The City Council of the City of Abilene, Texas, met in a Pre-Council Work Session on March 23, 2000, at 8:30 a.m. in the Basement Conference Room of City Hall. Mayor Grady Barr was present and presiding with Councilmen Paul R. Vasquez, A. Don Drennan, Versie L. Brown, Jr., and Councilwoman Kay Alexander. Also present were City Manager Roy L. McDaniel, Assistant City Manager Michael Morrison, City Attorney Sharon Hicks, City Secretary Jo Moore, and various members of the City staff. Councilman Rob Beckham was absent.

Cassie Hughes, Building Official, presented information on behalf of Gary Pullin, architect for Tittle Luther Partnership, which included the City Hall Master Plan, planning concepts and implementation proposals, with special emphasis on the Emergency Operations Center facility and basement renovations. Roy McDaniel, City Manager, gave a history of the current City Hall building. The Council briefly discussed various consent and regular agenda items. 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 March 23, 2000, at 9:00 a.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.

Councilwoman Kay Alexander gave the invocation.

Pledge of Allegiance was led by Hunter Bjerkaas, a first grader at Fannin Elementary. Hunter was accompanied by his mother, Neomi Bjerkaas and his principal, Mr. Galloway.

Mayor Barr presented the following proclamations:

April 2-8 as National Medical Laboratory Week, and

April 9-15 as Crime Victims Week.

There being no corrections, additions, or deletions to the minutes of the Pre-Council Session and Regular City Council Meeting held March 9, 2000, Councilman Drennan moved to approve the minutes as printed. Councilwoman Alexander seconded the motion and the motion carried.

AYES: Councilmen Vasquez, Drennan, Brown, Councilwoman Alexander, and Mayor Barr.

NAYS: None.

Item 3.1 was removed from the Consent Agenda to be considered separately, at the request of Ruby Perez of the Abilene Preservation League. Councilman Vasquez moved to approve consent agenda item 3.2, as recommended by the staff. Councilman Brown seconded the motion and the motion carried.

AYES: Councilmen Vasquez, Drennan, Brown, Councilwoman Alexander, and Mayor Barr.

NAYS: None.

2. Police Uniforms, Bid #CB-0029. The bid was awarded to Direct Action Uniforms of Dallas, TX representing the low responsive bidder in the amount of $26,525.60 with an option to extend the contract for two additional one-year terms, as recommended by staff.

3.1 Oral Resolution approving street use license agreement with the Abilene Preservation League for the purpose of conducting the Celebrate Abilene! festival on April 14-16, 2000.

Ruby Perez, Abilene Preservation League, briefed the Council on the events that will be taking place, and presented t-shirts and cups to Council. Judy Godfrey, Executive Director of the Grace Museum, endorsed the festival.

Councilman Brown moved to approve by Oral Resolution a street use license agreement with the Abilene Preservation League for the purpose of conducting the Celebrate Abilene! for a festival on April 14-16, 2000, as recommended by the staff. Councilman Vasquez seconded the motion and the motion carried.

AYES: Councilmen Vasquez, Drennan, Brown, Councilwoman Alexander, and Mayor Barr.

NAYS: None.

4.1 James Condry, Interim Director of Public Works, briefed the Council on an Oral Resolution approving a street use license agreement with Johnny D. Bevills concerning property adjacent to Hickory Street & N. 7^th Street. The staff recommends the Council not grant the street use license as requested due to general concerns related to head-in parking. However, if the Council chooses to approve the street use license for recessed head-in parking, then staff recommends Council approve a street use license agreement with the conditions as set out in Exhibit A of the street use license.

The following individuals spoke in favor of the request:

• Charlie Self, 500 Chestnut St. Ste. 1402, attorney with Whitten & Young law firm representing Johnny Bevills. Mr. Self distributed a street drawing to Council and showed photographs of the area.
• Mr. Bevills, applicant, stated accessibility (head in parking) is important to a business.

Mr. Condry stated the difference between 30 and 45-degree angles is the amount of space needed to back out into the roadway in order to see traffic. Mr. Condry recommended a 30-degree angle on both streets if Council approves the street use license.

Councilman Drennan moved to approve by Oral Resolution a street use license agreement with Johnny D. Bevills concerning property adjacent to Hickory Street & N. 7^th Street with a 30 degree angle on Hickory St. and 45 degree angle on N. 7^th St. for recessed head-in parking. Councilman Brown seconded the motion and the motion carried.

AYES: Councilmen Vasquez, Drennan, Brown, Councilwoman Alexander, and Mayor Barr.

NAYS: None.

Councilwoman Alexander thanked the property owner for redoing the building, stating she is happy to have the business in Abilene.

4.2 James Condry, Interim Director of Public Works, briefed the Council on an Oral Resolution approving new minimum fines for parking violations. Mr. Condry stated the majority of citations issued are for overtime parking, and that the purpose of the increase in fines is to serve as a deterrent to parking violations, especially for regular violators.

