The City Council of the City of Abilene, Texas, met in a Pre-Council Work Session on September 24, 1998, at 8:30 A.M. in the Basement Conference Room of City Hall. Mayor Gary D. McCaleb was present and presiding with Councilmen Paul R. Vasquez and A. Don Drennan, Councilwoman Carol Martinez, Councilman Versie L. Brown, Jr., and Councilwoman Kay Alexander. Also present were City Manager Roy L. McDaniel, Assistant City Manager Mike Morrison, City Attorney Sharon Hicks, City Secretary Jo Moore, and various members of the City staff. Councilman Rob Beckham was absent.

City Manager Roy McDaniel introduced Marty Blubaugh, new Director of Economic Development; Ricki Brown, new City Librarian; and recognized Rick Crider, new Airport Manager. The Council discussed various consent and regular agenda items. Mr. McDaniel distributed letters in opposition to Item 3.6, Oral Resolution authorizing City Manager to execute a lease space agreement with Dollar Rent-A-Car at Abilene Regional Airport. City Attorney Sharon Hicks noted the City's policy states there is space for six car rental concessions, and therefore we are not in a position to deny this request. Councilman Drennan requested on Item 3.1, Oral Resolution approving annual contract renewals for Development Corporation (DCOA) of Abilene, Inc. that; the subcontractors (Thelen Reid & Priest LLP & Team Concepts) fee not to exceed $208,150 (as shown on page 1 of the agreement between the DCOA, the Abilene Industrial Foundation, and the Abilene Chamber of Commerce) be included as a line item of the operating budget (shown as Exhibit A, Abilene Industrial Foundation Operating Budget), that a line item budget be included to reflect the breakdown of the $588,320 funding on the Agreement between the City of Abilene and the DCOA, that the minutes reflect under the agreement between DCOA and Caruth Small Business Development Center that Abilene Christian University as the host university received no funds and that the funds the Abilene Chamber of Commerce received under the Agreement between DCOA and Abilene Chamber of Commerce were reimbursements only. City Manager Roy McDaniel stated on Item 3.4, Oral Resolution approving agreement for disbursement of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to Community Foundation of Abilene, Inc. on behalf of Abilene Neighborhoods In Progress, the term of the contract begins July 1, 1998. City Manager Roy McDaniel stated he will recommend leaving Item 4.1, Oral Resolution approving the 9-1-1 Emergency Communications District revised FY 1997/98 and proposed FY 1998-99 budgets on the table. The 9-1-1 Board will meet September 29 and at that time may reconsider and modify the FY 98-99 budget. There being no further discussion, the meeting was recessed to the City Council Chambers until 9:00 a.m. for the regular Council Meeting.

Mayor McCaleb reconvened the City Council of the City of Abilene, Texas, into Regular Session September 24, 1998, at 9:00 a.m. in the City Council Chambers of City Hall.

Councilman Versie Brown gave the invocation.

Pledge of Allegiance was led by Jocilyn Banks, 5^th grader at Ortiz Elementary, who was accompanied by Campus Coordinator Chris Blackmon.

Councilwoman Carol Martinez and Councilman Paul Vasquez assisted Mayor McCaleb in presenting a Proclamation for September 15-October 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month.

Councilwoman Martinez moved to approve the minutes of the September 10, 1998 Pre-Council and Council Meeting. Councilwoman Alexander seconded the motion and the motion carried.

AYES: Councilmen Vasquez and Drennan, Councilwoman Martinez, Councilman Brown, Councilwoman Alexander, and Mayor McCaleb.

NAYS: None.

Councilman Vasquez moved to approve consent agenda items 3.1 through 3.5 and 3.7 through 3.14, and approval of first reading of item 3.15. Item 3.6 was removed from the Consent Agenda to be considered separately at the request of Lois Curry. Councilwoman Alexander seconded the motion and the motion carried.

AYES: Councilmen Vasquez and Drennan, Councilwoman Martinez, Councilman Brown, Councilwoman Alexander, and Mayor McCaleb.

NAYS: None.

3.7 Resolution waiving Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant.

The Resolution is numbered 28-1998 and is captioned as follows:

9. Pavement Markers, Bid #CB8067. The bid was awarded for the unit prices bid to Roadrunner Traffic Supply of Ft. Worth, as recommended by staff.

