E. Consider approval of a resolution authorizing participation ni the TexPool Investment pools and designating authorized representatives.

[F. Consider selection of a design firm for the development of drawings for the office space finish out for EDC's space at the transit center, and authorizing Executive Director to engage selected firm.]

OKAY. SECOND THAT. OKAY.

WE'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. OKAY.

MOTION APPROVED. ITEM F.

OH, HERE WE GO WITH THE TRANSIT CENTER.

SO THIS IS TO SELECT A DESIGN FIRM FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DRAWINGS.

AND I KNOW THERE WAS A FEW QUOTES THAT WERE RECEIVED ON THAT AS WELL IN ITEM F HERE ON YOUR PACKET. SO WE'VE TALKED ABOUT FINDING THE DESIGNER TO LAY OUT THE OFFICE SPACE.

THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE PARKING LOT DESIGN, BUT WE HAD THREE PROPOSALS FROM THREE DESIGNERS WHO ALL HAD VERY GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS FROM A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT SOURCES.

MILNET. AND ALVARADO ARCHITECTS.

ALL THREE PROPOSALS ARE PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING IN TERMS OF DRAWING OUT THE THE CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS NECESSARY FOR US TO PULL PERMITS AND PUT A BID PACKAGE TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN GO OUT FOR BIDS ON THE FINISH OUT FOR THE TRANSIT CENTER OFFICE SPACE ON THE FIRST FLOOR. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS REALLY KIND OF THE PRICE.

AND ONE IS JUST HUNGRIER THAN THE OTHER ONES.

SO MILNET WAS ALSO THE, THE GUYS WHO DID THE TOOL FOR US.

AND SO THEY DID A VERY GOOD JOB OUT THERE.

AND IT'S NOT A VERY DIFFICULT PROJECT.

YEAH. IT'S JUST IT'S JUST BASICALLY DESIGNING THE INTERIOR.

AND WE'VE ALREADY GIVEN THEM KIND OF A LAYOUT OF HOW WE WANTED OUR OFFICES TO GO.

SO THEY JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S DRAWN TO CODE, DRAWN TO ADA AND ALL, ALL THE DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE OUT THERE. BUT IT'S NOT A TOUGH JOB.

AND AGAIN, OUR RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE GO WITH MILNET.

THEIR PROPOSAL WAS FOR $21,000 AND THEY WERE RECOMMENDED AMENDED BY CITY? YES. WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT STOOD OUT IN THE OTHER TWO PROPOSALS THAT WERE, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE WERE GOING TO GET MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK OR SOMETHING? THEY'RE ALL DOING THE SAME THING. NO. OKAY.

SO THERE WON'T BE ANY SURPRISES. THERE WON'T BE ANY SURPRISE COSTS ON THE PROPOSAL WHERE THEY SAY 21 UP FRONT, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S LIKE, OH, HEY,

[00:50:02]

BY THE WAY, YOU GOT TO DO THIS FOR 10,000 BEFORE, YOU KNOW, IT'S BALLOONING UP. AGAIN, IT'S ONLY FOR THE FINISH OUT FOR THE OFFICE SPACE, NOT FOR THE CIVIL WORK.

THAT'S JUST A LAWYER IN ME THINKING OF ALL THESE DIFFERENT CONTINGENCIES. YEAH.

NO, IN CITY, CITY OR. MUNICIPALITY TARGETS CHANGE ORDERS.

YEAH, EXACTLY. I DON'T KNOW WHERE. CHANGE ORDER.

NO CHANGE ORDER. BUT TYPICALLY THAT'S ON. THAT'S ON THE CONSTRUCTION SIDE, NOT ON THE ON THE DESIGN SIDE. ON THE DEVELOPMENT SIDE? YEAH. YEAH. LARGER SCALE.

NEVER BE TOO CAREFUL. I AGREE WITH YOU.

YOU MUST BE AN ATTORNEY. I MUST BE.

ALL RIGHT, WELL CAN WE GET A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION OF STAFF TO TO RETAIN

[G. Consider approval of expenditures related to the installation of signage at North Industrial Park.]

MILNET? I MOTION. I'LL SECOND THAT.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. MOTION APPROVED.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ITEM G, CONSIDER APPROVAL OF EXPENDITURES RELATED TO THE INSTALLATION OF SIGNAGE AT NORTH INDUSTRIAL PARK.

ITEM G IN YOUR PACKET.

THIS IS ANOTHER ONE WHERE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THEM, THEY KIND OF ALL LOOK ALIKE.

WHO'S GOING TO BE PRESENTING? CAN YOU COME AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT? WE DID GET THREE PROPOSALS AND AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU REALLY LOOK AT THE PROPOSALS, YOU LOOK AT THE SIGNS, THEY'RE ALL BASICALLY THE SAME. THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME FRAMEWORK.

THE DIFFERENCE AGAIN IS ON WHO'S THE HUNGRIEST.

SO AMAZING. THE DIFFERENCE.

HELLO, MADAM. CHAIR AND BOARD. I JUST WANT TO PRESENT THE NORTH INDUSTRIAL PARK SIGNAGE.

I KNOW WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

AND WE WERE DECIDING ON WHERE WE WERE GOING TO PUT THE PROPERTY. AND FINALLY, WITH CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AS WELL AS OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, IT WILL BE GOING IN OUR, IN OUR ROAD, IN, IN A MEDIAN. SO WE DON'T HAVE TO ACQUIRE ANY PROPERTY BECAUSE IT'S OUR OWN RIGHT OF WAY. THAT'S ONE OF THE LOCATIONS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IT.

AND WE GOT THREE DIFFERENT PROPOSALS, AND STAFF IS GOING TO RECOMMEND LINE SIGNS AGAIN FOR THE SIGNS. FOR THE FOR THE PRICE, THEY WERE ALL RECOMMENDED BY PEOPLE.

I'VE ACTUALLY USED SOME OF THE SIGN COMPANIES BEFORE FOR PREVIOUS PROJECTS.

BUT IT'S JUST THE PRICE NOW THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE THE FACTOR.

SO THE HEIGHT AND THE WIDTH IS ABOUT THE SAME FOR ALL THREE.

THAT IS CORRECT, MADAM PRESIDENT. AND THEY'RE ALL LIGHTED SIGNS.

THAT IS CORRECT. THEY ARE ALL LIGHTED SIGNS 28FT HIGH.

AND THERE'S A I THINK IN ONE OF THEM THEY HAD IT WHERE THE YOU COULD ADVERTISE MORE COMPANIES BECAUSE THEY HAD A DIVISION BETWEEN THE TWO.

SO YOU HAD TWO PER LINE.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT LION WOULD BE WILLING TO DO AS WELL? YES. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THEM IN THE CONVERSATION THE PRICE DOESN'T CHANGE FROM CREATING A, A MIDDLE COMPARTMENT THAT WILL SEPARATE AND CREATE MORE SPACES FOR TENANTS.

SO EVEN THOUGH THE PICTURE ON THE IMAGE SHOWS ONLY ABOUT TEN SIGNS, THEY CAN MAKE UP TO 20 BY PUTTING IN THE MIDDLE.

SO, CARLOS, WHEN I SEE THE AIRPORT.

NEW SIGN. IS THAT KIND OF COMPARABLE? THE AIRPORT SIGN IS A LITTLE BIT TALLER, AND IT'S ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT FARTHER.

THEY THEY BUILT IT DUE TO TXDOT REASONS.

THEY HAD TO BUILD IT A LITTLE BIT FARTHER AWAY.

OURS IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT CLOSER.

AND AND IT'S GOING TO BE LIGHTED.

OKAY. YES. YEAH. BECAUSE THE AIRPORT'S NOT LIT.

IT'S NOT VERY VISIBLE. YEAH. WHAT SIZE IS THE AIRPORT SIGN? DO YOU KNOW? I BELIEVE IT'S ABOUT I WANT TO SAY 30FT.

AT 30FT. THIS ONE'S GOING TO BE 28.

ONE MORE. ONE MORE QUESTION.

IT MAY NOT EVEN APPLY TO FUTURE GOALS, BUT IF WE WANTED TO RETROFIT THIS SIGN WITH LED CAPABILITY, COULD YOU.

WE CAN DEFINITELY ASK THE SIGN COMPANY ABOUT THAT.

I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHAT THAT NOTE.

I JUST I WANT TO GO STRAIGHT TO LED.

HOW HOW MUCH WAS THE AMERICAN LEGION SIGN AND HOW TALL WAS THAT? YES. THE AMERICAN LEGION SIGN WAS ABOUT $43,000.

HOW TALL IS THAT? AND HOW BIG? THAT ONE WAS 13. 13FT.

YEAH. AND JUST JUST FOR THE RECORD.

SO CARLOS WAS THE CHAIR OF THE LAST LEADERSHIP CLASS, AND LUCKILY, THEY AGREED TO HELP THE AMERICAN LEGION OUT WITH A BRAND NEW SIGN.

SO I'M JUST THINKING OF COST, AND I DO BELIEVE.

I WISH THAT WAS THAT WAS TALLER AND BIGGER.

I'M THINKING THAT BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THE NORTHERNMOST POINTS IN THE CITY.

I THINK WE NEED SOME SOMETHING BIG, I THINK LED.

[00:55:01]

AND I THINK WE COULD PROBABLY GET THE CITY ALSO TO ANY IN.

SO WE CAN ALSO ADVERTISE SOME OF OUR EVENTS NORTH OVER THERE.

I'D RATHER SEE A LARGE LED SIGN THAT THAT WE COULD GET THE CITY INVOLVED.

I DID PRICE IT ON AN LED SIGN FOR THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS, AND IT WAS OVER $190,000 FOR THE LED SIDE.

SO THIS ONE ON LINE SIGNS, IT SAYS TWO SETS OF 12 LED FRONT LIT CHANNEL LETTERS EDINBURG. AND THEN IT SAYS NORTH INDUSTRIAL PARK, LEXINGTON AND FACES PER SIDE 2 TO 6 BY 16 LED CABINET INTERNALLY ILLUMINATED.

SO WAS THE WHOLE THING GOING TO BE ILLUMINATED? WERE ALL THE NAMES OF THE DIFFERENT TENANTS ARE IN THERE ILLUMINATED OR JUST THE WHERE IT SAYS EDINBURG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? IT'LL BE ALL THE NAMES.

