A. Presentation of Proclamation Recognizing Beverly's Hardware Store for Serving the City of Edinburg

[B. Presentation by Dr. Martin Castillo, Jr., Executive Director of the Edinburg Housing Authority, Regarding the FY 2024-2025 Annual Public Housing Authority Plan. [Claudia Farias, Interim Director of Grants Administration]]

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM SEVEN B.

THIS IS A PRESENTATION BY DOCTOR MARTIN CASTILLO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE EDINBURG HOUSING AUTHORITY, REGARDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 2025 ANNUAL PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY PLAN.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS CLAUDIA FARIAS.

I'M THE INTERIM DIRECTOR FOR THE GRANT ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT.

AND THIS AGENDA ITEM HERE IS RELATED TO THE EDINBURG HOUSING AUTHORITY'S PRESENTATION, REGARDING THEIR 2425 ANNUAL PLAN THAT IS SUBMITTED TO HUD. THE THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, OUR OFFICE HAS REVIEWED THIS PLAN.

IT IS CONSISTENT WITH IT ALIGNS WITH OUR, 2023 TO 2027 CONSOLIDATED PLAN AND STRATEGY.

AND, ALL THE GOALS ARE CONSISTENT WITH THAT.

SO I'LL HAND IT OFF TO DOCTOR CASTILLO.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR.

I'M SORRY. I'M COMING DOWN WITH A SMALL COAT.

MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, WELL, JUST TO RECAP OF WHAT MISS FARRELL HAS JUST SAID.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS A REQUIREMENT THAT WE DO NEED TO SUBMIT THIS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

AND WE LIKE TO STAY CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY'S CONSOLIDATED PLAN.

OVERALL, THE ANNUAL PLAN THAT WE'RE SUBMITTING TO HUD IS, JUST WHAT WE INTEND TO DO, BUT MAY NOT ACCOMPLISH THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

OF COURSE, THAT'S AN ONGOING, REMODELATION, ABATEMENTS OF OUR UNITS.

OF COURSE, AS YOU MAY RECALL, WE ARE BUILDING 36 NEW UNITS THAT ARE IN IN THE MIDST OF HALFWAY, CONSTRUCTION.

HOPEFULLY YOU WILL HAVE IT COMPLETED IN MAY.

AND WE'LL DEFINITELY BE INVITING YOU TO COME AND JOIN US FOR THAT RIBBON CEREMONY.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE LIKE TO INCREASE OUR PARTNERS THAT WE DO HAVE WITH THE COMMUNITY.

AND OF COURSE WE HAVE THAT WITH AARP REGION ONE.

THEY PROVIDE, FINANCIAL, YOU KNOW, LITERACY COURSES, JOB TRAINING, AND OF COURSE, FINANCIAL LITERACY COURSES THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING PROVIDED OR WILL BE PROVIDED THROUGH OUR BANKING INSTITUTION.

WE DO FOLLOW A PROCESS WHEN WE DO SUBMIT OUR ANNUAL PLAN BEFORE IT COMES TO THE MAYOR FOR SIGNATURE, WE DO HAVE TO ADVERTISE, TO OUR RESIDENTS, TO THE PUBLIC. WE DO MEET WITH THE RESIDENTS, AT ALL COMMUNITIES.

[00:35:01]

WE OPEN IT UP AS A PUBLIC HEARING FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, AND EVENTUALLY OUR BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL APPROVE.

THIS PARTICULAR PLAN WAS APPROVED ON NOVEMBER 28TH.

AND IT'S NOW BEFORE THE MAYOR.

SO FOR APPROVAL.

IS THERE ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR THAT YOU WOULD LIKE FOR ME TO RECAP? I KNOW, COMMISSIONER SALAZAR IS NEW TO IT.

BUT IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'D LIKE TO READ THE MISSION AT THE VERY LEAST SO THAT MR. SALAZAR, YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH IT AT THE EDINBURG HOUSING AUTHORITY.

WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN SERVING THE NEEDS OF LOW INCOME FAMILIES, AND DO OUR BEST TO INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF SATISFACTORY, SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ENSURING EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IN HOUSING, PROMOTE SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND ASSET DEVELOPMENT, AND IMPROVE.

QUALITY OF LIFE AND ECONOMIC VIABILITY.

SO. GENTLEMEN, IS THERE ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR THAT YOU.

DOES ANYBODY ON COUNSEL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THIS IS A REQUIRED, PLAN THAT NEEDS TO BE UPDATED.

IS IT EVERY YEAR? EVERY YEAR? YES, SIR. EVERY YEAR.

OUR FIVE YEAR PLAN IS CURRENT RIGHT NOW.

AND AGAIN, WE WE, DO TRY TO STAY PARALLEL WITH THAT OF THE CITY CONSOLIDATED PLAN.

AND I'D LIKE TO THANK MISS CLAUDIA FARIAS AND MICHELLE MENDOZA.

I DIDN'T SEE HER HERE TODAY, BUT THEY'RE VERY INSTRUMENTAL.

I DO HAVE MISTER RICH CHRISTIAN.

HE IS MY DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, AND HE IS EXTREMELY INSTRUMENTAL WHEN WE DO SIT DOWN AND REVIEW THESE DOCUMENTS.

FINALLY, QUESTION DOCTOR CASTILLO.

UNLESS ANYBODY ON COUNCIL HAS QUESTION IS HAVING TO DO WITH I KNOW WE SUBMIT OUR PLAN THE THE CDBG RIGHT.

AND THEN NOW'S THIS ONE.

I'M JUST KIND OF WONDERING HOW MUCH DOES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TAKE THESE INTO ACCOUNT IN TERMS OF FUNDING? OH, QUITE A BIT. IT IS.

I MEAN, THEY THEY USE THIS DATA LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, YOU KNOW, THEY IN HERE HAS A WAITING LIST, RIGHT, LIKE HOW WE DESCRIBE BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE A WAITING LIST.

AT OUR AGENCY. YES, WE DO HAVE A, I WILL TELL YOU THIS MUCH THAT HISTORICALLY FOR OUR SECTION EIGHT, OUR ATC COUNT, OUR MAXIMUM IS 1082.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I CAN HONESTLY REPORT TO THE CITY THAT WE'VE MIXED OUR CAPACITY.

WE'RE AT 1079 AS OF YESTERDAY, THAT WE ARE PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO THOSE OF LOW INCOME IN THE SECTION EIGHT PROGRAM.

RIGHT. YOU KNOW, SO THE NEED FOR HOUSING IS HERE.

YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S SECTION EIGHT OR IN PUBLIC HOUSING.

ALL RIGHT. NOBODY ON COUNCIL HAS ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

THIS IS NOT FOR ACTION.

THIS IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT I THINK I HAVE TO SIGN, CORRECT? YES, SIR. BUT WE WILL MAKE SURE COUNCIL IS UP TO DATE AND ALSO THAT OUR HOUSING CDBG EVALUATES IT.

SO THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU.

[A. Hold Public Hearing and Consider Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Submit a Grant Application to the Texas Division of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency Under the Fiscal Year 2023 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grant Program for Ebony Hills Drainage Improvements and Execute Grant Documents Relating Thereto. [Mardoqueo Hinojosa, P.E., CFM, CPM, City Engineer]]

AND YOU'LL HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM EIGHT.

UNDER PUBLIC HEARINGS, I'M GOING TO OPEN UP THIS PUBLIC HEARING.

TO CONSIDER RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE TEXAS DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY UNDER FISCAL YEAR 2023, BUILDING RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE COMMUNITIES GRANT PROGRAM FOR EBONY HILLS DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS.

IS THERE A MOTION? OH. EXCUSE ME. I'M SORRY.

IS THERE ANY COMMENTS? I'VE OPENED UP THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS TIME.

IS THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC AT THIS TIME ON THIS, GRANT APPLICATION THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO SUBMIT? IF THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENTS, I WILL CLOSE THE HEARING.

COUNCIL. MOTION.

MOVE. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE.

I JUST WANT TO THANK THE STAFF FOR SUBMITTING THIS, MUCH NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS AND, LOOK FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY GETTING THIS GRANT.

SO, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NINE IS CONSENT AGENDA COUNCIL A THROUGH M.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED? MOTION TO APPROVE B THROUGH M.

WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE B THROUGH M A.

[A. Consider Resolution Amending the Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization Thoroughfare Plan Removing Dawson Drive from Closner Boulevard to Veterans Boulevard. [Mardoqueo Hinojosa, P.E., CFM, City Engineer]]

OKAY. IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT? SECOND? WE HAVE A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES. SO WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO ITEM A.

CONSIDER RESOLUTION AMENDING THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION PLAN TO REMOVE, DAWSON DRIVE FROM KLAUSSNER BOULEVARD TO VETERANS BOULEVARD.

GO AHEAD, SIR. MOTION TO APPROVE.

WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

WE HAVE A SECOND. GO AHEAD. SIR.

COME ON. WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE? THAT'S TRUE. MOVING IT FROM AN 80 FOOT COLLECTOR.

WE WANT TO, BRING IT BACK DOWN TO A RESIDENTIAL.

OKAY. WE'RE NOT GOING TO CUT THAT THROUGH BECAUSE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AT THIS POINT.

NO, SIR. BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE HALF, THE RIGHT OF WAY IN THAT SECTION.

SO UNTIL THE OTHER SECTION DOES, GO, WE'LL NOW WE WON'T REQUIRE THEM FOR THE RIGHT OF WAY.

BUT IF THEY DO WANT TO GIVE THE RIGHT OF WAY, THEY WILL.

[00:40:01]

THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO JUST BE A THROUGH CITY STREET RATHER THAN CORRECT.

THEN A COLLECTOR. THAT'S RIGHT.

OKAY. THAT'S ONE. I JUST WASN'T SURE WHAT IT WAS.

WELL, JUST FOR MORE INFORMATION, CHIEF, THIS, I THINK CAME UP.

ALSO, THERE'S A A I'LL CALL IT A DRIVEWAY THAT IS BEING BUILT BY VANGUARD, AND THERE WAS SOME CONCERN THAT IT WAS GOING TO CONNECT TO, DAWSON.

BUT THERE WAS SOME TALK TO THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO BUILD UP.

THERE ARE TWO UP ON THE NORTH SIDE TOO.

SO YEAH, WELL, I WASN'T SURE WHAT THE CONFLICT WITH THE TWO WAS.

WAS THAT WHY WE ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY SHOWED UP AND DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF VANGUARD, WE INSISTED THAT IT NOT.

SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE.

IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN BY THERE, WE ACTUALLY HAVE BARRICADES INSTALLED ALL THE WAY ACROSS AND A CURB.

SO THAT WAY NOBODY.

SO I THINK AT THIS POINT COUNCIL REMOVING IT FROM THE THOROUGHFARE PLAN ENSURES THAT IT WON'T BE CONNECTING.

YOU KNOW, ALL THE WAY. SO CAN'T CONNECT TO THE PRIVATE PROPERTY OR CAN'T CONNECT TO THE TO 18TH OR VETERANS TO VETERANS.

IT WON'T CONNECT TO VETERANS IF WE DO PUNCH THROUGH WHEN IF A RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION ONLY COMES IN, WE WILL BRING IT BACK TO THIS BODY.

OKAY. AND THEN THEY STILL CAN'T PUNCH THROUGH BECAUSE IT'S RESIDENTIAL STREET ONLY THEY WOULDN'T IT WON'T DISRUPT THAT.

CORRECT. THE RESIDENCES.

[10. OTHER BUSINESS]

OKAY. GOT IT. ALL RIGHT.

THERE'S ANOTHER QUESTION.

SO ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES.

UNDER ITEM TEN.

COUNCIL, IS THERE ANY OTHER BUSINESS? EXCUSE ME. FUTURE ITEMS TO PRESENT FOR FUTURE MEETINGS AT THIS TIME.

THE ONLY THING. IF THERE'S NOT, I JUST DID WANT TO BRING UP.

I KNOW MISS BARLETTA'S ISN'T HERE.

CITY SECRETARY, I LEARNED TODAY ABOUT OUR RECORDS RETENTION THAT THERE'S A TWO YEAR.

THE LAW SAYS IT'S TWO YEARS.

WE COULD DISPOSE OF RECORDS.

IS THAT CORRECT? AND I I'LL LET THE I'LL LET THE FORMER CITY SECRETARY ANSWER THAT QUESTION, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE AN ITEM IN THE FUTURE.

SO SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.

YOU KNOW, I JUST IF THERE'S INFORMATION AVAILABLE, WE SHOULD HAVE IT ONLINE.

AND I KNOW THE LAW ALLOWS THE CITY TO DISPOSE OF RECORDS AFTER TWO YEARS, BUT, I JUST FOR ME PERSONALLY, I DON'T KNOW HOW COUNCIL FEELS THAT I'D LIKE TO HAVE AN ITEM SO WE CAN DISCUSS THAT, AND NOT HAVE RECORDS DISPOSED IF WE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO.

OKAY, MAYOR. JUST REAL QUICK.

THE CITY DOES FOLLOW THE TEXAS STATE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES COMMISSION RECORDS RETENTION.

WE ARE ALLOWED TO REQUEST AN EXTENSION OF A TIME, DISPOSITION.

HOWEVER, WE CAN WE CAN EXPAND THE TIME, BUT WE CANNOT MAKE IT SHORTER.

SO, WHATEVER DOCUMENTATION OR WHATEVER RECORDS THE THE COUNCIL SO WISHES TO EXPAND ON.

AS FAR AS THE RETENTION, WE CAN CERTAINLY GET A LIST FROM YOU.

RIGHT. AND THEN WE CAN PRESENT IT, SUBMIT IT TO THE TEXAS STATE LIBRARY.

I WOULD JUST LIKE AN ITEM SO THAT THE COUNCIL COULD JUST GIVE US THOSE OPTIONS, AND THEN WE CONSIDER THAT, I DO UNDERSTAND THERE'S A, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THAT.

BUT I ALSO DO SEE OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE ALL THEIR YEARS PASSED INFORMATION, YOU KNOW, STILL AVAILABLE.

AND I LIKE TO DO THE SAME THING JUST FOR TRANSPARENCY.

SO, YES. NOT BE SO READILY DISPOSING OF RECORDS IF WE DON'T NEED TO.

SO WE CAN WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT.

AND JUST FOR CLARITY OF THE RECORD, THE THE TIME PERIOD THAT'S REQUIRED DEPENDS ON THE TYPE OF INFORMATION.

SO IT'S NOT IT'S NOT A BLANKET TWO YEARS.

THERE'S DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. YEAH.

AND IF WE COULD GO OVER THOSE ITEMS BUT BUT THOSE, THOSE THOSE STANDARDS ARE FOR PAPER COPIES.

