Sep 15, 2026 City Council Meeting 9-15-26

[00:00:53]

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 EDINBURG CITY HALL. THE EDINBURGH CITY COUNCIL. TIME IS 6 P.M. ON SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2026. WE'RE CALLING THIS REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO ORDER. I DO SEE THAT WE'VE GOT ALL MEMBERS OF COUNCIL PRESENT, SO WE DO HAVE A QUORUM. IF WE COULD PLEASE RISE AND START WITH A PRAYER, WILL WE BE

[1. CALL TO ORDER, ESTABLISH QUORUM]

[A. Prayer.]

[B. Pledge of Allegiance.]

MR. MAYOR, UNDER STATE LAW, A LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL IS REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE A

[2. CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE]

[3. DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST]

[4. CITY HIGHLIGHTS]

[00:05:07]

I'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN. YES. SO THE COURT'S DOING WHAT IT CAN RIGHT NOW TO ASSIST IN CHECKING THOSE CAR SEATS AND GIVING AWAY SOME FREE CAR SEATS TO PEOPLE WHO COME OUT ALSO. BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING, TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. EXACTLY. TO PREVENT ANY ACCIDENTS, WE'VE SEEN A COUPLE OF FATALITIES, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THE LAST FEW YEARS. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE STEPPED UP AND THOUGHT WE COULD DO THIS FOR OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN EDINBURG. EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. WE ALSO HAVE SOME EXCITING CELEBRATION COMING UP FOR OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF HISTORY IN OUR CITY.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A FIVE K ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3RD AT 730. IT'LL BE STARTING RIGHT HERE OUTSIDE OF THE MAIN FIRE STATION. REALLY, REALLY COOL EVENT TO COME OUT HERE AND SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE EVER BEEN INVOLVED IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, FROM THE PAID STAFF TO THE VOLUNTEERS TO THE LADIES AUXILIARY ON DOWN THE LINE, ALL KINDS OF HISTORY CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF THAT. AND THEN THAT EVENING, THAT SATURDAY EVENING, OUR EDINBURGH FIRE STOPPERS FESTIVAL WILL BE OCCURRING AT PROMINENT PARK MUSIC GAMES, FOOD FOR THE FAMILIES TO COME OUT AND ENJOY. SO PLEASE JOIN US FOR THOSE AS WELL. NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE MAYOR'S REPORT. SO TONIGHT IS A VERY EXCITING NIGHT. IT IS BUDGET NIGHT. WE HAVE A CITY BUDGET THAT WE ARE PRESENTING TO THE RESIDENTS TONIGHT AND IS UP FOR DISCUSSION AND ULTIMATELY ADOPTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL. I DID WANT TO GO THROUGH SOME OF

[5. MAYOR'S REPORT]

THERE'S A PUBLIC HEARING SECTION LATER SO YOU CAN COME UP AND SPEAK ON THAT ALSO. SO PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND GIVE YOUR OPINIONS ON THAT. BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF THIS CITY BUDGET THAT'S BEING PRESENTED THIS EVENING. CITY MANAGEMENT, THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, ALL CITY DIRECTORS HAVE WORKED INCREDIBLY HARD TO CREATE A BALANCED BUDGET, AND WE ARE DOING IT WITHOUT RAISING TAXES AT ALL. AND IT'S A REMARKABLE THING, HONESTLY, BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES IN STATE LAW THAT HAVE INCREASED EXEMPTIONS, HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS, DISABILITY, OVER 65 MILITARY VETERANS, ALL GREAT THINGS. BUT WHAT THAT DOES IS IT REDUCES THE CITY'S ABILITY TO COLLECT ADDITIONAL REVENUE THROUGH PROPERTY TAXES. DESPITE THAT, DESPITE THAT, THE CITY OF EDINBURGH IS NOT RAISING PROPERTY TAXES TO BE ABLE TO COLLECT MORE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE PROPERTY TAX RATE THAT IS BEING PROPOSED AND THAT I ANTICIPATE WILL BE ADOPTED TONIGHT IS LOWER THAN THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE. WHAT THAT MEANS IS BECAUSE THE CITY IS KEEPING IT AT AT ITS CURRENT RATE, WE WILL ACTUALLY BE GENERATING LESS PROPERTY TAXES FROM THE SAME TAXPAYERS LAST FISCAL YEAR. SO IT IS A REMARKABLE THING. THE CITY OF EDINBURGH HAS NEVER DONE THIS, ADOPTED A TAX RATE THAT'S BELOW THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, BUT IT WAS AN IMPORTANT THING TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. WE'VE MADE THIS PROMISE ALL ALONG AND WE'RE DELIVERING ON IT. THIS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. WE'VE ALSO REDUCED OUR SOLID WASTE TRANSFERS. THERE'S BEEN SOME ISSUES IN THE PAST WITH, YOU KNOW, TRANSFERRING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. I KNOW THE SOLID WASTE HAD TO GO OUT FOR BONDS FOR EQUIPMENT THIS PAST YEAR, RIGHT? FOR EXAMPLE. BUT WE'RE REDUCING THE AMOUNT THAT'S BEING TRANSFERRED OUT OF OUR SOLID WASTE FUND AND AT THE SAME TIME, STILL BEING ABLE TO FINANCE ALMOST $2 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL HEAVY MACHINERY FOR OUR SOLID WASTE SO THAT WE DON'T FALL BEHIND ON OUR TRASH COLLECTIONS AND TRASH PROCESSING. AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE REDUCING THE AIRPORT AND THE GOLF COURSES. RELIANCE TRANSFERS FROM SOLID WASTE, MEANING THAT THEY ARE NOW GENERATING MORE REVENUE AND RELYING LESS ON ON THE ON THE TAXPAYERS TO FUND GAPS IN OPERATIONS. AND WE ARE LOOKING TO HAVE BOTH OUR GOLF COURSES AND OUR AIRPORT BREAK EVEN, SO THAT THEY'RE AT THE VERY LEAST, IF NOT IN THE FUTURE, START MAKING MONEY SO THAT OUR TAXPAYERS DON'T HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL FOR ANY OF THOSE OPERATIONS. WE'VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO TIGHTEN OUR BELTS AND TRIM ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS BY $1 MILLION THROUGH A VARIETY OF SAVINGS FINDINGS, THINGS THAT WE CAN CUT AND PROVIDE MORE SERVICES FOR YOU, THE RESIDENTS.

SO ALL OF THESE FISCAL MANAGEMENT HAVE BEEN AN ESSENTIAL PILLAR. ALONG WITH THAT, ANOTHER ESSENTIAL PILLAR IS INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS. AND FOR THIS, WE ARE STEPPING UP. LIKE I SAID, DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE'RE NOT RAISING TAXES, $1 MILLION FOR OUR UTILITY SYSTEMS TO IMPROVE WATER LINES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF EDINBURGH, $2 MILLION TO DO

[00:10:01]

SO ALL OF OUR SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE LIFT STATIONS WILL BE REHABILITATED THROUGHOUT THE CITY, THE CITY SETTING ASIDE MONIES TO BE ABLE TO DO ALL OF THESE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS. AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE ALSO ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE.

WE'VE GOT $250,000 THAT WE'RE PUTTING TO UPGRADE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

ON TOP OF THAT, WE ARE SETTING ASIDE ANOTHER $233,000 TO UPGRADE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, SPECIFICALLY AT EDINBURG MUNICIPAL PARK. MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF OUR EQUIPMENT OUT THERE IS SAFE AND IS ABLE TO BE USED. WE'RE DOING UPGRADES TO THE CHAPIN STREET HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL. WE ARE BUILDING A BRAND NEW PUBLIC RESTROOMS FOR THAT TRAIL OUT THERE AS WELL. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL TRAIL AND WE WANT EVERYBODY TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY IT, AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO INVEST IN OUR CULTURAL ARTS AND OUR FESTIVALS. HERE IN EDINBURG. WE'VE GOT WE CALL OURSELVES THE CITY OF FESTIVALS. WE JUST WRAPPED UP OUR INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL WHERE WE HAD DIRECTORS, MOVIE PRODUCERS SUBMIT FILMS FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD. IT WAS A FANTASTIC WEEKEND, HIGHLIGHTING OUR CITY OF EDINBURGH TO VISITORS FAR AND WIDE. AND SO THESE CULTURAL ARTS IS AN IMPORTANT INVESTMENT, BOTH TO INCREASE TOURISM, TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO EDINBURGH, BUT ALSO TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL OF US THROUGH ARTS AND CULTURE. WE ARE ALSO INVESTING IN PUBLIC SAFETY, INCLUDING OVER HALF $1 MILLION FOR MODERNIZING OUR POLICE FLEET, FLEET PATROL UNITS AND INVESTING IN DRONE AND POLICE TECHNOLOGY SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE OUR FIRST RESPONDER PROGRAM, WHICH EDINBURGH WAS THE FIRST CITY IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY TO HAVE A DRONE AS A FIRST RESPONDER PROGRAM. WE ARE ALSO INVESTING IN POLICE OFFICER SAFETY PROTECTIVE GEAR, AS WELL AS NEW EQUIPMENT AND GEAR FOR OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT ALSO. AND SO JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS BUDGET TRULY REFLECTS OUR CORE VALUES, FISCAL MANAGEMENT, AND INVESTMENT IN AND REAL SERVICES TOWARDS THE CITY OF EDINBURGH.

INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC SAFETY, CULTURAL ARTS ON DOWN THE LINE. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE MORE TIME, THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO OUR CITY MANAGEMENT FOR BEING SO RESPONSIBLE WITH THIS BUDGET, TO ALL OF OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS, FOR STEPPING UP TO FIND THESE ADMINISTRATIVE CUTS THAT WERE THAT ARE ALLOWING US TO DO THESE INVESTMENTS WITHOUT HAVING TO RAISE YOUR TAXES IN THE PROCESS. IT'S A PLEDGE THAT WE MADE WHEN WE STARTED THIS PROCESS, AND IT'S ONE THAT WE ARE DELIVERING ON TONIGHT. SO COUNCIL, THANK YOU ALSO FOR YOUR WORK THROUGHOUT THIS BUDGET PROCESS. ALL RIGHT. THAT CONCLUDES MY LONG WINDED MAYOR'S REPORT. MOVING ON NOW TO PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS. FIRST ITEM A IS A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR MURDER VICTIMS. IF THE SECRETARY COULD PLEASE READ THE CAPTION AND THEN THE SECRETARY WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION, CITY COUNCIL WILL COME DOWN WITH THE PROCLAMATION. IF WE COULD TAKE SOME PICTURES WITH YOU ALL, AND THEN IF YOU CAN

[6. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS]

[A. B. Presentation of Proclamation Recognizing September 25, 2026, as National Day of Remembrance for]

[00:15:04]

YES, IF YOU COULD, IF YOU COULD, PLEASE. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. MY NAME IS ROBERT GARCIA. I'M THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF MURDERED CHILDREN. AND I HAVE A DISTINGUISHED FAMILIES THAT ARE VERY PRIVILEGED, VERY COURAGEOUS RESILIENCE THAT HAS SHOWN ME UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. SOME HAVE BEEN WITH ME FOR 12 YEARS AND SOME ARE NEW. AS OF NOVEMBER OF THIS PAST YEAR. SO MY JOURNEY STARTED ON SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2011, WHEN MY BROTHER ROGELIO ROGER GARCIA, COAST GUARD VETERAN, WAS MURDERED BY HER LATE WIFE AND A MURDER SUICIDE IN HARLINGEN, TEXAS. I RECEIVED A PIERCING PHONE CALL OUT OF RIO GRANDE CITY WHERE I WAS BORN AND RAISED. MY MOTHER, DALIA ROSA GARCIA, CALLED AND SAID. SO I TOOK OFF TO HARLINGEN AS THE FIRST RESPONDERS WERE PUT IN THE CRIME SCENE. RIBBON, YELLOW RIBBON. I SAW AN AMBULANCE TO MY RIGHT LEAVING, AND I ASKED THE OFFICER, WHO IS THAT INDIVIDUAL IN THE AMBULANCE? I SAID, WELL, THERE WAS A LADY TALKING GOING ON THE AMBULANCE. SO I ASKED HIM, WHERE'S MY BROTHER? IS, IS THAT YOUR BROTHER? THERE'S SOMEBODY IN THE HOUSE IN THERE. I UNDERSTAND IT'S CRIME SCENE.

IT'S A RAW REACTION. I WENT UNDER THE CRIME SCENE AND I IMMEDIATELY SAW MY BROTHER IN A POOL OF BLOOD. THAT FOREVER CHANGED ME. AND THAT'S FOREVER CHANGED. MY FAMILY. AND I MADE A PROMISE, JUST LIKE A NOTE, THAT ANY POLICE OFFICER OR MILITARY SERVICE OR ANYBODY IN THE OATH OF OFFICE OF SERVICE AND CIVIC SERVICE, I MADE THAT PROMISE TO MY MOM, AND MY BROTHER DIDN'T DIE IN VAIN THAT WE WILL PURSUE JUSTICE, AND WE WILL SEEK AND REMEMBER THE MEMORIES OF EACH LIFE. AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS NO SERVICES. NATIONAL PARENTS OF MURDERED CHILDREN WERE TALKING ABOUT CONTACT PERSON HERE FOR SOUTH TEXAS HAS BEEN WITH ME FOR 15 YEARS. SO WHEN WE TALK AND I SAY WE ALL MY VICTIMS, WE WANT THE LEADERSHIP NOT ONLY IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT I REPRESENT AND I LIVE AND I PAY TAXES MYSELF, IS TO SEES US AS INDIVIDUALS, AS HUMAN BEINGS, NOT NECESSARILY AS VICTIMS. VICTIMS WERE PROJECTED BY THE DEATH OF OUR VICTIM THAT IS SIX FEET UNDER. BUT WHEN YOU SEE US, YOU TELLS US, YOU STAND WITH US, YOU HEAR US, AND YOU WILL BE WITH US. THAT'S THE MESSAGE OF THE PROCLAMATION YOU DID TODAY, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. THAT IS A REMINDER FOR THEM. I CARRY THAT TORCH. I GAVE YOU THOSE INNOCENT LIVES THAT WERE TAKEN BY VIOLENCE. AND AS I REMEMBER, I'M GOING TO MENTION IN RECOGNITION THE NAMES THAT ARE HERE. SOME FAMILIES HAVE TWO MEMBERS THAT HAVE DIED OF VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME. SOME HAVE HAD THREE, I HAVE HAD THREE, AND AN UNFORTUNATE IN MY FAMILY, ROGELIO ROGER GARCIA WAS MY BROTHER, EFRAIN GARCIA AND DANIEL VEGA, JULISA RANGEL, ERIC SANCHEZ, ROSENDO SANCHEZ, WENDY ESCOBEDO, JULIO SOTO JUNIOR, JULIO VILLARREAL, FREDDY OTEROS, KEVIN GONZALEZ, AUGUSTIN. MOLINA. EVER SALAS, E ISLAS JUNIOR, JUAN NAVA, AND CYNTHIA CHAVEZ. DID I MEET ANYBODY? DID I LEAVE ANYBODY OUT? THOSE ARE THE VICTIMS. WE ARE ASKING FOR Y'ALL'S HELP AND SUPPORT TO GO OUT THERE ON SEPTEMBER 25TH. IT'S ON A FRIDAY. WE UNDERSTAND IT'S FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, BUT FOR US, IT'S ONE SPECIAL DAY. IF YOU

[00:20:03]

I DID THE CITY OF PHARR. THE EVENT IS GOING TO BE AT THE PEPE SALINAS MEMORIAL AT 1013 WEST KELLY. THERE HAVE BEEN THE WHOLE CITY FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS. SO I APPRECIATE THE MAYOR AMBROSIO AND THE COMMISSION THERE TO TAKE IT AS UNDER THE WING IN HELPING US AND OBTAIN THAT PAVILION, MEMORIAL CENTER. AND WITH YOU, ALL'S IN THE PAST OF HELPING I.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE ONE OF YOU ALL. MAYOR. I ASK JESUS CORTEZ THIS MORNING TO DO THE PROCLAMATION READ. HE SAID THAT HE WAS GOING TO GET ON HIS CALENDAR BECAUSE HE WASN'T AWARE. JUST AS AN ALTERNATIVE, I'M GOING TO HAVE YOU. IF YOU'RE NOT DOING BUSY THAT DAY, TO SEE IF YOU CAN DO THE PROCLAMATION FOR THE CITY, AS WE WOULD LOVE YOUR COMPANY TO BE THERE OR ANY OTHER CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. THANK YOU FOR SEEING THE HURT, BUT THE RESILIENCE AND THE COURAGE OF THE FAMILIES. GOD BLESS YOU AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL SEE YOU THERE. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? THE FLOOR IS YOURS IF YOU WOULD LIKE AND ANYONE ELSE? NO. RESIDENTS FROM HERE FROM. YES. OKAY. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE FAMILIES FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING. IT SHOWS TRUE COURAGE TO BE HERE TONIGHT. IT IS UNIMAGINABLE WHAT IT IS THAT YOU ALL HAVE GONE THROUGH.

MURDER IS A TERRIBLE CRIME THAT RIPS APART FAMILIES, SPLITS COMMUNITIES, AND LEAVES A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIVES. AND I JUST WANT TO TELL ALL OF YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. THIS IS A SUBJECT THAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT. WE NEED TO REMEMBER THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS WHO ARE LEFT BEHIND, AND DO KNOW THAT THE EDINBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES PROVIDE SERVICES. THERE IS A CRIME VICTIM LIAISON POSITION AT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT PROVIDES A VARIETY OF SERVICES, HELPING YOU GET GRANT FUNDING, HELPING YOU TRACK DOWN INFORMATION, KEEPING YOU INFORMED OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE CASE. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU'RE NOT JUST DEALING WITH THE TRAGEDY OF WHAT OCCURRED, YOU'RE FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE. AND SO WE RECOGNIZE THE STRUGGLE THAT IT IS THAT YOU ALL GO THROUGH. WE'RE VERY, VERY, VERY SORRY FOR WHAT IT IS THAT YOU HAVE HAD TO LIVE THROUGH. BUT PLEASE KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO SEE YOU, WHO LOVE YOU, AND THAT WE ARE HERE FOR YOU. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. THANK YOU. THE NEXT ITEM THAT WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA IS A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE 1977 EDINBURG HIGH SCHOOL BOYS CROSS COUNTRY U.I.L STATE CHAMPIONS FOR THEIR INDUCTION INTO THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY SPORTS HALL OF FAME. SO IF THE SECRETARY COULD PLEASE READ THE PROCLAMATION, CITY COUNCIL WILL COME DOWN WITH THE PROCLAMATION. IF THE MEMBERS HERE WOULD LIKE TO COME UP SO WE CAN TAKE A

[Presentation of Proclamation Recognizing the 1977 Edinburg High School Boys Cross Country UIL]

[00:25:03]

BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT COACHING BY COACH MARTINEZ AND HE'S BEEN A SUCCESSFUL COACH THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER AND WINNING STATE CHAMPION YOU KNOW BUILDING STATE CHAMPIONS EDINBURG, SD AND REPRESENTING OUR CITY. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE GO PAST OUR YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, EDINBURG EXISTS. AND WE ARE WE ARE A POWERHOUSE OF RUNNERS. EDINBURG IS A IS A RUNNING COMMUNITY. AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT THE EDINBURG 10-K AND, AND ALL THESE 10-K THAT ARE FIVE KS THAT ARE THAT WE DO EVERY YEAR. AND, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO PASS THE MIC OVER TO OUR OUR LEGENDARY COACH, HOMER MARTINEZ. IT'S NOT MUCH MORE I CAN SAY AFTER RICK, BUT IT IS AN HONOR FOR ME TO HAVE BEEN THEIR COACH, TO SAY THAT BEING A STATE CHAMPION IS BIG. IS IS REALLY SOMETHING THAT RARELY HAPPENS. WE. THE ONLY ONE AND AND A BIG DIVISION THAT HAS EVER WON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT WE ALSO HAD SOME INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS THROUGHOUT THE TIME THAT WE THAT WE'VE BEEN HERE WITH THE PROGRAM. AND, AND I'M SURE MOST OF THEM HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED. BUT TO WIN AS A TEAM IS VERY HARD TO SAY THAT YOU'RE THE TOP ONE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. THE TEXAS, AS YOU KNOW, IS THE TOP ON EVERYTHING IN THE COUNTRY. SO SO FAR, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO HAVE WORKED WITH THIS YOUNG MAN. AND HE'S SOMETHING THAT IS A TITLE THAT THEY EARN THAT THE STATE CHAMPIONS, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL ALWAYS BE WITH THEM. I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL AND MAYOR FOR ALLOWING US TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF YOUR TIME TO RECOGNIZE THESE YOUNG MEN, AND I'M VERY PROUD OF HIM BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. AND I ALWAYS TELL THEM, WE DON'T GO TO SCHOOL TO PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS. WE GO TO SCHOOL TO BECOME BETTER PEOPLE. AND THAT'S THAT'S WHAT THEY DID.

AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE AT WHERE THEY'RE AT. AND I'M VERY PROUD OF ALL OF THEM. RICK, BEING THE CHIEF OF POLICE FOR THE DISTRICT, IT MEANS A LOT. IT KEEPS ALL OF US IN LINE. OKAY.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING. I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO NOTICE. ONE THING ABOUT THIS PICTURE IN THE FRONT IS THE UNIFORMS, YOU KNOW, AND I HAVE A, A PROFESSOR, HIS NAME WAS DOCTOR SAMPER AND HE HAD A PICTURE OF, OF A P CLASS WITH KIDS WHO WERE IN 1922. AND HE SAID, WHAT CAN ANYBODY SAY ABOUT THIS PICTURE? AND WE COULDN'T WE'RE ALL BAFFLED.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? IT'S THE SAME KIDS, JUST A DIFFERENT UNIFORM. BUT THE PEOPLE ARE

[00:30:02]

[7. PUBLIC COMMENTS]

[00:35:04]

ALL WE ARE ASKING IS TO HELP WITH THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO BE ABLE TO CLOSE OFF THE STREETS, WHICH IS LOW AND 12, AND IT'S BLOCK 209, LOTS ONE AND 24. WE'RE ASKING FOR THE HELP BECAUSE WE WILL BE USING THE COUNTY PARKING LOT, AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE WOULD HAVE TO CROSS THE STREET AND TO KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE. WE WILL HAVE A VEHICLE, BUT WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WALKING IT. IT'S ONLY IN THE ESSENCE TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE. SO I ALSO HAVE FERNANDO HERE WITH FACILITIES WHO HELPS RUN THE FACILITIES HE'S WALKED IT THROUGH. WE DID HAVE A MEETING WITH THE CITY. I JUST WANT TO FOLLOW UP AND LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE WOULD HIGHLY CONSIDER OR HIGHLY ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER THIS SO THAT WE CAN BE ABLE TO HAVE A SAFE EVENT THAT EVENING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR OUR CITY. THANK YOU. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS MISS DIANE TEETER REGARDING TAXES AND BUDGET. GOOD EVENING, DIANE TEETER. I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT $0.01 OR ONE PENNY. IT CAN'T BUY MUCH IN OUR INDIVIDUAL LIVES, BUT $0.01 CAN IMPACT THE ENTIRE FUTURE OF EDINBURGH BECAUSE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT AT ITS BEST, IS A RISING TIDE THAT LIFTS ALL BOATS. AND WHILE 20 TO 25% OF OUR FAMILIES LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE, THE MAJORITY LIVE ABOVE IT. EVERY SINGLE HOUSEHOLD, EVERY SINGLE NEIGHBORHOOD DEPENDS ON THE EXACT SAME ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO KEEP THE CITY STRONG. FOR YEARS, EDINBURG HAS HELD ITS TAX RATE AT $0.63 PER 100 VALUATION, AND TONIGHT YOU ARE PROPOSING TO MAINTAIN IT AGAIN AT THAT RATE. BUT THE FULL CONTEXT IS OUR CALCULATED NO NEW REVENUE RATE IS 630 $0.03. IN PLAIN TERMS, EDINBURG IS CHOOSING TO COLLECT LESS THAN WHAT IS REQUIRED JUST TO KEEP OUR REVENUE FLAT. THIS IS STRUCTURAL BELT TIGHTENING. ARE WE ENTIRELY DEPENDING ON NEW DEVELOPMENT TO CARRY THE LOAD? WHAT ABOUT OUR ONE SMALL LIBRARY, PARKS, GREEN SPACES AND MORE WHICH LAG BEHIND AND NEED IMPROVEMENT AND GROWTH. SO I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A $0.01 INCREASE TO OUR TAX RATE, BECAUSE THAT SINGLE CENT ACTS AS A POWERFUL MONEY MULTIPLIER. $0.01 IS AN INVESTMENT THAT MULTIPLIES OUR COLLECTIVE RESOURCES OF $0.01. IT TURNS A SMALL FRACTIONAL CONTRIBUTION INTO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THAT GO DIRECTLY INTO SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS AND STRUCTURAL LONGEVITY. HOLDING A TAX RATE FLAT DOES NOT HOLD INFLATION FLAT. IN THE PAST, WE FUNDED NEW POLICE UNITS, FIRE TRUCKS, A 3% PAY PLAN FOR FIRST RESPONDERS, AND A STEADY PUSH TOWARD A $15 HOUR MINIMUM WAGE. THESE ARE NOT LUXURIES. THESE ARE THE BASIC, FUNDAMENTAL COSTS OF KEEPING OUR CITY SAFE AND FUNCTIONING. AND HERE'S THE FISCAL TRUTH WE CANNOT IGNORE MAINTENANCE POSTPONED IS MAINTENANCE MULTIPLIED. WHEN WE REFUSE TO LEVERAGE THAT MONEY MULTIPLIER, WE FACE IMMEDIATE CONSEQUENCES. RECENT SPIKES IN EMPLOYEE HEALTH CARE COSTS HAVE

[00:40:01]

[8. PUBLIC HEARINGS]

ONE. ARTICLE FOUR, SECTION 4.3 02E4B SIZE AND PROPORTIONS TO ALLOW AN ELECTRONIC MESSAGE AREA EXCEEDING 50% OF THE TOTAL SIGN. AREA NUMBER TWO. ARTICLE FOUR. SECTION 4.303-3.

PERMANENT FREESTANDING SIGN TO ALLOW MAXIMUM MAXIMUM PERMITTED SIGN AREA AND HEIGHT FOR POST SIGN AS DESCRIBED LOCATED AT 503 CONQUEST BOULEVARD AS REQUESTED BY AJ FERREIRA. OKAY, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN ON THIS ITEM. ANYBODY WISHING TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST CAN COME FORWARD. HI. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JOE. I'M GENERAL COUNSEL FOR THE AUTO GROUP. I WANTED TO SAY FIRST THANK YOU TO MR. AZEVEDO AND HIS STAFF. THEY'VE BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN THIS PROCESS. THE VARIANCE IN IN THIS INSTANCE IS FOR A NEW SIGN. IT'S GOING TO BE THE FIRST STAGE IN SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE EDINBURG AREA FOR THOSE DEALERSHIPS. I HAD MR. FERRARI HERE WHO CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SPECIFICS OF THE SIGN. AND THEN MR. BAKER WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT, GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THAT AREA. AJ FERREIRA I'M THE CONTRACTOR SIGN DEVELOPER, AND THIS SIGN IS A SIGN. IT'S STATE OF THE ART LATEST. IT IS IN A VERTICAL CELL PHONE RATIO, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFERENT. MOST DIGITAL SIGNS ARE HORIZONTAL. SO THAT THAT'S THE FUTURE. THAT'S WHAT'S COMING. AND IT IS JUST PART OF THE BROGDON DEVELOPMENT AS FAR AS ANY TYPE OF DIMMING, EVERY. IT FOLLOWS ANY STATE LAWS AUTOMATICALLY DIMS DOWN AS THE LIGHT COMES UP. AND SO EVERYTHING IS STATE OF THE ART. IT IS NOT GOING TO BE A SIGN THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH OR BLINKING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? YES, SIR. I HAVE A QUESTION. COMPARED TO THE THE LARGE ATTORNEY SIGN NEXT DOOR, HOW DO YOU COMPARE BOTH SIDES? SO IT'S IT'S VERY SIMILAR, EXCEPT IT'S IN THE FORMAT OF MORE VERTICAL AND IT'S THE SAME TECHNOLOGY. IN FACT, IT'S THE SAME COMPANY THAT I KNOW THAT THEIR SIGN IS ALSO ELECTRONIC SIGN. THAT'S ALL I THIS IS ALL. THIS IS OFF OF THE EXPRESSWAY, RIGHT BY CONQUEST. CONQUEST IN THE EXPRESSWAY. CORRECT. I DON'T KNOW, I THINK MR. BECKER WAS GOING TO SPEAK ON THIS. WHAT WHAT IS GOING ON OUT THERE AT THE AT THAT SPECIFIC AREA. WELL, IF IT'S REFERENCE FOR THAT. GOOD EVENING. WHAT WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING. BUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS THIS IS PHASE ONE OF A MULTI-PHASE PROJECT. THAT

[00:45:02]

THAT'S. AND THAT'S IF WE GET THE PERMISSION AND GET GENERAL MOTORS TO APPROVE IT, WE'LL START IMMEDIATELY. BUT THEN ALSO WE'VE ALSO. NEGOTIATION WITH GREATER HARTFORD. WE OWN THE PROPERTY RIGHT AT THAT ENTRANCE, RIGHT BEHIND THE ACADEMY INTO THE SHOPS OF RIO GRANDE. WE FINALLY GOT THEM TO AGREE TO NOT PUT ONE OF THOSE HUGE SIGN LIKE THEY HAVE ON THE TRENTON. SO WE'VE ALREADY AGREED TO A MONUMENT SIGN AND AND THEY'VE GIVEN US CONDITIONS.

IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD. SO ONCE THEY AGREE TO THAT, WE'LL HAVE TO GIVE THEM SOME FOOTAGE AND THEY CAN COMPLETE THAT ENTRANCE THERE. AND THEN WE'LL TAKE THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY AND WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO PUT SOMETHING THERE. I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE'LL DO SOME DEVELOPMENT ON THAT PROPERTY. SO WHEN WE GET THROUGH WITH THIS WHOLE THING, YOU'RE PROBABLY TALKING $50 MILLION AND YOU'RE PROBABLY TALKING 7500 NEW JOBS. SO IT'S IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG PROCESS. I'M HOPING, HOPING THIS THING'S GOING TO GET THE JUMPSTART.

WE'RE GOING TO JUMP START IT. EXCELLENT. AS FAR AS THE SIGN, IS IT HOW HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COVER THE ACTUAL THE BUILDING RIGHT BESIDE IT, THAT LAWYER'S OFFICE, HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COVER? IS IT GOING TO COVER IT IN ANY WAY? I'M SORRY. WHAT THE THE SIGN IS IT GOING TO COVER THAT BUILDING IN ANY WAY BECAUSE IT'S VERTICAL? NO, NO. NONE. NONE WHATSOEVER. NO.

OKAY. NO. IF YOU DRIVE, IF YOU DRIVE THAT FRONTAGE ROAD. NO, YOU CAN SEE THE WHOLE THING AND WHAT IT'LL GIVE IT, WHAT, WHAT IT'S GOING TO GIVE US SOME VISIBILITY IS THAT BUILDING HAS COVERED OUR CADILLAC SIGN. SO IF YOU'RE COMING FROM THE NORTH, YOU CAN'T SEE THAT AT ALL. SO WHAT WE'RE HAVING TO DO ACTUALLY IS PUT A SIGN THERE THAT TO ALERT PEOPLE, HEY, THERE'S A CADILLAC STORE RIGHT HERE. SO BUT IT NO, IT WON'T HUNT OR SIGN. EXCELLENT. A LOT OF ACTIVITY OUT THERE. YEAH. AND WE GOT SOME OTHER STUFF, BUT I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT. BUT WE'RE DOING A LOT WITH EDINBURG. WE JUST KEEP PUSHING, PUSHING, PUSHING. WE'RE OUR BIG HOLDUP. BELIEVE IT OR NOT. I WAS ON THE TELEPHONE WITH GENERAL MOTORS TODAY. THEY WANT TO DO A MARKET STUDY. I SAID, WHY? YOU KNOW, I SAID, LET ME GET YOU TO TALK TO COME TO THIS MEETING, EDINBURG AND TELL YOU WHAT'S GOING ON. I WANT TO GET MOVING. BUT YOU DON'T HAVE CORPORATIONS WITH LARGE CORPORATION LIKE THAT. SO THEY'RE DOING A MARKET STUDY.

DON'T LET US MAKE THE MOVE. DON'T. WARSAW. WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP EVERYTHING IN EDINBURG. SO IF WE HIT THE NORTH SIDE OF ODESSA, EVERYTHING STAYS IN EDINBURG. AND THEN WHAT WE'LL DO ALSO, ONCE WE GET THE THE CHEVROLET DOWN THERE, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE SUBARU STORE AND WE'LL MOVE MOVE IT DOWN ON ODESSA ALSO. SO IT'S GOING TO CHANGE THAT WHOLE SETUP THERE.

TRENTON AND AND AND WHAT IS THAT? CLOSNER. YEAH. EXCELLENT. YEAH. I WAS ONE OF THOSE BEAN COUNTERS AT GM ONCE UPON A TIME. OH. SO I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. YEAH. BUT KNOW THAT EDINBURG IS GROWING. SO YES, I AGREE. IT CAME BACK TO YOU GUYS AND SAY, HEY, WE NEED TO GET SOME NUMBERS TOGETHER TO SHOW THEM, BUT I THINK WE'VE GOT ALL THE PIECES PUT TOGETHER. YEAH.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. I'M. YES. SO ON THIS PARTICULAR SIGN, WHY IS IT REQUIRING A

[00:50:02]

OKAY. AND THE HEIGHT OF IT CURRENTLY ALONG THE EXPRESSWAY, WE ALLOW 40FT. AND WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED IS 65FT. OKAY, SO THOSE ARE THE TWO VARIANCES ON THE SQUARE FOOTAGE AND ON THE HEIGHT, RIGHT? YEAH. AND I REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE'VE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH THE SIGN ORDINANCE RIGHT IN THE PAST. THERE'S SOME, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT. FOR EXAMPLE, IT ALLOWS FOR A PERCENTAGE OF A WALL, RIGHT? RIGHT. NOT NECESSARILY AS LOOKING AT THE SIZE OF THE SIGN ITSELF. SO I JUST FEEL LIKE THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WE NEED TO TWEAK ON IT. WHAT'S BEING ADDRESSED IN TERMS OF THE EXPRESSWAY SIGNS IN THE PROPOSAL, WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING A LITTLE BIT HIGHER ALONG THE EXPRESSWAY BECAUSE CURRENTLY IT'S 40 AND ALONG THE EXPRESSWAY EVERYBODY DOES 60 OR 80 AND WE'RE PROPOSING 60. SO THIS WOULD STILL BE ON A FIVE FEET OVER, BUT IT'D BE CLOSE TO WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED. OKAY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANK YOU. PUBLIC HEARING IS STILL OPEN. ANYBODY WISHING TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM CAN COME FORWARD. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE. PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE. ANY DISCUSSION. ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. NEXT ITEM. THE SECRETARY CAN READ THE CAPTION. YES, SIR.

MAYOR, HOLD PUBLIC HEARING. CONSIDER THE TIME VARIANCE REQUEST TO THE CITY OF EDINBURGH UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE. ARTICLE FOUR, SECTION 4.305 DASH BE 18. PROHIBITED SIGNAGE THAT ARE LOCATED ON OR EXTENDED OVER ANY PUBLIC SIDEWALK, STREET, ALLEY OR OTHER PUBLIC PROPERTY AS DESCRIBED. LOCATED AT 5502 SOUTH MCCALL ROAD, AS REQUESTED BY ROBERTO GONZALEZ. ALL RIGHT. PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN ON THIS ITEM. ANYBODY WISHING TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST CAN COME FORWARD. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE, PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. IS THERE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM? MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND, THERE'S A MOTION TO APPROVE IN A SECOND ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. I DID HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. SO THIS IS THIS IS OVER AT DRISCOLL. YES, MAYOR. THIS IS AT THE DRISCOLL HOSPITAL. AND SO I KNOW THERE'S A SIGN ALREADY EXISTING RIGHT WHERE THEY WANT TO PUT THIS NEW SIGN. IS THAT CORRECT? WELL, ACTUALLY THAT SAME SIGN IS GOING TO BE REFACED. OKAY. SO WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS THE CABINET ON TOP IS GOING TO CHANGE IN DIMENSIONS. IT'S GOING TO BE A TEN BY TEN. NOW, I THINK THE ONE THAT'S THERE IS PROBABLY LIKE SIX FEET TALL BY ABOUT 12FT WIDE. OKAY. THEY'RE JUST CHANGING IT TO MORE OF A SQUARE SIGN. OKAY. AND WHY DOES IT REQUIRE A VARIANCE? IT REQUIRES A VARIANCE BECAUSE WHEN WE GOT THE BUILDING PERMIT FOR THAT SIGN, WE NOTICED THAT IT'S ON ON STATE RIGHT OF WAY. IT'S NOT ON ON THEIR PROPERTY PER SE. SO ANY, ANY SIGN THAT'S NOT ON THEIR PROPERTY REQUIRES A VARIANCE. I SEE. SO A PORTION ARE WE TALKING ABOUT LIKE THE OVERHANG OF THE SIGN. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SIGN. THE SIGN ITSELF. OKAY. SO THE SIGN ITSELF IS WITHIN STATE RIGHT OF WAY. CORRECT. OKAY. NOW I WILL SAY THAT WHEN THEY GOT THEIR SIGNAGE PERMIT FOR THE WHOLE ENTIRE DRISCOLL HOSPITAL, THIS SIGN WAS EXCLUDED. IT WASN'T IN THERE. IT WASN'T UNTIL THEY CAME IN TO REFACE IT THAT WE NOTICED. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO THEN THAT THAT BEING THE CASE, ASIDE FROM THAT, THE DIMENSIONS OF THE SIGN, THE SIGN ITSELF, WOULD IT HAVE REQUIRED A VARIANCE? YEAH, IT'S JUST BASED ON THE LOCATION. OKAY. GOTCHA.

