Let's call the meeting to order. Zero radio regular council meeting council chambers of Texas March the 3rd 2025. Stand for the pledge of allegiance please. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God indivisibley and justice for all. >> Moment of silence, please. Thank you. 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. >> here. >> Council member, District 3, Melissa Cigaroa, >> here. >> Council member District 4, Ricardo Rick GarcA, >> here. >> Council member District 5, Ruben Gutierrez Jr. >> Present. >> Council member, District 6, Dr. Tyler King. >> Mayor Portamp, Vanessa Perez. Council member District 8, Alisa Cigaroa. >> Mayor, you have a quorum. >> Thank you. We'll proceed with approval of the minute February 18, 2025. >> So moved. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I post. Motion passes. Before we go into citizens comments, I'd like to go into communications number seven followed by number 1766A1. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I motion pass. All right. Starting with communication presentation by mayor providing general comments on city manners oncoming initiatives and other relevant updates for the council and the public. And the reason I brought this up, I would like to share with the public that our water infrastructure and replacement projects are moving forward and on schedule. Council meetings are being scheduled to increase public engagement because this is the city's priority. I would also like to inform the public that Laredo does not have a boil water notice in place. There may be some misinformation and confusion out there. I have received several phone calls from concerned people and comments in the street. Just for some some announcements as part of the mayoral mayoral Bloomberg Harvard initiative additional slot were given. The first two that I had nominated have been Mr. Joseph Neb and mayor prom Vanessa Pettis. They will be attending courses later on this year at the Kennedy School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Congratulations Finally, I will be out on May the 5th through the 7th in New York to receive the foreign policy medal from the foreign policy association. I along with the president of Giuliard are being presented with this year. This year I have accepted the honor and look forward to representing Laredo in this fashion in this manner. I will say that I have always believed in our city's prosperity and strength whether it be international trade, border security and/or tourism. This is due to our bational relationship and mayor prom will conduct the meeting the city council meeting on the 5th if I'm not available. That's my communication item. Item number two, mayor on the communication. >> Yes. Introduction of new bridge director Elsa Inohosa. Mayor and city council. I am pleased to officially announce the appointment of Miss Maria Elsa Henosa as the new bridge system director for the city of Laredo. Miss Miss Henohosa brings with her over 15 over 16 years of operational and management experience within the city of Laredo, successfully overseeing complex departments, managing large teams, and implementing processes that drive efficiency and improve service delivery. She was selected after a rigorous and competitive selection process, standing out for her strong leadership in department operations, her deep institutional knowledge, and her clear commitment to public service. Throughout her career with the city, Miss Henosa has excelled in leading high-erforming teams, streamlining operational processes, and improving in internal controls. She has served in key management roles including programs administrator for the community development department, executive director of municipal housing, health and benefits manager, and interim director of for both the Laredo Animal Care Services and building development services. In each of these roles, Miss Henosa managed budgets, developed new operational policies, and introduced process improvements that enhance service delivery and regulatory compliance. Her ability to manage crossd departmental projects and ensure timely delivery of services has earned her a reputation as a resultsdriven and collaborative leader. Miss Hanosa holds a bachelor's degree in finance from Texas&M International University. She is also a certified public manager and a proud graduate of the Laredo College leadership program. As bridge system director, Miss Henosa will lead the one of the city's most critical operational departments, overseeing the day-to-day management of the international bridge system and over almost 200 employees, ensuring operational efficiency and advancing long-term strategies to enhance trade, improve traffic flow, and strengthen financial cooperation. Mr. Mayor, do me Mayor Dr. Trevino and Laredo City Council. If I could, I would like Miss Henohosa to at least share a few words about her vision and what she is hoping to accomplish as she takes this role. >> Yes. Go ahead, PLEASE. >> Good afternoon, mayor, city council, management, and the public. Thank you for having me here. I will take that long if I have three minutes. I'm honored to stand before you today as we continue to strengthen Laredo's position as the nation's premier inland port. The efficiency of our bridge system is vital not only to our city but to the entire trade industry that depends on seamless crossber movement. As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, I have initiated a comprehensive evaluation of our bridging systems organizational structure to ensure that every role is aligned with our long-term vision. This assessment will allow us to optimize operations, enhance efficiency and ensure we remain the preferred port of entry for international trade. A key recommendation from this evaluations is the creation of a trade advisor position. This role will serve as a dedicated leas between our bridge operations, trade stakeholders and city leadership. By improving real-time engagement with trade users, we can make informed decisions, enhance service delivery and maintain strong relationships with the businesses that relies on our ports. And this of course uh I wouldn't be able to do it with our partner with some of the departments that we have with the port of entry manager as well economic development. We have our CBB department um airport and uh of course any other departments that we have to deal with and uh I will um also um be waiting for their support also for mayor council management to work with y'all together on any items that we bring and um I know we're working on tra um some expansions right now for bridge and uh your support will be really appreciated. Also, this initiative is not just about adding positions. It's about strategic alignment to ensure that our bridge system is positioned for a long-term success. By integrating this role in coordination with our new marketing department and the Laredo Port of Venture Advisory Committee, we will build a stronger, more responsive bridge system that reflects both industry needs and the city's priorities. Moving forward, we will take a phase approach beginning with stakeholder engagement followed by a pilot implementation and ultimately full integration of this road with the bridge operations. This will ensure that our decisions are data-driven, financially responsible, and aligned with the broader goals of the city. Labor is already a leader in trade. My goal is to ensure that we stay ahead of the curve, adapting to industry needs, improving efficiency, and reinforcing or standing as the most effective and sought-after port of entry. Thank you again for your time. Um, I look forward to working with each and every one of you. It hasn't been easy. It's been going on 17 years, but I never give up and I thank you for the opportunity. and I'm here to work within you all. >> Thank you. All right. Congratul Congratulations. >> All right. Next item requested is 66A1 requested by mayor discussion with possible action and improving efficiency and uh review and approval of city grant submission process and any matters related to. Now the reason that was brought up and was brought forward is that we have to set process and the submission of grants especially when we're in collaboration with other governmental and non-governmental entities. This is important to improve transparency, efficiency and especially where there is a material change in the purpose, scope and or obligations of the grant. So my initial motion is to address this and would be would have to be management to come back with some written best practices or policies or procedures to be reviewed by council. >> This is my motion. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I. >> Yes. >> Um uh Mr. I was wondering if you could maybe clarify some of the processes that already exist and see if there's um I guess more clarity in what types of procedures and policies will be developed because I know that some do exist if you have just a broad outline of of what what that is. >> Yeah. And and mayor and city council u I can I can talk briefly about about all of it to a certain level. I I don't have anything prepared because I wanted to hear exactly where the mayor was at with what he was trying to accomplish. But I will tell you that a lot of the stuff that we have talked about over over the past two years, um we want to make sure that whatever goes into the grants, we want to make sure that whatever is occurring with the city's support within that, whether it be our grant that we are writing ourselves or if we're partnering on a grant as well too, we want to make sure that we recognize and I think this is what uh we went through the conversation with the bond referendum. We went through the conversation with our budgets. We want to know the reasons why we're doing what we're doing. Uh one of the things that we are making sure that within our current grant structure right now is that uh there's an inind match that generally will happen with most of our grant services and everything there's a value to that incind service. So if it's going to take any type of time from the city, uh so what what what the grant our grant division is doing right now is that when we look at these grants, we want to make sure that uh we've allocated the proper funding for that. If we're not already doing the work, even though it's it can be a park responsibility or a public works responsibility, we want to make sure that there is at least a conversation because we have to absorb whatever that inind service is for that. And so, uh, a lot of the grants have an 8020 match. And so, we I I think with what what we're talking about with everything is that any grant that we put out there, we want to make sure that we've looked at the repercussions of our conversation with our support. And again, as you as you know, all the everything, and this is why we're having all the conversations about the financial and the budgets and and the bond referendums and everything, is that we want to make sure that the the limited money that we do have is committed to the right things. the the highest priority issues. And so within the grant system, we want to make sure that we go after the grants not just because they're available, but because they mean something that we're going to be able to improve the lives of something. >> And just to clarify about that match requirement, city services or any city work that's done that all has a value and that value often times count to the match that that when we're looking for funds to go after other funds. >> Yes. And thank you for that because that that is that is true. Uh a lot of the grants that that we can recognize the inind service as part of that that local match and for a lot of different ones. Uh there's a lot of different ways to meet the local match. But and so that that's the responsibility that we have with that. But I think the the one thing that we want to make sure that happens is that when when the grant application gets to your table to determine if it makes sense within the vision of the city that all the relevant information has been assigned and has been determined. I think in the past we've had some grants that have come through there that uh because it's only just a grant request, we may not have worked out the all of the all the different bugs within the system and everything. So, uh, we want to make sure that we understand what the implications are because it is very difficult when we are successful with grants to ever say we're not going to do whatever the project is because that that hurts our reputation, that hurts our process. So, >> but we would not we would not be denying a grant application because otherwise then we would be responsible for returning that money. >> We we and we would have to return the money if we were if we were to receive a grant then not follow through properly. I think that's that's the that's the process where we're at. But based upon uh my understanding of the reasons why this was on there, I just wanted to hear from everybody where that's going. Um and I will state mayor and city council that uh you give me 30 days, we'll bring you back something that matches up. But I any of the other uh input that you have, each of you have will be able to help us develop that out a little bit further. But we have I will say that we have already been started uh adjusting the preparation of these grant documents based upon what we understand some of the concerns were because it is all about giving a full product to the council for consideration so you understand all of the pieces that are that we've committed to. >> Yes, go ahead. I think it would be helpful in terms of the grant process for us as council the from the time that we uh agree to you know go out for a grant on something from that time to the time that we're actually submitting all the statements of facts and everything that we actually have oversight in that process because I could say for one um legal needs to review the applications before they go in but at the same time council needs needs to get them in our Friday packet so we can review what is going to get submitted so we can be on the same page. I think any statement of fact in the grant has to be supported by either a resolution or some minutes at a meeting that were actually stated those exact statements of facts that are being included in the grant. And then um any you know for example bational claim that it's a bational project should have some kind of international component in there to solidify that we are both on the same page on both countries. And there's some facts that have kind of um in some of the grants where we're you know we don't want to get in a situation where we accept a grant based on certain terms then we get an audit and we misrepresented or certain things were not 100% accurate and then now we have to pay that money back. So I think this is a good idea for for you mayor to bring this forward so that we could just have greater oversight in the entire process because it's happened before. Mayor, I have one last question. Go ahead. >> Um, Mr. N, I'm I'm sorry, there's maybe a little bit of confusion. Is there a grant that we have not met all the requirements for or somehow we're out of alignment for any of the funds that we've received? >> I I I think um none that I'm none that I'm aware of. I mean, I I think we've successfully uh closed any of the grants there, but I do know that we had we had some questions on a grant. I think the one that mayor proim has uh mentioned just a very briefly. We had one that that was confusing to the council as to uh the language that was in the document. I think that's the idea is that we're trying to make sure that it is all clean and and proper when it when it comes to you. And everybody understands that because I think the challenge for me when when we're talking about some of these grants and some of the most