TO NEGOTIATE AN AGREEMENT RELATED THERETO. [00:06:03] ARE YOU SURE? YEAH. OKAY, EVERYBODY, THIS MUST BE THE MAYOR'S. [00:06:09] BUT I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND USE THE GAVEL MEETING TO ORDER OF THE EDINBURGH EDC. WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? VERONICA GONZALEZ. PRESENT. RAUL RESENDEZ PRESENT. EDDIE GARZA IS NOT HERE. YES, AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE A QUICK STATEMENT ABOUT THAT. OUR OUR DEAR FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, EDDIE. EDDIE GARZA HAS MOVED TO SAN ANTONIO, AND SO HE HAS SUBMITTED HIS LETTER OF RESIGNATION. SO HE'S NOT GOING TO BE HERE TODAY. I'M SURE THEY'LL BE MAKING AN APPOINTMENT FOR HIS POSITION PRETTY SOON. BUT WE WANT TO FORMALLY THANK EDDIE FOR ALL OF HIS SERVICE, FOR HIS YEARS OF SERVICE. [1. CALL TO ORDER, ESTABLISH AQUORUM] WE'RE GOING TO MISS HIM HERE IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, BUT I'M SURE WE'LL SEE HIM COME DOWN FOR EVENTS AND MAYBE WE CAN HAVE A LUNCH OR SOMETHING FOR HIM AS WELL TO THANK HIM FOR HIS SERVICE. SO DAN DIAZ IS NOT HERE YET, BUT HE WILL BE. SABRINA WALKER HERNANDEZ HERE. AARON. RONNIE RIVERA AND RICH GONZALEZ PRESENT. [A. Pledge of Allegiance.] WE DO HAVE QUORUM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. LET'S DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. PLEASE RISE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. OKAY. CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE. THE NOTICE WENT UP WITH THE REQUIRED AMOUNT OF TIME. [2. CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE] YES, MA'AM. NOTICE WAS POSTED LAST FRIDAY. [.3 DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST] WITH PLENTY OF TIME. ALRIGHTY. AND DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST. OMAR. YES. UNDER STATE LAW, A CONFLICT OF INTEREST EXISTS IF A BOARD MEMBER OR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THAT PERSON'S FAMILY HAS A QUALIFYING FINANCIAL INTEREST IN AN AGENDA ITEM. IF THERE IS A CONFLICT, THE BOARD MEMBER CAN'T PARTICIPATE OR VOTE ON [.4 PUBLIC COMMENTS] THE ITEM. ARE THERE ANY CONFLICTS TO DISCLOSE? NO, I DON'T BELIEVE SO. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. [EXECUTIVE SESSION] PUBLIC COMMENTS. DID ANYBODY SIGN UP FOR ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO. OKAY. EXECUTIVE SESSION. AND SO CAN I GET A MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION? MOTION SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE OR RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. MOTION IS APPROVED. WE ARE NOW GOING TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 405. [00:13:38] COMING UP NEXT ON ECN, A REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL. ON THE COUNCIL. MAYOR RAMIRO GARZA JR. MAYOR PRO TEM DANIEL DAN DIAZ, COUNCIL MEMBER JASON DELEON. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID SALAZAR JR. AND COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID WHITE. SITTING IN HIS ADVISER, CITY MANAGER MAYRA AYALA AND CITY ATTORNEY OMAR OCHOA. AND NOW LIVE FROM EDINBURG CITY HALL, THE EDINBURGH CITY COUNCIL. ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. IT IS 6:06 P.M. ON MY WATCH. I WELCOME TO THIS EVENING'S REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING. I DO SEE VISIBLY, WE HAVE A QUORUM WITH ALL MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT. WE'RE GOING TO START OFF THIS EVENING WITH PRAYER. WE HAVE PASTOR JOANNE. EWAN. IS IT PASTOR? OKAY. YES. THANK YOU. COULD YOU PLEASE COME UP AND LEAD US IN PRAYER, PLEASE? THANK YOU. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AS A CITY LORD. WE ASK YOUR BLESSINGS UPON THIS CITY COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT. WE ALSO ASK FOR YOUR WISDOM, LORD, IN MAKING DECISIONS. FATHER, WE PRAY THAT YOU GIVE THEM DIRECTION AND ALL THAT THEY DO AND ALL THAT THEY PLAN [00:15:03] FOR THIS CITY. FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT HONOR THAT EDINBURGH WAS GIVEN FOR BEING VOTED BEST CITY IN AMERICA. FATHER, WE THANK YOU, LORD, FOR THAT. AND LORD, WE ASK FOR YOUR BLESSING UPON ALL OF OUR COUNCILMEN AND OUR MAYOR TONIGHT. IN JESUS NAME, AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU. PLEASE JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM TWO. YES, SIR. MAYOR. THE MEETING WAS POSTED IN ACCORDANCE TO TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT ON JUNE 28TH, 2024 8:45 P.M., SIR. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ITEM THREE DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST. UNDER STATE LAW, A CONFLICT OF INTEREST EXISTS IF A COUNCIL MEMBER OR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THAT PERSON'S FAMILY HAS A QUALIFYING FINANCIAL INTEREST IN AN AGENDA ITEM. IF THERE IS A CONFLICT MEMBER CAN'T PARTICIPATE OR VOTE ON THE ITEM. ARE THERE ANY CONFLICTS TO DISCLOSE? NO, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ITEM FOUR CITY MANAGER'S REPORT. YES. YES, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I DID WANT TO TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE EDINBURG 2040 AND PROVIDE AN UPDATE TO THE COMMUNITY. I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT YOU KNOW, THAT THE EDINBURG 2040 WAS A BIG PART OF ONE OF THE REASON WHY WE GOT RECOGNIZED FOR THE ALL-AMERICA CITY FOR THE FOURTH TIME. SO I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO ASK, YOU KNOW, OUR CURRENT COORDINATOR, CARLOS GARZA, TO JUST BRIEFLY UPDATE THE COUNCIL BECAUSE THESE COMMITTEES ARE VERY ACTIVE AND THEY PLAY A BIG PART IN OUR BUDGETARY PROCESS AND ALL ALL THAT WE DO REGARDING PROJECTS AND SO FORTH. AND FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK, YOU KNOW, THE CHAIRS FOR THESE EDINBURG 20 COMMITTEES AS WELL, AND INVITE THE PUBLIC THAT IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN SERVING IN ANY OF THE, OF THE COMMITTEES, YOU KNOW, TO PLEASE REACH OUT, YOU KNOW, TO THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. AND WE WELCOME ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO, TO GET INVOLVED WITH WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE DOING WITH THESE COMMITTEES. CARLOS GARZA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS MYRA. MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CARLOS GARZA. I AM WITH THE EDINBURG EDC. I'M A PROJECT MANAGER THERE. WE JUST WANT TO PRESENT WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING HERE WITH THE EDINBURG 2040 VERY AWESOME INITIATIVES. AND WE'VE BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB. WE IN THE MONTH OF MARCH, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE EDINBURG PLANNING DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS THE EDINBURG 2040 AND CANDID KEITH'S COLLABORATIVE, WE WERE ABLE TO TALK TO ALL THE COMMITTEE CHAIRS AND DISCUSS STRATEGIES, GOALS AND AND HOW WE WERE GOING TO WORK ON THOSE GOALS IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT WE WERE WORKING ON. AND THEN IN THAT MONTH, AFTER ON APRIL 8TH, THE EDC, THE EDINBURG CHAMBER AND THE CITY OF EDINBURGH COLLABORATIVELY WORKED TOGETHER TO DO A NETWORKING AND Q&A EVENT WITH OUR CONSULTANTS FROM CK AND GARY MITCHELL TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS WITH STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, IF THEY HAD ANY QUESTIONS. SO WE WE CONJUNCTIVELY DID THAT WITH EDINBURG 2040 AND WE MET WITH THE COMMITTEE CHAIRS AS WELL. RIGHT NOW WE'RE WE'RE ACTUALLY VERY EXCITED BECAUSE IT IS THE END OF SUMMER OR IT'S THE BEGINNING OF SUMMER AND OUR STUDENTS ARE OUT, BUT OUR MAYOR'S YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL ARE ALSO OUT. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO BE PRESENTING SOME STUDENTS RIGHT NOW, 27 STUDENTS WHO WILL BE SENIORS IN THE INCOMING PROGRAM. 