PRAYER. WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND, PLEASE? THANK YOU. IF YOU JOIN ME IN PRAYER THIS EVENING. GOD, 
          [00:00:06]
WE'RE JUST SO THANKFUL TONIGHT THAT WE COULD BE HERE. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE GIFT OF LIFE AND JUST THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF A COMMUNITY THAT'S THRIVING AND THAT'S GROWING. WE JUST PRAY RIGHT NOW FOR YOUR WISDOM AND YOUR COUNSEL TO REST UPON THIS MEETING AND FOR OUR 
          [A. Prayer.]
LEADERSHIP THAT'S PRESENT, THAT YOU WOULD JUST CONTINUE TO GRACE THEM WITH YOUR PRESENCE. PRAY THAT YOU WOULD GRACE THEM WITH WISDOM, WITH THE ABILITY TO FACE CHALLENGES AND DIFFICULT PROBLEMS, TO FIND SOLUTIONS. AND THAT TOGETHER HERE WE WOULD JUST REALIZE, LORD, THAT WHERE THERE'S UNITY THAT YOU COMMAND YOUR BLESSING. AND I PRAY THAT WE WOULD JUST SEE ANY CHALLENGE, ANY INFORMATION, ANY DECISIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE, LORD, THAT IT WOULD JUST BE SEEN AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY BETTER. WE PRAY THAT YOUR NAME WOULD BE LIFTED UP AND GLORIFIED, AND WE'RE THANKFUL FOR YOUR PRESENCE HERE TONIGHT. WE ASK IN YOUR NAME. AMEN. AMEN. 
          THANK YOU, THANK YOU. PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM TWO. THE MEETING WAS POSTED IN ACCORDANCE TO TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT ON AUGUST 15TH, 2025 AT 6:15 P.M. SIR. THANK YOU. ITEM THREE IS A DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST. YES, UNDER STATE LAW, LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL IS REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE A SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST FOR THEMSELVES OR CERTAIN FAMILY MEMBERS AND ABSTAIN FROM VOTING ON MATTERS RELATED TO SUCH A CONFLICT. ARE THERE ANY CONFLICTS TO DISCLOSE RELATED TO MATTERS ON TODAY'S AGENDA? NO, MA'AM. NO, MA'AM. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM FOUR, CITY MANAGER'S REPORT. YES. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I WOULD LIKE TO LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT TODAY IS NATIONAL AVIATION DAY, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1939 BY PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D ROOSEVELT IN RECOGNITION OF ORVILLE WRIGHT'S BIRTHDAY. THIS DAY UNDERSCORES THE VITAL ROLE AVIATION PLAYS IN TRANSPORTATION, COMMERCE, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AVIATION CONNECTS EDINBURGH TO THE WORLD AND BRINGS THE WORLD TO EDINBURGH. WE INVITE THE COMMUNITY TO VISIT THE CITY OF EDINBURGH SOCIAL MEDIA TO SEE GREETINGS FROM AVIATION, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION STAFF IN CELEBRATION OF THIS DAY. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE, THOUGH, OUR DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION, EDDIE VELARDE, AND HIS STAFF FOR THEIR CONTINUED DEDICATION TO THE SOUTH TEXAS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AT EDINBURG AS IT CONTINUES TO GROW AS A HUB OF OPPORTUNITY AND PROSPERITY FOR OUR REGION. SO THANK YOU, EDDIE. APPRECIATE THAT. NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THAT THE CITY OF EDINBURG IS GOING TO BE HOSTING THE FIFTH ANNUAL NINE OVER 11 PATRIOT DAY OF REMEMBRANCE RACE, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH, 2025 AT 7:45 A.M, STARTING AND FINISHING AT THE FIRE STATION NUMBER ONE, WHICH IS LOCATED AT 212 WEST MCINTYRE. REGISTRATION IS $15 PER PERSON AND AN HONORARY WALK WILL BEGIN AT 9:11 A.M, COVERING 911M AROUND CITY HALL. AGE DIVISION AWARDS WILL BE PRESENTED FOLLOWING THE RACE. 
          PARTICIPANTS CAN REGISTER ONLINE AT. ACTIVE EDINBURG.COM. PACKET PICKUP WILL BE THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AT THE EDINBURG PARKS AND RECREATION AND RACE DAY. OH, PARKS AND RECREATION AND RACE DAY AT THE FIRE STATION NUMBER ONE. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM FIVE. PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS. 
          [5. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS]
          [A. Presentation of Proclamation Recognizing the 10th Anniversary of the University of Texas Rio]
ITEM A YES, SIR. MAYOR. PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, RIO GRANDE VALLEY, AS REQUESTED BY THE UTRGV OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS. AND I SEE MISS VERONICA GONZALEZ HERE. WE CAN COME TO THE PODIUM. I BELIEVE WE WILL READ IT FOR THE RECORD AND GO DOWN THERE AND PRESENT YOU THE THANK. THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, RIO GRANDE VALLEY'S 10TH ANNIVERSARY. WHEREAS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY IS CELEBRATING ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY IN AUGUST 2025, OUR UNIVERSITY IS KNOWN FOR ITS BROAD RANGE OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS, AFFORDABLE TUITION, AND SUPPORTIVE CAMPUS ENVIRONMENT. THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY IS AN AWARD WINNING INSTITUTION THAT HAS CONVEYED MORE THAN 60,000 DEGREES SINCE OPENING ITS DOORS IN 2015, AND WHERE SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING THE UNIVERSITY'S FIRST DECADE OF OPERATION INCLUDE ADDING 42 NEW BACHELOR'S, MASTER'S, DOCTORAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEGREE PROGRAMS AND AN INCREASE IN RESEARCH EXPENDITURES OF NEARLY 600%. ONGOING STUDENT SUCCESS IS REFLECTED IN THE UNIVERSITY'S RECORD BREAKING ENROLLMENT, RETENTION, AND GRADUATION RATES. AND WHEREAS THIS EXEMPLARY INSTITUTION MADE HISTORIC STRIDES IN MEDICAL EDUCATION WHEN IT OPENED, THE ONLY SCHOOL 
          [00:05:03]
OF MEDICINE IN SOUTH TEXAS IN 2016, AND IT HAS SINCE EXPANDED QUALITY HEALTH CARE SERVICES IN THE REGION WITH 25 CLINICAL CARE SITES THROUGH THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. WHEREAS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY OPENED THE STATE'S FIRST SCHOOL OF PODIATRIC MEDICINE IN 2022 AND WILL FURTHER EXPAND STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE OPENING OF THE REGION'S FIRST COMPREHENSIVE ACADEMIC CANCER AND SURGERY CENTER IN 2025, AND THE STATE'S SECOND SCHOOL OF OPTOMETRY IN 2027. AND WHEREAS IN 2021, THE UNIVERSITY STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION EXECUTED A STUDENT REFERENDUM THAT WOULD ENHANCE CAMPUS LIFE BY ADDING A DIVISION ONE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SUBDIVISION TEAM, OTHER PROGRAM AND OTHER PROGRAMS. IN THE FALL OF 2025, THE FOOTBALL TEAM WILL KICK OFF ITS INAUGURAL SEASON AND ESTABLISH THE FIRST DIVISION ONE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY AND IN THE REGION. AND WHEREAS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY HAS EARNED NATIONAL ACCLAIM FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO VALUE SOCIAL MOBILITY AND ECONOMIC IMPACT, AND HAS BEEN RANKED THE NUMBER ONE UNIVERSITY IN TEXAS IN 2023 AND 2024 BY WASHINGTON MONTHLY MAGAZINE, AND THE NUMBER ONE BEST PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN TEXAS FOR VALLEY AND SOCIAL MOBILITY BY THE WALL STREET JOURNAL. THE SCHOOL HAS FURTHER GAINED RECOGNITION AS A COMMUNITY ENGAGED UNIVERSITY BY THE CARNEGIE FOUNDATION. NOW, THEREFORE, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG, TEXAS, BY THE POWER VESTED IN THEM BY LAW, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY'S 10TH ANNIVERSARY AND EXTEND TO ITS LEADERS, FACULTY, AND STAFF. CONGRATULATIONS ON THE DECADE OF SUCCESS AND BEST WISHES FOR THE FUTURE. CONGRATULATIONS! THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, ON BEHALF OF DOCTOR GUY BAILEY AND EVERYONE AT THE UNIVERSITY, WE WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR RECOGNIZING UTRGV ON OUR 10TH ANNIVERSARY. IT'LL ACTUALLY BE ON AUGUST THE 30TH THAT WE CELEBRATE TEN YEARS SINCE WE OPENED OUR DOORS. WE OPENED THE MEDICAL SCHOOL IN 2016, AS YOU WILL RECALL, AND IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THOSE TEN YEARS HAVE ALREADY GONE BY. AND WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT HOW TIME PASSES SO QUICKLY. WE'LL IN TEN YEARS, SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED HERE ON THIS CAMPUS AND REALLY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE RIO GRANDE VALLEY FOR UTRGV. YOU KNOW, AT A TIME WHEN ENROLLMENT IS DECLINING AT MANY UNIVERSITIES, WE'VE INCREASED OUR ENROLLMENT TO OVER 34,000 STUDENTS, WHICH JUST SHOWS THAT THERE'S SUCH A DESIRE IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY FOR EDUCATION, FOR HIGHER EDUCATION. AND IF YOU IF YOU WEREN'T AWARE OF IT, WE'VE GRADUATED OVER 60,000 STUDENTS, 60,000 STUDENTS SINCE WE OPENED OUR DOORS. THINK OF WHAT THAT DOES FOR THE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND FOR OUR WORKFORCE AND OUR ECONOMY AND OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. SO WE'RE SO PROUD OF ALL THOSE STUDENTS, AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL AS WELL FOR THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF EDINBURG. YOU HAVE BEEN BY OUR SIDE EACH STEP OF THE WAY IN, IN MAKING UTRGV WHAT IT IS TODAY. YOU HELPED US WITH OUR SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND WE ARE NOW. WE GRADUATED SIX CLASSES NOW OF PHYSICIANS. THIS MOST RECENT CLASS OF 2025, WE HAVE OF THE 55 STUDENTS, I THINK 31 OF THEM ARE FROM THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY OR WENT TO UTRGV. SO WE ARE TRULY GROWING OUR OWN PHYSICIANS. WE'VE ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE ISD, AS YOU KNOW, AND OPENED THE COLLEGIATE HIGH SCHOOL HERE IN EDINBURG. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL SCHOOL AND OUR KIDS ARE GETTING AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM PROFESSORS. A FEW MONTHS BACK, Y'ALL WERE THERE WHEN WE OPENED THE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING RESEARCH CENTER HERE ON CAMPUS, AND SOON WE'RE GOING TO BE OPENING THE WORK CENTER, THE WORKFORCE ECONOMY RESEARCH AND COMMUNITY CENTER, WHERE WE WILL BE ABLE TO SERVE ALL OF OUR BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS THAT NEED ASSISTANCE. AND WE'VE MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS INTO ALL OUR ATHLETIC FACILITIES. AS YOU'VE SEEN ALL AROUND THE CAMPUS AND THE ATTENDANCE NOW AT BASEBALL GAMES, BASKETBALL GAMES AND VOLLEYBALL GAMES IS OVER IS IN THE THOUSANDS EACH TIME. SO AND IT'S NO SECRET THAT IN 11 DAYS, WE'RE GOING TO BE PLAYING OUR FIRST FOOTBALL GAME HERE IN EDINBURG AT THE ROBERT AND JANET BECKER STADIUM. WE'RE ALL VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT. WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO GET SOMEWHERE BETWEEN PROBABLY 12 TO 15,000 PEOPLE AT THE GAME, AND WE KNOW WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU THERE JOINING US. SO ON BEHALF OF UTRGV, THANK YOU. 