recent ones as well too. If we're not currently doing that within our department structure, then that is something that we have to add to that. Even though it's an incind match and everything, I may have to hire people to do that portion of that. And so, uh I I liken it to the um uh the cops cops grant for the police department. The cops grant actually they provide you essentially full funding one year and it's a three-year or ordeal for for hiring these underneath the cops grant and it's a trickle down. So we as we we essentially over three years we get to absorb these officers and which is makes them more sustainable within the process where we're not triggering our budget in that way. But in my mind based upon just really quickly on your question is that there's none that I can say uh definitively that was incorrectly done. But I do know there were questions uh on some from last year. >> Right. Th those those grants in particular went through departments and went through a review process and >> we we can see exactly we can see exactly at least when with the review that does happen with all of these as as we try to recreate the history is to make sure that they have been correctly uh and and meet all those conditions and I don't I think we can find that that we were improper in any of the monies that we were spend everything went through the proper channels. >> Yes. Go ahead. Um, I just think that this is a good item for clarifying the process because there are oversight components that we as council are not involved in from the time that the grant before the grant is submitted. We're getting um after the fact where we're having to approve something and we didn't see what was submitted. So, I think loosening up that I mean tying up that grant I mean that uh that part of the process where we're getting to see the grants before they're submitted so we can verify that the information is correct as part of our oversight. I think it's good for us to have more eyes on the process because right now um we see it in the beginning and we see it at the very end. >> Yeah, >> we'll be able to deliver you something, mayor, that matches up to this and I think it'll be it'll be a good conversation as we move forward. There is a motion that's been second. >> All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion passes. >> Mayor, I'd like a motion to accept all the appointments to the commission's boards and committees. Number one, number two, and number three on the regular agenda. Number one on the supplemental agenda and tableling number two. Mine. >> Second. >> Motion. Second. All in favor? >> I. >> Mayor, I would like to make a motion uh bring up uh the consent agenda number seven, item number 30. I think uh we have a municipal judge. We're good. >> Same. >> Oh, is there a comments? We have comments. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Public comments. >> All right. Let's go. Did we pass a motion? All in favor? >> I opposed. >> Motion pass. We didn't pass. We didn't pass that motion. >> The first one. >> Motion open. Citizen comments. >> All right. >> Motion. Second. All in favor? >> I post. Motion pass. >> Citizens comments. Edgar via seor. >> Awesome. Good evening, mayor, city council members. >> Excuse me. Your name for the record, please. >> Uh, my name is Edgar Vor. So, this is my first time uh speaking up here, but um I'll make it quick. So, my name is Edgar Seor and I live in the southside. I live close to the river. Um, I'm just concerned about losing access to to the river. Uh, sometimes I have community events out there, you know, small little kayaking events. Um, it is a place where I go jogging in the morning. Um, I go there for clarity, peace, and nature. Like it's really like, you know, southside the more south you go, there is like, you know, less things to do. So, that's one of the green spaces that I like to go and enjoy. Uh, a border wall would just cut us off like physically. Um, it would also like sever a deep cultural and emotional bond that generations of Loroans have cherished. So, I just wanted to mention that that the river is pretty cool and it's part of what makes Loro special. So, you know, every every every now and then we go and see those beautiful cardinals in the trees and king fishers and so much beauty that uh that we have access to freely, you know, by Santarita, all those areas. Uh, so yeah, will destroy their home and our access to that. And that's all I wanted to say. >> Thank you. All right. Thank you, >> Rafael Torres. Mr. Mayor and members of the council, I just wanted to come up here and uh inform you about a big volunteer crew that has been working very hard since uh late January and all February to provide free tech assistance to the residents of Laredo. Uh we've been working on 11 sites throughout the community. Uh it's a program that is uh work with the Internal Revenue Service and the Laredo Family Economic Success Coalition. We've been working with them. Uh the main library and Martin High School have been at it before the coalition came into existence. I've been with the coalition since 2009. So we've been at it for about 15 years. Uh It's a procedure where uh volunteers from the community take a training course with the IRS. They get certified uh at different levels, basic advanced military, and are able to provide pre-tax preparation, eiling with the IRS. I just wanted to inform you and your constituents that uh we still have a 45 days to go uh before the uh filing date and uh wanted to inform the community that we're ready to serve. Um we have a 10 sites. Uh our most popular site is the main public library. We're there from 9 to 1 every Saturday and it's uh first come first serve. Last year in 24 um we did almost 5,000 returns and we brought into the community with 200 volunteers $6.8 million in in refunds and uh saved taxpayers about 1.2 million in tax preparation fees. Uh so hopefully uh the members of the community can go on the website vital.org. You can make the appointment on the website or you can call us and we will make the appointment. >> Thank you mayor. >> Thank you. >> Mayor, if I may. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Before we continue, would you allow Mr. Neb to give a presentation on exactly what this wall issue is coming about because I'm assuming most of the comments that I'm reading are for an item on the agenda, but just so you can clarify what it's actually about. It's not a wall across the entire city. I don't know what's been been put out there, but just to clarify to the public here because I don't want them wasting their time sitting here when it's not something actual that's going to happen. >> Just a clarification, please. >> Happy to do so. So, uh, mayor and city council, uh, I believe that, uh, as the conversation comes up on on the border wall, uh, this is the conversation on item 34 on the agenda. Uh, this is a >> point of order, a motion to bring that item up. >> Second. >> All right, let's bring the item. Motion second. All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion pass. >> Okay. and um and and there there's a few things that have to go into this conversation, but item item number 34 uh is a request from the state of Texas uh for uh two parcels up near the Columbia Bridge uh that are city-owned where they are uh they are installing a barrier barrier wall up near the Columbia Bridge on private property and then our property was is within that area. Um, as with any easements, they have the request to, uh, they have the ability to request the easement. Uh, the council is the ones that have to make the determination for that. Uh, that's why this item is on the agenda now, and this is why we're we're discussing that. One of the recommendations I do have for you, which I I know that is is difficult, is that easements are a negotiated uh agreement essentially. And so there is part of this conversation we cannot have out in in a public meeting without having the conversation in the back as to one whether we're willing to negotiate two whether or not what the terms are to negotiate. Um there's a lot of different a lot of different uh conversations that are happening with this but I really want to make sure that we have council uh position on this before we before we we start trying to uh help set any kind of any kind of structure within this thing. So uh but in in my mind The the reason for this is that we have two parcels of property. They are they are essentially abunded up to private property. The private property has already agreed to do uh work with the te state of Texas. And so in order to complete that, there are two properties up near the Columbia Bridge uh area that uh the request from the state of Texas is to allow for a barrier wall on those two parcels. >> Mayor, may I be? >> Yes. Go ahead. >> So Mr. Do we have do we have a time frame for this to have to answer that or can we go? >> We do. Um the the conversation that we've had with the state on this thing though is that because they are ready to go on the private property side, they it is a fivemonth window to complete the work that they are currently doing. uh there is there is time and and the conversation that we've had with the state is that I need to come and speak with the council first before we before we kind of come to uh whatever whatever decision that we're going to get in there. So uh that conversation again it is based upon the the essentially the easement negotiations is what it is and so uh with that but that is what this item is. It is not about that. I think our stance has been and I I did send a letter to the entire council uh based upon we are one of the safest cities in the in the in Texas for sure. Um we believe that we already have plans for different types of barrier sec or border security that are that are not a physical type of wall. We have all this all this history that we put together and and the whole intent of that uh we we do I mean I I think that uh everybody feels that in certain areas a different type of barrier may make sense but in like downtown Laredo we would never want to see a barrier structure in that area. we would rather see other types of border security. And so the conversation that we have been having with that and we've actually received some positive response out of the state for those alternatives to a physical wall. It's just that I need to bring the council up. You it is your decision that you have to make and so I need to bring you up to date with what those conversations have looked like. And so but the the idea right now there are two parcels up by the Columbia Bridge. We do have and I think somebody had asked about a map. We do have the maps, but because it's part of the negotiation of the easement, we we have the maps to share with you first before we share with everybody else. >> Mayor, may I? >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Um, so I I do and I apologize this cause some confusion. I hope before we go into the back, we will agree to allow citizen comments to proceed to pace. Um but I will say that you know in negotiations with the state and we discuss our border security and how our our unique place on this border is it's different from other places and we just see we see different crossing numbers. We're the safest city in Texas right now or at least of a week ago we had zero crossings in our entire sector. Um so our position is different and we do have these other virtual wall measures that have been working and also coordination with all the agencies that are here. It's not just uh CBP but it's also border patrol and we have a presence of National Guard. There are a lot of agencies that are working to keep us safe while our population lives, works and plays along our riverfront. That also is something that is very very different than other places along our border. We our city runs right up to the river. So when we're talking about border wall, you are talking about border wall being built on places where our population goes to enjoy the river, to take their family, to engage in games, to have hold business there. It's a very different idea than what we see going on in say Arizona in the middle of the desert. Now, I do not agree with building a border wall in the middle of the desert, but you're not interfering with the activity of of people who've spent we're going to celebrate 270 years of being a community that shares not just a culture with Mexico, but also our daily lives and interactions with Mexico. Um so when we talk about negotiation of of easements it's re uh realy it's land we're land owners and when we talk about negotiations of that any negotiation we enter to with the state if we're using it as a point of leverage to make sure that our population stays safe and our population continues to enjoy these benefits and that we don't see any threats to building right alongside our only source of drinking water. Everything we negotiate, it has to be in writing. We cannot assume that we're going to earn some type of good attitude or um appease somehow the state or the federal government by working with them and that somehow we will acrue benefit by just putting it out there and hoping that they respond. That is not the kind of negotiation that we should be entering when we're talking to the state or talking to the federal government. I don't disagree with negotiation, but we need to make sure that the benefits acrew to our people here, >> mayor and and and city council council member and again that is that is the point of this conversation is that it is to put those items in writing whatever whatever it is whether whe um the history that we have seen with the relationship with the federal government, the state government is that we want to make sure that we we we're covered within that. But I want to I want to you know and and the idea is that we're going to share where we're at today. I know that the mayor mayor got involved very early on as we moved into this new administration on on this side. We keep touting our safe city. We keep touting the the the few crossings that we do have here. We keep touting uh our economic powerhouse that we are for the crossing of product and everything. And I will say that they are hearing us. But the the idea is to say is there a way that we can work together or not within the the entire structure of that because I I think the the what we have to and I think we're we're talking about the same language. We have to make sure that it is for the benefits of the city as to what we do. And I think I think what what we're hearing at least with the mayor's conversations with with our representatives with with the administration is that there is the possibility that we will be heard and and I and that's where I want to make sure and I and I would recommend too let's have the public comments if anybody wishes to speak on that. But I would like to have that conversation on the specifics of of where we're at with the negotiation and and the thought process of what we have with that. And we do have some citizen comments regarding this. For the record, Joseon and I brought my sacred uh bear drum with me. Uh I grew up in a bario tonto along the river. I fished all my life along the river. And here, Councilman Gonzalez and I have competed in tournaments on the river and it's very, very exciting, right? When especially when we land a big gar, a big catfish, right? But my concern here is a wall divides, right? Just like Ronald Reagan said, a wall divides. And we cannot afford to divide our city against the city across the river from us. I have friends, family on both sides of the of the river and I do I would be an embarrassment for me to see a wall built between us and more so if I go fishing down at the Colombia bridge and I can't get down to the river because there's a wall, you know, and I love fishing. I love fishing. Now, somebody mentioned technology right now. Years ago, I