9.a. C&C Masonry, Inc. Lease agreement for temporary construction laydown and trailer lot next door to the Bailey-Alexander Complex. Unanimous consent necessary.

[9.a. C&C Masonry, Inc. Lease agreement for temporary construction laydown and trailer lot next door to the Bailey-Alexander Complex. Unanimous consent necessary. ]

>> I MAKE A MOTION. >> SECOND.

>> ORDINANCES. >> A LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE AUBURN WATERWORKS BOARD AND CNC MASONRY FOR CONTEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION LAYDOWN, UNANIMOUS CONSENT IS NECESSARY.

>> I WILL INTRODUCE THE ORDINANCE AND ASK FOR THE ITEMS

CONSENT. >> THE MOTION IS SECONDED. DOES ANYBODY HAVE A PROBLEM MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS? HEARING NONE. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? OKAY, THE ROLL CALL?

>> YES, MA'AM. >> YES.

[10.a. Tax Abatement. Seohan-NTN Driveshaft USA Corporation. Auburn Industrial Park. ]

>> YES. >> ANDERS?

>> YES POINT >> READY FOR RESOLUTIONS ? ITEM 10 A, THE PURCHASE OF A NEW MANUFACTURING MACHINERY TO BE LOCATED AT 246 T COURT IN THE AUBURN INDUSTRIAL COURT.

INVESTING APPROXIMATELY $4.33 MILLION.

>> VOTE FOR APPROVAL. >> ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM FOR THIS EXPANSION IN OUR COMMUNITY. ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE

[10.b. Change Order. Bailey-Harris Construction Co., Inc. Lake Wilmore Park Community Center Project. $1,960,594.]

SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES.

>> ITEM 10 B, CHANGE ORDER IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,960,594 WITH BAILEY HARRIS CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED FOR THE LAKE WILL MORE PARK COMMUNITY CENTER PROJECT TO ADD SIX MORE PICKLEBALL COURTS BRINGING THE TOTAL TO 12 FOR PHASE ONE, TO ALSO INCLUDE A COURT COVER WITH LIGHTING AND FENCING AS WELL AS GRADING FOR SIX ADDITIONAL COURTS TO BE CONSTRUCTED AS A

[00:25:03]

PART OF PHASE TWO. >> SECOND.

>> ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? YES, SIR?

>> I HAVE A QUESTION, HOW MANY CORES ARE REQUIRED THAT ARE FEASIBLE FOR US TO HOST A TOURNAMENT?

>> [INDISCERNIBLE] >> I WOULD SAY THE ADJACENT JURISDICTION HAS 24. SO, THE GOAL AT WILMORE, THE SECOND SET WITH THE FIELD PROJECT, THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE MOVED THIS UP, WE HAD SIX UNCOVERED COURTS IN THE ORIGINAL BID, AND TO PROVIDE A COVERED OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS. MOST OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE NOT PLAYING IN AUBURN AND WE ALSO DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO RUN ANY TOURNAMENTS, THERE'S ALSO THE ADJACENT PRIVATE CLUB THAT HAS OUTDOOR COURTS AVAILABLE AND WE CAN ALSO PARTNER WITH THEM TO RUN BIGGER TOURNAMENTS IF THEY SO DESIRE, WE HAVE DONE THAT WITH TENNIS BEFORE. THEY HAVE PARTNERED WITH US. SO, THE NEXT SET OF PICKLEBALL COURTS WITH PHASE TWO WOULD ALSO BE COVERED. BUT WE COULDN'T PUT SIX COURTS IN THE DRAWING, IN YOUR PACKETS, WE COULD PUT 12 TOGETHER, WE COULD NOT GET 18 IN A ROW, IT IS A GROUPING OF 12 AND A SEPARATE GROUPING OF SIX JUST BY THE WAY IT LAYS OUT AND THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT HAD

TO BE DONE. >> THANK YOU.

>> THIS DOES GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE

TOURNAMENTS. >> ABSOLUTELY, THAT IS ONE OF THE GOALS, EVERY FIELD THAT WE BUILD, FIRST RECREATION IS OUR TOP PRIORITY BUT THERE IS A REVENUE MODEL THAT COMES WITH TOURNAMENTS. AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THEREOF, SO AS YOU HEARD EARLIER, IT'S A GREAT ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THEM AND BASICALLY 12 QUARTS CAN BE WORTH AS MUCH AS $750,000 FOR A LARGE TOURNAMENT WHICH WOULD BE $62,500 PER COURT PER TOURNAMENT FOR ECONOMIC IMPACT. SOME OF THAT LEAKS OUT OF THE ECONOMY, BUT IN TWO TO THREE YEARS WE WILL BE PAID BACK IN TOURNAMENTS ALONE FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THESE COURTS, LET ALONE THE RECREATIONAL PLAY THAT WE GET, WHICH I SUSPECT ARE PRETTY MUCH OPEN FROM SUN UP THROUGH 9:30 P.M., I EXPECT THAT LEVEL AT LAKE WILMORE. IT'LL BE A LITTLE BIT MORE

COMFORTABLE AND COVERED POINT >> WHICH IS A NICE BONUS, IT IS CERTAINLY A GOOD THING TO PROVIDE FOR THE CITIZENS, BUFF -- BUT THE FACT THAT THEY MIGHT EVEN PAY FOR THEMSELVES

IS A GREAT BONUS. >> AND AS A FOLLOW-ON, WE ARE NOT DECIDED BUT THERE IS IN THE MASTER PLAN ROOM TO PUT A FEW IN THE TENNIS COMPLEX THAT WE HAVE TODAY, SO WE CAN ADD SOME THERE AND IT WOULD BE ADJACENT TO THE RICHMOND PARK PLANS THAT YOU ARE LIKELY TO SEE AS WE ROLL INTO THE NEXT BUDGET YEAR.

