Jul 16, 2024 City Council Meeting

I'M READY.

[00:02:44]

MAYOR PRO TEM DANIEL DAN DIAZ COUNCIL MEMBER, JASON DE LEON COUNCIL MEMBER, DAVID SALAZAR JR AND COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID WHITE SITTING IN AS ADVISORS, CITY MANAGER MAYRA AYALA AND CITY ATTORNEY

[1. CALL TO ORDER, ESTABLISH QUORUM]

ALL RIGHT. IT IS 608 BY MY WATCH.

[A. Prayer.]

WE'RE GOING TO START LIKE WE START EVERY COUNCIL MEETING WITH A PRAYER.

AND WE HAVE REVEREND GABRIELLA CONKLIN HERE TO LEAD US IN PRAYER FROM FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH. CAN YOU PLEASE STAND FOR PRAYER? LET US PRAY. ALMIGHTY AND JUST GOD, I PRAY THAT YOU WILL GUIDE OUR COUNCIL PEOPLE AS THEY MEET AND DISCUSS MATTERS WITH REGARD TO OUR CITY.

I PRAY THEY SHALL CHOOSE TO DO THAT WHICH IS MORAL AND RATIONAL.

I PRAY THAT THEIR MOTIVATION AND EVERYTHING THEY WANT TO DO IS THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE, AND NOT THEIR OWN.

I PRAY THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS OUR CITY FACES, AND MAKE GOOD POLICIES THAT ADDRESS THEM.

HELP THEM TO BE COMPETENT AND EXCELLENT IN THEIR GOVERNANCE.

BLESS AND KEEP THEM AS.

[B. Pledge of Allegiance.]

IN YOUR HOLY NAME WE PRAY.

AMEN. PLEASE JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

[2. CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE]

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM TWO.

[3. DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST]

SIR. THANK YOU. ITEM THREE IS DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

UNDER STATE LAW, A CONFLICT OF INTEREST EXISTS IF A COUNCIL MEMBER OR CERTAIN MEMBERS

[00:05:03]

[4. MAYOR'S REPORT]

[A. South Texas Alliance of Cities Update.]

ITEM FOUR I HAVE A MAYOR'S REPORT.

JUST A QUICK UPDATE. COUNCIL AND JUST MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

WE HAD A MEETING ON JULY 9TH IN BROWNSVILLE WITH THE SOUTH TEXAS ALLIANCE OF CITIES.

IT'S AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN FORMED TO COLLABORATE REGIONALLY WITH OUR CITIES, FROM SAN ANTONIO TO LAREDO, ALL THE WAY TO BROWNSVILLE.

SO WE HAD A REALLY GOOD MEETING IN BROWNSVILLE.

AND THE NEXT ONE IS GOING TO BE HOSTED HERE IN MCALLEN.

I UNDERSTAND MAYOR VILLALOBOS CAN INVITE OUR GOVERNOR TO COME TO THAT.

[5. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS]

[A. Presentation of Proclamation Recognizing Alfia Bilal for her Accomplishments. [Clarice Y. Balderas, City Secretary]]

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM FIVE PROCLAMATIONS PRESENTATION PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING ALTHEA VILLA FOR HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

MISS BILAL, THAT WE CAN STEP UP TO THE PODIUM.

HI. WHEREAS ON MARCH 4TH, 2006, ALTHEA BILAL WAS BORN TO DOCTOR BILAL BIN HAFEEZ AND MISS SHAZIA RIZWAN IN MADISON, WISCONSIN. AND WHEREAS, BILAL LIVED IN MADISON, WISCONSIN AND ATTENDED MEDINA ACADEMY OF MADISON AND SHOREWOOD HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AS A CHILD OF, BILAL EXHIBITED AN OUTGOING NATURE KNOWN FOR HER FRIENDLY DEMEANOR AND ABILITY TO CONNECT WITH OTHERS, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN. SHE WAS PARTICULARLY CARING FOR HER YOUNGER BROTHER SHAHIR, MOHAMMED BILAL AND UZAIR MUHAMMAD BILAL, AND WHEREAS, DURING HER FIFTH GRADE YEAR, HER FATHER'S JOB RELOCATED THE FAMILY TO MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, AND AGAIN THIS SUMMER, BEFORE HER EIGHTH GRADE YEAR, HER FATHER'S JOB RELOCATED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY IN EDINBURGH, AND BILAL ATTENDED SOUTH TEXAS PREPARATORY ACADEMY AND PASSIONATE FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. SHE PARTICIPATED IN VARIOUS SPORTS SUCH AS SWIMMING, TENNIS, SOCCER, BIKING AND DANCE. SHE WAS CROSS COUNTRY TEAM CAPTAIN, SHOOTING GUARD FOR THE GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM, OUTSIDE HITTER FOR THE GIRLS VARSITY VOLLEYBALL TEAM, AND WAS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN SPIRIT WEEK AWARDS.

BILAL DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION, PARTICIPATING IN NUMEROUS CLUBS THE UNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE, MODERN ORATORY, NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY, NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY, TECHNOLOGY STUDENT ASSOCIATION, NATIONAL TECHNICAL HONOR SOCIETY, STUDENT COUNCIL, THE SCIENCE OLYMPIAD STUDENT AMBASSADOR, AND CERTIFIED PHARMACY TECHNICIAN CTE PROGRAM.

SHE PROMOTED HEALTH INITIATIVES SUCH AS TEXAS A&M MENTORS PROJECT HEALTH AMBASSADOR ENGAGED IN ADVANCED SELECTED PRE-MEDICAL PROGRAMS SUCH AS BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, DOC PREP, AND UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT RIO GRANDE VALLEY SCALPEL PROGRAM.

SHE QUALIFIED INTERNATIONALLY FOR HOSA, FUTURE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND NATIONALLY FOR BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS OF AMERICA.

SHE CONDUCTED SIGNIFICANT RESEARCH AS PART OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARS PROGRAM.

VOLUNTEERED WITH SOUTH TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEMS, SHADOWED PHYSICIANS IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, AND DISPLAYED HER INITIATIVES AT SOUTH TEXAS ISD BOARD MEETINGS.

AND WHEREAS, MISS BELLA HELD LEADERSHIP ROLES SUCH AS THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT CLASS OF 2024, PRESIDENT, TEXAS HOSA AREA OFFICER, BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS OF AMERICA, BPA AREA TWO, REGION THREE REGIONAL PRESIDENT, CHAPTER PRESIDENT FOR BOTH HOSA FUTURE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS OF AMERICA. AND WHEREAS BELLA'S HARD WORK AND DEDICATION REFLECTED HER ACHIEVEMENTS, SHE GRADUATED AS VALEDICTORIAN FROM SOUTH TEXAS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

SHE IS. SHE IS THE FIRST SCHOLAR FROM SOUTH TEXAS ISD AND WAS ACCEPTED TO PRINCETON UNIVERSITY. NOW, THEREFORE, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG, BY THE POWER VESTED IN THEM BY LAW, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE THE EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE ACHIEVEMENTS AND DEDICATION AND WISH HER SUCCESS IN HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

CONGRATULATIONS. OKAY.

HI. MY NAME IS ALTHEA BILAL.

I AM BEYOND HONORED TO BE HERE TONIGHT REPRESENTING THE CITY OF EDINBURGH.

IT'S HONESTLY A BIG BLESSING BECAUSE OFTENTIMES WE'RE NOT ABLE TO SEE STUDENTS COMING FROM WHAT THEY SAY IS AN UNDERSERVED CITY BE ABLE TO LEAVE THE VALLEY AND KIND OF PURSUE EDUCATION AT THESE INSTITUTIONS THAT WE SEE IN MOVIES.

SO IT'S JUST EXTREMELY A BIG BLESSING.

AND I'M JUST SO HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY.

AND I WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT SUPPORT TO LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE AND LIKE JUST THANK.

SO FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR RECOGNIZING ME AND PRESENTING ME WITH THE PROCLAMATION. SO THANK YOU.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE HERE TONIGHT ON THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THIS CITY.

AND I AM SO EXCITED TO GIVE BACK TO THIS COMMUNITY AND HOPEFULLY COME BACK HERE AS A EDUCATED PHYSICIAN AND IMPROVE HEALTH CARE EQUITY HERE.

THAT IS GENUINELY MY BIGGEST GOAL.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK MY WONDERFUL PARENTS RIGHT THERE.

[00:10:09]

I WOULD NOT BE THE PERSON I AM WITHOUT THEM.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO DO THINGS AND IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO STAND.

AND I GUESS, JUST STAND FOR WHAT YOU.

WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN. AND WITHOUT THEM, I WOULDN'T BE HERE.

I'D LIKE TO THANK MY LITTLE BROTHER, SHERRY.

HE MISSED HIS SWIMMING CLASS TO BE HERE WITH ME TODAY, SO THANK YOU. SHERRY. LET'S CLAP FOR SHERRY.

HIS SWIMMING CLASS MEANS A LOT TO HIM.

AND THEN I HAVE A OLDER BROTHER WHO IS MY IRISH TWIN.

FOR THOSE WHO YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW, AN IRISH TWIN IS SOMEONE THAT'S LESS THAN A YEAR APART FROM YOU. AND FOR THAT, THAT MEANS WE'RE 11 MONTHS APART FROM EACH OTHER. HE'S MY BEST FRIEND.

AND YOU KNOW, WE ALL HAVE THOSE PEOPLE THAT WE CALL FOR MINOR INCONVENIENCES.

AND FOR ME, THAT'S MY OLDER BROTHER, AND HE'S ACTUALLY A INCOMING SOPHOMORE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SO HE IS MY IVY LEAGUE IRISH TWIN.

AND I JUST WANT TO CLAP FOR HIM BECAUSE HE'S GOING TO WATCH THIS. HE'S MY BIGGEST FAN. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WE HAVE A VERY BRIGHT FUTURE IN THIS CITY, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE HAVE ALL THESE WONDERFUL KIDS HERE FROM NH, FROM HIGH SCHOOL. AND I ALSO WANT TO JUST SAY THAT I AM BEYOND EXCITED TO START FREE EDUCATIONAL INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS FOR THE STUDENTS HERE IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS I'M GOING TO BE HOSTING THREE SEPARATE SESSIONS WITH THE STUDENTS HERE TO JUST INSPIRE THEM AND TO TELL THEM THAT IF I CAN, YOU CAN TOO. AND I'M GOING TO EDUCATE THEM ON WHAT FAFSA IS, THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS, AND I'M GOING TO DO THAT.

AND HOPEFULLY I'M ABLE TO CONTINUE DOING THAT EVERY YEAR UNTIL I MAKE IT BIG, BECAUSE HONESTLY, MY JOURNEY JUST BEGAN.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I KNOW I THINK YOU HAVE SOME MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY HERE, BUT FIRST, LET ME JUST SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.

I MET HER RECENTLY. SHE CAME TO CITY HALL WITH HER, WITH HER FATHER. AND WAS SO PROUD TO BE REPRESENTING OUR CITY.

NOT ONLY AS A PRINCETON YOU KNOW, ACCEPTANCE STUDENT, BUT ALSO COCA-COLA YOU KNOW, SCHOLAR.

AND SO MY CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.

I THINK IT SPEAKS TO WHAT YOU'RE RIGHT.

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE HERE.

YOU JUST GOT TO PUT IN THE WORK AND, AND YOU KNOW, BUT DO ALL THAT YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, TO REACH YOUR GOALS.

SO. BUT THANK YOU FOR OFFERING.

WHEN WE MET, SHE SAID, WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP BEFORE I LEAVE TO COLLEGE? SHE SAYS, I WANT TO PROVIDE SOME SESSIONS.

SO THANK YOU FOR OFFERING THAT.

WE'VE TAKEN HER UP ON THAT OFFER.

I SEE PEDRO HERE FROM THE EDINBURG 2040 AND SHE THEY PUT TOGETHER SOME SESSIONS.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT. OR IS THAT AT A LATER TIME OR. YES.

AND I ALSO, OF COURSE, WITHOUT MISTER SALAZAR, THESE SESSIONS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE HERE.

AND WE MET AND HE HELPED ME PUT THEM TOGETHER.

AND HE'S BEEN BEHIND THE SCENES HELPING ME.

SO IF WE COULD CLAP FOR MISTER SALAZAR, HE'S AMAZING TOO.

I'D LIKE TO THANK HIM.

ONE LAST THING. I KIND OF WANT TO KIND OF WANT TO SAY WHAT A COCA-COLA SCHOLAR IS AND PUT THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE.

FOR ANYONE THAT WATCHES THIS MEETING AND ANYONE HERE IN ATTENDANCE RIGHT NOW.

SO A COCA-COLA SCHOLAR IS DEFINED AS SOMEONE WHO MAKES SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS IN THEIR COMMUNITY. IT'S THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS MERIT BASED SCHOLARSHIP WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.

THIS YEAR, THEY HAD OVER 103,800 APPLICANTS FROM ACROSS THE US, AND ONLY 150 STUDENTS GET SELECTED.

SO THE ACCEPTANCE RATE IS ONE SIXTH OF 1%.

AND I'M THE ONLY ONE FROM SOUTH TEXAS AND THE VERY FIRST ONE FROM EDINBURG.

SO IT'S JUST A HUGE, HUGE HONOR.

AND I AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL MY TEACHERS JUST IN CASE THEY WATCH THIS.

I WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT THEIR SUPPORT AND EVERYONE THAT ALL THE ACTIVITIES I WAS MENTIONED IN THE PROCLAMATION. THANK EVERYONE THAT HELPED ME DO THOSE MY PROFESSORS, THE ONES I DID RESEARCH UNDER EVERYONE ELSE JUST I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL.

HONORED. THANK GOD. OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE TO THANK HIM BECAUSE WITHOUT HIM, I WOULDN'T BE HERE EITHER.

BUT AGAIN, I'LL LET HER TAKE IT AWAY.

THANK YOU. GREAT. THANK YOU.

WELL, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS BETH AL-MAJED.

I'M. I'M ABOUT TO BEGIN MY SENIOR YEAR AT ROBERT VELA HIGH SCHOOL.

I'M HONORED TO HOLD THE POSITION OF NHS PRESIDENT.

ALONG WITH ME ARE SOME OF THE NHS OFFICERS.

SECRETARY JULIAN SALAZAR, HISTORIAN AND PARLIAMENTARIAN, SOON TO BE A GRADUATE.

I AM PROUD TO CURRENTLY BE IN THE TOP TEN OF MY CLASS.

HOWEVER, DESPITE THESE ACHIEVEMENTS, I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS,

[00:15:04]

RECENTLY, THE EDINBURG 2040 COMMITTEE APPROACHED US WITH AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY.

THEY INFORMED US ABOUT A FREE COMMUNITY EVENT FEATURING ALTHEA, A RECENT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE WHO SECURED A FULL RIDE TO 15 TOP COLLEGES AND IS HEADING TO PRINCETON WITH A FULL SCHOLARSHIP RECOGNIZING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ALTHEA SUCCESS. WE KNEW THIS WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO ENSURE THAT OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY BENEFIT FROM THIS KNOWLEDGE.

ALTHEA HAS DECIDED TO HOST A SEMINAR ON JULY 26TH FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND PARENTS.

FOLLOWING THIS, SHE WILL HOLD TWO STUDENT WORKING SESSIONS ON JULY 27TH AND AUGUST 3RD.

THESE SESSIONS WILL FOCUS ON EQUIPPING US WITH THE SKILLS AND STRATEGIES NEEDED TO PURSUE ADMISSION TO OUR DREAM COLLEGES WITHOUT FINANCIAL BURDEN AS NHS.

WE HOPE TO CONTINUE THIS SEMINAR SERIES TO SUPPORT FELLOW STUDENTS WHO, LIKE ME, NEED GUIDANCE WITH COLLEGE ADMISSIONS, SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID.

WE WILL ALSO HAVE SOME INVITATIONS THAT WE WILL BE PASSING OUT TO WHO IS PRESENT HERE? THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CAN YOU CAN YOU JUST SHARE WITH THE LOCATION SO THAT THE AUDIENCE EVERYBODY KNOWS THE OF THE.

YES. I WANT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE.

SO WE MADE SOME. SO EVERYBODY IN THE PUBLIC WILL KNOW AND YES.

SO THE ADMISSIONS AND SCHOLARSHIP SEMINAR IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE ON FRIDAY, JULY 26TH FROM 8 P.M., I MEAN, 6 P.M.

TO 8 P.M., I APOLOGIZE.

AT RED SQUARE DENTAL AND ORTHODONTICS, 1615 SOUTH KLAUSNER.

EDINBURG, TEXAS. AND THERE'S A RSVP LINK.

AND OUR BEAUTIFUL NHS PRESIDENT IS PASSING OUT THE INVITATION CARDS, SO IT'D BE AMAZING IF YOU COULD HELP SPREAD THE WORD.

I KNOW MR. SALAZAR IS WORKING SUPER HARD WITH THE BILLBOARDS HERE IN EDINBURG AND OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN HELP PUBLICIZE THIS EVENT, BECAUSE THE REALITY IS, IT'S NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET INTO THESE TOP SCHOOLS.

YOU JUST NEED GUIDANCE.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. AND I WOULD LIKE TO GUIDE THE STUDENTS HERE IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, BECAUSE I KNOW JUST LIKE ALL THESE STUDENTS HERE, THE ONES THAT ARE VOLUNTEERING HERE, I WAS ONE OF THEM TOO.

AND WHAT I LACKED WAS GUIDANCE.

I DIDN'T HAVE THAT HERE, AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO CHANGE.

SO IT'S JUST IT'S JUST AN HONOR AGAIN.

AND I WHOLEHEARTEDLY WELCOME YOU GUYS.

BRING EVERYONE YOU KNOW.

WE WANT THIS TO BE JUST FRIENDLY AND JUST LOVING AND I'LL HELP GENUINELY.

I'D LIKE TO HELP. SO THANK YOU.

LET'S GIVE HER A HAND AGAIN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[6. PUBLIC COMMENTS]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM SIX.

PUBLIC COMMENTS. YES, SIR.

MAYOR. THE EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL ASKED FOR A SPECIFIC PORTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO BE DEDICATED TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.

PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES.

I WILL BE TAKING TIME.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOT INTERACTIVE. THE COUNCIL MAY NOT RESPOND TO PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.

COUNCIL. THERE ARE FIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS. THE FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT IS FOR CLARITY REGARDING TAXPAYERS MONEY. GENTLEMEN, SOME OF YOU, I HAVE ASSESSED YOUR PERFORMANCE AND IT'S NOT GOOD.

YOU ARE INCREASING OUR COST OF LIVING AND YOU ARE NOT CONCENTRATING ON FIXING EXISTING PROBLEMS. I HAVE SPENT THE MORNING TALKING TO RESIDENTS WHO LIVE ON CHAPIN AND MCCALL CONCERNING THE PROPOSED ZONING CHANGE THAT WOULD ALLOW MULTIFAMILY HOUSING COME RIGHT NEXT TO SINGLE FAMILY HOUSES.

ALL THE FAMILIES THAT I MET HAD A STORY ABOUT CONTACTING THE CITY CONCERNING THE SEWER OVERFLOWING ONTO THE STREETS AND IN NEED OF BETTER STREETS IMPROVEMENTS.

WE CONSTANTLY HAVE POTHOLES.

THE CONCENTRATION OF MULTIFAMILY HOUSING IS GOING TO HAVE A SERIOUS IMPACT ON TRAFFIC AND PROVISION OF PUBLIC SERVICES.

THE CITY IS SIMPLY NOT FOLLOWING ITS OWN REGULATIONS.

IT ALLOWS CONSTRUCTION OF A SINGLE FAMILY SUBDIVISION AND THEN ALLOW MULTI FAMILY AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.

THEN THE COUNCIL INCREASES TAXES TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

I AM GOING TO SAY THIS SLOWLY THAT EVEN ELECTED OFFICIALS CAN UNDERSTAND.

TAKING MONEY FROM THE PEOPLE INCREASES THE COST OF LIVING.

WHEN YOU INCREASE WATER RATES BY 67% AND THEN ADD MORE DEBT, IT IS ADVERSELY IMPACT THE PEOPLE.

FAMILIES WILL GO ON WELFARE AND THEY WILL BECOME A BURDEN ON THE COUNTY COMMUNITY.

I WOULD LIKE EVERYONE THAT'S HERE TONIGHT ABOUT THE TERM ELECTION THAT IS GOING ON TO PLEASE STAND. DO WE HAVE ANY? I HAVE A FEW. I CALLED, THEY WERE BUSY.

I JUST WANTED TO REMIND Y'ALL THE QUESTION OF PLACING AN ITEM ON THE BALLOT TO EXTEND THE

[00:20:01]

THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE SEEM TO SEEM TO APPROVED OF THIS ACTION, AND THEY ARE ON THIS COUNCIL AS WE'RE IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW.

IF YOU CANNOT ACHIEVE YOUR COMMUNITY GOALS IN EIGHT YEARS, THEN GET NEW GOALS. MY THING IS BACK IN 20 1860, 7.86 OF THE VOTERS VOTED FOR TERM LIMITS AND TWO TERMS OF EIGHT YEARS FOR EACH ONE.

SO MY THING IS, IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, THEN YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE RUN FOR OFFICE.

YOU HAVE EIGHT YEARS TO DO GOOD.

WE ARE AGAIN SELLING BONDS OF ANY TYPE BECAUSE IT WILL INCREASE OUR PROPERTY TAXES, AND MORE FAMILIES WILL LOSE THE OPPORTUNITY TO AMERICAN DREAM.

EVERY YEAR OUR PROPERTY TAXES INCREASE AND THE ANSWER IS ALWAYS THE SAME.

EVERYTHING IS GOING UP.

THERE IS A LIMITED AMOUNT OF LAND, SO THE VALUE IS ALWAYS INCREASING.

THESE PEOPLE HAVE CLEARLY NOT TRAVELED NORTH TO SAN ANTONIO, WEST TO LAREDO. IF YOU NEED MORE LAND, JUST MOVE A COW.

PAVE A FIELD. IN THIS NEXT ELECTION, WE ARE GOING TO SEE WHO WILL WIN THE SOCIAL MEDIA GAME. THE ONLY QUESTION IS WHERE WILL YOU STAND? AND I'M HOPING THAT Y'ALL WILL NOT CONSIDER GOING OUT AND SLAPPING THE VOTERS IN THE FACE. WE'RE TIRED OF THAT.

AND LIKE I SAID, YOU SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF THIS BEFORE YOU RAN FOR OFFICE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MA'AM.

MISS MCLARTY ALSO HAS COMMENTS ON PUBLIC HEARING.

SEVEN E AND ORDINANCES EIGHT B.

THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS STEPHEN CRUZ.

IT'S FUNNY, MISS FERN. FOR MANY YEARS WE WERE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE. NOW WE'RE ACTUALLY ON THE SAME SIDE. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS STEPHEN CRUZ.

MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M HERE TODAY.

ABOUT A GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY THAT WAS HELD YESTERDAY FOR YOUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT. I'M NOT COMING AS A VENDOR.

I'M COMING AS A RESIDENT AND A TAXPAYER OF EDINBURG.

I WAS RAISED HERE. THIS PROJECT IS FOUR YEARS PAST DUE.

OKAY. AND $14 MILLION OVER BUDGET.

I'VE BEEN IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR FOR 18 YEARS AND A COMMENT.

THE LATE COMMISSIONER GARZA ALWAYS USED TO SAY WAS GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONIES OR JUST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR POLITICIANS TO COME TOGETHER, BOAST AND PAT THEMSELVES ON THE BACK FOR THE GREAT JOB THAT THEY DIDN'T DO.

WE KNOW THE REAL WORLD GOES BEHIND THE SCENES.

WELL, FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS, 3 TO 4 YEARS, I HAVE BEEN BEHIND THE SCENES TRYING TO GET THE CITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PROJECT WAS OVERBUDGET, OVERPRICED, AND FOR WHAT THEY WERE GETTING.

STAFF WOULD SAY, WELL, THE PLANS ARE ALREADY 100% COMPLETE.

THIS WAS FOUR YEARS AGO.

THIS WAS THE ANSWER I GOT.

NOW, ORDINARILY THE COUNCIL COULD PROBABLY SAY, HEY MAN, STAFF DROPPED THE BALL.

THIS WAS SOMETHING WE MISSED OUT ON AND A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE THE TAXPAYERS MONEY.

BUT YOU CAN'T USE THAT AS AN EXCUSE HERE BECAUSE FOR THE EXCEPTION FOR CHIEF WHITE, WHO I NEVER SAT WITH DIRECTLY, AND COUNCIL MEMBER SALAZAR, WHO JUST RECENTLY GOT ELECTED.

YOU ARE? I SAT WITH EACH ONE OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY AND TALKED ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND HOW IT WAS WAY OVER BUDGET.

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU WERE MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUES, AND SO YOU'RE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE TO TO PROPERLY OVERSEE THE TAXPAYERS MONEY, TO DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE, ENSURING THIS PROJECT WAS, IN FACT, IN BUDGET AND YOU FAILED THIS PROJECT.

I'M JUST NOW LEARNING BECAUSE THERE'S TEXAS WATER BOARD DEVELOPMENT FUNDING, AND THERE'S USUALLY GRANT OPTIONS.

YOU GET A MATCH 2,530%.

THIS IS 100% LOAN, WHICH IS EVEN MORE REASON WHY YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE YOUR DUE DILIGENCE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TAXPAYERS MONEY WAS PROPERLY SPENT.

IT WAS 100% LOAN, WHICH MEANS THE TAXPAYER IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BILL.

NOT TO MENTION YOU JUST RAISED LIKE MISS FERN SAID, YOU JUST RAISED WATER RATES FOR THE EDINBURGH CITIZENS WITHOUT EVEN GIVING THEM A HEADS UP.

AND OUR UTILITIES DEPARTMENT ISN'T EVEN SELF-SUFFICIENT, WHICH IS PROBABLY THE ONLY CITY. AND I DO WORK WITH EVERY CITY IN HIDALGO COUNTY EXCEPT FOR EDINBURGH. IT'S THE ONLY CITY THAT'S NOT SELF-SUFFICIENT.

I TIE THIS ALL BACK TO POOR LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT.

A FEW YEARS AGO, YOU CHANGED YOUR REQUIREMENTS WHERE THE UTILITIES DIRECTOR WAS REQUIRED TO BE AN ENGINEER.

YOU HAD A GOOD GUY THERE.

MY QUESTION IS, IF THE ENGINEER DOESN'T EVEN KNOW THE SYSTEM, WHAT GOOD IS HE DOING FOR THAT DEPARTMENT? AND SECONDLY, IF YOU'RE REQUIRING THAT DIRECTOR TO BE AN ENGINEER, WHY AREN'T YOU REQUIRING THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER WHO IS OVERSEEING ALL THOSE DEPARTMENTS TO BE ONE AS WELL? THIS IS THE SAME ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER THAT WAS IN CHARGE WHEN STAFF TRIED TO MANIPULATE THE BID DOCUMENTS. THANK YOU SIR.

THANK YOU SIR. I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS

[00:25:05]

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. I'M HERE. MY. MY NAME IS MICHAEL CASTLE. I'M THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CULTURAL ARTS HERE TO INVITE YOU ALL TO NEXT WEEKEND'S EVENT. FREEDOMFEST.

THIS IS THE 11TH ANNUAL FREEDOMFEST, WHICH IS A WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT FESTIVAL THIS YEAR. IT FOCUSES ON ARTS FOR EVERYBODY IN ART AND WELLNESS.

THE FESTIVAL WILL START HERE AT THE CITY HALL COURTYARD AT THE AUDITORIUM WITH AN ORIGINAL PLAY ABOUT EDINBURGH AND WHY YOU SHOULD MOVE TO EDINBURGH AND WHY WE LOVE EDINBURGH.

AND WE MOVE ACROSS INTO THE CITY HALL FOR A ARTS FOR EVERYBODY EXHIBIT, WHERE IT'LL BE A RESPITE FROM THE HEAT.

AND THEN WE GO ON TO THE OUTSIDE, OUTSIDE OF THE ARTS, CULTURE AND EVENT CENTER, WHERE WE'LL HAVE A COMMUNITY STAGE CARNIVAL FOR THE KIDS, A FAMILY EVENT, AND WE'LL END THE NIGHT WITH MUSIC FROM JENNY AND THE MEXICATS. AND WE'LL CAP IT OFF WITH A DRONE SHOW THE FREEDOM FEST SHOW.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS ARTHUR FLORES REGARDING TERM LIMITS.

VOTE. GOOD EVENING GENTLEMEN.

I WISH I COULD BE HERE TO NOT SCOLD YOU LIKE THESE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DOING, BUT I CAN'T. THERE'S ONLY ONE GOOD, GOOD THING THAT I CAN SAY AT THE END OF MY MY COMMENTS. BUT FIRST OF ALL, WHAT FERN SAID WAS CORRECT.

IF YOU CAN'T DO YOUR JOB IN IN EIGHT YEARS, THEN WHAT'S THE REASON THAT YOU CAN'T DO THAT AND YOU NEED MORE TIME? NO SIR, YOU DON'T. AND I THINK WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO, IF YOU GO AHEAD AND CHANGE THE WILL OF THE VOTERS, WHICH THEY WANTED, TERM LIMITS, AND YOU'RE TRYING TO SAY YOU CAN DO IT ANOTHER WAY, BUT MAYBE RUNNING FOR MAYOR AFTER YOU WORK ON THE COUNCIL, MAYBE EIGHT YEARS, THEN, OH, I CAN RUN FOR MAYOR.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT THEY WANTED ANYWAY.

THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY WAS THAT WHEN GEORGE WASHINGTON WAS, YOU KNOW, AFTER WE WON THE WAR AGAINST THE BRITISH, THEY WANTED HIM TO BECOME LIKE A KING.

HE SAID, I DON'T WANT TO. I DON'T WANT TO RUN. I DON'T WANT TO BE PRESIDENT BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE ME INTO SOME KIND OF A KING.

AND THAT'S WHAT WHAT YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT IS THAT YOU'RE HERE TO DO A JOB.

