Jun 11, 2024 City Council Regular Meeting

[1. Call to Order]

[00:00:05]

OUR MEETING TODAY.

WE'D LIKE TO START BY TELLING YOU WE APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE AND GIVING US A FEW MINUTES TO GET OUT OF A LONG MEETING.

WE'RE A LITTLE BIT BEHIND, BUT I ASSURE YOU, THAT WON'T KEEP US FROM STAYING TILL AT LEAST 10:30 OR 11.

ONCE AGAIN.

SO I, I KNOW THAT WE KIND OF DID THIS ALREADY A FEW TIMES BEFORE, AND I STARTED OFF THE MEETING BY JUST SETTING THE STANDARD, WHICH I'D LIKE TO DO ONCE AGAIN, THAT WE'VE ALWAYS TREATED EACH OTHER WITH RESPECT, HONOR, DIGNITY.

WE'RE LETTING EVERYBODY SPEAK.

WE HAVE A FEW PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE TRYING TO READ A DOCUMENT THAT'S GOING TO TAKE SEVEN, EIGHT MINUTES.

THEY'VE SIGNED UP BACK TO BACK SO THEY COULD EITHER GIFT THEIR TIME TO THE NEXT PERSON, OR THEY CAN PICK UP AND READ FROM THERE ON.

WE WILL FACILITATE ALL THE DISCUSSIONS.

WE APPRECIATE VERY MUCH IF YOU'VE SPOKEN AND YOU'VE TOLD US YOUR FEELINGS AND YOU'VE GIVEN US YOUR INDIVIDUAL TESTIMONY, IF YOU FEEL LIKE THAT IS NOT HELPFUL AT THIS POINT AND YOU WANT TO NOT SPEAK AND GIVE THE SAME REITERATION, THAT'S GREATLY APPRECIATED.

BECAUSE AT THIS STAGE, WE'VE WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR PRODUCTIVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS PUBLIC HEARING.

IF YOU'RE HERE TODAY AND YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON THE SANCTUARY CITY ISSUE WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU WAIT TILL PUBLIC HEARING.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO, BUT YOUR DISCUSSION AND YOUR INPUT WILL BE BETTER RECEIVED AT THAT POINT IN TIME DURING THE MEETING.

IF YOU'RE HERE AND YOU WANT TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE DO.

WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU WOULDN'T SPEAK ON THE SAME TOPIC OR ON BOTH, I GUESS, ON THAT TOPIC UNDER PUBLIC COMMENT.

I LOOK FORWARD TO A PRODUCTIVE MEETING.

I THINK THAT WE CAN GET THERE ONCE AGAIN.

I KNOW WE'RE NOT TOTALLY FULL.

WE KIND OF EXPECTED TO BE.

SO IF WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT NEED TO.

THE OVERFLOW ROOM IS IS OPEN 306.

WE WOULD ASK ANYONE THAT'S STANDING JUST NOT TO SIT DOWN.

AND THEN OF COURSE, OVER HERE OFF TO MY RIGHT IS IS AREA FOR THE MEDIA.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND CALL US TO ORDER HERE TODAY OFFICIALLY AND GET US GOING.

IF EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE RISE, WE HAVE SHANE CHADWICK COMING UP TO GIVE US THE INVOCATION.

[2. Invocation]

IF YOU GUYS WILL BOW YOUR HEADS WITH ME, I APPRECIATE IT.

GOD, YOUR WORD SAYS.

FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD RUN TO AND FRO THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH TO SHOW HIMSELF STRONG ON BEHALF OF THOSE WHOSE HEART IS LOYAL TO HIM.

AND GOD. WHEN YOU ASK SOLOMON TO ASK WHAT YOU SHOULD GIVE HIM AS HE ASCENDED TO THE THRONE OF HIS FATHER DAVID SOLOMON, HIS RESPONSE WAS, NOW GIVE ME WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE THAT I MAY GO OUT AND COME IN BEFORE THIS PEOPLE.

FOR WHO CAN JUDGE THIS GREAT PEOPLE OF YOURS? FATHER, I ASK FOR COUNCILMAN CRAFT COUNCILMAN TIPPS COUNCILMAN SCHERLEN COUNCILMAN SIMPSON AND MAYOR STANLEY.

I ASK FOR YOU TO GRANT THEM WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE.

I ASK YOU TO MAKE STRAIGHT THEIR PATHS AND GO BEFORE THEM.

I PRAY THAT THEY SEEK YOUR FACE AND HUMILITY AND WITH A HUMBLE HEART.

I ASK THAT YOU BLESS THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES TO ENCOURAGE THEM AND TO KEEP THEM SAFE FROM THEIR ENEMIES.

WE ARE THANKFUL THAT YOU SENT YOUR SON, JESUS TO REDEEM THE HEARTS OF MANKIND, AND THAT BY HIS BLOOD WE ARE SAVED AND MADE RIGHTEOUS.

HIS NAME IS ABOVE ALL NAMES.

HE IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE, AND IN HIS NAME WE HAVE HOPE, REST, AND SALVATION.

MAY THAT NAME BE GLORIFIED IN THESE COUNCIL CHAMBERS UNTIL YOUR KINGDOM COME, AND YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.

I PRAY WE GIVE JESUS ALL THE HONOR, GLORY AND PRAISE THAT IS DESERVING OF AN EXALTED KING.

I ASK THAT YOU BLESS THIS CITY AND ITS PEOPLE, THAT AS A COMMUNITY WE SEEK YOUR FACE, THAT WE REPENT SEEKING FORGIVENESS, THAT WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS AS OURSELVES, KNOWING THAT YOU ARE A GOD OF INFINITE GRACE AND MERCY, NOT JUDGING ACTIONS, BUT THE HEARTS OF MEN.

PURIFY OUR HEARTS.

TEACH US YOUR WAYS SO THAT WE MAY ACT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OTHERS, KNOWING THAT THE LAST WILL BE THE FIRST IN YOUR KINGDOM, AND THAT THE MEEK SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH.

MAY WE ALL HAVE PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING WITH THOSE WHO MAKE DECISIONS ON OUR BEHALF.

KNOWING THAT THINGS ARE OFTEN MORE COMPLICATED THAN THEY SEEM ON THE SURFACE.

GOD GRANT THIS COUNCIL COURAGE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY, STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE AGAINST THEIR ENEMIES AND THOSE WHO DESIRE WICKEDNESS.

GOD AND A PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING FOR THOSE WHO PLACE THEIR HOPE IN YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.

TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART.

LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING, AND IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM AND HE WILL DIRECT YOUR PATHS.

WE ASK THESE THINGS IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, AMEN, AMEN, AMEN.

THANK YOU. IF YOU GUYS WILL JOIN ME WITH THE PLEDGE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

[00:05:03]

AND THE TEXAS FLAG AS WELL.

PLEASE HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS.

ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

THANK YOU. PLEASE BE SEATED.

OKAY. WE HAVE ONE PROCLAMATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO COME DOWN THERE AND READ.

[5. Proclamations]

YEAH, OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON.

WE'RE GOING TO PROCLAIM TODAY, JUNE 2024, AS ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH.

WHEREAS ABUSE OF OLDER ADULTS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IS A TRAGEDY INFLICTED ON A VULNERABLE SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION THAT CROSSES ALL SOCIOECONOMIC BOUNDARIES, AND WHEREAS AS OUR POPULATION LIVES LONGER, WE ARE PRESENTED WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO THINK ABOUT OUR COLLECTIVE NEEDS AND FUTURE AS A NATION.

AND WHEREAS COMBATING ABUSE OF OLDER ADULTS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES HELPS IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SENIORS AND ALLOWS THEM TO CONTINUE TO LIVE AS INDEPENDENTLY AND VIBRANTLY AS POSSIBLE.

AND WHEREAS, WHEREAS AGEISM AND SOCIAL ISOLATION ARE MAJOR CAUSES OF ELDER ABUSE IN THE UNITED STATES, AND WHEREAS AMARILLO SENIORS SHOULD BE TREATED WITH RESPECT AND DIGNITY AS THEY CONTINUE TO SERVE AS LEADERS, MENTORS, VOLUNTEERS AND ARE IMPORTANT AND ACTIVE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

NOW, THEREFORE, WE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF JUNE 2024 AS ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH.

HELLO. WE JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY FOR HAVING US HERE AND RECOGNIZING THIS IMPORTANT MONTH FOR ELDER ABUSE.

IT'S A SUBJECT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT, BUT I JUST WANT TO INTRODUCE THE PEOPLE WE HAVE HERE TODAY.

SO I'M APRIL AND THEN WE'VE GOT STARTING HERE IS AMBER LYNN.

SHE'S ONE OF OUR INVESTIGATORS.

MARIO, AMBER, OLGA AND ASHLEY IS OUR SUPERVISOR HERE.

AND THEN MARCIA. AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE TWO FROM OUR SILVER STAR BOARD.

WE'VE GOT SHIRLEY, HAROLD AND LAURA RYER.

SO WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. WILL YOU GUYS COME RIGHT HERE? AT SOME STAGE, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PHOTO AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK.

YEAH.

YEAH. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK.

YOU. THANK YOU.

OH. YOU'RE FINE. GOOD.

IT'S GOOD. PERFECT.

I'M SORRY I DIDN'T UNCOVER THIS MORNING.

I CAN SEE IT. THEY'VE BEEN PUTTING IT ON THE TV.

SO I'M GOOD, MAN.

THANK YOU THOUGH. WE'LL SEE YOU.

I NEVER EVEN PAID ATTENTION TO TV.

I MESSED IT UP ONE TIME.

OKAY. THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALLOWING US TO READ A PROCLAMATION THERE ON AN IMPORTANT SUBJECT.

AND THANK YOU TO ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY AND ALL YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

[6. Announcements]

NO ANNOUNCEMENTS, MR. HARTMAN.

OKAY. AT THE AT THIS TIME, THEN WE'RE GOING TO MOVE INTO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, WHICH IS PUBLIC COMMENT.

[7. Public Comment]

THANK YOU. MAYOR. WE HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE SIGNED UP TODAY.

I BELIEVE MOST ARE HERE FOR OUR PUBLIC HEARING LATER.

[00:10:03]

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 OR TOPICS RELATED TO CITY POLICY.

EVERY SPEAKER TODAY WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

AT THE END OF 2.5 MINUTES, A WARNING BEEP WILL SOUND TO ALERT YOU THAT YOU HAVE 30S LEFT.

TO WRAP UP YOUR THOUGHTS, WE ASK THAT YOU STAY WITHIN YOUR THREE MINUTES ALLOTTED.

WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS TODAY.

IF YOU'RE HERE TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM WITH A PUBLIC HEARING, WE ASK THAT YOU MAKE YOUR COMMENT DURING PUBLIC PUBLIC COMMENT OR THE PUBLIC HEARING, BUT NOT BOTH, IN ORDER TO HELP US KEEP ACCURATE RECORDS OF THIS MEETING, IT'S YOUR DECISION AT WHICH POINT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.

WHEN YOU COME TO THE MICROPHONE TODAY, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU LIVE IN THE AMARILLO CITY LIMITS, THEN YOU MAY BEGIN TO ADDRESS COUNCIL.

I'M GOING TO DO IT A LITTLE DIFFERENT TODAY, SO I'M GOING TO CALL UP THE PEOPLE THAT SPECIFICALLY SAID THEY HAVE ITEMS THAT ARE NOT RELATED TO TEN G, WHICH IS OUR PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PETITION.

AND THEN I WILL CHECK AND SEE IF THERE'S ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.

SO FIRST IS MICHAEL FORD.

THIS FLY OUT OF HERE.

SHERM. YOU WANT ME TO STAND OVER HERE? YOU CAN IF YOU WANT TO.

SO THIS IS MAINLY RELATED TO ADC AND ALSO TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT COMPLIANCE OF COURSE.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS MIKE FORD.

I'M. I LIVE IN THE CITY LIMITS OF AMARILLO.

I'M HERE TODAY TO ADDRESS CONCERNS REGARDING THE APPROVAL PROCESS AND PUBLIC NOTICE OF CERTAIN PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN BY THE EDC, AMARILLO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, AS WELL AS VIOLATIONS OF THE AMARILLO MUNICIPAL CODE OR POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS IN THIS MEETING.

FIRSTLY, THE AG OPINIONS CITED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY DO NOT PROVIDE THE ADCS ACTIONS.

PROVE THE ADCS ACTIONS ARE LEGAL.

LITERALLY QUITE THE OPPOSITE.

ACCORDING TO AG OPINIONS GA 0819 AND GA 1066, THE EDC IS INDEED THE FIRST INSTANCE OF APPROVAL FOR ANY PROJECT.

HOWEVER, THESE OPINIONS EMPHASIZE THAT THE APPROVAL PROCESS MUST ULTIMATELY BE PRESENTED TO THE CITY, AND THEN THE CITY, AND THEN THE CITY TO THE CITY.

VOTERS FOR FINAL APPROVAL.

WHEN AN EDC TYPE A SEEKS AN AUTHORIZATION FOR A TYPE B PROJECT.

FURTHER, THE ADCS DECISIONS ARE SUBJECT TO JUDICIAL REVIEW FOR ABUSE OF DISCRETION.

THE KIDS INC INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT HAS BEEN MISCLASSIFIED TO AVOID PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND PUBLIC SCRUTINY, AND ULTIMATELY A TAXPAYER ELECTION, AS BORNE OUT BY THE RECORDING OF THE LAST YEAR THREE MEETING IN PARTICULAR.

IN THIS MATTER, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT COMPLICATION DUE TO THE ADC MEETING NOTICE FAILING TO MEET THE OPEN MEETINGS.

ACT 551041 PUBLIC NOTICE REQUIREMENTS.

THE CASE LAW, AND SPECIFICALLY THE RULINGS FROM THE TAX NOTES COURSE COURT, REPEATEDLY DEMONSTRATES THAT FAILURE TO PROPERLY NOTIFY THE PUBLIC CAN AND WILL RESULT IN THE PROJECT BEING VOIDED IN A COURT OF LAW.

TO RECTIFY THIS FAILURE, THE ADC MUST READ, NOTICE AND RECONSIDER THE PROJECT, ENSURING IT IS PROPERLY DEFINED UNDER 505 152 AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR RECONSIDERATION.

THIS PUBLIC NOTICE VIOLATION IS NOT ISOLATED, BUT APPLIES TO EVERY PROJECT CONSIDERED AND APPROVED BY THE EDC OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, IF NOT LONGER.

THE FORM OF EVERY PUBLIC NOTICE FOR A PROJECT HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY VAGUE, STATING ONLY QUOTE, DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION ON PROJECT WHATEVER THE PROJECT NUMBER HAS TO BE AND IN PARENTHESES PROJECT CATEGORY WITHOUT PROVIDING ANY ADDITIONAL DETAILS.

THESE MEETING NOTICES VIOLATE THE NOTICE REQUIREMENTS OF STATE LAW, MORE SO THAN THE DEFECTIVE NOTICES IN THE TAX NOTES CASE.

I EXTEND THIS NOTIFICATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL REGARDING THE INADEQUATE PUBLIC MEETING NOTICES FOR THE AGENDA ITEMS TEN, G, H, AND I.

AS YOU KNOW OR MAY HAVE KNOWN AS HIGHLIGHTED IN THE TAX NOTES COURSE COURT THE SANCTUARY CITY FOR THE UNBORN ORDINANCE IS A MATTER OF PUBLIC SPECIAL PUBLIC INTEREST. IT REQUIRES SIGNIFICANTLY MORE INFORMATION IN THE PUBLIC NOTICE THAN WHAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED.

AND I'LL END MY COMMENTS THERE.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I PROVIDED YOU A DETAILED ANALYSIS FOR THE FOR THE TAX NOTES CASE.

I PLAN TO PRESENT THAT TO THE EDC AT THEIR JUNE 18TH MEETING.

I'M WORKING WITH THE EDC AND TRYING TO MAINTAIN THAT COMMUNICATION, SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND RE NOTICE AND RECONSIDER THIS ITEM.

SO, MR. FORD, AS A STATEMENT OF FACT, I'LL LET YOU KNOW.

I HAVE ENGAGED WITH AN ATTORNEY WHO IS AN EDC EXPERT.

THAT IS A DISCUSSION ITEM BEFORE COUNSEL HERE TODAY.

[00:15:04]

AND I THINK THAT THAT'S THE APPROPRIATE VENUE FOR ME AND YOU TO TRY TO WORK THROUGH ALL OF THESE ISSUES.

AND THEN IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOT TO BE RECONCILED I TRUST THAT THAT INDIVIDUAL WOULD HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO TELL US WHAT HE WOULD NEED TO BE.

SO LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING WITH HIM.

I'LL GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU AS SOON AS I HAVE IT.

OKAY. THANK YOU. MAYOR.

THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS JAMES SKANK.

GOOD AFTERNOON, JAMES SCHANKE.

LIVE IN THE CITY.

LIKE I'VE SAID OFTEN, ALL GOOD GOVERNMENT BEGINS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

SO DOES ALL BAD GOVERNMENT.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE SOME ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE TURNED AROUND AND DONE SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH SORT OF IN TANDEM WITH MIKE HERE.

AND THE SUBJECT IS THE KIDS, INC.

AND THE 7.5 MILLION.

IT NEEDS TO BE A TYPE B, AND IT NEEDS TO GO TO THE PUBLIC VOTE.

AND IT'S IN TIMING IF THEY CAN HOLD OFF TO PUT IT UP IN NOVEMBER IF YOU DECIDE ON IT.

MAYBE. I WAS EXCITED TO HEAR WHAT YOU SAID, MAYOR, ABOUT THE YOU'RE ON IT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

WE GOT MORE CHANGE ORDERS THAT CAME UP, AND IT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING.

THE ONE THAT IS RATHER DISTURBING IS BAKER TILLY.

YOU KNOW, THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONTRACTED FOR FOR ANOTHER $9.99 THOUSAND FOR TRAVEL.

AND THEY DIDN'T EVEN MAKE THE LAST MEETING.

BUT I KNOW IT DOESN'T NEED TO HAPPEN.

THAT'S THAT'S ON THEM.

SURELY IT WAS IN A CONTRACT ANYBODY HAD EVER DONE THAT KNOWS, HEY, THAT'S INCLUDING TRAVEL AND STUFF, SO BE CAREFUL THERE.

T ANY THE 1.4 MILLION ON THE CHANGE ORDER.

MAN, THAT'S A BIG MISS ON THAT SEWER.

MAYBE YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THAT SOME TEN C.

IT'S AN INTERESTING BUYBACK.

I WAS WATCHING WHEN OUR MAYOR WAS THE ONLY NO VOTE ON THAT BECAUSE IT WAS JUST A BUY UP OF THINGS AROUND HERE, WHICH HAPPENED IN EXCESS DURING THAT TIME OF A POTENTIAL CIVIC CENTER GOING TO BE TAKEN OVER ALL THE BUILDINGS.

AND WE WERE SELLING WAREHOUSES OR BUYING WAREHOUSES FAR ABOVE THEIR PRIDE VALUES.

SO LOOKING UP THIS 501 SOUTH GRANT, 509 SOUTH GRANT, 517 SOUTH GRANT THERE ON THE TAX ROLLS RIGHT NOW, 501 IS ON FOR $273,000.

WHOA. 150 FOR 509 AND 21,000.

THEY'RE NOT PAYING TAXES ON ANYTHING MORE THAN THAT.

BUT YET ALL OF A SUDDEN, THEIR VALUE AND THAT TOTALS UP TO ABOUT 444,000.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THAT BECOMES ONE WORTH 1.3.

NOW, NO VALUE IS SORT OF FUNNY, BUT LET'S GET THE WHERE ARE WE AT? YOU CAN'T BE DOING THAT.

WE'VE DONE IT. EVERY ONE OF THESE BUILDINGS THAT HAVE BEEN BOUGHT AROUND HERE WERE WAY UNDERVALUED COMPARED TO WHAT THEY WERE PAYING TAXES ON.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR.

OKAY, EVERYONE ELSE THAT SIGNED UP TODAY SIGNED UP FOR EITHER TEN, A PUBLIC HEARING OR FOR THE ITEMS RELATED TO THE INITIATIVE PETITION.

IS THERE ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMENT AND NOT WAIT UNTIL LATER? JESSE FEMUR, 5723 SOUTH MIDLAND.

I WISH TO TALK ABOUT THE SAME THING THAT MIKE AND JAMES WERE TALKING ABOUT, BUT MINE IS FRUSTRATION OVER THE HODGETOWN DEVELOPMENT.

I KNOW YOU TALKED ABOUT IT LAST TIME AROUND, BUT IT'S MY FRUSTRATION IS THE FACT THAT WE'RE BEING TAXED ON THIS DEVELOPMENT OF HODGETOWN, THE NPF, SO-CALLED NPF THAT WAS SOLD TO US ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO.

AND I'M FRUSTRATED WITH THE FACT WE'RE ALSO HAVING TO PUT ON THIS ADDITIONAL COST, WHICH I APPRECIATE.

THE ARGUMENT FROM, FROM DANFORTH ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE YOU HAD SOME, SOME OTHER EFFORT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE DOING, AND IT WAS GOING TO BE IT'S JUST THE FACT THAT WE'RE SPENDING THIS MONEY.

[00:20:02]

I'M NOT BLAMING OUR PRESENT COUNCIL.

I'M JUST SAYING IT'S JUST FRUSTRATING THAT WE, THE CITIZENS, SEE THIS PRICE GOING IN IN THE 171 MILLION THAT'S GOING FOR THE FOR THE LOOP THAT THAT ADDITIONAL 1.5 MILLION COMING IN AS A AS A CHANGE ORDER, WHICH TOM WAS TALKING ABOUT, THE CHANGE ORDER PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CITY, THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN HAVE THESE CHANGE ORDERS.

AND THAT'S JUST FRUSTRATING TO ME AS A CITIZEN TO SEE THESE THINGS COMING UP TO YOU GUYS, HAVING TO CONSIDER THESE THINGS BECAUSE WE NEED THAT LOOP.

WE DEFINITELY NEED THAT LOOP FOR THE FOR THE SANCTITY OF NORTH HEIGHTS TO RELIEVE THAT PRESSURE ON THAT LINE.

BUT THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.

BUT JUST SEEING THESE EXTRAVAGANT THINGS COME UP BEFORE YOU GUYS TO HAVE TO DECIDE ON THEM.

I'M FRUSTRATED FOR YOU AND I PRAY FOR YOU ON THAT REGARD.

AND THEN ON THE FINAL ISSUE IS ABOUT THE FACT THAT I BELIEVE THAT ABORTION IS MURDER.

I BELIEVE IN THE DNA.

THE DNA DEFINES THE HUMAN LIFE.

THE HUMAN LIFE IS DETERMINED AT CONCEPTION.

THEREFORE, ANY EFFORT THAT'S CALLED MEDICAL PRACTICE, THAT'S CALLED ABORTION IS ACTUALLY NEEDS TO BE REDEFINED AS MURDER.

IT'S JUSTIFIABLE MURDER TO A LIVING ORGANISM THAT IS ALREADY PUT THERE BY SOME OTHER HAND.

I'LL CALL IT GOD. OTHER PEOPLE MAY PUT IT FOR AN ACCIDENT, BUT I'LL PUT IT THERE BECAUSE GOD DIRECTED THAT THAT LIFE TO BE FORMED.

AND AT ANY TIME WE CALL IT ABORTION TO GIVE US SOME KIND OF ASSOCIATION, I FEEL THAT'S A DISHONESTY, AND THAT WE DON'T HONOR MURDER OF A OF AN EXISTING HUMAN BECAUSE WE DON'T DEFINE LIFE UNTIL AFTER BIRTH.

WILL I DEFINE LIFE AT THE BEGINNING OF CONCEPTION? AND I THINK THE ORDINANCE EXPLAINS THAT IT'S A CONCEPTUAL THING.

SO I APPRECIATE Y'ALL LISTENING.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JESSE.

MISS CITY SECRETARY, THANK YOU FOR WALKING US THROUGH THAT.

DO I HAVE ANYONE ELSE HERE TODAY THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AT PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY SEEING NO ONE, WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR DISCUSSION ITEMS TODAY.

[8.A. Review agenda items for regular meeting and attachments]

COUNCIL. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING FOR REVIEW THAT'S LISTED ON YOUR AGENDA? NO, SIR. DO NOT.

IF COUNCIL IS GOOD, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO ITEM EIGHT B THAT'S OUR PORTS TO PLAINS.

[8.B. Ports-to-Plains Update]

THANK YOU. MAYOR.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THE INVITE TODAY TO BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON WITH THE PORTS TO PLAINS.

THE LOTS ACTUALLY, A LOT HAS BEEN HAPPENING, AND I'M EXCITED TO KIND OF STAND BEFORE YOU AND KIND OF KIND OF GIVE YOU KIND OF AN UPDATE TO THAT.

BEFORE I DO SO, THOUGH, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE AUDIENCE TODAY, I'D LIKE TO JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, KIND OF GIVE EVERYBODY AN UPDATE OF WHAT IS WHAT IS PORTS TO PLAINS.

YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF AMARILLO, YOU HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THIS ALLIANCE FOR A LONG TIME.

IT'S AN OLD ALLIANCE.

IT'S BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR OVER 20 PLUS YEARS.

AND THE ORIGINAL MISSION OF THIS ALLIANCE, WHICH IS A IS AN ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION, HAS BEEN TO PROMOTE A FUTURE BUILD OUT OF AN IMPROVED HIGHWAY CORRIDOR THROUGH TEXAS AND NEW MEXICO AND COLORADO AND OKLAHOMA.

THE MISSION HAS CHANGED HERE RECENTLY, ABOUT THE LAST 5 OR 6 YEARS.

WE'RE NO LONGER JUST TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO BUILD A FOUR LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY FROM LAREDO UP THROUGH TO LIMON, COLORADO, AND OVER TO RATON, NEW MEXICO.

OUR MISSION NOW HAS ACTUALLY CHANGED TO A FUTURE INTERSTATE DISCUSSION, AND I'LL BRING THAT TO BRING THAT UP TO SPEED HERE TO YOU, FOR YOU IN A MINUTE.

BUT THAT GIVES YOU THAT MAP, AS YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU, KIND OF GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF KIND OF WHAT THE PORTS TO PLAINS PORTION OF THE CORRIDOR IS ABOUT.

WE ARE A LITTLE BIT BIGGER ORGANIZATION THAN THAT BECAUSE WE INCLUDE TWO OTHER TRANSPORTATION ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES, THE HEARTLAND EXPRESSWAY AND THE THEODORE ROOSEVELT EXPRESSWAY.

LET ME PAUSE FOR A MINUTE, BECAUSE I THINK THE INSTRUCTIONS WAS I SUPPOSED TO TELL MY NAME AND WHERE I.

YOU'RE GOOD NOW.

OKAY. KEEP GOING. OKAY.

I DO NOT LIVE IN THE CITY OF AMARILLO.

BUT ANYWAY BUT WE DO HAVE THE HEARTLAND AND THE.

THEODORE. I GIVE YOU THAT MAP JUST TO GIVE YOU KIND OF A PICTURE OF JUST HOW BIG THIS THING COULD BE AND IS.

WE HAVE ALLIANCE MEMBERS.

AND OUT OF CANADA, OUT OF THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA, WE HAVE ALLIANCE MEMBERS OUT OF THE COUNTRY OF MEXICO BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRADE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND MOVING GOODS AND FREIGHT FROM THE THREE COUNTRIES.

THIS ORGANIZATION CAME INTO EXISTENCE KIND OF ABOUT THE TIME THAT NAFTA DID.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT 94, 95, IT KIND OF CAME INTO EXISTENCE AT THAT POINT IN TIME.

SO SO IT IS ALL KIND OF COINCIDES WITH THE TRADE, THE TRADE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO IMPROVE THROUGH THE MIDWESTERN UNITED STATES.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO AMARILLO? WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO THIS AREA? WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO TEXAS? WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? MEXICO CONTINUES TO BE THE LARGEST TRADING PARTNER WITH THE UNITED STATES.

AND LAREDO IS THE NUMBER ONE PORT IN THE NATION.

AND IT IS GETTING BIGGER EVERY DAY.

AND JUST JUST ABOUT A WEEK OR SO AGO, ACTUALLY, THE PRESIDENT SIGNED THREE PRESIDENTIAL PERMITS TO ADD THREE NEW CROSSINGS OR EXPAND CROSSINGS ON OUR BORDER.

THREE OF THOSE CROSSINGS, ACTUALLY, TWO OF THOSE THREE ARE ACTUALLY ON OUR ROUTE THERE AT LAREDO AND EAGLE PASS, WE HAVE A NEW PRETO VERDE

[00:25:07]

AND WE ALSO HAVE EXPANDED LANES AT THE, AT THE, AT THE PORTS OF LAREDO.

WHAT'S HAPPENING, THOUGH IS, IS THAT TRAFFIC IS COMING ACROSS ON I 35 GOING UP TO SAN ANTONIO AND GETTING STUCK IN SAN ANTONIO THAT WANTS TO COME TO EITHER CALIFORNIA ON I-10 OR TRY TO GO UP TO DENVER UP VIA OUR DIRECTION, UP THROUGH AMARILLO.

SO OUR, OUR CORRIDOR WILL RELIEVE THAT PRESSURE COMING OUT OF LAREDO AND BRING IT AND BRING THOSE COMMODITIES BACK UP THROUGH THIS AREA.

DENVER IS STILL A MAJOR PLAYER IN TERMS OF MOVEMENT OF GOODS.

WE STILL HAVE A LARGE POPULATION BASE THERE.

SO IT'S A MATTER OF GETTING THIS TRADE TO DENVER.

ALSO I ALSO WILL MENTION THAT THE TYPE OF COMMODITIES THAT THIS CORRIDOR SITS ON IS, YOU KNOW, AGRICULTURAL HUB AMARILLO IS RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF IT.

YOU'RE PROMOTING CATTLE, YOUR CATTLE INDUSTRY, YOUR YOUR YOUR GRAINS, YOUR CROPS.

YOU KNOW, THE MILK PRODUCTION THAT'S OCCURRING UP IN THE PANHANDLE UP HERE, THE CHEESE PRODUCTION THAT'S OCCURRING UP HERE.

NOW IT IS ALL DRIVING FORCES THAT'S TRYING TO DRIVE.

WHY WE ARE THIS CORRIDOR IS IMPORTANT.

ALSO, WE CONNECT THE PORTS AND THE PORTS TO PLAINS.

WE CONNECT THE PERMIAN BASIN WITH THE BAKKEN UP IN NORTH DAKOTA.

SO WE GOT THE TWO LARGEST, THE NATION'S TWO LARGEST OIL PLAYS IS TIED TO THIS CORRIDOR ALSO.

AND I WILL MENTION THIS IN TEXAS, ABOUT 1300 PEOPLE A DAY ARE COMING TO THIS STATE, 1300 PEOPLE A DAY.

YOU CAN DO THE NUMBERS ON THAT.

AND AT SOME POINT THEY'RE ALL GOING TO WANT TO EAT AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE FED.

AND WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THAT THAT PRODUCE TO THEM AT THAT POINT IN TIME.

SO WHY NOT AND WHY NOT? AMARILLO. AND THEN I'LL MENTION THIS ALSO, YOU KNOW, THE INITIAL INTERSTATE HIGHWAY ACT IN 1956 WAS A MILITARY HIGHWAY ACT.

ALSO WHEN EISENHOWER CAME BACK AFTER WORLD WAR TWO.

AND SO THAT YOU KNOW, THIS CORRIDOR RUNS THROUGH HERE IS ALSO PART OF THE STRAIN THAT THE STRATEGIC HIGHWAY NETWORK FOR THE MILITARY, THEY ARE CURRENTLY STUDYING IT AS A AS A RAPID PROJECT PLATFORM.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS, IS THE FORT CARSON STUDY GOES OUT TO COLORADO CLOSE TO FORT CARSON, COLORADO, DOWN TO RATON, COMES INTO US HERE AT DUMAS AND THEN GOES SOUTH DOWN TO AMARILLO. THERE IT PEELS OFF AND TAKES 287 ON DOWN THROUGH THE METRO EDGE OF THE METROPLEX AND TRY TO WORK ITS WAY TO BEAUMONT.

BUT THERE'S ANOTHER STUDY THAT'S ON THE CORRIDOR, ON THE FUTURE I-14 THAT COMES ACROSS OUT OF FORT CAVAZOS USED TO BE FORT HOOD, AND THAT GOES ON DOWN TO BEAUMONT ALSO.

SO WE AS PORTS TO PLAINS WILL CAN TRY TO WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO THINK ABOUT MAYBE CONNECTING THOSE TWO PLATFORMS, PROJECTION PLATFORMS IN A WAY THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS WHOLE ROUTE.

AMARILLO. SOUTH TO. LUBBOCK SOUTH TO SAN ANGELO EAST ON I 14 TO FORT CAVAZOS.

ON TO BEAUMONT. YOU CAN'T.

THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE CAN'T SEE THOSE NUMBERS.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU KNOW WHAT THAT WHAT THAT'S SHOWING IS, IS BASICALLY WAS THOUGH, THAT THOSE LAREDO NUMBERS IN THE POWER OF THE TRADE.

AND YOU CAN KIND OF SEE SOME NUMBERS THERE AND I WON'T ELABORATE ON THAT, THAT'S FOR YOUR BENEFIT.

BUT IT JUST KIND OF PROVES THE POINT THAT FREIGHT TRAFFIC IS INCREASING, TRADE IS INCREASING, AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO OVER, OVER THE COMING YEARS.

I USE THAT SLIDE TO SHOW THE WHAT OUR CORRIDOR REALLY FOCUSES ON.

WE'RE AN AGRICULTURAL CORRIDOR.

WE'RE AN ENERGY CORRIDOR.

WE'RE AN INTERNATIONAL TRADE CORRIDOR.

AND SO OUR PORTS TO PLAINS AS THOSE, THOSE FOUR CIRCLES THAT KIND OF RUN THROUGH THE WESTERN PART OF THE TEXAS, NOT COUNTING EL PASO AREA, BUT THOSE THAT BASICALLY IS THE ALIGNMENT OF OUR CORRIDOR AND THE IMPACT THAT YOU SEE ON THAT.

I WANT TO TALK, REALLY, THE REST OF THIS PRESENTATION ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE LAST ABOUT 8 OR 9 YEARS, BECAUSE WE'VE WALKED ALONG FOR 15 OR SO, 20 YEARS AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN SOME WORK DONE.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT ASK YOURSELF, WELL, WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH PORTS TO PLAINS? AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING AND WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING? IN 2015, SOMETHING HAPPENED IN TEXAS ON A MAJOR SCALE AS FAR AS TRANSPORTATION.

YOU, THE VOTERS OF TEXAS, PASSED PROPOSITION ONE, PROPOSITION SEVEN THAT TOOK SOME OIL AND GAS SEVERANCE MONEY AND SOME SALES TAX MONEY AND PUT IT INTO THE TRANSPORTATION FUND FOR TEXAS. AND WHAT THAT MEANT WAS, IS OVERNIGHT, TEX DOT DOUBLED THEIR CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM BASICALLY OVERNIGHT.

THEY WERE LETTING ABOUT $3 BILLION A YEAR ANNUALLY IN THEIR CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM.

IT WENT TO ABOUT $7 BILLION ANNUALLY.

AND TODAY, IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR NUMBERS TODAY, THEY'RE TRYING TO LET ABOUT 10 TO $11 BILLION A YEAR IN CONSTRUCTION ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS.

AND THAT'S WHY THERE'S ORANGE CONES.

THAT'S WHY THERE'S CONSTRUCTION ZONES.

THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SEEING THAT EVERYWHERE.

YOU'RE SEEING IT. SO BECAUSE OF THAT, TEX DOT WENT BACK AND THEN THEY STARTED OPENING UP THEIR CORRIDORS AGAIN.

FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS, THEY WEREN'T SPENDING ANY MONEY ON CORRIDORS BECAUSE IN ABOUT 2008, 2009, THE MONEY DRIED UP AND THE COMMISSION HAD TO MAKE A DECISION.

ARE WE GOING TO DO MAINTENANCE OF OUR HIGHWAYS? ARE WE GOING TO? WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE CONGESTION IN OUR BIG CITIES, OR ARE WE GOING TO TRY TO IMPROVE OUR CORRIDORS? SO CORRIDORS LOST THAT DEBATE ABOUT 2010.

AND SO FOR ABOUT FIVE, SIX, SEVEN YEARS THERE WAS HARDLY ANY MONEY SPENT ON ON IMPROVING CORRIDORS, PORTIONS OF PLAINS INCLUDED.

[00:30:03]

IT'S CALLED WE CALL IT CALLED IT A POOR BOY.

CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT. IT'S CALLED A SUPER TWO.

YOU MAY HAVE SEEN SOME OF THAT OR HEARD THAT.

AND THAT'S WHEN YOU DRIVE DOWN THESE HIGHWAYS AND YOU SEE A THREE LANES PASSING LANE OVER TWO MILES, PASSING LANE OVER TWO MILES.

THAT'S HOW TEXADOR WAS TRYING TO BUILD THE CORRIDORS TO OFFSET THE LACK OF MONEY THEY WERE GETTING.

THAT CHANGED IN 2016, 2017.

AND SO FOR THE LAST 7 OR 8 YEARS, THEY'VE HAD THAT KIND OF MONEY TO START LOOKING AT CORRIDORS AGAIN.

IN THE MEANTIME, PORTS TO PLAINS.

WELL, BROUGHT ON SOME LOBBYING.

WE BROUGHT IN SOME SOME LOBBY POWER, SOME LOBBY STRENGTH.

AND THEY STARTED WORKING WITH SENATOR PERRY AND REPRESENTATIVE FOUR PRICE AT THE TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AT STUDYING WHAT IT WOULD BE TO BRING PORTS TO PLAINS UP INSTEAD OF FOUR LANE DIVIDED TO INTERSTATE STANDARD.

AND WHEN THEY WE DID THAT STUDY, THEY ACTUALLY WROTE THAT BILL THAT FORCED TXDOT TO DO THE STUDY.

TXDOT WAS JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, ON THE KIND OF ON THE SIDELINES WITH IT BECAUSE THEY HAD ALL THESE CORRIDORS THEY'RE LOOKING AT.

BUT WHEN THE STUDY CAME BACK THERE IN 2019 THE NUMBERS WERE INCREDIBLE.

THE GDP INCREASED TO THE STATE.

THE COST BENEFIT RATIO, 2.4 JUST NUMBERS WERE GREAT.

AND SO NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE AGENCY HAD TO TAKE A DIFFERENT LOOK AT OUR CORRIDOR FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF TRYING TO SEE WHAT A FUTURE INTERSTATE WOULD BE.

IN THE MEANTIME PORSCHE PLAINS WENT BACK TO THE TABLE WITH THE FEDERAL LEVEL, STARTED WORKING WITH YOUR SENATORS AND YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO SEE ABOUT POSSIBLY GETTING THE PORTS TO PLAINS CORRIDOR DESIGNATED AS A FUTURE INTERSTATE.

THAT WORK WENT ON, AND BY THE MARCH OF 2022, THAT HAPPENED.

WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT WITH THE HELP OF OF OUR TEXAS SENATORS AND SOME OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES.

JODEY ARRINGTON CARRYING THE BALL AT LUBBOCK ON THAT CRUISE, AND BOTH CRUZ AND CORRINE, BOTH, YOU KNOW, STEPPING IN AND DOING SOME WORK THERE, TOO NEW MEXICO JUMPED ON BOARD.

THEY SAID, YEAH, WE WANT THIS ALSO.

SO THOSE TWO SENATORS GOT INVOLVED, TOO, WHICH WAS GOOD, BECAUSE YOU KIND OF NEEDED A BIPARTISAN WORK THERE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO GET ANYTHING DONE.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

OKLAHOMA WAS INTERESTED IN DOING THIS ON OUR CORRIDOR THAT GOES UP TO THE STATE LINE.

BUT AT THE MOMENT COLORADO WASN'T THE DOT SAID, NO, WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN DOING THIS.

SO THEIR REPRESENTATION PULLED OUT.

SO RATHER TO NOT HOLD IT UP TO COLORADO, WE SAY LET'S GET IT DONE IN TEXAS AND NEW MEXICO.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT.

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE IN MARCH 2022.

RECENTLY IN 2024, I CAME ON BOARD.

I'VE BEEN ON NOT QUITE TWO YEARS IN THIS JOB.

AND WHEN I CAME ON BOARD, OF COURSE, THAT 22 THING HAD HAPPENED.

AND MY THOUGHT WAS IS AUTOMATICALLY I SAID, WELL, IT'S GOING TO BE AT 27, RIGHT.

FUTURE DESIGNATED INTERSTATE.

IT'S GOT TO BE AT 27 BECAUSE WE GOT THIS LUBBOCK AMARILLO CORRIDOR OR AMARILLO LUBBOCK CORRIDOR, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU'RE SITTING.

AND AND I JUST ASSUMED THAT, BUT YOU CAN'T FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION SAID YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

SO WE HAD TO GO THROUGH A CONGRESSIONAL PROCESS AGAIN TO ACTUALLY PUT THE NUMBERS ON IT AND GET THE NUMBERS RIGHT ON IT.

WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A WHIFF.

AND MIDLAND ODESSA, BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T LIKE A THREE DIGIT DESIGNATION TO THEIR LITTLE SEGMENT IN MIDLAND ODESSA.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT WORKED OUT.

BASICALLY, WHAT WE DID IS WE JUST TREAT IT LIKE A LIKE I-35, DALLAS AND FORT WORTH, FORT WORTH AND DALLAS.

YOU KNOW, NO ONE TAKES PRIORITY.

WE GOT A I-35 WEST, I-35 EAST.

WE DID THE SAME THING WITH WITH YOU KNOW, WITH OUR CORRIDOR HERE IN TEXAS, ON THE WEST TEXAS WHEN IT GETS TO DUMAS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE CORRIDOR UP TO COLORADO IDENTIFIED YET, WE WENT AHEAD AND TOOK THE 27 DESIGNATION TO RATON BECAUSE THEY WANTED IT.

AND THEY WERE THEY WERE ALREADY ON BOARD.

SO WE HAVE AN I 27 N DESIGNATION GOING NORTH OUT OF DUMAS TO THE STATE LINE.

AND EVENTUALLY, LORD WILLING, IF WE EVER DO GET COLORADO ON BOARD, OKLAHOMA WILL COME.

I THINK THEY WILL COME.

AND I DO BELIEVE WE'LL TAKE THE 27 N DESIGNATION ON UP TO TO LYMAN.

YOU CAN'T SEE THE SLIDE TUBE.

THE AUDIENCE CAN'T SEE THE SLIDE. BUT WHAT I SHOW BY THAT IS, IS THAT YOU THAT THAT THAT PROP ONE AND PROP SEVEN PASSING OUR TEN YEAR PROGRAM CONSTRUCTION WAS 35,000,000,000 IN 2016. IT WENT TO 75,000,000,000 IN 2016.

TODAY, THE HIGHWAY COMMISSION VOTED THIS LAST AUGUST BECAUSE IT'S A TEN YEAR PROGRAM WITH ONE YEAR ROLLING, FALLING OFF.

THEY VOTED THIS LAST AUGUST $100 BILLION IN THEIR CONSTRUCTION UTP, WHICH MEANS IN TEN YEARS YOU GOT TO GO THROUGH FIVE LAYERS LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATION, REQUEST CYCLES.

THE DOT HAS TO ASK ON A TWO YEAR BUDGET.

THEY GOT TO ASK FOR MONEY TO DESIGN AND BUILD THAT STUFF ALSO.

SO THAT NUMBER YOU SEE ON THE BOTTOM THERE, THAT'S 140 BILLION.

THAT 40 BILLION REPRESENTS TEN YEARS WORTH OF TWO YEAR CYCLES OF BUDGET TO ACTUALLY CONSTRUCT DESIGN BY THE RIGHT OF WAY FOR THAT THAT HIGHWAY PROGRAM.

SO IT'S A LOT OF MONEY AND TXDOT HAS THE MONEY THERE AND THEY ARE COMMITTING THAT MONEY.

THIS IS STATEWIDE.

WHAT WE'RE DOING IS, OF COURSE, IS WE'RE TRYING TO GO TO GET AS MUCH OF THAT AS WE CAN FOR FOR OUR CORRIDOR.

THOSE ARE THE STUDIES SHOW THE BENEFIT COST RATIO TO 2.4.

IT'S GOING TO COST US ABOUT $23 BILLION TO BUILD A FUTURE INTERSTATE FROM LAREDO, ALL THE WAY UP TO NEW MEXICO AND OKLAHOMA BORDER.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE INFLATED TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

I'M TALKING ABOUT THESE CHANGE ORDER DISCUSSION.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO INFLATE THAT BY SOME QUITE PERCENTAGE GOING FORWARD.

THAT'S A SLIDE THAT SHOWS YOU HOW THE NUMBERING DESIGNATION HAPPENED.

I'LL SPEND THE LAST FEW SLIDES JUST TALKING ABOUT THIS WAS THE THIS WAS THE TEXAS TRUNK SYSTEM IN TEXAS IN 2001.

[00:35:04]

YOU SEE WHERE THEIR WHAT THEIR MISSION WAS.

WE HAD A LOT OF RED ON OUR CORRIDOR.

THE PORTS TO PLAINS PORTION OF IT WAS PHASE ONE TRUNK SYSTEM.

WE CALLED IT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO YOU KNOW, TO TO SAN ANGELO.

FROM THERE IT SPLIT OFF AND WENT DOWN TO EDEN AND THEN EDEN DOWN SOUTH, DOWN TO JUNCTION.

SO OUR CORRIDOR DIDN'T PICK UP PHASE ONE TRUNK SYSTEM FROM FROM SAN ANGELO SOUTH DOWN TO DEL RIO.

AND YOU CAN SEE IT DIDN'T EVEN PICK IT UP DOWN FROM DEL RIO DOWN TO LAREDO.

AND THAT THAT THAT'S THAT'S CORNER.

THAT'S OKAY. BECAUSE THAT WAS THE OLD PLAN.

AND WHEN TXDOT TURNED ON THE NEW PLAN IN 2016, THEY PICKED UP OUR PORTION OF PLAINS CORRIDOR AS A KEY STRATEGIC CORRIDOR.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS, IS WHAT YOU SEE IS THE RED ON THE NORTH AND THE PANHANDLE IS THE WAS THE EXISTING PHASE ONE TRUNK SYSTEM.

THE RED OR THE YELLOW THAT'S ON THE BOTTOM WAS WHAT THEY PROPOSED TO PICK UP.

THEY DID THIS LAST YEAR AND THEY ADDED IT TO THE TO THEIR KEY STRATEGIC CORRIDOR TO ACTUALLY INVEST IN.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS, IS WE KNOW TXDOT IS GOING TO PUT AT LEAST THE MONEY IN PLACE TO BUILD THAT YELLOW PORTION DOWN SOUTH, THE FOUR LANE DIVIDED STANDARD, BECAUSE THAT'S THE OLD PROGRAM. BUT WE HAVE TO DO AS AN ALLIANCE IS WE HAVE TO GO AFTER THE EXTRA MONEY TO GET IT TO INTERSTATE TO GET IT BUILT TO INTERSTATE.

TXDOT IS COMMITTED TO GO AHEAD AND BUYING THE RIGHT OF WAY, DOING THE ENVIRONMENTAL, DOING THE THE SCHEMATIC, THE ALIGNMENTS TO INTERSTATE STANDARD.

THEY'VE COMMITTED TO DOING THAT.

THEY'RE GOING TO PUT THE CONSTRUCTION MONEY FOUR LANE DIVIDED.

AND THEN WE'LL GO TRY TO HELP THEM FIND THE EXTRA MONEY TO GET A FUTURE INTERSTATE PUT IN PLACE ON THIS CORRIDOR.

THE I 27 COMMITTEE.

THAT WAS THAT. SENATOR, REPRESENTATIVE FORD PRICE AND SENATOR PERRY ACTUALLY COMMISSIONED.

CAME BACK WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ON PROJECTS WE USE.

I USE THAT AS A TRACKER.

I USE THAT TO KIND OF KEEP TEXDOT HONEST IN TERMS OF ARE YOU STILL ON TRACK, YOU KNOW, ACCOMPLISHING WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO ACCOMPLISH? YOU KNOW, THERE'S 20 EXTENSIONS, 26 RELIEF ROUTES, THERE'S 32 OPERATIONAL AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS ALONG THE CORRIDOR.

SO I HAVE SET SOME PERFORMANCE TARGETS FOR MYSELF.

THESE ARE JUST MY TARGETS.

AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS I'M 60 YEARS OLD, AND I DON'T WANT TO WORK ON THIS THING WHEN I TURN 70.

SO. SO WE'RE GOING TO DO A SEGMENT.

ONE IS THE AMARILLO AND LUBBOCK DISTRICT.

