Jun 23, 2025 EEDC Meeting

[00:02:24]

LET'S SEE HERE. ARE YOU READY TO GO TO THAT? ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING.

IT'S NOW 531 5:32 P.M..

I'D LIKE TO GET STARTED BY ASKING TO DO ROLL CALL.

AARON RIVERA. PRESENT.

DAVID SALAZAR. PRESENT.

MARK MORAN PRESENT. RICHARD GONZALEZ IS NOT HERE.

VERONICA GONZALEZ. PRESENT.

SANDRA ALANIZ. PRESENT.

AND GREG VASQUEZ IS NOT HERE.

THE NEW BOARD MEMBER, HE WAS UNABLE, DUE TO SCHEDULE CONFLICTS, TO BE HERE TODAY. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. SEEING THAT WE HAVE QUORUM, I CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER AND ASK THAT WE STAND UP AND DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED

[CALL TO ORDER, ESTABLISH AQUORUM A. Pledge of Allegiance.]

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THERE WE GO. THANK YOU.

ITEM TWO, CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE THAT WITH THIS MEETING POSTED PROPERLY.

YES, SIR. THE NOTICE WAS POSTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT AT THE CITY OFFICES HERE IN THE CITY OF EDINBURG AT 415 WEST UNIVERSITY, OUTSIDE ON THE BULLETIN BOARD.

ON JUNE 20TH AT 5:00. THANK YOU.

[2. CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE]

DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

AARON. YES. YES. GOOD AFTERNOON.

BOARD. UNDER TEXAS LAW, CONFLICT OF INTEREST EXISTS WHEN A BOARD MEMBER OR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILY HAVE A QUALIFYING FINANCIAL INTEREST.

IN A MATTER BEFORE THIS, BOARD MEMBERS WITH CONFLICTS SHOULD REFRAIN FROM BOTH DISCUSSION AND VOTING ON THAT PARTICULAR ITEM.

AT THIS TIME, ARE THERE ANY CONFLICTS TO DISCLOSE? NO, SIR. NO. ITEM D EVEN THOUGH I DON'T BELIEVE IT QUALIFIES AS AN ACTUAL CONFLICT,

[.3 DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST]

SO I WILL ON THAT ONE AS WELL.

YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU.

ALRIGHTY. MOVING ON TO ITEM FOUR.

PUBLIC COMMENT. SAMANTHA, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? OKAY. OKAY.

GOOD EVENING. EDC BOARD PRESIDENT AND DIRECTORS.

MY NAME IS RONNIE. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE EDINBURGH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND EXPLORE EDINBURGH. I'M JUST HERE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TEXAS.

[00:05:03]

AND I KNOW WE'RE GREAT PARTNERS WITH THE CITY OF EDINBURG AND THE EDINBURGH EDC.

[4. PUBLIC COMMENTS]

YOU GUYS APPROVED A PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT FOR TEXAS COOKHAM TO HELP SPONSOR THIS EVENT.

WE'RE EXCITED THAT THIS EVENT IS HAPPENING AGAIN.

IT'S GOING TO BE OUR 19TH YEAR.

IT'S A FREE FAMILY EVENT, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR CITY AND DOING WHAT WE LOVE CELEBRATING FREEDOM, FAMILY AND BARBECUE. BUT, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING FOR QUALITY OF LIFE.

YOU KNOW, QUALITY OF LIFE IS IMPORTANT IN, IN, IN EVERYBODY'S COMMUNITY.

BUT WE'RE HAPPY THAT WE HAVE SUCH A GREAT EVENT HERE.

THAT BRINGS THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER, SHOWCASES THE CITY AND A LOT OF OUR GREAT TALENT AND PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE HERE.

WITH THAT SAID, WE ALSO DO A LITTLE BIT OF CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR OWN.

WE DONATE FIVE SCHOLARSHIPS TO VERY DESERVING UTRGV VETERANS.

THAT EVENING AS WELL. BUT IT'S A GREAT EVENT.

WE ASK EVERYONE TO COME OUT AND ATTEND, JOIN, PARTICIPATE. IT'S HAPPENING JULY 4TH AT EBONY HILLS GOLF COURSE.

WITH THAT SAID, I, YOU KNOW, WANTED TO SEE IF WE COULD TAKE A PICTURE WITH THE BOARD. I DID WANT TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF OUR FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY. WE HAVE PRIYA GOVAN, WHO REPRESENTS TOWNEPLACE SUITES AND BEST WESTERN AND KUMON. WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER CARLA GARCIA, WHO REPRESENTS DAHER HEALTH.

AND THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER, SETH JONES, WHO REPRESENTS UTRGV AND OUR, OUR EVENTS COORDINATOR, STACY SANCHEZ IS WITH US TODAY.

SO WITH THAT SAID, I'M JUST HERE TO TELL YOU. THANK YOU.

THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT.

I KNOW THAT MANY YEARS AGO, THE EDC WAS VERY STILL, YOU KNOW, BUT YOU GUYS WERE PART OF THE DRIVING FORCE WITH THE CITY AND THE CHAMBER TO BRING THIS TYPE OF EVENT AND QUALITY OF LIFE THAT WE KNOW AS OF TODAY.

SO ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.

THANK YOU. RONNIE. IT'S A IT'S A VERY ENJOYABLE EVENT.

I KNOW THEY LOST A LOT OF CALORIES ON HIS BIKE RIDE, AND I THINK YOU DID, TOO.

SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THOSE BACK. IT'S A GOOD.

WELL, YOU LOSE SOME THAT DAY AS WELL WITH THAT HEAT, BUT DEFINITELY YOU CAN BALANCE OUT AT THE AT THE JUDGES TENT.

THANK YOU. I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE A CHECK HERE.

SO IF YOU GUYS DON'T MIND JOINING US, WE HAVE THE TIME.

TO ME, I'M LIKE A BIG OLD CHECK.

Y'ALL KNOW Y'ALL GOOD. GET UP IN THE MIDDLE THERE. I DON'T KNOW.

I'M JUST. I'M JUST. HERE TO BE BALANCED.

YES. THERE YOU GO.

THAT'S GOOD. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU.