SO THE WAY THAT IT WORKS, THEY ACTUALLY DO STICKER NAMEPLATES AND THEY PUT IT ON THERE SO THAT WHEN THE LIGHT FLASHES, YOU COULD SEE IT AT NIGHT.

SO OKAY, PEOPLE CHANGE IT, THEY CAN CHANGE THEM OUT.

THEY CAN CHANGE THEM OUT. AND SO WHAT ABOUT THE COST TO MAINTAIN THE SIGN.

HOW WOULD WE DO WE KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD BE.

THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO THE COST OF THE MAINTENANCE, BUT WE WERE DOING A PLAN AND FINDING A STRATEGY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE BUSINESSES AND AND THE EDC.

TALK ABOUT A MAINTENANCE PLAN.

IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE. IF A LED LIGHT GOES OUT, GETS REPLACED.

SO I'M JUST WONDERING, 5 TO 7 YEARS GENERALLY, CAN WE CHARGE THE TENANTS TO AND THEN PUT THE MONEY IN A KITTY SO THAT THEN WE USE THAT FOR MAINTENANCE? THERE'S NOT AN HOA OUT THERE IS THERE? NO THERE ISN'T. BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO PUT ANYBODY'S NAME OUT THERE UNLESS WE ALLOW THEM TO. SO MY IDEA WAS MY IDEA WAS THAT WE WOULD HAVE THEM PAY AN ANNUAL FEE TO BE ON THE SIGN. SOMETHING THAT WHEN YOU COLLECTIVELY, WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PUT INTO A POOL THAT CAN JUST PAY FOR THE MAINTENANCE FOR THE SIGN.

I LIKE THAT IDEA. SO THE LED, THOUGH, THAT DAN'S TALKING ABOUT IS THAT THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE LION SIGN.

NO NO NO, NO. THAT'S A DIFFERENT ANIMAL.

THAT'S OKAY. AND SO SPURS GAME DALLAS COWBOYS STADIUM, BERT OGDEN ARENA. SO. SO I KNOW INITIALLY WE WERE TALKING ABOUT JUST HAVING A SIGN SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT'S OUR INDUSTRIAL PARK.

BUT, YOU KNOW, AS YOU ALL KNOW, EVERYONE THAT'S THERE IS ALREADY PURCHASED.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY LAND LEFT THERE, DO WE? WE'RE VERY LITTLE, I SHOULD SAY, TO BE PURCHASED AT OUR AT THE INDUSTRIAL PARK. YEAH, WE STILL DO.

BUT HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF THE YEAR WE WON'T.

RIGHT. SO IT'S JUST GOING TO I JUST I DON'T WANT SUCH A NICE SIGN WITH A GREAT LOCATION TO BE JUST. HEY, LOOK, THIS IS.

WHO'S HERE? I REALLY THINK THE CITY COULD.

WE COULD GET THE CITY INVOLVED AND DO SOMETHING BIG.

ADVERTISE EDC, ADVERTISE THOSE BUSINESSES WITH WITH THE WITH THE THEIR LITTLE WHATEVER.

RIGHT. BUT ALSO USE IT AS PEOPLE DRIVE IN NORTH INTO EDINBURG TO SAY, TEXAS COOKHAM GET CHAMBER, GET ALL OUR FESTIVALS, GET EVERYTHING. THAT WOULD BE A DIGITAL BOARD.

BASICALLY A BIG A LARGE LED.

OKAY. I KNOW. I KNOW, THIS IS WHERE WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT.

BUT NOW THAT I'M THINKING ABOUT IT, I THINK IT'D BE BETTER.

IF THAT'S THE WILL OF THE BOARD.

THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO ASK FOR YOU ALL TO JUST TAKE NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM AND WE'LL COME BACK WITH SOMETHING DIFFERENT, I GUESS, IF THAT'S.

IS THAT WHAT? YEAH. AND I JUST WANT TO OPEN UP THE DISCUSSION.

I THINK MOST COMPANIES ARE GOING TO WANT THEIR PERMANENT NAME ON THERE.

AND I GET YOU ON THE ON THE DIGITAL.

YOU CAN GO YOU CAN IF YOU HOW MANY TENANTS ARE OUT THERE.

THERE'S ABOUT 14 OKAY.

SO IF YOU SPLIT THAT IN HALF IT'S YOU GET 20.

THE DOMINANT TENANTS WITH MORE SQUARE FOOT GET THE BIGGER SPOTS.

OBVIOUSLY THAT'S JUST KIND OF HOW IT GOES.

SO IF YOU DO THAT YOU CAN LOWER IT AND YOU'LL HAVE YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE IT ALL.

LED COWBOY STADIUM LOOKING THING.

NO NO I'M ACTUALLY THINKING THIS SIGN WITH A LARGE LED ON TOP.

YEAH. BUT AND YOU CAN KEEP THE EDINBURGH AND THEN COME BACK DOWN.

RIGHT. YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? YES.

BOARD. AN EXAMPLE IS THE PRODUCTION ARENA.

THERE ARE TENANT SIGNS WITH LARGE LED SIGN, RIGHT? SO WE NEED IF WE WANTED SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WE WOULD NEED TO GO BACK TO THE TABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT IT WOULD COST TO HAVE THAT BIG DIGITAL BOARD ABOVE THE SIGN LINE.

THEY'LL WORK THAT IN THERE.

THESE THREE COMPANIES WILL WORK IT IN THERE.

THAT'S WHAT THEY DO. YEAH.

NONE OF THEM HAVE NONE OF THEM PERCEIVE THAT IN THE IN THE QUOTES WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

RIGHT. THEY'RE ALL JUST FOR THE SIGN. OKAY.

THAT'S CORRECT. AND STILL THERE'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN PRICE BETWEEN THE THREE.

IS THERE ENOUGH SPACE THERE FOR.

I MEAN, WHAT'S THE. BECAUSE WHAT YOU'VE SEEN IN A LOT OF CASES INDUSTRIAL PARKS, THEY'LL START OFF ON THE BOTTOM AS A MONUMENT SIGN,

[01:00:03]

YOU KNOW, EDINBURGH. AND THEN THEY COME UP WITH THE.

SO YOU CONSIDER HAVING THAT EDINBURGH ECONOMIC.

YOU CAN HAVE IT ON THE BOTTOM WITH WHAT DAN SAYING HE COULD LED ON TOP AND THEN BUSINESSES NAMES ON THE BACK.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? SO YOU CAN HAVE IT AND THEN GO UP.

THERE'S SO MANY OPTIONS. YOU JUST GOOGLE AND YEAH, OF COURSE WE CAN PRESENT SOME OPTIONS ON THE NEXT BOARD MEETING THAT THAT CAN BE COMPARABLE TO THE IDEAS THAT YOU ALL HAVE.

YEAH. NOW THAT'S THE CHALLENGE THOUGH WILL BE MAINTENANCE ON THOSE TYPE OF SITES.

YEAH EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE.

THAT'S GOING TO BE EXPENSIVE. IT'S EXPENSIVE.

THEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE TO PROGRAM THEM.

YEAH. AND THAT'S REALLY GOING TO BE CHARGED TO THE PEOPLE THAT ADVERTISE ON THAT, WHICH A LOT OF THEM ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE AFFILIATED AFFILIATE GROUPS OF THE CITY, WHICH ARE GOING TO WANT TO PAY FOR THAT DIFFERENT DIFFERENT VENUES.

WELL, LET'S SEE WHAT THE COST IS GOING TO BE. FIRST, WHEN YOU WHEN YOU FIND THE COST, ASIDE FROM JUST THE HAVING THE SCREEN, FIND OUT WHAT THE MAINTENANCE IS ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT. DEFINITELY A LOT OF MAINTENANCE, ESPECIALLY WITH FOOTBALL COMING IN.

YOU WANT HOPEFULLY GETTING OUT OF TOWN, PEOPLE DRIVING DOWN TO EDINBURGH, THAT'S THE FIRST THING THEY'RE GOING TO SEE COMING IN CAN HELP.

WELCOME TO. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SOMETHING OUT THERE.

THAT'D BE COOL. LET'S, LET'S LET'S THINK BIGGER. OKAY.

WELL, THEN WE WON'T TAKE ANY ACTION ON THIS ITEM UNTIL WE GET A BETTER.

BUT WE CAN GIVE WE CAN GIVE THEM INSTRUCTION.

YEAH. YEAH. COME BACK WITH QUOTES.

CAN I ASK THAT YOU INSTEAD OF.

I KNOW YOU SAID YOU CAN COME BACK TO THE NEXT MEETING WITH SOME OPTIONS OF DESIGN, BUT I WOULDN'T WANT YOU TO WAIT TO GET OUR OPINION.

CAN YOU JUST SEND, LIKE, HERE'S WHAT I'M GOING TO GET QUOTED ON, AND THEN YOU SEND US A COUPLE EXAMPLES AND THEN THEN GO GET YOUR QUOTES.

THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. THAT WAY IN CASE SOMEBODY ELSE HAS ANOTHER IDEA, WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT AND COME BACK AGAIN.

YES, MADAM PRESIDENT. REMEMBER MAINTENANCE COSTS.

SO BECAUSE THAT MIGHT THAT MAY DO US IN.

[H. Discussion and possible action on selection ofan engineering firm to assist in the development o fa master plan for industrial properties at South Texas International Airport, and authorizing the Executive Director to engage selected firm.]

ALRIGHT. SO THEN CAN WE JUST DO YOU NEED A MOTION TO TAKE THAT ACTION? NO. NO. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

CARLOS. OKAY. ITEM H DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON SELECTION OF AN ENGINEERING FIRM TO ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MASTER PLAN FOR INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES AT THE AIRPORT, AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO ENGAGE THE SELECTED FIRM.

OKAY, SO FOR A LONG TIME, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE NEED TO HELP THE AIRPORT DEVELOP APPROXIMATELY 600 ACRES OF LAND.

AND THEN WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT WHAT THE AIRPORT AND THE CITY ARE WORKING ON IN TERMS OF HANGAR DEVELOPMENT AND THAT TYPE OF THING.

AND THAT'S MOSTLY HAPPENING ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE RUNWAYS.

SO EVERYTHING ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE RUNWAY IS MORE AERONAUTICAL.

WE HAVE HAD SOME INTEREST IN SOME PROPERTIES THAT ARE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.

AND THEN WE STARTED TALKING TO THE AIRPORT FOLKS ABOUT IT AND LOOKING AT MASTER PLANS.