The following individuals spoke in response to the proposal:

• Sheldon Greene, Bogies representative, stated he hopes the item will be tabled and further reviewed to develop a system that will strengthen enforcement on the habitual abusers and not punish downtown customers.
• Mark Hallmark, owner of the Green Frog, 216 Pine, asked Council not to punish customers, but asked for more enforcement of abusers, suggesting keeping the first violation at $5.00, then increasing the fines for second and third offences in the same month.

Councilman Vasquez questioned using the "boot" to immobilize repeat offenders.

David Wright, Director of Finance, explained the "boot" process, stating it is a long process, starting with a notice, letters, summons, and then arrest.

Councilwoman Alexander emphasized the need to have less predictable enforcement, to promote the use of the stickers by merchants and the possibility of providing a sign informing customers of the sticker program. The sticker program is designed for merchants to purchase stickers at $1.00 per ticket, and if a customer gets a parking ticket, the ticket is taken back to the merchant who puts a sticker on the ticket, and the ticket is then dismissed.

The pride in downtown Abilene was noted and Council stated they did not want to discourage people from visiting downtown but that strengthening enforcement was needed especially on habitual offenders.

Councilman Drennan moved to table the item directing staff to further review the proposal to allow for an escalating fine schedule in a 30-day period, and to strengthen enforcement. Councilman Vasquez seconded the motion and the motion carried.

AYES: Councilmen Vasquez, Drennan, Brown, Councilwoman Alexander, and Mayor Barr.

NAYS: None.

4.3 Ronnie Kidd, Technology Information Manager, briefed the Council on an Oral Resolution ratifying the emergency purchase of the replacement base station for the Police Mobile Data Communications System at a total cost of $59,482.

Councilman Vasquez moved to approve by Oral Resolution ratifying the emergency purchase of the replacement base station for the Police Mobile Data Communications System, as recommended by staff. Councilman Brown seconded the motion and the motion carried.

AYES: Councilmen Vasquez, Drennan, Brown, Councilwoman Alexander, and Mayor Barr.

NAYS: None.

4.4 Jeff Armstrong, Development Services Administrator, briefed the Council on an Ordinance considered on second and final reading - Public Hearing: Z-00700 - Rezone from RM-3 (Residential Multi-Family) to LC (Limited Commercial) zoning district property located at the northwest corner of Grape and State Streets. The Planning & Zoning Commission and staff recommend approval.

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

Councilman Vasquez moved to approve the request to rezone from RM-3 (Residential Multi-Family) to LC (Limited Commercial) zoning district property located at the northwest corner of Grape and State Streets, as recommended by staff. Councilwoman Alexander seconded the motion and the motion carried.

AYES: Councilmen Vasquez, Drennan, Brown, Councilwoman Alexander, and Mayor Barr.

Nays: None.

The Ordinance is numbered 8-2000 and is captioned as follows:

4.5 Jeff Armstrong, Development Services Administrator, briefed the Council on an Ordinance considered on second and final reading - TC-00900 - Thoroughfare abandonment of a 20' x 140' east-west alley located between 2141 Walnut and 833/841 Ambler. The Planning and Zoning Commission and staff recommend approval with the stipulated conditions.

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

• Greg Frazier, owner, Popeye's restaurant.

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

Councilwoman Alexander moved to approve the Ordinance for Thoroughfare abandonment of a 20' x 140' east-west alley located between 2141 Walnut and 833/841 Ambler, as recommended by the Planning & Zoning Commission and staff. Councilman Brown seconded the motion and the motion carried.

AYES: Councilmen Vasquez, Drennan, Brown, Councilwoman Alexander, and Mayor Barr.

Nays: None.

The Ordinance is numbered 9-2000 and is captioned as follows:

4.6 Jeff Armstrong, Development Services Administrator, briefed the Council on an Ordinance considered on second and final reading - Z-00800 - Rezone from RS-6 (Residential Single Family) to GC (General Commercial) zoning district property located at 2141 Walnut. Mr. Armstrong stated with Council having approved agenda item 4.5, TC-00900 - Thoroughfare abandonment of a 20' x 140' east-west alley located between 2141 Walnut and 833/841 Ambler, staff now recommends approval of this item. The Planning and Zoning Commission also recommends approval of this item. Mr. Armstrong noted a correction to the zoning map on page 3 of item 4.6, the RM-2 (Residential Multi-Family) designation should be O (Office) designation.

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

• Greg Frazier, owner, Popeye's restaurant.

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

Councilman Brown moved to approve the Ordinance to rezone from RS-6 (Residential Single Family) to GC (General Commercial) zoning district property located at 2141 Walnut, as recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission and staff. Councilman Vasquez seconded the motion and the motion carried.

AYES: Councilmen Vasquez, Drennan, Brown, Councilwoman Alexander, and Mayor Barr.

Nays: None.

The Ordinance is numbered 10-2000 and is captioned as follows:

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

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

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:15 p.m.

Jo Moore, City Secretary

Grady Barr, Mayor