AND IT'S I MEAN, I IMAGINE IF YOU'RE IF YOU'RE EVEN ABLE TO SPEAK TO THIS, MAYBE YOU'RE NOT, IT'S STILL SUBJECT RIGHT TO ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF BEING IN THE RIGHT OF WAY. IF SOME, IF SOME ISSUE WERE TO COME UP, THEN THEY'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH IT, RIGHT? BECAUSE THE STATE OWNS THE RIGHT OF WAY. ULTIMATELY. THAT'S CORRECT. AND THE LIKELIHOOD IS THAT TEXTILE MAY COME TO DRISCOLL ONE DAY AND TELL THEM THAT IT'S ON THE RIGHT OF WAY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

OKAY. STRAIGHTFORWARD ENOUGH. SO THIS THE SIGN ITSELF DOESN'T HAVE THE ISSUES. IT'S JUST THE PLACEMENT OF IT BEING IN STATE PROPERTY. THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. NEXT ITEMS ARE THE PUBLIC HEARING ROUTINE ITEMS. THERE'S ONLY ONE. AS A REMINDER, THESE ROUTINE ITEMS, THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE

[00:55:01]

WELL, WELL THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT. ALL RIGHT. SO SAME TREATMENT ON THIS WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION THEN IS THAT THIS ONE BE TABLED AS WELL. SINCE THE PREVIOUS A AND B ITEMS ARE TABLED SO THAT WE CAN FINALIZE THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT. MOTION TO TABLE

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

SECTION 5.301 DEDICATION OF IMPROVEMENTS. A STREET AND RIGHT OF WAY THREE PERIMETER

[PUBLIC HEARING - ROUTINE ITEM]

[10. VARIANCE]

ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM? MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE THE OWNERS ARE WILLING TO GIVE UP THE RIGHT OF WAY TO THE CITY IN CASE IT NEEDS TO BE UTILIZED. YES, THAT'S CORRECT MA'AM. GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS ALFONSO QUINTANILLA FROM QUINTANILLA HAD AN ASSOCIATES HERE FROM EDINBURG, TEXAS. I AM REPRESENTING THE FAMILIES OF THE EXISTING HOMES.

BUT TO ATTEST TO YOUR QUESTION, YES, THEY HAVE AGREED TO DEDICATE THE ADDITIONAL RIGHT OF WAY ALONG CHAPIN AS REQUIRED BY THE CITY'S MPO PLAN. THANK YOU. THAT'S PART OF IT ALREADY, THOUGH, RIGHT? THEY'RE GOING TO THEY'RE GOING TO THEY'RE GOING TO DEDICATE IT, GOING TO DONATE IT THROUGH THE PLAN. IT'S ALREADY SHOWN ON THE PLAT THAT IS HERE ON THE BECAUSE THE HOUSE IS ALREADY THERE. IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE THEY'RE NOT BUILDING A NEW SUBDIVISION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THE HOMES ARE THERE, HOMES ARE THERE. IT'S A FAMILY MATTER. IT'S A LONG STORY, BUT THE ORIGINAL PARENTS PASSED AWAY ALONG THE WAY. BUT THEY HAD GIFTED THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS EACH. AND SO THEY ALL BUILT THEIR HOMES. BUT THE MOM WAS THE ONE THAT PASSED AWAY IN RECENT TIMES. AND NOW THE FAMILIES THAT ARE THERE CONSULTED WITH AN ATTORNEY. SO YOU NEED TO FILE A PLAT TO RECTIFY ALL OF THIS. SO IT'S JUST FOR THAT PURPOSE. BUT ALL THE HOMES ARE THERE. CORRECT. AND I SAW THAT THERE WAS AN EARLIER VARIANCE BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY GAVE UP THE FRONTAGE OF THAT PROPERTY. THAT'S CORRECT. YES, SIR. RIGHT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OKAY. SORRY, I'M NOT FOLLOWING. SO WHAT NOW? WHERE THE CITY IS GETTING, THE CITY IS GETTING. SO DO WE NEED THE VARIANCE? WHAT'S GOING ON? SORRY. LET ME JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT. THERE'S THIS IS TWO VARIANCES. ONE OF THE VARIANCES IS TO NOT TO CONNECT TO THE EXISTING SEWER THAT'S IN THE AREA. OKAY. BECAUSE THESE HOMES ARE EXISTING HOMES. THEY'RE ON SEPTIC TANKS ALREADY. SO THEY WANT TO REMAIN ON SEPTIC TANKS. THE OTHER PART IS THEY'RE DEDICATING BY THE PLAT AN ADDITIONAL TEN FEET OF RIGHT OF WAY ALONG CHAPIN. IT'S 264FT ALONG CHAPIN THAT THEY'RE DEDICATING VIA THE PLAT. SO WE'RE OKAY WITH THAT. BUT WHAT THEY DON'T WANT TO DO IS PAY THE ADDITIONAL STREET WIDENING COST ALONG CHAPIN. THAT'S THE OTHER VARIANCE THAT THEY'RE SEEKING. I SEE, OKAY, THEY'RE ONLY GOING THROUGH THIS BECAUSE OF THE PASSING OF, I GUESS, THEIR GRANDMA OR THEIR, THE PARENTS. YES, IT'S AN EXISTING CONDITION, LIKE I SAID, BUT THE RULES DON'T DISTINGUISH. SO THAT'S WHY THE REQUIREMENTS ARE THE SAME. SO BOTH THEY'RE BOTH HOMES ARE THERE. RIGHT. SO BOTH HOMES. NO, THERE'S ACTUALLY SIX HOMES. THERE ARE SIX HOMES. THIS ONE CAME WHEN MAYOR CAME ON SHORTLY AFTER, JUST THE SECOND TIME I'VE BEEN HERE. YEAH. OKAY. OKAY. SO? SO THE. SO THE CITY WILL BE GETTING THE RIGHT OF WAY THEN, RIGHT? YES, SIR. MR. MAYOR. IT'S JUST WE THE CITY WILL NOT BE GETTING THE ESCROW OR THE ROAD BUILT OUT. THAT'S RIGHT. OKAY. GOTCHA. SO, CHAPIN, IF SOMEBODY CAN SPEAK TO THIS, I KNOW, I KNOW, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW, RIGHT, OF OBTAINING FEDERAL GRANT MONEY TO BE ABLE TO DO THE DESIGN, TO WIDEN CHAPIN COMPLETELY RIGHT FROM, I THINK, THE EXPRESSWAY TO THE WEST CITY LIMIT. CAN SOMEONE SPEAK TO THIS? GOOD EVENING. MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL. ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER. YES, SIR. WE WERE A RECIPIENT OF THE RISE GRANT FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DO OUR PLANNING AND ENGINEERING STUDY TO IMPROVE THAT THOROUGHFARE FROM AGAIN, EXPRESS FROM I-69, C TO WEST CITY LIMITS. WE HAVE NOT. WE WERE AWARDED. BUT WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED A GRANT FUNDING AS OF YET. WE'RE STILL PENDING THOSE RELEASES OF THOSE FUNDS. AND YES, THIS WOULD BE ONE OF THEM FOR US TO DO THE STUDY AND THE ENGINEERING DESIGN FOR THAT AREA OF CHAPIN. AND YES, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO SECURE THAT RIGHT AWAY. SO THAT'S ONE THAT WE WILL HAVE TO ACQUIRE IN THE FUTURE. OKAY. SO AT LEAST WE

[01:00:04]

THAT IS CORRECT, SIR. IF THEY WEREN'T DEDICATING IT, WE WOULD HAVE TO DO THAT. CORRECT. OKAY.

THE GRANT FUNDING IS TO THE ENGINEERING AND THE DESIGN OF THE EXPANSION FOR THE PLANNING OF THE OF THAT ROADWAY EXPANSION. OKAY. WE WILL STILL NEED FUNDING TO ACTUALLY BUILD THE ROAD. YES, SIR. RIGHT. AND WHERE WHERE ARE WE PLANNING TO GET THAT FROM? WE'LL STILL PUT THAT ON OUR MPO LIST AS THIS WOULD BE, MAKE IT MUCH MORE VIABLE TO BE A SHOVEL READY PROJECT THAT WE CAN MOVE UP ON OUR THOROUGHFARE PLANS AND OUR MPO FUNDING REQUESTS. OKAY. SO THAT THE THE ACTUAL. OKAY. SO THE SO THE DESIGN PORTION OF IT IS GETTING FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IDEALLY. RIGHT. IF WE CAN FINALIZE THE ACTUAL GRANT OF THE AWARD, THAT IS CORRECT. IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THE. THAT SECTION OF RIGHT FOR THAT SECTION OF THE RIGHT OF WAY. BUT THEN I GUESS THE FINAL POTENTIAL COST, RIGHT, IS THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION OF OF THE ROAD ON THAT PORTION. THAT'S CORRECT. THAT WILL BE THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY MPO MONEY. YES, SIR. WE'LL HAVE TO REQUEST THOSE FUNDS THROUGH THE MPO FOR THE CONSTRUCTION ITSELF. OKAY. RIGHT. I IMAGINE IT WOULD BE A VERY EXPENSIVE PROJECT, RIGHT? THERE'S PROBABLY NO WAY THE CITY COULD DO IT ON OUR OWN. THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD, GAIL? NO. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO, I MEAN, THAT'S HELPFUL TO KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT MONEY ALREADY FOR THE DESIGN. WE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED THE ESCROW AMOUNT FOR THAT. WE ARE SAVING ON THE RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION BECAUSE YOU'RE DONATING IT OR I GUESS PROVIDING IT RIGHT IN THE PROCESS OF THE PLAT. THAT'S CORRECT. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE REQUIRED TO DO? YES, MAYOR. TYPICALLY, THEY'RE REQUIRED TO DO BOTH. THEY'RE REQUIRED TO GIVE UP THE RIGHT OF WAY AND GIVE UP THE ESCROW FOR THE PAVEMENT. OKAY. BUT CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG FOR THE VARIANCE. THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO GIVE UP ANY LAND IF THEY WERE GRANTED THE VARIANCE. THAT'S THEY'RE DOING THAT VOLUNTARILY.

WELL, WHETHER VOLUNTARILY OR THROUGH THE PLANNING PROCESS, WE WERE GOING TO ASK FOR IT.