CORRECT. IT'S NOT ARCHIVED ON IT'S WELL THERE IS NO STATUTE OR LIMITATION I SHOULD SAY ON, ON ARCHIVED ONLINE.

WELL, THERE IS A ELECTRONIC RECORDS RETENTION AS WELL.

YEAH. THOSE ARE MINIMUM PERIODS.

THEY'RE NOT FOREVER. WE CAN KEEP A RECORD FOREVER.

CORRECT. YOU'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT MINIMUM MINIMUM PERIODS.

NOW IF WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT ELECTRONIC FORMAT I'D BE 100% AGREEMENT.

RIGHT? YES. BUT YOU DON'T NEED TO KEEP RECORDS AND CORRECT.

WELL STORAGE SPACE.

YEAH. KEEP IT ARCHIVED. JUST ELECTRONIC.

YES. ALL RIGHT. WE SHOULD BE DISPOSING OF PAPER AFTER THE TWO YEARS.

YEAH. AND ALSO, IF I MAY, WE PROBABLY SHOULDN'T GET TOO MUCH INTO THE SUBSTANCE OF THIS.

THIS IS JUST A SUGGESTION FOR A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM.

THANK YOU. IF WE CAN HAVE IT AT THE NEXT MEETING, I'D JUST LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, DISCUSS AND EXPAND ON THAT.

I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT WE DON'T KEEP ALL THE PAPER AND WE JUST DO THE LECTURE.

[11. EXECUTIVE SESSION]

OKAY. ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.

ITEM 11 IS EXECUTIVE SESSION.

IS THERE A MOTION TO CONVENE? EXECUTIVE? WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CONVENE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

DISCUSS ITEMS A, B, C, D, E, F, AND G.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.

WE'RE NOW CONVENIENT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 6:47 P.M..

[00:49:00]

COMING UP NEXT ON ECN, A REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL.

ON THE COUNCIL, MAYOR RAMIRO GARZA JR.

MAYOR PRO TEM DANIEL DAN DIAZ, COUNCIL MEMBER JASON DELEON, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID SALAZAR JR.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID WHITE, SITTING IN HIS ADVISOR, CITY MANAGER MYRA AYALA AND CITY ATTORNEY OMAR OCHOA, AND NOW LIVE FROM EDINBURG CITY HALL, THE EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL.

ALL RIGHT. IT IS 6:00 THIS EVENING.

IT'S, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5TH.

LIKE I SAID, 6 P.M..

WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR THIS EVENING.

I DO WANT TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER AND SEE THAT VISIBLY.

WE HAVE ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COUNCIL PRESENT.

AT THIS TIME, WE ARE GOING TO START WITH A PRAYER.

AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOMEONE HERE THAT CAN HELP US LEAD IN PRAYER.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES. PRAYER BY RABBI ASHER HECHT, CHABAD, RIO GRANDE VALLEY.

[00:50:10]

COULD PLEASE STAND.

I DON'T BELIEVE HE IS PRESENT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

SO I'M GOING TO ASK OUR MAYOR PRO TEM.

COULD YOU LEAD US IN PRAYER, PLEASE? DAN DIAS. YES.

WITH PLEASURE. IF WE COULD ALL BOW OUR HEADS.

PLEASE, LORD, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE DAY YOU'VE GIVEN US TODAY.

WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ALL OUR RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS PRESENT.

WE THANK EACH ONE OF US.

FROM ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL FOR JOINING US HERE.

OPEN OUR HEARTS AND OUR MINDS TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND FOR OUR TAXPAYERS AND GOD WE TRUST.

AMEN. AMEN.

PLEASE JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU SIR. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE.

YES, SIR. MAYOR. THE MEETING WAS POSTED IN ACCORDANCE TO THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT ON DECEMBER 1ST, 2023 AT 5:50 P.M..

SIR. THANK YOU.

ITEM THREE IS DISCLOSURE OF A 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 OF INTEREST, THE MEMBER CAN'T PARTICIPATE OR VOTE ON THE ITEM.

ARE THERE ANY CONFLICTS TO DISCLOSE? NO SIR. NO SIR.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO PROCLAMATIONS.

WE HAVE TWO VERY SPECIAL PROCLAMATIONS TO PRESENT THIS EVENING.

TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE WORKED AND CONTRIBUTED TO OUR CITY FOR SO MANY YEARS IN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.

AND I BELIEVE THERE'S A REQUEST TO, HAVE THEM TOGETHER.

IS THAT CORRECT? SO WE'RE GOING TO READ THEM FOR THE RECORD.

YES. OKAY.

THE FIRST ONE IS PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING CITY OF EDINBURG RETIREE RAMIRO RODRIGUEZ, LIEUTENANT, EDINBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR 20 YEARS OF SERVICE.

THE SECOND PROCLAMATION IS PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING CITY OF EDINBURG RETIREE RUBEN J.

LOPEZ, CAPTAIN, EDINBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR 20 YEARS OF SERVICE.

WHEREAS RAMIRO RODRIGUEZ VOLUNTEERED WITH THE EDINBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT FROM MAY 2003 TO OCTOBER 2003, AND WHEREAS ON NOVEMBER 3RD, 2003, RAMIRO RODRIGUEZ WAS HIRED BY THE CITY OF EDINBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT SUPPRESSION DIVISION, AND WHEREAS, ON NOVEMBER 3RD, 2008, FIREFIGHTER RODRIGUEZ TRANSFERRED FROM FIREFIGHTER TO FIREFIGHTER ONE AND WHEREAS.

ON OCTOBER 6TH, 2008, FIREFIGHTER ONE, RODRIGUEZ WAS PROMOTED FROM FIREFIGHTER ONE TO FIREFIGHTER TWO.

AND WHEREAS, ON DECEMBER 12TH, 2011, FIREFIGHTER TWO, RODRIGUEZ WAS PROMOTED FROM FIREFIGHTER TWO TO LIEUTENANT AND WHEREAS.

ON OCTOBER 28TH, 2013, FIRE LIEUTENANT RODRIGUEZ TRANSITIONED FROM FIRE LIEUTENANT TO CIVIL SERVICE LIEUTENANT AND WHEREAS, ON AUGUST 17TH, 2015, LIEUTENANT RODRIGUEZ TRANSFERRED FROM FIRE SUPPRESSION DIVISION LIEUTENANT TO FIRE PREVENTION LIEUTENANT, AND WHEREAS DURING HIS YEARS OF SERVICE, LIEUTENANT RAMIRO RODRIGUEZ ATTENDED NUMEROUS TRAININGS, HE RECEIVED CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE FROM THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, INTERGOVERNMENTAL RISK POOL, SAN MARCOS GROUNDS MAINTENANCE CONFERENCE, AND CERTIFICATES OF PARTICIPATION.

PARTICIPATION FROM TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM FLAGGERS IN WORK ZONE, EDINBURG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FIESTA, EDINBURG, SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION FROM TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE, BASIC FIRE SUPPRESSION AND WHEREAS, LIEUTENANT RODRIGUEZ RECEIVED AND HELD THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATES.

LICENSES. FIREFIGHTER INTERMEDIATE CERTIFICATION.

FIREFIGHTER ADVANCED CERTIFICATION TTXGP DRIVER OPERATOR PUMPER CERTIFICATION TXP HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION TCRP INSPECTOR ADVANCED CERTIFICATION TXP FIRE INVESTIGATOR ADVANCED CERTIFICATION, AND CFP AERIAL OPERATOR CERTIFICATION.

AND WHEREAS ON NOVEMBER 1ST, 2023, AFTER 20 YEARS OF SERVICE, LIEUTENANT RAMIRO RODRIGUEZ RETIRED FROM THE CITY OF EDINBURG.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG, BY THE POWER VESTED IN THEM BY LAW, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE RAMIRO RODRIGUEZ, LIEUTENANT, EDINBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT, FOR HIS YEARS OF LOYALTY AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE CITY OF EDINBURG, THE CITY.

THE EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS THEIR GRATITUDE AND WISH LIEUTENANT RAMIRO RODRIGUEZ A HAPPY RETIREMENT.

WHEREAS RUBÉN JAVIER LOPEZ VOLUNTEERED WITH THE EDINBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR 11 YEARS FROM MAY 1992 THROUGH OCTOBER 2003, AND WHEREAS ON NOVEMBER 3RD, 2003, RUBEN JAVIER LOPEZ WAS HIRED BY THE CITY OF EDINBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT SUPPRESSION DIVISION, AND WHEREAS, ON DECEMBER 19TH, 2005, FIREFIGHTER LOPEZ TRANSFERRED FROM FIRE SUPPRESSION FIRE INSPECTOR ONE TO FIRE MARSHAL AS FIRE INSPECTOR ONE AND WHEREAS ON OCTOBER 20TH, 2008, FIRE INSPECTOR JUAN LOPEZ WAS PROMOTED FROM FIRE INSPECTOR ONE TO FIRE INSPECTOR TWO.

[00:55:09]

ARSON INVESTIGATOR TWO.

AND WHEREAS, ON OCTOBER 1ST, 2012, FIRE INSPECTOR TWO.

ARSON INVESTIGATOR LOPEZ WAS RECLASSIFIED FROM FIRE INSPECTOR TO ARSON INVESTIGATOR TWO FIRE PREVENTION CAPTAIN.

AND WHEREAS, ON OCTOBER 28TH, 2013, FIRE PREVENTION CAPTAIN LOPEZ TRANSITIONED FROM FIRE PREVENTION CAPTAIN TO CIVIL SERVICE LIEUTENANT AND WHEREAS ON OCTOBER.

ON APRIL 5TH, 2021, LIEUTENANT LOPEZ WAS PROMOTED FROM CIVIL SERVICE LIEUTENANT TO CAPTAIN, AND WHEREAS ON JUNE 28TH, 2021, CAPTAIN LOPEZ TRANSFERRED FROM THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE TO THE FIRE SUPPRESSION DIVISION, AND WHEREAS, ON JULY 10TH, 2023, CAPTAIN LOPEZ WAS TEMPORARILY APPOINTED DEPUTY CHIEF AND WHEREAS DURING HIS YEARS OF SERVICE, CAPTAIN RUBEN JAVIER LOPEZ ATTENDED NUMEROUS TRAININGS AND RECEIVED CERTIFICATES OF ATTENDANCE FROM THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE.

INTERGOVERNMENTAL RISK POOL, DTM REASONABLE SUSPICION TESTING J.J.

KELLER AND ASSOCIATES WHO HAD SUPERVISORS NEED TO KNOW CERTIFICATE CERTIFICATES OF COMPLETION FROM TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE, EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN, BASIC RIO GRANDE VALLEY FIREFIGHTERS ACADEMY BASIC FIRE SUPPRESSION.

WHEREAS, CAPTAIN LOPEZ RECEIVED HELD THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATES AND LICENSE TO ADVANCE PEACE OFFICER LICENSE TICO INSTRUCTOR CERTIFIED ADVANCED LAW ENFORCEMENT RAPID RESPONSE TRAINING LEVEL ONE CERTIFICATION T.C.F ARSON INVESTIGATOR.

INTERMEDIATE TKP ARSON INVESTIGATOR.

ADVANCED TSP INSPECTOR, INTERMEDIATE TXP INSPECTOR.

ADVANCED CFP FIREFIGHTER INTERMEDIATE T.C.F WILDLAND TCP.

AERIAL OPERATOR NTC FP FIRE FIGHTER.

ADVANCED TCP DRIVER OPERATOR.

PUMPER TCP.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TECHNICIAN AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN AND WHEREAS.

ON SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2009, FIRE INSPECTOR TWO.

ARSON INVESTIGATOR TWO, RUBEN LOPEZ RECEIVED A LETTER OF COMMENDATION AND WHEREAS, ON NOVEMBER 17TH, 2023, AFTER 20 YEARS OF SERVICE, CAPTAIN RUBEN JAVIER LOPEZ RETIRED FROM THE CITY OF EDINBURG.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG, TEXAS, BY THE POWER VESTED IN THEM BY LAW, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE RUBÉN JAVIER LOPEZ, CAPTAIN, EDINBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT, FOR HIS YEARS OF LOYALTY AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE CITY OF EDINBURG.

THE EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS THEIR GRATITUDE AND WISH CAPTAIN RUBÉN JAVIER LOPEZ A HAPPY RETIREMENT.

ALL RIGHT. NOW, WE COULD HEAR FROM, I KNOW THEY'RE BOTH SHY, SO.

BUT WE ARE GOING TO ASK THEM TO, COME UP HERE AND.

AND, JUST, SHARE, SOME WORDS.

AND JUST ON BEHALF OF MYSELF, WE'LL DO INDIVIDUALLY, CHIEF, WHEREVER YOU WANT TO DO THEM.

BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK BOTH OF YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR CITY.

AND, I TOLD, CAPTAIN LOPEZ, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING THIS IN CASE YOU ALL CHANGE YOUR MIND.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE HERE TO OUR CITY.

AND, AND RAMIRO HASN'T STOPPED.

I ASKED THEM THE DIRTY WORK.

YOUR LAST DAY. HE WAS WORKING THE PARADE, THIS FRIDAY.

SO, WE REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE BOTH OF YOU GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY HERE IN OUR CITY.

AND WE'RE JUST SO VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR CITY.

BUT, THANK YOU.

LET'S ALL GIVE HIM A HAND AGAIN FOR BOTH OF THEM.

SO IF YOU WANT TO SHARE ANY WORDS AND THEN WE'LL HAVE INDIVIDUALLY BOTH OF THEM COME UP TO US.

GOOD EVENING. TODAY IS, A BITTERSWEET MOMENT AS WE GATHER TO CELEBRATE THE RETIREMENT OF TWO OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE DEDICATED INCREDIBLE 20 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE EDINBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT, RUBEN LOPEZ AND RODRIGUEZ.

RUBEN. RAMIRO, YOUR JOURNEY WITH US HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT SHORT OF REMARKABLE.

FOR TWO DECADES, HE HAS TYPIFIED THE TRUE SPIRIT OF SERVICE, EMBODYING THE VALUES THAT MAKE OUR DEPARTMENT EXCEPTIONAL.

RUBEN, YOUR CALM DEMEANOR IN THE FACE OF CHAOS, YOUR LEADERSHIP DURING EMERGENCIES, AND THE COUNTLESS LIVES YOU ARE TOUCHED ARE A TESTIMONY OF YOUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY. YOUR LEGACY WILL FOREVER BE ETCHED IN THE HISTORY OF THE EDINBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT.

RAMIRO IS STEADFAST RESOLVE, COMPASSION, AND THE GENUINE CARE YOU'VE SHOWN FOR PEOPLE YOU SERVE MAKE AN INSPIRATION TO US ALL.

