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COMING UP NEXT ON ACN, A REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL.
ON THE COUNCIL, MAYOR RAMIRO GARZA, JUNIOR.
COUNCIL MEMBER DANIEL DAN DIAZ.
COUNCIL MEMBER. JASON DE LEON.
COUNCIL MEMBER. JOHNNY GARCIA.
AND MAYOR PRO TEM DAVID WHITE.
SITTING IN HIS ADVISOR, CITY MANAGER MYRA EL AYALA AND CITY ATTORNEY OMAR OCHOA.
AND NOW LIVE FROM EDINBURG CITY HALL, THE EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL.
GOOD EVENING. I'M GOING TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
IT IS 6:00 BY MY WATCH OF OUR EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING FOR THIS EVENING.
I WANT TO CALL THIS, LIKE I MENTIONED, CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
I DO SEE VISIBLY WE HAVE A QUORUM.
WE HAVE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WILL NOT BE JOINING US TONIGHT.
BUT WE DO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNNY GARCIA.
MAYOR PRO TEM DAVID WHITE JOINING US AND MYSELF.
WE'RE GOING TO GET STARTED THIS EVENING WITH PRAYER.
I'M GOING TO ASK PASTOR ARTURO CHAPA FROM APOSTOLIC CHURCH HERE IN OUR CHURCH TO STEP TO THE PODIUM AND LEAD US IN PRAYER THIS EVENING. IF EVERYONE COULD PLEASE RISE FOR THE PRAYER.
GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO SAY THE PRAYER TONIGHT.
I WANT TO SAY A PART OF A SONG IN THE OLD TESTAMENT WHERE KING DAVID WRITES THE FOLLOWING WORDS.
YOU CARE FOR THE LAND AND WATER IT.
THE STREAMS OF GOD ARE FILLED WITH WATER TO PROVIDE THE PEOPLE WITH GRAIN FOR.
YOU DRENCH ITS FURROWS AND LEVEL IT WITH RIDGES.
YOU SOFTEN IT WITH SHOWERS AND BLESSES CROPS.
YOU CROWN THE YEAR WITH YOUR BOUNTY AND YOUR CARTS OVERFLOW WITH ABUNDANCE.
GOD'S INTENTION AND DESIRE IS THAT OUR LAND, OUR PEOPLE, OUR CITY TO PROSPER.
HE DESIRES THIS BECAUSE OUR LORD IS GOOD AND HE WANTS TO BLESS EVERY ONE OF US.
LET'S BOW OUR HEADS AND LET'S PRAY.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACE AND YOUR WISDOM AND YOUR GOODNESS.
MAY YOUR FACE CONTINUALLY SHINE UPON US SO THAT YOUR WAYS MAY BE KNOWN IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE PRAISE YOU, GOD, AND MAY ALL THE PEOPLE PRAISE YOU.
THEN OUR LAND WILL YIELD ITS HARVEST.
PROTECT OUR CITIZENS AND LEADERS AND ENRICH OUR LAND SO THAT WE MAY BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS.
WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD BE HONORED AND LIFTED UP IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IF EVERYONE COULD PLEASE JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM TWO CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE.
ITEM THREE IS DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
YES, SIR. UNDER STATE LAW, A CONFLICT OF INTEREST EXISTS IF A COUNCIL MEMBER OR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THAT PERSON'S FAMILY HAS A QUALIFYING FINANCIAL INTEREST IN AN AGENDA ITEM, IF THERE IS A CONFLICT, THE MEMBER CAN'T PARTICIPATE OR VOTE ON THE ITEM.
ARE THERE ANY CONFLICTS TO DISCLOSE? NO, SIR. NO, SIR. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM FOUR PROCLAMATIONS.
WE HAVE A FEW PROCLAMATIONS THIS EVENING AND GOING BY BY ORDER HERE.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOMEONE HERE TO RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION.
IF YOU COULD, IF YOU DON'T MIND STEPPING UP TO THE PODIUM WHILE I READ THE PROCLAMATION FOR FOR THE RECORD AND RECOGNIZE EVERYONE THAT IS HERE.
WHEREAS THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING COMMUNITY ENRICHES OUR CITY WITH THEIR UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES, CONTRIBUTIONS AND LANGUAGE ENHANCING THE CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND VIBRANCY THAT MAKES EDINBURG A REMARKABLE PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND VISIT.
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WHEREAS, TO COMMEMORATE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE WORLD FEDERATION OF THE DEAF IN ROME, ITALY, ON SEPTEMBER OF 1951, REPRESENTING OVER 70 MILLION DEAF PEOPLE'S HUMAN RIGHTS WORLDWIDE, THE CITY OF EDINBURG WILL ALSO JOIN IN RECOGNIZING THE ENTIRE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER AS DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING AWARENESS MONTH. WHEREAS IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, HEALTH CARE AND PUBLIC SERVICES, AND TO FOSTER AN ENVIRONMENT THAT EMBRACES ACCESSIBLE COMMUNICATION AND ACCOMMODATIONS.AND. WHEREAS, THROUGH INITIATIVES LIKE AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION.
INTERPRETERS, CAPTIONING SERVICES, ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC SPACES.
AND. WHEREAS, THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING AWARENESS MONTH TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE CHALLENGES FACED BY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING THROUGHOUT THE LIFESPAN, AND TO PROMOTE INCLUSIVITY, UNDERSTANDING AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL.
MAYOR OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG, TEXAS.
BY THE POWER VESTED IN ME BY LAW, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 2023 AS DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING AWARENESS MONTH AND ENCOURAGE ALL THE RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY OF EDINBURGH TO JOIN IN THE CELEBRATION OF ALL THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING COMMUNITY AND TO WORK TOWARDS BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS AND PROMOTING ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION FOR ALL.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IT'S QUITE AN HONOR TO BE IN THE LIVING IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH, LIVING AND WORKING.
WE CAN ALL LIVE, WORK AND THRIVE AND SAY VISIT, TOO.
BUT WE I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT IT'S QUITE AN HONOR TO BE HERE, TO BE LIVING IN A PLACE THAT RECOGNIZES THE YOUNG, THE NEEDS AND THE SUPPORT AND OF PEOPLE OF ALL.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY WHAT AN HONOR IT IS TO BE HERE AND SANDY MCGOWAN NEXT.
OH, OH, PAULA, THANK YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HONORABLE MAYOR RAMIRO GARZA, DISTINGUISHED COUNCIL MEMBERS AND FELLOW RESIDENTS, I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH IMMENSE GRATITUDE AND PRIDE AS WE GATHER TO COMMEMORATE A TRULY SIGNIFICANT OCCASION, THE PROCLAMATION OF SEPTEMBER AS THE CITY OF EDINBURGH DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING AWARENESS MONTH.
THIS PROCLAMATION CARRIES PROFOUND MEANING FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND IT NOT ONLY RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF INCLUSION AND ACCESSIBILITY, BUT ALSO CELEBRATES AND THE REMARKABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING.
HELLO. HI, MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN.
I AM ONE OF THE AUDIOLOGISTS AT UT RGV.
LET IT BE KNOWN THAT 90% OF DEAF BABIES ARE BORN TO PARENTS THAT CAN HEAR.
WE LEAD THE NATION IN FAILURE TO FOLLOW UP WITH THIS ENDEAVOR.