YOU CAN'T SELL UNLESS YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL.

AND SO WHAT WE THOUGHT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA, AND WE DID SET MONEY ASIDE IN OUR BUDGET TO DO THIS, IS THAT WE HELP THE AIRPORT MASTER PLAN.

THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE OF THE SOUTH OF THE RUNWAY, THE PROPERTY SOUTH OF THE RUNWAY, SO THAT WE COULD START MARKETING THEIR PROPERTIES TO INDUSTRIAL USERS.

IF THEY HAVE AN AERONAUTICAL COMPONENT, THAT WOULD BE EVEN BETTER.

BUT THEY HAVE REGULATIONS IN TERMS OF HOW THEY CAN DISPOSE OF PROPERTY.

AIRPORTS LIKE TO LEASE LAND.

LEASING LAND IS NOT NECESSARILY THE MOST FAVORABLE THING FOR DEVELOPERS, BUT IN SOME INSTANCES IT WORKS.

AND FOR END USERS, IN SOME INSTANCES IT WORKS AS WELL.

BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE FUNDING TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT PLAN IS IMPLEMENTED.

SO THIS IS STEP ONE IN A LONG PROCESS OF TRYING TO HELP THE AIRPORT MARKET ITS PROPERTY. FIRST YOU HAVE TO SHOW WHAT YOU CAN MAKE IT INTO.

AND THEN ONCE YOU GET THAT, YOU HAVE TO IDENTIFY WHAT THE COSTS ARE GOING TO BE. AND THEN WHERE THE FUNDING WILL COME FROM WE CAN'T ASK FOR FUNDING UNLESS WE KNOW HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST.

AND SO WE CAN CHASE AFTER ALL THE GRANTS, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START WITH STEP ONE, WHICH IS DOING THE MASTER PLAN.

AND SO WE INVITED SEVERAL DIFFERENT PROPOSALS WHICH ARE IN YOUR PACKET.

KSA HAS ALREADY BEEN DOING SOME WORK WITH THE AIRPORT IN TERMS OF PLANNING.

THE OTHER TWO ARE OUTSIDE THAT WE'RE LOOKING IN AND ARE VERY CAPABLE AS WELL.

BUT AGAIN THERE IS A PRICE DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST AND HOW

[01:05:07]

MUCH PEOPLE THINK THAT YOU KNOW THEY CAN DO.

KSA HAS A LOT OF INFORMATION ALREADY BECAUSE THEY HAVE DONE SOME WORK IN THE PAST WITH THE CITY. AND OUR RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE GO AHEAD AND ENGAGE IN THE SERVICES OF KSA.

AND THIS IS HAND IN HAND WITH THE CITY AND HAND IN HAND WITH THE AIRPORT.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE AIRPORT WANTS.

SO THIS HAS TO GO THROUGH THE ADVISORY BOARD AT THE AIRPORT AND THEN TO COUNCIL AS WELL.

BUT WE THINK THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THAT LAND, WE HAVE TO SHOW HOW IT CAN BE DEVELOPED.

AND SO THIS IS WHAT THESE PROPOSALS ARE ALL ABOUT.

OKAY. SO I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD.

WOULD THE AIRPORT BOARD AND THE AIRPORT STAFF BE INVOLVED IN THIS MASTER PLAN, I GUESS. I MEAN, EVERY MEETING WE HAVE WITH THEM, THEY WOULD BE INVITED THEN, BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING IS IN LINE WITH WHAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE PROPOSALS WAS, HAND IN HAND WITH THE AIRPORT.

OKAY. SO CARLOS HAS BEEN ATTENDING THE AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD COMMITTEES AND HAS LET THEM KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING.

AND YOU SAID KSA HAS ALREADY DONE WORK WITH THE AIRPORT.

SO IS THAT WHY YOU THINK THERE'S A DIFFERENCE IN THE COST HERE? I MEAN, WELL, YOU KNOW, I WAS LOOKING AT THAT TOO, THE PEGASUS. THEY DON'T GIVE A BREAKDOWN.

THEY JUST BOTTOM LINE THE NUMBER INTO PHASE IN TWO SENTENCES AND THEN THE STANTEC AGAIN.

THEY JUST SAY PHASE ONE AND PHASE TWO.

AND THE KSA ACTUALLY GAVE DETAIL FOR EACH THING THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO.

YEAH. WELL, AND YOU'LL NOTICE THAT PEGASUS AND STANTEC BOTH HAD THE SAME GUY, RIGHT, SHAWN? WELL, SHAWN GARRETSON STARTED WORKING WITH STANTEC, AND I'VE KNOWN SEAN FOR A FEW YEARS.

I ACTUALLY MET HIM AT ONE OF THE TDC CONFERENCES NOT TOO LONG AGO, AND WE STARTED TALKING.

AND THEN WE REACHED OUT TO HIM BECAUSE WE FOUND OUT THAT HE'S DONE A LOT OF MASTER PLANNING FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND OTHER PARTS AROUND AUSTIN.

BUT HE HOOKED UP AND HE WAS WORKING WITH STANTEC.

STANTEC IS A VERY STRONG COMPANY THAT HAS A LOT OF CAPABILITIES IN TERMS OF ENGINEERING.

THEIR WORLDWIDE COMPANY PEGASUS FOR WHATEVER REASON, STANTEC DOWNSIZED, AND SEAN GARRISON LEFT.

STANTEC AND PEGASUS IS HIS CONSULTING COMPANY.

SO HE AND A COUPLE OF PARTNERS CAN DO BASICALLY WHAT STANTEC WAS DOING.

AND THAT WAS HIS PROPOSAL WHICH IS BASICALLY A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN STANTEC.

BUT KSA IS AGAIN, THE ONE THAT WE'RE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH.

YEAH. OKAY. THE ONLY FEEDBACK I WOULD OFFER IS IS THAT AND YOU USE THE WORD WE'RE GOING TO HELP THEM IN TERMS OF BECOME BETTER AND DO WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.

BUT I'M HOPING THAT IT'S ABOVE WHAT THEY WERE ALREADY GOING TO DO AND NOT A REPLACEMENT OF WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE DONE. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? YEAH. IF THEY'RE ALREADY GOING TO DO SOMETHING, WE JUST COME IN THAT DIDN'T BENEFIT NOBODY. BUT IF IT'S TRULY ON TOP OF SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAT THEY WERE NOT PLANNING ON DOING, THEN THAT'S VIABLE.

THAT'S TRUE. DID THEY HAVE PLANS FOR THE SOUTH SIDE, OR WERE THEY REALLY FOCUSING ALL THEIR EFFORTS ON THE NORTH? MOST OF THE THE AIRPORT'S PLANS ARE RELATED TO HANGAR DEVELOPMENT ON THE NORTH SIDE.

THEY'VE TALKED ABOUT THEY HAVE A DRAINAGE ISSUE THAT THEY NEED TO ADDRESS.

AND SO THAT WILL BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION IN THE WAY THE LAND IS LAID OUT.

BECAUSE IT DOES IMPACT THE SOUTH SIDE OF, OF THE AIRPORT.

IT'S ACTUALLY THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE AIRPORT.

THE SCOPE OF THE STUDY, IF YOU WILL, IS ONLY A PORTION OF THE AIRPORT. THERE'S STILL SOME MORE LAND OVER TOWARDS THE NORTH AND THE NORTHEAST SIDE THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE LOOKING AT.

MY OPINION IS THAT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY, THE SOUTH SIDE IS THE ONE THAT'S MORE VIABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND EVEN SOME COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE INTERSTATE.

AND SO THAT'S THE ONE THAT REALLY INTERESTED ME THE MOST IN TERMS OF WANTING TO, TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE AIRPORT.

HANGARS ARE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE LENGTH OF THE RUNWAY AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT.

FIRST OF ALL, CLEAR, CLEAR SPAN HANGARS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE.

WE'RE TALKING TENS OF MILLIONS, IF NOT MORE.

ESPECIALLY FOR THE LARGER AIRCRAFT.

THE LIKELIHOOD OF THAT KIND OF DEVELOPMENT AT OUR AIRPORT IS SMALL.

SO LET'S WORK ON SOMETHING THAT IS REALISTIC.

AND SO WHAT'S REALISTIC IS THAT THERE IS STILL A NEED FOR MORE INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES.

[01:10:05]

AS WE'VE SEEN, WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF LAND IN OUR INDUSTRIAL PARK BEFORE WE IDENTIFY AND PRODUCE SOME ADDITIONAL LAND SOMEWHERE ELSE.

WE HAVE LAND THAT IS OWNED BY THE CITY RIGHT NOW THAT NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING WITH IT.

SO WHY NOT TRY TO WORK ON DEVELOPING THAT PROPERTY? AND SO WE DIDN'T LOOK AT THE ENTIRE AIRPORT.

WE LOOKED AT WE LOOKED AT WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT.

AND WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT IN THE PAST WAS MOSTLY HANGAR DEVELOPMENT FOR SMALL PRIVATE AIRCRAFT. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IN SOME BIG LOGISTICS COMPANIES ON THE SOUTH SIDE AND DO SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, AND THAT THEY HAVEN'T REALLY PLANNED OUT THE SOUTH SIDE, TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE. OKAY.

AND THEY WOULD BE WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH US ON THE PLANNING.

YES. OKAY. SO IS EVERYONE COMFORTABLE WITH KSA? THE OKAY THEN CAN WE GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE KSA PROPOSAL?

[6. EXECUTIVESESSION]

I'LL MAKE A MOTION. SECOND.

OKAY. MOTION AND SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE OR RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. MOTION IS APPROVED.

ALL RIGHT. AND GOT. OKAY, SO THE NEXT ITEMS ARE SET FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION. CAN I GET A MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

OKAY. MOVED AND SECOND.

SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE OR RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

OKAY. MOTION APPROVED.

IT IS 634. WE'RE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

SORRY ABOUT THE NOD, I WAS FOCUSED.

[01:19:03]

THREE. EVEN WHEN HE READS ABOUT THE.

WE CAN SAY THAT TOO. FOR ME TOO, IT'S 530.

WE STILL HAVE A FEW THINGS WE GOTTA DO. THE PLACE HAS A LOT.

TO. CONGRATULATE.

ALL RIGHT. MEMBERS. IT'S 530.

I'D LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING OF THE EDINBURG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO ORDER.

WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL, MR. GARZA? PRESENT. PRESENT.

