Sep 29, 2020 City Council Regular Meeting

WELCOME TO THE BUSINESS MEETING FOR THIS WEEK FOR THE CITY COUNCIL AND WE HAVE WITH US

[INVOCATION]

[00:00:07]

MS. MILLER. THANK YOU, MAYOR NELSON.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

I'LL BE SIGNING AND SPEAKING OUR PRAYER TODAY.

PLEASE PRAY WITH ME.

BELOVED GOD WE COME TO YOU TODAY.

YOU ARE OUR DIVINE LEADER.

OUR DIVINE PROTECTOR AND DIVINE TEACHER.

GUIDE ALL OUR LEADERS WHO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY OF AMARILLO.

PROTECT ALL OUR POLICE, OUR FIREMEN AND ALL WHO ARE IN NEED OF YOUR CARE.

TEACH US YOUR WAYS, OH LORD AND GRANT US YOUR WISDOM AND YOUR GRACE.

ALL THESE THINGS WE ASK AND PRAY, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

AMEN. AMEN.

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PRAYER.

THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT. MAY GOD BLESS.

AND TO YOU ALSO.

WE HAVE TWO PROCLAMATIONS THAT WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK.

[PROCLAMATIONS]

YES, MAYOR, I'D BE HAPPY TO DO THAT.

WHEREAS THE CITY OF AMARILLO IN DECEMBER NINETEEN SEVENTY NINE APPROVED THE ORDINANCE, CREATING A COMMITTEE TO ADDRESS CONCERNS UNIQUE TO CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES.

AND WHEREAS THE ADVISORY COMMISSION, NOW KNOWN AS THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, HAS WORKED TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AWARENESS IN THE DISABILITY SERVICES AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AMARILLO IN NINETEEN EIGHTY SEVEN UNDER THE ADVISEMENT OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, CREATED A DOOR TO DOOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SERVICE FOR PEOPLE WHO COULD NOT USE THE REGULAR AMARILLO CITY TRANSIT SERVICE.

AND THAT SERVICE IS NOW KNOWN AS [INAUDIBLE] PROVIDES OVER 52000 PASSENGER TRIPS A YEAR AND WE'RE ASKED FOR 40 YEARS, RICHARD WAGNER THE THIRD HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AS A MEMBER, VICE CHAIRMAN AND VICE, I'M SORRY, VICE CHAIRMAN AND CHAIRMAN ATTENDING TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY THREE MEETINGS AND SERVING AS A TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND A CHAMPION FOR ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. NOW, THEREFORE, WE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO DO HEREBY THANK RICHARD WAGNER THE THIRD FOR HIS TIRELESS WORK ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE CITIZENS OF AMARILLO AND GIVING VOICE TO ISSUES OF CONCERN TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.

GIVEN UNDER OUR HAND AND SEAL OF OFFICE THIS TWENTY NINTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, TWENTY TWENTY.

THE HONORABLE MAYOR, GINGER NELSON, ELAINE HAYS, FREDA POWELL, EDDY SAUERS AND HOWARD SMITH COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MAYOR.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER POWELL.

WE DO CELEBRATE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE THANK MR. WAGNER FOR THE EXAMPLE AND THE HOURS OF SERVICE THAT HE'S GIVEN BOTH TO OUR CITY, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO THOSE CITIZENS WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE OTHERWISE HAD ACCESS TO SOME OF THE THINGS THE CITY PROVIDES.

SO, MR. WAGNER, I'M SORRY YOU COULDN'T BE WITH US TODAY, BUT ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY, WE DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND WE HOPE YOU'LL BE ABLE TO WATCH THIS AND THAT YOU'LL FEEL GREATLY HONORED AND MUCH APPRECIATED BY THOSE OF US WHO ARE HERE CELEBRATING YOU TODAY.

ANYTHING ELSE, COUNSEL, THAT YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT? OK. YES, MA'AM.

THIS IS STEPHANIE, AND I BELIEVE MAURITA [INAUDIBLE] HAS A STATEMENT TO READ.

OK, MAURITA.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, I SPOKE WITH RICHARD WAGNER YESTERDAY AND HE ASKED THAT I THANK YOU FOR THIS HONOR AND HE IS SORRY THAT HE CANNOT ATTEND IN PERSON, BUT HE IS VERY PROUD OF HIS 40 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CITY OF AMARILLO.

AND AS A MEMBER OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THURSDAY, WE'LL ALSO HONOR HIM BY READING THE PROCLAMATION AGAIN AT THE MEETING.

AND I WOULD PERSONALLY LIKE TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE AND ADMIRATION FOR RICHARD.

HE HAS TRULY MADE A DIFFERENCE IN [INAUDIBLE].

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAURITA, WE APPRECIATE THAT AND AGREE WITH YOU.

ANYONE ELSE? OUR NEXT PROCLAMATION IS NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH, AND I WOULD CALL

[00:05:03]

YES, MAYOR, I'LL BE HAPPY TO DO THAT.

WHEREAS NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH IS INTENDED TO HELP US LEARN HOW TO HELP THOSE AROUND US AND HOW TO TALK ABOUT SUICIDE WITHOUT INCREASING THE RISK OF HARM.

AND WHEREAS SUICIDAL THOUGHTS CAN AFFECT ANYONE REGARDLESS OF AGE, GENDER, RACE, ORIENTATION, INCOME LEVEL, RELIGION OR BACKGROUND, AND WHEREAS ACCORDING TO THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, EACH YEAR MORE THAN FORTY ONE THOUSAND PEOPLE DIE BY SUICIDE. AND WHEREAS SUICIDE IS THE TENTH LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES, AND THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG PEOPLE AGED 10 TO 24.

AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AMARILLO IS NO DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER COMMUNITY IN THE COUNTRY, BUT CHOOSES TO PUBLICLY STATE AND PLACE OUR FULL SUPPORT BEHIND LOCAL EDUCATORS, MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, ATHLETIC COACHES, PACK LEADERS, POLICE OFFICERS, PARENTS AND PARTNERS IN SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY AND SIMPLY BEING AVAILABLE TO ONE ANOTHER.

AND WHEREAS LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE ON THE FRONT LINES OF A BATTLE THAT MANY STILL REFUSES TO DISCUSS SUICIDE IN PUBLIC AS SUICIDE AND MENTAL ILLNESS REMAIN TOO TABOO TO SPEAK ON, AND WHEREAS EVERY MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THROUGHOUT LIFE'S STRUGGLES, WE ALL NEED THE OCCASIONAL REMINDER THAT WE ARE ALL SILENTLY FIGHTING OUR OWN BATTLES.

NOW THEREFORE, WE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2020 AS NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH IN AMARILLO AND URGE ALL CITIZENS TO RECOGNIZE THIS IMPORTANT MONTH GIVEN UNDER OUR HAND AND SEAL OF OFFICE THIS TWENTY NINTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER.

THE HONORABLE MAYOR GINGER NELSON, ELAINE HAYS, FREDA POWELL, EDDY SAUER AND HOWARD SMITH COUNCIL MEMBERS.

AND MAYOR, ON THAT NOTE, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT IN REGARDS TO NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION, WE SHOULD ALL TRY TO BE KIND TO PEOPLE ON A DAILY BASIS BECAUSE WE NEVER KNOW WHAT PEOPLE ARE FACING.

AND SOMETIMES JUST KEEPING THE SAME TONE OF VOICE AND CALMNESS WHEN WE'RE TALKING TO OTHERS COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE'S LIFE AT THE END OF THE DAY.

SO I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU, MAYOR.

AGREED. THANK YOU FOR THAT, FREDA.

I KNOW WE HAVE SOME GUESTS HERE WITH US TODAY, AND SO I WOULD HAND IT TO CASIE STOUGHTON.

CASIE, WHO DO WE HAVE WITH US TODAY? YES. SO WE HAVE SOME WONDERFUL COLLEAGUES.

MACKENZIE ELLIS FROM CANYON ISD.

SHE SERVES ON THE PANHANDLE SUICIDE PREVENTION COALITION.

JENNIFER POTTER.

SHE IS WITH FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES.

SHE IS OUR NEW LOST TEAM COORDINATOR AND A MEMBER OF THE AMARILLO AREA SUICIDE REVIEW TEAM.

JASON [INAUDIBLE] HAS JUST BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN OUR COMMUNITY.

A MEMBER OF ALL OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS IS NOW SERVING WITH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

AND I THINK THAT IS OUR TEAM.

IF ANYBODY ELSE IS HERE, THEN I WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU AND I DON'T KNOW.

MACKENZIE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS FOR US? SO I NEVER TURN DOWN THE TIME TO SPEAK, SO.

NO, I'M JUST SO APPRECIATIVE TO BE A PART OF THIS AND TO BE A PART OF A CITY WHO IS WILLING TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF SUICIDE PREVENTION.