IF THESE INFANTS AND CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO GET DIAGNOSED, MANY OF OUR FAMILIES ARE EXPERIENCING BARRIERS IN ACCESSING HEARING DEVICES OR ASL SERVICES.
ONE OF THE MOTHERS AND A PARENT FOCUS GROUP STATED IT WAS EASIER TO NAVIGATE A HEART TRANSPLANT FOR MY CHILD THAN TO NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM TO OBTAIN HEARING AIDS FOR HIM. THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY HAS LESS THAN TEN AUDIOLOGISTS FOR 1.37 MILLION PEOPLE IN ALL FOUR COUNTIES.
FAMILIES ARE IN CRITICAL NEED OF EARLY HEARING DETECTION OR EARLY DETECTION OF HEARING LOSS SO THEY CAN DETERMINE THE COMMUNICATION MODE FOR THEIR CHILDREN, WHETHER IT BE ASL OR SPOKEN LANGUAGE, BEFORE THEIR OPTIONS BECOME EXTREMELY LIMITED.
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FAILURE TO DETECT HEARING LOSS CAN CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DELAYS IN COGNITION AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT.IF YOU SUSPECT A LANGUAGE DELAY IS PRESENT AND YOU ALSO SUSPECT HEARING DIFFICULTIES.
IT IS NEVER TOO EARLY TO PUT HEARING DEVICES ON A CHILD DIAGNOSED WITH A PERMANENT HEARING LOSS.
MY NAME IS ERIC CARDENAS AND I AM VERY PROUD TO BE A PERSON WHO IS A RESIDENT OF EDINBURG.
AND FOR ME IT IS AWARENESS EVERY DAY AND EVERY MONTH.
SO WE DON'T WANT TO BE IGNORED.
WE WANT TO BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE SITUATION OF EDINBURG AS WELL AS BE INCLUDED AS OUR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO BE EQUAL AND SEEN AS EQUAL, AS DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING PEOPLE. WE FACE DISCRIMINATION.
WE HAVE EXPERIENCES THAT ARE UNIQUE TO US, AND THIS IS A FIRST STEP IN A FIGHT AGAINST OVERCOMING THAT DISCRIMINATION AND THAT WE ARE HAPPY TO LIVE HERE. AND WE ARE GOING TO BE COMMUNICATING THROUGH POSITIVE MESSAGES AS WELL AS REMEMBERING OUR CHILDREN TO LOOK UP TO THE DEAF INDIVIDUALS TODAY THAT ARE GOING TO BE STANDING IN FRONT OF THEM TO LEAD THE WAY TO THE FUTURE.
SO TODAY, I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT IS MY PRIDE TO BE A PROFESSOR HERE AT UTRGV AND TO ENCOURAGE MORE AND MORE ADVANCEMENT IN THE PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION OF INTERPRETERS AND LEADING THE FUTURE FOR THOSE DEAF PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE.
SO THAT IS ALSO SOMETHING I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW IS.
THERE ARE ALSO DEAF CATS, DEAF BIRDS, DEAF ANIMALS AND HUMANS ARE ANIMALS TOO.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE INCLUSIVE.
THERE'S NOTHING TO BE EMBARRASSED ABOUT.
IT'S A NATURAL THING IN THE WORLD AROUND US.
SO BEING DEAF IS SOMETHING THAT IS COMPLETELY NORMAL.
THIS IS THE SIGN FOR I LOVE YOU.
I JUST WANT TO TEACH EVERYBODY THAT.
COULD YOU COULD YOU DO THE SIGN? I LOVE YOU. IT MEANS I LOVE YOU.
EVERYBODY SEE THAT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THIS IS BOWLING OUT ONE LESS THING.
AND THAT'S WHY THAT'S WHY ONE OF THE REASONS WE ARE ORGANIZING THE DEAF AN AWARENESS WALK IN THE CITY OF EDINBURG IS GOING TO BE THE LAST DAY OF SEPTEMBER. FLIERS ARE IN THE FRONT TABLE AND HERE AND YOU ALL ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO TO ATTEND.
THIS IS WITH THE SOLE PURPOSE OF RECOGNIZING AND FOR THE COMMUNITY, THE HEARING COMMUNITY TO BE AWARE AND CREATE AWARENESS OF THIS DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING INDIVIDUALS AND TO SHOW THEM THAT WE SUPPORT AND THERE'S PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR CHILDREN.
CAN YOU GIVE US THE DATE OF THAT? I'M SORRY, THE THE DATE OF THE 30TH.
30TH? YES, IT'S THE LAST SATURDAY.
THAT'S LAST SATURDAY. EDINBURG PARK.
THANK YOU. YEAH. EDINBURG MUNICIPAL PARK, 8 A.M.
THANK YOU. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING BEFORE US AND REQUESTING THIS SUPPORT.
WE UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, DESIGNATING THIS MONTH FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THAT YOU ALL DO AND ADVOCATING FOR THE COMMUNITY.
WE, AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, WE FORMED A COMMITTEE THAT IS GOING TO HELP US TRY TO DO OUR PART IN THE CITY, IN SOME OF OUR PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SOME OF THE EVENTS THAT WE HAVE.
AND WE APPRECIATE SOME OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN A PART OF THAT, AND WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE BEING A PART OF THAT, TO HELP US BETTER SERVE THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
WE'RE GOING TO GO AND SEND Y'ALL TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU ALL AT THIS TIME, OKAY? YEAH.
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ALL RIGHT. I ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE.AT OUR EDINBURG MUNICIPAL PARK.
AND THERE'S MR. MARQUEZ, IF YOU CAN.
LET'S GIVE HIM A HAND, PLEASE.
WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR YOU.
I WILL READ IT FOR THE RECORD AT THIS TIME.
WHEREAS MR. JUAN J.J. MARQUEZ, HE'S A SENIOR TELECOMMUNICATOR COMMUNICATIONS OPERATOR THAT HAS BEEN WITH THE EDINBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR FIVE YEARS.
AND. WHEREAS, THIS IS MR. MARQUEZ FIRST AND ONLY PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS JOB, AND HE HAS OBTAINED A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE THROUGH THE TRAJECTORY OF HIS CAREER.
DAILY, HE DISPATCHES POLICE, FIRE AND ANIMAL CONTROL UNITS TO CALLS FOR SERVICE.
ANSWERS 911 CALLS DISSEMINATES REQUESTS FOR SERVICE INFORMATION, ENTERS WARRANTS AND PROTECTIVE.
EXCUSE ME. PROTECTION ORDERS, TESTS.
T MONITORS, POLICE, FIRE AND REGIONAL RADIO CHANNELS.
HE ALSO COMPLETES SUPERVISORY TASKS SUCH AS OFFERING SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE TO OTHER TEAM MEMBERS.
AND. WHEREAS, MR. MARQUEZ IS ABLE TO COMMAND HIS SHIP ACCORDINGLY DUE TO HIS EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF COMMUNICATIONS, MANY OF HIS TEAM MEMBERS RELY ON HIM TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND ADDRESS AREAS OF CONCERN.
HE GOES BEYOND TAKING EXTRA RESPONSIBILITIES SUCH AS RADIO, COMPUTER AIDED DISPATCH, PHONE 911 AND TEXAS LAW ENFORCEMENT TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM TRAINING. HE CAN EFFECTIVELY TRAIN NEW PERSONNEL TO SUCCEED AND PASS THEIR PROBATIONARY STATUS.
