[00:01:08]
COMING UP NEXT ON A REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF YOUR EDINBURG 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 6:00 ON OCTOBER 6 TO 2026 AT THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS. I DO SEE THAT WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE CITY COUNCIL WITH ALL MEMBERS
[1. CALL TO ORDER, ESTABLISH QUORUM]
PRESENT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF COUNCIL MEMBER DAN DIAZ. IF WE COULD, PLEASE. LET'S START WITH THE PRAYER. WE'VE GOT PASTOR DAVID ALEXANDER WITH US. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. LET'S PRAY.[A. Prayer.]
HEAVENLY FATHER, YOU ARE HOLY, HOLY, HOLY. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS, YOUR JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS. LORD, WE PRAISE YOU FOR THE GIFT OF RAIN AND COOLER WEATHER. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE MONTHS TO COME. LORD, WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE BUSINESS OF THE EVENING. WE PRAY THAT AS DECISIONS NEED TO BE MADE, THAT AS IT HAS BEEN SAID BEFORE, THAT YOU WOULD GRANT US THE SERENITY TO CHANGE THE THINGS WE CAN ACCEPT, THE THINGS THAT WE CAN'T, AND THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. FATHER, I KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE EVEN HERE ARE PROBABLY UNDER THE WEATHER OR HAVE ISSUES THAT THEY ARE STRUGGLING WITH, AND I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD SUSTAIN THEM AND GRANT THEM YOUR PEACE AND YOUR GRACE. JUST LET THEM KNOW YOUR PRESENCE THIS EVENING.AND LORD, WE JUST PLACE EVERYTHING IN YOUR HANDS THAT WE MIGHT SEEK YOU IN YOUR KINGDOM AND YOUR WILL, THAT IT WOULD BE DONE HERE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN, TO YOUR GLORY.
IN JESUS NAME, AMEN. AMEN. MAYOR PRO TEM, IF YOU COULD LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF
[B. Pledge of Allegiance.]
ALLEGIANCE. YES, WE CAN PUT IT ON RIGHT HAND OVER OUR HEART AND REPEAT. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR. ALL. RIGHT. NEXT
[2. CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE]
ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE, MADAM SECRETARY. YES, SIR.MAYOR. THE MEETING WAS POSTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026 AT 6:45 P.M. SIR. ALL RIGHT. NEXT ITEM IS THE DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF
[3. DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST]
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. NO, SIR.THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM IS THE CITY HIGHLIGHTS. WE DO HAVE SEVERAL EVENTS ACTUALLY COMING
[4. CITY HIGHLIGHTS]
UP. BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING, WE HAVE A SENIOR WIEN EVENT ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9TH, THIS FRIDAY AT 9 A.M. AT THE ELDERLY RECREATIONAL CENTER. A LOT OF FUN. IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN OUT THERE. IT'S A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE. HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU COME AND CHECK THAT OUT NEXT WEEK. ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14TH AT THE SEKULA LIBRARY AT 3 P.M. THE CITY IS HOSTING A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION REGISTRATION EVENT. A LOT OF HOMEOWNERS MAY NOT KNOW THE PROCESS FOR REGISTERING THEIR HOME FOR THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION THAT THEY ARE ENTITLED TO BY LAW. THIS EVENT WILL ASSIST YOU IN DOING THAT.SO IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED YOUR HOME AS YOUR HOMESTEAD, IF YOU'RE NOT SURE IF YOU'VE DONE THAT. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU COME OUT TO THIS SO THAT YOU CAN GET THAT DONE. THERE'S A
[00:05:04]
LOT OF BENEFITS TO REGISTERING YOUR HOME AS A HOMESTEAD. A LOT OF DIRECT TAX BENEFITS. ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS BRING YOUR ID WITH WITH YOU SO THAT YOU CAN GET ASSISTANCE ON THAT. AND THEN THE THIRD ANNUAL FALL BRAWL IS COMING UP ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17TH. IT'LL START AT 1 P.M. AT THE PARKS AND RECREATIONS DEPARTMENT. SHOULD BE A FUN TIME. THE NEXT ITEM IS THE MAYOR'S REPORT. NOTHING. DIRECTLY ON THIS ONE, WE'LL MOVE INTO THE PROCLAMATIONS.[5. MAYOR'S REPORT]
[6. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS]
ITEM A IS RECOGNIZING WHITE CANE AWARENESS DAY, OCTOBER 15TH, 2026 IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. THIS IS BEING REQUESTED AND PRESENTED TO THE LIONS OF DISTRICT TWO A THREE.[A. B. C. Presentation of Proclamation Recognizing October 15, 2026, as White Cane Awareness Day in the]
IF I COULD HAVE THE MEMBERS OF THE LIONS COME ON UP TO THE FRONT. WE WILL HAVE THE CITY SECRETARY READ THE PROCLAMATION AND CITY COUNCIL WILL COME DOWN TO TAKE SOME PICTURES WITH YOU ALL. YES, SIR. WHITE CANE AWARENESS DAY OCTOBER 15TH, 2026. WHEREAS WHITE CANE BECAME AN IMPORTANT TOOL OF INDEPENDENCE AND SAFETY AFTER JAMES BIGGS OF BRISTOL, ENGLAND, PAINTED HIS WALKING STICK WHITE IN 1921 TO MAKE IT MORE VISIBLE IN TRAFFIC. AND WHEREAS IN 1925, HELEN KELLER, THE LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION IN CEDAR POINT, OHIO, DELIVERED A POWERFUL ADDRESS THAT WOULD DEFINE THE LIONS MISSION FOR OVER A CENTURY. SPEAKING AS AN AMBASSADOR FOR THE NEWLY FORMED AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND, MISS KELLER URGED LIONS TO JOIN HER IN A CRUSADE AGAINST DARKNESS AND BECOME THE KNIGHTS OF THE BLIND. AND WHEREAS LIONS CLUBS HELPED ADVANCE WHITE CANE SAFETY AWARENESS, LEADING EVERY STATE TO ADOPT WHITE CANE SAFETY LAWS BY 1956 AND CONGRESS LATER DESIGNATED OCTOBER 15TH AS NATIONAL WHITE CANE SAFETY DAY IN 1964. AND WHEREAS IN 1969, THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND. NOW THE WORLD BLIND UNION ADOPTED OCTOBER 15TH AS INTERNATIONAL WHITE CANE SAFETY DAY. AND WHEREAS THE WHITE CANE REMAINS A RECOGNIZED SYMBOL OF INDEPENDENCE, CONFIDENCE, AND MOBILITY FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED. AND WHEREAS LIONS CLUBS, INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE OF TEXAS, MULTIPLE DISTRICT TWO AND LIONS OF DISTRICT TWO, A THREE CURRENTLY LED BY DISTRICT GOVERNOR CODY, COLORADO, JUNIOR PAST PRESIDENT OF THE LIONS CLUB, CONTINUE TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE VISION, AWARENESS, ACCESSIBILITY, SAFETY AND FULL PARTICIPATION FOR PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED. AND WHEREAS THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR'S THIS YEAR IS CELEBRATING INDEPENDENCE, EMPOWERMENT AND SAFETY FOR ALL WHO USE THE WHITE CANE. NOW THEREFORE, THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG, TEXAS, BY THE POWER VESTED IN THEM BY LAW, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 15TH, 2026 AS WHITE CANE AWARENESS DAY IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH AND ENCOURAGE SCHOOLS, EMPLOYERS, ORGANIZATIONS AND ALL RESIDENTS TO RECOGNIZE THE WHITE CANE AS A TOOL OF INDEPENDENCE, SAFETY AND MOBILITY FOR BLIND PEDESTRIANS. THANK YOU. HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JACOB HERNANDEZ. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE LIONS CLUB, EDINBURG CHAPTER. WE'RE HERE. THANK YOU FOR HONORING US WITH THIS PROCLAMATION. OUR MOTTO IS IS SIMPLE WE SERVE AND WE SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. WE SERVE THROUGH LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS TO HELPING THE WERE THERE, WERE THERE. SO TODAY WE'RE GOING TO DO A A BRIEF DEMONSTRATION ON THE WHITE CANE. AND WE HAVE OUR LION CITY. DISTRICT GOVERNOR CODY IS GOING TO PRESENT TO US WHAT THIS WHITE CANE IS ABOUT AND GIVE YOU A LITTLE INSIGHT OF WHAT IT IS TO EXPERIENCE NO SIGHT. SO HERE, CODY. RIGHT HERE, 12:00. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM SECRETARY, FOR READING THAT OUT. ALL THE COUNCIL MEN AND WOMEN HERE AND THE MAYOR. MAYOR, I HAVE A LITTLE SMALL CHALLENGE FOR YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOU CHALLENGE YOU. IF YOU DON'T TAKE THE CHALLENGE. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO MAKE A DONATION ON BEHALF OF MY FAVORITE CHARITY.OKAY. SO I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE BLIND AND THEN TO USE A CANE, WHICH IS A TOOL TO HELP YOU MANAGE TO WALK AROUND THE CITY OF EDINBURGH OR FOR EXAMPLE, WALKING IN WALMART. WHERE DO YOU GO? HOW DO YOU FIND A BANJO? WHERE'S THE BATHROOM? YOU KNOW WHERE THE THE THE SPORTING GOODS SECTION. WHERE IS THE TOMATO? WHERE THE THE COCA COLA.
