[00:02:44] YEAH. I HEAR YOU. WE ALL ARE. [. CALL TO ORDER, ESTABLISH A QUORUM] WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION BEFORE WE. I WAS RUSHING AS FAST AS I COULD. I KNOW, MAN. I DON'T SEE THE KIND OF DAY I'VE HAD, MAN. HEY, IT'S 530. YOU'RE ON TIME. I AM ON TIME. EXACTLY. WELL, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY AT OUR MEETING. IT IS NOW 5:30 P.M., AND I'D LIKE TO GET STARTED BY ASKING TO DO A ROLL CALL. GOOD AFTERNOON. AARON RIVERA. PRESENT. RICHARD GONZALEZ. PRESENT. SANDRA. PRESENT. MARK. MORAN. PRESENT. DAVID SALAZAR. PRESENT. VERONICA GONZALEZ AND GREGORY VASQUEZ. PRESENT. EVERYONE IS PRESENT, SIR. QUORUM IS ESTABLISHED. THANK YOU. BROTHER. SEEING THAT WE HAVE QUORUM, I'D LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AND ASK THAT WE STAND AND DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, [A. Pledge of Allegiance.] WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. OKAY. ITEM NUMBER TWO. CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE WITH THE MEETING POSTED PROPERLY. YES, SIR. THE MEETING WAS POSTED ON AUGUST 15TH AT 5:00, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT. THANK YOU. [2. CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE] NOW WE MOVE ON TO ITEM THREE. DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST. AARON. GOOD AFTERNOON. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. UNDER TEXAS LAW, BOARD MEMBERS MUST DISCLOSE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST WHEN THEY OR FAMILY [3. DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST] MEMBERS HAVE A QUALIFYING FINANCIAL INTEREST IN MATTERS BEFORE THE BOARD. MEMBERS WITH CONFLICTS MUST ABSTAIN FROM DISCUSSION AND VOTING AT THIS TIME. ARE THERE ANY CONFLICTS TO DISCLOSE? NO, SIR. NO. NO. THANK YOU. OKAY. MOVING ON TO ITEM FOUR. PUBLIC COMMENT. SAMANTHA, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? [4. PUBLIC COMMENTS] MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE AGENDA ITEMS. THE MINUTES ARE IN THE BOARD PACKET AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN READ. [00:05:03] ARE THERE ANY CHANGES TO THE MINUTES? NO. [5. AGENDA ITEMS] CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING I. RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION PASSES. ITEM NUMBER FIVE. BE. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER APPROVAL OF SPONSORSHIP FROM THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY GALA GALA. CAN YOU LET US KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS? [B. Discuss and consider approval of a Sponsorship from "VIDA 30th Anniversary Gala."] YES, SIR. OCTOBER 9TH, 2025. VIDA, WHICH IS THE VALLEY INITIATIVE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND ADVANCEMENT, IS HAVING THEIR ANNUAL GALA. IT'S THEIR 30TH ANNIVERSARY. AND WE JUST HAPPEN TO BE SELECTED AS THE PARTNER OF THE YEAR. SO A LITTLE SPECIAL FOR US. AWESOME. AND THEY'VE ASKED US FOR A SPONSORSHIP, AND STAFF RECOMMENDS A $2,500 SPONSORSHIP FOR THIS EVENT. 2500? OKAY. ANY COMMENTS? BOARD. NO. WE'RE GOOD. I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY IT'S A GREAT ORGANIZATION. AND I KNOW WE'VE PARTNERED WITH THEM ON SO I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT. I DO WANT TO SAY, THOUGH, THAT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE TRY TO MAKE SURE WE GET A HEAD COUNT AHEAD OF TIME OF OF THOSE OF US WHO CAN ATTEND AND WILL BE THERE SO THAT WE DON'T MISS OUT ON HAVING EMPTY TABLES AND STUFF. I KNOW WE WENT TO ONE THE OTHER NIGHT FOR CASA, AND I KNOW GREG WAS THERE FOR A LITTLE WHILE. SANDRA AND I GOT THERE LATER, BUT OTHERWISE OUR TABLE WAS WAS EMPTY. AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT, I THINK, THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE PARTICIPANTS THERE. GREAT POINT. YES. AND I ALSO AGREE WITH YOU THAT IT HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNERING WITH THEM EVERY YEAR, AND IT IS A GREAT ORGANIZATION AND A GREAT CAUSE. SO THAT BEING SAID STAFF IS RECOMMENDING $2,500 SPONSORSHIP. CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE MOTION? IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE OR RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION PASSES. NEXT ITEM IS FIVE C DISCUSSING. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF SPONSORSHIP FROM THE EDINBURGH ARTS FOUNDATION TO SPONSOR SOUTH TEXAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2025. [C. Discuss and consider approval of a Sponsorship from the Edinburg Arts Foundation] SO WE'VE GOT MAGDIEL COMING UP TO THE PODIUM. HELLO, HELLO, MY NAME IS MIGUEL COUNCIL. I'M THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CULTURAL ARTS. AND WITH ME TODAY IS BOB VENA THE THIRD, WHO IS THE EDINBURG ARTS FOUNDATION CHAIR FOR SPONSORSHIP FOR THE FILM FESTIVAL. HE'LL TAKE IT FROM HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON. DIRECTORS. MY NAME IS ROBERT VINA. IT'S PART OF ME. FOR A SECOND. I CAN'T SEE WITHOUT THESE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME THIS AFTERNOON. AS MIGUEL SAID, I'M THE SPONSOR CHAIR OF THE EDINBURG, SOUTH TEXAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL COMMITTEE. I'M JOINED HERE TODAY BY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FILM FESTIVAL COMMITTEE AND THE EDINBURG ART FOUNDATION. WE'RE PLEASED TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO THE EDC A SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR THE UPCOMING 11TH ANNUAL SOUTH TEXAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL. THE FESTIVAL WILL BE HELD FROM SEPTEMBER 10TH THROUGH THE 13TH. AND WILL SHOWCASE CURATED SELECTION OF LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL FILMS FROM ACROSS VARIOUS GENRES. ATTENDEES WILL HAVE ACCESS TO BOTH FULL LENGTH AND SHORT FILM SCREENINGS AND CAN ATTEND PANEL DISCUSSIONS WORKSHOPS WITH INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS. IT'S ALSO A GOOD PLACE FOR OUR SPECIAL GUESTS TO SHARE INSIGHTS AND EXPERIENCES WITH ASPIRING FILMMAKERS. IT HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY WITH LOTS OF FILMMAKERS PEOPLE HAVE COME AND TO ARE STARTING TO COME FROM VARIOUS PLACES. WE'VE HAD A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PARTICIPATION IN THE FILMS THAT HAVE HAD TO BEEN GONE THROUGH AND LOOKED AT SO THAT WE CAN JUST GET THE FILMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE FILMED ARE SHOWN. THERE'S INTERNATIONAL FILMS NATIONAL FILMS, FULL, FULL, FULL FEATURE, FULL LENGTH FEATURES, SHORT FILMS, SOME THAT, SOME THAT SPECIALIZE JUST IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, SOME THAT ARE TEXAS AND OTHERS FROM, FROM AROUND THE NATION. THE FILM FESTIVAL INCLUDES A COMPETITION ALONG WITH AN AWARDS CEREMONY AND A GALA. SOME OF Y'ALL MAY HAVE ATTENDED THOSE IN THE PAST. WHILE THE FESTIVAL SUCCESSFULLY BRINGS ART AND CULTURE TO TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE WISH TO EMPHASIZE THAT IT IS ALSO AN ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR EDINBURG. [00:10:02] LAST YEAR'S FESTIVAL DREW APPROXIMATELY 2700 ATTENDEES OVER THE SEVERAL DAYS. APPROXIMATELY 10% WERE FROM OUT OF TOWN. VISITORS STAYED AN AVERAGE TO 2 TO 3 NIGHTS. SPENT AN AVERAGE OF $50 EACH. OF OF OF ALL THE PARTICIPANTS ALL CONTRIBUTING TO LOCAL HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, SHOPS, SERVICE PROVIDERS EVERYWHERE AROUND TOWN THE CITY'S CULTURAL ARTS DIVISION THE EDINBURG ARTS FOUNDATION AND THE EDINBURG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAVE MADE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO BUILD EDINBURGHS REPUTATION AS A FILM PRODUCTION HUB. THE FILM FESTIVAL IS TRYING TO LINK INTO