A. Presentation of Proclamation Recognizing the Month of February 2025 as American Heart Month as Requested by South Texas Health System Heart. [Clarice Y. Balderas, City Secretary]

[A. Presentation of Proclamation Recognizing the Month of February 2025 as American Heart Month as Requested by South Texas Health System Heart. [Clarice Y. Balderas, City Secretary]]

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM FIVE.

WE HAVE SEVERAL PROCLAMATIONS THIS EVENING.

ITEM FIVE A PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2025 AS AMERICAN HEART MONTH, AS REQUESTED BY SOUTH TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM.

HEART. IF YOU'RE HERE TO RECEIVE THE PROCLAMATION, PLEASE STEP UP TO THE PODIUM.

AMERICAN HEART MONTH. WHEREAS ONE PERSON DIES EVERY 33 SECONDS FROM HEART DISEASE, MAKING IT THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AND DISABILITY FOR MEN AND WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES, ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION.

AND WHEREAS SOMEONE HAS A HEART ATTACK EVERY 40S IN THE US WITH ABOUT 1 IN 5 BEING SILENT, HEART ATTACKS MEANING THE DAMAGE IS DONE, BUT THE PERSON IS NOT AWARE OF IT.

AND WHEREAS THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION ESTIMATES THAT MORE THAN 6 IN 10 U.S.

ADULTS WILL HAVE SOME TYPE OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE BY 2050, WHEREAS ACCORDING TO A RECENT HARRIS POLL SURVEY CONDUCTED ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, MORE THAN HALF OF THE PEOPLE IN THE US DO NOT KNOW THAT HEART DISEASE IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE COUNTRY, AND WHEREAS THE SOUTH TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM HEART, ONE OF THE FIRST FREESTANDING CARDIOLOGY AND CARDIOVASCULAR HOSPITALS BUILT IN THE US, HAS PROVIDED COMPREHENSIVE, QUALITY, COMPASSIONATE INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT CARDIOVASCULAR CARE FOR THE SOUTH TEXAS REGION FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS.

AND WHEREAS SOUTH TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM HEART HAS HELPED RAISE AWARENESS FOR HEART DISEASE AND THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY AND BEYOND THROUGH ITS EXTENSIVE EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL EVENTS, INCLUDING DEDICATED LET'S TALK YOUR HEALTH WEBINARS, NO COST HEART DISEASE RELATED SESSIONS FOR RECENTLY DIAGNOSED PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND HOSTED ITS HEROES WITH A5K RUN WALK, WITH ALL PROCEEDS DONATED TO LOCAL CHARITIES HELPING IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HEART DISEASE.

AND WHEREAS, THE CITY OF EDINBURG IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE SOUTH TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM HEART FOR THEIR HARD WORK, DEDICATION, AND EFFORTS TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR HEART DISEASE. NOW, THEREFORE, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG, BY THE POWER VESTED IN THEM BY LAW, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE FEBRUARY 2025 AS AMERICAN HEART MONTH IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH AND ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN SOUTH TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM HEARTS HEROES WITH HEART INITIATIVE TO CONFRONT, FIGHT AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, CHANGE THE FUTURE OF THIS DEADLY DISEASE.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF EDINBURGH FOR ALLOWING US TO PROCLAIM THIS AS FEBRUARY'S NATIONAL HEART MONTH.

AS WE KNOW, PREVENTION AND EARLY DETECTION IS THE BEST WAY TO TREAT AND CURE HEART DISEASE.

IT'S A SUPER HIGH INCIDENCE HERE IN SOUTH TEXAS OF THIS HEART DISEASE.

EVERYTHING RELATED TO THE HEART.

AND AT SOUTH TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM, HEART WE'RE ONE OF THE PREEMINENT HEART ART INSTITUTIONS IN TEXAS.

SO IF YOU DO HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, A LOT OF HEART DISEASE IS ASYMPTOMATIC. WE'VE HAD PLENTY OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY COME TO HEART HOSPITAL.

THEY DO THIS HEART SAVER TEST.

IT'S ESSENTIALLY A CT CALCIUM SCORE.

WE HAVE TONS OF ASYMPTOMATIC INDIVIDUALS THAT COME GET THE CT CALCIUM SCORE.

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AND BASICALLY WHAT IT SHOWS IS HOW CALCIFIED YOUR ARTERIES COULD BE.

SO WE HAVE THESE ASYMPTOMATIC INDIVIDUALS COME.

IT'S A ONE HOUR SUPER QUICK SUPER CHEAP TEST.

AND FROM THAT WE'VE DETECTED CARDIAC CATH LAB ISSUES.

WE'VE DETECTED OPEN HEART NEEDS.

SO IT REALLY IS SAVING THE COMMUNITY'S LIVES.

SO WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS FEBRUARY.

IT'S NATIONAL HEART MONTH AT THE VERY LEAST.

SPEND FEBRUARY EVERY YEAR GETTING YOURSELVES CHECKED FOR ANY OUTSTANDING HEART ISSUES.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[B. Presentation of Proclamation Recognizing the Edinburg Crime Stoppers as Requested by the Edinburg Crime Stoppers. [Clarice Y. Balderas, City Secretary]]

NEXT PROCLAMATION. ITEM B IS PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING EDINBURGH CRIME STOPPERS.

AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CRIME STOPPERS HERE EDINBURGH CRIME STOPPERS. WHEREAS SINCE 1976, CRIME STOPPERS PROGRAMS HAVE EMPOWERED CITIZENS ACROSS THE STATE TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST CRIME IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND RECLAIM THEIR SENSE OF SAFETY.

CRIME STOPPERS PROGRAMS BRING TOGETHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, CITIZENS AND THE MEDIA TO SOLVE CRIMES AND BRING CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE.

THE EDINBURGH CRIME STOPPERS HAVE PROGRAMS THAT STRIVE TO PROTECT OUR STUDENTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE BY REDUCING CRIME IN SCHOOLS AND HANDING OUT CRIME STOPPERS INFORMATION.

AND WHEREAS, THE CRIME STOPPERS MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS AND GUESTS MEET MONTHLY AND DISCUSS AREAS OF CONCERN AND THEY ALSO ATTEND NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH MEETINGS, THEY HOSTED THE EDINBURGH CRIME STOPPERS LOTTERY, A FUNDRAISER WITH OVER 200 ATTENDEES, AND ALSO ATTENDED THE 35TH ANNUAL TEXAS CRIME STOPPERS CONFERENCE IN WACO.

AND WHEREAS THE EDINBURGH CRIME STOPPERS ARE VITAL IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY MAKE AN EFFORT TO VOLUNTEER AND SUPPORT CITY EVENTS LIKE THE 42ND ANNUAL ALL-AMERICA CITY 10-K AND THE 10TH ANNUAL MIRACLE MILE.

THE ANAMARIE MAYOR PRAYER BREAKFAST AND THE CITY OF EDINBURGH TRUNK OR TREAT AND THE EDINBURGH CARES CHEROKEE DISTRIBUTION TO FAMILIES AROUND THE ROBERT E ROBERT E LEE ELEMENTARY AREA. AND WHEREAS THE EDINBURGH CRIME STOPPERS WORK CLOSELY WITH THE EDINBURGH POLICE DEPARTMENT AS ONE OF THEIR BIGGEST SUPPORTERS, THE CRIME STOPPERS PARTICIPATED IN THE EDINBURGH POLICE FIRE UP BLOCK PARTIES, GIVING OUT INFORMATION AND COLORING BOOKS, AND THEY ARE PART OF THE EDINBURGH POLICE DEPARTMENT NATIONAL NIGHT OUT THE CRIME STOPPERS VOLUNTEERED AT ALL MOVIES WITH THE COP, HANDING CRIME STOPPERS INFORMATION, COLORING BOOKS AND CRAYONS TO THE CHILDREN.

THE CRIME STOPPERS ATTENDED THE EDINBURGH POLICE DEPARTMENT QUARTERLY MEETINGS MAKE A PLAN MEETING HOSTED BY MADD AND THE EDINBURGH POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THEY DONATED 6000 WORTH OF TOYS TO THE EDINBURGH POLICE DEPARTMENT.

BLUE SANTA DRIVE HOURS.

THE EDINBURGH CRIME STOPPERS ARE ADVOCATES IN KEEPING THE COMMUNITY SAFE, SPREADING AWARENESS AND INFORMATION AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY.

THE EDINBURGH CRIME STOPPERS PARTICIPATED AT THE EDINBURGH KIWANIS PANCAKE WITH A HEROES EVENT AND ASSISTED PUTTING OVER 600 FLAGS ON THE TOMBS OF SOLDIERS AT THE EDINBURGH KIWANIS MEMORIAL DAY EVENT.

AND WHEREAS THE ANAMARIE CRIMESTOPPERS GAVE OUT INFORMATION HUNDREDS OF CANDIES AT THE LONGORIA MIDDLE SCHOOL. TRUNK OR TREAT AND HANDED OUT MEDALS AT THE WOMEN TOGETHER. WALK IN SHOES FIVE K. AND WHEREAS THE EDINBURG CRIMESTOPPERS SERVED THE COMMUNITY ENHANCING THE SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE.

AND WHEREAS, THE CITY OF EDINBURG IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE SERVICE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE EDINBURG CRIMESTOPPERS. NOW, THEREFORE, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG, TEXAS, BY INVESTED BY THE POWER VESTED IN THEM BY LAW, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE EDINBURG CRIME STOPPERS AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CRIME STOPPERS AND CONSIDER IF YOU MIGHT FIT AS A MEMBER.

MAYOR GARZA, CITY COUNCILMAN, WE STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH IMMENSE GRATITUDE AND PRIDE THAT WE RECEIVED THIS ESTEEMED PROCLAMATION AWARD ON BEHALF OF EDINBURG CRIME STOPPERS.

THIS HONOR IS A PROFOUND TESTAMENT TO OUR TIRELESS EFFORTS, UNWAVERING DEDICATION OF OUR TEAM, VOLUNTEERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS, AND THE ENTIRE EDINBURG EDINBURGH COMMUNITY.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO THE CITY OFFICIAL FOR RECOGNIZING THE IMPACT AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF OUR WORK.

YOUR SUPPORT AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT BOLSTERS OUR COMMITMENT TO CREATING A SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR THE RESIDENTS OF EDINBURGH.

TO OUR INCREDIBLE. TEAM OF EDINBURGH CRIME STOPPERS, THIS AWARD IS A REFLECTION OF YOUR RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF JUSTICE AND YOUR PASSION OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE. EACH TIP RECEIVED, EACH CRIME SOLVED, AND EACH LIFE IMPACTED IS A DIRECT RESULT OF YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION.

WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR UNYIELDING SPIRIT AND CAMARADERIE THAT DRIVES US FORWARD TO THE EDINBURGH POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS AND CHIEF AYALA WHO COLLABORATE WITH US.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND TRUST.

OUR SUCCESS IS INTERTWINED WITH EXPERTISE, BRAVERY AND COMMITMENT TO UPHOLDING THE LAW.

TOGETHER, WE CREATE A FORMIDABLE FORCE AGAINST CRIME.

AND THIS PROCLAMATION IS AS MUCH YOURS AS IT IS OURS.

TO THE CITIZENS OF EDINBURGH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR VIGILANCE AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO STAND UP AGAINST CRIME.

YOUR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION AND THE INFORMATION YOU PROVIDE ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF THIS

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MISSION. OUR AWARD IS A TESTAMENT TO THE POWER OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.

WE SHARE THIS RECOGNITION WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AS WE CELEBRATE THIS ACHIEVEMENT.

LET US AFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO THE CAUSE.

THE JOURNEY TO A SAFER COMMUNITY IS ONGOING, AND THIS PROCLAMATION AWARD IS MORE MOTIVATING THAN EVER TO CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS.

TOGETHER, WE WILL STRIVE FOR A FUTURE WHERE CRIME IS DIMINISHED AND EVERY CITIZEN CAN LIVE IN PEACE AND SECURITY.

THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR THIS INCREDIBLE HONOR.

LET US CONTINUE TO WORK HAND IN HAND TO MAKE EDINBURGH A BEACON OF SAFETY AND UNITY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

LET ME JUST SAY TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE CRIME STOPPERS, THANK YOU. ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND THE CITY COUNCIL AND REALLY THE COMMUNITY.

I KNOW YOU ALL FOCUS IS ON STOPPING CRIME.

YOU KNOW, YOUR CRIME STOPPERS ORGANIZATION. BUT I SEE YOU ALL INVOLVED ALL THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. SO MANY OF OUR EVENTS.

SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU ALL DO ALL THE WORK WITH CRIME STOPPERS ORGANIZATION, BUT ALSO LENDING A HELPING HAND IN ALMOST ALL THE EVENTS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CITY. SO THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT,

[C. Presentation of Proclamation Recognizing City of Edinburg Retiree, Oscar L. Treviño, Lieutenant, Edinburg Police Department for 37 Years of Service. [Belinda Torres, Director of Human Resources]]

NEXT WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING CITY OF EDINBURGH RETIREE OSCAR L TREVINO, LIEUTENANT WITH THE EDINBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHO PROVIDED 37 YEARS OF SERVICE.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TO OUR CITY.

LIEUTENANT. POLICE DEPARTMENT. WHEREAS OSCAR L TREVINO WAS HIRED BY THE CITY OF EDINBURG PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT, POLICE DIVISION ON NOVEMBER 18TH, 1987, AS PATROL PERSON HOURS.

ON OCTOBER 30TH, 1999, PATROL PERSON TREVINO WAS RECLASSIFIED TO PATROL OFFICER. ON MAY 25TH, 1993.

PATROL OFFICER TREVINO WAS PROMOTED TO CORPORAL ON DECEMBER 29TH, 2008. CORPORAL TREVINO WAS PROMOTED TO SERGEANT ON APRIL 4TH, 2011. SERGEANT TREVINO WAS PROMOTED TO LIEUTENANT ON NOVEMBER 3RD, 2015. LIEUTENANT TREVINO WAS PROMOTED TO ASSISTANT CHIEF OF POLICE.

ON MARCH 26TH, 2018, ASSISTANT CHIEF TRIVINO WAS TRANSFERRED TO LIEUTENANT.

ON DECEMBER 28TH, 2021, LIEUTENANT WAS ASSIGNED ACTING ASSISTANT CHIEF OF POLICE. ON JANUARY 6TH, 2022, ACTING ASSISTANT CHIEF OF POLICE TRIVINO WAS RESIGNED. REASSIGNED TO LIEUTENANT.

AND WHEREAS, DURING HIS YEARS OF SERVICE, LIEUTENANT OSCAR TRIVINO ATTENDED NUMEROUS TRAININGS AND RECEIVED CERTIFICATES FOR ATTENDANCE, PUBLIC AGENCY TRAINING, COUNCIL INTERNAL AFFAIRS TRAINING, SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY DRUG IMPAIRMENT TRAINING FOR TEXAS EMPLOYERS AND CITY OF EDINBURG ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAM FOR SUPERVISORS AND COMPLETION WORLD CLASS TRAINING SOLUTIONS WORKING WITH PROBLEMS PROBLEM EMPLOYEES.

SOUTH TEXAS HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREA.

FOURTH AMENDMENT FOR PATROL OFFICERS, LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, REGIONAL POLICE TRAINING CENTER AND ACADEMY COACHING THE EMERGENCY POLICE VEHICLE AND TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH MEDICAL CONDITIONS AFFECTING DRIVING AND WHEREAS LIEUTENANT AVENUE RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATE.

CERTIFICATION OR LICENSES INTERMEDIATE PEACE PEACE OFFICER, ADVANCED PEACE OFFICER AND MASTER PEACE OFFICER.

WHEREAS LIEUTENANT OSCAR TREVINO RECEIVED LETTERS OF COMMENDATION IN FEBRUARY 12TH, 1993 AND ON MARCH 6TH, 2000.

HE ALSO RECEIVED NUMEROUS CERTIFICATES OF EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION AND CITY OF EDINBURGH TRAINING ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND WHEREAS, FOR HIS UNUSUAL COURAGE AND SELF-SACRIFICE IN THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES FOR ACTIONS TAKEN ON JULY 22ND, 2014, LIEUTENANT OSCAR TREVINO RECEIVED THE STATE OF TEXAS DIRECTOR'S AWARD FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

ON JUNE 15TH, 2016, THE TEXAS SENATE COMMENDATION FROM SENATOR JUAN CHUY ON JULY 27TH, 2016, AND THE MEDAL OF VALOR FROM THE EDINBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT ON JULY 22ND, 2015. AND WHEREAS, ON JANUARY 10TH, 2025, AFTER 37 YEARS OF SERVICE, LIEUTENANT OSCAR DAVINO RETIRED FROM THE CITY OF EDINBURGH.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG, TEXAS, BY THE POWER VESTED IN ME BY LAW, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE OSCAR TREVINO, LIEUTENANT, POLICE DEPARTMENT, FOR HIS YEARS OF LOYALTY AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE CITY OF EDINBURGH.

THE EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS HER GRATITUDE AND WISH LIEUTENANT OSCAR TREVINO A HAPPY RETIREMENT.

MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL IT SEEMS JUST LIKE YESTERDAY THAT I STARTED WITH EDINBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND TIME FLIES.

I'VE REALLY ENJOYED THE RIDE.

I WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF EDINBURGH FOR EMPLOYING ME FOR THE PAST 37 YEARS.

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I'VE SPENT MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE AS A POLICE OFFICER.

I'M GOING TO MISS IT, BUT MOVING FORWARD, YOU KNOW, IT'S A DIFFERENT PAGE IN MY LIFE.

I'M ENJOYING RIGHT NOW, SPENDING TIME WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN. AND I JUST THANK YOU ALL FOR TREATING ME SO WELL.

I THANK MY FAMILY. AND EDINBURG IS NOT ONLY A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE, BUT EDINBURGH IS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO WORK AND I ENCOURAGE ANYBODY THAT'S LOOKING FOR A JOB COME AND APPLY WITH THE CITY OF EDINBURGH BECAUSE YOU WON'T REGRET IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, I APPRECIATE IT AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL. THANK YOU.

LIEUTENANT. LET ME JUST SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH, SIR, FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE.

WE SINCE YOU WERE I WAS LOOKING BACK AT THE NUMBER OF YEARS IT WAS 1988, I DON'T. RIGHT. IS THAT THE YEAR YOU STARTED WITH THE CITY? 87? 86. 86. THERE YOU GO.

AND THEN I GOT HIRED. YEAH.

A LOT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THEN.

I THINK WE'RE PROBABLY A LITTLE OVER 25,000 PEOPLE AROUND THAT TIME.

ROUGHLY 30. SO A LOT HAS HAPPENED, A LOT HAS CHANGED.

AND YOU WERE A BIG PART OF THAT.

I THINK THERE'S THREE ALL-AMERICA CITIES SINCE THAT TIME SPENT 95, 2000, 20, 24. BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE AND ALSO FOR ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO APPLY.

IT IS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK AND YOU'RE A TESTAMENT TO THAT.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOUR FAMILY AS WELL.

I KNOW IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR TO SERVE WITH OUR CITY, AND WE THANK THEM VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE SACRIFICE AND EVERYTHING THAT THAT YOU DID WHILE YOU WORKED HERE AT OUR CITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, SIR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, SIR. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

[D. Presentation of Proclamation Recognizing February 16-22, 2025 as Engineers Week as Requested by the City of Edinburg Engineering Department. [Clarice Y. Balderas, City Secretary]]

WE HAVE ONE LAST PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING FEBRUARY 16TH THROUGH THE 22ND AS ENGINEER'S WEEK. ENGINEER'S WEEK, FEBRUARY 16TH THROUGH 22, 2025. WHEREAS THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS INITIATED ENGINEERS WEEK IN 1951 TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANT ROLE ENGINEERS PLAY IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR WORLD. AND WHEREAS ENGINEERS USE THEIR SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL IN CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO FULFILL SOCIETY'S NEEDS, ENGINEERING IS ALL AROUND US. FROM ROADS AND BRIDGES WE TRAVEL ON TO THE CARS AND PLANES WE USE TO RIDE AROUND OFTEN SEEING THE CLEVERNESS OF ENGINEERING MAKES OUR LIVES EASIER AND SAFER. AND WHEREAS ENGINEERS FACE A MAJOR TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME, FROM REBUILDING TOWNS DEVASTATED BY NATURAL DISASTER, CLEANING UP THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENSURING SAFE, CLEAN AND EFFICIENT SOURCES OF ENERGY TO DESIGNING INFORMATION SYSTEMS THAT WILL SPEED OUR COUNTRY INTO THE FUTURE.

AND WHEREAS ENGINEERS ARE ENCOURAGING OUR YOUNG MATHEMATICS, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE STUDENTS TO REALIZE THE PRACTICAL POWER OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE, WE WILL LOOK MORE THAN EVER TO ENGINEERS AND THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF THE 21ST CENTURY.

AND WHEREAS ENGINEERING IS A LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE, THIS WEEK IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE EVERYTHING ENGINEERS DO IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF EDINBURG IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND THEIR TIRELESS EFFORTS TO PROMOTE CYCLING HEALTH AND SAFETY IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, AND WE EXTEND OUR GRATITUDE FOR THE POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR CITY.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDINBURGH, TEXAS, BY THE POWER VESTED IN THEM BY LAW, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 16TH TO 22ND AS ENGINEERS WEEK, AND THE EDINBURGH CITY COUNCIL ENCOURAGES ALL RESIDENTS TO APPRECIATE AND ENGINEER AND ENCOURAGE AN ASPIRING ENGINEER TO PURSUE THEIR DREAMS. NEXT YEAR WE'LL HAVE OUR VERY OWN PETER ALMEIDA, WHO'S OUR REPRESENTATIVE WITH THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS LOCAL CHAPTER.

GIVE A FEW WORDS. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

RAMIRO GARCIA, JUNIOR. AND THE CITY OF EDINBURG LEADERSHIP FOR THIS PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING E-WEEK. IT IS AN HONOR TO ACCEPT THIS ON BEHALF OF ALL ENGINEERS WHO DEDICATE THEIR WORK TO BUILDING AND IMPROVING OUR COMMUNITIES. I'D ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY FELLOW ENGINEERS, STUDENTS, AND FUTURE PROFESSIONALS WHO CONTINUE TO PUSH BOUNDARIES AND DRIVE PROGRESS.

TOGETHER, WE BUILD SOLUTIONS THAT MAKE OUR WORLD SAFER, MORE EFFICIENT, AND MORE SUSTAINABLE.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS RECOGNITION AND FOR CELEBRATING THE IMPORTANCE OF ENGINEERING WITH US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[6. PUBLIC COMMENTS]

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 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 MISS FERN MCLARTY REGARDING TAXPAYERS MONEY.

THE TITLE OF MY COMMENTS TODAY IS WHY SHOULD I VOTE FOR YOU IN 2025? WHEN YOU CAME INTO OFFICE, THE CITY TAX RATE WAS $0.65 PER $100 IN

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VALUE. EACH OF YOU SAID THAT IT WAS TOO HIGH AND YOU WOULD LOWER IT TO $0.63.

BUT THEN THE COUNCIL DECIDED THAT THERE WAS NOT SUFFICIENT MONEY IN THE UTILITY BUDGET.

AND YOU INCREASED WATER RATES BY 67%.

AT THIS POINT, I WAS WONDERING WHICH WOULD I RATHER HAVE A TWO CENT REDUCTION IN TAXES OR A 67% INCREASE IN WATER RATES? IF YOU CAN'T DECIDE, I CAN'T HELP YOU.

I WILL MAKE IT EASY. THE WATER RATE WAS MUCH MORE.

THEREFORE, WE ARE NOW PAYING MORE THAN WE HAD STAYED AT THE 65% TAX RATE.

IF IT HAD STATED THAT ONE OF THE MAJOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THIS AND PREVIOUS CITY ADMINISTRATION IS TRANSPARENCY.

SO I SUBMITTED A PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST ASKING HOW MUCH MONEY WAS SPENT ON SELLING, DONATING, TRANSFERRING THE H-E-B SOCCER FIELD TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.

I DID THIS BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS MAYOR THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GREAT ECONOMIC STIMULUS TO THE COMMUNITY IF WE HAD A BASEBALL STADIUM.

IT WAS CONSTRUCTED, AND IN LESS THAN THREE YEARS THE CITY GAVE A $5 MILLION FACILITY TO THE UNIVERSITY. BECAUSE WE WERE LOSING SO MUCH MONEY.

BUT WHAT I RECEIVED WAS ON MY REQUEST WAS NO RECORD EXIST.

THIS IS ODD BECAUSE THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT LISTED THE PROPERTY AS OWNED BY THE CITY OF EDINBURGH, AND THE OWNER MADE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT NOT BEING HAPPY WITH THE TRANSACTION.

SO HOW MUCH DID WE SPEND? REMEMBER, WE WILL FIND OUT.

BUT THE GREATEST FINANCIAL MYSTERY IS WHAT HAPPENED TO SANTANA AND HOW MUCH DID THE CITY LOSE? THIS IS NOT A GOOD EXAMPLE OF TRANSPARENCY.

MY ADVICE TO THIS COUNCIL IS TO NOT GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH THE EDINBURG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

NOTHING GOOD COMES FROM IT.

AND FINALLY, THE COUNCIL GAVE THE CITY STAFF A 3% SALARY INCREASE WHEN THE INFLATION RATE WAS 18.5. MY MINUTE IS UP.

THE DECISION TO INCREASE WATER RATES IS $0.67.

WHAT A TERRIBLE DECISION AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THERE BE NO DISCUSSION CONCERNING THE SALE IN BONDS BEFORE THE ELECTION, AND I ASK TONIGHT EVERYONE TO PLEASE PRAY FOR ISRAEL AND FOR THE HOSTAGES.

THE DEAD ARE ALIVE. THAT THOU BE BROUGHT HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES.

AND I ALSO ASK YOU TO PRAY FOR OUR COUNTRY AND OUR PRESIDENT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM.

MISS MCCURDY ALSO HAS QUESTIONS ON ITEM SEVEN A AND TEN B.

THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS BILL CARLSON REGARDING FRIENDS OF EBONY NIGHT GOLF TOURNAMENT. GOOD EVENING, GENTLEMEN.

MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I'M HERE TONIGHT TO PRESENT TO THE CITY OF EDINBURGH.

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING FRIENDS OF EBONY HILLS GOLF COURSE, OUR NIGHT GOLF TOURNAMENT 1116 OF 2024.

IT FILLED THE PLACE UP.

WE ALL ENJOYED IT. AND BUT ALSO, IT GIVES ME A CHANCE TO BRIEFLY SAY THAT SINCE 2022, WHEN THE FIVE YEAR PLAN WAS FINALLY APPROVED, WE'VE HAD TWO NEW BRIDGES, WE'VE HAD CART PATHS DONE BRAND NEW, AND OF COURSE, NEW GOLF CARTS.

WHAT DID THAT BRING? THAT BRING THE BROUGHT IN THE BIGGEST YEAR LAST YEAR THAT WAS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30TH. THEN EBONY HAS EVER SEEN.

AND RIGHT NOW I CAN TELL YOU FROM OCTOBER 1ST TO THE END OF JANUARY, WE'RE ABOVE $55,000 FROM WHAT WE DID THOSE FOUR MONTHS LAST YEAR.

SO IT'S IT'S SHOWING THE ONLY RESULTS THAT I HEAR SOMETIMES THAT ARE NEGATIVE IS THAT YOU HAVE TO CALL IN A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE TO GET A TEE TIME.

BUT WE HAVE SO MANY KIDS OUT THERE THAT ARE USING THIS GOLF COURSE.

AND IT'S A IT'S A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL THING TO SEE.

AND AGAIN, I THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP AND LOOKING FORWARD FOR A BETTER YEAR THIS NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS MISS KEELY LEWIS.

GOOD EVENING. I'M KEELY LEWIS, ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER OF PALM VALLEY ANIMAL SOCIETY, AND I KNOW Y'ALL Y'ALL KNOW I'M ALWAYS TALKING,

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TALKING TO ANIMALS. ANYTIME YOU RUN INTO ME.

SEVERAL OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS ARE HERE.

AND YOU'LL BE HEARING FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN A FEW MINUTES ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD. I JUST WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF EDINBURGH FOR CONTINUING YOUR PARTNERSHIP WITH US THROUGH THESE CHALLENGING PAST FEW YEARS.

SO FEW VALLEY CITIES SEEM TO HONESTLY CARE ABOUT THE WELFARE OF THEIR LOST AND STRAY DOGS AND CATS. BUT EDINBURGH HAS REALLY TRIED TO IMPROVE WHAT THEY DO FOR THE ANIMALS.

NO, JESUS AND MYRA, WE'VE HAD MANY MEETINGS ABOUT HOW TO DO BETTER.

YOU SEEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT ALLOCATING APPROPRIATELY FOR ANIMAL WELFARE IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR CITY'S QUALITY OF LIFE, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.

WE ALSO APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE ENLARGING YOUR INITIAL HOLDING FACILITY TO ALLOW MORE FLEXIBILITY WITH THE INTAKE OF ANIMALS, AND WE SINCERELY HOPE THAT YOU WILL BE PART OF OUR PLAN TO FULLY BUILD OUT OUR ANDREWS CENTER IN YOUR CITY TO REDUCE THE RISK OF CONTAGIOUS DISEASES AMONG THE ANIMALS, AND TO HOUSE THE ANIMALS MORE HUMANELY THROUGH ALL THE SEASONS AND ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

RUNNING AN ANIMAL SHELTER IS INCREDIBLY DEMANDING.

MR. WHITE KNOWS THAT, AND FOR IT TO BE DONE WELL, IT'S VERY COSTLY IN BOTH DOLLARS AND HEARTACHE.

IT'S NEVER EASY. THERE'S NEVER A DAY THAT GOES BY THAT THERE AREN'T TOUGH DECISIONS.

AND I'M SO PROUD OF OUR STAFF FOR FOR BEING ON THE GROUND MAKING THEM.

IT'S NEVER EASY, ESPECIALLY WITH A VALLEY WIDE SHORTAGE OF VETERINARIANS AND LOW COST SPAY NEUTER CLINICS. I'M PRETTY SURE THAT ALL OF HIDALGO COUNTY WITH A MILLION PEOPLE ONLY HAS ONE LOW COST SPAY NEUTER CLINIC.

