SKIP OVER THE ONES THAT ARE HERE FOR SANCTUARY CITY.

UM, LET ME GET DOWN TO ONE.

THAT'S FOR AN AGENDA ITEM.

IT'S DON LARUE.

DON LARUE.

AND AS MR. LARUE MAKES HIS WAY UP NEXT ON DECK AFTER MISS, MR. LARUE WILL BE BETH DUKE.

ALL RIGHT. CAN YOU. YEAH.

EVERYBODY HEAR ME? OKAY. AGENDA 21.

AGENDA 2030.

VISION 2045.

EVERYONE'S HEARD THESE TERMS, BUT YET MOST PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES THEY WOULD IMPOSE ON US.

CHANGES, ASSAULTING FREEDOM, NATURAL LAW, AND JUST PLAIN COMMON SENSE CHANGES WHOSE ONLY PURPOSE IS CONTROL.

BUT CONTROL OF PEOPLE IS IMPOSSIBLE IF THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

THAT'S WHY THEY WANT DATA FROM YOUR SMARTPHONE, YOUR CAR, YOUR MEDICAL RECORDS, EVEN THE APPLIANCES IN YOUR HOME FED THROUGH SMART METERS AND 5G.

AND THEY HAVE NO PRINCIPLES ABOUT HOW THEY GET IT.

THEY TELL YOU IT'S CONVENIENCE SMARTPHONES, GOOGLE, ONSTAR, ALEXA, OR THEY NEED DATA TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE. AND THEN THEY CRISPER UP A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS TO CAUSE LOCKDOWNS, TELECOMMUTING AND VACCINE PASSPORTS. AND HERE'S WHERE YOU COME IN.

GRANTS, INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS, HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT FUNDS.

BASICALLY BRIBERY.

THEY WEIGH MASSIVE SUMS IN FRONT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO ENTICE THEM TO GIVE UP A LITTLE MORE OF THE PEOPLE'S PRIVACY FOR POTHOLES OR A NEW WATER PLANT, OR A THOUSAND OTHER THINGS.

THEY USE LOTS OF AMBIGUOUS BUZZWORDS TO DAZZLE THE MASSES LIKE EQUITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. TO CAMOUFLAGE THEIR INCREMENTAL DESTRUCTION OF LIBERTY.

AND THEY WILL PAY GENEROUSLY BECAUSE THEY PRINT THE MONEY.

ASK YOURSELVES, WHAT IS YOUR PRICE? LIBERTY IS PRICELESS.

PRIVACY IS PRICELESS.

PAID FOR WITH THE BLOOD OF COUNTLESS MEN AND ONE MESSIAH.

WHAT'S THE MODERN EQUIVALENT OF 30 PIECES OF SILVER? ASK YOURSELVES THAT.

EVERY PROPOSAL YOU WILL SEE WILL HAVE A BIT OF POISON TO LIBERTY.

JUST A SPECK.

BUT IT'S THE CUMULATIVE POISON FUEL FOR THE ARE A BEAST.

WE MUST HAVE ZERO TOLERANCE FOR THEIR POISON.

WE CANNOT COMPLY.

WE CALL ON YOU TODAY TO USE EXTREME DILIGENCE ON EVERYTHING PUT BEFORE YOU.

LOOK FOR THE SURVEILLANCE STATE POISON.

IF THERE'S EVEN A SPECK, REJECT THE WHOLE LOT.

LOOK VERY CAREFULLY.

WE WILL HELP YOU LOOK.

REMEMBER, JUDAS THOUGHT HE ALONE KNEW WHAT WAS BEST AND REMEMBER HOW HE ENDED UP.

THANK YOU SIR. NEXT IS BETH DUKE ON DECK.

AFTER MISS DUKE WILL BE JOSEPH ROGERS.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL.

AND THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU FOR BEING IN OUR PARADE.

WE JUST LOVED IT. AND I'M HERE TODAY JUST TO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF CENTER CITY, TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUING PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR FACADE GRANT

[00:15:07]

AND THE CITY BEGAN.

THE CENTER CITY BEGAN ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE IN 2014, AND BECAUSE THE FACADE GRANT PROGRAM IS A MATCHING GRANT, WE KNOW THAT THESE PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE INVESTED FAR MORE THAN THAT IN THEIR BUILDINGS.

UM, THE TERRACE FUNDS HAVE ADDED SO MUCH TO OUR DOWNTOWN.

THEY'VE MADE THE SIDEWALKS MORE WALKABLE, MORE LIGHTS, BETTER SAFETY, AND IT'S BECOMING A MORE WELCOMING DESTINATION FOR VISITORS AND RESIDENTS ALIKE. THE FACADE GRANT FUNDS AND TEARS FUNDS ARE INCENTIVE FUNDS, AND WITH THE GRANT FUNDS, BUSINESSES HAVE THE INCENTIVE TO DO A LITTLE MORE AND GO BEYOND THE GO BEYOND THE BASICS.

THESE ARE REIMBURSEMENT GRANTS.

THE FUNDS ARE NEVER DISTRIBUTED UNTIL THE PROJECT IS AND ALL THE INSPECTIONS ARE COMPLETE.

EACH YEAR, OUR DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE LOOKS OVER LOTS OF APPLICATIONS.

WE ALWAYS HAVE MORE REQUESTS THAN WE HAVE FUNDS, AND WE MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS ABOUT WHERE THE MONEY GOES.

UM, I KNOW I HATE TO ASK YOU GUYS, DO YOU MIND HANDING THOSE TO THE COUNCIL? UM. THANK YOU SIR.

I LOVE IT HERE. MY HANDOUTS ARE ALWAYS IN THE BEST HANDS.

THEY'RE ALWAYS THE SAFEST HANDOUTS.

UM, THE.

THIS IS A LIST SINCE 1996, OF ALL THE FACADE GRANTS WE'VE BEEN PART OF.

AND THAT'S WITH YOUR HELP.

AND I WANT TO TELL YOU TWO QUICK STORIES.

ONE, UM, TWO OF OUR FACADE GRANTS IS PAST YEAR I'M SO PROUD OF.

ONE WAS TO AMARILLO COLLEGE FOR THE INNOVATION OUTPOST.

AND ONE OF OUR BIG GOALS IN THE 2008 STRATEGIC PLAN WAS TO MAKE DOWNTOWN A PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, PLAY, LEARN, AND WORSHIP.

AND NOW THAT WE HAVE THE WTAMU HARRINGTON ACADEMIC HALL ON TYLER AND WE HAVE THE INNOVATION OUTPOST OF AMARILLO COLLEGE RIGHT THERE ON POLK STREET, THAT GOAL IS REALLY BECOMING A REALITY.

UH, THAT IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF NEW TECHNOLOGY IN A HISTORIC BUILDING.

THAT'S THE PORTION OF THE HISTORIC AMARILLO HIGH THAT WAS SAVED FROM THE 1970 FIRE.

AND THEN THE LAST THING I WANT TO TELL YOU IS A STORY.

WE DON'T JUST DO BIG BUILDINGS, WE DO LITTLE ONES, TOO.

AND I'M GOING TO PASS OUT A PICTURE OF THE BUILDING AT 109 SOUTH BUCHANAN, AN ABANDONED BUILDING THAT IS NOW AMIGO HOMES.

AND BERNIE CASTANEDA HAS BROUGHT THAT BUILDING BACK TO LIFE.

SO I BROUGHT THAT PICTURE TO SHOW YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, MISS BETH.

JOSEPH ROGERS, AND AFTER MISTER ROGERS, MONICA PINON WILL BE ON DECK.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JOE ROGERS.

I AM A CITIZEN OF AMARILLO AND I AM ON THE COMMISSION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

AND I'M HERE THIS AFTERNOON TO TALK ABOUT THE LICENSE PLATE READERS THAT AS PART OF THE CONSENT ITEMS. UH, MY CONCERN IS THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS ONE PART OF HAVING A NETWORK OF LICENSE PLATE READERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

MY CONCERN IS THAT WHAT THAT WILL ALLOW, UH, TO HAPPEN IS THAT THE POLICE WILL BE ABLE TO TRACK AMARILLO CITIZENS AS THEY TRAVEL THROUGHOUT THE CITY, WHICH INTRODUCES A POTENTIAL PROBLEM OF HAVING SOMEBODY, AN INNOCENT PERSON, BEING DRAWN INTO A POLICE INVESTIGATION BECAUSE THEY CAN BE PLACED IN THE VICINITY OF AN UNSOLVED CRIME.

AND SO I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO POSE TO YOU AND HOPEFULLY HAVE YOU ASK.

WHAT IS THE SCOPE OF THE COLLECTION OF DATA? WELL, EVERY LICENSE PLATE READER BE ON EVERY DAY, COLLECTING EVERY LICENSE PLATE THAT IT SEES.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF COLLECTING MASS DATA AND HOW WILL THIS DATA BE USED? WILL THIS SURVEILLANCE DATA BE SOLD OR SHARED? IF SO, SOLD TO WHOM OR SHARED WITH WHOM? HOW LONG WILL THIS DATA BE STORED? UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES WILL IT BE DESTROYED? WHO CAN ACCESS THIS DATA, AND UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES WILL THEY BE ALLOWED TO ACCESS THIS DATA? HOW WILL THE PUBLIC BE ALERTED TO DATA BREACHES, WHETHER INTERNALLY OR FROM OUTSIDE AND WITH RESPECT TO THE CRIME CENTER? HOW WILL THE ACCURACY AND THE RELIABILITY OF THE ALGORITHMS USED IN FACIAL RECOGNITION AND PREDICTIVE POLICING? BE TESTED AND VERIFIED.

AND LAST AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, HOW DOES THIS BODY INTEND TO ALLOW CITIZENS TO EXERCISE TRANSPARENT PUBLIC OVERSIGHT OF THESE SURVEILLANCE ACTIVITIES

[00:20:09]

THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU SIR.

MONICA PINION, AND ON DECK AFTER MISS PINION WILL BE PHILIP NUSSBAUM.

HELLO, MY NAME IS MONICA PINION AND I AM A RESIDENT HERE IN AMARILLO.

AND, UM, MY MAIN TOPIC I WANT TO BRING UP IS THE RECENT VOTE BY THE FCC TO GIVE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTROL OVER THE INTERNET.

UM, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ALL OF THIS SMART TECHNOLOGY, UM, WE THINK THAT ONLY PEOPLE IN THIS CITY ARE GOING TO HAVE CONTROL OVER IT, BUT IT IS A STEPPING STONE FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HAVE CONTROL.

UM, FCC COMMISSIONER BRENDAN CARR SAID IT READS LIKE SORRY.

SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO LOOK AT HIS STATEMENT.

HE HAS ONE THAT HE PUBLISHED ONLINE.

UM, IF YOU JUST TYPE IN FCC VOTES TO GIVE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTROL OVER THE INTERNET, YOU'LL GET STORIES FROM BOTH POLITICAL SIDES.

UM, THEY'RE SAYING IT'S TO FOR DIVERSITY AND TO STOP DISCRIMINATION.

BUT AS WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST, THESE THINGS THAT ARE MEANT TO BE USED FOR GOOD REASONS AND BEING USED AS A REASON FOR.

NOT GOOD FOR CONTROL.

SORRY. I'M NERVOUS. UM.

ACCORDING TO THE PLAN DOCUMENT, THE FCC WOULD HAVE THE POWER TO REGULATE THE FOLLOWING ASPECTS AS IT RELATES TO EACH INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER.

NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE DEPLOYMENT, NETWORK RELIABILITY, NETWORK UPGRADES, NETWORK MAINTENANCE, CUSTOMER PREMISES EQUIPMENT AND INSTALLATION SPEEDS.

CAPACITIES, LATENCY, DATA CAPS, THROTTLING, PRICING, PROMOTIONAL RATES.

IMPOSITION OF LATE FEES.

OPPORTUNITY FOR EQUIPMENT RENTAL, INSTALLATION TIME, CONTRACT RENEWAL TERMS, SERVICE TERMINATION TERMS, AND USE OF CONSUMER CREDIT AND ACCOUNT HISTORY.

MANDATORY ARBITRATION CLAUSES, PRICING, DEPOSITS, DISCOUNTS, CUSTOMER SERVICE LANGUAGE OPTIONS, CREDIT CHECKS, MARKETING OR ADVERTISING.

CONTRACT RENEWAL UPGRADES, ACCOUNT TERMINATION TRANSFERS TO ANOTHER ENTITY, AND SERVICE SUSPENSION.

THE PLAN GOES ON TO STATE THAT ALL THE ASPECTS NEED TO BE WITHIN THE REALM OF FEDERAL REGULATION, BECAUSE THEY COULD ALL AFFECT A CONSUMER'S ABILITY TO ACCESS BROADBAND.

CARR FURTHER DISCUSSES THE OTHER INDUSTRIES THE FCC COULD REGULATE UNDER THIS PLAN.

THIS PLAN WOULD OPEN THE DOOR TO REGULATING LANDLORDS, CONSTRUCTION CREWS, MARKETING AGENCIES, BANKS, AND EVEN THE GOVERNMENT REGARDING INTERNET ACCESS.

ALL OF THESE INDUSTRIES CAN AND WOULD BE REGULATED BY THE FCC.

SO WHEN WE MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHAT WE CHOOSE TO DO, I HOPE THAT WE TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION.

THANK YOU. YES.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OKAY.

PHILIP NUSSBAUM AND ON DECK AFTER MR. NUSSBAUM WILL BE MICHAEL DAMRON.

I'VE ATTENDED A FEW OF THE CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS, AND I'M ABSOLUTELY AMAZED HOW MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE TO RULE ON ALL THE TIME.

UH, BUT THE ISSUE THAT I'M BRINGING OUT, EVERYTHING YOU RULE IS AFFECTED BY THIS, AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU DON'T IS AFFECTED BY IT.

AND IT'S DEBT. THAT'S A FOUR LETTER WORD.

I'M SORRY, BUT, UH, THE DEBT LEVELS ARE GOING UP AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

THEY'RE GOING UP AT THE CITY LEVEL.

THE CITY OF AMARILLO. IT'S GOING UP.

THE CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, UH, COUNTIES.

AND IT'S A PROBLEM THAT CAUSES A LEADING IS A LEADING CONTRIBUTOR OF HIGHER TAXES INFLATION, CURRENCY DEVALUATION, REDUCTION IN INDIVIDUAL PROSPERITY, REDUCED BENEFITS AND FREEDOMS. AS A RESULT, I'M PROPOSING JUST FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AS YOU MAKE DECISIONS, SOME NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS THAT AS YOU MAKE DECISIONS, YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER.

AND I THINK IF YOU DO, YOU'LL TEND TO REDUCE THE DEBT.

OKAY. SO AND THE DEBT WON'T BE REDUCED IMMEDIATELY, BUT IT'S AFFECTED BY EVERY DECISION YOU HAVE.

THE FIRST IS JUST A DECISION TO REDUCE DEBT.

OKAY. UH, THE SECOND IS TO NOT IMPOSE NEW TAXES OR TO RAISE THE TAX RATES, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC.

OKAY. NUMBER THREE IS TO NOT SPEND ANYTHING ON ANYTHING WE DON'T ABSOLUTELY NEED.

OKAY. THERE'S A LOT OF DECISIONS YOU HAVE TO MAKE EVERY TIME.

AND IT'S SOME THINGS WE NEED.

SOME PEOPLE JUST WANT STUFF OKAY.

AND AS LONG AS YOU'RE CONSIDERING DEBT IS A PROBLEM.

YOU CAN LIVE WITHOUT A LOT OF THINGS.

OKAY. NUMBER FOUR IS TO GET THINGS THAT WHEN YOU DO NEED THINGS THAT YOU HAVE AT LEAST THREE COMPETITIVE BIDS ON ANYTHING THAT'S GREATER THAN $100,000. A LOT OF TIMES THE CITY DOES BIDS, SOMETIMES THEY DON'T.

[00:25:05]

BUT IF YOU GET THREE DIFFERENT BIDS OR COMPETITIVE BIDS, YOU'LL TEND TO SAVE A LOT OF MONEY.

UH FIVE IS TO REDUCE ALL THE ASSETS THE CITY HAS THAT IT DOESN'T NEED, WHICH YOU'D HAVE TO REVIEW THE ASSETS THAT YOU HAVE TO SEE WHICH ONES YOU NEED AND WHICH ONES YOU DON'T.

AND LET'S LIQUIDATE THE ONES THAT DON'T TO REDUCE DEBT.

SIX IS TO REVIEW EVERY FUNCTION THE CITY DOES.

TO SEE IF IT COULD BE DONE IN A BETTER WAY OR A LOWER COST METHOD.

OKAY, AND THAT'S A PRETTY BIG REVIEW.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR, THANK YOU MR..

OKAY, MICHAEL DAMERON.

AND AFTER, MR. DAMERON WILL BE RANDY BURKETT.

YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT I LEFT MY PHONE NUMBER ON THE SIGN IN DOCKET.

I'M GOING TO BE CHANGING IT IN 90 DAYS ANYWAYS, AND I DON'T CARE FOR IT.

SO, UH, PLEASE, UH UH, 5572 AREA CODE, 666 PREFIX.

UH, YEAH. 0128.

UH, THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE EAST RIDGE SIGNAGE.

NOW, THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCOVERY HERE.

I CONTRACTED THAT SIGN FOR LONG YEARS AGO WITH EAST RIDGE.

IT WAS A GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT.

IT WAS GOING TO BILLBOARD. IT MAKE IT LOOK NICE.

$250 PER SIDE.

I WAS EVEN GOING TO INVEST THE MONEY INTO IT BECAUSE I WANTED TO DO IT.

OKAY, WELL, SOMETHING WENT HAYWIRE AND WRONG, AND ABOUT $350 WORTH OF ONE SHOT LETTERING ENAMEL HAS BEEN RUINED ON THE POLING OF IT.

IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE AND IT'S GONE.

AND THAT'S PART OF THE CONTRAST.

NOW I'M GOING TO MAKE A SUGGESTION.

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE A LIEN.

IF IT COMES DOWN TO THAT, THERE'S A THERE'S A PRINCIPLE INVOLVED HERE, BUT I'M GOING TO MAKE A SUGGESTION IN ORDER TO PAY HOMAGE TO TRIPLE A SIGNS THAT YOU REFER TO THIS, IT'LL BE A SUBSTANTIAL, SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS.

YOU REFER TO IT AS THE LEANING SIGNAGE OF AMARILLO ROUTE 66.

THIS IS GOING TO DRAW A LOT OF, UH, REVENUE INTO THIS CITY.

I'M SURE IT WILL, AS MY BILLBOARD WOULD HAVE DONE.

JUST STRAIGHTENING THAT SIGN UP FOR THE BOWLING ALLEY.

BUT NOW THIS IS ENTIRELY UP TO YOU.

BUT, UH, HERE, AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO.

AND I DO NOT WANT THIS TO ESCALATE OUT OF SOMETHING INTO SOMETHING THAT IS IRREVERSIBLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU KNOW HOW EXPENSIVE LITIGATION IS.

I WANT TO THANK YOU PEOPLE.

HAVE YOURSELF A WONDERFUL, SAFE, HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON.

I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU.

THANK YOU SIR. SIR.

MR. BURKETT.

I'M RANDY BURKETT.

I LIVE HERE IN AMARILLO.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON.

THE FIRST THING IS, UH, I NOTICED ABOUT $84,000 SPEND WITH THE AIRPORT BUYING SOD POODLE ADVERTISING.

IF YOU BREAK THAT DOWN, THAT'S A LITTLE OVER $400 A GAME.

THEY PLAY 69 GAMES OUT OF THE YEAR, YOU KNOW, AND THAT BREAKS.

YOU'RE SPENDING OVER $400 FOR ABOUT THREE HOURS OF ADVERTISING.

AND IF THERE'S 5000 PEOPLE THERE, YOU'RE JUST NOT GETTING MUCH BANG FOR YOUR BUCK.

AND AS A BILLBOARD RUNS ABOUT $40 A DAY AND YOU'RE GETTING 90,000 CARS A DAY VIEWING IT, SO THERE'S A LOT MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK IN A BILLBOARD.

AND IT'S ON 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR.

SO I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.

THE OTHER THING IS, UH, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ANDREW FREEMAN.

I THINK HE'D MAKE A GREAT CITY MANAGER.

I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE DOING A SEARCH.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE TO OR NOT, BUT HE'S A GOOD ONE.

AND LASTLY, THE REASON I REALLY CAME UP HERE IS THE ETJ THAT YOU'RE GOING TO THINK ABOUT RIGHT NOW IN YOUR ETJ, UH, YOU REGULATE IN YOUR ETJ IT SAYS YOU DO, BUT YOU ACTUALLY DON'T.

I KNOW IF THE DEVELOPERS OUT THERE BETWEEN HERE AND CANYON ARE BUILDING HOUSES, Y'ALL AREN'T REGULATING THOSE.

I THINK, COLE, I THINK YOU SAID YOU THEY ENTER INTO A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.

THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO ADHERE TO YOUR CODES, BUT THERE'S REALLY NOBODY POLICING THAT.

AND I THINK YOU SAID THE COUNTY IS SUPPOSED TO DO THAT.

IF YOU GO THROUGH ALL OF THE ETJ AND ALL THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, EVERYTHING THAT'S BUILT FROM HOMES TO COMMERCIAL CENTERS TO SIGNAGE, EVERYTHING, THE ONLY THING BEING ENFORCED IN THE ETJ IS BILLBOARDS.

IN HOUR TWO AND TOLD HIM CAN BUILD A BIG ON PREMISE SIGN OR ANYBODY CAN, AND YOU DON'T REGULATE THAT.

BUT IF I PUT TWO AND PUT THEM ON A BILLBOARD ONE MILE AHEAD, YOU REGULATE THAT.

UH, SO IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO REGULATE ALL THE BUILDING AND EVERYTHING GOING ON IN YOUR ETJ, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU JUST DO AWAY WITH REGULATING ANYTHING IN YOUR ETJ AND JUST MAKE SENSE. AND THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. RELATIONS I NEVER CONGRATULATED YOU FOR YOUR.

[00:30:04]

MR. CITY SECRETARY, YOU HAVE ANYONE ELSE? IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT SIGNED UP FOR AN AGENDA ITEM THAT I OVERLOOKED? IF NOT MAYOR? I BELIEVE THAT WAS ALL OF OUR SIGNUPS.

OKAY. INCIDENTALLY, UM, WE DO NOW HAVE A CONFIRMATION FOR, UH, NEXT TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19TH AT 3:00 FOR A SPECIAL WORK SESSION.

UM, I BELIEVE IT'LL BE IN THE HOSPITALITY ROOM AT THE CIVIC CENTER.

AND IT WILL BE ON THE TOPIC OF, UH, THE SANCTUARY CITY, UH, ABORTION ORDINANCE, UM, AS BEEN DISCUSSED.

AND THEN ANYTHING ELSE THAT COUNCIL COULD DISCUSS DURING THAT MEETING THAT THAT WOULD HELP US IN NAVIGATING THE RIGHT WAY FORWARD THERE.

SO, UM, DO I HAVE ANYONE ELSE HERE TODAY THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ANY OF OUR AGENDA ITEMS? OKAY. I SEE ONE HAND BACK THERE.

YES, SIR. IF YOU DON'T MIND COMING FORWARD AND GIVE US YOUR NAME.

AND IF YOU LIVE AND RESIDE WITHIN THE CITY, PLEASE.

MY NAME IS ALAN FEINGOLD.

I LIVE IN THE CITY OF AMARILLO AT 2601 NORTH GRAND STREET.

MY COMMENTS PERTAIN TO THE EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION THAT IS GOING TO CHANGE BECAUSE YOU INTEND TO ANNEX THE PARTICULAR PLOT OF LAND THAT I'M GOING TO REFER TO.

I BELIEVE IT IS A PLOT OF LAND THAT'S BOUNDED BY AMARILLO BOULEVARD ON THE SOUTH, BY US 66 ON THE NORTH AND NORTH, PARSLEY ROAD ON THE WEST.

AND I BELIEVE WHAT WOULD BE AN EXTENSION OF THE OLD AVENUE J OF THE AMARILLO AIR FORCE BASE ON THE EAST.

I PRESUME THAT THIS IS ON BEHALF OF THE AMARILLO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, AND THAT THEY HAVE A SPECIAL PROJECT IN MIND FOR THIS PARTICULAR PARCEL OF LAND WHICH YOU ARE PROPOSING TO ANNEX.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE CITY HAS CONSIDERED WHAT THE COST WILL BE OF EXTENDING INFRASTRUCTURE INTO THAT PARTICULAR PARCEL OF LAND. IF IT DOES HAVE AN ESTIMATE OF THE COST OF THE NEW INFRASTRUCTURE, I WOULD APPRECIATE IF THE CITY WOULD INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THAT.

AND ALSO IF THERE IS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EDC AND THE CITY TO REIMBURSE THE CITY IN PART OR IN WHOLE, FOR THE EXTENSIONS OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE INTO THAT PARTICULAR AREA.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU SIR. SIR.

OKAY. UM, IF WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE ELSE, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON WITH THE REST OF OUR, UH, BUSINESS AGENDA HERE.

SO I WILL OFFICIALLY CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS TIME.

WE WILL TAKE UP EXTENDED PUBLIC COMMENT, UM, AFTER, UH, THE LAST NON CONSENT ITEM.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND WAITING TO SPEAK TO THOSE ITEMS. UM, WE ARE GOING TO PULL FORWARD ITEM 11 A.

[11.A. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 8101]

THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL WORKING WITH US TO TAKE THIS ITEM UP EARLIER IN THE MEETING.

SO THIS ITEM IS AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF CITY OF AMARILLO, TEXAS WATERWORKS AND SEWER SYSTEM REVENUE BONDS, NEW SERIES 2024. WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH YOU ALL ABOUT THIS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS.

AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS IN RELATION TO THE NORTHEAST INTERCEPTOR PROJECT THAT WAS, UM, APPROVED FOR CONSTRUCTION BACK IN NOVEMBER.

UM, THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF OTHER DEBT ISSUANCES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS.

AFTER RECEIVING THE BIDS.

THE BIDS CAME IN HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED.

SO THIS, UM, SALE OF BONDS WILL HELP BRIDGE THAT GAP.

SO WE, UM, WE PUT THEM OUT FOR BID THIS MORNING AND STEVEN ADAMS WITH SPECIALIZED PUBLIC FINANCE WILL GO OVER THAT WITH YOU ALL HERE IN JUST A LITTLE BIT.

UM, AS A REMINDER, WE ARE ALSO IN DISCUSSION WITH THE AMARILLO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO PARTICIPATE IN

[00:35:01]

AND SO WE WILL BE SPEAKING WITH THEM AT THEIR NEXT BOARD MEETING THIS COMING WEEK.

UM, SO WITH THAT, I'LL HAND IT OVER TO STEVEN ADAMS. WE ALSO HAVE PAUL JASON IN THE BACK WITH SPECIALIZED PUBLIC FINANCE.

THESE ARE OUR FINANCIAL ADVISORS, AND I'LL BE AVAILABLE IF THERE'S QUESTIONS AFTER THIS.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, STEVEN ADAMS. AND AS LAURA MENTIONED, WE TOOK BIDS AT 9:00 IN THE MORNING.

UM, WE HAD TO TAKE IT GENERALLY ON THE DAY OF THE, OF THE SALE BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL MOVEMENTS IN THE MARKET.

SO WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS AN OFFER TO BUY YOUR BONDS, AND IT'S GOOD UNTIL YOU ACCEPT IT OR THEY PULL IT.

SO THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO MOVE UP SO WE CAN MAKE SURE WE WE GET THE BIDS ACCEPTED.

SO WE RECEIVED EIGHT BIDS THIS MORNING.

AND THE WINNING BID WAS HILLTOP SECURITIES WITH A TRUE INTEREST COST OF 4.057%.

UM, BEFORE WE TOOK THESE BIDS, WE HAD TO GO THROUGH AND GET A RATING.

WE HAD TO PUT OFFERING DOCUMENTS TOGETHER.

AND THE WRITING PROCESS IS A PRETTY VOLUMINOUS AMOUNT OF DATA THAT WE GIVE TO STANDARD AND POOR'S.

UH, A LOT OF YOUR STAFF MEMBERS ARE INVOLVED, AND WE HAD TO HAD THE MAYOR ON THE CALL AS WELL.

BUT AS PART OF THAT, WE TOLD THE RATING AGENCY THAT WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE MAY BE ISSUING $300 MILLION FOR A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

THEY TOOK ALL OF THAT INTO ACCOUNT.

WE ARE OBLIGATED TO TELL THEM ANY POTENTIAL DEBT THAT WE MAY ISSUE.

SO WE CONTINUED TO HAVE AND THEY AFFIRMED A DOUBLE A+ RATING, WHICH IS VERY HIGH.

UH, YOU CAN ONLY BE ONE NOTCH HIGHER.

SO DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE WENT THROUGH ALL OF THE POTENTIAL FUTURE DEBT OF THE CITY, THAT RATING WAS AFFIRMED.

UM. IF YOU AWARD THESE TONIGHT, THIS AFTERNOON WE WILL CLOSE ON JANUARY THE 9TH, 2024.

IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT PAGE, PLEASE, YOU'LL SEE THE FIRMS THAT BID.

THERE WERE EIGHT TOTAL BIDS.

I THINK THESE CAME IN FROM 5 OR 6 DIFFERENT STATES ACROSS THE NATION.

SO WE HAD A LOT OF VERY, VERY COMPETITIVE BIDS.

YOU SEE THE PORK 4.057 FROM HILLTOP AND THE COVER BID WAS 4.081.

SO LESS THAN THREE BASIS POINTS, VERY SMALL.

SO VERY TIGHT BIDS WHICH TELLS US A VERY COMPETITIVE BID.

SO WE'RE HAPPY WITH THAT.

THE NEXT PAGE UM IS THE DEBT SERVICE ON THE ON THE BONDS.

AND YOU SEE THAT THE COUPON RATES ARE FOR THE MOST PART HIGHER THAN THE TRUE INTEREST COST.

AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT, YOU SEE ON THE LEFT, WE ARE SELLING 19.3 MILLION IN BONDS TO FUND A $20 MILLION PROJECT. TO GET THOSE HIGHER COUPON RATES, I HAD TO PAY US A PREMIUM.

THEY WANTED HIGHER COUPON RATES SO THEY COULD GET MORE TAX EXEMPT INTEREST.

IT'S A THEIR CUSTOMERS THAT THEY ARE SELLING THESE BONDS TO HELP DICTATE THAT.

AND SO THE BIDDING PROCESS ALSO HELPS DICTATE THAT.

SO UM AGAIN THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS UM CREATED BY THE MARKETPLACE, IF YOU WILL.

YOU SEE, THE ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE ON THIS IS APPROXIMATELY $1.205 MILLION PER YEAR BETWEEN NOW AND 2053. SO 30 YEAR ON THE BOND.

UH, NEXT PAGE PLEASE.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY OF AMARILLO AWARD THE $19,300,000.

$300,000. WATERWORKS AND SEWER SYSTEM REVENUE BONDS, NEW SERIES 2024 TO HILLTOP SECURITIES, AND I'D BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

MAYOR QUESTIONS.

COUNCIL. ANYTHING ON THIS SIDE? NO, SIR. OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. ADAMS. APPRECIATE YOU.

UM, THIS IS ONE WE'VE WE'VE WORKED THROUGH FOR QUITE A WHILE.

SO, UM, AND THIS IS ALSO ONE OF THOSE, UH, PARTICULAR TO MR. NUSSBAUM'S COMMENT ABOUT DEBT.

UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE, IN ANY BUSINESS, THERE'S GOOD DEBT AND THERE'S BAD DEBT.

AND SO THIS IS THIS IS NOT A SHINY, PRETTY ITEM.

UM, THIS IS INFRASTRUCTURE.

IT'S IT'S A NEED, NOT A WANT.

UM, HONESTLY, IT'S A HAVE TO.

AND, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE THIS IS AT A LARGER AMOUNT OF MONEY, SO WE DON'T WE DON'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN NEGOTIATE.

WELL, SO ONE THING THAT I WOULD SAY IS IN OUR PROJECTIONS.

UH MRS. STORRS, I WANT TO SAY YOU THOUGHT IT WAS 4.5% INTEREST RATE, AND THIS IS A 4.08.

SO WHEN WE PRESENTED BACK IN, I BELIEVE IT WAS IN SEPTEMBER, WE WERE ESTIMATING A 4.85%.

OKAY. SO AS YOU CAN SEE WE HIT THE MARKET AT A GOOD TIME.

AND WITH OUR REAFFIRMED A+ RATING, WE GOT A LOT OF INTEREST WHICH HELPED DRIVE DOWN THAT INTEREST COST.

[00:40:06]

AND AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S CLOSER TO 1.2 MILLION.

SO ROUGHLY $300,000 WORTH OF SAVINGS ON ON WHAT WE HOPE IS GOOD DEBT, YOU KNOW, RIGHT HERE AND THE WAY IN WHICH WE'RE WE'RE BORROWING MONEY IN A MARKET WHERE BUSINESS LOAN, YOU KNOW, MAYBE 9% AT THIS POINT.

SO THAT IS CORRECT.

IT AS A REMINDER, WE ARE NOT CHANGING THE RATES OF OUR CUSTOMERS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS, UM, DEBT ISSUANCE.

SO IT HAS BEEN ABSORBED IN THE EXISTING RATES THAT ARE PAID THAT OUR RATEPAYERS ARE PAYING, WHICH I THINK GOES TO KIND OF SHOW THE EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCIES OF OUR THAT ONE ENTERPRISE FUND THAT DOES A GOOD JOB OF MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE THEY'RE WORKING WITHIN THEIR BUDGET AND THEY HAVE A LITTLE MARGIN.

AND SO WE'RE ABLE TO PUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS INTO INTO PRACTICE, UH, IT WILL HELP OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT AND THE OTHER PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON.

AND AT A SAVINGS OF ROUGHLY 300,000 FROM WHAT WE BUDGETED FOR THE INTEREST PAYMENT.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, JOB WELL DONE.

UH, I WOULD LOVE TO NOT NEED TO SPEND THIS MONEY, BUT THAT'S NOT AN OPTION.

ABSOLUTELY. UH, AT THIS POINT, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

THANK YOU. MA'AM, I MOVE TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 8101.

SECOND. OKAY.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO HAVE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? UH. MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO.

WE ARE NOW GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GO BACK ON OUR AGENDA.

IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE QUITE A FEW DISCUSSION ITEMS. SO I'LL ASK COUNCIL AT THIS TIME.

DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU NEED TO, UH, REVIEW OR ANYTHING FOR ITEM NINE A.

NO. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM NINE B.

[9.B. Potential ordinance to revise Chapter 8-5 Public and Environmental Health for changes resulting from Senate Bill 577]

UM POTENTIAL ORDINANCE HERE FOR OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.

HOW ARE YOU, SIR? I'M DOING GOOD, SIR.

HOW ARE YOU? GOOD, GOOD.

WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I'LL KEEP THIS SHORT.

UM, I WANTED TO BRING A DISCUSSION ITEM IN FRONT OF YOU ALL TODAY TO JUST, UH, BASICALLY DISCUSS AND HOPEFULLY GIVE SOME FEEDBACK ON A POTENTIAL ORDINANCE.

CHANGE WILL COME NEXT MONTH.

UH, THIS IS AN UPDATE.

CHAPTER EIGHT FIVE OF THE MUNI CODE.

IT'S PUBLIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CODE.

ESSENTIALLY, THERE'S FOUR ELEMENTS, THREE OF WHICH ARE NEEDED, AND I'LL KIND OF BREEZE OVER THOSE.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I CAN DIVE INTO THE DETAILS THERE.

BUT SPECIFICALLY ONE ELEMENT, ONE, WE'RE UPDATING REQUIREMENTS FROM SENATE BILL 577 THAT TOOK EFFECT ON SEPTEMBER 1ST.

UH, WE ARE ALSO CHANGING ALL THE BUDGETARY ITEMS THAT WE UPDATED DURING THE BUDGET OF LAST YEAR.

UM, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO DO SOME GENERAL CLEANUP, WHICH IS RULE REFERENCES, MISTAKES, REMOVING REDUNDANCIES, ETC.

THOSE ARE THE FIRST THREE ELEMENTS.

THE LAST ELEMENT THAT I'D LIKE TO GET SOME FEEDBACK ON IS WHILE WE'RE IN THE CHAPTER, I'D LIKE TO MAKE SOME CHANGES TO OUR MOBILE FOOD UNIT ORDINANCE.

ESSENTIALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO ALLOW FOR NON-OPERATIONAL STORAGE OF THOSE UNITS IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA.

CURRENTLY THAT'S NOT ALLOWED.

I WANT TO ALIGN THAT WITH A SECTION OF OUR ZONING CODE THAT SAYS IF THOSE UNITS ARE LESS THAN ONE TON IN WEIGHT, THEY CAN PARK THEM IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA.

WE SEE THIS ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, AND IT'S REALLY HARD TO REGULATE, AND THERE'S NO REAL GOOD REASON TO NOT ALLOW IT.

SO WE'D LIKE TO ALLOW IT.

UM, ALSO, WE'D ALSO LIKE TO ALLOW FOR THESE UNITS TO OPERATE FROM A PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.

UH, WITH SOME CONDITIONS.

UH, 300 FOOT SETBACK FROM BRICK AND MORTAR RESTAURANTS LEGALLY PARKED.

THEY CAN'T PARK ON A STREET WHERE THEY CAN'T LEGALLY PARK ANYWAYS.

UH, SERVING CURBSIDE.

AND I DON'T WANT THEM TO IMPEDE TRAFFIC, PEDESTRIAN OR VEHICULAR, IN ANY WAY.

UM, AND THEN ALSO A COUPLE OTHER CHANGES.

WE NEED TO AMEND THE USE TABLES OF THE ZONING CODE TO ADD IN DEFINITION OF A MOBILE FOOD UNIT AND A MOBILE FOOD ICE CREAM, UH, DESSERT VEHICLE.

ALSO WANT TO MOVE AND CLEAN UP THE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.

THEY'RE CURRENTLY LOCATED WITHIN 85.

I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THEM TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO WITHIN THE ZONING ORDINANCE.

AND ESSENTIALLY REAL UH, THE CLEANUP WILL BE THE PERMIT REQUIREMENT, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SIGNAGE AND TRASH CLEANUP.

AND THEN LASTLY, I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ALL THE DEPARTMENTS AND INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CUSTOMERS THAT I'VE WORKED, I'M SORRY, PARTNERS I'VE WORKED WITH.

SO WE'VE WORKED WITH PARKS, PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, CPD, POLICE, FIRE, TRAFFIC AND EXTERNAL PARTNERS.

THE CITY OF CANYON, WHICH I DO HAVE A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM THEM ALREADY.

UH, PANHANDLE RESTAURANTS, PANHANDLE ASSOCIATION, PANHANDLE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION AND A TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, WHICH I AM WORKING ON.

LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM THOSE THOSE INDIVIDUALS AS WELL.

I WOULD LIKE SOME FEEDBACK ON THAT LAST ELEMENT.

IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY, OR IF YOU'D LIKE TO GO INTO ANY DETAIL ON THE THINGS THAT I TALKED ABOUT.

YES, SIR. QUESTIONS? COUNCIL DID YOU JUST KIND OF GO IN DETAIL AS FAR AS THE MOVING AND CLEANING UP THE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS? SURE. SO CURRENTLY THE ORDINANCE, SOME OF THE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS THAT WERE IMPLEMENTED, I DON'T KNOW, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN YEARS AGO ARE REALLY HARD TO ENFORCE, ONE OF

[00:45:08]

SO IF THEY MOVE AN INCH OR MOVE AND WE'RE NOT THERE AND COME RIGHT BACK TO THE SAME SPOT, THOSE ARE THE ARGUMENTS THAT WE GET INTO ALL THE TIME.

SO IT'S ALMOST WE DON'T WE DON'T EVEN LOOK AT THESE.

SO I'D LIKE TO REALLY SHORTEN THOSE DOWN TO SOME THINGS THAT MATTER.

SIGNAGE, LIGHTS, TRASH.

AND THE LIST I THINK IS LIKE THIS LONG CURRENTLY.

SO I'D LIKE JUST TO CLEAN THOSE UP.

OKAY. THANK YOU. YES, SIR.

OTHER QUESTIONS. COUNCIL.

SO TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE MOBILE FOOD UNITS.

IT SAYS ALLOWING FOR NON-OPERATIONAL STORAGE AS A RESIDENCE IF UNDER ONE TON.

SO SO RIGHT NOW WHAT WHAT PROBLEM IS THAT CAUSING.

SO CURRENTLY WE HAVE A PROVISION IN THE ORDINANCE THAT SAYS YOU CAN'T TAKE A MOBILE FOOD UNIT HOME PERIOD.

STATE LAW. THERE'S A PROVISION IN STATE LAW THAT SAYS YOU CAN'T OPERATE IT FROM HOME.

YOU CAN'T STORE YOUR FOOD PRODUCTS THERE, YOU CAN'T GET FRESH WATER OR DUMP YOUR WASTE WATER.

BUT IT DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT STORAGE.

JUST ABOUT EVERY OTHER CITY IN TEXAS ALLOWS THEM TO STORE IT AT HOME.

DOESN'T REALLY REGULATE THAT AT ALL.

WE CHOSE TO WHEN WE OPENED UP OUR MOBILE FOOD UNIT RULES ABOUT TEN, FIVE, TEN YEARS AGO.

WE ONLY HAD 20 UNITS AT THE TIME, SO WE WANTED TO PUT SOME REALLY STRICT PROVISIONS ON ALLOWING THEM TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT AND REALLY OPENING THE BOOK ON MOBILE FOOD UNIT.

SO WE WE SAY YOU CAN'T PARK IT AT HOME.

THAT'S NOT A PROVISION WITHIN STATE LAW.

THE ONE TON PROVISION IS ALREADY EXISTING.

IT'S ALREADY EXISTING WITHIN THE ZONING CODE.

SO WE JUST REALLY LIKE TO ALIGN 8.5 WITH THE ZONING REGULATIONS.

AND WHEN YOU SAY STORAGE WHAT WHAT WHAT'S WHAT DO YOU DEFINE AS STORAGE.

JUST PARKING OKAY OKAY.

WHEN THEY'RE NOT OPERATING WE LIKE TO LET THEM PARK IT ANYWHERE IN THE DRIVEWAY OR OUT ON THE STREET OF A RESIDENTIAL AREA ON THEIR PROPERTY.

ON THE PROPERTY. CORRECT.

OKAY. QUESTIONS? UM. YES, SIR.

I GUESS ON THE, UH, PANHANDLE RESTAURANT GROUP, DO YOU HAVE, UH, FOOD TRUCK OWNERS INVOLVED IN THAT, UH, COMMITTEE? WE DON'T.

OKAY. NOT NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE.

UM, LET ME LET ME ROLL THAT BACK AND JUST SAY NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE.

OKAY. SO YOU MAY HAVE, LIKE, UH.

UM, YOU MAY HAVE AN ENTITY THAT HAS A FOOD TRUCK, AND THEY'RE ALSO A RESTAURANT, MEXICAN FOOD RESTAURANT, AND HAS A FOOD TRUCK, BUT QUITE A FEW OF THOSE.

SO THEY WOULD BE THEY WOULD BE INVOLVED IN YOUR CONVERSATIONS WITH WITH THIS THEY WOULD.

AND DID YOU GET ANY NEGATIVE FEEDBACK OR DID THEY CONTRIBUTE TO SOME OF, UH, THE OUTCOMES HERE? I TOOK THIS ORDINANCE TO THEM, THE CONVERSATION BEFORE EVEN CRAFTING THE ORDINANCE.

SO WE WORK PRETTY CLOSE HAND IN HAND.

THE 300 FOOT SETBACK, THE DIRECT COMPETITION, UH, ISSUE THAT WE'RE WORKING OUT THAT THAT WAS ONE OF THEIR IDEAS.

UM, AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE PANHANDLE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION IS PARTNERED WITH THE TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, AND THEY'RE CURRENTLY POLLING ALL OF THEIR MEMBERS TRYING TO WORK ON THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE, UH, HOPEFULLY TO GET A FINAL DRAFT BEFORE THE JANUARY READING.

AND IF THEY HAVE CONCERNS WITH THAT BEFORE JANUARY, WE'LL PULL IT AND MOVE UNTIL WE HAVE FULL SUPPORT FROM PANHANDLE AND TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION.

OKAY. AND YOU WOULD PROBABLY HAVE A PHASE PERIOD THERE.