[01:20:01]

PRESENT. DAN DIAZ. PRESENT.

SABRINA WALKER HERNANDEZ.

PRESENT. I MEAN, RONNIE IS NOT HERE.

RICHARD GONZALEZ PRESENT.

WE HAVE QUORUM. GREAT.

THANK YOU. LET'S ALL STAND AND AND SAY OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

I PLEDGE 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. FOR ALL. THANK YOU.

MEMBERS. ALL RIGHT. CERTIFICATE.

CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE.

HAS THE NOTICE HAS BEEN ON FILE THE REQUIRED PERIOD OF TIME.

YES, MA'AM. WE WERE POSTED.

WE POSTED THE MEETING ON FRIDAY, MARCH 22ND AT 5 P.M..

OKAY, GREAT. DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

I KNOW OUR COUNSEL IS NOT HERE, BUT IT'S.

IF ANYONE HERE HAS ANY PERSONAL INTEREST OR FAMILY MEMBER THAT HAS AN INTEREST IN ANY OF THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

DO WE KNOW OF ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST? NO. NONE. NONE. OKAY. PUBLIC COMMENTS.

SAMANTHA. JACKIE, HAS ANYBODY SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. OKAY. NO PUBLIC COMMENTS.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET TO THE AGENDA ITEMS. AGENDA ITEM A CONSIDER APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR THE BOARD MEETING OF FEBRUARY 28TH, 2024. HAS EVERYBODY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE MINUTES? AND IF SO, CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED.

CAN I GET A SECOND? SECOND.

OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE OR RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

MOTION APPROVED. OKAY.

THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM B PRESENTATION THE FINANCIAL REPORTING ON JANUARY 31ST, 2024. YES, MA'AM. ON YOUR FINANCIAL REPORT, THE PACKETS YOU HAVE THE BALANCE SHEET IS THE FIRST ITEM WHICH SHOWS OUR TOTAL ASSETS OF 51,000 $451,497,815.

THAT IS BROKEN DOWN INTO CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS OF 17.1 MILLION.

SALES TAX RECEIVABLE OF 9.437 17.

NET RECEIVABLES OF 3.963 800.

SANTANA NET RECEIVABLES IS 10,000,001 69 436.

AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED ASSETS OF 2.36 MILLION AND THEN INVESTMENTS OF ALMOST $17 MILLION.

THE LIABILITIES ARE CURRENT LIABILITIES OF 421,538.

AND THEN WE HAVE RESTRICTED FUND BALANCE FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS OF 17.5 MILLION.

DEBT SERVICE SET ASIDE FOR 3.8 MILLION.

OTHER NOTE RECEIVABLES INCLUDE 10.1, WHICH IS BASICALLY YOUR SANTANA AND PROPERTY ACQUISITIONS THAT WE SET ASIDE FOR FUTURE ACQUISITIONS OF 4.7 MILLION.

UNRESTRICTED CASH BALANCE AS OF JANUARY 31ST WAS $14.8 MILLION.

WE ALSO HAVE IN AND OUR ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURES.

SO FAR 218,000 TOTAL PROGRAMS, 187,000 THAT HAVE BEEN SPENT $206,000 IN PROPERTY MAINTENANCE AND GENERAL INSURANCE 79,600.

IN ECONOMIC INCENTIVE AGREEMENTS.

WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT IN BOND FEES THAT WE PAID SO FAR.

TOTAL OF EXPENDITURES YEAR TO DATE OF 1.763064.

AND THEN THE RESTRICTED FUNDS ARE LISTED THERE ON YOUR SHEET FOR A TOTAL OF ALMOST $36 MILLION. I HAVE A QUESTION.

YES, MA'AM. SO IF THIS IS AS OF Q1, RIGHT? YES. YEAH. SO WE SHOULD HAVE EXPENDITURES RANGING IN ABOUT IF WE WERE ON TRACK, ABOUT 25% ACTUALLY IT WOULD BE FOUR MONTHS.

SO IT'S MORE LIKE 33%, 33%.

AND SO IS THAT JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS. IS THAT JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T SUBMITTED?

[01:25:05]

BECAUSE IT'S AT ZERO. THAT WAS ONE OF THE ONES THAT YEAH, THEY HAD NOT SUBMITTED AT THAT TIME BECAUSE WE JUST APPROVED THAT AT THE TWO MEETINGS AGO. OKAY. AND SO AS OF JANUARY 31ST, THAT HAD NOT BEEN PAID OUT.

OKAY. THAT WAS ONE THAT KIND OF JUMPED OUT AT ME.

AND THEN ON THE INSURANCE.

DOES THAT MEAN THEY'RE JUST THE INSURANCE COST GO UP.

GENERAL INSURANCE GO UP? NO, THAT WAS INSURANCE FOR THE WHOLE YEAR. SO YOU PAY IT AND THEY PAID IN ADVANCE.

OKAY. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM.

DO YOU NEED AN APPROVAL OF THIS, OR IS THIS JUST A PRESENTATION ONLY? OKAY. OKAY. SO WE'RE ON TRACK TO STAY WITHIN BUDGET AT THIS POINT.

YES. OKAY. HI, OMAR. HELLO.

YOU'RE WELCOME. ALL RIGHT.

LET'S TALK. ITEM C IN YOUR PACKET IS THE DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON PARTICIPATION AT ICSC CONVENTION MAY 19TH THROUGH 21ST, 2024. I KNOW WE'RE DOING A LITTLE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE'RE SHARING A BOOTH WITH THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY PARTNERSHIP.

IS THAT RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT.

SO WE HAD SET ASIDE AND HAD RESERVED A BOOTH, AS WE HAD LAST YEAR AND IN YEARS PAST FOR THIS COMING MAY.

BUT THEN WHEN WE WERE IN DALLAS, EVERYBODY STARTED TALKING ABOUT DOING A RGV PARTNERSHIP, A REGIONAL BOOTH.

AND ACTUALLY, IT WAS AN IDEA, I THINK.

SO WE'RE GOING TO GIVE HIM ALL THE CREDIT FOR THAT. I KNEW YOU'D BE HAPPY. VOICE. WELL, IT DOES A LOT OF GOOD THINGS IN TERMS OF MAKING US LOOK BIGGER.

SO OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LARGER BOOTH BECAUSE THERE'S MORE ENTITIES INVOLVED.

AND OUR SHARE OF THAT IS $10,000.

YOU HAVE IN YOUR PACKET AN ITEMIZED LISTING OF SOME OF THE EXPENDITURES FROM LAST YEAR.

AND SO WE SPENT JUST SLIGHTLY OVER $16,000 FOR A BOOTH LAST YEAR, WHEREAS NOW OUR TOTAL COMMITMENT FOR THAT BOOTH WILL BE $10,000.

SO THAT'S SOME SAVINGS THERE.

WE ALSO TOOK ALL OUR PERSONNEL OVER THERE.

BUT NOW RIO GRANDE VALLEY PARTNERSHIP IS GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE UP FRONT THAT ARE GOING TO BE GREETING THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING IN TO, TO MEET WITH US. IF WE HAVE MEETINGS SET UP, THEN THEY'LL BE THE ONES, YOU KNOW, GREETING THOSE FOLKS AND THEN BRINGING THEM TO OUR TABLE SO WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE AT THE STAFF POSITIONS GOING TO TO EXCEL.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME SAVINGS THERE. AND THEN SO YOU HAVE SAVINGS IN TRAVEL, YOU HAVE SAVINGS IN REGISTRATION FEES AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME SOME SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS, YOU KNOW, COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.

OR THEY CAN COME ALONG AND WE CAN HELP SET UP MEETINGS FOR THEM AS WELL.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE SOMETHING DIFFERENT THIS YEAR THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE LAST YEAR. AND THAT WAS RETAIL STRATEGIES.

SO RETAIL STRATEGIES IS AN EXTENSION OF OUR STAFF IF YOU WILL.

AND SO THEY'RE SETTING UP MEETINGS AS WELL.

AND THEY WILL BE MEETING WITH, WITH SOME OF THE RETAILERS, EVEN IF WE'RE NOT THERE, THEY'RE STILL REPRESENTING US.

BUT IF WE GET ENOUGH PEOPLE, THEN WE CAN SPREAD THOSE PEOPLE OUT.

SO IN YOUR OPINION, HOW MANY OF US SHOULD PLAN TO GO OR WHO NEEDS TO GO? WHO DOESN'T NEED TO GO? WE DON'T WANT TO BE THERE NOT BEING EFFECTIVE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, IF IF WE'RE ALL NEEDED, THEN WE CAN MAKE TYPICALLY 2 TO 3 PEOPLE AT THE MOST IS THE MOST THAT I WOULD RECOMMEND IN ANY KIND OF ONE ON ONE MEETING.

SO IT REALLY KIND OF DEPENDS ON HOW MANY MEETINGS WE SET UP.

OBVIOUSLY IT'S A WAY OF LEARNING HOW THE RETAIL SECTOR WORKS.

AND WE'D BE GLAD TO, TO HAVE YOU ALONG.

BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE THERE BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE COVERING LIKE THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE IN THE PAST.

OKAY. I KNOW THE CITY Y'ALL ARE PLANNING ON.

OR ALL THE COUNCILMAN GOING.

I THINK FOR THE MOST PART AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BOOTH, SO WE NEED LESS PEOPLE TO BE THERE, BUT IF ANYBODY HAS ANYONE THAT THEY WANT TO REACH OUT TO, IT'S GOOD TO GO.

WE'VE GONE. WE'VE ALWAYS HAD A GREAT, GREAT TEAM AND ROTATION BASES.

JUST BECAUSE WE'RE IN A LARGER AREA DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE DON'T WANT REPRESENTATION THERE, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO BRING THEM TO THE MEETINGS.

I DO I DO KNOW THAT COUNCIL WANTS TO GO.

[01:30:03]

I WILL ASK VERONICA IF YOU CAN.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, TALK TO THEM AND, YOU KNOW, SHOWCASE OUR CITY. SO WHO ELSE IS GOING TO BE SHARING THE BOOTH? DO YOU KNOW I, I'M NOT SURE WHO THE OTHER SPONSORS ARE AT THIS POINT.

COME ON UP. COME ON UP.

COME ON UP. JACKIE. THE COMMITMENTS WE GOT AT JACKIE.

JACKIE IS THE ONE THAT COORDINATES THE ICC STUFF FOR US.