WE DREAM OF THE DAY WHEN EDINBURG HAS ITS OWN SPAY NEUTER CLINIC, EASILY ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE FOR EDINBURGH RESIDENTS WHO NEED HELP WITH THE PETS THEY LOVE. SO WE APPRECIATE THAT EDINBURGH TRUST PALM VALLEY TO DO THE HEAVY LIFTING OF ITS ANIMAL WELFARE.

WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT THE STRUGGLES OF OTHER SHELTERS AND OTHER CITIES, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF NEWS LATELY THAT'S THAT'S VERY ADVERSE AS FAR AS ANIMAL WELFARE.

WE KNOW WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN IN OPERATION FOR 51 YEARS, MOST OF THAT HERE IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH.

AND WE'RE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE EDINBURGH AS A VALUED PARTNER.

THANK YOU. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS BOBBY HASSELL REGARDING ITEM EIGHT A.

MAYOR. MAYOR, PRO TEM, COUNCIL MEMBERS HONORED TO BE SPEAKING BEFORE YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT MENTION ON CANCER AWARENESS.

SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT TRIBE RECOGNIZES THE TRIBE, SO BLESSINGS ON THAT JOURNEY.

I JUST REAL QUICKLY WANTED TO MENTION HOW MUCH I'M ONE OF THE PEOPLE IN EDINBURGH THAT'S LOOKING FORWARD TO THE KIND OF WORK THAT DOCTOR GARZA IS DOING IN CELEBRATING AND CHAMPIONING THE ARTS, CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT FOOTPRINT HERE IN OUR BELOVED EDINBURGH.

WE CAN'T WE CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THAT.

I THINK WE CAN USE MORE AND MORE OF THAT ON ON EVERY POSSIBLE LEVEL.

SO I CELEBRATE THE INITIATIVES THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO BRING TO THAT RESIDENTIAL SPACE.

IN TALKING WITH THEM RECENTLY AND, AND SPEAKING ON THEIR BEHALF AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING I SPOKE ABOUT NOISE SUPPRESSION AND NOISE CONTAINMENT AND THE BIG NOISE FLOOR THAT WE ALL KNOW THAT INTERSECTION, JACKSON AND FREDDIE TO BE THERE. IT'S A BIG AMBIENT NOISE FLOOR, SO THERE'S NOT MUCH YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM THE RESIDENTS.

BUT ANY RESIDENTS IN THE EVENT THAT THEY MIGHT STILL HAVE ANY NOISE CONCERNS.

I KNOW THAT THE RANGE OF FUNCTIONALITY THAT THAT DOCTOR GARZA IS TRYING TO ACHIEVE WITH THAT BUILDING AND WITH THAT INITIATIVE IS EASILY COMPLIABLE AND EASILY ADAPTABLE TO THAT KIND OF FACILITY, ESPECIALLY HOW FAR SET BACK IT IS AND HOW LUSH OF THE SURROUNDINGS THAT IT HAS IN FRONT OF IT AND AROUND IT.

FREDDIE IS SUCH A LOUD PARTY CORRIDOR FROM THURSDAY TO MONDAY MORNING ANYWAY, SO I DOUBT YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR MUCH OVER THAT.

AND THEN AGAIN, THE AMBIENT NOISE FLOOR THAT IS THE ROAD.

THE HIGHLY TRAFFICKED ROAD.

SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS ACCURATELY CHAMPIONED, INACCURATELY NOTED ON THEIR BEHALF.

THE THE WRITERS AND THE WRITERS FUNCTIONALITY,

[00:35:04]

THE EDUCATION, THE NETWORKING FOR TO CELEBRATE ARTS AND CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT.

LIKE I SAID, I DON'T I DON'T THINK WE CAN GET ENOUGH OF THAT HERE.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S ALLOWED FOOTPRINT TYPE OF INITIATIVE, YOU KNOW, IN THAT IN THAT SPACE.

AND I KNOW THAT WRITERS IF THIS IS AN EDUCATIONAL IF THIS IS PRIMARILY AN EDUCATIONAL NETWORKING AND TRAINING PLACE AS A WRITERS RETREAT, WRITERS NEED QUIET. THEY NEED A LITTLE BIT OF EDUCATION.

THEN BE QUIET AND LET'S WRITE.

AND SO AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT IN THE EVENT THAT THERE WAS ANY KIND OF RESIDUAL CONCERN. GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU.

THE LAST PUBLIC COMMENT IS MONTOYA REGARDING TEAMWORK.

BRINGS TEARS TO MY EYES. MEYER TO FIND OUT LAST NIGHT THAT OR THE OTHER DAY THAT YOU GOT PROSECUTED WITH THIS ILLNESS.

THAT. WELL, ANYHOW, THERE WAS NO SIGN WITHIN TEXDOT CIVIL ENGINEERING THAT THAT SAID THERE IS NO I AN I IN TEAM. AND THE WAY YOU SPELL TEAM IS T E A THERE'S NO I BEING THAT SAID, WE ARE A TEAM.

WE WILL SURVIVE THIS THING.

WE WILL AS A TEAM, AS TEXDOT.

HECTOR GONZALEZ PETE ALVAREZ WILL ALWAYS STAND BEHIND YOU ALL.

OKAY. IF ANY ONE OF Y'ALL NEED ANY HELP WILL BE THERE WHEN TEXDOT.

BUT EVERY TIME I WALK INTO THIS CITY HALL REMINDS ME OF HOLLYWOOD.

IT JUST DOES. YOU ALL ARE SUPERSTARS.

THE WAY YOU'VE HANDLED THE CITY OF EDINBURGH IN THE LAST THREE AND A HALF YEARS.

FOUR YEARS, 12 YEARS IS EXCELLENT TO ME.

WE WILL ALWAYS PRAY FOR YOU, MAYOR, TO BEAT THIS THING.

WE WILL. IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S VERY PERSONAL TO ME.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT IMMIGRATION JUST HAPPENED OVERNIGHT.

NO. ACROSS THE STREET.

HAVING 85 YEAR OLD LADY THAT WAS BORN IN MEXICO WITH PANCHO VILLA.

AND PEOPLE LAUGH WHEN I SAY THIS.

NO. IT'S TRUE. IT IS TRUE.

NOW WE'RE IN EDINBURG. THE TEXAS TRIBUNE OVER THE WEEKEND MADE A REPORT THAT TEXAS IS THE RICHEST STATE IN AMERICA.

AND ALSO TEXAS IS GLOBALLY KNOWN FOR ALL THE ECONOMY, WHETHER IT'S DONALD TRUMP, THE TARIFFS, IT'S FINE.

WHAT DO WE ARE HERE IN EDINBURGH? WE'RE THE FOURTH ALL-AMERICAN CITY MAYOR.

AND YOU DID IT. YOU DID IT.

WE'LL BEAT THIS DISEASE ONCE AGAIN.

THIS IS A TEAM, WHETHER IT'S HOLLYWOOD, TEXAS OR ANYWHERE.

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

NOW, I HAVE TO SAY GOODBYE, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO MEET A PRODUCER AT BOROUGH HOUSE RIGHT NOW TO MAKE A MOVIE ABOUT EDINBURGH.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT, GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU SIR.

THANK YOU. THERE ARE NO FURTHER COMMENTS.

[7. PRESENTATION]

MAYOR. COUNCIL. ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO PRESENTATIONS.

ITEM SEVEN, A PRESENTATION BY PALM VALLEY ANIMAL SOCIETY.

GOOD EVENING. MAYOR COUNCIL AND ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.

A FEW WEEKS AGO, PALM VALLEY ANIMAL SOCIETY MET WITH MYSELF AND THE CITY MANAGER, MISS AYALA ON SOME INITIATIVES THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON, SPECIFICALLY ON EXPANSION OF THE FACILITY.

AND WE DISCUSSED WITH THEM TO PROVIDE A PRESENTATION TO THE COUNCIL TO ADVISE THEM OF NOT ONLY WHAT THEY'RE DOING OPERATIONALLY, BUT ALSO WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING IN THE NEAR FUTURE. SO I'M GOING TO PUT THAT UP.

AND WITH THAT, I'LL INVITE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PALM VALLEY ANIMAL SOCIETY TO PROVIDE THIS PRESENTATION TO YOU.

THANK YOU JAY. SO I'M GOING TO MOVE IT SO YOU CAN HEAR ME.

WELL, THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU ALL TONIGHT. IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE ON BEHALF OF PALM VALLEY ANIMAL SOCIETY THIS EVENING.

MY NAME IS SUZETTE CRUZ, AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PALM VALLEY ANIMAL SOCIETY. I BELIEVE YOU ALL HAVE ALREADY HAD HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW OUR PRESENTATION, AND I WOULD LIKE TO KIND OF GO THROUGH IT WITH YOU SO THAT YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF WHERE WE WERE AND WHERE WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD TO IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

BUT FIRST, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO KIND OF SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHO WE ARE.

WE ARE A DEDICATED ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATION HERE IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY,

[00:40:01]

AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO THE COMPASSIONATE CARE AND ADVOCACY OF THE ANIMALS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WITH THIS PROPOSAL, WE SEEK TO FURTHER OUR MISSION BY EXPANDING OUR FACILITIES AND CONSOLIDATING INTO ONE LOCATION TO BETTER SERVE THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND, OF COURSE, OUR PARTNERS.

ALL RIGHT. LET'S SEE HERE.

OKAY. JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT US.

RIGHT. SO WE ARE WE'VE BEEN HERE IN THE VALLEY FOR OVER 50 YEARS.

WE ARE CELEBRATING OUR 51 YEARS THIS YEAR.

AND WE'VE BEEN PARTNERING WITH MUNICIPALITIES THROUGHOUT THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY AS THEIR A TRUSTED ANIMAL CARE PROVIDER.

WE ARE A 501 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, AND WE DO HAVE MULTIPLE SERVICES THAT WE

[A. Presentation by Palm Valley Animal Society (PVAS). [Jesus R. Saenz, Assistant City Manager]]

OFFER ASIDE FROM ANIMAL INTAKE.

WE HAVE MULTIPLE PROGRAMS WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION.

ADOPTIONS, RESCUE, FOSTER CARE, VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS. WE ALSO OFFER LOW COST VACCINATIONS AND MICROCHIP CLINICS.

WE ALSO OFFER PET PANTRY, WHERE WE SERVE ANYONE IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY WHO IS IN NEED OF PET SUPPLIES AND PET FOOD TO CARE FOR THEIR ANIMALS AND KEEP THEM OUT OF THE SHELTER. AND WE ALSO DO HAVE A PET RESOURCE CENTER.

WE PROVIDE SOLUTIONS TO KEEP THEM IN THE HOME BY OFFERING FOOD, VACCINES, AND WE'VE EVEN OFFERED SPAY AND NEUTER CLINICS FOR THEM AS WELL.

SO WE HAVE SOME CURRENT CHALLENGES.

IF YOU'VE BEEN TO OUR TRENTON FACILITY, IT'S BEEN THERE A VERY LONG TIME.

IT'S BEEN THERE OVER 40 YEARS AND IT'S AGING AND DETERIORATING.

MOST OF THE BUILDINGS AND THE KENNELS HAVE BEEN IN USE SINCE 1984.

AND IF YOU'VE SEEN OUR PROPERTY, IT'S A VERY STRANGE, LONG PROPERTY. SO IT KIND OF LIMITS OUR EXPANSION IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA.

AND OF COURSE, MAINTENANCE, COST OF HOUSING AND CARING FOR THESE ANIMALS IN THAT TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT IS VERY COSTLY FOR US.

OUR MAINTENANCE COSTS ARE VERY HIGH. AND OF COURSE THEY'RE OUTSIDE.

OUR ABOUT 350 OF OUR ANIMALS ARE HOUSED OUTSIDE.

SO THAT MEANS THAT NOT ONLY ARE THEY EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS, BUT MY STAFF IS AS WELL.

SO WHEN YOU SEE US PULLING OUT FOR TARPS, FOR HEATERS, FOR GASOLINE, ALL OF THOSE RESOURCES ARE UTILIZED TO KEEP THE ANIMALS SAFE IN OUR CARE. OBVIOUSLY, OUR KENNELS ARE EXTREMELY OUTDATED.

WE HAVE LITTLE SPACE AT THIS TIME, ALONG WITH THE HIGH MAINTENANCE DEMANDS, ANIMALS BEING HOUSED OUTSIDE AND THEN HAVING THE TWO CENTERS DOES IMPOSE SOME LOGISTICAL COMPLEXITIES, AS WE'RE TRYING TO NAVIGATE OUR ORGANIZATION AND BE AS EFFICIENT AS WE CAN TO OUR PARTNERS. AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE A LIMITED SPACE, RIGHT? SO WE HAVE INADEQUATE KENNEL DESIGN THAT ONLY ALLOWS US TO HOUSE SO MANY ANIMALS AT ONCE. ALSO, THE MAINTENANCE AND THE CLEANING OF THESE ANIMALS TAKES A LOT OF STAFF AND A LOT OF RESOURCES.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE HAVE INSUFFICIENT AREAS FOR DISEASE AND DISEASE CONTROL.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PUT IT OUT PUBLICLY THROUGHOUT THE THROUGHOUT OUR PARTNERS AND OF COURSE, WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY THAT YOU KNOW, INFECTIOUS DISEASE WITHIN OUR ANIMALS IS RUNNING RAMPANT. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING DISTEMPER ISSUES.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, IDEALLY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CONQUER THESE CHALLENGES MOVING FORWARD.

SO THESE PICTURES HERE, YOU'LL CURRENTLY SEE WHAT OUR TRENTON LOCATION LOOKS LIKE. NOW JUST WANT TO SAY DON'T LET THESE PICTURES FOOL YOU.

OUR ANIMALS ARE VERY WELL CARED FOR.

A LOT OF THEM EAT WAY TOO MUCH, AND THEY GET PLENTY OF EXERCISE AND PLENTY OF RESOURCES. AND OUR TEAM IS VERY DEDICATED AND CARING FOR THE ANIMALS THAT ARE AT PALM VALLEY ANIMAL SOCIETY.

BUT THESE KENNELS ARE EXTREMELY OUTDATED.

YOU CAN SEE THAT WHEN IT'S COLD OR RAINING, OR WE'RE EXPECTING ANY KIND OF EXTREME WEATHER, WE'RE HAVING TO APPLY TARPS OUTSIDE TO KEEP THE ELEMENTS AWAY FROM THE ANIMALS AND TO KEEP THEM SAFE.

WE HAVE KENNELS, PLUMBING, EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY OUTDATED.

WE PATCH IT UP. WE DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN TO KEEP IT FUNCTIONAL, BUT WE ARE AT THE TIME WHERE WE DEFINITELY NEED TO BE REPLACING.

IN FACT, TEARING DOWN AND BUILDING OVER.

AND THERE'S A COUPLE OF MORE PICTURES.

YOU SEE THE LITTLE OUR LITTLE DOGGY FRIEND THERE THAT WAS THAT'S IN OUR MEDICAL, OUR QUARANTINE AREA, AND YOU CAN SEE THEIR PUPPIES UNDERGOING TREATMENT.

HOWEVER, WE WOULD LOVE TO PUT THESE ANIMALS INDOORS RIGHT WHEN THEY'RE GOING THROUGH TREATMENT. IT'S VERY STRESSFUL TIME FOR THEM AND WE'D LIKE TO BRING THEM IN.

AND THEN OF COURSE, YOU'LL SEE ON THE THIRD PICTURE THERE, IT'S ANOTHER VIEW OF OUR KENNELS AND HOW THEY'RE CURRENTLY BEING USED AT THIS TIME.

AND JUST SOME MORE PICTURES.

YOU CAN SEE HOW SOME OF OUR PLUMBING LOOKS LIKE.

OUR FENCING LOOKS LIKE.

AGAIN, WE'RE HAVING TO PATCH UP.

WE'RE HAVING TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN TO SHIELD THE ANIMALS IN OUR CARE FROM FROM FROM THE ELEMENTS. SO THIS IS WHERE WE ARE, RIGHT? WE HAVE OUR TWO LOCATIONS.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR TRENTON FACILITY, AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE OUR LORI P ANDREWS

[00:45:02]

CENTER. SO RIGHT NOW, OUR TRENTON, LIKE I EXPLAINED, WHERE IT'S VERY LIMITED ROOM FOR EXPANSION.

IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION, WE HAVE LOOKED AT AND DISCUSSED WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR US TO TEAR DOWN AND TO REBUILD AT THAT FACILITY.

IT WOULD COST US TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO DO SO.

NOT ONE BUILDING IN THAT PROPERTY IS SALVAGEABLE RIGHT NOW.

SO WE WOULD HAVE TO TEAR DOWN AND START OVER.

NOW AT OUR LORI P ANDREWS CENTER, THIS IS OUR NEWER FACILITY.

IT'S ABOUT TEN YEARS OLD.

IT'S ALREADY EQUIPPED WITH A LARGE PARKING LOT.

IT ALREADY HAS A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY. WE HAVE KENNELS INDOORS AT THIS TIME.

WE HAVE SIX ACRES OF LAND THAT ALLOWS US TO EXPAND OUR CURRENT PROPERTY AND ADD OTHER BUILDINGS AS WELL. AND WE'RE LOOKING TO ADD STATE OF THE ART KENNELS AND ALSO EXPANDING AND REMODELING WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AT THIS FACILITY.

SO WE DO HAVE KENNELS AND WE DO HAVE A LOT OF OPEN SPACE.

AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT WE CAN BE UTILIZING THAT A LITTLE BIT BETTER. AND SO WE'RE HOPING THAT WE CAN REMODEL THOSE AS WELL.

SO THIS IS OUR PROPOSED EXPANSION PLAN.

SO RIGHT NOW WE WANT TO CONSOLIDATE TO ONE CENTRALIZED LOCATION.

AND THAT LOCATION WOULD BE OUR LAURIE P ANDREW CENTER.

THIS WILL ALLOW US TO BE MORE COORDINATED TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND OUR PARTNERS IN A MORE EFFICIENT WAY. WE WANT TO AGAIN BUILD OUT NEW KENNELS, ADD NEW BUILDINGS TO BETTER SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND OF COURSE, THE ANIMALS THAT WE CARE FOR.

AND WE WANT TO UTILIZE THE SPACE THAT WE ALREADY HAVE, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF AREAS AND ELEMENTS IN THE CURRENT BUILDING THAT ARE HIGHLY FUNCTIONAL, AND IT WOULD DEFINITELY ALLOW US TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO WITHOUT HAVING TO SPEND THE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO DO SO.

AND HERE, THIS IS JUST A SCHEMATIC THAT WE INITIALLY HAD USED WITH THE HELP OF MCALLEN.

TO PUT THIS TOGETHER OF WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE.

AND THEN HERE WITH THE ANDREW CENTER KIND OF GOING BACK A LITTLE BIT, WE'D LIKE TO ADD ABOUT 300 NEW KENNELS TO THE SPACE THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.

THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO HAVE MORE SPACE FOR OUR PARTNERS.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT CAN BE VERY FRUSTRATING WHEN WE HAVE TO LIMIT SPACE.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE GET IT, BUT WE HAVE TO BE VERY MINDFUL OF THE HUMANE HOUSING OF THE ANIMALS THAT WE CARE FOR.

SO THIS WILL ALLOW US TO DO THAT.

AND OF COURSE, REPLACING THE EXISTING KENNELS THAT WE HAVE WITH MORE MODERN DESIGN THAT WILL ALLOW US TO BE ABLE TO CARE FOR THE ANIMALS MORE QUICKLY AND MORE EFFICIENTLY.

WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A NEW WAREHOUSE.

WE ARE A A PARTNER WITH GREATER GOOD.

WE ARE AN AMBASSADOR WITH THEM.

SO THAT MEANS THAT WE HAVE RESOURCES THAT GET ALLOCATED TO US THAT WE'RE ABLE TO HELP OUR OWN ANIMALS, OUR OWN SHELTER, BUT ALSO TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IN THE FORM OF PET PANTRIES AND GIVE THEM FOOD AND SUPPLIES.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE'RE LOOKING TO BUILD A CUSTOMER FACING FACILITY.

RIGHT. AND THIS IS THROUGH OUR PET RESOURCE CENTER, AGAIN, WITH HELPING THE CITIZENS WITH THE NEED AND RESOURCES THAT THEY DESPERATELY ARE LOOKING FOR AND THE CARE OF THEIR ANIMALS. SO WE'D LIKE TO REMODEL OUR ANDREWS FACILITY, AND WE ALSO LIKE TO MAKE OUR MEDICAL.

WE HAVE A VERY NICE MEDICAL FACILITY RIGHT NOW, BUT AS WE CENTRALIZE LOCATIONS, WE WOULD NEED TO EITHER UPDATE THAT FACILITY OR ADD A SECOND FACILITY TO HELP WITH INTAKE.

RIGHT. SO WE DO GET LOTS OF ANIMALS THAT COME FROM OUR ANIMAL CONTROL THAT ARE EITHER INJURED, NEED EXTREME MEDICAL MEDICAL ATTENTION, AND SO WE WOULD NEED TO BE ABLE TO SEPARATE THE TWO.

AND OF COURSE THAT OTHER MEDICAL ROOM THAT WE DO HAVE, WE DO SPAY AND NEUTER AS WELL.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE DO HAVE A ROOM, AN EDUCATION ROOM AT OUR ANDREWS FACILITY.

BUT IT IS KIND OF LIKE A MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM. WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS HAVE DEDICATED AREAS WHERE WE CAN HAVE COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. WE KNOW THAT THAT'S A BIG A BIG NEED IN OUR VALLEY IS EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON PROPER PET OWNERSHIP AND ALLOWING THEM ACCESS TO RESOURCES THAT ALLOW THEM TO DO SO.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, HOST WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS, GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO BE INVOLVED IN ANIMAL WELFARE AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE HERE IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY.

AND AGAIN, TALKING ABOUT PET PROPER PET OWNERSHIP.

SO THIS IS WHAT WE ARE ASKING OUR PARTNERS.

YOU KNOW, AS A VALUED PARTNER, THE CITY OF EDINBURG, WE ARE ASKING FOR A $1.2 MILLION INVESTMENT TO SUPPORT THE CONSOLIDATION AND EXPANSION PROJECT TO OUR ANDREWS FACILITY.

RIGHT NOW, WE DO HAVE A COMMITMENT FROM THE CITY OF MCALLEN, AND THEY ARE WORKING WITH US AT THIS TIME TO MAKE THIS A REALITY FOR US.

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS COMMITTED TO BEING THE MAJORITY STAKEHOLDER THROUGH A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN. SO WE, OF COURSE, WILL FUNDRAISE THE MAJORITY OF THE FUNDS TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT.

RIGHT NOW THE PROJECTED COST ARE ABOUT.

AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WITH WE WANT TO MAKE IT WORTHWHILE FOR OUR PARTNERS AS WELL. WE ARE LOOKING FOR THIS INVESTMENT WHERE WE WOULD ALSO OFFER A REDUCED RATE FOR SERVICES COMPARED TO NON PARTNERS.

AND THIS WILL ALSO ALLOW US TO CREATE A MORE COST STABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR PARTNERS

[00:50:02]

WHERE YOU KIND OF KNOW WHAT THE, THE, THE PAY SCALE WILL BE FOR DOING BUSINESS WITH US, RATHER BEING SURPRISED AT THE COST OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO CREATE SOME CONSISTENCY.

AND THEN OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY ALIGNMENT WITH THE CITY OF EDINBURGH AND CREATE A POSITIVE BRAND AND A POSITIVE AWARENESS FOR THE ANIMALS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AGAIN. SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE AS BEING A PARTNER OF PALM VALLEY, WHICH YOU RECEIVE ALREADY A LOT OF THESE, BUT JUST KIND OF WANTED TO GO OVER AND EXPAND A LITTLE BIT.

AGAIN, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO OFFER A REDUCED RATE FOR SERVICES COMPARED TO NON PARTNERS.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE MORE VISIBILITY WITH US BY EXPANDING COMMUNITY SERVICES, BY HAVING EDINBURG WITH US AS WE GO ABOUT DOING THE EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AS WE'RE OFFERING LOW COST SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO STRENGTHEN OUR PARTNERS REPUTATION AS A COMPASSIONATE AND SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE ENTITY TOWARDS ANIMAL WELFARE AND AGAIN, CREATE A POSITIVE BRAND ALIGNMENT WITH AN ORGANIZATION LIKE PALM VALLEY, WHO'S VERY DEDICATED TO ANIMAL WELFARE AND COMMUNITY SERVICE PARTNERS CAN ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY INITIATIVES, EVENTS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS HOSTED AT OUR NEW FACILITY AND OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN SPONSOR SPONSOR WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS. WE ALREADY HAVE A VERY NICE LIST OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE WORK WITH THAT OFFER GRANTS. LARGE NATIONAL PARTNERS THAT THAT ASSIST US IN DIFFERENT AREAS.

AND OF COURSE, THAT WOULD BE EXTENDED TO OUR PARTNERS. LET'S KEEP GOING.

OKAY. SO THIS IS WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR.

SO RIGHT NOW OUR CURRENT PARTNERS IS OURSELVES AND OF COURSE, THE CITY OF MCALLEN. WE ALREADY HAVE A CONSULTANT TEAM, WHICH IS SHELTER PARTNERS OF AMERICA.

SHELTER PARTNERS OF AMERICA. THEY ARE ONE OF THE TOP DESIGN FIRMS WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDING OUT ANIMAL SHELTERS.

SO THEY WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A VERY EFFICIENT SHELTER THAT WILL BENEFIT US AND OF COURSE, OUR PARTNERS. AND THEN, OF COURSE, THESE ARE SOME OF THE LIST OF DESIGN AND ENGINEERING PARTNERS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE. AND YOU WILL FIND THAT A LOT OF THEM ARE LOCAL AND SOME THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE USED OR THE CITY OF MCALLEN MIGHT HAVE USED. SO NOT ONLY ARE WE USING LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP DO THIS PROJECT, OF COURSE THAT CREATES JOBS HERE IN OUR CITY.

SO RIGHT NOW, THIS IS WHAT OUR PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE LOOKS LIKE.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN THE BUILDING PROGRAMING PORTION OF IT.

WE ARE WAITING FOR SHELTER PLANNERS. THEY ARE COMPILING INFORMATION ABOUT THE CITY AND ABOUT OUR NEEDS AND OF COURSE ABOUT THE CONTRACTS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.

AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE COMING DOWN TO OUR SHELTER TO KIND OF DISCUSS WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE AND WHAT OUR VISION IS FOR THE NEW PROJECT.

AND AS WE GO ALONG, WE'RE PROJECTED TO START ON AUGUST OF 2026.

OBVIOUSLY, PROVIDED THAT WE HAVE ALL THE FUNDING NECESSARY.

SO WE ASK YOU, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY LEADERS, TO PLEASE CONSIDER THIS THIS PROPOSAL.

YOU KNOW, WE REALLY WANT TO TURN THIS VISION INTO A REALITY.

WE WE ALL KNOW THAT ANIMAL WELFARE IS A VERY SENSITIVE BUT YET LARGE ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS TOGETHER. WE ARE LOOKING TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT AND CREATE A SPACE WHERE THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY IS SUPPORTIVE OF ANIMAL WELFARE, THAT OUR CITIES ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT, AND ALSO LOOKING TOWARDS A NEW LEVEL AND STANDARD FOR ANIMAL CARE HERE IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO I HAVE A QUESTION.

THE CURRENT BUILDING RIGHT THERE ON TRENTON, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT BUILDING? SURE. SO WE ARE LOOKING TO NOT UTILIZE THAT FACILITY ANYMORE.

RIGHT NOW THE BOARD IS CONSIDERING DIFFERENT OPTIONS.

IDEALLY, THIS WILL BE A PROPERTY THAT WE WILL PROBABLY SELL.

SO AND THEN WILL THOSE CURRENT FUNDS BE PART OF THAT 6 MILLION TO HELP PAY FOR THAT 6 MILLION RIGHT NOW? THAT IS THAT IS AN OPTION FOR US RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE CONSIDERING ALL AVENUES RIGHT NOW.

IT'S STILL VERY EARLY IN THE PROCESS. AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS THIS KIND OF LEVEL OF COMMITMENT THAT WE'RE ASKING DOES TAKE TIME.

AND YOU KNOW, SO WE WANTED TO KIND OF PUT IT OUT TO OUR ENTITIES FIRST.

BUT THOSE BUT ALL OF THESE ARE STILL BEING DISCUSSED AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY? I HAVE A QUESTION. IT'S REALLY NOT ABOUT THE BUILDING. IT'S PROBABLY MORE ABOUT OPERATIONS. SURE. THE THE LAW REQUIRES RIGHT NOW THAT ANIMALS THAT ARE ADOPTED HAVE TO BE SPAYED OR NEUTERED.

WHAT'S YOUR PERCENTAGE OF THAT HAPPENING? SURE.

SO FOR FULL TRANSPARENCY RIGHT NOW, WE DO NOT HAVE A FULL TIME VETERINARIAN.

SO WE ARE BEING WE'RE HEAVILY RELYING ON RELIEF VETERINARIANS TO COME IN AND HELP US WITH THIS ISSUE. WE KNOW THAT IT IS A PROBLEM.

WE KNOW THAT SPAY AND NEUTER IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, AND IT IS ON THE TOP OF OUR LIST. WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO RECRUIT A VETERINARIAN FOR THREE YEARS. IT IS EXTREMELY CHALLENGING.

WE'VE ALSO BEEN MADE AWARE THAT THERE IS A LACK OF VETERINARIANS HERE IN OUR AREA.

[00:55:05]

EVEN OUR CURRENT LOW COST SPAY AND NEUTER CLINIC THAT WE HAVE CAN TAKE ANYONE MONTHS TO GET AN APPOINTMENT AND TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THESE SERVICES.

