Good afternoon. Ready to give their certific certificate of recognition. The mayor and city council hereby recognizes Andrea Nunes JB Alexander High School in recognition of being the first Laredo volleyball player named to the TSWA Class 6A All-Star third team. Congratulations, [applause] Andrea. Before we give you the mic, because you're going to say a few words for us, if you don't mind, I just want to tell you I've known your family for a long, long time. I've known your dad for a long time. Your grandfather, even longer. I was probably 16 years old when I met that man. Wonderful people, great family. Just want to say thank you for everything you do. We really really do open up the eyes to our young ladies here in Laredo knowing that they can accomplish things that you've accomplished knowing that they can be right behind you. Knowing that you are literally literally leading the way for these young ladies. I want to say thank you. Keep on representing Laredo because you do so in a wonderful way. Thank you so much and congratulations [applause] mayor and councilman. Thank you. Andrea, we know this doesn't happen overnight. It's uh your accomplishment. Uh congratulations. This means so much to the city of Laredo and to the public watching. Uh thank you for setting the example. You know, it takes a village. It takes so much time training. So, just, you know, keep up the work. Uh keep up putting putting in the hard work uh to prevent injuries and all that stuff. And may you uh put uh put Laredo on the map in the future as well. Thank you so so much. [applause] We're going to have a couple of words from there. Okay, go ahead. >> Um, thank you guys for um my family especially. Um, they've helped me through this journey of mine and um though I'm not done. I'm going to college now. Um, just want to say thank you guys for um the recognition and I really appreciate everybody supporting Larredo. >> Thank you. LET'S [applause] get some pictures. >> Right now, we'll do one with the family as well. [laughter] >> Council member, we'll do one with her and then with family. >> Absolutely. >> You all want to scoot over this way? >> Right there. >> Okay. Ready? One, two, three. One more. You want >> the family? >> Yes, of course. Okay. Ready. One, two, three. One more. >> I when the agenda came out, I got some two calls from coaches in South D and they said they want to congratulate Andrea and the mayor. for putting this recognition up that they paid a dancer and [laughter] >> Can I get you closer? >> Squeeze it. >> Ready? One, two, three. One more with this other phone. >> Ready? One, two, three. Perfect. Thank you. >> Congratulations, guys. Congratulations. Let's call the meeting to order. All stand for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Moment of silence, please. Thank you. May be seated. Mr. Secretary, roll call, please. >> Yes, Mayor. >> Honorable mayor, Dr. Victor D. Trevinho, >> present. >> Council member, District 1, Gilbert Gonzalez, >> Council Member, District 2, Ricardo Ranel Jr. >> Council Member, District 3, Melissa Cigaroa. Council member District 4, Ricardo Rick Gara. >> I'm here. >> Council member District 5 Ruben Gutierrez Jr. >> present. >> Council member District 6 Dr. Tyler King >> here. >> Mayor Portamp Vanessa Perez. Council member District 8 Alisa Seroa. Hi. >> Mayor, you have a quorum. >> Thank you. Mayor, I'd like a motion to approve the minutes from January 28, 2025, January 30th 2025. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion passes. >> Mayor, a motion to open up communications. Presentation by motion. >> Second. >> Second. All in favor? >> I may communications. recently had a visit from other some of the program coordinators from the Bloomberg Harvard educational program and they were incredibly impressed with our great potentials of our city and as part of the mayoral program I was originally extended two full scholarships which I had selected Steve Lundine and Joe Valdez and Mr. Dr. Neb declined opportunity so his management team could have the tools available to succeed. Now this program through their incredible teaching staff has not just helped us but has helped leaders from the wonder world around the world to develop skills and capabilities in addressing challenges and advancing our potential because our problems are not much different from other places. And if we can't succeed, we can. So we'll try to succeed. We just need to move away from blocking and shaming on focus and focus on solutions. With that being said, I had requested and was offered two additional full scholarships which cover travel and tuition to attend this program at the Harvard Kennedy School, which I will announce at the next meeting. With regards to the upcoming WBCA events this weekend, I wouldn't like I would like to invite everyone to have a good time, but also to remind the public to act responsibly and stay vigilant and report any suspicious behavior to law enforcement. Now we'll proceed to mayor motion to approve the appointment to commissions, boards, and committees. Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion passes. >> Mayor for the record. Mayor Pro Tim Vanessa Pis is here. >> For the record >> and council me. Thank you. Mayor if I may a motion for the recognition number one recognizing Rodriguez. >> Motion second. >> All in favor? I >> both recogn. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Um I just I want to I know Lorena didn't know that she was being recognized today. So it's a surprise to her. She [clears throat] thought she was being here. she was coming to support a veteran initiative. So, um, we just wanted to recognize you for all your hard work that you do for the food bank and to feed the people in our community that are underserved and to encourage you to keep doing a great job at what you're doing. And, uh, you're a a role model for the community and um, you know, I know my colleagues, you've helped a lot with putting um, food bank stations, making it available around the the community and I know some of my colleagues would like to say some words to you to today as well. Thank you. >> Yeah. So, mayor, if I may >> go ahead. >> So, Lorena, this is on behalf of district 2, you know, from council of councilman. Appreciate everything you do. Soch. Mayor, may I? >> Yes. Go ahead. Uh, Lorena, thank you. Really, you do wonders for the city of Laredo and you're always there working for all of us there. I want to give you a huge thanks. We really, really appreciate everything you do for us. I hear comments about the way you're running the food bank and it's just always positive. Go ahead. on behalf of District One. Cliff, [applause] >> [applause] >> And echoing in what the council said, I have been present at the food bank and I'm aware of all the hard work she does. So I can attest to that. So I'm echoing what the council says. And with this in mind, let's proceed. Certificate of recognition. The mayor and city council hereby recognizes Lorenna Rodriguez, Loredo Regional Food Bank director in recognition of your steadfast commitment and relentless work in battling hunger within our community. Your kindness is truly appreciated. Noted February 18, 2025. CONGRATULATIONS [applause] And this is a plaque so grateful recognition presented to Lorena Rodriguez, director, Laredo Regional Food Bank. On behalf of the city of Laredo, mayor and city council, we honor your unwavering dedication and tireless efforts in the fight against hunger in our community. Your leadership and compassion as a businesswoman, athlete, and public servant inspire us all. Thank you very much. [applause] Now, we'd like her to say a couple of words. personal. Council, [applause] you can come down for a picture, please. We'll be right here. >> [snorts] >> Can you see >> that is better? >> Yeah. >> [snorts] >> You want to get on this side? >> Yeah, I'll get this >> right there. >> Ready? One, two, three. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Great. Thank you. [applause] [applause] >> Oh god. [clears throat] What is next? >> Mayor, if I may, I'd like to motion to go back to citizens comments. It is 5:45. The period is closed now. >> Second. >> All right. Motion second. Let's proceed with citizens comments. We need a vote. >> All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion pass. >> Juan Aila. >> Good afternoon, mayor, members of the city council. >> I just wanted to if you can state your name for the record. Wava for the record. I just wanted to applaud and say thank you Councilman Sigaroa for bringing the uh item and talking about bringing awareness to the city of Laredo about border patrol issues and stuff like that. A lot of people are very scared if believe it or not they are scared to come out. You know, there's been times that you find parking lots empty at HB when they're always up to full. I've been able I've gone four times here within the last two weeks and I've been able to park at the very front which normally that doesn't happen. We need to bring awareness. We need to let the people know what is going on. If you read a story this morning, there was a story that that this pe this uh other children were bullying an 11year-old and she took her own life because she that she was told that her parents were going to be deported. We need to bring awareness to our children. We need to bring awareness to our community. I applaud you for that, Councilman. Thank you. Thank you for saying that because I haven't heard the rest of them get on board on this and we need to make it awareness. We need to let everybody know what's going on. We need to for them to come back and enjoy life in Laredo and it's and it's not happening. It's sad but it's not happening. We can bring WBCA. We can bring a bunch of items and it's beautiful in Laredo is WBCA. have America when we uh the people could cross the border without having a visa back in the good old days. Council Marel, you were too young back then. But anyhow, this is what we're talking about. We need to make those people have a great time here in the city of Alto. If you want to promote mayor the city of Laredo, let's bring peace to this people. Let's promote what's going on out there and let the people not be afraid of coming out of their doors because there is people that are scared especially like Rio Bravo Ceniso where you come from Councilman uh Gonzalez you know that the people how they feel over there they're afraid to even come downtown to buy groceries they're sending other people to buy them for why should they why let's bring this awareness to to them let's let them know exactly what's going on I understand PD is not going to get involved if they don't have a warrant I applaud PD for that because they have enough calls as it is. They have enough work as it is. As a former police officer, you know that council measure. So, please let's make it a let's make it a point to bring it up to the city. Make individual in your own district. If you have to make council meetings out there, let's move them out there, but let's let the people know what's going on. Let's move the city council away from here. Let's take it to Councilman Pettis's district, Councilman Garza's district. Let's make everybody aware of what's going on. People can't sometimes come out here or they don't listen to it, but let's bring it to them. Let's don't wait for them to come to us for help. Let's be proactive and not reactive on that. Thank you. >> Thank you. [applause] Ana Jr. >> Good afternoon. My name is Ser Rivera Jr. I uh I'm a designer of glass and uh collective of uh antiques. I thank you uh may mayor and city council and the staff for allowing me to uh represent uh what I want to do. I um I feel that the old post office will be a great place for tourists to go to. I am willing to train uh junior high, high school, and college [snorts] kids to talk to the tourists about Laredo, what we got to offer. I am willing to be there. I'm willing to bring people from Mexico. I got the support of the council of Mexico and uh hopefully the mayor of Novo Laredo through Mayor uh Trevvinho. Uh all I want to do is uh again have a place to so the tourists can go and uh learn about Laredo. Uh on Sundays uh Saturdays I would have uh dances for seniors. Uh I have uh I've been in the in the music business. I have musicians that are willing to come in and uh play. I have uh chefs and cooks that are willing to come in and uh give classes to to the community and the tourists. Um I I feel that that's the uh center of uh Laredo and it would be an ideal place for um tourists to go to and again uh I have all kinds of u artisans that are willing to come in. I already talked to a guy that does blown glass uh who is across the uh in mobile and other other people. um if uh I'm willing to give a percentage of all the sales from all the stuff that I have to the city and uh train whomever I have to train and be there so that we can develop that into a a place for tourists to go and uh learn about Ned's past and the present and uh what we intend to do. I thank you for your time. >> Thank you. [applause] The other comments are on items. Do we have any other comments? Okay. Ramon Aha. >> How many group? >> You're speaking for an item, correct? No public comments. >> Public comments. Okay. >> Go ahead. >> Good evening. >> How how many are you >> in the group? Sure. Our >> group is about 10 people and it's three of us talking about the same. >> All right. Go ahead. >> Yes, sir. Thank you for allowing me to put it forward. My name is Raman. Um, I'm a cyclist and the reason of my my uh presence here is to pretty much to to request con just to make sure that uh on behalf of the cycling community to get a clear explanation of all the expenses or at least the benefits that we're going to get with the grant that it was given to or handed to us as far as the cycling committ to Shiloh mountain bike trails uh enhancements or betterment and um and one of the reasons that is a a kind of controversy is that on one end he said this plan is perfect not perfect but it's really a good plan however there are certain items or language in it that it's bound to to create a controversy because of it's it's not clear and this is not what we as cyclists or a cycling community requested from previous administration. It seems that right now the current plan is for beginner enhancements which is unstated here at a cost of about $300 and something thousands when we we don't want that. We didn't requested beginners. The trail itself is already a beginner trail for kids. And as a bit of history, the Laredo Cycling Association you b uh teams cycling team is then the training grounds in that and and that u trail state champs have trained there kids. So it's already a beginner trail. What we want is to make it a little bit more challenging for all cyclists, not forgetting about the beginner aspect of it. And that's what I was requesting council just to give us a brief explanation of the itemized features or enhancements that that park is going to get. It is a mountain bike facility. It is not designated to have the bearding community, the joggers, the other kind of activities. It is for mountain bikes and the sole purpose when we created with the help of previous councilmans that was for mountain bike. It's a jewel that we have there and we don't want that jewel of a park being converted into a a highway. That's pretty much my my point here and that's what I'm requesting. Just hey, just let's clarify. That's it. We don't I'm not here to fight anybody. I'm here just to expose for the man to be to list here the type of enhancements. Here is stated that they're going to make the the the roads bigger, wider. That's what not what we need. That's not cycling for us. That's not what we requested. The original plan was to make it more enjoyable or more demanding for other for every type of psych mountain bikers, not just for a few, for all of them. And like I said, without forgetting about the kids, okay? Because right now it's kids friendly as it is. It's kids friendly. a three or four year old kid can go into that trail and have a blast. But let's not make it even wider so people can just go and walk around the trail because yes, it's going to be prettier at a cost of almost $600,000. But accident is going about to happen. So I'm going to go fast and ride on my bike fast. And this Sunday I'm almost running to a a jogger in that park. because it's not supposed to be our jars. There's plenty of of of green spaces around that area. So, we can develop and yes, I support uh everything Dr. King that you have here as far as developing in in other um districts, etc. The more the better. the the quality of life. We need to improve it in our city, but let's just let's just stick to the to the main main issue here. And the main issue here is to enhance Shiloh Mountain Bike Trail and keep it as it is as far as mountain bike trail. We don't need any other other type of activities there. >> That's all I have to say. >> Thank you. I appreciate your your attention. >> Thank you very much. >> [applause] >> FERNANDO Valveso [clears throat] and Mayor. >> Yes. >> Could city attorney explain just to the public that I'm limited on how much I can respond to this because it's not on the it's not an agenda item. [clears throat] So >> yes, because it's not agenda item, uh this is uh citizens comments. So, uh, council is restricted to just, uh, clarifying any facts or information, but this is not going to be a dialogue because it's not posted with val. >> All right. Thank you. >> And mayor, just for since clarifications are okay. Um, I I did confirm with the the company that made the document and when they say beginner, that's just that's a word they're using because the trails are very flat in general in Laredo as a train. Such a general word they use. The intention would not be to make it for beginners. It's just that's just the words they use. >> Yeah. >> No, I know. I'm just I'm letting you know that that's how they term it because of our terrain in Laredo Bean flat. >> Okay. Uh for the record, Fernando Valaso, uh member of the cycling community and representing the part of the cycling community here as well. Uh the reason I am here is uh last city council meeting it was not clear to me how the funds were going to be used from the grant that uh it was requested by Mr. Martinez, JJ Gomez and myself. How did we get to that grant? Let me give you a brief history. Back in uh 2021 we Springfield extension was going to be done. We requested for Trum to move it as far west as possible to cut less of the mileage that we already have, you know, and it went from six miles to four miles. Agreeing to that, Marte, previous uh councilman said, you know, we're going to get a grant and whatever is left, we'll enhance him and we'll fix the drainage on it. You know, that's a priority. And uh as you can see here, this is the meeting that I had with Marte on April 9, 2021. And we were talking exactly about those extensions. Uh part of the grant that I wrote requested some volunteers to pledge some volunteers and we did and to send pictures. So this is part of the paperwork that was done to get that grant. Okay. Um first enhancement that we did was getting water. We didn't have any water. So, uh, previous councilman was kind enough and we got water, uh, on April 14, 2021. We also got some shades uh, uh, like about about a month, two months after as well. A Springfield extension is done. We asked part of the extension was to get those culberts so we can get cyclists underneath and use it as enhancement to the trail. since, you know, part of it was cut down. We uh in the plan there's two culberts, one going in, one to come out of the trail. So, they're already working on enhancing the trail even as Springfield is is uh being done. Last year in January 20th, we all went to those culberts and we all agreed that the grant is going to be used to enhance save drainage. Here's people from the city and some of the cyclist that showed up that day. And uh and that's the commitment that we got from the city even as far as one year ago. And uh for some reason last city council meeting, I tried to get an answer if the grant was going to be used to enhance the trail and to fix the drainage, you know, because we need to fix the plumbing before we fix the walls. And um the answer that I got that I understood was that the ground was going to be to be done for a hiking and walking trail in the form of asphalt or concrete from Springfield to McFerson along the northern section of the Shiloh trails behind the Monica subdivision. Again as my friend Ramon said is Shiloh bike trails is for biking. We already have no central part for walking. We cannot mix walking and mountain bikes because there's going to be an accident. It's really unsafe to mix those two sports together. So, I would like to request, you know, if we can get like itemize for maybe next council meeting a timeline of the work that's going to be done. I mean, I think drainage should be done first, then uh trails, then you need to do a sidewalk. You can do a sidewalk. You have priority funds for that. You can run one sidewalk as well, you know, south of Monaco or south of Monarch subdivision. They misspelled it. Uh, you can do that, but let's fix the plumbing first. I don't disagree with these guys. I mean, we want to, you want to invest 600, 800, 900,000, the better, because we're having some cyclist go out of town, spending their money somewhere else so they can ride. Some uh cyclists are being run over as uh last month there was another one because for that same reason every time it rains we cannot use it and they get on the street they get into accidents. So all I'm asking is hopefully for next month if we can get a detailed timeline of the work that's going to be performed. >> All right. Thank you. Do you have two other people that >> this one person? >> Yes. >> Anybody else? No, >> thank you. >> Okay. Thank you, [applause] >> Mayor. I'd like to make a motion to bring up item 88 A1, 2, and three. Mayor >> 88 88 D 3 8 B >> one >> one. >> Thank you. >> And 88 C1 >> 8 I I 88D1 mayor. >> All right. >> Motion second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion passes. >> 88 D A1. Yes, sir. 88 D1 >> A1 A1 A1 is your >> A1 sorry let people walk out first. >> Yes sir. 881 A1 discussion and update with the creation of a plaza to plaza corridor which would include existing discussions between mayor of Laredo and mayor of no Laredo to increase tourism border security and economic development in the respective downtown communities. This is a followup of discussions that we have regularly had with regards to bational projects that improve the quality of life of our intertwined communities and is not costly to taxpayers. Alcalesa has already started the initiative at Benito Huarees Plaza with dances and events for senior citizens on our side. traffic studies have already begun and this area is part of my mayor Harvard Bloomberg program initiative. So these are are things that we need to focus on and I think that that is something worthwhile looking into. >> Yes. Go ahead. So, we're trying to get uh more uh more events going onto the plazas downtown and have more event if you know I think if anything's Yeah. CV here. Who's going to be the director for that? >> CBP, right? >> CBP administration management. Do we have an answer? Do we have anything? Anybody comment on that? >> Can we have if we've already looked into it or we have anything coming up because it's an update? >> No, mayor and city council. No, we are we are working on and we're working on all the pieces. We don't have an update for tonight. So the but the intent of I think the idea of the plaza to plaza corridor is to uh improve the infrastructure between the two cities in that area reduce congestion uh improve the security within that area so that everybody can feel safe from either side of the border. That's my understanding. Mayor, is that correct? >> Yes, mayor. Well, the the problem is that we're, you know, it's been here for a week and we're we're going coming up with updates and we're asking for updates and this is the second time if we're bringing it's going to be an update and you already had this uh this item for a week. I I guess somebody should have some information, you know, see ready for us to present, you know, and I think it's really disrespectful to the mayor, you know, bringing this item up and not having, you know, information on it or not having any update on it. So, I guess, you know, >> yes, go ahead. Um so I I do remember uh at the bational workshop when the discussion was on the the riverfront project and we did have representatives and architects from Nova Laredo speaking to residents of the neighborhood communities in Laredo. Um there was um a group who approached us about creating some type of initiative to do focus really on that downtown corridor. But my understanding was that we would be spinning off and have meetings that were in intensely focused on that and they would be by national. We would invite the architects from Nova and then also have city management involved and I don't I don't know that that formal step took place. I think it's been a discussion, but I don't know that those invitations have have gone out or um I think the economic development departments from both sides of our cities were going to also enter into discussions. So I don't I think it's kind of preliminary still. Um, I understand that the idea has been spoken about between um the Alcadesa and and our mayor, but I do think it is a little bit in its infancy stage. I would I am in favor of this. I hope we can move forward with it. I think it'd be a great idea to marshall resources and discuss how we um how both sides improve the riverfront and the blas and and begin to spark the initiative to increase crossber traffic. >> Yes. And uh just to focus a little bit on our discussions with a mayor to this has been a mayor to mayor conversation and the idea is to do a a focused areas not not the vice national park that we had said before but this is an initiative to create activity downtown. We're trying to revitalize some areas of downtown. This is a a a start and if we have the mayor from No also on the same page I think it's worthwhile looking into and this is not a project that would include a whole bational theme and mayor and city council I think taking that a little bit farther as well too the more we can understand about what the input what the what the effect is because we we are doing a lot of work in the downtown right around bridge one in order to increase the the pedestrian and flow as well too and all of that. So, understanding exactly and and and I would I would probably state that getting both mayors in the room with city management would go a long way for helping figure out exactly what pieces to put together and when. And >> mayor, may I be the director? >> Yes, go ahead. >> Uh you said economic development, you know, it's has been, you know, involved in this in this conversation. Do we have economic development here? >> Oh, Mir may I just correct my statement? Go ahead. >> I I believe that the intent of of um the representatives of Moedo was that we should involve the economic development departments from both sides. I'm not sure if that >> Well, might as well just we have our economic development here and she can give us a a little an update of how things can run and how things we can can be moved. >> Thank you foring city managers, mayor, council members. Um indeed, there was a very preliminary meeting that um I conducted with the then economic development director. I believe there has been some changes in their administration. Um they did share some of the plans that they have on that side of the of the border you know with their downtown. I think um the next step and as per directive will be to see how we can match any possible projects that Laredo has. On that same note, on the Bloomberg project and the plaza connectivity, um at the last meeting, um we did bring forward an item to apply for a grant um for the San Augustine Plaza so that we can have artwork and in the um Saragosa um street that connects to La Posada and the San Augustine Plaza and also to improve the crosswalks in in all four corners of the San Augustine. And even though it may seem as a very tiny project, I think it goes somehow along the wishes of um what the mayor and maybe council would like to see with this particular project. >> Yeah, we have to be aware that this is a focused project. It's not a huge thing that we cannot afford. So hopefully they'll there'll be affordability. Quite frankly, yes. Quite frankly, when the the grants division was looking at the opportunity for the Bloomberg um artwork street program um for this particular project, that's exactly how we saw it because, you know, it can be a little bit expensive, but we saw it as a you know, maybe step one or phase one of any other possible projects that can be connected. We even considered the bike lane that [clears throat] by lane that connects um bridge number one all the way to city hall. So yes, there has been different areas that have been identified for any future phases if that's the directive that you know we receive. >> All right. >> Thank you so much. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Mayor. May I ask? >> Yeah. Go ahead. >> Um if management needs that directive to begin those uh meetings. >> Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Because I I Well, with I'll I'll see the Florida. I just a quick question mayor also if um if you wouldn't mind considering um including the some of the the tur members on in in your conversations or in planning for this great idea. >> M would you have any comment there? >> No mayor I I think I think from from this point of of course having your vision out there as to what what we're trying to accomplish with that. I I think the for the council's sake is that the stronger the vision is then then the easier it is to figure out what parts to play at what time. So I don't I don't know if there's anything wrong with putting in the the any any of the representatives on this council and everything in order for that conversation. So >> this item doesn't have action on it just uh to put it out to put the idea forth. >> What we will do based upon based upon my timelines and my strategies and everything just so the council's aware is that I I will be sitting with the mayor. we will be working out a uh a timeline as to when we would bring back some type of the vision a little bit farther as to what that looks like. So for the council's review and so I I want I don't want you to to sit there and think that we we we don't handle these things. We handle these things all the time. It's just making sure that we've got the right people in the room to establish the vision and then we'll move it forward. So all right, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Mayor, can you make a comment? >> Yes, go ahead. I just want to commend um the mayor for you for bringing this item. I think it's important and uh it's something that we've talked about for a long time. So, it's good to see it on the agenda as an initiative and I do think it will benefit us in in form of people coming downtown hopefully. Um but uh I do think that uh it's a good initiative for the city. >> All right. Thank you. >> Then uh 88A2 discussion with possible action on directing management to create a marketing and or strategic plan for the city of Laredo positioned before the Washington legislative trip. An educational campaign consistent with the law for the May bond referendum election and any matters related there too. I brought this item up because we have to have a serious conversation and a push. Uh this this Washington trip is not about personal political agendas. Similar to the state trip, we put our communities resources at risk if we give inconsistent messages. So we have to be on the same page. I think additionally I think that some of the serious resources and educating the public for the first bond referendum of this type in 32 years the public needs to be educated on what the bonds are, what they mean, and what they will uh impact their taxes. So because there's a lot of misinformation out there, I think uh we have to open this up to council. So these are these are the ideas we need to put forth and I think we have to get some education to the public. It's crucially important that that we stay on the same page as to what we want to do in regards to the bond. >> Go ahead. >> Um I I guess it sounds as if this proposal is for two separate efforts. one for um having a cohesive plan for the DC legislative trip and I do believe management has put out there some talking points and some areas of focus for our city and I for one am appreciative of of this to bring it forth because I would like some more in-depth discussion about how we want to frame the message but I do believe that framework exists and then the second item is to create the plan for the bond election so that as we were told last meeting that we would be putting forth facts and just sharing what the facts are so that um any uh narrative that perhaps is not representative of those facts at the very least people can see what the bond election really is. So I is it are there two separate campaigns that we're talking about with this item? It's two separate things, but I think we have to be on the same page and to put forth our message of what the city is is about and where we're heading to and the public what the public needs to know and what we need to do in our trips when we go out of town to stay focused on the needs and the basic core functions of the city and how we how we handle them. >> Go ahead. >> Go ahead. Oh, just real quick related to your item. Any matters in there too. Um just update. I know we we technically created an internal marketing department um last year. Any update on the job search for the director position? >> Yeah, mayor and city council council member um we are actually starting interviews next week on that position. I believe we have 11 to 12 candidates for that position. They've been vetted out. uh they have completed there's 11 of them I believe that have completed the initial interview process which is a video interview to answer some of the questions that are and then we'll we'll bring them in for the we'll bring in the the top tier of the ones for uh the in-person interviews that those are supposed to start next week. Um and so that's where we're at with the marketing department as as a whole for for where we're headed. I I will if I will take the opportunity if I could mayor if that's all right to answer some of this as well too because um city council did establish what our when our trip to DC what our broad level issues were going to be as to what we were going to address that what that's what we're built for. I think what the mayor is taking this thing a little bit farther with is is the broader level of all the movement that we're seeing with the conversation on the immigration, the conversation on the border wall, all of those things because those are going to be topics that we're going to end up probably addressing whether we want to or not as we go up there. So, I think when the mayor's looking at that, it's not that we've we haven't put the information together that we we wanted to. We believe that the the complexity and the need to go to DC has shifted a little bit based upon these broader level points. So that I mean I I think that's what what what I was understanding today in the conversation. And uh on the on the other second part of that because I would I would say that they're both separate items. The bond referendum we are building a uh a plan currently right now. I do have a draft that I can hand out if if necessary as to where we're at with that bond referendum. We are utilizing our internal because of time we're using our internal and then I am bringing out outside assistance for marketing and and such in order to build a very comprehensive package to go out to um all of our people. We are scheduling I believe up we're at right at three town hall meetings right now that are going to happen at the end of March into into April. Uh we are trying to get together the fact sheets because we're not we're not telling everybody that they should vote a certain way. We're tell we're telling the facts as to what the issues are and that's what that's what legally that's what we're allowed to do. Uh any of any other groups that decide that they want to help pro or con they they can say a lot of other things but our focus is going to be on putting together very simplified fact sheets that say here's what we're putting into the bond referendum. We are utilizing uh some local agencies as well as our internal people just based upon um cost and time because it it takes a little while to put enough brain power together to put a the plan together that's going to be all-encompassing for that work. But those are the two items that are I think as far as city management is. That's where we're at. I do have a I do have the draft plan that we've been working on. Mr. grown has has put together a lot of it and then I I put together the pieces that I knew that we would need for the outreach as well too. So I I think we've got it well in hand, but it's going to be informing and educating on what those needs are. Uh we'll lean on our directors a little bit for some of the town hall conversations as well too. But the whole idea is to put forward the information saying this is what this is what was discussed with the council. This is what we're asking that what to be uh considered and looked at and then please vote. Right. >> I'd like to allow for additional resources. Also, >> we needed >> our intent is to do that. The the idea though is that I'm working within the procurement responsibilities for that because uh if we're going to go out for RFP, we're going to be in April before you get one approved. So, we're going to keep that we're going to keep that that tight. We're going to keep it very specific to the work that needs to be done. And um I've talked to a lot of the people that I'm hoping that we're going to be able to lean on in order to get the work done. Um and so we actually have a meeting later this week in order to bring in a lot of those resources. Exactly what you're saying, Mayor. Is that that was the intent to try to find a model that would work within that structure. >> Mayor, if I may. >> Yes. Go ahead. Uh I just I'd like to make a motion to bring up uh item 88E2 into the discussion for your item, mayor, because I feel it's relevant. >> Second motion second. >> All in favor? >> I oppose. Motion passes. Uh, mayor Lee, uh, my item uh, is basically discussion with possible action to host the city of Laredo budget and finance workshop for the citizens of Laredo using our actual numbers and data so the public can gain a better understanding of our finances and any other matters incident there too. Co-sponsored by the mayor uh, Dr. Victor Trevinho, council member Gilbert Gonzalez, and council member uh, Richard Al. Uh, I think it's important that the public knows um, you know, why we're going the bonding bond route. You know, there's concerns out there with our budget and and where the money is going. There's uh, commentary out there that might suggest that this bond is not needed. Um we as a council, it's important for the community not just to know numbers and facts, but also um as part of this initiative where what the needs of the city are and and and the reason why we're unable to um you know accomplish a lot of these things. Um and so it's more than just uh marketing for the conversations that we've had. It's more marketing the vision of council, the things that we talk about up here. Not everybody watches the six-hour council meeting every two weeks. So, a lot of the public doesn't get to see or hear what conversations we're having. And I think summing up the direction that we as a council are trying to take the city would be very beneficial for the bond package. And the fact that we're a few months out from the vote and we've been talking about this for a while. Um I'm kind of surprised to hear that we haven't made any progress at all towards the messaging or is there is there anything at all that that so far that has been done towards messaging or communication of the need or anything like that? >> Yeah, mayor and mayor prom council uh we are working on that messaging now. Again, everything needs to have its storyline, right? And then we're going to build off of that story line. So for for the the bond referendum, that's the intent. Uh our meeting is tomorrow, just just so you know. Uh we had a lot of work that we had to finish up from last week when we when we finished the bond referendum work. And so we we're we're right in cycle. The hope is that we are starting to put out information uh that first week of March and then we're going to intensify it as we go into two the two months out for to get there for that. uh piggybacking off of the other this other item as well too. One of the things that we are doing this year for our budget process and we are shifting a lot of things within our budget and you've I've all talked to most of you individually about different things that are challenging within our budget that we want to make sure that we're we have our fingers and our heartbeat on as well too. I will be asking the council to consider a special uh session for budget only a budget workshop at the end of March. Right now, I've tenatively blocked out the 24th. Again, we'll poll you, make sure whether or not that's in there. But I wanted to wait till after the second meeting and then bring you in and we're going to give you a full picture of the budget. We have tentatively based upon Mayor Pro Tim's item tentatively set a town hall meeting for the budget on the 27th of March. >> Mayor, >> for just the budget? Yes. I don't I I my my intention with this item is not not for it to be like a whole budget workshop, just more of an educational like um just so people can understand kind of like the rundown that we got when we first came into council as regular citizens coming into council. We had to learn all this stuff too. So I I think it would be helpful for the people to understand how much of our budget comes from the bridge, how much comes from our enterprise funds, how much you know just a breakdown just so they understand >> and mayor prom we can get to that as well too. So we are doing a citizen survey this next month in March. We're putting out a citizen survey on the budget going what's your priorities? What do you what do you want to do? And I think everything we can big piggy back off of those pieces and and it'll it'll expand out the story in greater detail uh to show that picture of of why we're asking why why are we out there? What are we doing within that process because it's really hard to fight against some of the uh uh what I call the rumor mill stuff that that doesn't have any bearing in in the truth. But it's because people don't understand it. Go ahead. >> Yeah. So, I agree with uh with uh with Councilman um Pettis on uh having having this information going out, but I think it's it's it would be better if we it would go out from the source, which means like if we're going to go if uh you know, having the the police, the chief of police go out there and you know, explain to the community why he needs that, you know, all the the equip the equipment he needs, the expenditure, everything that they need to progress. That's, you know, having him go out there. I understand I know Isla does an a an awesome job. She does, you know, PIO. It's a phenomenal job. But at the same time, having that person, you know, that is there, the professional, the director that we have there, explaining the to the community why he's asking for that kind of money, explaining why he needs the expenditure, having Chief Herd out there explaining why we need more ambulances, uh, that we're growing, you know, that where the the the South D's growing, North Dorado is growing, Easter's growing, and West's growing, and explaining we can't, you know, we can't do this without this equipment. we need the help of the community but having them I think will we will touch a little bit more to the community explaining them why we need this you know the budget will come into itself we'll be seeing I know the workshop will work but having these these uh these individuals and directors going going out there and explaining to the community hey we need your we need your help we're growing as a community we need your youel we need you to come out here and vote for this or you know because we need these monies to get more cadet, more cadets, more peace officers, and I've been seeing uh, you know, PIO for for PD, they've been doing an awesome job seeing that they're they're promoting actually the the city of Laredo page promoting that they're we're hiring you new officers that u to take the test and stuff. So, I just called I got calls today, you know, being seeing that, hey, I just applied I'm, you know, I'm going to be an officer. So, that's it does help. So having those those uh those those uh programs and those uh those events going on I think it they help us a lot. >> No, council member and I agree completely on that. The the best thing is taking our experts and our professionals to explain that in my mind that's not what PIO's job is anyway. There is theirs is to package the information together so it can reach out even farther than our than our uh chiefs. What I what I intended to do for of course for the town halls was match up exactly with what you're what you're recommending and what you're saying as well too is that they don't need to hear from they need to hear different pieces but they also need to hear from these professionals these these ones that are the closest to the issue and I think that's the intent of of the town hall meetings but we also are going into our our [clears throat] 202526 budget year and so these are the changes that we are making within our budget to be more inclusive of making sure everybody's out there. So, what I what I think is that we're going to see this thing build off the same foundational blocks and actually do more things for us as we move through this entire year. I think the bond referendum is very important because it has a short window of time. But our budget process is also one that we need to be able to explain on a continuous basis. If we can't explain our budget, then we can't explain why we need the funding for any of these activities. And so, I think they all marry together very well. >> Mayor, if I may. >> All right. All right. >> Mayor Fay, >> go ahead. Um I just I I want to also uh I think that the public is also on this um you know department of governmental efficiency uh train right now and I think it would be I know Mr. Kishner came up last council meeting and gave us some examples of you know cutting spending that he had identified. I think it would be also helpful for the public to see some of those efforts that we're we've also made to identify, you know, wasteful spending and and cut some things out out from, you know, that we're spending money on that we don't need to or whatever just so they could understand that we're not being irresponsible with the money. We're trying actually trying to um get this corrected from um you know, just the part of the system, part of the way things have always worked. And also, mayor, uh, as part of the, um, March council meeting, the first meeting in March, I think it would be helpful for us to get an update on the marketing plan and what's what message is going to be out given out to the community. That way, we can all give our input or suggestions. Start um, >> comment on Mayor and Mayor Pro Tim. Yeah. So, what I what I think is going to happen is we're going to tomorrow. We we've have pulled all the information together. I guess when you ask where we're at with that, we've pulled all the data together now from what the decision was on the bond referendum. So, we've got all that data now. Now, it's to package it in a format that can be understood. And so, uh, our meeting tomorrow is based upon establishing that overall writing vision for that. So, it will match in very closely exactly what you're asking for, Mayor Pro. And so we'll be able to we'll be able to provide that that information so that you can help help make sure that the vision or the story that we are going to tell fits that vision of the council as a whole. So >> Okay. And now that you brought up the water, let me uh bring up item >> 1288 C3. >> 883. >> I'm sorry. One last question to wrap this up. go ahead and proceed and then we'll go to this one. >> I I um I guess we we started talking about the bond election and meeting about that. Are are we going to meet about the DC legislative trip or or is that something that can be done perhaps with small groups of council members that the city can reach out to us? >> Yeah. Yeah. I I I believe that you are all busy with your own own own schedules for everything as well too. More than likely, what we're what we will probably have to do is incorporate smaller groups when when I can get enough of you in there to have conversations with different different items, bring you up to date. Um, and then that'll help me prepare items to come forward if I need the action of the city council for that as well too. So, um, if we I I in my mind, I think it's going to be problematic for us to continue to wait on time for a special session because, um, this whole year, I mean, look how fast we're moving and it's just it's just a lot of a lot of time. You guys are you guys are very passionate about what you're doing. All right. So, so 12883 discussion with possible action on utility updates and any matters related to there too. And I'd like to hear from management on the current progress of water programs like the line replacement, valve replacement along with the conservation plan updates. I think the public also is interested in knowing how we're doing there. [clears throat] Mayor and city council, I'm going to have Mr. Pisker give an update on that. I know that we just came back from Austin. We had a good conversation there with TCUQ and um all the other groups that we met with, but I would like Mr. Pisker to answer that question. I believe he's got some good responses for them. There we go. Um, mayor, council, city management staff. Uh, Buzz Pisker, interim executive director of the utility department. I have a I think a an update. You know, I was just before you about a month ago, a little bit less, but a lot going on and a lot of lot of stuff. And I think some of the some of these topics I think you'll find quite interesting. I hope. Uh, the first one is second source. you know, there's a lot of discussion about what are we going to do for water for growth and and and and down the line. So, I just wanted to give you kind of an update on things have been happening and where where we're at. Uh, our city manager is now a member of the Legacy Water Supply Corporation board and he's a he's he's a customer member and so we're working with that group to see what the what potential uh they have for the city. I also um I'm happy to tell you that we have prepared for two other options uh for for another source for some groundwater sources. So, we have three things going on at the same time, which I kind of like uh because it gives us some opportunities. The other thing is you'll see a little exhibit there, my my little puzzle wheel, but u this is what I the mayor gave me the privilege of addressing the South Texas Alliance of Mayors and my topic was source of supply. So, I think this is the vision that we're going to land on because I think it's a multifaceted opportunity. Uh, we've talked about groundwater. I can tell you that the ASR study that we chartered probably a year or so ago is concluding. It's not a viable alternative right now uh for for several reasons, but you know, it was reviewed again. Um, we're also evaluating options in our master plan and we had our initial meeting with the cork, [clears throat] uh, which is a innovative way to do do some reuse water. But I think what you're going to find in that in that little puzzle wheel is all the opportunities we have and um, I guess what I want to say is groundwater is an opportunity. We certainly have rights to the Rio Grand and all the studies I've seen suggest that we'll probably be able to use the amount of water. Let me just give you three quick numbers which I think will set up u the opportunity. Our average day in 2024 was 34 million gallons a day produced. Our peak day was 44 million gallons a day. Our water rights out of the Rio Grand are 54 million gallons a day. Okay. So, that's those are the numbers we're dealing with right now. The other one that I think is is is intriguing is our wastewater facilities put 20 million gallons a day back into the Rio Grand River. So, our net discharge is about 14 MGD, maybe 24 on a busy day. And so, when you see beneficial reuse on here, I think that's something we we really need to consider or be looking at as part of that part of the action plan. talked about groundwater supply. The other one that I'll always hit on because I think it's our job is utility optimization. You know, you cut down your main brakes, your valves work, you meter properly. Suddenly the same amount a lot less water serves the population. You can create five to 10% of additional source of supply just by running the utility better. We're working on that as you know and I'll talk about that in a second. And then um you know regional solutions. It would be great to be a regional player. I I look at Laredo uh as a as a center, okay? We're a big city in a nice area. We ought to be a leader. We ought to be people making things happen. We ought to be working with our neighbors. So that should be part of the mix as far as I'm concerned. So that's the current situation. um water and wastewater rehabilitation initiatives a lot of discussion but uh the design of the initial three water manes that I've talked to you about is complete we expect to be going to bid for those in mid-March and we'll be selecting then a both contractors and a methodology uh we're hoping to get bids from uh what I'll call trenchless technology which has some superior advantages over the open cut that we're used to but We'll let the chips fall where they they may. Uh we've identified 69 high break frequency mains. Three of those are the three that we've already designed that we're putting out for bid and then we'll go from there [snorts] in awarding contracts. The other thing that's going on is we're we we had a a manhole evaluation uh project bid and selection. We're going to do about 450 manholes. We have a lot more than that, but we're going to do the high high risk and and the high target areas. As you know, the 54 inch, remember I showed you that picture last time I was with you that the pipe was 40% filled. That's the 54 inch uh wastewater collection main we have, which was going to take the flow from the Zakate plant when the Manatus plant is completed. That will be cleaned. That's out for bid. uh and one of the manholes on that line, believe it or not, collapsed. And so we're spending significant six figures each month pumping around that until we get it repaired. So again, another example of why manhole evaluation is important because we don't want them failing. We'd like to know beforehand and get them fixed. Same way with the pipe inspections. uh financial management. You'll always see this because I'm trying to get all of our folks focused on how do we do things better? What things shouldn't we be doing? Uh this is an update from the 2.5 million I showed you last time I was here. So, we'll continue to do this these kind of things, just evaluating things. the AR ASR study which is listed there uh is interesting because I told the contractors who had been hired to do that I said give me an answer you know we should get to a when when you do studies and by the way we've had four ASR studies in the last 20ome years so this isn't a new thing at some point unless there's a new technology like directional drilling or you know those kind of things some of these things it's pretty easy to see if is viable today than it was 10 years ago or 12 years ago. So I asked them as you go through this process, don't just churn the whole file for the whole whole amount we've given you. Let's get a decision point where it's no go or no go and if we get to that point, we'll just, you know, call it a day and move on. So that's where some of those savings are coming from. The other one I want to note is one of the the mains we're going out for bid on was [clears throat] actually designed by our in-house engineering staff. And uh by the way uh the other two cost about $33,000 a piece and they did this one which is the same length as the other two put together. So that saved us $60,000 in design cost. So again we're we're keeping that consciousness about let's be efficient, let's be effective. Let's look at things we might have thought about doing. The only other one I'll mention is the canceled electrical upgrade. That's at one of our uh wastewater plants. And I guess there was a plan or some talk a few years ago about a prison or something going in in the north part of town. That never happened. Uh so there's no sense spending money on an electrical upgrade when we didn't get the, you know, and now we've got the Monadus plant getting ready to come online. So again, relooking at everything uh and finding some savings which we can re repurpose. Quite frankly, I'd like to see those be