SO I BELIEVE I. I BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO BE MCALLEN MISSION WESLACO AND BROWNSVILLE AND US, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.

SO THOSE ARE THE FIVE SO FAR? YEAH. AND AT ICC IN TEXAS, IN DALLAS, I SHOULD SAY IT WAS I GOT COMMITMENTS FROM WESLACO ALAMO PHARR.

DONNA SAID THEY WERE GOING TO PARTICIPATE. ALSO. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE ALL IN YET, BUT OKAY, SO THE BOOTH WILL BE FAIRLY LARGE THEN.

YEAH, IT'S A BIG BOOTH.

IT'S LIKE, KIND OF LIKE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS REMEMBER THE BUXTON BOOTH.

I DO, BUT IT'S LIKE A BIG, LARGE ONE, SO IT'S NOT.

WE HAD A 20 BY TEN LAST YEAR, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A 30 BY 30 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY, BUT IT'S GOING TO HAVE CENTER ONES 20 BY 30.

YEAH. AND IT HAS PILLARS.

AND THEY SAID THAT ON THE PILLARS THEY WANT TO PUT LIKE THE MAIN THINGS MAYBE LIKE SPACE AND FOOTBALL AND THEN HAVE PICTURES ALL AROUND IT FROM THE DIFFERENT CITIES.

SO WE'RE STILL IN THE WORKS OF PUTTING ALL THAT TOGETHER.

HOW MANY TABLES FIT IN THERE DO WE KNOW? THERE'S ABOUT LIKE 6 OR 7 TABLES, AND EACH SEAT IS GOING TO HAVE THEIR OWN SECTION. AND EACH CD DECIDES HOW MANY PEOPLE THEY'RE GOING TO BRING.

OKAY. AND I KNOW THEY'RE HAVING A RECEPTION AS WELL.

THE PARTNERSHIP IS AND THEY'RE ASKING FOR SPONSORSHIPS.

ASIDE FROM THE COST OF THE BOOTH, IS THAT RIGHT? YES. SO HOW MUCH IS THE SPONSORSHIP? I THINK THE MINIMUM IS 1500.

AND THEN IT HAS LIKE THREE DIFFERENT LEVELS.

SO RIGHT NOW THE COST IS 10,000.

YOU'RE PAYING FOR THE BOOTH WILL NOT INCLUDE THAT. IT'S A PART.

LAST YEAR WE DID $1,500 FOR THE RECEPTION.

YES. SO IT WAS SEPARATE AND APART FROM OUR EXPENDITURES.

OKAY. OKAY. SO DO YOU NEED A.

THIS IS JUST DISCUSSION PURPOSES, RIGHT.

WHAT ABOUT ON THE SPONSORSHIP? DO YOU NEED APPROVAL ON THAT? IF WE'RE DOING ANYTHING MORE THAN $1,000, THEN YES.

IF WE'RE DOING ANYTHING MORE THAN 5000, THEN IT NEEDS TO GO TO CITY COUNCIL.

BUT IF WE'RE DOING 1500 LIKE WE DID LAST YEAR FOR THE SPONSORSHIP, WE WILL WANT TO. YOU GUYS CAN TAKE ACTION AND GIVE ME THAT AUTHORITY OR UP TO 5000 IF YOU ALL THINK THAT WE CAN, WE WANT TO MAKE A BIGGER SPLASH.

WE CAN DO THAT. WHY DON'T WE HAVE A MOTION THEN TO APPROVE THE 1500? IF WE. IF ANYBODY WANTS TO MAKE THAT MOTION BEFORE WE BEFORE WE GO TO THAT.

I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION.

HOW MANY MEETINGS ARE YOU TRYING TO SET UP OR PLANNING TO SET UP FOR FOR THIS CONFERENCE? YOU KNOW, THAT ALL DEPENDS ON HOW MANY RETAILERS ARE GOING, HOW MANY DEVELOPERS ARE GOING.

WE IT REALLY KIND OF IT'S RIGHT NOW IT'S TOO EARLY TO TELL.

A BETTER TIME TO GAUGE BY NEXT MEETING WE WILL KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY.

MY NAME IS DR. PAUL. TWO YEARS AGO, I RECEIVED A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT.

WHEN I WAS 21 YEARS OLD, I STARTED DIALYSIS, AND FOR SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS, I WAS A PATIENT RECEIVING TREATMENTS THREE TIMES A WEEK FOR FOUR HOURS EACH SESSION.

AND MAN, IT WAS HARD. MY FATHER HAD KIDNEY DISEASE, SO I KNEW WHAT WAS TO BE EXPECTED WHEN MY KIDNEYS FAILED.

AFTER RECEIVING MY KIDNEY TRANSPLANT, I WAS ABLE TO FIND AND MARRY THE LOVE OF MY LIFE. SHE'S JUST SOMEONE I CAN JOKE WITH.

SOMEBODY I CAN COOK WITH.

I APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO BE THE HUSBAND THAT SHE DESERVES.

WHEN I WAS SICK, I BARELY HAD ENOUGH STRENGTH TO WALK ACROSS THE PARKING LOT GOING TO THE MOVIES WITH MY BROTHERS.

BUT AFTER MY TRANSPLANT, MY STRENGTH AND ENERGY CAME BACK AND I WAS ABLE TO RUN AROUND AND PLAY WITH MY NIECES AND NEPHEWS, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.

MY KIDNEY TRANSPLANT GAVE ME MY LIFE BACK.

YOU HAVE THE POWER TO DONATE LIFE, BE AN ORGAN, EYE AND TISSUE DONOR TO FIND OUT HOW.

GO TODAY TO DONATE LIFE.

HEY, IT SURE FEELS GOOD TO PLAY.

[01:36:21]

EXPLAIN THIS TO ME AGAIN.

OKAY. WE GOT HAMMERED TODAY, RIGHT? YEAH, WELL, SO DID A LOT OF OUR FANS.

THEY GO TO EACH OTHER'S HOMES AND HAVE GAME WATCHING PARTIES.

WHAT HE'S SAYING IS WHAT? BOB WAS OUT THERE GETTING BLITZED. SORRY, BOB. IT'S OKAY. OUR FANS ARE GETTING BLITZED.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? WE'RE STILL IN THESE PADS. THEY'RE OUT THERE DRIVING HOME NOW TO GAME WATCHING PARTIES CAN MAKE DRUNK DRIVERS PASS UP THAT DRINK OR PASS OFF YOUR KEYS.

HI EVERYONE. I'M RAMIRO NAGDCA, JUNIOR YEAR EDINBURG MAYOR.

I AM HERE TO INVITE ALL OF YOU TO BE PART OF THE CHALLENGE.

RGV 2024. THIS YEAR MARKS THE 15TH SEASON OF THE CHALLENGE RGV AND NOW IN 2024, IT'S EASIER THAN EVER FOR THE UPPER VALLEY RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE AND COMMIT TO HEALTHY LIVING GOALS THANKS TO A NEW COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF EDINBURGH HAS JOINED FORCES WITH UTHEALTH, HOUSTON SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE CITY OF BROWNSVILLE TO BRING YOU A HIDALGO COUNTY KICKOFF FOR THIS HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHANGE INITIATIVE. THE CHALLENGE RGV PROVIDES PEOPLE WITH THE TOOLS TO MAKE SUSTAINABLE,

[01:40:04]

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHANGES AND LOSE WEIGHT WHEN APPROPRIATE OVER THE COURSE OF THREE MONTHS. PARTICIPANTS HAVE FREE ACCESS TO GYM, EXERCISE CLASSES, HEALTH SCREENINGS, COOKING CLASSES, OUTDOOR FITNESS OPPORTUNITIES AND MORE.

MONETARY INCENTIVES AND OTHER PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED TO GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO SHOW PROGRESS TOWARDS HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHANGES BETWEEN JANUARY AND APRIL.

CATEGORIES INCLUDE INDIVIDUALS, SMALL TEAMS AND LARGE TEAMS. THE CHALLENGES ARE TO BE WEIGHING IN.

EDINBURGH IS SET FOR JANUARY 27TH.

THE WAYOUT IS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 27TH, SO YOU HAVE THREE MONTHS TO COMMIT TO A HEALTHIER YOU. SIMPLY USE THE QR CODE THAT APPEARS ON YOUR SCREEN TO REREGISTER.

CAN'T MAKE IT ON JANUARY 27TH? TAKE UP THE CHALLENGE ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM TO SEE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE. SO JOIN US FOR THE CHALLENGE AND BE A PART OF BUILDING A HEALTHIER, MORE ACTIVE WOLGAN VALLEY.

YOU'RE ALL RIGHT, MAN.

HI, I'M CHUBBY CHECKER.

A NEW TWIST IN THE LAW MAKES IT EASIER THAN EVER TO SAVE ON YOUR MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN COSTS. SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? GO TO SOCIALSECURITY.GOV AND APPLY FOR EXTRA HELP.

IT'S EASIER THAN LEARNING THE TWIST.

[01:46:16]

YEAH, IT'S COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE.

HE'S GONNA COME. HE'S SUPPOSED TO.

AND HE DOESN'T. YEAH. YEAH.

OKAY. HERE WE GO.

ARE YOU CALLING? FOR THAT TICKET.

ALRIGHTY. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

WE'RE HERE TO UNVEIL THE CONSTRUCTION OF OUR NEW WATER TOWER, A PROJECT THAT WE KNOW WILL CERTAINLY BENEFIT OUR RESIDENTS FOR YEARS TO COME.

SO TO GET US STARTED, I'D LIKE TO CALL UP COUNCILMAN JASON DE LEON FOR THE INVOCATION. PLEASE RISE.

PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS AS WE STAND ON THE THRESHOLD OF A NEW CHAPTER IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY. WE GATHER HERE TODAY WITH HEARTS FULL OF HOPE FOR THE GROUNDBREAKING OF EDINBURGHS NEW WATER TOWER.

IN THIS MOMENT, WE INVOKE IN THE SPIRIT OF UNITY AND PROGRESS.