AND IF YOU CAN'T DO IT LIKE FERN SAYS IN EIGHT YEARS, THEN WHY CAN'T YOU? WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? THERE'S A GOOD THERE A GOOD REASON FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE THIS KIND OF TURNOVER, HAVE NEW, NEW BLOOD, NEW PEOPLE WORKING.

AND THAT IS BECAUSE YOU GET COMPLACENT IN YOUR JOB.

AND THE LAST THING I WANTED TO SAY WAS, LIKE, I SAID SOMETHING GOOD. GOOD NEWS.

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THERE ARE LOTS OF 5G CELL TOWERS ALL OVER THE VALLEY.

YOU CAN YOU CAN'T GO HALF A MILE BEFORE YOU SEE 2 OR 3 OF THEM.

AND WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS THAT THEY THEY TRANSMIT RADIATION.

IT'S IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU LIVE UNDER THOSE HIGH, HIGH POWER ELECTRICAL POLES.

IT'S NOT SAFE. AFTER TEN YEARS, 20 YEARS, YOU START PEOPLE GETTING CANCER AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO IT'S THE SAME THING WITH THESE, THESE 5G TOWERS THAT IF YOU LOOK UNDERNEATH THEM, THERE'S A LITTLE STORAGE SHED THAT IT SAYS WARNING, DO NOT WORK NEARBY. DON'T STAY HERE.

AND IT'S VERY STRANGE WARNINGS THAT SAY IT'S DANGEROUS.

AND THERE'S ONE ONE PLACE HERE IN TOWN ABOUT 100 YARDS AWAY FROM JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY, WHERE THERE'S ONE OF THOSE TOWERS. AND EVEN CLOSER TO THOSE TOWERS IS AN APARTMENT COMPLEX. IT'S LIKE FROM HERE TO HERE TO THE WALL.

THERE'S THIS GIANT TOWER UP THERE.

IT'S NOT SAFE. I DID WANT TO SAY ONE GOOD THING THAT I NOTICED.

I DON'T KNOW WHY. MAYBE SOMEBODY SOMEDAY, SOMEDAY WILL TELL ME WHY.

THE EDINBURGH WATER TOWER ON FREDI GONZALEZ.

THE BIG WHITE ONE THERE.

YOU KNOW, NEAR KLAUSNER.

IT USED TO HAVE THOSE 5G ANTENNAS ALL THE WAY AROUND IT, AND THERE ARE SOME PLACES ALL OVER, ALL OVER THE VALLEY THAT HAVE WATER TOWERS WITH THESE ANTENNAS. AND I NOTICED THAT THEY'RE GONE NOW.

I WANT TO KNOW WHY. WHICH IS GOOD.

[7. PUBLIC HEARINGS]

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM SEVEN PUBLIC HEARINGS.

WE HAVE A, B, C, D AND E COUNCIL AND FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

THESE ARE REZONING ITEMS. BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE CHARTER AMENDMENT ITEM HERE AS WELL.

SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT. ITEMS A THROUGH E.

SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS I'M JUST GOING TO OPEN UP THE HEARING AT THIS TIME AND ASK

[00:30:01]

AND THEN E IS FOR THE CHARTER AMENDMENT ELECTION.

YOU THE HEARING IS NOW OPEN.

SO WE'RE HERE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

AND YOU'RE HERE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE.

CAN ANSWER ME BACK AGAIN.

WE TRUSTED ALL OF YOU.

EACH OF YOU WHITE DEER.

MAYOR DAVID, I CAN REMEMBER ANNE DE LEON.

MY THING IS, THEY VOTED YOU ALL IN OFFICE.

AND DO YOU ALL REMEMBER WHAT YOU GOT ELECTED FOR FOUR YEAR TERMS? THEN YOU COME UP FOR ELECTION AGAIN.

FOUR YEAR TERMS. THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES ONLY GETS EIGHT YEARS.

IF THEY CAN'T TAKE CARE OF IT, THEY TAKE CARE OF IT.

THEN YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY MORE TIME.

AND I HAVE PEOPLE THAT I CALLED AND THEY HAVE CALLED ME THAT ARE HERE, TOOK OFF FROM THEIR TIME THAT THEY SHOULD BE AT HOME TO COME HERE AND TELL Y'ALL THEY DO NOT WANT YOU TO PUT AN ELECTION UP.

THEY ALREADY VOTED TWICE.

THEY PUT TERM LIMITS ON YOU, AND THEN THEY TURNED AROUND AND GAVE YOU EIGHT YEARS. SO IF YOU DO THIS, I'M HOPING THAT EACH ONE IN THIS ROOM WILL CONTACT THEIR FRIENDS, RELATIVES AND LOVED ONES TO VOTE YOU OUT OF OFFICE, THAT YOU WILL NOT WIN.

SO I'M HOPING THAT Y'ALL WILL TABLE THIS.

DO AWAY WITH IT. I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DO BECAUSE THE ELECTION I LOOKED IT UP.

THERE ARE 67.86 VOTERS THAT VOTED FOR TERM LIMITS.

AND IF YOU DARE PUT IT ON THE THE BALLOT, THEN YOU BETTER WORD IT SO THAT THE PEOPLE VOTE HAVE TO VOTE NO TO PASS IT, BECAUSE WE ALREADY KNOW THAT PEOPLE LIKE TO PUSH. YES YES YES YES YES.

BUT WE WILL LET THEM KNOW.

BUT I WANT YOU ALL TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

CAN YOU NOT ANSWER TO THE PUBLIC? AND WHICH ONE OF Y'ALL DECIDED THIS WAS SUCH A WONDERFUL DEAL? WELL, LET ME LET ME JUST SAY, MISS OMAR, CAN WE COMMENT ON THIS OR DO WE HAVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING? YES.

SINCE IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING, YOU CAN COMMENT IF YOU WOULD LIKE. SO SO REAL BRIEFLY, MAYBE FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. SO THE COUNCIL APPOINTED A CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE. AND I THINK MOST THERE'S SOME OF THE MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE, I SEE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WERE APPOINTED TO REVIEW OUR CITY CHARTER TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY UPDATES THAT NEEDED TO BE MADE.

THERE'S SOME LAWS THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED, STATE LAWS THAT OUR CHARTER IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH. I THINK OUR CITY ATTORNEY ADVISES SOME OF THOSE ITEMS. WE CAN'T CHANGE ANYTHING IN THE CHARTER WITHOUT OBVIOUSLY GOING TO THE VOTERS.

RIGHT. SO WHAT WE DID IS APPOINTED A CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE.

THAT'S WHAT OUR CHARTER CALLS FOR. IS THAT CORRECT, OMAR? THE FOR ANY CHANGES? NO, NO, IT DOESN'T REQUIRE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE.

I GUESS I WANTED TO STATE WE DID THAT ADDITIONAL STEP TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HEARD FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. SO WE HAVE FIVE MEMBERS.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT WE HAD.

OKAY. AND HOW LONG AGO DID WE APPOINT THAT COMMITTEE? DO WE KNOW CLARICE? IT WAS IN AUGUST OF LAST YEAR.

AUGUST OF LAST YEAR. AND YOU ALL HAVE BEEN MEETING EVERY MONTH.

OR IT WAS TWICE A MONTH SINCE DECEMBER.

OKAY. SO THEY'VE BEEN MEETING TO REVIEW THE CHARTER WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY, OUR CITY SECRETARY. AND AS A RESULT OF THOSE MEETINGS THAT THEY HAD, THEY CAME UP WITH A LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS, WHICH IS ARE THESE PROPOSITIONS THAT ARE HERE? NONE OF THESE WERE PUT IN BY THE COUNCIL.

THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE REVIEWED ALL THE CHARTER WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY, CITY SECRETARY, AND THEY CAME UP WITH THE SUGGESTED CHANGES THAT THEY WANT TO BRING TO US. I DO WANT TO STATE FOR THE RECORD, PREVIOUSLY, I THINK WHEN THERE WAS AN ELECTION, 2018, WAS THERE A CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE APPOINTED? NO, I'M NOT AWARE OF ONE.

NO. SO THERE WAS NO COMMITTEE APPOINTED. WE DID THAT EXTRA STEP BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ENGAGE WITH THE PUBLIC. AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE'VE HAD THIS, I THINK, AT OUR LAST MEETING WAS IT IN JUNE, THIS ITEM WHERE WE REVIEWED EVERY ITEM? AND THEN I'VE REQUESTED THIS ADDITIONAL MEETING, PUBLIC HEARING, SO THAT WE HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HEAR FROM YOU BECAUSE WE HAVE TO IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS, WE HAVE TO ORDER AN ELECTION. RIGHT.

AND AT THAT POINT, I THINK WE HAVE TO DO IT BY AUGUST, SOMETIME NEXT MONTH. SO WE WANTED TO HAVE THIS MEETING JUST TO CONTINUE GETTING FEEDBACK. AND THEN AT THAT POINT, COUNCIL MAKE A DECISION WHETHER WE WOULD ACCEPT THE LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE OR DO WE CHANGE LANGUAGE IN EACH OF THEM, OR DO WE EXCLUDE ANY ONE OF THEM? THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TODAY. WE CAN MAKE THAT DECISION TONIGHT OR WAIT TILL THE NEXT MEETING. I THINK IN THE FIRST MEETING IN AUGUST JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE UNTIL THE, I THINK MID PART OF AUGUST TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT JUST KIND OF GIVE EVERYBODY THAT BACKGROUND.

ALL THESE ITEMS HERE FROM THERE'S PROPOSITIONS A,

[00:35:01]

SO WE'RE HERE TO HEAR HERE TO LISTEN ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AND AND THEN TAKE ACTION AFTER THAT. SO THERE ARE ABOUT EIGHT PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT.

MOST OF THEM DON'T WANT TO SPEAK, BUT IF ANY OF THEM DO, Y'ALL CAN COME AND STAND.

OUR THING IS WHY, YOU KNOW, THEN, THAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT COMMITTEE COULD HAVE JUST SAID, LET'S HAVE AN ELECTION TO DO AWAY WITH THE TERM TERM DEALS? NO, NO, THAT'S A COMMITTEE THAT IS IN PLACE TO PROPOSE ANY CHANGES, TO PROPOSE THAT NOT NOT TO THE RESIDENTS DIRECTLY, MA'AM. THEY HAVE TO. HAVE. THE COUNCIL IS THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN ORDER THE ELECTION.

WELL, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I MEAN, THIS WAS ONE OF THE THINGS.

AND IF MY THING IS, I DON'T CARE WHAT COMMITTEE IT IS, THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE TALKED TO SAID THEY'VE ALREADY SPOKE AND THEY DON'T WANT THAT. SO I'M JUST RELAYING.

WELL, AND I'VE TOLD YOU BEFORE, I PERSONALLY I'M OPPOSED TO THAT MYSELF.

BUT THIS IS ABOUT LISTENING TO THE RESIDENTS.

AND SO THESE FIVE MEMBERS ARE RESIDENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THEY'VE COME UP WITH THESE, YOU KNOW, PROPOSED CHANGES, AND NOW IT'S UP. WE'RE HERE TO LISTEN FOR ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK.

AND THEN COUNCIL, WE NEED TO MAKE THAT DECISION. SO THAT DECISION HAS NOT BEEN MADE OR FINAL. WE STILL OBVIOUSLY NEED TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

I'M HOPING THAT THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE BECAUSE THEY ARE AGAINST IT, THEY'RE HOPING THAT YOU'LL DO THE RIGHT THING TONIGHT AND DO AWAY WITH FERN.

FERN, I THINK YOU'RE MISSING A POINT ON THIS. WE APPOINTED A COMMITTEE TO COME BACK WITH SUGGESTIONS TO US ON WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING ON THE CHARTER.

THEY DON'T TELL US WHAT TO DO.

THEY CAME BACK AND THEY READ THE WHOLE CHARTER FROM A TO Z, AND THEY CAME BACK WITH CERTAIN THINGS AND DISCUSSING IT WITH SOME OF THEM. THERE'S SOME ITEMS OVER THERE THAT THEY DIDN'T BRING BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CONSENSUS. THEY BRING IT TO THEIR VOTE. IT WAS A32 OR HOWEVER IT IS.

SO THEY DIDN'T BRING IT TO US FOR SOMETHING THEY THOUGHT NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. THIS IS JUST STUFF THEY THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. IT'S PRESENTED TO US NOW.

WE COULD HAVE JUST SIT IN THE BACK ROOM OR SOMEWHERE ELSE, AND NOW WE'RE NOT EVEN LOOK AT THIS ONE BECAUSE WE KNEW THIS ONE WAS CONTROVERSIAL. WE KNOW THIS ONE'S CONTROVERSIAL, BUT SO WE COULD HAVE JUST SCRUBBED IT OUT BY OURSELVES WITHOUT ANYBODY KNOWING BECAUSE THIS WAS REALLY NOTHING THERE.

BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS COUNCIL CHOSE TO DO.

WE HAVE A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE SELECTED TO TO LOOK AT OUR CHARTER, COME BACK WITH SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU THINK WILL IMPROVE IT.

NOW IT COMES BACK TO US.

THEN WE HAVE AN OPEN WE DECIDED TO HAVE AN OPEN HEARING.

BRING IT OUT TO EVERYONE.

EVERYBODY COMING VOICED YOUR PIECE.

NOW YOU'RE CRITICIZING US FOR SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T EVEN DONE YET. WE DIDN'T KNOW WE HAVEN'T DONE. I MEAN, BUT OUR THING IS, THAT'S THE WHOLE THAT WE MADE IT INTO A PROCESS FOR THE COMMUNITY.

SO YOU COULD BE HERE AND UNDERSTAND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.

AND I'M GLAD YOU DID EXPLAIN IT THAT WAY.

BUT MY THING IS A COMMITTEE THAT'S ABLE TO LOOK AND BRING IN FRONT OF Y'ALL TO OVERRIDE THE ELECTIONS, OR THEY COULD HAVE BROUGHT DOWN ANYTHING AND THEY COULD HAVE SAID, DAVID WHITE IS NOW GOING TO BE THE THE KING OF SOUTHEAST EDINBURGH.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S GOING TO BE THE COUNCIL'S GOING TO APPROVE IT. WELL, I KNOW AND I'M TRYING TO RELATE TO YOU.

WE BROUGHT IN PEOPLE THAT WE THOUGHT WERE LEVEL HEADED AND GOOD MINDED AND EVERYTHING ELSE WITH THE CITY, WHICH DIDN'T MEAN WE THOUGHT THAT I SHOULD HAVE SAID IT.

AND THEY COME AND GIVE US A SUGGESTION WHAT YOU THINK NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. WELL, THEN WE HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY'RE ONLY A SAMPLE OF THE COMMUNITY. THERE'S GOING TO BE A PORTION OF THE COMMUNITY ARE GOING TO SAY 100%. THEY AGREE 100%, AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A PORTION THAT'S GOING TO SAY NO, AND WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE THAT OUT. WELL, LIKE I SAID, IF YOU GO LOOK AT THE ELECTION ON 2018, IT'S RIGHT THERE. THE PEOPLE GAVE Y'ALL TWO TERMS. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO IT. I'M TELLING YOU, YOU CAN ARGUE WITH ME ALL DAY. I'M GOING TO VOTE NO. WELL, I'M JUST SAYING THAT THAT'S WHERE I'M AT.

OKAY, WELL, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET AT WHAT YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THIS ROOM, THERE ARE MANY.

THERE ARE 68% OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE AGAINST THIS.

SO I'M JUST SPEAKING FOR THEM BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT LIKE TO GET UP AND SPEAK IN FRONT OF YOU.

I DON'T MIND MAKING A FOOL OUT OF MYSELF OR DOING SOMETHING THAT'S GOOD.

I'M OPEN TO EITHER OR.

SO I AM RELATING THEIR MESSAGES TO YOU TO PLEASE DON'T DO THIS.

I WILL SAY THOUGH, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF LOSS IN TRANSLATION.

I KNOW YOU CAME IN HERE. YOU'RE SPEAKING TO US, AND I DON'T THINK. I THINK YOU MISINFORMED SOME OF THE YOUR YOUR RESIDENTS BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM CAME IN THINKING THAT WE CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA.

WE HAVE NOT COME UP WITH ANY IDEA.

WE FORMED THE COMMITTEE TO GET INPUT SO WE CAN PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.

AND WE WANTED TO HEAR BACK FROM OUR RESIDENTS.

I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MISS TEETER COME FORWARD AND JUST GIVE US HER EXPERIENCE ON HOW THE COMMITTEE DEVELOPED AND IF SHE RECEIVED ANY COMMENTS FROM US TELLING HER HOW TO.

WHAT PROPOSITIONS WE WANTED TO SEE.

WELL, OUR MAIN THING IS THAT TONIGHT.

OKAY. LET'S JUST I WILL TELL EVERYONE THAT Y'ALL DIDN'T PUT IT ON HERE, THAT THE COMMITTEE HAS PUT THIS ON HERE.

[00:40:01]

THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE THE COMMITTEE.

THEY ONLY CARE ABOUT WHAT THEY'VE ALREADY SPOKE.

SO THAT'S WHY I'M I'M GOING TO RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH YOU ON THIS THOUGH, BECAUSE EVEN IF WE DID PUT IT ON THE BALLOT, WE'RE NOT VOTING FOR IT.

THE RESIDENTS ARE THE ONES VOTING FOR IT. SO EITHER THEY WANT IT, THEY CAN VOTE ON IT. IF THEY DON'T WANT IT, THEY CAN DECLINE. IT DOESN'T MATTER.

IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON IT.

WE'RE GIVING THE RESIDENTS AN OPTION, WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

THAT'S ALL WE'RE DOING. I THINK THEY'VE ALREADY DONE IT TWICE IN 2013 AND 2018.

AND I BELIEVE THE ONLY REASON WHY I BELIEVE THE ONLY REASON WHY THE TERM LIMITS CAME UP IS BECAUSE THE WAY IT WAS WRITTEN BACK IN 2018.

AND OMAR, YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THAT EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER COULD JUMP TO ANOTHER SEAT AND SERVE ON THAT SEAT FOR 2 TO 2 TERMS, AND THEN JUMP ON ANOTHER SEAT AND SERVE ON THAT SEAT FOR TWO TERMS. THIS ONE CLEANED IT UP WHERE IT'S THREE FULL TERMS. THEY CAN'T JUMP ON ANY SEATS.

SO AS PRESENTED RIGHT NOW, I COULD SWITCH PLACES WITH COUNCIL MEMBER DIAZ AND RUN HIS SEAT AND GET ANOTHER TWO TERMS. SO WHY ARE WE CHANGING THEN? WHY ARE YOU CHANGING IT FROM FROM 2 TO 3? IF YOU'RE CLEANING IT UP, LEAVE IT AT TWO.

WE DID NOT. WE DID NOT DO THAT.

LIKE I SAID, I'M JUST GOT THE INPUT FROM FROM THE.

SO I'M JUST HOPING LIKE I SAID, THE PEOPLE KNOW THAT Y'ALL ARE THE LAST VOTE.

YOU'RE THE LAST ONE THAT DECIDES.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE, TALKING TO EACH ONE OF YOU AND ASKING YOU NOT. AND MY THING IS, AGAIN, IF YOU'RE GOING TO PUT IT ON THERE, THEN YOU PUT IT WHERE THEY HAVE TO VOTE NO TO GET IT TO GO.

YES. AND I GUARANTEE YOU IT WON'T GO.

YEAH. AND AND I THINK THE COMMITTEE I ASKED TO PUT YOU ON.

PARDON. WASN'T THIS THE COMMITTEE I ASKED TO PUT YOU ON. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU DID.

I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT, BUT I WOULDN'T. IF YOU HAD, I'D HAVE BEEN ON IT IF THEY WERE GOING TO DO THIS.

NO, BUT BUT I DON'T REMEMBER REAL QUICK.

OMAR, CAN YOU CLARIFY? BECAUSE I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER IS BRINGING UP SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT TO CLARIFY AT THIS TIME, BECAUSE IN 2018, WHEN THE TERM LIMITS OR THAT ITEM WENT UP IS THAT WHEN THE LANGUAGE CHANGED OR HOW? JUST TO BE CLEAR, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO CLARIFY TO THE PUBLIC. RIGHT. SO THERE WAS PREVIOUSLY A TERM LIMIT THAT WAS VOTED ON ORIGINALLY I THINK IT WAS 2011, 2013 THAT PUT IN A THREE TERM TERM LIMIT OF FOUR YEARS FOR EACH TERM.

IN 2018, THERE WAS A REVISION THAT WAS PROPOSED TO LIMIT IT TO TWO TERMS. IT CREATED A WHOLE NEW SECTION OF THE CITY CHARTER FOR THAT AND PART OF THE LANGUAGE THERE'S AT LEAST SOME ROOM TO INTERPRET THAT BECAUSE THESE THIS IS NOT A SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICT, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. IT'S CITYWIDE.

THERE'S AT LEAST SOME ROOM TO INTERPRET IT.

THAT COUNCIL MEMBER PLACE ONE COULD SERVE FOR TWO TERMS AND THEN RUN AND COUNCIL MEMBER PLACE TWO FOR ANOTHER TWO TERMS AND KIND OF ON DOWN THE LINE.

NOW, THAT'S NOT THAT'S NOT THE OBVIOUS READ FROM IT, BUT IT IS A POTENTIAL READ FROM IT.

AND THAT'S BASED ON NEW LANGUAGE THAT WAS ADDED IN 2018 THAT CONFLICTS WITH OUR CITY CHARTER. AND WELL, IT IS CITY CHARTER NOW.

SO THERE'S NO NOW IT IS.

BUT AT THE TIME I FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THAT LANGUAGE NOW LEAVES IT OPEN, I GUESS AT THIS POINT.

RIGHT. THAT'S AT LEAST ONE POTENTIAL READ OF IT, WHETHER THAT WOULD ACTUALLY SURVIVE A LEGAL CHALLENGE, I COULDN'T SAY, AND IT'S UNCERTAIN, BUT THAT'S AT LEAST A POTENTIAL.

THAT BEING THE CASE, LET'S SAY WE DON'T EVEN GO TO THE VOTERS TO CHANGE ANYTHING.

ON THE. AS TO COUNCILMEMBER DE LEON'S POINT THERE'S A COUNCILMEMBER ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT COULD SERVE TWO TERMS IN HIS SEAT, TWO TERMS HERE, TWO TERMS AS MAYOR, TWO TERMS. IS THAT CORRECT OR NOT? THAT'S ONE INTERPRETATION OF THE PROVISION.

CORRECT. SO I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE COMMITTEE MEMBER.

I GUESS THAT'S WHERE YOU ALL STARTED LOOKING AT AND SAID, NO, LET'S LIMIT IT TO THREE TERMS. I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR ALL, BUT OKAY.

BEFORE SHE SPEAKS AGAIN, IF YOU WANT TO CLEAN IT UP, THEN MAKE IT LEAVE IT LIKE, AND I UNDERSTAND I'M JUST TRYING TO, LIKE, FLESH OUT THE WHAT WHAT THE BACKGROUND WAS ON THIS.

BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT. YES, MA'AM. GO AHEAD. OKAY.

I'D LIKE TO DISPEL SOME CONFUSION ALSO.

I'D LIKE TO ASK THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO PLEASE RISE AND SHOW THEMSELVES.

OKAY. ALL OF THEM ARE HERE. ALL FIVE. OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE. I KNOW Y'ALL ARE MEETING EVERY MONTH, SO THANK YOU.

THERE ARE FIVE OF US. EACH OF US WAS APPOINTED BY ONE OF YOU.

COUNCILMAN. I WAS SURPRISED AT WHO APPOINTED ME, QUITE FRANKLY. THEREFORE, THIS WAS MORE OF A RANDOM SELECTION.

AND WE ALSO HAD WHAT I WOULD HAVE TO REFER TO AS.

GROUP DYNAMICS THAT WERE AMONGST OUR GROUP BECAUSE WE WERE VERY DIFFERENT IN OCCUPATION

[00:45:01]

WE USED THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO CHARTER AS A GUIDE.

AND THIS CITY PAYS ITS COUNCIL MAYOR AND YET HAS PROBLEMS KEEPING THEIR MEMBERS BECAUSE OF POOR PAY AS WHO CAN REALLY AFFORD TO WORK FOR FREE.

WHO WANTS TO RAISE THEIR HAND AND WORK FOR FREE? NO ONE. WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING THAT.

SO WE ALREADY DID THAT.

SO. SO I AM GOING TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON THE PROPOSITION THAT ISN'T.

AND I'M SURE THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE A LOT OF FRICTION AFTER WHAT I'VE HEARD.

ARTICLE TWO GOVERNING BODY SECTION FIVE SALARIES.

THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SHALL SERVE WITHOUT COMPENSATION.

ZERO. YOU GET PAID ZERO.

AND YOU STAND UP. YOU SIT UP THERE AND YOU LISTEN TO US.

AND SOME OF OUR GRIPES ARE.

WELL DESERVED. AND SOME OF THEM, I HAVE TO THINK, ARE POSSIBLY A LITTLE BIT.

NOT SO. WORKING FOR ZERO IS A NOT VIABLE ATTRACTION FOR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WITH FAMILIES WHO HAVE THE EXPERTISE BUT NOT THE INCOME TO SUPPORT CITY SERVICE WITH ABSOLUTELY NO COMPENSATION.

IS THIS REALLY THE INTENT OF OUR CITIZENS, FOR OUR PRESENT CITIZENS, FOR THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES TO STRUGGLE FINANCIALLY AND FAMILY WISE WHILE SERVING THE CITY AND ITS CITIZENS? FROM OUR WORKSHOP WITHIN THE CITY COUNCIL RECENTLY AND IN OUR CHARTER MEETINGS? THESE ARE THE COMMENTS CONCERNING COMPENSATION.

WE CAN'T AFFORD IT. THERE WAS NO DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT THIS VIEW FROM THE COMMITTEE. HOWEVER, THERE WERE PAGES AND PAGES OF RESEARCH THAT SUPPORTED PAYING COUNCIL MEMBERS. TRENDS.

SAN ANTONIO USED AS A GUIDE AND COUNCIL MAYORS.

PAID. PAID. CURRENTLY IN RGV IS HIDALGO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, BROWNSVILLE CITY COUNCIL AND HIDALGO CITY COUNCIL IS NOW CONSIDERING IT.

YES, WE CAN AFFORD IT BECAUSE OUR POPULATION IS DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS IN 2013 AND 2018. MEDIAN LISTING HOME PRICE IN EDINBURG IS 298,000.

MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS ALMOST 50,000.

THE CITY IS A BUSINESS WITH AN ANNUAL BUDGET OF 155 MILLION, AND THIS SHOULD BE A FULL TIME JOB, ESPECIALLY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY MAKE THE DECISIONS. SOME OPTIONS FOR COMPENSATION WERE MENTIONED IN OUR MEETINGS WORKSHOP AND I'LL REVIEW THE POSSIBILITIES.

PROACTIVE PAY WHICH WOULD OCCUR IN THE FUTURE.

SALARY. SALARY WITH HEALTH BENEFITS.

HEALTH BENEFITS. PAY WITH A STIPEND.

AND PERHAPS JOE WILL SPEAK TO THAT.

AND SALARY WITH HEALTH BENEFITS LINKED TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM.

IN CONCLUSION, THERE ARE NO SUBSTANTIVE RECOMMENDATIONS PROPOSED BY OUR CHARTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMMITTEE THAT CANNOT BE DELAYED.

AND IN VIEW OF THE CURRENT PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT OF REVIEW EVERY FIVE YEARS.

I ASK YOUR CONSIDERATION ON TWO SUGGESTIONS A DELAY OF THE VOTE ON THESE PROPOSITIONS AND THEY NOT BE APPROVED AS WRITTEN AND SUBMITTED AT THIS TIME.

NUMBER TWO, I REQUEST A SEPARATE TASK FORCE FOR SALARY COMPENSATION, BE APPOINTED FOR A LONGER AND IN-DEPTH STUDY ON SALARIES AND COMPENSATION FOR THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL. IT'S ENLIGHTENING TO KNOW THAT OUR CHARTER HAS VARIOUS LEVELS OF PERCENTAGE PARTICIPATION LOUNGE, DEPENDING ON INITIATIVES, REFERENDUMS AND ORDINANCES, AS WELL AS MAJORITY AND PLURALITY PLURALITY.

SO I AM MAKING MY COMMENTS BASED ON OUR CHARTER'S EGALITARIAN APPROACH.

KUDOS TO OUR CITY FOR POSTING THE MAYOR COUNCIL CAMPAIGN FINANCE STATEMENTS ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, WHERE WE CAN VIEW THE COSTS OF CITY ELECTIONS, WHICH VARIES GREATLY AMONGST YOURSELVES.

[00:50:02]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OPEN FORUM.

MY THING IS, Y'ALL ARE SERVANTS, AND I RAN FOR OFFICE.

AND I'M HERE AND I DON'T GET PAID.

I DON'T EXPECT TO GET PAID.

AND MY THING IS, ARE Y'ALL GOING TO GIVE UP ALL YOUR JOBS AND JUST TAKE WHAT THE SALARY IS THAT YOU GET HERE AND BE HERE AND ON CALL 24 HOURS A DAY? BECAUSE, AGAIN, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE PAID AND LIKE I SAID, THEN YOU HAVE TO BE WELL FOR REAL QUICK.

WE'RE NOT ADVOCATING FOR THAT. THIS IS I KNOW, I'M JUST ANSWERING HER.

GO AHEAD. YES, YOU CAN, BUT LET ME.

BUT SHE HAS TO BE FINISHED WITH HER. SHE HAS TO BE FINISHED WITH HER COMMENT. MA'AM. YES YOU ARE. YOU'RE ALLOWED.

SO LET HER FINISH WITH HER COMMENTS AND THEN YOU CAN REBUTTAL. GO AHEAD. AND AGAIN, WE ARE ONE OF THE THE POOREST AREAS IN THE COUNTY AND OUR CITY.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A SALARY, WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO PAY THEIR THEIR TAXES, THEIR HOMES. AND I'M SORRY, WHEN Y'ALL TOOK THIS JOB, YOU YOU TOOK IT BECAUSE YOU CARED ABOUT EDINBURGH, I'M ASSUMING. AND THAT'S WHY EVERYONE VOTED FOR YOU.