YOU ARE LIKELY TO SEE THAT THIS SUMMER AND I ANTICIPATE WE WILL HAVE PICKLEBALL ON BOTH SIDES OF TOWN OR MULTIPLE SIDES OF

TOWN TO SERVE OUR RESIDENTS. >> 18 THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF COURTS WE CAN HAVE ON THIS SITE?

>> WE WERE ONLY DISTURBING ABOUT 30 OR SO ACRES FOR PARTS OF WHAT WE ARE DOING, SO IN THIS VICINITY, IT IS POSSIBLE, MR. WILLIAMS, TO EXPAND FURTHER BUT RIGHT NOW 18 IS THE PLAN.

>> 18 IS OPTIMAL . THERE IS A POSSIBILITY IT IS A SEPARATE

POD IN THE FACILITY . >> THANK YOU POINT

>> LIKE MANY THINGS, WE WILL CONNECT TO LAKE WILMORE AS IT OPENS AND EVOLVES, WE WILL MAKE CHANGES OR ADDITIONS AS YOU SEE FIT AND AS WE ARE HEARING FROM THE CITIZENS. IT IS A PHENOMENAL PROJECT, I KNOW SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN THERE TO CHECK ON IT, THERE'S UPDATED PHOTOS ON OUR WEBSITE AND YOU CAN SEE IT IS REALLY TAKING SHAPE. THIS WILL BE THE FIRST FACILITY WITH THE INDOOR WALKING TRAIL OR WALKING PATH THAT WE WILL SEE A TON OF USAGE ON AND I EXPECT TO TALK TO MR. KELLY ABOUT THIS AND I EXPECT AT 5:00 A.M. THE CLUB WILL BE QUITE BUSY.

>> WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT LAKE WILMORE, BUT THESE PICKLEBALL COURTS AS MR. YOUNG WAS SAYING IS JUST GOING TO BE A GREAT ASSET TO OUR COMMUNITY, THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN PLAYING IN OTHER PLACES CAN NOW PLAY IN AUBURN AND I'M VERY PROUD ABOUT THIS TONIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. ANY

[00:30:07]

OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION CARRIES.

[12. CITIZENS’ OPEN FORUM.]

>> THOSE ARE ALL OF THE ITEMS OF BUSINESS WE HAVE FOR YOU

THIS EVENING. >> THE NEXT PART OF THE AGENDA IS CITIZENS OPEN FORUM, THE CITIZENS CAN SPEAK TO CITY COUNCIL ABOUT ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE ON THEIR MIND. FOR WE GET STARTED, I WANTED TO GIVE OUR GUESTS AN OPPORTUNITY IF THEY WANT TO STAY, YOU ARE WELCOME TO STAY AND HEAR THE COMMENTS FROM OUR CITIZENS BUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE BEFORE WE GET STARTED WITH THAT PART OF THE MEETING, THIS WOULD BE THE TIME FOR YOU TO GO AHEAD AND EXIT. WE WILL MAKE TIME FOR THAT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

FOR OUR CITIZENS TO COMMUNICATE TO CITY COUNCIL ABOUT ANYTHING THAT IS ON YOUR MIND, WE ASK THAT YOU COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. WE ASK THAT YOUR COMMENTS BE ADDRESSED TO CITY COUNCIL AND REFRAIN FROM NAMING

ANY STAFF MEMBER PERSONALLY. >> MY NAME IS BECKY, I LIVE AT 350 GARDNER DRIVE, I'VE BEEN EMAILING YOU ABOUT THE SIDEWALK AT THE HIGH SCHOOL IN UNIVERSITY, I APPRECIATE YOU CALLING ME BACK. AND MR. PARSONS, I APPRECIATE YOUR EMAIL. I JUST WANTED TO EXPLAIN TO YOU AGAIN THE SITUATION THAT KIDS FROM MY NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS RATHER LARGE, ON THE WAY FROM SAMFORD TO GLENN, TO DEAN, ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT BEYOND, TO UNIVERSITY, ARE WITHIN THE TWO-MILE RANGE OF WALKING TO THE HIGH SCHOOL AND THEY CAN'T CROSS OVER TO THE HIGH SCHOOL IN A SAFE WAY. THERE'S NO SIDEWALK ALONG UNIVERSITY AND THERE'S NO CROSSWALK , SO THEY HAVE TO WALK THROUGH PEOPLE'S YARDS AND MY KID GOT YELLED OUT THE OTHER DAY BY SOMEBODY WHO TOLD ME TO GET BACK IN THE ROAD BUT THE FACT IS, THERE'S NOWHERE FOR HIM TO GO. SO I JUST WANTED TO IMPRESS UPON YOU THAT THIS IS ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND I HOPE THAT YOU TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. I KNOW THAT YOU SAID YOU ARE WORKING ON IT AND YOU ARE GOING TO TALK TO MEGAN SO I APPRECIATE THAT BUT I JUST WANTED TO IMPRESS UPON YOU, THIS ISN'T JUST A SIDEWALK THAT IS NEEDED FOR WALKING A DOG. I'M NOT ASKING FOR MY KID TO RIDE A SKATEBOARD OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT THIS IS TRANSPORTATION FOR CHILDREN TO GET TO SCHOOL. A DIRT PATH IS NOT OKAY, A GRAVEL PATH, SOMEBODY TOLD ME TODAY A MULCH PATH, ONE OF THESE DAYS YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOMEBODY IN A WHEELCHAIR NEEDING TO GET BY, IT NEEDS TO BE PAVED, IT NEEDS TO BE INFRASTRUCTURE. SO I HOPE THAT YOU CONSIDER IT. IT WOULD BE LIKE TO CONSIDER IT LIKE A DIRT PATH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WOULD BE LIKE CONSIDERING UNIVERSITY TO BE A DIRT ROAD. YOU WOULDN'T CONSIDER UNIVERSITY TO BE A DIRT ROW BECAUSE THAT IS INFRASTRUCTURE, SO I SAY CHILDREN GOING TO SCHOOL SHOULD BE INFRASTRUCTURE, TOO. ONE OF THESE DAYS, A KID IS GOING TO GET HURT. I THINK ONE OF YOU WAS ACTUALLY OUT ONE DAY HELPING A KID CROSS THE ROAD, AND I APPRECIATED IT, AND HE SAID HE ALSO SAW A MAYOR OUT THERE HELPING THEY COULD CROSS

