Jul 07, 2026 City Council Meeting 7-07-26 (trimmed)

[00:15:29]

COMING UP NEXT ON ECNA REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF YOUR EDINBURGH CITY COUNCIL ON

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[00:15:49]

[00:15:59]

[1. CALL TO ORDER, ESTABLISH QUORUM]

[A. Prayer.]

COUNCILMEMBER DIAZ, IF YOU COULD LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE. YES, YOUR HONOR. MY HONOR, IF I COULD ASK EVERYBODY TO PLEASE STAND. IF YOU ARE ABLE, REMOVE ALL YOUR HEADGEAR. UNLESS YOU'RE IN UNIFORM. PLACE YOUR HAND RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART AND LET IT STAY TOGETHER. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU.

NEXT ITEM IS THE CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE, MADAM SECRETARY. YES, SIR. MAYOR. THE MEETING WAS POSTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT ON JUNE 30TH, 2026

[B. Pledge of Allegiance.]

UNDER STATE LAW, A 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 CONFLICT. ARE THERE ANY CONFLICTS TO DISCLOSE RELATED TO THE PENDING MATTERS

[2. CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE]

[3. DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST]

YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO DO THAT. ALONG WITH MOVIES WITH A COP, WHICH WILL BE ON JULY 10TH AT 8 P.M. AT BICENTENNIAL PARK. THIS IS COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS BY OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

[4. CITY HIGHLIGHTS]

[ Edinburg Police Department Operation Chill, Wednesday, July 08, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at]

[ Movies with a Cop, Friday, July 10, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. at Bicentennial Park Field, 2202 W.]

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, I SEE RONNIE RIGHT OVER HERE AND HE MAY HAVE SOME WORDS ON OUR WRAP UP, BUT I. BUT I DO WANT TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR PUTTING ON A WONDERFUL JULY 4TH FESTIVAL. IF WE CAN ALL. PLEASE GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FINAL COUNT WAS, OR

[5. MAYOR'S REPORT]

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EDINBURG YOUTH SOCCER CLUB, LOBOS FC 2013 BOYS SOCCER TEAM. WHEREAS, EDINBURG YOUTH SOCCER CLUB PROUDLY RECOGNIZES THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF ITS YOUNG ATHLETES WHOSE DEDICATION, DISCIPLINE AND COMMITMENT EXEMPLIFY THE VALUES OF TEAMWORK, SPORTSMANSHIP AND COMMUNITY PRIDE. AND WHEREAS, THE EDINBURG YOUTH SOCCER CLUB HAS SERVED FOR 45 YEARS AS A CORNERSTONE OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT BY FOSTERING ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE, LEADERSHIP AND CHARACTER THROUGH THE GAME OF SOCCER. AND. WHEREAS, THE LOBOS FC 2013 BOYS SOCCER TEAM HAS DEMONSTRATED OUTSTANDING PERSEVERANCE, DETERMINATION AND COMPETITIVE SPIRIT WHILE REPRESENTING THE CITY OF EDINBURGH WITH HONOR AND DISTINCTION ON AND OFF THE FIELD. AND WHEREAS, THROUGH COUNTLESS HOURS OF TRAINING AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT AND THE SUPPORT OF THEIR COACHES, PARENTS, FAMILIES AND VOLUNTEERS, THESE YOUNG ATHLETES HAVE ACHIEVED SUCCESS THAT REFLECTS POSITIVELY UPON THE ENTIRE EDINBURGH COMMUNITY, AND THE EDINBURG YOUTH SOCCER CLUB RECOGNIZES THE DEDICATION OF THE PLAYERS. NUMBER SIX MOISES. NUMBER 11. JOPHIEL. NUMBER 16. JOAQUIN. NUMBER 15. OLIVER. NUMBER 17. AARON.

NUMBER NINE. KAI. NUMBER 34. CARLOS, NUMBER FOUR. ARMANI NUMBER 18. GIAN GIANNI, NUMBER 90. CESAR NUMBER THREE. ELIAS. NUMBER TEN. MILAN. NUMBER 20. CRISTOBAL. NUMBER 31. JESUS.

NUMBER FIVE. DYLAN. NUMBER SEVEN. IKER. NUMBER 25. MATTHEW. NUMBER 13. FABIAN AND COACHES.

HEAD COACH JULIO REYES AND ASSISTANT COACHES MEDINA OLIVARES AND CARLOS PORTALES.