I'M GUESSING, YOU KNOW, IF YOU IF YOU MADE A CHANGE LIKE THIS, IT WOULD TAKE ARE YOU LOOKING AT 90 DAYS BEFORE YOU IMPLEMENT OR WHAT.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO GIVE THEM.

SO THAT'S UH, THAT'S AN INTERESTING POINT.

577 HAS A PIECE IN THERE THAT SAYS WE ALSO HAVE TO SEND ANY ORDINANCE THAT DIFFERS FROM STATE LAW TO THE STATE, AND IT HAS A 60 DAY GRACE PERIOD BEFORE YOU CAN IMPLEMENT.

I THINK THERE'S SOME FIRST READING, SECOND READING, AND THEN 45 DAYS WITH THE CITY AND THEN 60 DAYS WITH THE STATE.

SO IT MAY BE THREE, FOUR MONTHS.

SO THEY COULD HAVE A GOOD PERIOD OF TIME.

DO YOU HAVE A WAY TO REACH OUT TO, UM, A GROUP OF THOSE FOOD TRUCK OWNERS OPERATORS? I DO I CAN'T JUST GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE ANY FEEDBACK.

AND THEN WHEN YOU BRING THIS BACK, YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO TO STATE WHETHER YOU HAD ANY OTHER CHANGES OR CONCERNS ON THEIR SIDE.

ABSOLUTELY. THEY'RE JUST NOT ASSOCIATED.

SO THEY DON'T HAVE AN ASSOCIATION.

OKAY. I CAN ABSOLUTELY REACH OUT TO ALL I HAVE ALL THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION.

THAT'D BE GREAT. UH, ON THE POOL TECHNICIAN AND SOME OF THAT, UH, CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT YOU'RE CHANGING ON THAT? SURE. SENATE BILL 577 SPECIFICALLY EXEMPTS A CITY FROM, UH, CHARGING A CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER REGISTRATION FEE, WHICH WE DID FOR A LONG TIME.

SO WE IMPLEMENTED THAT, UH, SEPTEMBER 1ST.

UH, AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, THROUGH OUR BUDGET PROCESS, WE CHARGE A REGISTRATION FEE FOR POOL TECHNICIAN.

WE WENT AHEAD AND CUT THAT OUT, AS WELL AS KIND OF THE BREADTH OF 577 IS TO NOT FURTHER REGULATE OR CHARGE FOR REGISTRATIONS THAT ARE ACCEPTED AT THE STATE

[00:50:03]

OKAY. DOES THIS AFFECT ANYTHING ELSE ON THE THE POOL INSPECTIONS, SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE DEAL WITH NOW, THE FIRST THE FIRST THREE ELEMENTS HAVE REALLY ALREADY ALREADY BEEN TAKEN CARE OF WITHIN OUR BUDGET.

SO WE'VE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED THOSE.

WE'RE JUST CLEANING UP THE ORDINANCE ON THE BACKSIDE.

OKAY. THOSE ARE MINE.

THANK YOU SIR. YES SIR.

ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE FOR MR. SPINELL? ONE OTHER QUESTION.

SO WHEN YOU WHEN WE DETERMINE KIND OF WHAT THESE MOVE, THE CHANGES WILL BE TO THE MOBILE FOOD UNITS.

HOW HOW DO WE NOTIFY MOBILE UNIT OWNERS ABOUT THESE CHANGES AND HOW FAR IN ADVANCE WILL THEY GET NOTIFICATION ON THESE.

SURE. SO WE HAVE UM, LIKE A MASS EMAIL LIST.

WE CAN EMAIL, WE CAN POST ON OUR SOCIAL PAGES.

UH, IT'LL GO OUT PRETTY QUICK.

SO SO KEEP IN MIND THE CURRENT REGULATIONS SAYS YOU CAN'T DO THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO ALLOW THEM TO DO.

SO THIS IS REALLY KIND OF ROLLING BACK REGULATIONS TO BE MORE BUSINESS FRIENDLY.

I, I EXPECT ZERO OPPOSITION.

TODAY. IT'S JUST NOT ALLOWED, RIGHT? OKAY. WE APPRECIATE THE UPDATE.

WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE REVISIONS.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR.

OKAY. MOVING ALONG.

[9.C. Quarterly budget update]

THANK YOU. MAYOR.

UM, SO WE ARE CURRENTLY UNDERGOING OUR YEAR END AUDIT.

AND OUR YEAR END, AS A REMINDER, IS SEPTEMBER 30TH.

AND SO THAT AUDIT TAKES SEVERAL MONTHS.

AND WE WILL BE PRESENTING AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO YOU ALL IN FEBRUARY.

SO THIS IS KIND OF YOUR FIRST LOOK AT YOUR YEAR END RESULTS AS FAR AS BUDGET VERSUS ACTUAL.

UM, THESE ARE DEFINITELY JUST AN ABBREVIATED VERSION OF IT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO START WITH YOUR GENERAL FUND.

UM, LET'S TALK ABOUT REVENUE FOR A SECOND.

AND I HAVE MORE DETAILS PAST THIS SLIDE.

UM, OUR GENERAL FUND HAD A BUDGETED REVENUE AMOUNT OF $217.5 MILLION FOR THIS LAST FISCAL YEAR.

AND YOU WILL SEE THAT WE ACTUALLY COLLECTED $231.4 MILLION.

AND SO THAT'S A POSITIVE VARIANCE OF 13.9.

SO UM, GREAT RESULTS THERE.

SO LET'S SEE WHY.

FIRST OF ALL, PROPERTY TAXES CAME IN JUST SLIGHTLY ABOVE BUDGET.

UM, JUST UNDER $1 MILLION.

TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE, THAT IS ABOUT 1.87% OF YOUR TOTAL COLLECTIONS.

UM, AS A REMINDER, WE BUDGET PROPERTY TAX COLLECTIONS AT ABOUT 98.5% COLLECTION RATE, AND WE NORMALLY ACHIEVE HIGHER THAN THAT, BUT WE TRY TO BUDGET SOMEWHAT CONSERVATIVELY.

UM, THIS THIS NUMBER INCLUDES YOUR CURRENT YEAR COLLECTIONS AND PRIOR YEAR COLLECTIONS, INTEREST AND PENALTIES.

SO YOU'LL SEE THE NEXT NUMBER DOWN.

THAT'S WHERE THE BULK OF THIS IS DRIVEN FROM.

IT'S YOUR SALES TAX OF $7.4 MILLION.

WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT SALES TAX PERFORMANCE DURING BUDGET WORKSHOPS THIS YEAR.

WE KNEW IT WAS COMING IN STRONG, AND WE DID ADJUST OUR BUDGETED REVENUE NUMBER FOR SALES TAX UP IN THE NEW YEAR BASED ON KIND OF THIS TREND.

SO THE BIGGEST PIECE IS COMING FROM THERE.

UM, YOUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX TRENDED JUST SLIGHTLY UNDER BUDGET, ABOUT $700,000.

UM, YOUR GROSS RECEIPTS, BUSINESS TAXES, YOUR FRANCHISE FEES, UM, CAME IN JUST OVER BUDGET AT, UM, 800,000.

UM, THAT'S MAINLY DRIVEN BY YOUR ELECTRICITY FRANCHISE FEE.

AND WE'LL GO OVER THAT IN A SECOND INTEREST.

THAT'S ANOTHER BIG ONE.

INTEREST RATES, UM, DEFINITELY CHANGED A LOT OVER THIS PAST YEAR.

WE HAD BUDGETED MORE CONSERVATIVELY AT THE TIME THIS BUDGET WAS FORMULATED.

SO YOU HAD INTEREST COME IN $3.1 MILLION MORE THAN YOUR BUDGET.

AND THEN ON YOUR FINES, YOU WERE ABOUT HALF $1 MILLION BELOW BUDGET.

AND THEN FINALLY YOUR OPERATING TRANSFERS.

WHAT THAT NUMBER IS DRIVEN FROM.

WE HAVE A POLICY THAT OUR GENERAL CONSTRUCTION DOLLARS, THAT'S WHERE YOUR BIG CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT ARE FUNDED OUT OF YOUR GENERAL FUND ARE BEING DONE, AS THE MONEY'S ALREADY EARMARKED FOR THOSE PROJECTS.

THEY'RE SITTING IN INTEREST BEARING ACCOUNTS.

AND SO AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE SWEEP ALL THE INTEREST EARNINGS BACK INTO YOUR GENERAL FUND, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY CAME FROM ORIGINALLY.

SO THIS 3.4 MILLION IS IS DRIVEN BY THE INTEREST INCOME IN THOSE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS INSIDE YOUR GENERAL CONSTRUCTION FUND.

QUESTIONS ON THIS.

NO QUESTIONS.

COUNCIL SO FAR. KATE, I GOT MORE DETAILS, BUT PLEASE STOP ME IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC ONES.

THIS IS JUST A TEN YEAR TREND ON YOUR SALES TAX.

UM, YOU CAN SEE HOW MUCH IT'S GROWN OVER A TEN YEAR PERIOD.

ABOUT $21 MILLION.

UM, SO THE COMPOUNDED ANNUAL GROWTH RATE IS ABOUT 3.7%.

YOU CAN SEE IT REALLY PICKED UP AFTER, UM, COVID.

[00:55:04]

WE TRACK THIS VERY CLOSELY.

UM, EACH MONTH YOU WILL SEE THAT YOUR ACTUAL COLLECTIONS FOR 2223 WERE AT 75.1 MILLION VERSUS THE PRIOR YEAR OF 73.8 MILLION.

BUT THEN OVER TO THE FAR RIGHT, YOU'LL SEE YOUR, UM, YOUR ACTUAL AMOUNTS CAME IN OVER $7 MILLION FROM BUDGET.

WE HAD BEEN TRYING TO KEEP THOSE THE BUDGET AMOUNT ON YOUR SALES TAX, UM, PRETTY STANDARD, UM, GROWTH PRE-COVID.

AND THEN THIS YEAR WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THAT WITH YOU ALL, AND WE'VE JUST DECIDED WE'RE KIND OF AT A NEW NORM NOW COMING ON TO THE OTHER SIDE OF COVID.

AND SO WE HAVE ADJUSTED THAT BUDGET NUMBER UP FROM THAT 68 MILLION.

BUT THAT CREATED ONE TIME, UM, ADDITIONAL CAPTURE DOLLARS OF JUST OVER 7 MILLION ON YOUR SALES TAX.

OKAY. HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.

THIS SLIDE IS ALSO JUST SHOWING A TEN YEAR TREND.

BUT IT ALSO HAS SOME INFORMATION.

AS A REMINDER, THE STATE GETS 6% UM RELATED TO HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.

THE CITY GETS 7%.

AND THEN OUR VENUE DISTRICT GETS ANOTHER 2%, UM, FOR A TOTAL RATE OF 15%.

UM, AND WE ARE ON THE CITY SIDE, WE ARE CAPPED OUT AT OUR 7% RATE.

AND SO YOU WILL SEE THAT THE TEN YEAR CHANGE WAS ABOUT 3.2 MILLION.

THERE WAS DEFINITELY A SPIKE UP AFTER COVID.

AND THEN IT'S KIND OF COME DOWN AND NORMALIZED A LITTLE BIT FROM A TEN YEAR TREND.

ON A MONTH BY MONTH COLLECTION.

UM, YOU WILL SEE THAT IT WAS PRETTY CONSISTENT ACROSS THE BOARD THAT WE HAD SEVERAL MONTHS, THAT WE CAME IN JUST SLIGHTLY LOWER THAN BUDGET.

WE WERE ANTICIPATING THE TREND WOULD CONTINUE ON WITH THOSE HIGH, UM, HIGHER COLLECTIONS.

BUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS SOME OF ESPECIALLY THE AVERAGE DAILY RATES ARE NORMALIZING A LITTLE BIT, COMING DOWN JUST SLIGHTLY.

SO BUT AGAIN, YOUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX IS STILL DOING PHENOMENAL.

UM, IT'S JUST NORMALIZING A LITTLE BIT.

AND WE'RE TRACKING THAT VERY CLOSELY INTO THE NEW YEAR.

SO YOU WILL SEE IT CAME IN SLIGHTLY LOWER DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE.

AND I DO APOLOGIZE BECAUSE I KNOW THE WORDS ARE KIND OF SMALL ON THIS, BUT WANTED TO MENTION THAT YOU DO HAVE A LOCAL HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX REBATE ON YOUR, UM, DOWNTOWN CONVENTION HOTEL.

AND SO FOR THE CURRENT YEAR, THERE WAS ABOUT 795,000.

I'M SORRY, FOR THIS PAST YEAR THERE WAS 795,000 THAT WAS REBATED BACK.

AND THAT AGREEMENT, UM, THAT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT SAYS THAT THE CITY WILL REFUND THOSE LOCAL HOT REVENUES FOR A PERIOD OF 20 YEARS.

WHEN'S THAT 20 YEAR MARK UP? SO WE BEGAN THAT I THINK IT WAS IN 2017.

SO WE'RE A LITTLE WAYS OUT STILL.

QUESTIONS ON THIS. OKAY.

UM, NEXT SLIDE KIND OF GOES OVER AS A REMINDER, YOUR GROSS RECEIPTS, BUSINESS TAXES, THESE ARE YOUR FRANCHISE FEES.

THEY'RE MADE UP OF YOUR ELECTRIC UTILITY.

AND THAT'S AT A 5% AMOUNT GAS UTILITY AT A 5%.

TELEPHONE UTILITIES ARE A PER LINE CHARGE AND CABLE TV AS A 5%.

BUT BACK IN 2019, THEY CHANGED STATE LAW.

AND THOSE THAT ARE BUNDLED ON THEIR TELEPHONE UTILITIES AND THEIR CABLE UTILITIES, UM, ONLY PAY ONE INSTEAD OF BOTH.

SO WE DID SEE A TREND DOWN ON THAT AFTER THAT STATE LEGISLATION CHANGE.

AND THEN ON YOUR CITY OWNED UTILITIES, YOUR WATER AND SEWER DO PAY A PER ACCOUNT CHARGE.

SO THIS NEXT SLIDE HERE, UM, SHOWS, UM, BROKEN DOWN BY THE VARIOUS FRANCHISE FEES.

YOU'LL SEE WHAT YOUR ANNUAL BUDGET WAS FOR THIS PAST YEAR AND THEN YOUR ACTUALS THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE, UM, THE TOP ONE THERE, THE ELECTRICITY FRANCHISE FEE CAME IN MUCH STRONGER THAN THE BUDGET AMOUNT.

A LOT OF THAT IS DRIVEN BY, WELL, IT'S DRIVEN BY A COUPLE OF THINGS.

UM, WE DO SEE CHANGES BASED ON IF WE HAVE A HOT SUMMER AS WEATHER'S CHANGING.

OBVIOUSLY THOSE ELECTRIC BILLS SOMETIMES ARE HIGHER, BUT ALSO AS FUEL PRICES REMAIN HIGH.

UM, THAT ALSO DRIVES UP.

THERE'S A FUEL FACTOR IN BOTH THE ELECTRIC BILLS AND THE GAS BILLS.

AND SO THOSE CAN CAUSE THOSE TO FLUCTUATE SOMEWHAT.

UM, AND THEN ON CABLE TV, WE LOWER THAT BUDGET EVERY YEAR.

BUT IT JUST BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T APPLY TO STREAMING SERVICES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO THAT'S JUST STRAIGHT CABLE.

SO YOU'LL SEE OVERALL WE CAME IN JUST SLIGHTLY BETTER THAN BUDGET.

UM, AND THEN THIS SLIDE IS JUST A HISTORICAL TREND BASED ON THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FRANCHISE FEES.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE TREND OVER TIME.

UM, IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR ELECTRIC AND GAS FRANCHISE FEES THEY ACTUALLY TRACK WITH, IF YOU CAN REMEMBER WHAT GAS PRICES OR WHAT FUEL PRICES WERE DOING BACK IN THOSE YEARS.

[01:00:06]

QUESTIONS ON THAT.

OKAY. THAT'S YOUR GENERAL FUND REVENUE.

UM, THE HIGHER LEVEL ONES.

SO MY QUESTION JUST QUICKLY ON EXPENSES, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE SEE ON I MEAN, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE FINISHED THE BUDGET AND EVEN BEFORE THEN WE WERE KIND OF TRENDING. BUT ANYTHING SURPRISING OR DIFFERENT OUT OF THIS, THAT SHOULD CAUSE US.

I MEAN, YOU KIND OF MENTIONED BRIEFLY, BUT, YOU KNOW, HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES ARE I MEAN, COULD WE MAY HAVE MISSED BUDGETED FOR NEXT YEAR OR ARE THERE ANYTHING THAT CAUSES YOU ANY CONCERN ON HOW WE BUDGETED REVENUE? SO THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

SO GROSS RECEIPTS BUSINESS TAXES ARE COMING IN VERY CLOSE TO BUDGET ACTUALLY I THINK ONE'S COMING IN A LITTLE BIT HIGHER.

UM, AS FAR AS HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES, THEY'RE COMING IN RIGHT ABOUT AT BUDGET OR JUST SLIGHTLY BELOW, I WOULD ALMOST SAY FLAT WITH BUDGET, IT'S THAT MUCH BELOW. UM, AND THEN YOUR SALES TAX IS COMING IN STRONG.

I THINK AT THIS POINT WE'RE ABOUT $1 MILLION OVER WHAT OUR BUDGET IS FOR THE YEAR.

SO BUT IT IS CERTAINLY FLATTENING.

SO WE'RE WE'RE SQUEEZING THOSE BUDGET ESTIMATES A LITTLE BIT THIS YEAR.

ANY ANY IDEA FROM THE HOTELIERS AS TO WHAT'S.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT LIST, IT'S OUTSIDE OF COVID.

IT'S THE LARGEST DECLINE WE'VE SEEN IN THE LAST TEN YEARS.

YES. AND SO IF YOU GO BACK TO THAT, UM, I THINK PART OF IT WAS.

LOOK RIGHT AS YOU COME OUT OF COVID.

IT SHOT UP SO MUCH.

WE SAW THOSE AVERAGE DAILY RATES SKYROCKET ESSENTIALLY, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR AREA.

AND THEN I THINK WHAT WE'VE ALSO WE'VE SEEN NOW IS THEM KIND OF COME BACK DOWN.

THEY'RE STILL HIGHER THAN PRE-COVID UM, DAILY RATES, BUT THEY'RE LOWER THAN THEY WERE LIKE COMING RIGHT OUT OF COVID.

UM, AS A REMINDER TO AMARILLO WAS ONE OF THE PLACES THAT TRAVEL PICKED BACK UP FASTER THAN CERTAIN OTHER PLACES BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO NECESSARILY GET ON A PLANE OR WAIT FOR BIG CONVENTIONS TO OPEN BACK UP, OR BIG SPORTING EVENTS OR THOSE KIND OF THINGS, BECAUSE WE'RE KIND OF AT A GOOD PLACE TO TRAVEL THROUGH AND STOP ALONG THE WAY.

AND SO WE CERTAINLY SAW, UM, SOME GREAT, UM, RESPONSE FROM TOURISM COMING OUT OF COVID.

SO CASH IN AND I HAVE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THIS.

WE DO HAVE A LOT OF NEW HOTELS COMING, NEW ROOMS COMING ONLINE OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO.

UM, THE CONCERNS WITH THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY THAT WE WILL HAVE MORE PEOPLE STAYING IN THE HOTELS.

IT WILL BE SHIFTING FROM MAYBE OLDER PROPERTIES TO NEWER PROPERTIES.

SOME OF THAT MAY GO ON.

UM, I THINK CASHIN COULD PROBABLY SPEAK TO IT A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN I COULD, BUT I DON'T.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE SEEING ANYTHING THAT CAUSES CONCERNS.

IT'S REALLY JUST MORE OF KIND OF A NORMALIZING.

I THINK THE THE USE OF THE HOTELS IS CERTAINLY UP.

IT'S JUST THOSE DAILY RATES ARE KIND OF NORMALIZING.

OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GO TO EXPENSES.

OKAY. LET'S LOOK QUICKLY AT YOUR GENERAL FUND EXPENSES.

SO, UM, GOOD NEWS ON THIS END AS WELL.

UM, SO WE HAD A $240.1 MILLION BUDGET IN YOUR GENERAL FUND.

AND AGAIN, THIS IS WHERE THE BULK OF YOUR CITY SERVICES RESIDE.

WE SPENT 237.9 MILLION, AND THAT'S A POSITIVE VARIANCE OF 2.2 MILLION.

SO WE UNDERSPENT OUR BUDGET BY 2.2 MILLION.

THAT'S ACTUALLY A VERY TIGHT MARGIN ON THAT LARGE OF A BUDGET.

UM, MOST OF WHAT THAT 2.2 CAME FROM WAS, UM, UNFILLED POSITIONS.

SO IT'S SALARIES AND BENEFITS SAVINGS.

UM, SOME OF THE AREAS WE SAW THE BIGGEST SAVINGS IN WERE UM, AND NOT THAT THAT'S NECESSARILY A GOOD THING BECAUSE THAT'S YOUR UNFILLED POSITIONS.

BUT OUR EHEKE GROUP, OUR ANIMAL MANAGEMENT WELFARE GROUP, OUR STREETS DEPARTMENT AND OUR SOLID WASTE TEAM, SO THOSE WERE ONES THAT HAD SOME CHALLENGES FILLING UP POSITIONS.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO REALIZE SOME SAVINGS FROM AN EXPENSE STANDPOINT.

QUESTIONS ON THAT.

ALL RIGHT. IF YOU TAKE THOSE AND NET THEM TOGETHER.

SO YOUR POSITIVE VARIANCE ON YOUR REVENUES, YOUR POSITIVE VARIANCE ON YOUR EXPENSES.

UM, WE HAVE A NET VARIANCE OF 16.1 MILLION.

SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS OVERALL RESULTS FOR LAST YEAR WERE VERY GOOD.

MORE REVENUE CAME IN.

WE SPENT UNDER SPENT BUDGET.

SO ESSENTIALLY AND AGAIN THIS IS PRE FINAL AUDIT NUMBERS.

WE MAY STILL HAVE SOME AUDIT ADJUSTMENTS.

WE THINK WE'VE GOT ALL THE BIG ONES IN.

BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT $16 MILLION.

AS A REMINDER AS WE WORK THROUGH BUDGET.

WE ALREADY REALIZED THAT SALES TAX WERE COMING IN EXTREMELY STRONG LAST YEAR BY THE TIME WE MET AND STARTED TALKING ABOUT BUDGET.

SO PART OF THIS 16 MILLION HAS ALREADY BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD INTO THE CURRENT YEAR'S BUDGET IN SOME OF THE CAPITAL SPENDING.

SO ONE TIME CAPITAL SPENDING, I WOULD SAY THAT NUMBER IS PROBABLY AROUND 4 TO $5 MILLION.

SO THEN WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IS MAYBE AROUND 10 TO 11 THAT WE WOULD ANTICIPATE BRINGING BACK DURING THIS NEXT BUDGET SEASON AND

[01:05:10]

THAT'S HOW WE CASH FUND OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS YEAR OVER YEAR OVER YEAR.

IT'S FROM THE SAVINGS OF ESSENTIALLY THE TWO YEARS BEFORE.

SO I WILL HAVE A BETTER ESTIMATE OF WHAT THAT NUMBER IS REALLY GOING TO BE AFTER THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS COME IN.

BUT SO THIS IS JUST AN EARLY LOOK.

UM, IT COULD CHANGE, BUT IT IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE A POSITIVE NUMBER THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH.

QUESTIONS ON THAT.

BEFORE I MOVE TO UTILITIES.

NO, MA'AM. OKAY.

LET'S GO QUICKLY THROUGH OUR UTILITY CELLS.

SO WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR SOLID WASTE GROUP.

YOU'LL SEE THAT BETWEEN OUR RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL AND LANDFILL, WE CAME IN PRETTY MUCH EXACTLY EVEN WITH OUR BUDGET.

UM, THEN WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT WATER AND SEWER CELLS, OUR WATER AND SEWER BOTH TRAILED BELOW OUR BUDGETED REVENUE AMOUNTS FOR THIS PRIOR YEAR.

UM, ABOUT JUST A LITTLE UNDER 5% IN TOTAL.

THAT'S ABOUT $4.6 MILLION.

AS A REMINDER, WE HAD VERY UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNTS OF RAINFALL AND FLOODING THAT OCCURRED IN LATE SPRING, EARLY SUMMER.

AND THAT'S ALSO KIND OF A PEAK SEASON FOR IRRIGATION IN OUR COMMUNITY AS PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GET THEIR THEIR YARDS, THEIR GREENERY AND STUFF, YOU KNOW, COMING OUT OF THE WINTER SEASONS.

UM, BUT NATURE PROVIDED THAT FOR US THIS YEAR THROUGH A LOT OF RAINWATER.

SO THAT CERTAINLY DID HAVE AN EFFECT ON OUR, UM, BUDGET AMOUNTS FOR WATER SALES ESPECIALLY CAN FLUCTUATE WITH WHAT OUR PRECIPITATION TRENDS ARE DOING. AND SO THIS NEXT SLIDE, IT KIND OF CHARTS THAT FOR YOU.

UM, WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TO COLLECT DATA ON WHAT PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS ARE.

WE'VE ACTUALLY DURING THIS TEN YEAR PERIOD, WE HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO 2014 TO HAVE A TRUE NEAR NORMAL, UM, PARTICIPATE UH, PRECIPITATION YEAR.

UM, ALSO OF INTEREST.

THEN IN 2015, IT WAS THE SEVENTH WETTEST YEAR IN RECORDED HISTORY, GOING BACK TO 1900.

AND THEN IF YOU LOOK IN 2018, WE WERE THE FOURTH DRIEST IN RECORDED HISTORY GOING BACK TO 1900.

SO, UM, BUDGETING FOR OUR WATER REVENUES IS, UM, A LITTLE BIT TRICKY.

OVER TIME, WE TRY TO BUDGET MORE ALONG A NORMAL YEAR, SO ANY VARIATION FROM THAT CAN CAUSE US EITHER POSITIVE REVENUE RESULTS OR SOME NEGATIVE REVENUE RESULTS. WE KNEW THIS AS WE WORKED WITH YOU ALL ON FORMULATING YOUR BUDGET TO THIS NEW YEAR.

BECAUSE WE HAD ALREADY GONE THROUGH THE FLOODING EVENT, WE KNEW THE REVENUES WERE TRAILING BEHIND.

SO OUR YEAR END RESULTS ARE NO SURPRISE, AND THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN ABSORBED INTO THE NEW FISCAL YEAR BUDGET.

QUESTIONS ON THAT.

AND THEN I JUST HAVE ONE MORE SLIDE TO GO OVER.

UM, WE LIKE TO LOOK AT HEALTH INSURANCE BECAUSE IT IS WE ARE SELF FUNDED ON OUR HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM.

SO WE LIKE TO KIND OF KEEP A PULSE ON THIS BECAUSE THESE ARE LARGE DOLLAR AMOUNTS.

YOU'LL SEE THAT OUR ANNUAL BUDGET FOR OUR MEDICAL CLAIMS WAS JUST UNDER 25 MILLION LAST YEAR.

AND WE CAME IN AT JUST UNDER 22 MILLION.

AND SO THAT WAS A BIG WIN FOR US BECAUSE HEALTH CARE COSTS CONTINUE TO SEE INCREASES YEAR OVER YEAR.

AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO ACTUALLY COME IN UNDER BUDGET, WHICH HELPS THAT FUND STAY HEALTHY GOING FORWARD AND HELPS KEEP THE PREMIUMS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AND ON THE CITY SIDE, THE EMPLOYER SIDE AT A REASONABLE AMOUNT.

SO WITH THAT, ARE THERE QUESTIONS I CAN ANSWER RELATED TO YOUR.

QUESTIONS. COUNCIL.

HOW DO I. WHAT'S YOUR BUDGET? COUNCILMAN. TIPPS. SORRY.

GOOD. OKAY.

ANYTHING ON THIS SIDE? NO.

UM. YES, MA'AM.

OKAY. SO, UH.

WHEN YOU NET ALL THIS OUT? UM, YOU KNOW, ROUGHLY $17 MILLION WORTH OF, UM, GOOD BUSINESS PRACTICES IN RUNNING A LARGE ORGANIZATION, TRYING TO LOOK AT THE SMALL THINGS AND THE BIG THINGS.

AND THEN, UH, WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE IN SOME WAYS.

UM, YOU HAVE $11 MILLION LEFT OVER.

UM, I KNOW, I KNOW, I HEAR YOU SAY A LOT OF TIMES, WELL, THIS IS ONE TIME USAGE EXPENSE, YOU KNOW, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.

OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE LOTS OF CAPITAL, UH, NEEDS.

UM, BUT WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO GIVE AN OPINION OF, LIKE, WHAT IS A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE THAT YOU, YOU WOULD THINK WOULD BE HEALTHY FOR AN ORGANIZATION LIKE OURS IF WE WANTED TO PULL OUT A PERCENTAGE OF THAT 11 MILLION AND PUT IT INTO SALARIES, PUT IT INTO REOCCURRING EXPENSES.

[01:10:09]

YOU KNOW, NORMALLY WE WOULD ALWAYS MY DEFAULT ANSWER IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE PUT THE WHOLE AMOUNT IN ONE TIME COST, BECAUSE THEN YOU KNOW, YOU'VE SAVED IT FROM A PRIOR YEAR.

AND WE'VE KIND OF NORMALIZED BUDGET GOING FORWARD.

UM, I THINK IN, IN THIS CASE WITH THESE KIND OF RESULTS, UM, WE COULD TAKE A PORTION OF IT.

I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND MORE THAN, LET'S SAY, MAYBE 1 MILLION OR 2 TO PUT INTO REOCCURRING EXPENSES.

UM, BUT WE WOULD NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT AS WE'RE FORMULATING THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT IT PROPERLY CAN ABSORB IT, BECAUSE WE WOULD NEVER WANT TO OVER INFLATE OUR REOCCURRING EXPENSES BASED ON POSSIBLE ONE TIME CAPTURED REVENUE.

UM, BECAUSE THEN YOU HAVE TO START MAKING HARD DECISIONS IF YOU CAN'T CAPTURE THAT REVENUE IN A FUTURE YEAR.

SO AS A REMINDER, SALES TAX IS A I MEAN, YOU CAN THAT'S YOUR NUMBER ONE REVENUE SOURCE INSIDE YOUR GENERAL FUND.

UM, YOU GUYS DO NOT HAVE ANY DIRECT CONTROL OVER IT.

IT IS IT IS BASED ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE ECONOMY.

WE HAVE BEEN PRETTY CONSERVATIVE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE SEEING THESE HUGE INCREASES IN WHAT'S BEING COLLECTED.

THIS PAST SUMMER, WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT KIND OF TRYING TO NORMALIZE THAT A LOT MORE.

SO I BELIEVE OUR, UM, SALES TAX CAME IN THIS PAST YEAR JUST UNDER, LET'S SAY 70, I'M SORRY, RIGHT AT ABOUT 75 MILLION.

YOUR BUDGET THIS YEAR, WE WENT AHEAD AND SET AT 76.9 MILLION.

SO WE HAVE KIND OF ALREADY NORMALIZED THAT.

NOW, IF WE WERE TO PUT SOME OF THIS ONE TIME DOLLARS INTO RECURRING, WE WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO BE CAREFUL HOW MUCH WE ANTICIPATED SALES TAX GROWING INTO A FUTURE YEAR. BUT I THINK WE CAN CERTAINLY WORK THROUGH THAT.

SO IF IF COUNCIL WAS TO WAIT UNTIL WE COMPLETE THE YEAR OR GET CLOSE TO IT IN, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT FY BUDGET, THEN WE WOULD BE ABLE TO REALIZE AND TRUE THAT UP AND SEE, OH, WE ACTUALLY DID BRING IN 76 MILLION OR 77 OR WHATEVER.

SO LESS RISK TO HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT.

AND THEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT 7.4 MILLION IN SALES TAX, BUT YOU'RE LOOKING AT 1 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAXES THAT CAME IN THAT WE DIDN'T BUDGET FOR AND 2.2 MILLION SAVED IN EXPENSES.

SO IF WE WERE TO JUST PULL THOSE TWO ITEMS OUT, YOU KNOW, YOU STILL FEEL LIKE THAT'S A LITTLE AGGRESSIVE.

THAT'S, UH, $3.2 MILLION THAT WE'D BE TRYING TO PUT INTO, UM, YOU KNOW, SALARIES THAT ARE NEEDED IN DEPARTMENTS WHERE RETENTION IS, IS THE BIGGEST DRIVER.

SO WE'RE LOSING, YOU KNOW, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF INVESTMENTS IN TRAINING, ONBOARDING, BRINGING INDIVIDUALS INTO OUR ORGANIZATION AND THEN WATCHING THEM LEAVE. UM, SO IN THE WAY IN WHICH WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD A GOOD COMPANY HERE, A COMPANY OF, OF PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY, UH, I THINK WE PROBABLY COULD SEE SOME OTHER SAVINGS IN, IN, YOU KNOW, THE TURNOVER RATE AS WELL, BUT AT A COMFORT LEVEL, MAYBE 2 MILLION.

YES. AND NOT TO PUT ANY KIND OF NUMBER OUT THERE THAT WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO HOLD ANYONE TO.

BUT AND IF WE DID IT, IF WE WERE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT MID-YEAR, I THINK THAT'S WHERE IT CREATES A LITTLE BIT MORE ANXIETY.

BUT WHEN IF YOU ROLL IT THROUGH YOUR BUDGET PROCESS THIS NEXT YEAR, I THINK PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING'S ON THE TABLE.

BUT AS A REMINDER, THE MORE THAT WE PERFECT THAT BUDGET, WHERE IT IS ALMOST EXACT, WHERE WE'RE BRINGING IN EXACTLY THE SAME REVENUE AND WE'RE SPENDING EXACTLY THE SAME EXPENSE THAT WE BUDGET, YOU ARE ELIMINATING YOUR YOUR CASH FUNDED CAPITAL FOR FUTURE YEARS.

AND THAT'S JUST A DECISION AS COUNCIL KIND OF, YOU KNOW, MOVES FORWARD ON WHAT YOU KNOW, HOW YOU WANT TO WORK THROUGH IT.

THERE ARE OTHER INSTRUMENTS TO FUND CAPITAL, BUT THAT'S JUST A REMINDER TO PUT OUT THERE AS WELL.

I APPRECIATE THAT, AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD BALANCE.

I DON'T THINK YOU YOU GO TOO FAR ONE DIRECTION.

SO. OKAY. UM, ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR MRS. STORRS? UH, THANK YOU MA'AM.

GOOD JOB. THANK YOU.

OKAY. ITEM NINE D IS MICHAEL KASHUBA COMING FORWARD WITH AN UPDATE ON JOHN STITH PARK?

[9.D. Update on John Stiff Park]

UH, EARLIER THIS FALL, WE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE TEXAS PANHANDLE YOUTH SPORTS FOUNDATION ABOUT THE LEASE AMENDMENT FOR JOHN STITH PARK.

UH, AND AT THAT POINT, THEY HAD VOICED SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAFETY AT THE PARK.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF PROVIDE A QUICK UPDATE ON SOME OF THE ACTIVITY WE'VE SEEN THIS YEAR.

UH, AND THEN SOME OF THE STEPS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.

SO IF WE GO BACK STARTING IN JUNE, YOU CAN SEE WE HAD SOME VANDALISM AT THE TENNIS CENTER.

UH, FOLLOWED BY A COUPLE OF INCIDENTS AT THE SOFTBALL COMPLEX.

UH, AGAIN, THESE ARE JUST THE ITEMS THAT WE'RE AWARE OF THAT WERE PERTAINING TO US.

UH, THERE WERE A COUPLE OTHER BREAK INS IN THE FACILITY THAT WERE PART OF THAT, A LEASE AGREEMENT.

[01:15:04]

UH, THERE WAS TWO AGGRAVATED ROBBERIES THAT WE WERE AWARE OF THROUGH THE NEWS COVERAGE.

UM, AGAIN, WE HAD ANOTHER INCIDENT AT SOUTHWEST SOFTBALL COMPLEX.

UM, WE'VE RECENTLY HAD SOME TENNIS CENTER BREAK INS.

VEHICLE BREAK INS.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAD SOME DAMAGE TO JOHN STIFF DOG PARK RECENTLY.

UH, I PROVIDED SOME PICTURES OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

SO EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE SAW A LOT OF DAMAGE WHERE PEOPLE WERE RAMMING GATES, TRYING TO PULL GATES, PULLING DUMPSTERS.

UM, JUST CAUSING DAMAGE THROUGHOUT THE PARK.

SO THAT'S THE SOFTBALL COMPLEX WE HAD, AGAIN, MULTIPLE BREAK INS AT THE POOL.

UM, WHERE THINGS WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED.

UM, AGAIN, SOME MORE DAMAGE OF THE POOL ITSELF.

UM, THIS WAS THE LAST, I BELIEVE, THE LAST BREAK IN WHERE THERE WAS VERY SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE.

UM, THANKFULLY, THROUGH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNERS, ON AUGUST 14TH, APD WAS ABLE TO ARREST A COUPLE OF JUVENILES THAT HAD BEEN, UM, SUSPECTED OF THOSE ACTIVITIES AT THE POOL SPECIFICALLY.

SINCE THEN.

THIS IS A PICTURE FROM OCTOBER.

OUR CONTRACTOR THAT WAS WORKING ON THE ATHLETIC FIELD LIGHTING POLES HAD PARKED A BACKHOE, AND SOME INDIVIDUALS HAD BROKEN INTO THAT BACKHOE AND ACTUALLY RAMMED THROUGH THE FENCE, KNOCKED DOWN SOME TREES, UM, SOME OTHER THINGS IN THE PARK.

AND THEN RECENTLY WE JUST HAD SOME DAMAGE AT THE DOG PARK WHERE A VEHICLE WENT THROUGH AND TORE UP THAT FENCE AT THE DOG PARK.

SO WE'RE WORKING TO GET THAT RESOLVED.

SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON? WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON IS A COUPLE OF CAMERAS AND LICENSE PLATE READERS WORKING WITH APD.

UM, THOSE CAMERAS WOULD CATCH BASICALLY SURVEILLANCE OF THE ENTIRE PARK SO WE COULD SEE KIND OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.

UM, AGAIN, THOSE CAMERAS ARE ON A ONE YEAR LEASE.

SO IF AFTER A YEAR WE DETERMINE THAT, UM, WE'VE SEEN CRIME GO DOWN OR THERE'S OTHER SOLUTIONS, WE COULD END THAT LEASE.

UM, WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR TO GO AHEAD AND START PUTTING IN THOSE POLES IN THE ELECTRICITY TO THOSE POLES.

UM, WE HAVE LIGHTS IN THE PARKS, BUT A LOT OF THEM ARE ON TIMERS.

SO WHEN THAT TIMER GOES OFF, OBVIOUSLY, SO DOES THE POWER.

SO WE'RE WORKING ON SOME DESIGNATED POWER SOURCES.

UH, AND INSTALLING SOME SEPARATE POLES FOR THAT.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THE CAMERAS THAT WOULD BE MOUNTED ON THOSE NEW ATHLETIC POLES HIGH ENOUGH WHERE WE CAN'T OBVIOUSLY BE VANDALIZED OR DAMAGED.

UH, APD IS WORKING TO INCREASE PATROLS WHERE POSSIBLE.

AND ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON IS THE REMOVAL OF THE RESTROOM AT THE SKATE PARK.

WE SEE A LOT OF ACTIVITY SPECIFICALLY IN THAT SKATE PARK AREA.

AND SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING TO GET THE ASBESTOS REMOVED.

AND THEN THAT IS SLATED TO BE REMOVED LATER THIS MONTH.

AS WE LOOK AT SOME POTENTIAL LONG TERME SOLUTIONS.

I THINK AT THE LAST CONVERSATION, THE MAYOR HAD MENTIONED POTENTIALLY WORKING WITH THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE.

SO WHEN WE WORKED WITH THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE AND KIND OF PUT TOGETHER SOME ROUGH ESTIMATES ON COST, IT WOULD BE ABOUT $170,000 ANNUALLY FOR ONE ADDITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE VEHICLE, PERSONNEL COSTS AND EVERYTHING NEEDED TO GET THEM UP AND RUNNING.

UM, IF WE DECIDED TO GO TO NEW LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, WHICH WOULD BE THE RECOMMENDATION, WE TYPICALLY DON'T WANT ONE PERSON ROLLING UP TO A SITE.

UM, IF THEY WERE TO SHARE A VEHICLE, WE THINK THAT WOULD BE ABOUT $255,000.

AGAIN, THOSE ARE ESTIMATES THAT CAME FROM THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE.

UH, A COUPLE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING ON IS MORE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN ELEMENTS, LOOKING AT WAYS TO IMPROVE JUST THE LAYOUT OF THE PARK AND THE VISIBILITY OF THE PARK. UM, SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S BEEN RECOMMENDED BY APD AND SOMETHING WE'VE CONSIDERED IN PREVIOUS PLANS, IS A WAY TO ELIMINATE THAT DEAD END PARKING LOT ADJACENT TO THE SKATE PARK.

UH, SO ONE OF THE IDEAS WOULD BE TO EXTEND THAT ROAD THAT RUNS BY THE SOFTBALL COMPLEX OUT TO BELL STREET.

UH, WE ANTICIPATE THAT BEING ABOUT $300,000 FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION TO EXTEND THAT ROAD THROUGH THERE.

UM, THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THE DEAD END PARKING LOT, WHICH IS WHERE WE SEE A LOT OF THE ISSUES STEMMING FROM.

UH, AND AGAIN, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WHEN WE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH AP, THE APD, THAT WAS A RECOMMENDATION THAT THAT CAME FROM THEM.

UH, AND THEN ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON, WE'VE LIT UP THE ATHLETIC FIELDS.

UM, BUT THERE'S PORTIONS OF THE PARK THAT ARE EXTREMELY DARK.

AND SO WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING ON SOME BUDGETARY NUMBERS TO INCREASE THE LIGHTING IN THE PARKING AREAS.

UM, BUT ALSO THE TRAIL AREA.

SO THOSE ARE NUMBERS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO PRESENT TODAY.

UM, ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE SHORT TERME IS POTENTIALLY CLOSING THE SKATE PARK.

UH, AND WHEN WE SAY THAT WE WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT THE SKATE PARK, THE PARKING LOT.

UM, ALSO THE SOFTBALL FIELD, WHILE IT'S NOT IN USE, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER.

WE'RE NOT PLAYING A WHOLE LOT OF SOFTBALL GAMES OUT THERE.

[01:20:01]

UM, SO WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN IS WE WOULD BARRICADE THOSE ENTRANCES, WE'D PUT UP, UH, PARK CLOSED SIGNS.

AND WHAT THAT DOES IS THAT ALLOWS OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS TO TAKE IT FROM A CLASS C TO A CLASS B, UM, THAT ALLOWS IT TO BE A TRESPASS INSTEAD OF JUST A REGULAR CITATION.

UH, WE WOULD PUT LOCKS ON THE SKATE PARK, AND THEN WE WOULD ALSO POST SIGNS SO THAT PEOPLE KNEW THEY WERE WALKING INTO A CLOSED AREA OF THE PARK.

SO THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE THINK IT COULD LOOK LIKE.

UM, THE, THE RED AREA WOULD BE THE AREA THAT WOULD BE CLOSED IN THE PARK.

UM, THE, THE LINE, THE LINES THAT ARE IN THERE WOULD BE THE GATES OR BARRICADES BLOCKING OFF THE PARKING LOT AND THE ROAD TO THE SKATE PARK.

AND THEN THERE'S A RED DOTS, WHICH WOULD BE WHERE WE WOULD POST SIGNAGE, JUST SO PEOPLE WERE AWARE THAT THIS IS AN AREA THAT WOULD BE CLOSED IN THE PARK.

AND AGAIN WE WOULD OPEN THOSE.

IF I GO BACK, THOSE AREAS THAT ARE ADJACENT TO THE SOFTBALL FIELDS, WE WOULD OPEN THOSE UP AS THE LEAGUE COMES BACK ON.

UM, AND THE SKATE PARK WOULD REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL WE COULD FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THAT, THAT ROAD THROUGH THERE.

SO, UM, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON, SOME LONG TERME SOLUTIONS AND THEN ALSO SOME TEMPORARY RECOMMENDATIONS.

I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT.

HAVE YOU, UH, CONSIDERED PUTTING CLOSING THE PARK DOWN AT 8:00? WE COULD.

