8.c.1. Inline Electric Supply Inc. Purchase of Traffic Signal Poles and Mast Arms. North Dean Road and East University Drive Intersection Improvements Project. $172,745.31

[8.c.1. Inline Electric Supply Inc. Purchase of Traffic Signal Poles and Mast Arms. North Dean Road and East University Drive Intersection Improvements Project. $172,745.31]

>> ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. >> AUTHORIZES EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH IN-LINE ELECTRIC SUPPLY , THE PURCHASE OF FOUR TRAFFIC SIGNAL POLES FOR THE NORTH DEAN ROAD AND UNIVERSITY DRIVE INTERSECTION PERMITS PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $172,000. LET'S MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

>> SECOND. >> MR. GRISWOLD? YES, I ASKED SCOTT CUMMINGS FOR SOME ANSWERS ON THIS DEBATE, HE DID PROVIDE THEM AND I AM SATISFIED WITH HI ANSWERS, BUT I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC HERE. THERE'S ONLY ONE BIDDER ON THIS PROJECT, AND I WAS ASKING HIM, DO WE ONLY HAVE ONE SOURCE FOR THIS? BECAUSE THEY ARE UNIQUE TO AUBURN, THEY MATCH THE OTHER ONES WE ARTY HAVE OR WHATNOT. AND THAT WOULD ONLY CONSTITUTE SINGLE SOURCE SOLICITATION, WHICH WE DON'T DO. SO, I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS SOMEBODY ELSE THAT DOES THIS. IN-LINE HAS PROVIDED IT IN THE PAST, AN THEY WERE THE ONLY BIDDER THIS TIME AROUND. DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHY WE CAN'T GET MORE SOLICITATIONS ON THIS KIND OF THING? DO WE NOT SPREAD THE NE WIDE ENOUGH OR JUST LIMIT IT T AUBURN? WHATEVER.

>> I WILL ASK ALLISON FRAZIER T ADDRESS THAT. THERE ARE LIMITE MANUFACTURERS THAT MEET THE POLLS THAT WE SPECIFY. IN THIS CASE, THERE ARE TWO VENDORS THA WE SET LIGHTERS TOO. THE ONE THAT RESPONDED IS THE ONE THAT MET THIS SPECIFICATION, MEANING

[00:15:05]

WE WANT THEM TO OFFLOAD THEM AS WELL AS DELIVER THE POLLS. THE OTHER VENDOR DOES NOT. SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WE ONLY HAD ONE SOURCE FOR OUR TRAFFIC CITY POLES, UNTIL THE OTHER

MANUFACTURER CAME ONLINE. >> SO, WE ONLY ASKED TWO PEOPLE , TWO COMPANIES TO DO THIS, TO BE?

>> YEAH, SO, WE HAVE A REGISTRY OF THE VENDORS THAT WE SEND BID LETTERS TO, BASED ON THEIR AND CSI -- THEIR CODES. AND THESE ARE THE TWO THAT ARE MOST COMMO RESPONDERS TO US.

>> OKAY, BUT THERE ARE OTHERS WHO RECEIVE THE COMMUNICATION? LETTERS GO OUT. NO, BECAUSE OF OUR STANDARDIZATION ON THIS YEARS AGO, I AM NOT SURE HOW LONG AGO THAT WAS, THERE ARE ONLY TWO THAT DO THAT STANDARDIZATION. SO, WE ISSUED THE BID DOCUMENTS TO THOSE TWO BECAUSE OF THE STANDARDIZATION

POINT >> IS THIS AVAILABLE ONLINE?

>> THESE PROPOSALS GO OUT DIRECTLY TO THEM.

>> YES, BUT WE DO ALSO POST THE INFORMATION.

>> IT IS ONLINE, SO ANOTHER VENDOR THAT POSSIBLY DOES THIS COULD SEE AN ONLINE AND COULD RESPOND AS WELL? SO, IT IS OPE TO THE ENTIRE PUBLIC? X IT IS.

>> IT IS OPEN TO THE ENTIRE PUBLIC, BUT WE ONLY SENT DIRECT LETTERS TO TWO SUPPLIERS BECAUS THEY HAVE SERVICED US IN THE PAST. YES, AND THOSE ARE THE ONES REGISTERED ON OUR VENDOR

LIST. >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. ANY

OTHER QUESTIONS? >> SO, THEY HAVE TO BE REGISTERED ON THE VENDOR LIST, JUST SAYING IF THERE IS ANOTHER VENDOR THAT WANTED TO BE IN ON THIS, SO THEY HAVE TO GET ON TH

VENDOR LIST IN ORDER TO BE? >> NOT NECESSARILY. WE SENT TH LETTERS TO THOSE ON THE LIST. IF SOMEONE IS NOT A VENDOR AND THEY SEE THE BID BECAUSE WE SEND THIS INFORMATION TO PLAN ROOMS, AND SOMETIMES WE GET VENDORS THAT ARE NOT ON OUR LIS THAT WANT TO BE, SO THEY GO THROUGH THE BID PROCESS. AND EVENTUALLY GET ON OUR LIST IF THEY WANT TO RECEIVE DIRECT

COMMUNICATION FROM US. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WE HAV A MOTION AND SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION TO IMPROVE THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[10.a. Tax abatement. SCA, Inc. 764 West Veterans Blvd. Auburn Technology Park North. ]

EMOTION AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

RESOLUTIONS. >> ITEM 10 A AUTHORIZES ATTACK FOR S CA INCORPORATED LOCATED ON VETERANS BOULEVARD. THE COMPANY WILL INVEST $6.7 MILLIO IN EQUIPMENT AND BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS AND CREATE 20 ADDITIONAL JOBS.

>> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL?

>> I AM JUST CURIOUS WHAT SCA IS, WHAT DO THEY DO?

>> SCA IS AN INJECTION MOLDING CORPORATION THAT MADE COMPONENTS FOR THE AIR-CONDITIONING UNITS AT HYUNDAI , AND THAT IS WHAT I KNOW. IF YOU WANT A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION, LESLIE CHAMBERS IS HERE. OKAY, THANK

YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> GENERAL QUESTIONS. TAX ABATEMENTS TO ME IN PARTIAL OR COMPLETE, THEY COULD LAST FOR SEVERAL YEARS, THEY COULD BE FOREVER, THEY COULD BE FOR A YEAR OR ANYTHING IN BETWEEN. CA YOU SPEAK TO THE LENGTH AND TH AMOUNT AND MAYBE EVEN THE

REASON WHY WE ARE DOING THIS ? >> I ACTUALLY WILL LET LESLIE CHAMBERS COME UP AND SPEAK TO THE LENGTH AND THE REASONS.

>> THAT EVENING. THIS TAX ABATEMENT IS WITHIN AN EXISTING COMPANY. ONE OF THE REASONS WE GO THROUGH THIS TAX ABATEMENTS WITH EXISTING COMPANIES THAT AR LOOKING TO EXPAND THEIR OPERATIONS IS TO ATTRIBUTE THOSE JOBS AND THAT INVESTMENT IS MADE HERE IN THE CITY OF AUBURN. MOST OF OUR TAX ABATEMENTS ARE FOR A TEN-YEAR PERIOD OF TIME. I BELIEVE THIS ONE IS A STANDARD TAX ABATEMEN THAT DOES LAST THAT 10 YEARS.

