Jul 01, 2025 City Council Meeting Work Session

[00:03:05]

ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO START.

CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. IT IS 5:01 P.M..

THIS IS A BUDGET WORK SESSION THAT WE'RE HAVING TODAY ON JULY 1ST.

AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S FIVE.

WATTS 502 NOW, BUT PM.

THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

WE DO HAVE A QUORUM WITH MYSELF, COUNCIL MEMBER DAN DIAS AND COUNCIL MEMBER SALAZAR THAT ARE HERE PRESENT.

I BELIEVE COUNCILMEMBER DE LEON WILL BE HERE A LITTLE BIT LATE. AND COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE IS OUT OF TOWN. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

IF YOU CAN PLEASE RISE TO RECITE THE PLEDGE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR

[1. CALL TO ORDER, ESTABLISH QUORUM]

[A. Pledge of Allegiance.]

ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM TWO.

CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE.

YES, SIR. MAYOR. THE MEETING WAS POSTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT ON JUNE 27TH, 2025 AT 5:45 P.M..

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

[2. CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE]

[3. DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST]

ARE YOU GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM FOUR? PUBLIC COMMENTS.

YES, SIR. MAYOR. AS A REMINDER TO INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL DURING OPEN FORUM, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE IN OPEN FORUM.

WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT ALL SPEAKERS REFRAIN FROM MAKING DIRECT AND INDIRECT PERSONAL ATTACKS ON CITY EMPLOYEES, STAFF, AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

COMMENTS SHOULD NOT BE THREATENING IN NATURE AND SHOULD PERTAIN TO CITY BUSINESS.

THE CITY COUNCIL ALLOWS FOR A SPECIFIC PORTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO BE DEDICATED TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.

PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES.

I WILL BE TAKING TIME.

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

THE FIRST, THERE ARE FOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.

[00:05:02]

[4. PUBLIC COMMENTS]

MY QUESTION TONIGHT IS ON THE EACH ONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS AND THE ONES THAT ARE COMING TO ASK FOR MONEY, OR THAT THEY EXPLAIN WHY THEIR ORGANIZATIONS ARE NEEDED AND WHY OR WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO THE TAXPAYER.

I WENT THROUGH THE LIST OF THE ONES THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT.

ONE WE HAVE THE CHAMBER 500,000.

WE HAVE THE MUSEUM 355,000.

THE ONE THAT I LIKE IS CASA, AND THEY'RE ONLY ASKING FOR TEN.

THE THE UNIVERSITY WANTS FIVE AND EXCUSE ME AND SOUTH TEXAS LITERACY.

THEY WANT 20,000. AND THEN THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS 550,000.

IF YOU JUST KIND OF TELL US WHAT THEY DO, WHAT THE BENEFIT IS FOR THE WHOLE PUBLIC, FOR EVERYONE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MA'AM. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS EFRAIN MORALES.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS MORALES. I AM A DOCENT AT THE MUSEUM OF SOUTH TEXAS HISTORY.

I LIVE IN THIS REGION ALL MY LIFE, AND THE MUSEUM HAS BECOME A PLACE WHERE I FEEL CONNECTED TO THE STORIES OF OUR FAMILIES, OUR CULTURES, AND THE WAY THIS CITY HAS GROWN OVER TIME.

I HAVE BEEN WORKING AT THE MUSEUM FOR THE PAST NINE YEARS.

DURING THAT TIME, I HAVE EARNED MY COLLEGE DEGREE, COMPLETED MY MASTER'S PROGRAM, AND SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDED MY THESIS.

NOW PREPARING FOR APPLIED BY PHD PROGRAMS. THE MUSEUM HAS BEEN A BIG PART OF THE OF THAT JOURNEY.

IT HAS GIVEN ME A SENSE OF PURPOSE AND A PLACE WHERE I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP LEARNING AND GROWING AS A DOCENT.

I WORK WITH THE STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND VISITORS OF ALL AGES.

I HAVE SEEN KIDS LIGHTEN UP WHEN THEY RECOGNIZE SOMETHING THAT RELATES TO THEIR OWN LIVES. I HAVE OLDER VISITORS SHARE PERSONAL MEMORIES SPARKLED BY THE EXHIBITS.

IT'S POWERFUL TO SEE HOW HISTORY CAN CONNECT TO PEOPLE AND HELP THEM TO FEEL SEEN.

ONE OF THE VALUABLE RESOURCES WE CARE ABOUT IS FOR THE EDINBURG DAILY REVIEW ARCHIVE.

IT IS A RECORD OF THE CITY DAILY LIFE FOR NEARLY A CENTURY.

INCLUDES SCHOOL BOARD DECISIONS, CIVIC MOMENTS AND EVERYDAY MILESTONES THAT SHOW HOW THE CITY HAS GROWN AND CHANGED OVER TIME.

IF WE LOSE THIS ARCHIVE, WE LOSE A PIECE OF IDENTITY.

I'M PROUD TO BE OF THE MUSEUM.

IT HAS SHAPED WHO I AM.

I KNOW IT CONTINUES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR OTHERS.

I HOPE THE CITY WOULD KEEP SUPPORTING THIS WORK SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PRESERVE ANNENBERG'S STORY AND SHARE IT WITH THE FUTURE GENERATION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU SIR.

THANK YOU. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS LYNNE BEECHING.

ITEM FIVE A SUPPORTED REQUEST.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR.

COUNCILMEN AND CITIZENS OF EDINBURGH.

I'M LYNNE BRADEN BEECHING, AND I'M A LIFETIME RESIDENT OF EDINBURGH AND A THIRD GENERATION MEMBER OF A FAMILY WHO'S LIVED AND WORKED HERE FOR A SPAN OF 100 PLUS YEARS. I HAVE RECENTLY RETIRED FROM THE MUSEUM OF SOUTH TEXAS HISTORY IS THE DEVELOPMENT OFFICER AFTER A 35 YEAR CAREER.

AND I'M TELLING YOU ALL OF THIS NOT TO GIVE YOU A BIOGRAPHY OF MYSELF, BUT JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN IN A IN A POSITION ALL THESE YEARS TO LEARN AND UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF OUR HISTORY, OF PRESERVING OUR HISTORY, OF OUR, OF OUR REGION.

AND I THINK IT'S TERRIBLY IMPORTANT.

IT'S BEEN SAID THAT NO PLACE IS A COMMUNITY UNTIL IT HAS AN AWARENESS OF ITS HISTORY.

AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, NO PLACE IS TRULY A COMMUNITY UNTIL IT HAS AN AWARENESS OF ITS HISTORY.

AND WE ARE VERY, VERY FORTUNATE IN EDINBURG TO HAVE AN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO AND LEARN MORE ABOUT REGIONAL HISTORY AND LOCAL HISTORY AS WELL, AND THE EXHIBITS AT THE MUSEUM, THE PROGRAMS AT THE MUSEUM AND THIS WONDERFUL ARCHIVE. WE HAVE THE MARGARET H.

MCALLEN MEMORIAL I'VE ARCHIVE.

SORRY, IT'S A MOUTHFUL.

THERE ARE HISTORY CAN BE SUBJECTIVE.

IT CAN ALSO CONTAIN THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY SIDE OF HUMANITY.

BUT HISTORY ALSO, AND I TRULY BELIEVE THIS CAN SERVE AS A COMMUNITY BUILDER.

[00:10:05]

WE'RE NOT ALL THE SAME.

WE HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS AND COME FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, BUT IT'S OUR SHARED EXPERIENCE THAT BRINGS US TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE MANY SOURCES AVAILABLE TO US TO LEARN ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY'S HISTORY, AND ONE OF THE BEST SOURCES IS A LOCAL NEWSPAPER.

SADLY, WE DO NOT HAVE A LOCAL NEWSPAPER ANY LONGER HERE, BUT THE EDINBURG DAILY REVIEW SERVED IN THAT CAPACITY FOR MANY DECADES, AND WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A TREASURE TROVE, REALLY A TREASURE TROVE OF COLLECTED, DID COPIES OF THE DAILY REVIEW THAT ARE BOUND AND SITTING THERE AT THE MUSEUM.

UNFORTUNATELY, THEY CAME TO US IN NOT VERY GOOD CONDITION, BUT THE MUSEUM HAS DONE ITS DUE DILIGENCE, YOU KNOW, PUT THEM IN THE FREEZER SO THERE'S NO BUGS IN THEM.

AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THE STUFF. KEEP THEM IN A CLIMATE CONTROLLED STORAGE.

BUT THEY'RE SITTING THERE AND THEY'RE NOT ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.

SO WE CAN'T ENJOY WHAT'S IN THERE.

WE CAN'T LEARN FROM WHAT IS IN THOSE NEWSPAPERS BECAUSE WE CAN'T TOUCH THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY BRITTLE. SO THEY NEWSPAPERS ARE PRINTED ON NEWSPRINT, WHICH IS A VERY CHEAP PAPER.

THEY'RE NOT MEANT TO LAST.

AND PEOPLE DON'T COLLECT THEM UNLESS IT'S A BIG NEWS DAY.

OOPS, SORRY. SO I WILL MAKE IT SHORT NOW.

SORRY ABOUT THIS, BUT WE HAVE A TREASURE TROVE SITTING THERE, AND I HOPE THAT YOU ALL WILL MAKE THE DECISION TO SUPPORT THE.

AND WE HAVE AN ITEM ON THERE SO YOU ALL CAN CONTINUE TO.

OH, OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SORRY.

NO, NO. WE'RE GOOD. I COULD GET CARRIED AWAY HERE THREE MINUTES, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO SAY WE'LL HAVE A PRESENTATION BY EACH ENTITY, SO.

OH, OKAY. ALL RIGHT. OKAY.

SORRY ABOUT THAT. NO, NO.

YOU'RE GOOD. ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL COME BACK TO IT IN ITEM FIVE A.

SO. OKAY. BUT THANK YOU, MISS LYNN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. YOU'RE WELCOME. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THERE ARE NO FURTHER COMMENTS MADE. OKAY.

ON THAT NOTE. YES. JUST A REMINDER, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. SO.

BUT WE ARE HAVING PRESENTATIONS BY EACH ENTITY.

SO YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE ASK ANYBODY THAT IS HERE TO PRESENT.

YOU'RE WELCOME TO HAVE ANYBODY ADDITIONAL REPRESENT.