I THINK IT STILL BECOMES AN ISSUE OF ENFORCEMENT.

UM, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A CURFEW RIGHT NOW AT MIDNIGHT, BUT THAT'S STILL DEPENDENT ON OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS TO GO OUT AND PATROL THAT AREA TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE AREN'T THERE. IF WE PUT A PIPE ACROSS IT, A GATE THAT WOULD CLOSE.

I MEAN, UH, WHAT'S APPEARS TO BE HAPPENING IS THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO THE PARK.

DRIVING THERE BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY WON'T BE SEEN.

THEN DOING WHATEVER DAMAGE THEY WANT TO DO.

I MEAN, IT'S LIKE I LOOK HERE, YOUR TENNIS AREA WOULD STILL BE OPEN IF YOU CLOSE THE REST OF THAT PARK.

I THINK AFTER A CERTAIN TIME, THAT PARK NEEDS TO BE CLOSED DOWN UNTIL PEOPLE CAN LEARN THAT THIS PARK BELONGS TO THE CITIZENS OF AMARILLO. AND BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE THAT WON'T TAKE THE TIME TO WALK ALL THE WAY OUT THERE.

AND, YOU KNOW, I'M LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS THAT YOU PUT HERE.

YOU'RE LOOKING AT QUITE A BIG BUDGET TO DO WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

WHEN I COULD PUT A BARRICADE ACROSS THE GATE AT 8:00 AND THEN OPEN IT UP IN THE MORNING AT 6:00 OR WHATEVER.

I JUST, I JUST WONDER IF THAT WAS SOMETHING Y'ALL WERE THINKING ABOUT.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING WE CAN THINK ABOUT.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT, NOT JUST FOR THIS PARK, BUT ACROSS THE BOARD IS PUTTING IN GATES IN AREAS WHERE WE'VE GOT ISSUES THAT WE COULD BE PREVENTED IF WE JUST PUT A GATE IN PLACE.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF OUR SOFTBALL COMPLEXES THAT ARE CLOSED FOR THE WINTER, SO WHY WOULD WE NOT GATE THOSE OFF? SO THAT IS SOMETHING. AND WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING WITH AMTECH ON A PARTNERSHIP TO POTENTIALLY FABRICATE SOME OF THOSE GATES.

UM, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IT IS AN OPTION.

I THINK WHAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO IS OBVIOUSLY SCHEDULE STAFF DIFFERENTLY, BECAUSE WE'D HAVE TO HAVE A STAFF MEMBER THAT GOES OUT THERE UNLESS WE GET SOME AUTOMATIC GATES.

UM, AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD ABSOLUTELY LOOK AT IS EITHER, UH, SCHEDULING OUR STAFF TO COME IN AND CLOSE THOSE GATES, UM, OR FIGURE OUT A WAY TO PUT IN SOME AUTOMATIC GATES THAT WOULD CLOSE.

UM, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL AT THIS PARK.

IT'D BE BENEFICIAL AT THOMPSON.

IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL AT A LOT OF OUR PARKS.

UM, WE'VE JUST SEEN A REALLY BIG SPIKE AT JOHN STITH THIS PAST YEAR.

AND THANK YOU, LAURA.

COULD WE WE HAVE THAT 300,000 LEFT IN THE ARPA MONEY, CORRECT? ISH, YES.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT COULD BE USED TOWARDS ANY OF THESE PROJECTS? WOULD IT QUALIFY? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

AND WE HAD KIND OF EXPLORED LOOKING INTO THAT OPTION.

UM, ARPA DOES HAVE A LOT OF RESTRICTIONS ON, UM, ESPECIALLY INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO YOU'LL YOU'LL REMEMBER WE DID UTILIZE SOME OF THE ARPA FUNDING TO HELP WITH SOME LIGHTING IN PARKS.

BUT AS A REMINDER, THOSE WERE IN SOME OF THE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME PARKS.

AND LOOKING AT JOHN STUFF NOW, IT COULD BE OPTION IN SOME OF OUR OTHER PARKS.

BUT AT JOHN STITH, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WOULD QUALIFY AS LOW TO MODERATE INCOME AREA OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO IT IS SOMETHING WE CAN CERTAINLY RUN THAT DOWN THAT TRAIL A LITTLE BIT.

UM, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT ARPA WOULD QUALIFY IN THIS CASE.

OKAY. VERY GOOD QUESTION ON THAT.

OTHER QUESTIONS. COUNCIL.

SO DOES JOHN STAFF.

IS IT HAVE ABNORMALLY MORE INCIDENTS LIKE THIS GOING ON THAN YOUR OTHER PARKS OR OTHER PARKS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE TO THIS LEVEL? I THINK THIS YEAR WE'VE SEEN A BIGGER SPIKE AT JOHN STAFF SPECIFICALLY.

OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE ISSUES IN SOME OF OUR OTHER PARKS, BUT WE'VE SEEN JUST A RISE IN TERMS OF THE TYPE AND THE THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK CAME THROUGH THE BUDGET CONVERSATION IS SOMETHING WE'RE WORKING WITH.

[01:25:03]

DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO OPEN THAT POOL BACK UP? SO WE'RE GOING TO BE EVALUATING THAT WITH OUR PARK BOARD TO FIGURE OUT THE VIABILITY OF SOUTHWEST POOL MOVING FORWARD.

BUT WE HAVE SEEN A SPIKE.

AND I THINK APD COULD PROBABLY GIVE YOU MORE SPECIFIC NUMBERS.

OBVIOUSLY, WE SEE WHAT WE SEE IN THE DAMAGE THAT IMPACTS PARKS DIRECTLY.

UM, BUT THERE'S OBVIOUSLY OTHER CALLS THAT WE'RE NOT AWARE OF OR PRIVY TO.

SO. AND IS IT THE FEELING AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU CAN ANSWER THIS OR APD, DOES IT? I MEAN, FROM WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, IS THIS JUST JUVENILE CRIME THAT SEEMS TO BE GOING ON? I KNOW THAT'S THAT'S WHO IS ARRESTED, BUT I'LL LEAVE IT TO APD.

I THINK GENERALLY WE'RE SEEING JUVENILE, BUT I'LL LET THEM SPEAK IF THEY WANT TO COME UP.

YEAH. AFTERNOON, CHIEF.

AFTERNOON, MAYOR. COUNCIL.

I APPRECIATE YOU GIVING ME THE TIME.

I THINK, STEPHANIE, YOU MIGHT HAVE A BURIED SLIDE IN THERE.

YEAH. GIVE ME JUST A SECOND TO UNHIDE IT REAL QUICK.

EXCUSE ME. JUST TO BRIEFLY ANSWER THAT, UH, MR. SIMPSON, YES, WE BELIEVE IT'S LARGELY JUVENILE.

UM, AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT WE CAUGHT ON THE BURGLARIES AND WHAT WE TYPICALLY SEE.

UM. WE'LL WORK ON THE SLIDES, BUT I WILL SAY WE HAD A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT SPIKE BACK IN JULY.

UM, WE RAN THE NUMBERS FROM MAY THROUGH AUGUST AND IN JULY.

UM, I'LL JUST START WITH MAY.

WE HAD 20 REPORTED INSTANCES THERE.

28 IN JUNE.

JULY. WE SPIKED UP TO 49.

AUGUST WENT DOWN TO 30TH SEPTEMBER TO NINE.

OCTOBER ANOTHER LITTLE SPIKE TO 22 AND 12 IN NOVEMBER.

UH, THIS DOES ENCOMPASS SOME OF THE VEHICLE BREAK INS.

UH, WE HAD FIVE DURING A THREE MONTH PERIOD FROM OCTOBER TO NOVEMBER.

WE HAD THREE OVER THE SUMMER.

UH, WOW. SO PERCENTAGE WISE, IT'S A BIG INCREASE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBERS.

UM, AND I JUST WILL SPEAK TO.

I KNOW THAT'S REALLY HARD TO READ.

UM, A COUPLE THINGS I JUST PUT ASTERISKS BY.

WE HAD 46 FROM THE MAY TO AUGUST.

WE HAD 46 INITIATED CALLS BY OFFICERS.

THAT MEANS THEY'RE OUT PATROLLING THE PARK, CHECKING ON SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY.

THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

THE CITIZEN DID NOT CALL IT IN.

UM. WE HAD.

11 OTHER BEAT CHECKS, WHICH IS KIND OF DOING THE SAME THING, BUT THEY MAY NOT HAVE MADE CONTACT WITH ANYBODY, JUST SIMPLY BEING HIGHLY VISIBLE, DRIVING THROUGH THE PARKS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND AS I MENTIONED, WE HAD THE THREE THEFTS DURING THAT SAME TIME FRAME, SKIPPING BACK OVER TO OCTOBER OR SEPTEMBER THROUGH NOVEMBER, AND WE STILL HAD 21 SELF-INITIATED CALLS FOR SERVICE BY THE OFFICERS.

UH, WE HAD THE FIVE VEHICLE THEFTS THAT I TALKED ABOUT, AND AGAIN, THE NUMBERS DROPPED DOWN TO 12.

UM, WE'VE MET AND SPOKEN ABOUT THESE DESIGN ISSUES, AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S COMPLETELY ON BOARD.

UH, WE THINK THAT IT WILL BE HELPFUL AS FAR AS THE HOURS OF THE PARK.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO CONSIDER.

YOU KNOW WHAT? HOW LONG YOU WANT TO MAKE THOSE PARKS AVAILABLE TO OUR CITIZENS.

BUT WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH PARKS DEPARTMENT AND BEAT CHECK AS WE CAN AND TRY TO MAKE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS TO MAKING PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT COULD HOPEFULLY REDUCE SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

QUESTIONS FOR THE CHIEF. THERE'S, UM, ONE THING I GUESS BOTHERED ME MORE THAN ANYTHING IS WHAT MICHAEL SAID THAT YOU FOUND OUT ABOUT FIVE INCIDENCES THROUGH THE NEWS MEDIA.

I MEAN, WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THAT OR THEY WASN'T REPORTED TO THE POLICE OR.

NO. IN THOSE PARTICULAR CASES, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT DON'T SPECIFICALLY INVOLVE PARK PROPERTY, LIKE SOMEBODY DAMAGING THE POOL OR A FENCE.

IT WAS SOMEBODY USING THE PARK SPACE.

SO WE SAW THAT THROUGH THE MEDIA.

OKAY. BUT EVERYTHING IS REPORTED THROUGH APD.

BUT THOSE ARE JUST THE ONES THAT WE'RE AWARE OF AS A DEPARTMENT.

AND THAT COULD BE THE SAME THING.

AS FAR AS A VEHICLE BREAK INS, IT'S NOT PARK PROPERTY, BUT CITIZENS CALL AND MAKE A REPORT SO WE'RE AWARE OF IT.

BUT PERHAPS MR. KASHUBA AND HIS TEAM OR NOT OKAY.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OH, MAYBE. MICHAEL, YOU CAN ANSWER THIS.

SO WHAT ARE PEOPLE ARE LEGITIMATE REASONS.

PEOPLE ARE USING THE PARK AFTER NIGHT.

IS IT THE SKATE PARK? WOULD THAT BE THE ONLY AREA? OR ARE THERE OTHER THINGS THAT PEOPLE MAY BE USING THE PARK FOR FOR LEGITIMATE REASONS AFTER DARK? PRIMARILY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF OFF SEASON FOR A LOT OF OUR SPORTS.

THE SKATE PARK IS USED, BUT WE GET A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO GO WALK IN THE PARK.

WE'VE GOT TRAILS THAT KIND OF WIND THROUGHOUT THE PARK, SO WE GET A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT JUST WANT TO GO WALK.

[01:30:02]

THEY JUST WANT TO GET OUT AND STRETCH THEIR LEGS.

SO AGAIN, THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING AT AND TRYING TO GET SOME QUOTES ON WHAT THE TRAIL LIGHTING COULD LOOK LIKE SO THAT WE CAN IMPROVE THAT VISIBILITY.

BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY ONE OF THE THINGS IS IF IT'S BRIGHT AND YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING, IT'S MORE THAN LIKELY GOING TO REDUCE SOME OF THOSE NEFARIOUS ACTIVITIES.

SO AGAIN, WORKING WITH APD ON LOOKING AT LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS, SOME CAMERA IMPROVEMENTS, SOME, UM, FLOW THROUGH THE PARK IMPROVEMENTS, WHETHER IT'S ROADS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO AGAIN, WE REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT APD HAS DONE.

THEY'VE BEEN A GREAT PARTNER. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM ON SOME OF THESE ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS IN TERMS OF HOW WE DESIGN THE PARKS, HOW WE LAY THEM OUT, HOW WE ENFORCE IT.

SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT THEY'VE DONE WITH THE PARK.

BUT I GUESS THE THING WOULD BE THEN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT QUOTE UNQUOTE, CLOSING THE PARKS, WE'RE NOT SAYING YOU CAN'T ACCESS THEM, WE'RE JUST SAYING TO USE THEM.

I MEAN, COULD SOMEONE STILL, IF THEY WANTED TO WALK OR IF THEY WANTED TO DO SOMETHING WHERE THERE STILL BE PARKING AVAILABLE AND THEN THEY COULD USE THE PARK, OR IS IT JUST GOING TO BE TOTALLY CLOSED TO ANYONE USING IT? CORRECT. THE ONLY AREA THAT WOULD BE.

LET ME GO BACK TO THAT ONE MAP.

IF I'VE GOT THAT, WHAT WE WOULD LOOK AT IS CLOSING THIS AREA.

SO THE ASSOCIATED PARKING LOTS.

SO IF YOU'RE USING THE REST OF THE PARK IT'S OPEN.

IT WOULD JUST BE A CLOSURE OF THAT PORTION OF THE PARK, THE AREA AROUND THE SKATE PARK AND THE SOFTBALL COMPLEX THAT, IN OUR OPINION FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, THAT'S WHERE WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF THE ISSUES, IS RIGHT IN THAT GENERAL VICINITY.

SO WE FEEL LIKE A TEMPORARY CLOSURE THERE STILL ALLOWS PEOPLE TO GO USE THE PARK PARKING THE OTHER PARKING SPACES, USE THE DOG PARK.

IT JUST ELIMINATES SOME OF THE ISSUES IN THIS POTENTIAL AREA.

THAT'S JUST A IT'S BASICALLY WHAT WE CALL A NUISANCE TARGET OR MAGNET.

IT DRAWS PEOPLE IN.

SO YOU'VE GOT THE SKATE PARK, A DEAD END, NOT GOOD LIGHTING.

PEOPLE GO IN THERE AND DO THINGS THEY SHOULDN'T BE DOING.

I THINK THE LIGHTING IS HUGE.

I WENT BY THE TENNIS CENTER THE OTHER NIGHT DRIVING HOME.

MAN, THAT THING WAS LIT UP.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY DISCOURAGING FOR SOMEBODY THAT WANTS TO GO INTO THE PARK FOR NEFARIOUS REASONS AND DO THINGS THEY SHOULDN'T BE DOING.

AND IS THIS THE ONLY SKATE PARK WE HAVE IN ANY OF OUR PARKS? NO, THE OTHER ONE WE HAVE IS AT MARTIN ROAD.

UM, THE DIFFERENCE IS THIS ONE HAS LIGHTS AND THE ONE AT MARTIN ROAD DOES NOT.

SO IT'S JUST A DAY USE.

UH, THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE ALSO TALKED ABOUT IS LONG TERME.

DO YOU MAKE THIS JUST A DAY USE FACILITY? THERE IS IN OUR ORDINANCE, AND I CAN'T REMEMBER THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE, BUT WHEN THERE'S LIGHTS ON THE SKATE PARK, IT ALLOWS IT TO STAY OPEN FOR THE REGULAR CURFEW HOURS.

IF THERE'S NO LIGHTS, THAT ACTUALLY REDUCES IT TO.

I THINK IT'S 30 MINUTES AFTER SUNSET.

SO THERE ARE SOME THINGS IN THE ORDINANCE AND I BELIEVE THAT PREDATED THE INSTALLATION OF THOSE LIGHTS.

SO AGAIN, IF THE LIGHTS GO AWAY, THERE ARE SOME SOME THINGS IN TERMS OF CURFEW IN THAT AREA.

BUT AGAIN, IT GETS DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE BECAUSE ARE YOU IN THE PARKING LOT TO USE A SKATE PARK OR ARE YOU JUST IN THE GENERAL AREA? SO, UH, IT BECOMES AN ENFORCEMENT CHALLENGE? YEAH. THANK YOU. IF YOU IF YOU HAVE A MOVE AT TARGET.

TARGET IS, WELL, THIS PART OF THE PARK YOU CAN USE FOR THESE HOURS.

BUT IF I GO OVER 50 YARDS OVER HERE NOW, I COULD BE IN TROUBLE.

I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE MORE PROBLEMATIC.

AND TO REALLY GET BUY IN FROM THE CITIZENS.

AND IF FOR ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS, IF WE WRITE SOMEBODY A CITATION, THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS 30FT OVER FROM HERE, YOU KNOW.

SO THOSE THOSE ARE THE CHALLENGES THAT COME WITH IT.

YEAH. THOSE ARE THOSE ARE WELL STATED CONCERNS, I THINK, UH.

AS FAR AS DIRECTION GOES, WE WOULD ENTERTAIN.

UH, SOMETHING COMING BACK IN THE WAY OF CAMERAS AND SECURITY.

UM, OBVIOUS LIGHTING.

AND THEN IN THE WAY IN WHICH YOU WERE LOOKING AT CLOSING THIS ONE SECTION DOWN, WE NEVER WANT TO SAY THE WORD PARK CLOSURE CASUALLY, UH, IN THE WAY IN WHICH YOU WERE JUST GOING TO NOT UTILIZE THIS AREA FOR EITHER A DURATION OVERNIGHT OR MAYBE IT BE A SEASONAL CLOSE.

UM, WE WOULD LIKE TWO OPTIONS, I BELIEVE, UH, WITH PROS AND CONS ON BOTH.

UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IF YOU'RE TRYING TO CLOSE THIS DOWN AT 8:00 INSTEAD OF 12? UM, DOES IT HELP AT ALL IN, YOU KNOW, MAYBE SOME OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT EYES? AND THEN WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? WHAT WOULD BE YOUR RECOMMENDATION IN CLOSING IT DOWN UNTIL SPRING? YOU KNOW, DOES THAT BRING US UP TO FEBRUARY OR MARCH? AND SO I THINK WE I THINK WE WANT TO SEE THAT DATA AND THEN TRY TO GET A GOOD DIRECTION WITH YOU.

BUT I BELIEVE WE'RE OPEN TO THE CONVERSATION.

ANYTHING FURTHER? COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. YEAH.

WE WANT TO BE CAUTIOUS IN HOW WE USE THE WORDS CLOSED BATHROOM.

MUCH LESS CLOSED PART.

SO, YEAH. SO PARKS ARE OPEN.

PLEASE USE YOUR PARKS SAFELY.

AND, UH, WE, WE MAY LOOK AT SOME SAFETY PROTOCOLS HERE.

THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN, FOR THE PRESENTATION.

IF I CAN, I'M GOING TO KEEP US HERE JUST A LITTLE BIT LONGER BEFORE WE RECESS.

UH, I KNOW DONNIE HOOPER IS GOING TO BE A REALLY QUICK PRESENTER.

AND OUR NEXT ITEM IS NINE E.

[9.E. Traffic Advisory Board and Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Committee]

[01:35:03]

GOOD AFTERNOON. MAYOR.

COUNCIL. UH, JUST REAL QUICK.

WE HAVE WE HAVE A LOT OF VERY VALUABLE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS IN THE CITY.

AND EVERY, EVERY YEAR, JUST LIKE YOU DID A FEW MEETINGS AGO, YOU, UH, APPOINTED MEMBERS TO THOSE BOARDS.

BUT ONE THING THAT WE LIKE TO DO AS STAFF IS EVALUATE THE USE OF THOSE BOARDS.

AND IF WE'RE ACTUALLY USING THEIR TIME WISELY, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF A MISSION OR SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED WITH THAT GROUP, THAT CAN NO LONGER BE, THERE'S NO FURTHER DIRECTION FOR THEM TO GO THAT WE WANT TO EVALUATE THAT, MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT WASTING THEIR TIME, AND MAYBE LOOK AT OTHER WAYS THAT WE COULD UTILIZE THESE VALUABLE MEMBERS THAT WE HAVE ON THESE COMMITTEES.

SO TODAY, JUST BRIEFLY, TO TALK ABOUT THE PEDESTRIAN BICYCLE SAFETY COMMITTEE AND THE TRAFFIC ADVISORY BOARD ARE TWO THAT FALL UNDER ME.

WE, UH, HAVE DONE A LOT OF THINGS OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

IN FACT, SINCE ABOUT 2018 WHEN I GOT HERE, WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED QUITE A FEW THINGS, BUT JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY ON THEM.

THE PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE SAFETY COMMITTEE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2016.

THEIR SOLE PURPOSE WAS TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON SAFETY RELATED ISSUES RELATED TO PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLE TRAVEL.

AND AMARILLO. UH, THAT'S A SEVEN MEMBER BOARD.

THERE'S ONE VACANT POSITION ON THERE AS WE SPEAK, SOME OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT THEY'VE HAD, AS THEY'VE HELPED IN THE REDESIGN OF OUR PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE MASTER PLAN, OR THAT'S OUR HIKE AND BIKE MASTER PLAN.

THEY'VE CONTRIBUTED TO MANY SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS, DISCUSSIONS FOR RAILS TO TRAILS, ADDITIONAL HAWK CROSSINGS ON THE BOULEVARD AND AT GEORGIA AT RAILS TO TRAILS, UM ALSO THE DOWNTOWN AREA, BIKE LANE ENHANCEMENTS AND SOME OTHER THINGS THAT THAT THEY'VE BEEN HEAVILY INVOLVED IN.

IT'S A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE, UH, WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE REVISION OF OUR HIKE AND BIKE MASTER PLAN, WHICH OCCURRED ABOUT A YEAR AGO, IT REALLY WE DID THAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT AS WELL, WITH WHAT THEY WERE WORKING ON INSIDE THE PARKS.

BUT WHAT THAT DID IS IT REALLY PUT AN EXCLAMATION POINT ON THE SERVICE FOR THAT COMMITTEE THAT THEY'D BEEN SERVING IN THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION? OUR MPO, AS WE REFER TO THEM, HAS BEEN TAKING ON A LOT OF THE LEAD IN THE CONNECTIVITY OF BICYCLE PATHS BETWEEN OUT IN THE COUNTY AND IN THE CITY AS WELL.

SO IT'S IN VERY GOOD HANDS WITH THEM.

BUT WE FOUND ANOTHER PLACE THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THESE MEMBERS.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY, TO TALK ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF SUNSETTING THE PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE SAFETY COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS THE TRAFFIC ADVISORY BOARD.

THERE'S ANOTHER PROJECT OVERSIGHT TASK FORCE THAT'S BEING DEVELOPED FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY.

THIS IS BEING DEVELOPED WITHIN OUR PLANNING GROUP.

IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY VALUABLE GROUP THAT'S GOING TO BE USED TO IDENTIFY CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WOULD QUALIFY FOR SOME GRANT FUNDING.

THESE PEOPLE THAT SERVE ON BOTH OF THESE BOARDS, WHICH HAVE OVERLAPPING RESPONSIBILITIES.

AND I'LL TALK ABOUT TRAFFIC ADVISORY BOARD AS WELL AND WHAT THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES WERE.

BUT THESE MEMBERS OF THESE GROUPS FIT WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT VERY WELL.

TRAFFIC ADVISORY BOARD IS A SEVEN MEMBER BOARD, ALSO WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2015, AND IT ACTUALLY REPLACED THE TRAFFIC ADVISORY COMMISSION, WHICH WAS A DECISION MAKING COMMISSION.

IT'S REALLY SOLE PURPOSE WAS TO INITIATE THE GUIDELINES FOR RED LIGHT CAMERA PROGRAM.

UH, THEY ALSO REVIEWED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RELOCATIONS OF RED LIGHT CAMERAS DURING THAT PROGRAM AND THE REMOVAL OF THOSE CAMERAS DURING THE PROGRAM.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, TO REVIEW THE RECOMMENDATIONS AT THE END OF THAT PROGRAM.

SO THE LAST TIME THAT THEY MET WAS IN DECEMBER OF 2021.

THEY HAVE NOT MET IN 2022 OR 2023.

AND THEY MEET AS AN AS NEEDED BASIS.

BUT THAT BOARD WAS ESTABLISHED AS WELL, WITH A LOT OF EDUCATION, BICYCLE, PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT OVERLAP WITH THAT PEDESTRIAN BICYCLE SAFETY COMMITTEE AS WELL. SO WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO, UH, BECAUSE OF THAT, IS WE'D LIKE TO JUST PRESENT THIS TO YOU TODAY.

SHOULD WE HAVE A CONSENSUS TO MOVE FORWARD? WE'D LIKE TO BRING THIS ITEM BACK TO YOU IN THE FORM OF A RESOLUTION OR AN ORDINANCE CHANGE.

WHICHEVER ONE MISS COGGINS DECIDES WE NEED TO DO, AND WE'LL BRING THAT BACK TO YOU FOR THAT CHANGE.

IF YOU SO WANT TO SUNSET BOTH OF THESE GROUPS.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL TRY TO ANSWER THEM.

QUESTIONS FOR MR. HOOPER.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? I MEAN, WHAT WHAT HAPPENED HERE ON THE PEDESTRIAN BICYCLE SAFETY COMMITTEE? I MEAN, I REMEMBER WHEN THAT HAPPENED.

THERE WAS A LOT OF INTEREST. PEOPLE WERE INTERESTED IN IT.

BUT WHAT HAPPENED? DID PEOPLE NOT STOP SHOWING UP? OR WHY IS THE INTEREST WANING IN THAT? NO, THERE'S STILL INTEREST IN IT.

I JUST THINK THAT THE TASKS THAT WE HAD IN FRONT OF US THAT KIND OF ENDED, WE WE HAD GONE THROUGH WORKING DOWNTOWN, UH, GETTING THE BIKE LANES CONNECTED OUT TO COLTER.

WE WORKED ON THOSE HAWK PROJECTS AND THEIR THEIR SOLE PURPOSE IS TO JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF ANYTHING THAT WE ARE DOING RELATED TO BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.

SO AS I MENTIONED, THERE'S STILL A PURPOSE FOR THAT.

THERE'S STILL A NEED FOR THAT. IN FACT, THERE'S A SUBCOMMITTEE THAT WE HAD, UH, THE LATEST PROJECT THAT WE WERE WORKING ON WAS CONNECTIVITY OF SIDEWALKS AND AMARILLO.

BUT AS I TALKED TO EMILY KOHLER ABOUT THAT, SHE SAID, THAT REALLY FITS RIGHT INTO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH THIS NEW PROGRAM.

SO I THINK IT WOULD JUST BE A BETTER FIT.

IT'S NOT THAT THERE WASN'T AN INTEREST IN THAT GROUP ANYMORE, IT'S JUST THE FACT THAT WE HAD WE'D REALLY RUN OUT OF PROJECTS.

CONNECTIVITY WAS THE LAST PROJECT THAT WE WERE WORKING ON.

AND AND SOMETIMES I REALLY FELT LIKE WE WERE WE WERE TRYING TO FIND THINGS FOR THEM TO DO, TO LOOK AT SAFETY.

AND I HATE TO WASTE PEOPLE'S TIME IN THOSE MEETINGS AND OF COURSE, STAFF PUTTING A LOT OF TIME INTO THAT AS WELL.

SO IF WE CAN UTILIZE IT BETTER BY PUTTING IT INTO ANOTHER COMMITTEE, I JUST THINK THAT'S A WISE DECISION TO DO THAT.

[01:40:01]

SO THIS IS NOT JUST SAFETY BUT FRIENDLY.

WHO'S IN WHO'S IN CHARGE OF THAT? I MEAN, WHO WHO'S WORKING TO MAKE THAT? BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU LOOK AT TRYING TO RECRUIT PEOPLE FROM OTHER PLACES, OTHER PLACES HAVE REALLY WORKED ON PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, MAKING PLACES MORE WALKABLE BICYCLES, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS THAT ARE SOMETIMES A DRAWING POINT FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO THE COMMUNITY.

WHEN YOU'RE JUST LOOKING AT WHO KIND OF WHO'S IN CHARGE OF HELPING US DO BETTER AT THAT IN IN THE COMMUNITY HERE, A COUPLE OF PIECES WITH THAT.

ONE OF THAT WOULD BE OUR TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT.

MICHAEL PADILLA IS IN CHARGE OF ALSO STRIPING THE BIKE LANES THAT WE HAVE THAT EXISTING.

UH, AND ALSO LOOKING AT FUTURE PLANS FOR THOSE AND CONNECTIVITY TO THAT.

THEN WE ALSO WORK WITH OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT AS WELL, AND WITH KYLE SNYDER, JOHN AND HIS GROUP, UH, WHEN WE HAVE ANY KIND OF NEW DEVELOPMENTS, SUCH AS THE WE JUST FINISHED THE PORT, UH, PORT HAGEE, UH, ROADS OUT THERE, THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THOSE HAVE CONNECTIVITY AS FAR AS BIKE LANES.

SO WHEN THERE'S NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD RUN THROUGH HIM AND THROUGH THE PLANNING PROCESS, AND THEN THE MPO IS HEAVILY INVOLVED IN IT TOO.

SO THERE'S SEVERAL DIFFERENT COMPONENTS THAT TALK TOGETHER.

AND THEN AND THEN THE PARKS AND RECREATION GROUP ALSO HAS THEIR OWN, UH, CONNECTIVITY GROUP WORKING ON TRAILS THAT ARE INSIDE THE PARKS.

AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A PRIVATE GROUP WORKING OUTSIDE OF THE CITY THAT'S WORKING ON SOME PRIVATE TRAILS FOR BICYCLE.

SO IT'S A PRETTY GOOD, UH, WIDE RANGE OF PEOPLE THAT WORK ON THAT.

DIFFERENT GROUPS, DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. HOOPER? NO.

HEY, WE APPRECIATE THAT.

WE WE COULD SEE SOME BENEFIT IN THIS.

I THINK WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU. SIR. THANK YOU.

UM. OUR NEXT ITEM IS NINE F.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A 15 MINUTE BREAK.

UH, 15 MINUTE RECESS HERE AND COME BACK WITH AN UPDATE ON OUR, UH, WATER METERING.

SO 15 MINUTE RECESS.

APPRECIATE IT. FLOW ROOM OPEN.

IT'S ROOM 306 RIGHT OUT THERE IN THE HALLWAY TO YOUR LEFT.

SO ROOM 306 IS AN OVERFLOW ROOM.

IF WE HAD MORE PEOPLE THAT WOULD SHOW UP.

WE'RE STILL ANTICIPATING A FEW MORE HEADING THIS WAY.

SO, UM, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD NOW THAT EVERYBODY'S QUIETED BACK DOWN AND IN THEIR SEAT, CALL OURSELVES BACK, UH, INTO SESSION AND CALL TO ORDER IF, UM, IF MR. FLOYD HARTMAN WOULD TAKE OVER HERE ON ITEM NINE F.

[9.F. Options to opt out of water automated metering infrastructure (AMI) system]

UH, THIS IS AN UPGRADE ON THE, UH, WATER METER UPGRADE IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT.

UH, SO THAT'S GOING WELL.

UH, JUST ABOUT 2500M IN THE GROUND NOW, AND THAT AND THE, UH, METERS ARE BEING INSTALLED AS WE SPEAK.

BUT WE ALSO WANTED TO GO OVER A COUPLE OTHER ITEMS. SO, UM.

WHAT WE'RE HERE TODAY IS TALK A COUPLE OF THINGS, BUT WHAT YOU'LL SEE HERE ON THIS GRAPH IS HOW THE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION WOULD BE EXPECTED TO WORK ON THAT SYSTEM SUCH THAT YOU HAVE A TOWER.

YOU HAVE THE THE OFFICE, YOU HAVE THE METERS AND HOW THAT COMMUNICATES, UH, TO EACH OTHER.

AND THIS WAS GOING TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY OF AN EFFICIENT, EFFECTIVE WAY.

UH, THE BENEFITS OF A METER.

SO, UH, YOU'LL GET TIMELY READINGS.

UH, THE CONVENIENCE IS GOING TO BE THERE FOR THE CUSTOMER.

BUT THE CUSTOMER ALSO, ULTIMATELY, WHEN WE HAVE THE PORTAL UP AND RUNNING, WE'LL HAVE CONTROL.

THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THEIR METER AND THEIR ACCOUNT.

SO THAT IS COMING A LITTLE BIT LATER.

BUT WE ALSO SEE A STREAMLINED SYSTEM, UH, REDUCED READING COST IN THE SYSTEM, UH, ENHANCED SERVICE.

IN OTHER WORDS, WE'LL ALSO HAVE WARNINGS AT OUR BILLING OFFICE IN JENNIFER'S OFFICE.

THEY'LL HAVE WARNINGS AND HAVE ABILITY TO EMAIL.

BUT ONE OF THE MAIN COMPONENTS OF THE PROGRAM IS WATER CONSERVATION.

SO WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS WITH THIS.

SO ONE OF THE CONCERNS IS THE RADIO FREQUENCY OF THESE.

AND FROM THE INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN PROVIDED BY OUR CONSULTANT, YOU CAN SEE THAT THIS UH, RADIO FREQUENCY OF THESE IS VERY MINIMAL COMPARED TO UH, CELL PHONES. WHY, UH, WI-FI ROUTERS, THE LIST IS UP HERE AND I'M NOT GOING TO READ ALL OF THAT TO YOU, BUT IT'S SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN WHAT WE SEE IN OUR EVERYDAY LIFE AND EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.

UH UH UH.

AND THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT STUDIES THAT SHOW THERE'S NO HARM TO HEALTH OR IN THE ENVIRONMENT FROM THESE SYSTEMS. OKAY. UH, THERE ARE PRIVACY CONCERNS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COMES UP IN ANY OF THIS.

SO THESE ARE SECURE TRANSMISSIONS ON A SEPARATE, UH, RADIO FREQUENCY.

UH, THE DATA IS PROTECTED.

UH, WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATE LAWS AND ONLY MEASURE OVERALL USAGE.

WE'VE HAD CONCERNS OR OTHER ENTITIES THAT HAVE INSTALLED THEM HAVE HAD CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEIR BATHROOM DID VERSUS THE SHOWER VERSUS A WASHING MACHINE.

AND IT DOESN'T MEASURE IN THE HOUSE.

IT MEASURES WHAT GOES TO THE HOUSE.

SO IT'S OVERALL USAGE.

UH, AND ALSO THERE'S NO MAGIC SWITCH ON THIS THAT SHUTS IT OFF.

[01:45:04]

AND THEN THIS IS THE TRANSMITTER THAT WILL BE IN THE METER BOX.

AND THIS WILL BE STICKING UP ABOVE THE METER BOX.

THIS THIS IS THE ANTENNA.

AND THIS IN MY HAND IS THE TRANSMITTER.

SO AS I DISCUSSED THIS, I JUST WANTED YOU TO HAVE A VISUAL OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

OKAY. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS IDENTIFIED EARLY ON THAT THIS PROJECT SHOULD INCLUDE IS AN OPTION FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO OPT OUT FOR WHATEVER REASON.

SO WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT THROUGH THIS, UH, INDUSTRY, YOU SEE THAT THERE'S A NO OPT OUT OPTION THAT SOME CITIES HAVE.

THERE'S AN OPT OUT WITH NO FEE THAT SOME CITIES HAVE, AND THEN THERE'S AN OPT OUT WITH FEES, A FEE TO SET UP THAT, UH, FOR A, NO, UH, FOR, UH, READING AND THEN A MONTHLY FEE TO DO THAT.

OKAY. SO, UH.

SOME LOCATIONS WON'T BE ELIGIBLE FOR AN OPT OUT BECAUSE THEY ARE IN REMOTE LOCATIONS OR AREAS WHERE WE HAVE TO HAVE ELECTRONIC READ TO READ THE METER.

SO THERE WILL BE SOME SPECIFIC, UH, UH, AREAS OR CIRCUMSTANCES.

AND ONE THAT WOULD COME TO MIND IS A LARGE FENCED AREA WHERE THEY HAVE DOGS, UH, THAT ARE NOT FRIENDLY AND THAT METERS IN THERE.

UH, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE THE, THE, THE RADIO READ SYSTEM TO DO THAT.

AND WE PROBABLY ALREADY HAVE A REMOTE SYSTEM IN THAT LOCATION ANYWAY.

BUT BACK TO YOU SAW THE PICTURE.

HERE'S A PICTURE OF THAT AND THAT TRANSMITTER.

OKAY. SO THE ENTIRE PROGRAM, EVERY EXISTING METER IN TOWN WILL BE REPLACED WITH A METER.

IF SOMEBODY OPTS OUT, THIS TRANSMITTER IS WHAT WON'T BE INSTALLED.

SO THEN SOMEBODY HAS TO GO OUT AND PHYSICALLY OPEN THE LID AND READ THE METER JUST LIKE THE EXISTING METERS.

SO, UH, IT'S NOT THE METER THAT WON'T BE INSTALLED.

IT'S THE TRANSMITTER.

AND THEN IN THAT METER BOX, IF THERE'S A HOLE IN THE LID, THE ANTENNA WILL STAY.

THAT'S WHERE THE THIS THIS GOES INTO THE LID.

IT'LL BE SEPARATED RIGHT HERE.

AND THE TRANSMITTER. SO IT WILL LOOK JUST LIKE THE OTHERS.

SO I DIDN'T WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT WILL VISUALLY, IT'LL LOOK JUST LIKE THE OTHERS.

BUT IF YOU OPT OUT, THIS TRANSMITTER PIECE WILL BE GONE AND THIS WIRE WILL BE GONE.

OKAY. SO.

THERE ARE.

THE CONCEPT IS THAT THERE'S A COST TO GET THAT MANUAL READING IF SOMEONE OPTS OUT.

OKAY, CURRENTLY, THE COST OF READING ALL THE METERS IS IN THAT SYSTEM AS WE MAKE THIS TRANS TRANSFORMATION OVER THE NEXT 18 MONTHS TO THE AUTOMATED METERING SYSTEM, THOSE RESOURCES WILL BE REALLOCATED WITHIN THAT WHICH WILL RESULT IN COST EFFECTIVENESS AND COST EFFICIENCIES THAT WE ANTICIPATE.

AND THOSE ARE THOSE WILL LESSEN THE RATE INCREASES AS WE GO FORWARD IN WHAT WE DO.

SO IT IS RECOMMENDED TYPICALLY THAT THERE IS SOME FEE FOR THAT.

BUT WHAT WE'RE HERE TODAY IS TO GET YOUR INPUT ON THIS TOPIC.

SO HERE'S SOME OTHER CITIES, JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF WHAT THEY DO.

THERE ARE SOME THAT HAVE NO CHARGES IN BOTH PLACES.

UH UH CITY AUSTIN DOES NOT CHARGE, BUT THEY HAVE THE OPT OUT.

UH, YOU CAN SEE ON THE CHART.

SOME HAVE IT, SOME DON'T.

UH, SOME FORT WORTH HAS NO OPT OUT OPTIONS WHATSOEVER ON THEIRS.

OKAY. SO AT THE BOTTOM WE INCLUDED A LOCAL ONE THAT'S XCEL ENERGY.

AND WHAT THEY DO IN THE OPT IN OPT OUT.

SO WE JUST THOUGHT THAT YOU WOULD HAVE SOMETHING TO REFERENCE WHAT OTHER CITIES DO.

OKAY. SO HERE'S YOUR CHOICES.

AND WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS WHAT COUNCIL PREFERS IN THEIR DIRECTION FORWARD.

UH, WE HAD WHEN WE DEVELOPED THE PROJECT A FEW YEARS BACK, WE HAD ALWAYS INTENDED TO INCLUDE AN OPT OUT OPTION IN THE IN THE PROJECT.

OKAY, SO THE NO OPT OUT OPTION, THE OPT OUT OPTION WITH NO FEE.

THOSE ARE PRETTY SIMPLE.

THE OPT OUT OPTION WITH A FEE.

RIGHT NOW, WE WOULD RECOMMEND OPT OPTION C WITH A SETUP AND A MONTHLY FEE, AND STATE LAW REQUIRES THOSE TO BE AT COST OR LOWER, AND SO WE WOULD RECOMMEND STARTING THOSE AT 25 EACH IF THEY WERE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, THAT WE KNOW THAT'S GOING TO BE LOWER THAN THE ACTUAL COST, AND SEE HOW MANY OF THESE HAVE AND BRING IT BACK IN BUDGET FOR THE ACTUAL COST AFTER WE SEE WHAT IT IS.

SO. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, I'D BE GLAD TO ANSWER THEM.

UH, AND ALSO WOULD LOOK FOR YOUR DIRECTION, MAYOR, ON WHICH ONE OF THESE THREE OPTIONS OR OTHER OPTIONS YOU'D LIKE FOR US TO TAKE?

[01:50:04]

SO, UH, GO AHEAD.

SO, FLOYD, WE DON'T KNOW THE ACTUAL SAVINGS.

I MEAN, WE CAN'T DIVIDE UP.

I MEAN, BETWEEN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE READING THE METERS CURRENTLY AND THE NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS WE HAVE.

WE CAN'T WE DON'T WE DON'T HAVE THAT SPECIFIC DATA.

AND IT VARIES BASED OFF THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE HAVE IS ABOUT 10 TO 11 POSITIONS THAT ULTIMATELY, AS YOU TRANSITION WILL BE REALLOCATED TO OTHER THINGS, SOME TO MAINTENANCE OF THIS SYSTEM AND SOME TO OTHER FUNCTIONS WITHIN, WHETHER IT'S IN THE UTILITIES OR THE CITY, IT'S THEMSELVES.

THERE WILL BE NO ONE WILL LOSE THEIR JOB.

IT'LL ALL BE THROUGH ATTRITION AND, UH, LOOKING FOR OTHER POSITIONS TO PUT THEM ASSIGNED WITHIN THE CITY.

BUT THERE'S PLENTY OF OPTIONS WITHIN UTILITIES IF THERE'S NO OTHER OPTIONS.

OKAY. SO STATE LAW STATES THAT WE CANNOT, UH, WE'RE NOT GOING TO CHARGE A FEE GREATER THAN THE COST IT TAKES FOR THE SOMEONE TO GO.

SO WE HAVE TO HAVE THE DATA IN THE FUTURE OF ACTUALLY WHAT IT COSTS TO GO DO THIS.

AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT JUST BASED OFF A COST OF VEHICLES, FUEL, UH, PERSONNEL, FOR US TO HAVE SOMEONE AT CITY HALL GO READ A METER AND COME BACK, WE KNOW THAT $25 WOULD BE AT OR BELOW THAT ACTUAL COST ESTIMATE.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

AND WE WOULD HOPE TO HAVE SOME DATA BY NEXT YEAR.

BUDGET TO SET A MORE ACCURATE AT COST OKAY OKAY.

COUNCILMAN. CRAFT. YEAH.

COUNCIL MEMBER TIPPS KIND OF HIT IT.

SO ARE THEY GOING TO SAVE ANY MONEY BY HAVING THESE METERS? THESE NEW METERS? IS THEIR WATER BILL GOING TO GO DOWN? THE METERS PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE MONEY THROUGH CONSERVATION.

IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU HAVE AN UNUSUAL USE, A BROKEN PIPE, IT WILL COMMUNICATE TO THE BILLING SYSTEM.

AND OR IF YOU SET THAT PORTAL UP DIRECTLY TO YOUR CELL PHONE AND YOUR INFORMATION THAT YOU LOAD IN THERE SUCH THAT THERE WON'T BE WATER USE THAT'S UNCHECKED WHEN IT'S UNUSUAL.

IN OTHER WORDS, IF THAT WATER MAIN BREAKS WITHIN AN HOUR TO TWO HOURS WHEN THIS DEVICE READS IT, IT WILL REPORT THAT UNUSUAL USE.

AND IF THE PORTAL SET UP RIGHT, IT WILL GO DIRECTLY TO THE INDIVIDUAL'S PHONE.

SO THERE'S THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE MONEY FOR THE CUSTOMER BY NOT HAVING UNWANTED WATER USE.

LET'S SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU'VE FORGOTTEN LEFT YOUR HOSE ON.

THAT WOULD BE ME, OKAY, NOT I IF I LEFT MY HOSE ON I.

ULTIMATELY, A FEW HOURS LATER I'LL GET A TEXT TO TELL ME TO GO SHUT THAT OFF.