AND WHEREAS THE LOBOS FC 2013 BOYS SOCCER TEAM IS THE ONLY US YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION SANCTIONED SOCCER TEAM AND THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY TO HAVE COMPETED AND OBTAINED REGIONAL AND STATE TITLES AT THE HIGHEST COMPETITIVE LEVEL OF PLAY, SECURING THEIR SEAT IN THE U. S Y. S NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS JULY IN UTAH, WHERE THEY WILL FACE FIERCE COMPETITION FROM TEAMS FROM ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND WHEREAS, THE EDINBURGH CITY COUNCIL PROUDLY

[6. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS]

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RECOGNIZING COACH ELIAS A MORAN AS 2025 2026 TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL COACHES ASSOCIATION, REGION

[A. Presentation of Proclamation Recognizing Coach Elias A. Moran Leal as the 2025-2026 Texas High]

FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, MISTER. THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU BOARD. THIS IS A GREAT HONOR. IT'S A PRIVILEGE. I FEEL HUMBLED, HAPPY. IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO WAKE UP EVERY DAY AND GO BACK TO EDINBURGH NORTH. I'M A PROUD ALUMNI CLASS OF 2002 TO GO EVERY DAY, INSPIRE THE THE LIFE OF YOUNG ATHLETES THROUGH THE SPORTS OF SOCCER. TO BELIEVE IN THEIR DREAMS, TO CHASE THEM EVERY DAY, TO GET UP AND PRACTICE AND TO INSPIRE THEM TO. TO CONQUER ANY AGAINST ANY OPPONENT IN THE REGION. WE STILL IN DEVELOPMENT LIKE I SEE THE THESE ATHLETES OVER HERE, THE THE NEW GENERATION, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE THEY THEY END UP ENDED UP GOING, I JUST WANT TO. I JUST WANT YOU TO SEE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE ONE DAY, ONE YEAR THAT EDINBURG. SOME TEAM IN EDINBURG, WHICHEVER IT IS, IS GOING TO BE THE STATE CHAMPION. SO THAT'S THE DREAM.

[00:30:02]

NEXT ITEM WE'VE GOT SIX B PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING ONE OF OUR RETIREES. IF THE CITY SECRETARY COULD PLEASE READ THE PROCLAMATION. AND IF WE CAN COME DOWN TO TAKE SOME PICTURES.

YES, MAYOR. WHY DON'T YOU. ESPARZA INVENTORY SPECIALIST UTILITY SYSTEMS DEPARTMENT.

WHEREAS MR. JUAN G. ESPARZA WAS HIRED BY THE CITY OF EDINBURGH UTILITY SYSTEMS DEPARTMENT ON DECEMBER 12TH, 2005, AS A METER READER. ONE. AND WHEREAS, ON OCTOBER 1ST, 2013, MR.

[B. Presentation of Proclamation Recognizing City of Edinburg Retiree, Juan G. Esparza, Inventory]

DID YOU SAY SOMETHING? GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL GERARDO CARMONA, DIRECTOR, UTILITY. SO I'M JUST GOING TO SAY A COUPLE WORDS FOR MR. ESPARZA. SO WE ARE HERE TODAY TO RECOGNIZE MR. JUAN ESPARZA, WHO HAS PLAYED AN INCREDIBLE ROLE IN OUR UTILITIES DEPARTMENT AS OUR INVENTORY SPECIALIST. JUAN WAS TRULY THE BACKBONE OF OUR FIELD OPERATIONS DAY IN AND DAY OUT. HE ENSURED OUR WATER AND SEWER CREWS HAD THE EXACT TOOLS AND MATERIALS THEY NEEDED TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY RUNNING. BUT WHERE JUAN TRULY SHINE WAS DURING THOSE UNPREDICTABLE EMERGENCIES, WHEN THE UNEXPECTED HIT AND SUPPLIES WERE SCARCE, JUAN WOULD WORK TIRELESSLY, TIRELESSLY TO TRACK DOWN THE REQUIRED EQUIPMENT SO SERVICE COULD BE RESTORED WITHOUT DELAY. JUAN, YOUR DEDICATION, HARD WORK AND RELIABLE, RELIABLE PRESENCE WILL BE DEEPLY, DEEPLY MISSED. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR US, AND WE WISH YOU A LONG, HAPPY AND WELL DESERVED RETIREMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR ALL THESE YEARS. JUAN, BEFORE YOU LEAVE, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT HE ALSO DEDICATED MANY, MANY YEARS MAKING A LOT OF BAD CALLS AS AN EMPIRE. AND THE ADULT SOFTBALL.

JUST KIDDING. HE STRUCK ME OUT A TIME OR TWO. BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR YEARS OF DEDICATION. I DO BELIEVE YOU'RE STILL AN UMPIRE NOW AND REFEREEING WITH WITH YOUR SONS.