AND I DON'T SEE IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET PAID ACCORDING TO HER.

THEN, LIKE I SAID, IT HAS TO BE A FULL TIME JOB, AND Y'ALL ARE SERVANTS, AND YOU'RE WANTING TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR EDINBURGH. YEAH. I JUST AGAIN, FOR THE RECORD, WANT TO BE CLEAR. THIS CITY COUNCIL IS NOT PROPOSING THAT AT THIS TIME.

I KNOW, I JUST I'M RESTATING IT.

MISSUS TEETER HAS PROPOSED THAT.

AND AS I UNDERSTAND, SHE HAS PROPOSED IT TO THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE.

AND THE COMMITTEE DECIDED NOT TO INCLUDE THAT IN THEIR RECOMMENDATION.

BUT MRS. TEETERS HERE, SHE IS A RESIDENT AS WELL.

SHE'S WANTING TO STATE HER POSITION AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE.

SO, MISS TEETER, YOU HAD A COMMENT, MA'AM. ADDITIONAL COMMENT OR BUT I.

I DO NOT WANT TO BELABOR THIS POINT BECAUSE FROM OUR MEETINGS DURING WE COME, WE CAME TO SOME VERY ANGRY CONCLUSIONS.

SO BEFORE WE DO THAT, AND I DON'T WANT TO SCOLD YOU, BUT ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT PLEASE CONSIDER THAT WE PUT OFF THESE PROPOSED PROPOSALS TO THE CHARTER AND THEREFORE DO SOME MORE STUDYING, BECAUSE FROM WHAT I'M HEARING AND FROM WHAT I'M SAYING, THERE ARE JUST OPPOSITES THAT NEED TO HAVE FURTHER STUDY.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE THE END.

THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS TO US? WE'RE OBVIOUSLY TALKING ABOUT ITEM E, BUT JUST TO REMIND THE PUBLIC WE HAVE ITEMS A, B, C AND D AS WELL.

IF THERE'S NO OTHER COMMENTS I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

[A. Hold Public Hearing and Consider the Ordinance Providing for the Rezoning Request from Residential, Primary (RP) District to Commercial,Neighborhood (CN) District, Lot 7, Block 258, Original Townsite of Edinburg, Located at 501 West Cano Street, as Requested by Nick Cantu on Behalf of The Law Offices of J. Enereo Bazan Jr., PLLC.]

ITEM SEVEN A. MOTION TO APPROVE.

SORRY. CONSIDER THE ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE REZONING REQUEST FROM RESIDENTIAL PRIMARY DISTRICT TO COMMERCIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. DISTRICT.

LOT SEVEN, BLOCK 258. ORIGINAL TOWN SITE OF EDINBURG, LOCATED AT 501 WEST STREET, AS REQUESTED BY CANTU ON BEHALF OF THE LAW OFFICES OF JAY AND JUNIOR, LLC.

MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND.

WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AND WE HAVE A SECOND. DISCUSSION. I GOT A QUICK QUESTION ON THIS IS I SEE THERE'S NO PARKING.

ARE THEY PLANNING TO PUT PARKING ON THAT PROPERTY? YES. THE PLANNING DIRECTOR, FOR THE RECORD.

YES. THEY'RE PLANNING TO DO PARKING ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE PROPERTY.

OKAY. THE HOUSE IS KIND OF LIKE ON THE FRONT SIDE, AND IT KIND OF MIRRORS THE LAW OFFICE OF RICKY RUDD.

THAT'S BOTH ON THE NORTH SIDE AND THEN ON THE WEST SIDE.

IT'S GOING TO MIRROR THE ONE ON THE WEST SIDE. IT'S GOING TO HAVE PARKING IN THE BACK.

OKAY. THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO KNOW. JUST BECAUSE I KNOW PARKING IS SCARCE IN THAT AREA. RIGHT? YEAH. AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT UP.

COUNCIL MEMBER THAT ALSO, I WAS ASKED ABOUT THAT THE PARKING.

AND I ACTUALLY TALKED TO CITY MANAGER ABOUT THAT EARLIER TODAY.

WHEN THEY'RE GOING THROUGH ZONING RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T REQUIRE THAT OF THEM TO SUBMIT A SITE PLAN. I DID ASK TO SEE IF WE COULD START REQUIRING THAT, BECAUSE WHEN THEY COME TO ZONING CHANGE, THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED.

[00:55:04]

BUT WE DON'T KNOW, SOMETIMES IF THEIR PLANS ARE IN LINE, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE CHAPIN ROAD, I THINK IT WAS BROUGHT UP YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE THERE.

AND TO BE FAIR TO THE APPLICANT, THAT'S NOT PART OF IS REQUIRED OF THEM.

SO MY QUESTION IS, IS THAT SOMETHING WE COULD START REQUIRING OF APPLICANTS FOR ZONING CHANGE SO THAT WE AT LEAST HAVE MORE INFORMATION, YOU KNOW, ON ON WHAT THE THE PROJECT IS.

MOST OF THE PEOPLE DO SUBMIT THAT INFORMATION, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT AS A REQUIREMENT, LIKE A CHECK OFF LIST.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? LIKE, OKAY, THE PERMIT I'M SORRY, THE ZONE APPLICATION HAS A LOCATION, MAYBE A SITE MAP, AND I KNOW IT MAY ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR THEM TO, YOU KNOW, AS PART OF ZONING, BUT I JUST FEEL SOMETIMES IT WILL HELP US ASSESS. YEAH. THE PROJECT A LITTLE BIT, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE RESIDENTS AGAINST A PARTICULAR PROJECT. I MEAN, WE HAD THAT ITEM NORTH WEST OF OUR CITY, NORTHEAST. EXCUSE ME, WHERE THERE WAS SOME CONCERNS WITH LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT IT WAS JUST A ZONING REQUEST CHANGE.

RIGHT. AND SO SO IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO WHAT OUR CODE ALLOWS THAT OMAR.

I MEAN, I'M JUST. IS THAT AN ORDINANCE WE WOULD HAVE TO ENACT? I MEAN, THAT'S JUST ME SPEAKING HERE.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE COUNCIL, BUT I KNOW TO HELP ME, LIKE, TRY TO ASSESS, ESPECIALLY IF THERE ARE RESIDENTS OPPOSING, YOU KNOW, PARTICULAR ZONING CHANGE.

RIGHT. I THINK WE'D HAVE TO REVIEW WHAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO.

TYPICALLY THE REZONING CAN'T BE CONDITIONED, RIGHT.

AND SO WE WOULD JUST HAVE TO REVIEW WHAT, WHAT WE COULD DO IN TERMS OF PRESENTING INFORMATION AS LIKE INFORMATION FOR THEM TO SUBMIT SO THAT WE AT LEAST KNOW.

OKAY, OKAY. I'LL EXPLORE THAT OPTION WITH, WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY.

VERY WELL. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THIS ITEM. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR

[B. Hold Public Hearing and Consider the Ordinance Providing for the Rezoning Request from Agriculture and Open Space (AO) District to Residential, Primary (RP) District, Lot 14, Trenton Manor Subdivision, Located at 1718 Cristobal Drive, as Requested by Dora H. Martinez.]

SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM. BE. CONSIDER THE ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE REZONING REQUEST FROM AGRICULTURE AND OPEN SPACE DISTRICT TO RESIDENTIAL PRIMARY DISTRICT.

LOT 14, TRENTON MANOR SUBDIVISION LOCATED AT 1718 CRISTOBAL DRIVE, AS REQUESTED BY DORA H.

MARTINEZ, THIS COUNCIL.

[C. Hold Public Hearing and Consider the Ordinance Providing for the Rezoning Request from Agriculture and Open Space (AO) District to Residential, Multifamily (RM) District, Being the North One-Half (N.1/2) of Lot 33, Kelly-Pharr Subdivision of Porciones 69 & 70, Located at 4001 South Veterans Blvd. as Requested by Chapa Group Ltd.]

ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES. ITEM C.

CONSIDER THE ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE REZONING REQUEST FROM AGRICULTURE AND OPEN SPACE DISTRICT TO RESIDENTIAL MULTIFAMILY DISTRICT. BEING THE NORTH ONE HALF OF LOT 33.

KELLEY FARR SUBDIVISION OF PORTION 69 AND 70 LOCATED AT 4001 SOUTH VETERANS BOULEVARD, AS REQUESTED BY CHAPA GROUP LIMITED, SO MOVED TO APPROVE.

[D. Hold Public Hearing and Consider the Ordinance Providing for the Special Use Permit for On- Premise Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages for Late Hours, Lot 1A, Resubdivision of Lot 1, University Plaza Subdivision, Located at 1306 West University Drive Unit 11, as Requested by Nakama Investment Group LLC DBA X2 Series A, LLC. [Jaime Acevedo, Director of Planning & Zoning]]

ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES ITEM D CONSIDER THE ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR ON PREMISE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES FOR LATE HOURS.

LOT ONE A RESUBDIVISION OF LOT ONE UNIVERSITY PLAZA SUBDIVISION, LOCATED AT 1306 WEST UNIVERSITY DRIVE, UNIT 11, AS REQUESTED BY NAKAMA INVESTMENTS GROUP, LLC, DBA X2 SERIES A, LLC. COUNCIL.

MOTION TO APPROVE. MOTION TO APPROVE.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

WE HAVE A SECOND. I JUST HAD A QUESTION.

IS THIS REPLACING AN ESTABLISHMENT? WAS THERE OR IS THIS ADDING SPACE TO THIS BUILDING? DO WE KNOW? ACTUALLY, MAYOR, THERE WAS A PREVIOUSLY A BAR AND GRILL IN THE AREA. NOT AT THIS EXACT LOCATION, BUT IS THIS ADDING ANOTHER ONE? ADDING ANOTHER ONE? CORRECT. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES. COUNCIL, ON THIS NEXT ITEM, E,

[E. Hold Public Hearing and Consider Calling a Special Election on Proposed Charter Amendments During the Uniform General Election on November 5, 2024. [Omar Ochoa, City Attorney]]

YES. IF THAT'S OKAY WITH EVERYBODY.

ARE WE ABLE TO DO THAT? YES.

THAT'S FINE IF THAT'S THE COUNCIL'S PREFERENCE. ALL RIGHT. SO ARE WE READY TO VOTE ALREADY? NOT ANY MORE DISCUSSION OR WE STILL HAVE TO AUGUST.

SO TO. WELL, THERE'S NO MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

I WAS JUST PROPOSING THERE'S ITEMS A THROUGH M, SO IT'S UP TO THE COUNCIL.

I'M READY TO MOVE FORWARD, AT LEAST TO GIVE THE CITY STAFF THE OPPORTUNITY TO, BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET WITH THE COUNTY RIGHT, TO ORDER THE ELECTION AND ALL THAT.

YEAH. SO, SO FORMALLY, THE THE ULTIMATE ACTION THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS GOING TO NEED IS TO ORDER AN ELECTION ON THE PROPOSITIONS THAT ARE GOING TO BE PRESENTED. AND SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF PROCEDURAL OPTIONS.

THE COUNCIL COULD IDENTIFY WHICH PROPOSITIONS THEY WANT TO MOVE FORWARD.

AND THEN ONCE THOSE ARE IDENTIFIED, ORDER THE ELECTION THIS EVENING.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT IF YOU'D LIKE TO WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING, THAT CAN BE DONE AS WELL.

BUT CITY STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THAT BE APPROVED NO LATER THAN THE NEXT MEETING, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A MID-AUGUST DEADLINE TO BE ABLE TO GET IT ON THE BALLOT FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.

ARE WE OPPOSED OF JUST HAVING A SPECIAL MEETING FOR THESE PROPOSITIONS SO THE

[01:00:02]

SECOND. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. JUST FOR THE PUBLIC'S INFORMATION.

THIS JUST ALLOWS US TO HAVE DISCUSSION BEFORE WE ACTUALLY FILE MOTION.

WELL, IT'S A QUESTION I GUESS WE NEED TO ASK OURSELVES.

I WAS READY TO AT LEAST GIVE SOME DIRECTION.

WE HAVE WE HAD A MEETING IN JUNE.

WHEN WAS IT THE PUBLIC PUBLIC MEETING? WE WENT OVER ALL THE ITEMS. AND THEN WE HAD AGREED TO HAVE A MEETING TODAY TO REVIEW THEM AGAIN WITH THE PUBLIC.

IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING.

AND WE ASK THE PUBLIC TO BE HERE.

AND THE REASON WHY I'M ASKING, YOU WANT TO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL PUBLIC HEARING? YES. BECAUSE THE REASON WHY I'M ASKING IS BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S STILL A LOT OF LOST IN TRANSLATION GOING ON.

SOMEONE THINKS THIS SOMEONE.

NO ONE'S ON THE SAME PAGE OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

EVEN WITH MISS TEETER WAS SAYING ABOUT THE THE PAY FOR COUNSEL AND ALL THAT.

I THINK I HAD READ AN ARTICLE AND YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

MISS TEETER, YOUR YOUR WHOLE IDEA OF THE CONCEPT WAS PAYING FOR COUNSEL WAS NOT SO MUCH FOR US YOU'RE THINKING OF SOME MORE FEMALES WOULD BE MORE ENTITLED TO RUN.

AND WHEN YOU SAY IT LIKE THAT, THAT MAKES MORE SENSE, BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES YOUNG MOMS, MOMS IN GENERAL DON'T HAVE THAT TIME TO GO AND TAKE ON THAT ROLE AND LEAVE THEIR KIDS BEHIND.

AND WHEN I READ THAT ARTICLE, THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING YOU KNOW, HAVING REVIEWED THAT ARTICLE ON I THINK IT CAME OUT ON THE MONITOR THE COMMITTEE GOT TOGETHER. THEY'RE THE ONES THAT CAME UP WITH THE IDEA, AND WE HAD ASKED YOU TO COME IN AND BE PART OF THAT COUNCIL ON THE CHARTER COMMITTEE.

AND I BELIEVE YOUR RESPONSE WAS, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT CHARTER. I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE HAD YOU ON THAT COUNCIL, BECAUSE THIS MEETING TODAY, YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GIVE EXACT INFORMATION TO YOUR RESIDENTS AND WHAT WE WANT YOU TO DO.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING THESE MEETINGS. WE WANT YOU TO GIVE THAT INFORMATION TO YOUR, YOUR, YOUR, YOUR RESIDENTS.

AND SO THAT WAY THERE'S NO CONFUSION.

I'M OKAY WITH HAVING ANOTHER SPECIAL MEETING.

THAT WAY WE CAN CLEAR EVERYTHING UP. A LOT OF THESE PROPOSITIONS IS TO CLEAR CERTAIN THINGS, TO UPDATE OUR CHARTER AND TO, REFINE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THAT THAT THE CHARTER'S OUTDATED. SO THAT'S WHY I THOUGHT IT WAS CRUCIAL FOR YOU TO BE PART OF THAT COMMITTEE. AND, AND I THINK THE, OUR COMMITTEE AND MISS TEETER FOR BEING PART OF THAT, THAT THE, THIS NEW CHARTER COMMITTEE.

SO THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION OR ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD? I'D LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD.

THAT'S JUST ME PERSONALLY, JUST SO THAT YOU KNOW, WE COULD PROVIDE THAT DIRECTION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, RIGHT? I MEAN, I, I'M NOT AGAINST HAVING ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING AT ALL.

BUT I THINK WE'VE HEARD YOU KNOW, QUITE A BIT.

I'VE TALKED I'VE GOTTEN CALLS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO, YOU KNOW, GIVING ME THEIR POSITION.

BUT IF THERE IS ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING, I'D JUST LIKE TO JUST KNOW WHAT WHAT MORE WE COULD DISCUSS. I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO ADD AMENDMENTS TO IT.

I MEAN, I, I APPRECIATE MRS. TEETER BRINGING THIS UP AGAIN.

BUT I WANT TO RESPECT THE COMMITTEE'S WORK THAT YOU KNOW, THEY SPEND A LOT OF TIME GOING THROUGH ALL THE CHARTER AND COMING UP WITH THESE SUGGESTIONS. AND BUT THAT'S JUST MY FEELINGS COUNCIL.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I WANT TO VOTE ON IT TODAY.

ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. SO IF OUR CITY ATTORNEY HAS STATED THAT WE CAN TAKE THEM ITEM BY ITEM. SO I'D LIKE TO DO THAT.

AND I LIKE MAYBE OUR CITY SECRETARY TO READ THE ITEM.

AND WE'LL GO FROM PROPOSITION A THROUGH PROPOSITION M.

SO YOU WANT TO START AND AGAIN, FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, THERE'S PROPOSITION A, B, C, D E F G H I J K L M.

SO IT'S ALMOST ALL THE LETTERS OF THE ALPHABET.

BUT A LOT OF THESE ITEMS YOU'LL, YOU'LL HEAR FROM THE CITY SECRETARY ARE ITEMS THAT ARE BEING UPDATED BUT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SOME OF THOSE THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED.

BUT YOU WANT TO START WITH PROPOSITION A, PROPOSITION A SHOULD ARTICLE TWO, SECTION TWO AND ARTICLE 18, SECTION ONE, SECTION TWO AND SECTION THREE BE AMENDED TO INCREASE TERM LIMITS OF THE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MUNICIPAL JUDGE SO THAT THEY CAN SERVE NO MORE THAN THREE TERMS FOR LIFE RATHER THAN TWO TERMS, AND ALSO INCLUDE REVISIONS SO THAT THE TERM LIMIT PROVISIONS FOR ELECTIVE OFFICES ARE CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

CHARTER. MOTION TO DENY.

SECOND ANY DISCUSSION.

AND FOR THE RECORD, IT WAS LIKE LIKE YOU'VE HEARD FERN AND ALL THE OTHER RESIDENTS.

THIS WAS NEVER A CITY COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE WERE AGAINST AND ADDING DIFFERENT THINGS.

BUT WE HAVE TO HEAR THE THE RESIDENTS AND THE COMMITTEE THAT WAS FORMED.

WE THANK THEM. I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR ALL THEIR WORK, A LOT OF HARD WORK, A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH LIKE MISS TEETER SAID, DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, DIFFERENT DIFFERENT PROFESSIONS.

SO IT WAS A GOOD GROUP. IT WAS A GOOD GROUP.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, GO FAST.

SO RIGHT NOW, THE CURRENT CHARTER, OMAR SAYS THAT YOU COULD FLIP FROM ONE CHAIR

[01:05:01]

THERE IS AT LEAST SOME ROOM FOR INTERPRETATION OF THAT.

AND SO ONE OF THE OTHER ASPECTS OF THIS PROPOSITION WOULD BE TO CLEAN THAT UP, TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT YOU CAN ONLY SERVE AS A COUNCIL MEMBER FOR A SINGLE PLACE AND NOT MOVE TO ANOTHER PLACE.

SO, I MEAN, WOULD WE WANT TO CHANGE THAT, TO CLEAN IT UP, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO DO THAT? NO, I THINK WE'RE GOOD WITH TWO TERMS. THAT'S PERSONALLY WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS SO THERE'S NO DEFINITION OR SOME WAY OF FINDING A LEEWAY. I THINK AT THAT POINT.

EXCUSE ME. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS IF SOMEBODY SERVES TWO TERMS AND THEN THEY WANT TO JUMP TO ANOTHER TERM, OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE GOING TO CHALLENGE. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CHALLENGE THE CITY AND SAYING, HEY, I COULD RUN FOR THIS OTHER TERM.

I'M NOT SURE HOW THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL TAKE THAT RIGHT AS A CANDIDATE, BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY SERVED TWO TERMS, BUT THAT WILL BE UP TO THEM.

I KNOW THIS WAS MENTIONED BECAUSE IT IS SOMEWHAT LEFT OPEN RIGHT A BIT, BUT I THINK IT WILL BE MISINTERPRETED BY THE PUBLIC THAT WE'RE TRYING TO EXTEND TERMS. THAT'S JUST ME PERSONALLY SPEAKING.

AND PERSONALLY, I'M GOOD WITH TWO TERMS, SO.

I MEAN, I'M PERSONALLY GOOD WITH IT. I'M JUST SAYING IF WE WANT TO CLEAN IT UP, LET'S CLEAN IT UP. RIGHT? AND, I MEAN, IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS, I MEAN, LET'S REVISE IT SO THAT IT'S DONE CORRECTLY.

WELL, THIS IS NOT REVISING.

THIS IS EXTENDING TERM ADDING.

THE WAY THIS IS WORDED, IT'S EXTEND FROM TWO TERMS TO THREE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT I'M NOT TRYING TO VOTE ON THIS. I'M AGAINST IT. NO, NO I KNOW, BUT I JUST I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER SALAZAR I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS INSTEAD OF IT SAYING FULL THREE FULL TERMS, YOU'RE SAYING TWO FULL TERMS. TWO FULL TERMS. YEAH. BUT RIGHT NOW, THAT'S WHAT OUR CHARTER SAYS.

YEAH. JUST LEAVE IT ALONE. YEAH. LIKE I JUST WANT TO LEAVE IT ALONE BECAUSE IT'S TWO TERMS. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET IT AGAIN. ISN'T THERE ONE OVER HERE ON FIVE YEARS THAT EVERY FIVE YEARS WE MUST REVIEW THE CHARTER, THE CHARTER SO THEY CAN COME BACK UP IN FIVE YEARS AND CLEAN UP THAT LANGUAGE.

YEAH. OKAY. THAT'S FINE WITH ME.

JUST. IT'LL COME BACK UP AGAIN.

YEAH. MY MY OPINION. ALL RIGHT.

ALL THOSE IF THAT ONE PASSES RIGHT, IT'S GOING TO PASS FIRST.

ALL RIGHT, SO THERE'S A MOTION TO SECOND DENY. ALL IN FAVOR FOR DENIAL. PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION IS DENIED ON ITEM EIGHT.

SO ITEM PROPOSITION A WILL NOT GO TO THE VOTERS OKAY.

PROPOSITION B SHOULD ARTICLE TWO, SECTION FOUR BE AMENDED TO REVISE THE PROCESS FOR FILLING VACANCIES ON THE CITY COUNCIL TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION, WHICH REQUIRES THAT VACANCIES WITH MORE THAN ONE YEAR BE ORDERED TO A SPECIAL ELECTION.

MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION, IF NOT ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES. C YEAH, C SHOULD.

ARTICLE TWO. SECTION THREE.

ARTICLE FIVE. SECTION THREE.

ARTICLE SIX. SECTION ONE, ARTICLE EIGHT.

SECTION TWO AND ARTICLE 18.

SECTION ONE BE AMENDED SO THAT THE CITY'S APPOINTED POSITIONS CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY SECRETARY, AND MUNICIPAL COURT CLERK EACH SERVE AND TO REMOVE BY THE CITY COUNCIL MOTION TO APPROVE.

SECOND WITH THE DISCUSSION.

YES. GO AHEAD SIR. I THOUGHT THAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY WERE GOING TO REMOVE THE THE WORD UNTIL REMOVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO PUT IT AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OR SAME THING.

I THINK IT'S THE SAME, BUT BUT I KNOW WE DISCUSSED THAT ABOUT IT BEING LIKE, IF WE'RE GOING TO THE WAY IT SOUNDED.

RIGHT. SO THIS IS THE THIS IS THE DRAFT THAT WAS PRESENTED OR I GUESS CAME FROM THE COMMITTEE DISCUSSIONS.

AND SO THAT'S WHY IT'S BEING PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL THIS WAY. I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT ULTIMATELY IT'S THIS IT'S THE SAME.

IT'S THE SAME ISSUE. SO WHAT THIS IS DOING IS THE APPOINTEES SERVING THEIR TERMS UNTIL THEY'RE REMOVED BY CITY COUNCIL, YOU CAN CALL IT AT THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNCIL, BUT IT ALL MEANS THE SAME THING AT THE END.

RIGHT? AND JUST JUST FOR EDUCATION OF THE CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY, ALL THAT HAD TERM LIMITS.

AND SO WE FOUND OUT THAT TRYING TO GET CITY MANAGERS FROM OTHER AREAS, THEY WERE THEY DID NOT WANT TO MOVE DOWN TO THE VALLEY, RELOCATE IF THEY ONLY HAD A LIFESPAN OF EIGHT YEARS.

WE JUST WANT TO REMOVE THAT WHERE COUNCIL COULD CHANGE THOSE POSITIONS AND THEY COULD BE HERE AS LONG AS THE COUNCIL WANTED THEM TO BE HERE.

ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. PROPOSITION B A D.

EXCUSE ME. SHOULD ARTICLE THREE, SECTION NINE BE AMENDED TO REQUIRE THAT THE CITY'S ORDINANCES AND NOTICES BE PUBLISHED IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW? SO MOVED. SECOND. APPROVED.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

I JUST REAL QUICKLY I'LL CHIME IN.

I WAS GOING TO WAIT TILL THE END, BUT ON THESE HOW ARE THEY GOING TO COME OUT ON THE BALLOT? THIS SHOULD THIS ARTICLE BE AMENDED? ALL OF THEM WILL BE WORDED THAT WAY. BUT WHERE WE VOTE YES OR NO OR HOW IS THAT? THAT'S CORRECT. IT'S A IT'S A YES OR A NO VOTE.

YES OR NO? YES. OKAY. GOT IT.

ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES.

PROPOSITION E SHOULD ARTICLE THREE, SECTION ONE AND SECTION TWO BE AMENDED TO CLARIFY THAT NEWLY ELECTED CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR TAKE OFFICE AT THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOLLOWING AN ELECTION, AND THAT A MAYOR PRO TEM BE CHOSEN BY THE CITY COUNCIL AT THAT MEETING.

[01:10:05]

ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES F.

SHOULD ARTICLE FOUR, SECTION FOUR BE AMENDED TO CONFORM THE CITY'S POSTING OF THE NAMES OF THE CANDIDATES IN A CITY ELECTION WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF STATE LAW.

MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND.

OR MOTION TO SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION, IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED.

SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES G.

ARTICLE TWO, SECTION TWO AND ARTICLE FOUR.

SECTION FIVE A BE AMENDED TO CONFORM CITY ELECTIONS TO TEXAS CONSTITUTION REQUIREMENTS THAT CANDIDATES FOR AN ELECTIVE OFFICE MUST RECEIVE A MAJORITY OF ALL VOTES CAST, RATHER THAN A PLURALITY.

MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES. H SHOULD ARTICLE SIX, SECTION ONE BE AMENDED TO REQUIRE THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY BE A FULL TIME CITY EMPLOYEE? MOTION TO APPROVE. WE HAVE MOTION TO APPROVE.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT.

ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES.

PROPOSITION I SHOULD. ARTICLE SEVEN, SECTION ONE.

SECTION THREE AND SECTION FOUR BE AMENDED TO CLARIFY THAT THE CITY'S FINANCE DIRECTOR IS THE HEAD OF THE CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, RATHER THAN CITY MANAGER, AND THAT THE FINANCE DIRECTOR REPORTS TO THE CITY MANAGER. MOTION TO APPROVE.

SECOND. MOTION TO SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION, IF NOT.

ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED.

SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES.

J SHOULD ARTICLE EIGHT, SECTION ONE BE AMENDED TO REQUIRE THAT THE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE BE AN ATTORNEY WHO HAS PRACTICED IN THE STATE OF TEXAS FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS, AND OTHERWISE CLARIFY THAT THE MUNICIPAL COURT HAS THE JURISDICTION AND SHOULD BE CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW. MOTION TO APPROVE.

MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION, IF NOT ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED.

SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES.

OKAY. SHOULD ARTICLE EIGHT BE AMENDED TO ADD SECTION THREE SO THAT THE CITY COUNCIL MAY APPOINT ONE OR MORE ASSOCIATE MUNICIPAL JUDGES WHO WOULD SERVE, IN ADDITION TO THE ELECTED MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE, AND ESTABLISHED THAT THE ELECTED MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE IS THE PRESIDING JUDGE OF MUNICIPAL COURT. MOTION TO APPROVE.

WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. IS THERE A SECOND? THERE'S NO SECOND.

IS THERE ANY OTHER MOTIONS? IF THERE'S NO MOTIONS, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO DENY OR TWO TO REMOVE THE. WERE THE COUNCIL OPPOSITION.

OKAY. YEAH. ALRIGHT, SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO DENY.

IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND ANY DISCUSSION? AND THE ONLY COMMENT I HAVE ON THAT IS I THINK THAT WITH THE JUDGE BEING ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE, HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PICK HIS OWN MUNICIPAL JUDGE OR ASSOCIATE JUDGE TO BE THERE RATHER THAN COUNCIL APPOINT.

THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THE WAY IT READS RIGHT NOW, THE ONLY THING HE CAN APPOINT IS SOMEBODY THAT CAN BE THERE WHEN HE'S NOT THERE. THEY CAN'T WORK TOGETHER. YEAH.

AND I DID TALK TO JUDGE.

HE WASN'T ABLE TO BE HERE THIS EVENING.

HE CALLED ME EARLIER TODAY.

HE DID STATE TO ME THAT RIGHT NOW THERE'S AN ORDINANCE FOR HIM TO APPOINT, I THINK. COUNCIL MEMBER. RIGHT.

YES. AND HE DID MENTION TO ME THAT HE'S COMING BEFORE COUNCIL BUDGET PERMITTING TO APPOINT JUDGES IN OCTOBER.

THAT'S WHAT HE MENTIONED TO ME TODAY.

SO, ANYWAY, JUST WANTED TO MENTION IT'S BEEN DISCUSSED WITH HIM PRIOR, PRIOR TO YOU. AND APPARENTLY NOW, BECAUSE THIS IS HERE, IT'S GOING TO FINALLY GET SOME FIRE FOR HIM TO DO SOMETHING, RIGHT.

RIGHT NOW YOU'RE PAYING A GUY $90,000 A YEAR, AND WE'VE GOT A BUNCH OF VISITING JUDGES COME INTO OUR CITY TO COME DO THE WORK.