asked a border patrolman, how good is your technology? No, we can see somebody walking a mile away, right? In other words, approaching the river. Well, if we set up a virtual wall, which is very high-tech right now, very, very advanced, I think that that could solve our problem, not a physical wall. And that way, Councilman Gonzalez and myself can continue to participate in fishing tournaments along the Rio. Right. But if a wall is built, that's going to keep me and the community that loves to fish on the Rio from fishing. So, um, those are some of the items that I wanted to to address and, uh, I want to thank the council here. You know, go to your heart, know what's what how you're affecting our community, and and be thoughtful of what your actions are going to cause, right? A wall is not the answer. A wall is not the answer. I know as a Native American, I would terribly want to see a wall built on a virgin river, a river that runs flows freely here through Laredo. So, thank you again. Have a good evening. >> Thank you very much. >> Jesse Fuentes Honorable mayor, distinguished council members, city administration staff, and those present. My name is Jesse Auentes. I am with the Eagle Pass Border Coalition. And uh I am also a uh small business owner. I'm a river outfitter on the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, Texas. And I'm here as a friend, as a good friend from upstream. And I know the a lot of time is short. I can tell you so many stories about the particular item number 34 that you might want to consider. But I'm going to touch on a few things and I want you to hear them and know that I'm available if you'd like to discuss I guess the story that I'm going to tell you as as a harbinger to truth and consequences. Uh we lost uh we've lost a lot of things in the last two years in Eagle Pass, Texas. And uh you know it's one of those things in life that uh no one plans for. But uh we uh trusted the state and the state came in and uh without any notice. Once you let them in, they start doing things that you cannot control. And we find ourselves in a situation where we are a militarized community. We have a forward operating base to the south. We have two soft bases to the north. We have a DPS facility to the east and they've an encampment at our park, Shelby Park, 40 acres. They took away our connection to our culture, our history, our green space, and they're still there under emergency declaration. All I can say is if you proceed down this path, be careful. And I only thing I can tell you is I can regress to what my papa used to tell me. Be careful who you let into your house because if you let them in, they're going to take over and they're going to do as they please and you won't be able to stop them because the attitude of the state is we're going to go in and do what it takes. And that if you want to stop us, sue us. We'll see you at the Supreme Court. And that's a sad way to be because what you have here is beautiful. I've been to your park by the river and it's brought tears to my eyes because I miss it in our home and you don't want that here around the state. I've had the opportunity to be at giving testimony at in Austin and you know what they respect and what you guys do. You are a shining beacon of I guess the stands that you've taken to not build a wall. A stand of resistance that's noticeable. And I think they might also fear you because when Laredo comes up, there's respect for you. And the only thing that I can tell you as you proceed is please proceed with caution. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you very much. >> Aruro Santo Jr. Good evening. >> My name is Aruro Santos. I'm the president of the board fle uh we play there at Father Magfield every Sunday and Wednesday nights. We represent over 3,000 members that like flag like football that sports. We play Sundays around a thousand players there at the fields and we heard that if the wall is made, they're gonna require at least half of the fields that we play on. That's what we and we're here to protest against the wall because uh recreation uh we played there for over 20 years and and we have no problems at all. No problems with Mexico. No problems with We even have three teams that play there that are border teams and uh we would continue playing there. Would like to continue playing there because we enjoy we take our families, children, everybody's take their lawn chairs, their tents and everything. Everybody enjoys being there uh along the river. the field. It's just you can see the river right there and everybody's likes to enjoy playing there. So we are just protesting against the wall on the wall because we're for recreation and like we a lot of players been playing there for the past 20 years father sons and and uh we would like to continue playing there like and we wouldn't want the the wall to affect the our fields where we That's >> Thank you, sir. All right. Thank you, >> Margarita Risa. Good evening, honorable mayor, city council members, and city staff. Um, I'm a former executive director of the Web County Heritage Foundation. So, >> your name for the record, please. >> Your name for >> Arisa. Thank you. Uh uh I'm very happy to see further down the agenda that there is a an item about the city uh cooperating with the 270th birthday anniversary of of the city. Uh I I would remind you of that and and also that the city was founded on our river. The river is the reason that we're here. Uh it is our identity. It's our greatest greatest asset, an advantage uh whether economic, touristic or cultural. It's our place on the river uh that that makes it important that makes us important. No other community possesses those same gifts. It's our superpower. Uh I know that Mr. talked about how the property under uh review tonight is just in between two other properties and it's over by the Columbia Bridge. Uh, I'm glad to hear that we're not considering uh doing anything downtown, but I would point out that if there's any negotiation for any part of city-owned property for this purpose, it would set a precedent. And after that, uh, I think Mr. Jesse Travin's point was is very relevant. uh be careful be careful what you consider and say well it's just that little piece in between these other pieces because if it's city property it's city property and I for one as a taxpayer and a longtime member of the community don't want any any city property used for a border barrier. Uh security is important to all of us. We we value that of course and uh yes there are other means to secure to to secure our border uh that do not require a physical barrier. So uh again before you go back into private discussions and negotiate real estate that belongs to the entire city. I would respectfully remind you that this land is not yours to give away. Uh it belongs to past generations that fought very hard for it and it belongs to our future generations and we wouldn't want them to look back and judge this council and say they're the ones that gave it away. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Valentine Ree. Put this up, please. >> Okay. Okay. >> Okay. Valentine ru for the record. City manager mission. Item 34 will give a blanket easement for a border wall and give city property to the state. State am believe that mayorinho directed you to place item 34 on the agenda. Yes or no? Sir, >> these are not questions and answers. Just go ahead and state your comment, please. >> Mr. believe. Is it true that not a single council member was briefed fully on agenda item 34 be before you handed it to them last Wednesday? Yes or no? I assume there's a reason you're not answering me. In my in my humble opinion, item 34 blanket easement is a blank check of destruction for the state that in the end Laredo taxpayers will have to flip the bill to maintain those roads. Mayor, you failed to maintain the streets of Laredo presently and now you want to burden taxpayers with more roads to maintain. It is is it not cheaper to build a riverfront park that will benefit the economic growth of Laredo as well as border security? It would also save our only water source from from further evaporation and pollution. Mexico, a powerhouse, is planning economic growth. Elaredo is dropping the ball if you pass item 34. We need to protect our only water source because aquafers are systematically being contaminated by active and in inactive unplugged orphan wells. Let me say this again. Aquafers are systematically being contaminated by active and inactive unplugged orphan wells with the oil field secret sauce. carcinogen chemicals that cause cancer, contaminated salt waters, and rusted pipes that are underground. Remember the history of our government and the state. A history of broken promises, broken treaties, and broke and and and that our government has has broken these treaties with our people. Mayor Trevinho and and council members, I was there in Eagle Pass when they didn't allowed our group of Native Americans to to have a Native American ceremony on the riverfront. All we were going to do was pray and we were not allowed by the state. We need you to have the awakes and the backbone to defend our land and water from tyrants like Governor Greg Abbott and Trump and their failed border wall that only fills their deep pockets. Mayor, you gave yourself a $30,000 raise and some members gave yourself yourselves a $25,000 raise. You bending the knees to bullies is this type of leadership we're getting for that raise you gave yourself. We need leaders that are willing to fight for Laredo citizens and its economic growth. Abal Pis, >> I'm sorry you I didn't pronounce your first name correctly. >> It's cor it's fine. My name is Abimis. Okay, thank you. Uh so there are what I wanted to say is that there are not that many comments I can make that haven't already been said. What I know is that I don't sincerely believe the majority of Laredo wants a border wall. Now, there has no not been any census, any surveys that I know that I've Googled that show what most of Laredo or what most people in South Texas on their opinion of a border wall. Um, what I do remember is that back when Trump was first president, they painted right next to this building, really close to it, they painted the fun on the wall. And I remember everyone being very proud of that. It felt like a very like a community building moment, something that made us all feel proud of of being Laredans. So when when I hear these people and these politicians from Washington talking about that we need to build a border wall, we need to have this wall, there's so much crime, there's so much uh things happening in the border, it's a it's a war zone. Like what I think is that no one has really bothered to ask us, you know, no one has really come here or at least they haven't been here and asked us what we think about this. So, I asked the city council to consider uh what the people of Laredo may want and may not want to see. Uh you've already seen many people and I'm sure there's going to be many more that are going to be coming in to be speaking against the border wall to be saying how much um we enjoy our activities at at the border, how much we enjoy being by the river and and enjoying the fruits of of nature that we we can see. Um, I asked that the city council look at these please seriously because while I may not have a survey, I may not have a ton of data, I believe this is a reflection of what the majority of the people in Laredo want. Uh, as city council members, it is your duty to um not necessarily go up by the majority says, but serve your constituents. Okay? So you are required to listen to them here. That's it. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. >> I have several citizen comments here, but they don't have an item or as a general comments. Uh, is everybody together with uh Lentia group? No. All right. What about Maximilliano? >> Does it pertain to the silence? >> Yes. All right. Go ahead. >> Good evening, Mayor members, staff. I'm your your name for the record. >> My name is Maximina. I've been a citizen of rado for most of my life. I've I'm in Boy Scout. I was in Boy Scout with Eagle Scout. So, shout out to um after that scouting. I was involved in nature a lot. I've been kaying in the river. I've been mountain biking in the river as well in the parks. I also even s the river for the fun of it just to see it. It was freezing. But it was fun. And uh and we take great pride of that. We see the beauty of the parks here in Naro, the river, the beauty of the river and we take pride of that. We had the birding festival. We have many other events here in Naro. And not even that, but also like we take pride in in our sister uh twin city of uh No, Mexico, right? So there's a lot of pride that we have from just that one river and that's all being credited here today by the border wall. I won't future generations won't be able to enjoy that access to kayaking, biking or swimming or whatever they might do by the riverfront to enjoy that cultural uh piece of Laredo history and culture. But it will also s division that we have here in not only Larredo but also Texas, United States. There is a lot of fear. There's a lot of division especially right now there's a and we what we're trying to do is please like please avoid voting for this for this wall even though even though priority would be p part of private private property but there should be no bur wall in private property either as many have mentioned uh there once we cave in to the state there will be more there's already we already have state uh national guard here we already have DPS troopers here as part of operation Allar we are student the state of declaration of emergencies in 2021 for uh as part of our also to get any grants. We got grants from the government from the state state government to for also recon grants from the federal government for um for for border patrol right so we already we already said what we don't need to do a lot more to keep safe as council member mentioned we had no border crossing recently so why have for divisions not only for our parks our our environment that might also damage our our environment but also divide us more from our city of Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Maxim Roberts. >> Revel. Hi, my name is Maxine Traes um for the record and I'm a mother and former teacher and someone who brings back community warnings from my time on the cheese with a national orgent. Communities that couldn't fight off the border wall have shown us the long-term impacts of what building a wall will have on children in our community. The psychological impact of living near the border walls on children has been studied by mental health experts. In fact, it even has a name called wall sickness. The effect has been studied across the world from the Berlin Wall in Germany to the border wall in Brownsville, Texas. The symptoms of the wall sickness include causing increased feelings of isolation and despair among communities, increased incidents of depression, anxiety, and paranoia, which can increase alcoholism, drug use, and even suicide. Keep in mind that Keep in mind that the Berlin wall was only 14 feet high. 14 feet. The border wall will be 30 feet high, more than twice the height of the Berlin wall. The impacts are so long lasting they can be se be seen in Berlin wall survivors even 35 years after the wall came down. Building a border wall did not become a source of safety and security as was promised by the politicians. Building a border wall had the exact opposite effect and becoming a source of sadness, confusion, and fear. The impacts of living in a walled city are damaging, longlasting, and deep. It will impact mental health, our ecology, economy. The legacy will live on much longer than your time here in office. Councilman Gonzalez, I ran against you and my son was 14 when he convinced me that you out of all of us would do good. And