OKAY, SO, MR. PRESIDENT, MR. MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO COME DOWN AND TAKE BLINDFOLD YOU BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHY YOU DIDN'T TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND YOU HAD DIABETES AND NOW YOU'RE BLIND. SO WOULD YOU LIKE TO COVER HIS EYES? OKAY. CAN YOU CAN CAN ROLL IT UP AND MAKE SURE HE'S BLIND. OKAY. GOT IT. YOU'RE GOING TO BLINDFOLD YOU. IT'S LIKE THE BLIND KARATE KID.
YEAH. HE'S PEEKING. NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS A CANE. AS YOU CAN TELL, THEY'RE WHITE,
[00:10:09]
BUT THIS ONE HAS RED. BECAUSE I AM DEAF, I WEAR TWO HEARING AIDS. SO YOU SEE A CANE WITH A RED ON THE BOTTOM, A STRIPE DOWN THERE. YOU WANT TO BE EXTRA CAUTIOUS. OKAY. SO, MR. MAYOR, SO WE TOUCH EACH OTHER. WE SAY, HELLO, MY NAME IS CODY CORCHADO. WE WOULD STRAIGHT OUT FROM OUR BELLY BUTTON, WE WOULD REACH AND SHAKE EACH OTHER'S HAND. SO THAT'S HOW WE GREET.AND I'M GOING TO HAND YOU A CANE. AND HERE'S YOUR CANE. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. MOST PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND, BUT I CALL MY CANE YOGA BECAUSE WE'RE HERE IN TEXAS. SO AS YOU KNOW, THE CANE, THEY FEEL LIKE A CUTTER, LIKE A GOLF CLUB. SO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, YOU'RE GOING TO. AND BY THE WAY, HE'S LEARNING HOW TO HOLD IT. IF YOU NOTICE, THERE IS THIS CORD AND YOU WOULD PUT THAT CORD AROUND YOUR WRIST BECAUSE GODLY, IF YOU DROP IT, YOU'RE GOING TO LOOKING ALL OVER IN YOUR HANDS AND KNEES LOOKING FOR IT. SO YOU GOT TO FIND THAT COMFORTABLE AT THE END OF THE TIP. IT'S A ROLLING MUSHROOM. AND THAT ROLLED OFF THE CRACK BECAUSE A LOT OF THE SIDEWALKS HERE AND, AND THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, THEY'RE GOING ON THE UNEVEN. SO WE USE THAT ROLLING TIP TO HELP US. OKAY. NOW, MR. MAYOR. YES. I CHALLENGE YOU TO WALK FROM HERE TO THE BACK AND THE FRONT OF THE ROOM WHERE THE DOOR IS. NOW, YOU'VE BEEN IN HERE ALL THE TIME. YOU'VE BEEN HERE ALL THIS TIME. YOU SHOULD KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE AISLE IS, AND YOU SHOULD KNOW WHERE THE DOOR IS. NOW, I CHALLENGE YOU IF YOU MAKE IT ALL THE WAY THERE WITHOUT TRIPPING. I'LL GIVE YOU MY GOVERNOR'S PEN. OKAY? SO WHAT? SO THIS IS CALLED ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY. YOU'RE GOING TO SCAN LEFT AND RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR FEET.
YOU GO LEFT AND RIGHT. OH, YOU HEARD SOMETHING. SO WHERE IS THE ROAD? WE KNOW. COME ON, COME HERE. YOU'VE BEEN HERE ALL THIS TIME. KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING? WONDERFUL. GREAT. COME BACK HERE. PIZZA! OKAY. STOP THERE. I WANT YOU TO MAKE A 180 TURN, PLEASE. BUT THE AFRICAN UNITED STATES ASSOCIATION OF BLIND ATHLETE AT THE BOARD MEMBER THERE IN COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU. YOU OVERCAME AN OBSTACLE. I WANT TO SHAKE YOUR HAND. YOU'RE FANTASTIC. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. REMEMBER, THERE ARE 10,000 BLIND INDIVIDUALS HERE IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. WHERE ARE THEY? THEIR HOME, THEIR SHARED. IF YOU HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER THAT VISUALLY IMPAIRED OR BLIND, ENCOURAGE HIM TO COME OUT. THERE'S LOTS TO DO HERE IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. THANK YOU. I'M HONORED TO BE A CITIZEN OF THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. I TRAVEL ALL OVER THE WORLD FOR TEAM USA.
I'VE BEEN INDUCTED TO A SPORTS HALL OF FAME, AND NOW I GIVE BACK. AND I WORK WITH THE LIONS CLUB. SO ON MY WAY UP FROM THE CITY EDINBURG LIONS CLUB. AND OUR MOTTO IS WE SERVE, WE ARE THE FLOODING. WE'RE THERE TO HELP OUR CITIZENS. WHEN THERE'S A HURRICANE, WE ARE THERE TO HELP THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. NOW, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE GOVERNOR, MY GOVERNOR AREA IS FROM SINTON, WHICH IS NORTH OF CORPUS CHRISTI. ALICE ZAPATA ALL THE WAY TO BROWNSVILLE.
WHAT THEY LET A BLIND, DEAF BLIND MAN LEAD THEM. YES. GIVE IT THE OPPORTUNITY. THAT'S ALL WE HAVE. SHOW IT SOME RESPECT. THAT'S ALL WE ASK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. GOD BLESS YOU. I LOVE YOU ALL. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. I KNOW THE LIONS CLUB DOES A LOT FOR THE CITY OF EDINBURGH, FOR THE RESIDENTS AROUND HERE. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE SERVICE THAT YOU'VE GIVEN TO THE CITY FOR DECADES. THANK YOU FOR THE DEMONSTRATION. IT WAS TERRIFYING. I DID CHEAT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT, I SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THIS ROOM, SO I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY WAY AROUND, BUT STILL,
[00:15:01]
IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT. LIKE I SAID, IT WAS VERY SCARY ALONG THE WAY. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR GUIDING ME THROUGH THAT. I WILL CHERISH THIS PEN AS WELL EARNED. THANK YOU AGAIN. OKAY, NEXT ITEM WE'VE GOT ON THE AGENDA IS ITEM B PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING OCTOBER AS FILIPINO[Presentation of Proclamation Recognizing October 2026, as Filipino American History Month in the]
AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. AND WE HAVE TONIGHT WITH US MEMBERS OF OUR HONORARY TRADITIONAL OF FANTASTIC, VALIANT FILIPINO AMERICAN COMMUNITY. WE'VE GOT A PROCLAMATION TO THE CITY SECRETARY COULD READ THAT WE WILL. CITY COUNCIL WILL COME DOWN AND TAKE SOME PICTURES WITH YOU ALL. YES, SIR. MAYOR. FILIPINO. AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH. WHEREAS THE EARLIEST DOCUMENTED FILIPINO PRESENCE IN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES WAS ON OCTOBER 18TH, 1587, WHEN THE FIRST LUSONES INDIO SET FOOT ON MORRO BAY, CALIFORNIA, ON BOARD THE MANILA GALLEON SHIP NUESTRA SENORA DE ESPERANZA. AND WHEREAS, THE FILIPINO AMERICAN NATIONAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECOGNIZES THE YEAR 1763 AS THE DATE OF THE FIRST PERMANENT FILIPINO SETTLEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES IN SAINT MALO, LOUISIANA. AND WHEREAS, THE FILIPINO AMERICAN COMMUNITY IS THE SECOND LARGEST ASIAN AMERICAN GROUP IN THE UNITED STATES, WITH A POPULATION OF OVER 4,100,000 PEOPLE, INCLUDING SOME 25,000 INDIVIDUALS IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY OF SOUTH TEXAS. AND WHEREAS FILIPINO AMERICAN SERVICEMEN AND SERVICEWOMEN HAVE A LONG STANDING HISTORY IN THE ARMED FORCES, FROM THE CIVIL WAR TO THE IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN CONFLICTS, INCLUDING THE 25,000 FILIPINOS WHO FOUGHT UNDER THE UNITED STATES FLAG DURING WORLD WAR TWO TO PROTECT AND DEFEND THIS COUNTRY. AND WHEREAS NINE FILIPINO AMERICANS HAVE RECEIVED A CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR, THE HIGHEST AWARD OF VALOR IN ACTION AGAINST AN ENEMY FORCE THAT CAN BE BESTOWED UPON AN INDIVIDUAL SERVING IN THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES. AND WHEREAS, FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH IS CELEBRATED DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 780 AND CONCURRED BY SENATE RESOLUTION 288, AND WHEREAS EFFORTS SHOULD CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE AND UPLIFT FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE AS MANDATED MISSION STATEMENT OF THE FILIPINO AMERICAN NATIONAL HISTORIC HISTORICAL SOCIETY, ENSURING THAT THE VITAL AND DIVERSE CONTRIBUTIONS OF FILIPINO AMERICANS AND OTHER COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE FULLY RECOGNIZED AND CELEBRATED IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. AND WHEREAS, IT IS IMPERATIVE FOR FILIPINO AMERICAN YOUTH TO HAVE POSITIVE ROLE MODELS TO INSTILL IN THEM THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION, COMPLEMENTED WITH THE RICHNESS OF THEIR ETHNICITY AND THE VALUE OF THEIR LEGACY. NOW, THEREFORE, THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF EDINBURGH, TEXAS, BY POWER VESTED IN THE BY LAW, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 26TH AS FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH AND ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO JOIN IN LEARNING ABOUT, HONORING AND CELEBRATING THE RICH HERITAGE, VITAL HISTORY, AND EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR FILIPINO AMERICAN COMMUNITY. MAYOR AND THE REST OF THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. ON BEHALF OF THE PHILIPPINE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE REST OF THE FILIPINO AMERICAN COMMUNITY HERE IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS PROCLAMATION. THANK YOU.THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS. EVERYTHING THAT THE ORGANIZATION DOES. I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE AND THE HONOR TO ATTEND THE THE FILIPINO FESTIVAL, RIGHT, THAT YOU ALL PUT ON HERE IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. IT'S A WONDERFUL EVENT, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. EVERYBODY SHOULD COME OUT TO EXPERIENCE IT. THE FILIPINO AMERICAN COMMUNITY HAS MADE GREAT, GREAT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ENTIRE RIO GRANDE VALLEY.