I JUST THINK THAT THAT IS AMAZING.

YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN THERE.

BUT I THINK WITH COVID, IT'S REALLY SHED THAT MUCH MORE OF A LIGHT ON PEOPLE'S MENTAL HEALTH. YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A FULL ON DIAGNOSIS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH. AND SO I JUST THINK THAT THAT'S JUST REALLY IMPORTANT AS WE CONTINUE FORWARD.

AND JUST THANK YOU ALL FOR EVEN RECOGNIZING THIS.

I THINK THAT THAT'S REALLY AWESOME.

THE MORE CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE, THE MORE WE GET TO FIGHTING AGAINST THAT STIGMA.

AND HOPEFULLY IT'S NOT A TABOO ANYMORE, BUT MORE JUST AS SOMETHING WHERE IT'S A PART OF REGULAR CONVERSATION THAT PEOPLE HAVE.

WELL, SAID MCKENZIE.

CASIE, ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD? WE REALLY ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK THAT'S HAPPENING.

JENNIFER POTTER IS OUR NEW LOST TEAM COORDINATOR.

SO WE'LL BE PARTNERING WITH FIRST RESPONDERS HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO HAVE NEW RESOURCES FOR SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE.

SO WE'LL HAVE SOME HOPE AND SOME RESOURCES THAT WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE VERY EARLY ON IN

[00:10:05]

THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRST RESPONDER AGENCIES IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTIVE.

AND SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO BEGIN THAT WORK.

AND I THINK JENNIFER'S THE EXACT RIGHT PERSON TO DO THAT.

AND SO I THINK THAT WE'RE REALLY GLAD TO GET STARTED IN.

SO WE'LL BE GOOD.

THANK YOU, CASIE.

AND THANK YOU TO JENNIFER AND MCKENZIE FOR JOINING US, OF COURSE, JASON, ALSO, WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S EMOTIONALLY VERY HARD AND IT'S HARD TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE MORE REASON FOR US TO GIVE IT PROMINENCE AND SPACE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO TALK ABOUT. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING WILLING TO BE HEROES AND BRINGING IT INTO OUR COMMUNITY FOCUS. AND WE HOPE THAT YOU HAVE THE SUPPORT THAT YOU NEED TO DO THE JOB.

IT'S A HARD JOB, BUT WE DO SUPPORT YOU.

ANYTHING ELSE, COUNSEL, THAT YOU WANT TO COMMENT OR ADD TO THAT? I WANTED TO ADD JUST IN, AS WE THANK OUR FIRST RESPONDERS IN PARTNERING TO HELP REACH OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND ASSIST THE COMMUNITY, JUST FOR US TO BE REMINDED, FOR US TO REACH OUT TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AS WELL.

AND JUST NOTICING THAT THE NUMBER OF INCREASE IN SUICIDES AMONG POLICE OFFICERS, ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR, IS JUST INCREDIBLY TRAGIC.

AND SO JUST AS A COMMUNITY, JUST OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE ON A DAILY BASIS WHEN WE SEE POLICE OFFICERS OUT AND ABOUT.

JUST A KIND WORD.

A THANK YOU. JUST IT GOES A LONG WAYS.

AND I WOULD JUST SAY THAT IT IS PRETTY SOBERING HEARING THAT STATISTIC ON THE AGE GROUP OF TEN TO TWENTY FOUR, THAT SUICIDE IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH.

I MEAN, THAT IS SUCH A TRAGEDY.

AND I JUST APPRECIATE YOU GUYS WORK AND REACHING OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS THIS TOPIC. THANK YOU.

CASIE, YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO ADD? YES, YOU'LL SEE SOME BILLBOARDS AROUND TOWN.

THE COALITION HAS WORKED ON AND WITH COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANCE.

WE HAVE WORKED ON SOME BILLBOARDS.

AND SO YOU'LL START SEEING SOME BILLBOARDS AROUND TOWN THAT HAVE THE SUICIDE HOTLINE, THEIR TEXT LINE.

AND SO THAT'S A REALLY GREAT RESOURCE THAT WE HAVE HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SO THAT'S CERTAINLY A RESOURCE THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE.

AND THEN THE TEAM, MACKENZIE AND HER TEAM, THE TEAM AT AISD, THEY HAVE BRACELETS THAT ALSO HAVE THE SUICIDE TEXT LINE.

AND SO JUST GETTING THAT INFORMATION OUT THAT THERE ARE RESOURCES, THAT THERE IS HOPE, THAT IT'S OK TO TALK ABOUT AND IT'S OK TO NOT BE OK.

IT'S OK TO SAY THAT IT'S OK TO TALK ABOUT IS JUST SO VERY IMPORTANT.

GOOD, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU BEING HERE AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN OUR COMMUNITY.

[1A. Coronavirus Update;]

AND WE DEFINITELY HAVE SOME NEWS TO SHARE TODAY THAT YOU'RE PROBABLY ALREADY AWARE OF.

CASIE, GO AHEAD. YES, SIR.

THANK YOU. SO I WILL GIVE YESTERDAY'S NUMBERS AND OUR TEAM IS WORKING ON THE DATA ENTRY.

AND SO I'LL KIND OF EXPLAIN SOME OF THAT IN JUST A MINUTE.

SO AS OF YESTERDAY, THERE WERE SEVEN THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED NINETY NINE CASES OF COVID-19 IN [INAUDIBLE] COUNTY.

FOUR THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED EIGHTY ONE IN [INAUDIBLE] COUNTY, TWO THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN IN RANDALL COUNTY.

WE HAVE A TOTAL OF SIX THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FOUR RECOVERIES AGAIN AS OF YESTERDAY, AND ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHT DEATHS REPORTED IN [INAUDIBLE] COUNTIES AGAIN AS OF YESTERDAY. THAT LEAVES US WITH A TOTAL OF ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTEEN ACTIVE CASES. AND IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT EACH OF THE CASES DO REPRESENT A UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL. THE ROLLING SEVEN DAY AVERAGE POSITIVITY AVERAGE FOR POTTER AND RANDALL COUNTIES IS DOWN TO 10 PERCENT AND THE POSITIVITY RATE AT THE DRIVE THRU IS SLIGHTLY UP TO TWENTY THREE POINT TWO THREE PERCENT.

TODAY'S PANHANDLE RAC, REGIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL, HOSPITALIZATION PERCENTAGE IS AT ELEVEN POINT NINE ZERO PERCENT.

[00:15:01]

SO THERE WILL BE JUST OVER A THOUSAND CASES THAT WERE REPORTED FROM THE [INAUDIBLE] UNIT.

WE RECEIVED THOSE LATE YESTERDAY AND OUR TEAM IS COMPLETING THE DATA ENTRY.

SO THAT REPORT CARD WILL BE JUST A FEW MINUTES LATE.

AND THAT'S WHY I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT TOTALS FOR TODAY.

BUT WE DO HAVE OVER A THOUSAND CASES THAT WERE REPORTED TO US FROM THE [INAUDIBLE] UNIT.

THE LOCAL HOSPITALIZATION DATA INCLUDES 69 HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS AT OUR TWO HOSPITALS FOR A PERCENTAGE OF FIVE POINT SEVEN PERCENT.

THE TOTAL ADULT BED UTILIZATION IS AT SEVENTY SEVEN POINT FIVE PERCENT, ICU UTILIZATION IS AT EIGHTY FIVE POINT FIVE PERCENT AND VENTILATOR UTILIZATION IS AT THIRTY NINE PERCENT. THE PUBLIC HEALTH DRIVE THROUGH DOES REMAIN OPERATIONAL.

PATIENTS CAN CALL THREE SEVEN EIGHT SIX THREE ZERO ZERO.

AND OUR CALL TAKERS WILL SCREEN AND DIRECT THEM TO THE TEST SITE.

THE UPDATES ON THE DASHBOARD REMAIN OPERATIONAL AS WELL.

SO WE HAVE THE NEW NUMBERS OF THE NEW RAC POSITIVITY RATE AT THE HOSPITALS, THE HOSPITALIZATION RATE AND THE SCHOOL DATA.

AND SO THOSE NUMBERS, WE HOPE, ARE HELPFUL TO OUR COMMUNITY PREVENTION EFFORTS, SUCH AS MASKING, FLU VACCINES, HAND WASHING, SOCIAL DISTANCING, STAYING HOME WHEN YOU'RE SICK, REMAIN CRITICAL.

ALSO WANT TO THANK THE STAFF OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, HEALTH CARE WORKERS AS WE MOVE INTO OCTOBER.

YOU KNOW, THIS PANDEMIC, WE SAW OUR FIRST CASES, MARCH 18TH.

WE'RE NOW MOVING INTO OCTOBER, SO WE KNOW THEIR WORK HAS BEEN LONG AND IT HAS BEEN HARD.