SO THAT'S HOW OUR RESIDENTS CAN GREATLY BENEFIT FROM THIS.

BUT IT ALSO BENEFITS US BECAUSE WE'LL GET THE INFORMATION IN THE BILLING OFFICE OR THE BILLING SYSTEM, AND SOMEONE CAN CONTACT THESE PEOPLE IF THEY DON'T HAVE THIS SET UP.

AND THAT'S AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW.

WHEN THE PORTAL SET UP, THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THAT.

DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YEAH. I MEAN, MY OPINION WOULD BE OPTION B OPT OUT WITH NO FEE.

THANK YOU SIR. AND FLOYD HOW SENSITIVE IS THAT METER? I MEAN WILL IT WILL IT DETECT SLOW LEAKS.

VERY SLOW. THAT'S THE MAJORITY OF WHAT'S PROBABLY HAPPENING THAT HOMEOWNERS DO NOT KNOW ABOUT.

YES. YOU TAKE A FAST DRIPPING FAUCET AND THIS WILL MEASURE IT.

SO IF YOU HAVE A FAUCET THAT YOU IF YOU WERE, IF YOU LIVED IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU NEED TO DRIP THE FAUCET TO PREVENT FREEZING, IT'S GOING TO TELL YOU AND THEN SEND A MESSAGE.

IF THEY'VE SET THEMSELVES UP AT A, AT A CERTAIN INTERVAL WHEN IT READS IT.

YES. GOTCHA. OKAY.

THANK YOU. THIS.

SO. SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE I'M HEARING RIGHT ON THE SAVINGS PART OF IT.

YES. SO I SAID, I GUESS YOU SAID NO ONE'S GOING TO LOSE THEIR JOBS SO PEOPLE WILL TRANSFER OR DO OTHER THINGS.

BUT BUT TO GET WHERE ARE WE GETTING THIS? I MEAN, IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT FROM AN FTE STANDPOINT? WELL, A NUMBER OF FTES.

SO IF WE COME BACK AND WE GET THIS IMPLEMENTED, WE PUT I MEAN, WHAT'S THE DOLLAR AMOUNT ON THE SAVINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT OPERATIONALLY FOR THIS? WELL, THOSE 11 POSITIONS UH, CAN BE REALLOCATED TO OTHER NEEDS THAT WE WOULD ADD OTHER POSITIONS IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THEM AVAILABLE, WHETHER THAT'S WHATEVER DEPARTMENT THAT IS IN, UH, OR THERE'S ATTRITION.

I MEAN, IF SOME IF WE DON'T NEED FIVE OF THE POSITIONS AND, AND THOSE PEOPLE HAVE RESIGNED FOR OTHER REASONS, THEN THOSE POSITIONS MIGHT GO AWAY.

BUT THIS KEEPS, UH, FROM HAVING TO CREATE NEW POSITIONS, WHICH LIMITS HOW MUCH YOU HAVE TO RAISE RATES FOR THE OPERATIONAL IN THE FUTURE.

SO I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT DOLLAR AMOUNT VALUE.

BUT WHEN WE GET THIS IMPLEMENTED, THERE WILL BE 11 FEWER FTES IN THAT DEPARTMENT, AND THEY WOULD HAVE GONE SOMEWHERE WHERE THEY EITHER FILL AN EXISTING OPENING OR SOMETHING WE WOULD HAVE ASKED TO ADD IN THE BUDGET.

OKAY, BUT THE SAVINGS COMES OUT OF THOSE.

I MEAN THAT, YES, THEY'RE MOVING TO ANOTHER POSITION THAT'S ALREADY BUDGETED.

YEAH. LET'S LET'S SAY LET'S SAY THEY WANTED TO GO TO MAIN BREAK CREW THAT'S ALREADY BUDGETED.

[01:55:05]

AND THEN DO WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY YOU MENTIONED REPAIR AND MONITORING.

I GUESS WE HAVE PEOPLE NOW THAT GO OUT AND REPAIR METERS, THE EXISTING METERS WE HAVE NINE THE SAME WE HAVE WE DON'T HAVE TO ADD ANYBODY.

YEAH, YEAH.

WE HAVE NINE POSITIONS THAT ARE CALLED METER SERVICE REPS.

AND THEY GO OUT AND DO THE TURN ONS, TURN OFFS.

BUT THEY REPLACE METERS, THEY REPLACE, THEY CHECK THE LEAKING GASKETS AND THEY CHECK WITH CUSTOMERS.

SO THERE'S A TOTAL OF ABOUT 18 POSITIONS THAT DO THIS.

AND ULTIMATELY THAT WILL WIND UP IN BEING DONE BY ABOUT 9 TO 10, INCLUDING THE MAINTENANCE OF THIS SYSTEM.

SO ACTUALLY IN THOSE TWO DEPARTMENTS AND THOSE AREAS, THERE'LL BE NINE LESS POSITIONS.

NOW IF WE DON'T NEED THEM OTHER PLACES OR THEY'RE FILLING A BUDGETED POSITION THAT'S ALREADY EMPTY, THEN ONE POSITION DOES GO AWAY.

AND THEN HOW MANY DO YOU SAY WE'VE INSTALLED SO FAR? 2500. AND HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE REQUESTED AN OPT OUT SO FAR? OUT OF THE 20, WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY REQUESTS, BUT WE DO ANTICIPATE IT AS WE GO WITH THE PROGRAM.

WE'RE JUST STARTING THE INSTALLATION, BUT WE DO ANTICIPATE THERE WILL BE.

I SORT OF LEANED TOWARD OPTION C.

BECAUSE IF YOU ONLY HAVE ONE HOUSE.

IN A NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S GOING TO COST US X TO RUN OVER THERE TO CHECK THAT AND BRING IT BACK.

WE CAN'T DO THAT.

GIVE THAT EXTRA SERVICE FOR NOTHING.

I THINK WE ALWAYS NEED TO, UH, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT, WE CAN'T LOSE MONEY BY IF THERE'S ONLY. 2000 OUT OF 200,000 PEOPLE THAT WE'VE GOT TO DO SPECIAL TREATMENT FOR.

I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO.

REALLY DIG DOWN TO WHAT OUR ACTUAL COST WOULD BE AND THEN GO FROM THERE.

AND WE WON'T HAVE THAT FOR A YEAR, RIGHT? WELL, YEAH, WE WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT.

THEN WE CAN DEVELOP THAT ACTUAL COST OF THIS SERVICE.

UH, OTHER SERVICES PROVIDED TURN ON AND TURN OFF ARE AT A HIGHER RATE THAN THAT ALREADY.

BUT WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MEETING THAT EXPECTATION.

PUT THIS IN PLACE.

IF IF WE PUT A FEE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE AND JUST PUT IT IN PLACE AND THEN USE THE ACTUAL DATA TO SET THAT RATE.

YOU CAN SEE ON THAT PREVIOUS SLIDE THAT MOST OF THOSE CITIES WERE WELL ABOVE THAT COST.

NOW THE SET UP FEE IS DIFFERENT.

THE SET UP FEE, IF YOU IMAGINE THAT THIS IS ALREADY IN PLACE AND THEY OPT OUT, THEN YOU'VE GOT TO GO TAKE THIS OUT.

SO IT'S JUST LIKE GOING TO READ THE METER.

MHM. UM I MAY CAN SPEAK TO THAT COUNCILMAN ON UH I DO SEE SOME GOOD PROS WITH THIS.

SO I HAD SOME OF THE SAME CONCERNS THAT YOU ADDRESSED, UH, PRIVACY OF DATA, UH, POTENTIAL BREACH.

LIKE, IS IT ONE MORE SECURITY ISSUE WHERE SOMEBODY COULD ATTACK AND SHUT OFF OUR WATER, AND NOW WE HAVE ALL SORTS OF ISSUES, AND IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT AVAILABLE DOESN'T FUNCTION THAT WAY.

UM, IT IS KIND OF AN OLD SCHOOL METER, LIKE, STILL HAS A LOT OF THE SAME FUNCTION.

UM, AND THEN FOR THE HEALTH CONCERNS, IT IS NICE KNOWING, YOU KNOW, THAT'S 50FT AWAY FROM MY SLEEPING, UH, QUARTERS.

AND DOES IT PULSATE, AM I CORRECT? IT'S NOT A CONTINUAL.

YEAH, IT'S. THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, MAYOR.

THIS THIS SENDS A RESPONSE EVERY HOUR.

BUT IN THE TOTAL DAY THAT FUNCTIONS FOR RIGHT AT ONE SECOND FOR ALL 12 OF THOSE TRANSMISSIONS.

SO, SO I, I THINK YOU'VE, YOU'VE SATISFIED FOR ME SOME OF MY CONCERNS ON SECURITY, HEALTH AND WHATNOT, ON THE, ON THE PROS.

I MEAN, I LIKE THE FACT THAT, UM, IT WILL KIND OF REDUCE KIND OF THE LEAK DETECTION ISSUE.

SO IF I'VE GOT A MAIN BREAK UNDERNEATH THE THE YARD, I MEAN, I'VE GOT $1,000 WATER BILL THAT I OWE BEFORE I KNOW I HAVE THAT LEAK.

AND SO, UM, ALSO SOME SAVINGS THAT ARE GOING TO HAPPEN IS JUST IN THE, THE LACK OF CONFLICT.

SO I MEAN, THERE'S PLENTY OF TIMES THAT YOU GUYS ESTIMATE A METER, UM, COULDN'T GET TO IT OR SOMETHING HAPPENED.

AND SO WE'VE GOT LOTS OF TIME THAT WE SPEND, UM, IN UTILITY BILLING WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO NEGOTIATE OR WORK SOMETHING OUT ON BEHALF OF ONE OF OUR CUSTOMERS.

SO THIS WILL GREATLY HELP THAT DEPARTMENT.

UM, SO I BELIEVE THAT WHAT I'M GETTING TO IS I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A, A NEED TO CHARGE FOR THE ADDITIONAL TIME TO, TO GO OUT AND, YOU KNOW, READ THE METER. I THINK YOU COULD YOU IF YOU HAVE A GOOD PRODUCT, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE SAY, I'M FINE WITH IT AND WE'LL HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF SAVINGS AND NOT READING 70,000M ALL ACROSS THE CITY.

UM, AND THEN THE ONES THAT DO OPT OUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE TREAT THEM AS A VALUED CUSTOMER STILL, UM, WE'VE GOT IT BUILT INTO YOUR BILL.

[02:00:02]

WE THINK IT DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF DRAWBACKS AND THAT THE CITIZENS WILL GO FOR IT.

AND THEN IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO, YOU'RE STILL A VALUED CUSTOMER.

WE'LL COME OVER AND READ IT.

UM, BUT I GUESS I DON'T SEE THAT AS A FINANCIAL BURDEN FOR STAFF.

SO AM I MAKING A MISTAKE THERE WHERE YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT, SAYING, WELL, MAYOR, WE'VE GOT $500,000 WORTH OF ADDITIONAL COST THIS YEAR AND DRIVING ALL OVER AMARILLO WHERE WE WEREN'T BEFORE.

AND WOULD WE NOT SEE AND REALIZE THAT SAVINGS IN NOT READING THE OTHERS? I DON'T HAVE THE ACTUAL NUMBERS, BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY ENTITY THAT HAS THIS THAT HAS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF OPT OUTS.

SO I DON'T THINK YOU'RE TALKING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

SO I THINK IT'S A VERY LOGICAL THING TO PUT IT IN, PROVIDE THE OPTION, THE OPTION OF UH, WITH NO FEE, KNOWING THAT YOU ANYTIME THAT IF YOU SAW THAT BURDEN BEING BORNE BY THE THE OTHER RATEPAYERS WHO ARE IN IT AND IT WAS EXCESSIVE, THEN YOU COULD ALWAYS GO BACK AND PUT THE FEE BACK LATER.

THAT'S AN OPTION TO CONSIDER AS WELL.

UM, SO NO, I JUST WOULD NOT SEE THIS AS A HUGE FINANCIAL BURDEN.

THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE, UH, IT WILL THERE WILL BE A COST OF DOING THIS, BUT IF IT IS YOUR PREFERENCE, THAT'S WHAT I'M STARTING TO HEAR IS AT LEAST I KNOW TWO OF YOU HAVE VOICED A PREFERENCE OF NO FEE, BUT, UH, THAT, IF THAT IS, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE BURDENSOME.

AND IF IT IS, WE CAN BRING THAT BACK IN BUDGET AND EXPLAIN WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO LET ME MAKE SURE THAT I DIDN'T MISS A STEP HERE.

UH, WHAT I REMEMBER IS THE WAS IT CALLED AMI, UH, METER INFRASTRUCTURE? YES. FUNDED WITH A $28 MILLION, ZERO INTEREST LOAN.

CORRECT. ALREADY BORROWED AND PUT INTO THIS RATE PAY.

SO. SO ARE WE.

DID THAT NOT INCLUDE THE INSTALL? YES, THAT INCLUDES THE INSTALL.

SO, SO IN THE WAY IN WHICH WE WOULD, WE WOULD NEED TO CHARGE SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW THIS IS AN OPERATIONAL CHARGE JUST TO GO OUT AND READ THE METER AFTER THE METER AFTER THE PROJECT'S INSTALLED.

AND YOU COME IN TO SET UP SERVICE AND YOU WANT TO OPT OUT, OR YOU DECIDE YOU'VE HAD SERVICE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND YOU DECIDE YOU WANT TO OPT OUT.

THIS IS AN OPERATIONAL PIECE OF IT JUST TO COME OUT AND REMOVE THE SO WHAT WHAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO IS BRING OUR ORDINANCE CHANGES TO MATCH WHAT DIRECTION YOU GIVE US.

YEAH. AND I THINK THIS LINES UP WITH OUR PILLAR OF THE INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY AND FINDING EFFICIENCIES.

YES. SO WE'VE GOT TO FIND THE EFFICIENCIES.

BUT DO WE MAKE UP FOR WHERE IT'S NOT EFFICIENT.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING. YES, SIR.

I MEAN THAT'S WHERE I'M COMING FROM.

OKAY. I THINK I'M HEARING WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

COUNCILMAN SIMPSON DO WE DO WE KNOW IN THE OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT WE REACHED OUT ON THE FEES? DO WE DO THEY HAVE ANY, UH, FEEDBACK ON WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE COMMUNITY OPTED OUT? THE ONES THAT I SPOKE TO, WHICH IS THREE, HAVE VERY FEW I MEAN, OUT OF.

I WOULD EXPECT THE SAME RATIO.

IF OUR SYSTEM HAD IT.

I WOULD EXPECT LESS THAN 20.

IN OUR SYSTEM OF 70,000, THE RATIO IS VERY LOW OF THOSE THAT OPT OUT.

NOW, IS THAT TRUE IN AMARILLO? THAT'S THAT'S JUST BASED OFF THEIR EXPERIENCE.

AND I TALKED TO THREE OF FORT WORTH.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE OPT OUT, BUT THEY HAD REQUESTS THAT WERE LESS THAN, UH, WOULD EQUATE TO HOURS BEING LESS THAN 20.

OKAY. UH, THE ARLINGTON ONE, I'VE HAD INPUT FROM THERE.

VERY LOW OPT OUT RATE.

OKAY. AND THEN I HAD A SMALLER TOWN THAT HAS IT AND THERE WERE VERY FEW.

THE RATIO IS VERY, VERY LOW OF THOSE THAT CHOOSE TO OPT OUT.

BECAUSE ONCE YOU SEE THE BENEFITS OF THIS SYSTEM, THERE'S SO MUCH MORE BENEFIT.

AND AGAIN, IT TRANSMITS FOR ONE SECOND A DAY.

AND. HAS BEEN DEEMED BY STUDY SAFER THAN THIS? YES, SIR. WELL, I MEAN, I WOULD SAY I WOULD AGREE THE COST WILL BE NEGLIGIBLE ON 20.

I MEAN, THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE.

BUT IF IT WINDS UP BEING 2000 THEN YOU'RE LOOKING SOMETHING ELSE.

AND IS IT, IS IT FAIR TO MAKE THE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP FOR IT PAY FOR THAT WHEN SOMEBODY ELSE DIDN'T? SO IF IT TURNED OUT TO BE THAT, WE COULD BRING THAT BACK IN BUDGET.

OKAY. AND THEN AT THAT POINT THEY CAN HAVE AN OPTION TO EITHER PAY THE INCREASE OR GET ON BOARD.

SO I THINK IF YOU SAW IT TURN INTO SOMETHING THAT WAS, UH, COSTLY, UH, I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT IN THE OTHER ENTITIES.

NOW, THAT'S NOT OFFICIAL SURVEY DATA.

THAT'S JUST CONVERSATION WITH THREE, UH, OTHER SYSTEMS. DID YOU HAVE YOU CHECKED WITH EXCEL TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE THEY HAD OPT OUT? I DID NOT.

UH, THAT WOULD GIVE US A FAIRLY GOOD INDICATION.

I DON'T I JUST DON'T KNOW THAT WE GOT THAT NUMBER WHEN WE GOT THAT INFORMATION.

OKAY. THE DIFFERENCE ON EXCELS I IT'S GOING TO BE HIGHER ON EXCELS BECAUSE THERE'S IS TYPICALLY ON THE

[02:05:09]

IT'S REALLY CLOSE TO WHERE THE RESIDENTS ARE.

REMEMBER OURS IS GOING TO BE OUT AT THE ALLEY OR CLOSE TO THE STREET, A SIGNIFICANT DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE HOME.

SO AND THERE'S, THERE'S IS USUALLY VISIBLE AND IT'S RIGHT THERE BY THE HOUSE.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD PRESENTATION TO GET US GOING.

AND SO I WOULD JUST ASK COUNCIL, DO WE HAVE ANY FEEDBACK FOR STAFF ON WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, UM, ALLOWING THE OPT OUT.

SOUNDS LIKE I THINK EVERYBODY HERE IS GOOD TO LET EVERYBODY HAVE THE OPTION TO OPT OUT IF THEY CHOSE TO.

UH, DO I HEAR ANYBODY THAT SAID NO, WE WOULD NOT LIKE TO ALLOW THE OPT OUT? OKAY, SO REALLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS A FEE OF $25, $50.

I MEAN, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE GET THIS IN, UM, AND RUN IT AND, YOU KNOW, CHARGE NO FEE.

AND IF IT BECOMES A FUTURE BURDEN ISSUE LATER, THEN WE WE READDRESS IT AT THAT TIME.

I AGREE, TOO MANY VARIABLES, I THINK, TO TRY TO MAKE A DECISION NOW.

OKAY. ANY ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT.

COUNCIL. SO SO I'M JUST GOING TO RESTATE, I TAKE IT WE'RE GOING TO PROCEED WITH OPTION B AND BRING THOSE ORDINANCES FORWARD.

AND ANY, ANY CONCERN.

I KNOW YOU HAD SAID C WAS THE DIRECTION YOU'RE GOING.

ARE YOU GOOD WITH RESERVING THAT ACTUAL NUMBERS.

WE DON'T I CAN'T TELL YOU ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

NOW ONCE WE BEEN INTO THIS AND WE KNOW, THEN I THINK WE CAN MAKE A JUDGMENT.

BUT I THINK ANYTIME YOU DO SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR SOMEBODY, THEY SHOULD BE PART PAY, PART OF IT ANYWAY.

I MEAN, OKAY, BECAUSE IT'S A SPECIAL CASE.

THEY AREN'T THE NORM.

SO THANK YOU.

SO YES, SIR. FLOYD, I THINK I THINK WE'D LIKE TO SEE THAT ONE COME BACK.

OPTION B RIGHT NOW AND WITH OPTION C TO BE CONSIDERED IF NEEDED LATER.

AGREED. OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SIR. THANKS, FLOYD.

UM, OKAY. MOVING ON TO ANOTHER FUN ONE.

[9.G. Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) agreements]

AND I FEEL VERY UNPREPARED BECAUSE I DID NOT BRING ANY SHOW AND TELL ITEMS FOR MY PRESENTATION.

SO I'VE ONLY GOT A WHY DO YOU NOT HAVE A MODEL? YEAH. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD HAVE BROUGHT, BUT I'LL HAVE TO BE MORE CREATIVE NEXT TIME.

UM, SO. YES.

SO WE'RE DISCUSSING THE ETJ TODAY.

I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER SHERLUND FOR BEING PATIENT WITH ME AS WE PREPARED FOR THIS ITEM.

UM, SO WHAT IS WHAT IS THE ETJ? UH, IT'S THE AREA OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS THAT WE ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE CERTAIN PLANNING AND REGULATORY POWERS.

UM, HOW FAR DOES IT EXTEND OUT? OURS IS CURRENTLY FIVE MILES.

UM, SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT MAP, WHICH I'M GOING TO SHOW ON THE SCREEN IN A SECOND, THE FIVE MILE IS THE BLACK BLACK LINE, THE BLUE IS A HALF MILE, AND THEN IT GOES OUT IN ONE MILE INCREMENTS ON THAT MAP.

SO THAT'S THE, UM, THE BIGGEST ETJ YOU CAN HAVE IN THE STATE BASED ON YOUR POPULATION.

SMALLER CITIES HAVE SMALLER ETJ BOUNDARIES.

SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE'RE ALLOWED TO REGULATE IN THE ETJ, UH, SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS, WHICH IS A PLATTING OF PROPERTY FOR DEVELOPMENT WHEN SOMEBODY WANTS TO BUILD A NEW STRUCTURE, UH, LAYING OUT THE LOT LINES, EASEMENTS, ROADS, ETC., UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, UH, REINVESTMENT ZONES, TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONES. OUR CHAPTER 380 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS.

THOSE ARE ALLOWED IN THE ETJ DON'T DO A WHOLE LOT OF THOSE.

MOST OF OURS ARE INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS.

UM, HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES COLLECTION FROM HOTELS THAT MIGHT BE BUILT IN YOUR ETJ SOME CITIES ADOPT A HOT TAX TO APPLY TO THOSE, UH, PROTECTION APPLY LAKES IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE FOR DRAINAGE REGULATIONS.

IMPACT FEES FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT IS ALLOWED FOR CITIES THAT ADOPT IMPACT FEES.

WE DO NOT HAVE THOSE.

AND LIKE MR. BURKETT SAYS, OUTDOOR SIGNS OR OFF PREMISE SIGNS ARE ALSO SOMETHING YOU CAN ENFORCE IN THE ETJ.

UM, WHAT ARE SOME CHANGES TO STATE LAW AS TO WHY WE'RE EVEN DISCUSSING THIS TOPIC RELATED TO ANNEXATIONS AND ETJ? UH, 2019 LEGISLATIVE SESSION REALLY PUT AN END TO UNILATERAL ANNEXATION OR ANNEXATION WITHOUT CONSENT.

SO MOVING FORWARD, YOU BASICALLY HAVE TO HAVE THE LANDOWNER APPROACH THE CITY AND ASK TO BE ANNEXED AND BROUGHT INTO THE CITY LIMITS.

UM, MOST LIKELY BECAUSE THEY WANT UTILITIES SO THEY CAN HAVE SMALLER LOTS AND GET MORE HOMES OR DEVELOPMENT ON THE SITE.

UM, OTHERWISE IT REQUIRES OWNERS BASICALLY TO HAVE A PETITION PROCESS OR AN ELECTION PROCESS TO ANNEX AN AREA IN 2023 TO ETJ OWNERS CAN NOW PETITION TO BE REMOVED FROM THE ETJ AND ALL THE REGULATIONS THE CITY MIGHT HAVE IN PLACE.

SO THAT COULD BE JUST AN INDIVIDUAL PARCEL IN THE ETJ CAN NOW BASICALLY OPT OUT.

THERE IS SOME LITIGATION CURRENTLY IN PLACE OF SOME CITIES BECAUSE THERE ARE CONFLICTS WITH STATE LAW, UM, THAT DON'T NECESSARILY MATCH UP WITH WHAT THE STATE APPROVED MOST RECENTLY. AND THEN JUST DURING THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK OF JUST GETTING RID OF THE ETJ ALTOGETHER THAT ULTIMATELY DID NOT PASS.

[02:10:04]

UM, THE STATE FOCUSED ON ANNEXATIONS FIRST, AND ETJ WAS THE THE NEXT LOGICAL STEP AS FAR AS, UM, WIRE AGREEMENTS REQUIRED.

THAT WAS A STATE LAW.

CHANGE A COUPLE OF DECADES AGO THAT REQUIRED, IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE DEVELOPMENT IN THE ETJ, REALLY TO BE ABLE TO STREAMLINE IT.

AND SO DEVELOPERS KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING, WHAT THE REGULATIONS ARE.

IT REQUIRED CITIES AND COUNTIES TO BASICALLY COME TOGETHER AND DETERMINE VIA AN AGREEMENT, WHO'S GOING TO BE IN CHARGE OF WHAT, WHAT REGULATIONS APPLY TO BE MORE CONSISTENT FOR THOSE THOSE DEVELOPMENTS TO OCCUR.

UM, SO THE PURPOSE OF TODAY'S DISCUSSION.

UM, STAFFS, WE HAVE A STAFF RECOMMENDATION AS FAR AS POTENTIALLY REDUCING OUR ETJ.

WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER OPTION OF WHETHER WE WANT TO GO TO THE COUNTIES AND ASK, DO THEY WANT TO TAKE OVER CONTROL AND OVERSIGHT OF REGULATIONS, PARTICULARLY SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS? THE WAY STATE LAW IS WRITTEN, YOU CAN APPORTION AREAS OF YOUR ETJ AND BASICALLY ASSIGN WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT.

SO THAT IS ONE OPTION TO BE CONSIDERED.

UH, AGAIN, THIS IS THE MAP I HANDED OUT JUST SHOWING THE BOUNDARY.

UH, THE BLACK BEING THE FIVE MILE BOUNDARY, BLUE BEING HALF MILE, ORANGE ONE MILE AND SO FORTH.

GOING OUT ONE MILE, JUST FOR COMPARISON'S SAKE, IS ABOUT A SECTION OF LAND.

AND THAT'S HOW AMARILLO HAS DEVELOPED IN THE PAST, BASICALLY ONE SECTION AT A TIME.

UM, SO JUST GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF GROWTH PATTERNS.

SOME OF THE PROS FOR REDUCING THE ETJ AND TRYING TO FOCUS MORE ON JUST MAYBE ONE MILE, FOR EXAMPLE, WE WOULD HAVE MORE FOCUS RESOURCES, SO WE'D BE CONCENTRATING OUR SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN CLOSER BOUNDARIES TO THE CITY, WHICH WILL ALLOW FOR MORE PROACTIVE PLANNING OF CITY INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT MIGHT BENEFIT FROM THE GROWTH WITHIN THAT ONE MILE BOUNDARY.

SO IF WE KNOW THERE'S POTENTIAL TO ANNEX THAT AREA, THE CITY THROUGH OUR CIP PROGRAM COULD PLAN.

WE WANT TO EXTEND THIS FIVE LANE ARTERIAL THIS DIRECTION, KNOWING, UM, IT'S IT'S NEXT IN LINE TO SEE SOME GROWTH.

SO JUST MORE FOCUSED RESOURCES, UM, WITH WHAT AVAILABLE DOLLARS CITY COUNCIL HAS.

UM, THERE COULD BE A REDUCED ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN.

UH, IT'S OF COURSE, EASIER TO MANAGE WITH A SMALLER ETJ.

WE'D HAVE LESS APPLICATIONS COMING IN.

THIS MOST HEAVILY IMPACTS OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND OUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.

AS FAR AS REVIEWING THOSE PLANS, UM, PLANNING REVIEWS, ALL THE PLATS, TAKES THOSE THROUGH THE PROCESS, ENGINEERING REVIEWS, ALL CONSTRUCTION PLANS, WHETHER IT'S ROADS OR DRAINAGE RELATED FACILITIES.

AND THOSE HAVE TO BE ACCEPTED, INSPECTED AND GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS.

UM, IMPROVED CITY PLANNING, UM, NOT HAVING TO FOCUS AS MUCH ON ETJ DEVELOPMENT, WE COULD BETTER PLAN WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS AND MORE MORE RESOURCES TOWARD THE URBAN CORE OF THE CITY. UH, STAFF SPENDS A LOT OF TIME ON ETJ ETJ DEVELOPMENT THAT COULD BE REALLOCATED TOWARD OTHER CITY PLANNING PROJECTS.

AN EXAMPLE OF CURRENT NUMBERS.

IN 2023, WE HAD 78 PLATS IN THE CITY, 67 THE ETJ, AND WE'RE EXPECTING THAT TO BE 70 AND 44 IN THE CURRENT YEAR. UH, THAT IS 857 LOTS VERSUS 372 LOTS IN THE ETJ AND 39 COMMERCIAL LOTS AND 24 IN THE ETJ.

SO, UH, PRETTY FAIRLY GOOD SPLIT THE REASON WHY YOU OF COURSE, SEE MORE RESIDENTIAL LOTS IN THE CITY IS THAT THEY CAN DO MORE DENSE DEVELOPMENT VERSUS ONE ACRE, UH, ONE ACRE TRACTS. UM, LASTLY, AS A PRO, IT WOULD ALLOW FOR BETTER RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COUNTIES.

YOU'D HAVE CLEAR JURISDICTIONAL LINES.

THERE'D BE LESS CONFLICT OVER LAND USE REGULATIONS AND CITY REGULATIONS.

UM, SOME OF OUR COUNTIES, UM, PROVIDE COMMENTS THAT DON'T NECESSARILY LINE UP WITH CITY REGULATIONS.

SO THEY MAY WANT TO SEE A DIFFERENT ENGINEER OR DRAINAGE SPEC ON A ON A PLAYA LAKE OR ON SITE DRAINAGE.

UH, THEY MAY WANT TO SEE MORE RURAL DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS.

AND WE WOULD SEE IN THE CITY REALLY THE OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE ETJ GOING BACK YEARS WAS TO PLAN FOR FUTURE GROWTH AND SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD ANNEX IN POTENTIALLY, UH, WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS WE'RE SURROUNDED BY A LOT OF ONE ACRE DEVELOPMENTS, THEIR WELLS, THEIR SEPTICS, UM, NOT SOMETHING WE WOULD LIKELY EVER TAKE IN BECAUSE WE WOULD NOT WANT TO RUN THE WATER AND SEWER LINES THROUGH THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.

SO ULTIMATELY, IT'S KIND OF BEEN PLANNING AND DEVELOPING AROUND US AND KIND OF SETTING SOME BOUNDARIES AS TO WHERE WE MIGHT ANNEX NEXT.

UM, SOME OF THE CONS, UM, WHICH ARE REALLY PROS BECAUSE WE'D STILL BE KEEPING STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO KEEP AT LEAST A ONE MILE, SINCE THAT'S SOME PRIMARY GROWTH AREAS.

SO WHILE THESE ARE CONS, THERE ARE ALSO PROS BECAUSE WE'D BE KEEPING THAT BOUNDARY.

UM, THERE'S A RISK OF INCOMPATIBLE OR UNPLANNED DEVELOPMENT NEAR THE CITY BY KEEPING THE ONE MILE ETJ, WE'D STILL HELP LIMIT CONCERNS OF ADJACENT DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES, UH, POTENTIAL IMPACT ON LONG TUM GROWTH SO IT COULD LIMIT FUTURE EXPANSION OPTIONS IN AMARILLO.

BUT THE CITY, LIKE I MENTIONED JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO, WE'RE ALREADY LIMITED BY THE GROWTH THAT'S OCCURRED, FOR ONE.

[02:15:01]

WE CAN'T JUST GO OUT AND ANNEX SOMEONE TO TRY AND PROTECT A VACANT PIECE OF LAND AND WHAT MIGHT DEVELOP THERE.

THE PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE THE FULL RIGHTS TO DEVELOP IT AS ONE ACRE LOTS.

WE CAN'T COME IN AND ANNEX AND SAY, YOU'RE GOING TO BE BUILDING THE CITY STANDARDS.

SO WHAT WE'VE CHANGED IS WE HAVE TO BE MORE PROACTIVE WORKING WITH OUR LARGE LANDOWNERS TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE, PLAN FOR THEIR DEVELOPMENTS AND GET MORE CREATIVE TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO ANNEX VERSUS FORCING ANNEXATION UPON THEM.

SO BY ALLOWING THAT ONE MILE, WE'LL STILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

AND ALSO, ANY TIME YOU ANNEX NEW AREA, THAT ONE MILE EXTENDS OUT.

SO IT JUST GROWS WITH YOUR CITY BOUNDARIES.

SO YOU'D HAVE A CONSTANT MOVING ONE MILE, UH, RING AROUND THE CITY.

UM, AS FAR AS ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS, THERE'S A POTENTIAL LOSS OF CONTROL OVER SOME OF THESE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES I MENTIONED AS FAR AS THREE A'S, TEARS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. BUT THE COUNTIES ALSO HAVE SOME CONTROLS AS FAR AS BEING ABLE TO PUT SOME OF THOSE SAME THINGS IN PLACE.

UM, BUT MOST LIKELY WE WOULD BE WORKING WITH THEM TO ANNEX BEFORE WE OFFERED ANY INCENTIVES BECAUSE WE WANT ONE, THE TAX BASE, BUT ALSO TO ALLOW THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO RUN TO THOSE SITES. SO ALL OF THESE BEING CONS, UM, CAN VERY QUICKLY TURN TO POSITIVES BY KEEPING THAT ONE MILE RADIUS AROUND THE CITY.

AS FAR AS THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION TODAY, UM, WE'D RECOMMEND BRINGING THE ETJ DOWN TO ONE MILE.

THIS COULD BE DONE VIA TWO DIFFERENT WAYS.

WE COULD AMEND THE CURRENT INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.

WE HAVE FOUR COUNTIES THAT WE WORK WITH.

THEY ALL HAVE SIMILAR INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS THAT WHAT WE WOULD NEED TO AMEND.

BUT WE COULD ONE KEEP THE FIVE MILE JUST REALLY FOR THE SAKE OF KEEPING IT, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO ANNEX FIVE MILES OUT ANYTIME SOON, OR WE JUST GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE INITIATIVE OF THE CITY ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE TO REDUCE IT DOWN TO ONE MILE, AND THEN ANYTHING OUTSIDE THAT AUTOMATICALLY GOES TO THE COUNTY.

SO ONE, YOU KIND OF HAVE A NEGOTIATION, SO TO SPEAK, OF WORKING WITH THE COUNTIES THROUGH THAT AGREEMENT AND MAKING SOME CHANGES.

NUMBER TWO, WE JUST RUN WITH IT.

UM, GIVE THEM SOME NOTICE.

WE'D WANT TO PROVIDE THE COUNTIES NOTICE AHEAD OF TIME BECAUSE THEY WILL START TO RECEIVE MORE APPLICATIONS.

THIS ISN'T NECESSARILY NEW FOR THEM.

ANYTHING OUTSIDE THE FIVE MILE BOUNDARY NOW GOES TO THE COUNTIES FOR PLAT APPROVAL, UH, DEVELOPMENT REVIEWS AND ALL THOSE THINGS.

SO NOT SOMETHING THEY'RE UNFAMILIAR WITH.

MOST OF THEM CONTRACT WITH AN ENGINEER THAT HANDLES MOST OF THAT PROCESS.

UM, THE AGREEMENTS WOULD STAY IN PLACE, SO WE WOULD STILL HAVE AN AGREEMENT TO DO THE ONE MILE ETJ BOUNDARY, UM, AS FAR AS REGULATING DEVELOPMENT.

AND THEN AGAIN, AS I SAID, OUTSIDE THE ONE MILE BOUNDARY GOES STRAIGHT TO THE COUNTIES.

THEY CAN ALSO GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY IF THEY WANT TO CHANGE THEIR DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, THEIR SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS, THEIR DRAINAGE REGULATIONS, THEIR STREET WIDTHS, UM, THE CULVERTS, THE BAR DITCHES, THEY WOULD HAVE FULL CONTROL AND WOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT CONFLICTING WITH CITY REGULATIONS AND WHAT WE HAVE IN PLACE.

SO WITH THAT SAID, I'M HAPPY TO TRY AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

I KNOW SOME OF THE COMMENTS WERE ABOUT WHAT WE REGULATE IN THE ETJ.

THIS WAS MORE ABOUT THE BOUNDARY.

WOULD BE HAPPY IF THERE'S DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL TO BRING BACK MAYBE A FURTHER DISCUSSION ON WHAT WE DO OR DO NOT REGULATE.

AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING I WANT TO CHANGE IN THE FUTURE.

BUT THIS IS MOSTLY ABOUT REDUCING IT.

OKAY. QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL ANDREW.

WHAT RESOURCES DO WE USE TO REGULATE OR ENFORCE? I MEAN, IF WE GO AND IT'S REALLY STAFF TIME, STAFF OVERHEAD, WHETHER IT'S OUR ENGINEERS REVIEWING THEIR PLANS, WHETHER IT'S FILLED INSPECTORS GOING OUT AND INSPECTING THE CONSTRUCTION WORK, WHETHER IT'S OUR PLANNERS PROCESSING THEIR PLAT APPLICATIONS, TIME GOING TO P AND Z TO APPROVE THEIR PLATS IF NECESSARY.

SO IT'S ALL STAFF OVERHEAD.

SO DO WE DO THAT ON EVERY PLANNED BILL? YES. IN THAT AREA.

SO ALL PLATS GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.

NOT ALL OF THEM MAY HAVE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, ROADS OR DRAINAGE.

THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF LEGAL TIME INVOLVED FOR REVIEWING DEVELOPER AGREEMENTS AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, BUT THEY'RE NOT SUBJECT.

IF THEY'RE IN THE ETJ, THEY'RE NOT SUBJECT TO CITY CODE, CORRECT? NO, NOT LIKE BUILDING CODES OR CONSTRUCTION CODES.

CORRECT. SO WE'RE THERE TO JUST REGULATE.

LOT SIZES, UM, STREET ACCESS RIGHT AWAY, THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

OKAY. YES, SIR. THIS WILL THIS BE HELPFUL FOR OUR DEVELOPERS AS FAR AS RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM, OR HAVE YOU TALKED TO MANY OF THEM? UM, I POTENTIALLY I THINK IT WOULD HELP THEM BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE MORE STAFF RESOURCES DEDICATED TO SMALLER FOOTPRINT, SO WE'D BE ABLE TO MOVE FASTER ON SUBMITTALS, GETTING THEM REVIEWED MORE TIMELY.

WE WOULDN'T HAVE AS MUCH STAFF TIME DEDICATED GOING OUT INTO THE COUNTY TO TO INSPECT THOSE PROJECTS SO WE COULD SEE SOME EFFICIENCIES ON ON STAFF REVIEWS.

IS THERE ANY ISSUE WITH GOING TO HALF MILE INSTEAD OF A MILE? UM, REALLY, IT JUST CAME DOWN TO HOW THOSE SECTIONS LAND DEVELOP THAT WE USUALLY SEE ABOUT A MILE AT A TIME.

[02:20:01]

OKAY. THANK YOU SIR.

THE THING WE GOT TO REMEMBER IS THAT THE PEOPLE THAT BUILT OUT IN THE COUNTY BUILT THERE FOR A REASON, AND A LOT OF THEM BUILT OUT THERE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO PAY CITY TAXES.

RIGHT. SO WE'VE BEEN SENDING OUT EMPLOYEES TO REGULATE THINGS THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO VOTE TO BE ANNEXED INTO THE CITY.

NOW IF WE.

LOOK AT IT THAT WAY.

WE'VE BEEN THROWING A LOT OF MONEY.

RESOURCES. INTO SOMETHING THAT WE'RE NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO TOUCH.

SINCE THE STATE CHANGED THE LAW.

NOW, BACK BEFORE THE STATE CHANGED LAW, WE HAD THE ABILITY TO GO OUT AND SAY, YES, I WANT TO ANNEX THE NEXT MILE.

RIGHT. WE CAN'T DO THAT ANYMORE.

CORRECT. WE GOT TO HAVE THEM TO VOTE.

SO, I MEAN, IF WE TAKE OUT, FOR INSTANCE, THE MILE OR EVEN OUR CITY LIMITS, I MEAN, I CAN SEE WHERE THAT MILE MIGHT PLAY A POINT BECAUSE WE COULD ANNEX.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT A LOT OF THE AREAS RIGHT OUTSIDE OF AMARILLO, ESPECIALLY THE SOUTHWEST, THEY ARE LITTLE ONE ACRE, TWO ACRE PLOTS THAT THOSE PEOPLE ARE NEVER GOING TO WANT TO US TO ANNEX THEM.

THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHT.

COUNCILMAN. AND WHEN WE LOOK AT WHERE THE ACTIVITY IS GOING ON, IS THAT PRETTY MUCH WHERE WHERE IS IT OCCURRING? SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST IS WHERE MOST OF IT'S OCCURRING.

YEAH, AND OUT BY BUSHLAND.

BUT WE DON'T HAVE AS MUCH OF THE ITTJ OUT BY BUSHLAND.

BUT SOME OF IT COMES IN.

YEAH. OKAY, SIR.

UH, MR. FREEMAN COUNTY.

CAN STILL REGULATE ALL THIS.

YOU HAD MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT ENTERING INTO AN AGREEMENT, LIKE A AN ASSIGNMENT.

AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT? YEAH. WHY WOULD THERE BE A NEED TO GIVE AN ASSIGNMENT TO SOMETHING? LET'S SAY IT'S THREE MILES OUT.

WE REDUCE IT TO A MILE OUT.

WHY? WHY WOULD THE COUNTY NOT JUST GO AHEAD AND REGULATE EVERYTHING LIKE THEY'RE DOING, YOU KNOW, IN THE REST OF THE COUNTY? THE ONLY REASON WE WOULD NEED TO CHANGE THE INTERLOCAL IS IF WE WANTED TO MAINTAIN THE FIVE MILE.

BUT GO AHEAD AND GIVE THEM THE AUTHORITY TO DO, SAY, PASS ONE MILE, TWO FIVE MILE OUT.

SO BASICALLY JUST SWAPPING ROLES, UM, BUT WITHOUT THEM TAKING OVER FULL AUTHORITY, THE ETJ, IT'D BE A PARTNERSHIP IN THAT SENSE.

BUT IF WE JUST REDUCE IT TO ONE MILE, THEY AUTOMATICALLY GET THE REMAINDER.

UM, AND TAKING OUR, OUR GENTLEMAN HERE WHO HAS SOME STRANGE INTEREST IN SIGNAGE, UM, WOULD UH, WOULD IT BE SOMETHING THAT THAT THEY WOULD REGULATE THOSE SIGNS.

DO THEY ALREADY THAT'S SPECIFICALLY A CITY.

UM, SO THE COUNTY DOESN'T REGULATE SIGNAGE RIGHT NOW, BUT THEY COULD IF THEY WANTED TO.

BUT THEY I'M NOT SURE IF THEY COULD LEGALLY, THEY COULD.

I THINK ONLY CITIES CAN.

AND IT'S ONLY IF IT'S IN OUR ETJ THAT ALLOWS US TO DO THAT.

TEX. DOT IS THAT THE ONLY ONE.

SO TEX DOT DOES THE HIGHWAYS, BUT AS FAR AS OTHER ROADS IN THE COUNTY, YOU COULD HAVE THEM OUTSIDE THE ETJ.

SO IF MR. BURKETT'S PASSED FIVE MILES, HE CAN PUT A SIGN UP AT FIVE MILES AND ONE FOOT IN THE COUNTY.

NO REGULATION. YEAH.

THE ETJ IS THE ONE THING THAT'S THAT'S.

SO WE WOULD STILL MAINTAIN A ONE MILE RESTRICTION ON SIGNAGE.

YES. COULD. BUT THEN IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU ALL WANT TO SEE US BRING BACK FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION, BECAUSE THAT'S A DIFFERENT SECTION THAT'S TIED TO OUR SIGN CODE THAT YOU COULD POTENTIALLY CHANGE.

OKAY. UM.

I THINK BEING A BUILDER AND SEEING THE WAY DEVELOPERS WORK, I, YOU KNOW, I'M DEFINITELY ON THE SIDE OF IT'S A LITTLE TO ME, I WOULDN'T SAY OVERREACHING, BUT IT DEFINITELY IS ANOTHER LAYER OF ADDITIONAL THAT YOU'RE BRINGING PEOPLE IN UNDERNEATH THE CITY, UH, KIND OF UMBRELLA TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, DRAINAGE AND A FEW OTHER THINGS. THE COUNTY HAS KIND OF A, YOU KNOW, A HANDICAPPED ROLE IN IT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE THEY DON'T HAVE THE TEETH.

SO THEY LOOK AT US TO, TO BITE DOWN REAL HARD.