GOOD TO SEE YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO. GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU ALL. APPRECIATE IT. GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

SAMANTHA, IS THAT ALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS? OKAY, GREAT. OKAY. MOVING ON TO ITEM FIVE.

CONSIDER APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR THE SPECIAL BOARD MEETING HELD ON JUNE 9TH, 2025. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT THAT MAKE A NOTE AND AN EDIT ON THE MINUTES ON THE STAFF,

[A. Consider and take action on approval of Minutes for the Special Board meeting held on]

AND THEN ON NUMBER THREE, THE DISCLOSURE CONFLICT OF INTEREST, MANNY ESPINOSA ACTUALLY STATED THAT THE STATEMENT ON THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

SO THOSE TWO CHANGES. OKAY, WITH THAT BEING STATED AND I ACCEPTED CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND MOTION? A SECOND? ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE OR RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. I'LL OPPOSE. SAME MOTION.

MOTION PASSES. NEXT ITEM IS ITEM FIVE.

BE PRESENTATION OF YEAR TO DATE FINANCIAL REPORT ENDING ON MAY 31ST, 2025. CAN YOU GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ON THIS? YES, SIR. IN YOUR PACKET YOU HAVE OUR BALANCE SHEET.

[B. Presentation of year-to-date Financial Report ending on May 315, 2025.]

IT SHOWS CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS OF 12 POINT ALMOST 12.4 MILLION.

[00:10:05]

NET RECEIVABLES OF 12.3.

RECEIVABLES OF 8,875,000.

RESTRICTED ASSETS OF 789,464.

IN CASH AND INVESTMENTS OF APPROXIMATELY 9.5 MILLION FOR TOTAL ASSETS OF $45.4 MILLION.

WE HAVE CURRENT LIABILITIES AT 666,000.

AND ON OUR FUND BALANCE, WE HAVE RESTRICTED FUNDS FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS OF 7.1 1 MILLION FOR DEBT SERVICE OF 2.4 MILLION.

OTHER NOTE RECEIVABLES OF 16.1 MILLION.

PROPERTY ACQUISITION. WE HAVE SET ASIDE ALMOST 8.3 MILLION AND UNRESTRICTED FUNDS OF 10.8 MILLION, FOR AGAIN, A TOTAL OF $44.7 MILLION.

ON YOUR NEXT SHEET, YOU HAVE WHAT WE CALL OUR MONTHLY BUDGET ACTIVITY REPORT.

IT SHOWS OUR CURRENT BUDGET, OUR YEAR TO DATE AND REMAINING BUDGET.

HERE AGAIN YEAR TO DATE, WE'VE COLLECTED IN REVENUES $6.6 MILLION, APPROXIMATELY. AND WE HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES OF 607,000 624,000 IN PROGRAMS AND $37,000 IN PROPERTIES.

WE HAVE PAID OUT $725,000 IN INCENTIVE AGREEMENTS AND DEBT SERVICE OF $1.6 MILLION, FOR TOTAL EXPENDITURES OF $3.5 MILLION.

AND SO WE'RE RIGHT NOW WELL UNDER BUDGET, AND WE'VE GOT A CHANGE IN FUND BALANCE RIGHT NOW OF $3.3 MILLION. THE NEXT PAGE HAS CASH BALANCES THAT KIND OF REITERATE WHAT WAS ALREADY IN THE OTHER TWO SHOWING YOUR UNRESTRICTED FUNDS AND WHERE THESE ARE IN THE DIFFERENT FUNDS THAT WE HAVE.

WE TALKED ABOUT AT THE LAST MEETING, THE INVESTMENT REPORT AND SO MANY OF OUR FUNDS ARE ACTUALLY IN INTEREST BEARING ACCOUNTS EARNING A GOOD RETURN FOR OUR MONIES. AND THEN THE FINAL PAGE HAS SALES TAX REVENUES FOR THE YEAR, WE ACTUALLY HAD A VERY GOOD MONTH THIS LAST MONTH, WHICH WAS THE MONTH OF APRIL.

PART OF THAT WAS REALLY A LARGE PAYMENT BACK TO THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE FOR AUDITS THAT WERE DONE FROM TAXPAYERS.

SO OUR ACTUAL INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR WAS ABOUT 3%.

THIS SHOWS A VERY SIGNIFICANT INCREASE, YOU KNOW BUT IT'S REALLY ABOUT 3% IN TERMS OF TAKING THOSE NUMBERS OUT AND KIND OF FLATTENING OUT THE SKEW, IF YOU WILL. SO IT'S STILL VERY GOOD.

IT'S STILL GOING AS PROJECTED IN TERMS OF OUR YEAR TO DATE SALES TAX REVENUES.

BUT WE'VE GOT A LITTLE EXTRA BONUS FROM FROM AN AUDIT THAT WAS CONDUCTED.

I HAVE A QUESTION IN THAT SALES TAX REVENUE REPORT IN FEBRUARY, WE HAD -9% DECREASE. IS THERE ANY REASON FOR THAT OR A LOT OF THAT WAS PROBABLY DUE TO THAT AUDIT. SOME PEOPLE WERE UNDERPAYING.

AND THEN THE AUDIT CAUGHT UP ON THEY CAUGHT UP WITH SOME SALES TAX THAT THAT WAS DUE.

OKAY. OKEY DOKE. ANY QUESTIONS ANYBODY.

NO. NO. OKAY. NEXT ITEM IS FIVE C DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON BOARD.

REORGANIZATION. ELECTION OF OFFICERS VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY AND TREASURER.

SO YOU ALL HAD A CHANGE IN IN ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS AND HE WAS VICE PRESIDENT.

SO THERE'S A VACANCY, AND THIS IS JUST AN ITEM TO HELP FILL THAT VACANCY THROUGH THE END OF THE OF THE YEAR.

[C. Discussion and Possible Action of Election of Officers to fill vacancies. (President, Vice]

SECOND. OKAY, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND.

SAY AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY MOTION.

MOTION PASSES. CONGRATULATIONS, SANDRA.

THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. WELCOME TO TO TO THE BOARD AND TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

AND MARK, YOU STAY WHERE YOU'RE AT.

YOU'RE OKAY. YOU'RE THE BEST SECRETARY I'VE EVER SEEN.