AND SO WE APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK THAT HAS GONE ON AS WE WORK TO FIGHT COVID-19 ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR COMMUNITY.

IT HAS CERTAINLY BEEN HARD FOR THEM AS WELL.

AND SO WE WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE WORK THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS DONE.

AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

YES, COUNSEL, DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR CASIE? CASIE, ON THE THOUSANDS THAT ARE COMING FROM THE [INAUDIBLE] UNIT, DO WE KNOW LIKE A TIME PERIOD THAT THOSE THOUSAND REPRESENT? IS THAT ARE THEY CURRENTLY WITHIN, LIKE AN INITIAL WEEK OF TESTING? IS IT OVER A TWO OR THREE WEEK TIME PERIOD? AND KIND OF RELATED TO THAT, WHERE DID THEY PRIMARILY HAVE THEIR TESTS PROCESSED? SO ALL OF THOSE TESTS WERE CONDUCTED ON THE TWENTY FOURTH AND TWENTY FIFTH OF SEPTEMBER AND THEIR TESTS ARE CONDUCTED IN THROUGH THAT PRISON SYSTEM.

AND SO THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, IT'S A SYSTEM ALL TO ITSELF, SO THEY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO PROCESS THEIR OWN TESTS.

AND SO THEY DID A GLOBAL TESTING CASIE? THEY TESTED THE ENTIRE POPULATION? YES, MA'AM. WHAT IS THEIR TOTAL POPULATION? SO WE RECEIVED A LITTLE OVER AT RIGHT AT FIFTEEN HUNDRED, MAYBE LIKE FOURTEEN NINETY SEVEN TOTAL TESTS.

AND AGAIN, WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THOSE SPREADSHEETS.

THE WAY THAT IT CAME IN, THERE WERE LOTS OF HIDDEN FIELDS AND EVERYTHING.

AND SO WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THE EXCEL SPREADSHEETS.

SO I'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE MORE FINITE NUMBERS FOR YOU AND THOSE--.

THOUSAND CASES INCLUDED IN THE ELEVEN POINT NINE PERCENT RACK? WELL, THEY WOULDN'T BE ONLY IF THEY'RE HOSPITALIZED, AND SO REALLY, THOSE COMMUNITY NUMBERS WOULDN'T REALLY AFFECT THE HOSPITALIZATION, THE RACKS HOSPITALIZATION NUMBER SO MUCH BECAUSE IT DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT TOTAL CASES IN THE COMMUNITY.

OK, ARE ANY OF THOSE ONE THOUSAND PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED AND AFFECTING THAT ELEVEN POINT NINE PERCENT NUMBER? THAT'S HOW I SHOULD HAVE PHRASED THE QUESTION.

NO, MA'AM. OK, THANK YOU.

ALTHOUGH THEY DO SOMETIMES BRING PRISONERS OR DETAINEES, RESIDENTS TO OUR HOSPITALS.

SO THEY CAN, THEY JUST DON'T IN THIS CASE YET.

AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, AN EXTREMELY LOW PERCENTAGE OF THOSE POSITIVES ARE ACTUALLY SYMPTOMATIC. RIGHT.

ACCORDING TO A PRESS RELEASE THAT WAS PUBLISHED BY THE [INAUDIBLE] UNIT, VERY FEW OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WERE SYMPTOMATIC.

SO AND WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THE HOSPITALS THAT THEY HAVE INMATES.

[00:20:02]

AGAIN, WE'RE NOW ABOUT THREE WEEKS AFTER LABOR DAY, BUT WE DO HAVE LOTS OF GATHERING.

WITH-- AND THE WAY THAT EXPOSURE HAPPENS IS IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAPPEN LINEARLY.

IT HAPPENS MORE EXPONENTIALLY.

SO IF ONE PERSON EXPOSED IS SICK AND THEY EXPOSE TWO OR THREE PEOPLE WHO GET SICK AND THEN THOSE TWO OR THREE PEOPLE EXPOSED, TWO OR THREE MORE PEOPLE LIKE THAT EXPOSURE RATE HAPPENS EXPONENTIALLY AS OPPOSED TO LINEARLY IF THAT--.

I DON'T KNOW IF LINEARLY IS A WORD, BUT.

BUT IT'S NOT IN A LINE, IT'S MORE IN THAT CURVE UP.

AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE'RE SEEING MORE CASES, IS BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE POTENTIAL FOR EXPOSURE WITH MORE PEOPLE MOVING AROUND, MORE POSSIBLE POINTS OF EXPOSURE.

OTHER THAN THE NEAL UNIT, CASIE, DO YOU HAVE HOT SPOTS IN THE CITY OR THEY'RE JUST KIND OF EVERYWHERE? EVERYBODY? EXPOSING EACH OTHER.

YES, MA'AM. OK.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNSEL? I THINK A FOLLOW UP QUESTION ON YOUR QUESTION MAYOR ABOUT AT THE [INAUDIBLE] UNIT, SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THE ENTIRE POPULATION WAS TESTED BECAUSE IT WASN'T SYMPTOMATIC PEOPLE, BECAUSE VERY FEW PEOPLE WERE SYMPTOMATIC.

AND SO HOW MANY CURRENT DETAINEES ARE AT THE UNIT? WAS THAT THE FOURTEEN NINETY SEVEN? IS THAT THE TOTAL POPULATION? SO, AGAIN, I'M SORRY, I DON'T HAVE ALL OF THE DATA POINTS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE.

WE WILL CERTAINLY REQUEST MORE INFORMATION.

BUT TO MY UNDERSTANDING, WE HAD A TOTAL OF FOURTEEN NINETY SEVEN TEST RESULTS SENT TO US.

AGAIN, WE'RE WORKING OUT THE DETAILS OF ALL OF THE SPREADSHEETS THAT WERE SENT TO US.

AND THEN WE WILL ALSO MAKE A PHONE CALL OUT TO THE [INAUDIBLE] UNIT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION.

I THINK JUST FOR REFERENCE SAKE, THEY TESTED EVERYBODY.

THEY'RE NOT JUST EMPLOYEES AND EVERYONE, SO YES.

OF THAT FOURTEEN NINETY SEVEN, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR EMPLOYEE ROLE IS, 100 ISH, MAYBE A LITTLE MORE.

AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT INCLUDED THE EMPLOYEES.

OH, IT DIDN'T? WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE EMPLOYEE INFORMATION YET.

OK. COUNCIL MEMBER [INAUDIBLE], APOLOGIZE FOR THAT INCORRECT INFORMATION [INAUDIBLE] CASIE . SORRY, SO THAT INFORMATION IS FROM THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WHO THEN SENDS IT TO US AND THEY HAVE NOT SENT THE EMPLOYEE INFORMATION YET.

SO WAS THE TESTING DONE AT THE DIRECTIVE OF THE GOVERNOR OR KIND OF WHAT INITIATED THEM DOING A TEST OF THE ENTIRE POPULATION? I DON'T KNOW THAT. WE CAN ASK.

I KNOW, LIKE AT SOME POINT, LIKE WITH OUR NURSING FACILITIES ASSISTED LIVING, THERE WERE DIRECTIVES THAT WE NEEDED TO TEST ON A CERTAIN CYCLE AND GET THAT INFORMATION.

AND SO I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT HAD INITIATED IF IT WAS PART OF A DIRECTIVE OUT OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OR IF THERE WERE CONCERNS OF SOMETHING.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR CASIE? CASIE, THANK YOU. MR. CITY MANAGER, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER REPORTS ON CORONAVIRUS? NO, MA'AM, WE DO NOT. THAT IS ALL WE HAVE UNLESS THERE ARE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? MAYOR, LAST WEEK I HAD REQUESTED AN UPDATE ON LOCAL FACILITIES OR DOCTORS THAT WERE PRESCRIBING THE HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE AFTER THERE HAD BEEN SEVEN STATES THAT HAD LIFTED THE BAN ON THAT TREATMENT AND THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS DOES NOT HAVE A BAN ON THAT, WANTING TO SEE KIND OF WHERE WE ARE ON THE UPDATE ON THAT INFORMATION.

[00:25:03]

YEAH, I DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION FOR YOU UNLESS CASIE HAS SOMETHING, WE WILL WORK TO GET THAT AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN. SO THE INFORMATION THAT I HAVE FROM THE TEXAS MEDICAL BOARD SAID THAT THEY DON'T PROHIBIT THE DRUG, BUT THEY DON'T, LIKE THE TEXAS MEDICAL ASSOCIATION DOESN'T RECOMMEND IT.

AND SO THEY RECOMMEND THEY ACTUALLY RECOMMEND AGAINST THE PRESCRIBING OF HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE. SO.

WELL, SO THE TEXAS MEDICAL BOARD DOESN'T EXPLICITLY PROHIBIT IT.