IF THEY AVERAGE ABOUT 450 MILLION A YEAR INCREASE IN THAT UPKEEP, THAT TEN YEAR UP EVERY YEAR, IF WE CAN GET AN ADDITIONAL 450 MILLION A YEAR OUT OF TXDOT INTO THE UTP, THEN WE WOULD BE ON A TEN YEAR BUILD OUT TO BUILD OUR INTERSTATE, YOU KNOW, FUTURE INTERSTATE.

OBVIOUSLY, LUBBOCK AMARILLO IS ALREADY BUILT.

SO IT'S A MATTER OF GETTING THIS BUILT FROM AMARILLO TO DUMAS AND FROM DUMAS OVER TO DALHART AND FROM DUMAS UP TO STRATFORD SOUTH, OF COURSE.

IT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY, LUBBOCK DISTRICT GOES DOWN TO LAMESA.

IT KIND OF STOPS THERE AT LAMESA.

SO WE WOULD THAT WOULD BE IF WE CAN AVERAGE FOUR AND A HALF 450 MILLION A YEAR INCREASE IN UPKEEP, THAT'S A TEN YEAR BUILD OUT.

AND I THINK IT'S REASONABLE.

AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE CONTINUE TO KIND OF PUSH TXDOT TO, YOU KNOW, TRY TO DO THE BIGGER SEGMENT, OF COURSE, IS IN THE LUBBOCK IN SEGMENT TWO, BECAUSE IT INCLUDES ALL THE MIDLAND ODESSA AREA.

THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY'S GOING TO BE SPENT TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BUILD THAT INTERSTATE THROUGH THE MIDLAND ODESSA REGION, BECAUSE OF THE UTILITIES AND THE IMPACT ON UTILITIES THERE.

I WILL SAY THIS SEGMENT THREE, WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH THE LAREDO DISTRICT BECAUSE THAT GOT THAT NEW COMMISSION PRIORITY SLIDE THAT I SHOWED YOU EARLIER DOWN SOUTH, TEX. DOT IS GOING TO PUT A LOT OF MONEY ON THERE.

THEY'VE ALREADY PUT A LOT OF MONEY ON THAT.

AND SO I THINK WE CAN AVERAGE THAT 670 MILLION A YEAR FOR THEM TOO.

SO I'M KIND OF OPTIMISTIC.

THIS WAS THE LAST UP.

WE DIDN'T HIT THE TEN YEAR GOAL.

WE HIT A 20 YEAR GOAL, WHICH WAS THEY GOT AN ADDITIONAL $1 BILLION IN THE UTP THIS LAST THIS LAST YEAR, WHICH WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THAT GOAL OF TEN, IT'S GOING TO BE 2.3 BILLION A YEAR.

BUT I WILL SAY THIS, IF YOU LOOK AT THE AMARILLO AND THE THE LUBBOCK DISTRICT THE AMARILLO DISTRICT GOT A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE UTP LAST YEAR, WHICH INCLUDES A LOT OF PROJECTS HERE ON THE 27 THE DIRECT CONNECTS ON 27.

AND IT ALSO INCLUDES A LOT OF MONEY THAT WE GOT A LOT OF MONEY ON THE THREE THREE THE LOOP, YOU KNOW, 335 AND AND SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO ADVOCATE TO GET MORE MONEY ON THAT LOOP, TO GET THAT LOOP UP TO THE INTERSTATE STANDARD THAT WE WANT TO SEE IT.

YOU CAN'T SEE THAT SLIDE.

BUT THOSE ARE TEXT DOTS. SO PRESENTATIONS TO THE I 27 ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT JUST SHOWS YOU EXISTING PROJECTS.

THE GREEN IS THE STUFF THAT'S ALREADY BEING WORKED ON.

THE ACTUALLY THE KIND OF PURPLISH COLOR ON TOP.

THOSE THOSE ARE ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

THE GREEN ARE THE PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THE TEN YEAR UP.

SO THEY'RE FUNDED, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THEM FUNDED TO THAT LEVEL.

AND THE ORANGE HERE IS SHOWING EXACTLY WHAT TEXDOT IS ASKING.

AT A STATE LEVEL, BLAIR, YOUR LOCAL DISTRICT ENGINEER, IS ASKING THAT THE STATE LEVEL FOR MONEY TO STUDY THE PLANNING OF THAT SEGMENT THAT I WILL SAY THIS, THAT YOU SUPPORTED A RESOLUTION.

WE WENT AFTER SOME CONGRESSIONAL DISCRETION DISCRETIONARY MONEY THIS LAST YEAR, FISCAL YEAR 24 FROM CONGRESSMAN RONNIE JACKSON.

AND HE CAME BACK WITH THAT REQUEST AND GAVE US THE MONEY.

SO NOW TEXDOT IS GOING TO HAVE THE MONEY TO STUDY THE INTERSTATE STANDARD FROM AMARILLO TO DUMAS.

AND WE'LL BE SEEING THAT STUDY KICK OFF HERE IN THE FALL, HOPEFULLY TO START LOOKING AT THOSE INTERSTATE STANDARDS FROM DUMAS.

[00:40:01]

AND WE THINK WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE MORE ENERGY GET AROUND THAT.

THIS WAS THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE I 27 ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR FUTURE INTERSTATE UPGRADES THAT ALL THAT BLUE NORTH AMARILLO HAS TO BE DONE.

WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT CITY LOCATION STUDIES THAT ALL THOSE COMMUNITIES UP NORTH OF THERE FOR DUMAS, WE GOT A 2025 APPROPRIATION FOR A AND TO CONGRESSMAN JACKSON AGAIN AND HE SUBMITTED IT AGAIN.

IT'LL IT'LL GO THROUGH THIS NEXT CYCLE, HOPEFULLY.

BUT WE DO HAVE THAT DESIGNATION FOR DUMAS TO STUDY A LOOP.

AND DUMAS SUPPORTS THAT STUDY FOR US TO CONTINUE LOOKING AT THE WHOLE LOOP AROUND DUMAS.

IN REALITY, AT SOME POINT, WE'LL HAVE TO DETERMINE WHICH WAY THE INTERSTATE NEEDS TO GO AROUND DUMAS, AND WE CAN DETERMINE THAT AFTER WE GET THAT LOOP STUDY STARTED AND KICKED OFF. SO THAT'S HOW WE'RE USING OUR APPROPRIATIONS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

THEY'RE NOT LARGE VOLUME DOLLAR AMOUNTS.

IT'S NOT LIKE THE MONEY THAT TEX DOT HAS, BUT WE'RE USING THE APPROPRIATIONS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO JUMP START, BECAUSE TEX DOT USES THAT.

THEY SEE THAT AS LEVERAGE FOR THEM TO COMMIT THEIR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TOWARDS THESE HIGHWAY PROJECTS GOING FORWARD.

SO WE WERE PRETTY EXCITED THAT CONGRESSMAN JACKSON ACTUALLY GOT IN THE GAME THIS LAST YEAR AND AND DID SUBMIT FOR US BECAUSE IN THE PAST THEY HADN'T DONE THAT.

AND SO THAT WAS A NICE THAT WAS A NICE CHANGE FOR US.

AND WE'LL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT, YOU KNOW, AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

THAT'S MY PRESENTATION UPDATE OPEN FOR QUESTIONS.

QUESTIONS FOR LAURA AND GENTLEMEN.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

YEAH. THANK YOU.

YEAH. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

WITHOUT AMARILLO, WE KNOW WE DON'T GET THERE.

AND WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU GUYS CONTINUE TO DO FOR US.

SO JUST A FEW. I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SITTING ON THIS BOARD WITH MR. GARDUNO AND BEING ABLE TO SEE HOW SOME OF THIS MONEY HITS HERE LOCALLY.

SO WILL YOU TALK TO THE NORTH LOOP EXCHANGE INTERCHANGE THAT'S GOING TO CONNECT THAT AND KIND OF WHAT THAT WILL DO TO THAT BUSINESS LOOP.

SURE. YEAH.

SO SO YOU KNOW, CONVERSATIONS, YOU KNOW, OUR OUR ASSUMPTION, OUR ADVOCACY IS THAT IF AMARILLO IF Y'ALL DON'T WANT THIS, Y'ALL NEED TO BE TELLING ME SO I DON'T GET OFF OF THIS IS OUR ASSUMPTION IS IS WE WANT TO CHANGE THE 27 DESIGNATION AT SOME POINT TO GO AROUND THE LOOP, WHICH MEANS WE'LL TAKE YOUR DOWNTOWN 27 STRUCTURE AND WE JUST RE DESIGNATE IT AS BUSINESS 27.

YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T CHANGE A THING ON IT.

YOU JUST DESIGNATE IT AS BUSINESS 27 AND YOU CAN TERMINATE IT WHERE IT'S CONTINUING TO TERMINATED TODAY.

SO OUR GOAL IS OUR MISSION IS, IS THAT WE WANT TO GET YOU KNOW, AS MUCH OF THIS OUTER LOOP UP TO INTERSTATE STANDARD AS FAST AS WE CAN.

SO THAT ONE, YOU KNOW, ONE, YOU CAN DESIGNATE IT AS SUCH.

AND PEOPLE WILL SEE IT AS SUCH WHEN THEY, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY'RE TRAVELING IN THEIR TOWN AND THEY IT'S SIGNED ACCORDINGLY.

BUT TWO ALSO SAID THEY'LL START USING IT, YOU KNOW, THEY'LL USE IT.

AND SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS, IS WE HAVE TO REALLY TACKLE WHAT I CALL THE DIRECT CONNECTS.

THE DIRECT CONNECTS ON THE NORTH SIDE AND ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

WE'VE GOT FUNDED THE MONEY TO KIND OF GET THE DIRECT CONNECTS DONE ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

YOU KNOW, WITH THOSE, WITH THOSE FLYOVERS AND STUFF.

BUT WE DON'T HAVE THAT FUNDED ON THE NORTH SIDE.

NOW, THIS LAST TIME AROUND, WE ASKED FOR MONEY INTO THE UTP TO ACTUALLY IMPROVE THE INTERSECTION THERE AT I-40, YOU KNOW, AND ADD THE LANES, ADD THE LANES THERE, YOU KNOW, ON THE EXISTING LOOP THERE AT 40.

BUT OUR NEXT PUSH WILL BE TO GO AFTER THE MONEY OUT OF TEXDOT TO TRY TO GET THE DIRECT CONNECT STUDY OR GET THE DIRECT CONNECT BUILT ON THE NORTH SIDE.

BEFORE THAT HAPPENS, THOUGH BLAIR NEEDS TO STUDY THAT ALIGNMENT ALL THE WAY FROM AMARILLO TO DUMAS BECAUSE HE'S GOING TO INCLUDE IN THAT STUDY.

HE'S GOING TO INCLUDE HOW IT CONNECTS COMING INTO AMARILLO BECAUSE WE DON'T WE THINK AT THE END, PROBABLY IF WHEN YOU GET THROUGH THE STUDY, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT THE LOOP IS GOING TO JUST GOING TO CONTINUE ON AROUND.

AND IT'S A NORMAL PATH.

BUT THE ALIGNMENT OF THE 27TH MAY VEER OFF OF THAT ON THE NORTH SIDE AND SWING A LITTLE FURTHER NORTH AND COME IN JUST A LITTLE BIT A LITTLE BIT SOFTER ANGLE YOU KNOW, TO GO NORTH. SO, SO THAT WILL BE PICKED UP IN THAT STUDY.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, IT'LL BE PICKED UP IN THAT STUDY SO THAT WE THEN HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF HOW TO GO GET THE MONEY FOR IT.

SO YEAH, THAT THAT'S GREAT.

I, I APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS, IS WE WE LOVE OUR DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC.

WE WANT PEOPLE DRIVING THROUGH DOWNTOWN, BUT WE WANT THE BENEFIT OF CHANGING THE LANDSCAPE ON THE LOOP ALL THE WAY TO THE NORTH SO THAT WE GET THAT SEMI TRUCK TRAFFIC THAT'S NOT PULLING INTO TOOTING TOTUM TO BUY A PACK OF GUM AND A AND A DRINK.

AND SO RIGHT NOW SOME OF OUR TRAFFIC IS, IS NOT CHOOSING THIS ROUTE BECAUSE WHEN THEY'RE, WHEN THEY'RE TRANSPORTING, THEY GO THROUGH 14 OR 15 LIGHTS DOWNTOWN TO GET BACK ON I 27 AND SO OR 287 AND SO JUST AN INTERESTING NOTE ON THAT MAYOR.

THE MY I, YOU KNOW, I MY PUNCH SERIES TO SEE WHAT WHERE IT TAKES ME THROUGH THERE IT GETS REAL CONFUSED PRETTY FAST RIGHT.

YOU KNOW BELL BELL STREET YOU KNOW IT TRIES TO CONNECT YOU OVER.

IF I WANT TO GO TO NEW MEXICO OR WHATEVER.

I MEAN, IT DOESN'T EVEN IT HASN'T FIGURED OUT HOW TO GET TO DUMAS, YOU KNOW.

SO SO WE THIS WILL ACTUALLY HELP THAT MODEL, I THINK, IN QUITE SOME WAYS.

AND IT'LL CONTINUE TO GROW US WEST AND NORTH AND SOME OF THAT NORTH GROWTH IS WHAT WE NEED INFRASTRUCTURE AND SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AND EVERYTHING FROM

[00:45:02]

SO GREATLY APPRECIATED.

I ENJOY WORKING WITH YOU.

LAUREN'S A TECH STOCK GUY ENGINEER.

AND SO HE SPEAKS THE LANGUAGE.

HE HAS A LOT OF CONNECTIONS.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PORTS TO PLAINS, TEX.

DOT AND AMARILLO, LUBBOCK, MIDLAND, LAREDO, ALL THE WAY UP AND DOWN, VERY, VERY HEALTHY.

THERE'S A LOT OF WORK GETTING DONE AND NOT GETTING HUNG UP IN KIND OF THE BUREAUCRACY OF WHY CAN'T WE EVER GET THIS PROJECT LET.

AND SO WE'RE SEEING MORE ORANGE CONES.

WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THOSE MAYBE NOT WHEN WE HIT THEM, BUT LIKE, IF YOU AVOID THEM, THEY'RE THEY'RE GOOD TO KNOW.

THAT'S THAT'S GROWTH. THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED ON YOUR ROADWAYS.

SO IF THE PUBLIC WOULD THINK, OH CONGRESSMAN RONNIE JACKSON, NEXT TIME YOU SEE HIM FOR BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR AMARILLO.

AND THIS IS, YOU KNOW, SOME CATEGORY SEVEN AND NINE MONIES THAT WILL WILL HIT MAYBE SOME STREETS, SIDEWALKS, METROPOLITAN, SOME PLANNING, ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT THAT WE OVERLAP WITH YOU GUYS ON.

YEAH. PARTICULARLY FOR YOUR MPO.

THERE IS SOME THERE'S A COUPLE CATEGORIES OF FUNDING THERE THAT ACTUALLY WILL BENEFIT.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY PUT INTO YOUR YOUR CITY STREET PROGRAMS HERE TOO.

SO SO IT'S GOOD TO BE PLUGGED IN THAT WAY.

MAYOR WE APPRECIATE THE UPDATE.

SORRY WE HADN'T HAD YOU BACK HERE EARLIER.

YEAH, YOU'VE BEEN WORKING HARD.

AND SO THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND AND LETTING US KNOW WHERE WE'RE AT.

YEAH. ANYTIME. Y'ALL LET ME KNOW.

APPRECIATE YOU. SIR. OKAY, THAT MOVES US ON TO ITEM EIGHT C.

[8.C. Potential procurement of external legal counsel services for City Council]

I DIDN'T WRITE THAT LINE.

BASICALLY I WANT TO HIRE A LAWYER.

AND SO WHAT WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING I HAVE BEEN REFERRED AND RECOMMENDED TO A VERY, VERY GOOD FIRM HERE.

THEY'RE OUT OF AUSTIN.

HIDE. KELLY IS THE NAME OF THE FIRM.

ASKED THEM TO SEND IN AN ENGAGEMENT LETTER, AND THEY DID WITH A RESOLUTION PROPOSAL.

WE LIKE HAVING DISCUSSIONS WITH COUNSEL.

I KNOW I ALWAYS APPRECIATED IF IF, YOU KNOW, I HAD SOMETHING, I GOT TO ASK MY QUESTIONS.

TWO WEEKS LATER, IT WOULD BE FORMALIZED.

THAT'S KIND OF THE PROCESS HERE.

THIS WILL COME BACK UP ON THE 25TH MEETING.

THIS IS NOT A RETAINER.

SO WE'RE NOT FIXING TO SPEND $95,000 JUST TO HAVE SOMEBODY IN CASE WE WANT TO CALL THEM.

THIS IS A LETTER OF ENGAGEMENT THAT WE ALLOCATED $95,000 TO BEING.

THIS IS WHAT I WOULD PROJECT WITH THIS THIS FIRM IN THE EXPERTISE THAT THEY SPECIALIZE IN.

MR. FORD. THEY SPECIALIZE IN EDCS ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

THEY SPECIALIZE IN ALL SORTS OF OPEN MEETINGS AND, YOU KNOW, GOVERNANCE YOU KNOW, THE, THE PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT, ALL THE THINGS THAT I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR.

SO BY THE CHARTER, THE MAYOR IS TECHNICALLY RESPONSIBLE TO TRAIN THE COUNSEL.

AND SO WE HAVEN'T FULLY GOTTEN OURSELVES TRAINED ON OPEN MEETINGS, ACT AND HOW TO RUN THESE DIFFERENT MEETINGS.

AND WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE MISTAKES.

SO I TRIED TO ENGAGE WITH THE STATE, CONTACTED THE STATE AND SAID, HEY, YOU GUYS, COME ON UP HERE AND GIVE US OUR OUR TRAINING DOESN'T WORK QUITE LIKE THAT.

NOT QUITE THAT SIMPLE.

THERE'S A YOUTUBE VIDEO WE'VE ALL WATCHED.

DOESN'T NECESSARILY TELL YOU HOW TO RUN THIS TYPE OF A MEETING.

THIS THIS ENGAGEMENT WITH YOU GUYS HERE TODAY IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF IT WOULD BE SO NICE TO HAVE THAT ADDITIONAL RESOURCE THAT WE NEED ON EVERYTHING FROM A SANCTUARY CITY ISSUE.

THAT IS LAW THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROVEN OR TESTED MUCH.

ALL THE WAY DOWN TO, YOU KNOW, THE KIDS INC.

PIECE THAT YOU, YOU REFERENCED.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY NEEDED FOR COUNSEL.

YOU KNOW, THE THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT HERE WE'VE LOST A FEW PEOPLE.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT OUR VACANCIES ARE RIGHT NOW, BUT WE WORK THOSE GUYS PRETTY HARD, AND AND THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT THAT COUNCIL DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH ON THE ONE ON ONE LEVEL JUST BECAUSE OF THEIR SCHEDULES AND THEIR ABILITIES TO ANSWER ALL FIVE OF US.

AND SO THIS WILL PROVIDE SOMETHING THAT'S GREATLY NEEDED.

AND WE ARE WORKING REALLY HARD.

AND SO YOU KNOW, AS JUSTIFICATION FOR THIS YOU KNOW, WE WHEN WE WHEN WE WENT A DIFFERENT DIRECTION WITH THE CITY MANAGER, WE LOST ALL OF THE ASSISTANTS.

SO I THINK THERE WAS TWO POSITIONS THERE THAT NO LONGER EXIST THERE.

IT PROBABLY 150,000 A YEAR.

PLUS WE HAVE SOME SAVINGS FROM FROM NOT REPLACING OUR CITY MANAGER RIGHT OFF THE BAT.

PLUS WHAT WHAT WE WILL HAVE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE NEW ONE.

SO WE'VE GOT THE MONEY THERE.

IT'S MONEY WELL SPENT. AND WE NEED THIS, THIS EXPERT LEGAL COUNSEL.

SO THAT'S MY SALES PITCH TO MY PUBLIC.

YOU GUYS ARE OUR BOSS.

WE WANT YOU TO KNOW WHY WE'RE SPENDING MONEY AND WHERE.

AND SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS STEP.

IT WILL HELP US MOVING FORWARD.

AND THEN FOR FOR COUNCIL, THIS IS REALLY KIND OF THEIR FIRST TIME TO HEAR THE DETAIL ON THIS.

[00:50:01]

IF ANYBODY HAS ANY ISSUE WITH THESE GUYS, I CAN TELL YOU WHERE THEY WERE REFERRED FROM.

WHY? I FEEL LIKE THEY'RE QUALIFIED.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GET YOU SOME INFORMATION NOW DISPERSED THROUGH STAFF THAT WILL GIVE YOU THEIR, THEIR BIO, THEIR HISTORY, ALL THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS, THE THE LETTER OF ENGAGEMENT.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW? SO, COUNCIL, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON ON THIS REQUEST.

NO, I JUST LIKE TO SEE MORE INFO ON THEM.

LIKE YOU WERE STATING.

OKAY, AGREED.

LIKE EVERYTHING THAT YOU JUST SAID, THEIR BIO, WHERE THEY CAME FROM, THAT TYPE DEAL.

I'M GOOD. WELL, I LIKE THE IDEA OF ENTERTAINING THAT BECAUSE.

AND MOST PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW, BUT THE CITY ATTORNEY IS NOT OUR ATTORNEY FOR COUNCIL.

IT'S THE CITY'S ATTORNEY, SO WE REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY.

YOU KNOW YOU UNIQUE REPRESENTATION ARE COUNCIL FOR US AS A GROUP.

AND SO AND SOMETIMES WE MAY NOT HAVE THE EXPERTISE.

I MEAN, THIS IS NOT UNPRECEDENTED.

I THINK WE HAVE MIKE MCNAMEE, WHO'S A FORMER CITY ATTORNEY THAT COMES IN AND WORKS WITH THE LGC ON ON OTHER ISSUES.

SO I THINK IT'S JUST FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH OUR OWN LEGAL COUNSEL AND RUN THROUGH THIS.

I THINK IT'S SOMETHING TO GOOD TO ENTERTAIN.

AND AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO ASK TO KIND OF REVIEW WHO THIS IS AND, AND KIND OF TAKE A LOOK AT THEIR CREDENTIALS.

BUT I THINK IT'S A GOOD, GOOD IDEA.

YEAH. SO THE WAY IN WHICH THE, THAT COUNCILMAN SIMPSON IS STATING THIS, HE'S, HE'S 100% CORRECT IN, YOU KNOW, OUR CITY ATTORNEY HAS TO CONSIDER AND CONTEMPLATE THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION.

WHAT IS THIS? WHAT IS MY ROLE IN REPRESENTING THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION OR THE BODY AS A WHOLE? THERE ARE TIMES THAT WE ARE SEEKING LEGAL ADVISEMENT, NOT NECESSARILY JUST TELL ME WHAT THIS LAW SAYS OR WHERE IS THAT IN THE CHARTER.

SO THERE'S SOME RISK ANALYSIS AND SOME THINGS THAT JUST GO INTO CONSIDERATION ON THAT.

SO SOME OF THAT'S VERY GOOD IN THAT THIS THIS ATTORNEY FERM CAME RECOMMENDED A REACH ORIGINALLY.

I REACHED OUT TO A GENTLEMAN NAMED T LYNN WALDEN BY FAR PROBABLY THE BEST ATTORNEY I'VE EVER INTERACTED WITH PERSONALLY AND AND JUST SUPER SMART AND VERY ENGAGING, VERY GOOD AT HIS JOB.

AND HE WAS LEAVING FOR ONE FIRM AND GOING, YOU KNOW, SOMEWHERE ELSE.

AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST NOT YOUR GUY, BUT I KNOW WHO IS.

AND SO THIS IS WHERE HYDE KELLEY CAME FROM.

I DID MY HOMEWORK ON HIM.

I WOULD ASK TO DIRECT STAFF TO SEND THE THE FULL BIO AND EVERYTHING THAT I'VE SENT YOU TO COUNSEL.

LET COUNSEL FEED FEEDBACK TO YOU ANY WAY THAT WE NEED TO.

THEN WE CAN APPROPRIATELY ENGAGE WITH THIS ATTORNEY SO YOU GUYS CAN CALL HIM DIRECTLY.

YOU CAN INTERVIEW HIM.

HE WANTS TO GET UP HERE DO SOME TRAINING, WORK FOR US, HELP US THROUGH SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

AND THEN WITH THAT, I WILL PUT IT ON THE 25TH SO THAT WE COULD GO AHEAD AND FORMALIZE THAT AND EXECUTE THE CONTRACT.

YES, MAYOR. I THINK WHAT STAFF WOULD DO WE HAVE A CONSENSUS TO PUT IT ON THE 25TH, A SUBJECT TO SENDING THAT INFORMATION, OR DO YOU WANT TO SEE THE INFORMATION AND GIVE ME FEEDBACK? WHICH WAY DO YOU WANT TO DO THAT? I WOULD GIVE YOU. I WOULD TAKE INFORMATION, GIVE YOU FEEDBACK.

OKAY. YEAH. SAME.

SO THE LATTER, THE LATTER OF THE TWO IS WHAT I'M HEARING.

PROVIDE THE INFORMATION AND WAIT FOR FEEDBACK.

YEAH. AND THEN IF THEY HAVE CONCERNS OR MAYBE WELL THERE'S SOMEBODY ELSE OR WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE MESSAGE FOR THEM THAT WE STILL USE HERE AND THERE.

THAT WOULD BE A WAY TO ENGAGE OR, YOU KNOW, OR ANY FURTHER COMMUNICATION THAT THE ENTIRE BODY WOULD NEED COULD BE PUBLIC ON THE FORM ON THE FORM.

AND THEN THAT WAY ON THE 25TH, WE WOULD HAVE YOU KNOW, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT THAT WE'D BE ASKING FOR.

OKAY, I THINK I HAVE WHAT I NEED.

YEAH. MAYOR, WHAT'S YOUR VISION LIKE? HOW WOULD WHAT WOULD HOW WOULD THIS WORK? LIKE LET'S SAY WE DO MOVE FORWARD AND WE AGREE LIKE THIS IS THIS GOOD FERM GOOD GUY.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD. SO WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE FOR COUNCIL? HOW WOULD WE ENGAGE. HOW WOULD WE FOR MEETINGS.

WOULD IT BE WE HAVE INDIVIDUAL QUESTIONS YOU KNOW BECAUSE OF OPEN MEETINGS ACT.

YOU KNOW I CAN'T CALL YOU LIKE WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IT.

SO LET ME GIVE YOU A COUPLE GOOD SCENARIOS.

SO THERE ARE SPECIFIC SCENARIOS OF, YOU KNOW, HEY I'M ENGAGED IN THIS DISCUSSION.

I WOULD LIKE THIS INFORMATION YOU'RE ENGAGING WITH, WITH INTERIM CITY MANAGER RIGHT NOW.

AND, AND THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT ISSUE IS SOMETHING THAT THAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW WHERE YOU STAND ON A TOPIC.

WELL, IS THAT IS THAT OKAY FOR EVERYBODY TO HAVE OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT ONLY I SHOULD HAVE? YOU'RE BEING REQUESTED AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST RIGHT NOW.

AND HONESTLY, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO GIVE THEM.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO REDACT OR WITHHOLD.

WE'RE PUTTING THAT BURDEN ON OUR CITY SECRETARY, CITY SECRETARIES HAVING TO REACH OUT TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND GET GUIDANCE.

[00:55:05]

WHAT DOESN'T? HE CAN REACH OUT TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE ON OUR BEHALF.

HE'S GOING TO KEEP US RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.

AND SOME POLITICAL ITEMS THAT CAN GET A LITTLE BIT TURBULENT, AND HE'LL KEEP US OUT OF THE DITCH.

AND THEN THE ABILITY TO HAVE AN EXPERT ON EDC I THINK IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT I'M STRUGGLING WITH WITH MY OWN CAMPAIGN TREASURER BY THE WAY.

SO LIKE, HE'S ON MY TEAM, BUT HE IS PUTTING ME ON BLAST ON FACEBOOK ABOUT 501 AND 504.

AND SO I NEED THAT EXPERT THAT CAN SIT IN THERE AND, AND IT DOES HELP TO BE AN OUTSIDE COUNSEL THAT'S A LITTLE MORE UNBIASED.

SO I SEE TRAININGS ON THE FRONT END.

AND THEN HERE'S MY OTHER VISION I DON'T NECESSARILY SEE THIS, YOU KNOW AS A HALF TWO LONG TERM.

I'M NOT TRYING TO SPEND MONEY AND GROW OR PUT SOMETHING IN THERE.

HOPEFULLY WE WOULD GET TRAINED, EDUCATED.

AND THEN ONCE WE'RE RUNNING AND GUNNING, YOU'RE ONLY PAYING THIS GENTLEMAN HOURLY ON THE ITEMS THAT YOU NEED TO ENGAGE WITH.

SO WHY WOULD YOU NOT WANT THAT RESOURCE THERE TO HAVE IT WHEN YOU NEED IT? SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED A SECOND OPINION.

IT'S LIKE GOING TO A DOCTOR.

YOU MAY HAVE THE BEST FAMILY DOCTOR THAT YOU'VE HAD YOUR ENTIRE LIFE.

HE DIAGNOSES YOU AND YOU JUST WANT A SECOND OPINION.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT TREATMENT.

AND AS WE ALL KNOW, THE LAW IS NOT NECESSARILY BLACK AND WHITE.

AND SO WE ARE CONSTANTLY BEING ENGAGED IN AREAS THAT THIS IS NOT OUR ROLE.

WE ARE NOT LAWYERS.

WE ARE NOT SITTING IN SOME OF THESE POSITIONS.

WE'RE OVERSIGHT, WE'RE POLICY DRIVEN.

AND SO THAT THAT'S MY VISION IF THAT HELPS YOU.

OKAY. SO SO BILLING WISE, IF WE HAD AN ISSUE, WE'D REACH OUT VIA EMAIL OR PHONE CALL.

AND THEN IF WE ENGAGE, HE WOULD JUST BILL US HOURLY.

THAT'S CORRECT. ATTORNEY SHOULD BE CAREFUL HOW WE TALK TO HIM.

WELL, IT'S QUARTER HOUR OR HALF FULL, RIGHT? YEAH, YEAH. NO, NO SMALL TALK, PLEASE.

YEAH. BUT NO, YOU'D BE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO HIM INDIVIDUALLY, AND HE IS YOUR REPRESENTATIVE.

AND SO HE'S GOING TO HE'S GOING TO REPRESENT YOU IN A WAY IN WHICH IT'S NOT REAL FAIR TO HAVE THE CITY ATTORNEY TAKE ON THE FULLNESS OF THAT ROLE.

AND THEN I'LL JUST TELL YOU, I'M I AM I FEEL INEPT IN TRAINING FOR OTHER GENTLEMEN.

THAT ALL CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME WITHIN MY FIRST YEAR, AND THEN ALSO TRYING TO WALK US THROUGH ISSUES LIKE SANCTUARY CITY.

SO OPEN MEETINGS, ACT VIOLATIONS.

MR. FORD TELLS ME EVERY TIME I AM EGREGIOUS.

AND SO, I MEAN, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT THAT WE HAVE WAVERED ON A LITTLE BIT AND WE NEED TO TIGHTEN IT UP.

AND SO SOME OF THAT STUFF IS REALLY GOING TO HELP ME IN MANAGING THAT ROLE AS THE MAYOR.

OKAY. OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL.

WELL, ONE THING TOO, I THINK JUST FROM A COUNCIL PERSPECTIVE, AND MAYBE I'M MISTAKEN ON THIS, BUT EVEN AS A COUNCIL MEMBER WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY, YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE.

I MEAN, IF THE CITY ATTORNEY FINDS OUT YOU KNOW SOMETHING AND FEELS THAT SOMEONE ELSE NEEDS TO KNOW.

AND SO I THINK HAVING SOMEONE THAT WE CAN HAVE A CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL CONVERSATION WITH THAT IS JUST REPRESENTING US, ARE WORKING FOR US.

I FIND VALUE IN THAT AS WELL.

I MEAN, NOT TO SAY THAT THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE SYSTEM.

IT'S RIGHT NOW THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY DOES NOT WORK FOR US.

IT WORKS FOR THE CITY AS A WHOLE.

WELL, AND I WANT TO SAY AGAIN, THIS IS THE SYSTEM.

SO WE CONTRACT WITH MULTIPLE LAW FIRMS ALREADY.

YOU KNOW, WE REACH OUT ON LEGAL DOCUMENTS.

LGC USED A LOCAL FIRM HERE TO PROCURE CONDOMINIUM REGIME DOCUMENTS.

THIS IS STANDARD BUSINESS PRACTICE.

THIS ISN'T ANYTHING THAT IS GOING TO BE NEW TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY.

THE THE NEWNESS OF THIS IS, IS THAT NORMALLY WE HAVE A TOPIC.

AND I WOULD GO THROUGH CITY MANAGER AND SAY, HEY, GO FIND ME A FIRM.

THIS IS SOMETHING WHERE IT'S ACTUALLY I HOLD THIS, THIS, THIS IS MY ROLE.

THIS IS MY RESPONSIBILITY AS THE MAYOR AND AND PER THE CHARTER IN THE COUNCIL, I MEAN, WE SIT IN THIS POSITION AND SO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO REACH OUT AND AND REQUEST OUR OWN SPECIFIC COUNSEL.

THIS IS SPECIAL FOR THE NEED THAT WE'RE, WE'RE DERIVING AND WE JUST FEEL THE NEED TO UPDATE YOU ON IT AND HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT SO THAT EVERYTHING'S UP FRONT AND OUT IN THE OPEN AND NOBODY FEELS LIKE ANYTHING'S BEING DONE, YOU KNOW, BEHIND THE SCENES.

ANYTHING FURTHER, GENTLEMEN? YES, SIR. NO.

SO, STAFF WILL.

WE WILL. HAVE YOU REACH OUT TO MR. HYDE? GO AHEAD AND GET ALL THAT DOCUMENTATION AND ASK HIM TO ENGAGE WITH EACH COUNCIL MEMBER INDIVIDUALLY, KIND OF ON THAT ONBOARDING SYSTEM.

THANK YOU FOR THE DISCUSSION.

ITEM EIGHT D DON'T HAVE ANY FUTURE REQUESTED ITEMS FOR THE AGENDA FROM COUNCIL.

[8.D. Request future agenda items and reports from City Manager.]

WITH NOTHING ON THAT, I'M GOING TO MOVE US INTO SECTION NINE, OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

[9. Consent Items]

[01:00:05]

OH, OKAY.

WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

I MOVE TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

SECOND. OKAY, I HAVE A MOTION FROM PLACE ONE A SECOND FROM PLACE TWO.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? YES, SIR. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THAT MOTION PASSES WITH A50 VOTE.

MOVING FORWARD TO ITEM TEN, WHICH IS THE REASON MOST PEOPLE ARE HERE.

[10.A. PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 8137]

IN A PRODUCTIVE MEETING.

SO THANK YOU GUYS.

ITEM TEN A IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

AND WE HAVE MISS KOHLER I THINK THAT I JUST SAW WALK IN.

MISS KOHLER, IF YOU'RE READY, IF YOU WANT TO COME ON DOWN HERE AND WALK US INTO THIS ONE.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

LET ME PULL UP MY NOTES.

SO THIS ITEM IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND FIRST READING FOR ORDINANCE 8137.

ADOPTING CITY PLAN VISION 2045 AS AMARILLO'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

WE PRESENTED IT IN DETAIL ON MAY 14TH AND HAD A GREAT DISCUSSION.

I THINK THAT DAY NO CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO IT, EXCEPT FOR THE ADDITION OF AMARILLO COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO THE COVER.

WE ALSO DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK FROM CITIZENS AFTER THAT PRESENTATION.

SO THIS IS THE DRAFT RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION ON APRIL 15TH.

CHAPTER 213 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE REQUIRES THAT BEFORE CITY COUNCIL MAY ADOPT A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THERE MUST BE A RECOMMENDATION BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION AND A PUBLIC HEARING.

SO THE PURPOSE OF TODAY IS TO HOLD THE PUBLIC HEARING.

I'M ALSO HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THEM.

QUESTIONS FOR MISS KOHLER.

NO. OKAY, MA'AM.

OKAY, SO JUST BEFORE WE DO THE PUBLIC HEARING, IT'S A PLANNING DOCUMENT.

WE DISCUSSED THIS ALREADY.

IT'S AN AT WILL ANNEXATION, REZONING PERSONAL PROPERTY RIGHTS, OR.

ALL THE SAME. YOU HAVE TO COME IN AND REQUEST THIS YOURSELF.

YOU WOULD WORK THROUGH THIS.

IT HELPS IDENTIFY FUTURE USES THROUGH LOTS OF DISCUSSIONS.

AND THEN IF THERE WERE ANYTHING IN THIS DOCUMENT THAT WAS NEGATIVE FOR OUR COMMUNITY OR BROUGHT ABOUT ANYTHING THAT WOULD RESTRAIN US FROM FULL PROPERTY RIGHTS THAT WE NOW ENJOY, WE WOULD CALL THIS BACK AND WE CAN AMEND IT AND CHANGE IT, AND WE EXPECT TO CONTINUE TO CHANGE IT AND REVIEW IT EVERY YEAR.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.

YEAH. THERE'S LANGUAGE IN THE ORDINANCE TO THAT EFFECT.

AND THEN THE PLAN ITSELF OUTLINES A SPECIFIC UPDATE AND AMENDMENT PROCESS.

OKAY. ANYTHING FURTHER FROM MISS KOLLER? THANK YOU, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING.

DOES IS THERE ANYONE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO BE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? MAYOR, WE HAD NOAH DAWSON SIGNED UP.

THANK YOU, MISS CITY SECRETARY.

I KNOW DAWSON STILL LIVING HERE.

FOR SOME REASON.

I'D TO RISE TODAY TO AGAIN REITERATE MY SUPPORT FOR THIS DOCUMENT.

IT'S IT'S HONESTLY, AGAIN, ONE OF THE BEST CITY PLAN DOCUMENTS THAT I'VE EVER READ.

IT IS A LARGE IMPROVEMENT, ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF THE PROPERTY RIGHTS THAT OUR COMMUNITY HOLDS SO DEAR OVER THE EXISTING CITY PLAN.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT I HELP FILL WILL BOTH PROTECT THE PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS AND AN EVEN STRONGER MANNER THAN WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE, WHILE ALSO BEING ABLE TO HELP THE CITY MOVE FORWARD IN ORDER TO HELP PLAN FOR THE NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE THAT OUR CITY, AND ESPECIALLY SOME PARTS OF OUR CITY, VERY DESPERATELY NEED.

IT'S REALLY A SOMEWHAT AN INGENIOUS WAY TO BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE BOTH THOSE GOALS BY MAKING THEM WHERE THEY WORK TOGETHER INSTEAD OF BEING ANTAGONISTIC AS THESE KIND OF THINGS OFTEN FEEL LIKE SO FOR THOSE REASONS, I ONCE AGAIN REITERATE MY SUPPORT FOR THIS DOCUMENT. THANK YOU SIR.

I HAVE ANYONE ELSE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK DURING THIS PUBLIC HEARING?

[01:05:06]

I MOVE TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 8137 AS PRESENTED.

SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES.

MOVING RIGHT ALONG TO ITEM TEN B, WE HAVE MR.

[10.B. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 06-11-24-2]

HOW ARE YOU TODAY, SIR? GOOD. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD.

ALL RIGHT. THIS ITEM IS A RESOLUTION THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH A PROPOSED ANNEXATION.

WE HAVE HAD A TWO PROPERTY OWNERS REACH OUT TO US.

AS PART OF A PROPERTY OWNER INITIATED ANNEXATION REQUEST IN THE VICINITY OF I-40 AND HELIUM ROAD.

THIS RESOLUTION TODAY IS TO SET THE PUBLIC HEARING DATE, TIME AND LOCATION, AND TO ALSO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE AGREED SERVICE PLAN. AND THESE ARE STEPS THAT ARE OUTLINED IN STATE LAW.

AND IT'S KIND OF A FORMALITY, IF YOU WILL.

THE ANNEXATION ITSELF WON'T BE CONSIDERED IF APPROVED UNTIL JUNE 25TH AT YOUR NEXT MEETING THAT BEGINS AT 3 P.M..

THAT AGREED SERVICE PLAN IS SIMPLY A DOCUMENT THAT CITY STAFF AND THE PROPERTY OWNERS NEGOTIATED BASED ON CITY POLICY REGARDING DEVELOPMENT POLICY WITH THINGS SUCH AS UTILITY, FIRE, POLICE, ITEMS OF THOSE NATURE AND STATE LAW STATES THAT THAT HAS TO BE EXECUTED BEFORE WE CAN BRING IT BEFORE YOU ALL FOR OFFICIAL CONSIDERATION.

SO THAT IS ESSENTIALLY A BRIEF SUMMARY OF WHAT THIS RESOLUTION DOES AND THE CONSIDERATION OF THAT SERVICE PLAN AND THE ANNEXATION AS A WHOLE.

IF YOU APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION TODAY, WE'LL BE ON JUNE 25TH.

MR. KENDRICKS, ONE OF OUR BEST PRESENTERS.

HE IS ALWAYS RIGHT TO THE POINT AND EFFICIENT WITH OUR TIME.

QUESTIONS FOR BRADY, GENTLEMEN.

NO. OKAY.

THANK YOU. BRADY. NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.

I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

WE ACCEPT RESOLUTION ZERO SIX.

DASH 11. DASH 24, DASH TWO.

SECOND MOTION AND A SECOND, WITH NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES.

ON TO ITEM TEN C.

[10.C. CONSIDER SALE - REAL ESTATE LOCATED AT 501 S. GRANT STREET, 509 S. GRANT STREET, AND 517 S. GRANT STREET]

YES, SIR. SO JUST BRIEFLY, THIS IS A CONSIDERATION TO SELL THE REAL ESTATE AT 501 SOUTH GRANT, 509 SOUTH GRANT AND 517 SOUTH GRANT.

AS WAS DISCUSSED DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, THIS WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED BY A PREVIOUS COUNCIL DECEMBER 2022 FOR 1.3 MILLION.

AND THAT IS WHAT THE PRICE IS FOR TRYING TO SELL IT TODAY.

THE BUYER IS JIM CONKLING LLC.

AND AGAIN, THE APPRAISAL THAT WE HAD AT THE TIME WAS 1.1.

SO WE ARE GETTING MARKET VALUE ACCORDING TO THAT APPRAISAL.

IT DOES FALL UNDER ONE OF THE EXCEPTIONS FOR BIDDING AND SELLING OF PROPERTY, SINCE IT DOES FALL WITHIN THE TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE.

THAT IS WHY WE ARE ABLE TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH ONE INDIVIDUAL VERSUS BIDDING THE PROPERTY OUT.

THIS PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN IN THE BUILDING, HAS LEASED IT PREVIOUSLY AND HAD AN INTEREST IN PURCHASING THE PROPERTY.

HE WAS THE THE OTHER BUYER THAT WANTED TO CONSIDER IT THE LAST TIME AROUND.

SO WE HAVE WORKED WITH HIM ON THIS PROPOSAL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY.

WHAT HE IS PROPOSING TO USE THE PROPERTY FOR? WHILE NOT REQUIRED PER THIS AGREEMENT, HE DID SHARE HIS INTENTIONS WITH US AND THAT IS TO CONSIDER MULTIFAMILY APARTMENT USE POTENTIALLY A CLOTHING STORE, A WINERY EVENT SPACE, AND AN ART GALLERY SO THAT ALL FALLS WITHIN THE GOALS OF THE CENTER CITY.

TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT NUMBER ONE FINAL PROJECT PLAN FOR REINVESTMENT FOR OFFICE, COMMERCIAL, RETAIL AND RESIDENTIAL.

SO WITH THAT SAID, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

IT IS A 45,000FT² OF LAND, ABOUT 42,000FT² OF BUILDING SPACE ABOVE GRADE A BASEMENT AS WELL, BUILT IN THE 1920S AND THE 1950S. WE WOULD CLOSE ON OR BEFORE JULY 14TH.

AND SINCE THIS PROJECT WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED WITH GENERAL FUND DOLLARS, WHAT WE RECEIVED BACK WOULD BE ALLOCATED TO THAT FUND FOR POTENTIAL ONE TIME USE BY CITY COUNCIL. QUESTIONS FOR MR. FREEMAN, GENTLEMEN.

NO. AND WHEN WE TALK APPRAISED VALUE, I THINK MR. SCHANKE BROUGHT THIS UP.

THAT'S AN INDEPENDENT APPRAISER.

THAT'S JUST MARKET VALUE.

YES, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

MR. SCHANKE, ABOUT THE.

YOU KNOW WHAT THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT HAS IT AT.

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. THAT'S NOT US.

BUT IT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.

SO GRATEFUL THAT, AS YOU POINTED OUT, MAYOR'S THE ONLY ONE THAT VOTED AGAINST THIS IN THE BEGINNING.

BUT WE'RE ABLE TO RECOUP WHAT WE SPENT ON THAT, SO THANK GOODNESS.

EXACTLY. WELL, THANK GOODNESS SO.

[01:10:01]

IT'S A MARKET VALUE.

IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A TAX.

NOT A TAX VALUE. YES, SIR.

YEAH. AND PREVIOUS COUNCIL HAD A DIFFERENT VISION.

AND AND THIS EXPENSE WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS MORE RESERVATION OF LET'S RESERVE THIS.

THE LAND MAY HAVE VALUE.

IT'S CONTIGUOUS TO EVERYTHING ELSE WE OWN.

YOU KNOW, WE CAN AFFORD IT.

AND SO LIKE, MORE OR LESS, MR. CONKLIN WAS IN NEGOTIATIONS TRYING TO BUY THE BUILDING.

THE CITY CAME IN AND PURCHASED THE BUILDING BECAUSE HE WASN'T ABLE TO FINANCIALLY AT THAT TIME.

CORRECT. IT'S IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH HIM AND WORK WITH ONE OF OUR CITIZENS THAT HAS A VISION FOR THAT BUILDING FOR YOUR GOVERNMENT TO OWN THAT REAL ESTATE. WE DON'T HAVE A PURPOSE FOR IT CURRENTLY.

WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, EVEN EVEN AT 45,000FT², MR. FREEMAN. YES, SIR.

EVEN A LOW COST INTERIOR FINISH OUTS, A HUNDRED A FOOT ON A ON A THREE STORY BUILDING.

SO, I MEAN, THAT'S $4.5 MILLION BY THE TIME WE DESIGN SOMETHING AND RUN IT THROUGH, IT COULD BE 300 A FOOT, YOU KNOW, OR YOU JUST TEAR IT DOWN AND YOU BUILD A $500 A SQUARE FOOT BUILDING RIGHT THERE.

BUT THE THE PURPOSE FOR WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS GROW DOWNTOWN AMARILLO WITHIN THE TIERS THROUGH THESE INCENTIVE GUIDELINES, AND LET PRIVATE MONEY COME IN AND DO EXACTLY WHAT MR. CONKLIN'S PROPOSING TO DO.

PUT SOMETHING IN THERE THAT THE THE CITY COULD USE OR NEED, AND IT'S CAPITALISM.

AND, YOU KNOW, LORD WILLING, WE'LL GET SOME SALES TAX AND, AND THE PROPERTY TAX WILL BE RIGHT THERE THAT IF WE OWN IT, WE'RE NOT PAYING PROPERTY TAX ON IT.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF BENEFIT HERE FOR US TO LET GO OF SOMETHING.

THE ONLY DRAWBACK THAT I THINK MAYBE WE COULD HEAR SOME CRITICISM ON IS, WELL, WHAT IF YOU NEEDED THAT SQUARE FOOTAGE TEN YEARS FROM NOW? WELL, WHAT DID IT COST ME TO RESERVE THAT FOR THAT DURATION OF TIME? AND THEN WHY CAN I NOT WORK AROUND THE PUBLIC? THAT'S HELPING ME GROW? AMARILLO. SO THE ORGANIC APPROACH HERE WITH PRIVATE COMPANIES AND DEVELOPERS IS THE BETTER WAY TO GO IN THIS COUNCIL'S VISION.

SO THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS US TRY TO RELEASE THOSE MONIES SO THAT WE CAN PUT THEM INTO OTHER THINGS THAT WE DO HAVE AN IMMEDIATE NEED ON.

I WANT A MAJOR ONE MAJOR DEAL POINT THAT COUNCIL HAD WAS ALSO SELLING IT ALL AS A PACKAGE.

WE'RE NOT PIECEMEALING ONE BUILDING, ONE LOT AT A TIME.

IT'S ALL ALL TOGETHER.

AND THIS WAS A LONG DISCUSSION BECAUSE WE HAD OPPOSING VIEWS ON THIS.

AND I THINK A LOT OF US WERE GOING EITHER WAY SAYING, WELL, DO WE HOLD IT? IT IS A GREAT LOCATION.