AND. WHEREAS, MR. MARQUEZ IS A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION, HE IS ALWAYS ON TIME, COMES IN EARLY TO COVER BUSY SHIFTS, STAYS OVER TO HELP TRAIN NEW PERSONNEL AND ATTENDS LEADERSHIP COURSES TO FURTHER HIS EDUCATION IN COMMUNICATIONS.
AND. WHEREAS, MR. MARQUEZ HAS TAKEN ACTIVE LISTENING TRAINING, WHICH HE APPLIES DAILY TO HIS CUSTOMER SERVICE SKILLS AND HE HAS NEVER HAD A NEGATIVE MARK ON HIS QUALITY CONTROL REPORT, MR. MARQUEZ IS VERY PATIENT WITH THE CALLERS AND EMPATHETIC TO THEIR NEEDS, AND AS A TRAINER HE INSTILLS THE SAME QUALITIES INTO HIS TRAINEES.
AND. WHEREAS, IN 2022, MR. MARQUEZ WAS AWARDED THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY NUMBER ASSOCIATION SILENT HERO AWARD.
AND. WHEREAS, MR. MARQUEZ IS THE DEFINITION OF WHAT A GREAT COMMUNICATIONS OPERATOR SHOULD BE, EMPLOYEES LIKE HIM SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED AND CULTIVATED TO ENSURE RETENTION IN OUR FIELD. HE IS A ROLE MODEL TO NEW PERSONNEL AND SENIOR OPERATORS.
HIS CALM VOICE AND DEMEANOR HAVE GREATLY AFFECTED MANY CALLERS.
HE DOES HIS JOB FULL HEARTEDLY AND WITH THE BEST INTENTIONS.
AND. WHEREAS, THE EDINBURGH CITY COUNCIL IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE GREAT WORK ETHIC OF MR. JUAN JJ MARQUEZ, THIS AWARD SOLIDIFIES HIS HARD WORK, DEDICATION AND LOVE FOR HIS PROFESSION.
NOW, THEREFORE, I RAMIRO GARCIA, JR.
MAYOR OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG, TEXAS.
BY THE POWER VESTED IN ME BY LAW, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE JUAN JJ MARQUEZ AS THE TELECOMMUNICATOR OF THE YEAR, WHO GENUINELY CARES ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE AND TAKES THIS JOB VERY SERIOUSLY.
PEOPLE SAY THE MAYOR'S JOB IS A TOUGH JOB.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
AND I'M SO GLAD THERE WAS ALL THIS INFORMATION WAS INCLUDED HERE BECAUSE IT KIND OF GIVES THE COMMUNITY A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT YOU ALL DO IN A DAY TO DAY SHIFT THAT YOU HAVE.
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ALSO ALL THE EMPLOYEES THAT YOU OVERSEE AND THAT YOU TRAIN, BECAUSE THAT HELPS US AS A COMMUNITY TREMENDOUSLY.SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
YES, SIR. I JUST WANT TO THANK THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS HONOR.
I WANT TO THANK MY SUPERVISORS FOR RECOGNIZING ME, THE CHIEF.
I'VE. OR IT'S GOING TO BE PUT TO IT BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF AWKWARD THAT LIKE I AM, I FEEL LIKE I'M STILL A ROOKIE. I'M STILL LEARNING, I'M STILL BRINGING IT.
AND THE FACT THAT MY SUPERVISORS HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED ME AS A SENIOR COMMUNICATOR THERE AND HAVING TO TRAIN ROOKIES AND THEY TRUST ME TO PUT THIS THE WORK INTO THE DEPARTMENT, IT'S STILL OVERWHELMING.
YEAH. AND I WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE EDINBURGH GETS SAFE ALONG WITH MY COWORKERS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I SEE THE CHIEF THERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANTED TO JOIN IN AND YOUR FELLOW COLLEAGUES OVER THERE.
I'M SURE THEY'RE VERY PROUD AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
HI. MAY ALL OF THE POLICE CHIEF.
I DIDN'T WANT TO STEAL ANY THUNDER.
JJ, THIS IS THE FIRST ANNUAL AWARDS THAT THAT WE'RE HANDED OUT.
AND JJ IS THE THE TOP NOTCH WINNER WITH THE TELECOMMUNICATOR AWARD OF THE YEAR.
AND SO A LOT OF HIS TEAM MEMBERS ARE HERE, SUPERVISORS HERE.
AND WE JUST APPRECIATE YOU ALL RECOGNIZING HIM AS THE BDC DID AS WELL.
ABSOLUTELY. AND CONGRATULATIONS AND KEEP UP DOING THE GREAT WORK.
WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO.
AND YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE IT.
AND WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU HAVE OUR SUPPORT.
MAYOR. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TELECOMMUNICATORS, THEY'RE THE CALM VOICE BEHIND THE STORM.
AND YOU REFERENCED AN ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATION AS AN OFFICER IN THE FIELD.
WHEN YOU HEAR THAT THAT RE-AFFIRMATION THAT THEY'RE GETTING YOU HELP.
THESE TELECOMMUNICATORS ARE FIRST RESPONDERS AS WELL.
AND SO WE'RE REALLY HAPPY WITH JJ AND HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS WELL AS EVERYBODY ELSE.
THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE.
THE NEXT PROCLAMATION THAT I HAVE IS TO PRESENT A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2023, AS A NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR MURDER VICTIMS. AND I SEE WE HAVE MISTER ROBERT GARCIA.
AND IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND JOINING US WHILE I READ THE PROCLAMATION FOR THE RECORD.
SO I WILL READ IT FOR THE RECORD.
AT THIS TIME, THE NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR MURDER VICTIMS. WHEREAS THE NATIONAL PARENTS OF MURDERED CHILDREN ESTABLISHED SEPTEMBER 25TH AS THE NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR MURDER VICTIMS DUE TO THE UNANIMOUS UNANIMOUSLY PASSED RESOLUTIONS BY THE US SENATE ON OCTOBER 16TH, 2007, AND THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON MAY 14TH, 2007.
AND. WHEREAS, POMC, WHICH IS THE NATIONAL PARENTS OF MURDERED CHILDREN, BELIEVES IN HONORING THE MEMORY OF VICTIMS KILLED BY VIOLENCE AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE RESULTING LONG TERM TRAUMA FOR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES, THIS NATIONAL REMEMBRANCE DAY IS AN ESSENTIAL WAY OF PROMOTING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND REMEMBERING OUR LOVED ONES.
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AND. WHEREAS, IN 2022, THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY EXPERIENCED ABOUT 40 MURDERS, AFFECTING ABOUT 400 CLOSE RELATIVES AND AN ESTIMATED 2017 HOMICIDES IN TEXAS, LEAVING OVER 20,170 AFFECTED CLOSE FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS, A NUMBER HIGHER THAN THAT OF DIRECTED DIRECT HOMICIDE VICTIMS. AND. WHEREAS, THE MURDER OF A LOVED ONE ROBS THE VICTIM'S FAMILY OF A MOTHER, FATHER, SISTER, BROTHER, SON, DAUGHTER, HUSBAND, WIFE, PARTNER, GRANDPARENT, AUNT OR UNCLE, CREATING AN OVERWHELMINGLY OVERWHELMING CHALLENGE TO FILL THE VOID OF THEIR ABSENCE LEAVES.AND. WHEREAS, SURVIVORS OF HOMICIDE VICTIMS USE THEIR TRAGEDIES TO TELL STORIES OF PAIN AND ANGER INFLICTED BY HOMICIDE, THEY HAVE REJECTED PATHS OF RETALIATION, SHAME AND ISOLATION, AND INSTEAD LEAN TOWARD LEARNING AND TEACHING LESSONS THAT COMPASSION AND PEACE.