YOUR IMPACT, YOUR IMPACT GOES BEYOND THE CALLS YOU RESPONDED TO.

IT IS DEEPLY INGRAINED IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH YOU.

AS YOU BOTH STEP INTO THE NEW CHAPTER OF YOUR LIVES, WE WANT TO EXPRESS OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE.

GRATITUDE FOR YOUR SERVICE.

YOUR DEDICATION HAS HAS NOT ONLY MADE YOUR COMMUNITY SAFER, BUT IT ALSO LEFT AN ENDURING MARK ON THE EDINBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT.

MAY YOUR RETIREMENT BE FILLED WITH JOY, RELAXATION, AND FULFILLMENT OF ALL YOUR DREAMS. THE FRIENDSHIPS FORMED AND THE MEMORIES CREATED DURING YOUR TIME WITH US WILL BE FOREVER CHERISHED.

RUBEN RAMIRO, YOU LEAVE BEHIND A LEGACY OF OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AND YOUR ABSENCE WILL BE FELT.

[01:00:06]

BUT AS YOU EMBARK, THIS NEW ADVENTURE KNOWS THAT YOU TAKE WITH YOU.

THE GRATITUDE AND ADMIRATION OF YOUR COMMUNITY IS SAFER AND STRONGER FOR YOUR HARD WORK.

WE APPRECIATE ALL THE SERVICE YOU'VE DONE FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURG.

YOU GUYS ARE A PRIME EXAMPLE OF OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY LEADERS.

THERE'S A NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF STORIES THAT I COULD TALK TO YOU ABOUT AND TALK TO THE COUNCIL ABOUT.

BUT ONE THAT COMES IN, FOR EXAMPLE, REAL QUICK, IS RAMIRO.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A FAMILY THAT LOST THEIR.

THEY LOST AN ENTIRE FAMILY TO A FIRE.

AND I TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF TO TO BUILD THAT GENTLEMAN A HOUSE.

SO HE RAISED OVER 60, $70,000 AND MADE SURE THAT GENTLEMAN HAD A HOUSE.

SO THAT'S THE KIND OF PERSON THAT OLMEDO IS.

WE GIVE HIM A HAND AGAIN.

THAT'S. THAT IS THAT IS JUST GOING WAY BEYOND, YOU KNOW, THE JOB.

AND RUBEN ALSO RUBEN IS AN EXCELLENT WORKER.

HE'S ALWAYS GOING BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY.

RUBEN I ALWAYS CALL HIM MY ENFORCER.

HE WORKED FOR ME FOR SEVERAL YEARS IN THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE, AND EVERY TIME WE HAD AN ARSON CASE OR SOMETHING, SOMEBODY HAD TO GET ARRESTED.

RUBEN WAS THE PERSON THAT WOULD TAKE CARE OF THAT FOR ME.

AND ANYTHING I WOULD GIVE TO RUBEN, HE WOULD.

HE WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT.

AND ONE DAY I GIVE FOR RUBEN ALSO.

HE'S AN EXCELLENT FAMILY MAN.

IF YOU ALL KNOW RUBEN PERSONALLY, HIS KIDS ALWAYS COME FIRST AND HIS KIDS ARE ALL HERE.

AND I JUST WANT TO THANK HIS KIDS AND HIS FAMILY FOR THE 20 YEARS OR 32 YEARS, BECAUSE RUBEN ONLY DID 20 YEARS AS A CAREER FIREFIGHTER, BUT 12 YEARS AS A VOLUNTEER, SO 32 YEARS OF TOTAL SERVICE. SO ONCE AGAIN, FOR THE FAMILY, I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THIS FOR SO MANY YEARS.

MR.. AND MRS. LOPEZ, LIKE I TOLD YOU BEFORE, YOU ALL RAISED AN OUTSTANDING, SON, AND WE'RE SURELY GOING TO BE MISSED.

AND YOU ALL HEARD HIS BIO EARLIER.

ARSON INVESTIGATOR, MASTER FIREFIGHTER.

INSPECTOR. THOSE CERTIFICATIONS ARE HARD TO COME BY, AND THEY'RE TRULY GOING TO BE.

BOTH OF THEM HAVE AN OUTSTANDING, RESUME, SO THEY'LL TRULY BE MISSED.

ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU GUYS. APPRECIATE IT.

ALL RIGHT. ARE Y'ALL GOING TO FLIP A COIN OR WHO WANTS TO? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. OKAY, RAMIRO.

YOU'RE FIRST. SO YOU GOT TO SPEAK TO THE MIC SO THAT, YOU CAN GO ON THE RECORD.

WELL, HELLO THERE, GUYS. WELL, I DON'T HAVE MUCH TO SAY.

CHIEF EXPLAINED EVERYTHING.

I MEAN, HE SAID IT.

HE SAID MOST OF IT.

SO AS WHAT I'VE DONE FOR THE FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURG, IT'S BEEN GREAT.

IT'S CHANGED MY LIFE FOR 20 YEARS.

IT ALL STARTED WITH MISS BRICENO.

IF YOU GUYS SAW MISS BRICENO.

ROSIE BRICENO, SHE'S THE ONE THAT BROUGHT ME UP AS I WAS TEN YEARS OLD SELLING DAILY REVIEW.

THAT WAS ONE OF THEM.

MR. DRUMGOOLE SAID.

THE POULTRY IS THE ONE THAT HELPED ME A LOT.

HE TAUGHT ME A LOT OF STUFF.

AND THEN HE CAME. MR. CHARLIE MAIER TAUGHT ME A LOT OF STUFF.

AND MR., SEAN SNYDER, REST IN PEACE.

HE WAS ONE OF MY MENTORS, AND I HOPE THAT MAYBE I COULD GET CLONED FOR THE ENTIRE CITY OF EDINBURG.

I REALLY ENJOYED IT WORKING HERE WITH THE CITY OF EDINBURG.

GREAT CITY, AWESOME GUYS AND MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE.

SHE'S THE ONE THAT'S BEEN DEALING WITH ME FOR.

THANK YOU FOR COMING GUYS.

THANK YOU FRIENDS, FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANK YOU.

THE WHOLE ENTIRE CITY OF EDINBURG.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU GUYS. ALL RIGHT.

HELLO. MY NAME IS CAPTAIN LOPEZ.

I JUST WANT TO THANK FIRST AND FOREMOST, OUR LORD SAVIOR FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO MY JOB TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.

AND ALSO, I WANT TO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR, CITY MANAGER, AND ALL THE PEOPLE I WORKED WITH THROUGHOUT THE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE.

I'VE LEARNED A LOT, BUT I WANT TO GIVE THE THANKS TO OUR LATE CHIEF JOHN ECONOMIDES AND ESPECIALLY SEAN SNYDER, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY. HE WAS A VITAL PART OF MY CAREER, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, MY FAMILY.

WHAT DO YOU WANT? TO GET EMOTIONAL, BUT I AM.

BUT LIKE, CHIEF, GARZA SAID, I'M A FAMILY MAN.

I SACRIFICED A LOT WITH ALL THE CERTIFICATIONS I GOT AND THE TESTING.

SO THEY STOOD BESIDE ME AND GAVE ME THAT PUSH I NEEDED TO GET TO WHERE I'M AT TODAY, SO I REALLY ENJOYED BEING HERE.

IT IS A BITTERSWEET MOMENT.

IT WAS A HARD DECISION TO MAKE ON MY RETIREMENT.

I LOVE MY FAMILY, POLICE OFFICERS, THE FIREFIGHTERS BACK THERE.

I LOVE YOU ALL. JOHNNY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN GUYS.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS.

I'M NOT TOO FAR.

I'M THERE AT THE AIR NOW.

SO ANYTIME Y'ALL NEED ANYTHING I'M THERE.

LOOK ME UP. ALL RIGHT THANK YOU EVERYBODY AND MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

AND ONE MORE THING.

I'M NOT LEAVING. I BECAME A VOLUNTEER.

THEY SIGNED ME UP YESTERDAY AS A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER.

YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I WAS JUST GOING TO TELL BOTH OF YOU.

I THINK YOU GUYS ARE LIFETIME MEMBERS, SO I, YOU KNOW, YOU I'M SURE, CHIEF, THAT YOU'LL FIND A PLACE WE CAN ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO UTILIZE YOUR ASSISTANCE.

[01:05:09]

BUT, AS I MENTIONED IN THE CHIEF MENTIONED IT.

THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH.

AND FOR ALL YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE AND AND AS THE CHIEF MENTIONED ALSO TO YOUR FAMILIES, BOTH THE FAMILY, THE LOPEZ, RODRIGUEZ FAMILY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING THEM TO SERVE OUR CITY FOR SO MANY YEARS.

AND, THOSE ARE TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT PROBABLY ANYWHERE THEY GO, THEY KNOW THAT'S EDINBURG RIGHT THERE BECAUSE THEY REPRESENTED OUR CITY VERY WELL.

AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL.

THANK YOU. GENTLEMEN. LET'S GIVE HIM A HAND AGAIN, PLEASE.

THANK YOU. AND I WANT TO SAY, CITY MANAGEMENT, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN LET TWO PILLARS LIKE THAT RETIRE AT THE SAME TIME.

I THINK WE NEED TO STAGGER THESE KIND OF RETIREMENTS.

20 YEARS, MAN, YOU KNOW, GOES BACK A LONG WAY.

I'VE SAID IT SEVERAL TIMES SINCE, HAVING THE HONOR OF SERVING IN THIS POSITION.

EVERYBODY KNEW EDINBURG AS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT WOULD SHOW UP.

IT WAS ONE OF THE ONLY FIRE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAD A RESCUE SQUAD.

AND WHAT'S A RESCUE SQUAD? THEY HAD ACTUAL EMTS THAT WOULD COME AND GIVE YOU FIRST AID IF THE AMBULANCE WASN'T THERE.

AND GOING BACK 20 YEARS, IT'S JUST YOU HAVE NO IDEA.

THE STORIES, THEY JUST HAD A LITTLE STORY ABOUT RAMIRO.

YOU KNOW, BUILDING A HOME FOR SOMEONE JUST 20 YEARS OF SERVING IN AND OUT.

EMERGENCIES, DISASTERS.

IT'S JUST GOES UNTOLD OF OF THE THINGS.

AND TO MAKE 20 YEARS AND STILL HERE, YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW, LIKE THEY SAY, YOU FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT.

YOU'RE STILL HERE.

I SEE THE FACES OF YOUR FAMILY.

NOW IT'S TIME TO GO BACK TO YOUR FAMILY AND SERVE THEM, BECAUSE THEY SUPPORTED YOU ALL THESE YEARS.

AND NOW THE REAL WORK STARTS AT HOME.

THANK YOU. GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR DEDICATION.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, WELL THANK YOU.

UNLESS ANYBODY HAS ANY COMMENTS.

AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF OUR COUNCIL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. DOOR'S ALWAYS OPEN.

YOU GUYS. WE HAVE ALL THESE BOARDS YOU COULD SERVE ON.

SO PLEASE SIGN UP.

WE CAN USE YOUR CONTINUES YOUR EXPERTISE.

SO THANK YOU.

I WILL ASK ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THE 20 YEARS I WANTED TO STAND FOR.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO PRESENTING, EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH AWARDS FOR OCTOBER 2023.

I THINK WE HAVE SOME RECOGNITIONS FOR THIS EVENING.

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH AWARD.

THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

B'ELANNA TORRES, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES.

WE ARE HERE TO RECOGNIZE OUR EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER OF 2023.

WE HAVE MARK ALVAREZ, OUR COMPUTER SUPPORT SPECIALIST WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.

MARK HAS BEEN WITH US SINCE MAY OF 2022, AND WE HAVE SYSTEM SECURITY MANAGER JAMES STEWART FRANCIS HERE TO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MARK.

OUR IT DIRECTOR, DANNY VERA IS UNDER THE WEATHER, SO HE'S NOT AVAILABLE.

GOOD EVENING. MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER.

THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE, MARK.

AS EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.

MARK HAS A FANTASTIC WORK ETHIC, SECOND TO NONE, AND HE'S HUMBLE WITH IT.

IF YOU'D ASKED MARK WHO IS WORTHY OF THIS AWARD, HE WOULD PICK EVERY OTHER MEMBER OF STAFF IN THE CITY RATHER THAN ACCEPT IT HIMSELF.

IF YOU ASK THE IT TEAM WHO THEY WOULD RECOMMEND FOR EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH, MARK WOULD WIN IT UNANIMOUSLY.

THE MAIN QUESTION THAT YOU EVER WANT TO HEAR FROM AN EMPLOYEE IS I HAVE A QUESTION, BECAUSE IT MEANS THEY'RE INQUISITIVE.

THEY WANT TO KNOW. THEY WANT TO LEARN.

THEY WANT TO TO MOVE ON.

NOT ONLY DOES MARK TURN UP AT MY OFFICE MOST MORNINGS AND SAY, I HAVE A QUESTION, HE BRINGS FIVE ANSWERS WITH HIM.

HE HAS A PROBLEM. HE GOES HOME, HE WORKS ON IT OVERNIGHT.

HE COMES BACK IN THE FOLLOWING MORNING AND SAYS, I FIXED THAT PROBLEM.

I'VE SORTED IT.

HE WORKS DILIGENTLY TO KEEP THE CITY SAFE.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS IN HIS HANDS.

HE DOES AN AMAZING JOB.

AND IF ANYBODY IN THE CITY IS WORTHY OF THIS AWARD, IT WAS MARK.

SO I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT HE'S WHAT HE WAS AWARDED IT.

THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS AND FOR JOB WELL DONE.

AND I KNOW YOU'VE ONLY BEEN WITH US A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, BUT WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO FOR OUR CITY, THAT YOU ALL HAVE A TOUGH JOB.

LET ME TELL YOU, IN THIS AGE WE LIVE IN WITH TECHNOLOGY AND KEEPING OUR OUR DATA AND INFORMATION SAFE.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO AND WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU AT THIS TIME.

[01:10:01]

THAT'S THE THING AGAIN, EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.

YOU GOT TO YOU GOT TO TALK IN THE PODIUM AND TALK TO EVERYBODY.

SO, IF YOU CAN INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND, YOU KNOW, SAY ANYTHING YOU LIKE.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU, SIR.

THANKS, JAMES, FOR THAT, THAT SPEECH.

I JUST WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU TO ALL THE STAFF FOR THE RECOGNITION.

THANK YOU GOD AND THANK YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR AND CONGRATULATIONS AND WISH YOU CONTINUED SUCCESS.

YOU'RE WORKING IN OUR CITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO GO DOWN AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SIR.

CONGRATULATIONS. VERY WELL DESERVED.

THANK YOU SIR. FOR A LONG TIME.

MY.

WELL. THANK YOU. VETERAN.

