[00:01:18] SCHEDULED MEETING OF YOUR EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL. ON THE COUNCIL, MAYOR RAMIRO GARZA, JUNIOR. MAYOR PRO TEM JASON DE LEON. COUNCIL MEMBER DANIEL DAN DIAZ, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID SALAZAR, JUNIOR. AND COUNCIL MEMBER JERRY LOZANO. SITTING IN HIS ADVISORS, CITY MANAGER MYRA AYALA AND CITY ATTORNEY JOSE RAMIREZ SOLIS. AND NOW LIVE FROM EDINBURG CITY HALL, THE EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. I'M GOING TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING FOR OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING SEPTEMBER 16TH AND AT 6 P.M. I DO SEE VISIBLY WE HAVE A QUORUM WITH ALL MEMBERS OF COUNCIL [1. CALL TO ORDER, ESTABLISH QUORUM] PRESENT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF COUNCIL MEMBER SALAZAR. I BELIEVE HE'S ON HIS WAY. WE'RE GOING TO START OUR MEETING LIKE WE DO EVERY ONE OF OUR MEETINGS. WE HAVE PASTOR DOCTOR DAVID ALEXANDER THAT'S HERE. WOULD YOU PLEASE RISE FOR A PRAYER AS WE BEGIN OUR MEETING? GOOD [A. Prayer.] EVENING EVERYONE. MR. FREY. OH, LORD, OUR LORD, HOW MAJESTIC IS YOUR NAME IN ALL THE EARTH. WE THANK YOU, LORD, THAT YOU HAVE MADE US THIS LITTLE OVER THE ANGELS, AND YET YOU HAVE CRAFTED US AFTER YOUR IMAGE AND GRANTED US STEWARDSHIP OF YOUR CREATION. LORD, JUST INCREDIBLE PRIVILEGE. WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR KEEPING US IN MIND AND INTENTIONALLY WORKING IN OUR LIVES. LORD, WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD GRANT US YOUR MERCY AND HELP US TO BECOME A PEOPLE ONCE AGAIN WHO UNDERSTAND HOW TO DIALOG WITH EACH OTHER, HOW TO CONVERSE, HOW TO DISAGREE, AND KINDNESS AND GENTLENESS. FATHER, OUR NATION IS TORN APART AND WE NEED YOUR HELP, LORD, THIS EVENING. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THOSE WHO HAVE USED YOUR GIFTS AND TALENTS IN A GREAT WAY, LORD, THAT YOU MIGHT BE GLORIFIED IN WHAT THEY DO. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE BUSINESS AT HAND OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE ENTRUSTED US TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OVER. AND LORD, WE PRAY THAT YOU JUST GRANT OUR COUNCIL WISDOM. THOSE THAT PRESENT THAT DO SO CLEARLY. THANK YOU, FATHER, AGAIN FOR ALLOWING US THIS PRIVILEGE. IN JESUS NAME, AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU FATHER. PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I [B. Pledge of Allegiance.] 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. [2. CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE] WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM TWO, CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE. YES, SIR. MAYOR. THE MEETING WAS POSTED IN ACCORDANCE TO TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT ON SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2025 AT 8 P.M. THANK YOU. ITEM THREE DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST A LOCAL [3. DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST] GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL IS REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE THE 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 PENDING ON TODAY'S AGENDA? NO, MA'AM. NO, MA'AM. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM FOUR. CITY MANAGER'S [4. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT] REPORT. YES. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THIS EVENING. I DO HAVE JUST ONE CITY [A. City of Edinburg Events:] MANAGER'S REPORT FOR CITY OF EDINBURGH EVENT. IT'S GOING TO BE THE 33RD ANNUAL FIRE STOPPERS FESTIVAL. THE EDINBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT IS PROUD TO HOST ITS 33RD ANNUAL FIRE FIRE [00:05:01] STOPPERS FESTIVAL ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3RD FROM 6 P.M. TO 10 P.M. AT CENTRAL FIRE STATION. [ 33rd Annual Fire Stoppers Festival] THIS FREE, FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT WILL FEATURE LIVE PERFORMANCES, FOOD TRUCKS, LOCAL VENDORS, ANIMAL EXHIBITS, A COSTUME CONTEST, AND ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES. THE FESTIVAL WILL SERVE AS AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE FIRE PREVENTION AND SAFETY EDUCATION BY OFFERING RESIDENTS VALUABLE TIPS AND RESOURCES TO HELP PROTECT THEIR HOMES AND FAMILIES. ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EVENING IS THE CHARACTER CARICATURE CHARACTER PARADE, WHICH BEGINS AT 7:30 P.M. AT THE EAST SIDE OF EDINBURG CITY HALL ON EIGHTH AVENUE AND MCINTYRE STREET, AND CONCLUDES IN FRONT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ON 10TH AVENUE AND MCINTYRE STREET. THIS IS A NIGHT OF COMMUNITY SAFETY AND CELEBRATION THAT YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER, FOR YOUR REPORT. WE'RE GOING TO [5. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS] MOVE ON TO ITEM FIVE PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS. WE HAVE SEVERAL THIS EVENING. [A. Presentation of Proclamation Recognizing Girl Scout Troop 467 as Requested by Pricilla Barrera [Clarice] WE DO HAVE WITH US TONIGHT GIRL SCOUT TROOP 467. WHERE ARE YOU? I SAW YOU ALL STANDING THERE. RIGHT THERE. NOW THEY'RE SITTING. WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION TO RECOGNIZE ALL THAT THEY DO HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. MISS PRISCILLA BARELA, I BELIEVE YOU'RE HERE WITH ALL YOUR SCOUTS. IF YOU CAN COME TO THE PODIUM, OUR CITY SECRETARY WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION. FOR THE RECORD. YES, SIR. MAYOR. GIRL SCOUT TROOP 467. WHEREAS THE GIRL SCOUTS OF THE USA, FOUNDED IN 1912 BY JULIETTE GORDON LOW, HAS EMPOWERED GENERATIONS OF GIRLS TO LEAD WITH COURAGE, CONFIDENCE AND CHARACTER, FOSTERING A LEGACY OF SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP ACROSS THE NATION. AND WHEREAS, GIRL SCOUT TROOP 467 EXEMPLIFIES THESE CORE VALUES BY ACTIVELY WORKING TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE THROUGH MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, PERSONAL GROWTH, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. AND WHEREAS, THE MEMBERS OF TROOP 467 HAVE DEMONSTRATED OUTSTANDING DEDICATION TO THEIR COMMUNITY THROUGH NUMEROUS IMPACTFUL INITIATIVES, INCLUDING EARNING PRESIDENTIAL VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARDS AND WORKING TOWARD THE PRESTIGIOUS BRONZE AWARD. THEIR SERVICE INCLUDES ORGANIZING FOOD DRIVES, BEAUTIFYING LOCAL PARKS, VOLUNTEERING AT LOCAL NURSING HOMES, COLONIAL MANOR, AND PARTNERING WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS LIKE THE RAINBOW ROOM AND MUJERES UNIDAS TO SUPPORT FAMILIES IN NEED. AND WITH THE SUCCESS OF TROOP 467, IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE STEADFAST COMMITMENT OF ITS ADULT LEADERS, VOLUNTEERS AND PARENTS WHO PROVIDE MENTORSHIP, ENCOURAGEMENT AND GUIDANCE TO HELP THESE YOUNG WOMEN REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. AND WHEREAS THE EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL RECOGNIZES AND CELEBRATES THE CONTRIBUTIONS, ACHIEVEMENTS AND POSITIVE IMPACT OF GIRL SCOUT TROOP 467, WHOSE MEMBERS REPRESENT THE NEXT GENERATION OF THOUGHTFUL, ENGAGED AND COMPASSIONATE LEADERS. NOW, THEREFORE, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG, TEXAS, BY THE POWER VESTED IN THEM BY LAW, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE GIRL SCOUT TROOP 467. ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO JOIN IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH IN HONORING THESE EXCEPTIONAL YOUNG LEADERS FOR THEIR INSPIRING COMMITMENT TO SERVICE, LEADERSHIP AND THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE'RE JUST MISSING THE PROCLAMATION. OKAY, ALL WE HAVE RIGHT THERE. OKAY. NO, NO, NO, YOU'RE FINE THERE. YEAH. I'LL READ ONE. THIS TIME. I THINK I AGREE WITH THAT. LET'S GIVE GIRL SCOUT TROOP 467 A HAND, PLEASE. I THINK YOU CAN USE THE PODIUM. OKAY. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I DO WANT TO THANK MAYOR RAMIRO GARZA NOT ONLY FOR THIS PROCLAMATION, BUT FOR OUR DEMOCRACY LESSON HE HELD FOR US A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. OUR GIRLS TRULY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSIONERS, COUNCILMAN, AND FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURGH, THE BEST CITY IN THE RGV. OUR GIRLS THRIVE ON BEING COURAGEOUS, BEING LEADERS AND BEING PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND THANK YOU FOR HONORING THEM, MAYOR GARZA, BECAUSE THEY ARE OUR FUTURE. SO THANK YOU EVERYONE. THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING OUR COMMUNITY INCLUSION TASK FORCE. AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOME MEMBERS HERE OF OUR TASK [B. Presentation of Proclamation Recognizing the Community Inclusion Task Force. [Clarice Y. Balderas,] FORCE. I WOULD ASK, I SEE JUAN HERE IF Y'ALL COULD COME UP TO THE PODIUM AT THIS TIME AND WE, OUR CITY SECRETARY, WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION FOR THE RECORD. YES, SIR. MAYOR. COMMUNITY INCLUSION TASK FORCE. WHEREAS THE CITY OF EDINBURGH RECOGNIZES THE CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS OF EDINBURGH'S POPULATION AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS BARRIERS AND INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY. ON MARCH 10TH, 2020, THE COMMUNITY INCLUSION TASK FORCE WAS ESTABLISHED TO ADVISE THE CITY AND HOW TO BETTER UNDERSTAND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND HELP THOSE WHO LIVE AND VISIT THE COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS, ON APRIL 4TH, 2020, MAYOR RAMIRO GARCIA JR ANNOUNCED THE CREATION OF THE [00:10:02] COMMUNITY INCLUSION TASK FORCE, WHO ADVISED THE EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL ON DIFFERENT METHODS TO APPROPRIATELY ADDRESS INCLUSIVITY RELATED ISSUES AND IMPLEMENT CHANGES TO PROVIDE ACCESSIBILITY TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WHO LIVE, WORK AND VISIT THE CITY. AND WHEREAS, ON NOVEMBER 6TH, 2024, THE COMMUNITY INCLUSION TASK FORCE HOSTED THE FIRST LUNCH AND LEARN SENSITIVITY TRAINING FOR CITY EMPLOYEES. THE DEAF CULTURE SENSITIVITY TRAINING PROMOTED AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF FACED IN VARIOUS SETTINGS SUCH AS EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, HEALTHCARE AND SOCIAL LIFE. AND WHEREAS, THE GUIDANCE OF THE COMMUNITY INCLUSION TASK FORCE HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN ADVISING ON THE CREATION OF PROGRAMS AND EVENTS FOR THE LIBRARY, CULTURAL ARTS, POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS. AND WHEREAS, DURING NATIONAL INCLUSION WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2021 2025, THE EDINBURGH CITY COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE COMMUNITY INCLUSION TASK FORCE FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN BRINGING AWARENESS TO A MORE INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT. NOW, THEREFORE, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG, TEXAS, BY THE POWER VESTED IN THEM BY LAW, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE THE COMMUNITY INCLUSION TASK FORCE. HELLO. THANK YOU EVERYONE. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MAYOR GARZA AND THE COUNCIL, MORE THAN ANYTHING, MAYOR GARZA, FOR BEING A TRAILBLAZER, TRAILBLAZER IN THIS TAKING INITIATIVE TO CREATE THIS TASK FORCE. OUR GOAL FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WAS TO START HERE IN EDINBURG AND THEN HOPEFULLY GET THAT PILOT OUT TO OTHER CITIES SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A MORE INCLUSIVE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, NOT JUST OUR CITY, BUT WE ARE THE ONES THAT STARTED THIS, AND WE'RE VERY THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL FOR THIS. IT STARTED WITH AN EDINBURGH RESIDENT WITH A DISABILITY WHO ASKED FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS, AND WITHOUT ANY HESITATION, MAYOR GARZA STARTED A TASK FORCE FOR US, SO WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO GIVE A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO ALL THE RESIDENTS, BUT ESPECIALLY MAYOR GARZA AND ALL MY MEMBERS FROM THE TASK FORCE, BECAUSE IF IT WASN'T BECAUSE OF YOU, MR. MAYOR, THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. AND I'LL NEVER FORGET WHAT YOU DID, BECAUSE IT JUST CAME FROM A SIMPLE CONCEPT IDEA THAT I HAD. AND YOU ACTUALLY TOOK THE TIME AS A GOVERNMENTAL LEADER TO TO HEAR ME OUT. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND, AND IF YOU WANT TO COME BACK AND RUN FOR MAYOR AGAIN WHEN YOU FEEL BETTER, I'M WITH YOU. I'LL JUMP. I'M SEAN SOLID AND DOCTOR SOLID AND RETIRED PROFESSOR. I LIVED IN MANY, MANY DIFFERENT PLACES AROUND THE WORLD, AND I WANT TO SAY I'M VERY PROUD TO CALL EDINBURG MY HOME BECAUSE OF MANY, MANY REASONS. BUT THIS INCLUSION TASK FORCE IS REALLY SEALED THE DEAL FOR ME. AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT PEOPLE ALL. IT CELEBRATES ALL OF US IN ALL ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES. IT'S NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, DISABILITY IS A BIG PART OF ME. I'M LATE, DEAF AND AND ALL THAT. BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M VERY PROUD TO CALL EDINBURG MY HOME FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS. AND THIS IS PROBABLY THE THIS IS MY FOREVER HOME. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO HELLO EVERYONE. SO I WANT TO SAY THAT THIS TASK FORCE HAS REALLY HELPED TO EDUCATE MANY DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF DIFFERENT CULTURES, HAS INFLUENCED A LOT OF PEOPLE. AND SO OUR GOAL IS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE EDINBURG THE INNOVATIVE CITY. SO OUR GOAL HOPEFULLY WE CAN REACH THAT GOAL. AND WE'RE JUST LETTING YOU ALL KNOW THAT THIS IS DEAF AWARENESS MONTH. SO DO NOT IGNORE PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF, YOU KNOW, REMEMBER US. PLEASE LEARN SIGN LANGUAGE, MAKE US HAPPY. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR JUAN CARLOS AND ALL OF YOU, DOCTOR, FOR FOR COMING BEFORE US. YOU'RE RIGHT. THIS DID START JUST REACHING OUT, HAVING ACCESS TO CERTAIN BUILDINGS. YOU KNOW, TO START WITH. BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP TO OUR ATTENTION. NOT THAT THIS WOULDN'T BE A FOCUS, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE CITY HAS SO MANY AREAS TO TO LOOK AT. BUT I'M SO [00:15:01] GLAD THAT THIS KIND OF CAME TOGETHER. AND ALL I ASK IS CONTINUE DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING, BECAUSE WE HEARD YOU LOUD AND CLEAR. BECAUSE OF YOU, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE SOME CHANGES TO SOME OF OUR MEETINGS, EVEN OUR STATE OF THE CITY. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT WE SET ASIDE A ROOM, YOU KNOW THAT I KNOW JUAN CARLOS IS ABLE TO TAKE PART, THAT SOMETIMES HE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BECAUSE OF Y'ALL'S RECOMMENDATIONS. SO, YOU KNOW, I KNOW I'M NOT GOING TO CONTINUE BEING HERE IN A FEW MONTHS, BUT THIS COUNCIL WILL. SO YOU COME BACK BEFORE THE MEETINGS AND AND KEEP THE PRESSURE ON THEM. RIGHT. JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE JUST CONTINUE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. FOR THOSE OF YOU ARE NOT AWARE, OUR AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT, I THINK IT WAS APPROVED BACK IN THE 80S. IS THAT CORRECT? NO. 90S IN THE 90S AND IT HASN'T BEEN UPDATED SINCE. SO AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THERE'S A LOT OF NEEDS. THERE'S YOU KNOW, THIS BUILDING WAS BUILT IN 2008, FOR EXAMPLE. RIGHT. AND SO A LOT OF BUILDINGS WERE BUILT BEFORE THAT. JUST KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING. I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ALL DO. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, YOU KNOW, HEARING ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON [C. Presentation of Proclamation Recognizing September 25, 2025, as National Day of Remembrance for] TO ANOTHER PROCLAMATION. THIS IS TO RECOGNIZE SEPTEMBER 25TH AS NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR MURDER VICTIMS. AND I DO SEE HERE WE HAVE THE ORGANIZATION HERE. MISTER ROBERT GARCIA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS UP TO US AGAIN WITH THE FAMILIES. IF YOU COULD COME TO THE PODIUM, WE'RE GOING TO READ THE PROCLAMATION. FOR THE RECORD, AT THIS TIME. YES, SIR. MAYOR, NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR MURDER VICTIMS. WHEREAS THE NATIONAL PARENTS OF MURDERED CHILDREN, ESTABLISHED SEPTEMBER 25TH AS A NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR MURDER VICTIMS. DUE TO THE UNANIMOUSLY PASSED RESOLUTIONS BY THE US SENATE ON OCTOBER 16TH, 2007, AND THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON MAY 14TH, 2007. AND WHEREAS POMC BELIEVES IN HONORING THE MEMORY OF VICTIMS KILLED BY VIOLENCE AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE RESULTS RESULTING LONG TERM TRAUMA FOR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES, THIS NATIONAL REMEMBRANCE DAY IS AN ESSENTIAL WAY OF PROMOTING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND REMEMBERING OUR LOVED ONES. WHEREAS PARENTS OF MURDERED CHILDREN ALONGSIDE THE THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY FAMILIES OF FRIENDS, MURDERED CHILDREN HAVE HELD MORE THAN 2200 FAMILIES OF MURDERED VICTIMS IN THIS REGION SINCE 2014. AND WHEREAS IN 2024, AN ESTIMATED 1847 HOMICIDES OCCURRED IN TEXAS, IMPACTING OVER 18,470 CLOSE RELATIVES. THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY ALONE SUFFERING 53 MURDERS, WITH APPROXIMATELY 530 RELATIVES DIRECTLY AFFECTED. AND WHEREAS THE MURDER OF A LOVED ONE ROBS THE VICTIM'S FAMILY OF A FAMILY MEMBER, THE SURVIVORS OF HOMICIDE VICTIMS USED THEIR TRAGEDIES TO TELL STORIES OF PAIN AND ANGER INFLICTED BY A HOMICIDE. THEY HONOR THEIR LOVED ONES BY TURNING THEIR PAIN AND ANGER INTO POWER AND ACTION THROUGH LEADERSHIP SUPPORT, GRIEF SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY, SURVIVORS REDUCE VIOLENCE AND PROMOTE PREVENTION AND POLICY CHANGE LOCALLY AND AT A NATIONAL LEVEL. AND WHEREAS THE THEME LIGHT THEIR NAME, LIFT THEIR LEGACY, WE CELEBRATE THE RESILIENCE AND UNITY OF OUR COMMUNITY AS WE GATHER TO HONOR THE MEMORIES OF OUR LOVED ONES STANDING IN SOLIDARITY, UNITED IN A MISSION TO BUILD A WORLD FREE FROM VIOLENCE, AND TO ENSURE THAT NO FAMILY WALKS THIS PATH ALONE. NOW, THEREFORE, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG, TEXAS, BY THE POWER VESTED IN ME BY LAW TO HEREBY RECOGNIZE SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2025 AS NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR MURDER VICTIMS AND ENCOURAGE ALL MEDIA OUTLETS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, VICTIMS AND COMMUNITY VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDERS OF HIDALGO COUNTY TO JOIN THE 13TH ANNUAL CANDLELIGHT VIGIL. LIKE THEIR NAME, LIFT YOUR LEGACY, HOSTED AT THE PHARR JOSE PEPE SALINAS MEMORIAL RECREATION CENTER ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2025 FROM 6 P.M. TO 8 P.M. STAY HERE. GOOD EVENING. SORRY TO GIVE YOU MY BAG. I WANT TO START BY SAYING THE HONORABLE MAYOR RAMIRO GARZA, THE CITY COUNCIL AND ALL THE MEMBERS, INCLUDING MY COMMUNITY WHERE I LIVE. 14 YEARS AGO, MY LIFE WAS FOREVER CHANGED. THE THE MURDER OF MY BROTHER, ROGELIO ROGER GARCIA ON 913, 2011. ROGER, WE WILL CALL HIM. WAS MORE THAN JUST A BROTHER. HE WAS A MENTOR. HE WAS THE ANCHOR OF THE FAMILY, A COAST GUARD VETERAN. HE'S THE ONE WHO TOLD ME TO MARRY MY WIFE. ALMOST 29 YEARS. LOSING HIM TO VIOLENCE LEFT AN EMPTY SPACE OR AN EMPTY. EXCUSE ME, AN EMPTY HEART TO MY MOTHER, ROSA GARCIA. THAT IS WHY I'M HERE TODAY. BECAUSE I MADE A PROMISE TO MY MOTHER THAT MY BROTHER DID NOT DIE IN VAIN. THAT PAINED, ALMOST BROKE THE FAMILY. NO, IT BROKE THE FAMILY. IT BROKE FOR THE FIRST TIME. I SAW MY FATHER, RAFAEL, FROM [00:20:03] NUEVO LEON. MACHO PERSON. A LEADER IN HIS OWN RIGHT, A FARM WORKER. I NEVER SEEN HIM CRY UNTIL THE VIOLENCE HIT THE HOUSE. AND MY SISTER IN LAW SAW THEM TWICE. THAT PHONE CALL THAT. THAT SEPTEMBER 13TH AT 745, I WAS THE THIRD PERSON TO RESPOND TO THE CRIME SCENE. I SAW MY BROTHER IN THE BLOOD OF, IN A FILE, IN THE BOOT, IN A POOL OF BLOOD. WHY DO I SAY THIS? IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS TO FIND THE PURPOSE. THE PURPOSE IN LIFE. I FOUND IT, IT LED ME TO WALK ALONGSIDE FAMILIES THAT YOU SEE HERE. WHO SHARED THE HEARTBREAK. AND TOGETHER WE HAVE BUILT A COMMUNITY OF LOVE, REMEMBRANCE, ADVOCACY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THROUGH THAT JOURNEY OF GRIEF, WE HAVE COME TOGETHER AND WE HAVE LEARNED LESSONS. LOVE NEVER DIES. THE EMPTY CHAIR FEELS LESS EMPTY. BUT NOT GRIEF. ALONE AND EVEN IN SORROW, WE FOUND THE COURAGE TO LIVE ON THE ALAVÉS ONE DAY AT A TIME. TODAY'S PROCLAMATION. PROCLAMATION IS NOT JUST A WORD ON PAPER. IT IS A POWERFUL REMINDER THAT WITH OUR CITY LEADERS AND CITY RESIDENTS THAT HEARS US, THAT SEES US AND STANDS WITH US, SENDS A POWERFUL MESSAGE OF LOVE AND UNITY AND COMPASSION. AND SEPTEMBER 25TH WILL BE THE 13TH ANNUAL CANDLELIGHT VIGIL. WE WILL GATHER AGAIN TO LIGHT THE CANDLES AND SPEAK THEIR NAME OF OUR LOVED ONES. I WILL DO A ROLL CALL OF THE VICTIMS THAT ARE PRESENT HERE WITH ME. ROGER GARCIA. JALISA RANGEL, JORGE TOVAR, EFRAIN GARCIA, DANIEL VEGA, JULIO CESAR VILLARREAL, ALFREDO OLIVEROS, JUNIOR, MAGDALENA CANTU, REBECCA LEE CANTU, GERARDO APARICIO, ERICK SANCHEZ, KEVIN MARTINEZ, ESTEBAN FERNANDEZ, JUAN MANUEL BERMUDEZ, EVA ILAS, JUNIOR, JUAN HERNANDEZ, NAIDRA, COLLETTE ORTIZ, JULIO CESAR SOTO, JUNIOR. THOSE ARE THE FAMILIES THAT WE STAND TOGETHER. AND ON SEPTEMBER 5TH, THE COMMUNITY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND VISIT US, COME AND HEAR THEIR STORIES. AS WE LIGHT THOSE CANDLES. THE MAYOR HAS BEEN, IN THE EVENT OF SEPTEMBER 25TH, AS ON A THURSDAY BETWEEN 6 AND 8 IN THE CITY OF PHARR. WE GOING THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY DOING PROCLAMATIONS SO WE CAN REMEMBER THEM ALWAYS AND FOREVER. THANK YOU, MAYOR GARZA AND THE CITY COUNCIL. GOD BLESS YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU, MR. GARCIA. REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALWAYS BRINGING THIS BEFORE US. I WILL BE THERE. I HAVE IT ON MY CALENDAR ON THE 25TH. I KNOW Y'ALL BEFORE AND SUCH A SPECIAL OCCASION. IF ANY OF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND, I URGE YOU TO. I THINK ALL OF US ARE TOUCHED BY THIS IN SOME WAY, WHETHER IT'S A DISTANT FAMILY OR CLOSE FAMILY OR AN ACQUAINTANCE THAT WE KNOW. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, KEEPING THE FAMILIES TOGETHER, AND WE'LL SEE YOU ON THE 25TH. THANK YOU SIR, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM D. THIS IS A [D. Presentation Recognizing the City of Edinburg Parks & Recreation Department 2025 TAAF Summer] PROCLAMATION. OR AT THIS POINT IT'S A PRESENTATION RECOGNIZING OUR CITY OF EDINBURGH PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT 2025 TAFT SUMMER GAMES OF TEXAS. ALL ARE MEDALISTS. LET'S GIVE THEM A HAND. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. THEY WENT AND REPRESENTED EDINBURGH ON OUR GAMES THIS SUMMER. AND WE HAVE SEVERAL MEDALISTS HERE JOINING US TODAY THAT WE WILL PRESENT AND HONOR THIS EVENING. YES. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. MAYOR COUNCIL ERIC MOLINA, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION. I'M EXCITED TO INTRODUCE TO YOU THESE YOUTH ATHLETES THIS EVENING. OUT OF 110 YOUTH ATHLETES THAT TRAVELED TO THE 2025 TEXAS [00:25:05] STATE GAMES IN COLLEGE STATION, THESE 13 ATHLETES CAME BACK TO THE CITY OF EDINBURG. MEDALIST HERE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THESE ATHLETES AND COACHES. I HAVE OUR SPORTS MANAGER, RONNIE RODRIGUEZ. THANK YOU, MR. MOLINA. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, TONIGHT, I HAVE THE HONOR AND THE PRIVILEGE OF INTRODUCING SOME OF THESE GREAT ATHLETES FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURG THAT WENT. AND HE IS CORRECT. WE TOOK 110 ATHLETES. I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE ARE ALSO THE ONLY CITY THAT WAS ABLE TO TAKE ATHLETES FOR TRACK, TENNIS, SWIMMING, BOXING AND EVEN GOLF, AND WE HAD 13 MEDALISTS THAT CAME OUT. THAT MEANS THEY'RE THE TOP THREE IN THE WHOLE STATE OF TEXAS. SO THAT'S A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT FOR THESE GREAT ATHLETES. SOME OF THEM WERE NOT ABLE TO BE HERE BECAUSE OF THE SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AND TRACK. WE HAD DANIELA SALAZAR IN THE 14 YOUTH. SHE WON SILVER IN SHOT PUT AND DISCUS. AND TENNIS. WE HAD ISABELLA MONTEMAYOR IN THE ONE TO SILVER IN THE 12 U DOUBLES WITH HER PARTNER CATALINA MONTEMAYOR, SILVER IN THE 12 U DOUBLES. CHARLIZE CARMONA BRONZE WON THE 12 DOUBLES AND MARIA BAEZA BRONZE 12 DOUBLES, ALSO IN TENNIS. IN SWIMMING, WE HAD SOFIA TREVINO BRONZE 16 TO 200 METER FREE RELAY. AND IN GOLF, THIS GENTLEMAN LAST YEAR IN BROWNSVILLE WAS THE STATE CHAMPION FOR US IN BROWNSVILLE. SO WHEN HE WENT UP TO COLLEGE STATION, WE ASKED HIM IF HE CAN GO BACK TO BACK AND GUESS WHAT? HE DID GO BACK TO BACK. HE WAS THE 18 U. GOLD MEDALIST FOR THE 100TH TAFT STATE GAMES THIS SUMMER. CONGRATULATIONS, RAMIRO. BACK TO BACK STATE CHAMPION. AND HE ALSO RECEIVED AN INVITATION TO PLAY AT THE GAMES OF AMERICA, REPRESENTING THE CITY OF EDINBURG THIS COMING SUMMER AT PENN STATE UNIVERSITY. WOW. CONGRATULATIONS, RAMIRO. AND NOW IN OUR BOXING THAT'S OVER HERE, OUR RECREATION MANAGER, MR. ANTHONY DAVILA. MAYOR COUNCIL, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR THE SUPPORT THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE FOR OUR PROGRAM. WE ARE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE AND PROUD TO ANNOUNCE OF OUR GOLD MEDALIST AND SILVER MEDALIST GOING OUT TO TAFT AS WELL. WE HAVE BRIAN AGUIRRE. JOAQUIN CASTANEDA, ANTHONY FLORES. DEMARCUS JONES. ROLANDO GARZA. JORGE GARZA. AND JONAH ORTIZ. WE ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR INSTRUCTORS, MARTY MARTINEZ. ROLANDO GARZA. CARLA ESPINOZA, AND ANTHONY AGUIRRE. I PRESENT TO YOU YOUR CAF CHAMPIONS. ALRIGHT. SO. [00:30:33] WE MOVED RIGHT INTO PROCLAMATIONS AND I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE OUR COUNCIL MEMBER [6. PUBLIC COMMENTS] DAVID SALAZAR JOINED US RIGHT BEFORE THAT. SO THANK YOU. WE HAVE A FULL QUORUM HERE TODAY. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON NOW TO ITEM SIX. PUBLIC COMMENTS. YES, SIR. MAYOR. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. THE CITY COUNCIL ASKED FOR A SPECIFIC PORTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO BE DEDICATED TO PUBLIC COMMENTS. PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES. I'LL BE TAKING TIME. PLEASE NOTE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOT INTERACTIVE. THE CITY COUNCIL MAY NOT RESPOND TO PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THERE ARE NINE PUBLIC COMMENTS. THE FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT IS PAOLA CARRASCO REGARDING THE POET LAUREATE FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURG. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS PAOLA CARRASCO. I'M A PEDIATRICIAN AND I'M ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF THE RGV WOMEN POET SOCIETY. WE ARE A GROUP OF POETS ACROSS THE VALLEY, AND THE REASON WHY I'M HERE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY IS BECAUSE I WOULD LOVE TO ADVOCATE FOR POET LAUREATE FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURG. WE HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE TO WORK WITH OTHER CITIES HERE IN THE RGV. I'M VERY HONORED THAT DANIEL ORDAZ, MCALLEN POET LAUREATE, ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF SUCH A PROGRAM IN MCALLEN, IS HERE WITH US. WE HAVE WORKED ALSO WITH THE CITIES OF WESLACO, PHARR, DONNA MISSION TO ESTABLISH POET LAUREATE PROGRAMS. THEY ARE FREE OF COST. IT'S JUST A RESOLUTION THAT'S ATTACHED TO A CITY HALL MEETING LIKE THIS, A SMALL CEREMONY. AND THAT OFFICIAL DESIGNATION WOULD REALLY HELP US CONNECT TO THE COMMUNITY. IT WOULD ALLOW US TO HAVE ACCESS TO UP TO $50,000 WORTH OF GRANTS FOR THE CITY IN THE SHORT MONTHS, TWO MONTHS THAT ROSALVA RUIZ HAS BEEN THE WESLACO POET LAUREATE. SHE IS A WONDERFUL WRITER WHO HAPPENS TO HAVE CHRONIC LEUKEMIA. HER PASSION IS PATIENTS LIKE HER WITH TERMINAL ILLNESSES, AND POETRY IS A FORM OF CATHARSIS. SHE HAS COLLABORATED WITH AURORA HOSPICE CARE CENTER IN WESLACO. SHE'S GOING TO APPEAR IN A CHILD BEREAVEMENT GALA IN A COUPLE OF DAYS SO SHE CAN CONNECT WITH BUSINESSES, WITH NGOS, WITH ORGANIZATIONS. SHE HAS ALSO LED LIBRARY WORKSHOPS. AND SO FOR THREE YEARS, SHE'S GOING TO ESTABLISH PROGRAMS LIKE THIS THAT HELP HER CONNECT TO THE COMMUNITY IN HER PASSION, COMPLETELY FREE OF COST FOR THE CITY. AND IN THE CASE OF DANIEL, HE HAS BEEN EXCELLENT IN CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY OF MCALLEN TO INTELLECTUALS, TO WRITERS, TO POETRY AS A FORM OF CATHARSIS, AS A FORM OF EDUCATION. BEING AN EDUCATOR HIMSELF. HERE FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURG, WE HAVE UTRGV. SO THIS WOULD REALLY BE THE JEWEL OF THE CROWN WE HAVE. WE'RE A CITY OF INTELLECTUALS, OF WRITERS. THERE'S A RIVER'S EDGE MAGAZINE THAT HAS CELEBRATED 48 YEARS OF EXISTENCE. HERE IN THE CITY. WE HAVE EMMY PEREZ, WHO'S A WHOLE STATE POET LAUREATE, TEXAS POET LAUREATE AT, AND SHE'S THE DIRECTOR OF THE CREATIVE WRITING DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE WONDERFUL WRITERS HERE IN THE CITY, SO WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THAT LEADERSHIP POSITION THAT WOULD REALLY GRANT A LOT OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. AND WE HAVE MICHELLE NAVALTA BARNES, WHO WOULD WE WOULD LOVE TO NOMINATE AS THE FIRST CITY POET LAUREATE. SHE'S HERE. SO YOU'LL LEARN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HER. SHE'S AN AMAZING WRITER. SHE CAME HERE TO TEACH FOR AMERICA TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE VALLEY. SHE GRADUATED FROM AN IVY LEAGUE SCHOOL. SHE'S SO PREPARED, SHE'S SO PASSIONATE. AND HER LITTLE ONE, OUR LITTLEST WOMEN POET FROM THE RGV WOMEN POETS SOCIETY, IS GOING TO RECITE A POEM FOR YOU IN A LITTLE BIT, SO YOU'RE IN FOR A TREAT. THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS MISS JACQUELINE BIAS LUGO REGARDING ITEM 7B8A AND CITIZENS CONCERNS. GOOD. GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. FIRST I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING PUBLIC COMMENTS. THERE'S SOME OTHER CITIES OUTSIDE OF TEXAS. IN TEXAS, THEY'RE TRYING TO CUT PUBLIC COMMENTS. AND I KNOW EVERYBODY KNOWS FREE SPEECH IS VERY IMPORTANT. I FEEL LIKE IT DEFINITELY IS UNDER ATTACK AFTER WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK WITH CHARLIE KIRK. BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO EXPRESS. ALSO, I WANTED TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THIS MONTH, THIS VOTER REGISTRATION MONTH. SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT EVERYBODY GET REGISTERED TO VOTE. THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE IS OCTOBER 6TH, AND WE HAVE ELECTION NOVEMBER 4TH. SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT EVERYBODY TO GET INVOLVED, ESPECIALLY IF [00:35:04] YOU'RE A CONSERVATIVE. YOU NEED TO GET INVOLVED LIKE YESTERDAY. AND ALSO BUT I'M GOING TO WAIT WHEN THEY DO THE BUDGET BECAUSE I WANT TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS REGARDING THE BUDGET. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS ANTHONY MATTHEW REGARDING ITEM NINE A. GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M PART OF A COMMUNITY AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY FROM INDIA, AND WE ARE TRYING TO ORGANIZE A MAJOR SPORTS EVENT IN THE VALLEY. AND THE FEW MEMBERS OF OUR ORGANIZING COMMITTEE IS HERE. I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE JOSEPH, BAIJU AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE HERE. SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT TO YOU, MR. MAYOR, IS THAT WE ARE A COMPARATIVELY YOUNG IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY FROM INDIA. WE WORK WITH THE CITY AT DIFFERENT LEVELS. WE ARE AROUND 120 FAMILIES FROM 2000 ONWARDS. WE ARE HERE. WE WORK TOGETHER WITH THE COMMUNITY IN ENCOURAGING OUR CHILDREN TO GROW AND THE COMMUNITY TO BE ACTIVE. WE HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, WE HAVE OUR CHILDREN WHO ARE HERE FROM KINDERGARTEN NOW GOING TO MAYO CLINIC, CLEVELAND CLINIC, HARVARD AND YALE. RECENTLY, ONE OF OUR CHILDREN GOT ADMITTED TO YALE. JUST TO MENTION THAT WE STRIVE TO EXCEL IN ALL LEVELS AS PART OF OUR EFFORTS, THE COMMUNITY WAS ORGANIZING A SPORTS EVENT FROM THE LAST 20 YEARS. WE WERE GOING OUT TO OKLAHOMA, HOUSTON, DALLAS, AUSTIN, ETC. AND THEN SINCE WE WERE A SMALL GROUP, WE WERE TRYING TO SEE IF WE CAN HAVE THIS FUNCTION HERE IN EDINBURGH, THE CITY WHICH WE CALL OUR HOME. WE TALK TO MR. MAYOR. WE STARTED IN JULY 2024 AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS THE PROGRESS. MR. MAYOR GAVE US INITIAL APPROVAL AND THEN WITH THAT LETTER OF APPROVAL AND A VIDEO PRESENTING WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO, WE WENT TO THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE IN HOUSTON AND THEY APPROVED OUR REQUEST. AND HERE WE ARE. THE EVENT IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE IN AUGUST 2026. WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED PREPARING. WE GAVE THE CITY A LAYOUT OF THE FACILITIES AND THE SERVICES THAT WE WOULD NEED AND THE SUPPORT THAT WE NEED, AND WE THINK WE ARE IN A GOOD SPIRIT AND IN A GOOD SPACE WHERE WE WILL COLLABORATE TOGETHER. THERE ARE AROUND TEN CITIES, OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS WHO WILL BE COMING HERE. AROUND 1000 PEOPLE WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN AROUND 30 EVENTS AND IT TAKES PLACE IN FOUR DAYS. WE EXPECT 5000 MEMBERS TO COME IN, IN AND OUT DURING THE DAYS AND HAVE ALL THESE EVENTS BASKETBALL, VOLLEYBALL, INDOOR GAMES, CHESS, CARROMS, CARDS AND EVERYTHING. SO THIS IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. SO HERE WE HAVE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT REQUEST BEFORE THE COUNCIL. AND WE REQUEST YOU TO KINDLY APPROVE THAT REQUEST. AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE COUNTING ON YOUR GOODWILL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. THE NEXT THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS MICHELLE BARNES REGARDING POET LAUREATE. HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MICHELLE BARNES. I AM A PROUD RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG. I'VE BEEN IN EDINBURG. I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT SINCE MY EARLY 20S, WHEN I DECIDED TO MOVE FROM MINNESOTA AND MOVED TO A WARMER STATE AND A BEAUTIFUL THE BEAUTIFUL MAGICAL VALLEY. JUST. I JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE MYSELF. I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU GUYS ARE TAKING FIVE MINUTES OF YOUR CITY COUNCIL TIME TO LISTEN TO ME AND MEET ME. I'M A TEACHER, BUT I'M ALSO A MOTHER, A WIFE, AND A PASSIONATE WRITER. I'VE BEEN WRITING SINCE I WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHEN I FIRST IMMIGRATED FROM THE PHILIPPINES TO THE UNITED STATES. AND I THINK, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED MORE FOR OUR CHILDREN IS A WAY TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES, NOT JUST IN ROADBLOCKS OR NOT JUST IN VIDEO GAMES, BUT, YOU KNOW, GO TO THE LIBRARY OR GO TO OUR SPACES IN EDINBURG, THE PARKS TO WRITE AT THE WORLD BIRDING CENTER, TO WRITE AT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF EDINBURG, TO WRITE AT THE ARTS AND CULTURE EDUCATION [00:40:06] CENTER. SO I, I AM EXCITED TO BE HERE WITH THE ARAB WOMEN POETRY SOCIETY, TO CHAMPION POETRY, TO CHAMPION THE ARTS, TO CHAMPION EXPRESSION FOR OUR STUDENTS. THEY'RE THEY'RE THE FUTURE. AND I WANT TO INVITE, OH, THE SIX PERSON WAS MY DAUGHTER. CAN I INVITE MY DAUGHTER? SURE. SHE'S OUR YOUNGEST MEMBER. AND SHE DID WRITE A POEM. AND WE GO TO THE MUNICIPAL PARK AND TAKE WALKS IN THE EVENING. I SAID, WRITE ABOUT THE FAVORITE PLACE YOU LIKE. AFTERNOONS AT THE PARK. YOUR TREES, THEY SWAY IN GREEN HUES. THE LEAVES FLUTTERING ARE THE BEST VIEWS. WALKING AND JOGGING HALFWAY DONE. WHILE THAT ONE WAS QUITE SOME FUN. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AND I HOPE YOU CONSIDER A POET LAUREATESHIP. THANK YOU! THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS CARLA RODRIGUEZ REGARDING ITEM NINE. SEE? HELLO, COUNCILMAN. HELLO MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. I'M A PROUD RESIDENT OF EDINBURG, HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST DECADE OR SO. I'M HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE PROPOSED AN ABANDONED EASEMENT, ABANDONED ROAD, AND I'M TRYING TO OBJECT TO IT. THAT ROAD WAS A BLOCKED BEFORE A BUILDER CAME AND IS ASKING FOR THE ROAD TO BE GIVEN BECAUSE IT WAS ABANDONED. PART OF MY PROPERTY FALLS ON THAT ABANDONED ROAD. WE'VE ALREADY KIND OF CORNERED ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS. HE HAS FIVE ACRES. HE LIVES THERE, AND IF THERE'S AN EMERGENCY, WE'VE REDUCED HIS AREA IN JUST TO THE VERY, VERY MINIMAL. THERE'S NO IN WAY AND OUT IF HE WANTS TO LIKE, I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FIVE ACRES. THAT'S A LOT OF LAND. IT'S WOODED AREA. THERE'S NO EMERGENCY ACCESS, THERE'S NO WATER. AND INSTEAD OF JUST GIVING UP THIS ABANDONED ROADWAY, I WAS WANTING TO COME AND ASK YOU TO RECONSIDER, TO IMPROVE IT VERSUS JUST GIVING IT AWAY. IT IS BELONGS TO EDINBURG. WE USED TO BE RURAL, AND NOW WE'RE COUNTY. WE'RE RIGHT NEXT TO AN EVENT CENTER. IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO A DITCH WHERE OUR KIDS DO USE IT TO OFF ROAD VEHICLES. AND AND NOW WE'RE JUST GIVING IT AWAY. I DID TALK TO THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING TODAY. THEY SAID THAT THEY HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO INTEREST OR INTENT OF REHABILITATING THIS MAN'S ENTRANCE. I THINK IT'S ONLY 20FT AND IT SPREADS TO 30, BUT WHENEVER IT RAINS, THERE'S NO WAY IN, THERE'S NO WAY OUT. SO WE'RE GIVING I MEAN, A ROAD THAT'S STILL DEDICATED ALLEYWAY. IT USED TO NOT BE ABANDONED, BUT IT USED TO BE AN ENDANGERMENT. THERE WAS AN OIL RIG OF SOME SORT AND IT WAS BLOCKED OFF. SO NOW IT'S THE CITY AND IT'S UP TO YOU TO CONSIDER JUST GIVING IT AWAY AND SAYING LIKE, OH YEAH, GO AHEAD AND KEEP IT IT TO A PRIVATE SUBDIVISION. NOT SOMETHING THAT'S FOR PUBLIC USE. I BELIEVE A ROADWAY WOULD NOT ONLY IMPROVE OUR WHOLE INFRASTRUCTURE. I MEAN, IT WOULD IT WOULD ALSO GIVE ACCESS TO TO OUR NEIGHBORS AND EVEN TO ME TO BE ABLE TO GO IN AND OUT THROUGH THE ALLOWED DEDICATED ROADWAY THAT ONCE WAS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS JOHNNY VASQUEZ REGARDING THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY BUILDERS ASSOCIATION. GOOD EVENING MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JOHNNY VASQUEZ. I'M WITH THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY BUILDERS ASSOCIATION, AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF OUR 100 PLUS MEMBERS AND OUR OVER 600 EMPLOYEES THAT WE REPRESENT AS AS AN ASSOCIATION. OUR