THEY RECOMMEND THAT A MEDICAL PROVIDER USE THEIR MEDICAL JUDGMENT IN THE PRESCRIBING OF THAT MEDICATION. AND THEN THE TEXAS MEDICAL ASSOCIATION HAS OTHER INFORMATION THAT THEY PROVIDE TO THE PHYSICIANS RECOMMENDING AGAINST THE USE OF THE MEDICATION.

AND THE FDA IN JUNE REVOKED THE EMERGENCY AUTHORIZATION, PERMITTING THE USE OF HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE TO TREAT CERTAIN PATIENTS.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHICH PHYSICIANS DO AND WHICH PHYSICIANS DON'T, BUT I THINK THAT CERTAINLY THE PHYSICIANS ARE ABLE TO USE THEIR OWN MEDICAL JUDGMENT IF THEY DECIDE TO PROVIDE THAT MEDICATION OR NOT.

AND IN TEXAS, IT SAYS THAT THEY DON'T PROHIBIT THE USE OF THAT DRUG.

CASIE, IF I CAN GET A COPY OF THAT, BECAUSE THE STATEMENT I HAVE THAT THE TEXAS MEDICAL BOARD RELEASED ON SEPTEMBER THE 8TH STATED THAT THE TEXAS MEDICAL BOARD CLARIFIED THAT IT HAD NEVER PROHIBITED DOCTORS FROM USING HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE, BUT AFFIRMED ITS WARNING NOT TO TOUT THE DRUG AS A CURE.

SO THEY HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR ABOUT SAYING WE HAVE NO CURE, BUT THAT IT ABSOLUTELY WAS AN ACCEPTABLE TREATMENT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND HAD NEVER BEEN BANNED, NOR HAD BEEN STATED DISCOURAGED FROM USING IT, THAT IT WAS A DOCTOR'S DISCRETION.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I READ THAT VERY, VERY DIFFERENTLY, THAT IT WAS NOT STATING DOCTORS BEING ADVISED NOT TO RECOMMEND IT AND CERTAINLY--.

BUT THAT'S NOT OUR POSITION TO TAKE ANYWAY, IS TRYING TO GET INFORMATION FOR OUR CITIZENS TO KNOW WHAT THEIR OPTIONS ARE LOCALLY.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WOULD ACCESS THAT INFORMATION, REQUESTING DOCTORS THAT ARE USING THAT TREATMENT OR JUST KNOWING THERE IS NO RESTRICTION IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

I'LL CERTAINLY SEND YOU THE INFORMATION THAT I HAVE FROM THE TEXAS MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AND THEN WE CAN WORK INTERNALLY ON THE ADDITIONAL REQUEST.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR CASIE OR THE CITY MANAGER ON THIS TOPIC? OK, THANK YOU, CASIE.

THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ITEM ONE B, WHICH IS A REPORT FROM DR.

[1B. “Cultural Foundation of the Texas Panhandle,” by Dr. Wendler;]

WENDLER, WELCOME.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH YOU AND THE COUNCIL.

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

WITH ME TODAY IS MARK HODGES, WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE HISTORICAL FOUNDATION, WHICH OVERSEES AND OPERATES THE PLAY TEXAS, OUR-- THE LONGEST RUNNING AND LARGEST OUTDOOR PLAY IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD FROM MY PERSPECTIVE.

[LAUGHTER] AND ALSO, WILL MILLER, WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OR THE CHAIRMAN, ONE OF THE TWO OR BOTH OF THE PANHANDLE PLAINS HISTORICAL MUSEUM AND THE SOCIETY, WHICH I SEE INTERCHANGEABLY, BUT WE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING NOW FOR SOME TIME THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMBINE THE, IN A SENSE, THE RESOURCES AND POWER OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE HISTORICAL FOUNDATION AND THE PANHANDLE PLAINS HISTORICAL MUSEUM INTO AN ENTITY WHERE EACH GROUP MAINTAINS ITS INDEPENDENCE.

BUT ALSO WE WORK TOGETHER, ALONG WITH TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY AND ALSO WITH TEXAS PARKS,

[00:30:10]

CARTER SMITH IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THERE, TO SEE IF THERE'S NOT SOME WAYS TO CONSOLIDATE AND TO PRONOUNCE MORE LOUDLY THE TEXAS PANHANDLE THROUGH THE PLAY AND THE MUSEUM, WHICH TOGETHER ARE, I THINK, TREMENDOUS ASSETS TO THIS REGION ON AND ARE MUTUALLY SUPPORTIVE OF EACH OTHER.

ALL FOUR OF THOSE ENTITIES AND OF COURSE, THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER TO PRONOUNCE AS LOUDLY AS WE CAN THE HISTORY, THE PROUD HISTORY OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE AND ITS CONTRIBUTIONS, INDEED, ITS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STATE OF TEXAS AND OUR SURROUNDING REGION AND OTHER STATES HERE ON THE HIGH PLAINS.

SO WE HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS.

WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING THE PAPERWORK.

I JUST SENT BACK IN ANOTHER DRAFT OF COMMENTS TO THE ATTORNEYS IN COLLEGE STATION WHO ARE WORKING ON THIS FROM THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM TO HELP US ORGANIZE THIS.

BUT WHAT WE WILL DO IS, BOTH BOARDS WILL REMAIN INTACT AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO CREATE A NEW BOARD. AND THIS SOUNDS LIKE A TERRIBLE BUREAUCRACY, BUT I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE.

CREATE A NEW BOARD THAT WILL HELP GUIDE AND DIRECT AND ADVISE HOW THESE ORGANIZATIONS CAN WORK TOGETHER. IT WILL BE A BOARD.

WE HAVE BOTH OF THESE BOARDS ARE EXCELLENT.

THIS WILL BE A BOARD THAT MORE GENERALLY REPRESENTS THE STATE OF TEXAS.

WE THINK THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE ARE NOT JUST IMPORTANT TO THE PANHANDLE, BUT HAVE VALUE TO PEOPLE WHO WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY AND VALUE OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE TO THE LARGER STATE OF TEXAS.

IN OTHER WORDS, WE WANT TO TOOT OUR HORN MORE LOUDLY, BEAT OUR DRUM AND LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE'RE HERE.

WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO MAKE OUR PRESENCE KNOWN.

AND THE VALUE THAT WE ADD TO THE STATE OF TEXAS.

SO THE PRIMARY KIND OF ORGANIZATIONAL WASN'T REALLY A SHIFT.

IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF A SHIFT.

WE PLAN ON HIRING ONE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO WORK TO LEAD BOTH OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH WE BELIEVE WE CAN.

IT MAY REQUIRE SOME JUGGLING OF EXISTING RESPONSIBILITIES, BUT WE BELIEVE WE CAN DO THAT.

AND WE WILL CREATE AN INCENTIVE PACKAGE FOR THIS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THAT WILL ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A BETTER CENSUS AT BOTH THE PLAY AND THE MUSEUM, NUMBER ONE.

AND NUMBER TWO, MAYBE THE ORDER IS REVERSED, TO HELP US WITH FUNDRAISING FOR BOTH THE MUSEUM AND THE PLAY.

A MUSEUM HAS A VERY GOOD ENDOWMENT, BUT STILL IS, I WOULD SAY, SIGNIFICANTLY SUBSIDIZED BY THE UNIVERSITY.

AND THAT'S FINE. WE'RE GLAD OF IT.

IT'S A GOOD THING.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE PLAY IT IS AND I DON'T SEE THIS IN A DISPARAGING WAY, BUT IT'S REALLY A HAND-TO-MOUTH OPERATION.

THE PLAY, THE SALE OF TICKETS AND SO ON, PROVIDES THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO PAY STAFF AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

WE'RE HOPING TO ENHANCE BOTH THROUGH THIS COMBINED AND MORE SYMPATHETIC EFFORT WITH ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS TO DRAW MORE PEOPLE TO THESE EVENTS AND TO INDEED TO VISITATION AND IN AMARILLO CANYON AND OUR REGION.

WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING FROM THE CITY.

WE WANT TO JUST SHARE IT WITH YOU BECAUSE THESE, WE THINK THESE DEVELOPMENTS AND THIS NEW ORGANIZATION CALLED THE CULTURAL FOUNDATIONS OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE WITH A BOARD OF SEVEN MEMBERS, THERE'LL BE A FEW LOCAL MEMBERS, BUT A GOOD NUMBER OF THE MEMBERS WILL BE FROM THE MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREAS OF THE STATE.

AND WE'RE WORKING ON THE MEMBERSHIP RIGHT NOW.

BUT OUR INTENTION, AGAIN, IS TO TRUMPET MORE LOUDLY THE TEXAS PANHANDLE AND ITS CONTRIBUTIONS AND BENEFITS AND ATTRACTIVENESS TO THE STATE OF TEXAS.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON AND MARK AND WILL ARE HERE, BY THE WAY, I WILL TELL YOU THAT IT WAS WITH SOME TREPIDATION THAT I FLOATED THIS IDEA OUT TO THE BOARDS.