SO WE WE DO YOU HAVE TO ADOPT OUT ANIMALS THAT ARE NOT ALTERED BECAUSE OF THE SPACE RESTRAINTS AND BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO KEEP THEM. RIGHT. BUT WE DO HAVE A POLICY IN PLACE. ONE IS THAT IF WE HAVE A RELIEF VETERINARIAN THERE AT OUR SHELTER DOING SPAY AND NEUTER SURGERIES THAT WE ADOPT, WE GET THEM SPAYED AND NEUTERED FIRST BEFORE THEY GO OUT THE DOOR. AND ALSO WE DO HAVE WE DO WORK WITH OTHER LOCAL CLINICS HERE IN THE VALLEY WHERE WE GIVE THE THE ADOPTER A VOUCHER AND THEY CAN GO TO THIS CLINIC AND WE WILL COVER THE COST. SO THIS IS ALL AT COST TO VA'S.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN WITH THAT. SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I KNOW YOU ARE, BUT I'M LEADING YOU TO WHERE I WANT TO GO. YEAH.

IT'S VERY IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.

WE DO HAVE WE DO HAVE A BACKLOG OF ANIMALS THAT THAT DO NEED THE SURGERY.

AND WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING THROUGH OUR CURRENT POPULATION TO GET THEM ALTERED. I DON'T BELIEVE THE LAW REQUIRES YOU TO HAVE THEM SPAYED. REQUIRES THE THE PERSON, THE ADOPTER TO HAVE IT.

SO MY QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF MCALLEN COMES IN HERE AND ALL THE ANIMALS COME OVER. THE CITY OF EDINBURG IS STILL GOING TO BE THE ANIMAL CONTROL AUTHORITY, AND IT'S GOING TO HAVE THE RIGHT OF INSPECTION AND STUFF IN THE ANIMAL CONTROL FACILITY, IF THAT'S WHAT THIS IS GOING TO BE.

SO WHAT ARE WE DOING AT THIS TIME, OR ARE YOU GUYS REPORTING, WHICH IS PART OF THE REQUIREMENT OF THE PEOPLE THAT DON'T GET THEIR ANIMALS SPAYED OR NEUTERED? THERE SHOULD BE BECAUSE THE ANSWER TO THE WHOLE PROBLEM AND MISS LEWIS IS STARING ME DOWN RIGHT NOW. SHE PROBABLY KNOWS WHERE I'M GOING. THE WHOLE PROBLEM WITH THIS WHOLE PROBLEM HERE IS SPAYING AND NEUTERING SPAYED AND NEUTERED OR SPAYED AND NEUTERING.

I MEAN, EVERY MEETING I'VE GONE TO IS ABOUT SPAYING AND NEUTERING THE CITY OF EDINBURGH.

WE HAVE WE CHANGED AWAY FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THIS IS SOMETHING I TRIED TO GET FORCE ENFORCED WHEN I WAS THERE, BUT WAS JUST DIFFERENT.

DIFFERENT MOOD BACK THEN. BUT NOW WE'VE GOT IF WE'VE GOT JAY OVER HERE WHO'S IN CHARGE OF IT, PROBABLY DOESN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. BUT HE'S IN CHARGE OF MAKING SURE THAT HIS OFFICERS TAKE YOUR COMPLAINTS, AND THEY FOLLOW UP WITH THE OWNER OF THE DOG, WHO JUST JUST ADOPTED IT AND FILED WITH THE MUNICIPAL COURT IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH.

AND THAT'S JUST TO START TO BEING DONE.

IF WE'RE EVER GOING TO PUSH AND WE'RE EVER GOING TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT SPAYING AND NEUTERING, YOU CAN BUILD 300 MORE KENNELS.

EDINBURGH CAN HAVE ANOTHER 100.

THAT'S 1200 ANIMALS WE'RE GOING TO HOUSE FOR, OR THREE, PROBABLY A LITTLE LESS, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE VICIOUS DOGS, WHICH CAN ONLY HOLD ONE ANIMAL.

AND THEN YOU GOT CATS AND EVERYTHING ELSE WILL COME BACK.

AND PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT CATS ARE A WHOLE NOTHER ISSUE.

IT'S HARD TO HOLD THEM INDOORS.

THE STENCH AND THE SMELL THAT THE THE AMMONIA.

RIGHT. IT'S AMMONIA TYPE SMELL THAT IT'S JUST SO HARD TO TO DEAL WITH.

I LOVE YOU PEOPLE THAT THAT SPEND YOUR TIME THERE DOING IT.

I MEAN, IT'S IT'S IT'S DIFFICULT.

BUT SOMEWHERE IN THERE WE AS A GOVERNMENT NEED TO GET BACK IN AND DO PART OF IT.

WE'VE SAT BACK AS A GOVERNMENT AND I'M AS GUILTY AS ANYTHING.

IT WAS ALWAYS EASIER TO TO EUTHANIZE.

ANIMAL DOESN'T GET PICKED UP. AND SOMETIME WE GOT TO WE GOT TO ROTATE THE CAGE. WE NEED TO BE AT ONE TIME. I MEAN, I GOT OUR FACILITY DOWN.

WE WERE LIKE, YOU KNOW, I WAS KIND OF PROUD.

WE GOT IT DOWN TO ABOUT WHAT PALM VALLEY WAS AT ONE POINT ABOUT 93% EUTHANIZATION.

AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY A GOOD NUMBER. AND WE WERE SAVING SEVEN, 8%. THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT PALM VALLEY WAS PRIOR, RIGHT? MRS LOUIS 25, 30 YEARS AGO.

WE WERE PROBABLY RIGHT UP IN THERE.

50. OKAY. JUST TEN YEARS AGO.

YEAH, BUT IT'S THE ISSUE.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING HERE.

I THINK WE NEED SOMETHING BETTER FOR ANIMALS.

I, I GUESS IT'S BECAUSE I LIVED IT.

CHAD DUFNER'S OVER THERE TOOK OVER THE ANIMAL CONTROL FOR A WHILE WHEN? WHEN I GOT DONE WITH IT. AND IT'S IT'S A IT'S A IT'S A BEAST.

I HOPE WE CAN HELP YOU. HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIGURE IT OUT.

I AGREE, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SOMETHING. BUT I KIND OF SET YOU UP A LITTLE BIT OF QUESTIONS. THAT'S KIND OF THE WAY I DO IT, BECAUSE I KNOW WHERE I'M GOING. I ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION, BUT OUR CITY MANAGEMENT AND SCIENCES AND THEY'VE GOT TO COME BACK OUT.

WE'VE GOT ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS WHO CAN NOW FILE THE COMPLAINT.

FILE THE TICKET. WE START PRESSING.

IT'S SOMEHOW I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO IT WITH THE CITY OF MCALLEN, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE ADOPTING OUT MCALLEN ANIMALS.

BUT TECHNICALLY, IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER. IT'S THE CITY'S PROBLEM BECAUSE YOU'RE IN OUR IN OUR IN OUR VENUE. BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MR.. I HAVE A QUESTION.

WHAT ARE WE DOING TO DECREASE THE NUMBER OF INTAKE THAT YOU'RE RECEIVING? IT'S GETTING MORE AND MORE EXPENSIVE EVERY YEAR.

WE SPEND MORE MONEY ON PET CARE THAN WE DO ON EVEN HUMAN LIVES WITH AMBULANCE CARE AND ALL THAT. SO THAT'S A LITTLE CONCERNING FOR ME. WHAT ARE WE DOING TO DECREASE THAT? EVERYTHING'S GOING UP RIGHT NOW. WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO YOU KNOW, FOR OUR BUDGET. CUT AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP US DECREASE THE COST THAT THAT YOU'RE REQUESTING? BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE REQUESTING, WHAT, 1.2 MILLION? SO WHAT ARE Y'ALL DOING ON

[01:00:03]

YOUR END JUST TO HELP US? SURE.

SO I KIND OF, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I KIND OF JUST WANTED TO BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT EXACTLY LIKE, WHAT ARE WHAT IS PVAS DOING, RIGHT TO ADDRESS THE STRAIGHT POPULATION.

RIGHT. SO ONE IS THAT, OF COURSE, WE ARE TRYING TO WORK WITH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS WHO CAN BRING DOWN VETERINARIANS.

IT IS A PROBLEM. THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TO GO AROUND.

WE CAN'T GET ONE. WE ARE TRYING TO BE SO COMPETITIVE.

WE ARE, AS YOU KNOW, AS A NONPROFIT.

WE DON'T WE'RE NOT SITTING ON MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO DO THIS.

SO WE'RE HAVING TO WORK WITH WHAT WE HAVE.

RIGHT. SO TO GO BACK TO THAT, RIGHT, WE ARE TRYING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MORE INCREASED OUTREACH. WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET VETERINARIANS TO COME DOWN AT OUR COST, WHICH, BY THE WAY, DAILY RATES ARE VERY, VERY HIGH RIGHT NOW FOR RELIEF VETERINARIANS.

JUST LAST YEAR ALONE, I MEAN, WE SPENT ABOUT $250,000 JUST ON VETERINARIANS TO COME DOWN TO GO AHEAD AND DO SPAY AND NEUTERING FOR US.

WE HAVE DONE SO MUCH RESEARCH.

I'VE TALKED TO SO MANY VETERINARIANS, SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS AS TO WHY CAN'T WE FIND ONE? THERE'S MANY REASONS, AND ONE OF IT IS THEY CAN MAKE MORE MONEY DOING RELIEF WORK. OKAY.

AND THAT'S FINE. WE HAVE AMAZING RELIEF THAT WILL COME, BUT THEY'RE ONLY CAN COME ONCE A MONTH, 2 TO 3 DAYS.

AND THAT WILL PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, DO ABOUT 200 SURGERIES IF, IF THAT. SO WE'RE REALLY WORKING ON GETTING THAT AND OF COURSE EXPANDING OUR PROGRAMS. WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MORE CITY INVOLVEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO SPAY AND NEUTERING BECAUSE AS MR. WHITE SAID, THAT IS THE ANSWER.

THAT IS THE ANSWER. WE NEED TO FOCUS ON OFFERING SPAY AND NEUTER SERVICES, ESPECIALLY TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP, THE ONES WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS AT A PRIVATE VETERINARIAN TO DO IT.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE HEAR ALL THE TIME WHY THEY CAN'T. I CAN'T AFFORD IT.

SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THAT.

AGAIN, WITH THIS CONSOLIDATION, WE ARE HOPING THAT, OF COURSE, THOSE THOSE COSTS ARE GOING TO GO DOWN. RIGHT? BECAUSE NOW WE DON'T HAVE TWO FACILITIES. WE ARE NOT HAVING TO MANAGE BOTH FOR ONE, ONE FACILITY THAT IS IN CONSTANT NEED OF MAINTENANCE.

I MEAN, TRENTON, YOU KNOW, IS JUST WE'RE CONSTANTLY POURING IN RESOURCES, CONSTANTLY POURING IN FUNDING JUST TO KEEP IT OPERATING.

OKAY. AND HOPEFULLY WITH THIS ONE, YOU KNOW, FACILITY, WE WON'T NEED TO BE FOCUSING ON THAT.

SO AND THEN ALSO WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO PUT THOSE ANY SAVINGS THAT WE HAVE TO PUT ON OUR PARTNERS BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND IT IS EXPENSIVE. I DO KIND OF JUST WANT TO QUICKLY GO OVER, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH IT COSTS PALM VALLEY FOR EVERY ANIMAL THAT WALKS IN AND JUST KIND OF THAT YOU CAN HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT IT IS THAT WE DO FOR THEM.

RIGHT. SO AS SOON AS THEY COME INTO OUR SHELTER, RIGHT OFF THEY COME OFF THE TRUCKS. THEY'RE GETTING MEDICAL CARE. RIGHT. SO WE HAVE AN AMAZING MEDICAL TEAM THAT DOES VACCINES.

THEY DO HEARTWORM. HEARTWORM TESTING, HEARTWORM, FLEA AND TICK PREVENTION.

IF THEY ARE, THEY NEED MEDICAL ATTENTION.

WE TAKE THEM. IF THEY LOOK LIKE THEY'RE SICK, WE RUN PARVO TESTING, DISTEMPER TESTING.

IF THEY HAVE RINGWORM, I MEAN, IF ANY KIND OF MEDICAL DISEASE THAT YOU CAN THINK THAT ANIMAL CAN HAVE, WE WILL TREAT THEM.

WE DO NOT EUTHANIZE FOR UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTION.

WE DON'T EUTHANIZE FOR RINGWORM. THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOMETHING WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, BUT WE DON'T DO THAT ANYMORE.

SO WE TREAT THEM. OKAY, I'M TALKING ABOUT STAFF TIME, TALKING ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF FOOD THAT WE HAVE TO FEED THEM. THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES, THE STAFF THAT I NEED TO DO THAT.

PALM VALLEY IS A LARGE EMPLOYER.

WE ARE A LARGE EMPLOYER HERE IN THE VALLEY. I EMPLOY UPWARDS OF 90 EMPLOYEES.

OKAY. AND NONE OF MY EMPLOYEES ARE MAKING MINIMUM WAGE.

IT'S A VERY HARD JOB. IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT JOB.

IT'S A JOB THAT NOT MANY PEOPLE WANT TO TAKE.

OKAY. IF YOU'VE EVER VISITED OUR TRENTON CENTER, IF YOU HAVEN'T, I IMPLORE YOU TO DO SO.

SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT MY STAFF, WHAT THEY GO THROUGH DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO CARE FOR THE ANIMALS IN OUR CARE. SO WE EVERY ANIMAL WILL COST US HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS.

WE TOTAL IT UP. WE'VE DONE THE MATH.

IT CONTINUES TO INCREASE EVERY TEST, EVERY VACCINE, EVERY MICROCHIP, EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.

THOSE COSTS HAVE GONE UP AS WELL FOR US.

SO AGAIN, IT GOES UP FOR US.

WE KNOW IT GOES UP FOR YOU. AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING AS A PARTNER WE WANT TO DO. BUT ALSO WE HAVE TO REMAIN VIABLE.

WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE, TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES, AND NOT JUST FOR OUR CITIES, BUT BECAUSE OF OUR SHARED LOVE FOR ANIMALS.

SO AGAIN, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM WITH THAT QUESTION. AS A BUSINESS MINDED INDIVIDUAL LIKE MYSELF, I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY THAT IS PART OF THE BUDGET.

AND SO WE'RE ALWAYS WILLING TO WORK WITH THE CITY AND OUR PARTNERS ON THIS PARTICULAR THING. BUT WE'RE HOPING THAT WITH THE CONSOLIDATION, OUR COST WILL DECREASE.

AND YOU CAN EDUCATE ME ON THIS, BUT OUR VETERINARIANS ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT CAN SPAY AND NEUTER. THAT IS CORRECT.

SO WHY AREN'T WE SPEAKING WITH OUR LEGISLATORS, ASKING THEM, TRAINING TECHNICIANS TO MAYBE CUT DOWN THE COST ON ON SPAYING AND NEUTERING. THAT'S REALLY WHERE IT'S COMING FROM. YOU KNOW, THE EXPENSES GOING UP.

THAT COULD BE A GREAT OPTION FOR THAT.

COUNCILMAN. SO IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE DISCUSSED. I THINK IT WAS THE MAYOR OF MCALLEN ONCE WE HAD A MEETING ABOUT IT.

IT'S ONE OF OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES TO SEE IF WE CAN GET MORE PEOPLE QUALIFIED TO SPAY AND NEUTER IN THE MEDICAL FIELD.

THERE'S PARAMEDICS THAT CAN DO NURSING TASKS NPS THAT CAN DO DOCTOR'S TASKS.

SO IT LOWERS THE COST.

AND LET ME SAY, NO ONE'S NO ONE'S SAYING THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY SORT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT MEASURES. IT'S HARD ENOUGH TO GET PEOPLE TO ADOPT AND RELIEVE SOME OF THE

[01:05:06]

PRESSURES AND THE CONGESTION.

I THINK THAT THE ANSWER IS NOT TO TICKET PEOPLE OR ENFORCE ANYTHING.

I THINK THE ANSWER IS TO HELP SPAY AND NEUTER HAVE A TRUE CHANGE IN THE LEGISLATION, WHERE YOU CAN HAVE A LOT OF SPAY NEUTER CLINICS.

THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR LOOKING LOOKING FOR A VETERINARIAN FOR OVER THREE YEARS, THAT TELLS YOU THAT WE HAVE TO CHANGE THAT SYSTEM SO THAT THERE ISN'T SO MANY ANIMALS THAT NEED TO BE CARED FOR US.

COUNCILMAN DYLAN KIND OF TOOK MY THOUGHT. I THINK THAT BUILDING YOU HAVE THERE, IF IT'S NOT GOING TO BE UTILIZED, MAYBE A WAY WE CAN HELP IS THE CITY CAN SEE IF IT SERVES OUR NEEDS.

THERE'S A LOT OF NEEDS FOR FOR ALL OUR GROWTH WITH CITY HALL AND DEPARTMENTS.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT LOCATION THAT WE COULD UTILIZE.

BUT I THINK THAT WHERE YOU'RE AT NOW, INSTEAD OF FUNDING SOMETHING THAT THAT THERE'S SOME PEOPLE WILL SAY, WELL, YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE MONEY. YOU DON'T GET ANYTHING IN RETURN, EVEN THOUGH THAT WE KNOW THAT IT'S VERY, VERY VITAL IN THE CARE.

I THINK THAT BUILDING MAYBE THE CITY COULD UTILIZE.

I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THE NUMBER OF WHAT IT COST THE CITY YEAR AFTER YEAR WHEN I FIRST GOT IN OFFICE. AND LIKE COUNCILMAN DE LEON SAID AT THE SAME TIME, MS AT THAT TIME WAS GETTING $0 A YEAR.

SO THERE WAS SOME DISPARITY THERE AND, AND COST.

AND SO IT'S A VERY, VERY, VERY HEAVY PROBLEM.

THAT'S WHY CITIES ARE TRYING TO UNITE AND TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.

BUT I THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO EXPAND YOUR NEWER FACILITY AND MAYBE FIND ANOTHER USE AND GET SOME DOLLARS OUT OF THE OLDER FACILITY.

AND I KNOW YOU KNOW, I SEE A LOT OF VIDEOS OF PEOPLE PROTESTING ANIMAL CARE, YOU KNOW, THE LOVE FOR THEIR PETS, AND THAT'S GREAT.

BUT I THINK MAYBE WE SHOULD USE THAT TO GET THEM TO GO PRESS FOR THE LEGISLATORS TO, YOU KNOW, FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT WE CAN CUT THE COST ON ON NOT HIRING A VETERINARIAN TO DO THAT, YOU KNOW, SIMPLY TRAINING PEOPLE, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? OR HAVING ONE VETERINARIAN PRESIDENT AND A BUNCH OF TECHS THERE, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? JUST DIFFERENT IDEAS THAT WE NEED TO PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER, BECAUSE THE COSTS ARE GOING UP AND MANY OF THE NEEDS OF THE CITY IS GOING UP.

BUT WE CAN'T JUST GIVE IT ALL TO THE PETS EITHER.

AS MUCH AS WE LOVE THEM, AS MUCH AS WE WANT TO CARE FOR THEM, YOU KNOW. WE ALSO NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT AND WORK TOGETHER TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION, AND NOT JUST A BAND-AID.

NOW, OF COURSE, AND THANK YOU. WE WE REALLY DO WANT TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER UP WITH THE CITIES TO MAKE THIS A REALITY, NOT ONLY FOR PALM VALLEY, BUT FOR THE ANIMALS. AGAIN, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUST JUST REAL QUICK TO LET PEOPLE KNOW SINCE WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT LOW COST. I JUST HAD OUR FEMALE PUP SPAYED.

OR WAS IT NEUTERED? NO, SHE'S A FEMALE SPAYED.

SHE WAS HAD HER SPAYED.

GOT TWO QUOTES. ONE WAS A VET HERE IN EDINBURGH THAT WAS 280 AND THE OTHER ONE WAS OUT OF MCALLEN. WAS LIKE DOUBLE 554 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND THOSE ARE THE KIND OF COSTS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. I'M NOT SURE WHAT A LOW COST SPAY AND NEUTER A LOW COST ONE WOULD BE, BUT TWO, 280 IS WAS ROUGH.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAD TO BE DONE. AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST JUST PART OF BEING A RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNER.

BUT THANK GOD WE WERE ABLE TO DO IT.

BUT WHAT IS THE LOW COST.

SURE. SO THE CURRENT LOW COST CLINIC THAT WE HAVE HERE IS RGV, RGV, LOW COST. AND WE DO WORK WITH THEM AND THEY DO HELP US OUT IN SOME LIMITED CAPACITY BECAUSE THEM THEMSELVES ARE KIND OF OVERBOOKED.

WE'VE SEEN PRICES FOR ANYWHERE BETWEEN $90 TO $150.

SO THAT'S DEFINITELY A LOT CHEAPER THAN THAN GOING PRIVATE. YES.

I WANTED TO GET PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

NO, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP. I THINK THAT PUTS IT REALLY INTO PERSPECTIVE THERE AS FAR AS WHAT COSTS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. BUT I WANT TO JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I WANT TO THANK PALM VALLEY FOR ALL YOU ALL DO.

I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR, WHAT, 50 YEARS IS THAT? AND I DO THINK IT'S A IT'S A COMMUNITY EFFORT.

YOU KNOW, YOU ALL HAVE YOUR ROLE. WE HAVE OUR ROLE.

BUT I THINK TOGETHER, I THINK WE COULD, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST START ADDRESSING SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP BY COUNCIL.

I DO ALSO WANT TO THANK CITY OF MCALLEN, BECAUSE I KNOW THEY'VE TAKEN THE LEAD ON THIS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE IN THEIR CITY. SO I DO WANT COUNCIL TO KIND OF KEEP THAT IN MIND. YOU KNOW, THERE'S ANOTHER CITY THAT THIS FACILITY IS NOT EVEN IN THEIR CITY, BUT THEY'RE WILLING TO PUT FUNDS INTO THIS.

SO WE APPRECIATE THAT.

I DO HAVE A QUESTION ON YOU PUT THE SCHEDULE ON HERE, BUT WHEN WILL ACTUAL FUNDS BE NEEDED? SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FUNDS BEING REQUESTED FROM US I KNOW THERE'S A SCHEDULE HERE, AND THAT'S KIND OF AN ESTIMATED TIMELINE, BUT COULD YOU KIND OF GIVE US AN IDEA, JUST A BALLPARK AS TO WHEN HOW THAT WOULD WORK? CITY OF MCALLEN IS PUTTING FUNDS.

YOU ALL ARE PUTTING FUNDS. AND THEN IF WE WERE TO DECIDE, CAN YOU KIND OF SPEAK TO THE TIMING OF THAT? YEAH, OF COURSE. SO WE ARE STILL VERY EARLY IN, YOU KNOW, IN THE PRELIMINARY SESSIONS OF ALL OF THIS. HOWEVER, OBVIOUSLY THE SOONER WE GET THE MONEY, THE SOONER WE CAN COMPLETE THE PROJECT. BUT WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH SHELTER PARTNERS OF AMERICA AND OF COURSE, DESIGNING A NEW FACILITY OR DESIGNING ANY EXPANSION DOES TAKE SOME TIME.

IT CAN TAKE SOME MONTHS.

BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE WORKING WITH THE CITY OF MCALLEN AS THEY ARE THEIR THEIR PLANNING

[01:10:04]

DEPARTMENT IS WORKING WITH SHELTER PLANNERS AMERICA, ALONG WITH MYSELF AND PALM VALLEY TO KIND OF MAKE THIS A REALITY.

BUT WE AGAIN, WE ARE OPEN TO DISCUSSING THIS.

OF COURSE. WE WE WANT EDINBURG AS OUR PARTNER.

WE VALUE THE CITY OF EDINBURGH AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY HAVE DONE.

AGAIN, WE HAVE MY MY STAFF AND MYSELF HAVE WORKED WITH MR. SINES AND MR. IGNACIO HERE ON THE SHELTER THAT YOU ALL CURRENTLY HAVE HERE AT DOLITTLE.

AND WE KNOW THAT THERE IS THERE'S A CONCERN ON THEIR END AS WELL FOR HOW THIS IS ALL OPERATING. AND WE SHARE THAT CONCERN AND WE'RE WE WE SINCERELY DO APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION. GREAT. AND ONE MORE MAYOR.

YES, SIR. MAINLY FOR MISS LEWIS.

MISS LEWIS WILL KNOW. AND JUST SO YOU KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN A REALLY HARD ON PALM VALLEY.

I HAD A BIG DISTRUST ISSUE WITH PALM VALLEY.

FOR SOME OF THE MANAGERS YOU HAD BEFORE.

AND, MISS LEWIS, IF YOU CAN JUST TELL YOUR BOARD AND EVERYBODY, I THINK WE HAVE SOMEBODY WE MAY BE ABLE TO WORK WITH.

THIS IS A TOTALLY IT'S A TOTALLY DIFFERENT PRESENTATION AND AND A FEELING THAT I'M THAT I'M PERSONALLY HAVING BECAUSE WE MISS LEWIS DOESN'T ALWAYS LIKE ME, BUT WE'VE HAD THIS WE'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION.

BUT I'VE ALWAYS SAID, ONCE WE FIND SOMEBODY WE CAN WORK WITH AND WE CAN. PART OF BEING A PARTNERSHIP IS TRUSTING EACH OTHER.

AND I DIDN'T HAVE THAT FROM SOME BAD TASTE I HAD IN YEARS PAST.

SHE SHE SEEMS TO BE REALLY.

I THINK SHE SEEMS TO BE REAL SMART AND SHARP AND SMART TOO.

I'LL TAKE BOTH. THANK YOU. I THINK THIS IS A PERFECT TIME.

PALM VALLEY AND ALL THE ALAMO LOVERS THAT WATCH THIS MEETING ARE ARE ARE HERE ABOUT IT.

LATER. PLEASE CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS.

THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO GET THEM TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT WILL HELP CERTIFY OTHER PEOPLE, OTHER THAN VETERINARIANS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

SPAY NEUTER. THE COST WOULD BE LESS, THE NUMBERS WOULD QUADRUPLE.

WE'VE BEEN WAITING YEARS AS ANYONE.

I SEE BRIAN BYRON, A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN.

WHAT HAS ANYONE EVER TRIED TO DO THAT? HAS THAT EVER BEEN ADDRESSED? IS THERE A MONOPOLY ON ON SPAY AND NEUTERING? WHY ISN'T THERE OTHER AVENUES? SURE, YOU CAN COME ON UP, SIR.

YOU KNOW, DAN MIGHT BRING UP YOU CAN HAVE A PA OR A NURSE PRACTITIONER CUT INTO US.

BUT MAYOR COUNCIL, I AM BYRON LEWIS.

I'M AN OLD TIME COMMUNITY MEMBER NOW WITH MY WHITE HAIR.

BUT COMMUNITY LEADER, SIR, WE HAVE KELLY AND I.

THIS IS A PASSION OF OURS.

WE MOVED HERE IN 1986.

IT'S ALWAYS ON OUR MIND.

AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO ALL PROFESSIONS ARE THE BIGGEST BARRIER.

THE VETERINARY COLLEGE IN TEXAS IS PRIMARILY TEXAS A&M.

MOST OF THE VETS ARE GRADUATES FROM THERE, AND THEY ARE HAVE A LOT OF POLITICAL INFLUENCE. AND THEY ARE EMPHATICALLY, ENTHUSIASTICALLY OPPOSED TO ANY IMPROVEMENTS ALONG THESE LINES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

AND SOME OF THEM ARE DEAR FRIENDS, AND WE'VE BUTTED HEADS AND ALCOHOL COULDN'T EVEN SMOOTH OVER THE DIFFERENCES.

BUT YOU SAID EXACTLY WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

WE NEED PR AND AND NPS AND WHATEVER.

YEAH. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL RAN A DOUBLE PAGE.

IS IT 20 YEARS AGO? I WAS SO EXCITED ABOUT IT.

THERE'S A SALINE INJECTION FOR MALES.

THAT'S 92, 94% EFFECTIVE.

IT COST $0.50. THE VET.

THE VETERINARY COMMUNITY AND THEIR LOBBY GROUP WILL NOT HAVE IT BECAUSE THEY'RE MAKING COMMISSIONER WHITE. BUT 295 TO 500.

WE PAY TWO. THEY'RE OUR FRIENDS AND IT'S CLOSER TO 500 USUALLY.

BUT THEY'RE THEY'RE SO OPPOSED TO IT THERE'S NO REASON FOR IT.

WE HAVE TO GET THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE GOING TO USE THEM AND SUPPORT THEM.

AND THERE'S MORE DEMAND THAN EVER, BUT THEY NEED TO LET US HAVE OPTIONS, OR ELSE WE NEED TO EXERT THE POLITICAL WILL AND PUSH IT WITHOUT THEIR ASSISTANCE.

WELL, I'LL MAKE THIS A CALL TO ACTION.

LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET IT.

IT IS ONE OF OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OTHER CITY HAS DONE THAT, BUT WE'VE OUR LOBBYISTS IN THIS IN AUSTIN KNOW THAT THIS IS A PRIORITY.

SO IF YOU COULD HELP GET PEOPLE ON BOARD TO MAKE PHONE CALLS AND LOWER THIS COST, I THINK YOUR BUDGET WOULD COMPLETELY CHANGE, AND IT'D JUST BE A BETTER THING FOR ALL OF US. AND JUST, YOU KNOW, WE OPENED UP A NEW EVENT CENTER HERE DOWN THE STREET. SO FOR PUPPY LOVE.

SOMETHING TO CONSIDER. JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE.

JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. MISS MCCURDY HAD A QUESTION? SORRY. MISS MCCURDY HAD A QUESTION.

[01:15:02]

YES. WE'RE TALKING $1.2 MILLION EACH YEAR.

IS THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT? ONE TIME. ONE TIME? ARE WE SURE? AND THEN THE SECOND THING I KNOW THAT WE HAVE PR FOR PEOPLE.

THEY ARE NURSES. THEY GOT MORE EDUCATION AND THEY'RE THEY'RE ABLE TO GIVE MEDICATION TO EVERYTHING. SO MY THING IS WE NEED TO HAVE THE SAME THING WITH THE DOCTORS THAT THEY THE VETS, THE OFFICES. NOT ONLY DO THEY TRAIN THEIR PEOPLE, BUT HOW MUCH MORE IF THEY'RE OUT THERE, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A LOT OF POOR PEOPLE IN EDINBURGH AND IN THE COUNTY.