THAT TO ASSIST IN THAT MANNER. AS PART OF THAT SINCE 2022, THE EDINBURGH FILM FRIENDLY PROGRAM HAS ATTRACTED 22 PRODUCTIONS IN IN THE CITY, CREATING GREATER SPENDING AND JOB CREATION. THE FESTIVAL SUPPORTS THIS DEVELOPMENT BY HOSTING CREATIVE WORKSHOPS TO PREPARE LOCAL FILM PROFESSIONALS FOR HIRE, INCOMING PRODUCTIONS AND AN ATTEMPT TO DRAW AND KEEP PRODUCTION HERE. SHOULD THE EDC WISH TO CONTRIBUTE, YOUR CONTRIBUTION WILL BE USED TO UNDERWRITE FESTIVAL PROGRAMING INCLUDING SCREENINGS, PANELS, NETWORKING EVENTS, SUPPORT, CREATIVE WORKSHOPS, WORKFORCE WORKSHOPS AND COVER COSTS FOR VENUE RENTALS. TECHNICAL PRODUCTION, MARKETING, HOSPITALITY FOR VISITING INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS, YOUR CONTRIBUTION WILL GO DIRECTLY TO ENHANCE THE FESTIVAL'S QUALITY AND REACH AND ECONOMIC IMPACT, ALL OF WHICH WILL GREATLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY. THE SPONSORSHIP BENEFITS INCLUDE BRANDING ON FESTIVAL MARKETING AND AND AND SIGNAGE AND DIGITAL PLATFORMS AND RECOGNITION AND PRESS RELEASES AND SUCH. AND THAT IS WHAT WHAT YOU'LL BE SEEING EDC AS PART OF THAT. BUT YOUR INVESTMENT WILL ASSIST TO EXPAND PROGRAMING ELEVATE INDUSTRY PARTICIPATION, INCREASE VISITOR SPENDING, AND CONTRIBUTE TO EDINBURGH'S GOAL OF BECOMING A MORE ATTRACTIVE FILMING DESTINATION, ALL CONTRIBUTING TO THE EDC'S GOALS TO PROMOTE A COMMON ECONOMIC VITALITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE. SO THERE'S A. BOTH HAVING THE SAME GOAL IN THAT RESPECT. THE EDC HAS GRACIOUSLY SUPPORTED THE FILM FESTIVAL IN THE PAST. AGAIN, THIS IS THE 11TH ANNUAL TIME. THIS IS AND EVERY SINGLE TIME IT'S JUST GROWN AND GROWN. AND THIS YEAR, THE FESTIVAL WISHES TO CONTINUE THIS PARTNERSHIP AND HUMBLY REQUEST THAT EDC SPONSORSHIP AND THE AMOUNT OF $25,000, HOWEVER, ANY AMOUNT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED IN MAKING THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL AS SUCCESSFUL AS IT WAS IN PRIOR YEARS. AND TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THE CITIES OF EDINBURGH AS A REGIONAL LEADER. WE THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY, BUT WE CAN FIELD ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. VENA. YES. YES, SIR. WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO SAY A WORD. HI, MY NAME IS JENNY MARTINEZ. I'M ACTUALLY THE PRESIDENT CHAIR FOR THE FILM FESTIVAL PLANNING COMMITTEE. AND I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WITH OUR FESTIVAL RIGHT NOW IS THAT WE HAVE GROWN, AS HE MENTIONED THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, GREATLY TO WHERE WE ARE GARNERING A LOT OF ATTENTION FROM INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL AUDIENCES. AND WE DO HAVE VARIOUS PRODUCTIONS THAT ARE LOOKING AT THE CITY OF EDINBURGH, INCLUDING THE RGV IN GENERAL, TO COME IN AND START PRODUCING. ONE OF THE ATTENDEES THAT WILL BE ATTENDING THIS YEAR WILL BE JOSEFINA LOPEZ, WHO'S ALSO KNOWN FOR WOMEN HAVE CURVES OR IT'S FOR THE PLAY, THE MOVIE AND THE BROADWAY SHOW. SO SHE IS COMING IN WITH HER WHOLE OR FULL PRODUCTION TEAM TO BE LOOKING AT THE CITY OF EDINBURGH AS A POTENTIAL SCOUTING LOCATION. SO JUST TO KEEP THAT IN MIND, OUR FESTIVAL IS NOT ONLY FOR THE FILMMAKERS AND IT'S ALSO TO HELP THE CITY OF EDINBURGH GROW FINANCIALLY AND IN EVERY WAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT ELIJAH AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE AS GUESTS. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR EDINBURGH. WE TRULY APPRECIATE ALL THE EFFORTS THAT YOU DO FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT LAST YEAR 35 FILMS ATTENDED THE FILM FESTIVAL. THIS YEAR WE HAVE 34 ALREADY CONFIRMED ATTENDING. OTHER HOTELS HAVE ALREADY BEEN BOOKED AND THESE FILMS ARE COMING FROM AUSTIN, [00:15:01] CALIFORNIA. UVALDE, TEXAS, SWEETWATER CIUDAD DE MEXICO. WEST TEXAS. MOBILE, ALABAMA. HURST, TEXAS. ALLEN, TEXAS. KINGWOOD, TEXAS, SAN ANTONIO AND CORPUS CHRISTI. AWESOME. GREAT. AND I GUESS TO BE TRANSPARENT, LET ME ASK YOU, HOW MUCH DO WE HAVE LEFT IN OUR BUDGET FOR SPONSORSHIPS? THAT BUDGET LINE ITEM, WE HAVE ABOUT 27,000. 