EVERYTHING YOU GUYS HAVE DONE, ALL THE YEARS OF DEDICATION TO THE CITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OKAY. IT'S BEEN A JOURNEY FOR ALL THIS, ALMOST 21 YEARS. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING, MAYOR, COUNCIL, EVERYBODY AND THESE PEOPLE TOO. AND WHAT I SAID IS JUST GOOD LUCK. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. ABSOLUTELY. 21 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY IS SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE. AND SO WE'RE JUST VERY INSPIRED BY EVERYTHING THAT YOU DID. YOU KNOW, YOUR UTILITIES DEPARTMENT, IT'S A FRONT LINE SERVICE. IT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE SEE AND

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[7. PUBLIC COMMENTS]

THANK YOU. SO I HAD TO CUT MY SPEECH BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME IT WAS FOR THREE MINUTES. SO I'M GOING TO BE JUMPING UP AND DOWN. GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR. COUNCILMAN, MY NAME IS LEO LONGORIA, RETIRED MASS CHEMISTRY TEACHER. SIR. TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR 32 YEARS AFTER RETIRING FROM TEACHING, I WORKED AS A REALTOR FOR TEN YEARS. AFTER THE LOSS OF MY 32 YEAR SON AND MY WIFE FROM CANCER, I HAVE DECIDED TO MOVE TO EDINBURGH. THIS WAS THE PLACE WHERE I MET MY WIFE. SHE WAS EDUCATED AND ALSO A SCHOOL TEACHER. EDINBURGH IS A BEAUTIFUL CITY. IT CAN. IF WE KEEP IT. IT IS BLESSED WITH CITRUS VEGETABLES, PALM TREES AND TROPICAL PLANTS. NOTICE I'M JUMPING. LET ME POINT OUT THE FIVE ORDINANCES THAT ARE IN VIOLATION. IN THE RAILROAD ESTATE DOGS IS A PROBLEM. WHEN I CAME IN, THEY WERE ROAMING ALL OVER THE STREET. MY NEIGHBOR HAS 13 DOGS I'M USED TO WHERE THEY'RE LIMITED TO TWO DOGS PER RESIDENT. I AM ALSO USED TO WHERE THEY WERE LEASH AND NOT ROAMING ALL OVER AND BARKING AT NIGHT AND KEEPING US FROM SLEEPING TRASH CONTAINERS. THEY'RE LEFT ON THE STREET.

THEY'RE OVERLY EXCESSIVELY FULL, SO THAT MEANS THE LATEST OPEN FLIES ARE ROAMING ALL OVER. FOR ME, THAT IS A HEALTH ISSUE. DRESS BULK IS IN VIOLATION OF THE ORDINANCE, WHICH STATES THAT IT SHOULD BE PLACED IN THE CURB SEVEN DAYS PRIOR TO PICKUP. GUESS WHAT? I'M SEEING THE BALL TRASH EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR. I'VE BEEN HERE SEVEN MONTHS. VEHICLES PARKED ON TOP OF THE CURB, I GUESS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ROOM WHERE TO PLACE THEM. BUT THAT IS AN ORDINANCE THAT IT SHOULDN'T BE PARKED. AND NUMBER FIVE AT HIGH GRASS. AND I LIKE TO GIVE SOME COMPLIMENTS TO CITY EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY, BRANDON ALANIZ, JOSE LARA FOR HELPING ME ORGANIZE A NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. FRANK ZAVALA AND RAFAEL GONZALEZ WAS CODE ENFORCEMENT, AND THEIR DIRECTOR, IGNACIO FRANK, IS MY HERO FOR HIS SMILE AND SHINING BADGE ENFORCES THE VIOLATED ORDINANCE. YOU HAVE SEEN. BRIAN STIRRED. LOOK GIVES YOU THE RIGHT. CARLOS WITH PUBLIC WORKS FOR HIS PROFESSIONALISM. REYNA GOMEZ AND RAY ROBLES WITH ANIMAL CONTROL. SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT FOR BRINGING TO AN END THE DUMPING OF TRASH AT THE ANNUAL RAILROAD STREET. DOES THAT MEAN I'M FINISHED? YES, BUT YOU CAN. YOU CAN FINISH UP.

THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. YOU KNOW, WHEN I CAME IN THERE WAS STRESSED AT THE END OF THE STREET. AND GUESS WHAT? I CUT A GUY FROM MCALLEN DUMPING TRASH. I TOOK HIS LICENSE PLATE, AND OF COURSE, HE BEGGED ME NOT TO REPORT HIM. THAT'S HOW HE GOT STOPPED. SO I PRAISED THE DEPARTMENT OF SOLID WASTE, AND THEY PUT A SIGN ABOUT THAT. IT WOULD BE VIOLATION IF THEY CONTINUED TO DUMP. SO IT'S BEAUTIFUL NOW. I'M GOING TO NUMBER MISTER MAYOR IN

[00:40:10]