SO IF IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING ON THAT, THAT, THAT AREA IT'S SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND WORKED AND SOMETHING'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE WORKED WITH THE, WITH THE.

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW YOU CAN'T HAVE THE, THE, THE THE JUDGE, THE JUDGE SITTING JUDGE DOESN'T BOTHER WHAT THE NAME IS AND HIS ASSOCIATE OR IN THE OFFICE AT THE SAME TIME, BECAUSE ONLY ONE OF THEM CAN MAKE A DECISION.

AND THE ONLY WAY YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THAT IS IF YOU CHANGE IT INTO THE ASSOCIATE JUDGE. ASSOCIATE JUDGE? RIGHT NOW, YOU CAN ONLY DO THAT.

THAT'S CORRECT. UNDER A CITY ORDINANCE, IT'S A TEMPORARY JUDGE.

AND UNDER STATE LAW, THEY SERVE IN THE ABSENCE OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE.

IF YOU HAVE AN ASSOCIATE JUDGE, THEY CAN SERVE IN CONJUNCTION WITH.

YEAH. SO ONE YOU COULD ACTUALLY HIRE AND THEY COULD BE THERE 8 TO 5 MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE DOES, OR THE OTHER ONE'S GOING TO BE TEMPORARY, YOU'RE GOING TO COME IN. IN THE ABSENCE OF NOW, YOU CAN CONSIDER THAT ABSENCE.

IF THE JUDGE ONLY COMES IN AT 3:00 OR 4:00 WHEN HE COMES IN TO DO ARRAIGNMENTS, YOU COULD CONSIDER THAT.

SO YOU COULD PAY HIM THE REST OF THE DAY. SO BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU'RE DOING ON IT.

RIGHT. AND MY COMMENT ON THAT JUST JUST ALSO FOR THE PEOPLE,

[01:15:03]

INITIALLY OUR QUESTIONS WERE, HAVE THE JUDGE BEEN HAS THE JUDGE BEEN INCLUDED IN ANY OF THESE DISCUSSIONS? SO I ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO HIM. MY CONTENTION IS THAT WE'RE OVER 100,000 PEOPLE NOW.

WE DO NEED ANOTHER JUDGE.

WE NEED COVERAGE MORNING AND AFTERNOON, NOT JUST IN THE AFTERNOON.

AND I KIND OF GOT THE SAME RESPONSE THAT THE MAYOR MENTIONED THAT HIS PLAN IS TO APPROACH THE COUNCIL FOR BUDGET IN OCTOBER AND ASK FOR THE FUNDING TO HAVE ANOTHER JUDGE IN THE COURT. IS THERE MONEY IN THE BUDGET RIGHT NOW FOR AN ASSOCIATE JUDGE? FOR A JUDGE AT THIS TIME, I WOULD NEED TO LOOK AT THEIR SALARIES.

WE WOULD NEED TO DEFINITELY CONSIDER LOOKING INTO THE AMOUNTS DURING THE BUDGET.

WELL, MARIBEL, WE ASKED MARIBEL THEN SHE'S IN CHARGE OF THE BUDGET.

MARIBEL VELAZQUEZ, COURT ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURGH.

WHAT WAS THE QUESTION? I'M SORRY. IS THERE MONEY IN YOUR BUDGET RIGHT NOW FOR A JUDGE TO PAY A ADDITION TO APPOINTMENT OF JUDGES? IT'S NOT BUDGETED. IT'S NOT A LINE ITEM THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY FOR A TEMPORARY JUDGE.

COULD IT BE PUT IN THERE? I BELIEVE SO, AS PART OF THE NEW BUDGET.

PART OF THE NEW BUDGET. EVEN RIGHT NOW, AND JUST BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD A DEPUTY CITY MARSHAL FOR A WHILE ALREADY, WE'RE JUST PLAYING GAMES WITH THIS RIGHT NOW.

BECAUSE DIDN'T WE APPOINT SOME POSITIONS IN THE PAST AT MID-YEAR APPROPRIATIONS? BECAUSE I'M GOING BACK BECAUSE, I MEAN, I'VE TRIED TO SIT DOWN WITH THE JUDGE THREE TIMES TO HAVE TO HAVE LUNCH.

AND HE HE STOOD ME UP THREE TIMES SO FAR TO DISCUSS THIS PART OF IT.

SO TO TALK ABOUT THAT, THERE'S NO MONEY THERE.

LET ME SEE. DID WE CREATE ANY POSITIONS THIS YEAR OR WE FUND ANY POSITIONS THIS YEAR AT MID-YEAR APPROPRIATION.

DID WE ADJUST SOME PAY PLANS BECAUSE OF THIS YEAR? MID JUDGE ADMINISTRATION.

SO NOBODY'S GOING TO PULL THE WOOL OVER MY EYES ON THIS ONE NOW.

THAT'S BEEN BEEN DONE IN THE PAST.

AND THERE WAS OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS UP HERE.

SO THE MONEY'S THERE. THE PD IS NOT BEING SERVICED.

OUR COMMUNITY IS NOT BEING SERVICED.

OUR CITIZENS AREN'T BEING SERVICED.

WHEN YOU COME UP TO SEE YOUR TICKET AND YOU CAN'T SEE THE JUDGE, YOU COME BACK AT THREE, YOU COME BACK AT FOUR, YOU COME BACK AT ANOTHER TIME, YOU COME BACK AT ANOTHER DATE. SO YOU JUST PLEAD GUILTY AND THAT'S IT.

PAY YOUR FINE AND LEAVE. AND THAT'S NOT THE WAY THAT THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE OPERATED. SO I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE SOME ACTION AND GET IT DONE.

NOW, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, IF HE COMES UP NEXT WEEK AND HE WANTS TO APPOINT SOMEBODY, WE NEED TO APPROPRIATE THE MONEY. YOU NEED TO FIND THE MONEY. AND THEY'VE BEEN SHORT A BAILIFF OR THE DEPUTY CITY MARSHAL.

FROM MY UNDERSTAND, THERE IS A PERSON READY TO BE HIRED.

BUT APPARENTLY THAT'S BEING HUNG UP BY SOMEONE, WHICH I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEBODY ELSE IS CONTROLLING WHO WHO THEY HIRE BECAUSE THE CITY MANAGER WON'T PULL THE TRIGGER ON IT.

SO AND I AGREE WITH YOU COUNCILMEMBER WHITE, ON EVERYTHING YOU'RE SAYING.

THE ONLY REASON WHY I'M I'M AGAINST THIS PROPOSITION.

CASE I KIND OF LOOK AT IT AS THE ASPECT OF THE PRESIDENT.

THE PRESIDENT'S ABLE TO PICK THEIR VICE PRESIDENT.

YOU WANT SOMEONE TO BE ABLE TO CARRY ON YOUR VISION IF YOU'RE NOT THERE.

BUT ALSO, I'M TAKING IT A STEP FURTHER.

OUR COUNCIL RIGHT HERE. YES. WE GET ALONG FINE. WE'RE GREAT AND ALL THAT, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHO THE NEXT COUNCIL IS GOING TO BE. SO THE NEXT COUNCIL DOESN'T LIKE THE JUDGE, AND THEY WANT TO APPOINT SOMEONE, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE THAT THE MUNICIPAL JUDGE LIFE HARDER. AND THEY'RE ABLE TO PUT SOMEONE RIGHT BEHIND THEM TO HAVE THEM ALWAYS LOOKING OVER THEIR BACK. THAT'S KIND OF THE REASON WHY I'M AGAINST IT MORE THAN ANYTHING, IS THAT I THINK WHOEVER IS THE ELECTED POSITION SHOULD BE ABLE TO CHOOSE THE PERSON THEY'RE WORKING WITH. THE WAY SOMEONE WHO'S HIRING SOMEONE IN THEIR DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE TO CHOOSE WHO THEY WANT TO WORK WITH.

AND I DON'T DISAGREE WITH YOU, COUNCILMAN, BECAUSE IF YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHO PUSHED FOR THE ORDINANCE THE WAY IT SITS RIGHT NOW, IT WAS ME. BECAUSE THE ORDINANCE WE HAD UNDER MOLINA ALLOWED MOLINA TO APPOINT GUERRA AND TEJERINA, BUT WE HAD A BIG ISSUE WITH THE MUNICIPAL COURT WHEN I WAS THERE AS THE CHIEF OR OR JUST AS AN OFFICER WHO WAS A FREAKING PAIN IN THE BUTT BECAUSE THOSE TWO WOULD JUST COUNTERMAND THE THE JUDGE'S BEEN ELECTED.

SO WE ALREADY WENT THROUGH THIS, AND I'M THE ONE THAT PUSHED FORWARD THROUGH THIS NOW. AND I'M READY NOW TO START CHANGING BACK BECAUSE WE PUT IN THERE AND WE WISH FOR SOME FOR OUR CITIZENS TO BE SERVICED, TO BE TAKEN CARE OF TO.

SOMEONE WHO CAN COME OVER THERE WHEN SOMEBODY'S GRANDMA GOT ARRESTED FOR SHOPLIFTING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO TAKE CARE OF IT.

NOW WE GOT PEOPLE. GOT TO WAIT FOR A WEEKEND.

WE CAN'T GET THE JUDGE IN THERE TO TO SIGN THE PAPERWORK.

AND THOSE ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT ARRAIGNMENTS THAT THEIR HIGHER PROFILE TALKING ABOUT. YOU GUYS HAVE JUST GOT A DARN TRAFFIC TICKET FROM ONE OF THE MOTORCYCLE COPS. YOU CAN'T SPEAK TO THE JUDGE OR ANYBODY ELSE. YOU'RE GOING TO GO TALK TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT OR A COURT CLERK OR WHOMEVER IT IS, AND THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO GET YOU A TIME WHEN THE JUDGE IS GOING TO SHOW UP. AND THAT'S RIGHT.

NOW WE'RE NOT SERVICING OUR CITIZENS.

IT LOOKS BAD ON ME, IN COUNCIL, ON US AND COUNCIL, BECAUSE THAT IS A DEPARTMENT WITHIN US.

AND IF THEY CAN'T GET SERVICED, WE LOOK BACK.

IT'S ON US BECAUSE WE HAVE A REMEDY TO FIX EVERYTHING.

SO YOU'RE SUGGESTING THAT MAYBE THE I'M SUGGESTING HE SHOULD HAVE COME HERE RIGHT

[01:20:04]

AND NOW YOU WANT TO WAIT EVEN LATER UNTIL THE OCTOBER OCTOBER, NOW WE'RE GOING TO GET IT APPROVED AND IT'S GOT TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL. WE GOT TO APPROVE THE PERSON. YOU KNOW THAT, RIGHT? HE'S GOT TO COME BACK. HE CAN HE CAN SUGGEST WHO HE WANTS.

AND WE CAN ACTUALLY TECHNICALLY I THINK WE CAN ACTUALLY POINT WHO WE WANT. HE JUST GETS TO SUGGEST WHO HE WANTS AND WE GET TO RATIFY IT FOR ITS POSITION.

BUT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE. I'M JUST TICKED OFF BECAUSE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE MONTHS AGO. SO PICK SOMEBODY.

THERE'S GOT TO BE SOMEBODY OUT THERE. RIGHT NOW, WHERE IT SITS RIGHT NOW, IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO BE A LAWYER. WE HAVE A LAYPERSON THAT CAN BE OUR MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES.

I'M NOT SURE IF THAT APPOINTMENT. I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE PROPOSITION.

WE JUST. WELL, THAT'S. YEAH. BUT AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, SINCE NOVEMBER, A LAYPERSON SINCE SINCE THE ELECTION, SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, A MAN NEEDS TO BE MR. AYALA. I THINK HE WAS SOMETHING NEW WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR MANY YEARS WHEN I WAS THERE, WAS THE MISS COURT JUDGE, AND HE HAS NO, NO LAW DEGREE AS FAR AS FAR AS WE KNOW.

RIGHT. SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYEE. SO THERE'S PLENTY OF PEOPLE THAT COULD BE CHOSEN FROM.

SO CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, IF THE JUDGE IS NOT AVAILABLE, WHO, WHO WHO ARE WE CALLING FOR ASSOCIATE JUDGES.

ARE THEY GETTING PAID TO DO THE THE THE POSITION OR TO ARRAIGN PEOPLE OR THEY'RE GETTING ANY TYPE OF COMPENSATION. CURRENTLY. RIGHT NOW, NO THEY'RE NOT.

THEY'RE VISITING JUDGES THAT WE NORMALLY GET.

WE EITHER REACH OUT TO TO OTHER MAGISTRATES.

THAT WILL BE THEIR JUDGE MALDONADO OR JUDGE CECILIA GARCIA FROM ALAMO IS NORMALLY WHO HELPS US OUT. I MEAN, WE'VE EVEN GOTTEN A JUDGE FROM, FROM MISSION TO COME IN TO, TO DO AS FAR AS THAT COUNTS ALSO TOO.

RIGHT. AND ELSA TOO. YEAH.

THEN IF WE'RE ABLE TO BUDGET SOME TYPE OF A BUDGET FOR ANY ASSOCIATE JUDGE THAT COMES IN, THAT WAY, THEY CAN GET COMPENSATED FOR THEIR TIME. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE WE SHOULD LOOK INTO. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE THE BUDGET FOR.

WE SHOULD DEFINITELY LOOK INTO THAT. ABSOLUTELY. YEAH. AND I'LL ECHO THE SENTIMENTS. THANK YOU TO THE COMMITTEE FOR HIGHLIGHTING THIS ISSUE.

LIKE I SAID, I JUST THINK THE JUDGE NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO PICK HIS JUDGE TO HAVE A FUNCTIONAL COURT. BUT PLEASE, MARIBEL, RELAY THE MESSAGE THAT COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO SEE AT OUR VERY NEXT MEETING WHAT IT COSTS TO GET COVERAGE MORNING AND AFTERNOON EVERY DAY TO HAVE A JUDGE THERE FOR OUR CITIZENS.

SO, OKAY. WILL IT BE A TEMPORARY JUDGE OR IS IT GOING TO BE A VISITING JUDGE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE WHATEVER THE ORDINANCE CURRENTLY, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE ORDINANCE CALLED FOR RIGHT NOW. WELL, THE CITY ORDINANCE IS FOR A TEMPORARY JUDGE.

OKAY. BUT THERE'S BUT THERE'S A PROCESS TO USE, A TEMPORARY JUDGE. I THINK WHAT THEY'RE DESCRIBING, THOUGH, IS A VISITING JUDGE, WHICH IS WHICH IS DIFFERENT.

RIGHT. BUT I GUESS JUST SO EVERYBODY'S CLEAR, HE CAN APPOINT A TEMPORARY JUDGE.

HE CAN ASK FOR APPOINTING A TEMPORARY JUDGE. THE PROBLEM WITH A TEMPORARY JUDGE IS THEY HE HE'S GOT TO BE IN HIS ABSENCE.

IT'S NOT WHAT OUR CITY NEEDS.

THAT MEANS IF HE SHOWS UP IN THE BUILDING, THE OTHER GUY'S GOT TO LEAVE. OR THE OTHER PERSON. RIGHT. BUT IF THE IDEA IS TO HAVE COVERAGE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE MORNING AND HE'S NOT THERE IN THE MORNING, THAT JUDGE COULD, YOU KNOW, DO THE MAGISTRATE CORRECT AT THAT POINT? YES. AND BEFORE I LEAVE, I JUST WANT TO HANG MY BEFORE I HANG UP MY PHONE HERE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE ONE MORE THING. EVERYBODY SAT HERE A LITTLE WHILE AGO.

WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COMPENSATION FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE DID THIS WHEN WE KNEW IT, WE KNEW THE DEDICATED TIME WE WERE GOING TO SPEND ON THIS. I HEARD THE BIG PREACHING AND ALL THAT STUFF. THIS IS AN ELECTED POSITION.

SO I'D LIKE TO HEAR THE SAME PREACHING ON THAT PARTY, TOO. IT'S AN ELECTED POSITION.

THE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE IS ELECTED POSITION? HE'S NOT AN APPOINTED POSITION.

YET EVERYBODY STANDING HERE AND THROWING STONES AT ME, TELLING ME THAT OR TELLING US UP HERE. HEY, YOU KNEW THIS WHEN YOU TOOK ON THIS JOB.

YOU KNEW THE HOURS IT WAS GOING TO BE.

YOU KNEW THE THE NON-COMPENSATION.

AND I'M NOT COMPLAINING, BUT IT GOES.

IT GOES EVERYWHERE. JUST DON'T THROW THEM IN ONE DIRECTION.

AND I JUST WANT TO ECHO WHAT YOU'RE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. YOU KNOW, VOLUNTEERISM. IT'S DYING AND I WOULD I, I, I AGREE TO A CERTAIN EXTENT WHAT MRS. TEETER IS SAYING ABOUT PAYING ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND I WOULD BE OKAY WITH PUTTING IT AT 2040 BECAUSE IT'S NOT ABOUT OUR COUNCIL, IT'S THE NEXT GENERATION.

ARE THEY GOING TO WANT TO TAKE THAT TIME AND VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME? BECAUSE THIS IS ALMOST A FULL TIME JOB AND IT REALLY IS. AND WE GET ZERO COMPENSATION AND I'M OKAY WITH IT. BUT THE NEXT GENERATION, WHAT IS THEIR MINDSET? WE KNOW OUR MINDSET TODAY.

YOU KNOW HOW EVERYTHING IS CHANGING RAPIDLY WITH THE GENERATIONS COMING UP AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IT DIE. YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF VOLUNTEERISM DIE. AND IT'S SAD.

AND IT'S NOT JUST. IT'S THE ECONOMY. YOU KNOW, NO ONE HAS TIME FOR THAT. AND I HOPEFULLY I WANT TO SEE THE NEXT GENERATION GET IN LINE. EVEN THAT YOUNG YOUNG LADY FROM ROBERT VILLAGE, SHE SHE THE WAY SHE WAS TALKING, THOSE ARE THE LEADERS WE NEED. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THEY'RE HAVING TO WORK MORE.

SO. SO IN SOME SENSE, I DO AGREE WITH SOMETHING, MISS TEETER ON CERTAIN THINGS THAT, YES, THEY SHOULD GET PAID FOR THEIR COMPENSATION TO INCENTIVIZE THEM TO WANT TO BE ON COUNCIL AND RUN FOR THE NEXT GENERATION. NOT ABOUT US.

IT'S ABOUT THE NEXT GENERATION. WHAT'S YOUR WHAT'S YOU'RE REALLY DEBATING THE SUPPORT,

[01:25:04]

I'M WEAR A NAME TAG ON MY SHIRT TO GO TO WORK. EVERYBODY ELSE OWNS BUSINESSES OR SOMETHING ELSE. IT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.

WE HAVE TO GO TO WORK, TOO.

YEAH, BUT IT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE. WE HAVE TO WORK, YOU KNOW? YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHITE COLLAR AND BLUE COLLAR. SO LET'S FACE IT, I'M THE BLUE COLLAR. I'M THE BLUE COLLAR GUY UP HERE.

SO I'M REPRESENTING A BIG PART OF THAT, THAT PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND I MEAN, I'M LUCKY I'VE BEEN I'M AT THE RETIREMENT AGE, GOT A RETIREMENT CHECK PLUS ANOTHER CHECK SO I CAN STAND HERE AND DO IT. BUT IT'S NOT A POSITION FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT HERE THAT ARE THAT WORK FOR OUR CITY RIGHT HERE, THAT THAT HAVE A BLUE COLLAR TYPE OF JOB TO BE ABLE TO BE REPRESENTATION OF YOUR CITY BECAUSE IT DOES ALL IT DOES CAUSE.

AND I'M NOT ADVOCATING RIGHT NOW, I'M NOT TRYING TO GO THIS, YOU KNOW, I WAS TRYING TO ADVOCATE THAT IF WE DID SOMETHING LIKE THIS, LET'S DO IT. YOU PASS THE ORDINANCE AND IT HAPPENS TEN YEARS FROM NOW. THAT'S WHY NOBODY CAN SAY IT WAS BENEFITED US IF THEY WANTED TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO LIKE LIKE MISS TEETER TALKED ABOUT THE REPRESENTATION THAT THEY HAD ON THEIR COMMITTEE. THEY HAD OLDER, YOUNGER, DIFFERENT PROFESSIONS, ALL THAT STUFF. EVENTUALLY THIS WILL BE A WHITE COLLAR JOB OWNER.

YEAH. AND IN THE SPIRIT OF THE COMMITTEE, THE SPIRIT OF THAT, THAT ORDINANCE WAS REALLY TO ALLOW PEOPLE WHO DID NOT HAVE THEIR OWN BUSINESS THAT THEY COULD RUN AND REPRESENT THEIR CITY.

THAT WAS THE INITIAL SPIRIT OF AND LIKE I, YOU KNOW, SHE LOBBIED ALL OF US. WE ALL HAD CONVERSATIONS.

AND I TOLD HER, I DON'T THINK ANYONE WANTS TO BE THE COUNCIL THAT ELECTS SALARIES FOR THEMSELVES. AND WE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT THE FUTURE. AND MY ADDITION WAS I COULD SUPPORT THAT IF IT ALSO INCLUDED ELECTION REFORM, CAMPAIGN SPENDING, CAMPAIGN DONATIONS. IT CAME WITH SOME POSITIVE ALONG WITH THAT, WITH WITH THAT, THEN THE FUTURE COUNCILS WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO RAISE AS MUCH MONEY, WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO ASK FOR AS MUCH MONEY, BUT THEN YOU WOULD HAVE A COMPENSATION AND EVERYONE COULD RUN. I THINK THAT WAS A TRUE SPIRIT OF IT.

OBVIOUSLY IT'S A IT'S A TOUCHY SITUATION, SO WE JUST DON'T REALLY DISCUSS IT.

BUT NO ONE NO ONE WAS HERE ON BOARD FOR THAT.

BUT I THINK WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE OFF. YEAH, YEAH. THANK YOU. YEAH, I'M OFF MY SOAPBOX.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THE ONLY THING I WILL STATE AND WE DO HAVE A MOTION.

AND SECOND TO DENY THIS, BUT I WILL JUST ADD TO THE DISCUSSION THAT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IF WE DO LOOK AT ANY COMPENSATION, FUTURE OR FUTURE COUNCILS, THEY DO NEED TO LOOK AT OUR STRUCTURE AS A CITY. SO TO EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A COUNCIL MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT, THAT MEANS THAT WE GET ELECTED AND WE HIRE A CITY MANAGER TO RUN THE CITY THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS. RIGHT. CITY MANAGER HIRES EVERYBODY.

WE DON'T HIRE ANYBODY. WE ONLY HIRE CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY, MUNICIPAL COURT CLERK AND CITY SECRETARY.

SO THERE'S FOUR POSITIONS. THOSE ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT THAT WE, YOU KNOW, HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH.

AND SO IF THERE'S ANY CHANGES, I'M SAYING THIS TO THE COMMITTEE, MAYBE IN THE FUTURE IF THIS IS LOOKED AT AGAIN, LET'S EVALUATE THAT. WE HAVE A COUNCIL MANAGER FORM.

I'M NOT SAYING LET'S CHANGE THAT. WHAT I'M SAYING IS RIGHT NOW, THE WAY IT'S DESIGNED IS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A MANAGER TO RUN THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS AND ALL THE STAFF OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE COMPENSATION, THEY'VE CHANGED THEIR STRUCTURE TO ALLOW FOR THE COUNCIL TO BE MORE INVOLVED.

THE DAY TO DAY. THEY HAVE THEIR STAFF, THEY HAVE OTHER THINGS. THAT'S NOT YOU KNOW WHAT THIS. SO I THINK IF THERE IS SOMETHING LOOKED AT IN THE FUTURE THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED AT, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY I DON'T LIKE I WOULD NOT LIKE TO LOOK AT THAT NOW.

BUT AS THE CITY GROWS, THAT MAY BE SOMETHING TO LOOK AT.

LOOK AT OUR STRUCTURE.

BECAUSE IT SHOULDN'T JUST BE ABOUT COMPENSATION.

IT'S ALSO WHAT ADDITIONAL ROLES ARE WE GOING TO TAKE AS A COUNCIL THAT THE RESIDENTS WOULD LIKE US TO TAKE? BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T DECIDE THAT, RIGHT? THE RESIDENTS WOULD. SO THAT'S THE ONLY THING I WILL ADD TO THAT, THAT LET'S ADD AND RESEARCH OTHER CITIES AND THE STRUCTURES THAT THEY HAVE. I MEAN, I'M VERY INVOLVED WITH THE US CONFERENCE OF MAYORS, AND I WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN ALMOST THERE'S A LOT OF CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT YEAH, THEY GET THEY GET PAID.

THAT'S THEIR CAREER. SO THEY ALWAYS LOOK AT US IN TEXAS, THEY'RE LIKE, Y'ALL DON'T GET PAID. I SAID, NO, WE HERE TEXAS. MOSTLY IT'S ALL KINDS OF MANAGEMENT FORM OF GOVERNMENT.

BUT I THINK IF THAT IS LOOKED AT, ALL I'LL SAY IS LET'S LOOK AT THE OVERALL CITY STRUCTURE, YOU KNOW.

BUT ANYWAY, ALL RIGHT. SO I'M GOING TO CALL FOR A VOTE ON A MOTION AND A SECOND DENY.

ALL IN FAVOR DENY. RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO NEXT LAST TWO ITEMS. L SHOULD THE CITY CHARTER BE AMENDED BY REVISING VARIOUS SECTIONS OF ARTICLE 12 THROUGH 16 TO CLARIFY THE PROCEDURES FOR PETITIONING A RECALL INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM ELECTION, INCLUDING REQUIRING THAT ALL PETITIONS BE SIGNED BY A CERTAIN NUMBER OF QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY.

MAKING CLEAR THAT THE POWERS OF INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM DO NOT EXTEND TO ORDINANCES RELATING TO BONDS, THE CITY'S FINANCES AND BUDGETING, OR CAUSING THE CITY TO SPEND MONEY REMOVING THE REQUIREMENT THAT PETITIONS BE CIRCULATED ONLY BY A COMMITTEE OF CIRCULATORS, AND ESTABLISHING THAT SIGNATURES TO A PETITION REMAIN EFFECTIVE FOR 30 DAYS PRIOR TO THE FILING OF THE PETITION.

WITH THE CITY SO MOVED.

A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION, IF NOT ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES. LAST ONE.

M. SHOULD ARTICLE 17, SECTION 11 BE AMENDED TO REQUIRE THAT THE

[01:30:03]

SO MOVED. SECOND MOTION AND SECOND DISCUSSION.

YES. GO AHEAD SIR. SO THIS IS STATING THAT EVERY FIVE YEARS OR IT CAN BE BETWEEN EVERY FIVE YEARS AT LEAST. RIGHT.

IT HAS TO BE DONE WITHIN FIVE YEARS.

OR OR IS IT EVERY FIVE YEARS? SO THE WAY THIS IS WRITTEN IS THAT THIS WOULD CREATE A REQUIREMENT THAT IT BE DONE EVERY FIVE YEARS, BUT IT DOESN'T PRECLUDE ADDITIONAL COMMITTEES TO THE EXTENT COUNCIL WANTED TO DO THEM IN BETWEEN THE FIVE YEARS. SO IT CAN BE DONE BETWEEN IT COULD BE IT'D BE UP TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO DO THAT.

WHAT DOES OUR CHARTER SAY RIGHT NOW THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT.

ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IS A PROPOSITION TO THE VOTERS.

CORRECT. AND FOR THE RECORD, WHAT WAS THE LAST TIME THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE WAS WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE REVIEWED OUR CHARTER? IT'S BEEN OVER 20 YEARS.

THE LAST TIME THAT WE HAD A COMMITTEE TO DO THIS REVIEW PROCESS.

YOU MEAN. I'M NOT SURE.

I BELIEVE IT'S 1974. YEAH.

SO FOR THE RECORD, THE LAST TIME OUR CHARTER WAS REVIEWED WAS 74.

I'LL SHOW MY AGE. SO THAT'S THAT'S ALMOST 50 YEARS AGO.

WHAT PART OF 74. I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR.

BEFORE. BEFORE OR AFTER JUNE 1ST.

SO A LOT OF THESE THINGS, IT'S A LOT OF WORK THAT THE COMMITTEE WENT THROUGH AND THIS HAS NOT BEEN DONE. WE'VE OUR CITY A LOT OF THE AREAS HAVE NOT BEEN UPDATED, HAVE NOT BEEN LOOKED AT. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE FOR 50 YEARS IT HAS NOT BEEN LOOKED AT. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO DO IT MAYBE EVERY THREE YEARS, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW SOCIETY IS CHANGING EVERY SINGLE DAY.

IT'S CHANGING, IT'S CHANGING, IT'S GOING FASTER, IT'S GETTING FASTER. WE'RE HAVING TO WORK HARDER. WE'RE HAVING TO WORK HARDER. THE WAY THIS THIS IS WORDED, IT'S WITH IF THEY DON'T DO IT, YOU HAVE TO DO IT AT LEAST EVERY FIVE YEARS.

AND WHAT I, WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THAT WITH THIS IT KEEPS US UP TO DATE, I KNOW. HAVE WE EVER BEEN CHALLENGED FOR OUR CHARTER FOR BEING UNCONSTITUTIONAL? YES. OKAY, SO THIS IS WHY WE'RE DOING THIS SO WE DON'T HAVE WE AVOID THOSE PROBLEMS OF PEOPLE COMING IN, CHALLENGING THE CHARTER, SAYING IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

SO THIS IS WHY WE'RE DOING IT.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COMMITTEE ONCE AGAIN FOR FOR TAKING THAT INITIATIVE AND PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. ALL RIGHT.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

THIS CONCLUDES ALL ITEMS AND I JUST CAN I RECAP.

CAN WE RECAP? SURE. YES.

SO ALL THE PROPOSITIONS WERE APPROVED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF PROPOSITION A AND PROPOSITION K. OKAY. THE PROPOSITION A IS A TERM LIMITS.

AND PROPOSITION K IS THE APPOINTMENT OF MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATE JUDGES.