YEAH. THE BRANCH. WHAT BRANCH? ARMY. ARMY. 25.

I DID IT IN THE ARMY.

WOW. WOW.

THANK NATURE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THANK YOU.

OF. I KNOW WE'VE ALREADY WENT THROUGH OUR PRAYER THAT OUR MAYOR PRO TEM SAID, BUT I, WE DO INVITE, LOCAL PARISHES TO COME AND DENOMINATIONS THAT COME BEFORE US.

AND I SEE RABBI IN THE AUDIENCE.

WOULD YOU WANT TO COME UP, SIR? AND AND I'M NOT SURE WHERE THE PROTOCOL IS, BUT I'D LIKE TO DO ANOTHER PRAYER.

HE'S HERE. AND, YOU KNOW, WE INVITED HIM.

SO IF YOU ALL WILL PLEASE STAND AGAIN AND JOIN US IN PRAYER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR TO PRESENT A PRAYER HERE.

AND THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR YOUR PATIENCE HERE.

GOOD EVENING. FRIENDS, LET US JOIN TOGETHER IN PRAYER.

ALMIGHTY GOD, WE HAVE ASSEMBLED HERE TODAY FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMMUNAL SERVICE ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS OF OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY.

AND WHAT MAKES THIS CITY EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL IS THE VERY FACT THAT ITS MONTHLY MEETING BEGINS WITH YOU, GOD, IN MIND THROUGH THIS VERY PRAYER.

BLESS OUR WORK HERE TODAY.

BLESS THE WORK OF THE HONORABLE MAYOR, CITY COUNCILORS, CITY MANAGER, CITY OFFICIALS AND ALL THEIR STAFF ALONG WITH ALL OUR FELLOW CITIZENS.

BLESS US THAT OUR EFFORTS BEAR GOOD FRUIT THAT ARE THOUGHTFUL, HONEST AND RESPECTFUL.

DIALOG LEAD TO CONSTRUCTIVE RESULTS.

PLEASE GUIDE OUR HAND AS WE MAKE IMPORTANT DECISIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

IN OUR CIVIC SERVICE, WE FULFILL THE MANDATE THAT YOU HAVE BESTOWED UPON US.

INSTRUCTED TO NOAH IN HIS DAY AND CONVEYED THROUGH MOSES AT MOUNT SINAI, KNOWN AS THE SEVEN VERSE UNIVERSAL ETHICS ONE TO WORSHIP YOU AND YOU ALONE, TWO TO NEVER CURSE YOUR HOLY NAME.

THREE NOT TO COMMIT MURDER, FOUR NOT TO COMMIT ADULTERY, INCEST, OR ANY SEXUAL MISDEEDS FIVE NOT TO STEAL.

LIAR, CHEAT NOT TO BE CRUEL.

NUMBER SIX TO ANY LIVING CREATURE, AND SEVEN THAT EVERY SOCIETY BE GOVERNED BY JUST LAWS BASED ON THE RECOGNITION AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF YOU.

OH, GOD, AS THE SOVEREIGN RULER OF ALL HUMANKIND AND ALL NATIONS, AS THIS ASSEMBLY IS DOING RIGHT NOW, BY JOINING IN THIS MEETING WITH A PRAYER AS THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORK FOR THIS GREAT CITY, ALL TO MAKE YOUR GARDEN OUR WORLD, WHICH YOU HAVE GIVEN US TO INHABIT A SAFE, MORAL AND CONSTRUCTIVE PLACE.

A BEAUTIFUL PLACE FILLED WITH GOODNESS AND KINDNESS THAT EXPRESSES THE BEAUTY OF THE DIVINE INTENT.

ALMIGHTY GOD, IN THE MERIT OF OUR SINCERE EFFORTS, BLESS US WITH GOOD HEALTH, SUCCESS IN ALL OF OUR ENDEAVORS AND POSITIVE RESULTS FROM OUR WORK, OUR WORK.

BLESS OUR WONDERFUL CITY AND COMMUNITIES SO THAT IT CONTINUES TO PROSPER AND GROW.

TO BE A MODEL CITY WITHIN OUR GREAT STATE AND OUR BELOVED COUNTRY.

A MIGHTY GOD BLESS US WITH CLARITY, BLESS US WITH STRENGTH, AND BLESS US WITH PEACE, ESPECIALLY DURING THESE HARD TIMES. NOW LET US SAY AMEN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM FIVE.

PUBLIC COMMENTS.

YES, SIR. MAYOR. THE EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL ALLOWS FOR A SPECIFIC PORTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO BE DEDICATED TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.

PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES.

[01:15:02]

I WILL BE TAKING TIME.

PLEASE NOTE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOT INTERACTIVE.

THE COUNCIL MAY NOT RESPOND TO PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THERE ARE FOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.

THE FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT IS FOR CLARITY REGARDING TAXPAYERS OF EDINBURG.

AND I'M GLAD TONIGHT.

IT SHOWS THAT EDINBURG NEEDS A LOT OF PRAYER, SO WE ARE THANKFUL FOR BOTH PRAYERS TONIGHT.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

IT SEEMS THAT THE PEOPLE MAY BE MAKING PROGRESS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO REDUCE TAXES.

DURING THE NOVEMBER 7TH ELECTION, 83% OF THE VOTERS APPROVED AN AMENDMENT TO USE STATE FUNDING TO REDUCE OUR SCHOOL TAX.

AND BY THE WAY, I THINK MOST PEOPLE MAYBE GOT YOUR TAXES FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TODAY.

THIS ELECTION WAS A VERY SMALL STEP BECAUSE IT WAS NOT REALLY A TAX REDUCTION.

IT WAS A SHIFTING OF TAXES.

BUT WE WILL TAKE WHATEVER WE CAN GET.

MY POINT IS THAT THERE IS A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PUBLIC SPENDING AND THE INCREASE IN POVERTY.

40% OF OUR COUNTY POPULATION LIVES IN POVERTY.

IT IS SIMPLY THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS SPENDING AND GIVING AWAY OUR MONEY FASTER THAN THE PEOPLE CAN INCREASE THEIR INCOME.

THESE COUNCIL.

THIS COUNCIL ALSO HAS SOLD BONDS TO BUILD A SPORTS ARENA, PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL TRAINING FACILITY, PRIVATE MEDICAL CLINIC, HOSPITAL EXPANSION AND OUTDOOR EVENT CENTER, AND SUPPORT FOR INCREASING THE ABILITY TO USE PUBLIC MONEY TO SUPPORT PRIVATE ENTERPRISE.

SO WHY ARE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS FUNDING PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT? IT IS TO CREATE LONG TERM PERMANENT JOBS.

WHO DOES NOT KNOW THAT 80% OF ALL OF THE JOBS ARE CREATED BY SMALL BUSINESSES? ONE OF THE MAJOR TRENDS, OVER THE PAST THREE DECADES IS THAT EMPLOYMENT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY CONCENTRATED AT OLDER FIRMS. FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING, IT IS LOWER TAXES AND ALLOW THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO DO ITS THING.

MAKING MONEY OUT OF TAKING MONEY OUT OF THE ECONOMY.

IN AN AREA WHERE 40% OF THE POPULATION LIVES IN POVERTY, WILL ONLY PRODUCE MORE POVERTY.

HOW IS BUILDING A HIGH RISE PARKING FACILITY IN A LOCATION WHERE THERE ARE NO BUSINESSES? FOR A COUNTY WITH 5000 EMPLOYEES WHO ARE LEAVING TOWN AT 5:05 P.M.

EACH DAY, THE CITY SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON BUILDING AND IMPROVING THE BASIC SERVICES THAT THE CITIES WERE CREATED FOR THE CITIES TO PROVIDE WATER, SEWER, STREETS, PUBLIC SAFETY, LONG TERM JOBS WILL COME.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TODAY I DROVE THROUGH EDINBURG QUITE A FEW PLACES WHILE THERE WAS KIND OF RAINY AND MISTY.

IT STINKS.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THESE LIFT STATIONS THAT WE HAVE, BUT DEAR GOD, MAYBE WE SHOULD USE SOME MONEY ON THAT.

AND THEN TONIGHT I ALSO HAVE SIGNED UP FOR NINE B.

I'M HOPING THAT THE SIGNS.

I DIDN'T GET TO TALK TO THE LAWYER BEFORE THE MEETING, THAT THE SIGNS THAT ARE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, I KEPT I ALMOST HAD A WRECK TRYING TO FIND WHEN THE ELECTION WAS.

THERE'S NO ELECTION.

THEY JUST HAVE THEIR SIGNS UP.

DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND.

SO I'M HOPING THAT Y'ALL WILL MAKE A DECISION THAT PEOPLE CANNOT PUT THEIR SIGNS UP UNTIL CLOSER TO THE ELECTION.

AND I CAN SAY TONIGHT, I HOPE.

I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT I STAND WITH ISRAEL AND I PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM, THANK YOU.

MISS MCCURDY WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SPEAK ON NINE B, TEN A AND TEN B.

THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS ROBERT W VELEZ.

THANKS FOR REPAIRING REDLAND ESTATE OR REDBUD ESTATES.

GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS AND FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.

MY NAME IS ROBERT VELEZ.

I MOVED TO EDINBURG IN 2018, IN THE HOUSE THAT I NOW RESIDE ON IN, REDBUD ESTATES, TO TAKE A POSITION AS A FACULTY MEMBER IN THE DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY.

GOING INTO MY SIXTH YEAR, I'M REALLY EXCITED.

I MOVED HERE FROM NACOGDOCHES.

BIG IMPROVEMENT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. BUT AS SOMEONE WHO SPENT MOST OF MY, WORKING CAREER AS A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE, I KNOW THAT OFTENTIMES PUBLIC EMPLOYEES DON'T GET A LOT OF RECOGNITION. AND IN FACT, IF YOU'RE DOING YOUR JOB RIGHT, YOU GENERALLY DON'T KNOW THAT THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE IS WORKING.

SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR NUMBER ONE FOR, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE HAVING SUCH A CLOSE ELECTION THAT NOW I CAN POINT THAT OUT TO MY PUBLIC POLITICAL SCIENCE STUDENTS THAT THEIR VOTE REALLY MATTERS.

[01:20:01]

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO CITY ELECTIONS, I'M SURE.

I HOPE I DIDN'T OPEN A WOUND THERE, BUT, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO THANK YOU, BECAUSE I HAVE A SOLID EXAMPLE OF HOW WHEN CITIZENS MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD, THAT THINGS CAN HAPPEN, THINGS CAN WORK AND THINGS CAN CHANGE.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, I CALLED.

WELL, I SENT AN EMAIL TO THE CITY ABOUT THE INTERSECTION IN MY SUBDIVISION.

THAT WAS REALLY BAD. IT HAD BEEN BAD EVER SINCE I MOVED THERE, WITH POTHOLES.

AND IT HAD BEEN PATCHED OVER MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE EMAIL WENT UNANSWERED.

I DIDN'T EXPECT TO NECESSARILY GET AN ANSWER, BUT I DID END UP CONNECTING WITH THE SUPERVISOR OF THE ROADS ROAD IMPROVEMENT PLACE.

AND HE SAID, WELL, I'LL COME OUT AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT A FEW DAYS LATER, THERE WERE SOME ADDITIONAL PATCHES THAT WERE DONE ON THE ON IN THE INTERSECTION, AND I WAS GRATEFUL, EVEN THOUGH THAT WASN'T WHAT I WAS REALLY LOOKING FOR.

BUT THEN, TO MY SURPRISE, IN THE SUMMER, I GOT A PUBLIC NOTICE THAT MY ENTIRE SUBDIVISION WAS BEING RESURFACED.

AND NOW I CAN EXPLAIN TO MY STUDENTS THAT THAT'S HOW IT WORKS.

PEOPLE CALL THE CITY, SAY, HERE'S MY PROBLEM.

HERE'S WHAT I'D LIKE YOU TO DO TO FIX IT.

MY THE FIRST, RESPONSE WASN'T EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED, BUT THEN I GOT MORE THAN WHAT I WANTED, MORE THAN WHAT I ASKED FOR.

AND, WE'RE ENJOYING OUR NEW RESURFACED SUBDIVISION.

AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL THE ATTENTION THAT THE NORTH SIDE OF EDINBURG HAS BEEN GETTING, RECENTLY.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ON THE MAP WHEN YOU HAVE A WHATABURGER.

SO, THANKS AGAIN TO THE FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

AND THANKS FOR ALL THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, STAFF, FIRE.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT PUBLIC EMPLOYEES DO A JOB THAT IS OFTENTIMES GONE WITHOUT WITHOUT A LOT OF THANKS.

SO THANKS SO MUCH.

THANK YOU SIR. APPRECIATE IT.

THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS ARMANDO HINOJOSA AND HE HAS COMMENTS ON SEVEN, D, E, C AND F CAN YOU REPEAT THE NUMBERS? I'M SORRY.

SEVEN D, E AND F.

OKAY. I THINK THAT'S CORRECT.

I'M NOT REAL SURE THAT'S OKAY, SIR.

GO AHEAD SIR. GOOD EVENING GENTLEMEN.

HERE WE ARE AGAIN.

AND HERE I AM AGAIN TO OPPOSE THE PROJECT.

AND AGAIN, THE APPELLANTS APPEAR WITH THE NEW SCHEME, DEMONSTRATING LITTLE CARE, THOUGHT OR REFLECTION OF PREVIOUS OBJECTIONS TO THEIR PROPOSALS.

THEY REMIND ME OF WHEN A TEN YEAR OLD WHO FIRST DISCOVERS THE THEORY OF SUPPOSITION, THE WHAT IF PHENOMENA, THE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF, FROM THAT POINT OF DISCOVERY, OF WHAT IF THE CHILD FREELY USES THAT THEORY FOR THE MOST WTF SITUATIONS? IT'S LIKE THE YOUR CHILD LIKES THIS GIRL AT SCHOOL AND WANTS TO TAKE HER TO THE VALENTINE'S DANCE, BUT SHE'S NEVER ASKED A GIRL OUT.

SO HE TURNS TO THE ONE PERSON HE KNOWS WHO HAS ASKED GIRLS OUT AS HIS DAD.

I WANT TO TAKE THIS GIRL TO THE VALENTINE'S DAY, AND THE ONLY PROBLEM IS I DON'T WANT HER TO SAY NO.

SO DO ME A SOLID.

I WANT YOU TO TALK TO MOM, TO TALK TO HER MOM, TO TALK TO HER DAD, TO TELL HER TO GO TO THE DANCE WITH ME.

THAT'LL WORK. RIGHT? AS IF.

AND THEN HE'S A TEENAGER.

DAD, CAN I WASH YOUR CAR? SURPRISE! YOU SCREAM.

WHAT? WHAT? I WANT TO GO TO THE PROM.