AND I KNOW THAT ALSO WE NEED TO BE EDUCATING THE PUBLIC.

I KNOW A LOT OF I GET THE STORY.

WE CAN'T DO THAT TO MY ANIMAL BECAUSE IT WON'T MAKE THEM QUITE AS MANLY ANYMORE.

WE NEED TO EXPLAIN AND SHOW THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE HEALTH OF THEIR ANIMALS.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY GO OFF AND COME BACK WITH YOU GOT LITTLE LITTLE DOG AND A HUGE DOG AND WE HAVE PUPPIES. IT USUALLY KILLS YOUR DOG.

SO WE NEED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON WHY IT IS GOOD TO HAVE YOUR ANIMAL SPAYED AND NEUTERED.

I KNOW THAT CATTLE RANCHERS, THEY CASTRATE THEIR CATTLE AND WE DON'T HAVE DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND DIFFERENT PEOPLE ARE TRAINED TO DO THAT.

SO I'M HOPING BECAUSE I'M ALWAYS TALKING AND I'M GETTING THE PHONE CALLS FROM THE PEOPLE THAT CAN'T AFFORD THIS, THEY CAN'T AFFORD THEIR WATER BILL.

SO I KNOW THAT THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE TRYING TO FEED THEIR CHILDREN INSTEAD OF THE DOGS AND ANIMALS, AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO HAVE THEM SPAYED. THEY HAVE PUPPIES, WHATEVER.

BUT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT MILLION A LITTLE OVER $1 MILLION, WHO WHO CAN AFFORD IT FOR Y'ALL DO THAT TO THE ANIMALS.

I MEAN, I'M SORRY PEOPLE COME FIRST.

SO DO WHAT WE HAVE TO WITH LEGISLATION I HAVE.

I WILL MAKE SOME PHONE CALLS MYSELF TO THE THE ONES THAT WE KNOW AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET HELP. BECAUSE I'M SURE WE'RE NOT THE ONLY CITY THAT IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS, THAT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.

OKAY. JUST THOUGHT I'D REMIND Y'ALL WE'RE POOR.

ONE MORE THING. WHILE WE WORK ON LEGISLATION.

MR. LEWIS, SINCE, YOU KNOW, SOME VETS AND THE TEXAS A&M FOLKS, HOW ABOUT GETTING STUDENTS WHO ARE GETTING TRAINED AS VETERINARIAN COME HOLD A BIG CLINIC LIKE WE DO FOR IMMUNIZATIONS AND KNOCK OUT LARGE NUMBERS WHILE WE WORK ON LEGISLATION, AND THEIR TRAINING IS PART OF THEIR EDUCATION.

AND I'M JUST GOING TO SAY, WHEN YOU HAVE HABITS HERE ON THURSDAY, IT'S A GOOD TIME TO BRING IT UP WHEN YOU HAVE ABBOTT'S EAR. WHAT'S THAT? WHEN YOU HAVE GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S I'M GOING TO BE THERE. I'VE ALREADY GOT MY TICKET. I WILL CERTAINLY GET. I'LL WRITE THAT ON MY LIST OF MANY THINGS I'M GOING TO ASK.

PERFECT OPPORTUNITY. ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT. AND I JUST HAD A QUESTION FOR OUR CITY MANAGER. SO WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP, MISS AYALA? DO WE CAN WE PLEASE FOLLOW UP AND SEE WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP? I MEAN, I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE FOLLOW UP.

SO SO I BELIEVE IT WAS THE DIRECTOR OF THE COUNCIL, THEIR DESIRE TO HEAR FROM PALM VALLEY ANIMAL SHELTER, WHICH IS WHY THEY CONDUCTED A PRESENTATION TODAY. I THINK WE STILL NEED TO CONTINUE THESE CONVERSATIONS AND KIND OF WORK ALONG WITH THEM THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.

THERE'S STILL SOME THINGS LIKE LIKE THEY MENTIONED THAT THEY STILL NEED TO IRON OUT.

BUT DEFINITELY WE'LL WILL BE IN COMMUNICATION AND CONTINUE THESE DISCUSSIONS MOVING FORWARD. OKAY. CAN WE GET A TIMELINE? WHEN CAN WE SEE THIS BACK ON THE AGENDA? IT WOULD REALLY DEPEND ON THEM AND THEIR TIMELINE AND HOW SOON THEY THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH SOME OF THOSE PRELIMINARY TASKS.

WE SET UP A MEETING. I THINK THEY'RE ALL HERE SO YOU ALL COULD MEET MAYBE SOMETIME IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. AND WE COULD JUST GET AN UPDATE AGAIN.

BECAUSE I KNOW THEIR TIME.

IT'S JUST DEPENDING UPON WHO'S GOING TO PARTICIPATE AND ALL THAT, SO. SURE. BUT ANYWAY, YEAH, WE'LL WE'LL COMMUNICATE WITH THEM, AND THEN WE CAN HAVE AN UPDATE FOR COUNCIL.

WE'RE BRINGING IT UP. THIS PART OF I MEAN, I REMEMBER ASKING ABOUT THE OTHER ANIMAL SHELTER THAT WE COULD MEET WITH THAT ORGANIZATION.

YES. I ALSO ASKED ABOUT WHAT'S BROWNSVILLE DOING.

WERE YOU GOING TO HAVE SOMEBODY MEET WITH BROWNSVILLE? HAS THAT ALREADY OCCURRED? YES, I HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT IT. YEAH. SO WE'VE REACHED OUT TO THE OTHER ORGANIZATION AS WELL. SO SO THAT'S PROBABLY OFF THE TABLE.

WHAT'S GOING ON IN BROWNSVILLE? BROWNSVILLE RUNS THEIR OWN CITY. THEY HAVE A VET. THEY HAVE EVERYTHING. SO WE'RE RIGHT IN OUR OWN BACKYARD.

THERE'S NO I ASKED THAT TO BE LOOKED INTO.

YES. SO WE'VE BEEN REACHING OUT TO THE DIFFERENT CITIES, AND WE'VE BEEN REACHING OUT TO THAT OTHER ORGANIZATION AS WELL SO THAT WE CAN GATHER SOME INFORMATION.

BUT ULTIMATELY, WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT PALM VALLEY WAS ABLE TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION. BUT WE'LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION FOR YOU AND WE CAN SEND THAT OUT TO YOU TOLD US YOU'RE GOING TO BRING THIS BACK READY FOR AN ACTION ITEM, AND YOU HAVEN'T EVEN FINISHED THE OTHER PART. THIS IS STUFF THAT'S BEEN ASKED FOR FOR A TIME NOW.

I JUST I'M JUST LOST. IF IF THIS ONE'S ABOUT READY TO COME BACK IN A TIMELINE FOR WHEN WE

[01:20:01]

COULD BUILD OR WORK WITH THEM, THAT WAS ALL PART OF THE FACILITY THAT WE'VE BUILT AND REDONE TOO, IS WHERE ARE WE AT? YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BRING US BACK OPTIONS. WELL I'LL GO WELL, SO LET ME GO AHEAD AND HAVE THAT DISCUSSION WITH PALM VALLEY ANIMAL SHELTER BEFORE I EVEN BRING IT UP TO COUNCIL'S FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION.

THERE'S STILL SOME DETAILS THAT NEED TO BE IRONED OUT ON THEIR END.

AND THEN AFTER I HAVE THAT INFORMATION, I'LL BE ABLE TO BRING THIS ITEM FORWARD FOR COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION.

AND THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND BRING OTHER.

OTHER. I'M ASKING YOU ABOUT BROWNSVILLE, SO I'M NOT SURE YOU'VE GOT THE SOPS FROM BROWNSVILLE YET. NO, NO, WE HAVE NOT.

BUT WE CAN GO AHEAD AND GET THOSE FOR YOU TO HOW? THE OPERATION IS BEING OPERATED AND IT'S BEING DONE. IT IS ACTUALLY FUNCTIONING BY A CITY.

THE CITY IS RUNNING THE WHOLE THING. OKAY.

THANK YOU FOR THAT. NO, THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I ASKED YOU TO DO IN THE PAST. OKAY. ALL RIGHT, CHIEF, WE'RE GOING TO.

LET'S MOVE ON. CAN YOU PLEASE PUT THAT ITEM BACK ON THE AGENDA,

[8. PUBLIC HEARING]

PLEASE? YES, YES, I WILL.

THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM EIGHT, A PUBLIC HEARING. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING THAT I'M GOING TO OPEN.

WE ONLY HAVE ONE ITEM HERE FOR CONSIDERATION.

AND I'LL HAVE OUR CITY SECRETARY READ IT AT THIS TIME.

HOLD PUBLIC HEARING. CONSIDER THE ORDINANCES PROVIDING FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

[A. Hold Public Hearing and Consider the Ordinances Providing for the Comprehensive Plan Amendment From Auto-Urban Uses To Neighborhood Commercial Uses and the Rezoning Request from Residential, Suburban (RS) District To Commercial, Neighborhood (CN) District, a Tract of Land Out of Lot 5, Section 274, Texas-Mexican Railway Company’s Survey, Hidalgo County, Texas, as Per Map or Plat Thereof Recorded In Volume 24, Page 168, Deed Records, Hidalgo County, Texas, Located at 2217 West Freddy Gonzalez Drive, as Requested by Charles Brown on Behalf of Dr. Sylvia Sanchez Garza. [Jaime Acevedo, Director of Planning & Zoning]]

AMENDMENT FROM OUTER URBAN USES TO NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL USES, AND THE REZONING REQUEST FROM RESIDENTIAL SUBURBAN DISTRICT TO COMMERCIAL NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICT. A TRACT OF LAND.

OUTER LOT FIVE, SECTION 274 TEXAS MEXICAN RAILWAY COMPANY SURVEY.

HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS, AS PER MAP OR PLAT THEREOF, RECORDED IN VOLUME 24, PAGE 168 DEED RECORDS HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS. LOCATED AT 2217 WEST FREDDY GONZALEZ DRIVE, AS REQUESTED BY CHARLES BROWN ON BEHALF OF DOCTOR SILVIA SANCHEZ GARZA.

ALL RIGHT. THE HEARING IS NOW OPEN.

IF THERE'S ANYONE HERE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, YOU MAY DO SO AT THIS TIME.

YOU CAN APPROACH THE PODIUM.

GOOD EVENING. MAYOR. COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

I KNOW THAT THE CITY OF EDINBURG DOES A LOT FOR THE ARTS AND THE ARTS COMMUNITY, AND WE ALL APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.

HOWEVER, I'M HERE BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT WHEN IT COMES FOR LITERACY AND THE ARTS.

I AM AN ADVOCATE FOR LITERACY, EDUCATION AND THE ARTS.

I AM AN AUTHOR AND I AM ALSO AN THE FOUNDER OF THE MAYOR JOSE SANCHEZ MEMORIAL BOOK FESTIVAL. I AM ALSO A BOARD MEMBER FOR THE SOUTH TEXAS LITERACY COALITION.

I AM ALSO A BOARD MEMBER FOR THE SOUTH TEXAS ARTS AND CULTURAL FOUNDATION.

SO I'M HERE BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO HAVE A PLACE HERE IN EDINBURG WHERE CREATIVES CAN GATHER AND MEET AND BE ABLE TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN BE INSPIRED TO WRITE AND HAVE A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN JUST BE TOGETHER AND SHOWCASE THEIR WORK.

BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF THESE AUTHORS AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO MEET.

WE CAN MEET AT THE LIBRARY.

AND THAT'S A VERY NICE PLACE TO MEET.

AND THERE'S THE UNIVERSITY AND OF COURSE, THERE'S COFFEE SHOPS.

BUT FOR ALL OF THOSE PLACES, YOU HAVE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, AND IT'S ONLY FOR A RESERVATION FOR A SET TIME.

AND THE UNIVERSITY AS WELL.

THERE'S A LOT OF STUDENTS AND IT'S VERY BUSY COFFEE SHOPS.

THERE'S A LOT OF PUBLIC PEOPLE IN THOSE PLACES.

SO I'M LOOKING FOR A PLACE THAT'S A HOME LIKE ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU CAN BE COMFORTABLE AS, AS A CREATIVE AND YOU CAN HAVE THE BACKGROUND WITH GARDENS, AND YOU CAN BE INSPIRED WITH THE BEAUTY, WITH THE TREES, WITH THE BIRDS. AND AS A WRITER, THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND YOU CAN MEET WITH OTHERS THAT ARE LIKE MINDED.

AND THIS HOUSE IS JUST PERFECT.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE BEEN BY THERE, IF YOU'VE SEEN IT AND YOU HAD THE OTHER PERSON WHO CAME AND SPOKE BEFORE US, WHO'S A NEIGHBOR TO THAT HOUSE.

IT'S A HOUSE ON FREDDY.

IT'S GOT BEAUTIFUL, HUGE TREES, A BIG YARD.

THE BACKYARD IS AMAZING.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL. PERFECT WITH BIG, WELL GARDENS.

BUT NOW IT'S GOT FROZEN.

BUT WE CAN. THOSE WILL COME BACK.

IT'S. IT'S JUST PERFECT FOR THESE TYPE OF OF PEOPLE.

AND THIS WOULD BE A PLACE WHERE IT WOULD BE OPEN TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY FOR ALL AGES.

AND THEY COULD COME, WE COULD HAVE PROGRAMS, WE COULD HAVE WORKSHOPS, WE COULD HAVE ASPIRING WRITERS OR ARTISTS COULD COME AND THEY COULD GROW FROM FROM THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY AUTHORS.

[01:25:01]

EXAMPLE, THE BOOK FESTIVAL THAT WE'LL BE HAVING SOON, WE'RE GOING TO BE 42 AUTHORS.

AND I KNOW ALL OF THESE AUTHORS, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THEM MYSELF.

THEY ARE FRIENDS. AND THEY COULD COME AND THEY COULD DO LITTLE WORKSHOPS WITH WITH YOUNG CHILDREN WHO WANT TO WRITE, WHO WANT TO ASPIRE TO BE AN AUTHOR.

POETS, THEY COULD HAVE POETRY READINGS IN THIS ENVIRONMENT.

SO I JUST ASK YOU TO TO THINK ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY HAS SO MUCH TALENT, AND ESPECIALLY HERE IN A UNIVERSITY TOWN WHERE WE HAVE SO MANY, SO MANY STUDENTS AND THEY ASPIRE FOR THIS, THERE'S A NEED FOR A PLACE LIKE THIS.

SO I THINK THAT HAVING A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN GATHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM CHILDREN TO ADULTS, AND THEY CAN COME TOGETHER AND FIND A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN STEP IN, AND IT'S A COMFORTABLE SETTING, AND THEY CAN FEEL LIKE IT'S A HOMEY PLACE AND THEY FEEL WELCOMED IN THIS, IN THIS ENVIRONMENT.

I THINK THAT THERE'S A NEED FOR THAT.

AND WHY NOT IN EDINBURG, WHERE WE CAN WELCOME PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING.

MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF.

FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS RICHARD GARZA, A RESIDENT OF EDINBURG.

WE LIVE AT 3518 PLAZA LARGO IN EDINBURG, TEXAS.

BEFORE I BEGIN, I WOULD LIKE TO TELL MAYOR GARZA, WHO IS A DEAR FRIEND, THAT YOU KNOW, WE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR YOU.

WE KNOW YOU'RE GOING THROUGH A ROUGH PERIOD AT THIS POINT, BUT THAT, I KNOW, IS A CHRISTIAN MAN, A GOD FEARING MAN.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS THING AND YOU'RE GOING TO COME OUT BETTER AND BIGGER AND WE'LL WE'LL SEE YOU, I'M SURE, IN BIGGER CIRCLES.

AND ALSO, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I WANT TO PUBLICLY, ON BEHALF OF MY WIFE AND I, DOCTOR SYLVIA AND OUR FAMILY, WE WANT TO THANK RAMIRO GARZA JR FOR EVERYTHING HE'S DONE FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURGH IN THE LAST 20 SOME YEARS.

I REMEMBER MEETING YOU WHEN YOU FIRST CAME TO EDINBURGH TO HEAD THE EDC.

YOU WERE A YOUNG MAN BACK THEN AND HAD SOME HAIR, MAN.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. ANYWAY, WE'RE SO PROUD OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE AND YOUR FAMILY AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE, NOT ONLY FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURGH, FOR THE REGION AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ON TO THE BUSINESS AT HAND.

WHAT WE HAVE HERE TODAY, MY WIFE, DOCTOR SYLVIA, IS RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING A REZONING CHANGE FROM SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL.

WE COME HERE BEFORE YOU.

NOT WITHOUT DOING OUR HOMEWORK.

WE'VE STUDIED THIS THING.

IT'S A PROPERTY THAT SHE'S BEEN LOOKING AT FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

IT'S AN INTERESTING PROPERTY. I'M NOT SURE IF WE CAN GET A PHOTO OF IT ON THE SCREEN OR NOT, SO THAT Y'ALL CAN SEE IT'S A RED BRICK HOUSE THAT SITS ON NOW, FREDDIE.

SURE, SURE. NO. THAT'S FINE. IT'S IT'S ON FREDI GONZALEZ, JUST ONE, ONE LOT EAST OF JACKSON ROAD.

AND IT'S AN INTERESTING PROPERTY BECAUSE IT IS FULLY LANDSCAPED.

IT'S GOT BEAUTIFUL OAK TREES, IT'S GOT GORGEOUS GARDENS IN THE BACK.

AND WHEN SYLVIA AND I FIRST LOOKED AT IT, SHE FELL IN LOVE WITH IT AND SAID, THIS IS PERFECT FOR MY WRITER FRIENDS. WE CAN HAVE OUR FUNCTIONS AND THINGS HERE.

SO YOU KNOW THAT'S YOUR PASSION.

SHE LOVES DOING THAT. I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR THE CHILDREN OF THIS COMMUNITY, FOR ALL OUR RESIDENTS. SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING. BUT WITH THAT IN MIND, I JUST KIND OF WANT TO TAKE YOU DOWN AND SHOW YOU A MAP THAT WE HAVE RIGHT HERE BEFORE YOU.

AND I THINK YOU HAVE IT ON YOUR SCREEN. AND I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING ABOUT FREDDIE GONZALEZ BOULEVARD. FREDDIE GONZALEZ HAS NO LONGER WHAT IT USED TO BE 35 YEARS AGO WHEN OR RATHER 30 YEARS AGO. I'M SORRY. WHEN WE FIRST PURCHASED OUR OFFICE BUILDING, WHICH IS RIGHT HERE, IT WAS A TWO LANE ROADWAY.

THERE WAS NOTHING OUT THERE EXCEPT A FEW SCATTERED HOME SITES AND SOME CITRUS GROVES AND SOME FARMS AND SUCH.

AND I REMEMBER COMING BEFORE THIS CITY COUNCIL BACK THEN AND ASKING FOR A REZONING REQUEST, AND THE CITY AT THAT TIME HAD THE FORESIGHT TO REZONE THE SINGLE FAMILY HOME THAT WE STILL RESIDE IN TODAY, OR MY OFFICE DOES.

BIC REALTY. IT WAS A IT WAS A HOME AND WE CONVERTED INTO AN OFFICE.

AND MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN THERE AND IT'S WORKED REALLY WELL FOR US.

BUT WHAT'S HAPPENED IS THE TRANSITION FROM THE RESIDENTIAL AND AREAS INTO A VIBRANT COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR. AND, YOU KNOW, BACK THEN IT WAS JUST DOCTOR GARCIA, MY COUSIN NEXT DOOR AND I AND OTHER THAT THAT'S ALL THERE WAS.

BUT I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU DOWN. JUST A QUICK LITTLE TIMELINE HERE.

WE START HERE AT THE I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU WHAT I CALL FIVE POWER CORNERS FROM NORTH 10TH STREET ALL THE WAY DOWN TO SUGAR ROAD ALL ALONG FREDI GONZALEZ.

SO WE START AT THIS CORNER HERE ON THE WEST, AND WE HAVE LONE STAR NATIONAL BANK ON ONE

[01:30:03]

CORNER, A LARGE DAYCARE HERE.

WE CONTINUE ON. WE HAVE CORDON'S ITALIAN FOOD, WHICH IS A GREAT PLACE TO EAT.

OF COURSE YOU HAVE OUR LITTLE BIKE REALTY.

OUR OFFICE AND NEXT DOOR IS A VETERINARIAN CLINIC.

AND THEN THE CITY HAS SOME BUILDINGS AND SUCH THERE.

WE MOVE, CONTINUE EAST, AND WE HAVE ANOTHER POWER CORNER.

IT'S ON THE CORNER OF MONARCH.

YOU HAVE A PEDIATRICIAN, SOME ATTORNEYS AND OTHER ANCILLARY BUSINESSES THAT ARE HERE ACROSS THE STREET, CITY OF EDINBURGH.

AND I CIRCLED THESE BECAUSE I THINK ALL THESE ARE ZONED COMMERCIAL.

WE GO FROM POWER CORNER NORTH 10TH, POWER CORNER MONARCH.

THEN WE GO TO THE SUPER POWER CORNER THAT I CALL THE OR.

THE H-E-B IS ON MCCALL.

SO WE HAVE H-E-B WHO'S GOING TO BE EXPANDING SOON, AND IT'S GOING TO EMPLOY HUNDREDS OF MORE EMPLOYEES ACROSS THE STREET.

YOU HAVE CHURCHES, FRIED CHICKEN, ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES TO GO.

YOU HAVE THE GOODWILL STORE.

AND THEN YOU HAVE WALGREENS. SO THIS IS A POWER POWER CORNER.

THEN YOU CONTINUE FURTHER EAST, AND NOW WE GET TO THIS CORNER HERE.

THE ONLY ONE OF THE FIVE POWER CORNERS THAT'S NOT COMMERCIAL.

AND THERE'S A REASON FOR THAT.

THREE OF THE FOUR CORNERS THE NORTHWEST, THE SOUTHWEST AND THE SOUTHEAST ARE ALL INHIBITED BY WHAT I CALL TRACK TYPE HOUSING.

BUT IT'S IT'S NICE HOUSING.

IT WAS DONE YEARS AND YEARS AGO BY LARGE CORPORATIONS, US HOMES, I BELIEVE, DID THESE SUBDIVISIONS, AND THEY DID THEM RIGHT UNDER THEIR UNIFORM.

THEY WORK WELL IN THE COMMUNITY.

BUT WHEN THESE LARGE CORPORATIONS DID THESE SUBDIVISIONS, THEY DID NOT LEAVE ANY HARD CORNERS.

THEY THEY DEVELOPED THE ENTIRE THE THE ENTIRE SUBDIVISIONS.

AND THERE ARE BEAUTIFUL HOMES IN THOSE.

SO I THINK IN MY LIFETIME, WE'RE NEVER GOING TO SEE ANY COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY ON THREE OF THESE FOUR CORNERS.

THE ONLY VIABLE CORNER FOR COMMERCIAL IS THIS RIGHT HERE, THE NORTHEAST CORNER, THE SUBJECT CORNER THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY. WHILE WE'RE NOT AT THE HARD CORNER, THIS IS THE HOSTOS HUSTLES PROPERTY ON THE HARD CORNER, AND MR. HUSTLE SPOKE BEFORE YOU TODAY. WHILE THEY HAVE A RESIDENCE AT THAT, NOW THAT HE LIVES IN, THEY'RE GOING TO COME BEFORE YOU HERE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS TO ALSO ASK FOR THE REZONING, BECAUSE IT ONLY MAKES SENSE AT THAT ENTIRE CORRIDOR THERE BE COMMERCIAL.

AND YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE GOT THIS AT THE DOLLAR STORE. OH, IT WORKS OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. OKAY. SO NEXT DOOR.

SO THIS IS SUBJECT RIGHT HERE.

THIS IS 2217 FREDI GONZALEZ.

THE HOUSE IS ABOUT 3500 SQUARE FOOT HOME.

IT SITS WAY BACK FROM THE ROADWAY, HAS A BEAUTIFUL POOL IN THE BACK.

ANYWAY, IT'S CONDUCIVE TO WHAT MY WIFE WOULD LIKE TO DO.

FREDI GONZALEZ CONTINUES FIVE LANE ROADWAY ALL THE WAY THROUGH, ALL THE WAY FROM 10TH, ALL THE WAY TO TO SUGAR.

NOW WE GET TO THE FINAL CORNER, WHICH IS SUGAR ROAD.

YOU HAVE VANTAGE BANK HERE AND YOU HAVE WALGREENS ACROSS THE STREET.

THE OTHER TWO CORNERS, WHILE ARE NOT OCCUPIED AT THIS TIME, ARE BOTH ZONED COMMERCIAL.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR SOMETHING THAT'S NOT DESERVED.

THIS IS SOMETHING I THINK THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

IT IS A COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR.

IT'S NO LONGER THE SLEEPY LITTLE AREA THAT IT WAS 30 YEARS AGO, THANKS TO COUNCIL. LIKE LIKE YOURS.

AND WE THEREFORE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THAT WE REZONE THIS FROM SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL.

AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

EITHER MY WIFE AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL MAY HAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. ANYTHING BOBBY HASSELL IS PASSIONATE ABOUT HAS MY VOTE.

SO AND I DO WANT TO SAY FOR ANY OF THOSE, ANY OF US THAT LIKE TO FIX UP OUR FRONT YARD AND LIGHTS, THAT'S THAT HOUSE.

EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT. THAT'S THAT HOUSE WITH THE BIG HEARTS ON THE FENCE RIGHT NOW AT CHRISTMAS TIME. HAD A LOT OF LIGHTS ON IT.

IT'S A GREAT, GREAT PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WON'T BE PART OF THE REQUIREMENT.

YOU HAVE TO KEEP DOING ALL THE HOLIDAYS.

BUT IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE THAT WISHES TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS? THE THE PUBLIC HEARING IS STILL OPEN.

IF NOT, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

COUNCIL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ANY DISCUSSION.

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

[9. ORDINANCE]

SAME SIGN. MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU FOR INVESTING IN OUR CITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[A. Consider Ordinance Providing for a Temporary Special Use Permit for a Special Event, “56th Annual Fiesta Edinburg Event & Parade” to be Held from Thursday, February 27, 2025, to Sunday, March 2, 2025, at Bert Ogden Arena, Being Lot 1, Edinburg Arena Subdivision, Located at 4900 South I 69 C, as Requested by Edinburg Chamber of Commerce. [Jaime Acevedo, Director of Planning & Zoning]]

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM NINE ORDINANCES.

ITEM A CONSIDER ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR A TEMPORARY SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A SPECIAL EVENT 56TH ANNUAL FIESTA EDINBURG EVENT AND PARADE TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH, 2025 TO SUNDAY, MARCH 2ND, 2025 AT BERT OGDEN ARENA, BEING LOT ONE EDINBURG ARENA SUBDIVISION LOCATED AT 4900 SOUTH I-69C.

AS REQUESTED BY EDINBURG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

[10. AWARDING OF BIDS]

APPROVED. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN.

[A. Consider Awarding RFP No. 2025-01, Landfill Perimeter Drainage Improvements to Longhorn Excavators, Inc. of Richmond, Texas and Authorize City Manager to Enter Into Agreements Relating Thereto. [Ramiro L. Gomez, Director of Solid Waste Management]]

MOTION CARRIES. WE HAVE ITEM TEN.

AWARDING OF BIDS. CONSIDER AWARDING RFP NUMBER 2020 501,

[01:35:04]

LANDFILL PERIMETER DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS TO LONGHORN EXCAVATORS OF RICHMOND, TEXAS, AND AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT RELATING THERETO. COUNCIL MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ANY DISCUSSION.

IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

[B. Consider Awarding RFQ No. 2025-002, Downtown Parking Garage Design-Build Services to One or More Qualified Firms Listed and Authorize the City Manager or a Designated Appointee to Solicit Proposals from the Selected Firms. [Mardoqueo Hinojosa, P.E., CFM, City Engineer]]

ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES. ITEM B CONSIDER AWARDING RFQ NUMBER 2025.

DASH 002 DOWNTOWN PARKING GARAGE DESIGN BUILD SERVICES TO ONE OR MORE QUALIFIED FIRMS LISTED AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER OR DESIGNATED APPOINTEE TO SOLICIT PROPOSALS FROM THE SELECTED FIRMS. MOTION TO DENY. SECOND.

WE HAVE MOTION AND A SECOND TO DENY ANY DISCUSSION.

I GUESS ONE OF MY SO ON THE PARKING GARAGES, I'M NOT NECESSARILY THE ONLY REASON WHY I'M DENIED. I'M NOT NECESSARILY AGAINST THE PARKING GARAGE FOR THE COUNTY. SOME OF MY CONCERNS WITH THE PARKING GARAGE IS THAT AS SOON AS THE COUNTY MOVES INTO THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE, THEY'VE ALREADY OUTGROWN IT.

SO TO ME, BY HAVING THE BY HAVING THE PARKING GARAGE THERE, IT'S ALREADY CLUSTERED.

SO TO ME, I'D RATHER USE THE MONIES THAT WE'VE ALLOCATED FOR PARKING.

I'D RATHER BUY A BUNCH OF PROPERTY. I'D RATHER BUY A BUNCH OF PROPERTY UP AND AND MAKE EXTRA PARKING BY BY MAKE EXTRA PARKING FOR THE COMMUNITY AND USE THAT COUNTY LOT FOR THE COUNTY TO HAVE MORE ROOM TO GROW.

THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHTS.

THE REASON WHY I'M DENIED IT.

I'M NOT AGAINST NOT HAVING PARKING A PARKING GARAGE FOR THE COUNTY.

I JUST FEEL THAT WITH COUNTY BEING THE NUMBER ONE PLACE WHERE THE LAWSUITS HAPPEN AND THE COUNTY BEING THE COUNTY SEAT, WE NEED MORE ROOM TO GROW.

AND BY PLACING THAT PARKING GARAGE THERE, WE'RE LIMITING THE SPACE THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE THE COUNTY TO FLOURISH IN THAT COURTHOUSE.

SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY I'M AGAINST THE PARKING GARAGE IN GENERAL AND MYSELF.

I DECIDED TO I'M THINKING ABOUT THIS ONE FOR A WHILE.

I DON'T THINK THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN TRANSPARENT ON WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING WITH THE PARKING GARAGE. THIS STARTED AS A THREE STORY STRUCTURE WITH BUSINESSES ON THE BOTTOM.