OKAY. IF THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO ORDER AN ELECTION TONIGHT, WE WOULD NEED SEPARATE ACTION. ADDITIONAL ACTION FOR THAT. ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A MOTION. SECOND, IF I COULD IF I COULD READ OUT A PROPOSED MOTION THAT I THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL.

SO I BASED ON THE DISCUSSION, I WOULD RECOMMEND A MOTION TO ORDER A SPECIAL ELECTION ON THE PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENTS APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, AND THAT SUCH ELECTION BE HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE GENERAL ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 5TH, 2024, AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY SECRETARY TO RECORD THIS ACTION IN A RESOLUTION.

SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION.

AND SECOND TO THAT MOTION READ BY OUR CITY ATTORNEY.

ANY DISCUSSION? AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS GOING TO BE ON THE NOVEMBER 5TH GENERAL ELECTION. CORRECT.

GOT IT. AND IF I COULD JUST ASK OUR STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PUT IT ON OUR WEBSITE SO THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT AMENDMENTS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AND WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF ITEMS ON THE BALLOT NOVEMBER 5TH. SO THIS WILL BE PROBABLY AT THE END. IS THAT CORRECT? PRETTY MUCH YES. RIGHT.

SO THAT THE RESIDENTS KNOW WHAT WHAT'S NOT ASKING THEM TO VOTE ONE OR THE OTHER.

JUST I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THAT THEY'RE AWARE. BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN I RAN, THERE WERE SOME CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS THAT I WAS BEING ASKED ABOUT THOSE ALL THE TIME AND THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW ANYWAY.

[8. ORDINANCES]

[A. Consider the Ordinance Providing for a Temporary Special Use Permit for the “EHS March-A- Thon” Event to be Held Saturday, August 17, 2024 from 6:00 a.m. Through 12:00 Noon at the Edinburg Municipal Park, Being Portions of Lots 9, 10, 12 and 16 and All of Lot 11, Section 268, Texas-Mexican Railway Company’s Survey, Located at 714 South Raul Longoria, as Requested by Jason Rogers. [Jaime Acevedo, Director of Planning and Zoning]]

ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ORDINANCES.

ITEM EIGHT A MAYOR. DO YOU HAVE A DATE FOR THAT? WHEN THAT CHARTER COMMITTEE WAS RECONSTITUTED WAS JUNE 18TH, 1974. OKAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU TO THE COMMITTEE.

I APPRECIATE IT. CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. CONSIDER THE ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR A TEMPORARY SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR THE MARCH EVENT TO BE HELD SATURDAY, AUGUST 17TH, 2024, FROM 6 A.M.

TO 12 NOON AT THE EDINBURG MUNICIPAL PARK, BEING PORTIONS OF LOT NINE, TEN, 12 AND 16 AND ALL OF LOT 11, SECTION 268 TEXAS MEXICAN RAILWAY COMPANY SURVEY LOCATED AT 714 SOUTH LONGORIA, AS REQUESTED BY JASON ROGERS.

[B. Consider the Ordinance Providing for the Rezoning Request from Commercial, General (CG) District and Residential, Suburban (RS) District to Residential, Multi-family (RM) District, Lot 1, E.M.L. Subdivision, and a 0.723 of One Acre Out of Lot 6, Section 237, Texas-Mexican Railway Company’s Survey, Located at 2901 West Chapin Road, as Requested by Donaldo Rodriguez on Behalf of Martha Alicia Aguilar. (A 4/5 vote is required by the City Council to overturn the Planning & Zoning Commission action.) [Jaime Acevedo, Director of Planning & Zoning]]

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

ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES. ITEM B CONSIDER THE ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE REZONING REQUEST FROM COMMERCIAL GENERAL DISTRICT AND RESIDENTIAL SUBURBAN DISTRICT TO RESIDENTIAL MULTIFAMILY DISTRICT. LOT ONE MS SUBDIVISION AND 0.7 23A1 ACRE LOT OF LOT SIX,

[01:35:04]

ALL RIGHT, COUNSEL, IS THERE A MOTION? MOVE TO APPROVE.

WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE. IS THERE A SECOND? ALL RIGHT.

THERE'S NO SECOND. IS THERE ANOTHER MOTION? NO MOTION.

SO DO WE JUST MOVE ON ON THE ITEM? OR IF THERE'S NO MOTION, THERE'S NO ACTION.

AND I THINK FOR THE RECORD, WAS THIS ON LAST MEETING? YES.

RIGHT. OKAY. SO IF THERE'S NO ACTION, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE ITEM?

[9. RESOLUTIONS]

[A. Consider Resolution Approving the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) FY 2024- 2025 Annual Action Plan (AAP) for the Proposed Use of Funds for the Period Beginning October 01, 2024 Through September 30, 2025. [Claudia L. Farias, Director of Grants Administration]]

ITEM RESOLUTIONS ITEM NINE A CONSIDER RESOLUTION APPROVING THE IMPROVING THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FISCAL YEAR 2024 2025.

ANNUAL ACTION PLAN FOR THE PROPOSED USE OF FUNDS FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.

SO MOVED. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? I JUST WANT TO THANK THE BOARD.

THANK YOU. AND CLAUDIA, ALL THE WORK THAT'S.

I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF WORK BEHIND THIS. MY ONLY QUESTION IS GOING TO BE THIS GOES TAKES EFFECT OCTOBER 1ST. YES.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES. THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS SO THAT WE CAN BE READY TO SUBMIT OUR ANNUAL ACTION PLAN TO HUD BY AUGUST 16TH.

AND THE IDEA IS THAT THE FUNDS WOULD BE READY TO BE DISPERSED.

THE CDBG FUNDS WOULD BE READY TO BE DISBURSED OCTOBER 1ST.

GREAT. THANK YOU. MAYOR, IF I MAY, I JUST WANT TO COMMEND THE CITY STAFF AND THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR THE HARD WORK AND ALL THE MEETINGS AND ALL THE PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT WE HAD AND ALL THE PRESENTATIONS THAT WE HAD FROM THE DIFFERENT

[B. Consider Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Advance Funding Agreement for the Fiscal Year 2023 Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TASA) Program- Active Transportation Network Enhancements Grant-Freddy Gonzalez Drive and Closner Boulevard Intersection Improvements Project. [Mardoqueo Hinojosa, P.E., CFM, CMP. City Engineer]]

MOTION CARRIES. ITEM B, CONSIDER RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2023.

TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES SET ASIDE PROGRAM.

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK ENHANCEMENTS GRANT FREDDY GONZALEZ DRIVE AND CLOSNER BOULEVARD INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT.

MOTION TO APPROVE OR WE HAVE A MOTION.

[C. Consider Resolution by the City Council of the City of Edinburg, Texas Authorizing and Approving the Publication of a Notice of Intention to Issue Certificates of Obligation; Complying with the Requirements Contained in the Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 15c2-12; and Providing an Effective Date. [Ascencion Alonzo, Director of Finance]]

SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT. ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED.

SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES ITEM C CONSIDER RESOLUTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING THE PUBLICATION OF A NOTICE OF INTENTION TO ISSUE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION COMPLYING WITH THE REQUIREMENTS CONTAINED IN THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, RULE 15 C 212 AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. SO MOVED. SECOND.

MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? I JUST HAD A QUESTION IN CONNECTION WITH ARE WE.

THIS IS JUST AN INTENT, BUT ARE WE GOING TO THEN TAKE OTHER ACTIONS OR AFTER THIS? IN OTHER WORDS, LOOK AT THE LIST OF PROJECTS OR HOW DOES IT WORK? GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND ALSO DIRECTOR OF FINANCE. WE DO HAVE OUR BOBBY VILLARREAL, OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, AND ALSO OUR BOND COUNSEL, MR. CANTU. MAYBE THEY THEY CAN THEY CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S AN INTENT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO KNOW THE PROCESS.

YES. MAYOR BOBBY ESTRADA, FOR THE RECORD, THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT.

THE RULES ARE AND ARNOLD CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M INCORRECT, BUT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE THAT YOU HAVE TO PUT THE NOTICE OF INTENT, PUT ON THE ON THE WEBSITE OF THE CITY AND ON THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER OF, OF DISTRIBUTION. SO AGAIN, IF YOU ALL WERE TO APPROVE IT TODAY, I THINK STAFF PROBABLY GETS IT TO THE PAPER AND IT PROBABLY GETS PUBLISHED SUNDAY.

SO BY LAW, I'LL LET ARNOLD CONFIRM THIS.

BUT WE HAVE 45 DAYS TO SELL IT.

SO THOSE 45 DAYS HAVE TO BE SOLD ON A REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING.

A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF EDINBURGH.

AND IT HAS TO. IT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN ORDER FOR STAFF AND THE CITY TO SET A TAX RATE.

SO WE HAVE THE LAST REGULAR MEETING OF SEPTEMBER IS YOUR LAST OPPORTUNITY TO SET THE TAX RATE. AND WITH THOSE TIME REQUIREMENTS OF TODAY, THAT'S ESSENTIALLY THE TIME OUR KIND OF OUR LAST OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS.

SO YOU CAN SET YOUR BUDGET AND ALL THOSE THINGS.

AGAIN, THERE ARE THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT WILL HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND THEN. WE'RE GOING TO GET THE CERTIFIED VALUES PROBABLY IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS THE END OF JULY ROUGHLY.

SO YOU KNOW THAT. AND AGAIN, WHAT WE'VE DONE IS THE CAPACITY AT ABOUT 18 NINE FOR SELF-SUPPORTING WITH THE THE LANDFILL AND THEN NINE FOR CIP PROJECTS FOR YOUR DETERMINATION. NOW AGAIN, I'LL LET ARNOLD DISCUSS THAT.

BUT ESSENTIALLY WHAT YOU'RE DOING TODAY IS THAT YOU'RE GIVING AUTHORITY UP TO 18.

YOU CAN GO DOWN BETWEEN NOW AND THOSE 45 DAYS.

OR YOU COULD COMPLETELY SCRAP IT AND NOT DO ANYTHING AT ALL. ALL THAT, ALL THIS JUST GIVES YOU THE FLEXIBILITY SO THAT WE MEET THE REQUIRED NOTICES,

[01:40:04]

THANK YOU. ARNOLD CANTU WITH CANTU. HARDIN MONTOYA BOND, COUNSEL TO THE CITY. WHAT BOBBY IS SAYING IS CORRECT.

THIS IS A TWO PART PROCESS.

SO THE FIRST AND PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT IS THAT YOU ARE NOT COMMITTING TO ISSUE DEBT AT THIS MEETING. THIS IS ONE PART OF A TWO PART PROCESS IN WHICH YOU GIVE NOTICE WITH FINANCIAL INFORMATION, THE THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT THAT YOU INTEND TO ISSUE. THIS CAN BE DONE UP TO THAT AMOUNT.

IT CAN BE DONE IN ONE OR MORE SERIES.

BUT THAT INFORMATION PLUS CERTAIN FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES NEED TO BE PUBLISHED TWICE IN A LOCAL NEWSPAPER. AND WE HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST 45 DAYS BETWEEN THE DATE THAT THAT NOTICE IS PUBLISHED AND THE DATE THAT THE COUNCIL RECONVENES TO APPROVE THE CERTIFICATES IF THEY SO CHOOSE. ALL RIGHT.

COUNCIL. ANY QUESTIONS? SO MY MY QUESTION IS LIKE I THINK YOU MENTIONED IT, BOBBY ALREADY. SO THIS IS JUST THE INTENT.

SO IF WE COULD EITHER REDUCE THE AMOUNT.

RIGHT. OR WE JUST CAN'T GO UP AND OR OR LIKE I SAID, MAYBE NOT NOT PURSUE IT, BUT SO THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS REGARDING OUR TAX RATE ASCENSION.

SO WE JUST SO COUNCIL IS AWARE, I MEAN, IF I KNOW THIS IS THE INTENT, WE'RE NOT IN THIS MEETING ISSUING DEBT.

BUT IF WE DO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, HOW DOES THIS AFFECT OUR TAX RATE THAT WE'RE NEEDING TO SET RIGHT SOMETIME IN SEPTEMBER? IT'S KIND OF A LITTLE EARLY BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE CERTIFIED VALUATIONS.

ONCE WE GET THAT, WE CAN LOOK AT, AT ANY AMOUNT THAT YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO TO ISSUE OR YOU WOULD NOT GUESS DECIDE NOT TO ISSUE ANY.

THAT WILL DETERMINE THE RATE. SO JUST THE PROCESS.

THIS IS JUST ISSUING THE REQUIRED NOTICE.

OKAY. AND IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE HAVE TO ISSUE RIGHT.

BUT IT CANNOT EXCEED THE THE 18 MILLION THAT'S BEING INCLUDED RIGHT NOW.

OKAY. SO THAT BEING THE CASE CITY MANAGER I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS REVIEW MAYBE AT OUR NEXT MEETING. COUNCIL. RIGHT. SO WE KNOW WHICH PROJECTS WE'RE GOING TO INCLUDE.

I WOULD WOULD LIKE TO STICK WITH THOSE PROJECTS THAT ARE AS MUCH READY TO GO AS POSSIBLE. I DO NOT WANT TO ISSUE DEBT FOR SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEN'T.

WE'RE NOT READY FOR. OKAY.

I MEAN, I AND AND SO I ASKED OUR CITY MANAGER AND CITY STAFF TO PLEASE EVALUATE THESE THINGS. LET'S LET'S EVALUATE THEM RIGHT AT THE NEXT MEETING SO THAT WE CAN DETERMINE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO MOVING FORWARD, BUT WE CAN INCLUDE ON THE NEXT AGENDA.

I'D APPRECIATE THAT. SO, MAYOR, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING, YOU WOULD LIKE FOR US TO PROVIDE YOU A LIST OF ALL THE PROJECTS EVEN THOUGH IT MAY BE MORE THAN THE 18 MILLION TOTAL, BUT JUST SO THAT YOU CAN ASSESS EACH PROJECT AND THEN IDENTIFY WHICH ONES YOU WOULD LIKE TO POSSIBLY PROVIDE A DIRECTION, I WOULD LIKE TO GET A PRIORITY FROM YOU, ALL THE STAFF. RIGHT. JUST WHAT YOU ALL ARE ASKING US TO CONSIDER.

OKAY. AND THEN ANYTHING ELSE OBVIOUSLY THAT THAT ESPECIALLY WE'RE GOING THROUGH A BUDGET PROCESS NOW, RIGHT? I MEAN, THERE MAY BE SOME ITEMS THAT OUR OPERATIONS BUDGET MAY NOT BE ABLE TO COVER.

HOWEVER, THIS BOND ISSUANCE MAY BE ABLE TO COVER SOME OF THESE ITEMS. SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO HAVE THAT REVIEW.

OKAY. SO WE'LL PROVIDE YOU A LIST OF EVERYTHING.

AND THEN JUST KIND OF PRIORITIZE THAT LIST.

SO WE COULD PRIORITIZE. AND THEN YOU ALL PROVIDE THE DIRECTIVE TO STAFF.

CORRECT. OKAY. AND AT THIS TIME IT'S A AUTHORIZING THE INTENT.

RIGHT. THERE'S NO COMMITMENT ON COUNCIL.

WHEN WOULD IT COME BACK TO? ACTUALLY OFFICIALLY SEPTEMBER 17TH, WHICH IS THE LAST OR THE THIRD TUESDAY OF SEPTEMBER. THE SECOND MEETING.

THE SECOND MEETING OF THE MONTH? YEAH. SO THAT BEING THE CASE, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO REVIEW THOSE PROJECTS, MOVE IT TO THE NEXT MEETING SO THAT WE HAVE MORE THAN AMPLE TIME TO DETERMINE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO INCLUDE OR NOT INCLUDE.

AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT WE DO. IN ORDER TO GO TO THE MARKET, WE HAVE TO GO WITH STAFF, WITH JOHN AND MYRA AND NELDA TO GET THE DOCUMENTS OUT TO THE MARKET.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE NUMBERS THAT WE'VE ANALYZED THUS FAR INDICATE KEEPING THE INS RATE AT THE SAME LEVEL, NOT GOING UP.

RIGHT. SO THE NINE ON THE LANDFILL SELF-SUPPORTING AND THE NINE ON THE CIP.

RIGHT. AND THAT'S HOW WE ARRIVED AT THAT NUMBER, JUST FOR THE RECORD. ALL RIGHT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BY COUNCIL?

[D. Consider Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Submit a Grant Application to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Fiscal Year 2025 Airport Terminal Program Grant, and to Execute Any Documents Related Thereto. [Eddie Velarde, Director of Aviation]]

ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GENTLEMEN. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM D. CONSIDER RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION FOR THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT FISCAL YEAR 2025 AIRPORT TERMINAL PROGRAM GRANT AND TO EXECUTE ANY DOCUMENTS RELATED THERETO.

[01:45:02]

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW, MR. VALADE, CAN YOU SO THE STATE OF TEXAS APPROVING THEIR BUDGET, 10 MILLION FOR THE AIRPORT. WHERE ARE WE AT ON THAT? GOOD EVENING, YOUR HONOR. COUNCIL. DIRECTOR OF AVIATION FOR THE CITY.

REGARDING THE $10 MILLION, ACTUALLY FROM OUR BUDGET MEETING THAT WE HAD HERE A COUPLE OF A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

THE NEXT DAY THERE, WE ASKED TEXDOT ABOUT GETTING THAT THING ROLLING AS FAR AS ALL THE ELEMENTS OF THE $10 MILLION.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT, LIGHTING, ETCETERA.

SO IN CONSULTATION WITH MR. ARENA AND OURSELVES, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'LL I HAVE A QUESTION UP TO FINANCE AS FAR AS THE MONIES THAT ARE ALREADY BUDGETED TO AT LEAST GET THE ENGINEERING PORTION OF THAT ON, YOU KNOW, ON WHEELS. SO WE'RE THERE.

WE'RE THERE AT THAT THERE. SO ONCE I HAVE A DEFINITIVE ANSWER FROM FINANCE, FOR INSTANCE, THERE OR CITY MANAGEMENT, THEN THEN WE CAN ENGAGE TEXDOT TO AT LEAST GET THE ENGINEERING GOING.

SO ARE WE DOING THAT PROJECT OR TEXDOT DOING TEXDOT, SIR? SO THEY'RE THE ONES MAKING THE IMPROVEMENTS? YES, SIR. WELL, BASICALLY, THEY'LL BE THE ADMINISTRATORS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY. YES, SIR. OKAY.

AND I'M ONLY BRINGING THAT UP BECAUSE WE'RE COMING UP TO THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN JANUARY. AND IF WE'RE GOING TO ASK FOR MORE MONEY, THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, WELL, WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THE MONEY THAT WE ALREADY APPROPRIATED? AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MOVING ALONG.

WE'LL TAKE IT. AND WHEN YOU SAID THAT THEY'RE THEY PULLED THE TRIGGER ON ON US, YOU KNOW.

YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME

[10. BUDGET]

WE HAVE ONE ITEM. COUNCIL UNDER BUDGET.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE TRANSFERS?

[A. Consider Approving Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget Transfers for the Following: [Ascencion Alonzo, Director of Finance]]

ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT.

ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED?

[11. AWARDING OF BIDS]

[A. Consider Awarding Bid No. 2024-13, West Water Treatment Plant Stand by Generator Grant No. DR4586-0053 to McDonald Municipal and Industrial for Their Base Bid in the Amount of $807,469.00 and Authorize the City Manager to Execute Any Documents Related Thereto. [Gerardo Carmona Jr., P.E., Director of Utilities]]

UNDER AWARDING OF BIDS.

UNDER 11 A. CONSIDER AWARDING BID NUMBER 2024 DASH 13 WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.

STANDBY GENERATOR GRANT NUMBER 45860053 TO MCDONALD MUNICIPAL AND INDUSTRIAL FOR THEIR BASE BID IN THE AMOUNT OF 807,469 AND AUTHORIZED CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ANY DOCUMENTS RELATED THERETO.

MOTION TO APPROVE. MOTION TO APPROVE.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND?

[B. Consider Authorizing the Purchase of Two Hundred (200) Glock Model G45 MOS7 9MM Handguns, Including Holsters and Handgun Flashlight to GT Distributors, Inc. Through the Local Government Purchasing Cooperative (BuyBoard) Contract No. 698-23 in the Amount of $182,907.00. [Jaime Ayala, Chief of Police]]

ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES. ITEM B CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF 200 GLOCK MODEL G FOR 45 MOS SEVEN NINE MILLIMETER HANDGUNS, INCLUDING HOLSTERS AND HANDGUN FLASHLIGHT, TO GT DISTRIBUTORS THROUGH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT PURCHASING COOPERATIVE BY BOARD CONTRACT NUMBER 698 23.

IN THE AMOUNT OF 182,907.

[12. CONSENT AGENDA]

ANY DISCUSSION, IF NOT ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES. COUNCIL ITEM 12.

CONSENT AGENDA. WE HAVE ITEMS A THROUGH L.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ALTOGETHER? YOU WANT TO EXCLUDE ANY ITEMS? MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS A THROUGH I RIGHT THROUGH L L OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION TO APPROVE ALL THE CONSENT ITEMS.

[13. OTHER BUSINESS]

[A. Future Items Requested by City Council. [Myra L. Ayala, City Manager]]

ITEM 13. OTHER BUSINESS COUNCIL.

IS THERE ANY ITEMS TO REQUEST FROM CITY MANAGEMENT? I WOULD JUST ADD THE THE DISCUSSION WE HAD BASED ON MUNICIPAL COURT SO WE COULD CONSIDER. AND JUST. YEAH, JUST TO I KNOW I ALREADY REQUESTED, BUT JUST UNDER THIS ITEM THE THE LIST OF PROJECTS, THE BOND PROJECTS CIP LIST, IF WE CAN INCLUDE THAT FOR OUR CONSIDERATION, THEN THE OTHER WAS A BUDGET WORKSHOP FOR NONPROFITS.

WHAT WHEN ARE WE HAVING THAT? SO AT THIS TIME WE HAD DISCUSSED POSSIBLY HAVING THE BUDGET WORKSHOP ON AUGUST THE 7TH BECAUSE AUGUST THE 6TH MEETING WAS MOVED DUE TO THE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT.

BUT WE'RE CURRENTLY HAVING DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER NONPROFITS TO SEE IF WE COULD POSSIBLY MOVE THAT UP A LITTLE BIT, CONSIDERING THE THE TIME, THE TIMELINE FOR OUR BUDGET PROCESS TO POSSIBLY JULY 30TH.

SO WE WILL NOTIFY THE COUNCIL WITH AMPLE TIME AND AND THE PUBLIC, OF COURSE, A DEFINITE DATE.

MYRA, CAN YOU PUT ON THE.

YES, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, IT PROBABLY GOES TO THE CITY ATTORNEY.

SO THE JUDGE THAT WE DO END UP APPOINTING CAN BE A WHAT IS IT NON TEMPORARY.

THIS IS DONE BY KNOWING WE DON'T WANT TEMPORARY, BECAUSE THIS GOES BACK TO ASSOCIATE. ASSOCIATE JUDGE.

THE ORDINANCE THAT'S WHAT I WANT.

SO PUT IT ON THE PUT IT ON THE AGENDA.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO VOTE OR THEY DON'T DON'T WANT TO PART TIME JUDGE.

[14. EXECUTIVE SESSION]

YES, SIR. WILL DO. ALL RIGHT.

THERE'S OTHER ITEMS. CAN I GET A MOTION TO CONVENE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION?

[01:50:02]

ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. IT IS 755, AND WE ARE NOW CONVENING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM EIGHT. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

ITEM B DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY.

ITEM C DISCUSSION OF DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, REMUNERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING APPOINTMENT OF CITY ATTORNEY.

ITEM D CONSULTATION WITH CITY ATTORNEY.

JUST CHANGE, RIGHT? OUR FIRE CHIEF IS NOT COMING.

IT'S.

COMING UP NEXT ON A REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL.

ON THE COUNCIL, MAYOR RAMIRO GARZA JR.

MAYOR PRO TEM DANIEL DAN DIAZ, COUNCIL MEMBER JASON DE LEON, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID SALAZAR JR.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID WHITE SITTING IN HIS ADVISORS,

[01:55:01]

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

ALL RIGHT. IT IS 608 BY MY WATCH.

I'M GOING TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. I DO SEE VISIBLY THAT WE HAVE A QUORUM WITH ALL MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT THIS EVENING.

WE'RE GOING TO START LIKE WE START EVERY COUNCIL MEETING WITH A PRAYER.

AND WE HAVE REVEREND GABRIELLA CONKLIN HERE TO LEAD US IN PRAYER FROM FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH. CAN YOU PLEASE STAND FOR PRAYER? LET US PRAY. ALMIGHTY AND JUST GOD, I PRAY THAT YOU WILL GUIDE OUR COUNCIL PEOPLE AS THEY MEET AND DISCUSS MATTERS WITH REGARD TO OUR CITY.

I PRAY THEY SHALL CHOOSE TO DO THAT WHICH IS MORAL AND RATIONAL.

I PRAY THAT THEIR MOTIVATION AND EVERYTHING THEY WANT TO DO IS THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE AND NOT THEIR OWN.

I PRAY THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS OUR CITY FACES, AND MAKE GOOD POLICIES THAT ADDRESS THEM, HELP THEM TO BE COMPETENT AND EXCELLENT IN THEIR GOVERNANCE. BLESS AND KEEP THEM AS.

KEEP THEM AS THE WORK THAT THEY DO IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

IN YOUR HOLY NAME WE PRAY.

AMEN. PLEASE JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM TWO.

CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE.

THE MEETING WAS POSTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT ON JULY 12TH, 2024 AT 6:15 P.M.. SIR.

THANK YOU. ITEM THREE IS DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

UNDER STATE LAW, A CONFLICT OF INTEREST EXISTS IF A COUNCIL MEMBER OR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THAT PERSON'S FAMILY HAS A QUALIFYING FINANCIAL INTEREST IN AN AGENDA ITEM.

IF THERE IS A CONFLICT, THE MEMBER CAN'T PARTICIPATE OR VOTE ON THE ITEM. ARE THERE ANY CONFLICTS TO DISCLOSE? NO NO. NO, SIR. THANK YOU.

ITEM FOUR I HAVE A MAYOR'S REPORT.

JUST A QUICK UPDATE. COUNCIL AND JUST MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

WE HAD A MEETING ON JULY 9TH IN BROWNSVILLE WITH THE SOUTH TEXAS ALLIANCE OF CITIES.

IT'S AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN FORMED TO COLLABORATE REGIONALLY WITH OUR CITIES, FROM SAN ANTONIO TO LAREDO, ALL THE WAY TO BROWNSVILLE.

SO WE HAD A REALLY GOOD MEETING IN BROWNSVILLE.

AND THE NEXT ONE IS GOING TO BE HOSTED HERE IN MCALLEN.

I UNDERSTAND MAYOR VILLALOBOS CAN INVITE OUR GOVERNOR TO COME TO THAT THE DATE TO BE DETERMINED IN SEPTEMBER.

SO WE'LL LET YOU ALL KNOW SO THAT YOU CAN PARTICIPATE.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM FIVE.

PROCLAMATIONS, PRESENTATION, PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING ALTHEA VILLA FOR HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS. MISS BILALA, YOU CAN STEP UP TO THE PODIUM.

HI. WHEREAS ON MARCH 4TH, 2006, ALTHEA BILAL WAS BORN TO DOCTOR BILAL BIN HAFIZ AND MISS SHAZIA RIZWAN IN MADISON, WISCONSIN.

AND WHEREAS, ALTHEA BILAL LIVED IN MADISON, WISCONSIN AND ATTENDED MEDINA ACADEMY OF MADISON AND SHOREWOOD HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

AS A CHILD OF, BILAL EXHIBITED AN OUTGOING NATURE KNOWN FOR HER FRIENDLY DEMEANOR AND ABILITY TO CONNECT WITH OTHERS, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN.

SHE WAS PARTICULARLY CARING FOR HER YOUNGER BROTHER SHAHIR, MOHAMMED BILAL AND UZAIR MUHAMMAD BILAL.

AND WHEREAS, DURING HER FIFTH GRADE YEAR, HER FATHER'S JOB RELOCATED THE FAMILY TO MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, AND AGAIN THE SUMMER BEFORE HER EIGHTH GRADE YEAR, HER FATHER'S JOB RELOCATED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY.

IN EDINBURG ONWARDS, MISS BILAL ATTENDED SOUTH TEXAS PREPARATORY ACADEMY, AND PASSIONATE FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SHE PARTICIPATED IN VARIOUS SPORTS SUCH AS SWIMMING, TENNIS, SOCCER, BIKING AND DANCE.

SHE WAS CROSS COUNTRY TEAM CAPTAIN, SHOOTING GUARD FOR THE GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM, OUTSIDE HITTER FOR THE GIRLS VARSITY VOLLEYBALL TEAM, AND WAS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN SPIRIT WEEK AWARDS.

BILAL DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION, PARTICIPATING IN NUMEROUS CLUBS THE UNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE, MODERN ORATORY, NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY, NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY, TECHNOLOGY STUDENT ASSOCIATION, NATIONAL TECHNICAL HONOR SOCIETY, STUDENT COUNCIL, THE SCIENCE OLYMPIAD STUDENT AMBASSADOR, AND CERTIFIED PHARMACY TECHNICIAN CTE PROGRAM.

SHE PROMOTED HEALTH INITIATIVES SUCH AS TEXAS A&M MENTORS PROJECT HEALTH AMBASSADOR.

ENGAGED IN ADVANCED SELECTED PRE-MEDICAL PROGRAMS SUCH AS BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, DOC PREP, AND UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT RIO GRANDE VALLEY.

SCALPEL PROGRAM. SHE QUALIFIED INTERNATIONALLY FOR HOSA-FUTURE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND NATIONALLY FOR BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS OF AMERICA.

SHE CONDUCTED SIGNIFICANT RESEARCH AS PART OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARS PROGRAM.

VOLUNTEERED WITH SOUTH TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEMS, SHADOWED PHYSICIANS IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, AND DISPLAYED HER INITIATIVES AT SOUTH TEXAS ISD BOARD MEETINGS.

