A. Consider Awarding RFP 2024-008, New Service Center to Gerlach Builders the Highest Ranked Proposal and Authorize the City Manager or Designee to Negotiate an Agreement Related Thereto.

[A. Consider Awarding RFP 2024-008, New Service Center to Gerlach Builders the Highest Ranked Proposal and Authorize the City Manager or Designee to Negotiate an Agreement Related Thereto.]

COUNSEL. IS THERE ANY ACTION? I THINK THIS THERE WAS NO ACTION AT THE LAST MEETING.

SO IS THERE ANY MOTIONS, COUNSEL? NO THERE'S NOT.

I GUESS I'LL MOVE ON. SO MOVE. MAKE A MOTION FOR LACK.

BUILDERS. OH, OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION. SECOND.

MOTION TO SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? HAS ANYTHING CHANGED FROM THE LAST MEETING THAT WE HAD TO TODAY? IN TERMS OF WHAT? AT LEAST I KNOW, I BROUGHT UP ON THE BID SPECS AND THOSE THINGS.

SURE. AS OF TODAY, NO, THEY HAVE NOT. AS OF 5:00.

AFTER 5:00, THEY HAVE NOT. ANYTHING HAS NOT CHANGED AT THIS POINT.

YEAH. AND I GUESS I WAS REFERRING TO I APOLOGIZE THE I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THE LANGUAGE ON.

YES, SIR. WHAT IS OUR POSITION ON THAT? WE HAVE WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE IT THAT ALL OF THEM MUST BE SAM REGISTERED AT THE TIME OF SUBMITTAL OF BIDS. AND THAT'S NOT WHAT OUR BID SPECS SAY RIGHT NOW.

IT DOES ON THE FORM. BUT IT WAS DIFFER ON THE ADVERTISEMENT IN THE NEWSPAPER.

AND WHAT DOES IT SAY? AT THE TIME OF AWARDING, REWARDING, WHICH TECHNICALLY THIS WOULD BE THE TIME OF AWARDING, BUT IT'S NOT VERY CLEAR. BUT AT THIS POINT, I GUESS IT HASN'T CHANGED BECAUSE THERE'S STILL TWO I GUESS COMPANIES OUT OF SIX, RIGHT, THAT ARE NOT BEING INCLUDED FOR CONSIDERATION BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT REGISTERED CURRENTLY WITH SAMSUNG.

AND I HAVE A QUESTION, CITY MANAGER, SO IS THE CITY STAFF POSITION THAT THERE'S TWO THAT WE CANNOT EVEN CONSIDER AT THIS TIME OR HOW DOES THIS WORK?

[00:15:03]

I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT IS CORRECT BECAUSE WE NEED TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS THAT IT'S AT THE TIME OF BID SUBMITTING THE BID.

SO WE NEED TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS WELL AS OUR LANGUAGE THAT STATES AT TIME OF AWARDING, WHICH, LIKE MR. REINA SAID, TECHNICALLY THIS IS THE TIME OF CONSIDERATION TO AWARD IT.

SO IF THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY CHANGE, THEN THAT WOULD BE OUR POSITION THAT TWO OF THE VENDORS AT THIS TIME STILL DO NOT QUALIFY FOR EITHER THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENT OR THE CITY REQUIREMENT.

YEAH. AND I'M ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THAT SECTION. I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT IT LAST TIME, BUT I KNOW WE DIDN'T HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER HERE LAST MEETING. BUT MY ONLY POINT OF CONTENTION WAS THE FACT THAT IT DOES SAY THAT IT SHALL BE THEY SHALL BE REGISTERED.

YOU KNOW, AT LEAST OUR BID SPECS SAY THAT. AND IT SAYS SOMETHING DIFFERENT ELSEWHERE. AND I JUST WANT TO BE FAIR TO EVERYBODY. YES. AND I THINK THERE'S SOME AMBIGUITY THERE, IN MY OPINION, IN TERMS OF WHAT WHAT IS IN OUR BID SPECS VERSUS WHAT IS, WAS PUBLISHED AND THEN WHAT'S IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER.

SO WE'RE TAKING ALL OF THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE IN THE LAST MEETING AS WELL. BUT AT THIS TIME, EVEN I WOULD THINK THAT THE WORD SHALL STILL IS HAVING TO TAKE WE STILL HAVE TO TAKE IT INTO CONSIDERATION FOR THE AWARDING BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENT. AND SO ARE ANY OF THE TWO THAT WERE EXCLUDED? ARE THEY REGISTERED IN THE SYSTEM? THEY'VE STARTED THE PROCESS, BUT THEY ARE NOT ACTIVE.

NO, BUT NO, THAT WAS NOT MY MY QUESTION IS ARE THEY REGISTERED? NO. NO, SIR. SO THEY'RE NOT REGISTERED. THEY DON'T HAVE A UID NUMBER.

THEY DON'T HAVE A THEY HAVE A UID NUMBER, BUT THEY ARE NOT REGISTERED.

THEY NOT HAVE NOT THEY HAVE NOT COMPLETED THE PROCESS.

YEAH. I THINK THAT THAT'S ANOTHER POINT OF CONTENTION THERE BEING REGISTERED AND BEING ACTIVE.

WHAT I THINK THERE WAS SOME VARIATION IN OUR RFP VERSUS THE CONTRACT.

CAN YOU CAN YOU TOUCH ON THAT. THAT'S THE SAME.

IT HAS TO BE COMPLETELY REGISTERED AND AN ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP OR AN ACTIVE WITH SAM.GOV.

THAT'S BASICALLY THEY GO BACK AND THEY LOOK AT ALL THE REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED.

MAKE SURE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN DEBARRED. THEY HAVEN'T DEFAULTED ON ANY FEDERAL PROJECTS, AND THAT KEEPS THEM ACTIVE AT THAT POINT.

THEY DO RUN OUT OF TIME. IT DOES. IT'S ONLY FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME.

THEN THEY HAVE TO REAPPLY AND SET ALL THAT SO THE OTHER TWOS HAVE.

ONE OF THEM HAS NOT REAPPLIED, THE OTHER ONE HAS, BUT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN CLEARED YET ON THAT PORTION.

I THINK WE ALSO HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE DOCUMENTATION THAT WAS SUBMITTED AS PART OF THEIR BID PROPOSALS.

AND IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY PUT ON THERE THAT THEY WERE NOT SAM'S REGISTERED.

ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I JUST THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE STAFF FOR THE NEXT BIDDING ITEMS AND ALL THAT, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO LOOK INTO, JUST CLEANING UP THE TERMINOLOGY. THAT WAY WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONFUSION. I DO AGREE WITH THE MAYOR ON THIS POINT THAT IT NEEDS TO BE IT IS LEFT TO INTERPRETATION.

SO SO WE DO NEED TO GET BETTER AT THAT AND JUST KIND OF REVIEW THINGS A LITTLE BIT SLOW, SLOWER.

AND THAT WAY WE GET IT RIGHT. THAT WAY NO ONE CAN THROW IT IN OUR FACE THAT WE'RE BEING BIASED OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO JUST CORRECT SOME OF THE. YES, SIR. AND I AGREE, COUNCILMAN, IT'S JUST ABOUT BEING FAIR TO ME.

I WOULD HAVE MUCH RATHER INCLUDE ALL SIX FOR US TO CONSIDER.

RIGHT. AND IF SOMEBODY MAKES A MOTION TO AWARD TO THOSE TWO, YOU SAY, ALL RIGHT, TIME OUT.

Y'ALL CAN AWARD THOSE TWO. BUT THE FACT THAT THEY'RE NOT EVEN INCLUDED FOR CONSIDERATION LEAVES IT OPEN, AT LEAST IN MY. THAT'S JUST MY OPINION, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S A POINT OF CONTENTION THAT I HAVE. AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE FAIR TO THE PROCESS. AND AND I'LL TAKE THAT A STEP FURTHER.

NOT ONLY ARE THEY NOT INCLUDED, BUT ALSO THEY'RE RANKED AND THE RANKINGS INCLUDED, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOT GIVEN AS AN OPTION RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE WE ALSO TOUCHED ON THE LANGUAGE THAT IF YOU AGREE THAT IT'S WHEN IT'S AWARDED, WE COULD AGREE TO AWARD IT TWO WEEKS FROM NOW, A MONTH FROM NOW. I THINK THE ACTUAL PARAMETERS ARE UP TO 90 DAYS TO AWARD THIS, THIS CONTRACT.

AND SO THAT IN MIND, IT WOULD HAVE POSSIBLY MADE THE OTHER TWO THAT WERE EXCLUDED, THEY WOULD HAVE MADE THEM ELIGIBLE FOR SELECTION.

ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS BY ANYBODY? IF NOT, I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION PASSES. NEXT ITEM RESOLUTIONS, ITEM EIGHT.

CONSIDER RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT AND COMMITMENT OF DEVELOPMENT FUNDING TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.

[6. RESOLUTIONS]

[A. Consider Resolution of Support and Commitment of Development Funding to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs Housing 2024 Competitive 9% Housing Tax Credits for Magnolia Apartments, as Requested by Madhouse Development in Care of Avanti Legacy Magnolia, LP. [Claudia L. Farias, Interim Director of Grants Administration]]

HOUSING 2024 COMPETITIVE 9% HOUSING TAX CREDITS FOR MAGNOLIA APARTMENTS, AS REQUESTED BY MAD HOUSE DEVELOPMENT IN CARE OF AVANTI! LEGACY. MAGNOLIA LP COUNCIL. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND, HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? YES. ON THESE ITEMS. BEING THAT WE STILL HAVE ANOTHER CONSIDER, I STILL I STILL BEG THE QUESTION OF THE LIKELIHOOD OF TWO PROJECTS BEING AWARDED IN THE SAME CITY.

COULD WE TOUCH ON THAT, PLEASE? SURE. GOOD EVENING.