          BECAUSE WITHOUT YOU, WITHOUT YOUR STRONG SUPPORT, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE WHERE WE ARE TODAY. THIS IS OUR LARGEST CAMPUS. THIS IS THE CAMPUS WHERE WE'RE PROUD TO CALL HOME. AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP. AND GO, VAQUEROS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, VERONICA. AND JUST ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND THE CITY, CONGRATULATIONS. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL Y'ALL DO IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. ITEM B PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION 
          [B. Presentation of Proclamation Recognizing Jason Saenz, Texas Amateur Athletic Federation (TAAF)]
RECOGNIZING JASON TEXAS AMATEUR ATHLETIC FEDERATION STATE CHAMPION. WE HAVE A JASON SIGNS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE. I THINK THIS YOUNG MAN DESERVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE EVERYBODY. STATE CHAMPION RIGHT HERE. SO JASON SIGNS. WHEREAS ON JUNE 2ND, 2013 JASON SIGNS WAS BORN IN MCALLEN, 
          [00:10:01]
TEXAS, TO ANNA KAREN GARZA AND JERRY SIGNS. AND WHEREAS AT AN EARLY AGE, JASON SHOWED A STRONG INTEREST IN SPORTS, AT JUST FIVE YEARS OLD, HE BEGAN PLAYING VARIOUS ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES, QUICKLY DEVELOPING A DEEP LOVE FOR COMPETITION AND PHYSICAL EXCELLENCE. AND WHEREAS, JASON HAS PLAYED FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL AND BASEBALL FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURGH AND HAS ALSO BEEN A PART OF THE VALLEY TRACK CLUB, IN WHICH HE REPRESENTED THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY AT THE TEXAS AMATEUR ATHLETIC FEDERATION SUMMER GAMES 2025, WHEREAS ON AUGUST 1ST, 2025, DURING THE STATE TRACK MEET PRELIMINARIES WITH A TIME OF 11.82 SECONDS IN THE 100 METER DASH DASH, JASON BROKE A STATE RECORD THAT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1991, AND WHEREAS ONE OF JASON'S MOST OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS WAS WINNING THE STATE TRACK MEET HELD IN COLLEGE STATION ON AUGUST 3RD, 2025, JASON EARNED A GOLD MEDAL IN THE 100 METER DASH AND A SILVER MEDAL IN THE 200 METER DASH IN THE 12 U DIVISION. AND WHEREAS HIS VICTORY NOT ONLY REFLECTED HIS SPEED AND STRENGTH ON THE TRACK, BUT ALSO SYMBOLIZED YEARS OF HARD WORK, JASON WAS ALSO A PART OF THE EDINBURG PARKS AND RECREATION 1112 BASEBALL TEAM THAT WON THE DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2025. AND WHEREAS JASON IS A REMARKABLE AND DETERMINED YOUNG STUDENT WHO CONTINUES TO MAKE WAVES BOTH ACADEMICALLY AND ATHLETICALLY. CURRENTLY A PROUD STUDENT AT BL GARZA MIDDLE SCHOOL, JASON EXEMPLIFIES THE QUALITIES OF DEDICATION, PERSEVERANCE, AND LEADERSHIP, AND AS A MEMBER ON THE STUDENT COUNCIL OF GARZA MIDDLE SCHOOL, HE IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO BEING A ROLE MODEL AMONGST HIS PEERS, WHETHER ENCOURAGING HIS CLASSMATES TO PUSH THROUGH TOUGH CHALLENGES OR SETTING AN EXAMPLE THROUGH HIS ACTIONS, JASON HOPES TO INSPIRE OTHERS TO BELIEVE IN THEIR POTENTIAL AND STRIVE FOR GREATNESS. AND WHEREAS THE EDINBURGH CITY COUNCIL RECOGNIZES AND CELEBRATES JASON'S DETERMINATION AND ACHIEVEMENTS AND WISHES HIM SUCCESS IN HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS, NOW, THEREFORE, THE MAYOR COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG, TEXAS, BY THE POWER VESTED IN THEM BY LAW, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE JASON SIGNS, A TALENTED STUDENT ATHLETE FOR HIS ACHIEVEMENTS AND PHENOMENAL PERFORMANCE. I KNOW YOU MAY BE A LITTLE SHY, BUT THIS IS ON THE RECORD FOREVER. OKAY, SO YOU COULD SAY WHATEVER YOU LIKE TO SAY, BUT CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND, YOU KNOW, TO THE FAMILY. YOU'RE WELCOME TO SAY ANYTHING YOU LIKE. NOT NOT A REQUIREMENT, BUT WELL, LET ME. I KNOW JASON VERY WELL. I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM IN YEARS. I HAD THE HONOR TO COACH HIM. IT WAS. WAS IT FLAG FOOTBALL? YES. WE WERE. THE MIGHTY DUCKS HAD A LOT OF BEGINNERS. I THINK IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TIMES HE EVER PLAYED IT HAD. HOW OLD ARE YOU NOW, JASON? 13. 12. YOU'RE 12. SO IT HAD TO BE AT LEAST 4 OR 5 YEARS AGO, RIGHT. SO HE WAS SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS OLD BACK THEN. I SAW THE DRIVE IN HIM. WE'D GIVE HIM THE BALL AND HE WOULD JUST BARREL THROUGH EVERYONE. THE COMPETITIVE NATURE WAS THERE AND I THINK WE CONTINUED ON WITH SOCCER. RIGHT. DID WE DO SOCCER ALSO SOMETHING BASEBALL. 
          BASEBALL. YEAH. AND SO I THINK I ALSO COACHED HIM AND I WAS GOING THROUGH FACEBOOK AND I SEE THIS CHAMP AND I SEE THE NAME AND I HAD TO ASK MY WIFE AND MY SON, IS THIS JASON, BECAUSE I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM IN YEARS. AND WHEN I SAW THAT, I REALIZED IT WAS HIM. AND HE'S HAD THE DRIVE SINCE HE WAS SUCH A LITTLE, LITTLE, LITTLE ATHLETE. AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PARENTS. 