SO MISS LYNN, YOU CAN CONTINUE IF I'M SURE THE MUSEUM ALLOWS YOU AT THAT TIME.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO STATE FOR EVERYBODY'S SAKE SO THIS TODAY IS OUR IT'S TITLED BUDGET WORK SESSION. BUT WE STARTED THIS, I THINK, LAST YEAR.

TWO YEARS AGO. YES. WHERE WE ASKED ALL THE NONPROFITS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL TO ALSO PRESENT TO US SIMILAR TO WHAT OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS DO. I KNOW MOST OF THIS FUNDING IS NOT SO MUCH ON GENERAL FUND, BUT IT'S FROM OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY FUND.

AND WE'RE DOING THIS JUST TO HEAR FROM YOU.

AND THAT WAY THERE'S QUESTIONS A LOT OF TIMES THIS HOTEL OCCUPANCY FUND IS, IS SOMETHING THAT CITY STAFF PUTS TOGETHER PRESENTS TO COUNCIL, AND THEN IT'S INCLUDED IN OUR OVERALL BUDGET THAT WE ADOPT.

AND SO I KNOW I SEE A LOT OF YOU HERE, A LOT OF FOLKS THAT I'VE WORKED WITH FOR MANY YEARS. I'LL GET THE CALL FROM YOU ALL, SAY, HEY, Y'ALL CUT US BACK THIS MUCH, OR Y'ALL ADD IT THIS MUCH.

AND OF COURSE, THAT OPPORTUNITY WASN'T THERE RIGHT DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS.

SO THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY.

SO WE NEVER USED TO DO THIS EVEN WHEN I WAS CITY MANAGER.

SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING WE STARTED TWO YEARS AGO JUST TO HEAR FROM YOU DIRECTLY IN CASE THERE'S QUESTIONS.

[5. PRESENTATION AND REPORT]

WE IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO BE AWARE OF ALL THAT IS HAPPENING IN EVERY PART OF OUR CITY.

SO IT'S KIND OF THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TO SHARE THAT WITH US.

AND OF COURSE, THIS IS A REMINDER.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE DO HAVE LIMITED FUNDS, RIGHT? SO WE NEED TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN WITH THE FUNDS THAT WE HAVE TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET.

AND SO I THINK THERE'S A LIST, BY NO PARTICULAR ORDER THAT I THINK CITY STAFF HAS PUT TOGETHER.

AND I'LL HAVE CITY MANAGER PROCEED FROM HERE AND CALL EACH OF THE ENTITIES THAT ARE HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. AND AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DO.

Y'ALL ARE I SEE YOU ALL AS AN EXTENSION OF OUR CITY FAMILY IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU ALL DO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT'S AT THE CHAMBER, WHETHER IT'S A MUSEUM, ALL THE NON-PROFITS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO CITY MANAGER AT THIS TIME.

YES, SIR. MAYOR, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

JUST REAL QUICK, THOUGH, IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT, UNFORTUNATELY WE DID SKIP A RESIDENT WHO SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.

AND IF IF HE MAY IF WE MAY ALLOW HIM THOSE THREE MINUTES.

MR.. WHO IS IT? CLARICE.

DAVID LOZANO. DAVID LOZANO.

OKAY. YES. MR. LOZANO, YOU COME UP.

YEAH. BEFORE WE CONTINUE, MAYOR, IF WE MAY.

NOT A PROBLEM. THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT. WELL,

[00:15:02]

MY WIFE AND I HAVE THREE YOUNG CHILDREN, AGES FIVE, FOUR AND AN ALMOST THREE YEAR OLD, AND THIS CITY DOES MEAN A GREAT DEAL TO US.

I CURRENTLY SERVE ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE MUSEUM OF SOUTH TEXAS HISTORY, AND ALL OF US ON THE BOARD THERE. WE WE SERVE WITHOUT COMPENSATION BECAUSE WE WE BELIEVE DEEPLY IN THE MUSEUM'S MISSION AND THE ROLE THAT IT PLAYS IN THE, IN THE COMMUNITY. I'M ALSO A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER THROUGH OUR FAMILY BUSINESS, FNP GROUP. WE OWN AND OPERATE SEVERAL RESTAURANTS HERE IN EDINBURG.

WE WE OPERATE THE LOCAL DAIRY QUEEN AND SCHLOTZSKY'S.

WE'RE WE'RE PROUD TO EMPLOY LOCAL RESIDENTS, SERVE LOCAL FAMILIES, AND INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF THIS CITY.

BUT WE KNOW THAT THRIVING COMMUNITIES AREN'T BUILT ON BUSINESS ALONE. THEY'RE BUILT ON CULTURE, HISTORY, EDUCATION AND CONNECTION.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TONIGHT TO VOICE MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE MUSEUM AND THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT IT DOES.

THE MUSEUM ISN'T JUST A PLACE TO DISPLAY ARTIFACTS.

IT'S A CULTURAL ANCHOR FOR OUR CITY.

IT TELLS THE STORY OF THIS REGION, THE STORIES THAT MATTER TO FAMILIES, TO SCHOOLS, AND TO FUTURE GENERATIONS.

AND IT DOES SO THROUGH PROGRAMS, EXHIBITS, AND EVENTS THAT ARE THOUGHTFULLY CURATED, BEAUTIFULLY PRESENTED, AND MADE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE.

AND I BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT PART OF OUR CITY'S FUTURE IS TIED TO HOW WELL WE PRESERVE AND CELEBRATE OUR PAST.

INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE MUSEUM GIVE US A STRONGER SENSE OF IDENTITY.

THEY REMIND US OF WHERE WE COME FROM AND WHY IT MATTERS.

AND AS A PARENT, I CAN TELL YOU THAT HAVING A PLACE LIKE THIS MUSEUM IS IS A GIFT.

I'VE TAKEN MY KIDS THERE AND I'VE WATCHED THEIR EYES LIGHT UP WITH CURIOSITY. IT GIVES THEM A CHANCE TO EXPLORE, TO ASK QUESTIONS, AND TO CONNECT WITH THEIR ROOTS AND TO MAKE THEM FEEL PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER THAN THEMSELVES.

AND IT'S A PLACE WHERE LEARNING HAPPENS IN A WAY THAT STICKS, RIGHT, WHERE HISTORY BECOMES PERSONAL.

AND THAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE, IT MATTERS.

IT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT THEY'LL CARRY WITH THEM AS THEY GROW. AND AS OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO GROW, WITH MORE PEOPLE AND FAMILY MOVING INTO THE INTO THE VALLEY FROM OTHER PLACES, PLACES LIKE THE MUSEUM BECOME EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, RIGHT? HAVING A VIBRANT, WELCOMING MUSEUM THAT TEACHES THEM ABOUT THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THIS REGION IS SOMETHING THAT ADDS VALUE.

I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THE MUSEUM AND THE TEAM THAT KEEPS IT GOING.

THEIR WORK IS THOUGHTFUL, IT'S GENUINE, AND IT'S DEEPLY ROOTED IN SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY.

I APPRECIATE THE CITY'S PAST SUPPORT OF THE MUSEUM, AND I HOPE THAT THAT THAT SUPPORT WILL CONTINUE. THE MUSEUM ADDS REAL AND LASTING VALUE TO EDINBURG, NOT JUST TODAY, BUT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO BE A RESOURCE TO THE CITY IF EVER NEEDED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU SIR.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. THAT BEING THE CASE, WE'LL ALL TURN IT RIGHT BACK TO YOU.

YES. THANK YOU. MAYOR.

SO I WILL ASK BRANDON ALANIZ WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO ASSIST THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WITH THEIR PRESENTATIONS AT THIS TIME.

AS YOU AS YOU PREVIOUSLY STATED, MAYOR THE CITY DOES HELP THESE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WITH THEIR FUNDINGS FOR THEIR SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE TO THE RESIDENTS OF THIS COMMUNITY. I KNOW MISS MCCLARTY ASKED THAT THEY DO SPECIFY SOME DETAILS ABOUT THEIR ORGANIZATION AND HOW IT BENEFITS, YOU KNOW, THE RESIDENTS AND THE TAXPAYERS.

FIRST I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CALL UP THE EDINBURG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD. AND AS WE MOVE ALONG, I'LL, I'LL CALL UP EACH NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION IN ORDER SO THAT THAT WAY THEY CAN CONDUCT THEIR PRESENTATION.

AND, OF COURSE LIKE THE MAYOR STATED, IF THEY DO HAVE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AS WELL, THEY'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO.

PLEASE KEEP IN MIND, WE ARE WE DO HAVE ANOTHER CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT 6:00.

AFTER THIS ONE. SO IF YOU CAN JUST BE MINDFUL ON THAT.

BUT AT THIS TIME, I'D ASK RONNIE TO COME UP AND TALK ABOUT THE EDINBURG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. HELLO, MAYOR.

COUNCIL, THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING US TODAY.

I APOLOGIZE FOR THE DRESS ATTIRE.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A BIG MAJOR EVENT HAPPENING ON FRIDAY.

SO WE'VE BEEN OUT ON THE FIELD IN THE RAIN AND THE MUD.

I DO HAVE WITH OUR PRESIDENT RUBEN DEJESUS WITH MELVIN HUNT,

[A. Presentation and Discussion of Funding Requests by Non-Profit Organizations for Budgetary]

HE'S GOING TO PASS OUT A COUPLE OF PACKETS THAT WEREN'T IN THERE STRICTLY DOING TO OUR BUDGET REQUEST. SO IF YOU HAVE TIME TO LOOK AT THAT.

IF NOT, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, WE CAN TAKE THAT.

I KNOW WE'RE LIMITED WITH TIME.

I DID WANT TO STRESS, YOU KNOW THE EDINBURGH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE EDINBURGH CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU WHICH IS A VISITOR CENTER FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. WHAT WE LIKE TO CALL THE FRONT LINE AT SOME POINT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTICE THAT THE CVB ARE A HOT TAX FUNDS.

WHAT'S A MAJOR PORTION OF OF WHAT'S BEING REQUESTED FROM NOT ONLY US, BUT A LOT OF ENTITIES COME FROM HOTEL STAYS, YOU KNOW.

SO THAT'S PUTTING HEADS AND BEDS FROM OUR CITY.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE CALL A HOT TAX REVENUE.

SO WITH THAT SAID, I'M KIND OF GOING TO GO THROUGH THE SLIDESHOW PRETTY QUICKLY, I KNOW, JUST TO BE RESPECTFUL OF TIME.