AND THE VARIANCE. THE VARIANCE IS TO PAY THE FEE AND IT WOULD. BUT THAT WOULDN'T THAT EXCLUDE THEM OR THEY WOULD END UP HAVING TO STILL PUT MONEY RIGHT NOW AS FAR AS THE RIGHT OF WAY.

TECHNICALLY, THEY COULD HAVE ASKED FOR A VARIANCE, BUT I EXPLAINED TO THEM NOT TO DO IT BECAUSE THE REASONS THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING CORRECT, THAT RIGHT OF WAY NEEDS TO BE DEDICATED TO THE CITY. SO LIKE I SAID, IT'S SEVERAL OF THEM, BUT THEY UNDERSTOOD AND THEY SAID, THAT'S FINE. WE NEED TO DO THAT. RIGHT. SO THEY WE DIDN'T ASK FOR A VARIANCE ON DEDICATING THE RIGHT OF WAY. CORRECT. THANK YOU. OKAY. I THINK, YOU KNOW THAT HELPS OUT ON THAT SPECIFIC ISSUE. NOW ON THE SANITARY SEWER ONE. WHAT THE WHY DON'T THEY WANT TO WHY DON'T THEY WANT TO PLUG IN? WELL, IT'S IT'S LIKE I SAID, THEY THEY'VE LIVED THERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THEIR SEPTIC TANKS ARE WORKING FINE. THE ACTUALLY, THE LOT SIZES ARE ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF AN ACRE, WHICH IS WAY, WAY ABOVE THE STATE REQUIRED UNDER THE CITY AND COUNTY REQUIREMENT, WHICH IS HALF AN ACRE. THEY'RE WORKING FINE. OBVIOUSLY, IT WILL BE A SUBSTANTIAL COST FOR THEM TO DO THAT. OKAY. BUT THEY DID. BUT THEY DID DO AGREE TO TO INSTALL A FIRE HYDRANT, WHICH WAS REQUIRED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I TOLD THE FAMILIES THAT WE NEED TO DO FOR OUR PROTECTION IS IS EXTREMELY VITAL. SO WE'RE DOING THAT AND ALSO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. AS FOR A TURNAROUND ON THE SOUTH END. AND THEY ALSO AGREED TO DO THAT. SO THERE ARE DOING THINGS JUST YOU KNOW, I DON'T OBVIOUSLY WE'LL JUST DISCUSS HERE WHAT WHAT WE'RE THE WAY I READ IT. IN ESSENCE, THEY WERE ASKING TO BE GRANDFATHERED IN BECAUSE OF THE PROPERTY. BEEN THERE IN ESSENCE. IN ESSENCE YES. BUT WE BUT THEY ARE DOING SOME IMPROVEMENTS AS TO HOW THEY ARE RIGHT NOW. ARE THEY ARE THE OWNERS INTENDING TO HOLD THE PROPERTY, OR ARE THEY INTENDING TO DO THE SUBDIVISION AND THEN SELL. NO, THEY THEY THEY STILL FOR THEM TO LIVE THERE. BUT BECAUSE WHEN THE MOM PASSED AWAY, IT KIND OF LEFT THAT, YOU KNOW, THE DEED WAS NOT PREPARED. SO WE NEED TO DO ALL OF THIS PROCESS BY THE ATTORNEY THAT THEY CONSULTED WITH. I KNOW WE ARE ABLE TO PUT CONDITIONS ON VARIANCES. MIGHT BE EVEN A QUESTION FOR YOU. IS IT WOULD IT PROPER TO BE TO PUT SOME KIND OF CONDITION WHERE IF THESE PROPERTIES ARE CONVEYED THROUGH A SALE THAT THE THAT THE BUYER WOULD HAVE TO EXTEND SEWER. I'M JUST CONCERNED, RIGHT, THAT IF WE LEAVE IT ON SEPTIC, SOMEBODY BUYS THIS IN THE FUTURE. NOW, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING TO BE STUCK WITH HAVING TO DO IT, OR THEY'RE GOING TO BE EXPECTING THE CITY TO, TO PAY FOR IT AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, BECAUSE WE'RE EXCUSING IT TODAY. I THINK THE VARIANCE GOES WITH THE LAND. CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. THAT'S CORRECT MAYOR. IT WOULD THE VARIANCE ITSELF WOULD RUN WITH THE LAND. SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE YOU'RE ATTEMPTING TO DO WITH THE CONDITION IF ANY SUBSEQUENT SALE IS DONE. BUT

[01:05:02]

SO NO CONDITIONS ALLOWED ON THIS ONE. FAIR ENOUGH. IT IS WHAT IT IS. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION QUESTIONS? SO I KNOW THERE WAS A MOTION TO APPROVE. THERE'S TWO VARIANCES.

THE MOTIONS TO APPROVE BOTH VARIANCES WERE NOT TAKING THEM ONE AT A TIME. JUST TO BE CLEAR ON THAT. CORRECT. SO THERE'S A MOTION TO APPROVE BOTH VARIANCES. THERE'S A SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. NEXT ITEM ON THE BUDGET ITEMS. THE FIRST TWO ITEMS ARE TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON BOTH THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND THE PROPOSED TAX RATE. I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON BOTH ITEMS AT THE SAME TIME, SO ANYBODY CAN COME UP AND SPEAK ON EITHER END OR THE BUDGET AS PROPOSED OR THE PROPOSED TAX RATE. ALL RIGHT. PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW

[11. BUDGET]

THERE'S SOME PULLBACK ON USING THE CARS AND STUFF. SO I JUST WONDERED IF THE FUEL WAS PUT IN THERE TO HELP THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I KNOW WE DO HAVE OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. AS THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE. YES, THAT IS INCLUDED IN OUR BUDGET.

OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. PUBLIC HEARING IS STILL OPEN. ANYBODY WISHING TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST OR OTHERWISE MAY COME UP AND DO SO. OKAY. GOOD EVENING AGAIN. THANK YOU TO MAYOR FOR HIS EXPLANATION OF THE BUDGET AND ITS ALLOCATIONS. BUT I HAVE TO QUESTION THE FOLLOWING. THE LIBRARY. OUR LIBRARY SCRIMPS BY. AND THEY NEED MORE. OF A BUDGET. IT'S INADEQUATE FOR A CITY OF OUR SIZE. PARKS, EQUIPMENT. YES. THANK YOU FOR THE PARKS EQUIPMENT THAT HAS BEEN ALLOCATED. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE GREEN SPACES? WHAT ABOUT NATIVE TREES? AND WE ARE ALL PROUD OF EDINBURGH'S RECREATION AS TO WHAT IS POSSIBLE. BUT THINK WHAT COULD BE EVEN MORE POSSIBLE WITH MORE OF A BUDGET STREET PAVING. I ATTENDED THE UDC MEETING THIS AFTERNOON AND TO MY LAYMAN'S LOOK, IT SEEMS THAT WE'RE BEING MORE REACTIVE TO BUILDERS, BUT NOT TO RESIDENTS. IT SEEMS THAT THE CONSTRUCTION IS DRIVING THE ROADS INSTEAD OF THE ROADS DRIVING THE CONSTRUCTION. EDC, THE EDINBURGH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. I AM A MEMBER OF THE LEADERSHIP EDINBURG 36 CLASS. IT IS A WONDERFUL PROGRAM THAT TUITION BASED COURSE. BUT WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT EDINBURG EDC IS FOR BUSINESS AND HERE IS FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO SERVE ALL OF US. NOW, LAST. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE A LOT OF DISCERN, LET'S SAY, DISCUSSION AND CONTROVERSY. BUT I THINK WE SHOULD BE PAYING FOR EDINBURG MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN. I SEE BUSINESSMEN UP HERE, ALL MEN. BUT WHERE ARE THE WOMEN? WHERE IS THE OVER 50% POPULATION OF WOMEN? MAYBE IT'S TIME TO THINK ABOUT ALLOWING A SALARY IN ORDER FOR OTHERS BESIDES THOSE WHO ARE JUST IN FINANCES, TO GO AHEAD AND SERVE THESE PEOPLE ARE IMPORTANT. SO THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU LISTENING TO ME.

I KNOW I SWIM UPSTREAM MOST OF THE TIME, BUT CONSIDER THIS AND REMEMBER THAT WE'RE THINKING

[01:10:05]

I HAVE SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO RAISE. SO, MR. ALONSO, YOU SHOULD BE WEARING A CAPE.

YOU ALONG WITH CITY MANAGEMENT, BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE BEEN REALLY GOING AT IT LITERALLY UP UNTIL THE LAST SECOND BEFORE ADOPTING THIS BUDGET. AND SO I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF ALL THE WORK YOU, THE FINANCE STAFF, ALONG WITH CITY MANAGEMENT, HAS BEEN DOING ALL ALONG THE WAY, JUST AS I FORGOT TO MENTION THIS FROM OUR IN MY OPENING REPORT, I SHOULD HAVE. BUT I KNOW THERE HAD BEEN SOME DISCUSSION AND I THINK I HAD, YOU KNOW, RELEASED A VIDEO AND PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS, WHICH I'M REALLY GLAD THAT PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT.