AND, AND SOMETIMES WE'RE LIKE, WELL, YOU KNOW, LOOKED FINE ON THAT ENGINEERING REPORT.

WE'RE SORRY. IT DIDN'T IT DIDN'T WORK.

SO THERE'S A THERE'S SOME CONFLICT THERE THAT I COULD SEE US REALLY ALLEVIATING.

UM, THAT I THINK IS GOOD.

AND THEN I THINK WE VOLUNTARILY ANNEXED THE PEOPLE THAT WE WANT TO BE A BENEFIT AND AN ASSET TO, AND THOSE THAT DON'T WANT TO BE ANNEXED.

I MEAN THAT YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO, TO LEAPFROG THEM.

UM, YOU KNOW, REALLY BECAUSE OF THE, THE LAW.

AND SO I THINK THAT, UM, THE ONE MILE IS PROBABLY WAY MORE IN LINE WITH, WITH WHERE I WOULD WANT TO LAND.

[02:25:02]

YOU CAN ALWAYS REDUCE IT, EXTEND IT.

SO THE ONLY REASON YOU COULDN'T EXTEND IT IS IF ANOTHER CITY CAME AND AND ANNEXED THAT AREA INTO ETJ.

BUT WE'RE UNLIKE THE DALLAS FORT WORTH AREA.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY NEIGHBORING CITIES THAT WE'RE COMPETING WITH FOR ETJ, SO IT'S STILL GOING TO BE THERE AND AVAILABLE IN THE FUTURE IF NEEDED FOR SOME REASON.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. FREEMAN? DO I HAVE ANY? NO. OKAY.

THANK YOU. NO OPPOSITION FOR CONCERN.

THE ONE MILE REDUCTION. I THINK YOU BRING THAT BACK.

THAT'D BE A GOOD DISCUSSION FOR US.

ACTION ITEM. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. UH, MOVING RIGHT ALONG.

[9.H. Farmers Avenue quiet zone]

IT'S ONLY 6:00.

UM, WE HAVE MOVED ON TO ITEM NINE H.

UH, QUIET ZONE, MR. HARTMAN. YES, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. THIS IS A PRESENTATION THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, DIRECTION FROM THE COUNCIL, UH, GOING FORWARD AS WELL.

SO, UH, WE'VE RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM THE DEVELOPER, UH, FOR A LOOKING INTO A QUIET ZONE AT FARMERS DOWN HERE, SOUTH OF TOWN, AT THE RAILROAD TRACKS.

UH, HERE YOU CAN SEE THE MAP, THE SUBDIVISION RIGHT ADJACENT TO THAT INTERSECTION, UH, BETWEEN BOTH THE DEVELOPER AND THEY ARE GENEROUS IN THIS OFFER, AS YOU'LL SEE AS WE GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION.

ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THAT SCREEN IS GEORGIA STREET.

AND ON THE RIGHT SIDE, RIGHT SIDE OF THAT SCREEN IS WASHINGTON STREET.

SO QUIET ZONES ARE DESIGNATED AREAS ON THE RAILROAD SUCH THAT AND AND INFRASTRUCTURE BUILT SUCH THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO BLOW THE HORN UNDER THE REGULATIONS OF THE RAILROAD.

OKAY. SO, UH, UNDER THIS PROPOSAL, UH, THIS IS A PICTURE OF WHAT IT WOULD TAKE RIGHT IN THE BOTTOM LEFT CORNER.

YOU CAN JUST SEE THE TOP OF A MEDIAN IN THAT THAT'S COMING UP TO THAT INTERSECTION.

BUT MOST OF IT IS THIS, UH, UH, ARMS AND SAFETY, UH, DEVICES.

SO TO, TO FIT THAT INTERSECTION FOR A QUIET ZONE, THAT INSTALLATION OF A CENTER MEDIAN AND THE FOUR QUADRANT, UH, ARMS WHERE ALL FOUR SIDES HAVE THE ARMS, WOULD YOU CAN SEE WOULD BE ABOUT $138,000.

AND IN THIS PROPOSAL, THE DEVELOPER IS OFFERING TO PUT THAT IN.

SO TO DO THAT, THOUGH, YOU HAVE TO HAVE CERTAIN CONDITIONS WITH THE RAILROAD TO HAVE A QUIET ZONE, AND THIS TAKES TIME.

THIS WON'T HAPPEN OVER OVERNIGHT IF, IF YOU CHOOSE TO GO FORWARD.

BUT YOU CAN SEE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THIS, THERE WOULD BE SOME ONGOING MAINTENANCE.

THERE HAS TO BE SOME ASSURANCES TO THE RAILROAD THAT THERE'S ONGOING MAINTENANCE.

SO INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS, WE ESTIMATE THAT COST AT $3,000 ANNUALLY, UH, AND OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS.

BACK UP A STEP, UH, TO THE MAP.

THE RED LINE IS THE CITY LIMITS.

SO THE PORTION OF THE THE WEST SIDE IS IN THE CITY LIMITS.

THE EAST SIDE OF THAT INTERSECTION IS OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS.

IT'S A UNIQUE SITUATION THERE.

SO THAT WOULD BE THE ESTIMATED COST, A TOTAL OF ABOUT 6000 ANNUAL COST, SPLIT ABOUT EVENLY BETWEEN WHAT'S INSIDE THE CITY AND OUTSIDE THE CITY.

UH. ONCE THIS WOULD BE ACCEPTED BY THE RAILROAD, WOULD WOULD REPAIR ANY OF OF THE ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT, THE ARMS THAT BECOMES THEIR PROPERTY, AND THEY WOULD REPAIR THAT.

SO WE DON'T HAVE COST ESTIMATED FOR THAT.

THE ISSUE, THOUGH, IS SINCE THIS IS INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS AND OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS THERE.

THE TO HAVE A QUIET ZONE, YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE DESIGNATED AS THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY, WHICH IS IN THIS HIGHLIGHTED BOX ON THIS SCREEN.

AND WHAT WHAT WOULD IT MEAN TO BE A PUBLIC AUTHORITY IN A QUIET ZONE? UH, YOU MEANS YOU HAVE TO PROCESS AND DO THE RECERTIFICATION EVERY 2 TO 3 YEARS TO MEET THE RAILROAD STANDARDS, TO MAINTAIN THAT QUIET ZONE.

IT MEANS YOU WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO NEGOTIATE THE AGREEMENTS, INCLUDING BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS, FOR THAT INTERSECTION, AND MAINTAIN THOSE AGREEMENTS FOR FOR HOWEVER LONG THE QUIET ZONE EXISTED.

UH, IT REQUIRES AN ANNUAL TRAFFIC COUNT, UH, ROUTINE EQUIPMENT INSPECTIONS AND A ROUTINE SUBMITTED REPORTS.

AND WE ESTIMATE THOSE COSTS TO BE ANNUAL COST AT AROUND $5,000.

UH, THE COST OF MAINTENANCE AND DOING THIS ISN'T JUST A HUGE BURDEN, BUT ANY ONE OF THOSE STEPS THAT'S MISSED, AND THAT QUIET ZONE GOES AWAY, AND YOU WOULD HAVE UPSET RESIDENTS.

SO THIS IS A VERY CRITICAL COMPONENT TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE RAILROAD AND MAINTAIN THAT QUIET ZONE.

BECAUSE ONCE IF YOU IF WE DO THIS, THEN IT WOULD BE EXPECTED TO GO ON.

SO I WANTED TO PUT ALL THIS ON ONE SLIDE.

I KNOW IT'S BUSY, BUT IT GIVES YOU SOME IDEA OF WHAT IS BEING ASKED OF YOU.

[02:30:01]

AND WHO WOULD SERVE AND COMPLETE THE DUTIES AS THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY REQUIRED BY THE FEDERAL RAILROAD AUTHORITY.

AND WE'RE REQUESTING COUNCIL DIRECTION ON THAT.

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU PERCEIVE THAT THE CITY SHOULD DO? BE THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY AND MANAGE THIS WHOLE PROGRAM AND, UH, NEGOTIATE WITH OTHER ENTITIES OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS FOR THE COST TO BE COVERED BY THEM OR NEGOTIATE TO COVER THOSE COSTS YOURSELF.

THOSE ARE THE MAIN QUESTIONS.

WHAT IS THE DIRECTION THAT THIS COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THIS? HAVE WE HAVE YOU ALL TALKED TO THE COUNTY ABOUT IT YET? UH, WE HAVEN'T TALKED DIRECTLY TO THE COUNTY.

THE DEVELOPER IS IS DOING THAT RIGHT NOW.

HAVE THEY SAID ANYTHING BUT, UH, WELL, I DON'T I DON'T HAVE I'M NOT PRIVY TO THE DIRECT COMMUNICATIONS, BUT I WILL SAY OVER TIME, WE'VE NOT GOT A FEEL THAT THE COUNTY, UH, WOULD WOULD WANT TO DO THAT.

I'M NOT TRYING TO SPEAK FOR THE COUNTY, BUT THEY THEY HAVE PLENTY OF OTHER COMMITMENTS.

WHERE WOULD THE LIABILITY REST IF WE TOOK THIS UP, IF THERE WAS A ACCIDENT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. WELL, I THINK AND LESLIE CAN WEIGH IN ON THIS.

I THINK THE LIABILITY IS IF YOU IGNORE AND DON'T MAINTAIN THE EQUIPMENT.

AND SO IT'S PART OF THE PROGRAM.

SO IF IF YOU FAIL TO MAINTAIN, THEN RAILROAD IS GOING TO DO AWAY WITH THE PROGRAM AND YOU NO LONGER WOULD BE ALLOWED TO OPERATE OR HAVE A QUIET ZONE ON THE RAILROAD PROPERTY.

AND SO, UM, I'M NOT SURE THAT THERE'S A HUGE LIABILITY RELATED TO THIS.

AGAIN, THE THE RAILROAD WOULD OWN THE CROSSING ARMS. UH. THE.

THE ELECTRONIC AND THE ARMS. THE RAILROAD WOULD OWN THAT IT'S ON THEIR RIGHT OF WAY.

THE RESPONSIBILITIES ARE MAINTENANCE OF THE CONTROL, SIGNS, CONTROLS AND ULTIMATELY REPLACEMENT OF ROAD, ROAD SURFACES AND OR THE MEDIANS. SO I'M JUST GOING TO SAY OUTSIDE OF ANY OTHER SITUATION, I JUST DON'T SEE A LARGE LIABILITY BECAUSE THE THE LOCAL ENTITIES WON'T OWN THE CROSSING ARMS OR ANYTHING ON THE RIGHT OF WAY.

HAVE WE HEARD FROM THE RESIDENTS? I GUESS THAT'S WHY I'M BEING BOTH ASKED.

YES, THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS CALL REPEATEDLY WANTING THIS TO MOVE FORWARD, AND DEVELOPER HAS SUBMITTED THIS REQUEST ON THEIR BEHALF.

BUT WE STILL RECEIVE CALLS FROM RESIDENTS WANTING QUIET ZONE HERE.

UH, IS IS THIS THE ONLY QUIET ZONE THAT WE WOULD HAVE THIS WE DO NOT HAVE ANOTHER ONE THAT THAT IN THE CITY OF AMARILLO.

AND I WOULD ANTICIPATE MANY MORE REQUESTS IF WE IF WE GO DOWN THIS PATH.

THE. THE GOOD NEWS WOULD BE, UM, THIS IS, UH, $120,000 COST UP FRONT.

IS THAT ROUGHLY ABOUT 138 FOR THE DEVELOPER? SO. SO FOR A DEVELOPER WHO'S WILLING TO PAY THE UP FRONT COST, THAT WOULD BE THE ASSET TO THE CITY, YOU KNOW, WITH AN ONGOING MAINTENANCE, WHICH IF YOU HAD TO MAINTAIN TWO VERSUS ONE, MAYBE YOU GET A, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT BETTER VALUE ONCE YOU'RE UP AND GOING.

BUT THE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT ANOTHER DEVELOPER, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WILLING TO PAY FOR IT AND IT'S NOT PLANNED LIKE THIS, I THINK IS MINIMAL.

SO I DON'T THINK IT SETS A PRECEDENT WHERE WE AS THE CITY ARE LOOKING AT, WELL, EVERYBODY IN TOWN IS GOING TO BRING $150,000 REQUEST.

THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A DEVELOPER THAT WAS WILLING TO PAY $140,000 AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT SUPPORTS IT.

UM, SO WE'VE WE'VE HAD REQUESTS IN OTHER LOCATIONS, BUT THAT'S BEEN THE, THE ISSUE THAT THAT WE DON'T DO IT.

WE CAN'T JUSTIFY THE UPFRONT COST.

YEAH. AND SO THE UNIQUENESS IN THIS SITUATION IS YOU HAVE AN ENTIRE PLANNED DEVELOPMENT OUT THERE WITH A DEVELOPER WHO'S WILLING TO PAY THE UPFRONT COST AND CANNOT DO IT WITH THAT BECAUSE HE CAN'T MAINTAIN IT HIMSELF.

SO WE WOULD HAVE TO BE THE AUTHORITY.

THAT DEVELOPER CANNOT BE THE AUTHORITY, CORRECT? RIGHT. IT HAS TO BE A LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITY.

SO SO WE WOULD BE TELLING THE DEVELOPER, NO, YOU CANNOT DO THIS EVEN THOUGH THE THE PETITIONS ARE THERE FROM THE CITIZENS AND HE'S WILLING TO EXPENSE IT.

UM, I THINK I WOULD BE MUCH MORE ON THE SIDE OF, UH, BEING WILLING AND AGREEING TO PAY FOR DEFINITELY OUR HALF, UH, AND ASK THE DEVELOPER TO PETITION THE COUNTY TO PAY FOR THEIR HALF.

UM, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT TAKES IT DOWN TO $3,000 ON EACH SIDE, ROUGHLY.

RIGHT. UM, NOW, WE COULD BE THE AUTHORITY AND TAKE THE, THE, THE BURDEN ON AND JUST PASS ALONG THE FINANCIAL BURDEN.

SO WHAT I'M WHAT I'VE JUST HEARD WAS THAT WE'D BE WILLING TO BE THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY, UH, IF THE DEVELOPER GETS AGREEMENT FROM OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS

[02:35:06]

AND THAT IS WHAT YOU HEARD ME SAY.

I KNOW WE STILL HAVEN'T HEARD FROM A COUPLE OTHERS, SO MAYBE WE'RE NOT THERE YET, BUT, UH, THAT THAT'S A DIRECTION THAT I WOULD ENTERTAIN.

OKAY. UH. COMMENTS ON THIS SIDE.

I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.

I MEAN, IF IT'S I AGREE WITH YOU, I DON'T THINK.

I MEAN, IF IT'S WE CAN'T DO THIS FOR EVERYONE, BUT IF THE DEVELOPER OR SOMEONE'S WILLING TO PAY THAT COST, THIS IS A MINIMAL COST TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH IT AND VERY UNIQUE FOR IT TO STRADDLE THE CITY LIMIT LINE.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN SOME IN SOME OTHER LOCATIONS.

IT'S GOING TO BE ENTIRELY IN THE CITY, SO YOU WON'T HAVE ANOTHER ENTITY OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS.

TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION WITH ANOTHER AREA IS IT'LL BE THE SAME SCENARIO.

AND THOSE ARE COUNTY RESIDENTS THAT LIVE IN THAT SUBDIVISION, RANDALL COUNTY, CORRECT? YES. THE THE RANDALL COUNTY LINES UP HERE CLOSE TO 34TH AVENUE.

SO, UM, YOU WOULD BE INSTRUCTED TO GO BACK TO THE DEVELOPER AND ASK HIM TO PUT THIS TOGETHER.

IS THAT RIGHT? THAT PEACE.

NO BURDEN ON ON YOU TO PUT ANYTHING TOGETHER.

IF WE GET THE AGREEMENT, THEN AN APPLICATION WOULD BE PUT INTO THE RAILROAD DESIGNATING US AS THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY RESPONSIBLE.

ALL DESIGNS, ALL CRITERIA FULFILLED BY THE DEVELOPER, CORRECT? YEAH. AND AND SUBJECT TO ALL THAT.

BUT THEN WE WOULD BRING THAT BACK FOR UPDATE TO YOU AS WE GO THROUGH THOSE STEPS.

CONCERNED. COUNCILMAN SCHERLEN ON THIS ONE? NO. OKAY.

UM. WELL, I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE DIRECTION WE'D LIKE TO GO WITH IT.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU SIR.

THANK YOU. MOVING RIGHT ALONG.

[9.I. City Manager recruitment process]

WE ACTUALLY HAVE OUR SUBCOMMITTEE HERE.

UH COUNCILMAN. TIPPS COUNCILMAN SIMPSON.

SO I'LL ASK ONE OF YOU GUYS TO JUMP OUT THERE AND GIVE US AN UPDATE ON WHERE YOU'RE AT.

SURE. I'LL GIVE YOU A QUICK, QUICK UPDATE.

AND THEN, UH, JUST LOOKING FOR A LITTLE DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL ON HOW TO PROCEED ON THIS.

BUT IN OUR LAST MEETING, WE PUT OUT A REQUEST, UH, FOR COMPANIES THAT WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SERVING AS AN EXECUTIVE SEARCH FIRM AND OUR SEARCH FOR THE NEW CITY MANAGER, WE, UH, GOT SEVEN WHO RESPONDED THAT ARE INTERESTED.

UH, AND THE PRICE RANGE RUNS FROM.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT PRIVATE SECTOR SEARCHES, GENERALLY THE COST IS A THIRD OF THE PERSON'S FIRST YEAR SALARY, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE, PLUS EXPENSES INVOLVED IN THAT.

SO AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT A $200,000 SALARY, THAT'S A $60,000 SEARCH PLUS THE EXPENSES, WHATEVER IT IS FOR TRAVEL, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

UH, FORTUNATELY FOR US IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, IT'S FAR DIFFERENT.

UM, THERE'S KIND OF A BASE COST, UH, TO DO THIS, AND IT RUNS THE.

AND THE BIDS THAT WE'VE GOT ARE THE PROPOSALS THAT WE'VE GOT ANYWHERE FROM 21,000 TO $40,000.

AND GENERALLY THAT'S AN ALL IN SEARCH, INCLUDING, UH, EXPENSES.

UH, ONLY ONE, UH, THERE WAS ONLY ONE THAT WAS ABOVE 30,000.

SO SEVEN, UH, SIX OF THE SEVEN WERE BELOW 30,000 AND RAN FROM 21 TO ABOUT 29.

FIVE. UM, SO WE'VE GOT THESE COMPANIES THAT ARE INTERESTED IN DOING THIS.

UM, UH, WE GOT THE LAST ONES THAT, THAT COMPLETED THEIR THEIR INTEREST LAST WEEK.

I GUESS THE QUESTION IS, UH, SO WE'VE GOT SEVEN HERE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT, UM, IF IF WE ARE WANTING TO BE AT THE NEXT MEETING TO DETERMINE IF WE'RE READY TO SAY WE WANT TO BE READY AND PREPARED AS A COUNCIL TO DETERMINE TO SELECT ONE OF THESE NEXT SEVEN AT THE NEXT MEETING.

WHAT DO WE WANT TO DO TO GET TO THAT POINT IF WE'RE READY TO, TO SELECT THAT, UH, ONE THING THAT, YOU KNOW, I MIGHT SUGGEST CONSIDERING IS THAT, UH, COUNCILMAN TIPPS AND I MAYBE DO SOME PRELIMINARY CONVERSATIONS WITH EACH OF THESE SEVEN, MAYBE DIVIDE THEM UP, TALK ABOUT THEM, COMPARE THEM.

ALSO, I SEE NO REASON WHY WE COULDN'T SHARE THIS, THE SAME INFORMATION THAT WE'VE GOTTEN SO FAR WITH THE REST OF COUNCIL.

SO YOU COULD AT LEAST BE LOOKING AT THEM.

AND THEN MAYBE THE POTENTIAL OF DEPENDING ON WHAT, WHAT COUNCIL WANTS TO DO, UM, MAYBE COUNCILMAN TIPPS AND I COME BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION OF THREE THAT MIGHT BE ONES THAT WE CONSIDER OR FOUR, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

UH, WE COULD EVEN ALERT YOU, PERHAPS TO WHO THE.

YOU KNOW WHAT THOSE MAY BE.

SO IF YOU WANT TO REACH OUT TO THEM EVEN BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING TO TALK WITH THEM OR INTERVIEW THEM TO GET A LITTLE BIT DEEPER BACKGROUND, SO YOU JUST KNOW MORE.

SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, KIND OF THE PRICE RANGE THAT WE'RE LOOKING GENERALLY.

THAT'S A PRETTY ALL INCLUSIVE PRICE RANGE.

UH, IT MAY VARY.

MOST OF THE TIMES. THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A CERTAIN NUMBER OF SEMIFINALISTS, UH, TO START WITH.

IF YOU WANT MORE THAN THAT, THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL MONEY ON THAT.

UH, SOME OF THEM WILL ALSO CONDUCT COMMUNITY MEETINGS.

UH, THAT WILL INCLUDE IN THAT THAT SOME DEPENDING, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT TO HAVE THEM REACH OUT TO VARIOUS SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY.

IF YOU WANT TO HAVE MORE MEETINGS THAN THAT, THEN THERE MAY BE AN ADDITIONAL COST.

UH, ONE OF THE FIRMS I TALKED TO, UH, WAS DOING A SEARCH FOR A POLICE CHIEF AND AGREED TO DO THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE A PREDETERMINED NUMBER.

THEY DID 91 FOR THE SAME PRICE.

[02:40:03]

SO BUT THAT KIND OF GIVES YOU A LAY OF THE LAND OF KIND OF THE COMPANIES THAT ARE INTERESTED.

I THINK WE'VE HAD A GOOD GROUP THAT HAVE, UH, SHOWN INTEREST AND SOME NAMES THAT, THAT OTHERS I'VE TALKED TO HAVE RECOMMENDED.

NOT ALL OF THEM, BUT SOME THAT ARE ON THERE.

SO I GUESS IT WOULD JUST BE AT THIS POINT, KIND OF THE COUNCIL'S PREFERENCE OF WHAT WE WANT TO BE PREPARED TO DO.

UH, IN JANUARY AT THE FIRST FIRST COUNCIL MEETING, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING ELSE, ANYTHING TO ADD, COUNCILMAN? NO. HE NOT TALK BEFORE THE MEETING, SO.

OKAY. UM, WELL, UM, YEAH, I GUESS PROBABLY.

LET'S JUST ALL FIVE DISCUSS IT, I THINK, UM, I THINK IF YOU CAN NARROW IT DOWN FROM 7 TO 3, I THINK THAT'S VERY HELPFUL.

UH, BUT I WOULD WANT TO KNOW, MOVING INTO IT, WOULD YOU WOULD YOU BRING THREE PRESENTERS BACK? IF YOU CAN GET IT NARROWED DOWN TO THAT AND LET EACH PRESENT, UM.

WOULD YOU.

JUST GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUAL INTERVIEWS TO THOSE THREE.

AND THEN WE HAVE THE ONE PERCENTER FOR FINAL.

UM. WOULD THERE BE ANY? IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WOULD TURN YOU AWAY FROM ANY OF THESE UP FRONT, OR HAVE YOU HAVE YOU LOOKED UP? HAVE YOU DONE ANY PRELIMINARY RESEARCH TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE SEVEN SOLID OR IF YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE SOME THAT ACTUALLY FIT? NO, I DON'T THINK WE'VE GOTTEN THAT FAR AND KIND OF LOOKING AT THAT.

I MEAN, ALL THESE THESE ALL THESE COMPANIES ARE GENERALLY IN THIS GAME.

SOME MAY BE LARGER OR HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE THAN OTHERS, BUT UM, COUNCIL YOU GOT ANY, ANY, UM, DIRECTION ON MAYBE 3 OR 4, UH, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

AND THEN IF YOU WANTED TO, WOULD YOU WANT TO INTERVIEW EACH ONE? WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE PRESENTATIONS? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE TO YOU GUYS? I MEAN I WOULD LIKE TO SEE PRESENTATIONS, MAYBE THREE OF THEM.

SO AND SEE WHAT ALL THEY OFFER.

YOU KNOW WHAT THEY'RE OFFERING FOR THERE. I MEAN, I KNOW THAT'S REALLY GOOD FOR OUR PUBLIC TO HAVE THREE DIFFERENT PRESENTERS ALL COME TO SEE THEM RIGHT THERE NEXT TO EACH OTHER TO GET QUESTION AND ANSWER BACK AND FORTH.

WE MAKE THE DECISION BASED ON THAT.

IF YOU IF YOU FAST FORWARD THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT COULD WORK THROUGH DECEMBER, GET INTO JANUARY, UH, GET IT DOWN TO THE FIRST MEETING IN JANUARY, UM, WHERE YOU BROUGHT BACK THE, THE THREE POTENTIAL FOR APPROVAL.

AND THEN YOU COULD TEE THAT UP FOR THE END OF JANUARY FOR PRESENTATION, POSSIBLY.

UM, THAT WOULD THAT COULD GET YOU SOMEBODY HIRED IN FEBRUARY.

IS THAT HOW DOES THAT HIT YOUR TIME FRAME? I THINK THAT'S FINE.

I MEAN, WHEN IN TALKING WITH MOST, UH, A COUPLE OF THE ONES THAT I'VE TALKED TO, UM, YOU KNOW, ON AVERAGE, THE TIME FRAME IS SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF ABOUT 120 DAYS.

SO IN THE SEARCH PROCESS NOW, IT COULD BE.

SO IT'S NOT ON AVERAGE, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT.

SO I THINK EVEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE SHOULD NOT BE A 6 OR 8 MONTH PERIOD ACCORDING TO WHAT THEY SAY GENERALLY.

BUT YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME, UH, SOME HICCUPS.

BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE COULD DO IS, IS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF LOOK AND NARROW THESE DOWN TO MAYBE THE TOP CONTENDERS, MAYBE WE'LL LOOK AT THEM.

MAYBE THERE'S ONLY TWO THAT ARE REALLY CONTENDERS.

MAYBE THERE'S THREE.

BUT WE COULD, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT THAT AND THEN SEE IF WE COULD ARRANGE FOR THEIR SCHEDULES TO HAVE THEM COME AND MAKE A PRESENTATION IF WE CAN DO IT AT THE JANUARY 9TH MEETING, IF WE CAN ALL BE THERE AT THE SAME TIME, THEN, THEN THAT'LL WORK.

IF THERE'S A SCHEDULING CONFLICT THAT THEY HAVE, THEN WE MIGHT HAVE TO LOOK THROUGH THAT.

BUT I THINK I THINK THAT WOULD BE FINE.

SO MY MY FOLLOW UP QUESTION WOULD JUST BE IF ANYBODY ON COUNCIL WANTS A HAND THAT'S NOT IN THIS SUBCOMMITTEE, WANTS A HAND IN REDUCING THIS DOWN OR POTENTIALLY MAKING A SELECTION OF, YOU KNOW, YOU CALLED ALL SEVEN AND YOU REALLY LIKED THIS ONE GUY.

YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE HE GETS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT.

OTHERWISE WHAT WE WOULD DO IS WE WOULD TAKE A STEP BACK AND ALLOW OUR SUBCOMMITTEE TO NARROW THIS DOWN TO THREE.

WE REALLY WOULDN'T AFFECT THAT, THAT SELECTION PROCESS.

UM, SO WE'D JUST ASK FOR SOME FEEDBACK ON THAT.

I AGREE, YOU GOOD WITH JUST TAKING THE STEP BACK.

BRINGING BACK THE THREE.

YEAH. OKAY.

GOOD FOR YOU. OKAY, SO I THINK WE, UH.

I THINK WE'RE GOOD TO TO LET YOU BRING BACK THREE.

IF THERE ARE THREE, IF THERE'S ONLY TWO, THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

OKAY. AND THEN, UM, WE LOOK FOR JANUARY.

OKAY. UH, AND THEN I THINK ONCE YOU GET THAT WHITTLED DOWN TO THREE, IF YOU CAN FEED THAT INFORMATION THROUGH STAFF, SHARE IT WITH COUNCIL.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO CONTACT THESE INDIVIDUALS AND DO SOME RESEARCH ON OUR OWN PRIOR TO PRESENTATIONS.

GIVES US A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO ASK REALLY GOOD QUESTIONS, NOT TO HAVE TIME AND ENERGY IN A MEETING, AND IT JUST BE THE FIRST KIND OF BLUSH, RIGHT? RIGHT. AND THEN AS FAR AS HOW THAT AGENDA ITEM WOULD BE LISTED, I MEAN, DO WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE WOULD TAKE ACTION AFTER THOSE THREE PRESENTERS? SO DOES IT NEED TO BE LISTED AS AN ACTION ITEM OR IS IT JUST DISCUSSION AND INFORMATIONAL AT THAT POINT? I MEAN, I THINK WE SEE THE, THE, THE NEED TO CONTINUE THE MOMENTUM AND TO MOVE.

[02:45:04]

YEAH. SO YOU GET THREE PRESENTATIONS AND YOU KNOW IT LOOKS LIKE.

YOU KNOW THE SAME THING THREE TIMES OVER.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW. WE NEED MORE TIME.

WE TABLE IT, WE COME BACK.

OKAY. MAYOR, MAY I ADD, IF IT'S UNDER 50,000, IT DOESN'T REQUIRE COUNCIL APPROVAL.

SO YOU COULD ALSO GIVE CONSENSUS THAT DAY.

SO EVEN IF IT'S NOT AN ACTION ITEM, YOU COULD STILL MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE OF THE DOLLAR AMOUNT.

CORRECT. OKAY.

UM, WELL THEN WE WE MIGHT COULD NOT LIST IT AS AN ACTION ITEM AND NOT HURT US.

UH, ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU FOUND IN THIS PROCESS? NO. UH, YOU KNOW, TALK TO A COUPLE OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, HERE'S SOME FACTORS, YOU KNOW, UM, THAT COME INTO PLAY HERE.

YOU KNOW, UH, ONE OF THEM IS, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THIS.

WE WE WE DECIDED THAT WE NEED A NEW CITY MANAGER.

I SAID, IS THAT DOES THAT HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON US OR PEOPLE? AND WHAT I WAS TOLD IS, YOU KNOW, CITY MANAGERS REALIZE THE GAME THAT THEY'RE IN.

AND SO THIS IS A NATURAL IT HAPPENS.

UM, WHAT PEOPLE DO LOOK AT IS HOW YOU'VE HANDLED IT.

AND I THINK WE AS A COUNCIL AND WORKING WITH THAT, I THINK WE HANDLED IT WELL.

I HEAR THE REPUTATION IN THAT, IN THAT ARENA IS THAT WE HANDLED IT WELL.

UM, I SAID, YOU KNOW, WE, YOU KNOW, YOUR BOSSES COULD CHANGE EVERY TWO YEARS.

IS THAT IS THAT IS THAT A PROHIBITED, UH, TO THAT? UH, AND THEY SAID, NO, NOT REALLY.

AND I SAID, WELL, WHAT'S WHAT'S THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE? AND THEY SAY, REALLY? UH, WEST TEXAS OFTEN IS AN OBSTACLE IN TRYING TO RECRUIT, WHETHER IT'S MIDLAND, LUBBOCK, ODESSA, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

UM, BUT MOST OF THE TIME THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW THE COMMUNITY.

SO I THINK AS WE LOOK AT THIS, ONE OF THE THINGS WE JUST MIGHT WANT TO THINK ABOUT IS NOT ONLY DO WE WANT TO SELL SOMEWHAT, YOU KNOW, WE WANT SOMEONE TO SELL US ON THEM, BUT THAT WHEN WE'RE RECRUITING, THAT WE'RE DOING ALL WE CAN TO SELL THEM ON OUR COMMUNITY AND SHOW THEM THE THINGS THAT THAT MAKE THIS COMMUNITY WELL, TOO.

SO I THINK IT'S KIND OF A TWO WAY STREET, AND I THINK WE JUST OUGHT TO.

AND REMEMBER YOUR YOU OFTEN HAVE A FAMILY, SO IT'S JUST NOT THE THE CITY MANAGER COMING.

IT'S A SPOUSE. AND SO THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE'RE RECRUITING PEOPLE TO THIS AREA AND LOOKING AT THEM, THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHILE THEY'RE HERE, AND I THINK EVEN THE THE EXECUTIVE SEARCH FIRMS CAN GIVE US SOME SUGGESTIONS THAT WE REALLY DO THE BEST.

AND I KNOW WE WILL TO SHOW OUR BEST FOOT.

BUT ALL THE ADVANTAGES AND THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT LIVING IN THIS COMMUNITY AND MAYBE HAVE FOCUS ON THAT AS WELL.

REAL GOOD. UH, GOOD.

UPDATE ANYTHING FURTHER? COUNCILMAN. TIPPS. NO.

OKAY. UH, READY TO MOVE ON, GENTLEMEN? OKAY. I THINK YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED.

UM, ITEM NINE J REQUEST FOR ANY FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS.

[9.J. Request future agenda items and reports from City Manager]

UH. YES, SIR.

NO. YES, SIR.

LET ME SLOW DOWN. I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, SEE IF WE CAN GET A REPORT.

MAYBE ON WHEN WE CAN GET BUS BENCHES AT ALL OF OUR BUS STOPS.

I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING.

THEY'RE LEANING AGAINST THE POLES SITTING IN THE CURB WAY, FEEDING THE STREET.

I THINK IF WE GOT A BUS STOP, WE NEED TO HAVE AT LEAST A BENCH OR SOMETHING THERE FOR THEM TO SIT ON.

SO IF WE GET A REPORT ON THAT, MAYBE.

SO GOOD DIRECTION.

GOT IT. OKAY.

SORRY, I'M FLIPPING THROUGH.

I'M ON ITEM TEN.

YOU YOU, UH.

AND I HADN'T FOUND IT YET.

UM. DO I HAVE ANYTHING THAT COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO PULL OFF OF CONSENT?

[10. Consent Items]

TEN B.B..

I'D LIKE IT FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION.

OKAY. SO WE WILL PULL ITEM TEN, DOUBLE B.

ANYTHING ELSE? WE'D LIKE TO PULL OFF A CONSENT COUNCIL.

NO NO, NO.

OKAY. UH, IF WE COULD GET A MOTION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH CONSENT.

UH LES. ITEM TEN B I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

WITH THE EXCEPTION OF AGENDA ITEMS TEN B B.

I SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? NO. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ITEM PASSES.

UM. ITEM TEN B IS AN ADVERTISING AGREEMENT ON, UH, OUR INNER RICK HUSBAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND SOD POODLES.

YES, SIR. SIR.

UH, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH COUNCIL.

THIS IS A SECOND OF THREE YEAR TERMS. WE'D ALREADY GONE THROUGH AN INITIAL THREE YEAR TERMS WITH THE SOD POODLES.

UM, THIS IS KIND OF THE LAST REMAINING ADVERTISING PIECE THAT THE AIRPORT HAS IN PLACE RIGHT NOW.

BUT WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO LOOK AT ALTERNATIVES OR CONSIDER OTHER SCENARIOS, WHETHER IT'S BILLBOARDS GO BACK TO TV ADVERTISING.

[02:50:01]

UM, WHAT THE FARES LOOK LIKE TO TRY AND COMPETE WITH ALL THE FOLKS THAT LIKE TO DRIVE THE FOUR HOUR DRIVE TO DALLAS OR OTHER AREAS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE THEY'RE REMEMBERING OUR AIRPORT TO, TO TRY OUT FOR THOSE FLIGHTS.

BUT, UM, IT WOULD NOT, UH, BREAK OUR HEARTS TO GO A DIFFERENT DIRECTION ON ADVERTISING CONTRACTS, IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION COUNCIL WANTS TO DO.

WHEN I SENT YOU AN EMAIL.

YES, SIR. EARLIER. UH, I JUST DIDN'T SEE WHERE IT MADE A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE FOR US TO ADVERTISE AT THE MALL LIKE RANDY BROUGHT UP. THERE'S 5000 PEOPLE THERE.

WHEN IN ALL REALITY, I COULD PUT A BILLBOARD ON I-40 GETTING 100,000 PEOPLE A DAY GOING BY IT, RIGHT? UH, SPENDING THAT KIND OF MONEY.

80. WHAT WAS IT, 83,000, I THINK.

YES. I JUST FELT LIKE WE COULD ADVERTISE BETTER.

I'M NOT. I WANT TO ADVERTISE.

I JUST DON'T WANT TO DO IT THERE.

BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE SORT OF LIMITED.

BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THE SAME PEOPLE GO TO THE BALL GAME, GO THE SAME, THE SAME PEOPLE ARE THERE.

YEAH, YOU GET SEASON TICKET HOLDERS AND THE LIKE.

AND I JUST THINK WE PUT ONE OUT ON I-40.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE I 20 SOUTH.

I'M NOT PICKY, BUT I JUST THINK FOR THAT KIND OF MONEY, WE COULD FIND A BETTER WAY TO ADVERTISE.

ABSOLUTELY. YEAH.

WE'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE THAT.

IF IF COUNCIL'S DIRECTION IS TO TO LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS.

DO WE HAVE A MARKETING FIRM THAT PRODUCES THE ADVERTISING? I BELIEVE SO I WOULD HAVE TO ASK MIKE TO COME UP AND SPEAK TO THE CONTRACT, BUT I BELIEVE WE DO ON THAT SIDE.

YES. MAYOR COUNCIL.

UM, YES WE DO. WE HAVE A MARKETING FIRM THAT HELPS US WITH ALL THOSE ADVERTISING, THE ACTUAL GRAPHICS AND THAT SORT OF THING.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

WELL BEFORE YOU LEAVE.

HOLD ON JUST A SECOND. LET ME. SO REGARDLESS OF WHERE WE'RE SPENDING THE MONEY, HELP ME GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF.

I MEAN. I'M JUST GOING TO AND I'VE SEEN I'VE SEEN AIRPORTS ADVERTISED BEFORE.

UH, BUT, YOU KNOW, IS THERE A CORRELATION OF BEING ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A SAYING 50% OF MY ADVERTISING WORKS.

I JUST DON'T KNOW WHICH 50%.

BUT WITH THIS, I MEAN, DO WE KNOW I MEAN, CAN WE CORRELATE A REAL RETURN ON INVESTMENT OUT OF THIS, WHETHER IT'S I DON'T CARE WHAT WE'RE USING NEWSPAPER, BILLBOARDS, RADIO, DIGITAL, I MEAN, OR WOULD DIGITAL BE A BETTER OPTION TO LOOK AT TO, TO MORE DIRECT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IF WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THIS MONEY, BUT DO WE REALLY CAN WE MEASURE THE KIND OF IMPACT THAT THIS IS HAVING? SURE. AIRPORT ADVERTISING AND MARKETING IS ALWAYS A VERY DIFFICULT THING TO QUANTIFY.

UM, I CAN TELL YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, IN LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS BETWEEN NOW, BETWEEN 2017, WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE AND NOW WE HAVE INCREASED THE ENPLANEMENTS, THAT'S ONE PASSENGER GETTING ON ONE AIRPLANE BY 16%.

BUT THAT IS ALSO TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THAT THAT'S PRIMARILY LEISURE TRAFFIC.

BUSINESS TRAFFIC STILL DOWN 30%.

SO IN EFFECT WE'VE KIND OF INCREASED OUR ACTUAL RIDERSHIP BY 46% SINCE 2017.

SO UM, BUT LIKE I SAID, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO SAY HOW MUCH OF THE ADVERTISING HAS EQUATED TO A CERTAIN NUMBER OF PASSENGERS, VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DO THAT. AND SO WHY DID WHY DID YOU THINK THIS CHOOSE THIS AS A, AS A GOOD VALUE FOR YOUR ADVERTISING WITH THIS? SO THIS WAS PART OF OUR ACTUAL, UH, THREE YEARS AGO, WE STARTED A MORE BROAD CAMPAIGN AND THIS WAS PART OF THAT.

SO WE HAD AN INITIAL THREE YEAR CONTRACT WITH THE SIDE POLLS BEFORE.

AND SO WHEN THAT STARTED, WE DID THE SAME ADVERTISING.

IT WAS PART OF THEIR FAN COMPASS DIGITAL PORTION, PLUS THE AD THAT'S ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, IN THE STADIUM.

SO IT WAS PART OF THAT, PLUS THE TELEVISION ADVERTISING.

WE HAD DONE SOME RADIO ADVERTISING BACK THEN AS WELL.

UM, WE DIDN'T FEEL WE WERE GETTING A GOOD BANG FOR OUR BUCK FOR THE RADIO ADVERTISING.

SO WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT.

AND THEN THIS YEAR, OF COURSE, WE HAD TO TAKE OUT ALL OF THE TELEVISION ADVERTISING TO ACCOUNT FOR OUR BOND PAYMENTS FOR THE HANGAR RAILS PROJECT.

SO WE'VE ELIMINATED THE ENTIRE TELEVISION PART.

WE WANTED TO STICK WITH AT LEAST SOMETHING IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WAS HERE BESIDES DIGITAL, BECAUSE DIGITAL IS NOT NECESSARILY JUST THE COMMUNITY.

WE DO DO DIGITAL ADVERTISING.

OUR ADVERTISING COMPANY ALSO HELPS US WITH THAT.

SO AND THEY HANDLE ALL OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND OUR WEBSITE AS WELL.

AND OF COURSE, YOU HAVE OTHER OPTIONS TO SPEND THIS MONEY.

WHAT? WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO REACH THE AUDIENCE THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO TO REACH? SURE. I MEAN, THERE'S NUMEROUS OPTIONS, OBVIOUSLY, TO DO THAT.

[02:55:03]

SO WE COULD WE JUST FELT THAT WE HAD A GOOD RESPONSE ON THE ADVERTISING THAT WE DID, AND WE ALSO GAINED OTHER THINGS.

WE GAIN AN ENTIRE OPTED IN EMAIL LIST OF NUMEROUS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO WHO GO TO THE SOD POODLES SITE, AND THEN WE CAN USE THAT EMAIL LIST OF OPTED IN PEOPLE TO MARKET DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE WHO CARE.

AND WE WERE DEVELOPING A NEWSLETTER THAT WE'LL SEND OUT QUARTERLY TO THOSE PEOPLE AND THAT TYPE OF THING.

IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE SOD POODLES CONTRACT, THEN WE DON'T GET THOSE IN THE FUTURE.

SO. I WOULD THINK THE SOD POODLES, ALL THE LETTUCE HAVE ADVERTISING OVER THERE FOR NOTHING.

WE OWN THE THING.

I MEAN, THAT'S MY OPINION.

I COULDN'T I COULDN'T SPEAK TO THAT PART, BUT WE, UH, WE CALL THOSE TOM ISMS BECOMING MORE ENDEARING, UH, EVERY SESSION.

UM, IT'S NOT UNTRUE.

UH, I KNOW WE'VE GOT A $4 MILLION UPGRADE HEADING THEIR WAY, AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF A RUB.

SO, UH, ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. SIMPSON? NO, I MEAN, AND AGAIN, I SEE POTENTIAL.

I MEAN, AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.

I MEAN, YOU'RE YOU'RE TARGETING A CERTAIN GROUP OR A CERTAIN DEMOGRAPHIC THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO LOOK FOR, WHEREAS YOU'RE LOOKING AT, UH, YOU KNOW, OTHER TYPES OF ADVERTISING, WHETHER IT MAY BE I MEAN, THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT GENERALLY LIVE IN AMARILLO OR LIVE IN THE AREA.

SO YOU'RE NOT SPENDING MONEY GENERALLY ON PEOPLE.

I MEAN, THERE MAY BE SOME PEOPLE THAT OTHER, UH, COME FROM OTHER AREAS, BUT I GUESS, DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE TARGETED MONEY AGAIN IS IS IS THE BEST WAY TO TARGET THE AUDIENCE THAT YOU'RE LOOKING TO ATTRACT OR INFLUENCE TO USE THE AIRPORT HERE? YEAH. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WE LOOKED AT IS DEMOGRAPHICS, RIGHT? SO WITH OUR TELEVISION ADVERTISING, WE WERE LOOKING AT CERTAIN DEMOGRAPHICS OF PEOPLE HERE.

WE'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS.

RIGHT. UM, WE HAD CERTAIN THINGS TARGETED WHEN WE DID OUR TELEVISION ADVERTISING.

WE HAD A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF SPORTS.

WE HAD A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF, YOU KNOW, UH, TELEVISION PROGRAMS THAT MAYBE ELDERLY PEOPLE WOULD, WOULD VIEW, YOU KNOW, SO IT WAS A WIDE RANGE OF PEOPLE.