BUT OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE HAS A MISSION AND A VISION STATEMENT. YOU KNOW, OURS IS HAS BEEN CLOSE TO 100 YEARS, WILL BE 100 YEAR ORGANIZATION THIS COME OCTOBER.

[00:20:03]

AND IT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR ALMOST 100 YEARS, YOU KNOW, PROVIDING PROGRAMS FOR BUSINESSES, PROVIDING QUALITY OF LIFE, AND SERVING ULTIMATELY, THE EDINBURGH COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, WE HEARD FROM SOME BUSINESS OWNERS HERE THAT ARE PROUD MEMBERS OF THE CHAMBER, AND THEY'VE CONTINUED TO TO BE SO BECAUSE THEY FIND OUR, OUR, OUR PROGRAMS SPECIFICALLY HELPFUL FOR FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

THE ROLE OF THE CHAMBER IN THE CVB TRAINING AND EDUCATION.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF TRAINING THAT HAPPENS, A LOT OF SEMINARS THAT HAPPENS WHERE IT PUTS OUR BUSINESS IN THE FRONT LINE, BUT ALSO GIVES SOME OF OUR MOM AND POPS THE ABILITY TO TO LEARN FROM SOME OF THESE LOCAL LEADERS AND BIGGER SEMINARS.

YOU KNOW, NOT EVERYBODY HAS AN HR DEPARTMENT.

NOT EVERYBODY HAS A MARKETING TEAM.

SO WE SERVE AS A LOT FOR SOME OF THESE BUSINESSES THAT ARE THAT ARE HERE IN THE CITY OF EDINBURG, ALWAYS ADVOCATING OUR BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, ALWAYS ASKING ABOUT SHOPPING EDINBURG ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, WITH THE BUSINESS IN THE FOREFRONT WHETHER IT'S PUBLIC AFFAIRS OR WHETHER IT'S GOING TO THE CAPITAL ALWAYS LEADING WITH CITY LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT AND THE TABLE, JUST TRYING TO MAKE EDINBURG A BETTER PLACE, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

A LOT OF COLLABORATIONS OF COURSE, AND NETWORKING, YOU KNOW, WITH THE CITY, THE EDC.

A LOT OF OUR BUSINESSES GO HAND IN HAND.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE TEXT OR CALL WEEKLY WITH THIS COUNCIL, WHICH IS A BIG, BIG PLUS, YOU KNOW, COMPARED TO TO OTHER COMMUNITIES OUT THERE. WE'RE ALWAYS TIED TOGETHER BECAUSE WE WALK FORWARD TOGETHER.

AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, OUR COMMUNITY.

AND OF COURSE OUR VISITOR CENTER, THE EXPLORER EDINBURG CAMPAIGNS.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF THAT.

LIKE I SAID WE'RE THE FRONT LINE TO PEOPLE COMING TO ASK QUESTIONS, COMING INTO OUR OFFICES, VISITING OUR EXPLORER EDINBURG WEBSITE, OUR COMMUNITY MAGAZINE, OUR MAPS SOME OF OUR CONVENTIONS THAT WE ATTEND AND SOME OF THE, THE PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE ALIGNED WITH AS FAR AS FROM THE CVB SIDE LIKE I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, PUBLIC AFFAIRS LUNCHEONS, HAVING A QUARTERLY LUNCHEON BRINGING AWARENESS OUT TO THE COMMUNITY BUSINESS LEADERS OBVIOUSLY ALWAYS ADVOCATING BUSINESS EDUCATION. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT JUST RECENTLY.

WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE SEMINARS, CUSTOMER SERVICE SEMINAR BY OUR GOOD FOLKS AT CHICK FIL A FREE AGENT CO, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO MARKET AND DO BRAND AWARENESS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, OUR NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION.

WE DO REALS, YOU KNOW, STAYING UP TO DATE WITH TECHNOLOGY, TRYING TO HELP THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY MOVE FORWARD.

AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OUR MOM AND POPS ARE OWNER, MANAGER, JANITOR, THAT TYPE OF THING.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROVIDING ALL THESE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR EVERYONE SO THEY CAN LEARN AND MOVE FORWARD AS WELL.

LEADERSHIP EDINBURGH STRONG PROGRAM.

WE'VE BENEFITED, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY US, BUT OTHER COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. WE'VE HAD CONGRESSWOMAN ELECTED FROM, FROM THIS PROGRAM.

WE'VE HAD MAYORS, WE HAD COUNCIL.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE JOINED, YOU KNOW, MUSEUM BOARDS, ROTARY BOARDS, KIWANAS BOARDS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THIS PROGRAM TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. AND THAT'S THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF THIS PROGRAM, DEVELOPING NEXT LEADERS SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.

WHEN WE'RE NOT AROUND.

SO THIS IS 36 YEARS STRONG.

WE'VE ALWAYS HAVE A COMMUNITY PROJECT IN MIND.

THIS YEAR WE'RE FUNDRAISING AND HAVE COMPLETED AND ARE GETTING READY TO GROUNDBREAKING WITH OUR PARTNER AT THE MUSEUM OF SOUTH TEXAS HISTORY TO HELP GOLD STAR FAMILIES HAVE A PLACE TO VISIT, NOT ONLY IN EDINBURGH, BUT ALL OF SOUTH TEXAS.

THIS IS NOT AVAILABLE.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE PROGRAM HAS STEPPED UP TO PROVIDE, NOT ONLY FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURGH, BUT ALL OF SOUTH TEXAS.

A STRONG AMBASSADOR PROGRAM.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF AMBASSADORS THAT ARE TIED TO OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY. THEY'RE ALWAYS THERE, SHAKING HANDS, WELCOMING OUR NEW BUSINESSES ON THEIR ON THEIR DREAM. YOU KNOW, THIS IS THEIR DREAM TO OPEN A NEW BUSINESS.

AND WE'RE HAPPY THEY'RE DOING IT HERE IN EDINBURG.

AND THERE ARE BOOTS ON THE GROUND ADVOCATING, LIKING, TELLING PEOPLE WHERE TO GO.

CONNECTING, YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S A BIG, BIG, STRONG ARM OF THE CHAMBER THAT THAT PARTICIPATES IN OUR PROGRAMS, AND A LOT OF IT IS CITY EVENTS.

YOU KNOW, SIGNATURE EVENTS.

SO EVERYONE KNOWS THE NIGHT OF LIGHTS PARADE FIESTA EDINBURGH, TEXAS.

COOKHAM, WHICH IS HAPPENING JULY 4TH.

JUST PUTTING IN A PLUG THERE.

OUR CHAMBER BANQUET, WHERE WE RECOGNIZE OUR BUSINESSES AND SOME OF OUR GREAT LEADERS THAT THAT HAVE DONE SOME GREAT WORK IN THE CITY.

OUR WINTER TEXANS THIS YEAR WE TACKLED THE MAYOR'S PRAYER BREAKFAST.

WE HELPED DRAW SABAH SOUTH TEXAS ASSOCIATION BOXING EVENT HAPPENING FOR TWO YEARS NOW.

SB 250, WHICH IS A BIKE RIDE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HOSTED 100 BIKE, BIKE CYCLISTS.

HALF OF THEM FROM THE HOUSTON AREA RAISING FUNDS FOR SB FOR SPINAL BIFIDA, TEXAS, FROM FROM HERE TO SAN ANTONIO.

AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, OUR COLLABORATIONS AND OUR EFFORTS WITH THE

[00:25:01]

AND WE'RE HAPPY TO SAY THAT JUST RECENTLY LAST WEEK, WE WERE AWARDED FIRST PLACE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS CHAMBERS FOR BEST COMMUNITY MAGAZINE.

SO THIS IS A LOT OF, OF PROGRAMS THAT COME OUT OF, OF THE CHAMBER ORGANIZATION.

NOT ONLY THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR ONLINE PRESENCE EDINBURGH.

COM EXPLORE ET PEOPLE VISITING OUR WEBSITES THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PROMOTE CITY INITIATIVES, OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND ALL OUR ASSETS THAT ALIGN WITH INCLUDING THE MUSEUM, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, RIO GRANDE OUR MEDICAL FIELD.

YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO TELL PEOPLE WE'RE THE EDUCATIONAL, THE MEDICAL AND ENTERTAINMENT HUB OF THE VALLEY.

AND THOSE WEBSITES ALIGN THEMSELVES WITH THEM.

AND STRICTLY GOING STRAIGHT TO THE FUNDING ASPECT.

YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROVIDED THOSE TWO FUNDING PROPOSALS AND OURS ARE JUST STRICTLY BASED ON FIESTA EDINBURG AND TEXAS COOK ON THE LINE ITEM.

SO THAT'S THE INCREASE IN JUSTIFICATION REGARDING THESE TWO COMMUNITY EVENTS AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THEY PROVIDE.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE RISING COST OF HOSTING COMMUNITY FESTIVALS THIS BIG THE PROPOSED BUDGET ADJUSTMENT IS JUST SPECIFICALLY TIED TO THAT.

A LOT OF EVERY YEAR OUR MEMBERS ASK, WHAT VALUE ARE WE PROVIDING? AND OBVIOUSLY WE DO A LOT FOR OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY, BUT THESE TWO EVENTS ARE HUGE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO HUGE FOR FOR THE CHAMBER FIESTA EDINBURG AND TEXAS COOKHAM.

ALTHOUGH THE LINE ITEM IS THE REQUEST HERE, THEY BOTH EQUAL APPROXIMATELY HALF $1 MILLION TO RUN. AND, YOU KNOW, THE LINE ITEM IS CURRENTLY AT 30,000, AND WE'RE ASKING FOR AN INCREASE FOR FIESTA EDINBURGH FOR 70,000.

AND FOR TEXAS COOKHAM.

I BELIEVE THE LINE ITEM IS AT 45 AND WE'RE ASKING FOR AN INCREASE TO 275, NOT 275 BUT TWO 7040 K.

WHILE THESE EVENTS ARE VALUABLE TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, YOU KNOW, THE BUSINESSES FEEL THE EVENTS BENEFIT THOSE WHO ACTUALLY SPONSOR THESE EVENTS. SO OUR NEW BOARD IS FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THESE EVENTS.

BUT AND THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, READY TO TAKE THE, THE LEAD AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT STRONG PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY.

