The City Council of the City of Abilene, Texas, met in a Pre-Council Work Session on November 4, 1999, at 8:30 a.m. in the Basement Conference Room of City Hall. Mayor Grady Barr was present and presiding with Councilman Paul R. Vasquez, Councilwoman Carol Martinez, Councilmen Rob Beckham and 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 A. Don Drennan was absent.

Mayor Barr complimented the Economic Development staff on bringing Continental Airlines to Abilene. City Manager Roy McDaniel recognized Denise Hamilton, Training and Employee Development Manager, stating customer service is a high priority and recognized as a critical issue. Kathy Merrill, Director of Human Resource Services, noted this program was updated in April of this year with the objective to emphasize customer service with continued improvements. Ms. Hamilton then presented the customer service training program overview followed by discussion between Council and staff. The Council briefly discussed various consent and regular agenda items. Councilman Vasquez stated he would abstain from agenda items 3.4 and 3.5 due to his employment with Hendrick Medical Center. There being no further discussion, the meeting was recessed until 9:00 a.m. for the regular Council Meeting.

Mayor Barr reconvened the City Council of the City of Abilene, Texas, into Regular Session November 4, 1999, at 9:00 a.m. in the City Council Chambers of City Hall.

Councilwoman Carol Martinez gave the invocation.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Dominique Ascensio, 5th grader at Ortiz Elementary. Dominique was accompanied by the school counselor, Chris Blackmon.

Jo Moore, City Secretary, assisted Mayor Barr in the presentation of the Employee Service Awards as follows:

20 Years, Wayne L. Frazier, Community Services, Park Crew Chief

20 Years, Nolan R. Freeman, Housing Division, Housing Inspector II

Dave Boyll, Chairman of the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), gave special recognition to the following city employees who have made significant contributions to the LEPC: Captain Rick Wright, Lieutenant Brad McVay, Lieutenant Mark Whitton with the Fire Department; and Sergeant Jimmy DeFoor with the Police Department. Also recognized but not in attendance were Gary Hudson, Technical Services Administrator in Engineering and Robert Allen, Abilene MPO Transportation Planning Director.

Mayor Barr presented the following proclamations:

November 7-13 as Youth Appreciation Week, and Census 2000

Mayor Barr then introduced Mr. Bill Speegle, Community Partnership Specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau, who briefed the Council on the history of the census in Abilene and the importance and effect the census will have on our community.

Councilman Vasquez moved to approve the October 18, 1999, Abilene City Council, Development Corporation of Abilene Inc., and Airport Development Board Joint Workshop minutes as printed. Councilman Beckham seconded the motion and the motion carried.

AYES: Councilman Vasquez, Councilwoman Martinez, Councilmen Beckham and Brown, Councilwoman Alexander, and Mayor Barr.

NAYS: None.

Councilwoman Alexander moved to approve items 3.1, and approval of first reading of items 3.2 through 3.8. Councilman Brown seconded the motion and the motion carried.

AYES: Councilman Vasquez on items 3.1 through 3.3 and 3.6 through 3.8, Councilwoman Martinez, Councilmen Beckham and Brown, Councilwoman Alexander, and Mayor Barr.

NAYS: None.

ABSTAIN: Councilman Vasquez on items 3.4 and 3.5, due to his employment with Hendrick Medical Center.

1. In-line hockey rink at Cal Young Park, Bid#CB-0006. The bid was awarded to Henninger, Inc. of Abilene, TX in the amount of $74,874.20 as recommended by staff.

7. Approval of first reading - Z-05999 - Removal of the H (Historic Overlay) to the underlying CB (Central Business) zoning on the property at 618 Hickory, and set a public hearing for December 9, 1999 at 9:00 a.m.

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 23, "PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT," SUBPART E, "ZONING," OF THE ABILENE MUNICIPAL CODE, BY CHANGING THE ZONING DISTRICT BOUNDARIES AFFECTING CERTAIN PROPERTIES, AS DESCRIBED BELOW, DECLARING A PENALTY, AND CALLING A PUBLIC HEARING.

8. Approval of first reading - Subdivision Regulations amendment to Section 23-357.3. (K) & (R) concerning monumentation and subdivision location, and set a public hearing for November 11, 1999 at 9:00 a.m.