[00:35:05]

THEIR ORGANIZATIONS, LIKE ANY ORGANIZATION, THEY DEVELOP A CULTURE AND A LIFE OF THEIR OWN. AND IT'S NOT SO MUCH THAT THEY'RE RESISTANT TO CHANGE, BUT THEY HAVE A TRADITION AND A PATTERN. AND IT'S DIFFICULT SOMETIMES TO TRY NEW IDEAS.

SO IT WAS WITH SOME TREPIDATION THAT WE FORWARDED THIS OUT.

BUT I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT BOTH BOARDS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THIS CONCEPT AS A POSITIVE STEP INTO THE FUTURE TO ENGENDER A GREATER STRENGTH FOR BOTH OF THESE ENTITIES, THE TWO PRIMARY ENTITIES, PLUS THE [INAUDIBLE] CANYON AND STATE PARKS.

WE WANT TO FIND WAYS TO INTEGRATE THESE MORE NEATLY.

AND OF COURSE, ALL OF THIS.

YEAH, AS PROVIDENCE WOULD HAVE IT, BENEFITS WEST TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY AND BOTH THE COMMUNITIES OF AMARILLO AND CANYON.

AND IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, I THINK OVER SOME PERIOD OF TIME, A DECADE OR MORE MAYBE, THERE HAS BEEN A, I HATE TO SAY A WANING INFLUENCE, BUT MAYBE IT'S THE CHANGE OF BUS TOURS AND SOME OF THE OTHER IMPACTS THAT HAVE CAUSED THERE TO BE LESS INTEREST IN THESE OPPORTUNITIES HERE IN THE PANHANDLE.

AND WE WANT TO CHANGE THAT AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK TO CHANGE THAT.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL STOP.

AND IF MARK OR WILL, IF EITHER OF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD OR IF ANY OF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, WE'D BE PLEASED TO TRY AND ENTERTAIN THOSE.

AND AGAIN, THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, I ALWAYS APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND SHARE IDEAS AND SO ON.

I'M WT PROUD AND WTS THE PANHANDLE FOR ME AND SO IS AMARILLO SO IT ALL WORKS TOGETHER VERY NICELY. WE APPRECIATE IT.

WASN'T IT CONVENIENT WE WERE STILL MEETING BY ZOOM? YOU DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO LEAVE THE WT CAMPUS TO BE WITH US.

[LAUGHTER] BY THE WAY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT ZOOM MEETINGS AND EVERYTHING, NOT ME. I'M OK WITH THEM.

THEY DO PROVIDE A KIND OF EFFICIENCY.

AND THE OPPORTUNITIES.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, I WAS MEETING WITH A POTENTIAL BOARD MEMBER THE OTHER DAY, WE DID IT BY ZOOM. YOU JUST, YOU GET A LITTLE BIT MORE LOOKING IN PEOPLE'S EYES.

EVEN IF IT'S THROUGH A CAMERA, IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE TELEPHONE.

NOT QUITE AS GOOD AS IN PERSON, BUT IT'S A LOT EASIER.

YEAH, IT IS. MARK, YOU HAVE COMMENTS.

SURE. THAT WELL SAID.

DR. WENDLER, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE THE COUNCIL TODAY AND SINCE THE EARLY BEGINNINGS OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE HERITAGE FOUNDATION IN THE EARLY 60S IN THE OUTDOOR MUSICAL DRAMA TEXAS, THE FOUNDATION IN WEST TEXAS, WHAT AT THAT TIME WAS WITH TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY AND IT IS TODAY WITH TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY, HAS HAD A VERY CLOSE, LONG TERM COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP.

AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT RELATIONSHIP AND BEGINNING A NEW CHAPTER IN THIS LONG TERM RELATIONSHIP AND ADDING TO IT THE PANHANDLE PLAINS HISTORICAL MUSEUM IS EXCITING AND WE BELIEVE JUST TO WIN, WIN, WIN FOR US ALL.

SO CERTAINLY THIS WILL PROVIDE SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO CREATE SOME EFFICIENCIES AND TO COLLABORATE ON A MUCH BROADER SCALE THAN EVER BEFORE, THUS EXPANDING AGAIN AND ENHANCING OUR PRESENCE HERE IN THE PANHANDLE.

SO I BELIEVE THE POSSIBILITIES ARE LIMITLESS.

AGAIN, OUR BOARD IS FULLY ON BOARD AND THE POSSIBILITIES ARE LIMITLESS FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE STAFF, FACULTY, STUDENTS, AT WT TO CREATE A VERY NEW AND EXCITING WAY TO PRESERVE AND SHARE THE CULTURE AND HISTORY OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE.

SO AGAIN, APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY ALLOWING US TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY.

THANK YOU, MARK. MR. MILLER.

HELLO, THANK YOU.

FOR THE SOCIETY, THE PANEL OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

WE JUST HAVE OUR 90 NINTH ANNUAL MEETING LAST WEEK.

SO NINETY NINE YEARS. WE'RE KNOCKING ON 100 YEARS.

AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT 99 YEARS.

AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REALLY START TO LOOK OUTSIDE AND SEE WHAT WE NEED TO LOOK LIKE FOR THE NEXT HUNDRED YEARS.

AND AS DR.

WENDLER MENTIONED, THIS WAS A-- I WAS NOT PARTICULARLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS CONCEPT INITIALLY, BUT I THINK ONCE WE GOT INTO IT, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING VERY GOOD FOR ALL OF US COLLECTIVELY.

I APPRECIATE DR. WENDLER'S DESIRE TO REALLY ENHANCE THE STATURE OF BOTH ORGANIZATIONS.

SOMETIMES WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE SO FAR AWAY FROM EVERYTHING AND THAT HE'S WILLING THAT HE WANTS TO DRAW US INTO THE STATE.

AND WE HAVE THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF THE LARGEST HISTORICAL MUSEUM IN THE STATE.

[00:40:03]

AND SO WE WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

OUR BOARD IS OBVIOUSLY BEHIND IT AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT STEP HERE.

SO WE APPRECIATE THE INVITATION.

AND THANKS TO DR. WENDLER BRINGING THIS IDEA TO US.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR THESE LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE BRINGING SUCH A INNOVATIVE AND NOVEL CHANGE TO TWO VERY TRADITIONAL ORGANIZATIONS? I WONDER IF YOU'LL HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR THEM.

I'VE JUST HAD A COMMENT ON [INAUDIBLE] --IT'S LINKING TOGETHER WHAT THE POTENTIAL FOR THAT IS AND CERTAINLY SEEING FROM THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU, THESE ARE HUGE ATTRACTIONS FOR TOURISM TO OUR AREA AND THE CULTURE THAT YOU WERE DEFINING AND PRESERVING IT.

IT IS A BIG MAGNET TO OUR AREA.

AND SO IT IS IMPORTANT NOT JUST TO PROTECT OUR HISTORY.

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO PROTECT OUR ECONOMY AND CONTINUE DRAWING IN AND MAKING EVERY EFFORT WE CAN TO SHARE OUR CULTURE WITH THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, EVEN INTERNATIONALLY.

AND PEOPLE REALLY LIKE OUR BACKGROUND.

THEY LIKE OUR HISTORY.

WE'RE VERY INTERESTING.

THERE'S JUST LOTS OF MOVIES AND EVERYTHING, THE STAR, OUR CULTURE.

AND SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR ORGANIZATION'S EFFORT IN PRESERVING IT FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND SOCIETY AT LARGE.

OH, I'M SORRY.

I'M SORRY.

I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THAT WE HAD A VERY INTERESTING MEETING WITH, IT WAS A ZOOM MEETING WITH LARRY [INAUDIBLE], WHO HAS A PLAY THAT HE WOULD LIKE US TO PRODUCE.

AND IT'S A LITTLE MAYBE A LITTLE ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES.

AND I'D SAY THAT IF HE WAS HERE AND HE'D MAKE SOME SMART COMMENT.

I'D MAKE ONE BACK TO HIM.

BUT I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND.

I'M ALSO VERY INTERESTED.

I KNOW THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THE AMARILLO SYMPHONY, MAYBE THE AMARILLO BALLET, MAYBE THE AMARILLO OPERA PERFORMED IN THE CANYON.

I THINK THIS IS A HUGE LOST OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND THE SEASONS INTO THE SPRING AND THE FALL AND HAVE WEEKEND EVENTS WHERE THERE MIGHT BE THREE DIFFERENT PERFORMANCES ON A WEEKEND.

SOMEONE CAN COME TO TOWN, DO THESE PERFORMANCES AND SEE SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN'T SEE ANYWHERE ELSE IN THREE NIGHTS.

OPERA, BALLET, SYMPHONY AND A PLAY, MAYBE FOUR NIGHTS.