IN CONCLUSION, I CHALLENGE CITY EMPLOYEES TO GET MOTIVATED TO ENFORCE VIOLATED ORDINANCE. SO TO KEEP A BEAUTIFUL CITY AND HEALTHY. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND LET'S WORK TOGETHER FOR SAFETY AND HEALTHY REASONS. MR. MAYOR, HOPE TO MEET WITH YOU. I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO DISCUSS THE PROGRESS WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF. THANK YOU. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS MR. MCLARTY. GENTLEMEN, I AM HERE TO DISCUSS THE SALE OF BONDS. WHEN YOU WERE RUNNING FOR OFFICE, YOU PRINTED FLIERS. YOU UNDERSTOOD THAT REDUCING TAXES WAS THE PEOPLE'S PRIORITY. BUT NOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ELECTED, YOU SELL BONDS IS THE SOLUTION TO EVERY PROBLEM. I AGREE THAT MORE MONEY WOULD SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS, BUT THE POINT IS THAT WE LIVE IN AN AREA OF THE STATE WHERE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE LIVE IN CONDITIONS OF POVERTY.

THAT IS WHY WE ELECTED BUSINESS PEOPLE TO RUN THE CITY. IF YOUR SOLUTION TO OUR PROBLEM IS TO SELL BONDS, ANY JOKER CAN DO THAT. IF YOU SELL BONDS, THE PROBLEM WILL COME IN 12 MONTHS.

WHEN THE TAX BILL IS DUE. THE CITY PAYS ABOUT $9 MILLION FOR EXISTING BONDS. IF WE SELL $275 MILLION IN BONDS, OUR TAXES WILL DOUBLE THE ANNUAL PAYMENT FOR A $275 MILLION BOND. SALE FOR 30 YEARS IS $10.7 MILLION. THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE 9 MILLION THAT WE ARE PAYING NOW.

THE CITY CANNOT SPEND ITS WAY OUT OF POVERTY. THIS WEEK, WE SAW A SIGN STATING THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL BE PROVIDING FREE MEALS TO ITS STUDENTS UNTIL JULY 4TH. WHY DO YOU THINK THEY WOULD BE DOING THAT? BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT FAMILIES ARE HAVING PROBLEMS FEEDING THEIR KIDS. NOW, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THE MONEY? THE CITY RECENTLY INCREASED WATER RATES BY 67% FOR THE PURPOSE OF IMPROVING INFRASTRUCTURE. NOW YOU WANT MORE MONEY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE. THE CITY HAS HIRED A GOLF DIRECTOR AT $100,000, PLUS HIRING A CONSULTANT FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXPANDING THIS ACTIVITY.

GENTLEMEN, GOLF WILL NOT PAY FOR ITSELF, AND YOU ARE HAVING TO MOVE MONEY FROM DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE MAKING MONEY TO THOSE THAT ARE NOT. THAT IS NOT GOOD FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. IT IS NOT GOOD BUSINESS TO GIVE THE HR $10 MILLION TO IMPROVE A BUSINESS DEAL. WHEN WE HAVE TO SELL BONDS TO REPAIR EQUIPMENT AT OUR LANDFILL, IT IS NOT GOOD BUSINESS TO EMPHASIZE AND EMPHASIZE THE CULTURE, ACTIVITIES AND BEAUTIFICATION. WHEN 25% OF OUR POPULATION IS LIVING IN POVERTY. IN REFERENCE TO THE UNIVERSITY, STOP SUPPORTING SPORTS AND CREATE INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS THAT GIVE STUDENTS A HEAD START INTO MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT AND PARTICIPATION IN THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT. WHAT DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU IS TO QUIT WASTING OUR MONEY AND LOWER OUR TAXES AGAIN, I THINK YOU ALL ARE DOING A GOOD JOB, BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT BONDS, TRY TO REMEMBER THAT ALL THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN EDINBURGH HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM. I DID SIGN UP FOR AN ITEM, BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT IT WAS A PUBLIC HEARING, SO I'LL WAIT TILL THEN. THANK YOU. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS REGARDING TEXAS 2026. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNCIL RONNIE, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE EDINBURGH CHAMBER AND EXPLORE

[00:45:01]

THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO FAR. IT'S RIGHT HERE IN THEIR BACKYARD TO SEE A GREAT QUALITY OF LIFE THAT A LOT OF DIFFERENT CITIES WOULD LOVE TO HAVE IN THEIR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU GUYS AND HAVE A GOOD EVENING. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS MISS DIANE TEETER REGARDING TAXES, PARKING, GARAGE, ACE TRAIN. GOOD EVENING, DIANE TEETER. I'D LIKE TO OFFER A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON HOW OUR CITY INVESTS OUR TAX DOLLARS. I LIVE SHOP AND SPEND TIME DOWNTOWN, AND I'VE REPEATEDLY HEARD ABOUT THE COST OF THE PARKING GARAGE. CONSIDER THAT VERY FEW PEOPLE CAN BUY A HOUSE OUTRIGHT. MOST OF US TAKE OUT A MORTGAGE BECAUSE IT LETS US INVEST TODAY AND SOMETHING THAT WILL SERVE US FOR DECADES. MUNICIPAL BONDS WORK THE SAME WAY. THE DOWNTOWN GARAGE IS THAT KIND OF LONG TERM INVESTMENT. EDINBURG IS GROWING OUR ARTS, CULTURE AND EVENTS CENTER, THE AMPHITHEATER, OUR EXPANDING RESTAURANTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES ARE DRAWING MORE PEOPLE THAN EVER. A MULTI-LEVEL PARKING GARAGE ISN'T JUST A PLACE TO PARK, IT'S AN ECONOMIC ENGINE. WHEN I WORKED IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS, I GLADLY PAID TO PARK IN A MULTI-LEVEL GARAGE BECAUSE IT WAS CONVENIENTLY CLOSE AND SHADED. THIS COULD BE CONSIDERED AS A POSSIBLE REVENUE STREAM AND ALLOW FOR MORE STREET SIDE PARKING. IF NOT, CONSIDER THAT MORE PARKING MEANS HIGHER EVENT ATTENDANCE, STRONGER SALES TAX REVENUE, AND MORE FOOT TRAFFIC FOR THE BUSINESSES THAT ANCHOR OUR DOWNTOWN. IT SUPPORTS PROPERTY VALUES, ENCOURAGES PRIVATE INVESTMENT, AND HELPS BUILD THE WALKABLE, LIVELY DISTRICT.

RESIDENTS LIKE MYSELF AND OTHERS CONSISTENTLY ASK FOR USING BONDS TO BUILD IT AS A SMART, FORWARD LOOKING CHOICE. NOW FOR THE FUN PART. BRAVO TO EDINBURGH'S ACE FOR THEIR ART

[00:50:07]

FOUR MORE YEARS I'LL BE 90. AND WHO'S GOING TO PAY AND DO THE PAYMENTS FOR ME? AND I, I HAD A HEART ATTACK ABOUT, OH, IN NOVEMBER. SO IT'S I'M NOT A, A ROLLING STONE ANYMORE, BUT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE MIDDLE CLASS. THEY'RE EATING OUR LUNCH. IF IT WASN'T FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS, THERE WOULD BE NO UNITED STATES BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, THE WEALTHY WILL FIND LOOPHOLES NOT TO PAY. AND THE MIDDLE CLASS IS THE ONE THAT ENDS UP WITH ALL THE, THE PROBLEMS OF OF PAYING THEIR TAXES. I KNOW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE SELLING THEIR HOUSES AND STUFF LIKE THIS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T PAY THEIR, THEIR TAXES. AND THE REASON WHY THAT MOST OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE STAYING AT HOME, BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD A DOWN PAYMENT. IF YOU LOOK AT THE HOUSES NOWADAYS, THEY THEY'RE $300,000. YOU GOT TO COME DOWN WITH 10 OR $15,000 FOR A DOWN PAYMENT. HOW CAN YOU SAVE MONEY AND PAY AND PAY RENT AT THE SAME TIME? YOU CAN'T DO THAT. IT'S AWFUL HARD. WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND SEE WHAT WE COULD DO TO LOWER THE TAXES ON OUR HOUSES. LIKE I SAID, I'M GOING TO BE 87 YEARS OLD AND I GOTTA COME UP WITH $6,000. IT'S IT'S AWFUL HARD. AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE. THERE'S A LOT OF THEM OUT THERE THAT ARE SELLING THEIR HOUSES OR, OR RENTING THEIR HOUSES OUT. AND WE WENT OUT SOMEPLACE ELSE.

BUT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT IT VERY HARD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. NO FURTHER COMMENTS, MAYOR. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM ARE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ITEM EIGHT A IF THE

[00:55:07]

CONSIDER THE ORDINANCES PROVIDING FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT FROM GENERAL COMMERCIAL USES TO OUTER URBAN USES AND THE REZONING REQUEST FROM COMMERCIAL, GENERAL DISTRICT TO RESIDENTIAL URBAN AND TOWNHOME DISTRICT BEING 3.056 ACRES OF LAND OUT OF LOT 15. SECTION 275 TEXAS MEXICAN RAILWAY COMPANY SURVEY LOCATED AT 22698 HETFIELD DRIVE, AS REQUESTED BY MELTON AND HUNT. ALL RIGHT. THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM IS NOW OPEN. IF

[8. PUBLIC HEARINGS]

I SERVE THE CITY IN PLANNING AND ZONING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. AND I ALSO SERVED THE CITY AT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I SEE WHAT'S GOING ON. WE'RE GROWING. WE'RE DOING WELL. WHAT'S PROPOSED A CHANGE OF USAGE OF LAND THAT'S THAT'S PROBABLY BRINGING $20 FOR THREE ACRES ON A HAY LAND IS NOW GOING TO BE 7 OR 8, $10 MILLION WORTH OF TAXABLE PROPERTY WITH SOME SINGLE FAMILY TOWNHOUSE. LOTS ARE GOING TO BE UPSCALE. THEY'RE GOING TO BE VERY NICE.