IT'S NEXT TO THE PAVILION.

FUTURE. THIS COULD BE REALLY GOOD, YOU KNOW, ARE WE GOING TO KICK OURSELVES FOR NOT KEEPING IT? BUT TO MAYOR'S POINT, THE EXPENSE OF KEEPING IT FOR A.

WHAT IF WE FINALLY CAME TO THE RESOLUTION THAT IT MIGHT BE BEST IF WE GOT THAT GOOD OFFER? THE ONLY THING I WOULD ASK ANDREW IS, DO WE HAVE ANY MEDIA AVAILABLE ON THIS PIECE FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE? AS FAR AS A MAP STEPHANIE MIGHT BE ABLE TO PULL UP THE LOCATION FOR US.

THIS IS FROM THE OLD SLIDE SHOW.

SORRY. GIVE ME JUST A SECOND TO GET INTO THAT.

IT'S DIRECTLY SOUTH OF THE PAVILION.

EAST OF THE WAREHOUSE, NORTH OF THE NEW CITY HALL ON GRANT STREET.

SO THIS HAS BEEN A NEGOTIATION IN EXEC, AND WE'VE WE'VE HAD IT IN AND OUT OF EXEC.

I'M GOING TO SAY NO LESS THAN FOUR TIMES, MAYBE FIVE TIMES NOW.

SO LOTS OF DISCUSSION ON THIS AND FORETHOUGHT.

YOU'RE JUST HEARING OF IT BECAUSE IT'S A IT'S A NEGOTIATION ON AND ON.

AND HE HAD MADE SOME INVESTMENT IN THE PROPERTY.

SO IF YOU DRIVE BY THERE, THERE IS STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS ON A PORTION OF IT.

SO HE'D ALREADY INVESTED A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND JUST IN BRINGING THE BUILDING UP AND GETTING THE MIDDLE PIECE READY FOR A BREWERY WINERY PROJECT.

AS SHE'S PULLING THAT UP.

THE OTHER THING THAT WAS NICE IS MR. CONKLIN HAD INVESTED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF HIS OWN PERSONAL MONEY IN THIS WHILE HE WAS IN A LEASE AGREEMENT OF SOME SORT.

SO IT IS ALSO VERY NICE TO HAVE A LOCAL COUNCIL THAT'S WORKING WITH YOUR LOCAL INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE SOME SKIN IN THAT GAME.

WE DID NOT WANT TO HAVE TO WALK AWAY OR SAY, YOU KNOW, WE NEED YOU TO MOVE OUT.

SO STAFF WAS VERY COOPERATIVE, WORKED WITH HIM.

AND IT'S TAKEN A WHILE, BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO END UP WELL.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. FREEMAN? YOU'RE LOOKING AT A ROOF.

SO THERE YOU GO.

IF YOU'LL DO STREET VIEW, YOU CAN SHOW THE THE IMPROVEMENTS HE'S MADE TO THE FRONT OF THAT FIRST STREET VIEW.

I CAN'T WORK GOOGLE EARTH.

PULL THAT LITTLE ORANGE PERSON FROM THE RIGHT HAND SIDE AND DRAG IT TO THE STREET.

I WAS HOPING TO SEE HER. DO YOU WANT IT? THE OTHER SIDE? THAT SIDE.

THERE YOU GO. THERE YOU GO.

PERFECT. I'M LEARNING SOMETHING TODAY.

THERE IT IS. THERE WE GO.

YOU CAN SEE THE LEFT. THAT'S THE VACANT PIECE.

AND THEN THE PIECE ON THE RIGHT IS WHERE HE'S REMODELED AND HAS BEEN USING IT.

SO. ALL RIGHT.

OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU, MR. FREEMAN. I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HELP ON THIS ONE AS WELL.

A LOT OF TIME IN IT.

ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON ITEM TEN C, GENTLEMEN.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION. WE SELL THE PROPERTY AT 509 SOUTH GRANT, 517 SOUTH GRANT AND 501 SOUTH

[01:15:07]

SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM TEN C.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM TEN D.

[10.D. CONSIDER APPROVAL - AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT FOR CHARTER AND GOVERNANCE AND ENDS POLICY PROFESSIONAL SERVICES]

PROBABLY TAKE A RECESS.

ITEM TEN D LET ME SEE WHO I HAVE COMING UP HERE.

IS THIS YOU, MR. FULLER OR MR. HARTMAN? SO, YES, MAYOR AND COUNCIL THIS IS THE ADDITIONAL SCOPE ON THE BAKER TILLY PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT FOR CHARTER AND GOVERNANCE AND ENDS THIS THIS WOULD BE THREE ADDITIONAL TRIPS ON SITE RATHER THAN REMOTE.

JOINING THE MEETINGS.

OUT OF THE TWO MEETINGS THAT WE'VE HAD, I'VE HAD A LOT OF COMMENTS ABOUT THE VALUE OF HAVING BAKER TILLY IN PERSON.

THE THE THE COMMITTEE IS DOING A LOT OF GOOD WORK.

AND YOU CAN WATCH THOSE ON THURSDAY EVENINGS.

BUT WHAT I FOUND OUT FROM THE INPUT AND BAKER TILLY RECOMMENDED THAT THEY BE ON SITE TO HELP FACILITATE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS.

WE NOW KNOW WHAT THE DETAILS ARE.

THIS BAKER TILLY CONSULTANTS THEY HAVE PROVIDED US A VERY GOOD PRACTICAL VIEW OF GOVERNANCE AND MS AND CHARTER.

AND, OF COURSE, TWO OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE SERVING ON IT SO THEY CAN PROVIDE THEIR INPUT.

WHEN I LOOKED AT THIS, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT FOUR TRIPS FOR ONE OF THE CHARTERS.

SO WE CUT THAT BACK FOR COST EFFECTIVENESS, BACK TO THREE TRIPS.

IN THAT SAME DISCUSSION, WE CUT IT BACK FROM A LITTLE OVER 3500 PER TRIP.

TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT TO RIGHT AT 3000, A LITTLE OVER 3000 PER TRIP.

SO WE DID A COST EFFECTIVE NEGOTIATION ON IT.

SO STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THIS BASED OFF RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE MAJORITY OF THE, OF THE STAFF AND THE AND THE CHARTER COMMITTEE.

YEAH. AND TO GIVE A LITTLE COLOR TO THIS MR. HARTMAN AND I BOTH VISITED ON THIS ONE AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ESTIMATING MAYBE EIGHT MEETINGS TO GET THE THING FULLY DONE AND THEN, YOU KNOW, KIND OF CAME UP WITH, WELL, WHAT IF THEY'RE HERE THREE TIMES AND WE BUDGET THIS AS TIGHT AS WE CAN? SO SOME OF THE COST OVERRUN IS NOT THE FACT THAT THEY MISSED THE TRAVEL AND THAT THEY WERE COMMITTED TO BE HERE EIGHT TIMES, AND NOW THEY'RE SAYING, WELL, WE JUST NEED MORE MONEY. WE DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS GOING TO COST, YOU KNOW, THE GAS AND THE AND THE LODGING.

THEY THEY EXCLUDED IT BECAUSE OF THE SCOPE AND THE WAY IN WHICH THE SCOPE WAS WRITTEN.

PRETTY TIGHT. SO HAD WE NOT HAVE BEEN SO CHEAP WITH OUR CONSULTANT, AND I THINK WE'RE JUST BEING FRUGAL WITH THE MONEY OF MAYBE WE DON'T NEED THEM HERE FOR EVERY MEETING.

WE BELIEVE IN THIS COMMITTEE.

WE HAVE SOME STRONG PEOPLE HERE.

WE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED SOMEBODY TO HOLD OUR HAND, BUT THIS IS THE CHARTER AMENDMENT.

NO ONE WANTS TO WALK THROUGH A POTENTIAL CHARTER AMENDMENT WITHOUT HIRING A CONSULTANT AND GETTING THOSE GOOD LEGAL ADVISEMENTS AND SOME OF THOSE GOOD OUTSIDE OF CITY PRACTICES. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE MISSING IF YOU'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT THE WAY IN WHICH YOU'VE DONE IT HERE, YOU KNOW, FOR THE LAST 100 YEARS.

SO WE ARE GETTING SOME THINGS HERE.

AND THIS IS NOT $500,000 OR $400,000 THAT WE SAW IN THE PREVIOUS 2 OR 3 YEARS THAT I WAS ON COUNCIL FOR PDP.

I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT THAT ONE WAS, BUT THIS IS A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT A SMALL DEAL TO YOU THAT WE WE DID OUR HOMEWORK.

WE TREATED IT JUST LIKE IF IT HAD A FEW MORE ZEROS BEHIND IT.

IT'S A SCOPE OF WORK ISSUE WITH THE CHANGE ORDER.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

COUNCIL QUESTIONS FOR MR. HARTMAN. NO.

I JUST PERSONALLY GOT FEEDBACK AGAINST THIS FROM.

SOME PEOPLE ON THE COMMITTEE.

SO MY QUESTION IS, TOM AND LES, WHAT'S YOUR OPINION ON IT? I'M BRINGING HIM IN IN PERSON.

I GOT SOME FEEDBACK AS WELL.

SOME OF THE PEOPLE.

I GOT TWO PHONE CALLS.

I PUT IT THAT WAY.

THAT SAID, THEY REALLY DIDN'T SEE THE VALUE IN HAVING THEM COME EVERY TIME THAT THEY FELT LIKE WE COULD DO IT THROUGH YOUTUBE OR WHATEVER.

BUT THAT WAS JUST TOO OUT OF THE TEN.

I DON'T KNOW IF COUNCILMAN SIMPSON.

NO, I ONLY HEARD FROM ONE.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU, THAT MEETING WAS CLUNKY.

I MEAN, AND IT WAS JUST NOT A REAL AND I THINK THE VALUE OF BEING IN PERSON AND I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT THEY ADD AND, YOU KNOW, JUST TO THINK ABOUT THIS, I MEAN, WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, OKAY, THEY WERE THERE.

WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE A PRESENTATION.

IS THE SCREEN UP, IS THE SCREEN NOT UP.

YOU KNOW, BUT ALSO BEING HERE INVOLVED I THINK IT JUST AND YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE BEST CONVERSATIONS THAT SOMETIMES OCCUR ARE NOT THE ONES IN THE MEETING.

[01:20:04]

AND I THINK AND I GUESS SOME OF THE, THE COMMITTEE I DON'T, YOU KNOW, HAD HAD TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BEING MORE PRODUCTIVE BY HAVING EVERYBODY IN PERSON FOR THE, YOU KNOW, THE FEW REMAINING MEETINGS, THE COMMENTS I GOT WERE THE FIRST MEETING WHEN THEY WERE IN PERSON WAS MUCH MORE PRODUCTIVE AND CLUNKY WAS A DESCRIPTION.

I HEARD OF THE SECOND ONE RIGHT.

IT WAS DISJOINTED AND AT TIMES WE HAD TO WAIT.

AND SO AND YOU KNOW, I MEAN, AGAIN, I VALUE THESE CITIZENS TIME.

AND WHEN YOU'RE HAVING TO STAY THERE AN EXTRA TIME JUST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE PERSON ON THE OTHER SIDE DOESN'T KNOW IF IT'S CHANGED.

AND WE'RE TRYING TO COMMUNICATE.

SO I THINK HAVING THEM HERE WOULD, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY BE A GOOD VALUE BUT MAKE I THINK IT JUST ALLOWED FOR MUCH MORE EFFICIENT MEETINGS AND ASKING A LITTLE LESS OF OUR CITIZENS TIME, OR MAXIMIZING THE TIME THAT THEY'RE GIVING TO US.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. HARTMAN? AT THIS POINT.

I'M CURIOUS IF CLUNKY WILL BE A HEADLINE TOMORROW ON ANY MEDIA THAT'S REPORTING.

SO THE ONLY OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS THEY ASKED FOR $17,000.

YOU CALLED ME AND I SAID, HEY, GO BACK AND TELL THEM WE NEED TO SPEND LESS.

AND SO YOU DID, AND THEY WORKED IT OUT WITH YOU.

SO IT'S $9,000 FOR THE CHANGE ORDER.

I COULD CALL IT DISCOMBOBULATED IF YOU WANT A MULTISYLLABLE WORD, BUT I JUST THOUGHT I WOULD STICK WITH CLUNKY.

WELL, IT WAS VERY DESCRIPTIVE.

SO WITH NO FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM TEN, D WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION.

I'D MOVE TO APPROVE ITEM TEN D AS PRESENTED.

SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ONE GENTLEMAN? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES WITH A50 VOTE.

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET ITEM TEN E OUT OF THE WAY.

[10.E. CONSIDER APPROVAL - CHANGE ORDER NO. 2 FOR THE AMARILLO NORTHEAST SANITARY SEWER INTERCEPTOR]

NO, WE DO NOT. SO COME ON UP HERE, JACKSON.

IF YOU WILL WALK US THROUGH WHAT IS A CHANGE ORDER AND A CHANGE OF SCOPE.

SURE. GOOD AFTERNOON.

MAYOR, COUNCIL. JACKSON ZAHARA, CITY ENGINEER.

GOING TO WORK THROUGH THIS ACTION ITEM OR POTENTIAL ACTION ITEM.

WANTED TO GIVE JUST A QUICK BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT WHERE WE'RE AT ON THIS BEFORE GOING INTO THAT CHANGE ORDER, IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT. QUICK, QUICK PROJECT BACKGROUND.

THIS COUNCIL AWARDED THIS PROJECT BACK IN OCTOBER.

S.J. LEWIS CONSTRUCTION WAS A CONTRACTOR A LITTLE OVER $71 MILLION CONTRACT COST SCOPE OF THE PROJECT.

APPROXIMATELY 13 MILES OF GRAVITY.

SANITARY SEWER MAIN UP TO 70FT DEEP IN PLACES.

BASICALLY OPENING UP ADDITIONAL SERVICE AREA IN THE NORTHEAST AREA OF THE CITY CREATING SOME, SOME ADDITIONAL CAPACITY FOR WASTEWATER COLLECTION.

THAT CONSTRUCTION STARTED IN JANUARY.

I DON'T KNOW. DO I HAVE THE CLICKER? OKAY. MAYBE.

JUST JUST A MAP SHOWING KIND OF THE THE PROJECT LIMITS AND THE SCALE OF THE PROJECT.

13 MILES OF PIPELINE EXTENDING FROM THE RIVER ROAD WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT NORTH OF THE CITY UPHILL BACK TO THE CENTER PORT AREA.

PROGRESS TO DATE.

LIKE I SAID, THEY STARTED IN JANUARY.

ABOUT $33 MILLION WORTH OF WORK OF THAT ORIGINAL 71 COMPLETED TO DATE.

PROJECT OF THIS SIZE HAS.

THERE'S A LOT OF EXCAVATION ON IT.

SO A BIG PORTION OF THE WORK SO FAR HAS BEEN JUST THAT EXCAVATION.

TUNNELING UNDER EXISTING UTILITIES, ROADWAYS, THAT TYPE OF THING.

FOUR AND A HALF MILES OF PIPE INSTALLED TO DATE.

AND WE'RE TRENDING AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

29% OF THE CONTRACT TIME.

USED CONTRACTORS HOPING TO, HOPING TO KEEP PACE WITH THAT.

ANTICIPATED COMPLETION NEXT SUMMER.

LIKE I SAID, I THINK OUR CONTRACTOR HOPES TO BEAT THAT.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT WILL DO, AS I SAID, IS OPEN UP SOME ADDITIONAL INDUSTRIAL SERVICE AREA IN THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF THE CITY.

ADD TO OUR EFFICIENCY IN OUR OPERATIONS.

THIS I JUST INCLUDED SOME PICTURES OF KIND OF THE SCALE OF WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE.

A LOT OF EARTH BEING MOVED.

PIPELINE TRENCH BEING INSTALLED.

[01:25:03]

I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THE EXACT DETAILS ON THIS MAP, BUT THE POINT OF THAT IS THE DIFFERENT COLORS ARE ARE REPRESENTING PROGRESS ALONG THE ALONG THE PROJECT.

FOR INSTANCE, BLUE IS COMPLETED AND INSTALLED PIPE.

THE ORANGE COLOR THERE IS THAT MASS EXCAVATION THAT THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON.

AND SO YOU CAN SEE THOSE DIFFERENT CREWS WORKING ON A GOOD MAJORITY OF THE PROJECT ALREADY.

A COUPLE OF PICTURES HERE. AGAIN, JUST FOR SCALE.

WHEN YOU HAVE EXCAVATION THAT DEEP, THERE'S SOME SUB CUTTING GOING ON SHORING ACTUAL PIPE TRENCH THAT STARTS MAYBE 30FT BELOW EXISTING GRADE. THIS KIND OF SHOWING, YOU CAN SEE WHERE THAT GRAY LINE IS EXISTING GRADE.

YOU CAN SEE THE SCALE OF A PERSON AGAINST THE SIZE OF THE PIPE THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH.

AND THEN THAT EXCAVATOR DIGGING DOWN, SAY, ANOTHER 30FT FROM WHERE HE'S SITTING THERE.

THAT BRINGS US TO THIS PROPOSED CHANGE.

ORDER NUMBER TWO.

SO THREE ITEMS ON THIS, ON THIS CHANGE ORDER BEING TUNNEL EXTENSIONS.

AN ALIGNMENT CHANGE AND A SERVICE LINE RELOCATION.

I'LL START FOR THE SAKE OF CONVERSATION.

I'LL KIND OF START WITH THOSE SMALLEST AND LEAST COMPLICATED AND WORK TO LARGEST AND MOST COMPLICATED.

FIRST ONE BEING.

THAT WATER SERVICE RELOCATION.

THIS IS A THIS IS A MATTER OF A OF A PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER WHO NEGOTIATED AN EASEMENT WITH US.

AND. HE'S GOT A WATER LINE THAT CROSSES THE TRENCH AND.

DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE SCALE OF THIS PROJECT AND THAT THAT WOULD BE AFFECTED.

OUR CONTRACTOR DIDN'T HAVE A WAY OF KNOWING IT WAS THERE.

IF THE PROPERTY OWNER DOESN'T TELL US AHEAD OF TIME.

IT'S TOUGH TO ANTICIPATE.

THIS IS A THIS IS A MINOR PART OF THIS CHANGE ORDER.

SUBSTANTIAL COST, THOUGH SOMETHING, HAD WE KNOWN ABOUT IT, WE WE WOULD HAVE PAID FOR ANYWAY.

THE CONTRACTORS WORKED WITH US PRETTY GOOD ON THIS ONE.

THEY'LL RELOCATE IT AS THEY WOULD HAVE HAD THEY KNOWN ABOUT IT IN THE ORIGINAL BID.

SECOND ITEM IS THAT ALIGNMENT RELOCATION.

THIS IS ESSENTIALLY UNKNOWN CONDITIONS.

THE CONTRACTOR ADJACENT TO A GAS PIPELINE EASEMENT BASICALLY WAS TOLD DURING CONSTRUCTION.

NOT ONLY CAN YOU NOT DISTURB OUR UTILITY, KEEP YOUR EQUIPMENT OFF OUR EASEMENT, THAT TYPE OF THING, THEY'VE WORKED WITH US.

WE CAN RELOCATE A PORTION OF THIS ALIGNMENT LOCATED A LITTLE BIT FURTHER AWAY FROM THEIR EXISTING EASEMENT.

AND IT COSTS US.

MODIFICATION OF A COUPLE OF MANHOLES.

THE THE THIRD ONE IS, IS THE MAJORITY OF THE COST PROPOSED ON THIS CHANGE ORDER IS EXTENDING EIGHT OF THE OF THE 15 TUNNELS ON THE PROJECT.

AND SO SIMILAR SIMILAR SITUATION CONDITIONS UNKNOWN TO THE CONTRACTOR AT THE AT THE BID.

HE'S WENT EXISTING PRIOR EASEMENT ISSUES.

THE CONTRACTORS LOOKING AT THIS, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT.

THIS ISN'T OUR CONTRACTOR JUST COMING TO US ASKING FOR EXTRA MONEY EVERY TIME SOMETHING WASN'T AS THEY SAW IT, THEY BROUGHT THIS TO US.

I FEEL IT WAS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN THE CONTRACTOR, OUR CONSULTING ENGINEER AND CITY STAFF LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS, ASKING US TO CONSIDER SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS.

FUTURE MAINTENANCE.

THE EXISTING CONDITIONS.

CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW, BUT THEN ALSO THE FUTURE MAINTENANCE, THE FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS OF HOW DO WE HOW DO WE MAINTAIN THIS? HOW DO WE OPERATE THIS IN THE FUTURE? OUR CONTRACTOR WAS ONE OF TWO BIDDERS THAT SAID THEY COULD DO THIS WORK.

IF WE HAVE SOMETHING COME UP IN THE FUTURE.

I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO GO BACK TO ONE OF TWO PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY THAT SAY THEY CAN DO THIS WORK.

AND SO THEY'VE THEY BROUGHT SOME SOLUTIONS TO US WHEN WE FIRST STARTED LOOKING AT THIS.

[01:30:01]

WE LOOKED AT OUR CONTRACT PRICES AND HOW MUCH WE THOUGHT THIS COULD COST, AND WE CAME UP WITH ABOUT $3 MILLION AND. US AND OUR CONSULTANT SAID WE NEED TO DO BETTER THAN THAT.

AND SO. ONCE AGAIN, OUR CONTRACTOR IS WILLING TO WORK WITH US.

WE WE BROUGHT THAT BACK TO THEM, EXPRESSED OUR CONCERNS WITH THAT.

LOOK FOR SOME WAYS TO MINIMIZE THAT.

AND SO KIND OF THE THE MATH ON THAT.

I'M ASKING FOR A TOTAL OF $1.4 MILLION TO BE APPROVED WITH THIS CHANGE ORDER.

I DON'T KNOW, I JUST PUT A COUPLE OF PICTURES IN HERE TO SHOW WHAT THIS TUNNEL EXTENSION THING MIGHT LOOK LIKE.

SO THIS IS A PICTURE OF A OF THE VERTICAL SHAFT GOING INTO ONE OF THESE TUNNELS.

SO THIS IS LIKE STANDING AT THE SURFACE LOOKING DOWN INTO THERE SHORING AT THEIR TUNNEL.

AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

LIKE A SIX FOOT DIAMETER TUNNEL TO PUT A FIVE FOOT DIAMETER PIPE THROUGH.

THAT'S A PICTURE.

IF YOU WERE IF YOU WERE DOWN IN THERE LOOKING THROUGH THE TUNNEL HORIZONTALLY.

SO THAT'S THE THAT'S THE TYPE OF WORK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

SO IT'S IT'S.

TRULY TUNNELING IN THE IN THE SENSE OF THE WORD TUNNELING.

JUST SOME FACTS ON THAT.

WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS.

APPROXIMATELY 600 LINEAR FEET OF ADDITIONAL TUNNELING.

AND THAT'S JUST TO FACILITATE THOSE ENDS OF THOSE TUNNELS.

SO WE DON'T. WE DON'T HAVE A VERTICAL CONDITION 50 TO 70FT DEEP, SHOULD WE EVER NEED THIS IN THE FUTURE.

INCREASED SAFETY AND PROTECTION.

AND BASICALLY RESULTING IN A BETTER END PRODUCT FOR THAT INCREASED SAFETY AND PROTECTION, SHOULD WE NEED IT IN THE FUTURE.

THIS. THIS AMOUNTS TO ABOUT A 2% CHANGE ON THIS, AND I'M NOT TRYING TO DOWNPLAY THE COST OF THAT.

I UNDERSTAND $1.4 MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY.

BUT IT'S JUST THE SCALE OF THE OF THE PROJECT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

I'M NOT ASKING FOR THE COUNCIL TO IDENTIFY THE FUNDING.

STAFF'S IDENTIFIED THE FUNDING THROUGH THE BONDS THAT WE ACQUIRED TO FUND THIS PROJECT TO BEGIN WITH.

I'M. BUT I AM ASKING FOR AUTHORIZATION TO PROCEED.

PROCEED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION AND THIS CHANGE ORDER.

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

WHEN I VISITED WITH FLOYD LAST WEEK, I THINK ON THIS PROJECT, I THINK IF I'M GOING ON MY MEMORY, FLOYD, THAT WE HAD TALKED, POSSIBLY WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GO BACK ON OUR ENGINEER OR THE ONE THAT DID THIS THAT POSSIBLY THEY MISSED SOME OF THESE ITEMS WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT THEM.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT, I MEAN, YOU HAD TALKED ABOUT THAT AND WE MAY BE ABLE TO RECOUP SOME OF OUR COSTS, BUT WE MAY NOT.

IT DEPENDS.

CORRECT. IN ASKING STAFF THAT QUESTION, THE ENGINEER BUILT IT TO THE MINIMUM STANDARDS RELATED TO THESE. SO THEY WERE WITHIN INDUSTRY STANDARDS AND EXPECTATIONS AND WHAT WE HAD DESIGNED.

SO THERE WON'T BE ANY RECOUP ON THAT.

WHAT WE WILL BE LOOKING AT IS IN THE FUTURE OF THIS PROJECT, YOU KNOW, ARE THERE THINGS THAT WE CAN RECOUP SOME OF THIS COST GOING FORWARD IN CHANGE ORDERS GOING FORWARD? THAT WILL BE MINIMAL, BUT WE WILL LOOK FOR COST EFFECTIVE MEASURES GOING FORWARD TO REDUCE BACK TO TOWARDS THE OTHERS, IF THAT CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. THESE ARE THESE WERE LINE ITEM ADDITIONS LIKE THESE WERE BID ITEMS. YES. THAT WE HAD THESE WERE THESE WERE ADDITIONS THAT WERE ACTUALLY BID IN THE IN THE PROPOSAL FOR THE ADDITIONAL COST.

WE DIDN'T GO OUTSIDE OF THE CONTRACT.

IT WAS THAT. BUT WE LOOKED AT THAT AND NO, THERE THERE APPEARS TO BE THAT THEY WERE WITHIN THE EXPECTATIONS IN THE SCOPE OF THE ORIGINAL.

SO AS LONG AS THEY WERE WITHIN SPOKE SCOPE OF WHAT WE EXPECTED.

SO I'M GOOD.

I MEAN, WE JUST NEED TO BUT WE DID CHECK THAT WE LOOKED AT THAT EXTENSIVELY BECAUSE THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME TO MAKE SURE I DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR ANYTHING WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR. SO THAT'S WHERE I'M AT.

OTHER QUESTIONS COUNCIL.

OH, JUST A QUESTION ON IT SAYS CHANGE ORDER NUMBER TWO.

WHAT WAS THE FIRST ONE.

YEAH. APPRECIATE THAT.

OKAY. SO THE FIRST CHANGE ORDER AND I THINK I, I HAD THAT ON THAT SLIDE.

[01:35:02]

THAT WAS ESSENTIALLY THE CONTRACTOR REQUESTING TO TO TAKE SOME COST OUT OF SOME OF THEIR BID ITEMS AND CREATE A NEW COST ITEM, A NEW BID ITEM.

AND THAT WAS THAT WAS BASICALLY A MECHANISM FOR THEM TO MANAGE SOME SUBCONTRACT WORK AND KIND OF THEIR SCHEDULE AND HOW THEY HAD HOW THEY HAD BROKEN DOWN THEIR THEIR COSTS IN THE PROJECT AND JUST MADE IT EASIER FOR THEM TO, TO DO THAT SCHEDULING.

AND THAT'S ALL THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.

IT DIDN'T COST US ANYTHING.

IT JUST HOW IT JUST MADE A DIFFERENCE IN HOW WE PAID IT OUT.

OKAY. SO IT DIDN'T AFFECT US EITHER PLUS OR MINUS.

CORRECT? OKAY.

AND IT'S 2% ON A PROJECT LIKE THIS.

I MEAN, IS THAT I MEAN, WE'D LIKE TO NAIL IT, RIGHT? ANY CONTRACTOR WOULD LIKE TO NAIL IT.

BUT SOMETIMES THERE'S THINGS THAT COME UP.

IT'S 2%.

I MEAN, IS THAT REASONABLE? BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO THINK, YOU KNOW, SOME CONTRACTORS, THEY BUILD IN A LITTLE PAD RIGHT BEFORE THEY START A PROJECT, JUST IN CASE.

SO, I MEAN, IS THIS I KNOW, I MEAN, I GUESS THAT'S PRETTY CASE SPECIFIC.

IF, IF THERE'S A.

IF THERE'S A MAYBE A SCALE OR A GAUGE ON THAT.

I MEAN, STATE LAW SAYS IF YOU GO OVER 25% CHANGE ORDER, YOU'VE GOT TO REDO THE PROJECT.

SURE. NOW, IF I COULD SAY IF I COULD, I DON'T I DON'T MIND GOING BACK TO SOME OF OUR DISCUSSION BECAUSE I DUG IN PRETTY DEEP WITH YOU ON SCOPE. YOU KNOW, DID THE ENGINEER DESIGN IT WHERE IT CAN'T BE BUILT? SO ENGINEER FAILED IN THEIR DESIGN CRITERIA, OR DID CONTRACTOR BID SOMETHING AND THEN NEEDED TO GROW THE PROJECT IN ORDER TO MAKE THE, YOU KNOW, TO FACILITATE THEIR CONSTRUCTION NEEDS? IT MADE IT EASIER, AND THEY GOT TO CHARGE US.

SO WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A COUPLE KEY WORDS AND CONSTRUCTION.

ONE BEING LIKE CONTINGENCIES REALLY WHAT HE'S ASKING FOR.

AND SO YES, YOU DO HAVE A POLICY AND YOU GUYS DO KNOW ANYTIME YOU'RE DOING THIS TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION, THIS TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION IS DIFFERENT.

ANYTIME YOU'RE WORKING BELOW THE EARTH CONCEALED CONDITIONS APPLY.

IT'S INDUSTRY STANDARD.

SO IF I'M BIDDING A PROJECT FOR YOU AND IT'S BELOW THE EARTH, I MEAN, I HAVE EVERYTHING THAT I CAN'T SEE IF I HIT SOMETHING, MAN, I'M SORRY, BUT I'M NOT PAYING FOR IT.

AS THE CONTRACTOR, I'M GOING TO PRESENT YOU WITH THE CHANGE ORDER AS SOON AS I FIND IT.

BUT IT'S GOING TO COST WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST TO FIX IT.

THAT IS THE THE ENGAGEMENT THAT WE HAVE.

SO YOU SEE THAT ON ITEM ONE AND TWO, I BELIEVE CONCEALED CONDITION, IS THAT RIGHT? YES. AND, AND TO A LARGE EXTENT THE THIRD THE, THE LARGE ITEM ALSO.

YEAH. RIGHT. AND SO ON.

THIS ENGINEER DESIGNED A PROJECT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED EXACTLY LIKE SO WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY NO CHANGE ORDER, PUT IT IN EXACTLY LIKE YOU WANT IT. WHAT? THE SCOPE OF WORK AND THE CHANGE HELPED WITH IN MY OPINION, WHAT YOU'RE BUYING FOR THAT MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS IS THE ABILITY TO GET BACK DOWN TO THAT TUNNEL WITHOUT HAVING TO DAMAGE THE RAILROAD OR OR OVERSTEP ONTO A GAS LINE, OR WORK SO CLOSELY TO AN EXISTING UTILITY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE LIKELIHOOD OF THAT EARTH MOVING IS GOING TO SHIFT THAT, AND YOU HAVE A BIGGER LIABILITY.

SO IN THE IN THE PERCENTAGE, I MEAN, 10% CONTINGENCY WOULD PROBABLY BE WHAT I WOULD FACTOR, YOU KNOW, NORMALLY.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A 2% COST OVERRUN.

NOW WE DIDN'T HAVE A CONTINGENCY FACTOR ON OUR SIDE AS AS A AS A BUSINESS MANAGER, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE CONTINGENCY.

BUT AS YOU AS THE CONTRACTOR, I WANT TO REMOVE ALL YOUR CONTINGENCIES OUT OF YOUR CONTRACT.

AND I WANT TO GET THE HARDEST BID PROPOSAL I COULD.

THE ISSUE IS, IS THIS IS NOT STANDARD CONSTRUCTION.

SO YOU'RE YOU'RE LIMITED TO 1 OR 2 CONTRACTORS, YOU'RE LIMITED TO AVAILABILITY.

AND SO YOU'RE GOING TO PAY YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO PAY.

AND THEN IT REALLY BECOMES RELATIONSHIP.

IF YOU HAVE A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR CONTRACTOR, THEY KNOW YOU'RE NOT TRYING TO GET OVER THEM.

YOU'RE WORKING TOGETHER ON ON WHAT THIS COMES DOWN TO.

SO THE LAST TERM WOULD BE VALUE ENGINEERING.

SO I THINK THEY STARTED AT $3 MILLION.

THEY ENDED UP AT A MILLION AND A HALF.

SO YOU SAW 15 INTERCEPTIONS THAT WE ONLY DID EIGHT OF THEM.

THAT MEANS YOU WENT THROUGH AND YOU SAID, WELL I DON'T REALLY HAVE THAT CONDITION HERE.

I DON'T HAVE THIS GAS LINE THAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT.

I DON'T HAVE THIS, THIS, THIS ISSUE OR CONDITION.

SO WE WE MANAGE SOME OF THE MONEY, THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY, I THINK.

AND I WAS IMPRESSED WITH STAFF BEING ABLE TO SHOW ME THEIR HOMEWORK.

I KNOW YOU CAN'T DO THAT OUT HERE NECESSARILY, BUT I DO WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE COLOR AND CONTEXT TO IT.

AND SOME OF THIS IS JUST THE NATURE OF THIS INDUSTRY OF WORKING THIS FAR BELOW THE GROUND.

GO AHEAD. YEAH.

I JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THAT.

YEAH. I MEAN, TYPICALLY ON OUR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, WE DO TRY TO TRY TO BUILD A LITTLE CONTINGENCY INTO THOSE BIDS.

[01:40:05]

WE WE PROBABLY TOOK SOME OF THAT OUT.

THERE WAS A CONVERSATION ON MAYBE THE LAST ITEM ABOUT BEING FRUGAL AND MAYBE WE WERE A LITTLE TOO MUCH.

BUT WE, YOU KNOW, WE DO INTEND TO OPERATE THAT WAY GOING FORWARD.

ALSO WITH A WITH A LITTLE CONTINGENCY BUILT IN.

ONE POINT I WAS GOING TO MAKE TO THE, THE, YOU KNOW, THE DESIGN ISSUE VERSUS THE CONTRACTOR TRYING TO GET MORE OUT OF IT.

HOW WE'VE LOOKED AT THIS AND, AND I OFTEN LOOK AT THAT IN, IN TRYING TO JUSTIFY A, A CHANGE LIKE THIS WOULD BE IS IT IS IT SOMETHING HAD WE KNOWN ABOUT IN THE ORIGINAL BID, WOULD WE HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR IT? AND ON ON THESE ONES.

YEAH. I, I THINK WE, WE WOULD HAVE PAID FOR IT IN THE ORIGINAL BID HAD WE, HAD WE KNOWN AND AND WE MIGHT HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO NEGOTIATE EVEN A LITTLE BETTER DEAL THROUGH THIS. THERE AGAIN, I'M NOT TRYING TO DOWNPLAY THE SEVERITY OF HAVING TO JUSTIFY A CHANGE ORDER, BUT I DO I DO THINK IT'S JUSTIFIED. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY JACKSON.

THANK YOU SIR. APPRECIATE YOU SIR.

GENTLEMEN, WHAT WOULD YOU ALL LIKE TO DO ON ITEM TEN E? WELL, I MOVE TO APPROVE ITEM TEN E AS PRESENTED.

SECOND. OKAY, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM TEN E AS PRESENTED.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ITEM PASSES.

OKAY. I I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GIVE US A RECESS HERE.

IT'S ALMOST FIVE.

LET'S COME BACK HERE AT 515.

WE'LL WRAP UP WITH OUR MEETING AFTER THAT.

I DO NEED TO ASK IF YOU HAVE NOT SIGNED UP FOR OUR PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM TEN G, PLEASE SEE THE CITY SECRETARY DURING THIS RECESS SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE YOU LISTED AND WE'LL PUT YOU IN ORDER.

THANK YOU. ORDER.

WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ITEM TEN E, AND WE WILL MOVE FORWARD TO ITEM TEN F.

[10.F. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WITH CITY MANAGER]

SO THIS ONE HAS MY NAME ON IT, AND I'M NOT GOING TO WALK AROUND TO THE PODIUM TO PRESENT ANYTHING.

BUT WE HAVE GONE THROUGH WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE WITNESSED AS THE CITY MANAGER SEARCH.

WE HIRED A FIRM THAT I REALLY LIKED.

I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE CRITICISM BACK AND FORTH, BUT.

BUT EDWARD WILLIAMS DID ME A FANTASTIC JOB.

I AM EXCITED.

HAD A DISCUSSION WITH STAFF EARLIER THIS MORNING ABOUT WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE FOR A NEW CITY MANAGER TO COME FROM THE OUTSIDE INTO THIS ORGANIZATION.

WHAT'S NEEDED? GRAYSON PATH DEFINITELY HAS THE TEMPERAMENT THAT I BELIEVE IS GOING TO BE NEEDED TO ENGAGE WITH THE STRONG STAFF THAT ALREADY HAS LOTS OF THINGS THAT ARE MOVING.

DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY GOING TO HAVE SOME HANDOFFS BETWEEN OUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER, MR. HARTMAN, WHO'S DONE ME A REALLY GOOD JOB AND DONE COUNCIL A GOOD JOB, BEEN RESPONSIVE HANDLED THE THE SMALL TO THE BIG AND EVERYTHING.

WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING ON.

THIS CONTRACT GOT DONE.

TO FLOYD'S CREDIT, I DIDN'T THINK WE'D HAVE THIS CONTRACT ON THIS AGENDA.

I FIGURED IT'D BE THE 25TH.

HE TURNED IT AROUND.

THEY NEGOTIATED A FEW TERMS AT ONE POINT.

YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN CRAFT WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT, LIKE, IS THIS INDUSTRY STANDARD? YOU KNOW, HIS HOUSE HAS TO SELL.

WE'RE MOVING HERE. I MEAN, WE ARE LOOKING AT THE THE DOLLARS ALONG THE WAY, BUT ALL THE TERMS ARE AGREED TO AND NEGOTIATED.

THE CONTRACT IS NOT IN THIS AGENDA.

IT IS HERE, THOUGH.

AND SO MISS CITY SECRETARY, DOES EVERYBODY HAVE A COPY OF THAT CONTRACT? YES, THERE'S A COPY AT EACH OF YOUR PLACES ON THE DAIS.

SO REALLY, WHAT I NEED TO DO IS JUST KIND OF MOVE IT FORWARD FROM HERE.

I THINK WHAT I, WHAT I'VE SEEN PREVIOUSLY IS YOU ACCEPT AND APPROVE THE CONTRACT, AND THEN YOU APPOINT.

WELL, OUR CITY MANAGER DOESN'T START TILL AUGUST 12TH, PER THE CONTRACT.

SO WE WILL DO AN OFFICIAL APPOINTMENT WHEN HE GETS HERE.

THAT WAY WE KEEP INTERIM CITY MANAGER APPOINTED.

AND REALLY, ALL WE NEED TO DO HERE TODAY IS ACCEPT AND APPROVE THE CONTRACT.

SO IT'S PROCEDURAL.

[01:45:01]

YOU'VE SEEN WHAT WE'RE DOING PROS AND CONS ON EVERYBODY.

WE HAD SOME STRONG CANDIDATES.

WE'VE MADE OUR CHOICE.

AND I THINK AT THIS POINT, STAFF IS AT LEAST EXCITED ABOUT WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD.

AND WE'VE GOT AT LEAST ONE THING THAT WE CAN WE CAN COUNT ON.

WE KNOW WHAT'S FIXING TO HAPPEN.

THERE WON'T BE THE ENERGY AND THE DISCUSSION OF, WELL, WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHEN WE DON'T KNOW WHAT.

AND SO NOW WE DO, AND WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING AS A COUNCIL VERY EFFICIENTLY OVER THE NEXT MONTH AND A HALF TO BRING GRAYSON ON WITH EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED AND, AND PUT HIM IN THE DIRECTION WHERE WE CAN GET THE MOST WORK DONE FOR YOU GUYS.

WOULD ASK COUNCIL IF YOU GUYS HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY.

YOU RECEIVE THIS CONTRACT.

WHAT, FRIDAY ON THE EMAIL? DID EVERYBODY HAVE TIME TO READ IT OVER THE WEEKEND? YES, SIR. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING IN THE CONTRACT THAT YOU'D LIKE TO DISCUSS? AND THOSE ARE. NO.

MISS CITY SECRETARY, TELL US THIS CONTRACT WILL BE POSTED OR IT'LL JUST BE AVAILABLE.

WHAT WOULD MY PUBLIC EXPECTATION BE? IT IS A PUBLIC RECORD.

SO IF SOMEONE WANTED TO PUT IN A PUBLIC RECORD REQUEST FOR IT, THEN WE WOULD RELEASE IT.

SO IT'S PRETTY TYPICAL.

THE THE AMOUNT THE BENEFIT PACKAGE IS REAL IN LINE WITH WHAT WE DO FOR THE REST OF THE EMPLOYEES.

ALL ALL OPEN FOR YOU GUYS TO LOOK AT.

I THINK HE'S A GOOD VALUE FOR WHAT WE'RE WHERE WE'RE BRINGING HIM FROM.

AND I THINK WE'RE EXCITED.

SO, COUNCIL, IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FURTHER.

I SEE WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AFTER THIS THAT EVERYBODY'S READY TO GET TO.

SO I THINK ITEM TEN F, IF WE'RE GOOD, WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION SO WE CAN ACCEPT.

I MOVE TO ADOPT AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WITH GRAYSON PATH AS PRESENTED.

SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES.

[10.G. PUBLIC HEARING FOR INITIATIVE PETITION SEEKING PASSAGE OF AN ORDINANCE OUTLAWING ABORTION AND DECLARING AMARILLO A "SANCTUARY CITY FOR THE UNBORN"]

NOW WE WILL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING.

FOR THE SANCTUARY CITY.

FOR THE UNBORN, MISS CITY SECRETARY.

INSTEAD OF ASKING IF I HAVE ANYONE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN THROUGH MULTIPLE TIMES AND WORKED PRETTY TIRELESSLY ON, DO YOU HAVE A LIST OF PEOPLE THAT YOU'D LIKE TO START WITH? I DO. MAYOR OKAY, LET'S GO AHEAD AND JUST WORK OUR WAY DOWN YOUR LIST.

OKAY. AND JUST AS A REMINDER, NOW THAT THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS CALLED IN, WHEN YOU COME TO THE PODIUM TONIGHT, IF YOU'LL PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, WHETHER OR NOT YOU LIVE IN THE CITY LIMITS.

AND THEN ALSO LET US KNOW IF YOU'RE SPEAKING FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM.

AND THAT RELATES BACK TO OUR CITY CHARTER THAT SAYS THE PUBLIC SHALL BE PERMITTED TO PRESENT ARGUMENTS FOR OR AGAINST SUCH PROPOSED ORDINANCE.

SO WE WILL GET STARTED TONIGHT WITH MICHAEL FORD.

AND ON DECK AFTER MICHAEL WILL BE JAMES SCHANKE.

40 MINUTES FOR NOW.

I GUESS WHEN YOU REGISTER AT 1230 ON A SUNDAY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU GO TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE.

SO I I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT JUST ME BEING OVER ENTHUSIASTIC, I SUPPOSE.

COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MIKE FORD.

I LIVE IN AMARILLO I STAND, I'M GOING TO READ THIS AND I GO AS QUICKLY AS I CAN.

MR.. MR. MAYOR, SO I MIGHT BE HOPEFULLY I'M GOING TO END ON TIME.

I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AS SOMEONE WHO IS PRO-LIFE AND DEEPLY COMMITTED TO PROTECTING THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE, HOWEVER, I MUST VOICE MY STRONG OPPOSITION TO THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY TOUCHED BY THE COMPLEX AND HEARTBREAKING REALITIES SURROUNDING ABORTION, I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT WHAT WOMEN AND FAMILIES NEED IN CRISIS MOST IS LOVE, COMPASSION AND SUPPORT, AND NOT THE THREAT OF PUBLIC SHAME AND HUMILIATION.

WELL, I UNDERSTAND THE DESIRE TO TAKE A STAND FOR THE UNBORN.

THE ORDINANCE IS MISGUIDED IN ITS APPROACH.

AS I STATED EARLIER IN MY IN MY EMAILS TO YOU, ITS BROAD PROHIBITION AND PRIVATE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS RAISED SERIOUS CONCERNS CONSTITUTIONAL CONCERNS, PARTICULARLY REGARDING FREE SPEECH AND ASSOCIATION RIGHTS.

THE LEGAL LANDSCAPE SURROUNDING ABORTION IS COMPLEX AND EVOLVING, AND THIS ORDINANCE SEEMS MORE FOCUSED ON MAKING A POLITICAL STATEMENT THAN CAREFULLY NAVIGATING THE INTRICACIES OF THE LAW.

BEYOND THESE LEGAL ISSUES, I OPPOSE THIS ORDINANCE BECAUSE I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE DEVASTATING IMPACT THE LACK OF SUPPORT AND UNDERSTANDING CAN HAVE ON WOMEN AND FAMILIES FACING UNPLANNED PREGNANCIES.

IN 1937, MY GRANDMOTHER FOUND HERSELF PREGNANT AT JUST 16 YEARS OLD.

DESPERATE AND AFRAID, MY GRANDPARENTS TURNED TO FOLK REMEDIES TO TERMINATE THE PREGNANCY.

THANKFULLY, THEY WERE UNSUCCESSFUL.

MY MOTHER WAS BORN IN 1930.

EIGHT YEARS LATER, MY MOTHER FACED HER HER OWN STRUGGLES BETWEEN THE BIRTH OF MY SISTER IN 1960 AND MY OWN BIRTH IN 1963.

[01:50:09]

DURING THE LAST MISCARRIAGE.

MY BROTHER DIED AT SIX MONTHS.

DO THE LEGAL RISKS HER DOCTOR FACED.

SHE WAS FORCED TO CARRY MY BROTHER FOR TWO MORE MONTHS.

THE EMOTIONAL TOIL WAS UNIMAGINABLE.

WHEN I MET MY WIFE AT 17, WE COULD NEVER HAVE PREDICTED THE CHALLENGES WE WOULD FACE.

WE WERE BLESSED WITH FOUR BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN, BUT SHOULD HAVE FIVE.

AS SCARED COLLEGE FRESHMEN, WE WERE TOLD THAT OUR LIVES WOULD BE RUINED IF WE DIDN'T HAVE TERMINATE THE UNPLANNED PREGNANCY.

NUMB, ASHAMED AND FRIGHTENED, WE MADE A DECISION THAT HAUNTS US TO THIS DAY.

I FIND MYSELF SEARCHING FOR OUR LAST CHILD, WHO WOULD BE 40 YEARS OLD NOW IN THE FACES OF STRANGERS.

THESE EXPERIENCES HAVE TAUGHT ME THAT THE ISSUE OF ABORTION IS NOT BLACK AND WHITE.

IT IS DEEPLY PERSONAL MATTER THAT REQUIRES COMPASSION, UNDERSTANDING, AND SUPPORT.

THIS ORDINANCE OFFERS NONE OF THAT.

INSTEAD, IT SEEKS TO CRIMINALIZE AND PUNISH THOSE WHO, FACING UNIMAGINABLY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES, POTENTIALLY SUBJECTING THEM TO PUBLIC SHAME AND HUMILIATION FOR UP TO SIX YEARS AFTER THE FACT.

AS PRO-LIFE CHRISTIANS, WE ARE CALLED TO FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS CHRIST, WHO PROCLAIMED A KINGDOM THAT IS NOT OF THIS WORLD.

A KINGDOM THAT CALLS SINNERS, NOT THE JUST THAT ASKS US TO LOVE OUR ENEMIES.

A KINGDOM OF HEAVEN THAT BELONGS TO THE MEEK, THE POOR, AND SPIRIT, AND TO THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED.

HE LIKENED THIS KINGDOM TO A HIDDEN TREASURE OR A MUSTARD SEED, EMPHASIZING ITS HUMBLE AND TRANSFORMATIVE NATURE.

WHERE THEN, DO WE SEE THE VALUES OF THIS KINGDOM IN AN ORDINANCE THAT SEEKS TO CONDEMN AND PUNISH THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY SUFFERING? WHERE IS THE LOVE, COMPASSION AND MERCY? I'M ALMOST FINISHED.

COMPASSION AND MERCY THAT JESUS EMBODIED.

I BELIEVE THAT IF WE TRULY WISH TO BUILD A CULTURE OF LIFE THAT REFLECTS THE KINGDOM OF GOD, WE MUST START BY EXTENDING GRACE, UNDERSTANDING, AND TANGIBLE SUPPORT TO THOSE WHO FACE THE MOST DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.

