Stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance 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. >> Texas pledge. >> Honor the Texas flag to the Texas one and indivisible. One silence, please. Thank you. May be seated. >> Mr. Secretary, roll call, please. >> Yes, mayor. >> Honorable mayor, Dr. Victor D. Trevinho, >> present. >> Honorable mayor promp and council member district 1, Gilbert Gonzalez, >> honorable council member, district 2, Ricardo Richie Franel, Jr., Honorable council member district three Melissa Saroa honorable council member district 4 Ricardo Rick Gara >> I'm here >> honorable council member district 5 Ruben Gutier Jr. >> present >> honorable council member district 6 Dr. Tyler King >> here. >> Honorable council member district 7, Vanessa Perez. >> Honorable council member district 8, Alisa Sigaroa. >> Mayor, you have a quorum. >> Thank you, Mayor. Motion for approval of minutes of December 1st, 2025. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I motion passes. We'll go ahead and start with our recognitions before citizens comments. Recognitions Laredo Mayor and Council recognized Nor Not May Parks and Recreation Department superintendent for her induction into the Puerto Rico Softball Hall of Fame. Norm was also previously inducted into a Latino International Hall of Fame. Norm is a member of the Puerto Rico Hall of Fame after playing the national team and serving as an umpire in the 2000 Olympics. Jeff, you want to say a few words right now? Yes. We're proud to have our local people gain such notoriety and for a trajectory that signifies a lot for our city and our people. So, congratulations, Miss Nor. >> Thank you. >> Thank you to the city of Laredo for the recognition. I mean, I'm I'm a public servant and I like to like what I do. I I'm here to serve the people and during my years of service, but I've tried to do that and um I'm very proud to be part of the department and part of the city of Laredo. >> Thank you. CONGRATULATIONS. >> We're going to go back to Ready? One two three. >> One more. One, two, and three. >> Wait, one more. Go first, Andy. >> Ready? One, two, three. Perfect. >> A little crooked, Andy. Just kidding. One, two, three. Thank you. Good job. >> Great job. Congratulations. >> All right, we'll proceed with second recognition. City of Laredo and city council recognize Sto. Ramos as a legendary figure in bodybuilding honored for winning the title of Mr. Mexico seven times including 1976, 1977, 1984 and for his achievements as a fitness entrepreneur. Santo Ramos is a person who has dedicated his life to bodybuilding. He also competed in a professional wrestling under the mass persona of Elero Esteeeka, successfully blending bodybuilding and professional wrestling and distinguishing himself through his dedication and success in both testimonates. CONGRATULATIONS. You want to say some words? Infinital. Graciastori. There you go. Yeah. Okay. Right here. Ready? One, two, three. Perfect. >> One more here. >> Ready? One, two, and three. One more. >> Here we go. Three, two, Thank you. >> That's your classes. >> Mayor be here. Yeah. Just uh for the record, just to know that councilman councilman woman is already here. All right. Next recognition. In recognition of Sigma Delta Lambda's exceptional com commitment to service, completing over 10,000 service hours in this semester in support of education, at risk youth and community initiatives, their work included partnership with local schools, Harmony Public Schools, and numerous community organizations supported by strong member leadership and dedication. The chapter continues to expand its impact through upcoming state level and global service efforts. CONGRATULATIONS. >> HI, good afternoon. My name is Anila Vila. I'm the current community service chair for Sigma Tala sorority. Uh we're really grateful to have this honor uh by the city. uh 10,000 hours in a semester was not an easy task to do, but um thank you to the ladies here uh who helped us complete this hours during the semester as well as uh the rest of my sisters that they weren't here today. But yes, it's always um we're always happy to give back to Laredo um through events, through service, and service and philanthropy is something that we value a lot um here in our chapter. So, thank you so much EVEN over here. >> Yeah. Yeah. One, two, and three. >> One right here. Ready? One, two, three. Perfect. >> There you go. Three, two, CONGRATULATIONS GUYS. Thank you so much. >> Congratulations. Thank you so much. All right. Next recognition. Senator Larredo and Mayor City Council recognized Deputy Chief Christopher Pettis in his 28 years of service to Laredo Fire Department. and we do want to thank him for his service at the city and people of Laredo. Thank you very much. I just want to say thank you to the city of Laredo, to the mayor, to the council, and to the fire department for the opportunity to serve the citizens because as a firefighter, that is what we do. We serve with pride and honor, and it was my privilege to do it for 28 years for the city of Laredo. Thank you very much. We also wanted to present from the fire department a small token from the department for your 20 years 28 years of service. The chief helped us modernize many tasks that he did. He recently was awarded the medal of merit for all his accomplishments. One of the major ones was that he helped us modernize our entire fleet. We have one of the best fleets in the state of Texas and under his leadership we were able to do that. CONGRATULATIONS. >> OKAY. READY? ONE, TWO, and three. One more. >> Ready. One, two, three. >> Thank you, CHRIS. >> A lot of golf in your future. Always always track. Mayor, just to acknowledge council member District 7 is here for the record. >> Yes. >> No, he did. >> Okay. We'll proceed with communications followed by items 114, 115, and 116. Communications presentation by mayor providing general comments on city manners upcoming initiatives and other relevant updates for the council and the public. Some updates on upcoming events. We have a river and cutting sat Saturday, January 24th at 10:00 a.m. at the Wav Vista Sports Complex with our first league playing schedule in the next couple of months with over 35 teams signed up. The state of the city will also be held on January the 29th at noon at the same arena. We have a near capacity, but you can also watch it live on the city social media pages. We're also launching our Healthier Texas Community Challenge kickoff event coming on February the 2nd at the Hannes Rec Center. The city of Laredo Legislative Trip to Washington scheduled for the first week in March. And as always, these relationships are critical for the advancement of the economic development, our infrastructure, public health, and trade expansion and its requests. And just to name a few, we look forward to having our city partners join us at some of these meetings. We're also very pleased to announce that our city of Laredo air monitoring system is operational, which is one of a kind in the country. Not only will we measure PM2.5 and PM10, these are high-end monitors and we look forward to the eventual operating monitoring of ethylene oxide which we know is a carcinogenic byproduct primarily released into our local air with the sterilization of medical equipment. some initiatives that we're working on with our sister city in Oredo and my weekly meetings with Alcadesa Canto Rosas. We are working on different campaigns since we understand that mental illness has no borders and we understand the importance of pushing for more mental health resources and initiatives in our communities. This was also an item that we discussed in our recent Washington trip and press conference that I had with Congressman Quer and our federal partners, especially when we see the importance of our funding in the city with our roots recovery center. So, more information will be forthcoming on these campaigns. On the issue of re recent wastewater testing and the recent discovery of measles in our wastewater, the public needs to be informed but not alarmed at this point. There are currently no confirmed positive cases in our community. But as we know, misos is a highly contagious, preventable disease that can be deadly to unvaccinated children. The biggest outbreak was in West Texas in 2025 where 99 people were hospitalized and two unvaccinated school a children died. The first measel death in the United States in 2015. The Texas Department of State and Health Services finally declared the end of the outbreak in the mid August of 2025. Measel symptoms begin with high fever, cough, runny nose, and red watery eyes, followed by tiny white spots in the mouth a couple of days later. Shortly after, a reddish brown rash can be spread 3 to 5 days after the initial symptoms starts. The spread of measel can be avoided by maintaining high vaccination coverage in our community. The vaccine is known as MMR which is the MS misel and rebella vaccine. And Dr. Chamberlain, can you please come up and give us an update on some of these items that Dr. Chamberlain is present? >> Good evening, mayor and members of the council. Dr. Richard Chamberlain, your L'Oreal public health director. going to open up a couple of slides just really quickly to re um emphasize what the mayor just shared. First and foremost is the healthier Texas challenge um which will be running from February 2nd to March 29th. Individuals in the community are already able to register for the Laredo Challenge. Last year we were able to come together as a community and win big as in second place when we had never placed before in the large c in the large city category. This year we're aiming for first place with the community's um even more enhanced involvement. And what this is is just making sure that we're tracking our healthier food options, that we're drinking more water, and that we're participating in more physical activity. And all that is tracked this year via the Wellnify app. That information you can find there at texas communitychallenge.org. Regarding the measles identified in the wastewater surveillance, on this slide you're able to see um that historically for since we started doing wastewater surveillance, we've never detected measles in our wastewater surveillance system. And this was a great opportunity for us to hypothesize about how we identified this in our wastewater um surveillance activities. We were able to hypothesize that it was a transient individual since we had never seen this in the community before and as you can see we haven't seen it afterwards. But this allowed us to alert the medical community, to alert the general the community, and to re-emphasize the importance of choosing to be vaccinated as we know that the MMR vaccine, the misos, msson, reubella vaccine saves lives. And finally, just to demonstrate really quickly on the dashboard for the city of Laredo um air quality monitoring program, which we're starting off with our PM2.5 and PM10, you're able to go to justair.app/brow appbrowse. Um, it's also located on our website via the environmental public health tab and you can click on Laredo and zoom right in and be able to see the different monitors across the city of Laredo demonstrating the AQI specific to PM10 and PM2.5. This information of course is updated um daily and any individual who is looking for historical information of course would be beginning as of January 1st. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Invitation by the Washington Birthday Celebration Association to the city of Laredo, Mayor and City Council, and the citizens of Laredo and Web County to the upcoming WBCA events with a presentation of the 2026 WBCA commemorative artwork to the mayor and city council. Do we have a presentation? Good evening everybody. >> Evening everybody. >> Well, good afternoon mayor >> and all the fellow city council members. Thank you for allowing us to be here this afternoon. My name is Huentes and I have the honor of serving as the president for the 128th Washington Birthday Celebration Association. With me here today are first vice president Annabella Herbig, second vice president Rafael Martinez, and our treasurer Ross Cruz. On behalf of the Washington celebration, I invite you all to join us for the 128th celebration which celebrated its official kickoff with commander reception this past Thursday at SS Auto Arena. We invite you to join us for all the award-winning festival that will continue through February 28th with a variety of events that will offer a little something for everyone. All in all, we will have over 30 fun-filled events in 45 days. We are proud to say the celebration keeps getting bigger and better every year. Approximately 500,000 people attend our events, which brings in more than $20 million to our local economy. Our events would not be possible without you, our city and county leaders, our partnering affiliate organizations, board members, sponsors, and of course, our many volunteers. We brought a small token of our appreciation for your support. theund the official 128 celebration commemorative poster titled life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness painted by local artist Mr. Roardo H. Alvarez. We hope you enjoy this unique limited edition poster. In addition, we also brought multiple copies of our latest by George magazine for the upcoming festivities. Again, thank you for the time and support. We couldn't do any of this without you and we invite you to join us and hope to see you all at our WBC events. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, we will proceed with We have quite a bit of citizen comments. >> Pardon? >> Oh yes, we have one more presentation. Yes. Next presentation is presentation and update on recent border security discussions. >> Mayor, I'm I'm happy to give additional presentation. I know on Friday we we actually covered our trip to DC and and all of that if you if you'd like some more. I I'm happy to walk through some of the some of the things that we are currently doing, but >> I I'll leave that to you. I'll summarize please. and and I don't know if it might be best presentation. >> Can he find that presentation? Yes. Okay. mayor, on on on Friday, we uh we covered um a lot of information on our trip to DC. And so, the mayor and I actually had an opportunity to go to DC uh to help uh talk with our congressional u representatives. Uh we we spoke with the uh border patrol and we spoke with the White House uh the governmental affairs section on on our concerns and our conversation on the uh the border wall and uh the idea about the border security. Of course, all of this goes off of our um our framework that was approved by the city council back in in November uh December uh where we are going to take the approach of negotiating and saying we're all in favor of border security. We're all in favor of reducing the uh the effects of fentanyl on our community uh the illegal u crossings and such like that. Uh so we we are all in favor of that. But being the number one port of entry, we actually believe that you Laredo is unique in in a certain aspect. And so when we when we started putting that together, thank you. Um, we went and we we talked about this with the with Washington DC because we do know that when we when we talk locally with all of our representatives with Border Patrol and with anybody uh that is that is very familiar with Laredo, they all understand the uniqueness of Laredo. Our our goal is to get to those that don't understand exactly what happens here. And so that's why we went up uh to DC last last uh last week. Within that um we did discover through all of the conversation and uh I know that we have some uh pamphlets that we put together saying this is where we collaborate and we work together. But the uh the whole idea is that we going off the framework we wanted to make sure that the security is done through capacity and operational focus. We talked about the uh the need to have more infrastructure, not necessarily a wall, but infrastructure along the river in order to help maintain that. Um so we wanted to focus security on the ports of entry. Wanted to focus it on a permanent capacity rather than any temporary surges. uh bringing in uh things like u uh well returning a a base to the city of Laredo and bringing in a presence that that helps support our mission for the commerce that we have that's crossing in the bridges. Uh we talked about inspection at scale. uh the with the X-ray machines that the uh the the border patrol utilize at the at the border at at our bridges, they're only actually inspecting about 10% of all the traffic that crosses. We actually believe that if they would increase that level and congressionally their goal is to bring it up to uh I think about 90% if they can ever get to that level, we're happy to help with that because we actually believe that because uh most of the drug traffic is crossing at the ports of entry that if more inspections are done, we can actually reduce that that concern of of what what what the this administration believes needs to happen. So, we want to talk about the increasing of the staffing and of course we already know that Border Patrol is out there along with all the other agencies trying to expand the number of uh personnel that they have. We want them we want we love the people that are coming here shopping in Laredo, living in Laredo, uh making this their home because we actually believe that makes them do their job even better. So, we we believe that that is a very important part of that. uh in our framework we talked about the uh the dualpurpose uh structures and so rather than just a ballard style wall or something where where it comes down through the property we talked about a dualpurpose type structure and I had shown uh some pictures at the end of this presentation I'll jump down to those where we're we're putting together these these worksheets in order to show these sensitive areas within our city and I I'll use the Max Mandel golf course as one of the examples. You can see it over on the right side where we we look at that area and the what I will draw your attention to are the two diagrams at the bottom which are essentially what we call cross-sections of the river and within that cross-section of the river we show where the river the the height of the river is and how much of that bank is is within that structure. Some of the information that we were working on since Friday over the weekend and into this week is that utilizing the border patrol's sense of how they how they do security. So the first one is detect. That's the first thing that they do. And so that's why the cameras the technology are very important is detect. The second one is delay. And this is the reason why they they think that the Ballard wall is a good uh idea for that is that it takes too long to cross a 28 to 30 foot tall wall. That's the delay structure. And then the the third leg of this thing is of course detain. So when you talk about when you talk about uh how the border patrol looks at at the river or at the border, let's just call the border because from El Paso down we have the we have the river, but uh if you look at Arizona and New Mexico, they have just the the the ground. But the the whole intent of border patrol is detect, delay, and detain. Those are the three steps of the framework of sec of border security. And so if we if we can if we can improve any one of those three legs, then we can improve the ability to be successful at the border. So, we're we're in favor of of the funding that they have for the uh the security cameras, the the early detection of that, the drones work and everything else. We actually believe that that is a very viable part. We actually believe when you get to the uh the delay, the way the Rio Grande is through Laredo, it serves as a delay in its own right, in its own purpose. it takes 5 to 10 minutes to cross the river based upon the depth, the speed of the flow and all of that work within there. So we actually believe that our local our ge geography actually serves to meet those conditions of the delay. So if they can detect early enough when when something illegal is trying to cross the river early enough, the delay is there. And so then it's all all about the response and the detaining and trying to get to somebody to get there within that that window of time. The the the big Ballard wall actually it creates some delay in there as well too. But our our argument or our evolving uh strategy within our framework is to that the the river itself creates a delay. So when we look at the cross-sections of the river, when we look at doing a dualpurpose flood tile style wall within the river, it actually delays as well too because it takes too long to access over over certain structures and everything. So so that all we're trying to do is hit that that that window of time for for the detecting and the delay so that there is a response from the border patrol in order to do their job. And so we actually believe that there is that uh the ability within this whole mo evolving model for the negotiation and this is where we go back to the November meeting that the mayor and I had with the border patrol that they're willing to look at different types of structure within the river or within the area rather than just a Ballard style wall. We look at different types of structures. >> Mayor Mayor, if I may. >> Yes. >> I was seeing this this uh this picture that we have right here. My question is, are we gonna have is there a road that that's gonna go between the wall and the road? >> Yes. >> Yes. So, so the um the the current method, the standard for the border patrol when they use the Ballard style wall is to have a road on either side. Now, I will tell you that when you look at where the smart wall alignment is through Laredo right now, I don't think they have the geography to hit that standard everywhere. >> So, are there are there are they going to get more more feet within the the >> no that surface? The what what we're going to recommend as our alternative within this whole structure is rather than the 250 foot swath with a an improved road on either side of the the Ballard style wall is that with this we create one road system like we currently have and we establish that as an improved system on there so that it reduce the cost because what what we are putting together right now is is that uh and this is utilizing the data that they've put together on what it's going to cost to build this Ballard style wall, this big this big uh two 28 to 30 foot wall, uh the road systems that go with it, and then still trying to do all the work. I actually believe that our alternatives are actually less expensive in the long term than it is in the in with within that. And so if they want to do things um a little more uh less expensive and still get the same benefit of what they're trying to do, that's what we're hoping to at least have the opportunity to explain that to them. >> Are we requesting are we requesting a wall along along the the river besides those beside that wall >> in in this case? If you look >> wall that will go along the river side. If you look at this this wall, this wall here serves two purposes, right? It it will serve in during certain flood events where the where the water will stay in the river >> and it serves as that deterrent or that delay that will take to get them out of the river. And so this will function to that level of that delay. So we don't what what I'm I guess what I'm saying and trying to answer your question as directly as I can. We don't believe that a 28 to 30 foot high wall is actually necessary within most of our area by using the the understanding of the delay of the river itself and the delay to to cross over. >> So in other words, we're going to stay the same way with where where we are right now with the just we're just going to have this wall and then but we're not going to have an access to that to those sites. There's not going to be a road to the to there. Yeah. Yes, there would be. Uh or at least the the evolving the evolving process that we have there will be access points along the river because we're trying to maintain the access to the river and trying to utilize it as well, too. So, I I I don't know right now where where they want to where, you know, in their mind. I mean, we're all guessing where the administration is. I think they're they're pretty blunt about what they want as border security. Uh what we're trying to do is is is try to find an alternative to a straight no longer use the river. We still want to be able to utilize the river and we still want to have the benefit of the of the flooding and and such. >> So and another question real quick and I'm so something I'm just I'm curious about and it's just wondering the maintenance on this wall. Let's say it breaks down, starts, you know, the weather changes the shift or whatever on the dirt, who's responsible for that? And let's say we have a bad wall. Who's going to be responsible for the maintenance, the the corrosion? Let's say something happens, all the debris, who's going to go pick it up? Is are they going to hold the city accountable for that? >> I I think some of that has to be worked out, council member. I I don't know if we we know all of that. If the Ballard style wall was to go in and they do the the roads, they are going to have to pay to maintain it to whatever that level is. What I would hope for is that based upon uh the alternative being still being serving as a border security type measure that there would be some assistance within that where it's not all just the city's responsibility to take care of one thing or another. U I I actually I hope to get to that level. Again, this is the idea about evolving out the alternatives to a Ballard style wall. uh you know, and my understanding is at least some of the estimates that I'm seeing on maintaining a mile of the Ballard style wall is that they're trying to budget almost $800,000 a mile. >> And uh so that's the numbers that we're kind of seeing within that. Uh I think the the state of Texas with the the the wall that they put in, they're estimating about $500,000 a year in order to maintain that wall that that they're doing as well, too. And so when you're looking at the uh the installation of the capital and you're looking at the the regular ongoing maintenance, what I'm trying to do is show that the personnel is actually less expensive in an urbanized area like Laredo unless use personnel and technology rather than the barrier itself. That that's the argument that we're trying to have. >> Mayor May. >> Yes. Go ahead. Um I think to to also bring a little bit of clarity to who's responsible for the maintenance. If that smart wall, the 30- foot ballard wall and the roads goes in, they have seized public land. So they actually are the land owners of that land where the wall is. So they as property owners, they would be responsible for the maintenance. >> Not that that's what we want, but that's just what it what it'll end up being. Yeah. So, so I I I think that that's where that's what we're trying to accomplish within that um within that whole whole structure. Let me see if there's anything else I really wanted to make sure that we touched on while while we're here in this public meeting. Um and yeah, we we covered a lot of this on Saturday as well too. The the one thing I I I think and I pressed this on Friday as in in our our our workshop as well too and I think the mayor and I heard this out of everybody up there. Border security is their one of their number one goals for this. Um what we're hoping for is the opportunity to share what our alternative looks like where we can get them to that. I I know that um on Friday we actually had a conversation about trying to look at this like the Border Patrol looks at it rather than look at it with our eyes because our eyes look at it as as that river being our life, our our part of our our heritage and everything else. But if we're not looking at it the way that we're talking with these individuals from the federal government, then we're missing we're missing that communication portion. And so the idea is to really look at that and and I I think we've said it more often than not. Don't take that as acquiscence or or looking at saying we're we're going to do it your way. What we have to do is we have to be able to understand where they're coming from in order to meet their needs and speak in their language in order to make sure that we're trying to get our point across. And I will I will tell you that um uh Congressman Quayar, Senator Cruz, Senator Cornin, they are working very hard at that uh for for our benefit as well too. I will say that the one other thing that uh we heard from all of our congressional people is is that be very specific about what we are asking for and and I I I kind of call it like doing do half their work for them. you know, if we have if we have to lay it out there, we have to lay it out there to that level. And that's why our our engineering department and everything, we are walking through the crosssections of the river, the whole 41 miles through Laredo so that we can kind of show where certain structures will work better than others. And uh we talked about it on Friday as well too up up north of Colombia that that made sense to us to work with the state in order to put a Ballard style wall up on there because it's less populated. Uh we talked about that with our property down in Stark County where we worked with the federal government. We just don't believe that in an urbanized area that this works as well. had an opportunity uh for for some training to go out to Chula Vista, California two weeks ago and looking at the uh in San Diego area looking at the border there. We are one of the fewer communities that have built up the closest to the river where we we're we're connected to it by housing and such. If you look through San Diego, it is all uh industrial. It is all more commercial through there. El Paso is almost the same way where there's different properties there. I think if you get in the valley, you can find a couple areas where you find a little bit of housing and such growing up to the river, but not as much as what Laredo is. We we're we're all the way along with it, which does make us different. And so, I don't think the one sizefits-all within that structure as to what what they're asking for, but I'm I'm I I think that uh we've had good responses. I I think that they're all willing to hear us, but they want to know what is it going to what is it going to look like? And this is where we're going down through the river and saying this is how this would work. And I think the only other thing I will add to this because I didn't report on this uh on Friday as well too, the idea of the um of putting the structure within the the the river area similar to this. This is not this is not a an engineered drawing. The idea is that if you look at it and think of it as um a dredging of the of the river, if we take out x number of u pounds of of soil out of the river, we've actually created more capacity than the river. What I'm saying is that you take that capacity, you you create that capacity in there and you put it behind a wall and then therefore there is no new flood impact to Mexico. there's no new flood impact to any anything else that's happening out there. What we've done is that we've just kind of moved some of the soil out of the way in order to make room for these structures. And that happens in flood planes all the time. And I I think that's where that's where uh I just want to make sure that everybody is aware of that with that. But um you know, I I appreciated the opportunity to go out to DC with the mayor. I think that the the trip was very well received and I I you know I I love to stay home and and do the work around here, but I I think that our conversations up there with the White House, our conversations up with with the Border Patrol, and always with our our congressional individuals, but our those conversations with those entities was very important for our success at getting our voices heard as to what we want to try to do. And um and so mayor, I'll I'll leave it at that unless there's any other questions on this report. So >> thank you very much. >> Thank you. And I will get out of the way. Okay. >> Um, good evening, mayor and members of the city council and city management. >> My name is Trisha Gortes. I'm here with the Rio Grande International Study Center and just wanted to bring y'all up to speed. Um, the latest result data came in from uh through December 2025. They haven't changed of the uh from CBP southwest border apprehensions and Laredo sector apprehensions. Orange is the whole sector of the sorry is the whole southern border and blue is Laredo sector web and Sapata and you will see at the end of October, end of November, end of December these apprehensions are almost non-existence is is almost non-existent and therefore um we believe there's no need for a border wall more than anything. Um, the DHS appropriations bill that came out early this morning is a wake-up call and it should be for each of you. There were zero carveouts for sensitive areas along the entire US southern border and the handful of hard fought carveouts, one for the RGV in 2020 are now under threat, too. And we understand you've worked so hard to be polite, to thread a fine needle with the federal government in the hopes of getting alternatives uh or alternative uh designs. But today's bill and the White House's direct involvement to halt compromise on it shows that Laredo is not going to get any special treatment through friendly negotiation. So with that, the question is, what is your response going to be? You can't put all your eggs in one basket and believe that you can negotiate your way to a better solution. If you show weakness, you are enabling the demise of our city and its reputation as a safe city. We have to stop being enablers to the harm that is being directed at us. Is your plan B in place? You won't have time to figure it out after plan A fails. The city's approved a legal team, the Jackson Walker firm. They should be doing all of the studies right now to bolster Laredo's case for the long term. Those studies need to be happening now and completed. And we must stop the wishful thinking. We aren't choosing this fight. It's coming to us. The only thing that we have learned from this administration is that they respect strength and they despise weakness. If you show weakness, it gives them a green light to treat you even worse. We understand that you have fears of being punished with the president presidential permits for the bridges or federal funding for other programs, but we don't want to be held hostage to these types of threats from our own government when we stand to lose so much long after they're gone. South Texas is not new to painful, dishonest, and violent takings of land. And the border wall is just another land grab and massive transfer of property into the hands of the US government to militarize our riverfront forever. >> Mayor, three minutes. Mayor, >> it's time to lift your heads up and look around because the victories against the heavy-handed tactics of this administration have occurred only when the leaders and people of those targeted communities have risen up, gathered their allies, and presented a strong legal challenge. We ask for your courage and for a strategic shift now to protect our river, our only source of drinking water, our interstate commerce, our future economic prosperity, and our very quality of life. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> We're going to continue with public comments. Uh this is uh Karina, Mrs. Karina. That's all it says. >> Mayor, she signed up for to speak on item number 123. >> All right. Okay. >> Hi. Good evening, Mayor. Uh, council members and city. >> Good evening. For the record, please. Oh, for the record, my name is Karina VMA and I am commenting on item 123. >> I'm here uh this evening in favor of building the police station on this property because public safety should not depend on how far away h uh help happens to be. And right now the families in this area, not only in uh the neighborhood of Labota Ranch, but Deer Creek, Green Ranch, and all throughout Mines's um including those with children attending the elementary school across the street are about 20 to 30 minutes away from existing police services depending on traffic. And that's not uh taking into consideration whenever the 18 meters stay stuck across all three lanes on Mines's road whether it's going northbound or southbound. So that would be even worse. So in an emergency that is not just an inconvenience that is a risk. A local police station means faster response times, greater visibility, and the ability to respond immediately when something goes wrong. for parents dropping off their children, for the teachers responsible for dozens of students, and for the residents who live nearby, that presence matters. It provides reassurance and real protection. I understand the concern to some about placing a police facility near our school, but police stations are not detention centers. And with thoughtful design and clear operational boundaries, this facility can operate safely and responsibly while strengthening coordination of the school safety plans. I'm also grateful that this property is being considered for a public safety use rather than a hightraic commercial warehouse which would bring constant trucks, congestion, and noise without contributing to the community safety. This proposal is about protecting families, supporting first responders, and making sure that that part of our city is not left waiting when truly matter. I strongly support moving forward with this project. And um my daughter wanted to say something to Me and my friends are really happy that no warehouse would >> Oh, this here. >> Me and my friends were really happy that no warehouse was built in front of our school. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next public comment is James Arthur on item 123. Good evening. Uh my name is James Arthur and I am the community manager for the homeowner association in Labota. And on behalf of the board, I have a statement that I'd like to read to you as quick as possible and it'll be entered into the record. Um, honorable mayor and members of this Laredo City Council, uh, this is in regards to the 15 acre property in front of, uh, the Mhler Elementary School, uh, in regards to child safety, traffic concerns, and city ownership. On behalf of the families we represent, we respectfully submit this letter regarding the 15 acre property located in front of Mueller Elementary School and adjacent to our community. Our associations have been directly involved in addressing working resolve problems and concerns related to this property also with the safety of children and residents as our highest priority. The property is located directly in front of the Muller Mueller Elementary School which has enrollment about a thousand students and is adjacent to a residential community consisting about 500 families. Because of this close proximity, the future use of this land must be appropriate, compatible, and safe for both a school environment and a residential uh neighborhood. An additional and critical safety concern is that the 15acre property and the surrounding residential community all share a single ingress and egress point onto the same road. This roadway was not designed or intended to accommodate heavy industrial or commercial traffic. Introducing uses that generate large traffic uh patterns would significantly increase the risk to school children, families, pedestrians, and daily commuters, particularly during school drop off and pickup hours. We are aware that the city has received negative publicity from certain members of the community regarding this matter. We believe it is important to acknowledge that the city has taken meaning, excuse me, meaningful and responsible steps to address legitimate safety concerns and to move towards solutions that serve the broader public interest. We are especially grateful for the city's uh prior intervention when the property was zoned M1, which would have allowed warehouse development and introduced serious safety traffic and quality of life risk. That action eliminated a significant danger and demonstrated the city's commitment to protecting students, families, and surrounding neighborhoods. For these reasons, we strongly believe that it's essential that the city of Laredo to retain ownership of this property. Continued city ownership is the most effective and reliable way to ensure that the land's use remains friendly, appropriate, and compatible with a school setting and a res and and a residential area. City ownership provides long-term assurance and uh that the that future uses uses will prioritize school safe uh child safety and neighborhood compatibility. If I could just finish um we respectly urge the city council to consider the long-term safety, traffic and compatibility implications and we do recommend also and support the construction of the police station. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you very much. Next comment is on same item. Memo Castro. >> Good evening board. My name is Memo Castro. I've been here before you. I bring the history of what happened in Labota. a history of deception, failed government and failed school. We saw a child come up here. That same child went before the school board asking we don't want warehouse. Deception. That's been the part of the city. Failure on the government. It's always been known that we sweep everything under the carpet. Wait for tomorrow. You want to talk about corruption? Well, I got corruption. You can smell it. You can see it. Failure begins on all of you and past administration. The failure to stand up when her constituent stood up and asked our council lady to do something about it. When everybody failed the course, she stood up and wrote and you all voted. But then corruption. I'll tell you corruption. We have 69,000 or 69 million dollars on Mercy Hospital. What have we done? Where has been the leadership there? We have $12 million in the Plaza Theater. I used to love going to the Plaza Theater because I grew up then. What have we done? Nothing. Property falls back into the property owners, developers, has misguided us. You know, change is hard, but safety and justice, we deserve that. I live I'm of a homeowner in Labota, but I live in the mines area. 80% of the revenue that creates us to being the number one Lland port is in our district. We have to live with that. This lady addressed the traffic where the others never did. She stood up. You want to fight with her, you fight with the mines road. And I referred to the people of the mines area when I took the fight to fight for the injustice of Labota. I said it in Spanish and I'll say it again laos and start standing up for your rights because we have a right to defend our home. Either you represent the cities the citizens or you represent special interest or big or big business. What is it? We want to know. Thank you. I have this. That was him. >> All right, we'll proceed with other public comments. Maximles. Revel. Maxim RL. She's gone. Okay. Max here. Okay. Jason Thomas. >> Good afternoon. My name is Jason Thomas and I live at 9803 Sequin Court. 7 months ago, I stood here and begged for your help with dog barking in our neighborhood. Two other neighbors had also spoken to police about this nuisance. Prior to June city council meeting, I wrote to you and asked for your help. If you took the time to read the police reports I sent you, you would have read that in one report, the officer wrote in part, quote, "While talking with Mr. Thomas, a K-9 could be heard barking continuously." Another neighbor advised me he has been neighbors for almost 11 years and has always heard the barking so much that his children at one point did not sleep in their bedrooms due to the barking all night." In another police report, the officer wrote in part, quote, "As soon as I arrived at 4:10 a.m., you could hear dogs barking." Unquote. Less than three months ago in November, another officer wrote in their report in part, quote, "At approximately 0320 hours, I could hear what appeared to be several dogs barking." In an earlier report, the officer wrote, quote, "Mr. Fus was advised that he could get cited if the issues continue." To which he stated, "To do what I had to do," unquote. The municipal court requires two residences to complain about barking before a citation is issued. Any Lorian will tell you that this two neighbor requirement is a problem because as everyone in this room knows, there is an undeniable hesitation of many of the good people of Larredo to speak with law enforcement about this problem because they don't want any trouble with their neighbors or they don't have the confidence in city leadership to fix the problem. To counter this hesitation, I provided you sensible edits to the city code to help the people of Larredo. What happened? The apathetic response that I've heard from some city leaders is that this is a civil matter. Do you really think most of us have the disposable income to pay our bills and then spend thousands of dollars on our lawyer just so our families don't have to listen to dog barking while we sleep? Good leadership recognizes absurd issues like this and provides a mechanism of action that helps the people, not tell them to go get a lawyer. Furthermore, I have already, excuse me, I have a police report proving that an officer already cited another irresponsible dog owner based on my repeated complaint calls. Ironically, Laredo Animal Care Services mission statement on their website claims they are committed to impart quote promote responsible pet ownership unquote. Does Laredo Animal Control actually believe these police reports reflect responsible pet ownership? Mr. Win, sir. Pursuant to municipal code chapter 6, animals and foul, article 6, nuisance section 6-100, subsection H, which states in part, quote, any person may request the city prosecutor to file a complaint in municipal court against the owner of such animal under the positions of this chapter. I hereby publicly request your office assist me tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. in submitting an affidavit and then issue a court summon to the homeowner of 9802 Sandia Court for animal nuisance. Also, because there seems to be poor communication between city leaders on this matter, subsection I of the same chapter states in part, quote, "An animal control officers and law enforcement officers may issue the owner of animals creating a nuisance a citation to appear in municipal court to answer the offenses charged." Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next comment, >> Sandra. Mayor, can can I request that somebody from staff uh coordinate with him before so that we can work help them? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Put us in motion. >> I don't I don't think I don't think we can. >> It's not really an item. Just >> But mayor, I may >> Well, hold on. Hold on. What district is it? >> It's mine. >> Okay. All right. Go ahead. >> And mayor, thank you. Um and I I know we're limited on how much we're allowed to say on an item that's not on the agenda, but I want to say that this item did come up about nine months ago. Um, I actually had an agenda item to make the change that was recommended by the gentleman and I was assured by management and legal that it would be uh addressed without having to make an ordinance change and you know so um you know disappointed that that it wasn't resolved. Um, yeah, to echo council member Pettis, if if we can please address it as advised or let us know so we can move forward with an ordinance that would actually address the concern. Um, because this is going on for years for this gentleman. Um, he's clearly trying to uh fix it, but the legal system and our ordinances are not allowing him to. So, I just appreciate >> mayor and city council. Well, yes. Uh there is a report on this and we can provide it to the city council. >> All right. Okay. We'll pursue this this bill. >> All right. Next comment is Sand Roa Taylor. >> Is this visible? Hello. somebody from Okay, there you go. >> I don't know how to enlarge this. >> Oh, okay. >> Okay. >> Hi, Sandra Roa Taylor. I'm here on behalf of the Monte Mucho Audabon Society, Laredo Birding Festival, and also the Laredo Cultural District. And just to bring to attent your attention, honorable mayor and city council members, um this video I don't know if you can see that is one of our birding scouts that went out to the riverfront uh to prepare for our birding festival. And there is a pack of wild dogs that has been roaming around the downtown area. Um, as far as the cultural district, those same dogs went into Kasa Ortiz and uh pretty much massacred some pet cats, mom and kittens that we were housing there. Um, and they we couldn't get them out for a couple of days and we did approach uh call animal care services who eventually came by. Uh, but they weren't they didn't trap the dogs. The dogs are still roaming. This was after they had gone into Casort Ortiz and we're just concerned because our festival will be in a few weeks and uh not just for the festival but also for the general public. Uh, we also know for a fact that there are some people in the riverfront that are feeding the dogs. And I know there's an ordinance against feeding strays. Uh, but these dogs um are just friendly to the people that are feeding them. And uh when anybody else approaches, you can see. And when dogs are in a pack, you know that it's very dangerous because they can attack individuals or pets or people that are even walking their animals on leashes. And I'm sure you can uh have other residents that will have the same complaint. So, I touched base with uh Councilwoman Alisa Sarroa earlier and uh she is looking into this, but I did want to bring it out and have it on public record that this is an issue before somebody gets hurt. >> All right. Thank you very much for that information. >> Thank you. >> Go ahead. >> Oh, no. I'm just saying if there's an update on the on this issue, but >> yeah, I I I know that we we have Miss Bluestone here. >> Uh mayor, uh members of council, uh animal control was informed. I informed uh uh Miss Blue Storm. So, she's here. >> Yeah, we were provided the video uh the other night and so Yes. and so we we turned it over to animal control for for management of that. >> All right. >> As soon as we received the video, we did send officers out. Um I know that they were out prior. Dogs were gone by the time the officers got out there, but we're going to continue to kind of patrol that area. >> All right. Just name and title for the record, please. Uh Lauren Bluestone, Animal uh Services. >> All right. Okay. Thank you, Mayor. And I would ask that uh if if any if any citizens run across these animals again or anything, please give us a call directly. Uh that way we can respond. I don't think we can keep somebody out there continuously, but if we can if we can get out there quick enough, I think we stand a better chance of of picking up this. >> I do believe this burer did call 311 several times. >> Wonderful. Wonderful. Yes. I just I I just ask for the help. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Next comment is Rodulfo de Hoyos. Secretary. Welcome. Fore! Foreign! Foreign! for Elementary foreign. You go. Okay. Kev, >> Mr. Neb, can we look into that? Uh, >> mayor situation. >> Mayor F. >> Yes, go ahead. >> Uh, I think the issue is that the speeding on international and it was requested that we put speed bumps, but it's a that street does not qualify for speed bumps and I tried communicating that, but it's very hard for us to control the drivers speeding and put speed bumps on roads. That was the issue. It wasn't that we couldn't do anything. >> I'm not saying we can speed. >> Mayor, mayor, we will have the police chief uh or a member of his team get with you, sir. And uh the chief is right in the back of the room. So, we will uh we'll make sure that before he gets out of here that we we at least no comment is for you to tell us and then it's not for us to be having a management. Okay. Edgar via seenor Um, is there a way I could show my screen? >> Go ahead. >> Uh, for the record, I'm Edgar Vasor >> representing Risk. Good evening, mayor, city council, and city staff. During the last meeting, we were presented with the long- awaited results of the citywide survey on the border wall. Thank you to the city of Laredo for conducting this survey in order to help us get additional information as to where our residents stand on this critical issue. There was a lot of data, but the results are here. So, according to the survey, here we go. 51% of people said no wall versus 19% of people that said yes to the wall according to the city survey. On the first Oh, I didn't change that. Hold on. There we go. Somebody messing with me. On the first and primary question of whether Laredo residents are in favor of a border wall or opposed to it, the results are clear and without a dispute. A clear majority of Laredoans surveyed opposed any border wall of any kind. Given multiple options, the option of no new barrier vote earned a full 51% of respondents. That is what's called an outright majority. If that was an election, there would be no runoff. The mandate is clear. Only 19% of Laredoans express support for the federal government's proposed plan. Just 19% according to the city survey. And to be clear, 51% to 19% is almost a 3:1 ratio. There is no gray area. The public is overwhelmingly against the the wall. This thing keeps on changing on me, but um 51% of people said no wall. Um and 30% of people voted for the alternative plan. There was an alternative plan offered on the survey as well, proposed by the city manager, the mayor, and chief of staff of the dualpurpose flood wall. Despite being presented as a middle ground, this option lost against a clear no vote earning only 30%. Oh Okay. 81% 81% opposed to the federal government's plans according to the city survey results and only 19% of people agree to the federal plans. Taken together, however, that means that 81% of people are opposed to the federal plan and do not want a steel and concrete wall. The city spent about 29 to $30,000 on this survey to see if they would get a different answer than the one that we've been hearing directly from the residents for years at the city council meetings, at special call meetings, town halls, and on the streets. The answer is that a majority of Laredoans strongly oppose the federal government's plan for the border wall. City council members, mayor, city manager, and staff, you have been given a clear message from your constituents and every venue for public comments that you have offered. Every single venue, please oppose the construction of the federal government's border, border plan, border wall plan by any means necessary. You have a vast toolbox of resources and we hope that you use them. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Juan Aina. >> Good evening, mayor, members of the city council. First of all, I'd like to start off with thanking the chief of police. I felt he was here somewhere. There he is. Chief, thank you for such a great job that y'all did in this last uh Mr. Mr. Aila, your name for the record, please. >> Juan Aila, for the record. I'm sorry. Chief, thank you so much. Uh, this last incident that we had where they stole the DPS unit. All your officers were out there. I was caught right in the middle. You know, I was coming from Rio Aeno area. I got caught right in the middle. I didn't know to make go right or go left. DPS, marshals, border patrol, city police, constables. Very dangerous. Very dangerous situation. I'm sorry that I have to say, you know, oppose of the gentleman that was just talking. We need this wall. This is a government order. It's not about you saying, "Do you want it? Do the citizen want it?" Yes or no. No. This wall needs to go up and you need to stop playing around with a federal government. This is not something that you can stop. This is not something that we, the citizens of this community, can stop. It is an order not only by the government but by your president, my president to do it. Whether we're Republicans, Democrat, it doesn't matter. Get the wall up and quit wasting taxpayers money and wasting time on people's accounts. Councilman Perez, unfortunately, you took over a damaged district. You cost us $6 million. You cost us $6 million cuz you should have looked at it in a better way. There was should there should have been some other treatment, something else to been done, not costing taxpayers money. We don't have that money to be spending out unless you want to give free money. Just like the gentleman said, let's don't pay taxes anymore because we're giving free money away. And that's exactly what you did. He's up for a review next month. It is your job, your responsibility to look at the work that this man has done. He's been on more vacation time than President Trump has. How can he love Laredo? And he's not even from Laredo. How? Give me those samples. We have come to you before time after time. I called Councilman uh GarcA. I called Councilman Gutierrez. I called uh upon uh Mr. Orila. The streets Colton, Springfield, Hillside, Mines Road, they have better streets than we do. And here we are spending $6 million of taxpayers money. What's wrong with this picture? You said you had an open door policy. I've called you before. Your son answers the phone all the time and you cannot even return a phone call. So are we only knocking on doors when we want to vote or are we going to knock on vote on the doors like Miss Leroa does? She go out to her district and ask the community what they need. You have gone out to there. You've gone out there. You have gone out there. Rick, you just came on board, but you've been out there. What about the rest of y'all? >> Mayor, three minutes. >> Let's go to work. This workshop that he just showed you right now, y'all just had a 5-HOUR WORKSHOP ON FRIDAY ON HIM. THAT'S REDUNDANT. Let's get to work. That's what y'all get paid for. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. I can't read the last risk. Corela. Okay. Good evening Mr. Mayor and council members. Thank you for having me here. My for record my name is Dr. Angela Purel and I'm working as a project manager at Rio Grande International Center. I work on a bational community air monitoring project in Losto and on behalf of risk bational air council. I am here to invite you all for our upcoming work air quality workshop where air has no border neither should the solutions. So over the past year this communitydriven project has focused on two major goals. One related to the community air quality air quality data collection and dissemination. The other goal is to build the community. So uh as you all know we have already installed our air centure in 19 air centure locations across both cities with daily data that you can um you can get from risk website and we have also enga engaged with the community uh through workshop webinars monthly webinars and like upcoming workshop like this. This is our this will be our second inerson workshop and we have also created a basal air council first time in Larido and no Larido who is working for the community air monitoring. So this workshop the one coming up on January 24th 2026 Saturday will be at Falcon Event Center in McFersonen and this workshop mark the important milestone because this is the conclusion of our phase one and we are not stopped there. We are going to start our phase two. That would be the launch of phase two where we are going to expand our air monitoring network with additional 35 air sensor measuring PM2.5 and four high quality highc cost air sensor measuring carbon black carbon. So for the first time in both cities we have also as I said we have also created by national air council with the executive committee to guide this work. So I stood here about a year ago regarding air quality and this effort and I'm here again I have been last time also inviting you all for the workshop and webinars. I'm here also to invite you all for the workshop and to continue supporting in the phase two of this project through the bational air council. You can be a member of that one too. Everyone is welcome and as a part of risk and as a part of this community I am committed to build a better and healthier future for our community just like you all. I hope we can get along and get together in phase 2 project for the benefit of our community like Mr. Ne always said there are there will be a time where we can get along and get align with the work. I hope phase 2 will be the one of them. And with that, I would like to invite you all once again to the workshop on January 24th at Saturday uh at 9:00 p.m. at Falcon Even Center. And I'm looking forward to have you all there. Thank you so much. >> Thank you, >> Valentine Greece. Thank you, mayor and council members for allowing me to speak. Um, Valentine Ruiz, for the record, mayor, I want to begin by recognizing something important that the recent survey proves that 81% of the informed public stands with you in support against the no border wall. Laredo exists in relationship with our Mexican neighbors, with leaders across the river, and with a shared economic future that predates modern borders. I recognize your efforts to protect that relationship and to grow Laredo with Mexico and not against it. Your vision, that vision matters. Our prosperity has always flowed from cooperation and from the river. To the mayor and the city council, this is your moment to invoke the spirit of Hovita, a woman of small stature but unbreakable courage who stood against injustice when silence would have been safer. She faced the Texas Rangers with nothing but truth and moral clarity. and she stood because her community struggled behind her with her. I also ask you to invoke the spirit of General Ignasio Saragoa who defeated Napoleon's great army in Pueba with machetes. He defended sovereignty not with power but with the resolve and love of homeland and its people. The same spirit is needed now to defend our only water source and the sovereignty of our economic future. To the city manager, this is your moment to invoke the spirit the spirit of John Brown who forced the nation to confront the injustice of slavery. John Brown's final words were, "I am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood." Those words still matter because today our river is being poisoned by oil field wastewater contaminated with cancer causing carcinogens allowed by our state to be dumped into the streams that feed the Rio Grande. Florine barriers that leech microlastics and cancer-causing chemicals. Those Bowies then break loose during floods, tearing through habitat, damaging homes, and killing people caught in their path. This is not accidental. This is a deliberate genocide of border communities along the Rio Grande. To the city attorneys, this is your opportunity to stand with the legacy of Gus Garcia who fought for segregation in schools. He stood he he understood the equality without enforcement is a lie. Ask the hard questions. What treaties with Mexico regarding the Rio Grande are being violated? Who is accountable? >> If you don't mind, 30 more seconds. Who is accountable when border infrastructure endangers human life? This is your chance to stand on the right side of history. We are not here only to oppose. We are here to build. We envision a citywide riverwalk that would give the community and the border patrol more eyes on the river, our border. That there's nothing better than that for border security. A living river where families hike, bike and kayak, fish, and teach along the banks. A river that fuels tourism and economic growth rooted in our history, not erased by fear. Our ancestors lived and taught along the rivers before long before Laredo was founded in 1755. We are not asking for something radical. We are asking to restore what was always meant to be. Mayor, city council members, city managers, city attorneys, you are not alone. Joseph as Fovita stood because her community stood with her. You stand today with an informed community behind you ready to defend our water, our health, our economic growth, and our crossber families. Stand strong for Laredo. Stand strong for the river. Because when we protect the river, we protect life itself. Class Kamanti. Thank you. >> Thank you. This is on item number 37. Veronica Jimenez and Dora Ramirez, they want to come up. >> Good evening, mayor and council members. My name is Veronica Himenez. I am the director of the web county community coalition of serving children and adults in need scan. >> And my name for the record is Dora Maria Ramirez and I'm the director of prevention services in the scam agency. >> The web county community coalition was established in 1999 and focuses on drug prevention issues in web zapata and star counties. In the early 2000s, the coalition scan and the city of Laredo health department spearheaded the efforts to develop, implement, and a comprehensive no smoking in public places ordinance in Larredo. The main reason for implementing this ordinance was to improve public health in the community by reducing exposure to harmful secondhand smoke. Consequently, any attempts to weaken the ordinance are very concerning. Tobacco use, which is still c the cause of 450,000 deaths annually, is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Thus, any changes to the no smoking and public place ordinance that directly benefit tobacco specialty retail stores or cigar lounges and could possibly encourage more of these establishments to open where they would be allowing to serve alcohol to customers is very alarming. In addition, we believe this change would be a tremendous step back for public health. >> Thank you, mayor and council members. We are fortunate to have several knowledgeable and esteemed public health experts among our mayor and council members as well as our director of the Laredo Public Health Department. It is my sincere hope that each one of you will speak in a unified voice about the potential harms that could be associated with changing the no smoking in public places ordinance to benefit tobacco specialty retail stores or cigar launches. We commend each of you for recently taking a significant step forward by strengthening the ordinance by adding and clearly defying electronic smoking devices and prohibiting their use in public spaces. Now, we ask that you please focus on continuing to promote public health and fully considering the significant harms associated with taking a step back backwards by weakening the ordinance to allow alcohol consumption in tobacco specialty retail stores or cigar launches. We thank you for giving us this opportunity and we hope that you take this into consideration. Thank you all. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. Mayor, if I may make a motion to bring up item number uh 37 >> 37. >> That's the one I just spoke on right now. Thank you. >> Second. All in favor? >> Motion passes. >> Um this is to legal zone. I know we've spoke about this before, but this is specifically this specific ordinance is for cigar lounges only, correct? Can you just clarify that so the public understands that we're not allowing any business to start allowing smoking to happen there except for cigar lounges that specifically are open which we only have two in Larredo that are specifically only for cigar lounges. >> Yeah. Yes sir. We already have uh the ordinance in place for these cigar lounges. They have requirements to to be uh uh classified as a cigar lounge. This uh change proposed change is to allow these scar lounges as you just said there's two uh currently to serve alcohol. It does not uh provide a mechanism to uh reintroduce smoking in other uh facilities. >> Thank you. Thank I just wanted to clarify that. Anything else? Motion to approve number 37. >> Motion second. All in >> favor. >> Okay. Did we Did we second and call for the question? >> Yes, sir. >> Mayor Fo, it's a public hearing. >> Yeah, >> it's you brought up the agenda. >> Was an agenda item. >> I just have a question for Mr. Z, our attorney. >> Go ahead. >> Thank you. Appreciate that. Um, uh, >> Mr. When is there um another mechanism by where a a cigar lounge this type of cigar lounge could allow for alcohol uh beverages to be served? I understand that someone floated around an idea to have it as a private club. >> Does that protect better the the ordinances that we have? >> Well, however, with a private club, uh they cannot uh sell alcohol. But in in our ordinance it it's the term is to serve which you know is ambiguous whether you uh hand out or you give out or you you sell. So uh to do the club it it is different. It's viable but it's different. But I believe what's being proposed now is to allow the the service and the sale of alcohol at cigar lounge. And are there restrictions to the percentage of alcohol beverages versus sold versus the percentage of of the cigars sold? Sometimes there's a qualification that you can't have you can't it can't be a a bar hiding in w in sheep's clothing, >> right? Uh and again that is creating a difference between a bar and a restaurant or or uh whereas here we're talking about we're only dealing with the ordinance uh uh specifically to scar lounges and we're opening it up on this vote to allow the sale. >> All right. So there it will there's there there is no way that um a bar becomes a smoking bar. >> Yeah, that's a good question. In order to become a cigar lounge smoking bar, you have to have, you know, the humidifier and all those other apparatus, it's it's to make a cigar lounge as opposed to just a bar that allows smoking. It would be require some infrastructure. So, but a bar, do you do you believe that a we could have this problem with a bar becoming essentially a a a place where smoking can occur? >> Because I think that's that's the the um the intent of the concern is that you don't want bars that cannot allow smoking to slip through on this definition and now allow smoking. for our ordinance, they'd have to qualify as a cigar lounge, not just a bar that allows smoking. >> And those qualifications are >> uh I believe it's the infrastructure, just the the build the build out the ventilation systems. So, it it would just be a place that you can smoke and drink. >> Hey, may I ask a procedural issue? Uh 37 is actually a public hearing and an intro ordinance. Can we read this? >> Yes, I'll read that right there. >> Thank you. Before we you continue with the >> Yeah, we have a the reading that puts it on the table is what I'm being on the same item. >> Yes, sir. Go ahead. >> Number 37, an ordinance of the city of Laredo, Texas, amending chapter 15, article number six, section 78, definitions of the code and ordinance code of ordinance by redefining bar providing this ordinance shall be cumulative providing a severability clause and declaring an effective date. That's the reading of it. Any more questions? Ma'am, >> there was a second. >> My last question is just the definition of the >> call for the question. >> We have a motion and a second. >> It's not there's not it's just a public hearing. >> Actually, it's a public hearing. It's a public hearing. So, may we want to call four against? Four against. >> Yes. Call for the question. >> Four or against? Four or against. >> Anybody for one more time? >> Motion to introduce. Motion second. All in favor? >> Both. Motion pass. >> All right. Now, we're going to go with uh number 114.4. >> Discussion with possible action on naming the championship field at the Buenav Vista Sports Facility after the late coach director JJ Gomez and any matters related there too. And as we look forward into our ribbon cutting ceremony in January 2020, January 24, 2026, this is a special dedication as we honor one of her own. And my motion would be naming the championship field at the Buenav Vista Sports Facility after the late director, Coach JJ Com. May his legacy and contribution to sports medicine to sports sorry to sports continue to inspire and motivate our youth for generations to come. >> Second >> motion second for that >> if I may. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> So you know doing this dedication to Mr. Gomez it's you know for him and his family is going to be an honor. Uh I know that you know last time we I spoke to JJ was something that he was very proud of. So I, you know, I want to thank my colleagues, the city council management and his team, you know, Mr. Ramirez, uh, coach, I know that we were going to put a lot of pressure on you and trying to do, but it's it's something that he deserves, something that he he was out there, you know, looking for dates to finish, pushing, you know, pushing the deadline. Uh, and I think he would be proud of of having this this naming for him. So, thank you so much, colleagues. Thank you so much for supporting this. Mayor, thank you so much for putting this on this item. >> Mayor, may I >> Yes. Go ahead. Um, I hope that when we're looking at the type of plaque to put out there and the dedication that that is welld deserved, justly deserved by coach Gomez that we'll consider an image of him so that that will carry on as well instead of just only a plaque that we include an image of of coach Gomez there. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. >> We got a motion, mayor, and a second. Motion. >> All in favor? I >> opposed. Motion pass. >> Before we proceed to the next item, we have one public comment with more. >> Three more. >> We'll start with Eleno Mes. >> Honorable may members of city council Maris for the record. If I may, I'll I'll defer to the item that uh Councilman King has on there. Item 123. >> Oh, okay. You'll wait till then. >> Yes, I'll wait till then. if at all possible. >> Okay. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. And we have >> Yeah, I'll go with >> 121. My apologies. >> All right. >> The next item will bring up Mr. Lopez also, but let me start with 115 discussion with possible action on placement on the need of pediatric intensive care services for a public vote on the November 2026 ballot in line with previous city council approval and any matters related there too. This item is building on a previous city council approval to send it to public vote. This is something that is important for the future of our community and for the last 40 years I have seen this reality get worse to the point that where we are today and it does revolve around the absence of pediatric intensive care services in the number one port of entry in the western hemisphere. The worst thing is that we know that we have the largest pediatric population in the country per capita. So children with severe asthma attacks, seizures, fractures and some pneumonia and other common emergencies are admissions treated in places with sim similar or smaller populations. But our children are flown out at an enormous expense to other hospitals. I have several examples where families have been econ economically devastated because we do not have these services here. I have parents that call me with medical bills for $373,000, one for over $500,000 and another one for close to a million dollars. People have lost their jobs, lost their homes, and what what kind of quality of life or attraction does that does the city have for families with children in accidents or conditions that is treatable in other communities with similar population that cannot be treated in our community. So my motion will be to have a workshop in February so we can have further discussion on this serious matter with stakeholders. to speak on this matter. I have representative the CEO from Gateway can give us more insight. Mr. Lopez, you proceed. >> Mr. Mayor, if I can defer to uh Dr. T. Yes, go ahead. Dr. City Laredo Health Department. >> Once again, good evening, mayor and members of the city council. I uh put together a data profile of the pediatric healthcare services in Laredo for your reference and then of course um Mr. Lopez will take it from there. Just to give you some information um about our current situation, we're at 23% of the current coverage level versus the United States average for pediatric care in Laredo. Our population of 0 to 21, 21 being the the the age limit identified by the American Academy of Pediatrics um for pediatric services is about a hund 100,000. And we have zero um providers in pediatric neurology, oncology, critical care services. While the raw provider count suggests 27 pediatricians, operational realities, outpatient clinic, semi-retirement, and lack of on call lack of call coverage significantly reduces actual care. This is just giving you um a breakdown of the demographics of Laredo. Our most recent or the estimates of 2024 for city of Laredo population is two 261,260. The under 18 population is 31.6% or roughly about 82,550. And then of course the 0 to 21 taken from the US Census Bureau ACS one-year table is is roughly around 100,000 um 900. And just to give you some additional background regarding um child births in the city of Laredo for the last 10 years, we're roughly as an average about 5,128 child births per year. The current inventory relies almost exclusively on general pediatrics. As mentioned, general pediatrics, there's 27 active licenses in Web County. We do have four pediatric cardiology, one pediatric orthopedic and one pediatric gastroenterenterology with the current ratio of one pediatrician per every 3,737 children which is extremely high and that number is probably higher due to the semi-retired pediatricians in the community. Clinical specialty care is a is effectively non-existent locally. As you can see here, there's a whole bunch of zeros on this board, ranging from the different specialties that have been taken from the Texas Medical Licensing Board for Active Licenses and Webcount. Laredo operates at the 23% of the national average of provider density. As you can see, United States for 100,000 has 116 pediatricians, Texas has 87 and Laredo is at 26.8. Normalizing care requires recruitments of 60 to 90 additional physicians. To matching the Texas state standards, we need 62 more pediatricians just to be up to the standard for providing primary care for our local pediatric population. And to meet the US standard, we would need an additional 90 pediatricians. Operational constraints for the reduced effective workflow. We do have the 27 licensed pediatricians. We filter out the outpatient and semi-retired which of course we are very thankful to have the gateway community health um healthi center systems physicians which are outpatient only and then of course we do have providers with limited practice hours and then less than 50% are active hospital staff. This is just a an overview of what is currently um in place at doctor's hospital. They maintain a pediatric hospitalist 24/7, a neonatal nurse practitioner support 24/7 via partnership with Driscoll Children's Hospital and recently credentialed a pediatric orthopedic surgeon which was listed there in the active licenses for web county for Laredo Medical Center of response was provided that the pediatric census for um calendar year 25 average less than two inpatients per day. They do rely on transfers to Driscoll um Driscoll children and Corpus Christie and San Antonio Children's and some active pediatricians serve dual roles as neonadologists for the NICU. This is just a snapshot of some of the um active individuals or active providers in deputy rum or web county and Laredo faces a structural healthc care deficit requiring immediate strategic intervention se severe under supply um specialty void and a very fragile networks. Closing the gap to match Texas standards requires the recruitment of at least 62 additional providers for basic pediatric primary care. I'll pass it over to Mr. Lopez. Thank you, Dr. Chairman. Good evening, Mayor Dr. Fininoho, city council members and staff. I'm Elmor Biz Jr., the CEO of Gateway Community Health Center. We have 11 clinic locations plus two mobile clinics located in Web County, Sapata County, and Jim Hall County. We are a federally qualified health center and we receive federal funding to take care of our most uh patients who are most in need in our in our community including children. We have the largest pediatric practice in our area. We have five pediatricians, four pediatric nurse practitioners and physician assistants, plus the residency program in uh family practice, plus support staff to help care on an outpatient primary care basis of over 10,000 registered pediatric patients that we care for in all our clinics since the pandemic and postpandemic time period, we have noticed at Gateway a decrease in inpatient services in our hospitals. Pediatricians who may have taken emergency room call have retired or moved uh to other parts of the country. Surgeons who may have in the past performed pediatric surgeries uh have retired and some have passed away. Most of our pediatric patients in our community who have an acute care need or a cure chronic care need now are being transported to pediatric hospitals either in San Antonio, Corpus Christi or other areas of the state for care. This type of lack of local pediatric services is not appropriate for our growing population and is not sustainable for the long-term growth of arrum. We recommend approval of a workshop to discuss the possibility of a pediatric hospital to be located here in Leno in the future. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> First, I just so my question to management and it's uh something that they've always asked everywhere. you know, most of the time you see it on on social media and it's like we're building roads or we're building uh the complex and all that, but the question is why haven't we um or to answer them to say why haven't we, you know, looked out go out go out and and search for a uh to bring a pediatric uh hospital to Laro? What has what uh what is that has been holding us back or what's the hurdle that's holding us back? I know we're trying to get a workshop and I know but it's something that we're trying to figure out because you know the community is always asking when is a pediatric uh hospital coming into you might some of my colleagues might know the answer because they might but you know right now the public doesn't know and they think that we're not trying to you're not trying to do it and if we have when was it that we started the the the conversation with about bringing a a pediatric to Larredo and what was the the, you know, the result, >> you know, and mayor and council, I can give a little bit of that answer, but I I've only been here not as long as the city has been working on trying to get the pediatrics, trying to get health care in general, uh, and more of a more of a presence here because this has been a a top top, uh, item on the council's agenda, I think, for a number of years for that. We've also identified it as a um uh an industry that we want to uh to attract for more of because of what we're trying to accomplish. I think one of the challenges that we've had in our interactions of trying to bring in the even like the pediatrics is that all of the industry itself looks at this and the numbers uh whether it be uh the cost advantages the the the area and everything else and for for that work. And so that's made it a little bit challenging for us because even in the medical industry we have a hard time getting the right number of doctors, right number of that. uh we have the the highest uninsured rates within our city as well too. And I think all of that plays into the the mechanics of trying to get it here and trying to find the the incentives or the the process that's going to allow it to uh solidify within our community and build on its own. And I don't think we found that that method yet, but I don't know if there's anybody else that's been working on this for for a while that can maybe provide some additional background. But this is an industry that I'm asking very past three years. Have we looked into it? Have we, you know, researched see if there was something that industry like like you know we have the infrastructure to to sustain? >> I Yes, I I will answer that one with a with a resounding yes. We have looked into this continuously in the last three years. I think with Mayor Trevino uh being as passionate as he is about this, we have looked at this uh in a number of ways. uh we had talked about it during the bond referendum in in the early part of last year. We we went after this in as many different paths as we taken and I think what we're what we're now looking at is that next stage of trying to get this to be accomplished. >> May I add something? >> Yes. >> This mechanism that I think you all were kind of envisioning it may fall into like a hospital district in Texas. Uh we have I think >> he's been waiting. >> I think Dr. King had that. >> I thought someone else was mad at me. >> But uh it it's you know envisioned to uh serve lowincome populations. It it can create uh it can levy taxes, issue bonds, receive federal funds. However, it stems from the counties. >> So So you're saying that the city can't create it? >> The city can. That's what I'm we're trying to explain to the public. The city can't create a hospital district, only the county. Yes. >> And it will be another government uh government >> tax taxable entity. Okay. >> And it can receive federal funds and so forth. But it it sounds like that's what you are talking about, >> which I don't think that the public if it's going to be for, you know, >> for for a hospital, they will mind. But I'm just >> I'm not trying to steal Tyler. I'm sorry. As far as the city, what we can do legally is, you know, create tax and bakements and so forth to to >> we can show our support instead of >> right instead of >> we can we can show the support. That's what we're trying that's where we're trying to hit. >> There's no such thing as a city housing authority hospital district. Yeah. >> To give to give uh Dr. King's opportunity. We had discussed about the hospital district which he brought up. >> Mayor, thank you. Go ahead. >> Yeah. You know, I think mayor, I think it's better actually if it if it's a good idea that comes from someone else. So maybe, you know, that's good. You know, it's maybe it's more likely to uh you know, to get to get pushed forward. Um so that's good. Thank you. Thank you, Z. Um and and yes, we were talking, you know, before uh just that I hope for the workshop in February that we have, we can invite members of the county. Um because public health can no longer be uh something that we rely, you know, exclusively on. We look to the city of Laredo as the answer to all of our public health challenges. Obviously, we have our partners with Gateway Community Health Center. We Web County does treat the indigent, but there is just so much more we could do together if the city and county work together and like been mentioned. And I'm actually writing an op-ed for LMT. So, uh about hospital districts because I I I think it's something that this community just isn't aware of that that we because we've never had one. El Paso has had one since the 1950s and they have one of only three um Hispanic majority health science centers in the country being you know Phoenix, El Paso, San Antonio. Uh Bear County uh San Antonio also has a hospital district. would what it you know it's something that I hope that we can include the county on and we obviously can't push and dictate to the county to do that but if if we also as a city uh are willing to partner and do our part as well um and participate in the process it not only uh not only is it something that can finance um these new projects and recruit uh new physicians and services um there is federal matching funding uh at a very high level there's the there's Medicaid waiverss So, it unlocks all this other money that we currently don't have access to. Um, so I hope that we can at least start the conversation with the county to start working together for them to at least study it. And guess what? There's an election going on right now for county judge. It's a good time to start asking our county judge candidates where they stand on pursuing and studying a hospital district. So, clip that. And besides that uh you know for my perspective when I came back to Laredo to practice in 1985 at the health department I had the maternity clinic because we had a few amount of obgians also. So we had to deliver the babies and look at the after the babies as an outpatient in our clinics. Even since then we were underserved in pediatric services and not more so now because some have retired or left or or died. So this is a thing that it will only get worse unless we do something about it. Hospital district is a good idea but it has to be funded by some other entity. Uh the city cannot actually have th those uh those services. It's a county issue and all the all the places that have uh public hospitals are county county sponsored. So, but putting the idea forth is is important so we can get people to know what the situation is and we can do something about it. So, I think it's a good idea to start the movement and talk to our partners at the county. >> Great. May >> go ahead. >> Thank you. Um, so that we have revisited this issue several times. I think um we'll remember that a previous council member said, "Well, the county isn't interested in helping us, so the conversation's closed." But we're here at a new time and we have a lot of of desire on this council to draw in all of our partners as Dr. King was saying and and the mayor that we need a a county hospital district to qualify for federal funds for state funds because as the mayor mentioned it would be unfair to put that kind of burden for financial support just solely on our taxpayers. In other parts of the uh state as Dr. King mentioned, they get federal dollars, they get state dollars, and these dollars are available for our communities. And that is why the county participation is so important. When we talk about underserved areas, um, you know, I'm familiar with cardiology just because of my husband's work in cardiology over 30 years. We also have a der of cardiologists and that's one um specialty that's needed by almost the entire the rest of the population right out of pediatrics. And I think what we need to realize on council is that what we can contribute if we can't contribute the hospital taxing entity that's just not in our purview as city leaders. What we can do is provide the incentives and provide the quality of life that will attract the professionals to our city. This is why planning is so important. This is why revisiting the Viva Laredo comprehensive plan. We need to create a city that will attract these professionals or keep our local students um have have our local kids when they go out and they get medical degrees that they want to come back to the city. I'm I'm I'm very proud. I have two sons that are in these uh majority Hispanic serving districts and that are going to take advantage of what's been set up in El Paso and what's been set up in San Antonio. And they have the ability to go into neighborhoods where there is a large underserved population and bring students use their labor and they get experience and also the people are are receiving quality health care. Um and so it is an overall picture. It's not we can't narrow our focus and just concentrate on how do we get this one hospital area and and our hands are tied a lot with that that we need to look at it's part of our job to provide a quality of life so that we can draw in those professionals. You talked about 64 people that that we would need to be able to support a pediatric hospital service. those professionals will not want to come here if they don't find the quality of your life for their families. So I I believe this this uh council is up for the challenge and and can do it and we just need to make sure that that focus we maintain it. >> Yes. Go ahead. I think it was 2023 if I'm not mistaken that we had paid for a medical survey evaluation study to talk to us about competitiveness uh attracting doctors and and reasons for us having a shortage. I think we need to pull out that document, revisit the recommendations in there. Mayor, if we're going to have a workshop, I would recommend the intergovernmental affair committee that includes the county um seats uh be participate in that workshop so we can make it a a workshop/intergovernmental affair meeting at the same time and then of course anybody else on council or whoever else wants to come. But I think we should uh use that as an opportunity to revamp this. I know that there are benefits in having a a a a community hospital or a municipal hospital or a county hospital. Um because uh when doctors are looking at loan repayment, a lot of times they don't benefit from some of these loan repayment options and as far as getting their loans removed because they have to work at a at a public hospital, not a private hospital. Naro only has two private hospitals. So I think that would help attract some people over here in that regard. But um I do think we should use that study that we got a couple years ago for that workshop so we can look and talk about all these issues. But I definitely appreciate all the work that you do. Um and and I definitely do feel that our children are are are underserved medically. I went through it recently with my son and he was almost flown out of of here for he was in the hospital for almost two weeks but uh uh we only have one pediatrician that's willing to admit children here. So um it's it's unfortunate and and and it's something we need to fix right away especially since we have so many children in our community. May >> if I may. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Gateway Community Health Center continues to recruit pediatricians. We've recruited four in the last three years. into our community. We we are continuing to recruit, but the first question they ask when we bring him to town, we brought one, our most recent recruit came from Basel and he said, "How where can I when can I tour the pediatric hospital to go see and he was quite disappointed we didn't have one." he's still okay and he's one of the uh you know we're getting a lot of information from him because El Paso does have two successful one not for profofit pediatric hospital one for-profit pediatric hospital and uh we we're getting some information from from El Paso about those but we're going to have to think out of the box. It's going to have to be probably some kind of a public private enterprise cuz if you try to do it with a hospital district which is fine. It's just those are hard to get done now because it is another taxing entity. But there are several malls across the country. Driscoll hospital being one of them. They can they it's a foundation a private foundation that funds them. a very wealthy individual as you may know the story left quite a bit of assets to Driscoll Children's Hospital and that's how they they've grown. Uh so it's not just the hospital district maybe but that's why the workshop will be good to kind of get start getting information getting some help from staff to do some research. I don't have all the answers. All I can tell you I'm your largest pediatric practice and we need a pediatric hospital. and not to continue the conversation, but we also need a behavioral health inpatient hospital. That's another project we're working on. So, thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Mr. N. When can we schedule a workshop like this? >> We'll look at the uh more than likely the mid of February. Uh we'll get through the next council meeting the at the first week of February and then we'll look at that either the second um or we'll try to place it into that third week as well too. Again, we'll pull the council as we always do and we'll try to narrow it down from that point. >> Okay. >> Mayor. >> All right. >> I I just want to share um that nobody here disputes that the need for the pediatric intensive care is is um extremely important, but in a um especially in a crisis, families should not have to leave Larredo um to get life-saving care for their child. But I just want to I'm like what is the what is the plan like what exactly is the ballot measure that um delivering in itself is it approving funding construction operations or simply um authorization to pursue a a future plan um because we all yes we all we all want we all want this but even if we had the money tomorrow money doesn't create pediatric pediat ped pediatric intens intensivist specialty nurses 247 coverage and a and uh pediatric intensive care unit cannot exist in isolation um from these realities. So without that um we're left with two unacceptable options. Building something that sits empty for decades or pulling trying to pull something together that is half ready. And when it comes to pediatric intensive care how that is extremely dangerous for for a ch for children. And so what is what are we what are what what are we discussing? What are we what's the plan? >> Right? That's the reason for the workshop and um all those um all the scenarios that you put out there are all nos that's the reason why the workshop will lead us on the right direction. >> And I also have a question for Dr. Chamberlain. Um where is what I just have a question Dr. Chamberlain. Um you where did you get the information for the how many pediatric cardiologists we have >> from the Texas medical board the active licenses. >> Okay. There's one in the radio >> and and that's also why we alluded to the 27 active licenses for pediatric care might not be correct because there are semi-retireds there's individuals who don't take home or there are individuals who have retired and they haven't pulled their lensure as well. And I and I hope well I hope we do include her in this conversation because she's been she works directly with Driscoll and has been part of convers just conversations about Larredo and the need for pediatric services here. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. We'll put which one we just have right now. >> Yeah, that's one we had a discussion. >> We don't No, >> we'll just do a workshop. >> Mayor, >> we'll schedule for the workshop. >> It's like you made you what council member is asking. You made a motion and >> Oh, sorry. >> Yeah, we we can work on the on the workshop. Yeah, we'll we'll bring this up in the workshop. Okay. No action. >> No. >> And we'll proceed to number 116. Discussion with possible action to purchase and install gunshot detection technology and other reporting measures to prevent and detect gun associated crime and celebratory gun charges and any matters related there too. And as we all know, Laredo continues to be the safest city in the state of Texas and the 13th in the United States. That is what we touted in our last trip to Washington. And this is due to the incredible work of our police, our Lorita Police Department and the men and women and our law enforcement partner CBP and other first responders. But this does not happen without investment. Yet you get you get what you pay for. And we're getting in front of this uh within our border community. It's important to discuss this. One of the trends that firearms are being discharged especially among their youth. We mourn senseless losses like Moises high miss 444 and a father and a husband who was hit by a stray bullet during an illegal celebratory fire or when our youth without any criminal records are discharging guns with their friends. This system will also act as a a turn to pe to put people on notice that if you discharge a fireman in our city, you will we will find you. And at the end, I want to make sure that we're not just the safest city in Texas that always striving to be the safest city in the United States. I do want to thank the chief, thank you, chief, for the demonstration of the current system that the police department currently has for the detection of firearms being discharged. But my motion would be to expand the current system. Up to $300,000 is needed from my priority funds. And I do invite the council to contribute to this amount so that we can improve our coverage, triangulation, and response times and progress and active shooter events. >> I'll second for discussion, mayor. If >> second for discussion, >> may I? >> And I know Chief Rodriguez here is to make a presentation. Chief, I guess you want to do the presentation, then I'll ask the questions after, unless you've already answered them. >> Yeah, I mean, you still go ask questions. >> Go ahead. >> You go ahead with the presentation. My questions might be answered already with >> Good evening, uh, mayor, uh, city council, uh, Mia Rodriguez, chief of police for the record. >> Uh, today, tonight, we're going to show you a quick presentation as to what our current systems are are are like. >> Uh, we're going to also show you show you how we respond to these shots f shots fired. I know that currently we have a system that we've been testing uh we're about a year and about a year and three months in. We've been testing this system. We were able to get a grant to support this system and we're able to justify the system as we continue uh progressing with the beta test. But right now we have this system in most in all the high schools in Larredo, LISD and USD. Uh we do want to expand that. Uh but right now every device is costing us about $35,000 to be able to get the coverage. We have enough coverage right now to detect some areas of the city, but right now to be able to detect the hotspots that we're looking at is going to cost us about $300,000. To add the additional devices that we need, of course, we want to cover the entire city, it's about 106 devices and you multiply that by 35,000, that's a lot of money. But at the end of the day, what we want to do is what we want to make sure that we have the coverage in the areas that we need to at this point. As we continue to expand this, we currently have the infrastructure, which is the the the one that cost the most. We were able to get that through grant funding, but not cost the city anything. And this goes hand in hand with our flock systems together with our LPR system that have been implemented across the city. That grid is already established. The only one that needs expansion right now would be our shots fired. Of course, you know, we we continue to rely on the public to continue reporting. We also continue to rely on our officers that are out there in the street to make sure that we respond immediately. I'm going to give you a quick presentation as to how we respond. This also coincides with our drone as first responder uh which is uh we're going to show you a little bit how we respond just to the uh the actual shots fired. Here with me tonight, I have Lieutenant Romy Matuk. He's our lieutenant for research and development at the police department. He's also in charge of all our automated systems. So, he has a little bit more as to how we respond and a little bit more as to visibility as to how the uh the system works. >> Good evening, mayor, uh city council, Lieutenant Roman Matuk. Um so I am uh the supervisor at the real time crime center where most of the tech kind of is centralized. Um I'm just going to show you a little bit. So, we had a uh just a recent uh incident that was I believe January 16th where a couple of individ individuals are arrested um and the response was helped because of the of the flock uh you know uh audio systems. So, I'll just go through a little bit of information on here just to give you a little