THERE'S AN ARCHITECT IN MEXICO THAT'S PUTTING THIS PROJECT ON. THERE'S AN INVESTOR THAT'S PUTTING THE MONEY TOGETHER TO DO THE DEAL. AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE LOTS OF MULTIFAMILY PROJECTS IN EDINBURG. THIS IS A THIS IS A SINGLE, A SINGLE FAMILY PROFESSIONAL. AND WE HAVE LOTS OF PROFESSIONALS. EDINBURG. WE GOT ANOTHER NEW BRAND NEW HOSPITAL DOWN THERE ON MCCALL. MCCALL IS GROWING AT. I DON'T WANT TO SAY IT'S OUR NORTH 10TH STREET BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO COMPARE EDINBURGH. I'M VERY PROUD OF EDINBURG. I'M VERY PROUD TO BE PART OF IT AND I LOVE SEEING THE GROWTH ON. ON MCCALL. MAN, WE'RE IN A GREAT PLACE AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER ADDITION TO WHAT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THAT PART OF TOWN. SO I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO, TO SUPPORT THE CHANGE OF USAGE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PLEASE GO AHEAD. OKAY. WELL, I'VE GOTTEN A CALL ABOUT THIS PROPERTY. THAT'S WHY I'M HERE QUESTIONING IT. IT SAYS THE PROPOSED ZONING IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE FUTURE LAND USE. THIS IS FROM THE CITY'S WEBSITE THERE. AND IT SHOWS 204FT, I GUESS WIDE AND A LOT DEPTH IS 660FT. I UNDERSTAND BY THE TIME THE CITY TAKES THE EASEMENT OR WHATEVER, AND THAT 204 WILL BE 150 FOOT, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT 27 TOWNHOMES, WHICH THEY WILL BE ATTACHED. SO THEY WILL BE CLOSE.

AND I GUESS THE MAIN THING THAT THEY WERE ASKING, CONCERNED ABOUT WAS THAT IT'S 3.056 ACRES.

AND THE FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION FOR THIS PROPERTY IS GENERAL COMMERCIAL USE. SO THAT'S WHY I WAS I WAS COMING BECAUSE IT SAID THE STAFF RECOMMENDED DENIAL. SO OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SOMEONE OUT THERE THAT IS ALSO GOT A PROBLEM. AND QUESTIONS AS ABOUT THIS CHANGING FROM THE COMMERCIAL TO AND THE EXISTING OR WHATEVER. SO IF SOMEONE COULD KIND OF EXPLAIN SO THAT THEY CAN UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU. COME ON UP. GOOD AFTERNOON.

MARLON GARZA WITH MELTON AND HUNT REPRESENTING THE DEVELOPER FOR THIS PROJECT. SO AS MR. RUPERT WAS STATING, AND AS THE PREVIOUS CITIZEN WAS STATING, WE ARE TRYING TO REZONE THIS PROPERTY FROM GENERAL COMMERCIAL TO RESIDENTIAL, URBAN AND TOWNHOME. THE MAIN REASON THERE'S BEEN A KIND OF LIKE REFERRING TO WHAT MR. RUPERT WAS STATING, THERE'S A LOT OF NEW COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT THAT'S ALREADY ALONG. MCCALL. THERE'S A NEW PLAZA THAT'S ON THE WEST SIDE OF MCCALL. JUST NORTH OF THIS, THERE'S ANOTHER NEW PLAZA THAT'S JUST NORTH OF THIS, ALSO ON THE EAST SIDE, KIND OF FRONTING EACH OTHER. THERE'S AN EXISTING PLAZA THAT'S RIGHT IN FRONT OF THIS PROPERTY WITH THE PARKING LOT ALONG HEARTFELT.

BUT ON THE NORTH SIDE OF HUPFELD, THERE'S TWO EXISTING RESIDENTIAL HOMES AS WELL, AND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN LITTLE PRIVATE ACCESS ROAD TO GET INTO THOSE TWO PROPERTIES. DUE TO THE EXISTING NATURE OF THE PARKING LOT, THE PLAZA THAT'S ALREADY IN FRONT OF THIS PROPERTY, IT PUTS IT IN A REALLY WEIRD POSITION TO DO MORE COMMERCIAL IN THIS PORTION

[01:00:05]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY OTHERS WISHING TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM CAN COME UP TO THE PODIUM. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. IS THERE A MOTION ON THE ITEM? MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND. MOTION TO APPROVE. AND A SECOND I COULD YOU COME ON UP AND JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS PLEASE. YES. MAYOR PLANNING AND ZONING DIRECTOR FOR THE RECORD, ON THIS ONE, MAYOR STAFF DID VOTE OR RECOMMEND AGAINST IT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE PROPERTY TO THE SOUTH IS ALL ZONED COMMERCIAL. AND WE DO HAVE SOME PROPERTY TO THE NORTH, BUT IT'S SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL WHICH ARE LARGER LOTS. SO THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP DID CALL FOR COMMERCIAL, BUT AS THE APPLICANT STATED, THERE IS A DEVELOPMENT ALREADY IN THE FRONT. IT KIND OF SCREENS IT FROM PUBLIC VIEW. IT IS KIND OF HIDDEN BACK THERE.