I THINK IT WAS LIKE $12 MILLION.

WE WENT OUT FOR BONDS AND MONIES TO BE DEDICATED AND ALL THIS STUFF, AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND I GOT TO WATCH HOW I SAY THIS, BECAUSE A LOT OF THIS DISCUSSION IS DONE IN THE BACK OR IT'S NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

SO A LOT OF THIS DISCUSSION KEEPS COMING DOWN.

AND THAT'S I CAN SAY THIS, THAT'S NOT THE EDIFICE THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS LOOKING AT HERE TODAY. AND I THINK WE HAVE ISSUES WITH WHAT WE TOLD THE PUBLIC WE WERE GOING TO DO, WHAT WE WANTED TO DO AND WHAT WE THE FUNDING THAT WAS GOING TO BE DONE AND THE FACADE THAT WAS GOING TO BE BUILT.

I THINK WE'VE CHANGED EVERYTHING. AND I THINK THAT'S.

I THINK WE'RE WRONG. I THINK WE NEED TO BRING IT BACK OUT HERE IN DISCUSSION BEFORE WE BRING THIS. EXACTLY. ALL RIGHT. LET'S HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THIS NEXT MEETING SO WE CAN LET EVERYBODY KNOW WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IN THE BACK. AND ONE OF MY OTHER CONCERNS IS, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY ALREADY SAW A, A A DESIGN OF THE OF A RENDERING OF HOW IT WAS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE.

OBVIOUSLY INFLATION PLAYS A HAND IN IT AND COST OF GOODS HAVE GONE UP AND BUT THEY SAW BEAUTIFUL DESIGN, THE DESIGN THAT WE THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE ALLOCATED IS NOT THE DESIGN THAT THEY'RE GOING TO RECEIVE. AND I AND THAT'S ANOTHER REASON WHY I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH IT. I JUST FEEL THAT THAT THE COMMUNITY IS EXPECTING ONE THING, AND THEY AND WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET IS NOT WHAT THE RENDERING THAT ORIGINALLY CAME OUT.

SO THAT'S A CONCERN FOR ME AS WELL.

ANYBODY ELSE? YEAH. I JUST WANT TO STATE THAT FIRST OF ALL THERE WAS BONDS ISSUED.

WHEN WERE THE BONDS ISSUE.

21 EXCUSE ME IN 2021 2021.

AND SO WE HAVE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO DO SOMETHING WITH IT.

I THINK I CONCUR WITH COUNCILMAN DE LEON IN TERMS OF WHAT INITIALLY HAD BEEN PUT OUT THERE, BUT OBVIOUSLY THAT WAS DESIGNED THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS FOR.

WE GOT TO STAY WITHIN OUR BUDGET, RIGHT.

FROM MY STANDPOINT AND I THINK THIS METHOD THAT STAFF HAS BEEN PROPOSING WHAT IS A DESIGN BUILD SERVICES, PROBABLY A WAY TO GET THERE.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER DE LEON, WHAT'S HAPPENED IS IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, I THINK IF WE PROCEED WITH THIS, THE TEAMS, THESE LIST OF COMPANIES THAT SUBMITTED, THEY HAVE A WHOLE TEAM OF DESIGNERS, IS THAT CORRECT? ENGINEERS THAT ARE GOING TO REDESIGN THIS? AM I CORRECT ON THAT OR.

I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT IS AN ACCURATE STATEMENT. THIS IS A DESIGN BUILD PROCESS WHICH INCLUDES THE TEAMS OF TEAM OF CONTRACTORS AND ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS AS PART OF THE TEAM THAT WILL BE SELECTED.

OKAY. AND PART OF THIS PROCESS, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK WITH THE FUNDS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S AN ACCURATE STATEMENT AS WELL. AND AS

[01:40:03]

PART OF THIS, IF WE WERE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, WE'RE NOT SIGNING A CONTRACT WITH ANYBODY.

WE'RE JUST ESSENTIALLY SAYING THESE FIRMS ARE QUALIFIED TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL FOR US TO CONSIDER. IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT. SO AS PART OF THE PROCESS, THIS IS A STEP ONE OF A TWO STEP PROCESS.

THIS IS ONLY TO QUALIFY THEM AND TAKE THEM TO STEP TWO, WHICH OUR COST WOULD BE ASSOCIATED AND RANKED, AND BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.

SO IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING, MISS AYALA, WE HAVE $6 MILLION.

SO WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT MONEY? WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE WITH IT. BONDS WERE ISSUED TO BUILD A PARKING GARAGE.

THAT DECISION WAS MADE PRIOR TO ME BEING ON HERE AND PRIOR TO COUNCILMEMBER DIAZ AND COUNCILMEMBER DELEON. I MEAN, MY QUESTION IS, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THOSE FUNDS? I MEAN, THE TAXPAYERS ARE I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE TOLD WE'RE GOING TO ISSUE BONDS TO BUILD A PARKING GARAGE.

SO NOW WE'RE SAYING WE DON'T WANT TO DO IT.

SO WHAT HAPPENED TO THOSE FUNDS? SO, SO THE THE INITIAL INTENT FOR THE BONDS WERE FOR A PARKING GARAGE. HOWEVER, THERE MAY BE SOME LANGUAGE THERE WHERE THERE MAY BE A LITTLE BIT OF, OF THERE MAY BE OPTIONS FOR THE USE OF THOSE FUNDS. WE WOULD NEED TO GET WITH THE BOND COUNCIL JUST TO GET A CLEAR DIRECTION AS TO WHAT CAN THOSE FUNDS BE USED FOR, BECAUSE THEY WERE EDC FUNDS AS WELL AS CITY FUNDS. SO THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT BONDS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH IN THIS CASE.

BUT THE INITIAL INTENT WAS TO BUILD A PARKING GARAGE AND MAYBE FOR SOME HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE FOR ON COUNCIL THAT MAYBE HAD NOT BEEN A PART OF THIS YEARS AGO.

THE COUNTY WAS LOOKING TO MOVE THE COURTHOUSE.

THEY WERE LOOKING TO MOVE IT TO, I THINK, TO ANOTHER CITY, TO WHEREVER, BECAUSE THEY WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO. AND THE CITY OF EDINBURGH COMMITTED ACTUALLY $30 MILLION, IF I RECALL, AT THAT TIME.

SO THEY CAN STAY HERE.

OBVIOUSLY THE COUNTY THEN SAID, OKAY, WELL, LET'S KEEP IT HERE. THEY ISSUED THEIR BONDS AND TO BUILD A COURTHOUSE.

BUT OBVIOUSLY THEN AFTER THAT, THE CITY SAID, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU THAT MONEY. AND SO WHAT'S HAPPENED IS THERE'S BEEN A PROCESS THAT THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THE COUNTY BUILDS A COURTHOUSE HERE.

AND SO THAT 30 MILLION WENT AWAY FROM THAT STANDPOINT A FEW YEARS AGO, PRIOR ADMINISTRATION. AND SO PRIOR TO AT LEAST ME GETTING ELECTED AND SOME OF YOU GETTING ELECTED, THE COUNTY CAME INTO PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY BECAUSE THEY REALIZED THEY WERE GOING TO NEED PARKING. RIGHT? AND SO THEY SAID, WELL, LET'S BUILD A PARKING GARAGE. SO THEY DEEDED OVER THAT PROPERTY TO THE CITY FOR THE PURPOSE OF BUILDING PARKING GARAGE. AND THE CITY OR EDC ISSUED BONDS TO BUILD A PARKING GARAGE.

SO I, I PERSONALLY, I JUST FEEL WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO MOVE FORWARD.

IT'S A COMMITMENT THAT WAS MADE BY THIS CITY.

AND SO WE'VE TOLD THE COUNTY NO.

IN THE 30 MINUTES WE TOLD THEM NO ON THIS OTHER THING, AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO TELL THEM NO. I'M BUILDING A PARKING GARAGE AND THESE ARE FUNDS THAT WERE ISSUED NOT BY US, BUT IT WAS JUST ISSUED.

AND WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITY TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON IT. BUT I'M ONE PERSON.

I'M JUST STATING MY OPINION.

I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THIS DESIGN BUILD SERVICES IS A WAY FOR US TO LOOK AND MAKE SURE WE STAY WITHIN BUDGET.

AND THERE'S A PROCESS INVOLVED HERE TONIGHT.

IF WE WERE TO PROCEED FORWARD WITH THIS, WE'RE JUST SELECTING FIRMS TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS. BUT THAT'S I THINK WHAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER.

BUT AGAIN I'M NOT SURE FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE LOOKING TO DENY IT, WHAT IS THE PLAN, THEN? DO WE ALL NOT WANT TO DO IT OR BEFORE WE GO THERE, ONE MORE THING. SO I GUESS MY ONLY CONCERN IS THAT I CAN ONLY GO OFF OF WHAT I SEE.

SO I HISTORICALLY HERE, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE PARKING GARAGES DO NOT WORK HERE IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. IT MIGHT WORK IN SAN ANTONIO, IT MIGHT WORK IN HOUSTON, IT MIGHT WORK IN DALLAS, BUT IT DOES NOT WORK HERE.

I FEEL LIKE IT IS ALREADY CROWDED IN THE PARKING GARAGE.

THERE'S LAWYERS WHO LITERALLY WANT TO HAVE THEIR OFFICE AWAY FROM THE COURTHOUSE, BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO BE IN THE TRAFFIC AND GOING AROUND THE COURTHOUSE.

THE COURTHOUSE IS ALREADY CLUTTERED.

GIVE THAT THAT LAND FOR THE COUNTY SO THEY CAN GROW SO THEY CAN HAVE MORE COURTS THERE.

WE CAN BUY PROPERTIES UP, BUILD MORE, MORE PARKING WITH THAT 6 MILLION.

AND THAT WAY THE COUNTY HAS MORE ROOM TO GROW.

THAT'S MY ONLY CONCERN. I'M NOT SAYING I'M AGAINST THE PARKING GARAGE.

I'M NOT SAYING I'M AGAINST PARKING. I DO THINK WE DO NEED THE PARKING. WE DO NEED TO ADDRESS IT. BUT I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO ALSO DECIDE ON WHAT WE WANT DOWNTOWN TO BE.

IT'S NEVER GOING TO BE AN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT WITH IT BEING THAT CLUSTERED BY MAKING MORE PARKING, MORE LAND, SPREADING THINGS OUT.

WE CAN GET TO THAT ENTERTAINMENT FEEL OF A CITY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

SO I'M NOT AGAINST THE PARKING. I'M JUST SIMPLY AGAINST THE PARKING GARAGE BEING THERE WHERE IT'S AT. YEAH. AND MY COMMENT AND MY POSITION IS THAT FOR YEARS, EVEN BEFORE I CAME ON COUNCIL, THIS EDC WAS INVOLVED.

AND ALL THE BUSINESS, ALL THE BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN, THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT, THE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN TOLD THAT THERE WILL BE PARKING SUFFICIENT FOR THE BUSINESSES.

[01:45:02]

THE EDC WAS INVOLVED SINCE THE GET GO BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMIC FACTOR OF IT.

AND INITIALLY THE COST THAT CAME IN AND CHIEFS.

CORRECT. THERE WAS A LOT OF TALKS IN THE BACK.

BUT THIS THIS ITEM HAS BEEN ON PACK.

IT'S BEEN IT'S BEEN FOR PUBLIC VIEW ALL ALL THESE YEARS.

WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT THE, THE THE DESIGN CAME WAY OVER BUDGET AND IT WAS NEVER PLANNED TO BE THAT BIG.

THE BEAUTIFUL RENDERINGS.

THE COURTHOUSE IS EXPECTING TO HAVE PARKING FOR THE AREA BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THE COURTHOUSE IS A COUNTY PROBLEM, IT ALWAYS BECOMES A CITY OF EDINBURGH PROBLEM. BECAUSE IT IS OUR STREETS.

THE BUSINESSES ARE EXPECTING PARKING.

THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE PLANNING AND EXPANDING LIKE CITRUS, LIVE AND ALL THAT HAVE ALL BEEN TOLD THAT THERE WILL BE A PARKING GARAGE CLOSE BY.

I THINK THAT NOT ONE PARKING GARAGE IS NOT ENOUGH.

I THINK EVENTUALLY IT HAS TO BE PLANNED OUT CORRECTLY.

I DISAGREE, I DON'T WANT TO DISPLACE ANY OTHER HOMES OR ANY OTHER AREAS THERE TO EXPAND PARKING. ON ONE LEVEL I THINK IT SHOULD BE MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE LEVELS, BUT MAYBE SPREAD THEM OUT.

SO IT'S NOT JUST ON ONE PLACE.

I THINK THE ISSUE THAT INITIALLY THERE WAS A NEW CITY, THERE WAS ANOTHER CITY MANAGER BACK THEN, THERE WAS NEVER ANY EVALUATION OF THE PARKING NEEDS OF THE COURTHOUSE.

AND THERE WAS THERE WAS JUST A DISPLACEMENT BETWEEN THAT AND THE PLANS OF THE COURTHOUSE.

I'M SORRY, OF THE PARKING GARAGE.

WHAT WHAT WE DECIDED TO DO IS TO TRY AND STAY UNDER BUDGET AND DO WHAT IS CALLED A DESIGN BUILD. WE HAVE THE PROJECT MANAGER HERE. WHERE, WHERE NOW YOU HAVE TO DESIGN IT WITHIN BUDGET AND OF COURSE NOT HAVING THE SAME FUNDS EVERY YEAR. WE WAIT. THE COST IS GOING UP.

IT NO LONGER LOOKS LIKE THE INITIAL RENDERINGS.

SO I'M I'M I'M NOT FOR DENYING IT.

I'M FOR TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT AND GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR YEARS AND GIVE THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES PARKING FOR THEM.

I KNOW ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE EDC WAS INVOLVED IN THE PARKING GARAGE, BECAUSE THERE WAS GOING TO BE RETAIL SPACE IN THIS DESIGN.

IS THERE GOING TO BE IS THERE GOING TO BE ANY RETAIL IN THIS NEW DESIGN IN THE $6 MILLION BUDGET? IT'S NOT DESIGNED YET.

WHOA WHOA WHOA. WHAT IS IT REQUESTED IN THE IN THE BUILD PHASE THAT WE REQUESTED IT? IT'S NOT DESIGNED BEING REQUESTED. IT HASN'T BEEN DESIGNED BECAUSE NOW WE'RE STARTING TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. I WAS TRYING TO TO TO AVOID.

BUT IF THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GO TALK ABOUT. WELL, NO, THERE WAS DIRECTIONS GIVEN BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT JUST SAYING HERE, BUILD US A GARAGE, RIGHT. YOU'VE GOT TO BE TELLING THESE PEOPLE SOMETHING. WE'RE JUST ANSWERING COUNCIL MEMBER QUESTION. IF THERE'S GOING TO BE RESTAURANT SPACE. AND WHAT I'M SAYING IS I DON'T IT'S NOT DESIGNED.

SO WHEREVER WE WOULD ARE WE TELLING THEM TO PUT THAT IN THERE? I'M NOT SURE WHAT WE'RE TELLING. WHAT ARE WE? WE ARE NOT AT THIS POINT.

WE ARE NOT. AND WHERE DID YOU GET THAT INSTRUCTION FROM? STAFF. WHO TOLD YOU NOT TO PUT.

AT THIS TIME, WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT DISCUSSION.

AT THIS TIME WE HAVEN'T. YOU JUST WAS NOT GOING TO BE.

NO NO, NO. AT THIS TIME WE HAVE NOT HAD DISCUSSION. BUT TO GO BACK TO MAYOR PRO TEM DE LEON'S QUESTION INITIALLY IT WAS JUST FOR A PARKING GARAGE, BUT ONCE THE ARCHITECT STARTED HAVING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE EDC THEY PROPOSED THAT IF THERE COULD BE ANY COMMERCIAL OR ANY RESTAURANTS IN THE PARKING GARAGE.

BUT INITIALLY IT DID NOT START THAT WAY.

THOSE DISCUSSIONS WERE HAD A LITTLE LATER.

SO WITH THE DIRECTION AND THE DESIRE OF EDC, THE ARCHITECTS THEN STARTED DESIGNING THE PARKING GARAGE WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF RESTAURANTS OR I DON'T KNOW, LIKE MAYBE SHOPS OR SOMETHING TO THAT NATURE.

BUT INITIALLY IT DIDN'T START THAT WAY.

SO THE DESIGN THAT CAME OUT, YOU ARE NOT CORRECT.

I WAS HERE AS A COUNCIL MEMBER AT THE TIME, AND THAT WAS ALL PART OF IT.

THAT'S HOW WE GET THE $6 MILLION KICKED IN BY EDC.

SO MY UNDERSTANDING. WELL, I WAS HERE.

OKAY. SO THEN YES. DO YOU EVER SEE ANY OTHER RENDERINGS OTHER THAN WHEN THEY FIRST CAME OUT WITHOUT IT? WELL, THEY HADN'T FINISHED THE RENDERINGS UNTIL.

AND THAT'S WHERE THIS EDC REPRESENTATIVE AT THE TIME WOULD, WOULD DEBATE IT WITH US. HOW THE ORIGINAL HOW ARE WE GOING TO JUSTIFY IT? THE ORIGINAL COST UNDER THE DESIGN THAT CAME OUT THAT EVERYONE HAD SAW, THAT CAME OUT IN THE NEWSPAPER. WHAT WAS THE COST ON THAT DESIGN? THE, THE THE BID THAT CAME OUT? YES. THE BID THAT WE RECEIVED ON THAT DESIGN.

I BELIEVE IT WAS LIKE 16 MILLION.

YES, SIR. HI. GOOD EVENING.

TOM, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER. YES, SIR.

THE BID IS CORRECT. IT WAS PART OF THAT.

OUR BID CAME OUT WHEN WE DID PUT IT OUT FOR BID WAS OVER $15 MILLION, WHICH WAS STILL OVER EXACTLY WHAT WE HAD IN OUR BUDGET.

WE HAD AT THAT TIME. WE HAD A LITTLE TEN, NOT COUNTING.

WE STILL HAD TO DO THE PAY THE ARCHITECTS FOR THAT SERVICES.

ALSO THE THE GEOTECH, THE GEOTECH TESTING BECAUSE OF THE AREA AND ALSO THE PARKING NEEDS ASSESSMENT.

WE DID DO A PARKING NEEDS ASSESSMENT. SO ALL OF THAT CAME OUT OF THAT ONE FUND.

[01:50:04]

SO US TO LOOK AT, TO MAKE THE PARKING GARAGE WITHIN A BUDGET, WE HAD TO DETERMINE, OKAY, THIS IS HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAVE, HOW MUCH CAN WE ACTUALLY MAKE WITH THE WITH WHAT'S LEFT IN THE BUDGET WITH THAT AMOUNT? SO THAT'S WHY WE CAME UP WITH A DESIGN BUILD CONCEPT SO WE CAN TRY TO MAKE THAT BUDGET ALSO WITHIN THE PARKING AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE WITH THE COUNTY, WE HAVE TO DO A MINIMUM REQUIREMENT OF PARKING SPOTS AND FOR US TO MAKE THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS ALONG WITH TO MAKE THE BUDGET, WE HAD TO REMOVE SOME ITEMS SO WE CAN PROPOSE WHATEVER DESIGN WE'RE GOING TO DO WITHIN THAT AMOUNT.

THE DESIGN IN THAT $16 MILLION PROJECT, THE ORIGINAL DESIGN THAT CAME OUT, THAT RENDERING, HOW MANY PARKING SPACES WERE IN THAT DESIGN? IT WAS A LITTLE OVER 2 TO 95.

OKAY. SO THEN AS IF THIS GOES THROUGH AND THEN WE GET THE BIDS, HOW MANY HOW MANY PARKING SPACES ARE WE GOING TO BE? DO YOU THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE RECEIVING NOW THAT WE'RE HAVING TO CUT SO MUCH OUT? WE'RE HOPING TO GET A LITTLE ABOVE 255.

55. DOES THAT EVEN MEET THE NEEDS OF THE OF THE COURTHOUSE? WITH HOW MUCH PARKING WE HAVE PER DAY, AS PER OUR AGREEMENT, WE HAD TO MEET 202 25.

BUT REMEMBER, THOUGH, WE'RE THINKING WE'RE JUST GOING ON WITH THE AGREEMENT. I'M TRYING TO THINK LONG TERM WISE. YOU KNOW, WE STILL ARE NOT ADDRESSING AS SOON AS THE THE COUNTY MOVES INTO THAT COURTHOUSE, THEY HAVE ALREADY OUTGROWN IT.

THAT IS A CONCERN FOR ME THAT THAT WE'RE NOT PLANNING FAR ENOUGH.

WE'RE NOT LIKE, WE'RE JUST.

WE'RE GIVING THEM THE BARE MINIMUM.

WELL, WE CAN'T FORGET ALSO, MAYOR PRO TEM THAT PART OF THIS, IT IS FOR THE COUNTY, RIGHT? I MEAN, THAT WAS THE WHOLE PURPOSE. DEEDING OVER THE PROPERTY SO WE CAN BUILD A PARKING GARAGE. BUT YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT WE JUST BUILT.

HOW BIG IS OUR CULTURAL ARTS FACILITY? YES, SIR. THOSE ARE. THAT'S WHAT.

AND HOW BIG IS. HOW MANY PEOPLE DO WE GET HERE? COMING TO FESTIVALS, EVENTS, TO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO BRING HERE TO OUR RIGHT NOW. WE CAN FIT UP TO ALMOST 500 PEOPLE.

PART OF THIS IS ALSO HELPING SUPPORT THAT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THAT'S IN THE EVENING.

THAT'S ON THE WEEKENDS. RIGHT? COURTHOUSE IS NOT THERE. YOU ALL HAVE BEEN HERE TO THESE EVENTS. PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO FIND PARKING ALL THROUGHOUT THE AREA.

THIS. YES, IT WILL HELP.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO HELP DIRECTLY THE THE COUNTY DURING THE DAY.

BUT WE WERE ALSO GOING TO BE PUTTING IT TO USE.

RIGHT. IN TERMS OF ALL THE EVENTS OF FACILITIES WE HAVE AND WE JUST KIND OF FELT LIKE, OR AT LEAST FROM MY STANDPOINT, THAT THIS IS A WAY FOR US TO AT LEAST FIND OUT IS, COULD THIS EVEN BE DONE? I MEAN, I DON'T I REALLY DON'T KNOW THAT.

I MEAN, IF WE WERE TO MOVE FORWARD AND HAVE THESE FIRMS SUBMIT AN RFP WHAT ARE THEY SUBMITTING? I'M JUST CURIOUS, IS THIS THE FIRST STEP? RIGHT. THAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW. BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT WOULD BE A PRELIMINARY DESIGN WITH THEIR WORKING BUDGET AT THEIR COST.

AT THEIR COST. OKAY. BUT WITH THAT, WHO GUIDES THEM ON WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD? YOU DON'T SAY, HERE, BUILD ME THIS AND COME UP WITH THE PROJECT. WE'VE GOT TO GIVE THEM SOME SOME BOUNDARIES.

RIGHT. SO WHAT ARE OUR BOUNDARIES? YES, SIR. THE BOUNDARIES RIGHT NOW RESTAURANTS.

WE HAVE OUR PROJECT MANAGER HERE. THAT COULD ANSWER THAT. MR. CARLOS FROM BROWNSTONE HE'S THE ONE THAT REALLY WE'RE GOING TO START WORKING ON.

CARLOS, IF YOU CAN. I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.

TOM, IS THERE GOING TO BE A CHARGE FOR ANYONE WHO PARKS IN THE PARKING GARAGE THAT YET HAS BEEN DETERMINED YET? IS THAT AN OPTION? AT THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL WOULD BE.

OKAY. SO THEN. SO IF THERE IS A CHARGE THAT GOES BACK TO DOWNTOWN MCALLEN, PEOPLE DON'T PARK THEIR CARS IN THE PARKING GARAGE BECAUSE OF THE CHARGE.

IT COULD BE A DOLLAR. IT COULD BE TWO. FOR WHATEVER REASON. IT JUST IT DOESN'T WORK.

THAT'S WHY I WAS SUGGESTING BUYING PROPERTIES.

THAT WAY THERE'S NO CHARGE.

YOU KNOW, THEY COULD WE CAN CLEAR A BUNCH OF PROPERTY OUT AND START MAKING PAVING PARKINGS. AND FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT WAY THERE IS NO CHARGE.

IF THAT IS AN OPTION THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE CHARGING FOR PARKING AT THIS, AT THIS JUST, YOU KNOW, AT THE SAME TIME WE WE WERE LOOKING AT THE BUILDING, THAT ONE AND THE OTHER COUNCIL, WE BOUGHT PROPERTY ACROSS THE STREET ALSO OVER THERE BY THE RAILROAD TRACKS AND THE PARTY. PARTY PRODUCE.

YES, SIR. RIGHT. THE EDC YEAH.

THE AND THAT WAS PART OF PARKING TOO BEFORE WE HAD THE ADDITION.

BUT PEOPLE FORGET THAT ONE.

THAT WAS PART OF THE THE MASTER PLAN FOR PARKING OVER THERE, TOO. I THINK THIS OTHER PIECE OF PROPERTY BEFORE WE ENDED UP SELLING TO THE UNIVERSITY WAS TO BE PARKING TWO.

NOW, I'M TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER COUNCIL THAT YOU GUYS AREN'T A PART OF, AND I'M NOT TRYING TO GO THERE WITH YOU ALL, BUT THOSE ARE ALL AVENUES TO. BUT EVERYBODY SEEMS TO HAVE FORGOTTEN ABOUT OR CITY MANAGER IS NOT BRINGING TO US.

BUT THOSE ARE ALL OTHER ISSUES.

AND MAYOR, I'M NOT AGAINST DOING THIS.

I JUST WANT TO COME BACK OUT AND LET THE PEOPLE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE NOT DOING. WE'RE NOT TRANSPARENT.

WELL, I ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT BEING TRANSPARENT. I GOT OTHER ISSUES TO BRING UP ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, BUT WE'RE NOT TELLING PEOPLE WHAT WE WANT TO DO. WE DID BRING OUT A BIG, BEAUTIFUL EDIFICE, AND WE TOLD THEM THIS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, AND IT'S GOING TO BE $12 MILLION.

IF YOU CAN STILL DO THAT, I'M ALL GAME, OR AT LEAST LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WE WHAT WE WIN BONDS FOR.

AND YOU KNOW, I'VE ALREADY TOLD YOU BEFORE, I'M AGAINST JUST SPENDING MONEY JUST BECAUSE

[01:55:02]

I GOT A LOAN, I BETTER SPEND IT.

WELL, IF I GOT THE LOAN AND I LOOK AT THAT CAR AND IT TURNS OUT TO BE A PIECE OF CRAP, OR IT JUST CAN'T DO IT, I'M NOT GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY.

I'M GOING TO GIVE IT BACK. OR IF I CAN'T GIVE IT BACK, I GET A DOWN PAYMENT. I DON'T SPEND IT. NOBODY DOES THAT WELL.

I THINK THAT'S PART OF WHY IT'S HERE. I WOULD LIKE MR. CARLOS TO JUST COME UP REAL QUICK. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KIND OF LAY OUT. WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE? WHAT WHAT THIS PROCESS.

AND AND JUST THIS IS THE FIRST STEP OF TWO.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS, ALONG WITH BROWNSTONE CONSULTANT. SO THE STATUTE FOR DESIGN BUILD IS LAID OUT AS A TWO STEP PROCESS.

AND LET ME ASK REAL QUICK.

MAYBE IT'S MORE FOR CITY MANAGER. WHEN DID WE DECIDE TO DO GO THIS ROUTE? DO YOU ALL HAD A PACK MEETING? IS THAT CORRECT? IT WAS.

I'M JUST TRYING TO SPEAK TO CHIEF. I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR ON WE'RE BEING OPEN OR NOT. OR WHAT? I REMEMBER IT WAS ALL DECISIONS WE MADE BACK THERE.

I REMEMBER I REMEMBER MAKING THE DECISION WHEN WE DECIDED TO GO THIS. BUT THEN I STARTED LOOKING. WHERE WHERE ARE WE BEING WITH.

WE'RE NOT. IT'S ELECTION YEAR.

AND THIS GUYS IT'S TRANSPARENCY.

RIGHT. AND I DON'T THINK WE'VE BEEN TRANSPARENT. I DON'T THINK WE'VE BEEN TRANSPARENT ON A LOT OF STUFF. I DON'T THINK WE'VE BEEN TRANSPARENT ON THE ON OUR EXECUTIVE SESSIONS. LOOK AT OUR EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENTS HAVE CHANGED. WELL, LIKE, I'M LIKE, I'M SAYING, WHAT I JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO IS THAT THIS ITEM THREE TWO VOTE. SO JUST VOTE.

LET'S GO. AN ITEM WAS BROUGHT TO COUNCIL.

MAYOR. FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE OF THE DESIGN BUILD PROCESS.

CAN YOU REPEAT THAT? I'M SORRY. YES. AN ITEM WAS BROUGHT TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL OF THE DESIGN BUILD PROCESS. AND WAS THAT IN.

IT WAS RECENTLY WITHIN THE LAST TWO MONTHS.

RIGHT? YEAH. I THINK THE IDEA HERE IS TO MAKE SURE WE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE HAVEN'T DECIDED THE DESIGN THAT CAME UP, I GUESS WAS IT WAS IT 15 MILLION OR SO? BUT OKAY, SO THIS IS THE FIRST STEP OF TWO.

AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS THE FIRST STEP TO TWO.

SO THERE WAS FIVE FIRMS THAT SUBMITTED QUALIFICATIONS.

OKAY. THOSE THOSE WERE WERE RANKED.

AND THE STATUTE THEN LAYS OUT THAT YOU CAN SHORTLIST UP TO FIVE FIRMS. RIGHT. SO BETWEEN 1 AND 5 TO MOVE ON TO STEP TWO, WHICH IS TO PROVIDE PROPOSALS.

