[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6510661,"mediaKeyId","5360483-5795a97cd849bc187ba7d6e325ab058e","parentId",5360483,"title","Council approves 40-year lease for new main library at Abilene Heritage Square","audioSeconds",3014,"startMs",2680000,"endMs",5694000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5360483-5795a97cd849bc187ba7d6e325ab058e&start=2680&end=5694","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5360483-5795a97cd849bc187ba7d6e325ab058e/thumbnail_2680000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6510661/Abilene/Taylor-County/Texas/Council-approves-40-year-lease-for-new-main-library-at-Abilene-Heritage-Square","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6510661-bb4c958fc260fd3ed430cbe6e32b21e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770403499&Signature=WK1u82nRh~DLO86MX1ICJStNnliClttFbIa8WEKIcQmf0fB-ksoBsxjPDJe13BYtcB3Cb3S9TRfc0mgK88UiVJR3peK6DFzDwNnybv5v-D-hW9veRuPpQu4ai8Vmw0kBV8XhXb6t6WPb4ORqP5kw1QaZJcGnesSy7SuBG5tsHIWaMN5SYW3G8cTx1hR-ZzvMBJhCpnF2vQ3C377ZO6B6JRLiXfOL~kvDkKW9S4zr5mwYFFYpJbOfWOqQvTD0RuwfFm2kOzxGyXZHPG8zkXZWpmssQKgkkMkGx8blB-ITTAHdP4YIcoQ-inJwAdcolxZhOTLQf97ffkLV3W0~kKK~EQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Abilene","date","2025-07-10T00:00:00Z","article","The Abilene City Council voted to approve a long-term lease for the new main branch library to occupy space at Abilene Heritage Square.

Mandy Patterson, deputy city manager, presented the lease terms and background. Patterson said the city had entered an agreement in December 2019 for development of Abilene Heritage Square and that project circumstances changed, prompting a new lease to set the rate and responsibilities. Patterson said the proposed lease rate is $0.74 per square foot with an escalator clause and a term of 40 years; portions of maintenance and janitorial services will be provided by the Heritage Square developer per the lease. She told council that comparable downtown leases run from roughly $1.10 to $1.80 per square foot and that the city’s lease would therefore be below market.

Patterson gave project funding context: the library project cost figures presented in the packet and prior contributions included about $4.4 million already committed from public sources (noted as $3,000,000 from the MIP and $500,000 from TIRZ along with insurance proceeds for a roof repair). Council discussion included a briefing on how a lease structure compares to city-financed debt (staff presented that building anew with city debt would carry additional interest costs).

Speakers during the public hearing included representatives of the Abilene Friends of the Public Library and Abilene Heritage Square. Sheila Sievers, president of the Abilene Friends of the Public Library, told council the volunteer group pledged $650,000 to support the new main branch and highlighted the group’s decades-long fundraising, including an annual book sale. Leroy Bolt, volunteer treasurer for Abilene Heritage Square, told council the lease terms are favorable and said Heritage Square will cover routine and major maintenance, including HVAC, sprinkler systems, elevators, landscaping and parking-lot maintenance, and will provide shared access to program spaces such as the auditorium and science center.

A motion to approve the lease carried; Councilman Price moved, a second followed and the council recorded all yeses.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Abilene - City Council - Jul 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","After public testimony from volunteers and donors, the council approved a 40-year lease to place the new Abilene main library at Abilene Heritage Square; the lease rate is $0.74 per square foot and the developer will assume major maintenance obligations.","taxTitle","Abilene, Taylor County, Texas","taxId",2817,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6510666,"Council delays vote on proposed BYOB ordinance after public concern about burden on venues",3516,792000,4308000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5360483-5795a97cd849bc187ba7d6e325ab058e&start=792&end=4308","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5360483-5795a97cd849bc187ba7d6e325ab058e/thumbnail_792000.jpg","/articles/6510666/Abilene/Taylor-County/Texas/Council-delays-vote-on-proposed-BYOB-ordinance-after-public-concern-about-burden-on-venues","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6510666-b2232996512fcb31c8e4946b2df92ad6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770403499&Signature=BAiyPZOJL1GJPkZ1HjtIAWlCiuMHEUj4Y1Rk3lA2zWb-JlUH1MSqK77iI1uurwgUGlXPvKyT~RJUf1xz8eFPIsPtQNHn2pFOS0VHg3EIRZhh3am~grSqruj7-ktwqCBSOrv7PDy3YaylwxsdfuUzm65IbYy3ZR8by7EdmvdLsnkLaPVMUkRnrj4jIyJan~VOMoPQxrtc4RytmUq8WSkvIsbWprstEfd4sL57R8UvWjJ9vTIpNBB~LfYB7IWoTvafT~KgfQPOzwAGVZbWqEHOEgYQvcKjL8DYdlwhpMHvWQtM4LXmbSBYkAhoMYIkywxOa~MFDoOf1DRlxzPxURAJgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Abilene City Council on Thursday declined to adopt a proposed Bring-Your-Own-Beverage (BYOB) ordinance and directed staff to return with revisions after extensive council questions and public comment.

Emily Crawford, city manager, opened the discussion by saying staff had examined local BYOB ordinances used elsewhere and provided two versions in the packet: an original, more prescriptive draft and a redlined alternative that makes several requirements trigger-based. Crawford described the policy goal as addressing “public health and safety concerns” tied to a locally problematic establishment while avoiding unintended burdens on law-abiding businesses.