you have done good. And I know that you're not going to push us out for politicians. Councilman Ranel, like you fought like hell to get this position like and you come from the bario like me and you know that our word to protect our people is all we have to stand on. So I know you're going to go and fight these rich politicians who will bulldoze over our elder communities because you won't allow that. Councilman Vanessa Perez, like I was with you in Eco Mades when you were fighting and fighting and fighting to get someone to help you protect our children from what you knew would eventually kill them. and we will stand by you because right now Father McNob isn't on the chopping block, but I'm telling you right now with all these communities that we have talked to, you give these people a foot and they're going to come back for 100 miles, literally. So when y'all go to Washington DC, remember what you're fighting for. Bring that Jasmine Crockett energy and remind them that we're older than the United States and we're not going to bend over for them. Protect our communities because they will lie and get what they're what they can. as soon as their foot is in the door, they don't care about our communities. Please heed my warning. >> Thank you, For the record, I'm Jesse Gera. Some call me a poet, some call me the dude, but I've always been Jesse Gera. Anything you might have heard about me is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the guilty legacy. Texas barrier infrastructure. Three words that mean the official wall of Texas. Their sugarcoated turd. No matter how much sugar they put on it, it's still a turd. A monstrosity of rust for all time and the elements to deal with long after its authors have turned to dust. I urge our leaders to not leave a monstrous to not leave a monstrous legacy of rust and hate, but to leave the environment how it's been for thousands of years with an unobstructed panoramic view of the land of the Rio Grande. We are the stewards of this environment for our children and for our children's children. We don't need the wall. The Texas barrier infrastructure is nothing more than a symbol of division even though we all breathe the same air. Let us feel let us feel the wind. Let us smell the let us see the river. GRACIAS, Ricardo Deanda. >> Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor, members of the city council, city staff. My name is Ricardo Deanda. I'm a resident of Ledo, a longtime attorney here, and I want to speak to you about item 34. I want to get very specific about the item. Now, it says authorizing for the city manager to grant a blanket easement. Now, the city manager has told you that he's bringing this to you so that he can begin negotiations. I take it that means he's going to bring it back to you so that you can make a final decision because that's not what this item says. If you vote this item as it stands, you're going to authorize him to grant a blanket easement. Now, what's a blanket easement? First of all, what property are we talking about? Why don't we put it up there so that the people in this community can know what these little two pieces of land are that we're talking about? Where specifically are they? Where are they going to put this easement? It says upon completion of the Texas barrier infrastructure construction on this parcel grantee will provide the city with a professional ground survey. They're going to build the thing before you even know where it's going to be. You don't even know how wide it's going to be. I can understand him saying, "We we don't want to negotiate in public and let you know how much we're asking and how much they're offering, but the least they can tell us is how wide are they going to sell the whole thing to the to the state." Now, the elephant in this room is not these little two piece parcels of land. It's what the state wants to do with city- owned property here. Councilwoman Pettis, we're talking about Father Magnambo Park. Councilwoman Garca, we're talking about Slaughter Park. Councilwoman Cigaroa, we're talking about the bridge areas downtown. That's what's going on tonight. That's why the people are upset. And Councilwoman, I I believe Councilman Gutierrez, you pointed out that we don't really know what's going on here, but we can only suspect the worst. So, why don't we why don't you be clear about this? What are you willing to do? Are you willing to allow this this wall to to be built? Now, I'm a land owner along the river. I've received an offer from from the state. I own the land, but I really don't. I and my family own the land. And we sat down and we talked about it and we rejected it. You don't own the land. As was pointed out earlier, you don't own the land. This the people of this community own the land. Please have some responsibility. You're going off to Washington. They're going to be asking boatloads from you when you go to Washington. Watch out. Don't give away the store. When you go to Washington, come back with the bacon. Don't leave the family jewelry in Washington DC and allow them to build this wall in our community. Jesse was correct. Laredo has respect because we've stood up to this wall. They've not built it here and we're not about to let it happen on our watch and we're asking you to stand behind us. Thank you. >> Thank you. Trisha Cortez. >> Good evening, Mayor and Council members and City Manager and City Management. >> Um, uh, my name is Trisha Cortez with the Rio Grande International Studies Center, and I'm here to give a short presentation as it relates to the ongoing threat for Laredo to build a border wall. And just as a reminder from what we learned last time, what a border wall is. It means the confiscation and destruction of our land. It means the removal of public access to the river and the river Vega forever. It means impacts to our source of drinking water and it is not a policy solution. As it is, as city manager Need said, Laredo is one of the safest cities of our size in the United States and the Laredo sector has some of the lowest crossings along the border without without a wall. This was alluded to earlier. The Laredo wall would be more than twice the size of the Berlin wall. And this is what it looks like. And we did the 30 ft wall, the 30-oot walls. This is a Quatro neighborhood in West Laredo. What that would look like, Father Magnavo Park. What would be lost? It would be a transformed landscape. This is very close to home in Sapata. What this looks like And last time like this time as you know this is about a battle for the very soul of Larredo the cost of the wall according to the state documents with Fiser wall um out of North Dakota one mile 27.2 2 million. And so what could even just one mile fund? How much roadway along Mines Road for the congestion? How many fast lanes at World Trade Bridge? How many worldclass regional parks that we don't have? How much of an event convention center could be built? How much of a well staffed level two major trauma center that we lack and people have to get helicoptered out of here for for that sort of treatment? and how many fire stations or police stations that is even being asked for in the bond. This is an a gross inefficient use of public funds and we need y'all to ask the state to fund what we really need here. This is what we stand to lose. Parks like this, summer camps, spring break camps for kids like this. Las Palmas Nature Trail is just one of them. Kaying on the river. Birding. We just had the birding festival 160 people. They come from Australia, Japan, Canada, all over the United States because of what we have and they don't. This is with council member uh Richie Lanel and I know council member Alisa Sigaroa went by Slaughter Park. This is at the golf the Max Mandel golf course and we are asking that people don't sign and that decisions that are being made for us, stories being told about us so negatively by people who don't live here, the damage to Laredo's reputation as a safe, thriving city is long-term and unquantifiable. And we've seen that by people who are afraid to move here. I know y asked all the time, is it safe to live in Laredo? We hear this all the time. So, in closing, uh, mayor and city council members and city management, it's to go into this with eyes wide open when dealing with government agents because of what has happened in other places. And I come with the hope from many who couldn't be here tonight that you continue to stand strong, that you continue to hold the line and protect and defend our most precious resource, the river, and our community's access to it. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Next item. We don't have any other David Patricio. Good afternoon. This is my first time here. For the record, my name is David Patricio, not a long time resed. Um, looking around the room, I see a lot of people that are familiar, a lot of familiar faces. to the city council. See a lot of people around. But again, the reason I'm here is for item 34. Um, Mr. Danda was up here and he read it pretty good. If if people don't know, Mr. D is an attorney. Um, I had the pleasure of working for him and I consider him a friend and he kind of says that blanket easement and that's the reason I was here because a blanket easement is a taste Texas can just cause all sorts of chaos and nonsense fast. Um, in the past five years, I became a cyclist. I don't look like your average cyclist. When I'm cycling, I don't wear tights. I'm not part of the Laredo Cycling Association. Um, I consider myself an independent rider. I consider myself not a team rider. And the reason I do that is to get away from stress from work, from stress from life, from just everyday battles that one has within. and I kayak down the river um with a friend Laro Kayak, Mr. I had met him before, but he was here and that's an awesome thing to do. If people have not done that here in Lorettto, I welcome everybody to join. Just a quick paddle. It's a quick event, real fun, real nice, really cool. And me personally, what what am I here for? >> I I work in the Heights. I get out of work at six o'clock. I get on my bike and I ride off Bartlett down down Maline down into Slaughter Park Slaughter Park down into um um the water treatment facility at Sta Park. Head down toward Laspalmas Trail. Go up down the outlets down by the river. Come back around all the way down the ement of water patrol roads all the way up to the Jefferson Water Plant. Come back up on Sagnasio Street up to the college around the college the baseball fields around the college one more time over the bridge back down downtown and back up market. I feel I cross a lot of city council members areas when I'm doing that and I do that at 6:30 7:30 at night late by myself most of the time. Sometimes I get a friend or two to come with me and I've been doing this for five years and I can say that I've never had an issue with any kind of crossings illegally. Sometimes yes I have border patrol kind of get in my way. I'm in their way. I understand I'm in their property. I have to take care of them as take care of myself when when they're when they're coming around and they're working and I'm just having fun and all this fun that that is there is there for all of us. Um as I talked about that's my afternoon route. Sundays I like riding Lawat Ranch. Come down all the way from Law Ranch and come all the way downtown. Connect back up to Slaughter Park. Come up all the trail which is Chakan Trail. Come up all the way um behind Walmart on Sapata Highway. Come back on the loop and ride back home. That's about a 30-mi ride. You guys are welcome to come. And just one more thing. Um I started doing these full moon rides um at night of course and January was my first one. I had 15 people join me. The second time, um, I had nine people join. The next one is March 14th. It's a Friday, and everyone's welcome to join. Bring your bikes, bring your lights, bring your helmets, and let's have some fun and enjoy this river. We need more fun like this instead of a wall or just more clarity on the blanket. And then the one that last sentence here that caught my attention, there is no financial impact at this time, but there's a lot of problems that can cause for this that we might not make any money, but we're going to ruin a lot of stuff that we have free to the public. Thank you for your time. media. >> Sorry. >> Uh, Rianne Ventia, is it on this side? Yes. Okay. >> Hello. Hello. I'm so sorry about the confusion. I know you said I was a group, but no, it's just me. >> Okay, >> so uh first and foremost, good afternoon. My name is >> your name for the >> Yes, my name is Randa. Um and I stand before you today as a member of the network opportunity progress um the network for opportunity progress, advocacy and liberation known as NOPAL. Um that this is a very youthled program uh organization. Um but most importantly, I stand here sorry as a member of district 8 and as a citizen of Larredo. Now, I'm sure you're well aware, of course, everybody's been up here talking about the development of the wall and everything. And I could say so much. I mean, I wrote swaps here, literal pages, uh, just on the drive over about what I wanted to say. I could go on and on about how this isn't a finished deal. This is a negotiation, and you have a responsibility in order to represent us. That the wall won't make the city some sort of a paradise. That it doesn't create opportunities. It doesn't protect our families. doesn't help them in any real quantifiable way. I could tell you about how it tears through our land, demolishes our communities, centuries of history, and irreparably harms our ecosystems. I could tell you that the money that they'll use to build it could rereate our metro system. That we could be incredibly sustainable and safer. And I mean, that's someone who takes the bus. That would be great for me, right? I could tell you that instead of the money poured into concrete and steel, you could pour it into the minds of our children. You could fund the schools that are currently being defunded. I could tell you about the roads and potholes that really need to be fixed. I could tell you about the cancerous air we have and about the pipes that have been messed up for quite some time. But that's something you've already heard. It's nothing new. And I'm going to repeat this sort of sentiment. And I'm pretty young. I'm only 20. I'm a kid. Um, and I'm sure lots of people here have read it, and I'm sure maybe you have to your kids or your family members, but if you give a mouse a cookie, it takes, and it takes, and it takes, and in this moment, I'm not going to say the government's rats, but if you give that mouse cookie, you give them a little piece of wall by our beautiful Columbia Bridge, they're going to take, and they're going to take. And the wall is so much more than just a wall. I just want to off script. The wall isn't just a huge gate, 30 feet tall, incredibly terrifying to witness. It's also swaps of land destroyed in order to create roads for our increased mil increasingly militarized border patrol to patrol to do their job. So that's not just big wall, but you can still look through it. It's also entire chunks of land destroyed our beautiful ecosystem just for driving, which we have lots of driving already. I think it's a bit of a problem at this point. Most of all, I want to say that this land, our land, our history, our heritage, our Laredo is not just something to be traded away. So when you go to Washington, when you speak to politicians, don't cater to them. Don't work in the interest of just yourself or your wallet or a politician or a political party. Work in the interest of the people who put you in the positions where you are today. the people who rely on you and your districts and your neighbors because Laredo is not just some spot on a map. It's not just this border town. It's a home. It's a culture. It's an experience. And we