DAD, I WANT TO PRACTICE WASHING YOUR CAR.

SEE, I NEED MONEY FOR THE PROM.

I NEED A TUX.

CORSAGE. I'M GOING TO TAKE HER TO DINNER.

PRIDE FILLS YOUR CHEST AND TEARS WELL UP IN YOUR EYES.

HOW MUCH DO YOU NEED, SON? 500 BUCKS, HE SAYS.

YOU GULP AND SWALLOW AGAIN.

YOU SAY, I'M NOT PAYING 500 BUCKS FOR A CAR WASH.

DAD, I GOT THIS.

I'M GOING TO PRACTICE WASHING YOUR CAR.

THEN I'M GOING TO GO TO GRANDDAD AND WASH HIS CAR WHEN HE HEARS MY SOB STORY.

BOOM! 500 CARS, ONE CAR WASH.

YOUR PRIDE EVAPORATES.

YOU STARE IN STUNNED DISBELIEF.

YOU KNEW? YOU KNOW GRANDPA WILL DO THIS.

IT'LL SAVE YOU MONEY.

BUT THEN YOU THINK, WHAT OF MY SON? THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.

THE OWNERS HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO.

SO THEY. WHAT IF I BUILD A TIRE STORE? JUST A SCHOOL? NO. WHAT IF I BUILD A FIVE STORY GARAGE OR SOME OTHER COCKAMAMIE IDEA THAT WILL CHANGE IN TWO MONTHS? THESE APPELLANTS HAVEN'T SHOWN THAT THEY ARE BUSINESS PEOPLE WITH A SOLID FOUNDATION OR SKILL IN HOW TO FUND, START OR RUN A BUSINESS, LET ALONE HOW TO MAINTAIN AND OPERATE ONE. THEY'RE LOOKING FOR YOU TO SAY YES TO ANYTHING FOR EASY PREY, TO INVEST IN THEIR VENTURE, AND THEN THEY WILL IN TWO YEARS TIME, ABANDON.

THIS IS A FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD.

I IMPLORE YOU TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.

PLEASE DENY THIS PROPOSAL UNTIL THEY STABILIZE THEMSELVES AND HAVE A FIXED POINT OF FOCUS.

[01:25:03]

THEY NEED LONG TERM PLANS LONGER THAN TWO MONTHS, WHICH IS THE LAST TIME THEY WERE HERE ASKING FOR A CHANGE.

SOLID PROPOSALS AND CONCRETE IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO PROMOTE THEIR ENTERPRISE.

OTHERWISE, THEY WILL BEGIN THEIR PROJECT, CHANGE THEIR MINDS AND WE, THE CITIZENS ARE LEFT WITH A SEVEN STORY PARKING GARAGE THAT DOESN'T NEED H-E-B WON'T USE, AND WALMART IS GRATEFUL IT'S TOO FAR AWAY FROM THEM.

MAKE THEM SIT DOWN, THINK, AND PLAN APPROPRIATELY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR.

NO PUBLIC COMMENTS. THERE'S NO I THERE'S THREE.

I THOUGHT THERE WAS FOUR. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE.

OH, BECAUSE OF FAIRNESS, I COUNT IT AS ONE.

OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I HAD FERN, ROBERT BAEZ, AND ARMANDO SOSA.

IS THAT WHO YOU HAD? YES.

OKAY. GOT IT. ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON NOW.

AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE HERE FOR ANY OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, THERE'S ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS ON ANY OF THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

SO I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM SIX PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS.

ITEM A IS GO AHEAD MA'AM.

PRESENTATION REGARDING THE RECOUNT OF THE NOVEMBER 7TH, 2023 CITY OF EDINBURG MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION FOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER PLACE FOUR.

I JUST HAVE A SHORT REPORT, MAYOR.

THIS THE CITY RECEIVED A PETITION FOR A RECOUNT.

THE PETITION WAS ACCEPTED AND THE RECOUNT WAS HELD ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27TH, 2023.

THERE WAS NO CHANGES IN THE COUNT.

THE CANVASS RETURNS AND RESULTS THAT WERE PRESENTED ON NOVEMBER 15TH.

THEY REMAIN THE SAME.

AND, FOR CITY.

CITY OF EDINBURG. COUNCIL MEMBER PLACE FOR.

ON ON THAT MAYOR.

GO AHEAD SIR. I ASK TO PUT THIS ON THE THE AGENDA, BECAUSE I'D REALLY LIKE THE PUBLIC TO KNOW, LIKE THIS GENTLEMAN TALKED ABOUT EARLIER TODAY IN THE SPEECHES.

THIS IS PART OF WHAT OUR GOVERNMENT DID IS WE HAD A GOOD 2019.

I WAS I CAME AND RAN FOR THE FOR THIS OFFICE BECAUSE WE WERE LOOKING FOR A CHANGE IN OUR CITY AND THAT CHANGE OCCURRED.

SECOND ROUND CAME AND WE'RE STILL WORKING ON A CHANGE FOR OUR CITY, US AS CONSTITUENTS OF THE COMMUNITY, THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY.

AND FINALLY, WE'VE GOT A WHOLE CHANGE IN THE CITY COUNCIL FROM WHAT IT WAS IN 2019.

AND BACK THEN WE GET A BLACK EYE IN OUR CITY.

AND I WANT EVERYBODY TO TO REALLY UNDERSTAND RIGHT NOW, I WON AN ELECTION BY TEN VOTES.

IT WAS HARD WORK ON BOTH SIDES, MR. LOZANO'S. SIDE TWO AND MY SIDE TWO.

AND OUR PROCESS WORKED AND OUR PROCESS IS FAIR.

ALTHOUGH HE REQUESTED FOR A RECOUNT, WHICH IS WHICH IS WITHIN HIS RIGHTS AND ALL THAT STUFF.

SUCH A CLOSE VOTE. BUT I WANT THE CITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT NOW, THE GROUP THAT WE HAVE UP HERE TODAY, YOU'VE GOT A GROUP THAT WANTS TO TAKE CARE OF OUR CITY.

WE'RE NOT LOOKING OUT FOR OURSELVES.

THAT FEAR THAT WE HAD YEARS BACK.

YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, I HAD THAT FEAR TO HERE COMES AND PROBABLY OUR POLITICAL PROFESSOR WILL BE ABLE TO EMPHASIZE SOMEWHERE THAT THAT ONE BOX OF MISSING VOTES, IT JUST CAME OUT FROM THAT LITTLE ZONE THAT WAS IN ONE AREA.

OF COURSE, THAT WAS. BUT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

WE HAVE CHANGED OUR CITY.

WE'VE DONE WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO.

WE'VE CHANGED THIS COUNCIL, THE COUNCIL THAT'S LOOKING OUT FOR YOU, ALTHOUGH SOME WAY WE'RE DOING IT, SOME DISAGREE.

BUT THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE DO AS A COMMUNITY.

AND WHAT WE DO IS A IS A CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNING BODY FOR THE CITY.

SOME OF YOU ARE GOING TO BE HAPPY WITH THIS.

I TRY TO LIVE MY, MY, MY PHILOSOPHY IN LIFE IS TO TRY TO KEEP THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE HAPPY THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME AND REALIZE IT'LL NEVER BE THE SAME MAJORITY. THEY'LL ALWAYS CHANGE.

I'M GOING TO MAKE FOR UNHAPPY TODAY, BUT TOMORROW.

SHE MIGHT NOT LIKE MY DECISION.

AND THAT'S. AND THAT'S THE WAY IT IS.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE LIVE. SO YOU HAVE A GOOD GROUP OUT HERE.

IT SHOWED IN THIS LAST ELECTION.

THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN THE BALLOT.

THE TEN VOTES WERE THERE. THE TEN VOTES WERE THERE.

I STAYED THERE MY HONEST FOR ABOUT AN HOUR.

AND THEN I JUST TALKED TO THE, YOU KNOW, TO OUR ELECTION PEOPLE.

I'M REAL COMFORTABLE WITH OUR ELECTION PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO REASON FOR ME TO BE HERE.

I LOSE A DAY'S WORK. SO.

I'M JUST REALLY PROUD OF OUR PROCESS.

PROUD HAPPENED. I'M PROUD OF OUR CITY.

YOU KNOW, ALTHOUGH I HAD NO COMMUNICATION WITH THEM COVERING THIS, I DID MY JOB, STAYED AWAY.

OUR OUR COUNTY ELECTION DEPARTMENT RAN EVERYTHING FOR US.

AND THEY DID A GREAT JOB.

AND AND THAT'S ALL I REALLY, REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY KNOWS WE'VE COME A LONG WAY.

OUR ELECTIONS ARE SECURE AND HAPPY AND IT IS WHAT IT IS.

AND I THANK EVERYONE.

THANK YOU. THAT'S MY SOAPBOX.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THE PROFESSOR LIKED IT BECAUSE THAT'S I THINK IT WAS PLAYING RIGHT FOR YOU.

I'M NOT SURE. AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, CHIEF, FOR THAT, THAT VOTE OF CONFIDENCE.

BUT I THINK THE RECOUNT WAS, SOMETHING NEW FOR ALL OF US.

AND CLARICE JUST BRIEFLY STATE WHAT THE PROCESS WAS, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE CHOSEN.

SO JUST FOR THE RECORD, THEY KNOW THAT IT'S A IT'S A VERY FAIR PROCESS.

[01:30:01]

AND THERE'S PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT WERE ASKED TO TO SERVE.

WE HAD TO FIND 18 PEOPLE.

THERE WERE, SIX GROUPS OF THREE PEOPLE, EACH.

EACH GROUP HAD A CHAIR, AND, THE PROCESS FOR FINDING PEOPLE THAT HAD TO BE CITY OF EDINBURG VOTERS AND WE VERIFIED, MADE SURE THEIR VOTER REGISTRATION WAS UP TO DATE.

EVERYTHING WAS CORRECT.

AND, THEY JUST SPENT THE DAY COUNTING THE BALLOTS.

THEY SEPARATED, THE BALLOTS, THEY COUNTED AND THEY TALLIED.

AND ALL OF THAT IS PUBLIC INFORMATION, IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST IT.

YEAH, I KNOW, AND EVERY AND EVERY BOX WAS SEALED AND HAD YES, EVERY BOX HAD IT SEALED LIPS ON THEM PLUS PADLOCKS.

IT WAS IT WAS AN EXPERIENCE.

PROBABLY SOMETHING GOOD FOR A CLASS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE.

IT WAS AN EXPERIENCE SEEING SEEING THOSE BOXES AND WHERE THEY CAME FROM.

AND YES, THE COUNTY HAD EVERYTHING VERY ORGANIZED.

THE PROCESS WENT BY SMOOTHLY AND QUICKLY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHIEF, AND THANK YOU, MISS CLARICE, BECAUSE I KNOW YOUR OFFICE, THEY HAD TO.

Y'ALL HAD TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY ON THAT.

SO, OVER THE HOLIDAYS.

YEAH. SO OVER THE HOLIDAYS.

THANK YOU. SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM B.

WE HAVE A PRESENTATION REGARDING UPDATES ON THE UTILITY RATE STUDY.

AND THIS IS HAVING TO DO WITH COUNCIL.

AND I KNOW WE HAVE A NEW COUNCIL MEMBER.

WE HIRED A CONSULTANT GROUP TO HELP US ASSESS OUR UTILITY, RATES.

AS WE'RE OBVIOUSLY EXPERIENCING RECORD AMOUNT OF GROWTH.

AND, WE HAVE A LOT OF, LIST OF CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WE NEED TO UNDERTAKE.

AND WE WANTED TO EVALUATE WHAT OUR RATE STRUCTURE WAS IN COMPARISON TO OTHER CITIES AND THOSE THINGS.

AND WE APPOINTED A COUNCIL.

WE APPOINTED A UTILITY RATE COMMITTEE.

IS THAT CORRECT? I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MEMBERS WERE IN THAT, UTILITY RATE TASK FORCE.

SORRY. IT WAS A TASK FORCE, RIGHT.

DO WE KNOW HOW MANY MEMBERS WERE THERE IN THE TASK FORCE? I'M JUST BRINGING OUR NEW COUNCIL MEMBER UP TO DATE.

BUT HOW MANY? THAT'S FOUR. FOUR.

OKAY, SO THERE'S FOUR, I GUESS THAT WE APPOINTED.

AND WHAT I WANTED TO DO WAS MAKE SURE THAT THE CONSULTANT DID THE RESEARCH, THAT THE COMMITTEE MET AND EVALUATED WHAT THAT REPORT WAS.

BUT I IF THERE WAS ANY PROPOSED CHANGES, I WANTED US TO HEAR IT FIRST.

YOU KNOW, AND I WANT THE RESIDENTS TO KNOW WHAT THAT IS SO THAT AS WE'RE GETTING THE INFORMATION, US, THE COUNCIL, THE RESIDENTS ARE AS WELL.

AND SO I ASKED OUR CITY MANAGER TO GIVE US AN UPDATE.

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS TODAY.

I THINK INITIALLY Y'ALL WERE LOOKING TO HAVE A JOINT MEETING BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND THE COMMITTEE.

BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT BECAUSE I THOUGHT COUNCIL.

WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HEARD SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT THE CONSULTANTS COME UP WITH AND THAT WE PROVIDE OUR CITY STAFF OUR, FEEDBACK, RIGHT ON WHAT PROCESS WE NEED TO GO, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE'RE BEHIND, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ON OUR IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR UTILITY SYSTEM.

AND SO, AS OPPOSED TO US PUTTING AN AGENDA ITEM SAYING, ALL RIGHT, WE NEED TO DO THIS, WE NEED TO MAKE THESE CHANGES.

I WANTED US TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS SO WE, NOT ONLY OURSELVES, UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING, BUT ALSO OUR RESIDENTS.

SO, BUT, JERRY, GO AHEAD, SIR.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS GERARDO CARMONA JUNIOR.

I'M THE DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES.

AND TONIGHT, I WILL BE DOING THE UTILITY RATE STUDY UPDATE.

SO WHAT IS THE INTENT OF A OF A RATE STUDY? IT'S PRETTY MUCH TO LOOK AT THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.

THE WATER AND SEWER FUND.

WE DON'T DO ANY TYPE OF ELECTRICITY.

SO BASICALLY ON THE ON THIS RATE STUDY, IT'S GOING TO LOOK AT ALL THE, THE, THE, OPERATING OPERATION, MAINTENANCE, COSTS, THE BUDGETS, ANY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TO, TO, TO OUR SYSTEM, ANY FINANCIAL PLANS, HOW MUCH, HOW MUCH, USAGE, OUR CUSTOMERS ARE USING AND ANY GROWTH THAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING.