27,000. OKAY. AND HOW MUCH IS STAFF RECOMMENDING? STAFF RECOMMENDS 10,000, WHICH IS AT THE SAME LEVEL AS LAST YEAR. OKAY. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY COMMENTS? YEAH, I JUST HAD A QUESTION. SO I NOTICED YOUR EXPENSES ARE ABOUT OR APPROXIMATELY $75,000. ARE Y'ALL SEEKING SPONSORSHIPS FROM THE PUBLIC, FROM, YOU KNOW, HOW PEOPLE SELL TABLES TO EVENTS AND SEEK SPONSORS? AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS, HAVE YOU ALL LOOKED AT I KNOW THE STATE OF TEXAS IS REALLY PUTTING MORE MONEY NOW INTO FILMS AND TRYING TO MAKE TEXAS KIND OF A FILM CAPITAL. ARE Y'ALL LOOKING AT ANY POSSIBLE GRANTS ALSO FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS FOR THIS EVENT? BECAUSE IT IS A IT'S A LARGE EVENT. I KNOW IT'S DRAWING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE EACH YEAR. AND SO I THOUGHT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY THERE AS WELL. YES. SO THE TICKETS WILL BE ON SALE. MISS SUSAN WITH US TODAY. SHE'S THE ONE IN CHARGE OF GETTING THOSE TICKETS SOLD. THAT WILL BE MONEY THAT'S COMING IN. BUT WE'VE ALSO BROUGHT IN 10,600 ALREADY SO FAR. AND WE ARE ASKING THE TEXAS FILM COMMISSION FOR A SPONSORSHIP OF 5000. OKAY. THANK YOU. GOOD. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS THEN I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION OF SPONSORING A $10,000 SPONSORSHIP. I WOULD NEED A MOTION. SO MOVED. OKAY, I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE. I HAVE A SECOND MOTION TO SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? SAME MOTION. MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE HAVE TABLES AVAILABLE. THANK YOU. TO COME TO THE TO SEE YOU ALL. WE WILL SEE YOU THERE. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM IS EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE HAVE SEVERAL PROJECTS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. SO CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION. SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION. AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND. [6. EXECUTIVE SESSION] ALL THOSE OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION PASSES. WE ARE ENTERING EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 5:44 P.M.. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH AGAIN. GOOD NIGHT. PERSONAL. FIRST. HAND. [7. OPEN SESSION] [01:59:45] OKAY. WE ARE IN THE OPEN SESSION. [01:59:48] CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO ENTER A POSITION, PLEASE? [01:59:51] SO MOVED. OKAY. IT IS 7:27 P.M.. [01:59:56] FOR THE RECORD, THERE WAS NO ACTION TAKEN WHILE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE DO HAVE A [02:00:03] MOTION FOR AGENDA ITEM 61. [02:00:06] IS THAT CORRECT? AND 62. [02:00:13] CAN I HAVE A MOTION? IS THAT CORRECT? [02:00:20] ACTUALLY. WE DON'T HAVE ANY ACTUAL FORMAL ACTION NECESSARY. [02:00:28] I GAVE DIRECTION. IT'S JUST DIRECTION. [02:00:30] OR WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH WORKING ON THE PROJECTS THAT WE WERE WORKING ON AND AS [02:00:34] DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT THERE'S NO NECESSARY ACTION AT THIS [02:00:38] POINT. OKAY. SO THEN THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO DISCUSS, [02:00:42] CAN I GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN? [02:00:43] SO MOVED. SO MOVED. FIRST AND SECOND. [02:00:46] ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? [02:00:50] MOTION PASSES 7:28 P.M.. [02:00:51] WE ARE DONE. THANK YOU. [02:00:53] THANK YOU ALL. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.