[00:20:02]

COUNCIL CLAUDIA FARIAS, INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE GRANTS ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT. EACH APPLICATION IS RANKED ON THEIR OWN MERIT.

THERE'S A SCORING SYSTEM. THERE'S POINTS THAT ARE ACCUMULATED.

SOME OF THE SCORING CRITERIA INCLUDE PROXIMITY TO JOBS, PROXIMITY TO RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS MEDICAL FACILITIES, PHARMACIES.

SO THE THE APPLICATION WILL NOT BE VIEWED NEGATIVELY IF IT'S IN THE SAME CITY.

THEY'RE BOTH THEY'RE EACH APPLICATION IS RANKED ON ITS OWN MERIT.

AND THEN I ASKED THE QUESTION HOW OFTEN DO YOU SEE? BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS A VALLEY WIDE COMPETITIVE BID.

AND SO I ASKED THE QUESTION, HOW OFTEN DO YOU SEE TWO, TWO AWARDED IN THE SAME CITY? YES. WE'VE BEEN SEEING THAT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS SINCE 2020.

SO I HAVE HERE WE GO. I DO HAVE SOME HISTORICAL CONTEXT FOR THAT.

SO LAST YEAR, 2023, TWO WERE AWARDED IN MCALLEN.

FOUR WERE AWARDED IN BROWNSVILLE. NOW THERE IS A A CAP FOR THE REGION.

THE REGION IS ONLY AWARDED AROUND $6 MILLION.

SO THERE ARE SOME HIGHER TICKET ITEMS THAT ARE AWARDED OR HIGHER TICKET PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE AWARDED SO THEY AREN'T AWARDED UNIFORMLY.

THAT AMOUNTS DO DIFFER. AND SO THAT WAS 2023 2022 TO AWARDS WERE AWARDED OR TWO DEVELOPMENTS WERE AWARDED IN LAREDO AND TWO WERE IN MCALLEN.

THE TWO IN MCALLEN WERE LESSER AMOUNTS. I CAN GIVE YOU ALSO THE THE CITIES WHERE 2021 AND 2022, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THAT'S A RECURRING THEME. OKAY.

THANK YOU. HOW MUCH IS IT FOR THE APPLICATION FOR THESE DEVELOPERS WHEN THEY APPLY FOR THE TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS? HOW MUCH IS IT? HOW MUCH DO THEY PAY FOR THAT APPLICATION? I CAN DEFER THAT TO THE DEVELOPERS.

I KNOW AN AMOUNT, BUT I KNOW THAT WAS JUST ONE DEVELOPER.

ONE DEVELOPER MENTIONED IT WAS AROUND $100,000 MARK.

BUT WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM MAGNOLIA THAT ARE HERE.

YES, SIR. THE AGENCY, HENRY FLORES, THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING, HAS A FEE THAT YOU PAY.

IF THAT'S THE SPECIFIC QUESTION, IT'S MAYBE $15,000.

IF YOU LOOK AT ALL THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRANSACTION, IT'S SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 65 AND 100, DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH MONEY YOU'RE YOU'RE HAVING ON THE LAND.

IF YOU HAVE MONEY, GO HARD. IT'S GOING TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE.

BUT IN MANY CASES YOU'RE ABLE TO SECURE THE LAND UNDER AN OPTION WHERE YOU MAKE A LARGE CONTRIBUTION.

BUT IT'S NOT HARD YET SO THAT YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE THAT MONEY AT RISK.

SO ANYWHERE BETWEEN AGAIN, DEPENDS ON EACH TRANSACTION, BUT BETWEEN 50 TO $100,000.

SO LIKE IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW THIS PROCESS RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE ALREADY HAVING TO PAY MONEY BEFORE YOU EVEN KNOW YOU GET AWARDED.

NOT NOT UNTIL YOU APPLY. OKAY. BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE APPLICATION IS DUE FRIDAY, MARCH 1ST EACH YEAR. IT'S DUE ON MARCH 1ST. SO IT'S LIKELY THAT A DEVELOPER HAS ALREADY INCURRED SOME EXPENSE GETTING READY FOR THAT PROCESS, BECAUSE WE COULDN'T WAIT TILL TODAY AND BE READY BY FRIDAY. SO ARCHITECTURAL EXPENSES, THINGS LIKE THAT, LEGAL EXPENSES INCURRED EXPENSE. AND IF WE IF WE DON'T APPLY, IF WE STILL HAVE INCURRED THAT EXPENSE IN SOME CASES, IF YOU HAVE HISTORIC RELATIONSHIPS, YOU MAY HAVE THE ARCHITECT BEING WILLING TO FORGIVE SOME OF THOSE COSTS BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE OTHER WORK DOWN THE ROAD.

SO IT ALL DEPENDS ON EACH DEVELOPER'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU CAN NEGOTIATE WITH YOUR THIRD PARTY CONSULTANTS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BY COUNSEL? YES. ALSO, ASIDE FROM. I KNOW COUNCILMAN DIAZ WAS SAYING, LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE LIKELIHOOD OF, YOU KNOW, DOING TWO AND WHAT'S THE LIKELIHOOD OF THAT BEING IN THE SAME CITY? WE'RE ALSO IF WE DON'T CONSIDER, IN MY OPINION, EVERYTHING ON THE AGENDA, THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT NONE OF THEM GET IT, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S THAT'S THE RISK ON THE DEVELOPER HERE.

AND IT JUST TO AGAIN, I JUST GO BACK TO GIVING THE OPPORTUNITY.

DOES THAT INCREASE THE CHANCES FOR HAVING TWO TWO RESOLUTIONS GOING.

WOULD THAT INCREASE THE CHANCES OF IT LANDING IN EDINBURGH. IT WOULD BECAUSE IT'S A COMPLETE APPLICATION WITHOUT THE RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT THE APPLICATION IS A NO GO.

WHAT'S A RESOLUTION? THE RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT THAT THE DEVELOPERS ARE REQUESTING FROM THE CITY.

IT JUST SAYS THAT YOU'RE SUPPORTING THE THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT, AND IT ALSO COMMITS THE CITY TO A $500 BUILDING PERMIT FEE WAIVER.

SO IT'S JUST A PIECE OF PAPER THAT WE'RE GOING TO WRITE OUT STATING THAT WE'RE OKAY WITH IT FOR TWO.

HAVING TWO BIDS GO IN THERE. THAT INCREASES OUR CHANCES TO GET THE DEVELOPMENT TO COME INTO OUR CITY.

THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT WE'RE DOING. IF WE AWARD BOTH RIGHT, A STANDARD RESOLUTION IS WHAT THE APPLICATION REQUIRES.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF NOT, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.

[B. Consider Resolution of Support and Commitment of Development Funding to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs for the 2024 Competitive 9% Housing Tax Credits Application for Highland Senior Villas, as Requested by Texas Grey Oaks, LLC in Care of TGO Highland 24, LP. [Claudia L. Farias, Interim Director of Grants Administration]]

MOTION CARRIES. ITEM. BE. CONSIDER RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT AND COMMITMENT OF DEVELOPMENT FUNDING TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS FOR THE 2024 COMPETITIVE 9% HOUSING TAX CREDITS APPLICATION FOR HIGHLAND SENIOR VILLAS, AS REQUESTED BY TEXAS GRAY OAKS LLC IN CARE OF TGO HIGHLAND 24 LP.

[00:25:08]

COUNSEL. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION APPROVED. SECOND.

MOTION TO SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ANY QUESTIONS BY ANYBODY? YES. DISCUSSION ON THIS. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE THAT'S BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS PROCESS.

LIKE I SAID LAST MEETING CITIES WOULD LOVE TO HAVE TWO DEVELOPERS DOING SUCH LARGE SCALE PROJECTS FOR OUR CITIZENS, ESPECIALLY OUR SENIOR CITIZENS. AND LIKE I STATED, LAST MEETING I WAS I WAS FOR BOTH PROJECTS UNTIL I AND EVERYONE I SPOKE TO A VERY, VERY OPEN. I LOVE THE PROJECTS, AS LONG AS RESIDENTS ARE OKAY WITH IT AND, AND I AND I KNOW THAT THE, THE DEVELOPERS THAT THEIR DUE DILIGENCE REACHED OUT TO SOME RESIDENTS, REACHED OUT TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THAT.

I, IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, IS IF THERE WAS MORE PEOPLE ON BOARD THAT LIVE IN THE AREA, THE STAKEHOLDERS AROUND THERE, THAT WOULD BE 100% FOR SUPPORTING BOTH PROJECTS.

I JUST KNOW THAT AT THIS TIME THERE'S STILL A LOT OF CONTENTION, A LOT OF CONCERNS WITH.

AND I KNOW IT'S A 62 YEAR AND OVER. IT'S A DIFFERENT TRAFFIC COUNT.

I'VE HAD THOSE ARGUMENTS WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE.

IT'S JUST HARD FOR ME TO GO AGAINST RESIDENTS.

AND STILL TODAY, EVEN SCHOOL DISTRICT IS SAYING THAT THEY WANT US TO RECONSIDER THE PROJECT.

I'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO GET AWARDED BOTH BOTH PROJECTS.

UP TO NOW. ALL I'VE EVER HEARD IS THAT ONE COULD CANCEL OUT THE OTHER.

AND NEVER DID I THINK THAT BY NOT AWARDING ONE, WE COULD LOSE BOTH.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, THAT'S WHY I CALLED THIS SPECIAL MEETING WHEN I FOUND OUT MARCH 1ST WAS WAS THE DEADLINE, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BACK HERE TO DISCUSS IT.

IT'S A HARD DECISION, BUT WE'VE GOT FULL COUNCIL NOW.

SO THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS AND I WANT TO THANK BOTH ENTITIES FOR CHOOSING EDINBURGH.

I HAVE A QUESTION. WHAT IS THE PROPERTY ZONED AT RIGHT NOW CURRENTLY? MR..

COMMERCIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT'S CORRECT. THE PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY ZONED COMMERCIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, SO IT WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH A REZONING PROCESS, WHICH WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE CONSIDER IN THE FUTURE. SO IF IT'S ALREADY ZONED COMMERCIAL. SO TECHNICALLY THEY CAN PUT WHATEVER THEY WANT.

IF THIS DOESN'T GO, IF WE DON'T GIVE THEM THAT PIECE OF PAPER STATING THAT THE COUNCIL IS OKAY WITH IT, THEY CAN PUT WHATEVER THEY WANT THERE TECHNICALLY, RIGHT, BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY ZONED COMMERCIAL.

WELL, THEY COULDN'T DO APARTMENTS BECAUSE MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL IS ACTUALLY A STAIR STEP DOWN.

SO IT'S A LESS INTENSIVE USE THAN WHAT THEY COULD PROPOSE OR THAN WHAT THEY CAN THEORETICALLY PUT THERE NOW.

SO IT WOULD HAVE TO BE ZONED DOWN TO MULTIFAMILY AND GIVING THEM THE GIVING THE RESOLUTION TO THIS DEVELOPER.

DO THEY STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE NORMAL CITY PROCESS TO GET THE APPROVAL? THE NORMAL LAYOUTS, THE NORMAL DESIGNS, THE INFRASTRUCTURE, EVERYTHING WOULD STILL APPLY.

JUST LIKE ANY OTHER DEVELOPMENT. THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE REZONING PROCESS. WE WOULD NOTIFY THE OWNERS WITHIN 300FT OF THE SUBJECT SITE.

THAT WOULD ALL REMAIN. WE WOULD STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT SAME PROCESS.

AND CAN YOU GIVE ME THIS WOULD BE FOR THE FOR THE MISS CLAUDIA.

BUT WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF OF GETTING APPROVED? WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF GETTING BOTH OF THEM APPROVED WITH THE RESOLUTION THEM AWARDED TO BOTH DEVELOPERS IN OUR CITY? WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF THAT? THERE'S A GREAT LIKELIHOOD THAT HAS A PATTERN OF DOING THAT.

AND WE HAVE THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT. THEY DO IT HERE IN OUR REGION, AS WE'VE SEEN MULTIPLE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SAME CITY.

OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, I HAVE ONE THING TO SAY.

AND JUST FOR COUNCIL TO CONSIDER IS WE ALL UNDERSTAND.

WE ALL GOT THE CALLS JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE DID HERE. BUT ONE OF THE MAIN CONCERNS WAS THE TRAFFIC.

COMMERCIAL COMES AROUND. IT'S GOING TO BE WORSE NO MATTER WHAT IT IS.

I MEAN THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S OUT OF OUR CONTROL.

THE ONLY WAY THAT'S EVER GOING TO BE CONTROLLED BY ANYTHING IS PUTTING THE STREET OR DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THE PICKUPS THERE, BECAUSE ME PERSONALLY, I HAVE KIDS THERE TOO. I UNDERSTAND, BUT IF SOMETHING COMES IN COMMERCIALLY THERE, IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT WORSE THAN WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW. AND EVEN IF THIS RESOLUTION GOES THROUGH, THAT STILL DOESN'T GUARANTEE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET AWARDED THE PROJECT.

CORRECT. RIGHT. IT'S JUST A IT'S A REQUIRED APPLICATION COMPONENT, BUT THAT IT'S FOR THE THC TO DO TO RANK THE PROJECTS.

THIS WILL JUST MAKE IT A COMPLETE PROJECT AND PUT IT IN CONTENTION TO BE CONSIDERED.

YES, TO BE CONSIDERED. WELL, FROM WHAT I CAN SEE RIGHT NOW ON THE PHONE CALLS, I GUESS, LIKE WE ALL ACKNOWLEDGE WE'VE ALL BEEN RECEIVING ON THIS WHOLE THING IS ALL WE'RE DOING IS IF WE COULD BE GIVING THEM FALSE HOPE TO IF WE DECIDE TO.

BECAUSE COULD YOU IMAGINE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN WE SEND OUT THE REZONING LETTERS? WE'RE GOING TO HAVE EVERYBODY HERE WAITING FOR US. RIGHT NOW, WE'RE JUST GETTING PHONE CALLS AND A TON OF THEM. ESPECIALLY SINCE I DID MAKE THE LAST MEETING.

[00:30:04]

IT REALLY LIT UP OVER THE OVER THE WEEKEND. SO THANKS A LOT, CHIEF.

YEAH, I MEAN, I GOT IT PRIOR TO THAT, BUT, LIKE, I ALREADY KNEW I WAS MISSING OUT OF OUT OF TOWN FOR WORK, BUT, ALL WE'RE DOING IS, IS ONCE WE START SENDING OUT THE LETTERS, I JUST CAN IMAGINE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE IN OUR IN OUR CONSTITUENTS HERE.

THAT'S WHY I'M GOING TO HAVE TO JUST HEAD OUT, HEAD OFF THE STEAM RIGHT NOW.

I'D HATE TO GIVE SOMEBODY FALSE HOPE THAT SOMETHING IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO GET REZONED IN THE FUTURE. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? IF NOT, I'LL CALL. GO AHEAD SIR. SURE. I KNOW YOU HAD.

GO AHEAD. I KNOW YOU DIDN'T FINISH YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.

GO AHEAD. I MET WITH THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, 330. WE HAD A MEETING AND AND IT WAS TO DISCUSS HIS TWO CONCERNS WITH THE WITH THE IDEA OF REZONING THE PROPERTY FROM COMMERCIAL NEIGHBORHOOD TO TO TO MULTIFAMILY. A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND, THE NINE LOTS THAT FACED THE MIDDLE SCHOOL WERE ALREADY DOWN ZONED TO MULTIFAMILY. WITHOUT CONTENTION TO MY UNDERSTANDING, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WASN'T ANY CONTENTION WHEN WHEN THE LOTS THAT ACTUALLY FACED THE MIDDLE SCHOOL WERE ZONED. SO NOW COMES THIS ONE.

AND I THINK THE FIRST THOUGHT THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT HAD WAS, I'M GOING TO GET HIT WITH A LOT OF KIDS INTO A SCHOOL THAT'S ALREADY AT CAPACITY.

AND I SAID, WELL, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT BECAUSE LAST I CHECKED, THEY DON'T ALLOW 62 YEAR OLDS TO ENROLL IN THE SCHOOL. AND SO WE TALKED ABOUT THEN TRAFFIC AND TRAFFIC. TRAFFIC. TRAFFIC. SO YOU CAN SPEAK TO THAT EXPERIENCE.

BUT I MENTIONED TO HIM THAT THAT THE SCHOOL I THINK HAS MODIFIED THEIR QUEUING.

AND SO THE QUEUING IS OFF OF FOURTH STREET. IT'S NOT ON FREDDY GONZALEZ ANYMORE. SO THERE'S REALLY EFFECTIVELY NOT THE SAME KIND OF TRAFFIC THAT THERE USED TO BE THERE.

BUT THEN AGAIN TO THE POINT OF COMMERCIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.

SO THE LAND IS ZONED FOR COMMERCIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND ONE THING THAT I'VE FOLLOWED AND I'VE FOLLOWED THIS FOR YEARS NOW, NOW WITH THE ADOPTION OF THE UDC UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE, IS THAT IF WE WERE TO REZONE THAT INTO JUST ONE LOT AND CALL IT LOT ONE GRANDVIEW, WHATEVER IT USED TO BE GRANDVIEW HOSPITAL, LOT ONE WITHIN COMMERCIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, MIXED USE IS ALLOWED.

AND WHAT MIXED USE ALLOWS IS FOR COMMERCIAL TO GO ON THE FIRST FLOOR AND RESIDENTIAL TO GO ON THE SECOND FLOOR.

THAT'S WHAT COULD HAPPEN THERE. SO YOU TALK ABOUT TRAFFIC AND THE IMPACT.

AND SO REALLY THIS IS A TRAFFIC CALMING USE BY DOWN ZONING AND PUTTING A SENIOR HOUSING COMMUNITY INTO THAT AREA.

AND I TOLD THE SUPERINTENDENT, I SAID IF IF THE RESIDENTS THAT MOVE INTO THIS COMMUNITY ARE ANYTHING LIKE MY 91 YEAR OLD GRANDMOTHER, SHE'S NOT DRIVING. SHE'S NOT LIKE YOU AND ME.

WE'RE NOT IN THE CAR 5 OR 6 TIMES A DAY. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE IN THEIR CAR 5 TO 6 TIMES A DAY.

AND THEN REGARDING THE REZONING, WE WE SPOKE ABOUT THAT.

WE MET ABOUT MAYBE TRYING TO JUST ISOLATE, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH IS ZONED TO MULTIFAMILY TO CREATE A BUFFER ZONES, YOU KNOW, LIKE ON THE NORTH SIDE, FACING BAKER, FACING THE SINGLE FAMILY.

THAT'S ACTUALLY GREEN SPACE. THAT'S A LITTLE WALKING TRAIL DOG PARK.

SO THERE'S ALREADY A BUFFER THERE. AND THEN THE SAME THING ON THE, ON THE ON THE EAST SIDE, RESERVING THAT ONE ACRE AS COMMERCIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT ACTUALLY SITS ACROSS THE STREET FROM RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY THAT IS ALREADY ZONED FOR COMMERCIAL NEIGHBORHOOD USE.

SO. I THINK THEY'RE DOING THEIR PART TO MITIGATE IMPACT IN MULTIPLE WAYS.