bit of background. This is about 12:30 a.m. Uh right around 12:37 a.m. the uh the shot uh detection system went off that there was uh several shots around the area of United South High School. Uh you there I'll I'll show you right now. There is a way that you can play it back. It sounded like there was like 20 20ome shots that were that rang out in the area. A couple minutes later, what did help and like chief was explaining because these are around the high school. What did help a lot is a citizen also called in and she reported that, you know, se she heard several shots and she gave a little bit more of a precise location. Um, and I'll show you this right now. So, this is kind of what the alert looks like when you get on the phone or on the desktop or whatever, but I don't know if there's audio in here. I hope there is. kind of hard to hear with with the uh with the background noise, but I'll I'll do it again. So, so what happens there when uh so what the reason you need so many is like the mayor said as well, right? It has to be triangulated to get a location. So, at least three of these uh audio sensors have to pick up the the sound that you know that it's kind of uh you know trained as a as a gunshot. And with that triangulation, it'll give you an area, right? If if that if that those gunshots are a little bit outside of the area where the where the uh the ravens are at, they're called ravens, the the out of detection system, the the location is a little bit less accurate, right? But like I said, what helped us a lot is because this was not obviously in the high school, it was off off to the east of the high school. Uh what helped a lot was that this caller, you know, let us know a little bit more precise location. Right? So, this is just it was a way longer video, right? But this is about a minute video. Just I I did a couple clips of the officer encountering the uh the subjects. >> Okay. So, obviously we got to >> just kind of look at >> the guy in the red sweater. If you hear that that fell down or that that uh that sounded like something fell on the ground, you'll you'll see that right now again. >> Okay. So, obviously we got a call. >> People are shooting up in the >> 2009. And you see him snap his head. >> All right. So, spin up. So, rifle magazine about a 30 round or so. >> Yeah. >> Smells like 0163. >> Hold on. 10 for key log 75 of a AR. >> So, so luckily, right, because of the alert, you know, officers are on high alert. There's obviously you could only see those two officers there. There's a couple of other officers behind them. Uh they have all the there was five subjects in that car. Uh so luckily, you know, there was no incident uh you know, in in that that scenario. Uh just right after that, detectives were called over. The the gang unit was called over who usually takes over when uh there's shots fired uh situations. They were called. They were called out. Suspects were pretty reluctant to talk. Eventually, they confessed. They told detectives where they went, where they were shooting. It was like in an open field. Detectives went out there. They located 20 spent casings and then along with other stuff that the those subjects had, they had a vape pens, THC gummies, uh liquid THC, different different scenarios. So, what they also did is they recorded themselves on their cell phone and this is something we got, right? So, you see the the same the same uh subject that had that red sweater with the white pants that dropped that uh rifle magazine. So, we have him here. This is obviously just a still still photo of that video, but you can see they're they're in some open field. Uh, and those are the shots that the the shot spotter recorded. So, this is everything that was uh seized that night. Uh, from my understanding, um, I didn't talk to the detectives from but from my understanding, that rifle also has no serial number. Uh, one of those ghost guns, I guess you could say. and looks like either a 30 maybe 50 rounder magazine, bunch of casings and then all the uh control substance to go with it. So >> mayor, if I may go ahead question that I have these this system is called Raven or Flock, I'm sorry. >> So So the company's Flock, they have different they they have so we we have uh license plate readers. All their products are bird names. Uh the license plate readers are Falcons. The live video are condors and the sound uh the sound uh shot spotters are ravens. >> Okay. And this this system um this flock system raven that we're going to have out there, God willing, they're compatible with the system we have now at RTCC. >> Yes. Yes. Yes. That that's exactly what would you know it would just augment everything. >> Is there an additional charge for software that we need to pay yearly if we should include this into what we have now? >> No. a yearly software. >> Yeah, I think the software already it doesn't matter if we have >> So, yeah. Sorry, let me just add to that. The software is already being paid by the auto grants. Okay. >> Because that's that compiles the condors, which is your cameras and your LPRs. This is just an additional technology that adds to Flock. Uh but we won't be paying for the software because it manages all three items. >> But you just mentioned this is an autotheft grant. Will there come a time and obviously we can't predict the future but where because this is not we're not using auto this is not being used for autotheft this is being used for gunshots detection so will there be a time where the police department or the city have to pay for software usage to have this compatible with our TCC >> whenever the out of the the grant uh goes away this technology goes away >> and when does the grant go away do we have a date or we don't you're still applying for it yearly I'm >> still year after year Okay. And then my last question, well maybe how precise or accurate are these um ravens? Based on triangulation, the more we have the better we get at finding out finding out the precise location where the shelves are coming from. But the more we add is the the better the system gets pretty much. That's how it is and that's how it's managed. >> Okay. So, mayor just brought up the item and he's talking about a $300,000 investment, which is not a big deal, not to the city budget but you're you're specifying 300,000 or asking for 300 or the mayor is putting it out there. How many does this supply for us? Nine, 10. >> It's about close to 16 devices >> at 35,000 a piece. >> Mhm. >> Okay. 16 devices and then you have the hotspots now with RTCC where we get these gunshots typically. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Okay. Thank you. And so just to give you a little bit of how this works, this was instantly as the shots were coming in. This took us that same day. Within hours, we were able to capture these subjects. Divine Mercy. When there was shots fired there, it took us three weeks to get to the suspects just by going from store to store to see where the subjects that were around the area. just by the license plate that we got to be able to detain the suspects that were responsible in shooting up in the air behind the uh the pickle ball courts from Dr. King. >> Dr. Right. >> If this works, >> okay, one one more followup. Let's go back to the instance of January 16th when this incident happened occurred and when you all went out there and triulated where it came from. Let's just say you did not receive the call from the person that called LPD. How difficult would it have been if the individuals had stayed behind the backyard, not visible to the police officer for you to identify what house it was? How accurate is this system? >> We we go by what the the system gives us and then we >> which gives you what a mile radius, a block radius. That's what I'm asking. >> Two block two block radius that we've seen, right? But there's other technology that we use that we want >> that we can zero in on where it's coming. >> Okay, great. Thank you. >> Yes, go ahead. >> I think Ruben answered most of my questions now. Um but then the most important part is will it uh will the more of the uh this equipment that we have the you heard the sound the background sound is it can you get a clear picture if the more you have surround it let's say surround a u 30 square block area and that's a hot spot for you the more of these you have around there the clearer the picture the faster the response time that type of thing >> uh which is and and more importantly this is not dependent on somebody calling it in. >> Correct. >> This is something that just automatically goes through through the software. It comes to the to the 911 system. >> No, it actually goes to the real time crime center, the 911 system and the officer's uh >> Oh. Oh, the pad that he has inside. Okay. >> As soon as it comes in their phone, so if they're out having a coffee, whatever, it will come in and say, "Hey, shots fired in this location." They'll take off right away and respond to to the area. Have you and you've identified more or less the areas that are considered hot spots uh in town. It seems to me that um 16 is not I don't think it's an accurate number. I mean I I mean although it's something to start with, but I really think that we need to get a clear picture of of u of how we can surround our city with that with this. I know the schools are very important. >> 106 Excuse me. C uh that would take us 106 devices. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Um I I think we can I think we should that's something that definitely we should start working on on trying to figure out. And then the second question most important uh the frequency of maintenance on these on on on this equipment. It's not something that it's very durable. Uh it it it just does it have a lifespan? >> So what it is it uh the uh it's more like as a subscription as service. >> Yeah. >> So the the if the device goes down they come in and they change it right away. >> Okay. Okay, we don't we have pretty much the company takes care of it as as long as we're paying it per year. What what I would say is is that what can help us and this is just you know something that maybe we can look into. So these grants that are being brought to the LISDs and UISDs of the world, right? These grants can be used also to buy this type of technology where they can put it in every elementary school, every middle school. That'll help us expand our platform, >> right? uh and then the city comes in, you know, behind and puts the additional that we need. But that would definitely help us in building up that that system. >> I I would suggest that that uh this council and this and and the city uh create an action plan of over the next three or four years to accomplish the goal at hand. uh this is something and considering our conversations of the past about uh our you know the the amount of police officers that are needed and and this is creating this is having additional men out on the field. this is the way I look at it. And uh so there's a huge value to having this and I I suggest we we put the pencil on paper and figure out what it's going to take over the next three or four years to get it done and and get you all what you need in in light of the fact that if we we uh satisfy the exact number of of police officers that we need, well, at least we're doing something else on the side that's that's going to, you know, um something sustainable that's just going to help the people out on the the boots on the ground right now. and we will do our part in making sure that anything any grant that's coming out of DOJ or from the state to be able to supplement this kind of systems that we would be we would apply for it. We have the uh we have the metrics. We have the strategic plan in place. We also have we you know we can make this presentation very valuable to get that right. >> Correct. All right. Thank you. >> So chief real quick question I have. Is there other devices out there with more more advanced technology than what you have right now? Is it because uh is there a way that is there or >> there's there's other technology out there that >> it's more advanced? >> No, that does the same thing. >> Okay. >> But even if we go to it with another technology, the amount of money that it'll cost us to bring it up, >> it would be a lot. >> But I don't think there's well there's an amount of for how much we want to spend on safety. But what we just saw right now is something that we want to protect ourselves from. you know, especially our youth, those I don't I don't want to say those gentlemen, they look not more than 19 years old, less than 19 years old, 15 and 19 years old. >> So, I was just wondering asking if there was other, you know, other other technology that they're using or that we you might want to say, well, this we're using this technology because we have this budget, but we there's more advanced technology out there that we can use, but it costs a little bit more. and we, you know, we can use your support, you know, not only in the grants but on the city side that we can help out and and go out and and support you, you know. >> Yeah. So, so there is technology out there, but it does the same thing. Council, I don't we we've seen it all. >> Okay. >> And it does the same thing. There's no need for us to go out and spend. >> Okay. That's that's just my question. >> Mayor May. >> Yes. Go ahead. Um, Chief Rodriguez, thank you for for creating this comprehensive safety plan so that we don't have any more tragedies like what passed to Mr. Hime and Mr. Moyes and his family. Um, I I am gratified to see that we've got a very strong response in trying to get this system out there so that we can prevent senseless tragedies like what happened. Um, I also think that we should understand that this is when when we think about rights and and what they cost us that, you know, this this interpretation, the current interpretation of our second amendment rights means that our community has to pay for these additional measures. and also that the police force has to take on so much additional risk to life and and and and to senseless tragedy because of how we interpret today that second second amendment right. And I um I hope that at some point we can have more common sense legislation that respects some of those rights, but understands that 18-year-old kids or however old these young men were do not need to be going out buying that weapon and and shooting in this in the air just for fun, right? that their their frontal cortex is not so designed to understand how valuable life is, if we even give them that much credit. Um, but thank you again for the work that you do and the work that you're meant to do. >> And as time goes by, if I may, I, you know, we've seen where we stop these individuals and we've seen where their where their weapons are far superior than ours. We have our weapons that are handmowns from the military. We're still using those AR-15s. And so when we encounter these type of weapons, they're far superior than what we have than what our officers have. So that's why we're already moving a little bit faster on trying to replace some of our our weapon systems inside our units to make sure that if anybody becomes brave enough to to shoot our one of our officers that we have something to to respond. >> Mayor, if I may. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Chief, um thank you, of course, for everything that you're presenting to us, but um question. $300,000 will purchase 16 of these ravens. Correct? >> Yes, sir. >> And um I'm wanting to propose to the city manager to put it out to poll us to see what we would be able to contribute as a council from priority funds to put more Ravens out there, right? To be sure city's even safer than what it is now. Um you said approximately $35,000 a piece, >> correct? >> With this 300,000 u I'm sorry, the math is not not adding up. Are you using some of your funds from the police department to purchase some as well? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, um I'd like to make a motion um to approve the purchase of the 16 from the mayor's of course funds >> and then to pull us to see what council members would be able to contribute from their priority funds to purchase more of these ravens to secure city even more. So >> second question adding 16 cover the current hotspots throughout the city. >> Not throughout the city. >> Not throughout the city. >> No. We need 160 devices. Those >> cover the entire city or the entire hotspots. >> Just the hotspots that we know right now that we need to address is those 60. >> 16. >> 16. Yes. Mayor. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Just a quick question. Uh, Chief, is there areas that are more because, you know, we're going to put district priority funds just just to be aware. Are there districts that have more uh in need of the of these which I understand the whole city needs them, but which do you have identification of which district needs it? Uh, has more hotspots than the other one? >> District four. >> Okay. >> Council miss district. >> District three. >> Those are hot spots. All right. >> I wasn't expecting for you to answer just to give us an as but you you put it out there. Okay. >> Okay. Okay. >> We have a motion and a second. >> Second. >> Second. All in favor? >> Oppos? Motion pass. >> Thank you, Mr. Chief. >> Thank you, Chief. >> Mayor, if I may. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Since we have police here, I'd like to bring up my item on item 123. >> Second. >> Motion. Second. Would you amend the 121 after >> and 121 after? >> And I'll accept your number. >> All right. Motion as amended >> and second. >> All in favor? >> Vote. Motion pass. >> Mayor, I placed an item on the agenda here. 123. discussion with possible action to designate 8 acres from the newly acquired property on Muller Memorial Boulevard in District 7 to the Laredo Police Department for a port of entry station and any other matters incident there too. Um this property um is ours now. So one of the things I want to do it's 16 acres. I want to designate 8 acres of it to to the police department. Chief Rodriguez and I had spoken um a long time ago about his plans for the department and um when this property became available uh he looked at it and and I'd like for for you chief to talk to the council and see what what your thoughts on on this idea is. >> Absolutely. Good evening again Rodriguez for the record chief of police. Uh we've had this conversation multiple times not only with the Mansro road area but also in central Oredo you know about giving us more space for our current situation at the headquarters. Just recently we moved our south sector uh station to the headquarters because of the breakins that were happening. We're not see complying there at the annex because it's not fenced in our computer systems and all that have to be protected and so we just moved them into headquarters make sure that everybody and we're in compliance with sieges right the other bigger thing that we we're having right now and the issue is just space we've been trying to remodel what we what we can but we just made we were made aware for example uh the Sanchez building that most of you have already seen uh we were looking into it and we were told that the building is sinking so there's no way that we there's no reason for us to put money into it because it's sinking. So, we put a hold on that. We've been trying to figure out ways to put people in locations that we current. So, we're satellite. We're putting everybody as a satellite. We have our parks division in in district 12, which is the substation next to the fire station on 359. We have our ordinance division in beat 17, which is over there in Selto Lindo. We have uh our port police working out of the district 14 substation. So we have a whole division working in the MRO area uh which is our port district uh trying to figure out ways to just make sure that we continue operating with what we currently have. I know this conversation came up when we said the More and that's didn't necessarily was for this piece of land but uh it was just More area. So when this came when this piece of land came to came available became available. We were thinking of adding a sector station there. And the reason for that is we definitely need our our our space for our port police uh our warehouse port district. As you can see, we've been working very hard to make sure that we provide the service that we're supposed to provide to the public with our current uh personnel. Right now, we are about 498 >> 480 >> 48 about 480 officers. uh we're supposed to be at 575. Uh so what we did, we we're doing a wave with the uh beat system which would put approximately about two officers per beat and we're going into districts. The reason for that is because we saw that some beats it was very slow. There was sometimes that officers would just take maybe one or two reports and when other districts and other beats officers were taking 13 to 15 reports a day. So we and that's including both officers in that area, right? So what we did we ended up assessing the entire city and finding out what was the need. And one of the things that we currently are h that that is happening in our city is the Mines Road area is just exploding, right? It's just growing and growing. And so when we're talking about going all the way to Columbia Bridge in that area where there's new warehouses being built, Mile Market 13, all that area is just huge huge expansion into what we uh we always say, right? That it's what makes the city the number one inland port in the nation. Right. And so looking at that, looking at the cost for service, just can I have the number for service? And so we have about so just in 2024 I'll get my numbers right now to give you the correct number we had about close to 11,262 calls just in the mines area and the mile marker 13 area that that that particular area gets serviced by the port district but the majority of the calls have to come from the officers working in this ano area the north sector what we call the north sector which is the the green area that you see here. So when we're responding to those calls, we leave all this area open. >> God forbid there is a commercial traffic accident because then we need additional officers from different areas to make sure that we cover and that that commercial as you know most of you most of you that have been peace officers commercial traffic accidents they took a long time to document get all the information and then put everybody in motion again through traffic. So looking at that, so here's the number. 11,321 calls in 2024. Just in those two districts, 2025, we went up to 16,548 calls. Just in B14 and what we call B20, which is that area, the industrial area. So looking into this looking at B18 which is your residential heavy area in the mines short area that one is just by itself 7,942 calls just in the residential area which is so which for us yes industrial is very important and we need to make sure that we provide the service but it is very very different when we're responding to a property, parked vehicle, a traffic accident, traffic, just trafficking on its own versus a domestic violence, a stabbing, and things like that. So, when we're looking at our response times, every time that we're deploying our officers, because remember, port police only responds to the area of anything involving the bridge, anything involving that area of the port. Sometimes it is very difficult to dispatch them to an actual call for service whereas a 911 call because they're out of the area. They don't respond to those call unless absolutely necessary which is an officer asking for assistance or the fire department asking for immediate assistance. Then we resend them because they need to respond. By looking at all this data, we decided we used to be three sectors. Well, we used to be two. We became three sectors. Now we're going to be four sectors. We're going to have the south which is your red, your central which is your your orange, your north sector which is your green, and then we now created the warehouse port district which is your blue. We have to create this because of the growth that we're experiencing. There is no way that our officers from the north sector can get to mile marker 13 in less than four minutes with the traffic that we're seeing right now. We've already calculated it. It takes us about 7 minutes and 58 seconds to get through traffic there. So, we need to consistently have our officers in that area and not be able to deploy back into the area of the north sector. And so, the other bigger thing is that every single officer is deploying from headquarters right now, which creates for us inefficiencies, a lot of inefficiencies because we're reporting from the base and they're briefing there and then they're decline. There's a lot of inefficiencies there. So, building the south sector station, huge relief, huge for us, that's going to be that's gold for us because now you have a whole command there reporting from there and just taking care of that south sector station. Now, if you create the mines, which is your warehouse port district, and you put your officers there, another huge relief from from for our our officers and us as command to be able to deploy it from there. The other big thing is also that we're always going to have deployments in the mines area on the other side of loop 20 on the kill area because if anybody has been there when there's traffic it is very difficult to get through even with lights and siren no tractor trailer is going to move unless there is an area where there you can wiggle it. So again the conversation has was there. The other thing that we're pushing for this acreage for and if possible if we get your support is we need space to train sometimes when we're talk when we're talking about port authority right port police when we're talking to Eagle Pass when we're talking to the valley you know we want to come in together and try to make sure that we get better at what we do but there's no space there's no space to bring him in so sometimes when we're trying to make this happen there there's absolely Absolutely no areas where we say, "Hey, everybody come in. We're going to train. We're going to do this. We're going to do that. We're going to talk about everything, all the gaps that are happening in our cities that have industrial and have that port. There's no way. There's no there no areas. As it is right now, and most of you already know, we have no space to train our own officers to continue education. So, we're not only going to include a sector station, we're also going to include some space to make sure that we have an area to train not only with our other partners in the border, but also with CBP. Very important. We need to which we need to train with customs. And the other one, the bigger one is also that we're now looking and we we took this to the uh public safety committee where we're going to be we're going to have to do our own shooting range and the only land available to do our shooting range is Pintoay which is going to be closer to this area. And even though I completely oppose it because again we're reporting from headquarters by the time they get to Pintoay it takes them about 45 minutes to an hour to get there right by the time they set up and all that. So very inefficient and right now we have to be everything has has to be from for being efficient. We we have we have we're we're hurting right now for officers. So our technology is going to help us. Better access to to facilities is going to help us and more than anything the deployment part. If we're deploy we continue to deploy from from PD at the base. It makes it very difficult not only for us as administrators but also al also for the command. So I was we were trying to get the concept ready so that we can show you what we're envisioning there in this area just how we already we're we're going to give a date that we're going to break ground in south sector already because we already have drawings. So it's already construction documents are being completed already. But this one we're we wanted to get it done but we couldn't get it done. The the architect could not get it on time. But that's what we're envisioning. >> Mayor Oh, >> are we going to have commercial motor vehicle inspectors in that in and that area if right now we decide, you know, we want to use that area. Is it going to be more convenient for them to be traveling around uh those inspectors? How many inspectors do you have right now? >> So, right now we're uh there's two inspectors right now for CMV. We're in motion to to certify an additional four. We actually had requested the the mobile trailer that was left there at the bridge. I mean, I know it's old, but I told the guys, I said, "Look, anything right now helps. If we can get it, we can operate from there. We can start doing commercial." >> Is there is there state funds that we get for having those CMVs that you can you utilize? >> Uh, we we don't we don't get state funds, but whenever there's a citation given commercial motor vehicle, as you know, they're very hefty um fines. Um those are the things that we >> So why haven't we used more CMVs if and to provide >> we don't have personnel bottom line >> that's that's the problem but okay >> do you have a com >> oh I I'll wait >> go ahead >> uh chief I know uh we each get a district to represent and uh I know uh district 7 is is a good it's part of the city. Um, and if you could bring us bring us back a proposal where where you can plat pave in-house uh and maybe get a temporary built-in structure with technology so we can start I mean if if the governing body approves and and we this passes today so we can so it won't be waiting there 5 to 10 years to put it to use for the residents in that area also. So we can bring us back a plan, a temporary plan such as a a mobile home. Even the feds do it uh with built-in technology so we could get that district going there for for the commercial. >> Yeah, go ahead. >> Um my my question, Chief Rodriguez, is is is this budgeted? Is is this expansion to the Mines Road budgeted? Because even even if we're talking, you know, a temporary facility, you would want it budget wise to make sense. And if we're talking about opening the the South Central Station, is is that completely budgeted in order to move forward with an additional station? >> So South Sector Station is already budgeted. That's already moving forward. It's already done. Uh this one we're in motion to if it gets approved. That's why we haven't run numbers as it is. We just wanted to create concept. Um but if it does get approved, we'll move as fast as possible to get numbers uh in play as soon as possible. >> Thank you. >> Go ahead. >> Um so, Chief, you know, I I thank you for your presentation and and I just want to remind um council and everyone that we did try to go out and help the police department get a facility that would be up to standards for capacity purposes and for uh compliance purposes. And unfortunately that did not pass but the need did not go away. And so we've made efforts in the south sector um station and we've made other efforts to try to accommodate and provide you all the resources that you need. And so I think it's up to us to fund the needs of the of the officers as far as having space because you all have outgrown the facilities that you have. Um, unfortunately the police department doesn't own the location that their building is at. So, um, they're renting it from the airport and they have their facilities there, but we had talked about moving and we had talked about now this other um, office, the space that you all were renting in the Sanchez building is now falling apart. And when you all got it, it was falling apart. and you've been trying to make do with it with with with tape and everything else, but it's just not going to work anymore. Um, I think you mentioned a little bit about the need, but um, you talked about now that you've absorbed the community service um, enforcement, code enforcement officers, you talked about bringing them together also. Um, this all started, our conversation all started because they're the guys are outgrown the space that they have over there cuz they have a little substation that they work out of and they were eyeing the the the mobile unit that the bridge was using for their renovations and they were like, "When they're done with it, can we have it?" Like they were willing to move into a a portable type structure because they don't have space, right? and and then we talked we that's how the conversation started and you were like we don't have anywhere to put it and we don't you know it doesn't fit there in the space that that we have and that's how this whole land thing came up as as a possibility and then we ended up acquiring the property and so um it's um you know it's it's a good use I believe for for the police department to actually own a piece of property in a prime location because via road is going to be coming on online soon which will give them direct access from there to I35. Uh my understanding is you're not going to be putting a booking station there because of the school. So and there wouldn't be any like firing training or anything around there. It would just be a training facility. It would be a place to bring all these officers and that dedicated to that sector together and then dispatch from there like you said. So they'll be closer because on M's Road you've got two different versions of Mines Road. You've got the easygoing version that up took the loop and then you've got the the the more, you know, serious version that as soon as you hit north of of of I 69, that's where all the the trucks are at, you know, coming and going all day long. And it's really hard to get from where you all are at right now through all that traffic. So, this would put you a little bit closer in in the heart. So, it it's a good way to turn um you know the the situation and the opportunity that we have and utilize it for something good. So, um with that, I'd like to make the motion for us to designate the land and then we can pursue funding for hopefully adding something onto it, but at least reserve that land for the police department so you all can use it for your second. >> There's a motion in a second. I believe there's still discussion over your concern. >> Yeah, discussion. No, and I'm just going to add uh chief right now I know you're thinking about moving. I think uh we can go over to byboard. Uh there's portable buildings that we can use. I think part of use that by board get those