AND WE HAVE A A PORTION OF TAXES AND WE DO NOT ABATE THE SCHOOL TAXES. I BELIEVE THAT I CORRECT. AND THE CHILDREN'S HOME TAXES. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU, MISS CHAMBERS. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY

[10.b. Contract. D & J Enterprises, Inc. Annalue Drive and East University Drive Intersection Improvements Project. $1,054,382.60.]

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES.

>> ITEM 10 B ENTERPRISES INCORPORATED FOR CONSTRUCTION

[00:20:03]

INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT AND THE AMOUNT OF $1

MILLION. >> MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

>> SECOND. >> ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS

FROM THE COUNCIL? SURE. >> SORRY, ANOTHER ONE. THE TWO BIDS ARE $1 MILLION APART. THAT'S VERY UNUSUAL, I WOULD THINK. IS THERE SOMETHING IN THE SOLICITATION OR A THING THAT WAS NOT INTERPRETED CORRECTLY OR WHAT? I MEAN, A MILLION-DOLLAR DELTA BETWEEN ON CONSTRUCTION COMPANY AT ANOTHER

REALLY JUMPS OUT. >> MOST OF THE PRICES ON THERE, COMMON ITEMS WERE PRETTY CLOSE. OFTEN, CONTRACTORS PUT THEIR PROFIT AND OVERHEAD IN DIFFEREN ITEMS AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE SEE, BUT IT IS A PRETTY BIG DISPARITY.

>> BOTH GOT THE EXACT SAME OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD THE EXACT

SAME THING? >> YES, SIR.

>> AND THIS IS ALSO UNDER BUDGET, CORRECT?

>> IT IS. TELL MEGAN WHEN SHE GETS BACK.

>> SHE NOTED IT THURSDAY WITH US.

>> SHE DID. >> YOU HAVE DRIVEN A GOOD BARGAIN AND WHAT IT IT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN'T HONOR BECAUSE THEY LOSE MONEY? WHAT HAPPENS THEN?

>> THAT IS JUST THE WAY IT GOES

>> IS THERE A MEDIAN THAT IS GOING TO RUN FROM THE UNIVERSIT OF NORTH , NOT A MEDIAN, I GUESS, A CONCRETE MEDIAN, I WAS JUST KIND OF GETTING A LITTLE DESCRIPTION OF THE

PROJECT. >> YEAH, THE MEDIAN RUNS FROM - IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR OF THE WES SIDE OF SAGA APACHE, JUST KIND OF PASSED THE EAST SIDE, BUT I IS NOT THE TOTAL LENGTH OF THE PROJECT. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE O THAT MEDIAN IS TO BLOCK FROM TH LEFT TURNS. AND ALSO, YOU RECALL ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE, THE SIDE THAT IT'S ON, THAT PORTION HAS BEEN REMOVED, MOST OF IT, SO WILL NOT BE BACK IN PLACE. IS THERE ANY TURNING LANES RIGHT THERE ? ANY TURNIN LANES THERE OR NOT? WILL THEY

BE NECESSARY? >> WE WILL HAVE LEFT TURN LANES

AT THE INTERSECTION. YES. >> THANK YOU.

>> YOU ARE WELCOME. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY,

[10.c. Adoption of Community Development Block Grant 2023 Annual Action Plan and funding recommendations. ]

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

>> ITEM 10 C ADOPTS THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, ACTION PLAN. 2023 FISCA YEAR BEGINS JUNE 1ST, 2023.

$693. $693,000. >> MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

>> SECOND. >> ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?

>> YEAH, I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS HERE. I WAS LOOKING AT THIS -- THE PROPOSED ALLOCATION FOR THESE FUNDS. LE ME START MY FIRST QUESTION. IT SAYS CITIZEN PARTICIPATION.

CAN -- WHEN THEY HELD VIEWS PUBLIC HEARINGS, WHERE THERE ARE MANY CITIZENS THAT PARTICIPATED IN THIS HEARING, AND ALSO, WHERE WERE THEY HELD OUT? I DON'T SEE THAT.

>> AL DAVIS, OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR WILL RESPOND.

>> YES, THE REQUIREMENTS WE HAVE IN PLACE. WE HAVE A VERY DETAILED PLAN THAT ALLOWS FOR CITIZEN PARTICIPATION. NOT ONLY DO WE PROVIDE NOTICES TO THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND IN THIS CASE, WE DID, WE HAD TWO PUBLI HEARINGS AT THE TIME THAT THE APPLICATIONS WERE ANNOUNCED , S PEOPLE COULD COME IN AND ACTUALLY RECEIVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE APPLICATIONS, BE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS. WE HAD TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS DURING THAT TIME. WE HAD TWO ADDITIONAL PUBLIC HEARINGS ONCE WE DECIDED ON THE PROPOSED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUNDING. WE ADVERTISED THE PUBLIC HEARINGS IN THE NEWSPAPER, VIA POST, AND IN AUBURN CITY HALL, THE AUBURN PUBLIC LIBRARY, AS WELL AS POSTING IN OUR BUILDING. WE ALS POSTED ON THE DIGITAL SIDE WALKING AS WELL. WE MADE SURE WE CALLED ALL OF THE SUB RECIPIENTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY GETTING FUNDED, AS WELL AS ALL THE NONPROFIT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT REQUEST INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROGRAM. THOSE WHO HAVE REQUESTED IN THE PAST AND THOSE WHO HAVE REQUESTED THIS PAST YEAR. SO, WE HAVE QUITE A BIT O CITIZEN COMMUNICATION , OUTREAC EFFORTS, AND OF COURSE, WE GET

[00:25:06]

CALLS FROM INDIVIDUALS SEEKING INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROGRAM A

WELL. >> OKAY, SO, I SAW THERE WAS A PUBLIC HEARING ON FEBRUARY 1ST RELATED. SO, WHEN THAT PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD, MR. DAVIS, WHERE THERE ARE A LOT OF

CITIZENS THAT PARTICIPATED? >> WE DON'T GET A LOT OF CITIZE PARTICIPATION AT OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS. IF THEY ARE A CITIZE INTERESTED, THEY WILL TYPICALLY CALL US. WE HAVE PEOPLE WALK I AND ASK QUESTIONS. BUT WE DON' TYPICALLY HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE AT THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, BECAUS MOST OF THE INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN THE PROGRAM HAVE ALREADY REACHED OUT TO US.

>> OKAY. AND IT WAS PUBLISHED I THE AUBURN VILLAGER AND ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE. THE AUBURN VILLAGER, WAS NOT THE ONLY

NEWSPAPER? >> WE ARE REQUIRED TO PUT IT IN ONE LOCAL NEWSPAPER, AND THAT I THE ONE WE SELECTED. IT HAS PRETTY GOOD READERSHIP, SO WE ARE HAPPY WE ARE ABLE TO REACH

THE COMMUNITY THAT WAY. >> AND I AM JUST ASKING THESE QUESTIONS, SO PEOPLE WILL UNDERSTAND HOW THIS WORKS. OKAY NOW I WAS ALSO LOOKING AT THE PROPOSED ALLOCATION FOR 693,00 DOLLARS. AND THE FIRST THING ON THE LIST IS THE HOUSING CONSTRUCTION FOR $184,000. SO ARE THERE PLANS TO BUILD NEW

HOUSES WITH THIS MONEY? >> THE FUNDING IN THIS PROPOSAL WILL COMPLETE THE THREE HOUSES THAT WE CURRENTLY ARE FINISHING ON BIRD STREET. WE HAVE THREE MORE, THAT IS CAROLINA CONSTRUCTION, SO WE WILL BE ABL TO COMPLETE THAT SUBDIVISION WITH THIS FUNDING. THEN WE MOVE FORWARD , LOOKING UP

POSSIBILITIES FOR THE FUTURE. >> $184,000 DON'T SEEM LIKE MUCH THREE HOUSES, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THIS MONEY IS USED FOR THIS PURPOSE AND YOU ALL DO WELL WITH THE FUNDS THAT YOU DO GET FROM THAT, SO THAT IS A PLU AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT, TOO.