AND SEE THOSE IN ONE PLACE AND A REMARKABLE PHYSICAL SURROUNDING THE CANYON.

IT'S NOTHING LIKE IT.

AND IT COULD BE A TREMENDOUS DRAW.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.

PLUS A STRONGER INTEGRATION WITH A UNIVERSITY WITH OUR THEATER PROGRAMS AND SO ON.

I JUST THINK THERE'S A LOT OF UP TO JUST A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT BOTH OF THESE FACILITIES.

THE MUSEUM FIRST.

I VISITED THE MUSEUM SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE YEARS, AND IT'S A WONDERFUL, I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS THE LARGEST.

I KNEW IT WAS ONE OF THE LARGEST. THAT'S GREAT.

YOU HAVE A LOT TO DISPLAY THERE.

AND THEN ABOUT TO PLAY.

IT'S A WONDERFUL ATTRACTION FOR THIS AREA.

I'M ALL FOR TOURISM TO THIS AREA, AND I KNOW NONE OF YOU HERE WILL BELIEVE THIS, BUT I WENT TO THE VERY FIRST PLAY.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YEAR THAT WAS.

WHAT ARE YOU LAUGHING ABOUT, WALTER? WHAT WAS THE FIRST YEAR? IT WAS 60, 61 OR 62.

WELL, I WAS THERE AND SINCE THEN I'VE PROBABLY BEEN TO HALF OF THE PERFORMANCES.

AND I KNOW THIS IS AN UNUSUAL YEAR, BUT HOPEFULLY WE GET BACK TO THE USUAL YEAR AND BRING IN ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE TO THE PANHANDLE.

I'VE BEEN IN THE REAL STATE FOR 40 YEARS, AND EACH TIME I'M WORKING FOR FLIGHTS COMING FROM OUT OF TOWN DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS.

I'LL TELL THEM ABOUT THIS PLAY AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO GO TO IT, AND MANY OF THEM DO THAT.

AND THEY THOROUGHLY ENJOY IT.

SO IT'S A WONDERFUL THING THAT TAKES PLACE.

AND I'M GLAD YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT WAYS TO MAKE THIS CONTINUE.

[00:45:05]

THANK YOU, HOWARD. BY THE WAY AND MARK, YOU MAY WANT TO SAY A WORD ABOUT THIS, THERE HAVE BEEN RUMORS THAT THE TEXAS [INAUDIBLE] IS GOING ON THAT THE TEXAS PLAY IS NOT GOING UNDER, THAT IT'S NEVER GOING TO COME BACK.

IT'S COMING BACK. AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE'RE ALL BUT SELLING TICKETS ALREADY WITH THE HOPES THAT THINGS WILL BE IN A CIRCUMSTANCE WHEREBY WE CAN LOFT THE PLAY NEXT YEAR.

AND I BELIEVE I HOPE I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

BUT, MARK, YOU MIGHT JUST SAY A WORD ABOUT WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF GETTING READY FOR THE NEXT SEASON. SURE, I'D BE HAPPY TO.

OF COURSE, COVID CAUGHT US AT A VERY VULNERABLE TIME.

WE WERE BECAUSE OUR YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30 SO CAUGHT US RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF PLANNING THE TWENTY TWENTY SHOW.

AND THEN WHEN COVID REALLY CAME ON BOARD AND CHANGED A LOT OF THINGS.

THE CANYON WAS CLOSED, AND SO WE WERE FORCED INTO A SITUATION WHERE WE HAD TO CANCEL THE SHOW. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIFTY FIFTH SEASON, WOULD HAVE BEEN.

SO WE HAD TO CANCEL THE SHOW, REFUND TICKETS AND ALL THE MONEY THAT WE HAD ACCUMULATED AND SALES AND SUCH AT THAT TIME.

SOME PEOPLE WERE GENEROUS ENOUGH TO JUST MOVE THOSE TICKETS OVER OR DONATE IT TO THE SHOW.

BUT ANYWAY, IT WAS VULNERABLE.

WE HAD TO MAKE SOME REALLY TOUGH DECISIONS AND CUT THE EXPENSES TO THE BARE BONES BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE MOST OF OUR REVENUES COME FROM.

IT'S THE SHOW AND THE REVENUES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

SO JUST HAD TO MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS.

BUT WITHOUT QUESTION, WE'RE VERY VIABLE.

WE DO HAVE AS WELL.

WE HAVE A SMALL ENDOWMENT FUND AS WELL, BUT WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BEGINNING PLANS FOR THE TWENTY TWENTY ONE SEASON.

I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE, JUST LIKE WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS IS [INAUDIBLE] AND BASEBALL AND A LOT OF THOSE THINGS NEXT SUMMER.

BUT WE ARE 100 PERCENT ON BOARD WITH MOVING FORWARD WITH A SHOW AND ARE MAKING PLANS FOR THAT EVEN TODAY.

SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL OUT OUT OF THE CANYON.

AGAIN, WE'RE CERTAINLY IN THE PROCESS OF RAISING NEEDED FUNDS AS WELL JUST TO GET THINGS CRANKED UP. BUT WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE FIFTY FIRST SHOW, FIFTY FIRST YEAR OF TEXAS AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ALL OF YOU OUT AT THE CANYON AMPHITHEATER.

WELL, WE DO APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT YOU GUYS ARE SPENDING WORKING ON THIS PROJECT.

IT'S A BIG LIFT TO MAKE THIS KIND OF CHANGE.

BUT IF THINGS AREN'T CHANGING, THEN THINGS AREN'T BROKE.

SO SOMETIMES THAT MEANS YOU'RE HAVING TO MAKE BIG CHANGES.

AND WE APPRECIATE THE SACRIFICES THAT YOU'RE MAKING, MARK AND WILL, TO LEAD THE ORGANIZATION. AND DR.

WENDLER, WE APPRECIATE THE VISION THAT YOU BRING TO EVERYTHING THAT YOU TOUCH.

SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT FOR THESE TWO ORGANIZATIONS.

AND WE APPRECIATE WT AND WHAT IT DOES TO SUPPORT AND KEEP THE MUSEUM GOING.

BUT NOW ADDING INTO THE PLAY AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF [INAUDIBLE] CANYON AS A TOURISM DRAW.

SO IT'S ALL VERY IMPORTANT AND WE SEE TONS OF POTENTIAL.

WE'RE BEHIND YOU AND WE APPRECIATE THE TIME YOU MADE TO BE WITH US TODAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR GOOD WORK, TOO, ESPECIALLY IN THESE CHALLENGING TIMES.

VERY THANKFUL FOR IT. THANK YOU.

WE'RE GRATEFUL TO BE DOING THAT AS A TEAM TO BENEFIT THE CITY.

OK, NEXT THING ON THE AGENDA THEN IS JUST CITY COUNCIL REPORTS.

[1C. Reports and updates from City Councilmembers serving on outside Boards: Environmental Task Force; Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Advisory Committee; and]

THANK YOU. THE ENVIRONMENTAL TASK FORCE MET THIS LAST WEEK.

HAD A VERY GOOD MEETING.

I THINK WE MAY HAVE MISSED A MINUTE OR TWO HERE DURING COVID, BUT WE'RE BACK IN BUSINESS AND THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL TASK FORCE COULD CONSIDER, BUT THEY FIGURED OUT THEY NEEDED TO FOCUS MORE ON A COUPLE OF THINGS, AND THEY'RE BIG ENOUGH. ONE OF THEM IS COMPOSTING AND OTHER IS WATER CONSERVATION.

SO IN THE AREA OF COMPOSTING, THERE'S TWO PILOT PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN STARTED BY THIS TASK FORCE, AND BOTH OF THEM ARE MAKING THE EFFORT OF DIVERTING WASTE FROM THE LANDFILL.

[00:50:03]

THE FIRST OF THE TWO PROJECTS IS A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH HIGH PLAINS FOOD BANK, WHERE THE CITY COLLECTS THEIR FOOD WASTE AND USES THE MATERIALS TO ENHANCE THE COMPOST PROGRAM. SO I UNDERSTAND THE HIGH PLAINS FOOD BANK HAS SOME FOOD THAT IS NOT USED AND SO IT WOULD FIT INTO THE COMPOST PILE.

THE COMPOST PILE IS COMING ALONG.

IT'S NOT QUITE READY TO THE POINT.

IT SHOULD BE, BUT IT WILL IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND MAYBE EVEN TO THE POINT THAT THINGS FROM THAT COULD BE SOLD TO SOMEONE, MAYBE NOT FOR A LOT OF MONEY, BUT IT IS PREVENTING THINGS FROM GOING TO THE LANDFILL.

THE SECOND PARTNERSHIP IS WITH THE GREENWAY'S [INAUDIBLE] IN WHICH ALL THEIR GRASS CLIPPINGS ARE COLLECTED FOR USE IN THE COMPOST PROGRAM.

