[00:00:44]
          REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF YOUR EDINBURGH CITY COUNCIL ON THE COUNCIL. MAYOR OMAR OCHOA, MAYOR PRO TEM DAVID SALAZAR, COUNCIL MEMBER. DAN DIAZ. COUNCIL MEMBER. JASON DE LEON. 
          AND COUNCIL MEMBER JERRY LOZANO. SITTING IN HIS ADVISERS, CITY MANAGER MAYRA AYALA AND CITY ATTORNEY BEN ALONSO. AND NOW LIVE FROM THE EDINBURGH CITY HALL. THE EDINBURGH CITY COUNCIL. TIME IS 6 P.M. ON AUGUST 18TH, 2026. I CALL THIS A REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER. I DO NOTE THAT WE'VE GOT ALL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT, SO WE'VE GOT A QUORUM. IF WE COULD. LET'S PLEASE START WITH A PRAYER. WE'VE GOT PASTOR JAVIER GARCIA WITH US, I BELIEVE. MAYBE, MAYBE. PLEASE, IF YOU CAN JUST COME UP HERE TO THE PODIUM AND LEAD US, WE WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT THING WHEN, WHEN A MEETING IS STARTS WITH PRAYER AND AND CALLING UPON THE LORD. I'M NERVOUS UP HERE. I'VE BEEN PREACHING FOR 38 YEARS AND I'M STILL GET NERVOUS WHEN I PRAY. LORD, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR EVERY MAN THAT AND WOMAN. LORD, THAT IS A PART OF THIS TEAM. 
          LORD YOU APPOINTED THEM THOUGH THE PEOPLE VOTE THEM IN. BUT IT IS YOU WHO APPOINTS LEADERS. 
          AND LORD, I THANK YOU FOR THEM. I THANK YOU FOR THEIR LIVES. I THANK YOU FOR THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR MARRIAGES, THEIR CHILDREN. GOD, I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD STRENGTHEN EVERY HOME REPRESENTED IN THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS GREAT CITY OF EDINBURGH. GOD. AND I PRAY GOD, JUST THE SAME WAY. WHEN YOU CAME TO JERUSALEM, YOU LOOKED AT THE CITY AND YOU SAW THE PEOPLE WITH COMPASSION. I PRAY THAT THAT SAME COMPASSION WOULD BE ON THIS LEADERSHIP. GOD. IT WOULD BE ON THIS MAYOR, MAYOR, THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM, LORD, THAT COMPASSION. INCREASE IT, LORD, FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY AND GIVE THEM WISDOM. LORD, GIVE THEM WISDOM IN HOW TO HOW TO GUIDE. LORD THIS CITY, LORD HOW TO. HOW TO MAKE IT GROW GOD HOW TO. HOW TO BECOME A BEACON LORD OF A CITY THAT THAT OTHERS CAN, CAN LOOK AT THE CITY AND SAY, WHAT A GREAT CITY IN TEXAS. 
          LORD, BLESS THEM AND BLESS THE PEOPLE. BLESS THIS MEETING. GOD GUIDE EVERY MAN AND EVERY WOMAN IN THIS PLACE. AND I THANK YOU. AND WE THANK YOU IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS. AMEN. AMEN. 
          COUNCILMEMBER DIAZ, IF YOU COULD LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE. YES. I WANT TO ECHO THE PASTOR. 
          THANK YOU, PASTOR. ALWAYS A BEAUTIFUL THING. WE START WITH A PRAYER AND ALSO REMEMBER OUR PATRIOTISM. SO I ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE STAND REMOVE HEADGEAR UNLESS YOU'RE ON DUTY. LET'S PLACE OUR HAND OVER THE RIGHT HAND OVER OUR HEART. AND LET'S SAY TOGETHER, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. 
          NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE, MADAM SECRETARY. YES, SIR. 
          MAYOR, IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT ON AUGUST 12TH, 2026 AT 7:20 P.M. SIR. 