City Attorney Stanley Smith reviewed the draft ordinance’s main provisions. Among the requirements in the version provided were a permit to operate, a permit-holder presence on-site, mandatory metal-detector or hand-wand checks, well-lit exteriors during business hours, a security video system with low-light capability, and at least one licensed level-2 security officer per 50 patrons. The ordinance would also prohibit owners and staff from consuming alcohol during business hours, limit hours of operation (2 a.m. to 7 a.m. Monday–Saturday; 2 a.m. to noon Sunday), and make certain entities—residences; government-run venues; private clubs, fraternal and veterans organizations as defined in the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code; colleges and universities; places of worship; and restaurants—exempt from the permit requirement.

Smith described a key alternative in the redlined draft: many of the more stringent requirements would not “kick in” until a venue had three or more qualifying incidents within a 180-day window (weapons charges related to the business, violent crimes, major disturbances, deadly conduct, felonies, or human-trafficking-related offenses). He also noted that permit revocation language in the draft uses a 120-day standard for revocation in some instances.

Council members raised multiple concerns: the potential compliance cost for small venues and nonprofits, the operational impracticality for large events such as the Western Heritage Classic (which can draw about 5,000 people), how the city would verify compliance, and whether the city’s existing nuisance-abatement authority might provide a narrower emergency enforcement tool for immediate threats between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m.

Public commenters included operators of local event venues and community organizations. Rochelle Johnson, representing the Taylor County Expo Center, said the facility routinely hires private security and asked that responsibility for permitting rest with event hosts rather than the facility when a private party rents a space. Multiple venue owners described existing security measures: one operator said the D & W Underground already uses 16 security cameras, enforces a midnight cutoff for events, and pays for security at larger gatherings. Several speakers urged the council to avoid rules that would effectively shut down event activity or add large new costs to venues that already hire security.

Police Chief Seager answered council questions about operational triggers and said the department could work with staff to better define what constitutes a qualifying incident and to exclude false or malicious reports (for example, swatting) from triggering enforcement action.

After debate, council members agreed not to adopt the ordinance at this meeting and directed City Attorney Stanley Smith and staff to return with revisions at the next meeting. Staff said they would prioritize follow-up between meetings.","The council heard lengthy debate and public testimony about a proposed Bring-Your-Own-Beverage ordinance regulating venues that allow patrons to bring alcohol. City staff will revise the draft and return it for further consideration at the next meeting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6510670,"Abilene council updates local PACE program to include HUD and FHA participation",169,626000,795000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5360483-5795a97cd849bc187ba7d6e325ab058e&start=626&end=795","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5360483-5795a97cd849bc187ba7d6e325ab058e/thumbnail_626000.jpg","/articles/6510670/Abilene/Taylor-County/Texas/Abilene-council-updates-local-PACE-program-to-include-HUD-and-FHA-participation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6510670-efbcd1f18eb2f895c2d509baf9ebe1f5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770403499&Signature=jpGjMp1bxYqyHmvBLYTaw3WH-1DPNtNgdmB9VC~wRVXzy9djxtlkjm7OHBBmV06PORJadt1TffmbzfaXpJLFZ7R0waNKhhsxIzyRcfQQ4ImyTBE86mUAjg7QdYluzy~hPxyCywpDp03BSSerCM1w1UDwr-XufY74deLlHUX5lVT8OYNWO1bOCJdK03ToVfxJ43mNe3og6CsJX8ejmQLLFLzh6VBGPwNYUlgXQCwbsfegjA7-rLFuABcILJj5iC8OAIoQ09kCub8xTpPp~bPayx3oQIvvJJfhDkqaKTh1AP14R-c-iZR0emrcHIVB4AJIQOMVsECA9uINtuNKEpDUmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Abilene City Council on a unanimous vote approved an amendment to the city's Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program to update applications to include participation by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).

Tim Littlejohn, director of Planning and Development Services, introduced the item, describing PACE as “an innovative financing program that allows the private sector to take advantage of some special financing tools for major renovations such as HVAC repairs, water conservation efforts, etcetera.” He told the council the amendment aligns Abilene’s PACE applications with legislative updates that now add HUD and FHA participation.

Supporters at the meeting said the program primarily serves commercial and industrial properties but that the updated application language extends eligibility to some multifamily properties (five or more units). Littlejohn said the city has minimal oversight under the program and that one local property owner is already pursuing PACE financing.

Councilman Travis Craver moved the ordinance amendment; Councilman Yates seconded. The mayor called the vote and the motion carried with council indicating all yeses.

Why it matters: PACE financing spreads the up-front cost of building upgrades over time and can make energy- and water-saving retrofits affordable for property owners. Adding HUD/FHA participation may expand the range of projects and financing products eligible under local PACE administration.

Next steps: Staff noted a representative from the Texas PACE Authority was present for any detailed follow-up and can work with affected property owners on applications.","The Abilene City Council approved an amendment to its PACE program to incorporate HUD and FHA participation after staff said the change reflects recent legislative updates and offers financing tools for major property renovations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves 40-year lease for new main library at Abilene Heritage Square

Council delays vote on proposed BYOB ordinance after public concern about burden on venues

Abilene council updates local PACE program to include HUD and FHA participation