The City Council of the City of Abilene, Texas, met in a Pre-Council Work Session on December 10, 1998, at 8:30 A.M. in the Basement Conference Room of City Hall. Mayor Pro Tempore Carol Martinez was present and presiding with Councilmen Paul R. Vasquez, A. Don Drennan, Rob Beckham, Versie Brown, 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. Mayor Gary D. McCaleb was absent from Pre-Council session only.

The Council briefly discussed various consent and regular agenda items. Item 3.10, Z-06298 – Rezone from AO (Agricultural Open Space) to GC (General Commercial) district located on Rebecca Lane, was removed from the Agenda to be considered at a later date. City Manager Roy McDaniel noted that on Item 3.7, Z-05398 – Rezone from AO & LI (Agricultural Open Space & Light Industrial) to GC (General Commercial) district located at the southeast corner of Industrial Blvd. & Loop 322, Cisco Junior College (proponent), has been warned of this property being in the Airport flight pattern and that the noise could be significant, but Cisco representatives have stated no concerns about the noise. Concerning the propositions that failed on the bond election, Councilman Drennan cautioned staff pertaining to comments or statements made that could be perceived negatively by the public. There being no further discussion, the meeting was recessed 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 December 10, 1998, at 9:00 a.m. in the City Council Chambers of City Hall.

Councilwoman Carol Martinez gave the invocation.

Pledge of Allegiance was led by Jennifer Cargile, 5th grader at Ward Elementary, who was accompanied by her mother, Tina Cargile.

Mayor McCaleb, assisted by Earnest Merritt, Special Assistant to the City Manager for Youth Services, presented the Employee of the Quarter Award to Becky Irby, Zookeeper II.

Flisha Stewart of the Employee Committee, assisted Mayor McCaleb in introducing the past year’s employees of the quarter as follows: Mario Najera, Maintenance Crews Chief in the Housing Division; Genette Edmond Housing Specialist II in the Family Self-Sufficiency Program; Leta Gray, Plans Examiner in Building Inspection, and Danny Blankenship, Police Officer. Mayor McCaleb then presented the Employee of the Year Award to Mario Najera, from the Housing Division.

Kay Spiva, Abilene Clean & Proud Board President, presented the 1998 Keep America Beautiful National Award to Mayor McCaleb on behalf of the City of Abilene.

Kay Spiva, Abilene Clean & Proud Board President, assisted Mayor McCaleb in presenting the 3^rd Annual Downtown Window Dressing Awards as follows: Christmas Traditional - Under One Roof; Children’s Favorite – Abilene Areawide Phone Book; Most Unique – Condley & Co., LLP; Best Big Window – Your Marketing V.P.; Best Little Window - Busch Jewelers; Best Use of Lighting – Abilene Philharmonic; Best of Show – United Way of Abilene.

Councilwoman Martinez moved to approve the minutes of the Pre-Council Session and Regular City Council Meeting held November 19, 1998. Councilman Vasquez seconded the motion and the motion carried.

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

NAYS: None.

Councilman Vasquez moved to approve consent agenda items 3.1 through 3.4 and first reading of items 3.5 through 3.9 as recommended by the staff. Item 3.10 was removed from the Consent Agenda to be considered at a later date. Councilwoman Alexander seconded the motion and the motion carried.

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

NAYS: None.

2. Valves & actuators for rehabilitation of Phantom Raw Water Pump Station, Bid #CB-9020. The bid was awarded as follows: Items 1, 2, & 3 - Environmental Improvements, Inc. in the amount of $30,022; Item 4 - Municipal Valve Corp. in the amount of $50,144; and Item 5 - Treatment Equipment Company in the amount of $14,580 as the most advantageous to the City, as recommended by staff.
3. Nine self-contained breathing apparatus, twenty facepiece conversion kits, and twenty air cylinders for Fire Department, Bid #CB-9022. The bid was awarded to Casco Industries, the low bidder, in the amount of $20,060 as recommended by staff.
4. Replacement carpet in Housing & Municipal Court areas, Bid #CB-9019. The bid was awarded to Casey’s Tile and Carpet in the amount of $19,516.65 as recommended by staff.