IN CONCLUSION, I URGE YOU TO REJECT THIS ORDINANCE.

WHILE IT IS WELL INTENTIONED, IT IS MISGUIDED AND LACKS THE COMPASSION AND CARE THAT WOMEN AND FAMILIES IN CRISIS SO DESPERATELY NEED.

AS A PRO-LIFE COMMUNITY, WE MUST DO BETTER.

WE MUST APPROACH THIS ISSUE WITH EMPATHY, LOVE, AND A COMMITMENT TO WALKING ALONGSIDE THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING, OFFERING THEM SUPPORT AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO CHOOSE LIFE.

ONLY THEN CAN WE HOPE TO BUILD A SOCIETY THAT TRULY REFLECTS THE LOVE AND GRACE OF THE KINGDOM THAT JESUS PROCLAIMED.

THANK YOU SIR. APPRECIATE IT.

JAMES SCHANKE.

AND AFTER JAMES WILL BE JOE LUSCOMB.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE DEALING WITH A CITY THAT SEEMS TO BE PRETTY DIVIDED.

I LOVED WHAT MIKE HAD TO SHARE.

THAT'S THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

A SITUATION IN THE HUMAN CONDITION.

I'M AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE.

SO ALL OF YOU ALL KNOW I'VE TEXTED YOU AND DEALT WITH YOU, AND AT A MINIMUM, SHOULDN'T VOTE ON ANYTHING.

MAYBE TAKE IT TO THE BALLOT.

IT'S UNENFORCEABLE, UNINVESTIGATED, NULL AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

IT COULD GET CITY SUED, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.

FRONTLINE DOCTORS.

ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS.

BUSINESSES AND THINGS THAT WOULD WANT TO COME HERE.

ARE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES THAT ARE HERE.

YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE ISSUES.

THEY'RE UNDER A FEDERAL LAW TO DEAL WITH THEIR HEALTH CARE.

MARK DIXON AND JANA MAY, AND THE COMMITTEE TOOK 120 DAYS TO GET 6300 VALID SIGNATURES.

AND I WONDER IF THEY ACTUALLY THOSE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED ACTUALLY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE SIGNING.

VERY GOOD. WHY THANK YOU.

I GET MY TIME BACK.

AND SO, YOU KNOW I MEAN, I'VE TALKED TO TOO MANY THAT DIDN'T THEY DIDN'T READ THE 18 PAGES.

I THINK I TALKED TO MANY EVERY DAY AS I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT.

AND I EXPLAINED THIS TRAFFIC LAW AND I EXPLAINED WHAT'S GOING ON.

THEY GO, NO.

AND THESE ARE ALL CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIAN PEOPLE.

AND OTHERS.

MITCHELL SEEMS TO BE STUCK IN A COUPLE OF PRETTY HARD CASES THAT HE'S NOT GETTING THROUGH USING THE LAW.

SIDEBAR. I'VE ALREADY SAID THIS, THOUGH.

DOCTORS AND BUSINESSES AND COMPANIES THAT WANT TO COME TO TOWN ARE GOING TO LOOK HARD AND HEAVY AT ANY KIND OF.

[01:55:08]

THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK HARD AND HEAVY AT WHETHER YOU WANT TO DO BUSINESS IN THIS TOWN, WHETHER YOU WANT TO COME HERE.

WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL.

WE NEED TO BE AN OPEN.

WE NEED TO RESPECT ALL.

THERE'S NO ABORTIONS ALLOWED IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

WE HAVE A TEXAS HEARTBEAT ACT, WHICH IS A GOOD ACT.

IT'S A GOOD LAW.

I'VE GOT 30 MORE SECONDS.

LET ME SEE. I'VE GOT A SONG.

GIVE ME, GIVE ME SOME.

GIVE ME A BEAT.

BUT ANYWAY.

THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU.

JOE LUSCOMB AND AFTER JOE WILL BE TREMAINE BROWN.

GOOD AFTERNOON, JOE LUSCOMB AND I AM A CITIZEN OF AMARILLO 1954.

I EVEN KNEW ROSS RODGERS.

I MADE NUMEROUS BAD DECISIONS AND MISTAKES, BUT BEING UNAPOLOGETICALLY PRO-LIFE IS NOT ONE OF THEM.

I'M AS FAR TO THE RIGHT AS SOME OF MY COWORKERS AND STAFF ARE TO THE LEFT.

ABOUT THE NICEST THING SOME OF MY WORKERS HAVE MADE TO ME IS I'M JUST AN ANOMALY IN MY BUSINESS ON THE LOCAL AND NATIONAL ARENA THAT I WORK IN.

IT'S OKAY. I STILL SIGN THE PAYROLL, AND I HAVE VERY CLOSE FRIENDS HERE TODAY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

IN THIS ROOM AND THEY SIGNED MY PAYROLL.

AND THEN THERE'S OUR SON, SENIOR SOUND TECH AND SOUND ENGINEER FOR SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST, WHO DO EMERALD SYMPHONY.

AARON WATSON, ALICE COOPER, B.B.

KING, THE TEMPTATIONS, CHRIS TOMLIN, THE MERCY ME, CORPORATE EVENTS BY THE HUNDREDS.

YET HE IS A LIVING RESULT OF THE CARE AND COMPASSION OF ORGANIZATIONS SIMILAR TO CHOOSE HOPE.

THAT WAS IN THE HOUSTON AREA WHEN HE WAS BORN.

HIS BIRTH MOM HAPPENED TO CHOOSE LIFE.

HOWEVER, UNFORTUNATELY, FOR WHATEVER REASON, THIS PETITION HAS BECOME PRO-LIFE VERSUS PRO-CHOICE.

I THOUGHT PRO-CHOICE AND PRO-LIFE HAD ALREADY BEEN SETTLED HERE IN TEXAS.

I'M SPEAKING AS ONE PERSON, ONE OPINION, NOT SPEAKING FOR ANY GROUP YET.

YEARS WITH EXPERIENCE WITH OUR FAMILY AND ALONGSIDE WITH WHAT WE UNDERSTAND TRUE PRO-LIFE FACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES.

I'D LOVE NO MORE FOR AMARILLO TO BE CALLED A SANCTUARY CITY.

BUT I ALSO PROBABLY LOOK AT THIS ACTION PICTURE IN A LITTLE DIFFERENT WAY THAN OTHERS.

TO ME, WHAT I SEE IN THIS PETITION AND ALL THIS PART OF IT IS BASICALLY USELESS.

IT'S FEEL GOOD.

IT REALLY WON'T ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING POSITIVE.

IT'S INTERESTING. WHEN I ASKED TO SIGN THE PETITION, I ASKED THEM ABOUT CHOOSE HOPE IN TOWN AND THE GENTLEMAN DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT THAT WAS AND THE ONES AROUND ME.

WE WERE STANDING IN LINE AT HODGETOWN WHEN THEY WERE ASKED ABOUT IT.

ALL THAT WAS MENTIONED WAS THIS WAS A SANCTUARY CITY PETITION TO GET IT NAMED SANCTUARY CITY, BUT NOTHING AT ALL WAS SAID ABOUT THE RAMIFICATIONS, CAVEATS, OR PROVISIONS THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE PETITION.

BUT THAT REALLY DOESN'T SURPRISE ME NOW, HEARING ALL THE RHETORIC, THREATS, INNUENDO AND OUR WAY OR THE HIGHWAY MENTALITY AND ALL THIS HAS PLACED THE COUNCIL IN AN UNENVIABLE POSITION. IN A WAY, THIS GROUP HAS BEEN HELD HOSTAGE.

AND ON A SIDE NOTE, WHAT ALSO BOTHERS ME IS THAT IT'S THIS SIMPLE.

FOR SOMETHING FROM THE OUTSIDE TO COME IN WITH THIS AMOUNT OF DISTRACTION, DISRUPTION.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN THE NEXT ONE COMES THROUGH AND WANTS TO DO THE SAME? AS I'VE LISTENED TO PREVIOUS PROCEEDINGS FROM AIRPORT LOUNGES, THERE SEEMS TO BE LOTS OF LEGAL, MORAL AND SPIRITUAL EXPERTISE GIVEN.

SO JUST ALLOW ME TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS ONE OF MY SPIRITUAL GUIDELINES.

EVEN THOUGH ALL THINGS MIGHT BE LEGAL, NOT ALL THINGS ARE PROFITABLE.

EVEN ALTHOUGH ALL THINGS MIGHT BE LEGAL, I WILL NOT BE MASTERED BY ANY.

WHAT WE'RE HEARING AND SEEING IS REALLY NOT TRUE PRO-LIFE.

TRUE PRO-LIFE IS PEOPLE NOT JUST STANDING IN THE AISLES OR STANDING ON THE SIDELINES OR BANDWAGON WITH PETITIONS AND THREATS.

TRUE PRO-LIFE IS INVOLVEMENT WITH THOSE WHO CARE AND LOVE AND MENTORING AND SUPPORT AND COMPASSION HURTING WOMEN, EVEN FAMILIES HAVING TO MAKE POSSIBLY THE MOST LIFE CHANGING DECISION THEY WILL EVER HAVE TO MAKE.

I'VE BEEN THERE. I'VE EXPERIENCED IT AS AN ADOPTIVE DAD, PRO-LIFE, LIKE THE BIRTH MOTHER WE WERE SHOWN.

OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN RICHLY BLESSED THROUGH OUR SON'S LIFE.

LET ME ASSURE YOU OF THIS MORE TRUE PRO-LIFE RESULTS IN BENEFITS WILL COME FROM OUR EXISTING CHOOSE HOPE AND DIOCESE RESPECT LIFE PROGRAMS IN A MONTH THAT WILL COME FROM THE RESULTS OF THIS PETITION FOR YEARS TO COME.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. TREMAINE BROWN.

OKAY, JACK THURMOND.

[02:00:03]

ALL RIGHT. MY NAME IS JACK GARRETT THURMOND.

I'VE LIVED HERE MY ENTIRE LIFE, AND I AM FIRMLY OPPOSED TO THIS ORDINANCE AND THE ORDINANCES IN LUBBOCK, ABILENE AND ODESSA.

THEY EACH STATE.

THIS SECTION DOES NOT PROHIBIT REFERRING A PATIENT TO HAVE AN ABORTION, WHICH TAKES PLACE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS.

ALL OF THESE ORDINANCES ALSO STATE NO PROVISIONS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE SECTIONS MAY BE CONSTRUED TO PROHIBIT ANY CONDUCT PROTECTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT, WHICH INCLUDES FREE SPEECH, WHICH IS DEFINED AS THE FREE AND PUBLIC EXPRESSION OF OPINIONS WITHOUT CENSORSHIP, INTERFERENCE, AND RESTRAINT BY THE GOVERNMENT.

LUBBOCK'S ORDINANCE ALSO STATES NO PROVISION MAY BE CONSTRUED TO PROHIBIT ANY ACTION WHICH OCCURS OUTSIDE OF THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY OF LUBBOCK.

THE INITIAL ORDINANCE THAT THE SIGNATURES WERE TAKEN FOR HERE IN TOWN SAYS IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON TO KNOWINGLY ENGAGE IN CONDUCT THAT AIDS OR ABETS AN ELECTIVE ABORTION IF THE ABORTION IS PERFORMED ON A RESIDENT OF AMARILLO, REGARDLESS OF THE LOCATION OF THE ABORTION, REGARDLESS OF THE LAW AND THE JURISDICTION WHERE THE ABORTION OCCURRED. THIS ORDINANCE ALSO DEFINES AIDING AND ABETTING AS INCLUDING GIVING INSTRUCTIONS OVER THE TELEPHONE, INTERNET, OR ANY OTHER MEDIUM OF COMMUNICATION, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THE PERSON GIVING INSTRUCTIONS IS LOCATED.

IT ALSO LISTS DONATING TO AN ABORTION FUND, PROVIDING REFERRALS, AND PROVIDING OR EVEN OFFERING MONEY TO SOMEONE WHO WANTS AN ABORTION AS AIDING AND ABETTING.

AND YOU WERE ASKED MAYOR STANLEY LAST MEETING IF IT WOULD BE LEGAL FOR AN ORGANIZATION TO FUND A YOUNG LADY FROM AMARILLO TO GO GET AN ABORTION ACROSS STATE LINES.

AND YOU CITED THE COUNCIL'S ALTERNATIVE ORDINANCE, WHICH PENALIZES SOMEONE WHO KNOWINGLY ENGAGES IN CONDUCT THAT AIDS OR ABETS THE PERFORMANCE OR INDUCEMENT OF AN ABORTION, INCLUDING PAYING FOR OR REIMBURSING THE COSTS OF AN ABORTION THROUGH INSURANCE OR OTHERWISE, IF THE ABORTION IS PERFORMED OR INDUCED IN VIOLATION OF THE SUBCHAPTER TO WHICH YOU THEN SAID SO.

MY ANSWER TO THAT IS AIDING AND ABETTING IS AIDING AND ABETTING.

BUT IN SHALLOW WATERS ORDINANCE, IT STATES IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON TO KNOWINGLY AID OR ABET AN ABORTION THAT OCCURS IN THE CITY OF SHALLOW WATER IN THIS ROOM ON THE 28TH.

YOU ALSO SAID WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY OR JURISDICTION TO LEGISLATE LAWS IN NEW MEXICO OR ANY OTHER STATE.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET THERE ON RESTRICTING YOUR TRAVEL DOWN THE ROAD.

YOU ALSO TOLD THE GLOBE NEWS YOU THINK THE TRAVEL BAN ISSUE HAS TO BE REMOVED AND NOT MADE ABOUT TRAVELING OR ROADWAYS.

I PROPOSE WE INCLUDE THE SAME LANGUAGE.

IF YOU PLAN TO PASS AN ORDINANCE WITHOUT PUTTING IT ON THE BALLOT, THAT MORE CLEARLY DEFINES WHAT CONSTITUTES ONE OF THESE CIVIL LAWSUITS.

FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, ABORTION IN TEXAS IS ALREADY ILLEGAL.

THERE ARE NO ABORTION PROVIDERS IN AMARILLO, SO THERE'S NO GROUNDS FOR A LAWSUIT ABOUT ANYTHING TAKING PLACE OUTSIDE OF AMARILLO.

IF AIDING AND ABETTING IS AS BROAD AS YOU MAKE IT HERE, I SUGGEST TO MY PEERS TO SAVE THE NUMBER OF THE ABORTION DEFENSE FUND, EVEN IF SAYING THAT COULD GET ME SUED BY THE END OF THE DAY. THANK YOU.

IS THERE A CR AND IF NOT BREE CAGLE? AND AFTER BRI WILL BE NATHAN SMITH.

MY NAME IS BREE CAGLE.

I'VE LIVED IN AMARILLO MY WHOLE LIFE AND I AM AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE.

CONSENT TO SEX IS NOT CONSENT TO PREGNANCY.

UNINTENDED PREGNANCY IS THE CAUSE OF OVER 90% OF ABORTIONS IN THIS ORDINANCE.

AND YOUR PROPOSED COMPROMISE DO NOTHING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

WE ALREADY KNOW EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS, COMPREHENSIVE SEX EDUCATION WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN TRULY TRIED HERE, AND ACCESS TO EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION, WHICH THIS COUNCIL HAS DISCUSSED REMOVING ACCESS TO.

INSTEAD, THE PROPOSED SOLUTION IS TO ALLOW CIVIL ACTION AGAINST MY NEIGHBORS FOR HELPING A LOVED ONE OBTAIN LEGAL SUPPORT AFTER AN ABORTION TAKES PLACE. SO IT DOESN'T PROTECT LIFE.

IT PUNISHES CARING, SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES.

WOULD YOU NOT GO TO GREAT LENGTHS FOR YOUR WIVES AND YOUR DAUGHTERS? THEN WHY IS THE SOLUTION TO PUNISH PEOPLE FOR DOING WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS BEST FOR THEIR LOVED ONES? IMAGINE THE ROLES REVERSED.

WHERE I'M SITTING THERE AND YOU'RE STANDING HERE TELLING ME WHY YOU THINK THAT YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET CIRCUMCISIONS AND VIAGRA.

IT'D BE WEIRD AND UNCOMFORTABLE AND INAPPROPRIATE.

IT'D BE COMMON SENSE.

A GENTLEMAN HAS COME IN HERE TWICE ASKING YOU TO DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE, AND EITHER YOU DIDN'T OR YOU DON'T CARE BECAUSE YOU CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS DESPITE THE FACT THAT OUR BLACK SISTERS ARE MORE THAN THREE TIMES AS LIKELY TO DIE FROM PREGNANCY RELATED COMPLICATIONS AS WHITE WOMEN.

SO IT'S NO WONDER THAT THEY SEEK ABORTIONS THREE TIMES MORE THAN WHITE WOMEN.

IF MORE BLACK WOMEN ARE FORCED TO CARRY PREGNANCIES TO TERM, THERE WILL BE A DISPROPORTIONATE INCREASE IN BLACK DEATHS OF WOMEN IN CHILDBIRTH.

FURTHER RESTRICTING ACCESS CAN BE A DEATH SENTENCE.

SO I'M ASKING YOU, HOW MANY BLACK WOMEN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 14 AND 45, HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO ABOUT THIS BEFORE YOU DECIDED THAT YOU SHOULD VOTE ON IT FOR THEM?

[02:05:06]

YOU'RE NOT REPRESENTING YOUR COMMUNITY.

CHOOSING ANYTHING OTHER THAN A CITIZEN VOTE ON THIS.

WE'LL MAKE YOU GO DOWN IN HISTORY, BUT NOT IN THE WAY THAT I THINK YOU WANT TO.

BE CAREFUL, BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOD THAT I THINK YOU'RE LISTENING TO ON THIS, BECAUSE THE GOD THAT I KNOW WOULD NEVER SUPPORT SOMETHING DIVISIVE THAT SOWS PARANOIA.

HARDSHIP ON ALREADY SUFFERING PEOPLE.

THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE CHRIST TO ME.

SO THANK YOU.

NATHAN SMITH.

AND AFTER NATHAN, WE'LL HAVE CYNTHIA PRICE.

GOOD EVENING, NATHAN SMITH.

I LIVE IN AMARILLO CITY.

I WON'T BORE YOU WITH A VERSE AS I USUALLY DO, BUT YOU ALREADY KNOW MY PURPOSE.

I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE YOU TO VOTE AGAINST THIS PARTICULAR ABOMINATION OF LEGISLATION.

ANYWAY, LAST WEEK I WAS LISTENING TO PEOPLE'S ARGUMENTS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOOD TO LISTEN TO THE ARGUMENTATION.

AND I WAS WAITING FOR A PARTICULAR ARGUMENT WHERE THEY CAME UP HERE AND SAID, I'M PRO-LIFE BECAUSE SCIENCE, BECAUSE THE BIOLOGY SHOWS EMPIRICALLY THAT THE BABY IS A FULLY FUNCTIONING HUMAN AT X AMOUNT OF DAYS.

I WAS WAITING FOR THAT. INSTEAD, IT WAS MY FAITH, MY FAITH, MY FAITH.

ARE WE A THEOCRACY? I KEEP FORGETTING I GET A LITTLE CONFUSED EVERY TIME I COME TO THE CITY HALL BECAUSE OF THE WHOLE PRAYING TO GOD AT THE BEGINNING THING IS VERY WEIRD, BUT WE'RE NOT A THEOCRACY, SO EVERY SINGLE ARGUMENT WAS BASED BASED ON FAITH.

FANTASTIC. NOW.

DON'T DO IT. IT'S FINE.

SORRY. ANYWAY, IT'S FANTASTIC THAT EVERYBODY HAS THEIR FAITH AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO SAD WHEN THE BABIES DIE.

NOW, IGNORE THAT FAITH WHEN IT COMES TO FOREIGN POLICY, BECAUSE OUR ARSENAL OF DEMOCRACY HAS KILLED SO MANY CHILDREN AT THE HANDS OF OUR VASSAL STATES.

IT'S GREAT. IT'S JUST KIND OF WHAT WE DO AS AMERICAN.

IT'S POWER PROJECTION.

I WON'T GO INTO THE MORALITY OF IT, BUT IT'S WHAT WE DO.

MIGRANTS. THE PARTY THAT IS MOST VEHEMENTLY PRO-LIFE IS DECIDEDLY ANTI-MIGRANT, CONSIDERING THEY USE THE BIBLE.

THAT'S FANTASTIC. SO WE DON'T CARE ABOUT MIGRANTS TOO MUCH.

HOMELESS POPULATIONS? WELL, SOME PEOPLE TRY TO DO STUFF FOR THE HOMELESS, BUT WE WASTE ALL THESE RESOURCES TO FIGHT FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T EXIST AND NEVER GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXIST.

AND I HAVE AN INTERESTING TAKE ON ABORTION.

I DON'T HAVE A VAGINA, I DON'T HAVE A UTERUS, SO IT'S NOT REALLY MY CHOICE.

SO WHEN I GOT MY MOTHERS CHILDREN PREGNANT AND SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE WAS PREGNANT, IT WAS A QUESTION OF, WELL, ARE YOU GOING TO GET AN ABORTION? ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE IT? AND HER RESPONSE, WELL, I'M NOT REALLY DOWN FOR AN ABORTION.

SO IT WAS HER CHOICE.

SHE HAD THAT CHOICE.

IF SHE WERE IN THAT SITUATION NOW, SHE WOULDN'T HAVE THAT CHOICE.

THE CHOICE WOULD BE MADE FOR HER.

NOW THAT'S A PRETTY IMPORTANT CHOICE.

I DON'T BEGRUDGE HER FOR HER CHOICE.

I LOVE MY DAUGHTERS, OBVIOUSLY, BUT IT WAS A CHOICE THAT SHE WAS FREE TO MAKE, AND THE LEGISLATION IN TEXAS HAS MADE SURE THAT THAT CHOICE IS GONE.

AND YOU GOT TO UNDERSTAND, MY WIFE, ALSO A VETERAN EX-WIFE.

WELL, TECHNICALLY WE'RE STILL MARRIED, ALSO A VETERAN.

SHE SERVED THIS COUNTRY AND YOU HAVE REMOVED THAT CHOICE FROM HER.

YOU'VE REMOVED THAT CHOICE FROM MY DAUGHTERS.

YOU HAVE TAKEN AWAY, NOT YOU INDIVIDUALS.

I'M TALKING ABOUT, OBVIOUSLY, THE POLICIES BEING PUSHED.

I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT.

ANYWAY, YOU'VE TAKEN AWAY THEIR CHOICE, AND I WOULD KINDLY INVITE YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS.

SO WE COLLECTIVELY, AS A GROUP, CAN INVITE THESE INTERLOPERS FROM OTHER AREAS TO GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY DAUGHTER'S VAGINAS.

FUCK NO THANK YOU, NATHAN, MY APOLOGIES FOR THE.

NEXT, PLEASE. CYNTHIA PRICE.

AND AFTER CYNTHIA WILL BE KIM SCHRADER.

MY NAME IS CYNTHIA PRICE AND I AM FOR THIS ORDINANCE.

FIVE YEARS AGO TONIGHT, THE CITY OF WASKOM, TEXAS, BECAME THE FIRST CITY IN THE NATION TO PASS AN ENFORCEABLE ORDINANCE OUTLAWING ABORTION WITHIN THEIR CITY AND AND NAMING IT A SANCTUARY CITY FOR THE UNBORN.

TONIGHT, THE CITY COUNCIL OF AMARILLO HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD A DIFFERENT BUT SIMILAR ORDINANCE.

IT IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE LIVE IN A DIFFERENT WORLD THAN IT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO.

IT'S SIMILAR BECAUSE IT HAS SOME OF THE SAME PROVISIONS, THE SAME PRIVATE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM, AND THE SAME COMMITMENT TO STAND FOR LIFE. IF THIS ORDINANCE IS THE NEXT SANCTUARY CITY FOR THE UNBORN ORDINANCE TO PASS, IT WILL MAKE AMARILLO THE 70TH CITY TO

[02:10:08]

AS A CHRISTIAN, I CANNOT HELP BUT NOTICE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NUMBER 70.

IN THE BIBLE, WE SEE THE NUMBER 70.

MANY TIMES THE NUMBER 70 APPEARS OVER 700 TIMES IN THE BIBLE AND REPRESENTS THE WORD'S COMPLETION AND FINISH.

MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

WE HAVE ELECTED YOU FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS.

HELP US COMPLETE THIS PROCESS.

HELP US FINISH THE WORK BEFORE US SO THAT WE CAN ALL SEE THIS LAW GO INTO EFFECT AND START SAVING THE LIVES OF UNBORN CHILDREN AND THEIR MOMS. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS.

KIM SCHRADER.

AND AFTER KIM WILL BE CONNIE MORGAN.

HELLO. GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS KIM SCHRADER.

I AM A RESIDENT OF AMARILLO FOR 40 YEARS.

I SUPPORT THE SANCTUARY CITY FOR THE UNBORN ORDINANCE.

WHILE SOME HAVE CRITICIZED THIS ORDINANCE AS INTERFERING WITH THE RIGHT TO TRAVEL, I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THERE IS NO RIGHT TO TRAVEL FOR A MULTITUDE OF DIFFERENT THINGS HERE IN AMARILLO.

THERE IS NO RIGHT TO TRAVEL WHEN IT COMES TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

THERE IS NO RIGHT TO TRAVEL WHEN IT COMES TO SEX TRAFFICKING.

THERE IS NO RIGHT TO TRAVEL WHEN IT COMES TO DRUG TRAFFICKING.

SOME MAY NOT BE AWARE OF THIS, BUT SECTION 16 DASH 4-1 25 OF THE AMARILLO CODE OF ORDINANCES PROHIBITS TAXI CAB DRIVERS FROM KNOWINGLY TRANSPORTING PROSTITUTES, NARCOTIC PEDDLERS, BOOTLEGGERS, AND CRIMINALS.

THE SPECIFIC STATUTE READS, IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR ANY DRIVER OF A TAXICAB KNOWINGLY TO TRANSPORT ANY PERSON TO THE ABODE OF A PROSTITUTE, A NARCOTIC PEDDLER OR BOOTLEGGER, FOR THE PURPOSE OF AIDING IN THE COMMISSION OF A CRIME.

WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IN THE SANCTUARY CITY FOR THE UNBORN ORDINANCE IS NOT MUCH DIFFERENT.

THERE IS NO RIGHT TO TRAVEL WHEN IT COMES TO ABORTION TRAFFICKING.

PLEASE VOTE YES FOR THIS ORDINANCE.

THANK YOU. CONNIE.

MORGAN AND AFTER.

CONNIE. TIM.

GASAWAY. HELLO, MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN.

MY NAME IS CONNIE MORGAN, AND I'M A LONG TERM RESIDENT OF AMARILLO.

I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE SANCTUARY CITY FOR THE UNBORN ORDINANCE FOR AMARILLO, AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.

CURRENT TEXAS ABORTION LAWS GO A LONG WAY TO PROTECT UNBORN BABIES IN TEXAS, BUT THEY HAVE NO PROVISIONS PROTECTING THE UNBORN RESIDENTS OF OUR STATE WHO ARE TAKEN TO OTHER STATES AND MURDERED BY OUT OF STATE ABORTION PROVIDERS.

THEY ALSO DO NOTHING TO PUNISH INDIVIDUALS WHO TRAFFIC PREGNANT WOMEN ACROSS STATE LINES FOR THE PURPOSE OF ABORTION.

THEY ONLY OUTLAW AND CRIMINAL CRIMINALIZE ABORTIONS THAT OCCUR WITHIN TEXAS.

THESE LOOPHOLES ARE ADDRESSED IN THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE.

TEXAS LAWS ARE BEING CIRCUMVENTED BY THE ABORTION INDUSTRY, PRO-ABORTION STATES, AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

THEY ARE AIDING AND ABETTING THE HARM OF PREGNANT WOMEN AND THEIR UNBORN CHILDREN BY FACILITATING AND FUNDING TRAVEL ACROSS STATE LINES TO NEW MEXICO AND OTHER STATES FOR ELECTIVE ABORTIONS, AND BY PROVIDING ILLEGAL ABORTION PILLS.

BIDEN HAS PLEDGED TO MAKE ABORTION ABORTION AVAILABLE IN EVERY ZIP CODE, IN DIRECT DEFIANCE OF THE REPEAL OF ROE V WADE IN OUR TEXAS LAWS. SOME HAVE ASKED, WHY IS THIS THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY? IDEALLY, IT WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE.

BUT AT A TIME LIKE THIS, WHEN OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND OTHER STATES DISREGARD AND DISRESPECT TEXAS LAWS, WE MUST STAND FOR WHAT WE, THE CHRISTIAN CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY IN OUR AMARILLO AREA, BELIEVE IN IN VALUE ABOVE ALL ELSE, PROTECTING HUMAN LIFE.

PASSING THE ORDINANCE WILL DETER DETER THE ABORTION INDUSTRY FROM FACILITATING ABORTION ACROSS STATE LINES BY THE THREAT OF CIVIL ACTIONS THAT CAN BE BROUGHT BY THE PUBLIC.

THE PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION, AS IN THE HEARTBEAT ACT.

IN ADDITION, WE AS FELLOW CITIZENS AND NEIGHBORS SHOULD HELP WOMEN IN SEEMINGLY UNWANTED PREGNANCIES BY ENCOURAGING PREGNANCY COUNSELING,

[02:15:07]

OUR HANDS ARE TIED AS TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE ON SO MANY OF TODAY'S MORAL ISSUES, BUT WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON THIS ONE.

I ENCOURAGE THE CITY OF AMARILLO TO STAND FOR LIFE AND PASS THE ORDINANCE.

THANK YOU. THANK.

TIM GASAWAY.

AND AFTER TIM WILL BE KAT BROWNING.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

COUNCIL. MY NAME IS TIMOTHY GASAWAY.

I'M A RESIDENT OF AMARILLO.

DID YOU NEED AN ADDRESS? NO. OKAY, COOL.

I'M COMING TODAY.

IT'S REAL SIMPLE.

THIS IS ILL ADVISED LEGISLATION.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CITY OF AMARILLO DOES NOT NEED TO BE IN.

WE'VE BEEN IN IT FOR MONTHS, HOWEVER.

IT IS ILL ADVISED, JUST AS IT WAS ILL ADVISED THE WAY THE TEXAS STATE HOUSE PASSED THE BILL, BECAUSE NOW THEY'RE FINDING OUT IT HAD NO BASIS IN WHAT? MEDICAL. PEOPLE GIVEN US ADVICE.

IF IT HAD OF BEEN, WE WOULDN'T BE MAKING MISTAKES.

WE WOULDN'T HAVE MADE THE MISTAKES THAT WE'RE MAKING.

IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE REVISED IN THE LEGISLATURE.

IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE IF THAT GOES FROM THE TOP, FROM THE WHITE HOUSE DOWN.

BUT IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE REVISED.

PEOPLE IN TEXAS, THIS IS AMARILLO PEOPLE IN TEXAS.

ARE NOT GOING TO GO FOR THIS.

THEY'RE GOING TO FIGHT.

THIS, THEY'RE GOING TO FIGHT IT.

YOU ALREADY SEE THE GROUNDSWELL HAPPENING.

IT'S GOING TO BE IT'S GOING TO BE FOUGHT.

SO MY THING IS, FOR THE CITY OF AMARILLO, THIS IS JUST SOMETHING WE SHOULD NOT BE INTO.

I KNOW, MISTER YOU'RE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT OVERREACH.

THIS IS OVERREACH.

AND IT'S JUST THAT SIMPLE.

AND I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

AT BROWNING AND AFTER CAT COURTNEY BROWN.

SORRY I'M SHORT. MY NAME IS CAT BROWNING.

I'M A RESIDENT OF AMARILLO AND I'M AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE.

THIS PROPOSED LEGISLATION, AS WELL AS THE AMENDED VERSION ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

AS CITIZENS, WE HAVE RIGHTS SUCH AS FREEDOM OF SPEECH, FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION, AND THE FREEDOM TO TRAVEL, AS WELL AS EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW.

ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT MY JOB TO PROVIDE THE CITY COUNCIL WITH A LEGAL ANALYSIS, IT APPEARS THAT THIS LEADERSHIP IS LACKING.

THAT, AND I FEEL LIKE THESE POINTS MUST BE ADDRESSED.

THIS ORDINANCE WOULD PROHIBIT THE SHARING OF INFORMATION AND RESOURCES VIOLATING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

IT ALSO PROHIBITS DONATING MONEY TO SUPPORT ABORTION ACCESS, WHICH THE SUPREME COURT HAS ESTABLISHED IS A FORM OF EXPRESSIVE CONDUCT.

RESTRICTING THESE ACTIONS CONTROLS INDIVIDUAL EXPRESSION.

THIS IS THE GOVERNMENT THREATENING OUR RIGHT TO SUPPORT WHATEVER CAUSES WE CHOOSE, AND LIMITING OUR ABILITY TO SHARE INFORMATION FREELY.

THE ORDINANCE ALSO VIOLATES OUR FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION.

IT WOULD PROHIBIT COLLABORATION FOR SUPPORT FOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE ABORTION SERVICES, WHICH IS ALSO PROTECTED UNDER THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

RESTRICTING THIS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT PROHIBITS OUR ABILITY TO ORGANIZE AND SUPPORT COLLECTIVE ACTION ON IMPORTANT SOCIAL ISSUES.

IF PASSED, IT WOULD ALSO INFRINGE ON THE CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED RIGHT TO TRAVEL AND RESTRICTED WITH TWO MAJOR ROADWAYS LEADING TO OTHER STATES AND AN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, WE RISK RESTRICTING MOVEMENT, WHICH THE SUPREME COURT STRICTLY FORBADE.

IN THE 1968 RULING IN SHAPIRO V THOMPSON.

IF THIS ORDINANCE PASSES, HELPING A WOMAN IN AMARILLO RECEIVE AN ABORTION WOULD BE SUBJECT TO LEGAL PENALTIES, WHILE HELPING A WOMAN SEEK OTHER MEDICAL PROCEDURES DOES NOT. THIS IS A DISCRIMINATORY APPLICATION OF THE LAW, AND IT UNDERMINES THE EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE IN THE 14TH AMENDMENT.

THIS ORDINANCE ALSO EXPLICITLY STATES THAT A CITY EMPLOYEE CANNOT BE SUED UNDER ITS PROVISIONS.

IT WAS PURPOSEFULLY DESIGNED TO SHIELD THIS GOVERNING BODY FROM ACCOUNTABILITY, WHICH PREVENTS CITIZENS FROM SEEKING JUSTICE AGAINST THOSE WHO ENACTED IT.

IF THIS ORDINANCE PASSES, DESPITE VIOLATING OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, WHAT IS TO STOP THE GOVERNMENT FROM TAKING OTHER PROTECTED RIGHTS AWAY? WHAT IF ANOTHER CITY COPIED THIS ORDINANCE TO CRIMINALIZE HELPING SOMEONE ACCESS A GUN? IF YOU PASS THIS ORDINANCE, CITIZENS WOULD BE UNABLE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES WHEN THE GOVERNMENT INFRINGES ON THEIR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS.

WE MUST ENSURE THAT ANY LAW RESPECTS THESE RIGHTS AND DOES NOT UNJUSTLY TARGET INDIVIDUALS BASED ON THEIR MEDICAL DECISIONS OR THEIR PERSONAL BELIEFS.

[02:20:09]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

COURTNEY BROWN AND AFTER.

COURTNEY. HARPER.

METCALF. HELLO, MY NAME IS COURTNEY BROWN.

I AM AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE.

I AM A CO-FOUNDER OF THE AMARILLO REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM ALLIANCE AND AN OWNER OF THE 806 COFFEE LOUNGE ON SIXTH STREET.

MAYOR COLE STANLEY HAS CONSISTENTLY STATED THE AMARILLO IS TO BE RUN AS A BUSINESS.

AS A FELLOW BUSINESS OWNER, I CAN UNDERSTAND THE SENTIMENT.

I USE MY BUSINESS AS A RESOURCE CENTER, A VENUE, AND I SERVE A CUP OF COFFEE THAT EVEN MY OPPONENTS CAN'T RESIST.

THE 806 COFFEE LOUNGE HAS BEEN A LONG CULTURAL HUB OF DIVERSITY AND CREATIVITY.

WE BELIEVE IN GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH OUR FUNDRAISERS FOR LOCAL NONPROFITS AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL.

AND NOW WE GIVE BACK BY PROVIDING FREE CONDOMS, PREGNANCY TESTS, AND PLAN B.

WE'RE DOING OUR PART TO PREVENT ABORTIONS.

IF AMARILLO IS TO BE RUN AS A BUSINESS, WHAT ABOUT RESTRICTING FREEDOMS, INTERSTATE TRAVEL, AND THIS COMMUNITY'S ACCESS TO LIFE SAVING HEALTH CARE IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS.

HOW WILL AMARILLO TOURISM SURVIVE IF TRAVELERS ARE AFRAID? THESE ARE HISTORIC AND MAJOR HIGHWAY SYSTEMS BECAUSE THEY VIEW OUR CITY AS HOSTILE TOWARDS PREGNANT WOMEN.

IS THAT GOOD FOR LOCAL BUSINESS? DOCTORS DON'T FEEL SAFE AND ARE LEAVING TEXAS BECAUSE THEY FACE $100,000 FINES AND JAIL TIME FOR PROVIDING ABORTION CARE.

IF THIS TREND CONTINUES, AMARILLO COULD BECOME A MEDICAL DESERT, MUCH LIKE OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES.

WILL THAT BE GOOD FOR BUSINESS? WHEN AMARILLO WOMEN IN SITUATIONS LIKE AMANDA ZURAWSKI AND LAURA MILLER'S ARE DYING FROM A LACK OF MEDICALLY NECESSARY ABORTION CARE, WHILE AMARILLO BE A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS, HOW DOES PASSING AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL ORDINANCE THAT EXTENDS TO EVERY CITIZEN USING OUR ROADS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD BENEFIT AMARILLO BUSINESS BECAUSE THE WORLD IS WATCHING.

THE WORLD IS WATCHING AS WE THREATEN THE PHARMACIST WHO FULFILLS A MIFEPRISTONE PRESCRIPTION FROM PARIS, FRANCE, AND CAN BE SUED IF THAT PILL IS SWALLOWED HERE, OR THREATENING VENMO WITH LAWSUITS FOR FACILITATING GAS PAYMENTS ON THE WAY TO AN ABORTION CLINIC, OR THREATENING THE MOTHER THAT COULD BE SUED FOR LETTING HER DAUGHTER SPEND THE NIGHT AFTER GETTING AN ABORTION.

THESE ORDINANCES ARE DESIGNED FOR LAWSUITS THAT WILL LEAVE THE TAXPAYERS WITH THE BILL, AND THE WORLD IS WATCHING.

WILL THIS BE THE LEGACY OF THIS SMALL GOVERNMENT CITY COUNCIL TURNING NEIGHBOR AGAINST NEIGHBOR AND MAKING FUGITIVES OF THE CITIZENS YOU SWORE AN OATH TO PROTECT? THE RIGHTS OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY REDUCED WOMEN TO A SINGLE BIOLOGICAL FUNCTION.

AND NOW THIS COUNCIL OF MEN IS DECIDING WHO HAS THE RIGHTS TO IT.

AMARILLO DESERVES THE VOTE.

AMARILLO DESERVES TO HAVE A SAY IN WHETHER THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS SHOULD BE STRIPPED AWAY FROM THEM AND HANDED TO THEIR NEIGHBOR.

I WILL STATE THIS ISSUE WILL NOT GO AWAY.

IF YOU VOTE FOR THIS ORDINANCE.

WE WILL NEVER STOP FIGHTING FOR OUR COMMUNITY'S RIGHTS AND ACCESS TO ABORTION CARE THAT WILL MAKE AMARILLO A GOOD BUSINESS FOR EVERY CITIZEN.

FACE THE VOTER.

I URGE THE COUNCIL TO PUT ON THE BALLOT AND LET AMARILLO DECIDE.

THANK YOU.

HARPER. METCALFE.

AND AFTER. HARPER.

LINDSAY. LONDON.

GOOD EVENING, GENTLEMEN.

MY NAME IS HARPER METCALFE, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF AMARILLO.

I'M AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE.

AND TODAY IT'S MY HONOR TO READ A STATEMENT FROM LAUREN MILLER OF DALLAS, WHICH I HOPE WILL GIVE A DIFFERENT VIEW OF WHAT THEY'RE CALLING ABORTION TRAFFICKING.

IN JULY OF 2022, MY HUSBAND AND I WERE THRILLED TO DISCOVER THAT I WAS PREGNANT WITH A MUCH WANTED SECOND CHILD.

AFTER 36 HOURS OF CONTINUOUS VOMITING LANDED ME IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

WE WERE SHOCKED, BUT ELATED TO FIND OUT THAT I WAS PREGNANT WITH TWINS.

UNFORTUNATELY, OUR PLANS WERE SHATTERED AT THE 12 WEEK ULTRASOUND, ONE OF OUR TWINS HAD A LONG LIST OF FATAL ISSUES, INCLUDING FLUID WHERE MOST OF HIS BRAIN SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, THROUGH ADDITIONAL ULTRASOUNDS AND TESTING, THE NEWS KEPT GETTING WORSE AND WORSE.

HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT LEGISLATION IN TEXAS, MY DOCTORS, NURSES, AND GENETIC COUNSELORS WERE TOO SCARED TO SAY ANYTHING MORE THAN THIS BLEAK PRONOUNCEMENT EVERY DAY THAT AREN'T VIABLE. TWIN CONTINUED TO GROW.

HE PUT HIS TWIN AND ME AT GREATER RISK.

THE MOST HELPFUL AND DIRECT INFORMATION WE RECEIVED CAME FROM A DOCTOR WHO WAS SO FRUSTRATED WITH THE SITUATION THAT AFTER ONE OF OUR MOST DEVASTATING ULTRASOUNDS, HE RIPPED OFF HIS GLOVES, THREW THEM AWAY AND TOLD US, THIS BABY ISN'T GOING TO MAKE IT TO BIRTH.

I CAN'T HELP YOU.

YOU NEED TO LEAVE THE STATE.

ONLY DAYS LATER, I ENDED UP IN THE E.R.

AGAIN, SO SICK THAT I FEARED THE PLACENTA WOULD DETACH AND I WOULD BLEED OUT.

I WAS DEHYDRATED AND SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY AS THE E.R.

TEAM WORKED TO STABILIZE ME.

I WAS AT RISK OF ORGAN DAMAGE TO MY KIDNEYS AND BRAIN, BUT I STILL WASN'T CLOSE ENOUGH TO DEATH TO RECEIVE AN EXCEPTION FOR ABORTION CARE.

EXCEPTIONS DO NOT EXIST IN TEXAS.

[02:25:02]

A SINGLE FETAL ABORTION WAS THE BEST CHANCE WE HAD OF SAVING OUR OTHER SON AND PRESERVING MY HEALTH.

YET THERE WERE NO OPTIONS OR NEXT STEPS FOR THE TWO OF US WHO HAD A CHANCE AT LIFE.

WE HAD REACHED THE POINT WHERE HEALTH CARE ENDS IN TEXAS.

I HAD TO FLEE THE STATE WHERE MY FAMILY HAS LIVED FOR EIGHT GENERATIONS.

WITHIN HOURS OF MY ABORTION, THE VOMITING STOPPED.

I HAD A HEALTHY, UNEVENTFUL REMAINDER OF MY PREGNANCY.

IN MARCH 2023, MY HUSBAND AND I WELCOMED A HAPPY, HEALTHY BOY, OUR HENRY, BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO TRAVEL OUT OF STATE FOR AN ABORTION.

I GET THE JOY OF SEEING MY BOYS PLAY TOGETHER, AND OF WATCHING HENRY TAKE HIS FIRST STEPS LAST WEEK BECAUSE OF MY ABORTION, HENRY AND I HAVE A FUTURE.

THERE ARE MORE AND MORE OF US WITH THESE STORIES EVERY DAY.

I KNOW THEM, I HAVE MET THEM.

I WAS PART OF ZURAWSKI V TEXAS, A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE STATE OVER THESE BANS WITH A VERY MODEST ASK.

PLEASE PROVIDE CLARITY ON EXCEPTIONS SO WE DO NOT HAVE TO BE ON THE CUSP OF DEATH BEFORE WE CAN ACCESS MEDICAL CARE.

THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT NOT ONLY DECLINED TO PROVIDE CLARITY, BUT THEY WROTE US OUT OF OUR OWN STORIES AND THEIR RESPONSE.

THE HARDEST PART OF FINDING OUT THAT WE WERE GOING TO LOSE OUR SON SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SCRAMBLING TO MAKE PLANS TO TRAVEL OUT OF STATE.

WE WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE MONEY, TIME AND RESOURCES TO MAKE THAT TRIP, BUT ARE VERY AWARE THAT MANY TEXANS CANNOT DROP THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WITH JUST A FEW DAYS NOTICE.

THE AMARILLO ORDINANCE WOULD MAKE IT CRUELLY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME, WHO WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE BOTH OF MY TWINS, BUT KNEW THAT TO LOVE MY SON WAS TO LET HIM GO.

I ASK YOU TO PLEASE REJECT THE ORDINANCE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

LINDSAY. LONDON.

AND AFTER. LINDSAY.

DOCTOR REG MARTIN.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LINDSAY LONDON.

I LIVE IN AMARILLO AND I AM OPPOSED TO THIS ORDINANCE.

TODAY I'M GOING TO SPEAK TO YOU NOT AS A CO-FOUNDER OF RFA OR A NURSE, BUT SIMPLY AS MYSELF, A WOMAN WHO HAS HAD TWO BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN, ONE MISCARRIAGE AND ONE ABORTION.

WHEN I HAD MY ABORTION, I WAS FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN A STATE WHERE MY DECISION WAS SUPPORTED AND EASILY ACCESSIBLE.

AND FOR THAT I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL.

I HAVE NEVER DOUBTED THAT DECISION.

I AM NOT TRAUMATIZED BY IT, AND IT WAS THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR ME AT THAT POINT IN MY LIFE.

IT SEEMS THERE IS A REPEATED NEED TO SIGNAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE PRO-LIFE COMMUNITY FROM OUR MAYOR AND SOME OF COUNCIL, ESPECIALLY SINCE MOST OF THE ATTACKS AGAINST YOU ALL HAVE COME FROM YOUR OWN CONSTITUENTS.

I FULLY REJECT THE TERM PRO-LIFE, BECAUSE TO BE PRO-LIFE WOULD MEAN TO TRULY PRIORITIZE THE WELL-BEING, SAFETY, AND FREEDOM OF ALL PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES.

PRO-LIFE DOESN'T MEAN WHAT YOU SAY IT MEANS.

IT ONLY MEANS ANTI ABORTION.

THIS ORDINANCE CREATES AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE WOMEN AND PREGNANT PEOPLE ARE NO LONGER CITIZENS WITH FREE WILL, BUT MERELY INCUBATORS WHO ARE EITHER FORCED INTO GIVING BIRTH OR FORCED INTO THE SHADOWS, AFRAID TO ASK THEIR DOCTORS OR LOVED ONES FOR SUPPORT, FOR FEAR THAT THEY COULD BE SUED BY ANYONE WITH A BIASED VENDETTA.

THIS IS NOT PRO-LIFE.

ABORTION BANS SHOW THAT THE LIVES OF PREGNANT PEOPLE DO NOT MATTER TO THOSE WHO ENACT AND SUPPORT THEM.

OUR HOPES AND DREAMS, OUR PLANS, OUR ECONOMIC STABILITY, OUR SAFETY, OUR PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH ALL OF THESE ARE ACCEPTABLE COLLATERAL DAMAGE AND THE PURSUIT OF USING RELIGION TO CONTROL AND PUNISH OTHERS WHO DON'T BELIEVE THE SAME WAY.

AFTER NINE MONTHS OF THIS ISSUE COMING TO THE CHAMBER UNIRONICALLY THE LENGTH OF THE AVERAGE PREGNANCY, THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE OUTCOME IS FOR IT TO GO TO A PUBLIC VOTE, FACE YOUR VOTERS, GIVE THEM THEIR VOICE, AND HAVE IT PUT ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.

THE STAKES ARE FAR TOO HIGH TO ALLOW FIVE MEN TO DETERMINE THE FATE OF PREGNANT AMARILLO CITIZENS AND THOSE WHO LOVE AND CARE FOR THEM.

AND PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU DO PASS THIS ORDINANCE, WE WILL MOBILIZE IMMEDIATELY TO BEGIN THE PETITION PROCESS TO REPEAL IT.

IT WILL NOT BE SETTLED AND IT WILL NOT GO AWAY.

AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THERE ARE FAR MORE THAN 6300 MISINFORMED, AMARILLO CITIZENS THAT DO NOT WANT THIS EXTREMISM IN OUR COMMUNITY, REGARDLESS OF IF THEY AGREE WITH ABORTION OR NOT.