THE ROAD. >> I GET ACCUSED OF A LOT OF

THINGS BUT NOT THAT ONE. >> SO ANYWAY, THERE'S KIDS DARTING ACROSS THE ROAD, THERE'S KIDS WALKING ACROSS PEOPLE'S YARDS. I KNOW THAT CONVENIENCE FOR SIX PEOPLE TO HAVE A SIDEWALK BUILT IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE, BUT THERE IS A LOT MORE PEOPLE WHO HAVE CHILDREN WHO NEED TO GET TO SCHOOL. 10 YEARS FROM NOW, 30 YEARS FROM NOW, THERE'S STILL GOING TO BE CHILDREN NEEDING TO GET TO SCHOOL ACROSS UNIVERSITY SO I URGE YOU TO THINK OF THIS AS A LONG-TERM INFRASTRUCTURE

KIND OF THING. >> THANK YOU. WHO WILL BE NEXT?

[00:35:14]

ALABAMA. GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL. EACH YEAR, MOST OF US MAKE NEW RESOLUTIONS, BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENTS HIRE CONSULTANTS TO BRING NEW IDEAS, PEOPLE SET PERSONAL AND FINANCIAL GOALS, EVEN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT NEEDS IMPROVEMENTS. FOUR OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE KIDS STILL AT HOME AND FOUR MEMBERS PLUS THE MAYOR HAVE GROWN KIDS JUST LIKE I DO. WE AS PARENTS WILL DO WHAT IS NEEDED TO PROTECT AND CARE FOR OUR CHILDREN. I WANT TO MAKE A STORY. IMAGINE A COUNCILWOMAN, YOU ARE IN YOUR NIGHT CLOTHING AND YOU GET A CALL IN THE NIGHT FROM ONE OF YOUR DAUGHTERS SAYING SHE WAS WALKING TO THE HOUSE, ABOUT A BLOCK AND A HALF AWAY WHEN SHE WAS SURROUNDED BY POLICEMEN. WHAT DO YOU DO NEXT? DO YOU GO INSIDE AND DRESS AND DRIVE DOWN, OR WOULD YOU WATCH HER UNTIL SHE IS SAFE? WELL, THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO COUNCILWOMAN TAYLOR AND HER SON. THIS MAY OR OF AUBURN CITY SHOULD QUESTION WHY THIS HAPPENED. A MEETING, A WEEK AGO YESTERDAY, MAYBE SOMEDAY MY WARDEN WILL HAVE A MEETING ALSO. I WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH COUNCILWOMAN TAYLOR COME WITH HER LEGISLATION SKILLS AND AGENDA, IT WAS SO CIVIL AND HEARTFELT, THERE WERE MANY STORIES ABOUT PARENTS KIDS AND HOW THEY WERE TREATED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. ALSO, THERE ARE MANY GOOD AUBURN POLICEMAN BUT SOME MIGHT NEED MORE TRAINING, SOME MIGHT NEED CHANGES IN POSITIONS, SOME MIGHT NEED TO FIND A MORE SUITABLE CAREER. OUR CITY MANAGER REFUSED TO HELP CITY COUNCILMEMBER TAYLOR IN TURNING DOWN AN IDEA THAT WOULD IMPROVE POLICE RELATIONSHIPS. NO SOLUTIONS OR IDEAS WERE PROPOSED. THIS IS NOT ABOUT RACE ISSUES, THIS IS ABOUT HAVING A COMPLETELY EFFECTIVE POLICE FORCE THAT TREATS ALL CITIZENS EQUALLY, NOBODY IS ABOVE THE LAW. IN MY OPINION, THE AUBURN POLICE DEPARTMENT SOMETIMES CAN BE TOO AGGRESSIVE. I WANT TO SAY EVERY TIME I SEE AN AUBURN POLICEMAN AT THIS MEETING OR IN THE FIELD, I THANK THEM FOR WHAT THEY DO. BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THERE CANNOT BE IMPROVEMENTS. MAYOR, PLEASE ESTABLISH A COMMUNITY SECURITY TASK FORCE THAT COULD BE HEADED BY COUNCILWOMAN TAYLOR WITH 12 ADDITIONAL MEMBERS BEING MADE UP OF THE CITY CHIEF, COUNCILMAN DAWSON, ONE PATROL OFFICER, TWO CITIZENS REPRESENTING WARD ONE, AND ONE CITIZEN REPRESENTING EACH WARD, TWO THROUGH EIGHT. THEY SHOULD MEET MONTHLY OR AS NEEDED. THANK YOU.