AND OF COURSE, ALSO TO LOOK INTO OUR, OUR TAP FEES BECAUSE, THEY, THE COST, HAS GONE UP, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF THE METERS ITSELF.

RIGHT. SO BASICALLY THIS WILL LOOK AT THE RATE STRUCTURE AND ANY RATE ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE NEED TO, NEED TO BE DONE TO FULLY COVER ALL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PROVIDING WATER AND SEWER.

SO BASICALLY JUST TO, JUST TO CLARIFY, IS THAT WHATEVER, WHATEVER REVENUE THE UTILITY FUND CREATES, WE PUT IT BACK INTO THE SYSTEM.

SO IT COVERS, OUR OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE THAT WE GOT TO DO.

WE GOT TO COVER ELECTRICITY, SALARY, WAGES, ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO WE HAVE TO, BECAUSE OF ALL THIS GROWTH THAT'S BEEN TAKEN INTO BEEN TAKING PLACE HERE AT THE CITY.

WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO COVER FOR THAT.

YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE, BECAUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, A LINE THAT WAS INSTALLED, YEARS AGO.

[01:35:01]

RIGHT. IT WAS ONLY DESIGNED FOR SO MUCH, AND NOW WITH ALL THIS GROWTH, IT NEEDS TO BE UPGRADED.

SO SOME OF THE SOME WATER AND WASTEWATER FACTS IS THAT THE AVERAGE UTILITY HAS BEEN INCREASING BY 5 TO 6% PER YEAR.

AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO, TO GROW.

DURING THE NEXT 15 YEARS, IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THE THAT THE RATES MIGHT TRIPLE.

AND ALL OF THIS IS NOT, IT'S TAKING ALL INTO PLACE BECAUSE OF INFLATION, ESPECIALLY DURING THE COVID.

WE HAVE SEEN IT, DURING LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, ON SOME OF THE STUFF, OPERATIONS.

RIGHT. CHLORINE, WHICH IS OUR PRIMARY DISINFECTANT, FOR, FOR WATER SYSTEM.

RIGHT. IT USED TO BE ABOUT 600 TO 700.

YOU KNOW, JUST A ONE TON CYLINDER.

AND NOW IT'S GONE UP TO, LIKE, $2,400.

AND, AND WE USE THAT EVERY DAY TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE SAFE WATER TO OUR RESIDENTS.

RIGHT. SO JUST EVERYTHING HAS GONE UP, EVEN ON THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE, A PLANT WOULD COST YOU 15 MILLION BEFORE.

RIGHT? NOW IT'S GOING TO COST YOU MAYBE EVEN DOUBLE.

SO EVERYTHING HAS GONE UP.

SO. SO THIS THIS IS WHY WE'RE DOING THIS, THIS RATE STUDY TO TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING WITHIN THE UTILITY FUND.

AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO ONE OF THE SO JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND OF THE WATER AND WASTEWATER RATES.

THE CITY HAS NOT DONE ANY CHANGES TO ITS RATES, SINCE 2011.

WE ARE THE LOWEST IN THE REGION.

AND I'LL HAVE A COMPARISON AT THE LATER SLIDES THAT BASICALLY SHOWS THE COMPARISON BETWEEN, NEARBY, WATER PURVEYORS, BUT ALSO AT THE STATE STATE AVERAGE.

AND LIKE I MENTIONED, INFLATION IS PRETTY MUCH DRIVING ALL THE COST.

A MAJOR THING TO POINT OUT IS, IS THE IS THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT LIST FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

IT IS ABOUT 200 AND OVER $260 MILLION.

A LOT OF THAT. AND I'LL HAVE A LIST THAT SHOWS THAT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT LIST, A LOT OF THAT HAS TO BE WITH, THAT WE WILL HAVE TO CONSTRUCT A NEW WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT AND A NEW WATER TREATMENT PLANT IN THE UPCOMING YEARS.

AND AGAIN, THIS HAS TO DO WITH ALL THE GROWTH THAT WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING HERE AT THE CITY.

JERRY. LET ME. LET ME. I'M SORRY.

I'M GOING TO STOP REAL QUICK RIGHT THERE, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU HAVE THE LIST ELSEWHERE, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KIND OF COVER THIS RIGHT NOW.

SO, COUNCIL, IF YOU LOOK AT THAT, PART OF WHAT'S BEING ASSESSED IS NOT JUST WHAT OUR RATE STRUCTURE IS, RIGHT? BUT I THINK BASED ON WHAT'S GOING TO BE LOOKED AT AND RECOMMENDED IS LARGELY BASED ON AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IS OUR TOTAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO DO IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

RIGHT. AND SO, I KNOW WE'RE NOT THERE YET.

WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE THE JOINT MEETING AND WHAT'S GOING TO BE LOOKED AT.

MY ONLY QUESTION ON THIS IS SOME OF THIS LIST IS I KNOW WHAT'S NORMALLY SUBMITTED TO US AS PART OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS.

YOU KNOW, THE CAPITAL OUTLAY.

THE BIGGEST TICKET ITEM THAT I SEE HERE LATER ON IS THE, A NEW WATER PLANT.

RIGHT? RIGHT.

NOW, WE DON'T HAVE PLANS FOR THAT.

WE DON'T. WE HAVE TO HIRE AN ENGINEERING COMPANY TO DO PLANS AND ALL THAT.

SO MY ONLY THING COUNCIL THAT I WANT TO POINT OUT AT THIS TIME IS, WHATEVER IT IS THAT WE COME UP WITH THAT WE NEED TO ADJUST.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE READY AND PREPARED.

I DO NOT WANT TO START, MAKING ANY CHANGES TO OUR RATES AND HAVE OUR RATEPAYERS PAY START PAYING, RIGHT.

LET'S SAY AN INCREASE IF WE'RE NOT READY TO BUILD THAT PLANT.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? LIKE, I'D LIKE US TO REALLY PLAN ACCORDINGLY IN OUR BUDGET PROCESS TO KNOW, ALL RIGHT, WE NEED TO HIRE AN ENGINEERING FIRM TO DO THE PLANS.

LET'S START WITH THAT, BUT NOT ALREADY.

START ASSESSING THAT RATE.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? I JUST AT LEAST FROM MY STANDPOINT, COUNCIL I KNOW THAT'S HAPPENED BEFORE, PRIOR TO AT LEAST ME BEING ELECTED, WE'VE ISSUED BONDS THAT WE WERE NOT READY TO BUILD, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? AND SO NOW, WE'RE DEALING WITH INFLATION AND COST INCREASE.

AND WE'RE HAVING TO PAY INTEREST ALREADY.

AND SO I JUST REALLY WANT US TO KEEP THAT IN MIND AS WE LOOK AT THAT LIST AND SEE HOW IT IS, WE CAN CAREFULLY LOOK AT THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE READY AND PREPARED, YOU KNOW, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ANY OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS.

YES, SIR. GO AHEAD, SIR.

SO THIS IS THE, THE THE CHART THAT BASICALLY SHOWS THE THE COMPARISON BETWEEN ALL YOUR NEARBY WATER PURVEYORS.

SO IF YOU, DO A, A QUICK COMPARISON AS, AS, AS TO BASED ON A 5000 GALLON WATER USAGE, FOR WATER AND

[01:40:09]

SEWER, THIS IS THE RATES THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.

SO IN THE RED IT SHOWS THE CITY OF EDINBURG, WHICH, OUR CUSTOMERS WOULD PAY $26.87, AND THAT'S FOR WATER AND SEWER COMBINED. IF YOU START LOOKING AT LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, CHERRYLAND, THEY ONLY PROVIDE WATER, BUT THEY SOMETIMES BILL, FOR US, FOR THE, FOR WASTEWATER, WHOEVER'S WITHIN OUR CCN WOULD BE $37 NORTH ALAMO THAT DOES BOTH WATER AND SEWER.

THEY'RE AT $40.66 AND SO FORTH.

RIGHT. ONE OF THE THINGS TO, TO POINT OUT IS THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATE AVERAGE, YOU KNOW, THEY SOMEBODY WOULD BE PAYING ABOUT CLOSE TO $100. SO THIS IS JUST A HISTORICAL AND FORECAST OF THE WATER ACCOUNTS.

HISTORICALLY, IT'S BEEN YOU KNOW, IT.

OUR ACCOUNTS HAVE BEEN GOING UP, YOU KNOW, FROM 700 TO MAYBE 1000 NEW ACCOUNTS EVERY YEAR.

IT JUST FLUCTUATES BASED ON WHEN THE SUBDIVISION GETS COMPLETED.

AND WHEN THEY START ASKING FOR METERS ITSELF, HOW MANY WHAT'S THE PERCENTAGE OF THESE ACCOUNTS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OUR CITY LIMITS? JUST ON AVERAGE BALLPARK? I WOULD NEED TO LOOK INTO THAT, SIR.

I CAN DEFINITELY GET YOU THAT INFORMATION.

I JUST WANT COUNCIL TO UNDERSTAND THAT NOT ALL THESE WATER ACCOUNTS ARE INSIDE CITY.

MOST OF THEM ARE. I WOULD SAY YES, SIR.

PROBABLY 90%, BUT I KNOW.

JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND.

YEAH. YEAH, I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT QUESTION, MAYOR.

ESPECIALLY WITH THE THE RECENT CHANGES OF PEOPLE IN THE ETJ.

I THINK WE NEED TO CONSIDER THAT THAT SOMEONE THAT WANTS TO ANNEX OUT, THEN WE PROBABLY SHOULD CHARGE MORE BECAUSE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE COST.

AND JERRY, AND THIS IS ANOTHER WAY, TRY TO BLAME YOU.

BUT SO THE RATES HAVE NOT BEEN STUDIED OR RAISED IN TEN YEARS.

CAN YOU TELL ME IN YOUR OPINION WHY THAT HAS BEEN? I DO NOT KNOW, SIR.

AND THE REASON. THE REASON WE'RE LOOKING AT IT NOW IS BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH, RIGHT? YES, SIR. WATER AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE CREDIT.

YOU CAN, YOU CAN'T.

YOU CAN ONLY HAVE SO MUCH CREDIT UNLESS YOU HAVE THE PROPER INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE TO GET GAIN MORE WATER.

CORRECT? CORRECT.

YES. SO, THERE'S A LOT OF I MEAN, WE'RE REGULATED BY TEXAS, TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY OR TC.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT WE HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS.

YOU KNOW, THE WATER PLANS, THEY TELL YOU, HEY, YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE SO MUCH FLOW PER CONNECTION, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, ALSO ON THE WASTEWATER SIDE, ONCE YOU GET TO A CERTAIN FLOW, YOU HAVE TO START PLANNING FOR THAT, FOR THAT EXPANSION, OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OR BUILD A NEW ONE.

RIGHT. A LOT OF THINGS, TOO, IS THAT IT'S NOT JUST THE PLANTS, IT'S ALSO ALL THE THE PIPING THAT GOES WITH IT.

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IF YOU KNOW, THE PLANTS CAN HANDLE ALL THIS, FLOW.

RIGHT? BUT, YOUR PIPE SIZE FROM 20 YEARS AGO IS STILL THE SAME, RIGHT? YOU STILL HAVE TO MAKE THOSE TYPE OF IMPROVEMENTS AS WELL.

YEAH. AND, AND JUST, JUST ALSO FOR THE RECORD, THE GROUP THAT IS STUDYING THIS, THE THE TASK FORCE, IT'S MADE OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, RIGHT? YES.

FIVE MEMBERS. AND WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME IN YOUR IN YOUR, IN YOUR RECOLLECTION THAT THE CITY HIRED SOMEONE TO DO A STUDY? I'M NOT AWARE OF, OF PREVIOUSLY THAT THIS KIND OF STUDY HAS EVER BEEN DONE.

SO WE KNOW THAT THAT FOR TEN YEARS THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED AND PROBABLY LONGER THAN THAT, WHERE THERE'S NO ONE'S EVER HIRED, ANYONE TO DO A RATE STUDY.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYBODY, ANYBODY HAVE A DATE ON THAT? SO I JUST WANT THAT FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR THE RECORD, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS IN THE CITY THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN ADDRESSED.

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, ORDINANCES, RATE STUDY.

AND IT'S THIS COUNCIL THAT HAS WE KNOW IT'S AN UNPOPULAR THING, BUT IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE TO KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.

AND IT'S JUST HAPPENED IN SO MANY DIFFERENT AREAS, AND, AND WE'RE JUST HERE TO TRY AND MAKE EVERYTHING RIGHT AND PLAN PROPERLY FOR THE FOR THE FUTURE OF EDINBURG.

I JUST WANTED TO GET YOUR OPINION ON THAT.

THANK YOU. SIR.

YES, SIR. REAL QUICK.

IT WAS A, BUDGET SESSION LAST TIME OR A TIME AGO.

I KIND OF WAS ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ITEM.

AND REALLY, I THINK I WANT GOING ON THE COST OF GOODS SOLD.

THERE'S A AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE PRICE OF CHLORINE AND WE TALKED ABOUT ALL THAT STUFF IS ALL GOING UP.

AND IT'S KIND OF THE QUESTION I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ANSWERED AND IT MIGHT NOT BE PREPARED.

TODAY IS RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A COST FOR A GALLON OF WATER FOR 10,000 GALLONS OF WATER.

THERE'S A PROFIT THAT NEEDS TO COME OUT OF THAT, SO WE CAN TURN IT BACK INTO THE INFRASTRUCTURE SITE WHERE WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT PERCENTAGE IS, SO WE CAN CONTINUE ON THROUGHOUT THE YEARS TO FIGURE OUT IF WE NEED A 20%.

[01:45:06]

OVERAGE ON THE COST OF WATER SO WE CAN PUT THAT INTO THE, THE THE FUND THAT'S GOING TO FUND THE WASTEWATER PLANT THAT'S GOING TO FUND THAT.

WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT PERCENTAGE COST IS FOR THE FUTURE.

SO IF SOMETHING GOES UP, EVERYTHING CAN GO UP, UP AND DOWN TOGETHER.

AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO REFER BACK TO BEFORE, BECAUSE WE ALREADY KNEW THAT WE THIS FUND WAS GOING TO WAS SHRINKING BECAUSE WE WERE HAVING MORE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH RUNNING, RUNNING, RUNNING EVERYTHING.

HOWEVER, WE WEREN'T PASSING ANY COSTS ON.

SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO COME TO THE POINT WHERE THE MAYOR IS EVEN TRYING TO TALK ABOUT THAT FUND, THAT SINKING FUND, OR.

WHATEVER FUN YOU DEPLETION DEPLETING FUND OR WHATEVER WE WANT TO CALL IT.

IT'S NOT KEEPING UP.

THIS KEPT GOING UP AND THIS KEPT SHRINKING.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH US.