need to be able to protect that. And what I say isn't all because there's lots of people who are more than happy to speak and lots of people who will fight, who will stand beside you as you fight and as you resist with the pride that you have inside of your culture and inside of your city to protect us because we fight not just with some red-hot rage, but with the fiery passion of the love we have for our people. And that's just for now. Thank you. >> THANK YOU. I'M KY. Good evening, council members, mayor, city staff. My name is Ser Rivera. Like Reagan said, tear down this wall. So if he said that many many years ago, why do we have to build one? Now I go into what I want to do. I've been here 30 years. I came here from San Antonio. I made the international market in six years in business. I have done my work for international people. So when I I'm semi-retired and what I want to do in Laredo is for the tourists is for Laredo, not for me. And I giving you all my experiences. I want to pass that on to the kids so you can use that to build a tourist attraction. The old post office is the perfect place for that. Nothing else. Anytime you rent that place to somebody else or give it to uh uh a nonprofit organization, you're not doing it not doing anything good for for but for that organization, not the city. And what I want to leave a legacy for the city, not for me. I'm 80 years old and I don't need uh any pat on the back. Already reached the international market. I received it. I I call it the Oscar. I received the Oscar when I was asked by Vitro, the largest glass company in the world, for me to represent them throughout Texas. Well, there's got to be a reason why they asked me. I was flabbergasted to have received that ask. So if I want to do something is for Laredo. It's not for me. I already reached the market. I already done many things that people don't even know about because I don't talk about it. I don't talk about it because I don't have to. I just do what I have to do. So reconsider having that that old post office as a subtraction. I'll be glad to run it for free and you can, you know, we can teach the kids about uh to teach the u tourists and anybody that comes there to teach them about Laredo, have pictures of people who have made a commitment or have done something good for Laredo. And uh I I got I got a picture I I've got some uh uh real that I want to pass on to my council woman Cigaroa about uh what they do in in Montter Mexico. Every Sunday they have a dance for all the senior citizens and the people of uh Montter. Well, I want to build that. I wanted people to have fun. and I want people to enjoy but mostly when people come over here they'll they'll learn so much about Laredo and what we have to give to other other cities. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Mayor. Before decision is made, u I'd like to make a motion to go to executive session on this particular item so Mr. get us up to date on what we're actually going to be voting for. >> Second. Go ahead. >> Oh, we have one more. >> Yes. >> What's your name, please? >> I'll resend my motion until public comment is done. Did you sign up, ma'am? >> Yes. >> Okay. We don't have the >> I I gave you all the comment part. >> Okay. >> All right. What was your name, sir? >> Um, good afternoon, Major Tino Council members and city staff. My name is Mariana Salena. I am the president of the Sakatic Creek District Coalition. I represent a group of organized citizens from the Aeka neighborhoods who are engaged in the community based and restoration project at the Las Palmas nature trail. This restoration project involves the removal of invasive plants and trees that they have taken over the beautiful stretch of land along the river and replant approximately 300 native trees. This will serve the improve these natural areas and restore dignity to the neighborhood by building community pride through resident participation. I want to thank council member Alisa Cigaroa along with the city manager Rose Joseph Ne, assistant city manager Jose Valdez, assistant city manager Rammon Chavez and park and recreation dire director JJ Gomez for meeting with our project manager to express support for this much needed work. We hope to continue to work together so that we can improve the quality of life in our neighborhood. Thank you for all your support. This community based initiative contains border security future through the removal of vegetation with which will provide the line of sight for the US border patrol. I would like to thank the border patrol for meeting with us and other stakeholders to collaborate on this project which will improve security and the neighborhood while res restoring a much needed recreation area. As an active resident of this community, I am proud of the effort put forward by the AECA residents. We have a diverse group volunteering at the Las Palmas Nature Trail which includes age ranges from 18 to 82. We have a lot of people that is very young and older. I hope that this effort serves as a model for other riverfront neighborhoods in Laredo. This community based project funded by Methodist Health Ministries will intersect and complement the $2 million USDA funded restoration project made possible through the office of US Congressman Henry Quer where Aka residents will participate in the design and planning of our restored Las Palmas nature trail. I am here to remind you that the decision make here in Austin for Washington have a tremendous impact of the citizens of Laredo especially and neighborhoods like Elasteka where I reside in my and will affect us for generations to come. We have great faith in you, Major Trevino, council members and city staff to make the right decision that will be in the best interest of the city and in particularly particular neighborhoods along the river. I trust the decision you make in Washington will be for the good of our community and reflect the values of our city, especially those Aka residents who are volunteering the Las Palmas Nature Trail Restoration Project. Please don't let their unselfish efforts go in vain. On behalf of the Sakate Creek Green District Coalition and the residents of of the Steeka neighborhood, we would like to wish Mayor Trevinho, council members and city steps safe and fruitful trip to our nation's capital. Thank you very much and you guys have a safe trip and come back safe. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Secretary, do you make a card for her, please? Would you make a card for her, please? Yes. >> Mayor, if I may. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Um, I'd like to make a motion to table this item temporarily just so we can um do a recognition for the police that we have on the supplemental so that they can get back to >> what they need to do. >> We have one more comment. >> One more public comment, then we'll go with it. >> Okay. Well, after that public comment, um, I'd like to pause this item, table this item so we can go up um supplemental A1 and then come back. >> All right, let's do this public comment. >> That's my motion there. >> Yes, that's your motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Go ahead and do it. >> Hi everybody. >> Garcia Garcia, also known as Vicki. I'm a downtown resident right down the street. Don't block my driveway. We all call them. Um, but uh I'm here ditto to what everyone else said. Um, so I'll make this really quick. Uh, there's a lot of things that don't make sense. I I've come back after four years of doing emergency response work working with victims of of climate change disasters and people who have no drinking water. And so to see this rise up again in the form of an easement, it's it's a little disconcerting because it can happen in this area very easily. There's a lot of things that don't make sense, especially because this consideration of a wall, whether it's state or whether it's federal, it just doesn't make sense in that there are no crossings in this area. In fact, I also do some other work with certain other agencies. Um, but Loro has never been the source where where people come in mass droves here. And some of you may remember history-wise, um, when we had the Central American mass migration, we started the Lord humanitarian relief team. Even back then, we had mass amounts of people here, but they weren't crossing in Laro. They border patrol brings people from outside. So, a wall makes no sense at all with the numbers that we have right now, which is zero. Uh, with what's happened in the past, with the impact to to our environment, with the impact to recreational sports and just the beauty that is Laro. I mean, I know that none of us were were alive back then. But the the river has shifted over the years. And if you look at some of the insurance maps from years ago, more than 100 years ago, you'll see streets that existed that no longer exist because they're underwater because that river has moved and shifted. So, it makes no sense that this be brought up again, even if it's in the form of considering an easement or any other flat about walls. Um, it just it doesn't make sense. So I'm asking you all to please make sense. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Proceed. >> Okay. This uh item A1 in recognition of Chief Rodriguez rank officers which means uh command staff and allo police officers for their planning and execution of all 2025 WBCA events securing overall public safety in collaboration with many law enforcement agencies. uh with this I I just want to you know say I mean we even we even had a a a meeting prior to this with each of us uh to plan to execute you know captain you you were very focused in the briefing uh and then to to be in these events and and watch you guys execute this firsthand. Uh we see the families involved so many people and and and and the WBCA events and this should not go unrecognized at all. Uh this was big city status. Uh we appre uh on behalf of District 1 and the and and the citywide, we appreciate you so so much. We know you guys were ready for anything. It was cold out there. Uh but even to have federal agents involved and all this was was well planned and executed. Thank you so so much. MAYOR, >> go ahead. >> Thank you. Gentlemen, lady, you're back there, man. Want to say thank you all. It went off without incident and I know you all are absolute professionals and you all keep us looking fantastic, keeping us safe, always doing a job, always keeping uh your head on a swivel as I said now very often. Captain, thank you. I know you did plenty when it came through. Chiefs, thank you so much. Lieutenants, the same thing. Every single person out there that I saw, and I did the entire route. Um, smiling, of course. Um, but you all were always there. Every single intersection, there was an officer there. There was a deputy there, constable there. Um, I saw a lot of federal agents, also, state agencies as well. So the collaboration of you all bringing it all together really really resonated with the community and we just all felt extremely safe. So just again thank you so much for everything and all your professionalism. Really appreciate it gentlemen. Thank you. Thank you. >> So I want to say thank you as well. Thank you Ruben for putting that so so hard to come after. Right. But yes gentlemen thank you ladies. Um, thank you so much for everything you do you did for us. Uh, the route was safe, protecting the kids, you know, even though they were running inside trying to get the beads and the and the balls and stuff. Uh, all those toys that we were trying to throw out there, you kept us safe as much as possible and and you know, my family felt safe. Our our volunteers felt uh safe. You know, we had all this uh these this lines that you see all the exits covered everywhere you went. We had officers and it was like something different. We never seen it before, but at the same time, it's it was very, you know, we felt secured. So, thank you so much for everything you did. I know you you endured all the the the weather, the bad weather, the rain. I'm think I'm still recovering from my voice from that from that rain night from that day, but thank you so much for what you guys do. >> Right. One more thing before we leave. I was there at the command center and it was really topnotch. It was uh professional to the max and you only see that in a large city where there's a a lot of communication, a lot of law enforcement, but I think Larredo was up there. So, congratulations and thank you, >> Mayor. Yes. >> Um just to echo, I think, uh we we're used to seeing, you know, the presence, but I don't think people realize all the back end planning and preparation that went into this. I know there was a lot of coordination with the FBI and and other and other law law enforcement entities and that's not an easy task in and of itself. I know they were prepared for the worst and hoping for the best. So, I think you all were successful in your execution and we appreciate that and look forward to seeing the those operations grow from year to year. >> Mayor, >> yes. One more. >> Um, I just want to express my appreciation for all of your hard work. We always hear when we travel outside how well coordinates and collaborates and that's what makes our community so unique and strong and I think you showed that in spades. So, thank you. As all of my colleagues have stated, thank you for keeping us safe. >> Yes, go ahead. There you go. That's good. Go. Ready. First one. Two. You want to show Honorable mayor, distinguished members of council, Mr. City Manager, staff, good evening. Ricardo Gonzalez, assistant chief police department for the record. Um, on behalf of Chief Rodriguez, who couldn't be with us here tonight, uh, he sincerely thanks you. We all thank you. The only reason why we're going to be so so successful is because the support that we get from each and every one of you. Uh, also our law enforcement partners. nothing that we do, we do alone. And of course, other stakeholders and the community. Uh they're great to they're well behaved, so very easy to do. Um on behalf of uh Chief Rodriguez, he wanted to for me to express a few words of gratitude if you don't mind. So, um, on behalf of, uh, Chief Rodriguez, honorable mayor, and council members, I want to express my sincere gratitude to each of you for recognizing the efforts of my of my York Police Department in developing a wellplanned safety plan, a wellplanned safety plan for a reason WBCA events. Your acknowledgement is truly appreciated and serves as a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team. The success of this event was a direct result of the collaborative efforts and meticulous planning by all agencies involved. Your rec your recognition not only boosts morale but also reinforces our commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of our community. Thank you again for your support and recognition. We look forward to continuing to ser serve and protect our community with the highest standard of excellence. Chief Mike Rogers. Thank you, >> Mayor. Again, I'd like to motion go into executive session for item number 34 and item number 64 >> pursuant to Texas government code 551.074A1 and any staff deemed necessary to do so. >> Oh, that's right. Mayor, it's her her public comment is an an invitation to council. >> Let's hear that comment before we go in. >> Hello. Good evening. Media Robles, executive director for Laredo Main Street. For the record, I'm just here to really quick um I wanted to invite you all to the 24th annual with the Jambuzi. It's happening um Saturday, March 22nd. Again, I'm very thankful for all of your your support. It means a lot. Without the city support, without all management, it wouldn't be a successful event. We are inviting everybody to join us. It will be at our downtown Laredo from 5:00 p. a.m. to 12:00 a.m. It's a beautiful event. It's become a beloved tradition now that not only the community, but also our downtown um residents are able to walk to the event and enjoy a beautiful evening. So, um I encourage you all to visit us. I did uh include some tickets and and VIP bracelets. So, um I just hope you all can join us. And we are having our Jambuzzi parade. It will be bigger and better than last year. So, I also encourage all of you all if you want to be a part of it, I will be contacting you all. And I really do want to thank um city manager Mr. Neb for uh taking my phone calls, taking my emails for me um just making sure I am making sure this event is a successful event. Meeting with all the city departments, I'm very grateful again with Laredo PD, fire department, traffic, health. Again, you mentioned um Laredo is big in coordinating events and I want to make sure that this is a successful and safety event for our community. So, I I encourage everybody to to visit us Saturday, uh March 22nd. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good night, >> mayor. I'm hoping the third time is a charm. Motion to go into executive session for number 34 and 64 person code 51.07481 74 A1 >> and to staff and any other member >> 072 >> 072 as well. All >> in favor motion pass. Second session back from executive session. discussions for done to explore um East discussions. >> Go ahead. >> I'd like to move that we uh reject the language of blanket easement and that we move forward in empowering our city manager to continue negotiations. Yes, sir. >> And that he come back to council with his recommendations after this. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion pass. >> Mayor, >> go ahead. >> I want to bring that uh item number seven. >> We need a 64.4 if I may. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> A motion to continue with Mr. Jon for at least another year and given that 4% raise that's in the contract as well. >> Second. >> Motion second. >> Any questions discussions? >> All in favor? >> I'm sorry. If I may, did you also want to direct uh for the rubric for six month? >> Add that to your motion. >> Added to the motion. Correct. >> Add it to the motion. >> Amendment. Yes. >> Amended to a motion. All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion pass. >> Thank you, Mr. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> At least. >> All right. Next item. >> Next. Let's go. Mayor, we can go to the consent agenda. >> Mayor uh the municipal court number seven >> item number seven. I make a motion. >> Item number seven. I think we have municipal court judges here and they've been here for a while. So >> presentation >> motion second. All in favor? >> Motion passes. 30 30 >> make a motion number 30. >> Oh, sorry. I'll make a a motion to read number item number 30. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion pass. >> I think it's a condition. >> Y if I may, I'll read I'll take >> on number 30. Uh, I'm sorry. You know, I'll read you first. Uh, discussion of possible action address newly created municipal judge position following the approval of the charter revision requiring two full-time municipal judges, including the process for appointment pursuant to Texas government code section 29.011 and Texas Elections Code section 201.027. The city will open the appointment process to interested candidates for a period of 30 days. Candidates must submit a letter of interest and a resume for consideration upon the close of the submission period. The names and qualifications of all applicants will be presented to the city council for review. >> So let's go. >> So uh management quick question. Why is it that we brought brought this item up? Uh is that we're looking for searching? Do we have a time frame for for all this? >> If I may, uh this is what was passed and and and then the new charter section 502 which uh was drafted by Judge Dominguez. The first line is municipal court shall be composed of two full-time elected judges. That's that's our constitution right now is what it says. And according to Texas government code uh section 2011.027 says if a new office is created a vacancy occurs on an effective date of that act. So now we have a vacancy and and specifically Texas government code section 29.011. It says the govern body of the municipality you all shall be by appointment fill a vacancy in the office of municipal judge. So this is exactly on point for the remainder of the unexpired term. Now we have a staggered as was drafted and passed. We have a staggered process. Judge Dominguez uh it was is up for in 2026. So stagger means 2024 which already passed or 2028. So you have a vacancy now through 2028 and by law I see that we need to fill it. You all need to fill it. Oh, quick question. >> So, do are we ready to do do we have the funds to for for that for that position to be filled? >> I'm ask I I believe that we're talking about the funds between now and the September because after that you'll have a new budget, right? So, you you're talking about >> Well, we're bringing it we're bringing it right now. So, that means we want to open it up. You're asking for us the council to a point. So you might as well we that means that we do have the funds ready to go and for that department >> mayor and city council the what you'll have to do is that we're going to have to amend the budget to cover the expense of that unless we're going to well and we can't do that so I'm not even going to talk about the unless uh we have we're going to have to amend to allow for the salary of this second judge the elected position within there uh within the charter as well too it talks about two associate judges and we have two. So that doesn't really change within the structure of that. But we have to the the appointment of the associate judge is now done by both judges. Before it was done by one one was done by the judge, one was done by the city manager. The charter changed for that. So we will have to amend the budget in order to get there. I know that I have been having conversations with judge Dominguez about amending our ordinance associated with the salary for the municipal judges and establish establish what that is. So that conversation will need to happen as well too because uh we'll have well in my mind I would say we were going to set the uh the salary of the of this judge appointment at the at the first term because the idea was we would have a salary for the first term and a salary for the second term if they if they had that that ability. >> So that or we can do one salary for all of it but I there was a model in my head for that but that conversation's going on anyway. So currently u we would follow the ordinance as to what the what that the salary of that municipal judge is and it would be established in that manner with the appointment. >> No my my question I go back to saying do we have a start date of when does we have to appoint and we're going to open it up right now. Why are you going to close it off and by when do we have to appoint? >> Yes sir. >> And the salary do we have the amount of the the that that funds for that salary? the salary the budget will be amended. I believe that's the answer. As far as the the time frame, it says you have a a new office, you have a vacancy now, you shall appoint now. Right now, um Mr. Rodz asked the city attorney's office to look at AG opinions. There's nothing inclusive there. You can wait till all the way to 2028, but someone can al also mandamus, you can say you you're you're failing your duties and you need to I'm just not releasing the floor yet. Give me a second. >> I I again uh we're proposing this process to you 30 days to collect resumes and bring them to you. Uh you can change that process. It's just a matter of how do you appoint? But have we reached out have we reached out to the municipal court judges or the elected officials that's working there associate judges asking them if there's any conversation with them? Have they have seen because we're accepting applications? Did we reach out to their associate judges saying you know what we're going to apply if you want to apply you're the one right now you're the ones that run this area. You know this this this department you know what you know what's going on. Have we reached out before we even open applications? Because it's an appointment. >> If I may, we have not opened it. We're coming to you to ask you what process you want. If you want us to go uh ask them, that's fine. And as soon as this pass, Judge Dominguez asked the city attorney's office to hold a meeting. We've held the meeting. He's called me. We we've talked on the phone. Mayor >> and city council. >> The challenge. The challenge we have with this is that there is no set process as to how this happens other than we have a vacancy that needs to be filled. And so so we're coming to you saying >> and and I understand that Mr. N. But what what I'm saying is that I feel I feel if I would if I would if I would been in M and Judge Dominguez's position or and in his in his uh capacity right now be like well at least ask me to who wants to be my my uh my colleague and I'll give some recommendation. And I'm not trying he's going to tell us what to do, but he have some recommendations say, you know what, this gentleman right here has done, you know, you can go out there and and do something like that, but we he haven't even reached out how the process is going to go or and and you know, if I may, uh go ahead that I could have done that, but >> the statute says that the municipal the government body does this. That's why we're asking you all. If you're telling me to go ask Judge Dominguez, I certainly will. But out of respect to the law, I'm asking you. >> They have a little pitch. >> All right. Go ahead. >> I'm the one that proposed the the constitution or the charter as the charter amendments as it was proposed to you in August when we came in and see we put it for the voters. At that time I was able to speak to you after going through a class of certified public manager. We did a paper and we wanted to see what is it that we wanted as a municipal court judge. Do we want it appointed or do we want it elected? And we came to a conclusion and doing the research and serve having surveys talking to people writing the paper looking at the literature and the people decided that it was better off if it was an elected position. But wording for the charter, that's why I think we do have a definite starting point when it says staggered. And for the reason that I'm saying it's definite is we have a position now that's coming up for an election in 2026. 2028 starts the second. We're ready to position two. So we got position one coming up for an election this coming year. And then we got position number two that would come up in 2028. the will of the people. They wanted it elected. They wanted the position to be elected. So the way I read the charter, which is different than what he reads the charter because there's a definite starting period here. It's staggered. Staggered in the sense that the election that's coming up is in 2028. Him by his own admission, by his own words, he said, "This one passed in 2024, so this one starts in 2024." No, it didn't. We just passed the charter in 2024. Now, if we come in in 2024 and ask you, I reached out to city manager and I reached out to legal in December when it passed. And I asked them, hey, we need to sit down and start working it out so it can pass. So, see how is it that we're going to do it. We need to house a new judge in an office comparable to the one here. So, we got a logistic problem to begin with. Then, we got the funding issue, but that's a management issue. That's not my issue. They need to find out where they can get the money and do it. Now, what I'm proposing to you is I talked to the county attorney's office this afternoon and I put the situation and a couple of issues before me and he's willing to write an at to the attorney general and ask him for an opinion at this time because we have conflicted things. The city attorney is saying right now that we have a definite starting point and it's vacant and it should be filled immediately. And I'm saying the chart itself say it's being staggered. So we have a county attorney that's willing to write that letter for for for me as an elected official and ask and request if we have the charter saying this. Does it start here or does it go the way the the city attorney say that it's vacant now and should one should be appointed and then we do the process and I don't have any problem having the process going. In fact, I would ask you as in the form of a motion to make to allow the county attorney to write an opinion to ask a letter of opinion from the attorney general to see if it was definite or not definite. And if it's not definite in the waiting period, you all can decide. This is the way we want to do it. Court, your stakeholder MAC, it's your department. How do is it that we that how is it that it runs and how is it that the court how is it that the judge is coming into and what he's going to be doing in order to see management? We'll sit down. Let's look at the building. This is how much it's going to cost us and this is what it's going to do in this time period. if something happens that it could be filled by the time the next budget comes around either through an election which it could be in 2028 if it tell us no you can wait to 2028 or you can do it by special election or you can do it by some let's see what opinion we get from them >> and then we move forward so I would recommend if you allow me to continue talking to the county attorney and asking for the uh attorney general opinion letter in order for >> ahead council Yeah, thank you so much, judge. I I do feel a little uncomfortable having the city ask the county attorney for they're the only requesters. >> We have our city attorney here. And then if we want a second opinion, perhaps we can get our city manager. >> And the reason I'm asking is if if you see who the requesters are in order to make attorney general opinions, >> the city attorney is not listed as a requesttor. the city attorney usually goes I ask a DA the district attorney to do it or the county do it uh attorney to do it in behalf of the city. >> On a second just part two statement here um is that there are vacancies all the time and you know there are in in Texas and other states where vacancies happen and legislative bodies or the governor in some instances appoint someone and and then at the next election it's an elected. So it I mean it that definitely happened. So I guess I mean do we need a second opinion? >> Go ahead. >> Well, in the the amendment as written by judge, I didn't touch a thing. I I didn't touch the typos. So it says appointed or elected. It doesn't say only elected. And as far as the AG opinion goes, the AG appines on state law. They will not appine on municipal law. You can ask for all you want. It's going to come back with nothing. >> It's going to come back with an opinion. I've seen them. I I read opinions where where the city's requesting some type of a definite especially when there's a either governing body saying this is my term my terms up. Uh we're extending the terms. Does this apply to me? >> It depends what type of an election. They'll tell you it's an election law type of issue and they'll answer it. And this is a type where it's we have a definite starting point. It's staggered and we have one already in place which is coming up for an election. The other one hasn't been come up for election. And those are the reasons that I'm asking for under that opinion under the election law which is state law. Correct. >> Interpreting municipal >> charter. Is it election law? Does election law does the election does the you wrote? >> Does the election law the charter you wrote? >> Does overance election law trump the charter? No sir, if you have written >> Oh, the election code doesn't trump the charter. >> If you