AND THE THE BIGGEST PART OF THIS STEP TWO OF THE PROCESS IS THAT YOU CAN REQUEST PRICING ELEMENTS, RIGHT, WHICH IS THEIR GENERAL CONDITIONS, THEIR FEES ETC. YOU CAN ALSO REQUEST INTERVIEWS, RIGHT WHERE YOU CAN BRING ALL THE FIRMS IN, BOTH THE DESIGNERS AND THE CONTRACTORS THAT FORM THE TEAM. IN ORDER TO GET MORE CLARIFICATION ON HOW THEY INTEND TO REALLY ALIGN THEIR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION WITH THE BUDGET THAT THE CITY HAS.

DOES ANYBODY OBJECT? WHEN WE BROUGHT A DESIGN BUILD SERVICES ON COUNCIL. WHAT WAS THE VOTE WAS UNANIMOUS. I DON'T I DON'T RECALL.

I THINK IT WAS I THINK IT WAS UNANIMOUS.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. YEAH.

AND I DON'T BELIEVE IT WAS AN ITEM.

WE HAD TO COME OUT AND VOTE FOR IT.

BUT THAT WAS DIRECTION.

THAT WAS JUST DIRECTION TO BRING IT BACK NOW. IT WAS NOT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM.

IT WAS A REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING ITEM.

SO YEAH, BUT I'M ASKING MISS AYALA, WAS THERE ANYBODY ON COUNCIL THAT SHARED THAT? I MEAN, THERE WAS NO NO DESIRE BECAUSE I MEAN STAFF HAS PUT IN HOW MUCH TIME HAVE YOU ALL PUT IN TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS? CAN YOU GIVE ME AN IDEA? I MEAN, I JUST WE'RE BEING WANTING TO BE OPEN RIGHT WITH PEOPLE. SO I MEAN, JUST WE STARTED AS WHEN WE HIRED THE CONSULTANT.

SO IT'S BEEN ABOUT 3 OR 4 MONTHS NOW.

AND HOW MUCH HAVE WE SPENT ON THE CONSULTING? AND I DON'T MEAN TO PUT YOU OFF JUST, AGAIN, WANT TO BE OPEN. RIGHT.

YEAH. I DON'T REMEMBER THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE CONTRACT.

HAS ONLY DONE ONE DRAWDOWN BECAUSE WE'RE STILL ON THAT ONE SECTION.

SO I WANT TO SAY IT WAS 300 IN TOTAL, BUT WE HAVEN'T PAID IT OUT AS OF YET.

HOW MUCH? 300,000 IN TOTAL, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN PAID OUT YET.

GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS, GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS THAT NOBODY HAS OBJECTED. RIGHT. OKAY.

AND HE WILL CONTINUE ON.

AS FOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SERVICES.

AND HAS THIS BEEN PART OF PPE HAS BEEN AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING? YES, SIR. AND SO IF ANY COUNCIL GET A COPY OF THE PACKET.

YES, SIR. OKAY. ANYBODY ON COUNCIL CALLED AND ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS DESIGN BUILD SERVICE WITH THE CITY MANAGER.

BUT AS OF NOW, NO. FOR ME? NO. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND TO REJECT THIS ITEM.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE.

OH. I'M SORRY. I'M SO SORRY.

GO AHEAD. YOU HAD A YOU HAD A COMMENT.

I SIGNED UP. ALL RIGHT, JASON, YOU HAD A GOOD IDEA.

MY THING IS. AND ORIGINALLY THERE WAS GOING TO BE SHOPS DOWN THERE FOR THE PEOPLE TO SHOP IN, WHICH IS A BUNCH OF BULL.

THERE IS. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PARKING THERE.

HAVE YOU SEEN THE LADIES WITH THEIR HEELS? THEY WALK TO THE COURTHOUSE.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO WALK TO THE CITRUS.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO WALK TO.

USED TO BE BALES. I'M NOT SURE WHAT IS OVER THERE.

WHAT SHOPS DO WE HAVE FOR THE PEOPLE TO GO SHOPPING? THAT IS A BUNCH OF BULL.

THE COUNTY HAS SIX PARKING LOTS.

FIVE OF THEM THEY HAVE LOCKED DOWN.

AND A GUARD. WHY ARE YOU COMING IN HERE? OKAY. THE SAME THING WITH THIS GARAGE.

IT IS NOT FOR THE CITIZENS HERE IN EDINBURGH.

WE WILL NOT BE USING IT.

[02:00:01]

I GUARANTEE YOU THEY WILL LOCK IT DOWN.

MARK THAT DOWN. SO WHEN IT HAPPENS, YOU SAY.

OH, FERN WAS RIGHT. SO MY THING IS, I LIKE THE IDEA OF FINDING SOME PROPERTY SOMEWHERE NEARBY OR WHATEVER.

I BELIEVE THE CITY SOLD THE OLD FIRE DEPARTMENT THING, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD PLACE, WHICH I TRIED TO GET THE CITY TO DO.

SO THIS RIGHT NOW THERE ARE NO BUSINESSES.

BUSINESSES ARE TO THE WEST, BUSINESSES TO THE SOUTH, RESTAURANTS TO THE I MEAN TO THE EAST.

SOUTH. NOT MANY RESTAURANTS.

I THINK WE'RE FIXING TO HAVE ONE. I THINK THE HASSLES ARE GOING TO BUILD SOMETHING, BUT PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO PARK AT THAT PARKING LOT OR GARAGE AND WALK ANYWHERE.

NOW, WHY ARE YOU TAKING THE MONEY? AND MY THING IS IT'S THERE.

LET'S SPEND IT. WHAT THE HECK? IT'S SO EASY COME, EASY GO.

BUT IT'S NOT FOR THE PEOPLE OF EDINBURGH.

IT SHOULD NEVER HAVE COME AND HAD THE CITY PAY FOR THIS.

BECAUSE THERE'S NO SHOPS.

YOU SHOW ME WHERE THE BUSINESSES ARE AND I'LL EAT THEM.

ALL RIGHT? THERE'S NO OTHER THE DISCUSSION WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR REJECTION.

ALL IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. SO IS THERE ANOTHER MOTION? MAKE A MOTION TO ALLOW ALL QUALIFIED CONTRACTORS OR COMPANIES TO, TO SUBMIT THE FIVE THAT ARE THERE.

ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND I HAVE SECOND.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION. AND JUST FOR THE RECORD THIS WILL, THIS WILL BE UNDER BUDGET AND THEY WILL KNOW THAT THEY HAVE PARAMETERS TO BID AS SUCH.

THAT IS CORRECT. CORRECT. AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, THE ONLY THING I ASKED FOR IS THAT WE COME BACK IN THE NEXT MEETING TO BE UPFRONT AND TRANSPARENT TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT THIS HAPPENED AND WHAT'S TRANSPARENT, AND WE'LL SEE WHAT THE VOTE IS RIGHT NOW. WELL, JUST I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT THERE.

COUNCILMAN WHITE, I THINK WE'RE JUST WE'RE SO FAR IN I MEAN, WE I THINK WE INHERITED SO MUCH OF THIS PRIOR, BUT WE'VE GONE SO FAR IN AT LEAST THIS IS NOT GOING TO COST ANY MORE FOR THESE CONTRACTORS TO COME IN AND GIVE US THEIR PROPOSAL.

IF IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, BUT AT LEAST THEN WE COULD ACTUALLY PRESENT ALL FIVE OF THEM, RIGHT? WE'VE ALREADY VOTED TO PAY FOR THE PROJECT MANAGER TO AT LEAST HAVE AN OPTION.

GET US TO THIS POINT. YEAH. AND JUST TO ANSWER MISS MCLARTY'S CONCERN THAT THIS PARKING GARAGE WOULD BE CITY OWNED, RIGHT? NOT COUNTY OWNED. THAT IS CORRECT.

THANK YOU. I GUESS I WILL SAY, THOUGH, ON THE ON THE DEVELOPER SIDE OF THIS ALL THESE DEVELOPERS ARE HERE.

IF IT DOESN'T GO THROUGH, IT DOES COST THEM MONEY TO SUBMIT A BID.

IT COSTS THEM MONEY FOR ENGINEERS.

SO. SO THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN JUST.

OH, IT DOESN'T COST US MONEY, BUT IT COST THEM MONEY. AND I'M ALSO TAKING THEM INTO CONSIDERATION AS WELL, THAT I DON'T WANT THEM TO PUT MORE TIME, MORE EFFORT AND ALL THAT IF IT DOESN'T GO THROUGH BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THESE DEVELOPER, THESE BUILDERS, THESE CONTRACTORS, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO WASTE TO PUT A BID, BECAUSE EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS AND THEY CAN LOSE A LOT OF MONEY JUST FOR THIS BID.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT IT AND THAT OUT OF RESPECT FOR THEM AS WELL. ALL RIGHT. IF THERE'S NO OTHER DISCUSSION, ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO APPROVE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

[11. RESOLUTION]

[A. Consider Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Submit a Grant Application to the Office of the Governor Under the Fiscal Year 2026 State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program – Mitigation Projects and to Execute all Grant Documents Relating Thereto. [Daniel Vera, Director of Information Technology]]

ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.

MOTION PASSES. MOVING ON TO ITEM 11.

RESOLUTIONS. ITEM A CONSIDER RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR. UNDER FISCAL YEAR 2026, STATE AND LOCAL CYBERSECURITY GRANT PROGRAM MITIGATION PROJECTS, AND TO EXECUTE ALL GRANT DOCUMENTS RELATING THERETO.

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

[12. CONSENT AGENDA]

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

ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 12.

COUNCIL. WE HAVE QUITE A BIT OF ITEMS ON CONSENT AGENDA FROM A THROUGH O.

MOVE TO APPROVE A THROUGH O.

SECOND, WE HAVE MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ALL ITEMS AND CONSENT.

AGENDA EIGHT THROUGH O.

ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES. MOVING ON TO ITEM 13.

OTHER BUSINESS ITEM A CONSIDER CANCELING OR RESCHEDULING THE.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH, 2020 CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING.

[13. OTHER BUSINESS]

[A. Consider Canceling or Rescheduling the Tuesday, February 18, 2025 City Council Regular Meeting.]

SO MOVED. TO WHAT DATE? WHAT DO YOU HAVE A DATE? DO YOU HAVE A DATE RECOMMENDED? SO ARE WE JUST GOING TO CANCEL IT, MOVE IT OR CANCEL IT? YOU COULD JUST CANCEL IT OR JUST CANCEL IT AND MOVE IT TO THE MONDAY. COUNCIL LIKE THE MOVE IT FOR THE MONDAY.

SO ON MONDAY I BELIEVE IT MIGHT BE A TRAVEL DAY.

I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE A TRAVEL DAY FOR THE RGV DAYS IN AUSTIN.

I'M GOING TO FLY OUT ON TUESDAY MORNING, SO I'LL GET THERE EARLY.

SO I'M I'M GOOD WITH IT ON MONDAY.

WHATEVER THE COUNCIL DECIDES, I'M FINE WITH WHICHEVER ONE. I CAN DO IT ON

[02:05:01]

MONDAY. WHAT WAS YOUR MOTION? I'M SORRY, THINK I JUST.

LET'S SUSPEND THE RULES.

SUSPEND THE RULES SO WE CAN DISCUSS. OKAY. GO AHEAD. WE HAVE MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES.

OKAY. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

ALL RIGHT. GO AHEAD SIR. WHAT'S GOOD FOR EVERYBODY? COUNCIL OR MOVE IT TO A.

I JUST DON'T WANT TO DELAY ANY PROJECTS FOR ANY DEVELOPERS, ANY BUILDERS, ANY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT NO PROJECTS ARE DELAYED FOR THEM. I BELIEVE THAT THE CITY SECRETARY REACHED OUT TO THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS TO SEE IF THERE WAS GOING TO BE ANY ISSUES CANCELING THE MEETING.

AT THIS TIME, WE DID NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES THAT WOULD ARISE IF THE MEETING WERE TO BE CANCELED OR RESCHEDULED TO A LATER DATE.

THE NEXT MEETING DATE, POSSIBLE MEETING DATE WOULD BE AFTER THAT FRIDAY. SO THE FOLLOWING WEEK WOULD BE THE 24TH OR 25TH, I BELIEVE. IS THAT CORRECT? IT'S ONLY LIKE TWO WEEKS IF WE GO BACK TO THE 1ST MARCH.

CORRECT. BUT THEN WE'LL HAVE A MEETING THE FOLLOWING WEEK AS WELL.

WE'LL HAVE TWO CONSECUTIVE MEETINGS. MARCH. I'M IN FAVOR OF CANCELING, GUYS. GO AHEAD. IS THAT A MOTION? KIND OF ASKING AN OPINION.

OKAY. MOTION TO COUNCIL.

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO CANCEL.

WE HAVE A SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

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

ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES ITEM. BE FUTURE ITEMS REQUESTED BY CITY COUNCIL.

YEAH, I, I HAD ASKED IN THE PAST ON HIGHWAY 68.

UNTIL WE GET IT GOING, I'D LIKE TO HAVE AN UPDATE EVERY EVERY MEETING. OKAY. THAT WAS ALREADY ASKED BEFORE.

WE DIDN'T GET AN UPDATE. THIS ONE. I BELIEVE THERE WAS GOING TO BE SOMETHING WITH I THINK WE GOT AN EMAIL THAT THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE A MEETING IN AUSTIN, BUT THAT DOES NOTHING FOR ONCE AGAIN FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS HERE BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT HAVING A MEETING HERE.

SO I'D LIKE TO KNOW ON THAT.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MEETING WE WERE GOING TO HAVE HERE? THAT'S ALL PART OF THIS THIS TRANSPARENCY ISSUE I'M GOING ON.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT? OH, AT THE TIME, WE DID NOT HAVE AN EVENT OR ANYTHING COMING UP THAT WE WERE GOING TO REPORT ON. I HAD ONE MORE.

NO, THAT WAS IT. THAT'S IT FOR ME.

[14. EXECUTIVE SESSION]

ALL RIGHT. SAY HOW WE SUCCEED.

UPDATED. WE CAN HAVE THAT AT THE NEXT MEETING. OKAY. YES.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM 14, EXECUTIVE SESSION COUNCIL. IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED.

SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND.

IT CONVENIENT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

ALL IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. WE'RE NOW GOING TO CONVENE TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

IT IS 804. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE PURCHASE, EXCHANGE LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY.

BE CONSULTATION WITH CITY ATTORNEY AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT. SEE CONSULTATION WITH CITY ATTORNEY.

[02:11:07]

COMING UP NEXT ON ECN, A REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF YOUR EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL.

ON THE COUNCIL, MAYOR RAMIRO GARZA JR.

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

AND COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID WHITE SITTING IN HIS ADVISORS, CITY MANAGER MYRA AYALA AND CITY ATTORNEY JOSE RAMIREZ SOLIS.

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

TURN THE MIC ON. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING THIS EVENING. I'M GOING TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER OF OUR EDINBURGH REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING FOR FEBRUARY 4TH, 2025 AT 6 P.M..

I DO SEE VISIBLY THAT WE HAVE A QUORUM WITH ALL MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF COUNCIL MEMBER SALAZAR. I BELIEVE HE'LL BE HERE. AND JOINING US IN A LITTLE BIT WE'RE GOING TO START, AS WE DO EVERY MEETING WITH A PRAYER.

WE HAVE SENIOR PASTOR DOCTOR DAVID ALEXANDER HERE TO HELP US LEAD LEAD US IN PRAYER.

IF YOU COULD PLEASE STAND FOR A PRAYER.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

LET'S PRAY. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE NEED YOU.

WE NEED YOUR WISDOM. WE NEED YOUR PRESENCE.

LORD, I PRAY YOUR SUSTAINING GRACE ON EACH COUNCIL MEMBER AND THE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE, THE ONES PRESENTING AND THE ONES COMMENTING.

AND LORD, WE CELEBRATE WITH THOSE THAT ARE BEING RECOGNIZED.

FATHER, MAY WE CONTINUE TO DEPEND ON YOU FOR EACH AND EVERY THING.

EVERY SPECIAL NEED. EVERYTHING THAT'S ON OUR HEART.

AND THE BURDENS THAT WE CARRY.

LORD, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO PLACE THOSE ON YOU.

FOR YOU CARE FOR US. LORD MAYOR, EVERYTHING IS SAID AND DONE TONIGHT.

BE TO YOUR HONOR AND GLORY.

IN JESUS NAME. AMEN. AMEN.

PLEASE JOIN US FOR A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

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

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM TWO, CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE.

YES, SIR. MAYOR. THE MEETING WAS POSTED IN ACCORDANCE TO THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT ON JANUARY 31ST, 2025 AT 6:20 P.M., SIR.

VERY WELL. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM THREE, A DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST UNDER STATE LAW, LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL IS REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE A SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST FOR THEMSELVES OR CERTAIN FAMILY MEMBERS AND ABSTAIN FROM VOTING ON MATTERS RELATED TO SUCH CONFLICT. ARE THERE ANY CONFLICTS TO DISCLOSE RELATING TO PENDING MATTERS ON TODAY'S AGENDA? NO, MA'AM.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ITEM FOUR MAYOR'S REPORT.

I JUST HAVE ONE ITEM. WE DIDN'T GET TO ADD IT TO THE AGENDA, BUT I DID ADD IT TO THE MAYOR'S REPORT.

TODAY IS WORLD CANCER DAY, AND I JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW OF THE AWARENESS OF. TODAY IS WORLD CANCER DAY TO EARLY DETECTION AND CHECKING AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CHECK AND TEST OURSELVES.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ENCOURAGE ALL OUR CITIZENS. JUST IMPROVING AWARENESS OF CANCER AND GETTING CHECKED AND PROVIDING THAT SUPPORT THAT IS NEEDED. THERE'S SO MANY RESOURCES OUT THERE AVAILABLE.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF GETTING THEM FROM YOUR HEALTH PROVIDER.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE WE DON'T HAVE A PROCLAMATION THAT TODAY IS WORLD CANCER DAY AND ENCOURAGE ALL OUR RESIDENTS TO GET TESTED AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU TAKE CARE OF IT.

[02:15:02]

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM FIVE.

WE HAVE SEVERAL PROCLAMATIONS THIS EVENING.

ITEM FIVE A PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2025 AS AMERICAN HEART MONTH, AS REQUESTED BY SOUTH TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM.

HEART. IF YOU'RE HERE TO RECEIVE THE PROCLAMATION, PLEASE STEP UP TO THE PODIUM.

AND WHEREAS SOMEONE HAS A HEART ATTACK EVERY 40S IN THE US WITH ABOUT 1 IN 5 BEING SILENT, HEART ATTACKS MEANING THE DAMAGE IS DONE, BUT THE PERSON IS NOT AWARE OF IT.

AND WHEREAS THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION ESTIMATES THAT MORE THAN 6 IN 10 U.S.

ADULTS WILL HAVE SOME TYPE OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE BY 2050.

AND WHEREAS, ACCORDING TO A RECENT HARRIS POLL SURVEY CONDUCTED ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, MORE THAN HALF OF THE PEOPLE IN THE US DO NOT KNOW THAT HEART DISEASE IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE COUNTRY.

AND WHEREAS THE SOUTH TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM HEART, ONE OF THE FIRST FREESTANDING CARDIOLOGY AND CARDIOVASCULAR HOSPITALS BUILT IN THE US, HAS PROVIDED COMPREHENSIVE, QUALITY, COMPASSIONATE INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT CARDIOVASCULAR CARE FOR THE SOUTH TEXAS REGION FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS.

AND WHEREAS SOUTH TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM HEART HAS HELPED RAISE AWARENESS FOR HEART DISEASE AND THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY AND BEYOND THROUGH ITS EXTENSIVE EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL EVENTS, INCLUDING DEDICATED LET'S TALK YOUR HEALTH WEBINARS, NO COST HEART DISEASE RELATED SESSIONS FOR RECENTLY DIAGNOSED PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND HOSTED ITS HEROES WITH A HEART FIVE K RUN WALK, WITH ALL PROCEEDS DONATED TO LOCAL CHARITIES HELPING IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HEART DISEASE.

AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF EDINBURG IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE SOUTH TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM HEART FOR THEIR HARD WORK, DEDICATION, AND EFFORTS TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR HEART DISEASE. NOW, THEREFORE, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDINBURGH, BY THE POWER VESTED IN THEM BY LAW, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE FEBRUARY 2025 AS AMERICAN HEART MONTH IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH AND ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN SOUTH TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM HEARTS HEROES WITH HEART INITIATIVE TO CONFRONT, FIGHT AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, CHANGE THE FUTURE OF THIS DEADLY DISEASE.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF EDINBURGH FOR ALLOWING US TO PROCLAIM THIS AS FEBRUARY'S NATIONAL HEART MONTH.

AS WE KNOW, PREVENTION AND EARLY DETECTION IS THE BEST WAY TO TREAT AND CURE HEART DISEASE.

IT'S A SUPER HIGH INCIDENCE HERE IN SOUTH TEXAS OF THIS HEART DISEASE.

SO IF YOU DO HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, A LOT OF HEART DISEASE IS ASYMPTOMATIC. WE'VE HAD PLENTY OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY COME TO HEART HOSPITAL.

THEY DO THIS HEART SAVER TEST IS ESSENTIALLY A CT CALCIUM SCORE.

WE HAVE TONS OF ASYMPTOMATIC INDIVIDUALS THAT COME GET THE CT CALCIUM SCORE, AND BASICALLY WHAT IT SHOWS IS HOW CALCIFIED YOUR ARTERIES COULD BE.

SO WE HAVE THESE ASYMPTOMATIC INDIVIDUALS COME.

IT'S A ONE HOUR SUPER QUICK SUPER CHEAP TEST.

AND FROM THAT WE'VE DETECTED CARDIAC CATH LAB ISSUES.

WE'VE DETECTED OPEN HEART NEEDS.

SO IT REALLY IS SAVING THE COMMUNITY'S LIVES.

SO WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS FEBRUARY.

IT'S NATIONAL HEART MONTH AT THE VERY LEAST.

SPEND FEBRUARY EVERY YEAR GETTING YOURSELVES CHECKED FOR ANY OUTSTANDING HEART ISSUES.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEXT PROCLAMATION ITEM B IS PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING EDINBURGH CRIME STOPPERS.

CRIME STOPPERS PROGRAMS BRING TOGETHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, CITIZENS AND THE MEDIA TO SOLVE CRIMES AND BRING CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE.

THE EDINBURGH CRIME STOPPERS HAVE PROGRAMS THAT STRIVE TO PROTECT OUR STUDENTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE BY REDUCING CRIME IN SCHOOLS AND HANDING OUT CRIME STOPPERS INFORMATION.

AND WHEREAS THE CRIME STOPPERS ARE VITAL IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY MAKE AN EFFORT TO VOLUNTEER AND SUPPORT CITY EVENTS LIKE THE 42ND ANNUAL ALL-AMERICAN CITY 10-K AND THE 10TH ANNUAL MIRACLE MILE, THE MAYOR'S PRAYER BREAKFAST AND THE CITY OF EDINBURGH TRUNK OR TREAT AND THE EDINBURGH CARES CHEROKEE DISTRIBUTION TO FAMILIES AROUND THE CITY. ROBERT E LEE ELEMENTARY AREA.

AND WHEREAS THE EDINBURGH CRIME STOPPERS WORK CLOSELY WITH THE EDINBURGH POLICE DEPARTMENT AS ONE OF THEIR BIGGEST SUPPORTERS.

THE CRIMESTOPPERS PARTICIPATED IN THE EDINBURGH POLICE FIRE UP BLOCK PARTIES, GIVING OUT INFORMATION AND COLORING BOOKS, AND THEY WERE PART OF THE EDINBURGH POLICE DEPARTMENT NATIONAL NIGHT OUT THE CRIME STOPPERS VOLUNTEERED AT ALL MOVIES WITH THE COP, HANDING CRIME STOPPERS INFORMATION, COLORING BOOKS AND CRAYONS TO THE CHILDREN.

THE CRIMESTOPPERS ATTENDED THE EDINBURGH POLICE DEPARTMENT QUARTERLY MEETINGS MAKE A PLAN MEETING HOSTED BY MADD AND THE EDINBURGH POLICE DEPARTMENT,

[02:20:04]

AND THEY DONATED 6000 WORTH OF TOYS TO THE EDINBURGH POLICE DEPARTMENT.

BLUE SANTA DRIVE HOURS THE EDINBURGH CRIMESTOPPERS ARE ADVOCATES IN KEEPING THE COMMUNITY SAFE, SPREADING AWARENESS AND INFORMATION AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY.

THE CRIMESTOPPERS PARTICIPATED AT THE EDINBURGH KIWANIS PANCAKE WITH A HEROES EVENT, AND ASSISTED PUTTING OVER 600 FLAGS ON THE TOMBS OF SOLDIERS AT THE EDINBURGH KIWANIS MEMORIAL DAY EVENT.

AND WHEREAS THE EDINBURGH CRIMESTOPPERS GAVE OUT INFORMATION, HUNDREDS OF CANDIES AT THE LONGORIA MIDDLE SCHOOL TRUNK OR TREAT AND HANDED OUT MEDALS AT THE WOMEN TOGETHER WALK IN SHOES FIVE K AND WHEREAS THE EDINBURGH CRIMESTOPPERS SERVED THE COMMUNITY ENHANCING THE SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE.

AND WHEREAS, THE CITY OF EDINBURG IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE SERVICE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE EDINBURG CRIME STOPPERS. NOW, THEREFORE, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG, TEXAS, BY INVESTED BY THE POWER VESTED IN THEM BY LAW, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE EDINBURG CRIME STOPPERS AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CRIME STOPPERS AND CONSIDER IF YOU MIGHT FIT AS A MEMBER.

MAYOR GARZA, CITY COUNCILMAN, WE STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH IMMENSE GRATITUDE AND PRIDE THAT WE RECEIVED THIS ESTEEMED PROCLAMATION AWARD ON BEHALF OF EDINBURG CRIME STOPPERS.

THIS HONOR IS A PROFOUND TESTAMENT TO OUR TIRELESS EFFORTS, UNWAVERING DEDICATION OF OUR TEAM, VOLUNTEERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS, AND THE ENTIRE EDINBURG COMMUNITY.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO THE CITY OFFICIALS FOR RECOGNIZING THE IMPACT AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF OUR WORK.

YOUR SUPPORT AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT BOLSTERS OUR COMMITMENT TO CREATING A SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR THE RESIDENTS OF EDINBURGH.

WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR UNYIELDING SPIRIT AND CAMARADERIE THAT DRIVES US FORWARD TO THE EDINBURGH POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS AND CHIEF AYALA WHO COLLABORATE WITH US.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND TRUST.

OUR SUCCESS IS INTERTWINED WITH EXPERTISE, BRAVERY AND COMMITMENT TO UPHOLDING THE LAW.

TOGETHER, WE CREATE A FORMIDABLE FORCE AGAINST CRIME AND THIS PROCLAMATION FORMATION IS AS MUCH YOURS AS IT IS OURS.

TO THE CITIZENS OF EDINBURGH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR VIGILANCE AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO STAND UP AGAINST CRIME.

YOUR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION AND THE INFORMATION YOU PROVIDE ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF THIS MISSION. OUR AWARD IS A TESTAMENT TO THE POWER OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.

WE SHARE THIS RECOGNITION WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AS WE CELEBRATE THIS ACHIEVEMENT.

LET US AFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO THE CAUSE.

THE JOURNEY TO A SAFER COMMUNITY IS ONGOING, AND THIS PROCLAMATION AWARD IS MORE MOTIVATING THAN EVER TO CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS.

TOGETHER, WE WILL STRIVE FOR A FUTURE WHERE CRIME IS DIMINISHED AND EVERY CITIZEN CAN LIVE IN PEACE AND SECURITY.

THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR THIS INCREDIBLE HONOR.

LET US CONTINUE TO WORK HAND IN HAND TO MAKE EDINBURGH A BEACON OF SAFETY AND UNITY.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

LET ME JUST SAY TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE CRIME STOPPERS, THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND THE CITY COUNCIL AND REALLY THE COMMUNITY.

I KNOW YOU ALL'S FOCUS IS ON STOPPING CRIME.

YOU KNOW, YOUR CRIME STOPPERS ORGANIZATION. BUT I SEE YOU ALL INVOLVED ALL THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. SO MANY OF OUR EVENTS.

SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU ALL DO ALL THE WORK WITH CRIME STOPPERS ORGANIZATION, BUT ALSO LENDING A HELPING HAND AND ALMOST ALL THE EVENTS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CITY. SO THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

NEXT WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING CITY OF EDINBURGH RETIREE OSCAR L TREVINO, LIEUTENANT WITH THE EDINBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO PROVIDED 37 YEARS OF SERVICE.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TO OUR CITY.

POLICE DEPARTMENT. WHEREAS OSCAR TREVINO WAS HIRED BY THE CITY OF EDINBURG PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT POLICE DIVISION ON NOVEMBER 18TH, 1987 AS PATROL PERSON.

WHEREAS ON OCTOBER 30TH, 1999, PATROL PERSON TREVINO WAS RECLASSIFIED TO PATROL OFFICER. ON MAY 25TH, 1993, PATROL OFFICER TREVINO WAS PROMOTED TO

[02:25:01]

CORPORAL. ON DECEMBER 29TH, 2008.

CORPORAL TREVINO WAS PROMOTED TO SERGEANT ON APRIL 4TH, 2011. SERGEANT TREVINO WAS PROMOTED TO LIEUTENANT ON NOVEMBER 3RD, 2015. LIEUTENANT TREVINO WAS PROMOTED TO ASSISTANT CHIEF OF POLICE ON MARCH 26TH, 2018. ASSISTANT CHIEF TREVINO WAS TRANSFERRED TO LIEUTENANT ON DECEMBER 28TH, 2021. LIEUTENANT WAS ASSIGNED ACTING ASSISTANT CHIEF OF POLICE ON JANUARY 6TH, 2022. ACTING ASSISTANT CHIEF OF POLICE WAS RESIGNED, REASSIGNED TO LIEUTENANT, AND WHEREAS DURING HIS YEARS OF SERVICE, LIEUTENANT OSCAR TREVINO ATTENDED NUMEROUS TRAININGS AND RECEIVED CERTIFICATES FOR ATTENDANCE. PUBLIC AGENCY TRAINING.

COUNCIL. INTERNAL AFFAIRS TRAINING.

SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY.