3.6 Rick Crider, Airport Manager, briefed the Council on an Oral Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a lease space agreement with Dollar Rent-A-Car at Abilene Regional Airport. Lois Curry of Budget Rent-A-Car, suggested Dollar Rent-A-Car should not be allowed to lease a space at this time, but should be a part of the future competitive bid process. Mr. Crider stated City policy supports six spaces currently. Sharon Hicks, City Attorney, stated FAA allows free trade, and the City cannot restrict competition. Until the current policy is changed which allows six businesses of this type, the City has to allow requests to lease available spaces.

Councilman Vasquez moved to authorize by Oral Resolution the City Manager to execute a lease space agreement with Dollar Rent-A-Car on a month-to-month basis until terminal improvements, parking lot expansion, and decisions on long-term rental car relationships can be made at Abilene Regional Airport, as recommended by staff. Councilman Brown seconded the motion and the motion carried.

AYES: Councilmen Vasquez and Drennan, Councilwoman Martinez, Councilman Brown, Councilwoman Alexander, and Mayor McCaleb.

NAYS: None.

1. Randy Nicholson, chair of the Technology Committee, introduced the Final Report from the Technology Committee's Telecommunications Project and then recognized members from the Committee in attendance. Mr. Nicholson also stated his appreciation to Mrs. Cindy Cullen, Technology Liaison. Mrs. Cullen presented the following report:

• February 1995 - Mayor McCaleb forms Mayor's Task Force on Technology
• February/March 1996 - Technology Awareness Week
• September 1996 - Technology Committee formed by Abilene City Council
• January 1997 - Chairman Nicholson charges Subcommittee with study task
• Summer 1997 - Consultants conduct study
• Spring 1998 - Subcommittee develops recommendations; approval by Committee

• Focus groups: Over 70 participants representing 11 industry groups, governments, and citizens
• Interviews with service providers
• Archival and independent research
• Citizen survey: over 300 responses

• Residential users are "undemanding telecommunications users"
• Most businesses require standard office telecommunications services such as basic voice, cellular, pager, and Internet service
• Larger businesses have more specialized needs, including high speed connectivity
• Demand for higher bandwidth services is increasing
• Local Internet service providers are experiencing growth.
• Installation times, especially for higher bandwidth services, are of concern.

• Reliability, circuits to rural areas, costs for higher bandwidth services were also mentioned by users.

• Complaints about quality of telephone service: loss of dial tone, busy circuits, noisy lines
• Most noticed by modem users and Internet providers

• "There are significant opportunities for improved inter-organization communications in both the public safety and the health and welfare sectors if there were improved coordination of systems development."

• "A common theme running through all focus groups was an extreme shortage of network talent in Abilene."

• "Abilene's telecommunication is fairly typical of other communities its size. Most modern telecommunications services are tariffed and available."
• Cellular companies offer standard analog services.
• Cable infrastructure is standard coaxial.
• Fiber
• Major east-west fiber route runs along I-20

• Local telephone network consists of "copper facilities integrated to a growing fiber optic backbone" which consists of a number of fiber rings and numerous straight runs.

• "Some of the larger local businesses have installed fiber facilities for their own use."

• Short term - quality of service
• Intermediate Term - Improving Services to Existing Businesses
• Intermediate/Long Term - Attracting High Tech/High Growth Businesses
• Long Term - Social Change with Technology as Part of Everyday Life

• Strategy 1 - Address quality of service (QOS) issues identified by consultants.
• Strategy 2 - Develop an appropriate telecommunications franchise strategy.
• Strategy 3 - Facilitate increased community coordination of technology issues and projects.
• Strategy 4 - Address training and human development issues.
• Strategy 5 - Increase public awareness of technology.
• Strategy 6 - Cultivate increased infrastructure development.

• High tech company investments will come.
• Costs to users will be reduced.
• High tech/high growth companies will come.

• Academic entities will increase their involvement in producing graduates to use this infrastructure.

• Abilene's young people will be more prepared to cope and function in the future.
• Those under 35 will be encouraged to stay in Abilene and be more productive and satisfied.
• Abilene will remain a cohesive and competitive community compared to other communities.

Phil Morehead, Committee member, stated this is an opportunity to pull together, and stressed the key point in the report is combining buying power in the market.

Mayor McCaleb stated that he was impressed with the quality of the report, noting that everything he reads about on technology addresses how speed is increased. The Mayor emphasized in implementing the report we should also move as expeditiously and judiciously as possible. Mayor McCaleb asked Mrs. Cullen to include a list of the Committee members in the report, stating this is a standing committee. Mayor McCaleb thanked all those involved for their support and encouragement.