AND SO THAT'S QUITE A BIT OF GRASS AND IF THIS PILOT PROGRAM WORKS, THE INTENT WOULD BE TO GET OTHERS THAT ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF GETTING LAWNS AND GRASS TO ADD TO THIS, THAT COULD THEN SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASE THE AMOUNT GOING TO THE LANDFILL.

SO BOTH OF THOSE ARE PILOT PROJECTS AND THEY'RE WATCHING VERY CLOSELY AND IN THE MEETINGS, WE'VE HAD DISCUSSED BOTH THESE PROJECTS AT LENGTH.

THE SECOND AREA THAT THEY'VE CHOSEN TO WORK ON IS WATER UTILITIES AND TRYING TO CREATE WAYS TO SAVE YOU USED, SAY, WATER.

THEY HAVEN'T MADE ANY DECISIONS YET, BUT THEY'RE INVESTIGATING IT AND HOPE THEY DON'T SEE WATER RUN DOWN THE GUTTERS A LOT, PROBABLY TOO MUCH, BUT THEY'LL BE STUDYING THAT.

AND THEN THE LAST THING I WANT TO MENTION, THIS IS A TASK FORCE AND IT IS TO SUNSET IN DECEMBER. AND THE TASK FORCE WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE COUNCIL, PUT IT ON THEIR AGENDA AND EXTEND THE LIFE OF THIS TASK FORCE, THEY'RE HAVING GOOD DISCUSSIONS AND IT'S GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE CITY.

SO. WE COULD GET THAT PUT ON THE AGENDA IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE UNLESS THERE'S QUESTIONS.

CAN YOU CLARIFY THAT AGAIN, THE SUNSET DEADLINE FOR THIS COMMITTEE? IT'S SOMETIME IN DECEMBER.

I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT DATE.

SO OF THIS YEAR, AND SO DO WE KNOW HOW LONG THIS HAS BEEN GOING AND WHY THAT ONE WAS SET FOR A SUNSET, MR. CITY MANAGER? I KNOW IT WAS PUT IN PLACE BY THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL PRIOR TO THOSE ELECTION.

I BELIEVE-- DO YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION? BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD WHY IT WAS SET TO SUNSET.

I DON'T KNOW.

FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IT WAS SET FOR A TWO YEAR PERIOD, AND THAT'S TYPICAL OF THE LENGTH THAT THIS TASK FORCE BEFORE.

AND WE HAVE EXTENDED IT HERE.

I KNOW WE'VE DONE THAT, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

I DON'T KNOW THE REASON FOR THE TWO YEARS THAT WERE SELECTED.

I DON'T KNOW EITHER.

WE CAN FIND THAT INFORMATION AND GET IT FOR YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER HAYS.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

I WOULD ASK THE CITY MANAGER TO PUT THIS ON YOUR LIST OF THINGS TO BE INCLUDED ON A FUTURE AGENDA PROBABLY AROUND NOVEMBER WHEN WE DO BOARD APPOINTMENTS MIGHT BE A GOOD, LOGICAL TIME FOR US TO ADD THAT.

I DO THINK IN GENERAL, THAT'S A GOOD PRACTICE.

EVERY MORNING COMMISSION SHOULD HAVE A TIME FRAME ATTACHED TO.

WE'VE SAID MORE THAN ONCE, WE HAVE SO MANY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

ARE THEY ALL ONE TASK ARE THEY ALL ACCOMPLISHING THE MISSION? AND I THINK SUNSETS ARE A GOOD WAY TO REVISIT PIECE BY PIECE RATHER THAN THE WHOLE CHUNK OF THEM AT ONCE, WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE ON TASK AND ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISHING SOMETHING SO.

WE CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AT THAT TIME.

[00:55:03]

HISTORY. HELLO.

CAN YOU HEAR ME.

I KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN EXTENDED BEFORE AND IT WAS FOR A TWO YEAR PERIOD.

AND SO IF IT PLEASES THE COUNCIL, WE'LL JUST PREPARE THAT AS A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM.

AND WE CAN HAVE THE CHAIR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL TASK FORCE COME AND GIVE YOU AN UPDATE AT THAT TIME AS WELL, IF THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

YES. THANK YOU.

PERFECT. AND MAYOR, KIND OF TO ADDRESS YOUR POINT ON KIND OF THE BIGGER PICTURE AS OPPOSED TO JUST THIS ONE PARTICULAR BOARD, THAT THIS HAS BEEN A TOPIC WE HAVE DISCUSSED OVER THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS ON JUST A SYSTEM OF REVIEW FOR SUNSETTING.

AND SO MAYBE, MR. CITY MANAGER, IF, YOU KNOW, A PROPOSAL COULD BE BROUGHT BEFORE COUNCIL ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO LOOK, TRY AND LOOK AT REVIEWING ALL THESE BOARDS AGAIN, HOW MANY WE HAVE, BREAKING IT UP IN BLOCKS AT A TIME OR SOMETHING TO REVIEW THEM.

WE NEED SOME SORT OF A PROCESS TO REVIEW RATHER THAN JUST ALL OF THEM AT ONE TIME WHEN WE START MAKING BOARD APPOINTMENTS IN THE FALL.

WE'LL ABSOLUTELY GET THAT ON OUR FUTURE AGENDA AND I'LL BRING YOU THE BEST PRACTICES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WAYS FORWARD AND OPTIONS SO YOU'LL BE ABLE TO CONSIDER AND MODIFY ALL THAT AND DO IT THE WAY THAT YOU WANT.

OK. THE NEXT REPORT IS PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND THAT IS OUR SAME REPORTER.

COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH. THANK YOU.

THE PEDESTRIAN BICYCLE SAFETY COMMITTEE MET THIS LAST WEEK AND I THINK WE MAY HAVE MISSED ONE OR TWO MEETINGS BUT.

AND PRETTY REGULAR ABOUT MEETING CAUSE WE CAN MEET BY ZOOM.

AND SO I WANT TO TELL YOU SOME THINGS THAT THEY'VE BEEN CONSIDERING THE POSSIBILITY OF A BIKE PATH ON 9TH STREET FROM [INAUDIBLE] TO [INAUDIBLE].

THE BIG PICTURE, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS CONNECT THE DOTS, CONNECT THE PATHS IN DIFFERENT AREAS THROUGH THE CITY.

WE GOT THE ROCK ON RAIL TRAIL THAT GOES FROM 7TH AND CROCKET TO [INAUDIBLE].

AND WE WOULD LIKE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO EXTEND THAT TO [INAUDIBLE] BECAUSE [INAUDIBLE] HAS A BIKE PATH THAT MANY PEOPLE USE.

BUT ALSO GOING TO THE MEDICAL CENTER AND [INAUDIBLE] AND SO THAT'S BEING STUDIED, HADN'T GOT AN ANSWER THERE YET.

AND THEN THE COMMITTEE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE WHAT'S GOING ON AT JON [INAUDIBLE] PARK, THAT WE'VE APPLIED FOR A GRANT TO MAKE SOME CHANGES IN THAT PARK.

AND THEY HAD ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSING FOR, YOU KNOW, ABOUT THAT, ABOUT NEEDING A WAY TO GET PEOPLE FROM PUCKETT SUBDIVISION OVER TO THE PARK.

THERE'S NOT A GOOD WAY TO DO THAT.

MAYBE. THE TYPE THING THAT WE HAVE ON GEORGIA THAT WAS JUST THE [INAUDIBLE] WAS INSTALLED MIGHT BE AN ANSWER. SO WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THAT.

IF WE GET THAT GRANT, THEY'D LIKE TO GET THE WAY TO GET OVER THERE FOR PEDESTRIANS AND BIKERS. THE OTHER THING THAT WE STUDIED, WE HAD THE POLICE DEPARTMENT COME AND REPORT ON ACCIDENTS, EITHER BIKE OR PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS, WHETHER PEOPLE KILLED OR INJURED, AND THEY DID THAT AND QUITE A FEW ACCIDENTS WERE TAKING PLACE ON EMERALD BOULEVARD.

SO WE DECIDED WE NEEDED TO GET WAYS TO CROSS EMERALD BOULEVARD, WHICH THERE'S REALLY NOT

[01:00:05]

AND THAT HAPPENS TO BE A TXDOT ROAD, A MAJOR HIGHWAY.

SO WE PRESENTED THOSE IDEAS TO TXDOT AND THEY WERE ALREADY CONSIDERING MAKING CHANGES IN THAT AREA. AND SO THEY'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR ENCOURAGEMENT FROM OUR COMMITTEE TO DO THAT AND PROBABLY, PLANS ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED SOON AND CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN MARCH OF 2021, WHICH ISN'T THAT FAR AWAY, ABOUT SIX MONTHS OR SO, TO HAVE THREE [INAUDIBLE] ALONG EMERALD BOULEVARD TO HELP PEOPLE CROSS IN A LOT SAFER WAY THAN THEY HAVE BEEN. SO THAT'S-- WE SPENT TIME DISCUSSING THAT, AND THE LAST EVENT I THINK I'LL MENTION IS WE'VE GOT [INAUDIBLE] RAIL TRAIL THAT ENDS AT CROCKET, BUT THEY WANT TO EXTEND THE BIKE TRAILS DOWN TO THE HODGE TOWN.