Ordinances

5. Approval of First Reading - Ordinance to amend Chapter 12, "Franchises", of the Abilene Municipal Code, and set a public hearing for December 17, 1998 at 9:00 a.m.

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ABILENE AMENDING CHAPTER 12, "FRANCHISES" OF THE ABILENE MUNICIPAL CODE, PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, DECLARING A PENALTY AND CALLING A PUBLIC HEARING.

6. Approval of First Reading - Ordinance to establish a renewed cable franchise agreement with TCA Cable for the provision of cable services within the City of Abilene, and set a public hearing for December 17, 1998 at 9:00 a.m.

AN ORDINANCE GRANTING TO TCA CABLE PARTNERS II, THE RIGHT, PRIVILEGE AND FRANCHISE TO PROVIDE WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY OF ABILENE CABLE SERVICES; AND PROVIDING THEREIN FOR SERVICES, EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES; A TERM; FRANCHISE FEES; OTHER DUTIES; AMENDMENT; ACCEPTANCE OF FRANCHISE; PUBLICATION; AN EFFECTIVE DATE; A SAVINGS CLAUSE; NOTICE TO PARTIES; AND CALLING A PUBLIC HEARING.

7. Z-05398 – Rezone from AO & LI (Agricultural Open Space & Light Industrial) to GC (General Commercial) district located at the southeast corner of Industrial Blvd. & Loop 322, and set a public hearing for December 17, 1998 at 9:00 a.m.

1. Mike Hall, Director of Community Services, briefed the Council on an Ordinance establishing standards of care for City of Abilene youth programs. The Parks & Recreation Board and staff recommend approval.

Mayor McCaleb opened a public hearing on the item, and there being no one present and desiring to be heard, the public hearing was closed.

Councilman Brown moved to approve the Ordinance establishing standards of care for City of Abilene youth programs, as recommended by staff. Councilwoman Alexander seconded the motion and the motion carried.

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

NAYS: None.

The Ordinance is numbered 62-1998 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, and 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 Drennan moved to approve the Mayor's appointments and reappointments to various boards as listed below. Councilwoman Martinez seconded the motion and the motion carried.

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

NAYS: None.

Ruby Perez, Abilene Preservation League Rep.

Kathy Aldridge, At-Large

Appoint:

Jack Griggs, term expiring 11/2000

Janelle Ramirez, Wylie High School

Levi Carlson, Wylie High School

Justin Harper, Cooper High School

Jordan Neal, Cooper High School

Stacy Broman, Abilene High School

Clay Cunningham, Abilene High School

Jessica Saxon, Abilene Christian High School

Bliss Williams, Wylie High School

Andi Arnic, Jefferson Middle School

Jenair Falcon, Jefferson Middle School

Shawon Harris, Mann Middle School

Isaiah Carrillo, Mann Middle School

Tiffany Thompson, Franklin Middle School

Isaac Bray, Franklin Middle School

Damon Russell, Lincoln Middle School

Debra Martinez, Lincoln Middle School

Leslie Germarino, Clack Middle School

Tiffany Cross, Clack Middle School

Cameron O’Connell, Wylie Middle School

Garrett Cook, Wylie Middle School

Sarah Byrd, Madison Middle School

Kimberly Caddell, Madison Middle School

Jennifer Ramirez, Abilene Christian Middle School

Eric Hughes, Abilene Christian Middle School

Mayor McCaleb announced that the following appointments made at the November 19 Council meeting have been accepted: Library Board – Dr. John Tyson, term expiring 11/2000; Reinvestment Zone #1 City of Abilene – Steve Keller, term expiring 11/99; and Sister Cities Committee – Paul Rotenberry, term expiring 11/2001.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:25 a.m.

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Jo Moore, City Secretary

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Gary D. McCaleb, Mayor