[1. CALL TO ORDER, ESTABLISH A QUORUM] [00:03:03] 533. CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY. OR NOT? PRESENT. PRESENT. PRESENT. DIAZ IS NOT PRESENT. SABRINA. WALKER. HERNANDEZ. AARON. RONNIE RIVERA. PRESENT. RICHARD GONZALES. PRESENT. WE HAVE QUORUM, SIR. CAN YOU JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, [A. Pledge of Allegiance.] PLEASE? 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, MR. GARZA. [2. CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE] CAN YOU CERTIFY THE NOTICE WAS POSTED? YES, SIR. THE NOTICE WAS POSTED ON MAY 31ST AT 5:00 IN THE AFTERNOON. PERFECT. MR. CHOI, A DISCLOSURE CONFLICT OF INTEREST. YES, SIR. 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 BOARD MEMBER CAN'T PARTICIPATE OR VOTE ON THE ITEM. ARE THERE ANY CONFLICTS TO DISCLOSE? NO. NO. THANK YOU. GREAT. SAMANTHA, ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? [4. PUBLIC COMMENTS] [5.] [A. Consider approval of Minutes for the special Board Meeting held on April 23, 2024.] NO PUBLIC COMMENTS. GREAT. WE'LL GET NOW INTO THE AGENDA ITEMS. FIRST AGENDA FIVE A CONSIDER APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR THE SPECIAL BOARD MEETING HELD ON APRIL 23RD, 2024. CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? MOTION APPROVED. SECOND. WE HAVE OUR FIRST. SECOND APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES HAS BEEN APPROVED. WE GOTTA VOTE. OH. CAN WE HAVE A VOTE, PLEASE? [B. Presentation of year-to-date Financial Report ending on April 30, 2024.] ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OKAY. MOTION APPROVED. SORRY ABOUT THAT. WE HAVE A PRESENTATION OF YEAR TO DATE FINANCIAL REPORT ENDING APRIL [00:05:01] 30TH, 2024. THIS IS JUST A PRESENTATION. NO ACTION OR MOTION NEEDED FOR THIS ITEM. YES, SIR. AGAIN, THIS DOESN'T ACTUALLY BREAK DOWN THE MONTH OF APRIL. WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO THAT LATER ON WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BUDGET AMENDMENTS. BUT YEAR TO DATE ON REVENUES, WE HAVE $4.8 MILLION THAT HAVE BEEN COLLECTED. 4.7 OF THAT IS MOSTLY FOR THE SALES TAX THAT'S GENERATED FOR THE EDC. OUR EXPENDITURES ON TOTAL ADMINISTRATIVE THUS FAR IS 627 891. FOR TOTAL PROGRAMS, WE HAVE $343,022. FOR PROPERTIES, WE HAVE 719, AND OUR INCENTIVE CONTRIBUTIONS AGREEMENTS ARE $7.3 MILLION. OUR BOND PAYMENTS THUS FAR ARE 1.5, ALMOST 1.6 MILLION. OUR TOTAL EXPENDITURES THUS FAR IS $10.1 MILLION. AND A LOT OF THAT IS COMING OUT OF OUR CASH RESERVES, WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN OUR BUDGET. ON THE BOND PROJECTS, WE HAVE EXPENDED 8,184,655, WHICH COMPLETES THE ACE CENTER AND THE MUNICIPAL WATER PARK PROPERTIES AS WELL. AND ALMOST ALL OF THAT AS WELL. SO REALLY, THE ONLY PROJECTS THAT ARE OUTSTANDING RIGHT NOW WOULD BE THE WORKFORCE RESOURCE CENTER AND THE PARKING GARAGE. SO THAT'S REALLY KIND OF A QUICK UPDATE ON OUR ON OUR EXPENDITURES AND OUR REVENUES. WE HAVE SOME SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION AND THE OTHER PAGE, WHICH IS PAGE THREE IN YOUR PACKET, WHICH SHOWS THAT WE HAD AN UNRESTRICTED FUND BALANCE, UNRESTRICTED CASH OF $6.4 MILLION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE THE PERIOD. AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT $13.7 MILLION IN RESTRICTED CASH FOR A TOTAL OF $20.1 MILLION. ON OUR SALES TAX, REVENUES WERE UP ABOUT 6% FOR THE YEAR, ABOUT $247,000. AND A VERY TINY PAGE IN THE VERY LAST ACTUALLY SHOWS A COMPARISON BETWEEN SOME OF THE MAJOR CITIES IN HIDALGO AND CAMERON COUNTY, WHICH INCLUDE MCALLEN, BROWNSVILLE-HARLINGEN, EDINBURG, PHARR, MISSION AND WESLACO. AND YOU CAN TELL THAT FOR THE MOST PART WE HAVE CONTINUED TO GROW. EDINBURGH HAS CONTINUED TO, TO OUTPACE A LOT OF THE OTHER NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES IN TERMS OF SALES GROWTH. WE WERE AT ONE TIME THE FOURTH LEADING GENERATOR OF SALES TAX. WE ARE NOW ONLY BEHIND MCALLEN AND BROWNSVILLE IN TERMS OF GENERATION OF SALES TAX. SO PRETTY GOOD STATISTICS RIGHT NOW. THAT'S MY FINANCIAL REPORT. ANY QUESTIONS COMMENTS. NO ACTION NEEDED ON THIS ONE RIGHT. NO SIR. REMIND ME WHAT THE 521 912 WAS. I'M SURE YOU TOLD US I JUST FORGOT. UNDER. UNDER THE CASH. UNRESTRICTED. UNDER THE SUMMATION. SUPPLEMENTARY. THAT'S THAT IS OPERATING INTEREST BEARING CASH THAT'S COMING IN. I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER. THAT'S FROM OUR OPERATING ACCOUNT. OKAY. YOU CAN. YOU CAN GET BACK WITH ME ON IT, I JUST KNOW. WELL, WHEN WE GO THROUGH THE TO THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS, WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH A LOT MORE DETAIL IN SOME OF THIS. YES. SINCE IT'S UNRESTRICTED, IT HAS TO COME FROM BUDGET ITEMS. RIGHT. RIGHT. OR OPERATIONAL EXPENSES? CORRECT. YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU. [C. Consider approval of request from Edinburg Chamber of Commerce ot sponsor Texas Cook'em High Steaks.] ITEM FIVE C CONSIDER APPROVAL REQUEST FROM EDINBURGH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO SPONSOR TEXAS HIGH STAKES. I BELIEVE WE HAVE RONNIE LEDLOW HERE. RONNIE, YOU WANT TO STEP UP AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TEXAS? GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY. MY NAME IS RONNIE LAREDO. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE EDINBURGH CHAMBER AND THE EDINBURGH CVB. AS YOU KNOW, THE WEATHER IS VERY HOT OUTSIDE, SO THAT COULD ONLY MEAN ONE THING. SUMMER IS HERE, AND SO IS THE 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND, WHICH IS TEXAS COOKHAM. IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE OUR 18TH YEAR. SO IT'S A BIG EVENT. AND AS WE KNOW, JUST IN THE RECENT YEARS AFTER COVID, WE HAVE MOVED THAT EVENT TO THE EBONY HILLS GOLF COURSE, WHICH HAS BEEN AN AMAZING VENUE FOR THIS EVENT, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A COMMUNITY TO GATHER. SO THIS YEAR'S EVENT IS TAKING PLACE JULY 6TH, SATURDAY. IT'S A ONE DAY EVENT. [00:10:01] OF COURSE, AT EBONY HILLS GOLF COURSE. THIS EVENT HAS GROWN FROM, YOU KNOW, A 3030 TEAM EVENT. IT'S INCREASED OVER 100, YOU KNOW, PRIOR TO COVID. AND WE'RE STARTING TO FEEL THAT COME BACK INTO PLAY. SO LAST YEAR WE HAD A LITTLE OVER 80 TEAMS. WE HAD OUR HIGHEST ATTENDANCE LAST YEAR OVER 10,000 PEOPLE. AND WE CONTINUE TO SEE THAT GROW. AND I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW DUE TO THE PRESTIGE OF THE EVENT AND ACTUALLY THE VENUE ITSELF. SO FINDING IT IN THE HEART OF THE CITY WE SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING OUT AND ENJOYING THIS FREE EVENT BRINGING IN THEIR LAWN CHAIRS, THEIR THEIR BLANKETS, FRISBEES, FOOTBALLS JUST TO ENJOY SOME FOOD, COOK OFF VENDORS, LIVE MUSIC. WE'VE SINCE GROWN THE EVENT TO PROVIDE A JUMP A FREEDOM JUMP. SO A PARACHUTING TEAM THAT COMES IN WITH OLD GLORY AND ALSO WE'VE ADDED USA BOXING. YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S BEEN A HUGE DRAW THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND OR THIS PAST YEAR. AND ONE OF THOSE REASONS IS BECAUSE OF THIS PARTICULAR EVENT THAT KIND OF STIRRED EVERYTHING UP. BUT WITH THAT SAID, OBVIOUSLY IT'S A, IT'S A QUALITY OF LIFE EVENT, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT. YOU KNOW, AND IT CONTRIBUTES TO OUR ECONOMIC IMPACT WITHIN THE CITY FOR THAT WEEKEND. I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT THE EDC HAS BEEN BEHIND THIS, YOU KNOW, SINCE THE BEGINNING. AND WITHOUT THE PARTNERSHIP WITH EDC AND THE CITY THIS EVENT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. I DID HAVE A LITTLE PRESENTATION, BUT THE USB ISN'T PICKING IT UP HERE. IT'S PROBABLY A SAFETY ISSUE. BUT FOR THOSE THAT HAVEN'T BEEN TO TEXAS COOKHAM, I DID WANT TO SHOW A VIDEO THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PULL UP FROM YOUTUBE. JUST SO YOU CAN KIND OF SEE PAST YEARS. SO GIVE ME ONE SECOND AND LET ME. NICE. NICE. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, IT IS A IT IS A BIG PRODUCTION. AND LET ME STOP THIS BEFORE IT STARTS AGAIN. AND YOUR SUPPORT IS HUGE FOR THIS EVENT. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, WE HOPE TO CONTINUE THE PARTNERSHIP. JUST TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS YEAR WE JUST ANNOUNCED, YOU KNOW, WE WE ARE HAVING, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE SAME ATTRACTIONS, YOU KNOW, INCLUDING A CAR SHOW. BUT WE TRY TO PRIDE OURSELVES ON BRINGING DIFFERENT TYPES OF MUSIC. SO FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE JOSH ABBOTT BAND HERE. AND FOR ALL OUR SWIFTIE FRIENDS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A TAYLOR SWIFT RED TRIBUTE BAND AND OF COURSE, A COOK OFF WITHOUT SOME SOME TEJANO ISN'T POSSIBLE. SO WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY OUR GOOD FRIENDS MISS DANIEL, DELTA BOYS AND SINCERO THAT WILL ALSO BE PLAYING. SO A LOT OF VARIETY OF MUSIC A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS HAPPENING FOR THE FAMILY TO ENJOY AND NOT TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE CITY OF EDINBURG AND STAY HERE, CELEBRATE WITH US AND KEEP OUR OUR BEAUTIFUL MONEY HERE IN OUR CITY AND CONTRIBUTE. SO RONNIE, I HAVE SOME COMMENTS FOR ME. GO AHEAD. FOR CLARITY, TAYLOR SWIFT IS NOT GOING TO BE HERE, RIGHT? CORRECT. CLARITY. IT'S CALLED RED. JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE RED TRIBUTE BAND. YEAH, BUT, YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO SAY THAT LAST YEAR'S EVENT I THOUGHT WENT VERY WELL. IT WAS A VERY GOOD EVENT. WE HEARD A LOT OF POSITIVE COMMENTS THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY FROM PEOPLE THAT ATTENDED FROM OTHER PLACES, YOU KNOW, HARLINGEN, BROWNSVILLE AND OTHER TOWNS THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY. BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM EDINBURG REALLY, YOU KNOW, MOST PEOPLE FROM EDINBURG REALLY ENJOYED THE EVENT. SO I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND YOUR STAFF. I THINK YOU GUYS DO A GREAT JOB FOR THE CITY, AND I KNOW THAT YOU ALL DO YOUR ADVERTISING AND EVERYTHING. YOU KNOW YOU KIND OF YOU KIND OF A DIAMOND IN THAT AREA WITH THE ADVERTISING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO. I APPRECIATE THAT. SO, RONNIE. SO THE BECAUSE MY TWO OLDEST DAUGHTERS ARE SWIFTIES THE TAYLOR SWIFT. CAN YOU REMIND ME? JUST SAY THE NAME AGAIN SO I CAN WRITE IT DOWN CALLED RED RED THE TRIBUTE BAND. [00:15:04] CORRECT. BECAUSE THEY WILL CARE. AND SO I HAVE TO TELL THEM THAT AND THEN YOU HAD MENTIONED ECONOMIC IMPACT. DO YOU KEEP TRACK OF LIKE THE HOTEL AND SALES TAX OVER THAT WEEKEND? YES WE DO. IT'S A LITTLE IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT TO TRACK BECAUSE IT IS A HOLIDAY WEEKEND, YOU KNOW. SO A LOT OF THAT IS IT JUST DEPENDS ON, ON THE, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE STAYING AT OUR, AT OUR, AT OUR HOTELS. RIGHT. SO IN THE PAST IT USED TO BE ALMOST A 5050 SPLIT WHERE THERE'S PEOPLE THAT ARE TRAVELING OUTSIDE OF THE STATE. SO WE COULD PROVIDE ALL THESE DIFFERENT PLACES WHERE THESE COOKS ARE COMING FROM BECAUSE THEY'RE ACTUALLY ENTRIES AS FAR AS TOURISM AFTER 2020. IT'S BARELY STARTING TO PICK UP. SO NOW IT'S, YOU KNOW, ABOUT 70% THAT ARE LOCAL FROM THE VALLEY VERSUS, YOU KNOW, 30% THAT ARE COMING FROM THE DIFFERENT AREAS. AND THAT AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, INVESTMENT COSTS I COULD PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, A KPI REGARDING YOUR TOTAL OF SPONSORSHIP DOLLARS VERSUS, YOU KNOW IMPRESSIONS OR ATTENDANCE FROM THAT POINT OF VIEW. NO, I WAS JUST WONDERING, LIKE, DID SALES TAX, YOU KNOW, LIKE INCREASE FROM ESPECIALLY THE, THE CONVENIENCE STORES THAT SURROUND EBONY GOLF COURSE? I'M NOT TOO SURE. I KNOW WE WE TALKED ABOUT THIS WITH BERT OGDEN ARENA. I THINK THERE WAS A MOBILE TRACE THAT CAN, CAN KIND OF TRACE FROM FIESTA WHEN WE HAD IT THERE. BUT AS FAR AS I THINK IT'S OUT OF THE RANGE WE CAN LOOK INTO TO MAYBE. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S POSSIBLE WITH EXTENDING THAT THROUGH WAS IT MARKETING COMPANY THAT YOU GUYS HAVE? I CAN'T REMEMBER. OH, THERE'S SEVERAL THAT THEY CAN DO THAT KIND OF ANALYSIS. BUT RIGHT NOW RETAIL STRATEGIES MAY BE ABLE TO DO THE, THE THE CELL PHONE TRACKING. OKAY. AND SPECIFICALLY THE MONEY EDC GIVES. WHAT IS IT USED FOR SPECIFICALLY? SO A LOT OF IT IS DIRECT, RIGHT? DIRECT IMPACT, YOU KNOW MOSTLY WOULD BE FROM, FROM I MEAN, THE, THE MAJORITY OF IT, THE, THE EVENT ITSELF IS ALMOST $200,000. SO I CAN SAY THAT 17% OF THAT FROM THE SPONSORSHIPS THAT ARE DRIVEN IS FROM THE EDC. SO IT ALL KIND OF COMES IN, BUT WE GO ANYWHERE FROM MARKETING, FROM ENTERTAINMENT TO, TO PAY FOR THIS SO IT CAN STRETCH FROM, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S LOGISTICS, YOU KNOW, BUT WE CAN CONCENTRATE IT ON MARKETING OR ENTERTAINMENT ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THIS IS A TOURISM EVENT ALONG WITH OUR HOT FUNDS. AND THIS YEAR'S REQUEST IS 20,000. CORRECT? CORRECT. YES. SO IN THE PAST YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALWAYS HAD THIS TITLE PARTNERSHIP. IN THE PAST, WE'VE AGREED TO 15 WE'RE HOPING THAT WE COULD, YOU KNOW, DO THE 20 THIS YEAR. A LOT HAS INCREASED OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. SO WE WOULD, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, WE WE WOULD BE HAPPY WITH THE 15, BUT WE WOULD, WE WOULD HOPE TO BRING I THINK THAT FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'VE DONE THE 15 AND I THINK I WOULD, I WOULD, I WOULD AGREE TO GO INTO THE 20 THIS YEAR SINCE I KNOW THAT EVERYTHING'S MORE EXPENSIVE NOW. YES. AND AND AND WE APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH YOU GUYS. AND, YOU KNOW, I CAN TELL YOU I DID SOME CALCULATIONS AND I CAN ALSO SHARE IT WITH THE STAFF. BUT REGARDING TO RETURN ON INVESTMENT SO THROUGH CALCULATIONS, WE ESTIMATED LIKE POTENTIAL VALUE FROM THE SPONSORSHIP. SO IN THE PAST, YOU KNOW, WE'VE LOOKED AT IT FROM IMPRESSIONS, RIGHT? SO THERE'S A VALUE OF AN IMPRESSION. AND SO WE HAD 518,000 IMPRESSIONS WITHIN SIX WEEKS OF THAT EVENT. AND SO THE AVERAGE THE INDUSTRY AVERAGE IS $0.01 PER IMPRESSION. SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT $5,180 JUST FROM THAT ADVERTISING PERSPECTIVE. AND THEN YOU GO FROM VALUE OF ATTENDEES. SO LET'S ASSUME THAT EACH ATTENDEE WOULD SPEND $5 RIGHT AT THIS EVENT WHETHER IT'S SURROUNDING OR AT THE EVENT YOU HAVE 10,000 ATTENDEES THAT'S, YOU KNOW, $50,000 IMPACT JUST FROM THAT ALONE. SO THAT VALUE TOTALS $55,180. AND SO WHEN YOU DO A NET PROFIT, THE TOTAL VALUE MINUS THE INVESTMENT, IN THIS CASE $15,000 FROM PREVIOUS YEARS WOULD EQUAL $40,180. SO THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT FROM 15 FOR THAT WOULD BE 267% RETURN FROM THAT SPONSORSHIP. AND SO I HAVE THESE NUMBERS HERE. I CAN GIVE THAT TO THE STAFF. SO YOU GUYS CAN HAVE IN THE FUTURE OR TO MAKE THIS DECISION. [00:20:02] PERFECT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO. OKAY. CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SPONSORSHIP REQUEST AT $20,000 FOR THE EDINBURGH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE? MOTION APPROVED. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? MOTION PASSES. [D. Consider Presentation and request for matching grant for an internship program by Workforce Solutions and RGV Focus.] THANK YOU. RONNIE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. RONNIE. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. ITEM FIVE D CONSIDER PRESENTATION OR REQUEST FOR MATCHING GRANT FOR AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM BY WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS IN RGV FOCUS. CAN WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVE HERE? DANIEL IS HERE WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS, AND DANIEL IS GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROGRAM AGAIN, BECAUSE SOME OF YOU MAY NOT HAVE BEEN HERE THAT OTHER TIME THAT THEY WERE PRESENT. AND SO DANIEL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. IS THIS THE PROGRAM THAT MILI HERNANDEZ? YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. MR. GARCIA GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS DANIEL URIBE. I'M WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ON THE PROGRAM THAT I INTRODUCED TO YOU ALL LAST TIME. IN APRIL, I BELIEVE. AND SOME QUESTIONS WERE POSED REGARDING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAM. AND SO WHAT I DID IS I PUT TOGETHER A REPORT THAT I BELIEVE YOU ALL HAVE ACCESS TO ON YOUR PACKETS WITH JUST THE BACKGROUND ON THE INITIATIVE. AND STATING, OF COURSE, THAT THE INITIATIVE ORIGINATED LAST YEAR THROUGH A AWARD THAT WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS OBTAINED AND WE WERE ABLE TO FUND ABOUT 30 INTERNSHIP WITH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UTRGV AND AND SO THIS YEAR WE ARE TRYING TO OBTAIN FUNDING TO CONTINUE THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM. WE RECEIVE A GRANT FROM PART OF COSTA FOR $25,000 ANOTHER ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT OF $5,000 FROM RGV FOCUS. AND SO I'M HERE TODAY TO KINDLY REQUEST A POTENTIAL APPROVAL FOR AN INVESTMENT OF $20,000 FOR FROM EDINBURGH EDC TO COMPLETE THE FUNDING REQUIRED FOR THIS PROGRAM FOR THIS YEAR IN FALL OF 2024. THE REPORT CONTAINS EMPLOYER SUCCESS METRICS AND FEEDBACK. ON THE FIRST PAGE, YOU'LL SEE A COUPLE OF THEM REGARDING HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS WERE HOSTED BY HOW MANY EMPLOYERS THE EMPLOYER SATISFACTION RATING AS WELL. MOST OF THE INDICATORS, YOU CAN SEE THEM IN SOME VISUALIZATIONS ON THE SECOND PAGE AND THAT IS INCLUDING PROGRAM, ORGANIZATION COORDINATORS, KNOWLEDGE COORDINATORS, COMMUNICATION, ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS, RECRUITMENT, AND RESOURCES. AND I BELIEVE MOST OF THESE INDICATORS PROVIDE SOME INSIGHT IN TERMS OF WHAT THE EMPLOYERS CONSIDER EXTREMELY SATISFIED OR SATISFIED IN MOST OF THE CASES. ON THE THIRD PAGE WE HAVE A SECTION FOR PROGRAM OUTCOMES. AND THIS IS RELATED TO EMPLOYMENT. WE HAVE 44% OF EMPLOYERS WHO ANSWERED THIS SURVEY. HIGHER INSURANCE. BUT THAT ALSO MEANS 28 CLOSE TO 29% OF THEM HIRE. THESE INSURANCE CONSTRAIN ALL OF THOSE EMPLOYERS THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE INITIATIVE. IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER ALSO THAT THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO AID STUDENTS AND PROVIDE THEM WITH A MEANINGFUL WORK EXPERIENCE. THAT IN ITSELF, IT'S IT'S A HUGE HELP FOR THEM. AND AND SO FORTUNATELY, WE ARE SEEING THAT 29% OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN HIRED. NOW, THE REASONS FOR SOME OF THOSE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN HIRED, IT VARIES. IT COULD GO FROM JUST THE MERE FACT THAT THE EMPLOYER DID NOT HAVE AN OPEN POSITION TO CONTINUE WITH THEM. ANOTHER ONE, THE MOST MOST OF THESE EMPLOYERS OPEN THESE POSITIONS JUST FOR THE WORK EXPERIENCE. SO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH US TO ASSIST THE STUDENT AND OBTAIN THE WORK EXPERIENCE. ANOTHER ELEMENT TO CONSIDER AS WELL IS SOME OF THESE STUDENTS DECIDE TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION, SO THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY LOOKING FOR FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT AT THE MOMENT. SO IT DEPENDS ON CASE BY CASE BASIS. THERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL HIRING FACTORS THERE AS WELL. ON PAGE FIVE, I BELIEVE THAT ARE RELATED TO THE THE RESOURCES THAT THE EMPLOYERS MAY HAVE AND JOB AVAILABILITY PERFORMANCE AND FEED DIVERSE NEEDS, INTERNSHIP AND LEARNING EXPERIENCE AND STRATEGIC HIRING PROCESSES FROM THESE EMPLOYERS. CONTINUING ON THE REPORT, WE HAVE ALSO CERTAIN SUCCESS METRICS AND FEEDBACK. THIS IS NOW FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE STUDENTS THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM. [00:25:06] WE HAVE 86% OF THESE INTERNS PARTICIPATED IN THE SURVEY. AND AND SO WE HAVE SOME HIGHLIGHTS HERE AS WELL REGARDING THE UNDERSTANDING THE CAREER GOALS. A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF STUDENTS REPORTED THAT THE INTERNSHIP PROVIDED THEM WITH A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR CAREER GOALS. THIS INDICATES THE PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS AND HELP HELPING STUDENTS CLARIFY THEIR PROFESSIONAL ASPIRATIONS. AND WE HAVE SOME COMMENTS DIRECTLY FROM GATHERED FROM THE STUDENTS AS WELL IN TERMS OF EDUCATIONAL VALUE. IT IS CONSIDERED AN EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITY. MOST STUDENTS RATED THE EDUCATIONAL VALUE OF THEIR INTERNSHIP AS AN EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITY. RELEVANCE TO MAJOR CAREER GOALS, OF COURSE. THEY FOUND THAT THIS PROGRAM WAS SPECIFICALLY ALIGNED TO WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR IN TERMS OF THE EXPERIENCE. THEY FOUND ALSO THAT THERE IS A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. THE STUDENTS GENERALLY FELT OPENLY SUPPORTED BY THEIR DEPARTMENTS HIGHLIGHTING A POSITIVE AND ENCOURAGING WORK ENVIRONMENT AS WELL. AND THERE'S A FEW OTHER INDICATORS AS WELL REGARDING JOB DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL SKILLS. MOST STUDENTS REPORTED THAT THEIR DUTIES CLOSELY MATCHED THE JOB DESCRIPTION, AND THEIR TECHNICAL SKILLS WERE ADEQUATELY APPLIED TO THE POSITION. RELATIONSHIP WITH SUPERVISOR. THE MAJORITY OF THE STUDENTS RATED THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR SUPERVISOR AS EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS, INDICATING STRONG MENTOR MENTEE DYNAMICS. AND OVERALL INTERNSHIP RATING. THE OVERALL INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE WAS RATED AS EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS BY MOST OF THE STUDENTS. THEN TOWARDS THE END OF THE REPORT, YOU'LL SEE AS WELL THE STUDENT FEEDBACK VISUALS. AND I BELIEVE THE LAST COUPLE OF PAGES IS ALSO ATTACHMENT A AN ATTACHMENT B, WHICH ARE SOME ADDITIONAL INFOGRAPHICS JUST TO HELP LOOK AT THE THE MAIN NUMBERS OF THE THE LEAD INTERNSHIP. WE HAVE 14 EMPLOYERS PARTICIPATING 30 INTERNS AND 21 EMPLOYEES. OVERALL SATISFACTION IS 100% AND MOST OF THEM RECOMMEND THE PROGRAM AS WELL. AND THE LAST ONE, ATTACHMENT B, YOU CAN SEE A BREAKDOWN OF EMPLOYERS THAT PARTICIPATED AND SOME OF THE FIELDS THAT THESE STUDENTS OBTAIN THEIR EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE AS WELL. I HAVE A QUESTION. YES, MA'AM. I'M JUST CURIOUS FOR THE TWO THAT WAS PLACED AT THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. DO YOU KNOW IF THEY WERE IN THE 21% THAT RETAINED EMPLOYMENT? I BELIEVE NO, MA'AM. NO. OKAY. AND HOW MANY HOURS? YEAH. CLARENCE CRUZ, IF YOU REMEMBER, WAS OUR INTERN. SO WE WERE ONE OF THOSE TWO. OKAY. GOT IT. THANK YOU. WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF OF. HOW DO YOU. SO IF SOMEBODY'S STUDYING MANAGEMENT OR MARKETING OR IS, IS THE THIS PROGRAM ALIGNED WITH SPECIFICALLY TARGETING THEM TO DO AN INTERNSHIP UNDER THAT FUNNEL OF WORK? YES. SO THERE IS THE PROCESS THAT WE DEVELOP IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UTRGV. WE DEVELOP A JOB DESCRIPTION. WE WORK WITH THE EMPLOYER TO SEE WHAT ARE THEIR NEEDS AND WHERE WE CAN FIND THESE INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. WE TRY TO COVER ALL INDUSTRIES AND ALL TYPES OF EMPLOYERS FOR ALL MAJORS AS WELL. SO WE DEVELOPED THE JOB DESCRIPTION IN A WAY THAT IT FITS ALSO THE EDUCATIONAL PATHWAY THAT THEY'RE IN AND ALSO FITS THE NEEDS OF THE EMPLOYER. AND THEN BASED ON THAT, IT GETS POSTED ON YOUTUBE SYSTEM WHICH IS CALLED HANDSHAKE. AND THEN FROM THERE ON THERE'S LIKE A REGULAR HIRING EXPERIENCE. AND THE REASON WHY I ASK SOMETIMES WITH THESE PROGRAMS, MY CONCERN WOULD BE YOU HAVE EMPLOYERS WHO WHO TAKE ON INTERNSHIPS ONLY BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING FUNDED AND DO NOT NECESSARILY HAVE OR THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE HIRING NOBODY, BUT BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING FUNDED THE LABOR, THEY PARTICIPATE. AND SO THERE'S A FALSE POSITIVE FOR THE, THE STUDENT THAT THINKS THEY'RE GOING INTO EMPLOYER THAT MAY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY. AND THAT'S MAYBE WHY IT'S 21% IS VERY LOW. RIGHT. AND SO THE, THE ALIGNMENT, I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ALIGNMENT OF SUCCESS TO WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING. AND BESIDES THE TWO IN EDINBURGH, CITY OF EDINBURGH, [00:30:02] HOW MANY OTHERS WERE ACTUALLY IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH THAT AN EMPLOYER IN EDINBURGH TOOK ADVANTAGE OF SUCH INTERNSHIP. I'LL HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT SPECIFIC BREAKDOWN FOR THE CITY. I KNOW THAT THE CITY OF EDC PARTICIPATED IN THAT WITH TWO INTERNS. BUT WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT THE LOCATION OF THE OTHER EMPLOYERS. WE KNOW THAT MOST OF THEM ARE HERE IN HIDALGO COUNTY. BUT IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL OUR AGENDA IS TO HELP SUPPORT EDINBURG SMALL BUSINESS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN EDINBURG. CORRECT? YES. AND SO THAT'S OUR FOCUS. CORRECT. AND SO WHAT WE CAN DO ON THAT END AS WELL, TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE DOLLARS ARE GOING TOWARDS THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. WE CAN ALIGN THOSE SPECIFIC DOLLARS TO PARTICIPANTS ONLY IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH AS WELL. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE DONE WITH OTHER INITIATIVES, AND IT CAN BE DONE WITH THIS ONE AS WELL TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS ALIGNMENT ON THOSE PARTICULAR DOLLARS. IN TERMS OF THE ALIGNMENT OF THE SUCCESS OF THE INITIATIVE. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THIS IS AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. THIS IS NOT IT'S NOT LOOKING AS A RESULT NECESSARILY EMPLOYMENT. SO THIS IS FOR STUDENTS THAT ARE STILL IN COLLEGE. AND SO THEY MAY CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION. SO THE ALIGNMENT TOWARDS EMPLOYMENT MIGHT NOT BE NECESSARILY A DIRECT TARGET THERE BECAUSE OF THAT REASON. SURE. I JUST UNFORTUNATELY, I KNOW, I KNOW EMPLOYERS WHO JUST PARTICIPATE IN THESE PROGRAMS BECAUSE IT'S FREE LABOR AND IT SHOULDN'T BE ABOUT THE FREE LABOR. IT SHOULD BE ABOUT WHAT? WHAT IS THE STUDENT LEARNING? AND IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN THAT OR TO TO TO TO GET HIRED BY THAT ORGANIZATION? IDEALLY THAT WOULD BE THE IDEAL PROCESS. YES. SO WHAT WE CAN DO AS WELL AND WE HAVE A SUITABILITY COMPONENT IN PARTNERSHIP, OF COURSE, WITH UTRGV. THEY DO HAVE MEETINGS AND INTERVIEWS WITH THE EMPLOYER TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS ALIGNMENT WITH THE, WITH THE PROGRAM OVERALL. AND THEN THERE IS A NEED FOR THEM. NOT NECESSARILY JUST FOR EVEN ON THE FEEDBACK. ONLY 64 OF THE EMPLOYERS PROVIDED FEEDBACK THAT SEEMS LOW TO TO THE VALUE THEY'RE GETTING FROM A STUDENT AND THE COMPENSATION. AND SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE AN EMPLOYER IS GOING TO PARTICIPATE. THEY SHOULD KNOW, HEY, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE US FEEDBACK AND GIVE THE STUDENT. THAT'S HOW THEY'RE GOING TO LEARN. RIGHT, RIGHT. THAT'S ENGAGEMENT. AND THAT'S PART OF THE PROCESS. THAT SEEMS LOW. OKAY. SO WHAT WE CAN DO IS WE CAN ALSO INTEGRATE THAT REQUIREMENT. LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE ONLY EXECUTED THIS PROGRAM ONE TIME, WHICH WAS LAST YEAR. AND THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME. AND WE CAN DEFINITELY INTEGRATE A COMPONENT THERE FOR FEEDBACK TO REQUIRE THAT FOR THE EMPLOYER BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY EXIT THE PROGRAM. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? HOW ARE THESE EMPLOYERS SELECTED? THERE IS A SYSTEM THAT THE UNIVERSITY HAS WITH ALL EMPLOYERS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN GETTING ENTRANCE. THEY SIGN UP TO THAT ONE. IT'S CALLED HANDSHAKE. AND WE ALSO ADVERTISE THE INITIATIVE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA ON WORKFORCE SOLUTION SIDE AND ON THE UNIVERSITY SIDE AS WELL. ANY QUESTIONS ANYBODY? AND YOUR REQUEST IS HOW MUCH, SIR? IT'S FOR 20,000, SIR. OKAY. AND OUR FOCUS IS PROVIDING 5000. RIGHT? CORRECT. YES. SO THAT IN ADDITION TO THAT, IN ADDITION TO 20. YEAH. BECAUSE THE WHOLE PROGRAM IS 25,000. SO? SO. RIGHT. THE PROGRAM IS FOR $50,000. SO WE HAVE 25,000 THAT WORK FOR SOLUTIONS APPLY THROUGH A GRANT TO RESTIVE. AND THE OTHER 25,000 IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO SECURE. OUR FOCUS HAS COME FORWARD WITH A $5,000. WHAT'S THE TERM OF THE TIME FRAME OF THE INTERNSHIP. WE ARE TRYING TO START THAT INTERNSHIP THIS SUMMER AND THEN CLOSE IT AT THE END OF THE YEAR. SO? SO HOW MANY WEEKS WOULD THAT BE SPECIFICALLY? HOW MANY WEEKS IS A STUDENT ENGAGED IN AN INTERNSHIP? IT IS FOR A TOTAL OF 160 HOURS, AND I BELIEVE IT'S NO MORE THAN 8 TO 10 WEEKS. SO 160 HOURS. SO IF THEY WORK FULL TIME, REALLY IN THREE WEEKS, THEY'RE IN AND OUT. IT'S NOT FULL TIME. IT DEPENDS. THEY HAVE TO WORK WITH THE EMPLOYER AND AGREE ON THE SCHEDULE. OF COURSE THEY ALSO HAVE TO ATTEND SCHOOL. SO IT DEPENDS ON HOW THEY CAN ORGANIZE THEIR SCHEDULES THERE. WE HAVE A RESTRICTION THERE THAT NO MORE THAN 19 HOURS PER WEEK. OKAY OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ITEM? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED. SECOND. SECOND. WE HAVE OUR FIRST. SECOND MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. [00:35:01] THANK YOU GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND WORK RESOLUTIONS. APPRECIATE THE [E. Consider ratifying Executive Director's Action approving Change Order #1 ni the amount of $15,300 for the demolition of warehouse on Cano Street (EEDC Property).] PARTNERSHIP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IS THERE A CALL FOR THE VOTE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OKAY. MOTION PASSES. WE HAVE UNANIMOUS CONSENT. OKAY. ITEM FIVE B, CONSIDER RATIFYING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S ACTION. APPROVING CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE IN THE AMOUNT OF 15,300 FOR THE DEMOLITION OF WAREHOUSE ON CANAL STREET. IT'S OUR OUR PROPERTY ON CANAL STREET. MR. GARZA SENT US AN EMAIL CONVEYING AND AND WE WERE WITHIN THAT BUDGET OF THE INITIAL BUDGET, AND OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE TO GET IT READY FOR WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH IT. SO IT'S A REQUIREMENT. ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? NO. NO. CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ITEM? MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE AGAINST MOTION PASSES. F WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO SKIP F AFTER. IS THAT CORRECT? I'D LIKE FOR US TO TAKE THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS AFTER WE TALK IN EXECUTIVE SESSION ABOUT SOME OF THE PROJECTS. SO WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE PROJECTS FIRST, AND THEN THEY MAY HAVE AN IMPACT ON SOME OF THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS AS WELL. SO I'D PREFER THAT WE DO THAT. JUST GET INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FIRST. OKAY. PERFECT. CAN I GET A MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION? [6.] [EXECUTIVE SESSION] MAKE A MOTION. SECOND. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? MOTION PASSES. WE'RE ENTERING EXECUTIVE SESSION AT EXACTLY 6:06 P.M.. [00:45:14] 533. CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY. [00:45:26] OR NOT? PRESENT. PRESENT. PRESENT IS NOT PRESENT. SABRINA WALKER. HERNANDEZ. AARON. RONNIE RIVERA. PRESENT. RICHARD GONZALES PRESENT. WE HAVE QUORUM, SIR. CAN YOU JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEASE? 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. THANK YOU. MR. GARZA. CAN YOU CERTIFY THE NOTICE WAS POSTED? YES, SIR. THE NOTICE WAS POSTED ON MAY 31ST AT 5:00 IN THE AFTERNOON. PERFECT. MR. CHOI, A DISCLOSURE CONFLICT OF INTEREST. YES, SIR. 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 BOARD MEMBER CAN'T PARTICIPATE OR VOTE ON THE ITEM. ARE THERE ANY CONFLICTS TO DISCLOSE? NO. NO. THANK YOU. GREAT. SAMANTHA, ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO PUBLIC COMMENTS. GREAT. WE'LL GET NOW INTO THE AGENDA ITEMS. FIRST AGENDA FIVE A CONSIDER APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR THE SPECIAL BOARD MEETING HELD ON APRIL 23RD, 2024. CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? SECOND. WE HAVE OUR FIRST. SECOND APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES HAS BEEN APPROVED. WE GOTTA VOTE. OH. CAN WE HAVE A VOTE, PLEASE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OKAY. MOTION APPROVED. SORRY ABOUT THAT. WE HAVE A PRESENTATION OF YEAR TO DATE FINANCIAL REPORT ENDING APRIL 30TH, 2024. THIS IS JUST A PRESENTATION. NO ACTION OR MOTION NEEDED FOR THIS ITEM. YES, SIR. AGAIN, THIS DOESN'T ACTUALLY BREAK DOWN THE MONTH OF APRIL. WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO THAT LATER ON WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BUDGET AMENDMENTS, BUT YEAR TO DATE ON REVENUES, WE HAVE $4.8 MILLION THAT HAVE BEEN COLLECTED. 4.7 OF THAT IS MOSTLY FOR THE SALES TAX THAT'S GENERATED FOR THE EDC. OUR EXPENDITURES ON TOTAL ADMINISTRATIVE THUS FAR IS 627 891. FOR TOTAL PROGRAMS, WE HAVE $343,022. FOR PROPERTIES, WE HAVE 230,719. AND OUR INCENTIVE CONTRIBUTIONS AGREEMENTS ARE $7.3 MILLION. OUR BOND PAYMENTS THUS FAR ARE 1.5, ALMOST 1.6 MILLION. OUR TOTAL EXPENDITURES THUS FAR IS $10.1 MILLION. AND A LOT OF THAT IS COMING OUT OF OUR CASH RESERVES, WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN OUR BUDGET. ON THE BOND PROJECTS, WE HAVE EXPENDED 655, WHICH COMPLETES THE ACE CENTER AND THE MUNICIPAL WATER PARK PROPERTIES AS WELL, AND ALMOST ALL OF IT AS WELL. SO REALLY, THE ONLY PROJECTS THAT ARE OUTSTANDING RIGHT NOW WOULD BE THE WORKFORCE RESOURCE CENTER AND THE PARKING GARAGE. SO THAT'S REALLY KIND OF A QUICK UPDATE ON OUR ON OUR EXPENDITURES AND OUR REVENUES. WE HAVE SOME SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION AND THE OTHER PAGE, WHICH IS PAGE THREE IN YOUR PACKET, WHICH SHOWS THAT WE HAD AN UNRESTRICTED FUND BALANCE, UNRESTRICTED CASH OF $6.4 MILLION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE THE PERIOD. AND RIGHT NOW, WE'RE AT $13.7 MILLION IN RESTRICTED CASH FOR A TOTAL OF $20.1 MILLION. ON OUR SALES TAX, REVENUES WERE UP ABOUT 6% FOR THE YEAR, ABOUT $247,000 AND A VERY TINY PAGE IN THE VERY LAST. ACTUALLY SHOWS A COMPARISON BETWEEN SOME OF THE MAJOR CITIES IN HIDALGO AND CAMERON COUNTY, WHICH INCLUDE MCALLEN, BROWNSVILLE-HARLINGEN, EDINBURG AND WESLACO. AND YOU CAN TELL THAT FOR THE MOST PART WE HAVE CONTINUED TO GROW. EDINBURG HAS CONTINUED TO TO OUTPACE A LOT OF THE OTHER NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES IN TERMS OF SALES GROWTH. WE WERE AT ONE TIME THE FOURTH LEADING GENERATOR OF SALES TAX. WE ARE NOW ONLY BEHIND MCALLEN AND BROWNSVILLE IN TERMS OF GENERATION OF SALES [00:50:03] TAX. SO PRETTY GOOD STATISTICS RIGHT NOW. THAT'S MY FINANCIAL REPORT. ANY QUESTIONS COMMENTS. NO ACTION NEEDED ON THIS ONE RIGHT. NO SIR. REMIND ME WHAT THE 521 912 WAS. I'M SURE YOU TOLD US I JUST FORGOT ON THE UNDER THE CASH UNRESTRICTED. UNDER THE SUMMATION. SUPPLEMENTARY. THAT'S THAT IS OPERATING INTEREST BEARING CASH THAT'S COMING IN. TRYING TO REMEMBER. THAT'S FROM OUR OPERATING ACCOUNT. OKAY. YOU CAN YOU CAN GET BACK WITH ME ON IT. I JUST KNOW. WELL, WHEN WE GO THROUGH THE TO THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS, WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH A LOT MORE DETAIL IN SOME OF THIS. YES. SINCE IT'S UNRESTRICTED, IT HAS TO COME FROM BUDGET ITEMS. RIGHT? RIGHT. OR OPERATIONAL EXPENSES. CORRECT. YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU. ITEM FIVE C CONSIDER APPROVAL REQUEST FROM EDINBURGH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO SPONSOR TEXAS HIGH STAKES. I BELIEVE WE HAVE RONNIE LOTT OVER HERE. RONNIE, YOU WANT TO STEP UP AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TEXAS? THEM. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY. MY NAME IS RONNIE. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE EDINBURGH CHAMBER AND THE EDINBURGH CVB. AS YOU KNOW, THE WEATHER IS VERY HOT OUTSIDE, SO THAT COULD ONLY MEAN ONE THING. SUMMER IS HERE, AND SO IS THE 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND, WHICH IS TEXAS COOKHAM. IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE OUR 18TH YEAR. SO IT'S A BIG EVENT. AND AS WE KNOW, JUST IN THE RECENT YEARS AFTER COVID, WE HAVE MOVED THAT EVENT TO THE EBONY HILLS GOLF COURSE, WHICH HAS BEEN AN AMAZING VENUE FOR THIS EVENT, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A COMMUNITY TO GATHER. SO THIS YEAR'S EVENT IS TAKING PLACE JULY 6TH, SATURDAY. IT'S A ONE DAY EVENT OF COURSE, AT EBONY HILLS GOLF COURSE. THIS EVENT HAS GROWN FROM, YOU KNOW, A 3030 TEAM EVENT. IT'S INCREASED OVER 100, YOU KNOW, PRIOR TO COVID, AND WE'RE STARTING TO FEEL THAT COME BACK INTO PLAY. SO LAST YEAR WE HAD A LITTLE OVER 80 TEAMS. WE HAD OUR HIGHEST ATTENDANCE LAST YEAR, OVER 10,000 PEOPLE. AND WE CONTINUE TO SEE THAT GROW. AND I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW DUE TO THE PRESTIGE OF THE EVENT AND ACTUALLY THE VENUE ITSELF. SO FINDING IT IN THE HEART OF THE CITY WE SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING OUT AND ENJOYING THIS FREE EVENT BRINGING IN THEIR LAWN CHAIRS, THEIR, THEIR BLANKETS, FRISBEES, FOOTBALLS JUST TO ENJOY SOME FOOD, COOK OFF VENDORS, LIVE MUSIC. WE'VE SINCE GROWN THE EVENT TO PROVIDE A JUMP A FREEDOM JUMP. SO A PARACHUTING TEAM THAT COMES IN WITH OLD GLORY AND ALSO, WE'VE ADDED USA BOXING. YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S BEEN A HUGE DRAW THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND OR THIS PAST YEAR. AND ONE OF THOSE REASONS IS BECAUSE OF THIS PARTICULAR EVENT THAT KIND OF STIRRED EVERYTHING UP. BUT WITH THAT SAID, OBVIOUSLY IT'S A IT'S A QUALITY OF LIFE EVENT, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT. YOU KNOW, AND IT CONTRIBUTES TO OUR ECONOMIC IMPACT WITHIN THE CITY FOR THAT WEEKEND. I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT THE EDC HAS BEEN BEHIND THIS, YOU KNOW, SINCE THE BEGINNING. AND WITHOUT THE PARTNERSHIP WITH EDC AND THE CITY. THIS EVENT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. I DID HAVE A LITTLE PRESENTATION, BUT THE USB ISN'T PICKING IT UP. HERE, IT'S PROBABLY A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT FOR THOSE THAT HAVEN'T BEEN TO TEXAS COOKHAM, I DID WANT TO SHOW A VIDEO THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PULL UP FROM YOUTUBE. JUST SO YOU CAN KIND OF SEE PAST YEARS. SO GIVE ME ONE SECOND AND LET ME. [00:55:05] NICE. VERY NICE. NICE. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, IT IS A IT IS A BIG PRODUCTION. AND LET ME STOP THIS BEFORE IT STARTS AGAIN. AND YOUR SUPPORT IS HUGE FOR THIS EVENT. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, WE HOPE TO CONTINUE THE PARTNERSHIP. JUST TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS YEAR. WE JUST ANNOUNCED, YOU KNOW, WE WE ARE HAVING, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE SAME ATTRACTIONS, YOU KNOW, INCLUDING A CAR SHOW. BUT WE TRY TO PRIDE OURSELVES ON BRINGING DIFFERENT TYPES OF MUSIC. SO FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE JOSH ABBOTT BAND HERE. AND FOR ALL OUR SWIFTY FRIENDS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A TAYLOR SWIFT RED TRIBUTE BAND. AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, A COOK OFF WITHOUT SOME, SOME TEJANO ISN'T POSSIBLE. SO WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY OUR GOOD FRIENDS, MISS DELTA BOYS AND SINCERO THAT WILL ALSO BE PLAYING. SO A LOT OF VARIETY OF MUSIC A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS HAPPENING FOR THE FAMILY TO ENJOY AND NOT TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE CITY OF EDINBURG AND STAY HERE, CELEBRATE WITH US AND KEEP OUR OUR BEAUTIFUL MONEY HERE IN OUR CITY AND CONTRIBUTE. SO I HAVE SOME COMMENTS FOR ME. GO AHEAD. FOR CLARITY. TAYLOR SWIFT IS NOT GOING TO BE HERE, RIGHT? CORRECT. CLARITY. IT'S CALLED RED. JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE RED TRIBUTE BAND. YEAH, BUT, YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO SAY THAT LAST YEAR'S EVENT I THOUGHT WENT VERY WELL WITH A VERY GOOD EVENT. WE HEARD A LOT OF POSITIVE COMMENTS THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY FROM PEOPLE THAT ATTENDED FROM OTHER PLACES, YOU KNOW, HARLINGEN, BROWNSVILLE AND OTHER TOWNS THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY. BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM EDINBURG REALLY, YOU KNOW, MOST PEOPLE FROM EDINBURG REALLY ENJOYED THE EVENT. SO I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND YOUR STAFF. I THINK YOU GUYS DO A GREAT JOB FOR THE CITY, AND I KNOW THAT YOU ALL DO YOUR ADVERTISING AND EVERYTHING. YOU KNOW YOU KIND OF YOU KIND OF A DIAMOND IN THAT AREA WITH THE ADVERTISING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO, I APPRECIATE THAT. YES, MA'AM. RONNIE. SO THE TAYLOR SWIFT, BECAUSE MY TWO OLDEST DAUGHTERS ARE SWIFTIES THE TAYLOR SWIFT. CAN YOU REMIND ME? JUST SAY THE NAME AGAIN SO I CAN WRITE IT DOWN CALLED RED. RED. THE TRIBUTE BAND. CORRECT. BECAUSE THEY WILL CARE. AND SO I HAVE TO TELL THEM THAT. AND THEN YOU HAD MENTIONED ECONOMIC IMPACT. DO YOU KEEP TRACK OF LIKE THE HOTEL AND SALES TAX OVER THAT WEEKEND? YES WE DO. IT'S A LITTLE IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT TO TRACK BECAUSE IT IS A HOLIDAY WEEKEND, YOU KNOW. SO A LOT OF THAT IS IT JUST DEPENDS ON ON THE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE STAYING AT OUR AT OUR, AT OUR HOTELS. RIGHT. SO IN THE PAST, IT USED TO BE ALMOST A 5050 SPLIT WHERE THERE'S PEOPLE THAT ARE TRAVELING OUTSIDE OF THE STATE. SO WE COULD PROVIDE ALL THESE DIFFERENT PLACES WHERE THESE COOKS ARE COMING FROM BECAUSE THEY'RE ACTUALLY ENTRIES. AS FAR AS TOURISM AFTER 2020 IT'S BARELY STARTING TO PICK UP. SO NOW IT'S, YOU KNOW, ABOUT 70% THAT ARE LOCAL FROM THE VALLEY VERSUS, YOU KNOW, 30% THAT ARE COMING FROM THE DIFFERENT AREAS. AND THAT AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, INVESTMENT COSTS I COULD PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, A KPI REGARDING YOUR TOTAL OF SPONSORSHIP DOLLARS VERSUS, YOU KNOW IMPRESSIONS OR ATTENDANCE FROM THAT POINT OF VIEW? NO, I WAS JUST WONDERING, LIKE, DID SALES TAX, YOU KNOW, LIKE INCREASE FROM ESPECIALLY THE, THE CONVENIENCE STORES THAT SURROUND EBONY GOLF COURSE? I'M NOT TOO SURE. I KNOW WE WE TALKED ABOUT THIS WITH BERT OGDEN ARENA. I THINK THERE WAS A MOBILE TRACE THAT CAN CAN KIND OF TRACE FROM FIESTA WHEN WE HAD IT THERE. BUT AS FAR AS COOKHAM, I THINK IT'S OUT OF THE RANGE. WE CAN LOOK INTO TO MAYBE. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S POSSIBLE WITH EXTENDING THAT THROUGH WHAT WAS IT? MARKETING COMPANY THAT YOU GUYS HAVE? I CAN'T REMEMBER. OH, THERE'S SEVERAL THAT CAN DO THAT KIND OF ANALYSIS. BUT RIGHT NOW RETAIL STRATEGIES MAY BE ABLE TO DO THE THE THE CELL PHONE TRACKING. OKAY. AND SPECIFICALLY THE MONEY EDC GIVES, WHAT IS IT USED FOR SPECIFICALLY? SO A LOT OF IT IS DIRECT, RIGHT? DIRECT IMPACT, YOU KNOW MOSTLY WOULD BE FROM, FROM I MEAN, THE, THE MAJORITY OF IT, THE, THE EVENT ITSELF IS ALMOST $200,000. SO I CAN SAY THAT 17% OF THAT FROM THE SPONSORSHIPS THAT ARE DRIVEN IS FROM THE EDC. SO IT ALL KIND OF COMES IN, BUT WE GO ANYWHERE FROM MARKETING, FROM ENTERTAINMENT TO, TO PAY FOR THIS. SO IT CAN STRETCH FROM, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S LOGISTICS, YOU KNOW, BUT WE CAN CONCENTRATE IT ON MARKETING OR ENTERTAINMENT ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THIS IS A TOURISM EVENT ALONG WITH OUR HOT FUNDS. AND THIS YEAR'S REQUEST IS 20,000. [01:00:02] CORRECT? CORRECT. YES. SO IN THE PAST YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALWAYS HAD THIS TITLE PARTNERSHIP IN THE PAST. WE'VE AGREED TO 15. WE'RE HOPING THAT WE COULD, YOU KNOW, DO THE 20 THIS YEAR. A LOT HAS INCREASED OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. SO WE WOULD YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE WE WOULD BE HAPPY WITH THE 15. BUT WE WOULD WE WOULD HOPE TO BRING IN. I THINK THAT FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS WE'VE DONE THE 15. AND I THINK I WOULD, I WOULD I WOULD AGREE TO GO INTO THE 20 THIS YEAR SINCE I KNOW THAT EVERYTHING'S MORE EXPENSIVE NOW. AND AND WE APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH YOU GUYS. AND, YOU KNOW, I CAN TELL YOU I DID SOME CALCULATIONS AND I CAN ALSO SHARE IT WITH THE STAFF. BUT REGARDING TO RETURN ON INVESTMENT SO THROUGH CALCULATIONS, WE ESTIMATED LIKE POTENTIAL VALUE FROM THE SPONSORSHIP. SO IN THE PAST, YOU KNOW, WE'VE LOOKED AT IT FROM IMPRESSIONS, RIGHT. SO THERE'S A VALUE OF AN IMPRESSION. AND SO WE HAD 518,000 IMPRESSIONS WITHIN SIX WEEKS OF THAT EVENT. AND SO THE AVERAGE, THE INDUSTRY AVERAGE IS $0.01 PER IMPRESSION. SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT $5,180 JUST FROM THAT ADVERTISING PERSPECTIVE. AND THEN YOU GO FROM VALUE OF ATTENDEES. SO LET'S ASSUME THAT EACH ATTENDEE WOULD SPEND $5 RIGHT AT THIS EVENT, WHETHER IT'S SURROUNDING OR AT THE EVENT. YOU HAVE 10,000 ATTENDEES THAT'S, YOU KNOW, $50,000 IMPACT JUST FROM THAT ALONE. SO THAT VALUE TOTALS $55,180. AND SO WHEN YOU DO A NET PROFIT THE TOTAL VALUE MINUS THE INVESTMENT, IN THIS CASE, $15,000 FROM PREVIOUS YEARS WOULD EQUAL $40,180. SO THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT FROM 15 FOR THAT WOULD BE 267% RETURN FROM THAT SPONSORSHIP. AND SO I HAVE THESE NUMBERS HERE. I CAN GIVE THAT TO RANDALL AND THE STAFF SO YOU GUYS CAN HAVE IN THE FUTURE. MY NAME IS 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. AND 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 TO DAY TO DONATE LIFE NET. HEY, IT SURE FEELS GOOD TO PLAY. LIKE AS WE BEGIN OUR PROGRAM TONIGHT, PLEASE STAND FOR THE INVOCATION. LED BY ASSOCIATE PASTOR FOR YOUTH KEEN ADAMS OF THE EDINBURG SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH, AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PRESENTATION OF COLORS. GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE TO SHARE WITH THIS PROGRAM AND TO HEAR WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CITY. PRAY WITH ME, HEAVENLY FATHER. GOOD EVENING AGAIN. WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR PRESENCE IN THIS MOMENT, AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US HERE SAFELY TO THIS IMPORTANT MEETING. THANK YOU FOR EACH FAMILY AND RESIDENT OF THE CITY. PLEASE GUIDE AND PROTECT US FROM ACCIDENTS AND DANGER AND COMFORT THOSE WHO EVEN NOW ARE HURTING. AS WE GATHER HERE TONIGHT, WE ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUED GUIDANCE AND WISDOM TO BE WITH EACH MEMBER OF THE CITY'S LEADERSHIP. GIVE THEM CLARITY OF MIND AND PURITY OF INTENTION AS THEY DELIBERATE ON MATTERS THAT AFFECT OUR COMMUNITY. PLEASE, LORD GRANT THE MAYOR AND HIS TEAM THE STRENGTH TO FACE THE CHALLENGES AHEAD WITH RESILIENCE AND COURAGE. REMIND US ALL, AS PROVERBS SAYS, THAT BY THE BLESSING OF THE UPRIGHT. THE CITY WILL PROSPER. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE PAST YEAR, FOR THE SUCCESSES AND FOR THE LESSONS LEARNED. WE PRAY FOR UNITY AMONG OUR LEADERS THAT THEY MAY WORK TOGETHER IN HARMONY FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF OUR CITY. HELP EACH ONE OF US TO LISTEN WITH EMPATHY AND TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT REFLECT YOUR WILL AND SERVE THE COMMON GOOD. PLEASE CONTINUE, LORD, TO BLESS OUR CITY WITH PEACE, [01:05:01] PROSPERITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL ITS RESIDENTS. MAY WE CONTINUE TO STRIVE FOR EQUITY IN ALL THAT WE DO. AND AT THE END OF TONIGHT'S PROGRAM, MAY YOUR GRACE BE UPON US AS WE LEAVE WITH A RENEWED COMMITMENT TO BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR EDINBURG FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. WE ASK ALL THIS WITH THANKSGIVING IN JESUS NAME, AMEN. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU KING. NOW, EDINBURG POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT HONOR GUARD WILL PRESENT THE COLORS. OH. OH, OH. DANIELLA GONZALEZ OF VANGUARD ACADEMY AND A MEMBER OF OUR MAYOR'S YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, WILL NOW LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. AND THEN PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM PERFORMED BY UTRGV STUDENT JACOB CONTADOR. 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. OH, SAY, CAN YOU SEE. BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT. WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING? WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS THROUGH THE PERILOUS FIGHT. O'ER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED. WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING. AND THE ROCKETS RED GLARE, THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR. GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE. O SAY, DOES THAT STAR SPANGLED BANNER. YET WAVE. O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE. AND THE HOME. OF THE. BRAVE. OH! PLEASE BE SEATED. THANK YOU, PASTOR ADAMS, JACOB, DANIEL, AND THE EDINBURG POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS FOR HELPING US WITH THAT BEAUTIFUL OPENING TO TONIGHT'S STATE OF THE CITY. WASN'T THAT A GORGEOUS RENDITION OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM? WOW. WELL DONE. NOW YOU SEE THOSE CALENDARS ON YOUR TABLE. I THINK EVERY TABLE HAS AT LEAST ONE. THEY HIGHLIGHT MONTHLY EVENTS HERE AT EDINBURG. THERE'S A NEW PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION BY EDINBURG CULTURAL ARTS COMING UP IN THE SPRING. IT'S OPEN TO EVERYBODY. AMATEURS LIKE ME OR PROS LIKE THE GUYS WITH THE BIG FANCY CAMERAS TONIGHT, YOUNG AND OLD, JUST CAPTURE THE ESSENCE OF EDINBURG IN YOUR PHOTO. AND IF YOU WIN, YOUR PHOTO WILL BE FEATURED IN THE NEXT CITY OF EDINBURGH CALENDAR. THERE'S INFORMATION INSIDE THE CALENDAR, SO TAKE A SHOT AT IT. TAKE YOUR PICTURES. LET'S SEE IF YOU CAN BE FEATURED IN NEXT YEAR'S CALENDAR. NOW I'D LIKE TO TAKE A SECOND TO RECOGNIZE SOME OTHER SPECIAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME IN SINCE WE LAST RECOGNIZED SOME SPECIAL PEOPLE. SO WE HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF MORE FROM THE CITY OF MISSION COMMISSIONER JESSICA ORTEGA, THE EDINBURG HOUSING AUTHORITY COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT, AND FROM THE OFFICE OF [01:10:03] U.S. SENATOR JOHN CORNYN, DEPUTY REGIONAL DIRECTOR CLARISSA CASTRO. LET'S WELCOME THEM, PLEASE. OH, AND ONE MORE DIGNITARY IN THE HOUSE, MY WIFE, NORA SMITH. ALWAYS SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST, RIGHT? OKAY, LET'S GET GOING. MAYOR GARCIA'S THEME FOR THIS YEAR IS EXPERIENCE EDINBURG. IT'S ALL ABOUT CREATING UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS FOR EVERYONE. WHETHER YOU'RE A LONGTIME RESIDENT OR JUST PASSING THROUGH, WE'RE DIVING DEEP INTO WHAT MAKES EDINBURG TICK. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE EXPERIENCES UNIQUE TO THIS CITY. IT'S THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS OF OUR VIBRANT COMMUNITY THAT MAKE EDINBURGH THE EXCEPTIONAL CITY THAT IT IS TODAY. AND NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET'S DELVE INTO A CAPTIVATING SNAPSHOT OF EDINBURGH AND EMBARK ON AN EXCITING JOURNEY AND EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF EDINBURGH. HI, I'M RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND I'M SO PLEASED TO BE HERE TO WELCOME AND PROVIDE GREETINGS FOR MAYOR MEMBERS STATE OF THE CITY. I WANT TO WISH THEM GREAT LUCK IN THIS YEAR'S ADDRESS. AND I ALSO WANT TO SHARE WITH THE AUDIENCE HOW PLEASED I AM THAT ROMERO AND I, AND MANY MAYORS IN SOUTH TEXAS THIS YEAR, HAVE FORMED THE SOUTH TEXAS ALLIANCE OF CITIES AS THE MAYOR IN SAN ANTONIO. IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT WE SHARE SO MUCH IN COMMON. OUR CHALLENGES, OUR ASPIRATIONS, THE THINGS THAT WE DO ARE VERY SIMILAR. AND THE WORK THAT WE DO TOGETHER CAN HAVE ADDED BENEFIT FOR OUR COMMUNITIES NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE. VERY FEW CITIES REALLY HAVE A UNIVERSITY LIKE WE DO HERE IN EDINBURG. VERY FEW CITIES HAVE A MEDICAL SCHOOL LIKE WE DO HERE IN EDINBURG. JUST AS IMPORTANT, VERY FEW CITIES SOUTH OF SAN ANTONIO HAVE AN ARENA LIKE THE ONE WE HAVE HERE IN EDINBURGH. I DON'T KNOW OF ANY OTHER SOCCER STADIUM WILL BECOME A FOOTBALL STADIUM SOON IN SOUTH OF SAN ANTONIO. AND KEEP IN MIND THAT I ALSO REPRESENT CORPUS CHRISTI. SO WHEN I LOOK AT EDINBURGH AND HOW ATTRACTIVE A CITY IT IS FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND LIVE HERE, TO DO BUSINESS, HERE, TO GET A JOB HERE, AND YOU LOOK AROUND THE NUMBER OF SUBDIVISIONS THAT ARE BEING CONSTRUCTED, THE NUMBER OF HOMES BEING BUILT. THE NEW STARTUP OF BUSINESSES IS REALLY AMAZING AND VERY IMPRESSIVE. IT'S THE 12TH FASTEST GROWING CITY, I THINK, IN THE NATION, AND THE FIFTH FASTEST GROWING CITY OF LARGE CITIES IN TEXAS. THAT SHOULD TELL YOU SOMETHING. PEOPLE ARE COMING TO EDINBURGH BECAUSE OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE. YOU NAME IT, EDINBURGH HAS IT. SO YOU HAVE THE HOMETOWN FEEL WITH A SENSE OF FAMILY, A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND A TRUE SENSE OF SAFETY. EDINBURGH IS ONE OF THE SAFEST CITIES IN THE NATION. WHEN YOU PUT ALL THOSE TOGETHER, THERE'S NOT A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE. BUT IN MIND THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN EDINBURGH THAT IS VERY ATTRACTIVE. WE HAVE AN EXPERIENCED LEADERSHIP. WE HAVE A MAYOR AND A CITY COMMISSION THAT FOCUSES ON THE PRIORITIES OF THE CITIZENS OF EDINBURGH. JOBS, HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, PUBLIC SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE. THE PARKS THAT WE HAVE ARE THE ENTERTAINMENT THAT WE HAVE. THEY ARE CONSTANTLY IN AUSTIN, ASKING FOR FUNDING TO MAKE SURE WE GET OUR FAIR SHARE OF FUNDING NOT ONLY FOR TRANSPORTATION, OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE TO MITIGATE FLOODING, BUT ALSO TO INCREASE OUR WATER CAPACITIES BECAUSE IT IS THE ALL AMERICAN CITY. YOU LOOK AROUND, WE HONOR OUR VETS. WE HONOR OUR WORKERS. WE ARE. WE HAVE A HUGE SENSE OF COMMUNITY, FROM OUR PARADES TO OUR COOKOUT EVENTS TO THE FESTIVALS THAT WE HAVE. WE DO IT RIGHT IN EDINBURGH. WE DON'T CUT ANY CORNERS. WE TREAT EACH OTHER LIKE FAMILY, AND WE ARE AT THE EPICENTER OF THE FASTEST GROWING REGIONS IN THE UNITED STATES, WHICH IS THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. THERE'S ACTION ALL OVER THE PLACE. AND SO IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH, BUT A VISIT TO REALIZE EDINBURG IS WHERE IT'S AT. GOOD LUCK, RAMIRO, AND THANKS SO MUCH, EVERYONE, AND WATCH OUT FOR THE SOUTH TEXAS ALLIANCE OF CITIES. WE'RE GOING TO BE FIGHTING FOR OUR COMMUNITIES TOGETHER. AND NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE STAND AND WELCOME TO THE STAGE YOUR MAYOR, ROMERO GARZA. JUNIOR. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. LET'S GIVE A HAND TO TIM SMITH. HE ALWAYS DOES AN AMAZING JOB. JUST RECENTLY WAS RECOGNIZED OUR HOMETOWN HERO. SO VERY WELL DESERVED. TIM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR COMING THIS EVENING. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, RESIDENTS AND FRIENDS OF OUR CITY OF EDINBURGH. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT AND GIVING US YOUR TIME THIS EVENING. AS WE GATHER TODAY TO CELEBRATE AS OUR THEME TONIGHT IS EXPERIENCED EDINBURGH AS YOUR MAYOR. ALONGSIDE OUR CITY COUNCIL, WHICH WERE INTRODUCED AND WILL JOIN ME HERE IN A LITTLE BIT, I'M HONORED TO STAND BEFORE YOU TO REFLECT ON OUR CITY'S JOURNEY. [01:15:06] WE CHOSE THIS EVENING THE SETTING THIS EVENING TO ENSURE MORE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY CAN PARTICIPATE, TRULY SHOWCASING THE SPIRIT OF EXPERIENCED EDINBURGH. YOU KNOW, EVERYONE WAS INVITED TO COME FREE OF CHARGE. OUR COMMUNITY, OUR PEOPLE ARE AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, AND IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU KNOWS WHAT THE STATE OF OUR CITY IS. AND I CAN TELL YOU WITH FULL CONFIDENCE THAT OUR CITY IS BETTER THAN IT'S EVER BEEN. 2023 WAS A BANNER YEAR FOR OUR CITY ON ALL FRONTS, FROM THE ECONOMY TO PUBLIC SAFETY TO QUALITY OF LIFE. BUT FIRST, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE MY WIFE, MARIA, WHO'S JOINING ME HERE, AND MY KIDS, RAMIRO, GIULIANA. THEIR THEIR UNWAVERING SUPPORT ALLOWS ME TO FULFILL MY DUTIES AS MAYOR AND ALSO HAVE THIS EVENING, I WANT TO DO A SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO MY MOTHER, ANITA, WHO'S HERE WITH US TODAY. I WANT TO THANK HER FOR BEING HERE AND ALWAYS BEING THERE BY MY SIDE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. AND A SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL THE ESTEEMED LEADERS THAT ARE HERE TODAY, ALL OF YOU THAT ARE ELECTED AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. AND IF YOU WEREN'T MENTIONED, I WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO RECOGNIZE YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I WANT TO TAKE ANOTHER MOMENT TO JUST ONCE AGAIN, THANK ALL OF YOU THAT ARE HERE, THAT ARE ELECTED, THAT ARE COMMUNITY LEADERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, EMBRACING LIFE HERE IN EDINBURG MEANS STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE, DRIVING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EMPOWERING OUR COMMUNITY AND ACTIVELY SHAPING A BRIGHTER FUTURE TOGETHER. YOU KNOW, WITH CLEAR OBJECTIVES GUIDING OUR PATH, WE HAVE REMAINED STEADFAST IN OUR COMMITMENT TO FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, PROPELLING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND ENHANCING INFRASTRUCTURE TO ELEVATE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL OUR RESIDENTS. TODAY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE PROUDLY ANNOUNCE A POPULATION OF 105,453 RESIDENTS. A TESTAMENT TO THE REMARKABLE GROWTH WE'VE EXPERIENCED WHICH HAS BEEN DOUBLED. WHICH HAS DOUBLED. EXCUSE ME, IN THE LAST JUST 20 YEARS. CHECK OUT THIS TIME LAPSE ON THE SCREEN ON THE SIDE OF OUR CITY. JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, IT'S IN 2005 AND IN 2023, THAT'S THE SAME AREA THAT HAS JUST GROWN TREMENDOUSLY. IT'S PRETTY INCREDIBLE. AND YOU SEE THAT IN ALL PARTS OF OUR CITY. OUR GROWTH EXEMPLIFIES THAT. WE'RE MAKING THINGS HAPPEN IN EDINBURGH AS WE GATHER HERE TO REFLECT ON THE STATE OF OUR CITY. YOU KNOW, I'M HAPPY TO SHARE ANOTHER REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT THAT EMBODIES THE ESSENCE OF THIS YEAR'S THEME EXPERIENCE EDINBURGH IN CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY, EDINBURGH HAS NOT ONLY EMBRACED PROGRESS BUT HAS SET A HISTORIC PRECEDENT WITH RECORD BREAKING GROWTH. OUR CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY SOARED TO A JAW DROPPING $397 MILLION IN 2023, MAKING MARKING AN EXTRAORDINARY INCREASE OF OVER 103 MILLION WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THIS REMARKABLE SURGE REPRESENTS PHENOMENAL GROWTH FOR OUR CITY AND STANDS AS THE PINNACLE OF OF ACHIEVEMENT HERE IN OUR CITY. YOU KNOW, HERE IN EDINBURGH, WE'RE NOT JUST A CITY, IT IS AN EXPERIENCE. IN 2023, WE ETCHED A CHAPTER IN OUR HISTORY THAT RESONATES WITH THE THEME OF EXPERIENCING ALL THAT EDINBURGH HAS TO OFFER. IN 2023, THERE WERE 54 SUBDIVISIONS THAT WERE RECORDED THAT INCLUDED OVER 2200 LOTS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MORE THAN 700 ACRES OF LAND DEVELOPMENT. WE'RE WELL ON OUR WAY TO SURPASSING THOSE NUMBERS. IF YOU CAN BELIEVE IT OR NOT, BECAUSE HERE IN 2024, WE CURRENTLY HAVE 145 ACTIVE SUBDIVISIONS UNDER REVIEW OR CONSTRUCTION PHASE. THESE 145 SUBDIVISIONS ARE BRINGING OVER 4000 NEW LOTS ONTO THE MARKET THIS YEAR. THAT'S ALMOST TWICE THAT WHAT WE REPORTED LAST YEAR IN OUR STATE OF THE CITY. SO THE RECORD BREAKING GROWTH CONTINUES. AND AS MAYOR PRO TEM DIAS TELLS US, THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT HERE IN OUR CITY. MAYOR GARZA, WHEN YOU EXPERIENCE EDINBURG, YOU EXPERIENCE BOOMING ECONOMIC GROWTH. WHEN ENVISIONING EDINBURG IN 2040, WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENHANCING OUR CITY TO PROVIDE BOTH LONGTIME RESIDENTS AND NEWCOMERS WITH THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO THRIVE AND CREATE A HOME HERE. EDINBURG REMAINS THE FIFTH FASTEST GROWING LARGE CITY IN THE STATE. THE PROGRESS WE MADE THIS PAST YEAR EMPHASIZES THE NEED TO EXPAND WHAT IS AVAILABLE TO OUR RESIDENTS. THE EDINBURG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION STAFF AND EDC BOARD WELCOMED PLENTY OF NEW BUSINESS TO EDINBURG IN 2023. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NORTH INDUSTRIAL PARK MARKED A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN OUR GROWTH BY FACILITATING THE CREATION OF NEW JOBS, HIGHLIGHTING THE EXPANSION OF BUSINESSES LIKE NITRO PRODUCE AND THE ADDITION OF NEW CONSTRUCTION IN THE AREA TO FOSTER A THRIVING ECONOMY. NEW RETAIL AND FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS CAN BE SEEN ACROSS THE CITY AS [01:20:06] WELL. MICHAEL'S, THE WELL-KNOWN CRAFT STORE, OPENED ITS DOORS. AND ON TOP OF THAT, OUR RESIDENTS HAVE EVEN MORE OPTIONS TO ENJOY A MEAL IN EDINBURG WITH THE ADDITION OF DAVE'S HOT CHICKEN, PEDRO'S TACOS, SALAD STATION, AND SO MUCH MORE. THE EDC TEAM ALSO ENSURED THAT FUNDING FOR A NEW 1 MILLION GALLON WATER TOWER ON THE NORTH SIDE OF EDINBURG WAS SECURED. ON TOP OF THAT, WITH A FOCUS ON OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND WHAT OUR COMMUNITY WAS IN NEED OF. THE CITY OF EDINBURGH TOOK A NEW SPIN ON WHAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REALLY MEANS. IMPROVEMENTS WERE MADE TO EDINBURGH MUNICIPAL PARK FIELD TWO JUST BEFORE THE SPORTS SEASON IN 2023, ADDING AN ALL WEATHER TURF FIELD WITH ADJUSTABLE BASES AND A DRAINAGE SYSTEM THAT WILL ALLOW OUR YOUTH TEAMS THE ABILITY TO UTILIZE TOP NOTCH FACILITIES. FINALLY, THE CITY WAS PROUD TO OPEN THE JOSE NIETO AND CONSUELO ALFARO ROBLEDO CENTER, FORMERLY KNOWN AS EL TULE, IN SEPTEMBER. THE $5.3 MILLION PROJECT FEATURES THREE BASKETBALL COURTS AND A 2000 FOOT WALKING TRAIL AROUND THE FACILITY. IT HOSTS A NUMBER OF EVENTS AND IS HOME TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION SENIOR PROGRAM, GIVING OUR RESIDENTS AGES 55 YEARS AND UP ACCESS TO AEROBIC ACTIVITIES, ARTS AND CRAFTS, BINGO AND SO MUCH MORE. VISITORS WILL BE ABLE TO UTILIZE A BEAUTIFUL RECREATION CENTER THAT WILL AMPLIFY HOW THEY SPEND THEIR WELL-EARNED RETIREMENT IN OUR CITY. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF EDINBURG, AND OUR RELENTLESS DRIVE FOR PROGRESS SETS US APART. WE ARE ACTIVELY MAKING THINGS HAPPEN AS WE CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR ENHANCEMENTS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. PRO TEM. AND ALSO THANK YOU TO THE EDINBURG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, TO ALL THE INVESTORS WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO INVEST HERE IN OUR CITY, AND TO ALL THE SMALL BUSINESSES OUT THERE WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO EXPAND HERE. THEIR HARD WORK AND COMMITMENT ARE DRIVING PROGRESS AND PROSPERITY HERE IN OUR CITY. LET'S GIVE THEM ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE, PLEASE. AND ANOTHER FIRST FOR OUR CITY. WE PARTNERED WITH LIFT FUND TO ROLL OUT THE INTEREST BUY DOWN PROGRAM WITH SUPPORT AGAIN FROM THE EDINBURG EDC. THIS PROGRAM IS A REAL GAME CHANGER FOR US FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS. THEY CAN NOW GET LOANS AT A REDUCED RATE OF 2.5%. IT'S ALL ABOUT HELPING OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES THRIVE. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER ECONOMIC INDICATORS HERE IN OUR CITY. IN 2023, WE CONSISTENTLY HELD THE SECOND LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THE VALLEY, AVERAGING AT 4.8%. AND WHEN IT COMES TO SALES TAX. WELL, WE'VE HIT ANOTHER MILESTONE IN 2023. WE COLLECTED ALMOST 37 MILLION IN SALES TAX REVENUE, WHICH REPRESENTED ABOUT A 6.2% INCREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THIS MARKED AN ALL TIME RECORD HIGH FOR OUR CITY. WE HAD NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE, AND OUR TAXABLE RETAIL SALES REACHED OVER $1.8 BILLION LAST YEAR. ON TOP OF THESE STRONG ECONOMIC INDICATORS, WE ALSO SAW A TOTAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT OF OVER $300 MILLION OF PROJECTS IN OUR CITY. A BIG PART OF THAT WAS UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY, WHERE THERE'S A NEW STUDENT THEATER. THERE'S ALSO THE ATHLETICS EXPANSION THAT THEY'RE DOING HERE IN OUR CITY. ALL THAT TRANSLATES INTO JOB CREATION. WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE OF OVER 1754 JOBS IN 2023. EDINBURGHS ECONOMIC SCENE IS BOOMING AND WE ARE PROUD OF OUR PROGRESS. IN AUGUST, THE CITY OF EDINBURGH COLLABORATED WITH THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY PARTNERSHIP TO HOST THE HISTORIC RIO GRANDE VALLEY ECONOMIC SUMMIT HERE AT OUR NEW ARENA. WE BROUGHT TOGETHER MUNICIPAL POLICYMAKERS, BUSINESS LEADERS FROM ALL OVER SOUTH TEXAS TO DISCUSS THE LATEST ECONOMIC TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS IN OUR REGIONAL ECONOMY. AND THOUGH IT WAS OUR INAUGURAL SUMMIT, WE WANTED TO MAKE THE EXPERIENCE AN UNFORGETTABLE ONE. AND SO WE WERE HONORED TO HAVE GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT BE OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER. AND AS PART OF THE SUMMIT, EVERY COMMUNITY OF THE RGV, ALONG WITH GOVERNOR ABBOTT, SIGNED A COMPACT THAT CALLS FOR US TO WORK TOGETHER TO PROMOTE THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY AS ONE. THIS SUMMIT STANDS AS A TESTAMENT TO THE DRIVING FORCE OF UNITY AND COLLABORATION. AS ONE UNITED VOICE, WE AMPLIFY OUR IMPACT. ONE REGION, ONE VOICE. AND EARLIER YOU HEARD FROM MY FRIEND, SAN ANTONIO MAYOR RON NIRENBERG. REGIONAL COLLABORATION IS A CORNERSTONE OF MY ADMINISTRATION. I AM HONORED TO BE THE INAUGURAL CHAIR OF THE SOUTH TEXAS ALLIANCE OF CITIES. LAST YEAR WE BUILT THIS ALLIANCE WITH SAN ANTONIO, LAREDO, WITH OUR FRIENDS FROM MISSION, MCALLEN, BROWNSVILLE, WESLACO, AND HARLINGEN TO TACKLE THE COMMON ISSUES WE FACE ACROSS OUR REGION. BRINGING SOUTH TEXAS TOGETHER IS OUR STRENGTH, AND UNITY IS THE KEY TO ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES OF OUR RAPIDLY GROWING REGION. AND WE'RE ALREADY STARTED SEEING THE PAYOFF OF WORKING TOGETHER. [01:25:03] JUST LAST WEEK, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WAS IN BROWNSVILLE, HERE IN OUR AREA, AS HE VISITED OUR AREA TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE. AND I'D LIKE TO SAY AND THANK MY FELLOW MAYORS. AND I SEE SOMEONE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE AT BROWNSVILLE MAYOR, MCALLEN MAYOR, AND AND ALL THE MAYORS THAT ARE HERE FOR JOINING US. AND WITH THE PRESIDENT TO SHARE WHAT IS HAPPENING AND TO ALSO SHARE WHAT THE OPPORTUNITIES HERE IS FOR OUR REGION. THERE'S STRENGTH IN NUMBERS. AND THIS PUSH FOR A UNIFIED VOICE IS NOW BRINGING US A NATIONAL ATTENTION. WE DESERVE TO HELP ADDRESS OUR GROWING NEEDS. REGIONAL GROWTH IS ALSO A GOAL OF OUR SOUTH TEXAS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, THANKS TO THE HARD WORK OF OUR CHAIRMAN, TERRY CANALES AND SENATOR CHUY HINOJOSA, THE AIRPORT IN EDINBURG IS POISED FOR A SIGNIFICANT TRANSFORMATION WITH THE ALLOCATION OF $10 MILLION IN STATE FUNDING. THIS INVESTMENT WILL INCLUDE INFRASTRUCTURE ENHANCEMENTS AND A RUNWAY EXPANSION, FURTHER SOLIDIFYING THE AIRPORT'S IMPORTANT ROLE IN BORDER SECURITY OPERATIONS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE EFFORTS HERE IN THE VALLEY. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IN THE SPIRIT OF REGIONALISM, AS WE GATHER HERE TODAY AND AS WE CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR CITY, I ALSO WANT TO LOOK BEYOND THAT. I WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE PRESSING WATER SHORTAGE CRISIS, THE SCARCITY OF WATER IN THE VALLEYS, REACHING AT CRITICAL LEVELS. IT'S CRUCIAL THAT OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT VISITS HIS 1944 TREATY WITH MEXICO. AND WITH THAT, THERE'S DECISIVE ACTION TAKEN ON THIS MATTER. TONIGHT, I'M ANSWERING CHAIRMAN TERRY CONNELLY'S CALL FOR ALL OF US TO COME TOGETHER TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO THIS WATER CRISIS. WE ALSO NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD UP OUR WORKFORCE. WE NEED TO GIVE PEOPLE IN OUR REGION THE TOOLS AND CHANCES TO SUCCEED IN TODAY'S WORLD. WHETHER IT'S THROUGH LEARNING NEW SKILLS FOR GROWING ON THE JOB, OR WHETHER IT'S DEVELOPING OUR WORKFORCE AND MAKING SURE EVERYONE HAS A SHOT AT REACHING THEIR GOALS. AND WE CAN ONLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY WORKING TOGETHER. ONE REGION, ONE VOICE. NOW LET'S SHIFT OVER TO PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH IS ALWAYS A PRIORITY FOR US. YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF 2023, THE CITY HAD A 4.6% OVERALL REDUCTION IN CRIME COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR, MAKING OUR CITY ONE OF THE SAFEST CITIES IN THE REGION. I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR EDINBURGH POLICE DEPARTMENT, STARTING WITH OUR POLICE CHIEF, AYALA, TO THE COMMAND STAFF, OUR OFFICERS AND THE SUPPORT STAFF FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT MAKE THAT HAPPEN. AS OUR CITY GROWS, WE ALSO ADDED 15 MORE OFFICERS TO OUR FORCE. AND IN A GROUNDBREAKING DEVELOPMENT THIS LAST YEAR, POLICE DEPARTMENT PARTNERED WITH TROPICAL TEXAS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SECURED A $3 MILLION GRANT TO LAUNCH A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE UNIT. THIS TEAM, COMPOSED OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, WILL RESPOND TO SITUATIONS INVOLVING INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. EDINBURG PD WAS ONE OF ONLY 12 RECIPIENTS NATIONWIDE OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. THIS FUNDING WILL HELP TO CREATE THE SPECIALIZED TEAM AND HOPEFULLY DIVERT INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS TOWARDS APPROPRIATE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES INSTEAD OF JAIL. DAY AND NIGHT, THE FIRST RESPONDERS OF OUR EDINBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT ALSO BRAVELY SAFEGUARD OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S WITH HEAVY HEARTS THAT WE CONTINUE TO MOURN THE PASSING OF OUR BELOVED FIRE CHIEF, SEAN SNYDER. A LEADER WHOSE DEDICATION AND EXPERTISE ELEVATED OUR DEPARTMENT TO ONE OF THE FINEST IN TEXAS. CHIEF SNYDER'S LEGACY OF EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP WILL FOREVER BE REMEMBERED. AT THIS TIME, PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN HONOR OF CHIEF SNYDER. THANK YOU EVERYONE. CONTINUING WITH OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, I'M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE FINALLY FINALIZED A MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENTS WITH BOTH OUR POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS. THESE AGREEMENTS, SPANNING THREE YEARS FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FOUR YEARS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, PRIORITIZE IMPROVED WORKING CONDITIONS AND SUSTAINABLE SALARY INCREASES FOR OFFICERS. IT'S A TESTAMENT TO OUR STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND OUR COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY SAFETY. THIS REFLECTS OUR DEDICATION TO SERVING AND PROTECTING EDINBURG. THAT'S WHY WE'VE ALSO BOLSTERED OUR EDINBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH ADDITIONAL MANPOWER. AS COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID WHITE TELLS US, TOGETHER WE'RE COMMITTED TO ENSURING THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY. MAYOR GARZA EDBERG'S ENGAGEMENT AND ENGAGEMENT ENSURES THAT WE'RE CONNECTING WITH OUR RESIDENTS ON ALL FRONTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY. IN 2023, THE EDINBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT HELD A PUSH IN CEREMONY FOR A BRAND NEW PIERCE PUMPER AND RESCUE TRUCK. THE INTRODUCTION OF THOSE TWO TRUCKS WILL ALLOW OUR FIREFIGHTERS TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES QUICKLY. IN ADDITION, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS SELECTED FOR THE [01:30:05] STAFFING FOR ADEQUATE FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE GRANT. THE SAFER GRANT AND IMPORTANT INITIATIVE OFFERED BY FEMA, WILL FORTIFY EDINBURGH FIRE BY ALLOWING THEM TO RECRUIT FOUR ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTERS, BRINGING THEIR TOTAL TO 85. THE ADDED MANPOWER WILL IMPROVE RESPONSE TIMES, ENHANCE RESCUE OPERATIONS AND BOLSTER EDINBURGH'S EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. FURTHERMORE, AT THE EDINBURGH POLICE DEPARTMENT, OUR OFFICERS CONTINUE TO PUT COMMUNITY POLICING AT THE TOP OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES WITH THE LAUNCH OF BUSINESS WATCH, A PROGRAM MODELED AFTER NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH. NYPD IS ABLE TO CONNECT WITH LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS IN AN EFFORT TO BRIDGE THE GAP AND HELP REDUCE CRIME IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ALSO CONTINUES TO BUILD A CONNECTION WITH OUR FAITH BASED LEADERS THROUGH THE EDINBURGH CLERGY AND POLICE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. THE SIX WEEK COURSE ALLOWS SPIRITUAL LEADERS TO RESPOND AND HELP OUR OFFICERS DURING TIMES OF CRISIS FOR A WELL-ROUNDED RESPONSE. AND FINALLY, TO TACKLE THE HEARTBREAKING TOLL OF TRAGEDIES IN OUR COMMUNITY, EDINBURGH P.D. ROLLED OUT ITS GAME CHANGING MAKE A PLAN INITIATIVE. THIS CAMPAIGN IS ALL ABOUT SAYING NO TO DRUNK DRIVING AND GIVING FOLKS A FRIENDLY NUDGE TO CHOOSE SMARTER OPTIONS, LIKE HOPPING ON A RIDESHARE OR CALLING UP A FRIEND FOR A LYFT WHEN YOU'VE HAD TOO MUCH TO DRINK. OFFICERS REGULARLY HOST COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO PUSH THIS IMPORTANT MESSAGE. HERE IN EDINBURGH, WE'RE NOT JUST ENSURING SAFETY FOR TODAY. WE'RE BUILDING A FOUNDATION FOR A SAFER COMMUNITY THAT WILL ENDURE FOR YEARS TO COME. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR OUTSTANDING OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS AND ALL OUR FIRST RESPONDERS FOR ALL THEY DO. THANK YOU. TO CONTINUE WITH THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WE IMPROVE COMMUNICATION WITH CITIZENS BY GOING DIRECTLY TO NEIGHBORHOODS. WE TOOK CITY HALL TO THE PEOPLE. IT BEGAN WITH THE LOWELL SUBDIVISION AND A NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH MEETING THAT WAS HELD, AND WE BROUGHT CITY DEPARTMENTS TO DISCUSS SERVICES AVAILABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT QUICKLY BLOSSOMED INTO OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS FOLLOWING SUIT LAST YEAR. I'M HAPPY TO REPORT WE ENDED UP VISITING WITH OVER 20 NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY. IT WAS SO REFRESHING TO MEET WITH OUR RESIDENTS AND HEAR THEIR CONCERNS FIRSTHAND. NOW WE ARE DOING ALL THAT WE CAN TO MAKE THEIR EXPERIENCE IN EDINBURGH BETTER. SO YOU KNOW THAT LITTLE SUBDIVISION I JUST MENTIONED? THAT PROJECT WAS FINISHED LAST YEAR AND THERE WAS MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS THAT WERE MADE THERE. WE MADE THOSE CHANGES BY ACTUALLY MEETING WITH THE RESIDENTS THERE TO HEAR WHAT THEY NEEDED AND WANTED. IT'S ALL ABOUT MAKING SURE WE'RE ADDRESSING THE ISSUES THAT AFFECT PEOPLE'S DAILY LIVES. THIS $6 MILLION PROJECT FOCUSED ON FIXING UP THE STREETS AND IMPROVING DRAINAGE IN THE SUBDIVISION. WE REPLACE OLD WATER LINES WITH NEW ONES, ALL NEARLY FOUR MILES OF ROADS AND IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO GET AROUND. AND NOW THERE ARE SIDEWALKS ALL OVER THE SUBDIVISION TO KEEP PEDESTRIANS SAFE, BUT ALSO ENCOURAGE THEM TO STAY ACTIVE. IT WAS AN ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD TRANSFORMATION. YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD TO IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGHOUT OUR CITY, AND THE LOWELL SUBDIVISION PROJECT IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF PROJECTS WE'RE WORKING ON. YOU KNOW, IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING, HOW COMMITTED IS THE CITY TOWARDS INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE? WELL, LET ME TELL YOU, WE ARE FULLY COMMITTED. WE'RE COMMITTED TO THE TUNE OF $96 MILLION THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY INVESTING THROUGHOUT OUR CITY. THAT'S A COMBINATION OF STREETS AND DRAINAGE, PARK AND TRAIL UPGRADES AND PUBLIC FACILITIES. I WANT TO THANK OUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, ALL OUR DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH HELPING OVERSEE THESE IMPROVEMENTS. LET'S PLEASE GIVE THEM A HAND. YOU KNOW, WE ALL KNOW THAT DRAINAGE IS A TOP CONCERN HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE'VE LAUNCHED DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS TOTALING OVER $6 MILLION, WITH THE MAIN PROJECTS BEING THE VETERANS AND SUGAR DETENTION PONDS AND THE CEDAR DRAINAGE PROJECT. AND THAT'S NOT ALL THAT WE'RE DOING THESE STREETS THAT WE ARE IMPROVING ARE OVER 18 MILES OF ROADWAY THAT WERE PAVED THIS LAST YEAR. WE COVERED THAT BY SPREADING THROUGHOUT THE CITY, FIGURING OUT WHAT STREETS WERE MOST IMPORTANT, AND MAKING SURE THAT THOSE STREETS WERE FOCUSED ON. AND YES, I KNOW SOME OF YOU MAY BE SHAKING YOUR HEAD. THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, BUT REST ASSURED, WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE INVESTING IN STREET IMPROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY. EXPERIENCING LIFE IN EDINBURGH IS NOT ONLY SYNONYMOUS WITH SOUND INFRASTRUCTURE AND TOP NOTCH PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT IT'S ALSO DEEPLY ROOTED IN EDUCATION. IT'S WHO WE ARE AND PART OF THE EDINBURGH EXPERIENCE. WITHIN THE REALM OF EDUCATION, EDINBURGH STANDS UNRIVALED. CAN ANYONE BOAST OF HAVING A TOP TIER UNIVERSITY WITHIN ARM'S REACH? WE WERE ACTUALLY NAMED THE MOST AFFORDABLE COLLEGE TOWN IN THE UNITED STATES, ACCORDING TO WALLETHUB. WE TAKE IMMENSE PRIDE IN BEING HOME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY REGION [01:35:01] ONE EDUCATION SERVICE CENTER HERE AND FOR PREMIERE SCHOOL SYSTEMS. AS COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID SALAZAR TELLS US, EXPERIENCING LIFE IN EDINBURG IS ALSO ABOUT NURTURING THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW. MAYOR GARZA, WHEN YOU EXPERIENCE EDINBURG, YOU EXPERIENCE THE BEST IN EDUCATION. WE ARE HOME TO EDINBURG CISD. IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SOUTH TEXAS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, VANGUARD ACADEMY, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY. WE ARE ALSO THE HOME SEAT TO THE REGION ONE EDUCATION SERVICE CENTER, WHICH SERVES THE EIGHT COUNTY AREAS OF SOUTH TEXAS FROM LAREDO TO BROWNSVILLE, ENSURING THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS CONTINUE TO OPERATE EFFICIENTLY. EDINBURG CISD SPANS ACROSS 945MI², MAKING IT ONE OF THE LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICTS NATIONWIDE. IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS SET NEARLY 100% OF THEIR GRADUATES TO COLLEGE. VANGUARD ACADEMY BOASTS INNOVATION AND EQUITY AS KEY DRIVERS, AND SOUTH TEXAS ISD OFFERS A PERSONAL ENVIRONMENT WITH A STRONG SCHOLASTIC PROGRAM, BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE. COLLEGE STUDENTS ALSO RECEIVE A QUALITY EDUCATION RIGHT HERE IN EDINBURGH. UTRGV RANKED AS THE NUMBER ONE UNIVERSITY IN TEXAS BY WASHINGTON MONTHLY, PROVIDES A NUMBER OF DEGREES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO BOTH THE LOWER AND UPPER VALLEY. HOME TO THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, UTRGV SUCCESSFULLY DEVELOPS MEDICAL STUDENTS, RESIDENTS, AND SCIENTISTS INTO THE FUTURE PROVIDERS AND LEADERS IN HEALTHCARE RIGHT HERE IN THE VALLEY AND ACROSS THE NATION. IN ADDITION, THEIR PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE MAKING A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE. STUDENTS WITH AN ECISD ARE ABLE TO ATTEND A UTRGV LED COLLEGIATE HIGH SCHOOL RIGHT OFF OF FREDDY GONZALEZ DRIVE IN EDINBURG. WE ALWAYS PRIORITIZE EDUCATION. THE DUSTIN SEKULA MEMORIAL LIBRARY SERVES AS A VALUABLE RESOURCE. IT HELPS STUDENTS ACCESS LEARNING BY USING THEIR FREE LIBRARY CARD TO CHECK OUT BOOKS, MAGAZINES, AND NEWSPAPERS, ALL WHILE RECEIVING ASSISTANCE FROM WELL-INFORMED STAFF AND EDINBURG. WE'RE PROUD TO BE THE EDUCATION HUB OF THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. WITH YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. EDINBURG WILL REMAIN AT THE FOREFRONT OF EDUCATION EXCELLENCE, SHAPING THE FUTURE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN AND THANK YOU TO ALL OUR EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY FILLED WITH PRIDE AND EXCITEMENT AS WE EMBARK ON ANOTHER THRILLING EXPERIENCE TOGETHER. WE'RE CONTINUING TO MAKE DREAMS A REALITY HERE IN OUR CITY AS WE CONTINUE OUR STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH UTRGV. I'M PROUD TO HIGHLIGHT AN ELECTRIFYING ADDITION TO OUR COMMUNITY. THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE IS COMING TO EDINBURGH. AS YOU HEARD JUST LAST WEEK, EDINBURGH WILL BE HOME TO VAQUEROS FOOTBALL. THIS MARKS A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN OUR JOURNEY TO ELEVATE EDINBURGH TO NEW HEIGHTS OF EXCITEMENT AND ENTERTAINMENT. HERE AND SEEING THE GROWTH AND ESPECIALLY EDINBURGH IN THE PAST DECADE OR SO. IT'S IT'S BEEN FUN TO