water manes and valves and the the other stuff we're going to be doing. Regulatory compliance. Again, you'll always see this on my agenda. Uh we're doing a risk and resilience. It's a fiveear five-year update. It's mandatory. That's off and running. Uh we will be applying for some funding to refine our lead and copper compliance. As you know, we we're compliant now. We've done the first phase. Next thing is we've identified 37,000 services that we don't know whether they're lead or copper. We we we did it by date of installation. So what'll happen now is we'll take get some money I believe uh from Texas Fire Development Board and we'll start refining that number so we know how much of a challenge we may have. The other thing that's going to happen and again it's the excitement of doing a lot of things when we start replacing mains. We're going to know what the services are because every main that's replaced is going to have brand new services. So, we're going to get valves that are brand new. We're going to get mains that are brand new. We're going to get services that are brand new. And we're going to find out what was in there before so we can identify that for the residents. So, again, [snorts] a lot of this stuff's going to come together, I think, in in a very positive way. The next item is really interesting. Um, one of the one of the one of my staff brought up that, hey, we got a backup power unit sitting and we're not using it and uh why don't we repurpose it and put it over by the wastewater lab. It's the only lab we have. So, we've done that and I want to get that lab certified and we want to start doing our testing inhouse because we think we can save $120,000 a year by sending samples out. And I want to have that technology and I want to have that expertise. And by the way, we will market that to other utilities. You know, we'll have a certified lab. We'll be able to create some revenue, build some expertise, and and save ourselves some money. So, to me, that's kind of exciting. Uh the next item is a product of our Austin visit. Um we we were very much encouraged to apply for some funding and we will do that. We will meet the deadline and we're going to apply for $57 million in funding. That's for a meter program and a new uh pump station and tank on the south side of town if you're wondering. And those are the ones we actually brought there. And then the fifth item is to me really the art of the game. We're doing a positive sample SOP. That's not that we're planning to have positive samples for bacteria, right? But if we have one, we will have a plan in place to minimize the impact. That's important. You can't rule out any kind of a issue like that, but we need to do the best we can to be prepared to sample and react so that we minimize the impact on this community. So that's in play. That'll be completed in very short order. Little preemptive work. And this is you you saw this on my first presentation to you only I cut out the left side of the the teeter totter and put some other things there. But uh I'm excited to tell you that uh we're working with the IT department on that stage three searchcharge. If you remember back in October when I got here there was stage three and we moved to stage two. But one of the problems was part of actually a lot of the things that were in stage three we couldn't actually do. We had given so many exceptions to our hydrant meters and we couldn't apply the search charge because our technology didn't do that. Well, if that happens again, I want this utility to be in a position to be able to fulfill the stage three if we get there. So, we're doing that preemptively. That's what's going on. We're going to upgrade our metering. That's important because it's it's our cash register, but more importantly, AMI metering is a big tool to leak detection because we can do we can read every meter every 15 minutes so we can see where flows are going and those kind of things. And then I think this is a big one. Um we're coordinating with public works on road excavations. We're going to be tearing up a lot of roads, putting in mains, and they've got a lot of roads that are scheduled for paving. and we're going to be replacing valves and we're going to break a bunch of valves with our valve program as I've told you, but we'll replace them. So, the point is how can we best coordinate so we're not tearing up brand new pavement, etc. So, uh we're we're going to be working on that. And then we're going to have a new building adjustment policy effective March 1st. Uh I think the people will like it. Uh it's a transition. We will not mandate that people hire plumbers to go find a leak. uh you'll have one adjustment per two years. That adjustment will be based on your usage a prior year month that you have the the higher bill. And you'll also pay you'll pay that fee plus a plus a a cost for for the marginal cost of the water which will reduce the impact dramatically. Uh but it'll give our people a chance to react to those kind of things. It will be optional. It will be done immediately when a customer calls in. Our customer service specialists will be authorized to say, "Here's our adjustment policy. If you'd like to use it, you get one every two years. If you choose not to use it, and I've had people do that once we gave them the adjustment, which is significant, they'd say, you know, I want to keep my powder dry. I may have another problem that's a little bit bigger." So, we're going to give the customer a little control here, which I like and I think they'll they'll like, but it can be done immediately. It doesn't have to go through five iterations and down to the director and you know that we should be able to respond to this stuff time. >> There's a question. Go ahead council. Mr. >> Buzz, I like I'm thinking go into more detail the new adjustment policy. Right. But if you if you will be kind enough just to put it in Spanish and so we can have that explanation to our community in Spanish so they can understand what the what you're trying to do. Um I I I like the idea. Oh >> But at the same time, if you have somebody here >> Yeah. No, you know Spanish. >> I don't know. If anything, [clears throat] if you have >> You got me where I can't can't go. >> No, but if you have a director or somebody that can explain to you uh from your department right now with you or any or city man, assistant city managers, explain it and translate it. >> That's going to explain it. >> Okay. To translate it to the so the the community that is watching right now can understand what we're trying to do. >> Yeah. Yeah, cuz I like the idea, but I just they're seeing and they're seeing the adjustment, but if we can have that conversation in Spanish, what you just said about the adjustments, it'll be, you know, be perfect for the community. >> Um, every resident will be able to have a bill that's abnormal. They won't be mandated to get a plumber or spend money on a plumber to to to validate what the problem is. and our customer service specialist when they answer the inquiry will have the ability to offer an adjustment immediately. Right at that time, the customer will have the option of taking the adjustment or not. Fore! Foreign! Foreign! Okay. And the adjustment will be correlated to their previous normal usage in in the month the year prior. >> Okay. >> So it'll be just slightly higher than that. >> Okay. So, one years. Okay. >> So, my my question is if if there's if if there's been more usage past months, it's going to be the adjustment is going to be lower or is it going to be higher? Typically, an adjustment is called for when a customer gets a bill that's outside their normal usage significantly, two times, three times, those kind of things. And so, what we're going to do, a year ago, they had a normal bill. This year, in January, let's say it was three times last January. They would then qualify for the adjustment if they want it, and it'll be correlated to last year's cost, not this year's cost. So, it'll be significant reduction. Can you translate? I'm sorry. I go too fast. >> No, no, you're fine. Okay. Um, is this March 1st? March 1st. >> Okay. >> Just a quick question. Go ahead, >> Mr. Buzz. Would would there be a tool in the in the near future where uh where people can actually track and monitor their their water usage? >> Yeah, thank you for that question. I appreciate it. um in the we are going to do the meter change out that I I've mentioned or it's on the chart there that will allow us to be full AMI which means we'll have smart meters >> if we move forward which I would suggest we would there's an adjunct to that in software that's called a customer portal [clears throat] >> customer portal I've done three four this is the fourth meter change out I don't say everywhere I goes we're doing meter change outs must something in the water. But anyways, all of those other entities have put in a customer portal. Customer portal allows the resident to go in at any time during the day. These meters read themselves every 15 minutes and they send it to a collection. The resident will be able to go in and actually see their usage on an hourly basis so they can actually help themselves with conservation. I would strongly suggest as we move to full AMI that we go in and get the software and the portal to to enhance that. >> Okay. Yeah. I would I would uh suggest management to just keep us at par when when that transition is happening so we can you know that'd be very that'd be great for you know for the for the community out there to monitor. You know how now we get how many kilowatts on light we've used and you might want to pick up that AC a little bit to to prevent a high cost. Well, it's a great tool for our customer service specialists because many times we get a call and people say, "I couldn't have used that much water." And I I respect that. Truth of the matter is I was able to show city council in a couple other cities I've been and I do a print out and I'd say, "See, this customer used 4,000 gallons between 3 and 5 a.m." Because their sprinkler system came on on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. >> Yeah, that's right. >> But, you know, they didn't remember the lightning struck and it got it out of kilter or something. So now we'll be able to show them exactly when they used the water they're being built for. That's a big plus for our people trying to help people and it's also a big benefit to the resident to be able to track that, see what's going on. >> Great. Thank you, Mr. Appreciate that. Sure. >> Yeah. Go ahead, council. >> And [clears throat] I'm sorry I I I would you rather I I just hold on until the final presentation. Is that okay? >> Um and and that's it. you hit on a on a big ticket item for the for the citizens of Laredo. Um if you look at your regular light bill, fees, taxes, and everything else is pretty much higher than what the actual usage is cost, you know. So if you have $57 worth of water, you have $180 $120 worth of fees and taxes. I think we also need to break down I was I was speaking to uh uh well I was going to work on that and and how to look at the bill a little bit better uh for customer service you know u reasons that this what what you're working on is fantastic because it it it just brings up a whole array of of questions that the public has has told me and questions that I have myself. Right. So, one of the things that we're going to try and do, and I spoke to city manager earlier about this, is during this next couple of months, and and especially, you know, your department as I'm very proud of the fact with all the work that you're doing. Um, I feel like, you know, uh, the city's getting a sense that we're headed in the right direction with everything that we're doing from utilities point of view and we need to jump on that bandwagon. We need to for the for the sake of the bond issue, we need to jump on that bandwagon. we got to concentrate on everything that we're doing right and we need to let do a better job of telling the people what we're doing right. Uh a lot a lot of times we just people get to see the negative part of it and we need just need to focus on that. Having said that, I just noticed right now the ASR uh study uh I just calculated it probably won't go into effect till about 3 years from now until we find either a secondary water source um and and so that we can uh so we we'll have continuous uh we continuously have to manage our water from being you know uh thrown back out. >> Well, let me say this too. If in fact we had a viable ASR opportunity, >> we have we we have the ability to take 54 MGD out of the grant real grand. >> We're only using 34. >> We could process the other 20 and put it remember it's aquafer storage and recovery. Right. So as long as you have more than you're using, you could actually treat some proactively and put it in the in the bank so to speak, right? >> So my question was on that during that 57 million you just caught me with that number. That was so that means it was a very successful trip for Austin for you uh once they applied for it. Is it going to be designated for anything like that or is it just simply for for uh uh any other usage that you have in other words? Are they going to are they going to specify exactly what you can use it for only? >> We are going to tell them what we want to use it. >> There you go. Thank you. That's what I want to hear. That's what exactly what I want to hear. >> That's the deal. >> Okay. Good. Um, you know, and and going down my list of things, um, obviously we we mentioned that there was one item that I that I noticed. I we're headed into a cold spell again tomorrow, >> right? >> Uh, I I can almost guarantee. >> Are you looking at the rest of my slides? [laughter] >> So, that's I don't want to get ahead. Go ahead. Go ahead. >> I tease it. >> I have bad handwriting, so I don't, you know, I can't I got to do it while I It's fresh in my head, >> please. But my point is that obviously it's going to happen again and and uh the public should know that uh especially the public should know that just from what I witnessed this last time around I guess again I couldn't be prouder of your department and the way they worked that people sometimes while they're asleep these guys are working and fixing what they need to do. And a lot of people that sometimes they it's these are all good deeds that go, you know, that do not go unpunished because they think that people are not doing their job. And it's just something that's just overwhelming that we're going through. But I do have to say though that some of the things that that that I fear because of that, I'm not sure if we're going along and preparing our streets uh when we cover them up so that we don't leave any existing lines in there that might collapse. uh that that will put put some damage uh later on down when we resurface or do anything like that. Any existing lines will be cancelceled out. Are they do they have to be taken out or they u uh the risk of them collapsing is u zero to none? >> They'll they'll be depressurized. The good news is if if we do the trenchless technology, which I think is going to be the methodology, you use the old line as your conduit. >> Yeah, >> it's perfect. >> Okay, good. So you're actually filling it up with a new pipe. You're breaking it apart, >> sliding a new pipe in. You don't take up more rightway easement because remember every time you put a line in, you take up rightway space, right? >> It's not that sock system or is it >> No, this is not a This is a breaking of the existing pipe. >> It's called pipe bursting. Pre-cllorinated. I like to do that. And then you just pull the new pipe through that conduit, which reduces your design [snorts] cost and your your disruption, but more importantly, it saves the rightway space because you're using the old line. >> Okay. And I'll leave the rest of the questions for later, but I just wanted to let you know that um I look forward I do not look forward to seeing you guys out there, but I will be there for whatever you need from me. Um, and tell please tell your staff that you know the the good job that they're doing does not go unnoticed. >> Thank you. I appreciate that and I'll be happy to pass that along. Uh, moving right along. Uh, we're reviewing accounts receivables. We've got some significant money outstanding that we need to be looking at. We'll be working on that. [snorts] We're doing a council request to develop an incentive or a rebate for Zeroskate program. We've been asked to do that. We're working on that. And then the January winter shutdown was went along without an incident for the water department >> and we know we're going to have another cold spell coming up. So we're we're geared up for that. The thing on the right and the only reason I put it on there because I I just think this is a fundamental business. This isn't you know you don't have to you have to be persistent and you have to have the right uh uh direction. But we're now in the midst of starting up our valve operation program. We've talked about the new equipment should be in in March and we're going to go. We were doing some construction with our crews. We are no longer a construction company. We're a system maintenance organization and part of that system maintenance is valves at work, valves we can locate, etc. Replacement of hydrants and val and those kind of things. We don't have a leak detection technology. We will have one. We're starting to work on that as we speak. Uh that's fundamental to running a water company. You got to be able to find leaks and you got to be able to pinpoint one point. We'll get the best equipment. We'll dedicate a person to that like I did in a another city in Texas and it'll be successful. Uh meter change out program I talked about and then strategic pipe replacement. So we got four out of five going on already and uh number five will follow very quickly. Mayor, >> sorry for taking so long, but I had some stuff and I wanted to give you everything I could. >> Councilman, did you have a question? >> Mr. P, just a quick question before we move any for uh I know the customer portal will have uh you can you're going to be able to uh the customer will be able to uh monitor their usage. What about the wa water quality of it or or the recent tests that are going to be uh doing as well? Well, I you know what? Let me hold that question because I got one more slide after this one that I think is going to lead right into what you're ask. No, that's okay. Um, museum museum museum. I got a I got a handout for you. I'm going to leave with you. We got activities planned all month and all next month. And we're holding the meeting of the IBWC here in a day or so. So, uh, we're getting, uh, you know, we're getting our stature raised up. And that's exciting to me. I'm working with the PI PIO group on a comprehensive public awareness effort. We are going to tell our story. We got a good story. We're going to get it out to people. I want people seeing people reading meters, fixing mains, replacing valves, etc., etc. But we're going to do that because it's important. It's important to our people, but it's important to our community. I want people to be proud of this water system. There's no reason they can't be. and we're going to earn their respect and their their their their u affection is a way to put it, right? But you got to tell your story and we're going to start doing that. We've already had a meeting with with Nora and she's great to work with and so we're going to we're going to be constantly in front of people. Um the other one, item three, which I think gets to getting towards his question, we need to gather data. I mean, everywhere else I've been in our customer files on our data, we could contact people, email them, cell phones, send out alerts, those kind of things. Talk about communication and outreach. That's simple and everybody wants it. So, we're going to start getting aggressive about collecting that kind of information. So, when we have an issue, we get it out to everybody. We get it out timely and we can interact with them actually. And I I I will tell you in another place I worked, we had identified neighborhood associations and they had leaders. So we would send stuff to their leader and they would get it out to all their their their their folks. So there's a lot of ways to do this. We need to get aggressive. It's nothing new, but it's new to us, but we people will like it and I think our our employees will like it, too. I think you'll like it. Uh, I told you about full-time leak detection. And then, uh, I I I started a discussion with Tammy U about a research project that that may fit into the cork world. Um, so the Cork people are excited about it. I Tam Tammy U is kind of excited. So, we'll see how that plays out. But again, that's public outreach. I like working with universities, as you know, uh, from my robotics days and all the stuff we accomplished. So, more to come. Mayor, >> that's the story. >> Have a question, please. >> Sure. >> Um, this would be opportunity to move up my item which is related to this. It'll be quick. It's it's the same exact >> similar item, but 80 88 D1. >> Thank you. >> Motion second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. Thank go ahead. >> Oh, thank you, mayor. And it was already you already alluded to it in your presentation. Um but in yourself and this is co-sponsored by council member Richie Ranhel and council member Melissa Seigaroa Mr. Prrisker, you had alluded to this in your presentation and our trip to Austin. Uh yourself, myself, Council Member Melissa, we met with the chairwoman of the of TCQ, uh who is the success the former chairwoman of Texas Water Development Board as of January 8th. She got a I don't know if it's promotion or a lateral move from Texas Water to TCQ. Um and she insisted that the city um do more to show the state that we are in lock step with them hand and glove. And she did encourage us to uh submit an application uh through the Texas Water Development Board for one of these lowinterest loans through the state revolving fund program. Um, and you just mentioned that we were going to be applying for the March deadline because it's coming up in less than a month for $57 million. Uh, which is a low interest loan program. Uh, but can you you said one more time at you mentioned me what were the two projects you mentioned that we were going to be applying for? >> Yeah. Two projects we took to Austin with us were were the meter change out program which is $32 million to be spread over four years and a 25,000 $25 million new elevated storage tank and pump station in South Florida. >> Okay. And generally speaking, um, and grants are a totally different story where, you know, it's more a lot more competitive with with these. Are these these are low interest loans? Are these are these as competitive if we put together a good PIFF sheet? >> I say that, you know, they're competitive. There's always more ask than there is money available. Mhm. >> But I remind everybody, these folks, the Texas Fire Development Board gets excited about getting money out. That's that's how they get measured. It's not like they're hoarding it and they don't want to give it out. It's, you know, so they get rewarded for getting it out. I can tell you in other places that I've worked that have a little different profile than Larredo, we got money every year because we had good projects and we had good reputation. So, I I think we'll we'll have a good chance being successful in that. And I think the feedback we got will enhance our opportunities, I guess, is the pollightest way I can say. >> And I'm just want to qualify like how does that affect taking out this if we get this $57 million low interest loan, how that affects this upcoming August when we're putting together our enterprise fund CIP for waters and waste utilities and wastewater. Um >> these are in our master plan. >> These are >> so so this isn't some new thing. I think the other thing to be candid, I think when they see Laredo start to do the things we're talking about, you're going to get more reception because they feel they're spending money. You know, it's being spent wisely. It's not being delayed and projects are getting done. That's important. They want to report those things. So, I think all that fits together and I I I think that's going to work. >> And I think we're all very appreciative of you, Mr. Pushkar. I think you have how many months left in your in your interim term? two months, right? Um, so I think we're all very pleased with the direction you're taking us and the things you're implementing. Um, I guess my question, the reason why I brought this item with my colleagues, um, is what's our what is our plan to make sure that this continues? I understand you know you currently don't have uh I mean assistant director um and it's urgent that we hire your replacement but also we need you to have some time with that replacement uh for as much of that two months you have remaining as possible. So I guess my question to management you know is what is our plan to make sure that all this great stuff Mr. Prsker is is setting us up for doesn't fall by the wayside and Yeah council. >> So, I agree with with my colleague and you know at the same time it's like [clears throat] we've been you know we've been in this search for the past what's 6 months in October over four months. So to add two more months, three more months and then I know Mr. Pis needs to leave. You know we we don't want you to leave but you're doing awesome an awesome an awesome job. But, you know, having your your replacement, something that can shadow you, understand what your vision was, and maybe, you know, comprehend that what you're doing and taking the direction you're taking the radar. We need somebody that, you know, should that that should be there with you already, you know, for the past at least two or three months. I know you're about you're you're into your second your last two months or one more months before you leave. Yeah, I think the original request was 6 months and I'm in, you know, in four plus. >> Four plus. So my question is to management, where are we at? Why is it taking so long to go out and get that, you know, that search for nationwide or, you know, nationwide [snorts] to go find somebody to get replaced for Mr. Fisher? >> Yeah. And and mayor and city council, of course, uh, as we started this entire structure, it is a reinvisioning of our utility department. That's that's part of it as well too. So the the job descriptions that we had in place had to be amended within that. It took us a couple months. Mr. Pisker helped as well as city management. We look we looked at a lot of other ones. We did hire STR to do the search for us as well too. So it is an outside national company. I think just like you said, council member is that it's an outside company for that. So, uh, we are right on the cusp of having, uh, interviews with those individuals, but, uh, some of the differences that we've done and and I, I'll just share a little bit is that Mr. Pisker is not a professional engineer. Our job descriptions were built off of a professional engineer, but as you can see, an individual that understands the utility systems and everything else is is quite capable as well, too. We made adjustments within all that structure as well too. Um I tell you it it uh the the timing is not comfortable for me either as we walk through that but we need to make sure that it is the right individual to do that. It goes through the uh everything from the the pay structure everything through the organizational structure. The the nature of what when we when we brought in Mr. Pisker was he's essentially a dual row kind of individual. The first one is to handle the day-to-day operations. The second one is to provide a final report on all the things that we need to improve upon. He's doing both right now. >> He's handling both of those. And so in my mind, that final report that we receive will be essentially the template that we use in order to make sure that our department can sustain the changes once we pull uh Mr. Piskar out of the out of that model. >> Well, can I continue? So >> So what's the plan? You know, are we are you thinking I just my my just want to know it's are we trying to extend Mr. Pittsburgh's time or and and hire somebody at the same time because that's going to cost us a little bit more money. Right. >> Correct. >> So what we're trying to do is get somebody ready before Mr. Pittsburgh needs to correct needs to leave. But and we know and and respect everything his job is has been doing. But at the same time, it's like us as a management, we're we're dropping the ball where at where we want to be because if we have a professional, we went out there and hired a professional and we haven't gotten somebody in there to shadow him and understand