WAS JUST WONDERING, THIS IS NOT NEW HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, BECAUSE THIS CONSTRUCTION, I GUESS WHEN I FIRST GOT ON THE COUNCIL, SEVEN HOUSES ON TUCKE WAS TALKED ABOUT AT THAT POINT.

THERE IS NOT ENOUGH MONEY DURING THAT TIME, SO WE HAVE GO TO USE THIS MONEY HERE TO FINIS OUT THE JOB.

>> AND WE DO HAVE SOME FUNDS WE ARE CURRENTLY USING TO START CONSTRUCTION, SO WE DO HAVE PROGRAM INCOME, WE HAVE FUNDS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS, SO WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO FINISH OUT THIS SUBDIVISION WITH THE FUNDS WE HAVE ON HAND, WITH THESE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS, WE WILL COMPLETE THOSE THREE HOUSES.

>> JUST ONE MORE QUESTION. HOUSING REHABILITATION, $120,000. SO, I GUESS THOSE FUNDS ARE PRETTY MUCH ALLOCATE AND PEOPLE ACTUALLY CALL THEM T GET MONEY TO GET THERE HOUSING REHABILITATED. DO YOU HAVE TO MEET CERTAIN --

>> LET ME EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT LINE ITEM. WE ARE NOT SPENDING $120,000 JUST ON REHABBING HOUSES. THOSE FUNDS ARE ALSO USED, YOU CAN SEE IT I BROKEN OUT INTO THREE ALLOCATIONS. 20,000 OF THOSE DOLLARS , WE HAVE QUITE A FEW

LEGAL FEES. >> WE HAVE LEGAL FEES RELATING TO OUR CURRENT HOUSING REHAB PROGRAM. PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO GET HOUSES. WE STILL HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF LEGAL FEES ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE BABY ALWAYS INCLUDE MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO HELP. AND WE ALSO HAVE MORE TO HELP WITH STAFF SALARIES, WHO ALSO SUPPORT, NOT ONLY THE HOUSING REHAB AFTER, BUT ALSO THE FORMER HOUSING EFFORTS AS WELL. $25,000 IS ACTUALLY WHAT IS ALLOCATED EVER YEAR , TYPICALLY, WE ALLOCATE T SUPPORTING HOUSING REHAB EFFORTS. WE DON'T DO HOUSING REHAB OURSELVES, WE WORK WITH A COMMUNITY PARTNER WHICH WE HAV WORKED WITH FOR MANY YEARS. WE NOT ONLY USE OUR ALLOCATION, BU FUNDS THAT THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DO A LOT MORE WITH HOUSING REHAB THEN WE WERE ABLE TO DO OURSELVES IN-HOUSE, SO HAVING A GOOD PARTNER WITH PCM HAS BEEN GREAT FOR US.

>> STREET RESURFACING HYBRID TUCKER STREET AND THE WEST OF BIRD. I KNOW Y'ALL STARTED ON BIRD, YOU'RE GOING TO FINISH UP

GOING DOWN.. >> IF YOU ARE AT THE CORNER OF BIRD AND TUCKER, AT THE END OF TUCKER, ON THAT SIDE OF THE

[00:30:13]

STREET, IS IN THIS PAVING PROJECT, AS WELL AS ALL OF

HOWARD STREET. >> HOWARD IS -- WHAT IS HOWARD? INTERSECTION, IT'S BEHIND HOUSES, YOU KNOW WHAT I AM

TALKING ABOUT NOW? >> YEAH, I GOT YOU. I AM GOOD.

QUESTIONS? >> JUST WORDS OF SUMMARY. THIS IS KNOWN AS A BLOCK GRANTS, AND SOME PEOPLE, INCLUDING ME, HAD TO GO LOOK THAT UP, A BLOCK GRANT MEANS YOU'RE GIVEN A LARGE SUM OF MONEY, THEN YOU HAVE TO USE YOUR WISDOM AND DISCRETION, AS YOU HAVE BEEN DESCRIBING HERE, AND HOW TO ALLOCATE THOSE FUNDS, SO I COMPLEMENT YOU ON THE FINE DETAIL THAT YOU PRESENTED ON THAT TONIGHT. AND I POINT OUT THAT WE HAVE TO RECEIVE THAT AND SHEPPARD THOSE FUNDS AS

BEST AS WE CAN, SO GOOD JOB. >> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS, FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.

>> ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION

[12. CITIZENS’ OPEN FORUM.]

CARRIES. >> THOSE ARE ALL THE ITEMS WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT. THANKS THIS TIME IS OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITIZENS TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL. WE WILL ASK THAT YOU COME FORWARD WHEN IT IS YOU TIME AND GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. REMEMBER, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT YOUR COMMENTS BE DIRECTED TO THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO AS THAT YOUR COMMENTS DO NOT INCLUDE CONDESCENDING REMARKS REGARDING EMPLOYEES OR PEOPLE I THIS CITY. IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ANY OF US, LET US HAVE IT, THAT IS WHAT WE SIGNE UP FOR WHEN WE ASKED TO BE ELECTED, BUT I ASK YOU BE CONSIDERATE OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE. CERTAINLY, IF THERE IS ANYTHING ON YOUR MIND, LET U KNOW ABOUT IT, OKAY? WHO WILL B FIRST? YES, MA'AM?