          THEY WERE ALWAYS THERE, INVOLVED. IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAVE THESE PROGRAMS. THANKS, COACH TO PARKS AND REC, THE DEPARTMENTS, A LOT OF CITIES DON'T HAVE THIS THING AND DON'T EVEN COMPETE STATEWIDE. AND FOR HIM TO GO AND BREAK A STATE RECORD AS AS AN EIGHTH OR SEVENTH GRADER, WHAT ARE YOU KNOW, HE WAS IN SIXTH GRADE SIXTH GRADER. YEAH. ALL THAT ALL THE PARKS AND REC. YOU DON'T DEVELOP THESE KIND OF ATHLETES IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE PROGRAMS FROM A YOUNG, YOUNG AGE. AND SO PLAYING LITTLE LEAGUE, PLAYING FLAG FOOTBALL, ALL THIS LED TO THAT RING ON HIS FINGER AND THAT MEDAL AROUND HIS CHEST. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYONE THAT DOES THIS. YOUR PARENTS CONGRATULATIONS. JUST SAY A FEW WORDS. TELL OTHER OTHER ATHLETES WHAT THEY SHOULD DO IF THEY WANT TO BE RECOGNIZED AND COME OUT ON TOP. YES, SIR. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT. AND YOU KNOW, THE DETERMINATION. AND WE'RE WORKING HARD ALL THE TIME, RIGHT? YES, SIR. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I'VE HONESTLY KNOWN YOU ALL FOR YEARS. AND, MAN, YOU WERE SUCH A YOUNG, YOUNG MAN. NOW, SEEING YOU, YOU'RE ALMOST BIGGER THAN ME. BY NEXT YEAR, I'M SURE THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. AND FASTER AND FASTER AND ALL THAT. 
          BUT I TRULY BELIEVE YOUR DRIVE COMES FROM YOUR FIRST NAME, SO. WE'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE FAMILY, MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN, WE JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT AND THE RECOGNITION, ABOVE ALL, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A JOURNEY AND HE WORKS REALLY HARD AND IT'S CONSTANT. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR HAVING US. AND WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. AND I DO WANT TO SAY I REMEMBER MENTIONING TO COACH, I'VE GOT THIS LITTLE THIS LITTLE STUD RUNNING BACK. AND COACH TOLD ME HIS DAD WAS A HECK OF AN ATHLETE HERE IN EDINBURG, RIGHT? YEAH, 
          [00:15:04]
YEAH, YEAH, COACH TOLD ME ABOUT THAT. SO GREAT JOB. HE RUNS IN THE GYM AND WISH YOU ALL THE BEST OF LUCK. NOT ONLY THIS SCHOOL YEAR, BUT AS YOU, YOU KNOW, MOVE ON. AND IT'S JUST BEGINNING. SO YOU KNOW GREAT JOB. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE HAVE A PRESENTATION OF EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH. 
          [C. Present the Recipient of the Employee of the Month Award for the Month of July 2025. [Erica A.]
PRESENT THE RECIPIENT OF THE EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH AWARD FOR THE MONTH OF JULY 2025. ARE THEY HERE? YES. YES. GOOD EVENING. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MARIBEL VELAZQUEZ, COURT ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE MUNICIPAL COURT. JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF WORDS FOR MISS NORMA. I KNOW THAT SHE WAS AWARDED A FEW WEEKS AGO FOR EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH. NORMA HAS HAS BEEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT FOR OVER TWO YEARS, AND THROUGHOUT THE TIME SHE HAS DEMONSTRATED HER DEDICATION TO THE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY, SHE HAS PROVEN TO BE ABLE TO WORK WELL WITH A GROUP OF COLLEAGUES AND OFFER EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. SHE TREATS EVERYONE WITH HUMILITY AND COMPASSION. PUBLIC SERVICE IS NOT EASY, BUT MISS NORMA HAS MADE IT EASY FOR HERSELF BY HER DETERMINATION AND DEDICATION. WE APPRECIATE HER FAMILY ALLOWING US TO WORK WITH YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION. THANK YOU, MISS NORMA. THANK YOU. WELL, I'M NEWER THAN MISS NORMA AND SHE HAS TRULY BEEN A STANDOUT PERSON AT THE COURT. I KNOW THAT WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR HARD WORK, NORMA. WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE EXAMPLE THAT YOU SET. AND WHAT A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE TO YOUR FOUR GIRLS THAT ARE HERE. IT IS TRULY A TESTAMENT TO YOUR HARD WORK, TO YOUR DEDICATION, NOT ONLY TO YOURSELF, BUT TO YOUR FAMILY AND TO YOUR COMMUNITY AND THIS COMMUNITY. AND SO WE'RE VERY PROUD THAT THE EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH AWARD WENT TO YOU. AND IT'S SOMEBODY FROM THE MUNICIPAL COURT. SO CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. HEY, Y'ALL NEED A SMILE COMING OUT OF TV. SO YOU'RE WELCOME TO SAY YOU KNOW, ANYTHING YOU LIKE. BUT CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. YOU KNOW, THIS IS OUR CITY IS THRIVES AND DOES AS GOOD AS IT DOES AS EMPLOYEES LIKE YOU. AND SO WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO FOR OUR CITY AND LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUED SUCCESS HERE IN OUR CITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. 
          THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. HOW ARE YOU? LOOK AT THIS STRANGER DANGER. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. HI. THANK YOU I STRUGGLED ONE. OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. 
          SHE TOLD EVERYBODY? NOPE. SHE TOLD EVERYBODY? NOPE. SHE'S SO CUTE. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON NOW TO ITEM SIX. PUBLIC COMMENTS. YES, SIR. MAYOR. THE EDINBURGH CITY COUNCIL ALLOWS A SPECIFIC PORTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO BE DEDICATED TO 
          [6. PUBLIC COMMENTS]
PUBLIC COMMENTS. PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES. I'LL BE TAKING TIME. PLEASE NOTE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOT INTERACTIVE. THE COUNCIL MAY NOT RESPOND TO PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME. COUNCIL. THERE ARE TEN PUBLIC COMMENTS. THE FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT IS YASMIN CORONADO REGARDING CITY LIGHTS AND AVAILABILITY TO PAY BILL ON SATURDAYS IN PERSON. OKAY, COME ON UP. GOOD EVENING GENTLEMEN. WELL, AS THE LADY SAID, I HAVE TWO COMMENTS. ONE OF THEM IS DRIVING AT NIGHT, AT LEAST FOR ME AND FROM OTHER PEOPLE AROUND MY AGE. IT'S KIND OF HARD BECAUSE OF THE LIGHTING. THE LIGHTING ON THE STREETS IS SO POOR, ESPECIALLY. UNIVERSITY 
          [00:20:06]
DRIVE. MCCALL, JACKSON. IN THAT AREA. IT IS. IT IS HARD TO SEE WHEN I'M DRIVING. AND MY OTHER QUESTION IS PAYING THE BILLS. PAYING THE BILLS BY PHONE. IT INCREASED. THERE IS A FEE. AND I DID MY NUMBERS. AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE PAYING BY PHONE BUT THAN PAYING LATE. SO I'M LIKE OKAY, FINANCIALLY WISE, I GUESS IT'S EASIER TO PAY LATE, BUT OTHER THAT AFFECTS THE CREDIT. AND MY QUESTION TO YOU IS IF IT IS POSSIBLE THAT YOU CAN AT LEAST OPEN THE WINDOWS ON SATURDAYS, JUST IN THE MORNINGS, SO PEOPLE WHO WORK FROM 8 TO 5 CAN HAVE THOSE EXTRA HOURS TO COME AND MAKE THE PAYMENTS. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS JAIME. YALLA. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. JAIME WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AS YOU HEARD MENTIONED EARLIER, AND WE ALL KNOW IN OUR ANTICIPATING AUGUST 30TH, A WEEK FROM SATURDAY IS OUR INAUGURAL FOOTBALL GAME WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY. AND HOW DOES THAT AFFECT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT? WELL, WE'RE GOING TO BE PART OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY PLAN WE'RE PLANNING WITH UTRGV. AND WITH THAT, JUST LIKE WE DID FOR OUR 100 YEAR, WE CREATED AN INAUGURAL COMMEMORATIVE BADGE AND A COIN. AND SO WE SHARE THAT WITH YOU AS WE DID BEFORE, SO THAT YOU CAN COMMEMORATE YOUR ROLE WHEN WE STARTED FOOTBALL IN EDINBURG AS WELL. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU TONIGHT HERE AT OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING, AS WE GET READY AND PREPARE FOR AUGUST 30TH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS BRANDON ALANIS REGARDING PROSTATE CANCER EVENT. GOOD EVENING. MAYOR, COUNCIL MANAGEMENT ANALYST WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. JUST WANTED TO INFORM THE PUBLIC THAT THE CITY OF EDINBURG WILL BE HOSTING A FREE PROSTATE CANCER WELLNESS EVENT ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND FROM 10 A.M. TO 1 P.M. THIS WILL BE HELD AT THE ACE CENTER, LOCATED AT 315 WEST MCINTYRE STREET. THE EVENT WILL OFFER FREE PSA TESTING ON SITE WHILE SUPPLIES LAST, AS WELL AS WELLNESS CHECKS AND A PANEL PRESENTATION ON PROSTATE HEALTH. THE CITY STRONGLY URGES ALL MEN, PARTICULARLY THOSE OVER THE AGE OF 40 OR WITH A FAMILY HISTORY OF PROSTATE CANCER, TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS FREE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TESTED ONCE AGAIN. THAT IS SEPTEMBER 2ND AT THE ACE FROM 10 A.M. TO 1 P.M. 