          NEXT ITEM IS THE DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST. MR. CITY ATTORNEY. MR. MAYOR. 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 ON TODAY'S AGENDA? NO SIR. NO SIR. NO. NEXT ITEM ARE CITY HIGHLIGHTS. WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF EVENTS COMING UP THIS SATURDAY AT THE PARKS AND RECREATION CENTER. WE'RE HAVING OUR COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE. REALLY GREAT EVENT, ACTUALLY. WE'VE GOT LOTS OF LOCAL VENDORS WHO SIGN UP MONTHS IN ADVANCE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SELL THEIR PRODUCTS THERE AT THE COMMUNITY GARAGE SHOW, PARKS AND REC. IT'S JUST A REALLY WONDERFUL TIME. LOTS OF PEOPLE COME OUT FOR THAT. WOULD APPRECIATE EVERYBODY TO COME OUT TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL 
          [00:05:06]
VENDORS IN THIS EFFORT. NEXT ITEM WE'VE GOT IS THE SOUTH TEXAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL. THAT'S COMING UP SEPTEMBER 10TH THROUGH 12TH. WE'VE GOT SOME REALLY GREAT GUESTS OF HONOR WHO WILL BE THERE FOR THAT WONDERFUL FILMS. WE HAD A REALLY COOL EVENT OVER THE WEEKEND. FILMMAKERS HAD LITERALLY 48 HOURS TO WRITE, DIRECT, AND SHOOT A MOVIE, AND THE WINNER OF THAT WILL BE FEATURED IN THE FILM FESTIVAL AS WELL. SO JUST REALLY, REALLY FUN TIME. HOPE EVERYBODY CAN MAKE IT OUT AT LEAST ONE OF THOSE NIGHTS, IF NOT ALL OF THEM. SEPTEMBER 10TH THROUGH 12TH. COMING UP. YES, OUR GUEST OF HONOR IS MR. EDWARD JAMES OLMOS, RENOWNED ACTOR, DIRECTOR, PRODUCER ALL AROUND. WONDERFUL INDIVIDUAL, GREAT EXAMPLE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO IF NOTHING ELSE, COME OUT TO COME SAY HELLO TO MR. EDWARD JAMES OLMOS. 
          WE'LL MOVE ON NOW TO PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITION. IF THE CITY SECRETARY COULD READ THE CAPTION. THIS IS TO RECOGNIZE NATIONAL AVIATION DAY, THE CITY OF EDINBURGH, AND IF THE CITY SECRETARY COULD ALSO READ THE PROCLAMATION, CITY COUNCIL WILL COME DOWN AND TAKE SOME PICTURES WHILE YOU'RE DOING THAT. YES, SIR. MAYOR, PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING AUGUST 19TH, 2026 AS NATIONAL AVIATION DAY IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH, NATIONAL AVIATION DAY, AUGUST 19TH, 2026. WHEREAS, AVIATION HAS TRANSFORMED GLOBAL TRANSPORTATION, COMMERCE, NATIONAL DEFENSE AND CONNECTIVITY, AVIATION HAS ALSO FOSTERED CULTURAL EXCHANGE, ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION WHILE CONNECTING COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND THE WORLD. AND WHEREAS, THE SPIRIT OF INNOVATION AND DISCOVERY HAS BEEN INTEGRAL TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF OUR SOCIETY, AND AVIATION STANDS AS A TESTAMENT TO HUMAN INGENUITY, PERSEVERANCE, AND THE PIONEERING SPIRIT OF AMERICAN AVIATORS, ENGINEERS, AND AEROSPACE WORKERS WHO CONTINUE TO PUSH THE BOUNDARIES OF FLIGHT. AND WHEREAS AUGUST 19TH MARKS THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF ORVILLE WRIGHT, WHO ALONGSIDE HIS BROTHER WILBUR SUCCESSFULLY DESIGNED, BUILT AND FLEW THE WORLD'S FIRST SUCCESSFUL MOTOR OPERATED AIRPLANE. AND WHEREAS PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D ROOSEVELT FIRST ESTABLISHED NATIONAL AVIATION DAY BY PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION IN 1939 TO HONOR WRIGHT'S BIRTHDAY AND TO INSPIRE PUBLIC INTEREST IN AVIATION WORLDWIDE. AND WHEREAS, THE ENDURING IMPACT OF AVIATION UPON LOCAL COMMUNITIES, ALONGSIDE THE PROFOUND ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF AEROSPACE PROFESSIONALS MERITS NATIONWIDE RECOGNITION. AND WHEREAS, THE CITY OF EDINBURGH COMMENDS THE DEDICATION, EXPERTISE AND PROFESSIONALISM OF PILOTS, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS, MECHANICS, AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS, AIRPORT OPERATORS AND ALL THOSE WHO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY OF THE SKIES, ENABLING MILLIONS TO TRAVEL SAFELY EACH DAY. NOW, THEREFORE, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDINBURGH, TEXAS, BY PRIVATE CITY BY LAW, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM AUGUST 19TH, 2026 AS NATIONAL AVIATION DAY IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH AND ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO JOIN IN HONORING THE LEGACY OF FLIGHT AND CELEBRATING THE BOUNDLESS POSSIBILITIES OF AVIATION. THANK YOU MA'AM, YOUR HONOR COUNCIL. GOOD EVENING, DIRECTOR OF AVIATION FOR THE CITY. MY COLLEAGUES HERE ARE RITA