AND. WHEREAS, HOMICIDE VICTIMS TRANSFORM THEIR PAIN AND ANGER INTO POWER IN ACTION BY HONORING THE THEIR LOVED ONES, BY IMPACTED BY HOMICIDE THROUGH LEADERSHIP, GRIEF SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY SURVIVORS, REDUCE VIOLENCE AND PROMOTE PREVENTION AND POLICY CHANGE LOCALLY AND AT A NATIONAL LEVEL.
NOW THEREFORE, I RAMIRO GARZA, JR.
MAYOR OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG, TEXAS.
BY THE POWER VESTED IN ME BY LAW, DO HEREBY ISSUE THIS PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING SOME SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2023, AS NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR MURDER VICTIMS AND ENCOURAGE ALL MEDIA OUTLETS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, VICTIMS AND COMMUNITY VICTIMS, SERVICE PROVIDERS OF HIDALGO COUNTY TO JOIN THE 11TH ANNUAL CANDLELIGHT VIGIL ALWAYS ON OUR MINDS AND IN OUR HEARTS, HOSTED AT THE PHARR JOSE PEPE SALINAS MEMORIAL RECREATION CENTER FROM 6 P.M.
MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I'M THE FOUNDER OF THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY.
FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF MURDERED CHILDREN.
AND IT STARTED WITH THE CALL, AN UNSPEAKABLE CALL THAT MY MOTHER, DALIA ROSA GARCIA FROM RIO GRANDE CITY, CALLED ME ABOUT 745 WITH A DISTINCT TALK ABOUT TELECOMMUNICATORS.
A DISTINCT VOICE THAT ONLY A MOTHER'S CRY CAN UNDERSTAND.
THAT DISTINCT CRY THAT I REMEMBER MY MOM.
AND UNTIL THIS DAY, THERE ARE 12 YEARS THAT HAVE HAPPENED ALREADY.
I HAVE LEARNED SEVEN THINGS THAT I CONTINUE EACH DAY.
WE SHARE AN UNSPEAKABLE BOND WITH OUR AFFILIATES.
NATION NATIONAL PARENTS OF MURDERED CHILDREN BASED OUT OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.
WE GRIEVE FOR A LIFETIME TOGETHER, AS YOU SEE HERE THAT WE GATHER.
WE ARE GETTING OLD EVERY SINGLE YEAR THAT WE COME BY FOR 12 CONSECUTIVE YEARS.
WHEN WE STARTED THIS JOURNEY 12 YEARS AGO TO NOW.
TO MY EXTENDED FAMILIA OUR SUPPORT GROUP MEMBERS THAT.
THIS JOURNEY HAS BEEN DIFFICULT.
AND WITH THE GRIEF AND THE COMPASSION THAT YOU SHOW, WE ALWAYS SEEK JUSTICE FOR OUR LOVED ONES.
BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT DEEP SORROW MEANS.
BUT I ALSO RECOGNIZE THE UNSPEAKABLE JOY OF LIVING TOGETHER IN THE ALAVÉS.
SO I BOWED MY HEAD TO EACH OF MY SUPPORT GROUP MEMBERS HERE IN ATTENDANCE AND THE ONES THAT COULD NOT ATTEND TODAY'S PROCLAMATION HERE AT THE CITY OF EDINBURG, I SAY TO YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR SHOWING ME YOUR LOYALTY, YOUR TRUST IN ME AND THE ORGANIZATION.
BUT MOST OF ALL, THE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE THAT YOU GIVE US.
BUT MADRECITA ESTA EN EL CIELO.
DALIA GARCIA ONCE TOLD ME BEFORE SHE PASSED IN 2015.
WHEN YOUR BROTHER DIED, A PIECE OF MY SOUL IN MY HEART WAS GONE.
[00:30:02]
ONLY PEOPLE OR ONLY MOTHERS.I'M SORRY. ONLY MOTHERS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS PAIN THAT BECAME A MOTHER OF A CHILD THAT HAS BEEN MURDERED OR A HUSBAND OR A WIFE OR A GRANDMA WOULD UNDERSTAND THE PAIN THAT I HAVE AS I REPRESENT AND ADVOCATE AN ORGANIZATION.
I REPRESENT ALL VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME, IN PARTICULAR MURDER MOMS. THE MURDERED MOMS THAT ARE HERE WITH ME ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT I CAN TELL YOU WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT.
THAT THEY KNOW THE PAIN THAT MY MOM EXPERIENCED.
SO WE READ THE NAMES ROGELIO, ROCIO GARCIA, JULISSA RANGEL, JULIO VILLARREAL, FERNANDO GARZA, JUNIOR MAGDALENA, AND REBECA CANTU. GERARDO APARICIO.
I ALREADY MENTIONED WENDY ESCOBEDO, ALEJANDRO ORDONEZ, ALFREDO OTERO JUNIOR, ROBERTO MENDEZ, DANIEL VEGA AND ERIC MICHAEL GARCIA.
OUT OF THESE 18 NAMES THAT I MENTIONED, FOUR OF THEM FROM THE CITY OF EDINBURG, AND WE HAVE HAD VICTIMS AS YOUNG AS TWO YEARS OLD AND AS OLD AS 82 YEARS OLD.
AND THEN AND, YOU KNOW, IN BETWEEN.
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THE CONTINUED APPRECIATION THAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE FOR THE LAST FIVE FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS, YOU KNOW, OLD GENERATION, NOT OLD GENERATION, BUT ADMINISTRATIONS AND PAST ADMINISTRATIONS AND NEW ADMINISTRATIONS.
AND THANK YOU. LAST YEAR FOR ACCOMPANYING US AND READING THE PROCLAMATION THERE.
I THINK YOU STAYED A LITTLE WHILE AND YOU SAW THE THE IMPACT.
AND YOU KNOW, YOU'LL SEE THE THE OVERWHELMED, BUT WE CRY.
WE HAVE A GOOD TIME, BUT WE ALSO LAUGH BECAUSE OF THE MEMORIES THAT THEY BRING TO THE TABLE.
SO TO THE COMMUNITY, YOU HAVE A FRIEND HERE, IF YOU KNOW OF A LOVED ONE, I CAN'T DO THIS BY MYSELF.
AND WE HAVE SEEN OVER 1050 SINCE WE STARTED THIS JOURNEY IN 2011 AFTER MY BROTHER'S MURDERED.
AND NATIONWIDE AS WELL, WE TRAVEL NATIONWIDE WITH THE NATIONAL AFFILIATE.
BUT AGAIN, I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, INVITE THE COMMUNITY 11TH ANNUAL AT THE PEP MEMORIAL, SALINAS IN EDINBURG, I MEAN, IN PHARR AND IT WILL BE FROM 6 TO 8.