AND WHEREAS, MISS BELLA HELD LEADERSHIP ROLES SUCH AS THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT CLASS OF 2024, PRESIDENT, TEXAS HOSA AREA OFFICER, BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS OF AMERICA,

[02:00:05]

SHE GRADUATED AS VALEDICTORIAN FROM SOUTH TEXAS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

SHE IS. SHE IS THE FIRST COCA-COLA SCHOLAR FROM SOUTH TEXAS ISD AND WAS ACCEPTED TO PRINCETON UNIVERSITY. NOW, THEREFORE, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG, BY THE POWER VESTED IN THEM BY LAW, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE THE EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE ACHIEVEMENTS AND DEDICATION AND WISH HER SUCCESS IN HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

CONGRATULATIONS. OKAY.

HI. MY NAME IS ALTHEA BILAL.

I AM BEYOND HONORED TO BE HERE TONIGHT REPRESENTING THE CITY OF EDINBURG.

IT'S HONESTLY A BIG BLESSING BECAUSE OFTENTIMES WE'RE NOT ABLE TO SEE STUDENTS COMING FROM WHAT THEY SAY IS AN UNDERSERVED CITY BE ABLE TO LEAVE THE VALLEY AND KIND OF PURSUE EDUCATION AT THESE INSTITUTIONS THAT WE SEE IN MOVIES.

SO IT'S JUST EXTREMELY A BIG BLESSING.

AND I'M JUST SO HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY.

AND I WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT SUPPORT TO LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE AND LIKE JUST THANK.

SO FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR RECOGNIZING ME AND PRESENTING ME WITH THE PROCLAMATION. SO THANK YOU.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE HERE TONIGHT ON THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THIS CITY.

AND I AM SO EXCITED TO GIVE BACK TO THIS COMMUNITY AND HOPEFULLY COME BACK HERE AS A EDUCATED PHYSICIAN AND IMPROVE HEALTH CARE EQUITY HERE.

THAT IS GENUINELY MY BIGGEST GOAL.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK MY WONDERFUL PARENTS RIGHT THERE.

I WOULD NOT BE HERE WITHOUT THEM.

I WOULD NOT BE THE PERSON I AM WITHOUT THEM.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO DO THINGS AND IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO STAND.

AND I GUESS JUST STAND FOR WHAT YOU WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN.

AND WITHOUT THEM, I WOULDN'T BE HERE.

I'D LIKE TO THANK MY LITTLE BROTHER, SHERRY.

HE MISSED HIS SWIMMING CLASS TO BE HERE WITH ME TODAY, SO THANK YOU. SHERRY. LET'S CLAP FOR SHERRY.

HIS SWIMMING CLASS MEANS A LOT TO HIM.

AND THEN I HAVE A OLDER BROTHER WHO IS MY IRISH TWIN.

FOR THOSE WHO YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW, AN IRISH TWIN IS SOMEONE THAT'S LESS THAN A YEAR APART FROM YOU. AND FOR THAT, THAT MEANS WE'RE 11 MONTHS APART FROM EACH OTHER. HE'S MY BEST FRIEND.

AND YOU KNOW, WE ALL HAVE THOSE PEOPLE THAT WE CALL FOR MINOR INCONVENIENCES.

AND FOR ME, THAT'S MY OLDER BROTHER, AND HE'S ACTUALLY A INCOMING SOPHOMORE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SO HE IS MY IVY LEAGUE IRISH TWIN.

AND I JUST WANT TO CLAP FOR HIM BECAUSE HE'S GOING TO WATCH THIS. HE'S MY BIGGEST FAN. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WE HAVE A VERY BRIGHT FUTURE IN THIS CITY, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE HAVE ALL THESE WONDERFUL KIDS HERE FROM NHS, FROM HIGH SCHOOL. AND I ALSO WANT TO JUST SAY THAT I AM BEYOND EXCITED TO START FREE EDUCATIONAL INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS FOR THE STUDENTS HERE IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS I'M GOING TO BE HOSTING THREE SEPARATE SESSIONS WITH THE STUDENTS HERE TO JUST INSPIRE THEM AND TO TELL THEM THAT IF I CAN, YOU CAN TOO. AND I'M GOING TO EDUCATE THEM ON WHAT FAFSA IS, THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS.

AND I'M GOING TO DO THAT.

AND HOPEFULLY I'M ABLE TO CONTINUE DOING THAT EVERY YEAR UNTIL I MAKE IT BIG.

BECAUSE HONESTLY, MY JOURNEY JUST BEGAN.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I KNOW I THINK YOU HAVE SOME MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY HERE. BUT FIRST, LET ME JUST SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.

I MET HER RECENTLY. SHE CAME TO CITY HALL WITH HER, WITH HER FATHER, AND WAS SO PROUD TO BE REPRESENTING OUR CITY.

NOT ONLY AS A PRINCETON YOU KNOW, ACCEPTANCE STUDENT, BUT ALSO COCA-COLA YOU KNOW, SCHOLAR.

AND SO MY CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.

I THINK IT SPEAKS TO WHAT YOU'RE RIGHT.

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE HERE.

YOU JUST GOT TO PUT IN THE WORK AND, AND YOU KNOW, BUT DO ALL THAT YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, TO REACH YOUR GOALS.

SO. BUT THANK YOU FOR OFFERING.

WHEN WE MET, SHE SAID, WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP BEFORE I LEAVE TO COLLEGE? SHE SAYS, I WANT TO PROVIDE SOME SESSIONS.

SO THANK YOU FOR OFFERING THAT.

WE'VE TAKEN HER UP ON THAT OFFER.

I SEE PEDRO HERE FROM THE EDINBURG 2040, AND SHE THEY PUT TOGETHER SOME SESSIONS.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT. OR IS THAT AT A LATER TIME OR. YES.

AND I ALSO, OF COURSE, WITHOUT MR.

[02:05:02]

AND WE MET AND HE HELPED ME PUT THEM TOGETHER.

AND HE'S BEEN BEHIND THE SCENES HELPING ME.

SO IF WE COULD CLAP FOR MR. SALAZAR, HE'S AMAZING TOO.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK HIM.

ONE LAST THING. I KIND OF WANT TO KIND OF WANT TO SAY WHAT A COCA-COLA SCHOLAR IS AND PUT THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE FOR ANYONE THAT WATCHES THIS MEETING AND ANYONE HERE IN ATTENDANCE RIGHT NOW. SO A COCA-COLA SCHOLAR IS DEFINED AS SOMEONE WHO MAKES SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

IT'S THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS MERIT BASED SCHOLARSHIP WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.

THIS YEAR, THEY HAD OVER 103,800 APPLICANTS FROM ACROSS THE US, AND ONLY 150 STUDENTS GET SELECTED.

SO THE ACCEPTANCE RATE IS ONE SIXTH OF 1%.

AND I'M THE ONLY ONE FROM SOUTH TEXAS AND THE VERY FIRST ONE FROM EDINBURGH.

SO IT'S JUST A HUGE, HUGE HONOR.

AND BEFORE I GO, I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL MY TEACHERS JUST IN CASE THEY WATCH THIS.

I WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT THEIR SUPPORT AND EVERYONE THAT ALL THE ACTIVITIES I WAS MENTIONED IN THE PROCLAMATION. THANK EVERYONE THAT HELPED ME DO THOSE.

MY PROFESSORS, THE ONES I DID RESEARCH UNDER.

EVERYONE ELSE JUST. I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL.

HONORED. THANK GOD. OBVIOUSLY, YOU HAVE TO THANK HIM BECAUSE WITHOUT HIM, I WOULDN'T BE HERE EITHER.

BUT AGAIN, I'LL LET HER TAKE IT AWAY.

THANK YOU. GREAT. THANK YOU.

WELL, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS FAITH AL-MAJID AM.

I'M ABOUT TO BEGIN MY SENIOR YEAR AT ROBERT VELA HIGH SCHOOL.

I'M HONORED TO HOLD THE POSITION OF NHS PRESIDENT.

ALONG WITH ME ARE SOME OF THE NHS OFFICERS.

SECRETARY JULIAN SALAZAR, HISTORIAN AND PARLIAMENTARIAN, SOON TO BE A GRADUATE.

I AM PROUD TO CURRENTLY BE IN THE TOP TEN OF MY CLASS.

HOWEVER, DESPITE THESE ACHIEVEMENTS, I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS, FINANCIAL AID AND COLLEGE ADMISSIONS.

RECENTLY, THE EDINBURG 2040 COMMUNITY APPROACHED US WITH AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY.

THEY INFORMED US ABOUT A FREE COMMUNITY EVENT FEATURING ALTHEA, A RECENT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE WHO SECURED A FULL RIDE TO 15 TOP COLLEGES AND IS HEADING TO PRINCETON WITH A FULL SCHOLARSHIP.

RECOGNIZING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ALTHEA SUCCESS, WE KNEW THIS WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO ENSURE THAT OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY BENEFIT FROM THIS KNOWLEDGE. ALTHEA HAS DECIDED TO HOST A SEMINAR ON JULY 26TH FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND PARENTS. FOLLOWING THIS, SHE WILL HOLD TWO STUDENT WORKING SESSIONS ON JULY 27TH AND AUGUST 3RD.

THESE SESSIONS WILL FOCUS ON EQUIPPING US WITH THE SKILLS AND STRATEGIES NEEDED TO PURSUE ADMISSION TO OUR DREAM COLLEGES WITHOUT FINANCIAL BURDEN AS NHS.

WE HOPE TO CONTINUE THIS SEMINAR SERIES TO SUPPORT FELLOW STUDENTS WHO, LIKE ME, NEED GUIDANCE WITH COLLEGE ADMISSIONS, SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID.

WE WILL ALSO HAVE SOME INVITATIONS THAT WE WILL BE PASSING OUT TO WHO IS PRESENT HERE? THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CAN YOU, CAN YOU JUST SHARE WITH THE LOCATION SO THAT THE AUDIENCE EVERYBODY KNOWS THE OF THE.

YES. I WANT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE.

SO WE MADE SOME. SO EVERYBODY IN THE PUBLIC WILL KNOW AND YES.

SO THE ADMISSIONS AND SCHOLARSHIP SEMINAR IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE ON FRIDAY, JULY 26TH FROM 8 P.M. AND 6 P.M.

TO 8 P.M. I APOLOGIZE AT RED SQUARE DENTAL AND ORTHODONTICS, 1615 SOUTH KLAUSNER, EDINBURG, TEXAS.

AND THERE'S A RSVP LINK.

AND OUR BEAUTIFUL NHS PRESIDENT IS PASSING OUT THE INVITATION CARD, SO IT'D BE AMAZING IF YOU COULD HELP SPREAD THE WORD.

I KNOW MR. SALAZAR IS WORKING SUPER HARD WITH THE BILLBOARDS HERE IN EDINBURG AND OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN HELP PUBLICIZE THIS EVENT, BECAUSE THE REALITY IS, IT'S NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET INTO THESE TOP SCHOOLS.

YOU JUST NEED GUIDANCE.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. AND I WOULD LIKE TO GUIDE THE STUDENTS HERE IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, BECAUSE I KNOW JUST LIKE ALL THESE STUDENTS HERE, THE ONES THAT ARE VOLUNTEERING HERE, I WAS ONE OF THEM TOO.

AND WHAT I LACKED WAS GUIDANCE.

I DIDN'T HAVE THAT HERE.

AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO CHANGE.

SO IT'S JUST IT'S JUST AN HONOR AGAIN.

AND I WHOLEHEARTEDLY WELCOME YOU GUYS.

BRING EVERYONE YOU KNOW.

WE WANT THIS TO BE JUST FRIENDLY AND JUST LOVING AND I'LL HELP GENUINELY.

I'D LIKE TO HELP. SO THANK YOU.

LET'S GIVE HER A HAND AGAIN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM SIX.

PUBLIC COMMENTS. YES, SIR.

MAYOR. THE EDINBURGH CITY COUNCIL ASKED FOR A SPECIFIC PORTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO BE DEDICATED TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.

PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES.

I WILL BE TAKING TIME.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PUBLIC COMMENT TIME PERIOD IS NOT INTERACTIVE. THE COUNCIL MAY NOT RESPOND TO PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.

[02:10:03]

GENTLEMEN, SOME OF YOU, I HAVE ASSESSED YOUR PERFORMANCE AND IT'S NOT GOOD. YOU ARE INCREASING OUR COST OF LIVING AND YOU ARE NOT CONCENTRATING ON FIXING EXISTING PROBLEMS. I HAVE SPENT THE MORNING TALKING TO RESIDENTS WHO LIVE ON CHAPIN AND MCCALL CONCERNING THE PROPOSED ZONING CHANGE THAT WOULD ALLOW MULTIFAMILY HOUSING COME RIGHT NEXT TO SINGLE FAMILY HOUSES.

ALL THE FAMILIES THAT I MET HAD A STORY ABOUT CONTACTING THE CITY CONCERNING THE SEWER OVERFLOWING ONTO THE STREETS AND IN NEED OF BETTER STREETS IMPROVEMENTS.

WE CONSTANTLY HAVE POTHOLES.

THE CONCENTRATION OF MULTIFAMILY HOUSING IS GOING TO HAVE A SERIOUS IMPACT ON TRAFFIC AND PROVISION OF PUBLIC SERVICES.

THE CITY IS SIMPLY NOT FOLLOWING ITS OWN REGULATIONS.

IT ALLOWS CONSTRUCTION OF A SINGLE FAMILY SUBDIVISION AND THEN ALLOW MULTI FAMILY AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.

THEN THE COUNCIL INCREASES TAXES TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

I AM GOING TO SAY THIS SLOWLY THAT EVEN ELECTED OFFICIALS CAN UNDERSTAND.

TAKING MONEY FROM THE PEOPLE INCREASES THE COST OF LIVING.

WHEN YOU INCREASE WATER RATES BY 67% AND THEN ADD MORE DEBT, IT IS ADVERSELY IMPACT THE PEOPLE.

FAMILIES WILL GO ON WELFARE AND THEY WILL BECOME A BURDEN ON THE COUNTY COMMUNITY.

I WOULD LIKE EVERYONE THAT'S HERE TONIGHT ABOUT THE TERM ELECTION THAT IS GOING ON TO PLEASE STAND. DO WE HAVE ANY? I HAVE A FEW. I CALLED, THEY WERE BUSY.

I JUST WANTED TO REMIND YOU ALL THE QUESTION OF PLACING AN ITEM ON THE BALLOT TO EXTEND THE TERMS IN OFFICE IS BECOMING AN ISSUE.

THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE SEEM TO SEEM TO HAVE APPROVED OF THIS ACTION, AND THEY ARE ON THIS COUNCIL AS WE'RE IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW.

IF YOU CANNOT ACHIEVE YOUR COMMUNITY GOALS IN EIGHT YEARS, THEN GET NEW GOALS. MY THING IS, BACK IN 2018, 67.86 OF THE VOTERS VOTED FOR TERM LIMITS AND TWO TERMS OF EIGHT YEARS FOR EACH ONE.

SO MY THING IS, IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, THEN YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE RUN FOR OFFICE.

YOU HAVE EIGHT YEARS TO DO GOOD.

WE ARE AGAIN SELLING BONDS OF ANY TYPE BECAUSE IT WILL INCREASE OUR PROPERTY TAXES AND MORE FAMILIES WILL LOSE THE OPPORTUNITY TO AMERICAN DREAM.

EVERY YEAR OUR PROPERTY TAXES INCREASE AND THE ANSWER IS ALWAYS THE SAME EVERYTHING IS GOING UP. THERE IS A LIMITED AMOUNT OF LAND, SO THE VALUE IS ALWAYS INCREASING.

THESE PEOPLE HAVE CLEARLY NOT TRAVELED NORTH TO SAN ANTONIO, TO LAREDO. IF YOU NEED MORE LAND, JUST MOVE A COW.

PAVE A FIELD. IN THIS NEXT ELECTION, WE ARE GOING TO SEE WHO WILL WIN THE SOCIAL MEDIA GAME. THE ONLY QUESTION IS WHERE WILL YOU STAND? AND I'M HOPING THAT Y'ALL WILL NOT CONSIDER GOING OUT AND SLAPPING THE VOTERS IN THE FACE. WE'RE TIRED OF THAT.

AND LIKE I SAID, YOU SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF THIS BEFORE YOU RAN FOR OFFICE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM.

MISS MCLARTY ALSO HAS COMMENTS ON PUBLIC HEARING SEVEN E AND ORDINANCES EIGHT B.

THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS STEPHEN CRUZ.

IT'S FUNNY, MISS FERN. FOR MANY YEARS WE WERE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE. NOW WE'RE ACTUALLY ON THE SAME SIDE. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS STEPHEN CRUZ.

MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M HERE TODAY ABOUT A GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY THAT WAS HELD YESTERDAY FOR YOUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.

I'M NOT COMING AS A VENDOR.

I'M COMING AS A RESIDENT AND A TAXPAYER OF EDINBURG.

I WAS RAISED HERE. THIS PROJECT IS FOUR YEARS PAST DUE.

OKAY. AND $14 MILLION OVER BUDGET.

I'VE BEEN IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR FOR 18 YEARS.

AND A COMMENT THE LATE COMMISSIONER GARZA ALWAYS USED TO SAY WAS GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONIES ARE JUST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR POLITICIANS TO COME TOGETHER, BOAST AND PAT THEMSELVES ON THE BACK FOR THE GREAT JOB THAT THEY DIDN'T DO.

WE KNOW THE REAL WORLD GOES BEHIND THE SCENES.

WELL, FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS, 3 TO 4 YEARS, I HAVE BEEN BEHIND THE SCENES TRYING TO GET THE CITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PROJECT WAS OVERBUDGET, OVERPRICED, AND FOR WHAT THEY WERE GETTING.

STAFF WOULD SAY, WELL, THE PLANS ARE ALREADY 100% COMPLETE.

THIS WAS FOUR YEARS AGO.

THIS WAS THE ANSWER I GOT.

NOW, ORDINARILY THE COUNCIL COULD PROBABLY SAY, HEY MAN, STAFF DROPPED THE BALL.

[02:15:01]

BUT YOU CAN'T USE THAT AS AN EXCUSE HERE BECAUSE FOR THE EXCEPTION FOR CHIEF WHITE, WHO I NEVER SAT WITH DIRECTLY, AND COUNCIL MEMBER SALAZAR, WHO JUST RECENTLY GOT ELECTED YOU ALL, I SAT WITH EACH ONE OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY AND TALKED ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND HOW IT WAS WAY OVER BUDGET.

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU WERE MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUES, AND SO YOU'RE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE TO TO PROPERLY OVERSEE THE TAXPAYERS MONEY, TO DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE, ENSURING THIS PROJECT WAS, IN FACT, IN BUDGET AND YOU FAILED THIS PROJECT.

I'M JUST NOW LEARNING BECAUSE THERE'S TEXAS WATER BOARD DEVELOPMENT FUNDING, AND THERE'S USUALLY GRANT OPTIONS.

YOU GET A MATCH 25%, 30%.

THIS IS 100% LOAN, WHICH IS EVEN MORE REASON WHY YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE YOUR DUE DILIGENCE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TAXPAYERS MONEY WAS PROPERLY SPENT.

IT WAS 100% LOAN, WHICH MEANS THE TAXPAYER IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BILL.

NOT TO MENTION YOU JUST RAISED LIKE MISS FERN SAID, YOU JUST RAISED WATER RATES FOR THE EDINBURGH CITIZENS WITHOUT EVEN GIVING THEM A HEADS UP.

AND OUR UTILITIES DEPARTMENT ISN'T EVEN SELF-SUFFICIENT, WHICH IS PROBABLY THE ONLY CITY. AND I DO WORK WITH EVERY CITY IN HIDALGO COUNTY EXCEPT FOR EDINBURGH. IT'S THE ONLY CITY THAT'S NOT SELF-SUFFICIENT.

I TIE THIS ALL BACK TO POOR LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT.

A FEW YEARS AGO, YOU CHANGED YOUR REQUIREMENTS WHERE THE UTILITIES DIRECTOR WAS REQUIRED TO BE AN ENGINEER.

YOU HAD A GOOD GUY THERE.

MY QUESTION IS, IF THE ENGINEER DOESN'T EVEN KNOW THE SYSTEM, WHAT GOOD IS HE DOING FOR THAT DEPARTMENT? AND SECONDLY, IF YOU'RE REQUIRING THAT DIRECTOR TO BE AN ENGINEER, WHY AREN'T YOU REQUIRING THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER WHO IS OVERSEEING ALL THOSE DEPARTMENTS TO BE ONE AS WELL? THIS IS THE SAME ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER THAT WAS IN CHARGE WHEN STAFF TRIED TO MANIPULATE THE BID DOCUMENTS. THANK YOU SIR.

THANK YOU SIR. I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS REGARDING INVITATION TO FRIDA FEST.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. I'M HERE. MY.

MY NAME IS MIGUEL CASTLE.

I'M THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CULTURAL ARTS HERE TO INVITE YOU ALL TO NEXT WEEKEND'S EVENT. THIS IS THE 11TH ANNUAL FRIDA FEST, WHICH IS A WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT FESTIVAL.

THIS YEAR, IT FOCUSES ON ARTS FOR EVERYBODY IN ART AND WELLNESS.

THE FESTIVAL WILL START HERE AT THE CITY HALL COURTYARD AT THE AUDITORIUM, WITH AN ORIGINAL PLAY ABOUT EDINBURG AND WHY YOU SHOULD MOVE TO EDINBURG AND WHY WE LOVE EDINBURG. AND WE MOVE ACROSS INTO THE CITY HALL FOR A ARTS FOR EVERYBODY EXHIBIT, WHERE IT'LL BE A RESPITE FROM THE HEAT.

AND THEN WE GO ON TO THE OUTSIDE.

OUTSIDE OF THE ARTS, CULTURE AND EVENT CENTER, WHERE WE'LL HAVE A COMMUNITY STAGE, CARNIVAL FOR THE KIDS, A FAMILY EVENT, AND WE'LL END THE NIGHT WITH MUSIC FROM JENNY AND THE MEXICATS, AND WE'LL CAP IT OFF WITH A DRONE SHOW, THE DRONE SHOW. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS ARTHUR FLORES REGARDING TERM LIMITS.

VOTE. GOOD EVENING GENTLEMEN.

I WISH I COULD BE HERE TO NOT SCOLD YOU LIKE THESE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DOING, BUT I CAN'T. THERE'S ONE GOOD, GOOD THING THAT I CAN SAY AT THE END OF MY MY COMMENTS. BUT FIRST OF ALL, WHAT FERN SAID WAS CORRECT.

IF YOU CAN'T DO YOUR JOB IN IN EIGHT YEARS, THEN WHAT'S THE REASON THAT YOU CAN'T DO THAT AND YOU NEED MORE TIME? NO SIR, YOU DON'T. AND I THINK WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO, IF YOU GO AHEAD AND CHANGE THE WILL OF THE THE VOTERS, WHICH THEY WANTED, TERM LIMITS, AND YOU'RE TRYING TO SAY YOU CAN DO IT ANOTHER WAY, BUT MAYBE RUNNING FOR MAYOR AFTER YOU WORK ON THE COUNCIL, MAYBE EIGHT YEARS, THEN, OH, I CAN RUN FOR MAYOR.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT THEY WANTED ANYWAY.

THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY WAS THAT WHEN GEORGE WASHINGTON WAS YOU KNOW, AFTER WE WON THE WAR AGAINST THE BRITISH, THEY WANTED HIM TO BECOME LIKE A KING.

HE SAID, I DON'T WANT TO. I DON'T WANT TO RUN. I DON'T WANT TO BE PRESIDENT BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE ME INTO SOME KIND OF A KING.

AND THAT'S WHAT WHAT YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT IS THAT YOU'RE HERE TO DO A JOB.

AND IF YOU CAN'T DO IT LIKE FERN SAYS IN EIGHT YEARS, THEN WHY CAN'T YOU? WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? THERE'S A GOOD THERE. A GOOD REASON FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE THIS KIND OF TURNOVER, HAVE NEW, NEW BLOOD, NEW PEOPLE WORKING.

AND THAT IS BECAUSE YOU GET COMPLACENT IN YOUR JOB.

AND THE LAST THING I WANTED TO SAY WAS LIKE I SAID SOMETHING GOOD.

GOOD NEWS. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THERE ARE LOTS OF 5G CELL TOWERS ALL OVER THE VALLEY. YOU CAN YOU CAN'T GO HALF A MILE BEFORE YOU SEE 2 OR 3 OF THEM.

AND WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS THAT THEY THEY TRANSMIT RADIATION.

[02:20:03]

AFTER TEN YEARS, 20 YEARS, YOU START PEOPLE GETTING CANCER AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO IT'S THE SAME THING WITH THESE, THESE 5G TOWERS THAT IF YOU LOOK UNDERNEATH THEM, THERE'S A LITTLE STORAGE SHED THAT IT SAYS WARNING DO NOT WORK NEARBY.

DON'T STAY HERE. AND IT'S VERY STRANGE WARNINGS THAT SAY IT'S DANGEROUS.

AND THERE'S ONE ONE PLACE HERE IN TOWN, ABOUT 100 YARDS AWAY FROM JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY, WHERE THERE'S ONE OF THOSE TOWERS.

AND EVEN CLOSER TO THOSE TOWERS IS AN APARTMENT COMPLEX.

IT'S LIKE FROM HERE TO HERE TO THE WALL.

THERE'S THIS GIANT TOWER UP THERE.

IT'S NOT SAFE. I DID WANT TO SAY ONE GOOD THING THAT I NOTICED.

I DON'T KNOW WHY. MAYBE SOMEBODY SOMEDAY, SOMEDAY WILL TELL ME WHY.

THE EDINBURGH WATER TOWER ON FREDDY GONZALEZ, THE BIG WHITE ONE THERE, YOU KNOW, NEAR KLAUSNER.

IT USED TO HAVE THOSE 5G ANTENNAS ALL THE WAY AROUND IT.

AND THERE ARE SOME PLACES ALL OVER, ALL OVER THE VALLEY THAT HAVE WATER TOWERS WITH THESE ANTENNAS. AND I NOTICED THAT THEY'RE GONE NOW.

I WANT TO KNOW WHY. WHICH IS GOOD.

THANK YOU SIR. I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU. THERE ARE NO FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS. MAYOR. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM SEVEN PUBLIC HEARINGS.

WE HAVE A, B, C, D AND E COUNCIL AND FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

THESE ARE REZONING ITEMS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE CHARTER AMENDMENT ITEM HERE AS WELL. SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT. ITEMS A THROUGH E.

SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS I'M JUST GOING TO OPEN UP THE HEARING AT THIS TIME AND ASK ANYBODY IN THE PUBLIC IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS REGARDING ANYTHING REGARDING THOSE ZONING ITEMS A, B, C, AND D, EXCUSE ME, A, B AND C, D IS A SPECIAL USE PERMIT AND THEN E IS FOR THE CHARTER AMENDMENT ELECTION.

YOU THE HEARING IS NOW OPEN.

SO WE'RE HERE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

AND YOU'RE HERE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE CAN ANSWER ME BACK AGAIN.

WE TRUSTED ALL OF YOU.

EACH OF YOU WHITE DEER.

MAYOR DAVID, I CAN REMEMBER, AND DE LEON, MY THING IS, THEY VOTED Y'ALL IN OFFICE.

AND DO Y'ALL REMEMBER WHAT YOU VOTED? GOT ELECTED FOR FOUR YEAR TERMS. THEN YOU COME UP FOR ELECTION AGAIN.

FOUR YEAR TERMS. THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES ONLY GETS EIGHT YEARS.

IF THEY CAN'T TAKE CARE OF IT, THEY TAKE CARE OF IT.

THEN YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY MORE TIME.

AND I HAVE PEOPLE THAT I CALLED AND THEY HAVE CALLED ME THAT ARE HERE, TOOK OFF FROM THEIR TIME THAT THEY SHOULD BE AT HOME TO COME HERE AND TELL Y'ALL THEY DO NOT WANT YOU TO PUT AN ELECTION UP.

THEY ALREADY VOTED TWICE.

THEY PUT TERM LIMITS ON YOU, AND THEN THEY TURNED AROUND AND GAVE YOU EIGHT YEARS. SO IF YOU DO THIS, I'M HOPING THAT EACH ONE IN THIS ROOM WILL CONTACT THEIR FRIENDS, RELATIVES AND LOVED ONES TO VOTE YOU OUT OF OFFICE, THAT YOU WILL NOT WIN.

SO I'M HOPING THAT Y'ALL WILL TABLE THIS.

DO AWAY WITH IT. I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DO.

BECAUSE THE ELECTION. I LOOKED IT UP.

THERE ARE 67.86 VOTERS THAT VOTED FOR TERM LIMITS.

AND IF YOU DARE PUT IT ON THE THE BALLOT, THEN YOU BETTER WORD IT SO THAT THE PEOPLE VOTE, HAVE TO VOTE NO TO PASS IT, BECAUSE WE ALREADY KNOW THAT PEOPLE LIKE TO PUSH. YES YES YES YES YES.

BUT WE WILL LET THEM KNOW.

BUT I WANT Y'ALL TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

CAN YOU NOT ANSWER TO THE PUBLIC? AND WHICH ONE OF Y'ALL DECIDED THIS WAS SUCH A WONDERFUL DEAL? WELL, LET ME LET ME JUST SAY, MISS OMAR, CAN WE COMMENT ON THIS OR DO WE HAVE TO CLOSE THE HEARING? YES.

SINCE IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING, YOU CAN COMMENT IF YOU'D LIKE. SO. SO REAL BRIEFLY, MAYBE FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. SO THE COUNCIL APPOINTED A CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE. AND I THINK MOST THERE'S SOME OF THE MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE, I SEE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WERE APPOINTED TO REVIEW OUR CITY CHARTER TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY UPDATES THAT NEEDED TO BE MADE.

THERE'S SOME LAWS THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED, STATE LAWS THAT OUR CHARTER IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH. I THINK OUR CITY ATTORNEY ADVISES SOME OF THOSE ITEMS. WE CAN'T CHANGE ANYTHING IN THE CHARTER WITHOUT OBVIOUSLY GOING TO THE VOTERS, RIGHT. SO WHAT WE DID IS APPOINTED A CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE.