THIS IS NOT PRO-LIFE, THIS IS PRO CONTROL AND WE WILL NEVER ACCEPT IT.

WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT WHAT LITTLE REMAINS OF OUR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

TEXAS LAW HAS TAKEN ALMOST EVERYTHING, AND WE WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO TAKE AWAY ANY MORE.

IN CLOSING, I WILL RESPECTFULLY REMIND MAYOR AND COUNCIL THAT YOU WERE ELECTED TO REPRESENT AND CARE FOR ALL CITIZENS OF AMARILLO, NOT JUST THOSE THAT ALIGN WITH YOUR BELIEFS. PLEASE CHOOSE WISELY AND VOTE NO ON THIS ORDINANCE.

[02:30:02]

DOCTOR REG MARTIN, AND AFTER DOCTOR MARTIN WILL BE DOCTOR RICHARD MCKAY.

GOOD EVENING. GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME.

MY NAME IS REG MARTIN.

I LIVE HERE IN AMARILLO, AND I WAS RAISED IN WEST TEXAS WITH THE PLAINVIEW HIGH SCHOOL.

AND I'VE BEEN A PRACTICING ANESTHESIOLOGIST IN THIS TOWN FOR 18 YEARS.

AND IF I'VE TAKEN CARE OF ANY OF YOU AND YOU'RE AWAKE, THEN THAT MEANS YOU'RE WELCOME.

SO WHAT I WANT TO SAY HERE IS THAT I'M AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE, AND IT'S VERY SIMPLE.

I WANT TO GIVE THIS GROUP A LOOK INTO THE WHAT I THINK IS THE MEDICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR PROFESSIONALS THAT LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AS AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST, I'M IN A UNIQUE POSITION.

I WORK WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT KIND OF DOCTORS, MOSTLY SURGEONS.

BUT I ALSO TALKED TO CARDIOLOGISTS ABOUT HOW TO GET PATIENTS READY FOR SURGERY OR ENDOCRINOLOGISTS OR.

EVERYBODY BUT DERMATOLOGISTS.

YOU JUST CAN'T GET THOSE GUYS ON THE PHONE.

THEY JUST I DON'T KNOW, I THINK THEY THINK THEY'RE BETTER THAN US.

MAYBE THEY ARE. ANYWAYS, MY POINT IS, IS THAT EVERYONE THAT I'VE TALKED TO ABOUT THIS ISSUE, THEY ALL WELL, I GIVE I GET TWO ANSWERS.

ONE IS THEY HAVEN'T HEARD OF IT AND THEY'RE A LITTLE HORRIFIED ONCE I EXPLAIN IT.

AND THE OTHER IS IS THAT THEY KNOW ABOUT IT, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS, BUT THEY'RE AGAINST IT.

AND I KNOW YOU'RE THINKING, WELL, WHY AREN'T THERE MORE FOLKS THAT DO WHAT I DO, THAT DO WHAT WE DO, TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE? WHY AREN'T THERE MORE OF A PRESENCE? AND I CAN TELL YOU WHY THIS COMMUNITY IS OVERWHELMED.

WE ARE AN UNDERSERVED UNDERWATER MEDICAL COMMUNITY.

NOW, DON'T GET ME WRONG, WE HAVE AMAZING PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

I'M PROUD TO BE ONE OF THEM, BUT THEY'RE BUSY, AND ANYBODY WHO'S BEEN IN A WAITING ROOM IN THIS TOWN WILL TELL YOU THE SAME.

THERE'S A LOCAL GROUP OF PRIVATE PRACTICE OBSTETRICIAN AND GYNECOLOGIST.

I'VE SPOKE TO THEM.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE AVERAGE WAIT TIME FOR A NEW PATIENT, A FEMALE WHO JUST NEEDS A GYNECOLOGIST IS ALMOST A YEAR.

I MEAN, THAT ECHOES OF SOCIALIZED MEDICINE.

SO THAT JUST TELLS YOU WE ARE AT A STRETCHED POINT.

I THINK THAT WHAT'S MORE CONCERNING IS, YOU KNOW, THE END OF THIS IS NOT ANYWHERE IN SIGHT.

I OWN MY OWN ANESTHESIA GROUP.

I'M CONSTANTLY TRYING TO HIRE NURSE ANESTHETISTS.

ANESTHESIOLOGISTS, AND TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO COME TO AMARILLO IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE NOT FROM HERE OR YOUR SPOUSE ISN'T FROM HERE, THEY'RE NOT COMING.

OR IF THEY ARE, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE FOR LONG.

IT REMINDS ME OF A, YOU KNOW, I'LL GET TO IT.

THE POINT IS, IS THAT WHAT THIS IS GOING TO DO, IT'S GOING TO CREATE TENSION, CONFUSION AND CONCERN AMONGST HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND THEIR PATIENTS.

IT IS GOING TO CREATE A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE PATIENTS HURT AND PHYSICIANS NURSE PRACTITIONERS LEAVE TO GO TO OTHER AREAS WHERE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN PRACTICE THE WAY THAT THEY INTENDED.

ANY DIFFICULT PROBLEM I EVER COME ACROSS IN MY PRACTICE.

YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE BASIC TENANT.

TAKE CARE OF THE PATIENT.

DO NO HARM.

I ADMIRE YOU GUYS.

YOU GIVE YOUR TIME, YOUR EFFORT TO THIS VERY DIFFICULT QUESTION.

BUT I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THE SAME ADVICE.

DO NO HARM TO THIS CITY.

TAKE CARE OF THIS CITY.

PLEASE VOTE AGAINST THIS.

THANK YOU.

NEXT IS DOCTOR RICHARD MCKAY.

AND DO WE HAVE TIFFANY MARTIN AND CINDY BARNARD IN THE AUDIENCE? THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS HAVE DONATED THEIR TIME WITH MAYOR STANLEY'S APPROVAL.

TO DOCTOR MCKAY.

I'M DOCTOR RICHARD MCKAY.

I'M A RETIRED ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON, GREW UP IN AMARILLO, AND THE DOCTOR'S FAMILY WENT AWAY FOR 15 YEARS TO GET SMART ENOUGH TO COME BACK TO AMARILLO AND PRACTICE FOR 38 YEARS. AN ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON.

I WAS A PRESIDENT OF THE MEDICAL SOCIETY IN 2005, AND HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD PRETTY MUCH ALL THE TIME.

I'M NOW REPRESENT THE RETIRED PHYSICIANS ON THE BOARD.

I'M HERE TO READ YOU A LETTER THAT YOU ALL READ FROM THE MEDICAL SOCIETY BOARD.

THE POTTER RANDALL COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY IS A GROUP OF APPROXIMATELY 400 PHYSICIANS IN THE AMARILLO AREA THAT SUPPORTS EACH OTHER IN THE ENDEAVOR OF IMPROVING LOCAL HEALTH CARE

[02:35:04]

OUR MEMBERS ARE FROM MULTIPLE SPECIALTIES, ESSENTIALLY ALL OF THEM.

THE SOCIETY REPRESENTS OUR MEMBERS AT THE STATE LEVEL THROUGH THE TEXAS MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AND THE NATIONAL LEVEL THROUGH THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

THE STATED PURPOSE OF OUR GROUP IS TO PROMOTE THE SCIENCE AND ART OF MEDICINE AND THE BETTERMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

THE SOCIETY SUBMITS THESE COMMENTS REGARDING THE SANCTUARY CITY ORDINANCE OUT OF CONCERNS THAT THE ORDINANCE PASSAGE WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT HEALTH CARE IN AMARILLO.

IT CAN BE REASONABLY ANTICIPATED THAT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PROVIDERS AND WOMEN IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE SOCIETY FEELS COMPELLED TO COMMENT.

WHILE THE SOCIETY IS NOT TAKING A POSITION ON THE PROPRIETY OF THE CURRENT LAW OR HISTORICAL APPROACHES TO THE LEGALITY AND AVAILABILITY OF ABORTION, WE DO FEEL IT IS NECESSARY TO WEIGH IN ON THE PERHAPS UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT MAY RESULT FROM ADOPTION OF THIS ORDINANCE.

IF THE CONSEQUENCES ARE NOT UNINTENTIONAL, THE SOCIETY IS MORE JUSTIFIED IN BRINGING THESE CONCERNS TO THE PUBLIC AND COUNCIL'S ATTENTION.

THE PASSAGE OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE WOULD REQUIRE ALL PROVIDERS TO READ AND FULLY COMPREHEND AN 18 PAGE ORDINANCE, WHICH I HAVE READ, INTERPRETING ITS LEGAL LANGUAGE AND MULTIPLE REFERENCES TO TEXAS STATUTES AND REGULATIONS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE.

THESE CONSIDERATIONS WILL LIKELY BECOME ONEROUS, AS THEY REQUIRE THE PHYSICIAN TO ALTER DISCUSSIONS WITH PATIENTS AND INFRINGE ON THE OPEN COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PHYSICIAN AND PATIENT. THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE WOULD PREVENT MEDICAL PROVIDERS FROM DISCUSSING ALL AVAILABLE TREATMENT OPTIONS, WITH A PREGNANT WOMAN FACING A HEALTH CRISIS, UNTIL THAT CROSS CRISIS DEVOLVES INTO A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

IF A PATIENT ASKS FOR AVAILABLE OPTIONS WHEN THEY ENCOUNTER A HEALTH CRISIS, A VISION OF A PHYSICIAN CANNOT EVEN MENTION THE AVAILABILITY OF TERMINATION OF THE PREGNANCY WITHOUT CONCERNS THAT THE MEDICAL ADVICE IS IN VIOLATION OF THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE.

THE CHILLING EFFECT.

THE CHILLING EFFECT OF THE ORDINANCE IS THAT IT REQUIRES PHYSICIANS TO TREAT PREGNANT PATIENTS DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHER PATIENTS, IN THAT THE PHYSICIAN MUST WITHHOLD DISCUSSION OF ALL AVAILABLE OPTIONS, CREATING A DE FACTO DISCRIMINATION.

IT IS THE INTENT OF THE PETITIONS.

IS IT THE INTENT OF THE POSITIONS PETITIONS.

INITIATING INITIATING, COMMITTEE TO DEMAND PHYSICIANS VIOLATE PRINCIPLES OF EQUALITY AND NONDISCRIMINATION.

THE SOCIETY HAS SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THESE INFRINGEMENTS ON THE PHYSICIAN PATIENT RELATIONSHIP.

THE ORDINANCE EXPRESSLY PROHIBITS ANYONE, INCLUDING A MEDICAL PROVIDER, FROM PROVIDING A REFERRAL TO AN ABORTION PROVIDER FOR A WOMAN SEEKING AN ELECTIVE ABORTION.

IF A PATIENT SEEKS GUIDANCE FROM HER PHYSICIAN AS TO WHERE SHE COULD OBTAIN SUCH SERVICES, A PHYSICIAN AMARILLO WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO DIRECT HER TO A LICENSED PROVIDER TO OBTAIN THE SERVICE, INSTEAD LEAVING THE PATIENT ON HER OWN TO LOCATE SUCH SERVICES.

UNDER THE ORDINANCE, A PRIVATE CITIZEN COULD ASSERT A CLAIM AGAINST THE PHYSICIAN, WHO PROVIDES ANSWERS AND INFORMATION REGARDING AVAILABLE TREATMENT OPTIONS TO A PATIENT SEEKING THAT INFORMATION.

THE SOCIETY QUESTIONS WHAT SOURCE THESE WOMEN WILL TURN TO IF THEY IF THEIR MEDICAL PROVIDERS ARE SILENCED BY THIS ORDINANCE, AND IF THESE SOURCES WILL ACT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PATIENT DURING THIS VULNERABLE TIME.

ADDITIONAL CONCERNS ABOUT PERHAPS UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE INCLUDE PROMOTION OF INTERFERENCE BY THIRD PARTIES WITH THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THIS PHYSICIAN AND PATIENT, THE PHYSICIAN PHYSICIAN PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IS AFFORDED PROTECTION UNDER THE ETHICAL RULES GOVERNING GOVERNING PROVIDERS. THE LAW OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THOSE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.

SPECIFICALLY, TEXAS LAW PROVIDES THAT A.

COMMUNICATION BETWEEN A PHYSICIAN AND A PATIENT RELATIVE TO OR IN CONNECTION WITH ANY PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AS A PHYSICIAN TO THE PATIENT IS CONFIDENTIAL AND PRIVILEGED. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS LIKEWISE IMPLEMENTED MYRIAD PROVISIONS TO PROTECT A PATIENT'S HEALTH INFORMATION, INCLUDING THE HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT, WIDELY KNOWN AS HIPAA.

A PHYSICIAN FACING A CIVIL SUIT UNDER THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE COULD BE SEVERELY LIMITED IN DEFENDING THEIR ACTIONS UNLESS THE PATIENT SPECIFICALLY WAIVES THE CONFIDENTIALITY AS REQUIRED BY HIPAA.

WOULD CONFIDENTIALITY BE WAIVED FOR THE TOTALITY OF THE PATIENT'S PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION IN THE POSSESSION OF THAT PROVIDER? WHAT IF THE PATIENT ONLY DISCLOSED A PORTION OF A DISCUSSION WITH THE PROVIDER TO THE THIRD PARTY, BRINGING THE CAUSE, OR INCORRECTLY RECOUNTING THE COMMUNICATION? CAN THE PHYSICIAN DISCLOSE THE FULL CONTEXT OF THE SITUATION AND THE DISCUSSIONS TO DEFEND AGAINST A CIVIL ACTION THAT COULD RESULT IN A PENALTY IN EXCESS OF

[02:40:05]

CONFIDENTIALITY EXISTS TO PROMOTE THE FREE AND FULL DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION TO BENEFIT THE PATIENT'S HEALTH AND MEDICAL DECISION MAKING BETWEEN THE PHYSICIAN AND PATIENT.

INTERFERENCE WITH THE PHYSICIAN PATIENT RELATIONSHIP STANDS TO IMPAIR THE PROVISION OF QUALITY HEALTH CARE THAT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ALL AMARILLO CITIZENS AND THOSE IN THE SURROUNDING AREA THAT OUR MEDICAL COMMUNITY SERVES.

THE SOCIETY IS ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE ABILITY TO RETAIN AND RECRUIT PROVIDERS OF AMARILLO AREA.

IF THIS ORDINANCE WERE TO PASS, ADDING THE THREAT TO ADDITIONAL CIVIL SUITS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DEFEND WOULD MAKE AMARILLO A LESS ATTRACTIVE TO NEW HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS. IT SHOULD BE STRESSED THAT THE LOSS OF WOMEN'S HEALTH PROVIDERS WOULD SEVERELY IMPACT ALL WOMEN, NOT JUST PREGNANT PATIENTS.

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE PLACES.

ALL WOMEN, ALL WOMEN'S LIVES IN HEALTH RISK.

NAVIGATING THIS ISSUE HAS PROVEN TO BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR PHYSICIANS IN TEXAS, AND WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT IN CONTINUING TO PROVIDE THE BEST CARE WE CAN UNDER THE EXISTING STATE LAWS. THE SOCIETY WOULD IMPLORE THE COUNCIL AND CITIZENS OF AMARILLO TO FULLY CONSIDER THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE.

AT A MINIMUM, WE NEED THE ABILITY TO MEET OUR DUTY TO PREGNANT PATIENTS, TO TREAT THEM WITH THE SAME LEVEL OF CARE TO OTHER PATIENTS.

RECEIVE. THAT'S THE LETTER.

ANYTHING I SAY AFTER THIS IS NOT THE BOARD OF THE MEDICAL SOCIETY, BUT ME.

AND A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO SAY IS I WAS A DOCTOR BEFORE AND AFTER ROE VERSUS WADE.

AND BEFORE ROE VERSUS WADE.

WOMEN GOT ABORTIONS.

I'M CONCERNED THAT WE WILL RETURN TO THE HORROR STORIES I SAW IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM WHEN LADIES COMING IN FROM HAVING AN ABORTION ON THE KITCHEN TABLE OR IN THE BACK ALLEY ABORTION CLINIC.

AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN AGAIN.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

NEXT WILL BE FARIHA SAMAD AND AFTER FARIHA FRED HUGHES.

I HAVE A LETTER.

I'LL TAKE IT.

I'M FARIHA SAMAD AND AMARILLO RESIDENT MAYOR, COUNCIL, CITY STAFF.

I'VE PROVIDED YOU ALL WITH A LETTER WRITTEN BY BELA PURI, STATE LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL FROM THE CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, A LEGAL ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION THAT USES THE POWER OF LAW TO ADVANCE REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AS FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS AROUND THE WORLD.

I WON'T READ YOU THE WHOLE LETTER, BUT I DO WANT TO SHARE A CONDENSED EXCERPT ABOUT THE LAW THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING.

THE ORDINANCE WOULD GO FURTHER THAN TEXAS OR ANY STATE LAW HAS GONE BEFORE.

LAST YEAR, A FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT HELD THAT TEXAS ABORTION LAW DOES NOT APPLY.

EXTRATERRITORIALLY AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS NO POWER TO PURSUE CIVIL PENALTIES FOR ABORTIONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE OF TEXAS.

THIS ORDINANCE, HOWEVER, SEEKS TO PROHIBIT GETTING AN ABORTION REGARDLESS OF WHERE THE ABORTION HAPPENS, EVEN IF THE DOCTOR DOES NOT KNOW THAT THEY ARE GIVING CARE TO A RESIDENT OF AMARILLO. IT IS SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS APPLIES EXTRATERRITORIALLY, WHICH WOULD MAKE IT ILLEGAL FOR AN AMARILLO RESIDENT TO TRAVEL OUT OF STATE TO OBTAIN ABORTION CARE THAT IS LAWFUL IN OTHER STATES.

THE ORDINANCE SEEKS TO PUNISH BOTH HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AS WELL AS ANYONE WHO AIDS OR ABETS ABORTION CARE.

THIS VIOLATES THE US CONSTITUTION BY SUBJECTING PEOPLE TO HARSH CIVIL PENALTIES FOR EXERCISING THEIR RIGHT TO TRAVEL, EVEN WHEN FACING LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCIES.

WHILE THE ORDINANCE HAS AN EXCEPTION FOR ABORTIONS PROVIDED IN RESPONSE TO A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, THIS WILL NOT PROTECT PEOPLE FROM LAWSUITS.

STATE COURTS IN TEXAS HAVE REPEATEDLY REFUSED TO CLARIFY WHAT KIND OF EMERGENCY RISES TO THAT STANDARD, WHICH LEAVES TEXANS NO CHOICE BUT TO TRAVEL OUT OF STATE FOR DESPERATELY NEEDED CARE. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS STATED THAT ALLOWING AN ABORTION IN THE CASE OF A MEDICAL EMERGENCY WILL NOT INSULATE HOSPITALS, DOCTORS, OR ANYONE ELSE FROM CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LIABILITY FOR VIOLATING TEXAS ABORTION LAWS.

THIS ORDINANCE GOES FURTHER THAN EXISTING STATE LAW BY SUBJECTING PEOPLE IN AMARILLO TO CIVIL PENALTIES IF THEY HAVE ANY INVOLVEMENT IN AN OUT OF STATE ABORTION OBTAINED FOR ANY

[02:45:08]

THIS ORDINANCE TELLS AMARILLO RESIDENTS THAT THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO GET THE MEDICAL CARE THAT THEY NEED ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY, THAT EVEN ASKING FOR HELP COULD PUT CARE PROVIDERS AND LOVED ONES AT RISK.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THIS TESTIMONY.

PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT BELLA IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR WOULD LIKE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

THANK YOU MADAM. FRED HUGHES AND AFTER FRED GABRIELA MORALES.

THANK YOU. MY NAME IS FRED HUGHES.

I AM A RESIDENT HERE IN AMARILLO, TEXAS, AND I AM FOR THIS ORDINANCE.

THERE'S LOTS OF GOOD THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN SAY, AND WE'RE ALL UP HERE SAYING THEM.

BUT I WANT TO GIVE A TESTIMONY THAT CAME FROM A FROM A PASTOR.

HIS NAME IS BUNK SKELTON.

HE'S FROM CLARENDON, TEXAS, AND HE RECENTLY GAVE HIS TESTIMONY CONCERNING THESE.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, HE SPOKE AS A FATHER OF AN ABORTED CHILD.

AND HIS TESTIMONY IS THIS HE SAID.

I HAPPEN TO BE THE FATHER OF AN ABORTED CHILD.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I DO NOT KNOW WHETHER I HAVE A SON OR A DAUGHTER IN HEAVEN, BUT I DO KNOW THAT I HAVE ONE OR THE OTHER.

I DID. I DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THAT CHILD.

IT WAS FORCED UPON HER BY HER PARENTS.

IT DIDN'T AFFECT.

IT DOES AFFECT MORE THAN JUST ONE PERSON, YOU KNOW.

IT AFFECTS THE WHOLE FAMILY.

IT AFFECTS PEOPLE IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT IT INVOLVES THE FATHER, TOO.

AND THAT'S AN ASPECT THAT I THINK IS KIND OF LEFT OUT OF THE DISCUSSION.

SOMETIMES THE FATHERS ARE IMPORTANT.

THE, THE, THE MALE THAT HELPED CREATE THE CHILD IS IMPORTANT.

THIS STORY IS THE SAME STORY FOR MANY PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS.

PASTORS. BUNK'S STORY EXISTS BECAUSE HIS UNBORN CHILD'S GRANDPARENTS FORCED AN ABORTION ON THEIR DAUGHTER. THAT'S NOT RIGHT ANY MORE THAN SOME OF THESE OTHER STORIES ABIDE BY.

BUT ABORTION IS BEEN AN OPTION.

ON THE TABLE FOR A LONG TIME, AND IT'S ABOUT TIME TO TAKE IT OFF OF THE TABLE, GENTLEMEN.

GABRIELA MIRELES.

AND AFTER GABRIELA ROBIN ROSS.

HELLO, MY NAME IS GABRIELA MIRELES.

A ZIP CODE 79103.

I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN AMARILLO.

OUR COMMUNITY IS SO RESILIENT AND SO KIND.

WE HAVE ENDURED TORNADOES, WILDFIRES AND FLOODS.

WE COME TOGETHER AGAIN AND AGAIN, DESPITE OUR DIFFERENCES, TO HELP EACH OTHER THROUGH TOUGH TIMES.

I SEE IT IN MANY INDIVIDUALS WHO TIRELESSLY HELP AND DO FOR OTHERS, AND IT INSPIRES ME TO ALSO HELP MY FRIENDS AND STRANGERS.

THAT'S THE AMARILLO WAY.

FOR THOSE REASONS, AND MANY OTHERS, I'M PROUD TO CALL MYSELF AN AMARILLO.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, I CAN FORESEE OUR COMMUNITY BEING TORN APART IF THIS ORDINANCE IS PASSED.

I SEE MANY PEOPLE ONLINE AND A FEW IN PERSON ASKING HOW THEY WILL ENFORCE THIS ORDINANCE.

IMAGINING SOME ABSURD SITUATION INVOLVING THE POLICE FORCING WOMEN TO PEE ON A STICK AT CHECKPOINTS.

THE REALITY IS MUCH, MUCH MORE INSIDIOUS.

OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO MONITOR AND REPORT ON OTHER AMARILLO ZINS.

I FIND THAT SO DISGUSTING AND INVASIVE.

IT'S SNITCH BEHAVIOR AND QUITE FRANKLY, NO ONE'S BUSINESS.

THE OTHER PART OF THIS ORDINANCE IS NOT PUNISHING THE PERSON WHO IS GETTING HEALTH CARE, BUT PUNISHING THOSE WHO HELP WITH MONEY, ADVICE AND OTHER RESOURCES.

WOMEN ARE VULNERABLE WHEN PREGNANT AND BY TAKING AWAY THEIR SUPPORT SYSTEMS WHILE THEY ARE IN A DELICATE SITUATION, YOU ARE NOT ONLY DOING THEM A DISSERVICE, BUT YOU ARE ALSO FRIGHTENING AND CONFUSING OUR CITIZENS AND THEIR PARTNERS.

PEOPLE DESERVE TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT MEANS TO CARE, WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH IT OR NOT.

[02:50:05]

PLEASE PASS ON THIS ORDINANCE FOR THE SAKE OF OUR FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND NEIGHBORS.

MANY OF US ARE COUNTING ON YOU TO THINK OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND TO PROTECT US FROM HARMFUL DOCTRINES THAT DON'T SERVE TO DO ANYTHING BUT RIP OUR BELOVED TOWN APART.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ROBIN ROSS AND AFTER ROBIN JACOB MAIER.

GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMAN.

MY NAME IS ROBIN ROSS AND I AM A RESIDENT OF AMARILLO.

I STAND IN FAVOR OF THE SANCTUARY CITY FOR THE UNBORN ORDINANCE.

SOMEONE BEING BORN IN THIS WORLD SHOULD NEVER DEPEND ON THE QUESTION OF IF THEY'RE PREGNANT.

MOTHER WANTS THEM TO BE BORN.

IN THIS WORLD OR NOT.

SOMEONE BEING BORN IN THIS WORLD SHOULD NOT BE DEPENDENT ON WHO THEIR MOM IS, WHERE THEIR MOM LIVES, OR HOW MUCH THEIR MOM EARNS.

SOMEONE BEING BORN IN THIS WORLD SHOULD NEVER DEPEND ON IF THEIR MOM IS IN SCHOOL, OR IN COLLEGE, OR IN A WORKFORCE. SOMEONE BEING BORN IN THIS WORLD SHOULD BE DEPENDENT UPON THE FACT THAT THEY ARE A UNIQUE HUMAN BEING.

WITH THEIR OWN UNIQUE DNA.

WHO IS A SEPARATE PERSON FROM THEIR MOM.

EVEN THOUGH THEY RESIDE IN THEIR MOTHER'S WOMB.

ABORTION BANS, INCLUDING ABORTION TRAFFICKING BANS, MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE UNBORN CHILDREN AND THEIR MOTHERS.

THE ONLY ONES.

WHO'S WHO.

THESE LAWS ARE DEVASTATING FOR ARE THE ABORTION, TRAFFICKING AND ABORTION PROVIDERS.

WHO ARE EXPLOITING PREGNANT MOTHERS WHO THINK ABORTION IS THE ANSWER.

IF ANYONE HERE TODAY IS CONTEMPLATING AN ABORTION BECAUSE THEY THINK THERE IS NO WAY THEY CAN BE A MOM.

TO THAT CHILD, I INVITE THEM.

TO COME TALK TO ME.

I BELIEVE EVERY MOTHER.

CAN BE A GREAT MOM TO HER CHILD, AND I WILL DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO HELP BE THAT SOURCE OF ENCOURAGEMENT.

AND I ASK YOU TO VOTE FOR THIS ORDINANCE.

MY MOTHER TRIED TO KILL ME.

WHEN SHE FOUND OUT SHE WAS PREGNANT.

GOD HAD SOMETHING ELSE ON HIS MIND.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAW MY SHIRT WHEN I WALKED UP.

FIRST PETER.

123. I'M GOING TO READ THIS FROM THE.

THE PASSION BIBLE.

THE PASSION TRANSLATION.

IT SAYS, FOR THOUGH THE ETERNAL AND LIVING WORD OF GOD, YOU HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN.

AND THIS SEED WHICH HE PLANTED WITHIN YOU CAN NEVER BE DESTROYED, BUT WILL LIVE AND GROW INSIDE OF YOU FOREVER. THANK YOU.

ROBIN. THAT SEED IS IN EACH ONE OF US.

THAT'S SAVED.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

JACOB MEYER AND AFTER JACOB IRENE HUGHES.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING. I'M JACOB MEYER, AND I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS ORDINANCE.

I WAS BORN AND RAISED RIGHT HERE IN AMARILLO.

I GRADUATED FROM TEXAS TECH BACK IN AUGUST OF 22, AND I MOVED BACK HERE IN MAY OF LAST YEAR.

UPON MOVING BACK, I FOUNDED THE AMARILLO AREA YOUNG REPUBLICANS WITH A FEW GOALS IN MIND.

[02:55:01]

IT'S 80%.

THEY SAID, WELL, EVERYONE, JACOB, EVERYONE HERE IS REPUBLICAN.

WHY? WHY ARE YOU STARTING A YOUNG REPUBLICAN CHAPTER? YOUR CHAPTER.

THE THING IS, IT'S NOT ABOUT JUST ELECTING A REPUBLICAN TO OFFICE.

IT'S ABOUT GETTING THE RIGHT ONE IN THERE, AS WELL AS THWARTING THE RADICAL LEFT AT ANY GIVEN OPPORTUNITY.

VOTING FOR THIS ORDINANCE IS ONE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

SEE NOW THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

NOW THAT ROE V WADE HAS BEEN OVERTURNED, IT'S GONE BACK TO THE STATES.

BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

AS THEY'VE COME AFTER THIS ORDINANCE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE SAID THAT THIS ORDINANCE IS USELESS.

IT'S NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING.

WELL, IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN WHY ARE WHY IS THERE SO MUCH VEHEMENT OPPOSITION FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO THIS VERY ORDINANCE? THAT TELLS ME EVERYTHING I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT.

RIGHT THERE. JULY OF 22 THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ESTABLISHED A REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS TASK FORCE TO MONITOR AND EVALUATE LOCAL AND STATE LEGISLATION. TALKING ABOUT ORDINANCES LIKE THIS HEARTBEAT ACTS, YOU KNOW, MIFEPRISTONE BANS, ETC., ETC..

YOU KNOW. AND SO IF THIS IF THIS IS TRULY A USELESS ORDINANCE, THEN WHY ARE THEY FIGHTING SO HARD? I DON'T GET IT.

AND SO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS AGAINST THESE STATE AND LOCAL EFFORTS.

AND SO.

WE YOU KNOW, WE HAD THE YOUNG REPUBLICANS.

WE WE HAVE TO NOT JUST ELECT REPUBLICANS, NOT JUST GET THE RIGHT ONES IN.

WE ALSO NEED TO UPHOLD THE PARTY PLATFORM.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF TEXAS JUST PASSED A THREE PRO-LIFE PLANKS.

IT'S I DON'T HAVE THEM ON ME.

RIGHT, THOUGH, BUT THEY'RE NUMBER 53 COVERS ABORTION, TRAFFICKING, AND THEN SO I THINK IT'S 153 154 J AND L COVERS THE PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION WHICH IS FOUND IN THE HEARTBEAT ACT.

WE NEED TO STAND WITH OUR PRO-LIFE LAWS AND LEGISLATE LAWS AND LEGISLATION.

WE NEED TO STAND WITH OUR STATE LEGISLATURE.

AND WE NEED TO THWART BIDEN IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN.

SO I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE VOTE FOR THIS ORDINANCE.

THANK YOU. IRENE HUGHES AND AFTER IRENE WENDY FRICK.

MY NAME IS IRENE HUGHES.

I'M A RESIDENT OF AMARILLO.

I'M ALSO A REGENT FOR AMARILLO COLLEGE, AND I'M NOT REPRESENTING THE COLLEGE AT THIS TIME.

I'M SPEAKING AS AN INDIVIDUAL.

AT THE MAY 28TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING, IT SEEMED THAT THE 10,300 SIGNATURES THAT WERE PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL LAST MONTH WERE DEEMED INSIGNIFICANT. TODAY, I WANT TO PRESENT SOME RESULTS OF THIS COUNCIL'S ELECTION ON FIVE, SIX, 23 TO PROVE THAT 10,300 REALLY IS SIGNIFICANT.

IN POTTER COUNTY, 10,300 WAS TWO TIMES MORE VOTES THAN COAL, AND DAWN RECEIVED 10,300 WAS THREE TIMES MORE VOTES THAN JOSH TOM AND LESS RECEIVED.

IN RANDALL COUNTY, 10,300 WAS CLOSE TO THE SAME NUMBER OF VOTES THAT COLE AND DAWN RECEIVED, 2000 MORE THAN TOM AND 4000 MORE THAN JOSH AND LES RECEIVED IN AMARILLO.

10,300 WAS HALF OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VOTERS IN IN THIS 2023 GENERAL ELECTION.

THE 10,300 IS THREE TIMES MORE PEOPLE THAN VOTED IN THE POTTER COUNTY RUNOFF ELECTION LAST MONTH.

WHETHER OR NOT THE COUNTY WAS CIRCLED OR THE AFFIDAVIT WAS ACCEPTED AS WRITTEN, THERE WERE STILL 10,389 REAL PEOPLE WHO SIGNED THE PETITION.

YOU HAVE HEARD THE REAL, TRUE VOICE OF THE VOTERS.

A RECENT PRESS RELEASE QUOTED RACHEL O'LEARY CARMONA AS SAYING, A HANDFUL OF FAR RIGHT ACTIVISTS WHO COULD ALL FIT IN A VAN SHOULD NOT BE DECIDING PUBLIC POLICY FOR CITIZENS OF THIS CITY.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT KIND OF A VAN CAN HOLD 10,300 PEOPLE.

ACTUALLY, IT WOULD TAKE 1471 VANS.

BUT THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WANT THIS CITY TO BE ABORTION FREE.

[03:00:03]

ANOTHER QUOTE BY THE SAME LADY.

AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE POLITICAL AND ELECTORAL CONSEQUENCES FOR THIS.

COUNCIL MEMBERS.

FROM THE ELECTION RESULTS THAT WERE STATED EARLIER.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OUT THERE THAT VOTED FOR YOU.

DO NOT BE INTIMIDATED BY THESE THREATS.

JUST MAKE JUST MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION FOR THOSE THAT DID VOTE FOR YOU.

THANK YOU.

WENDY FRICK AND AFTER WENDY JAMES SCHULTE.

MY NAME IS WENDY FRICK AND I LIVE INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS, AND I AM FOR THIS ORDINANCE.

THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS, ANTI-ABORTION POLICIES HAVE PROVEN TO BE EFFECTIVE IN STOPPING ABORTIONS.

I AM OPTIMISTIC.

EXCUSE ME, I AM OPTIMISTIC THIS ORDINANCE WILL BE EFFECTIVE AT CLOSING LOOPHOLES.

THE SANCTUARY CITY FOR THE UNBORN ORDINANCE PASSED BY LUBBOCK IN JUNE 2021.

THEY USE THE PRIVATE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM THAT SHUT DOWN ABORTION OPERATIONS IN LUBBOCK FROM THE POINT OF CONCEPTION.

THE TEXAS HEARTBEAT ACT, WHICH USES THE PRIVATE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM, SHUT DOWN ABORTION OPERATIONS ON UNBORN CHILDREN WITH DETECTABLE HEARTBEATS ALL ACROSS TEXAS IN SEPTEMBER OF 2021.

THESE LAWS WORKED, AND THEY SAVED LIVES.

WHEN LUBBOCK COUNTY PASSED THEIR PROHIBITION ON ABORTION TRAFFICKING USING THE SAME PRIVATE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM, AND ABORTIONISTS IN NEW MEXICO REPORTED THAT PEOPLE IN TEXAS HAD CANCELED THEIR APPOINTMENTS AND IT WAS IMPACTING HIS BUSINESS.

THE GOAL OF THIS ORDINANCE IS NOT CONFUSION, FEAR, OR ISOLATION, BUT EDUCATION, REAL OPTIONS AND HOPE.

WE WANT YOUNG PARENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO KNOW ABOUT AND UTILIZE THE WONDERFUL RESOURCES IN AMARILLO.

THERE ARE MANY LOCAL CHURCHES, INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO WOULD LOVE TO ENCOURAGE AND HELP THESE FAMILIES BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THEY CAN BE GREAT PARENTS. OUR FAMILY PERSONALLY HAS BEEN GREATLY HELPED BY HOPE, CHOICE, AND MANY GENEROUS PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

WHILE SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE THIS ORDINANCE CREATES HARM, I BELIEVE IT REDUCES HARM BY TAKING ABORTION OFF THE TABLE.

PREBORN BABIES ARE HUMAN BEINGS CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.

THEIR LIVES ARE NOT MEANT TO BE SNUFFED OUT.

PLEASE HELP PROTECT THESE PRECIOUS AND INNOCENT CHILDREN.

AND REMEMBER FIRST, DO NO HARM.

THANK YOU. JAMES SCHULTE. AND AFTER JAMES MARTHA SELL.

MR. MAYOR, MAY I APPROACH? YES, SIR. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. SIR.

GIVEN THE COMMISSION.

MY NAME IS JAMES SCHULTE.

THEY'VE GIVEN THE COMMISSION A MODEL OF A 10 TO 12 WEEK OLD BABY WHICH IS IN THE WOMB.

YOU WILL SEE THAT THEY ARE ALL FORMED.

THEY HAVE ALL THEIR PARTS.

THIS ONE HAS A LITTLE BLANKET FOR HIM.

AND THIS IS WHY WE'RE HERE.

THIS IS A HUMAN.

IT'S NOT A DOG.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING ELSE.

IT IS A HUMAN.

PEOPLE HAVE ASKED WHY THIS ORDINANCE WILL BE ENFORCED, AND WENDY TOUCHED ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS GOING TO SAY.

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THE ANSWER IS THE SAME WAY THE TEXAS HEARTBEAT ACT IS ENFORCED.

WHEN THE TEXAS HEARTBEAT ACT WENT INTO EFFECT IN SEPTEMBER OF 21, ABORTION PROVIDERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS CHOSE TO FOLLOW THE LAW BY CEASING PERFORMING ABORTIONS ON CHILDREN WITH A DETECTABLE HEARTBEAT.

WHY DID THEY FOLLOW THE LAW? THEY FOLLOWED THE LAW BECAUSE IN PART BECAUSE THEY DID NOT WANT TO BE SUED INTO OBLIVION.

WELL, SOME IN OPPOSITION TO THE SANCTUARY CITY ORDINANCE HAVE SAID THAT THOSE ARE THIS ACT, THIS ORDINANCE IS UNENFORCEABLE.

THE SANCTUARY CITY ORDINANCE IS ENFORCED TO THE EXTENT OF THE WAY, THE SAME WAY THE TEXAS HEARTBEAT ACT IS ENFORCED.

[03:05:05]

THEY HAD COME BACK TO LUBBOCK AND THEY HAD BEEN THERE SHORT TIME.

THEY STARTED ABORTIONS.

THEY STOPPED ABORTIONS.

THE ORDINANCE IS ENFORCEABLE, AND THE USE OF THE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM THROUGHOUT TEXAS THROUGH THE HEARTBEAT ACT AND THE SANCTUARY CITY ORDINANCE HAS SAVED MANY BABIES, AND WE WILL NEVER KNOW HOW MANY WE WILL SAVE IN THE FUTURE.

SO I HOPE THE COMMISSION WILL DO THE RIGHT THING.

SAVE YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

THEY ARE IN THEIR MOTHER'S WOMB.

YOU CAN SAVE THEM AND HELP SAVE THEM.

IF WE SAVE ONE PERSON, ALL OF THIS WILL HAVE BEEN WORTHWHILE.

ONE PERSON.

THANK YOU. MARTHA SELL AND AFTER MARTHA TAMMY FOGEL.

MY NAME IS MARTHA SELL.

I LIVE AND OWN PROPERTY IN AMARILLO AND I SUPPORT THE ORDINANCE.

I'D LIKE TO PRESENT PROOF THAT ALBUQUERQUE ABORTIONISTS ARE TARGETING OUR MINOR DAUGHTERS.

ON MAY 9TH, 2023, ALAMO WOMEN'S CLINIC POSTED ON THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE, TEXAS TEENS.

IF YOU ARE UNDER 18 AND SEEKING AN ABORTION, THERE IS FUNDING AVAILABLE.

ABORTION CARE AND ALL TRAVEL AND EXPENSES ARE FREE.

NO PARENTAL CONSENT IS NEEDED IN ALBUQUERQUE OR ILLINOIS.

CALL US FOR HELP.

ON MAY 13TH, 2023, ALAMO WOMEN'S CLINIC SHARED A POST FROM JANE'S DUE PROCESS FACEBOOK ACCOUNT.

THE POST READ DID YOU KNOW THAT LAST WEEK WE STARTED HELPING TEXAS TEENS TRAVEL OUT OF STATE FOR ABORTION CARE? WELL, WE DID, AND WE'RE READY TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU.

I THINK MURDERING A BABY IS REASON TO CELEBRATE.

ON OCTOBER 24TH, 2023, ALAMO WOMEN'S CLINIC POSTED ON THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE A LINK TO A POST ON THE LILITH FUND'S INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT. THE INFOGRAPHIC READ, NEED TO TRAVEL OUT OF TEXAS? HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.

IF YOU'RE TRAVELING OUT OF TEXAS FOR YOUR ABORTION, YOU ARE NOT ALONE AND WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU.

COUNCILMAN. PLEASE PROTECT OUR DAUGHTERS.

THANK YOU. MARTHA. TAMMY FOGLE AND AFTER TAMMY SHERRI WOOD.

HI, MY NAME IS TAMMY FOGLE.

I'M ACTUALLY NOT A RESIDENT OF AMARILLO.

I'M ACTUALLY FROM ABILENE, AND I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE SOMETHING TO BRING TO THE TABLE THAT I THINK WILL HELP GUIDE YOU IN THE DECISIONS THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE BEFORE YOU. WHEN SOME MEMBERS OF THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY IN ABILENE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE ALREADY ENACTED ABILENE SANCTUARY CITY FOR THE UNBORN ORDINANCE AND ALLEGED BARRIERS TO PATIENT CARE THAT IT WAS CREATING, AS WAS MENTIONED TONIGHT BY SEVERAL MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, IT WAS COMMUNICATED BY A DOCTOR IN OUR TOWN THAT HAD NO POSITION ON THE ORDINANCE.

SHE WASN'T FOR IT OR AGAINST IT, TO THE PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE.

AND SHE SAID THAT THE ORDINANCE INTRODUCED NO BARRIERS TO PATIENT CARE THAT WERE NOT A PART OF THE STATE LAW, WHICH WAS ALREADY MORE RIGOROUS IN ITS ENFORCEMENT. SO IT'S INTERESTING TONIGHT, WE HAVE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS HELPING PROPAGATE THAT MISINFORMATION, THAT IT'S STRICTER THAN THE STATE LAW, IN MY OPINION, AT THE END OF THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT THE ENFORCEABILITY OF IT AND THE RESTRICTIONS IT PUTS ON MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, IT SEEMED LIKE THE COMPLAINTS FROM THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY WERE MOTIVATED NOT BY HARDSHIP HARDSHIPS CREATED BY THE ACTUAL ORDINANCE, BUT RATHER BY THE ALREADY PRO-ABORTION PHILOSOPHICAL POSITIONS THAT THE COMPLAINTANTS HELD, AS I'VE SEE DISPLAYED HERE TONIGHT.

I'VE WATCHED THIS PROCESS SINCE JANUARY AND AMARILLO.

I'VE BEEN AN OBSERVER BECAUSE I'M VERY IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO PROTECT THE, THE CITIZENS OF AMARILLO, WHICH ARE THE UNBORN CITIZENS.

AND SAFETY IS A NUMBER ONE CONCERN THAT THE CITY OFFICIALS MUST PROVIDE.

AND WE CANNOT FORGET THE UNBORN CITIZENS ARE CITIZENS AS WELL.

IT SEEMS THAT YOU THINK MAYBE THROUGH THIS PROCESS YOU'RE EXPOSING NEW ISSUES WITH THE ORDINANCE.

[03:10:06]

MISINFORMATION YOU HAVE BELIEVED, AS ALSO HAS BEEN PRESENTED HERE TONIGHT.

WHAT IS SHOCKING IS THAT NO MATTER HOW MANY COUNCILS I HEAR RESIST THAT I HEAR THAT RESIST PASSING THE SANCTUARY CITY FOR THE UNBORN ORDINANCE.

FOR REASONS LIKE YOU ALL HAVE MENTIONED IN THE PAST, THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME ISSUES.

THIS IS A NOT A NEW ARGUMENT.

IT'S NOT A NEW DISCUSSION.

IT ALL GETS RESOLVED AND IT'S ALL TAKEN CARE OF AND THE ORDINANCE PASSES.

IF THE COUNCIL ALLOWS THE CITIZENS SORRY, I LOST MY PLACE.

IF THE COUNCIL ACTUALLY ALLOWS THE CITIZENS TO BE REPRESENTED, AND THAT'S WHAT'S AT STAKE HERE.

THE CITIZENS BROUGHT TOGETHER A CITIZEN INITIATIVE PETITION, WHICH IS PART OF THE CHARTER.

AND JUST BECAUSE THERE'S A LOUD CROWD HERE TONIGHT, IT DOES NOT REFLECT THE PROCESS THAT WE'RE UNDER GOING RIGHT NOW WITH THE CITIZEN PETITION INITIATIVE.

IF YOU TRULY WANT TO KEEP FROM DIVIDING THE COMMUNITY LIKE YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT, YOU WILL DO THE RIGHT THING AND VOTE TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE INSTEAD OF SENDING IT TO THE BALLOT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

SHERRY WOULD AND AFTER SHERRY CASIE GREEN.

SORRY I'M SHORT.

MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME SPEAK HERE TONIGHT.

MY NAME IS SHEREE WOOD AND I LIVE HERE IN AMARILLO.

I AM IN FULL SUPPORT OF THIS ORDINANCE.

RECENTLY, THE CITY OF MÜNSTER, TEXAS, NEAR WICHITA FALLS, PASSED AN ORDINANCE OUTLAWING ABORTION WITHIN THEIR CITY LIMITS WITH A 5 TO 0 VOTE.

I WANT TO READ FOUR BRIEF STATEMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE MÜNSTER COMMUNITY, FROM KENNETH BIERSCHENK.

I BELIEVE ALL LIFE NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED FROM BIRTH TO NATURAL DEATH.

THE UNBORN NEEDS SOMEONE TO BE THEIR ADVOCATE, AND THE TRUTH NEEDS TO BE TOLD ABOUT THE HORRORS OF ABORTION.

SHANE CLARK, AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST IN THE DALLAS-FORT WORTH AREA.

WHEN ROE VERSUS WADE WAS DEMOLISHED, WE STARTED SEEING A LOT OF PATIENTS COME IN FROM NEW MEXICO THAT HAVE AN ABORTION THERE AND STILL HAVE RETAINED PRODUCTS OF, OF OF CONCEPTION.

THEY ARE COMING IN EMERGENTLY HEMORRHAGING, AND WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE AFTERMATH.

REVEREND JOSEPH KEATING FROM SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH SAID THAT ABORTION WAS AGAINST BOTH DIVINE AND NATURAL LAW.

HE CONTINUED, IT IS A MORTAL AND UNJUST TO KILL AN INNOCENT PERSON.

SENATOR DREW SPRING SAID, IT IS GREAT TO SEE THAT CITIES ARE TAKING THE LEAD AND DOING WHAT THEY CAN BY CREATING SANCTUARY CITIES FOR THE UNBORN.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO PUT UP WITH THE ABORTION MOVEMENT IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER, WHETHER THAT'S PILLS, TRUCKING, ABORTED FETUSES, OR WHETHER IT'S JUST OPERATING A CLINIC. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER YOU'RE A SMALL CITY OR A LARGE CITY.

EVERY CITY NEEDS TO SHOW VALUES OF THEIR CITIZENS.

AND I'M PROUD TO SEE MUNSTER PASS IT TONIGHT.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, YES MOST CONTRACEPTIVES ARE 99% EFFECTIVE, BUT I WILL SAY THAT ONE CONTRACEPTIVE THAT IS EFFECTIVE, 100% IS ABSTAINING FROM SEX.

THANK YOU. AND I HOPE AMARILLO FOLLOWS IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF MUNSTER AND PASSES THIS ORDINANCE.

THANK YOU. KASEY GREEN AND AFTER KASEY EVAN GREEN.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN, FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE TODAY.

AND MY NAME IS CASSIE GREEN, MAIDEN NAME MENDOZA, AND I LIVE IN AMARILLO, TEXAS.

CONCERNING ABORTION TRAFFICKING, I AM 100 SUPPORT IN SUPPORT OF THIS ORDINANCE.

ACCORDING TO MARCH 2024 ARTICLE IN THE WASHINGTON POST, AMARILLO RESIDENT LINDSEY LONDON, A NURSE WITH AMARILLO REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM ALLIANCE, ADMITTED UPON HERSELF THAT SHE DRIVES WOMEN TO ALBUQUERQUE AND DENVER TO RECEIVE SURGICAL ABORTIONS.

SHE ADMITTED IT HERSELF SURGICAL ABORTIONS, WHICH IS MURDER BY THE STATE OF TEXAS, CORRECT? THIS IS ABORTION TRAFFICKING.

AND THE OPPOSING TEAM SAYS THAT THEY DON'T TRAFFIC THAT.

[03:15:04]

IT IS UPON HER ADMITTANCE.

THIS IS ABORTION TRAFFICKING AND IT'S HAPPENING IN OUR VERY CITY.