DRUG IMPAIRMENT TRAINING FOR TEXAS EMPLOYERS AND CITY OF EDINBURG ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAM FOR SUPERVISORS AND COMPLETION.

WORLD CLASS TRAINING SOLUTIONS.

WORKING WITH PROBLEMS. PROBLEM EMPLOYEES. SOUTH TEXAS HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREA.

FOURTH AMENDMENT FOR PATROL OFFICERS.

LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, REGIONAL POLICE TRAINING CENTER AND ACADEMY COACHING THE EMERGENCY POLICE VEHICLE AND TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH MEDICAL CONDITIONS AFFECTING DRIVING AND WHEREAS, LIEUTENANT YOU KNOW, RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATE, CERTIFICATION OR LICENSES.

INTERMEDIATE PEACE PEACE OFFICER, ADVANCED PEACE OFFICER AND MASTER PEACE OFFICER. WHEREAS LIEUTENANT OSCAR TREVINO RECEIVED LETTERS OF COMMENDATION IN FEBRUARY 12TH, 1993 AND MARCH 6TH, 2000.

HE ALSO RECEIVED NUMEROUS CERTIFICATES OF EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION AND CITY OF EDINBURGH TRAINING AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

AND WHEREAS, FOR HIS UNUSUAL COURAGE AND SELF-SACRIFICE IN THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES FOR ACTIONS TAKEN ON JULY 22ND, 2014, LIEUTENANT OSCAR TREVINO RECEIVED THE STATE OF TEXAS DIRECTOR'S AWARD FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

ON JUNE 15TH, 2016, THE TEXAS SENATE COMMENDATION FROM SENATOR JUAN HINOJOSA ON JULY 27TH, 2016, AND THE MEDAL OF VALOR FROM THE EDINBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT ON JULY 22ND, 2015. AND WHEREAS, ON JANUARY 10TH, 2025, AFTER 37 YEARS OF SERVICE, LIEUTENANT OSCAR DAVINO RETIRED FROM THE CITY OF EDINBURGH.

THE EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS HER GRATITUDE AND WISH LIEUTENANT OSCAR TREVINO A HAPPY RETIREMENT.

MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

IT SEEMS JUST LIKE YESTERDAY THAT I STARTED WITH THE EDINBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT AND TIME FLIES. I'VE REALLY ENJOYED THE RIDE.

I WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF EDINBURGH FOR EMPLOYING ME FOR THE PAST 37 YEARS.

I'VE SPENT MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE AS A POLICE OFFICER.

I'M GOING TO MISS IT, BUT MOVING FORWARD, YOU KNOW, IT'S A DIFFERENT PAGE IN MY LIFE I'M ENJOYING RIGHT NOW, SPENDING TIME WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN.

AND I JUST THANK YOU ALL FOR TREATING ME SO WELL.

I THANK MY FAMILY. AND EDINBURG IS NOT ONLY A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE, BUT EDINBURG IS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO WORK.

AND I ENCOURAGE ANYBODY THAT'S LOOKING FOR A JOB COME AND APPLY WITH THE CITY OF EDINBURG BECAUSE YOU WON'T REGRET IT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL. THANK YOU.

LIEUTENANT, LET ME JUST SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH, SIR, FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE.

WE SINCE YOU WERE. I WAS LOOKING BACK AT THE NUMBER OF YEARS IT WAS 1988, I DON'T. RIGHT. IS THAT THE YEAR YOU STARTED WITH THE CITY? 87. 86. 86. THERE YOU GO.

YEAH. A LOT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THEN.

I THINK WE'RE PROBABLY A LITTLE OVER 25,000 PEOPLE.

AROUND THAT TIME, ROUGHLY 30.

SO A LOT HAS HAPPENED. A LOT HAS CHANGED. AND YOU WERE A BIG PART OF THAT.

I THINK THERE'S THREE ALL-AMERICA CITIES SINCE THAT TIME SPENT 95 TO 2000.

2024. BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE AND ALSO FOR ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO APPLY. IT IS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK.

AND YOU'RE A TESTAMENT TO THAT. SO I WANT TO THANK YOUR FAMILY AS WELL.

WE HAVE ONE LAST PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING FEBRUARY 16TH THROUGH THE 22ND AS ENGINEERS WEEK. ENGINEERS WEEK, FEBRUARY 16TH THROUGH 22, 2025. WHEREAS THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS INITIATED ENGINEERS WEEK IN 1951 TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANT ROLE ENGINEERS PLAY IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR WORLD. AND WHEREAS ENGINEERS USE THEIR SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL IN CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO FULFILL SOCIETY'S NEEDS, ENGINEERING IS ALL AROUND US. FROM ROADS AND BRIDGES WE TRAVEL ON TO THE CARS AND PLANES

[02:30:04]

WE USE TO RIDE AROUND.

OFTEN SEEING THE CLEVERNESS OF ENGINEERING MAKES OUR LIVES EASIER AND SAFER.

AND WHEREAS ENGINEERS FACE THE MAJOR TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME, FROM REBUILDING TOWNS DEVASTATED BY NATURAL DISASTER, CLEANING UP THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENSURING SAFE, CLEAN AND EFFICIENT SOURCES OF ENERGY TO DESIGNING INFORMATION SYSTEMS THAT WILL SPEED OUR COUNTRY INTO THE FUTURE.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDINBURGH, TEXAS, BY THE POWER VESTED IN THEM BY LAW, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 16TH TO 22ND AS ENGINEERS WEEK, AND THE CITY COUNCIL ENCOURAGES ALL RESIDENTS TO APPRECIATE AND ENGINEER AND ENCOURAGE AN ASPIRING ENGINEER TO PURSUE THEIR DREAMS. OKAY. HERE, WE'LL HAVE OUR VERY OWN PETER ALMEIDA, WHO'S OUR REPRESENTATIVE WITH THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS.

LOCAL CHAPTER. GIVE A FEW WORDS.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. RAMIRO GARCIA, JUNIOR. AND THE CITY OF EDINBURG LEADERSHIP FOR THIS PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING E-WEEK.

IT IS AN HONOR TO ACCEPT THIS ON BEHALF OF ALL ENGINEERS WHO DEDICATE THEIR WORK TO BUILDING AND IMPROVING OUR COMMUNITIES. I'D ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY FELLOW ENGINEERS, STUDENTS, AND FUTURE PROFESSIONALS WHO CONTINUE TO PUSH BOUNDARIES AND DRIVE PROGRESS. TOGETHER, WE BUILD SOLUTIONS THAT MAKE OUR WORLD SAFER, MORE EFFICIENT, AND MORE SUSTAINABLE.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS RECOGNITION AND FOR CELEBRATING THE IMPORTANCE OF ENGINEERING WITH US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM SIX. PUBLIC COMMENTS.

PLEASE NOTE 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 MISS FERN MCLARTY REGARDING TAXPAYERS MONEY.

THE TITLE OF MY COMMENTS TODAY IS WHY SHOULD I VOTE FOR YOU IN 2025? WHEN YOU CAME INTO OFFICE, THE CITY TAX RATE WAS $0.65 PER $100 IN VALUE. EACH OF YOU SAID THAT IT WAS TOO HIGH AND YOU WOULD LOWER IT TO $0.63.

BUT THEN THE COUNCIL DECIDED THAT THERE WAS NOT SUFFICIENT MONEY IN THE UTILITY BUDGET, AND YOU INCREASED WATER RATES BY 67%.

AT THIS POINT, I WAS WONDERING, WHICH WOULD I RATHER HAVE A TWO CENT REDUCTION IN TAXES OR A 67% INCREASE IN WATER RATES? RATE. IF YOU CAN'T DECIDE, I CAN'T HELP YOU.

I WILL MAKE IT EASY. THE WATER RATE WAS MUCH MORE.

THEREFORE, WE ARE NOW PAYING MORE THAN WE HAD.

STAYED AT THE 65% TAX RATE.

IF IT HAD STATED THAT ONE OF THE MAJOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THIS AND PREVIOUS CITY ADMINISTRATION IS TRANSPARENCY.

SO I SUBMITTED A PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST ASKING HOW MUCH MONEY WAS SPENT ON SELLING, DONATING, TRANSFERRING THE H-E-B SOCCER FIELD TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.

I DID THIS BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS MAYOR THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GREAT ECONOMIC STIMULUS TO THE COMMUNITY IF WE HAD A BASEBALL STADIUM.

IT WAS CONSTRUCTED, AND IN LESS THAN THREE YEARS, THE CITY GAVE A $5 MILLION FACILITY TO THE UNIVERSITY BECAUSE WE WERE LOSING SO MUCH MONEY. BUT WHAT I RECEIVED WAS ON MY REQUEST, WAS NO RECORD EXIST. THIS IS ODD BECAUSE THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT LISTED THE PROPERTY AS OWNED BY THE CITY OF EDINBURGH, AND THE OWNER MADE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT NOT BEING HAPPY WITH THE TRANSACTION.

SO HOW MUCH DID WE SPEND? REMEMBER, WE WILL FIND OUT.

BUT THE GREATEST FINANCIAL MYSTERY IS WHAT HAPPENED TO SANTANA AND HOW MUCH DID THE CITY LOSE? THIS IS NOT A GOOD EXAMPLE OF TRANSPARENCY.

MY ADVICE TO THIS COUNCIL IS TO NOT GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH THE EDINBURG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

NOTHING GOOD COMES FROM IT.

AND FINALLY, THE COUNCIL GAVE THE CITY STAFF A 3% SALARY INCREASE WHEN THE INFLATION RATE WAS 18.5. MY MINUTE IS UP.

[02:35:02]

THE DECISION TO INCREASE WATER RATES IS $0.67.

WHAT A TERRIBLE DECISION AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THERE BE NO DISCUSSION CONCERNING THE SALE IN BONDS BEFORE THE ELECTION. AND I ASK TONIGHT EVERYONE TO PLEASE PRAY FOR ISRAEL AND FOR THE HOSTAGES.

THE DEAD ARE ALIVE. THAT THEY ALL BE BROUGHT HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES.

AND I ALSO ASK YOU TO PRAY FOR OUR COUNTRY AND OUR PRESIDENT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MA'AM.

MISS MCCURDY ALSO HAS QUESTIONS ON ITEM SEVEN A AND TEN B.

THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS BILL CARLSON REGARDING FRIENDS OF EBONY NIGHT GOLF TOURNAMENT. GOOD EVENING, GENTLEMEN.

MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I'M HERE TONIGHT TO PRESENT TO THE CITY OF EDINBURGH.

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING FRIENDS OF EBONY HILLS GOLF COURSE.

OUR NIGHT GOLF TOURNAMENT 1116 OF 2024.

24. IT FILLED THE PLACE UP.

WE ALL ENJOYED IT. AND.

BUT ALSO IT GIVES ME A CHANCE TO BRIEFLY SAY THAT SINCE 2022, WHEN THE FIVE YEAR PLAN WAS FINALLY APPROVED, WE'VE HAD TWO NEW BRIDGES, WE'VE HAD CART PATHS DONE BRAND NEW, AND OF COURSE, NEW GOLF CARTS.

WHAT DID THAT BRING? THAT BRING THE BROUGHT IN THE BIGGEST YEAR LAST YEAR THAT WAS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30TH THEN EBONY HAS EVER SEEN.

AND RIGHT NOW I CAN TELL YOU FROM OCTOBER 1ST TO THE END OF JANUARY, WE'RE ABOVE $55,000 FROM WHAT WE DID THOSE FOUR MONTHS LAST YEAR.

SO IT'S IT'S SHOWING THE ONLY RESULTS THAT I HEAR SOMETIMES THAT ARE NEGATIVE IS THAT YOU HAVE TO CALL IN A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE TO GET A TEE TIME.

BUT WE HAVE SO MANY KIDS OUT THERE THAT ARE USING THIS GOLF COURSE, AND IT'S A IT'S A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL THING TO SEE.

AND AGAIN, I THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP AND LOOKING FORWARD FOR A BETTER YEAR THIS NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS MISS KELLY LEWIS.

GOOD EVENING. I'M KELLY LEWIS, ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER OF PALM VALLEY ANIMAL SOCIETY, AND I KNOW Y'ALL Y'ALL KNOW I'M ALWAYS TALKING, TALKING TO ANIMALS ANYTIME YOU RUN INTO ME.

SEVERAL OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS ARE HERE.

AND YOU'LL BE HEARING FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN A FEW MINUTES. ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF EDINBURGH FOR EDINBURG FOR CONTINUING YOUR PARTNERSHIP WITH US THROUGH THESE CHALLENGING PAST FEW YEARS.

SO FEW VALLEY CITIES SEEM TO HONESTLY CARE ABOUT THE WELFARE OF THEIR LOST AND STRAY DOGS AND CATS. BUT EDINBURG HAS REALLY TRIED TO IMPROVE WHAT THEY DO FOR THE ANIMALS.

NO, JESUS AND MYRA. WE'VE HAD MANY MEETINGS ABOUT HOW TO DO BETTER.

YOU SEEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT ALLOCATING APPROPRIATELY FOR ANIMAL WELFARE IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR CITY'S QUALITY OF LIFE, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.

WE ALSO APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE ENLARGING YOUR INITIAL HOLDING FACILITY TO ALLOW MORE FLEXIBILITY WITH THE INTAKE OF ANIMALS, AND WE SINCERELY HOPE THAT YOU WILL BE PART OF OUR PLAN TO FULLY BUILD OUT OUR ANDREWS CENTER IN YOUR CITY, TO REDUCE THE RISK OF CONTAGIOUS DISEASES AMONG THE ANIMALS, AND TO HOUSE THE ANIMALS MORE HUMANELY THROUGH ALL THE SEASONS AND ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. RUNNING AN ANIMAL SHELTER IS INCREDIBLY DEMANDING.

MR. WHITE KNOWS THAT. AND FOR IT TO BE DONE WELL, IT'S VERY COSTLY IN BOTH DOLLARS AND HEARTACHE.

IT'S NEVER EASY. THERE'S THERE'S NEVER A DAY THAT GOES BY THAT THERE AREN'T TOUGH DECISIONS. AND I'M SO PROUD OF OUR STAFF FOR FOR BEING ON THE GROUND MAKING THEM.

WE DREAM OF THE DAY WHEN EDINBURG HAS ITS OWN SPAY NEUTER CLINIC, EASILY ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE FOR EDINBURG RESIDENTS WHO NEED HELP WITH THE PETS THEY LOVE. SO WE APPRECIATE THAT EDINBURG TRUST PALM VALLEY TO DO THE HEAVY LIFTING OF ITS ANIMAL WELFARE. WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT THE STRUGGLES OF OTHER SHELTERS AND OTHER CITIES,

[02:40:06]

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF NEWS LATELY THAT'S THAT'S VERY ADVERSE AS FAR AS ANIMAL WELFARE.

WE KNOW WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN IN OPERATION FOR 51 YEARS.

MOST OF THAT HERE IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH.

AND WE'RE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE EDINBURGH AS A VALUED PARTNER.

THANK YOU. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS BOBBY HASSELL REGARDING ITEM EIGHT A.

MAYOR, MAYOR. PRO TEM, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

HONORED TO BE SPEAKING BEFORE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THAT MENTION ON CANCER AWARENESS.

SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT TRIBE RECOGNIZES THE TRIBE.

SO BLESSINGS ON THAT JOURNEY.

WE CAN'T WE CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THAT.

I THINK WE CAN USE MORE AND MORE OF THAT ON ON EVERY POSSIBLE LEVEL.

SO I CELEBRATE THE INITIATIVES THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO BRING TO THAT RESIDENTIAL SPACE.

IN TALKING WITH THEM RECENTLY AND, AND SPEAKING ON THEIR BEHALF AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING I SPOKE ABOUT NOISE SUPPRESSION AND NOISE CONTAINMENT AND THE BIG NOISE FLOOR THAT WE ALL KNOW.

THAT INTERSECTION, JACKSON AND FREDDIE, TO BE THERE. IT'S A BIG AMBIENT NOISE FLOOR.

SO THERE'S NOT MUCH YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM THE RESIDENTS.

BUT ANY RESIDENTS, IN THE EVENT THAT THEY MIGHT STILL HAVE ANY NOISE.

ALWAYS CONCERNS. I KNOW THAT THE RANGE OF FUNCTIONALITY THAT THE DOCTOR IS TRYING TO ACHIEVE WITH THAT BUILDING AND WITH THAT INITIATIVE IS EASILY COMPLIABLE AND EASILY ADAPTABLE TO THAT KIND OF FACILITY, ESPECIALLY HOW FAR SET BACK IT IS AND HOW LUSH OF THE SURROUNDINGS THAT IT HAS IN FRONT OF IT AND AROUND IT.

FREDDIE IS SUCH A LOUD PARTY CORRIDOR FROM THURSDAY TO MONDAY MORNING ANYWAY, SO I DOUBT YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR MUCH OVER THAT.

AND THEN AGAIN, THE AMBIENT NOISE FLOOR THAT IS THE ROAD.

THE HIGHLY TRAFFICKED ROAD.

SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS ACCURATELY CHAMPIONED AND ACCURATELY NOTED ON THEIR BEHALF. THE THE WRITERS AND THE WRITER FUNCTIONALITY, THE EDUCATION, THE NETWORKING FOR TO CELEBRATE ARTS AND CULTURE AND TURN ENTERTAINMENT. LIKE I SAID, I DON'T THINK WE CAN GET ENOUGH OF THAT HERE.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S A LOUD FOOTPRINT TYPE OF INITIATIVE, YOU KNOW, IN THAT IN THAT SPACE.

AND I KNOW THAT WRITERS IF THIS IS AN EDUCATIONAL IF THIS IS PRIMARILY AN EDUCATIONAL NETWORKING AND TRAINING PLACE AS A WRITERS RETREAT, WRITERS NEED QUIET. THEY NEED A LITTLE BIT OF EDUCATION.

THEN BE QUIET AND LET'S WRITE.

AND SO AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT IN THE EVENT THAT THERE WAS ANY KIND OF RESIDUAL CONCERN. GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU.

THE LAST PUBLIC COMMENT IS REGARDING TEAMWORK.

BRINGS TEARS TO MY EYES, MAYA, TO FIND OUT LAST NIGHT THAT OR THE OTHER DAY THAT YOU GOT PRONOUNS ASSOCIATED WITH ILLNESS.

WELL, ANYHOW THERE WAS NO SIGN WITHIN TEXDOT CIVIL ENGINEERING THAT THAT SAID THERE IS NO I AN I IN TEAM. AND THE WAY YOU SPELL TEAM IS T E A M.

THERE'S NO I BEING. THAT SAID, WE ARE A TEAM.

WE WILL SURVIVE THIS THING.

WE WILL AS A TEAM. TEXDOT.

HECTOR GONZALEZ PETE ALVAREZ WILL ALWAYS STAND BEHIND YOU ALL.

OKAY. IF ANY ONE OF Y'ALL NEED ANY HELP WILL BE THERE IN TEXDOT.

BUT EVERY TIME I WALK INTO THIS CITY HALL REMINDS ME OF HOLLYWOOD.

IT JUST DOES. YOU ALL ARE SUPERSTARS.

THE WAY YOU HANDLED THE CITY OF EDINBURGH IN THE LAST THREE AND A HALF YEARS, FOUR YEARS, 12 YEARS IS EXCELLENT TO ME.

WE WILL ALWAYS PRAY FOR YOUR MAYOR TO BEAT THIS THING.

WE WILL. IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S VERY PERSONAL TO ME.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT IMMIGRATION JUST HAPPENED OVERNIGHT.

[02:45:06]

NO. ACROSS THE STREET.

HAVE AN 85 YEAR OLD LADY THAT WAS BORN IN MEXICO WITH PANCHO VILLA.

AND PEOPLE LAUGH WHEN I SAY THIS.

NO. IT'S TRUE. IT IS TRUE.

I WAS IN EDINBURG. THE TEXAS TRIBUNE OVER THE WEEKEND MADE A REPORT THAT TEXAS IS THE RICHEST STATE IN AMERICA, AND ALSO TEXAS IS GLOBALLY KNOWN FOR ALL THE ECONOMY, WHETHER IT'S DONALD TRUMP, THE TARIFFS.

IT'S FINE. WHAT WE ARE HERE IN EDINBURG, WHERE THE FOURTH ALL-AMERICAN CITY MAYOR.

AND YOU DID IT, YOU DID IT.

WE'LL BEAT THIS DISEASE.

ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS A TEAM, WHETHER IT'S HOLLYWOOD, TEXAS OR ANYWHERE. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL. NOW I HAVE TO SAY GOODBYE BECAUSE I'M GOING TO MEET A PRODUCER AT BARREL HOUSE RIGHT NOW TO MAKE A MOVIE ABOUT EDINBURGH.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT, GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU SIR.

THANK YOU. THERE ARE NO FURTHER COMMENTS.

MAYOR. COUNCIL. ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO PRESENTATIONS.

ITEM SEVEN, A PRESENTATION BY PALM VALLEY ANIMAL SOCIETY.

GOOD EVENING. MAYOR. COUNCIL ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.

A FEW WEEKS AGO, PALM VALLEY ANIMAL SOCIETY MET WITH MYSELF AND THE CITY MANAGER, MISS AYALA, ON SOME INITIATIVES THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON, SPECIFICALLY ON EXPANSION OF THE FACILITY.

AND WITH THAT, I'LL INVITE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PALM VALLEY ANIMAL SOCIETY TO PROVIDE THIS PRESENTATION TO YOU.

THANK YOU JAY. SO I'M GOING TO MOVE IT SO YOU CAN HEAR ME.

WELL, THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU ALL TONIGHT. IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE ON BEHALF OF PALM VALLEY ANIMAL SOCIETY THIS EVENING. MY NAME IS SUZETTE CRUZ, AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PALM VALLEY ANIMAL SOCIETY. I BELIEVE YOU ALL HAVE ALREADY HAD HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW OUR PRESENTATION, AND I WOULD LIKE TO KIND OF GO THROUGH IT WITH YOU SO THAT YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF WHERE WE WERE AND WHERE WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD TO IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

BUT FIRST, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO KIND OF SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHO WE ARE.

WE ARE A DEDICATED ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATION HERE IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY.

AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO THE COMPASSIONATE CARE AND ADVOCACY OF THE ANIMALS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WITH THIS PROPOSAL, WE SEEK TO FURTHER OUR MISSION BY EXPANDING OUR FACILITIES AND CONSOLIDATING INTO ONE LOCATION TO BETTER SERVE THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND, OF COURSE, OUR PARTNERS.

ALL RIGHT. LET'S SEE HERE.

OKAY, JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT US, RIGHT.

SO WE ARE WE'VE BEEN HERE IN THE VALLEY FOR OVER 50 YEARS.

WE ARE CELEBRATING OUR 51 YEARS THIS YEAR.

AND WE'VE BEEN PARTNERING WITH MUNICIPALITIES THROUGHOUT THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY AS THEIR TRUSTED ANIMAL CARE PROVIDER.

WE ARE A 500 1C3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, AND WE DO HAVE MULTIPLE SERVICES THAT WE OFFER ASIDE FROM ANIMAL INTAKE.

WE HAVE MULTIPLE PROGRAMS WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION.

ADOPTIONS, RESCUE, FOSTER CARE, VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS. WE ALSO OFFER LOW COST VACCINATIONS AND MICROCHIP CLINICS.

OUR PET RESOURCE CENTER IS AVAILABLE TO ANY MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY WHERE THEY RESIDE IN A PARTNER OF OURS, WHERE WE HELP THEM WITH SOLUTIONS FOR LOST AND FOUND PETS, AND EVEN TO KEEP THEIR PETS WITH THAT PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT, WE PROVIDE SOLUTIONS TO KEEP THEM IN THE HOME BY OFFERING FOOD, VACCINES, AND WE'VE EVEN OFFERED SPAY AND NEUTER CLINICS FOR THEM AS WELL.

SO WE HAVE SOME CURRENT CHALLENGES.

IF YOU'VE BEEN TO OUR TRENTON FACILITY, IT'S BEEN THERE A VERY LONG TIME.

IT'S BEEN THERE OVER 40 YEARS AND IT'S AGING AND DETERIORATING.

MOST OF THE BUILDINGS AND THE KENNELS HAVE BEEN IN USE SINCE 1984.

AND IF YOU'VE SEEN OUR PROPERTY, IT'S A VERY STRANGE, LONG PROPERTY. SO IT KIND OF LIMITS OUR EXPANSION IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA.

AND OF COURSE, MAINTENANCE, COST OF HOUSING AND CARING FOR THESE ANIMALS IN THAT TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT IS VERY COSTLY FOR US.

OR MAINTENANCE COSTS ARE VERY HIGH.

AND OF COURSE THEY'RE OUTSIDE.

OUR ABOUT 350 OF OUR ANIMALS ARE HOUSED OUTSIDE.

[02:50:02]

SO THAT MEANS THAT NOT ONLY ARE THEY EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS, BUT MY STAFF IS AS WELL.

SO WHEN YOU SEE US PULLING OUT FOR TARPS, FOR HEATERS, FOR GASOLINE, ALL OF THOSE RESOURCES ARE UTILIZED TO KEEP THE ANIMALS SAFE IN OUR CARE. OBVIOUSLY, OUR KENNELS ARE EXTREMELY OUTDATED.

WE HAVE LITTLE SPACE AT THIS TIME, ALONG WITH THE HIGH MAINTENANCE DEMANDS, ANIMALS BEING HOUSED OUTSIDE AND THEN HAVING THE TWO CENTERS DOES IMPOSE SOME LOGISTICAL COMPLEXITIES. AS WE'RE TRYING TO NAVIGATE OUR ORGANIZATION AND BE AS EFFICIENT AS WE CAN TO OUR PARTNERS. AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE A LIMITED SPACE, RIGHT? SO WE HAVE INADEQUATE KENNEL DESIGN THAT ONLY ALLOWS US TO HOUSE SO MANY ANIMALS AT ONCE. ALSO, THE MAINTENANCE AND THE CLEANING OF THESE ANIMALS TAKES A LOT OF STAFF AND A LOT OF RESOURCES.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE HAVE INSUFFICIENT AREAS FOR DISEASE AND DISEASE CONTROL.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PUT IT OUT PUBLICLY THROUGHOUT THE WITH THROUGHOUT OUR PARTNERS AND OF COURSE, WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY THAT YOU KNOW, INFECTIOUS DISEASE WITHIN OUR ANIMALS IS RUNNING RAMPANT.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING DISTEMPER ISSUES.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, IDEALLY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CONQUER THESE CHALLENGES MOVING FORWARD.

SO THESE PICTURES HERE, YOU CURRENTLY SEE WHAT OUR TRANSLOCATION LOOKS LIKE. NOW I JUST WANT TO SAY DON'T LET THESE PICTURES FOOL YOU.

OUR ANIMALS ARE VERY WELL CARED FOR.

A LOT OF THEM EAT WAY TOO MUCH AND THEY GET PLENTY OF EXERCISE AND PLENTY OF RESOURCES.

AND OUR TEAM IS VERY DEDICATED AND CARING FOR THE ANIMALS THAT ARE AT PALM VALLEY ANIMAL SOCIETY. BUT THESE KENNELS ARE EXTREMELY OUTDATED.

YOU CAN SEE THAT WHEN IT'S COLD OR RAINING OR WE'RE EXPECTING ANY KIND OF EXTREME WEATHER.

WE'RE HAVING TO APPLY TARPS OUTSIDE TO KEEP THE ELEMENTS AWAY FROM THE ANIMALS AND TO KEEP THEM SAFE. WE HAVE KENNELS, PLUMBING, EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY OUTDATED. WE PATCH IT UP.

WE DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN TO KEEP IT FUNCTIONAL, BUT WE ARE AT THE TIME WHERE WE DEFINITELY NEED TO BE REPLACING, IN FACT, TEARING DOWN AND BUILDING OVER.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF MORE PICTURES.

YOU SEE THE LITTLE OUR LITTLE DOGGY FRIEND THERE. THAT WAS THAT'S IN OUR MEDICAL, OUR QUARANTINE AREA. AND YOU CAN SEE THERE OUR PUPPIES UNDERGOING TREATMENT.

HOWEVER, WE WOULD LOVE TO PUT THESE ANIMALS INDOORS RIGHT WHEN THEY'RE GOING THROUGH TREATMENT. IT'S VERY STRESSFUL TIME FOR THEM AND WE'D LIKE TO BRING THEM IN.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, YOU'LL SEE ON THE THIRD PICTURE THERE, IT'S ANOTHER VIEW OF OUR KENNELS AND HOW THEY'RE CURRENTLY BEING USED AT THIS TIME.

AND JUST SOME MORE PICTURES, YOU CAN SEE HOW SOME OF OUR PLUMBING LOOKS LIKE. OUR FENCING LOOKS LIKE AGAIN, WE'RE HAVING TO PATCH UP.

WE'RE HAVING TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN TO SHIELD THE ANIMALS IN OUR CARE FROM FROM FROM THE ELEMENTS. SO THIS IS WHERE WE ARE, RIGHT? WE HAVE OUR TWO LOCATIONS.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR TRENTON FACILITY, AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE OUR LORI P ANDREWS CENTER. SO RIGHT NOW OUR TRENTON, LIKE I EXPLAINED WHERE IT'S VERY LIMITED ROOM FOR EXPANSION. AND ITS CURRENT CONDITION.

WE HAVE LOOKED AT AND DISCUSSED WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR US TO TEAR DOWN AND TO REBUILD AT THAT FACILITY. IT WOULD COST US TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO DO SO.

NOT ONE BUILDING IN THAT PROPERTY IS SALVAGEABLE RIGHT NOW.

SO WE WOULD HAVE TO TEAR DOWN AND START OVER.

NOW AT OUR LORI P ANDREWS CENTER, THIS IS OUR NEWER FACILITY.

IT'S ABOUT TEN YEARS OLD.

IT'S ALREADY EQUIPPED WITH A LARGE PARKING LOT.

IT ALREADY HAS A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY. WE HAVE KENNELS INDOORS AT THIS TIME.

SO WE DO HAVE KENNELS AND WE DO HAVE A LOT OF OPEN SPACE.

AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT WE CAN BE UTILIZING THAT A LITTLE BIT BETTER. AND SO WE'RE HOPING THAT WE CAN REMODEL THOSE AS WELL.