SO YES, A QUESTION ABOUT HOW MANY WHAT'S THE LIKELIHOOD THERE'S 11 PROJECTS IN THIS REGION THAT ARE PROPOSED FOR FOR THE FUNDING FOR THE STATE IS BROKEN DOWN BY DIFFERENT REGIONS. SO IF YOU HAVE TWO OUT OF 11, THAT'S AN 18 PLUS PERCENT CHANCE OF LANDING TWO OF THE AWARDS IN YOUR COMMUNITY IN IN ONE YEAR. AND I THINK BY, BY SUPPORTING THE RESOLUTION, YOU'RE SENDING A MESSAGE TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE POPULATION AT LARGE THAT EDINBURGH CARES ABOUT ITS SENIOR CITIZENS, NOT JUST SOME OF THEM, NOT JUST 113, BUT MANY OF THEM. SO I UNDERSTAND THIS IS REALLY JUST ABOUT GIVING THEM A CHANCE.

LET THE STATE DECIDE. LET THE AGENCY DECIDE WHAT THEY FEEL IS IS A PROPER PLACE FOR IT.

THAT'S ALL THEY'RE ASKING FOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR.

THANK YOU. NOW, SPEAKING OF TRAFFIC, THOUGH, IT'S SAFE TO SAY, THOUGH, THAT IF ANOTHER PROJECT GOES UP ON THERE THAT'S COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL, IT COULD BE ACTUALLY MORE TRAFFIC THAN THIS PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT.

CORRECT? JAIME. IT'S KIND OF HARD TO SAY. COUNCILMAN.

I MEAN, DEPENDING ON WHAT GOES IN THERE. SOME LIKE IF THEY WERE TO HAVE A RESTAURANT IN THERE.

[00:35:06]

WELL, YEAH, THEY COULD GENERATE MORE TRAFFIC. BUT I WILL SAY THAT IN MY IN MY PRIOR EXPERIENCE IN THE CITY OF MISSION WHERE I WORKED, WE WE APPROVED A DEVELOPMENT ON TAYLOR. IT'S CALLED TAYLOR SENIOR VILLAGE.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DO REMEMBER IS THAT WE IMPOSED ALL THIS PARKING REQUIREMENTS ON THIS DEVELOPMENT.

AND IN LOOKING AT AT A SATELLITE IMAGE TODAY ON GOOGLE MAPS, THERE'S LIKE VERY FEW CARS PARKED THERE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T GENERATE TRAFFIC.

SO THAT'S JUST MY $0.02 FROM MY EXPERIENCE IN THE PAST.

BUT WHAT WE'RE CONSIDERING HERE IS NOT A REZONING AT THIS TIME.

WE'RE JUST CONSIDERING WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO SUPPORT THIS APPLICATION OR REQUEST FOR FOR THE HOUSING PROJECT.

SO TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO JUST APPLY, TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO JUST I KNOW SOME OF THE SAME PEOPLE, I GUESS REACHED OUT TO YOU ALL ALSO REACHED OUT TO ME. AND AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WAS THEY WERE THINKING IT WAS JUST APARTMENTS.

THEY DID NOT KNOW THAT IT WAS FOR SENIORS, FOR THEIR MOMS OR DADS OR GRANDPAS.

YOU KNOW, THEY DID NOT KNOW THAT THEY WERE CONFUSED THAT THAT THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE MORE KIDS WERE GOING TO BE ENTERING SOUTH MIDDLE SCHOOL. SO THEY HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THAT.

AND ONCE I SHARED WITH THEM THAT NO, IT'S FOR 62 AND ABOVE.

AND AND THEY ALSO THOUGHT IT WAS FOR LOW INCOME, WHICH IT WAS NOT.

AND AND AFTER THAT, A LOT OF THEM SAID, OH, WELL, THAT WAS NOT RELATED TO US.

YOU KNOW, THEY WERE THINKING SOMETHING ELSE. SO THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT FOR THE COUNCIL TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.

AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS AND EVERYTHING.

AND WE WISH WE HAD WHITE HERE. THE LAST MEETING.

BUT HE WASN'T. SO WE'RE HAVING A SPECIAL MEETING HERE, YOU KNOW, GUYS. SO.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING. YEAH. YEAH. I WANT TO THANK ALL THE STAFF, EVERYBODY THAT'S BEEN PART OF THIS PROCESS. AND YOU'RE RIGHT. THIS IS.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, IT'S ABOUT DOING WHAT WE THINK IS BEST.

YOU KNOW, HERE FOR OUR CITY. BUT IT'S A COMPETITIVE PROCESS.

YOU KNOW, THE STATE UNFORTUNATELY SETS THE RULES. AND WE'RE HERE TO PUT IN.

I MEAN, WE'RE THREE DAYS AWAY FROM THE APPLICATION DEADLINE, RIGHT? I MEAN, IT'S JUST BUT THAT'S JUST HOW IT IS WITH STATE RULES.

BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? IF NOT, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION FOR WHAT WAS THE MOTION? CAN YOU RESTATE THE MOTION TO APPROVE? OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'VE HAD A LONG DISCUSSION.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION DOES NOT PASS. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM SEVEN, EXECUTIVE SESSION.

[7. EXECUTIVE SESSION]

WE HAVE ITEM A. IT IS AT THIS TIME, 635. AND WE'RE NOW GOING TO CONVENE TO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS ITEM A, SECOND, MOTION A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. WE'RE NOW INTO EXECUTIVE.

THANK YOU EVERYBODY.

[00:43:38]

THAT'S A CUDA. LET'S SEE HERE.

COMING UP NEXT ON ESPN, 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 DE LEON, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID SALAZAR JR. AND COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID WHITE.

SITTING IN HIS ADVISER, CITY MANAGER MAYRA AYALA, AND CITY ATTORNEY OMAR OCHOA.

AND NOW LIVE FROM EDINBURG CITY HALL, THE EDINBURGH CITY COUNCIL.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. AT 6:00, I WANT TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER OF OUR EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING FOR THIS EVENING. I DO SEE VISIBLY THAT WE DO HAVE A QUORUM WITH ALL MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID WHITE. THAT IS NOT HERE WITH US TONIGHT.

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

WE HAVE PASTOR SORIA ZAMORA FROM THE ABUNDANT GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH.

[00:45:03]

HERE IF YOU CAN STEP FORWARD, MA'AM, TO LEAD US IN PRAYER, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF EVERYBODY COULD PLEASE RISE FOR OUR PRAYER AT THIS TIME.

GOOD AFTERNOON. LET US BOW OUR HEADS IN PRAYER AND BE GRATEFUL FOR THIS GREAT DAY THE LORD HAS GIVEN US.

IN IT WE REJOICE. OH, LORD, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

FOR WE HAVE BEEN BORN FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS.

THANKS THAT ALL THE GIFTS AND TALENTS THAT WE HAVE COME FROM YOU.

AND I PRAY, FATHER, THAT EVERYONE HERE GATHERED TODAY DOES A JOB OF EXCELLENCE.

FOR YOU ARE THE ONE WHO HAS PLACED US HERE, AND THE JOBS THAT WE DO SHOULD BE DONE UNTO THE LORD.

I PRAY THAT YOU BRING CONVICTION IF WE'RE NOT DOING A JOB OF EXCELLENCE.

I PRAY THAT NO ONE HERE HAS AN AGENDA FOR YOUR WORD.

SAYS THAT WHEN THE RIGHTEOUS RULE, THE PEOPLE REJOICE.

BUT WHEN THE WICKED ONE DOES, THERE IS TURMOIL.

LET THIS BE A MOMENT WHEN WE REFLECT IN THE JOBS THAT WE DO.

I PRAY THAT THE JOBS ARE DONE IN IN EXCELLENCE AND IN INTEGRITY.

AND IF NOT, I PRAY FOR CONVICTION THAT WILL LEAD US TO REPENTANCE.

I ASK THAT NO ONE WILL CALL GOOD WHAT IS EVIL AND EVIL? WHAT IS GOOD? LET EVERYONE HERE BE SUBJECT TO THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES.

AND AS YOUR WORD SAYS, THERE IS NO AUTHORITY EXCEPT THAT WHICH COMES FROM GOD.

THE ONES THAT GOD HAS ESTABLISHED. FATHER, I PRAY AGAIN THAT WHATEVER WE DO IS DONE WITH AN EXCELLENT DISPOSITION, AND UNTO THE LORD. I PRAY FOR THIS CITY OF EDINBURGH, FOR THE COUNTY OF HIDALGO, THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND THIS COUNTRY. I PRAY FOR THE WATERWAYS, THE DAMS, THE RIVERS, THE LAKES, EVERY SOURCE OF WATER TO BE PROTECTED.

AND AS WORDS HAVE BEEN PROPHESIED OVER THIS AREA, THAT WE BECOME THE CATALYST FOR A REVIVAL NOT ONLY IN THIS NATION BUT AROUND THE WORLD. I PRAY THAT THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY WILL BECOME LIKE THE CITY ON A HILL THAT YOUR WORD SPEAKS OF, NOT HIDDEN, BUT EXPOSED FOR THE WORLD TO SEE WITH GREATNESS, WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND WITH THE FEAR OF THE LORD AND WITH YOUR GOODNESS.

FATHER, THIS IS NOT JUST THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY.

THIS IS THE PLACE OF THE GREAT RIVER. AND I DARE TO BELIEVE THAT IT'S THE RIVER THAT FLOWS FROM THE VERY THRONE OF GOD, THAT BRINGS ABUNDANCE, THAT BRINGS LIFE, AND THAT BRINGS PROSPERITY TO THIS AREA AND TO ALL OF US.

I SEAL THESE WORDS WITH THE MIGHTY AND POWERFUL BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD AND SAVIOR.

AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU. PLEASE JOIN US FOR 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, PASTOR, FOR THAT PRAYER. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM TWO, CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE.

YES, SIR. MAYOR. THE MEETING WAS POSTED IN ACCORDANCE TO TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT ON FEBRUARY 16TH, 2024 AT 6:35 P.M.. SIR. THANK YOU. ITEM THREE IS CERTIFICATION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

EXCUSE ME. 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. ANY CONFLICTS TO DISCLOSE? NO, SIR. NO, SIR. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM FOUR.