OKAY, GOOD. ALL RIGHT.

NEXT ITEM IS FIVE D PRESENTATION.

CONSIDER APPROVAL OF CONTRIBUTION FOR UTRGV ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT, AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE A CHASE.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING.

[D. Presentation and consider approval of Contribution for UTRGV Athletics Department for]

I THOUGHT RONNIE SAID IT EARLIER AS HE WAS SPEAKING TO YOU GUYS.

AND WE CAN SAY MUCH THE SAME AT UTRGV AND CERTAINLY WITH ATHLETICS.

COULDN'T DO WHAT WE DO WITHOUT YOU GUYS.

IT'S BEEN AN UNBELIEVABLE JOURNEY THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

AND AS WE SIT HERE TODAY, WE ARE 68 DAYS AWAY FROM KICKOFF, WHICH IS HARD TO BELIEVE. SO HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE UPCOMING FOOTBALL

[00:15:03]

WE REALLY FINISHED WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS A REALLY SOLID YEAR AS AN ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT.

WE'VE GROWN CONSIDERABLY, NOT JUST IN THE I THINK THE NOTORIETY OF OUR DEPARTMENT, BUT ALSO IN SIZE.

WE HAD OVER 400 STUDENT ATHLETES AS PART OF OUR ATHLETICS COHORT THIS YEAR.

DID A TREMENDOUS JOB ONCE AGAIN IN THE CLASSROOM.

FINISHED WITH A 3.35 CUMULATIVE GPA ACROSS THE BOARD.

YOU THINK ABOUT THAT 410 415 STUDENT ATHLETES.

PRETTY REMARKABLE. HAD RECORD GRADUATION AND RETENTION RATES, WHICH WAS NOTICED BY THE NCAA WITH OUR HIGHEST APRIL APR THAT WE'VE REPORTED TO DATE AND WON A SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP IN BASEBALL.

AND SO REALLY A FUN YEAR, BUT A YEAR OF PREPARATION AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO WHAT'S COMING FALL OF 2025, I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL SOME OF THE THE FACILITIES. AND LAST TIME I PRESENTED TO YOU GUYS, WE WERE ABOUT A YEAR AWAY FROM OPENING THESE THESE FACILITIES WILL BE FINISHED HERE IN THE NEXT 30 TO 60 DAYS.

AND SO THIS IS THE UTRGV FIELDHOUSE THAT WILL BE COMPLETED LATER IN JULY.

WHEN YOU WALK IN RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET HERE FROM CITY HALL, IT'LL HAVE A BIG TIME DIVISION ONE FIELD.

IT'LL HAVE ALL OF OUR AMENITIES IN THE FACILITY.

IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT ADDITION, NOT JUST OUR ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT, BUT REALLY AS A FRONT PORCH FOR THE ENTIRE UNIVERSITY.

MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN OUT TO NUMEROUS BASEBALL GAMES THIS YEAR.

THERE YOU SEE. JUST A NORMAL FRIDAY SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE BALLPARK.

SEEING THE CROWDS, SEEING THE GROWTH, EVERYTHING THAT OUR BASEBALL PROGRAM HAS BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH HAS CERTAINLY HELPED THE CITY OF EDINBURGH.

AND I'LL HAVE A STATISTIC HERE TO SHARE WITH YOU.

OVER 82,000 CAME THROUGH OUR GATES THIS YEAR.

THAT PUT US IN THE TOP 35 IN THE COUNTRY.

AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT DIVISION ONE ATHLETICS, THERE'S SOME 330 PLUS DIVISION ONE BASEBALL PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY.

AND WE WERE RIGHT THERE AT THE TOP, AHEAD OF A LOT OF SCHOOLS THAT SOME WOULD SAY WE LOOK UP TO. BUT TO KNOW THAT VAQUEROS ARE RIGHT THERE HOLDING THEIR OWN.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE COMPETITIVE SUCCESS OF OUR PROGRAM, WINNING A SOUTHLAND CHAMPIONSHIP MADE IT A GREAT SPRING.

JUST DOWN THE ROAD AT THE BALLPARK FROM A FOOTBALL STANDPOINT, THE VAQUEROS PERFORMANCE CENTER.

IF YOU'VE DRIVEN NORTH THERE ON SUGAR PAST THE BASEBALL STADIUM, OUR PRACTICE FIELDS WERE AVAILABLE TO US THIS PAST FALL FOR OUR FOOTBALL TEAM.

WE JUST COMPLETED OUR PRACTICE YEAR AND THEN WENT THROUGH SPRING BALL THIS SPRING UTILIZING THE FIELDS. BUT THE FACILITY ITSELF WILL BE ABLE TO OPEN EARLY AUGUST, JUST IN TIME FOR COACH BUSCH AND THE FOOTBALL TEAM TO START FALL CAMP.

AND THERE YOU SEE SOME VISUALS THERE OF WHAT THE NEW FACILITY IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

AND THEN HERE'S A GREAT SHOT HERE FROM ONE OF OUR GAMES ON A SATURDAY NIGHT BACK IN MARCH.

YOU CAN SEE THE BASEBALL STADIUM THERE IN A PACKED HOUSE.

AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THERE IN THE SHADOW, THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE VAQUERO PERFORMANCE CENTER, MOVING ALONG EXTREMELY WELL AS FAR AS THE ROBERT AND JANET BAKKER STADIUM.

WE'RE ABOUT 45 OR SO DAYS AWAY FROM COMPLETION.

THERE'LL BE SOME FINISHING TOUCHES THAT WE'LL NEED TO COMPLETE IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST.

ONE OF THE RUNNING JOKES IS DON'T LEAN BACK BECAUSE THE PAINT MAY BE WET AT THE STADIUM WHEN YOU COME ON AUGUST THE 30TH, BUT WE'RE ABOUT 85% COMPLETE.

THE STADIUM LOOKS FANTASTIC.

YOU'VE SEEN SOME OF THESE RENDERINGS HERE OF THE SUITES THERE.

THE VIEW THERE FROM THE VIEWING DECK OUT THERE ONTO THE FIELD.

WE DID COMPLETE LOWERING THE FIELD ABOUT 5.5FT TO MAKE THE THE SUITES AND THE VANTAGE POINT THERE FOR THOSE PATRONS MUCH IMPROVED.