>> HELLO, MY NAME IS DEBBIE REEVES AND I LIVE AT 2137 CONSERVATION DRIVE. I HAVE LIVED IN AUBURN FOR OVER 32 YEARS, I AM A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, AS WELL AS A HIGH SCHOO MATH, SCIENCE, AND A.C.T. PREP TEACHER. I'M ALSO A MOTHER OF SIX CHILDREN AND HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO USE THE AUBURN CITY LIBRARY FOR EDUCATIONAL READING PURPOSES ALL THE YEARS WE HAVE BEEN IN AUBURN. I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE THE STAFF . I AM SURE MUCH OF WHAT THEY DO IS A THANKLESS JOB AND I WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK THEM, JUST AS I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK YOU DO ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC CITIZENS FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. YESTERDAY I WAS SHOWN EXTREMELY EXPLICIT IMAGES OF SEXUAL ACTS BETWEEN YOUNG PEOPLE AND FOLKS FROM OU CITY LIBRARY. I WAS APPALLED THESE BOOKS ARE OWNED AND OWNED BY OUR LIBRARY. I WAS UNABLE T VERIFY THE NEH CONTROLS EXIST T PREVENT CHILDREN OR TEENAGERS FROM ACCESSING THESE FOLKS. THE IMAGES ARE PORNOGRAPHIC. THE AUBURN COMMUNITY IS A DIVERSE ONE. THE GRANDPARENTS AND PARENTS OF ALL PERSUASIONS CAN AGREE THAT PORNOGRAPHY SHALL NOT BE AVAILABLE TO OUR CHILDREN. PARTICULARLY IN OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY. MATERIALS THAT DEPICT SEXUAL ACTS AND GRAPHIC DETAIL, SERVICE INSTRUCTION MANUALS. I AM ASKING YOU AS OUR CITY COUNCILMEMBERS TO EXERCISE THE AUTHORITY WE HAVE INVESTED IN YOU TO MAKE SURE SEXUALLY EXPLICIT IMAGES ARE NO AVAILABLE TO OUR CHILDREN AT TH CITY LIBRARY. I WOULD URGE YOU IN THE FUTURE TO ONLY APPOINT LIBRARY BOARD MEMBERS WHO COMMI TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN FROM PORNOGRAPHIC CONTENT AND SPECIFICALLY ASK THEM FOR THAT COMMITMENT IN ADVANCE. I AM SURE RESOURCES AT THE LIBRARY ARE LIMITED, SO I AM ASKING WH FUNDS ARE BEING ALLOCATED FOR EXPLICIT MATERIALS, RATHER THA BEING USED FOR THE MANY WORTHY, SOLID, EDUCATIONAL BOOKS AND LITERATURE THAT OUR PATRONS CAN PROFIT FROM. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO IS CHOOSING TO PUT BOOKS LIKE THIS IN OUR LIBRARY AND HOW THEY CAN BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR MAKING BETTER DECISIONS IN THE FUTURE OR BE OFFERED A DIFFERENT CAREER PATH

INSTEAD. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. REEVES.

[00:35:02]

>> WHO WILL BE NEXT? YES, MA'AM.

>> MY NAME IS BONNIE MCEWAN. I AM HERE TODAY IN MY CAPACITY A VICE CHAIR OF THE AUBURN PUBLIC LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD. OUR BOARD CHAIR HAS ADDRESSED YOU SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS REGARDING THE CONCERNS EXPRESSED BY A HANDFUL OF CITIZENS ABOUT MATERIALS AVAILABLE IN THE LIBRARY. SHE HAS SHARED EXCERPTS FROM THE COMMUNICATIONS WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM OVER 70 CITIZENS. YOUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE TOLD US HOW IMPORTANT THE LIBRARY IS TO THE AND TO THEIR FAMILIES AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN AUBURN. MANY HAVE SHARED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DIVERSE COLLECTION TO THEIR OWN WELL-BEING OR MENTAL HEALTH OR TO THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. AN AUBURN UNIVERSITY PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSOR ATTENDED A MEETING AND CONFIRMED FOR ALL OF US THAT ACCESS TO THESE MATERIALS CAN CONTRIBUTE QUITE LITERALLY TO SAVING LIVES. YOU HAVE HEARD THAT THE PRESENCE O THESE MATERIALS CAN POSE A THREAT TO CHILDREN, BUT YOUR OW ATTORNEY HAS TOLD YOU THAT THE LIBRARY HAS IN PLACE A PROTOCOL TO ALLOW PARENTS TO CONTROL THE MATERIALS AVAILABLE TO THEIR CHILDREN. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AT THIS POINT AND MENTIO AN ARTICLE IN LAST WEEK'S NEWS ON AN EDITORIAL PAGE. AND ADDRESSED BOTH SOCIAL MEDIA AND BOOKS. AND THE AUTHOR OF THAT ARTICLE SAYS PARENTS ARE IN TH BEST POSITION TO DECIDE WHICH BOOKS THEIR CHILDREN SHOULD OR SHOULDN'T READ. GETTING THEM T READ AT ALL IS A BATTLE IN ITSELF. IT IS NOT OUR PLACE AS LIBRARIANS TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS FOR PARENTS, BUT OUR JOB TO MAKE AVAILABLE A WIDE VARIETY OF MATERIALS, SO FAMILIES CAN MAKE THESE CHOICES THE ONES THAT ARE RIGHT FOR THEM. TO AND, I WOULD LIKE TO QUOTE ONE OF THE CONSTITUENTS THAT WROTE TO US THIS WEEK. "TODAY, THERE ARE NEW TOPICS AN NEW INFORMATION THAT IS PUBLIC AND WIDESPREAD. THOSE OF US WH WOULD CHOOSE TO DO SO CAN READ STORIES WRITTEN BY AND ABOUT PEOPLE DIFFERENT FROM OURSELVES SUCH BOOKS ACQUAINT US WITH WHITE -- GREAT VARIETY OF CIRCUMSTANCES. THEY TEACH EMPATHY AND GENEROSITY. NO BOOK EVER PERSUADED A YOUNG PERSON T BECOME LGBTQ ANY MORE THAN A BOOK ABOUT LIFE ABOVE THE ARCTIC CIRCLE PERSUADED A PERSO TO BECOME AN ESKIMO. THE AUTHOR ENDS WITH PLEASE CONTINU YOUR GOOD WORK. SO, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU THIS

EVENING. >> THANK YOU. WHO WILL BE NEXT?

PLEASE. >> SUSAN YOUNGBLOOD. I FULLY SUPPORT THE LIBRARY AND PROVIDING A VARIETY OF MATERIALS. I AM JEWISH, SO I WON'T CHECK OUT MANY OF THE MAN CHRISTIAN BOOKS, MANY OF THE BOOKS ON CHRISTIANITY. MY KIDS DIDN'T CHECK OUT THE DOZENS OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS ON CREATIONIS BECAUSE THOSE AREN'T THE BOOKS DIRECTED THEM TO PUT THE LIBRARY TRUSTS THE PATRONS TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS ON WHA TO BELIEVE AND WHAT TO READ, WHICH I DEEPLY APPRECIATE WHAT CENSORSHIP ACTIVISTS WANT TO REMOVE IS NOT PORNOGRAPHY, ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE BOOKS DO HAVE EXPLICIT CONTENT, THAT INCLUDES THE AWARD-WINNING MEMOIR , A MEMOIR IN GRAPHIC NOVEL FORM FOR ADULTS. LITERAR FICTION DOES NOT CONVERT PEOPLE TO BE IN GAY. MULTIPLE STUDIES THOUGH, SO IT DOES HELP PEOPLE WHO IDENTIFY WITH IT AND HELP OTHER READERS BECOME MORE EMPATHETIC. THAT IS WHY LGBTQ+ WORK IS UNDER ATTACK. THAT IS WHY THE BIBLE, WHICH HAS SEXUAL CONTENT , IS NOT UNDER ATTACK.

THE ATTACKS ACROSS THE U.S. ARE FOLLOWING COORDINATED STRATEGIE , ACTIVISTS START WITH MORE CONTROVERSIAL BOOKS, AND THEN ENROLL IN OTHER WORKS THAT MAKE THEM UNCOMFORTABLE. A JEWISH PICTURE BOOK WHERE KIDS SAY, MY DADS, IS UNDER ATTACK IN FLORIDA. LIKELY NOT BY THE JEWISH COMMUNITY. ART

[00:40:01]

SPIEGELMAN'S BULLETS ARE PRIZE-WINNING NOVEL IS BANNED IN TENNESSEE AND IT HAS BEEN BANNED, PENDING INVESTIGATION I TWO OTHER STATES. IT IS A COMPELLING MEMOIR ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST. AND BY THE WAY, IT SHOWS BARE BREAST ON A DEAD CARTOON MOUSE ON ONE PAGE AND ONE SMALL FRAME. SMALL FRAME.