LET US JOIN TOGETHER IN GRATITUDE FOR THE THE LEADERS WHO HAVE WORKED TO MAKE THIS DAY POSSIBLE. MAY THIS NEW WATER TOWER STAND AS A SYMBOL OF COMMITMENT TO THE WELL-BEING AND PROSPERITY OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AS WE BREAK GROUND ON THIS VITAL PROJECT, LET US INVOKE THE BLESSING OF SUSTAINABLE ABUNDANCE AND ENSURING THAT THE WATER WILL FLOW FROM THIS TOWER, NURTURES OUR CITY, SUSTAINS OUR HOMES, AND FOSTER THE GROWTH OF THE FLOURISHING OF FLOURISHING EDINBURGH. WE ASK FOR THE STRENGTH OF COLLABORATION AND POWER OF COMMUNITY SPIRIT. MAY THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS WATER TOWER BE A BEACON OF PROGRESS.

LET US MOVE FORWARD WITH UNITED PURPOSE, KNOWING THAT THIS ENDEAVOR WILL CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE AND PROSPEROUS FUTURE FOR ALL.

IN THE NAME WE PRAY. AMEN.

PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, LED BY COUNCILMAN DAVID SALAZAR.

WE ALL TURN A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TO THE REPUBLIC TO WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. YOU MAY BE SEATED.

SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR PARTNERS WHO HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO BE WITH US HERE TODAY.

AND THE KEY ROLES THEY'VE ALL HAD IN GETTING US TO THIS POINT.

NOW, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE FIRST THE EDINBURGH EDC FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION IN FUNDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE WATER TOWER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND OF COURSE, ON THAT NOTE, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR AMAZING CITY MANAGEMENT TEAM FOR ALL THAT THEY DO, ESPECIALLY OUR CITY MANAGER, MISS MYRA AYALA.

AND OF COURSE, JOINING US TODAY IS THE BENSON FAMILY.

WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THEM FOR THEIR GENEROUS DONATION OF THE PROPERTY THE WATER TOWER IS LOCATED ON. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION.

AS WELL AS MELDON AND HUNT, OUR ENGINEERS ON THE PROJECT.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

ROBERT KISTNER, THE MATERIALS TESTING LAB ON THIS PROJECT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

AND OF COURSE, LANDMARK STRUCTURES, OUR CONTRACTORS.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. NOW TO OFFICIALLY KICK US OFF,

[01:50:08]

PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME UP MAYOR RAMIRO GARZA JUNIOR FOR A FEW REMARKS.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING, ISN'T IT? WE WOKE UP THINKING IT WAS GOING TO BE RAINING. IT WAS GOING TO BE.

AND LOOK AT THIS BEAUTIFUL DAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE THIS GROUNDBREAKING THAT I THINK A LOT OF RESIDENTS, I WALKED UP, I WOKE UP THIS MORNING AND TRIED TO FIND OUT WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE BUILT THE WATER TOWER HERE IN OUR CITY OF EDINBURGH? SO I GOT SOME DIFFERENT DATES. ALL I'M GOING TO SAY, IT'S OVER 25 YEARS.

OKAY. ALMOST THREE DECADES THAT THAT'S THE LAST TIME THAT A WATER TOWER WAS BUILT.

AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE IT WASN'T NEEDED.

WE'VE HAD SO MUCH GROWTH.

THERE'S A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, AND WE'RE JUST NOW AT A TIME WHERE WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THIS. IT GIVES ME GREAT PRIDE, LIKE I MENTIONED, TO ANNOUNCE THIS CONSTRUCTION OF THIS 1 MILLION GALLON WATER TOWER THAT IS LOCATED RIGHT HERE, NORTH OF OUR CITY.

THIS PROJECT IS NOT ABOUT JUST CONCRETE AND STEEL.

IT'S ABOUT SECURING A BETTER, MORE RELIABLE FUTURE FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR RESIDENTS. WE NEED TO ADDRESS OUR GROWING NEEDS.

WE TALK ABOUT THAT ALL THE TIME HERE IN OUR CITY.

YOU KNOW, WATER PRESSURE IS IMPORTANT, AND I'M PLEASED TO SHARE THAT THIS ADDITIONAL WATER STORAGE BY THIS TOWER WILL BE A GAME CHANGER.

AND I KNOW GAME CHANGER MEANS DIFFERENT THINGS TO PEOPLE FOR US.

AND AND YOU SEE ALL OUR EMPLOYEES THAT WORK ON THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT, THEY WILL AGREE THAT THIS IS A GAME CHANGER, BECAUSE THE GROWTH THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING HERE IN OUR CITY IS UNPRECEDENTED.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE.

AND WE NEED THIS. WHAT? WE'RE HERE TODAY TO BUILD THIS WATER TOWER.

SO IT'S NOT MERELY JUST A STRUCTURE, IT'S A SOLUTION TO ENHANCE AND MAINTAIN WATER PRESSURE AND ENSURING THAT EVERY TAP IN EDINBURGH FLOWS.

THE RELIABILITY. YOU DESERVE TO SUPPORT THIS NEW WATER TOWER.

THERE'S GOING TO BE 1800 LINEAR FEET OF NEW WATER LINE INSTALLED IN HERE TO THIS WATER TOWER. THIS IS A TESTAMENT TO OUR APPROACH FOR INFRASTRUCTURE EXPANSION.

THIS ADDITIONAL WATER LINE FEED WILL SUPPORT AND CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE EFFICIENT WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR ALL OUR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN OUR AREA.

I WANT TO EXPRESS MY THANKS TO THE COMMUNITY, OUR DEDICATED CITY LEADERS, MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, ALL THE ENGINEERS THAT WERE MENTIONED, OUR UTILITY DEPARTMENT THAT WORK EACH AND EVERY DAY TO ENSURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES GET CLEAN AND SAFE WATER.

LET'S GIVE THEM A HAND AT THIS TIME FOR ALL THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT YOU SEE HERE TODAY.

YOU KNOW, YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS.

AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THIS UNITY THAT WE STAND HERE TODAY AND READY TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR CITY. AND I KNOW THEY WERE ALREADY MENTIONED, BUT I DO WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO THANK SPECIAL FAMILY THAT'S HERE WITH US TODAY.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE BUILD THIS WATER TOWER, WE CAN'T JUST BUILD IT ON ANY PROPERTY.

IT'S GOT TO BE THERE. CITY OWNED OR PROPERTY THAT WE CONTROL.

AND IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THE PROPERTY WE'RE BUILDING ON WAS NOT OWNED BY THE CITY. IT'S OWNED BY THE BENSON FAMILY.

AND THEY HAVE OWNED THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

AND IN WORKING WITH US TOGETHER THEY AGREED TO DONATE THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WHERE WE SIT HERE TODAY TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN BUILD THIS WATER TOWER.

AND WITH US HERE TODAY, REPRESENTING THE FAMILY, WE HAVE MARGE BENSON AND HER DAUGHTER, PAM.

I DO WANT US TO GIVE THEM SPECIAL RECOGNITION TODAY.

IF WE CAN GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR.

FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION HERE TODAY.

I, I, WE WERE JUST TALKING A LITTLE WHILE AGO AND YOU KNOW, THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS JUST CONTINUE HERE IN OUR CITY AND OUR REGION.

I WAS JUST SHARING HOW THEIR FAMILY HAS JUST BEEN SUCH A VITAL PART OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS.

AND I SEE RONNIE FROM OUR CHAMBER HERE THEIR FAMILY.

LLOYD BEN SENIOR ACTUALLY STARTED THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY PARTNERSHIP. IF YOU LOOK AT THE INCORPORATION PAPERS THEY'RE THE ONES THAT STARTED THE PARTNERSHIP OF WHICH, TO ME WAS THE START OF BRINGING THE REGION TOGETHER AND ADVOCATING TO HAVE ONE REGION FOR THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR, OUR AREA.

AND HERE TODAY, YOU ALL CONTINUE, YOU KNOW, TO PROVIDE AND SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY. AND WE SO VERY APPRECIATE YOUR DONATION, YOUR GENEROUS OFFER. BECAUSE WITHOUT THAT, THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.

SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AGAIN.

THANK YOU. ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

WE HAVE SOME OF THE BOARD MEMBERS HERE. WE HAVE MISS VERONICA GONZALEZ.

SHE'S THE CHAIR. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THEM THAT ARE HERE. WE HAVE ALSO HERE IN FRONT EDDIE GARZA, OUR BOARD MEMBER, AS WELL.

WE HAVE RONNIE RIVERA AS WELL THAT'S HERE REPRESENTING THE BOARD,

[01:55:03]

AND I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS.

THERE'S SEVEN. AND OUR COUNCIL MEMBER, DAN DIAZ, IS OUT OF TOWN, BUT HE'S ALSO ON THE BOARD, AND WE HAVE OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, RODEL GARZA, THAT'S HERE ALSO. THIS IS A PROJECT THAT'S OVER $5 MILLION.

SO THE CITY IS PUTTING UP A LITTLE OVER 3 MILLION, AND THE EDC IS PUTTING IN THE OTHER 2 MILLION.

SO MY THANK YOU TO THE BOARD AND THE EDC FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THIS PROJECT.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. SO AS WE BREAK GROUND TODAY, LET US NOT LET US NOT ONLY SEE THE CONSTRUCTION BEFORE US TO ENVISION THE POSITIVE IMPACT IT WILL HAVE ON THE LIVES OF OUR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.

THIS WATER TOWER SYMBOLIZES OUR COMMITMENT TO PROGRESS, RELIABILITY AND A FUTURE WHERE EDINBURGH CONTINUES TO THRIVE.

THANK YOU AND LET'S LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY WHEN WE'RE HOSTING THE ACTUAL RIBBON CUTTING OF THIS GREAT PROJECT.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU MAYOR.

NOW, I'D LIKE TO CALL UP COUNCILMAN JASON DELEON FOR A FEW WORDS OF HIS OWN.

WELL, WHAT DO YOU SAY AFTER THE MAYOR SPEAKS? WELL, SINCE COUNCIL MEMBER DIAZ IS NOT HERE, I'M JUST GOING TO GO AHEAD AND SAY BUENOS DIAS. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO START OFF BY THANKING THE THE BENSON FAMILY FOR YOUR KIND DONATION. THE MAYOR ALWAYS SAYS YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A LEADER.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE ELECTED TO BECOME A LEADER.

AND BY YOU ALL, BEING ABLE TO DONATE SHOWS YOUR TRUE LEADERSHIP.

AND IT SHOWS THAT EDINBURGH CAN CONTINUE GROWING. SO I THANK YOU ALL AND WE CAN GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. I'D ALSO LIKE TO ONCE AGAIN THANK THE EDC BOARD AND ALL THE STAFF FOR ALL THEIR HELP ON MAKING THIS HAPPEN.