I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT. RESIDENTS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US FOR A LOT OF RECOGNITIONS.

WELL DESERVED RECOGNITIONS. AND WE HAVE THE FIRST ONE FOR FROM OUR PARKS AND RECREATION A FOLLOW UP TO OUR HOMETOWN OF HEROES.

THAT IS HAPPENING FIRST PART OF MARCH. BUT WE HAVE ONE HOMETOWN HERO THAT I THINK WE'RE BEING RECOGNIZED THIS EVENING.

THAT'S RIGHT. MAYOR ROXANNE LIMA, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. AS YOU KNOW, LAST THURSDAY, WE DID HOLD A SPECIAL PRESS CONFERENCE TO UNVEIL THE 13 HOMETOWN HEROES WHO ARE GOING TO BE HONORED AT EACH MILE MARKER OF OUR HALF MARATHON.

HOWEVER, WE DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE ONE OF THOSE AMAZING INDIVIDUALS.

SO, MISTER FRED PALACIOS, WE'RE DOING THAT TONIGHT.

CLAIRE, CAN YOU UNCOVER THE POSTER, PLEASE? AS WE ALL KNOW, MISTER PALACIOS IS A VERY ACCOMPLISHED BUSINESSMAN KNOWN FOR HIS TREMENDOUS CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR THREE TIME ALL-AMERICA CITY.

AND AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE MR. PALACIOS TO JOIN US UP IN FRONT, IF POSSIBLE.

AND BEFORE WE GET TO OUR ACTUAL OFFICIAL CITY PRESENTATION, I ALSO WANT TO LET MR.

[00:50:03]

PALACIOS KNOW THAT IT'S A DOUBLE RECOGNITION, BECAUSE CHAIRMAN TERRY CANALES IS HERE TO ALSO RECOGNIZE HIM ON THE STATE LEVEL.

SO, CHAIRMAN, IF YOU CAN ALSO JOIN US IN FRONT.

MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AS A YOUNG LAWYER, ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO, I WANTED TO BECOME MORE INVOLVED IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH.

AND A MAN THAT I KNEW NAMED MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ HAD A SHOP DOWN THE STREET.

AND HE SAID, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE THE WATERS OF EDINBURGH, YOU NEED TO MEET FRED PALACIOS.

AND SO AS A YOUNG MAN, I HAD COFFEE WITH HIM AT THE ECHO, AND SINCE THAT TIME HE'S BEEN A DEAR FRIEND.

AND HE'S TRULY, TRULY A STEWARD AND A A BLESSING TO THE CITY OF EDINBURGH.

AND SO, ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WE BRING YOU THE CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION OF THE STATE.

AND THIS FLAG THAT WAS FLOWN OVER THE CAPITOL IN YOUR HONOR, WITH A CERTIFICATION THANKING YOU FOR YOUR YEARS AND YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE WITH INCALCULABLE VALUE THAT YOU'VE GIVEN THE CITY.

WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR WHO YOU ARE AND EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURGH AND ALL THE SURROUNDING AREAS. YOU TRULY ARE A MODEL CITIZEN THAT WE CAN LOOK UP TO, AND WE SHOULD MODEL OURSELVES AFTER EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO AND THE TIME AND THE JUST, THE THE INCREDIBLE DONATION THAT YOU'VE GIVEN OF YOURSELF TO MAKING THIS A BETTER CITY.

SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU.

OKAY, BUT YOU HAVE TO STAY UP HERE AT THIS TIME.

I ALSO WANT TO WELCOME OUR PARKS DIRECTOR, JAVIER GARZA, WHO'S GOING TO ALSO SAY A FEW WORDS IN HONOR OF MR. PALACIOS. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE, TO PRESENT THIS AWARD TO YOU. TO YOU. I'M GOING TO READ A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR HISTORY, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

I KNOW YOU'RE A VERY ACCOMPLISHED MAN AND BUSINESSMAN AND FAMILY MAN.

IN 1961, MR. PALACIOS EMPLOYED ALMOST 200 EMPLOYEES.

HE WAS WELL KNOWN AS A HARD WORKER. AND ALSO A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKED ALONGSIDE HIM IN THE FIELDS, LIKE WE ALL USED TO DO BACK IN THE OLD DAYS. VERY HARD WORKER IN THE 60S, 70S AND 80S.

SO I KNOW YOU ACCOMPLISHED SO MANY THINGS IN LIFE IN THIS WORLD.

MOVING ON. YOU HAD THE LARGEST CONCRETE COMPANY IN SOUTH TEXAS, WITH SIX ALL ACROSS THE VALLEY STARTING IN 1979, ALSO ACQUIRED BUSINESSMAN, ALSO A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE HAS ACCOMPLISHED HERE, OF COURSE, IS EMPLOY MANY PEOPLE.

BUT NOT ONLY THAT, A LOT OF ACCOLADES, A LOT OF AWARDS AND STUFF, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ALL THE HEROES HERE HAVE IN COMMON, OF COURSE, IS WHAT YOU GAVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

SO WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. ALSO VERY INVOLVED WITH EDINBURG LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS, MEXICAN AMERICAN, PRESIDENT OF EDINBURGH GOLF ASSOCIATION FIRST INDUSTRIAL PARK IN EDINBURG WAS BUILT FOR THE CONCRETE PLANT.

IS THAT PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD FOR 15 YEARS.

SO GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY A LOT AND ALSO THE EDC AND ALONG WITH THAT, MOST IMPORTANTLY, SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH, A FAMILY MAN AND AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY AND ALSO THE NEXT GENERATION IN EDINBURG.

MR. PALACIOS, HOMETOWN HERO. CONGRATULATIONS, SIR.

OH. IT WAS TOO MUCH FOR ME. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNCILMAN AND FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I STAND BEFORE YOU TONIGHT DEEPLY HUMBLED AND GRATEFUL TO HONOR.

TO BE HONORED NAME FOR THE HONOR OF BEING NAMED AS A HOMETOWN HERO.

IT IS A. IT IS WITH GREAT APPRECIATION THAT I THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION.

I AM THANKFUL TO SHARE THIS HONOR WITH ALL OUR ESTEEMED HONOREES.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR PREVIOUS MAYORS AND COUNCIL THAT I WAS BLESSED TO SERVE WITH.

I WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF EDINBURGH FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY AND ITS WONDERFUL CITIZENS.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE COMMITTEE THAT NOMINATED ME FOR THIS WONDERFUL AWARD.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY THANK MY FAMILY, MY CHILDREN, MY GRANDCHILDREN AND MY GREAT GRANDCHILDREN FOR ALL THE LOVE AND THEIR SUPPORT.

[00:55:05]

I LOVE YOU ALL. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND ALL THEIR FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED AND CONTINUE TO SERVE THIS BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY ALONGSIDE ME AS WELL.

I WOULD LIKE TO DEDICATE THIS AWARD TO MY BEAUTIFUL LATE WIFE, MARIA ELENA, NOT ONLY BECAUSE SHE WAS MY WIFE, BUT BECAUSE SHE WAS ALWAYS INTERESTED IN THE AGENDAS THAT I BROUGHT HOME.

SHE ALWAYS LIKED TO STUDY THEM WITH ME, AND SHE ALWAYS HAD AN OPINION EITHER ON THE ZONING AGENDA OR.

THE ECONOMIC AGENDA. SO THIS AWARD IS FOR YOU.

I KNOW YOU'RE HERE. I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE BY, LEAVING YOU ALL WITH ONE THOUGHT.

SERVICE IS THE BEST THING THAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP AND STRENGTHEN YOUR.

STRENGTHEN YOUR COMMUNITY. IF YOU DO IT WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR LOVE.

SO YOU EVER HAVE A CHANCE TO SERVE? JUMP AT IT.

THANK YOU. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. AND GOOD NIGHT.

OKAY. IF WE CAN HAVE ANY OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS COME TO THE FRONT SO THAT WE CAN TAKE A PHOTO WITH MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

MR. PALACIOS, YOU'RE AWESOME.

YOU THINK THAT YOUR MOM. MAY.

HAVE THIS SITUATION? MAYBE.

THANK YOU, MR. PULASKI. YES. YOU MAY BE EXCUSED.

YES. THANK YOU. AND I HAVE TO SAY, MR. PALACIOS, JUST BEFORE YOU GO I WAS LAUGHING BECAUSE WHEN CHAIRMAN CANALES MENTIONED ABOUT MEETING AT THE ECHO, I REMEMBER THAT BECAUSE I THAT'S HOW I MET MR. PALACIOS. HE WAS APPOINTED TO OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD.

HE WAS OUR NEWEST BOARD MEMBER. AND I REMEMBER CALLING HIM AND SAID, I NEED TO MEET WITH YOU SO WE CAN GO OVER ITEMS FOR THE EDC.

AND HE SAYS, WELL, I'LL MEET YOU AT THE ECHO. AND I SAID, YEAH, WHAT TIME? 7:00.

SO TERRY WAS THERE AT 7 A.M. AND HE MET WITH THEM.

IT'S AT 7:00 MEETING. SO YOU KNOW. BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITY.

I KNOW YOU SERVED IN MANY CAPACITIES AT OUR PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE.

AND ALL YOU DID OUTSIDE OF THAT AS A BUSINESSMAN AND JUST GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

MUCHAS FELICIDADES. THANK YOU. YOU'RE DOING A BEAUTIFUL JOB.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY FOR THEIR STATE AND NATIONWIDE RANKINGS, AS REQUESTED BY RICHARD SANCHEZ, ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UTRGV.

AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION TO READ.

WE'LL READ IT FOR THE RECORD. WHEREAS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY OPENED ITS DOORS TO ITS INAUGURAL CLASS OF STUDENTS AUGUST 31ST, 2015, AS THE FIRST MAJOR PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN TEXAS TO BE ESTABLISHED IN THE 21ST CENTURY, WELCOMING AN OVERALL STUDENT POPULATION OF APPROXIMATELY 30,000 STUDENTS, MAKING IT THE SECOND LARGEST HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTION IN THE NATION.