AND, UM.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S THERE'S THERE'S ALWAYS TRADE OFFS.

SO WE COULD DO IT EITHER WAY.

YOU KNOW, WE COULD LOOK AT BILLBOARDS AND DO THAT TYPE OF THING.

IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION THAT YOU ALL WANT US TO GO.

UM, IT'S. THIS WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE HAD PREVIOUS CONTRACTS.

WE THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD DEAL.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAD BENEFITS JUST BESIDES THE ACTUAL IN-STADIUM SIGN.

AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS A WAS A GOOD DEAL.

SO. AND THANK YOU.

SO WE HAVE THAT MARKETING FIRM THAT I GUESS YOU'LL USE RIGHT.

FOR THE GRAPHICS DEAL. I WOULD ASK THAT YOU TALK TO THEM AND SEE WHAT OTHER OPTIONS THAT I MEAN, THEY RECOMMEND UH BECAUSE DIGITAL YOU CAN GEOFENCE THOSE. YOU CAN DECIDE WHO THAT GOES TO.

RIGHT. AND WE DO SOME OF THAT ALREADY.

YEAH. I MEAN, SO I MEAN, MAYBE WE NEED TO LOOK AT MAYBE THE WHOLE MARKETING PLAN OF LIKE WHAT DOES THE AIRPORT DO? WHO WHAT YOU KNOW, WHAT MEDIA DO THEY CHOOSE TO DO.

YOU CHOOSE TO ADVERTISE IN AND MAYBE LOOK AT IT THAT WAY, MIGHT GIVE US A BETTER PICTURE OF OF WHAT'S THERE.

AND BECAUSE I THINK THE REACH COULD BE, UH, EXPONENTIAL COMPARED TO THE STADIUM, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST LIMITED, LIKE LIKE TOM SAID, I MEAN, IT'S IT'S A LOT OF TIMES IT'S THE SAME PEOPLE, THE SEASON TICKET HOLDERS, THE PEOPLE THAT LOVE BASEBALL.

UH, BUT I THINK WE COULD GET A BIGGER REACH, OBVIOUSLY A BIGGER BANG FOR OUR BUCK, UH, FOR THAT KIND OF MONEY.

SO, I MEAN, I THINK, I THINK IT'D BE HELPFUL TO LOOK AT THAT AND SEE WHAT WE'VE GOT.

SURE. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? NO THANK YOU, SIR.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

WE WANT TO CALL THE QUESTION.

MAKE A MOTION.

SO. SO YOU COULD YOU COULD TAKE NO ACTION OR YOU COULD DO A MOTION TO DENY EITHER EITHER OPTION.

STAFF DOESN'T HAVE A PREFERENCE.

WELL, DIDN'T WE PULL IT? WE PULLED IT SO IT'LL DIE IF WE TAKE NO ACTION.

JUST, UM. OR WE CAN.

WE'D LIKE IT TO COME BACK.

YEAH, WE WANT IT TO COME BACK.

THAT'S A MOTION TO DENY AND JUST VOTE IT DOWN, AND THEN WE'LL BRING BACK OTHER OPTIONS.

OKAY. ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

YES, SIR. MAKE A MOTION, DON.

I'LL SECOND. FOR WHAT? FOR IT TO COME BACK. NO.

YOU MAKE A MOTION TO NOT APPROVE OR DENY.

OKAY, SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO NOT APPROVE.

TENBY, UH, THE ADVERTISING CONTRACT WITH THE SOD POODLES.

ACTUALLY. OKAY, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

I'M GONNA LOOK TO MY INTERIM CITY MANAGER AND MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING GOOD ON YOUR SIDE.

[03:00:02]

SO. SO ARE WE NOW SAYING THAT WE WILL NO LONGER CONSIDER THE SOD POODLES AS A AS A POTENTIAL CONTRACT? OR ARE WE SAYING GO BACK AND JUDGE THIS CONTRACT AGAINST OTHER AVENUES? SO IS SAYING TODAY WE'RE WE'RE NOT APPROVING THE CONTRACT, BUT WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT WE WOULDN'T.

IF WE GO BACK AND LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS, WE COULD ALWAYS BRING THEM.

WE THINK OPTION B IS BEST, BETTER THAN SOD POODLES WILL TAKE IT.

BUT IF WE COME BACK AND LOOK AT IT, YES, WE'LL EXPLORE OTHER OPTIONS AND BRING SOMETHING ELSE BACK.

I'M FINE. OKAY.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? UM. THE MODEM. THE MOTION TO NOT APPROVE PASSES FIVE.

OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM 11 B.

[11.B. PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 8102]

INTELLIGENT. AFTERNOON, SIR.

PLEASE GO RIGHT AHEAD.

YEAH. NO PROBLEM. GOOD. UH, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THIS IS, UM, ORDINANCE NUMBER 8102.

THIS IS TO CONSIDER A PUBLIC HEARING AND FIRST READING TO REZONE A 5.89 ACRE TRACT OF UNPLATTED LAND IN SECTION 25 OF BLOCK NINE, BS AND F SURVEY IN POTTER COUNTY, TEXAS, TO REZONE FROM AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT TO OFFICE DISTRICT TWO, IN THE VICINITY OF JOHN DAVIS CIRCLE IN PLUM CREEK DRIVE IN THE APPLICANT'S OJD ENGINEERING FOR THEIN MORGAN.

UM, THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO DEVELOP THE SITE IF THE ZONING CHANGE IS APPROVED WITH A NEW SURGERY CENTER.

UH, THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION FOUND THAT THE REQUEST WOULD NOT CONFORM WITH THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP OF A STATE FOR THE TRACT.

AND REGARDING A NEIGHBORHOOD UNIT CONCEPT.

UM, THE COMMISSION NOTED THAT THIS SECTION OF LAND HAS NOT DEVELOPED IN THE TRADITIONAL MANNER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD UNIT CONCEPT.

HOWEVER, GIVEN EXISTING DEVELOPMENT AND ZONING PATTERNS WITH HOW IT HAS DEVELOPED, BELIEVE THAT THE REQUEST COULD BE APPROPRIATE.

UM, IN ANALYZING THE SURROUNDING ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT TRENDS IN THE AREA.

UH, THE PROPERTIES ALONG JOHN DAVIS CIRCLE ARE ALREADY ZONED AND DEVELOPED WITH A VARIETY OF MEDICAL CLINICS AND OFFICES AS OFFICE DISTRICT TWO, AND THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST AND PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE A CONTINUATION OF THAT.

AND REGARDING THE DEPARTURE THAT'S PROPOSED FROM THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP, UH, THE COMMISSION DID NOTE THAT THIS TRACT IS AT THE PERIPHERY OF THE QUAIL CREEK SUBDIVISION, WITH SOME ALREADY NONRESIDENTIAL ZONING TO THE WEST THERE.

UM, THAT'S CLOSER TO COALTER STREET.

SO THIS AREA IS IN A TRANSITIONAL AREA WHERE OFFICE DISTRICT TWO WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD TYPICALLY BE RECOMMENDED.

AND THESE TRANSITIONAL ZONES, IF YOU WILL.

AND THE ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW IS THE PROPOSED SITE PLAN FOR THE SITE.

UM, THEY PROPOSE TO HAVE IT AT THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE TRACT AND SOME OF THOSE EXISTING LOTS ALONG THE CUL DE SAC.

AND GIVEN THE EXISTING ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS IN THE AREA, THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION DID BELIEVE THE REQUEST WAS APPROPRIATE.

PUBLIC NOTICES WERE SENT AS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW, AND WE DID RECEIVE A COMMENT IN OPPOSITION FROM ONE PROPERTY OWNER THAT WAS LOCATED TO THE NORTH OF THIS REQUEST.

HIS PROPERTY WAS NORTH OF THE TRACKS ALONG THE CUL DE SAC THAT ARE ALREADY ZONED OFFICE STRUCTURE TWO.

HE STATED THAT HE JUST DID NOT WANT ANYTHING DEVELOPED SOUTH OF HIS PROPERTY THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY OBSTRUCT HIS VIEW, AND PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING HE WOULD BE OPEN TO, AND HE JUST DOES NOT DID NOT WANT THE PROPERTY TO HIS SOUTH DEVELOPED AT ALL.

UH, GIVEN ALL THOSE FACTS, THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION DID RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS REQUEST WITH A UNANIMOUS VOTE.

THANK YOU, MR. KENDRICK.

QUESTIONS, GENTLEMEN.

THEN. UH.

GO AHEAD. I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

CAN I DO THAT? I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

WE NEED A PUBLIC HEARING FIRST.

OH, I APOLOGIZE.

UH, I SKIPPED IT.

UM, AT THIS TIME, WE WOULD LIKE TO OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING.

ANYONE THAT WOULD BE HERE TO SPEAK, UH, FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM, PLEASE STEP TO THE MICROPHONE.

SEE? YES, MA'AM.

HI, I'M CAROL ANN STEWART AND I LIVE IN BRIARWOOD IN WESTCLIFFE ESTATES, AND I'M NOT OPPOSED AND I'M NOT FOR I WOULD JUST LIKE MORE INFORMATION ON THE BUILDING.

I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH THAT AREA.

I HAVE LIVED OUT THERE FOR 30 SOME YEARS AND SO I WOULD LIKE THAT TO BE A CONSIDERATION.

I KNOW WITH THE DEVELOPMENT THAT IS GOING ON THERE, I KNOW WHAT THE DENTIST OFFICE IS AND I KNOW WHAT THE SCHOOL, I KNOW THE TRAFFIC AND I'M COLTER IS ALREADY BECOMING A HEADACHE.

I KNOW I'M INTERESTED IN CONSTRUCTION BECAUSE UP TO THE LOOP.

SO I AM CONCERNED ON NUMBER ONE.

I THINK I HEARD BECAUSE MY EARS DIDN'T PERK UNTIL HE MENTIONED, UM, PLUM CREEK, UM, MEDICAL.

[03:05:03]

AND SO I'M JUST WOULD LIKE MORE DETAIL ON WHAT KIND OF BUSINESS AND HOW THEY'RE TRYING TO PLAN TO ZONE IN THAT AREA.

YES, MA'AM. I APPRECIATE YOU STEPPING UP.

BRADY. KENDRICK, UH, CAN CAN STEP ASIDE WITH YOU AND, UH, GIVE YOU ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU WOULD LIKE.

HE PROBABLY HAS MORE THAN MORE THAN YOU NEED.

SO, UM.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS PUBLIC HEARING? SEEING NO ONE FURTHER, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ASK FOR A MOTION.

OH, THAT'S UTAH ORDINANCE NUMBER 8102 SECOND.

OKAY, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ONE? ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES WITH A50 VOTE.

AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A SECOND READING ON THAT AGAIN.

CORRECT. AND IN JANUARY.

JANUARY. YES, SIR.

OKAY, MR. KENDRICK, YOU'RE UP AGAIN.

[11.C. PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 8103]

AND THE APPLICANT IS DAVID JACKSON.

UH, THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING THIS CHANGE TO REPLACE AN EXISTING OLDER MANUFACTURED HOME THAT IS ON THE LOT IN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT ONE.

THE ONLY TYPE THAT IS ALLOWED BY RIGHT IS A TYPE C, WHICH IS A BRAND NEW DOUBLE WIDE.

HE IS REQUESTING A TYPE B, WHICH IS A NEW SINGLE WIDE, ESSENTIALLY.

UM, THE APPLICANT DID SUBMIT AN APPRAISAL REPORT WITH THE REQUEST, AND IT WAS FOUND THAT THE REQUEST, IF APPROVED, WOULD NOT BE DETRIMENTAL TO SURROUNDING PROPERTIES IN THE AREA. ADDITIONALLY, WE DID NOTE THAT THERE WERE 17 EXISTING MANUFACTURED HOMES IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, WITH SIX OF THOSE ALREADY HAVING APPROVED SPECIFIC USE PERMITS.

UH, WE DID REVIEW HIS PROPOSED SITE PLAN, AND IT WOULD CONFORM WITH ALL SETBACKS AND TYPICAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.

AND THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION BELIEVED THAT THE REQUEST WAS APPROPRIATE.

AND WE DID SOME PUBLIC NOTICES ON THIS ONE AS WELL.

AND NO COMMENTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED AS OF THIS MEETING ON THIS REQUEST.

AND WE AND THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THIS ONE WITH A UNANIMOUS VOTE.

THANK YOU, MR. KENDRICK.

AT THIS TIME, WE WILL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 11.

C, TO HAVE ANYONE HERE THAT WOULD WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.

YES, SIR. HELLO, GENTLEMEN.

I DO HAVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND IN THIS.

AND BASED ON WHAT WHAT I HEARD HERE, YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT CONSTITUTES A TAKING OF VALUE.

AND IT CONSTITUTES HERE A TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT OR BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO AND IN KEEPING WITH SIMILAR TYPES OF STRUCTURES IN THIS PARTICULAR COMMUNITY.

AS A CITIZEN ON THE OUTSIDE, LOOKING IN WITH A LITTLE BIT OF A BACKGROUND IN THIS, I DON'T SEE ANY ANYTHING OBJECTIONABLE HERE, JUST SO YOU KNOW.

THANK YOU SIR. SIR, COULD WE GET YOUR NAME FOR THE MINUTES? SORRY ABOUT THAT, JOHN BARRETT.

THANK YOU. DO I HAVE ANYONE ELSE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SO. OKAY.

NO. SO WE DO NOT, UM, AT THIS TIME, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND, UH, REQUEST A MOTION.

I MOVED TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 8103.

A SECOND. HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

UM, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ITEM PASSES WITH A50 VOTE.

MOVING ON TO ITEM 11 D, MR.

[11.D. PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 8104]

ITEM 11 D IS CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE 80 104.

THIS IS THE PUBLIC HEARING AND FIRST READING TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE ANNEXING INTO THE CITY OF AMARILLO A 1,086.85 ACRE TRACT OF UNPLATTED LAND IN SECTIONS 40, 49, 50, 62 AND 71.

BLOCK TWO OF A, B AND M SURVEY IN POTTER COUNTY, TEXAS.

AND THIS IS A LANDOWNER INITIATED ANNEXATION REQUEST THAT INCLUDES VACANT LAND AND ADJACENT PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAYS THAT ARE ADJACENT TO THE APPLICANT'S PROPERTY.

UM AND THE APPLICANTS ARE THE AMARILLO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND KVMR TEXAS, INC..

UM, AND THESE SITES WOULD INCLUDE THE FUTURE CBMR FACILITY AS CURRENTLY PROPOSED AND ADDITIONAL FUTURE EDC PROJECTS.

AS THE CENTREPORT BUSINESS PARK CONTINUES TO EXPAND TO THE EAST, AND THIS IS THE EVENT IN THE ANNEXATION PROCESS WHERE ALL THOSE THAT ARE INTERESTED ARE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE

[03:10:05]

I KNOW AT THE LAST MEETING, YOU ALL CONSIDER THE RESOLUTION THAT AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN THAT SERVICE PLAN AGREEMENT.

SO ULTIMATELY, THIS ANNEXATION IS APPROVED TODAY.

IT GOES TO A SECOND READING IN JANUARY, AND THAT'S THE POINT AT WHICH THAT SERVICE PLAN BECOMES BINDING.

AND THE AREA IS ESSENTIALLY BEGINS TO RECEIVE CITY SERVICES.

UM STAFF NOTES THAT IF APPROVED, THIS AREA WOULD UM, EXPAND THE ETJ BY APPROXIMATELY 671 ACRES.

KIND OF GOING BACK TO THAT CONVERSATION FROM EARLIER, AS OUR CITY LIMITS EXPANDS, OUR ETJ DOES AS WELL.

SO IT WOULD EXPAND IT BY ABOUT 671 ACRES.

AND THIS AREA WOULD ALSO SURROUND A HALF ACRE TRACT OF LAND.

THAT OWNERSHIP COULD NOT BE DETERMINED THROUGH SURVEYS AND STAFF RESEARCH ON BOTH SIDES FROM THE APPLICANT AND CITY SIDE.

SO THIS LITTLE REMAINING PIECE, SINCE OWNERSHIP COULD NOT BE DETERMINED, WAS LEFT OUT OF THE ANNEXATION GIVEN STATE LAW REGARDING ANNEXATIONS AND PROPERTY OWNER CONSENT, SO THE REMAIN CONSISTENT WITH THAT, IT WAS EXCLUDED.

I WILL MENTION IF OWNERSHIP IS LATER DETERMINED OR IF ONE OF THE NEIGHBORING OWNERS DECIDES TO POTENTIALLY CLAIM IT, UM, IT COULD BE ANNEXED AT A LATER DATE THROUGH THROUGH A PROCESS. SO JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT.

UM, ANNEXATION IS ONE THE PRIMARY MEANS, AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, BY WHICH A CITY GROWS AND MUNICIPALITIES CAN PROVIDE SERVICES TO DEVELOPING AREAS AND ALSO EXERCISE REGULATORY AUTHORITY IN THESE AREAS AS WELL.

UM, TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY AND ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT AS DEVELOPMENT OCCURS IN THESE AREAS.

AND THIS AREA IS IMPORTANT IN PARTICULAR GIVEN THE NEARBY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AT THE CENTREPORT SUBDIVISION.

AND ALSO MENTIONED THIS IS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE AIRPORT.

SO HAVING SOME LAND USE CONTROLS IN THOSE AREAS IS IMPORTANT TO PROTECT THE AIRPORT AS WELL.

REGARDING AIR SAFETY AND SUCH, I KNOW SOME OF THAT'S ALREADY PROVIDED FOR WITHIN THE ORDINANCE, BUT IT IT WOULD BE A GOOD THING AS WELL TO HAVE SOME CONTROL OVER GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THIS AREA.

UH, A COUPLE COMMENTS EARLIER THAT WERE EXPRESSED.

I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS NOW, PER THE SERVICE PLAN THAT WAS EXECUTED LAST AFTER THE LAST MEETING, THIS PROPERTY IS ALREADY SERVED WITH WATER MAINS, SO WATER WOULD NOT BE EXTENDED.

AND FOR THE SEWER PORTION OF THAT, UH, THE NORTHEAST INTERCEPTOR WILL HELP SERVE THIS AREA.

BUT THE DEVELOPERS OF THIS LAND WILL ULTIMATELY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING SEWER FROM THE NORTHEAST INTERCEPTOR TO PROPERTIES WITHIN THIS AREA.

SO ULTIMATELY, INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S TRIGGERED BY DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THIS TRACT WOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FUTURE DEVELOPERS AS THAT DEVELOPMENT OCCURS. UM, WE HAVE VERIFIED AT ALL STATE LAW REQUIREMENTS REGARDING NOTIFICATION HAVE BEEN MET, AND THIS ITEM IS READY FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY.

THANK YOU, MISTER KENDRICK.

WE HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING AS WELL.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISTER KENDRICK BEFORE WE OPEN THAT? OKAY. THANK YOU SIR.

AT THIS TIME, WE WILL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 11 D.

DO I HAVE ANYONE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE.

WE WILL CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING AND I'D ASK FOR A MOTION.

I MOVE TO ADOPT, UH, ORDINANCE 8104 AS PRESENTED IN THE AGENDA.

SECOND. OKAY.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM 11 D WITH NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ITEM PASSES WITH A50 VOTE.

THANK YOU, MR. KENDRICK.

UM, RIGHT NOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO ITEM 11 E.

[11.E. PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 8105]

YES, SIR. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. COUNCIL.

COUNCIL LEADER. JOHN.

DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING FOR THE CITY OF AMARILLO.

AND THIS IS OUR, UH, FIRST READING OF OUR OF OUR CIP PROGRAM.

UM, WE'LL GO THROUGH THE SLIDES KIND OF QUICKLY, BUT THE GOAL THERE IS TO GET, UH, GET TO YOU GUYS AND ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE, BUT FOR EVERYBODY'S BENEFIT, MAYBE WE DIDN'T SEE THE FIRST PRESENTATION OR KNOW WHAT THE CIP IS.

IT IS OUR FIVE YEAR GUIDANCE OR PLANNING DOCUMENT FOR, UH, CAPITAL INVESTMENTS ACROSS THE CITY, INCLUDING, UH, BASICALLY ALL THE CAPITAL ITEMS THAT WE BUY, EVERYTHING GREATER THAN ABOUT $25,000 THAT GETS UTILIZED, WHETHER THAT'S A COP CAR OR POLICE, UH, UH, INTERCEPTOR OR, UH, FIRE TRUCK ALL THE WAY TO WATER PIPES AND WATER METERS AND SHOW AND TELL.

UH, SO, UH, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE CAPITAL ITEMS, AND THEY ALL, UM, ARE PLANNED INTO A FIVE YEAR DOCUMENT THAT THAT HELPS US MAKE GOOD INVESTMENTS OF OF PUBLIC FUNDING.

UM, THIS DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE AND OUT THERE TO THE PUBLIC.

IT'S KIND OF OUR MID-YEAR REVIEW OF CAPITAL RELATED TO, TO TO BUDGET ITEMS. UH, THE GOOD CONVERSATION, UH, EARLIER IN OUR BUDGET REVIEW WAY EARLIER AND YOU GUYS MEETING UM, UH, HAD SOME GOOD

[03:15:02]

THIS IS KIND OF A MID-YEAR LOOK AT LOOK AT THAT.

AND THEN WE DO IT AGAIN.

OBVIOUSLY WHEN WE WHEN WE COME BACK TO BUDGET, UM, AND UM, BUT ALL THAT IS AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC OUT ON OUR WEBSITE, UH, ON THE, IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, UH, PAGE OF THE WEBSITE, THERE IS OUR 2020, UH, UH, 324 DRAFT CIP, UM, OUT THERE AND AVAILABLE FOR EVERYBODY TO REVIEW.

UM, EFFECTIVELY THIS DOCUMENT, WE'RE CONSIDERING A FIRST READING TODAY.

THEN IT WOULD COME BACK FOR A SECOND READING, UH, IN, UH, JANUARY, ON JANUARY 9TH.

AND THEN AS THE YEAR ONE PORTION OF THESE PROJECTS WAS APPROVED IN THE GENERAL BUDGET, YOUR DEPARTMENTS ARE ALREADY ACTING AND MOVING FORWARD ON, ON THOSE PROJECTS.

UM, AND, UH, AND THEN WE NORMALLY KICK OFF STARTING OUR BUDGETARY PLANNING AS FAR AS CAPITAL GOES IN THAT JANUARY, FEBRUARY TIME PERIOD.

SO WE'LL ROLL RIGHT INTO A CONTINUOUS PLANNING EFFORT TO BE DEVELOPING, UH, OUR NEXT LOOK AT THESE, AT THESE PROJECTS DURING BUDGET IN THE NEXT.

WELL, IN THE SUMMER MONTHS BASICALLY.

SO THAT'S THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HEADED FOR THIS.

UM, I THINK I POSED A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS TO YOU GUYS, HANDED YOU A REALLY BIG BOOK, GAVE YOU SOME TIME TO TO CHEW ON IT A LITTLE BIT.

I'D ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

COUNCIL DO WE HAVE ANYBODY THAT'S BRINGING FORWARD ANYTHING THAT YOU'D LIKE TO REPRIORITIZE OR, UH, LOOK AT ON THAT CIP? NO, I DON'T. OKAY.

UM, KYLE, I WOULD JUST SAY, SINCE WE DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS, I THINK WHAT WE DO HAVE IS, UM, YOU AND YOUR STAFF TOOK THE PILLARS THAT WE PUT FORWARD, YOU KNOW, CUSTOMER SERVICE, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE.

UM, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN GET DONE.

I THINK I THINK YOU'RE PUTTING A LOT OF MONEY INTO THIS COMMUNITY, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE YOU GET IT OUT THERE.

YES, SIR. UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK MAYBE THE ONLY THING WE WOULD, WE WOULD WANT TO KNOW IS CAN YOU GO FASTER? YOU KNOW? SURE.

UM, SURE. WE'RE ALREADY DEALING WITH A LOT OF ORANGE CONES, SO IF WE GOT TO LOOK AT THEM LONGER, WE JUST.

WE JUST WANT TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE GETTING THE WORK DONE.

YEAH. YES, SIR.

UM, ABSOLUTELY.

THAT CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE AS WELL AS IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE, I MEAN, EMPOWERING THESE DEPARTMENTS TO TO GET THEIR PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED QUICKLY AND GET THOSE DOLLARS EXPENDED, GET THAT BENEFIT TO OUR CITIZENRY AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

THAT'S ABSOLUTELY OUR GOAL.

THANK YOU FOR THAT INPUT AND WE WILL IMPLEMENT IT.

THANK YOU, MR. SNYDER.

JOHN, UM, THANK YOU.

WITH NO FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR, UM, KYLE, WE WILL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING TO HAVE ANYONE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 11 E.

SEEING NO ONE.

WE WILL CLOSE OUR PUBLIC HEARING AND I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

I MOVE TO APPROVE OR ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 8105 SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON, UH, THIS ORDINANCE.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? NO. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THAT ITEM PASSES WITH A50 VOTE.

WE ARE MOVING RIGHT ALONG TO ITEM 11 F.

[11.F. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 8106]

WE'RE GETTING CLOSE.

UM, WE HAVE, UH, MISS SHANNON COMING FORWARD.

UM, ON.

THIS ONE. YES, MA'AM.

HOW ARE YOU, MRS. TOLLESON? DOING WELL. THANK YOU FOR ASKING.

GOOD AFTERNOON. WELL, GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR STANLEY.

UM, TODAY I AM HERE DISCUSSING THE PUBLIC HEARING AND FIRST READING FOR ORDINANCE UH, 8106, UH, PERTAINING TO OUR MS4 ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES.

SO, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND.

THE CITY OF AMARILLO IS CURRENTLY OPERATING AND HAS OPERATED HISTORICALLY IN MS4 PERMIT PROGRAM.

AND AS A PART OF THAT PROGRAM, UM, REALLY QUICKLY.

MS4 SCIENTISTS REALLY LOVE ACRONYMS. SO MS4 IS A MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEM.

SO HISTORICALLY WE HAVE OPERATED THIS SYSTEM.

UH, THE OVERALL INTENT OF THE SYSTEM IS TO CONVEY STORMWATER OUT OF KIND OF THE DOWNTOWN AREAS, ANY RESIDENTIAL AREAS.

UM, BUT, UH, WE ARE ANNUALLY INVESTIGATED UPON THE MS4 OPERATIONS.

SO IN JULY OF 2023, WE HAD A COMPREHENSIVE COMPLIANCE INVESTIGATION OF OUR MS4, AND THEY IDENTIFIED THAT WE ARE NOT CURRENTLY MEETING THE EXPECTATION REGARDING LEGAL AUTHORITY.

SO THE PERMIT REQUIRES THAT WE MAINTAIN LEGAL AUTHORITY TO, UM, MANAGE DISCHARGE TO AND FROM THE MS4.

SO AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE ARE NOT MEETING THE TCDRS INTENT ON THAT PROCEDURE.

UM, TKC REQUIRES A CORRECTIVE ACTION TO DEMONSTRATE PERMIT COMPLIANCE, AND THAT CORRECTIVE ACTION IS A MODIFICATION OR AN AMENDMENT TO CREATE CLEAR

[03:20:02]

UM, VERY SPECIFICALLY, THE INDICATION THAT TC GAVE US REGARDING THE NONCOMPLIANCE HAS TO DO WITH, UM, FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY CONTROL FLOATABLES INTO DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE OF THE CONVEYANCE SYSTEM OF THE MS4.

SO I'M GOING TO GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PERMIT HISTORY.

UM, HISTORICALLY, THE CITY HAS OPERATED THIS PHASE ONE MS4 PHASE ONE SIMPLY MEANS IT'S A LARGE SCALE COMMUNITY.

WE ARE A LARGER SCALE COMMUNITY, OVER 200,000 IN POPULATION.

SO THAT MEANS OUR STORMWATER CONVEYANCE SYSTEM IS A LARGE ONE.

THE PURPOSE OF THE PERMIT IS TO SIMPLY AUTHORIZE DISCHARGE OF WATERS FROM CITY STREETS AND COMMUNITY AREAS, TO PREVENT FLOODING OF PROPERTY, AND TO BENEFIT HEALTH AND HUMAN LIFE.

UM, IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE FACT THAT THE MS4 PERMIT IS NOT A RIGHT.

IT IS A PRIVILEGE.

THE STATE IS GIVING US THE PRIVILEGE BY ISSUING A PERMIT SO THAT WE CAN MOVE STORM WATERS FROM OUR COMMUNITIES INTO REGULATED BODIES OF WATER, SUCH AS PLAYA LAKES, RECEIVING STREAMS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE EAST AMARILLO CREEK, WEST AMARILLO CREEK, AND SUBSEQUENTLY INTO THE CANADIAN RIVER AND LAKE MEREDITH.

THOSE LOCATIONS.

SO HISTORICALLY, WE ESTABLISHED OUR FIRST NPDES PERMIT IN JULY OF 1998.

SO ROUGHLY 25 YEARS WE HAVE BEEN OPERATING AN MS4 PERMIT, UM, THAT HAS GONE THROUGH SEVERAL DIFFERENT RENEWALS OF THE MS4 PERMIT IN 2006, 2014, AND THE CURRENT PERMIT WE ARE OPERATING UNDER IS THE 2020 PERMIT.

UM, SO THERE'S THINGS THAT THE PERMIT VERY SPECIFICALLY DOES FOR US.

WHAT IT DOES IS IT ACTUALLY AUTHORIZES OR IT DEFINES WHAT AN AUTHORIZED OR AN UNAUTHORIZED DISCHARGE IS TO THE MS4.

SO IT DEFINES MY RESPONSIBILITY, THE PERMITTEES RESPONSIBILITY, THE CITY OF AMARILLO'S RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN THOSE DISCHARGES AND ENSURE THEY ARE OF ADEQUATE QUALITY, SIMPLY BECAUSE WE ARE AUTHORIZED TO DISCHARGE LARGE QUANTITIES OF WATER TO STATE WATER BODIES, WE STILL MUST CONTROL THE OVERALL CONSTITUENTS LOADING THOSE WATER BODIES.

SO THAT'S PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PERMIT.

LASTLY, UM, IT DIRECTS US TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN A MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR THAT PERMIT.

UH, THAT'S KIND OF THE IMPORTANT PART OF IT.

I DID WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF AGENCY HISTORY.

SO THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY WAS RENAMED FROM THE TEXAS NATIONAL NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION COMMISSION IN 2002.

THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE WAS UPDATED IN 2000, 2001 AND 2017.

SO WE ARE STILL REFERENCING THE TNRCC.

WHEN THE TC HAD A NAME CHANGE BACK IN 2002.

SO NOT ONLY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR US TO UPDATE OUR LEGAL AUTHORITY, WE ALSO JUST NEED TO UPDATE IT TO MORE MODERN NOMENCLATURE.

SO TO GO BRIEFLY OVER THE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT.

SO RIGHT NOW THERE IS SOME OVERALL VAGUE LACK OF ENFORCEABLE AUTHORITY IN TERMS OF THE THE LANGUAGE AS IT EXISTS RIGHT NOW, THE WAY THAT THE THE LANGUAGE IS ISSUED.

THERE'S NOT REALLY ANY TRACEABILITY BACK TO ACTUALLY HAVING AN ALLOCATED DESIGN FOR THE OVERALL PROCESS.

SO OVERALL, THE ENVIRONMENTAL, WE ARE SPECIFICALLY STATING IN THE ORDINANCE AS IT EXISTS RIGHT NOW, AT SOME POINT, IF WE DO NOT HAVE COMPLIANCE BY A USER UTILIZING THE MS4, WE WOULD REMAND THAT TO THE TC OR TO THE EPA, AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE TC IS NOTIFIED US THAT IT'S NOT THEIR PERMIT TO MANAGE, IT'S OUR PERMIT TO MANAGE.

SO IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY.

WE ALSO HAD NO LEGAL AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE FINES OR PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE MS4 PERMIT.

SO THE AMENDED LANGUAGE WE ARE LOOKING AT DICTATES THE FOLLOWING.

INSTEAD OF HAVING VAGUE ISSUANCES OF VERBAL NOTIFICATION, OF NONCOMPLIANCE OF THE MS4 AND GENERALLY WORDED LANGUAGE IN TERMS OF ACTUALLY STATING LIKE A LETTER MAY BE ISSUED, WE'RE GOING INTO VERY SPECIFIC LANGUAGE.

SO THE FIRST STEP IS THAT A WRITTEN NOTICE OF VIOLATION WILL BE ISSUED UPON OBSERVING A USER VIOLATING THE MS4 PERMIT.

WITH THAT WRITTEN RESPONSE, THERE HAS TO BE A RESPONSE FROM WRITTEN RESPONSE BACK FROM THE USER, INDICATING THAT WITHIN TEN DAYS THEY HAVE SOME KIND OF WE HAVE STOPPED THE MS4 DISCHARGE.

[03:25:02]

NOW, IN ORDER TO ESCALATE, THAT IS THE NEXT STEP IS A COMPLIANCE ORDER.

SO IF SOMEBODY CONTINUES TO VIOLATE THE MS4 PERMIT, THERE'S AN ISSUED COMPLIANCE ORDER.

AND AGAIN TEN DAYS NOTICE TO RESPOND TO THAT COMPLIANCE ORDER.

WHAT THE COMPLIANCE ORDER DOES THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THE NOTICE OF VIOLATION DOES, IS THAT'S WHEN WE START ACTUALLY DOING SOME MECHANISM OF ABATEMENT FOR THAT STORMWATER ISSUE.

SO IF IT'S A DISCHARGE DIRECTLY INTO A STORM DRAIN, IT BECOMES OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENFORCE UPON THE USER TO PREVENT THAT ADDITIONAL CONTAMINANT FROM BECOMING A LARGER PROBLEM, THEY MUST DO SOME SORT OF ABATEMENT OF IT, OR WE MUST DO SOME SORT OF ABATEMENT OF IT AND SUBSEQUENTLY CHARGE THE INDIVIDUAL, CAUSING THE THE ISSUE TO BE ABLE TO REINFORCE THAT ENFORCEMENT OPPORTUNITY.

THERE'S ALSO, UM, THE ISSUANCE OF CIVIL PENALTIES DEFINED BY THE DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES, WHICH CAN RANGE FROM 100 TO $1000 PER DAY PER VIOLATION.

SO IF THERE'S MULTIPLE ONGOING VIOLATIONS, DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY OF THE VIOLATION, IT'S GOING TO CHANGE WHAT THOSE CIVIL PENALTIES WOULD COME OUT TO.

UM, THERE'S ALSO THE ISSUANCE OF RED TAG ORDERS FOR CONSTRUCTION SITES THAT HAVE BEEN VIOLATING.

THEY STILL ARE SUBJECT TO THE SAME INFORMATION, SO THEY'RE STILL GOING TO GET THE WRITTEN NOTICE OF VIOLATION.

THEY'RE STILL GOING TO GET A COMPLIANCE ORDER LEADING UP TO THAT BEFORE WE GET TO A RED TAG ISSUANCE.

BUT AT SOME POINT, REGARDING THE DIFFERENCE OF A USER BEING A RESIDENTIAL USER OR A CONSTRUCTION USER, WE HAVE TO HAVE A DIFFERENCE THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY, UH, BE ENFORCEABLE TO REDUCE, SAY, SOMEBODY WHO'S NOT COMPLYING WITH AN SWPP THREE, THEIR STORMWATER PERMIT FOR OPERATION OF A CONSTRUCTION SITE. UM.

THIS WOULD ALSO INCLUDE WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE ABATEMENT OR REMEDIATION BY THE USER.

THE ESCALATION OF ENFORCEMENT MUST CONTINUE AND IT COULD LEAD TO THE CITY ISSUES.

CONSTRUCTION RESPONSE ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING ABATEMENT BY A CONTRACTOR WITH PENALTIES PAYABLE BY THE USER.

SO THAT'S KIND OF THE NEXT STEP PERTAINING TO WHAT THE ISSUE WOULD BE, WHAT THE ISSUANCE WOULD BE IN THAT SITUATION.

UM, THE LAST AND KIND OF FINAL EFFORT THAT WOULD BE TAKEN IS SHOULD ABATEMENT BE CONTRACTED OUT BY THE CITY AND SUBSEQUENTLY NOT BE PAID FOR BY THE CUSTOMER? THEN AT THAT POINT IN TIME, WE WOULD LOOK AT POTENTIALLY SUSPENDING WATER UTILITY SERVICES AT A AS A FINAL LEVEL OF ENFORCEMENT.

UM, AS WE ALWAYS TRY TO WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SOME KIND OF COMPLIANCE BASED ISSUE, THERE IS AN APPEALS PROCESS.

WE'VE CLARIFIED THE APPEALS PROCESS.

THE CURRENT LANGUAGE DOES INCLUDE AN APPEALS PROCESS.

BUT IT'S IT IS AGAIN, ONE OF THOSE IT'S NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR ON WHAT THE STEPS AND PROCEDURE OF THAT APPEALS PROCESS WOULD BE.

SO WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IN MOVING FORWARD IS THAT THE APPEALS COMMITTEE WILL CONSIST OF AN ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND TWO DIRECTOR LEVEL POSITIONS.

THE NOTICE OF APPEAL MUST BE SUBMITTED WITHIN FIVE BUSINESS DAYS.

THE COMMITTEE THEN CONVENES AND MUST RESPOND WITHIN TEN BUSINESS DAYS.

FROM THAT POINT, THE USER HAS ONE MORE ADDITIONAL OPERATION FOR APPEAL DIRECTLY TO THE CITY MANAGER WITHIN FIVE DAYS, AND IT MAKES THE CITY MANAGER'S DECISION FINAL. THE QUESTIONS.

QUESTIONS FOR MRS. TOLLESON? NO.

LOOKS LIKE YOU DID A REALLY GOOD JOB.

WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

NO PROBLEM. WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION.

MAYOR, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING AS WELL.

PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ONE AS WELL.

MAN, I'VE MISSED 2 IN 1 NIGHT.

ONE MORE STRIKE.

I GOT TO LET THE MAYOR PRO TEM RUN THE REST OF THE MEETING.

UM, AT THIS TIME, WE'LL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING.

DO I HAVE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS SUBJECT? SEEING NO ONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

AND NOW I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION. WE ACCEPT ORDINANCE 8106, AS STATED.

SECOND. OKAY.

I HAVE A MOTION FROM PLACE THREE AND A SECOND FROM PLACE FOUR.

UM, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION. MOTION PASSES WITH A50 VOTE.

ITEM 11 G.

[11.G. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 12-12-23-3]

[03:30:04]

IT REALLY DOES A GOOD JOB OF SUMMING UP WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

THIS IS ABOUT HOLDING A COUNCIL, HOLDING STAFF ACCOUNTABLE TO ENSURE THAT AS WE DRIVE THE THE TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVES AT THE CITY, WE DO THAT IN A HUMAN FIRST APPROACH, THAT WE BUILD THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TRANSPARENT, THAT WE'RE ACCOUNTABLE AND THAT WE PROTECT INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS WHILE WE DRIVE THOSE EFFICIENCIES. AND AS YOU READ THROUGH IT, UM, EACH SECTION HAS ACCOUNTABILITY ITEMS THAT WILL BE BUILDING OBJECTIVES AND KEY RESULTS TO REPORT BACK TO COUNCIL ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, ON A SEMIANNUAL BASIS, HOW WE'RE PROGRESSING AGAINST THOSE.

UM, THAT'S REALLY THE SUMMARY.

OH, I GOT A QUESTION.

DO WE HAVE A FORM THE EMPLOYEE SIGNS STATING THEY WON'T DO THIS, THAT THEY'VE READ THE POLICY.

WE DO. AND AND DO WE USE THAT? WE DO. AND WE DO ANNUAL TRAINING AS PART OF OUR ANNUAL TRAINING, WE TRAIN EMPLOYEES ON THE DO'S AND DON'TS OF HOW THEY USE, UM, USED TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES.

AND THEN AS, AS SOME OF YOU KNOW, WE DO PHISHING TESTS AND OTHER THINGS WHERE WE WE TEACH EMPLOYEES EMAILS.

THEY'LL CALL ME ONE TIME I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ME.

IT ONLY TOOK ONCE.

YEAH, YEAH. THEY'RE GETTING MORE AND MORE COMPLEX, YOU KNOW, AS THEY'RE COMING IN.

SO THEY'RE GETTING MORE AND MORE COMPLEX AS WE TEST INTERNALLY.

SO WE'RE SEEING THE FAILURE RATES GO UP A LITTLE BIT.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS, UH, TYPICALLY A LOCAL GOVERNMENT WILL SEE SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 25 TO 30% FAILURE RATES ON THEIR PHISHING TESTS.

AND WE'RE AT TWO.

SO WE'RE GOING THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

ONE, TWO. YEAH.

WE'LL KEEP WE'LL KEEP WE'LL KEEP TEACHING YOU I PROMISE.

GOT IT I'M IN REMEDIAL RIGHT NOW SO OKAY OKAY.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR, UH FOR RICH.

APPRECIATE YOU, RICH. YEAH.

YES. I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING.

WE'LL GET THE KEY RESULTS ALL GENERATED OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND GET THOSE IN YOUR REPORT SO YOU CAN SEE HOW WE'RE MEASURING OURSELVES AGAINST THESE OBJECTIVES.

OKAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE YOU.

YEAH. AT THIS TIME, I WILL NOT OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ONE.

SO, UM, WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION FROM COUNCIL.

I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 12-1223-3.

SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ITEM PASSES.

UH, LAST ITEM HERE TODAY IS ITEM 11 H.

[11.H. CONSIDER APPROVAL - PURCHASE OF PROPERTY LOCATED IN HILLSIDE TERRACE ESTATES]

MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

THIS IS AN ITEM TO CONSIDER.

THE PURCHASE OF ABOUT 11.43 ACRES OVER IN HILLSIDE TERRACE.

UH UH.

UH. THIS PURCHASE.

THIS IS THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION.

HERE IS THE SHADED RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

THE TWO LINES THROUGH THAT REPRESENT SEWER LINES.

SO THIS PROPERTY IS IN PROXIMITY TO THE COLLAPSED SEWER EMERGENCY REPLACEMENT THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THE LAST FEW YEARS, INCLUDING THE SETTLEMENT, UH, OF THAT ISSUE.

UH, THAT IS THE GREEN LINE.

THAT'S THE OLD LINE. THE GREEN LINE IS THE OLD SEWER LINE THAT COLLAPSED.

SO THERE IS A REMEDIATION AND AN ABANDONMENT COMPONENT OF THAT PROJECT THAT'S YET TO BE COMPLETED.

SO THIS PURCHASE, THIS PROPERTY REALLY IS JUST GETTING THE THE RIGHT TO DO THAT PROJECT, UH, RATHER THAN EASEMENTS.

AND I'LL EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL.

THE, THE RED LINE IS THE NEW SEWER LINE THAT TAKES IT FROM THE SUBDIVISION DOWN.

UH, REMEMBER WE WE REROUTED THAT AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO THE WEST.

SO, UH, THOSE ARE SEWER LINES.

BUT BACK TO WHY WE NEED THIS PROPERTY.

UH, WE NEEDED A SIGNIFICANT DISTANCE AWAY FROM THAT EXISTING LINE TO REMEDIATE.

UH, YOU REMEMBER THE SEWER LINE COLLAPSED, AND IT WAS IN OPERATION.

SO THERE WAS SEWAGE THAT THAT SEEPED OUT OR LEAKED OUT OF THAT PIPE IN PROXIMITY TO THAT PIPELINE.

UH, THE INSTALLATION OF THAT PIPELINE ALL THE WAY BACK IN 2004 OR 2007, 2004 TO 2007 WAS IT WAS 45FT DEEP THERE AT ITS DEEPEST POINT.

RIGHT IN THAT. SO YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT THE EXCAVATION HAD A SLOPED BANK WITH A TRENCH DOWN IN THE MIDDLE, SO THAT THE REMEDIATION THAT WE EXPECT TO HAVE TO DO, OR IN CASE WE HAVE TO DO, ENCOMPASSES A SLOPED BANK FROM THAT ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION, INCLUDING, UH, ALL THE ASPECTS OF THAT. BUT YOU HAVE THE MANHOLES AND THE OTHER PURCHASES THAT NEED TO BE ABANDONED, AND WE HAVE TO ABANDON THAT PIPELINE.

IN OTHER WORDS, DRILL PROBABLY EVERY TEN FEET.