THE OSTENSIBLE REASON IT IS BEE BANNED. CHECK OUT THE BOOK IF YOU WANT TO LOOK FOR YOURSELF. ALLOW YOURSELF TIME, THOUGH, BECAUSE THAT PART OF THE IMAGE IS SMALL. MEANWHILE, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MARGINALIZED GROUPS BEING ABLE TO SEE THEMSELVES AND THRIVE OR EVEN SURVIVE. I WOULD RATHER COMFORT A GAY KID THEN VERY A DECADE. AM CONCERNED ABOUT DEVELOPING EMPATHY, ABOUT THE GROWTH OF HATE IN GENERAL, LIKE THE BATHROOMS LOST BECAUSE DR. BARLOW AT EAST SANFORD CALL ME ABOUT TWICE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. SURE, ONE WAS SCRUBBED AWAY. AND THE SCRATCHED IN ONE WAS PAINTED OVER, BUT THE EFFECTS LASTED. AND YOU COULD STILL SEE THE EXIT LINES. WHAT ETCHING WOULD WE BE MAKING ON LGBTQ+ KIDS AND FAMILIES HEARTS BY REMOVING THESE BOOKS ON THEI LIVES ? AND LIKE MR. DENMARK SAID LAST MONTH, THERE IS A CASCADE, WORKS THAT MAKE PEOPL UNCOMFORTABLE FOR RACIAL REASON ARE DOWN THE ROAD. LOOK AT FLORIDA'S CURRENT CONTROVERSIES LIKE MENTIONING ROSA PARKS' RACE. THE WEB SEARCHES THAT WOULD BE TO ONE OF A COUPLE OF GRAPHIC NOVELS ACROSS THE LIBRARY WHERE KIDS, LITTLE KIDS , CAN'T GO UNACCOMPANIED, LEAD MORE QUICKLY TO MUCH RACIER CONTENT AVAILABLE WITHOUT A LIBRARY CARD. PLEASE KEEP REPRESENTATION, CULTIVATE A CARING COMMUNITY, AND TRUST

PATRONS, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, WHO WILL BE NEXT? BEALE, I'VE LIVED HERE FOR THE LAST 33 YEARS. AND I AM HERE AGAIN BECAUSE I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR APPOINTING PEOPLE TO SERVE ON THE BOARD THAT TAKE THEIR JOB SERIOUSLY. AND I WAN TO THANK THE LIBRARY BOARD FOR TAKING THEIR JOB SERIOUSLY, FO LISTENING TO PEOPLE THAT COME AND TALK TO THEM, EVEN WHEN THOSE PEOPLE REFER TO THEM AS SEWERS. AND THE STAFF THAT WORK THERE AND THE BOARD MEMBERS AS ALL SORTS OF WORDS THAT YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE CALLING YOU. THEY TAKE IT SERIOUSLY, THEY LISTEN TO THOSE PEOPLE, AND I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR PUTTING THEMSELVES THROUGH THAT. I WANT TO THANK THE LIBRARY STAFF FOR WORKING REALLY HARD TO PROVIDE MATERIAL FOR THE ENTIRE DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THIS LAST MONTH, I HAD A MULTILINGUAL STORYTIME IN WHIC THEY HAD, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY -- OVER 10, I THINK MAYBE 15 LANGUAGES OF PICTURE BOOKS WITH PEOPLE READING STORIES TO OTHE PEOPLE IN THOSE LANGUAGES. AND THAT ALLOWS US TO LEARN ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE. AND THAT IS WHAT LIBRARY IS FOR. AND I ALSO WAN TO USE THE REST OF MY TIME TO REMIND YOU OF WHAT IS GOING ON.

THIS IS AN ARTICLE FROM CNN FROM LAST SATURDAY, APRIL 1ST.

A FEDERAL JUDGE IN TEXAS ROLLED AT LEAST 12 BOOKS REMOVED FROM PUBLIC LIBRARIES BY LANDO COUNTY OFFICIALS, MANY BECAUSE OF THEIR LGBTQ AND RACIAL CONTENT MUST BE PLACED BACK ONTO THE SHELVES WITHIN 24 HOURS, ACCORDING TO AN ORDER FILED THURSDAY. SEVEN RESIDENT SUED COUNTY OFFICIALS IN APRIL 2022, CLAIMING THEIR FIRST AND 14TH AMENDMENT RIGHTS WERE VIOLATED WHEN BOOKS DEEMED INAPPROPRIATE BY SOME PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND SOME LAWMAKER WERE REMOVED FROM PUBLIC LIBRARIES OR ACCESS WAS RESTRICTED. THE LAWSUIT FILED IN THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS I SAN ANTONIO CLAIMS COUNTY OFFICIALS REMOVED BOOKS FROM THE SHELVES OF THE THREE BRANCH PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY DISAGREE WITH THE IDEAS WITHIN THEM. AND TERMINATED ACCESS TO THOUSANDS OF DIGITAL BOOKS BECAUSE THEY CANNOT BAN TWO SPECIFIC TITLES. BOOKS ORDERED TO RETURN TO SHELVES INCLUDED CAST, THE ORIGINS OF OUR DISCONTENT BY ISABEL WILKERSON. THEY CALL THEMSELVE THE , THE BIRTH OF AN AMERICAN TERRORIST GROUP BY SUSAN LEDDY, AND BEING GILES, MY LIFE AS A CHANCE GENDER TEENAGER BY JAZZ JENNINGS. THE LIBRARY SYSTEM I ALSO REQUIRED TO SAY THESE BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR CATALOG AND CANNOT REMOVE ANY OF THESE BOOKS FOR ANY REASON

[00:45:03]

WHILE THE CASE IS ONGOING. ROBERT PITTMAN SAID IN HIS ORDER, AND HE ALSO SAID DATED, ALTHOUGH LIBRARIES ARE AFFORDED GREAT DISCUSSION FURTHER SELECTION AND ACQUISITION DECISIONS, THE FIRST AMENDMENT PROHIBITS THE REMOVAL OF BOOKS