AND WHEREAS COMPRISED OF THE ASSETS, HUMAN RESOURCES AND INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF TWO RENOWNED LEGACY INSTITUTIONS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT BROWNSVILLE AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS PAN AMERICAN, THE REGIONAL ACADEMIC HEALTH CENTERS IN EDINBURG AND HARLINGEN, AND WITH THE ADDITION OF A LONG AWAITED SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, UTRGV CONTINUES TO TRANSFORM THE ACADEMIC AND ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE OF SOUTH TEXAS.

[01:00:06]

AND WHEREAS WASHINGTON MONTHLY HAS RANKED UTRGV AS NUMBER ONE AMONG ALL TEXAS UNIVERSITIES AND NUMBER 60 AMONG ALL UNIVERSITIES NATIONWIDE BASED ON THREE MAIN CRITERIA SOCIAL MOBILITY, PUBLIC SERVICE, AND RESEARCH.

NUMBER ONE AMONG ALL TEXAS UNIVERSITIES, AND NUMBER TWO NATIONALLY FOR PERFORMANCE OF PELL GRANT STUDENTS.

NUMBER ONE AMONG ALL TEXAS UNIVERSITIES FOR A NET PRICE OF ATTENDANCE AND NUMBER ONE AMONG ALL TEXAS UNIVERSITIES FOR BEST SOCIAL MOBILITY.

AND WHEREAS THE CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION HAS RANKED UTRGV AS THE NUMBER ONE FASTEST GROWING DOCTORAL PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN TEXAS AND NUMBER THREE NATIONALLY.

AND WHEREAS DEGREE CHOICES, A TEAM OF EDUCATION RESEARCHERS WHO PROVIDE A GUIDE TO PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS HAS RANKED UTRGV AS NUMBER ONE AMONG ALL PUBLIC TEXAS UNIVERSITIES AND NUMBER 15 AMONG ALL UNIVERSITIES NATIONALLY BASED ON ECONOMIC VALUE.

AND WHEREAS THIRD WAY, A NATIONAL THINK TANK, HAS RANKED UTRGV NUMBER ONE AMONG ALL LARGE TEXAS UNIVERSITIES AND NUMBER SIX NATIONALLY AMONG ALL UNIVERSITIES BASED ON ECONOMIC MOBILITY INDEX, OR HOW WELL UNIVERSITIES SERVE LOW INCOME STUDENTS.

AND WHEREAS, US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT, BASED ON 19 KEY MEASURES OF ACADEMIC QUALITY, HAS RANKED UTRGV NUMBER SIX AMONG ALL UNIVERSITIES IN TEXAS AND NUMBER 227 AMONG ALL UNIVERSITIES NATIONALLY, UP TO 72 PLACES FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR, AND THE NUMBER ONE TOP PERFORMER IN SOCIAL MOBILITY AMONG ALL PUBLIC TEXAS UNIVERSITIES. AND WHEREAS, THE HISPANIC OUTLOOK ON EDUCATION MAGAZINE HAS RANKED UTRGV AS NUMBER TWO IN TOTAL, BACHELOR'S DEGREES, GRANTED NUMBER THREE IN TOTAL MASTER'S DEGREES GRANTED AND NUMBER FOUR IN TOTAL ENROLLMENT FOR FOUR YEAR SCHOOLS, AND WILL SPOTLIGHT UTRGV ON THE FRONT COVER OF ITS OCTOBER 2023 EDITION FOR ITS EXCELLENCE AND COMMITMENT TO HISPANICS IN HIGHER EDUCATION.

AND WHEREAS UTRGV IS COMMITTED TO SERVING THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY VIA AN INNOVATIVE, INNOVATIVE AND UNIQUE MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION, DEDICATION TO STUDENTS ACCESS AND SUCCESS, AND TO CHAMPIONING LEADING RESEARCH, HEALTHCARE, APPLICATION OF UNIVERSITY DISCOVERIES AND SUPPORTING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND WELL-BEING.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG, BY THE POWER VESTED IN THEM BY LAW, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY AS A TOP RATED UNIVERSITY TO BE CHAMPIONED BY THE CITY OF EDINBURGH.

THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. MAYOR.

COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M VERONICA GONZALEZ, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS. AND I'M HERE TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF OUR PRESIDENT, DOCTOR GUY BAILEY. HE HAD A DEATH IN THE FAMILY, AND FOR THAT REASON, COULDN'T BE HERE.

BUT HE SENDS HIS REGRETS FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO ATTEND.

I DID WANT TO TELL YOU THAT IT WAS A VERY LONG PROCLAMATION, AND WE KNOW THAT.

BUT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE MANY, MANY RANKINGS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED AND THE MANY ACCOLADES THROUGHOUT NUMEROUS PUBLICATIONS AND MAGAZINES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, AND UTRGV. THIS IS OUR HOME HERE IN EDINBURG, TEXAS.

TO SAY THAT UTRGV IS CHANGING LIVES IS NOT AN EXAGGERATION.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE AWARE OF THIS, BUT WE JUST SINCE WE OPENED OUR DOORS IN 2015 TO TODAY, WE HAVE GRADUATED 50 OVER 50,000 STUDENTS. THAT IS LARGER THAN MANY CITIES HERE IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY.

AND THOSE ARE STUDENTS WHO ARE, WE HOPE ARE GOING TO STAY HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY, ARE GOING TO WORK HERE, ARE GOING TO BE OUR NEXT DOCTORS AND LAWYERS AND ACCOUNTANTS AND BUSINESS PEOPLE AND LEADERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF OUR STUDENTS. WE'RE ESPECIALLY PROUD IN THE RANKINGS OF THE SOCIAL MOBILITY, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, WHERE DO YOU START BEFORE YOU GET A FOUR YEAR EDUCATION TO WHERE DO YOU END UP AFTER YOU GET IT? AND IF YOU ALWAYS REMEMBER YOUR PARENTS TELLING YOU AN EDUCATION IS SOMETHING PEOPLE CANNOT TAKE AWAY FROM YOU.

AND THAT'S SO TRUE. I THINK OUR COMMUNITY VALUES VALUES HIGHER EDUCATION.

SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL TO ALL OF YOU. BUT WE WANT YOU TO KNOW NOBODY DOES IT ALONE.

WE HAVE TO HAVE STRONG COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND THE CITY OF EDINBURGH AND ALL OF THE MANY GROUPS IN EDINBURGH.

THE AFFILIATE GROUPS HAVE BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE OF OUR UNIVERSITY DOING THIS HAND IN HAND.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO CREATE A STRONGER COMMUNITY FOR ALL OF US AND FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.

SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THIS PROCLAMATION.

WE APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. THANK YOU.

YES, WE DID ONE ALREADY. YEAH. THANK YOU FOR KEEPING US IN.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM B.

THIS IS A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MARCH 2024 AS SOCIAL WORK MONTH.

AND THIS IS ALSO AS REQUESTED BY RICHARD SANCHEZ, ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR. AND WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION AS WELL TO READ FOR THE RECORD.

YES, SIR. MAYOR. WHEREAS SOCIAL WORK IS A PROFESSION DULY DEDICATED TO HELPING PEOPLE.

AND WHEREAS THE PRIMARY MISSION OF SOCIAL WORK IS TO ENHANCE HUMAN WELL-BEING AND HELP MEET THE BASIC AND COMPLEX NEEDS OF ALL PEOPLE.

[01:05:02]

AND WHEREAS SOCIAL WORKERS PUT A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON HELPING PEOPLE WHO ARE VULNERABLE, OPPRESSED OR LIVING IN POVERTY, WHEREAS SOCIAL WORKERS FOLLOW A CODE OF ETHICS THAT CALLS ON THEM TO FIGHT SOCIAL INJUSTICE AND RESPECT THE DIGNITY AND WORTH OF ALL PEOPLE.

AND WHEREAS SOCIAL WORKERS MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AND HELP PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND WHERE SOCIAL WORKERS WORK IN ALL FACETS OF OUR SOCIETY, INCLUDING SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, THE MILITARY, MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS, SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, CORPORATIONS, AND LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

OUR SOCIAL WORKERS ARE ON THE FRONT LINES IN HELPING THIS NATION SOLVE PRESSING SOCIAL PROBLEMS, INCLUDING AN INCREASED DEMAND FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND OPIOID ADDICTION CRISIS AND ECONOMIC INEQUALITY.

OUR SOCIAL WORKERS ARE IN HIGH DEMAND, WITH SOME STATES REPORTING SHORTAGES IN SOCIAL WORK, STAFFING AND THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS PREDICTING SOCIAL WORK WILL BE ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING PROFESSIONS IN OUR NATION DURING THIS DECADE.

AND WHEREAS, THE 2024 SOCIAL WORK MONTH THEME, EMPOWERING SOCIAL WORKERS EMBODIES THE NEED FOR SOCIAL SOCIETY TO SUPPORT SOCIAL WORKERS SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO DO THE LIFE AFFIRMING WORK THEY DO AND HELP ADDRESS SOCIETAL NEEDS.

OUR SOCIAL WORKERS, IN TURN, EMPOWER PEOPLE, COMMUNITIES AND OUR NATION, HELPING EVERYONE ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.

AND WHEREAS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2018 AS AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL AND AND IS THE ONLY INSTITUTION TO OFFER PROGRAMS LEADING TO BOTH THE BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK DEGREE AND THE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SOCIAL WORK DEGREE.

SOUTH OF SAN ANTONIO, THE COUNCIL ON SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION ACCREDITS BOTH PROGRAMS, AND WHEREAS THE UTRGV SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK IS COMMITTED TO PREPARING SOCIAL WORKERS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF A BINATIONAL AND MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITY AND TO INCREASINGLY MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE NATIONAL STAGE.