WITHOUT YOU, NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE. SO WE CAN GIVE YOU ALL A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

AND EDINBURGH IS GOING TO CONTINUE BEING THE FASTEST GROWING CITY IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. THANK YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN DE LEON. NOW, I'D LIKE TO CALL UP COUNCILMAN DAVID SALAZAR.

GOOD MORNING. IT'S KIND OF HARD AFTER THE MAYOR SAYING WHAT HE SAID AND JASON KIND OF FILLING EVERYTHING IN THE GAPS.

BUT I DO WANT TO THANK THE BENSON FAMILY FOR YOUR KIND DONATION.

AND LIKE JASON WAS SAYING, BEING LEADERS IN THIS COMMUNITY IS IMPORTANT.

AGAIN, COMMUNITIES, EVERYTHING IN EDINBURG.

AND AS WE'RE GROWING AND IN THE FUTURE HERE AND THE GROWTH THAT'S HAPPENING, I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS WATER TOWER IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THIS COMMUNITY TO GO FORWARD. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED, ALL THE FIRMS, EDC AND ALL THE OTHER PARTNERS IN THIS, YOU KNOW, IN THIS WATER TOWER COMING TOGETHER AND PROVIDING THIS SOURCE FOR THE COMMUNITY ITSELF. THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.

THANK YOU. NOW, PLEASE HELP ME IN WELCOMING OUR EDINBURG EDC BOARD PRESIDENT, VERONICA GONZALEZ. WELL GOOD MORNING.

AND WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY.

LAST NIGHT I, I STEPPED OUTSIDE AND IT STARTED TO RAIN A LITTLE BIT.

AND I THOUGHT, OH GOSH, TOMORROW MORNING IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING ELSE. BUT GOD HAS BLESSED US WITH A BEAUTIFUL DAY AND AND AND ACTUALLY DRY WEATHER THIS MORNING. SO IT'S SO GOOD TO BE AMONG ALL OF YOU THIS MORNING TO CELEBRATE THIS AS WAS MENTIONED, MY NAME IS VERONICA GONZALEZ AND I'M PRESIDENT OF THE EDINBURG EDC BOARD.

AND JOINING ME TODAY ARE OUR BOARD MEMBERS.

I KNOW THEY'VE BEEN INTRODUCED, BUT I'M GOING TO ASK THEM TO STAND ANYWAY.

MISTER RONNIE RIVERA AND MISTER EDDIE GARZA.

WE ALSO HAVE JOINING US MR. RANDALL GARCIA, WHO IS OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

AND WE HAVE WITH US OUR STAFF MEMBERS WHO DO A LOT OF WORK BEHIND THE SCENES.

WE'VE GOT LADY PANTOJAS HERE.

CARLOS GARZA IS HERE AS WELL.

AND JACKIE GUERRA. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

THE EDINBURG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IS EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND HAS MADE A SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT, AS WAS MENTIONED BY THE MAYOR OF $2.1 MILLION TOWARDS THE INSTALLATION OF THIS WATER TOWER.

NOW, YOU MAY WONDER, WHY IS THERE EXCITEMENT OVER A WATER TOWER? AND WHAT DOES IT HAVE TO DO WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? WELL, WATER IS ONE OF OUR MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCES.

AS WE ALL KNOW. WE HEAR ALL THE TIME THE WATER IS GOLD BECAUSE WHERE THERE IS WATER, THERE IS LIFE. AND WHERE THERE IS WATER, THERE IS GROWTH.

GROWTH IN BUSINESSES, GROWTH IN RESIDENTS, GROWTH IN PROSPERITY.

AND WE SEE THAT GROWTH HAPPENING HERE IN EDINBURG.

DAY AFTER DAY. AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE IT HERE IN NORTH EDINBURG.

THIS TOWER IS DESIGNED TO STORE AN IMPRESSIVE 1 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER ENSURING A RELIABLE AND AMPLE WATER SUPPLY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

IT WILL ENHANCE WATER PRESSURE AND PROVIDE IMPROVED SERVICES TO HOMES, TO BUSINESSES AND TO EMERGENCY SERVICES.

IT WILL INCLUDE A LIGHTING FEATURE, I'M TOLD, AND I'M WAITING TO HEAR FROM LANDMARK WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE. BUT THAT LIGHTING FEATURE WILL ALSO SERVE THE PRACTICAL PURPOSE AND SOME BEAUTIFUL ESTHETIC PURPOSES.

BUSINESSES WILL BENEFIT FROM ENHANCED WATER PRESSURE, FACILITATING SMOOTHER OPERATIONS AND ENCOURAGING FURTHER INVESTMENT INTO NORTH

[02:00:05]

EDINBURGH, WHICH IS WHY WE AT THE EDC ARE SO EXCITED.

IN FACT, WE'RE ALREADY SEEING BUSINESSES LOCATED HERE.

IF YOU LOOK UP THE STREET A BIT, YOU SEE ALL OF THE, OF COURSE, THE FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS. YOU'VE GOT THE WHATABURGER, THE MCDONALD'S GOT THE CVS, YOU'VE GOT A BLUE WAVE.

AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO SEE MORE AND MORE GROWTH HAPPENING IN THIS DIRECTION.

SO WE KNOW THAT THIS CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT IS GOING TO ONLY HELP US TO CONTINUE WITH THAT SUCCESS.

MAYOR, WE WANT TO THANK YOU, AND WE WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL AND YOUR WONDERFUL STAFF FOR INVITING THE EDC TO PARTNER ON THIS PROJECT.

WE WANT TO ALSO THANK AGAIN THE BENSON FAMILY FOR BEING SUCH WONDERFUL LEADERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS WITH US HERE IN EDINBURG AND REALLY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. I NOTICED WE HAD OUR COMMISSIONER COME IN.

SHE'S IN THE BACK. SHE SHOULD COME ON UP FRONT. MISS ELLIE TORRES, WHO IS ALSO SUPPORTING US ALWAYS IN HIDALGO COUNTY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE WITH OUR GROWTH. YOU KNOW, AS EDINBURG CONTINUES TO GROW, WE HAVE TO PLAN AHEAD, AND WE HAVE TO BE READY.

AND THIS PROJECT IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE STEPS THAT ARE BEING TAKEN TO WELCOME THE GROWTH AND TO POSITION EDINBURG FOR FUTURE SUCCESS.

THANK YOU. GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.

THANK YOU, MISS GONZALEZ, AND THANK YOU AGAIN.

YES. FEEL FREE. JOIN US UP HERE AT THE FRONT.

ARE YOU SURE? I DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW.

YOU'VE BEEN SO GRACIOUS TO OUR FAMILY.

BUT THIS IS FROM MY HUSBAND, CALVIN.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THIS IS ONE OF HIS HITS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION.

IT IS. IT IS MUCH APPRECIATED.

I WISH HE COULD BE HERE.

AND SO DOES HE. THANK YOU.

WE APPRECIATE YOU BOTH BEING HERE WITH US TODAY.

AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMMISSIONER TORRES FOR JOINING US.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO JOIN US HERE AT THE FRONT. COMMISSIONER, WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. AND OF COURSE, LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, WE'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES, MR. GERARDO CARMONA, FOR A FEW WORDS.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.

MY NAME IS GERARDO CARMONA, AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES.

TODAY IS AN EXCITING DAY AS WE GATHER FOR THE GROUNDBREAKING OF THIS NEW WATER TOWER.

THIS WATER TOWER WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL WATER STORAGE CAPACITY AND WILL IMPROVE THE PRESSURE IN THE AREA. IN ADDITION, THIS WATER TOWER WILL BECOME THE SIXTH WATER TOWER FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURG.

AFTER THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETED, THE CITY OF EDINBURG WILL HAVE OVER 4 MILLION GALLONS OF ELEVATED WATER STORAGE CAPACITY.

THIS WATER TOWER WILL BECOME AN IMPORTANT AND MAJOR ASSET FOR THE CITY, AND WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THE EDINBURG ECONOMIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION CITY MANAGER, CITY MANAGEMENT, THE BENSON FAMILY FOR DONATING THE PROPERTY, AND MY STAFF, THE CONSULTANTS MELVIN HUNT AND ROBERT KISSNER, AND LANDMARK, THE CONTRACTOR ON BEHALF OF THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT AND MY STAFF.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SUPPORT IN MAKING THIS POSSIBLE.

THANK YOU. NOW THAT CONCLUDES THIS PORTION OF OUR CEREMONY.

BUT IF I COULD HAVE OUR ESTEEMED GUESTS AND OUR EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL JUST JOIN ME BACK HERE AT THE SHOVELS, WE'LL START TURNING THE DIRT.

YES.

I'LL MAKE SURE WE WATCH. FOR YOU.

FAIR ENOUGH.

WOW, THAT WAS LOVELY. GOOD JOB.

LET'S GO DO KARAOKE. BABY, BABY, BABY.

SORRY. ARE YOU GOOD? YEAH.

YEAH. A LITTLE BIT OF SPACE I JUST NEED, LIKE, A LITTLE. OH, YEAH. NO, I GOT IT.

YEAH.

[02:05:11]

CAN YOU DO IT? WHERE DID THE MIC GO? CAN YOU. DO ONE, LIKE HOLDING IT.

AND THEN WHEN THEY'RE COUNTING DOWN, YOU WANT THEM TO TURN TO THE LEFT? YEAH.

THERE'S GOTTA BE LOOKING UP. SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO FIRST IS WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A GROUP PHOTO. SO IF EVERYONE HOLDS ON TO THEIR SHOVELS AND LOOKS RIGHT HERE IN THE MIDDLE, WE'LL BE GOOD TO GO FOR THAT PHOTO. AND THEN I'LL DIRECT YOU FROM THERE. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, GUYS, CAN I GET EVERYONE RIGHT HERE ON THE COUNT OF THREE. READY? ONE.

TWO. THREE. OH. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. WAIT. ONE MORE, ONE MORE, ONE MORE.

RIGHT HERE. READY? ONE.

TWO. THREE. PERFECT. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, SO STAY WHERE YOU ARE. WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO NOW IS WE'RE GOING TO PICK UP OUR SHOVELS, A LITTLE BIT OF DIRT AND TURN IT TO THE LEFT.

AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A PHOTO DOING THAT TO THE LEFT.

YES. I'LL COUNT YOU DOWN FROM THREE.

SO THREE. TWO. ONE.