WE HAVE MARIACHIS. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF KEYNOTE KEYNOTE SPEAKERS BOTH HERE AND OUT OF CAMERON COUNTY.
AND WE WILL ALSO SURPRISE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY ORIENTED, ADVOCATES THAT ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS WITH SOME AWARDS THAT I THINK IT'S APPRECIATED OF THEM, THE SILENT PARTNERS IN THIS.
BUT WITHOUT THEM ALSO, WE CANNOT EXIST AS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.
ALSO WANT TO JUST ONE LAST MINUTE.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN COMING HERE.
I WAS CITY MANAGER WHEN YOU FIRST CAME TO US WAY BACK WHEN.
AND AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S ONLY RIGHT FOR US TO DO THIS ON THIS TO TO REALLY BRING ATTENTION TO THIS, YOU KNOW? AND I JUST WANT TO SAY TO ALL THE FAMILIES, MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU ALL WITH WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
I'M GOING TO TAKE YOUR PROCLAMATIONS.
[00:35:23]
SAY THANK YOU.ON ITEM C, THE PROCLAMATION FOR SEPTEMBER 23RD.
WE DON'T JUST TO CONFIRM MISS CLARISSA, DO WE HAVE ANYONE HERE FOR THE SUICIDE AWARENESS? IF NOT, I DID SIGN IT.
I JUST WANTED TO ANNOUNCE FOR EVERYBODY'S INFORMATION.
SEPTEMBER SUICIDE AWARENESS MONTH.
WE DO HAVE A PROCLAMATION HERE THAT WE HAVE PASSED.
AND WE JUST WANTED TO STATE THAT FOR THE RECORD.
I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS? THERE ARE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS, MAYOR.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM SIX.
UNDER PRESENTATIONS, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION, THE MPO, ON THE 2024 UNIFIED TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM UPDATE.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNCILMAN GARCIA AND COUNCILMAN WHITE.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MR. LUIS DIAZ. HE'S FROM THE RGV MPO.
HE'LL BE GIVING US A BRIEF PRESENTATION ON THE 2024 UTP LUIS.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
LUIS DIAZ, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, MPO.
I'M HERE TO SHARE WITH YOU THE LATEST ADOPTED UNIFIED TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM, OR UTP, WHICH IS A TEN YEAR PLAN, STATE PLAN OF PROJECTS, INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS FOR THE STATE.
ON AUGUST 16TH OF THIS YEAR, TEXDOT APPROVED THE 2024 TEN YEAR UTP, WHICH EXTENDS FROM 2024 TO 2033.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND BE SHARING THE MOST THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GO.
I'M GOING TO SKIP A COUPLE OF SLIDES HERE.
SO I'M GOING TO GO TO A CATEGORY TWO.
THIS IS TEXT DISCRETIONARY MONEY.
SO THIS IS THERE WAS THE I-69 CONNECTOR.
AND THIS PROJECT IS TO CONNECT I-69 TO I-69.
E, AND THIS PROJECT GOT A TOTAL OF 150 MILLION.
AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROJECT IS THAT IT CONNECTS THE OUTER PARKWAY IN HARLINGEN TO SAN BENITO, WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY CONNECT THE PROPOSED CAUSEWAY TO THE ISLAND.
THE NEXT ONE IS OUT OF CATEGORY SEVEN.
SO CATEGORY SEVEN IS MPO DISCRETIONARY MONEY.
SO THERE WERE TWO PROJECTS THAT GOT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT THIS TIME AROUND, AND THE FIRST ONE BEING NOLANA LOOP GOT A TOTAL OF 25 MILLION IN CAT SEVEN AND THE OTHER BEING SAO PAULO CORRIDOR IN CAMERON COUNTY.
THIS IS A COLLECTION OF PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE REGION, AND THIS IS A RESULT OF THE LAST TRANSPORTATION BILL, AND THESE ARE THE CARBON REDUCTION PROGRAMS. SO THIS THESE ARE ALL PROJECTS THAT HELP IN CARBON EMISSIONS OR REDUCING OF THE FIRST ONE BEING THE FAR BRIDGE COMMERCIAL VEHICLE PARKING SITE. AND THIS WILL BE PROVIDING 375 PARKING SPOTS FOR THE FAR BRIDGE LOCATION.
AND THIS IS A THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
THESE ARE GOING TO BE SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR EITHER RETIMING OF SIGNALS OR ALSO EQUIPMENT.
[00:40:05]
SO THAT'S A TOTAL OF $1,890,000, THE THIRD BEING THE SOUTHMOST NATURE TRAIL.IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, I CAN TAKE THEM AT THIS TIME.
WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? NO, I JUST HAD A COMMENT.
I KNOW WE HAVE THE PRESENTATION.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT SHOWS HERE.
THERE'S ON CATEGORY TWO, THE I-69 CONNECTOR.
THIS HERE IN THE BOTTOM, IT SAYS BORDER TRADE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
I GUESS, IS THAT LIKE PART OF THEIR PACKET OR.
THIS IS WHERE MISTER ANDREW CANNON GAVE THAT PRESENTATION.
AND SO THIS MAP HERE IS THIS MAP FROM TEXDOT.
YES, THIS IS A TEXT MAP OF THE DIFFERENT ALIGNMENTS FOR THAT I-69 CONNECTOR.
SO THERE'S A TOTAL OF FOUR OF THEM RIGHT NOW.
AND HOW IS THIS THE LATEST UP TO DATE? YES, THIS IS THE ALIGNMENTS FOR.
OKAY. SO EVERYTHING THAT IS SHOWING HERE, FOR EXAMPLE, STATE HIGHWAY 68 WHERE IT GOES NORTH, YOU KNOW, CONNECTS ITC NORTH TO OUR AIRPORT.
YES THIS IS THE LATEST PROJECTION OF THAT PROJECT THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM TEXDOT.
AND IS THAT PART OF WHEN THE RTP WAS APPROVED? RIGHT. IN AUGUST BY TEXAS COMMISSION, WAS THIS A MAP THAT WAS APPROVED? DO YOU KNOW BY ANY CHANCE OR THIS MAP IS THE LATEST THAT WAS SHARED AS FAR AS APPROVED FOR THE UTP? I'M NOT TOO SURE IF THEY WERE IN COORDINATION TOGETHER.
I DIDN'T MEAN TO. IT'S JUST WE'RE TRYING FROM IT'S BEEN WE'VE BEEN MADE AWARE THAT I THINK THERE'S AN ALIGNMENT CHANGE ON THAT STATE HIGHWAY 60 AND THE NORTH SIDE.
AND THAT'S THE ONLY REASON THIS THIS STILL SHOWS WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS KNOWN TO BE THE CASE, RIGHT? THE ALIGNMENT CONNECTED FOR 90 TO OUR AIRPORT.
RIGHT. BUT I THINK WE'VE SINCE BEEN MADE AWARE THAT THAT ALIGNMENT HAS HAS CHANGED.
AND THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I'M ASKING BECAUSE IT HAS TEXDOT ON THERE.
DEFINITELY. BUT THIS IS THE LATEST ONE THAT YOU ALL HAVE.
YES. THIS IS THE LATEST ALIGNMENT FOR THAT PROJECT THAT WE'VE BEEN.
BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND AGAIN, APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT IS DONE.
