LIVING HIS DREAM, MAKING THIS MOMENT EVEN MORE SIGNIFICANT FOR RAMIRO AND HIS FAMILY, [00:00:05] TODAY IS MORE THAN JUST A CEREMONY. IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE HARD WORK AND SACRIFICES MADE BY HIS PARENTS, ENSURING THAT HE AND HIS SISTER COULD HAVE OPPORTUNITIES BEYOND THEIR OWN. AS HE STEPS INTO THIS NEW CHAPTER, RAMIRO IS DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO HIS FAMILY, FRIENDS AND MENTORS, THOSE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO HAVE GUIDED AND ENCOURAGED HIM ALONG THE WAY. HIS ULTIMATE GOAL IS SIMPLE YET PROFOUND TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE, TO POSITIVELY IMPACT AT LEAST ONE PERSON'S LIFE, AND TO SHOW THIS COMMUNITY THAT OFFICERS ARE HERE TO SERVE WITH INTEGRITY AND HEART. RAMIRO RAMIREZ. GIRALDO RODRIGUEZ, JR. JERRY HAILS FROM MCALLEN, TEXAS AND IS A PROUD GRADUATE OF PALMVIEW HIGH SCHOOL, CLASS OF 2018. HE PURSUED A HIGHER EDUCATION, EARNING A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE WITH A MINOR IN PSYCHOLOGY. HIS JOURNEY INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALLY BEGAN ON JANUARY 8TH, 2024, WHEN HE JOINED THE EDINBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT. HE DEDICATED SIX MONTHS TO RIGOROUS TRAINING AT THE ACADEMY, WHERE HE AND HIS FELLOW RECRUITS SUPPORTED AND PUSHED EACH OTHER TO EXCEL. TODAY, HE STANDS BEFORE US, HAVING SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE ACADEMY AND READY TO TAKE ON AN IMMENSE RESPONSIBILITY OF SERVING AND PROTECTING THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. THIS MOMENT IS INCREDIBLY SPECIAL FOR JERRY AS HE IS BEING PINNED BY HIS FIANCEE, DENISE. THE PERSON WHO HAS STOOD BY HIS SIDE FOR SIX YEARS, ALWAYS ENCOURAGING HIM TO BE THE BEST VERSION OF HIMSELF. JERRY EXPRESSES HIS DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO HER, HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR THEIR STEADFAST SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE JOURNEY. WE ASKED ABOUT HIS ASPIRATIONS. JERRY SHARED THAT HE HOPES TO GROW WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, CONTINUE INVESTING IN TRAINING, AND TAKING ON TAKING ON MULTIPLE ASSIGNMENTS IN HIS CAREER. ABOVE ALL, HE IS COMMITTED TO BEING DEDICATED AND AN HONORABLE OFFICER FOR THIS GREAT CITY. TO HIS COLLEAGUES, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY, JERRY HAS ONE FINAL MESSAGE. I SIMPLY THANK GOD FOR IT IS THROUGH HIS GRACE THAT I AM HERE TODAY. I AM TRULY GRATEFUL. JERRY RODRIGUEZ. GERALD SALINAS. IS A PROUD NATIVE OF RIO GRANDE CITY. HE GRADUATED FROM RIO GRANDE CITY HIGH SCHOOL IN 2003, AND SHORTLY AFTER HE BEGAN HIS JOURNEY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. INITIALLY STARTING AS A SECURITY GUARD AT HIS LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL, HE WAS TRAINED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, WHICH INSPIRED HIM TO PURSUE A CAREER IN PROTECTING AND SERVING HIS COMMUNITY. GERALD'S DECISION TO JOIN LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS DEEPLY INFLUENCED BY HIS PARENTS AND WIFE, VERONICA, AND THEIR CHILDREN, WILLIAM AND CASSIDY. HIS LOVE AND COMMITMENT TO THEM HAVE BEEN THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND HIS DETERMINATION TO