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

>> I WAS GOING BY YOUR SUGGESTION TO ASK MINORS TO LEAVE. THIS MAY REQUIRE CHANGING EVERYTHING I HAVE TO

SAY. >> WELL, YOU ARE ALLOWED TO

COME SPEAK TO US. >> OKAY, I WILL DO MY BEST. NOT TO OFFEND, I DON'T WANT TO OFFEND CHILDREN, I DID IT TWICE

BY ACCIDENT. >> WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION. MARTHA, 307 CAMELIA DRIVE, AUBURN. THERE'S STILL SOME VERY HORRIBLE BOOKS AT THE AUBURN LIBRARY, I WAS THERE A COUPLE DAYS AGO. YOU BE YOU, FILTHY, PINK BLUE AND YOU, FILTHY. IT FEELS GOOD TO BE YOURSELF, FILTHY, AND THESE ARE ALL IN THE JUVENILE SECTION, THE CHILDREN'S SECTION, FOR CHILDREN. MY SHADOW IS PURPLE. HOMOSEXUAL ROMANCES. THE SAME OLD SNAKES ARE IN THERE. LET'S CONSIDER

[00:40:03]

FIRST TRUTH AND ERROR, REVELATION CHAPTER 4 SAYS HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS GOD, THE SOVEREIGN LORD OF ALL WHO WAS AND IS AND IS TO COME, WHERE THE -- BY THY WILL, THEY WERE CREATED AND HAVE THEIR BEING. GENESIS 1 SAID GOD MADE MAN IN HIS OWN IMAGE, MALE AND FEMALE, HE CREATED THEM. THE APOSTLES TELL US TO LEARN TO POSSESS OUR VESSELS, THAT IS OUR BODIES IN HONOR. AND TO SAVE FOR MARRIAGE. ST. PAUL SAID GODLESS MEN, STIFLE THE TRUTH IN THEIR WICKEDNESS, SO GOD GAVE THEM UP TO SHAMEFUL PASSIONS AND I WILL HAVE TO ABBREVIATE THAT BECAUSE YOU WON'T ALLOW THE CHILDREN TO LEAVE. I HOPE YOU ALL KNOW WHAT SHAMEFUL PASSIONS ARE. BUT, GOD IS PURE, RIGHTEOUS AND UNDEFILED, HE CREATES CHILDREN INNOCENT. BUT, IN THE JUVENILE SECTION, THESE BOOKS ARE SO FILTHY, I CANNOT DISCUSS THEM WITH MINORS PRESENT. I THINK YOU ARE TYING MY HANDS HERE.

THE WORDS IN THEM I CANNOT REPEAT THEM, BUT THEY ARE IN THE CHILDREN'S SECTION. THE CHILDREN'S SECTION. PINK, BLUE, AND YOU. I CAN'T TELL YOU ABOUT PAGE EIGHT. WITH THE TAX DOLLARS OF CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS, AND YOU KNOW, THIS IS WRONG. TO EXPOSE YOUNG CHILDREN TO THIS MATERIAL. MAY THE LIGHT OF OUR LORD, JESUS CHRIST, SHINE ON YOU TO SHOW

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

>> GABRIEL DUNHAM, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, THIS IS AN EXCERPT OF AN EMAIL SENT IN JANUARY, WE HAVE WITNESSED AN L -- ANTI-LGBTQ+ CAMPAIGN DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS IN CITY COUNCIL AIMED TO HURT THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY IN AUBURN, THE FALSE NARRATIVE THAT WAS PUSHED IS THAT ADULT CONTENT IS AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN AT THE AUBURN PUBLIC LIBRARY. ANYONE WHO HAS EVER VISITED CAN TELL YOU THIS IS NOT TRUE. YET NO AMOUNT OF REASSERTING FROM THE STAFF, FOR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS TO MONITOR BOOKS IN THE LIBRARY WAS EVER ENOUGH, THE ISSUE THAT KEPT COMING UP IS THE EXISTENCE OF LGBTQ+ CHARACTERS AND THEMES IN BOOKS, REGARDLESS IF THOSE ARE IN CHILDREN OR YOUNG ADULT SECTIONS. THIS WAS DEMONSTRATED AT THE COUNCIL MEETING ON DECEMBER 19TH, 2023. WHEN A SPEAKER CLAIMING TO WANT TO PROTECT CHILDREN READ ALOUD LINES FROM THE ADULT BOOK FROM THE ADULT SECTION OF THE LIBRARY THAT CONTAINED SEXUAL CONTENT WHILE CHILDREN WERE IN THE AUDIENCE. DESPITE THE FIXATION ON SAME-SEX ADULT BOOKS, THE MAJORITY OF ADULT BOOKS IN THE LIBRARY FEATURE HETEROSEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS.

