The meeting began with a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by an agenda amendment moving the Citizens Academy recognition before public comment. Council recognized the 2025 Citizens Academy graduates, then proceeded to public comments where numerous residents spoke primarily in support of a hate crimes ordinance and about other community concerns. The council then approved a proclamation for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day, passed the second reading of the hate crimes ordinance after removing a contentious clause, approved first reading of a development agreement for 11 East Main Street, authorized a settlement agreement regarding the clock tower lawsuit, and awarded contracts for HVAC and firefighter physicals. Staff provided updates on winning tax credits for downtown affordable housing, a new valet/shuttle service, and the upcoming planetarium opening. Council members shared reflections on community violence and the importance of social cohesion.
We have any Boy Scouts. I didn't get a notice. We try to get them to lead us in a pledge. Well, but before we do that, we're gonna stand for a moment of silence, a moment of silence. Then we'll be led by the Pledge of Allegiance. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the body of the United States of America and to the revolver for which he says nation under God. Thank you for that. City Council meeting. All in favor? Any that opposed? Eyes have it. Before we have item four, we're gonna make an amendment to the agenda for October the thirteenth. And we're gonna move the citizens academy recognition to item five and public comment to item six. Any that opposed habit? So we move right into item five will be recognition of uh the twenty twenty-five Citizens Academy graduates. Miss Kathy Heel Community Relations Manager. We also have a growing number of graduates who have expanded their interest in the city by attending more events, volunteering, becoming more active with their neighborhoods, and joining our boards and commissions. And I just want to put up a few pictures of um this is also showing like who we usually have people that participate in the program. Um there's a lot right there variety of people that do a participating in each year. And then also, as I said, about the graduates. And then right now we actually have 14 graduates who are serving as members of the city boards and commission. And these are some of the pictures of some of the sessions they had this year. We do bus tours around the city. And we visit the public works office department. And then we met with city council members and also the police department, planning department, and many more. Just want to say thank you to city staff that presented and their willingness to participate each year, providing the relevant information about the services provided. And if I could now just had a class to come up. All right, um Kern, he is not here. Wendy Bennett, you would come up right, please. Sheila Dawkins, Andy Drott, Shantae Glenn. Candy Glover, Takora Harris, Caitlin Hazel, Naomi Israel, Renee Johnson, Kathae Jones, Kendra Little John, Kristen Lyon, Jasmine Zong, Jill O'Connell, Vanessa Petty, Carrie Hines Rice, Shirley Smith, Kadata Tate, E. Jean Williams McIver, Whitney Wright, and Ruth Young. This is your 2025 Citizen Academy graduates. Very good. Thank you. During council updates, we usually give words of encouragement and thank you, but I want to go ahead and tell the uh graduates tonight. Just congratulations and thank you for your time and your effort with participating in the program. And I know it's definitely when people talk about giving, you giving up your time really means a lot. It really means you want to put forth some effort and get some things done. So we really do appreciate the time that you all spent in the academy. So thank you. So I'm back up to public comment. So that would be item six, correct. Item six public comment. So now we have a graduate. Come on down. Give us your uh a name again, Andy, your address, and uh you'll have two minutes after you uh give us that address. All right, my name is Andy Drott. I live at 525 Parent Drive.