SO WE HAVE SEEN SOME RESIDENTIAL TO THE NORTH, BUT AT THIS TIME THE PROPERTY DOES BORDER A LARGE TRACT OF LAND THAT'S COMMERCIALLY ZONED TO THE SOUTH. OKAY. I JUST I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ORIENTED CORRECTLY. IF WE COULD PUT BACK UP THE DIAGRAM. THERE WE GO. THANK YOU. SO MY UNDERSTANDING, RIGHT, WE WERE IT WAS ZOOMED IN. WE ZOOMED BACK IN. THERE WE GO. SO WHERE THIS IS TO THE WEST OF IT.

THAT'S MCCALL RIGHT? CORRECT. AND JUST NORTH OF THAT IS THE H-E-B. SO THIS IS THE THIS IS WHAT THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, RIGHT? THERE'S A LOT THERE'S A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN THAT CORRIDOR. RIGHT. AND SO WHAT I CAN SEE IS IMMEDIATELY TO THE WEST OF THIS LOT, THERE'S ALREADY A PLAZA THERE. THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT. THAT'S CORRECT. AND SO THIS AREA RIGHT NOW THAT'S BEING ASKED TO BE REZONED FROM COMMERCIAL TO TOWNHOMES, THE, THE WHAT WAS PRESENTED BY THE ENGINEER, IT SOUNDS LIKE, IS THAT THERE'S BECAUSE THERE'S ALREADY THAT COMMERCIAL PORTION THERE ON MCCALL. I FORGET WHAT'S IN THERE. DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT'S IN THERE? THIS ONE HERE. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S THIS REALLY GOOD TAQUERIA IN THIS AREA THAT'S NOT THERE. ALL RIGHT. WELL, ANYWAY, THERE'S ALREADY STUFF THAT'S THERE. IT LOOKS LIKE RIGHT OFF OF MCCALL.

AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THE REASONING IS BECAUSE THERE'S ALREADY A PLAZA FRONTED. IF YOU WERE TO BUILD MORE COMMERCIAL UNITS IN THE BACK, IT'S JUST GOING TO BE REALLY HARD TO SEE WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN. MCCALL AND THAT. AND IN THAT REGARD, IT MAY NOT BE THE BEST PLACE, RIGHT, FOR TO LOCATE A PLAZA OR A BUSINESS BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, OUT OF VIEW FROM FROM THE MAIN ROAD. SO THEY SO INSTEAD OF TURNING IT INTO A COMMERCIAL AREA THAT MIGHT NOT DO SO WELL, THEY WANT TO AT LEAST PROPOSE TO BUILD TOWNHOMES SO THAT PEOPLE CAN, YOU KNOW, DRIVE THROUGH THAT ACCESS AREA INTO THE HOME AREA. THERE'S ALREADY HOMES TO THE NORTH OF IT. THIS, THIS IS I'M TRYING TO ORIENT MYSELF. IS ALL THIS ACCURATE SO FAR? YOU GOT IT, MAYOR. OKAY. THE REASON AND SO PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, THEY APPROVED THIS ITEM, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. THE REASON THOUGH, THAT THE CITY STAFF MADE THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THEY DID IS BECAUSE THIS PARTICULAR THE FUTURE LAND USE, RIGHT, IS THE CITY CONTEMPLATES THAT THIS WILL BE A COMMERCIAL AREA. AND BECAUSE THE, THE, THE CONTEMPLATION OF THE FUTURE USES IS COMMERCIAL. AND WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING IS NOT COMMERCIAL. THAT'S WHAT BROUGHT ON THE THE RECOMMENDATION TO DENY. CORRECT. THAT'S CORRECT.