THESE ARE NO MORE APPROPRIATE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES THAN BOOKS OF THE SAME NATURE. WE RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE A PLATFORM TO AIR THEIR CONCERNS, HOWEVER THERE ARE MANY LGBTQ+ CITIZENS THAT FEEL THE CITY COUNCIL IS NOT DOING MUCH TO ILLUSTRATE THE CITY OF AUBURN VALUES. SUCH AS TO EMBRACE THE BROAD DIVERSITY OF CITY EMPLOYEES AND THE RESIDENTS THEY SERVE OR TREAT ALL INDIVIDUALS WITH RESPECT, COURTESY AND GENUINE CONCERN.

WE NOTE THAT NO SIMILAR MARKS MADE ABOUT ANY OTHER GROUP IN AUBURN WOULD HAVE GONE SO FAR WITH SO LITTLE RESPONSE. AUBURN HAS ALWAYS HAD AN LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY AND ALWAYS WILL, LIKE OTHER MINORITIES COME OF THE TIMES HAVE CHANGED AND BROUGHT GREATER ACCEPTANCE AND LEGAL PROTECTIONS, ALTHOUGH THERE IS STILL A WAY TO GO FOR EQUALITY, IT HAS ALREADY IMPROVED THE LIVES OF MANY FAMILIES IN AUBURN. AS PART OF THE COMMUNITY, WE EXPECT THE CITY COUNCIL TO EXTEND THE SAME PROTECTION AND SUPPORT AFFORDED TO ANY OTHER GROUP IN OUR CITY TO THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY AS REFLECTED IN THE CITY VALUES.

ONE FINAL NOTE, JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO WE WERE ALL SHOCKED AND HEARTBROKEN BY THE TRAGIC LOSS OF A BELOVED LEADER IN THE COUNTY , MAYOR COPELAND OF SMITH STATION. AFTER BEING

[00:45:02]

OUTED AGAINST HIS WILL. THIS IS WHAT OSTRACIZING LEADS TO, THERE IS A HUMAN COST. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> WHO WILL BE NEXT? OKAY. IF ANYBODY ON THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT, YES, SIR?

>> [INDISCERNIBLE] THANK YOU FOR EXPRESSING YOUR CONCERNS, BUT I WANTED TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, AUBURN IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CITIES IN ALABAMA, IF NOT THE COUNTRY, ONE OF THE FASTEST. YET, WITH ALL THIS GROWTH, CRIME IS TRENDING DOWN, YOU WON'T FIND ANOTHER PLACE AS SAFE. YOU ASKED MS. TAYLOR WHAT SHE WOULD DO IF HER DAUGHTER WAS SURROUNDED, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I HAVE A DAUGHTER MYSELF, I HAVE ONE CHILD, SHE IS GROWN, BUT IF I WOKE UP ONE NIGHT AND THE POLICE WERE SURROUNDING HER, I WOULD SAY THANK YOU FOR KEEPING THEM SAFE. THEY ARE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT QUALIFIES YOU TO MAKE THE DECISION, LIKE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS TOO AGGRESSIVE, I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOUR QUALIFICATIONS COME FROM, BUT I HAVE FOLLOWED THE POLICE AND HAVE BEEN IN EVERY KIND OF SCHOOL, YOU HAVE TO BE PROACTIVE, NOT REACTIVE. YOU CAN'T WAIT UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS TO GO STOP IT. AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT A POLICE OFFICER'S PRESENCE DOES TO KEEP THE CRIME DOWN. IT MAY NOT BE KNOWN TO THAT OFFICER. IF THE OFFICER IS DOING THEIR JOB, BEING PROACTIVE, THE CITY IS GOING TO BE BETTER OFF. BUT IF YOU KNOW AN OFFICER IS NOT UP TO PAR AND DOING WHAT HE SHOULD DO, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU MAKE THAT A POINT TO THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND I ASSURE YOU, HE WILL HAVE ALL OF THE FAITH IN THE WORLD TO DO IT FOR YOU, AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC DIRECTOR OVER HERE. I HAVE KNOWN HIM FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND IF THEY WERE DOING SOMETHING INAPPROPRIATE, THEY WOULD DEAL WITH IT APPROPRIATELY. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR BEING PROACTIVE, AND I HOPE THEY CONTINUE TO BE. THERE'S NOT A WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD TO BE A VICTIM OF A CRIME. AND IN OUR SURROUNDING CITIES, TRAGICALLY A YOUNG MALE WAS SHOT DOWN AND WE THANK THE LORD IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE DON'T HAVE THAT HAPPENING HERE. SO FAR WE ARE DOING PRETTY GOOD AND THAT IS NOT BY ACCIDENT, THAT IS BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND A GOOD POLICE

DEPARTMENT. SO THANK YOU. >> I WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT, CHIEF DAWSON. MR. WILKINS, LIKE HE STATED, HE CAME TO MY WARD MEETING LAST MONDAY, I THINK IT WAS A COUPLE MONDAYS AGO, AND IT WAS NOT ONLY JUST ME BUT OTHER CITIZENS THAT WAS THERE, WE HAD A ROOM OF ABOUT 30 PEOPLE AND THERE WERE SOME COMPLAINTS THAT WERE BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO, EVERYBODY IS NOT SAYING -- AND I DON'T WANT YOU TO MISUNDERSTAND WHAT HE WAS SAYING TONIGHT. AND I THINK HE HAS GIVEN HIS STATEMENT BASED ON WHAT HE HEARD AT THAT WARD MEETING. YOU KNOW, WE COULD SIT HERE AND TALK LIKE AUBURN IS THE SAFEST CITY IN THE WORLD AND I HOPE IT'S ONE OF THE SAFEST CITIES, I REALLY DO.