AND AND THE ENGINEERS ARE WORKING ON THAT FINAL DESIGN PURCHASE OF THIS PROPERTY WILL ALLOW THAT, ALLOW THAT FINAL DESIGN.

[03:35:07]

AND THAT EXCAVATION PROJECT TO GO 75FT DEEP AND REMOVE EVERYTHING THAT WAS IMPACTED BY THAT, UH, WAS ESTIMATED, UH, YOU KNOW, AT $19 MILLION, WE BELIEVE THAT THE REMEDIATION COSTS CAN BE CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY.

I MAINTAIN OWNERSHIP OF THIS PROPERTY FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 YEARS AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE THAT THAT WOULD BE A TIME WOULD BE A BETTER WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT COMPACTION IS CORRECT AND SAFE. AND THIS PROPERTY PROBABLY WOULD BE ABLE TO BE SOLD AFTER THE REMEDIATION AND AFTER AT TIME FRAME, SUCH THAT WE KNOW THERE'S NO SETTLEMENT OR EXCAVATION CONCERNS. RATHER THAN SPEND THE ACTUAL CASH TO GO EXCAVATE IT, RE COMPACT IT BACK AND THEN TURN IT BACK OVER FOR DEVELOPMENT.

THAT IS THE PRIMARY REASON THAT IT'S A BENEFIT TO PURCHASE THIS PROPERTY AT THIS TIME.

OKAY. SO THE DETAILS OF THE PURCHASE.

YOU SAW THE VICINITY.

UH OH. I'LL BACK UP.

UH UH. THE HELIUM ROAD IS OUT TO THE LEFT OF THAT.

ASANTE IS TO THE RIGHT OF THAT MAP.

IT'S IN BETWEEN SONCY AND HELIUM.

SO AGAIN, IT'S ESTIMATED TO BE 11.43 ACRES.

UH, WE PUT IN THE PROPOSED CONTRACT THAT THAT'S SUBJECT TO FINAL SURVEY.

BACK TO THE AMOUNT.

UH, IT REALLY WAS THAT WE IDENTIFIED APPROXIMATELY SIX ACRES THAT WOULD BE IMPACTED.

BUT YOU NOTICE THAT WE WORKED WITH THE DEVELOPER TO ALLOW SUBDIVISIONS, THOSE TWO SUBDIVISIONS, THE ONE ON ON THE EAST AND ONE ON THE WEST, THOSE ARE PROPOSED SUBDIVISIONS.

SO HE IDENTIFIED WHAT HE COULD BUILD SAFELY, AND WE IDENTIFIED A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY.

AND THAT MADE THE ACRES GO UP FROM THE SIX TO THE 11.43.

AND SO IT WAS A FEW MORE ACRES.

IF WE COULD HAVE FIT A SUBDIVISION IN, WE WOULD HAVE ALLOWED THAT.

BUT THIS IS A SAFE DISTANCE SUCH THAT WE CAN HAVE THOSE SUBDIVISIONS INSTALLED.

UH, THE ESTIMATED VALUE IS 8.81 PER SQUARE FOOT.

THIS IS BASED OFF BACK TO THE MAP, UH, BACK TO HELIUM, AND THEN OVER ON OTHER AREAS TO THE SOUTH.

THERE WERE ACTUAL, UH, PURCHASES MADE FOR TEX DOT RIGHT OF WAY FOR THE LOOP.

AND THERE WERE OTHER PURCHASES THAT UTILIZED THIS VALUE.

AND IN SUCH CLOSE PROXIMITY.

AND IT'S COMMERCIAL, UH, IT COULD HAVE A COMMERCIAL VALUE THAT'S IDENTICAL.

SO WE USE THAT AS THE ESTIMATED VALUE, ACTUAL TRANSACTIONS.

AND THAT WAS THE VALUE PER SQUARE FOOT.

SO IF IT ACTUALLY SURVEYS OUT AT 11.43 ACRES, THE AMOUNT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS $4,385,000.

UH, THE FUNDING FOR THIS IS AVAILABLE IN THE PROJECT, WHETHER THAT'S FROM THE SETTLEMENT FUNDS OR WHAT WE HAD BOOKED TO, TO REMEDIATE WITH.

OKAY. IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS I CAN ANSWER? AND THEN SO WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WITH THIS PROPERTY AT AT THE POINT IN TIME, 20 YEARS OR WHATEVER THAT MAY BE, THEN THE CITY WOULD THEN SELL THE PROPERTY BACK TO THE DEVELOPER IN THE AREA OR SOMEONE ELSE TO THE SHORT TERME IS WE'RE GOING TO REMEDIATE.

WE'LL HAVE MONITORING WELLS AND OTHER DEVICES.

WE WILL PLANT GRASS ON IT.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE A PARK SITUATION.

IT'LL JUST BE OPEN GREEN SPACE WITH GRASS AT THE 20 YEAR MARK.

IF IT IS DEEMED THAT THE REMEDIATION IS NO LONGER NEEDED, AND THAT WOULD BE WITH APPROVAL OF THE TC.

UH, THEN THIS PROPERTY AND THE COMPACTION ISSUES, SOME ENGINEER DECIDED THAT THAT WAS SAFE AT THAT TIME, THAT PROPERTY COULD BE SOLD FOR DEVELOPMENT, WHETHER THAT'S HOUSING OR COMMERCIAL.

UM, SO THAT'S HOW YOU WOULD RECOUP THE COST OF THIS? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? SO, MR. HARTMAN, I KNOW YOU AND I HAD A CONVERSATION.

YOU YOU HAD A CONTRACTOR AT FAULT.

UH, UM, MANUFACTURE OF A PRODUCT AT FAULT? YEAH, WE WENT THROUGH THE CLAIM PROCESS ON THAT PIPELINE.

AND IF YOU'LL RECALL, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED, UH, WITH THREE DIFFERENT ENTITIES, A LITTLE OVER, LIKE, 16.1 MILLION IN SETTLEMENT ON THE PROJECT.

SO THE SETTLEMENT MONIES THAT THAT HAVE BEEN WHAT WE HAVEN'T COMPLETED IS THIS REMEDIATION COMPONENT AND THIS REMEDIATION, THE PURCHASE OF THE LAND AND THEN THE COST TO FLOW, FILL AND DO WHATEVER YOU WHATEVER ELSE YOU WOULD NEED TO DO TO REMEDIATE, MONITOR WELLS, YOU NAME IT, LIKE ALL WITHIN THAT SETTLEMENT BUDGET, CORRECT? YES. UH, NOW SOME OF THAT MONEY'S BEEN ALREADY SPENT, SO WE HAVE SOME OTHER FUNDING THAT WAS BOOKED FOR REMEDIATION.

[03:40:05]

UH, NOW, I'M NOT SAYING THAT AT SOME POINT WE DON'T HAVE ADDITIONAL COSTS THAT WE'RE UNAWARE OF AT THIS POINT, BUT THAT REMEDIATION PLAN IS BEING PUT TOGETHER BY THE CONSULTANTS AND THE AND THE EXPERTS ONCE IT GETS THE BLESSING OF THE TC.

AND PART OF THAT IS THE RIGHT TO REMEDIATE THIS.

THIS PURCHASE IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE TO CHECK OFF THE BOX FOR THE STATE TO SAY THIS IS AN ACCEPTABLE REMEDIATION PLAN.

NOW, AS TIME GOES ON AND WINDOWS, THERE COULD BE ADDITIONAL STUDIES THAT IDENTIFY CHANGE CONDITIONS THAT WERE UNAWARE OF TODAY.

OKAY. REAL GOOD. SO YOU'VE YOU'VE TAKEN THE SETTLEMENT COST AND YOU WILL BE ABLE TO REMEDIATE EVERYTHING AS PER WHAT THE SETTLEMENT PAID FOR AND STILL WALK AWAY WITH 11 ACRES WORTH OF LAND THAT COULD HAVE POTENTIAL VALUE IN THE FUTURE.

ONCE, UH, ONCE EVERYTHING SETTLES OUT.

AND BETWEEN THOSE TWO FUNDING SOURCES, THE SETTLEMENT AND THAT BOOKED COST, WE WOULD ANTICIPATE BRINGING SOME OF THAT FUNDING BACK TO THE UTILITIES CIP.

GREAT. THANK YOU SIR.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. HARTMAN? OKAY.

LAST ITEM ON THE AGENDA WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION.

I MOVE TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF PROPERTY LOCATED IN HILLSIDE TERRACE ESTATES FROM HILLSIDE TERRACE ESTATES LIMITED IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,385,000 PLUS CLOSING COSTS.

SECOND. OKAY, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO HAVE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES.

THAT CONCLUDES OUR, UH, NON CONSENT.

WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE A SHORT RECESS.

LET EVERYBODY STRETCH THEIR LEGS, AND THEN WE'LL COME RIGHT BACK IN HERE FOR OUR EXTENDED PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE UM WE DO THAT, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE, I KNOW THAT EVERYONE THAT IS HERE IS HERE TO SPEAK, UM, ON THE SANCTUARY CITY, UH, POTENTIAL ORDINANCE.

IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA.

WE DIDN'T NOTICE THE PUBLIC.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY WAY TO COMMUNICATE BACK TO YOU.

UH, IT'S A LISTENING SESSION FOR US.

ALL WE'RE ABLE TO DO IS GIVE YOU YOUR THREE MINUTES, LET YOU ADDRESS COUNCIL, UH, FOR YOUR CONCERNS.

AND WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU BE RESPECTFUL OF EVERYONE ELSE'S TIME AS WE'RE ALL STAYING LATE.

AND JUST KINDLY KEEP YOURSELF TO THREE MINUTES AND WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT TEN MINUTE RECESS, AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK IN HERE TO GET THAT DONE.

ALL RIGHT, CALL OURSELVES BACK IN SESSION AND MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR EXTENDED PUBLIC COMMENT.

[12. Public Comment ]

OKAY. REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS.

YOUR DECORUM, THE RESPECT YOU SHOW TO EACH OTHER AND THEN YOUR WILLINGNESS TO RUN A VERY ORGANIZED MEETING.

LET US DO OUR BUSINESS.

I ACTUALLY HAVE A LITTLE EXPERIENCE WITH THIS ONE.

SO WE'VE DONE THE MARATHON MEETING ONE OTHER TIME BEFORE.

THE WAY THAT IT WORKED, WELL, WE HAD PEOPLE SIGNED UP AND THEN WE JUST ALLOWED PEOPLE TO RAISE THEIR HANDS.

UM, AND SO THE WAY IN WHICH WE WILL MOVE THROUGH AN AUDIENCE OF THIS SIZE, THE BEST IS I'M JUST GOING TO START ON THE FRONT ROW, AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO COME ACROSS MY RIGHT TO LEFT, AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO GO TO ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.

WE'LL MOVE FRONT SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH ALL THE WAY UNTIL WE GET TO THE BACK.

SO IF YOU'VE SIGNED UP TONIGHT, YOU'RE GOING TO BE CALLED BY THE CITY SECRETARY TO COME AND SPEAK IN THAT ORDER.

AFTER WE COMPLETE THAT, THEN WE WILL START HERE ON THE FRONT AND CONTINUE TO THE BACK.

SO, MISS CITY SECRETARY, IT'S YOURS.

OKAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND JUST AS A REMINDER, EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES.

YOU'LL HEAR A WARNING BEEP AT THE END OF 2.5 MINUTES REMINDING YOU YOU HAVE ABOUT 30S LEFT.

WE'LL START TONIGHT WITH JAMIE LYONS.

IS MISS LYONS HERE? IF NOT JAMIE LYONS.

BRIANNA CAGLE.

AND AS BRIANNA MAKES HER WAY UP ON DECK AFTER HER WILL BE COURTNEY BROWN.

MY NAME IS BRIANNA CAGLE, AND I'M A LIFELONG CITIZEN OF AMARILLO.

DURING MY 30 YEARS OF LIFE IN AMARILLO, I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW TOO MANY OF THE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE SUFFERING MOST OF US CANNOT COMPREHEND.

I GREW UP DELIVERING CHRISTMAS PRESENTS FOR EVELYN RIVERS PROJECT EVERY YEAR.

I SAW CHILDREN JUST LIKE ME WHO HAD TRULY NOTHING.

I REMEMBER ONE MOTHER SOBBED, THANKING MY PARENTS BECAUSE SHE HAD WRAPPED BOXES OF ROCKS TO PUT UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE SO HER KIDS WOULDN'T THINK THEY HAD NOTHING FOR CHRISTMAS.

[03:45:08]

I SAW FAMILIES OF CHILDREN COMING TO SCHOOL WITH CONSISTENT LICE AND BEDBUGS.

I'D SAY AT LEAST A QUARTER OF MY GRADE LEVEL TOOK HOME SNACK PACKS.

SHOUT OUT SNACK PACKS! MANY OF OUR FAMILIES WERE RECIPIENTS OF COAT DRIVES AND CLOTHING DONATIONS.

BECAUSE KIDS WOULD COME TO SCHOOL IN THE SAME CLOTHES FOR WEEKS AND WEAR THEIR SHOES UNTIL THEIR TOES POKED OUT OF THE SOLES.

AND OUR SUPERINTENDENT SAYS NO TO MOST SNOW DAYS, BECAUSE SO MANY OF OUR STUDENTS DEPEND ON OUR SCHOOLS FOR WARM MEALS AND HEAT.

SO JUST I COULD KEEP GOING, BUT YOU COULD TALK TO ANY TEACHER IN YOUR LIFE AND YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR SOME HORRIFIC STORIES FROM KINDERGARTEN TO SENIORS.

THE FACT IS, TOO MANY OF THE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW GO WITHOUT.

IN FACT, IN POTTER COUNTY ALONE, 28% OF OUR CHILDREN ARE HOMELESS.

IN FACT, AMARILLO ACTUALLY LEADS THE STATE IN OUR RATE OF HOMELESSNESS.

DID YOU KNOW THAT? OUR MAYOR DOES BECAUSE HE SHARED THAT INFORMATION WITH US AT THE TRANSFORMATION PARK INITIATIVE.

THE SIMPSON EVENT.

AND ALTHOUGH I'M GLAD THAT THERE ARE THESE AWESOME ORGANIZATIONS STEPPING UP IN OUR COMMUNITY, THEY ONLY EXIST BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH NEED.

I'VE HEARD MANY IN SUPPORT OF THIS ORDINANCE BRING UP THAT ADOPTION IS THE ANSWER FOR UNWANTED PREGNANCY.

SO I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE AS OF AUGUST, THERE ARE ALREADY 478 CHILDREN AWAITING ADOPTION IN POTTER AND RANDALL AND 976 CHILDREN IN OUR FOSTER CARE ACTIVELY.

BUT JUST AS RECENTLY AS 2019, WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH CERTIFIED FOSTER HOMES FOR CHILDREN.

THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC HAS SENT A RECORD NUMBER OF PARENTS TO PRISON AND CHILDREN INTO FOSTER HOMES AND STATE CARE SYSTEMS. HERE'S ANOTHER AREA THAT WE LEAD IN THE STATE TEEN PREGNANCY.

IT'S NO SECRET THAT AMARILLO HAS LED IN TEEN PREGNANCY NUMBERS FOR A WHILE, BUT EVEN DESPITE RECENT DECLINES, POTTER IS 900% HIGHER THAN THE TEXAS RATE AND 170% HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL.

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT'S ACTUALLY KILLING TEXAS CHILDREN.

NUMBER ONE GUN FATALITY AS OF 2023, FOLLOWED BY MOTOR VEHICLE CRASHES, DROWNING AND SUICIDE.

GUESS WHAT'S NOT ON THE LIST? BUT HERE WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF AN OPIOID CRISIS, RANKED THE FOURTH MOST VIOLENT CITY BY THE FBI DUE TO FREQUENT GUN VIOLENCE LEADING IN TEEN PREGNANCY AND HOMELESSNESS. AND YET WE'RE FOCUSING ON CHOOSING TO MAKE AMARILLO A SANCTUARY CITY FOR UNBORN CHILDREN WHEN SO MANY ARE.

CHILDREN ARE LIVING WITHOUT THE MOST BASIC NECESSITIES.

SO IF YOU INSIST ON ADVOCATING FOR THE POTENTIAL LIFE OF AN UNBORN CHILD, I ASK THAT YOU FIRST CONSIDER THE POTENTIAL REALITY FOR THAT CHILD.

AND UNTIL WE DO THE WORK TO ENSURE THAT AMARILLO IS ACTUALLY A SANCTUARY FOR ALL CHILDREN, THIS ORDINANCE BELONGS IN THE TRASH CAN.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS CAGLE.

NEXT, COURTNEY BROWN AND AFTER MISS BROWN WILL BE TRYMAINE A BROWN.

HI ALL. MY NAME IS COURTNEY BROWN.

I AM AN AMARILLO RESIDENT.

I'M A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER AND I RUN A LOCAL NONPROFIT AS WELL.

WE WILL REMEMBER.

WE WILL REMEMBER ON OCTOBER 22ND, 2023, TWO DAYS BEFORE AMARILLO CITY COUNCIL TOOK UP THE ISSUE OF MAKING AMARILLO A SANCTUARY CITY FOR THE UNBORN, MARKLEY DIXON SPOKE AT AN EVENT AT TRINITY CHURCH IN LUBBOCK, AND I QUOTE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING WHAT'S HAPPENING IN AMARILLO, BUT THERE'S A COURT CASE, ALLIANCE FOR HIPPOCRATIC MEDICINE VERSUS FDA, AND THAT IS THE CASE DEALING WITH ABORTION INDUCING DRUGS THAT COULD AFFECT EVERY SINGLE STATE IN AMERICA.

THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES IS MOST LIKELY GOING TO BE TAKING UP THAT CASE.

WELL, AMARILLO HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN THAT, AND WE'RE REALLY WANTING TO SEE AMARILLO PASS AN ORDINANCE LIKE SAN ANGELO, ABILENE AND LUBBOCK BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO PLAY A KEY ROLE IN THE FIGHT BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES.

END QUOTE.

DO WE DO WE HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN NATIONAL POLITICS? IS THE ROLE OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO ALLOW MARKLEY DIXON AND JONATHAN MITCHELL TO USE AMARILLO CITIZENS LIVES AS COLLATERAL IN THEIR EGOTISTICAL QUEST FOR POWER AND CONTROL OVER PREGNANT PEOPLE THAT HAS FAR REACHING CONSEQUENCES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

AFTER OUTSIDER EXTREMISTS HAVE LEFT OUR DOORSTEP, THE THE AND USED THIS CITY COUNCIL TO STRIP AMARILLO CITIZENS AND TRAVELERS OF THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO PRIVACY, INTERSTATE TRAVEL, FREEDOM OF SPEECH, AND FURTHER RESTRICTED LIFE SAVING HEALTH CARE.

YOU WILL STILL BE HERE AND WE WILL REMEMBER.

WE WILL REMEMBER THE MEN WE LOOK TO FOR LEADERSHIP.

AS THE MEN WHO TOOK CHOICE IN FREEDOM FROM US, WE WILL WELCOME YOU INTO OUR BUSINESSES.

WE WILL WELCOME YOU INTO OUR CHURCHES, OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND YOU WILL WORK WITH US AND BESIDE US.

AND WE WILL REMEMBER THAT YOU CHOSE AN OUTSIDER, AN OUTSIDER EXTREMIST OVER THE CITIZENS THAT RALLIED TO DEFEND AMARILLO.

[03:50:04]

THANK YOU MADAM. HEY, TREMAINE BROWN.

AND AFTER MR. BROWN, JESSICA PINKSTON HEDRICK WILL BE ON DECK.

GOOD EVENING.

TREMAINE BROWN, CITIZEN OF AMARILLO, TEXAS.

BUSINESS OWNER AND, UM, PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF A NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT.

DOES HIS BEST TO, UH.

PROTECT AND UPLIFT AND ENRICH THE LIVES OF OF CHILDREN AND THE DISENFRANCHIZED EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR THE PAST DECADE.

UH. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS TREMAINE BROWN.

THIS IS MY DAUGHTER, SHYLA BROWN.

I'M A SINGLE FATHER OF THIS TEN YEAR OLD LITTLE GIRL WHO HAS NEVER MET HER MOTHER.

SOME HERE MAY KNOW ME AND MY STORY, BUT I'M SURE MANY DON'T.

FOR THOSE THAT DON'T, IN SHORT, I HAVE MADE IT MY MISSION FOR MY DAUGHTER'S ENTIRE EXISTENCE TO HELP CARE FOR, ENRICH AND PROVIDE ESSENTIAL NEEDS FOR CHILDREN IN AMARILLO AND ALL OVER THE TEXAS PANHANDLE.

TODAY, I STAND BEFORE YOU AS A FATHER, LENDING A VOICE TO MY DAUGHTER'S FUTURE.

MY DAUGHTER KNOWS VERY LITTLE ABOUT WHAT TODAY MEANS OR WHY I CHECKED HER OUT OF SCHOOL EARLY, BUT I FELT IT VITAL FOR HER TO BE PRESENT TODAY, FOR DECISIONS MADE HERE MAY AFFECT HER DIRECTLY.

I'M GIVING HER A GLIMPSE INTO OUR CITY'S GOVERNMENT AT A VERY PIVOTAL MOMENT, ONE OF ITS NOT SO FINEST MOMENTS.

IN FACT, THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT I REALLY SHOULDN'T EVEN BE A PART OF.

NOR SHOULD MARK LEE DIXON, NOR SHOULD THE MEN ON THIS COUNCIL.

BUT HERE I STAND.

I STAND HERE WITH MY DAUGHTER TO REALLY LET HER KNOW THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT DECISIONS ARE MADE, I WILL GO TO HELL OR JAIL TO AID AND PROTECT HER LIFE AND HER FREEDOM TO MAKE CHOICES.

IN ANY MISTAKES OR CROSSROADS IN LIFE THAT SHE MAY FACE.

I WILL BE HERE, AND I URGE THIS COUNCIL TO REALLY TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THE MESS.

THE MESS.

THAT AN OUTSIDER POSES FOR OUR CITY, AND ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT IT WILL BE US LEFT HERE TO CLEAN IT UP. THIS CITY IS ON A PATH OF GROWTH AND THIS MESS STANDS IN STANDS TO HINDER THAT GROWTH.

VITAL RESOURCES ARE SO NEEDED AND SO MANY DIFFERENT AREAS OF THIS CITY.

AND WE ELECTED THIS COUNCIL.

TO MAKE PROGRESSIVE DECISIONS THAT ARE RIGHT FOR AMARILLO'S GROWTH, AND NOT TO PACIFY SOME MALE CHAUVINIST EGO.

LET'S MOVE ON FROM THIS FOOLISHNESS AND GET BACK TO THE BUSINESS OF TURNING AMARILLO INTO THE MODEL CITY WE ALL HOPE FOR, AND NOT FOLLOW THE LEAD OF A PERSON THAT KNOWS NOTHING, NOTHING, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT OUR CITY.

I SAID ALL OF THAT JUST TO SAY THAT I LOVE YOU, SHILOH, AND I LOVE MY CITY.

THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU, MR. BROWN. JESSICA.

PINKSTON. HEDRICK.

MISS HEDRICK.

IF NOT JOHN EARLY, AND AS MR. EARLY MAKES HIS WAY UP, I'VE GOT A HANDOUT THAT HE PROVIDED COUNCIL.

SO I'LL PASS THAT DOWN AND ON DECK AFTER MR..

EARLY WILL BE JOHN BARRETT.

MAYOR STANLEY AND COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.

I'M JOHN EARLY, A THIRD GENERATION CITIZEN OF AMARILLO.

AND THE HANDOUT SHOWS THE SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES I'LL USE.

[03:55:02]

IS IT WOULD USE THE FORCE OF GOVERNMENT TO PROMOTE A A RELIGIOUS DOCTRINE THAT LIFE BEGINS AT CONCEPTION.

IS THIS EVEN A TRUE DOCTRINE? UM, PAUL WRITES ABOUT GOD IN SECOND TIMOTHY, WHO HATH SAVED US AND CALLED US WITH AN HOLY CALLING, NOT ACCORDING TO OUR WORKS, BUT ACCORDING TO HIS OWN PURPOSE AND GRACE, WHICH WAS GIVEN US IN CHRIST JESUS BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN.

THE LIFE THAT MATTERS IS ETERNAL AND SPIRITUAL.

AND EXISTED BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF TIME.

JESUS TEACHES THIS IS LIFE ETERNAL, THAT THEY MAY KNOW GOD THE ONLY TRUE.

THEY MAY KNOW THEE, THE ONLY TRUE GOD, AND JESUS CHRIST, WHOM THOU HAST SENT.

THE. THE PROPOSED DOCTRINE REJECTS ETERNAL LIFE.

IT IT CLAIMS LIFE BEGINS.

IT HAS A FLESHLY BEGINNING.

IS THIS NOT, UH, IS THIS NOT THE FLESH LUSTING AGAINST THE SPIRIT? REJECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD IN CHRIST, WHICH IS ETERNAL LIFE.

IN EXODUS 20, MOSES WRITES, THOU SHALT NOT KILL.

HE CLARIFIES IN EXODUS 2122, WITH THE EXAMPLE OF A PREGNANT WOMAN WHO IS INJURED AND HAS A MISCARRIAGE, AND WHEN TWO MEN FIGHT AND THE UNDER THE LAW, THE MAN IS SUBJECT TO A FINE FOR THE MISCARRIAGE.

BUT IF THE WOMAN ALSO DIES OF THE INJURY, THEY'RE SUBJECT TO THE PENALTY OF LIFE FOR LIFE.

THIS IS HOW IN THE LAW OF MOSES DOES NOT RECOGNIZE AN UNBORN FETUS AS A HUMAN LIFE.

IT'S BEEN UNDERSTOOD THIS WAY FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, AND VIRTUALLY EVERY TRANSLATION OF EXODUS IN BOTH JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN TRADITION. UH.

THEY UPHOLD THAT BELIEF.

THE ONLY EXCEPTION I KNOW IS THE NIV, WHICH, UH, THE WORD THAT'S USED FOR, UH.

THAT'S TRANSLATED AS PREMATURE BIRTH.

IT TRANSLATES CORRECTLY IN NUMBERS 1212 AS STILLBORN.

WELL, YOU HAVE THE REST OF IT IN MY.

THANK YOU. JOHN. NEXT JOHN BARRETT.

AND AFTER MR. BARRETT, BRIAN AREVALO WILL BE ON DECK.

MY NAME IS JOHN BARRETT AND I LIVE IN AMARILLO.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION TO MAKE AMARILLO A SANCTUARY CITY.

LIFE IS INHERENTLY RISKY.

THERE IS ONLY ONE BIG RISK YOU SHOULD AVOID AT ALL COSTS, AND THAT IS THE RISK OF DOING NOTHING.

DENIS WAITLEY.

SINCE THE IDEA OF A SANCTUARY CITY CAME TO MY ATTENTION QUITE A WHILE AGO, I HAVE SUPPORTED THE IDEA OF KEEPING ABORTION OUT OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION TOOK ACTION ON THIS MATTER IN THE FORM OF A RESOLUTION.

BUT AS WE ALL KNOW, A RESOLUTION IS LIKE JUMPING OFF A CLIFF AND TRYING TO KNIT YOURSELF A PARACHUTE ON THE WAY DOWN.

THERE HAS BEEN MUCH DEBATE ON THIS MATTER.

SOME OF THE CORE DEBATE IS THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE ABORTION TRAFFICKING PORTIONS OF THE ORDINANCE AND THE DUPLICITY OF THE ORDINANCE, AND SO FORTH.

I WOULD NOTE THAT FOUR COUNTIES AND 69 CITIES HERE IN TEXAS HAVE ALREADY TAKEN ACTION AND ENACTED THIS ORDINANCE.

I WOULD ALSO NOTE THAT, IN MY OPINION, THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THIS MATTER HAS ALREADY BEEN TESTED, INASMUCH AS I'M UNAWARE OF THE ORDINANCE BEING CHALLENGED AS SUCH.

FURTHERMORE, THOSE CHALLENGES THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD HAVE ALSO BEEN SUCCESSFULLY THWARTED.

THE FIRST PUBLIC MEETING ON THIS MATTER LASTED WELL INTO THE EVENING.

I TOOK NOTES ON THOSE WHO OPPOSED THE ORDINANCE.

SHORTLY AFTER THE PUBLIC INPUT BEGAN, I GATHERED 51 POINTS FROM THOSE SPEAKERS.

AS I READ THROUGH THEIR POINTS, I COULDN'T HELP BUT THINK TO MYSELF HOW TOTALLY POINTLESS THESE STATEMENTS WERE BY THOSE WHO OPPOSED THE ORDINANCE.

51 POINTS.

FOR INSTANCE, THE SPEAKER SAID THE COUNTRY WAS NOT FOUNDED ON JUDEO-CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES, AND PASSING THIS ORDINANCE VIOLATES OUR LAWS.

[04:00:02]

IN THE CITY WAS ANOTHER.

WE ARE IN FACT A NATION FOUNDED ON JUDEO-CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES.

HAVE YOU EVEN READ THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE? ALL THESE PEOPLE DID WAS SPREAD FEAR AND YELL.

WHEN YOU YELL, IT ONLY SIGNIFIES HOW LITTLE YOU HAVE TO SAY.

AND THEIR ARGUMENTS.

THE ONE ELEMENT THAT IS CONSISTENTLY LEFT OUT IS THE CHILD.

I ASK ONE SIMPLE QUESTION WHO'S GOING TO SPEAK FOR THE CHILD? WHEN WE DECIDE THAT LIFE DOES, IN FACT, HAVE AN IMMEASURABLE VALUE WORTH SAVING, THEN I BELIEVE WE WILL HAVE ACHIEVED THAT LEVEL TO WHICH WE ASPIRE TO FORM OURSELVES INTO A WORTHY AND RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE WITH RESPECT FOR THE LIFE OF EACH INDIVIDUAL, EITHER BORN OR UNBORN.

LET'S PASS THIS ORDINANCE AND SET THE EXAMPLE BY WHICH EVERY CITY IN THIS NATION SHOULD ASPIRE.

THANK YOU JOHN.

BRIAN AREVALO AND ON DECK AFTER MR..

MR.. AREVALO WILL BE ED HEATH.

UH, HELLO. COUNCIL.

I'M BRIAN AREVALO.

I LIVE HERE IN AMARILLO, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE ORDINANCE.

UH, I DON'T THINK WE NEED IT.

THAT'S ABOUT IT.

I WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT LONGER SINCE I HAVE THREE WHOLE MINUTES.

UM, I BELIEVE WHAT EVERYONE HAS SAID BEFORE ME HAS BEEN GREAT.

UM, ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE AGAINST HAVING THIS ORDINANCE, UM, AND THERE IS VERY LITTLE I CAN SAY TO STOP ANY OF THAT OFF, BUT, UM, I BELIEVE IT IS OUR DUTY AS CITIZENS TO SPEAK ABOUT WHAT WE CARE ABOUT AND TO STAND UP FOR WHAT WE THINK IS RIGHT.

AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS ORDINANCE IS RIGHT.

SO I'M GOING TO STAND AGAINST IT.

AND WITH MY OTHER FELLOW CITIZENS WHO THINK SO AS WELL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR.

ED HEATH.

AND AFTER MR. HEATH WILL BE SERENA HEATH.

COUNCILMAN MAYOR, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND HOLD OUR COMMENT UNTIL THE MEETING THAT YOU SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK.

SINCE YOU ANNOUNCED THAT SO OR THE 19TH.

SORRY. AND SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO WITHHOLD IT FOR RIGHT NOW.

BUT THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

IF I CAN JUST GIVE YOU A POINT, IN FACT, THAT THAT MEETING IS A SPECIAL WORK SESSION.

OH, IT'LL COUNCIL ONLY THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT AT THAT MEETING.

SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK, FEEL FREE TO SPEAK.

I PROBABLY WOULD LIKE TO THEN.

THANK YOU. UM, I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU MY TESTIMONY IN REGARDS TO ABORTION AND HOW IT AFFECTS PEOPLE.

IN 1983, MY WIFE BECAME PREGNANT BY ME.

AND WE WERE IN A PRETTY TOUGH SITUATION.

WE HAD A REALLY BAD RELATIONSHIP GOING ON AT THE TIME, HIS FIRST YEAR OF OUR MARRIAGE.

AND THIS WAS A PREVIOUS WIFE.

SERENA IS MY LATEST WIFE.

MY WIFE DIED 2021 DUE TO COVID, BUT.

SHE WENT TO PLANNED PARENTHOOD.

PLANNED PARENTHOOD SENT HER TO LUBBOCK.

THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF CONVERSATION THAT WENT ON BETWEEN ME AND HER IN REGARD TO HER CHOICE.

IT WAS HER CHOICE.

THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS, IS THAT I HAVE PAID FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS.

FOR HER CHOICE.

IT WAS REVEALED TO ME THAT IT WAS PROBABLY A BOY.

THAT WAS ABORTED.

SO I NEVER GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY BALL, TO WATCH HIM PLAY FOOTBALL OR ANYTHING ELSE FOR THAT MATTER.

HE'D HAVE BEEN 40 YEARS OLD.

HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SITTING UP THERE WITH YOU RIGHT NOW.

NOW, I DO NEED TO TELL YOU, I AM NOT A CITIZEN OF AMARILLO.

I LIVE OUT NORTH OF TOWN.

MY WIFE HAS PROPERTY.

RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY HERE IN TOWN SINCE WE JUST GOT MARRIED.

WE'RE COMBINING OUR RESIDENCES.

BUT THIS ORDINANCE IMPACTS THE SURROUNDING AREA, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HIGHWAYS AND SO FORTH.

BUT IT HAS CAUSED IRREPARABLE HARM TO ME.

AND I NEVER GOT THAT CHOICE.

SO I'M FIGHTING NOW FOR THE RIGHTS OF THE UNBORN BECAUSE THEY DESERVE TO BE HEARD.

AND THE ONLY WAY THEY'RE GOING TO BE HEARD IS THROUGH ME.

SO, YOU KNOW, I WANT ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOU ALL ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT'S IT'S INVOLVED.

THERE'S A LOT OF COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON IN REGARDS TO SNITCHING ON YOUR NEIGHBOR, AND THERE'S OTHER ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON THAT I JUST DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE TALKED THE WHOLE THING THROUGH YET SO THAT WE CAN MAKE AN HONEST, YOU KNOW, DECISION.

I THINK I JUST WANT TO END IT WITH THIS.

[04:05:05]

IT'S MURDER.

WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT AS SUCH.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU SIR.

SERENA HEATH.

AND AFTER MISS HEATH WILL BE LINDSAY LONDON.

MAYOR COUNCILMAN, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR LETTING US HAVE A VOICE IN THIS.

UM, IT'S IMPASSIONED ON BOTH SIDES.

UH, I APPRECIATE WHERE Y'ALL ARE SITTING, BECAUSE IT'S A HARD DECISION.

YOU'RE HEARING THINGS FROM BOTH SIDES.

UM, TWO VOICES THAT COME TO PLAY IN.

THIS IS MR. DIXON AND MISS CARMONA.

TAKE THOSE OUT OF THE EQUATION.

YOU GET A LOT OF RHETORIC.

GOOD RHETORIC.

UM. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN AMARILLO, TEXAS.

I GRADUATED FROM PALO DURO HIGH SCHOOL.

MY MOTHER.

HAD A HOME HERE FOR ADULTS THAT WERE DISADVANTAGED.

I'VE GOT A HISTORY HERE.

I'VE GOT TO SAY HERE, I'VE GOT A RIGHT HERE IN AMARILLO, TEXAS.

I OWN PROPERTY HERE IN AMARILLO, TEXAS.

UM, I VOTED IN THE LAST COUNCILMAN ELECTIONS.

I'M A VOTER. I'M A TAXPAYER, I HAVE A VOICE.

AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL GIVING US ALL THE RIGHT TO COME UP AND SPEAK.

OUR HEARTS, OUR PASSIONS, OUR GOD GIVEN RIGHTS.

ON ONE SIDE ARE OUR RIGHTS ON ANOTHER SIDE FOR FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

WE LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND WE GET TO DO THAT.

THAT'S AMAZING TO ME.

BUT WE ALSO LIVE IN AMARILLO, TEXAS, AND WE HAVE A FOUNDATION OF GOD, COUNTRY, STRONG DESIRES, STRONG PASSIONS, AND THOSE ARE GOING TO COME INTO PLAY.

BUT WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU LAY YOUR HEAD DOWN ON YOUR PILLOW AND IT'S YOU AGAINST YOUR MAKER.

OR FOR YOUR BANK OR HOWEVER YOU WANT TO PUT THAT.

IT'S NOT ABOUT.

GOD. AT THIS POINT, IT'S NOT ABOUT GREEN SHIRTS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

IT'S ABOUT WHAT THE LAW HAS PUT DOWN INTO PLACE.

THE HEARTBEAT ACT, RIGHT? UH, WE'VE GOT ABORTION BANNED IN THE STATE OF TEXAS RIGHT NOW.

LET'S GO BACK AND SEE WHAT WE'VE GOT ON THE BOOKS.

WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK? EVEN THE SUPREME COURT UPHELD SOMETHING.

AND I COMMEND THE GENTLEMAN THAT HAS HIS DAUGHTER HERE.

HE IS TEACHING HER.

SHE HAS A VOICE AND I APPLAUD HIM FOR THAT.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN THAT DON'T HAVE A VOICE? YOU'VE GOT TO LISTEN TO THOSE VOICES BECAUSE THEY SPEAK JUST AS LOUDLY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, I APPRECIATE YOU.

THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU. LINDSAY LONDON AND ON DECK AFTER MISS LONDON WILL BE SADIE NEWSOM.

GOOD EVENING COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS LINDSAY LONDON.

I'M A CITIZEN OF AMARILLO AND I'M ONE OF THE CO-FOUNDERS OF RFA.

YOU'VE ALL GOTTEN TO KNOW OUR GROUP VERY WELL OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS.

UH, THERE WAS QUITE A HUBBUB AND CONFUSION FOR FOLKS ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS ISSUE ABOUT SHOWING UP TODAY.

IT APPEARS THAT THE DE FACTO LEADER OF THE ANTI-ABORTION MOVEMENT IN TEXAS DECIDED HE WOULD NOT COME WHEN HE DETERMINED THAT HE WOULD NOT GET THE ATTENTION OR THE PLATFORM THAT HE WAS HOPING FOR.

FOR THE RECORD, HE WAS THE ONE THAT INITIATED THE MOBILIZATION TODAY, NOT US.

BUT YET HE ISN'T HERE.

OUR COMMUNITY WASN'T WORTH THE DRIVE TO HIM UNLESS HE COULD HAVE HIS DESIRED INFLUENCE AND AUDIENCE.

RFA AND OUR SUPPORTERS WILL CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH OUR CITY ON ANY OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK OUR OPINIONS ON THIS POTENTIAL ORDINANCE.

BECAUSE UNLIKE OUTSIDER LOBBYISTS TRYING TO COME IN AND INFLUENCE OUR CITY COUNCIL, AMARILLO RESIDENTS ARE THE ONES THAT WILL HAVE TO FACE THE FALLOUT OF ANY DECISIONS THAT THE FIVE OF YOU MAKE.

OUTSIDE LOBBYISTS CAN DO THEIR WORK AND THEN LEAVE US IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR TO HIT THEIR NEXT TARGET.

THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO FACE THE IMPACT OF THEIR MEDDLING WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, OR THEIR MEDDLING WITHIN OUR PRIVATE LIVES.

ONCE AGAIN, AS MEMBERS OF RFA, WE STAND IN FULL OPPOSITION TO ANY ORDINANCE THAT COULD CAUSE FURTHER HARM TO THOSE WHO SUPPORT PEOPLE SEEKING LEGAL ABORTION SERVICES OUTSIDE OF THE STATE. OUR PRESENCE TONIGHT HERE IS NOWHERE NEAR OUR FULL SUPPORT OR SHOW OUT ACROSS THE CITY.

MANY HAVE DECIDED TO SAVE THEIR TIME AND ENERGY FOR WHEN THIS IS FORMALLY ON THE AGENDA, AND WE WILL STAY VIGILANT FOR WHEN THAT HAPPENS.

[04:10:06]

WE APPRECIATE THE MAYOR AND COUNCILORS WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN TO US, AND WE HOPE THAT OUR DIALOG WILL CONTINUE.

OUR COMMITMENT IS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND EVERYONE WHO WOULD BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY A RESTRICTIVE ORDINANCE THAT DUPLICATES OR REACHES BEYOND EXISTING STATE LAW.

WE HAVE NO PLANS OF STOPPING OR BACKING DOWN.

WE WILL SHOW UP REGARDLESS OF FANFARE OR PRESS OR ANY OF IT, TO FIGHT FOR WHAT'S LEFT OF REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS IN THE PANHANDLE.

THIS IS PARTICULARLY CRUCIAL IN CASES LIKE WE SAW JUST THIS WEEK.

KATE COX, WHO HAD TO FLEE HER HOME STATE IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE DEEPLY NECESSARY LIFE SAVING MEDICAL CARE WHILE CARRYING A CHILD WITH A LETHAL FETAL ANOMALY.

BECAUSE POLITICIANS LIKE KEN PAXTON WOULD RATHER GRANDSTAND TO EXTREMIST RELIGIOUS IDEOLOGY THAN ACTUALLY TAKE CARE OF HIS CONSTITUENTS IN A DEEPLY PERSONAL TIME OF NEED.

I RECENTLY SAT IN ON A CRIME PREVENTION LUNCHEON, WHERE IT WAS MADE CLEAR THAT BOTH THE POLICE AND PROSECUTORS IN POTTER COUNTY ARE SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERSTAFFED.

DO WE REALLY WANT TO BRING IN AN UNNECESSARY ORDINANCE THAT DUPLICATES STATE LAW TO FURTHER CLOG UP THEIR ALREADY LIMITED RESOURCES? OUR CITY HAS REAL CRIME AND PROBLEMS TO BE CONCERNED WITH.

WE IMPLORE YOU TO SAVE YOUR EFFORTS FOR THINGS THAT TRULY HELP OUR TOWN TO BECOME A HEALTHY AND SAFE PLACE, NOT GOVERNMENT OVERREACH OR IDEOLOGICAL OPTICS.

TO INCREASE YOUR FAVOR WITH YOUR BASE, WE URGE YOU AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN TO BASE YOUR DECISIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN THE REALITY OF OUR DIVERSE NEEDS AND PERSPECTIVES, NOT IDEOLOGY. REMEMBER THAT YOU REPRESENT ALL OF US AND NOT JUST THOSE WHO AGREE WITH YOU.

THANK YOU. SADIE NEWSOM AFTER MISS NEWSOM WILL BE ANNE MARIE RIZZOTTO.

MAYOR STANLEY COUNCIL, GREAT TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ALL OF US.

I'M SADIE NEWSOM.

I AM AN AMARILLO RESIDENT.

I'M A NATIVE AMARILLO AND A PASSIONATE PROFESSIONAL, DEDICATED FAMILY MEMBER, AND AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THE COMMUNITY.

I'VE PROBABLY SAT THROUGH MEETINGS WITH MANY OF YOU.

I THINK MOST AMARILLO WOULD AGREE THAT WE ARE A CITY BUILT ON FREEDOM, COMMUNITY, AND A PIONEERING SPIRIT.

DESPITE ANYONE'S VIEWS ON ABORTION.

THIS RESOLUTION LIMITS INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM, PITS NEIGHBOR AGAINST NEIGHBOR, AND CREATES AN ENVIRONMENT THAT'S HOSTILE TO ECONOMIC GROWTH, VITALITY AND INNOVATION.

IT IS DANGEROUS.

DANGEROUS TO HEALTH AND WELLNESS, AND DANGEROUS TO WOMEN'S ABILITY TO HAVE FUTURE PREGNANCIES.

IT'S DIDACTIC BY PROJECTING THE MISPLACED MORALS OF A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE ON THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, REGARDLESS OF DIFFERENCES IN DEEPLY HELD BELIEFS OF INDIVIDUALS.

AND IT'S FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE.

EXPENSIVE LITIGATION, DECREASED INVESTMENT FROM BUSINESSES DUE TO INCREASED RISK AND POTENTIAL INTERSTATE COMMERCE RESTRICTIONS AND DROPS IN TOURISM AND VISITOR REVENUE IS A CERTAINTY.