NANEZ, AVIATION MANAGER. MR. JOE VEGA, LINE SERVICE TECH, AND MRS. VANESSA RAMIREZ, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT. MY COLLEAGUES AT THE AIRPORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, FOR THE PROCLAMATION, THE. THE THANKS ALSO GO TO NOT ONLY TO YOURSELVES THERE, BUT ALSO TO ALL 111,000 PEOPLE WHO WHO OWN THE AIRPORT THERE. SO WE THANK THE CITIZENS OF EDINBURGH AS WELL. WE WANT TO WE WANT TO THANK ESPECIALLY EDINBURG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, BECAUSE OUR GROWING AIRPORT IS A RECIPIENT OF THEIR GROWING CONFIDENCE IN THE. IN THE AIRPORT. SO MAJOR INVESTMENT IN THE AIRPORT. PRETTY SOON WE'LL BE EMBARKING ON SOME HANGAR DEVELOPMENT THERE. THANKS. THANKS TO THEIR TO THEIR SEED MONEY, THEIR IMPETUS, AND BESIDES THAT, THEIR AIRPORT PROJECTS THAT ARE ONGOING. I'D LIKE TO REPORT, FOR INSTANCE, THAT WE JUST COMPLETED OUR OUR FENCE INSTALLATION, REPLACED ALL OUR AIRPORT FENCE. WE ALSO THREE, FOUR YEARS AGO, WE FINISHED A DRAINAGE STUDY THERE WHEREBY WE HAVE THE ROADMAP TO KEEPING THE AIRPORT FROM NEVER FLOODING AGAIN. WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF. IT'S ALREADY AT 100% DESIGN AS FAR AS THE AIRPORT IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT, THAT WAS MASSIVE IN ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF THERE, YOU'RE GOING TO GO FROM 6000, FROM 5000 FOOT RUNWAY TO 6000FT, AND THAT'S SUBSTANTIAL. THE MORE AIRCRAFT AIRCRAFT COMING TO EDINBURGH, AND YOU DON'T WANT TO SAY LIKE THE AIRPORTS ARE BEST DAYS ARE AHEAD. WE'VE ALREADY STARTED OUR BEST DAYS. OUR BEST DAYS ARE HERE RIGHT NOW, THANKS TO AN INVESTMENT, TO THE BELIEF, TO GREAT FOLKS LIKE THIS WHO WHO WORK AT THE AIRPORT. SO ON THEIR BEHALF, ON BEHALF OF THE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE AIRPORT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND IF I CAN BE A SPOILER OF THESE GREAT PEOPLE, I LIKE TO. LAST WEEK, MRS. RAMIREZ. SHE WAS A. SHE WAS CONVEYED THE EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. 
          [00:10:03]
THERE. SO THANK YOU, MRS. ARM. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION, ALLOWING US TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL AVIATION DAY HERE IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. 
          AND IT IS TRUE, THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS HAPPENING AT OUR AIRPORT. WE WITH A $20 MILLION GRANT FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS, WE'RE ABLE TO TRANSFORM A LOT OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS OUT THERE, INCLUDING EXTENDING THE RUNWAY. AND WHEN YOU LOOK TOWARDS THE FUTURE, THE BEST DAYS ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, BUT EVEN BETTER STUFF IS COMING DOWN THE ROAD. WE REALLY HAVE OUR VISION TO TURN THAT INTO A TRUE COMMERCIAL TRADE CENTER, AND I THINK IT'S HIGHLY SITUATED FOR THAT. WITH HIGHWAY 68 COMING UP FROM DONNA BRIDGE GOING TO BE LOOPING AROUND OUR AIRPORT, THERE'S JUST MASSIVE POTENTIAL FOR US TO HAVE A TRUE CARGO AIRPORT OUT OF THERE, VERY AKIN TO WHAT YOU SEE IN LAREDO, DOING A LOT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADING COMING OUT OF THE AIRPORT. THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THAT. 
          WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING LIKE A MAJOR CARGO AIRPORT DOWN HERE. IT WOULD TRULY BE TRANSFORMATIVE, NOT JUST FOR THE CITY, BUT FOR THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. AND SO WE APPRECIATE THE STAFF LEADING THE CHARGE TO GET THAT BIG VISION DONE. THANK YOU ALL. 
          THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA ARE. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA ARE PUBLIC COMMENTS, MADAM SECRETARY. YES, SIR. MAYOR. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. THE EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL LAST 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 THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOT INTERACTIVE. THE COUNCIL MAY NOT RESPOND TO PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME. COUNCIL. THERE ARE THREE PUBLIC COMMENTS. THE FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT IS MARLON GARZA REGARDING ITEM 12 A. HOLD ON. 12 A YES, OKAY. 12 A IS A VARIANCE. YOU MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE A CHANCE TO SPEAK ON THAT. IF YOU'D LIKE TO TAKE IT NOW, YOU'RE MORE WELCOME TO. IF NOT, YOU CAN WAIT AND SEE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.