ASSOCIATION WORKS DIRECTLY WITH THE NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION, NEW BUILDERS REMODELERS REALTORS, DEVELOPERS. AND THIS YEAR WE'RE EXCITED TO TO BRING EDINBURG WITH YOUR WITH YOUR PERMISSION AND WITH YOUR APPROVAL, THE THE VERY FIRST BIG BUILDER COOK OFF. AND WE'RE EXCITED TO TO HAVE THAT HERE IN THE CITY OF THE GREAT CITY OF EDINBURG. AND WE ARE [00:45:02] ONE OF OUR INITIATIVES IS THE EDUCATION SPACE. WE BELIEVE THAT THE FUTURE OF CONSTRUCTION OBVIOUSLY BEGINS WITH THE YOUTH, AND WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE YOUTH. SO WE ARE RAISING FUNDS AND MONIES FOR SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LOCAL STUDENTS THAT ARE SEEKING TO JOIN THE TRADES AND TO GET INVOLVED IN THE IN THE DIRTY WORK THAT THAT WE CALL CONSTRUCTION AND HOME BUILDING. SO WE'RE EXCITED FOR THIS EVENT. WE DO HAVE A A FEW TEAMS THAT ARE PLANNED. THIS IS GOING TO BE A HOPEFULLY A PRETTY BIG EVENT. HOPEFULLY WE GET A SEVERAL BARBECUE TEAMS OUT THERE, AND WE'RE JUST EXCITED TO TO BE ABLE TO BE A PART OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG TO DO THAT, IT IS ABOUT I THINK IT'S OVER IN THE MEMORIAL PARK. SO WE'RE WE'RE REQUESTING THAT THAT USE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I GUESS I'LL BE HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS DIANE TEETER REGARDING HEARING FOR TAXES AND SUPPORT. YES. I'LL WAIT UNTIL THE PUBLIC HEARING. OKAY. THANK YOU. THE LAST PUBLIC COMMENT IS MISS MCCLARITY REGARDING TAXPAYERS. GENTLEMEN, I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SET OUR ELECTED OFFICIAL STRAIGHT. SOME OF US STILL ARE HELPING PROTESTING PROPERTY VALUES THAT ARE THE RESULT OF BONDS SOLD BY PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. DID YOU KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE PAY ABOUT $8 MILLION A YEAR? IS INTEREST ON THE BONDS THAT HAVE BEEN SOLD? IF YOU WANT OUR DEBT TO INCREASE, VOTE FOR TO REELECT THE CANDIDATES THAT ARE NOW IN OFFICE. THEY ARE GOING TO SELL MORE BONDS AND INCREASE YOUR TAXES AS SOON AS THEY GET REELECTED. WE DO NOT NEED A BIGGER LIBRARY, MORE GOLF COURSES, OR HIGHER WATER RATES, AND WE DO NOT NEED ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT INCREASE WATER RATES BY 67% AND GIVE THE STAFF ONLY A 3% SALARY INCREASE. 70% OF ALL LONG TERM JOBS ARE CREATED BY SMALL BUSINESSES, AND HIGHER TAXES WILL REDUCE THEIR ABILITY TO CREATE JOBS. HOW DO I KNOW THE SALE? THE STATE SALES TAX IS ABOUT $30 MILLION AND THE PROPERTY TAX COLLECTED IS ABOUT 34 MILLION. SO WE HAVE THE MONEY. WE JUST NEED TO INVEST WISELY IN OUR FUTURE. INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT THE PROBLEM. WATER IS THE PROBLEM. IF YOU OWN A HOME OR HAVE A MORTGAGE. PROPERTY TAXES ARE DEVASTATED BECAUSE THEY ARE. THERE IS NO WAY TO PLAN. IT JUST KEEPS GOING UP AND UP AND EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THE VALUES ARE INFLATED. THE STATE HAS PROVIDED SALES TAX MONEY TO REDUCE SCHOOL TAXES AND LAWS THAT HAVE PASSED TO PROTECT HOMESTEADS, AND YET VALUES KEEP INCREASING. DOES EVERYONE KNOW THAT THE REASON THAT THE VALUES INCREASE IS BECAUSE OF ALL THE DIRECT RESULTS OF EXPENDITURES BY OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, OUR IN OUR TAXING BODIES WOULD STOP OR AT LEAST SLOW DOWN THEIR SPENDING. THE VALUES WOULD REDUCE. SO ASK THE CANDIDATE OF YOUR CHOICE ARE YOU GOING TO SELL BONDS? IF THEIR ANSWER IS LONG AND BORING, VOTE FOR SOMEONE ELSE. DO YOU KNOW THAT EDINBURGH'S POVERTY RATE IS 25.7%? AND THIS WAS BACK IN 2019 TO 2023, SO IT'S HIGHER NOW. AND ONE TIME THERE WAS SOMEONE THAT SAID THAT Y'ALL SHOULD BE PAID. I JUST GOT ALL THE ELECTED OFFICIALS SALARIES FROM THE COUNTY, AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T NEED Y'ALL TO HAVE A SALARY TO BE ABLE TO RAISE YOUR YOUR SALARIES TO $145,030 AND A $15,000 CAR ALLOWANCE. THAT'S FOR OUR COUNTY JUDGE. THAT'S NOT COUNTING ALL THE OTHERS. SO AGAIN, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SITTING OUT THERE AND PAYING FOR ALL THESE TAXES, ALL THESE SALARIES, ALL THESE THINGS THAT Y'ALL SPEND WITH THE LITTLE PEOPLE THAT CAME AT THE LAST MEETING THAT ASKED Y'ALL ABOUT THE SALES TAX. I MEAN, THE PROPERTY TAX VALUES AND STUFF. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MA'AM. MISS MCLARTY HAS COMMENTS ON ITEM SEVEN C. NINE, D NINE, E NINE, H 11 A. 12 A AND 14 E. THERE ARE NO FURTHER COMMENTS. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM SEVEN. WE HAVE THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS UNDER ITEM SEVEN. AND I'M GOING TO TAKE [7. PUBLIC HEARINGS] HIM ALL TOGETHER AT THIS TIME. ONE OF THEM HAS TO DO WITH, I BELIEVE, A REZONING. THE OTHERS [00:50:02] HAVE TO DO WITH OUR BUDGET AND OUR TAX RATE. SO IF YOU'RE HERE TO COMMENT ON ANYTHING, ANY ITEM ON SEVEN, A, B OR C, THE HEARING IS NOW OPEN. YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME TO THE PODIUM TO HEAR PUBLIC COMMENTS. HI AGAIN. GOOD EVENING. SO I'M ALSO A PROUD EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW THIS NEW BUDGET IS GOING TO AFFECT OUR RACE. AND OBVIOUSLY I WANT TO RAISE EVERYBODY WANTS TO RAISE. BUT I ALSO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T AFFECT, I GUESS, THE TAX RATE. SO THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. AND I'M GOING TO LISTEN TO WHATEVER YOU GUYS NEED TO SAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. SO. JUST TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, MA'AM, I BELIEVE THERE'S A 3% PAY PLAN ADJUSTMENT INCLUDED FOR ALL EMPLOYEES. AND OBVIOUSLY THE THE BUDGET RIGHT NOW CALLS FOR THAT THAT IS BEING PROPOSED WITH NO INCREASE TO OUR TAX RATE. OKAY. AND MINE IS TALKING ABOUT THE TAX RATE. AND I KNOW THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE IS 0.5835, WHICH MEANS YOU WILL BRING IN THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY AS LAST YEAR FROM PROPERTY VALUES. SO YOU COULD ACTUALLY LOWER THE $0.63 BETWEEN 58 TO 63. ALL THE TAXPAYERS HAVE ASKED FOR IS ONE PENNY. I WOULD EVEN BE THANKFUL FOR A HALF A PENNY FROM Y'ALL. AND LIKE I SAID, THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX, IF YOU LOOK AT IT, BRINGS IN WHAT YOU HAD LAST YEAR. AND IF YOU COULD LIVE IN THAT BUDGET, WHY CAN'T YOU HELP THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN EDINBURG? THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. DIANE TEETER, PROFESSOR EMERITA OF BIOLOGY AT SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE. I'M ASKING THAT THE BUDGET BE APPROVED AT AT THE SUGGESTED RATE AS PUBLISHED AS A PROFESSOR AND A UTRGV LEGACY ALUMNA, I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ECONOMIC AND CIVIC CONSEQUENCES OF FEDERAL AND STATE AID BEING STRIPPED FROM THE UT SYSTEM. CONSIDER DOWN THE STREET WE HAVE UTRGV. UTRGV IS NOT JUST A UNIVERSITY, IT'S ALSO ONE OF THE VALLEY'S LARGEST EMPLOYERS, WITH MORE THAN 7500 FACULTY STAFF AND THE RESULTING CONTRACTORS RELYING ON THE INSTITUTION. PULLING THOSE DOLLARS PLACES IMMENSE PRESSURE ON THE INSTITUTION THAT MANY FAMILIES SEE AS THEIR SOLE CHANCE AT UPWARD MOBILITY. WITH THE RECENT FEDERAL RULING HALTING IN-STATE TUITION FOR DREAMERS AND WITH TEXAS NOT RESISTING FEDERAL INTERVENTION, AND INSTEAD OF DEFENDING ITS OWN STATUTE, THE STATE'S ATTORNEY GENERAL JOINED THE US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND ASKING THE COURT TO PERMANENTLY BLOCK THE LAW. SO NOW THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS, MANY RAISED IN THE VALLEY, FACE TRIPLE TUITION COSTS AND THE LOSS OF ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION. THESE ARE OUR FUTURE NURSES, ENGINEERS AND TEACHERS. THEY'RE DISPLACEMENT WILL DIRECTLY IMPACT EDINBURG'S HOUSING MARKET, RETAIL SECTOR AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES. THE LOSS OF HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTION GRANTS, PART OF A 350 MILLION NATIONAL FUNDING STREAM, WILL FURTHER ERODE UTRGV'S CAPACITY TO SERVE ITS 91% HISPANIC STUDENT BODY. THESE GRANTS FUND TUTORING, STEM LABS, FACULTY DEVELOPMENT AND DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE. WITHOUT THEM, WE RISK DECLINING ENROLLMENT, REDUCED RETENTION, AND A WIDENING EQUITY GAP IN OUR REGION. ADDITIONALLY, THE UT SYSTEM IS LOSING TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT GRANTS. I HAVE THE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE FROM THE WRITER, WHICH IS A REALLY GOOD UNIVERSITY NEWSPAPER. SO THESE LOSSES ARE NOT JUST ACADEMIC, IT'S ECONOMIC. WHICH BRINGS ME TO OUR CITY'S BUDGET. IN LIGHT OF THE CURRENT FEDERAL AND STATE MALADMINISTRATION, EDINBURG MUST ADOPT A FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE POSTURE. WE CANNOT ASSUME CONTINUED GROWTH IN SALES TAX OR PROPERTY VALUES IF [00:55:04] STUDENT POPULATIONS SHRINK, AS WELL AS FACULTY, STAFF AND INSTITUTIONAL INVESTMENT STALL. YES, THE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL GAMES WILL BE AN ECONOMIC DRIVER, BUT FOR HOW LONG? OUR RESIDENTS ARE ALREADY FACING INFLATION, HOUSING PRESSURES AND STAGNANT WAGES. AND WHY WE MUST HONOR THE PROMISE. MINIMUM WAGE OVER THREE YEARS TO OUR EDINBURG CITY EMPLOYEES. LET'S PRIORITIZE. PRIORITIZE ESSENTIAL SERVICES, SAFEGUARD RESERVES, AND PREPARE FOR ECONOMIC HEADWINDS. I URGE FISCAL CONSERVATISM AND ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET AND TAX REVENUE AS IS. THANK YOU. AND HERE IS. YOUR. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU. MR. ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WISHES TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS ON THE HEARING IS STILL OPEN UNDER ITEMS? AT THIS TIME UNDER ITEM SEVEN A, B, OR C? IF NOT, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. COUNCIL WILL TAKE THEM ONE BY ONE. ITEM SEVEN A CONSIDER THE ORDINANCES PROVIDING FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT FROM NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL USES TO OUTER URBAN USES, AND THE REZONING REQUEST FROM COMMERCIAL NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICT TO RESIDENTIAL MULTIFAMILY DISTRICT AS DESCRIBED. LOCATED AT 2003 CHERRY LANE, AS REQUESTED BY JORGE E REINA. SO MOVED. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT. ALL IN [A. Hold Public Hearing and Consider the Ordinances Providing for the Comprehensive Plan Amendment] FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM B. HOLD A [B. Hold a Public Hearing on the Proposed Budget for the City of Edinburg for Fiscal Year Beginning October] PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURG FOR FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026. JUST MAYBE CLARIFICATION DOES THIS NEED ACTION? IS THAT LISTED AS ACTION? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE FROM LEGAL COUNSEL. SO THE THE FIRST ITEM IS FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING THE ITEMS. EIGHT ARE THE ACTION ITEMS. GOT IT. SO THESE DO NOT REQUIRE ACTION AT THIS TIME OR NO THEY DO NOT OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO ITEMS B AND C DO NOT REQUIRE ACTION. SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM EIGHT WHICH DOES HAVE A ACTION. SO COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER ITEM EIGHT A WHICH IS TIED TO OUR OUR BUDGET. CONSIDER ORDINANCE [C. Hold a Public Hearing on the Proposed Tax Rate for the City of Edinburg for Tax Year 2025, Fiscal Year] [8. BUDGET] ADOPTING THE BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURGH FOR FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, [A. Consider Ordinance Adopting the Budget for the City of Edinburg for Fiscal Year Beginning October 1,] 2025 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026. IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. WE HAVE A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? WE HAVE A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION FOR DISCUSSION? JUST JUST FOR THOSE REQUESTING EVEN A HALF PERCENT, HALF A CENT ON THE BUDGET IS ABOUT $350,000. I CAN TELL YOU THAT MANY OF US WOULD LOVE TO LOWER THAT WITH THE INCREASES OF COST INFLATION. JUST A 3% INCREASE, IT'D BE VERY HARD TO GO TO A NO NEW REVENUE RATE. I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE ANY SORT OF BREAK, BUT IT'S REALLY HARD WITH EVERYTHING THAT THAT THAT EVERY DEPARTMENT IS ASKING OF THE CITY. I KNOW THAT THAT WE ALSO HAD SOME OF THE ARPA MONIES THAT WE USED DURING COVID THAT COVERED A LOT OF THE COSTS NOW HAVE BEEN DEPLETED, AND THE BUDGET HAS TO COVER FOR THAT. AND THAT'S WHY I'M I'M FOR REMAINING THE TAX RATE WHERE IT IS AND THE BUDGET. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK. ANYONE ELSE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MOLLY. QUESTION IS THIS IS I KNOW THE BUDGET ITEM. THE NEXT ITEM IS THE TAX RATE ON THE BUDGET. I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM AND I KNOW I'VE SEEN ALL THE BUDGET INFORMATION. I WANT TO THANK OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, FINANCE DEPARTMENT, CITY MANAGEMENT AND ALL THE DEPARTMENTS. THIS IS A VERY COMPLEX PROCESS. YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THERE'S DIFFERENT FUNDS AVAILABLE, THE GENERAL FUND, DIFFERENT THINGS. AND SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK PUT BEHIND IT TO PRESENT A BALANCED BUDGET. AND SO FOR THE RECORD, FOR THE RESIDENTS TO KNOW THIS IS A BALANCED BUDGET THAT'S BEING PRESENTED FOR US TO APPROVE. MY MY ONLY THING GOING BACK TO OUR FIRST PUBLIC BUDGET WORK SESSION AND THOSE THINGS, DOES THE BUDGET TAKE INTO ACCOUNT RESERVES OR, YOU KNOW, ALSO DEFERRED MAINTENANCE FUND? I REMEMBER WE TALKED ABOUT ADDING THAT TO THE BUDGET THAT BEEN TAKEN OUT. SO I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT. GOOD AFTERNOON. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, [01:00:03] DIRECTOR OF FINANCE. WE HAVE WE PASSED YOU ALL PASSED AN ORDINANCE THAT THAT IS SETTING UP A DEPRECIATION FUND FOR OUR SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT. IT'S ALSO SETTING UP A DEPRECIATION FUND FOR OUR UTILITY FUND. SO WE WE DO THOSE THOSE ARE INCORPORATED. THEY'RE FUNDED. AND THIS IS ADOPTED. THEY'RE FUNDED THROUGH INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET. IT IS INCLUDED FOR BOTH UTILITY AND SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT OKAY. GOT IT. AND IT INCLUDES A 25% RAINY DAY FUND FOR YES. AND AND ALL FUNDS HAVE A 25% OR BETTER. OUR WE'RE PROJECTING FOR FOR OUR GENERAL FUND 25.13 AND WE WE FORESEE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER AT THE END OF THE YEAR. IT'S KIND OF EARLY TO TELL, BUT WE'RE PROJECTING A 25.13% FOR GENERAL FUND AND SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AND UTILITY ARE ALSO ABOVE THE 25%. OKAY. AND THEN A COUPLE OTHER QUESTIONS. SO WE HAVE ASIDE FROM OUR OPERATIONS BUDGET, WE HAVE SEVERAL COMMITMENTS THAT THE CITY HAS, RIGHT. IN TERMS OF ITEMS. THIS BUDGET DOES TAKE THOSE INTO ACCOUNT. YOU KNOW, AGREEMENTS. I KNOW IN THE PAST I WHEN I CAME BACK ON BOARD, I KNOW THERE WAS SOME COMMITMENTS THAT WERE NOT IN THERE, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE ACCOUNTED FOR BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE HAVE TO FIND THOSE FUNDS. SO THIS DOES TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ALL THAT. YES, SIR. OKAY. AND THEN ALSO WE HAVE MEETING CONFIRMED CONTRACTS, OUR POLICE, OUR FIRE. AS WE CONFIRM THE BUDGET DOES ACCOUNT FOR THE INCREASES THAT WE AS COUNCIL HAD APPROVED AS PART OF OUR MEETING. CONFIRMED. YES, ALL COMMITMENTS WERE MADE AND CONFIRM OUR OUR APPROVED OUR IN OUR BUDGET AND IF APPROVED, WILL WILL MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS AND ALL THE AGREEMENT THAT THAT THAT THAT WAS MADE BETWEEN THE UNIONS AND THE AND THE CITY. SO IT WOULD FULFILL ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF BOTH THE POLICE AND FIRE UNIONS. AND I KNOW THERE WAS SO MANY REQUESTS BY A LOT OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, A LOT OF NEEDS THAT WE HAVE AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, DIAZ POINTED OUT. I JUST WOULD ASK, REMEMBER, I'M NOT GOING TO BE HERE AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME AFTER THE ELECTION THAT WE MONITOR BUDGETS. SO WE FIND ANY EFFICIENCIES THAT, YOU KNOW, WE REVISIT SOME OF THESE ITEMS THAT DO DO NEED TO, YOU KNOW, BE FUNDED. BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE GOT TO FIND A BALANCED BUDGET. YOU KNOW, WE GOT TO PRIORITIZE. SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST ASK THAT WE KIND OF CONTINUE MONITORING THAT, YOU KNOW, AND AT MID-YEAR, MAYBE, Y'ALL, IF THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MAYBE THE SALES TAX OR COLLECTION RATE HAS GONE UP IN TERMS OF REVENUES, THAT THAT WE TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF NEEDS OUT THERE. YES, MAYOR, WE DO THAT. WE WORK WITH OUR DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS AND THEY MONITOR THEIR BUDGETS. AND AND IF WE SEE SOMETHING THAT THAT IS MAYBE SOME SAVINGS OR THERE'S SOMETHING THAT, LET'S SAY ELECTRICITY IS RAISED OR SOMETHING, WE MONITOR THOSE MONTHLY AND ADVICE AND WORK WITH OUR DIRECTORS AND OUR UPPER MANAGEMENT ON THAT. WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT, SIR. AND THEN MY LAST COMMENT IS JUST HAS TO DO WITH OUR DEBT. I KNOW THAT THERE'S A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, ESPECIALLY THE UTILITY FUND. YOU KNOW, THIS INCORPORATES THE, THE THE RATE THAT WAS ADJUSTED AND ALL THAT BASED ON THE CAPITAL PROGRAM. IS THIS GOING TO SET US UP TO AT SOME POINT ALREADY START WORKING ON SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS OR ARE WE ALREADY THERE SO THAT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE COULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE NEW WATER PLANT. WE NEED TO BUILD THE NEW WASTEWATER PLANT BECAUSE THEY'RE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR CITY, YOU KNOW, TO TAKE CARE OF THE GROWTH THAT WE HAVE. YES, THERE WAS A WORK RATE STUDY DONE AND INCORPORATED THE NEEDS OF THE CITY TO TO KEEP. WE WERE A LITTLE BEHIND ON BECAUSE THAT HAD NOT BEEN A RATE INCREASE SINCE 2011. SO THIS INCORPORATES THAT AND THE FUTURE NEEDS OF THE CITY, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THAT. THERE WAS A RATE STUDY DONE, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT TO TO BE ABLE TO TO FUND THOSE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING UP THAT ARE, THAT ARE NOT CAN BE FUNDED THROUGH OPERATIONS THAT THAT WE NEED TO TO DO THIS RATE INCREASES THAT WERE BEING PROPOSED. OKAY. GREAT. RIGHT. AND IN ALL THE READING, JOHN, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK. CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT THE WATER RATE STUDY THAT THAT WE DID, WHICH SUGGESTED WHAT WE HAD TO MOVE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A GOOD DEBT, BE ABLE TO BORROW MONEY IN THE FUTURE. IT IT IT HAD AN INCREASE. AND FOR THIS BUDGET YEAR, IT'S ONLY GOING TO BE AN 11% INCREASE. CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT OF THE WATER RATE. THANK YOU. THERE'S NO OTHER COMMENTS. I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM B. WE NEED A RECORD VOTE DON'T WE TOM. YES YES OKAY. SO I'LL HAVE CITY SECRETARY. YES, MA'AM. COUNCIL MEMBER [B. Consider Ordinance Adopting the Tax Rate and Levy for the City of Edinburg for the Tax Year 2025,] JERRY LOZANO. COUNCIL MEMBER. DIAZ. YES. MAYOR GARCIA. JUNIOR. YES. COUNCILMEMBER DAVIS. YES. AND MAYOR PRO TEM. JASON. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM B. CONSIDER ORDINANCE [01:05:08] ADOPTING THE TAX RATE AND LEVY FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURGH FOR THE TAX YEAR 2025, FISCAL FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2025, AND THEN SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026. MOTION TO APPROVE. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? WE HAVE A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? I DID WANT TO STATE FOR THE RECORD, I KNOW IT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP ABOUT THIS NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE. I DID ASK CITY STAFF AND THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION AS TO THE IMPORTANCE FOR US TO CONSIDER APPROVING THE RATE THAT WE HAVE AT THIS TIME. AND THERE'S THREE REASONS THAT THAT I THINK THIS IS BEING CONSIDERED AND WHY I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS ONE IS INFLATION, RISING COSTS OF SERVICES IS BEING REPORTED BY A BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS OF WHICH WE, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO MONITOR. INFLATION HAS RISEN 2.9%. THE COST OF PROVIDING PUBLIC SERVICES INCREASES ANNUALLY, YOU KNOW, DUE TO INFLATION AND WAGE GROWTH FOR THIS COMING FISCAL YEAR. WE DO HAVE A 3% PAY PLAN ADJUST FOR EMPLOYEES. IT'S SO IMPORTANT. OUR CITY DOES NOT RUN BY ITSELF. WE HAVE ALMOST 1200 EMPLOYEES. IS THAT CORRECT? ALMOST RIGHT NOW. YES. SO MUCH TO COVER, SO MUCH AREA, SO MUCH GROWTH. AND SO WE NEED TO RETAIN OUR EMPLOYEES. AND I THANK THEM FOR ALL THAT THEY DO BECAUSE I KNOW THEIR JOB DESCRIPTION MAY SAY ONE THING, BUT I KNOW THEY DO MORE. AND SO ALL THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS THAT ARE HERE, I JUST WANT TO SAY, PLEASE PASS ALONG OUR GRATITUDE TO ALL THE EMPLOYEES, BECAUSE I KNOW THE WORK CONTINUES AND IT'S GOT TO BE DONE. AND SO WE APPRECIATE IT. THIS DOES INCLUDE A PAY PLAN, ADJUSTMENT FOR THEM. AND THEN ALSO EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE AWARE, ONE OF OUR UTILITY COMPANIES, ELECTRIC UTILITY PROVIDER THAT PROVIDES ELECTRICITY FOR OUR CITY, WILL INCREASE RATES BY 6.1%. AND AS YOU ALL CAN IMAGINE, THOSE ARE FOR ALL UTILITIES THROUGHOUT OUR CITY, ALL OUR PUBLIC FACILITIES. AND WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT. AND ALSO, WE ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING COST INCREASES DUE TO NEWLY IMPOSED TARIFFS. AND THAT'S A FACT THAT WE HAVE TO LIVE WITH. ALSO. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. YOU DON'T SEE IT AS AN ACTUAL LINE ITEM, BUT IT HAS TO BE INCLUDED IN ALL THAT. OUR COST ASSOCIATED WITH OPERATING THE CITY. AND SO, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE REASONS INFLATION AND RISING COSTS, THIS, YOU KNOW, NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE IS MEANING THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO KEEP REDUCE OUR TAX RATE FROM $0.63, I THINK $0.58. SO THERE WOULD BE A REDUCTION IN THE REVENUE THAT WOULD BE COMING IN BASED ON THE VALUES THAT ARE OUT THERE. AND SO THIS WILL PROBABLY PUT US AT A SHORTFALL IN MY OPINION, IF WE HAVE TO LOOK AT A NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE. AND I KNOW THAT'S NOT WHAT'S BEEN ASKED FOR, I THINK THERE'S SOME CONSIDERATION THAT WAS ASKED FOR IN TERMS OF JUST MAKING A REDUCTION. BUT I WILL REMIND THE PUBLIC, I THINK IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS, THIS IS MY FOURTH BUDGET. WE REDUCED IT BY ABOUT $0.05. I THINK WE'RE AT $0.68. WE'RE NOW AT $0.63, ONE OF THE LOWEST THAT WE'VE HAD SINCE 1991, I BELIEVE. AS COUNCIL MEMBER DIAZ POINTED OUT, I'D ALSO LIKE TO SEE IT REDUCED, BUT I ALMOST FEEL IT WOULD BE FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE AT THIS TIME. IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, GIVEN ALL THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE AND THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO KEEP UP WITH OUR CITY, I JUST, YOU KNOW, GOT A CALL JUST TODAY, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, BY A RESIDENT THAT LIVES NEAR CANTON AND SUGAR AND SAYS, WHEN ARE Y'ALL GOING TO FIX THAT SEWER SITUATION THAT EXISTS THERE ON THAT INTERSECTION AND THEN CHECKING WITH CITY STAFF, I'M BEING TOLD THERE'S AN UPSIZING OF THAT LINE THAT RUNS EAST FROM THAT INTERSECTION TO THE EXPRESSWAY, WHICH IS OVER TWO MILES LONG. I DON'T EVEN HAVE THE COST, BUT I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE IN THE MILLIONS. I'M BRINGING THAT UP AS ONE EXAMPLE OF NEEDS THAT WE HAVE THROUGHOUT OUR CITY THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ADDRESSED, BUT THAT WE NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. WE CAN'T BE KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD. I MEAN, EVERY YEAR WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE CAN, AND SO WE HAVE TO MAXIMIZE OUR RESOURCES. SO I JUST WANT TO RESIDENTS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS BUDGET REFLECTS US TAKING ALL THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. AGAIN, I MENTIONED THE POPULATION GROWTH, RIGHT? I MEAN, THAT DOESN'T STOP, WE'D LIKE TO SAY, AND AND PRIDE OURSELVES AS BEING ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CITIES. SO ON ONE, ON ONE HAND, YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT TO SAY THAT FROM A MARKETING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT. BUT ON THE OTHER, IT'S ALSO COMES WITH A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY. AND IT COMES WITH, YOU KNOW, KEEPING UP WITH IT, THIS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING NOW, THEN IT'S GOING TO BE CALLED DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, MEANING THAT IT'S GOING TO BE DONE LATER. AND WE JUST CANNOT AFFORD BECAUSE IT'S JUST GOING TO COST THAT MUCH MORE. SO I JUST WANTED TO STATE THIS. I KNOW RESIDENTS AND I APPRECIATE THE RESIDENTS ARE HERE THAT HAVE ASKED US FOR CONSIDERATION. I MEAN, THOSE ARE THE REASONS THAT I'VE INQUIRED. AND I EVALUATED THIS. I REALLY LOOKED AT THE BUDGET [01:10:01] AND SEE WHAT WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO? I THINK AT THIS POINT, MAINTAINING THE TAX RATE AT THIS LEVEL IS PROBABLY THE BEST APPROACH AT THIS TIME. AND I THINK AS A BUDGET IS LOOKED AT AGAIN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY IT CAN BE MANAGED, YOU KNOW, QUARTERLY AND, AND WE CAN BE ABLE TO DO MORE, YOU KNOW. SO BUT I JUST WANTED TO THANK CITY STAFF AGAIN FOR ALL THE WORK IN THIS AND PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION AND, AND THE COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, FOR ALL THE WORK, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES BEHIND THIS. THIS STARTS BACK IN MAY, I BELIEVE. AND HERE WE ARE IN SEPTEMBER GETTING IT APPROVED. AND YOU KNOW, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE. COUNCIL. IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. MAYOR I BELIEVE FOR THIS ITEM. THERE'S ALSO A SPECIFIC FOR THE MOTION. OKAY. I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ IT. I MOVED THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF 0.6 $0.03, WHICH IS EFFECTIVE, EFFECTIVELY A 7.97% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE. I WILL ASK FOR A MOTION BASED ON THAT READING AT THIS TIME IF THERE WAS ALREADY A MOTION. BUT AS I'M OKAY TO ASK HIM FOR ANOTHER MOTION OR. I CAN'T. YOUR MIC'S NOT ON, SIR. WE JUST NEED SOMEBODY TO ADOPT THAT MOTION. SO MOVE. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? WE HAVE A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. RECORD. VOTE ON THAT AS WELL. WE NEED A RECORD. OKAY GO AHEAD MA'AM. SORRY ABOUT THAT. COUNCIL MEMBER, JERRY LOZANO. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER DAN DIAZ. YES. MAYOR RAMIRO GARZA, JUNIOR. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. DAVIS. YES. MAYOR PRO TEM JASON DE LEON. YES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM NINE, ORDINANCES ITEM A CONSIDER ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR A TEMPORARY SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR THE 2026 INTER PARISH [9. ORDINANCES] [A. Consider Ordinance Providing for a Temporary Special Use Permit for the “2026 Inter Parish Sports] SPORTS FESTIVAL, 2026 IPSF GAMES EVENT TO BE HELD THURSDAY, AUGUST 6TH, 2026 THROUGH SUNDAY, AUGUST 9TH, 2026 AT VARIOUS CITY OF EDINBURGH FACILITIES AS REQUESTED BY ANTHONY MATTHEW AND BIJOU JOSEPH, MEMBERS OF THE 2026 IPSF GAMES. MOTION APPROVED. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU, MR. ANTHONY AND MR. JOSEPH AND ALL OF YOU THAT APPROACHED US ON THIS. THIS IS, I THINK, GREAT, OF COURSE, FOR YOU ALL TO HAVE IT HERE. IT'S ALWAYS HELD SOMEWHERE ELSE. AND NOW IT'S BEING HELD IN OUR CITY OF EDINBURGH. AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE EVENTS NEXT YEAR. EVEN THOUGH I WON'T BE MAYOR, I'LL STILL BE THERE NEXT YEAR, SO I'LL STILL JOIN Y'ALL. THIS IS A BIG DEAL COUNCIL. THIS IS NORMALLY HELD ELSEWHERE. THERE'S GOING TO BE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HERE IN OUR CITY. AND WE WE REALLY APPRECIATE Y'ALL BRINGING IT HERE TO OUR CITY. MAYOR, IF I MAY. THANK YOU. THANK ALL THE COMMITTEE. I SEE A BUNCH OF GENTLEMEN. I'M SURE THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HELPING. I WILL ASK, PLEASE REACH OUT TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HERE IN EDINBURG TO GET MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE TO STAY HERE IN THE CITY. THAT'S PUT SOME SOME HEADS IN OUR IN EDINBURG BEDS. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HOSTING. THANK YOU. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM B CONSIDER ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR A TEMPORARY SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY BUILDERS ASSOCIATION RVBA COOKOFF EVENT TO BE HELD [B. Consider Ordinance Providing for a Temporary Special Use Permit for the “Rio Grande Valley Builders] FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31ST, 2025 THROUGH NOVEMBER 1ST, 2025 FROM 12 P.M. TO 12 A.M. AT THE EDINBURG MEMORIAL PARK AS DESCRIBED LOCATED AT 1212 EAST SPRAGUE STREET AS REQUESTED BY MARY RAMIREZ. SO MOVED. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. AGAIN, JUST WANT TO THANK THE BUILDERS ASSOCIATION. THANK YOU FOR THINKING OF OUR CITY AND FOR HAVING THIS EVENT HERE IN OUR CITY. THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM C CONSIDER ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE ABANDONMENT OF RIGHT OF WAY FOR A TRACT OF LAND CONTAINING 1.036 ACRES. SITUATED IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH, COUNTY OF [C. Consider Ordinance Providing for the Abandonment of Right-of-Way for a Tract of Land Containing] HIDALGO, TEXAS. AS DESCRIBED. LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF SOUTH VETERANS BOULEVARD, AS REQUESTED BY MAULDIN AND HUNT, AND AUTHORIZE THE MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS RELATED THERETO. MOTION TO TABLE. WE'LL HAVE A MOTION TO TABLE. IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THAT. ANY DISCUSSION ON TABLING? YES. THE REASON I WANT TO TABLE IT I READ THERE WAS THERE WAS NOTHING THAT SAID ANYONE WAS AGAINST IT. I JUST WANT TO TAKE THE CONCERNS OF THE RESIDENTS HERE TODAY AND THE NEIGHBOR. I DON'T WANT TO KILL THIS, THIS REQUEST, BUT I'D LIKE TO TABLE IT TO LOOK INTO IT FURTHER. THAT'S WHY I MADE THE MOTION. CAN THE STAFF GIVE US SOME INFORMATION ON THIS? LIKE EXACTLY WHAT? WHAT IF IT'S BEING TABLED? CAN WE DELIBERATE OR. NO. RIGHT. YEAH. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. YEAH. FOR ME GIVE IT GIVES GIVES BOTH BOTH PARTIES A CHANCE. WOULD IT WOULD IT COME BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING OR SO. IT WILL COME BACK. THE ITEM [01:15:02] WILL BE BROUGHT BACK. YEAH. GOOD. WELL JUST JUST ABLE TO DISCUSS IT. OKAY. YEAH. TABLING JUST GIVES EVERYONE A CHANCE. GIVES THEM A CHANCE TO TO TO DISCUSS MORE. GIVES A GIVES ME A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT. I'M I'M THE KIND THAT EVERYTHING I READ SAID THERE WAS NO, NO ONE AGAINST IT. AND JUST TAKING THE RESIDENTS CONCERN TODAY. AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, THE NEXT MEETING IS OCTOBER 1ST. AND THAT'S WHEN THE ITEM WILL BE IF IF THIS PASSES AT TABLING, RIGHT. THAT WILL BE WHEN IT COMES BACK ON. ALL RIGHT. SO THERE'S A MOTION A 2ND OCTOBER. EXCUSE ME. OH THE SEVENTH I'M SORRY. OKAY. BE OCTOBER 7TH. THAT OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO TABLE. ALL IN FAVOR TO TABLE. RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. ALL RIGHT. SO MOTION IS TABLED. SO THIS ITEM WILL COME BACK OCTOBER 7TH. WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO ITEM D UNDER ORDINANCES. CONSIDER ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES [D. Consider Ordinance Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Edinburg, Texas at Title III,] OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG, TEXAS AT TITLE THREE ADMINISTRATION, CHAPTER 30, ADMINISTRATIVE CODE SECTIONS 30.071, 30.072 AND SECTION 30.075 TO PROVIDE FOR VARIOUS CHANGES TO THE CITY'S CURRENT CLASSIFICATION COMPENSATION PLAN FOR NON-CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES. MOTION APPROVED. SECOND MOTION AND A SECOND. I BELIEVE MISS BYRNE HAD A COMMENT ON THIS. YES, MA'AM. I REALLY A COMMENT. JUST ASK IF SOMEONE WOULD EXPLAIN WHAT IT IS, BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT CALLED AND DIDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND. YES MA'AM. THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER. YES. SO THE SO THE CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION PLAN IS BASICALLY STATING THE CITY'S POSITIONS AND THEIR COMPENSATION CATEGORY, THEIR SCHEDULE. SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE APPROVE WITH THE BUDGET EVERY, EVERY FISCAL YEAR. BUT I BELIEVE ALSO THIS THE PAY PLAN ADJUSTMENTS INCLUDE FOR ALL THE EMPLOYEES. THEY CAN ACTUALLY GET THE INCREASE WITHOUT THE THIS ORDINANCE BEING ADOPTED AS WELL. SO YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH IT'S INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET, THE FINANCE CAN'T, I THINK PROCESS THAT WITHOUT MAKING ADJUSTMENTS TO THE COMPENSATION PLAN. SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS IS. YEAH. THANK YOU. NO PROBLEM. ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. MOVING ON TO THE NEXT ITEM. CONSIDER ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES [E. Consider Ordinance Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Edinburg, Texas at Title III,] OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG, TEXAS AT TITLE THREE. ADMINISTRATION, CHAPTER 30, ADMINISTRATIVE CODE SECTION 30.073 TO PROVIDE CHANGES TO THE CIVIL SERVICE CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION PLANS. SO MOVE. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. AND I KNOW MISS HAD A COMMENT ON THIS BUT IT'S ACTUALLY THE SAME THING. BUT THIS IS FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE FOR OUR POLICE AND FIRE. YES. ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM F CONSIDER ORDINANCE AMENDING THE AUTHORIZED STRENGTH AND [F. Consider Ordinance Amending the Authorized Strength and Classifications of the City of Edinburg Police] CLASSIFICATIONS OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG. POLICE OFFICERS. COUNCIL. SO MOVED. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. I HAVE A QUESTION ON THIS, MR. CITY MANAGER. SO IS THIS. DO WE NEED TO AMEND OUR MEETING, CONFER FOR THIS, OR IS THIS JUST ALSO. NO, IT'S JUST THE ORDINANCE. WE DON'T WE DON'T NEED TO AMEND THE. OKAY. YEAH. IT'S CREATING A SERGEANT OR RECLASSIFYING A SERGEANT POSITION. CORRECT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM G, YOUR ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG, TEXAS AT TITLE THREE. ADMINISTRATION, [G. Consider Ordinance Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Edinburg, Texas at Title III,] CHAPTER 30, ADMINISTRATIVE CODE SECTION 30.041 TO UPDATE CONTRIBUTIONS BY THE CITY. SO MOVE. WE HAVE A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND WE HAVE A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT. ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES ITEM H. CONSIDER ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG, TEXAS AT [H. Consider Ordinance Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Edinburg, Texas at Title III,] TITLE THREE. ADMINISTRATION. CHAPTER 30 ADMINISTRATIVE CODE SECTION 30.006. SECTION 30.009 AND 30.016 TO UPDATE THE STRUCTURAL ORGANIZATION OF THE CITY. MOTION APPROVED. WE HAVE A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? WE HAVE A SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT. SURE. I'LL HAVE CITY MANAGER. THESE ARE RECLASSIFICATION I THINK IN DEPARTMENTS. SO CORRECT. ANY ANY ITEMS I MEAN ANY POSITIONS THAT ARE BEING CREATED OR RECLASSIFIED OR CHANGED. THIS IS THE ORDINANCE THAT IT WOULD FALL UNDER BASED ON THE BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS AND APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET ITEMS. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM TEN. AWARDING OF BIDS. ITEM A CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF TWO NEW PIERCE CUSTOM ENFORCER [10. AWARDING OF BID] [A. Consider Authorizing the Purchase of Two New Pierce Custom Enforcer Pumpers through Contract No.] PUMPS. PUMPERS THROUGH CONTRACT NUMBER HG, AC, FS 1223 FIRE FROM SIMMONS MARTIN'S EMERGENCY [01:20:07] GROUP, LLC IN THE AMOUNT OF 2,000,021 258. SO MOVED. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. I DID JUST WANT TO ASK THE CHIEF REALLY QUICKLY. I, YOU KNOW, COMPLETELY IN FAVOR OF THIS. THIS IS GREAT TO ADD TO OUR FLEET, BUT JUST KIND OF OVERALL SCHEME OF THINGS. I MEAN, WHERE DOES THAT PUT US? I KNOW WE STILL NEED MORE, CHIEF. RIGHT. YEAH. YEAH. UNFORTUNATELY WE STILL NEED MORE TO KIND OF GET MORE INFORMATION. YEAH. SO THESE TWO NEW TRUCKS WILL REPLACE ENGINE ONE AND ENGINE THREE, WHICH HAVE BEEN A PROBLEMATIC TRUCK SINCE DAY ONE. UNFORTUNATELY, THESE TRUCKS TAKE 36 MONTHS TO BUILD. SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE ORDER THEM RIGHT NOW. AND I THINK THE PRICE INCREASE GOES UP IN OCTOBER. SO IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT WE GET A PURCHASE ORDER AND GET THEM ORDER SO WE CAN GET THEM HERE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. SO IT TAKES THREE YEARS TO GET THEM. SO AND PIERCE HAS BEEN THE MANUFACTURER THAT WE'VE BEEN USING MOST OF OUR FIRE TRUCKS. YES, SIR. AND THAT'S GOING TO BE MY NEXT QUESTION. YEAH. IT TAKES 36 MONTHS. AND YEAH WE GOT TO ORDER MORE ALREADY. SO BUT I APPRECIATE YOU BEING BEFORE THIS. LIKE I SAID I MADE MY COMMENTS ON THE BUDGET. IT'S REAL TOUGH. BUT THERE'S SOME THINGS WE ACTUALLY NEED TO MOVE ON. AND SO THIS IS ONE OF THEM. AND I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS ALWAYS INCLUDING THAT. YEAH. THANK YOU I KNOW THE FIRE DEPARTMENT NEEDS THESE TWO NEW PUMPERS, BUT JUST JUST FOR REFERENCE, THE COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES. THIS THIS PURCHASE IS HOW MANY PENNIES IN OUR CURRENT BUDGET I THINK 700,000 PER PENNY. SO IT WOULD BE ABOUT THREE. IT WOULD BE ABOUT $0.03 JUST ON THIS PURCHASE. JUST TO PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU CHIEF. THANK YOU MAYOR. APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 11. CONTRACTUAL ITEM A. CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR RFQ NUMBER 2020 504. PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING [11. CONTRACTUALS] [A. Consider Authorizing the City Manager to Enter Into a Professional Services Agreement for RFQ No.] SERVICES FOR LIFT STATION NUMBER FOUR AND SEWER LINE UPGRADES BETWEEN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH AND SUPREME ENGINEERING PLC, IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 550,000. PURSUANT TO THE CITY'S ORDINANCE PROCUREMENT POLICIES. SO MOVE. WE HAVE A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? WE HAVE A SECOND. I BELIEVE THERE'S A QUESTION. I JUST WANTED SOMEONE TO DESCRIBE EXACTLY WHERE THIS IS AT. I UNDERSTAND IT'S OVER ON THE MCCALL, THE JACKSON, WHATEVER. SO IF YOU WOULD EXPLAIN TO THE PEOPLE BECAUSE REMEMBER I SENT Y'ALL PICTURES BEFORE OVER THERE ON CHAPIN AND MCCALL. SO I'M WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS CAPABLE OF TAKING CARE OF THAT ALL THAT AREA. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL GERARDO CARMONA, DIRECTOR, UTILITY. SO THIS PROJECT BASICALLY IS GOING TO BE TO UPGRADE THE EXISTING LIFT STATION THAT'S THERE ON SUGAR AND CANTON AND THEN TO DO SEWER LINE UPGRADES DOWNSTREAM ALL THE WAY TO THE PLANT. CURRENTLY THE SERVICE AREA, THE ULTIMATE SERVICE AREA FOR THIS, FOR THIS LIFT STATION IS IS THE BIGGEST LIFT STATION THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY. SO IT'S GOING TO IT COVERS ABOUT 8000 ACRES. SO IT'S A IT'S A MASSIVE LIFT STATION. THE MAJORITY OF OUR CITY OR A GOOD PART. OKAY. YES SIR. SO WE'RE LOOKING OH SORRY. PARDON THE MAYOR, IF I MAY. I BELIEVE IT'S SUGAR AND MONARCH. YEAH. YOU SAID SUGAR AND CANTON. OH. I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY. YEAH. WE'RE SO SORRY. YEAH. IT'S LIKE WE'RE WORKING REAL FAST HERE. SORRY. OKAY. YOU SEEMED VERY PLEASED, MAYOR, BUT YES, IT IS SUGAR AND MONARCH AT THIS TIME, I APOLOGIZE. CLARIFY ON THE MINUTES BECAUSE THE RESIDENTS ARE GOING TO SEE THEM. YES, SIR. NOT SURE. SORRY. SO. YES. SO THAT BASICALLY PICKS UP A MAJOR AREA FROM MONTE CRISTO ALL THE WAY TO, YOU KNOW, EVEN PAST ON THE WEST SIDE, PASTOR CITY LIMITS. AND THEN IT GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE TO THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT. SO IT DOES PICK UP A BIG PORTION. SO THE THE DESIGN ON THIS IS BASICALLY TO DESIGN THIS LIFT STATION. SO IT'S, IT CAN HANDLE THE, THE DEVELOPMENT FOR FOR THE FUTURE. OKAY. NOW IT WOULD BE GOOD. IT PROBABLY IS ALREADY GOING TO BE INCLUDED. BUT AS THIS GETS APPROVED WE CAN ADD IT TO OUR DASHBOARD. BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE ALL OUR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND I THINK WE HAVE DESIGN PROJECTS THERE TOO. WE DO, AND WE CAN MAKE SURE WE ADD THIS AND THEN ADD A MAP SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN LET PEOPLE KNOW WHERE THIS IS BEING DONE. AND THEN A TIMELINE OF WHAT AFTER THE DESIGN, RIGHT, WHEN IT'S GOING TO BE IMPROVED UPON. I THINK THAT THAT WOULD HELP GO A LONG WAY. SO WE'LL WORK ON THAT. YES, SIR. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. IF THERE'S NO OTHER DISCUSSION, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM B, CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE [B. Consider Authorizing the City Manager to Enter Into a Professional Services Agreement Between the City] CITY OF EDINBURGH AND WORK SHIELD IN THE AMOUNT OF 36,000. EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS RELATED THERETO. ALL RIGHT. COUNSEL, IS THERE A MOTION? TO APPROVE? WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE. IS THERE? WE HAVE A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT. ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. [01:25:06] ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM C. CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A DEDICATION AGREEMENT, PENDING APPROVAL OF FINAL ALIGNMENT AND SUBJECT TO FINAL [C. Consider Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Dedication Agreement Pending Approval of Final] LEGAL REVIEW FOR AN EASEMENT FOR ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION LINES TO MAGIC VALLEY ELECTRIC COOPERATION AT THE EDINBURGH REGIONAL SANITARY LANDFILL, AND AUTHORIZE THE INSTALLATION AND REMOVAL OF EXISTING OVERHEAD LINES TO FACILITATE THE INSTALLATION OF UNDERGROUND FACILITIES FOR CONTINUED LANDFILL DEVELOPMENT. IN THE AMOUNT OF 151,565 AND $0.52. SO MOVED. WE HAVE A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? WE HAVE A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT. ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 12 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ITEM A CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE EDC FISCAL YEAR 2025 2026 PROGRAM OF WORK AND BUDGET. SO MOVE. SECOND. MOTION. AND A SECOND. DO WE HAVE OUR EXECUTIVE [12. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT] DIRECTOR HERE AND OUR ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE. GO AHEAD SIR. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL [A. Consider Approval of the Edinburg EDC Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Program of Work and Budget. [Raudel] MEMBERS JUST WANTED TO KIND OF GO OVER SOME HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE PROGRAM OF WORK. PROGRAM OF WORK IS BASICALLY CONTINUING THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. SOME OF THE KEY PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT 12 MONTHS WILL BE FINALIZING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WORKFORCE RESOURCE CENTER, CONTINUING WORKING ON DOWNTOWN AND MIDTOWN IMPROVEMENTS, ENHANCING AND EXPANDING OUR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, PURSUING ENTERTAINMENT AND RETAIL OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE, PROMOTING PARTNERSHIPS WITH EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO DEVELOP OUR WORKFORCE. IDENTIFYING KEY BACK OFFICE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES. ASSISTING SMALL BUSINESSES WITH A VARIETY OF TOOLS. SOLIDIFYING THIS ORGANIZATION WITH PROPER PLANNING AND STAFFING FOR THE LONG TERM SUCCESS. AND THE BUDGET, WHICH IS ABOUT $19 MILLION BUDGET, ALLOWS US TO DO THAT AND THEN SOME MORE. GREAT COUNCIL. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THE QUESTION I KNOW THAT IS ASKED EVERY YEAR IS ON THE SMALL BUSINESS. I KNOW THERE WAS A LIFT FUND AND THAT PROGRAM. DOES THIS BUDGET INCLUDE SOME SOME MORE FUNDING FOR THAT OR SO? THE THE BUDGET DOES INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL $400,000 FOR ROUND THREE OF THE FLIP, WHICH IS A FACADE AND LOT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. SO WE'VE GONE THROUGH ABOUT 80 BUSINESSES THUS FAR WHO HAVE BEEN BENEFITING FROM FACADE IMPROVEMENT GRANTS AND PARKING LOT IMPROVEMENT GRANTS. LIFT FUND IS ALSO ONE OF THOSE THAT WE'VE SET ASIDE $100,000 A YEAR FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, SO THAT'S ALSO IN HERE. WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND OUR SERVICES TO WHERE NOW WE'RE GOING TO START THE KAUFMANN SERIES WITH UTRGV AND THEIR SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER. ONCE WE GET INTO THE TRANSIT CENTER, WE'LL HAVE THE SPACE THERE TO CONDUCT THOSE CLASSES THERE. WE ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND ON SOME OTHER PROGRAMS, BECAUSE WE'RE SETTING ASIDE SOME MONIES FOR STARTUP GRANTS AND THAT TYPE OF THING. OKAY, GREAT. ON THE FLIP, I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT. I'M PROUD OF THAT PROGRAM. I WAS THERE TO HELP CHAMPION IT AND GET IT, GET IT GOING. IT WAS DESIGNED TO HELP THE BUSINESSES WHO DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO COME UP WITH SOME OF THOSE IMPROVEMENTS. WHAT I'D ASK IS IF YOU COULD TAKE BACK TO THE BOARD TO CONSIDER LOWERING SOME OF THE SOME OF THE BUSINESSES THAT I THINK COULD USE THIS MONEY AND THIS GRANT MONEY, THEY DON'T APPLY BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE RESTRICTIONS OR SOME OF THE QUALIFICATIONS. I THINK THERE WAS ISSUES ON ON AMOUNT OF INSURANCE OR LACK THEREOF, AND THEY THEY DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO APPLY BECAUSE OF THAT. IF WE CAN FIND A HAPPY MEDIUM, SOME LEEWAY TO HELP THOSE BUSINESSES THAT CAN'T AFFORD THE INSURANCE YET COULD USE THIS $10,000 GRANT TO HELP IMPROVE THEIR BUSINESSES, WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK AT THAT, PLEASE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL, IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IF NOT, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION PASSES. I'M SORRY, DID YOU HAVE A GO AHEAD? I'LL ALLOW IT. I'M SORRY YOU HAD A COMMENT, BUT. I DID THE BACKUP ON IT AND Y'ALL WERE TALKING EARLIER. A HALF CENT SALES TAX REVENUE LAST YEAR WAS 9,866,485. AND THIS YEAR, HALF CENT WOULD BE 10,136,894. AND A LOT OF TIMES WE THE TAXPAYER, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT JUST A FEW LITTLE BUSINESSES. IF YOU HAD LOWERED THE TAX RATE A LITTLE, YOU COULD HAVE DONE EVERY BUSINESS IN EDINBURGH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM 13 APPOINTMENTS COUNCIL I THINK WE HAVE SEVERAL APPOINTMENTS. I'LL HAVE THE CITY SECRETARY GO THROUGH THEM BECAUSE IF NOT I'LL SKIP ONE OR NOT. SO GO AHEAD MA'AM. YES MA'AM. [13. APPOINTMENTS] [A. Consider Appointments to the Following City Advisory Boards, Councils, Commissions and Committees:] CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING CITY ADVISORY BOARDS, COUNCILS COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES. CULTURAL ACTIVITIES BOARD ONE MEMBER PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD ONE MEMBER. ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT FIVE MEMBERS AND FOUR ALTERNATES. THE FIRST ONE IS CULTURAL ACTIVITIES ADVISORY BOARD. AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE. THE PRESENT MEMBER IS JEFFREY WARD. AND THE TERM IS UP. IS [01:30:09] THAT YES, THE TERM IS UP. OH POINT FOR HIM AGAIN OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION TO REAPPOINT. IS THERE A SECOND SECOND. WE HAVE A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. THE NEXT ONE IS THE PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD. ONE MEMBER, AND THERE'S A VACANCY. THIS ONE, THERE WAS A THERE'S A VACANCY. YES. THIS IS A VACANCY. ANY MEMBERS COUNCIL? THERE'S TWO APPLICANTS. IS THERE ANY MOTION? MAKE A MOTION TO APPOINT RACHEL RILEY. ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? WE HAVE A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. THE NEXT ONE IS THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS BY MEMBERS AND FOUR ALTERNATES. THIS IS JUST TO DESIGNATE WHO THE VOTING MEMBERS WILL BE AND WHO THE ALTERNATES WOULD BE. OH THIS COUNCIL I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME ITEMS THAT COME UP THAT I THINK WE'VE MOVED THEM UP AND CHANGED THEM. AND SO I THINK WE JUST WANT TO CLARIFY ON THIS. I THINK ANDREW ALMAGUER WAS A WAS A VOTING MEMBER, BUT THEN NOW IT'S NOT. AND SO I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT HAPPENED, BUT I'M NOT SURE WHAT COUNCIL'S WISHES ARE. BUT I THINK THAT'S WHY IT'S ON HERE RIGHT NOW. FOR OUR CONSIDERATION NOW HAD ASKED FOR US TO LOOK TO SEE IF WE CAN INCLUDE ALL OF THEM. IS IT BY ORDINANCE THAT WE CAN HAVE THEM ALL BE A PART OF IT? AS VOTING MEMBERS? I KNOW THEY'RE ALTERNATES NOW BECAUSE OF THE THE ORDINANCE THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE. SO COULDN'T WE IF COUNCIL WOULD LIKE, YOU KNOW, AMEND THAT ORDINANCE SO THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY COULD ATTEND. AND SO THE ORIGINAL AUTHORITY FOR THE ZONING BOARD DERIVES FROM THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE. HERE IN OUR CODE OF ORDINANCES, WE DEFER IT TO THE UDC. SO THE UDC ESTABLISHES THE THE MAKEUP OF THE BOARD AND AS WELL AS THE TOTAL NUMBER AND WHICH ONES ARE VOTING AND WHICH ONES ARE ALTERNATES, THE ISSUE BECOMES IF YOU DO INCREASE THE NUMBER TO ALL VOTING, THERE ARE SOME ITEMS WHERE YOU NEED COMPLETE A SUPERMAJORITY. AND SO THAT'S WHERE THE CONCERN ARISES IF YOU WERE TO. ADD TO THE NUMBER OF VOTES, IS A SUPERMAJORITY ON THOSE THAT ARE PRESENT OR ARE ON ALL THE VOTING. RIGHT. SO YOU WOULD HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME HAVING ACTION TAKEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE ALL MEMBERS PRESENT. AND SO THAT'S WHY YOU ESTABLISH THE SYSTEM WHERE YOU HAD ALTERNATES IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO WHEN MEMBERS WERE ABSENT, YOU HAD ALTERNATES THERE THAT DO PARTICIPATE AND VOTE. WHEN THE MEMBERS THAT ARE ABSENT AND VOTING, AND HOW MANY ON AVERAGE ARE YOU HERE? HOW MANY ON AVERAGE ARE COMING TO THE MEETINGS? BECAUSE I, I JUST SOME OF THESE MEMBERS SHOW UP AND THEY CAN'T EVEN VOTE. RIGHT. AND THEIR RESIDENTS ARE TAKING TIME OFF THEIR, YOU KNOW. AND SO YEAH, I'D LIKE TO US TO CONSIDER JUST HAVING THEM ALL BE A PART OF IT, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY ARE SHOWING UP. SO I MUST HAVE PLANNING AND ZONING DIRECTOR. WE DO HAVE A PRETTY GOOD ATTENDANCE WITH THAT BOARD. IT'S A BOARD THAT MEETS ONLY ONCE A MONTH. AND ATTENDANCE WE HAVE PRETTY GOOD PRETTY GOOD ATTENDANCE. YEAH. AND I JUST LIKE THEM ALL COUNCIL TO BE ABLE TO VOTE ON YOU KNOW IF POSSIBLE I MAY HAVE A QUESTION. IS THERE A THE ALTERNATES ARE THERE. JUMP IN TO A VOTING POSITION WHEN THE WHEN THE QUORUM IS NOT THERE. IS THAT WHAT HAPPENS? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME CONFUSION ON SOME ALTERNATES THAT DO VOTE. AND THEN WHEN THEY DON'T VOTE ANYMORE. WELL, THEY'VE BEEN VOTING FOR A WHILE. SO IT KIND OF CREATES A CONFUSION. HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN? WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE ALTERNATE. SO THE ROLE THE ALTERNATE IS TO VOTE WHENEVER THERE'S AN ABSENCE. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IS WE HAVE A LIST BEFORE THE MEETING STARTS OF WHO THE FIRST, ALTERNATE, SECOND, ALTERNATE, THIRD ALTERNATES ARE. SO IF THERE'S ONE ABSENCE, THEN THE FIRST ALTERNATE GETS TO JUMP IN AND VOTE ON ON THAT ITEM. SO IS EVERY ACTION NEEDING SUPERMAJORITY, OR IS THAT ONLY WHEN WHEN IS THAT TAKEN TO EFFECT OR. WELL, THE SUPERMAJORITY COMES INTO PLAY. IF WE GO TO LIKE A SEVEN MEMBER BOARD AND THEN THERE'S THREE ABSENCES. NOW YOU ONLY HAVE FOUR MEMBERS SHOW UP. WE STILL HAVE A QUORUM, BUT WE NEED ALL FOUR TO VOTE ON THE ITEM AT THAT POINT AT THAT POINT. SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE PLANNING AND ZONING ALSO, RIGHT? YEAH. RIGHT. SO IF YOU IF YOU DO DECIDE TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE, IT WOULD NEED TO GO TO PLANNING AND ZONING FIRST. WE WOULD NEED A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE UDC ON MODIFYING THE UDC BEFORE IT COMES BACK TO COUNCIL. SO IT WOULD BE A TWO STEP PROCESS. OKAY. WELL, YOU KNOW, DO YOU I [01:35:02] MEAN I I'M IN FAVOR OF THAT. BUT THAT'S UP TO YOU ALL AS COUNCIL. THAT'S I YOU KNOW I'VE BEEN ON THAT BOARD AND AND I YOU KNOW THERE'S 12 MEETINGS A YEAR. IT'S ONE, ONE A MONTH. AND I, I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP THE ALTERNATES BECAUSE THIS BOARD IS GOOD. BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEXT BOARD'S GOING TO BE. RIGHT. SO, SO SO OBVIOUSLY THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THERE, THEY'RE YOU KNOW, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THEY'RE GOING TO GET MOVED TO ANOTHER BOARD EVENTUALLY. SO I DO. WHEN I SAT ON THAT BOARD, I DID SEE A LOT OF ATTENDANCE ISSUES AND ATTENDANCE PROBLEMS, MAKING SURE WE HAD QUORUM RIGHT. I EVEN KNOW PLANNING SOMETIMES IS GOING THROUGH THAT RIGHT NOW, NOT GETTING A QUORUM. AND THEY'RE HAVING ISSUES, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE NOT SHOWING UP. SO I JUST THINK THOUGH, KEEPING IT THE SAME WOULD BE GOOD. NOW, MAYOR, WHOEVER YOU WANT TO PUT ON THE WELL I THINK THE ISSUE IS ONE OF THEM. THEY HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED PROPERLY OF WHAT THEIR POSITION IS. SO LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER DIAZ SAID, THEY'LL SHOW UP AND THEN THEY'LL VOTE, SAY, OH NO, YOU CAN'T VOTE. AND SO THEY'VE BEEN, BUT THEY'VE BEEN VOTING FOR LIKE A FEW MEETINGS. AND SO THAT I THINK THAT'S BEEN PART OF THE CONFUSION AND, AND ANYWAY, THAT THAT'S WHY THIS WAS BROUGHT UP. AND I THINK ANDY CAME IN AS A, AS A, AS A VOTING MEMBER. RIGHT. BUT THEN SOMEHOW HE GOT TAKEN OUT. SO I, YOU KNOW, MR. ALMAGUER HAS BEEN SERVING ON THERE. I THINK HE'S NOW HOWEVER, THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO US SOMEHOW GOT BUMPED OFF. I WOULD JUST ASK COUNCIL, WE COULD RECONSIDER PUTTING THEM AS A VOTING MEMBER AGAIN. AND YOU KNOW. BUT SO THE THE ONLY OTHER THING I WANT TO ADD IS THAT EVEN AS A, AS A IF THEY'RE NOT A VOTING MEMBER, BUT THEY ARE AN ALTERNATE, THEY STILL GET TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETINGS. SO THEY'RE STILL PARTICIPATING. THEY'RE JUST NOT VOTING. AND SO SOMETIMES THEY DO ADD KEY INFORMATION OR ASK KEY QUESTIONS THAT HELP IN THE DISCUSSION AND ESTABLISHING THE RECORD. BECAUSE REMEMBER, THE ZONING BOARD IS ONE THAT DOES NOT GET APPEALED TO YOU ALL. AS THE CITY COUNCIL, IT GETS APPEALED DIRECTLY TO DISTRICT COURT. AND SO THAT RECORD IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US IN MAKING SURE THAT IT'S NICE AND TIGHT WHEN WE WHEN WHENEVER WE DO HAVE A CHALLENGE IF, IF AT ALL. WHAT DO WE KNOW WHEN THAT CHANGE THE ALTERNATE TO WHAT WHAT, WHAT MONTH OR WHAT? I THINK IT HAPPENED A COUPLE OF MONTHS BACK AT A CITY COUNCIL MEETING WHERE WHERE THE COUNCIL JUST DECIDED TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS. OH, I SEE VOTING MEMBERS AND THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS. THEY WOULD JUST BY DEFAULT THE WAY THE. YEAH, OKAY. ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL, IS THERE ANY MOTIONS OR ANYTHING ON THIS ITEM? IF THERE'S NOT, I WILL MOVE ON OR WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM. WE HAVE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM 414 CONSENT AGENDA. [14. CONSENT AGENDA] WE HAVE ITEMS A THROUGH. EIGHT THROUGH J. AND I WOULD ONLY ASK ITEM E TO BE TAKEN OUT BECAUSE I THINK THERE WAS A COMMENT ON THAT. SO IS THERE A MOTION TO VOTE ON ALL THE OTHER ITEMS EXCEPT ITEM E? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE EIGHT THROUGH J WITH THE EXCEPTION OF E, OKAY. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. CAN YOU READ ITEM E, PLEASE? MR. MAYOR, CONSIDER APPROVING THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 2025 BUDGET TRANSFERS FOR THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUND, GENERAL FUND, LOS LAGOS GOLF CLUB FUND, SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT FUND AND UTILITY FUND. COUNCIL. IS THERE A MOTION SO MOVED A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT. WE HAVE A SECOND. AND I THINK THERE WAS A COMMENT. YES, MA'AM. IT'S THE LAST ONE. I HAD SOMEONE CALL AND WANTED AN EXPLANATION OF WHAT THIS IS EXACTLY. THEY READ THE BACKUP, I PULLED IT UP AND I STILL DIDN'T UNDERSTAND. SO SOMEONE JUST KIND OF GIVE THEM AN IDEA. YES. YES, MA'AM. IT'S BEFORE THE FISCAL YEAR ENDS, I GUESS. YEAH. YES, MAYOR. COUNCIL, THIS IS A TRANSFER OF FUNDS THAT ARE SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENTS DURING THE YEAR WHEN WE BUDGET DURING OUR BUDGET PROCESS, WE PROJECT THE COSTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE INCURRED IN THE FUTURE. SOMETIMES SOME OF THESE COSTS ARE, LET'S SAY, A FIRE TRUCK. THERE MIGHT BE A MOTOR THAT GOES OUT AND IT'S HIGHER THAN. THAN WHAT, WHAT WAS BUDGETED. SO THERE'S TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO DO THAT. SOMETIMES LET'S SAY PARKS AND RECS, THEY THEY GO OUT AND THEY HAVE A BASEBALL TEAM AND IT MAKES IT TO TO LOCAL, MAKES IT TO STATE, MAKES IT TO THE FINALS AND ALL THAT. SO IT'S ADDITIONAL COST. SO WE TRANSFER SOME OF THAT. ALSO THERE'S THERE'S SAVINGS SOMETIMES THAT THERE'S A NEED TO TO DO OTHER IMPROVEMENTS OR DO OTHER PURCHASE OTHER ITEMS. WE DO A TRANSFER. ALL THIS TRANSFERS. THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION. IT IS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. IT'S JUST WE'RE JUST TRANSFERRING FROM ONE LINE ITEM TO THE OTHER. [01:40:02] BUT THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS. AND I JUST HAVE A QUESTION ON THAT JUST FOR EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND. THESE ARE ALL ITEMS THAT Y'ALL MONITOR. SO YOU SEE THAT THERE'S AN INCREASE. AND IN YOUR OPINION, YOU DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY HERE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS ALL PART OF WHAT WAS BUDGETED. IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, COST. AND WE DO HAVE INTERNAL CONTROLS THAT FLAG WHEN AN ITEM WE'RE GETTING TO, TO ALMOST TO, TO UTILIZING ALL THE FUNDS OR ALSO THAT THERE'S FUNDS THAT MIGHT BE FOR USE FOR SOME OTHER USES. SO IT'S PRETTY MUCH WITHIN THE DEPARTMENTS. AND IT'S ALSO IT'S A NO APPROPRIATION, NO ADDITIONAL COST TO TO THE BUDGET. IT'S WITHIN EVERY DEPARTMENT. AND THESE ARE SUBMITTED BY OUR DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS. AND IT'S THE END OF FISCAL YEAR. AND USUALLY AT THE END OF THE YEAR WE SEE THESE ITEMS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. IF THERE'S NO OTHER DISCUSSION ALL IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 15 COUNCIL. WE HAVE ITEM A ANY ITEMS YOU WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST AT THIS TIME [15. OTHER BUSINESS] FROM COUNCIL. FROM CITY MANAGEMENT FOR NEXT MEETING? NO. ALL RIGHT. IF NOT, WE'LL MOVE [A. Future Items Requested by City Council. [Myra L. Ayala, City Manager]] ON TO ITEM B. CONSIDER CANCELING OR RESCHEDULING THE. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH, 2025 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD, 2025. SO MOVED. WELL A MOTION IS THERE. [B. Consider Canceling or Rescheduling the Tuesday, November 04, 2025, Regular City Council Meeting to] A SECOND, SECOND SECOND. GO AHEAD. YES, SIR. WHAT DATE? THE MONDAY BEFORE ELECTION. CAN'T MOVE IT. THE FIFTH. IT'S MY BIRTHDAY. I'M LIKE, OH, IN THAT CASE, NO. YEAH. WHAT'S UP TO YOU ALL? BUT I THINK CITY SECRETARY ADDED THIS YEAR BECAUSE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH IS ELECTION DAY. AND SO OBVIOUSLY THAT'S WHY WE DON'T WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO HAVE A MEETING. BUT FOR THE RECORD, WE COULD HAVE IT, BUT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BECAUSE IT'S ELECTION DAY. SO YOU KNOW BUT BUT I THINK STAFF PRESENTED THIS FOR OUR CONSIDERATION. WE CAN MOVE IT THE WEEK BEFORE THAT. YOU KNOW, WE WE TECHNICALLY COULD. RIGHT. IS THIS AN ITEM I KNOW WITH ZONING CASES THAT DO WE PUBLICIZE ALREADY FOR NOVEMBER OR. OH OKAY. SO SO WE COULD MOVE IT A WEEK BEFORE NOVEMBER 5TH OR NOVEMBER 6TH CAN BE ON THAT THURSDAY. I WOULD ASK MAYBE BEFORE THE ELECTION IF POSSIBLE, ONLY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD HAVE THE MEETING. BUT IT'S UP TO YOU ALL. IT'S UP TO COUNCIL. I MEAN, MONDAY WAS JUST THE DAY BEFORE. THAT'S WHY THEY PRESENTED FOR THE FOURTH. YES. KEEP IT ON THE FOURTH. YEAH. EARLY VOTING ON THE ON FRIDAY. YOU CAN'T MOVE. IT IS EARLY VOTING THE WEEK BEFORE NOVEMBER 4TH ELECTION DAY. SO YOU HAVE IT ON MONDAY. I KNOW IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY, BUT. YOU ONLY TURN 41, RIGHT? YEAH. ALRIGHT. WELL WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND WE'LL MAKE A BIG OLD CAKE FOR COUNCIL MEMBER. IT'S HIS BIRTHDAY THAT DAY. HOW'S THAT WILL BE. I MEAN, IF IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S I. I DON'T WANT TO INTERFERE WITH FAMILY. I MEAN, I'M SURE HE'S GOING TO HAVE HIS WIFE AND FAMILY ALL TRYING TO GET TOGETHER. SO IT'S IT'S UP TO YOU GUYS NOT GOING TO BE ANY DISCUSSION GUYS THAT DAY. AND CLARITY I'M GOING TO COUNT ON YOU COUNTING ON YOU. WE'RE LOWERING PUBLIC RIGHT NOW. THE MOTION SECOND IS ON NOVEMBER 3RD MONDAY THE MONDAY BEFORE HIS BIRTHDAY. SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND COMMENT WILL BE HELD TO MY MOTION. ALRIGHT. SO THERE'S BEEN A RETRACTION OKAY. SO IS THERE ANY OTHER MOTIONS. AND NOW WE'LL MOVE ON I MEAN THIS IS PUT IN HERE WAY AHEAD JUST SO WE COULD, YOU KNOW, CONSIDER IT. WE CAN WE COULD PUT IT AT THE NEXT MEETING AND AND FIGURE OUT. SO WE DO WEDNESDAY. I MEAN I'M OKAY WITH THAT. WELL YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION. I STILL HAVE IT OPEN, IF THAT'S YOUR WISH. YEAH. I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR WEDNESDAY. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION TO MOVE THE MEETING TO WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH. FROM NOVEMBER 4TH. OR IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A SECOND. I'LL JUST REMIND COUNCIL THAT ELECTION DAY IS NOVEMBER 4TH. SO DEPENDING WHAT HAPPENS, WE MAY HAVE TO SCHEDULE A SPECIAL MEETING FOR CANVASING. IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR. AND WHEN IS THAT NORMALLY HELD? JUST TO KIND OF GET AN IDEA. THAT WOULD BE I MEAN IT'S ONLY A WEEK LATER DAYS AFTER. THERE'S A TIME PERIOD WHICH IS CALLED A CURING PERIOD. SO LIKE A WEEK AFTER OR SOMETHING. OKAY. OR TWO. YEAH. SO THERE'S STILL A TIME PERIOD THAT, THAT THE CITY I BELIEVE THE 18TH IS LIKE THE LAST DAY, 18TH OR 19TH WOULD BE THE LAST DAY TO CANVASS, TO CANVASS. OH, OKAY. AND WE ALSO. ALL RIGHT. SO THEN CURRENT COUNCIL WOULD STILL COME TO THAT MEETING WE'LL HAVE. YEAH. THAT IS CORRECT. WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL OPPOSED. SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. WE MOVE ON TO ITEM 16, EXECUTIVE SESSION. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO CONVENE? MOVE A [16. EXECUTIVE SESSION] MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL [01:45:02] OPPOSED. SAME SIGN IS 7:43 P.M. WE ARE NOW GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. THANK YOU. ITEM EIGHT CONSULTATION WITH CITY ATTORNEY. ITEM B DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY. ITEM C DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT. PROJECT OLAF. ITEM D DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT. PROJECT CAFFEINE DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, PROJECT STORE DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT. PROJECT EXPEDITION ITEM G CONSULTATION WITH CITY ATTORNEY REGARDING PENDING LITIGATION MATTERS C-352323-F TEXAS CORDIA VERSUS CITY OF EDINBURG. ITEM H CONSULTATION WITH CITY ATTORNEY REGARDING PENDING AND POTENTIAL LITIGATION CLAIM OF FE GARZA SLASH INTERSTATE TOWING. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.