everything that he's doing. So, you know, we're going to start all over from square one. So that and and that's where that that's where I think there's a lot of you know I've been reached out by a lot of people by by a lot of my constituents going out and saying oh if he leaves it are there projects leaving or are we going to start from square one because they're not going to understand what Mr. Pittsburgh. It took him four months. You've been there for four months. It's been taking them four months to understand and comprehend everything that's going on in in our utility department and which is a utility department. And God, you know, you know, God, you know, we we're we're fortunate for him that that he's has the experience to understand, you know, okay, I know where you guys are at. He can he can move those those components. But you know having somebody without his experience in coming in you know it's going to be hard to understand and say you know what I'm an engineer I'm an engineer and I'm going to come in which I respond you I'm respecting engineer but they're coming in and they're going to say okay uh where are we at >> right so yeah and and mayor and council member and and [clears throat] we're we're just preparing for the interviews as well too I would say that they're going to be piggybacked in the next week or the week after that we have we had three potential candidates that were found ationally that that were possibilities. The challenge we have is of course you you don't know who the candidates are until they apply, right? And then we have to determine whether or not they're the right fit. They have all the skills and everything for that. So there is a process through there. All I can tell you for for sure is that we have to hire the right individual or or we do start over from scratch. In my in my mind, the intent is to never start over from scratch. Everything that we have learned through Mr. Piskar's time frame it will be utilized to go into that into that further uh as to uh whether or not we extend the contracts and everything those conversations can happen. uh we have we are prepared for those conversations if necessary. But I was really hoping I think early on four months ago we when we talked I was hoping that we would already have the individual over that. So there was a three-month overlap. That's really what I wanted. >> Sure. >> And and it took longer to on the front end in order to get this prepared. The national search took a while in order to put the information out there. Uh that doesn't mean that anybody nobody has been out there knocking on doors and trying to get them all to apply. It's just that we don't have that we we're right where we're at for that. So >> So Mr. N is has there been any any local >> that are trying to apply as well >> or do we open it up for local as well? >> We we we are happy to hire locally. There are no local candidates as of >> But is it open up for local like it's it is >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We're open for anybody that meets the experience, the education, and all the criteria that we're looking for. Uh like I like I said a little earlier, we expanded it out because it was a very professional engineer side, but as you can tell, somebody with a very astute business mentality and the utility side, they match up very well with that. And so we've opened that up a little bit farther. Uh we just want somebody that's highly qualified to to manage this this department of ours. >> Mayor, may >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Uh Mr. Pisker, thank you for the update. It was very comprehensive and um I think with your experience, you explain some basic standard operations that should occur that perhaps were not happening on a regular basis. And yet you are standing up our department and making sure that water quality is at the forefront of everyone's mission there. And that is really much appreciated because it is not as simple as um throwing a bunch of chemicals together and sticking it in the water and here we go. it it uh I've uh I've appreciated your expertise and your sharing of your knowledge, your deep knowledge that goes back extensively throughout your career and um hearing from some of the utility department workers about how willing you are to share that with them and and help them um create those standard operating procedures that need to be created and followed. It's I I think you're doing an outstanding job. Um, I did want to let the public know that as Council Member King mentioned that Mr. Pisker, myself and Council Member King did go to the Texas um Commission on Environmental Quality to meet with the new chairwoman, Brooke Pop, who also was the former commissioner for um the Texas Water Development Board and has had a couple of decades of experience in state legislature and has risen to the top because of her expertise and her hard work. and uh she expressed such confidence in our city because of our choice in Mr. Piskar and having him at the helm to reorganize and redirect our utilities department so that we can make sure that our issues with water quality with pipe breakage that all of that are minimized and that we become a much stronger city because of a much stronger utilities department. I think all of us understand that it's not just water is life. Water is also economic prosperity. We need to be able to depend on the water supply. And her faith in Mr. Pishker to get us on the right track was uh noticeable and was I you know we we enjoyed her being impressed with our choice, but Mr. Pisker is doing the work. So we really appreciate that from you, Mr. Pisker. look forward to your next couple of months with us to um furthering us along this path and again thank you for sharing your knowledge and and giving us some confidence that we can move forward with a stronger department. >> All right. I'm sorry. Are we going to have a copy of that? >> Yeah, probably. >> I don't know if you made copies for everybody >> of the presentation. Yeah, I'll get you copy. >> Okay. Thank you. >> I I I do have a copy of something I want to give you. I actually have two copies of things I want to give you. So, if I could, here's a copy of all the events going on. >> Everybody, >> I wrote a book and here's a copy for each of the council people and there's a performance review for me. >> Is it autographed already? >> I'm never presumptuous enough to do that. [laughter] Thank you, >> Mr. Mayor. May I have one last question? Uh, Mr. Pishka, before you leave, I apologize. You say that there's an IBWC regional stakeholder meeting on Thursday. >> Yep. >> Um, it happens to coincide with a meeting in Eagle Pass >> on on water. >> Um, >> and we have five people attending and two people presenting >> there. Okay. So, it it it is a good I I'm I'm signed up for that conference. >> You go on to Eco Pass? >> Yes. >> Okay. I'm going to be there, too. I'm I'm going to make it a point. I I'm going to go up tomorrow because I got stuff I want to get done. And I'm I'm doing the master plan for water tomorrow and wastewater Thursday. So, I'm going to run back Thursday morning and do that. But, I'm going to be up there to see the guys because I wanted I wanted to know I I I appreciate their efforts. >> So, the I I guess my question is the IBWC regional stakeholder meeting. Um, what will those discussions focus on? >> I don't know. They asked us to host it, so we're not running the meeting, so we're just providing the host site. >> And the the invitees will be communities along the river. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Sure. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next item, >> then I think next item is 88 D2. We have some representatives from UISD here. I know just want to >> 88D2. >> I think we already moved it up if the secretary agrees. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. So, this discussion uh regarding um an an issue going on in the primarily in the Calad Heights subdivision on the north side of Delmar, right across from Alexander High School. Um we are they Alexander High School has a large shortage of parking. Originally 150 spots. Now it's down to about 70 spots. Um, and not to mention the students who u park without license and uh without insurance who cross who can't park on campus. Um, this is happening in lots of other sections of the city over the years. Um, this is just the current situation where basically residents sometimes can't even get out of their neighborhood. Their mailboxes are blocked. Sometimes even their driveways are blocked. LPD has been very active uh in trying to address this situation, but uh and I appreciate Council Member Ruben Guthis for co-sponsoring as he represents the south side of Delmare where Alexander High School sits. This motion is intended to create a to consider the process or educate the public on a process of a permitting program for for Kady Heights. And I believe legal could could explain the process because I believe it is a a resident initiated process. >> Uh but also to consider uh entering into meouou with UISD uh to for any facilitation we can provide if if it's leg seen as legal or or passes charter muster. Um and so it's it's two items. One is regarding a a parking permit program to be initiated in the Clay High subdivision. One is to work with UISD on any efforts that they um have and I don't want to ask UISD on the spot but I I am understanding that they have already started creating an additional temporary parking place that would would would fulfill the need that they currently have in the shortage. Um, but I guess I'll ask first if legal could ex or or someone from traffic explain the process for residents creating a permitting program if they so choose. Um, >> yes, council member. Uh, for the residential parking uh permit program, it has to be uh resident uh initiated. uh there needs to be uh 2/3 67% more of the residents signing a petition and thereafter uh this uh permit program could be uh created. What it does is it uh allows for limited numbers of uh parking spaces in in the in the streets. uh usually about maximum three per uh resident, two per uh resident for visitors and also there's a three limit for uh businesses or those who have businesses along the third frame. >> Then I see Mr. Kintier here, traffic um director, but um is who would how would a constituent resident need to go about uh applying to create a permit permit program? >> Well, the the procedures in our ordinance already now >> name and title piece for >> Alberta, assistant director for traffic safety. >> Go ahead. >> There's an ordinance already in place for the per the permit program and everything else. But similar to the way we have our speed hump program, we have to get signed petitions is what the delay is in getting this permit program done. In this in this case, we need 67% of the residents in the target area to sign the petition. So what I would like to see done instead the the permit program for the sweet homes we change governed the ordinance and change made it to department policy. This we still need to have a policy in place. So that's still be an ordinance because there's fines for citations issued and everything else is to instead of having the residents come up with that deal in the meantime while we're working on all this stuff is we could have the residents contact our parking enforcement division or 311 to lodge your complaint because they start calling them we track the records that way figure out how many citations are being issued. And part of this pro process when we go our parking enforcement is notified that there's a vehicle parked in an area where the the resident feels it's improperly parked. The enforcement will go out officer go out there and look at the vehicle and if it's improperly parked you can issue a citation. But on top of that we're going to instruct our parking enforcement officer to do a survey how many vehicles are parked out there on the streets as well to figure out how big is this problem and we start tracking that and then with that come up with a solution and reach out to the school. Well, look, these aren't how many students you have parking in the area that we need you to create more parking spaces for. But this way, we can get that going while instead of having our employees going out getting signatures on these petitions, let's have them counting the vehicles that are out there and creating the actual problem and then come up with an action plan as well. What we can do to solve that. >> The only concern I see is that a lot of the students even if there is enough parking on campus, they cannot actually park on campus if they don't have proper documentation, license, car insurance. Right? So then the problem still exists for these people and you know they constituents sent me pictures and videos of kids just giving them middle finger not carrying parking in front of their mailbox not carrying at all. So what what tools do we have? Maybe police police could also recommend you know cuz currently I don't think we can tow cars unless they're blocking the driveway. >> If they're in obstruction we can tow. The police department can tow but if they're parked on front of a home and they're parked illegally and they get cited after three citations we can actually boot the vehicle and then have it towed as well. So if there's a if they have a tendency not to pay their citations, we can start to touring those vehicles as well. And usually that's what usually ends up happening. The person they don't want to pay the insurance, they don't want to pay the tickets either. So >> So you you that ordinance currently >> allows us to go ahead to to boot the vehicle and once we put the boot on there, if they don't get then we can tow it out of there. They don't pay their citations. >> Okay. Because there's also an ordinance on our agenda for consideration that we might want to bring up this time or we can wait. It's it was an ordinance drafted by legal after I requested some just looking at some things and it li it would limit uh parking in front of a mailbox with about 5 to six feet during the hours that mails being delivered because people's mails being disrupted. Um so that's you know I'm trying to look at as many approaches as I can to attack the issue but um police chief Rodriguez was gonna you gonna say something as well? >> Good. Good evening. Good evening, council members, management. Uh, I strongly suggest and recommend Dr. King that we move forward on the ordinance. This is an issue that is not going to go away. We've just from December the 9th to today, we've issued over 38 citations there. We've already red tagged over two vehicles and moved two uh total weight two vehicles. Um, the problem is going to continue if we don't enforce it the way that you know given citations for improperly parking. Well, actually, not improperly parking, but parking in front of a mailbox. That that that is not going to go away. Even if I know that there's been conversations about helping the ISD, creating some more parking inside the school, but even like that, uh, students are that do not have a driver license are not going to go and get a a permit to park inside the school. The majority of those vehicles that are outside are are mostly students that do not have a driver license. They're just going and driving to school and getting out outside in the residence area and going into school. So definitely we we do want to find a solution to the problem. We're definitely going to have to have that ordinance so that we can continue sighting and then boot the vehicles at the end of the day let them pay the the fine. >> Mayor, if I may. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Chief, just a question right quick or Mr. Kintania and or legal. I don't know who to direct this to but my question to you all is has the policy changed with UISD andor LISD as far as the insurance is concerned for the vehicles because the reason children weren't parking or some of the kids weren't parking in the schools was because the school districts were requiring them to be on the insurance policy and as those of you know that have teenagers putting your child on the insurance policy is extremely expensive. Do you know if that policy has changed? >> No, it's still in effect. They have to be in the policy. They've got to be on the policy. >> If they cause some damage inside the school property, anything like that, they have to be assigned [snorts] to the to the policy, >> right? But if the vehicle, and correct me if I'm wrong, because it's the way it was when I was there, as long as a vehicle was lent out properly, your parent is lending you the vehicle, you're covered under that policy with most insurance companies, the bigger ones, of course. Yeah. I don't want to name them. But >> if I may, council member, generally if the person or the child lives within that residence, you can't lend it out because that' be usually >> I did insurance defense for a long time, too, >> right? But to be excluded, you need to be excluded specifically on the policy, not just you're excluded because you live there. >> Well, I represent insurance company, so we would routinely deny if if you're lending it to your own child and you didn't put their ch your child on the insurance policy, that would not be covered. >> They're not covered. You can lend it to, you know, your neighbor, but you can't lend it to someone who lives inside your own residence. >> Yeah. >> They have to be assigned to the insurance >> because they want you to put them on the policy on the policy and pay them, >> right? So So you would deny that claim if a claim should come in there, >> but that's is that the insurance company's policy or is that state? >> That's state general insurance. >> Of course, insurance companies want to save money as much as they possibly can. >> They want to get money. Right. >> Right. So that's a state statute, not your insurance company that you were representing. >> Well, it's an insurance. It's a widespread insurance uh coverage policy. Yes. >> Right. But is that a state? >> Well, this >> is that law or is that the the insurance company making up its own law and saying, "I'm going to deny your claim because your child lives with you." >> That's a good question. The answer is it's not state controlled. It's a contractual agreement with the insurance company. >> You should probably Thank you. >> Mayor, I have a couple questions if [clears throat] I may. Um, regarding your item in particular with when it in um when it comes to resident permits, could we consider something like this for downtown because we do have a quite a few residents that live downtown, but yet they their only means of parking is right in front of their property where there's a parking meter. Um, so I don't know if that's something we can revisit. >> We can definitely revisit uh any And I know there's several areas in the city that, you know, we will probably recommend to do that. But again, it's a it's it's up to the uh the residents in in those areas that are going to have to, you know, help us uh push this through. >> But at the at the end of the day, like for example, Keri Heights, you know, we are going to need the help of that particular uh subdivision to push this push this through like if we want somebody to require permits in those areas. Uh also the same issue with the uh the mailboxes, right? That's the main issue. We may create an ordinance where we can sight for mailboxes for parking in front of mailboxes. You know, that that would that would definitely be a solution to this problem. >> Mayor, if I may go ahead. Sorry, I have a followup. I have the mic. Um, go ahead. And then, and we're not quite on the other item just yet, but I would like us to just um maybe like assess it for the entire city because not all city not all areas of the city have the same problems like there there is no room to park in the on the west side. Um, so this would hurt a lot of residents. So anyway, we'll we'll talk about it on item 14. Mayor. Mayor, >> go ahead. >> Uh, again, again, legal or Mr. Kanya or Chief, one of the other. Um, if there's an HOA, which this particular area has an HOA, so the HOA can't enforce having parking permits or we still need 67% of the residents to agree to it. HOA can't impose it on them. >> And that's a question if the HOA can have its own contractual uh agreement, but that's going to be applied to uh those within the HOA, like you know, fellow neighbors. it can't be imposed on, you know, someone coming in, a teenager coming in to to park there. So, it it this would probably be the best way to for the the uh uh community there to get their petition. And just so to clarify, council member, it doesn't have to be the entire neighborhood. It could be a part and that part, you know, 67% of that part might be easier to to uh obtain. Aren just building off of the council member as well too though. So in most of our HOAs the streets [clears throat] are cityowned streets and so in my HOA rules are for the properties within the HOA not necessarily the city infrastructure. So I would I would state that that's why this permit process is the proper way to go. I don't know if an HOA can enforce its rules on city >> third party >> non-resident. Yeah. The only ones are like uh I guess a little bit different are like for for example Winfield states or the plantation the ones that are private right >> those are some that we we can't enforce >> any parking situation there but for example KDI heights it's under the perview of the city >> thank you mayor >> since we have since we have the entire council and all the all the people relevant to it um we move up motion to move up item 14 regarding uh the mailbox ordinance just to have a discussion about it >> second motion Second. All in favor? >> Both. >> Motion pass. So this is what legal brought to us when I or brought to me when I came to them with this concern is a a possible limitation on parking in front of >> uh mailboxes uh with they put 8t that's you know there could be um that could be amended but I I had a feeling that some of my other council members like council member Lisa who represents downtown and west and how it's this may not be a one-sizefits-all uh situation but I the you know the chief chief of police is, you know, recommending that we do move forward with it. So, I'm trying to make sure chief and city manager council. We don't I I you know, for my district, this might be good. Um and or maybe it won't, but I wanted to just talk to pros and cons and if we need to scratch this all together or just wanted to, you know, I wanted everybody to be present before we voted on this. >> That'd be a legal question. >> Real quickly, Mayor Vet, uh because 14 is a public hearing, did you want uh to raise it? We have to just read it. It's all read it out loud. >> All right. I believe I believe you already moved to Go ahead. >> Move it up. So, we got open up 14. An ordinance of the city of Laro, Texas amending chapter 19, article 8 of the code of ordinances by adding subsection N to prohibit the parking of vehicles on a public street within 8 ft of a mailbox. Mayor, if I may. >> Uh, so my concern on on the item and and I can definitely respect the fact that um every individual neighborhood kind of has its own challenges and problems and so it's kind of hard for us to do one-sizefits-all policies. But uh my question is are do we have the adequate resources to be able to enforce something like this? Because like I know in in for example the mines's road, right? We have ongoing issues. We have code enforcement issues. We've got police issues where we don't have enough staff or sometimes or they're on some other priority calls or whatever. Is this something that is manageable for with given the resources that we have at this time to make these types of changes and have our officers because who would be the ones enforcing it officers or code enforcement? Because >> it would be it would be both. Uh so uh to answer your question council uh woman that is the it just gives us gives us an extra tool to solve a situation and it doesn't have to be applied all the time. It it just has to be where if it's a situation where for example Kady Heights, right, we have that issue where they're parking [snorts] everywhere and I know it's an issue because I went there myself and at that moment you can see where I know why there's frustration from the residents there because it it is everybody parks everywhere. So in those particular situations, this type of ordinance would be another tool because there's a bunch of ordinances that tells us where we can enforce and not enforce uh you know parking situations, right? So we we sometimes have the resources to do it, but if there's a specific problem, it just gives us an extra tool. >> Well, mayor, if I may, >> go ahead. Um, so I guess my question also is, [clears throat] is there a way for a property owner to call like for example a tow truck or something to have a vehicle towed that's blocking a mailbox versus having PD come and put a sticker on it or I mean a fine on on on there and the vehicle is still going to be blocking the mailbox, right? because then it would be up to so many tickets before there's I mean what is I'm just not sure that having our officers go out and give tickets is going to achieve the desired outcome when it comes to people not getting their mail because the mailman is passing up their home because there's a vehicle there. So can somebody call like a tow truck or can we contract with a record service like how they do in Austin? The wreckers go on their own. They patrol for violations and they tow vehicles as they see fit. So, you know that you have to follow the rules because if not, they're going to on their own, tow your vehicle. Is there a way that we can make it so that if you park in front of a mailbox [clears throat] and a tow truck comes by and sees it, they can automatically tow your vehicle whether you live there or not? So it takes away the burden from police or code enforcement having to enforce it and instead it's like a an automatic self-p policing system by an outside entity. >> Well, I think because of the re the reason that it's outside and it's on the on the city property, an official has to be the one that's has to witness the violation and that they're the ones who have to engage in doing the proper whether it's a citation or calling the record service. you want to make it, you know, put it into that extent. I don't know if an ordinance can be put to that extent where we can >> extend anou and the records that allow for this type of activity. I mean, I know they do it in other cities this type. I don't know exactly what the legal term is, but you know, if if there's a way that they can self enforce this thing and >> can that be done? >> These just have to be a a to-way zone, right? it has to rise that level uh to put people on notice that they their vehicle could be towed uh as opposed to just a a residential area. So we look into it just it would take some more steps than just >> well mayor if I may I just think that um [clears throat] you know if if we need to designate this neighborhood as a tollway zone please do not block mailboxes because your vehicle will be towed at your own expense. we put some signage up and we make anou with whoever we need to for our rideway. I don't see why that's not a viable route that would actually be a more sustainable system versus putting the burden on PD and code enforcement which are already overburdened and overt taxed. >> And I agree 100% with you on that. It's just that even right now when we're we're getting called there. So we're sending officers to the area to go and knock and talk and talk to the people and making sure that you know at the end of the day we're trying to find a solution. So we've been there a couple of 21 times we've been there from December to today and just trying to figure out ways to fix the issue. So we need we need some sort of solution. >> Yeah. Chief, I've got a question. If uh if it's not block the car is not blocking the mailbox and it's it's away from 8 ft away from the mailbox, is that car still >> uh violation >> in violation? But what what it's a family car that belongs to the family? How are you going to determine that? >> This is where it gets, you know, we get into that pickle that what if they're the ones parking in front of a mailbox, right? >> Some homes only have one parking space. They have two cars, so they have to put the other car in the street. who has the right to park there or not the right. >> It's a double-edged sword. Right. So, this is where it gets a little bit interesting because you're going to have to let the residents in in those areas. There's this ordinance that's being talked about, but it's going to affect you as well because you cannot you cannot park in front of those