wrote the phased in, it'd be different. >> Okay, let's hold off a little bit. >> City council. >> Please be aware that within that as well, too. Our legal advice has to come from our city attorney. And I don't mean that in a bad way or anything because the judge is an attorney as well too. But but I I think that we can we can we can go through at least run through some additional exercises on this. I I don't we don't need a decision tonight then, but be aware that we based upon the the city attorney is that we believe this position will have to be appointed for that that term the remainder of this term which is almost four years >> but I'm happy to happy to walk through it a little bit further but I would ask that you know give the direction that we get any other definitive information but I would recommend always following the city attorney's opinion Okay. >> Who was first? >> I have the mic. >> Who was first? >> Okay. Go ahead. >> Judge, let me go. What is the workload right now at the municipal court? And as currently, do you see the need for a second judgeship? I mean, are we walking into this because the the item wasn't charter. So, um are we walking into this because of a great need that exists right now or was it more future looking trying to set the city up? Remember remember when I came in and I said look the city has been growing. Everything's been growing except certain departments. This is something more for the future and that's why I was thinking it was going to happen in 2028 after the election in 2026 and then 2028 would come in and then it would start rev. Right now the case load >> the police department and other departments with court enforcement and some city uh some school, police departments. I think we end up getting close to uh 5,400 5,700 cases filed a month there. >> Is that is that is that a heavy workload or is that a workload that's manageable? >> Mr. Lawyer, what do you think >> with what we currently >> Okay, you see this there's the answer I wanted. It's your court, sir. >> Okay. I want to be involved in the process. It's not fair for us to be left out when they say we want this and in 30 days this. Look, just let me tell you what it is to be an elected official. And you all know you have to give up a sacrifice. Us as lawyers, we have to give up our private practice. It's here in the charts. Within 30 days, you're going to have people apply and say, "I'm going to apply in the next 30 days, and in the next 30 days, I'm going to bring you a resume. I'm going to bring you the resumes and you'll decide from all these people. All these people have to make life-changing decisions. It's not a 30-day process to begin with. People need to look at what's going to happen with their practice. And there's succession and there's ways of giving up a practice. They just done I want I'm out and leave everything else behind. That's not the way it happens. This is real life. >> I want this court >> in order for it to be I want it to work. That was the whole purpose of it. So it can be a workable court and it be something that we do correctly not in the haste of the matter that we need to do it in the next 30 days. If they would have consulted since December the way we've been sitting yes of course I talked to Mr. Neb about salaries and talk about raises and talk about all these things but I've been talking to him for the past year about it and he knows that's the conversations when I reached out I reached out to management I reached out to legal in December about this issue quake was the one that showed up and then zone because he was in a meeting showed up management canled they said it's not us it doesn't belong that's not in our purview So I've been dealing with them and at that time I explained to them what was my opinion. He had his opinion I guess and then all of a sudden it just jumps up as an agenda item. >> Right. So I have a question for Mr. W. >> If Thank you. If um when when so there's a there's been a change in the charter and the city agreed to have two uh courts running. It just seems to me that to have the time to develop and establish these courts, it makes sense what how Judge Dominguez is explaining it. I understand that the argument is that the language um perhaps indicates something else. But is there room in that interpretation to also accept this interpretation that it is a staggered term? Because when we're talking about setting up an elected court, the assumption is, well, you need time to call for that election instead of it being something that happens in 30 days. I just I just see value in allowing council to be able to find that money, budget that money, and the court to be developed while we're waiting for an election to occur, which I think was the intent of that item. >> Absolutely. Council member, my point is that no, all due respect to the judge, I can't let him dictate this. This is your decision. But if you want to follow his lead and his suggestions, that's absolutely fine. But to me, it has to come from you all. >> Fair enough for me. >> Go ahead. >> Fair enough. >> I I do agree that that the council is going to be the ultimate decider of this. Um I do think a month is a little bit rushed and I understand that there's a you know there's been a change and we want to um comply with uh the direction that the citizens voted for us to take the city. Um, I think that the more fiscally responsible way to go here would be to open up the process for uh applications and let people know that there's a vacancy, fill it during the October budget, have that budgeted for the for the for the new upcoming budget. um and then prepare for a a space on the ballot for an election at the next um election which would be maybe 2025 when the next March primaries are. >> This is this is >> put it on the Hold on. Hold on, Judge. I'm I'm >> I hear you. >> So, um I think we can work towards an election because I do agree that an elected is probably better for the city to have the citizens decide. Um, but I think in in following with our city attorney's recommendation, we want to show good faith effort that we're trying to fill the position as soon as possible and not leave a vacancy for too many too too much time since we didn't have this budgeted. Um, I do think the more responsible thing is set this up for an appointment to be decided and to begin in the new budget cycle. That's my recommendation. >> All right. >> Go ahead. Yeah. Like I also agree that what Judge Dominguez is making sense. But unfortunately the way the charter thing the way the charter amendment passed it says appointed or elected. Therefore we now have the responsibility to fulfill that. We didn't we didn't have this conversation in advance and write and have it written out perfectly or we said it was going to be a 2020 election. So unfortunately it didn't it didn't happen that way. So now we I think we're forced to get this position um fil this vacancy filled and then you know it's it's it's like our constitution. We can't just say oh we wish we would have written it differently um and the people voted on it already but we wish we would have clarified in advance but it's a great idea but that's not what actually passed. >> And and the reason that language is there Dr. King is this this is the reason why it's there. It's through a a vacancy that is caused by the person either leaving to another office or a person resigning from that position or the person dying and then it defaults to the vacancy of the state because we don't have anything in charter but this that it's an appointment because that's what the state law is. So that's why the appointment would would kick in. It's all if if you look at it, it goes for what happens in the beginning, which all we wanted was the position to be elected. We want the will of the people to happen. That's why we're elected, not appointed. And I understand what what what the law is and I understand, but it's a definite for me. It's a definite position and it's definite when I said staggered because I'm the one that's like Mr. when said he drafted it exactly and this is exactly what I wanted and this is exactly what I presented. It was something for the future. It wasn't something right after the election, let's get it started. That wasn't the the whole intent behind this. Now, if there's a different interpretation where she's looking at a different interpretation, well, let's get an attorney general opinion. I already said the county attorney is willing to write that letter to the to to the attorney general and they will give us an opinion on on election law. They will give us an opinion if it's a vacancy that needs to be filled either through an appointment or through an election or and if it's the election, when is the starting date, but for me it's it's it's already a definite day. Now, in the process, while we're waiting for that letter, we can continue and be involved in seeing if it is a vacancy that needs to be filled immediately by by you by you all. Well, the process is already started at least. But >> but something to discuss. What is it? >> My question will be my my question will be to Mr. Mr. If let's say we appoint, how long would it the the appointment be? For how long? >> It would be it would constitute this person's uh first term because the the judges only serve >> it would be for four years. >> So be from now until 2028 when we have the election begin that cycle. >> Okay. And and and another question is can you are you able to contact attorney general instead of going through the county? Can you can we do it or can you do it and contact the attorney general and get an opinion from attorney general? >> Okay, if I may, I'm just going to play it out. The attorney general is not going to interpret our our charter, right? That's missful law. Turn general can interpret the state law, but those are the these are two we're talking about. A new law office is created when when vacancy occurs on an effective date of the act. And second one is government body shall appoint the municipal judge. You know that those are I don't know how else they would interpret and I I never have a problem with with uh other people's interpretation. I I never if I may I I don't ask you to follow my interpretation. I'm saying this is how the law reads. If someone reads it differently and they and they're right, I'll follow that. I have no problems. It's not just an interpretation. It's just one reason that's not it's ambiguous, >> but it's an interpretation for me. >> Go ahead, Councilwoman. >> So, well, so my my question, Judge Jingus, is to Mr. Win. So, you did say that you are able to accept this interpretation to allow the elected position to begin in 2028. And I and I say that because I want it to be legal obviously, but on council we do have fiscal responsibility. And if we do not have a court that is in dire need of the judgeship at this point in time, then I don't see why we would not allow a process to to more slowly move forward, assuming it's legal with charter that allows us to establish this court, budget properly for a a salary that will be an additional salary to this court system and allow us to develop this according to the pace of our growth. instead of trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. It it if we have the freedom legally to do it, I think it makes sense for us to step back fiscally. It makes sense for us to do that and just move more slowly. >> If I may >> and meet charter, the process has not started. That's why we're here to ask you to start. And I got to give credit to Mr. Rodz. It was his idea. I think it was a right idea to come to you as opposed to me coming up with some something. But uh you can wait till all 2028. The risk is that someone may sue us and say you know you you all not exercising your your requirements but uh at the same time when we looked at AG opinions there's no set date for when exactly you shall point. So I think you have time the 30 days just something I blew that number came out of my head. So the 30 days I'm sorry the 30 days is from from your >> just my head I just pull it out just so we >> to develop a process >> collect some some resumes for you but you want longer I believe that's reasonable mayor >> I want to make a motion to accept opening up the the applications to receive application but at the same time to see if we can we can accept not to see to accept the judge Dominguez going out and asking for his opinion to attorney general to bring it And then from there we can do an exception or we can do an appointment and it's up to to the council we want to do it. >> Would you come back to us with a process while we wait for the attorney general's >> the attorney general and I'm sorry >> the attorney general and we're already opening up for the process and say the council doesn't accept. We're already going through the process, but we have at least something from the attorney general and and he can go by the judge can go by out of his his own will, do what he's got to do, and that's it. >> Oh, yeah. Go ahead. There's a motion. >> Yeah. >> Mayor, >> discussion. Go ahead. >> Um, I don't agree with the attorney general opinion. I don't think we need that. I think that it's up to us and if there's a discrepancy on when the election should be held or if there should be an election, I think that we could discuss that. But I do agree with opening it up for applications, maybe 120 days, you know, give us enough time to collect applications, set the set the time so that it's sufficient, and then work towards an election. I don't see an issue with even having both positions available in 2026 on the ballot. Um, you know, at the end of the day, if the public if the will is for the public to vote, that's fine. Also, we could we could have somebody appointed in the interim, but I don't think we need an opinion from the attorney general on this. >> And we may and that's not just to to get the the attorney general. It's just to have that clarification, you know, to have that that that clarification for for myself. And that's something I'm asking. I hope the council agrees with it so we can have the clarification if it's if it was meant to say it wasn't it said in the in the charter or and because I went through that process as well and it was is something that if we had that attorney general conversation it would be something that maybe it would change of our minds or say you know what this is the what the intent of what they're trying to say and that's the reason I'm asking and requesting if we go and we vote that way >> first you just I want to ask a question Um, like I'm trying to play this out. If we were to appoint someone in 120 days, let's say, would we have the flexibility to set a special election um sometime, you know, let's say during, like Council Member Pettis said, during the March primaries, for example, and have a special election be latched on to that to finish out the remainder of what would be a four-year term, which would go all the way till 2028, and then they would start from scratch in 2028. >> I I would say that It's it's silent on it. All it says in the charter is it's staggered. So it be 2028 and >> well 26 and 28. >> And the state laws say you appoint in the meantime. But if you want a special election, which costs a little more, but if that's what you want, I I believe that can be done. >> But like we could do an appointment now, a special election, let's say next year >> for $150,000 or something. Yes. >> Or latch what if it's latched on to another election. >> Okay. Wouldn't it wouldn't be $150,000 if it's latched on to another election. >> Sure. and then finish out the the the term the staggered term and then in 28 we start from scratch. >> That's that's that's a possibility. >> Mayor, well there's there there's a there's a motion on the floor and I think we already called for this. There was a second and >> I don't know. Let's just call for the