BUILDING A NORTH END ZONE, CLUB AND LODGE AND REALLY EXCITED, PLEASED AND GRATEFUL TO REPORT THAT ALL OF OUR SUITES ARE SOLD OUT FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON ON MULTI-YEAR COMMITMENTS.

ALL OF THE CLUB, ALL OF THE LODGE SEATS ARE SOLD OUT FOR MULTIYEAR, AND ALL OF OUR SEASON TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT.

AND SO AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE FALL, I THINK WE CAN ALL BUT GUARANTEE A PRETTY UNBELIEVABLE GAME DAY ATMOSPHERE RIGHT HERE IN EDINBURG, TEXAS. AND THEN ANOTHER THING TO NOTE IS THE EXPANSION OF THE SOUTH END ZONE.

THAT CONSTRUCTION IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING THIS WEEK.

IF YOU DRIVE PAST THE STADIUM THERE AT LOS LAGOS, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THE STADIUM AND THE SOUTH END ZONE EXPANSION TO START TO TAKE FORM. THAT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT AN ADDITIONAL 2000 SEATS, BRINGING THE SEATING CAPACITY TO ABOUT 12,000 WITH THE ROOM FOR STANDING ROOM ONLY SEATS GET SOMEWHERE AROUND 12 FIVE 13,000.

AS WE GET CLOSER TO KICKOFF.

AND WHEN WILL THAT BE READY? JEFF.

THE SOUTH END. IT'LL BE READY FOR THE SEASON.

YES, SIR. YEAH. SO IT'LL BE FINISHED HERE IN THE NEXT MONTH.

SO IT'S GOING TO MOVE PRETTY QUICKLY AT THIS POINT. AND THERE'S A GREAT VANTAGE POINT THERE OF WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE ON A SATURDAY NIGHT WITH 12 OR 13,000 IN THE STADIUM. AND THEN TO COMMEMORATE THE EDC AND THE CITY OF EDINBURGH, ALL THE SUPPORT, THIS PLAQUE WILL BE THERE, LOCATED AT THE FRONT ENTRANCE THERE OF THE STADIUM. AND SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE AND COMMEMORATE THAT ON AUGUST 30TH AT KICKOFF. TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SPONSORSHIP, AND I'LL HAVE OUR OUR ASSOCIATE AD, SETH JONES, COME UP AND TALK THROUGH SOME OF THESE THINGS. THESE STATISTICS HERE ARE ALL THINGS

[00:20:03]

ENROLLMENT IS GROWING.

YOU THINK ABOUT THINGS LIKE NOT JUST FOOTBALL, BUT THE MARCHING BAND, THE EXPANSION OF SPIRIT, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING TO ENHANCE THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE ON OUR CAMPUS.

IT'S ALSO AN ENROLLMENT DRIVER.

AND SO I THINK WE'LL SEE.

ANOTHER STRONG FALL WITH ENROLLMENT OF 7000 FRESHMEN ENTERED OUR CAMPUS LAST FALL.

AND I THINK WE'RE ON TRACK TO DO SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR THIS COMING YEAR.

BUT JUST AGAIN, AN OVERVIEW 18 SPORTS SOME OF THE CONSTRUCTION I SHOWED YOU.

THOSE WERE A COUPLE OF THE 13 CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WE'VE UNDERTAKEN FOR A TOTAL OF 180 MILLION IN CONSTRUCTION, REALLY GIVING OUR FANS GREAT VENUES TO COME AND WATCH DIVISION ONE ATHLETICS, GIVING OUR STUDENT ATHLETES WHAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN HELPING OUR COACHES RECRUIT TOP NOTCH TALENT HERE TO THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. AND THEN AS WE TALK ABOUT THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PARTNERSHIP, AND THIS GOES WITHOUT SAYING, THERE'S A LOT OF ATTENTION, A LOT OF EXCITEMENT. BUT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN WITH US FROM THE VERY BEGINNING AND WE REALLY CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH.

THERE WERE DAYS THAT THE NUMBER OF PARTNERS AND SPONSORS WASN'T WHAT IT IS TODAY.

I'VE BEEN HERE NOW SIX YEARS, AND YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN WITH US FROM DAY ONE AND FOR THAT WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL.

WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU HERE NOW IS SOME OF THE ASSETS THAT YOU CURRENTLY HAVE.

AND THEN AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO FOOTBALL, A COUPLE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO ADD THERE AT BACKER STADIUM.

THANK YOU. AND SO HERE YOU CAN SEE IN THE PAST YOU GUYS WERE AT THE 25,000 ANNUALLY LEVEL SIGNAGE THERE AT THE SOCCER TRACK AND FIELD COMPLEX THERE.

ON OUR SCOREBOARD, SIDELINE BANNER AT THE BASEBALL STADIUM, YOU GUYS ARE OUT ON OUR SCOREBOARD THERE AT THE FIELD HOUSE.

WE'VE GOT COURTSIDE DIGITAL BOARDS THAT SHOW YOUR LOGOS THERE AND OBVIOUSLY ON OUR WEBSITE AS WELL. AND SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE COVERAGE AT ALL OF OUR CURRENT SPORTS.

BUT THEN WHAT WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT TODAY IS ALSO THE ADDITION OF FOOTBALL.

AND SO OUR PROPOSAL WAS TO ADD ADDITIONAL SIGNAGE.

THIS PICTURE THAT YOU SEE AT THE TOP IS OF THE MAIN ENTRANCE.

AND SO WHERE YOU SEE THOSE FOUR INDIVIDUAL SQUARES OUTSIDE ONE OF THOSE, EACH ONE OF THOSE WOULD BE A SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY, YOU WOULD HAVE ONE OF THOSE. AND THEN WE ARE THE PICTURE BELOW.

THERE'S A DIGITAL RIBBON BOARD THAT'S BEING INSTALLED AND SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE IN THE FIELDHOUSE, THAT THING WILL ROTATE LOGOS THROUGHOUT.

AND SO MAKING SURE THE EDC HAS THAT BRAND THERE IN THE STADIUM.

AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS A FEW TIMES, BUT SEASON TICKETS I KNOW ARE OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT. TYPICALLY AT OUR LEVEL WITH 35,000, WE WOULD OFFER SIX SEASON TICKETS.

BUT DUE TO THE BOARD AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE FOR US, WE ACTUALLY DOUBLED THAT. AND SO 12 RESERVE SEASON TICKETS FOR YOU ALL TO USE AND THEN THREE PARKING PASSES THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.

SO YOU CAN SEE THERE THERE'S OUR CURRENT PARTNERSHIP.

AND THEN WITH FOOTBALL TO GET UP TO A TOTAL INVESTMENT ANNUALLY OF 35,000.

OKAY. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

OR I JUST WANT TO SAY SOMETHING.

BEFORE WE BEGIN DISCUSSION, I WOULD LIKE TO RECUSE MYSELF.

I WORK FOR NOBLE CONSTRUCTION, AND I DON'T THINK I'D LIKE TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM THE VOTE. RECOGNIZE THAT? SO I DO HAVE ONE OR A COUPLE COMMENTS.

AND TRUST ME, WE'RE 100% WITH UTRGV.

WE'VE ALWAYS ADVOCATED FOR THEM AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, EDC, EDC SIDE AND PLUS, OF COURSE, ON THE CITY COUNCIL.

IS THERE SOME AND I GOT TO ASK THIS QUESTION, AS THE BUSINESSMAN WHO I AM, IS THERE ANY KIND OF NEGOTIATIONS AS FAR AS WE COULD GET A LITTLE BIT MORE SEASON TICKETS? I KNOW WE'RE GOING FROM A 25,000 NORMAL SPONSORSHIP AND WE'RE GOING A LITTLE BIT MORE, AND I UNDERSTAND IT'S JUST ONE SPORT AND I YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT'S BIG, BUT I THINK WE'VE BEEN A PARTNER SINCE DAY ONE FOR YOU GUYS.

AND IF WE COULD INCREASE THAT, MAYBE THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE COULD SAY, HEY, THERE'S SOMETHING TO LOOK AT. WE AS FAR AS THE TICKETS, I THINK IT'S MORE USEFUL TO BRING IN SOME OF THE VENDORS.

WE WANT TO BRING IN THAT AREA BECAUSE WE'RE ADVOCATING THAT AREA TO BECOME, YOU KNOW, THE FUTURE OF COLLEGE, A COLLEGE TOWN, YOU KNOW, AND TO BRING THE ENTERTAINMENT, THE RESTAURANTS, THE THE BARS AND GRILLS.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD BRING IN AND BRING IN OTHER VENDORS AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD IN THAT AREA, TO JUST HONESTLY JUST MAKE IT AN EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYBODY. AND ONE THING TO TO NOTE YOU ALL WILL HAVE A SUITE AS WELL.

SO THERE'S A CITY OF EDINBURGH AND EDC SUITE THAT WILL ALSO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 22 TICKETS.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING I KNOW, RANDALL, THAT I'VE SHARED WITH HIM, OBVIOUSLY WITH THE CITY AS WELL.

SO AS YOU SEE THIS ALLOTMENT HERE, THERE'LL ALSO BE A SUITE THERE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE. THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE'LL TAKE BACK AND CONSIDER AND GET BACK TO YOU AS SOON. IT'S JUST SOMETHING I'M JUST THINKING. I MEAN, MAYBE AT LEAST 14.

[00:25:03]

SURE. AND WE WANT TO BRING SOMEBODY ELSE, ESPECIALLY OPPORTUNITIES FOR MCALLEN AND FOR OTHER AREAS, SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT? LET ME BRING ONE OF THE OWNERS AND SHOW THEM THE EXPERIENCE WHERE THEY COULD ACTUALLY INVEST IN THAT AREA, WHICH IS JUST GOING TO MAKE THINGS BETTER. DO YOU FEEL IS 14? I MEAN, THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY, I THINK, AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW MORE THAN 14 THOUGH.

OKAY. AND I'M GOING OFF OF SOME OF THE EXAMPLES THAT YOU GAVE.

AND I THINK THAT DISCUSSION HAS TAKEN PLACE MULTIPLE TIMES WHERE WE'RE THE EDC.

SO OBVIOUSLY FOR US, THE OPPORTUNITIES TO INVITE AND BRING IN OTHER INVESTORS THAT WANT TO BUILD HERE, THINK OF IT THAT WAY.

SO THE BOARD IS ONE THING, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE'RE LOOKING AT MORE FROM AN EDC PERSPECTIVE, WHICH IS TO BRING IN PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN BUILDING IN OUR COMMUNITY. YES, SIR. BECAUSE I KNOW, LIKE YOUR BASEBALL STADIUM, I'VE INVITED PEOPLE THERE.

AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUST BRING BACK TO INVEST IN EDINBURG AND JUST MAKE AN EXPERIENCE FOR OUR ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT, PLUS THE SCHOOL ITSELF IN GENERAL.

SO I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN, THERE IS ANOTHER RECOMMENDATION. I MEAN, I WAS JUST TRYING TO JUST THROW A NUMBER OUT THERE, BUT IF THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT. I DON'T HAVE A NUMBER IN MIND.

THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ASKING. KIND OF LIKE WHAT YOU SEE.

WHAT WHAT WHAT YOU CAN GO BACK AND DO AS A AS A GROUP OR WHOEVER THE DECISION MAKERS ARE GOING TO BE. AND THEN THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN LOOK AT. UNDERSTOOD. WE'RE NOT TURNING DOWN THINGS. IN ALL HONESTY, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO WORK WITH EACH OTHER.

OF COURSE, AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE'RE WE'RE HAND IN HAND WITH YOU GUYS, TRUST ME.

AND IT'S BEEN A HUGE OPPORTUNITY.

WE'RE EXCITED FOR FOOTBALL. I MEAN, I PURCHASED MY OWN SEASON TICKETS.

THANK YOU. SO ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE, I MEAN, I BOUGHT IT FOR MY FAMILY.

I HAVE A QUESTION. WAS THIS ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT YOU CONFLICTED YOURSELF OUT OF ON THIS PARTICULAR. WELL, I HAD I HAD, BECAUSE I'M AN EMPLOYEE.