SO THIS IS OUR PROPOSED EXPANSION PLAN.

SO RIGHT NOW WE WANT TO CONSOLIDATE TO ONE CENTRALIZED LOCATION.

AND THAT LOCATION WOULD BE OUR LORI P ANDREWS CENTER.

AND WE WANT TO UTILIZE THE SPACE THAT WE ALREADY HAVE, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF AREAS AND ELEMENTS IN THE CURRENT BUILDING THAT ARE HIGHLY FUNCTIONAL. AND IT WOULD DEFINITELY ALLOW US TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

WITHOUT HAVING TO SPEND THE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO DO SO.

AND HERE. THIS IS JUST A SCHEMATIC THAT WE INITIALLY HAD USED WITH THE HELP OF MCALLEN TO PUT THIS TOGETHER OF WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE.

AND THEN HERE WITH THE ANDREW CENTER KIND OF GOING BACK A LITTLE BIT.

WE'D LIKE TO ADD ABOUT 300 NEW KENNELS TO THE SPACE THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.

THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO HAVE MORE SPACE FOR OUR PARTNERS.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT CAN BE VERY FRUSTRATING WHEN WE HAVE TO LIMIT SPACE.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE GET IT, BUT WE HAVE TO BE VERY MINDFUL OF THE HUMANE

[02:55:01]

HOUSING OF THE ANIMALS THAT WE CARE FOR.

SO THIS WILL ALLOW US TO DO THAT.

AND OF COURSE, REPLACING THE EXISTING KENNELS THAT WE HAVE WITH MORE MODERN DESIGN THAT WILL ALLOW US TO BE ABLE TO CARE FOR THE ANIMALS MORE QUICKLY AND MORE EFFICIENTLY.

WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A NEW WAREHOUSE.

WE ARE A A PARTNER WITH GREATER GOOD.

WE ARE AN AMBASSADOR WITH THEM.

SO THAT MEANS THAT WE HAVE RESOURCES THAT GET ALLOCATED TO US THAT WE'RE ABLE TO HELP OUR ANIMALS, OUR OWN SHELTER, BUT ALSO TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IN THE FORM OF PET PANTRIES AND GIVE THEM FOOD AND SUPPLIES.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE'RE LOOKING TO BUILD A CUSTOMER FACING FACILITY, RIGHT? AND THIS IS THROUGH OUR PET RESOURCE CENTER, AGAIN, WITH HELPING THE CITIZENS WITH THE NEED AND RESOURCES THAT THEY DESPERATELY ARE LOOKING FOR AND THE CARE OF THEIR ANIMALS. SO WE'D LIKE TO REMODEL OUR ANDREWS FACILITY, AND WE ALSO LIKE TO MAKE OUR MEDICAL.

WE HAVE A VERY NICE MEDICAL FACILITY RIGHT NOW.

BUT AS WE CENTRALIZE LOCATIONS, WE WOULD NEED TO EITHER UPDATE THAT FACILITY OR ADD A SECOND FACILITY TO HELP WITH INTAKE.

RIGHT. SO WE DO GET LOTS OF ANIMALS THAT COME FROM ANIMAL CONTROL THAT ARE EITHER INJURED, NEED EXTREME MEDICAL MEDICAL ATTENTION, AND SO WE WOULD NEED TO BE ABLE TO SEPARATE THE TWO. AND OF COURSE, THAT OTHER MEDICAL ROOM THAT WE DO HAVE, WE DO SPAY AND NEUTER AS WELL.

AND THEN OF COURSE, WE DO HAVE A ROOM, AN EDUCATION ROOM AT OUR ANDREWS FACILITY.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, HOST WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS, GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO BE INVOLVED IN ANIMAL WELFARE AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE HERE IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY.

AND AGAIN, TALKING ABOUT PET PROPER PET OWNERSHIP.

SO THIS IS WHAT WE ARE ASKING OUR PARTNERS.

YOU KNOW, AS A VALUED PARTNER, THE CITY OF EDINBURGH WE ARE ASKING FOR A $1.2 MILLION INVESTMENT TO SUPPORT THE CONSOLIDATION AND EXPANSION PROJECT TO OUR LORI ANDREWS FACILITY.

RIGHT NOW, WE DO HAVE A COMMITMENT FROM THE CITY OF MCALLEN, AND THEY ARE WORKING WITH US AT THIS TIME TO MAKE THIS A REALITY FOR US.

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS COMMITTED TO BEING THE MAJORITY STAKEHOLDER THROUGH A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN. SO WE, OF COURSE, WILL FUNDRAISE THE MAJORITY OF THE FUNDS TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT.

RIGHT NOW THE PROJECTED COST ARE ABOUT.

AND THIS WILL ALSO ALLOW US TO CREATE A MORE COST STABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR PARTNERS, WHERE YOU KIND OF KNOW WHAT THE, THE, THE PAY SCALE WILL BE FOR DOING BUSINESS WITH US, RATHER BEING SURPRISED AT THE COST OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO CREATE SOME CONSISTENCY.

AND THEN OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY ALIGNMENT WITH THE CITY OF EDINBURGH AND CREATE A POSITIVE BRAND AND A POSITIVE AWARENESS FOR THE ANIMALS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AGAIN. SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE AS BEING A PARTNER OF PALM VALLEY, WHICH YOU RECEIVE ALREADY A LOT OF THESE, BUT JUST KIND OF WANTED TO GO OVER AND EXPAND A LITTLE BIT.

AGAIN, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO OFFER A REDUCED RATE FOR SERVICES COMPARED TO NON PARTNERS.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO STRENGTHEN OUR PARTNERS REPUTATION AS A COMPASSIONATE AND SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE ENTITY TOWARDS ANIMAL WELFARE AND AGAIN, CREATE A POSITIVE BRAND ALIGNMENT WITH AN ORGANIZATION LIKE PALM VALLEY, WHO'S VERY DEDICATED TO ANIMAL WELFARE AND COMMUNITY SERVICE PARTNERS CAN ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY INITIATIVES, EVENTS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS HOSTED AT OUR NEW FACILITY AND OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN SPONSOR SPONSOR WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS. WE ALREADY HAVE A VERY NICE LIST OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE WORK WITH THAT OFFER GRANTS, LARGE NATIONAL PARTNERS THAT THAT ASSIST US IN DIFFERENT AREAS.

AND OF COURSE, THAT WOULD BE EXTENDED TO OUR PARTNERS. LET'S KEEP GOING.

OKAY. SO THIS IS WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR.

SO RIGHT NOW OUR CURRENT PARTNERS IS, YOU KNOW, OURSELVES AND OF COURSE, CITY OF MCALLEN. WE ALREADY HAVE A CONSULTANT TEAM WHICH IS SHELTER PARTNERS OF AMERICA.

OUR SHELTER PARTNERS OF AMERICA, THEY ARE ONE OF THE TOP DESIGN FIRMS WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDING OUT ANIMAL SHELTERS.

SO THEY WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A VERY EFFICIENT SHELTER THAT WILL BENEFIT US AND OF COURSE, OUR PARTNERS. AND THEN, OF COURSE, THESE ARE SOME OF THE LIST OF DESIGN AND ENGINEERING PARTNERS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE. AND YOU WILL FIND THAT A LOT OF THEM ARE LOCAL AND SOME THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE USED ARE THE CITY OF MCALLEN MIGHT HAVE USED. SO NOT ONLY ARE WE USING LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP DO THIS PROJECT, OF COURSE THAT CREATES JOBS HERE IN OUR CITY.

[03:00:03]

SO RIGHT NOW, THIS IS WHAT OUR PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE LOOKS LIKE.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN THE BUILDING PROGRAMING PORTION OF IT.

WE ARE WAITING FOR SHELTER PLANNERS. THEY ARE COMPILING INFORMATION ABOUT THE CITY AND ABOUT OUR NEEDS AND OF COURSE, ABOUT THE CONTRACTS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.

AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE COMING DOWN TO OUR SHELTER TO KIND OF DISCUSS WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE AND WHAT OUR VISION IS FOR THE NEW PROJECT.

AND AS WE GO ALONG, WE'RE PROJECTED TO START ON AUGUST OF 2026.

OBVIOUSLY, PROVIDED THAT WE HAVE ALL THE FUNDING NECESSARY.

SO WE ASK YOU, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY LEADERS TO PLEASE CONSIDER THIS THIS PROPOSAL. YOU KNOW, WE REALLY WANT TO TURN THIS VISION INTO A REALITY.

WE WE ALL KNOW THAT ANIMAL WELFARE IS A VERY SENSITIVE, BUT YET LARGE ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS TOGETHER.

WE ARE LOOKING TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT AND CREATE A SPACE WHERE THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY IS SUPPORTIVE OF ANIMAL WELFARE, THAT OUR CITIES ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT, AND ALSO LOOKING TOWARDS A NEW LEVEL AND STANDARD FOR ANIMAL CARE HERE IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO I HAVE A QUESTION. THE CURRENT BUILDING RIGHT THERE ON TRENTON.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT BUILDING? SURE. SO WE ARE LOOKING TO NOT UTILIZE THAT FACILITY ANYMORE. RIGHT NOW THE BOARD IS CONSIDERING DIFFERENT OPTIONS.

IDEALLY, THIS WILL BE A PROPERTY THAT WE WILL PROBABLY SELL.

SO. AND THEN WILL THOSE CURRENT FUNDS BE PART OF THAT 6 MILLION TO HELP PAY FOR THAT 6 MILLION? RIGHT NOW THAT IS THAT IS AN OPTION FOR US RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE CONSIDERING ALL AVENUES RIGHT NOW.

IT'S STILL VERY EARLY IN THE PROCESS. AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS THIS KIND OF LEVEL OF COMMITMENT THAT WE'RE ASKING DOES TAKE TIME.

AND YOU KNOW, SO WE WANTED TO KIND OF PUT IT OUT TO OUR ENTITIES FIRST.

BUT THOSE BUT ALL OF THESE ARE STILL BEING DISCUSSED AT THIS TIME. OKAY.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY.

I HAVE A QUESTION. IT'S REALLY NOT ABOUT THE BUILDING. IT'S PROBABLY MORE ABOUT OPERATIONS. SURE. THE THE LAW REQUIRES RIGHT NOW THAT ANIMALS THAT ARE ADOPTED HAVE TO BE SPAYED. CORRECT. WHAT'S YOUR PERCENTAGE OF THAT HAPPENING? SURE. SO FOR FULL TRANSPARENCY RIGHT NOW, WE DO NOT HAVE A FULL TIME VETERINARIAN.

SO WE ARE BEING WE'RE HEAVILY RELYING ON RELIEF VETERINARIANS TO COME IN AND HELP US WITH THIS ISSUE. WE KNOW THAT IT IS A PROBLEM.

WE KNOW THAT SPAY AND NEUTER IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, AND IT IS ON THE TOP OF OUR LIST.

WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO RECRUIT A VETERINARIAN FOR THREE YEARS. IT IS EXTREMELY CHALLENGING.

WE'VE ALSO BEEN MADE AWARE THAT THERE IS A LACK OF VETERINARIANS HERE IN OUR AREA.

EVEN OUR CURRENT LOW IN COST SPAY AND NEUTER CLINIC THAT WE HAVE CAN TAKE ANYONE MONTHS TO GET AN APPOINTMENT AND TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THESE SERVICES.

SO WE, WE DO HAVE TO ADOPT OUT ANIMALS THAT ARE NOT ALTERED BECAUSE OF THE SPACE RESTRAINTS AND BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO KEEP THEM. RIGHT. BUT WE DO HAVE A POLICY IN PLACE. ONE IS THAT IF WE HAVE A VETERINARIAN THERE AT OUR SHELTER DOING SPAY AND NEUTER SURGERIES THAT WE ADOPT.

WE GET THEM SPAYED AND NEUTERED FIRST BEFORE THEY GO OUT THE DOOR. AND ALSO WE DO HAVE WE DO WORK WITH OTHER LOCAL CLINICS HERE IN THE VALLEY WHERE WE GIVE THE THE ADOPTER A VOUCHER AND THEY CAN GO TO THIS CLINIC AND WE WILL COVER THE COST.

SO THIS IS ALL AT COST TO VA'S.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN WITH THAT. SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I KNOW YOU ARE, BUT I'M LEADING YOU TO WHERE I WANT TO GO. YEAH.

IT'S VERY IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.

WE DO HAVE WE DO HAVE A BACKLOG OF ANIMALS THAT THAT DO NEED THE SURGERY.

AND WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING THROUGH OUR CURRENT POPULATION TO GET THEM ALTERED. I DON'T BELIEVE THE LAW REQUIRES YOU TO HAVE THEM SPAYED. REQUIRES THE THE PERSON, THE ADOPTER TO HAVE IT.

SO MY QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF MCALLEN COMES IN HERE AND ALL THE ANIMALS COME OVER THE CITY OF EDINBURG IS STILL GOING TO BE THE ANIMAL CONTROL AUTHORITY, AND IT'S GOING TO HAVE THE RIGHT OF INSPECTION AND STUFF IN THE ANIMAL CONTROL FACILITY, IF THAT'S WHAT THIS IS GOING TO BE.

I MEAN, EVERY MEETING I'VE GONE TO IS ABOUT SPAYING AND NEUTERING.

THE CITY OF EDINBURGH, WE HAVE CHANGED AWAY FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THIS IS SOMETHING I TRIED TO GET FORCE ENFORCED WHEN I WAS THERE, BUT IT WAS JUST DIFFERENT.

DIFFERENT MOOD BACK THEN.

BUT NOW WE'VE GOT WE'VE GOT JAY OVER HERE WHO'S IN CHARGE OF IT. PROBABLY DOESN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, BUT HE'S IN CHARGE OF MAKING SURE THAT HIS OFFICERS TAKE YOUR COMPLAINTS, AND THEY FOLLOW UP WITH THE OWNER OF THE DOG, WHO JUST JUST ADOPTED IT AND FILED WITH THE MUNICIPAL COURT IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH.

AND THAT HAS TO START TO BEING DONE IF WE'RE EVER GOING TO PUSH AND WE'RE EVER GOING TO

[03:05:04]

GET SERIOUS ABOUT SPAY AND NEUTERING, YOU CAN BUILD 300 MORE KENNELS.

EDINBURGH CAN HAVE ANOTHER 100.

THAT'S 1200 ANIMALS WERE GOING TO A HOUSE FOR THREE, PROBABLY A LITTLE LESS, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE VICIOUS DOGS, WHICH CAN ONLY HOLD ONE ANIMAL.

AND THEN YOU GOT CATS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT COMES BACK, AND PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT CATS ARE A WHOLE NOTHER ISSUE.

IT'S HARD TO HOLD THEM INDOORS.

THE STENCH AND THE SMELL THAT THE THE AMMONIA.

RIGHT. IT'S AMMONIA TYPE SMELL THAT IT'S JUST SO HARD TO TO DEAL WITH.

I LOVE YOU PEOPLE THAT THAT SPEND YOUR TIME THERE DOING IT.

I MEAN, IT'S IT'S IT'S DIFFICULT.

BUT SOMEWHERE IN THERE WE AS A GOVERNMENT NEED TO GET BACK IN AND DO PART OF IT.

WE'VE SAT BACK AS A GOVERNMENT AND I'M AS GUILTY AS I THINK.

IT WAS ALWAYS EASIER TO TO EUTHANIZE.

ANIMAL DOESN'T GET PICKED UP. AND SOMETIME WE GOT TO WE GOT TO ROTATE THE CAGE. WE NEED TO BE BECAUSE AT ONE TIME, I MEAN, I GOT OUR FACILITY DOWN.

WE WERE LIKE, YOU KNOW, I WAS KIND OF PROUD.

WE GOT IT DOWN TO ABOUT WHAT PALM VALLEY WAS AT ONE POINT ABOUT 93% EUTHANIZATION.

AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY A GOOD NUMBER. AND WE WERE SAVING SEVEN, 8%. THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT PALM VALLEY WAS PRIOR, RIGHT? MRS LOUIS 25, 30 YEARS AGO.

WE WERE PROBABLY RIGHT UP IN THERE.

50. OKAY. JUST TEN YEARS AGO.

YEAH, BUT IT'S THE ISSUE.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING HERE.

I THINK WE NEED SOMETHING BETTER FOR ANIMALS.

I, I GUESS IT'S BECAUSE I LIVED IT.

CHAD DUFNER'S OVER THERE. HE TOOK OVER THE ANIMAL CONTROL FOR A WHILE. WHEN? WHEN I GOT DONE WITH IT. AND IT'S IT'S A IT'S A IT'S A BEAST.

I HOPE WE CAN HELP YOU. HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIGURE IT OUT.

I AGREE, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BUT I KIND OF SET YOU UP A LITTLE BIT OF QUESTIONS. THAT'S KIND OF THE WAY I DO IT, BECAUSE I KNOW WHERE I'M GOING. I ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION, BUT OUR CITY MANAGEMENT AND SCIENCES AND THEY'VE GOT TO COME BACK OUT. WE'VE GOT ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS WHO CAN NOW FILE THE COMPLAINT, FILE THE TICKET. WE START PRESSING.

IT'S SOMEHOW I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO IT WITH THE CITY OF MCALLEN, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE ADOPTING OUT MCALLEN ANIMALS.

BUT TECHNICALLY, IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER. IT'S THE CITY'S PROBLEM BECAUSE YOU'RE IN OUR YOU'RE IN OUR IN OUR VENUE.

BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MR.. I HAVE A QUESTION.

WHAT ARE WE DOING TO DECREASE THE NUMBER OF INTAKE THAT YOU'RE RECEIVING? IT'S GETTING MORE AND MORE EXPENSIVE EVERY YEAR.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP US DECREASE THE COST? THAT THAT YOU'RE REQUESTING. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW YOU'RE REQUESTING, WHAT, 1.2 MILLION? SO WHAT ARE Y'ALL DOING ON YOUR END JUST TO HELP US? SURE. SO I KIND OF, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I KIND OF JUST WANTED TO BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT EXACTLY LIKE, WHAT ARE WHAT IS VA'S DOING, RIGHT TO ADDRESS THE STRAY POPULATION.

RIGHT. SO ONE IS THAT, OF COURSE, WE ARE TRYING TO WORK WITH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS WHO CAN BRING DOWN VETERINARIANS.

IT IS A PROBLEM. THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TO GO AROUND.

WE CAN'T GET ONE. WE ARE TRYING TO BE SO COMPETITIVE.

WE ARE, AS YOU KNOW, AS A NONPROFIT.

WE DON'T. WE'RE NOT SITTING ON MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO DO THIS.

SO WE'RE HAVING TO WORK WITH WHAT WE HAVE.

JUST LAST YEAR ALONE, I MEAN, WE SPENT ABOUT $250,000 JUST ON RELIEF VETERINARIANS TO COME DOWN TO GO AHEAD AND DO SPAY AND NEUTERING FOR US.

WE HAVE DONE SO MUCH RESEARCH.

I'VE TALKED TO SO MANY VETERINARIANS, SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS AS TO WHY CAN'T WE FIND ONE? THERE'S MANY REASONS, AND ONE OF IT IS THEY CAN MAKE MORE MONEY DOING RELIEF WORK. OKAY.

AND THAT'S FINE. WE HAVE AMAZING RELIEF VETERINARIANS THAT WILL COME, BUT THEY'RE ONLY CAN COME ONCE A MONTH, 2 TO 3 DAYS.

AND THAT WILL PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, DO ABOUT 200 SURGERIES IF, IF THAT. SO WE'RE REALLY WORKING ON GETTING THAT AND OF COURSE, EXPANDING OUR PROGRAMS. WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MORE CITY INVOLVEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO SPAY AND NEUTERING BECAUSE, AS MR. WHITE SAID, THAT IS THE ANSWER.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE HEAR ALL THE TIME WHY THEY CAN'T. I CAN'T AFFORD IT.

SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THAT.

I MEAN, TRENTON, YOU KNOW, IS JUST WE'RE CONSTANTLY POURING IN RESOURCES, CONSTANTLY POURING IN FUNDING JUST TO KEEP IT OPERATING.

OKAY. AND HOPEFULLY WITH THIS ONE FACILITY, WE WON'T NEED TO BE FOCUSING ON THAT.

SO AND THEN ALSO WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO PUT THOSE, ANY SAVINGS THAT WE HAVE TO PUT ON OUR PARTNERS BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND IT IS

[03:10:02]

EXPENSIVE. I DO KIND OF JUST WANT TO QUICKLY GO OVER, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH IT COSTS PALM VALLEY FOR EVERY ANIMAL THAT WALKS IN AND JUST KIND OF THAT YOU CAN HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT IT IS THAT WE DO FOR THEM.

RIGHT. SO AS SOON AS THEY COME INTO OUR SHELTER, RIGHT OFF THEY COME OFF THE TRUCKS. THEY'RE GETTING MEDICAL CARE. RIGHT. SO WE HAVE AN AMAZING MEDICAL TEAM THAT DOES VACCINES.

THEY DO HEARTWORM, HEARTWORM TESTING, HEARTWORM, FLEA AND TICK PREVENTION.

IF THEY ARE, THEY NEED MEDICAL ATTENTION.

WE TAKE THEM. IF THEY LOOK LIKE THEY'RE SICK, WE RUN PARVO TESTING, DISTEMPER TESTING.

IF THEY HAVE RINGWORM, I MEAN, IF ANY KIND OF MEDICAL DISEASE THAT YOU CAN THINK THAT ANIMAL CAN HAVE, WE WILL TREAT THEM.

WE DO NOT EUTHANIZE FOR UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTION.

WE DON'T EUTHANIZE FOR RINGWORM. THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOMETHING WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, BUT WE DON'T DO THAT ANYMORE.

SO WE TREAT THEM. OKAY, I'M TALKING ABOUT STAFF TIME, TALKING ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF FOOD THAT WE HAVE TO FEED THEM. THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES, THE STAFF THAT I NEED TO DO THAT.

PALM VALLEY IS A LARGE EMPLOYER.

WE ARE A LARGE EMPLOYER HERE IN THE VALLEY. I EMPLOY UPWARDS OF 90 EMPLOYEES.

OKAY? AND NONE OF MY EMPLOYEES ARE MAKING MINIMUM WAGE.

IT'S A VERY HARD JOB. IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT JOB.

IT'S A JOB THAT NOT MANY PEOPLE WANT TO TAKE.

OKAY. IF YOU'VE EVER VISITED OUR TRENTON CENTER, IF YOU HAVEN'T, I IMPLORE YOU TO DO SO.

SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT MY STAFF, WHAT THEY GO THROUGH DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO CARE FOR THE ANIMALS IN OUR CARE.

SO WE EVERY ANIMAL WILL COST US HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS.

WE TOTAL IT UP. WE'VE DONE THE MATH.

IT CONTINUES TO INCREASE EVERY TEST, EVERY VACCINE, EVERY MICROCHIP, EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.

THOSE COSTS HAVE GONE UP AS WELL FOR US.

SO AGAIN, IT GOES UP FOR US.

WE KNOW IT GOES UP FOR YOU. AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING AS A PARTNER WE WANT TO DO. BUT ALSO WE HAVE TO REMAIN VIABLE.

WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE, TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES, AND NOT JUST FOR OUR CITIES, BUT BECAUSE OF OUR SHARED LOVE FOR ANIMALS.

AND SO WE'RE ALWAYS WILLING TO WORK WITH THE CITY AND OUR PARTNERS ON THIS PARTICULAR THING. BUT WE'RE HOPING THAT WITH THE CONSOLIDATION, OUR COST WILL DECREASE.

AND YOU CAN EDUCATE ME ON THIS, BUT OUR VETERINARIANS, THE ONLY ONES THAT CAN SPAY AND NEUTER. THAT IS CORRECT.

THAT CAN BE A GREAT ADD TO THAT.

COUNCILMAN. SO IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE DISCUSSED. I THINK IT WAS THE MAYOR OF MCALLEN ONCE WE HAD A MEETING ABOUT IT.

IT'S ONE OF OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES TO SEE IF WE CAN GET MORE PEOPLE QUALIFIED TO SPAY AND NEUTER. EVEN IN THE MEDICAL FIELD. THERE'S PARAMEDICS THAT CAN DO NURSING TASKS NPS THAT CAN DO DOCTORS TASKS.

SO IT LOWERS THE COST.

AND LET ME SAY, NO ONE'S NO ONE'S SAYING THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY SORT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT MEASURES. IT'S HARD ENOUGH TO GET PEOPLE TO ADOPT AND RELIEVE SOME OF THE PRESSURES AND THE CONGESTION.

I THINK THAT THE ANSWER IS NOT TO TICKET PEOPLE OR ENFORCE ANYTHING.

I THINK THE ANSWER IS TO HELP SPAY AND NEUTER HAVE A TRUE CHANGE IN THE LEGISLATION WHERE YOU CAN HAVE A LOT OF SPAY NEUTER CLINICS.

COUNCILMAN DOLAN KIND OF TOOK MY THOUGHT. I THINK THAT BUILDING YOU HAVE THERE, IF IT'S NOT GOING TO BE UTILIZED, MAYBE A WAY WE CAN HELP IS THE CITY CAN SEE IF IT SERVES OUR NEEDS.

THERE'S A LOT OF NEEDS FOR FOR ALL OUR GROWTH WITH CITY HALL AND DEPARTMENTS.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT LOCATION THAT WE COULD UTILIZE.

I THINK THAT BUILDING MAYBE THE CITY COULD UTILIZE I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THE NUMBER OF WHAT IT COST THE CITY YEAR AFTER YEAR WHEN I FIRST GOT IN OFFICE AND LIKE COUNCILMAN DE LEON SAID AT THE SAME TIME, MS AT THAT TIME WAS GETTING $0 A YEAR.

SO THERE WAS SOME DISPARITY THERE AND, AND COST.

AND SO IT'S A VERY, VERY, VERY HEAVY PROBLEM.

THAT'S WHY CITIES ARE TRYING TO UNITE AND TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.

BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO EXPAND YOUR NEWER FACILITY AND MAYBE FIND ANOTHER USE AND GET SOME DOLLARS OUT OF THE OLDER FACILITY.

OKAY. AND I KNOW YOU KNOW, I SEE A LOT OF VIDEOS OF PEOPLE PROTESTING ANIMAL CARE, YOU KNOW, THE LOVE FOR THEIR PETS, AND THAT'S GREAT.

BUT I THINK MAYBE WE SHOULD USE THAT TO GET THEM TO GO PRESS FOR THE LEGISLATORS TO, YOU KNOW, FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT WE CAN CUT THE COST ON ON NOT HIRING A VETERINARIAN TO DO THAT. YOU KNOW, SIMPLY TRAINING PEOPLE, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? OR HAVING ONE VETERINARIAN PRESIDENT AND A BUNCH OF TECHS THERE, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? JUST DIFFERENT IDEAS THAT WE NEED TO PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER BECAUSE THE COSTS ARE GOING UP AND MANY OF THE NEEDS OF THE CITY IS GOING UP.

BUT WE CAN'T JUST GIVE IT ALL TO THE PETS EITHER.

AS MUCH AS WE LOVE THEM, AS MUCH AS WE WANT TO CARE FOR THEM, YOU KNOW. WE ALSO NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM,

[03:15:01]

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT AND WORK TOGETHER TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION, AND NOT JUST A BAND-AID.

NOW, OF COURSE. AND THANK YOU. WE WE REALLY DO WANT TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER UP WITH THE CITIES TO MAKE THIS A REALITY, NOT ONLY FOR PALM VALLEY,

[The City Council will convene in Executive Session, in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Vernon's Texas Statutes and Codes Annotated, Government Code, Chapter 551, Subchapter D, Exceptions to Requirement that Meetings be Open. The City Council May Elect To Go Into Executive Session On Any Item Whether Or Not Such Item Is Posted As An Executive Session Item At Any Time During The Meeting When Authorized By The Provisions Of The Open Meetings Act.]

BUT FOR THE ANIMALS. AGAIN, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUST JUST REAL QUICK TO LET PEOPLE KNOW SINCE WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT

[OPEN SESSION]

LOW COST. I JUST HAD OUR FEMALE PUP SPAYED.

OR WAS IT NEUTER? NO, SHE'S A FEMALE SPAYED.

SHE WAS. HAD HER SPAYED.

GOT TWO QUOTES. ONE WAS A VET HERE IN EDINBURGH.

THAT WAS 280 AND THE OTHER ONE WAS OUT OF MCALLEN.

WAS LIKE DOUBLE 554 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

[A. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding the Purchase, Exchange, Lease, or Value of Real Property. (§551.071 Consultation with Attorney; §551.072 Deliberation Regarding Real Property; Closed Meeting.; §551.087 Deliberation Regarding Economic Development Negotiations; Closed Meeting.)]

AND THOSE ARE THE KIND OF COSTS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. I'M NOT SURE WHAT A LOW COST SPAY AND NEUTER A LOW COST ONE WOULD BE, BUT THE TWO 280 IS WAS ROUGH.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAD TO BE DONE. AND YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S JUST JUST PART OF BEING A RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNER, BUT THANK GOD WE WERE ABLE TO DO IT.

BUT WHAT IS IT? LOW COST? SURE. SO THE CURRENT LOW COST CLINIC THAT WE HAVE HERE IS RGV, RGV, LOW COST AND WE DO WORK WITH THEM AND THEY DO HELP US OUT IN SOME LIMITED CAPACITY

[15. ADJOURNMENT]

BECAUSE THEM THEMSELVES ARE KIND OF OVERBOOKED.

WE'VE SEEN PRICES FOR ANYWHERE BETWEEN $90 TO $150, SO THAT'S DEFINITELY A LOT CHEAPER THAN THAN GOING PRIVATE.

YES. I WANTED TO GET PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR, WHAT, 50 YEARS IS THAT? AND I DO THINK IT'S A IT'S A COMMUNITY EFFORT.

YOU KNOW, YOU ALL HAVE YOUR ROLE. WE HAVE OUR ROLE.

BUT I THINK TOGETHER, I THINK WE COULD, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST START ADDRESSING SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP BY COUNCIL.

I DO ALSO WANT TO THANK CITY OF MCALLEN BECAUSE I KNOW THEY'VE.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.

Feb 04, 2025 City Council Meeting

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