WATCH AND FUN TO GROW. AND NO ONE COMING DOWN HERE AND SEEING THE UNIVERSITY GROWTH AND THE AND THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT GROWTH HERE IN TOWN. AND NOW TO TO HAVE A COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAM IN EDINBURGH. YOU KNOW, THIS IS STILL THE HOME. IT IS THE IS THE VALLEY'S TEAM, BUT WE ARE HOME IN EDINBURGH AND TO BE HERE ON CAMPUS AND THEN BE PLAYING FOOTBALL HERE IN EDINBURGH. IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT. IT'S HUGE. I MEAN, IT'S AND IT'S AN EXPERIENCE NO ONE ELSE CAN OFFER DOWN HERE. AND IT'S IT IS AND IT'S NOT IT'S NOT JUST A GAME. IT'S AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY EVENT. AND IT IS AN EXPERIENCE. I MEAN, IT'S IT'S NOT JUST THE GAME, BUT YOU'VE GOT THE BANDS AND THE CROWDS AND THE DANCE TEAM AND THE STUDENTS AND JUST THE ATMOSPHERE, THE TAILGATING. AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE, THE BUS TO PULL ON FREDI GONZALEZ AND SEE ALL THE SMOKE AND THE PITS. AND I MEAN, IT'S JUST A IT'S AN ENTIRE EVENT. I MEAN, YOU LOOK AT COLLEGE FOOTBALL ACROSS THE NATION. AND YOU LOOK AT NFL FOOTBALL AND YOU LOOK AT JUST THE, YOU KNOW, THOSE AFTERNOONS AND THOSE EVENINGS AND THE DAYS LEADING UP TO IT AND THE PEOPLE AND THE FAMILY, EVERYBODY COME. NOTHING BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER MORE THAN SPORTS AND NOTHING BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER. MORE IN SPORTS THAN FOOTBALL IN TEXAS AND ESPECIALLY DOWN HERE. AND YOU SEE THE WAY THE VALLEY RALLIES AROUND THEIR HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS, THE LAST TEAM THAT'S IN THE PLAYOFFS. AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE SUPPORT WHEN WE GET ON THE FIELD. THANK YOU. WE'RE SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT. THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT EDINBURGH, ABOUT THE WHOLE REGION. AND WE INVITE YOU TO BE PART OF HISTORY. WHEN YOU WALK OUT TODAY, YOU CAN ACTUALLY BUY YOUR SEASON TICKETS. SO DON'T LEAVE WITHOUT GETTING YOUR SEASON TICKETS HERE TONIGHT. YOU KNOW, DIVISION ONE FOOTBALL WILL PROVIDE RECOGNITION FOR, LIKE I MENTIONED, TO OUR REGION AND JUST CREATE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT FOR OUR AREA FOR YEARS TO COME. YOU KNOW, THE FAN EXPERIENCE WILL BE EVEN MORE PHENOMENAL WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW UTRGV FIELDHOUSE ATRIUM. IT WILL INCLUDE A NEW ENTRANCE FOR FANS ATTENDING BASKETBALL AND VOLLEYBALL GAMES WITH A NEW BOX OFFICE, TEAM STORE, CONCESSION STAND, AND EVEN A HALL OF FAME AREA. IT'S ALL HAPPENING HERE IN EDINBURG, FOLKS, IN 2023. [01:40:02] WE ALSO MADE HEALTH AND FITNESS A TOP PRIORITY, WITH OVER 43,000 MINUTES OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LOGGED ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY. WE TOOK FIRST PLACE IN THE MOVE WITH THE MAYOR CAMPAIGN, A NATIONWIDE INITIATIVE TO PROMOTE POSITIVE HABITS AND A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. IT WAS OUR FIRST TIME PARTICIPATING, AND WE MADE THE MOST OF THAT EXPERIENCE BY TAKING THE TOP TITLE. WE ALSO HAVE THE LARGEST LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL PROGRAM IN SOUTH TEXAS. VERY PROUD OF THAT. THERE'S OVER 1300 CHILDREN AND THE LARGEST RACE EVENT SYSTEM IN SOUTH TEXAS WITH SEVEN UNIQUE RACES WHERE WE HAVE OVER 11,000 REGISTERED RACE PARTICIPANTS EVERY YEAR. SO WE'RE MOVING, KEEPING OUR KIDS ACTIVE AND MAKING THINGS HAPPEN IN EDINBURGH. ON THE SCREEN, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A QR CODE. IF YOU SCAN IT, YOU CAN STAY UP TO DATE ON ALL THE THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR CITY. YOU CAN GET ALL THE LATEST UPDATES THROUGHOUT ABOUT OUR CITY, INCLUDING OUR EDINBURGH EDITION NEWSLETTER. IT'S A NEWSLETTER THAT WE JUST STARTED RECENTLY TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING, AND YOU CAN DISCOVER ALL THE EXCITING EVENTS THAT MAKE UP THE EDINBURGH EXPERIENCE. SO ON THAT NOTE, LET'S CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCES IN EDINBURGH. THEY DON'T CALL US THE CITY OF FESTIVAL FOR NOTHING. IN 2023, BETWEEN OUR CULTURAL ARTS DEPARTMENT, AMAZING LIBRARY AND AWARD WINNING PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT, THE CITY HOSTED NEARLY 500 EVENTS HERE IN OUR CITY. THAT'S RIGHT, 500 EVENTS, BIG AND SMALL, FROM THE TEN K RUN TO THE VETERANS PARADE. WE HAD AN ATTENDANCE OF OVER 100,000 PEOPLE TO ALL THESE EVENTS. AND YOU KNOW, A FEW MONTHS AGO WE UNVEILED THE DE ZAVALA PARK ON NORTH MONMOUTH ROAD. THIS COLLABORATIVE PROJECT STANDS AS ANOTHER SYMBOL OF UNITY, WHICH BROUGHT TOGETHER THE CITY, EDINBURG CISD, AND HIDALGO COUNTY PRECINCT FOUR, IN A JOINT EFFORT TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR OUR CITY. I WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO THANK EDINBURG CISD AND PRECINCT FOUR, OUR COMMISSIONER, ELLIE TORRES, FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. COULDN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT ALL THREE ENTITIES COMING TOGETHER. I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. AND WE DIDN'T HAVE A PARK IN THE NORTH SIDE AND WE ALL WANTED TO CHANGE THAT. SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE, EXCUSE ME. YOU KNOW, WITH A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT OF 1.9 MILLION, THIS PARK HAS A SPLASH PAD, NEW RESTROOMS, AND A WALKING TRAIL TO GET PEOPLE MOVING. THE PARK ALSO INCLUDES A BASKETBALL COURT, PAVILION AND A MULTI-USE FIELDS. THIS STANDS AS A TESTAMENT TO OUR ONGOING EFFORTS TO ENHANCE THE OVERALL EXPERIENCE FOR OUR RESIDENTS, UNDERSCORING OUR DEDICATION IN PROVIDING INCLUSIVE RECREATIONAL AREAS AND OUR PUSH TO IMPROVE THE EXPERIENCES HERE IN OUR CITY DOESN'T END HERE. WE'RE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE FORTHCOMING PLANS FOR AN ALL INCLUSIVE PLAYSCAPE SLATED TO DEBUT THIS SPRING AT DE ZAVALA AT AT ONE OF OUR OLDER PARKS. WE ALSO MADE IMPROVEMENTS, SO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS ALL THROUGHOUT OUR CITY. YOU KNOW, OUR RESIDENTS ARE TELLING US THAT THEY WANTED TO USE THE PARK AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY. SO WE MADE LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS AT THE CANO HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL. WE ADDED 115 SOLAR LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE SOME OF THE DARK SPOTS ALONG THE TRAIL. AGAIN, IN THE SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION, WE CAME TOGETHER THE CITY WITH THE RGV, MPO AND TEX-DOT TO SEE THIS PROJECT HAPPEN. THIS $483,000 PROJECT EXTENDED USABLE PARK HOURS AND HELP TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THOSE WHO USE THE TRAIL. CONSTRUCTION IS ALSO NEARING COMPLETION ON THE EDINBURG ARTS CULTURE AND EVENT CENTER, BETTER KNOWN AS THE EDINBURG ACE BUILDING. THIS 36,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY WAS SERVED AS A DOWNTOWN VENUE TO HOST LOCAL CONFERENCES, CULTURAL ART EXHIBITS, LIVE PERFORMANCES, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS. THIS $14 MILLION PROJECT WILL ATTRACT MORE VISITORS TO OUR CITY BY CREATING A DOWNTOWN ENTERTAINMENT AREA DEVOTED TO THE ARTS. AS COUNCIL MEMBER JASON DE LEON TELLS US, WE WANT ALL THESE QUALITY LIFE EXPERIENCES TO BE THE BEST THEY CAN BE. JASON, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS APPROPRIATE FOR A STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS. US. MAYOR EDDIE BURKE IS THE HEART OF ENTERTAINMENT. EVERY YEAR, OUR CULTURAL ARTS DEPARTMENT PUTS ON A HOST OF FESTIVALS THAT ATTRACT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY AND THE UNITED STATES. OUR VENUES MAKE THESE FESTIVALS ACCESSIBLE AND FUN, [01:45:02] WITH OUR PROMENADE PARK, AMPHITHEATER HOME TO MANY OF THEM AND MANY FREE OF CHARGE EVENTS LIKE THE UFO FESTIVAL, JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL, FRIDA FEST, THE SOUTH TEXAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AND LOS MUERTOS VALEN ENSURE THAT EVERYONE AND ANYONE HAS SOMETHING THAT INTERESTS THEM HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT'S LIVE MUSIC FROM LOCAL ARTISTS, DANCE ENSEMBLES, DELICIOUS FOOD, OR A GOOD OLD FASHIONED ALIEN EXCURSION. WE'RE MAKING THINGS HAPPEN IN EDINBURGH. WE BELIEVE IN FOSTERING A VIBRANT COMMUNITY WHERE CREATIVITY THRIVES, ENSURING THAT EVERY EXPERIENCE IN OUR CITY IS UNIQUE AS IT IS ENRICHING. LAST YEAR, OUR CULTURAL ARTS DEPARTMENT EARNED 13 AWARDS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL AND EVENTS ASSOCIATION, THE TEXAS FESTIVAL AND EVENTS ASSOCIATION, AND THE RGV CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN ADVERTISING FEDERATION. I'D SAY THAT'S IMMENSE EDINBURGH SPOT AS A CULTURAL ARTS DESTINATION, BUT IT DOESN'T STOP AT FESTIVALS. IN 2023, WE UNVEILED PIRATE'S COVE, A BRAND NEW 16,800 SQUARE FOOT INCLUSIVE SPLASH PAD AT THE MUNICIPAL POOL THAT FEATURES AN INTERACTIVE PIRATE SHIP AND AQUATIC WHEELCHAIR RAMP. IT'S THE ONLY ONE LIKE IT IN THE VALLEY. ALL RESIDENTS NOW HAVE ACCESS TO ANOTHER SUMMER DESTINATION RIGHT IN THEIR BACKYARDS, AND WE'VE SEEN SO MANY FAMILIES TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT ALREADY. EDINBURG IS MAKING A SPLASH IN ALL OF THESE EXPERIENCES, AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHERE IT TAKES US. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DE LEON. AND FOR THE RECORD, HE DOES HAVE A FULL SUIT ON HERE TONIGHT. SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN APPLAUDING OUR CULTURAL ARTS DEPARTMENT, LIBRARY AND ALL OUR CITY CREWS FOR ALL THE AMAZING EVENTS THAT WE PUT TOGETHER. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON HERE IN OUR CITY IS INCLUSION. ALL OF THESE EVENTS AND FESTIVALS, WE WANT EVERYONE TO EXPERIENCE THEM. SO WE CREATED AN INCLUSIVITY TASK FORCE AND INVITED ADVOCATES TO JOIN US. THIS TASK FORCE STANDS AS A BEACON OF OUR COMMITMENT TO EMBRACE DIVERSITY AND BRIDGING, BRIDGING THE DIVIDE IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE'RE WORKING COLLECTIVELY TO ENSURE EQUITY FOR ALL RESIDENTS. WE ARE STRIVING TO CREATE A CITY WHERE EVERY VOICE IS HEARD AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL IS VALUED. OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT WAS HONORED AS WELL WITH AN INCLUSION AWARD BY THE CAPABLE KIDS FOUNDATION. WE OPENED UP OUR GYMS AND MADE OUR EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE TO THE KIDS, PROVIDING MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES THAT ALL CHILDREN DESERVE. WHEN I SAY THE STATE OF OUR CITY IS STRONG, I MEAN IT. WE CONTINUE TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WHILE AT THE SAME TIME MAKING IMPROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY. AGAIN, THIS PAST YEAR, WE LOWERED THE PROPERTY TAX RATE. OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE'VE MANAGED TO CUT TAXES BY A SOLID $0.05, WHICH PUTS OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE AT $0.63. THIS MAKES IT THE LOWEST TAX RATE SINCE 1991. AND IN SEPTEMBER, OUR COUNCIL MADE AN EARNEST COMMITMENT TO WORK TOWARDS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MINIMUM WAGE OF $15 PER HOUR FOR ALL EMPLOYEES. IF YOU WORK IN EDINBURG, WE WANT YOU TO HAVE THE BEST EXPERIENCE AND THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES POSSIBLE. YOU KNOW, BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT TONIGHT, DON'T FORGET TO PICK UP A COPY OF OUR ANNUAL REPORT. IT'S A VALUABLE RESOURCE YOU CAN TAKE HOME WITH YOU, AND IT SHOWCASES ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR CITY THAT HAPPENED THIS LAST YEAR. BUT LET ME REMIND YOU, NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT OUR EXCEPTIONAL EMPLOYEES HERE IN OUR CITY. THEIR HARD WORK HAVE DRIVEN ALL THE REMARKABLE STATS WE HAVE SHARED WITH YOU TONIGHT. SO AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR CITY MANAGER, MISS MAYA AYALA, AND ALL OUR CITY EMPLOYEES FOR ALL THEY DO. IF YOU ARE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE EMPLOYEES, PLEASE STAND SO YOU CAN BE RECOGNIZED. ALL THE CITY EMPLOYEES THAT ARE HERE, COULD YOU PLEASE STAND SO YOU CAN BE RECOGNIZED? THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM. LET'S NOW TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS ON JUST A FEW OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE MAKING THINGS HAPPEN. TEAM EDINBURG SHINE BRIGHT. THE EDINBURG PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WAS RECOGNIZED AT THE STATE LEVEL AS THE WINNER OF THE 2023 EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE AWARD FOR SAFETY, IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR REAL TIME HYDROLOGICAL SYSTEM. THIS SYSTEM ALLOWS OUR STAFF TO ACCESS UP TO DATE INFORMATION ON FLOOD RISKS EVERY FIVE MINUTES, ENSURING THAT WE HAVE EFFECTIVE RESPONSE MEASURES IN PLACE IN THE EVENT OF A SEVERE STORM. OUR PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT ALSO PICKED UP STATEWIDE RECOGNITION AS THE [01:50:02] TEXAS AMATEUR ATHLETIC FEDERATION MEMBER CITY OF THE YEAR. THAT MEANS WE'RE THE NUMBER ONE CITY IN TEXAS WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE STATE. AND LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE OUR INCREDIBLE GRANTS DEPARTMENT. THANKS TO THEIR HARD WORK, WE SECURED A WHOPPING 21 GRANTS IN 2023, TOTALING AN IMPRESSIVE $9.6 MILLION. THAT'S NO SMALL FEAT AND ALLOWS US TO MAKE A REAL IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE DEPARTMENT OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IS SOARING PAST EXPECTATIONS IN BOTH OPERATION AND COMPLIANCE. THE EDINBURG REGIONAL SANITARY DISPOSAL FACILITY STANDS AS THE LARGEST OPERATIONAL, LONG TERM DISPOSAL SOURCE SOUTH OF CORPUS CHRISTI. AND LET'S NOT FORGET ABOUT OUR LIBRARY AND CULTURAL ARTS DIRECTOR LETTY LEIJA, WHO WAS A RECIPIENT OF THE WOMEN OF DISTINCTION AWARDS. IF YOU KNOW HER, YOU LOVE HER AND THIS AWARD WAS SO WELL DESERVED. LETTY ALSO OVERSEES THE DUSTIN MICHAEL SEKULA MEMORIAL LIBRARY. I DO NOT KNOW. IT IS 721 IN THEIR OPENING SESSION, SO MOVED FOR A SECOND TIME. SECOND. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? OKAY. MOTION PASSES. WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO ITEM F THAT WE DID NOT [.F Consider approval of mid-year budget amendments for Fiscal Year 2024.] ADDRESS DURING THE INITIAL OPEN SESSION. MR. CHAIR, LET ME MAKE SURE THAT THE RECORD REFLECTS THAT. WE LOST ONE OF YOUR MEMBERS. OH, YES. RICHARD HAS LEFT RIGHT AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION, RIGHT AT WHEN WE STARTED EXECUTIVE SESSION. WHEN WE LEFT. YES. 721. SO ITEM F IS CONSIDER APPROVAL OF MID-YEAR BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024. IN YOUR PACKET, YOU HAVE A TWO PAGE DOCUMENT WHICH OUTLINES SOME OF THE REQUESTS FOR BUDGET AMENDMENTS. AND I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THEM LINE BY LINE. IF THAT IS OKAY WITH YOU ALL REVENUE ITEMS FIRST THE HALF CENT SALES TAX REVENUE OUR APPROVED BUDGET SHOWS US AT 9,725,676. WHAT I'M REQUESTING FOR THE AMENDMENT IS A $9.5 MILLION, WHICH IS A DECREASE IN OUR REVENUES FROM OF 225,676 ON THE SALE OF EDC PROPERTY. WE HAD PROJECTED IN OUR APPROVED BUDGET $2.19 MILLION. BASED ON THE TIMING OF THE DIFFERENT SALES OF PROPERTIES THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW DECREASING OR ASKING FOR A DECREASE IN THAT LINE ITEM TO 1.787850, WHICH IS A DECREASE OF $402,150. I'M ASKING FOR AN INCREASE IN THE MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE OF 12,500, AND THEN A TRANSFER OF RESERVES OF $13,107,022. AND I'LL GO INTO WHERE THAT MONEY IS GOING TO OR WHERE THAT MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT, AND THEN TRANSFERRING OUR BOND ACTIVITY. WE HAD PROJECTED $1.8 MILLION, WHICH WAS FOR THE WORKFORCE RESOURCE CENTER. INSTEAD, WE'RE MOVING $8 MILLION OF THAT REVENUES OVER INTO FROM THE BOND FUNDS INTO BASICALLY THE EXPENDITURES. SO WE'RE SPENDING THAT KIND OF MONEY. BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY FINISHED ALMOST FINISHED WITH THE ACE BUILDING AND THEN DID FINISH THE WATER PARK AS WELL. SO THE CITY HAD NOT REQUESTED THOSE MONIES. THOSE MONIES ARE NOW BEING TRANSFERRED OVER ON THE PERSONNEL SIDE. I DON'T HAVE TO GO LINE BY LINE ON THEM, BUT I HAVE TWO POSITIONS THAT HAVE YET TO BE FILLED. AND AS SUCH WHEN I MADE THE INITIAL BUDGET THE RAMPING UP OF THE STAFF WAS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. BUT THESE TWO POSITIONS HAVE BEEN PUSHED BACK A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OF OFFICE CONSTRAINTS, WHICH WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IN A BIT. AND SO THAT REFLECTS A BASICALLY ON EVERYTHING RELATED TO PERSONNEL EXPENDITURES IS SAVINGS OF 202,009 71. SO BECAUSE WE DID NOT HIRE EVERYBODY YET AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS. WE DO HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS WHICH OFFSETS SOME OF THE SHORTFALL FROM THE [01:55:03] PROJECTIONS ON THE SALES TAX REVENUE, BY THE WAY ON CONTRACTUAL SERVICES, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. WE HAD $96,000 BUDGETED. WE'RE NOT GOING TO SPEND ALL THAT. SO I'VE REDUCED THAT BUDGET TO $70,000, WHICH IS A SAVINGS OF 26,000. ON OUR OFFICE SPACE LEASE. WE HAD PROJECTED THAT WE WOULD BE IN OUR MORE PERMANENT LOCATIONS OFF OF OFF OF THE TRANSIT CENTER. HOWEVER, THAT HAS BEEN DELAYED. AND SO IN LIEU OF THAT, WE'RE NOT ONLY GOING TO RENEW OUR EXISTING SPACE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE OUR OFFICE SPACE BECAUSE WE'RE BRINGING ON TWO OTHER PEOPLE. SO THE INCREASE IS GOING TO BE AN ADDITIONAL $11,180 FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR ON SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENTS. BASICALLY ON THIS ONE, IF YOU LOOK AT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE LINE ITEMS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SAVINGS OF $171,000 TOTAL. BUT I'M CUTTING BACK ON SOME OF THESE THINGS FOR VARIOUS REASONS. THE TRAVEL AND TRAINING, SINCE WE DIDN'T HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE WE'RE DOING LESS TRAVEL AND LESS TRAINING ON CONFERENCES. WE DID HAVE SOME SAVINGS, AND WE HAD PROJECTED TO TRAVEL A LITTLE BIT MORE. WE'RE NOT DOING THAT. SO WE'RE SAVING A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY ON SOME OF THAT. AND THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THE SIGNIFICANT ONES THAT 30 AND $40,000. THE CONTINUING EDUCATION. WE'RE AGAIN PULLING BACK ON SOME OF THAT BECAUSE WE'RE BUSY INSTEAD OF TRAINING, WE'RE DOING. AND SO THAT'S WHAT THAT'S REFLECTIVE OF, OF THE SAVINGS. SO IN TOTAL ON THAT LINE ITEM, WE'RE SAVING $171,000. TOTAL ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES THAT WE'RE SAVING IS 388,791. GOING ON TO PROGRAMS ON THE RESEARCH STUDIES AND OTHER CONTRACTS, WE HAD SET ASIDE $360,000. I'M PROJECTING THAT WE'LL SPEND ALMOST $300,000 OF THAT. SO THAT'S A $60,000 SAVINGS ON THE PURCHASING OF PROPERTIES. I STILL HAVE THAT NUMBER PRETTY HIGH AT $4.6 MILLION INSTEAD OF 4.7. THE REASON IS BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE MONIES AVAILABLE FOR WHATEVER OPPORTUNITIES POP UP. AND WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THAT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE UTILITIES. IT'S A SMALL NUMBER. AND THEN ON THE OTHER PROJECTS WE HAVE $40,000 SET ASIDE FOR AMGEN FOR THIS BUDGET YEAR. I'M GOING TO SAY, BASED ON OUR DISCUSSIONS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION THAT WE NEED TO DO THAT ONE AT $49,000. SO THAT'S MY REQUEST TO CHANGE THAT FROM WHAT IS IN YOUR PACKET. AND THEN THE CONTRIBUTION TO THE CITY PROJECT, THAT WAS MONEY THAT WAS EXPENDED FOR CITY PROJECT THAT WE ALL KNOW ABOUT $7.2 MILLION. THE OWASA ROAD LINE EXTENSION WAS $1.75 MILLION. THE TURF FIELDS WAS $2 MILLION IN THE WATER STORAGE TANK WAS AT 21 OR $2.1 MILLION. SO IN TOTAL IN PROJECTS YOU KNOW, WE HAD WE DIDN'T HAVE THOSE PROJECTED WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THEM WHEN WE WERE BUILDING THE BUDGET, BUT WE HADN'T PROJECTED THOSE, AND SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS WERE UNKNOWN. BUT NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INCREASING OUR EXPENDITURES FOR PROJECTS. FROM A PROJECTION OF 1,075,000 TO 14,147,022 ON OUR BOND PROJECTS. AS I SAID BEFORE, WE'VE ALREADY THE CITY ASKED US FOR THE $7 MILLION FOR THE ACE CENTER THAT WE HAD COMMITTED AND $1 MILLION FOR THE MUNICIPAL WATER PARKS THAT WE HAD COMMITTED TO. WHAT WE DON'T HAVE EXPANDED OUT IS THE WORKFORCE RESOURCE CENTER OR ANYTHING ON THE PARKING GARAGE AT THIS POINT. SO OUR TOTAL PROGRAMS AND EXPENDITURES NOT INCLUDING OUR DEBT SERVICE, IS AT $28.3 MILLION. THAT'S AN INCREASE IN OUR BUDGET OF $19 MILLION. IF YOU INCLUDE OUR TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS, WHICH INCLUDE THE DEBT SERVICE, WHICH DID NOT CHANGE, THOSE NUMBERS ARE PRETTY MUCH SET IN STONE IS WE'RE AT DISBURSEMENTS OF THREE AND A HALF, $32.5 MILLION THIS FISCAL YEAR, AN INCREASE OF 18.6916 96. YOU ALL ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH ALL OF THESE PROJECTS. WE JUST HADN'T ACCOUNTED FOR THEM. NOW, A QUESTION THAT YOU ALL PROBABLY HAVE, AND I'M GOING TO ANSWER IT FOR YOU, IS, OKAY, WE'RE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY. WHAT DO WE HAVE AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR PROJECTED IN UNRESTRICTED CASH? THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE WHAT'S IN THE BOND FUNDS FOR THE WORKFORCE RESOURCE CENTER AND FOR THE PARKING GARAGE. AND THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE SET ASIDES FOR THE CONTINGENCIES FOR OUR DEBT SERVICE AND WHATNOT. AT THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, [02:00:03] WE'LL HAVE ABOUT $2.2 MILLION IN UNRESTRICTED CASH. LET ME REPEAT THAT $2.2 MILLION. WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, SAY, THE LAST TWO YEAR TREND TO TO TO THAT 2.2. WHERE DO WE FALL IN 2022. WHERE WERE WE IN 2023? JUST APPROXIMATELY. SO IN TERMS UNRESTRICTED CASH. UNRESTRICTED CASH BEFORE BEFORE THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE HAD $18 MILLION IN UNRESTRICTED CASH. YES. AND THAT'S NOT INCLUDING BOND MONIES AND WHATNOT. IF YOU INCLUDE THE BOND MONIES THEN YOU'RE TALKING ANOTHER SIX. YEAH, BUT BUT NO, JUST LINE ITEMS THE WAY YOU HAVE IT. SO THIS YEAR WE'RE GOING TO FALL AT 2.2. LAST YEAR WE FINISHED WITH 18 MILLION. AND THAT'S GONE. YOU RECALL THE PREVIOUS YEAR APPROXIMATELY. I DO NOT BUT IT WAS IT WAS IT WAS PRETTY PRETTY MUCH OF THE SAME NUMBER. PRETTY MUCH THE SAME IN TERMS OF. YEAH, WE HAD A LOT OF CASH. WE WERE VERY LIQUID AT THIS POINT. IT'S A DIFFERENT BALL GAME. SO WE'VE INVESTED IN A LOT OF PROJECTS. YEAH. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. YES, MA'AM. THE NORTH INDUSTRIAL PARK. WE WERE WORKING ON SIGNAGE FOR THAT, AND I MIGHT HAVE MISSED A MEETING. IS THAT REFLECTED IN HERE? I KNOW CARLOS WAS WORKING ON A PROJECT, YOU KNOW, WITH THE. RIGHT. NO, IT IS NOT. WE DON'T HAVE FINAL NUMBERS ON THAT, BUT THAT TYPE OF SIGNAGE IS VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT LATER ON. OKAY. BUT NO, WE WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THOSE NUMBERS FINALIZED FROM, FROM THE SIGN COMPANIES. OKAY. OUR INTENT WAS TO PUT A SIGN UP THERE SO THAT WE CAN ADVERTISE THE LOCATION AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE. RIGHT. THAT WAS IN THE $35,000 RANGE. NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TEN TIMES THAT AMOUNT. YEAH. OKAY. YEAH. SO I KNOW THE PARKING GARAGE IS IS ZERO HERE, BUT IT'S STILL BOND MONIES. THAT AND MY UNDERSTANDING THERE'S QUESTIONS WHETHER THAT WILL EVEN GO FORWARD. AND IF IT DOESN'T THE $3 MILLION. CORRECT. WE HAD PUT $2 MILLION COMMITTED TO. SO DOES THAT COME BACK TO OUR GENERAL FUND? NO. THAT IS STILL REALLY DESIGNATED AND RESTRICTED TO USES WITHIN THE BOND LANGUAGE. OKAY. SO WE WOULD HAVE TO TALK WITH OUR BOND COUNSEL ABOUT WHAT OTHER TYPE OF PROJECTS MAY BE PERMITTED SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE ISSUES WITH THAT, THAT FUNDING OUR FUNDS ARE DIFFERENT THAN THE CITY'S FUNDS FOR THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT, IN THAT OUR BONDS WERE TAX ABLE. THE CITIES WERE TAX EXEMPT. SO WHEN THEIR TAXABLE BONDS, THERE'S A LITTLE MORE LEEWAY. BUT I WOULD I WOULD DEFER OVER TO BOND COUNSEL. FOR FOR MORE SPECIFICS ON THAT. AND MAYBE WE CAN HAVE THEM HERE AT THE AT THE BOARD RETREAT AND TALK ABOUT THAT. IS THERE A TIME FRAME FOR UTILIZATION OF THE FUNDS? YES THERE IS. AND WE'RE PAST THE TIME FRAME FOR THE 2019 BONDS, WHICH IS THE ONES FOR THE WORKFORCE RESOURCE CENTER. THE PENALTIES DEPEND ON WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE INVESTING ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT YOU'RE EARNING. IN TERMS OF ARBITRAGE. BUT AT THIS POINT, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO THAT POINT TO WHERE WE'RE WE'RE IN ANY KIND OF PENALTY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. BECAUSE INTEREST RATES ARE STILL HIGHER THAN THAN WHAT WE'RE EARNING. RIGHT? BUT WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH THAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. BUT WE CAN OBVIOUSLY THAT'S SOME OF WHAT WE'D LOVE TO TALK ABOUT IN OUR NEXT MEETING AT THE BOARD RETREAT. I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. DO WE ADDRESS THAT AND KNOW WHAT KIND OF TIME FRAME WE HAVE AND WHAT TIME? YEAH, WE CAN ADDRESS THAT. SO WILL THAT BE THE ONLY OUTSTANDING BOND MONEY THOSE TWO PROJECTS? OKAY. YEAH. SO MAYBE WE CAN ADDRESS BOTH OF THOSE. YES, SIR. OR. DID WE TAKE ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION? I DON'T REMEMBER. WELL, WE DID NOT TAKE ACTION IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE HAVE NOT TAKEN ANY ACTION POST EXECUTIVE SESSION. RIGHT. YEAH. OKAY. SO WE JUST JUMPED INTO ITEM FIVE F. SO WHAT I WOULD NEED FROM YOU ALL, IF YOU ALL ARE IN AGREEMENT, IS A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BUDGET AS, AS DISCUSSED, WITH THE ONE EXCEPTION BEING THE ENGINE SWITCHING OUT TO $49,000 INSTEAD OF 40,000, AS IT SAYS IN THE PACKAGE M ENGINE. AS DISCUSSED. OKAY. CAN I GET THEM? SO THAT'S ON ITEM F. NO. WE WANT TO DO ITEM F FIRST. WE CAN THE BUDGET. YEAH. [02:05:01] BECAUSE THAT WAS BASICALLY MY PRESENTATION. OKAY. OKAY. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL FOR MID-YEAR BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE, AS PRESENTED BY MR. GARZA, A SECOND. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. [7.OPEN SESSION] NOW, IF WE MAY, MR. CHAIR, GO BACK TO ITEM. I GUESS IT WOULD BE UNDER ITEM SEVEN THAT WE WOULD TAKE ACTION ON ITEMS WITHIN EXECUTIVE SESSION. THE ITEMS THAT WE NEEDED TO TAKE ACTION ON WOULD BE ONE, [1. Project Tuesday] [2. Project Next Generation .3 Project Hospitality] [10. Project Jules Verne 1. Project New Park 12. Project Cowboy] TWO, 11, ONE, TWO AND 11. YES, SIR. OKAY. CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 6A1, TWO AND 11 AS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION. A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. YES. MOTION OF PASSES. IS THAT IT? WE'RE DONE. [8. ADJOURNMENT] WE'RE DONE. THAT'S IT. CAN I GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? WE'RE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. GOOD JOB. GOOD JOB. THANK. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.