FROM LIBRARIES. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. WHO WILL

BE NEXT? >> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS JEF WALKER, THE GREAT THING IS THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER KIND OF STOLE SOME OF MY THUNDER, SO IT IS GOING TO MAKE MY STATEMENT A LO SMALLER TONIGHT. BUT I DID WAN TO SAY OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS OUR LIBRARY AND OUR LIBRARY BOARD HAVE COME UNDER ATTACK FO THE CONTENT AND IDEAS OF SOME O THE BOOKS ON THE SHELVES. THE ATTACK HAS SPILLED OVER TO THIS COUNSEL, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THE LOCAL MEDIA. THIS ISN'T UNIQUE TO AUBURN. SIMILAR ATTACKS HAVE BEEN RAISED IN OTHER LOCATIONS ACROSS THE NATION. I WENT ON TO TALK ABOU THE SITUATION IN TEXAS WHERE TH JUDGE RULED IN FAVOR OF THE CITIZENS, AND I WANT TO STRESS AGAIN, THESE CITIZENS BROUGHT A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT WHERE THERE FIRST AND 14TH AMENDMENT RIGHTS HAD BEEN VIOLATED. THE BOOKS ARRANGED IN THE FROM ADULT TO YOUTH BOOKS WITH CONTENT FROM RACE TO LGBTQ CONTENT. I THINK WHAT I WAS TRYING TO GET TO HEAR IS IF THESE BOOKS ARE REMOVED FROM OUR LIBRARY, WHO WILL OPEN THEIR WALLET IN THE CITY OF AUBURN TO PAY FOR THE LAWSUITS THAT SURELY WILL COME FROM ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE ACLU AR THE SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE VERY DEEP POCKETS AND LOTS OF EXPERIENCE FIGHTING AGAINST REMOVED CIVIL LIBERTIES AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. I DON'T THINK EVERYONE THAT IS WANTIN THESE BOOKS REMOVED IS GOING T OPEN THEIR WALLETS AND PAY FOR IT. INSTEAD, IT WILL BE ASKED OF THE TAXPAYERS IN OUR CITY. SO, WHEN WILL WE GIVE UP? WEL A PLAYGROUND MAYBE NOT GET NEW EQUIPMENT? WILL WE NOT OPEN OU NEW HIGH SCHOOL ON TIME? BECAUSE THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF LIABILITY WILL BE PASSED ON TO THE CITIZENRY HERE IN THE CITY OF AUBURN. WHEN THIS FIRST CAM UP, I MENTIONED HERE THAT THE SUPREME COURT HAD RULED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THAT LIBRARIES ARE PROTECTED CATHEDRALS OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT. AND THIS ROLLING IN TEXAS FURTHER SOLIDIFIES IT AND GIVES RECENT PRESIDENTS IS FOR OTHER JUDGES THAT MIGHT HEAR SIMILAR CASES TO RULE IN FAVOR OF THE PEOPLE, TO RULE I FAVOR OF THESE PIECES OF LITERATURE. AND I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT CAME OUT OF THAT RULING WAS JUDGE PITTMAN'S WORDS, THE FIRST AMENDMENT PROHIBITS THE REMOVA OF BOOKS BASED ON EITHER VIEWPOINT OR CONTENT DISCRIMINATION. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. WHO WILL BE NEXT

>> ROBERT WILKINS, AUBURN, ALABAMA. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I PROMISED YOU MY SPEECH TONIGHT WOULD BE RIGHTIN A WRONG, BUT INSTEAD, I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE AUBURN LIBRARY. I BELIEVE OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, ESPECIALLY THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN DAWSON AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING FOR CANNOT TO HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH . AND ON BEHALF OF ONE OF OUR AUBURN CITIZENS, ARTHUR, SOMETIMES SOMETHING THAT COUNCILMAN PARSO AND I HAVE IN COMMON IS THAT NEITHER OF US WERE BORN IN THE UNITED STATES. AND BOTH OF US ARE NATURALIZED U.S. CITIZENS.

THE WISDOM OF OUR FOUNDING FATHERS PRODUCED THE GREATEST CONSTITUTION IN THE WORLD. WE THE PEOPLE, NOT WE THE GOVERNMENT. A LIBRARY BOOK ISSUE IS NOT ABOUT THE HETEROSEXUAL COMMUNITY OR LGBT I A PLUS COMMUNITY. IT IS ABOU THE IMPRESSIONABLE MINDS OF OUR KIDS AND AUBURN COMMUNITY POSSIBLY BEING EXPOSED TO SEXUA CONTENT IN THE LIBRARY. WE ARE PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, AUNTS, UNCLES, COUSINS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, CHURCHES , AND THE COMMUNITY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR

[00:50:04]

PROVIDING THE PROPER EDUCATION THROUGH OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE BOOKS THAT ARE READ FROM OUR LIBRARY. I HOPE THAT THE TWO LIBRARY BOARD POSITIONS THA WERE FILLED TONIGHT WERE GREAT CHOICES , NOT JUST GOOD CHOICES I HAVE TALKED TO MANY COUNCILMEMBERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE LAST TWO WEEKS. NO ONE I HAVE SPOKEN TO BELIEVED IN BANNING ANY BOOKS. THEY ARE NOT WANTING TO BAN BOOKS IN THE LIBRARY, BUT PROPERLY PLACING THEM IN THE PROPER PLACE, THAT IS ALL. ADULT MATERIAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN THE ADULT SECTION. IN OUR AUBURN BUSINESSES, ADULT CONTEN IS BEHIND SHELVES. NOT EASILY ACCESSIBLE. WE HAVE IDEAS FOR UNDERAGE PURCHASES OF CIGARETTE AND ALCOHOL. LET ME RESTATE, N BANNING OF BOOKS EVER. I STILL HAVE CONTINUED CONFIDENCE IN THIS COUNSEL IN DOING THE RIGHT THING. I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU. WHO WILL BE NEXT

>> MARTHA , 307 CAMELLIA DRIVE AUBURN. THE GLORIOUS VALUES OF OUR LORD, JESUS CHRIST, ARE MY VALUES. JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER. HE LOVES CHILDREN, HE TEACHES THEM VIRTUE. THE CHILDREN OF AUBURN NEED BRAVE PROTECTORS , THEY NEED WISE, LOVING ADULTS TO LEAD THEM SAFELY AND TO KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, NOT THE KNOWLEDGE OF EVIL. AND INTO VIRTUE. A CLEAN CONSCIENCE, HONESTY AND SELF-RESPECT. SELF-CONTROL. PURITY. THE VULGAR AND OBSCENE BOOKS IN THE AUBURN LIBRARY RU ROUGHSHOD OVER THESE VALUES.

THEY BULLDOZE KIDS ' INNOCENCE AND STEAL THEIR PURITY AND THE END THEIR CHILDHOOD. THEY ARE DARK CLOUDS HIDING THE SUN. T POISONOUS VENOM AND TEARS INT CHILDREN. IT IS WRONG FOR TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS TO PAY FOR VULGAR, DEGRADING, AND SHAMELESS BOOKS THAT DEMORALIZE THEIR CHILDREN. BRING BACK THE GLORY. OF THE SUN , THE LIGHTS. REMOVE THE DARK CLOUDS

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. WHO WILL BE NEXT LIVE AT 2231 SPRING HILL DRIVE. IN AUBURN. I THINK WE NEED TO GET TO A POINT ON THIS ISSUE WHERE SHIRLEY, THERE ARE SOME

[00:55:08]