SO SOMEWHERE IN THERE, MANAGEMENT HAS TO HAVE THIS FUND WHERE WE KNOW THAT DAVID WHITE PAID $100 FOR HIS WATER BILL, $20 OF THAT'S GOT TO GO INTO THIS FUND SO WE DON'T HAVE TO COME KEEP COMING BACK.

AND IF WATER WENT UP 10% AND I WENT UP TO $102, AND NOW IT'S A $20.20, THAT'S SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

YEAH, $22.

IT GOES IN THAT FUND. BUT WE NEED TO DO THAT OR DO THAT, OR ARE WE JUST GOING TO KEEP COMING TO THIS.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A HIT WITH THE CITY, WITH OUR WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO GO CATCH UP TEN YEARS AGO.

BECAUSE THIS HAS GOT TO BE IN EVERYTHING.

EVERY TIME I GO BY GAS, IT GOES UP, YOU PAY RENT, IT GOES UP THAT MONTH.

BUT BUT IT'S A SLIDE.

YOU CAN'T GO TO A PERSON AND SAY, OH, YOU HAVEN'T BEEN PAYING.

YOU'VE BEEN PAYING THIS AMOUNT FOR RENT FOR TEN YEARS, FOR THIS TEN YEARS, BUT YOU'RE TEN YEARS BEHIND.

SO I'M GOING TO TRIPLE IT.

YOU JUST SHELL SHOCKED EVERYBODY.

THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH RATES AND NO COUNCIL.

AND THAT'S WHY ACTUALLY I HAVE BROUGHT UP AND I DIDN'T MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED THIS.

THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY EARLIER WAS THIS LIST THE RATES THAT, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IS LARGELY BASED, YES, ON WHERE WE'RE AT, WHERE YOU COMPARE US, BUT ALSO ON THESE PROPOSED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.

AND WHAT I'M SAYING TO YOU IS AND I TALKED TO OUR CITY MANAGER ABOUT THIS, SAID THESE, THERE'S 260 MILLION OF BOTH WATER AND WASTEWATER.

RIGHT. IF YOU LOOK AT THAT LIST, AND OF COURSE, MY MY POINT IS, AS A COUNCIL, WE NEED TO EVALUATE THIS AND SEE HOW MUCH OF THIS DO WE NEED TO AT LEAST CATCH UP.

THAT'S ONE. THEN TWO WITH THE GROWTH THAT'S COMING, YOU KNOW, WHERE DOES THAT PUT US? LIKE I LIKE TO LOOK AT IT IN PHASES BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF LIKE LOOKING AT THE PROPERTY TAX.

RIGHT. SAYING, I MEAN WE SEE IT EVERY YEAR IN THE BUDGET.

WE GET THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.

RIGHT. YOU HAVE THAT LONG LIST AND A LOT OF MAKE EQUIPMENT AND ROADWAYS AND THAT THAT WE NEED TO DO.

AND IT'S ALMOST LIKE LOOKING AT THAT AND SAYING, ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO ADOPT THAT, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO RAISE OUR TAX RATE TO DO ALL THAT.

WELL, THAT'S NOT HOW WE DO THINGS.

YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I MEAN? THAT'S NOT HOW TO ME WE NEED TO RESPONSIBLY LOOK AT THIS.

AND THAT'S WHY I THINK WE REALLY ARE GOING TO NEED TO LOOK AT THIS LIST OF CAPITAL PROJECTS, AND FIND OUT HOW WE CAN ADDRESS IT, NUMBER ONE, SO WE CAN CATCH UP NUMBER TWO, SO WE CAN TRY TO KEEP UP WITH THE GROWTH THAT WE'RE HAVING AND NOT.

AND IT COULD BE THAT WE DO NEED TO DO ALL THIS.

TWO 60 MAYBE THAT IS THE ANSWER.

BUT I'D LIKE THIS TO REALLY STUDY THAT BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO REALLY DICTATE WHAT WE END UP AND WHAT WE DO.

SO I GUESS WE'RE BOTH KIND OF ON THE SAME STREET, RIGHT? BUT WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE LOOKING AT THIS IF OUR FUND WOULD HAVE KEPT UP FOR THE LAST.

I AGREE. NO, I UNDERSTAND, THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, WE ALL PAY WATER BILLS TOO.

SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A HIT, BECAUSE WHETHER IT'S WHETHER YOU GET 100% FROM THIS ONE TO THIS ONE, ARE WE GOING TO TRY TO FEES IT IN OVER A THREE YEAR PERIOD OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? WELL, IT'LL BE A FIVE YEAR PERIOD.

YEAH. I JUST I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I PHASE IN.

NO, I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT INCREASING UTILITY RATES.

I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT FIXING.

RIGHT. I'M TALKING ABOUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO INCREASE UTILITY.

RIGHT. WELL, I THINK THE RATES COUNCIL MEMBERS, ARE YOU AWARE WHAT IS BEING LOOKED AT IS LARGELY TIED TO THIS CAPITAL? IT'S NOT SO MUCH. IT IS WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT IT'S LARGELY CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG TIED TO THESE CAPITAL PLAN, IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR.

COUNCIL TOM ARENA, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.

AND. YES, CORRECT ON BOTH ENDS.

THIS IS PART OF WHAT WE HAVE TO DO WITHIN THE FIVE YEARS, TO KEEP UP WITH OUR GROWTH AND TO KEEP UP WITH OUR REGULATIONS.

SO THEY DO HAVE TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A WISH LIST.

THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO KEEP UP WITH OUR STANDARDS.

AND YES, AS THE MAYOR SAYS, WE HAVE SOME SCENARIOS THAT WE DO WANT TO PROPOSE TO YOU ALL ON DIFFERENT INCREMENTS THAT WE WANT TO DO WITHIN A FIVE YEAR, THEY'VE ACTUALLY BROKEN DOWN IN THAT WAY, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT'S VERY HARD FOR US TO INCREASE EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE BECAUSE, WHO WHO WE AFFECT OUR RESIDENTS, WE DO NOT WANT TO EVICT OUR RESIDENTS OR OUR OUR, OUR CUSTOMERS.

SO WE HAVE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS THAT WE WANT TO PROPOSE TO Y'ALL.

SO THAT WAY Y'ALL CAN CONSIDER EXACTLY AS WHAT THE MAYOR IS SAYING.

YES, THIS YEAR AND THE NEXT 2 TO 3 YEARS, WE DON'T NEED THE WATER PLANT, BUT IN FIVE YEARS, YES, WE WILL NEED IT.

WELL, BUT AND THAT'S MY POINT.

[01:50:01]

AND TOM, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG AND COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY, YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT? ALL I'M TRYING TO SAY IS THAT WHATEVER THAT RATE STRUCTURE IS RIGHT FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THIS IN A WAY WHERE, FOR EXAMPLE, I MEAN, LOOK AT SOME OF THESE ITEMS. THE BIGGEST TICKET ITEM IS THE NEW WATER PLANT, RIGHT? 10 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY WATER PLANT.

THAT'S 60 MILLION IN ITSELF.

YOU'VE GOT SOME WATER TOWERS.

AND WE JUST BROKE GROUND. THE ONE ON THE NORTH SIDE.

THERE'S SOME BEING PROPOSED HERE AS WELL.

ALL I'M SAYING IS, LET'S KEEP IN MIND THAT WE DON'T EVEN HAVE PLANS FOR THOSE THINGS, RIGHT? LIKE, WE'RE WE'RE LOOKING TO DO THEM.

BUT I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S RIGHT THAT WE START CHARGING OUR RESIDENTS, LET'S SAY, A DIFFERENT RATE WHEN WE'RE NOT YET READY, RIGHT.

TO START, OR ISSUE BONDS.

WE DON'T EVEN HAVE PLANS FOR THEM. THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING.

WE DO NEED TO DO THEM.

THAT'S WHY. I MEAN, LIKE, LET'S LOOK AT THIS RESPONSIBLY, BECAUSE I THINK WE OWE IT TO OUR RESIDENTS TO DO THAT.

AND THAT THAT IS CORRECT, SIR.

AND WE HAVE THE SCENARIOS THAT WE PUT JUST TO KEEP US IN THE BLACK FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

RIGHT. THAT'S JUST FOR OPERATIONS AND FOR THE IMMEDIATE ITEMS THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.

AND YOU ARE CORRECT.

AND WHEN WE DO HAVE, IF YOU, FORESEE US TO HAVE A WORKSHOP TO GO OVER SOME OF THESE ITEMS, WE WANT TO PRESENT THOSE ITEMS TO YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AT THAT POINT.

AND YES, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

COUNCILMAN WHITE ON HOW WE HAVE TO PUT ASIDE, BUT ANYTHING THAT COMES INTO THE UTILITY FUND IS PART OF OPERATIONS.

THERE'S TECHNICALLY NO REVENUE.

THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS ALWAYS TO STAY, IN THE BLACK, NOT IN THE RED.

AND THAT JUST GOES STRAIGHT BACK TO OPERATIONS.

ALL RIGHT. GO AHEAD.

I'M SORRY, BUT IN THAT TOO, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE SOME YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP IN THE BLACK BECAUSE YOU'RE FORESEEING THE WATER PLANT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO BE POSITIONED. NOW WE NEED TO RAISE IT BECAUSE OF THE WATER PLANT.

BUT IF WE'VE BEEN SAVING THIS ONE, I'M TRYING FOR THE TEN YEARS BACK, WE WOULD HAVE HAD THIS FUND THAT WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE, ALMOST LIKE A, WHAT'S THE FUND? OUR IT'S ALMOST LIKE OUR, OUR LIKE A RESERVE FUND.

A MINIMUM RESERVE FUND.

WE'VE GOT TO KEEP SOMETHING MINIMUM BECAUSE THEY KNOW THIS PLANT'S COMING.

WE'VE KNOWN THIS PLANT'S NEEDED PROBABLY PAST TEN YEARS.

WE CAN FORESEE THE GROWTH OF OUR CITY AND START SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE MIGHT NOT BE HIT IT RIGHT ON THE NOSE.

WE MIGHT SAY 15 YEARS.

WE NEED IT AND WE NEED IT IN 13, OR WE NEED IT IN 17, BUT WE CAN START FORESEEING WE CAN.

MONEY SHOULD BE SAVED NOW, A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME.

SAVES A LOT. INSTEAD OF HITTING EVERYBODY AT ONE, ONE, ONE CHANCE, ONE SHOT, INSTEAD OF GOING TO A $60 MILLION BOND, WE TAKE IT OUT OF THAT LITTLE BIT.

WE'VE BEEN TAKING $0.02.

WE WILL INCREASE THE WATER BILL BY $0.02, $0.02, $0.02.

NOBODY EVEN FEELS IT.

THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S WHERE I'M HEADED.

THERE SHOULD BE SOME FUND WHICH IS PART OF THAT UTILITY FUND THAT THAT'S A RESERVE FUND.

AND MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD LOOK AT.

I KNOW YOUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT THAT CAN HELP US DURING OUR BUDGET PROCESS, BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING SEPARATE AND APART FROM WHATEVER WE COME UP WITH ON THE RATE THAT WE CAN DO AS PART OF OUR REGULAR PROCESS.

I FORESEE SOMETHING LIKE A LIKE FOR POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT.

WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF, DEPRECIATION FUND FOR WE DON'T GET HIT WITH ALL THE CARS AT ONE TIME.

HEY, I NEED 30 CARS, BUT WE'VE BEEN DOING A DEPRECIATION FUND FOR ALL THESE YEARS.

BUT THE MONEY'S THERE INSTEAD OF ONE SHOT AND GETTING EVERYBODY THAT'S.

AND I THINK WHAT COUNCILMAN WHITE IS TRYING TO SAY IS TRYING TO HAVE A MARGIN IN THERE THAT'S RESPONSIBLE OR REASONABLE, AND THAT CAN BE RESPECTABLE FOR PEOPLE.

SO THAT TEN YEARS DOWN THE ROAD OR FIVE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD IS NOT A BIG HIT ON THE COMMUNITY ITSELF.

MAYBE A SMALL INCREMENT, BUT AT LEAST PUT IN SOMETHING IN THE RESERVE IF POSSIBLE.

LIKE SATAN FOR VACATION.

DON'T YOU GUYS SAY FOR VACATION? ACCORDING TO DISNEY WORLD. SO WE'RE PUTTING $10 AWAY EVERY PAYCHECK.

ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD. JERRY. YEAH.

SO SOME ASSUMPTIONS IS THAT MOST OF THE OPERATING OPERATING EXPENSES WILL INCREASE ABOUT 3 TO 4% PER YEAR.

AND THEN OF COURSE YOU HAVE THE SALARIES, MAKING SURE THAT, YOU HAVE THE, THE, THE PERSONNEL WITH THE, WITH THE PROPER LICENSES, TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE THESE PLANTS, AND EVEN TO DO ANY TYPE OF MAINTENANCE WITHIN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT CAN MEAN FROM THE WATER, WATER PLANT, A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, AND THEN OUT IN THE DISTRIBUTION AND COLLECTION SYSTEM.

SO. JUST TO KIND OF ADD AT THIS, AT THOSE SPECIFIC LICENSES.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, AT THE WASTEWATER AND, AND WATER PLANTS, JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE RUNNING 24 OVER SEVEN, THERE'S SPECIFIC LICENSES THAT, THAT THE STATE REQUIRES US TO HAVE AT ALL TIMES, FOR, FOR OPERATION PURPOSES OF THAT PLANT.

SO THIS IS, THIS IS THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT LIST THAT WE HAVE.

IT IS, IT IS A SUBSTANTIAL LARGE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT LIST.

THIS DOES INCLUDE, YOU KNOW, OTHER, YOU KNOW, PROVIDING FIRST TIME SEWER TO SOME OF THESE AREAS.

IT DOESN'T INCLUDE ALL THE AREAS WE HAVE BEEN GETTING CALLS.

HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT I WANT TO I WANT I WANT SEWER MY SUBDIVISION.

RIGHT. SO WE WE WE START ADDING THAT, IN OUR, IN OUR, CIP LIST.

ONE OF THE THINGS TO POINT OUT HERE, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, IS THAT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO HAVE ON THIS CAPITAL CAPITAL LIST IS THE,

[01:55:09]

WATER AND WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN.

THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY TYPE OF, ANY ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE GOT TO DO OUT IN THE COLLECTION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.

SO COULD THIS LIST, POTENTIALLY GROW? YES. AGAIN, THESE ARE JUST PART OF THE GROWING PAINS THAT WE WILL SEE BECAUSE OF ALL THE GROWTH THAT WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING.

RIGHT. LIKE I MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, IF A PIPE WAS INSTALLED, TEN, 20 YEARS AGO, IT MIGHT NOT BE SUFFICIENT ANYMORE, YOU KNOW, TO TAKE AN ADDITIONAL FLOOR OR PROVIDE MORE WATER TO THAT AREA.