IT KIND OF GOES AGAINST THE TREND THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THAT AREA. OKAY, I GOT YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO LIKE I SAID, I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THE, THE CRUX, RIGHT, OF ALL OF THIS IS THAT THE, THE REASON FOR THE REQUEST IS BECAUSE IT'S NOT IDEAL FOR COMMERCIAL GIVEN WHAT'S IN FRONT. AND SO WE MIGHT AS WELL DO SOMETHING WITH IT. AND THEY THINK TOWNHOMES COULD ACTUALLY BE A HIT IN THIS AREA, JUST GIVEN ALL OF THE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY THAT'S GOING ON. THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. OKAY, GREAT. ANYBODY HAVE QUESTIONS ON THAT? I'VE GOT ANOTHER TANGENT OF QUESTIONS TO ASK, BUT NO, NO. AND I'LL JUST ADD I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROPERTY. I WAS ACTUALLY INTERESTED IN IT ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO BUILD MY, MY BUSINESS. AND IT IS, IT'S LITERALLY RIGHT BEHIND H-E-B. IT BORDERS A NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'D BE VERY DIFFICULT TO PUT ANY SORT OF COMMERCIAL THAT NEEDS FRONTAGE, YOU KNOW, TO, TO A BUSY INTERSECTION OR A BUSY STREET

[01:05:02]

IT'S GOING TO BE PRIVATE. PRIVATE. SO EVEN MORE SO GATED SUBDIVISION WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN STREETS RIGHT THERE. IT'S, IT'S, IT'S KIND OF LIKE A LITTLE HIDDEN GEM. I THINK IT'S A GREAT, GREAT IDEA. OKAY. I DID SEE THAT THEY PRESENTED A PLAT, RIGHT, OF WHAT IT IS THAT THEY'RE INTENDING TO BUILD OUT IN THIS AREA. I THOUGHT I SAW THAT IN THE BACK THERE. IT LOOKS LIKE WHAT, 27 UNITS? THAT'S CORRECT. RIGHT. ARE THERE ANY VARIANCE REQUESTS TIED TO THIS DEVELOPMENT? I DID SPEAK TO THE ENGINEER OF RECORD EARLIER ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY VARIANCES THAT ARE GOING TO BE REQUESTED. AND WHAT THE ENGINEER HAS TOLD ME IS THAT THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON IT.

THEY HAVEN'T FINALIZED THE THE PLAT. SO WE DON'T KNOW YET. MAYBE. MAYBE NOT, MAYBE. MAYBE NOT. HOPEFULLY NOT, HOPEFULLY NOT. YES, I THINK THERE'S PLENTY, PLENTY OF SPACE THERE TO BUILD SOME REALLY NICE STUFF WITHOUT HAVING TO ASK FOR ANY VARIANCES. OKAY. OTHER QUESTIONS, BUT WE WILL CONSIDER ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO MAKE IT A GOOD PROJECT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? DISCUSSION? NO. OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. MOTION PASSES. NEXT ITEM B AND C, I BELIEVE IT'S THIS ONE. EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON, I DID GET A EMAIL FROM MELVIN AND HUNT, THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THIS SIGN, VARIANCE FOR EIGHT B AND EIGHT C, AND THEY ARE REQUESTING TO PULL THE ITEM FROM CONSIDERATION HERE TONIGHT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO WE'LL SKIP OVER THOSE. WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC HEARINGS ROUTINE ITEMS SECTION NINE AS QUICK REMINDER RIGHT TO EVERYBODY WHAT THIS SECTION IS. FOR EACH OF THESE SECTIONS.

EACH OF THESE ITEMS IN ROUTINE ITEMS, THE CITY'S STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS ALIGNED WITH THE UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION. AND THERE ARE NO WRITTEN COMMENTS OPPOSING THE RECOMMENDATIONS. ALL RIGHT. SO THE IDEA IS THAT THESE ARE ALL

[9. A. Hold Public Hearing and Consider the Ordinances Providing for the Comprehensive Plan]

MOTION TO APPROVE. ITEMS NINE, NINE, A, B, AND C. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. DID I DO THAT RIGHT. MAYOR. HISTORICALLY, THE MOTION HAS BEEN TO ADOPT THE RECOMMENDATIONS PROVIDED BY CITY STAFF. THAT'S RIGHT. I THINK CURRENTLY THE RECOMMENDATION WAS TO APPROVE, BUT I THINK IT CAN MOVE FORWARD

[B. Hold Public Hearing and Consider the Sign Variance Request to the City of Edinburg Unified]

[C. Hold Public Hearing and Consider the Sign Variance Request to the City of Edinburg Unified]

SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION. SEEING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. NEXT WE HAVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS A THROUGH F. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. MOTION TO

[10. AWARDING OF BIDS]

[11. CONSENT AGENDA]

[12. OTHER BUSINESS]

[B. Consider Rescheduling the Tuesday, August 04, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting to Wednesday,]

[01:10:04]

[13. EXECUTIVE SESSION]

NUMBER.

I THINK THEY WERE LOOKING AT. BECAUSE THAT WAS HIS. THE.

BROTHER. YOU KNOW, MY THING IS I GOT A CALL. SO LET ME ASK. DID THEY LIVE THERE? BUT THEY LOOKED. THEY SAID NO. BUT HE OWNS THE OTHER THE OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.