BUT, LET ME JUST BACK UP A LITTLE BIT AND SLOW DOWN, MY DAD WAS ACTUALLY KILLED HERE IN AUBURN. SO, I ALSO HAVE BEEN ON THE OTHER SIDE. AND I THANK GOD THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS THERE AND THEY ADDRESSED THE ISSUE AT THE TIME AND THEY ADDRESSED IT IN THE PROPER WAY. BUT, THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT EVERYBODY GETS THE SAME TREATMENT. YOU KNOW, JUST TO HEAR PEOPLE SAYING THERE ARE GOOD OFFICERS, I PROMISE YOU, I HAVE DEALT WITH THEM AND THERE ARE SOME GOOD OFFICERS WITH GOOD ATTITUDES AND THEY UNDERSTAND AND THEY WILL COME OUT AND ADDRESS THE SITUATION, BUT THERE ARE ALSO SOME OFFICERS THAT NEED ADDITIONAL TRAINING. I WILL PUT IT THAT WAY, I'M NOT GOING TO CALL THEM BAD OFFICERS, BECAUSE THAT IS JUST LIKE CALLING ME A BAD PERSON. I MIGHT NEED ADDITIONAL TRAINING ON THIS COUNSEL. BUT, THERE SOMETIMES PEOPLE THAT NEED ADDITIONAL TRAINING OR SUPERVISION EVEN AS TO HOW THEY

[00:50:01]

HANDLE CERTAIN SITUATIONS IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS. I WOULD BE HONORED IF AN OFFICER WAS PROTECTING ALL OF HIS CITIZENS AS THEY SHOULD PROTECT ALL THE CITIZENS. BUT, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IN HERE IS CRAZY ENOUGH TO THINK IT HAPPENS ALL OVER THE WORLD. OKAY? SO, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MR. WILKINS FOR SOME OF HIS COMMENTS TONIGHT AND I APPRECIATE HIM BEING BEFORE THIS COUNSEL AND ADDRESSING IT. I HAVE TALKED TO MEGAN AND THE ONLY THING IS, MEGAN DID NOT DENY MY SERVICES WHEN SHE TALKED TO ME, SO I WANT TO MAKE THAT CORRECTION.

WE DID HAVE A TALK. WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES AND THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME TYPE OF TASK FORCE OR SOMETHING, THAT THE CITIZENS MAYBE CAN COME TO AND ESPECIALLY IN NEIGHBORHOODS SUCH AS WORD 1 WHERE WE SEE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE DON'T THINK IS APPROPRIATE. I GET THOUSANDS OF STORIES, OF COURSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COME TO ME BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED. I'M NOT TRYING TO TAKE OVER THE PROBLEMS BUT MY JOB AS A WARD LEADER IS TO LISTEN TO THE CONCERNS, AND THEY'RE JUST HAPPENS TO BE SO MANY CONCERNS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP IN THE MEETING. SO, I DON'T THINK THAT HE WAS REALLY BEING ILL ABOUT WHAT HE WAS SAYING TONIGHT, BUT I'M GLAD HE BROUGHT IT TO SOMEBODY'S ATTENTION AND MAYBE WE CAN DO BETTER, ALL OF US, AS CITIZENS, AS LEADERS, AS PROTECTORS, SERVERS, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE,

IN AUBURN. THANK YOU. >> THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE A PROBLEM, THEY MET WITH THE COMMAND STAFF, THE DIRECTOR OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE, WE BOUGHT AN UNBELIEVABLE CAMERA SYSTEM, AND I KNOW HOW IT WORKS, IF THEY GET COMPLAINTS ON A CERTAIN OFFICER OVER AND OVER, THEY ARE GOING TO START MONITORING. THEY HAVE CHECKS AND BALANCES TO PREVENT THAT.