          AND LASTLY, WE'D LIKE TO THANK OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO HELP MAKE THIS EVENT POSSIBLE. OF COURSE, THE CITY OF EDINBURG, DOCTORS HOSPITAL, RENAISSANCE SOUTH TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEMS, HIDALGO COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, NUESTRA CLINICA DE VALLE, UT HEALTH, RIO GRANDE VALLEY, AND OF COURSE, THE EDINBURG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS MR. ANTEATER TAXES AND PARKING GARAGE DOWNTOWN. GOOD EVENING, DIANE TEETER. I HAVE TO SAY THAT I HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH THE $0.01 TAX REVENUE DECREASE PROPOSED BY A CITIZEN EARLIER, AND I AGREE WITH THE TAX REVENUE BUDGET THAT WAS APPROVED UP UNTIL NOW BY THE CITY. I THINK THAT WE SHOULD INVEST IN ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY. THEY ARE HUMAN CAPITAL. I THINK THAT WE SHOULD HONOR THAT $15 HOUR MINIMUM WAGE. AND ACTUALLY, I THINK 3% INCREASE FOR POLICE AND FIRE ARE ACTUALLY INSUFFICIENT. I THINK WE SHOULD INVEST IN OUR CITY DUE TO UNCERTAIN TIMES. A PREVIOUS COMMENTER MENTIONED THAT THE TEXAS SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMS WERE UNFUNDED, CAUSING HUNGER TO OUR CHILDREN, BUT THIS IS ACTUALLY DUE TO TRUMP FUNDING REVIEW, WHICH WAS DELAYING THAT FUNDING. WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT SNAP CUTS IN THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BETRAYAL. BILL. I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE LONG TERM INVESTMENTS NEEDED AS OUR GOLF COURSES BECAUSE WE NEED GREEN 
          [00:25:06]
SPACES, GREEN DRAINAGE, LOWER TEMPERATURES IN OUR COMMUNITY AND A HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE. I THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK AND FOR THIS BUDGET, AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THE BUDGET WITH THE TAXES AS SUBMITTED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS MR. MCCLARTY REGARDING TAXPAYERS MONEY. AS YOU SEE, I DO NOT GET PERSONAL. 
          I TALK TO YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE OWLS HAVE COMPLETED INTERVIEWING ALL INDIVIDUALS RUNNING FOR POSITIONS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL. I WISH TO EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION FOR ALLOWING US TO MEET IN THIS FACILITY. ALL THE PARTICIPANTS AGREED TO MEET WITH US AND THE PUBLIC WAS INVITED. OUR OBJECTIVE WAS TO NOT ONLY TO ASK QUESTIONS, BUT TO PROVIDE INFORMATION. IN OUR OPINION, THERE ARE VERY FEW CANDIDATES WHO UNDERSTAND THE FINANCIAL CONDITIONS OF THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE REDUCING SPENDING A PART OF THEIR CAMPAIGN. FOR EXAMPLE, THE CITY RESIDENTS PAY TAXES TO SIX BODIES. THE COUNTY AND THE SCHOOL ARE THE HIGHEST, AND THEY WILL INCREASE AND TAKE MORE FROM THE PEOPLE EACH YEAR. EDINBURG. THE TAX RATE IS $0.63 PER $100. 
          THE MCALLEN RATE IS 46. THE WATER RATE HAS INCREASED BY 67% BY THE TIME IT IS FINISHED. THE MINIMUM RESIDENT OR RESIDENT WATER RATE IN EDINBURG IS ABOUT $40 A MONTH. EDINBURG HAS AUTHORIZED THE SALE OF $9.2 MILLION IN BONDS FOR SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT. THAT WILL COST 5.5 TO PAY BACK. NOT A GOOD DEAL. IT IS ANTICIPATED THIS COUNCIL WILL AUTHORIZE THE SALE OF ADDITIONAL BONDS BECAUSE OF THE HIGH RISK RISE PARKING FACILITY AND THE RELOCATION OF UTILITIES FOR THE WIDENING OF I-69. NONE OF THE CANDIDATES WERE INTERVIEWED INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD SUPPORT THE REDUCED RATE OF $0.63. BUT LET ME SAY THIS LOUD AND CLEAR THIS CITY COUNCIL HAS TO REDUCE THE SPENDING. WE WILL NOT SUPPORT ANY CANDIDATE WHO INTENDS TO SELL BONDS AS A WAY OF GENERATING FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR HIS CAMPAIGN. IF A CANDIDATE SAYS HE WILL REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THE CITY TAKES FROM THE PUBLIC, WE NEED TO VOTE FOR THEM. AND TODAY THE TAX RATE IS $0.63. THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX WITH THE MAN TALKED A FEW MINUTES AGO IS TO DO THAT ONE TO MAKE THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY, BRINGING IT IN TO THE CITY BECAUSE OF THE NEW BUILDING, THE NEW COMMERCIAL, THE NEW HOMES IS 58, 35, $0.58. SO ACTUALLY YOU COULD LOWER IT ONE PENNY OR HALF A PENNY AND STILL HAVE MORE MONEY THAN YOU HAD LAST YEAR. SO THIS IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AND ASKING ABOUT THE TO HELP. AND LIKE I SAID, THE CHILDREN ARE HAVING THANK GOD THEY'RE BACK IN SCHOOL. SO NOW THEY'RE GETTING IT IN THE IN THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS INSTEAD OF HAVING TO PICK IT UP. SO THINK ABOUT THIS. TODAY THEY VOTED TO PUT YOU IN PLACE AND YOU'RE VOTING TO TAKE POSSIBLY THEIR HOMES AWAY BECAUSE IT KEEPS GOING UP. YOU'RE JUST ONE TAXING ENTITY. 
          WE HAVE SIX. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. MISS MCCURDY HAS QUESTIONS ON ITEMS SEVEN EIGHT. 
          TEN A AND TEN B. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS JACQUELINE BIAS LUGO POLITICS AND CITIZENS CONCERN. 
          HI. GOOD EVENING AGAIN. MY NAME IS JACQUELINE. I LIVE HERE IN EDINBURGH. I KNOW WE'RE IN ELECTION SEASON. I KNOW BECAUSE I SEE YOUR FACES EVERYWHERE. I CAN GET AWAY FROM IT. SO. BUT I'M A CITIZEN. THERE'S SOME THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS TO YOU GUYS. FOR EXAMPLE, EDINBURGH HAS WATER CONTAMINATION, PFAS, PFAS. SO WHAT IS THAT? THE EPA DATA SHOWS THAT THERE'S MORE AND MORE TOWNS THAT HAVE THESE WATER CHEMICAL. LET ME SEE WHAT IT'S CALLED RIGHT HERE. IT'S CALLED SORRY. IT'S CALLED THE FOREVER CHEMICAL. BASICALLY IT'S MAN MADE CHEMICAL THAT'S BEEN AROUND SINCE THE 1940S. IT'S CALLED FOREVER CHEMICALS BECAUSE THEY ARE HIGHLY PERSISTENT IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND THEY DON'T EASILY BREAK DOWN OVER TIME. 
          SOME OF THESE CHEMICALS CAN BRING DISEASES, FOR EXAMPLE, IMMUNE SYSTEM TOXICITY, HIGH CHOLESTEROL, REPRODUCTIVE ISSUES, ENDOCRINE SYSTEM AND CERTAIN CANCERS. HOW DO WE GET 
          [00:30:01]
THOSE THINGS FROM OUR DRINKING WATER? AND IN THE EPA MAP YOU CAN PUT YOUR CITY, YOU CAN PUT YOUR ADDRESS AND THERE'S THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. NOW I READ ALSO THE WATER REPORT FROM THE CITY DOESN'T REALLY MENTION THESE. AND I'M NOT TRYING TO SCARE PEOPLE. I'M JUST SAYING PEOPLE NEED TO BE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON. AND ALSO THE CANDIDATES AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS IN THE AGENDA. AND ALSO WHEN YOU'RE DOING YOUR LITTLE POLITICKING AND STUFF LIKE THAT, I WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO ASK YOU QUESTIONS LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, IS MY WATER SAFE TO DRINK? SO I'M JUST TRYING TO WAKE UP PEOPLE THAT NOT EVERYTHING IS NICE. THERE'S PROBLEMS BEHIND THE SCENES THAT YOU NEED TO BE AWARE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU MA'AM. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS GILBERTO ORTIZ. TALK ABOUT SECURITY AT CITY HALL. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT SECURITY IN THIS BUILDING. AND THE REASON THAT I GOT CAUGHT UP IN THIS SUBJECT, WHICH IS TAKING A LOT OF MY TIME TALKING TO THIS PERSON, TALKING TO THAT PERSON IS BECAUSE IT IS A VERY, VERY SERIOUS SUBJECT, AND IT AFFECTS EVERYBODY. THAT'S EVERYBODY THAT'S IN HERE. WHAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT AFFECTS YOU. I CAME TO CITY HALL FRIDAY A WEEK AGO, AND I WAS CARRYING A KNIFE IN MY POCKET THAT WAS VISIBLE. IT HAD A CLIP HALFWAY TO THE BUILDING. I REALIZED I HAD THE KNIFE. I THOUGHT IF I HAD WALKED INTO CITY HALL WITH THIS KNIFE, SECURITY WOULD HAVE TAKEN IT. AND THEN I'M ON THE WAY OUT. THE GUARD WENT TO LUNCH. I CAN'T GET MY KNIFE BACK, WHATEVER. BUT WHEN I WALK IN, THERE'S NO GUARD THERE. NOW. 