HOWEVER, THEY'RE ALSO MINDFUL OF THE INCREASING COST FOR EQUIPMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, STAFFING, WHICH ARE CURRENTLY OUTPACING SOME OF THESE REVENUE STREAMS. AS YOU CAN SEE THIS BUDGET REQUEST IS MADE IN THE SPIRIT OF SUSTAINING AND STRENGTHENING OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY.

IT'S BECOMING MORE DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN THE CURRENT QUALITY EVENTS WITHOUT ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. MOVING FORWARD, WE'RE ALSO EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES TO SHIFT SOME SPONSOR DOLLARS TOWARDS PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE MORE DIRECT BUSINESS VALUE.

ONE INITIATIVE UNDER CONSIDERATION IS A BUSINESS FOCUSED CONFERENCE.

AS FAR AS FEATURING GUEST SPEAKERS WORKSHOPS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESSES AND POTENTIALLY A NO COST FOR THESE ATTENDEES.

SO IN SUMMARY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL FOR THIS SUPPORT AND WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THIS CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE.

BUT THESE, THESE TWO PARTICULAR LINE ITEMS ARE A REALLY HUGE STRAIN ON THE BUDGET.

AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S STRICTLY DUE TO ENTERTAINMENT COSTS, EQUIPMENT COST. AND I KNOW A LOT OF THE RESOURCES THAT GO INTO THIS FROM A CITY STANDPOINT ALSO STAND.

SO THAT'S CURRENTLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS ALWAYS, ALWAYS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF.

OF WHAT? PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE WITH THIS COMMUNITY.

AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE A NEWLY ELECTED BOARD.

WE HAVE 13 BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE STRONG, THAT ARE EMBEDDED IN THIS COMMUNITY AND WANT TO MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER.

AND OUR STAFF, YOU KNOW, WE'RE A STAFF OF FIVE YOU KNOW, THE TEAM DOES AN AMAZING JOB YOU KNOW, AND WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT THIS CONTINUED SUPPORT AND PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND AND WE'RE EXCITED TO CONTINUE THIS PARTNERSHIP. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO FIELD THOSE RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU. RONNIE, DOES ANYBODY ON THE COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? JUST WANT THE RECORD. REFLECT. COUNCILMEMBER DE LEON HAS JOINED THE MEETING. ANYBODY ELSE HERE? I HEARD EVERYTHING I WAS ON THE ON IT LIVE, SO I HEARD EVERYTHING YOU SAID.

SO DON'T DON'T YOU WORRY. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? SO, RONNIE, JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE REQUEST OF INCREASE ARE REALLY TIED TO

[00:30:03]

ON THE CHAMBER SIDE, THE GENERAL FUND.

IT'S FIESTA. CORRECT. EDINBURGH.

AND ON THE CVB REQUEST, IT'S TIED TO TEXAS, CORRECT? AND ARE THOSE INCREASE BECAUSE OF CERTAIN ACTS YOU ALL ARE TRYING TO GET OR IS IT OR WHAT? WHAT I MEAN, YOU MENTIONED IN GENERAL IT'S JUST A RISING COST, BUT IT'S JUST CORRECT. YEAH. SO IN ORDER TO TO OBVIOUSLY ACTS ARE THE BIGGEST COST.

THEY ARE WHAT DRIVE AN EVENT OR A FESTIVAL.

SO THAT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF LANDS MORE ON A RISK.

YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S DIFFERENT TYPE OF RISK VERSUS HAVING IT INDOORS VERSUS AN OUTDOOR RISK WE'RE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW WITH THIS WEATHER.

BUT YES, YOU KNOW, FOCUSING AROUND A HOLIDAY, YOU KNOW, THE INCREASE ALREADY HAPPENS ITSELF.

BUT IT'S MOSTLY TIED WITH ENTERTAINMENT AND MOSTLY TIED WITH, YOU KNOW EQUIPMENT. OKAY.

SO. ALL RIGHT, WELL, IF THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. WE APPRECIATE IT.

AND THANK YOU, REUBEN, FOR AGAIN.

THANK YOU ALL THE CHAMBER OF ALL YOU ALL DO IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU ALL AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU JULY 4TH.

YES, WE'LL BE THERE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

RONNIE. SO WE'VE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE LIST, YOU KNOW, IN THE SPIRIT OF TIME.

BUT AT THIS TIME, I KNOW WE HAD THE MUSEUM OF SOUTH TEXAS HISTORY.

NEXT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ASK THEM TO COME AND PRESENT AT THIS TIME.

YEAH. MUSEUM OF SOUTH TEXAS HISTORY.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMAN DIAZ COUNCILMAN.

COUNCILMAN DELEON. I WAS GOING TO SAY JASON.

I'M SORRY. LEON. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US THIS EVENING.

MY NAME IS DEBORAH GOMEZ, AND I'M HERE AS A DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FROM THE MUSEUM OF SOUTH TEXAS HISTORY.

I'D JUST LIKE TO INTRODUCE WHY WE'RE HERE.

REQUESTING THE FUNDING, OF COURSE, AS ALWAYS.

AND ADDITIONAL FUNDING. WE'RE HERE TO EXPLAIN AND GIVE YOU IN DETAIL OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. OKAY. MR.. MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN.

MY NAME IS FRANCISCO GUAJARDO. I'M THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE MUSEUM.

AND SO WE'D LIKE TO DO A RUN THROUGH OF WHAT HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE MUSEUM, THE INVESTMENT THE CITY MAKES TO THE MUSEUM.

AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR IT.

SO IN THE PAST, IT HAS BEEN $255,000, A COMBINATION OF OF HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX AND ALSO FROM THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND.

AND THIS YEAR, WE'RE REQUESTING AN ADDITIONAL FUND TO, TO SUPPORT A VERY SPECIFIC PIECE OF WORK.

SO THE $100,000 THAT WE ARE ASKING, WHICH REPRESENTS A 3% INCREASE, IS AND I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT THIS EVENING WITH THE SPEAKERS.

IT IS TO HELP US SAVE THE DAILY REVIEW ARCHIVAL COLLECTION.

THIS WILL ENABLE US TO PROVIDE PART TIME JOBS AT THE MUSEUM.

IT WILL ENABLE US TO HAVE WORK WHERE THEY WILL SCAN, DIGITIZE THE NEWSPAPER AND ALLOW IT TO BE KNOWN NOT JUST LOCALLY BUT NATIONWIDE.

IT WILL BE SEARCHABLE SO THAT ALL CAN RESEARCH THE DAILY REVIEW AND IT WILL BE CONTINUING DIGITAL, SO IT WILL BE SAVED FOREVER.

RIGHT NOW IT IS NOT. AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP FOR THE EXTRA 100,000.

SO IN ADDITION MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN TO THE TO THE WORK OF THE MUSEUM.

SO WE HAVE VERY NICE WORLD CLASS GALLERIES.

AND SO PEOPLE VISIT THE GALLERIES EVERY SINGLE DAY.

WE HAVE PROGRAMING THAT IS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMING NOT ONLY FOR STUDENTS BUT FOR THE COMMUNITY AS WELL. WE HAVE PUBLIC PROGRAMS AS WELL.

WE HAVE BIG EVENTS AND AND WE HAVE THE ARCHIVE.

AND SO THE ARCHIVE IS REALLY WHAT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT TODAY.

AND SO THIS IS JUST TO LOOK AT KIND OF THE LANDSCAPE OF OUR BUDGET AND, AND WHERE WHERE THE WHERE THE CITY CONTRIBUTION HELPS.

SO HERETOFORE IT'S BEEN 11% OF THE OF THE BUDGET OF THE MUSEUM.

THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTION.

AND SO WE'RE REQUESTING ANOTHER 3% TO HELP WITH THIS.

SO THE THIS IS THE STORY OF THE EDINBURG DAILY REVIEW.

SO YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW THAT THE DAILY REVIEW WAS FOUNDED IN 1914.

AND IT WAS FOUNDED BY A FELLOW NAMED ANDRES CHAVEZ.

ANDRES CHAVEZ RAN A SPANISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER THAT HE CALLED REVISTA DEL VALLE THAT BECAME THE EDINBURG VALLEY REVIEW IN 1916.

WE DO NOT HAVE ANY COPIES OF 1914 1915.

WE HAVE COPIES BEGINNING IN 1916.

OUR COPIES THAT WE HAVE GO FROM 1916 ALL THE WAY UP TO 1998.

BACK IN THE YEAR 2005, THERE WAS A A COMMUNITY MEMBER NAMED PEARL MATHIS, WHO HAPPENED TO BE THE WIFE OF THE LATE JAMES MATHIS, WHO WAS A PUBLISHER OF THE DAILY REVIEW FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. I THINK HE BOUGHT IT IN 1965.

[00:35:03]

MONTGOMERY WAS THE OWNER OF THE REVIEW AT ONE POINT IN THE 1930S AND THEN PREVIOUSLY OTHER OWNERS. BUT BETWEEN. SO WHAT? WHAT? MRS. MATHIS BROUGHT TO US WE HAVE IN OUR IN OUR ARCHIVAL COLLECTION.

SO WE THIS IS ACTUALLY THE MAP ROOM.

SO ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM, YOU WOULD SEE WELL OVER A THOUSAND MAPS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COLLECTION.

AND ON THAT SIDE YOU SEE NEWSPAPERS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COLLECTION.

SO THE THIS PHOTOGRAPH ONLY SHOWS THE DAILY REVIEW PORTION OF OUR COLLECTION.

BUT IF YOU WERE TO OPEN SOME OF THESE UP, YOU WERE TO SEE THIS.

THIS FOR EXAMPLE, IS THE 1916 BATCH.

NOW IF YOU THEN DIG THROUGH IT, YOU SEE THE SOME COPIES ARE GOOD, SOME COPIES ARE NOT. SOME COPIES CANNOT BE SALVAGED, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT SOME CAN.

THIS IS THE PRINTING PRESS THAT WAS THAT WAS PART OF THE DAILY REVIEW THAT YOU NOW SEE ACTUALLY IN IN SIDEBAR THE THE RESTAURANT.

BUT THIS IS BASICALLY WHAT WE WANT TO WORK ON.

WHAT WE WANT TO WORK ON IS TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF EDINBURGH.

I MEAN, THAT'S IT. AND TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF EDINBURGH.

WE HAVE ONE OF TWO OPTIONS.

WE AND WE WE ARE, BY THE WAY, JUST SO YOU KNOW, IN THE PROCESS OF APPLYING FOR GRANTS, WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE GRANT THAT WE NEED FOR THIS, BUT WE HAVE 1 OR 2 OPTIONS.