BECOME A PROTECTOR, NOT ONLY FOR HIS FAMILY, BUT FOR OTHER FAMILIES IN NEED. GERALD BEGAN HIS OFFICIAL LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER JULY 10TH, 2024, AND ATTENDED LRGB ACADEMY IN EDINBURG, TEXAS, WHERE HE GRADUATED IN 2025. TODAY, GERALD IS JOINED BY HIS LOVING WIFE, VERONICA SALINAS, WHO WILL BE PINNING HIS BADGE. VERONICA HAS BEEN BY HIS SIDE THROUGH THICK AND THIN, PROVIDING UNWAVERING SUPPORT AND LOVE. GERALD CREDITS HER FOR THE STRENGTH AND COURAGE THAT HAVE SHAPED HIM INTO THE MAN HE IS TODAY. SHE SEES IN HIM THE POTENTIAL HE SOMETIMES STRUGGLES TO RECOGNIZE HIMSELF, AND TOGETHER THEY STRIVE TO BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR THEIR FAMILY AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. BECOMING THE FIRST GENERATION LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IN HIS FAMILY IS A MOMENT OF IMMENSE PRIDE FOR GERALD, AS WELL AS FOR HIS PARENTS, WHO ARE PRESENT TODAY. THE SALINAS FAMILY HAS ENDURED MANY CHALLENGES, BUT THEY HAVE ALWAYS STOOD TOGETHER, NEVER GIVING UP. THIS MOMENT SYMBOLIZES NOT ONLY A PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT FOR GERALD, BUT A LEGACY FOR HIS FAMILY. GERALD'S FAITH AND BELIEF IN GOD'S TIMING HAVE PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN HIS JOURNEY. DESPITE FACING SETBACKS AND REJECTIONS FROM OTHER AGENCIES, HE TRUSTED THAT GOD'S PLAN FOR HIM WAS GREATER, AND EVENTUALLY HE WAS ACCEPTED INTO EDINBURG PD, THE DEPARTMENT HE FEELS BLESSED TO BE A PART OF. LOOKING FORWARD, GERALD ASPIRES TO BE THE BEST OFFICER HE CAN BE, NOT JUST FOR HIMSELF AND HIS DEPARTMENT, BUT HIS FAMILY AND COMMUNITY. HE HOPES TO ONE DAY LEAD A GROUP OF YOUNG OFFICERS, GUIDING THEM TOWARD BECOMING GREAT LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS. HIS MESSAGE TO ALL IS CLEAR. DON'T EVER GIVE UP. PUT GOD FIRST. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH A GREAT SUPPORTING CAST. AND REMEMBER, SUCCESS DOESN'T COME WITHOUT HARD WORK. GERALD SALINAS. DANIEL SOLIS. DANIEL WAS BORN AND RAISED RIGHT HERE IN EDINBURG, TEXAS. [00:05:03] A PROUD GRADUATE OF EDINBURG HIGH SCHOOL, CLASS OF 2016, DANIEL HAS ALWAYS HAD A DEEP DESIRE TO SERVE AND PROTECT HIS COMMUNITY. INSPIRED BY DEDICATION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS HE SAW GROWING UP, HE KNEW FROM A YOUNG AGE THAT HE THIS WAS HIS CALLING. HIS JOURNEY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT BEGAN IN 2018 AS A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE. HE LATER SERVED AS A JAILER WITH THE HIDALGO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR NEARLY THREE YEARS, BEFORE TRANSITIONING AS A ROLE AS A BORDER PATROL PROCESSING COORDINATOR. WITH A STRONG COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE, DANIEL PURSUED HIS GOAL, BECOMING A POLICE OFFICER, GRADUATING FROM THE LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL'S POLICE ACADEMY IN JANUARY OF 2025. TODAY IS A MOMENTOUS OCCASION FOR DANIEL AS HE OFFICIALLY RECEIVES HIS BADGE PINNED BY NONE OTHER THAN HIS BIGGEST ROLE MODEL HIS FATHER, HIS SACHSE IVAN SOLIS, RETIRED BORDER PATROL AGENT. HIS FATHER STEADFAST SUPPORT, GUIDANCE AND EXAMPLE HAVE SHAPED DANIEL INTO THE MAN AND OFFICER HE IS TODAY. DANIEL. THIS BADGE REPRESENTS MORE THAN JUST