          I COULD HAVE WALKED IN WITH A KNIFE RIGHT THROUGH THERE, AND I GO INTO THE LOBBY AND SAY, WHERE THE HECK IS SECURITY? THERE WAS NO SECURITY, BUT THERE WAS A CLUSTER OF MOSTLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN AT THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE. DEATH CERTIFICATE, WINDOWS. AND I THOUGHT, IF I'M AN ILL MINDED, MENTALLY DISTURBED PERSON WITH A KNIFE WITH A FOUR INCH SERRATED AND STRAIGHT EDGE, I COULD GO GET IN THE MIDDLE OF THOSE WOMEN AND CHILDREN. AND I MEAN, WE ALL KNOW A WOMAN WITH A CHILD IS NOT GOING TO RUN VERY FAST. I COULD HAVE HURT A LOT OF PEOPLE. SO I THOUGHT, I WANT TO SEE HOW BAD THIS IS. SO I SAT DOWN IN ONE OF THOSE WAITING CHAIRS, DESKS, WHATEVER YOU CALL IT. STILL NO SECURITY GUARD FOR 15 MINUTES. THERE WAS NOT A SECURITY GUARD VISIBLE. THEN THE GENTLEMAN SHOWS UP AND HE'S WALKING AROUND. BUT HE NEVER COMES TO THE TO THE DOOR. SO I CONCLUDED, THERE'S NO SECURITY AT THE DOOR. WELL, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED. 
          SECURITY. AND THIS GENTLEMAN WAS NOT CARRYING ANY WEAPON. ALL HE HAD WAS SECURITY ON HIS CAPS. 
          SECURITY BADGE ON HIS SHIRT. SO I THOUGHT, I CAN'T LET THIS GO. I AM 82 YEARS OLD. I CANNOT DEFEND MYSELF. I NEED SOMEBODY HERE TO DEFEND ME. SO I ASKED FOR THE CITY SECRETARY, AND THEY SENT OUT THE ASSISTANT. I THINK HIS NAME IS JOE. I WENT THROUGH THE WHOLE SPIEL AND I SAID, WOULD YOU PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT CITY MANAGER MYRA AYALA IS AWARE OF WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT? HE SAID, YES, SIR, I'LL GET THE WORD UP. I WAS SO CONCERNED I WENT STRAIGHT TO THE POLICE STATION AND THERE WAS AN OFFICER NAMED RAMIREZ. FORTUNATELY, THEY HAVE SOMEBODY AT THE POLICE STATION THAT WILL GREET YOU. YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PHONE TO TRY TO GET A DEPARTMENT. AND I ASKED FOR A SERGEANT TO TRY NOT TO NOT MAKE THE STORY REAL LONG BECAUSE MY TIME IS OVER. YES IT IS. OKAY. WE HAVE A CLASS TWO SECURITY. WE NEED A CLASS THREE SOMEBODY WITH A WITH A GUN THAT CAN PROTECT US. AND WE BETTER GET ON THAT REAL FAST. I APPRECIATE IT. 
          THANK YOU. BY THE WAY, JASON DE LEON, RAMIRO GARZA, THE CHIEF OF POLICE, WERE ALL AVAILABLE TO TALK TO ME ABOUT IT, AND MYRA KNOWS ABOUT IT. SO THIS IS NOT WHEN THEY'RE IN THE POST. THEY DON'T LISTEN TO YOU. THEY ALL LISTEN TO ME. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU, MR. ORTIZ. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS MARIA TERESA RAMIREZ CANTU. REGARDING THE PLANNING ZONING DEPARTMENT AND THE CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING MAYOR. GOOD EVENING. WELL, I'M HERE. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH PLANNING AND ZONING. I'VE BEEN LIVING IN THE SAME SUBDIVISION FOR 30 YEARS, AND FOR THREE YEARS WE'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS. WE HAVE ILLEGAL CARPORTS. AND WHY DO I SAY ILLEGAL? BECAUSE THE PERSON WHO 
          [00:35:01]
GIVES THE PERMITS IS JUST DISMISSING UDC. YOU. I MEAN, NOW I'M IN MERSIN UDC STUDYING AND EVERYTHING IS REALLY WELL SPELLED OUT. NO CARPORTS IN THE FRONT EASEMENT OF THE CONSTRUCTION AND CARPORTS ARE SPROUTING ALL OVER MY AUDITION BECAUSE ONE IS GIVEN AND THEN NOW EVERYBODY HAS ONE, WHICH I HAVE TO THANK JAIME ACEVEDO BECAUSE HE DOESN'T KNOW THE UDC. 
          SEE, NOW HE'S OPENING HIS HE ALREADY GAVE A PERMIT TO A WOMAN ACROSS MY HOUSE. SHE GETS 15, 10 TO 15 CARS DAILY FOR HAIRCUTS. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS HAIRCUTS OR WHAT IS SHE SAYING RIGHT THERE. 
          SHE HAS A LOT. SO ON AUGUST THE 4TH, I WAS CHECKING MY MAILBOX AND ONE OF HER CUSTOMERS ALMOST HIT ME BECAUSE SHE HAS SO MUCH CUSTOMERS AND I GAVE HER A COMMERCIAL PERMIT IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. HE TOLD ME HE LIED TO ME, THAT HE HASN'T GIVEN A ON. ON THE EIGHTH, HE TOLD ME IN FRONT OF THE MAYOR AND MYRA, WE HAD A MEETING THAT HE JUST GAVE THE REQUIREMENTS TO THE WOMAN, AND THEN I GOT THE OPEN RECORDS THAT THE LADY ALREADY THE WOMAN ALREADY HAS A PERMIT GIVEN TO HER ON JULY 15TH, MORE OR LESS AT THAT AGE, BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET THE PERMIT, WE ONLY GOT AN EMAIL FROM SAAVEDRA FROM CODE ENFORCEMENT, WHICH IS NOT EVEN RELATED TO THAT SECTION OF PERMITS, THAT THE WOMAN HAS A PERMIT. THOSE PICTURES, THE PHOTOS YOU'RE LOOKING AT THERE, IT'S JUST TWO WEEKS. MY PHONE IS FULL OF PHOTOS OF CARS THAT COME IN AND OUT, IN AND OUT, IN AND OUT. WE DON'T NEED WE ALREADY. OUR PROPERTY VALUES ARE DOWN, OUR PEACE OF MIND. PEOPLE STRANGE COME TO OUR SUBDIVISION. WE CANNOT WALK ON THE STREET. THIS WOMAN DOES NOT HAVE A HOME OCCUPATION AND HOME OCCUPATION IN 2.20 22 IS FORBIDDEN, IS PROHIBITED. WE ARE A RESIDENTIAL, URBAN AND UDC 2.20 2-2I WILL BE I WILL BE EMAILING YOU THIS LETTER TO THE COUNCILMAN. MYRA AND THE MAYOR ALREADY HAVE IT. SEE. AND RIGHT HERE TALKS ABOUT. I'M UNDERLINING THAT NO CARPORTS ARE ALLOWED. I'M UNDER MY OWN UNDERLINING ALSO THAT SHE NEEDED HE NEEDED TO GIVE US A VARIANCE NOTIFICATION, BUT WE DIDN'T GET ANYTHING. THANK YOU. NADA. ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU. I NEED ACCOUNTABILITY AND I KNOW THAT THANK YOU COUNCIL. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS MR. MONTOYA REGARDING ALVAREZ CORTES. MAYOR GARZA. JERRY AND THEN DIAZ, COWBOY SALAZAR AND JASON. I DON'T KNOW WHY. EVERY TIME I COME HERE, IT RAINS. I DON'T I REALLY HONESTLY, BUT ANYHOW. I DO WANT TO APOLOGIZE WHEN I CROSS THE LINE. THE LAST TIME I DID, THEY CALLED ME UP. THEY'RE FROM AUSTIN, TEXAS. THEY SAY, WHY DID YOU DO THAT? OBEY. TO MENTION THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND HIS SISTER. AND I PARDON THAT I COME HERE BEFORE YOU TO APOLOGIZE. BEING THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, WHEN SOME CITY COUNCIL MEMBER TRIES TO LOBBY AGAINST FERN, WHICH I ASKED YOU TO PLEASE NOT DEFEND HER, GO AGAINST HER. THIS LADY HAS TAUGHT ME MORE THAN SOME UT AUSTIN PROFESSORS. WHEN I WENT TO ENGINEERING SCHOOL. SO IF ANYONE. DOES LOBBY OR COACH SOME OTHER LADY WEARING A FEDORA HAT, WE'LL SEE YOU AT THE POLLS. BUT AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE, MAYOR, BUT HE DID TO YOU, YOUR MOM AND ALL YOUR FAMILY. PLEASE. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. THANK YOU SIR. NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS PATRICK ROBERTS. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND ESTEEMED 
          [00:40:10]
COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY, AND AN HONOR TO SERVE THE HARD WORKING PEOPLE OF TEXAS. AS THE DEPUTY DISTRICT DIRECTOR FOR CONGRESSWOMAN MONICA DE LA CRUZ, THE FIRST HISPANIC REPUBLICAN WOMAN ELECTED TO REPRESENT OUR GREAT STATE OF TEXAS. DURING HER FIRST TERM, CONGRESSWOMAN DELA CRUZ SUCCESSFULLY PASSED SIX PIECES OF LEGISLATION OFF THE HOUSE FLOOR. OF THESE SIX PIECES, HER VERY FIRST BILL, H.R. 1076, PREVENTING THE FINANCING OF ILLEGAL SYNTHETIC DRUGS ACT, WAS SIGNED INTO LAW, BECOMING THE FIRST PIECE OF PASSED LEGISLATION FROM TEXAS CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 15 SINCE 2006. EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE CONGRESSWOMAN ALSO PASSED THE BIPARTISAN DISABLED VETERANS HOUSING SUPPORT ACT, EXPANDING HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR OUR VETERANS. THANKS TO HER TIRELESS ADVOCACY, WE SAW ANOTHER MAJOR WIN. THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT HAS FINALLY AGREED TO DELIVER UP TO 420,000 ACRE FEET OF WATER TO TEXAS. THIS AGREEMENT WILL PROVIDE CRUCIAL WATER RELIEF TO SOUTH TEXAS THROUGH OCTOBER, AND THE CONGRESSWOMAN IS ACTIVELY WORKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION TO PURSUE A LONG TERM SOLUTION WHEN IT COMES TO TEXAS AGRICULTURE. SHE'S LEADING THE CHARGE AS THE THREAT OF NEW WORLD SCREWWORM MOVES NORTHWARD FROM MEXICO. SHE'S ACTED DECISIVELY TO PROTECT OUR RANCHERS AND FARMERS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH USDA SECRETARY BROOKE ROLLINS, SHE HELPED ESTABLISH A NEW FACILITY RIGHT HERE IN TEXAS TO STOP THE SPREAD OF THIS DEVASTATING PARASITE HERE IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH AND ACROSS THE DISTRICT. OUR TEAM IS WORKING HARD EVERY DAY TO DELIVER RESULTS. IN HER FIRST TERM, CONGRESSWOMAN DELA CRUZ SECURED MORE THAN $7 MILLION FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURGH AND ITS RESIDENTS, FUNDING THREE MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. ADDITIONALLY, WE'VE HELPED SAVE OVER $9 MILLION FOR CONSTITUENTS THROUGHOUT CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 15 WHILE ASSISTING OVER 700 CONSTITUENTS WITH THEIR FEDERAL NEEDS. WHETHER YOU'RE NAVIGATING THESE ISSUES WITH SOCIAL SECURITY, THE VA AND THE IRS, WE'RE HERE TO HELP. PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO REACH OUT IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW NEEDS ASSISTANCE WITH FEDERAL AGENCY, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR. GENTLEMEN, I THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND THE OUTSTANDING WORK THAT YOU DO EVERY DAY FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURG AND ITS RESIDENTS. GOD BLESS. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. THE LAST PUBLIC COMMENT IS JAIME ACEVEDO. GOOD EVENING. COUNCIL MAYOR, PLANNING AND ZONING DIRECTOR. I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT THERE'S AN EMAIL GOING OUT TO SOME OF THE APPLICANTS OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT. SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE APPLIED FOR REZONINGS, SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE APPLYING FOR VARIANCES ARE GETTING A SCAM FROM A GENTLEMAN OR INDIVIDUAL CLAIMING TO BE THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. THEY'RE ASKING FOR $5,000, AND THERE'S INSTRUCTIONS FOR THEM TO WIRE THE MONEY TO A SPECIFIC EMAIL ADDRESS. I JUST WANT TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT THIS DOESN'T COME FROM THIS OFFICE OR THIS CITY. WE WOULD NEVER ASK SOMEBODY TO WIRE MONEY. I MEAN, WE TAKE OTHER FORMS OF PAYMENT, BUT DEFINITELY WE DON'T TAKE WIRE AS A FORM OF PAYMENT. SO JUST AN FYI, WE'RE GOING TO BE ALERTING SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALREADY APPLIED OF THE SCAM THAT WAY THAT THEY DON'T ACCIDENTALLY WIRE THESE PEOPLE MONEY. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. NO FURTHER COMMENTS. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. THAT BEING THE CASE, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM SEVEN, PUBLIC HEARINGS. I'M GOING TO OPEN UP THE HEARING FOR ALL THREE OF THESE ITEMS AT THIS TIME. ITEMS A, B, AND C. SO IF YOU'RE HERE TO MAKE COMMENTS OR WANT TO ADDRESS ANY OF THESE ITEMS, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME TO THE PODIUM AT THIS TIME AND MAKE COMMENTS. THE HEARING IS NOW OPEN. GO AHEAD. YEAH, I WAS GOING TO I WAS GOING TO OPEN IT. 
          NOT SURE. OKAY. AGAIN, YOU KNOW THAT I ALWAYS COME ON VARIANTS AND EVERYTHING. I DON'T REALLY LIKE THEM BECAUSE USUALLY IT'S A DEVELOPER THAT Y'ALL SEEM TO SAY, OH, THIS IS WONDERFUL. AND I LIKE THIS ONE. I LIKE THE BACK UP ON IT. SO I'M ASKING Y'ALL TO PASS THIS. I DON'T KNOW WHO THE OWNERS ARE. I WAS HOPING THEY WOULD BE HERE TONIGHT. I LOOKED THE BACK UP AND I DON'T SEE A 
          [00:45:04]
PROBLEM CHANGING IT FROM COMMERCIAL FOR THEM TO HAVE A HOME. I'M ALWAYS FOR THE LITTLE GUY, WHICH IS WHAT I CALL ALL OF US THAT ARE NOT DEVELOPERS. SO PLEASE THINK ABOUT PASSING THIS. 
          THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WISHES TO COMMENT ON ANY ITEMS UNDER PUBLIC HEARINGS? ITEMS A, B AND C. HI. HI, I'M MARIA GONZALEZ. I'M ON NUMBER EIGHT. 
          EXCUSE ME. WE'RE GOING TO WE WANT TO BUILD A HOME THERE. WE CHANGED IT FROM COMMERCIAL TO RESIDENTIAL. AND I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF YOU GUYS COULD GIVE US PERMISSION TO STAY THERE WHILE WE'RE BUILDING. I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE TO DO AN AFFIDAVIT OR SOMETHING TO LIVE THERE WHILE IT'S GETTING BUILT. THAT'S. THAT WAS MY ONLY CONCERN. OKAY. WE'LL ADDRESS THAT IN A BIT. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND YOU ARE THE APPLICANT, CORRECT? THE APPLICANT. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WISH TO COMMENT? ANY ITEMS A, B AND C? IF NOT, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. SO WE'LL GO ONE BY ONE. ITEM A CONSIDER THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT FROM GENERAL COMMERCIAL USES TO SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL USES AND THE REZONING REQUEST FROM COMMERCIAL GENERAL DISTRICT TO RESIDENTIAL SUBURBAN DISTRICT, AS DESCRIBED LOCATED AT 124 COCOA LANE, AS REQUESTED BY MARIA GONZALEZ AND JORGE SEGOVIA. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. JUST WANTED TO QUESTION ANSWERED, I THINK, ABOUT BEING ABLE TO BE THERE WHILE THEY BUILD A HOME. YES, MA'AM. I THINK THE PROPERTY IS BIG ENOUGH TO WHERE SHE CAN KEEP THE MOBILE HOME THERE FOR NOW, AND THEN BUILD HER HOME. WE'LL GET WITH HER AND FOLLOW THE PROPER PROTOCOL SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN. GREAT. ALL RIGHT, NO PROBLEM. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE. 
          ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION PASSES. 
          CONGRATULATIONS, MAN. ITEM B CONSIDER VARIANCE REQUEST TO THE CITY. CITY OF EDINBURG. UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE ARTICLE FIVE, SECTION 5.207 EASEMENTS F ENCROACHMENTS AND REMOVAL OF ENCROACHMENTS FOR SITES ENCROACH INTO A 60 FOOT ACCESS AND UTILITY EASEMENT AS DESCRIBED. 
          LOCATED AT 2107 SOUTH MCCALL ROAD, AS REQUESTED BY A1 SKYLIGHT SIGNS. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES ITEM C CONSIDER VARIANCE REQUEST TO THE CITY OF EDINBURG UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE AS FOLLOWS ONE. ARTICLE FIVE, SECTION 5.207 EASEMENTS F ENCROACHMENTS AND REMOVAL ENCROACHMENTS FOR ASSIGNED TO ENCROACH INTO AN EASEMENT AND TO ARTICLE FOUR, SECTION 4.303 PERMANENT SIGNS FOR ASSIGNED TO EXCEED THE MAXIMUM SIZE PERMITTED AS DESCRIBED. LOCATED AT 1300 NORTH I 69 C AS REQUESTED BY ETHNIC GROUP, LLC. MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION, IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. MOVING ON TO ITEM EIGHT. AWARDING OF BIDS. ITEM A CONSIDER AWARDING BIDDER NUMBER 2025. DASH 24 WEST. INFRASTRUCTURE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO LONGHORN EXCAVATORS IN THE AMOUNT OF 5,000,889 690,060 $0.09, WHICH INCLUDES THE APPROVED ADDITIVE ALTERNATES, AND AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT RELATED THERETO. 
          COUNCIL. SO MOVED. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. MOVING ON TO ITEM NINE. 
          CONTRACTUAL A CONSIDER SELECTION OF AFFIRM AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CONTRACT FOR RFQ 2020 504, LIFT STATION NUMBER FOUR AND SEWER LINE UPGRADES. PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES MOVE TO APPROVE SUPREME ENGINEERING. 
          SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK ON THE PROJECT THIS IS UNDER THE LIFT STATION FOR LIFT STATION FOUR. TELL US EXACTLY WHERE THAT IS. YES, SIR. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, GERARDO CARMONA, DIRECTOR. UTILITIES. SO STATION FOUR IS JUST LOCATED NORTH OF SUGAR AND CHAPIN. OKAY. THAT'S THE ONE. OKAY. SO IT PICKED 
          [A. Consider Selection of a Firm and Authorize the City Manager to Negotiate a Professional Service]
PRETTY MUCH PICKS UP ALL THE WEST SIDE OF THE CITY. GOT IT. WHICH IS A MAJOR LIFT STATION. 
          GREAT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SIR. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. MOVING ON TO TEN BUDGET ITEMS. WE HAVE TWO ITEMS. ITEM A DISCUSSING. CONSIDER PROPOSED TAX RATE FOR THE CITY OF 
          [A. Discuss and Consider Proposed Tax Rate for the City of Edinburg for Fiscal Year Beginning October]
EDINBURG FOR FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026 AND SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING. I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED TAX RATE OF $0.63. WE HAVE A MOTION. IS THERE A SECON? SECOND? WE HAVE A SECOND. IT ALSO TALKS ABOUT SETTING A 
          [00:50:06]
PUBLIC HEARING. SO WHEN IS. WE EITHER NEED A SECOND MOTION OR AN AMENDMENT TO THAT. DOES IT. 
          DID THE MOTION NEED TO INCLUDE THE. YES. THE SCHEDULE? YES. AND WHAT DATE THAT WE CONSIDER OURSELVES. WE'RE RECOMMENDING SEPTEMBER 16TH. OKAY. HERE AT THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING. RIGHT. OKAY. SO DOES THE MOTION NEED TO BE AMENDED TO INCLUDE THAT IF THAT'S THE WISHES. SO LET ME GO AHEAD AND CHANGE AND AMEND IT. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED TAX RATE OF $0.63 AND THE PUBLIC HEARING BE SEPTEMBER 16TH. RIGHT. THAT'S THE DATE. YES, YES, THE SEPTEMBER 16TH. IS THAT CORRECT? IS THAT THE DATE? YES, YES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. OKAY. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I KNOW WE HAD A COMMENT. I THINK MISS FERN HAD A COMMENT ON THIS ITEM. OR LOWERED IT BY HALF THE. TO HELP EVERYONE. YEAH OKAY. 58 LET'S SAY IS 58.58 35. IT COULD BE BRING IN EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID WITH THE 63. SO WE JUST DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I GOT A COUPLE COMMENTS. MAYOR, I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT MAKING THE BUDGET SESSION. I THE STORM CAME IN AND HAD NO ONE TO PICK UP MY SON. BUT ON THAT, ON THAT RATE, I KNOW THAT THE DISCUSSION IS THE NO NEW TAX RATE. OF COURSE, THAT BRINGS DOWN THAT. THAT RATE KEEPS THE BUDGET THE SAME AS LAST YEAR. BUT IF WE CONSIDER THAT, THEN WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO COVER THE ALREADY NEGOTIATED TERMS WITH FIRE AND P.D. ON 3% RAISES ANNUALLY, PLUS SOME OF THE ARPA MONIES. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS DISCUSSED. SO THAT'S WHY I'M JUST GOING TO MENTION A FEW THINGS. SOME OF THE ARPA MONIES THAT WE'VE HAD SINCE COVID THAT HAVE NOW BEEN EXHAUSTED, WE HAVE TO PUT THAT IN OUR BUDGET TO COVER SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE ALLOCATED. COULD YOU TOUCH BRIEFLY ON THAT? YES, THAT IS CORRECT. THE PROPOSED TAX RATE OF $0.63, AS MISS FERN MENTIONED, THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE IS 0.5835. THAT WOULD BRING THE IN THE SAME REVENUE THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR. BUT IN A PERFECT WORLD THAT WOULD WORK. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CITY ALSO IS NOT EXEMPT FROM INFLATION. IS THAT INFLATION FROM SOME OF THE COMMITMENTS THAT ARE WITH MEETING CONFER AND WITH ANY OTHER COMMITMENT WITH WITH COPIERS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, RATES ARE GOING UP. ELECTRICITY PAY PLAN ADJUSTMENTS. SO TO MAINTAIN TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT THAT THE CITY PROVIDES. IT WOULD REQUIRE THAT AT THIS TIME IT WOULD REQUIRE THAT 0.63, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SAME SERVICES AND MEET THE CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS THAT THE CITY HAS AT THAT POINT, FIVE THREE, FIVE SO, SO IN A PERFECT WORLD, IT'D BE GREAT TO KEEP THE SAME REVENUE COMING IN AND KEEP IT AT THE NO NEW REVENUE. BUT REALISTICALLY, WE AS EVERYBODY'S EXPERIENCING THIS RATE INCREASES, THERE'S INFLATION, THERE'S TARIFFS, THERE'S. MANPOWER IS THERE'S RATE INCREASES IN IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AND EVERYTHING ELSE. SO THE .63 WOULD BE WHAT IT WOULD REQUIRE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES. AND WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED UNDER THE PROPOSED BUDGET. RIGHT. AND THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION. YOUR YOUR PROPOSED BALANCED BUDGET IS BASED ON THAT TAX RATE. IT IS. AND WE'RE DRAWING DOWN FUND BALANCE BY A LITTLE OVER 600,000. ALSO TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES. AND THE EARLIER MEETING WE DID NOT ACCEPT THE WE DID NOT VOTE ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET BALANCED BUDGET YET. CORRECT. THAT IS CORRECT. AND SO WE HAVE TO WE HAVE TO APPROVE THE RATE BEFORE WE APPROVE A BALANCED BUDGET. 
          THAT IS CORRECT TODAY. THIS IS A PROPOSED TAX RATE. THE ADOPTION WOULD BE CONSIDERED. AND THAT PROPOSED TAX RATE OR ANY OTHER TAX RATE ON SEPTEMBER 16TH THERE WOULD BE ANOTHER HEARING, PUBLIC HEARING. AND THEN THAT ON THAT DATE WE WOULD BE PROPOSED ADOPTING THE BUDGET. THANK YOU. 
          THAT'S ALL I HAD. AND I JUST WANT TO SIMPLY SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THINGS ARE GOING UP HERE IN, IN, IN OUR COMMUNITY, RIGHT. AND ANYWHERE YOU GO THINGS ARE GOING UP. PEOPLE BUY FOOD, FOOD'S GOING UP, ELECTRICITY IS GOING UP. THAT'S WHY WE GOT TO BE VERY CONSERVATIVE ON HOW WE DO OUR TAX RATE THIS YEAR. YOU KNOW, I IN A PERFECT WORLD I WOULD LOVE 
          [00:55:04]
TO DROP OUR TAX RATE. DEFINITELY. I'M PROUD THAT OUR ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN ABLE TO DROP OUR THE TAX RATE $0.05 SINCE WE'VE BEEN IN OFFICE. THAT'S UNHEARD OF. I DON'T THINK ANY OTHER COUNCIL HAS EVER DROPPED IT $0.05 IN A TERM. I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT. BUT IT'D BE VERY RESPONSIBLE FOR US TO GO ANY LOWER, KNOWING THAT THINGS ARE GOING UP AND KNOWING THAT THE GOAL IS TO GET TO $15 AN HOUR FOR OUR OUR EMPLOYEES AND THAT WAY WE CAN RETAIN THEM. AND SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO START WORKING TOWARDS THAT. AND LIKE WHAT MAYOR SAID EARLIER ABOUT THE $15 AN HOUR, BUT WHAT WE ALSO NEED TO DO, WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE CITY AND, AND I THINK STAYING PUT AT THE .63 CENTS IS THE BEST ROUTE TO GO THIS YEAR. IF I MAY COMMENT, OUR UPPER MANAGEMENT, OUR DIRECTORS, OUR STAFF, WE REALLY TRY TO BRING THAT RATE DOWN. I MEAN, IT WAS NOT FOR A LACK OF EFFORT. WE REALLY TRIED TO MINIMIZE THAT TAX RATE. BUT BUT THERE ARE OTHER SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED AND THERE'S A COST TO THAT. RIGHT. AND THAT RATE ALSO GOES BACK TO A 1991 RATE WHEN THE CITY HAD THAT THAT TAX RATE SINCE 1991 AND THAT TAX RATE, MYRA ALSO INCLUDES SOME OF THE NEEDS LIKE POLICE CARS, SOME FIRE TRUCKS, ADDING TO WHAT WE HAVE NOW. YES. CORRECT. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, YOU KNOW, I, I LISTEN TO VERNON, I DO LISTEN TO YOU AND I DO TAKE WHAT YOU SAY LIKE JASON KIND OF SAID A WHILE AGO, IT'S KIND OF IRRESPONSIBLE FOR US TO JUST WANT TO DO THINGS JUST BECAUSE WE WANT TO PLEASE THE COMMUNITY. AND I THINK THERE WAS A COMMENT EARLIER HOW CANDIDATES, WHEN THEY'RE RUNNING, THEY PROMISED TO LOWER TAXES. I WAS THE FIRST PERSON. AND I'M MY RACE TO SAY, I CAN'T DO THAT UNTIL I GO IN THERE AND ACTUALLY REVIEW AND SEE EVERYTHING UP FRONT. SO I CAN'T MAKE THAT PROMISE. AND THIS IS BEING JUST BEING THE RESPONSIBLE THING. I THINK KEEPING IT AT THE SAME RATE CONTINUES TO PROGRESS AND ACTUALLY THE DEMAND THE CITY'S ASKING. I DIDN'T SAY THAT ANY OF THE ONES THAT WE MET WITH MENTIONED ABOUT LOWERING THE TAXES. I SAID IF SOMEONE DID THAT'S OUT THERE, THAT WOULD BE THE ONE WE WOULD VOTE FOR. AND I'M ALSO NOT ASKING Y'ALL TO LOWER IT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE 50. WHAT WAS IT THE 58, 35? I'M JUST ASKING FOR A HALF A PENNY OR A PENNY. Y'ALL ARE MAKING IT LIKE, OH, SHE'S WANTING THE WHOLE ENCHILADA THERE. NO, NO, NO, JUST I'M JUST I'M JUST SAYING, I MEAN, I LISTEN TO YOU, OKAY? ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION BY COUNCIL? THE ONLY THING. MR. ALONSO, IF YOU CAN COME BACK, JUST SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT. ALTHOUGH WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR TAX RATE, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT ALL OUR EXEMPTIONS THAT WE HAVE FOR THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE EXEMPTIONS FOR OUR VETERANS. IS THAT CORRECT? WE HAVE HOMESTEAD AS WELL. YES. HOUSE BILL 306. RIGHT. I BELIEVE 303 66 SORRY. 