SO I WOULD THINK IF SOMEBODY HAS A PROBLEM WITH A POLICE, THEY WOULD MEET WITH OUR CHIEF AND HE IS FULLY CAPABLE OF HANDLING ANY PROBLEM. HE IS WELL EDUCATED WITH A LOT OF EXPERIENCE. I HAVE FULL FAITH IN HIM. HE WILL DO A GOOD JOB.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE IF THEY SEE SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT, NOBODY LIKES A BAD POLICE OFFICER ANY WORSE THAN A GOOD POLICE OFFICER DOES. WE DON'T WANT ANYBODY IN BAD SITUATIONS, AND MAYBE THERE ARE SOME THAT NEED MORE TRAINING, BUT HOWEVER, WE ARE NEVER GOING TO GET THERE IF ALL WE DO IS GET TOGETHER AND COMPLAIN ABOUT THEM. MEET WITH THE CHIEF OF POLICE, HE WILL GET THE JOB DONE RIGHT. IF THEY ARE FACED WITH A PROBLEM, DIRECTED TO THE STAFF. WE HAVE TO HAVE REMEDIAL TRAINING FOR AN OFFICER WHEN HE MAY NOT REALIZE WHAT HE'S DOING RIGHT OR WRONG, BUT I DON'T THINK YOU CAN QUALIFY THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT AS NOT BEING A GOOD DEPARTMENT. AND AGAIN, I CHALLENGE ANYBODY TO FIND A PLACE WHERE WE HAVE A BETTER POLICE DEPARTMENT THAN WE HAVE RIGHT HERE IN AUBURN. I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE WHEN CRIME TAKES OVER A CITY, IT EATS IT UP COMPLETELY. SO I DON'T WANT TO SEE OUR CITY, AS WELL PROTECTED AS WE ARE RIGHT NOW, TO END UP LIKE SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE. THERE IS NOT A STREET RIGHT NOW TONIGHT, AND I'M 58 YEARS OLD AND CRIPPLED BY PARKINSON'S, BUT THERE IS NOT A STREET IN ALABAMA THAT I WOULD NOT WALK DOWN AND FEEL BOTHERED. I MIGHT STOP MORE THAN ONE TIME, I DON'T GET MAD, I APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY WAS OUT THERE THAT DIDN'T NEED TO BE, HE WOULD GET CALLED OUT FOR DOING THAT.

I HOPE THEY DO STOP ME, AND IF I'M IN THE WRONG, I WILL MOVE ON. BUT I KNOW OUR COMMAND STAFF VERY WELL, WE GREW UP WITH THEM, SO TO SPEAK, IN THAT FIELD OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND IF WE ARE NOT PROACTIVE, THE DEPARTMENT WILL END UP WITH A BROKEN CITY. PEOPLE SAY WE HAVE GOOD INSTINCTS, AND WE DO. BUT IF OUR POLICE GO DOWN, YOU CAN KISS THAT GOOD EDUCATION GOODBYE. THE CRIMINALS ARE GOING TO TAKE OVER. YOU SAW THE OFFICERS BE IN DOWN IN NEW YORK CITY, I DON'T WANT TO SEE

[00:55:02]

THAT HERE. I WANT TO SUPPORT OUR POLICEMAN AND IF SOMEBODY MESSES UP, I WILL BE THE FIRST TO SAY YES, HE HAS MESSED UP, HE HAS TO BE DISCIPLINED. AND I WILL TAKE HIM VERY SERIOUSLY.

WHEN WE GET A COMPLAINT, WE TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY AND LOOK INTO IT. THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING, WE HAVE THE VIDEO. GET SOMETHING THAT IS NOT ON VIDEO, THEN WE HAVE A PROBLEM. BUT, OVERALL, I'M VERY PROUD AND I CAN'T SAY THAT ENOUGH, RATHER

BE PROACTIVE THAN REACTIVE. >> I DON'T WANT TO MAKE A LONG STORY OUT OF THIS BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY TO YOU, COUNCILMEMBER DAWSON, I DO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO EITHER TALK WITH OUR CITY MANAGER OR THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND SPEAK WITH CHOICE AND ONE OF THE THINGS, WHAT HE SUGGESTED, AS HOW DO YOU BUILD TRUST IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND I'M GOING TO LEAVE IT JUST LIKE THAT AND I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO ANY DETAILS AS TO WHAT I'M ALLUDING TO. BUT, IT IS WHAT IT IS. SO, I APPRECIATE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, I NEVER SAID IT WAS A BAD POLICE DEPARTMENT AND I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO THINK THAT. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY ON MY MEETING SAID IT WAS OVERALL THE WORST POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO EVEN THINK THAT. ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENT AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT.

>> IF I MAY? I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE INDIVIDUAL THAT CAME AND SPOKE TO US ABOUT THE EMAIL WE RECEIVED, I DID RESPOND TO THAT EMAIL TO THE GROUP AND I DO WANT, HOPEFULLY PAY FLAG AND THE WHOLE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT IT'S MY HOPE THAT I INDIVIDUALLY HAVE REPRESENTED ALL PEOPLE AND HAVE LISTENED TO THE VOICE OF ALL INDIVIDUALS. I MAY NOT NECESSARILY AGREE WITH ALL INDIVIDUALS WHO SPEAK BEFORE US DURING CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS, BUT I DO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ALLOW INDIVIDUALS TO SPEAK ON WHAT THEY FEEL IS IMPORTANT TO THEM. I THINK THOSE INDIVIDUALS SHOULD SPEAK WITH RESPECT AND I UNDERSTAND THE AUDIENCE THAT THEY ARE SPEAKING BEFORE AT ALL TIMES. BUT I DO WANT PAY FLAG TO KNOW THAT THIS PART OF THE CITY COUNCIL HEARS YOU AND UNDERSTANDS YOU AND WE ARE GLAD YOU ARE A PART OF OUR

COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU. >> ANYONE ELSE?

>> YES, BOY SCOUTS, YOU ARE ALL GETTING IT TONIGHT, AND I'M GLAD YOU ARE ALL HERE BECAUSE THIS COMMUNITY IS 75,000 OF US AND WE ARE A DIVERSE COMMUNITY. YOU EVEN HAVE AN AUSTRALIAN SITTING ON THE CITY COUNCIL. SO, TO THAT END, TO THE PRESIDENT OF PAY FLAG, MS. GABRIEL, I WOULD LIKE TO READ A STATEMENT AS WELL. SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSING THE LIBRARY ISSUE.