A CAREER MILESTONE. IT SYMBOLIZES HIS DEDICATION TO HIS COMMUNITY AND HIS COMMITMENT TO MAKING A REAL DIFFERENCE. AS HE STEPS INTO THIS NEW ROLE, HE LOOKS FORWARD FOR LEARNING, GROWING, AND SERVING THE PEOPLE OF EDINBURG WITH INTEGRITY AND HONOR. DANIEL WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS HIS HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO HIS FAMILY FOR THEIR ENDLESS LOVE AND SUPPORT TO HIS FELLOW OFFICERS. HE OFFERS THIS MESSAGE STAY SAFE OUT THERE. TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER, AND ALWAYS REMEMBER WHY WE CHOSE THIS PATH TO SERVE AND PROTECT DANIEL SOLIS. THANK YOU, SERGEANT RAMIREZ. AND NOW FOR THE OATH OF OFFICE, POLICE CHIEF AYALA. THANK YOU. PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME. I STATE YOUR NAME. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF POLICE OFFICER. THE POLICE OFFICER OF THE CITY OF EDINBURGH, HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS COUNTY, TEXAS. AND I WILL DO TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY TO PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE. AND I FURTHERMORE SOLEMNLY SWEAR, FURTHERMORE, SOLEMNLY SWEAR, THAT I HAVE NOT DIRECTLY NOR INDIRECTLY PAID, OFFERED, OR PROMISED TO PAY. CONTRIBUTED. NOR OFFERED TO CONTRIBUTE ANY MONEY OR VALUABLE THING, OR PROMISED ANY PUBLIC OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT AS A REWARD, A REWARD FOR THE CONSIDERATION TO THE OFFICE OF WHICH I AM APPOINTED. I AM APPOINTED, SO HELP ME GOD. HELP ME GOD. CONGRATULATIONS. AND UP NEXT, WITH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OATH OF HONOR, ASSISTANT POLICE CHIEF MICHAEL SCIBA. OKAY. PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME. ON MY HONOR. I WILL NEVER BETRAY. BETRAY MY INTEGRITY, MY CHARACTER OR THE PUBLIC TRUST. I WILL TREAT ALL INDIVIDUALS WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT AND RESPECT AND ENSURE THE SAFETY OF MY COMMUNITY AND THE PRESERVATION OF HUMAN LIFE. I WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE COURAGE, ALWAYS, TO HOLD MYSELF AND OTHERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR ACTIONS, FOR OUR ACTIONS. I WILL ALWAYS MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST ETHICAL STANDARDS, THE HIGHEST ETHICAL STANDARDS, AND UPHOLD THE VALUES OF MY COMMUNITY AND THE AGENCY I SERVE. YES, SIR. CONGRATULATIONS, OFFICERS. [00:10:19] IN THE. FIRST ROW. TAKE A STEP BACK. REAR ROW. TAKE A STEP FORWARD. SWITCH PLACES. ALL RIGHT. I WILL NOW CALL THE FAMILY MEMBERS FOR EACH OFFICER FOR THE FIRST STATE THAT ARE GOING TO DO THE PINNING FAMILY FOR GEORGE ALMANZA, PLEASE COME FORWARD. MIGUEL CANO. GO AHEAD, MA'AM. JUST STAND WITH HIM. KIMBERLY. THE ANGEL. SABRINA. FLORES. AARON. GARCIA. MALACHI. GARCIA. AUSTIN GOMEZ. AND MICHELE GUERRA. OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. WHEN Y'ALL ARE READY, GO AHEAD AND PIN YOUR LOVED ONES. LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. THANK YOU. FAMILY. IF YOU CAN HAVE A SEAT, PLEASE EXIT STAGE LEFT. TO THE LEFT. OKAY. OFFICER AARON GARCIA. FAMILY MEMBER FOR LUIS HERNANDEZ. [5. PRESENTATION AND REPORT] [A. Presentation Regarding the Status of the Street Improvement Program. [Vincent Romero, CPM, Director of] CARLOS IBARRA. BRANDON