SO 7TH AND 8TH ARE GOOD FOR THAT.

SEVENTH IS ONE WAY GOING ONE WAY TO WASHINGTON DOWNTOWN, 8TH THE OTHER WAY.

AND SO. THOSE WILL PROBABLY BE READY FOR BASEBALL SEASON NEXT SPRING.

SO IF PEOPLE WANT TO RIDE A BIKE TO THE BALLGAME, THEY COULD DO THAT.

SOMETIMES THAT HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR, INSTALLATION OF THE [INAUDIBLE] SYSTEM ON GEORGIA AND [INAUDIBLE], I MENTIONED EARLIER.

NEW BIKE LANES INSTALLED ON NORTH [INAUDIBLE] FROM FAIRWAY DRIVE TO THREE THIRTY FIVE.

NEW BIKE LANES ON JULIAN, FROM INTERSTATE 40 TO THE NORTH.

AND THEN PLANNING AN ENGINEERING STUDIES COMPLETED FOR BIKE LANES, CONNECTING JULIAN TO 15TH.

15TH TO JOHNSON AND JOHNSON TO [INAUDIBLE].

SO THAT'S COMING IN THE SPRING 2021.

SO THAT COMPLETES MY REPORT.

ANY FIRST QUESTIONS? FIRE AWAY. QUESTIONS? HOWARD COULD Y'ALL POSSIBLY YOU MAY ALREADY HAVE A MAP DRAWN THAT WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE BIKE POSSIBLE LANES DOWN TO THE BALLPARK OF JUST SEEING THAT ON A MAP, HOW THAT WORKS. FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE NOT GREAT AUDIAL FOLLOWERS AND UNDERSTANDERS TO SEE THAT OR JUST HOW THAT PATH WOULD WORK, I THINK THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT IDEA.

AND THEN WONDERING ABOUT THEN LIKE THE PARKING FOR THE BIKES, LIKE THE DIFFERENT BIKE RACKS AND STUFF, WHO WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PURCHASING THOSE AND WHERE WOULD THEY POSSIBLY BE? IS ANOTHER QUESTION.

ON THE SUBJECT OF THE MAP, I'VE SEEN THE MAP.

WE HAVE A MAP AND DONNIE HOOPER UNDERSTANDS WATCHING THIS, AND HE COULD PROBABLY PROVIDE A MAP.

NOW THE COST FOR BIKE RACKS, WE HAVEN'T DISCUSSED THAT.

DONNIE, YOU GOT ANY-- CAN YOU SHED ANY LIGHT ON THOSE QUESTIONS? WE DO HAVE MAPS CREATED FROM THE ENGINEERING STUDY AND ALSO SOME PRESENTATION MAPS AS WELL THAT WE HAVE USED FOR THE COMMITTEE.

AND WE COULD CERTAINLY GET THOSE COPIES TO YOU.

AND REALLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IF YOU KIND OF TAKE A HELICOPTER LOOK AT IT, YOU'LL HAVE ONE WAY IN FROM THE ROCK ISLAND TRAIL WOULD BE 7TH AND 8TH GOING EITHER WAY.

AND ALSO YOU COULD GET THROUGH FROM THAT JULIAN ROUTE TO 15TH TO JOHNSON TO THE BACK DOOR OF [INAUDIBLE]. SO YOU REALLY HAVE QUITE A LARGE LOOP THERE THAT ALL EVENTUALLY IS GOING TO CONNECT TOGETHER. AND THAT WAS THE GOAL OF THE WHOLE PROJECT TO START THAT A PIECE AT A TIME AND TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

SO WE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH THAT.

AND I THINK YOU'LL BE VERY PLEASED WITH THE RESULTS OF IT.

AND I MIGHT ADD, ALSO, HOWARD IS A LITTLE HUMBLE ABOUT THIS, I THINK THIS COMMITTEE HAS ACCOMPLISHED A LOT THIS YEAR AND THEY REALLY HAVE AND THIS IS A GOOD GROUP TO WORK WITH.

THEY'RE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

AND THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A PLACE FOR A PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE SAFETY FROM THAT COMMITTEE [INAUDIBLE] AND I KNOW A LOT ABOUT IT.

SO THEY'VE JUST DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB.

EVERYBODY ON THAT COMMITTEE.

I WOULD ECHO THAT AS I WAS LISTENING TO EVERYTHING ACCOMPLISHED.

YOU GUYS HAVE GOTTEN A LOT DONE AND I WOULD REALLY PAT YOU ON THE BACK AND I WOULD GIVE DONNY A PAT ON THE BACK AS WELL, BECAUSE IT DOES TAKE THE CITY LIAISON BEING FOCUSED AND

[01:05:07]

SO GOOD JOB, MR. CITY MANAGER, ON SETTING DATA.

THANK YOU. I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO BE KEPT APPRIZED, AND I'M SURE WE WILL BE WITH THESE REPORTS ON THE SAFETY CHANGES ON EMERALD BOULEVARD.

SO I AGREE THAT IS REALLY ONE OF OUR TOP PRIORITIES AS FAR AS PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IN THE CITY. AND YET ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES.

AND IT'S JUST REALLY UNACCEPTABLE TO ME THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE DEATHS AT THAT STREET EVERY YEAR AND WE JUST SAY, WOW, THAT'S JUST SO HARD.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR SPECIFIC IDEAS AND HOW CAN WE PARTNER WITH TXDOT TO INCREASE SAFETY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT PARTICULAR STREET AND OUR CITY.

MAYOR, I MIGHT ADD, IF I CAN.

THAT'S REALLY A MULTI-YEAR PROJECT THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON.

TXDOT HAS ABOUT SIX HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS THAT WAS DEDICATED FOR AN INDUSTRY CAMPAIGN THAT THEY'RE WORKING WITH AND THIS FIT RIGHT INTO THAT CRITERIA.

SO WE WORK WITH THEM ON THE [INAUDIBLE].

THEN THERE'S A SECOND PHASE THAT WILL BEGIN WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO START WORKING ON SOME OF THE CROSSINGS TO MAKE THEM ADA ACCESSIBLE.

THIRD PHASE, TO MAKE CONNECTIVITY OF THE SIDEWALKS AND ADA ACCESSIBLE THERE.

SO REALLY A LARGE SCOPE OF WORK TO BE DONE ON THE BOULEVARD OVER THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR YEARS, DEPENDING ON THE FUNDING FOR THAT.

BUT THEY HAVE A VERY LARGE PROJECT IN PLACE AND WORKING REALLY WELL WITH US ON IT.

THANK YOU, DONNY. I KNOW IT'S CHALLENGING THE CROSSING POINTS ARE FAR BETWEEN IN COMPARISON TO OTHER STREETS AND THE TRAFFIC IS CHALLENGING.

SO I AGREE THOSE ARE GOOD STEPS AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR EVEN MORE THINGS WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL ON THIS? COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO THIS WEEK.

YOU DON'T HAVE AS MANY COMMITTEE MEETINGS TO ATTEND.

THANK YOU FOR THE TIME THAT YOU SPENT SERVING ON THOSE TWO COMMITTEES AND FOR BRINGING THESE REPORTS. NO PROBLEM.

OK, THAT BRINGS US TO THE END OF OUR REGULAR AGENDA, ANYTHING FURTHER WE NEED TO TAKE ON

[1D. Request future agenda items and reports from City Manager.]

MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO REQUEST A SLOT FOR AN UPDATE ON AN OUTSIDE BOARD.

WE WILL BE HAVING OUR FIRST CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU MEETING THIS THURSDAY.

AND SO WE HAVE A FULL MORNING WORKSHOP WITH ALL OF THE MEMBERS ATTENDING THAT HAVE BEEN APPOINTED TO THE NEW BOARD.

AND SO I WOULD LOVE TO BRING BACK A REPORT NEXT TUESDAY.

WONDERFUL.

ANYBODY ELSE? OK, THANK YOU ALL.

THAT'S THE END OF OUR AGENDA.

WE'LL MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT THIS TIME.

[EXECUTIVE SESSION]

UNDER THE FOLLOWING AUTHORITY, SECTION FIVE FIVE ONE POINT ZERO SEVEN TO DISCUSS THE PURCHASE EXCHANGE LEASE SALE VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY PUBLIC DISCUSSION SUCH WOULD NOT BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY'S BARGAINING POSITION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU AT THIS TIME, WE'RE ADJOURNED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.