RIGHT. SO ONCE WE DO COMPLETE THOSE, WATER AND, AND WASTEWATER MASTER PLANS, THEN WE WOULD NEED TO LOOK AT TO SEE WHAT OTHER AREAS WE NEED TO ADDRESS SO WE CAN PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, A GOOD SERVICE TO, TO OUR RESIDENTS.

A QUICK QUESTION. SO IS IT IS IT JUST THE GROWTH THAT'S INCREASING OR IS IT ALSO THE THE WAGES THAT'S ALSO INCREASING? IT'S EVERYTHING SIR.

IT'S LIKE I MENTIONED, INFLATION, WAGES, FINDING THE RIGHT PERSONNEL TO BE ABLE TO RUN THESE PLANTS.

AND THEN OF COURSE, THE COST OF THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

SO IT'S PRETTY MUCH SAFE TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS EVENTUALLY GET EVERYONE TO $15 AN HOUR.

THIS IS ALSO GOING TO HELP US OBVIOUSLY, GET THERE BY BEING ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE PAY TO KEEP THE STAFF THERE.

AND IT WOULD LOOK IT WOULD WORK TOWARDS THAT.

BUT AGAIN, WE GOTTA BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN AND OPERATE THE SYSTEM ITSELF.

YES, SIR. SO HOW DOES IT BENEFIT THE THE THE RATEPAYERS.

RIGHT. SO, IT BASICALLY IT ALLOWS FOR THE UTILITY FUND TO, TO PAY FOR ALL THESE IMPROVEMENTS, MAINTENANCE, OPERATING CONSTRUCTION COSTS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING UP, SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THESE PAST YEARS DURING COVID.

AND THEN ALSO, IT'S SO THAT THE UTILITY FUND CAN OPERATE, CAN BE SELF-SUFFICIENT WITHOUT HAVING TO RELY BACK ON THE GENERAL FUND.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY IS THAT THE THE CITY AS ITSELF IS ABLE TO PROVIDE A SAFE DRINKING WATER AND EFFECTIVELY TREAT A WASTEWATER.

SO JUST TO KIND OF FOR EVERYBODY'S PURPOSES, THIS IS A TIMELINE AS TO HOW EVERYTHING'S BEEN TAKEN TO PLACE.

SO I'LL GO DOWN THE LIST.

SO BACK IN JUNE 14TH, WE MET WITH THE TASK FORCE, AND THEY RECOMMENDED TO PROCEED WITH THE UTILITY RATE STUDY TO LOOK AT, LIKE I SAID, EVERYTHING OPERATION COST, ANY TYPE OF, DEBT THAT WE MIGHT HAVE TO GO INTO THE FUTURE.

AUGUST 1ST, WE RECEIVED RFPS FROM TWO FIRMS. AND THE CONTRACT WAS AWARDED, BACK IN AUGUST 15TH, TO WELDON FINANCIAL SERVICES, WHICH IS A CONSULTANT THAT'S ON BOARD RIGHT NOW.

AUGUST 30TH, WE HAD A KICKOFF MEETING BETWEEN US AND AND THE CONSULTANT, AUGUST 31ST.

THEY WE DID PROVIDE SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT THEY HAD REQUESTED.

SO THAT WAY THEY CAN PERFORM THEIR ANALYSIS.

NOVEMBER 8TH.

THE CONSULTANT PRESENTED THE OPTIONS TO STAFF AND ALSO IN THAT MEETING WITH THE CITY'S FINANCIAL ADVISER.

AND WE STAFF IN THE CITY.

CITY'S FINANCIAL ADVISOR ALSO PROVIDED, FEEDBACK TO TO THE CONSULTANT.

NOVEMBER 15TH, THE CONSULTANT PRESENTED THE OPTIONS TO UTILITY RATES TO THE TASK FORCE.

AND ALSO THE TASK FORCE PROVIDED FEEDBACK TO THEM.

SO, CONTINUING ON THE TIMELINE, WHAT IF THE CITY COUNCIL WANTS TO HAVE ONE? IS, WOULD BE.

POTENTIALLY FOR THE DECEMBER 19TH MEETING RIGHT BEFORE, YOU KNOW, DURING COUNCIL OR BEFORE, IS TO HAVE THAT WORKSHOP, WITH COUNCIL AND THAT'S TO PRESENT THE OPTIONS THAT TOM WAS TALKING ABOUT AND GET YOUR FEEDBACK.

SO THAT WAY, THE CONSULTANT, IF MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO WHAT THEY'RE PRESENTING.

RIGHT. THAT WAY THEY COULD TAKE THAT BACK INFORMATION, CONSIDER THAT, AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO YOU.

JANUARY 2024.

POTENTIALLY TAKING TYPE OF ACTION, TENTATIVELY RIGHT ON RATES.

THE NEXT TIMELINES WOULD BE JUST TENTATIVE.

AND IF THE NEW RATES ARE APPROVED, THEN WE WOULD BEGIN WITH PUBLIC NOTICES.

WE WOULD START THAT IN FEBRUARY 2024 AND THEN, OF COURSE, PROVIDE A GRACE PERIOD TO, TO OUR CUSTOMERS.

AND THEN TENTATIVELY, MAYBE IN APRIL, WE WOULD BEGIN THE NEW RATES.

RIGHT. ANYBODY ON COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME?

[02:00:01]

ANY OTHER FEEDBACK.

SO THE NEXT STEP IS ON DECEMBER 19TH.

TO HAVE A WORKSHOP.

AND IF EVERYBODY'S OKAY WITH IT, WE'LL DO IT BEFORE THE COUNCIL MEETING.

IS THAT WOULD THAT WORK FOR EVERYBODY WITH A UTILITY TASK FORCE? I'M NOT SURE. I MIGHT HAVE A I MIGHT HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ELSE ON THAT DAY THAT I'M NOT SURE WHAT TIME I GET DONE.

ON THE 19TH. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM SEVEN PUBLIC HEARINGS.

WE HAVE COUNCIL ITEMS A, B, C, D, E F AT THIS TIME.

AND, I JUST WANT TO ASK OUR CITY ATTORNEY, CAN I OPEN UP THE HEARING FOR ALL THESE ITEMS TO GET COMMENTS AT THIS TIME AND THEN TAKE CLOSE IT AND THEN TAKE ACTION ON EACH ITEM? YES, THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO DO IF THAT'S HOW IT PREFERS.

OKAY. SO COUNCIL IF IT'S EVERYBODY'S OKAY WITH THIS.

I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ALL THESE ITEMS AND WE GET EVERYBODY'S FEEDBACK.

AND THEN WE'LL CLOSE THE HEARING AT THAT TIME AND TAKE EACH, ITEM FOR ACTION AT THAT TIME.

SO, I'M GOING TO OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

I'M GOING TO SAY PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEMS, LISTED UNDER ITEM SEVEN, ITEM SEVEN, A, B, C, D, E, AND F ON THE AGENDA.

SO IF ANYBODY HEARING IS NOW OPEN, IF ANYONE IS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO, SPEAK ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS, YOU.

THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

THE HEARING IS NOW OPEN.

YOU WERE ABLE TO, COMMENT OR, GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS LISTED.

SO THE HEARING IS NOW OPEN.

ANYBODY THAT WISHES TO COMMENT ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS, YOU MAY DO SO AT THIS TIME.

YOU, SIR.

WE CAN COME TO THE PODIUM, SIR, REAL QUICK.

YEAH. YOU HEARD MY OPPOSITION EARLIER.

YES, SIR. AND, YOU HEARD IT THE LAST TIME ALSO.

I JUST WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS HAS COME UP BEFORE THE BOARD, BEFORE YOU ALL.

IT'S COME UP SEVERAL TIMES ALREADY.

THESE PEOPLE KEEP CHANGING THEIR MINDS AS TO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, HOW THEY WANT TO DO IT.

AND I JUST DON'T THINK THAT THEY'RE READY FOR ANYTHING.

PERIOD. I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO JUST POSTPONE THIS, HAVE THEM COME UP WITH A SOLID PLAN OF WHAT IT IS THAT THEY WANT TO DO, AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY STICK TO IT, BECAUSE WITHIN THE PAST THREE, FOUR YEARS, THEY'VE CHANGED THIS FROM ONE THING TO SOMETHING COMPLETELY, TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

I DON'T THINK THAT THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

THEY JUST WANT YOU TO SAY YES TO ANYTHING SO THAT THEY CAN GO OUT AND SELL THIS TO SOMEBODY.

AND AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

I YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT FAIR TO TO YOU ALL WHO ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF, OF THAT PROJECT WHEN IT FAILS. AND THAT'S GOING TO FALL TO US ALSO.

SO I WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO BE ON SOLID GROUND.

ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT THEY WANT AND WHAT IT IS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.

AND HOW THEY ARE GOING TO FUND THIS.

I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE THE LEAST IDEA OF ANY OF THOSE ITEMS. IF THEY DO, MORE POWER TO THEM, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY DO AT THIS POINT.

SO THAT'S WHY I'M OPPOSED TO IT.

THEY KEEP CONSTANTLY CHANGING IT FROM A TIRE STORAGE TO A SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOOL TO NO LOW INCOME HOUSING.

MY GOD, PRETTY SOON IT'S GOING TO BE A WATER PARK IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT THAT NOBODY'S GOING TO BE USING BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY GOT TWO.

SO JUST MAKE SURE THAT WHAT THEY SAY STICKS AND WHAT THEY SAY IS SOUND AND WHAT THEY SAY IS VIABLE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SIR. JUST FOR THE RECORD, SIR, THIS IS FOR ITEM SEVEN D, E AND F, I THINK SO.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. OKAY.

THANK YOU SIR. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WISHES TO COMMENT ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS A, B, C, D, E, AND F UNDER ITEM SEVEN UNDER PUBLIC HEARINGS? IF THERE'S NOT, I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS TIME.

COUNCIL I'M GOING TO TAKE EACH ITEM INDIVIDUALLY AT THIS TIME, FOR ACTION.

[02:05:04]

SO I'LL LET OUR CLARICE HOLD PUBLIC HEARING.

CONSIDER THE ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE REZONING REQUEST FROM COMMERCIAL NEIGHBORHOOD CN DISTRICT TO RESIDENTIAL MULTIFAMILY DISTRICT.

BEING A 6.415 ACRES OUT OF LOT ONE, BLOCK TWO STEEL AND PERSHING SUBDIVISION, LOCATED AT 2900 SOUTH MCCALL ROAD, AS REQUESTED BY NICO HOLDINGS LIMITED.

AND THAT'S ITEM A, JUST FOR THE RECORD COUNCIL MOTION TO APPROVE.

SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ANY DISCUSSION.

IF NOT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES ITEM B HOLD PUBLIC HEARING.

CONSIDER THE ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE REZONING REQUEST FROM RESIDENTIAL PRIMARY PP DISTRICT TO RESIDENTIAL MULTIFAMILY R RM DISTRICT BEING LOCKED FOR AND THE WEST HALF OF LOT NUMBER FIVE BLOCK 336 ORIGINAL TOWNSITE OF EDINBURG, LOCATED AT 316 EAST CHAMPION STREET, AS REQUESTED BY SAMUEL SALDANA ON BEHALF OF ALVARO AND MELISSA LUNA. MOTION TO APPROVE.

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

IS THERE A SECOND? WE HAVE A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES.

AND, MISS CLARISSA, WE'VE ALREADY HELD THE PUBLIC HEARING.

WE COULD JUST SAY, CONSIDER THE ORDINANCE.

YES, SIR. ITEM C, CONSIDER THE ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE REZONING.

REQUEST FOR RESIDENTIAL PRIMARY PP.

DISTRICT TWO COMMERCIAL GENERAL CG DISTRICT BEING LOT C ONE LOS LAGOS.

PHASE SEVEN B SUBDIVISION LOCATED AT 2708 LOS LAGOS DRIVE AS REQUESTED BY RIO DELTA ENGINEERING ON BEHALF OF LOS LAGOS DEVELOPMENT LLC.

MOVE TO APPROVE. ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ON ITEM C.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? WE HAVE A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES ITEM D.

CONSIDER THE ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE REZONING REQUEST FOR RESIDENTIAL PRIMARY PP DISTRICT TO RESIDENTIAL, URBAN AND TOWNHOME RU DISTRICT A ONE ACRE TRACT OUT OF THE NORTH TEN ACRES OF LOT FIVE, SECTION 274 TEXAS MEXICAN RAILWAY COMPANY SURVEY SUBDIVISION LOCATED AT 1218 SOUTH JACKSON ROAD.

UNIT EIGHT, AS REQUESTED BY SHERIFF MUSE AERIAL ON BEHALF OF JOE HERNANDEZ.

ALL RIGHT. THIS ITEM D COUNCIL MOTION TO APPROVE.

SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND WE HAVE A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? DISCUSSION.

YEAH. PLEASE GO AHEAD SIR. SO SO THIS ITEM, D E AND F ARE THE SAME.

IT'S THREE ACRES.

IT'S CORRECT.

D AND.

MOTION TO RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION, PLEASE.

SO MOVED. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES.

I JUST WANT THE RECORD. REFLECT.

THERE WAS NO ACTION TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

IS, I BELIEVE THERE'S SOME ITEMS WE, NEED.

[C. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding the Conveyance, Exchange, or Lease of Real Property related to Project Swap. (§551.071 Consultation with Attorney; §551.072 Deliberation Regarding]

ACTION. YES, MAYOR.

BASED ON THE DISCUSSION, I WOULD RECOMMEND, RELATED TO ITEM C, A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A REAL ESTATE PURCHASE AGREEMENT, RELATED TO PROJECT SWAP ON THE TERMS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

SO MOVED. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND IN DISCUSSION.

IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

[F. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Ratification of EEDC Agreements regarding: Project Napoleon Dynamite, Project Aluminimum Foil. (§551.071 Consultation with Attorney; §551.072 Deliberation Regarding Real Property; Closed Meeting.; §551.087 Deliberation Regarding Economic Development Negotiations; Closed Meeting.)]

ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES.

AND THEN FOR ITEM F, TWO SEPARATE MOTIONS, OR I GUESS WE COULD DO IT ALL IN ONE.

I WOULD RECOMMEND A MOTION TO RATIFY THE EDC AGREEMENTS, RELATED TO PROJECT NAPOLEON DYNAMITE AND PROJECT ALUMINUM FOIL ON THE TERMS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND.

ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND FOR APPROVAL.

PROJECT NAPOLEON DYNAMITE AND PROJECT ALUMINUM FOIL.

[12. ADJOURNMENT]

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES.

AND NO OTHER ACTION REQUIRED AT THIS TIME.