AMARILLO WE NEED TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO STOP THIS.

THE ARTICLE IN WASHINGTON POST ALSO SAYS THAT SHE PROVIDES RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE TO OBTAIN MISAPPROPRIATE.

CAN'T SAY IT RIGHT NOW.

THE ABORTION PILL.

THIS IS ONE PART OF TWO ABORTION INDUCING DRUGS THAT ARE KILLING UNBORN CHILDREN ACROSS OUR STATE.

THIS IS HAPPENING IN OUR VERY CITY.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN IGNORE ANY LONGER.

THE LOOPHOLES MUST BE CLOSED.

ABORTION, TRAFFICKING AND ABORTION INDUCED DRUGS ARE A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT ARE BEING TRAFFICKED IN OUR CITY, AND THE WOMEN ARE BEING TRAFFICKED OUTSIDE. THIS MUST BE ADDRESSED FOR THE CITY OF AMARILLO, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS IS HAPPENING IN SUCH KEY. PLACES LIKE AMARILLO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMAN.

PLEASE HELP CLOSE THESE LOOPHOLES AND PROTECT THE UNBORN CHILDREN OF AMARILLO.

AND IN REFERENCE TO THAT, THIS IS JUST BECAUSE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, THERE WAS A COMMENT SAID THAT WHY ARE WE ALLOWING WHITE RELIGIOUS PEOPLE WHO CAN'T EVEN BEAR CHILDREN MAKE DECISIONS FOR THIS? YOU KNOW, CITY OF AMARILLO THEY SAID THAT THIS WASN'T A PROPER ORDINANCE FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY OR THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY.

BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE MOST SIGNATURES FROM THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY AT MY HOME CHURCH.

THAT'S OVER 50% HISPANIC PEOPLE.

SO THIS IS A NEW ORDINANCE THAT THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, I WOULD SAY SUPPORTS.

EVAN GREEN AND AFTER EVAN STEVE AUSTIN.

MY NAME IS EVAN GREEN.

I'M A CITIZEN OF AMARILLO, TEXAS, AND FOLLOWER OF CHRIST, AND I SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE.

AMARILLO IS GROUND ZERO OVER THE FIGHT OVER ABORTION I SUPPORT.

I SUPPORT THIS PASSAGE OF THE ORDINANCE IN MARCH 2024.

THE NEW YORK TIMES AMARILLO REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM ALLIANCE MEMBER COURTNEY BROWN DESCRIBED HOW AMARILLO THE ENTIRE WORLD IS WATCHING AMARILLO'S DECISION ON ABORTION, WHILE THOSE OF US WHO ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS ORDINANCE MAY FIND OURSELVES AGREEING WITH VERY LITTLE FROM THE OTHER SIDE.

TONIGHT, I AGREE WITH COURTNEY BROWN THAT THIS VOTE NEEDS TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY, AS WHAT HAPPENS HERE IN THESE CHAMBERS COULD IMPACT ALL OF AMERICA. PLEASE THINK ABOUT AMARILLO AND PLEASE THINK ABOUT RANDALL AND POTTER COUNTY.

PLEASE THINK ABOUT TEXAS, AND PLEASE THINK ABOUT AMERICA.

I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ A BIBLE VERSE, JEREMIAH ONE FIVE BEFORE I FORMED YOU IN THE WOMB, I KNEW YOU BEFORE YOU WERE BORN, I SANCTIFIED YOU AND ORDAINED YOU A PROPHET TO THE NATIONS.

THE LORD. THE LORD KNEW ALL OF US BEFORE WE WERE BORN AND CALLED US ALL WITH WITH HIS LOVE AND PASSION.

AND I JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYONE HERE KNOW THAT YOU YOU WERE CALLED BEFORE YOU WERE BORN.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

STEVE AUSTIN AND AFTER STEVE AUSTIN, JEREMY PEEL.

FILE. THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS STEVE AUSTIN, AND I'M A CITIZEN OF AMARILLO.

I'M A MEMBER OF THE SANCTUARY CITY FOR THE UNBORN ORDINANCE INITIATING COMMITTEE, AND I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THIS ORDINANCE.

I BELIEVE THAT SINCE YOUR LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING, YOU'VE MET WITH CITIZENS OF AMARILLO AND LISTENED TO THEIR CONCERNS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE AT HAND.

THIS IS A GOOD THING.

YOU'VE HEARD LOTS OF MISINFORMATION TONIGHT.

EVEN YOU'VE HEARD THAT THE ORDINANCE HURTS WOMEN.

YOU'VE READ THE ORDINANCE.

YOU KNOW THE TRUTH.

YOU KNOW THAT IT HELPS WOMEN.

IT HELPS THE UNBORN.

ALSO, IF IT HAS PROTECTIVE PIECES IN THE ORDINANCE THAT PROTECT WOMEN NOT ONLY IN THE ORDINANCE BUT IN STATE

[03:20:08]

AND WOMEN WILL NOT BE MISTREATED IN THIS.

I WOULDN'T BE A PART OF IT.

IF THAT WERE TRUE.

I WANT TO CLEAR UP SOME MORE MISINFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN HANDED OUT THAT THIS ORDINANCE DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY TYPE OF THIS ORDINANCE DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY TYPE OF MONITORING BY THE CITY OF AMARILLO.

WE'VE HEARD PEEING ON STICKS, RIGHT? IT'S IT'S CRAZY, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE THE MISINFORMATION.

YOU'VE READ THE ORDINANCE.

THE ORDINANCE DOES NOT VIOLATE ANYONE'S PRIVACY.

THIS ORDINANCE DOES NOT ALLOW THE AMARILLO POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PULL ANYONE OVER ON THE INTERSTATE 40 TO REQUIRE OR INQUIRE IF THEY'RE DRIVING TO OBTAIN AN ABORTION, OR TO ALLOW ANY SEARCH AND SEIZURE ON THOSE GROUNDS.

THAT'S RIGHT. YOU KNOW THAT.

OKAY. THIS ORDINANCE IS ENFORCED IN THE SAME WAY AS THE TEXAS HEARTBEAT ACT IS ENFORCED NOT BY THE GOVERNMENT, BUT BY PRIVATE CITIZENS FILING A LAWSUIT AGAINST ANYONE VIOLATING THE ORDINANCE.

SOME HAVE CRITICIZED THE ORDINANCE BY NOT ALLOWING ANYTHING TO BE DONE UNTIL AFTER THE UNBORN CHILD IS ALREADY DEAD, BUT THAT IS NOT TRUE.

IF THAT WAS TRUE, TEXAS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SAY THAT THE PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION IN THE TEXAS HEARTBEAT ACT HAS SAVED OVER 10,000 LIVES.

SO IN CLOSING, THIS ORDINANCE IS NOT ABOUT RESTRICTING TRAVEL OF ANYONE'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.

THERE'S NO CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO ABORTION.

THIS ORDINANCE IS ABOUT PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO LIFE OF UNBORN AMARILLO CITIZENS.

IT'S THAT SIMPLE.

THAT'S RIGHT.

JEREMY FILE AND AFTER JEREMY MILDRED DARDEN.

GOOD EVENING. I WANT TO THANK YOU, CITY COUNCILMAN, ESPECIALLY AFTER SITTING THROUGH THIS FIRST TIME EVER COMING TO THIS MEETING.

I'M PRAYING FOR YOU MORE THAN EVER.

I HAVE BEEN PRAYING FOR YOU AND STRENGTH AND WISDOM THAT YOU KNOW GOD'S WILL BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT MATTERS, REALLY.

THANKFUL TO HAVE GOD FEARING MEN IN THIS POSITION.

SO I'M THANKFUL FOR EVERY ONE OF YOU.

I'M NOT A CITIZEN OR EXCUSE ME, I HAVE BEEN FOR YEARS.

I LIVE RIGHT OUTSIDE THE CITY, BUT I PASTOR IN THE CITY RIGHT HERE.

ACCELERATE CHURCH IS THE CHURCH THAT I PASTOR.

ALL OF THE OPINIONS TONIGHT, AS DIFFERENT AS THEY'VE SOUNDED, THEY ALL HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON.

THEY ALL COME FROM PEOPLE WHO WERE GIVEN THE GIFT OF LIFE.

AND FOR THAT, WE SHOULD ALL BE THANKFUL.

I'VE BEEN MARRIED 22 YEARS, I SAY TO THE WOMAN OF MY DREAMS, AARON.

THE DOCTOR TOLD US WE COULDN'T HAVE CHILDREN WITHOUT SEEKING LOTS OF MEDICAL HELP AND LOTS OF MONEY ON A PASTOR'S SALARY.

LET ME TELL YOU, THAT WASN'T FUN TO THINK ABOUT.

THE LORD HAD OTHER PLANS.

WE HAVE SEVEN CHILDREN NOW.

EVERYONE ASK US WHAT'S WRONG WITH US? SOME CALLED US THE DUGGARS, NOT MY PASTOR FRIEND.

PASTOR MANNY DID TONIGHT WHEN HE SAW ME.

THAT'S KIND OF THE RUNNING JOKE.

WE HAVE FOUR CHILDREN IN HEAVEN BECAUSE OF MISCARRIAGES, AND ONE OF THE BABIES WAS 12 WEEKS ALONG AND WE CALLED HIM.

BENNY ALREADY GAVE HIM THAT NAME, THE NAME OF MY DAD, AND I HELD HIM IN MY HANDS BEFORE I BURIED HIM IN FRONT OF MY FIVE CHILDREN THAT WERE OLDER, THEY UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS GOING ON, COUNTED TEN FINGERS, TEN LITTLE TOES.

AND I THANK ALL FIVE OF THEM.

UNDERSTOOD WHAT SEEMS TO BE UP FOR DEBATE.

LIFE BEGINS IN THE WOMB AND THERE'S REALLY NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

I'VE HEARD IT SAID THAT IF YOU CHANGE THE FRAMING OF ONE'S PERSPECTIVE, YOU CHANGE THE REALITY.

I'M A CHRISTIAN PASTOR IN AMARILLO, TEXAS, SO I HOLD AND SPEAK THE WORD OF GOD VERY BOLDLY.

THAT'S THE FRAMEWORK OF MY PERSPECTIVE.

IT WILL CAUSE, I'M SURE OTHERS THAT DON'T HOLD THAT FRAMEWORK MUCH IRRITATION.

BUT LET ME REMIND YOU, PROVERBS 617 SAYS IT'S AN ABOMINATION TO GOD, AND HE HATES THE HANDS THAT SHED INNOCENT BLOOD.

THERE'S NO ONE MORE INNOCENT THAN A BABY AND ITS MOTHER'S WOMB.

THIS FIGHT FOR LIFE ISN'T GOING AWAY, AS WE'VE HEARD TONIGHT, BUT WE'VE ALL BEEN GIVEN THIS GIFT, AND THE AUTHORITY AND FREEDOM THAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN BY GOD IS A CALL TO ALL OF US TO BE A HINDERING FORCE TO EVIL.

I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT THIS ORDINANCE WILL DO.

IT WILL HINDER EVIL.

THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF DETAILS WE'VE LISTENED TO HERE, BUT LET'S JUST KEEP IT SIMPLE.

I'M BACK TO MY HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL COACH.

I TRIED TO MAKE IT DIFFICULT.

HE SAID FOUL. WOULD YOU JUST KEEP IT SIMPLE? I CALLED IT THE KISS METHOD.

OF COURSE. CALL ME STUPID.

THAT'S OKAY. I APPRECIATE HIM FOR IT.

IN MY OPINION, THIS ORDINANCE SEEKS TO CLOSE THESE LOOPHOLES, AS WE'VE HEARD THAT PRO-ABORTION ORGANIZATIONS ARE USING TO MAKE MONEY FROM TRAFFICKING, FROM IT BEING

[03:25:02]

LET'S THINK ABOUT THAT FOR JUST A MOMENT.

ROMANS 13 SAYS, AS FAR AS YOU'RE CONCERNED, CITY COUNCIL, YOUR AUTHORITY IS FROM GOD TO PUT FEAR IN EVIL.

MEN HAVE THEIR PERSPECTIVES.

BUT I WANT TO REMIND YOU, GOD HAS HIS TOO.

AND I BELIEVE GOD WILL BLESS THIS CITY IF WE HONOR HIM BY COMING AGAINST WHAT HE SAID I HATE.

THANK YOU.

MILDRED DARTON.

MILDRED DARTON, AND AFTER MILDRED MARY LONDON.

MAIER COUNCIL MILDRED DAUGHTON.

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS.

THANKS TO MATTHEW BOWEN HOOKS.

AND LEE BIVINS.

I AM ASKING THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR TO APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE.

RIGHT IS RIGHT.

WRONG IS WRONG.

THERE IS NO IN BETWEEN.

YOU EITHER RIGHT OR YOU'RE WRONG.

I AM TOTALLY, COMPLETELY.

AGAINST ABORTION.

I KNOW MY BODY IS MY BODY AND I KNOW I HAVE RIGHTS.

BUT THEN THERE'S ONE ABOVE ME.

THERE'S ONE ABOVE YOU.

DO THE RIGHT THING.

SIMPLY BECAUSE THE RIGHT THING IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

WE ARE ALL HERE.

BECAUSE. OUR PARENTS DID THE RIGHT THING.

WE HAVE NO MORE PRIVILEGE THAN THE NEXT PERSON.

WHEN THE WAGON COME.

WE ALL GOT TO GO.

NO MATTER WHAT YOU HAVE ON THIS EARTH.

YOU GOT TO LEAVE IT.

AND I'M HOPING THAT WE LEAVE IT BETTER THAN WE FOUND IT.

I AM SO AFRAID FOR THE ONES COMING BEHIND US.

WE'VE GOT TO GET SOMETHING RIGHT.

AND THE SOONER THE BETTER.

UNEXPECTED PREGNANCIES HAPPEN ALL THE TIME.

THAT'S NOTHING NEW.

WE'RE GOING TO THE MOON AND BACK.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT PREGNANCY.

PLENTY THINGS YOU CAN DO.

EDUCATION IS THE BEST THING.

KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING INTO BEFORE YOU GET INTO IT.

WHAT MAKE YOU THINK 18 IS A IS GROWN 18? YOU'RE STILL STUPID.

ANY AGE THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN, I'VE BEEN THAT AGE FOR 12 MONTHS.

I KNOW, BEEN THERE, DONE THAT.

GOT THE T SHIRT, THE SOCKS, THE TENNIS.

BUT THIS IS REAL LIFE.

GIVE EVERYBODY A CHANCE.

BUT NOT IN THE STOMACH.

IS NOT A BABY.

NOT. THAT'S A GIFT.

SO I SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE.

AND MY PRAYER IS THAT YOU ALL DO LIKEWISE.

GIVE EVERYBODY A CHANCE.

GOD DOESN'T MAKE MISTAKES.

WE DO.

WHEN HE SAID, THOU SHALT NOT.

HE DIDN'T STUTTER. THOU SHALT NOT KILL.

THANK YOU. WE.

MARY. LONDON, AND AFTER MARY JOHN BARRETT.

MY NAME IS MARY LONDON.

I'M FROM THE UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS HERE IN AMARILLO.

AND I AM FOR THE ORDINANCE, FOR THE SIMPLE FACT.

AND YOU MIGHT THINK THAT I'M CRAZY FOR SUPPORTING IT BECAUSE OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED TO ME.

I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE TESTIMONY.

FIRST OF ALL, I WAS RAISED UP BY A GOOD CHRISTIAN WOMAN, MY GRANDMOTHER.

I WAS GIVEN AWAY AT A MONTH AND FOUR DAYS OLD, AND I RESENTED MY MOTHER UP UNTIL

[03:30:10]

BUT SHE EXPLAINED TO ME WHY.

SHE DID IT.

AFTER ALL THE YEARS I HAD WONDERED WHY I WAS GIVEN AWAY.

I HAVE BEEN.

ABDUCTED AND RAPED.

I HAD TWO MISCARRIAGES.

BEHIND THOSE RAPES.

AND I WAS OFFERED TO GET HELP FOR AN ABORTION, BUT I REFUSED.

AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHY.

THAT CHRISTIAN LADY GRANDMOTHER TOLD ME GOD GIVES LIFE AND GOD IS THE ONE THAT TAKE IT AWAY.

SO I MADE THE DECISION TO KEEP.

THE PREGNANCY. BUT GOD HAD OTHER PLANS FOR ME BECAUSE I BOUGHT IT.

BOTH OF THEM. AND.

IN SAYING THAT.

TO SAY THAT WE KNOW THE EVEN TEENAGERS, IF YOU HAVE UNPROTECTED SEX, YOU KNOW THE REPERCUSSIONS.

YOU EITHER GET AN STD.

ARE PREGNANT.

AND IF SHE HADN'T BEEN A STRONG CHRISTIAN WOMAN HERSELF AND BROUGHT ME UP.

I MIGHT HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF AN ABORTION.

BUT LIKE I SAY, I WAS RAISED UP WITH THAT STRONG CHRISTIAN WOMAN THAT TAUGHT ME THE VALUES OF LIFE AND HOW IMPORTANT LIFE WAS.

AND MY MOTHER FINALLY EXPLAINED TO ME WHY SHE DID WHAT SHE DID.

SHE WASN'T BUT 15.

SHE SAYS SHE WAS STRUGGLING.

AND SHE FIGURED SHE WOULD GIVE ME TO SOMEBODY THAT COULD DO RAISE ME UP BETTER THAN WHAT SHE COULD.

AND I FINALLY ACCEPTED THAT.

SO.

JOHN BARRETT AND AFTER JOHN PEGGY THOMAS.

MY NAME IS JOHN BARRETT.

I'M A RESIDENT OF AMARILLO.

I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE INITIATING COMMITTEE, AND I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ORDINANCE.

ON MARCH 7TH, 2024, THE BIDEN-HARRIS WHITE HOUSE RELEASED A FACT SHEET ENTITLED BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES THE FIGHT FOR REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM.

IN THIS DOCUMENT, THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION COMMITTED TO CONTINUE TO TAKE EXECUTIVE ACTION THROUGH THE ONGOING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRESIDENT'S THREE EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND A PRESIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM ISSUED SINCE THE COURT OVERTURNED ROE V WADE. THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION BOASTED SIX ITEMS THAT THEY HAVE TAKEN ACTION ON, AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE TIME TO POINT POINT OUT TWO OF THOSE ITEMS. ONE, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION CLAIMED TO HAVE TAKEN ACTION TO PROTECT ACCESS TO ABORTION, INCLUDING FDA APPROVED MEDICATION ABORTION. TWO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION CLAIMED TO HAVE TAKEN ACTION TO SUPPORT THE ABILITY TO TRAVEL FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE.

THE FACT SHEET EXPLAINED THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE MADE CLEAR THAT STATES MAY NOT PUNISH THIRD PARTIES FOR ASSISTING WOMEN IN EXERCISING WHAT THEY CALLED THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO TRAVEL ACROSS STATE LINES TO RECEIVE LAWFUL HEALTH CARE.

MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION WANTS YOU TO BELIEVE THE RIGHT TO TRAVEL FOR AN ABORTION IS IN THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.

THE ONLY WAY THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION WINS HERE IS IF WE BELIEVE THEIR LIE.

JUST AS THE RIGHT TO ABORTION IS NOT IN THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS IN AMERICA, THE RIGHT TO TRAVEL FOR AN ABORTION IS NOT IN THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS IN AMERICA EITHER.

THE ONLY WAY THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION WINS HERE IS IF WE BELIEVE THEIR LIE.

[03:35:07]

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

AND ON A FINAL NOTE, I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT AS A PRACTICING CATHOLIC, PRESIDENT BIDEN, BY HIS VERY NATURE OF HIS SUPPORT FOR THIS ISSUE, IS ELIGIBLE TO BE AUTOMATICALLY EXCOMMUNICATED FROM THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

THE WEAKNESS IN THE CATHOLIC LEADERSHIP TODAY IS INDICATIVE OF WHY HE HAS NOT BEEN EXCOMMUNICATED FROM THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

THANK YOU. PEGGY THOMAS AND AFTER PEGGY LINDA GIBSON. HI, GENTLEMEN.

COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MAYOR. MY NAME IS PEGGY CARTER.

THOMAS. I'M GONNA PULL THIS DOWN SO I CAN SEE YOU GUYS.

AND AND ALTHOUGH I AM AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, A REGENT AT AMARILLO COLLEGE, I'M NOT HERE ON THAT ON THAT MERIT.

I'M HERE AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF THE INITIATING COMMITTEE FOR THIS ORDINANCE.

AND I WANT TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO READ A FEW SUBSECTIONS FOUND IN THE FIRST PROVISION.

I AM READING THE WRONG THING I WROTE.

WELL. I CAN'T BELIEVE I DID THAT.

LET ME SEE IF IT'S IN THE OTHER.

CAN YOU HOLD MY TIME FOR JUST A MOMENT? SURE. WE'LL PAUSE IT.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THOSE DAYS, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE SEVEN PUPPIES AT HOME.

IT'S WORSE THAN SEVEN KIDS, I THINK.

OKAY, HERE IT IS.

AND I EVEN HAVE MY GLASSES ON.

OKAY. ALL OF YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I'VE SPOKEN WITH YOU THAT I AM FOR THIS ORDINANCE.

IN 2022, SENATOR TED CRUZ AND OUR REPUBLICAN SENATOR IN WASHINGTON, D.C., HELPED BLOCK THE FREEDOM TO TRAVEL FOR HEALTH CARE ACT OF 2022.

THE BILL, WHICH WOULD HAVE GUARANTEED FREEDOM TO TRAVEL ACROSS STATE LINES FOR ABORTION, WAS INTRODUCED BY DEMOCRAT SENATOR PATTY MURRAY OF WASHINGTON AND SEVERAL OF HER COLLEAGUES.

WHEN REPUBLICANS BLOCKED HER BILL, MURRAY ACCUSED REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS OF HAVING THEIR SIGHTS ON RIPPING AWAY THE RIGHT TO TRAVEL.

HAVE YOU HEARD THAT? SENATOR MURRAY STATED, LET'S BE REALLY CLEAR.

BUT THAT MEANS THEY WANT TO HOLD WOMEN CAPTIVE IN THEIR OWN STATES.

THEY WANT TO PUNISH WOMEN AND ANYONE WHO MIGHT HELP THEM FOR EXERCISING THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO TRAVEL WITHIN OUR COUNTRY AND GET THE SERVICES THEY NEED IN ANOTHER STATE.

I HOPE EVERYONE REALLY OBSERVES HOW EXTREME AND HOW RADICAL AND HOW UN-AMERICAN THIS IS.

END OF QUOTE. IN THE DISCUSSION OF OUTLAWING ABORTION TRAFFICKING HERE IN AMARILLO, WE'VE HEARD SIMILAR.

SIMILAR STATEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE IN ACCUSATIONS, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL NOW TO SHARE HOW REPUBLICAN SENATOR JAMES LANKFORD OF OKLAHOMA RESPONDED TO SOME OF HIS DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES ON THIS MATTER.

SENATOR. SENATOR LANKFORD SAID.

THERE'S A CHILD IN THIS CONVERSATION.

THERE'S A CHILD IN THIS CONVERSATION AS WELL.

SENATOR LANKFORD SAID THOSE WHO SUPPORTED THE BILL SHOULD ASK THEMSELVES DOES THE CHILD IN THE WOMB? HAVE A RIGHT TO TRAVEL IN THEIR FUTURE.

MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO THINK.

TODAY OF THE CHILD IN THIS CONVERSATION.

THOSE ON THE PRO-ABORTION SIDE OF THIS ISSUE ARE TRYING TO FRAME THE NARRATIVE THAT IF YOU VOTE FOR THIS ORDINANCE, YOU ARE RIPPING AWAY THE RIGHT TO TRAVEL.

YOU'RE NOT.

YOU ARE NOT.

THERE IS NO RIGHT TO TRAVEL IN THE CONSTITUTION, THE RIGHT TO TRAVEL FOR AN ABORTION.

IN OUR CONSTITUTION OR IN THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.

WE DO, HOWEVER, HAVE THIS THING CALLED THE RIGHT TO LIFE.

AND IF YOU WANT TO VOTE FOR THIS ORDINANCE, YOU'RE ATTEMPTING TO PROTECT THAT UNBORN CHILD'S RIGHT TO LIFE BY DOING YOUR PART TO STOP OTHERS FROM RIPPING AWAY.

[03:40:09]

PLEASE VOTE YES.

THANK YOU. PEGGY. OKAY.

BEFORE OUR NEXT SPEAKER COMES UP, I'M GOING TO ASK IF IT'S 715.

I'D LIKE TO TAKE A 15 MINUTE RECESS.

WE'LL RESUME AT 730.

THANK YOU. IT'S 732 AND AND WE'RE GOING TO PUSH FROM HERE ON UNTIL WE'RE DONE.

HOPEFULLY. MISS CITY SECRETARY, DO YOU HAVE THE NEXT NAME? I DO, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

NEXT IS LINDA GIBSON, AND AFTER LINDA WILL BE CLAUDIA TROVATO.

MY NAME IS LINDA GIBSON AND I AM A 38 YEAR RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO.

I SPOKE AT THE LAST MEETING.

I GAVE YOU ALL A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON ME.

I A VICTIM OF LONG TERM SEXUAL ABUSE AS A CHILD.

THE I'M GOING TO MENTION THREE OF THE FIRST FOUR PERPETRATORS CLAIM TO BE CHRISTIAN.

OKAY, I SPOKE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY DAUGHTER IN LAW AND SHE HAS ASKED ME TO READ A STATEMENT.

SHE WAS A RESIDENT OF AMARILLO FROM 2011 TO 2018 AND WOULD LIKE TO RETURN SOMEDAY.

MY NAME IS SARAH MORGESON.

I RESIDED IN AMARILLO FROM 2011 TO 2018 AND PLANNED TO RETURN TO AMARILLO TO BE NEAR MY FAMILY AND LOVED ONES.

IN THE FUTURE. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE MY STORY.

I HAD A CHILD IN 2021, A VERY WANTED AND HEALTHY BABY GIRL NAMED BRIER.

THE MOMENT SHE WAS BORN, I KNEW I WANTED TO GIVE HER A SIBLING.

THE JOY OF MOTHERHOOD CANNOT BE EXPRESSED IN WORDS, ALTHOUGH I'M SURE MANY OF YOU FIND WOMEN AND MEN.

CAN SURELY UNDERSTAND.

THE FEELING IS IMMACULATE AND HOLY, GIVEN THROUGH GOD'S GLORY.

WE IMMEDIATELY TRIED FOR ANOTHER.

I GOT PREGNANT SHORTLY AFTER THE TEXAS HEARTBEAT ACT WAS PASSED.

ABOUT 12 WEEKS AFTER CONCEPTION, I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE HEAVY BLEEDING.

I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM ALONG WITH MY HUSBAND.

AFTER FOUR HOURS OF WAITING, THEY TOOK ME BACK ALONE TO PERFORM A TRANSVAGINAL ULTRASOUND.

THEY FOUND NO HEARTBEAT, BUT THE TISSUE WAS STILL THERE.

THEY GAVE ME SOME PROGESTERONE PILLS AND TOLD ME TO WAIT A WEEK, BECAUSE IT COULD BE THE CASE OF A DISAPPEARING TWIN.

I TOOK THE PILLS AND CALLED MY MIDWIFE TO TELL HER WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

FOUR DAYS LATER I WENT IN FOR ANOTHER TRANSVAGINAL ULTRASOUND.

AGAIN, NO HEARTBEAT.

SHE CONFIRMED I WAS HAVING A MISCARRIAGE.

I WAS BLEEDING THROUGH A PAD EVERY TWO HOURS, AND UNFORTUNATELY THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO OTHER THAN GET ANOTHER ULTRASOUND TO CONFIRM THE LOSS OF A CHILD.

ONLY THEN COULD THEY GIVE ME DRUGS TO PASS THE FETUS.

I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE OB GYN THE VERY NEXT DAY, AND YET AGAIN THEY SUBJECTED ME TO ANOTHER TRANSVAGINAL ULTRASOUND.

I WAS TOLD TO COME BACK IN A WEEK TO MAKE SURE THE HEARTBEAT WAS NOT THERE.

THEY WERE CONCERNED.

THAT MAYBE I WASN'T FAR ENOUGH ALONG TO HEAR A SOLID, STRONG HEARTBEAT AT THAT POINT.

I WAS UNABLE TO PASS THE TISSUE WHICH WOULD AFFECT MY FUTURE FERTILITY.

WHAT ABOUT MY LIFE? WOULD I BE ABLE TO RAISE MY DAUGHTER TO SEE HER GROW INTO THE SMART AND STRONG, GENTLE WOMAN I KNOW SHE WILL BE? I CONSIDERED A TRIP TO NEW MEXICO TO GET THE DRUGS I NEEDED.

AND I THOUGHT I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE OF SEPSIS.

THANKFULLY, MY OB WAS ABLE TO GET ME INTO ANOTHER ULTRASOUND LATER THAT WEEK AND OFFER THE DRUGS NECESSARY TO RID MY BODY OF MY VERY WANTED CHILD.

MA'AM, WE APPRECIATE YOU TONIGHT.

THANK YOU. CLAUDIA TROVATO AND AFTER CLAUDIA BRANDAN MARTINEZ.

I'M CLAUDIUS TROVATO AND I LIVE IN AMARILLO, TEXAS AND HAVE SINCE 1971.

[03:45:01]

IT'S MEAN SPIRITED AND MISOGYNISTIC, AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CITY GOVERNMENT.

WE SHOULD BE HERE TALKING ABOUT THE CITY OF AMARILLO AND HOW IT OPERATES AND WHAT IT NEEDS TO OPERATE.

HALF OF OUR CITY IS DECLINING.

THAT'S THE POTTER COUNTY HALF.

AND WHAT WE'RE HERE DOING IS TALKING ABOUT RELIGION.

ONE, RELIGIOUS GROUPS WANTS TO IMPOSE THEIR BELIEFS ON ANOTHER RELIGIOUS GROUP, AND THAT'S NOT GOT ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE CITY OF AMARILLO.

WE HAVE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE THAT COULD ARRANGE TO GIVE THE SAME TAX ABATEMENTS THAT IT GIVES TO CORPORATIONS WHO DON'T NEED A TAX ABATEMENT, LIKE AMAZON, THE RICHEST CORPORATION IN THE COUNTRY.

YET WE GAVE THEM A TAX ABATEMENT.

WE COULD GIVE TAX ABATEMENTS TO LOCAL CONTRACTORS AND BUILDERS TO BUILD SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN POTTER COUNTY TO HELP THE POOR.

NO, NO, WE'RE UP HERE TALKING ABOUT KILLING BABIES.

WE COULD TALK ABOUT RECYCLING.

WE DON'T DO ANY KIND OF RECYCLING.

AND THERE'S GENERAL ACROSS THE BOARD RECYCLING THAT WE COULD DO IN AMARILLO, LIKE OTHER CITIES DO.

THAT WOULDN'T COST THE CITY VERY MUCH MONEY.

WE COULD TALK ABOUT TRANSFORMATION PARK AND THE HOMELESS THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT ARE NOT BEING DEALT WITH.

BUT NO, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A RELIGIOUS ISSUE THAT HALF THE PEOPLE DO NOT SHARE.

Y'ALL ARE IN A TERRIBLE SITUATION.

YOU CAN'T WIN EITHER WAY.

IF YOU VOTE AGAINST IT, YOU'RE GOING TO BE TURNED AGAINST.

IF YOU VOTE FOR IT, YOU'RE GOING TO BE TURNED AGAINST.

IT SEEMS THE ONLY REASONABLE WAY TO DEAL WITH THIS ORDINANCE THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OPERATION OF AMARILLO IS TO LET IT GO TO THE PEOPLE.

THE I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS COMING IN FROM AN OUTSIDER.

IT'S LEE DIXON'S ORDINANCE.

HE HAS NO CREDENTIALS.

HE'S NEITHER A DOCTOR NOR A LAWYER, NOR A MINISTER, NOR DOES HE HAVE EDUCATION IN ANY RELATED FIELD.

HE ISN'T GAINFULLY EMPLOYED.

I ASK HIM, YOU KNOW, I SAID, HOW DO YOU LIVE? AND HE SAID, WELL, THE LORD PROVIDES.

WELL, THAT'S FROM EXPLOITING THE TRULY PERSONAL EMOTIONS AND BELIEFS OF GOD FEARING PEOPLE.

AND I CALL THAT A SCAM.

BRANDON MARTINEZ AND AFTER BRANDON TREMAINE BROWN.

PLEASE, PLEASE.

SEE ALSO. ALL RIGHT.

HEY, GENTLEMEN, WE'RE GOING TO HONOR AND RESPECT THE LAST FEW PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE.

I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS HOLDING THE QUORUM.

GO RIGHT AHEAD, SIR.

HELLO. MY NAME IS BRANDON MARTINEZ, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF AMARILLO.

I WAS GOING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THE ORDINANCE, OF COURSE.

I'M GOING TO START OFF BY SAYING, IN A PERFECT WORLD, THERE WOULD BE NO REASON FOR THE MEDICAL INTERVENTION OF A PREGNANCY TO EXIST.

HOWEVER, WE DO NOT LIVE IN A PERFECT WORLD.

A PERFECT WORLD WOULD NOT PRODUCE.

INFANTS WHO ARE MISSING VITAL ORGANS, SUFFER FROM GENETIC DISEASES, OR GENERALLY ARE SUBJECTED TO BIRTH DEFICIENCIES.

IN ADDITION, A PERFECT WORLD WOULD NOT PRODUCE WOMEN WHO ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO NATURAL STERILITY, CANCER, AND OTHER MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS.

A PERFECT WORLD WOULD NOT FORCE MOTHERS TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS REGARDING THE CONTINUATION OF AN UNVIABLE PREGNANCY.

THE UNITED STATES HAS ABOUT 22 WOMEN DIE FOR EVERY 100,000 BIRTHS, GIVING IT THE HIGHEST MATERNAL MORTALITY SORRY MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE OF ANY OF THE WEALTHIEST NATIONS ON THE PLANET.

THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM IF WE ARE THE WEALTHIEST COUNTRY ON THE PLANET.

CHILD BIRTH IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROCESS.

IT IS A PROCESS IN WHICH IS 14 TIMES MORE DANGEROUS THAN A MEDICAL INTERVENTION OF A PREGNANCY SUCH AS AN ABORTION.

MATERNAL DEATH RATES ARE 62 TIMES HIGHER IN STATES WITH RESTRICTIONS ON ABORTIONS.

THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF ACCESS OF CARE.

THE WOMB IS NOT A VERY SAFE PLACE FOR A CHILD IN THE LONG RUN.

MANY MOTHERS HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT RH FACTOR IN THEIR BLOOD THAN THE EMBRYO THEY CARRY IN THE WOMB.

[03:50:05]

IT ESSENTIALLY MAKES THE WOMB AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THE BLOOD CELLS OF THE FETUS ARE ATTACKED RATHER THAN NOURISHED.

THIS ISN'T NECESSARILY A REASON TO SEEK MEDICAL INTERVENTION IN ITSELF, BUT RATHER THAN COMBINING IT WITH OTHER COMPLICATIONS IN THE LONG PROCESS INVOLVED WITH CHILDBIRTH, IT MAY BE A REASON TO DO SO.

CHILD BIRTH IS 14 TIMES MORE DANGEROUS THAN ABORTION.

THAT NUMBER IS AMPLIFIED WHEN CONSIDERING THE POSSIBLE MEDICAL CONDITIONS OF BOTH THE MOTHER AND THE INFANT.

WOMEN SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK ABORTION AND USE NECESSARY OPTIONS WHEN THEY ARE NEEDED.

MOTHERS WILL GET INJURIES OR DEVELOP ILLNESSES REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY CHOOSE TO MAKE MINDFUL LIFESTYLE CHOICES.

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE OFTEN UNAVOIDABLE HEALTH ABNORMALITIES, AND THE HEALTH CARE WORLD PATIENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK TREATMENT, AND HEALTH CARE WORKERS ARE OFTEN TAUGHT TO NEVER DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THEIR CHOICES.

ONE OUT OF EVERY 33 CHILDREN IS BORN WITH A BIRTH DEFECT.

IN THE UNITED STATES, THESE DEFECTS MOST OFTEN BEGIN TO OCCUR WITHIN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF PREGNANCY.

THIS IS BECAUSE MOST OF THE VITAL ORGANS BEGIN TO DEVELOP WITHIN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF PREGNANCY.

DEFECTS CAN STILL DEVELOP IN LATER STAGES OF GESTATION.

THESE ARE CONGENITAL HEART DEFECTS ARE THE MOST COMMON FORM OF BIRTH DEFECTS, BUT THEY ACCOUNT FOR ABOUT ONE OUT OF EVERY 110 BIRTHS.

YEAH. ABOUT ONE OUT OF EVERY 110 BIRTHS.

THIS IS A BROAD CLASSIFICATION FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF THINGS.

IT'S JUST A LOT OF THINGS REVOLVING AROUND THE HEART, AND THERE'S A LOT, LOT MORE OTHER CONDITIONS THAT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE HEALTHINESS OF A MOTHER AND THE SAID POTENTIAL CHILD IN THE WOMB.

AND ONLY A FRACTION OF THE KNOWN COMPLICATIONS CAN BE PRESENTED TODAY.

NONETHELESS, AS THERE ARE LONG AS THERE ARE ISSUES DURING THE PROCESS OF CHILDBIRTH, ABORTION IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE ON THE TABLE.

THANK YOU SIR. TREMAINE BROWN AND AFTER TREMAINE WILL BE KELLY WILSON.

GOOD EVENING COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS TREMAINE BROWN RESIDENT OF AMARILLO.

2023. AMARILLO MAN OF THE YEAR.

LARGELY BECAUSE OF ME TAKING CARE OF CHILDREN.

SO WHICHEVER WAY THIS THING FALLS THIS EVENING OR IN NOVEMBER, I HAVE DEDICATED MY LIFE TO TAKING CARE OF CHILDREN AND MAKING SURE THEIR LIVES ARE ENRICHED AND LIFTED UP.

I'M NOT GOING TO STAND UP HERE AND QUOTE BIBLE VERSES, BECAUSE THERE'S PLENTY THAT CAN GO THAT CAN FIT THE NARRATIVE OF EITHER SIDE.

I'M NOT GOING TO QUOTE POLITICAL STANCES FROM BIDEN OR TRUMP OR ANY OF THAT.

I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT MY LIFE.

I AM THE SINGLE FATHER OF AN 11 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER.

I LEFT NORTHWEST TEXAS HOSPITAL FIVE, 13, 13 WITH A CHILD.

MY STANCE IS TO PROTECT THAT CHILD AT ALL COSTS, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE TO DO TODAY.

US AS MEN.

THE ONLY REASON THAT WE SHOULD BE IN THE DISCUSSION OF WHAT A WOMAN IS TO DO WITH HER BODY IS IF WE ARE THE HUSBAND OR POTENTIAL FATHER OF THAT CHILD.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE.

I THINK SOMEWHERE IN COVID, HIPAA GOT LOST BECAUSE WE WERE IN SUCH A PANIC OF GETTING SICK AND SEEING ALL THE DEATHS AND AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.

HIPAA IS STILL A LAW.

IT'S STILL THE PRIVACY OF THE PATIENT AND THEIR PROVIDER.

AND THAT SHOULD NOT BE EVEN UP FOR DEBATE BETWEEN.

MIDDLE AGED WHITE MEN.

TOM, YOU'RE A LITTLE BIT OLDER THAN MIDDLE AGE, IF THAT'S OKAY.

APPRECIATE IT. OKAY.

IT'S NOT IT'S NOT UP FOR DEBATE.

IT'S NOT IT'S NOT OUR CHOICE.

AND AND WE CAN SPLIT HAIRS ABOUT THE RELIGION OF THE MATTER OR THE THE MEDICAL NECESSITY OF THE MATTER.

BUT WHAT IT REALLY BOILS DOWN TO IN THIS, IN THIS INSTANCE, IS A CITY.

[03:55:01]

YOU'RE ACTUALLY IT'S COUNTERPRODUCTIVE OF OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE.

WE'RE TRYING TO GROW THIS CITY INTO A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO RESIDE.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE TORN RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THIS AISLE.

THE THING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS THEY'RE STILL GOING TO BE CHILDREN THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF, REGARDLESS OF IF THERE'S AN ABORTION LAW OR NOT.

AND Y'ALL CAN LOOK IN MY FACE AND I CAN LOOK AT YOURS, AND I SHOULD SEE A LOT MORE SUPPORT TAKING CARE OF THE KIDS THAT ARE ALREADY HERE.

YEAH. THANK YOU.

BILLY WILSON AND AFTER KEELY PALMA NOBLE.

HELLO, MY NAME IS KELLY.

I'M AN AMARILLO RESIDENT.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

I'M AGAINST THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE.

I DON'T HAVE MUCH MORE TO ADD TO THE CONVERSATION, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE COUNCIL HAS MADE IT PRETTY CLEAR THAT YOU WANT SOME SORT OF VERSION OF THIS ORDINANCE TO PASS. I STILL HAVE TO STAND HERE TODAY AND ASK YOU TO VOTE NO.

WE ARE AT A POINT WHERE NOBODY IN THIS ROOM IS GOING TO BE HAPPY WITH THE OUTCOME.

FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE, YOU MIGHT WANT TO DECLAW THE ORDINANCE BY AMENDING THE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS.

FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, THE WHOLE THING HAS GONE ENTIRELY TOO FAR, AND THE CITY OF AMARILLO IS COMPLETELY OUT OF ITS DEPTHS WHEN IT COMES TO THE LEGAL AND SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF ANY OF THIS, AND THAT ANY VERSION OF THIS ORDINANCE IS HARMFUL.

WHETHER AN AMENDED VERSION OF THIS ORDINANCE GETS VOTED THROUGH OR IT GOES TO A CITY WIDE VOTE, I'M SURE THE COUNCIL IS QUITE READY TO MOVE ON FROM THIS DISCUSSION AND TURN THE PAGE. BUT THE REALITY IS THE BATTLE ISN'T GOING AWAY ANYTIME SOON.

MAYOR STANLEY, YOU DESCRIBED AMARILLO PROGRESSIVES AS IS, TO PARAPHRASE, SURPRISINGLY RESPECTFUL.

I'M GLAD YOU THINK THAT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP SEEING US.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP ON SHOWING UP FOR WOMEN IN ALL VULNERABLE GROUPS IN OUR POPULATION AS THIS CONTINUES TO DEVELOP, AND WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THE RIGHT TO GET TO DO THAT, WE THERE'S AN AMAZING GROUP OF PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WHO ARE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS, LEGAL PROFESSIONALS, BUSINESS OWNERS, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN WHO ARE READY TO ORGANIZE AND EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON THIS ORDINANCE COME NOVEMBER.

AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO UNDO ANY OF THE DAMAGE THAT MLB HAS DONE TO OUR COMMUNITY WHILE WHILE HE GETS TO MOVE ON TO WHATEVER CITIES ARE FOOLISH ENOUGH TO GET DRAGGED INTO THIS NEXT, AND YOU HAVE DOCTORS TAKING TIME OUT OF THEIR BUSY LIVES TO COME UP HERE AND EXPLAIN TO YOU WHAT THE MEDICAL WORLD THINKS ABOUT THIS. YOU HAVE BUSINESS OWNERS UP HERE TELLING YOU THAT THIS IS GOING TO DESTROY OUR COMMUNITY.

AND YOU HAVE INDIVIDUALS BEGGING YOU TO REMEMBER THEIR RIGHTS AND AUTONOMY AND PEOPLE OF FAITH TELLING YOU THAT THIS IS NOT A RIGHTEOUS WAY TO ACHIEVE PRO-LIFE GOALS.

NOBODY WANTS THIS.

REJECT THE ORDINANCE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MAYOR.

PALMA NOBILE AND THEN AFTER PALMA ALEX DE ANDA.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO APOLOGIZE BECAUSE I'VE HAD A COUPLE OF OUTBURSTS AND I DIDN'T MEAN TO, BUT I GET INTO EVERYTHING.

MY NAME IS PAMELA NOBLE AND I AM A RESIDENT.

SORRY. MY GLASSES. I AM A RESIDENT OF AMARILLO.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, I'M A FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST, MY LORD AND SAVIOR, YAHWEH.

I HAVE. I'VE WRITTEN SEVERAL LITTLE NOTES HERE.

ONE THAT ALWAYS STOOD OUT TO ME.

WE WERE IN ONE OF THE CHURCHES, AND WE WERE AT THE BEGINNING STAGES, AND WE WERE LEARNING ALL ABOUT EVERYTHING, AND THERE WAS LIKE 12.

AND IT SAID, WOMEN WANT TO ABORT.

THEY'RE BABIES SO THEY CAN HAVE A FREE LIFE.

AND THAT IS THAT JUST REALLY HIT HOME WITH ME BECAUSE THAT IS SO TRUE.

I AM FOR THE ORDINANCE.

THIS ORDINANCE DOES NOT VIOLATE ANYONE'S RIGHT TO TRAVEL.

ALL THIS ORDINANCE DOES IS REQUIRE THOSE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AND OUR OTHER ROADS TO ABIDE BY THE LAW OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO RIGHT NOW.

ANYONE DRIVING? EXCUSE ME? DRIVING THROUGH THE CITY OF AMARILLO HAS TO ABIDE BY THE LAWS OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO.

[04:00:05]

WE STAND AGAINST SEX TRAFFICKING AND DRUG TRAFFICKING NOW.

WE SHOULD STAND AGAINST ABORTION.

TRAFFICKING. I'VE BEEN HEARING, WHY DO WE HAVE.

AND I'M NOT.

WHITE RACISTS OR ANYTHING LIKE THIS OR.

WHY DO WE HAVE FIVE WHITE MEN ON OUR COUNCIL? AND THE ANSWER IS BECAUSE WE ELECTED FIVE WHITE MEN.

YOU COULD HAVE BEEN BLACK, YOU COULD HAVE BEEN HISPANIC.

BUT Y'ALL WERE RUNNING AND WE CHOSE Y'ALL.

TEXAS IS A CONSERVATIVE.

TEXAS IS VERY CONSERVATIVE.

IN FACT, ONE AT ONE POINT WE WERE 98% CONSERVATIVE.

WE'RE DROPPING A LITTLE BIT, BUT Y'ALL KNOW WE CARRY TEXAS.

TEXAS MADE THE HEARTBEAT ACT.

I'M GOING TO STEP OUT.

THIS IS NOT ON MY NOTES EITHER.

HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE? OKAY, I'M STILL GOOD.

I'M KIND OF GETTING A LITTLE FRUSTRATED OF EVERYBODY BASHING MARK.

WE INVITED MARK HERE.

YES. THEY'VE RENAMED HIM M L D GOOD.

BUT ONE OF OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

AND I'M NOT GOING TO SAY WHO THEIR NAME IS, BUT I HIGHLY RESPECTED WHAT HE SAID.

ONE TIME. HE SAID, YOU MAY NOT LIKE HIM.

BUT WHAT HE'S DOING IS RIGHT.

HE HE BASICALLY, HE'S TAKEN THE HEAT OFF OF ME.

HE'S TAKEN THE HEAT OFF OF ALL OF US.

WHEN WE SAY SOMETHING WRONG, HE LETS US KNOW, HEY, THIS IS NOT WHAT THE HEARTBEAT ACT WHEN THEY JUST GOT THROUGH SAYING I THINK IT WAS LIKE TWO PEOPLE PRIOR TO THAT. OH, EXCUSE ME, I BELIEVE IT WAS THIS LADY.

I'M SORRY, I MIGHT I SHOULD HAVE SAID THAT.

BUT ANYWAY, MARK, THEY ASKED HIM TO COME AND HELP WITH THE HEARTBEAT ACT.

NOT HE DON'T.

HE DOESN'T GO BEG PEOPLE.

HE DOESN'T GO TO CHURCHES AND SAY, HEY, I WANT TO TALK TO Y'ALL.

NOW HE MIGHT COME TO Y'ALL, BUT IF Y'ALL REALIZE Y'ALL HAD TO WAIT FOR HIM, HE DOESN'T JUST IMPOSE HIMSELF ON Y'ALL.

THANK YOU PAMELA. THANK YOU ALEX DEANDA.

AND AFTER ALEX WILL BE IRIS LOPEZ.

MAIER STANLEY COUNCILMAN.

THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME.

MY NAME IS ALEX DEANDA AND I AM FULLY IN SUPPORT OF THIS ORDINANCE.

ON JANUARY 21ST, 20 21, WHILE ROE V WADE WAS STILL VIEWED TO BE LAW OF THE LAND, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION COMMITTED TO ABORTION ACCESS IN EVERY SINGLE ZIP CODE FOR EVERY AMERICAN GENTLEMAN.

THE OVERTURNING OF ROE V WADE DID NOT CHANGE THAT.