those mailboxes. >> Oh, go ahead. >> Thank you. Um, yeah, it is a double-edged sword. It's something that uh it affects one neighborhood maybe in a positive way and the other one's going to be in a negative. It'll probably affect my negative my neighborhood in a in a negative way because the way every neighborhood is made, you you you know the older neighborhoods are going to get affected. Obviously, it's lack of parking space. But might I suggest something for the high school that we did at LISD very very well. We had a training session at the beginning of the year every year at the high schools to tell the students you cannot do this. Can't block park but you can't you can't park. And especially when they designated some areas the residents were kind enough to allow us some of them did not. They didn't have any other choice. There was just not enough parking. We were landlocked. But most of them were kind enough to allow us to park there just as long as we didn't park block the driveway and then as it is there's not enough room. So some of them did block the mailbox. So but over the years and then and you can you might want to look at that. We probably had one or two calls maybe a year from that area about blocking a a driveway or anything like that. But it became an understanding and part of the regular um program every year to talk to the students about where to park and where not to park. If you had a license and you had insurance, you can park inside campus. If you didn't, you can park outside, but certain areas only. Well, if you're going to park around the neighborhood, just can't block the driveways. They didn't say anything about mailboxes because I mean, it's it's tight enough as it is. So, the the constant education is is going to be probably the best bet here. the constant education from the ISDs pushing it as well as as as well as us is probably going to be the best bet here. I do not agree with uh it because we fall under that same routine with all due respect to our employees and to everybody that's in here. Code enforcement um as far as I'm concerned is not really welcome district 4. I don't we don't have any other place to do to park. There's very limited there's limited amount of sidewalks and we we get people booted. We get people with tickets. We get people done that where the the ordinance applies might apply in the north side does not apply over here because we've been locked into that for the last 30 40 50 60 years. So those are things that we might have to look at. But before we jump into something that is going to be great for that neighborhood, we better look at the citywide uh you know how it affects citywide. But I do agree that there's some issues. But the way we solved it over there was the constant education of those students. Where and where where can you park and where you can't park? And it was just an ongoing thing. And it's almost understood. You see the same students parking at the same parking area every morning around the neighborhood. But there's not one driveway being blocked, which is about 98% of the time. So that might be the [laughter] the solution to that at at >> Yeah. And so it's sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry we spend so much time on this mayor um but um yeah trying to find a solution here as you can see it's a lot of different people [snorts] involved um I guess you know what chief is saying is give it it gives a tool it doesn't have to enforce it in every uh part of the is there a way to zone is there a way to write the ordinance that gives police that flexibility so that it's understood that it's not going to be used in a punitive way in like in a common sense situation in district four or district 8 that wouldn't um be practical or is >> well it would be citywide but obviously we would write it to where it's mutually applied and and not targeted right >> yeah it'sable my only concern with that as well is that we're all here and we all are under this understanding but next year the following year five years from now um that may not that's not necessarily the case and who's ever there at the time is it becomes comes to the discretion of the individual enforcing and and then that becomes a problem too because it there isn't common sense used all the time. So it's we've just we face [clears throat] similar issues like this throughout um some of our older neighborhoods [snorts] and so you we would we would think that common sense would prevail but it doesn't always. >> Mayor if I may. >> Yes. Go ahead. And also, um, I think treading on the selective enforcement line is probably not a good place for us to be >> to where we're picking and choosing when and where we're going to enforce something. Um, I think that's going to open up a whole another set of problems where people are going to feel like they're being targeted or people are going to abuse the the policy because they don't like that somebody's parking in front of their house, things like that. And um, you know, I just I'm [snorts] hesitant to go down that path because I know that that's >> in the interest of fairness. It's just not >> right. Mayor, >> go ahead. >> By any chance, uh, engineering, do we have any retaining ponds in that area? Like areas that, you know, where it's designated like flood zones that we can't build, but maybe we can use as a parking. And if they got to walk a couple of blocks, you know, use that area. And if it belongs to the city, it could be an acre, two acres, three acres. They alleviate a little traffic and little of parking for the community. But at least I'm seeing right now, I don't know where I'm that 280 to East Delmare. And I see we have that this the creek, but it, you know, being in Daredo, it's not always going to be, you know, it's not always raining, you know, it's not always, you know, flooded. It's not always going to be, you know, it's to alleviate that that that pressure, you know, just for for when it's school time, you know, it'll be only from 8 to 5. And, you know, we understand if we have bad weather, you know, we'll understand that you can't park there. You know, they got to park everywhere. But if we have the opportunity to let them park in a, you know, under those drainage ponds or those uh the retaining ponds, I'm sorry. And the same thing we were trying to do for for Sara back in like a month ago, like a couple months ago, they Sarah has a retaining pump, but within within this within the schools. >> So, we were having the same traffic problems and we were trying to come up with a the same uh aspect of see we can we can do this. But I'm seeing right here at 28 2802 East Delmar. I think that's that's the creek. That's the address. And I think I don't know if it belongs to the city, you know, but at the same time, you know, will alleviate that problem. Students might have to walk a couple of blocks, but nobody, you know, walking doesn't hurt anybody, but it would help, you know, that problem for that schools at that time. And I don't know if we can look into that. See if we can come up if if there's a uh do we need to add a directive to to do that or >> uh honorable mayor memb. So yes, there may be some uh existing ponds in the area. Um at firsthand I would not recommend uh to park any vehicles within the detention ponds have a purpose for uh storm drainage infrastructure and um I could just see it being an issue a car getting stuck there rain event now how do you get it out uh the the grade on it and so it's a different level than the street and so at firstand I wouldn't recommend that we utilize a detention process >> no we're just I'm trying to see if we could find a solution to help out that district because you know you know having that space and you know being Larredo that doesn't that we don't have that much rain all the time weather's changing but having the opportunity and if we can alleviate that that that uh traffic you know we look into it >> go ahead mayor and city council if you would if you would uh change this to a directive to the city management and its departments in order to research arch and provide back a plan for whether or not the initiation of a residential permit is a good solution, whether the uhou with the school district is a good solution. If you would allow us that that ability to do that, uh we'll report back in 30 days with a um with at least some recommendations for where to go. >> Thank Thank you for the exit strategy, Mr. Neb. That's so moved. >> Second. >> Okay. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> Oppos? Motion passes and motion. >> Motion to table item 14. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion pass. >> Mayor. >> Yes. >> May we move to B1. >> 881. Yes. >> Thank you. Um moving to 88B1. Presentation by the Laredo Immigrant Alliance regarding immigrant rights as granted by current US laws in order to inform our community with possible action. sponsors, Council Member Alisa Croa. Um we have uh Mr. David Almarz who has agreed to do the presentation. Um and this is to inform our community. That's that my motivation here. Um ACLU of Texas has provided information specific to the state of Texas. I uh I did have that uh with my own uh funds printed up and and there are some copies inside and also outside on the table and this is just information that they have provided if um there were to be an interaction with in agents from the agency of ICE that's tasked with um immigration issues but in asking Mr. to come and speak about it. The intent was just to inform our community of of what their rights are. If you are a resident in our city, you do have rights. Mr. Alvarez, >> thank you. >> Good evening. Evening. Go ahead, Mr. Mayor. >> Your name for the record, please. >> Council, city manager, colleagues, attorneys. Uh name name for the record please. >> Yes. David Alarazzi. Okay. Uh I uh I've been practicing law for 48 years. Uh when I was growing up or rather starting as a lawyer uh we really really appreciated the work of the ACLU, American Civil Liberties Union. Uh, one of the most some of the most important cases that have ever come were ACLU, the Palmer raids back in the 1919 and 1920 where the attorney general didn't like certain groups of people and he would deport them. the Scopes monkey trial, Sar Darl, the internment of Japanese Americans right after World War II broke out. That was under FDR's executive order. That was not a law. Uh creationism in Arkansas, Brown versus Board of Education, Miranda versus Arizona. Well, ever since then, uh there's been probably since the 90s, uh a curtailment of rights amongst uh well, basically what the uh ACLU does, I'm sure a lot of you know what the we do, is anytime the government violates an individual's rights, I'm talking about the first 10 amendments of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, uh and everybody thought, hey, that's good. But no, these rights can be taken away if we're not vigilant. So, in my practice, I've always said I I defend the Bill of Rights one case at a time. Every time I go in front of a court, I defend the Bill of Rights. My client's rights may have been violated. I try to look for that. Now in the last 30 days we're approaching a very very difficult time and uh so again the page that I left with all of you that is what the city can do and I you know if anybody can just take away anything from what I say tonight it's please look up aclu.org org and aclutx.org. One for the national, one for the Texas and it shows what communities can do right now and all of them have to do with know your rights and what you can do about it. Now, the rights are for everyone, local, web, county, state, and national. And a lot of people, unfortunately, listen to people, the talking heads on TV at night, and they try to tell you what the law is. No, no, no. The law is the law. And so, again, if you go into these places and aclu.org, It'll show you know your rights, police encounters, if you're stopped in your car, if you're asked about your immigration status, if you're arrested by police, if you're taken into immigration custody, if you interact with ICE agents at work, what to do? You do have rights. Know your rights. Amendment four, amendment five, and amendment six. Amendment four of this. They cannot the government agents, state agents, and I do this on a daily basis cannot enter your house without a warrant. And you have the right to remain silent, the fifth amendment. And of course, amendment six, you have the right to trial. You have a right to lawyers. in spite of what certain people that work for the government right now are saying uh certain borders are ours. No, no, no. And he actually said because one of our elected Congress women tried to say, "Folks, this is your rights. These are your rights." right away he not a lawyer full-time police officer and I respect the police said you know she's an impediment that she shouldn't be giving you your rights well that is horrible that's totally unconstitutional the press releases again you all of you folks if you don't protect your rights and if you don't go to ACLU or your own lawyers or immigration lawyers we could be in danger of losing those rights. Uh press releases by ACLU, you'll find them all online. ACLU seeking to res sue the the local administration, the recent administration, restricting access to gender affirming her. Immigrants rights advocates sued the present administration in efforts to completely shut down asylum at the border. Uh again, you know, here we go all over again. We started in 1920. Back then, women didn't have the right to vote. And uh it looks like we're starting to go backwards and that's just not acceptable. Uh ever since 911 and the Patriot Act, we're going to change the laws. We don't need so many restrictive laws like the Bill of Rights so that we can take care of you. Well, that is the problem right now. Uh, it's an atmosphere of fear. We have to be scared of somebody. The other, the people that don't look like us, the people that speak different languages. I just saw Schindler's list again last night. And when you have actual troops going in with guns, knocking on doors, taking people out. A friend of mine some time back said, you know, and when I got here in 1980, we used to have freedom to go from here to San Antonio to Corpus to Del Rio without these checkpoints. Now you cannot go anywhere. and he said, "Be very careful when a government starts approaching you with guns in their hands and with dogs. I understand we have to have law and order, but we cannot have people in fear." About two weeks ago, I was invited by a local pastor said, "I saw you on Demundo trying to tell the local, I guess, reporter there about the laws." He said, "Could you please come to our church and tell our parishioners what rights they have?" And I told him the same thing I'm telling the council right now. you have the right to do this. The poor parishioners had to be locked up. They they they were scared of people that might say, "You know what? If you go to that church, you're going to find 20 or 30 quote illegal people." People have rights, folks. They have rights. If they've been here a certain time, 5 years, 10 years, they're married to US citizens. But again, all I'm asking this honorable council is let the local citizens know what their rights are. And again, I completely agree with that first gentleman that spoke when we have people so scared that they're going to be deported that they're killing themselves. We cannot have that. Not in the United States of America. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, >> Mayor. May, >> we have uh citizen comments. I have a question for Mr. >> Go ahead. Yeah, question. >> Uh, yes. So, um, I I think in bringing this item forward, I I I did want to make and I and you you were making clear that rights do not confer only to US citizens. Rights are conferred. >> Every citizen or non-citizen, every person standing on US soil has rights. In spite of what you're hearing from Austin or Washington, >> they have the rights. They don't just go out the window. In fact, we're talking about the schools. Children in schools have the same constitutional rights. They don't stop at the schoolhouse door. So, yes, anybody, whether you're here legally, not legally, you do have the rights under the Constitution and under the Bill of Rights. And I would say that what the ACLU Texas um uh bullet points for knowing your rights, what they emphasize is that everyone has their right to remain silent. >> Exactly. >> Everyone should be very respectful of any law enforcement agent. >> Absolutely. >> This is not intended to um advocate for going against the law. >> No. just expressing your rights to remain silent. If you find yourself in a situation where you are with law enforcement, you can absolutely ask for an attorney and you do [clears throat] not have to tell the agents anything else other than that. >> That is absolutely correct. >> And if there were to be a situation for someone approaching your home that you do not have to open the door, you do not have to allow entry. You can respectfully >> Yes. I'm sorry. You you need to ask, do you have a warrant signed by a judge? If they don't, you don't have to open the door. They have the same rights as everybody in this room. Another [snorts] thing that really disturbed me yesterday, the borders are, I'm not going to mention who he is, said that because of certain problems, they're not going to be wearing their cameras anymore. So any border patrolman or ICE or anybody that used to have a camera >> to show what they're doing. No, because of security. We don't want them to show what our agents are doing. Well, what could possibly go wrong with that? Uh it it was until about 20 years ago that we finally got the agents to start wearing cameras and to start recording our clients confessions. I mean, I would ask a guy on the stand, you couldn't buy a $30 tape recorder, "No, no, we don't have any money." But then they started doing it. So now, anybody, police, federals, you're taking it for questioning. There's a camera [clears throat] there. Listen to everything they say and how they act. But especially at checkpoints, especially when you're stopped uh going down the road, all all the cameras should be there because I tell the agents, I said, "If we can see and you have nothing to hide that you didn't threaten or force anybody to make a confession or tell them what they were going to do with their kids, that helps you all as well as us." More people would plead. I'll tell my client they got you on tape saying these things. But if they're saying now because of security, you know what, all our agents are not going to be recording anything from now on. You know, we're the law and we'll tell you what to do. That's when the danger. I don't want to be hyperbolic, but these are dangerous times, folks. And you need legal advice and you need the ACLU. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. >> We have four citizen comments regarding this item. Mikea, >> good evening. Uh, >> your your name for the your name for the record? >> Oh, my name is Mikea third. I'm an ex-publisher of Morning Times and also uh worked with uh Jefferson Publication and Hurst Corporation and I also worked for the US government for 17 years as a public affairs specialist and I'm here talking behalf of uh some citizens in district 8 over some issues that we have over Jefferson Street and I'm talking particularly about Jefferson Street from Santaula to Santa Maria and I will provide you with a pamphlet of the problems that exist not only with tractor trailer issues but with vehicle issues. >> Mayor, >> yes. Is this on the item? >> So, sorry. >> 881. >> 81. Yeah. >> 881. >> It's the truck route item. >> Oh, okay. >> This is This is not >> Apologies, Mr. It's not to this item in particular. If you don't mind waiting until the item with the truck roots would come up. Oh, okay. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. >> Okay. So, these uh these are the same thing. >> 88 B >> 88B. Okay. >> B1. >> They just didn't put a a one on it, which is 88B. That's why that's a confusion right here. We're having >> no two. >> Marisa. >> Marisa. >> 88 B1. It's on this item. >> Mayor, if I may go ahead, >> Mr. G, this is on this item in particular that you're speaking about. It just it wasn't specified as B1. That's why we're asking. >> No, 88 B2. Immigration >> B2. Okay. >> That's correct. >> And my name is Maris Glacius. And this is my first time ever doing a public speech in front of council. So, forgive me if I get nervous. Not at all. >> Okay. Um this is in regards to the illegal immigration. As a taxpayer US citizen, my parents, my grandparents are legal immigrants. They came legally and they never received any social services. They worked and they now they have businesses but they they got the opportunity to come here legally. They had to go through a process paperwork and they had to pay. Okay. Illegal immigration I am against it as a citizen as a taxpayer. I am against it because let me go ahead and read this. It does have a burden on taxpayers. Okay. Illegal immigrants are a net fiscal drain, meaning they receive more in government services than they pay in taxes. This result is not due to laziness or fraud. Illegal immigrants actually have the the rates of work and they do pay some taxes including income and payroll taxes. The fundamental reason that illegal immigrants are a net drain is that they have a low average education level which results in low average earnings and tax payments. It also means a large chair qualify for welfare programs, often receiving benefits on behalf of their USborn children. Like their less educated and lowincome US-born counterparts, the tax payments of illegal immigrants do not come close to covering the cost they create. Okay, it is a burden to the taxpayer. Now also US citizens have more rights than illegals. Now what the new law about deporting illegals is that they're trying to >> deport criminals. Criminals illegals. It's not regular uh immigrants that don't have documents. It's criminal also. >> Even if you cross any person that crosses the the the Rio Grande or the without crossing the bridge is already committing a crime. There's also people illegal or people who have overstated their visas. That is a crime. We have to go by the what they are causing by what they are doing. So my concern is that it is a burden to taxpayers because of this. >> All right. Well, thank you very much. >> Um, Mayor May, >> we have two other ones. >> If I could respond to the uh comments that were made, >> citizen comments, >> but it's on the it's on the item. >> It's on items. >> Yes, but it's not not a question and answer, is it? >> But it's it's on the item. So, is it allowed Mr. >> No, it's it's not a public comment. It's on the item. You can speak it. >> You can speak to the item. Yes. >> I'm just going to speak >> point of order. >> I just want to caution us to go down the debate route on this item. Uh I think people have the right to speak their minds and and I don't want to spend all evening debating on immigration issue. We have a lot of city business to take care of. >> Right. Because it's on the item is it allowable to do a interaction. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Thank you. Um I I guess uh I just wanted to clarify when we're talking about the rights of residents here in Laredo. Um it is not an issue of illegal immigration and whether they're working legally or not. Illegal immigrants um by definition do not have the right to work. And so that is really outside of the scope. And I know um what we have heard is that and the political talk was that the focus would be on uh targeting criminals, criminals who are here illegally. However, what we have seen in other communities and why there is so much fear is that distinction doesn't seem to apply to the efforts right now um of ICE agents. that it does seem to be a broad blanket that they go and when they're questioning wherever whatever communities they're they're approaching and we have heard stories of US citizens being caught up in the sweep and um having their rights violated and so again this focus is it is not to be anti-law enforcement it is to respectfully request that if there there's an interaction with ICE agents that every person here has certain rights and those rights include remaining silent and asking for an attorney because it does not matter your immigration status. What matters is that you are an individual here in Laredo or in the United States and you are conferred rights. I think for our community it's particularly sensitive because we know that so many legal migrants come every single day to live, work and play here. We have such a crossborder connection and flow of people and so we just want to make sure that everyone understands here in the United States you do have rights um if you are approached by immigration agents. I know and uh Chief Rodriguez, I won't put you on the spot, but I know that our our chief of police has spoken about what the confines are of police interactions with people and they were always respectful of a person's right rights. And that is the discussion. It's to remind people that the ACLU has printed out information, has information available so that you know how to interact with agents and you should not fear that. You should not fear being in our community. >> Okay. Two more citizen comments. Selen or Cruz. Ortiz Cruz. [clears throat] >> Hi, good evening. >> Hello. For the record, my name is Selene Gus, MPA. I'm here as a concerned immigrant and teacher. I'm here because, as we know, we do have rights and I want to say thank you council woman um for bringing ACLU here for telling us we do have rights. We too are and I thank you for your support. Um, I also want to remind >> [clears throat] >> um that the city is responsible for upholding those rights. And what do we do when our own police department does not obey their own laws? Who do we report to? Because we have complaints, right? Uh complaints for breaking an entry without a warrant. So, who do we report to? Um hopefully you answer that question later on. But I do have a lot of testimonials from my students, from my immigrant community. We are impacted mental wise, mental health. I'm my own testimony of that. I had to temporarily quit my master's degree as the medical leave of absence when the DACA was uh program was resigned. I went back to school, got my MPA, and now I'm in law school. I recovered because of my community and right here I have community with council woman and I appreciate anyone else that's been here such as attorney Marz I too am here because my students tell me what are we going to do if our parents are deported Miss Cruz what are we doing and I try to guide them to the right organizations to the right websites to the right know your rights but parents are still fearful They ask themselves, should I go to work today? We do work. Should I take my students to school today? Should I exist really like the little girl? And we can't keep doing that to our families. We need to feel protected and safe. And right now, we feel betrayed by our own community. We too are liberans. We're not not human beings. We don't want to be seen as monetary gain or cheap labor. We are undocumented at times. So we are cheap labor. Had I not gained my DACA and status, I would have not been a teacher. I would have been cheap labor and just seen as monetary gain. So I tell you today um that please respect your rights. A couple of complaints are that hey we are forced to speak. We're forced to sign our own deportation. How are we supposed to implement our rights if we're forced to do so? We have the right not to speak. We have the right not to sign papers like that. We also have the right to counsel. And sometimes we're not given that due process even. And we do have the right to an educational environment that's safe and welcoming. I do appreciate UIC and OIC for taking out um a statement. And um I'm here also to make sure that you all release a statement telling the Loroans, hey, you too immigrants, we see you. You are the right arch. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Mayor, if I may just respond to one of her comments or questionnaires. I'm really sorry about to hear that our department our police department didn't act in accordance. If you should have a complaint from our police department, you filed a complaint with internal affairs department there with with our department. >> With whom? >> The internal affairs department. Chief will meet with you in a couple of minutes. You can speak to him. He'll let you know if it should be something that's even more out of line. let's say a civil rights violation, then you should keep on going to the Texas Rangers or you will continue going to the FBI and you will follow complaint. >> Appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Now we have Mr. Jose Salasar. Is he speaking on this item? >> Good evening. For the record, my name is Jose Salasar. I'm the Wani Republican Chair. Uh I'm addressing the item for immigration rights as written uh and uh possible action. I don't know what the possible action might be but uh I I do want to say that our nation is a very uh a generous nation has always been known as one that is very giving. That's why we welcome 675 legal immigrants every year. Uh the last four years we saw sometimes as many as 11,000 illegal immigrants coming in with 10,000 reporting at at ports of entry for asylum. Um sadly that there was a report from Chicago saying that ICE had invaded a school and was out to pick up students uh which turned out to be false. I think has caused a lot of uh uh uh a lot of misinformation and and scare tactics been that have been it has been used as scare tactics by some. Uh we do have >> [clears throat] >> uh immigration does come at a cost. Uh it is 100 Americans pay $182 billion a year and uh uh and the net gain on that is 31 million. Um there there are also there were also 136 Laredoans who paid the price for open borders. These were the ones who were uh victims of overdose uh deaths with uh and and it coincided with the rise in immigration or in the open borders the last four years of the Biden administration. Um, we anytime that we have I'm always in favor of anything that comes out as far as information on the legal system, what to do, what a a a person, an American citizen or any citizen or any person should do in regards to a meeting with [clears throat] law enforcement. I always welcome that. Uh what I do not would not like to seeing is is that uh that we start paying and as as the item read that it is on immigration rights that we pay for something like as such. We've never paid for any other crimes. We do know that some people are American citizens have been separated because of crimes that they've committed. Uh um we don't seem to talk a lot about that. Don't have a lot of empathy for that. Uh um I I I don't see why. But uh that is something that again you know we have uh and why am I speaking on this behalf? Well because a lot of the the the people do do not really benefit from illegal immigration. Um, some people do, but not the the the general American working class. And uh, as we saw this past election, the Rio Grande uh rallying did vote and a resounding no to illegal immigration and bearing the cost of ille illegal immigration. So if there is anything that is going to be I don't know what the action is that's going to be taken but uh or considered at ease but I I recommend that we not pay for just something that is on immigration rights but on rights for citizens in general because I think that would be fair and that would be something that would benefit the city of Laredo. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Go ahead. >> Um I will um Mr. I'll just follow up. The uh the assignment of the overdose deaths to open borders is incorrect in my opinion. We have um we have a drug problem and that has to do as much with the demand as with the supply and unfortunately the majority of um illegal narcotics comes through over the bridges. It's something that I believe uh CBP is doing their best to find ways to enforce our laws and find those that illegal contraband. But um if you'll look at any studies, the vast majority of illegal narcotics comes over the legal ports of entry, not in between. Um so I think Mr. Sarza brings up a point and and um and Miss Cruz also. What can this council do to uh reassure our community? We are all immigrants here or the majority of us unless we have Tehano roots from before this state and this community was even um a part of the United States. And it I I I will again uh go back to what Chief Rodriguez has already stated that they will follow the exact >> [clears throat] >> um the exact edicts of the law and not go outside of that. That of course criminal activity from whatever person in our community is to be investigated and and um prosecuted. But um I think Laredo as an immigrant community understands its history and its roots and that we have always been a very welcoming community and because the enforcement efforts right now seem to be so broad and so wide um you know we we stand with the people who live, work and play here. We understand that it's a mixed status. We have DACA recipients. We have people with green cards. We have migrants that cross every single day going back and forth just trying to earn a living for their families so that they can feed their families. And um I hope that we can come back to council with something that's very targeted that shows our appreciation for our roots and understanding of the great contributions that immigrants make to this city and how it runs and also its economic growth. Um I don't know that we can workshop that now if there are any ideas here but um I would hope that we can maybe work with management in some way or um reach out to our organizations that directly work with immigrants to craft a resolution so that the city understands that this management will not be punitive. that we will not engage in anything outside of the law to persecute or prosecute anyone that is outside of the remit of law enforcement. And and that we stand with the families of um people who obey our laws whether they um are citizens or not. >> All right. Thank you. Go ahead. >> I'd like to make a motion to bring up item 40 and 45. We have public comments here. >> All right. Motion >> second. All in favor? >> Can I make motion? >> Okay. Can I >> 888s? >> Point of order. Point of order. Mayor, >> go ahead. >> My item 88D1 was next on the agenda. I gave it up to 44 and 45. I didn't like mine to come right after that. >> All right. Motion second. >> Second. All in favor? I >> opposed. Motion pass. Okay, we'll do your item after that >> and then >> and then >> and then 88. >> Okay, you have a motion >> to bring up 88. >> Second. >> Okay, motion second. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion pass. >> Mayor. >> All right, go ahead. >> Uh item 40 and 45. Um we have here um representing I'll let him speak and say he he wears a lot of hats. All right. >> Good evening, mayor, members of city council. My I almost tripped. My legs fell asleep. Um >> I'm here to give y'all money. So, uh let's let's let's go positive for a while, too. There's been a lot of really good topics today. I've enjoyed this meeting. Um item 40, uh is let me open the agenda. Make sure I'm looking at the right one. Yes. This is what I would call in Concord. It's districts one and two. Uh um the project extending Concord south to the city park I think is tremendously important to >> [clears throat] >> um South Laredo and to all of Laredo. And I would like to say this project is what I is something I'm extremely proud of as being a true public private partnership where you have three developers that own property that are donating their land for the road to be built. One of those developers actually put up $400,000 uh to pay for the civil engineering to run it through to get the city's approval. Um I'm I'm really pleased with how Ramon Chavez worked on this project and helped quarterback it and um it's just a great project for South Ledo. I'm hoping this evening that uh the resolution is approved to enter into the interlocal agreement so that we can move this along. We're put the RMA is putting in a million dollars. The Web County drainage district is putting in $325,000. The city is funding to balance the difference. I'm not a sure of that exact figure, but I think it's a great project and I think we need to move it along as quickly as possible. >> Make motion. Motion to >> second. >> Motion second. >> Motion to approve item 40. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion passes. >> Mr. from it. Is it uh Concord Hills and Lomsur or is it district? It's district one and three, right? >> I thought it was one and two. Is it one and three? >> I looked at the city map before I came up. Correct me if I'm wrong. I tried to look at the district map before I came up to make sure. I remember you were at the ribbon cutting council member for for >> So it is >> it's one, two, and three or is it three and >> it's three and one. >> All right. I apologize. >> Basically, it's just triangle and everything together. So it's a bit Okay. Do we need to make We'll have another ribbon cutting out there soon. Correct. >> Yeah. Um maybe a groundbreaking followed by a ribbon cutting. >> Clarification. >> To do that if you need any help. >> Okay. >> Thank you very much. >> Ready. Thank you. >> All right. >> Yes. 45. And And um this one I'm I'm also very excited about. Um with this particular item, if y'all approve it going with the bidder, it's approximately $765,000. The RMA is pulling $765,000 out of our cash reserves, vehicle registration fees to put into the project. That will bring our total to $2.765 million that we have put into the Springfield roadway project. I actually compare Springfield to Concord. Uh Concord is the South Laredo Springfield in my opinion. It's a north south arterial that parallels either Quatro Ventos or in this case Interstate 35. So, in in this project, we are putting up the money for the city to finish the roadway that's there. The plans are already done. I'm very proud and pleased with Text with our district engineer EPI and and his staff cuz they were able to get the curb cuts in the driveway already done so that it'll be an easy project for that road to be completed so that Springfield will open from Luke 20 a long way south all the way to I believe Shiloh. >> So, another good project and we hope that you all approve this. I'll make a motion to accept >> the item. >> Okay. Motion to accept that item. Second >> motion to approve. >> Who was first? >> Was it for discussion? >> Yeah. Yeah. Just for discussion. No, I just want to thank you Jeff for sticking it out tonight. But mainly I want to thank you for all the help that you've been giving the city on this particular project. Uh this is extending as you said Springfield from Santa Cro to Loop 20. It could have been a part of Springfield phase three, but there was rush to get it done. So, just really glad we can finally get this done. And I know Mr. Chavez has been working a lot on this, which also Springfield phase 2A and 2B, which council member Ruben and Vanessa's district uh is is benefiting from which those bids are going out. So, finally, we're going to have the entire, you know, uh Springfield extension completed in in like a threeear span. It's pretty cool. So, thank you. You're most welcome. I enjoy the service and I again I want to thank uh Roman Chavez uh when in working with him as a city engineer. Um he's been awesome to help us with our RMA projects. We do have two others that'll come up in at some point during the agenda. They deal with TRZs, but I wanted to tackle this portion. Thank you very much. Thank you so much. >> Thank you, Mayor. My items next. Mayor, >> we didn't vote. We had a motion and a second. >> Okay. Motion. Was there a motion? >> Second. Okay. Second. All in favor? >> I >> I motion pass. >> Great. >> Okay. My item 88C1. >> ADHC1. >> Discussion with possible action authorizing the city manager of the city of Laredo to wave the fees sponsor the use of Sames Auto Arena on August 9, 2025 for the Dascese of Laredo's 25th anniversary mass for the law enforcement escort traffic control for Eucharistic adoration procession to be held on Saturday, March 31st, 2025. and any matter incident there too co-sponsored by council member Gilbert Gonzalez and council member Ricardo Ranel there's a correction mayor just on the date it's March 29th of 2025 all right noted to accept >> motion >> I have a question >> motion for discussion >> second for discuss okay second for discussion go ahead >> thank you um Mr. When we're in, I apologize, Council Member Gutierrez, if if this was mentioned, but what does this um sponsorship entail because I know that uh we do have a contract with a management company. So, what is not that I don't support the item, I do, but I'm just curious if we can kind of clarify what that actually entails and and um what kind of sponsorship we will be taking on. >> Certainly. Um yeah, mayor and city council. Again, anytime there's services provided essentially consider it a sponsorship, not really a waiver. What the waiver is is that these individuals have been identified by the city council as being uh sponsored by the city for that service. Any of the costs that are associated with the arena uh whether it be the uh the the individuals and even our police department, fire departments, the city is go covering those expenses because the services are being provided. So the difference is is that it's not really a waiver, it's a sponsorship. We utilize the word waiver because it's it is assisting these entities to get their their activity done with that but it's a sponsorship. So I'm not sure about the application. I have asked uh the arena to reach out because we we were aware of the anniversary. We were not aware of the walk and so we're trying to get that information in there to know exactly what that that is what that what that total cost is. But the waiver, the sponsorship, whatever term you want to use for it, we've done it for other other worthwhile activities. So, that's that's what we're talking about with this one as well. >> And would that be included in the city budget or would you need um council members to sponsor this application? Within our within our fee waiver policy, there is the ability for every council member to wave up to $2,000 a year within their own structure. The way I look at that fee waiver policy based upon how it's written is that generally it's it's district level stuff for that. Uh in this case, when when we brought these in, essentially we're going to utilize other dollars to cover that expense. um whether it's budgeted or not, I think we do have coverage within our budgets to do that. Otherwise, we'll come back to the council saying we don't have enough money in order to contribute to that. So, there's a balancing act that walks through it, but because [clears throat] we're within the budget structure, uh we we do have the with this case with the arena, we have a management company that we do uh support within that. We do have uh some some uh reductions in expenses that can be covered within that, but this is a sponsorship for these two events and and we we'd be we're fine with covering those >> and and could you bring back and make clear what those costs are and and that way >> definitely I again this will be one of the bigger conversations we have within our budget conversation because we are trying to make sure that everything remains open and and budgeted within there. I think some of the challenges we've had in the past like uh whether it be our police services, whether it be our park services, they've they've taken it out of their general budget which makes it really difficult to track for that. Our whole system now is built to uh keep it all transparent. So because if you know exactly what what we do throughout the year, it's easier to budget for it and and it keeps it in check. So we're all good and and so we will yeah, we will present back exactly what those what those costs are associated with. I think you've seen some of that with like the um the recent one that we did with the support of the Pony League and we'll do the same thing with with a lot of the other activities that are out there as well too. The idea is to track it so that we can make sure we can help them be successful in their event but still uh support our community service of what we're trying to do. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Second. There's a second. >> Motion second. All in favor? Oppos? Motion passes. >> Next item. Go ahead. >> In Laredo to align with current traffic conditions, safety goals and and stakeholder recommendations and any other matters incident there too was sponsored by council member Vanessa Pettis. Um and Mr. if you'd like to to come give your public comment your comment now. Yes. Yes. We we brought the item up. Um yes, Mr. along with several other residents [snorts] all over again. >> Yes. >> Okay. My name is Michaela the third and I'm here to talk with you mayor and council members regarding a problem that exists with Jefferson Street and I'm talking about the area that is from Ursula Santaula which is right next to the expressway all the way to Santa Maria. We have a situation that I got a chance to visit with uh Congress member Alicia Sigaroa and other members of different departments about this issue on August the 13th and I brought these issues to them and six months have elapsed and I you know as I will discuss with you nothing has happened. Now the situation with this street is not only a tractor trailer problem but it's a speeding problem with vehicles. I have a pamphlet that I prepared for you that I will give at the end of my presentation which shows all of the problems that exist with accidents there. As early as uh December the 14th, there was a vehicle front end collision right in front of uh Juan Ramirez's house, the LD board member here in Jefferson. And as early as January the 14th, we had over 30 tractor trailers that were lined up since the railroad track to Santa for an hour and a half. We have over 25 tractor to 30 tractor trailers lined up. They're blocking driveways and smoking up the place and nothing got done. I called police to see what could be done cuz some members of the residents there said the truckers got upset because they asked them to move the truck to get out of the driveway. Nothing was done there. Now, as I was explained in this meeting with uh Congresswoman Silaroa and members of the different departments of the city, the ordinance on Jefferson Street is for tractor trailers. This is a a truck route. They can move from west east Ledo to West Ledo, but not West Ledo to east Laredo. Well, their tractor trailers, if an hour and a half, we had 30 tractor trailers lined up to cross the railroad tracks. Can you imagine how many tractor trailers pass by there? And they're all coming from West Loro because they go through whatever few go through Anna Street, they decide to route out of out of that area through at Jefferson Street. Now, there's not a single street in Laredo that has a truck route next to schools. If so, correct me. Here's a truck route that was put together years ago when there wasn't the kind of traffic that exists now, two blocks away from three major schools, Martin High School, Christian Middle, and Lind Decker. And all of these students, many of them who live in that area of district 8, walk through eight streets, six streets that lead off these schools to go home. Santa Maria, San Bernardo, uh Flores Sanin uh convent and other streets that are there, they all walk home. And these tractor trailers and vehicles that speed are posing a serious danger for these students and people that walk their kids home that not only in the morning do they walk to school, in the afternoons they walk back. Now imagine an 80,000B truck fully loaded running over a kid or a person on Jefferson Street. That's a clear and present danger that exists now with these tractor trailers. the way and the vehicles handle themselves there. There are no speed signs on the south side of Jefferson Street. There there is uh no uh trailer sign on on Santa Maria and Jefferson which is totally disregarded by the tractor trailers. Now, what we need there, these are tractor trailer people that come from all over the country. Even if the police posted a unit there uh in Jefferson Street to warrant these uh tractor trailers away, uh it it will never stop because these tractor trailers from all over creation. They have no regard for the loss. I've talked to them during the time that the tractor trailers are parked there. They don't care they get tickets. They won't pay for them because they come from different parts. All right. Coming over here today, there was a tractor trailer that came all through Santa Maria where the schools uh I think Faras and Santa Maria are a Po Gara tractor trailer and turned on Jefferson Street on Santa Maria. He has no business being on Santa Maria. >> Thank you for your comment, >> Council Member Seattle. >> Well, I just wanted to thank thank you so much for for making it out tonight. Okay. And then also just to to mention that we we did meet a couple months ago along with several other residents who had some have similar concerns and we have been trying to um bring this item up but we haven't been able to finish our agendas the past couple months. So I apologize for the um for it taking so long. But um Mr. Neb did um send us all um a sort of briefing of um that the last time we updated the truck routes throughout Laredo um was tw I believe um and that you would recommend >> Mr. Nab, do you have a comment? >> Yeah. Uh Mayor Prom, City Council, uh again, Mr. Chavez does have a presentation because we put together some information because this had been on the agenda a couple times and so we tried to pull it all the information together. Uh again, I think uh going through the truck routes and determining uh where they should be based upon exactly what what the gentleman is saying as well too is that our city grows and so reviewing those on a regular basis makes a lot of sense for that. And so I don't know if you want to hear the presentation from Mr. Chavez or or if uh you want us to take our current truck route listing and maybe bring back some recommendations, we can do it either directly for that. >> Council member, is that okay with you? >> Yes. >> Okay. I if that's if that's the recommendation, I think just in the interest of time, Mr. Chavez, you had a presentation that not >> I mean Mr. Mr. Adam, >> the problem is this. We asked for a four-way stop sign as an interim there on the combat in Jefferson to stop the speeding of vehicles and tractor trailers. Up to now, I haven't heard about it. >> No, we have this issue citywide. So, I appreciate the frustrations, but we definitely need to take all this. You have all of this documented and in a presentation form. >> Yes, I have it here. I'll give it to you. The only problem is this that in the meantime if somebody gets uh run over there as I make this issue public to you all and to the media I plan to have a press conference on this with many of the contacts that I have in the media. I hope you know these uh tests and uh all of these uh feasibility studies have been taken take in consideration that this is a public safety and public health issue that is a clear and present danger. Now >> any more time is is going to be opposing a problem. >> No, we appreciate that. And just to clarify, we do have other areas in town that have issues. I have in district 7, we have a lot of schools that are also having uh issues. So I do think it's a great item that council member Saroa brought up so that we can um fully address the issue. I have 30 signatures that I will give uh Councilwoman Sigaraa on people that are requesting that this uh truck route get eliminated as soon as possible. >> Council member Siatoa, did you have a motion? >> If we could proceed with >> and and Mayor Pro Tim and city council, >> I do have a second. >> I'll second that. >> M based upon the presentation and everything, keep in mind that a truck route itself does not prohibit trucks from driving on other streets. We need to look at this more comprehensively than just the truck route itself. The truck routes are for the designated areas where the trucks go, but it doesn't prohibit local deliveries and all of that on the other routes. I would like to make sure that we to address the gentleman's concerns and everything. We need to look at it more comprehensive than just the truck routes themselves. That's it's my recommendation. So >> So there's a motion on the floor in a second. Does anybody >> I'm sorry. What can we clarify what the motion is? The motion to >> to update the truck route >> or for them to come back with recommendations. >> I do believe that something is >> sure just right now. >> Mayor Mayor Protemp, if I may. >> If I may. >> Yes, Mr. >> Yes. So, um, as part of all this, uh, it may require that we have to hire consultant. So, that's the only thing that I'd also want to mention. We have looked at this with our traffic department. the truck route uh is indeed by ordinance. Uh our city has grown and so that's something that we would have to look citywide as we look into these things. The other comment that I do want to make also is that uh we made sure that that when we looked at vision zero this uh the truck route study was included as part of the safety action plan. So that as well will allow us in the future to uh tap into some of those resources. >> And Mr. Chavez, thank you for that comment. And so in that regard, if we already have some data, can you bring us maybe on the next council meeting a recommendation from the study and the data that we already have on some improvements that we can make along this route? >> Yes, we can. What I would like to do because I I know this item had been prepared for a little while. I want to go back with traffic and engineering and talk about the option because I I I believe that the truck route itself will not do everything that we want it to do. I think we have to look at it more comprehensive and so I'd like to go back to that but I think all the work that we've already gotten in place we'll bring it back very quickly um and and have you at least a full package as to what the next step may just one comment uh Mr. Neb a lot of the citizens don't know that deliveries are allowed outside of the truck route so that's one thing that we need to put out there as well so something you all need to really concentrate on Mr. Chavez as well when it comes to those truck routes when they're delivering because a lot of the public doesn't know that the delivery trucks can be out there completely out to the truck route and they're in and out. So just to kind of put that in in perspective. >> Yes, sir. I I agree and I I think those are there are some other ways of helping with some of that. I mean there's weight limits, there's there's different types of restrictions and such. So want to make sure that you have the full comprehensive package. Thank you. and and I think that it's important for us to show some results since it has been an issue on the table for a while and we do have some data already on at our hands and we do have um his information here and we could probably bring a solution or two and bite it bite at this issue a a couple of targeted items at a time so we can begin to address the bigger picture because it's not going to be a one item solution. So, if you can on the next council meeting bring us an item as well. There's a motion and a second on the floor. Does anybody have any other comments? >> Okay. Call for the question. All in favor? >> Anyone opposed? >> One other thing I wanted to just mention real quick. I know it's late. >> Uh, hold on. Let me just make the motion. Motion passes. One final comment please. >> Yes. That uh street there is a just a a truck route for one way to the other. the other side going from west to east is not a is not a part of the ordinance or the the truck route considerations. >> We will we will consider all of that. >> There's no enforcement by police to ticket or to stop distractor traders from going from west to east and the chief needs to be made aware of that hardly any police there particularly in the times when students are leaving school where there should be a little bit of care that these students at least pass by there in a safe way. >> We will bring a plan. Thank you. Um, next item. Where are we at? >> Public hearings. >> Okay. Motion to >> motion on the public hearings. The ordinances. >> Motion. Is there a second? >> I second that. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? Motion passes. >> Mr. W. Reading for number one. Let's go. >> Providing community residents opportunity to comment on their housing and community needs and the project they wish to see funded. Comments received will be part of the city's 2025 2026 a one-year action plan to 2025 2029 5-year con consolidated plan that will outline how funding for the programs listed below made available is the US department of housing and urban development will be utilized the city's community development department is planning my 25 project activities based on the past 2024 allocations estimated below 51st action year community development block grant 3,32,219 H investment partnership grant home 9576468 solutions grant 283,741 Activities projects plan for the 2025 2026 action year are conditioned upon the approval allocation amount. All proposed activities budget will be forcely increase or decrease from the estimated funding levels to act to match actual allocation amounts. Any changes to the activity project due to changes in allocation will be reflected in this 2025 one-year action plan. The public may provide comment via the public hearing by attending the public meeting location to fill out a survey by calling at office 9567952675 by sending to email to cd commentsci. Larredo.x tx us by filling out the survey online at Englisho survey. I am not reading that lane just so that thank you [laughter] not going to happen not that fast. Number two public ordinance amending the zoning orders map city rated by reszoning lot 2A block 823 Eastern division located at 1414 north metal avenue from B1 limited business district to B3 community business district zoning commission recommended now zone change of staff does not support the application. Number three, public hear ordinance amending the zoning orders map city rate of authorizing special use permit for a tobacco shop on lot 28 block 823 Eastern division located at 1414 North Meadow Avenue sweet number four,200 square feet the plans only commission recommended approval of the proposed zone genius staff does not support the application number four public ordinance man city lo by reszoning approximately 9.6 6 acres and further described by meets and bounds and attached exhibit A located at the north of Aan President and east of Guatro Ventos Road from agriculture to R1A single family reduced area district the plan zoning commission recommend approval of the pro zone chain of staff supports the application number five public ordinance amend the zoning order city by zoning approximately 29.4 4 acres as further described by meets and bound in tax exhibit A located south of La Arbor Bora Boulevard and west of EG Ranch Road from R1A single family reduced area district and R2 multif family residential district to R1B single family highdensity district the plan zoning commission recommended approval of the proposal zone change staff supports the application number six public ordinance to make map city by reason of approximately 5.1 acres as further described by means of mountain exhibit A located north of Pakul Fakulad Boulevard the west of US highway 83 from B1 limited visit district to B3 community visit with plans only to the proposed zoning and staff supports the application. Number seven, public ordinance and maintain zoning or not by zoning approximately 5.9 acres that described by means of bounds and attached exhibit A located at north of Worms Road and west of Quroentos from R1A single family reduced area district to B1 limited business district that plan zoning commission recommend the denial of the proposal and Jane staff does not support the application. Number eight, publicity or methon map city radi zoning block 4 block 848 Eastern division located at 1519 east on Bedro Street from B1 limited business issue to B3 community business is the planning zoning commission recommended approval of proposed zoning and staff supports the application number nine public hearing ordinance amending the zoning ordinance map by reszoning approximately 1.59 acres as further described by meets and bounds and attach exhibit A located at 5601 Lago de Via Drive from R1A single family reduced area district to R1B single family high density district the plan zoning commission recommended approval of the proposal zone change and staff supports the application. Number 10, public introd block 22084 Eastern division located at 1802 and 1804 Milk Street from R3 mixed residential district to be one limited business district. The plan zoning commission recommends approval of the propos staff did not support the application. Public number 11 public hearing me authorize the issuance of a consolidated use of a conditional use permit for an auto body repair paint and body shop at lot 7 and lot 8 block 2084 Eastern division located at 1802 1804 Milk Street. The plans zoning commissioner recommended approval of the proposed zone change for the conditional use permit with the addition to include a condition of an expiration date of three years. However, staff did not support the application. Number 12, public hearing ordinance amend the zoning ordinance after city by authorizing a special use permit for tobacco shop on lot one block 1 North America industrial park phase one located at 102 North America Park Road suite number 483.35 ft. The plan zoning commission recommended approval of the road of the proposed special use permit and staff supports the application. Number 13, public hearing and entry ordinance amending the zoning orders map zone approximately 3.8 acres located east of public loop south of date palm drive from R1 single family residential district to R2 multif family residential district. The plan zoning commission recommended approval of the prop zone change and staff supports the application. Number 14 was tabled 15 public interest industry ordinance amending the zoning orders picelated by reszoning approximately 18.7 acres located south of Sierra Vista Boulevard in west of Quroto road from B3 community visit district to R1A single family roots area district zoning commission recommended approval of the frozone change of staff supports the application number 16 public hearing ordinance of the city of city council of the city of Laredo Texas amending chapter 15 health and sanitation article 6 no smoking and public places of the code of ordinances updating section 15-78 definitions and section 15-8 Haiti designation of smoking area providing protocol for required signage providing a severability clause providing a saving clause and providing for an effective date number 17 public order of city council of the city of Larredo authorizing the city manager to accept and appropriate revenues and expenditures in the amount of 435,000 for the health resources and services administration HIV Ryan White 340B drug pricing reimbursement program with no match for the city of Dredo public department for the term period of April 1st 2024 through March 31st 2025. Funds will be accounted for the RO public health department HIV Ryan Y3 340B program. Number eight, publicity ordinance concerning a voluntary annexation application by Lucia Elisando Pis on behalf of all carriers, Inc. altering and extending the boundary limits of the city of Laredo annexing additional territory of 8.55 acres more or less located south of 14 f FM1472 southeast of the road providing the effective date and ordinance authorizing the chief the city manager to execute a contract to adopt a new service plan for the annex territory and establish the initial zoning of M1 light manufacturing district zoning commission recommended approval of the annexation and initial zoning staff supports the application and initial zoning number 19 public hearing industry ordinance concerning a voluntary annexation application by George and Beckleheimer on behalf of the Pinnacle Minds Investment LLC altering and extending the boundary limit city Laredo annexing additional territory of 13.4940 acres more or less located at west of peak of west peak road and north of Elpico road providing for an effective date the ordinance authorized city manager to execute a contract adopting a service plan of the annex territory and establishing the initial zoning of M1 light manufacturing district. The plan zoning commission recommended approval of the annexation initial zoning staff supports the application and initial zoning. Number 20, public hearing interrupt ordinance concerning a voluntary annexation application by Sashi Vaswani on behalf of Bastrop RM Investments altering extending a boundary limit of annexing the additional territory 120.32 acres more or less located for of FM1472 and west of FM 338 3338 providing for the effective date of the ordinance authorized city manager to execute a contract adopting a service plan for the annex territory and establish the initial zoning of M1 light manufacturing district. The plan zoning re and the planning and zoning commission recommend the approval of the annexation and initial zoning staff supports the application and initial zoning. Number 21 public order submitting zoning north state by reszoning the east 1/2 of lot 2 block 248 western division located at 914 coke street from R2 multif family residential to B3 community business district. The plan zoning commission recommended approval of the proposed zoning and staff did not support the application. 22 public hearing HR ordinance of maintain his own math state by reszoning lot 5 block 2 to Martina's business park unit 2 located at 144 Jackman road from B3 community business district to B4 highway commercial district zoning commissioner recommend the denial of the propos staff did not support the application number 23 public interrupt ordinance amending the zoning map city Laredo by reszoning lot 8 block 261 Eastern division located at 1907 Mont Street from R3 mixed residential district to R1A single family reduced area district zoning commissioner recommended approval of the frozen staff supports the application 24 publicity or city of city council of city Laredo authorized city manager to accept an appropriate revenues and expansions in the amount of 250,000 for the Methodist healthcare ministries huntos for better health grant with no match city Laredo public health department for the term period of January 1st 2025 through December 31st 2025 with 2-year extension through December 31st 2027 for a total grant amount of 750,000 funds will be accounted for in the Laredo public health department fund huntos for better health did oh there's no introductory words we're >> [clears throat] >> We're at public hearing number one. number one four against >> four against four against. >> Okay. All in favor? Motion pass. Number two, public hearing. Four or against. Four or against. Four or against. All in favor? >> Yeah. >> I I mean I can speak. >> Okay. >> If you'd like. Um so this is for the item on the uh located at 1414 North Meadow Avenue for for from a B1 to a B3 and it is for a smoke shop. um the recommendation for denial and the the reason why staff does not support is because um especially in in light of the fact that the city of Laredo has introduced a a greater I'm sorry well that the city of Laredo has just instituted an ordinance to extend the amount of distance between any tobacco shop and the residential area. It went from 300 to 800 and um this site location is only 100 ft away from the residential area. Excuse me, sir. Go ahead. >> Hello. Uh my name is Jose. Uh I am a local entrepreneur here in Larredo. I was born and raised here. Uh I do give back to the community as much as I can. And for those of you that know me, I I've always lend a a helping hand to them. Uh but I'm here to speak on uh on why they're not letting me uh pl I'm sorry to I'm sorry I'm a little nervous but to start off uh in the last uh planning uh meeting I felt a little bit humiliated by uh the lady from planning and zoning uh uh she pretty much told me that I should have done my research online when I went to the Naro planning window at the building that you guys pay taxes on or you know at light bills everything and I was given the wrong information. This was back in October, right? So, uh I applied in October. They pretty much gave me the wrong application. They they told me to apply for the wrong permit. So, now we are here almost in February, right? Well, almost finishing up February and I'm still in the same position with not many answers, right? Um now, to start off with, like if you check online uh on our uh you'll see two things. you'll see that we were recommended denial twice and on that same day it says recommended denial and recommended approval on on one of the cases which I think was the special use permit. Um so I'm just pointing out here and and my presentation doesn't have many slides other than um they there is a there's a smoke shop which is 6 milesi away from the location where I'm trying to open. Right. And these this is a pretty big smoke shop that that is pretty much nationwide now. I've been doing the research and this is just the closest one that is to my location. Right. Um it is 6 milesi away from my location and then we got it's 350 away from the nearest home. It is10 mi or two or 528 ft away from the nearest church and.9 miles away from uh MS Ryan Elementary. Um, now right in front of me as well, right in front of the location where I'm trying to open, there's a liquor store there that sells the tobacco products as well. So, we're literally right across the street from each other. And pretty much, uh, I would like to know how come some people are getting the the the used permit or whatever, and what I what I would have to do to receive it for myself, right? Um, I'm just going to go down my notes to make sure that I'm not missing anything if that's okay with you guys. Um, so now, uh, the letters were sent out like three times to all the neighbors, right? Cuz this is I should have been in this council meeting long time ago. But you, uh, there was the freeze recently, then there was uh, New Year's, then there was Christmas prior to these. And these is this is why I'm already $15,000 in the hole in rent, right? Um, so again, right in front of me, there is a liquor store that does sell these tobacco products as well. and I would just want to know what would be the difference between us and them. >> So, uh, Mr. Vand, I did speak to planning and zoning. I don't know if there's a member of the staff that's here >> to to speak. Sorry, I'm looking beyond you. Um, I I can I can explain a little bit and then you can fill in information. So the biggest [clears throat] >> name and title for the record please >> for the recording of the planning department. So what specifically he did apply for is a uh for a tobacco shop which does require uh the permit that he's that he's requesting and it it also requires the underlying zone. That's why you have the two items. Now the uh tobacco shop that is the primary business. I know he's talking about uh the alcohol sales next door, but alcohol is the primary business on the one across the street. That's the big distinction here. >> Okay. And from what I understand, and again, correct me if I'm wrong, that so the the the site that that you've chosen is B1 and the minimum zone requirement is a B3 to even apply for the special use permit. And I'm assuming that's why the planning and zoning commission said, "Well, we're going to deny you the B3." But if in some crazy case this council votes to upend that, then maybe it would be okay even if staff doesn't agree. So there there are a couple of issues. one that B3 right next to the residential neighborhood um for land use as a council we tend to have B1s [snorts] um lesser impact businesses that are right up against homes to protect the quality of life for those residents. A B3 just allows more types of businesses that have a greater impact to the residential community. and and so that's why we usually don't have B3s right next to a residential zone. That's one issue. The other is that this council increased the distance requirements recently from 300 feet to 800 ft for smoke shops to be next to schools and also residential zones. And your site is 103 feet away from the residential zone. So there are already two issues with it. why it it wouldn't qualify. It could be that the other shop you were talking about, if it if it were a smoke shop, um the increase in distance is pretty recent and it wouldn't apply to somebody who had already gotten their permission earlier. So, the 800 feet is a pretty new uh requirement by this council. and and the idea is to just create a safer zone for residential zones and and for schools. So, for both those reasons, because it is um a higher impact zone that you would need and then because even with that zone, we've already said as a council it's too close to a residential zone to qualify. That's why I would be recommending a denial. >> So, I I do see your point. Uh but let let it be known again that these letters have been sent out three times to all these neighbors. If anybody had a petition, they would be here right now. Right? Because it's been 5 months that they could voice their complaints right now. Again, the liquor store is what what's the difference between the liquor store? How does that impact more positively the community and the tobacco shop? >> The smoke. Yes. Yeah. I'll I'll pass the floor to to Mr. Hill if that's okay. >> You know, right now what I'm seeing is Mr. has been a, you know, a person that's given back to the community. You know, I think you're the owner of the Kaioino if I'm mistaken, sir. >> Yes, sir. >> You got a couple of uh of uh barber shops around town. What I'm trying to figure out maybe when you're just we just uh mentioned that or there was a zone changing or we changed the ordinance from 200 what was it from 300 to 800. Yes. >> So, when was this changed? >> It's on item. >> How many months ago? Oh, it's on item. >> So, it hasn't chang So, we're changing it today. >> So, you know, Mr. Mr. And has been here for past five months >> and then we had the freeze and then we had the, you know, the shutdown, but we we set we we you know, we didn't have the meeting >> and then we didn't meet, right? >> So, right now, I think Mr. and has been going through the process has gone through the right channels and I think right now it's if he get he if he's been waiting online it's not fair if you were going to do changes today you know for to him to get punished and say you know what we're not we're not we're not going to support that and I understand you're not saying we're he's getting punished and I'm not you know I'm not going that way but he's been there you know spending like he said $15,000 within the hole you know it's it's hard to to come up come up with that money plus support another business plus you We got to understand we got to be econ, you know, we got to be business friendly and it's a local business. I know he's an entrepreneur locally from Larredo. So for me, it's like, you know, we're Mr. And thank you so much for for everything you've been doing for for Laredo and for bringing, you know, giving jobs to to even to students that are coming up from from high school and getting their barber shop um license and stuff. But at the same time, you know, if you're opening up a barber shop and there's nothing to hold you back without even changes, you know, I don't see no no problem with it. >> Mayor, >> go ahead. Council, >> um, I'd like to ask a question on Council Member Sigo's comment about the changing of the feat because I'm looking at at the ordinance that's on the agenda and it's only talking about smoking in public places. I don't recall bringing an item where we're changing the feet. Uh when it comes to zoning, >> the the the feet. >> Yeah. >> Yes. Just for clarification purposes, uh the zoning did it did change to the 800 ft. It was back in September of 2020 2015. >> And and what was for what zoning? >> Uh it was for the smoke shop. So it was changed it to [clears throat] >> schools. >> So u my question here is the the liquor store and the and this potential business. Um would be very similar in feet to the residential or the schools >> pretty much. >> Is the is the liquor store within the 500 ft or the 300 ft? >> That's a little bit different. It's a different use. It's a totally different use. The primary use of the liquor store is is different. >> I understand the primary use, but if he's if liquor stores are selling the same products >> Mhm. >> and he's across the street selling just one of the products, >> right? >> How where does it say in our ordinance and our policy that >> it's based on on the on the product? So, the the percentage of the income that's come in based on the product. So here in in the uh the case of the liquor store, the primary income is the liquor. In his case, the primary income is the tobacco. >> So we're saying that liquor is acceptable to be closer than tobacco even though you can buy tobacco at a gas station >> and it's the same age requirements. >> You can buy tobacco at a gas station. So I'm not understanding that. Quick question. This business, we know liquor stores close at 9:00 p.m. What time we >> Yeah, we were trying to keep it closed early. We don't want to be too open too late at night because I I we know the risk of the business, right? And and if you guys haven't done the research, it is one of the top five fastest growing businesses in Texas. Uh with the whole House bill change, right? Um I wouldn't jump into a I've been in the in business for seven years now, right? And I wouldn't jump into a business if it wasn't going to be profitable or anything like that, right? Uh we're trying to make sure we do know that there's a lot of like other smoke shops getting in trouble for doing things that are not right, but I think competition brings the best out of everybody, right? So we we plan to implementing the right things and and and I can't I don't want to go off on detail to telling you guys what we plan on on having as security measures, but we will have very very high security measures. So we won't allow any young kids in there or, you know, anybody that shouldn't be in there. >> Director, go ahead. >> So Mr. Is there is there going to be like smoking inside the shop or is just you're selling the product? >> You're just selling really we're going to have a retail store in there. It's also going to be closed. It's not going to be directed just to the tobacco products. >> Correct. >> So, um council and and maybe finding zoning can help. Council decided that smoke shops fall under a different qualification. >> That is correct. and that they have to be 300 feet as of now or 800 feet. Okay, 800 feet away from a residential zone. This shop, your front door is 103 feet away from a residential zone and there are homes that are right there at the edge of that strip mall. Two blocks away, there is a B3. two blocks away, you run into Guadalupe and there are a lot of B3s and available sites located there. And while I understand your um uh work in trying to get this site situated, it has always been a B1 and it has never qualified for a smoke shop. And that's in our ordinances. And land use is one of the most important things that we do here at council. So I I can't speak to why the past five months you haven't gotten a response. The the the person that I spoke to who was the I guess the case manager in charge of this did say that that was explained to you. I and and I can only you know I I don't want to make a judgment as to what the >> lady that had me for an hour and a half trying to explain me why she gave me the wrong permit. >> Well, it is it is the requirement for for two permits, right? You you have to have a zone change and then layered on top of that because council decided that smoke shops should be farther away from residential zones. >> Mr. and I do understand the ordinance. I I I understand it completely. I'm I'm here to prove my point that there's a liquor store in front. We've given we've mailed out three times to every single residential area. My landlord lives in that area. Yes. You know what I'm saying? So, we're trying to say I get the ordinance and I and >> you guys let me come into city council to try to, you know, uh get this business going. Now, if I don't, that's cool. I'll take my business elsewhere. You know, I'm already planning on San Antonio. But it you guys are making it very difficult because the radio is small. You're making me choose over like three to five streets where I can open up my my place. And again, I understand the ordinance. It's just I'm proving my point that the letters have been mailed out to all the neighbors more than three times. Um I'm doing the >> I'm trying to go through everything, do everything right uh through you guys and and and to the council, to the to the people in here, right? Uh we're trying to do everything right. And again, we understand the ordinance, but you guys gave us the the the chance to come and speak to you guys, and this is what we're doing here. Again, I understand the ordinance. I understand the fee, and I understand that there's a liquor store right in front. >> Go ahead. Go, >> mayor. Okay. The planning and zoning commission did hear your arguments and they voted to deny the initial zone change from B1 to B3 because it would create and correct me if I'm wrong, an isolated zone. And again, it is not um there just isn't another buffer to this residential area. Those homes are right at the corner of that lot where your site sits. Two blocks away is Guadalupe and >> two blocks away is where the competition is. Man, there's all these places have been taken over big corporations. You you should be you should let local entrepreneurs run these businesses. >> I I have no disagreement with that. But there are other sites available. And as far as the letters going out to the neighbors, unfortunately this council sees it all the time. People don't respond. And my argument >> it's on the TV as well. You guys do your means. That's not our fault. That's y'all's. And if you guys haven't reached more people through letters, then guess what? Letters aren't working right. >> Well, that is been my argument to planning and zoning that we should reformat those letters. >> Well, don't take it out on me is what I'm saying. >> I'm not taking out anything. >> No debate here. Go ahead. >> I am. >> Go ahead. Okay. So, I understand that the issue here is the isolated zoning because the problem isn't so much the smoke shop is that the request is to create a B3 when everything around it is B1 or residential. But I think that this would fit a conditional use permit where the conditional use permit could make sure that your hours are within acceptable hours. That would be a different application. I don't know. I it seems like you were misadvised. >> Hold on. I'm not >> more than once. >> Um is there possible for us to convert his application to a conditional use and bring that back on the March 3rd meeting for consideration? >> Cuz can we get some advice on that? Because for me, if there's an alcohol shop and there and you're kind of in the same vicinity, I don't really see an issue with it. I know it's not my district, but you know, um I don't know what the rest of council believes, but it does seem like there was some issues with you and you're just trying to open a business. I think it's the zone change request that's harder to accept versus a permit to start your to start and operate your business. I don't know if that's something that we can consider. >> I just like to clarify something. First of all, I did look on the ordinance and across the street is a B1 and off off premise alcohol sales are allowed B1. So, I did confirm that with the ordinance. Uh, number two is that the only path for him to be able to open up the tobacco shop would be through the special use permit and not a condition use permit. So, he is on the path as is presented on the agenda, the zone change first, the B3 and then the special that is the only path allowed. >> So, he has to get the zone change. >> He has to get the zone change by ordinance. Yes ma'am. >> All right. Go ahead. >> And and I and I I would assume that at some point the staff at planning and zoning did tell you that this was the path that it needed to be the zone change and then the special use permit. >> Well, they have told me several things, ma'am. >> Yes. >> So, I don't know what to believe. >> Well, but >> because the main lady was out here giving me the explanation for about an hour and a half. He was there right next to me for the wrong applicate for the wrong permit. >> So >> what permit? >> So the if I may, there was some issues uh clarifying that of what the different uses were because there's head shop and then there's tobac. So we just needed clarification of the tobacco >> and they had no clue. That lady had no clue. I'm sorry. I hate to be rude. I'm not I don't want to be rude. I'm sorry Mr. D if I'm being rude or to the council, but honestly that lady had no clue. No clue. She was she told me about three different permits. We had to we had to put one then two then three then different signs. Uh I just again I understand the ordinance. I'm here to tell you guys the facts of what I know. There's very few streets where we can put this business. We've been mailed out to all the the neighbors. It's been broadcasted. To my to my understanding it's been broadcasted. There's nobody here to petition. I just want to see what we can do to move forward and we can move forward. That's fine. You know I I understand that. But I I don't I understand the ordinance. I want everybody to understand that I understand the ordinance and and that yes, maybe some people did explain it. It was more actually Mr. Steve Landon that actually uh