NUMBER ONE, WE DO IT ALL IN-HOUSE.

OR NUMBER TWO, WE GET A CHUNK OF MONEY AND WE SEND IT TO SOME OUTFIT THAT DOES THIS, YOU KNOW, AS PART OF THEIR WORK.

WE DON'T WANT TO SEND IT OFF BECAUSE WE WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY AS BEST AS WE CAN. WE WANT TO KEEP THIS EDINBURGH.

BUT I THINK MAYOR AND I THINK YOU FEEL THIS AND EVERYBODY ELSE FEELS THIS, THAT. THAT THIS IS REALLY THE HISTORY OF EDINBURGH AND IN MANY WAYS, BECAUSE IT WASN'T THE EDINBURGH DAILY REVIEW FOR A LONG TIME, IT WAS THE EDINBURGH REVIEW.

AND IN MANY WAYS THIS WAS REALLY THE CENTER OF INFORMATION FOR THE ENTIRE SOUTH TEXAS REGION FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

SO THIS IS A VITAL AND VERY, VERY IMPORTANT COLLECTION THAT WE INTEND TO PRESERVE. WHEN PERL MATH IS BROUGHT THE COLLECTION TO US IN THE YEAR 2005, SHE BROUGHT IT OR SHE GIFTED IT TO US.

AND THE MUSEUM WENT TO A WAREHOUSE WHERE THERE WERE A LOT OF BUGS, AND IT WAS REALLY NOT WELL KEPT.

IT'S BEEN WELL KEPT SINCE 2005, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF RESTORATION TO DO AND WE HAVE A LOT OF DIGITIZATION TO DO.

AND SO THIS IS WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

AND SO SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR MONEY, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THE CITY PROVIDES THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING OR NOT.

BUT IT SURE WOULD BE NICE TO, YOU KNOW, ALL OF US HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME WITH THIS. SO JUST AN EXAMPLE OF WHY IT'S IMPORTANT IS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ECHO MOTEL THAT WAS SOLD OVER AND IS GOING TO BENEFIT THE CITY, THE RESEARCH. AND EVERYBODY CAME TO DOCTOR O'HARA AND THE MUSEUM TO GET THE HISTORY ON IT. IT WAS PLAY BY PLAY HISTORY IN THE DAILY REVIEW, AND WE GOT TO GO THROUGH IT AND SEE IT AND GIVE THAT INFORMATION.

NO DIFFERENT THAN THE ROTARY CLUB OR ANYTHING ELSE.

SO THIS IS A VITAL PORTION OF OUR HISTORY FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURGH, AND WE ASK FOR YOUR HELP WITH THAT.

THE THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF BOOKS THAT HAVE BEEN RESEARCHED OUT OF OUR ARCHIVE, EVEN AWARD WINNING BOOKS, HISTORY BOOKS, BOOKS ON CULTURE, ETCETERA, ETCETERA. GEOGRAPHY BOOKS.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT RESEARCHERS CANNOT REALLY GO INTO WITH THE KIND OF ACCESS THAT THEY WANT IS A DAILY REVIEW, BUT ONLY BECAUSE IT'S BRITTLE.

AND WE DON'T WANT A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE UNLESS THEY'RE TRAINED TO BE HANDLING THIS.

SO UPMOST IMPORTANT TO DIGITIZE THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.

CAN YOU PUT THE SLIDE BACK ON THE THE FIRST SLIDE ON THE FUNDING? JUST I JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR BECAUSE SOME OF IT IS SOME OF YOUR FUNDING COMES FROM THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY FUND, RIGHT.

AND THEN THE OTHER PORTION COMES FROM I THINK THE GENERAL FUND.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES. IS THAT OKAY? THAT IS CORRECT DOWN HERE.

SO THE REQUEST, IS IT FROM I JUST WANTED TO SEE THE BREAKDOWN.

WE'RE GOING TO GO FROM 255 TO 355 IS WHAT WE'RE ASKING.

WHAT WOULD COME FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND THE HOTEL OK? BECAUSE I THINK RIGHT NOW WE FUND, FROM WHAT I HAVE HERE, ABOUT 95,000 FROM THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY FUND AND THE REST FROM.

WE'RE NOT MAKING THE EXPLICIT REQUEST.

MAYOR THAT IT BE FROM HERE OR FROM THERE? THAT'S REALLY THE DISCRETION OF YOUR BUDGET.

YOU'RE JUST PUTTING THE TOTAL OF WHAT? YES, EXACTLY. GOT IT, GOT IT. CORRECT. AND WE STILL NEED TO REVIEW THE THE REQUEST TO MAKE SURE THAT IT QUALIFIES FOR THE THE HOT TAX FUNDING. THEN MY OTHER QUESTION WAS OKAY, SO IT'S DIGITIZED AND YOU COMPLETE THE RESTORATION. SO WHERE WILL PEOPLE HAVE BE ABLE TO ACCESS? THEY'D HAVE TO GO TO THE MUSEUM. OR IS IT GOING TO BE ONLINE SOMEWHERE? FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PHOTOGRAPHS ON OUR WEBSITE.

[00:40:03]

THOSE YOU CAN SEE ON THE WEBSITE BECAUSE WE DIGITIZED THEM, YOU KNOW. BUT THAT WAS EASY TO DIGITIZE.

YOU GOT 150, YOU KNOW, LETTERS.

THIS IS A THIS WILL REQUIRE HERCULEAN TASK.

THIS IS A LOT OF WORK. YOU SAW THE IMAGE THERE MAYOR OF OF THIS.

YEAH. RIGHT. RIGHT. SO YOU KNOW EACH ONE OF THESE HAS NEWSPAPERS AFTER NEWSPAPERS AFTER NEWSPAPERS. YEAH. YEAH.

GOOD. OKAY. BUT IT WILL BE AVAILABLE.

I'M SORRY. IT'LL BE AVAILABLE TO THE WORLD.

RIGHT? YES. NOW, IF THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO SEE IT, THEY CAN GO TO THE MUSEUM NOW.

AND IF YOU MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH OUR ARCHIVIST? OUR ARCHIVIST WILL TAKE YOU THERE TO SEE, TO TO FEEL, TO TOUCH, TO FLIP THE PAGES.

AND SO YOU CAN GO TO THE READING ROOM AT THE ARCHIVES AT THE MARGARET H.

MCALLEN ARCHIVES AT THE MUSEUM OF SOUTH TEXAS HISTORY.

OKAY. SO JUST TO CLARIFY YOU, WE WILL ALLOW IT TO BE PUT ON THE SEARCH ENGINES FOR MANY NEWSPAPER AND ARCHIVAL PRODUCTS.

MELISSA PENA, OUR ARCHIVIST, HAS, YOU KNOW, KNOWS WHAT TO DO AND TO MAKE SURE THAT IT CAN BE SEARCHED THROUGHOUT SEARCHABLE.

IT'LL BE SEARCHABLE ITEM.

YES, SIR. AND IT WON'T BE JUST THROUGH THE MUSEUM, BUT THROUGH OUR WEBSITE AND THROUGH OTHER ENGINES, TOO. GREAT. OKAY. COUNCIL ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU DOCTOR. APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO.

NEXT MAYOR, IF I MAY, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MISS DAISY MARTINEZ WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB TO COME AND CONDUCT HER PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. AT THIS TIME I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A VIDEO TO PLEASE ROLL.

MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT THE CLUB IS THE SPORTS AND THE FOOSBALL TABLE.

MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT THE CLUB IS THAT WE ARE NEVER BORED AND THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO DO. MY FAVORITE PART OF THE CLUB IS THAT ABOUT THE FOOD.

IT'S VERY GOOD. THE FOOD.

MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT BEING IS BEING TUTORING.

WHEN WE'RE DONE ON THE COMPUTER, WE GET LIKE SOME PIZZA AND LIKE SOME SNACKS.

MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT THE CLUB IS THAT WE GET TO GO OUTSIDE, HAVE FUN, AND THE TEACHERS ARE NICE.

MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT THE CLUB IS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF ARTS, FUN, ARTS AND CRAFTS AND IT HELPS US LEARN MORE READING AND HOW TO SPELL.

AND MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT THE CLUB IS IF YOU NEED HELP, THE TEACHER CAN HELP YOU AND THE CUDDLING AND YOU CAN HANG OUT WITH YOUR FRIENDS.

MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT THE CLUB IS THE YOGURT THEY SERVE.

MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT THE CLUB IS GOING TO THE GYM.

MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT THIS CLUB IS THAT I CAN MAKE FRIENDS, AND THEN I CAN HANG OUT WITH THEM AND I CAN LIKE, PLAY AND STUFF. LIKE THIS CLUB.

OKAY. SO I'M GOING TO START MY PRESENTATION. DAISY MARTINEZ, CEO OF BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF EDINBURG I JUST COMPLETED MY THIRD YEAR AS CEO AND HERE WITH ME I HAVE.

THANK YOU. HELLO. MY NAME IS EDDIE VILLANUEVA AND I'M THE BOARD PRESIDENT SECOND TIME, AND I'VE BEEN SERVING AS A BOARD MEMBER FOR 16 YEARS.

SO OUR MISSION, AS YOU HAVE KNOWN SINCE 1969, WE HAVE BEEN HERE TO INSPIRE, ENABLE ALL YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO NEED US MOST, TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.

SINCE 1969 TO MOST CURRENTLY, WE'VE ALREADY IMPACTED OVER 100,000 LIVES.

WHY THIS MATTERS. WE'RE HERE TODAY BECAUSE, AS YOU ALL CAN CLEARLY SEE, THERE'S 28.1% OF RESIDENTS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 AND 24.5% LIVE BELOW POVERTY LINES.

THE FAMILIES THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY PROVIDING SERVICES TO AND HAVE IN THE PAST, AS YOU ALL CAN SEE, ARE REALLY HAVING TO STRUGGLE WITH THE RISING COST OF CHILD CARE COSTS, THE FOOD INSECURITY AND THE MENTAL HEALTH GAPS THAT THEY ARE STRUGGLING WITH HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE CURRENTLY SERVE OVER 4800 YOUTH AND FAMILIES ANNUALLY AND THE NEED CONTINUES TO

[00:45:02]

WE HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD THAT 93% OF OUR CLUB MEMBERS GO ON TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL.