THAT'S WHAT OUR CHARTER CALLS FOR. IS THAT CORRECT, OMAR? THE FOR ANY CHANGES. NO, NO, IT DOESN'T REQUIRE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE. I GUESS I WANTED TO STATE WE DID THAT ADDITIONAL STEP TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HEARD FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. SO WE HAVE FIVE MEMBERS.

IS THAT CORRECT THAT WE HAD.

[02:25:03]

OKAY. SO THEY'VE BEEN MEETING TO REVIEW THE CHARTER WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY, OUR CITY SECRETARY. AND AS A RESULT OF THOSE MEETINGS THAT THEY HAD, THEY CAME UP WITH A LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS, WHICH IS ARE THESE PROPOSITIONS THAT ARE HERE? NONE OF THESE WERE PUT IN BY THE COUNCIL.

THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE REVIEWED ALL THE CHARTER WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY, CITY SECRETARY, AND THEY CAME UP WITH THE SUGGESTED CHANGES THAT THEY WANT TO BRING TO US. I DO WANT TO STATE FOR THE RECORD PREVIOUSLY, I THINK WHEN THERE WAS AN ELECTION, 2018, WAS THERE A CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE APPOINTED? NO, I'M NOT AWARE OF ONE.

NO. SO THERE WAS NO COMMITTEE APPOINTED. WE DID THAT EXTRA STEP BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ENGAGE WITH THE PUBLIC. AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE'VE HAD THIS I THINK AT OUR LAST MEETING, WAS IT IN JUNE, THIS ITEM WHERE WE REVIEWED EVERY ITEM.

AND THEN I'VE REQUESTED THIS ADDITIONAL MEETING, PUBLIC HEARING, SO THAT WE HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HEAR FROM YOU BECAUSE WE HAVE TO.

IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS, WE HAVE TO ORDER AN ELECTION. RIGHT. AND AT THAT POINT, I THINK WE HAVE TO DO IT BY AUGUST, SOMETIME NEXT MONTH. SO WE WANTED TO HAVE THIS MEETING JUST TO CONTINUE GETTING FEEDBACK. AND THEN AT THAT POINT, COUNCIL MAKE A DECISION WHETHER WE WOULD ACCEPT THE LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE, OR DO WE CHANGE LANGUAGE IN EACH OF THEM, OR DO WE EXCLUDE ANY ONE OF THEM? THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TODAY. WE CAN MAKE THAT DECISION TONIGHT OR WAIT TILL THE NEXT MEETING. I THINK IN THE FIRST MEETING IN AUGUST, JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE UNTIL THE, I THINK, MID PART OF AUGUST TO MAKE THAT DECISION. SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT JUST KIND OF GIVE EVERYBODY THAT BACKGROUND, ALL THESE ITEMS HERE FROM THERE'S PROPOSITIONS A, A THROUGH M, ALL THOSE ARE, ARE THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED RIGHT TO US. WE DID HAVE OUR CITY ATTORNEY REVIEW THEM WITH US PUBLICLY AT THE, AT THAT MEETING. AND WE WANTED TO HAVE THIS HEARING JUST TO KIND OF GET SOME MORE FEEDBACK. THE EVERYTHING FROM THE TERM LIMITS TO EVERYTHING THAT'S ON HERE IS WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED TO US AS A COUNCIL.

SO WE'RE HERE TO HEAR HERE TO LISTEN ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AND AND THEN TAKE ACTION AFTER THAT. SO THERE ARE ABOUT EIGHT PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT.

MOST OF THEM DON'T WANT TO SPEAK, BUT IF ANY OF THEM DO, Y'ALL CAN COME AND STAND.

OUR THING IS WHY? YOU KNOW, THEN, THAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT COMMITTEE COULD HAVE JUST SAID, LET'S HAVE AN ELECTION TO DO AWAY WITH THE TERMINAL TERM DEALS? NO, NO, IT'S A COMMITTEE THAT IS IN PLACE TO PROPOSE ANY CHANGES.

TO PROPOSE THAT. NOT NOT TO THE RESIDENTS DIRECTLY.

MA'AM, THEY HAVE TO. THE COUNCIL IS THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN ORDER THE ELECTION.

I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT, I MEAN, THIS WAS ONE OF THE THINGS.

AND IF MY THING IS, I DON'T CARE WHAT COMMITTEE IT IS, THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE TALKED TO SAID THEY'VE ALREADY SPOKE AND THEY DON'T WANT THAT. SO I'M JUST RELAYING.

WELL, AND I'VE TOLD YOU BEFORE, I PERSONALLY I'M OPPOSED TO THAT MYSELF.

BUT THIS IS ABOUT LISTENING TO THE RESIDENTS.

AND SO THESE FIVE MEMBERS ARE RESIDENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THEY'VE COME UP WITH THESE, YOU KNOW, PROPOSED CHANGES, AND NOW IT'S UP. WE'RE HERE TO LISTEN FOR ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK.

AND THEN COUNCIL, WE NEED TO MAKE THAT DECISION. SO THAT DECISION HAS NOT BEEN MADE OR FINAL. WE STILL OBVIOUSLY NEED TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

I'M HOPING THAT THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE, BECAUSE THEY ARE AGAINST IT, THEY'RE HOPING THAT YOU'LL DO THE RIGHT THING TONIGHT AND DO AWAY WITH FERN.

FERN, I THINK YOU'RE MISSING A POINT ON THIS. WE APPOINTED A COMMITTEE TO COME BACK WITH SUGGESTIONS TO US ON WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING ON THE CHARTER.

THEY DON'T TELL US WHAT TO DO.

THEY CAME BACK AND THEY READ THE CHARTER FROM A TO Z, AND THEY CAME BACK WITH CERTAIN THINGS AND DISCUSSING IT WITH SOME OF THEM. THERE'S SOME ITEMS OVER THERE THAT THEY DIDN'T BRING BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CONSENSUS. THEY BRING IT TO THEIR VOTE. IT WAS A32 OR HOWEVER IT IS.

SO THEY DIDN'T BRING IT TO US FOR SOMETHING THEY THOUGHT NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. THIS IS JUST STUFF THEY THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. IT'S PRESENTED TO US NOW.

WE COULD HAVE JUST SIT IN THE BACK ROOM OR SOMEWHERE ELSE AND NOW WE'RE NOT EVEN LOOK AT THIS ONE. WE KNEW THIS ONE WAS CONTROVERSIAL. WE KNOW THIS ONE'S CONTROVERSIAL, BUT SO WE COULD HAVE JUST SCRUBBED IT OUT BY OURSELVES WITHOUT ANYBODY KNOWING BECAUSE THIS WAS REALLY NOTHING THERE.

BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS COUNCIL CHOSE TO DO.

WE HAVE A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE SELECTED TO TO LOOK AT OUR CHARTER, COME BACK WITH SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU THINK WILL IMPROVE IT.

NOW IT COMES BACK TO US.

THEN WE HAVE AN OPEN. WE DECIDED TO HAVE AN OPEN HEARING.

BRING IT OUT TO EVERYONE.

EVERYBODY COMING. VOICE FOR PEACE.

NOW YOU'RE CRITICIZING US FOR SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T EVEN DONE YET. WE DID.

NO, WE HAVEN'T DONE. I MEAN, BUT OUR THING IS, WITH THE HOLE THAT WE MADE IT INTO A PROCESS FOR THE COMMUNITY.

SO YOU COULD BE HERE AND UNDERSTAND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.

AND I'M GLAD YOU DID EXPLAIN IT THAT WAY.

BUT MY THING IS A COMMITTEE THAT'S ABLE TO LOOK AND BRING IN FRONT OF YOU ALL TO OVERRIDE THE ELECTIONS, OR THEY COULD HAVE BROUGHT DOWN ANYTHING,

[02:30:01]

WE BROUGHT IN PEOPLE THAT WE THOUGHT WERE LEVELHEADED AND GOOD MINDED AND EVERYTHING ELSE WITH THE CITY, WHICH DIDN'T MEAN WE THOUGHT THAT I SHOULD HAVE SAID IT.

AND THEY COME AND GIVE US A SUGGESTION WHAT YOU THINK NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. WELL, THEN WE HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THERE ARE ONLY A SAMPLE OF THE COMMUNITY. THERE'S GOING TO BE A PORTION OF THE COMMUNITY ARE GOING TO SAY 100%. THEY AGREE 100%, AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A PORTION THAT'S GOING TO SAY NO, AND WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE THAT OUT. WELL, LIKE I SAID, IF YOU GO LOOK AT THE ELECTION ON 2018, IT'S RIGHT THERE. THE PEOPLE GAVE Y'ALL TWO TERMS. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO IT, I'M TELLING YOU. YOU CAN ARGUE WITH ME ALL DAY. I'M GOING TO VOTE NO. WELL, I'M JUST SAYING THAT'S THAT'S WHERE I'M AT.

OKAY. WELL, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET IT.

WHAT? YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THIS ROOM, THERE ARE MANY. THERE ARE 68% OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE AGAINST THIS.

SO I'M JUST SPEAKING FOR THEM BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT LIKE TO GET UP AND SPEAK IN FRONT OF YOU.

I DON'T MIND MAKING A FOOL OUT OF MYSELF OR DOING SOMETHING THAT'S GOOD.

I'M OPEN TO EITHER OR.

SO I AM RELATING THEIR MESSAGES TO YOU TO PLEASE DON'T DO THIS.

I WILL SAY THOUGH, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF LOSS IN TRANSLATION.

I KNOW YOU CAME IN HERE. YOU'RE SPEAKING TO US, AND I DON'T THINK. I THINK YOU MISINFORMED SOME OF THE YOUR YOUR RESIDENTS BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM CAME IN THINKING THAT WE CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA.

WE HAVE NOT COME UP WITH ANY IDEA.

WE FORMED THE COMMITTEE TO GET INPUT SO WE CAN PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.

AND WE WANTED TO HEAR BACK FROM OUR RESIDENTS.

I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MISS TEETER COME FORWARD AND JUST GIVE US HER EXPERIENCE ON HOW THE COMMITTEE DEVELOPED, AND IF SHE RECEIVED ANY COMMENTS FROM US TELLING HER HOW TO WHAT PROPOSITIONS WE WANTED TO SEE.

WELL, OUR MAIN THING IS THAT TONIGHT, OKAY, LET'S JUST I WILL TELL EVERYONE THAT Y'ALL DIDN'T PUT IT ON HERE, THAT THE COMMITTEE HAS PUT THIS ON HERE.

BUT MY THING IS THAT THE PEOPLE KNOW THAT Y'ALL ARE GOING TO VOTE ON IT, AND THEY'RE ASKING YOU NOT TO VOTE ON IT.

THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, THE COMMITTEE.

THEY ONLY CARE ABOUT WHAT THEY'VE ALREADY SPOKE.

SO THAT'S WHY I'M GOING TO RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH YOU ON THIS THOUGH, BECAUSE EVEN IF WE DID PUT IT ON THE BALLOT, WE'RE NOT VOTING FOR IT.

THE RESIDENTS ARE THE ONES VOTING FOR IT. SO EITHER THEY WANT IT, THEY CAN VOTE ON IT. IF THEY DON'T WANT IT, THEY CAN DECLINE. IT DOESN'T MATTER.

IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON IT.

WE'RE GIVING THE RESIDENTS AN OPTION, WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

THAT'S ALL WE'RE DOING. I THINK THEY'VE ALREADY DONE IT TWICE IN 2013 AND 2018.

AND I BELIEVE THE ONLY REASON WHY I BELIEVE THE ONLY REASON WHY THE TERM LIMITS CAME UP IS BECAUSE THE WAY IT WAS WRITTEN BACK IN 2018.

AND, OMAR, YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THAT EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER COULD JUMP TO ANOTHER SEAT AND SERVE ON THAT SEAT FOR TWO, TWO, TWO TERMS AND THEN JUMP ON ANOTHER SEAT AND SERVE ON THAT SEAT FOR TWO TERMS. THIS ONE CLEANED IT UP WHERE IT'S THREE FULL TERMS. THEY CAN'T JUMP ON ANY SEATS.

SO AS PRESENTED RIGHT NOW, I COULD SWITCH PLACES WITH COUNCIL MEMBER DIAZ AND RUN HIS SEAT AND GET ANOTHER TWO TERMS. SO WHY ARE WE CHANGING THEN? WHY ARE YOU CHANGING IT FROM FROM 2 TO 3? IF YOU'RE CLEANING IT UP, LEAVE IT AT TWO.

WE DID NOT. WE DID NOT DO THAT.

LIKE I SAID, I'M JUST GOT THE INPUT FROM FROM.

SO I'M JUST HOPING LIKE I SAID, THE PEOPLE KNOW THAT Y'ALL ARE THE LAST VOTE.

YOU'RE THE LAST ONE THAT DECIDES.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE, TALKING TO EACH ONE OF YOU AND ASKING YOU NOT. AND MY THING IS, AGAIN, IF YOU'RE GOING TO PUT IT ON THERE, THEN YOU PUT IT WHERE THEY HAVE TO VOTE NO TO GET IT TO GO.

YES. AND I GUARANTEE YOU IT WON'T GO.

YEAH. AND, AND I THINK THE COMMITTEE I ASKED TO PUT YOU ON.

PARDON. WASN'T THIS THE COMMITTEE I ASKED TO PUT YOU ON. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU DID. I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT, BUT I WOULDN'T. IF YOU HAD I'D HAVE BEEN ON IT IF THEY WERE GOING TO DO THIS. NO, BUT BUT I DON'T REMEMBER.

REAL QUICK, OMAR, CAN YOU CLARIFY? BECAUSE I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER WAS BRINGING UP SOMETHING THAT I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO CLARIFY AT THIS TIME, BECAUSE IN 2018, WHEN THE TERM LIMITS OR THAT ITEM WENT UP IS THAT WHEN THE LANGUAGE CHANGED OR HOW JUST TO BE CLEAR, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO CLARIFY TO THE PUBLIC. RIGHT.

SO THERE WAS PREVIOUSLY A TERM LIMIT THAT WAS VOTED ON ORIGINALLY I THINK IT WAS 2011, 2013 THAT PUT IN A THREE TERM TERM LIMIT OF FOUR YEARS FOR EACH TERM.

IN 2018, THERE WAS A REVISION THAT WAS PROPOSED TO LIMIT IT TO TWO TERMS. IT CREATED A WHOLE NEW SECTION OF THE CITY CHARTER FOR THAT AND PART OF THE LANGUAGE THERE'S AT LEAST SOME ROOM TO INTERPRET THAT BECAUSE THESE THIS IS NOT A SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICT CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IT'S CITYWIDE. THERE'S AT LEAST SOME ROOM TO INTERPRET IT.

THAT COUNCIL MEMBER PLACE, ONE COULD SERVE FOR TWO TERMS AND THEN RUN IN COUNCIL MEMBER PLACE, TWO FOR ANOTHER TWO TERMS AND KIND OF ON DOWN THE LINE. NOW, THAT'S NOT THAT'S NOT THE OBVIOUS READ FROM IT, BUT IT IS A POTENTIAL READ FROM IT.

AND THAT'S BASED ON NEW LANGUAGE THAT WAS ADDED IN 2018 THAT CONFLICTS WITH OUR CITY CHARTER. AND WELL, IT IS CITY CHARTER NOW.

[02:35:01]

BUT AT THE TIME I FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THAT LANGUAGE NOW LEAVES IT OPEN I GUESS AT THIS POINT. RIGHT. THAT'S AT LEAST ONE POTENTIAL READ OF IT.

WHETHER THAT WOULD ACTUALLY SURVIVE A LEGAL CHALLENGE, I COULDN'T SAY, AND IT'S UNCERTAIN, BUT THAT'S AT LEAST A POTENTIAL.

THAT BEING THE CASE, LET'S SAY WE DON'T EVEN GO TO THE VOTERS TO CHANGE ANYTHING.

ON THE. AS TO COUNCIL MEMBER DE LEON'S POINT, THERE'S A COUNCIL MEMBER ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT COULD SERVE TWO TERMS IN HIS SEAT.

TWO TERMS HERE, TWO TERMS AS MAYOR, TWO TERMS. IS THAT CORRECT OR NOT? THAT'S ONE INTERPRETATION OF THE PROVISION.

CORRECT. SO I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE COMMITTEE MEMBER.

I GUESS THAT'S WHAT YOU ALL STARTED LOOKING AT AND SAID, NO, LET'S LIMIT IT TO THREE TERMS. I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR ALL, BUT OKAY.

BEFORE SHE SPEAKS AGAIN, IF YOU WANT TO CLEAN IT UP, THEN MAKE IT LEAVE IT LIKE, AND I UNDERSTAND I'M JUST TRYING TO, LIKE, FLESH OUT THE WHAT WHAT THE BACKGROUND WAS ON THIS, BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT. YES, MA'AM. GO AHEAD. OKAY.

I'D LIKE TO DISPEL SOME CONFUSION ALSO.

I'D LIKE TO ASK THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO PLEASE RISE AND SHOW THEMSELVES.

OKAY. ALL OF THEM ARE HERE. ALL FIVE. OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE. I KNOW YOU ALL ARE MEETING EVERY MONTH, SO THANK YOU.

THERE ARE FIVE OF US. EACH OF US WAS APPOINTED BY ONE OF YOU COUNCILMAN I.

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

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

MY FATHER HAD KIDNEY DISEASE, SO I KNEW WHAT WAS TO BE EXPECTED WHEN MY KIDNEYS FAILED. AFTER RECEIVING MY KIDNEY TRANSPLANT, I WAS ABLE TO FIND AND MARRY THE LOVE OF MY LIFE.

SHE'S JUST SOMEONE I CAN JOKE WITH, SOMEBODY I CAN COOK WITH.

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

WHEN I WAS SICK, I BARELY HAD ENOUGH STRENGTH TO WALK ACROSS THE PARKING LOT, GOING TO THE MOVIES WITH MY BROTHERS, BUT AFTER MY TRANSPLANT, MY STRENGTH AND ENERGY CAME BACK AND I WAS ABLE TO RUN AROUND AND PLAY WITH MY NIECES AND NEPHEWS, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.

MY KIDNEY TRANSPLANT GAVE ME MY LIFE BACK.

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

GO TO DAY TO DONATE LIFE.

HEY, IT SURE FEELS GOOD TO PLAY.

BAH BAH BAH BAH BAH BAH BAH.

AND I CAN'T CHANGE. EVEN IF I TRIED.

EVEN IF I WANTED TO. AND I CAN'T CHANGE.

EVEN IF I TRIED. EVEN IF I WANTED TO.

MY LOVE, MY LOVE, MY LOVE.

SHE KEEPS ME WARM. SHE KEEPS ME WARM.

SHE KEEPS ME WARM. SHE KEEPS ME WARM.

AND I CAN'T CHANGE EVEN IF I TRY.

EVEN IF I WANTED TO. MY LOVE, MY LOVE, MY LOVE.

SHE KEEPS ME WARM. SHE KEEPS ME WARM.

SHE KEEPS ME WARM. SHE KEEPS ME WARM.

AND I CAN'T CHANGE. EVEN IF I TRIED.

EVEN IF I WANTED TO. MY LOVE, MY LOVE, MY LOVE.

SHE KEEPS ME WARM. SHE KEEPS ME WARM.

[02:40:04]

SHE KEEPS ME WARM. SHE KEEPS ME WARM.

MY HEART DOESN'T SEE RACE.

LOVE HAS NO AGE LIMIT.

THAT'S MY BEST FRIEND.

WE ARE NEIGHBORS AND BEST FRIENDS.

WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT RELIGIONS, BUT WE HAVE UNIVERSAL LOVE AS WELL.

I LOVE MY SISTER. LOVE IS LOVE.

OUR FAMILY IS NO LESS THAN ANY OTHER FAMILY.

I'M NOT CRYING ON SUNDAYS.

LOVE IS KIND.

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 DE LEON, 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 CITY HALL, THE EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL.

ALL RIGHT. THE MIX IS NOW. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. I WANT TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. IT IS TUESDAY, JUNE 18TH.

BY MY WATCH AT 6 P.M..

I DO SEE VISIBLY THAT WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.

THE ONLY PERSON OUT HERE THIS EVENING IS COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS SALAZAR. HE'S OUT OF TOWN. WE'RE GOING TO START TODAY.

THIS EVENING'S PRAYER WITH A PRAYER BY PASTOR DOCTOR JOANNA WALKER.

DOCTOR WALKER, IF YOU CAN STEP UP TO THE PODIUM, IF EVERYBODY COULD PLEASE STAND AS WE START WITH PRAYER MEETING.

HEAVENLY FATHER, WE JUST COME BEFORE YOU, LORD, IN THE NAME OF JESUS. AND WE THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY THAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY. FATHER, LORD, WE ASK FOR YOUR WISDOM AND YOUR BLESSING UPON THESE PROCEEDINGS TODAY.

LORD, GIVE OUR MAYOR WISDOM AND OUR COUNCILMAN FATHER, IN THE NAME OF JESUS. FATHER, WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD LEAD THEM AND GUIDE THEM. LORD, BY YOUR SPIRIT TODAY.

LORD, I PRAY THAT THEY WOULD MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS THAT ARE BEST FOR OUR CITY, AND WE THANK YOU, GOD FOR IT IN JESUS NAME.

AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU.

PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. ITEM TWO.

YES, SIR. MAYOR. THE MEETING WAS POSTED IN ACCORDANCE TO THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT ON JUNE 14TH, 2024 AT FIVE £0.45 MS. THANK YOU MA'AM. ITEM THREE IS DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

UNDER STATE LAW, A CONFLICT OF INTEREST EXISTS IF A COUNCIL MEMBER OR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THAT PERSON'S FAMILY HAS A QUALIFYING FINANCIAL INTEREST IN AN AGENDA ITEM.

IF THERE IS A CONFLICT, THE MEMBER CANNOT PARTICIPATE OR VOTE ON THE ITEM. ARE THERE ANY CONFLICTS TO DISCLOSE? NO, SIR. NO, SIR. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. ITEM FOUR. I HARDLY EVER HAVE A MAYOR'S REPORT, BUT I DO HAVE ONE TODAY.

AND IT'S JUST TO ANNOUNCE THAT EDINBURG WAS DESIGNATED AS ALL-AMERICA CITY FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY.

SO YOU OWE YOURSELVES AN APPLAUSE FOR ALL THE CITY.

THIS IS A DESIGNATION BY THE NATIONAL CIVIC LEAGUE.

AND I JUST WANTED TO ASK MISS ROXANNE LERMA TO KIND OF GIVE THE THE PUBLIC SOME INFORMATION ON THIS DESIGNATION AND TO THANK HER PERSONALLY TOO, BECAUSE SHE KIND OF TOOK THE LEAD AND HELPED KIND OF GATHER US TOGETHER.

[02:45:01]

THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE INVOLVED, AND IF I MAY.

SO MANY PEOPLE INVOLVED.

IF I MAY, BEFORE I KNOW THIS IS THE MAYOR'S REPORT, BUT IT'S BEEN 24 YEARS SINCE THE MAYOR WAS ABLE TO SAY THAT.

SO. THANK YOU. I THINK THAT WE'RE STILL REELING FROM THE EXCITEMENT.

I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYONE FULLY GRASPS HOW BIG A DEAL THIS IS.

IT'S BEEN 24 YEARS SINCE OUR LAST ALL-AMERICA CITY DESIGNATION.

IT'S THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS CIVIC DESIGNATION THAT A CITY CAN GET.

AND SO WE FOUND OUT IN APRIL THAT WE MADE A FINALIST, WHICH THERE'S A COUPLE HUNDRED CITIES ACROSS THE NATION THAT APPLY FOR THIS.

AND SO WE WERE ALREADY EXCITED BEING FINALISTS.

TOP 20 IN THE NATION. AND THEN WE HAVE TO GO TO DENVER AND DO A A SKIT AND PRESENTATION THAT KIND OF JUST SHOWS AND SHOWCASES WHAT OUR CITY DOES, WHAT SETS US APART. HOW DO WE STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY IN OUR COMMUNITY? HOW DO WE ENGAGE OUR RESIDENTS? AND SO FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR RESIDENTS, AND I WANT TO THANK THEM FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS.

AND EVERY WEEK I WAS PLEASE SHOW UP TO PRACTICE.

PLEASE SHOW UP TO PRACTICE.

AND THEY DID. AND SO WE HAVE TO THANK UTRGV.

THEY THEY LOANED US THEIR VAQUERO MASCOT.

SO HE WAS ON THE STAGE WITH US.

WE HAD OUR DANCE ENSEMBLE.

BEAUTIFUL COUPLE IVY AND GABRIEL.

OUR 2040 COMMITTEE. SABRINA JOINED US.

MISS SANDRA ALANIS JOINED US.

CAPABLE KIDS. WE REALLY SHOWCASED OUR INCLUSIVITY.

PIRATE'S COVE, OUR MIRACLE MILE.

AND AND THANKS TO GOD AND EVERYBODY'S HARD WORK, WE WERE ABLE TO BRING IT HOME.

IT WAS REALLY EXCITING BECAUSE WE WERE THE VERY FIRST CITY CALLED.

I DON'T KNOW, I THINK MAYBE WE SCORED THE HIGHEST, BUT THAT'S JUST ME.

SO YEAH. SO CONGRATULATIONS, EDINBURGH.

WE BROUGHT IT HOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, ROXANNE, SO MUCH.

AND I KNOW THE RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN ASKING MAYOR, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? I SAID, WELL, WHAT IT MEANS IS WE'RE BEING RECOGNIZED AGAIN FOR ALL THE EFFORTS.

I TELL PEOPLE THIS IS A RECOGNITION FOR EVERYBODY, FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MAYOR, THE COUNCIL, IT'S ABOUT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M SO PROUD OF OUR CITY.

THEY TAKE A LOOK AT EVERYTHING. I MEAN, THEY TOOK THEY TAKE A LOOK AT OUR POPULATION GROWTH, EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING, BUT IN PARTICULAR SOME OF THOSE INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE. SO CONGRATULATIONS, ALL THE CITY STAFF.

I SEE BRANDON AND TOM AND AJ OVER THERE.

THEY ACTUALLY DROVE TO DENVER TO TAKE THE PROP.

SO YES, THEY DID. THANK YOU GUYS AS WELL.

BUT SO MANY PEOPLE INVOLVED.

ALL THE VOLUNTEERS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND CONGRATULATIONS TO EDINBURGH.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO PROCLAMATIONS.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF THEM TODAY.

WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL PROCLAMATION THIS EVENING FOR RECOGNIZING CAPTAIN ROMAN GABRIEL RODRIGUEZ, WHICH WE CALL BEAVER.

AND I'M SORRY TO HAVE TO SAY IT IN PUBLIC, BUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THAT ON THE PROCLAMATION THAT'S IN THE THAT WE HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU.

A VERY WELL DESERVED, VERY WELL DESERVED RETIREMENT.

AND WE HAVE THE PROCLAMATION HERE THAT WE WANT TO READ FOR THE RECORD.

AND WE'LL BE READ IT FOR THE RECORD.

WE'LL GO DOWN THERE WITH YOU. AND I KNOW YOUR FAMILY'S HERE, AND AND I KNOW YOU'RE A MAN OF VERY FEW WORDS, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE GOING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT TONIGHT. BUT BUT WE DO HAVE IT'S GOING TO BE READ FOR THE RECORD.

AND WE'RE GOING TO GO DOWN THERE AND JOIN YOU AND YOUR FAMILY RIGHT NOW.

SO I THINK YOU GAVE ME A TICKET WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

NO. WHEREAS ROMAN GABRIEL RODRIGUEZ WAS BORN TO MR. RICARDO AND OLGA RODRIGUEZ ON APRIL 15TH, 1973, IN EDINBURG, TEXAS. MR. RODRIGUEZ GREW UP AS A MIGRANT FARM WORKER, HARVESTING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN MEXICO, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, MISSISSIPPI, AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS ALONGSIDE HIS FATHER, WHO INSTILLED IN HIM THE VALUE OF HARD WORK AND PERSEVERANCE.

AND WHEREAS RAMON WAS A BOBCAT FOOTBALL TEAM THREE YEAR LETTERMAN, HE GRADUATED FROM EDINBURG HIGH SCHOOL IN 1991 WITH A FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIP FROM BAKER UNIVERSITY IN KANSAS, AND HE STUDIED CRIMINAL JUSTICE AT UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN.

AND WHEREAS, IN JANUARY 1994, MR. RODRIGUEZ WAS ACCEPTED TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING ACADEMY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. HE WAS THE YOUNGEST TROOPER TRAINEE OF HIS CLASS.

A 94, MR. RODRIGUEZ COMPLETED SIX MONTHS OF RIGOROUS TRAINING AND GRADUATED FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY ACADEMY AND BEGAN HIS LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER AS A HIGHWAY PATROL DIVISION TROOPER IN RIO GRANDE CITY, TEXAS.

AND WHEREAS, TROOPER RODRIGUEZ RELOCATED TO MCALLEN, TEXAS, WHERE HE CONTINUED AS A HIGHWAY PATROL TROOPER, PROMOTING GENERAL SAFETY AND MAINTAINING THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF TEXAS ROADWAYS, AS WELL AS DETERRING, DETECTING AND INTERDICTING SAFETY THREATS THROUGHOUT CRIMINAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. AND WHEREAS, IN 2001, TROOPER RODRIGUEZ WAS PROMOTED TO SERGEANT INVESTIGATOR OF THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION IN ALPINE, TEXAS, WHERE HE WORKED CLOSELY WITH LOCAL,

[02:50:04]

AND WHEREAS, IN AUGUST 2013, SERGEANT RODRIGUEZ WAS PROMOTED TO CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION LIEUTENANT IN LAREDO, TEXAS, AND AFTER A YEAR HE TRANSFERRED TO MCALLEN, TEXAS, RESUMING HIS SUPERVISORY POSITION.