I'VE HEARD COMMENTARY ABOUT BY COUNCIL MEMBERS EVEN TONIGHT REGARDING THE IMPORTANCE OF RECRUITING PEOPLE TO THIS AREA AND SELLING THEM ON THE ADVANTAGES OF AMARILLO, AND I AGREE THAT THAT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE PIVOTAL, UM, POINT AT WHICH WE EXIST IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND BASED ON OTHER THINGS I'VE HEARD HERE TODAY FROM LEADERSHIP AND FROM MY FELLOW CITIZENS, OUR COMMUNITY VALUES DECREASED REGULATION, BUSINESS FRIENDLY POLICIES, PRIVACY AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.

THIS ORDINANCE FLIES IN THE FACE OF THOSE VALUES.

I SING THE PRAISES OF AMARILLO EVERYWHERE I GO.

AND IF THIS ORDINANCE PASSES, I WON'T IN GOOD CONSCIENCE BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

AND I CERTAINLY DON'T INTEND THAT I WILL BE THE ONLY ONE.

THANK YOU COUNCIL.

THANK YOU MA'AM. ANNE MARIE ROSADO, AND ON DECK AFTER ANNE MARIE WILL BE WENDY FRICK.

SO I JUST LIKE TO FACT CHECK FROM THE 1116 MEETING.

DAVID GALLEGOS, A NEW MEXICO SENATOR, CAME UP HERE AND MADE UNTRUE STATEMENTS IN REGARD TO NEW MEXICO ABORTION FACILITIES.

HE CLAIMED THAT THE SATANIC TEMPLE WAS GIVEN $10 MILLION FOR AN ABORTION FACILITY, AND THEY ARE HARMING TEXAS WOMEN AFTER RESEARCH.

THAT'S FACTUALLY NOT TRUE.

ACTUALLY, USE FOX NEWS SO THAT YOU'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE SOURCE.

THE $10 MILLION FACILITY WAS AN INITIATIVE LED BY THE NEW MEXICO GOVERNOR TO PROVIDE SAFE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE FOR ANY NEW MEXICO CITIZEN OR ANY OUT OF STATE WOMAN SEEKING

[04:15:06]

IN MY RESEARCH, THE SATANIC TEMPLE WAS NEVER BROUGHT UP.

ONCE THE SATANIC ORGANIZATION HE WAS REFERRING TO HAS STRICT REQUIREMENTS ON TREATING THEIR PATIENTS SEEKING THE ABORTION PILL.

THOSE REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE.

PATIENTS MUST BE 17 YEARS OLD AND A NEW MEXICO RESIDENT WITH A VALID NEW MEXICO ADDRESS.

THEY SPECIFICALLY STATE THAT THEY DO NOT SUPPLY ABORTION PILLS TO ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 17, EVEN WITH PARENTAL GUIDANCE OR ANYONE OUT OF STATE.

UM, AND AND PATIENTS MUST BE MEDICALLY ABLE TO.

THEY ONLY DISTRIBUTE THE PILL UP TO 11 WEEKS PREGNANT.

ALL THIS CAN BE FOUND ON THE TEST HEALTH ORG WEBSITE.

MAKING STATEMENTS SUCH AS THESE, ESPECIALLY AS A SENATOR, IS VERY UNTRUE AND IT'S KNOWN AS APOSTROPHE PROPAGANDA.

IT IS DANGEROUS MISINFORMATION TO FURTHER A HARMFUL ANTI-ABORTION AND ANTI-WOMAN AGENDA.

I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU OF A FEW THINGS THAT I MENTIONED LAST TIME I SPOKE UP AGAINST THE SANCTUARY CITIES OF THE UNBORN ORDINANCE OR ANY ABORTION TRAFFICKING ORDINANCE. THIS ORDINANCE HAS NO PLACE IN A LOCAL GOVERNMENT BECAUSE WE, AS CITIZENS OF AMARILLO, DID NOT VOTE FOR YOU AS OUR LOCAL LEADERS ON POLITICAL ITEMS. WE VOTED FOR YOU TO LOOK AFTER A BUDGET, IMPROVE OUR PARKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE, AND MANAGE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.

YOUR POLITICAL BELIEFS SHOULD BE LEFT AT THE DOOR.

BUT THAT'S MY MISTAKE AGAIN.

AND HAVING THAT ASSUMPTION OF ANY POLITICAL OFFICIAL, IF YOU WANT THIS POLITICAL ISSUE TO TAKE TAKE OVER ANYTHING YOU'RE WORKING ON OR ACCOMPLISH HERE IN THE CITY, UM, SO BE IT.

IN MY OPINION, AND MANY OTHERS, IT'S BAD OPTICS.

I ALSO WANT TO REMIND YOU AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN UNTIL I AM BLUE IN THE FACE.

IT IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS WHAT A WOMAN DOES WITH HER BODY OR IF SHE GETS AN ABORTION.

NEVER. YOU ARE ALL MEN WHO, UNFORTUNATELY, WILL BE MAKING A DECISION IN THE NEAR FUTURE THAT WILL HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON WOMEN.

EVEN THINKING ABOUT AN ORDINANCE SUCH AS, SUCH AS OR LIKE SANCTUARY CITIES DOES NOT DOES MORE HARM THAN GOOD UNTIL THERE IS A WOMAN UP THERE ON THE DAIS WITH YOU.

I DON'T BELIEVE THIS COUNCIL HAS ANY RIGHT OR KNOWLEDGE TO WORK OR VOTE ON AN ORDINANCE THAT WILL DIRECTLY AFFECT WOMEN AND THEIR LOVED ONES.

THANK YOU.

OUR LAST SPEAKER SIGNED UP IS WENDY FRICK.

HELLO, MY NAME IS WENDY FRICK.

MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, APD.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE.

26 YEARS AGO, MY HUSBAND AND I FOUND OURSELVES WITH AN UNPLANNED PREGNANCY AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT THE AMARILLO AREA IS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES FOR MOMS PREBORN BABIES, CHILDREN THAT HAVE NEEDS.

DADS, WE HAVE GOTTEN SO MUCH SUPPORT HERE.

I KNOW THAT IS NOT THE CASE EVERYWHERE, AND I CANNOT SPEAK FOR THE WHOLE STATE OR THE WHOLE NATION, BUT IN THIS AREA WE HAVE HAD THE SUPPORT WE'VE NEEDED.

WE HAVE HAD HELP AT W-T TO FINISH SCHOOL.

I MEAN, I TOOK A KID TO SCHOOL WITH ME, JUST, YOU KNOW, AND PEOPLE WOULD TAKE TURNS WATCHING HIM OR WHATEVER.

I JUST WANT TO FIND A WAY TO HAVE ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM WORK TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT THERE ARE NEEDS IN OUR CITY FOR KIDS THAT ARE NEEDY.

AND I'M SORRY, THAT SOUNDS REDUNDANT, BUT WE'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS OUTSIDE OF THIS THREE MINUTES.

BUT THIS IS A GREAT PLACE FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE HURTING, AND THIS IS A GREAT PLACE FOR PREBORN BABIES TO GET THE HELP THEY NEED.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM.

AIR. THAT CONCLUDES EVERYONE THAT SIGNED UP TODAY.

OKAY. THANK YOU, MISS CITY SECRETARY.

SO AT THIS TIME, I HAVE ANYONE ON THE FRONT ROW THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK HERE ON THE RIGHT.

DOCTOR HARBOR SONG, IF YOU'LL COME UP TO THE MIC, PLEASE.

CLOSE ENOUGH.

WELL, I HAVE A VOICE.

THANK YOU. I'M WOLFHAUSEN.

I LIVE IN AMARILLO SINCE 1978.

MANY OF YOU WERE NOT HERE THEN.

UH, I AM TALKING ABOUT A DIFFERENT TOPIC.

UH, I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED FROM WHAT I SEE IN MY PRACTICE.

AND I WANT TO SUGGEST TO THE COUNCIL.

THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT TRULY IS INFORMED CONSENT, VERY SPECIFICALLY WITH REGARD TO THE COVID

[04:20:04]

COVID VACCINES, GENE THERAPY.

WITHOUT TRUE INFORMED CONSENT OF EITHER THE PARENTS OR THE ADULTS FOR THAT MATTER.

THE PRESENT STATUS OF THE VACCINES IN TEXAS AND THE US IS EUA, WHICH MEANS EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZED.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THAT MEANS WE HAVE NO CLUE, BUT WE THINK IT'S NEEDED.

THAT WAS OKAY IN THE BEGINNING BECAUSE REALLY, NOBODY KNEW.

AND THE ONE WHO KNEW LIED.

OKAY. UH, AT THE START.

IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE.

BUT NOW WE ARE THREE YEARS PLUS IN AND WE HAVE VACCINE ADVERSE EVENT REPORTING SYSTEM DATA, WHICH SHOW THAT HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN DIED AFTER THE VACCINE.

THE VACCINE IS STILL NOT APPROVED FOR NOBODY.

IT'S AUTHORIZED.

AND AUTHORIZED IS A VERY BAD WORD BECAUSE THAT MEANS I HAVE THE POWER AND I TELL YOU, AND I DON'T NEED ANY DATA THAT'S VERY BAD.

UM. WE HAVE CHILDREN WHO DIE OF MYOCARDITIS AFTER THE VACCINE.

AND SINCE I SAID I WANT TO TALK ABOUT INFORMED CONSENT, LET ME GIVE YOU THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION CODE.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A DIAGNOSIS.

YOU GOT TO EXPLAIN TO THE PERSON, NATURE AND PURPOSE OF THE INTERVENTION AND THE BURDEN OF THE PROCEDURE, THE EXPECTED BENEFITS AND ALL OPTIONS, INCLUDING NOT DOING ANYTHING, NOT TREATING.

WHICH MEANS YOU SAY NO.

ALL OPTIONS WOULD INCLUDE.

CHANGE YOUR DIET IF YOU EAT YOURSELF IN TROUBLE.

THERE'S REALLY NOTHING I CAN DO.

BECAUSE 1933 TO 1945 WORLD WAR, INCLUDING WORLD WAR TWO, THE ETHICAL GUIDELINES WERE BROKEN BY THE GERMAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AND THE GERMAN PHYSICIANS.

OTHER HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONS.

THE NUREMBERG CODE WAS DEVELOPED 1948, AND BASICALLY IN ONE SENTENCE IT SAYS INFORMED CONSENT IS REQUIRED.

THERE IS NOTHING WITHOUT IT.

WELL, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT INFORMED CONSENT INCLUDES.

THESE ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS.

AND IF WITH THESE SIDE OF KNOWING, THESE SIDE EFFECTS, YOU WANT TO DO THE PROCEDURE OR WHATEVER, YOU'RE FREE TO DO SO.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR. I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TONIGHT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR.

ANYONE ELSE ON THE FRONT ROW TO MY RIGHT THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? NO. UM, SO WE'RE OVER ANYONE ON THE SECOND ROW HERE ON MY LEFT.

SECOND ROW HERE, MISS LINDSAY.

ANYONE ELSE? NO.

UH. THIRD ROW.

UH, HERE ON MY FAR LEFT.

OKAY. YES, MA'AM.

I'M CHRISTY. I LIVE IN THE CITY LIMITS.

UM, I DIDN'T WRITE A SPEECH OR ANYTHING.

I'M NO PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER, BUT I DO WANT TO VOICE MY OPINION.

FIRST OF ALL, I'M SO GLAD THAT ALL OF Y'ALL ARE HERE TODAY.

THAT MEANS NONE OF YOU WERE ABORTED, SO THAT'S GOOD.

UM. Y'ALL.

UM, SECOND OF ALL, ALL WHO GET UP HERE AND SAY, YOU KNOW, IT'S WOMAN'S BODY.

WOMAN'S CHOICE.

WELL, YOU HAD TO HAVE A MAN TO HELP YOU GET PREGNANT, SO A MAN SHOULD HAVE AN OPINION IN WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE PREGNANCY.

I MEAN, THAT'S THAT'S COMMON SENSE, GUYS.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THESE BABIES DON'T ASK TO BE BORN, BUT THEY DON'T ASK TO DIE EITHER.

AND I'M A MOTHER OF FOUR.

I'VE BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED BY TWO MEN, AND IT WAS A REALLY BIG ORDEAL.

[04:25:01]

IF I GOT PREGNANT DURING THAT, I WOULD STILL, STILL TO THIS DAY KEEP THAT CHILD.

BECAUSE ANY REAL MOM WILL SAY I WILL GIVE UP MY LIFE FOR THAT CHILD.

THAT'S A REAL MOM.

THAT'S A REAL MOM UNDER GOD.

THAT IS NOT SOMEBODY IN GREEN SITTING IN A COURTROOM.

THANK YOU MA'AM. ANYONE ELSE HERE ON THE THIRD ROW? NO. UM, WE'LL COME ACROSS TO THIS SIDE.

YES, SIR. HELLO, MY NAME IS TOMMY STIDHAM.

I DO LIVE IN THE CITY LIMITS.

WITH THE THREAT OF CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM IN OUR COUNTRY AND THOSE WHOM ARE CHRISTIANS SAYING THEIR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IS BEING THREATENED.

AS WE'VE HEARD TONIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT THE PEOPLE WHO STAND FOR THIS ORDINANCE HAVE NOTHING BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM.

THEIR BODIES ARE NOT BEING THEIR BABIES.

EXCUSE ME? THEIR BABIES ARE NOT BEING ABORTED.

THEIR BODIES ARE NOT BEING CONTROLLED.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT EVERY PERSON STANDING FOR THIS ORDINANCE HAS REFERENCED CHRISTIANITY IN THEIR TESTIMONY, AND NOT ONE PERSON OPPOSED HAS REFERENCED THEIR RELIGION.

NOTHING IS BEING TAKEN FROM THOSE OPPOSED.

EXCUSE ME. OH, YEAH.

THOSE ARE OPPOSED.

OH MY GOSH. EXCUSE ME.

THOSE FOR THE ORDINANCE HAVE NOTHING BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM.

THEY WOULDN'T GET AN ABORTION ANYWAYS BECAUSE THE RELIGION RESTRICTS THEM.

OURS I SAY OURS BECAUSE THE PEOPLE I LOVE AND SURROUND MYSELF WITH MY COMMUNITY ARE BEING ATTACKED BY THIS AND THEREFORE SO AM I.

VICARIOUSLY. OUR BELIEFS DO NOT RESTRICT US FROM THIS.

SO WHY DO THOSE SUPPORTING THIS ORDINANCE FEEL SUCH A CALLING TO CONTROL OUR ACTIONS AND CHOOSE WHAT OUR BODIES GO THROUGH? THIS IS NOT A BATTLE FOR ABORTION.

THIS IS A BATTLE FOR CONTROL, AS THE CHRISTIAN NATIONALIST INTENTION HAS BEEN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS BRAWL.

I SIT IN OPPOSITION FOR THIS ORDINANCE WITH THOSE WHO WILL CONTINUE TO SUFFER IF THIS WERE TO BE PASSED.

THANK YOU. SIR, COULD I GET YOU TO REPEAT YOUR NAME? OH. I'M SORRY. WHAT WAS YOUR NAME? TOMMY. TOMMY.

STIDHAM. STIDHAM.

STIDHAM. THANK YOU MR. STIDHAM. ANYONE ELSE HERE ON THE THIRD ROW TO MY RIGHT.

THEY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. YES MA'AM.

MAYOR COUNCIL. THANK YOU ALL.

YES, MA'AM. I WASN'T GOING TO SPEAK EARLIER, BUT THEN I HAVE.

I JUST FEEL COMPELLED TO.

UM. REVEREND BETTY BROWN IS A RENOWNED EPISCOPAL PASTOR, THEOLOGIAN, AND PROFESSOR WHO IN 1984 WROTE, JESUS WAS NOT BROUGHT DOWN BY ATHEISM AND ANARCHY.

HE WAS BROUGHT DOWN BY LAW AND ORDER ALLIED WITH RELIGION, WHICH IS A DEADLY MIX.

BEWARE OF THOSE WHO CLAIM TO KNOW THE MIND OF GOD, AND WHO ARE PREPARED TO USE FORCE IF NECESSARY, TO MAKE OTHERS CONFORM.

BEWARE OF THOSE WHO CANNOT TELL GOD'S WILL FROM THEIR OWN.

GENTLEMEN, WE'RE HERE BECAUSE OF A MADE UP FALLACY BY A MAN WHO DECIDED THEIR POPULATION NEEDED TO INCREASE.

BECAUSE ALL THIS BABY BOOMERS ARE RETIRING HERE, AND WE'VE GOT TO PAY FOR THAT.

WE'VE GOT TO CATCH UP.

AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH YOUNGER PEOPLE THAT CAN MATCH THE NUMBERS OF THE BABY BOOMERS.

AND OF COURSE, THROWING THE ASPECTS OF RELIGION, UH, WE WOULD REPLACE THEM IN, UH, WHO WHO WOULD REPLACE THEM AND SUPPLEMENT SOCIAL SECURITY TO PAY FOR THE BABY BOOMERS RETIREMENTS.

AND OF COURSE, THROWING THE ASPECTS OF RELIGIOUS FEAR MONGERING AND GUILT WOULD BE A GREAT TOOL FOR THEM TO USE.

AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS MAN DID IN 19.

THAT MAN DID IN 1973 AFTER ROE VERSUS WADE.

AND NOW ALONG COMES MARK LEE DICKSON.

HE'S A SELF-PROCLAIMED VIRGIN.

HE SAYS HE WILL NEVER MARRY OR BEAR CHILDREN, AND HE CLAIMS TO BE A PASTOR.

I LOOKED ONLINE LAST NIGHT, AND I FOUND OUT JUST HOW EASY IT IS TO BECOME AN ORDAINED MINISTER IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

SO WHY IS HE SO FIRED UP TO HURT WOMEN? AT THE OCTOBER MEETING, THE COUNCIL STATED THEIR BIAS WAS PRO-LIFE, WHICH I BELIEVE IS AGAINST Y'ALL'S OWN RULES.

YOU WERE REMINDED OF THE OBLIGATIONS TO THE CITY OF AMARILLO AND THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS DURING THAT MEETING.

THEN YOU ALLOWED MARK LEE DICKSON TO HAVE THE LAST WORD FEAR MONGERING AT ITS FINEST.

I HOPE YOU DO NOT ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ASK EACH OF YOU WHO INVITED MARK LEE DICKSON HERE TO AMARILLO.

[04:30:02]

IF YOU DIDN'T INVITE HIM AND HE APPROACHED YOU, WHY WOULD YOU EVER THINK THAT THIS WOULD BE A GOOD THING TO DO? DID SBA EXISTS AND THE STRICT AND IT'S THE STRICTEST BANNED IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS ALREADY STRIPPED EVERY CITIZEN IN THIS ROOM THEIR RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS ON THIS ISSUE.

BY PUTTING IT IN THE VIGILANTE COLUMN.

ANYONE IN THIS ROOM COULD BE ACCUSED OF AIDING AND ABETTING EACH OF YOU.

BUT YOU WOULD HAVE TO PROVE YOUR INNOCENCE.

I ASK YOU TO THROW OUT THIS ORDINANCE OUT AND TELL ME TO GO HOME AND HELP FEED THE 1 IN 6 CHILDREN WITH FOOD INSECURITIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. THEN HE REALLY WOULD BE DOING GOD'S WORK.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

MA'AM, MAY I GET YOUR NAME, PLEASE, FOR THE MINUTES? MA'AM, YOUR YOUR NAME, YOUR NAME.

OH. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MISS SEEBERG.

UH, RIGHT BEHIND YOU. CARMEN.

ON THIS ROW. ANYONE.

THAT'S OUR FOURTH ROW, I GUESS.

SO, COMING ACROSS? NO, SIR. OKAY.

GOING ACROSS THE OTHER SIDE.

ANY, MISS CLAUDIA TROVATO.

I REALLY DID SIGN UP ONLINE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO IT.

UH, I'M CLAUDIA TROVATO.

I LIVE IN AMARILLO.

I'M OLD ENOUGH TO HAVE LIVED DURING THE TIME WHEN ABORTION WAS ILLEGAL.

AND THE LARGEST CAUSE OF DEATH OF WOMEN WAS BOTCHED ABORTIONS.

I ALSO LIVED DURING THE 15 YEARS THAT IT WAS 50 YEARS THAT IT WAS LEGAL.

I'M SPEAKING TODAY AGAINST THE PROPOSED CITY ORDINANCE TO MAKE AMARILLO A SANCTUARY CITY FOR THE UNBORN.

THE PROPOSED, UH ORDINANCE IS UNNECESSARY, IRRELEVANT AND HARMFUL.

IT'S UNNECESSARY BECAUSE THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT TURNED THE ISSUE OVER TO THE STATES AND THE STATE OF TEXAS BANNED ABORTION.

THE CITY OF AMARILLO, UH, UNNECESSARILY PASSED A RESOLUTION IN 2021, BUT IT CLEARLY STATED THAT AMARILLO IS AN ANTI-ABORTION CITY.

THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE IS IRRELEVANT BECAUSE IT HAS NOTHING WHATSOEVER TO DO WITH THE OPERATION OF A CITY. CITY GOVERNMENT IS SUPPOSED TO PICK UP TRASH, BUILD AND MAINTAIN ROADS, PURIFY AND DISTRIBUTE WATER, PROVIDE POLICE PROTECTION, HANDLE STRAY ANIMALS, ETC..

NOWHERE IN THE CITY CODE DOES IT AUTHORIZE, DIRECT, OR ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO INTRUDE INTO THE PERSONAL, INTIMATE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH OF WOMEN IN CRISIS.

THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE IS NOT ONLY HARMFUL, IT'S DIVISIVE.

IT'S HARMFUL IN THAT IT DRAGS THE NATIONAL CULTURE WARS INTO AMARILLO CITY GOVERNMENT.

IT CRIMINALIZES CHRISTIAN LOVE AND ASSISTANCE FOR WOMEN IN CRISIS.

THERE ARE AS MANY, IF NOT MORE, CHRISTIAN CHURCHES WHO SUPPORT THE RIGHT TO CHOICE AS THOSE WHO DON'T.

UH, IT BRINGS A MINORITY RELIGIOUS POSITION INTO AN OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT PROCESS.

AND FINALLY, IT HAS A DISGUSTING AND UN-AMERICAN ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM.

THIS ORDINANCE WAS BROUGHT TO AMARILLO BY TWO.

MR. DIXON DOESN'T OPERATE ALONE.

HE OPERATES WITH A LAWYER.

THEY'RE BOTH NATIONALLY KNOWN OUTSIDE AGITATORS.

AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS.

UH, WITH NOTHING BETTER TO DO THAN TO PUT UNDUE PRESSURE ON WELL INTENTIONED ELECTED OFFICIALS AND TO INTERFERE IN THEIR CHURCHES, TO EVEN PUT MORE PRESSURE ON THEM.

I URGE YOU, I BEG YOU, DO NOT PASS THIS ORDINANCE AND MAKE AMARILLO A PART OF THE CULTURE WARS IN THE UNITED STATES.

THANK YOU MA'AM. IF YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME ONE MORE TIME.

MY NAME IS CAROL ANN STEWART AND I AM AN AMARILLO CITIZEN.

AND I AM SORRY THAT YOU'VE BEEN TALKED DOWN TO SO MUCH TONIGHT.

[04:35:04]

I AM RAISING ONE OF MY GRANDCHILDREN WHO IS ALMOST EIGHT AND HAD TO STOP MY DAY TO TAKE CARE OF MY GRANDDAUGHTER BECAUSE OF DAY CARE ISSUES.

I WAS PROUDLY, PROUDLY IN 2013 AT AUSTIN WITH HB2 WHEN WE WERE MARCHING FOR REMOVING THE CLOSING THE CLINICS THAT WERE UNSAFE AND THE WOMEN WERE DYING FROM BOTCHED ABORTIONS.

AND I WAS MARCHING WITH DEMOCRATIC MEN WHO HAD HAD THEIR BABIES ABORTED BECAUSE THEIR GIRLFRIENDS WOULD NOT LET THEM HAVE A VOICE.

I ALSO HAD A DAUGHTER WHO WAS VIOLENTLY RAPED, AND WHEN SHE FOUND OUT SHE WAS PREGNANT, WHEN WE WERE LEAVING THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, SHE SAYS, BECAUSE I'M ADOPTED, I AM NOT GOING TO HAVE THIS BABY BE A, UM, ABORTED.

I WILL HAVE THIS BABY.

AND I SAID, WELL, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO CALL THE BABY? SHE GOES, I'M JUST GOING TO CALL IT BABY.

I SAID, NO, NO, YOU CAN CALL IT PRECIOUS GIFT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE THIS BABY TRAUMA IN THE WOMB.

WE WANT THIS BABY TO UNDERSTAND HOW VALUABLE HE IS.

ENDED UP HE WAS A BOY.

WE PRAYED FOR DIRECTION.

WE WERE LED TO ADOPTION.

HE HAS A WONDERFUL FAMILY AND HE'S 12 YEARS OLD.

AND ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY HAPPY HANUKKAH, HAPPY HANUKKAH, BECAUSE AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST, I CELEBRATE HANUKKAH, BECAUSE MATHEMATICALLY IT SHOWS THAT IT IS WHEN CHRIST WAS CONCEIVED AND HOW AMAZING THAT AN EIGHT DAY MIRACLE WOULD HAPPEN.

AND THERE'S ONLY TWO EIGHT DAY MIRACLES.

TABERNACLES WHEN HE WAS BORN AND HANUKKAH WHEN HE WAS CONCEIVED.

LIFE IS IMPORTANT.

LIFE BEGINS AT CONCEPTION.

WHEN YOU VALUE WHAT'S IN YOUR WOMB, WHEN YOU VALUE YOUR LIFE, YOU VALUE YOUR COMMUNITY.

AMARILLO IS NO DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER CITY I'VE TRAVELED AND I'VE MOVED, SO THE ISSUES THAT THEY SAY THAT ARE HAPPENING HERE ARE HAPPENING AT OTHER PLACES.

ADOPTION RULES NEED TO BE FIXED.

THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO, BUT WE DO NOT NEED TO HAVE TRANSPORTED BABIES OR TRANSPORTED DEAD BABIES AND THEIR BLOOD ON OUR HANDS. AND WE DO NOT NEED THE, UM.

WE DO NOT NEED PEOPLE WHO ARE SO ANGRY TO TELL US HOW TO VALUE LIFE.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

MA'AM. MA'AM. OKAY.

IF WE GO BACK TO THE FIFTH ROW, DO WE HAVE ANYONE ON THE FIFTH ROW COMING ACROSS HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? YES, MA'AM.

HELLO AGAIN.

MY NAME IS STEPHANIE MADRIGAL AND I LIVE HERE IN AMARILLO AND I HAVE FOR MOST OF MY LIFE.

I OWN A SMALL BUSINESS, AND I'M WORKING TOWARDS BECOMING WAY MORE ACTIVE AND HAVING AND FINDING MY VOICE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

UM, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK.

I AM JUST REALLY THANKFUL FOR THAT.

UM, SO MY FIRST THING THAT I WANT TO SAY IS I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS MIGHT BE ONE OF OUR LAST TIMES TO GET TO SPEAK TO YOU GUYS BEFORE WE GO INTO THE SPECIAL SESSION AND GET TO WATCH YOU VERY METICULOUSLY.

UM, AND I JUST WANT YOU TO LOOK IN THE FACES OF THOSE THAT YOU REPRESENT EVERYONE, BOTH SIDES, AND KNOW THAT THE OPINIONS OF CHILDBEARING PEOPLE.

IN GENERAL, AND THOSE THAT CANNOT CONCEIVE AND THOSE THAT CHOOSE NOT TO CONCEIVE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE REPRESENTING.

UM, I WANT YOU TO ALSO THINK ABOUT THE REPERCUSSIONS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO RAISE KIDS IN OR LIVE IN AFTER THE FACT.

UM, I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU GUYS TO THINK OF THE FUTURE OF THIS CITY.

AND WE'VE HAD THE TALK OF ATTRACTING ATTRACTING TALENT HAS BEEN A HUGE THING.

I REALLY WANT TO BE A LEADER IN THIS COMMUNITY SO BADLY, BUT I CANNOT FIND IT IN MYSELF TO PUT MYSELF IN A CITY THAT I'M AFRAID TO BE A WOMAN AND AFRAID IN MY OWN BODY TO BE ABLE TO CALL THIS A HOME, LET ALONE LEARN TO LEAD IT.

AND IT'S HARD BECAUSE I REALLY, REALLY LOVE AMARILLO.

I LOVE THE KINDNESS AND THE JOY AND IT'S WONDERFUL.

AND I SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS, AND I KNOW IT WOULD TAKE SO MUCH OF IT.

I AGAIN, AS A FORMER SCHOOL TEACHER, A FORMER ENGLISH TEACHER, I'M TERRIFIED OF THE REPERCUSSIONS OF ANYTHING THAT PITS NEIGHBOR

[04:40:02]

UM, I JUST NEED YOU TO KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT A VISION OF LOVE.

AND IN YOUR OTHER, UH, IN YOUR OTHER POSITION, THAT'S NOT OF JUSTICE.

TO BE ABLE TO BRING SOMETHING THAT CAN HARM SO MANY PEOPLE WITHOUT DUE PROCESS.

UM. SORRY.

I'M JUST. I'M SAD THAT I HAVE TO BE HERE, BUT, UM, I KNOW YOU KEEP HEARING IT OVER AND OVER.

I'M GOING TO KEEP SAYING IT. PLEASE, GUYS, REMEMBER SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.

PLEASE. THERE IS NO PERSON IN THIS ROOM THAT WOULD DENY.

WE KNOW WHAT YOU BELIEVE.

THERE IS NOBODY THAT WOULD QUESTION IT.

BUT I ASK YOU TO REMEMBER THAT YOU REPRESENT ALL OF US AND IN ME WANTING TO BECOME A LEADER.

SHOW ME THE WAY TO TRULY LEAD AMARILLO INTO SOMETHING GREAT.

THANK YOU MA'AM.

ANYONE ELSE ON THIS ROW COMING ACROSS? I THINK IT'S OPEN.

WE'LL GO BACK TO YOU, SIR.

UH, ANYONE ON THAT ROW? YES, SIR. SMALLER SIGN THIS TIME.

BUT YOU STILL HAD A SIGN.

ALL RIGHT. EVENING, GENTLEMEN.

MY NAME IS PARKER KIRSHEN.

I, LIKE I SAID LAST TIME, I DO NOT RESIDE IN THE CITY OF AMARILLO, BUT I SPEND MUCH OF MY TIME HERE FOR WORK AND ALSO TO HAVE FUN.

SO I CONSIDER IT A HOME.

UH, I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE FELLOW MEN THAT DECIDE TO SHOW UP HERE IN OPPOSITION TO THE ORDINANCE, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WOMEN SHOULD NOT HAVE TO CARRY THE TORCH ALONE.

THEY NEED, LIKE, EVERY ALL HANDS ON DECK TO HELP THEM OUT.

AND, UH, LET'S SEE.

AND I DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT TO ADD TO WHAT THE PEOPLE ON THE OPPOSITION ORDINANCE SIDE HAVE TO SAY.

YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH ALMOST PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THAT THEY SAID, REALLY, I'M HERE TO OFFER SOME REBUTTALS TO WHAT THE PRO ORDINANCE SIDE HAS SAID, MAINLY TO SOME OF THEIR RHETORIC THAT THEY HAVE PRESENTED.

UM, FOR INSTANCE, THEY'VE BEEN, UM, MAKING REFERENCE TO THE BIBLE AND GOD AND WANTING TO, YOU KNOW, OBEY HIS COMMAND OF PROTECTING LIFE.

I'M JUST CURIOUS, LIKE WHERE EXACTLY IN THE BIBLE DOES IT SAY YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO ABORT AN UNBORN FETUS? CAN YOU POINT OUT, LIKE THE CHAPTER AND VERSE SPECIFICALLY? AND THEN ALSO, IT'S FUNNY THAT ONE OF THE PREVIOUS LADIES THAT SPOKE HERE WISHED YOU ALL HAPPY HANUKKAH TO SUPPORT THE ORDINANCE, AND CLAIMED THAT LIFE BEGINS AT CONCEPTION WHEN YOU CAN ASK MOST RELIGIOUS, UH, MOST JEWISH RELIGIOUS SCHOLARS ABOUT WHEN THEY BELIEVE LIFE BEGINS AT CONCEPTION, AND THEY WILL TELL YOU THAT IT DOES NOT BELIEVE AT THE MOMENT OF CONCEPTION, BUT RATHER AT THE MOMENT OF FIRST BREATH.

ONCE THE BABY HAS ALREADY EXITED THE BIRTH BIRTH CANAL AND DRAWN THEIR FIRST BREATH.

AND, UH, ANOTHER QUESTION I WANTED TO ASK IS HOW CAN YOU CLAIM TO BE PRO-LIFE WHEN YOUR IDEOLOGY, CONSERVATISM HAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE DEATH PENALTY? HOW DO YOU SQUARE AWAY THAT HYPOCRISY IN YOUR BRAIN? AND THEN FINALLY, I WANTED TO POINT OUT AN INSTANCE WHERE A PIECE OF THE BIBLE IS ACTUALLY PRO-ABORTION.

I'LL GIVE YOU LIKE, AN ABBREVIATED VERSION IN NUMBERS, CHAPTER FIVE, VERSES 11 THROUGH 31.

IN MOSAIC LAW, THERE IS A TEST TO SEE WHETHER A WOMAN HAS BEEN UNFAITHFUL TO HER HUSBAND, A PREGNANT WOMAN.

UM, SHE WILL POTENTIALLY DECEIVE.

SHE'S PREGNANT. SHE WILL BE GIVEN AN ABORTIVE ABORTIFACIENT.

AND IF SHE ENDS UP PLOPPING AN UNBORN FETUS ON THE GROUND, THAT MEANS THAT SHE WAS UNFAITHFUL TO HER HUSBAND.

BUT IF NOTHING HAPPENS ACCORDING TO RELIGIOUS LAW, THEN SHE DID NOT GO AROUND MESSING WITH OTHER PEOPLE.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT IT, THE BIBLE IS ACTUALLY PRO-ABORTION, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM.

PLEASE COME FORWARD.

HI, MY NAME IS ASHLEY ALCORN AND I'M A RESIDENT AMARILLO RESIDENT AND A LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER.

I'M A THERAPIST HERE IN AMARILLO AND WORK WITH POPULATIONS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THE SANCTUARY CITY OF THE UNBORN ORDINANCE OF ITS PAST.

I HAVE NO DOUBT THIS ORDINANCE WILL CAUSE HARM.

I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD THE FACTS FROM ORPHA AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT THE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS ORDINANCE, SO I WON'T REPEAT WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID.

I DO WANT TO REITERATE THAT THIS IS AN UNNECESSARY ORDINANCE, AND IF PASSED, IT WILL CAUSE A DECLINE IN MORALE AND MENTAL HEALTH IN THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM.

ANYONE ELSE ON THAT ROW?

[04:45:01]

UM, WHEN THIS WAS BROUGHT LAST TIME IN OCTOBER, YOU EXPRESSED THAT YOU WERE HESITANT ABOUT THE.

WHATEVER. MARK LEE, DIXIE, UH, MARK LEE DICKSON WAS BRINGING BECAUSE IT'S LIKE A AFTER THE FACT MEASURE.

AND IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT PREVENTIVE, IT WAS REFERENCED EARLIER.

AMARILLO TEEN PREGNANCY RATE IS 39 PER 1000 RESIDENTS, WHICH IS TRIPLE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

AND IT'S SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN TEXAS'S REALLY POOR 20 PER 1000.

UM, AND LAST TIME, TOO, THERE WAS OUTSIDE PEOPLE THAT WERE TALKING ABOUT BOTCHED ABORTIONS IN NEW MEXICO AND PEOPLE FROM EL PASO THAT WERE COMING IN.

AND TONIGHT SOMEONE ELSE REFERENCED BOTCHED ABORTIONS.

AND I'M JUST THINKING ON THAT.

I'M JUST REALLY CONCERNED THAT WHAT REALLY CREATES BOTCHED ABORTIONS IS AN ACT, A LACK OF ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND A FEAR OF SEX EDUCATION AND A FEAR OF TALKING ABOUT THINGS AND BEING OPEN.

I WAS READING IN THE 90S.

DOCTORS ESTIMATED THAT THE AMOUNT OF ABORTIONS AFTER ROE V WADE IS THE SAME AS THEY WERE BEFORE, BUT WHAT'S GONE DOWN IS LIKE, UH, MORTALITY RATE FOR MOMS. AND THE NUMBERS NOW IS ABOUT WHAT I WAS READING FROM 2021, 8.8 MOMS PER 100,000 BIRTHS, AND IT'S 0.8 MOMS, OR 0.8 WOMEN WHO ARE GETTING AN INDUCED ABORTION.

AND HERE IN POTTER COUNTY, WITH A 39 PER 100,000 TEEN PREGNANCY RATE, WE ALSO HAVE AN OVER 20%, UM, POVERTY RATE, WHICH IS ALMOST TWICE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 12 OR 13.

AND IF WE'RE COMPOUNDING THIS HIGH TEEN BIRTH RATE, A LACK OF ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS ABOUT SAFE SEX AND HOW TO FAMILY PLAN AND PREVENT ABORTIONS, WHICH I THINK ALL OF US THAT'S LIKE THE MAIN GOAL IS, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN END THE ISSUE BEFORE IT BEGINS, THAT COMPOUNDED WITH OUR HIGH, UH, POVERTY RATE, I THINK IS JUST ASKING FOR WOMEN IF WE PASS THIS ORDINANCE, UM, TO ATTEMPT TO, LIKE, SAVE THEMSELVES AND DO A REALLY UNSAFE THING, SOMETHING THAT'S NOT REGULATED.

AND IT'S A CONCERN FOR ME.

THERE'S A FAMOUS CASE OF A WOMAN IN THE 60S WHO, UM, WAS SCARED, AND SHE HAD SHE WAS PREGNANT AND SHE TRIED TO INDUCE AN ABORTION IN A HOTEL ROOM.

AND WHEN SHE STARTED BLEEDING, HER PARTNER LEFT, AND SHE DIED.

AND SHE WAS FOUND THE NEXT DAY BY THE HOTEL STAFF.

UM, A POLICE IMAGE OF HER DEAD CORPSE WAS PUBLISHED IN MISS MAGAZINE AFTER ROE V WADE 1973, SAYING, NEVER AGAIN.

AND MY BIG FEAR FOR AMARILLO IS, AND FOR LUBBOCK AND ODESSA AND ALL THESE CITIES THAT ARE PASSING, THIS IS WE ARE FORCING WOMEN INTO A POSITION WHERE THAT SEEMS LIKE THE ONLY WAY OUT. AND I JUST REALLY BELIEVE THAT THAT'S WHAT'S A BOTCHED ABORTION IS RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY FINAL POINT IS, BUT THAT'S WHAT I WOULD TO SAY.

THANK YOU SIR. ANYONE ELSE ON THIS ROW HERE? NO. UM, I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO COME RIGHT ACROSS THE ROW THERE.

UH, ANYONE ELSE TO MY LEFT SIDE IN THAT? ARE WE ON THE FIFTH OR THE SIXTH ROW? ANYONE IN THE ROW BEHIND YOU.

COMING BACK TO MY RIGHT.

OKAY. AND THEN I KNOW BOTH SPOKE.

DO WE HAVE ANYONE ELSE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? YES, MA'AM. IF YOU COME FORWARD.

YEAH. PROBLEM.

I JUST TRY TO KEEP YOU ALIVE.

I NEED A FEW MORE VOTES OUT OF.

GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING.

I'M JANA MAY.

I'M A RESIDENT OF AMARILLO.

I WORK HERE IN AMARILLO.

I PAY TAXES, MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE A BUSINESS HERE IN AMARILLO.

AND I WASN'T GOING TO COME DOWN HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE OUT OF RESPECT FOR YOU ALL TO NOT HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER LATE NIGHT.

BUT I WAS AT HOME WATCHING AND I HAD A LOT OF COMMENTS TONIGHT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP ABOUT MARK LEE DICKSON AND ABOUT HIM BEING AN OUTSIDER COMING INTO OUR TOWN AND EVERYTHING.

WELL, I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW, ALL OF YOU, THAT HE WAS INVITED HERE AND HE WAS INVITED BY ME.

AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT.

AND I WOULD INVITE HIM OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

UM, SOMEONE A WHILE AGO JUST WAS QUESTIONING THE BIBLE AND WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS.

UH, WHERE DOES IT SAY IN THE BIBLE THAT THOU SHALT NOT ABORT? WELL, I'M SURE I CAN FIND A LOT OF SCRIPTURES.

I DON'T HAVE MY BIBLE WITH ME, BUT THE FIRST ONE THAT COMES TO MIND IS IN THE TEN COMMANDMENTS THAT SAYS, THOU SHALT NOT KILL.

[04:50:02]

ABORTION IS MURDER AND YOU CANNOT GET AROUND IT.

I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAY, IT'S MURDER.

AND, UM, SO ANYWAY, I KNOW YOU'VE GOT A LOT ON YOUR PLATE AS FAR AS THIS GOES, AND I RESPECT YOU ALL SO MUCH AND CARE SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOU. SO I JUST WANTED TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT THAT MARK LEE DICKSON WAS INVITED HERE ALMOST THREE YEARS AGO BY ME.

JIM. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MA'AM. DO I HAVE ANYONE ELSE ON THE BACK ROW? ANYONE STANDING BACK THERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? YES, SIR. LUCAS GRAY, FOR THE RECORD.

THANK YOU. I MADE SURE I WAS LAST, BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE UP SPACE FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HERE SPEAKING.

SAY, WELL, NOW. OKAY.

CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? YES.

OKAY. BECAUSE I SAY I USUALLY SPEAK PRETTY LOUD.

UM, LET ME APPEAL TO THIS.

WE'RE AMARILLO.

I DON'T KNOW WHEN ANYBODY HAS BEEN ABLE TO COME IN AND.

TELL US ANYTHING TO DO.

THERE HAVE BEEN FRANCHISES AND RESTAURANTS THAT WERE SUCCESSFUL, OTHER PLACES NATIONALLY AND GLOBALLY, AND THEY COME HERE AND ABSOLUTELY FAIL.

AND IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE AMARILLO AND WE SUPPORT AMARILLO, AND WE BELIEVE IN AMARILLO.

RIGHT. AND SO IT'S WEIRD THAT THE DAD FROM FOOTLOOSE WOULD COME IN AND AND TRY TO CHANGE US, OR AT LEAST MAKE THE INFLUENCE. UH, LET ME ALSO TO APPEAL TO AND PLEASE DON'T GET RUFFLED, BUT JUST BE GOOD STEWARDS OF HISTORY.

ORDINANCES ARE IMPORTANT, BUT THEY'RE ALSO DANGEROUS.

THE MEANS THAT YOU USE TO HANDICAP SOMEBODY ELSE WILL ONE DAY BE USED AGAINST YOU.

THIS IS THE REASON WHY PARKS AND POOLS HAVE CLOSED DOWN.

BECAUSE WE REFUSE TO SHARE SPACE.

RIGHT? WHEN.

WHEN, UH, WHEN JIM CROW ENDED.

IT WAS THROWING ACID IN POOLS.

AND WHEN ACID AMPOULES DIDN'T WORK, IT WAS CEMENTING THEM UP.

THEN IT WAS CLOSING PARKS AND IT WAS CLOSING ZOOS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT TO SHARE SPACE WITH PEOPLE THAT MAY HAVE LOOKED OR BELIEVED DIFFERENTLY THAN US.

AMARILLO IS HOME TO MANY HATE GROUPS, WHITE SUPREMACY GROUPS.

WE'RE KIND OF A HOTBED FOR IT, BUT WE SHARE SPACE WITH THEM.

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE DO, REGARDLESS OF THE IDEOLOGY OF WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN.

YEAH, I'M NOT SAYING EMERIL HAS ALWAYS BEEN PERFECT, BUT WE'RE BETTER THAN THIS, I PROMISE YOU THAT.

SO THIS REALLY BE GOOD STEWARDS OF HISTORY AND THINK ABOUT IT.

THANK YOU.

HAVE ANYONE ELSE HERE THEY'D LIKE TO SPEAK.

OKAY. UM, IT'S 834.

UH, WE'RE LIKE AN HOUR AND A HALF AHEAD OF SCHEDULE FROM THE LAST TIME.

SO WE'RE GETTING BETTER AT THIS.

UM, I'M SURE WE'LL SEE YOU GUYS NEXT TUESDAY.

UH, AT THE WORK SESSION.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL BEING HERE.

I'D ASK FOR A MOTION TO ADJOURN, PLEASE.

I MOVE TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING.

I'LL SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND.

WE'RE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU BOTH. YES, SIR.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.