WE ARE EXCITED AND PROUD TO SAY EVERY YEAR THAT WE SERVE OVER 60,000 MEALS THAT ARE SERVED ANNUALLY. WE HAVE THREE LADIES IN OUR IN-HOUSE KITCHEN THAT PROVIDES FOOD FROM SCRATCH. WE HAD FOUR SUICIDE OUTCRIES AND THREE CPS CASES THAT WERE SUPPORTED.

SO WE'RE NOT JUST A CLUB, WE'RE A LIFELINE TO THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

MENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY.

PART OF OUR REQUEST THAT I, THAT I DID WANT TO EXPRESS ON IS 91% OF OUR CLUB MEMBERS SAID THAT THEY FELT THAT THEY BELONGED TO OUR ORGANIZATION, AND WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT WITH THE SUPPORT OF OF THE CITY, OF COURSE THE CLUB PROVIDES ON SITE AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT WITH TRAUMA INFORMED CARE, AS WE JUST RECENTLY HIRED A SOCIAL WORKER THAT ASSISTS OUR NOT JUST OUR YOUTH, BUT ALSO OUR FAMILIES.

SO WE HELP THOSE FAMILIES AND YOUTH THAT ARE IN CRISIS MODE.

OUR URGENT NEED. OUR REQUEST IS FOR A 4% INCREASE.

WE ARE CURRENTLY RECEIVING 400,000 AND OUR INCREASE IN OUR INCREASE, OUR ASK IS FOR 550,000.

WE ARE ASKING FOR SUPPORT WITH OUTDATED TRANSPORTATION AS OUR FLEET IS LIMITED IN ACCESS. WE'RE UNDERSTAFFED WITH OUR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE.

WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO TO GET A GRANT WIN THROUGH THE METHODIST HEALTHCARE MINISTRIES THAT WE THAT WE WENT AHEAD AND WE, WE WROTE. SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ONE MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST WHO IS WHO'S HELPING US WITH ALL OUR MEMBERS. IN ADDITION TO THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND MYSELF HAVE INVESTED OVER 650,000 IN FACILITY UPGRADES TO OUR FACILITY.

OUR FACILITY IS STILL IN NEED OF SOME ADDITIONAL SAFETY UPGRADES.

THAT INCLUDES CAMERA SYSTEMS AND AN IMPROVED PARKING LOT.

WITH THE LIGHTING AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF THERE IS A CONTINUED GROWING WAIT LIST FOR SERVICES WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION.

EDINBURG HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS A NEW DIRECTOR WHO I HAVE WORKED EXTREMELY WELL WITH IN THE PAST. SHE'S ALSO ASSISTING ME IN SECURING ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL RESOURCES, JUST SO THAT WAY WE'RE ABLE TO NOT JUST BE IN ONE BUT IN TWO.

AND WE ALSO JUST GOT TOLD THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE PROVIDING SPACE FOR A BRAND NEW FACILITY THAT'S SET TO BREAK GROUND IN NORTH EDINBURG IN AUGUST.

AND SO THAT IS WHERE THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS, IS COMING FROM. THE TYPES OF PROGRAMS THAT WE PROVIDE ARE THE ARTS, SPORTS, FITNESS AND RECREATION, EDUCATION, CAREER DEVELOPMENT, CHARACTER AND LEADERSHIP, HEALTH AND LIFE SKILLS.

I'M EXCITED TO SAY THAT OUT OF THE 5000 CLUBS IN THE NATION, OUR CLUB WAS RANKED AS TOP 73.

OUR KIDS WERE HERE THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO PRESENT THEIR BIG PROJECT FOR WASHINGTON, DC. WE GOT SELECTED AGAIN THIS YEAR AND OUR KIDS WILL BE GOING THIS MONTH.

SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE THAT OUT OF 5000 CLUBS.

OUR CLUB WAS RANKED AS OF AS OF ONE OF THE TOP 73 FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS WITH OUR REQUEST HERE. AS YOU ALL KNOW, ANY NONPROFITS, WE'RE FACING THE RISK OF BEING CUT. SO FAR, OUR ORGANIZATION HAS ALREADY RECEIVED $80,000 IN FUNDING CUTS.

AND OUR MOST SIGNIFICANT ONE THAT WE HAVE NOT HAVE WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED FOR CUT YET, BUT WE ARE PENDING, AND WE'RE PRAYING THAT THAT, THAT, THAT THAT DOESN'T GO AWAY IS OUR FOOD, OUR FOOD PROGRAM.

AND SO THROUGH OUR FOOD PROGRAM, WE ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE $250,000 JUST THROUGH GRANT FUNDING. AND SO THAT'S THE ONE THAT WE'RE WE'RE REALLY, REALLY WORRIED WITH. FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP.

I'M EXCITED TO SAY THAT OUT OF OUR $2.3 MILLION BUDGET WITH OUR REQUEST, WE'RE JUST SEEKING THE CITY OF EDINBURG ASSISTANCE, WHICH IS 22% OF OF OUR BUDGET, WHICH OUT OF OUR ENTIRE BUDGET, ABOUT 42% CONSISTS OF GRANTS.

AND THE ADDITIONAL DOES COME FROM MEMBERSHIP DUES, FROM FEES, ALONG WITH OUR AMAZING STAKE IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING EVENTS THAT MANY OF YOU HAVE ATTENDED.

SO DURING OUR FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP, BUT WE HAVE BEEN DOING IS WE'VE EXPANDED IN-KIND DONATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS.

WE'VE COMPLETELY RESTRUCTURED STAFF TO REDUCE OVERHEAD.

WE HAVE DATA DRIVEN PROGRAM EVALUATIONS, AND WE ALSO SHARE SERVICES WITH OTHER NONPROFITS AND SCHOOLS.

SO IF YOU ALL COULD REALLY ASSIST US WITH A LITTLE PUSH WITH THAT WOULD DEFINITELY HELP YOU OUT WITH YOUR BUDGET TO SEE THE COST OF INACTION.

WHAT'S AT STAKE. WITHOUT FUNDING, THERE WILL BE A REDUCED IN PROGRAM WITH FEWER STAFF, LESS ACCESS TO SAFE PLACES FOR YOUTH, INCREASED RISK OF VIOLENCE, HUNGER AND DISENGAGEMENT, SO WE CANNOT AFFORD TO FALL SHORT.

A STRONG PARTNERSHIP THIS IS WHERE CITY COMES IN, RIGHT? THE CITY AND THE CLUB HAVE HAD AN IMPACTFUL, TREMENDOUS, GREAT RELATIONSHIP FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

WE'VE BEEN SERVING THE CITY OF EDINBURGH SINCE 1969 WITH 98% OF YOUTH THAT WE SERVE THAT ARE EDINBURGH RESIDENTS.

WE CONTINUE TO PARTNER FOR EDUCATION, HEALTH AND EQUITY. SO TOGETHER WE CREATE STRONGER FUTURES. OUR FINAL ASK AND GRATITUDE.

WE ARE HERE TO ASK. LAST YEAR WE HAD 19%.

[00:50:01]

THE CITY. THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THE CITY.

AND I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN IN THIS PROGRAM FOR 16 YEARS BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN IT AND I SEE HOW IT IMPACTS CHILDREN, HOW IT IMPACTS LIVES AND HOW IT IMPACTS OUR COMMUNITY.

SO I JUST ASK FOR YOU ALL TO CONSIDER THIS WHAT WE'RE ASKING.

GREAT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU GUYS DO. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MISS DAISY. AND THANK YOU, MR. VILLANUEVA. APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THE YOUTH OF THIS COMMUNITY AND HOW IT AFFECTS THEIR LIVES.

NEXT MAYOR, WE DO HAVE MRS. WHITAKER WITH CASA TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM AND PRESENT HER REQUEST.

NOW, I BELIEVE SHE DOES NOT HAVE A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION, BUT SHE DOES HAVE SOME INFORMATION AND STATISTICS WITH HER, SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MISS WHITAKER. SHE IS THE POWERPOINT.

AND NOT EVEN ASLEEP. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY, VERY MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

I WASN'T AWARE THAT Y'ALL HAD THIS EXTRA AREA, BUT I AM THANKFUL FOR IT AT THIS POINT.

AND SO I DO WANT TO THANK AGAIN, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE THIS AFTERNOON AND TO VISIT WITH YOU AND TO BOAST ABOUT CASA.

SO THANKS, CASA HIDALGO.

I'M GOING TO READ IT BECAUSE I'M GOING TO GO FAST, BECAUSE I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE HERE THIS EVENING. AND I KNOW YOU HAVE 6:00.

HIDALGO COUNTY IS REQUESTING FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE SALARIES OF OUR CHILD ADVOCACY SPECIALISTS, WHO PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN ADVOCATING FOR THE CHILDREN IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM DUE TO ABUSE OR NEGLECT.

THESE PROFESSIONALS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SURVIVING, SURVIVING, SUPERVISING TRAINED VOLUNTEERS, ATTENDING COURT HEARINGS, AND COLLABORATING WITH THE CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES TO ENSURE THAT EACH CHILD'S NEEDS ARE BEING MET. OUR CHILDREN, OF COURSE, ARE MOSTLY ABUSED, THEY'RE NEGLECTED, OR THEY DON'T EVEN LIVE AT THEIR HOMES ANYMORE DUE TO ALL OF THOSE PROBLEMS AND TO OTHER SITUATIONS IN THE.

IN THE MEANTIME, MANY OF THE CHILDREN WE SERVE ARE FROM EDINBURGH.

IT'S OUR LARGEST AMOUNT OF CHILDREN THAT WE HAVE THROUGHOUT THE OTHER CITIES.

SO THIS FUNDING WILL DIRECTLY SUPPORT STAFF WHO WORK WITH THE CHILDREN FROM EDINBURG, ENSURING THAT THEY ARE RECEIVING CONSISTENT, HIGH QUALITY ADVOCACY.

BY INVESTING IN OUR CHILD'S ADVOCACY SPECIALISTS.

THE CITY OF EDINBURG IS HELPING PROVIDE VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY WITH A VOICE IN COURT AND PATH TO A SAFE AND PERMANENT HOME.

SO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH WITH CASA AGAIN IS COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES. BUT I'LL TELL YOU JUST VERY QUICK THAT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN HAVE BEEN ABUSED OR NEGLECTED OR DON'T EVEN LIVE WITH THEIR FAMILIES ANYMORE, AND THEY LIVE IN DIFFERENT HOMES THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY, THROUGHOUT ALL OF HIDALGO COUNTY.