IF YOU GO TO BASICALLY ANY ER IN SOUTH TEXAS, YOU ARE GOING TO SEE FILIPINO AMERICANS RUNNING THE SHOW ON THOSE. THEY'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, ALL KINDS OF BEDS THAT THEY ARE MANAGING. THEY ARE GIVING GREAT BEDSIDE MANNER TO ALL OF THE PATIENTS WHO ARE IN THERE, AND THEY ARE OFFERING HALF OF THEIR FOOD ALONG THE WAY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE HONORED TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE OCTOBER AS FILIPINO AMERICAN MONTH HERE IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ITEM C, A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING OCTOBER AS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH IN THE
[Presentation of Proclamation Recognizing October 2026, as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the]
CITY OF EDINBURGH. AND HERE WITH US ARE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM, EDINBURG REGIONAL HOSPITAL CITY SECRETARY, IF YOU COULD READ THE PROCLAMATION, WE'LL COME DOWN TO TAKE SOME PICTURES WITH YOU ALL. YES, SIR. MAYOR, BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH OCTOBER 2026. WHEREAS, BREAST CANCER IS THE MOST COMMONLY DIAGNOSED CANCER AMONG AMERICAN WOMEN IN. INCLUDE SKIN CANCERS, WITH INCIDENCE RISING 1% ANNUALLY BETWEEN 2012 AND 2021, PARTICULARLY AMONG WOMEN UNDER 50, ACCORDING TO AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY. AND WHEREAS, THE CENTERS OF DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION NOTES THAT APPROXIMATELY 1 IN 8 U.S. WOMEN WILL BE DIAGNOSED WITH INVASIVE BREAST CANCER AND 1 IN 43 WILL DIE FROM IT. WITH 2026 PROJECTIONS ESTIMATED 321,910 NEW CASES IN WOMEN AND 2670 IN MEN, RESULTING IN 42,140 FEMALE AND 530 MALE FATALITIES. WHEREAS EARLY DETECTION REMAINS A POWERFUL WEAPON, OFFERING[00:20:05]
LESS INVASIVE TREATMENTS AND SURVIVAL RATES OVER 90% IN THE EARLIEST STAGES, WITH MAMMOGRAPHY SERVING AS THE GOLD STANDARD BY DETECTING ABNORMALITIES UP TO TWO YEARS BEFORE THEY CAN BE FELT. AND WHEREAS, THE SOUTH TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM PROVIDES NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED COMPREHENSIVE BREAST CARE, INCLUDING ADVANCED 2D AND 3D MAMMOGRAPHY, EARNING SOUTH EDINBURG AND MCALLEN A PLACE IN THE TOP 7% OF HOSPITALS NATIONWIDE VIA THE 2025 WOMEN'S CHOICE AWARD. AND WHEREAS, STHSS ANNUAL OCTOBER THINK PINK CAMPAIGN AND SIGNATURE THINK PINK PARADE RAISE CRITICAL COMMUNITY AWARENESS REGARDING EARLY DETECTION, EDUCATION, SCREENING AND PREVENTION. NOW, THEREFORE, THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF EDINBURG, TEXAS, BY THE POWER VESTED IN THEM BY LAW, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE OCTOBER 2026 AS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF BREAST CANCER AWARENESS, SUPPORT EARLY DETECTION AND JOIN SOUTH TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEMS THINK PINK INITIATIVE TO HELP SAVE LIVES. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR JOINING US IN RAISING AWARENESS AROUND BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. IT'S AN HONOR FOR US TO BE HERE, AND IT'S SUCH AN HONOR TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY. I WILL CONFIRM WE DO HAVE A LOT OF AMAZING FILIPINOS IN OUR HOSPITAL, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THEM. THEY ARE IN OUR ERS.THEY ARE THROUGHOUT THE HOSPITAL AND WORKING MIRACLES EVERY SINGLE DAY. WE'RE ALSO, I THINK IT'S GREAT. ONE ONE THEME I'M SEEING HERE IS THERE ARE A LOT OF MONTHS. SO IT'S. I'D LIKE TO ADD IT'S WHITE CANE AND PINK TIE MONTH AS WELL. I APPRECIATE SEEING OTHERS WHO ARE WEARING PINK. SO SUPPORT THAT PINK. GOOD JOB. THAT IS THE COLOR OF BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. AND I THINK ALL OF US HAVE SOMEONE THAT WE KNOW, SOMEONE THAT WE LOVE THAT HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY BREAST CANCER. AND FOR US AT SOUTH TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM, EDINBURG, IT IS IT IS TRULY AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THOSE OF US WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THIS VERY CHALLENGING DISEASE. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE PEOPLE WE HAVE HERE TODAY, MIKE, FROM OUR RADIOLOGY AND IMAGING DEPARTMENT, NORMA, LINDA FROM OUR WOMEN'S SERVICES, AND MELINDA, OUR MAMMOGRAPHY TECHNICIAN FOR THE FOR THE HOSPITAL. WHEN YOU HEAR A LOT OF THE THE THINGS THAT YOU READ IN THE PROCLAMATION, THE TOP 7% IN THE COUNTRY FOR SOME OF THE OUTCOMES THAT WE HAVE FOR FOR WOMEN'S SERVICES, I WILL TELL YOU, A LOT OF THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE SOMEONE THAT, LIKE MELINDA, THAT HAS OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, AND I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE HOW MANY EXAMS SHE HAS DONE. BUT WHEN YOU DO HAVE TO GO THROUGH A DISEASE LIKE THAT, YOU WANT TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO HAS EXPERTISE, WHO'S CARING AND WHO IS LOVING. AND WE CERTAINLY HAVE THAT ON OUR TEAM. AND IT'S JUST AN HONOR FOR US TO, AGAIN, TO TO BE HERE AND TO HAVE SUCH GREAT PEOPLE TAKING CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION. WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY TO BE VERY SERIOUS ABOUT THIS TOPIC.
WE ARE SEEING IN THE HOSPITAL PEOPLE WHO ARE YOUNGER AND YOUNGER WHO ARE GETTING BREAST CANCER. AND SO 40 YEARS AT LEAST AND ABOVE, WE RECOMMEND HAVING THE THE BREAST MAMMOGRAMS DONE AND BEING PREVENTATIVE. LET'S BE PROACTIVE ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THIS DISEASE. SO THANK YOU. THANKS. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. SOUTH TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM. WE REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL DO. WE'RE BLESSED HERE IN THE CITY OF EDINBURG. I LIKE TO CALL US MEDICAL CITY. RGV TO HAVE NOT ONE, TWO, THREE, BUT FOUR WONDERFUL MEDICAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS. AND YOU ALL CERTAINLY DESERVE ALL THE ACCOLADES THAT YOU GET. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT TO HELP US RAISE AWARENESS FOR BREAST CANCER. I WOULD AGREE, I, I WOULD DARE SAY THAT ALL OF US KNOW SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN AFFECTED BY IT. AND SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU FOR RAISING AWARENESS ON THIS. AND I AGREE, WE SHOULD ALL TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY. NEXT, WE HAVE ONE MORE PROCLAMATION, NOT ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT. BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE BECAUSE IT'S NOT CITY COUNCIL ACTION. BUT WE DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS WEEK HERE IN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. WE'VE GOT REPRESENTATIVES WHO ARE HERE TO RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION. IF THE CITY SECRETARY COULD READ THE PROCLAMATION, WE'LL COME DOWN TO TAKE SOME PICTURES WITH YOU ALL. YES. PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS WEEK OCTOBER 6 TO 12, 2026. WHEREAS PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS PAS ARE OFTEN THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT FOR MANY PATIENTS AND PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND THEIR MEDICAL NEEDS AND EMPOWER THEM TO BECOME EFFECTIVE ADVOCATES FOR THEIR OWN HEALTH. AND WHEREAS PAS ARE ACADEMICALLY AND CLINICALLY PREPARED TO PRACTICE MEDICINE IN ALL SETTINGS AND SPECIALTIES, INCLUDING THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF DISEASE, ASSISTING AT SURGERY AND PRESCRIBING MEDICATIONS. AND WHEREAS, QUALITY, AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE, PATIENT CENTERED HEALTH CARE PROVIDED BY PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS CONTRIBUTES TO THE WELL-BEING AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL PATIENTS OF EDINBURG, TEXAS. AND WHEREAS THE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT IS A VALUABLE ASSET TO THE MEDICAL TEAM, PA PRACTICE MEDICINE TO ENHANCE THE DELIVERY OF HIGH QUALITY HEALTH CARE FOR PATIENTS, OFTEN MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AND RURAL AREAS. AND WHEREAS PAS HAVE EARNED THE RESPECT OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO
[00:25:01]
PEOPLE'S LIVES AND FOR WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE HEALTHCARE TEAM TO ENSURE DELIVERY OF MORE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT HEALTH CARE SERVICES. AND WHEREAS, THE CITY COUNCIL RECOGNIZES THE CRITICAL WORK AND THE ADDED VALUE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS IN HEALTHCARE. NOW, THEREFORE, THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF EDINBURG, TEXAS, BY POWER VESTED IN THEM BY LAW, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE OCTOBER 6 TO 12, 2026 AS PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS WEEK AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO THANK A PA FOR THE ENHANCED QUALITY OF CARE THEY PROVIDE. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE EDINBURGH COMMUNITY. MY NAME IS CASSANDRA WHETSTONE AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS SOCIETY, AS WELL AS A FACULTY MEMBER AND ONE OF THE DIRECTORS OF CLINICAL EDUCATION FOR THE UTRGV PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAM HERE IN EDINBURG. ON BEHALF OF OUR PA COMMUNITY, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING PA WEEK AND THE PA'S WHO SERVE PATIENTS THROUGHOUT THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. THIS RECOGNITION IS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL HERE IN EDINBURG BECAUSE THIS CITY HAS BEEN HOME TO PA EDUCATION FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS. DURING THAT TIME, OUR PROGRAM HAS EDUCATED GENERATIONS OF PA WHO HAVE GONE ON TO SERVE OUR REGION. AS DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL EDUCATION, I SEE FIRSTHAND HOW MUCH OUR STUDENTS EDUCATION DEPENDS ON OUR COMMUNITY, OUR LOCAL HOSPITALS, CLINICS, PHYSICIANS, PAS, AND OTHER HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS OPEN THEIR DOORS TO OUR STUDENTS AND HELP US PREPARE THE NEXT GENERATION OF HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS. SO WHEN THE CITY OF EDINBURGH RECOGNIZES PA WEEK, YOU ARE RECOGNIZING NOT ONLY THE PA'S CARING FOR OUR PATIENTS TODAY, BUT ALSO A COMMUNITY THAT HAS HELPED EDUCATE AND SUPPORT THE PA WHO WILL CARE FOR OUR PATIENTS.TOMORROW. ON BEHALF OF THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, PA SOCIETY AND THE UTRGV PA PROGRAM, THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF EDINBURGH FOR THIS RECOGNITION AND FOR THE MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF SUPPORT TO PA EDUCATION IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION. WE DEFINITELY WANT TO CELEBRATE ALL OF THE PA S WHO DO AMAZING WORK. AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE SUCH A VERY STRONG MEDICAL COMMUNITY HERE IN EDINBURG. AND, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M A LAWYER AND I CAN RECOGNIZE THAT THE PARALEGALS IN MY OFFICE ARE THE ONES WHO ACTUALLY RUN THE SHOW. AND SO I THINK THE ANALOGY IS VERY APT.
