The Abilene City Council, Development Corporation of Abilene, Inc., and Abilene Independent School District Board of Trustees of Abilene, Texas, met in a Special Joint Meeting on April 30, 2001, at 5:30 p.m. in the Region 14 Education Service Center Taylor Room, 1850 Highway 351 for a round table discussion concerning the Abilene City Council, Development Corporation of Abilene, Inc. (DCOA), and Abilene Independent School District (AISD) Board of Trustees respective roles in the educational and economic development of the City. Mayor Grady Barr, AISD Board President John Stearns, and DCOA President Tucker Bridwell called their respective boards to order. Councilmen Kris Southward, Victor G. Carrillo, Rob Beckham, and Councilwoman Kay Alexander were present. City staff present were City Manager Roy McDaniel, City Attorney Sharon Hicks, City Secretary Jo Moore, Assistant City Manager Michael Morrison, Director of Economic Development Lisa Hoodenpyle, and Economic Development Program Manager Laurie Cowan. Councilmen Norm Archibald and Versie L. Brown, Jr. were absent. AISD Board of Trustees present were Phil Morehead, Mike Sullivan, Yvonne Batts, Lora Lynn Christensen, Susan King, and Charlie Wolfe. DCOA members present were Ken Burgess Sr., Carlos Rodriguez, and Syd Niblo. Jane Varner Beard was absent.

Tucker Bridwell, President of the Development Corporation of Abilene, Inc. (DCOA), presented the DCOA report of activities for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2000. Mr. Bridwell noted the goals identified in the City's economic development efforts and briefed the Boards on various businesses and industries created and retained; including the progress of the Five Points Business Park.

Mr. Bridwell listed projects authorized under Section 4A, compared selected West Texas cities which have the Economic Development Sales Tax, reviewed the City of Abilene Economic Development Organizational relationship, sales tax revenues, DCOA expenditures, jobs created, annual unemployment rate, taxes spent by non-Abilene residents, noted the regional workforce mirrors the school population, and stated DCOA's philosophy is to not be quick to grant incentives that are not tied to loans that are paid back or to real estate. Mr. Bridwell concluded by stating this is a rich history of progress.

Frank Puckett, Chair of the Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee for Dyess Air Force Base, stated the Military Affairs Committee is part of the Chamber of Commerce with 320 members and has been in existence for 50 years. Mr. Puckett stated the single focus and purpose of the committee is to maintain and build DAFB. Mr. Puckett addressed the committee's varied activities (i.e., working on infrastructure), the Community/DAFB relationship and efforts toward maintaining the B-1 bomber. Mr. Puckett further stated that Dyess has a good chance of landing the Airborne laser (ABL) which is placed in a 747 and used for missile defense. Following an ABL film presentation, Mr. Puckett noted the benefits of basing the ABL at Dyess. Mr. Puckett concluded by briefing the boards on the construction of 400 new privatized housing units southeast of the base.

Mayor Barr stated his appreciation to Mr. Puckett & the Military Affairs Committee for their many efforts.

Discussion among the Council, DCOA, and school board included: finding a way to make it easier for students to transfer in with credits for what they've earned, making support of the ABL known, businesses assessing factors like workforce, education, housing, transportation, and incentives to determine if they will locate in Abilene, no known company having chosen not to locate in Abilene because of the education system, water probably is an issue with businesses, the need to work with institutions of higher learning, additional skills the district could offer, current top fields being in the areas of welding and health care, providing a student with a good job upon graduation being a real benefit, and sharing the positive, i.e.: employment up from 48,200 people in 1991 to the current 58,700.

Council members addressed the school board's request for input as follows: the need to draw from our commonalties was noted, looking at the shared infrastructure costs (i.e. technology), accomplishing more by sharing projects and utilizing each other's expertise.

Comments from attendees included: being appreciative of the way in which the school board has listened to citizens, the City having a tremendous amount of information that would be helpful to the school district, commending AISD for making hard choices and negatives being turned to positive with encouragement to keep a positive attitude, verbal applause especially to Dr. Moehler for handling a difficult situation and appreciation of AISD leadership in making extremely difficult decisions, Council being pro-economic development and doing their best to attract and keep businesses and to develop a secure source of water for all.

Council welcomed recommendations or direction from the AISD and thanked them for their willingness to work together; school board members described today's meeting as a great opportunity to get feedback from the Council.

Mr. Bridwell addressed the following issues: the different areas of competition the City is faced with and the need to be willing to take larger risks, the necessity of taking advantage of our assets (highways, Airport, a lot better water situation overall than most west Texas cities), how new or expanding companies would positively receive AISD seeking them out for help, and how successes would create a bond between AISD, students and companies.

Further discussion included: reasons for a decrease in school attendance, steps that have been taken to improve the city's water supply which include moving the construction of the Ivie pipeline up 10 years and adding effluent water to DAFB, DCOA not expecting high water user types of businesses to locate in Abilene, the possibility of making Abilene airport a cargo point of entry, and the City's Community Development task force, as part of the airport master plan, looking at tying together for the community's benefit our air, rail and road transport.

Mr. Stearns stated appreciation to the Council and DCOA members for their participation.

Mr. Bridwell suggested the Council and boards have a follow-up meeting in six months to a year.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m.

Jo Moore, City Secretary

Grady Barr, Mayor