          AND THOSE EXEMPTIONS ALREADY IN PLACE AS PART OF OUR TAX RATE, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY. AND SO YOU KNOW OBVIOUSLY I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE I KNOW WE'VE DONE THAT SEVERAL SEMINARS. THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVEN'T FILED THEIR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. AND SO WE AND I THINK WE DID A COUPLE OF SESSIONS OR SEVERAL, I WOULD LIKE US TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT BECAUSE THAT THAT'S A SAVINGS THAT PEOPLE GET FROM THEIR TAXES, MAKE SURE THEY FOLLOW THAT EXEMPTION. SO IF WE COULD CONTINUE TO DO THAT, I WOULD APPRECIATE WHAT WHAT IS THE LEVEL FOR THE CITY RIGHT NOW? THE HOMESTEAD RIGHT NOW, THE CITY OFFERS TWO HOMESTEAD. 
          THERE'S A 5400 AND A 5000 THAT WAS ADOPTED IN 2020. THERE IS ALSO A FREEZE AT 65 THAT THAT YOU'RE WHATEVER YOU'RE PAYING AT THAT AGE THAT CONTINUES TO BE PAID FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. 
          RIGHT. SO THERE IS ANOTHER YOU DO NEED TO GO AND APPLY FOR THAT. AND ALSO OVER 65, RIGHT, RIGHT OVER 65. SO THERE'S SEVERAL EXEMPTIONS THAT WE HAVE. AND THIS TAKES THAT INTO ACCOUNT THAT WON'T BE AFFECTED. THOSE THOSE ARE GOING TO BE THE SAME WILL NOT GO AWAY. THEY WILL NOT BE AFFECTED. THEY WILL STAY IN PLACE. YEAH. AND ONE THING TO TOUCH ON WITH COUNCILMAN SALAZAR WAS SAYING, I THINK THE POPULAR THING TO DO IS TO ALWAYS TO LOWER ALL FEES, ALL TAXES. BUT THE RESPONSIBLE THING, LIKE THE WATER RATES, THEY HAD NOT BEEN TOUCHED IN OVER 20 YEARS, INFLATION COST, OLD PIPES. EVERYTHING SHOULD HAVE THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SLIGHT INCREASE YEAR AFTER YEAR, AND THERE WAS ZERO INCREASES FOR OVER 20 YEARS. THAT'S WHY THERE WAS AT THE END OF THE RATE THAT WAS THAT WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE STATE T-C-E-Q AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WE HIRED TO LOOK AT THAT AT THE END, IT WOULD BE THAT RATE THAT YOU SAID ABOUT A 67% INCREASE, BUT IT WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN THAT HIGH IF THERE WAS A SLIGHT INCREASE AS INFLATION WENT YEAR BY YEAR. AND ANOTHER THING THAT I ALWAYS BRING UP EVERY BUDGET, THERE'S STILL PEOPLE IN THE CITY THAT HAVE BEEN ANNEXED FOR 20 YEARS AND ARE STILL NEEDING SEWER. 
          [01:00:03]
THEY HAVE MOST OF THE SERVICES, AND IT'D BE IRRESPONSIBLE TO LOWER YOUR THE MONEY YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH, TO AND NOT EVEN BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME SERVICES ON SOME PEOPLE. I KNOW I ALWAYS BRING IT UP, BUT HOPEFULLY WE CAN HELP HELP LITTLE BY LITTLE TO GET EVERYBODY THE SERVICES THAT THEY'VE BEEN WAITING FOR A VERY LONG TIME. AND, AND HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, NEXT YEAR WE CAN MAINTAIN THIS RATE. YOU KNOW IT'S GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO MAINTAIN THIS RATE. AND I'M HOPING THE STAFF WILL BE ABLE TO PUT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER AND KEEP THAT RATE LOW. BUT BUT THE WAY IT'S LOOKING, ANY LITTLE THING THAT BREAKS, YOU KNOW, IT'S COSTING A LOT MORE THAN WHAT IT USED TO. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO KEEP OUR EYES ON. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I'M VERY PROUD THAT WE'RE WE'RE ABLE TO LOWER THE, THE RATE $0.05 SINCE WE'VE BEEN IN OFFICE. SO I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT. VERY WELL. THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS. I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A RECORD VOTE. DOES IT HAVE TO BE YES, YES, YES ON THAT PROPOSED. RIGHT. OKAY, SO I'LL HAVE OUR CITY SECRETARY JUST CALL EACH PERSON. COUNCILMEMBER LOZANO, YOUR VOTE ON THE $0.63. YES. COUNCILMEMBER DIAZ. YES, MAYOR. 
          YES. COUNCILMEMBER. YES. COUNCILMEMBER. YES. FIVE YESES. MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. STAFF. 
          THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM B UNDER BUDGET. CONSIDER APPROVING THE 
          [B. Consider Approving the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Budget Transfers for the General Fund and Aviation]
FISCAL YEAR 2024 2025 BUDGET TRANSFERS FOR THE GENERAL FUND AND AVIATION FUND. RIGHT. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION APPROVED. SECOND MOTION A SECOND. I THINK MISS VERNEY ALSO HAD A COMMENT. 
          OH, YOU GOT OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES UNDER CONSENT. COUNCIL ITEM 11. WE HAVE ITEMS A THROUGH G. IS THERE ANY ITEM YOU'D LIKE TO TAKE OUT, OR IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ALL MOTION TO APPROVE A THROUGH G? SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 12. OTHER BUSINESS. THIS IS A FEATURE. ITEMS TO BE REQUESTED. 
          ANY ITEMS COUNCIL THAT YOU'D LIKE TO REQUEST FOR THE NEXT MEETING. ALL RIGHT. IF NOT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM 13. CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE? SECOND. 
          MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. WE'RE NOW GOING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. IT IS 7:04 P.M. THANK YOU EVERYONE. THAT TAKES. 
          [13. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
          [02:14:35]
IT IS 8:16 P.M. LET THE. CALL THE MEETING BACK. I'D LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER. SO 
          [OPEN SESSION]
          [02:14:48]
MOVE. WHAT? CAN I GET A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND. OKAY. OKAY. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT. NO 
          [02:14:57]
ACTION. YOU WANT TO TAKE ACTION ON THAT MOTION? NO. OH, I'D LIKE TO CALL IT FOR A MOTION. CALL A 
          [02:15:04]
VOTE WHERE WE HAVE FIRST AND SECOND CALL FOR VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT 
          [02:15:08]
HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. LET THE LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT NO ACTION WAS 
          [02:15:13]
TAKEN IN. EXECUTIVE, MAYOR AND MAYOR IS NOT ON NOT PRESENT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE MEETING. WE 
          [02:15:25]
DO HAVE A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT WE NEED ACTION ON MAYOR PRO TEM ON ITEM 13 C TWO. WE NEED A 
          [02:15:35]
MOTION TO RESCIND ACTION THAT WAS TAKEN BY THE COUNCIL AT THE MEETING OF MAY 21ST, 2025, 
          [02:15:42]
AUTHORIZING THE CONVEYANCE OF REAL PROPERTY OR AN INTEREST IN PROPERTY. SO MOVED. SECOND. 
          [02:15:48]
OKAY, WE GOT A FIRST AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL 
          [02:15:53]
OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. AND THEN WE NEED ACTION ON ITEM 13 D A MOTION TO APPROVE 
          [02:16:01]
AN AGREEMENT ON THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. AND THAT'S AN 
          [02:16:05]
AGREEMENT WITH THE EDC. SO MOVED. SECOND. WE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR 
          [02:16:11]
PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. THERE ARE NO FURTHER 
          [02:16:16]
ACTION ITEMS. I GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SO MOVED. SECOND, WE'VE GOT A MOTION. AND A SECOND. WE ARE ADJOURNED. 
          [14. ADJOURNMENT]
ALL RIGHT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.