SO WHAT WE DO ALWAYS IS ALSO TO TAKE CARE OF THESE CHILDREN.

SO THESE CHILDREN FIRST GO TO CPS AND CPS COMES BACK OVER TO US AND SAYS, NOW WE NEED CASA TO TAKE CARE OF THESE CHILDREN AND TO BE THE VOICE FOR THESE CHILDREN. WE HAVE A JUDGE MUST BE ALONE WHO HAS HELPED US FOR THE LAST MANY, MANY YEARS. AND HE'S AN AMAZING YOUNG MAN.

AND WE ARE GOING TO HONOR HIM ON AUGUST 14TH AT THE MCALLEN CONVENTION CENTER.

SO IF Y'ALL ARE INTERESTED, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. BUT IT IS.

IT'S A WONDERFUL. I GUESS I'M THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HELP THESE CHILDREN, AND WE HELP THEM WITH SCHOOL FOOD.

WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO LIVE AND ANY OF THE OTHER PROBLEMS THAT THEY MAY HAVE AT THE PRESENT TIME, WE HAVE ABOUT 175 CHILDREN UNDER OUR CARE AT THIS POINT.

AND SO WHEN WE DO HAVE 69 ADVOCATES, WHICH HELPS US TREMENDOUSLY ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE HEARD OF THEIR SITUATIONS AND HOW WE CAN MOVE THEM FORWARD TO HAVE PERMANENCY, TO HAVE LOVE AND TO LIVE WITH SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO CARE FOR THEM FROM THEN ON. SO IF ANY OF YOU ARE INTERESTED AND WANT TO KNOW ANY MORE INFORMATION, I DON'T WANT TO TAKE MUCH MORE TIME BECAUSE I KNOW Y'ALL ARE BUSY TODAY. BUT AGAIN, WE ARE CASA, WHICH STANDS FOR COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES AND OUR OFFICE IS IN EDINBURG. SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

AND I'M SO BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY.

I APPRECIATE IT VERY, VERY MUCH.

AND I'LL LEAVE THIS. THANK YOU, MISS WHITTAKER.

COUNCIL. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO, MA'AM. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SPECIAL WORK YOU GUYS DO.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. APPRECIATE IT. NO, I ENJOY WHAT I DO.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MA'AM.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL AT THIS TIME I'M GOING TO ASK SOUTH TEXAS LITERACY COALITION DOCTOR IDA TO COME TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE.

OKAY. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN HAPPY TO BE HERE.

I WANT TO INTRODUCE MARIELENA OVALLE.

SHE'S ON OUR BOARD, SERVES AS SECRETARY, AND FRIDA VARELA IS ONE OF OUR STAFF PEOPLE.

[00:55:03]

AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, I SERVE THE SOUTH TEXAS LITERACY COALITION PRO BONO BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THE MONEY THAT'S SPENT, EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE CAN GET, WE NEED TO PUT OUT THERE IN BOOKS.

SO I WANT TO TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SOUTH TEXAS LITERACY COALITION.

IT'S NOT COMING UP ON THE.

WE'RE A 500 1C3 NONPROFIT.

THERE WE GO. AND OUR DREAM IS THAT EVERY CHILD AND FAMILY IS MOVING TOWARDS THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF LITERACY.

AND SO, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, WE HAVE A MISSION AND WE HAVE OUR VISION.

AND MOST OF OUR WORK IS DONE THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER ENTITIES.

AND BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO SCHOOL RECORDS, WE WORK A LOT WITH THE SCHOOL LIBRARIANS.

WE DEPEND ON THEM TO GATHER A LOT OF THE, THE RICH DATA IN TERMS OF IMPROVEMENT IN READING AND THAT KIND OF THING.

IF YOU READ THE LATEST ANY CASE REPORT ANY CASEY FOUNDATION REPORT.

ABOUT 39% OF THE THIRD GRADERS ARE READING AT GRADE LEVEL, AND THIS IS NOT GOOD. AND THAT'S IN THE ENTIRE SOUTH TEXAS AREA.

SO WE WERE STARTING TO HAVE BEEN IN OPERATION SINCE 2007, FORMALLY BECAME A 501 C 3 IN 2008 AND THEN HAVE BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE THEN.

BUT I DO WANT TO TELL YOU THAT WE ARE WORKING ON FAMILY LITERACY AND HELPING CHILDREN UNDERSTAND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A LOVE FOR READING, A LOVE FOR LITERACY, AND HAVING THE ENTIRE FAMILY PARTICIPATE BECAUSE THEY'LL BE WORKING IN LITERACY ACTIVITIES FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE.

AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT SCHOOL READINESS AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT LOWER RATES OF DELINQUENCY.

AND YOU NEED TO KNOW IT'S NOT ON HERE.

BUT FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT YOU INVEST IN LITERACY, $33 COMES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF THE FUTURE GROWTH POTENTIAL, THE FUTURE SALARY INCREASE AND THAT KIND OF THING.

AND IT'S BECOMING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT.

MANY OF OUR CHILDREN THESE DAYS FRIDA AND I AND KAREN, OUR OTHER STAFF MEMBER, HAVE BEEN GOING TO SUMMER CAMPS WHERE WE'RE TEACHING FINANCIAL LITERACY TO YOUNG KIDS.

AND THEY HAVE NO CLUE, NO IDEA OF WHAT IS TO COME.

AND IT'S INTERESTING THAT THEY ARE INTERESTED, THEY CAN MAKE DECISIONS, BUT THEY'RE IN TOTAL DIGITAL MODE.

AND IT'S IT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT WE NEED TO SAY.

WE NEED TO WE NEED TO STOP AND GET THEM TO MOVE FORWARD.

SO WE WANT OUR CHILDREN TO BE ABLE TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, GO ON TO POST-SECONDARY.

ABOUT 20% OF THE ADULTS IN EDINBURG LACK BASIC LITERACY SKILLS, MAKING DAILY TASKS AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES CHALLENGING.

SOME OF OUR FOLKS CAN'T FILL OUT A JOB APPLICATION.

AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE INCLUDE IN OUR FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAMS. WE HAVE A LOT OF BOOK DISTRIBUTION EVENTS.

I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU SOME PICTURES.

THE THE IMPACT IS AND OUR FLAGSHIP PROGRAM IS CALLED THE SOUTH TEXAS READING INITIATIVE.

AND THIS IS A BOOK DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM.

MAYOR. YOU'VE BEEN AT SOME OF OUR EVENTS WHERE WE DISTRIBUTE NEW FREE BOOKS TO PROMOTE LITERACY AND EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND WE DO THIS. WE PROVIDE THOUSANDS OF BOOKS EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT WE'VE HAD A TOTAL OF 43,600 BOOKS DISTRIBUTED IN A COUPLE OF YEARS. WE HAD A LULL WHEN COVID CAME, BUT EVEN THEN, WE DISTRIBUTED BOOKS THROUGH A DRIVE BY.

SO WE WORK A LOT WITH THE THE ENTITIES HERE IN EDINBURG.

WE HAVE PROMOTED LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES AND HAVE RECENTLY WE PROVIDED ABOUT 1000 BOOKS RIGHT ALL OVER EDINBURGH, TAKING MORE BOOKS TO FILL THE LIBRARIES WITH.

AND THEY AND OUR BOARD MEMBER HAS ONE AT HER IN FRONT OF HER HOUSE.

AND SO SHE CAN MONITOR ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY COME AND GET IN TERMS OF LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES. OF COURSE, WE HAVE OUR OWN FUNDRAISING EVENTS, BUT OUR OUR STELLAR ONE IS THE SOUTH TEXAS LITERACY SYMPOSIUM, WHICH WE DO IN COOPERATION WITH LITERACY TEXAS AND FESTIVA.

AND WE GET A LOT OF EDUCATORS AND LIBRARIANS COME THERE TO GET PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

AND WE HAVE ABOUT 150 TO 200 ATTENDEES.

AND OF COURSE, WE'RE INCLUDED IN A LOT OF THE FESTIVALS HERE IN EDINBURG AND TAKE OUR BOOKS WITH US EVERY SINGLE TIME.

WE HAD STANDING ROOM ONLY AT FESTIVA LAST YEAR AT THE LIBRARY.

[01:00:04]

CONCERNED, BUT BUT THE KIDS WERE SO HAPPY WITH ALL OF THEIR NEW BOOKS.

SO IN EDINBURGH SCHOOLS, WE'VE DONE ABOUT 15,000 BOOKS.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT INCLUDES OUR FUNDING REQUESTS, WE'RE ASKING FOR A LEVEL FUNDING AND BUT WE WANT TO EXPAND THE SOUTH TEXAS READING INITIATIVE TO REACH MORE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN IN EDINBURGH AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF BOOK DISTRIBUTION EVENTS EACH BOOK, BY THE TIME WE PURCHASE IT FROM THE NATIONAL BOOK BANK, COSTS US ABOUT $2.50 TO GET OUT THERE.

AND BY THE TIME WE GET IT OUT THERE AND HAVE A FESTIVAL AND PUT ALL THAT TOGETHER IT COSTS US ABOUT $7 TO $10 PER PARTICIPANT.

AND SO THE BOOKS ARE FREE TO THE CHILDREN AND THE FAMILIES, AND SOMETIMES THE WHOLE FAMILY GOES HOME WITH AN ARRAY OF BOOKS TO START THEIR HOME LIBRARIES. AND SO WE WOULD LIKE TO KEEP OUR STAFF.

OUR STAFF IS THEY'RE COLLEGE STUDENTS, INTERNS AND THEY DO A FANTASTIC JOB THIS SUMMER. THEY'RE ALL FREE AND WE'RE WORKING THEM TO DEATH THIS SUMMER.

BUT NEVERTHELESS, IT'S GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR THEM.

SERVICE, LEARNING AND IT'S GOOD FOR US AS WELL.

THEY CONNECT WITH THE CHILDREN VERY, VERY WELL AND WITH THE FAMILIES AS WELL.

AND SO WE WE WANT TO GET MORE BOOKS OUT THERE.

AND SO WE WANT TO INVITE YOU TO JOIN US IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

WE'RE EXPANDING AND CREATING PROGRAMS. WE KNOW THAT FINANCIAL LITERACY IS A BIG NEED FOR OUR CHILDREN.

HAPPY THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS NOW REQUIRING THAT.