12 OF THOSE SENIORS ARE GRADUATES WHO RECEIVED A STOOL TO COMMEMORATE THE COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM. SO WE'RE SUPER EXCITED BECAUSE THEY RAN FROM THAT YEAR AND THEY MENTORED OUR STUDENTS THIS YEAR. AND IN ADDITION, WE JUST WANT TO INVITE THE PUBLIC WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THIS MONTH OF JULY. WE HAVE SCHEDULED MEETINGS THAT YOU CAN FIND ON THE EDINBURG 20 40.COM WEBSITE, WHERE YOU CAN BE A PART OF EIGHT DIFFERENT COMMITTEES, INCLUDING ARTS AND CULTURE, PARKS AND BEAUTIFICATION, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, PUBLIC SAFETY, TRANSPORTATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY. AGAIN, THESE ARE ALL OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND YOU CAN JOIN THROUGH THE EDINBURG 20 40.COM WEBSITE. THANK YOU CARLOS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MENTION AS I HAD STATED BEFORE, YOU KNOW, THE EDINBURG 2040 40 COMMITTEES PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH BEING RECOGNIZED AT A NATIONAL LEVEL. SO AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF THE CHAIRS AND MAYOR, IF I MAY, IF YOU SEE BEHIND YOU THERE'S A SEAL WITH OUR NEW 2024 DATE FOR OUR DESIGNATION. SO THAT'S ALL WE HAVE AT THIS TIME, MAYOR. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE. I DO WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC, THE COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE COMMITTEES. THESE ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, I THINK JUST ABOUT ANY KIND OF AREA THAT THE [00:20:05] CITY HAS OVERSIGHT ON IS THERE'S A COMMITTEE FOR WHETHER IT'S PARKS, TRANSPORTATION, IF YOU HAVE SOME IDEAS OF SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK WE WE SHOULD BE WORKING TOWARDS, OR EVEN GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY, THERE'S A COMMITTEE ON HOW WE CAN BE MORE TRANSPARENT IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO. PLEASE JOIN THE COMMITTEES. IT'S AS SIMPLE AS GOING TO EDINBURGH 2040. COM SIGNING UP. WE DON'T APPOINT THE COUNCIL. SO ANYBODY THAT SIGNS UP, SO LONG AS YOU LIVE HERE, YOU HAVE OR YOU'RE A STAKEHOLDER HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY, YOU COULD SERVE. AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S A LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS ON EACH COMMITTEE. NO, SIR. AND SO IF YOU DON'T WANT TO GO ONLINE, YOU CAN VISIT WITH MR. CARLOS GARZA HERE OR CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE IF YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED. THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY THERE. SO I DO WANT TO THANK THE CHAIRS. THEY'RE THE ONES. THOSE ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT ARE APPOINTED BY THE COUNCIL. WE WANTED TO HAVE SOMEBODY THAT AT LEAST CONDUCTS THE MEETINGS. AND SO I WANT TO THANK ALL THE CHAIRS THAT SERVE AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE. SO THANK YOU, MAYOR, AS WELL AS ALL THE MEMBERS AND ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS AND EVERYONE INVOLVED IN ALL OF THE PROCESS. YOU KNOW, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO EXTEND AN APPRECIATION, YOU KNOW, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THANK YOU, CARLOS, FOR THE UPDATE. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON. ACTUALLY, JUST STAY ON FOR THE PROCLAMATION OR I SHOULD SAY CERTIFICATES WE HAVE. I'M NOT SURE. WE HAVE EVERYBODY HERE. WE HAVE A LOT OF MEMBERS OF THE MAYOR'S YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL THAT ARE HERE. SO AT THIS TIME, I'M GONNA ASK SABRINA, DO YOU WANT TO COME UP, MISS SABRINA? AND EITHER YOU COME BY YOURSELF AND BRING EVERYBODY OR HOWEVER YOU WANT TO DO IT. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. SO MAYOR COUNCIL. FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE A LITTLE SOMETHING I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THE MIAC AS IT'S KNOWN IT WAS CREATED TO INCLUDE THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE CITY'S YOUNG YOUTH BY BECOMING ENGAGED IN ESTABLISHING THE FUTURE OF THE CITY. THE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE THE CITY'S YOUTH WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE OPERATIONS OF A MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, SUCH AS DRAINAGE, DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY. OTHER AREAS OF INVOLVEMENT INCLUDED ADVOCATING FOR AN EXPANSION OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND OTHER CRUCIAL AREAS THAT MAY AFFECT THEIR FUTURE. MY MY ACT PROVIDES EDINBURGH'S YOUNG GENERATION THE NECESSARY TOOLS SUCH AS TRAINING AND TRUST, TO APPLY THEIR CREATIVITY AND SKILLS TO BETTER THEIR COMMUNITY BY ALLOWING THEM TO HAVE A VOICE IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT. AND SO WE'RE RECOGNIZING THE 2023, THE FIRST COHORT AND THE SECOND COHORT OF THE MAYOR'S YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL. AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THESE KIDS. WE HAVE SOME OF THE GRADUATING SENIORS WITH US TODAY. MOST OF THEM ARE ALREADY OFF. AND OUT OF TOWN AND TRAVELING COUNTRY. SO I'M SO HAPPY TO HAVE ON. WE ALL KNOW GABRIELLA. SHE'S WITH US. WE HAVE JAMAL WITH US, WE HAVE ALEJANDRA WITH US, AND WE HAVE OSCAR WITH US. SORRY ABOUT NOT USING LAST NAMES. BUT I'VE KNOWN THESE KIDS OVER THE LAST PAST TWO YEARS, AND I'M VERY FOND OF THEM. AND ALEJANDRA ACTUALLY WAS THE VALEDICTORIAN OF HER CLASS. AND SO I'VE ALWAYS PUT THEM ON THE SPOT. AND I ONE OF THE SKILL SETS THAT I GATHERED WAS SPEAKING ON THE SPOT, SO I DON'T PREPARE THEM. I SIMPLY SAY, WHO WANTS TO SPEAK? AND SO I THINK THERE IS SOME. AND DAN KNOWS THIS. BEING A SOLDIER, SOMETIMES WE SHOULDN'T VOLUNTEER. BUT THAT'S HOW WE BECAME SOLDIERS. SO WE RAISE OUR HAND. AND SO ALEJANDRO RAISED HER HAND. AND SHE HAS SOMETHING THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO SAY. THANK YOU. HI. I JUST WANTED TO SAY A FEW WORDS FOR THE GRADUATING CLASS. WE JUST WANT TO SAY HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY OVER THESE PAST TWO YEARS, MENTORING THE NEW COHORT AND THEN OUR OUR OWN EXPERIENCE AS BEING THE VERY, VERY FIRST CLASS. IT'S BEEN SUPER REWARDING. WE FEEL SO LIKE LIKE WE'VE LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT THE CITY. WE'VE LEARNED TO LOVE IT. I KNOW GABBY LIKE SHE'S. I'M GOING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. SHE'S SHE'S MENTIONED THAT SHE SHE HAS SOME ASPIRATIONS AT ONE POINT LIKE RUNNING FOR MAYOR AS WELL. RIGHT. BECAUSE OF THIS, THIS OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US AND THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO LEARN AND LOVE OUR CITY. SO I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK FOR THE COHORT, THE GRADUATING COHORT THAT FOR EVERYONE, NOT JUST THE ONES THAT ARE HERE, BUT FOR THE ONES THAT ARE OUT ALREADY TRAVELING. WE JUST LOVE THIS EXPERIENCE AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO MAYOR, I DO HAVE WITH ME OUR SOME OF OUR SECOND [00:25:01] YEAR, AND I HAVE CERTIFICATES FOR THEM. SO I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THEIR NAMES AND HAVE THEM. AND I KNOW WE'LL GO DOWN THERE AND YOU'LL COME DOWN. SO AS I CALL YOUR NAME. AND BEFORE YOU START, SABRINA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. SHE'S ALSO A SOLDIER SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY. ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR SABRINA. THANK YOU. OKAY, ANDRES. THERE YOU GO. LET'S GO OVER THERE. RITA. RITA. CRUZ. NICOLAS. CANTU. NICK. AMANDA. SOTO. AMANDA. AMANDA. CELESTE. CELESTE. PAZ. DANIELA. GONZALEZ. THANK YOU. ELI. HI. DID I SAY IT RIGHT? ELI. NO, I DIDN'T. I'M SORRY. I DID SAY ELI. GISELLE. GUAJARDO. OFF. CHRISTOPHER LEWIS. OKAY, THEN WE HAVE KARINA ESPARZA. KARINA. NO. OKAY. ALYSSA MOLINA. MOLINA. HEY, WHO SIGNED IN FOR THEM? OKAY. HOW ABOUT MAYRA FLORES? OKAY, COME ON UP HERE. TELL ME YOUR NAMES AND I'LL GIVE YOU YOUR CERTIFICATES FOR SURE. HOW ABOUT THIS? INTRODUCE YOURSELF. I'M RIOS. I'M ERIN GUERRERO. PERFECT. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THIS. IT MIGHT NOT BE YOUR NAME, BUT IT'S PERFECT. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. SO IF Y'ALL WANT TO GET. HOW DO YOU WANT TO SET UP THE PICTURE IN FRONT OF HERE? YEAH, WE CAN DO IT RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU. RIGHT HERE? YES. AND THEN WE'RE ALL GOING TO CIRCLE AROUND HIM OR GET REALLY, REALLY CLOSE. OKAY, EVERYBODY, COME RIGHT IN HERE. GET IN HERE SOMEWHERE. ABOUT HALF AND HALF. HELLO? YOU GUYS TO COME AROUND TO THIS SIDE? YOU GUYS TURN AROUND AND SAY PLEASE AND. THANK YOU. COME ON, LET'S GET IN HERE. WE NEED A FEW MORE. OKAY. SABRINA, ARE YOU NOT GOING TO BE IN A TRAINING CAMP IN AUGUST 18TH? OKAY, OKAY, OKAY. RIGHT HERE. ALL RIGHT. READY IN THREE. TWO. ONE. HERE WE GO. OKAY, WE'VE GOT A PARENT. NO, WAIT, WAIT. SORRY. YOU GOT IT. OKAY. THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS. THANK YOU. OKAY. BEFORE YOU ALL GO, SABRINA, CAN Y'ALL CAN I CALL EVERYBODY BACK? I'M SORRY. I WANT TO HAVE EACH OF THEM INTRODUCE THEMSELVES WHERE THEY GO TO SCHOOL, IF THAT'S OKAY. SO, JAMAL, I'M GOING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. I KNOW TRAINING CAMP IS COMING UP. RIGHT, BUT GO AHEAD. HI. MY NAME IS JAMAL. POLLY. I'LL BE CURRENTLY I'M A I'M GOING TO BE ATTENDING UTRGV. AND ALSO I COMMITTED TO PLAY FOOTBALL THERE. ALL RIGHT. HELLO, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS LOLA SANCHEZ, AND I WILL BE ATTENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, AND I PLAN TO MAJOR IN SOCIAL WORK. THANK YOU. HELLO. MY NAME IS OSCAR GALVAN. I'M GOING TO UTRGV, AND I'M GOING TO BE MAJORING IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING. WOW. THANKS. HELLO. MY NAME IS ANDRES VALDEZ, AND I'M CURRENTLY A STUDENT IN EDINBURG HIGH SCHOOL. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ELI HILDEBRAND, AND I'M A. I'LL BE A SENIOR AT VANGUARD ACADEMY. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER NOISY, AND I'LL BE A SENIOR NEXT YEAR AT AVILA. HI, MY NAME IS DANIELA GONZALEZ, AND I'LL BE A SENIOR AT VANGUARD BEETHOVEN HIGH SCHOOL. HI. I'M JUST SO HARDER THAN I GO TO VANGUARD ACADEMY. [00:30:01] HI. I'M. I'M AN INCOMING SENIOR AT VANGUARD BEETHOVEN SECONDARY. HELLO. MY NAME IS AIDEN GUERRERO, AND I'LL BE A SENIOR AT EDINBURGH COLLEGIATE HIGH SCHOOL. HELLO, MY NAME IS CELESTA BASS AND I'LL BE A SENIOR AT EDINBURGH COLLEGIATE HIGH SCHOOL. HELLO, I'M AMANDA AND I'LL BE A SENIOR AT COLLEGIATE HIGH SCHOOL. HELLO, MY NAME IS RITA CRUZ, AND I WILL BE A SENIOR AT ROBERT VELA HIGH SCHOOL. HELLO. MY NAME IS NICOLAS CANTU, AND I'LL BE A SENIOR AT ROBERT VELA HIGH SCHOOL. [00:35:47] PARA EL PUERTO DE TAMPICO. YA ME VOY A RETIRAR PARA EL PUERTO DE TAMPICO. PARA ISSO DE ENAMORAR. NO ES NECESARIO SORICO. HEY, CUE SABER LES HABLAR PARA ESO TIENE UN A NOCHE A NOCHE DE LA MADRUGADA. A NOCHE. NOCHE. LA MADRUGADA. LA VIDA MIA. CONTIGO ESTABA. OKAY. SORRY, I DON'T KNOW. OKAY I WON'T. I MEAN, I'LL JUST. THANK YOU. WE GOT ONE MORE. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO? I MEAN, SAY, WE DON'T WANT TO PICK AND CHOOSE, BUT. BUT YOU'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE HIM. I AM. OH, PERFECT. PERFECT. OH, SORRY. OH, IS SHE COMING? OH, WE'RE LIKE, THREE MINUTES AWAY, SO. OKAY. FOR NOW, YOU DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO. OKAY. OKAY. ONE, TWO, THREE MINUTES AWAY. WE'RE GOING TO SING ONE MORE SONG, AND THEN THAT'S IT. I KNOW. UNA ROSA. MOTIVO. EL. POEMA ES FACIL. UN MOTIVO. DE ESTA POR UN CONSUELO DE LA FANTASIE. VANIA. SONO UN MOTIVO. UNOS LABIOS QUERENDO. BIZARRE. SONO MOTIVO. E. MIRANDO DE AQUI Y ENCONTRAR. MOTIVOS. YO CONCLUYO. MI MOTIVO. MEJOR ERES TU. THIS IS THE LAST SONG. UNOS OJOS VANIA. SONO UN MOTIVO. UNOS LABIOS. BIZARRE. SONO. MOTIVO. MIRANDO AQUI ENCONTRAR [00:40:04] TANTOS MOTIVOS YO CONCLUYO MI MOTIVO MEJOR. YAY! JUST A FRIENDLY REMINDER THAT IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD TIME TO SILENCE OUR CELL PHONES. AND ON THAT NOTE, I THINK WE ARE DEFINITELY READY TO START. SPECIAL THANKS ONCE AGAIN TO THE UTRGV MARIACHI ATZLAN FOR KICKING THINGS OFF FOR US. YOUR AWESOME JACOB. DON'T GO TOO FAR. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND THANKS FOR JOINING US. AS WE FINALLY GET TO CELEBRATE IN EDINBURG FASHION. OUR FOURTH, YES, FOURTH ALL-AMERICA CITY TITLE. IT'S AN EXCITING TIME FOR OUR CITY. DEPICTIONS IN MEDIA FOR THE CITY. IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE THIS MORNING AS WE GIVE YOU SOME MORE INFORMATION ON MAJOR UPGRADES FOR OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT. AS YOU KNOW, WATER DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE ALWAYS KEY ITEMS, ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO OUR CITIZENS. AND ALL OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'RE DOING REFLECT OUR ONGOING COMMITMENT TO ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE CITY OF EDINBURG. SO IT'S A GOOD DAY FOR US. I'D LIKE TO START THIS MORNING BY INTRODUCING SOME OF OUR EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL. THEY'VE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THIS PROJECT. PLEASE WELCOME OUR MAYOR, RAMIRO GARZA, JUNIOR. COUNCILMAN JASON DE LEON. OUR CITY MANAGER, MISS MAYRA AYALA. WE ALSO HAVE SOME PRETTY AMAZING PARTNERS WORKING WITH US ON THIS MAJOR UPGRADE. BIG THANKS TO THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD WHO PROVIDED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. ALWAYS IMPORTANT. OUR ENGINEER OF RECORD, MELDON AND HUNT. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. OUR CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS TESTING COMPANY, MILLENNIUM ENGINEERS GROUP. AND OUR CONTRACTOR OF RECORD JMJ CONSTRUCTORS. NOW LET US BEGIN OUR PROGRAM TODAY IN PRAYER. IF YOU CAN, PLEASE STAND FOR THAT. PLEASE WELCOME COUNCIL MEMBER DE LEON TO LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION AND ALSO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE GATHER TODAY WITH THANKS AS WE START THIS IMPORTANT PROJECT TO IMPROVE AND TO IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE HARD WORK OF THOSE WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEMSELVES TO THIS EFFORT. AS WE UPGRADE OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, WE ASK FOR YOUR BLESSING. PLEASE GUIDE EVERYONE INVOLVED IN BUILDING, FIXING AND UPGRADING OUR FACILITIES. KEEP THEM SAFE AND GIVE THEM WISDOM IN THEIR WORK. MAY THIS PROJECT MAKE OUR CITY FACILITIES MORE EFFICIENT, HELPING OUR COMMUNITY TO GROW AND THRIVE. WE TRUST IN YOUR GUIDANCE AND PROTECTION. LET THIS PROJECT SHOW OUR CITY'S COMMITMENT TO PROGRESS AND AND WELL-BEING FOR OUR RESIDENTS. IN YOUR HOLY NAME, WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. PLEASE PLACE YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART. 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. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DE LEON. APPRECIATE YOU. ALSO JOINING US THIS MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID WHITE. [00:45:04] AND NOW CONTINUING WITH OUR PROGRAM, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME THE LEADER OF OUR ALL-AMERICA CITY, OUR MAYOR RAMIRO GARZA JUNIOR. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE TODAY AT CITY HALL FOR THE BEGINNING OF A ANOTHER IMPORTANT PROJECT FOR OUR CITY. AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, THE PROJECT'S NOT HAPPENING HERE AT CITY HALL. IT'S IT'S HAPPENING ON M ROAD, JUST NORTH OF RICHARDSON ROAD THERE AT OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT LOCATION. YOU KNOW, THIS IS A FIRST PHASE OF AN EXPANSION THAT IS HAPPENING. BUT FOR US AS A CITY, IT'S A BIG STEP FORWARD ENSURING THAT OUR CITY'S FACILITIES OPERATE EFFICIENTLY AND THAT WE'RE ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE THE GROWTH THAT WE'RE HAVING HERE IN OUR CITY. IT IS TREMENDOUS GROWTH. BUT THIS HERE THAT WE'RE ANNOUNCING TODAY IS A BIG STEP FORWARD TO ADDRESSING THAT. YOU KNOW, WE'RE BEGINNING THE EXPANSION AND ENHANCEMENT OF OUR EXISTING