uh that that actually guided me and and he's the reason why I'm here cuz I sat down with him and I told him if there's a little bit of a chance to get council on board, then I'll I'll show up to the meeting. But if there isn't, I would have canceled my leads last month or two months ago and I wouldn't have been paying. Does that make sense? >> Zone or do you have any suggestions? If I may expand, since he, you know, mentioned my name, he came to see me the day that we cancelled or that the mayor cancelled due to weather, very frustrated because he'd been waiting for months. And so ultimately what we have now here before you is, and I told him, you have an opportunity to come in, talk to the council. The council has the right to over overrule and approve it the way it is. or if you reject it, then there's a a waiting period for them to come back. So, I mentioned to him because he's been wanting to be before the council for months. I said, "We'll get it on the next agenda because it wasn't on the 18th of back then, and now it's on." And so, council has a right to approve it or deny it one way or another. If you deny it, there's going to be a waiting period for them to be able to come back to try it again. So ultimately, it's your choice to to and I heard the motion from councilman to approve it and there was a second, but then the discussion started right after that. >> Well, yes, that if >> there is mayor, >> hold on. >> Yes. So there is a question uh what is the the repercussion to the city if what he's saying is true that he got all this misinformation and as a result of that he's in this situation what would be the repercussion or what would be the city's position on this >> liability wise uh we we it's defendable it's unfortunate and I apologize that you went through this but uh there there would be no repercussion for the city at At this point, we're we're at like like uh Stephen and Dean advised him, comes before the the council and you all can approve it. Uh but we cannot convert to a special use permit or conditional use. It's it's approval or or not. And if it's denial, then you would have to wait six months. All right. >> Go ahead. >> It seems like we've got some outdated ordinances. Um, we've got some policies that are not maybe maybe sound good on paper but are not realistic in today's market and what's out there and the changing of the bills and what's allowed to be sold and all this. So, it's very contradictory for me that a liquor store and this type of business have such a huge uh distance requirement when I think it's more of a synergy thing. You know, you're kind of shopping for, you know, you're appealing to kind of a a certain kind of customer. Um, it is a business zone. I could understand the concern of changing it to a B3. However, I think there might be flexibility within our ordinance to modify to allow something like this in a B1 without having to get a B3 first and then a conditional use. That's going to take time on our end to fix. Is there anything that we can do without changing the zoning today that would allow him to start operating while we can maybe consider modifying some of our ordinances? Because if he sells his business, that business will always be a a B3. that land will always be a B3. So I understand concern with that, but is there anything we can do to help him? >> So he doesn't, you know, >> he can approve it. >> So >> yeah, >> so go ahead. >> So if anything, it's if I'm not mistaken, you you didn't you didn't buy you you're leasing, right? >> Yeah, I'm leasing there. >> He's he's leasing the the property. So >> I've been leasing there for seven years now. That's where one of my locations is at. Uh the landlord I was going to open up a tattoo shop, but then the landlord uh for some reason didn't want it and this was another pitch on the board and she decided to take this. I didn't know it was going to be this much of a >> Mayor, real quick, point of order. How can he apply for a zone change on property he doesn't own? >> If he's not the owner of the property, then we shouldn't even be considering a zone change because he doesn't own it. So, who took his application and everything if he's not the owner of the property? We've been here for 30 minutes talking to a tenant when he's not the owner. I mean, guys, mayor, I think it's a motion to table. I think we should make a motion to table and we'll talk about it and and you guys try to figure out how we can fix this. >> Motion second. All in favor? I opposed. Motion passes. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> So, Mr. Mayor May directed. So, Mr. Going back to that, you know, it's it's okay. So, going back to that property, is that property is >> tabled? I can't discuss. >> No, I'm asking a question. I'm not asking that. >> Okay. >> The item stable. >> I'll Okay. >> No, we have to deal with management on this one because >> next item. >> Number four. >> Number four. >> Oh, is it three or four? >> Three. Number three. Three. Three. For or against whatever >> item three uh or against >> or against. >> Yeah. Is it? >> Oh, it's item three is the same property owner. >> Same thing. >> Same thing. >> Table item three. >> So, hold on, mayor. Before the tableing, uh, Councilman Ranel had a question for the owner and about item two. It's the same owner, >> so he can ask the question now. >> Yeah. So, let me go bring the motion back. >> Yes. >> So, in that in that plaza, I guess it's a plaza. What I'm seeing right now, that plaza is a what? A B3 B1. >> Everything's a B1 across the board. >> That is correct. I can >> So, why is it that we have, you know, is there what is it in there that >> Well, can you bring us a list of the properties or the business that are there? >> Let let me bring up a map here. >> It's like a water shop. It's my neighborhood. water shop or barber shop discussion. >> The barber shop needs a B3, doesn't it? >> No. >> No. B1. B1. Okay. >> Mayor, if I may. >> Go ahead. >> I don't think the issue I think that planning and zoning made a proper recommendation and they're following the ordinance as is. However, we create the ordinances. And if people are bringing contradictions and they're bringing scenarios that are not working and they're bringing things that don't make sense, instead of looking around trying to figure out how to fix this, we just need to figure sit down and do our homework and figure out how to fix this because obviously there's an issue. But the bigger question is we shouldn't have tenants applying for zone changes on properties that they don't own. I mean, because what if we would have approved it? >> No. May I address that? >> Sure. So it the the property owner is the one that fills out all the information and authorizes the tenant in this case to submit the application. But the pro the landlord the property owner signs all documentation and acknowledges everything. A renter cannot themselves request his own change. It is done through the landowner and the land owner uh acknowledges all and signs and signs the affidavit giving that authority to the uh tenant. >> No, I understand that. It's just, you know, there's some issues here that we need to fix, but I personally don't have an issue with approving his business in this location. I'm not the council person, but I can see where it makes sense. >> Uh, but the issue that I'm a little concerned with is approving the B3, which I don't think we should have to run jump through hula hoops to get a business permit or special use or conditional use. We should be able to allow that on a B1. >> [clears throat] >> again the way the ordinance is written >> I understand that what we ultimately approve >> yes >> mayor with the table I would just ask let let me let let us go back and look at this and and look and we'll bring it back at the next council meeting with with our final recommendation the the challenge is of course we have a planning and zoning uh denial as well as the staff denial but I want to make sure that we kind of clarify all that it's really hard for me to determine what we've done wrong or right sitting here in this room. I'd rather go back and look at that information. So, since it is tabled, we'll just bring it back. Let me let me >> let me see what we can do. >> Motion to table item three and and to bring that one and the other one back for the next motion secondy that she did give she signed consent for me to be speaking on behalf of her to be here even right now as we speak. Uh, so I just wanted to make sure that you guys knew that she knows everything that's going on on her on her space that is for for lease, right? Uh, and she did she paid the taxes back in October. She paid them early so that we could apply for this special use permit. >> I understand. >> We have a call for the question. >> Mayor, we we understand. It's just that for us, I think we need to hear from the owner. >> Okay. >> Call for the question. >> Thank you. >> All in favor? Two and three. >> Opposed? Motion pass. Number four. For or against. For or against. For or against. >> Motion to close and introduce. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? I >> opposed. Motion passes. >> Five. [clears throat] Four or against. Four or against. Four or against. >> Motion to close and introduce. >> Second. >> Motion. >> Second. All in favor? Opposed. Motion passes. Number six. For or against. Four or against. Four or against. >> Motion to close and introduce. >> Second. Motion second. All in favor? >> I against motion pass. Seven. Four against. Four against. Four against. >> Motion to close introduce. >> I do have a question. >> Jen, >> right? It's the denial. >> It's a denial. >> Yes. I I >> motion table. Second. >> Second. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion pass. >> Number eight. Four or against. For against or against me >> move. >> Okay. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion pass. Number nine. For or against. For or against. Four or against. >> Motion to close and introduce. >> Motion second. All in favor. I >> post. Motion pass. Number 10. For against or against. Four or against. >> Motion to close and introduce. >> Second. Motion second. All in favor? I >> against motion pass. 11 for against. Four or against. Four or against. >> Motion to further interview. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor. >> Post. Motion pass. >> 12. Four or against. Four or against. Four or against. >> Mayor for the record. I finally plan department. Just for clarification purposes on the motion, if I could get on number 11, uh the planning and zoning for their um are there 11. We already made the motion. >> We already made the motion. >> Could Could I bring that item back up so that he can ask his question? >> Just for we have to bring it back up for >> Hold on. >> Okay, we have a motion to bring the item back >> just to for second. >> All in favor? I >> oppose. Motion passes. Go ahead. >> Apologize. Ju just uh for clarification, the planning and zoning commission had recommended an expiration of three years. I just wanted uh for the for the condition use permit. Just wanted to know if that was uh going to be stay or removed so we could put it properly in the ordinance. That's >> ahead and introduce and introduce as written. >> As written. As written. Okay. >> Yes. >> Thank you. And for further clarification >> specifically if staff recommends one thing another >> if they if we close and introduce the f the decision is whatever planning and zoning commission said right >> that is correct because they are the deciding body >> for reference right >> okay >> um go ahead >> so will will you let the business owner know that this is just a threeyear year permit. >> Absolutely. We'll let them know >> and it'll be in the order. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> 12 motion. >> All right. Motion number 12 and it was second right? >> Yes, sir. >> All in favor? >> I oppose. Motion pass. >> 13. >> Four or against. Four or against. Four or against. May >> I believe we have some public comments? >> 13. Anyone here? >> No, >> nobody here. All right. >> Okay. Motion to close introduce. >> Second motion second. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion passes. >> 14. >> 14 was stable. >> 15. >> Okay. 15. Four or against. Four against. Four against. >> Motion to go and introduce. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion pass. >> Number 16. For or against? For against or against. >> Second. >> So, I got a question. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> On this public hearing ordinance. Uh, so is it going to be we're going to designate the area or updating? This is the 800. No, these section. >> Yeah. Oh, all we're just Oh, no. Sorry. >> All right. Okay. We have a motion. Any second? >> Mayor, if I may. >> Go ahead. >> Uh, just to clarify for Councilman Ranghel, in the U packet, it talks about uh extending it to electronic smoking devices uh with everything that's in the ordinance right now. >> All right. >> Within the the businesses. >> Yes. >> Noted. All right. Okay. Dr. the chairman that you have something. >> Good evening, mayor, members of the council. I was just coming up to address any questions, but mayor proton just >> All right. >> Any questions? Yes, >> sir. >> Motion to close and introduce. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion passes. >> Number 17 for gains. Four against. >> Motion to close and introduce. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I. >> Opposed. Motion passes. Number 18 for or against. Four or against. Four or against. >> Motion to close and introduce. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion pass. 19. Four against. Four or against. Four or against. >> Motion to close and introduce. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? I >> oppose. Motion pass. >> Number 20. Four or against. Four or against. Four or against. >> Motion to close and introduce. Second. >> Motion second. All in favor. I oppose. Motion pass. 21. Four or against. Four or against. Four or against. >> Motion to close and introduce. >> Second for discussion. Second for discussion. Go ahead. >> Um, so are we approving the denial? >> Okay. On 22. >> Okay. >> 21. 21. >> 21. We're in 21. >> Oh, I apologize. >> Okay. All right. Four [clears throat] against. Four against. Four against. Okay. >> Okay. Motion. Motion. >> Second. All in favor? >> Oppos? Motion passes. 22. Four or against. Four or against. Four or against. >> Motion to close and introduce and deny the recommendation from planning and zoning and staff. >> Okay. Motion. >> Second. >> Second. All in favor? Mayor, if I may real quick. >> Um, >> go ahead. >> I understand the denial request, but >> it's my it's my understanding that the property next to it is a B4, and it's my understanding that the use for this was supposed to be medical services, pediatric medical ser surgical. I I I'm not too familiar. I haven't been contacted, but I just feel that after looking at the zoning and considering the use the neighboring property as a before, um I don't know if the council would like to hear >> she's here. >> For the record, >> I'm the representative for the owner of the >> Right. Deny the denial. All right. Is to approve it. >> Oh, absolutely. >> Oh, his motion. Your motion was to >> My motion is to approve what was brought to us denying what planning and zoning and staff >> denied. Denied or denial. [laughter] >> Speaking of double double negatives, right? Go. It's >> go against. Right. Right. >> We have a motion on it. >> Question. >> Um if we can hear the reasons why the recommendation was for denial. um that area just seemed I I I don't know if part of it is traffic, but >> I just wanted to hear what the why both the commission and staff did not support the application >> on this particular item. Mayor, I'd like to make the motion to um just call for the question without the explanation. Council member Sig Roas, she could look this up. We're we're already running very over time and we're not going to finish yet another agenda. We had a very long presentation and I I think the most of us are ready to vote. All right. >> So, my motion is just for us to call for the question. >> Motion. Any second? >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> all in favor of the motion. >> Well, we already called for the question. So, all in favor >> of calling for the question. >> Yeah, we called for the question. >> To call for the question. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> All in favor? Opposed? >> Motion pass. >> Understand. Can we get a roll call? Because I don't know that everybody understood what we're motioned and voted on. So, >> I know that. Do we even know if they understood what the motions were? >> Well, we can ask you later on, >> mayor. It's a point of order. We had an item on the floor. We're ready to vote. One council member wants a presentation. >> If the rest of us don't want the >> Okay, then I withdraw it. The mayor. Let's just listen to the presentation. >> We already voted. >> Did we pass the >> It's already been voted on. >> It's already twice already. >> Call for the question. >> We already did. >> You already called for the question. The point of order is to see how we voted to understand if there were more denials. I didn't The motions came up fast. I don't know that everybody understood the last one that they were voting for. >> Can you clarify the motion that >> you have a motion? >> I'm I'm asking for a point of order to see what the vote was. >> Motion to approve second by >> Yeah, the original one because it was a denial. the the the last vote was just a call for the question. So now the question is on the table >> on the table. >> No vote on the original motion. >> Oh, okay. So now we can have the explanation. >> No, what we already voted on that has been voted on. We voted on >> because originally it was a motion to approve. You >> go ahead. Okay. Question. Yes. >> Clarification, please. >> Yes. I want this to be introduced >> and I am denying what planning and zoning and what staff recommended. Is that clear? >> Yes. >> That's the motion. Correct. >> Motion. >> Correct. >> Thank you. And it's been approved. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Closed. And it was second and we voted. >> Okay. Next order does not seem to agree with the order of the motion. All I'm trying to figure out is everybody understood the last motion that was voted on. I think we all did. >> I believe I believe there was a call for the question and then that was voted on. >> Yeah, I made a motion to call for the question. It passed. So now the question has been called. We vote on the original motion to what Councilman Gutierrez said. That's what it has room to ask for. >> Counciloman, you have to direct it. >> Yeah, I apologize. Mayor, I'm just I'm I apologize. I'm just confused. May >> No, actually once uh you're calling for the question. So, so the next action is to vote on the original motion without further discussion because it closes discussions. >> Vote on. >> Okay. We have to vote on that. >> Yes. >> All right. >> That's my motion. >> Yes. Now you're back on your >> Yes. Okay. Motion. Any second? >> Second. >> Second. >> Okay. Second. >> All in favor? I opposed. Motion pass. Next 23. Four or against. Four or against. Four or against. >> Second. >> Motion second. >> All in favor? I >> opposed. Motion pass. [clears throat] 24. Four or against. Four or against. Four or against. Motion to close. Introduce. Motion. >> Second. >> Second. All in favor? I >> against motion pass. >> 25 for against >> No. No. Council to open up introductory ordinances. >> Council to introduce ordinance. >> Number 25. >> Second. [snorts] >> Motion. Second. >> You don't need a motion. >> No, we just opening up. That's it. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Next >> motion to approve second reading number 26. >> Second. >> Second. All in >> favor. All in favor. >> All in favor? I >> against motion pass. >> Motion to approve final readings of ordinances 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, and 32. >> Could we remove 28? >> Exception of 28. Motion. All in favor? >> I post. Motion passes. Except 28. An ordinance of the city of Laredo, Texas, authorizing the city manager to execute a lease agreement between the city of Laredo and the Adex trading incorporated for a property located at 2015 Papus constituting of approximately 97,000 square feet of land including approximately 28,000 ft of building space known as building number 1315. These terms shall be for 5 years commencing on January 1st with four options each equal to 5 years. Upon mutual mutual agreement of the parties, the monthly rent shall be 6,900 and will be adjusted annually according to changes in the consumer price index. Hello. I was just wondering if you could explain what Adex Trading Incorporated was in the purpose of this lease. >> Uh Hilberto Sanchez uh with your airport department. Mayor and city council members, this is a uh a lease building space that we have at the airport. Uh it's uh it's located right next to um on the on the west side where the old airport used to be. Uh it's a building that it's uh lease out to this company addex which is out from Mexico and they lease the space for for rent to several several companies that are within that that building. So the the there will be a management company that will sublet. >> Yes, it's a subly. It's a the 6,973. It's an increase of about $5,000 of what what they've been paying for the last 20 years. Uh and it's uh and it was done by an appraised value. So we did uh we did go with the appraised value that uh that fair market value that we got. >> Okay. Appreciate that. Thank you very much. >> Motion to close and introduce. >> Second. >> Motion. Second. >> No, it's not. It's a motion to approve. >> Motion to approve. >> Approve. >> Okay. >> Second. >> Second. >> Okay. >> All in favor? >> All in favor? >> I oppose. Motion pass. >> Mayor motion to open up the consent agenda and approve number 33, 34, 35, 36 37 38 39 41. 43 44 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 and 75. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I >> oppose. Motion pass. >> Motion open up staff reports. 7677. >> Mayor Council, please consider tableabling 76 the LC are not present. They have to leave. >> Motion 77. >> 76. All in favor? >> Thank you. >> Opposed. Motion pass. >> Number 77. >> 77. >> Mayor, >> go ahead. I it's my understanding that an email was sent out regarding this. It's four pages. I think we reviewed it already. Um are you going to present the whole thing to us or do or is it based on >> I actually have Yeah, I actually brought copies as well too. But uh mayor and city council, what we want to do is put together a um a plan for for this to look at that. So, what I sent out in the email was essentially uh how we would walk through developing out a rate study for our bridges. We wanted to make sure that we looked at all of the all the uh what our needs are, where our rates are at. We want to look at the comparables, do a full financial analysis. The nice thing is finance and and budget had already been working on some of this. That's why I believe that we can get this done in three months, bring it back to you with a complete uh idea. We do want to make sure that we have time to run it through the port of entry as well too as well as then bring it forward to the council. But I would like the opportunity to put this information together. We did discuss whether or not we would need to hire an outside firm that does rate studies or do it in-house. I will tell you that based upon where the finance department is at, I'm very comfortable with our our team putting this information together. Uh what you saw in the email as well too is essentially the template of what the final report would look like. >> Great. >> So I'd like the ability to uh go through and and study. >> Point of clarification. I just need to make sure that it goes before the the port of entry committee, make sure we have some experts in there. It'd be a good idea to get their input and and then combine that with with uh with staff and see what we can come up with. >> Yeah. and mayor and council member. What I what I'm hoping to do is do a lot of the leg work and then we'll bring it in and we'll we'll test it against our experts on the port of entry so that we can kind of balance it out. I know at times that based upon the industry and and what the city's needs are. I the whole idea based upon our conversation at the last time was to justify out why it's needed and what it's supposed to be for. >> Absolutely. >> All right. >> Go ahead. Um >> are we looking at all at the Laredo Bridge investor plan? Because in there there there is um trade and re like the um it evaluates historical trends, revenues, sustainability and economic factors influencing toll roads. >> Um but I just don't know if anybody's opened the master plan in a few years >> but but that yeah and I would I understand that this is comprehensive council member. Yeah. the uh in my in my mind that that whole template format would require us to open that up and everything. So I appreciate that reminder. >> So I guess the quick answer is yes, we will. Thank you for reminding us for that and so we'll we'll take it from there. But yeah, the idea is to look at those because I think that some of the analysis that was in that report may be out of date based upon what we're seeing the trends are now >> in 2021. >> But but it's a great place to start for that that that information. But that's what I would ask is that if the council will allow us to begin that rate study, the idea within the the structure was a March 1 date. Even though we've we're already actually uh moving moving right along. I will tell you that one of our finance people is in the CPM class and this is part of their practicum. So just saying that it'll it'll it's going to move very very well. All right. Okay. Thank you. >> Great. Mayor, before we u continue with executive session, I'd like to make a motion to recess as Laro City Council and convene as a Larredo Mass Transit Board. >> Second. >> Motion second. >> All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion passes. >> Motion to approve number 83, 84, 85, 86, and number 87. >> Second. >> Second. Motion >> second for discussion. Mayor Mr. >> discussion >> mayor city council uh RJ Garca transit director for the record. Um I just want one correction that the lei the firm that on the on item 83 they would like to commence. They're able to commence a little sooner. So we would like to change that instead of June 1st to April 1st. That's the only change >> as amended. >> As amended. Second. Thank you. >> All right. Motion second. >> Motion. Any second? >> Yeah, we got a second. >> Okay. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion passes. >> Motion to adjurnn as Laro Mass Transit Board and reconvene as Larredo City Council. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion pass. >> Have a motion to extend the meeting to 11. >> Second. >> Motion. Second. Any second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Opposed? Motion pass. >> Motion to go to executive session. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? Sorry. >> Yes. >> Under Texas Government Code 551.074, 551.071 A1. Uh, other one we have 551.072, 551.087 and 551.0711A to include staff and any other members that are deemed necessary to do so. Second motion second. All in favor? Motion passive session. Back to regular session. It is 10:56 p.m. >> End of executive session. >> All right. performance. Mayor for number 78. >> No action was taken back in executive session. >> Just for staff to uh continue as directed. >> All right. >> Second. >> I'm sorry for 78. We're going to go and move that one. That's for Mr. Neb. That's Mr. Neb performance. We're going to go move that for the next for the next for the next council meeting. >> No action taken. Action taken for number 79. That one will be uh to direct the staff um to proceed as directed. Second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> oppose. Motion passes. For number 80, number 80. >> Same. It's for staff to proceed as directed. No action was taken. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor. >> Opposed. Motion pass. >> For number 81. No action was taken. For staff to proceed as directed. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> Opposed. Motion passes. and for number 82 for staff to proceed as directed. No action taken. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> Motion passes. >> Motion to >> table table by item. Um item we'll table it. >> Which one? What number is that? The first item. >> Motion to table. Miss item. >> Second. Yeah. >> Motion second. All in favor? Opposed? Motion passes. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Motion second. All in favor? I