BUT WE HAD REDUCED OUR PROPOSED STREET PROGRAM FROM TWO AND A HALF TO ONE AND A HALF, SO THAT WE CAN COVER SOME OF THE INCREASES IN EMPLOYEE PREMIUMS, BUT WITH SOME ADDITIONAL WORK PUTTING PEN TO PAPER, WE HAVE ACTUALLY FOUND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO PUT AT LEAST THAT MILLION DOLLARS BACK INTO STREET IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS. SO EVEN WITH THIS BUDGET, WE ARE ANTICIPATING TO BE ABLE TO FULLY FUND THAT. ORIGINALLY PROPOSED TWO AND A HALF STREET IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. AND TO BE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A DECADE THAT THE CITY OF EDINBURGH HAS BUDGETED STREET IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. THIS PAST YEAR, WE USED ARPA MONEY TO DO THAT. WE WERE ABLE TO GET THROUGH A LOT OF DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT IT WAS NOT ACTUALLY BUILT WITHIN THE CITY BUDGET. AND SO WE ARE VERY PROUD. I PARTICULARLY AM VERY THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL TO THE FINANCE STAFF AND TO CITY MANAGEMENT FOR CARVING OUT THIS 2.5 MILLION, NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN SERVICE THIS STREET IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY OF EDINBURGH. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THAT. ONE ADDITIONAL ITEM THAT I DO, I DO WANT TO DISCUSS IS THE PAY PAY ADJUSTMENT PROPOSAL. SO I KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED PAY PROPOSAL WAS FOR A 2% SALARY INCREASE ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ALL EMPLOYEES. WHAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN THE PAST IS BEING ABLE TO, TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE OF THOSE EARNING UNDER $15 TO $15, TO PROVIDE THEM THAT LIVING WAGE. AND SO, AS A COUNTER PROPOSAL TO THE CITY MANAGER'S BUDGET OF 2% INCREASE, I, I WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER INSTEAD REALLOCATING THAT AMOUNT SO THAT WE CAN INCREASE THE WORKERS WHO ARE UNDER 15215 AND THEN THE REST OF THE OF THE STAFF RECEIVING A ONE TIME 1% RETENTION INCENTIVE PAYMENT. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THAT PARTICULAR THAT PARTICULAR SET OF NUMBERS, RIGHT? IF WE WERE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH DOING THAT, THE BUDGET AS PROVIDED, THERE'S A LINE ITEM, RIGHT, THAT ALLOCATES FOR, FOR SOME, SOME TYPE OF PAY PLAN ADJUSTMENT THAT THAT NUMBER, IT'S, IT'S NEUTRAL, RIGHT? IT IS NOT WE WON'T HAVE TO PULL ANY MONEY FROM ANY OTHER PROGRAMS. IT'S ALREADY PROVIDED FOR IN THE BUDGET. THAT IS CORRECT, SIR. OKAY. SO AT THIS POINT WE COULD EITHER GIVE A 2% PAY INCREASE ACROSS THE BOARD TO ALL EMPLOYEES, OR WE COULD DO A BRING EVERYBODY UNDER $15 TO $15. AND THEN EVERY OTHER EMPLOYEE BESIDES THAT RECEIVES A ONE TIME 1% OF THEIR OF THEIR BASE SALARY RETENTION INCENTIVE PAYMENTS. WE HAVE BOTH OF THOSE OPTIONS. YES, MAYOR, COUNCIL, WE DO. OKAY. WELL, I, I WOULD URGE THE ALTERNATIVE OPTION, LOOKING THROUGH THE NUMBERS, WHAT I SEE IS THAT WE HAVE 182 POSITIONS IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH, WHERE THEIR BASE RATE IS UNDER $15 AN HOUR. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THEM. IT'S GROUNDSKEEPERS, SANITATION WORKERS, CUSTODIANS, BUILDING MAINTENANCE, PARK RANGERS, MAINTENANCE OPERATORS AND

[01:15:06]

THERE WAS A RESOLUTION OVER THIS, AND IN MY OPINION, IT'S TIME TO DO THAT. SO I WOULD I WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH AN ALTERNATIVE PAY PLAN PROPOSAL WHERE WE RAISE ANYBODY UNDER 15 TO 15, AND THEN THE REMAINDER OF THE CITY EMPLOYEES RECEIVE A ONE TIME 1% RETENTION INCENTIVE PAY. OKAY, MAYOR JOHN, THIS IS REALLY THE FIRST TIME I HEARD WHERE DO WE FIND THE EXTRA MONEY TO HELP? WHERE DID THAT COME FROM? THAT CAME WE LOOKED AT AT OUR. WE HAD ALREADY. ON AUGUST 14TH, WE HAD INCLUDED THE 2% ALREADY. SO THAT WAS ALREADY INCLUDED. THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS WE LOOKED AT AT ALL OUR REVENUES, AS WE DO IN OUR BUDGET PROCESS AND. AND THE LAST TWO MONTHS, OUR SALES TAX REVENUE HAS INCREASED. WE WERE BUDGETING A 5% INCREASE FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS. IT'S GONE TO 9.47. AND THEN THIS LAST JUST THIS MONTH, WE GOT AN INCREASE OF 10.40. SO THE TREND IS TRENDING. THE SALES TAX IS IS INCREASING. WE REEVALUATED THAT THAT LINE THOSE TWO LINE ITEMS FOR SALES TAX. AND WE FEEL COMFORTABLE PRESENTING A 5.5% INCREASE FOR OUR BUDGET. SO IT'S STILL A COMFORTABLE REVENUE PROJECTION THAT WE FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE THAT WE'LL WE'LL OBTAIN THAT. SO IT CAME FROM A SALES TAX INCREASE. WHEN WHEN WAS THIS DISCOVERED ABOUT THIS PROPOSED TAX. I GUESS THE WHATEVER MONEY, THE MONEY THAT WE FOUND, WHEN WAS THIS LIKE, WHEN DID Y'ALL FIGURE THIS PART OUT? BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HEARD IT FROM YOU, ALL THE STAFF ABOUT FINDING THIS KIND OF MONEY. YEAH, IT'S IT'S THROUGH OUR BUDGET PROCESS. ANYTIME THERE'S ANY CHANGES, ADDITIONS OR DECREASES FROM OUR UPPER MANAGEMENT, FROM OUR COUNCIL, THROUGH OUR UPPER MANAGEMENT, WE DO FOLLOW THE CHAIN OF COMMAND. WE DO LOOK FOR FUNDING ANY SOURCES, AND WE'RE AWARE OF ANY ADDITIONAL GRANTS COMING IN BEFORE WE ADOPT. WE DO RECOMMEND WE MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO UPPER MANAGEMENT AND AND MAYOR AND COUNCIL TO, TO LOOK AT THOSE. BUT IT IS A PROCESS THAT WE DO WITH THE REVENUES. AS YOU KNOW, A BUDGET IS OUR PROJECTED FOR NEXT YEAR. WHAT WE ANTICIPATE GETTING. SO IT'S AN ONGOING THING THAT WE LOOK AT MONTH BY MONTH, OUR REVENUES. AND THAT'S WHEN IT CAME UP THAT WHEN WHEN IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY OF INCREASING THAT THAT PAY PLAN, ADJUSTMENT OR PLAN, THIS IS JUST A RECOMMENDED FROM OUR SALES TAX.

AND WE FEEL COMFORTABLE INCREASING THAT TO 5.5% OVER LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF THE TWO MONTHS THAT WE THAT WE GOT THIS LAST TWO MONTHS. AND BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN THE TREND THAT WE'RE SEEING, WE FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE. IF MAYOR AND COUNCIL WERE TO CHOOSE TO DO THAT. ARE YOU SO YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE IN COST BETWEEN THE 2% ACROSS THE BOARD PAY INCREASE? AND THE ALTERNATIVE I JUST I JUST DIDN'T THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HEARD FROM STAFF ABOUT HAVING EXTRA MONIES TO COVER CERTAIN EXPENSES. SO I HADN'T HEARD ABOUT IT. IT'S FROM THE STAFF. SO. WELL, JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE THE 2% PAY PLAN THAT WAS BUILT INTO THE ORIGINAL PROPOSED BUDGET. THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY. THAT WAS PROPOSED BY OUR CITY MANAGER, INCLUDED ON AUGUST 14TH WHEN WE PRESENTED THE THAT BUDGET. RIGHT. SO THE SO THE EXTRA MONEY TO DO SOME TYPE OF A PAY. YES. IS NOT IS NOT MONEY THAT WAS FOUND. IT'S MONEY THAT WAS ALREADY THERE IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND WAS ADJUSTED. WHAT WAS THERE? WE HAD PROJECTED A 5% INCREASE BECAUSE OF THE TREND WE WERE SEEING. BUT THIS LAST TWO MONTHS WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE WHICH IS ABOVE WHAT WE WERE PROJECTING. LIKE I SAID, WE'RE PROJECTING ABOUT A 5% INCREASE. WE THIS LAST TWO MONTHS, WE WE HAD A 9.47% INCREASE FOR ONE MONTH. AND THEN COMPARED TO LAST YEAR AND THEN THIS JUST THIS THIS MONTH, WE HAD A TEN POINT, I THINK IT WAS 10.64 INCREASE, 10.5 SALES TAX INCREASE. SO WE FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT TREND IS GOING TO CONTINUE. SO WE FEEL COMFORTABLE. WE WHEN WE PROJECT REVENUES WE'RE VERY CONSERVATIVE BECAUSE WE NEED TO REACH THOSE REVENUE PROJECTIONS BECAUSE IF NOT WE'LL HAVE A SHORTFALL. SO BUT WE DO FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THIS AT THIS TIME. WHERE DO WE FIND THAT EXTRA MILLION TO PUT BACK IN THE STREETS THAT THAT'S A WORK

[01:20:03]