ON JUNE 24TH, 2022, THE DAY THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED ROE V WADE.

JOE BIDEN STATED, AS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS MADE CLEAR, WOMEN MUST REFRAIN, MUST REMAIN.

EXCUSE ME, FREE TO TRAVEL SAFELY TO ANOTHER STATE TO SEEK THE CARE THEY NEED, AND MY ADMINISTRATION WILL DEFEND THE BEDROCK.

RIGHT? THAT BEDROCK RIGHT.

IF ANY STATE OR LOCAL OFFICIAL, HIGH OR LOW, TRIES TO INTERFERE WITH A WOMAN'S EXERCISING HER BASIC RIGHT TO TRAVEL, I WILL DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO FIGHT THAT DEEPLY UN-AMERICAN ATTACK.

JOE BIDEN BELIEVES THERE IS A RIGHT TO TRAVEL FOR ABORTION IN THE CONSTITUTION, AND JOE BIDEN WANTS ALL OF US TO BELIEVE IT.

IN NOVEMBER 2023, BIDEN'S DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FILED A STATEMENT OF INTEREST IN TWO LAWSUITS CHALLENGING THE ALABAMA ATTORNEY GENERAL'S THREAT TO PROSECUTE PEOPLE WHO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO WOMEN SEEKING ABORTIONS OUTSIDE THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

BIDEN'S DOJ CLAIMED THAT THE THREAT OF THESE PROSECUTIONS INFRINGED UPON THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO TRAVEL, AND THAT ANYONE WHO HELPED THESE WOMEN ESSENTIALLY HAD A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO HELP WOMEN TRAVEL FOR ABORTION.

WHERE DOES IT END? IF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION COULD? THEY WOULD PROBABLY TRY TO MAKE US PAY FOR PEOPLE'S TRAVEL EXPENSES TO GET ABORTIONS.

OH, WAIT, THEY DID TRY THAT.

YOU KNOW WHO STOOD UP TO STOP IT? IN JULY OF 2023, CONGRESSMAN RONNY JACKSON LED THE CHARGE TO BAN A BIDEN ADMINISTRATION POLICY SEEKING TO ALLOW SERVICE MEMBERS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR ABORTION RELATED TRAVEL EXPENSES.

CONGRESSMAN JACKSON AND 71 OTHER REPUBLICAN CO-SPONSORS SUPPORTED JACKSON IN HIS AMENDMENT TO PROHIBIT, EXCUSE ME, TO PROHIBIT THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FUNDING ABORTION, TRAVEL OF OUR TROOPS, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

WE DO NOT WANT ABORTION TRAFFICKING TO TAKE PLACE HERE IN AMARILLO.

NO GOOD COMES FROM IT.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO CHANGE AMARILLO JUST AS MUCH AS IT WANTS TO CHANGE THE REST OF OUR NATION.

[04:05:04]

LET'S DEFEAT HIM BY THE END OF THIS MONTH, BY THE PASSAGE OF THIS ORDINANCE.

GENTLEMEN, WHEN I WAS GROWING UP HERE IN AMARILLO, AS MANY OF YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER.

IT STILL HAPPENS TO THIS DAY.

EVERY LAST FRIDAY, THE SIRENS GO OFF.

AND IN OUR CITY AND OTHER CITIES WHERE THAT HAPPENS.

THAT PRACTICE IS TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM ANY DANGERS THAT ARE COMING FROM ANY OUTSIDE FORCE, BE IT TORNADO OR JUST ANYTHING DANGEROUS. AND THIS, THIS ORDINANCE LIKE THOSE SIRENS IS PROTECTING US.

IT IS PROTECTING THE THE INNOCENT IN THE WOMB AS WELL.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. IRIS LOPEZ AND AFTER IRIS JOYCE MOORE.

LEO COUNCILMAN. MAYOR.

I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING.

ALSO, I WANT TO DEFEND MARK BECAUSE WE.

JANA INVITED HIM, AND WE APPRECIATE HIM VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND HELPING US THROUGH THIS PROCESS BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW.

AND HE'S HELPING US.

AND HE DIDN'T HAVE TO COME, BUT HE DID, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

SO THANK YOU, MARK.

I'M GOING TO START OFF. THERE WERE SO MANY THINGS GOING ON TONIGHT THAT I WAS WRITING A MILLION NOTES.

COLIN ALLRED, ABORTION, TRAFFICKING BANS.

I AM FOR THE SANCTUARY CITY FOR THE UNBORN ORDINANCE, BUT I WANT TO READ YOU SOME QUOTES FROM SOMEONE WHO IS NOT FOR THIS ORDINANCE.

IN SEPTEMBER 2023, AFTER MASON COUNTY AND THE CITY CHANDLER REJECTED SANCTUARY FOR THE UNBORN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING ABORTION TRAFFICKING, DEMOCRAT UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE COLIN ALLRED, WHO IS RUNNING AGAINST REPUBLICAN SENATOR TED CRUZ, POSTED ON X PROHIBITING A WOMAN FROM FLEEING THE STATE IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE HEALTH CARE SHE NEEDS WOULD BE UNCONSCIONABLE.

IT'S NOT SURPRISING TO ME THAT TEXANS ACROSS THE STATE REJECT THESE EXTREMIST, ANTI-ABORTION MEASURES THAT WOULD CRIMINALIZE WOMEN JUST FOR TRYING TO LEAVE TEXAS TO RECEIVE NECESSARY ABORTION CARE.

TED CRUZ WANTS TO BE TO BAN ABORTION NATIONWIDE AND EXTREMIST POSITIONS THAT AGAINST THE BELIEF OF THE VAST MAJORITY OF TEXANS.

WHEN I'M IN THE SENATE, I WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT ROE VERSUS WADE AND ENSURE THAT ALL TEXAS WOMEN GET THE HEALTH CARE THEY NEED, NOT IN NEW MEXICO OR COLORADO, BUT HERE AT HOME.

IN NOVEMBER 2023, THE LUBBOCK COUNTY ADOPTED THEIR ORDINANCE FOR PROHIBITED.

SORRY, PROHIBITED.

I'M SORRY, I WANT TO CRY PROHIBITING ABORTION TRAFFICKING, REPRESENTATIVE HENRY TWEETED.

PREPARING OUR STATE'S ABORTION BAN WITH AN INTERSTATE TRAVEL BAN IS BURNING TEXAS WOMEN INTO PRISONS IN THEIR OWN STATE.

THE WOMEN OF LUBBOCK COUNTY AND ACROSS THE TEXAS DESERVE FREEDOM, NOT SUBJECTION.

IN MARCH IN 2024, THE REPRESENTATIVES POSTED A PICTURE WITH LINDSEY LONDON AND COURTNEY BROWN, CO-FOUNDERS OF THE AMARILLO REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM ALLIANCE. THE CAPTION UNDER THE PICTURE READ WOMEN ALL OVER TEXAN ARE LEADING THE FIGHT AGAINST TEXAS CRUEL ABORTION BAN AND TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS.

IT WAS A GREAT TALK WITH MEMBERS OF THE AMARILLO REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM ALLIANCE AND THEIR CRITICAL WORK IN THE PANHANDLE, AND.

AND I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING.

I WALKED THIS PETITION, OKAY? I DIDN'T LIE TO ANYONE.

I GAVE HIM THE TRUTH.

I LOST MY VOICE.

I WALKED HOURS AND DAYS.

IT WAS HARD WORK.

THIS IS NOT EASY.

I DEVOTED MY TIME AND I'M WITH MILDRED.

SHE'S GOING TO KEEP FIGHTING FOR THIS ORDINANCE.

AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP FIGHTING.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO STOP EITHER.

SO ANYBODY CAN FIGHT ALL THEY WANT, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING AWAY EITHER.

AND ALSO MY MOM WAS ALSO A SINGLE MOM, HAD SEVEN KIDS.

NO CHILD SUPPORT, WORKED THREE JOBS AND IF SHE COULD DO IT, ANYONE CAN DO IT.

NO EXCUSES.

THANK YOU. JOYCE MOORE.

JOYCE MOORE.

DON BARBINI.

JANA MAY.

[04:10:05]

DIXON. SORRY.

WELL, I DIDN'T THINK I WAS GOING TO SPEAK, SO I WON'T BE LONG, BUT I'M REALLY FRUSTRATED AND I THINK MOST OF YOU KNOW WHY.

WE'LL FIND OUT SHORTLY, BUT BUT EVERY TIME, FROM THIS SIDE OVER HERE, ALL WE HEAR IS IT'S MY BODY.

IT'S MY CHOICE.

ALL THESE REASONS WHY THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE AN ABORTION OR TRAVEL TO ALBUQUERQUE OR WHEREVER TO GET AN ABORTION.

I NEVER, EVER HEAR THEM TALK ABOUT THE BABY.

DID LIFE.

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT, IS SAVING THE LIVES OF THESE CHILDREN THAT HAVE NO ONE ELSE TO SAVE THEM BUT US.

NO ONE IS GOING TO SAVE THEM UNLESS WE STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND SAVE THEM.

IT'S JUST THAT SIMPLE.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE A GRANDSON THAT IS A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD.

AND LET ME TELL YOU.

THAT LITTLE BOY TO ME IS EVERYTHING.

I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD HIM ABORTED FOR NOTHING.

I DON'T CARE WHAT HIS SPECIAL NEEDS ARE.

HE'S THE MOST WONDERFUL, SPECIAL CHILD.

SPECIAL CHILD I'VE EVER KNOWN.

AND I LOVE HIM MORE THAN I LOVE LIFE.

AND I WOULD DO ANYTHING.

AND I WOULD KILL FOR HIM.

I WOULD NOT EVER HAVE LET HIM BE ABORTED.

NOT THAT THAT EVER CAME UP, BUT HAD IT HAD MY CHILDREN COME TO ME AND SAID, ARE YOU? MY SON? SAID, YOU KNOW, GOSH, MOM, WE HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS BABY THAT WE'RE HAVING IS NOT GOING TO BE 100%.

WE'RE THINKING ABOUT AN ABORTION LIKE, OH, NO, YOU'RE NOT.

OH NO YOU'RE NOT.

LIKE I SAID, THAT NEVER CAME UP.

HE'S THE MOST SPECIAL THING IN OUR LIFE.

AND ALL OF THESE BABIES ARE THEY'RE THE MOST SPECIAL THINGS.

THEY'RE THE GIFT FROM GOD.

THERE IS NO GREATER GIFT FROM GOD THAN THESE BABIES.

AND WHAT I DON'T EVEN THINK IS ASKING THAT MUCH OF US TO SAVE THEM.

I MEAN, I THINK WHAT WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE ARE WE IF WE DON'T STEP OUT AND TRY TO SAVE THEM? YEAH. I MEAN, IT'S JUST THAT SIMPLE.

AMEN. THANK YOU.

MARK LEE DICKSON AND AFTER MARK MISTY COLLYER.

MY NAME IS MARK LEE DICKSON.

I'M NOT FROM AMARILLO, AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, SINCE I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS SINCE DECEMBER OF 2021, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY FUNDS FROM CITIZENS OF AMARILLO.

IN FACT, WHEN THEY'VE TRIED TO GIVE, I'VE ENCOURAGED THEM TO GIVE TO HOPE CHOICE INSTEAD.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON HERE IN AMARILLO, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, EVEN, WHO HAVE TAKEN A VERY UNIQUE POSITION.

YOU SEE, ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES, WE DON'T USUALLY SEE HIGH PROFILE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE ABORTION INDUSTRY.

INVOLVED IN THE DISCUSSION.

YET THE CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, WHO RANDALL COUNTY'S ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY, USED TO WORK FOR, SAID SHE HAD A LETTER READ TODAY.

JANES DUE PROCESS HAS BEEN EXTREMELY INVOLVED IN THIS CITY.

THEY ARE A GROUP THAT HELPS MINORS GET ABORTIONS ACROSS STATE LINE.

AND IT IS THIS GROUP THAT ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, IN JANUARY OF 2024, THEY SAID, HEY AMARILLO, THIS WAS ON TWITTER EX HEY AMARILLO, WE'RE BRINGING FREE REPRO KITS TO YOUR CITY WHETHER YOU NEED DELIVERY OR PICK UP, WE GOT YOU TO REQUEST A FREE REPO KIT WHICH INCLUDES PLAN B CONDOMS, PREGNANCY TEST, DENTAL DAMS. AN INFORMATIONAL ZINE ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH TAKES THIS NUMBER.

THEY ALSO SAID, SHOUT OUT TO OUR NEW AMARILLO REPRO KIT.

PICKUP SPOTS, SWEET NEEDLES, TATTOO AND CULTURE COMPANY, 806 COFFEE AND LOUNGE, AND CHILI'S BARBECUE

[04:15:02]

THEY'RE TRYING TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF AMARILLO.

YES, AND? THEY HAVE REPEATEDLY.

MADE POST AFTER POST, NOT WANTING TO SEE THIS ORDINANCE PASS.

AND GUYS, AS I'VE MENTIONED BEFORE.

AUBREY BIRKENFELD, YEWLL'S ASSISTANT DA IN RANDALL COUNTY, HAS WORKED FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD IN JANE'S DUE PROCESS FOR A LONG TIME.

THE CITY OF AMARILLO HAS BEEN COMPROMISED.

JANE'S DUE PROCESS, SAID THAT THEY'VE ALREADY HELPED 153 YOUNG PEOPLE SEEKING ABORTION FUNDING AND PRACTICAL SUPPORT.

GUYS, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU ALL TO STAND UP AND TAKE ACTION.

THANK YOU SIR, SO MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT. MISTY KOLLER.

AND AFTER MISTY WILL BE CARMEN SEABERG.

MY NAME IS MISTY COLLIER.

I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE.

I HAVE LOOKED AT BOTH SIDES OF THIS FROM YOUR POINT OF VIEW, FROM THEIR POINT OF VIEW AND FROM THEIR POINT OF VIEW.

NO ONE KNOWS THIS ABOUT ME.

I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT MYSELF FOR A SECOND, WHICH I RARELY DO.

I TYPICALLY TALK ABOUT FACTS.

I AM RH NEGATIVE, WHICH MEANS THAT MY FIRST BABY IS NORMAL, BUT MY SECOND BABY COULD HAVE DEFECTS OR COULD BE BORN DEAD.

I HAD A CHILD THAT HAS THE SAME CONDITION THAT I DO, AND I BORE THAT CHILD AND SHE IS NORMAL AND SHE IS KIND AND I WOULDN'T GIVE HER UP FOR ANYTHING.

AND THEN I MARRIED A MAN THAT HAD THREE CHILDREN, AND THOSE THREE CHILDREN WERE NOT MINE.

BUT I RAISED THEM AS MINE BECAUSE THEIR MOTHER WAS A DRUG ADDICT, AND I LOVED HER THROUGH HER REHAB, AND I TOOK CARE OF THEM LIKE THEY WERE MY OWN.

AND THAT LITTLE GIRL, HIS OLDEST LITTLE GIRL, HAD A BABY AT 14 YEARS OLD, AND I RAISED THAT CHILD FOR THREE YEARS BECAUSE SHE HAD NO ONE ELSE BESIDES HER.

HER GRANDFATHER, BECAUSE THEIR GRANDMOTHER.

THERE WAS A DRUG ADDICT AND I DON'T CARE.

WHAT ANY ONE HAS TO SAY ABOUT IT.

I. WHAT IT'S LIKE TO STRUGGLE AND.

KEN AND I WOULD DO ANYTHING TO SAVE A CHILD'S LIFE, EVEN IF THAT MEANT TAKING CARE OF IT MYSELF.

AND I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYBODY ELSE SAYS.

GOD TOLD ME TO TRUST YOU AND THAT I WILL.

I WILL DO THAT BECAUSE HE TOLD ME TO.

SO THERE'S NO THREAT FROM THIS SIDE, AND THERE'S NO THREAT FROM THIS SIDE.

BUT THERE IS HONEST TRUTH.

AND GOD SHOWED ME THAT YOU ARE GODLY MEN, AND YOU WILL DO WHAT IS RIGHT.

AND I WILL BELIEVE THAT UNTIL I DIE.

CARMEN. CARMEN SEABURG AND AFTER CARMEN JOHN EARLY.

GOOD EVENING, GENTLEMEN.

Y'ALL CAN RELAX.

I'M NOT GOING TO PICK ON Y'ALL TOO MUCH HERE.

AND I DO WANT TO HAVE A DISCLAIMER SAID I AM HERE AS A DEMOCRAT.

I AM HERE AS RANDALL COUNTY'S DEMOCRATIC CHAIR.

I SUPPORT THESE LADIES, AND I WOULD NOT BE IN THE POSITION THAT I'M IN RIGHT NOW HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THEM.

BUT RPA IS A POLITICAL AND I WANT EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

[04:20:06]

CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW RESPECTING AN ESTABLISHMENT OF A RELIGION, OR PROHIBITING THE FREE SPEECH THEREOF, OR ABRIDGING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, OR OF THE PRESS, OR THE RIGHT OF PEOPLE PEACEFULLY TO ASSEMBLE AND TO PETITION THE GOVERNMENT FOR REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TONIGHT.

I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW AND GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF SOME, WELL, SOME STATISTICS.

YOU KNOW HOW I KIND OF LIKE TO DO THAT.

IN OUR TEXAS PANHANDLE, THERE ARE 26 COUNTIES.

OF THOSE 26 COUNTIES, THERE ARE SEVEN, COUNTING POTTER COUNTY.

WHERE OUR HOSPITALS ARE THAT DELIVER BABIES OUT OF 26 COUNTIES.

OF THOSE, 17 OF THE PHYSICIANS THAT DELIVER OUR FAMILY, MEDICAL OR FAMILY PRACTICE, DOCTORS THAT DO LIKE THE OLD GENERAL PRACTITIONERS AND DELIVER BABIES.

AND THEN THE REST, THE OTHER SEVEN ARE OB-GYNS THAT ARE SPREAD OUT HERE IN AMARILLO.

THERE ARE 19 OB-GYNS FOR A TOWN OF ALMOST 200,000.

19 OB-GYNS.

THIS ORDINANCE.

WE'RE STEPPING ON POSSIBLE THE POSSIBILITY OF CHASING OFF STUDENTS.

CHASING OFF OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BE HERE.

AS WE'VE HEARD SOME OTHER PEOPLE TALK ABOUT I WORKED IN THAT IN THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY, AND I CAN TELL YOU MY LAST 70 YEARS, I DID INTAKE.

SORRY. MY MOUTH'S REALLY DRY, BUT I DID INTAKE FROM THE REGIONAL HOSPITALS INTO THE HERE IN AMARILLO.

AND WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE 15% OF MEDICAL STUDENTS GOING INTO OBGYN THAT TEXAS HAS ALREADY LOST AS WELL.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU ALL KNOW ME.

YOU KNOW THAT I AM AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE.

AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GENTLEMEN, FOR YOUR TIME.

THE LAST SPEAKER THAT HAS SIGNED UP IS JOHN EARLY.

CAN I HAVE HER LAST 22 SECONDS? NO. I GUESS NOT.

I'M JOHN EARLEY, I LIVE IN AMARILLO AND HAVE MOST OF MY LIFE.

AND MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.

I TOO TRUST YOUR INTENTIONS.

I KNOW YOU ALL WANT TO DO WHAT IS MORAL AND EFFECTIVE AND.

GOOD FOR AMARILLO.

AND FOR A MOMENT, I WANT YOU TO REVISIT THE INNOCENCY OF YOUR CHILDHOOD AND REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME YOU HEARD AESOP'S FABLE ABOUT THE SUN AND THE WIND SEEING WHO WERE STRONG ENOUGH TO GET THE MAN TO TAKE HIS COAT OFF.

AND AS A CHILD IT WAS CLEAR THE GENTLENESS OF THE SUN WAS EFFECTIVE, AND THE FORCE OF THE WIND WAS NOT.

LET'S SUPPOSE OUR OBJECTIVE.

IS MORE OF GOD'S CHILDREN BORN INTO OUR COUNTRY AND IN OUR CITY.

AND WHAT IS THE GENERAL POLICY THAT WORKS? AFTER THE BABY BOOM PEAKED IN 1957 AT 4.3 MILLION BIRTHS, A GENTLE DECLINE GAVE WAY TO A 27% PLUMMET TO ONLY 3.1 MILLION CHILDREN BORN IN 1973, AND THAT SHARP DECLINE WAS STOPPED BY SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN 73.

WOMEN'S RIGHTS EXPANDED.

THE NEXT YEAR, 74 WOMEN HAD THE HAD THE RIGHT TO OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT WITHOUT THEIR HUSBANDS OR FATHERS SIGNATURE.

THE NEXT YEAR IN 75, THE SUPREME COURT RULED THAT WOMEN WERE ALMOST COMPLETE CITIZENS, THAT THEY HAD TO BE TREATED EQUALLY AND BEING CALLED FOR JURY DUTY.

THAT ALMOST COMPLETED THE TRANSITION FROM WOMEN BEING THE PROPERTY OF THEIR FATHER OR THEIR HUSBAND TO BEING FULL CITIZENS.

AND WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THAT? BIRTHS EXPLODED.

THEY ROSE 33% TO OVER FOUR TO ALMOST 4.2 MILLION IN 1990.

WOMEN GAINING RIGHTS OVER THEIR BODY.

EXPANDING THE FREEDOM AND RIGHTS OF WOMEN IS THE GENTLE SUNSHINE.

THAT BRINGS MORE BIRTHS.

[04:25:03]

THE NEXT YEAR.

THE NUMBER OF BIRTHS.

PLUMMETED AND ABORTIONS SURGED.

IT'S THE IT'S THE FORCE OF THE WIND.

IT'S INEFFECTIVE.

PLAY THE ROLE OF THE SON.

LOVE THE LIVING, BREATHING WOMEN AND CHILDREN THAT ARE HERE.

MAYOR. THAT CONCLUDES EVERYONE THAT WE HAD SIGNED UP TONIGHT.

THANK YOU, MISS CITY SECRETARY.

SO WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE VERY MUCH.

YOU'VE HAD A OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN UP.

I'M GOING TO ASSUME THAT EVERYONE HERE EXERCISED THAT OPPORTUNITY.

DO WE HAVE A CONSENSUS WE CAN MOVE FORWARD? I DON'T SEE ANY HANDS.

AT. YOU HAVE ONE MORE.

OKAY. WE'LL MAKE YOU THE LAST ONE.

SIR, WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING UP.

OKAY. HOW MANY MORE DO WE HAVE? RAISE YOUR HAND. OKAY.

CAN I ASK A FAVOR? AND THIS IS NOT ANYTHING OTHER THAN JUST US BEING PEOPLE TRYING TO GET ALONG AT 818 AT NIGHT.

IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND TELL US ANYTHING THAT WE HAVE HEARD, MAYBE, OR HAVE SPOKEN WITH YOU PERSONALLY ABOUT OR RECEIVED AN EMAIL, I WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT THESE ARE NOT DEAF EARS.

WE'VE LISTENED VERY, VERY THOROUGHLY SO FAR.

SO IF YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONVERSATION, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY UP.

BUT IF IF IT IS REPETITIVE, THEN THEN I WOULD ASK THAT YOU GUYS LET US CONTINUE WITH OUR BUSINESS.

SO WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS IN AN ORDERLY FASHION.

I SAW ONE HAND HERE.

RAISE YOUR HAND IF IF YOU WOULD STILL LIKE TO SPEAK.

WE HAVE 12345678.

OKAY. HAS DID SOMEBODY RAISE THEIR HAND THAT IT'S ALREADY SPOKEN BEFORE? THAT'S WHAT I HEARD. NO.

OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO GO IN THIS ORDER.

SO I'M GOING TO START HERE AND I'M GOING TO GO AROUND THE ROOM THAT WAY SIR IF YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME AND PLEASE COME FORWARD.

GOOD EVENING. THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

MY NAME IS DOCTOR FREDERICK POGUE.

I'M AN EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIAN HERE IN AMARILLO.

I'M LIFELONG TEXAN, BEEN HERE IN AMARILLO FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS.

IS MY TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY.

AND I STAND AGAINST THIS THIS ORDINANCE YOU KNOW, THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS, LIKE YOU SAID, LOTS OF THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN STATED POLITICALLY, RELIGIOUSLY THAT CAN BE REHASHED AD NAUSEUM.

BUT I DO WANT TO GIVE A COUPLE OF INSIGHTS THAT I DON'T THINK YOU'VE YOU'VE YOU'VE HEARD MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE HAS NOT BEEN A REACH OUT TO THE LOCAL MEDICAL COMMUNITY ON THIS ORDINANCE TO GET THEIR INPUT.

THERE HAS BEEN AN OUTSIDE PHYSICIAN THAT DID A PRESENTATION BACK IN DECEMBER.

I WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THAT.

I WAS DOING AN ANGEL FLIGHT ON MY VOLUNTEER PILOT.

ACTUALLY WAS LATE TODAY BECAUSE OF THAT.

I WAS FLYING A BRAIN INJURY PATIENT TO DALLAS.

I ALSO PROVIDE VOLUNTEER FLIGHTS FOR WOMEN WITH COMPLICATED MEDICAL PREGNANCIES THAT CANNOT RECEIVE THE APPROPRIATE CARE THAT THEY HAVE HERE IN AMARILLO OR IN TEXAS.

TWO STATES THAT ALLOW THAT.

AND THIS ORDINANCE WILL PREVENT THAT.

NOT ONLY THAT, THE CURRENT LAWS IN PLACE MAKE IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH WOMEN IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM OR HAVING DIFFICULT PREGNANCIES, BECAUSE ONCE WE FIND OUT THEY HAVE A HEARTBEAT, MY HANDS ARE TIED AND MY LIPS ARE MUTED AND I'M UNABLE TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.

AND THIS ORDINANCE WILL EVEN FURTHER RESTRICT THAT, EVEN IF THEY DON'T HAVE A HEARTBEAT.

SO I'M FIRMLY AGAINST THIS, THIS THIS ORDINANCE.

NOT ONLY THAT, I THINK THERE ARE SOME UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE.

I'M ALSO I DON'T SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ANY OF THE HOSPITALS OR THE TEXAS TECH MEDICAL SCHOOL.

I'M I'M ASSOCIATED WITH.

I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MYSELF.

I'M A PROFESSOR THERE.

I HAVE STUDENTS WITH ME, AND I'VE HAD IN THE LAST ONE MONTH, I'VE HAD TWO STUDENTS INTERESTED IN DOING OBGYN, AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE OF THE HEARTBEAT LAW IN TEXAS, THEY NUMBER ONE, THEY'RE FROM.

AND BY THE WAY, THEY ARE FROM THE LOCAL PANHANDLE AREA.

AND THEY HAVE SAID THAT THEY WERE INTERESTED INITIALLY IN DOING OB GYN RESIDENCY HERE IN THE PANHANDLE, BUT NOW THEY ARE SEEKING EDUCATION AND RESIDENCY OUT OF STATE DUE TO THE LACK OF THEIR ABILITY TO RECEIVE PROPER EDUCATION IN OB GYN.

BY RESTRICTING ABORTION.

BY RESTRICTING TRAVELING, YOU ARE LIMITING THE ABILITY OF OF STUDENTS TO HAVE A PROPER EDUCATION.

HERE IN AMARILLO AND IN THE PANHANDLE, WE ARE ALREADY SEEING AN EXODUS OF PHYSICIANS FROM THE PANHANDLE AS DOCTOR MCKAY, DOCTOR MARTIN

[04:30:05]

IT IS UNFATHOMABLY RE RIDICULOUSLY HARD TO RECRUIT PHYSICIANS TO THE AMARILLO PANHANDLE.

AND NOW WE ARE SEEING THOSE POSITIONS THAT ARE HERE CONSIDERING LEAVING AS WELL.

AND WE'RE ALSO SEEING STUDENTS WHO ARE BORN AND RAISED IN THE PANHANDLE CHOOSING TO GET THEIR EDUCATION OUTSIDE OF AMARILLO AND OUTSIDE OF THE PANHANDLE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO SEE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF BECOMING A FURTHER HEALTHCARE DESERT.

AND MY ABILITY TO TO TAKE PATIENTS LIKE I DID THIS AFTERNOON WITH A BRAIN INJURY PATIENT TO DALLAS TO RECEIVE THE PROPER CARE THAT THEY CAN GET, IS GOING TO BECOME MORE CHALLENGING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU DOCTOR.

SO HELLO, I'M LINDA FITZGERALD, A RESIDENT 35 YEARS HERE.

I HAVE THREE CHILDREN THAT ARE ALIVE AND WELL, AND I ENCOURAGE ALL OF THEM TO LEAVE THIS TOWN, ESPECIALLY MY DAUGHTER.

I'M A TEACHER AND I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU MY PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE IT'S EXTREMELY RELEVANT TODAY FOR YOU GUYS.

ALL AESOP'S FABLE BAND.

IT'S BANNED. THE BOOK THAT THE GENTLEMAN A COUPLE PEOPLE BEFORE.

YEAH. SO EVERY BOOK THAT'S BEEN WRITTEN BY POWERFUL WOMEN, BLACK WOMEN, BLACK MEN ABOUT OUR CIVIL RIGHTS, ABOUT WOMEN'S RIGHTS, ABOUT QUEER COMMUNITY, IT'S GONE.

IT'S ALL GONE. AND IT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE FROM LIKE DALLAS OR HOUSTON THAT DOESN'T LIVE HERE AT ALL HAVE COME UP TO AMARILLO FOR WHATEVER REASON, AND THEY THROW BIBLE VERSES EVERYWHERE.

I DON'T FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE PLACE FOR ME TO, LIKE, CONVINCE YOU OF WHETHER OR NOT I'M A FOLLOWER OF BROWN BABY JESUS OR WHITE BABY JESUS.

IT'S NOT YOUR BUSINESS.

GOOD. KEEP GOING. MA'AM.

I JUST MY GREATER FEAR THAN THE OBVIOUS IS LIKE THOSE BOOKS.

THEY'RE NOT COMING BACK.

THEY'RE GONE. AND THAT'S THE POINT OF THIS, IS TO MAKE PEOPLE FORGET AND NOT EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY EVER HAD.

LIKE, THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY'RE MISSING.

YEAH. AND SO WHEN THESE THINGS, ALL THIS RADICALISM THAT'S BEEN TAKING OVER THIS DIVIDED STUFF IS, IS SCARY, THIS IS DUMB, THIS IS IMMATURE AND ALSO GENUINE.

THANKS TO YOU, I'M YOU'RE NOT A WHACK.

AND I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU ARE A MAYOR.

AND I MEAN THAT. I KNOW THAT SOUNDS A LITTLE BIT BRASH, BUT IT'S THE ONLY REASON I'M HERE.

BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THAT YOU WERE A SENSIBLE MAN.

AND SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE HERE AND THAT YOU TAKE YOUR JOB SERIOUSLY.

THAT'S NOT ME THREATENING TO NOT VOTE FOR YOU.

OKAY? THANK YOU.

I GENUINELY MEAN THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

WELL TAKEN. THANK YOU.

THOUSAND. WOULD YOU MIND GIVING US YOUR NAME? I DON'T THINK WE HAVE YOU DOWN.

HELLO, MAYOR. I'M ANGELICA RAMIREZ.

HELLO, COUNCILMAN.

I'M BORN HERE IN AMARILLO, AND I STRONGLY AGAINST THE CITY ORDINANCE.

I WILL ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT CHURCH SHOULD BE SEPARATE FROM STATE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE DON'T LIKE ABORTIONS.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THEY'RE PUSHING THEIR BELIEF ON US, ME, OTHER PEOPLE.

AND THEY SAY THAT ABORTION IS WRONG.

THEY ARE CHOOSING TO ONLY HEAR AND BELIEVE THAT ABORTION IS MURDER.

AND THAT ISN'T TRUE.

THERE'S A BIGGER PICTURE HERE AND THAT IT IS TRULY HEALTH CARE, WHETHER THEY LIKE IT OR NOT.

I'M ADOPTED, AND I HOLD NO GRUDGE AGAINST MY MOM FOR MAKING THAT CHOICE THAT SHE DID FOR PUTTING ME UP FOR ADOPTION.

LUCKILY FOR ME, UNLIKE A LOT OF OTHERS, I WAS ABLE TO GO TO MY FAMILY.

IT WAS THE BEST CHOICE FOR HER.

OTHER WOMEN DON'T ALWAYS GET THAT.

THEY DON'T GET LUCKY LIKE HER.

SOME CHOOSE TO NOT HAVE THEIR BABY FOR MANY DIFFERENT REASONS.

IT IS IN OUR BUSINESS WE SHOULDN'T JUDGE.

WHY ARE WE TRYING TO TAKE THAT AWAY AND MAKE THINGS MORE DIFFICULT THAN THEY ALREADY ARE? MANY PEOPLE SAY THAT THEY ARE PRO-LIFE AND TALK ABOUT PROTECTING THE UNBORN, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THEY AREN'T PROTECTING THE ONES THAT ARE ALREADY HERE, LIKE THE ONES IN OUR FAILING FOSTER CARE SYSTEM.

OR THE MOTHER.

A MOTHER SHOULD NEVER LOSE HER RIGHTS BECAUSE OF SOMEONE ELSE'S FEELINGS.

WHEN THIS PETITION STARTED, THEY CAME INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD LOOKING FOR SIGNATURES TO TO MEET AND SURPASS, MAKE THINGS LOOK GOOD FOR THEMSELVES.

TO YOU, A YOUNG GIRL, SHE CAME TO MY HOUSE LOOKING FOR A SIGNATURE FOR THIS PETITION.

I TOLD HER, I'M SORRY, I CAN'T SIGN THIS.

I WANT HER, LIKE MYSELF AND OTHERS TO HAVE THAT RIGHT.

HAVE THOSE RIGHTS AND THAT FREEDOM.

WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO KIDS, YOU HEAR THE PARENTS SAY, IF MY CHILD WAS MOLESTED OR HURT, I'D KILL THEM OR BE IN JAIL.

WELL, WHAT ABOUT THOSE THAT END UP GETTING PREGNANT?

[04:35:04]

DON'T THINK THAT IT CAN'T HAPPEN TO YOU.

PLEASE DON'T PASS THIS ORDINANCE.

LUKE IS VERY. ALL RIGHT, SO WE'RE BACK HERE. I'LL BE HONEST, I DON'T HAVE MUCH TO ADD, REALLY.

IF ANYTHING, I THINK EVERYBODY HAS.

I CANNOT DO MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO'VE SPOKEN HERE TONIGHT.

I WANT TO SAY JERMAINE, I THINK QUITE ELOQUENTLY PUT, MY LAST POINT IS YOU WEREN'T WITH ME WHEN I WAS SHOOTING IN THE GYM, LIKE THE 2023.

IS THAT CORRECT? MAN OF THE YEAR.

YEP. OKAY.

LIKE, HE'S BEEN PUTTING IN THE WORK, HE DOES THE WORK.

AND THE FACT THAT.

FACES ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH HIM, BUT TALKING ABOUT THE WORK THAT HE DOES IS CRAZY.

LIKE, IF YOU WANT TO HELP LIFE, HELP LIFE TO ALL STAGES.

IF YOU WANT TO GET FROM POINT A TO POINT F, HELP ALL THE POINTS IN BETWEEN.

BUT AGAIN, YOU'RE NOT IN THERE.

WHEN WE HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE MORTALITY RATES OF BLACK WOMEN AND BLACK BABIES.

YOU'RE NOT IN THE ROOM.

WHEN WE WERE HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE TEAM AT TEEN PREGNANCY TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION COALITIONS.

YOU'RE NOT IN THE ROOM WHEN WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE ACTUAL TRAFFICKING THAT GOES THROUGH AMARILLO AND THROUGH DALLAS AND THROUGH OKLAHOMA.

YOU'RE NOT IN THE ROOM.

WE HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE MORTALITY RATES OF TRANS KIDS.

OKAY. HELP EVERYBODY IN BETWEEN.

BEFORE YOU GET TO YOUR POINT.

THAT WAY, WE CAN ALL MOVE UP.

ALSO ON ON ANOTHER NOTE, I THINK IT'S CRAZY THAT.

YOU DON'T EVEN GO HERE AND YOU COME IN AND MAKING JOKES AND I'M.

I'M ALL FOR JOKES.

THAT'S FINE.

BUT BUT HAVE SOME DECORUM IN A PLACE THAT YOU'RE NOT FROM.

ACT LIKE YOU'RE NOT FROM HERE.

ALL RIGHT? LIKE THE NERVE OF SOMEBODY WHO LOOKS LIKE THEY USED TO TRY TO MANAGE FRED DURST, HIS CAREER, TO COME IN AND HAVE JOKES. THAT'S WILD TALK.

THAT'S NASTY WORK.

AND SO THAT'S REALLY IT.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING. HI, COUNCIL.

MEMBERS. HOW ARE YOU ALL TONIGHT? I WON'T STAY ON THAT QUESTION VERY LONG BECAUSE IT'S PROBABLY BEEN A TRYING NIGHT.

I'M JADE CASSIUS.

I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN AMARILLO.

I PLAN TO STAY AROUND HERE.

MY HUSBAND AND I ARE EVEN LOOKING AT BUYING A HOME SOON.

I'M REALLY EXCITED.

BUT INSTEAD OF DOING THAT TONIGHT, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE.

YOU SEE, AMARILLO MADE THEIR VOICE HEARD WHENEVER THEY ELECTED EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

MOST OF YOU RAN WITH A PRO-LIFE CAMPAIGN PROMISE, AND UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT COME TRUE YET.

I KNOW MYSELF ASKED VERY POINTED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT WAS A CONCERN OF MINE.

MANY PEOPLE OF AMARILLO AREN'T HERE BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED YOU GUYS WOULD STAND STRONG FOR WHAT YOU PROMISED.

SO YOU KNOW WHAT THE PEOPLE OF AMARILLO WANT YOU TO DO.

I WANT TO EXHAUST TOO MANY POINTS BECAUSE I'VE SENT YOU A PRIOR EMAIL AND I BELIEVE YOU ALL READ IT.

BUT I WANT TO KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE I VOTED FOR ACTUALLY STAND STRONG TO WHAT THEY TOLD ME, SO I WOULD VOTE FOR THEM.

IF YOU SEE THIS ORDINANCE PROTECTS CHILDREN FROM BEING MURDERED, HAVING A CHANCE FOR LIFE.

AND THAT'S BEEN SAID OVER AND OVER AGAIN, IT'S WORTH SAYING AGAIN SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN FROM THEM.

A CHANCE OF LIFE.

EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US WERE BLESSED WITH IT.

AND I CAN SAY, THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE WORKED WITH THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE THING DO CARE FOR THESE CHILDREN.

THEY SUPPORT THEM, THEY SUPPORT THESE UNEXPECTED MOTHERS, AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.

I ASPIRE TO BE LIKE THEM IN THAT REGARD.

YOU MAY NOT SEE US HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS IN THE BACK OF THE CHURCH ON THE STREET, BUT THEY'RE HAPPENING MAYBE IN A QUIETER WAY.

BUT I JUST WANT TO LEAVE THIS BECAUSE IT LEFT AN IMPRESSION ON ME.

WE SHOULD PROTECT THESE CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY WHENEVER EUGENIC IDEOLOGIES ARE BEING PERPETRATED TO BRING THEM TO THEIR DEATH.

[04:40:06]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU.

HELLO, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS DOCTOR DOUG ALLBROOK.

I'M A RESIDENT HERE IN AMARILLO.

I'M A PHYSICIAN AS WELL.

I JUST I HAD PREPARED REMARKS, BUT I JUST WANT TO SPEAK OFF THE CUFF.

I HEARD THAT EARLIER THIS EVENING.

POTTER, RANDALL COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY, SOMEBODY GOT UP HERE AND SPOKE AND SAID THAT 400 PHYSICIANS WERE AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT THAT IS NOT TRUE.

WE ARE NOT A MONOLITHIC GROUP AND WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS.

WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT BELIEFS.

WE ALL PRACTICE DIFFERENTLY AS WELL.

SO I'M PART OF POTTER RANDALL COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.

I DO NOT REMEMBER A DISCUSSION WHERE WE ALL DISCUSSED THIS, A POINT COUNTERPOINT AND THAT DID NOT OCCUR.

SO TO GET UP HERE AND REPRESENT THAT WE'RE ALL A MONOLITHIC GROUP, I THINK IS WRONG.

WE'RE NOT JUST LIKE HERE.

WE'RE NOT A MONOLITHIC GROUP.

SO I WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.

BUT WHAT DOES WHAT WE ALL HAVE IN COMMON WHEN WE GRADUATED FROM MEDICAL SCHOOL WAS THAT WE ALL TOOK AN OATH.

TO TAKE CARE OF OUR PATIENTS.

THE HIPPOCRATIC OATH HAS SOMETHING CALLED PRIMUM NON NOCERE.

IT'S A LATIN TERM WHICH MEANS FIRST DO NO HARM.

THINK ABOUT THAT.

SO WHAT IS ABORTION? IT IS 100% OF THE TIME A CHILD DIES.

SO LET'S TALK SCIENTIFICALLY.

FROM THE BEGINNING OF LIFE CONCEPTION.

YOU HAVE THE DNA FROM A MOTHER.

YOU HAVE THE DNA FROM A FATHER.

THE CHILD IS A UNIQUE DNA.

THAT IS A UNIQUE HUMAN.

I'M NOT TALKING RELIGION, I'M TALKING SCIENCE.

SO FROM A SCIENTIFIC POINT OF VIEW, THAT CHILD IS UNIQUE AND HUMAN.

AN ABORTION KILLS THAT UNIQUE HUMAN EVERY TIME.

SO. AS A COUNCIL.

I WANT YOU GUYS TO HAVE A CONSCIENCE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO CHANGE IN SYRIA.

CONSCIENCE TO SAY, HEY, IT'S NOT A IT'S NOT A HUMAN.

BUT SCIENCE TELLS US THAT IT IS.

I STAND IN FAVOR OF THIS ORDINANCE.

THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS HANNAH FORTENBERRY.

I'M A CITIZEN OF AMARILLO AND I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE ORDINANCE.

I WAS A FRESHMAN AT WEST TEXAS A&M WHEN I BECAME UNEXPECTEDLY PREGNANT WITH MY FIRST BORN SON.

I WAS AN 18 YEAR OLD SINGLE WOMAN.

IN HER FIRST SEMESTER OF COLLEGE.

I WAS FINANCIALLY UNSTABLE.

I WAS NEW TO THE AREA AND HAD NO FAMILY LIVING HERE.

I WAS SCARED, I WAS OVERWHELMED, AND I HAD NO IDEA HOW I WAS GOING TO BECOME A MOTHER.

BUT I CHOSE LIFE.

I AM A MOTHER NOW.

I CAN SAY IT WASN'T EASY, BUT I MADE IT.

I CAN CONFIDENTLY AND GLADLY SAY THAT BEING A MOTHER IS ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS TO EVER HAPPEN TO ME.

I BELIEVE MY SON'S LIFE MATTERS.

I BELIEVE EVERY CHILD MATTERS, AND I BELIEVE THAT EVERY BABY IN THE WOMB IS INNOCENT AND DESERVES LIFE.

I LOOK AT MY SON TODAY AND I KNOW THAT HE IS A SMART, DETERMINED AND HAPPY LITTLE BOY WHO DESERVED THE RIGHT TO LIVE.

I DON'T ONLY WANT TO MAKE ABORTION ILLEGAL, I WANT TO MAKE ABORTION UNTHINKABLE.

I KNOW THAT PASSING THIS ORDINANCE MEANS WE WILL HAVE TO STEP UP AND SUPPORT YOUNG MOTHERS.

I'VE SPENT MUCH OF THE LAST FIVE YEARS SACRIFICING MY TIME AND FINANCES TO CARE FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES, WHO HAVE YOUNG MOTHERS WHO HAD NO CHILD CARE WHILE THEY WORKED.

I HAVE SPENT MY TIME HOSTING YOUNG COLLEGE WOMEN IN MY HOME TO BE A SOURCE OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO THEM.

I WILL CONTINUE TO DO ALL OF THESE THINGS, AND I CHALLENGE MY FELLOW CITIZENS TO DO THE SAME.

WOMEN FACING UNPLANNED PREGNANCY SHOULD.

HERE, YOU CAN DO IT.

I'LL HELP YOU INSTEAD OF YOU CAN'T DO IT.

HAVE AN ABORTION TONIGHT.

WHEN I LEFT HOME, MY SON ASKED ME WHERE I WAS GOING.

I TOLD HIM I WAS GOING TO A MEETING, BUT WHEN I GO HOME, I'LL TELL HIM THE REAL REASON I CAME HERE.

AND THAT WAS FOR HIM.

THANK YOU.

[04:45:09]

I KNOW SOME OF YOU BETTER THAN OTHERS, BUT SORRY, A LITTLE TIRED.

OKAY, SO ALL I REALLY CAME UP HERE TO SAY IS MY NAME IS JENNIFER ROBERTS.

I AM A AMARILLO CITIZEN AND I AM STANDING IN SUPPORT OF THIS ORDINANCE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK. THAT IS ALL.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS KIM THOMPSON AND I HAVE BEEN AN AMARILLO RESIDENT FOR 31 YEARS.

I AM FOR THE SANCTUARY CITY FOR THE UNBORN ORDINANCE.

THIS ORDINANCE ADDRESSES TEXANS LIVING WITHIN THE CITY OF AMARILLO AND IN RURAL COMMUNITIES SURROUNDING OUR AREA.

IT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THOSE WHO MAY NOT KNOW, WHO ARE STRUGGLING OR WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO ACCESS HEALTH CARE SERVICES.

I LOVE THAT FINDING NUMBER 12 ON THE AMENDED ORDINANCE HIGHLIGHTS HOPE CHOICE PREGNANCY CENTERS, WHERE I VOLUNTEER EVERY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, I'VE BEEN A LONG TIME FINANCIAL SUPPORTER OF THE MINISTRY.

THIS COMPASSIONATE MINISTRY IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART BECAUSE I TOO HAVE A TESTIMONY TO SHARE, AND I WANT ALL WOMEN TO BE EMPOWERED WITH THE TRUTH ABOUT THEIR BABY.

IT IS NOT A BLOB OF TISSUE.

I WANT ALL WOMEN TO BE THE NOT HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GOD'S LOVE FOR THEM, AND THE DIVINE PURPOSE FOR EVERY HUMAN LIFE.

I WANT TO HELP THEM WITH THE MANY LOCAL RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE.

I CARE ABOUT ALL LIVES, AND I WANT NO HARM TO BE DONE TO THEMSELVES OR THEIR CHILDREN.

PART OF MY TESTIMONY IS THAT I TOO, NEEDED HELP WHEN I HAD THE GIFT OF AN UNPLANNED PREGNANCY.

I WAS ATTENDING W.T.

AS A SINGLE PARENT.

NO CHILD SUPPORT, NO GOVERNMENT SUPPORT BECAUSE I WOULD NOT FILE FOR CHILD SUPPORT.

DUE TO FEELING MY CHILD WOULD BE IN DANGER TO BE WITH HER FATHER.

I WORKED MULTIPLE JOBS YEAR ROUND, BUT I WAS ABLE TO GRADUATE IN FOUR AND A HALF YEARS WITH AN ACCOUNTING DEGREE.

WHILE THIS WAS NOT WITHOUT CHALLENGES, I SHARE MY TESTIMONY TO ENCOURAGE ALL WOMEN.

THEY CAN STILL FULFILL THEIR HOPES AND DREAMS, AND WE CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO GIVES US STRENGTH.

AS WE OVERCOME, WE ACTUALLY GROW STRONGER AND WE ARE EQUIPPED AS WOMEN TO MOTHER OUR CHILDREN.

HOPE CHOICE OFFERS FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL PREGNANCY AND MENTORING SERVICES INCLUDING PREGNANCY TESTS, SONOGRAMS, DIAPERS, FORMULAS, BABY CLOTHING SUPPLIES, MATERNITY CLOTHING, BABY SAFETY CLASSES, CHILDBIRTH CLASSES, PARENT CLASSES, POST-ABORTION SUPPORT, AS WELL AS ALL OTHER RESOURCES IN AMARILLO.

AND THIS SECTION ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THRIVING TEXAS FAMILIES PROGRAM, WHICH IS JOSEPH'S PROJECT.

LOCALLY, NO HUMAN, REGARDLESS OF SIZE, LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENT OR DEGREE OF DEPENDENCY IS LESS VALUABLE THAN ANY OTHER HUMAN.

MAY WE CHOOSE LIFE SO THAT WE AND OUR DESCENDANTS MIGHT LIVE.

PLEASE VOTE YES TO PROTECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE LIFE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND DEVOTED SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU MA'AM. OKAY.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

AT THIS TIME, SEEING NO ONE RISE, I WILL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM TEN H

[10.H. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE OUTLAWING ABORTION AND DECLARING AMARILLO A SANCTUARY CITY FOR THE UNBORN]

THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING.