PA S ARE THE ONES THAT DELIVER THE FRONT LINE MEDICAL CARE. SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR REPRESENTING YOUR PROFESSION. THANK YOU FOR MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE RECOGNIZED AND THE WAY THAT THEY DESERVE, AND ALLOWING US TO GIVE THIS PROCLAMATION TO DO THAT. SO THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA ARE PUBLIC COMMENTS, MADAM
[7. PUBLIC COMMENTS]
SECRETARY. YES, SIR. MAYOR. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. THE EDINBURGH CITY COUNCIL ASKED FOR A SPECIFIC PORTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO BE DEDICATED TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES. I WILL 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 FOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS. THE FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT IS MISS DIANE TEETER REGARDING TAXES AND UDC. GOOD EVENING, DIANE TEETER. I'D LIKE TO SHARE MY VIEW ON TAXES IN THE NEW UDC ADOPTION. FOR DECADES, WE'VE LIVED UNDER A MYTH THAT BUSINESS CAN DO IT BETTER AND CHEAPER. THAT MYTH DIDN'T RAISE A RISE BY ACCIDENT. IT WAS A CALCULATED CAMPAIGN DESIGNED TO SHIFT PROFIT TOWARD PRIVATE INTEREST AND AWAY FROM THE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS THAT BUILD SOCIAL PROGRESS AND INVEST IN PEOPLE. WE SEE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS IDEOLOGY RIGHT HERE IN EDINBURGH IN THE LATEST BUDGET, STREET IMPROVEMENTS CONTINUE, BUT OUR ACTUAL ROAD MAINTENANCE CAPACITY DOES NOT MEANINGFULLY INCREASE, EVEN AS GROWTH ACCELERATES. IN A RECENT CITY OF EDINBURGH WORK SESSION, WE HEARD PLAINLY THAT ROAD PAVING EQUIPMENT HAVE BEEN REDUCED BECAUSE OF FISCAL CONSTRAINTS. YET THE DEMAND OF OUR ROADS KEEP RISING. THIS STRUCTURAL DEFICIT IS AMPLIFIED BY OUR UNIQUE LOCAL ECONOMY. EDINBURGH IS PRIMARILY A RESIDENTIAL CITY WITH A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF TAX EXEMPT INSTITUTIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE, BECAUSE SO MUCH OF OUR LAND IS ANCHORED BY NONTAXABLE GOVERNMENT, COUNTY AND UNIVERSITY ENTITIES, WE DO NOT HAVE THE MASSIVE COMMERCIAL SALES TAX ENGINE OF NEIGHBORING CITIES TO SUBSIDIZE OUR GROWTH. THIS MEANS THAT WHILE DEVELOPERS GAIN THE IMMEDIATE PRIVATE BENEFIT OF PUBLIC ROADS, OUR RESIDENTS ABSORB THE LONG TERM COST. EVERY NEW SUBDIVISION AND COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR DEPENDS ON PUBLIC PAVEMENT, PUBLIC DRAINAGE, AND PUBLIC UTILITIES. THESE INVESTMENTS INSTANTLY RAISE LAND VALUES AND DRIVE PRIVATE PROFIT, BUT THE EVENTUAL MAINTENANCE BILL LANDS SQUARELY ON A LIMITED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TAX BASE. WHICH BRINGS ME TO THE UDC ADOPTION. FIRST, KUDOS TO THE CITY STAFF AND
[00:30:03]
MEMBERS OF THE UDC REVIEW COMMITTEE FOR THE MANY HOURS OF WORK AND DISCUSSION AS I ATTENDED SOME OF THESE MEETINGS. AS A FORMER CB, A MEMBER BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE UDC'S LAST ADOPTION, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND AN OVERARCHING MISSION STATEMENT BE ADOPTED.ALSO, EDINBURG WILL REQUIRE INFRASTRUCTURE READINESS, STREETS, PAVING, WATER, SEWER AND DRAINAGE BEFORE DEVELOPMENT IS APPROVED. THIS WILL ENSURE THAT EDINBURG WILL LEAD GROWTH PROACTIVELY BY REQUIRING INFRASTRUCTURE, THEREBY ASSURING LONG TERM RESILIENCE, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND A CITY THAT SHAPES ITS FUTURE RATHER THAN REACTS TO IT ONE VARIANCE AT A TIME. THANK YOU. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS MISS FERN MCLARTY REGARDING TAXPAYERS MONEY. GENTLEMEN, GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT IS RUNNING FOR REELECTION FOR THE BASIS OF GETTING RID OF PROPERTY TAXES. HE IS SAYING THAT NO MATTER WHAT HE DOES IN AUSTIN, THE PROBLEM IS WASTING A WASTEFUL SPENDING BY LOCAL OFFICIALS. SO WHY WOULD HE SAY THAT HIGH TAXES ARE THE RESULT OF WASTEFUL SPENDING? HE IS SAYING IT BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THE PEOPLE ARE TELLING HIM. THAT IS WHAT HE'S SAYING. HE WANTS TO GET REELECTED. AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES FOR THE PEOPLE IS INCREASING TAXES, BECAUSE THAT IS NOT THE PRIMARY REASON FOR THE HIGHER TAXES. IT IS INCREASING PROPERTY VALUES SET BY THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
HIGHER VALUES MEAN MORE TAXES EVERY 12 MONTHS. THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT VALUES THE PROPERTY PAYS FOR THE SPENDING OF SCHOOLS, CITIES AND COUNTY. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE PEOPLE DO NOT GET AN ANNUAL SALARY INCREASE. THE RESULT IS THAT EACH YEAR HOME AND BUSINESS OWNERS FALL FAR BEHIND BECAUSE THE COST OF LIVING KEEPS INCREASING. NO ONE BUT THE GOVERNOR SEEMS TO CARE THAT THE COST OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS INCREASING POVERTY AND REDUCING THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES THAT THRIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO WHY DOES THE GOVERNOR THINK SPENDING IS THE PROBLEM? THE CITY OF EDINBURGH SOLD $9 MILLION IN BONDS TO REPAIR LANDFILL EQUIPMENT. THE CITY INCREASED THE COST OF WATER BY 67%. THE CITY IS BUILDING A MULTI-STORY PARKING LOT FOR $6 MILLION. IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF THAT IS THE ACTUAL COST. THE CITY IS BUILDING A $7 MILLION EMPLOYMENT CENTER ON A GOLF COURSE. IF YOU CAN'T FIND A JOB, YOU CAN PAY OR PLAY A ROUND OF GOLF. THE EMPLOYEES ARE RECEIVING A 3% SALARY INCREASE, WHILE THE COST OF LIVING INCREASED BY 12%. THE CITY HAS BEEN DISCUSSING MAKING AND I THINK POSSIBLY YOU HAVE DONE $15 AN HOUR. THE MINIMUM WAGE, 26% OF THE POPULATION IS LIVING IN POVERTY, AND THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE A PLAN TO ADDRESS THE CONDITION OF POVERTY. IN REFERENCE TO HEALTH INSURANCE, THE CITY IS NOW SELF-INSURED AND THE COST WILL SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE ANY SALARY, INCREASE. ADDITIONAL COST IMPACT BY EDINBURGH RESIDENTS. THE EDINBURGH ISD IS HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE REDUCTION IN STUDENTS AND A $15 MILLION DEFICIT. THE HIDALGO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT GAVE ITSELF A 16.6% SALARY INCREASE, WHILE GIVING THE STAFF A 5% COST OF LIVING. THESE LAST COMMENTS WERE ADDED BECAUSE GIVING YOURSELF A 16.6% INCREASE WAS A POOR POLITICAL DECISION. NOW, THE STAFF AND I UNDERSTAND THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE DECIDED NOT TO VOTE FOR THE COMMISSIONER OR THE COUNTY JUDGE. HE GOT 15%. SO OKAY, NOW I SIGNED UP FOR 8C9A, TEN A, TEN B, AND 11A8C. I'M HOPING THAT YOU WILL EXPLAIN WHAT IS HAPPENING. I TRIED TO EXPLAIN IT TO THE PERSON THAT CALLED ME AND I COULDN'T, SO I'M HOPING THAT OUR ENGINEER WILL BE GLAD TO DO IT. TALKING ABOUT A GRANT AND I UNDERSTAND IT IS FOR A CONSULTANT. I DON'T LIKE CONSULTANTS, THEY COST TOO MUCH. SO I'M HOPING THAT HE WILL EXPLAIN THAT ONE. THE NINE A THIS IS THE VARIANCE THEY'RE WANTING. AND I TALKED TO TO THEM AND I SEE THAT THE STAFF RECOMMENDED DENIAL. SO I'M HOPING THAT YOU'LL EXPLAIN.