NOT NOT BECAUSE I DO. I DON'T HAVE A PERSONAL INTEREST IN IT.

I'M NOT RECEIVING ANYTHING.

SO IF YOU NEED ME TO VOTE, I THINK I COULD DO IT BECAUSE IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO VOTE, THEN WE DON'T HAVE THE.

YEAH. AND I JUST I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT SANDRA WAS GOING TO.

SO I MEAN I THINK I'M ON GOOD FOOTING IF I DO VOTE.

IS THAT RIGHT, AARON? SO SO YOU CAN STILL ABSTAIN, BOTH OF YOU, FOR PURPOSES OF QUORUM, WITH YOUR ABSTENTION, THERE'S STILL QUORUM. SO THE REMAINING VOTES WOULD JUST PROCEED.

SO IT WOULD BE THREE VOTES INSTEAD OF THE FIVE THAT ARE PRESENT.

OKAY. THAT'S PER YOUR BYLAWS.

AND ALSO IT'S I DON'T THINK THEY WERE READY TO VOTE UNTIL WE UNTIL YOU'RE ABLE TO COME BACK. IS THAT FAIR? UNDERSTOOD.

AND THAT WAY WE CAN WE CAN GO AHEAD AND TAKE ACTION ON THAT.

MAKES SENSE. ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH, IT'S A GOOD DEAL.

AWESOME. AWESOME. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

AND AGAIN, THANKS. AND PLEASE DON'T TAKE IT THE WRONG WAY. TRUST ME.

I LOVE WORKING WITH YOU GUYS.

IT'S JUST MORE OF THOSE THINGS BECAUSE, I MEAN, IN THE LONG RUN, WE GOT TO MAKE SENSE OF IT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WORKING FOR THE COMMUNITY ITSELF AND ALSO AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

ABSOLUTELY. I CAN'T THANK YOU ALL ENOUGH FOR EVERYTHING.

AND IT'S IT'S REALLY AMAZING TO THINK WHAT'S TRANSPIRED, NOT JUST AT THE UNIVERSITY, BUT FOR THE CITY AND AND TO SEE THIS LAST PIECE OF THE PUZZLE WHICH WILL COME THIS FALL.

IT TRULY HAS A CHANCE TO CHANGE OUR ENTIRE REGION.

CERTAINLY OUR CITY. THE EXPERIENCE FOR OUR STUDENTS.

AND AND WE WANT TO USE ATHLETICS AS A VEHICLE TO TELL THE STORY OF THE CITY OF EDINBURGH AND THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, AND I THINK WE HAVE A CHANCE TO DO THAT. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHASE. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, BECAUSE I DO WORK ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VERY ENVIOUS OF OF EDINBURG RIGHT NOW.

AND WHAT'S COMING UP, PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT, WELL, WHAT CAN WE DO OVER HERE AND WHAT CAN WE DO OVER THERE IN THIS CITY AND THAT CITY? SO I THINK IT'S A HUGE WIN FOR EDINBURG IN SO MANY WAYS I AGREE.

THANK YOU. AWESOME. THANK YOU, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU GUYS OKAY.

MOVING ON TO ITEM FIVE E PRESENTATION.

CONSIDER APPROVAL OF PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMERCE NORESTE. CAN YOU GIVE US SOME MORE INFORMATION ON THIS. SO THIS IS BASICALLY CONSEJO MEXICANO DE COMERCIO EXTERIOR.

THE NORESTE IS BASED IN MONTERREY, AND JEFFREY SALCEDO IS OUR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST OUT THERE.

SO, JEFFREY, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT.

YEAH, SURE. SO COMO SE NORESTE IS BASED IN MONTERREY AND IS A LEADING ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PROMOTE STRENGTH AND PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND LOGISTICS SECURITY. THEY OFFER CONSULTING SERVICES FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE FACILITATORS, FACILITATE ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY NETWORKS, AND ORGANIZE EVENTS AND TRAINING SESSIONS TO SUPPORT BUSINESS GROWTH ACROSS BORDERS.

90% OF THE MEMBERSHIP ARE BUSINESSES THAT ALREADY HAVE BUSINESS IN,

[E. Presentation and consider approval of Partnership with COMCE Noreste.]

[00:30:09]

SO THIS PARTNERSHIP IN SUMMARY, IT INCLUDES ACCESS TO CONSULTING, CONSULTING, EXCUSE ME SERVICES FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE, LOGO PLACEMENT ON COMPANY'S WEBSITE, NEWSLETTERS, EVENT MATERIALS AND INVITATIONS.

OPTION TO INCLUDE EDC PROMOTIONAL ITEMS IN EVENT KITS AND WELCOME PACKAGES.

PARTICIPATION IN FOR WEBINARS AND THREE IN-PERSON EVENTS WITH PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT.

INCLUSION IN UP TO TWO INTERVIEWS PROMOTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. INVITATIONS TO EXCLUSIVE NETWORKING EVENTS, ANNUAL ASSEMBLIES, AND ROUNDTABLES. THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEND TWO EXCLUSIVE PROMOTIONS TO COMSYS MEMBERSHIP NETWORK. ONE MONTH AT PLACEMENT ON COMSYS WEBSITE.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE ARTICLES TO COMSYS NEWSLETTER.

DISCOUNTS ON TRAINING, CERTIFICATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE COURSES. PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE MISSIONS AND ACCESS TO COMSYS MEMBER DATABASE. THE TIMELINE FOR THIS PARTNERSHIP IS ONE YEAR AND IT'S THE COST IS $5,000 FOR THAT ONE YEAR PERIOD.

AND WE HAVE THE BUDGET FOR THAT PLUS TAXES.

JUST YEAH, I WAS I WENT TO THAT TO AN EVENT THERE LAST YEAR WITH KHAMSIN.

IT WAS VERY IT WAS VERY POWERFUL.

IT WAS VERY IT WAS IS GREAT.

YES. WE WE REALLY MET SOME GOOD PEOPLE.

I THINK WE'VE HAD SOME FEEDBACK FROM WHEN WE WENT OUT THERE, AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I WANTED FOR US TO HAVE MORE STAFF GO THIS NEXT TIME IF WE'RE ABLE TO. AND BUT I THINK IT'S I THINK IT'S A GREAT EVENT.

