The Abilene City Council took action on a range of items during its meeting, approving routine and substantive measures across procurement, public works, finance and land use.
Key outcomes
- Consent agenda (items 2–10, except item 4): Approved in a single motion. Item 4 (furniture procurement) was pulled for clarification and subsequently approved after staff confirmed a vendor would honor quoted prices through Dec. 31.
- Item 11: Drilling and operational permit near I‑20 (near Jolly Rogers and Caldwell Road) approved, with staff confirming property‑owner notifications within 500 feet and no immediate water/creek pollution concerns.
- Item 12: Ordinance delegating authority to issue 2025 refunding general obligation bonds approved (see separate story).
- Item 13: Authorization of $410,000 in certificates of obligation for the Texas Water Development Board lead service line replacement program approved; financing is through an interest‑free TWDB loan.
- Item 14: Approval of $426,735 in TWDB principal forgiveness for the lead service line program.
- Items 15–20: Multiple rezoning and PD amendment requests (multifamily, general retail/corridor overlay, PD amendment for Heritage Square, commercial/outdoor training facility, mixed commercial/residential development, and downzoning from heavy to light industrial) were presented by planning staff, recommended by Planning & Zoning and approved by council. One PD amendment (heritage square) had four written oppositions that staff said stemmed from notification confusion; the applicant addressed concerns.
- Item 22: Reappointment to the Neighborhood Services Advisory Board approved.
- Items 23–25: Not discussed; deferred for additional legal agreements.
- Items 26–28: Council approved support for Project RISE, a revenue‑guarantee agreement with the DCOA, and the SkyWest/United Express service contract. Council member Beard abstained on those votes.
Several motions were made and seconded on the record; where roll calls were recorded the clerk noted "all yeses" or the single abstention recorded above.