CLASSICAL LIBERALS STILL IN THI TALE, I WOULD HOPE. YOU KNOW, AM A GRADUATE OF AUBURN'S COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND I WAS TAUGHT THERE THAT BEING A TRUE LIBERAL IS SOMEBODY WHO CAN SIT THERE AND LISTEN CALMLY TO ALL SIDES OF AN ISSUE , EVERYBODY GETS A VOICE. START DOWN THE SLIPPERY SLOPE AND YOU HAVE GOT A SLIPPERY SLOPE, YOU KNOW? THAT IS WHAT I WOULD HOPE TO AVOID FOR THE CIT OF AUBURN, BECAUSE I KNOW I HAD A SITUATION. BECAUSE WE WERE A THE TOP OF THE ALPHABET, AUBUR AND ALABAMA , WE END UP HAVING THIS FEDERAL AUDIT BECAUSE SOMEBODY COMPLAINED AND SAID THAT WE WERE IMPROPERLY WITHHOLDING TAXES FROM FOREIGN NATIONALS, OKAY? AND THEY JUST PICKED US BECAUSE WE ARE AT THE TOP OF THE ALPHABET. 10 YEARS BEFORE, THEY PICKED THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA BIRMINGHAM. SO, IT WAS ONLY BY GOD'S GRACE THAT WE VERY QUICKLY WERE ABLE TO SAY, NO, W ARE NOT. NO, WE LEARN FROM UAB'S MISTAKES AND WE HAVE ALREADY CORRECTED THOSE MISTAKES. AND I WOULD JUST HOPE THE CITY OF AUBURN CAN LEARN FROM OTHER CITY'S MISTAKES, BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T WANT TO WATCH ON THE NEWS THAT SOME GROUP LIKE HE MENTIONED , AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE, IS ALSO A VERY LARGE BUT CONSERVATIVE GROUP THAT UNF OF SOME OF THE APPROACHES TOWARDS THE GOAL OF KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE HAS SOME HARMFUL EFFECTS , AS WE HEARD TALKED ABOUT. I SPOKE A FEW WEEKS AGO ABOUT HOW REPRESENTATION AND ACCEPTANCE IS A MAJOR FACTOR IN PREVENTING SUICIDE AMONG TRANS YOUTH. ALSO, IN LINE WITH CHILDREN SAFETY , WITH BEING ABUSED, ONE OF THE THINGS THA MY FAITH COMMUNITY DOES THAT I AM REALLY PROUD OF IS PROMOTE LIFELONG SEXUALITY EDUCATION COURSE, AND IT STARTS IN KINDERGARTEN. NOT WITH HERE AR PICTURES OF SEX, BUT HERE ARE THE NAMES FOR YOUR BODY PARTS, THEY ARE PRIVATE, THEY ARE JUS FOR YOU. IF SOMEONE TOUCHES THEM, YOU NEED TO TELL A TRUSTE ADULT. AN ANECDOTE THAT I HEAR SOMEWHERE WAS A LITTLE GIRL COMES INTO HER CLASS AND TELLS TEACHER, AN UNCLE WENT TO MY COOKIE, AND THE TEACHER SAYS, G GET ANOTHER ONE THEN. A FEW WEEKS GO BY, THE LITTLE GIRL COMES IN AGAIN AND SHE IS SCRATCHING HER AND THE TEACHER ASKS WHAT'S UP AND SHE SAYS MY COOKIE IS ITCHY. ANECDOTE FISHER, WHO KNOWS WHERE IT CAME FROM? BUT MY POINT BEING THAT FOR CHILDREN TO KNOW THE ANATOMICAL NAMES OF THEIR BODY PARTS, TO RECOGNIZE WITH PECTORAL IS WHAT THEIR BODY PARTS ARE CALLED AND A ROBUST SEX EDUCATION OFFERING MATERIALS IS A YOUTHFUL PIECE

[01:00:01]

IN PREVENTING CHILDREN FROM COMING TO HARM. AND I THINK THAT IS ALL I HAVE, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

>> THANK YOU. WHO WILL BE NEXT? YES, MA'AM.

>> HI, MY NAME IS KATHY. I LIVE AT 1069 RUNNING VINELAND, AUBURN, ALABAMA. I HAVE NEVER SPOKEN BEFORE AT A CITY COUNCIL AND I REALLY WASN'T PLANNING ON SPEAKING, BUT I JUST WANT MY VOICE HEARD. AND MY VOICE IS THAT I WANT TO PROTECT CHILDREN. AND I THINK THOSE TYPES OF THINGS THAT THEY ARE PUTTING IN BOOKS ARE THINGS TO BE DEALT WITH AT HOME WITH THEI PARENTS. AND THAT'S BASICALLY -- I JUST WANT TO VOICE, BECAUSE I KNOW SO MANY OF THESE OTHER PEOPLE, THE OTHER LIBERALS, WHATEVER, THEY HAVE VOICES THAT ARE LOUD, AND I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO WANT A LOUD VOICE IS TAKEN, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY. AND I WISH MORE PEOPLE -- BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT MORE PEOPLE LIKE ME. THAT ARE AFRAID. AND WE SHOULD BE AFRAID. AND I JUST WANTED T SAY THAT. SO -- I WANT MY

VOICE TO BE HEARD. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? YES

SIR? >> MR. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY T SPEAK. I APOLOGIZE, I MISS THE MEETING, I HAD OTHER COMMITMENTS.

>> NAME AND ADDRESS? >> I'M SORRY, IT HAS BEEN A LON DAY. MY NAME IS EDDIE YOUNGBLOOD. I MAY BE REITERATING WHAT PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY SAID. FIVE BUT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR CHILDREN TO SEE THEMSELVES IN LITERATURE. I DON'T CARE WHETHER IT IS RACE, RELIGION , OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION. I HAD FRIENDS GROWING UP WHO WERE GAY. I DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE GAY UNTIL I WAS IN COLLEGE. THE REASON I DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE GAY IS BECAUSE THEY WERE SCARED TO TEL ANYBODY. AND THAT BOTHERS ME. BOTHERS ME WITH SOME OF THE LITERATURE I HAVE SEEN IT PASSE AROUND, DISCUSSING THE BOOKS IN THE LIBRARY, IS MISLEADING. AND THERE ARE BOOKS THAT ARE ON THE LIST THAT ARE SAID TO BE IN THE CHILDREN'S SECTION, BUT THEY AR NOT. GAY KIDS READ AND SEE A HECK OF A LOT OF STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE THAT ARE STRAIGHT. THEY ARE STILL GAY. I AM PRETTY SUR THAT READING A STORY WHERE YO HAVE GOT TWO DADS OR TWO MOMS I NOT GOING TO MAKE A KID GAY. UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN ABOUT EXPLICIT MATERIAL. I UNDERSTAN THE CONCERNS ABOUT LAWSUITS ON BOTH ENDS OF IT. BUT THE COURT HAVE COME DOWN PRETTY CLEARLY O CENSORSHIP. AND SOME OF WHAT I AM HEARING TONIGHT, LATE THOUGH I WAS, IS ABOUT CENSORSHIP. NOT ALL OF IT, BUT IT IS ABOUT CENSORSHIP. IT IS ABOUT KEEPIN CHILDREN FROM SEEING THEMSELVE IN LITERATURE. IT IS ABOUT KEEPING CHILDREN FROM SEEING THEIR PARENTS AND SOME CASES OR THEIR LOVED ONES AND HEARING THOSE STORIES. CHILDREN BEING ABLE TO SEE THEMSELVES MEANS ACCEPTANCE. AND ACCEPTANCE HELPS PREVENT DEPRESSION. IT HELPS PREVENT SUICIDE. THESE ARE IMPORTANT ISSUES AND I APPRECIATE YOU SPEAKING ON BOT SIDES OF IT. CENSORSHIP IS NOT RIGHT. I CAN GUARANTEE YOU, THERE ARE BOOKS IN THIS LIBRARY THAT I DISAGREE WITH. I AM PRETTY SURE THERE ARE BOOKS ON CONVERSION THERAPY, WHICH HAS BEEN DISPROVEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND YET, I WOULD NOT CALL FOR THOSE BOOKS TO BE TAKE OFF THE SHELF. I AM SURE THERE ARE POLITICAL TRACKS THAT I VEHEMENTLY DISAGREE WITH, AND YET, I WOULD NOT CALL FOR THOSE BOOKS TO BE TAKEN OFF THE SHELF WHEN WE BEGAN TALKING IN SOME COMMUNITIES ABOUT TALKING MOUS OFF-THE-SHELF AND WE CAN'T TEL STORIES ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST, W HAVE PROBLEMS, AND MY TIME IS

UP. >> THANK YOU. WHO WILL BE NEXT? MISS AGE, IF WE COULD HAVE MR. CLARK COME FORWARD TO THE

MICROPHONE. >> YES, ABSOLUTELY. IF THERE I

[01:05:05]

NO ONE ELSE, WE WILL CLOSE THE CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS AT THIS TIME. MR. CLARK, TWO WEEKS AGO YOU GAVE US A SUMMARY OF WHERE WE WERE AND WHAT ARE THE ABILITIES FOR THE CITY COUNCIL REGARDING THIS TOPIC. THERE AR SOME PEOPLE THAT HAVE SPOKEN TONIGHT THAT WERE NOT HERE TWO WEEKS AGO. WOULD YOU GO BACK THROUGH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO?

>> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO, YOUR HONOR. IN TWO DIFFERENT RESPECTS, THERE ARE CONTROLS AVAILABLE FOR MATERIALS WITHIN THE LIBRARY THAT HAS A REVIEW PROCESS, WHICH EVERY CARDHOLDER IN THE CITY OF AUBURN MAY AVAIL THEMSELVES OF. THAT PROCESS IS TO REQUEST ANY MATERIAL IN THE LIBRARY TO BE REVIEWED BY A LIBRARY STAFF OR OF ITS APPROPRIATENESS WITHIN THE COLLECTION ITSELF, AS A WHOLE, OR WITHIN A SPECIFIC AGE GROUP IN THE LIBRARY. THOSE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE ON THE LIBRARY'S WEBSITE, THEY CAN BE FILLED OUT THEY CAN BE SUBMITTED TO THE LIBRARY BOARD FOR THOSE MATERIALS TO BE REVIEWED. WE HAVE HAD REVIEW REQUESTS MADE OF OUR LIBRARY BOARD, THOSE MATERIALS HAVE BEEN REVIEWED. IN SOME CASES, THOSE MATERIALS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED IN AGE COLLECTION UP TO DIFFERENT COLLECTION BASED ON THE LIBRAR BOARD'S REVIEW. AS I SAID LAST WEEK, I WILL SAY IT AGAIN TONIGHT, THAT PROCESS IS IN PLACE, IT HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR A WHILE, AND IT IS WORKING. THE SECOND ASPECT OF CONTROLS THAT ARE AVAILABLE WITHIN THE AUBURN PUBLIC LIBRARY ARE PARENTAL CONTROLS RELATED TO LIBRARY CARDS. FIRST AND FOREMOST, IF YOU ARE A PARENT WITHIN THE CIT OF AUBURN AND YOU WISH TO HAVE A LIBRARY CARD, YOU MAY OBTAIN ONE, YOU MAY ALSO REQUEST AND OBTAIN LIBRARY CARDS FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18. AS A PARENT, YOU MAY THEN DO TW THINGS, WHICH GIVE YOU CONTROLS OVER WHAT YOUR CHILDREN CAN CHECK OUT FROM THE LIBRARY. FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU CAN RESTRICT OUR SELF CHECKOUT SYSTEM, WHICH REQUIRES ALL CHECKOUTS TO BE MODERATED BY A LIBRARIAN. AND IF YOU SO CHOOSE, YOU MAY ALSO REQUEST THAT BLOCKS BE PUT ON YOUR CHILD'S CARD, WHICH WOULD ALLO THEM ONLY TO CHECK OUT MATERIAL FROM CERTAIN COLLECTIONS WITHIN THE LIBRARY OR MORE PRECISELY, YOU CAN PROHIBIT CHECKING OUT MATERIALS FROM OTHER COLLECTIONS IN THE LIBRARY. FOR INSTANCE, I HAVE THREE GIRLS, COULD RESTRICT THEIR CARDS AND CHECKING ANYTHING OUT OF THE YOUNG ADULT SECTION OR THE ADUL SECTION IF I SO CHOOSE TO DO THAT. SO, THOSE ARE AVAILABLE CONTROLS THAT ARE IN PLACE AT THE LIBRARY, THEY ARE AVAILABLE FOR ALL PARENTS TO AVAIL

THEMSELVES OF. >> SPECIFICALLY, WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE CITY COUNCIL IN REGARD TO THE LIBRARY?

>> IN REGARD TO THE LIBRARY, UNDER STATE STATUTE, WANTS THE COUNCIL CREATES A LIBRARY BOARD BY STATUTE, THAT LIBRARY BOARD IS VESTED WITH ALL AUTHORITY, AND THAT IS THE WORDING THAT IS USED WITHIN THE STATUTE. ALL AUTHORITY TO DO CERTAIN THINGS, AND ONE OF THOSE THINGS IS MANAGE THE COLLECTION IN THE LIBRARY. SO, IN RELATION TO SPECIFICS WITH HIM A COLLECTION OF THE LIBRARY, THE COUNCIL HAS VESTED THAT AUTHORITY WITHIN THE LIBRARY BOARD, AND THERE IS A LIBRARY BOARD COLLECTION MANAGEMENT POLICY, WHICH HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR SOMETIME, IT IS AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE AS WELL, AND IT IS A PROCESS BY WHICH THE LIBRARY BOARD REVIEWS MATERIALS AND ADDS MATERIALS T THE COLLECTION. AGAIN, WE ARE BLESSED IN THE CITY OF AUBURN, WE NOT ONLY HAVE AN APPOINTED LIBRARY BOARD THAT WAS CREATED BY THIS COUNSEL IN THE 50S, WE ALSO STOP OUR LIBRARY WITH CITY EMPLOYEES, SO WE ACCOMPLISH THE TASKS AND THE DAILY OPERATIONS WITH CITY EMPLOYEES. SO, WE HAV KIND OF A COMBINATION OF THOSE TWO GROUPS WORKING IN CONCERT T MANAGE THE LIBRARY COLLECTION.

THE TWO THINGS THAT THIS COUNSE HAS AUTHORITY OVER IN RELATION TO THE LIBRARY IS THE POWER OF APPOINTMENT OF LIBRARY BOARDS, WHICH IS EXERCISED BY THIS COUNSEL TONIGHT. AND ACCORDING TO LIBRARY BOARD MEMBERS, THE OTHER POWER IS THE POWER OF

[01:10:01]

APPROPRIATIONS . THIS COUNSEL APPROPRIATES MONEY IS TO BE SPENT BY THE LIBRARY BOARD , AN OPERATIONS OF THE LIBRARY.

AGAIN, THE AUTHORIZING STATUTE WHICH CREATES A LIBRARY BOARD TO VEST AUTHORITY, MUCH OF THE APPROPRIATION HAS BEEN MADE BY THE COUNCIL, THE SPENDING OF THOSE FUNDS IS VESTED WITH THE

LIBRARY BOARD. >> ANYBODY IN THE COUNCIL HAVE QUESTION? OKAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALL RIGHT.

>> I WILL SPEAK FOR MYSELF, I HAVE READ EVERY EMAIL, I HAVE LISTENED PASSIONATELY TO EVERY PERSON THAT HAS SPOKEN. I CARE VERY MUCH ABOUT OUR LIBRARY, MY GRANDMOTHER WAS A LIBRARIAN. MY FAMILY SOLD BOOKS FOR A LIVING. BOOKS HAVE MEANT

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.

Apr 04, 2023 City Council

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