IT'S ABOUT THE WATER LINE WATER SUPPLY. AND THANKS FOR INDIVIDUAL. SO I'M HOPING YOU
[00:35:06]
WILL EXPLAIN THAT. I KNOW THAT WHEN HOUSES CATCH ON FIRE, THEY SURELY LIKE A FIRE HYDRANT AND THINGS, BUT I'M NOT SURE TEN A IS. THIS IS ABOUT THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE. I WAS IN THE OTHER MEETING A LITTLE WHILE AGO. WHAT ARE THE CHANGES? CAN YOU EXPLAIN? BECAUSE I DID GET CALLS ON THAT ONE AND I TRIED LOOKING IT UP. I SAID, LET'S SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. I'M HOPING AGAIN YOU'LL BE THINKING OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MOVING IN IN EDINBURG, PLUS THE ONES THAT LIVE HERE. TEN B I WOULD LIKE YOU TO EXPLAIN. I CAN SEE THE TALKS ABOUT THE POLICE OFFICER STARTING AT 42, SIX, 66 AND GOING UP TO A LIEUTENANT 93,000 AND THE ASSISTANT CHIEF, SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT THOSE ARE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE NOT MORE. THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE STAYING AT. BUT I FEEL SORRY FOR OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T GET ANYTHING BUT A A 5% COST OF LIVING. AND THE LAST THING WAS NUMBER 11. A, I WAS WONDERING, THIS IS ABOUT THE DRAG STRIP NORTH OF EDINBURGH. I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS THE SAME COMPANY.I'M HOPING IT IS BECAUSE THEY WERE HERE AND EXPLAINING IT BEFORE, SO I'M HOPING SOMEONE WILL EXPLAIN THESE. SO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WATCHING WILL KNOW THAT YOU'RE THAT YOU'RE LISTENING TO THEM. THANK YOU. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS MISS JACQUELINE BIAS, CITIZENS CONCERN AND DATA CENTER EXPRESS OPINION. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. COUNCIL MAYOR. MY NAME IS JACQUELINE. I'M A PROUD RESIDENT OF EDINBURGH AND I JUST WANT TO CONCERN. I UNDERSTAND THE CITY IS CONSIDERING A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO REGULATE ANY FUTURE DATA CENTER. I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES, EITHER POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, OF SUCH TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT. A LARGE DATA CENTER COULD BRING INVESTMENT TO EDINBURGH, INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION JOBS, TEACH TECHNICAL JOBS, INCREASE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND ANY POTENTIAL TAX REVENUE THAT CAN BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY. AND I DO WELCOME THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AS LONG AS IT PROVIDES MEANINGFUL BENEFITS TO THE EDINBURGH RESIDENTS. AT THE SAME TIME, THE CITY NEEDS TO CONSIDER ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING ANY INCREASE IN ELECTRICITY, WATER USAGE, NOISE AND TRAFFIC.
I SUPPORT 100% ANY GROWTH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUT I BELIEVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEEDS TO BE SAFE, BENEFICIAL AND TRANSPARENT. SO ANY TYPE OF DATA CENTER, DEAL OR NO DEAL, PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT. AND I KNOW, LIKE YOU SAID, THERE'S NOTHING GOING ON IN EDINBURGH, BUT IF SOME PEOPLE MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW CAMERON COUNTY, THEY ALREADY BROKE GROUND IN SOME $4 BILLION DATA CENTER IN THE HARLINGEN, RIO HONDO AREA, WHICH IS A BIG DATA CENTER, ACCORDING TO THEIR WEBSITE. THIS IS A COMPANY CALLED FLUID STACK I NEVER HEARD OF. SO THIS PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO CREATE 2500 CONSTRUCTION JOBS AND SEVERAL HUNDRED TECH JOBS, PERMANENT POSITIONS. AND ALSO, ACCORDING TO THEIR WEBSITE, THEY WILL PAY FOR THE ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE AND WATER, AND NO INFRASTRUCTURE OR ENERGY COSTS WILL PASS TO THE COMMUNITY. SO THEY SAID. SO MY CONCERN IS OBVIOUSLY THE CITY OF EDINBURGH.
LIKE I SAID, I DO SUPPORT ANY GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, BUT THIS KIND OF DEALS, PEOPLE NEED TO BE AWARE IN THE FUTURE AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR, FOR BRINGING THESE TOPICS TO THE TABLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GOOD NIGHT. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT IS GILBERTO GONZALEZ. GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.
MAYOR. MY NAME IS GILBERTO GONZALEZ. MY GENERATIONS HAVE PASSED BEFORE ME. RESIDE AT THE HILLCREST MEMORIAL CEMETERY. I'M HERE BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING THEY TAUGHT ME. IT'S THE SAME THING I'M TEACHING MY CHILDREN. DO WELL IN SCHOOL. BE WHAT YOU KNOW YOU ARE. GRADUATE, GET YOUR MBA, GET YOUR DOCTORATE. BE BETTER THAN WHAT WE WERE. EVERY GENERATION AND MY FAMILY HAS GIVEN THE SAME SPEECH THAT EVERY FAMILY HERE IN EDINBURG HAS GIVEN THEIR CHILDREN. AND I'M HERE AS A REQUEST OF YOU. BUT BEFORE I GIVE YOU THAT REQUEST, I'M GOING TO SHARE A FEW WORDS OF PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN. HE ONCE SAID, EVERY MAN CAN WITHSTAND ADVERSITY,
[00:40:05]
BUT GIVE HIM POWER. THEN I CAN JUDGE THEIR CHARACTER, QUOTE UNQUOTE. SO TODAY I'M HERE WITH A REQUEST. BUT BEFORE I DO THAT, I GOT TO INTRODUCE MYSELF. I WAS BORN IN A VERY POOR FAMILY.WE GREW UP IN LADERA, NOT TOO FAR FROM HERE, LITTLE NORTH ON MONTE CRISTO. MY PARENTS SAID, ALWAYS FIGHT FOR THOSE THAT CANNOT FIGHT FOR THEMSELVES. FOR THE PAST THREE DECADES, I'VE BEEN SERVING THE COMMUNITY AND FIGHTING FOR MANY FAMILIES TO PROTECT THEM FROM ALL THE ILLNESSES THAT COME THEIR WAY. AND I'M VERY PROUD, EVEN EVEN BEFORE THAT, I SERVED THIS COUNTRY AS A MILITARY INTELLIGENCE OFFICER. I SERVED MY COUNTRY WITH DISTINCTION. SO NO TENGO PELOS IN LA LENGUA. I WILL ALWAYS TELL YOU THE TRUTH, GOOD, BAD, UGLY. AND I'VE LIVED MY LIFE WITH A SENSE OF LOYALTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL IN THESE UNITED STATES. WHAT I REQUEST OF YOU IS FOR YOU TO LOOK AT SOMETHING THAT YOU APPROVED LAST MONTH, THAT I FIND FOR US TO BE IGNORED. AND I NEED YOUR HELP. I WANT TO PASS OUT SOMETHING BECAUSE IN ORDER FOR ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF, I ALSO NEED INTRODUCE WHO I REPRESENT. I REPRESENT HIGGINBOTHAM PUBLIC SECTOR. WE ARE RANKED NUMBER ONE IN THE NATION FOR THE LARGEST INSURANCE COMPANIES AND FOR. FOR YEARS WE HAVE BEEN SAVING COMMUNITIES A LOT OF MONEY. RIGHT NOW IT CURRENTLY SIT AS A BENEFITS CONSULTANT IN REGION TWO AS WELL AS REGION 2013 AND 19. WE ARE THE LEADERS OF EMPLOYEE BENEFITS WERE RANKED NUMBER ONE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. WE REPRESENT 14 OUT OF 20 EDUCATIONAL SERVICE CENTERS. I'M ASKING YOU TO ALLOW ME TO REPRESENT AND HELP THIS COMMUNITY. YOU SHOULD NOT BE ABSORBED ABSORBING A RATE INCREASE. WE HAVE INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS THAT CAN REDUCE PRICES AND INCREASE COVERAGES, BUT WE'RE IGNORED. I'M ASKING YOU TO GIVE ME A VOICE. THANK YOU. FOR YOUR COMMENTS. ALL RIGHT. NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE PUBLIC HEARING ROUTINE ITEMS. AS A REMINDER, ROUTINE ITEMS ARE SUCH THAT THE