Councilman Drennan moved to accept the Final Report from the Technology Committee's Telecommunications Project as presented. Councilman Brown seconded the motion and the motion carried.

AYES: Councilmen Vasquez and Drennan, Councilwoman Martinez, Councilman Brown, Councilwoman Alexander, and Mayor McCaleb.

NAYS: None.

4.2 Roy McDaniel, City Manager, briefed the Council on an Oral Resolution approving the 9-1-1 Emergency Communications District revised FY 1997/98 and proposed FY 1998-99 budgets. Mr. McDaniel recommended the item remain on the table, noting that the 9-1-1 board will meet September 29 and at that time may reconsider and modify the FY 1998-99 budget.

The item will remain on the table.

4.3 Elizabeth Grindstaff, Downtown Manager, briefed the Council on a Resolution authorizing support of a proposal recommending the expansion of the Texas Eagle line to include direct service through West Texas from Ft. Worth to El Paso. Mrs. Grindstaff then introduced Tim Geeslin, chair of the Volunteer Committee supporting the expansion, who stated there is a time line involved but that this is just the first step of many. Mr. Geeslin stated Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison's vision motivated this committee, and suggested a letter stating Abilene's support of the proposal be sent to Senator Hutchison as well as Amtrak.

Mayor McCaleb asked Mrs. Grindstaff and Mr. Geeslin to keep the Council informed on anything more that can be done to strengthen and accelerate the process.

Councilwoman Martinez moved to approve the Resolution authorizing support of a proposal recommending expansion of the Texas Eagle Line and to include support letters to Amtrak and Senator Hutchison, as recommended. Councilwoman Alexander seconded the motion and the motion carried.

AYES: Councilmen Vasquez and Drennan, Councilwoman Martinez, Councilman Brown, Councilwoman Alexander, and Mayor McCaleb.

NAYS: None.

The Resolution is numbered 29-1998 and is captioned as follows:

4.4 Jeff Armstrong, Senior Planner, briefed the Council on an Ordinance considered on second and final reading - Z-04298 - Rezone from O (Office) to LC (Limited Commercial) district located at 5001 Buffalo Gap Road. The Planning and Zoning recommends approval, staff recommends approval based on compatibility of Limited Commercial to residential areas and the recommendations for land use in the Buffalo Gap Road Corridor Study of 1994.

Mayor McCaleb opened a public hearing on the item, and the following individual spoke in favor of the request:

• Dan Harwell, proponent, stated the request is based on future expectations - if and when expansion is needed.

There being no one else present and desiring to be heard, the public hearing was closed.

Councilman Drennan moved to approve the Ordinance to rezone from Office to Limited Commercial district located at 5001 Buffalo Gap Road, as recommended by staff. Councilman Vasquez seconded the motion and the motion carried.

AYES: Councilmen Vasquez and Drennan, Councilwoman Martinez, Councilman Brown, Councilwoman Alexander, and Mayor McCaleb.

NAYS: None.

The Ordinance is numbered 50-1998 and is captioned as follows:

Mayor McCaleb recessed the Council into executive session pursuant to Sections 551.071 and 551.074 of the Open Meetings Act, to seek the advice of the City Attorney with respect to pending and contemplated litigation, and to consider the appointment and evaluation of public officers.

The Council reconvened from executive session and reported no action taken.

Councilman Vasquez moved to approve Mayor McCaleb's reappointments of Larry Hopkins to the MH/MR Board of Trustees, term expiring 8/2000 and Ruby Blascyk, Karen Drake, Linda Foster, and Tina Hill to the MH/MR Public Responsibility Committee, terms expiring 8/2000. Councilman Drennan seconded the motion and the motion carried.

AYES: Councilmen Vasquez and Drennan, Councilwoman Martinez, Councilman Brown, Councilwoman Alexander, and Mayor McCaleb.

NAYS: None.

Mayor McCaleb announced that Kathy Webster, who was appointed to the West Central Texas Municipal Water District September 10, has accepted the appointment, term expiring 5/99. Steve Austin, term expiring 8/2000 and Chip Holmes, term expiring 8/99 have also accepted appointments made on September 10 to the MH/MR Board of Trustees.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:40 a.m.

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Jo Moore, City Secretary

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Gary D. McCaleb, Mayor