PLANT, FOCUSING ON CRITICAL UPGRADES AND IMPROVEMENTS. AND A LITTLE BIT YOU'RE GOING TO GET A LOT MORE DETAILS ON WHAT THIS EXPANSION IS. BUT THIS WORK DOES INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION, REPAIR AND UPGRADES OF OUR SLUDGE PROCESSING UNITS, VITAL SITE IMPROVEMENTS TO BOOST PLANT PLANT FUNCTIONALITY, AND THE CAREFUL DEMOLITION AND REMOVAL OF OUTDATED FACILITIES. THIS WILL INCREASE OUR CAPACITY AND SUSTAINABILITY, PROVIDING BETTER SERVICE TO OUR RESIDENTS. AS WE KNOW, INFRASTRUCTURE AND DRAINAGE ARE ALWAYS KEY CONCERNS FOR OUR RESIDENTS AS MISS ROXANNE. OH MY GOSH. FORGETTING HER NAME. ALL-AMERICA CITY. YEAH. IT REALLY IS NOT JUST BECAUSE AS A COUNCIL, WE PRIORITIZE THIS AND WHAT WE DO, BUT WE HEAR FROM RESIDENTS EVERY DAY. SO THIS PROJECT IS A TESTAMENT TO OUR COMMITMENT TO PROGRESS IN MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR GROWING COMMUNITY. I JUST WANT TO EXTEND OUR THANKS TO EVERYONE INVOLVED FOR MAKING THIS PROJECT A REALITY. WE HAVE MR. JERRY CARMONA HERE. HE'S THE DIRECTOR, ARTURO MARTINEZ, AND ALSO TOM BRAINER. LET'S GIVE HIM A HAND THERE. THE LEADERSHIP TEAM BEHIND THIS. AND. OF COURSE, BEING LED BY OUR CITY MANAGEMENT TEAM. BUT ALSO, I JUST WANT TO THANK. I SEE SOME UTILITY STAFF. CAN YOU RAISE YOUR HAND, PLEASE? EVERYBODY THAT WORKS IN UTILITIES. LET'S GIVE THEM A HAND BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT OPERATE AND MANAGE OUR FACILITIES DAILY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND TOGETHER. I KNOW WE CAN BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR OUR CITY. LET'S CELEBRATE THIS MILESTONE WITH OPTIMISM AND DETERMINATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING OUR CREWS. APPRECIATE THAT. OBVIOUSLY THESE UPGRADES ARE GREAT, GREAT NEWS FOR OUR UTILITY DEPARTMENT. TO GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ON THE ACTUAL SCOPE OF THE PROJECT. PLEASE WELCOME THEIR DIRECTOR, GERARDO CARMONA, FOR SOME COMMENTS. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. I'M EXCITED TO STAND HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY TO ANNOUNCE A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD IN OUR COMMUNITY'S COMMITMENT TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH. TODAY, WE ANNOUNCED THAT THE EXPANSION AND ENHANCEMENT OF OUR EXISTING WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY HAS BEGUN. OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN SAFEGUARDING OUR ENVIRONMENT AND ENSURING THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR RESIDENTS. THE CONSTRUCTION WILL TAKE 675 DAYS TO BE COMPLETE, WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $24 MILLION, AND WILL FOCUS ON THE ACTIVITIES THAT THE MAYOR MENTIONED EARLIER. ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPONENTS HERE OF THE EXISTING OF OF THIS PROJECT IS THAT THE CAPACITY WILL EXPAND FROM 12.3 12.3 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY TO 13.5. 13.5 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY. AT THIS MOMENT, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL CITY MANAGEMENT, MY STAFF, OUR ENGINEER, MELANIE HUNT MILLENNIUM ENGINEERS GROUP WHO WILL BE CONDUCTING THE CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL TESTING THE CONTRACTOR, JM J CONSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE. AND OF COURSE, THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD FOR PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE CITY OF EDINBURG. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JERRY. OKAY. I THINK IT'S TIME TO GET TO THE ACTION. WE'RE GOING TO DO A CEREMONIAL TURNING OF THE DIRT TO COMMEMORATE OUR WASTEWATER UPGRADES. IF WE CAN GET OUR CITY LEADERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS, OUR CONTRACTORS SOME OF OUR UTILITY CREWS LINED UP FOR THAT RIGHT BEHIND ME, RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE FOUNTAIN SO WE CAN DO THE GROUNDBREAKING. ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO STEP TO THE FRONT, TAKE A PHOTO. YOU ARE WELCOME TO DO THAT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. [00:50:11] WE APPRECIATE IT. DON'T TAKE MY PICTURE WITHOUT. WHERE'S THAT? IT'S RIGHT THERE. OKAY. ANDRES. ANDRES. CAN I HAVE SOME OF YOU GUYS COME OVER TO THIS SIDE, PLEASE? PERFECT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE? IS SOMEBODY ELSE GRABBING THE HELMET? YEAH. ONE MORE. DOES ANYONE WANT TO GET IN HERE? THE GUYS THAT ARE GOING TO BE DOING THE WORK, I JUST SMILE AND WAVE. COME ON. LET'S GO. ALRIGHT. OKAY. Y'ALL GUYS WANT TO GET BEHIND THEM SO THEY CAN BE IN THE IN THE WINDOWS BETWEEN THEM? YEAH, IN BETWEEN THEM. THERE YOU GO. THERE YOU GO. BETWEEN THAT AND THE MAYOR. PERFECT. AND YOU, YOU'RE LIKE THAT. YOU CAN STEP A LITTLE CLOSER TO. THERE WE GO. PERFECT. SO IF EVERYBODY WANTS TO HOLD THE DIRT UP, DO NOT TOSS IT YET FOR A QUICK PICTURE. ALRIGHT. RIGHT HERE, ON THE COUNT OF THREE. READY? ONE. TWO. THREE. NOW, ON THE COUNT OF THREE, WE'RE GOING TO TOSS THE DIRT TO YOUR LEFT. ONE, TWO. THREE LEFT. IT IS OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL. THAT WRAPS UP TODAY'S PRESS SOME THINGS WE LOOK FORWARD TO. THE WASTEWATER OF THIS PROJECT IN SPRING OF 2026. WE DO HAVE ALL OF UTILITIES DEPARTMENT. THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING, AND WE HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL REST OF THE DAY. [00:57:30] COMING UP NEXT ON ECN, A REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL. ON THE COUNCIL. MAYOR RAMIRO GARZA JR. MAYOR PRO TEM DANIEL DAN DIAZ, COUNCIL MEMBER JASON DELEON. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID SALAZAR JR. AND COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID WHITE. SITTING IN HIS ADVISORS, CITY MANAGER MAYRA AYALA AND CITY ATTORNEY OMAR OCHOA. AND NOW LIVE FROM EDINBURGH CITY HALL, THE EDINBURGH CITY COUNCIL. GOOD EVENING. WELCOME TO THIS EVENING'S REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING. TODAY IT IS JANUARY 16TH AND IT IS 6:00. I'M GOING TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. AT THIS TIME, I DO SEE VISIBLY THAT WE HAVE A QUORUM WITH ALL MEMBERS OF COUNCIL BEING PRESENT. SO WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED AS WE DO EVERY MEETING WITH A PRAYER. AND I HAVE HERE PASTOR DOCTOR DAVID ALEXANDER FROM FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH TO LEAD US IN PRAYER. THANK YOU. MR. MAYOR, HONORABLE COUNCIL OFFICIALS, FELLOW CITIZENS. LET US PRAY. FATHER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS EVENING, LORD, THAT WE ARE REMINDED OF YOUR PROVISION OF A WARM PLACE TO DO BUSINESS IN. LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE SHELTER. WE PRAY FOR THOSE THIS EVENING WHO MIGHT BE STRUGGLING WITH THAT. LORD, WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD HELP THEM TO FIND THE REFUGE THEY NEED FROM THE WEATHER. LORD, THANK YOU FOR A PLACE WHERE WE CAN COME AND REASON TOGETHER. WE THANK YOU FOR A COUNTRY THAT ALLOWS US TO DO THIS, AND TO COME TO THE CITY SQUARE AND TALK ABOUT THE THINGS OF THE CITY. SO, LORD, WE PRAY FOR YOUR WISDOM, THAT AS WE REASON TOGETHER THAT WE MIGHT SEEK YOUR GUIDANCE IN BEING THE STEWARDS OF THE RESOURCES THAT YOU'VE ENTRUSTED TO US. SO GUIDE OUR COUNSEL. GUIDE THE CITIZENS THIS EVENING AS THEY DO THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY. YOU HAVE GIVEN US. THANK YOU LORD AGAIN FOR YOUR INTENTIONAL AND PERSONAL INTEREST IN THE AFFAIRS OF OF YOUR CREATION. IN JESUS NAME, AMEN. AMEN. WE'RE GOING TO RECITE THE PLEDGE. AT THIS TIME. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. DOCTOR DAVID ALEXANDER, FOR THAT PRAYER. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM TWO, CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE. [01:00:04] YES, SIR. MAYOR IN THE MEETING WAS POSTED IN ACCORDANCE TO TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT ON JANUARY 12TH, 2024 AT 11:15 P.M., SIR. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.