AND WHEREAS, IN OCTOBER 2016, LIEUTENANT RODRIGUEZ WAS PROMOTED TO CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION CAPTAIN IN WESLACO, TEXAS, WHERE HE FULFILLED THE REMAINDER OF HIS 30 YEAR LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND WHEREAS, MR. RODRIGUEZ HAS SERVED ON THE CITY OF EDINBURG RECREATION AND PARKS BOARD AND CURRENTLY SERVES ON THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, WHERE HE CONTINUES HIS COMMITMENT OF SERVICE TO HIS COMMUNITY.

AND WHEREAS IN 1995 MR. RODRIGUEZ MARRIED HIS WIFE DORINDA, AND TOGETHER THEY RAISED FOUR CHILDREN RYAN, GABRIEL, DEREK, JUSTIN, ROBBIE, AIDEN, AND DANA.

RENEE, ROMAN AND DORINDA HAVE REMAINED LONG, LIFE LONG LIFELONG RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF EDINBURGH, TEXAS, WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TWO GRANDCHILDREN, RILEY JOE AND RUBY JAY. AND WHEREAS, IN JUNE 2024, AFTER 30 YEARS OF SERVICE, CAPTAIN RODRIGUEZ WILL RETIRE FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

NOW, THEREFORE, ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THE CITY OF EDINBURG, TEXAS, BY THE POWER VESTED IN THEM BY LAW, I DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE RAMON GABRIEL RODRIGUEZ FOR HIS YEARS OF SERVICE AND DEDICATED DEDICATION, PROTECTING WITH BRAVERY AND COMMITMENT.

THE EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS THEIR GRATITUDE AND WISH CAPTAIN RAMON GABRIEL RODRIGUEZ A HAPPY RETIREMENT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. COUNCIL. RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU. THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS PROCLAMATION.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY FAMILY FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF EDINBURG AND HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO WORK FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY FOR ALL THESE YEARS. AND ADJACENT AGENCIES, ESPECIALLY THE DEPARTMENT, THE DEPARTMENTS OF THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. DURING MY CAREER, I HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE SUPPORT FROM THE EDINBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHO WAS ALWAYS THERE TO HELP ME WHENEVER I NEEDED THEM. EVERY TIME WE NEEDED SOMETHING TO DO WITH UNLOADING A TRAILER OR OR.

OPENING A COMPARTMENT OR TAKING TAKING A TRAILER APART, THEY WERE ALWAYS THERE TO HELP, YOU KNOW, AND I NEVER HESITATED.

YOU KNOW, EVEN THE GUYS, WHEN THEY WOULD LOOK ALL AROUND THE CITY, ALL AROUND THE COUNTY, AND THEY WOULD ALWAYS COME BACK AND SAY, WE NEED YOUR HELP. CAN YOU CALL YOUR YOUR FRIENDS IN EDINBURG? SURE CAN. SURE. AND SURE ENOUGH, THEY'RE ALWAYS THERE TO HELP.

YOU KNOW, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

ALSO THE EDINBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHERE AT THIS TIME AND THROUGH ALL THESE YEARS, WE'VE ALWAYS WORKED TOGETHER. WE'VE ALWAYS HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH MYSELF AS AN AGENT, AS A LIEUTENANT, AND ALSO THE CAPTAIN WITH MY GROUP.

THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN THERE. WE'VE HAD GREAT INVESTIGATIONS WHERE WE ARRESTED MANY INDIVIDUALS FOR NARCOTICS, GANG MEMBERS, FRAUD, AND IT'S BEEN GREAT TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO TO BE WITH THEM AND WORK ALONGSIDE WITH THEM HERE IN THE CITY, THE GREAT CITY OF EDINBURG.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE MY VOLUNTEER SERVICE WITH THE CITY IN A CAPACITY THAT IS NECESSARY. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR SUCH AN HONOR, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'M JUST GOING TO MAKE A COMMENT REAL QUICK.

I KNOW COUNCIL WANTS TO SAY, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE CITY BECAUSE IN ADDITION TO SERVING OUR STATE OF TEXAS, YOU KNOW, AND YOUR CAPACITIES AND YOUR CAREER, YOU'VE BEEN SERVING IN SOME OF OUR CITY BOARDS.

YOU KNOW, PARKS AND RECREATION, OUR CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION. SO, I MEAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FROM THAT STANDPOINT.

AND AS A FELLOW FATHER, I KNOW YOUR KIDS ARE SOME SIMILAR AGE TO MY KIDS. I ALSO HAVE TO SAY THAT I SEE HIM AT EVERY EVENT OF HIS KIDS.

YOU KNOW, HE DOES NOT MISS.

IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE OBVIOUSLY HE'S A STAY AT HOME DAD.

I'M GOING TO SAY IT LIKE THAT. AND I MAYBE THAT SOUNDS OUT OF LINE, BUT THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW, I REALLY RESPECT THAT ROMAN OF YOU AS A DAD.

YOU'RE THERE FOR YOUR KIDS, YOUR FAMILY.

YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T GO SAY, OH, WELL, I WORK HERE.

YOU WERE THERE, YOU'RE THERE ALL THE TIME.

AND I ACTUALLY ALWAYS TELL MY WIFE, I SAY, WELL, ROMAN'S GOING TO BE THERE, SO I GOT TO BE THERE, YOU KNOW? SO. BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND YOUR FAMILY, MAN, I WANT TO THANK YOUR WIFE, YOUR FAMILY, BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR SERVING IN THIS CAPACITY.

AND I JUST WANT TO WISH YOU THE VERY BEST AS YOU MOVE ON TO YOUR NEXT CHAPTER IN LIFE.

THANK YOU. AND ALL I CAN SAY THAT AS AS I WENT UP AND PROMOTED, I WAS A LOT EASIER TO MOVE AROUND AND BE HOME. BUT I KNOW WHEN I FIRST STARTED, IT WAS HARD. AND I KNOW I LEFT MY WIFE DRESSED SEVERAL TIMES.

MANY TIMES, YOU KNOW, WHILE WE WERE GOING OUT AND I GET THE PHONE CALL. AND SO I OWE IT TO HER THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE WAS STRONG AND AND SHE WAS ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE CARE OF THE FORT WHEN I MADE THE DECISIONS TO MOVE AROUND THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND, YOU KNOW, EVENTUALLY COMING BACK HOME. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE HER AND HER SUPPORT.

[02:55:01]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. JUST WANTED TO SAY, TROOPER.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE. LIKE EVERY OTHER OFFICER IN THE ROOM HERE.

AND FIREFIGHTER TAKES A SPECIAL PERSON.

I'VE ALWAYS SAID THIS. IT TAKES A SPECIAL PERSON TO RUN TOWARDS THE DANGER THAN AWAY FROM THE DANGER. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR 30 YEARS OF TOWING THAT LINE.

AND WE HAVE SEVERAL BOARDS YOU CAN SERVE ON NOW THAT YOU'RE LEAVING THE DPS.

OTHER STUFF WE CAN DO. I ALWAYS TELL EVERYONE, WHATEVER YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT, COME BACK AND SERVE IN THE CITY AND HELP US MAKE US BETTER. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE ANOTHER PROCLAMATION THIS EVENING FOR JUNE 2024 TO A NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH? I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOMEBODY HERE FOR THIS PROCLAMATION, IS THAT CORRECT? YES. MR. LANCE AMES. KIM, COME ON UP TO THE PODIUM.

PLEASE GO AHEAD. SOUTH TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM. WE'LL READ IT OUT FOR THE RECORD. YEAH.

WHEREAS EACH YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES, MORE THAN 43,000 INDIVIDUALS ARE KILLED AND 76,000 INDIVIDUALS ARE WOUNDED BY GUNFIRE.

17,000 INDIVIDUALS ARE KILLED IN HOMICIDES INVOLVING GUNS, 24,000 INDIVIDUALS DIE BY SUICIDE USING A GUN, AND 500 INDIVIDUALS ARE KILLED IN UNINTENTIONAL SHOOTINGS.

AND WHEREAS SINCE 1968, MORE PEOPLE HAVE DIED FROM GUNS IN THE UNITED STATES THAN HAVE DIED ON THE BATTLEFIELDS. OF ALL THE WARS IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. NATIONWIDE, 87,000 MILITARY VETERANS DIED BY GUN SUICIDE FROM 2002 TO 2021.

AND WHEREAS EVERY YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES, NEARLY 4000 CHILDREN AND TEENS ARE KILLED BY GUN VIOLENCE AND 15,000 CHILDREN AND TEENS ARE SHOT AND WOUNDED.

AND WHEREAS ANNUALLY, APPROXIMATELY 9300 PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES UNDER 25 YEARS OF AGE DIE BECAUSE OF GUN VIOLENCE.

AND WHEREAS 2023 WAS A DEADLY YEAR FOR THE UNITED STATES, WITH AN ESTIMATED 16,100 PEOPLE KILLED IN GUN HOMICIDES OR SUICIDE RELATED SHOOTINGS.

THERE WERE 656 MASS SHOOTING INCIDENTS IN WHICH NOT FEWER THAN FOUR PEOPLE WERE KILLED OR WOUNDED BY GUNFIRE.

UNINTENTIONAL SHOOTINGS BY CHILDREN SURPASSED 400 INCIDENTS FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, RESULTING IN NEARLY 160 DEATHS ANNUALLY.

AND WHEREAS PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS CAN PREVENT THESE TRAGEDIES BY BECOMING INFORMED ABOUT GUNS IN HOMES AND SAFE FIREARMS STORAGE.

AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF EDINBURGH PLEDGES THEIR COMMITMENT, WORKING DILIGENTLY TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING AWARENESS TO GUN VIOLENCE AND EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF GUN SAFETY TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE, AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TO KEEP FIREARMS OUT OF THE WRONG HANDS AND ENCOURAGE RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERSHIP TO HELP KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THE CITY OF EDINBURG, TEXAS, BY THE POWER VESTED IN THEM BY LAW, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 2024 AS NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH AND URGE ALL RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH TO PROMOTE GREATER AWARENESS OF GUN VIOLENCE AND GUN SAFETY.

ALL RIGHT, MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND WE'RE AS PART OF SOUTH TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM, VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE COMMITMENT THAT THE CITY OF EDINBURGH HAS FOR KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND AS A HEALTH SYSTEM, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO AS WELL.

AND SO I WANT TO APPLAUD YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR WHAT YOU DO APPLAUD OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE WORK WITH THEM EVERY DAY AND WE DO UNFORTUNATELY SEE THE THE SAD RESULTS OF GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR HOSPITAL SETTINGS.

IT'S A REAL THING. AND SO TO BE ABLE TO AS A COMMUNITY, RECOGNIZE THAT THAT WE DO NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE WITH THE THE RIGHTS THAT WE DO HAVE AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR YOUTH, THAT OUR CHILDREN, THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS HOW TO APPROACH GUNS, ESPECIALLY IN A SAFE WAY, THAT OUR PARENTS CAN BE GOOD EXAMPLES, THAT OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN ALL KNOW HOW TO DO THINGS APPROPRIATELY WOULD MEAN THE WORLD TO ALL OF US. SO JUST FROM A HEALTH STANDPOINT, HEALTH SYSTEM STANDPOINT, WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU AS A COMMUNITY.

WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU AS A LEADERSHIP TEAM FOR THE CITY, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND EVERYONE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE SAFEST COMMUNITY POSSIBLE. AND AS A AS A HOSPITAL, WE ARE PREPARED TO HANDLE ANY SITUATION THAT DOES COME UP AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO TRAIN AND TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PHYSICIANS, OUR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND CLINICAL PROFESSIONALS ARE READY TO STAND TO ANY SITUATION THAT MAY ARISE.

SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMITMENT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU LINDSAY. ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM SIX. PUBLIC COMMENTS.

YES, SIR. MAYOR, THE EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL ASKED FOR A SPECIFIC PORTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO BE DEDICATED TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.

PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES.

I'LL BE TAKING TIME. PLEASE NOTE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOT INTERACTIVE.

THE COUNCIL MAY NOT RESPOND TO PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.

COUNCIL. THERE ARE THREE PUBLIC COMMENTS. THE FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT IS TOM URENA REGARDING SANDBAGS AT THE CITY OF EDINBURGH.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, TOM URENA, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO REMIND THE PUBLIC THAT WE ARE STILL CONTINUING TO BE ISSUING OUT SANDBAGS TODAY. WE HAVE TWO LOCATIONS RIGHT NOW.

[03:00:02]

AREA IS 1201 NORTH DOOLITTLE.

RIGHT NOW WHILE SUPPLIES LAST, WE ARE MAKING SANDBAGS AS WE SPEAK.

IF YOU PULL UP WITH YOUR PROOF OF RESIDENCY, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GET SIX SANDBAGS FOR ANY RESIDENTS, ANY BUSINESSES, EIGHT SANDBAGS.

IF WHILE SUPPLIES LAST, WE WILL LOAD THEM UP FOR YOU.

IF NOT, WE HAVE THE OPTION FOR SELF SERVICE WHERE YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN.

WE HAVE OPENED UP A NEW LOCATION, A SELF-SERVE LOCATION AT EDINBURG MUNICIPAL PARK ON DOOLITTLE AT 1714 SOUTH RAUL LONGORIA, WHERE ANYBODY ELSE CAN GO OUT THERE AND MAKE THEIR OWN SAND BAGS IF THEY WISH.

WE WILL ISSUE OUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF SIX BAGS FOR RESIDENTS, EIGHT BAGS FOR BUSINESSES.

AND IF YOU BRING YOUR OWN BAGS, YOU CAN.

YOU'RE WELCOME TO AS MUCH SAND AS YOU WOULD LIKE AT THAT PORTION.

ALL WE ASK IS YOU DO BRING YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE OR PROOF OF RESIDENCY AS YOUR UTILITY BILL. THAT WAY WE CAN CHECK THAT OFF.

AS FOR TOMORROW, DEPENDING ON WEATHER IF IT'S LIKE NOW, WHERE IT'S OFF AND ON, WE'LL CONTINUE ISSUING SANDBAGS UNTIL START AT 7 A.M. THROUGHOUT UNTIL 7 P.M.

IF IT DOES GET BAD IN SOME PORTIONS, WE DO HAVE TO STOP BECAUSE THE SAND IS SUPER WET. IT'S VERY HARD TO TRANSPORT, SO WE WILL HOLD OFF ON THAT.

BUT AGAIN, THOSE WILL BE WEATHER DECISIONS AT THAT POINT.

SO PLEASE, IF YOU STILL NEED SOME SANDBAGS, WE ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR THAT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS REGARDING TEXAS COOK EM HIGH STAKES IN EDINBURG. GOOD EVENING. MAYOR COUNCIL.

RONNIE LAREDO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE EDINBURGH CHAMBER AND EDINBURGH CVB.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TONIGHT.

I WANTED TO COME OUT AND INVITE THE COMMUNITY TO THE 18TH ANNUAL TEXAS COOK EM HIGH STAKES IN EDINBURG. IT IS HAPPENING SATURDAY, JULY 6TH AT THE EBONY HILLS GOLF CLUB.

SO WE INVITE EVERYBODY TO COME OUT AND ENJOY A DAY OF CHAMPIONSHIP BARBECUE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT. WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT, FOOD VENDORS, ARTS AND CRAFT VENDORS, KIDDY RIDES AND OF COURSE A FIREWORKS SHOW AT THE END OF THE NIGHT. THE BEST PART ABOUT IT IS FREE TO THE COMMUNITY.

THANKS TO THE CONTINUED PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE CITY, THE EDC AND OF COURSE, A LOT OF OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

SO JUST TO TOUCH BASE ON A COUPLE OF THE MAJOR THINGS HAPPENING.

OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE OUR GREAT FIREWORKS FOR THE 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND.

WE HAVE GREAT ENTERTAINMENT LINED UP, INCLUDING WE HAVE DRAFT MUSIC.

MR. THE SINCERO, THE DELTA BOYS.

WE ALSO HAVE A TAYLOR SWIFT TRIBUTE BAND, RED, FOR ALL THE SWIFTIES OUT THERE.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE JOSH ABBOTT BAND TEXAS COUNTRY STARS PERFORMING AS WELL.

WE DO HAVE OTHER ENTERTAINMENT AS WELL, INCLUDING A CAR SHOW, CAR AND TRUCK SHOW. WE ALSO HAVE NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS BOXING HAPPENING AT THE EVENT.

AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THE BIG MAJOR COOKOFF THAT'S HAPPENING THAT'S GIVING OUT $20,000 IN PRIZE MONEY.

WITH THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, WE INVITE EVERYBODY TO TO COME OUT AND JOIN US. BRING YOUR LAWN CHAIRS, BRING YOUR YOUR FOOTBALLS, YOUR FRISBEES, YOUR YOUR YOUR BLANKETS.

TUNE IN TO EDINBURGH. COM AND IF YOU WANT SOME MORE INFORMATION ON BECOMING A VENDOR OR A SPONSOR OR JUST IN THE EVENT IN GENERAL, JUST FOLLOW US ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGES.

ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SUPPORT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE ON JULY THE 6TH. THANK YOU. PUBLIC COMMENT IS OBED MONTOYA.

MAYOR. GOOD EVENING. IT'S A PLEASURE FOR ME TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

MR. WHITE. AND IT'S JUST SAD TO SAY THAT DAVID IS NOT HERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE'S AT. HE'S PROBABLY OUT THERE RANCHING, RIGHT? SOMEWHERE. YOU CAN ALWAYS CALL ME BACK, BUT IT'S A PLEASURE TO ME TO SEE ROXANA LERMA COMING BACK TO EDINBURGH. IT'S A PLEASURE TO MEET US.

FERN TOLD ME NOT TO WEAR MY HAT.

I WON'T WEAR IT RIGHT NOW.

SHE SENT ME A MESSAGE TELLING ME THAT HER ARM IS BROKEN.

AS MESSENGERS DON'T KILL THE MESSENGER.

MR.. RIGHT. DON'T DO THAT.

I KNOW THAT OUR ANGLO COMMUNITY HAS ALWAYS RESPONDED TO EVERYTHING WE'VE ALWAYS ASKED FOR. AND I WILL ALWAYS BELIEVE IN THAT.

MR. WHITE, UNDERSTAND THAT WE LOVE THE ANGLO COMMUNITY.

NOW, AS WE APPROACH ELECTION.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THINGS.

SO WHO'S ELECTED NOW? UPCOMING SWAGIT NO IDEAS.

WHO IS IT? JASON LEONE, WHO IS IT?

[03:05:02]

WE'LL GET THE VOTERS TO GET UP THERE AND VOTE.

IT REALLY COMPLICATES THINGS TO ME TO HAVE ATTORNEYS TO GO UP TO THE COURTHOUSE AND SPEND LOTS OF MONEY. IT DOES.

IT HURTS MY HURTS MY HEART.

WHEN US, THE CITIZENS OF EDINBURGH, HAVE ALWAYS VOTED.

ALWAYS. YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU.

I LOVE YOU. DADDY IS THE MAYOR.

I LOVE YOU TOO, JASON.

I LOVE YOU TOO. LET'S KEEP EDINBURGH OUT OF TROUBLE AND LET'S HAVE A CEREMONY FOR 2024.

I WAS, I TOLD YOU GUYS I WAS TWO YEARS OLD WHEN WE GOT THE FIRST WARD.

LET'S GET ANOTHER CEREMONY.

IF PEOPLE CRITICIZE US FOR HAVING FIESTAS, FORGET ABOUT THEM.

LET'S HAVE ANOTHER FIESTA FOR 2024.

AND I'LL BE HERE TO HAVE ANOTHER PLAQUE.

I WAS HOPING I CAME HERE TONIGHT TO HAVE ANOTHER PLAQUE UP THERE.

LET'S HAVE ANOTHER ONE. MR. WHITE. BUT. YEAH. FERN.

PRAY FOR HER. HER ARM IS BROKEN.

PRAY FOR HER. I'M GETTING TOO OLD, MR. MONTOYA. AND SHE SENDS HER BEST WISHES FOR ALL OF US.

AND AS FAR AS THE THE TWO TERM TYPE OF THING TO CHANGE IT NOW.

WE'LL KEEP IT. WHAT DO YOU THINK? KEEP IT THE WAY IT IS.

WE BOUGHT IT FOR THAT.

KEEP IT THE WAY IT IS. THAT'S IT.

I LIVE ACROSS THE STREET.

THEN I INVITE YOU OVER THERE.

YOU KNOW, AARON KNOWS WHERE I LIVE.

MR. WEINER. JASON. I'LL INVITE YOU.

FREE BARBECUE ANYTIME.

ESPECIALLY ON A FRIDAY.

SO THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THREE MINUTES.

MR. WHITE. FOR EVERYTHING.

I LOVE YOU GUYS. YOU GUYS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU SIR. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

THANK YOU. I LIKE YOUR HAT.

ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO, SIR. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE ITEM SEVEN.

A CONSIDER ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG, TEXAS AT TITLE THREE ADMINISTRATION, CHAPTER 30, ADMINISTRATIVE CODE SECTIONS 30.071 AND 30.072, TO PROVIDE FOR VARIOUS CHANGES TO THE CITY'S CURRENT CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION PLAN FOR NON-CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES.

COUNCIL. SO MOVED. WE HAVE A MOTION.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. MOTION PASSES.

ITEM EIGHT AWARDING OF BIDS A.

CONSIDER AWARDING RFP 2024 015 EMPLOYEE VOLUNTARY BENEFIT PRODUCTS AND AGENT OF RECORDS, AND AUTHORIZED CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT AND EXECUTE ANY DOCUMENTS RELATED THERETO WITH SUCH CARRIERS.

COUNCIL. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.

GO AHEAD. SIR. IT'S GOING TO BE LENGTHY.

I'D LIKE TO AWARD ACCIDENT TO.

WELL, FLEET GROUP AND THE AGENT OF RECORD WOULD BE RJG.

THE SECOND ONE IS. IF I'M GOING TOO FAST, LET ME KNOW.

YOU'RE RIGHT. I'M GOOD.

GO AHEAD. THE CANCER TO COLONIAL LIFE AND ACCIDENTAL INSURANCE COMPANY TO KEITH AND KEITH. NEXT IS CRITICAL ILLNESS TO WELFARE.

WELFARE GROUP, WHICH IS KEITH AND KEITH.

EMERGENCY TRANSPORT. TO THE ONE THAT'S LISTED, WHICH IS MRSA GLOBAL TO RG.

THEN IT'S HOSPITAL INDEMNITY TO COLONIAL LIFE AND ACCIDENTAL INSURANCE GROUP AND ACCIDENT INSURANCE GROUP COMPANY.

I'M SORRY TO RJG. THE LEGAL TO TEXAS.

LEGAL TO RJG. AND ITS PERMANENT LIFE TO TEXAS.

REPUBLIC LIFE COMPANY.

TO KEITH AND KEITH. THEN WE HAVE PET INSURANCE.

I THINK THAT'S NEW THIS YEAR. RIGHT? TO PET PARTNERS.

RJ. AND THEN SHORT TERM DISABILITY TO VOYA WITH KEITH AND KEITH.

THAT'S MY MOTION, MAYOR. ALL RIGHT.

DID WE GET ALL ALL THAT? YES. OKAY. IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND WITH DISCUSSION. GO AHEAD SIR.

AND SO I NOTICED THOSE.

SO THE DENTAL AND VISION ARE NOT PART OF THE VOLUNTARY AT THIS TIME.

[03:10:03]

SOURCES. THE DENTAL VISION AND LIFE ARE PART OF THE GROUP BENEFITS, AND THOSE WERE AWARDED WITH THE MAJOR MEDICAL.

THAT'S CORRECT. GOOD. AND JUST SO I'M CLEAR, THERE'S A TOTAL OF NINE CARRIERS, NINE VOLUNTEER, NOT VOLUNTEER PRODUCTS. OKAY. AND THE ONLY NEW ONE WAS A PET.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT WAS NEW LAST YEAR OR LAST YEAR.

OKAY. GOT IT. THANK YOU.

AND AS FAR AS THE RATES FOR ALL OF THESE, ARE THEY MAINTAINED IN THE SAME LEVEL OF RATES OR DID THEY CHANGE A BIT FOR THE EMPLOYEES? AS FAR AS THE RATES ON ALL OF THESE VENDORS ARE QUALIFIED VENDORS, THE RATES WILL VARY BASED ON THE BENEFIT HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PARTICULAR PRODUCT.

SO WE WE WANT AN OVERALL ASSESSMENT BASED ON RATES, CUSTOMER SERVICE, THE ADMINISTRATION, THE CLAIMS PROCESS, THE EXPERIENCE. SO IT'S THEY'RE ALL, YOU KNOW, VERY QUALIFIED AND GOOD PRODUCTS.

AND TO BE CLEAR, THESE TAKE EFFECT OCTOBER 1ST.

THESE WILL BE EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST.

GOT IT. OKAY. AND ON THE DENTAL VISION AND LIFE, WE RENEWED THAT ANOTHER YEAR.

SO THOSE AUTOMATICALLY GET RENEWED.

CORRECT. THEY GO WITH THE MAJOR MEDICAL.

THOSE WERE APPROVED BY COUNCIL I BELIEVE, IN APRIL OR MAY WITH AN EFFECTIVE DATE OCTOBER 1ST. AND THEY'RE IT'S A ONE YEAR CONTRACT.

OKAY. NOW, THE OTHER QUESTION WE HAD LAST YEAR WAS ON THESE VOLUNTARY BENEFITS BY AWARDING ANOTHER VENDOR THAT'S OBVIOUSLY QUALIFIED.

ARE THEY ARE RFP WENT OUT WHERE THEY'RE THEY'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE TO SIGN UP THE EMPLOYEES TO THEIR TO THEIR WHAT THEY GET AWARDED.

THAT'S CORRECT. THE AGENT OF RECORDS ARE LICENSED CONSULTANTS, AND THEY ARE HIRED TO ENROLL THESE PRODUCTS FOR.

SO WE DON'T HAVE TO CHANGE ANY OR TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS.

THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. AND THIS WILL ALL TAKE PLACE DURING OPEN ENROLLMENT.

IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY.

OPEN ENROLLMENT SCHEDULED END OF JULY, EARLY AUGUST.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ANYBODY ELSE? IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR, MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES. ITEM NINE.

RESOLUTION A CONSIDER RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH AND THE LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY. TPD STORMWATER TASK FORCE PARTNERSHIP FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE REGIONAL TPD'S STORMWATER TASK FORCE, AND APPOINT A STAFF REPRESENTATIVE TO SERVE ON THE TASK FORCE BOARD.

SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION, IF NOT.

ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED.

SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM TEN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ITEM A CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE EDINBURGH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS. SPONSORSHIP OF THE TEXAS HIGH STAKES EVENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,000.

SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES.

COUNCIL ITEM 11. CONSENT AGENDA.

WE HAVE ITEMS A, B, C, D, E, AND F.

IS THERE ANY ITEM WE WANT TO TAKE OUT OR JUST TAKE A MOTION FOR ALL THE ITEMS? MOVE TO APPROVE. A THROUGH F.

SECOND OUR MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? NOT ALL IN FAVOR.

PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES. UNDER OTHER BUSINESS COUNSEL, IS THERE ANY ITEMS TO BE REQUESTED BY CITY MANAGEMENT? MY ONLY QUESTION WAS GOING TO BE OUR BUDGET.

JUST I GUESS UNDER FUTURE ITEMS. WE'LL HAVE THAT WORK SESSION IN JULY.

IS THAT. YES, SIR. MAYOR.

JULY 1ST. WE'RE SCHEDULED FOR 5 P.M.

FOR THE FIRST BUDGET. JULY 1ST, JULY 5 P.M..

OKAY. AND WE'LL GET THE PACKET SOMETIME BEFORE THAT.

OR WE'RE HOPING THAT WEEK PRIOR.

OKAY. WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE CLOSE, BUT WE'LL EVERYTHING SHOULD BE READY.

ANY OTHER ITEMS? COUNCIL.

IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

SECOND, WE HAVE MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED.

MOTION CARRIES. IT IS 633.

WE ARE NOW CONVENING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

THANK YOU. ITEM EIGHT DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

ITEM B SECTION DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY.

ITEM C DISCUSSION OF DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, REMUNERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING APPOINTMENT OF CITY ATTORNEY.

ITEM D CONSULTATION WITH CITY ATTORNEY.

ALL RIGHT. IT IS NOW 9:02 P.M..

[03:15:01]

CAN I GET A MOTION TO RECONVENE? SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL RIGHT.

JUST WANTED THE RECORD. REFLECT THAT THERE WAS NO ACTION TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

COUNSEL, IS THERE ANY ACTION ITEM? BASED ON THE DISCUSSION, NO ACTION REQUIRED. MAYOR. VERY WELL.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ADJOURNMENT. A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SO MOVED.

SECOND. MOTION SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. WE'RE ADJOURNED.

THANK YOU.

[03:26:00]

[OPEN SESSION]

[03:26:52]

CAN I GET A MOTION TO RECONVENE? SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. WE ARE NOW BACK IN OPEN SESSION.

IT IS 9:32 P.M.. AND JUST WANT THE RECORD TO REFLECT THAT THERE WAS NO ACTION TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. AND I BELIEVE THERE'S SOME ITEMS THAT REQUIRE A MOTION.

YES, MAYOR, BASED ON THE DISCUSSION FOR ITEM A I WOULD RECOMMEND A MOTION RATIFYING EDC ACTION FOR PROJECTS. TONKA TUESDAY, NEXT GENERATION HOSPITALITY AND ALUMINUM FOIL ON THE TERMS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

MOVED. SECOND. MOTION SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED.

SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES.

ALSO, UNDER ITEM D, I WOULD RECOMMEND A MOTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO PROCEED WITH SUBMITTING A BID ON THE TERMS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED.

SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES.

AND THEN I DO BELIEVE THERE'S SOME ACTION REQUIRED ON ITEM C.

YES. COUNSEL, IS THERE A MOTION? YES. OKAY. YES. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPOINT JOSEPHINE RAMIREZ SOLIS TO THE CITY ATTORNEY AND ALLOW THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT.

SO MOVED. SECOND. SECOND.

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

ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.

[15. ADJOURNMENT]

VERY WELL. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. WE'RE ADJOURNED.

09:34 P.M..

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.