IT'S, IT'S A GOOD THING TO BE PART OF THAT THAT GROUP JUST TO TO TO IT'S IT'S IT'S GOOD TO REMEMBER THAT INCLUDES THREE STATES, WHICH IS TAMAULIPAS, NUEVO LEON AND COAHUILA.

YES. OKAY. ARE THERE OTHER.

I'M SORRY. NO, PLEASE GO AHEAD. ARE THERE OTHER EDC'S LOCALLY THAT ARE PART OF.

THAT WAS MY QUESTION. GREAT QUESTION.

EXACTLY MY QUESTION, GREAT QUESTION IS FAR MCALLEN AND THE THE STARBRIDGE MISSION TO MCALLEN, PHARR AND MISSION WERE THERE WHEN I WENT LAST YEAR, AND THEY WERE ALL PART OF THAT RECENTLY. THE STARBRIDGE.

THANK YOU. OH, STAR INDIVIDUALLY LIKE ITS OWN ENTITY.

STARK COUNTY STARK COUNTY BRIDGE SYSTEM IS SEPARATE.

YEAH, THAT'S SANDOVAL'S COMPANY.

YES. BRIDGE. YEAH. SO I WASN'T HERE LAST YEAR.

SO DID Y'ALL APPROVE A PARTNERSHIP LAST YEAR OF THIS AMOUNT, OR YOU GUYS WENT AS A JUST LIKE, A TICKET? WE WENT AS AN EXHIBITOR ONLY, AND SO IT WAS A LESSER AMOUNT JUST FOR THAT EVENT. AND THEN SO MY MY QUESTION THERE NOW IS WHAT YOU GUYS DID AND WHAT DID YOU TALK TO. WHAT WAS THE RATE OF RETURN OF ANY KIND OF INTEREST.

YEAH WE GOT SOME FEEDBACK FROM FROM A FEW COMPANIES.

I THINK 2 OR 3 COMPANIES THAT WE GOT CALLING US FROM WHEN WE WENT.

BUT WHEN WE WENT, WE WEREN'T THAT WE WERE ACTIVE, BUT NOT AS NOT NOT AS A PARTNER WITH THEM IN THIS IN THIS STANCE.

SO I THINK I THINK THAT IT WAS A, IT'S A, IT'S A GOOD THING WE'RE INVESTING IN MEXICO. AND I THINK THAT IT'S GOOD TO BE PART OF, OF AN ORGANIZATION LIKE THIS.

SO THIS WOULD BE MORE FOR MANUFACTURING, THIS WOULD BE MORE FOR PRODUCE.

SO WHAT KIND OF INDUSTRIES ARE THERE? NOT ALL KIND OF INDUSTRIES. THEY'VE GOT MANUFACTURING. YOU'VE GOT TRANSPORTATION. THEY'VE GOT A BUNCH OF BUNCH OF DIFFERENT LOGISTICS SIDE OF IT. THAT'S THAT'S DEAL WITH MANUFACTURING AND THE PRODUCE.

BUT IS IT MAINLY THAT OR IS THERE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AS FAR AS ENTERTAINMENT OR RESTAURANTS OR STORES OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S GOING TO IMPROVE THAT? BECAUSE I DIDN'T SEE THAT, DAVID, WITH, WITH ENTERTAINMENT KIND OF, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T SEE THAT I SAW MORE MANUFACTURING AND TRANSPORTATION AND THOSE TYPES OF BUSINESSES THAT WERE.

YEAH. OR THERE WAS THERE WAS SOME RESTAURANT PEOPLE THAT THAT WENT UP THERE AND ASKED QUESTIONS ON HOW THEY COULD GET HELP HERE.

AND THAT'S WHEN WE WERE WE TOLD THEM ABOUT UTRGV AND THE GREAT HELP THAT UTRGV WITH IN HELPING THEM WITH THE INCUBATOR AND KIND OF BRINGING THEM IN. AND AND SO THERE WAS A LOT OF FEEDBACK THERE, BUT WE WERE KIND OF LIKE OUR GREEN WHEN WE GOT THERE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW VERY MUCH. AND AND NOW SINCE THEN WE'VE, WE'VE, WE'VE LEARNED. WELL, I HAVE, I'VE LEARNED I'M JUST ASKING BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA WHO THIS IS.

RIGHT? AND SO I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE INVESTING INTO. BECAUSE IF IT'S GOING TO BRING THE GROWTH THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GOING AFTER THE RIGHT MARKETS, JUST NOT.

AND I WOULD INVITE YOU GUYS TO GO.

I DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS EVENT AGAIN, BUT I'M SURE IT'S GOING TO BE

[00:35:04]

OF COURSE, WE'RE GOING TO SCHEDULE UP. HAD HAD SIGNED AN MOU WITH THEM WHEN WE WERE THERE AND WE DIDN'T GET TO WE DIDN'T GET TO THAT POINT.

BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT THAT THAT'S WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO AS WELL. SO AND IN THE THREE IN-PERSON EVENTS, THAT'S GOING TO BE LIKE, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO WE TAKE OR IT'S A WHOLE BOARD.

IF IT'S EVERYBODY, WE JUST WERE ABLE TO ATTEND IT.

YES. SO IT'S THAT BASICALLY YES.

AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ONE EVENT ESPECIALLY FOR US WHERE WE'RE WHERE WE ARE GOING TO PROMOTE EDINBURGH TO TO THE MEMBERSHIP.

LAST YEAR THE MAYOR OF MCALLEN WAS THERE.

CITY MANAGER WAS THERE AS WELL.

AND EDC HAD LIKE ABOUT WELL THE THEY HAD LIKE ABOUT SEVEN PEOPLE THERE.

AND FARHAD, I THINK ABOUT 6 OR 7 PEOPLE AS WELL.

AND AFTER THAT THEY DID A COMMERCIAL MISSION TO TO MCALLEN.

YEAH. WHERE THEY BROUGHT UP PRODUCERS AND MANUFACTURERS TO, TO TO BRING UP THEIR, THEIR BUSINESSES TO, TO TO MCALLEN.

OKAY. OKAY. AND I'M NOT AGAINST IT AT ALL.

I MEAN, I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA, BUT I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, DAVID, THAT. I MEAN, EVERY CITY HAS ITS OWN FLAIR.