[8. PUBLIC HEARINGS - ROUTINE ITEMS]
RECOMMENDATION BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION IS IN LINE WITH THE CITY STAFF'S[A. Hold Public Hearing and Consider the Ordinance Providing for the Rezoning Request from]
RECOMMENDATION, AND THERE ARE NO WRITTEN COMMENTS GOING AGAINST THE RECOMMENDATION THAT'S BEEN MADE BY BOTH THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION AND THE DEPARTMENT. SO IF THE EXPECTATION IS THAT THE RECOMMENDATION WILL BE APPROVED. SO AT THIS TIME, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ALL THREE ITEMS A, B AND C. IF YOU ARE FOR THE RECOMMENDATION, THAT'S UNANIMOUS ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT, THE COMMISSION AND THE WRITTEN COMMENTS, YOU DON'T REALLY NEED TO SPEAK, BECAUSE I THINK THE EXPECTATION IS THAT THAT WILL BE APPROVED. IF YOU ARE AGAINST THE RECOMMENDATION, HOWEVER, YOU SHOULD COME UP TO SPEAK SO THAT WE CAN HEAR THAT. SO AT THIS TIME, PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS ARE NOW OPEN ON A, B, AND C. ANYBODY WISHING TO SPEAK CAN COME FORWARD. OKAY. SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS A TO ITEM? CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION ON ITEMS A, B, AND C? SO MOVED SECOND. ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM C. CAN WE JUST HAVE A QUICK EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT THIS IS. QUICK PLEASE. SO FOR PLANNING GRANT IT IS FOR A PAVEMENT ASSESSMENT AND AND RESILIENCE. SO WE WOULD IT WOULD LOOK FOR OUR STREETS. IT WILL LOOK AT HOW THEY DO SO THAT WE HAVE A SCORE. AND THIS WILL PROVIDE OUR GUIDANCE FROM HERE ON. IT'S A 100% FUNDED. AND THAT'S ABOUT IT. EXCELLENT. SO THIS IS A WAY TO GET AN OBJECTIVE SCORE ON THE HEALTH OF OUR STREETS SO THAT WHEN WE CONTINUE ON WITH OUR STREET REPAVING PROGRAM, WE KNOW WHAT STREETS ARE OUR WORST THAT WE NEED TO HIT. CORRECT. THANK YOU.ALL RIGHT. ANY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM? OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. NEXT ITEM IS THE
[9. VARIANCE]
[A. Consider the Variance Request to the City’s Unified Development Code, Article 5, Subdivision]
VARIANCE ITEM NINE A IS THERE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM? EITHER A MOTION OR A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES SO WE CAN DISCUSS IT WITHOUT EMOTION EITHER WAY. ALL RIGHT. MOTION AND A SECOND TO SUSPEND ANY OBJECTION. HEARING NONE. THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED. YOU WANT TO DESCRIBE THIS FOR US PLEASE. YES, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A TRACK OF LAND. THE FATHER HAD FIVE ACRES. HE DIVIDED IT INTO THREE PARCELS, GAVE ONE TO EACH SON. AND HE CAME IN IN 2020, I[00:45:06]
BELIEVE. AND HE WAS TOLD THAT HE COULD BUILD A HOUSE IN EACH ONE OF THE TRACKS. FAST FORWARD TO 2026. HE COMES IN, TRIES TO GET A BUILDING PERMIT, AND WE'RE LIKE, WELL, WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT A LITTLE BIT MORE CAREFULLY BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST, HERE YOU GO, HERE'S A BUILDING PERMIT. WE LOOKED AT OTHER THINGS AND DETERMINED THAT HE NEEDED TO PROVIDE FIRE PROTECTION FOR THE NEW HOMES. SO WE HAD A COUPLE MEETINGS WITH THE FIRE CHIEF, FIRE MARSHAL ALSO, AND WE TALKED ABOUT OPTIONS, BUT ULTIMATELY WHAT WE RECOMMENDED WAS THAT A FIRE HYDRANT BE EXTENDED TO SAN FRANCISCO STREET, WHICH IS THE STREET THAT BORDERS THAT 1.6 ACRE TRACT OF LAND. THE COST WAS OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH FOR THE APPLICANT. SO HE CONTESTED THE THE COST OF EXTENDING THE FIRE HYDRANT. SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TONIGHT TO, TO HAVE A VARIANCE FROM EXCLUDING TO EXTEND A FIRE HYDRANT TO HIS PROPERTY FOR FIRE PROTECTION. NOW, HE DID OFFER AN OPTION. HE OFFERED TO PUT A SPRINKLER SYSTEM IN THE HOUSE. IT'S NOT AS SAFE AS A FIRE HYDRANT, BUT STILL PROVIDES SOME LEVEL OF PROTECTION FOR THE HOME. AND IT'S NOT WHAT WE RECOMMENDED, THOUGH, BUT THAT'S WHAT HE CAME UP WITH AS AN ALTERNATIVE. I BELIEVE THAT GERARDO CARMONA ALSO REQUIRED A COUPLE OF THINGS TO TEST THE WATER LINE PRESSURE, SINCE IT IS GOING TO BE A LINE THAT'S GOING TO EXTEND ABOUT 600FT. SO HE WANTS TO BE ASSURED THAT THAT RESIDENTIAL LINE IS GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH PRESSURE FOR THAT SPRINKLER SYSTEM. IF THAT'S THE WAY THAT THE COUNCIL IS GOING TO APPROVE THIS ITEM. HE ALSO REQUIRED SOME EASEMENTS TO BE PLACED ALONG THE FRONT OF THE PROPERTY WHERE THE LINE IS GOING TO BE LOCATED AT. SO THAT'S IN ESSENCE WHAT THIS IS.IS THERE A FIRE HYDRANT ANYWHERE IN THE VICINITY? THERE'S A FIRE HYDRANT, I WOULD SAY ABOUT 1100FT AWAY. OKAY. SO IT'S NOT CLOSE. NOT CLOSE, RIGHT? YEAH. SO THAT 1100 FOOT FIRE HYDRANT THAT'S FAR AWAY, THAT WOULDN'T OFFER, I IMAGINE, ANY FIRE PROTECTION, RIGHT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT RELY ON THAT. IF IF A FIRE WERE TO COME OUT IN THAT HOME. THAT'S CORRECT. YEAH. OKAY. YEAH. SO I GUESS I HAVE A QUESTION. ARE WE GOING TO DO A TEST TO MAKE SURE THERE'S ENOUGH PRESSURE TO GO TO THE HOUSE? WE WOULDN'T DO A TEST PER SE, BUT WE WOULD REQUIRE THAT AN ENGINEER PROVIDE US WITH THE DOCUMENTATION. WHAT DO WE WHAT DO WE DO THAT BEFORE ASKING FOR A VARIANCE? I'M NOT SURE. YOU KNOW, I'M JUST THINKING LIKE, WHY MAKE A DECISION IF IT'S NOT EVEN AN OPTION? OH, I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. IF THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PRESSURE TO DO THAT. YEAH, YEAH. I MEAN, I, I SUPPOSE WE, I DON'T THINK WE COULD REQUIRE THEM TO DO THAT, BUT OBVIOUSLY IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE ANY ACTION ON THIS AND WE SAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE ANY ACTION UNTIL THEY CAN CONFIRM THAT THEY ONLY HAVE THAT RIGHT AS THEIR PRACTICAL OPTION. YEAH. I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING THOUGH. YEAH, YEAH. I MEAN, JUST PREVENTATIVE AND DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE. I MEAN, BECAUSE YOU CAN GO AND PROVE IT AND THEN, BUT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PRESSURE OF WHAT'S REALLY GOING TO DO. RIGHT? YEAH, YEAH. WANT TO BUILD ANYTHING RIGHT. YEAH. OKAY. TOM. DUTY MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL. TOM.
ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER. YES, SIR. THE PRESSURE IS THERE ALREADY WITH OUR EXISTING LINE, BUT THIS WAS HIS DEVELOPER'S OPTION. AND INSTEAD OF DOING THAT, HE WAS HOPING TO GET FIRE DEPARTMENT'S APPROVAL ON THIS SECTION AND UTILITIES. WE STILL JUST NEED A COUPLE OF THINGS TO ENSURE THAT EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE AWAY, BECAUSE IT IS A LONG SERVICE AREA THAT WE WANT TO DO. AND SO THAT IS ALSO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM WILL CERTIFY THAT THERE'S ENOUGH PRESSURE FOR THAT AT THAT PORTION. OKAY. I LITERALLY SEE JERRY ON THE EDGE OF HIS SEAT. DID YOU WANT TO COMMENT? NO, HE'S BEEN WORKING ON IT. OKAY. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. GERARDO CARMONA, DIRECTOR, UTILITIES. SO TO CLARIFY ON THE PRESSURE, WE DO HAVE THE PRESSURE. THERE IS A PUMPING STATION THERE BY THE BAGLEY PRODUCE. RIGHT. SO SO YOU CAN SAY DEFINITIVELY THAT THERE'S ENOUGH PRESSURE FOR A SPRINKLER SYSTEM IN THE HOUSE. WELL, THE PROBLEM HERE, MAYOR, IS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE RUNNING OR HE WANTS TO RUN LIKE ABOUT SIX, 700FT WORTH OF SERVICE. RIGHT. AND SO WITH THAT SIZE OF PIPE THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO DO, THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL PRESSURE DROP. AND SO THAT'S WHAT THE CONCERN IS, RIGHT? THAT EVENTUALLY, BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A LONG RUN AND SUCH A SMALL PIPE, HE MIGHT NOT HAVE ENOUGH PRESSURE AT THE OTHER END. RIGHT. AND SO THE OTHER ISSUE THAT WE'VE ENCOUNTERED WITH PAST APPROVALS, LIKE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, IS WITH THESE LONG SERVICES, THEY EVENTUALLY THEY'LL GET LEAKS AND THEN THE CUSTOMERS WILL COME BACK TO US AND BE LIKE, HEY, WELL, I DON'T THINK I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS HIGH WATER BILL, RIGHT? WE'VE ALREADY EXPERIENCED IT MULTIPLE TIMES. SO DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, RUNNING THE WATER LINE, EXTENDING THE WATER LINE FOR THE FIRE HYDRANT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE, YOU'RE REDUCING THAT
[00:50:06]
RISK, RIGHT? THAT, THAT THE GETTING THAT HIGH WATER BILL, IF YOU SOMEWHERE WITHIN 600FT, YOU LOSE IT, RIGHT? BECAUSE IF WE HAVE A LEAK ON OUR LINE, THEN THE CITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT, RIGHT? IT DOESN'T CHARGE THE RESIDENTS FOR IT. BUT IN A NUTSHELL, THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY WHAT THE ISSUE IS HERE ON, ON THE UTILITY PORTION. SO JUST TO UNDERSTAND THAT, TO MAKE SURE. SO I MEAN, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE SHOULD BE ENOUGH PRESSURE, BUT YOU WOULD STILL NEED SOME TYPE OF FINAL TEST, RIGHT. TO VERIFY THAT THERE'S ENOUGH FOR SPRINKLER SYSTEM.YES. AND BASICALLY WHAT CONFIGURATION CONFIGURATION WOULD THE PROPERTY OWNERS ENGINEER MAKE TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE THE PRESSURE RIGHT. WE HAVE THE PRESSURE ON OUR BUT EVENTUALLY WHAT IS IT GOING TO BE ON THE PRESSURE ON HIS END? BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT FOR THEM TO BE CALLING US AND BE SAYING LIKE, HEY, I DON'T HAVE PRESSURE. RIGHT? AND SO IF THE ENGINEER CAN VERIFY THAT IF THE VARIANCE GETS APPROVED AND IF THEY, YOU KNOW, THE ENGINEER VERIFIES THAT, THEN SHOULD WE GO? ALL RIGHT. SO THERE'S, THERE'S NO WAY UNDER PRESSURE.
THERE'S NO WAY TO LIKE PRELIMINARILY TEST, RIGHT? IF THE PRESSURE IS GOING TO BE, THEY BASICALLY HAVE TO BUILD IT AND THEN TEST. I MEAN, THE CALCULATIONS CAN BE DONE IF, YOU KNOW, IF HE DECIDES TO GO WITH ENGINEER AND, AND GIVE US THE CALCULATIONS BEFOREHAND, THE VARIANCE GETS APPROVED. I MEAN THAT COULD BE AN OPTION. IS THIS THE FIRST, SECOND OR THIRD LOT. THIS IS THE THIRD LOT. SO WHEN THEY BUILD THE OTHER HOUSES ON THOSE HOW IS IT GOING TO AFFECT THE LAST HOUSE. SO EACH HOUSE IS GOING TO HAVE TO RUN ITS OWN INDIVIDUAL SERVICE. BUT THAT THIRD LOT IS GOING TO HAVE TO GET VERY PRIVATE EASEMENTS TO BE ABLE TO RUN THE PRIVATE SERVICE. SO FOR EXAMPLE, LOT NUMBER THREE, THEY'LL HAVE TO GET EASEMENTS FROM ONE TWO TO MAKE IT TO THREE, AND THEN TWO JUST FROM ONE. AND THEN ONE DOESN'T HAVE TO GET ONE RIGHT, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEIR, THEIR PROPERTY. OKAY. SO THAT THAT'S IF WE GO FORWARD, RIGHT WITH THIS VARIANCE. AND IF WE, IF WE DON'T AND WE REQUIRE THE HYDRANT, HOW DOES THAT IMPACT IN A GOOD WAY OR BAD WAY? THE REST OF THE HOUSES, THE REST OF THE LOTS. I'LL BE PRESSURE WISE. WE SHOULD BE GOOD. I MEAN, LIKE I SAID, ON OUR END, WE HAVE EXCELLENT PRESSURE IN THE AREA. IT'S JUST GOING TO HELP OUT THAT FIRE PROTECTION, RIGHT? WE WOULD STILL NEED THE EASEMENT THOUGH. YES, BUT IT'LL BE A A PUBLIC EASEMENT INSTEAD OF PRIVATE EASEMENT, RIGHT? YES, SIR. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. OKAY WITH THAT, CHIEF. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. OMAR GARCIA, FIRE CHIEF, WE WOULD RECOMMEND TO DENY THE VARIANCE AND GO WITH THE ACTUAL WATERLINE AND THE HYDRANT, AND THAT JUST GIVES US FUTURE DEVELOPMENT ALSO. SO LIKE YOU SAID, HAVING ANOTHER TWO LOTS TIE INTO IT, EVENTUALLY THAT'S GOING TO HELP THE TALK ABOUT THE PRESSURE. THOSE SYSTEMS ARE BASED ON A REGULAR RESIDENTIAL HOME. SO THEY'RE BASED ON WHATEVER WATER PRESSURE YOU NEED TO RUN YOUR BASIC WASHING MACHINE, TOILET BOWL, WHATEVER, STUFF LIKE THAT. THAT'S ALL THEY NEED. THAT'S THE MINIMUM PRESSURE. AND ACTUALLY THESE NEWER SYSTEMS, THE PLUMBER ACTUALLY GOES AND INSTALLS AND PUTS THE LINES, AND THEN THE CIRCUIT CONTRACTORS TIES IT INTO THE REGULAR METER. SO IT'S NOT A COMPLEX SYSTEM. SO THEY SHOULD, LIKE JERRY WAS SAYING, THERE SHOULD BE ENOUGH WATER PRESSURE TO RUN THE SPRINKLER IF WE DO GO THAT OPTION. BUT MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE FOR DENIAL THE VARIANCE AND PUT THE LINE WITH THE HYDRANT. THANK YOU. IS THE APPLICANT HERE? WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK TO THE APPLICANT IF YOU IF YOU WANT. YEAH. OKAY. THE APPLICANT IF YOU CAN COME FORWARD. MY NAME IS. I'M THE OWNER. SO WE'VE BEEN BACK AND FORTH WITH THE CITY AND NOT TILL BARELY TODAY AT 3:00 DID I FIND OUT ABOUT. ABOUT ALL THIS. IT WAS ALREADY APPROVED. THEY TABLED THE DISCUSSION LAST TIME AND THEY SAID THAT THE THAT IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE. BUT TODAY AT 3:00, THEY TOLD ME THAT WE NEED AN EASEMENT. THAT'S THE REASON WHY I'M RUNNING THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM, BECAUSE IF I HAVE TO DO A PUBLIC EASEMENT, THE PRICE IS JUST OUT OF INSANE. SO THAT'S WHY. WHAT PRICES HAVE YOU RECEIVED? MIND ME ASKING? WELL, THEY THEY WANT THE STREET WITH THE SIDEWALKS. THAT WOULD BE 80 90,000. AND IT'S A PRIVATE HOME. SO THAT'S WHY GOING THIS OTHER OPTION IS FEASIBLE FOR ME. I'M IT'S JUST ME, MY WIFE AND MY SON. SO IN THE FRONT ALL THE WAY TO 81, MY PARENTS OWN THE PROPERTY. AND THAT'S THE WHOLE REASON WHY WE WANT TO BUILD OUT THERE. THE, THE, THE QUOTES I GOT FOR THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM AND THE ROUTE I'M TRYING TO GET
[00:55:01]
APPROVED, IT'S TEN, 15,000 AT THE MOST. SO THEY'VE ALREADY TOLD ME THAT THE PRESSURE IS ENOUGH. BUT IF I HAVE TO GO THE OTHER WAY, I DON'T THINK I'LL BE ABLE TO BUILD THERE JUST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT TURNS IT FROM PRIVATE TO PUBLIC. THE IT'S IT'S A 20 ACRE TRACK. IT'S BEEN IN MY FAMILY FOR I DON'T EVEN 75 YEARS. MY TWO BROTHERS ARE THE OWNERS OF THE ADJACENT PROPERTIES. AND THE WHOLE THING IS TO BUILD FOR MY FAMILY CAN LIVE THERE AND THEN GIVE IT TO MY SON. MY DAD GAVE IT TO US SO THAT. THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT. THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM. FROM ALL THE MEETINGS THAT I'VE BEEN TO, WAS APPROVED, AND I'VE BEEN ABOUT TWO AND A HALF YEARS WAITING ON THE APPROVAL JUST SO THAT I COULD GET THE BUILDING PERMIT. SO THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING FOR. IS THIS OUTSIDE OR INSIDE CITY LIMIT? IT'S IT'S RIGHT ON THE LINE. IT'S OUTSIDE.NO, WE'RE WE'RE CITY. IT'S INSIDE. YEAH. IS IT INSIDE? OKAY. BECAUSE I SEE THE DIAGRAM HERE AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S OUT, BUT IT'S IN. YES, FOR SURE. FOR SURE. OKAY. YEAH. AND, AND ONE OTHER THING. THE NEIGHBORS THAT ARE ON SAN FRANCISCO, THEY'RE A FAMILY OF THREE. SO IT'S THE TWO SONS AND A DAD. THEY HAVE A SAME WATER LINE GOING ALL THE WAY TO GWYNN. SO THEY DID THIS YEARS AGO. BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THEY DID IT THE RIGHT WAY. BUT. SO THEY HAVE PRESSURE FOR THOSE THREE HOMES. SO I, I'M I AND IT'S NOT A THOUSAND