[00:03:49] COMING UP NEXT ON ESPN, A REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE EDINBURGH 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 ADVISER, CITY MANAGER MAYRA AYALA AND CITY ATTORNEY OMAR OCHOA. AND NOW LIVE FROM EDINBURG CITY HALL, THE EDINBURGH CITY COUNCIL. [1. CALL TO ORDER, ESTABLISH QUORUM A. Prayer.] ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. I'M GOING TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER OF OUR EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING. WELCOME TO THIS EVENING'S MEETING. I DO SEE VISIBLY THAT WE HAVE A QUORUM THIS EVENING WITH ALL MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT. WE'RE GOING TO START OFF, AS WE DO EVERY MEETING WITH A PRAYER. WE HAVE PASTOR RYAN GARZA FROM PALM VALLEY CHURCH TO LEAD US IN PRAYER. IF YOU CAN, PLEASE RISE FOR THE PRAYER. THANK YOU. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, LET'S PRAY. HEAVENLY FATHER, AS WE GATHER HERE TODAY AS REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR BELOVED CITY OF EDINBURGH, WE COME BEFORE YOU WITH HUMBLE HEARTS AND OPEN MINDS. WE SEEK YOUR GUIDANCE, WISDOM AND BLESSINGS UPON THIS MEETING. [00:05:04] GRANT US THE STRENGTH TO CARRY OUT OUR DUTIES WITH INTEGRITY, FAIRNESS AND COMPASSION. HELP US TO LISTEN TO ONE ANOTHER, TO UNDERSTAND PERSPECTIVES AND MAKE DECISIONS THAT WILL BENEFIT ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE ASK FOR YOUR WISDOM TO NAVIGATE THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR CITY FACES TO FIND SOLUTIONS, PROMOTE UNITY, PROSPERITY, AND PEACE. BLESS EACH COUNCIL MEMBER WITH INSIGHT AND DISCERNMENT AS WE DELIBERATE ON MATTERS BOTH GREAT AND SMALL. MAY YOUR LIGHT SHINE UPON THIS GATHERING, ILLUMINATING OUR DECISIONS, OUR DISCUSSIONS AND ACTIONS WITH JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS. WE LIFT YOU UP. OH GOD, ALL THOSE WHO CALL EDINBURGH HOME. MAY OUR DECISIONS TODAY AND ALWAYS REFLECT OUR COMMITMENT TO SERVE WITH HONOR AND DEDICATION. IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY. [B. Pledge of Allegiance.] 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 [2. CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE] ALL. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM TWO, WHICH IS CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE. YES, SIR. MAYOR. THE MEETING WAS POSTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT [3. DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST] ON MARCH 15TH, 2024 AT 9:30 P.M., SIR. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ITEM THREE DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST. UNDER STATE LAW, A CONFLICT OF INTEREST EXISTS IF A COUNCIL MEMBER OR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THAT PERSON'S FAMILY HAS A QUALIFYING FINANCIAL INTEREST IN AN AGENDA ITEM, IF THERE IS A CONFLICT, THE MEMBER CAN'T PARTICIPATE OR VOTE ON THE ITEM. ARE THERE ANY CONFLICTS TO DISCLOSE? NO, SIR. NO, SIR. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THAT BEING THE CASE, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM FOUR. WE HAVE SEVERAL PROCLAMATIONS THIS EVENING. WE'LL START WITH ITEM EIGHT, PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING HARVEST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY LADY EAGLES VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM. AS REQUESTED BY FERN MCCLARTY. [4. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS] [A. Presentation of Proclamation Recognizing Harvest Christian Academy Lady Eagles Varsity Basketball Team as Requested by Fern McClaugherty. [Clarice Y. Balderas, City Secretary]] IF YOU'RE HERE FOR THE PROCLAMATION, WE COULD STEP UP TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE. HEY, GIRL. ANYBODY HERE FROM. I KNOW YOU'RE NOT SHY. SO STEP UP TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE, SO WE CAN RECOGNIZE YOU. WHEREAS HARVEST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1999 WITH THE VISION OF PARTNERING WITH PARENTS AND RAISING CHILDREN IN A CHRISTIAN ENVIRONMENT AND FOR THE GLORY OF GOD. AND WHEREAS HARVEST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY LADY EAGLES VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM ARE BACK TO BACK STATE CHAMPIONS, CAPTURING THEIR SECOND STRAIGHT, TAPPS WON A STATE TITLE WITH A 78 TO 27 VICTORY OVER TEXOMA CHRISTIAN AT ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL. AND WHEREAS THE LADY EAGLES VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM FINISHED THE YEAR WITH A 42 TO 1 OVERALL RECORD, THEIR LONE LOSS TO CLASS SIX, A RGV POWERHOUSE EDINBURG HIGH 66 TO 60 ON DECEMBER 12TH, 2023. THEY HAVE AMASSED OF 77 TO 8 RECORD DURING THE PAST TWO SEASONS, AVERAGING 72.9 POINTS PER GAME AND ALLOWING JUST 30.9. DURING THAT SPAN, THE EAGLES OUTSCORED THEIR FIVE PLAYOFF OPPONENTS 410 TO 146 AND ROUTE TO THEIR SECOND STRAIGHT STATE TITLE. THEY'VE OUTSCORED THEIR PLAYOFF OPPONENTS BY A COMBINED 701 TO 241 THROUGHOUT THE PAST TWO YEARS. AND WHEREAS THE LADY EAGLES VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM AND COACHING STAFF PUT IN COUNTLESS OF HOURS OF PRACTICE AND PREPARATION TO BRING THE TEAM TO THE STATE COMPETITION LEVEL. AND WHEREAS THE LADY EAGLES VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM IS MADE UP OF AN AMAZING GROUP OF YOUNG LADIES SENIORS ALEXIS LEXIE GARCIA, ABBY TORRES, ASHLEY GONZALEZ, JENESIS MORENO, SAMANTHA MUNOZ, JUNIOR RILEY MCLARTY, SOPHOMORES JAIME GONZALEZ, FRESHMAN CARMELLA FUTA, MIA GARZA, AND WHEREAS. THE LADY EAGLES COACHING STAFF IS COMPRISED OF HEAD COACH JAIME GONZALEZ AND ASSISTANT COACHES JUAN LANDA JUNIOR AND LARRY QUINTERO, AND ARE THEREFORE ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG, TEXAS. BY THE POWER VESTED IN THEM BY LAW, I DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE HARVEST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY LADY EAGLES AND CALL UPON ALL RESIDENTS TO JOIN IN THE CELEBRATION OF THE SUCCESS OF THESE STUDENTS AND COACHES. ALL RIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS. YOU CAN GO TO THE PODIUM. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. IT'S AN HONOR BEING HERE. AND I JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE YOU ALL AND EVERYBODY HERE FOR YOUR SUPPORT. I HONESTLY MEAN IT WHEN I SAY THAT WE DIDN'T JUST REPRESENT OUR SCHOOL, OUR FAMILIES, AND, OF COURSE, FIRST AND FOREMOST, GOD. BUT WE REPRESENT THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. AND WE PLAYED IN SOME TEAMS, SOME TOURNAMENTS UP NORTH WHERE THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE US UNDER HARVEST CHRISTIAN. THEY HAD US UNDER EDINBURG. AND WHAT A PRIVILEGE, WHAT AN HONOR THAT WAS. AND WE TRIED TO REPRESENT EVERYBODY, EVERY CITIZEN HERE. AND AGAIN GOD'S GIVEN US. WE SAY OPPORTUNITIES AND ABILITIES AND WE TRY TO MAXIMIZE THAT. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THESE GIRLS BECAUSE THEY DID THE VERY BEST THEY COULD TO REPRESENT THE GREAT CITY OF EDINBURG. AND AND WELL, YOU EARNED YOUR RIGHT TO AT LEAST COME TO THE PODIUM, [00:10:01] STATE YOUR NAME SO YOU COULD BE RECOGNIZED HERE ON ON TV. SO EVERY ONE OF YOU, CAN YOU COME UP AND SAY YOUR NAME AND WHAT GRADE YOU'RE IN? I'M MIA GARZA, AND I'M A FRESHMAN IN NINTH GRADE. I'M CARMELA FUDO, AND I'M ALSO A NINTH GRADE. I'M SAMANTHA MUNOZ, AND I'M A SENIOR. I'M ASHLEY GONZALEZ AND I'M A SENIOR. I'M ABIGAIL TORRES AND I'M A SENIOR. I'M JAIME GONZALEZ AND I'M A SOPHOMORE. I'M KEZIA LEAL, AND I'M A SOPHOMORE. I'M ALEXIS GARCIA AND I'M A SENIOR. I'M GENESIS MORENO AND I'M A SENIOR. I'M RILEY MCLARTY AND I'M A JUNIOR. AND IN CASE Y'ALL DIDN'T GET TO HEAR THE PROCLAMATION KIND OF OUTLINED FOR THE PUBLIC THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENT, THEY DIDN'T JUST WIN A STATE TITLE THIS YEAR. THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW. IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR. AND THE STATE TITLE GAME THAT I SHOW ON THE RECORD THAT THEY WON 78 TO 27, SO THEY DIDN'T THEY'RE NOT JUST WELL, THEY SQUEAKED THEIR WAY TO GET A TITLE. THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY VERY SUCCESSFUL, VERY TALENTED. AND WE'RE SO VERY PROUD OF Y'ALL. AND COACH IT TAKES LEADERSHIP, STARTING WITH YOU AND THE HARD WORK THAT THEY PUT IN AND ALSO ACKNOWLEDGING THEIR PARENTS, RIGHT. THAT TAKING THE PRACTICE AND FOLLOW AND SUPPORT THEM. CONGRATULATIONS. WE'RE SO VERY PROUD. AND YOU KNOW, Y'ALL OBVIOUSLY EDINBURGH IS ON THE MAP FOR MANY REASONS, BUT Y'ALL CONTINUE MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW WHERE EDINBURGH IS. THANKFULLY FOR WHAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND MAYOR, IF I MAY, I HEARD A LOT OF UNDERCLASSMEN, SO WE'LL SEE YOU HERE NEXT YEAR. NO PRESSURE. ALL RIGHT. YEAH. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS, LADIES. THANK YOU. A LOT OF TALENTED [B. Presentation of Proclamation Recognizing Unidos Contra La Diabetes as Requested by Moises Arjona Jr., Unidos Contra la Diabetes, Collective Impact Director. [Clarice Y. Balderas, City Secretary]] YOUNG FOLKS HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM B PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING UNIDOS CONTRA LA DIABETES AS REQUESTED BY MOISÉS ARJONA. JUNIOR UNIDOS CONTRA LA DIABETES COLLECTIVE IMPACT DIRECTOR. WHEREAS UNIDOS CONTRA LA DIABETES WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2014 AS A COLLECTIVE IMPACT INITIATIVE AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP DEDICATED TO PREVENTING DIABETES IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, THEY BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER IN A STRUCTURED WAY TO ACHIEVE SOCIAL, BEHAVIORAL AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY CHANGE. AND WHEREAS PARTNERS OF THE ORGANIZATION REPRESENT A WIDE RANGE OF HOSPITALS, COMMUNITY CLINICS, FOUNDATIONS, UNIVERSITIES AND FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS UNITING TO BUILD AN EXISTING DIABETES PREVENTION EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN THE AREA. AND WHEREAS, SINCE ITS FORMATION, THE INITIATIVE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH ITS PARTNERS, COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AND RESIDENTS OF THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THOSE LIVING IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY BY WORKING TOGETHER TO BRING AWARENESS AND PREVENTION TO TYPE TWO DIABETES IN OUR YOUTH AND ADULTS IN A DIGNIFIED MANNER, WITH MUTUAL RESPECT FOR ALL AND DIGNITY TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. AND WHEREAS FOR TEN YEARS, UNIDOS CONTRA LA DIABETES HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND HAS HELPED TO BRING AWARENESS AND PREVENTION TO TYPE TWO DIABETES. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF EDINBURGH IS PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE UNIDOS CONTRA LA DIABETES, A COLLECTIVE IMPACT INITIATIVE WORKING TO BRING AWARENESS AND PREVENTION TO TYPE TWO DIABETES IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. NOW, THEREFORE, ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG BY THE POWER INVESTED IN THEM. BY LAW, I DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE UNIDOS CONTRA LA DIABETES AND ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF EDINBURGH TO BECOME CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR OPTIMUM HEALTH FOR BOTH TODAY AND TOMORROW. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FOR THIS ACKNOWLEDGMENT FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS AS YOU KNOW KDHE HAS BEEN WORKING TO BRING AWARENESS AND PREVENTION TO TYPE TWO DIABETES IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. WE CONTINUE TO MAKE HEADLINES IN THE NEWS NOT ONLY ABOUT OBESITY, BUT DIABETES RATES AS WELL. AND WE WANT TO GO AHEAD AND CHANGE THAT. BUT EDINBURG, YOU ALL HAVE BEEN DOING THE FOREFRONT. YOU'VE BEEN CHANGING THE WAY YOU HAVE YOUR CITY. YOU HAVE WORKPLACE WELLNESS INITIATIVES. YOU INVITE THE COMMUNITY TO GO OUT TO THE PARKS. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND WE WOULD LOVE FOR EVERYONE TO MODEL CITY OF EDINBURGH AND WHAT THEY DO. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. AND I'M NOT SURE IF I CAN PLUG THIS. OUR CITY ATTORNEY WILL STOP ME HERE. BUT THERE IS A DIABETES EVENT THIS THURSDAY WHERE I'M HAVING TO BE A WAITER. I THINK OMAR WAS THAT LAST YEAR. SO IF Y'ALL WANT TO SUPPORT ANOTHER DIABETES EVENT THIS THURSDAY, IT'S THE DIABETES ASSOCIATION THAT I GUESS IT'S A SISTER ORGANIZATION TO Y'ALL OR SOMETHING. BUT IT'S ALL TO RAISE FUNDS FOR DIABETES. SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO THURSDAY NIGHT THERE IS THAT EVENT, AND I'M GOING TO BE A WAITER FOR TIPS. SO IT ALL GOES TO THE DIABETES ASSOCIATION. SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO US. THIS IS SOMETHING VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. AND WHERE'S THIS [C. Presentation of Proclamation Recognizing March 2024 as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, as Requested by Mario Lizcano, DHR Health, Administrator of Corporate Affairs. [Clarice Y. Balderas, City Secretary]] [00:15:08] AT, MAYOR? BECAUSE MAYBE WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO SERVE US. OKAY, I WILL DO IT. ANYTHING FOR TIPS FOR THE DIABETES ASSOCIATION. I WOULD DO IT. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM C, PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MARCH 2024 AS NATIONAL COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, AS REQUESTED BY MARIO LIZCANO, LEADER, HEALTH ADMINISTRATOR OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS, WHEREAS COLORECTAL CANCER IS THE THIRD MOST COMMONLY DIAGNOSED CANCER IN SECOND MOST COMMON CAUSE OF CANCER DEATHS IN THE UNITED STATES, WITH OVER 145,000 ESTIMATED DIAGNOSED CASES AND OVER 56,000 ESTIMATED DEATHS FROM COLORECTAL CANCER THIS YEAR. AND WHEREAS IT IS ESTIMATED THAT OVER 850 INDIVIDUALS IN SOUTH TEXAS WILL BE DIAGNOSED WITH COLORECTAL CANCER, AND THERE WILL BE OVER 341 DEATHS FROM COLORECTAL CANCER THIS YEAR. AND WHEREAS COLORECTAL CANCER IS EXPECTED TO ACCOUNT FOR 11% OF CANCER DEATHS AMONG HISPANIC MEN AND 9% OF CANCER DEATHS FOR HISPANIC WOMEN, AND WHEREAS BLACK AMERICANS ARE 20% MORE LIKELY TO BE DIAGNOSED WITH COLORECTAL CANCER IN ABOUT 40% MORE LIKELY TO DIE FROM THE DISEASE THAN OTHER GROUPS. AND WHEREAS COLORECTAL CANCER IS BECOMING A DISEASE WHICH THROUGH A COMBINATION OF PREVENTION AND EARLY TREATMENT, IS NOT A LIFE THREATENING ILLNESS IT ONCE WAS. AND WHEREAS COLORECTAL CANCER IS ONE CANCER THAT IS PREVENTABLE AND IN RECOGNITION OF THAT, STATE LAW REQUIRES INSURANCE COMPANIES TO PROVIDE SCREENING COVERAGE FOR ADULTS AGE 50 AND OLDER THROUGH REGULAR TESTS AND TO PROMOTE MORE HEALTHFUL LIFESTYLES HELP PREVENT COLORECTAL CANCER. AND WHEREAS THE NATIONAL GOAL ESTABLISHED BY THE NATIONAL COLORECTAL CANCER ROUNDTABLE IS TO STRIVE TO INCREASE COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING RATES TO 80% IN EVERY COMMUNITY FOR ALL AMERICANS ELIGIBLE FOR SCREENING. AND WHEREAS, OBSERVING COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH DURING THE MONTH OF MARCH WOULD PROVIDE A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND OFFER EDUCATION ON THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY DETECTION AND SCREENING OF COLORECTAL CANCER. NOW, THEREFORE, ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THE CITY OF EDINBURGH, BY THE POWER VESTED IN THEM BY LAW, I DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MARCH 2024 AS COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO SCHEDULE A COLORECTAL SCREENING AND TO TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN PREVENTING THIS DISEASE. THANK YOU, HONORABLE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, WE WOULD LIKE TO FOREMOST, NOT ONLY THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING US TO PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION AND AWARENESS, BUT ALSO FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THE CITY OF EDINBURGH IS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF ALL OUR EVENTS THAT WE'RE HAVING. AS WE DID HAVE ONE ON SATURDAY, WE HAD A5K FOR CALLED TO WIPE OUT COLON CANCER AWARENESS. AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU, THE CITY OF EDINBURGH, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR BEING OUT THERE AND FULL SUPPORT OF THESE ENDEAVORS. MY NAME IS MARIO LISCANO. I'M THE ADMINISTRATOR OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS FOR DR. HEALTH. WITH ME, I DO HAVE SOME SPECIAL GUESTS, CARLA GARCIA, WHICH IS OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH DIRECTOR FOR DR. HEALTH, CLARA THAPA, WHO IS WITH THE HEALTH ONCOLOGY INSTITUTE AS A COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR, AND OF COURSE, DOCTOR HERRERA FROM GASTROENTEROLOGIST, THAT IS WITH THE DR. HEALTH GASTROENTEROLOGY INSTITUTE. SO WE WILL LET DOCTOR HERRERA, THE EXPERT, GO AHEAD AND SPEAK ON BEHALF OF OUR HOSPITAL. AND WE WERE JUST ALWAYS THANKING YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. IT'S AN HONOR TO GATHER HERE TODAY AMONG THE CITY OF EDINBURGH LEADERS TO SHED LIGHT ON COLON CANCER. COLON CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. DID YOU GUYS KNOW, ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, ABOUT 150,000 NEW DIAGNOSES OF COLON CANCER WILL BE MADE IN 2024. AND THAT NUMBER KEEPS KEEPS STEADILY RISING, IN PARTICULAR IN PATIENTS THAT ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 55. SO ABOUT ABOUT SIX YEARS OR SO AGO IN 2018, THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY MADE RECOMMENDATIONS TO DECREASE THE AGE WHERE YOU BEGIN SCREENING FROM 50 TO 45, BECAUSE THERE'S A STRIKINGLY INCREASED AMOUNT OF PATIENTS UNDER THE AGE OF 45 WHO ARE BEING DIAGNOSED WITH COLON CANCER. THIS IS FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. SO THIS THIS DAY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US AND TO THE CAUSE TO REDUCE THE THE FREQUENCY AND INCIDENCE OF COLON CANCER HERE IN THE HERE IN THE VALLEY, IN THE, IN THE US. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY. BY DESIGNATING MARCH IS COLON CANCER AWARENESS MONTH DR.. HEALTH IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH ARE SHOWING THEIR COMMITMENT TO INCREASING THE PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY DETECTION OF A CANCER DIAGNOSIS BY GETTING PROPER SCREENINGS AND KNOWING THE SYMPTOMS. SO THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, DOCTOR FOR ALL YOU ALL DO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. [D. Present the Recipient for the Employee of the Month Award for the Month of January 2024. [Belinda Torres, Director of Human Resources/Civil Service]] PRESENT THE RECIPIENT FOR THE EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH AWARD FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY 2024. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNCIL. WE ARE HERE ONCE AGAIN ON BEHALF OF THE ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE TO PRESENT OUR EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY. WE HAVE MICHELLE MENDOZA, OUR COMPLIANCE MANAGER WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF GRANTS. SHE HAS SERVED OUR CITY FOR FIVE YEARS AND CONTINUES TO EXCEL IN HER POSITION. [00:20:07] INTERIM DIRECTOR OF GRANTS CLAUDIA FARIAS WILL SAY A FEW WORDS AS WELL. HI. GOOD EVENING. CLAUDIA FARIAS, INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE GRANTS OFFICE. AND I'M SO HAPPY THAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING MICHELLE TONIGHT. WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER ALMOST FIVE YEARS. I'VE SEEN HER INNOVATION, HER SUCCESS IN MANAGING FEDERAL AND STATE AND LOCAL FUNDS. SHE'S BUILT RELATIONSHIPS WITH FUNDING AGENCIES FROM THE STATE LEVEL TO THE NATIONAL LEVEL, LIKE THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT, THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. SHE'S A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT IN HER FIELD. SO MUCH SO THAT THE FUNDING AGENCIES WILL CALL HER WHEN THEY'RE ROLLING OUT NEW PROGRAMS. YEAH. THE THE HCA HAS REACHED OUT TO HER IN THE PAST TO PILOT PROGRAMS. SHE'S ANNETTE. SHE HAS A NETWORK OF OF GRANT PROFESSIONALS IN THE VALLEY THAT REACH OUT TO HER WHEN THEY HAVE QUESTIONS. CDBG IS A VERY DIFFICULT FIELD OR VERY DIFFICULT GRANT, AND NEW GUIDELINES ARE ALWAYS COMING OUT. NEW REQUIREMENTS ARE ALWAYS BEING YOU KNOW, STANDARDIZED. AND MICHELLE'S JUST A LEADING EXPERT IN ALL OF THAT. WE'RE SO LUCKY TO HAVE HER ON OUR TEAM. AND I'M SO EXCITED THAT SHE'S GETTING RECOGNITION TONIGHT. OKAY. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I JUST WANT TO SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS, AND I HAD TO WRITE IT DOWN BECAUSE IF NOT, FORGET IT. TOO NERVOUS? I'D LIKE TO THANK CLAUDIA FOR HER KIND WORDS. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT ALL OF THE PROJECTS AND THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED ARE TESTAMENT TO OUR TEAM. WE HAVE A WE HAVE A WONDERFUL TEAM AND THE GRANTS ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT AND ALSO AT THE CITY. RIGHT. IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT OF ALL CITY STAFF THAT SHOW UP TO DO THE WORK THAT WE DO EVERY SINGLE DAY. I'M ALSO SURROUNDED BY AMAZING PROFESSIONALS, LEADERS AND FRIENDS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING WORKING WITH EVERYONE AND BRINGING POSITIVE IMPACTS TO THE CITY. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE MY FAMILY FOR THEIR LOVE AND SUPPORT. AND ALSO, JUST THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION, I APPRECIATE IT. I JUST I JUST WANTED TO SAY, ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND THE COUNCIL, CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS WELL-DESERVED HONOR. AT THE STATE OF THE CITY RECENTLY, WE ANNOUNCED HOW MUCH HOW MANY GRANTS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN AND HOW MUCH IT TAKES TO KEEP TRACK OF THAT. SO I KNOW A LOT OF IT IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN THE DEPARTMENT. SO THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK, BECAUSE THE MONEYS YOU ALL BRING DOWN OFFSETS WHAT WE NEED TO COVER AS FAR AS OUR GENERAL FUND AND THOSE THINGS. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU TO YOUR FAMILY, YOU KNOW. AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MR.. [E. Presentation of the Patriotic Employer Award to Edinburg Police Chief Jaime Ayala as Awarded by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve; and Conduct the Ceremonial Signing of the Statement of Support for the Guard and Reserve. [Jesus Saenz, Assistant City Manager]] NOW WE HAVE ITEM E PRESENTATION OF THE PATRIOTIC EMPLOYER AWARD TO EDINBURG POLICE CHIEF JAIME AYALA, AS AWARDED BY THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE GUARD AND RESERVE AND CONTRACT TO CONDUCT THE CEREMONIAL SIGNING OF THE STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR THE GUARD AND RESERVE. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL JUST SIGNED THE CITY MANAGER. FOR THE RECORD, I JUST WANT TO SAY HOW PROUD I AM OF CHIEF AYALA. HE'S VERY QUICK TO ORGANIZE, AS YOU KNOW, AWARDS FOR HIS EMPLOYEES, BUT VERY RARELY ACCEPT ONE FOR HIMSELF. SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE AND I'VE, YOU KNOW, HAVING THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH, WITH HIM AND PRESENTING WITH THE TEAM THIS PARTICULAR AWARD. SO THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE GUARD AND RESERVE, ALONG WITH THE EDINBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY ARE PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE OUR POLICE CHIEF, JAIME AYALA, AND REPRESENTING THE EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE GUARD AND RESERVE. WE HAVE MISTER JESSE RODRIGUEZ WITH ESGR AREA SEVEN CHAIR WHO WILL FACILITATE THIS RECOGNITION. THANK YOU. [00:25:06] THANK YOU. MAYOR. CITY COMMISSION. CITY OF EDINBURGH. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY FOR THIS VERY SPECIAL OCCASION WHERE THE EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE GUARD AND RESERVE IS A DEPARTMENT. WELL, NOT A DEPARTMENT, BUT IT FALLS UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. WE ARE MAINLY VOLUNTEERS. MOST OF US HAVE SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES. MOST OF US ARE RETIRED AND WE UNDERSTAND WHAT RESERVISTS AND GUARDSMEN GO THROUGH WHEN THEIR COUNTRY CALLS THEM UP. AND THEY GO OUT TO GO AND SERVE THEIR COUNTRY FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. OUR JOB IS TO RECOGNIZE EMPLOYERS WHO SUPPORT THEIR EMPLOYEES, WHO HAVE THAT PART TIME JOB. AND WHEN THESE THESE SERVICEMEN GET CALLED IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON BACK AT HOME. AND I CAN FOCUS AT THE MISSION FOR THE FOR THE MILITARY. AND SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT THE CITY OF EDINBURGH DOES. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO SUPPORT THEIR EMPLOYEES WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES RESERVE AND GUARD THE ESGR WAS STARTED BACK IN 1972. AND TWO THINGS WERE GOING ON DURING THAT TIME FRAME. THE ENDING OF THE VIETNAM WAR AND THE END OF THE DRAFT. SO SINCE THAT TIME OUR DEPARTMENT OR OUR, OUR ORGANIZATION HAS WORKED WITH EMPLOYERS. WE GO OUT THERE AND MEET WITH 6 TO 7 EMPLOYERS A MONTH, AND WE LET THEM KNOW THE THE VALUE THAT THESE GUARDSMEN AND RESERVES CAN BRING TO YOUR COMPANY. BUT ANYHOW I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CALL WARRANT OFFICER BAUTISTA, WHO WILL SAY A FEW WORDS. AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO CALL CHIEF AYALA TO THE FRONT. AND THEN I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THE THE AWARD. AND CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER BAUTISTA WILL PRESENT IT TO THE CHIEF. SO IF YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS. CHIEF AYALA, YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT AND GENUINE HAPPINESS FOR THE SUCCESS OF THOSE AROUND YOU ARE TESTAMENT OF LEADERSHIP, OF YOUR LEADERSHIP ABILITIES. YOU'RE A STRONG ADVOCATE OF KNOWLEDGE AND PUSH YOUR SUBORDINATES CONTINUOUSLY TO ATTAIN ADVANCED INDIVIDUAL TRAINING FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE. AFTER ALL, WE'RE ONLY AS STRONG AS OUR WEAKEST LINK. IN 2023, YOU DID NOT HESITATE TO JOIN FORCES WITH THE JOINT COUNTERDRUG TASK FORCE, WHERE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT GAINED SERGEANT FIRST CLASS ALBERT TREVINO AS AN INTELLIGENCE ANALYST ASSIGNED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. ON THE MILITARY SIDE, SERGEANT FIRST CLASS TREVINO TRAINS OFFICER CANDIDATES IN IN MILITARY BASICS, OFFICER LEADERSHIP AND MILITARY TACTICS. DRILL SERGEANT ARIEL BENEDICT IS AN EDINBURGH POLICE OFFICER AND ALSO A US ARMY MILITARY MEMBER. DRILL SERGEANT BENEDICT LEAVES DURING THE SUMMERS TO SERVE AS A DRILL SERGEANT FOR ARMY BOOT CAMP. US MARINE SERGEANT AARON GARCIA IS ONE OF OUR NEWER OFFICERS AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, ALSO SERVING OUR NATION AS AN INFANTRY RIFLEMAN. THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE MILITARY MEMBERS WITH EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE OVERALL SUCCESS OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. AS YOU KNOW, THE MILITARY HAS MANY OUTSTANDING POSSIBILITIES WITH DIFFERENT CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. BASED ON MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, IN SEPTEMBER OF 2023, I WAS PINNED AS A US ARMY WARRANT OFFICER AFTER SERVING OVER TEN YEARS OF ENLISTED MEMBERSHIP AS AN ENLISTED MEMBER. UPON MY RETURN, CHIEF AYALA, YOU WERE EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT THE DETAILS OF MY ADVENTURE. AND YOU DID NOT HESITATE TO SHINE A LIGHT ON THE PRESTIGIOUS AWARD I RECEIVED DURING THE TRAINING. AS SOLDIERS, WE ARE OFTEN CALLED TO SERVE IN DIFFERENT CAPACITIES WHICH PLACES OUR CIVILIAN CAREERS ON A TEMPORARY HOLD. THE USERRA ACT MAINTAINS OUR POSITION OPEN FOR OUR RETURN. BUT WHAT IS NEVER SPOKEN ABOUT IS HOW, AT TIMES WE CARRY A BURDEN TO CONTINUOUSLY ASK, TO ASK FOR LEAVE BECAUSE WE HAVE MANDATORY MILITARY TRAINING. AS MY EMPLOYER, YOU HAVE EMPOWERED ME TO ATTEND MILITARY TRAINING. YOU SHOW GENUINE DESIRE TO HEAR ABOUT MY MILITARY VENTURES, AND ARE THE FIRST TO SHINE A LIGHT ON MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS WHILE SERVING. WHAT BETTER WAY TO THANK YOU THAN TO AWARD YOU WITH THE PATRIOTIC EMPLOYER AWARD? YOU CELEBRATE OUR SERVICE AND TODAY WE CELEBRATE YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. LET'S GO AHEAD. [00:30:01] AND I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ THE AWARD. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE. EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE GUARD AND RESERVE RECOGNIZES CHIEF JAIME AYALA, EDINBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT, AS A PATRIOTIC EMPLOYER FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY AND PROTECTING LIBERTY AND FREEDOM BY SUPPORTING EMPLOYEE PARTICIPATION IN THE ARM IN THE AMERICA'S NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE FORCE. SIGNED JOHN BOGLE, THE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE ESGR, AND LLOYD AUSTIN, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE. CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER BAUTISTA. THANK YOU. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. CAN WE TAKE ONE PICTURE? YES. HEY, WE GOT ONE MORE SECOND TO SUPPORT. THE SUPPORT OF THE GUARD RESERVE IS GOING TO PRESENT THE STATEMENT OF SUPPORT TO TO THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. AND THIS IS A DISTINGUISHED PRIVILEGE THAT WE HAVE TO PRESENT THIS TO THE MAYOR MAYOR LANAKILA GRANDSON. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE STATEMENT OF SUPPORT. WE RECOGNIZE THE GUARD AND RESERVE ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE STRENGTH OF OUR NATION AND THE WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITIES IN THE HIGHEST AMERICAN TRADITION, THE PATRIOTS, THE PATRIOTIC MEN AND WOMEN OF THE GUARD AND RESERVE SERVE VOLUNTARILY IN AN HONORABLE AND VITAL PROFESSION. THEY TRAINED TO RESPOND TO THEIR COMMUNITY AND THEIR COUNTRY IN TIME OF NEED. THEY DESERVE THE SUPPORT OF EVERY SEGMENT OF OUR SOCIETY. IF THESE VOLUNTEER FORCES ARE TO CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR NATION, INCREASED PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING IS REQUIRED OF THE ESSENTIAL ROLE OF THE GUARD AND RESERVE. MAYOR. ON BEHALF OF UCR, WE PRESENT A STATEMENT OF SUPPORT TO THE CITY OF. THANK YOU. AND I SAID THIS ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND THE COUNCIL AND REALLY, OUR COMMUNITY, TO THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO IN YOUR SERVICE. AND, CHIEF, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO AND FOR ALLOWING OFFICERS TO CONTINUE THEIR SERVICE. SO THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. FOR THAT. GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MAYOR, WHILE YOU ALL ARE MAKING YOUR WAY BACK TO YOUR SEAT, IF I MIGHT, I MIGHT SAY A FEW WORDS. I'M EXTREMELY HONORED TO TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD. AND THAT A VERY VALUED EMPLOYEE WHO WENT OFF AND ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING THAT IS JUST INCREDIBLE TO COME BACK AND SHARE WITH US. I APPRECIATE HER HER CONSIDERING THIS, BUT MORE SO I ACCEPT THIS FOR ALL OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO LEAD IN THE EDINBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE IT'S JUST NOT ME WHO WHO ACCEPTS THEM AND AND ENCOURAGES THEM AND SUPPORTS THEM WHILE THEY'RE GONE. AND I WOULD EVEN EXTEND THAT, AS I APPRECIATE THAT OUR CITY WAS BEING RECOGNIZED, BECAUSE ALL THE DIRECTORS THAT WORK IN THE IN THE CITY THAT HAVE EMPLOYEES WHO SERVE ALSO HAVE TO TO FILL THE VOID WHILE THEY'RE GONE. THERE'S A REASON THAT WE HAVE THIS MEETING HERE TODAY. FREELY. WITHOUT FEAR. AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE OUR COUNTRY ABROAD AND AT HOME. AND SO FOR THEM, I TRULY APPRECIATE. [00:35:03] I NEVER SERVED IN THE MILITARY, BUT I KNOW THAT I SUPPORT EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM, WE WOULD NOT LIVE THE LIVES THAT WE DO EACH AND EVERY DAY. AND SO FOR THAT, I THANK THEM. AND IF YOU EVER HAVE SERVED OR YOU CURRENTLY SERVE, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE RISE AND LET US THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY. OKAY. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU CHIEF, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. PUBLIC COMMENTS. [5. PUBLIC COMMENTS] THE EDINBURG 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. I'LL BE TAKING TIME. PLEASE NOTE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOT INTERACTIVE. THE COUNCIL MAY NOT RESPOND TO PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME. COUNCIL. THERE ARE FOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS. THE FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT IS FOR CLARITY REGARDING COVID VACCINE. YES, I'M VERY THANKFUL TO OUR MILITARY THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO STAND HERE AND SAY WHATEVER I NEED TO SAY. HOPEFULLY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WON'T ARREST ME ONE DAY. BUT ANYWAY TONIGHT I DID ALSO SIGN UP FOR NUMBER NINE, THE RESOLUTION A, THIS IS TALKING ABOUT AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT. THE TALKING ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS AND THINGS. I DON'T KNOW, I WAS WITH THE COUNTY THIS MORNING, AND THEY WERE GETTING SO MUCH MONEY AND SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY ON THIS, BUT I ASKED THEM, AND I'M GOING TO ASK YOU, HAVE YOU DONE ANY STUDY ON THE VACCINE THAT'S OUT THERE THAT THEY KEEP GIVING? I BELIEVE THE COUNTY HIRED SEVEN PEOPLE TO GIVE THE VACCINE SO WE CAN DO IT QUICKER AND GET IT OUT THERE AND GET THE PEOPLE. BUT WE HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY, I BELIEVE, 2 OR 3 IN EDINBURGH, THAT AFTER THEY TOOK THE VACCINE, THEY FELL OVER DEAD. THEY WERE ON THE FIELD DOING THEIR SPORTS. I BELIEVE ONE WAS PLAYING BASKETBALL AND JUST WENT OVER. AND IT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS VACCINE. IT CAUSES BLOOD CLOTS, IT CAUSES MISCARRIAGES, IT CAUSES HEART ATTACKS. AND THE WORST THING ABOUT IT IS THAT ALL KINDS OF CANCERS THAT ARE HITTING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, AS WE GET OLDER, WE ASSUME WE'RE GOING TO GET SOMETHING. BUT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE BECOMING IN SO MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF CANCERS THAT WE'VE NOT SEEN. AND THERE'S AN OUTBREAK. SO I'M HOPING THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE AS THE COUNTY ARE PUSHING THIS, I KNOW THAT. I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO DO STUDY. LOOK. LOOK IT UP YOURSELF. DON'T JUST LOOK AT CHANNEL 4 OR 523. LOOK ON THE COMPUTER. LOOK IT UP. DON'T LOOK AT THE CDC, BECAUSE THEY ALL SAY EVERYTHING'S WONDERFUL. BUT YOUR CHILDREN, YOUR WIVES, AND EVERYONE'S LIVES ARE IN DANGER. SO WHEN WE GET TO RESOLUTION NINE, I WILL ASK YOU ALL WHAT YOU'RE DOING BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH I BELIEVE THE COUNTY WAS LIKE $59 MILLION. I DIDN'T PULL IT UP BECAUSE I WAS TOO BUSY TO FIND OUT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE. SO I HOPE YOU'LL EXPLAIN IT A LITTLE MORE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS BILL CARLSON, FRIENDS OF EBONY. I'M VERY BLESSED TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY TONIGHT AFTER LISTENING TO ALL THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE HERE TO BE BLESSED FOR. FIRST OF ALL, I'M HERE FOR FRIENDS OF EBONY GOLF COURSE, AND I WANTED TO BRING UP THE FACT THAT THE CITY HAS MADE A KEY FACTOR ON HOW EBONY WILL BE IN THE FUTURE AND ITS USE, AND WE ARE JUST NOW SEEING SOME CONSTRUCTION DONE. ALL THIS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT TOOK A PERIOD OF TIME IS STARTING TO HAPPEN. AND SO THE NEW BRIDGES ARE LOOKING GREAT. THEY'RE ALMOST DONE. AND I THINK, OF COURSE, YOU AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND SPECIFICALLY OUR MAYOR, CITY MANAGER MYRA, AND TOM REINA, OUR CITY ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, AND MR. GARZA AS WELL FOR BEING INVOLVED AS THEY ARE. THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY IS THAT WE ARE HOPING TO HAVE THIS RIBBON CUTTING SOMETIME IN THE LATTER PART OF APRIL, AND YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE HAPPENING, ACTUALLY HAPPENING ALREADY AT THAT TIME. AND FOR FRIENDS OF EBONY, WE'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PART OF IT. [00:40:02] WE HAVE TWO NEW MARTIN HOUSES PURPLE MARTIN HOUSES THAT WE'LL BE INSTALLING. ALSO WE'RE GETTING TIFWAY 419 BERMUDA TO FIX UP SOME OF THE BAD PARTS ON THE GREEN. SO THEY ALL LOOK REALLY GOOD. AND ALSO AND MOST IMPORTANTLY FRIENDS OF EBONY WILL BE HAVING A TREE OF LIFE DISPLAY. AND THIS WILL BE FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO RECOGNIZE LOVED ONES BY GIVING A TREE TO PLANT AT EBONY. WE LOST ABOUT 25 TREES FROM THIS LAST SUMMER THROUGH. WE'VE BEEN WITHOUT WATER SINCE THAT PERIOD OF TIME BECAUSE THE CANAL BEING REPAIRED. AND SO IT'S A GOOD TIME FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. DOCTOR ROSALES BEING A PART OF THE 2040 COMMITTEE, I WAS VERY BLESSED TO LISTEN TO THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND, THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE TREES IF WE WANT TO KEEP OUR CITY COOLER. AND I'M HOPING THAT EBONY WILL BE A CONTRIBUTOR TO THAT AS WELL. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS JOHN LEAL. TALK ABOUT WATER BILL. HELLO. MY NAME IS JOHN LEAL. I LIVE AT 324 BUTTERFLY. I'VE BEEN THERE FOR 27 YEARS. I HAVE NOTHING BELONGED TO THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. I DON'T HAVE PAY STREETS. I DON'T HAVE A SEWER SYSTEM, A DRAINAGE SYSTEM. LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE WE HAVE. CURBING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. BUT REALLY, I COME DOWN AGAIN TO TALK ABOUT UTILITIES. I TOOK AN AVERAGE OF OUR UTILITIES, AND I CAME OUT TO BE $23.86 FOR THE YEAR. EACH EACH MONTH WAS $23.86. LAST MONTH I GOT TO BUILD A $58.34. I'M A WIDOWER. I LIVE BY MYSELF. AND LIKE I SAID, I LIKE TO KNOW WHAT FORMULA THAT THEY USE TO DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT YOU PAY A MONTH FOR YOUR WATER BILL. LIKE I SAID, I'M BY MYSELF. SO IF I USE 110 GALLONS OF WATER AND SOMEBODY ELSE USING 600 GALLONS OF WATER, WE'RE PAYING AN EQUAL AMOUNT. IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT WAY. IT SHOULD BE THE NUMBER OF GALLONS THAT YOU USE. AND LIKE I SAID, I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT FARMER THEY USE TO DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF GALLONS THAT ARE USED AND ALSO THE AMOUNT OR THE NUMBER OF PERSONS IN THAT HOUSE IN THE HOUSEHOLD, BECAUSE THAT ALSO DETERMINES THE NUMBER OF GALLONS BEING USED. SECOND THING, THIS IS ANOTHER THING THAT CAME UP THAT I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT. IT WAS CALLED IRRIGATION. I LIVE IT WAS CALLED HOOK SUBDIVISION. I BOUGHT AN ACRE OF LAND IN 1977 FOR $7,000, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY SAID, YOU OWE $800. I SAID, $800 FOR WHAT? IRRIGATION. I SAID THE CLOSEST IRRIGATIONAL PIPELINE FOR ME IS ON SPRAGUE, AND IT'S ABOUT 4 OR 5 BLOCKS FROM MY HOUSE. I DON'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO DRAW WATER FROM SPRAGUE ALL THE WAY TO MY HOUSE, BUT YET I HAD TO PAY $800 IN ONE HOUSE AND $1,100 ON THE OTHER HOUSE. SO THAT'S $3,000, ACTUALLY, $2,000 THAT I HAD TO PAY. BUT THEY'RE KILLING THE SENIOR CITIZEN. LIKE I SAID, I'M 84 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE YET TO GET SOMETHING DONE IN MY HOUSE, AND I HAVE. I'VE BEEN. THIS IS MY SECOND OR THIRD TIME I'VE BEEN HERE. I THINK IT WAS ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO. I LIKE TO HAVE BECAUSE WE'RE THERE'S FOUR NICE BIG HOUSES THERE A FIRE HYDRANT. THEY WERE THE FIRE ACROSS THE STREET AND THERE WAS NO FIRE HYDRANT. THEY HAD TO GO ACROSS THE ROAD IN ORDER TO GET THE WATER PIPE GOING FROM ACROSS THE STREET. I THINK MY TIME LIMIT IS UP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EVERYTHING. THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS MARIA VELASQUEZ REGARDING MOBILE COURT. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MARIBEL VELASQUEZ WITH THE MUNICIPAL COURT DEPARTMENT. I JUST WANTED TO ADVISE YOU ALL AND ALSO THE CITIZENS OF EDINBURG THAT WILL [00:45:02] BE HOSTING OUR OUTREACH DOCKET, WHICH IS THE MOBILE DOCKET THIS FRIDAY, THE 22ND, FROM 2 TO 7 P.M.. AND THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THE AMNESTY PROGRAM THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING. IT STARTED ON MARCH THE 4TH, AND IT WILL CONTINUE TILL MAY THE 31ST. SO JUST WANTED TO ADVISE YOU THAT WE'LL BE THERE ON THE 22ND AT EL TULE IS WHERE WE'LL BE FROM 2 TO 7, WHICH IS THE 700 SOUTH VETERANS BOULEVARD IS WHERE WE'LL BE THAT EVENING. THANK YOU. GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS. [6. PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS] [A. Presentation of the 2023 Edinburg Police Department Annual Report. [Jaime Ayala, Police Chief]] MAYOR AND COUNCIL. ALL RIGHT. THAT BEING THE CASE, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM SIX PRESENTATION REPORTS, ITEM A PRESENTATION OF THE 2023 EDINBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT. OH, GEEZ. NEVER LOGGED IN UNDER PRESSURE BEFORE. MAYOR, COUNCIL. I'M WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. HERE TO PROVIDE YOU JUST A SUMMARY OF THE 2023 ANNUAL REPORT THAT YOU YOU SHOULD HAVE THE BOOK ALREADY. WE'RE JUST TAKING SOME SNIPPETS FROM IT TO TO SHARE WITH YOU THIS EVENING. SO, AS YOU KNOW, THIS 2023, WE COMMEMORATED OUR 100TH YEAR AND CELEBRATED THAT THAT WELL, WITH COMMEMORATIVE BADGE AND PIN AND PATCH CRIME AS AS WHICH IS OUR REPORT CARD. OVERALL CRIME THIS YEAR DECREASED 4.6%. HOWEVER, WE DID SEE SOME INCREASES IN SEXUAL ASSAULTS, WHICH WE MAY ATTRIBUTE TO EDUCATION EFFORTS IN THE SCHOOLS AND IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT IT. AND THEN THEY COME FORWARD AND REPORT CRIMES THAT THAT HAVE HAPPENED. THE GOOD, IF THERE'S ANYTHING GOOD ABOUT THIS CATEGORY, IS THAT ALL OF THESE WERE KNOWN OFFENDERS, AND THERE IS NO STRANGER SEXUAL ASSAULTS THAT OCCURRED IN 2023, THREE ROBBERIES AND ASSAULTS ARE DOWN, ALTHOUGH AUTO THEFT IS UP SIGNIFICANTLY AT 43%. THIS IS NOT AN EDINBURGH ISSUE. IT'S A RIO GRANDE VALLEY ISSUE AND FRANKLY, IT'S A STATE ISSUE. THESE AUTO THEFTS ARE TIED TO ORGANIZED CRIME, AND WE ARE WORKING WITH THE SOUTH TEXAS AUTO CRIMES TASK FORCE. AND THE FBI HAS BEGUN TO PARTICIPATE WITH THESE EFFORTS AS WELL. I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HAD DWI CHALLENGES IN THIS LAST YEAR. WE ENDED THE YEAR WITH 452 DWI ARRESTS, COMPARED TO 342 DWI ARRESTS THE YEAR BEFORE. WE HAD A 32% INCREASE IN DWI ARRESTS, BUT IN AUGUST, WE STARTED A MAKE A PLAN CAMPAIGN TRYING TO PROMOTE PEOPLE TO TAKE THIRD PARTY RIDESHARE VENDORS TO GET TO AND FROM LOCATIONS SAFELY. SO FROM THAT DATE TO THE END OF THE YEAR, OUR DWI ARRESTS PIERS ACTUALLY WENT UP 40% FOR THE EFFORTS. LAST YEAR WE HAD 11 CRASHES THAT WERE FATAL WITH 14 FATAL VICTIMS. IN OUR MAKEUP PLAN CAMPAIGN. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE'RE CONTINUING THIS CAMPAIGN. WE HAD A SPRING BREAK CAMPAIGN THIS YEAR, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE OUR EYES OFF WITH OUR PARTNERS. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF DIVISIONS INITIATIVES. I'VE TALKED ABOUT OUR AVIATION UNIT QUITE A BIT THIS LAST YEAR. WE HAVE WE HAVE SIX AIRCRAFT. WE HAD 73 DEPLOYMENTS, 95 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME, 53 SUPPORTED CASES. AND I WANT TO PLAY A SMALL SNIPPET TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW VALUABLE THIS RESOURCE IS TO OUR OFFICERS AND OUR OFFICER SAFETY. THIS IS A BURGLARY IN PROGRESS THAT OCCURRED. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK REALLY CLOSE AT THE MIDDLE OF THE SCREEN. YOU'LL SEE SOME FIGURES MOVING OUT OF THE GATE FROM THE TOP RIGHT TO THE BOTTOM LEFT. THERE'S ACTUALLY TWO BURGLARS AND THEIR DOG THAT COME OUT FROM FROM THE PARK. YOU'LL SEE OUR OFFICER. THE FIRST ON SCENE WAS A DRONE OPERATOR. HE DEPLOYED HIS DRONE RIGHT AWAY. OUR EFFORTS TO MOVE TO A DRONE FIRST RESPONDER PROGRAM ARE FOR EXAMPLES JUST LIKE THIS. YOU'LL SEE IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT A UNIT DRIVING UP, AND THEN YOU'LL SEE THE THE TWO SUBJECTS BEGIN TO FLEE. WE HAVE VARIOUS AIRCRAFT AS WE'RE WATCHING THIS. SOME ARE ABLE TO FLY INDOORS ON SWAT MISSIONS, AND OTHERS ARE ABLE TO CAPTURE CRIME SCENES FROM THE AIR OF CRASHES AND OTHER CRIME SCENES AS WELL. IF YOU NOTICE, THE TWO SUBJECTS ARE RUNNING ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF THE SCREEN THERE. THEY'RE HEADED TO THE BRIDGE AT MUNICIPAL PARK. [00:50:02] THIS IS WITH WITH THERMAL IMAGING. SO THIS IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. AND BECAUSE OF THE CAPABILITY ON THE AIRCRAFT, WE'RE ABLE TO FOLLOW THE HEAT SENSE FROM FROM THE PERSONS. YOU'LL SEE THE UNIT PASS ONE OF OUR OFFICERS RUNNING, DRIVING UP TO THE BRIDGE WHERE HE THEN EXITS. WE'RE NOT GOING TO SHOW THE WHOLE VIDEO. BUT AS THEY'RE CROSSING THE BRIDGE INTO THE PARK, OUR OFFICER BEGINS TO PURSUE THEM ON FOOT. THIS OFFICER IS ACTUALLY EXTREMELY SPEEDY AND IS ABLE TO RUN THEM DOWN IN THE PARK, BUT YOU'LL LOSE THEM THERE IN THE TREES. AND BOTH SUBJECTS ARE ACTUALLY CAPTURED WITHOUT ANY, ANY INCIDENT. WE ALSO HAVE A A 300 FOOT TETHER THAT WE USE FOR SPECIAL EVENTS THAT WILL TAKE A DRONE UP IN THE AIR, AND WE DON'T EVER HAVE TO BRING IT DOWN. IT'S CONTINUALLY POWERED AND GIVES A COMMAND AND OVERSIGHT AND OVERWATCH. OUR EVIDENCE ROOM THIS YEAR, YOU'LL HEAR ME TALK ABOUT A FEW DIFFERENT FIRSTS THAT WE'VE HAD. WE HAD THE FIRST EVER PROPERTY ROOM AUDIT. EVERY ITEM IN THE PROPERTY ROOM WAS TOUCHED BY A THIRD PARTY CONSULTANT THAT CAME IN. WITH THAT, RECOMMENDATIONS WERE MADE. WE PUT SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN PLACE ALREADY, CASH HANDLING AND OTHER ITEMS LIKE THAT, BUT WE HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO IDENTIFY, GET COURT ORDERS TO DESTROY THOUSANDS OF PIECES OF OF PROPERTY THAT NO LONGER NEED TO BE STORED IN OUR EVIDENCE ROOM. AND SO SOME GOOD ADVANCEMENTS WITH PROPERTY AND EVIDENCE. YOU KNOW, ABOUT OUR CLERGY PROGRAM. IT IS CONTINUING TO GROW. WE NOW HAVE 12 MEMBERS FOR THE CLERGY AND POLICE PARTNERSHIP. THEY HAD APPROXIMATELY 36 CALL OUTS THIS YEAR. RESPONDED. SOMETIMES MULTIPLE CLERGY RESPONDED TO THE CALL OUTS. THEY PARTICIPATE IN POLICE RIDE OUTS. AND THEY JUST THEY JUST MEET WITH OUR OFFICERS AND COME TO BRIEFINGS. SO THE PROGRAM CONTINUES TO TO STILL THRIVE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND IN THE COMMUNITY. WE DID GET A GRANT WITH TEXAS TROPICAL TEXAS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH UNIT IS IN FULL SWING. THREE OFFICERS, THREE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS FOR FOR FOUR YEARS THAT THAT WILL BE COVERED BY THIS GRANT. IT ALSO FUNDS HALF OF AN INTELLIGENCE OFFICER, WHICH WE'RE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO TO TO BENEFIT FROM THAT COMING SOON IN THE FUTURE. THIS LAST YEAR WE ALSO HAD A GRANT THAT YOU SEE THAT PURPLE CHIP. IT HAD A LOCATION WHERE OUR OFFICERS ANONYMOUSLY COULD GO SEEK OUT MENTAL HEALTH IN ANONYMITY, BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE'S A STIGMA IN FIRST RESPONDERS THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO GO ASK FOR HELP. BUT WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT. THE STATE IS MOVING TO A PROGRAM LIKE THIS WITH A PEER NETWORK. THEY'VE ALREADY ROLLED A BLUE CHIP OUT, AND WE'RE HOPING TO LEVERAGE ANOTHER GRANT THIS NEXT YEAR THAT WILL HELP US CONTINUE THIS EFFORT. YOU MENTIONED I MEAN, YOU HEARD CARLA BAUTISTA MENTIONED THIS EARLIER. THE JOINT COUNTERDRUG TASK FORCE, WE WERE ABLE TO LEVERAGE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM. WE HAVE AN ANALYST MR. TREVINO, THAT WAS HERE, ALSO ASSIGNED TO THE EDINBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT FULL TIME AND IS ABLE TO HELP US WITH ANALYSIS. AS LONG AS THERE'S A DRUG NEXUS. AND IT'S PROVEN VERY BENEFICIAL TO HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP AND IT COSTS US NOTHING TO HAVE THEM. OUR TRAINING ACADEMY HAS BEEN IN FULL SWING. THIS YEAR WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE HAD OUR ANNUAL IN-SERVICE TRAINING. SO WEAPONS QUALIFICATIONS. DEFENSIVE TACTICS. REFRESHERS RECERTIFICATIONS. INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEMS. STANDARDIZED FIELD SOBRIETY A NUMBER OF TOPICS THAT WE GET IN. THAT 40 HOUR BLOCK. THE STATE REQUIRES 40 HOURS EVERY TWO YEARS. WE'RE GOING TO REQUIRE IN THE DEPARTMENT 40 HOURS EVERY, EVERY YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR OFFICERS HAVE THE MOST UPDATED TRAINING AVAILABLE TO THEM. THIS YEAR, IN 2024, WE WILL START A SUPERVISORY IN-SERVICE AS WELL. OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CONTINUES WITH OUR CPI EFFORTS. THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE HELD A CITIZEN'S POLICE ACADEMY IN SPANISH. AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO BRING IN FOLKS THAT DON'T SPEAK ANY ENGLISH AND DO THE SAME TYPE OF CPR TRAINING FOR THEM IN SPANISH. YOU AUTHORIZED US TO ADD TWO MOTORCYCLES TO THE MOTORCYCLE UNIT. WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF OF GETTING THEM TRAINED UP AND GETTING THEM DEPLOYED. THEY SHOULD BE ATTENDING TRAINING NEXT MONTH. OUR GOAL IN THE FUTURE IS TO GET TO EIGHT MOTOR UNITS THAT CAN COVER A LARGE PART OF THE CITY WITH THEIR TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS. AND THEN NATIONAL NIGHT OUT 27TH ANNUAL NATIONAL NIGHT OUT. WE'RE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE IMPROVED IN OUR RANKING FROM 17TH LAST YEAR TO 11TH THIS YEAR. WE'RE RECOGNIZED ONCE AGAIN BY THE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT TOWN WATCH FOR NATIONAL NIGHT OUT AGAINST CRIME, AND WE'RE ALREADY STARTING OUR EFFORTS THIS YEAR FOR THE 28TH ANNUAL NATIONAL NIGHT OUT. AND NONE OF THIS CAN BE DONE WITHOUT JUST THE TREMENDOUS WORK THAT OUR EMPLOYEES DO. AND I KNOW SOME OF THEM ARE HERE TONIGHT. BUT WE HAD OUR SECOND ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET THIS YEAR. IT WAS A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS. WE WERE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE SOME PHENOMENAL EMPLOYEES FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DID IN THE 2023 YEAR. AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT IN THE FUTURE AS WELL. AND THAT'S JUST IN SUMMARY, IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE HANDOUT IN THE BOOKLET YOU HAD OR IN THIS PRESENTATION, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM. [00:55:09] MIKE WAS OFF HERE. I JUST WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME JUST TO THANK YOU, CHIEF. AND ALL THE DEPARTMENTS OF COMMAND STAFF, ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN IN THE DEPARTMENT FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO. WE APPRECIATE IT. OBVIOUSLY, THIS SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. THE NUMBERS THAT ARE HERE. YOU ALL HAVE A TOUGH JOB, AND YOU'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE OUR SUPPORT AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL DO. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I'LL LET YOU KNOW. WE'RE GOING TO ADD A SPOT ON OUR WEBSITE, ON THE POLICE PAGE THAT WILL HAVE THE ANNUAL REPORTS PUBLISHED FOR THE PUBLIC. AND THERE'S ALSO A QR CODE THAT WE'LL HAVE OUT THERE THAT WILL BE ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA, AS WELL AS ON THE PAMPHLET THAT WE GAVE YOU ALL. GREAT. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO PUBLIC HEARINGS. WE HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS. COUNCIL. SO I'M GOING TO OPEN UP FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE IN THE AUDIENCE HAVING TO DO ANYTHING WITH THESE ITEMS, I'M GOING TO OPEN UP THESE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS. WE HAVE THE PRESENTATION FIRST. ITEM B. DID I GET AHEAD OF MYSELF? I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT. ITEM B PRESENTATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION. WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK I APOLOGIZE. THERE'S ONE ITEM MISSING. GO AHEAD. PRESENTATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING [B. Presentation and Possible Action Regarding Group Insurance Products and Voluntary Insurance Products for FY 2024-2025. [Belinda Torres, Director of Human Resources/Civil Service]] GROUP INSURANCE PRODUCTS AND VOLUNTARY INSURANCE PRODUCTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 2025. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNCIL BELINDA TORRES, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES. LET ME JUST GET OUR PRESENTATION UP REAL QUICK. THE SHORT PRESENTATION TODAY, FOR THE RECORD, WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO ITEM SIX B BECAUSE I STARTED TALKING ABOUT SEVEN EIGHT. SO FOR THE RECORD WE'RE DISCUSSING ITEM SIX B. GO AHEAD MA'AM. SORRY. GOT AHEAD OF MYSELF HERE. ALL RIGHT. WELL AT THIS POINT WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD TO PROVIDE PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL TODAY REGARDING OUR INSURANCE UTILIZATION RENEWAL FOR GROUP AND VOLUNTARY PRODUCTS. WE PROVIDED THIS PRESENTATION IN THE AGENDA PACKET AND WE WANT TO JUST PROVIDE THE CURRENT RATES AND THE PROPOSED RENEWAL FROM BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD. OUR SLIDES PRESENTED TO YOU PROVIDE THE CONTRIBUTION FOR THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ON BEHALF OF THE CITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2223. IT WAS AT 7.6 MILLION. CURRENTLY, OUR FIRST QUARTER UTILIZATION IS A HEALTHY UTILIZATION AT 78.1%. AND THESE ARE THE RATES THAT REFLECT FOR THIS CURRENT YEAR AND WOULD BE THE SAME FOR THE NEW YEAR, SHOULD THE CITY DECIDE TO RENEW THE 0% INCREASE FOR THE HEALTH INSURANCE PRODUCT IS BASED ON A BUNDLE APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL LAST YEAR. SO THE MEDICAL OR HEALTH INSURANCE PRODUCT IS CURRENTLY PROPOSED AT 0%. IT THEY DID. BLUE CROSS DID INDICATE A 2% INCREASE SHOULD THE CITY DECIDE TO RENEW A MEDICAL PLAN ONLY AND NOT THE BUNDLED PRODUCTS. WHAT ARE THE BUNDLED PRODUCTS? THE BUNDLED PRODUCTS ARE THE HEALTH INSURANCE, MEDICAL, DENTAL LIFE AND VISION. SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, IF WE DO NOT RENEW OR IF WE JUST RENEW THE MEDICAL GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE. THERE WILL BE AN INCREASE. THERE IS A 2% INCREASE IF WE DO NOT APPROVE OR IF THE COUNCIL DOES NOT APPROVE THE BUNDLE PACKAGE. THAT'S CORRECT. BUT THAT BUNDLE SEPARATE THAN THE VOLUNTARY INSURANCE PROBLEM THAT WE DISCUSSED LAST YEAR. THAT IS CORRECT. SO WE HAVE OUR GROUP BENEFIT PRODUCTS, WHICH IS OUR HEALTH, DENTAL, VISION, LIFE. AND I DO HAVE A CORRECTION. WE DID ADD LONG TERM DISABILITY, WHICH IS ALSO AN EMPLOYER PAID BENEFIT TO THE EMPLOYEES. AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, IT'S IN THE PACKET. IT SHOWS BLUE CROSS HEALTH DENTAL VISION AND THEN GROUP LIFE AND VOLUNTEER LIFE. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. GOOD. THANK YOU. SO IN THE NEXT SLIDE YOU'LL SEE THE PRODUCTS OF HEALTH, DENTAL AND VISION, ALL PROVIDED BY OUR CARRIER BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD. AND THEN WE HAVE OUR SECOND SLIDE WHICH TALKS ABOUT OUR VOLUNTARY INSURANCE PRODUCTS. I'M GOING TO PULL UP REAL QUICK BECAUSE SINCE THE COMPUTER SCREENS AREN'T WORKING HERE, THESE OUGHT TO BE UP THERE. THESE AREN'T WORKING HERE. I'M HAVING ISSUES WITH THIS. SO YEAH. SO I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING. DO THESE SCREENS WORK? WE DON'T I DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THAT PRESENTATION. YEAH. DO WE HAVE. NO. WE CAN USE THAT ONE FOR NOW, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO SEE WHAT'S ON THERE. AND IT'S LIKE THIS BIG. DO YOU HAVE A PRINTED [01:00:04] PACKET? SO ANYBODY ANYBODY HAVE PRINTED PACKET. BECAUSE COUNCIL MEMBER IS NOT ABLE TO SEE THE ON THE SCREEN. I DO HAVE ONE PRINTED PACKET. I CAN SHARE THAT WITH YOU. AND. I CAN GET TO THE ONLINE BECAUSE I'M HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY. I'M THE IT DEFICIENT COUNCILMAN. AND JUST SO THE PRESENTATION IS NOT IN THE PACKET ONLINE IS IT? YES IT IS BECAUSE I'M LOOKING AT IT NOW. I DON'T SEE IT HERE BECAUSE I GO BASED ON ONLINE. SO I ONLY HAVE MY COPY FROM THE ONLINE PORTAL. SO THE, THE ONLINE, IT ONLY INCLUDES A RECOMMENDATION SHEET. THAT'S ALL IT HAS. IT DOESN'T HAVE THE PRESENTATION, BUT GO AHEAD, MA'AM. I'M SORRY. AND THEN WE COULD IF THERE'S QUESTIONS, WE CAN LOOK AT IT, BUT OKAY. SO THE PRESENTATION PRETTY MUCH INCLUDES THE RATE SHEETS OR THE PREMIUM RATE SHEETS FOR ALL THESE PRODUCTS. TODAY'S PRESENTATION IS SIMPLY TO INITIATE THE BENEFIT ADMINISTRATION PLAN FOR PLAN YEAR 2425, FISCAL YEAR 2425. THE PRESENTATION INCLUDES THE PROPOSED 0% INCREASE FROM BLUE CROSS FOR THE BUNDLED PACKAGE AND AS WELL AS WE HAVE CONFIRMED A 0% INCREASE FOR VOLUNTARY PRODUCTS. THERE'S NO CHANGE IN PLAN DESIGN TO ANY OF THE CURRENT PLANS FOR BOTH GROUP AND VOLUNTARY INSURANCE. AND WE DO HAVE OUR AGENT OF RECORD WHO CONTINUE THESE NEGOTIATIONS. THEY REVIEWED TRENDS, THEY ANALYZED HIGH COST CLAIMS THEY REVIEWED THE LIFE OF THE CURRENT CLAIMS, AND THEY OF COURSE, WE THIS INCLUDES DISCUSSIONS OF OUR WELLNESS EVENTS, PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP OUR GROUP HEALTHY WHICH IN RETURN PROVIDES A POSITIVE UTILIZATION OUTCOMES. THE ESTIMATED SAVINGS IS ABOUT 400,000, BASED ON THE INITIAL 5% INCREASE PROPOSED BY BLUE CROSS. BUT OF COURSE, THE AGENT OF RECORD CONTINUED NEGOTIATIONS. AGENT OF RECORD RG RETIREMENT SERVICES ALSO HERE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND OR QUESTIONS. ON TOP OF THAT, I ALSO WANT TO SHARE AN INSURANCE BENEFIT SURVEY CONDUCTED BY OUR CITY. OUR EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATED IN THE SURVEY, AND I'D LIKE TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH YOU AS WELL. WE HAD ABOUT 76% THAT WERE SATISFIED WITH THE INSURANCE BENEFIT PACKAGE THE CITY OF EDINBURG OFFERS AT THIS TIME, 88% UNDERSTAND THE THE INSURANCE BENEFIT PACKAGE THAT IS PRESENTED TO THEM AT OPEN ENROLLMENT AND OR DURING THEIR NEW HIRE PHASE. 84% AGREED ALL BENEFITS WERE EXPLAINED TO THEM WHEN ENROLLED. 62% ARE SATISFIED WITH THE COVERAGE OF PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS THROUGH OUR CURRENT MEDICAL PROVIDER, BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD. 76% AGREE THE BENEFIT PACKAGE MEETS THEIRS AND THEIR FAMILIES NEEDS. 58% AGREE THE DEDUCTIBLE RATES ARE REASONABLE. 85% ARE SATISFIED WITH THE CURRENT NETWORK OF DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS THROUGH BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD. 56. 56% ARE SATISFIED WITH THE CO-PAY AMOUNTS AS FAR AS OFFICE VISITS. 62% OF THE EMPLOYEES ARE SATISFIED WITH THE CO-PAY AMOUNTS FOR PRESCRIPTION COVERAGE. 72% RATED SATISFACTION ON THE DEDUCTIBLES OF THE MEDICAL PLAN. SO OVERALL, 89% ARE SATISFIED WITH THEIR CURRENT PROVIDERS. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? WE ALSO HAVE OUR AGENT OF RECORD WHO CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEGOTIATION OF THE RENEWAL PACKAGES FOR OUR INSURANCE PRODUCTS. BELINDA. SO THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY INCREASE IN THE VOLUNTARY. THE VOLUNTARY AND THE THE GROUP LIFE INSURANCE. RIGHT. SO THE CITY SOUGHT PROPOSALS LAST YEAR AND YOU REFRESH OUR NEW SET OF RFP FOR GROUP BENEFITS, VOLUNTARY PRODUCTS. AND THIS IS OUR SECOND YEAR, THE RFP ALLOWED FOR A TWO, ONE YEAR RENEWAL. OPPORTUNITIES OR OPTIONS. AND THAT'S ALWAYS BASED ON THE, THE RENEWAL RATES THAT THEY PROVIDE. AT THIS POINT, IT IS A 0% FOR ALL PRODUCTS, BOTH GROUP AND VOLUNTARY. IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS, HAVE YOU SEEN THAT WHERE IT'S 0% OR IT'S ALWAYS GONE UP EVERY YEAR? IT'S FLUCTUATED. IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE UTILIZATION BY THE GROUP. DEPENDING ON THE RATIO. AND 8,082% IS THE HEALTHY UTILIZATION RATIO FOR THE CITY. LAST YEAR WE'RE AT 94%, WHICH IS WHY WE RECEIVED AN INCREASE. BUT WE ALSO RECEIVED A NICE CREDIT. SO THE OVERALL INCREASE LAST YEAR WAS AT 7%. TYPICALLY OUR INCREASES HAVE BEEN 2 TO 5%. [01:05:02] WE DID HAVE A 0% INCREASE ACROSS THE BOARD. MAYBE AROUND THE 2016 THROUGH 28, 2018 MARK. SO IT'S HAPPENED BEFORE. IT'S NOT VERY COMMON. I'VE CONDUCTED THE SURVEYS. OTHER CITIES ARE RECEIVING EIGHT, 12, 20, 25%. SO THE CITY OF EDINBURG IS DEFINITELY DOING SOMETHING RIGHT. IF WE'RE COMING BACK WITH A 0% INCREASE TO OUR COUNCIL, HAVE YOU EVER SEEN IT GO DOWN OVER THE PAST PREVIOUS YEARS? THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE OF YEARS THAT WE'VE HAD DECREASES. MAYOR WAS OUR CITY MANAGER AT THE TIME, AND HE LIKES TO FIGHT A GOOD FIGHT AGAINST OUR PREMIUM. SO AT THAT TIME, I BELIEVE WE WERE AT 2% DECREASE AT ONE YEAR, AND THEN MAYBE A 1% DECREASE ANOTHER YEAR OR SO. WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO TO NOT HAVE A HIGH INCREASE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS FOR, FOR OUR GROUP PRODUCTS AND VOLUNTARY VOLUNTARY PRODUCTS ARE EMPLOYEE PAID. SO THAT FALLS BACK ON THE EMPLOYEE AND OPTIONS FOR THEM WHEN, WHEN THEY'RE LISTING OR PARTICIPATING IN THE OPEN ENROLLMENT AND REVIEWING THEIR INSURANCE NEEDS WITH THEIR, WITH THEIR, THEIR FAMILIES COMING BACK TO THE CITY AND ENROLLING AS NEEDED. THANK YOU. SO WE WERE WE'RE EXCITED WITH THE 0% INCREASE. IT'S NOT VERY IT'S NOT A I HAD A QUESTION SO I YEAH I WAS EXCITED WITH THE 0% INTEREST OR 0% NON INCREASE RIGHT. BUT I REMEMBERED LAST YEAR THERE WAS AN INCREASE BECAUSE OF THE UTILIZATION. CORRECT. SO LAST YEAR WE PAID HIGHER. WE WENT UP 7%. THIS YEAR WE USED LESS AND STAYED THE SAME. OKAY, SO LAST YEAR OUR UTILIZATION WAS AT 94%. WE RECEIVED AN INCREASE AT 7%. AND IT WAS IT WAS 12%. THEY PROVIDED A LUMP SUM CREDIT OF OVER 250,000. SO OVERALL, AND BECAUSE THE BENEFITS WERE BUNDLED, WE WERE WE RECEIVED ABOUT A 7% INCREASE INCREASE. SO LAST FISCAL YEAR WE PAID ABOUT 7.6 MILLION TO BLUE CROSS FOR THE MEDICAL PLAN. THIS YEAR WE'RE AT ABOUT 8.4 MILLION BECAUSE OF THAT INCREASE COMING BACK, REVIEWING UTILIZATION. NOW WE'RE AT A 78%. AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE A ZERO INCREASE. SO MY POINT IS IF LAST YEAR WE WENT UP BECAUSE OF 94% UTILIZATION, THIS YEAR IT'S 78. WAS THAT THE NUMBER? YES, 78%. I WOULD THINK THAT MAYBE IT WOULD BE A LITTLE LOWER THAN KIND OF TECH ON THE LAST YEAR'S INCREASE. SO ZERO JUST MEANS THAT WE STAY WITH THE HIGH RATE FROM LAST YEAR, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD A WHAT, 18% REDUCTION IN UTILIZATION? OKAY. FOR THAT ANALYSIS, I WOULD RECOMMEND MAYBE OUR AGENT RECORD PROVIDES ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. WELL, IF I COULD JUST SAY SOMETHING REAL FAST ON THAT. THIS IS KIND OF MY INDUSTRY. THIS IS WHAT I DO RIGHT NOW. INSURANCE IS NOT GOING DOWN. COST STUFF IS GOING UP. SO IN OTHER WORDS, WE CAN MAINTAIN THAT'S PROBABLY A PLUS RIGHT NOW. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, COUNSELOR, CITY MANAGER. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS RONNIE GUERRA. I AM THE AGENT OF RECORD ON BEHALF OF VOYAGER BENEFIT ALLIANCE, ENDORSED BY GRS. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, WE HAD AN INITIAL SIX. EVERY TIME WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE RENEWAL, WE WERE IMPLEMENTED AS AGENT OF RECORD ON THE MEDICAL PLAN. AND FULL DISCLOSURE, YOU KNOW, WE RECEIVED NO COMPENSATION. WE DO ALL THIS WORK FOR FREE AS AN ADDED VALUE SERVICE. SO WE HAVE NO BIAS WITH BLUE CROSS OR ANY OTHER COMPANY. WHEN EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT AND HE ATTESTED TO IT, COUNCILMAN IS THEY TALK ABOUT TREND. EVERY YEAR WE'RE LOOKING AT ANYWHERE BETWEEN 8 TO 12% INCREASE. AND IN THIS CASE THERE WAS NO DIFFERENT. OBVIOUSLY EVERYBODY BUDGETS FOR IT. HR AND THEIR STAFF BUDGET FOR IT. SO YOU CAN BASICALLY SAY WE START AT 10% OFF THE BAT. AND OUR GOAL IS TO TRY TO REDUCE THAT. WE'VE BEEN MEETING MONTHLY. I THINK IT'S A LOT HAVING TO DO WITH THE TESTAMENT OF THE EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATE IN THE WELLNESS. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE DOING INDIVIDUAL AND MONTHLY SERVICES THAT THE CITY PROVIDES. TEN KS YOGA, A DIFFERENT TYPES OF THINGS. AND THE OVERALL HEALTH OF THE GROUP IS TAKING A LOOK AT AND WE MONITOR THAT. SO WHENEVER THEY CAME UP WITH THEIR RENEWAL, IT CAME BACK AT A 5% INCREASE FROM THAT TEN. SO WE WERE ABLE TO REDUCE THAT. IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THAT SAVINGS BASED ON THE INFORMATION THERE. IT'S ABOUT $760,000 ANNUALLY AT A 10% INCREASE. SO WE'RE ABLE TO CUT THAT IN HALF. SO WHAT HR AND BLUE CROSS AND OUR FIRM DID IS WE GOT TOGETHER AND WE TOOK A LOOK AT ALL THE CLAIMS, THE UTILIZATION, OTHER FACTORS THAT ARE INCLUDED. BECAUSE WE ALSO HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT THE CITY OF EDINBURG HAS TWO PLANS. [01:10:01] THEY HAVE A PPO AND AN HMO. SO WE HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE AT THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PLAN DESIGNS, AND THEN ACCOUNT FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THAT 0% INCREASE THAT WE PROVIDED TODAY. SO WE WERE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE WITH BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD, AND WE WERE ABLE TO REDUCE THAT COST TO 0%. SO OVERALL, WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE A LOOK AT A SAVINGS OF ALMOST $700,000 ON TREND. THEY CAME BACK WITH FIVE. THEY ASKED US IF WE COULD BUNDLE THE CURRENT DENTAL VISION ON LIFE AT A 0% INCREASE, SO WE ALSO DID THAT. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE 2% INCREASE, WE COULD HAVE RENEGOTIATED IT DOWN. BUT I'M ON YOUR SIDE 100% OF TRYING TO REDUCE THAT COST BECAUSE OUR JOB HOPEFULLY IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS IS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE HARD WORK WE DID THIS YEAR AND PARLAY THAT EFFORT NEXT YEAR. SO WHENEVER WE GO BACK TO THAT PLAN, WE CAN EITHER A SEE A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE LIKE YOU TALKED ABOUT OR GET EVERYBODY ON THE HIGH PLAN AND HAVE THE CITY BE ABLE TO PAY THAT AT NO COST TO THE CITY AGAIN. SO I THINK THE LAST TIME WE GOT A 0% INCREASE, OUR FIRM WAS WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE A PART OF IT. IT WAS IN 2016, I BELIEVE, MAYOR, YOUR CITY MANAGER, AND WE WENT BACK AND TOOK A LOOK AT THE BOOKS. SO WHEN YOU SEE ANY TYPE OF SAVINGS IN THE MEDICAL PLANS THAT ARE ALWAYS, UNFORTUNATELY, TRYING TO GO UP EVERY YEAR. OUR JOB IS TO KIND OF POLICE THE PLAN. NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR WORK CUT OUT FOR US BECAUSE WE SAW, YOU KNOW, A RISE IN CLAIMS. BUT OUR JOB IS TO FACILITATE THOSE CLAIMS, MONITOR THEM MONTHLY, AND BE ABLE TO GIVE AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF HOW WE CAN ALLEVIATE THAT. SO NEXT YEAR, WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE RENEWAL, ALL OF THAT INFORMATION IS PUT OUT IN FRONT OF YOU. YOU'RE AWARE OF WHAT YOU HAVE. AND BLUE CROSS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF EDINBURG AND OUR FIRM, COULD COME BACK WITH A COMPETITIVE RENEWAL. SO THANK YOU. YES, SIR. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME? DOES THE BLUE CROSS HAVE OUR HEALTH? YES, SIR. THEY HAVE THE HEALTH. YES, SIR. THEY HAVE OUR DENTAL. YES, SIR. THEY HAVE OUR VISION. YES, SIR. AND THEY HAVE OUR LIFE AND SUPPLEMENTAL LIFE. CORRECT. AND LONG TERM DISABILITY. SO THERE'S NO LONG TERM. WELL, DISABILITY IS, I BELIEVE, A SEPARATE COMPANY. THAT'S MADISON NATIONAL. YEAH. OKAY. BUT DO THEY HAVE THAT CURRENTLY? YEAH. WELL, YOU SAID THAT BLUE CROSS SAYS IF YOU BUNDLE ALL THESE TOGETHER, THEY'LL HAVE NO CHANGE. THE ONLY BUNDLE THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT ON THE EMPLOYER PAID PRODUCTS THE CITY PAYS THE DENTAL DIVISION AS APPROVED LAST FISCAL YEAR AS IN OTHER WORDS, THE CONSULTANT CAME IN AND PICKED THE PRODUCTS AND THEN THEY PASSED THEM OVER TO US. SO WE HAD NO CONTROL. BASED ON YOUR POSITION, WHAT I'M WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING RIGHT NOW IS BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD SAID THERE WILL BE NO CHANGE IN THE COST AS LONG AS THEY GET THESE ITEMS. WELL, THAT BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD SAYING THAT. OR IS THAT YOUR YOUR COMPANY? NO NO NO NO NO. BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD HAS AGREED TO PROVIDE A 0% INCREASE ON ALL PRODUCTS, BUT THEY HAVE ALL. BUT DO THEY HAVE ALL THESE PRODUCTS NOW? YES, SIR. YES. WE'RE GOING TO ADD THEM. OH NO NO NO NO SIR NO SIR. NO THEY'RE CURRENTLY NOT PRODUCTS. YES, SIR. IN OTHER WORDS, AS AN ADDED VALUE TO THE CITY, BECAUSE THEY HAD THOSE PRODUCTS, THEY GAVE US THE TWO ADDITIONAL TWO ADDITIONAL POINTS. OKAY. THOSE ARE CONSIDERED VOLUNTARY. YES, SIR. NO, ACTUALLY NO, SIR. THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE EMPLOYER PAID. THEY'RE NOT VOLUNTARY. NO, SIR. BECAUSE THERE'S THE TWO. THERE'S THE TWO ITEMS HERE, WHICH I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE SEPARATED, WHICH WERE REGARDING GROUP INSURANCE PRODUCT AND VOLUNTARY INSURANCE PRODUCT OR ANY OF THESE CONSIDERED VOLUNTARY. OKAY. THE GROUP AND PRODUCT. REMEMBER WE HAD A BIG DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY. SO I'M TRYING LAST YEAR. SURE. SO I'M TRYING TO GET BACK. ARE THESE THE SAME OR DID SOME OF THESE GET MINGLED TOGETHER. SO THE EMPLOYER PAID IS WHAT YOU ALL PLAY. EVERY EMPLOYEE THAT'S THE EMPLOYER PAID BY THE CITY IF THEY WANT TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL ON TOP OF THAT. THAT'S VOLUNTARY OKAY. SO THE LIFE LIFE SUPPLEMENT THAT WE PAY AND THE LONG TERM DISABILITY WE PAY. YES, SIR. OKAY, I GOT IT. I'M ON BOARD. EVERYTHING THAT'S EMPLOYER PAID IS WHAT YOU ALL ARE SAYING. IT'S AT 0% CORRECT. YES, SIR. THAT WAS PART OF THE VOLUNTARY, WHICH IS WHAT EMPLOYEES PAY, RIGHT? THAT IS SEPARATE FROM ALL THIS. CORRECT. THAT'S OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKET. YES, SIR. BUT THAT'S ALSO 0% COMING IN AT 0%. YES, SIR. SO MY ONLY QUESTION IS IF THIS IS STARTING OCTOBER 1ST 24 TO SEPTEMBER 30TH, CORRECT 25. CORRECT. SO IF WE WANTED TO ADD PRODUCTS TO THE VOLUNTEER PRODUCTS, DO WE GO OUT FOR A OUR PIECE FOR THAT? HOW DOES THAT WORK? THAT'S WHAT I MEAN. DISCRETION. I UNDERSTAND THAT. I GUESS HOW DOES THAT AFFECT WHAT WE'RE CONSIDERING TONIGHT? SO BASICALLY THE TIMELINE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE WITH IF YOU ALL WERE TO APPROVE THIS AND GO ON WITH THE RENEWAL, KEEP EVERYTHING THE SAME. BLUE CROSS, BLUE SHIELD AND ALL THE CARRIERS WOULD PROVIDE THE CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS THAT ARE REQUIRED, I BELIEVE, ANYWHERE FROM 30 TO 60 DAYS. THAT WOULD NEED TO BE. WE HAVE TO TAKE ACTION ON THAT, TAKE ACTION ON THAT. AND THEN THERE YOU GO. THEN SEE HERE THEN WE WOULD MAKE A PRESENTATION ON BEHALF OF THOSE [01:15:01] CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS, MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S AT 0% AS AS TASKED. AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT LOOKING INTO TO THE ENROLLMENT FOR THE NEXT YEAR, WHICH USUALLY HAPPENS IN THE MIDDLE OF JUNE OR JULY, DEPENDING ON THE DISCRETION OF OF WHETHER THERE'S AN A OR NOT. AND THEN WE GATHER THAT DATA, WE GET ALL THAT INFORMATION FROM THE ENROLLMENT, WE SUBMIT THAT INFORMATION TO THE CITY. AND HOPEFULLY BY OCTOBER 1ST EFFECTIVE DATE, WE WOULD HAVE EVERYTHING IN LINE, EVERYTHING WOULD BE RECONCILED. ALL THE PAYMENTS WOULD BE READY TO PROVIDE TO ALL THE CARRIERS, AND THEN WE'D GO FORWARD, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER YEAR. SO IS THERE TIME TO GO OUT AND TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OTHER PRODUCTS? OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SEVERAL THAT YOU ALL ADDED, FOR EXAMPLE, PET INSURANCE. WE DIDN'T THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE A POPULAR INSURANCE PRODUCT THAT YOU ADDED, BUT PEOPLE DO UTILIZE IT. AND THERE'S A REASON WHY IT SAYS GREAT BENEFITS OUT THERE. EDINBURGH PROVIDES CITY OF EDINBURGH PROVIDES GREAT BENEFITS TO EMPLOYEES. OUR JOB IS TO JUST REDUCE THE COST, GIVE A RICHER BENEFIT AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE BEST THAT'S OUT THERE AND THAT'S OUR JOB. SO JUST QUESTION CITY MANAGER. SO THIS TONIGHT IS FOR WHAT WE HAD GONE OUT FOR BIDS. THAT IS CORRECT. THAT IS UP FOR RENEWAL. THAT IS CORRECT. SO IF WE WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE, LET'S SAY OTHER VOLUNTEER PRODUCTS, WE CAN DO SO SEPARATE FROM THIS. IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR. GOT IT. YES, SIR. WE CAN GO OUT FOR BID FOR ANY ADDITIONAL VOLUNTARY PRODUCTS THAT THE COUNCIL CHOOSES. THAT WE HAD GONE OUT FOR BIDS AND. YES, SIR IS UP FOR CONSIDERATION FOR NEXT YEAR. THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY. WELL, WITH THAT SAID, CAN I MAKE A MOTION? WELL, YES. ANYBODY? JUST LET ME ASK IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM I DO I DO HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION TO STAFF. SO WE'RE GOING OVER OUT FOR PRODUCTS NOW. BUT THE CONTRACT IS ALIGNED WITH, WITH THE PRODUCT CONTRACT. SO THE SO THE AGENT OF RECORD, WHICH IS MR. GUERRA HIS TERM DOES NOT EXPIRE UNTIL SEPTEMBER. SO IF WE WERE TO WANT TO CONSIDER ANOTHER AGENT OF RECORD, THAT WON'T COME UNTIL A LATER PERIOD OF TIME. SO HE BASED ON THIS TIMELINE, HE WILL STILL BE PART OF THE PROCESS FOR THE RFP, AND HE WILL STILL ASSIST US ACCORDING TO HIS CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS UP UNTIL SEPTEMBER THE 30TH. AND THEN AND THEN WE WILL AT SOME POINT LATER ON IN THE YEAR, BRING FORWARD TO COUNCIL FOR SOME TYPE OF DIRECTION, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO OUT FOR AN RFQ, FOR AN AGENT OF RECORD OR IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RENEW YOU WITH MR. GUERRA AS WELL? YEAH. AND THE ONLY REASON I'M ASKING IS BECAUSE. SO YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT WE'RE GOING TO. IF WE WERE TO VOTE ON A PRODUCT, THEN THE AGENT OF RECORD COULD BE CHANGED AFTER THE PRODUCT HAS BEEN VOTED ON, AND THEY WOULD KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE PRODUCT THAT WE INSTALLED WHERE WE HAVE AN AR. NOW, THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, FIGHTING FOR THE CITY. AND IF IT WAS TO CHANGE AFTER WE APPROVED THIS, IT WOULD BE IT WOULD BE A NEW LAW THAT DID NOT. WELL, IT WOULD JUST IN THIS PROCESS. WELL, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE AN AGENT OF RECORD. WE WOULD HAVE TO PUT IT IN OUR RFP THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO WORK WITH OUR CURRENT AGENT OF RECORD. OKAY. THAT'S ALL I HAD. OKAY. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION. GO AHEAD. SIR. TO TO AWARD THE REGARDING GROUP INSURANCE PRODUCTS. AND THAT WE GO BACK OUT FOR BIDS OR RFPS OR Q'S FOR VOLUNTARY INSURANCE PRODUCTS. CAN YOU RESTATE YOUR MOTION, SIR? YES, SIR. I'D LIKE TO STAY WITH BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD, WHICH IS WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING IS REGARDING GROUP INSURANCE PRODUCTS. SO MOTION TO APPROVE. AND FOR THE SECOND PART OF THIS IS VOLUNTARY INSURANCE PRODUCTS THAT WE GO BACK OUT FOR BIDS. OKAY. THE MOTION IS THERE A SECOND. I'LL SECOND IT FOR DISCUSSION. GO AHEAD SIR. BUT IF WE IF WE WERE TO DO THAT, WE RUN THE RISK OF OF LOSING THE 0%. YES. WHAT'S THAT TIMELINE? THE 0%? WELL, I THINK WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO SAY. BECAUSE IT'S BUNDLED. NO, BECAUSE HE SAID JUST WHAT WAS BUNDLED OVER HERE WAS UNDER BLUE CROSS. BLUE SHIELD? NO. THE VOLUNTARY PRODUCTS ARE ALSO AT A 0% INCREASE. OKAY. BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO LOSE THE BUNDLE OF THE BIG ONE, WHICH IS THE WE WILL NOT WE WILL NOT LOSE THE BUNDLE BECAUSE THE MOTION WAS MADE FOR OUR CORE PRODUCTS THAT ARE EMPLOYEE EMPLOYER PAID TWO SEPARATE ON ONE ONE ITEM HERE, WHICH THAT'S WHY I SAID WE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE THESE AS TWO SEPARATE ITEMS, RIGHT? SO I JUST SEPARATED. BUT BUT YOU ARE STILL GOING TO RISK LOSING THE 0% FOR OUR VOLUNTARY PRODUCTS AS WELL, BUT NOT FOR THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD. THAT IS CORRECT. THE MOST EXPENSIVE ONE, THE $7 MILLION, $8.6 MILLION. BUT AND I'M THINKING THAT WHAT DAVE MR. COUNCILMAN WHITE WAS TRYING TO SAY THE GROUP HE MEANT THE CORE PRODUCTS. THE CORE PRODUCT. THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'S WHY I KIND OF READ IT OUT WHEN WE READ IT. THAT'S WHY WE GO BACK. YOU UNDERSTAND? I SPECIFICALLY WORDED OUT THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD. THAT IS CORRECT. IT'S THE CORE PRODUCTS BEING PAID BY THE CITY BY EMPLOYER. [01:20:01] ALL RIGHT. AND SO MY ONLY QUESTION ON THAT, ON THAT MOTION AGAIN NOT SURE HOW WHAT THE VOTE WILL BE, BUT SO THAT MOTION PASSES. WHAT HAPPENS THEN. DO WE GO OFF OUR PIECE ON VOLUNTEER PRODUCTS OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? YES, SIR. SO SO IF THAT MOTION WERE TO PASS, THAT WOULD WE WOULD TAKE THAT AS A DIRECTIVE FROM COUNCIL THAT THEY WOULD LIKE FOR US TO GO OUT FOR RFP. SO THAT DOES START THIS TIMELINE. AND THEN AND THEN CORRECT FOR THE VOLUNTARY PRODUCTS ONLY WHICH ARE EMPLOYEE PAID. OKAY. YES, SIR. AND IT WOULD BE A TIMELINE, I GUESS. IS THAT ONE OF THE TIMELINES YOU PUT UP THERE? YES, SIR. IF WE WERE TO IF THAT WOULD HAPPEN. YES, SIR. OKAY. AND WHICHEVER PRODUCTS ARE, IF IF WHATEVER PRODUCTS ARE BEING PRESENTED, DO THEY WORK WITH THE AGENT OF RECORDS OR HOW DOES THAT WORK AT THIS TIME? WELL, AT THIS TIME, BASED ON THE CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND THAT WE DO HAVE A DESIGNATED AGENT OF RECORD, THEY WOULD HAVE TO HOWEVER BECAUSE OF THE TIMELINE AS WELL, MR. GARRETT'S CONTRACT TERM DOES END SEPTEMBER 30TH, AND THEN THE PRODUCTS ARE NOT GOING TO BE MADE AVAILABLE UNTIL OCTOBER 1ST. WE MIGHT ACTUALLY HAVE TO GO OUT FOR AGENT OF RECORD AS WELL. YOU KNOW, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT IF FOR SOME REASON THE CITY AT SOME POINT WOULD WANT TO GO OUT FOR ANOTHER AGENT OF RECORD, WE ALSO ALLOW THE THE CURRENT AGENT OF RECORD THE OPPORTUNITY TO THEN SUBMIT AN RFP FOR THE VOLUNTARY PRODUCTS AS WELL. AND, BELINDA, IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL OPINION BY GOING OUT FOR, FOR BIDS, DO YOU SEE IT GOING UP OR DOWN? DO YOU SEE AN INCREASE OR DECREASE THE PRICING? I DON'T I DON'T SEE THE EXPERIENCE OF THE VOLUNTEER PRODUCTS AGENTS AND CONSULTANTS SEE THAT IT CAN VARY BASED ON ON THE TYPE OF PRODUCT THAT YOU DO BRING IN. YOU COULD HAVE A RICHER BENEFIT THAT MIGHT BE MORE EXPENSIVE THAN CURRENT, OR YOU COULD HAVE A REDUCED COST BENEFIT THAT DOESN'T PROVIDE THE SAME BENEFITS. IN OTHER WORDS, IF I WAS GOING OUT FOR PROPOSAL AND I SAW 0% INCREASE, MY GOAL WOULD BE TO TRY TO SHOW YOU THAT IT'S BELOW COST AND IT MIGHT NOT BE THE SAME BENEFIT THEY HAVE CURRENTLY. AND THEN ANOTHER THING TO CONSIDER IS YOU ALSO RUN THE RISK OF CURRENT PEOPLE THAT HAVE CURRENT CLAIMS WITH THE CURRENT PRODUCTS. NOW YOU'RE GOING TO CHANGE THAT. SO THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO EITHER PORT THEIR OWN PRODUCT AND PAY FOR IT SEPARATELY AND JUMP ON THE NEW PRODUCT, BUT THEN THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PRODUCTS ARE GUARANTEED ISSUE. THEY CAN WAIT 12 MONTHS TO GET THEM. IT CREATES SOME TYPE OF DISRUPTION, BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT'S THE DISCRETION OF THE COUNCIL. IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE BENEFITS AND SEE HOW YOU CAN PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES TO RENDER AN RFP, THEN I THINK OUR POSITION, DEPENDING ON WHETHER OR NOT YOU GO OUT FOR OR WE WOULD STEP BACK AND ALLOW THE CITY TO GO FORWARD. LAST YEAR YOU ALL UTILIZED A CONSULTANT, YOU PAID A CONSULTANT, THEY SELECTED THE PRODUCTS AND THEY GAVE THEM TO US. ALL WE DID WAS NEGOTIATE THE RENEWALS. SO TALKING ABOUT THE TIME FRAME, SO ESPECIALLY ON YOUR LIFE AND YOUR ACCIDENTAL INSURANCE, THERE COULD BE A TIME FRAME THAT THE EMPLOYEE MAY NOT BE COVERED, MIGHT HAVE TO WAIT AND PAY THEIR OWN PART TO CONTINUE THEIR COVERAGES IF THEY'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A CLAIM. AND NOW WE'RE DOING THIS COULD HURT OUR EMPLOYEE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON SPECIFIC PRODUCTS ONLY IF WE LET IT LAPSE. NO, THIS WAY WE DO IT EARLY. AND NOW WE WENT THROUGH THIS LAST YEAR. WE HAD THE WHOLE ARGUMENT ABOUT THE VOLUNTARY PRODUCTS AND EVERYTHING LAST YEAR. BUT ARE THEY GUARANTEED ISSUE? THAT'S THE THING. THERE COULD BE ALSO SOME THAT SAYS NO PREEXISTING. OKAY, I'M JUST TRYING TO PUT IT OUT. I JUST KNOW WE WENT THIS LAST YEAR. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY IT'S BACK HERE THIS YEAR, BECAUSE THE DIRECTIVE WE GAVE STAFF AT THE TIME WAS THIS WAS TO GO BACK OUT FOR BIDS BECAUSE THIS WAS A CONTENTIOUS PART OF THEIR WE ACTUALLY SAT HERE AND DEBATED WHETHER WHAT PORTIONS OF THIS WE CAN, WE CAN DIVIDE UP OR GIVE TO DIFFERENT DIFFERENT PRODUCTS. AND IT WAS AGREED UPON THAT THE WAY IT WAS READ THAT LAST YEAR REALLY DIDN'T SIT OUT THAT WAY. WE NEEDED TO BRING IT BACK THIS YEAR, AND IF THAT'S WHAT COUNCIL WISHED TO DO AT THE TIME, WAS TO TO AWARD IT. WE TOLD THEM THAT'S WHAT WE WISH TO DO AT THE TIME AND NOW WE'RE HERE. BROUGHT IT UP TO COUNCIL TODAY. THIS SHOULD HAVE ALREADY WENT OUT FOR RFP. THIS SHOULD HAVE WENT OUT PROBABLY THE DAY AFTER WE'VE DONE WE'VE WE'VE DONE IT. BUT THAT'S NOT WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY. WE'RE BACK AT STAFF BRINGING IT BACK TO US. IT'S NOT FOLLOWING WHAT WE ASKED FOR IN THE PAST. ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SO? SO MAJOR MEDICAL DOES NOT CHANGE. AND THAT'S 0%. BUT ALONG WITH THE MAJOR MEDICAL THERE'S A BUNDLE OF WHICH PRODUCTS. IT'S THE EMPLOYER PAID PRODUCTS THE DENTAL VISION AND GROUP LIFE. DENTAL VISION GROUP LIFE. YES, SIR. OKAY. AND SO BY SEPARATING THEM, ARE WE TRYING TO GO OUT FOR DENTAL VISION OR GROUP LIFE? NO, NO, JUST OTHER PRODUCTS. RIGHT. ALL THE VOLUNTEER PRODUCTS. DISABILITY, CANCER ACCIDENT. HOSPITAL INDEMNITY. CANCER PET. ALL THE OTHER. OKAY. YES, SIR. I'M JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THE MAJOR MEDICAL IS NOT CHANGING. SO ANY POTENTIAL INCREASE WOULD BE ON THOSE OTHER PRODUCTS, CORRECT? NOT THE MAJOR MEDICAL, WHICH IS WHAT THE CITY PAYS FOR. AND IT'S THE SECOND LARGEST POTATOES OF OUR OF OUR COVERAGE. [01:25:01] YES, SIR. CORRECT. AT THE SAME TIME, THOUGH, WE'LL BE IF WE GO OUT FOR BIDS, WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING OUT FOR PRETTY MUCH WHAT YOU SAID, AGENT OF RECORDS, THE BIDS FOR THE VOLUNTARY PRODUCTS AND ALL THAT. WE'RE GOING TO DO THE WHOLE WELL, THAT'S NOT WHAT'S ON TONIGHT. NO, NO. BUT IN GENERAL IF WE GO OUT FOR IT COULD HAPPEN FOR THOSE PRODUCTS. CORRECT. NO, YOU COULD BUT IT BUT COULD STAY AS THE AGENT OF RECORD TOO. IT DEPENDS WHAT HIS BIDS COME IN ON, ON THE PRODUCTS WE'RE ASKING FOR. THAT'S HOW WE GOT HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. AND SO JUST I HAVE A QUESTION ON THAT BECAUSE I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE IS CORRECT. I THINK THE WAY WE WENT OUT LAST YEAR, I GOT CONFUSED TOO, BECAUSE THERE WAS A LIST OF PRODUCTS AND THERE WERE SOME ARE SUBMITTED. RIGHT. AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE CONFUSION. COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE'S TALKING ABOUT. I CAN CLARIFY, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU COULD, BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON THAT, AND I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER SALAZAR WAS IN HERE, BUT JUST SO THAT HE'S AWARE, ALSO THE TRANSPARENCY PIECE IN THE WAY YOU ALL DID BIDS WAS SOMEBODY LIKE MYSELF WOULD SUBMIT FOR AGENT OF RECORD. SO RIGHT OFF THE BAT, BASED ON THE BID PROPOSALS, YOU WOULD CHOOSE WHO WOULD FIRST COME IN AND FELICITATE THE PLAN DESIGNS MEDICAL AND VOLUNTARY. SO I THINK WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IS THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT DIDN'T PARTICIPATE IN THAT AGENT OF RECORD FOR TRANSPARENCY PURPOSES, THAT ELIMINATES EVERYBODY WHO THINKS THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY. THE OPPORTUNITY IS ALREADY DESIGNATED AGENT OF RECORD. YOU'RE THE INDIVIDUAL THAT'S GOING TO HANDLE OUR PLANS MEDICAL AND DENTAL VISION, VOLUNTARY, ETC. MAKE IT WORK. OKAY, SO THAT WAS DONE FIRST. THEN YOU ALL DECIDED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE HEALTH PLAN. SO THE HEALTH PLAN IS NET OF AGENT NET OF COMMISSION FOR WHATEVER REASON. IT WAS TAKEN OUT YEARS AGO. SO OUR GROUP, MEDICAL BLUE CROSS, WE RECEIVED ZERO COMPENSATION. THERE'S NO THERE'S NO AGENT COMMISSION OR FEES. WE RECEIVED NOTHING. ALL THE STUFF THAT WE'RE DOING HERE TONIGHT FOR YOU ALL BASED ON THE RENEWAL, WAS NOT A VALUE SERVICE. THEN YOU ALL WENT OUT FOR VOLUNTARY PLANS. AND SOMETIMES, WITH ALL RESPECT TO OTHER AGENTS, THEY DON'T READ THE PROPOSALS. THEY JUST THINK THEY CAN SUBMIT, ADD MY NAME TO THE PROPOSAL AND THEN THEY CAN PICK ME. WELL, THAT KIND OF DIRTIES THE WATER. SO IN FULL TRANSPARENCY, YOU ALL DID IT CORRECTLY BY NAMING AN AGENT OF RECORD, THEN MEDICAL, THEN DENTAL, AND THEN THE VOLUNTARY PRODUCTS. AND I SAY MEDICAL AND DENTAL BECAUSE THAT FALLS UNDER THE CORE, RIGHT? YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT THAT WAY. YOU CAN NAME AGENTS, YOU CAN DO PRETTY MUCH WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU WANT. BUT FROM A FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, YOU ALL PROTECTED YOURSELVES FROM THE LIABILITY BECAUSE YOU NAMED AGENT OF RECORD FIRST, WHETHER IT'S ME OR ANYBODY ELSE. YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST VERY COMPETITIVE. THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WANT AN OPPORTUNITY AT THIS CONTRACT AND THAT'S HOW IT WORKS. SO GOING BACK TO LAST YEAR, THE ONLY THING THAT I KIND OF I WOULD SAY WAS CONCERNED WITH IS THAT WE INHERITED THE PRODUCTS THAT THE CONSULTANT PICKED. WE HAD NO SKIN IN THAT GAME. SO YOU'RE GOING TO WORK WITH THESE CARRIERS, YOU'RE GOING TO WORK WITH THESE COMPANIES. YOU'RE GOING TO GET AN ENROLLMENT SYSTEM. YOU'RE GOING TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER AND YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE IT WORK. AND THEN, OH, BY THE WAY, YOU'RE GOING TO ENROLL OUR MEDICAL. YOU'RE GOING TO ROLL OUR DENTAL, YOU'RE GOING TO ROLL OUR VISION, AND YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE THAT WORK. AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO OUT FOR HOWEVER WE WORK IT. SO WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT. IT'S NOT A PROBLEM. IT'S OUR JOB. WE WANT TO HELP. WE'RE FROM EDINBURGH. WE'RE COMMITTED TO THE CITY, SO IT'S NOT A PROBLEM. BUT THAT'S HOW LAST YEAR WENT. SO THIS YEAR, THE WAY COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE IS SAYING IT, IT'S BASICALLY YOU WANT TO REDUCE AND TO RENEW THE MEDICAL. WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE ASIAN RECORD AND THE VOLUNTARY. THAT'S TOTALLY UP TO YOU. OR YOU COULD LEAVE US THE SAME AND THEN JUST GO OUT FOR VOLUNTARY PRODUCTS. THE DISCRETION IS YOURS. BUT LAST YEAR FROM OUR STANDPOINT AS AGENTS, WE PREFER THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS AN ACTUAL OPPORTUNITY WHERE I'M GOING AGAINST EVERYBODY ELSE. THAT'S IN MY PROFESSION, MY FIELD. IT GIVES ME A CHANCE AND EVERYBODY ELSE A CHANCE, AS OPPOSED TO LET'S NAME ALL THE PRODUCTS AND THEN YOU CAN BE AN AGENT, YOU CAN BE AN AGENT, YOU CAN BE AN AGENT, YOU CAN BE AN AGENT. THEN YOU GOT TO WORK WITH EVERYBODY. AND THEN OH, BY THE WAY, PUT THIS ALL TOGETHER IN LESS THAN A MONTH. SO IT'S DIFFICULT FOR US BECAUSE WE GOT TO WORK WITH OTHER AGENTS. BUT NOT TO SAY IT CAN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE IT'S HAPPENED IN OTHER AREAS. BUT FROM OUR STANDPOINT, BY GOING OUT WITH AGENT OF RECORD FIRST, IT ELIMINATED ALL THAT BECAUSE THAT WAS OUR RESPONSIBILITY, AND THAT'S WHY WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE 0% INCREASE TO HELP A 0% INCREASE WITH CARRIERS, BECAUSE IT WAS OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE FIRMS, AND OUR GOAL IS TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT GOING FORWARD. AND BELINDA, ON THE COMMUNICATION ASPECT, IF THERE WAS A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT AGENT RECORDS, HOW ON THE STAFF, HOW HARD IS IT ON YOU ALL TO TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN, TO COMMUNICATE, AND HOW IS IT INTERNALLY FOR YOU ALL AND THE STAFF? ALL RIGHT. SO I TALKED ABOUT THE CHALLENGE LAST YEAR. CAN YOU SPEAK ON THE MIC? I'M SO SORRY. JUST IT'LL HELP. CLARICE. WE TALKED ABOUT THE CHALLENGE. THANK YOU. THE CHALLENGE WITH MORE THAN ONE AGENT IS COORDINATING THE ENROLLMENT, COORDINATING THE PLATFORM, THE INSURANCE PLATFORM USE. THERE'S COST TO TO THESE AGENTS, WHOEVER PROVIDES THE PLATFORM. [01:30:05] THEN OF COURSE, PROVIDING COMMUNICATION AND HAVING THE MEETINGS WITH DIFFERENT AGENTS. TO ME, I FELT IT WAS A LITTLE MORE CLEAN TO PROVIDE TO HAVE ONE AGENT AND JUST HELP US WITH EVERYTHING. RIGHT. BUT IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN AT THE COUNCIL'S DISCRETION. IT IS A LITTLE MORE CHALLENGING TO HAVE MORE THAN ONE OR IT'S SOMETIMES COMPETITIVE, AND THAT'S OKAY. THAT'S THAT'S THE WAY INSURANCE WORKS. BUT PREFERENCE FOR THE CITY FOR FOR OUR TEAM AND FOR THE EMPLOYEES. I PREFER ONE AGENT. I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE THEN IF ANYONE THAT OWNS A BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, IT'S A CHALLENGE ALREADY WITH YOUR OWN STAFF. NOW ADD OTHER STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE NOT IN YOUR IN YOUR INTERNAL CIRCLE. SO I CAN DEFINITELY SEE HOW THAT DEFINITELY. AND IN ALL FAIRNESS, WE WE WE SORT WE USE A FAIR PROCUREMENT TRANSPARENT PROCESS THROUGH THE RFQ. YOU COULD HAVE NAMED ANY AGENT OF RECORD AT THAT TIME. AND RONNIE MR. RONNIE WAS AWARDED TO ME. I JUST NEED AN AGENT OF RECORD. TELL ME WHO WE HAVE AND WE'LL MOVE FORWARD FROM THERE. SO AS FAR AS THE COMMUNICATION STANDPOINT BETWEEN FOR THIS OR FOR ALL LAST YEAR, WAS IT EASIER FOR YOU WITH RONNIE'S COMPANY AND ALL THAT WORKING TOGETHER? DEFINITELY. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH RONNIE. HE IS A HIS COMPANY OR HIS OFFICES HERE IN EDINBURG. HE'S AVAILABLE WEEKLY, MONTHLY, MONTHLY MEETINGS, BI WEEKLY ORIENTATIONS WITH EMPLOYEES, ASSISTING WITH CLAIMS PROCESSES, ISSUES WITH MEDICATION NOT BEING COVERED, AND OFFICE VISIT ISSUE WITH HE HAS LITERALLY SAT AT A DOCTOR'S OFFICE TO TALK ABOUT SOMEONE'S MEDICATION. SO ALL OF THAT IS VERY HELPFUL FOR OUR EMPLOYEES SO THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO UTILIZE THEIR BENEFITS TO, TO THE BEST. SO. SO IF I CALL HIM AT 2 A.M., HE'S GOING TO ANSWER. PROBABLY WILL PROBABLY BE SURPRISED. I'VE DONE A PRE-AUTHORIZATION AT 430 IN THE MORNING. THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME. BUT YOU KNOW, LOOK, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE UNDERSTAND THAT ANYBODY CAN BE UP HERE. WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE. WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS STAFF, A VERY LARGE STAFF THAT'S COMMITTED TO THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. AT THE SAME TIME, WHEREVER YOU CHOOSE, WE ALSO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, IT'S COMPETITIVE. EVERYBODY WANTS AN OPPORTUNITY, BUT WE'RE HAPPY BECAUSE WE PROVIDED A 0% INCREASE. SAVED A LOT OF TAXPAYER MONEY. THE BENEFITS DIDN'T CHANGE. AND NOW WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE THE BENEFITS NEXT YEAR BASED ON THIS TREND. SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT AND WE'RE PROUD OF THAT. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THE BEST FOR THE CITY, LIKE WE SAID EARLIER. SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. AND IF THERE'S ANY OTHER QUESTIONS JUST LET US KNOW. YEAH. AND I WANT TO SAY, RONNIE, I'VE SPOKEN TO YOU IN LENGTH LAST YEAR BECAUSE LIKE EVERYONE WAS SAYING, LAST YEAR WAS A LOT OF CONFUSION, VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE. I'M I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU WERE HERE TO NEGOTIATE THE MAJOR MEDICAL AND THAT BUNDLE FOR ME. I DON'T WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT DOES NOT CHANGE BECAUSE YOU GUYS DID A LOT OF WORK. ON THE VOLUNTARY, AS LONG AS IT'S NOT GOING TO AFFECT OUR CURRENT, OUR, OUR CURRENT MEDICAL COVERAGE AND GROUP THAT WE HAVE THE BUNDLE, I SHOULD SAY I'M I'M REALLY, REALLY HAPPY WITH THAT. BUT LIKE CHIEF SAID, THIS IS A IT'S SEPARATING THE VOLUNTEER. AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO AFFECT OUR MEDICAL RIGHT BY BY GOING FOR RFP ON JUST THE VOLUNTEER PRODUCTS. AND IT WILL NOT, IN FACT, BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD, BASED ON YOUR DECISION TONIGHT, IS ALREADY SET FOR CONTRACT NEGOTIATION. OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE HERE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S DIFFERENT OTHER CARRIERS, BUT THEY'RE ALREADY ON THE WAY TO SIGN THE CONTRACT. AND ONCE IT'S SIGNED 0% SECURE. AND WE GO FORWARD WITH THAT RENEWAL RATE UNTIL NEXT YEAR. RIGHT. 30 DAYS, 30 DAYS. BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE BECAUSE WE REALLY HELD FAST. WE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH THEM. THERE'S OTHER WAYS BESIDES UTILIZATION THAT YOU CAN ALSO WORK AROUND. AND WE USE THOSE SAME WAYS IN OUR FIRM THAT THEY KIND OF HELPS US IN THE RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE WITH BLUE CROSS AND OTHER ENTITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HELPS. SO GOING FORWARD NOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK HARDER BECAUSE WE WANT TO SECURE THE SAME NUMBERS. AND THAT'S WHERE THE TASK BECOMES A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT. BUT WE'RE COMMITTED TO IT. WE'RE READY TO GO. AND LIKE I SAID, THERE'S NO TASK THAT WE'RE NOT READY TO TACKLING. SO APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK. SO JUST TO JUST TO MENTION REAL QUICK, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, THE AGENT OF RECORD CONTRACT TERM IS UP UNTIL SEPTEMBER THE 30TH. AND SO BY THEN, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THROUGH HIS OBLIGATION, YOU KNOW, RONNIE'S GOING TO HELP US THROUGH THE RFP PROCESS IF THE COUNCIL SO CHOOSE TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION. HOWEVER, IF HE IS NOT RENEWED AND WE, WE FOR OCTOBER THE 1ST, THEN HE WOULD HAVE DONE THE WORK BECAUSE HE'S OBLIGATED TO DO IT, BUT HE MIGHT NOT RECEIVE THE BENEFIT OF IT. BECAUSE REMEMBER, THE SERVICES ARE NOT BEING BILLED AND PROVIDED UNTIL OCTOBER THE 1ST. THEY'RE NOT INTO IT. IN EFFECT UNTIL OCTOBER THE 1ST. CORRECT. THAT'S SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND, WHICH IS WHY I MENTIONED THAT AT SOME POINT, IF WE MIGHT HAVE TO ASK COUNSEL WHAT DIRECTION THEY WOULD WANT TO GO ON AS WELL [01:35:02] FOR THE AGENT OF RECORD. CORRECT. SO IT WOULD BE PRETTY MUCH WORKING FOR FREE. THAT'S PRETTY MUCH CORRECT. WHICH AT THE SAME TIME WE DID IT FOR THE MEDICAL PLAN. YOU KNOW, WE UNDERSTOOD WHAT. TO BE CLEAR THOUGH, Y'ALL ARE GETTING COMPENSATED CURRENTLY. CORRECT. JUST TO VOLUNTEER, NOT TO THE MEDICAL. WELL, NO I UNDERSTAND. YES, SIR. YES, SIR. AT A REDUCED COST. IT'S TEN BASIS POINTS IS WHAT THEY ALLUDED TO. BUT EVEN NEXT YEAR, YOU'RE SAYING. I THOUGHT GROUP MEDICAL. THERE WAS NO COMPENSATION. NO COMPENSATION AT ALL? NO, SIR. YEAH. SO IT'LL BE THE SAME NEXT YEAR. IT'LL BE THE SAME? YES, SIR. YEAH. I MEAN, SOMETIMES YOU CAN IMPLEMENT, YOU KNOW, COMMISSION LOAD, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT BECAUSE WE WANT TO KEEP THE 0% INCREASE. THAT'S THE MAIN GOAL. AND THEN MAYBE NEXT YEAR THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS, IF WE COULD TAKE A LOOK AT MAYBE SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO TO CHANGE PLAN DESIGN OR, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DISCUSSED. BUT OUR GOAL RIGHT NOW IS TO MAINTAIN THE 0% INCREASE. WORK ON THE FISCAL YEAR FOR 2425 AND CONTINUE DOING WORK. SO PRETTY MUCH A LOT OF THE COMPANIES, INSURANCE COMPANIES, THEY DON'T WANT TO DO THE MEDICAL PLANS AND ALL THAT. THEY JUST WANT TO GO STRAIGHT STRICTLY TO THE VOLUNTARY PRODUCTS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THEY MAKE THEIR THE VOLUNTARY PRODUCTS GENERATE COMMISSION SO THEY COULD CARE LESS WHAT THE MEDICAL PLAN DOES. NOT ALL OF THEM, BUT MOST OF YOUR STAFF DOES BOTH. THEY'RE ENROLLING BOTH, BUT THEY DON'T WANT THEIR STAFF TO ENROLL. WE'RE ONE OF THE FEW OUTFITS THAT CAN DO THE MEDICAL PLAN. WE COULD DO THE VOLUNTARY PLAN, WE CAN DO THE FINANCIALS, AND WE COULD DO THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. RIGHT NOW YOU JUST UTILIZE TWO. WE CAN ALSO CONSULT WHAT THIS IS BASICALLY DOING FOR FREE. LAST YEAR YOU ALL PAID A CONSULTANT TO DO OUR JOB. SO THIS YEAR YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT, WHICH YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BECAUSE THERE'S OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR REVENUE TO BE CREATED WITHIN THE PLAN DESIGN. SO IT'S AN ADDED VALUE SERVICE. EVERYBODY WANTS TO SAVE MONEY. IT'S A WAY OF THE WORLD. LOOK AT LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO THE TO THE REAL ESTATE INDIVIDUALS. THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT REDUCING THEIR COMMISSION. IT'S EVERY INDUSTRY YOU KNOW, SO IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE. SO ARE THESE ONE YEAR CONTRACTS BECAUSE I WAS LIKE, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE. I THOUGHT LAST YEAR WHEN WE DID THIS RFP, IT WAS FOR TWO YEARS. WELL, IT'S THE OPTION FOR A TWO YEAR RENEWAL. IT'S AN OPTION. BUT THE COUNCIL DID NOT MAKE THE MOTION TO AUTOMATICALLY DO IT. SO WE BRING IT FORWARD. WE? YEAH, WE BRING IT. WE BRING IT TO COUNCIL'S. THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE, IF THIS MOTION PASSES AND LET'S SAY WE GO OUT FOR BIDS, RIGHT. I GET THAT THAT WE GO OUT FOR BIDS IF THAT'S THE CASE. BUT LET'S SAY IT DOESN'T PASS AND WE WE STAY WITH THE 0%. YES, SIR. MEDICAL AND VOLUNTARY. YES. ARE WE STILL ABLE TO GO OUT FOR BID? LET'S SAY TO ADD PRODUCTS? THAT'S MY QUESTION. YES, SIR. WHAT WAS THE QUESTION? ARE WE STILL ABLE TO ADD PRODUCTS? YES, SIR. AND GO OFF RFP AND SAY WE WANT TO SEE WHAT OTHER BENEFITS YOU CAN BRING OUR EMPLOYEES? YES. THAT ARE SEPARATE AND APART THAN WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE. YES. WE CAN TALK ABOUT VOLUNTARY. YES, YES. THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM AT ALL. BUT WOULD IT BE WITH THE SAME AGENT OR RECORD, OR WOULD IT BE WITH THE, I LIKE LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE WOULD PUT IT IN THE RFP THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO WORK WITH OUR CURRENT AGENT OF RECORD, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE DO HAVE A CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION TO HIM, BUT HE ALSO HAS A CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION TO US. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YOU COULD CHANGE AN AGENT OF RECORD AT ANY TIME SHOULD YOU CHOOSE. YES, BUT THAT'S WHERE THE CONFUSION WITH THE STAFF AND ALL THAT CAN BE. YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT AN AGENT OF RECORD. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VOLUNTARY PRODUCTS, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NEXT THING, WE'RE INTO AGING THE RECORD. THAT'S A THAT'S ANOTHER RFP. THAT'S CORRECT. RIGHT. ISN'T IT RFQ RFQ. SO THERE'S THREE DIFFERENT THINGS HERE. THERE'S THREE PARTS RIGHT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO. WE'RE NOT. AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN WE'RE GOING ON AND VENTURING INTO THE THIRD PART, WHICH MAYBE THE ATTORNEY NEEDS TO TALK ABOUT. I THINK IT'S BECAUSE HE'S STILL ON CONTRACT FOR SEPTEMBER. NO, THAT'S WHY I THINK THAT'S THE REASON WHY BECAUSE OF THE SEPTEMBER. ALL RIGHT. YEAH. OUR CONTRACT IS CORRECT. SO SEPTEMBER 30TH. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IF NOT, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. CAN YOU RESTATE YOUR MOTION, SIR? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, FOR THE RECORD, WE HAVE. YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD? SIR, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE REGARDING THE TO APPROVE GROUP INSURANCE PRODUCTS AND TO GO OUT FOR BIDS, RFPS OR Q'S, WHATEVER THE PROPER TERMINOLOGY IS FOR VOLUNTARY INSURANCE PRODUCTS. OKAY. WE HAVE A SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? [7. PUBLIC HEARINGS] SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM SEVEN, A PUBLIC HEARINGS. I'M GOING TO OPEN UP THESE TWO ITEMS A AND B FOR THESE TWO PIECES OF PROPERTY HERE IN THE AUDIENCE TO DISCUSS ANY OF THESE TWO ITEMS. I'M GOING TO OPEN UP THE HEARING. AT THIS TIME. YOU'RE WELCOME TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS TO THE COUNCIL REGARDING ITEMS A AND B. THE HEARING IS NOW OPEN. AGAIN, FOR THE RECORD, WE'RE HERE TO DISCUSS ITEM SEVEN A AND B. N.B.. IF THERE'S NO COMMENTS, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. [A. Hold Public Hearing and Consider the Ordinance Providing for the Consider the Rezoning Request from Agriculture and Open Space (AO) District to Residential, Primary (RP) District, Being the South 5.00 Acres of Lot 69 and the North 5.00 Acres of Lot 70, Ramseyer Gardens, Located at 3830 North Rio Grande Care Road, as Requested by Arturo Alvarez Jr. (A 4/5 vote is required by the City Council to overturn the Planning & Zoning Commission action.) [Jaime Acevedo, Director of Planning & Zoning]] GO AHEAD. THIS ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE FOR THE REZONING REQUEST FROM AGRICULTURE AND OPEN SPACE DISTRICT TO RESIDENTIAL PRIMARY DISTRICT, BEING THE SOUTH FIVE ACRES OF LOT 69. IN THE NORTH, FIVE ACRES OF LOT 70 RAMSAY GARDENS, LOCATED AT 3830 NORTH RIO GRANDE ROAD, AS REQUESTED BY ARTURO ALVAREZ, [01:40:01] JUNIOR. COUNSEL. MOTION TO APPROVE. WE HAVE A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT. [B. Hold Public Hearing and Consider the Ordinance Providing for the Rezoning Request from a Residential, Primary (RP) District to Residential, Urban (RU) and Townhome District, Being All of Lot 6, Block 2, Gate-City Heights Subdivision, Located at 819 West Smith Street, as Requested by Arturo Alvarez Jr. [Jaime Acevedo, Director of Planning & Zoning]] ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM B ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE REZONING REQUEST FROM A RESIDENTIAL PRIMARY PX DISTRICT TO RESIDENTIAL, URBAN, ROO AND TOWNHOME DISTRICT. BEING ALL OF LOT SIX BLOCK TWO GATE CITY HEIGHTS SUBDIVISION LOCATED AT 19 WEST SMITH STREET, AS REQUESTED BY ARTURO ALVAREZ JUNIOR. ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL. MOTION APPROVED. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? THIS IS TIED INTO THE ITEM A DIFFERENT IT'S A DIFFERENT COUNCILMAN DIAZ. BUT JUST THE ACTUAL. THIS THIS ITEM ACTUALLY HAD A DENIAL FROM PNC AND FROM STAFF. SO THE THE MOTION. THE MOTION WAS TO DENY. TO DENY. AND IS THAT YOUR MOTION? NO. NO. YOUR MOTION IS TO APPROVE. YEAH. OKAY. CAN YOU TELL ME WHY YOU WERE YOU WERE GOING AGAINST IT? WELL, CAN WE LET ME WITHDRAW MY MOTION? WELL, WE'RE IN DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION? WE'RE IN DISCUSSION. OKAY. YEAH. GO AHEAD. SIR. WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT YOU'RE WELCOME TO WITHDRAW IT WAS GOING TO WITHDRAW AND THEN SUSPEND THE RULES. WELL, I KNOW, BUT I WANT TO BE FAIR TO THE APPLICANT. OKAY. JUST GO AHEAD. YES. MAYOR AND COUNCIL PLANNING AND ZONING DIRECTOR. FOR THE RECORD, ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE RECOMMENDED AGAINST THIS IS BECAUSE THIS IS AN AREA THAT'S SURROUNDED BY SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. LONG STANDING SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. THIS IS JUST NORTH OF UTRGV CAMPUS, AND WHAT THEY WERE PROPOSING WAS TWO TOWNHOMES. SO WHAT I RECOMMENDED TO THE APPLICANT WAS TO DO IT'S ALL SINGLE FAMILY, SINGLE FAMILY AROUND THERE. SO WE RECOMMENDED AGAINST IT. THERE WAS A SPLIT VOTE OF 3 TO 2 AT THE PNC, BUT ULTIMATELY IT WAS DENIED BY THE PNC. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WELL, IT'S THE WAY IT WAS STATED HERE. WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO REMOVE MY MOTION. OKAY. WE HAVE MOVED THE MOTION. OKAY. IS THERE ANY OTHER MOTION? MY MOTION IS TO GO WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION TO DENY SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO DENY, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. [8. PETITION] ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. WE HAVE A ANOTHER. [A. Hold Public Hearing and Consider the Petition for the Voluntary Annexation of 12.79 Acres Being a Part or Portion out of Lot 12 and All of Lot 13, Block 7, Santa Cruz Gardens Unit No. 3, According to the Plat Thereof Recorded in Volume 9, Page 3, Maps Records in the Office of the County Clerk of Hidalgo, Texas, Being Located at 4918 North Doolittle Road, as Requested by Rio Delta Engineering on behalf of Copper Cove Subdivision, LLC. [Jaime Acevedo, Director of Planning & Zoning]] THIS IS UNDER ITEM 88, A PETITION TO OPEN UP THIS PUBLIC HEARING. THIS FOR AN ANNEXATION. GO AHEAD. MA'AM. VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION PETITION. TURN IT ON. TURN IT OFF. CONSIDER THE PETITION FOR THE VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION OF 12.79 ACRES BEING THE PART A PORTION OUT OF LOT 12 AND ALL OF LOT 13, BLOCK SEVEN, SANTA CRUZ GARDENS, UNIT NUMBER TWO, ACCORDING TO THE PLOT THEREOF RECORDED IN VOLUME NINE, PAGE THREE. MAPS. RECORDS IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK OF HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS, LOCATED AT 4918 NORTH LITTLE ROAD, AS REQUESTED BY RHO DELTA ENGINEERING ON BEHALF OF COPPER COVE SUBDIVISION, LLC. ALL RIGHT. THE HEARING IS NOW OPEN. IS THERE ANYONE HERE THAT WISHES TO COMMENT ON THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME? IF NOT, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING COUNCIL. MOVE TO APPROVE. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. [9. RESOLUTION] [A. Consider Resolution Authorizing the Amendment of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)-Cornonavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) Program Budget. [Claudia L. Farias, Interim Director of Grants Administration].] ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM NINE A CONSIDER RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE AMENDMENT OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT. CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS PROGRAM. BUDGET. COUNSEL. IS THERE ANY MOTIONS? THAT'S FOR. MOTION TO APPROVE. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE. IS THERE A SECOND? I WILL SECOND IT. I KNOW THERE WAS A I THINK THERE WAS A QUESTION, I THINK, BUT THIS IS REALLY FOR THE THE BUDGET. RIGHT. FOR THE. YOU WANT TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THAT? SURE, SURE. GOOD EVENING. CLAUDIA FARIAS, INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE GRANTS ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT. AS YOU KNOW, THE CITY RECEIVED TWO SEPARATE ALLOCATIONS OF ARPA FUNDING TOTALING $27.1 MILLION. THE PROPOSED BUDGET AMENDMENT BEFORE YOU WILL REALLOCATE EXCESS FUNDS FROM THREE PROJECTS INTO FOUR EXISTING PROJECTS. SO THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT WILL TAKE THE EXCESS FUNDS FROM THE UTILITY RATE STUDY, THE FIRE TRAINING FACILITY, AND THE DOWNTOWN WATER TREATMENT PLANT GENERATOR PROJECT. EXCUSE ME AND APPLY THOSE FUNDS TOWARDS FOUR EXISTING PROJECTS THE NEW SERVICE CENTER, RENOVATIONS TO THE EOC, THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT GENERATOR AND THE CITY HALL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. AND WE CHECK TO MAKE SURE THIS IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH ARPA. [01:45:01] OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I THINK THE QUESTION WAS, I BELIEVE I'M NOT SURE WHERE THE BUDGET WAS. YOUR QUESTION ANSWERED, MISS FERN. OKAY. GOT IT. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BY ANYBODY? IF NOT ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, [10. CONTRACTUALS] [A. Consider Authorizing the City Manager to Enter Into an Agreement with Gerlach Builders, LLC for RFP No. 2024-008, New Service Center for a Base Proposal in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $4,780,000.00 and Add Alternate 1 Proposal in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $178,000.00, and Execute Any Documents Related Thereto Pursuant to the City’s Ordinances and Procurement Policies. [Gerardo Carmona, P.E., Director of Utilities]] PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM. WE'RE UNDER CONTRACTUAL ITEMS. TEN A CONSIDER AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH GERLACH BUILDERS, LLC FOR RFP NUMBER 2024 008. NEW SERVICE CENTER FOR A BASE PROPOSAL IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 4,780,000. AND AN ADD ALTERNATE ONE PROPOSAL IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 178,000. AND EXECUTE ANY DOCUMENTS RELATED THERETO PURSUANT TO THE CITY'S ORDINANCE AND PROCUREMENT POLICIES. COUNCIL. IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? I JUST MY ONLY QUESTION WAS GOING TO BE WHERE CITY MANAGER WAS THE I KNOW THIS WAS AWARDED LAST MEETING OR THE BID. RIGHT. BUT WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT CHANGED FROM WHAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE RFP, THE SPECS TO WHAT ENDED? WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE CONTRACT IN TERMS OF ANY OF THE NEGOTIATIONS? THE DOLLAR AMOUNT IS THE SAME. THE ALTERNATE AND BUT WAS THERE ANY CHANGES OR ANYTHING? NO. NO CHANGES. THERE WAS JUST AN ALTERNATE TO THAT WAS NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION BASED ON THE AMOUNT. GOT IT. [B. Consider Authorizing the City Manager to Amend the Existing Contract with Gignac and Associates, LLP for the New Service Center for Additional Professional Services for an Amount Not to Exceed $79,350.00 and Execute Any Documents Related Thereto Pursuant to the City’s Ordinances and Procurement Policies. [Tomas D. Reyna, Assistant City Manager]] ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM B, CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO AMEND EXISTING CONTRACT WITH JANAKI AND ASSOCIATES ASSOCIATES, LLP FOR THE NEW SERVICE CENTER FOR ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 79,350. AND EXECUTE ANY DOCUMENTS RELATED THERETO PURSUANT TO THE CITY'S ORDINANCES AND PROCUREMENT POLICIES. ALL RIGHT. THERE WE HAVE MOTION TO APPROVE. IS THERE A SECOND? WE HAVE A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? [11. CONSENT AGENDA] SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 11 IS CONSENT AGENDA COUNCIL. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ALL ITEMS OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXCLUDE ANY ITEM? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE ALL ITEMS. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ALL ITEMS. WE HAVE A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. [12. OTHER BUSINESS] ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. [A. Future Items Requested by City Council. [Myra L. Ayala, City Manager]] MOTION CARRIES. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM 12. OTHER BUSINESS. FEATURE ITEMS REQUESTED BY COUNCIL. IS THERE ANY ITEMS WE'D LIKE TO SEE FOR OUR CITY MANAGER? [13. EXECUTIVE SESSION] ANYBODY ON COUNCIL? IF NOT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 13 EXECUTIVE SESSION. IS THERE A MOTION TO CONVENE TO EXECUTIVE SESSION? MOVE A MOTION IN A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. IT IS 743. WE'LL NOW BE CONVENING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM EIGHT. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH BURNS BROTHERS LIMITED. ITEM B DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING PROJECT SWAP ITEM C. [02:09:05] COMING UP NEXT ON ECN, A REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE EDINBURG [02:09:10] CITY COUNCIL. ON THE COUNCIL. [02:09:12] MAYOR RAMIRO GARZA JR. [02:09:13] MAYOR PRO TEM DANIEL DAN DIAZ, COUNCIL MEMBER JASON DELEON. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID SALAZAR JR. AND COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID WHITE. SITTING IN HIS ADVISORS, CITY MANAGER MAYRA AYALA AND CITY ATTORNEY OMAR OCHOA. AND NOW LIVE FROM EDINBURGH CITY HALL, THE EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. I'M GOING TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER OF OUR EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING. WELCOME TO THIS EVENING'S MEETING. I DO SEE VISIBLY THAT WE HAVE A QUORUM THIS EVENING WITH ALL MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT. WE'RE GOING TO START OFF, AS WE DO EVERY MEETING WITH A PRAYER. WE HAVE PASTOR RYAN GARZA FROM PALM VALLEY CHURCH TO LEAD US IN PRAYER. [02:10:03] IF YOU CAN, PLEASE RISE FOR THE PRAYER. THANK YOU. MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS, LET'S PRAY. HEAVENLY FATHER, AS WE GATHER HERE TODAY AS REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR BELOVED CITY OF EDINBURGH, WE COME BEFORE YOU WITH HUMBLE HEARTS AND OPEN MINDS. WE SEEK YOUR GUIDANCE, WISDOM, AND BLESSINGS UPON THIS MEETING, GRANT US THE STRENGTH TO CARRY OUT OUR DUTIES WITH INTEGRITY, FAIRNESS AND COMPASSION. HELP US TO LISTEN TO ONE ANOTHER TO UNDERSTAND PERSPECTIVES AND MAKE DECISIONS THAT WILL BENEFIT ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE ASK FOR YOUR WISDOM TO NAVIGATE THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR CITY FACES TO FIND SOLUTIONS, PROMOTE UNITY, PROSPERITY, AND PEACE. BLESS EACH COUNCIL MEMBER WITH INSIGHT AND DISCERNMENT AS WE DELIBERATE ON MATTERS BOTH GREAT AND SMALL. MAY YOUR LIGHT SHINE UPON THIS GATHERING, ILLUMINATING OUR DECISIONS, OUR DISCUSSIONS AND ACTIONS WITH JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS. WE LIFT YOU UP. OH GOD, ALL THOSE WHO CALL EDINBURGH HOME. MAY OUR DECISIONS TODAY AND ALWAYS REFLECT OUR COMMITMENT TO SERVE WITH HONOR AND DEDICATION. IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY. 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. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM TWO, WHICH IS CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE. YES, SIR. MAYOR. THE MEETING WAS POSTED IN ACCORDANCE TO THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT ON MARCH 15TH, 2024 AT 9:30 P.M.. SIR. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ITEM THREE DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST. UNDER STATE LAW, A CONFLICT OF INTEREST EXISTS IF A COUNCIL MEMBER OR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THAT PERSON'S FAMILY HAS A QUALIFYING FINANCIAL INTEREST IN AN AGENDA ITEM. IF THERE IS A CONFLICT, THE MEMBER CAN'T PARTICIPATE OR VOTE ON THE ITEM. ARE THERE ANY CONFLICTS TO DISCLOSE? NO, SIR. NO, SIR. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THAT BEING THE CASE, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM FOUR. WE HAVE SEVERAL PROCLAMATIONS THIS EVENING. WE'LL START WITH ITEM EIGHT, PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING HARVEST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY LADY EAGLES VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM AS REQUESTED BY FERN MCCLARTY. IF YOU'RE HERE FOR THE PROCLAMATION, WE COULD STEP UP TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE. HEY, GIRL. ANYBODY HERE FROM. I KNOW YOU'RE NOT SHY. SO STEP UP TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE, SO WE CAN RECOGNIZE YOU. WHEREAS HARVEST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1999 WITH THE VISION OF PARTNERING WITH PARENTS AND RAISING CHILDREN IN A CHRISTIAN ENVIRONMENT AND FOR THE GLORY OF GOD. AND WHEREAS HARVEST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY LADY EAGLES VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM ARE BACK TO BACK STATE CHAMPIONS, CAPTURING THEIR SECOND STRAIGHT, TAPPS WON A STATE TITLE WITH A 78 TO 27 VICTORY OVER TEXOMA CHRISTIAN AT ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL. AND WHEREAS THE LADY EAGLES VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM FINISHED THE YEAR WITH A 42 TO 1 OVERALL RECORD, THEIR LONE LOSS TO CLASS SIX, A RGV POWERHOUSE EDINBURG HIGH 66 TO 60 ON DECEMBER 12TH, 2023. THEY HAVE AMASSED OF 77 TO 8 RECORD DURING THE PAST TWO SEASONS, AVERAGING 72.9 POINTS PER GAME AND ALLOWING JUST 30.9. DURING THAT SPAN, THE EAGLES OUTSCORED THEIR FIVE PLAYOFF OPPONENTS 410 TO 146 AND ROUTE TO THEIR SECOND STRAIGHT STATE TITLE. THEY'VE OUTSCORED THEIR PLAYOFF OPPONENTS BY A COMBINED 701 TO 241 THROUGHOUT THE PAST TWO YEARS. AND WHEREAS THE LADY EAGLES VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM AND COACHING STAFF PUT IN COUNTLESS OF HOURS OF PRACTICE AND PREPARATION TO BRING THE TEAM TO THE STATE COMPETITION LEVEL. AND WHEREAS THE HCA LADY EAGLES VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM IS MADE UP OF AN AMAZING GROUP OF YOUNG LADIES SENIORS ALEXIS LEXIE GARCIA, ABBY TORRES, ASHLEY GONZALEZ, GENESIS MORENO, SAMANTHA MUNOZ, JUNIOR RILEY MCLARTY, SOPHOMORES JAIME GONZALEZ, KEZIA LEAL, FRESHMAN CARMELLA FUTO, MIA GARZA, AND WHEREAS, THE HCA LADY EAGLES COACHING STAFF IS COMPRISED OF HEAD COACH JAIME GONZALEZ AND ASSISTANT COACHES JUAN LANDA JUNIOR AND LARRY QUINTERO. AND NOW, THEREFORE, ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG, TEXAS, BY THE POWER VESTED IN THEM BY LAW, I DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE HARVEST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY LADY EAGLES AND CALL UPON ALL RESIDENTS TO JOIN IN THE CELEBRATION OF THE SUCCESS OF THESE STUDENTS AND COACHES. ALL RIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS. YOU CAN GO TO THE PODIUM. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. IT'S. IT'S AN HONOR BEING HERE. AND I JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE YOU ALL AND EVERYBODY HERE FOR YOUR SUPPORT. I HONESTLY MEAN IT WHEN I SAY THAT WE DIDN'T JUST REPRESENT OUR SCHOOL, OUR FAMILIES, AND, OF COURSE, FIRST AND FOREMOST, GOD. BUT WE REPRESENT THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. AND WE PLAYED IN SOME TEAMS, SOME TOURNAMENTS UP NORTH WHERE THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE US UNDER HARVEST CHRISTIAN. THEY HAD US UNDER EDINBURGH. AND WHAT A PRIVILEGE, WHAT AN HONOR THAT WAS. AND WE TRY TO REPRESENT EVERYBODY, EVERY CITIZEN HERE. AND AGAIN GOD'S GIVEN US, WE SAY OPPORTUNITIES AND ABILITIES AND WE TRY TO MAXIMIZE THAT. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THESE GIRLS [02:15:03] BECAUSE THEY DID THE VERY BEST THEY COULD TO REPRESENT THE GREAT CITY OF EDINBURGH. AND AND WELL, YOU EARNED YOUR RIGHT TO AT LEAST COME TO THE PODIUM, STATE YOUR NAME SO YOU COULD BE RECOGNIZED HERE ON, ON TV. SO EVERY ONE OF YOU, CAN YOU COME UP AND SAY YOUR NAME AND WHAT GRADE YOU'RE IN? I'M MIA GARZA, AND I'M A FRESHMAN IN NINTH GRADE. I'M CARMELO FUTO, AND I'M ALSO NINTH GRADE. I'M SAMANTHA MUNOZ, AND I'M A SENIOR. I'M ASHLEY GONZALEZ AND I'M A SENIOR. I'M ABIGAIL TORRES AND I'M A SENIOR. I'M JAMIE GONZALEZ AND I'M A SOPHOMORE. I'M KEZIA LEAL AND I'M A SOPHOMORE. I'M ALEXIS GARCIA AND I'M A SENIOR. I'M GENESIS MORENO AND I'M A SENIOR. I'M RILEY MCLARTY AND I'M A JUNIOR. AND IN CASE Y'ALL DIDN'T GET TO HEAR THE PROCLAMATION KIND OF OUTLINE FOR THE PUBLIC THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENT, THEY DIDN'T JUST WIN A STATE TITLE THIS YEAR. THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW. IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR. AND THE STATE TITLE GAME THAT I SHOW ON THE RECORD THAT THEY WON 78 TO 27, SO THEY DIDN'T. THEY'RE NOT JUST WELL, THEY SQUEAKED THEIR WAY TO GET A DATE, ARE OBVIOUSLY VERY SUCCESSFUL, VERY TALENTED. AND WE'RE SO VERY PROUD OF YOU ALL. AND COACH IT TAKES, YOU KNOW, LEADERSHIP STARTING WITH YOU AND THE HARD WORK THAT THEY PUT IN AND ALSO ACKNOWLEDGING THEIR PARENTS, RIGHT. THAT TAKING THE PRACTICE AND FOLLOW AND SUPPORT THEM. CONGRATULATIONS. WE'RE SO VERY PROUD. AND YOU KNOW Y'ALL OBVIOUSLY EDINBURGH IS ON THE MAP FOR MANY REASONS, BUT Y'ALL CONTINUE MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW WHERE EDINBURGH IS. THANKFULLY FOR WHAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL. AND MAYOR, IF I MAY, I HEARD A LOT OF UNDERCLASSMEN. SO WE'LL SEE YOU HERE NEXT YEAR. NO PRESSURE ALL RIGHT. YEAH. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS, LADIES. THANK YOU. A LOT OF TALENTED YOUNG FOLKS HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM B, PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING UNIDOS CONTRA LA DIABETES AS REQUESTED BY MOISES ARJONA, JUNIOR UNIDOS CONTRA LA DIABETES COLLECTIVE IMPACT DIRECTOR. WHEREAS UNIDOS CONTRE LA DIABETES WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2014 AS A COLLECTIVE IMPACT INITIATIVE AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP DEDICATED TO PREVENTING DIABETES IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, THEY BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER IN A STRUCTURED WAY TO ACHIEVE SOCIAL BEHAVIOR AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY CHANGE. AND WHEREAS PARTNERS OF THE ORGANIZATION REPRESENT A WIDE RANGE OF HOSPITALS, COMMUNITY CLINICS, FOUNDATIONS, UNIVERSITIES AND FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS UNITING TO BUILD AN EXISTING DIABETES PREVENTION EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN THE AREA. AND WHEREAS, SINCE ITS FORMATION, THE INITIATIVE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH ITS PARTNERS, COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AND RESIDENTS OF THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THOSE LIVING IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY BY WORKING TOGETHER TO BRING AWARENESS AND PREVENTION TO TYPE TWO DIABETES IN OUR YOUTH AND ADULTS IN A DIGNIFIED MANNER, WITH MUTUAL RESPECT FOR ALL AND DIGNITY TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. AND WHEREAS FOR TEN YEARS, UNIDOS CONTRA LA DIABETES HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND HAS HELPED TO BRING AWARENESS AND PREVENTION TO TYPE TWO DIABETES. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF EDINBURGH IS PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE UNIDOS CONTRA LA DIABETES, A COLLECTIVE IMPACT INITIATIVE WORKING TO BRING AWARENESS AND PREVENTION TO TYPE TWO DIABETES IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. NOW, THEREFORE, ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THE CITY OF EDINBURGH BY THE POWER INVESTED IN THEM BY LAW, I DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE UNIDOS CONTRA LA DIABETES AND ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF EDINBURGH TO BECOME CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR OPTIMUM HEALTH FOR BOTH TODAY AND TOMORROW. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FOR THIS ACKNOWLEDGMENT FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS AS YOU KNOW CDD HAS BEEN WORKING TO BRING AWARENESS AND PREVENTION TO TYPE TWO DIABETES IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. WE CONTINUE TO MAKE HEADLINES IN THE NEWS. NOT ONLY ABOUT OBESITY, BUT DIABETES RATES AS WELL. AND WE WANT TO GO AHEAD AND CHANGE THAT. BUT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN DOING THE FOREFRONT. YOU'VE BEEN CHANGING THE WAY YOU YOU HAVE YOUR CITY, YOU HAVE WORKPLACE WELLNESS INITIATIVES. YOU INVITE THE COMMUNITY TO GO OUT TO THE PARKS. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND WE'D LOVE FOR EVERYONE TO MODEL CITY OF EDINBURG AND WHAT THEY DO. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. AND I'M NOT SURE IF I CAN PLUG THIS. OUR CITY ATTORNEY WILL STOP ME HERE. BUT THERE IS A DIABETES EVENT THIS THURSDAY WHERE I'M HAVING TO BE A WAITER. I THINK OMAR WAS THAT LAST YEAR. SO IF Y'ALL WANT TO SUPPORT ANOTHER DIABETES EVENT THIS THURSDAY, IT'S THE DIABETES ASSOCIATION THAT I GUESS IT'S A SISTER ORGANIZATION OR SOMETHING. BUT IT'S ALL TO RAISE FUNDS FOR DIABETES. [02:20:01] SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO THURSDAY NIGHT THERE IS THAT EVENT, AND I'M GOING TO BE A WAITER FOR TIPS, SO. AND THAT ALL IT ALL GOES TO THE DIABETES ASSOCIATION. SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO US. THIS IS SOMETHING VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. AND WHERE'S THIS AT, MAYOR? BECAUSE MAYBE WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO SERVE US. OKAY, I WILL DO IT. ANYTHING FOR TIPS FOR THE DIABETES ASSOCIATION. I WOULD DO IT. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM C, PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MARCH 2024 AS NATIONAL COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, AS REQUESTED BY MARIO LIZCANO, LEADER, HEALTH ADMINISTRATOR OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS. WHEREAS COLORECTAL CANCER IS THE THIRD MOST COMMONLY DIAGNOSED CANCER AND SECOND MOST COMMON CAUSE OF CANCER DEATHS IN THE UNITED STATES, WITH OVER 145,000 ESTIMATED DIAGNOSED CASES AND OVER 56,000 ESTIMATED DEATHS FROM COLORECTAL CANCER THIS YEAR. AND WHEREAS IT IS ESTIMATED THAT OVER 850 INDIVIDUALS IN SOUTH TEXAS WILL BE DIAGNOSED WITH COLORECTAL CANCER, AND THERE WILL BE OVER 341 DEATHS FROM COLORECTAL CANCER THIS YEAR. AND WHEREAS COLORECTAL CANCER IS EXPECTED TO ACCOUNT FOR 11% OF CANCER DEATHS AMONG HISPANIC MEN AND 9% OF CANCER DEATHS FOR HISPANIC WOMEN. AND WHEREAS BLACK AMERICANS ARE 20% MORE LIKELY TO BE DIAGNOSED WITH COLORECTAL CANCER, IN ABOUT 40% MORE LIKELY TO DIE FROM THE DISEASE THAN OTHER GROUPS. AND WHEREAS COLORECTAL CANCER IS BECOMING A DISEASE WHICH THROUGH A COMBINATION OF PREVENTION AND EARLY TREATMENT, IS NOT A LIFE THREATENING ILLNESS IT ONCE WAS. AND WHEREAS COLORECTAL CANCER IS ONE CANCER THAT IS PREVENTABLE, AND IN RECOGNITION OF THAT, STATE LAW REQUIRES INSURANCE COMPANIES TO PROVIDE SCREENING COVERAGE FOR ADULTS AGE 50 AND OLDER THROUGH REGULAR TESTS AND TO PROMOTE MORE HEALTHFUL LIFESTYLES HELP PREVENT COLORECTAL CANCER. AND WHEREAS THE NATIONAL GOAL ESTABLISHED BY THE NATIONAL COLORECTAL CANCER ROUNDTABLE IS TO STRIVE TO INCREASE COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING RATES TO 80% IN EVERY COMMUNITY FOR ALL AMERICANS ELIGIBLE FOR SCREENING. AND WHEREAS, OBSERVING COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH DURING THE MONTH OF MARCH WOULD PROVIDE A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND OFFER EDUCATION ON THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY DETECTION AND SCREENING OF COLORECTAL CANCER. NOW, THEREFORE, ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. BY THE POWER VESTED IN THEM BY LAW, I DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MARCH 2024 AS COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO SCHEDULE A COLORECTAL SCREENING AND TO TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN PREVENTING THIS DISEASE. THANK YOU, HONORABLE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, WE WOULD LIKE TO FOREMOST, NOT ONLY THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING US TO PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION AND AWARENESS, BUT ALSO FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THE CITY OF EDINBURGH IS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF ALL OUR EVENTS THAT WE'RE HAVING. AS WE DID HAVE ONE ON SATURDAY, WE HAD A5K FOR CALLED TO WIPE OUT COLON CANCER AWARENESS AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU, THE CITY OF EDINBURGH, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR BEING OUT THERE AND FULL SUPPORT OF THESE ENDEAVORS. MY NAME IS MARIO LISCANO. I'M THE ADMINISTRATOR OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS FOR HEALTH WITH ME. I DO HAVE SOME SPECIAL GUESTS. CARLA GARCIA, WHICH IS OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH DIRECTOR FOR DR. HEALTH, CLARA CHAPA, WHO IS WITH THE HEALTH ONCOLOGY INSTITUTE AS A COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR, AND OF COURSE, DOCTOR HERRERA FROM GASTROENTEROLOGIST, THAT IS WITH THE OTHER HEALTH GASTROENTEROLOGY INSTITUTE. SO WE WILL LET DOCTOR HERRERA, THE EXPERT, GO AHEAD AND SPEAK ON BEHALF OF OUR HOSPITAL. AND WE WERE JUST ALWAYS THANKING YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. IT'S AN HONOR TO GATHER HERE TODAY AMONG THE CITY OF EDINBURGH LEADERS TO SHED LIGHT ON COLON CANCER. COLON CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. DO YOU GUYS KNOW? ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, ABOUT 150,000 NEW DIAGNOSES OF COLON CANCER WILL BE MADE IN 2024. AND THAT NUMBER KEEPS KEEPS STEADILY RISING, IN PARTICULAR IN PATIENTS THAT ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 55. SO ABOUT ABOUT SIX YEARS OR SO AGO, IN 2018, THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY MADE RECOMMENDATIONS TO DECREASE THE AGE WHERE YOU BEGIN SCREENING FROM 50 TO 45 BECAUSE THERE'S A STRIKINGLY INCREASED AMOUNT OF PATIENTS UNDER THE AGE OF 45 WHO ARE BEING DIAGNOSED WITH COLON CANCER. THIS IS FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. SO THIS THIS DAY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US AND TO THE CAUSE. TO REDUCE THE THE FREQUENCY AND INCIDENCE OF COLON CANCER HERE IN THE, HERE IN THE VALLEY AND IN THE, IN THE US. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY. BY DESIGNATING MARCH IS COLON CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. THE AIR HEALTH IN THE CITY OF EDINBURG ARE SHOWING THEIR COMMITMENT TO INCREASING THE PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY DETECTION OF A CANCER DIAGNOSIS BY GETTING PROPER SCREENINGS AND KNOWING THE SYMPTOMS. SO THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, DOCTOR FOR ALL YOU ALL DO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. PRESENT THE RECIPIENT FOR THE EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH AWARD FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY 2024. [02:25:04] GOOD EVENING. MAYOR COUNCIL. WE ARE HERE ONCE AGAIN ON BEHALF OF THE ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE TO PRESENT OUR EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY. WE HAVE MICHELLE MENDOZA, OUR COMPLIANCE MANAGER WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF GRANTS. SHE HAS SERVED OUR CITY FOR FIVE YEARS AND CONTINUES TO EXCEL IN HER POSITION. INTERIM DIRECTOR OF GRANTS CLAUDIA FARIAS WILL SAY A FEW WORDS AS WELL. HI. GOOD EVENING. CLAUDIA FARIAS, INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE GRANTS OFFICE. AND I'M SO HAPPY THAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING MICHELLE TONIGHT. WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER ALMOST FIVE YEARS. I'VE SEEN HER INNOVATION, HER SUCCESS IN MANAGING FEDERAL AND STATE AND LOCAL FUNDS. SHE'S BUILT RELATIONSHIPS WITH FUNDING AGENCIES FROM THE STATE LEVEL TO THE NATIONAL LEVEL, LIKE THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT, THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. SHE'S A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT IN HER FIELD. SO MUCH SO THAT THE FUNDING AGENCIES WILL CALL HER WHEN THEY'RE ROLLING OUT NEW PROGRAMS. YEAH. THE THE, TDCA HAS REACHED OUT TO HER IN THE PAST TO PILOT PROGRAMS. SHE'S SHE HAS A NETWORK OF OF GRANT PROFESSIONALS IN THE VALLEY THAT REACH OUT TO HER WHEN THEY HAVE QUESTIONS. CDBG IS A VERY DIFFICULT FIELD OR VERY DIFFICULT GRANT, AND NEW GUIDELINES ARE ALWAYS COMING OUT. NEW REQUIREMENTS ARE ALWAYS BEING YOU KNOW, STANDARDIZED. AND MICHELLE'S JUST A LEADING EXPERT IN ALL OF THAT. WE'RE SO LUCKY TO HAVE HER ON OUR TEAM. AND I'M SO EXCITED THAT SHE'S GETTING RECOGNITION TONIGHT. OKAY. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I JUST WANT TO SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS, AND I HAD TO WRITE IT DOWN BECAUSE IF NOT, FORGET IT. TOO NERVOUS? I'D LIKE TO THANK CLAUDIA FOR HER KIND WORDS. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT ALL OF THE PROJECTS AND THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED ARE TESTAMENT TO OUR TEAM. WE HAVE A WE HAVE A WONDERFUL TEAM AND THE GRANTS ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT AND ALSO AT THE CITY. RIGHT? IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT OF ALL CITY STAFF THAT SHOW UP TO DO THE WORK THAT WE DO EVERY SINGLE DAY. I'M ALSO SURROUNDED BY AMAZING PROFESSIONALS, LEADERS AND FRIENDS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING WORKING WITH EVERYONE AND BRINGING POSITIVE IMPACTS TO THE CITY. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE MY FAMILY FOR THEIR LOVE AND SUPPORT. AND ALSO JUST THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION, I APPRECIATE IT. I JUST I JUST WANTED TO SAY, ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND THE COUNCIL, CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS WELL-DESERVED HONOR. AT THE STATE OF THE CITY RECENTLY, WE ANNOUNCED HOW MUCH HOW MANY GRANTS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN AND HOW MUCH IT TAKES TO KEEP TRACK OF THAT. SO I KNOW A LOT OF IT IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN THE DEPARTMENT. SO THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. BECAUSE THE MONEYS Y'ALL BRING DOWN OFFSETS WHAT WE NEED TO COVER AS FAR AS OUR GENERAL FUND AND THOSE THINGS. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU TO YOUR FAMILY. YOU KNOW AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MR.. NOW WE HAVE ITEM E PRESENTATION OF THE PATRIOTIC EMPLOYER AWARD TO EDINBURG POLICE CHIEF JAIME AYALA, AS AWARDED BY THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE GUARD AND RESERVE AND THE CONDUCT THE CEREMONIAL SIGNING OF THE STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR THE GUARD AND RESERVE. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL. JUST A FEW SIGNS. THE CITY MANAGER. FOR THE RECORD, I JUST WANT TO SAY HOW PROUD I AM OF CHIEF AYALA. HE'S VERY QUICK TO ORGANIZE, AS YOU KNOW, AWARDS FOR HIS EMPLOYEES, BUT VERY RARELY, EXCEPT ONE FOR HIMSELF. SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE AND I'VE, YOU KNOW, HAVING THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH, WITH HIM AND PRESENTING WITH THE TEAM THIS PARTICULAR AWARD. SO THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE GUARD AND RESERVE, ALONG WITH THE EDINBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY, ARE PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE OUR POLICE [02:30:02] CHIEF, JAIME AYALA, AND REPRESENTING THE EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE GUARD AND RESERVE, WE HAVE MR. JESSE RODRIGUEZ WITH ESGR AREA SEVEN CHAIR WHO WILL FACILITATE THIS RECOGNITION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MAYOR. CITY COMMISSION, CITY OF EDINBURGH. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY FOR THIS VERY SPECIAL OCCASION. ALL RIGHT. IT IS 6:00. I WILL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE EDINBURGH CITY COUNCIL TO FEBRUARY 27TH, 6:00. AND I DO SEE VISIBLY THAT WE HAVE A QUORUM THIS EVENING. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH A THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, OUR MAYOR PRO TEM, TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND? 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, MAYOR PRO TEM. ITEM TWO CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE. YES, SIR. MAYOR. THE MEETING WAS POSTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT ON FEBRUARY 23RD, 2024 AT 4 P.M., SIR. [02:35:02] VERY WELL. ITEM THREE. WE'RE GOING TO SKIP PRAYER. WE COULD SAY WHEN I DON'T SEE IT ON THE AGENDA, BUT DID WE ADD. WE CAN DO ONE IF YOU LIKE. SURE. OF COURSE. THAT'S FINE. I THINK WE SHOULD. I MEAN, THAT'S YES, SIR. I DIDN'T SEE IT ON THE. YEAH, I AGREE WITH YOU. THAT'S WHAT I ASKED. I ASKED COUNCILMAN. WELL, LET'S PLEASE. RIGHT. WE NORMALLY HAVE A PRAYER IN OUR AGENDA AND IT'S NOT ON HERE. SO I TRY TO FOLLOW THE AGENDA. SO I WOULD ASK OUR I DON'T I'M NOT OUR, OUR I'LL ASK OUR MAYOR PRO TEM TO LEAVE. I JUST PRAY SO AND WE APOLOGIZE. WE NORMALLY HAVE IT ON THE AGENDA BUT I WOULDN'T. FATHER SON, HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN. AMEN. LORD, BLESS US FOR ALLOWING US TO HAVE THIS MEETING HERE TODAY. ALLOW US THE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER THAT WE HAVE, THAT WE JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE DO KEEP YOU IN OUR HEARTS AT ALL TIMES, EVEN THOUGH WE SKIP YOU ONCE IN A WHILE. MAYOR. BUT IN LORD'S NAME WE ALL PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU CHIEF. WE MOVE ON TO ITEM THREE. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. DON'T WORRY. CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR 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 CANNOT PARTICIPATE OR VOTE ON THE ITEM. ARE THERE ANY CONFLICTS TO DISCLOSE? NO, SIR. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ITEM FOUR IS PUBLIC COMMENTS. DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? YES, SIR. THE ANAMARIE 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. I WILL BE TAKING TIME. PLEASE NOTE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOT INTERACTIVE. THE COUNCIL MAY NOT RESPOND TO PUBLIC COMMENTS. THE FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT IS NACHO PESINA REGARDING HIGHLAND SENIOR VILLAS. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. AUDIENCE. I REPRESENT TGO WHO'S DOING THE DEVELOPMENT THERE AT THREE, THREE, THREE. FREDDY GONZALEZ I WAS HERE FOR THE OTHER COUNCIL MEETING, AND I JUST THINK THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WERE LEFT OUT. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM SINCE 2019. WE HAD SOMETHING SIMILAR LIKE THIS GO HAPPEN THERE IN SOUTH MCALLEN, WHERE, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LOT OF OPPOSITION NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL. IT WAS A MIX. IT WAS A MIXED BOARD MIXED VOTE ALL THE WAY THROUGH. I WILL TELL YOU, THE DEVELOPER KEPT THEIR WORD THE WAY THEY DID IT, THE WAY THEY BUILT IT OUT. A LOT OF CONCERNS FROM NEIGHBORHOOD, FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD ITSELF AND THE DEVELOPMENT THAT THEY CAME THROUGH, THE WAY THEY DID IT ENDED UP BEING A BEAUTIFUL PROJECT. EVERYONE ENDED UP ACTUALLY HELPING OUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE AREA RIGHT ACROSS THE MALL. RIGHT. LAS PLACITAS ON SOUTH 10TH. VERY CONGESTED AREA IF YOU ALREADY KNOW THE AREA THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. SO JUST WANTED JUST TO KIND OF JUST INFORM THE COUNCIL A LITTLE BIT MORE. AND THE AUDIENCE, I'M THE TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT. IT'S A 62 YEAR AN OLDER COMMUNITY. IT'S NOT YOUR STANDARD RUN OF THE MILL, 55 YEAR COMMUNITY. IT'S 62 YEARS AND OLDER. SO TRAFFIC PROBABLY BE VERY MINIMUM AT THAT. JUST THE QUALITY OF LIFE. THAT'S ALL. I JUST WANTED TO JUST KIND OF INFORM YOU ALL. JUST KIND OF JUST TALK. I'VE BEEN WITH THE DEVELOPER SINCE 2019, 2020. AND AGAIN, THEY'VE BEEN IN THE VALLEY FOR A LONG TIME FROM WEST GO ALL THE WAY TO LA JOYA, PALMVIEW AREA. SO THEY'VE DONE OVER 20 DEVELOPMENTS IN THE AREA. I'M GOING TO LET PROBABLY RYAN'S GOING TO COME UP AND TALK HERE IN A FEW MINUTES. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU FOR. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS JOHNNY CISNEROS REGARDING ITEM SIX B. GOOD AFTERNOON. MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS, I COME THIS AFTERNOON TO SPEAK TO YOU REGARDING THE TWO RESOLUTIONS, SPECIFICALLY 60 TEXAS GRAY OAKS. THE REQUEST IS TO SUPPORT IS TO SUPPORT TWO INDIVIDUAL SENIOR HOUSING COMMUNITIES WORKING TO LAND IN THE GROWING CITY OF EDINBURGH. BUT FIRST, SOME BACKGROUND DURING A QUICK GLANCE AT THE PLANNING AND ZONING PROJECTS, EITHER IN THE WORKS OR IN THE PIPELINE, ONE CAN COUNT OVER 6000 NEW LOTS SCHEDULED FOR DELIVERY WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OR ETJ OF THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. THE NUMBERS ARE NOT EXACT, BUT THE SPLIT IS ABOUT 5050 BETWEEN SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND MULTIFAMILY, SPECIFICALLY DUPLEX FOURPLEX LOTS. I WOULD ARGUE THAT NONE OF THOSE ARE SPECIFICALLY TARGETING SENIORS OR A MEMBER OF THE GREATER POPULATION LOOKING FOR A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY TO MOVE INTO. HAVING DRIVEN A FEW OF THE EXISTING FOURPLEX COMMUNITIES, ONE FINDS STREET AFTER STREET AFTER STREET OF SIMILAR LOOKING STRUCTURES BUILT TO ACCOMMODATE STUDENTS ATTENDING UNIVERSITY, OR SINGLES OR COUPLES OR FAMILIES THAT WORK NEARBY. DRIVING AROUND THESE DEVELOPMENTS, ONE PROBABLY ONE WILL PROBABLY NOT FIND GREEN SPACE WITHIN THEM. NOW PICTURE THIS A1A CLASS A 120 UNIT SENIOR ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IS SUPPORTED BY THE CITY. IT IS BUILT ONLY RESIDENTS AGED 62 OR OLDER BEGIN TO MOVE IN. [02:40:02] SOME OF THOSE NEW RESIDENTS COME FROM PARTS OF TOWN WHERE THE US CENSUS BUREAU WOULD SHOW A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION AS BEING OVER 65. MAYBE THEIR HOMES WERE DILAPIDATED, THAT DILAPIDATED HOME IS RAZED, AND IN ITS PLACE A NEW ONE IS BUILT. ALONG COMES THE FAMILY, SOME WITH CHILDREN, SOME GROWING AND ADDING CHILDREN WERE, THE DATA PREVIOUSLY SHOWED A DECLINING POPULATION. THE DATA NOW BEGIN TO SHOW A REVITALIZATION, THOSE SAID CHILDREN ATTEND THE NEIGHBORHOOD ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS. THOSE CHILDREN VISIT A GRANDPARENT OR GRANDPARENTS LIVING AT THE NEW HIGHLAND SENIOR VILLAS. THEY WALKED DOWN TO THE PARK, ACROSS THE STREET TO EBONY HILLS TO WALK ALONG THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL. THEY WALKED DOWN TO THE LIBRARY OR ASSIST WITH GROCERY SHOPPING AT HEB. THE USE FITS HAND IN GLOVE WITH ALL THE COMMUNITY AMENITIES THAT SURROUND IT. IT'S A CIRCLE OF LIFE. THIS IS CREATING SUSTAINABILITY FOR OUR SCHOOLS, FOR OUR GROCERY STORES, FOR OUR FOR OUR OTHER RETAILERS AND SERVICE ORIENTED BUSINESSES IN THE HEART OF THE CITY. THERE IS A NEED. THE DEVELOPER IS NOT STATING THAT. THE STATE IS SAYING THAT THE US CENSUS BUREAU DATA SAYS THAT THE MARKET IS PROVIDING THE PRODUCT THAT A GROWING NUMBER OF OUR POPULATION NEEDS AS OUR COST OF LIVING CONTINUES TO RISE. SOME MAY EVEN ARGUE TOWARDS AN UNSUSTAINABLE AMOUNT. THIS HOUSING OPTION PROVIDES A SAFE HARBOR FOR OUR SENIORS, MANY WHOSE FORTUNES HAVE NOT KEPT PACE WITH THE EVER INCREASING COST OF LIVING. I WANT TO FINISH OFF WITH THE TOP TEN REASONS TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION. NUMBER ONE, REMEMBER THAT THIS IS A CLASS A SENIOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. NUMBER TWO, IT IS NOT SECTION EIGHT HOUSING. THIS USE IS A TRAFFIC CALMING USE AS OPPOSED TO ONE THAT GENERATES TRAFFIC LIKE A COMMERCIAL NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT WOULD. AND I APOLOGIZE. WE ALL PROVIDE THREE MINUTES I APOLOGIZE. THANK YOU. BUT IF THERE IS A DISCUSSION AND THERE'S STILL QUESTIONS, WE'RE HAPPY TO ASK YOU TO COME BACK DURING THE ITEM. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS MARIO REINA REGARDING ITEM 60. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL I APOLOGIZE, I HAD TO TAKE A QUICK CALL, BUT I'M HERE TODAY. ON BEHALF OF TEXAS GRAY OAKS WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU IS TWO GOOD PROJECTS. AND I'VE BEEN IN THE POSITION HERE BEFORE WHERE I CURRENTLY LIVE ON SECOND HOUSTON, THERE'S A DEVELOPMENT THAT WAS BUILT THERE, A SENIORS DEVELOPMENT ON SECOND AND 83. I THINK MR. FLORES WAS A DEVELOPER THERE. AND I WALKED MY DOGS OVER THERE EVERY DAY. IT'S A REALLY LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT. YOU REALLY DON'T SEE ANYONE. IT HELPS SENIORS. IT PROVIDES AMENITIES, QUALITY OF LIFE. THERE'S HOSPITALS, DOCTORS AND THE VICINITIES OF MY. MY ASK IS THAT YOU SUPPORT BOTH HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THE LAST PUBLIC COMMENT IS HENRY FLORES. MAYOR MEMBERS, MY NAME IS HENRY FLORES. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF MADHOUSE DEVELOPMENT. I LIKEWISE AM PROPOSING A SENIOR DEVELOPMENT. OUR LOCATION IS AT 1710 EAST RICHARDSON. IT'S A SITE THAT WE SELECTED AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE CITY ITSELF. WE REACHED OUT TO JOE RODRIGUEZ, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE OF THE EDINBURG HOUSING AUTHORITY, AS WELL AS ARMANDO BARRERA, THE VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. THAT'S OUR PROTOCOL. I COME FROM THE PUBLIC SECTOR. I SPENT MY FIRST 23 YEARS WORKING IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR. AND SO THAT'S HOW WE ALWAYS START IS BY REACHING OUT TO STAFF AND GETTING THEIR INPUT. MR.. I ACTUALLY USED TO LIVE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. HE WAS RAISED THERE AND BOTH OF THEM ADVOCATED FOR THAT LOCATION. WE LOOKED AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS ACROSS THE CITY. WE WANT TO DO DEVELOPMENT IN EDINBURGH. AS YOU AS YOU KNOW FROM OUR PREVIOUS PRESENTATION, WE'VE ACTUALLY GOT TWO OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT WERE REFERENCED BEFORE. THEY'RE ACTUALLY FAMILY TRANSACTIONS. THIS ONE IS DEDICATED TO THE ELDERLY BECAUSE THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT NEED IN YOUR COMMUNITY. MR. SISNEROS TALKED ABOUT THE DEMAND. HE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THERE'S TREMENDOUS DEMAND. IN FACT, OUR MARKET STUDY INDICATES THERE'S A NEED FOR 4332 ADDITIONAL AFFORDABLE UNITS FOR THE SENIORS. WE'RE BUILDING 113, A DROP IN THE BUCKET. BUT AGAIN, I WANT TO BE HERE MORE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS THAN ANYTHING ELSE. AS YOU KNOW FROM MY LAST PRESENTATION, WE'RE A FAMILY OWNED COMPANY WITH VALLEY ROOTS, HAVE DONE 21 TRANSACTIONS IN THE BORDER WAY MORE THAN ANY OTHER DEVELOPER. OR JUST CLOSE OUR 54TH TRANSACTION DOWN IN WACO. WE DEVELOP ONLY IN TEXAS. WE'RE ONE OF THE WE'RE RANKED IN THE TOP 50IN THE COUNTRY. NOW IN OUR INDUSTRY, THE ONLY MINORITY FIRM IN THE TOP 50, ONLY TWO TEXAS COMPANIES IN THE TOP 50. SO WE'RE PROUD OF THAT. MY SON AND DAUGHTER AND I OWN THE COMPANY. HAPPY TO TRY TO SERVE YOUR CONSTITUENTS. AND AGAIN, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENTS, MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. THAT THAT BEING THE CASE, I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM FIVE AWARDING OF BID. CONSIDER AWARDING RFP 2024 008 NEW SERVICE CENTER TO GERLACH BUILDERS, [02:45:02] THE HIGHEST RANKED PROPOSAL, AND AUTHORIZED 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? IF THERE'S NOT, I GUESS I'LL MOVE ON. SO MOVE. MAKE A MOTION FOR LIKE BUILDERS. OH, OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION. SECOND MOTION A 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, 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 TO THE MANAGER. SO IS THE CITY STAFF POSITION THAT THERE'S TWO THAT WE CANNOT EVEN CONSIDER AT THIS TIME OR HOW DOES THIS WORK? 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. REYNA 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, RIGHT? 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. THEN 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 WHAT'S 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. THEY ARE 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. AND I THINK THAT THAT'S ANOTHER POINT OF CONTENTION. MAYOR 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 TWO 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. [02:50:04] THAT'S JUST MY OPINION, YOU KNOW, AND THAT 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 NOT INCLUDED, BUT ALSO THEY'RE ARE 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 HIM 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. HOUSING 2024 COMPETITIVE 9% HOUSING TAX CREDITS FOR MAGNOLIA APARTMENTS AS REQUESTED BY MADHOUSE. DEVELOPMENT IN CARE OF AVANTI! LEGACY. MAGNOLIA LP IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. 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. 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 THERE. EACH APPLICATION IS RANKED ON ITS OWN MERIT. AND THEN I ASK 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. THE 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 WERE 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 THE $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 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 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. WE'VE INCURRED EXPENSE. AND IF WE IF WE DON'T APPLY, 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. [02:55:04] 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 THERE. 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. IT'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. WE'RE TO 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. 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 HIGHLANDS 24, LP. 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. 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 PROPOSED 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 FOR THE MISS CLAUDIA, I'M SORRY, BUT WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF [03:00:03] OF GETTING APPROVED? WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF GETTING BOTH OF THEM APPROVED WITH THE RESOLUTION 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 IT'S EVER GOING TO BE CONTROLLED BY ANYTHING IS WIDENING 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 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. 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 GOT A LOT 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 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. SURE. 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 DOWN 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, WE 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 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, [03:05:02] 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 YOU ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT HOW MANY WHAT'S THE LIKELIHOOD THERE'S 11 PROJECTS IN THIS REGION THAT ARE PROPOSED FOR FOR THE FUNDING. SO 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. ARE. SOME LIKE IF THEY WERE TO HAVE A RESTAURANT IN THERE, 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 A 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 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 THERE 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, YOU KNOW. 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? 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. 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. ON MARCH 7TH 20. CAN I GET A MOTION TO RECONVENE, PLEASE? SO MOVE. SECOND. SECOND. A MOTION TO RECONVENE. ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? [03:10:03] SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. I JUST WANT THE RECORD TO REFLECT THAT THERE WAS NO ACTION TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. COUNSELORS. THEIR ACTION. YES, MAYOR. BASED ON THE DISCUSSION, I WOULD RECOMMEND A MOTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT 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. THE EDINBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT MAKING THREATS AGAINST THE SCHOOL IS ILLEGAL. MAKING A FAKE THREAT OF VIOLENCE IS A CRIMINAL ACT THAT CAN LAND YOU IN PRISON. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU SAY IT, TEXT IT, WRITE IT, SNAP IT, OR POST IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. STUDENTS WHO MAKE THREATS WILL FACE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES, EVEN IF IT WAS MEANT TO BE A JOKE. CALLING IN A FAKE THREAT OF VIOLENCE IS A STATE CRIME. FAKE THREATS OF VIOLENCE ARE A GROWING PROBLEM, AND THAT IS WHY THE EDINBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT IS PARTNERING WITH OUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO REMIND STUDENTS AND PARENTS OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF A HOAX THREAT IN AN EFFORT TO DETER THEM. EVERY VIOLENT THREAT IS TAKEN SERIOUSLY BECAUSE POLICE DON'T KNOW IF THE THREAT IS REAL OR FAKE. EACH TIME A THREAT IS MADE AGAINST ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS, MAN HOURS AND TAX DOLLARS ARE SPENT SEARCHING THE LOCATION AND THE SCHOOL DAYS DISRUPTED. FAKE THREATS CAN SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT ABSENTEE RATES AND HAVE A PROFOUND IMPACT ON A STUDENT'S FUTURE. THREATS AGAINST THE SCHOOL WILL BE PROSECUTED. IT IS NOT A JOKE. IT IS NOT A PRANK. IT'S A CRIME WITH LONG LASTING CONSEQUENCES. THINK BEFORE YOU POST. TOGETHER WE CAN WORK TO END SCHOOL VIOLENCE. YOU'RE ALL RIGHT, MAN. [03:18:05] DAN DIAZ PRESENT SABRINA WALKER HERNANDEZ PRESENT. AARON RIVERA PRESENT. AND RICHARD GONZALEZ PRESENT. WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE RISE AND JOIN ME 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. CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE MR. GARZA HAS EVER BEEN. EVERYTHING BEEN POSTED WITH SUFFICIENT TIME? YES, MA'AM. WE POSTED THE NOTICE ON FEBRUARY 23RD AT 5:00. GREAT. THANK YOU. DISCLOSURE. CONFLICT OF INTEREST. OMAR. YES. UNDER STATE LAW, A CONFLICT OF INTEREST EXISTS IF A BOARD MEMBER OR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THAT PERSON'S FAMILY HAS A QUALIFYING FINANCIAL INTEREST IN AN AGENDA ITEM, IF THERE IS A CONFLICT, THE MEMBER CAN'T PARTICIPATE OR VOTE ON THE ITEM. ARE THERE ANY CONFLICTS TO DISCLOSE? NO, NO. THANK YOU. NO. ALL RIGHT. PUBLIC COMMENTS. DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO PUBLIC COMMENTS TODAY OKAY, GREAT. ALL RIGHT THEN, ITEM NUMBER FIVE PRESENTATIONS. WE HAVE A PRESENTATION OF SPONSORSHIP. SPONSORSHIP CHECK, I CAN'T TALK. IT'S BEEN A VERY LONG DAY. EXCUSE ME. TO THE EDINBURGH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR FIESTA EDINBURGH 2024. AND I THOUGHT I SAW RONNIE AND THERE'S LISA. YES. COME ON UP. YOU'RE GIVING ME A CHICK OR RONNIE? NO, NO, IT'S FOR THE CHECK WE GAVE THEM. SO WE WANT YOU GUYS TO COME DOWN AND TAKE A PICTURE. ALRIGHTY. ALL RIGHT. RIGHT. HEY, YOU BETTER CATCH IT QUICK. IT'S ALREADY BEEN KIND OF PANTS. I. HAVEN'T HEARD IT IN A WEEK. [03:20:04] BUT NOW. DO YOU GET EXERCISE TODAY? YEAH. GOOD EVENING RONNIE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EDINBURGH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE EDINBURGH CVB. I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. OBVIOUSLY, FIESTA EDINBURGH IS AROUND THE CORNER. IT STARTS TOMORROW FOR THE NEXT FOUR DAYS. WE GOT A LONG LIST OF ENTERTAINMENT. WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT, THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE. THIS IS A HUGE EVENT. AND THANKS TO THE EDC, THE CITY, AND A LOT OF OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS, I DID WANT TO RECOGNIZE ANOTHER TITLE SPONSOR. WE HAVE BERT OGDEN MISS MARCIA GREEN HERE WITH US TODAY. AND SHE ALSO IS THE VP OF SPECIAL EVENTS FOR OUR CHAMBER BOARD. SO WE'RE EXCITED, YOU KNOW, FOR DAYS OF ENTERTAINMENT. YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE A LOT OF LIVE ENTERTAINMENT. JOSH TURNER, PAT GREEN, SIGNAL, JENNIFER PENA AND LUCKY JOE THAT'S HAPPENING INSIDE THE ARENA. BUT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY FUND IS HAPPENING OUTSIDE THE CARNIVAL. FOOD VENDORS, LUCHA LIBRE WRESTLING, SOME MORE LIVE MUSIC, A LOT OF FOOD STUFF. AND IT'S ALL FREE ADMISSION TO OUR COMMUNITY. WHAT TIME DOES IT BEGIN? IT STARTS TOMORROW FROM 5 TO 10. IT'S THE CARNIVAL ONLY, WHICH IS THURSDAY. ON MARCH THE 1ST, FROM 5 TO 11 P.M.. AND ON MARCH 2ND WE HAVE THE PARADE IN DOWNTOWN EDINBURG. IT STARTS AT 10 A.M. AND IT'S A TEXAS LEGENDS PARADE SALUTING TEXAS INDEPENDENCE DAY. AND THEN WE'LL START AGAIN AT THE BERT OGDEN ARENA FROM 2 TO 11 P.M.. SO TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE. FOR THE CONCERTS, YOU CAN VISIT BERT OGDEN ARENA. COM, VISIT OUR WEBSITE, OR FOLLOW OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES FOR MORE INFORMATION. SO, AND IT'S THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY, RIGHT? 55TH. 55TH. OKAY, GREAT. THAT'S CORRECT. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURG. REALLY APPRECIATES IT AND THEY ENJOY IT. I APPRECIATE I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. IT'S GOING TO BE COUNTRY MUSIC ON FRIDAY. CORRECT. AND ARE YOU ALL OFFERING ANY COUNTRY MUSIC DANCE LESSONS OR ANYTHING BEFORE? I'M SURE WE CAN SQUEEZE ONE IN FOR YOU. THANK YOU. RONNIE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. RONNIE, I KNOW YOU'RE A VERY SMALL TEAM, THAT YOU DO A TREMENDOUS JOB AND A LOT OF WORK, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. YES, AND WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE THEM. WE HAVE NAYELI CENTENO. SHE'S OUR MARKETING DIRECTOR AND TOURISM DIRECTOR. ALL RIGHT. IT IS 920. WE'RE NOW BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION. [The City Council will convene in Executive Session, in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Vernon's Texas Statutes and Codes Annotated, Government Code, Chapter 551, Subchapter D, Exceptions to Requirement that Meetings be Open. The City Council May Elect To Go Into Executive Session On Any Item Whether Or Not Such Item Is Posted As An Executive Session Item At Any Time During The Meeting When Authorized By The Provisions Of The Open Meetings Act.] CAN I GET A MOTION TO RECONVENE? SECOND. MOTION TO SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. I JUST WANT THE RECORD TO REFLECT THAT THERE WAS NO ACTION TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE [OPEN SESSION] SESSION. I BELIEVE THERE'S A COUPLE ITEMS THAT NEED ACTION. YES, MAYOR. BASED ON THE DISCUSSION REGARDING ITEM A, I WOULD RECOMMEND A MOTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE BURNS BROTHERS LIMITED ON THE TERMS CONDITIONS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. SECOND. ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND. I JUST HAVE A QUESTION. IS THIS A NEW AGREEMENT, OR IS THIS AN AMENDMENT? IT'S AN AMENDMENT TO THE EXISTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT REGARDING LA SERNA. [03:25:02] SO IT'S NOT A NEW AGREEMENT. IT'S NOT A NEW AGREEMENT? NO. GOT IT. ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. OKAY. SO REGARDING ITEM C BASED ON THE DISCUSSION, I WOULD RECOMMEND A MOTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF PHARR REGARDING THE TRANSPORT OF PERSONS UNDER THE TEXAS HEALTH CODE. SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. AND NO OTHER ACTION REQUIRED AT THIS TIME, MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. CAN I MOTION FOR ADJOURN. SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION SECOND. [14. ADJOURNMENT] ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. WE'RE ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.