portable building which uh are very nice buildings. They're very construct good construction. Uh but I think that's that's to start off just to so we can start off well in that area if if this if the government body does decide to go that way. So it was just my two cents in there. >> Thank you. >> Um so I I I think uh council member Bettis brings up um the the concerning point if you know the headquarters was envisioned to to be a new a new facility and and that was not able to go through but you were very intent on having that be centrally located. So now you're looking at headquarters that needs improvement and the Sanchez building that sat next to it that that absorbs some of those headquarters um uh duties that that building now is not going to you can't invest any more money into it. >> And so my fear is that if this becomes this this project is a if I understand correctly it's a satellite station. Not that there's not a need but it is located an area that's hightraic. It's not close to although I understand um community and uh residential neighborhoods are are sort of moving out there but mostly it's warehouses. So the population center is not there. So dedicating a a a huge amount of money when we know that the police headquarters will most likely be dedicated closer to central Laredo. I I just we just need to caution ourselves about finding that funding. >> I would and and finding out the prioritization because I think headquarters this is this station we're talking about on the mines's road will not replace headquarters. It geographically it's not in a a good position for that and and the the duties that that need to be assumed by headquarters need to fall more centrally located. are this I don't want this to be two projects that are competing against each other because of this opportunity. I mean yes the the land is is great there for for those needs in the future but is the headquarters the need for a new headquarters and the investment on that going to rise to be prioritized over the satellite station? Well, I mean, the headquarters right now, it it just needs relief, right, from the amount of people that report there. And so, this in itself and and I'll give you an example as to what we're trying to do. We we talked about the old Perry's uh at district 4. That building is huge, right? And we're thinking we become we make that the central uh sector station because we we also need a central sector station. And that's the the way to get away from heavily investing in a headquarters because it's very costly, right? To to invest in a brand new headquarters and we understand that we got that from the bond that there was no way we're going to get that amount of money. And so for us is and what I told command, right, guys, we're going into chapter 11, right? We're going to go into bankruptcy. We're going to have to find ways to get this done without additional money. That's what I command. And this is where this is what we did when we strategized to say what can we do that is not going to cost the city a ton of money. And so getting the relief for personnel like for example Sanchez building we have our current captain from port police there. We have a lieutenant from port police there. We have our csos report there. We took him out now because the area that they're that they're using they were using is our detectives for crimes against property. Now that we promoted detectives, we need that space for the detectives. So now what we told them is like, hold on guys, report outside. Get your get get your briefing notes from the conference room inside the San building and then you can take off, >> right? >> That is not efficient. That is not the way that we should operate. And so what we're doing is we're trying to make sure that we send all these individuals es especially the guys that we have in beat 17 in in Lindo on 359 those officers should be reporting to their command which is reporting uh in municipal services that what that's what we call that command poor municipal services and so they're all over and so you don't have somebody looking at them reporting getting briefed so we have to constantly be reminding the sergeants Did you get your reportings from from the sector from the substations? I mean, what did you guys deploy today? Give us a report. >> You know, it's supposed to be reporting to their command, but right now we're all over the place. So, >> with this is not to replace headquarters. >> Headquarters right now, the need we have right now, we're we already put a bandaid to it. Um, it's a lot of work, but we know it's going to take some money. And so this is just to be able to give the tools to the soldiers that are doing the work. >> Like I've always told everybody, administrators, we can work in an office. We've already made closets office. We can work with that. But the officers that are out there doing the work, they need the space to report, make the reports, and then put their equipment. >> So you're reconfiguring how the system works because of the the failed bond. >> Correct. >> That in many other cities these bonds passed. Correct. >> Um does can I ask Mr. Does this conform with the reassessment on how the police operations need to be because the fact that we didn't get the money to have a new headquarters for our police officers? >> Yeah. And and mayor and and city council. Yeah, we we'll look through all of that. U I think it's still it still matches exactly what we were trying to do within our police department. We do have to look at the uh what the bond referendum the the the challenges we'll have going through that. But that doesn't change our ability to plan and to prepare. And so that in in my mind I think we're fine to to move forward with with this process. I I would uh and I I think the uh I think the uh the motion was was effective enough for that. And I just I want to make sure that we take the vision from the vision and create a conceptual plan with cost estimates as to what we want to do. And so I want to make sure that there we don't have to come back for any additional directive in order to get to that. So let's make sure that the motion has that in there. But we'll walk through we'll walk through those pieces. I think exactly the reason why we're doing the substation in the south is the same reason why we're doing one in the north. And that's to spread out spread out that uh the the department so that they can do the jobs that are that they're warranted to do. >> Thank you. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Yes. So it's like we've outgrown our home. We can't afford a new home. So we're building some addition an addition or something like we're just trying to expand what we currently have. Uh Mayor Mr. Avalos, Mr. Eddie Avalos from LPOA is here. I know he he had been asking about this um project. I don't know if you want to just say some words on this item. Evening, >> Sergeant Edos. I am the president for the Royo Police Officer Association. Honorable mayor and honorable council. Uh thank you. uh when um it is no secret that that the department is growing and uh and one of the concerns that the union has and we bring it up through labor relations with the chief is chief where are we going to fit all these officers and all these other employees that we're getting because I know the chief mentioned 480 sworn personnel but we still have the nonsworn personnel that we also have to house so it is a concern. And so when the topic came up of of u pretty much uh incorporating another piece of land and and issuing it out to the police department, I mean, we said it's a win-win situation for us and I think it's a win-win situation for the for the police department and its officers. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Uh any questions? >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Yeah, go ahead. Don't >> quote I understand have been having conversations with yourself and I perhaps management. I I just feel like this item is coming out of the blue and at least for for myself and I'm not comfortable um voting on this item because I I again I where's I would appreciate if especially from management that there's a more strategic approach and information prepared because we we are working within the context of the just broader I and I support the police department and we want I know that the need is there, but it is living within the context of other items that came before or this past year as well. And so just really understanding those priorities and and where this falls within that. So I'm um I'm not I'm not comfortable with with this. Thank you. >> Mayor, if I may. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Yeah. The needs of the police department have been no secret. We've been talking about them for four years now or more. the bond was kind of like a an effort to try to get you guys everything you needed in one shot and it was we need a new facility, right? And uh well, it didn't pass, right? There was people on council that were actively opposed to it and of course they didn't support us and there was a lot of people in the community that didn't support, you know, the the all the all the things that come along with the passing a bond and and all of that. So, it's understandable, but here we are. the needs haven't gone away and we're as we evolve in this process and we find ourselves in these situations and we have these opportunities. I figured this is an opportunity. We've got a piece of land. There's been a push by some people to sell the property. There was a need there already by police identified from years ago. Conversations that we had before this even came up. And um so I had the idea that if we have this acres this these acres available. You said you needed about eight. I said well then we'll designate eight. It's the ideal location. You looked at it. It met your needs. it uh from my understanding. We've talked with PD and then so I'm offering that we secure this property and that way you have a school, you have a police station if this is a good location, which it was. Um and it fits it checks off all the boxes in terms of what we needed as a city in terms of property and location. We I had asked for a list of all of our vacant properties lists and there isn't that much land in the port area. We don't own a lot of land in district 7. We own a lot of land in district three. We own a lot of land in district 5. We own a lot of land in district 8, but there really isn't much in district 7. So you know what this land is now there. So it's in the port. >> And so that's why it makes sense. It's not something that has been, you know, just randomly came up. It's just it's part of this evolution of trying to find ways to secure needs that we've had for a long time. >> If I may real quick, mayor, you know, we >> we had this discussion and just so everybody can feel more comfortable on this and I know might make you uncomfortable, but we had this discussion also when when uh with uh Miriam through economic development when they were giving about three acres to the fire station. We had the discussion on Ruthage to get at least three acres for the police department to build a sector station for warehouse port. Had the conversation with her. Also had the conversation with Tina and she uh told us to go look at mile marker 13. And when we went to go see that piece of I said there's no way we can put a substation over here, a sector station over here. I mean to go through that land that they were proposing it was a lot of you know back and forth through it but so the conversation has been there because we we know that there's a need to service this area uh just as there is a need to service every area under radle for us it's easier from headquarters to service north and even central but at this point even central which is our our downtown district our district 4 even all the way to to uh 359, right? It it it puts us in a very bad spot because people want police to respond quickly and so we're trying to do the best we can with what we have. But this is the plan that we have uh right now. Um and we're always open for suggestions, right? But when it comes to police operations, it makes it very difficult because we have to be there present in a matter of minutes. And so this is our plan right now. We've already tested it. uh our command knows it will work. Uh but we just need to put it in play. >> Mayor, just a couple of comments. This is this is new policing and I I need the community to understand that we're not a small city anymore where we could just work out of one headquarters and just disperse officers from there. The city has grown over and over and over by thousands and thousands of people every single year. So this is something that's going to be required not just now but I promise you in the future because at the rate we're growing Laredo's growing north south east it's just growing and growing. So where we have these facilities where our officers are being deployed from where they need to get to to go to work and they get deployed from there becomes very important extremely important. We have an officer going to the headquarters and lives wherever in the city. It doesn't really matter how long it takes him to get there. But by the time he leaves that headquarters to get to his precinct or his district or his sector now, can it be up to 45 minutes just to get there? That shouldn't be the case. The case should be the officer reports to where the station that he is supposed is assigned to whether it be North Larredo, Central Laredo, or South Laredo in those sectors. The officer gets there and then is deploying. He can get to his district. literally he's there in a matter of seconds versus a matter of 45 minutes to an hour in some instances. So these these sector stations are something that we're just starting to realize the city well not just starting to realize it. We've talked about it for years now, but we're finally able to make it come true fruition and make it happen because our citizens need it at the end of the day. Safety is our number one priority. You can read it right there, right in front of you guys. We're the safest city and we want to continue that. And this is what it's going to take. This is what we're evolving to. The city is just growing and growing and I don't want to sound redundant, but it's growing at a pace that we simply can't keep up with with one headquarters. We can't do it. This is what we're moving to and this is something that we're going to continue to do. >> Thank you, Mr. N. >> Mayor, I was just going to share that I had shared an email with the entire city council on January 5th about this property and about the options that we were going to look at. And one of the options in there was public safety facility and some park land near the near the school district there. We also talked about downzoning the property and reselling it out. Those were those were options out there. I had a conversation with the chief uh once this item was uh being um prepared uh for for the council agenda. And I said, "Chief, what are what are our challenges out there?" The the challenge we have is that the property in that Mines Road area is very expensive. And so when when the police department goes out and tries to find a parcel on their own, they're going to pay a premium for that land. And so the and so now we have this property in our hands for that. And so when when I when I spoke with Chief Rodriguez about this and so uh you know we bought this acreage uh at the going rate of about $390,000 an acre and any any property out there in that area is going to be right around those prices unless we get some type of donations and everything. But the the point of my point of my January 5th email was to prepare for these conversations and this was one of the options that we had discussed. So I I don't know if it's truly a a far cry away from exactly u putting a lot of in in intent uh scrutiny into this process. We know that we have the need up there. We know that we have the growth struggles. I mean every every conversation we've had on the bond referendum and all of this all the way up through there. But I think that uh when when I talked with Chief Rodriguez just recently that the price of that land is going to be at a at a at a higher rate because that is how that's they can get that land for almost everything that they're selling out there. And so um so I I I think that that this is not a bad use for this property. >> Mayor, >> I'll I'll stay at that. >> I'd like to call for the question unless anybody has any questions. >> All right. Call for the question. Second. >> We have a motion and a second. >> All in favor? >> I >> oppose. One opposed. Motion passes. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you, Chief. Mayor >> 121. >> Thank you, mayor. Um, >> thank you. Just bringing back item 121 from a few months ago. Um, as it relates to a a property near um, North Central Park in McFersonson that we discussed, um, there's been some new information about what it could be used for, such as additional parking at North Central Park, which we know is critical during larger events in addition to extra restroom areas and a part that is far away from where any of the other restrooms on on the on the facilities are. I believe we have a public comment before I >> Yes. Will you want to go ahead? >> Okay, I'll leave. I'll yield to the public comment. >> Mr. Elmar is public comment on this item. >> Good evening, honorable mayor, members of city council. This particular piece of property was something that we had looked at back in 2002 as I started to acquire property for North Central Park. Unfortunately, as as you all are experiencing right now with the budgets, we didn't have the money to acquire that property. So, we negotiated with some folks further up, a couple of places around there, and we just couldn't make that happen. But what this does as far as our you overall global plan for the park was to give access from McFersonson to North Central Park East. We've always wanted to have Merc Park West, which is where where the bright bike trails are, Springfield and Divine Mercy, but this is the only piece of property that you will have that is yours for either a trail head facility, additional parking and bathrooms. What you have right now, you have to borrow property from Sanro. Uh you borrow property from Golandrina and the wing uh wing daddy. And then there is a small piece of property behind concentrics uh converg what used to be converges that was needed over to the city as an easement that you have some parking up there for North Central Park at the furthest uh northern point by Chase Bank and um Walmart in that area. So it's very difficult to find property in North DO as you all are experiencing especially in district six. It is as expensive, if not more expensive in district six six as it is in district 7. This may be the last opportunity you have to buy property along the creek that buffers the creek that protects the river and also gives you access to the trails. And as you expand North Central Park West, bike trails through McFersonson back to Divine Mercy, this may be the best place to be able to connect all of those trails together. And now you have what what is more of a super regional park than a regional park, which North Central Park is your first regional park that you ever had. So I would advocate that that you take uh the opportunity that's laid before you to get that property. It may not come again. >> All right. >> Thank you, Mr. Alman. And thank you for your work in uh helping create North Central Park over the years. We wouldn't have it uh without the work that you did in the 2000s. So, thank you for laying the groundwork. Um, I know we we went to executive session a few months ago about this. At the time, engineering didn't um have information on whether or not something useful such as parking, restrooms, etc., trail head could be um uh placed. My understanding, you know, with M um but there's been some more studying of the land that not the entire section of it. Some of it will be walking trails and whatnot, but there's a decent size of it. And I don't know if there's any point we have to go to executive session. I don't think tonight we're going to decide to purchase it today. But >> mayor, if I could if I could get involved in this, we are in an active negotiation on this property. >> Okay. >> So, we we are in in negotiations with the the property owners currently. And so, I'd ask that we kind of allow us to finish that negotiation. >> All right. >> So, the Go ahead. and and I'll sh council member I'll share with you exactly where we're at but I I just I think for the sake of being in the public meeting because we are under an active negotiation uh we there's been back and forth I would like to finish that. >> Yes sir. >> Ask that management bring us um recommendation soon. Yeah. Can I >> go ahead? >> Why did nobody reach out to Council Member King to let him know? Like why are we here at a public meeting and he didn't even know and we're like what is what is wrong with the communication at the city? >> And anyway, no, you don't even need to answer that, but it's just that what why this is ridiculous. Mayor, >> I'll just I'll just just go ahead finish. you know, because I we did meet executive, you know, we agreed that there would be a negotiation and I um I did bring it back up and did I did I there was new information that came from engineering that I just wanted to get out there and um and for me um you know just unknowing that we have budgeted uh for example some money in our CIP for this year to for these types of land purchases. So I to Council Member Cigaro's point, yes, please reach out to me directly, you know, because this has been on the agenda for two weeks. So So yes, um but but nonetheless, I'm glad we were able to have a public comment on it and um you know that the community knows that we are pursuing it. But yes, Mr. Ne, please let me know if if I should shut my mouth. >> You have a question? >> Let me know. >> All right. Okay. >> All right. >> I think we're done. Mayor, >> are we ready for No, no action needed. >> No action needed. >> No action. Okay. >> Motion to approve appointments to commissions, boards, and committees number 9 through 23. >> Mayor, mayor, before we approve appointments, we need to approve item number 53. >> Number 53. >> 53. 53. >> Motion to approve number 53 on the consent agenda. >> Okay. Motion second. All in favor? >> I vote. Motion pass. Now motion to approve appointments to commission boards and committees number 9 through 22. >> Mayor Mayor point just real quick clarification. Is that including the mayor's uh the one that we're doing for the mayor uh and the the community member for the mayor? >> Yes, sir. >> Yes, that's correct. >> Okay. So, I just want to one second. I just want to can I withdraw my my uh the the committee member that I added >> that table >> that one table my >> table >> 18 I did >> with the exception of uh tableing number 18 >> and I have another exception. >> Okay. >> On um >> number 21 Mr. if you could uh I'll I'll I'll vote as a group, but that one I'll be voting no on 21. I don't know if we can do that just to so unless we pull it out separately. >> Pull it out. Yes. >> Okay. Then I'll I'd like to pull out number 21, please. >> Motion. Let me let me just go ahead and and amend my my motion. Motion to approve appointments to commissions, boards, and committees number 9 through 17. 1917. >> That's all. >> That's it for now. Oh, I need a motion to second. >> Second. >> Okay. Motion second. >> All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion passes. Number table number 18. Motion table number 18. >> Second. >> Motion. Second. >> All in favor? >> Post. >> Motion to approve number 19 and 20. Second >> motion and 22 and 22. >> Second motion second. All in favor? >> Post. Motion pass. >> Motion to approve number 21. >> Second. >> Motion. Second. All in favor? >> I oppose. Motion pass. >> Any opposing? >> Yes. >> One. One opposed. Motion to open up planning and zoning public hearing to introduce the ordinance number 23 through 30. Second >> motion second 23 to 30. >> Um I have a Could we pull out number >> Oh, we need we need to read them there. We're going to read them one by one. >> Public hearing number 23. Public hearing an introductory ordinance amending zoning ordinance map of the city of Laredo by reszoning approximately 8.6 6acre track as further described by Meets and Bounds in attachment exhibit A located north of Penn Street and west of Riverside Riverside Drive from AG A Group Cultural District to M1 Light Manufacturing District Planning and Zoning Commission. Recommended approval of the proposed zone change. Staff supports the the application. Number 24, public hearing and interdirective ordinance amending the zoning ordinance map of the city of Larredo by amending ordinance 2015 O-039 which authorized a conditional use permit for a kiosk stand kiosk food stand and meat market in the grocery store on lot 12 block 446 Eastern division located at 202 West San Carlos Street in order to remove the Naria Vabriel and and Ralph A has and replace the Serio Vion and Yenia Biones as the parties to whom the permit is issued. Planning and zoning commission recommended approval of the proposal proposed a conditional use permit amendment. Staff supports applications. Number 25, public hearing an introductory ordinance amending the zoning ordinance map of the city of Laredo by authorizing the issuance of a special use permit for a restaurant serving alcohol on lots one and two block one Vron/ Rammo subdivision located 7101 and 7105 McFersonson Road planning and zoning commission recommended approval of the proposed special use permits that supports the application. Nomber 26 public hearing an introductory ordinance amending the zoning ordinance map of the city of Laredo by reszoning approximately 31.64 acres as further described by meets and bounds and attach exhibit A located south of Fat Boulevard and West US Highway 83 from R1H single family manufactured housing district to R1B single family high density district. The planning and zoning commission recommended approval of the proposed change. Staff supports the application. Number 24. 27 public hearing and introductory ordinance amending the zoning ordinance map of the city of Larredo by reszoning approximately 3.70 acres located north of Celito Lindo Boulevard and west of Ailo Avenue from B1 Limited business district and R1A single family reduced area district to B3 community business district. The planning zoning commission recommended approval of the proposed change and staff supports the application. All right. Number 28. Public hearing an introductory ordinance amending the zoning ordinance map of the city of Larredo by rezoning approximately 1.3 acres as further described by meets and bounds in attached exhibit A located south of Aanita Los Presidentes in west of Lonear Loop from R1 single family residential district to B1 limited business district. The planning and zoning commission recommended approval of the proposed change and staff supports the application. Number 29, public hearing and introductory ordinance amending zoning ordinance map of the city of Laredo by reszoning lot two. >> I'm sorry. Do we need to be five? >> Did you have a question? >> Okay. I'm sorry. >> Number 29. public hearing an introductory ordinance amending the zoning ordinance map of the city of Laredo by resoning lot 2 block 624 western division located at 2416 Vendura Street from R2 family multif family residential district to R3 mix residential district the planning zoning commission recommended approval of the proposed change and staff supports the application number 30 public hearing an introductory ordinance amending the zoning ordinance map of the city of Laredo by reszoning Lock one, block one, fire station number 11, located at 11:015 MC Road from AG Agricultural District to M1 Light Manufacturing District. The planning and zoning commission recommended approval of the proposed changes that supports the application. Is that for? All right. on number 23. Four or against. Four or against. Four or against. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Second. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion passes. 24. For or against. For or against. Four or against. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Second. All in favor? >> Opposed. Motion pass. 25. Four or against. Four or against. Four or against. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Did you have a question? >> Come on down. That's on number 20. >> 25. 25. Brother users. Henard Mayor, go ahead. >> Thank you for um for one of your you you're one of the more successful food establishments on the Mines Road and there aren't a lot of a lot of them out there. So, I want to personally thank you for being out there and providing that service to the people that live on the Mines's Road. And I'm happy to see that you're expanding your operations. Just don't don't leave Mines Road behind. Thank you for for >> All right. Four against. Four against. Four against. Motion to close and introduce. >> Motion second. All in favor? I >> opposed. Motion pass. 26 for or against. Four or against. Four against. Motion introduce. >> Motion second. All in favor? Opposed? Motion pass. 27. Four or against. Four against. Four against. Motion to close or introduce. Motion second. All in favor? Oppos. Mot. >> Yes. >> I would like to move to table item number 28. >> Second. 28. Motion to table. Second. All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion pass. >> 29. Four or against. Four or against. Four against. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> Motion pass. >> Number 20. Number 30. >> 30. >> Four or against. Four or against. Four or against. >> Motion to close. Introduce. >> Second. >> Motion and second. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion pass. >> Public hearing. >> Mayor motion. Mot motion public hearing introductory ordinances number 31 through 46. Motion. >> Second. >> Within a second. All in favor? >> I oppose. Motion pass. Let me read >> number 31. >> Uh, mayor, I'm sorry, just one moment. The items number 39 through 43 are not introductory. They're just for discussion, just for public hearing for tonight. >> 39 through 43. >> 39 through 43. >> Those are intro. >> These are not intro. It's just for discussion. The state statute requires us to have a public hearing before it gets to introduction. >> So introduction will come next time. >> Thank you. Good discussion. >> We can read it, please. >> Okay. Go ahead. Number 31, authorizing city manager to amend the FY2526 general fund parks department budget by drawing down fund balance and appro appropriating expenditures in the amount of 49,314 in order to appropriate funds awarded by Texas Municipal League TML to be used for the replacement of the playground and shade at the inner city playground uh located at 202 West Plum. Number 32, an ordinance of the city of Laro, Texas, authorizing city manager to execute all necessary documents to effectively close, abandon, and vacant as a public easement, an alley dedicated for public use in block 925 Eastern Division of the Loredo Wet County, Texas. also known to be located at 1700 block Guadalupe Street and providing for the re reversion of the public's interest in set alley to the abuing land owners in equal shares and providing for an effective date. Public hearing. An introductory ordinance authorizing city manager to amend FY2526 solid waste budget by appropriating a draw down in the amount of $818,89.77 to appropriate funds to replace burn garbage truck and equipment purchase. Number 34, public hearing and introductory ordinance authorizing the city manager to accept an enter contract from the University of Health for the Gilled uh focus grant amending the fiscal year 2025 2026 budget by appropriating revenues and expenditures expenditures in the amount of $50,397 with no match for the city of Laredo Public Health Department for the term January 1, 2026 through December 31 2026 fund will be accounted for in the Laredo public health department fund the focus grant number 35 an ordinance of the Larredo Texas amending ordinance number 2025 0 229 chapter 6 article 2 section 6-22 of the city of Laredo code of ordinances relating to rabies control registration requirements and vaccination procedures to align with the current state law providing for severability and pro proving providing for publication and an effective date. Number 36, public hearing and introductory ordinance of the city authorizing of public hearing and introductory ordinance authorizing the city manager to accept and enter into contract from the Alzheimer's Association for the 2026 healthy brain initiative HP1 roadmap strategies program uh grant amending the fiscal year 2025 2026 budget by appropriating revenues and expenditures in the amount of $50,000 with no match for the city the Laredo Public Health Department for the term January 1, 2026 through September 30th, 2026. Fund will be accounted for in the Laredo Public Health Department fund 2026 health brain initiative HB1 roadmap strategist grant program. Number 37 was already read. Number 38, public hearing and introductory ordinance establishing standard bylaws for all boards and committees for the city of Laredo. Providing for the purpose membership requirements, officers forum requirements, attendance expectations, term limits, recording and live streaming for the meetings and and reports, providing for serability, and providing for an effective date. Number 39, public hearing in public hearing in public hearing and discussion of an ordinance for voluntary annexation initial uh zoning for M1 light manufacturing district on a track of land containing 0.25 25 acres more or less as described by Meats and Bounds in the attack exhibit A and known as annexation track 2 Cutout track located south of FM1 1472 and east of Iron Mine Road. The planning and zoning commission recommended approval of the annex section and initial initial zoning of M1 light manufacturing district. Staff support the section and initial zoning of M1 light manufacturing district. Number 40, public hearing and discussion of an ordinance for the voluntary annexation and initial zoning of B3 community business district and R1A single family reduced area district on a track of land containing 59.89 89 acres more or less as described by meets and bounds in the attacks exhibit exhibit A and known for as annex section track three lis track located northeast of FM f FM1472 and Maxmandel municipal golf course. The planning zoning commission recommended approval of the annexation and initial zoning of B3 community business district and R1A single family reduced area district. staff supports the annex annexation and initial zoning of B3 community business district and R1A single family reduced area district. Number 41, public hearing and discussion of an ordinance for the voluntary annexation and initial zoning of M1 light manufacturing district on a track of land containing 13.735 acres more or less as described in mids and bounds in the attached exhibit A and known as annex section track 4 Benbal track located on north of FM 1472 and Benhur Ranch Road. The plan zoning commission recommended approval of the annex section and denial of the proposed initial zoning of M1 light manufacturing district recommending B1 limited business district zoning designation. Instead, staff support the annexation and does not support the initial zoning M1 light manufacturing district. However, staff supports the recommended B1 limited business district zoning designation. Number 42, public hearing and discussion of an ordinance for the voluntary annexation of initial zoning of M1 light manufacturing district on a track of land containing 275.67 acres more or less as described in meets and bounds in the attached exhibit A and known as annex section track 5 north industrial park track located west of IH35 north of Beltway Parkway and south of Ringer Parkway. Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the annexation and initial zoning of M1 Light Manufacturing District. Staff supports the annexation and initial zoning of M1 Light Manufacturing District. Number 43, public hearing and discussion of an ordinance for the voluntary annexation and initial zoning of M1 L manufacturing district on a track of land containing 562.7735 acres more or less known more or less as described by meets and bounds in the attack exhibit A and known as annex session track 6 point track located northwest of FM 1472 and FM 3338 intersection The planning zoning commission recommended approval of the NS annexation and initial zoning of M1 light manufacturing district. Staff supports the annexation and does not support the initial zoning M1 light manufacturing district for the entire track. Instead, staff supports the initial zoning of M1 light manufacturing district for area approximately 2,200 ft in width along with the adjacent of the existing M1 zoning in the west and B3 community business district for the remainder of the track >> number 31. 31 against >> All right. 31. Four or against. Four or against. Four or against. Motion to close and introduce. >> Second. >> Motion and second. All in favor? >> Opposed. Motion pass. Number 32. Four or against. Four or against. Four or against. Motion to close and introduce. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> Opposed. Motion pass. >> 33. Four or against. Four or against. Four or against. >> Question. Go ahead. uh for management uh this burn vehicle did we not have insurance to cover the cost or is this after insurance or what is this payment for? Do do we not have insurance to cover the cost of damage? >> That is correct. >> Yes, it's it's a reimbursement >> name for the record. I'm sorry uh finance director for the record. >> It's what? >> It's a reimbursement from the insurance. So all we're doing is moving it and and making use of that fund. >> So this is just um solid way amend solid waste budget by appropriating a draw down, >> right? Because we had it on in a different account and so now we got to draw down and make use of that funding. >> So this is money that's a check that came from the insurance from the insurance companies. Yes. Oh, so you're accrediting it to the department to the department. >> Correct. So they can have use of that. >> Okay. Because the language is >> the language. Okay. >> Yeah. It's so we're giving So we're not spending money, we're receiving money. >> Correct. >> So the word draw down >> from one account to another. >> Okay. I I think >> this just accounting. Yes. What you're >> saying? Thank you. I think in the future it would be helpful to know whether this is money going out as an expense or money staying in as a as a credit and maybe a little less jargon language for the normal people. >> Okay, >> thank you. >> Motion closed and introduce >> second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion pass. 34. Four against. Four against. Four against. >> Motion to close and introduce. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> Post. Motion pass. >> 34. 35 35 Four are against. Four are against. Four against. >> Motion to close and introduce. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion pass. >> 36. Four or against. Four against. Four against. >> Motion to close and introduce. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor. >> Post. Motion pass. >> 37. >> That's already been passed. >> Okay. Passed. >> 38. Four against. Four against. Four against. >> Hold on. question. >> I I actually would like to request that we table this item so we could send it to a workshop because council's never had the formal discussion on what we think terms should be for for these for the for the stuff in this item. So I think we should table it for a workshop. That's my motion. >> Okay. Motion to table. >> All in favor? >> Well, we need a second. >> I'll second it. Second. All in favor? I opposed. Do you oppose? How many in favor? >> Oh, >> they failed. >> Okay. >> Oh, so can can I talk on the item? >> Go ahead. >> Yeah. So, we've never um we've never discussed whether or not people should be limited to serving eight years or or exactly what the terms are. So I don't know exactly who was behind crafting as far as those things but um there have been there has been difficulty and there has been interest from people in the community that would like to serve in various forms throughout their lifetime and here we have them limited to eight years um and then in in some and then the maximum possible service is 16 years. So, it's a little concerning to me that that we set those terms. I'm not sure if the majority of council agrees with it. There's a lot of people missing here, but um they were going to exclude a lot of good people that could potentially be serving us in a in in over the years on on inapa in in capa capacity of committee members to limit them uh in service. I know that some people on the committee in the uh council have picked people to serve that, you know, don't live in Laredo and stuff like this, but you know, from the people that do live here that have are committed to lifelong service, this does limit the pool. So, I just I wanted to talk about it in a workshop, but if the council wants to pass it as is, then it's unfortunate for the people that are not going to be able to serve. >> Mayor, go ahead. Um, I actually would like to address the um requirements that we have US citizens only serving as as members of these committees. We live in a a bicultural bational community and we have many green card holders and other um legal residents here who are not citizens but who have chosen to make their home here in Laredo. And so I am concerned that um we don't um that we do not uh allow them to participate in civic society or what we you know to serve civically simply because of their origin of birth. And so I would like to see if if we're going to pass this, I'd like to make an amendment to it and suggest that we um do not restrict committee membership to solely US citizens, that we allow residents here of Laredo to serve on these committees. >> A motion. >> That's an amendment to to passing this. I'm Zone. Would you please clarify how we amend this >> item? The amendments's been proposed. We need a second and then you can vote on whether the amendment is uh going to attach to the to the original motion. >> All right. >> So, we need a second. >> Mayor, if I I have a question. Go ahead. >> Um >> so people people born anywhere would be able to serve on this, but is this specific for people that can vote here? Registered voters. So, so the the the item the the way it reads is that it requires US citizenship, >> correct? >> And voting registration. >> So, it would just add >> there's a residential requirement and then there's a requirement for to be a US citizen and there's a requirement to have voting registration. the US citizen with voting registration, I think, limits the ability of people who live in Laredo to serve on these committees because we have a a a big population of people who are not US citizens. So, obviously, they cannot vote, but they still live here and they participate in our civic life. And I think they're are business owners and I believe that if they want to to choose to serve in the city that they live and that they've chosen that they should be allowed to. So my amendment would be to not have that restriction on committee membership the US citizenship. >> We do need a second. Yes. >> The motion already. But I do want to point something out, mayor, that I literally called for a workshop so we can hash these little things out, and you denied the the tableling for a workshop, and then you proceeded to make an amendment, which is kind of like, why t why not why not send it to a workshop so we can hash all this out? And then you propose an amendment. It's just it's ridiculous. Like, we should have just sent it to a workshop. I'm It's crazy. So without a second then uh there's no >> already done. >> All right. >> Okay. >> So you have the original motion. >> The original motion >> to be close and introduce it. >> That's what you want. >> All right. Do we have a second on that? >> No. >> No. >> There's there's no All right. So >> All right, guys. >> All right. Number 39 for or against. Four or against. We'll >> have discussion mayor with >> discussion. Yes. >> For these for the other session items. All we need is just the public hearing. >> No action tonight. >> You don't need to explain anything to us or anything. >> Okay. Yes. I'll be happy. >> No, I'm asking I'm asking if you need to. I mean, obviously, but because you said you said we needed to talk about or discuss something. >> No, no, it's it's on public hearing discussion. It's just a public hearing. >> Okay. So, that's all we need to do. >> The public's allowed to come in and discuss and that's it. No action. >> So, we still need the for against and then the approval that at this point it's not a it's not a it's not a >> we just need to open it up for public here. >> Right. So, we already did that. >> Okay. >> Right. >> Yeah. Yes. We're going to >> if anyone's interested in speaking on the items and they can come up to speak on 393. >> Any comments on number 39 from the public? >> 40 42 and 43. >> All right. So no action. >> Correct. >> Number 40. >> Mayor, anybody want to speak on >> or against or against? For against number 40. >> No action. Just public hearing. >> Public hearing. Yeah. Okay. >> And 41, 42, and 43. If anybody wants to speak on its behalf, >> right? >> No comment or not. >> Any comments? >> Yes, sir. Okay. Next is what? >> Motion to approve introductory ordinances. I'm sorry, no motion necessary. Council council to to introduce number 44 455 46. No motion necessary. Motion to approve final readings of ordinances 47 through 51 motion. Any second? 47 through 51. >> Yes. We just need a second for >> second. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion passes. >> Mayor on the consent agenda. >> Before I call them all out, are there any that the council would like to remove from >> if I may? >> Go ahead. >> We need uh number 64 needs to be amended. the fund where it says uh uh one of the last sentence says funding available in the capital improvement fund. It needs to read funding in the available is available in the capital improvement funds and community project funding grant and then there was a request to table number 104 and 105. the request from that was from the purchasing department. That was your >> staff. Motion to approve the consent agenda 52 >> minus 52 through 108 with the exception of tableing number 104 105 >> second >> and with the amendment of number 64 I think it was >> 64 >> second >> motion second all in favor I >> opposed Motion pass. >> 52. >> Yes. >> 52 on the consent >> resolution legislative agenda for the 119 Congress. The amendments build on priorities advanced during the first year of the session and incorporate additional priorities informed by council direction and emergency emerging policy themes. The agenda provides general policy direction to guide the city's federal advocacy efforts and I um read the agenda and I agree with the direction. My um concern or my uh suggestion is to add an component for downtown development with a focus on historic preservation. That's been a theme in the past. I don't know if it wasn't included because this administration doesn't seem to be providing many funds for those areas. Uh but I I don't want us to lose that focus because we know downtown redevelopment is a yearslong process. So Karen Karas for the record um we did update some of the language like you said based on the administration based on what we were able to kind of do last year as well. Um, so that's why some of the language was tweaked, but in our uh meeting request, that is kind of something that is still encompassed, not just different language. So that is still part of um what we're trying to schedule while we're in DC. >> Okay. So we don't need to amend this. We but it will still be included with our focus. Then I'd like to um move to approve item number three. >> Second. >> Okay. Motion second. All in favor? Yes. >> Um >> for March just because I I'd love to um bring up that the second there's a second round of of opportunity zones that have have >> come to light. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Mayor, if I may, I just wanted to clarify my motion for the consent agenda was the approval from 52 through 108 with the exception of the ones that were tabled and and the amendment. You're right. And and of course approve the amendment as well. >> Yes. Go ahead, council. >> Uh can we pull out 104 >> that's been second? >> Motion second. >> All in favor? Motion pass. Staff reports here 109. >> So we got to do a staff report on 109. 109 >> 109 report. >> Good evening mayor. >> Evening council Santos city engineer for the record. I have a quick presentation on the classic theater project. Uh you see the screen. So currently uh on the plusa project we have it divided into three phases. Phase one is the roof replacement. That project has been awarded for an amount of 409. It's uh scheduled to be uh completed in June 2026. And then phase two, which is the envelope facade enhancement project, was one of the item 64 that was in the consent agenda that's already been approved. That's in the construction amount of $1.7 million, and that's scheduled to be completed on October uh 2026. Phase three is the uh renovation, expansion of the interior of the theater into a multi-purpose uh center. The other slide that I have is the funding that we have for this project and that's where it's going to be uh show. Okay, so for this project we have two uh two funding uh sources, right? We got the capital improvement fund which was at 10 million and then we had the HUD funding which was 350,000. So for the phase one which is the roof replacement that was uh fully covered uh through the HUD funding uh phase two which is the envelope and and facade enhance enhancements was covered uh 371 through the HUD funding and then the rest of phase two was covered the 1.3 million through the uh capital improvement funds. So on the top you'll see the total for both faces. Uh the HUD funding we're we're going to expend all the money that that we received and then on the capital improvement fund the remaining money that we have for that is $8.7 million. >> Mayor, >> are you finished? >> Um the HUD funding, is this the money that Congressman Guard was able to help us obtain? >> Yes, absolutely. I just wanted to clarify that. Thank you. >> So, um our our estimate for for this, if uh I may uh it's it's around to complete the phase three, which is a full renovation of the plaza theater, it's around $17 million, our engineers estimate at this moment. Right. So, I know that council appears made a motion to make this into a multi-purpose uh center, right? So I guess our ask for for for this council is to give us a direction of with if you will allow us to come up with a plan with the funding that we have to see what can be built with this $8.7 million may I be directed real quick? >> Yeah. >> You know I'm I'm not disagreeing with what you're what you're playing right now. I'm just my question is was there monies there before for this project? I don't know if management can answer that. Is there was there monies there before for this project that was allocated for this project? >> 12. >> How much? I'm sorry. >> 12 million. >> It was 12 million. >> Mhm. >> So out of the 12 million, we're we're out of the 12 million and we need 17 now. >> What would be the difference between 17 and 8.7 >> from additional from the 12 million? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yeah. You know, mayor and I I can answer the council member's question as well too. So, so the pre pre this last budget cycle, we had about $9 million within that the structure. In order to do that, there was a request to based upon the uh the evolving plans of the of the plaza theater to move that number from $9 million, which was the money that we had left, to almost a $17 million project. We held off on that project because um I I I I was uncomfortable with that that type of an increase within there and the plan still had some things that we really needed to get done. And so out of the 12 million we actually bought about $4 million worth of property around around the closet theater and this was the money that was uh from the sale of the civic center. And within that process, my my my my request uh and and with what Elud is is asking for from direction from the city council is I would like to create the plaza theater as a restoration project only and salvage it as a historic entity and utilize the only the 8 >> 8.4 whatever that number was. Yeah, it's my face is on the screen. So, it's like, but I would rather just utilize that money and get this job done. Uh, we have the phase one going with the roof. We have the facade for phase two, and that's already that's on the agenda for tonight. And I would rather based upon all of our conversational efficiencies and everything, I truly believe that salvaging the Plaza Theater as a historic building is more important than trying to evolve it into this bigger multi-purpose type center >> and because it still had it still had pieces that it was lacking in and it was still going to cost a little bit more money if we put in storage and everything else. And I I'm just recommending that we try to hold it to this All right. Sorry. Um, my question is with the $8.7 million, are we able to bring it back to what it was >> prior to back back in the day to make it make it historic? >> We'll be able to to bring it to a certain u extent to the way it was. Um, there's another story in the top right. Uh, but we'll work with the consultant to maximize this dollar amount to get as much done as we can. Pton is saying $17 million, but that's as a multi-use facility correct? >> Yes, sir. >> And then with the 87, you just said a word right now that I don't like. >> Um, we could possibly get there or you said >> not all the way. >> Not all the way. What is going to be lacking? How much would be lacking to make it? >> Second floor. Uh, so on second floor, some of the of the restrooms, additional restrooms, the more capacity we have, you know, the more need for for restrooms. Uh, there was talks about parking. adding additional parking on one of the sites that we have in the back. >> Okay. Well, parking if we're going to bring it back to what it was, right? Um, make it classic of course and nostalgic. Then what would it are we have we gone out to RFP to see what the entire project the interior would cost us because the exterior the facade will be done, the roof will be done. So, is there a way we can do it for the $8.7 million and go out for RFPs or has that already been done? We have a consultant on board, but we would need to go out for for request for bids. >> Okay. So, we'd go back out for bids. Correct. >> So, it's possible to get the all the interior done for $8.7 million. Although, we just put that number out there. So, let's see what they're going to do with that now. But, uh Okay. Thank you. >> So, the $ 8.7 million are just going to give us the to get us to where it used to be. >> Mhm. And but it's going to be functional, usable for public and and we can start, you know, utilizing that that that building. >> That is that is the intent. That is the intent of it. >> And do you have a time frame for that? >> Uh obviously we're going to have to, you know, look at the plans, make sure that we're baited out and prepared to for this kind of funding. We anticipate maybe a month to to redesign, make sure the plans accommodate what we're what the the council wants to to move forward with. Maybe a month to get the plans and then maybe another month to go through the bid process and see how what type of response we get from bids. >> Maybe begin the the fall of this year. Maybe >> it's very poss we're throwing it at the fourth quarter, but it's well it can be earlier or whatever or it can be later than there but it's at least around for the fourth quarter of the year. >> Mayor, if I may. Yes. Well, on this proposal, it states October 26 for just the facade, just the exterior. So, how are we expecting them to do everything? >> But but to be out for bits within this window, this quarter within >> not not completed. >> No, no, no. Not completed. Make sure that's clarified. That's that's that's what I'm sorry to clarify. Yes. The construction will probably take because of the the way the building is probably like a year after we we come to council with the selection of >> So how long how how long have we been working on this project? I know you just started you you took over. How long have we been working on this project? >> I think it started maybe four years ago. I think >> money was located four years ago or what was just been allocated for years. >> Allocated since the since the sale of the city center >> 20 what? >> Long time ago. >> Okay. Yes, go ahead. >> So, just to answer his question, in 2021, um, Council Member Seagar made a motion to scrap the children's museum project that we had allocated the funding for that and there were already plans and it was already in the works to renovate Rooney Plaza into a children's museum. And then in 2023, we had a workshop and Rosario had told us uh Miss Caveo told us that that the children's museum was not a qualifying project for the funding of the civic center sales because she you know there were some reasons and then council member Sierro allocated the funding for for the plaza and for parking, right? That was the that was the the the workshop results. So that was in 2021 and 2023. So it's been since 2023 that this contractor has had the contract to come up with the plans. Then we proceeded to buy like $4 million worth of property which was not part of the motion or anything that we had talked about um for whatever reason. And then the architect has not been back on whatever they've been working on. But here we are three three years later and we're going backwards. So, you know what? Where were the delays? Why did it take three years to get to where we are now? To where all that work that they did to give us a design and all these other properties that we bought are now not going to be part of the plan because we don't have money now because of course the inflationary costs for delaying this project for so long. you know, who's responsible for for that for the reduction of funds due to inflation for taking so long to give us plans? Um, whose responsibility is that? I mean, why are we why has this taken so long that it's ridiculous that now we are we had an ordinance where we can't have certain lighting of certain signage around plazas. I don't even know if the neon sign is an eligible lighting source because of this other ordinance that was created. Uh so and and then my other question is if the money wasn't if the children's museum was not an eligible project for that funding then how is a regular renovation project going to be suitable to utilize civic center funding? I mean if that's the case and we need a civic center then we might as well just take this money and put it into a real civic center because this project has just deteriorated into into nothing. >> Yeah. remember my phone. >> Um, just quick, are we using the same contractor and the same architect that we were using in 2023? >> That's the the same consultant is it was awarded the same the whole project. That's our >> it's so it's still and it it's still it's it's still awarded with the same project and it's still current using you know >> the same the same consultant. Yes. >> Yeah. Consultant right now. >> Yes. >> And why have we have we already saw deadlines or has he uh have they missed deadlines? uh you know turning in projects or what's why is the reason let quick question would like reg like a open question why is it that we're still using those people if it's already been almost what three years and we haven't gotten uh or any results why are we still using those kind of people I'm just you know is there particular reason uh that you say, you know, I know you just started, but Miami management. >> Yeah. And let let me let me step in a little bit too, mayor, city council, and and so let's utilize the 2023 date as kind of the movement forward because that's where we started moving funds and said this is where we're going to commit to. Now, really quickly backing that up, the civic center sale because that money was tied to the sale of the civic center had to go to a project that is considered a gathering place. It it has to congregate people to some level. That's where the the money's had to be kind of uh used for the same purpose of what what it was. And this so if for those of you that understand can understand that. So now from 2023 forward we ended up bringing in a consultant to look at different uses. So from from that point we started with the vision of developing out this this facility for a lot of different types of uses. What were the best uses for that? So in 202 the end of 23 and end of 24 we were working with the with a subconsultant with this in order to figure out what are we going to try to utilize this place for the design that that is that is that was my concern with that is that this was going to change the plaza theater from its current type of use right now. It would put in a retractable floor and it would go over the top of the chairs on the main main floor. So, some of those chairs would come out, they would be uh movable kind of chairs in and out, but this retractable floor would convert it over to a banquet facility as well too. And so, and that's where those costs go from just a renovation or a restoration of the project up to that. But during 2024, there was a lot of conversations with exactly what are we intending to build? And so this is the design. This is essentially that final design. And it was ready for last year's budget. Uh so in February of this year, my concern was is that when when you see these projects creep that much and and we we we went through the bond referendum and all these other conversations uh when we approved that budget in October, we kept it at that $8.7 million at that point in time. >> Mayor might be here. I'm sorry. >> But that's that is that is why so that that is that's how it what what we did with the times. >> Can I just Oh, wait. >> I just want to ask you, Mr. what what can you explain what you mean by project creep? >> Project creep is is that when when when the when you take your your vision and and you you've seen this I mean we've talked about it at the sports complex. We talked about a lot of different projects because if we're not careful it's like you know if we could do this one additional thing to this project then we can make it even better than what it is. That's a project creep. And >> and so it can it can it can happen with almost every one of our projects. I think that's what we hear from um well even with the web county with the life downs and and everything that's happening out there is so but I won't talk about our our our cousin um but it's uh but it no so the idea though is that the the vision of it just continues to expand out and and the idea for the plaza theater from its earlier conceptions and everything wasn't a restoration it was a something new for that downtown area and so that's really where it kind of got got moving and then then it evolved from what that is. So we tried to put too many too many activities in it. >> It was just a restoration of we're going to do it how we're going to do. So let me ask you when do we start the Buenav Vista >> the the construction of Buenav Vista what was back in I'm just I'm just trying to refresh you know reference something. >> Do you have a 22? August 22, but we started from the scratch all the way from the bottom. >> Mhm. >> To to to the building. So that we right, you know, you you don't know where I'm going with this, Mr. Mr. Said we started from the ground up and finished 22 23. We started 24. It's 3 years and it's right now we're restoring and it's going to take us another three years which is going to be six years to restore and and yet it's and we're still going in circles and circles in the same d direction. I understand we want to, you know, give life back to to the downtown area, but it's we're going in circles once again. So, $8.7 million just having them in there going in circles. Yes, we we're going to add this. Yes, we're not going to add this, but we're going to open Buav Vista hopefully by Saturday. You know, God, we didn't we're going to open it by Saturday. But it's because we've been after after like, hey, where we at with this? Bringing in updates. And that's where I'm going with management. It's like do we have to be like giving us updates every time, every day or every every meeting at calling you guys uh calling the management say, "Hey, we got to put this in the agenda because I want an update. We wanted this in agenda. It's going to be six years." You know what I'm saying? And and in the end of the day, it falls back on all of us. It just doesn't fall back on on management. It doesn't fall back on on on city council. It falls back it falls back on all of us because we decide as a government body. They gave us, you know, our our they gave us our two cents for 6.9 million that we that we all agreed to too, but we have 8.7 million just standing there and they've been waiting for the same thing cuz you can see it on on the on social medias all the time and the the theater plaza when it's going to be finished and the theaters plaza is when it's going to finish. So for me, I'm seeing the Buav Vista finished within two years, three years. But mind you, I'm sorry. I'm just saying that we've been putting it on on paper, making sure we're getting updates. If we don't pay attention to this, this is what it's telling me. If we're not paying if we don't pay attention to the projects, it won't get done. And that's it's that's it bothers me because it feels like, hey, I'm not micromanaging, but I am getting the calls. So, I'm just that's what I'm trying to figure out. or do we have to put it on on the agenda every every two three months to make sure we get an update to get an um you know something I'm just trying to put out there because at the same time we do see it >> and and mayor and city council I I I want I want you to know that this project has been moving and whether whether it goes slow or fast it has been moving all along. I mean, >> I think >> I I think I think we had a we had a ribbon cutting for Congressman Quayar's funds when I after I got here. So, I mean, so it it it moves it has been moving. The challenge we have though is that it it continued to evolve the concept and and the process in order to do that. And I think I think it goes into the longer term conversations on convention centers and civic centers that the Laredo has had for a number of years as well. And I think that's the that's the I guess that's the point. Our recommendation or at least my recommendation based upon where we were at is to get this project done and uh and utilize these funds in order to do a restoration project for this. >> I will be honest and my point of view we should never we should have never sold. That's my my point of view. Maybe they had different views. They have different opinions back then. But right now as we are as we the way we are right now we should have never sold the civic center. That's my opinion. >> You know it's but to each his own right maybe where everybody had. >> Thank you. >> You know >> I like the idea. All right, >> let's go back member Pettis's point about we we were informed at the time that again that the funds had to have a specific use which is why we couldn't fund the children's museum. And from my understanding and recollection is that that is why it was going to be a multi-purpose space. Um, so it's just I hope we can find um resolutions and confirmations that funds can still I don't I don't agree with I'm I'm not in favor of the I mean the the doubling of the cost um happened was made clear at the this past budget which again we need to live within the the the funding that we have. But I just hope we're not speaking out of turn either. >> I >> I wanted to go ahead and and make the motion uh as suggested that we let our engineering department come up with a plan on what type of restoration could occur within the budgeted funds that exist now and bring that back to council. >> Second motion second. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Uh, okay. So, this takes me back to the Fascin Treehouse. We now are having our in-house engineering department supplementing work that we had contracted. Now, we have to come up with a modified plan because the architects that we hired went off the rails or something and >> creeped the project as Mr. Neb said and it kept adding and adding and adding. I mean, retractable floor to me just sounds expensive. Is there a way to do this without a retractable floor? And I mean, the gadgets galore or whatever. There has to be a way for us to move forward. But again, the question still stands. If we're going to restore it into a theater, then how is that make it eligible for civic center funding? Because then that's not a gathering space. That's not a meeting space. It's we're back to the children's museum. We should have just built the children's museum and incorporated a building or like a a multi a like a like a display floor type setting like a convention area within that building and we would already have a usable space for the Bruny Plaza area. But we had plans now here we are. We should have never sold the civic center. I agree. Here we are. But it still doesn't take away from the fact that that we had a contract for plans and now we're making a motion for you to come up with plans in house. >> How does that make any sense? >> Well, won't we >> mayor if I may go ahead. When we won't we do the plans, we're going to work with the with the consultant that we have on board so we can get those plans as as directed by council. So we won't necessarily be making the plans, but we we working with the consultant to make sure we get the plans as directed to this council. >> Go ahead. No, I I it just to still feels that we're just making things up as we go along and we're six years in, but I just hope that we can prioritize this and and have management at the table to because I mean you've been here for three years and to to just be coming to this realization now as well about use of space and just it's quite frustrating. Yeah, go ahead, >> Mr. Santos. Just a quick quick question. Are we going to use the same? We're just going to use the same consultant. >> How much is the consultant been uh you know, do you have the amount more or less? >> I have the I can get you the amount top of my head. >> I can guess the the amount, please. >> I can get you the amount that the consultant was awarded. >> Sorry. >> Well, my question is simple. Just it's regarding the funding. >> If we do the restoration, does this money qualify? because you can we can give you the motion to do whatever the plans, but then we're going to come back later and it's going to say we're going to say the funding is not eligible for this type of project. So, is that funding is what you all are proposing is that money eligible to be used for that? Yes or no? >> Yeah, mayor and city council. And the quick answer is yes. I I truly believe it still is based upon being a gathering place, whether it be a civic center, a theater area with a stage. The challenge with the library is the different type of uses that come out of a library. So, I mean, if you're going to have uh classes or courses within the library, those actually constitute a gathering piece of it. But if you're there reading a book or sitting at a table, that doesn't quantify in the same manner. So this space uh and I can I can get that confirmed through our bond council and everything but it is my understanding that those are equivalent type uses for this and so I don't think there's going to be the concern of that uh within that process. >> May I me? >> Yes. >> The the problem is with this with this concept or the revitalization or rebuilding of the plaza theater is that this council and previous council kept changing it over and over again. Let's do this now. Let's do this now. Let's do this now. You know, it's really easy to point fingers, right? It always is. It's easy to muddy our quarterback all the time. But fact of the matter is, we kept doing it. We kept doing it. Two, three months down the line, okay, let's try this now. Let's try this now. Three months down the line, let's try this now. And then budgets keep going higher and higher. And we know that. So, we're at this point now. So, please accept the motion >> and please go through with it. Just bring us back what we can afford for $8.7 million and then we'll go from there. Yeah. I just how many times can you give me also bring me back how many times within this three these three years have we changed the the scope of of the work can I I just I just want to see how many times we have changed the scope of the work maybe we have it's a lot of times but just if it was just a minor a suggestion something different I I don't think if if we changed something it should have take a whole year or months just because we made a change and that's I don't think it's just was something different you know we had uh we added a floor, we added a something. I don't think it would take take a year, whole year to modify. So, I'm just saying, you know, I see plings different times and we see they bring them back to planning and zoning and building within months. So, I'm just saying architecture. >> No, and and to council member's point, it's like who caused the delays? who was asking cuz I not once have said have have even said to change anything on the project. I don't remember conversations on council where we've said to change anything. All I remember is those meetings where we talked about uh cancelling the the the children's project and then the architect had a work we had a work a workshop with the architect and they talked about the plans and were working on the plans and it they weren't even finished. Okay. So, who specifically has been asking for changes? What were those changes? When did these discussions happen? Because as far as I know, the architect was over there designing and the money was already allocated. And here we are now the money, you know, today's dollars are are less than yesterday's dollars. So, our buying power has decreased. And we want to say that it's management's fault, but they're they're working off of our directive. So if is who's exactly the one that has been changing things because I personally have not changed anything at all. Mayor, if it's appropriate for the city council, I would love to bring back a legitimate timeline of of the activity. I don't have that all with you. I'd be I'd be guessing at some of the information. I would rather put it together completely. Um, I would just ask that we move the project forward and I'm happy to provide the timeline. >> If if I can amend the motion, I'll accept the motion just without him bring him back for the next city council uh meeting that that timeline. >> There's not a motion. >> I Yeah, I think uh Ruben did it. >> I thought she did. >> I made I made the motion. >> I second. Right. >> Right. Right. The motion is the motion is to to move forward with engineering to make those plans and then bring back those plans. >> No, and I agree with them. I I just amending will bring me back that time. >> We'll bring that time down back with that as well as all the rest of >> We do have a motion and a second. >> All in favor? >> Just just clarification. I I don't think there's a need for an amendment because it's just a direction. >> So So we can vote on the original motion. >> All right. Motion and a second. All in favor? >> Opposed? >> One opposed. >> Okay. Motion pass. >> Thank you. >> Next item. >> Waiting to recess. Motion to reach as the Laredo City Council and convene as the Laredo Mass Transit Board. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? I oppose. Motion pass. >> Motion to approve 110, 111, 112, and 113. >> Motion second. >> All in favor. >> May I do have a question? >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Um maybe I'll just Oh, hello Mr. Gasan. Um the 82 thou number I'm sorry item number 113 on the uh total contract amount of 82,000 to provide occupational medical services for the radio transit management. Does that incur is does that um impact the city's insurance plan or is that completely separate and this is all being taken care of by the company? Um RJ got for the record. Uh um transit director for metro. Um >> no ma'am it does not. This is all um separate from the city side. We we we use federal funding for for this and we're required to have to have a uh medical facility do all the testing and physicals and things like that. It's all pardon me >> and it it exists separately. >> It's separate. >> Okay. I I thank you for that. Thank you for that clarification. >> All right. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion pass. >> Motion to adjurnn as Larredo Mass Transit Board and reconvene as Larredo City Council. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> Oppos. Motion pass. Number 11. >> 117. >> Mr. Yeah. >> Well, if you have mic, can I go? >> Yeah, let's go and have one. We'll come back. >> So, >> all right. Mayor, can I have the floor? >> Yes, go ahead. >> Discussing a possible action to adjust street cuts performed before utility departments to ensure timely strike street repairs either by inhouse or outside contractor and any other matter intended there to uh Um, the reason I'm bringing this up and this item up is I know that there's a lot of work going out there. There's a lot of pipe bursting, but and there I know what along with the pipe bursting, you're changing out lines and you're changing out valves, put uh putting pressure on lines to test the valves to make sure the lines are good, clear, and you know, they're they're flushed out. uh proper chlorine is going out, you know, and the works air doesn't get into the into the system and and the works, right? The reason I'm bringing this up is there there's a lot of work in my district or maybe it's not only my district, it's all around city and the problem is that you're seeing these cuts where let's say there's there's areas that it's they're broken and you you we changed out the line because it burst >> but it's the after effect. >> Yeah, >> we there's patches, there's potholes. Then there's a bad I'm and I'm try I'm sorry to say but it's that it's it's a a horrible job and it's coming from I see it. There's areas that they're still under construction because you might go you might be going back to it. I'm not going to put the utility uh the people that work for utilities out there and say they don't do a hard day. They don't work hard. I see them day and night. They're out there in the cold. They're out there in the heat. they're out there being, you know, working hard and and and I understand they're tired. There's it's sometimes that they want to get relief or they don't get relief because there's not enough staff, which I understand and that's why I'm bringing this this uh this concern because I'm not on I'm not the I'm not the only one getting it. I'm also, you know, getting calls from different people saying, "Hey, what's going on with the streets?" I understand public work has their their time frame to pave and they have their their um their schedule and how many uh how many roads they're going to pave and all that which I understand but at the same time I'm just I just got to address it and say I've seen so many patches of when the line busted or when the line breaks we go in there we do a great job on fixing But it's the after effect that we leave these patches horrible. Some of them are patched. They go in, you see potholes and look, let's start looking into sinkho sinkholes. Not the other day. I gave a call to Mr. uh to Mr. Chavez to let him know, hey, we're going to have this problem. Mr. Valz was there as well. And I'm not trying to say that our our people don't do a good job. What I'm saying is how can we help? what is it that you need that so we can provide or or management I'm saying to so direct management to give you that that that help >> so so counselor again thank you and apologize again for you're absolutely right I think you brought this probably a month after I joined and we said we're going to deal with it uh you are right what we have is what we call cold patch cold patch means after they finish there's a hole they fill it with with dirt it's still wet it's not compacted when you put anything there as the pictures I think you even sent those pictures to to the ECM. >> Yeah, but we have we have them cross across the city. You're absolutely right. And they they subside and they're not great. So, we tried I think three months ago to bring a a contractor to do hot pavement and we were not able to secure anyone local or even within the valley. And then we actually the good news is we actually just for the next council meeting we already got an RFP. We have two local contractors who we actually asked him to test and try to see do it where doing it different from the cold batch to the hot mix pavement. And this is what we have today. This is a pilot that we just did last week. These are the ones we are doing with the new contractors from Laredo. Future-wise, once the council approved those two contractors, they're local. We have their per square foot feet. we will be able to do that quality of work. Now this is how we're going to move forward and again appreciate the push. We need that kind of feedback to know the the teams know that just we are not paving company and we've discussed that before I think I just want to make sure you are aware and the council is aware of the cost implications. So the first one, yes, we have two contractors. So future ones are going to be using the asphalt or the hot mix, which is perfect. Uh but right now the city of Lo have more than 1500 street patches. 1500. It's massive. It's everywhere. Some of them I don't know how old. Some of them could be fixed. Some of them need complete repairs. Now if we did the math based on us taking priorities including existing breaks because we want to start doing from the today and try to use that plus some of the heavy ones or the safety ones the ones that are public issue. We're living around 6 to8 million dollars of our capital going into that pavement. It's just part of the of the fact if you're going to do a line break it's not just the line break it's everything above it. So we're looking around 6 to8 million of capital infra money that has to go to fix those streets. Now to also mitigate the issue about pip piper pipe bursting that this current project is coming to an end. They finished around 30 40,000 square sorry 40,000 ft. So the project is coming to an end and the new one is coming to the council actually on February 17. the new one as part of the conditions of the RFP is to have them also do pavement not patching. So it's still comes from the utility budget but at least we're not the one who going after them and fixing that issue. So to answer your question simply is we are going to use those two contractors. We're going to move from cold batching to hot mix >> and and especially the the areas where we release that circulate the water. >> Correct. So there's areas especially like and I can't remember that that road it's right next to the Loroto College South at that area when what I'm sorry >> 83 >> no it's on on it's right next to Loro College the one uh it takes you into Loro uh at college Heights which they call it college Heights um one thing once they release that when once that water starts circulating you start seeing those potholes you start seeing those craters start forming and on on the on the asphalt. Uh I have some areas and uh on on in Ireland. Yes, it's Ireland, but it's Ireland. There's there's still plates like regular metal plates. I don't know if it's if it's the cities or if it's if it's the pipe bursting or they're going to go back on to work on them. There's still construction uh equipment out there and and notify and you know, just be be aware, right? But at the same time, you see all these patches and you see this potholes after they finish the construction. So that's why it it's good to see this project that's coming to to to a point that you're going to cover the the half of the of the whole >> that makes >> I was going to make a suggestion, but I >> appreciate the feedback. >> So yes, go ahead. >> Dr. Tori, um just a a question and a concern also. It's on the same line. questioning. Um, Gail Street for instance, we just spent money there paving it last year, the beginning of 2005 and pipe bursting has caused six or seven potholes, right, that have opened up because of pipe bursting and I understand that. But then these little holes are what's cut out there is between two to four feet give or take. Two to two to four foot diameter give or take. Um, and some are smaller, some are bigger. and the holes that are being covered there or the cuts being covered there is becoming a huge pothole. So the $100,000 that we spent on paving Gay Street has really gone to nothing now. So what you're showing us on the the pictures you were showing us shows that you're resurfacing in its entirety. Is that what we were to expect or is it only in certain areas? So, if I'm if I'm talking about a 4x4 space that was cut up and open and put asphalt over it and it didn't cover the hole correctly or properly, it doesn't look right. Are you going to be able to cover the entire width of the street or is it just that particular area? >> Excellent question. So, the way this to be correct, you have to cut a certain size. You can't just do a batch because the system you have to cut, clean, remove the dirt even that was there, the old dirt, the wet, whatever, and put a new dirt and and aggregates and khichi and compacted to the standards and then do it right now. The question to us how much we can do because we don't want to pave the whole street because we will not have the money to do that. So right now we're looking at a quarter of a of a of an area small enough to let's say you have 11 by 20 ft. We have to be bigger than that to make sure it's done correctly. So, but we're not going to do this filling and compacting anymore. We're gonna cut, remove the dirt, put a new one, and then do it right as a pavement with a hot mix. There's also difference between cold mix and hot mix. Cold mix is just compacted and hope for the best. Sure. >> Cold water. It's just going to basically get washed out. Hot mix is like street level bathing great. >> And the cost of this >> Well, that's what I'm Well, >> what you were proposing to is right. We we have a feat per square feet. Now we have a we have a two contractor that win the bids. We're looking at 18 square feet to $40 per square feet. So any job like any small area in a street, you're looking at 30,000 $40,000 each time we fetch a street there. It's just a fact. You can either do patching and come back after a month or do it right. >> So at at this point, let me ask this. Is it worth pipe bursting and fixing every single hole that we're building there? Or is it best just to open up the street, fill, put a new piping in completely and just redo the street over again? >> What's What's going to be more >> pipe bursting? Pipe bursting. >> It's pipe bursting for us. It's way cheaper. Like what if we cut a whole ditch or trench, you're going to have to pave the whole road, the disruption to the community, the traffic. Now again we have a company who came from Florida. They did a good job to a certain point and they they were able to deliver but we learned a lot from this experience. That's the first time that Laro go through that. We hope in the next uh call for bed we have some local interest. So we'll put some more quality control around how they do that and it's not just they put it there and then we have to do it after. >> As long as you're telling me it's more efficient that's all we want. >> It is more efficient. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. I don't want to say something that you wanted to say. >> How many miles so far? This was round one of Laredo's first ever pipe bursting um you know method. So, how many miles did we get paved? I'm sorry, get um how many miles of water lines did we get >> replaced? Replaced 40,000. >> Part one. 40,000 ft. We started with 30,000, but because they were on track and on schedule, we ended up with 40,000 ft. Actually, the council approved recently another 6,000 ft for them. I don't know if they're still interested, but there is the money is there for them to continue to do the job until we see the next next bid >> for the next 6 or 16. >> Uh >> 1 16 or 6 >> for what? Sorry. >> You said we've approved. So they did 40,000 and we're approving them another five 6,000 extra but that's just to keep us to until the next bid >> in this round >> and honestly we can keep we are putting in our CIP for the next five years every year around 20 million 15 to 20 million of pipe bursting if we going to get even change the >> is there any more money for pipe bing replacements the rest of this fiscal year >> for 26 yes but 27 28 we have to look at the CIP >> how do you know off the top of your head how much we have left until September 30th. >> 26. We will we will do for 26 uh if I'm I think we're going to do the same thing around 35,000 ft similar to the first phase around $15 million worth of pipe bursting again all districts >> with the same company or >> no they're finished and then we put it there again for everyone interested but we're hearing also some local ones are interested again we want to see innovation also not just the same technology there is horizontal drilling And I don't know what there is different technology. We want to see what else is there. But this is where the world is heading now. No one does entrenches except when it's a major change or 36 inch pipes and so on. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Let me uh let me go back a little bit and and to reiterate what you guys have done in district 4 is just tremendous work. And you and I have talked about it. We visit it. We've uh we've gone over it and it's I think we came up with a figure about 40 cents on the dollar more. I mean the savings by pipe bursting going the way the other way around. But as as um as thinking would have it, you would not would not want to understand that what if that same contractor can do a turnkey operation and patch his own work also. Uh it it'd be something very special. Why? Because you have one person that you have to deal with. They're doing the work that they have to do. Um, and I'll I'll um I'll uh point you to the direction of the the 1600 block of of Kernney all the way to the 1900 block of Kernney. That street in itself had so many ruptures before that people were asking me for people were asking me for speed bump. that that's why you have all those potholes for you know >> you're familiar. >> So but but but this is the good part that came from it that it had been I mean heavily it's a heavily traffked area but it it was so damaged that it was just it looked like potholes everywhere. >> So now that after we're done this street is pretty much ready that area is pretty much ready for the next my mind knock on wood next 30 40 50 years. So, it's already connected all to to the water tanks, but they re repaved it in a way that I hadn't seen before. Uh, it they they sort of scraped it, didn't didn't do away with the complete >> uh asphalt part of it. They just kind of leveled it and resurfaced it. And that to me was something that I was the point that I was trying to get across. >> There are I mean, we you already mentioned that several streets here. Clark Boulevard is headed in that direction. Bartlett is headed in that direction right now that it's already has so much patching on one side that we're going to have to probably be doing the same thing and and it's it's rather uh sooner rather than later. But I mean the the uh 300 block of of Clark all the way down to the 2500 block. I mean the patching is incredible. So, it's something that we have to look at, but we have to also look that we we don't lose that edge, that 40 cents on the dollar that we're we're saving on the on the pipe bursting, that we can still do the patching along with it. And so, the city has that gain after that. So, if if all together we can get a turnkey price to get that going and still keep it at around 50 cents on the dollar that that that we were spending before, I mean, that'd be something that this city has never seen before. It'll take it'll set the template for the rest of the city in terms of savings because it'll be a more efficient way of doing it. We don't have to be waiting around for the for the the other contractor to come in and pave as you did. And by the way, I've been getting calls from from my district residents that they're super grateful. Everything's going great. Uh as far as that's concerned, sometimes it took but it took a little bit longer than expected because we couldn't find those contractors. But I was lucky enough to tell them this is what we're going through. We want we find the right person. We don't want to just put a slab of asphalt in there and it becomes uneven ground. And so we're trying to get things done the right way. And I think I the citizens need to understand that it's it's not it's not making pancakes, man. It's it's it's hard work. But to get it right this time around and get it ready for the next 30, 40, 50 years is really what we're looking for. So I appreciate all your help and all your effort and always taking my call so that we can have these great discussions. >> Of course. Thank you. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Um, yes. And I want to apprehive and the same as I guess that's why our districts are where you started with this project because there's a great need, but we've seen in the past before we had um the ability to do pipe bursting, the patchwork there is was it's just and there's still some, I guess, legacy patches that need to be fixed, but it it has improved and and also where it's gotten really bad, you've been very responsive and and I appreciate that. I wanted to ask you about the comparison of the cold asphalt mix >> versus the hot mix because you said that the hot mix lasts longer. So, it's it is valuable in that way. Is there a tremendous price difference between the two types? >> The corn mix is really like us put it. It's just pile of asphelt with whatever and then they go there and compact it and we leave basically but it is like a a gum you know any heat change difference cold hot >> you don't you don't merge it with >> it doesn't it doesn't with with the with the hot mix really you have to do the the right engineering cleanup you have to remove the old dirt one of the biggest issue we have is those guys work 10 hours like seriously up to their waist in water there. They're tired. It's midnight. They want to leave but they can't leave the site and you know without so they have to fill it and it's still wet and soggy and then next day or third day they come and put that ashford and in a couple of days then it compact it it subsides again and if we end up doing and waiting and we actually I thought we can just dedicate a crew just to do it the right way but it's we need the equipment and I prefer to fix the lines and get water to the people instead of trying to fix every street in burrito there. Uh with the hot mix you have to cut remove the old dirt got a new one uh aggregates uh khichi compact it right thickness of of ashfeld which is hot you compacted with the right machine and you got to like it's like real road paving again we're not going to pave roads we're not going to pave sectors of the roads as much as we can so we can stay economically visible to keep going forward so you will see on main streets where those cuts are you will see improvement rather than having some kind of weird things there you will have a a bigger area not everywhere but a bigger area we will see say can you do more it's it's not the more it's just the cost so we'll try to be economic but do it right in engineering >> right yes go ahead >> thank you yes thank you >> mayor so Mr. Aset uh Dr. I'm sorry. Um, is there a way that you can do after you do this, is there a way that you can get with public works? Because I know if you're going to do half of the street, is there any way you can get with uh with public work uh works and say, "Well, I did these these uh these roads or we did this pipe in this area. We did a fixture or we did a fix here on this, you know, on these roads." So you can cross reference and say, you know, these need to be, you know, uh, patched over or they need to be, you know, with new asphalt. We did this, but they need this this part to be finished off so we can have a nice clean road. Is there any way that you can do that? >> Crews work together. Crews work together like both sides very closely when there's opportunities and economy of scale. We use that as if we can. But honestly, the lines cut the bricks that we have like we just now I was here and I heard in the north >> a major water 25 inch line broke and the the tower there is just going down. So you don't know when the when the line breaks how bad it is. So to fix this and also do the paving and is not always in sync with the public. >> No, no. I'm saying after you're finished, put it on on like on a list, continue what you're doing, but just when the with paving when with when they're going to come by or in our districts to pave to have them, you know, this is what we paved. This is the list that we have >> that we paved for the past, let's say, six months. He he's going they go by districts. >> So, every month that he tries to do 25 roads in every district, more or less 21 to 25 roads in every district. So let's say do you have an like a a list saying I did uh we you know we b we did pipe burst and this month and we did this and all this in this district we did uh five roads are they on your list so just to make so we can have nice clean roads that's I'm just trying >> is always welcome so I will work with our colleagues >> so that's that's all I'm saying communication having having commun communication with public works and plus you're the contractor you're going out, you know, thank you for that update and if you can bring us the update once once you already got your contractor, you know, give us an update of how the roads are are are starting to look after you went out for without the for that contract. >> Let me know. You tell me if if the work is good or not. >> No, that's what I'm saying. I want an update once once you you you contracted that the contractor. >> Absolutely. >> All right. Mayor, >> so I have a question and also Mr. I think it's important for for the the cross departmental issues that we have here between this and public works. The I don't know if the cost that you're saving in your department to do this this method is offset by the expense that public work has when they have to go out and kind of patch up these this this work that's maybe not up to standard and the kind of maintenance of the streets that we're expecting. And if you've heard from the public, one of the biggest complaints that we get is the need for speed bumps and the condition of the roads, the bumps, the the patchiness. So, if you're out there doing your work, which is completely understandable, that's what we, you know, expect you to do, but then you're leaving evident patches behind on a maybe freshly paved roadway or a roadway that's um you know, it's just if the patch is not done properly, then it just adds to the >> to the to the complaints that people have about the condition of our roadways. And so there does need to be some cross collaboration because if you're just looking at cost savings for your department, but then public works is having to expend more money to kind of fix the patch, then it it doesn't really make sense. >> Seems like there needs to be a little bit better coordination in this project management scope. So, >> mayor, so no no action needed. Just you know the update when it's directive just an update when you when you have that contract there. I don't know >> they're coming to the next council item for >> appreciate it. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. 117. >> 117. Go ahead. >> Okay. Okay. Mayor and council. Uh for 117 uh we have a public comment and uh legal has instructed me I I know the constituent in the district uh is working graveyard so they submitted and and I believe only I can read the the comments. >> Uh after co we staff no longer reads uh public comments but I let you all do whatever you want. So council can read it. >> Okay. So I'll go ahead and read it. This message is from Miss Marylu Gara. She's a very active member in district 1. Uh very observant. Uh so the end goal in this through this item is that uh you know we can set the tone and create the awareness awareness throughout the throughout the city. So uh this is her Mary Lou Gara. For about 6 months I have been addressing with city departments 311 and p uh and PD trash cans, branches, bulky items, and mailboxes impeding the use of sidewalks. I have opened I have spoken to uh Flores from Ride ofway on mailboxes submitted reports to 311 at her request getting updates are non-existent. Uh LPD has responded by saying they cannot violate the homeowner homeowner's fourth amendment although the areas where the trash is on the city property right away. Solid waste answer trash will be picked up on Monday and so this the trash stays for 5 days on the sidewalk. Another solid waste supervisor asked if I expected them to knock on doors and give them warnings and citations. And Cabo, he asked my answer. Juano impas. The area I live is is surrounded by two schools and the Boys and Girls Club, not to mention elderly neighborhood neighborhoods, kids and parents walking to and from home, two bus stops or schools having to come off the sidewalks to go around trash and mailboxes. This issue can be observed throughout our city and when raising concerns, the answer is always the same. There is nothing we can do. We need to enforce the ordinances and address the fact that solid waste actually tells people to put their trash on the sidewalk. We need to provide a safe environment for our citizens and be able to use the sidewalks for what they are intended for and that is walking. And uh I know it was putting the picture she she submitted while I was reading uh the public comment for the item 117 which I will read now. discussion with possible action on standards for proper curbside trash bins, placement, placement of mailboxes, temporary rubbish and any other uh related items public education efforts and any other matters there incident to there too. Uh so with this uh um item can can we bring up the director for solid waste? Good evening everyone. Bishop Wagner, director of environmental services and solid waste department. >> Yes, sir. >> So, we thank you for bringing this up. I I'll tell you that uh I agree completely about the issue of of bulky waste being left on the curbs uh the streets of city of Laredo. Um, we are actively uh and presently going everywhere we can and picking these up, writing uh warnings and and and doing uh actions to try to clean up the streets of Fedo on a daily basis. Unfortunately, in some neighborhoods, we'll pick it up uh at, you know, 8:00 in the morning and by 11:00 the same morning, someone else has placed something else in the same street. Um the there are some so when I initially read that I brought there there are some some there's some literature that we've provided some education and outreach that we provide to the to the citizens of Laredo about what they're expected to do. This is a um >> Yes. Go ahead. We have a question. >> Motion to move the meeting extend till 11. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? All right. Well, >> I was just going to keep going till the uh so so yeah, it is a it's really an issue of education when it comes down to it. Uh the department is investing uh uh money in advertising on radio uh billboards uh other advertisement uh and including uh educating our staff to be consistent in the messaging when they come be to the public with these calls and these concerns on both things about what what we do and what we don't do as there's a a history um of citizen behavior here in the city of Laredo where they have an expectation uh that we provide a service that the city and the ordinance does not support. Um we do collect waste from the citizens of Laredo that's bulky waste pickup two times a year. Um that two times is done by telephone call um to the to 311 or by to the 796 1098 number directly to us of which we dispatch that out and we collect that waste and and we bring it up. What's happened historically is that waste gets deposited on the curb with the expectation and then a call will come through, hey, why do I have this waste sitting on my on my curb? And eventually it gets picked up. Um, brush is much the same way. And some of those bags that we saw in the photographs, that was lawn clippings. Uh, lawn clippings are not to be placed in plastic bags and set on the sidewalk. That's not where they go. Um they should be taken to the uh landfill facility and used with our brush collected as brush where we can uh use them for the organics management uh process. I would prefer them be put in the the green containers over being placed on the on the street in bags because the bags just constitute that as variable waste and then from a collection standpoint our drivers have to physically get out and pick up this material and throw it in the back of a truck. And a lot of times if this material is wet, it's heavy. It's it's a it's a challenge uh collection. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Yes. >> We do offer that service on Fridays though. >> Long clippings is a service that has not been by ordinance is not provided. It's a it's something that has been probably done for many years. Uh it's not a service that brush and lawn clippings are a service that should be in in uh in my opinion in in my interpretation of ordinance should be conducted by the contractor that ms the grass. um it's part of the service that you're paying for is for them to take it. The city and the department is offered uh two things to help accommodate that since I've been here. One of them is we are not charging a fee for those materials, >> right? >> Um >> we pick them up on Fridays though. It's part of the the route, right? That's >> recycling is is Fridays. The brush and brush and leaf pickup is is the same as the as bulky item collection. It is a two two call a year issue. Well, >> so if if someone pays for a contractor to come, that is actually commercial waste at that time. So if you pay somebody to do that job, that is a commercial action or activity. >> Mayor, if I may. >> Yes, go ahead. >> That's not the way we've done it. It's been, you know, for example, in my house, Monday's trash, Thursdays recycle, Fridays are lawn clippings and branches in my neighborhood. And it's been like that. >> I understand that. That is not ordinance. >> Okay. But it's are you changing that or >> No, that's that my my intention is to follow the ordinance that that you all or this this >> Okay, hold on. But that's going to be a problem if you're just going to cut that off when it's been a longstanding practice for over a decade. So I understand what you're saying that you're going to practice the ordinance, but Mr. Neb, I think we have a discrepancy in that situ. >> We had that discussion the other day, you know, because there was items out there And I I I addressed that item of that that concern with you uh Mr. Neb back in what November I had a discussion. I asked you sir this has been going on for the past 10 10 years which Mr. Bishop you came up and said well it has to change. We got to educate and at the end of the day they point our the fingers to us saying well you're not you guys are not doing your job. And it's not that we're not doing our job. We're just trying to follow the ordinances, but at the same time, it's from giving one thing to a person, and I understand we're saying we're going to say education is that's what we're going to do, but we can't do it from one day to another. It's it's in in steps. That's I'm >> Can I have the floor back real quick? >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Finish my thought real quick. Um just to go off of what Councilman Rangh saying is, and we've had this issue before, m Mr. internet. When there's a situation that there's been a long-standing practice that has either not been according to the ordinance or that there's an ordinance missing or there's a directive missing or whatever, then we need to be informed so we can at that time either create an ordinance or modify the ordinance or make that decision because when you have citizens that every Friday they put their trash bag and I completely agree with what you're saying as far as whose responsibility and the and the lawn companies and all this Just the fact of the matter is somewhere along the line somebody decided that and my understanding was this was a like a rule or it was in the ordinance or whatever. So this is news to me that that's not the way it is. But if you just cut off the Friday pickup service, we're going to have a problem >> and we're going to be the ones being >> technically it isn't it isn't a Friday pickup service. What's happening is that I'm dispatching out a special vehicle to come out there to collect the waste. That's that I'm going to say this just frankly illegally dumped on the it is an ordinance that no grass clippings are to be placed on the side of the curb. Period. >> No, I understand. >> And that's where that's where I think that that that this this comes from and and I don't want to turn anybody off of anything. I know Mr. Nev is getting awful nervous. But but the the No, I don't want to turn I DON'T WANT TO TURN ANYBODY OFF OF ANYTHING, BUT but I mean I frankly what I saw when when I and the reason this came to this to to that this position why I've taken this action is that it >> it is costing the city millions of dollars in order for us to do the services that aren't included in this activity. >> Mayor, if I may. >> Yeah. But we've had this conversation before many times. And my whole point is that if we're going to start changing the way we operate and then we're all going to get flooded with phone calls this Friday or next Friday or whenever they or whenever that starts or maybe that's the reason why there's bags that have been out on the street for weeks because all of a sudden now even me I didn't know that this had changed and and we're all going to get the phone calls and get told what's going on and then we're going to start calling you all. So, please, when you make changes like that, let us know in advance, please. >> Can I just Can I just go off a little bit on that? I'm sorry. And and thank you, Bishop. Excellent job that you're doing. I got a bunch of compliments coming year away from people in the surrounding area, especially your neighbor out at the landfill. Um, and and how good of a job you're doing within the time that you've been here. But I will say this, I received that those I'm starting to get those phone calls that you talked about. And the reason, but not from him, but I'm getting them from from people because code enforcement already knows that code enforcement is doing their job by telling them I had just received that call that you were talking about right now where code enforcement was going to site somebody that a contractor that was putting the clippings and brush on the site on the curb. Well, he and he stopped him and he told them, "No, that's your responsibility." And so the owner of the property called me up and started going off on on every different direction. But I let him know, let me get that straightened out and you just did right now. So it is because I mean that's one department already. That's solid waste and then but code enforcement is is doing it the way you're saying. So obviously you two those two departments are speaking. >> Well, technically they're the same department. >> Yeah. Well, but there but that but um you know that that's telling me that that uh there's already communication with from within and it be yeah be I agree with uh Councilman Pettis that that we we do need to know that because we're the ones that are going to feel those calls and uh we just need to and and spend some time really re uh what I call reverse reverse pro engineering pro what do I call it reverse engineering processing but meaning that we just have to retrain people to understand that this is the the way it's going to work. It It was really It never changed, but we just started acting differently, maybe culturally or whatever. >> So, to be clear that we I'm still picking up >> the stuff that gets dropped on Friday still gets picked up. >> It's a it's a it's a this is a first in a change of, you know, of education is the first component of this. And hey, we're we're doing it right now. Right. >> Mayor, if I can if I can step in at this point. >> Yeah. And I also really quick because uh I I appreciate that you haven't pulled the plug completely because I've seen that one truck that's always trying to hunt down uh those trimmings. So which one is it? Are we picking them up in some areas? Are we not in others? Uh so >> we're we're picking them up and we're educating as we pick up. So if you see if we see a contractor that's out there, if I've got like an enforcement person that's out there, they're going to stop at somebody that's cutting the grass and they're going to say, "Hey, do you know that this is actually illegal dumping according to city ordinance? that this isn't something that the city to try to get the contractors to understand and we also tell them we're supposed to be telling them and then that was part of a conversation that I had probably with the same person today um was that uh educate them on on letting them know that hey this is also free for you to bring out to to the landfill. We will you know we'll even you don't you can divert the scale and go right over there to pot as long as it's clean and full of and free of waste. We use it in our organics organics management project. So there's no cost to that. But the transportation and the collection that the city's been doing for these contractors, that is something that is that is coming. Now, I don't have a drop dead date on an absolute none. And in fact, uh currently I've been been working with the the city manager on trying to come up with with what that that would look like. Um but right now this we're kind of in the in the education phase of it. >> And mayor and I am hoping the city council heard he does not have a drop dead date on on this. All right. Hopefully you've all heard that. And and the nature of what what Mr. Wagner is doing, of course, is to identify all of this stuff because we have a lot of cleanup that we have to do with cleanup and solid ways. All right. U but we have a lot of cleanup we have to do with this ordinance and everything. And this this stems from a lot of the frustrations that you've all felt about this this automatic dumping out on the road. And they they think it's going to miraculously disappear and we send the truck through and then they dump again the next day. There's a lot of education that has to go into this thing, but uh there is there I'll guarantee you that nothing is going away until we've had the conversation with the council because we also have the ability to put in a formal Friday pickup. We can put that into the ordinance. We just need to make sure you understand what the cost of that service is. And so those conversations are are coming. They're they're getting closer and closer. Uh but that in in our minds, I think that's why we implemented the um uh essentially the faster pickup where we will actually have our solid waste uh drivers go out and when they see illegal dumping in an area, they'll do an affidavit with the code enforcement in order to go a little bit faster because the concern that you each of you have as elected officials, if that trash sits there for 5 days, it's trash. It's just it keeps everything trashy. The idea is that we pick it up first, but then we have to take it to court, right? I mean, we have to we have to go and argue that it should not have been dumped there. And and a lot of the uh a lot of the offenders of that world are doing it intentionally. I I would say that a lot of businesses out there like the apartment complexes and everything when they clean out when they clean out when somebody leaves they just put it out there and then when somebody else leaves they d put it out there. They are not really allowed to do that. They're supposed to call and set up that pickup and uh and so the cost of all of our all of our users are are helping subsidize that whole thing. And so we can't hold our cost in check if we're if we're allowing for all that pickup. I think that's what Mr. Wagner is trying to say as well too. But but there will be no change within those services. It is to identify what is an ordinance and what is not and then and then bring it back to you to have that conversation because I think this is the this is what we're doing with the solid waste uh rates as well too as looking at how those those funds are being spent. >> I'll stop there. >> Yes. Question. >> Thank you. I've been waiting. Um so um Regarding the apartment complexes, do you do you see code enforcement having to go and um put I guess a a warning and fines to the owners of the apartment complex? I mean, they're basically they have to police their the people that live in those apartment complexes. I I would say that the statistically the majority that we've seen so far are multif family uh units that that don't have appropriate receptacles for the business that they conduct. So the um an apartment complex that has the the Willie and Billies that a residential would have, they also have uh a cyclic uh environment where you know monthtomonth people move out. when they do they leave things behind and those things end up on the curb and we have to come and pick them up. So, uh, a lot of what we've been doing over, it's been about a month now, has it? So, since we've, uh, been doing this this approach is has been really to identify. My first rule is we get we get a number, you know, we get an address and we go there and we talk to them and try to interact with them out there. either it's the driver or it's the or it's myself sometimes or it's our code enforcement folks on that education point to say hey this is you know you're not this isn't what you're supposed to do. We contact through the information that we ha have from uh the water bill and the billing the owner of the property and we say hey this is something there can you have this picked up uh for us so we don't have to send somebody out there or would you like us to use this as one of your two collection days? So there's an interaction there's an interaction that happens in there to try to get to avoid this. But the reality is that this is not just an eyesore. This is this is a health and safety issue. So the the the problem of this waste being on the side of the streets, these mattresses, the vectors that get get attracted to the ma to the material that's left out there, the waste that's put in bags that gets tore up by dogs. All of these things contribute to to an unhealthy system for us to have. Is there a way to since we Thank you. Thank you. Is there a way to uh engage all now that we have so many companies that are have been licensed to collect trash? Is there a way to get them involved in this education campaign so that they can take some of that outreach out of the city's hands? Because it'd be beneficial to them in order to drum up new business while at the same time the city is letting them know it is illegal for you to continue to allow this dumping and you will continue to get fined if you don't encourage your residents to change behavior. And then it becomes the the waste manage the private waste management company reaching out to the apartment complex and they can figure out some type of education campaign for the residents who live there. >> I would love for it to be uh a a system where the city could remove itself from the business of interacting with business and business. I want business to take care of of business in that way and to create a field where that that happens naturally. What what's happening now is business is making money off of the money that the taxpayer pays to the city for the services that we provide. And we're being placed in a position where outside of ordinance, we are we are providing services well above and beyond what would be what would be even uh excessive in most other cities. >> I'm just to finish that line of questioning, would um Mr. would we be able to get PIO involved or have some type of coordination so that we can try to hand off this this education piece and it it's it's encouraging their business but then we are relieved of the time and effort to try to educate these business owner the apartment complex owners where the trash collects. >> Yeah, mayor and council council member I think we can we can get to that level. the the challenge we have is how we classify some of these multif family units and where they stay underneath the city's umbrella for for that responsibility because you know we don't do any commercial pickup. We that is all that's all franchised out for that process. And so the idea though is that we some of these multif family units actually don't meet the criteria of being that big even though they're still business related. And I think that's going to be the challenge. But yes, we can always get the PIO involved with that. I know that uh uh Mr. Wagner's team has been talking with our PIO as well too to make sure that we do a a consolidated front for for that communication. >> Mayor, I just have one I have one last question about a rate increase because everybody has their line. >> Thank you. So, um would there be an associated rate increase when you're talking about future planning if if we're looking at a a a mandated Friday pickup? If we're looking to extend those services, does that come packaged with a rate increase? >> I I can't speak about a rate increase. I will say that we are at our absolute limit of of what we can afford to do with the equipment and the manpower we have now. So, we're we're stretched up and beyond and we're trending in the wrong direction with the the red. >> I appreciate that. Councilman who was >> I was I've been waiting so >> go ahead. >> So yeah >> just uh just to clarify and and maybe management can do this or what do we do? I understand the process. We give you a call. But what's the process we're going to take when we see, you know, couches, mattresses, and and areas that do not belong there, you know, areas that that are that are vacant or they're between houses. Are we just so make the call or are we just going to leave it there for three or four days until they do the investigation? is the honesty. It does look bad and it's going to fall. It does fall on us and then just give us the you know you just tell me what's what is it. >> Yeah. And thank you and mayor and council member. So So when you see it just do the call. The I the idea is to not let it sit even on an open lot anymore. The idea is to go and address it. The the whole idea is to get the trash out of there. And what we're hoping for is it's almost very similar to graffiti. If you you just make graffiti disappear, you don't talk about it, you just make it go away, and that will help prompt less graffiti. The same thing happens on there. This this is illegal dumping on these open lots. We need to get the trash out of there first. So, what we're doing, and that's why we've done the affidavit process, is that we're going to do all of our investigation up front, get the trash out of there as quickly as possible because if it sits there, it's going to breed more trash and garbage. So, please make the f phone call on that. The the challenge we have with open lots as well too is that when we file it in there, if we can't find the actual perpetrator that has dumped it there, it is actually the property owner's responsibility even though it's an open lot. And so, that's where we'll have the the conversation, but I would rather get it into the system and work it through. And so, but the idea is that the trash should be removed first so the phone call happens. Mayor, can I >> Mayor Fine? You first. You >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, look, we're off. I think we're off on this thing because we've had this conversation before you got here. We've had this conversation before. We've talked about the branches and how expensive it is to pick up branches and how the people that don't cut their trees and leave their branches are supplementing the cost. And we've talked about picking up branches and charging that user a fee. Like maybe, okay, I'm going to pick up your branches. I'm going to add $10 or $15 onto your bill or something. Now, now we're now we're actually going into private lots and picking up trash, which to me is like that's a private lot. If they don't want dumping on their lot, they're supposed to put a no trespassing sign. Like I I don't see a difference between subsidizing business than picking up private property and cleaning up their trash. I thought we had a we don't enter private property policy. I thought we were only talking about picking up trash off the curb, which is our right of way. So, I can completely understand that >> within the the rightway. I think Mr. Deas was when it's a lot typically what happens in a neighborhood if there's if somebody doesn't want to get caught for illegal dumping in a neighborhood, they'll go to the rightway and throw it on the curb in front of the empty lot that's in the neighborhood. >> I get that. Okay. >> There's just not property. There's nobody there. >> Okay. Thank Thank goodness we're back to the the rightway. But, okay. So, if we have an issue with that, then we should figure out a system to handle it as far as, okay, we're going to pick that water heater or whatever you left on your curb and we're going to charge that fee to that address and it's up to you to appeal it and say, "Hey, I didn't dump it." You know, show me the cameras where somebody came and dropped it off and we'll wave it and we'll look for that person or something. But to just go in there and clean it and then try to educate the person and knock on their door and by the way >> they get a warning. So So if we pick up something, they we contact the property owner and they get a a warning by mail, a telephone call and a warning by mail. The way it works is the initially you get a warning. If we go and pick it up, you're getting a warning. It's the first time you've ever committed that as as per drafted in the ordinance. Then if we have to do a repeat to that then it escalates to a citation and citations can >> but is that part of the ordinance? >> Yes, that's part of the ordinance and the ordinance is also supplied by is also supported by tennis uh TCQ requirements and regulations when it comes to illegal dumping. the escalation behind what what we do. We have in ordinance, we have a a a citation and a fee that can be associated that once it goes to >> I I understand that, but you're you're converting somebody puts something on their curb erroneously to now you're illegal dumping in front of your house, right? So, we've jumped we've jumped pretty far. Um I think we need to take it >> I disagree though. I I think that it we need to be firm and and and connected with the fact that we're here where we're at is because we haven't been consistent in the messaging that it is not okay for people to throw things that are when we provide two 96 gallon collection containers or more if you want one if you if you if you want to pay it for people to throw their material and we offer on Saturdays free disposal at the landfill for any of that material. than any other materials that end up on the streets that become a burden or a health and safety issue to the public, block our sidewalks, create an environment where we can we can attract vectors. We need to be consistent in that messaging to the public that this is not >> Oh, I understand what you're saying, but let me let me finish if I may, please. Um, when council member uh Gonzalez brought it up, he was talking about trash cans blocking the sidewalk. So, are we going to start picking up trash cans off the sidewalk, too? So, I mean, I understand the education and changing public behavior, but you're coming from a city out of Laredo, right? And you're adjusting to Laredo way of doing things that might not be the same as what you're used to where you were. And we've all been doing things this way for a very long time. And if we need to adjust an ordinance, then that's a conversation that we all need to have because believe me, this is not the first time we've had this conversation. Mr. Neb, this actually shouldn't have come up as Councilman Gonzalez's item. This should have been a staff report that he is noticing that there's needs for modifying an ordinance or something and we need to kind of collectively decide what direction we're going to take. Now, um, when it goes back to lawn clipping, I understand what you're saying that, hey, Mr. gardener, take your lawn clippings all the way to the dump or go now you're going to have to invest in a big trailer that well you already have a big trailer that has your mower and all your equipment but now you're going to have to pile trash on top of it or you're going to have to buy an additional trailer so that you can specifically haul that's going to cost everybody more money that's going to cost them to go all the way over there which I completely understand but that's not the way we've been doing things lately all these years, we've always had the lawn clippings on the on the lawn on Fridays. I don't consider that illegal dumping. I know you're saying technically it's illegal dumping, but I do think we need to have that conversation because if you start going over there knocking on doors or telling these people that don't hire gardeners, for example, that they're illegally dumping in front of their house, they're going to get really upset. They're going to call us and then we're if we hadn't had this conversation tonight, I would be blindsided with these calls that I'm pretty sure we're going to start getting. So, we do need to we do need to have this conversation at a workshop and collectively decide with your recommendations of course, but I just want to make sure that we um really consider all this stuff because it's going to be a problem. >> And may I just orient uh for discussion purposes, you know, what the the ordinance provides. So 14-3 D's and delta uh as far as uh you know trees grass clippings concrete ashes, so forth, it just says that it shall be disposed of as the expense of the owner or the person controlling the property in a method directed by the city. So it's it is a bit vague there, right? Uh and then as far as the uh going back to the item, the sidewalk whereas put it under a 14-3b bravo 9 that it says that uh you know no city employees supposed to enter private property, right? But what we we know >> um and yet uh it also says on the on the other extreme is that no refuge recyclable container should be placed in the middle of the street. But then it says that they should be put in the driveway entrance, parkway entrance. But I would imagine that that uh probably all say, "Well, how am I going to get my car out? I go back in and out." That may be why it winds up on the sidewalk or or near the curb. So that that's what that's all it says. And that might be something for you all to to reconsider. >> Yeah. So I'm Yeah. So again, I know we have six men six minutes left and and I know my colleagues uh you know uh discussion because you know they care but again this is the item and thank you zone for for you know stating that uh I think we really need to iron this uh iron this out because it's not being followed. Um, so I'm going to table to bring back uh for next council meeting so we can have something uh ready and and more ironed out. Right. So with that being said, I'm still going to leave for discussion. I know uh councilman Gutierrez and council uh council member also want to go ahead. >> Thank you. Bishop, just a question or two of them actually. So trimmings from a tree tree trimmings are they acceptable in the green can? I get answers that are yes and some say no. >> If if you can fit it in a green can. So here's there's kind of a hierarchy here. I would prefer that it goes to the landfill gets placed in there with our brush collection thing. That's what I would like. Um land lawn clippings I would prefer if you mulch mow your grass and you didn't have to dispose them anyway. It's better for the soil. It's better. It's better better. >> But gardeners do that. Gardeners will do that and they'll put it in their trash bag and they'll put it there on the side. >> So are are those acceptable in the green can? >> They'll they're going to end up if they go in the back. Yes. And I'll tell you why. Because if they go in the if they go in a bag right now, they're going in the back of a of a reload truck and they're ending up in the landfill anyway. >> Okay? Because Siri is saying yes. You ask Siri because he says Larredo will accept them there will >> can lid shuts. We're we're picking them up. >> And then another another question is um at what point does a gardener at a home become a commercial hauler >> going to the landfill three, four, five times a day and having an issue? That's >> because they're not commercial at that point, but they're going to need a commercial account if they're going three, four times, five times a week. >> No, that's an excellent question, but but I think and it brings an a really good point. A commercial hauler and a commercial license holder in any other trade are two totally different things. So, the franchise and the commercial haulers that we have, their sole job is to pick up waste and put it down again. That's all they do, right? a lawn care professional's full-time job is to to mow and cut grass and and do all of the cleanup. The waste that's generated by that purpose is secondary to their primary purpose. Therefore, they are able to come across and pull and pay full gate rate at the landfill as a transaction and they can come through as many as a private individual could come through if if they had they were clean. They're going to be charging the consumer, of course, the the difference >> every single time. That makes them commercial automatically. As soon as they charge me for picking up my grass clippings after cutting my grass, my lawn >> and they're going to be charged at the landfill every single time they go in. They're commercial. How is that any different? >> Well, even though it's secondary, >> because their job isn't primarily to haul waste. Their job is primarily to cut grass. Now, if you all change you wanted to change that an ordinance where they couldn't go in there, then then a way behind that would be they would contract with somebody that was a franchise with that had a container. They could drop that stuff in there and haul it out that way. But, I mean, the the the the essence is that if if uh if you hire a company to come in and paint your house, they don't leave the paint cans behind, right? >> They take the stuff with them when they leave. And that's the same thing with any contract that you that you would engage with because the cost comes to the city paint especially we'd manage that through our household hazardous waste. Same thing with brush we have to manage. >> Go ahead. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Yeah. So let's keep in mind as per what zone red it's not making sense through our city and no they're not following because it's impossible. So what's happening? Kids are still walking to school. Elderly are still uh exercising on the sidewalks. So, let's bring this back uh ASAP next meeting so we can iron this out and maybe uh iron the ordinance as well. >> Yes, go ahead. >> We've done something all the same way all this whole time doesn't mean it's the right way to go forward and I appreciate the efforts of uh your efforts and look forward to the next conversation. >> Mayor. >> All right. Anybody else? >> So, I Yes. I I just wanted to agree with uh council member Perez about the idea of bringing this back to a workshop. It would council member Gonzalez agree to that. And I don't know if we need a motion, but could we direct the city manager to create a workshop about these issues and we can deal with the um the education efforts that we'll need and the potential for what it would cost. together. >> We're happy to bring it regardless of a directive to bring it forward. Um there there will be a lot of other items that are forthcoming in in our workshops. So >> there is there's a lot of there's a lot of work that's being done. >> Any other items? >> Motion second. All in favor? >> We have a motion and a second. >> Okay. Okay, discussion. >> We're tableabling your items, dude. >> Oh, no. It's f 108. There was a legal issue with I was going to a motion to bring back 108 and table it due to a legal issue that >> Okay. Motion amended. Motion to amend it. >> All right. I'll I'll drop my motion. >> Okay. Just Yeah. Just motion bring back 108. >> Second. >> Second. >> Second. All in favor. >> Motion passes. >> Motion to table 108 due to a legal issue. >> Second. >> Okay. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> Post. Motion passes. >> Motion to adjurnn. Motion second. >> All in favor? >> Meeting adjourned.