IT DOES MEAN A LOT.

IT MEANS.

YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

YOUR VOICE.

THIS PROCESS MATTERS.

IT'S NOT OVER.

I THINK THAT IS PRETTY APPARENT.

WE'VE TRIED REALLY HARD.

I'M GOING TO GO INTO A DISCUSSION HERE WITH COUNCIL WITH THE INTENTION OF UNDERSTANDING WHERE THEY ARE AT THIS POINT IN TIME AFTER WORKING TOWARDS AN AMENDED VERSION. CONTINUING TO LISTEN, CONTINUING TO GET LEGAL ANALYSIS, WHICH WE GOT MORE EVEN TODAY IN EXEC.

[04:50:06]

SO I'M GOING TO ASK COUNCIL IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER.

AND I'D LIKE TO START WITH QUESTIONS.

I'D LIKE TO SEE IF COUNCIL HAS A QUESTION BEFORE WE GET TO A COMMENT.

IF YOU IF YOU KNOW WHERE YOU'RE AT, THAT'S GREAT.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE AT, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU STILL NEED TO UNDERSTAND OUT.

DO I HAVE ANY COUNCIL HERE WITH QUESTIONS? I'VE GOT A QUESTION.

WE HAVE QUITE A FEW COMPANIES HERE IN TOWN WHO DO PROVIDE ABORTION IN THEIR COMPANIES, AND THERE ARE QUITE A FEW LARGE COMPANIES THAT DO THAT WITH THESE COMPANIES TO BE HELD.

TO BE TRAFFICKING.

IF THEY ALLOW THEIR EMPLOYEES TO GO WHEN IT'S PAID FOR.

I MEAN, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF LARGE, LARGE COMPANIES THAT HAVE THIS IN THEIR INSURANCE PLAN.

I'D LIKE TO KNOW, IS THIS AIDING AND ABETTING OR IS IT NOT? A QUESTION FOR US. OKAY, NO, I THINK WE'LL DIRECT THAT QUESTION PROBABLY EITHER TO FELLOW COUNSEL OR CITY ATTORNEY.

IF WE IF WE WANT TO TRY TO WEIGH IN ON THAT.

SO I, I HEAR YOUR QUESTION IN THE AIDING AND ABETTING, I'D LIKE TO FURTHER DEFINE THAT.

ARE YOU SAYING DOES THE FULL ORDINANCE FROM THE PETITIONERS OR THE AMENDED ORDINANCE? OR BOTH? I WOULD SAY I WOULDN'T BE GOOD WITH THE AMENDED ORDINANCE AMENDED ORDINANCE.

I WOULD SAY I'D BE GOOD WITH TAKING THE OTHER ORDINANCE.

THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE TO A VOTE BY THE PEOPLE IS WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT GO.

OKAY, I WAS SORRY.

I WAS ASKING ON YOUR QUESTION IF YOUR QUESTION WAS TAILORED TO.

SO PERHAPS MY QUESTION WASN'T WASN'T SPECIFIC.

BUT I DO APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR REMARK, AND I THINK IT'S HELPFUL.

OKAY. DO I HAVE ANY ANYONE HERE, MR. CITY ATTORNEY? I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU CAN WEIGH ON ANY MORE THAN YOU DID IN EXEC.

IS THERE ANYTHING FURTHER YOU COULD CONTRIBUTE TO THAT QUESTION THAT WOULD BE AIDING AND ABETTING, IN MY OPINION? OKAY. THANK YOU SIR.

SO IF WE HAVE A LARGE COMPANY, THE QUESTION WAS IF WE HAVE A LARGE COMPANY HERE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS, WE PASS THIS ORDINANCE, THEY REIMBURSE, LET'S SAY, FOR TRAVEL EXPENSES OR IT'S PART OF THEIR MEDICAL PLAN.

IS THAT LOCAL COMPANY NOW? LARGE COMPANY? PERHAPS NOT EVEN LOCAL, BUT HAS A BRANCH HERE.

OPERATION? WOULD THAT BE AIDING AND ABETTING? CITY ATTORNEY DID WEIGH IN.

HE BELIEVES THAT WOULD QUALIFY AS AIDING AND ABETTING.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL ON WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THIS ORDINANCE, AS AMENDED? I THINK THE MAJORITY OF MY QUESTIONS WILL BE WITH THE COMMITTEE.

OKAY. SO BACK TO THE AIDING AND ABETTING QUESTION.

I MEAN, UNDER STATE LAW, IS THAT NOT COVERED ALREADY WHEN WE'RE TALKING WITH THE WITH THE BUSINESS QUESTION THAT TOM WAS ASKING? THAT'S NOT IT'S NOT IT'S NOT PERTINENT WITH THIS ORDINANCE.

CORRECT. IT'S ALREADY COVERED IN STATE LAW.

AIDING AND ABETTING LAW SAYS AIDING AND ABETTING.

THERE IS NO LIST.

IT JUST SAYS ANY AIDING AND ABETTING.

SO. SO THAT WOULD BE THE SAME, YOU'RE SAYING.

SO IT'S THE SAME LANGUAGE AIDING AND ABETTING IN SB EIGHT AS THIS ONE.

SO YOU'RE SAYING IT'S ALREADY THERE.

IT'S THERE IN THE STATE AS A WHOLE OKAY.

USE YOUR MICROPHONE, BRIAN.

OKAY. COUNCILMAN CRAFT YOU HAVE A FOLLOW UP QUESTION WITH THAT? NO. LIKE I SAID, SIR, MY MY QUESTION WILL BE WITH THE COMMITTEE.

OKAY. COUNCILMAN TIPPS I DON'T THINK I REALLY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

OKAY. COUNCILMAN.

SIMPSON. OKAY.

WHO FROM THE THE COMMITTEE IS IS GOING TO REPRESENT THE COMMITTEE? IS THIS STEVE? ARE YOU GOOD? I AM OKAY I WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD.

GO AHEAD AND GO BACK TO COUNCILMAN CRAFT AND START WITH HIM.

AND THEN I'D LIKE TO JUST CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE ON THE AMENDED ORDINANCE IS REALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT HERE.

WE HAVE BOTH LISTED ON THIS SO WE COULD TAKE ACTION ON EITHER.

BUT SPECIFICALLY, I THINK THE CONVERSATION IS IS GOING TO BENEFIT MORE.

SO IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THE FURTHEST EXTENT THAT YOU'VE BEEN WILLING TO AMEND IT THUS FAR.

[04:55:05]

AND JUST ANSWER THEM THE BEST YOU CAN.

OKAY. MY FIRST QUESTION IS CAN YOU REITERATE WHAT LOOPHOLES THIS ORDINANCE IS TRYING TO FILL WITH ON SUBMITTED ORDINANCE? YES. THE LOOPHOLES THAT THIS ORDINANCE WOULD COVER WHERE THE TEXAS HEARTBEAT ACT LEAVES OFF FROM THE HEARTBEAT.

HEARTBEAT REVERSED TO CONCEPTION.

IT MAKES CONCEPTION WOULD BE ONE OF THEM.

YES. IT WOULD MAKE ANY ABORTION ILLEGAL, INCLUDING A CHEMICAL ABORTION.

INCLUDING. WHAT DID YOU SAY, A CHEMICAL ABORTION.

YOU SAID ANY ABORTION. IS IT NOT JUST ELECTIVE ABORTION? ANY. ABORTION.

NOW LET ME, I DON'T, AND I KNOW YOU'RE NOT TRYING TO TRICK ME.

NO, I'M NOT TRYING TO TRICK YOU.

I'M JUST LANGUAGE.

WHAT? WHAT? IF A WOMAN IS IN PERIL AND HER LIFE IS AT STAKE OR HER REPRODUCTIVE, IF A DOCTOR DEEMS AND.

AND I WANT YOU TO HIT ME IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD WITH SOMETHING.

IF I SAY SOMETHING WRONG BECAUSE I'M NOT A LAWYER.

AND YOU GUYS KNOW THAT EITHER, SIR.

BUT IF A WOMAN'S LIFE IS IN PERIL AND AGAIN, I REITERATE, IF THIS WAS ANYTHING THAT PUT A WOMAN'S LIFE AT DANGER, I WOULD BE AGAINST IT.

HERE WE GO. MEDICAL EMERGENCY MEANS A LIFE THREATENING PHYSICAL CONDITION, AGGRAVATED OR CAUSED BY OR ARISING FROM A PREGNANCY THAT, AS CERTIFIED BY A PHYSICIAN, PLACES A WOMAN IN DANGER OF DEATH OR SERIOUS RISK OF SUBSTANTIAL IMPAIRMENT OF A MAJOR BODILY FUNCTION UNLESS AN ABORTION IS PERFORMED. THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS BY MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

THOSE ABORTIONS ARE NOT ILLEGAL UNDER THIS.

SO ALL THAT WE'VE HEARD TONIGHT ABOUT PUTTING A WOMAN IN PERIL, THAT'S NOT WHAT'S IN THIS, IN THIS ORDINANCE.

OKAY, LET ME FINISH.

NOW, I APOLOGIZE IF I'M SLOW, MR. AUSTIN. SO ONE OF THE LOOPHOLES I HAVE HERE IS EXTENDING TO THE POINT OF CONCEPTION VERSUS A HEARTBEAT.

YES, CORRECT.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE, SIR? THERE ARE.

AT THIS POINT, IT'S LEGAL TO BRING THE ABORTION PILL INTO AMARILLO.

THIS WOULD PROHIBIT THAT.

THE FIRST ONE IS PROHIBITING PERFORMING ELECTIVE ABORTIONS AND AIDING AND ABETTING AN ELECTIVE ABORTION WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF AMARILLO.

THAT WOULD BE A CHEMICAL ABORTION THERE.

WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE NO PHYSICAL ABORTIONS PERFORMED IN AMARILLO.

THE NEXT THING IS PROHIBIT ELECTIVE ABORTIONS ON RESIDENTS OF AMARILLO, TEXAS, REGARDLESS OF LOCATION.

OKAY. THAT MEANS DOES THAT MEAN ACROSS STATE LINES OR DOES THAT MEAN STATE LINES? IF THEY WERE TO GO TO AN ABORTION CLINIC IN ANOTHER STATE, THAT ABORTION CLINIC WOULD BE AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE, NOT THE YOUNG LADY.

THE YOUNG LADY COULD GO.

WE DIDN'T RESTRICT HER TRAVEL, THE ABORTION CLINIC WOULD BE THE ONE THAT WOULD BE AGAINST THE ORDINANCE.

THE THIRD ONE IS PROHIBITING PROHIBITION OF KNOWINGLY TRANSPORTING INDIVIDUALS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING OR OBTAINING AN ELECTIVE ABORTION. PROVIDING OR OBTAINING AN ELECTIVE OF AN ABORTION.

THAT WOULD THAT WOULD ENCOMPASS THOSE COMPANIES THAT PAY FOR THOSE ABORTIONS.

AND HONESTLY, SIRS, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE AFTER.

WHAT YOU WANT.

LET'S LET CRAFT. OH, HE'S GOT A FEW MORE QUESTIONS.

THE FOURTH ONE IS PROHIBITED.

PROHIBIT ABORTION INDUCING DRUGS.

WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS.

THE FIFTH ONE IS PROHIBIT CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS FROM DOING BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF AMARILLO.

CRIMINAL MURDER IS CRIMINAL.

EVERY ONE OF YOU. I'VE TALKED TO YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE WE STAND AS FAR AS WHAT ABORTION IS.

[05:00:03]

WOULD FACILITATE THAT.

WE WOULD CONSIDER A CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION.

NUMBER SIX PROHIBIT THE TRANSPORT AND DISPOSAL OF REMAINS OF UNBORN CHILDREN KILLED BY ELECTIVE ABORTIONS.

AND IN AND THROUGH THIS CITY AND JUST UNCLEAR SO FAR.

THESE ARE ALL LOOPHOLES THAT ARE NOT COVERED UNDER STATE LAW.

CORRECT? YES, SIR.

OKAY. AND SO MY NEXT QUESTION WILL BE WHEN I'M READING THIS AMENDED DRAFT, I'LL IF YOU'LL FOLLOW ALONG WITH ME IN THIS ORDINANCE HERE.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE SECTION EIGHT, DASH SIX, DASH TWO.

IT'S GOING TO BE SUBSECTION F.

YES. SO ONE OF MY CONCERNS HERE IS WE HAVE WE'VE CROSSED THAT OUT, CORRECT? YES. BECAUSE THE HEADING OF 86-2 ABORTION PROHIBITED WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS.

THAT STATEMENT WAS WAS UNNECESSARY.

SO ONE OF MY CONCERNS INSIDE THIS ORDINANCE IS IF YOU DROP DOWN TO THE NEXT 8-63 ON A.

LETTER A AND YOU.

STEPHANIE, IF YOU CAN HIGHLIGHT THAT VERY LAST SENTENCE IN THAT PARAGRAPH.

THE THING THAT'S CONCERNING HERE IS IT'S SAYING.

THE PROHIBITIONS IN THIS SECTION AND CHAPTER SHALL APPLY.

EXTRATERRITORIALLY. SO MY UNDERSTANDING OF THIS, BRIAN, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IS THIS IS APPLYING TO THAT ENTIRE SECTION EIGHT.

REGARDLESS OF THAT, F WAS CROSSED OUT.

IS THAT CORRECT? THE SECTION 8-6-2 IS COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM 863.

SO IT THIS STATEMENT DOES IS IN.

CHAPTER 86.

CHAPTER 8686.

YEAH. SO EIGHT.

CHAPTER. ROWE.

WHAT'S THAT MEAN? WE STRUCK IT FROM 8-6-2 BECAUSE IT ONLY APPLIED TO THE ABORTION PROHIBITED WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS.

8-6-3 ABORTIONS PROHIBITED ON CITY ON AMARILLO RESIDENTS.

IT'S A DIFFERENT SECTION.

I DIDN'T HEAR BRIAN'S.

CAN I ASK AGAIN, BRIAN? CAN YOU? BRIAN, ARE YOU TRACKING WITH ME, SIR? YEAH, YOU'RE ON 8-63, CORRECT? CORRECT. SO IF WE CAN QUIT SCROLLING THE SCREEN AND JUST.

STEPHANIE, IF YOU CAN HIGHLIGHT THE PROHIBITIONS IN THE SECTION IN CHAPTER.

SO THIS IS THE THING IN QUESTION HERE.

SO IF WE LOOK AT THE SCREEN.

YES BRIAN AS WELL.

EVEN WITH THAT STRUCK IN 8-62, IT'S IT'S STILL THE EXTRATERRITORIALLY THING IS STILL IN PLAY BECAUSE THE HIGHLIGHTED THING SAYS SECTION AND CHAPTER, THE ENTIRE SECTION IS CORRECT.

SO IT'S EVERYTHING IN SECTION EIGHT THAT IS CORRECT.

OKAY. PLEASE CONTINUE.

COUNCILMAN. OKAY.

OKAY. IN SECTION 8-6 FOR THAT AMENDED PORTION.

YES. I NEED TO PULL UP THE.

I DON'T HAVE THE ORIGINAL COPY IN FRONT OF ME.

CAN YOU KIND OF. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT'S CHANGED FROM THE ORIGINAL COPY THAT THE PETITION ORDINANCE HAD AND COMPARED TO THE CHANGED SOME OF THE WORDING SOME OF THE CONCERNS WERE THAT WE USED THE WORD BEGINS END OR CAME THROUGH AMARILLO.

WE TOOK THAT WORDING OUT.

AND WE REPLACED IT WITH A IS THE POLICY OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO TO PROTECT UNBORN CHILDREN BY PROHIBITING ANYONE FROM KNOWINGLY ENGAGING IN CONDUCT THAT AIDS AND ABETS THE PERFORMANCE OF, OR INDUCEMENT OF, AN ELECTIVE ABORTION.

TRAVELS NOT IN THAT.

NOT IN, NOT BEGIN, END OR COME THROUGH.

AMARILLO. THAT'S WHAT WAS IN A OKAY.

[05:05:26]

RIGHT. AND BACK TO MY PREVIOUS QUESTION WITH EXTRATERRITORIALLY.

THAT APPLIES TO THIS SECTION TOO AS WELL, CORRECT? COMMISSIONER CRAFT.

THAT'S BECAUSE NO ABORTIONS WILL NO PHYSICAL ABORTIONS WILL EVER TAKE PLACE IN AMARILLO.

I DON'T SAY EVER.

IF IT EVER COMES BACK INTO LAW, WE'LL HAVE TO CHANGE THIS DRAMATICALLY.

BUT THE LAW, THE WAY THE STATE LAW SAYS, WE CAN'T HAVE A PHYSICAL ABORTION IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

SO. RIGHT.

WE IT SAYS IN HERE IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE THAT ELECTIVE ABORTION TAKES PLACE.

THAT MEANS.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO ANOTHER STATE WHERE IT'S LEGAL.

AND A WOMAN CAN DOES NOT RESTRICT HER TRAVEL.

COUNCILMAN CRAFT.

YOU GOT A DIRECTION WITH YOUR NEXT QUESTION, SIR? YEAH. AND THEN MY FINAL QUESTION WILL BE.

YOU KNOW, IF THIS FAILS, ARE YOU IS THE COMMITTEE GOING TO TAKE IT TO THE BALLOT? I. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MOST OF THE COMMITTEE AND THAT'S THAT'S THE CONSENSUS AT THAT TIME.

BUT IF IT FAILS AT THIS MOMENT, I WOULD I WOULD NOT STAND UP HERE AND AND SPEAK FOR THE ENTIRE COMMITTEE WITHOUT TALKING TO THEM.

OKAY. THAT'S ALL I HAVE, SIR.

COUNCILMAN, THANK YOU FOR THOSE QUESTIONS.

BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT, LIKE, PERHAPS, MAYBE.

COUNCILMAN TIPPS.

DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING SPECIFIC? COUNCILMAN. SCHERLEN. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR GIVING HIM HIS TIME.

THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN. TIPPS. DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU'D LIKE TO ASK ON THE AMENDED VERSION? JUST A COUPLE THINGS.

SO TO CLARIFY, SB EIGHT IF A WOMAN GOES ACROSS STATE LINES TO GET GET AN ABORTION UNDER SB EIGHT.

SORRY, STEVE. YOU'RE YOU'RE STILL UP THERE DISCUSSING.

NO. STILL YOUR TURN.

OKAY. YOU'RE THE OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE, I BELIEVE AT THIS POINT.

AWESOME. I WILL STAY RIGHT HERE TILL YOU TELL ME TO SIT DOWN.

SO ACCORDING TO SB EIGHT, IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY IF A WOMAN GOES ACROSS STATE LINES TO HAVE AN ABORTION THE STATE CAN'T REALLY DO ANYTHING.

IF THE GUY IF IF THE DOCTOR PERFORMING THE ABORTION IS NOT LICENSED IN TEXAS.

IN TEXAS? YES.

THE ONLY THING THAT CAN BE DONE IS IF THAT PERSON'S LICENSED IN TEXAS, THEY POSSIBLY LOSE THEIR LICENSE IN TEXAS, CORRECT? LOSE THEIR TEXAS LICENSE.

OKAY, SO YOU SAID THAT THIS ORDINANCE IS CLOSING LOOPHOLES.

WE'RE ALSO THE ORDINANCE ALSO ADDS, DOES IT NOT? IT'S NOT JUST CLOSING LOOPHOLES.

WE'RE ADDING SOME LANGUAGE.

IS THAT CORRECT? WELL, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FETAL REMAINS.

OUR BABY REMAINS. YEAH.

SO THAT'S ADDED. YES.

I MEAN, IT'S LEGAL NOW.

YEAH, THAT, TO ME IS A LOOPHOLE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE ABORTION INDUSTRY DIFFICULT IN AMARILLO, TEXAS.

OKAY. AND THEN SO BACK TO, YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T WANT TO GET COMPLETELY ON SEMANTICS, BUT I'M KIND OF BIG ON THAT.

YOU KNOW, THIS 18 PAGE ORDINANCE, WHICH WE'RE REMINDED OF A LOT IT'S THE ABORTION THAT GO BACK TO THE YOUR DEFINITION OF MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

WE SAID, I ASK YOU IF IT'S ELECTIVE ABORTION.

THAT'S TECHNICALLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

CORRECT. BECAUSE WE'RE JUST SAYING WE'RE JUST PULLING OUT THE MEDICALLY NECESSARY.

SO OTHER THAN THAT, WHAT WHAT THE ORDINANCE SAYS IS ANYTHING MINUS THAT IS AN ELECTIVE ABORTION.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES.

ELECTIVE ABORTION MEANS AN ABORTION THAT IS NOT PERFORMED OR INDUCED IN RESPONSE TO A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

OKAY, OKAY.

MY FINAL QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, WE HAD THE THE DRAFT, YOU KNOW, OF THE ORDINANCE.

SO THEN WE WE HAVE THIS ONE WITH THE AMENDMENTS.

YES. WHERE DID THE AMENDMENTS COME FROM AND WHY WAS IT A COMPROMISE? WAS IT LIKE WHERE DID THE AMENDMENTS COME FROM? WELL, SPEAKING WITH SOME CITY LEADERS.

AND LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY, PEOPLE OF.

PROMINENCE IN AMARILLO.

THAT HAVE TO DO WITH WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE THAT ARE THAT ARE NOT SITTING ON THE COUNCIL AND.

WE HAVE VISITED WITH EVERYONE SITTING ON THE COUNCIL AND GOT YOUR INPUT, THEIR INPUT, AND WE PUT TOGETHER WE SPOKE WITH OUR

[05:10:06]

HE WILL STILL REPRESENT THE CITY OF AMARILLO AT NO CHARGE TO THE CITY OF AMARILLO, BECAUSE WE'VE WE'VE TALKED TO HIM AND SAID THIS, THIS THIS IS THIS IS DEFENDABLE.

YEAH. AND THAT'S THAT'S JONATHAN MITCHELL, RIGHT? YES. THAT'S THE ATTORNEY THAT WOULD DEFEND THIS.

YES. SO, SO HE'S THE AUTHOR OF THIS.

HE APPROVED THE WORDING.

OKAY. SOME OF THE WORDING CAME FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

YOU KNOW, WE MET WITH YOU INDIVIDUALLY, NOT TOGETHER.

SOME OF IT. OKAY.

SO HE'S SEEN IT, AND HE HAS SAID THAT HE IF ANY CAUSE OF ACTION CAME BECAUSE OF IT, HE WOULD DEFEND.

YES. OKAY, OKAY.

THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU. OKAY, OKAY.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I KNOW THIS IS A LITTLE PAINFUL.

IT'S OKAY.

WE'RE GOING TO. WE'RE GOING TO MUD OUR WAY THROUGH THIS.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS PROCESS, EVEN THOUGH IT CAN FEEL A LITTLE REPETITIVE.

COUNCILMAN. SCHERLEN.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE PETITION INITIATING COMMITTEE? YES. IT GOES BACK TO THAT QUESTION ON AIDING AND ABETTING.

WE HAVE A LOT OF LARGE COMPANIES, AND BY THIS DOCUMENT THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO ME IS GOING TO SHUT DOWN HALF THE LARGE BUSINESSES IN AMARILLO.

HOW DO YOU PROPOSE? NO, DON'T. NO, DON'T.

OKAY. DON'T DO THIS.

OKAY. BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN THEIR INSURANCE POLICIES.

I HAVE SEEN WHAT IS BEING GIVEN.

A LOT OF GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS HAVE GOT TO FOLLOW FEDERAL LAW.

YES. OKAY.

YES. WE HAVE THAT IN AMARILLO.

PANTEX HAS FEDERAL CONTRACTS? YES. BELL HELICOPTER HAS FEDERAL CONTRACTS.

YES. AMAZON IS ANOTHER COMPANY THAT WE LOOK LIKE WE'RE AFFECTING BUSINESS IN AMARILLO.

YES. AND MY QUESTION IS, WE HEARD THAT DOCTORS MAY HAVE A HARD TIME COMING TO AMARILLO.

WHAT ABOUT BUSINESSES? IS THAT A VERY GOOD POSSIBILITY? AMARILLO IS SUCH A GREAT PLACE TO HAVE A BUSINESS BECAUSE OF OUR LOCATION, BECAUSE I-40 AND 27, THE RAILROAD THAT'S HERE, THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO HAVE A BUSINESS.

NOW, IF THEY IF THEY KNOW I'M COMING IN, THAT THIS IS A PLACE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO AMEND YOUR, YOUR INSURANCE POLICY TO WHERE WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR ABORTIONS IN AMARILLO, TEXAS.

THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

BUT WE NEED TO BE IN AMARILLO, TEXAS, BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION.

DO. AND THERE'S SOME OF THESE COMPANIES, WE HAVE AGREEMENTS WITH THE ADC AND OTHER THINGS.

SO DO WE SAY WE DON'T WORK WITH Y'ALL ANYMORE OR WHAT DO WE DO? OH, WE DO EVERYTHING.

ARE YOU GOING TO DO THIS? KEEP THAT COMPANY? I WOULD LIKE TO.

WHAT IS THE BUSINESS PLAN TO CONVERT THESE LARGE COMPANIES? TO YOUR WAY OF THINKING.

VOTE THIS IN AND IT BECOMES AGAINST THE LAW.

NO, THEY AMEND THEIR.

THAT IS COMMUNISM.

WHERE I COME FROM, YOU DON'T DICTATE LAW.

WE, IN MY OPINION, DON'T.

PLEASE DON'T LAUGH AT ME.

I'M. I'M SORRY, OKAY, I APOLOGIZE, I, I'M MAKING A SERIOUS STATEMENT.

I'M SORRY. BECAUSE WE DO HAVE VERY LARGE COMPANIES THAT I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE THAT EASY TO CHANGE THEM. HAVE WE HAS THE COMMITTEE TALKED TO ANY OF THESE COMPANIES? NO, SIR. WOULD IT BE SUGGESTED THAT WE MIGHT TALK TO THOSE COMPANIES? BEFORE. BEFORE I RUN OFF 10,000 EMPLOYEES.

I'LL BE GLAD TO TALK TO THESE COMPANIES, BUT I MEAN THIS.

WE NEED TO HEAR.

SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO LET COUNCILMAN SCHERLEN ASK HIS QUESTION.

AND THEN WHAT I'M TRYING NOT TO DO IS OPEN THIS UP INTO A DEBATE.

COUNCIL NEEDS AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST GO THROUGH THE MAJOR CONCERNS THAT THEY HAVE WITH THE PETITION INITIATING COMMITTEE IN THE HOPES OF EITHER DEFINING, LIKE, OKAY, WE COULD FURTHER AMEND OR WE PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT.

SO I HAVE A DIRECTION THAT WE'RE MOVING.

IF MR. AUSTIN DOESN'T WANT TO REPRESENT THE GROUP.

YOU MAY HAVE ANOTHER PETITION COMMITTEE MEMBER REPRESENT THE GROUP, BUT RIGHT NOW, I THINK HE'S DOING A FINE JOB AND DOING HIS BEST TO ANSWER.

I'M NOT TRYING TO TRIP HIM UP EITHER.

I'M JUST. THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO THE CITY OF AMARILLO AND COUNCILMAN.

SCHERLEN I APOLOGIZE FOR FOR SMILING WHILE AGO BECAUSE WE WE HAVE THAT'S

[05:15:09]

THAT'S BEEN OUR WHOLE PURPOSE.

I AND I'M GLAD I SMILED BECAUSE YOU NOW YOU REALIZE THAT AND AND AND I KNOW YOU THINK YOU RIGHTFULLY SO.

IT'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM.

YES, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TELL OUR THESE COMPANIES THAT HAVE COME INTO TOWN, FOLLOW ALL OF OUR ORDINANCES.

THAT'S NOT COMMUNISM.

THIS IS WHERE I, I LEAN EXTREMELY TO TAKING IT TO A VOTE, BECAUSE THAT GIVES ALL THESE LARGE COMPANIES IN TOWN A VOICE.

AND TO BE TO BE PERFECTLY TRUTHFUL, WHEN THE COMMITTEE WHEN WE STARTED OUT IN DECEMBER TO TALK TO WHEN WE TALKED IN DECEMBER AND WE WERE TRYING TO WORK SOMETHING OUT, THEN THE COMMITTEE WENT OUT IMMEDIATELY AND STARTED A PETITION, WHICH THAT IS Y'ALL'S RIGHT.

COMPLETELY, YES.

BUT AT THAT POINT, Y'ALL WENT TO DO A PETITION TO TAKE IT TO A VOTE.

NO, NO, NO, THAT'S WHERE THIS IS AT.

I MEAN, HOLD ON, Y'ALL.

HOLD ON. WHAT WAS THE PETITION FOR? WHAT WAS THE PETITION FOR? ANSWER THE QUESTION.

I WHAT I WANT, WHAT WHAT WE WANTED AS A COMMITTEE WANTED THE PETITION FOR WAS TO PRESENT TO THE COUNCIL A PETITION THAT'S WORDED IN A PARTICULAR WAY THAT OVER 6000 SIGNATURES WOULD, WOULD, WOULD LET YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT THE CITIZENS OF AMARILLO WANT.

AND. WITH THAT BEING SAID, YOU WOULD THEN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE IT INTO TO LAW AFTER THE PROPER PROCEDURES.

FIRST AND SECOND READING, ALL THAT AND WITH AND WE KNEW GOING IN THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO CHANGE SOME OF THE WORDING BEFORE YOU VOTED ON IT.

AND WE HAVE DONE THAT.

WE KNOW THAT THAT IS AN OPTION AT THE VERY END, CORRECT? THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WANT.

WELL, I'D RATHER IT BE VOTED IN AND AND WE MOVE ON.

WHEN YOU ALL WENT OUT AND GOT SIGNATURES.

YES, SIR. YOU TOLD PEOPLE THEY WERE SIGNING SIGNATURES.

FOR WHAT REASON? THAT THIS THIS PETITION THIS ORDINANCE FILLED THOSE SIX LOOPHOLES IN, IN TEXAS STATE LAW AND THAT AT THE END OF THIS, WE TOLD EVERYONE THE CHURCHES WE SPOKE TO SPOKE AT THE DOORS, WE KNOCKED THAT AT THE END OF THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE IT IN.

OR IF THEY VOTED IT, DID NOT VOTE IT IN, IT WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE BALLOT.

OKAY. I MEAN, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU GOT A LOT OF HELP BACK THERE ANSWERING FOR YOU.

SO. SO LET ME LET ME TRY TO DIRECT.

NO. NO, MA'AM. THANK YOU.

THOUGH I DON'T WANT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CONVERSATION.

COUNCILMAN. SIMPSON.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? WELL, YEAH, I DO HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.

AND ONE THING IS, I MEAN, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, WHETHER IT GOES TO A VOTE OR NOT IS NOT OUR ULTIMATE DECISION.

WE DON'T WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SAY IT'S GOING TO GO FOR A VOTE OR NOT VOTE.

OUR ONLY AUTHORITY IS WE EITHER APPROVE THIS OR IF WE REJECT IT NOW, IF WE REJECT IT, IT'S STILL NOT REQUIRED TO GO TO A VOTE.

IT WOULD BE UP TO THE PETITIONING COMMITTEE.

THAT'S THE WAY TO DETERMINE WHETHER YOU WANTED TO GO FOR VOTE.

SO FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW, OUR ONLY ASSIGNMENT HERE IS TO DETERMINE WHETHER WE WOULD APPROVE THIS OR WHETHER WE WOULD NOT APPROVE IT.

BUT THE NEXT STEP, WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THAT ON COUNCIL.

THAT WOULD BE THAT THAT'S WHAT THE THE CHARTER SAYS, THAT IT WOULD BE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO THEN DETERMINE IF YOU WANT TO TAKE IT.

THAT'S THE WAY I UNDERSTAND THAT. THE WAY I UNDERSTAND.

YES, SIR. A COUPLE SO I THOUGHT I, I THOUGHT I HEARD SOMETHING, BUT I MISHEARD.

THIS DOESN'T GIVE US ANY AUTHORITY TO GO INTO NEW MEXICO.

CORRECT? WE CAN'T GO OVER THE.

SO. OKAY. GOOD.

EIGHT DASH, 6-4A AS IT WAS REWRITTEN.

ISN'T THAT BASICALLY, IS THAT WHAT THE STATE LAW SAYS RIGHT NOW? IT IS OKAY. IT IS.

IT USES THEN THE WORDING OF STATE LAW.

YES. YEAH.

BUT THE STATE LAW REALLY NEVER DEFINES AIDS AND ABETS.

[05:20:05]

SO IT IT COULD INCLUDE TRAVEL.

YES, SIR. SO THE STATE LAW RIGHT NOW COULD SOMEONE COULD SUE SOMEONE ELSE THROUGH THE STATE LAW SAYING YOU'VE AIDED AND ABETTED.

SO STATE LAW WOULD COVER THAT ALREADY.

FROM HEARTBEAT ON.

WELL, FROM WHATEVER SB EIGHT SAYS, NOT HEARTBEAT ON, BUT.

SPOTIFY. NO, I'M SORRY SIR, I'M NOT GOING TO ALLOW ANYONE ELSE TO RISE AND SPEAK AT THIS TIME.

THANK YOU. WE'RE ALMOST LIKE LOSING CONTROL OF THE PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STEER OUR QUESTIONS, GUYS IN ORDER TO GET TO A POINT HERE QUICKLY.

SO I'LL ASK ANOTHER QUESTION THEN.

BRIAN, ON ON B, WHEN YOU SEE KNOWINGLY TRANSPORT IN THERE, IS THERE REALLY ANY DIFFERENCE OTHER THAN THE WORDS OF THE OF OF WHAT WE SAW BEFORE AND THE, THE ORIGINAL VERSION? NO. SO THIS IS I MEAN, WE'VE CHANGED THE WORDING, BUT IT STILL SAYING THE SAME THING.

SO KNOWINGLY TRANSPORT COULD INCLUDE PEOPLE GOING THROUGH ORIGINATING HERE.

THAT'S NOT WHAT IS THE DEFINITION.

WHAT ARE WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF KNOWINGLY TRANSPORT.

IF. I GET SOMEONE IN MY CAR IN AMARILLO, TEXAS AND TAKE THEM TO AN AMARILLO RESIDENCE? A RESIDENT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN THE ORDINANCE IS IS AMARILLO RESIDENTS.

IF I PUT AN AMARILLO RESIDENT IN MY CAR AND TAKE THEM.

IN OTHER WORDS, FURNISH THEM TRANSPORTATION.

SHE CAN GO ON HER OWN.

NO. NO PENALTY.

BUT IF IF I PROVIDE HER TRANSPORTATION OR PAY FOR HER TRANSPORTATION.

PUT HER ON A BUS.

PUT HER ON A PLANE.

PAY FOR THAT TRANSPORTATION IN SOME WAY.

PROVIDE THAT TRANSPORTATION IN SOME WAY, THEN I WOULD BE GOING AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE.

SO WE'VE GONE FROM THIS TO ANYONE WHO COMES THROUGH TO ONLY PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE.

THAT'S THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT.

NO, NO. OKAY.

COMMENT FROM COUNCILMAN TIPPS REAL QUICK.

SO MY UNDERSTANDING IN LAW, I MEAN, IF IT'S NOT DEFINED IN THE ORDINANCE, THE THE COURT WILL DEFINE IT, CORRECT? BRIAN. I MEAN, IF IT'S NOT CLEARLY DEFINED, IT'S JUST UNTIL IT MAKES IT TO THE COURT, IT'S JUST GOING TO BE WHATEVER.

CORRECT. UNTIL IT'S THAT IS CORRECT.

OKAY. SO SO WE CAN DEFINE IT HOWEVER WE WANT TO.

BUT IF IT'S NOT CLEARLY DEFINED HERE, WE DON'T KNOW TILL IT GOES TO COURT.

SO WE CAN SAY WHAT WE THINK IT MEANS BUT WE DON'T KNOW.

SO AND ANOTHER POINT SB EIGHT COMPANIES IN TEXAS CANNOT PAY FOR ABORTIONS ALREADY.

SO THIS DOES NOT AFFECT THIS ORDINANCE, DOES NOT AFFECT LOCAL COMPANIES.

ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT? I'M 98% SURE.

I WANT THE OTHER 2%.

WELL I, I DON'T I DISAGREE WITH IT.

LET ME GOOGLE IT AND I'LL LET YOU KNOW OKAY.

SB EIGHT THE A HEARTBEAT OKAY.

SO VALID POINT.

SORRY BUT VALID POINT RIGHT NOW SB EIGHT IS HEARTBEAT.

TOM, YOU DIDN'T WANT HIM TO TALK.

WE GOT A LADY. WELL, HE DID GIVE ME SOME GOOD INFORMATION.

SO SB EIGHT IS HEARTBEAT.

LET'S JUST. EVERYBODY BE QUIET.

WE'RE TALKING TO STEVE.

HEY, TOM. SB EIGHT IS AT HEARTBEAT.

SO THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IN THIS ORDINANCE IS JUST AT CONCEPTION, WHICH MOST WOMEN DON'T EVEN KNOW.

THEY'RE PREGNANT FROM 0 TO 6 WEEKS.

THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW. I MEAN, IT WOULD BE REALLY DIFFICULT TO EVEN FIND OUT.

SO SB EIGHT AT HEARTBEAT, NO COMPANY CAN PROVIDE FOR ABORTIONS.

MAKES SENSE. WELL, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

I DON'T KNOW IF I AGREE WITH IT.

WELL, YOU NOT AGREE OR NOT, IT'S A FACT.

FEDERAL LAW TAKES PRECEDENT.

NO. WELL, STATE LAW.

STATE LAW. YOU NEED TO.

YOU NEED TO CHECK. SURE.

BUT WE HAVE SB EIGHT.

OKAY. BECAUSE ABORTION WAS GIVEN TO THE STATE LEVEL.

IT'S NOT FEDERAL.

IT'S STATE. SO IT MANDATES IT.

SO IT'S COVERED BY STATE.

SO WHEN THE STATE HAS SB EIGHT, THEN THE COMPANIES CAN'T PROVIDE ABORTIONS WITH THEIR MEDICAL PLANS AT AT HEARTBEAT.

SO THESE SO THESE ARE GOOD POINTS I'M GOING TO ASK IF I CAN REDIRECT REAL QUICK.

WE ARE OFF ON ONE LITTLE ISSUE HERE.

AND I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S TOTALLY THE SUBJECT MATTER OF WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US IN THE WAY IN WHICH WE GO LEFT OR RIGHT.

[05:25:02]

COUNCILMAN SIMPSON.

DID YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. AUSTIN? OTHERWISE, I THINK WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS JUST LET HIM SIT DOWN AND THEN TRY TO HAVE COUNSEL DISCUSSION ONCE AGAIN.

NO, I THINK I'M GOOD AT THIS POINT.

OKAY, IF YOU DON'T MIND, WE'LL CALL YOU BACK UP IF WE NEED TO.

THANK YOU. HERE'S WHERE I'M AT IN IN WHERE WE'VE BEEN.

SO A SHORT RECAP.

WE ALL MET WITH THE INITIATING COMMITTEE.

WE ALL TALKED THROUGH.

WELL, WHAT IF WE DID THIS? WHAT IF WE CHANGED THAT? I FELT LIKE WE.

WE PROBABLY HAD YOU GUYS MOVE AS FAR AS YOU WERE WILLING.

ON THE POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS, YOU CALLED ME THREE MORE TIMES THAT EVENING TO TO CONTINUE TO MOVE BACK TO WHERE YOU NEEDED TO LIKE.

AND SO YOU GUYS SAID, HEY, THIS IS AS FAR AS WE'RE WILLING TO GO.

MY QUESTION IS IF THAT'S AS FAR AS WE'RE WILLING TO GO.

COUNCIL. AND I'M NOT ASKING A QUESTION.

MY QUESTION IS IF THAT'S AS FAR AS WE'RE WILLING TO GO, AND WE DON'T HAVE THREE VOTES TO PUSH THIS FORWARD, AS AMENDED, AND GO AHEAD AND PUT IT INTO AN ORDINANCE, THEN I DON'T WANT TO TAKE ACTION ON SOMETHING AS A COUNCIL BODY THAT WE KNOW IS GOING TO FAIL JUST TO HAVE A A FORMAL VOTE OF WHO VOTED FOR IT OR AGAINST IT AS AN AMENDED VERSION.

BECAUSE WHAT I'M REALLY LOOKING AT IS THE ISSUE OF REJECTING THE ORIGINAL PETITION AND THEN ASSUMING YOU GUYS WOULD PROBABLY TAKE IT TO THE BALLOT.

SO I HAVE 1 OR 2 DIRECTIONS HERE TO GO TONIGHT.

AND, AND I WOULD ASK WITH COUNCIL, COUNCIL, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD ENTERTAIN THAT YOU THINK WOULD BE A HEALTHY DISCUSSION WITH THE EXISTING AMENDED ORDINANCE AS AS AMENDED? ARE THERE ARE THERE THINGS COUNCILMAN SCHERLEN THAT YOU THINK, WELL, IF THIS WAS STRUCK OR IF I DIDN'T HAVE THIS, THEN I, I WOULD VOTE FOR THIS OR DO WE HAVE A CONSENSUS HERE OF THREE OR MORE THAT THAT ARE STILL NOT COMFORTABLE, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE PUT A LOT OF WORK IN TRYING TO GET TO WHAT WE WOULD SAY IS COMMON GROUND.

SO LET ME START BACK OVER HERE WITH COUNCILMAN.

SIMPSON. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU THINK WOULD BE WORTH CONTINUING THE WORK TO TRY TO FURTHER AMEND? I MEAN, IF THIS IS THE IF THIS IS THE FINAL, I MEAN, AND AND ONE THING I WANT TO SAY IS I WANT TO APPRECIATE.

YOU KNOW, THE COMMITTEE.

AND, YOU KNOW, I KNOW MAYOR, YOU PUT IN A LOT OF TIME ON THIS AS WELL, TRYING TO WORK TOWARDS SOME TYPE OF MIDDLE AGREEMENT.

MY MY MY GOAL, MY MY GOAL FROM THE BEGINNING WAS I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A WAY TO TRY TO COME TO SOME TYPE OF AGREEMENT.

SO WE DO NOT HAVE TO GO TO THE BALLOT ON THIS.

I DO NOT FEEL IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU TALK ABOUT OUTSIDE FORCES AND AND THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON HERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

I'M NOT SMART ENOUGH TO FIGURE IT OUT.

BUT THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON HERE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF I IF I, YOU KNOW, I WANT US TO BE PART OF IT, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE CHOICE.

AGAIN, IT'S UP TO TERM.

MY GOAL HERE WOULD BE THAT WE COME UP WITH SOME WAY TO DO IT WITHOUT IT GOING TO THE VOTERS.

OKAY. BUT IF WE IF WE'VE COME TO YOU KNOW, IF WE'VE COME AS FAR AS WE'RE GOING TO GO, THEN I GUESS WE'VE GOT I'M HEARING YOU SAY THAT THERE WOULD STILL BE SOME INTEREST, SOME LEVEL OF INTEREST ON YOUR PART TO CONTINUE THE WORK.

COUNCILMAN. SCHERLEN.

I DIDN'T KNOW WE CAME TO NEGOTIATE ANOTHER AGREEMENT.

I MEAN, WE'VE GOT THE FIRST AGREEMENT.

WE'VE GOT AGREEMENT NUMBER TWO.

HOW MANY AGREEMENTS ARE WE GOING TO TALK ABOUT? I MEAN, TO ME, WE'VE COME TO A CONCLUSION THAT EITHER WE ACCEPT THIS AMENDED ONE OR WE ACCEPT THE ORIGINAL ONE, OR WE REJECT BOTH, OKAY? AND LET THEM DO WHAT THEY WANT.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE HERE TO NEGOTIATE ANOTHER TIME.

OKAY? I MEAN, THAT'S MY OPINION.

I UNDERSTAND, SIR.

COUNCILMAN TIPPS, IS THERE ANYTHING IN THIS THAT YOU WOULD STILL LIKE TO FURTHER AMEND? TO SEE IF YOU COULD GET IT PUSHED THROUGH WITH COUNCIL? NO. OKAY.

AS IS. SO I HAVE TWO AS IS.

WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS.

I STILL HAVE ONE THAT WOULD ENTERTAIN.

COUNCILMAN. CRAFT.

WHERE ARE YOU AT WITH THAT QUESTION? I MEAN, IF THIS IF THIS IS IT, THEN.

THAT'S IT. YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS I HAD EARLIER, LIKE, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE STRUCK IT IN ONE SECTION BUT LEFT IT IN THE OTHER SECTION.

IT'S THE SAME WORDING.

[05:30:01]

I'LL GIVE YOU SOME TIME.

SO WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE, OR WHAT I FEEL LIKE WE'RE DOING HERE, IS YOU WANT US TO STATE WHETHER WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD TO VOTE FOR THIS OR NOT? IS THAT IS THAT THE DIRECTION THAT YOU'RE LEADING? WHAT I'M TRYING TO ASSESS RIGHT NOW IS IF A VOTE ON THIS AMENDED ORDINANCE IS, IS A BENEFIT FOR THIS COUNCIL, IF WE CAN ESTABLISH WITH CONSENSUS THAT WE WOULDN'T PUT THIS INTO LAW, THEN I WOULD PREFER TO TAKE NO ACTION ON THE AMENDMENT AND TO ADDRESS THE THE FULL ORDINANCE AND THE BALLOT.

WELL, IF AND WHY WHY NOT MAKE A MOTION AND THEN JUST SEE IF IT'S SUPPORTED? I THINK THE ISSUE HERE IS LIKE THIS BEING A MUDDY MESS IN THE WAY IN WHICH THE LAWS ARE DRAWN AND HOW SCATTERED THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION GETS IS THERE ARE HUGE COMPLEXITIES HERE, AND I'M TAKING EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO SHOW MY PETITION, INITIATING COMMITTEE OR COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE TRYING.

AND SO, YOU KNOW WHAT? I KIND OF HEAR WHERE YOU'RE AT.

I THINK I WANT TO GO BACK TO TO CRAFT AND THEN I'LL, I'LL DELIVER WHERE I NEED TO BE.

BOTTOM LINE. AND MAYBE THAT'S WHAT IS A LITTLE FRUSTRATING.

I'M TRYING NOT TO JUMP OUT THERE FIRST AND TELL YOU WHAT I THINK.

AND AND SO I REALLY WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU GUYS THINK.

I MEAN, I CAN'T APPROVE THIS AMENDED DRAFT AS IT IS CURRENTLY.

OKAY, SO HERE'S WHERE I'M AT AND WE'LL CUT TO THE CHASE, AS JIMMY JOE LIKES TO SAY.

I'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT RIGHT TO TRAVEL.

DO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO TRAVEL? DOES A PERSON HAVE A RIGHT TO TRAVEL? MY QUESTION WOULD BE THE OPPOSITE, MAYBE TO LUCAS'S PHILOSOPHY.

DOES THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAVE THE RIGHT TO PREVENT TRAVEL SHORT OF YOU BEING ARRESTED? SO I THINK IF YOU COMMIT A CRIME, WE'VE READ YOU YOUR RIGHTS.

WE PLACE YOU UNDER ARREST.

THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY TIME THAT I WOULD FEEL LIKE YOU WOULD WANT YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO RESTRICT YOUR TRAVEL.

SO I'M SAYING THAT TO SAY THIS.

WHAT IF WE HAD A CONVERSATION BRIEFLY HERE ABOUT JURISDICTIONAL LIMITS, WHICH SEEM TO BE SOMETHING OF IMPORTANCE, PERHAPS EVEN GREAT IMPORTANCE, THAT WE ALL KEEP WALKING BACK AND FORTH ACROSS LIKE WE GET TO CHANGE THEM.

I DON'T HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE OUR JURISDICTIONAL LIMITS TO OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS.

ON ANYTHING THAT'S A MATTER OF AN ORDINANCE.

UNLESS PERHAPS IT'S A COUNTY THAT CARRIES OVER ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, LET'S SAY.

SO WOULD THIS COMMITTEE BE WILLING TO RESTRICT AND AMEND YOUR PETITION? AND THIS WOULD BE MY FINAL MY FINAL STAB AT IT.

THIS WOULD BE MY FINAL OFFER OF ANY TYPE OF NEGOTIATION TO RESTRICTING THIS TO THE SIX LOOPHOLES THAT ONLY COVER WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS.

THAT MEANS YOU HAVE NO ISSUE WITH STATE.

YOU HAVE NO ISSUE WITH ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF CITY LIMITS.

YOU'RE YOU'RE BOILING THIS DOWN TO WITHIN THE CITY OF AMARILLO.

WE'VE DECIDED TO BECOME A SANCTUARY CITY PER STATE LAW.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO OFFER ON THE ALTERNATIVE.

THAT LINES UP WITH STATE LAW, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T TALK ABOUT TRAVEL RESTRICTION AT THAT POINT.