THE EDUCATIONAL EMPHASIS IS ON SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE WITH HISPANIC, LATINO, LATINX, INDIVIDUAL INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES, AND WITH OTHER DIVERSE COMMUNITIES CONSIDERING MULTICULTURAL COMPETENCE, ETHICAL PRACTICE, KNOWLEDGE BUILDING, AND SOCIAL SERVICES THAT PROMOTE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INJUSTICE.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG, BY THE POWER VESTED IN THEM BY LAW, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE THE MONTH OF MARCH AS SOCIAL WORK MONTH AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO JOIN THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS AND THE CITY OF EDINBURGH IN CELEBRATION AND SUPPORT OF THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR AND HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. I'M LUIS TORRES, I'M THE FOUNDING DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, RIO GRANDE VALLEY. AND WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT FROM THE CITY AND THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE BUILD OUR OUR COMMUNITIES.

OUR SOCIETY NEEDS SOCIAL WORKERS TODAY MORE THAN EVER.

WE NEED THEM FOR OUR HEALTH. WE NEED THEM FOR OUR MENTAL HEALTH, AND WE NEED THEM TO HELP HEAL MANY OF THE WOUNDS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN OUR FRACTURED SOCIETY. AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO. SOCIAL WORKERS WORK AT EVERY EVERY ONE OF THOSE LEVELS, AND WE CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK.

WE HAVE ALMOST A THOUSAND STUDENTS SOCIAL WORK ALONE BETWEEN BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S.

WE JUST APPROVED A DUAL DEGREE IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL WORK WITH THE REGIONAL SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

WE'RE WORKING ON SEVERAL OTHERS. WE'RE WORKING ON A PHD IN SOCIAL WORK.

AND LIKE MISS GONZALEZ WAS SAYING, A GRAND MAJORITY OF OUR STUDENTS ACTUALLY STAY IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, SO WE'RE POISED TO HAVE TREMENDOUS IMPACT IN THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITIES FOR DECADES TO COME.

THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO OUR PART IN THIS PARTNERSHIP.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM. NEXT WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING FRANK IGLESIAS.

HE'S DECIDED TO RETIRE FROM OUR CITY OF EDINBURG AS A MUNICIPAL COURT MARSHAL.

EDINBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT OF 20 YEARS OF SERVICE.

DO YOU WANT TO STEP UP TO THE PODIUM? AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION THAT WILL ALSO READ FOR THE RECORD. YES, SIR. MAYOR. WHEREAS ON APRIL 21ST, 2003, FRANK IGLESIAS WAS HIRED BY THE CITY OF EDINBURG PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT, POLICE DIVISION. AND WHEREAS, ON APRIL 21ST, 2004, OFFICER IGLESIAS TRANSFERRED FROM PATROL OFFICER ONE TO PATROL OFFICER TWO AND WHEREAS, ON MAY 30TH, 2011, OFFICER IGLESIAS TRANSFERRED FROM PATROL OFFICER TWO TO MUNICIPAL COURT WARRANT OFFICER BAILIFF AND WHEREAS, ON FEBRUARY 18TH, 2013, OFFICER IGLESIAS TRANSFERRED FROM EDINBURG MUNICIPAL COURT WARRANT OFFICER BAILIFF TO DEPUTY MUNICIPAL COURT MARSHAL AND WHEREAS, ON MARCH 8TH, 2021, OFFICER IGLESIAS TRANSFERRED FROM DEPUTY MUNICIPAL COURT MARSHAL TO MUNICIPAL COURT MARSHAL AND WAS DURING HIS YEARS OF SERVICE, FRANK IGLESIAS ATTENDED NUMEROUS TRAININGS AND RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATES.

CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE.

INTERGOVERNMENTAL RISK POOL. CERTIFICATE OF TRAINING, TEXAS MUNICIPAL POLICE ASSOCIATION, LAURA GRANDE VALLEY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, REGIONAL POLICE ACADEMY, AMERICAN LAW ENFORCEMENT RADAR AND TRAINING CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION, TEXAS ENGINEERING EXTENSION SERVICE, CONCHO VALLEY REGIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY, HIDALGO COUNTY SHERIFF'S ACADEMY,

[01:10:06]

SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY IMPAIRED DRIVING PROGRAMS, AND WHEREAS, OFFICER IGLESIAS RECEIVED OR HELD THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES.

INTERMEDIATE PEACE OFFICER CERTIFICATION LICENSE.

ADVANCED PEACE OFFICER CERTIFICATION LICENSE AND MASTERPIECE OFFICER CERTIFICATION LICENSE.

AND WHEREAS, ON JANUARY 31ST, 2024, AFTER 20 YEARS OF SERVICE, MUNICIPAL COURT MARSHAL FRANK INGLIS RETIRED FROM THE CITY OF EDINBURGH.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDINBURGH, TEXAS, BY THE POWER VESTED IN THEM BY LAW, HEREBY RECOGNIZE FRANK IGLESIAS, MUNICIPAL COURT MARSHAL, EDINBURG MUNICIPAL COURT, FOR HIS YEARS OF LOYALTY AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. THE EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS THEIR GRATITUDE AND WISH OFFICER FRANK IGLESIAS A HAPPY RETIREMENT.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME UP HERE AND SPEAK.

THANK MY FAMILY, MY WIFE ESPECIALLY. FOR BEING HERE FOR FOR BEING BEHIND ME THESE 20 YEARS AND MY GOOD FRIENDS, MY BROTHER, MY SISTER WELL, EVERYBODY THAT WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT.

I LOVE WORKING FOR THE CITY. I WORK SINCE 1989.

I WAS ACTUALLY A FIREFIGHTER, AND AFTER THAT I GOT INTERESTED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THAT WAS MY PASSION.

SO UNFORTUNATELY I DO HAVE TO RETIRE. IT'S ABOUT TIME.

MEDICAL REASONS. AND PLUS I WANT TO FISH LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE DOES.

THERE YOU GO. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS.

I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.

ABSOLUTELY. AND FRANK, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR OUR YEARS OF SERVICE.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT. YOU'VE SERVED A FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE NEED TO ADD TEN YEARS TO THAT PROCLAMATION.

IT'S 20 YEARS, I GUESS, OFFICIALLY WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. BUT HE SERVED IN OUR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS, SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THOSE YEARS OF SERVICE AND ALL THAT YOU DID FOR OUR CITY.

AND I ALWAYS TELL EVERYBODY AND OF COURSE, YOUR FAMILY, YOU KNOW, IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR, YOU KNOW, WORKING FOR THE CITY. IT YOU HAVE THAT SUPPORT.

THANK YOU ALSO FOR ALLOWING THEM ALL THIS TIME AND, AND FOR, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH US ALL THESE YEARS AND TELL US ABOUT THOSE FISHING SPOTS WHEN YOU FIND I CAN'T I CAN'T GIVE THOSE UP YET.

ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. FRANK. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.

I WISH YOU WELL. ALL RIGHT. I BELIEVE WE HAVE ANOTHER PROCLAMATION FOR RETIREE, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE HE'S PRESENT THIS EVENING.

I BELIEVE ANDRES MORENO. HE WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT THIS EVENING.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. NO PROBLEM. SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM E, WHICH IS EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2023.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. LISSETTE GOMEZ, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES, ON BEHALF OF THE EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE, WE'RE HERE TO RECOGNIZE OUR EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2023.

MISS VIVIANA CABALLERO. SHE'S BEEN HERE WITH THE CITY SINCE JUNE OF 2019, WHERE SHE SERVED AS A CHILDREN'S SUPERVISOR.

HOWEVER, WE HAVE SOME GREAT NEWS. SHE WAS RECENTLY PROMOTED TO ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF LIBRARY, EFFECTIVE THIS MONTH. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND RECOGNIZE HER AND ALSO HAVE MISS LETTY LEIJA SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS ON HER BEHALF. YES. FOR THE RECORD, LETTY, DIRECTOR OF LIBRARY AND CULTURAL ARTS HERE WITH MISS VIVIANA CABALLERO.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE. AND IN CELEBRATION OF MISS VIVIANA'S SERVICE, SHE'S BEEN AN EXCELLENT.

SHE STARTED IN 2019 AS A LIBRARY ASSISTANT. WAS, YOU KNOW, QUICKLY PROMOTED TO OUR CHILDREN'S SUPERVISOR, WHERE SHE EXCELLED AS WELL. AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT SHE ALSO RECEIVED HER MASTER'S IN LIBRARY SCIENCE DURING THAT TIME.

AND LET ME REMIND YOU THAT IT WAS DURING COVID.

SHE SHE WAS THERE WHEN COVID HIT. SHE HELPED US TURN ON A DIME.

AND BECAUSE OF HER, YOU KNOW, HER AND SOME OF OUR OTHER STAFF MEMBERS, SHE WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE LIBRARY SERVICES, STORYTIMES, VIRTUAL PROGRAMING, ALL TO TO THE CHILDREN WHO WERE STILL AT HOME.

I ESPECIALLY WANTED TO COMMENT ABOUT A SPECIAL PROGRAM THAT VIVIANA HAD.

SHE WOULD MAKE SHE WOULD SHE DID A VIDEO WHERE SHE ASKED THE PARENTS TO CALL IN AND LET US KNOW WHAT KIND OF BOOKS THEIR CHILDREN LIKED TO READ.

YOU KNOW, IF IT WAS ABOUT ADVENTURES OR HUMOR.

AND THEN THE PARENTS WOULD CALL IN. SHE WOULD HER AND HER STAFF WOULD PROVIDE BUNDLES OF BOOKS, PUT THEM IN WITH NICE RIBBONS AND A PERSONAL, PERSONALIZED LITTLE NOTE, YOU KNOW, THANKING THEM FOR CONTINUING TO READ DURING THIS TIME.

AND I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, SO SPECIAL AND ANOTHER WAY OF ENCOURAGING AND ENCOURAGING THEM TO READ.