THE INDIVIDUAL BEFORE US WHO SPOKE REPEATEDLY ABOUT BOOKS THAT SHE DOES NOT LIKE BEING A PART OF THE AUBURN PUBLIC LIBRARY COLLECTION, THE LIBRARY STAFF AND THE LIBRARY BOARD HAVE GONE TO GREAT LAKES -- GREAT LINKS TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS, WHAT HAS STARTED OUT AS ADDRESSING CHILDREN AND PROTECTING THEM FROM THE CONTENT, HAS MORPHED INTO BOOKS CONTAINING ANY LGBTQ+ COMMENT CONTENT REGARDLESS OF AGE APPROPRIATENESS OR WHERE IT IS SHELVED IN THE BUILDING. THE INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN TOLD REPEATEDLY BY THIS BODY THAT WE HAVE NO PURVIEW OF THE DECISIONS AND POLICIES OF THE LIBRARY YET SHE CHOOSES TO USE THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION OF CITY COUNCIL TO DISPARAGE THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY OVER AND OVER AGAIN. WHILE SHE HAS EVERY RIGHT TO VOICE HER OPINION, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE COMMENTS AROUND RUN COUNTER TO THE VISION STATEMENT WHICH STATED AMONG OTHER THINGS THAT WE TREAT ALL INDIVIDUALS WITH RESPECT, COURTESY AND GENUINE CONCERN. WE EMBRACE THE BROAD DIVERSITY OF CITY EMPLOYEES AND THE AUBURN RESIDENTS THAT THEY SERVE. WE VALUE THE NEW PERSPECTIVES AND IDEAS AS DIVERSITY BRINGS.

[01:00:17]

THE INTERESTS AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE ENTIRE AUBURN COMMUNITY. THE LIBRARY IS AN INSTITUTION TO BE PROUD OF. STAFF CONSISTS OF THE MOST WELCOMING AND PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES YOU CAN ENCOUNTER. I ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS OF THE CITY TO VISIT THE LIBRARY REGULARLY TO SEE FOR YOURSELF WHAT AN OUTSTANDING CITY SERVICE LOOKS LIKE? THANK YOU.

>> ANYBODY ELSE. SURE. FOR I WISH I HAD A BETTER PREPARED STATEMENT TO MAKE. I WANT TO SAY ONE OR TWO THINGS. I APPRECIATE THE EFFORT TO TAILOR THE REMARKS TONIGHT. ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. HE DID A VERY FINE JOB AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT. I KNOW YOUR HEART IS TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN. IT IS THE AMBITION WITH THE COUNCILMEMBER TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN. THAT'S WHY. I DON'T WISH ANY HARM OR TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ANYBODY. IT IS MY GOAL AND DESIRE TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN. THAT'S THE ENDGAME. THANK

YOU. >> ANYBODY ELSE?

>> THE COUNCIL DEMONSTRATED. IF WE WERE SATISFIED. AND PLACATED ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OF PUBLIC SAFETY, WOULD WOULD -- WE WOULD BE SPENDING $4 MILLION TO BUILD THE PUBLIC TRANSCENDENT. WE CHARGE THEM PROTECTING THIS A PLACE IN TOWN WHERE THEY CAN GET FURTHER TRAINING, WHATEVER THE PLACE MIGHT BE. 900 EMPLOYEES. WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE PERFECT.

IT WILL BE MISTAKES AND THERE WILL BE MISTAKES THAT ARE HARD TO OVERCOME AND THOSE WE CAN CORRECT AND MOVE ON PRETTY QUICKLY FROM. I EXPECT AS THE MAYOR, ANYTIME ANY DEPARTMENT AND ANY EMPLOYEE THAT MAKES MISTAKES, PEOPLE LEADING THEM AND DIRECTING THEM IMMEDIATELY, TRYING TO CORRECT THOSE MISTAKES AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE. I BELIEVE IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN GRATEFUL. I DON'T THINK CHIEF ANDERSON WOULD EXPECT ME TO THINK EVERYTHING THEY DO IS PERFECT EVERY DAY THEY GO OUT TO PROTECT US. I BELIEVE IT AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR IT. I SPENT TIME AS MANY OF YOU KNOW WITH DIFFERENT MAYORS ACROSS THE STATE. THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION KICKS OFF AND WE'RE WITH THE BIG TEN MAYORS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AT HOOVER. I AM VERY GLAD FOR THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE IN AUBURN BECAUSE A LOT OF CITIES STRUGGLE WITH OTHER THINGS. CRIME IS THE NUMBER ONE THING TALK ABOUT EVERY TIME WE GET TOGETHER. AND LUCKILY, WE DON'T HAVE THE STORIES. WHEN I PERFECT. I'M NOT SAYING WE NEED TO BE SATISFIED. WE NEED TO BE PUSHING AHEAD. AND I'M PROUD WE WILL GET THE MEN AND WOMEN A FACILITY TO DO THAT IN.

I EXPECT THEM TO TRAIN TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITIES. AND THE LEADERSHIP IN PUBLIC SAFETY TO FIGURE OUT EVERY WAY THEY CAN USE IT TO THE HIGHEST CAPACITY TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE READY TO GO. I WANT TO SAY TONIGHT, I BELIEVE IN THEM AND TRUST THEM VERY

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.

Feb 06, 2024 City Council

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