I KNOW WE HAVE SOME PROJECTS IN THERE AS WELL AND WE'LL FOLLOW UP.
STAY ON TOP OF THEM. SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. YOU ALL HAVE A THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
THERE'S NO ACTION COUNCIL ON THIS.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO PUBLIC HEARINGS.
ITEM A, I'M GOING TO OPEN UP THIS PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM.
A, THIS IS TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION.
PLANNING GRANT APPLICATION TO THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION UNDER THE FISCAL YEAR 23 RECONNECTING COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS GRANT PROGRAM FOR SUGAR ROAD. AND IF WE LOOK AT THE MAP, IT'S THE AREA FROM CHAPIN TO MONTE CRISTO.
IF THERE'S NO ONE HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COUNCIL MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION.
THE ONLY JUST TO CLARIFY, THIS IS A PLANNING GRANT, CORRECT? THIS IS A PLANNING GRANT. THAT IS CORRECT.
SO THIS WOULD BE THE NEXT PHASE OF IT TO GET IT SHOVEL READY TO LOOK FOR FUTURE FUNDING.
OKAY. AND IT SAYS HERE, 1.2 MILLION.
OKAY. DO WE HAVE AN IDEA ON THE CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATE BY ANY CHANCE? NOT AT THIS POINT, THOUGH. WE HAVEN'T RUN NUMBERS ON THIS.
AND IS THIS A SECTION WE CAN INCLUDE FOR MPO CONSIDERATION OR.
THAT'S THE INTENT? OKAY. SO THE INTENT IS TO APPLY FOR THIS ONE THIS YEAR AND THE NEXT YEAR SINCE WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON JACKSON TO THROW JACKSON FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF FUNDING.
[00:45:01]
THANK YOU. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.THESE ARE JUST PUBLIC HEARINGS AND NOT FOR ACTION.
I WILL OPEN UP THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYBODY HERE THAT'S WISHING TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS TO AS PART OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING MAY DO SO AT THIS TIME? AGAIN, THIS IS IN CONNECTION WITH THE FISCAL YEAR BUDGET STARTING OCTOBER 1ST, 2023, ENDING 2024.
IF THERE'S NO COMMENTS AT THIS TIME, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND COUNCIL.
I THINK THERE'S A ACTION RELATED TO THIS ITEM UNDER ORDINANCES.
BUT MOVING ON TO ITEM C, I WILL OPEN UP THIS PUBLIC HEARING AS WELL.
ANYONE WISHING TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS MAY DO SO AT THIS TIME.
I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MOVING ON TO ORDINANCES ITEM EIGHT A.
THIS IS TO CONSIDER ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURG FOR FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2023, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024. COUNCIL SO MOVED.
SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? I JUST WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK CITY MANAGEMENT, OUR FINANCE, FOR I KNOW THIS IS A LONG PROCESS TO GO THROUGH IN OUR BUDGET PROCESS.
I WANT TO THANK ALL, OF COURSE, ADMINISTRATION, FINANCE AND ALL THE DIRECTORS.
AND SO I DID WANT TO MENTION SOME HIGHLIGHTS, WHAT THIS BUDGET REPRESENTS AT THIS TIME.
THIS INCLUDES REDUCING OUR TAX RATE TO $0.63, WHICH WOULD BE THE LOWEST TAX RATE SINCE 1991.
AND I DO WANT TO STATE THAT THIS DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE REDUCING SERVICES.
THERE IS ALSO A PAY PLAN ADJUSTMENT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
THERE'S A 3% PAY PLAN ADJUSTMENT FOR ALL NON CIVIL AND CIVIL SERVICE.
WE'RE KEEPING ALL THE RATES, THE SAME SOLID WASTE WATER AND SEWER RATES.
WE ARE INCLUDING I KNOW THIS IS A BUDGET, BUT AS PART OF I THINK OUR REVIEW OF THIS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT RESIDENTS KNOW THAT WE DID TAKE EVERYTHING CONSIDERATION. I MEAN, THE BUDGET INCLUDES OUR PROPERTY TAX AND SALES TAX AND FEES FOR SERVICE, BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING THAT'S AVAILABLE BECAUSE OUR NEEDS ARE SO MUCH, YOU KNOW, OUR CITY IS GROWING AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO.
BUT THIS DOES ALLOW US TO STILL FUND $2.6 MILLION IN STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
THAT'S PART OF THE FUNDS THAT WE'RE INCLUDING.
FOR ANOTHER ITEM DOWN ON ARPA MONEY, THIS DOES ALLOW US TO FUND OVER $5 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL NEW PROJECTS AS WELL UNDER THE CAPITAL LEASE PROGRAM.
ALSO POTHOLE RESOLUTION WITH PATCH TRUCKS.
WE THIS INCLUDES INVESTING IN A NEW PATCH TRUCK.
I MENTIONED THE PARKS FACILITIES AND WE'RE ALSO ADDING SOME TURF FIELD AS WELL.
AND OF COURSE, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.
I JUST DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS.
THE BUDGET THERE IS QUITE A BIT IN THE BUDGET.
SO ANYONE THAT'S WISHING TO SEE MORE DETAILS ON IT MAY DO SO ON OUR BUDGET, BUT THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
COUNCIL BUT I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THESE THINGS IN THE BUDGET.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE MR. ALONSO TO HIGHLIGHT? NO, NO.
NO. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FOR RECOGNIZING THE WORK THAT MY TEAM DOES.
THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
I'LL TAKE A VOTE AT THIS TIME.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
MOVING ON TO ITEM B TO CONSIDER ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE TAX RATE AND LEVY FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURGH FOR THE TAX YEAR 2023 AND FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2023, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024.
[00:50:02]
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.WE HAVE A SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION, IF NOT ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
ITEM C IS TO CONSIDER ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURGH ADMINISTRATIVE CHAPTER 30 ADMINISTRATIVE CODE SECTIONS 30.022 AND 30.023.
ALL IN FAVOR. PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
ITEM D COUNCILS TO CONSIDER ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURGH ADMINISTRATIVE CODE CHAPTER 30 SECTIONS 30.071 30.072 30.075.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
COUNCIL. WE HAVE ITEM E TO CONSIDER.
ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES CHAPTER 30 AND ADMINISTRATIVE CODE SECTIONS 30.037 30.054 30.055 30.056 30.063 AND 30.073.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
ITEM F COUNCILS TO CONSIDER AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.
TITLE THREE ADMINISTRATION CHAPTER 30 AGAIN ADMINISTRATIVE CODE.
SO MOVE. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
WE HAVE THREE PETITIONS COUNCIL THIS EVENING.
ITEM A IS TO CONSIDER A PETITION PROVIDING FOR THE VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION OF 600.885 ACRES.
LOCATED AT 15600 NORTH I 69 CENTRAL.
SO MOVE. SECOND WITH DISCUSSION.
YES, SIR. I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF EFFECTS IS GOING TO HAVE FINANCIALLY BY DOING THIS ANNEX AS FAR AS TO GET EVERYTHING TIED INTO THOSE AREAS? YES. COUNCILMAN ACEVEDO, PLANNING AND ZONING DIRECTOR FOR THE RECORD, THIS PROPERTY HAS ALREADY BEEN PURCHASED.
WE'RE JUST MISSING THE ANNEXATION PART.