FOSTERING THAT LOVE OF READING. AND DURING THE COVID, WE DID NOT SEE YOU KNOW, A LOSS OF CIRCULATION OF OUR MATERIALS.

[01:15:03]

WE'RE VERY HAPPY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE. AND I REALLY DO THINK THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF EMPLOYEES LIKE VIVIANA? YOU KNOW, AFTER THAT, WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS. YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD RECENTLY IN NOVEMBER, WHEN WE WERE IN THE FALL WHEN WE HAD OUR SOLAR ECLIPSE, SHE WAS PART OF A PROJECT WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE OUT OVER A THOUSAND SOLAR ECLIPSE GLASSES.

BUT NOT ONLY WAS SHE, YOU KNOW, DID SHE JUST DO THAT? NO, SHE HAD A SOLAR ECLIPSE PARTY WHERE THE WHOLE FAMILY COULD COME IN.

THEY HAD ART AND SCIENCE RELATED ACTIVITIES DURING THE TIME OF THE SOLAR ECLIPSE, WHERE EVERYTHING COULD BE DONE SAFELY.

THEY EVEN HAVE HAD A TELESCOPE. SO BECAUSE OF THIS INNOVATIVE PROGRAMING, WE THOUGHT IT WAS, YOU KNOW, WE DEFINITELY WANTED TO RECOGNIZE HER IN DECEMBER AS EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.

BUT THEN COME JANUARY, WE DID HAVE SOME UNFORTUNATE NEWS THAT OUR LIBRARY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WAS, YOU KNOW, HAD MOVED ON TO BECOME A DIRECTOR AT ANOTHER LIBRARY.

SO IT WAS GOOD NEWS FOR HIM. BUT WE ALSO WANTED TO PROMOTE MISS VIVIANA, WHO HAS BEEN SUCH A DEDICATED, DEDICATED EMPLOYEE, SO VERY HAPPY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ANNOUNCE TODAY AS WELL THAT SHE'S OUR NEW ASSISTANT LIBRARY DIRECTOR.

WOW. CONGRATULATIONS. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, MISS LETTY, FOR THOSE KIND WORDS. I AM JUST VERY GRATEFUL TO BE IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH.

I LOVE MY JOB. I NEVER THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE A LIBRARIAN.

I ACTUALLY STUDIED PSYCHOLOGY. THAT'S MY MAJOR.

AND WHEN I STARTED WORKING AT THE DUSTIN MITCHELL MEMORIAL LIBRARY, I FELL IN LOVE, YOU KNOW, IN SERVING THE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

THANK YOU. I THINK THIS IS A GREAT CITY FOR EMPLOYEES.

AND, YOU KNOW, I BET THAT ALL THE EMPLOYEES ARE VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE.

I FEEL THE SUPPORT NOT JUST FROM THE LIBRARY STAFF, BUT FROM ALL THE DEPARTMENTS WITH THE CITY, YOU KNOW, HUMAN RESOURCES, MAINTENANCE, EVERYBODY.

WHEN WE HAVE EVENTS OR ACTIVITIES HAPPENING AT THE LIBRARY.

AND, WELL, MISS LETELLIER HAS ASKED ME A FEW DAYS AGO, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU THINK WHEN YOU'RE COMING TO WORK.

AND I RESPONDED, YOU KNOW, I THINK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT I HAVE PENDING ARE THINGS THAT I EMAILS THAT I NEED TO REPLY, THINGS THAT I NEED TO PLAN. BUT ON MY WAY TO WORK, WHEN I'M DRIVING, I'M ALSO THINKING OF A BIBLE VERSE THAT I LOVE THAT SAYS, WHATEVER YOU DO WORK WITH, ALL WORK AT IT WITH ALL YOUR HEART AS WORKING FOR THE LORD.

SO YOU HAVE MY WORD THAT I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH ALL MY HEART AS WORKING FOR THE LORD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS.

ALL RIGHT. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE LET ME JUST SAY WE HAVE SO MANY EMPLOYEES NOW THAT IT'S REALLY HARD, I THINK, FOR US AS COUNCIL TO INTERACT OR BE ABLE TO TOUCH OR SEE ALL THE EMPLOYEES.

I MEAN, WE HAVE 1200 EMPLOYEES NOW OR HOW MANY DO WE HAVE NOW THROUGHOUT THE CITY? YEAH, BUT BUT I DID WANT TO SAY THAT THAT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TO, YOU KNOW, BE ALONGSIDE ON THE LIBRARY NOT TOO LONG AGO.

WE'RE READING TO THE KIDS. AND I SAW FIRSTHAND YOUR PASSION THAT YOU HAVE.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATE YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR OUR CITY.

AND I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE DOING GREAT THINGS.

AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO HERE FOR OUR CITY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PICTURE. YOU WANT TO PUT THIS ON? DO I HOLD THE CERTIFICATE? ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM FIVE. PUBLIC COMMENTS. DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS THIS EVENING? YES, SIR. MAYOR. THE EDINBURGH CITY COUNCIL ASKED FOR A SPECIFIC PORTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO BE DEDICATED TO PUBLIC COMMENTS. PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES. PLEASE NOTE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOT INTERACTIVE.

THE FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT IS KENDRA GARRETT SPEAKING ON ITEM NINE B.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I DID WANT TO ASK, COULD I RESERVE MY TIME FOR WHENEVER THE ITEM NINE B COMES UP? WELL, I WOULD SUGGEST IF YOU CAN MAKE YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS BECAUSE IT'S NOT A A PUBLIC HEARING THAT ITEM.

IF NORMALLY WHEN THERE IS I DO ALLOW THAT. BUT YOU CAN SPEAK NOW UNDER PUBLIC COMMENTS IF THAT'S YOUR WISHES.

OKAY. PERFECT. THANK YOU. HI, MY NAME IS KENDRA GARRETT.

I'M WITH BECO CONSULTING AND I'M REPRESENTING MY CLIENT, TEXAS GRAY OAKS.

[01:20:02]

THEY'RE GOING TO BE THE DEVELOPER OF HIGHLAND SENIOR VILLAS THAT WILL BE LOCATED OFF 333 WEST FREDI GONZALEZ ROAD IN EDINBURG, TEXAS. IT'S GOING TO BE 120 UNIT ELDERLY DEVELOPMENT SERVING 62 RESIDENTS THAT ARE 62, 60, 62 YEARS AND OLDER. AND IT'S GOT A PLETHORA OF AMENITIES POOL, A DOG PARK, GREEN SPACE, COMMUNITY SPACE FOR RESIDENTS TO HAVE SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES. AND SO I JUST WANT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THIS OF THIS DEVELOPMENT.

EDINBURG IS FACING A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL SHORTAGE OF ELDERLY HOUSING, PARTICULARLY THAT'S AFFORDABLE, PARTICULARLY FOR FOLKS THAT ARE ON FIXED INCOMES. AND I THINK THIS DEVELOPMENT WOULD SERVE QUITE WELL FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE SENIOR RESIDENTS OF EDINBURG.

ADDITIONALLY, IT'S CLOSE TO A PLETHORA OF AMENITIES.

THERE'S A GROCERY RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET. THE HEALTH CARE SOUTH TEXAS HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS TWO AND A HALF MILES AWAY, WHICH WOULD BE EXTREMELY AMAZING FOR ANY SORT OF EMERGENCIES THAT HAPPEN FOR ELDERLY DEVELOPMENT, THE ELDERLY RESIDENTS AND ADDITIONALLY DURING CONSTRUCTION? THIS PROJECT WILL CREATE AROUND 150 TO 200 JOBS, WITH ABOUT 2 TO 4 THAT WILL BE FULL TIME AFTER CONSTRUCTION IS OVER.

AND SO ALSO AND SO IN ADDITION TO THAT, WITH ALL THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD WITH CITY STAFF, I THINK ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT'S COME UP IS AROUND TRAFFIC.

AND WE HAVE AN ENGINEER HERE. IF WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, HOWEVER, JUST IT'S THE SITE IS SEVEN ACRES, IT'LL BE FIVE ACRES WILL BE 120 UNITS, AND THEN TWO ACRES WOULD BE LIKE A SMALL COMMERCIAL.

AND SO DOING A PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC ANALYSIS IS ACTUALLY MUCH LOWER TRAFFIC FLOW THROUGH THAT AREA, AROUND 200 TRIPS PER DAY DURING PEAK HOURS VERSUS WHAT IS CURRENTLY ZONED AS COMMERCIAL, THAT WILL BE AROUND 700 TRIPS PER DAY.

SO ACTUALLY YOU'RE SORT OF REDUCING THE POTENTIAL TRAFFIC THAT WOULD HAPPEN IN THAT AREA.

AND YOU'RE STILL SERVING 120 UNITS FOR ELDERLY DEVELOPMENTS.

THIS FOR THE TECH PROGRAM. THIS DEVELOPMENT SCORE IS QUITE HIGH.

WE'RE SORT OF ON THE BUBBLE FOR BEING AWARD AND SORT OF THE TOP SCORING SITE.

ON MARCH 7TH, 20. CAN I GET A MOTION TO RECONVENE, PLEASE? SO MOVED. SECOND. SECOND. A MOTION TO SECOND.

RECONVENE. ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. I JUST WANT THE RECORD TO REFLECT THAT THERE WAS NO ACTION TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

COUNSELOR, IS THERE ACTION? BASED ON THE DISCUSSION, I WOULD RECOMMEND A MOTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT

[A. Consultation with City Attorney and Possible Action Regarding Agreement for City Event. (§551.071 Consultation with Attorney; §551.087 Deliberation Regarding Economic Development Negotiations; Closed Meeting.)]

REGARDING A CITY EVENT ON THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

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

ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. ANY OTHER ACTION? NO ACTION REQUIRED.

MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED.

SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. IT IS 721. WE'RE NOW ADJOURNED.

[8. ADJOURNMENT]

SHOULD WE?

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.

Feb 27, 2024 Special City Council Meeting

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