MARQUEZ. JUAN RAMIREZ. [00:15:07] RAMIRO. RAMIREZ. JERRY RODRIGUEZ. GERALD SALINAS. AND DANIEL SOLIS. OKAY. FAMILY MEMBERS, GO AHEAD AND PIN YOUR LOVED ONES. DOWN. OKAY. THANK YOU. NOW YOU CAN EXIT. STAGE LEFT. CONGRATULATIONS. TO THE NEW OFFICERS ON STAGE. WELCOME TO THE FOUR TIME ALL-AMERICA CITY. THE GREAT CITY OF EDINBURG. ONE LAST ROUND OF APPLAUSE. ENBRIDGE. FINEST. THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE. PLEASE HELP YOURSELF TO REFRESHMENTS IN THE BACK. THIS CONCLUDES THE CEREMONY AFTER OUR OFFICIAL PICTURES WITH THE MAYOR AND CITY ADMINISTRATION. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO RECREATE ANY PICTURES THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE WITH YOUR LOVED ONES. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THESE THESE PICTURES. THANK YOU FOR FOR COMING. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND. [00:24:15] WHAT A MOVE THAT IS GONNA GIVE US STARTING OVER AGAIN. IT'S THE ARMOR. [B. Presentation Regarding the Public Infrastructure Projects Advisory Committee (PIPAC) Meeting. [Tomas D. Reyna, Assistant City Manager]] [00:32:35] OH, NO. NO, [00:32:46] OH! MY GOD! OH, MY. COMING UP NEXT ON A REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF YOUR EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL. ON THE COUNCIL, MAYOR RAMIRO GARCIA JR. MAYOR PRO TEM JASON DELEON. COUNCIL MEMBER DANIEL DAN DIAZ. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID SALAZAR, JR. AND COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID WHITE SITTING IN AS ADVISORS. CITY MANAGER MYRA AYALA AND CITY ATTORNEY JOSE RAMIREZ SOLIS. AND NOW LIVE FROM EDINBURG CITY HALL, THE EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL. ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. IT IS APRIL 15TH AT 6:00 FOR OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING. I DO SEE VISIBLY THAT WE DO HAVE A QUORUM WITH ALL MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE. HE'S OUT OF TOWN TODAY. WE'RE GOING TO START LIKE WE DO EVERY MEETING WITH A PRAYER. IF YOU COULD PLEASE RISE. WE HAVE SENIOR PASTOR DOCTOR DAVID ALEXANDER HERE TO LEAD US IN PRAYER. GOOD AFTERNOON. [00:35:02] LET'S PRAY. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER DAY IN WHICH WE CAN RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE DOING YOUR BUSINESS AS AND, LORD, WE JUST CALL TO YOU FOR WISDOM THAT YOU CONTINUE TO GRANT JUST THAT GRACE TO US AS WE TAKE CARE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE ENTRUSTED TO US. SO BE WITH ALL THE COMMUNICATION HAPPEN CLEARLY, AND TO BE UNDERSTANDING AND REASON AND JUST FINDING SOLUTIONS FOR THE THINGS AT HAND. FATHER, THANK YOU FOR FOR SUCH A GREAT CITY THAT WE LIVE IN, FOR THE LEADERSHIP THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US THROUGH ALL THE FIRST RESPONDERS AS WELL. [6. ADJOURNMENT] LORD, JUST IT'S JUST A GREAT DAY TO BE A CITIZEN OF EDINBURGH. IT'S ALSO A GREAT WEEK TO BE CALLING OUT TO YOU AS WE RECOGNIZE JESUS CHRIST AND HIS RESURRECTION COMING UP IN EASTER. LORD, JUST THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'RE DOING IN JESUS NAME. AMEN. AMEN. PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU, DOCTOR ALEXANDER. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.