SO WE COULD ADOPT A BUDGET. SO IT'S A ONE LINE TO BE DISTRIBUTED DEPENDING ON WHAT IS DECIDED AS FAR AS WHICH PLAN OR WHAT WHAT ADJUSTMENTS ARE DECIDED. AND THEN WE'LL WE'LL ALLOCATE THAT. WE DO NEED TO KEEP IN MIND THAT WE CAN'T GO OVER IF, IF THE BUDGET IS ADOPTED, WE CAN'T GO OVER THAT AMOUNT. SO IF IT'S IF IT'S LESS THAN IT'S BUDGETED. BUT DOES THAT NEED TO BE SPENT? SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW BEING PROPOSED TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL. RIGHT. AND SO IF A IF APPROVED, RIGHT. IF A IF THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED IS APPROVED, THERE IS AN AMOUNT AVAILABLE FOR SOME TYPE OF A PAY PLAN, INCENTIVE PAY ALLOCATION, RIGHT. HOWEVER, IT ENDS UP BEING THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY NEED TO BE DECIDED TONIGHT. THAT IS CORRECT THAT THE THE PLAN DOES NOT NEED TO BE DECIDED TONIGHT. JUST TO KEEP IN MIND THAT WE HAVE THE AMOUNT BUDGETED THAT THAT WE DON'T GO OVER THAT AMOUNT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S BEEN APPROVED BY IF IT IS APPROVED, WILL BE APPROVED. AND THAT'S THE NUMBER WE NEED TO WORK WITH EITHER THAT AMOUNT OR LESS. OKAY. AND IF IT'S AN INCREASE OVER THAT, THEN IT WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK TO AMEND THE BUDGET. IF THIS BUDGET IS ADOPTED TODAY, WE WOULD NEED AN AMENDMENT TO, TO, TO THE BUDGET ORDINANCE. OKAY. OTHER DISCUSSION, OTHER QUESTIONS. SO, MAYOR. MY QUESTION IS ON THE MILLION THAT'S BEEN ADDED TO THE STREET PAVING. WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN AND HOW DID HOW DID THAT GET ALLOCATED THERE? NOT SOMEWHERE ELSE. WELL, IT WAS LITERALLY JUST NOW. ADC DISCUSSED IT LAST NIGHT AND ALLOWED FOR THE DEFERMENT OF THE PAYMENT. AND SO FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS WE CAN ADOPT THE BUDGET AS LONG AS WE DON'T GO OVER THE PROPOSED LINE ITEM, LET'S SAY, FOR THE RAISES, RIGHT? SO WE COULD SAY 2% AND BE UNDER THAT. BUT IF WE SAY 1%, WE CAN'T GO OVER THAT. WE CAN'T GO OVER IT. WE NEED TO AMEND THE BUDGET. RIGHT? RIGHT. RIGHT NOW WE WE HAVE TO STAY WITHIN

[01:25:02]

PERCENT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. MAYOR, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE A RECORD VOTE.

YES. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER LOZANO, YES OR NO? YES. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER. DIAZ. YES.

MAYOR. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. DELEON. YES. AND MAYOR PRO TEM. YES. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NEXT ITEM IS THE ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE TAX RATE AND LEVY FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURGH FOR THE TAX YEAR 2026. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE IS A VERY SPECIFIC WAY THAT THIS MOTION MUST BE MADE.

MR. CITY ATTORNEY. MR. MAYOR, I HAVE HAD A DISCUSSION WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT FOR THE TAX RATE. SO I BELIEVE WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED CURRENTLY IS A NO NEW TAX REVENUE RATE. SO BECAUSE OF THAT, AFTER LOOKING AT THE STATUTE AND CASE LAW STATUTE UNDER THE TAX CODE, SECTION 26

[C. Consider Ordinance Adopting the Budget for the City of Edinburg for Fiscal Year Beginning October]

[D. Consider Ordinance Adopting the Tax Rate and Levy for the City of Edinburg for the Tax Year 2026,]

PLEASE GO AHEAD. COUNCILMEMBER. YES. COUNCILMEMBER DIAZ. YES. YES. COUNCILMEMBER DELEON. YES.

AND MAYOR PRO TEM SALAZAR. YES. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA ARE ORDINANCES.

[01:30:08]

[A. Consider Ordinance Providing for a Temporary Special Use Permit for “Fandango 2026” to be Held]

ITEM B SECRETARY. READ THE CAPTION. CONSIDER ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF EDINBURGH, TEXAS AT TITLE THREE. ADMINISTRATION. CHAPTER 30 ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, SECTION 30.021. TO UPDATE THE STRUCTURAL ORGANIZATION OF THE CITY. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN

[B. Consider Ordinance Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Edinburg, Texas at Title III,]

ADMINISTRATION. CHAPTER 30 ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, SECTIONS 30.071, 30.072 AND 30.075 PROVIDE A CHANGE TO THE CITY'S CURRENT CLASSIFICATION COMPENSATION PLAN FOR NON-CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE. ANY

[C. Consider Ordinance Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Edinburg, Texas at Title III,]

MAYOR AND COMMISSION ERICA BAILEY, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES. SO YOUR QUESTION WAS WHAT IS THE COMPENSATION BEING CHANGED TO? SO NORMALLY EVERY YEAR, IF THERE'S A ANY TYPE OF ADJUSTMENT ON THE COMPENSATION PLAN, THIS IS WHERE WE WOULD AMEND THE ORDINANCE. SO FOR EXAMPLE, ON THIS ONE, THERE'S BEEN A CHANGE IN THE RATE OF PAY FOR ONE GRADE. AND THEN WE'RE ADDING ONE POSITION TO ONE GRADE. THANK YOU. YEAH. SO IT'S ADDING THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC FACILITIES TO GRADE ONE. THAT IS CORRECT. AND THEN THE RATE OF CHANGE FOR GRADE 250 I BELIEVE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. ITEM D CONSIDER ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES 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 COMPENSATION PLANS. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL

[D. Consider Ordinance Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Edinburg, Texas at Title III,]

[13. AWARDING OF BIDS]

[A. Consider Awarding RFP No. 2026-016, Development Impact Fee Nexus Study for the City of]

ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. ITEM B CONSIDER AWARDING RFP NUMBER 2026 020 VETERANS BOULEVARD DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS PHASE TWO TO BLUE.SITE AND UTILITIES LLC FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 760,000 AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT AND EXECUTE ANY DOCUMENTS RELATED THERETO PURSUANT TO THE CITY'S ORDINANCES AND PROCUREMENT POLICIES, MOTION. MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL

[B. Consider Awarding RFP No. 2026-020, Veterans Blvd. Drainage Improvements Phase II to Blue Dot]

[14. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT]

THE PROGRAM WILL WORK COMES FROM THE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WAS ADOPTED SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AND IT'S A CONTINUATION OF THAT PLAN. IT'S YEAR THREE OF THAT PLAN, AND IT FOCUSES ON VARIOUS

[01:35:02]

OUR FOCUS THIS UPCOMING YEAR WILL BE TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON ATTRACTING NEW BUSINESSES, INCLUDING RETAIL, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENTITIES WHO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LARGE JOB CREATION, WORKING WITH THE EXISTING INDUSTRIES AND WITH LOCAL COMPANIES, SMALL BUSINESSES TO HELP THEM BE MORE PROFITABLE. AND OF COURSE, IN CREATING A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR CITIZENS. SOME OF THE PROGRAMS AND INCENTIVES WHICH WE WILL CONTINUE TO USE INCLUDE LIFT FUND, FLIP COMMERCIAL RECRUITMENT PROGRAM, INVESTMENT GRANTS, INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS, JOB CREATION GRANTS, AND OTHERS THAT QUALIFIED BUSINESSES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR. WE WILL CONTINUE TO INVEST IN OUR CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE AT THE AIRPORT, IN PARTS OF DOWNTOWN, AND SOME OF THE COMMERCIAL AREAS THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO BOOST OUR TAX BASE. OUR BUDGET HAS A TOTAL OF OVER $13.3 MILLION IN REVENUES AND 11.3 IN RESERVES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE USING FOR SOME OF THESE PROJECTS. WE WILL BE EXPANDING WELL OVER $7.5 MILLION IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE CITY IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND, OF COURSE, FINISHING OFF OUR WORKFORCE RESOURCE CENTER AND PRO SHOP AT EBONY HILLS AS WELL. THESE ARE SOME OF THE TOP PRIORITIES. THEY INCLUDE INVESTMENTS IN DOWNTOWN AND MIDTOWN, WHICH IS BETWEEN BASICALLY CITY HALL AND THE COURTHOUSE AND THE UNIVERSITY AND NEAR THE BURDOCK AND ARENA AND OF COURSE, THE AIRPORT. OUR TARGETED INDUSTRIES CONTINUE TO BE HEALTH CARE, ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, TECH COMPANIES, RETAIL, FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT, LOGISTICS, FOOD PROCESSING, AND OTHERS. NOW, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ON THE BUDGET. ALL RIGHT.

HEARING NO QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. DO WE NEED ACTION ON THIS ITEM? AS PER THE BYLAWS, WE WOULD NEED ACTION FROM THE CITY COUNCIL TO ADOPT THE BUDGET AND THE PROGRAM WORK. OKAY. SO REQUESTING A MOTION TO APPROVE THE EDC PROGRAM OF WORK AND BUDGET. OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU. CONSENT AGENDA. CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS A THROUGH E? SO MOVED. SECOND.

HOLD ON. THERE'S ONE. ONE. RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT. THANK YOU. WHICH ONE IS THAT? ONE C, I BELIEVE. YES. OKAY. OKAY, SO THEN ITEMS A, B, D AND E EXCLUDING C. CAN I GET A MOTION

[15. CONSENT AGENDA]

[C. Consider Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Development Agreement Between the City of]

OKAY. ITEM B SECRETARY READ THE CAPTION. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING RESETTING THE TIME AND PLACE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO BE HELD JOINTLY BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION REGARDING THE CITY'S UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE AND

[16. OTHER BUSINESS]

[B. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Re-Setting the Time and Place of a Public Hearing to be]

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. ITEM 17. EXECUTIVE SESSION. CAN I GET A MOTION TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION. SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE. THE MOTION IS ADOPTED. WE ARE NOW IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. TIME IS 7:38 P.M. ITEM A CONSULTATION WITH CITY ATTORNEY. ITEM B CONSULTATION WITH CITY ATTORNEY REGARDING PERSONAL MATTERS.

ITEM C DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE CONVEYANCE, EXCHANGE OR LEASE OF REAL

[17. EXECUTIVE SESSION]

NUMBER ONE PROJECT PHASE.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.