SO ALL WE'RE DOING HERE TONIGHT IS BRINGING IT INTO THE CITY LIMITS.
BUT IT'S PROPERTY THAT'S ALREADY OWNED BY THE SERVICES.
EVERYTHING IS ALREADY IN THERE.
YES, IT'S THE CITY'S PROPERTY.
THE CITY'S PROPERTY IS ANNEXING ITS OWN STUFF.
THIS IS LAND THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE USED FOR FUTURE GROWTH OF THE AIRPORT.
ON BOTH SIDES, THERE'S NINE A AND NINE B ARE BOTH RELATED, BUT THEY'RE ON SEPARATE TRACKS OF LAND.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
ITEM B IS TO CONSIDER ALSO ANOTHER PETITION.
THIS IS FOR A VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION OF A 50.493 ACRE TRACT OF LAND.
ALSO, THIS IS LOCATED ON ALSO CITY OWNED PORTION OF FARM ROAD, HIGHWAY 480 RIGHT OF WAY BEING LOCATED AT 17,000 NORTH I 69 CENTRAL AND VISIBLY YOU SEE THE SCREEN THERE SO MOVED A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
ITEM C THIS TO CONSIDER PETITION PROVIDING FOR THE VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION OF 18.334 ACRES.
SO MOVE. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? I DID WANT TO ASK BECAUSE THIS IS ON CANTON ROAD BY LOS LAGOS, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONER ON MAKING SURE CANTON IS WIDENED FROM RAUL LONGORIA EAST.
ARE IS THIS DEVELOPMENT I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, I'M IN I'M IN FAVOR OF ACCEPTING THIS PETITION, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE FUTURE WIDENING OF THAT ROAD THAT'S BEING CONSIDERED AND THEY'RE AGREEING TO PAY FOR THE FULL EXPANSION OF THEIR SECTION.
NO VARIANCES. NO VARIANCES FOR THE STREET WIDENING.
YEAH. YEAH, BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING STRAIGHT.
AND AGAIN, IT'S A SECTION THAT'S GOING TO BE WIDENED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
MOVING ON TO ITEM TEN, AWARDING OF BIDS, WE HAVE ONE ITEM COUNCIL ITEM A TO CONSIDER AWARDING.
[00:55:04]
EXCUSE ME. CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE RENEWAL OF CORTEX XDR ANTIVIRUS SYSTEM FROM INSIDE PUBLIC SECTOR THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION RESOURCES CONTRACTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $42,128.45.SO MOVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
UNDER CONTRACTUAL ITEM 11, A COUNCIL WE HAVE CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF EDINBURG FOR MCALLEN, SAN JUAN AND ALAMO FIRE DEPARTMENTS FOR INTERSTATE TWO AND INTERSTATE 69.
RESPONSE. SO WE HAVE A MOTION.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND, HAVE A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
UTILIZING SOURCEWELL COOPERATIVE CONTRACT NUMBER 0513210FF. SO MOVE.
WE HAVE A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? WE HAVE A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
MOTION CARRIES. ITEM C IS TO CONSIDER AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE EDINBURG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND EDINBURG CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU FOR THE PERIOD OF OCTOBER 1ST, 2023 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024 FOR FUNDING FROM THE GENERAL FUND NON-DEPARTMENTAL AND HOTEL OCCUPANCY FUND.
WE HAVE A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? WE HAVE A SECOND. YES, SIR.
YEAH. JUST WANT TO. I SAW ON THE AMOUNT IT WAS 375,000.
IS THAT THE SAME AS LAST YEAR'S? YES, SIR. HAVE WE THOUGHT OF INCREASING ANY LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF ACTIVITY THAT'S TAKING PLACE OR.
WE'VE TAKEN EVERYTHING INTO CONSIDERATION AND WE'VE SPOKEN TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHAMBER.
AND SO THEY THEY KNOW THAT IT'S IT'S WE'RE PROPOSING AND RECOMMENDING 375.
OKAY. AND IF THERE'S HAPPENED TO BE ANY ADDITIONAL, WE HAVE SOMETHING TO COVER OR IS THIS GOING TO BE 375 FLAT? IT'S GOING TO BE 375 BECAUSE WE'RE TAKING SOME OUT OF THE HOT TAX, WHICH IS A HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUND.
AND THEN WE'RE ALSO TAKING SOME OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. IF NOT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
AND AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK CITY STAFF FOR INCLUDING THEM IN HERE.
WE HAVE, I BELIEVE, FRONTIER PARK BICENTENNIAL PARK MEMORIAL PARK AND PIONEER PARK THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE THESE NEW RESTROOM FACILITIES AS A RESULT OF OF THIS APPROVAL COUNCIL.
SO, AGAIN, MY THANKS TO CITY STAFF AND THE RESIDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN BRINGING THIS UP.
AND THIS WILL BE GETTING DONE.
HOW MUCH TIME? BECAUSE I'LL PROBABLY GET A CALL TOMORROW.
ALL RIGHT. YOU ALL APPROVED IT. SO HOW LONG IS IT GOING TO TAKE? SO. WELL, AS SOON AS IT GETS APPROVED, STAFF WILL START WORKING ON THE DETAILS AND THE DESIGN AND ALL THE DOCUMENTATION THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO EXPEDITE THIS PROCESS.
I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE RESIDENTS HAVE ANXIOUSLY BEEN WAITING FOR THESE IMPROVEMENTS, AND SO I APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION IN IN PROVIDING THESE AMENITIES TO THE COMMUNITY.
AS SOON AS AS SOON AS IT GETS APPROVED, WE'RE GOING TO START WORKING ON IT.
THIS ONE RIGHT HERE, THIS PUTS US BACK IN LINE WITH THE $1 MILLION WE MOVED AND ALL THAT STUFF.
THAT IS CORRECT. THAT IS CORRECT.
AND THE CAPITAL, IN FACT, THROUGH THE CAPITAL LEASE, WE HAVE ABOUT 5 MILLION IN FUNDING.
SO IT'S IT HAS COVERED THE REQUESTS.
JUST REAL QUICK, IS THERE ANY WAY THAT SOME OF THOSE PARKS THAT DON'T HAVE RESTROOMS RIGHT NOW WE CAN HAVE PORTA POTTIES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? MEANWHILE, WE CAN TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AND WE'LL CERTAINLY LOOK TO SEE WHAT THE MAINTENANCE COMPONENTS WOULD BE AND HOW MUCH FUNDING THAT WOULD TAKE AS WELL.
BUT WE WOULD CERTAINLY GO AND ASSESS ANY OF THE PARKS THAT DO NOT HAVE THE AMENITIES AT THIS TIME.
BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS SPEAKING WITH STAFF IS THE PARKS THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING FOR BATHROOMS.
[01:00:01]
IT'S BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A RESTROOM.SO YEAH, WE'VE WE'VE MADE ASSESSMENTS AND SO THOSE ARE THE PARKS THAT ARE RECOMMENDED AT THIS TIME.
SOME OF THEM ARE JUST ALSO MAKING IMPROVEMENTS.
THERE ARE RESTROOM FACILITIES AT THIS TIME, BUT WE'RE WANTING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS FUNDING THAT IS MADE AVAILABLE TO US AT THIS TIME TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS ON SOME OF THOSE AS WELL. GREAT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
I ACTUALLY SKIPPED 11 D, SO I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THAT ITEM.