RIGHT. WHAT WHAT THEIR INDUSTRY IS SO FAR, IT'S GOING TO BE AGRICULTURAL.

MCALLEN. IT'S MORE THE MANUFACTURING MISSION IS GOING TO BE ALSO MAYBE SOME AGRICULTURAL.

AND WE DON'T HAVE A SCAR, OF COURSE HAS THEIR BRIDGE.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THOSE COMPONENTS. SO OURS MIGHT BE SOME MANUFACTURING POSSIBLY.

AND THEN A LOT OF IT WOULD HAVE TO BE MORE IN THE HOSPITALITY AREA OR, OR ENTERTAINMENT AREA.

SO WE WANT TO GET OUR BANG FOR THE BUCK IN IN THOSE PARTICULAR INDUSTRIES THAT ARE STRONG IN THIS AREA. YEAH. I DID NOT SAW BUSINESS ON THE ENTERTAINMENT AREA, BUT IN THE HOSPITALITY THERE ARE BUSINESSES THAT ARE MORE THAN THE PORTFOLIO GROUPS THAT OWNS DIFFERENT KIND OF RESTAURANTS.

AND SO THOSE ARE THE KIND OF WELL, AND HOPEFULLY OUR TECH INDUSTRY WILL GROW SOMEWHAT. AND THEN WE CAN MAYBE HAVE SOME PEOPLE IN MEXICO THAT ARE INTERESTED IN THAT AND BRING BUSINESSES THAT ALIGN WITH THE TECH.

AND WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW IS THAT WE ARE NOW IN THE RADAR, WHICH WE WEREN'T OKAY.

WE WEREN'T THERE SIX YEARS AGO.

BUT WE ARE NOW. SO CONSISTENCY, I THINK IS IMPORTANT FOR US BEING IN THOSE EVENTS BECAUSE WE RUN ACROSS ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, I AGREE, YOU KNOW I'M NOT AGAINST THIS.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT THING WE'RE EXPANDING OUR SCOPE, RIGHT? BUT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING.

AND I THINK WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING, WE NEED TO BE, LIKE YOU SAID, THE HOSPITALITY. WE NEED TO WEAN THE ITEM BEFORE US. WE'RE EXPECTING A LOT TO HAPPEN AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO ENTERTAIN ALSO PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING DOWN TO THE TECHNOLOGY WITH SOHO, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP THOSE TAX DOLLARS HERE IN OUR CITY.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO MCALLEN OR FAR. SO I'M NOT AGAINST THIS.

I'M AGREEING WITH THIS. I THINK IT'S GOOD. I ASK THE QUESTIONS BECAUSE I WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE INVESTING IN. RIGHT. BUT I THINK THERE'S ALSO OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER UP OR OR GET IN MEMBERSHIPS WITH THOSE KIND OF INDUSTRIES, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH OUT THERE THAT WE COULD DO. I THINK WE JUST NEED TO WE NEED TO LOOK FOR THAT. WE NEED TO FOCUS ON WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE DIFFERENCE.

BECAUSE LIKE SHE WAS SAYING, WE'RE NOT ON THE BORDER.

WE'RE ON THE BORDER. WE'RE NOT ON THE ON THE RIVER. RIGHT. SO WE GOT TO FOCUS ON WHAT'S GOING TO BE FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURG.

YEAH, THAT'S A BETTER LOOK FOR COMMERCE WAS WAS DERIVED FROM MEXICO.

FROM MEXICO WAS THE FIRST ORGANIZATION THAT WAS JUST PROMOTING MEXICO FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. AND THEN KIND OF WHEN MEXICO WENT AWAY, THEY KIND OF DIVIDED INTO DIFFERENT REGIONS.

SO IT'S REALLY A MARKETING EFFORT TO GET MEXICAN INVESTORS TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN DO GLOBAL BUSINESS. AND SO A LOT OF THOSE INVESTORS MAY BE IN LOGISTICS, MAYBE IN MANUFACTURING, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE IN OTHER INDUSTRIES. AND A LOT OF THOSE FAMILIES, A LOT OF THOSE COMPANIES ARE CONGLOMERATES THAT THAT DO STRETCH ACROSS VARIOUS INDUSTRIES. AND SO, YES, ABSOLUTELY.

RIGHT. WE CAN TAP INTO THOSE WHO ARE REALLY INTO THE ENTERTAINMENT AND LODGING AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY AS WELL.

ABSOLUTELY. I WENT TO GO AND VISIT A PIANO BAR, A DUELING PIANO BAR ON A GUY THAT I MET THERE THAT HIS COUSIN OWNS IT BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GREAT VENUE FOR EDINBURGH, A DUELING PIANO BAR.

AND WE WE TALKED AND THEY CAME IN TO SEE SOME PROPERTY ON TRENTON.

AND SO THAT'S STILL SOMEWHERE UP IN THERE.

YEAH. OKAY. AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT AGAINST IT.

I'LL GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE. OKAY.

CAN I HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND? SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

[00:40:01]

ALL THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU. JEFFREY. THANK YOU. AND GOOD JOB IN RIO BRAVO.

THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING. SO.

YEAH. ALL RIGHT. NEXT ITEM IS EXECUTIVE SESSION.

WE HAVE SEVERAL PROJECTS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

SO CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION? SO MOVED. OKAY. MOTION AND SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME. WE'RE ENTERING EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 06:10 P.M..

[6. EXECUTIVE SESSION]

[01:32:29]

[01:32:33]

[01:32:36]

[01:32:38]

[01:32:40]

[01:32:44]

[01:32:50]

[01:32:57]

[01:32:59]

[01:33:01]

[A . Deliberation regarding economic development projects and possible action related ot projects ($551.087 Deliberation Regarding Economic Development Negotiations; $551.071 Consultation with Atorney; $551.072 Deliberation Regarding Real Property; Closed Meeting).]

[2. Project Hangar]

[3 Project Genesis]

[4. Project Store]

I GUESS WE CAN GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

SO MOVED. SECOND. FIRST AND SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.

MOTION PASSES. WE ARE DONE.

THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH.

YEAH. IT IS SEVEN. OH MY GOD.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.