BUT IT'S, YOU KNOW, THEY NEED THEY NEED IT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

AND SO BY PARTNERING WITH YOU YOU'RE INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF EDINBURGH.

AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

AND THIS FUNDING WILL ALLOW US TO PROVIDE RESOURCES THAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP OUR FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAMS, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE NOT JUST A POWERPOINT.

IT'S AN ENGAGING ACTIVITY, AND THAT REQUIRES SUPPLIES AND AND THAT KIND OF THING. AND SO AND TRAVEL, OF COURSE.

AND SO WE INVITE YOU TO PARTNER WITH US IN THIS MISSION.

AND I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR PAST SUPPORT, YOUR TIME. THE FACT THAT YOU'VE BEEN AT SOME OF OUR EVENTS IS, IS TREMENDOUS. AND YOU'VE SEEN THAT THE IMPACT THAT WE HAVE ON KIDS.

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THE FACE OF A CHILD WHO GETS THEIR OWN NEW FREE BOOK.

THEY TAKE IT, THEY OPEN IT, AND THEY SMELL IT, AND IT SMELLS LIKE NEW PAPER AND INK AND AND WHATEVER.

AND THEY TAKE IT HOME, AND WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO START THEIR HOME LIBRARY AND BEGIN TO SHARE AND DEVELOP THAT LOVE FOR READING.

BECAUSE IF THEY CAN DO THAT, THEY CAN READ ANYTHING.

SO ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD? ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS COUNSEL.

NO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND AGAIN THANK YOU ALL ALSO FOR ALL THE WORK YOU ALL DO IN THE COMMUNITY. I SEE YOU ALL OUT THERE. I SEE THOSE LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES THROUGHOUT. WE'RE INCREASING THOSE ALL OVER.

YES. WHAT IS THE REQUIREMENT FOR THAT? I KNOW IT'S PART OF A NATIONAL.

YES THERE IS. THEY ARE REGISTERED.

THEY ARE PURCHASED THROUGH US.

OKAY. AND THEN WE PROVIDE BOOKS FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR FOR THE LIBRARY.

AND MANY TIMES IT PROVIDES A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR STUDENT COUNCILS, NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY TO KEEP THE BOOKS MAINTAINED BECAUSE THEY GO FAST, RIGHT? YEAH. WE HAVE. YEAH.

SO WE HAVE STEWARDS OF OUR LIBRARIES THAT THAT HELP THAT.

BUT FRIDA AND KAREN WENT DROVE I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MILES ALL OVER EDINBURG PROVIDING BOOKS FOR THE FOR THE LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES.

WELL, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU ALL DO.

THANK YOU I APPRECIATE IT. APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR ADA APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO.

LAST MAYOR, WE DO HAVE UTRGV WITH FESTIVA.

WE DO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE HERE.

JUST TO LET US KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIS THE REQUEST, IF YOU CAN PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM. SO JUST FORWARD AND BACK.

FORWARD. THANK YOU. MR. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, RESIDENTS OF EDINBURGH AND COLLEAGUES THAT I PARTNER WITH ALREADY SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.

I AM AN EIGHT MONTH RESIDENT OF EDINBURGH, TEXAS.

I'VE MOVED 38 TIMES IN MY LIFE.

I'VE BEEN DIRECTOR OF ARTS PROGRAMS FOR THREE SCHOOL DISTRICTS NATIONALLY.

I'VE BEEN A PROFESSOR AT THREE UNIVERSITIES.

I'VE DIRECTED THREE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND I'VE WORKED FOR THREE STATE AND FEDERAL CONTRACT AGENCIES. SO EITHER I'M REALLY GOOD AT WHAT I DO OR I CAN'T KEEP A JOB.

I DON'T KNOW WHICH, BUT, ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I DID IN MY CAREER IS

[01:05:04]

SO I'M PRETTY, PRETTY, PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THAT OPPORTUNITY.

SO THE UNIVERSITY HAS BEEN IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING ART AND DESIGN, CREATIVE WRITING, DANCE, MUSIC AND THEATER AS PART OF ITS ACADEMIC PROGRAMS. BUT REALLY, MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE DEAN IS INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE THAT WE BECOME PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

I WANTED TO SHARE THIS PARTICULAR PHOTO BECAUSE JUST LIKE CITY COUNCIL AND ELECTED OFFICIALS AND PEOPLE WHO VOLUNTEER IN THIS COMMUNITY, IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THIS WORK HAPPEN.

AND SO THIS IS THIS IS MY REALLY HANDSOME STAFF.

YOU KNOW, I REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR WORK.

ARTS AND PRODUCTION FACILITIES EVENTS MANAGERS, COORDINATORS FOR PROGRAMS BOTH HERE AND IN BROWNSVILLE AND HARLINGEN.

ADMINISTRATIVE WORK, DESIGN AND SOCIAL MEDIA.

SO JUST DIDN'T WANT TO FORGET THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE IT'S ME.

IT HAPPENS BECAUSE OF THEM.

ONE OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY IS THAT IT REALLY WORKS CAREFULLY TO MAKE SURE THAT EDINBURG COMMUNITY IS PART OF INFLUENCE IN THE WORK THAT WE DO HERE, WHICH IS PART OF OUR PRETTY MODEST REQUEST FOR FESTIVA AND PART OF THE WORK THAT WE DO.

THE COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS HAS ITS OWN COLLABORATION COUNCIL, WHICH INVOLVES FACULTY WHICH ADVISES ABOUT FESTIVALS AND FESTIVALS, IS THE FESTIVAL OF INTERNATIONAL BOOKS AND ARTS, WHICH HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A COUPLE OF DECADES.

WAY PRECEDED ME VERY SUCCESSFUL, AND WE HAVE THE DISTINGUISHED ARTIST SERIES SUBCOMMITTEE, WHICH ADVISES FOR THE KINDS OF WORK THAT IS PART OF THE ANNUAL PRESENTATIONS FOR THE UNIVERSITY. ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY, I WANTED TO SHARE THAT THIS NEXT YEAR, 20 2526, WE HAVE A PRETTY AGHAST GROUP OF FOLKS.

MY DEAN SAYS TO ME, MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT OUR COMMUNITY DOES NOT NORMALLY GET A CHANCE TO SEE, AS WELL AS SUPPORTS THOSE WHO WORK HERE.

AND SO DANIEL PARDO IS AN INTERNATIONALLY FAMOUS WORLD MUSIC FLUTIST WHO WILL BE HERE IN OCTOBER. MARIACHI MARIPOSA IS A LOCAL RIO GRANDE GROUP, AND THEY'RE DOING THEIR FIRST EVER HOLIDAY PROGRAM, AND THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THEY'VE NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

AND SO WE'RE HOPING THAT IT WILL BECOME AN ANNUALIZED ACTIVITY.

CARMEN TAFOYA IS A FORMER TEXAS POET LAUREATE, AND SHE'LL BE COMING TO WORK WITH OUR CURA PROGRAMS, WHICH IS ABOUT 607TH AND EIGHTH GRADERS, KIND OF AN EXCITING GROUP OF WILD YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE FINDING THEIR WAY THROUGH ACADEMIC WORK.

THE VALLEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.

AND MY OFFICE IS COLLABORATING ON HANDEL'S MESSIAH DURING EASTER.

AND THIS WILL BE PART OF THE SING ALONG PART OF ACTIVITY THAT HAS NEVER BEEN PRESENTED HERE. THE BRUCE WOOD DANCE COMPANY FROM DALLAS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MORE REMARKABLE CONTEMPORARY DANCE COMPANIES, AND WE'RE GRATEFUL TO HAVE THEM HERE.

AND THEN TWO EXHIBITS THAT WILL BE IN THE PERFORMING ARTS COMPLEX.

THE BOOK OF WOUNDED SPARROWS AND THE LIBRARY, WHICH IS FROM MONTERREY, MEXICO.

BUT REALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS REQUEST IS IT'S A VERY MODEST $5,000.

AND YOU MIGHT THINK, WELL, THAT SEEMS LIKE, CAN'T THE UNIVERSITY AFFORD THIS? BUT REALLY, ARTS PROGRAMS AT AT THE UNIVERSITY ARE A ZERO BASED BUDGET.

AND SO WE HAVE TO SORT OF ESSENTIALLY MAKE THINGS HAPPEN OUT OF STEAM AND BUTTERFLY WINGS. AND SO THIS $5,000 REALLY HELPS US TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT A COUPLE OF HUNDRED DANCE, MUSIC AND THEATER PRESENTATIONS, SPEAKERS, A MARIACHI FESTIVAL WHICH HAS 900 MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO COMPETE AMONG SCHOOLS WITHIN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY AND SPECIAL EVENTS.

AND SO THE 5000 IS REALLY ABOUT ARTIST FEES AND BEING ABLE TO PAY JUDGES.

SO IT'S IT'S IT'S A MODEST REQUEST, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU'LL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

AND YOU KNOW THAT THIS AUGUST IS THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF UTRGV BEING FORMED FROM UT PAN

[01:10:07]

AND SO WE'VE HAD TEN YEARS OF CELEBRATING CREATIVITY AS A PART OF THAT WORK.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO NOT ONLY YOUR SUPPORT, BUT I AM HUMBLED BY MY PREVIOUS PRESENTERS, BECAUSE WE ARE REALLY THE TAPESTRY OF WHAT MAKES THIS COMMUNITY GREAT.

AND I'M DELIGHTED TO BE YOUR NEWEST RESIDENT.

ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH SIR. WE APPRECIATE IT. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE UNIVERSITY DOES HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. AT THIS TIME, THOSE ARE ALL THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE HAVE HERE THIS EVENING. THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PRESENTING THEIR REQUESTS.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON FOR THIS BUDGET WORK SESSION? JUST I JUST WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK ALL THE NONPROFITS THAT ARE HERE.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. LIKE I SAID, THIS, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T USED TO DO THIS, BUT WE'RE DOING THIS TO INCLUDE YOU ALL AND HEAR FROM YOU AS PART OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS.

SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

KNOW THAT YOUR REQUESTS ARE GOING TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.

IT'S A TOUGH JOB. WE ONLY HAVE SO MUCH FUNDS, BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR VERY BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SERVICES CONTINUE HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU EVERYONE. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED. SECOND.

MOTION TO SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. WE'RE ADJOURNED.

THE WORK SESSION AND WE'LL START THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING IN A COUPLE MINUTES.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.