ANYBODY HERE FROM THE MUSEUM? IT WAS TRULY A MISTAKE.
BUT I'M GOING TO GO BACK COUNCIL TO ITEM D, CONSIDER AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE MUSEUM OF SOUTH TEXAS HISTORY FOR THE PERIOD OF OCTOBER 1ST, 2023 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024.
THIS IS FUNDING FROM THE GENERAL FUND NON-DEPARTMENTAL AND HOTEL OCCUPANCY FUND.
IS THERE A SECOND? I JUST HAVE AN ISSUE.
NEVER MIND. THEY'RE JUST IN THE WRONG ORDER.
WAIT, NO QUESTIONS. NO, BECAUSE I FOUND THE RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT. OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
SECOND. A MOTION AND A SECOND.
THERE IS ARPA MONEY IN THIS DOCUMENT HERE.
BUT I DID WANT TO STATE THAT AND THANK A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE EDINBURG 2040 COMMITTEE'S THE THERE'S EIGHT DIFFERENT COMMITTEES COUNCIL AND I WANT TO THANK CITY MANAGER AND STAFF THAT I ASKED FOR A BREAKDOWN OF.
IF YOU ALL REMEMBER WHEN WE FORMED THESE COMMITTEES TO GET INPUT FROM RESIDENTS.
RIGHT. AND WE ASKED THEM, TELL US THE NEEDS AND ALL THAT.
AND THE IDEA WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALIGN IT WITH OUR BUDGET ALSO.
AND SO BASED ON WHAT'S BEEN APPROVED TONIGHT, NOT ONLY THE BUDGET CAPITAL LEASE AND NOW THE ARPA, THE TOTAL FUNDING FOR EDINBURG 2040 COMMITTEES IS 5.3 MILLION.
AND THIS INCLUDES THE STREETS PROGRAMS, THE PARKS IMPROVEMENTS, ALL THE DIFFERENT COMMITTEES.
SO I WANT TO THANK CITY STAFF FOR AGAIN, TAKING THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
AND AND WE CAN PASS ALONG TO THE 2040 COMMITTEES THAT THERE IS FUNDING INCLUDED IN SOME OF THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THOSE GETTING IMPLEMENTED. SO, YES, SIR, WE'LL DO ALL RIGHT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
MOTION CARRIES ITEM C COUNCIL TO CONSIDER RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION TO TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AVIATION DIVISION FOR NON-PRIMARY ENTITLEMENT FUNDS TO BE USED FOR DESIGN, ENGINEERING OF AIRFIELD INFRASTRUCTURE, PERIMETER FENCE AND AIRFIELD DRAINAGE PROJECTS AT OUR SOUTH TEXAS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
ITEM 13 COUNCIL UNDER BUDGET WE HAVE ONE ITEM A THIS IS TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF FISCAL YEAR 2022 2023 BUDGET TRANSFERS AS LISTED WE MOVE TO APPROVE.
SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 14 COUNCIL IS ELECTION.
AMENDING THE ORDER OF A MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 7TH, 2023.
THERE A MOTION SO MOVED TO MOVE A MOTION AS A SECOND.
AND JUST TO CLARIFY THIS AMENDMENT IS BECAUSE A COUNTY CHANGED THE TIMES ON THE WEEKEND.
IS THAT CORRECT? I JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR.
OKAY. SO THERE WERE SOME CHANGES.
SO THIS IS TO AMEND THOSE CHANGES? WELL, JUST FOR THE RECORD, FOR THE PUBLIC'S SAKE, THE THE CHANGES IT SAYS HERE WAREHOUSE TO ANNEX ROOM.
YES. SO IT'S IN THE SAME LOCATION, JUST IN A DIFFERENT.
OKAY. YES. AND THEN IT SAYS HERE SUNDAY IT WAS IT USED TO SAY 3 P.M.
IT'S 4 P.M. SO THEY'RE ADDING AN HOUR.
JUST REAL QUICK, WE'RE GOING TO BE THE LOCATIONS, AFTER ALL.
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING AND CAN THEY FIND IT ON THE WEBSITE ALREADY OR NO?
[01:05:02]
YES, THEY CAN FIND ALL THE INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE AND THE CITY SECRETARY DEPARTMENT UNDER THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS AND THE LOCATIONS FOR EARLY VOTING ARE AT THE ANNEX BUILDING AND UTRGV AT THE STACK LOUNGE ELECTION DAY.GREAT. THANK YOU. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
ITEM 15 COUNCIL OTHER BUSINESS.
IS THERE ANY FUTURE ITEMS THAT ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST FROM CITY MANAGEMENT? JUST REAL QUICK, SEE IF WE CAN TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE TRAFFIC CONTROL.
THOSE LIGHTS. WE'VE BEEN SEEING A LOT MORE TRAFFIC, ESPECIALLY DOWN JUNIOR, ALL OUR MENTOR.
SEE IF THERE'S A WAY WE CAN EITHER CHANGE THE TIMING.
TRAFFIC IS REALLY GETTING BACK FROM KLAUSNER ALL THE WAY TO THE EXPRESSWAYS ON THE MORNING.
ALSO PRETTY MUCH ALL OUR MAIN STREETS.
WE CAN INCLUDE IT IN THE NEXT.
THERE'S NOTHING ELSE WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON COUNCIL TO ITEM 16 CONSENT AGENDA.
WE HAVE ITEMS A AND B, SO MOVE, MOVE.
SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR. PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
WE HAVE THREE ITEMS A, B AND C IS THERE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION? WHERE? MOTION? IN A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. WE'RE NOW GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE SHOULD HAVE TEXTED HIM AT 615 AND TOLD HIM WE WERE OUT.
AND WE'RE NOW BACK FROM AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
IS THERE A MOTION TO RECONVENE? SO MOVED. SECOND. A MOTION AND SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
MOTION CARRIES. THERE ANY ACTION NEEDED ON ANY ITEMS IN EXECUTIVE? NO. MAYOR. NO ACTION REQUIRED FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
HOWEVER, I WOULD RECOMMEND A RECONSIDERATION OF ITEM EIGHT B, WHICH IS THE ADOPTION OF THE TAX RATE.
THERE'S SOME SPECIFIC LANGUAGE THAT'S PROVIDED BY OR REQUIRED BY STATE LAW.
IS THERE A MOTION THAT WE NEED TO HAVE TO OPEN UP THE ITEM AGAIN? YES. SO I WOULD AT THIS TIME RECOMMEND A MOTION TO RECONSIDER THAT ITEM SO WE CAN MOVE INTO THAT.
IS THERE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER ITEM EIGHT B? SO MOVED. SECOND. A MOTION TO SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR. RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
MOTION CARRIES. SO WE'RE NOW RECONSIDERING THE ITEM.
SO ON ON THIS ITEM, AS I MENTIONED, THERE'S SOME STATE LAW REQUIREMENTS.
AND SO BASED ON STATE LAW, MY RECOMMENDATION FOR THE MOTION IS I MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF 0.6 $0.03, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 9.49% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE.
ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT? SO MOVED. SECOND. A MOTION TO SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS? NO OTHER ACTION REQUIRED, MAYOR.
ANY. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOTION TO ADJOURN. A MOTION A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? WE'RE ADJOURNED AT 828.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.