4.1 Dr. Glen Hall, DDS, 3374 S. 27^th, stated appreciation for the opportunity to address the issue of fluoride, then introduced Dr. Joe Keathley, 1818 Pine, who outlined the benefits to the community. Dr. Keathley stated adjusting the level of fluoride would be overall helpful, indicating it is a safe, proven, and inexpensive way to benefit the community. Dr. Keathley quoted various statistics reinforcing the benefits of fluoride, noting the optimum level of fluoride is .7 - 1.2 per million and that Abilene's water has .3 fluoride. Dr. Keathley concluded by urging the Council to keep an open mind, and to consider the research that has already been done.

Dr. Hall stated he is a member of the Texas Dental Association Board of Directors and represents Abilenians for Better Health as their spokesperson. Dr. Hall stated this is a public health issue that has turned political, and believes times have changed since the 1964 election due to a more informed public. Dr. Hall proposed the City do a canvass survey to evaluate the community's interest by putting the question to the public through an insert in the water bill during a full billing cycle. Dr. Hall noted HSU economic development department will help design the question, and the Council could evaluate the returns. Dr. Hall further noted the options would be to call an election, which would cost anywhere from $11,000 - $25,000 or the Council could initiate an Ordinance to add fluoride to the water. The election could be held with a regular election which would be a cost saving and could possibly result in a better voter turnout with more issues on the ballot.

Mayor Barr opened the floor for anyone opposed to the request to speak. The following individual spoke:

• Dr. Debra Monde stated people are free to make choices, and City Hall should not become "Big Brother". Dr. Monde encouraged Council to drop the issue because she feels adding fluoride to the water is one small step toward becoming Big Brother.

• Bruce Bixby, 4349 Oldham Lane, stated there is very little interest in the fluoride issue in the community and noted he has a family member who can't tolerate fluoride. Mr. Bixby stated that in Worchester, MA a few years ago 59 medical doctors and 150 dentists came out in favor of fluoride and then later retracted their original position.

Council comments and discussion included: pursuing the survey to see if the citizens would support the opportunity to hold an election, the benefit of collection of data through the survey and concerns on Council becoming "surveyors" for the community.

City Manager Roy McDaniel stated the survey could be done through separate card inserts mailed with the water statements at a cost of $300-$340.

Dr. Keathley suggested the question on the inserts should be whether or not to adjust the level of fluoride in the water instead of implying there is currently no fluoride. Dr. Keathley distributed a proposed question for a survey to the residents of Abilene as follows:

• Ellen Richards, 2038 S. Clack, requested to speak in favor of fluoride, stating she grew up in a community with fluoride and it protected her teeth.

Councilman Vasquez stated he has no idea how many people in Abilene drink bottled water, but the national trend shows a great number drink bottled water.

Dr. Hall replied by asking who buys bottled water, then stating it is not the children, infants, poor, or elderly, which are the Texas Dental Association's concerns. Dr. Hall added that most bottled water does not have fluoride.

Council stated preference for the question for the survey to be:

Mayor Barr reiterated the survey question would be stated in a manner to determine public opinion on whether or not to call an election on the fluoride issue.

City Manager Roy McDaniel stated that question will be inserted on a separate card into the water bills.

No Council action was required.

4.2 James Condry, Assistant Director of Public Works, briefed the Council regarding a Resolution adopting a Road Hump Program. Mr. Condry noted the proposed Road Hump Program provides for the cost of road humps and related signs and markings to be paid by the residents that request them. It also provides for the Council to consider funding these costs for locations in Community Development Block Grant designated areas. Staff recommends approval.

Councilman Beckham moved to approve the Resolution adopting a Road Hump Program, as recommended by staff. Councilman Vasquez seconded the motion and the motion carried.

AYES: Councilman Vasquez, Councilwoman Martinez, Councilmen Beckham and Brown, Councilwoman Alexander, and Mayor Barr.

NAYS: None.

The Resolution is numbered 36-1999 and is captioned as follows:

Mayor Barr recessed the Council into executive session pursuant to Sections 551.071, 551.072, and 551.074 of the Open Meetings Act, to seek the advice of the City Attorney with respect to pending and contemplated litigation, to consider the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property, and to consider the appointment and evaluation of public officers.

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

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:05 a.m.

Jo Moore, City Secretary

Grady Barr, Mayor