SOME FEET. IT'S IT'S MORE LIKE 800FT. IT'S IT'S WE'RE TALKING I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RULE IS, BUT IT'S, IT'S, I'M JUST RIGHT OUTSIDE OF WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR FIRE HYDRANT. SO THAT'S WHY I WENT THIS ROUTE. THANK YOU. DID YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I GUESS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS FOR THE SIDEWALKS AND ALL THAT. IS THERE ALREADY A SUBDIVISION THERE THAT IT NEEDS TO CONNECT TO ALREADY? IS THERE LIKE SOMETHING CLOSE BY OR. NO, COUNCILMAN. THERE'S SOME VACANT LAND TO THE EAST OF IT. AND WHEN THAT GETS DEVELOPED, THERE COULD POTENTIALLY BE SOME HYDRANTS WITHIN THE AREA. BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NOTHING THERE'S NO NONE OF THE DEVELOPMENTS ARE HAVE SIDEWALKS THAT ARE CONNECTING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANYTHING ELSE TO GO OVER. OKAY. IS SO WE HAD A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES. SO THERE'S NOT AN ACTIVE MOTION ON THIS ITEM IS ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION. I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION. OKAY. NO. SECOND THE MOTION CAN'T MOVE FORWARD. IS THERE ANOTHER MOTION. OKAY. IF THERE'S NO IF THERE'S NO MOTION, THEN THE NO ACTION CAN BE TAKEN. WE WOULD HAVE TO MOVE ON. I JUST NEED MORE INFORMATION. I JUST WOULDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE GIVING IT. YEAH, I DON'T WANT TO DENY YOUR YOUR TIME, BUT WE JUST NEED SOME MORE INFORMATION ON THIS. MAYBE IT'S GO BACK AND WORK IT OUT WITH THE STAFF A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT DEFINITELY LIKE SOME MORE INFORMATION ON THIS. SO IN THAT CASE, IS THERE A MOTION TO TABLE. MOTION TO TABLE. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION TO TABLE AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. ALL RIGHT. MOTION PASSES. NEXT ITEM IS ORDINANCE TEN. A SECRETARY READ THE CAPTION. CONSIDER THE
[A. Consider the Ordinance Providing for the Proposed Amendments to the City of Edinburg Unified]
ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY OF EDINBURGH UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE AND ITEMS RELATED THERETO. ALL RIGHT. SO IS THERE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM? IF APPROVED. OKAY. JUST TO BE CLEAR. STAFF RECOMMENDATION. OKAY. A MOTION TO APPROVE STAFF RECOMMENDATION. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. I JUST WANT TO SAY VERY BRIEFLY. SO THIS IS THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE. WE HAD A HEARING JUST BEFORE THIS MEETING WHERE THAT WAS A JOINT MEETING WITH THE PLANNING ZONING COMMISSION. WE HAD A PUBLIC HEARING. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAME OUT TO SPEAK ON THE ITEMS. WE HAD A DISCUSSION REGARDING TOWNHOMES. THAT WAS BASICALLY THE DISCUSSION IN TERMS OF LOT SIZES WITH AND ALL OF THAT. THERE WAS A LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY STAFF.AND SO I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW THAT I TOOK EARLIER BECAUSE I CAN'T
[01:00:03]
SAY IT ENOUGH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DID FOR ALMOST THE PAST YEAR, GOING LITERALLY COMBING THROUGH ALL OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TO STANDARDIZE, TO MODERNIZE, TO COMPARE RIGHT TO OTHER CITIES, AND TO PICK A SET OF RULES THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH. WE HAD A UDC STEERING COMMITTEE MADE UP OF DEVELOPERS IN THE CITY, ENGINEERS, PROFESSIONALS, RESIDENTS IN THE CITY WHO ALL ALSO ADDED TO THE DISCUSSION, GAVE THEIR THOUGHTS AND COMBINED WITH THE STAFF, THE ZBA AND THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, WE CAME UP WITH THIS REALLY GREAT LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS. AND SO JUST, YOU KNOW, WANTED TO SAY ONE MORE TIME BEFORE WE TAKE FINAL ACTION ON THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORTS FOR THE LAST YEAR. ALL RIGHT. QUESTIONS? NO. THE ONE THING THAT I WILL SAY IS ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, THERE IS A SUMMARY TABLE THAT IS VERY WELL DONE. STAFF DID A LOT OF WORK TO DO A SUMMARY TABLE. THEY COULD HAVE JUST GIVEN YOU THE ENTIRE BOOKLET AND SAID, GO FIND THE CHANGES ON YOUR OWN. BUT THEY DIDN'T DO THAT. WHAT THEY DID WAS THEY MADE A CHART THAT SHOWS YOU EXACTLY WHAT PROVISIONS ARE BEING CHANGED, WHAT THE CURRENT STANDARD, WHAT THE CURRENT STANDARD IS AND WHAT THE NEW STANDARD IS GOING TO BE ON THE RECOMMENDATION. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR LITERALLY TAKING PEOPLE'S HANDS AND WALKING THEM THROUGH THE CHANGES. SO THERE'S TOO MANY TO LIST. THERE'S OVER 60 REVISIONS, 60 SECTIONS BEING REVISED BY THE UDC. SO WE WON'T GO MARCHING THROUGH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM TO EXPLAIN THEM. BUT LIKE I SAID, THE STAFF DID A VERY GOOD JOB COMPILING A SUMMARY LIST. OKAY.ALL RIGHT. SO THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. MOTION PASSES. NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA TEN B IF THE
[B. Consider Ordinance Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Edinburg, Texas at Title III,]
SECRETARY CAN 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 30.073 TO PROVIDE CHANGES TO THE CIVIL SERVICE CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION PLAN FOR POLICE. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE STAFF RECOMMENDATION. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. MOTION PASSES. NEXT ITEM[11. AWARDING OF BID]
11. A SECRETARY READ THE CAPTION. CONSIDER AWARDING RFP NUMBER 2026-015. LEASE OF CITY[A. Consider Awarding RFP No. 2026-015, Lease of City of Edinburg Property and Operation of Its Drag]
OF EDINBURGH PROPERTY AND OPERATION OF ITS DRAG STRIP RACETRACK AT SOUTH TEXAS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, EDINBURGH TO CPR MOTOR SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT, LLC. SO SUBMITTAL AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT PURSUANT TO CITY ORDINANCES AND PROCUREMENT POLICIES. ALL RIGHT. SO IS THERE A MOTION TO AWARD TO THE CURRENT OPERATOR, CPR MOTORSPORTS, AND AUTHORIZING CITY STAFF TO NEGOTIATE THE LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THEM? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION. MOTION. SECOND. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. MOTION PASSES. NEXT ITEM 12 A THE SECRETARY CAN READ THE[A. Consider Approval of EEDC Budget Amendment for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. [Raudel Garza,]
CAPTION. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF EDC BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 2026. IS THERE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM? MOVE SECOND. MOTION IN A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. NEXT IS THE CONSENT[13. CONSENT AGENDA]
AGENDA. CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS A THROUGH I SO MOVED. ALL RIGHT. MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION. RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. NEXT ITEM. OTHER BUSINESS. ANY FUTURE ITEMS[A. Future Items Requested by City Council. [Myra L. Ayala, City Manager]]
REQUESTED BY CITY COUNCIL. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE. NEXT ITEM IS 14 B SECRETARY. READ THE[B. Consider Canceling or Rescheduling the Tuesday, November 03, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting]
CAPTION. CONSIDER CANCELING OR RESCHEDULING THE. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD, 2026 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO NOVEMBER 4TH, 2026. IS THERE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM TO MOVE THE NOVEMBER 3RD CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO NOVEMBER 4TH? SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. MOTION AND A SECOND.ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. NEXT ITEM IS EXECUTIVE SESSION. CAN I GET A MOTION TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION. SECOND.
MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE. MOTION PASSES. TIME IS 7:03 P.M. WE
[15. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
ARE ENTERING EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM EIGHT CONSULTATION WITH CITY ATTORNEY. ITEM B CONSTITUTIONAL CITY ATTORNEY REGARDING PERSONNEL MATTERS. ITEM C DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE CONVEYANCE, EXCHANGE OR LEASE OF REAL PROPERTY. ITEM D DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MATTERS. ONE PROJECT 25.* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.