YOU'RE BACK. VERY NICE.

THANK YOU. NO, I WAS TALKING TO MYSELF.

YEAH, HE WAS MY CLOSEST FRIEND. HE WAS LIKE MY BROTHER TO ME. NOW.

ONE. ONE. WHAT IS YOUR EMERGENCY? IT LOOKS LIKE A VERY BAD COLLISION.

I DIDN'T BELIEVE IT AT FIRST, BUT AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS, I HIT ME. I THINK THERE MIGHT BE FATALITY.

HE WAS ALWAYS LAUGHING, ALWAYS PLAYING JOKES ON SOMEBODY.

THOUGHT I MISSED OUT A LOT ABOUT HIM. HE'S BLEEDING PRETTY BAD.

YOU'RE IN CHARGE. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME.

SO GLAD TO SEE SO MANY OF YOU HERE.

I THINK IT SENDS A CLEAR MESSAGE AND REALLY, ON RELATIVELY SHORT NOTICE JUST BY THE TURNOUT AND THE ENTHUSIASM THIS MORNING, THE EXCITEMENT AND INTEREST THAT THERE'S IN OUR FOOTBALL PROGRAM AND REALLY ALL OF US, ALL OF UTRGV.

FOR THOSE THAT I HAVEN'T HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO MEET JUST YET, MY NAME IS CHASE CONQUE, AND IT'S A TRUE BLESSING TO SERVE AS VICE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS HERE AT UTRGV. WE HAVE SO MANY SPECIAL GUESTS WITH US THIS MORNING, AND I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE SEVERAL OF THOSE THAT ARE WITH US.

AND SO WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE STAND REPRESENTING US, SENATOR TED CRUZ'S OFFICE, WE HAVE JOSHUA RIVAS.

JOSHUA, ARE YOU HERE? AND ADRIAN GOMEZ.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. WE HAVE WITH US STATE SENATOR CHUY HINOJOSA.

SENATOR HINOJOSA. WE HAVE STATE REPRESENTATIVE BY HIS OFFICE, REPRESENTED BY LAURA DEL MARIANO.

MISS MARIANO, ARE YOU HERE? FROM SERGIO MUNOZ'S OFFICE.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE. JANIE LOPEZ, REPRESENTATIVE LOPEZ, STATE REPRESENTATIVE TERRY CANALES.

WE HAVE STATE REPRESENTATIVE BOBBY GUERRA.

OUR UT SYSTEM BOARD OF REGENTS AND ALL OF OUR BOSSES WE HAVE WITH US, DOCTOR NOLAN PETTIS. HIDALGO COUNTY JUDGE, JUDGE RICHARD CORTEZ.

COMMISSIONER FROM PRECINCT FOUR, WE HAVE ELLIE TORRES.

ELLIE, REPRESENTING THE CITY OF BROWNSVILLE, MAYOR COWAN AND ROGER JONES.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. OF COURSE, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF EDINBURGH, WE HAVE MAYOR GARZA ROMERO.

THANK YOU. WE HAVE OUR CITY MANAGER, MYRA AYALA.

MYRA. ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.

NELDA RAMIREZ. NELDA. ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER THOMAS REYNA.

ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER JAY SINES.

AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. WE HAVE WITH US MR. DAN DIAZ. DAVID SALAZAR.

JASON DELEON. I DON'T KNOW IF JASON WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT, BUT. JASON. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID WHITE.

AND THEN REPRESENTING THE EDC, EDINBURG EDC BOARD, WE HAVE PRESIDENT VERONICA GONZALEZ.

WE HAVE OUR EDC DIRECTOR, RODEL GARZA.

ADELE. WE ALSO HAVE WITH US RAUL RESENDEZ FROM THE EDC BOARD AS WELL,

[02:10:08]

AND RONNIE RIVERA FROM THE EDC BOARD.

RONNIE. FROM THE CITY OF MCALLEN.

WE HAVE COMMISSIONER TONY AGUEDA.

TONY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

AND WE ALSO HAVE WITH US FROM THE CITY OF PHARR, DANIEL CHAVEZ.

DANIEL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

PHARR EDC VICTOR PEREZ.

AND WE HAVE EDINBURG SCHOOL DISTRICT TRUSTEES WITH US THIS MORNING, LETTY GARCIA. LETTY, THANK YOU.

AND LETTY FLORES, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

I ALSO HAVE TO INTRODUCE OUR UTRGV LEADERSHIP.

I SAY THIS EVERY TIME I HAVE A CHANCE, I GET TO WORK, AND I AM BLESSED TO WORK WITH THE BEST LEADERSHIP TEAM THAT WE HAVE TRULY PUT US AGAINST ANYBODY IN THE COUNTRY. AND THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO OUR PRESIDENT, DOCTOR GUY BAILEY, DOCTOR BAILEY.

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE MICHAEL MUELLER.

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT KELLY NASSER.

SENIOR VP FOR GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS VERONICA GONZALES.

GONZALEZ, SENIOR VP. SOME DAYS, AD EMERITUS, INTERIM ATHLETIC DIRECTOR.

WE'VE GOT DOCTOR MAGGIE HINOJOSA.

WE HAVE THE DEAN OF OUR MEDICAL SCHOOL, DOCTOR MICHAEL HOCKER.

SENIOR VP FOR RESEARCH.

AND OUR GRADUATE COLLEGE, WE HAVE DOCTOR JOHN SAGAN.

PROVOST AT UTRGV. WE HAVE DOCTOR LUIS ZAYAS.

PATRICK GONZALEZ, OUR VP FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING.

PATRICK. AND THEN THE CHIEF OF STAFF, SAMANTHA ALLEN.

SAMANTHA. ALSO AT THIS TIME, IF I COULD HAVE ALL OF OUR FOOTBALL FOUNDER SOCIETY MEMBERS, IF OUR FOOTBALL FOUNDER SOCIETY MEMBERS WOULD PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED. THIS GROUP HERE AND AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT HOW ALL THIS HAS COME TOGETHER.

BUT THIS GROUP HERE HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN SUPPORTING THIS ENDEAVOR.

REALLY BUYING IN FROM THE BEGINNING.

AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU SAW SEVERAL OF THEM FROM THE LEADERSHIP AT UTRGV. THESE 34 INDIVIDUALS MEAN A LOT TO US AND ARE A BIG PART OF WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY.

I THINK WE ALL KNOW WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY, RIGHT? IT'S NO NO SECRET. WE'RE HERE ON THE STEPS OF THIS BEAUTIFUL STADIUM.

BUT AT THIS MOMENT WE WANT TO DECLARE THAT UTRGV NOW OWNS THIS BEAUTIFUL STADIUM.

AND FROM THIS DAY MOVING FORWARD, IT WILL BE THE PRIMARY HOME FOR VAQUEROS FOOTBALL. I THINK WE SHOULD START EVERY DAY OFF WITH THE PEP BAND. I THINK THAT JUST.

THAT JUST MAKES IT THAT MUCH BETTER.

HOW ABOUT A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND THE PEP BAND? WHAT A DAY AND WHAT A JOURNEY THIS HAS BEEN TO GET TO THIS MOMENT.

WE ALL KNOW THIS STADIUM.

WE KNOW IT WELL. AND IT'S TRULY THE CROWN JEWEL OF STADIUMS THROUGHOUT THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. IT'S BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE 2017.

AND WE'VE SEEN WHAT IT'S CAPABLE OF.

WE'VE SEEN THE MEMORIES THAT IT'S BROUGHT OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S TRULY BEEN PART OF THE FABRIC OF THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY.

BUT NOW AT UTRGV, WE EMBRACE TAKING THE BATON GOING FORWARD NOW WITH THIS UNBELIEVABLE FACILITY AND TAKING IT TO NEW HEIGHTS AS WE BRING DIVISION ONE FOOTBALL RIGHT HERE TO THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. THIS STADIUM LEGITIMIZES US.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WILL CARRY NOT JUST THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY OR THE STATE OF TEXAS.

IT WILL CARRY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, WE BROKE GROUND ON THE VAQUEROS PERFORMANCE CENTER, JUST A FEW MILES AWAY.

YOU COUPLE THAT WITH THIS FACILITY TODAY AND THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, IT SENDS A STRONG MESSAGE THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO NOT ONLY DOING IT RIGHT, BUT WE'RE COMMITTED TO BUILDING A FIRST CLASS, DIVISION ONE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PROGRAM.

IT SENDS A MESSAGE TO OUR STUDENTS, TO OUR FACULTY AND STAFF, TO OUR COMMUNITY, OUR SUPPORTERS.

WE TAKE YOUR GAME DAY EXPERIENCE SERIOUS.

RIGHT. WE WANT YOU TO ENGAGE WITH US AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN.

AND BY THAT, BY ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY, YOU CAN TELL THAT WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE A GREAT EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU COME TO A COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME. THIS ALSO SPEAKS TO THE FUTURE OF VAQUEROS. THIS.

[02:15:31]

EVEN PROGRAM. IT'S GOT IT.

AND I LEARNED HOW TO TURN HIS MIC ON. I'M DANGEROUS.

I GOT A HOT POT. READY? CAN I GET A MOTION TO JUST COME OUT OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION TO START A MEETING AGAIN? SO MOVED. I'LL SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. MOTION PASSES AT 747.

740. ALSO FOR THE RECORD, AT 738, VERONICA GONZALEZ,

[7. STAFF REPORTS]

OUR PRESIDENT EXITED OUR MEETING.

OKAY. WE'LL START ON ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE.

WE NEED CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE 40 SELECTED, 40 SELECTED PROJECT BUSINESSES?

[1. FLIP]

I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

[A. Deliberation regarding economic development projects and possible action related to projects (551.087 Deliberation Regarding Economic Development Negotiations; §551.071 Consultation with]

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. MOTION PASSES.

FOR PROJECTS NUMBER TWO, THREE, FOUR, AND TEN ON THE AGENDA ITEM.

CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL FOR STAFF TO PROCEED? AS DISCUSSED. SO MOVED.

SECOND. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. MOTION PASSES.

CAN I GET A MOTION TO.

ADJOURN. ADJOURN OUR MEETING.

I MAKE THE MOTION TO ADJOURN.

SECOND. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? WE ARE ADJOURNED. GOOD JOB.

GREAT JOB. THANK YOU. THAT'S OKAY.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.

Mar 25, 2024 EEDC Special Meeting

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