question. >> We have I'd like to to offer an amendment if I may. >> If I if I may. Um I I'd like to because um going to to the attorney general to to get the opinion. Um I I think if we're opening it up before we receive the opinion, then we run the risk of what Judge Dominguez was referring to of candidates who maybe we're not going to get the best candidates because they know we're waiting for the attorney general opinion and they may not choose to put in until we receive the opinion. So what if we ask for the opinion and the motion is set so that when it returns, if it is positively for this, we can move on and open up the position. But I think we get ahead of ourselves if we act without waiting for that opinion. >> We have an initial motion. >> I just have to Can I add one more to you read that initial motion, please? The uh motion was to accept open it up and uh accept applications for the second judge >> and re and request for uh an attorney general opinion. >> All right. And the amendment >> to accept to to accept or explore the general >> opinion towards the council. >> All right. That was the amendment. >> Yes. >> Also and so my amendment was to hold >> I I think I think we we should open it at at the same time. I gota decline your your so we're still questioning we're still in the question. So I'm asking to see if >> and zone you you can answer this or anybody can answer this. Do we have to accept the attorney general's opinion >> because you just said that the municipal >> if they don't if they don't govern municipalities >> exactly >> why are we asking the attorney general's opinion on this? Well, honestly, I don't think the AG is going to give an opinion on our charter because it's it's outside of the attorney general scope, but the attorney general will probably give an opinion on the the state law by all means. >> All right, we have a motion. We have a second >> clarification question. >> Go ahead. >> I understand your stance, but this is a new position, so it would be ideal to get some guidance like this is a new it's not by all means, but if it comes back with something, it comes back. >> Oh, absolutely. And that I mean I I think there's >> And again, uh I to be honest, when when I first read this, I thought maybe I'll appoint one of the associate judges in the meantime and then it will be done. So, you have, you know, two people to pick from. But it's up to you if you want to appoint now or you want a process. But at least, you know, it's your process. >> Can we an associate judge now? You can appoint a just associate judge now to run until 2028 and that be pretty clear appointed. >> Chair I've been at the exist court for about six years now. >> Six years accept my amendment if we can. >> We have a motion. We have a well I have second amendment to accept Mr. While Mr. >> Mr. So now you change me. I move my motion. >> Your previous my original uh motion and accept Mr. Won's motion to uh appoint Mr. Wild sorry. >> Yes, >> Mr. Lava as the other judge. >> All right. Okay. Let's read it out again so it won't be confused. His motion is to appoint Mr. the judge. >> And the original motion was >> well he rescended his motion. Here's his motion. >> He rescended his uh motion. Mayor >> you had a question. >> All right. Um so the question goes it goes. I got this correctly. So, we're to totally eliminating the number 30 out of the picture. We're just removing it completely and we're going after uh the amended version that they're putting right now. >> So, so in that amended version, we should eliminate the fact that interested and u must submit letters of interest and a resume consideration on this process. >> I believe that the the motion on the floor is just to appoint uh Judge Dav. >> Yes. But so that means the Number 30, as it's written here, is out of it's out of the way. >> Well, number 30 is not out of the way. He wants to fill a vacancy. He's asking the you guys, the governing body, we need the process. But if the process is his motion at this time to appoint Judge Davila as the position number two, and there's a second, then you can move forward on it. Correct. >> Right. And he would feel it until 2028. >> Right. And it'll be and it'll be an unexpired term. >> No, no, it isn't an expired term. >> And then it'll be two and then he'll be able to run for two more terms. >> All right. No, no. If I may, uh, you you you wrote that if you if you serve any term, it counts as a term. So, >> yes, but not when it's unexpired. When you look at state law, when you when you look at No, no, but this is the whole deal about the election law. When you look at election law, it should fall toward election law. It's an unexpired term. If something happens in the unexpired term, even though >> even though >> the same we have the same language as city council >> here. City council here. >> Mayor unexpired. >> Motion to table the item, please. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I oppose. >> One oppose. Motion passes. the table. >> Yeah, it's >> very I don't I don't like to I don't like to vote on things that >> All right. You called me, >> Mr. You called me. >> All right. Start with the agenda. >> Public public hearings. Mayor, >> next item. >> Motion open public hearing here of the ordinances. >> Okay. >> Motion. >> Any second? >> Any second for opening up? >> Second. All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion pass. Team just >> public hearings. I can go ahead. >> Okay. I'm sorry. Uh, public hearing number one, public hearing and introductory ordinance amending the zoning ordinance map for the city of Laredo by authorizing a special use permit for a tobacco shop on lot 2A block 823 Eastern Division located at 1414 North Meadow Avenue suite number 4,200 ft. The planning zoning commission recommended approval of the pro proposed I'm sorry the proposed zone change of staff does not support the application two public hearing introductory ordinance a submitting the zoning ordinance map of the city of radle by reszoning block 2A block 823 eastern division located at 1414 north metal avenue from B1 limited business district to B3 community business district. The planning zoning commission recommended denial of the proposed zone change of staff does not support the application. Three, public hearing and introductory ordinance amending the zoning ordinance map of the city of Lo by reszoning approximately 5.9 acres as further described by meets and bounds and attached exhibit A located north of Worms Road and west of Quattro Ventos Road from R1A single family reduced area district to B1 limited business district. The planning zoning commission recommended denow the proposed zone change and staff do not support the application for authorizing the city manager to execute a lease agreement between the city of Lo and I35 church for a property located at 1705 East Hillside Louisville Texas 78041 legally described as a building approximately 15,483 lease term shall be for 5 years commence on April 1, 2025. Tenant is hereby granted two options to extend this lease for an additional five years per option upon mutual written agreement between parties. The monthly rent shall be $4,189 and will be adjusted annually according to changes in the consumer price index API providing for severability and providing for an effective date. Five. Authorizing city manager to execute a lease agreement between the city of Rland I35 Church for property located at 1720 East Hillside Texas 78041 legally described as a building number 2075 for approximately 8,184 square ft. Lease term shall be for 5 years commencing on April 1, 2025. Tenant is hereby granted two options to extend this lease for additional five years per option upon mutual written agreement between parties. The monthly grant shall be $5,000 and will be adjusted annually according to the changes in the consumer price index CPI providing for severability and providing for an effective date. >> All right. Number one for or against or against or against >> uh yes Mr. >> uh for the record audi department just wanted to ask that if public hearing number two could be considered first as item number one is dependent on participants. All right. Okay. Let's start with number two. Number two, uh for or against. Four or against. Four or against. >> Uh motion to close and introduce as written as a denial. >> Motion. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Recommendation on discrepancy. So if the closing introduced or is would be to approve recommendation to accept denial. >> So motion to close and introduce as as presented. >> Denied. >> Yes. >> Denied. >> Number two. >> All right. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion pass. I'll go with a number one. For or against? For or against? For or against. >> Um, so I mayor, may I >> go ahead. >> I'd like to uh just make a recommendation to management. So we have an item number which is incorrectly listed here as number one. That is dependent a hypothetical on number two. Now that number two has been denied, number one no longer has any bearing on we don't have a decision to make. So in the future, I would like to ask if it could you could see if the planning and zoning could separate out these um items so that it we don't have hypotheticals listed in the same agenda. >> Council, I would agree that we need to do that better. >> Thank you. All right, we can provide a little bit of clarification. What ended up happening is that >> the delays in the meeting, the second one caught up to the first one and that's how they both ended up together >> because of all the delays that occurred. So, just wanted to be transparent in how it happened. >> I appreciate that. Thank you. >> No action on on number one. >> No action number one. Council tell number three for against four or against. Four or against. >> Number three is mine. So we've audience. Uh so we had meetings here uh with the with the planning and management and the the owner there and uh uh prior to this I know is here >> okay well uh recently the the the idea is that the best we can that we can do to worms your uh road that's been on conversations with the county and us for over two years and the city already grew all around it and the only best solution there uh would be to make it into an actual road. Uh this was brought to us uh last council meeting that that solution that idea. So with that it would alleviate traffic from from coming in the community and it would open up Wormser to Quadroentos. Um so with that I would like to uh close and introduce on on public hearing number three. >> Second. >> All right. >> Second. >> Second. >> Mayor, can I get clarification? Go ahead. >> You're you're approving the deny. >> No. Okay. Well, then I don't want to approve the deny. >> I want to pass it. Correct. Yes. Thank you for that council. >> All right. So, do we don't close and introduce or to go deny the recommendation of planning and zoning. >> Yeah. Do we have planning with all due respect on the commission? I know uh with recent conversations with legal and stuff that worms is going to is going to alleviate the situation here in that. >> So the motion is to accept and you no longer need the supermajorities. You just accept um what I'm agree with councilman Gonzalez on on opening up the worm road. Uh it will alleviate a lot of traffic from from district one and from district one and district two. There's a lot of uh there's a school there uh sacri which gets congested in the morning because it's the the overgrown of development that's that's coming in. We only have one entrance with it. That's our entrance. That's the exit and entrance. And then we got uh ladsur. They got to travel all the way to lomsur and to get to through the hedo. And if we open up Warms Road to another road for quatroentos to to uh to connect with Quatroentos, I think that'll alleviate a lot of the traffic. So I support uh Councilman Gonzalez decision and opening it up for for a road. So um >> thank you. Um >> so the with um with the planning the item as as this was listed in with the documents that support it um it did make mention of personal storage use for the landowner. The language was awkward and it made it seem as if it was a a personal use for just the singular land owner instead of a mini storage unit complex for public use or for as a small business. >> Right. The the eventual goal is for them to uh come in for mini storage. >> Right. Right. And I just I would um I would ask that you review that language as it was presented in the supporting documents. So to to make that a little bit more clear >> and if I may to provide a little bit of background. So right now the segment of Worms Road between AO and the loop is currently under the purview of the county is currently outside the city limits. And right now if you were to visit the roadway today it is barricaded. So it is not opened. There have been some discussions about potentially abandoning that roadway. Uh but I know that that is something the county has been working on. It's not outside >> and and and if I may, council, if I may, Mr. Mayor, >> um >> so there's a lot of situations that can happen with this with this piece of land. But if for whatever reason the county were to abandon it or if let's say the city believed in its wisdom that this road is going to be necessary for anything in that area, the only thing that the city could do would be to make that a road. >> To make it a road, >> but uh just just for the record, is it it's in the city limits? It's not a county limit. >> Uh it's in the county limits that the city is going around it. It's the only It's the So, it's a strip of road that that that that hasn't been annexed, but everything around it is >> around in the city. Okay. >> Yes. >> All right. >> Uh and I also um I know that the the the owner right now has the zoning to make apartments and all that. I do want to remind the neighbors that stoages are a little bit more quieter, especially if in the future this uh we do the city the road there. It'll be a lot better uh for that community. We have a motion second to allow the zoning change to occur. >> Yes. Is that what the motion is? >> Yes. >> All right. >> Okay. We have a motion. We have a second. Yes. >> All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion pass. Next one is number four. Four or against. Four or against. Four or against. >> Motion of closing. Introduce. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> Post. Motion pass. Number five, four against. Four against. Four against. >> Motion to close and introduce. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion pass. >> Motion to approve. Third and final reading number six. >> Second. >> Second. Motion second. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion second. Motion pass. 7 through 7 through Yeah. 27. >> Second. >> 7 through 27. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion pass. >> Motion open consent agenda. Second >> motion. Second. All in favor? >> Motion to approve. I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion pass. >> Motion to approve number 28 29. >> Motion. Any second. >> Second. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion pass. Motion to approve number 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57, 58, 59. 916. That's my motion. >> Second. >> Second. >> Motion. All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion passes. >> Motion opening the staff reports number 61. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Second. All in favor? >> Anything to report to the auditor? >> Motion passes. >> Report for the auditor. >> Yes. Good evening, mayor, city council. For the record, Tina Rodriguez, internal auditor. I am here to present uh for your approval the car wash contract service review that was uh submitted to you via the past two uh Friday packets. Uh the car wash contract services disclosed that overall the payable process implemented by the fleet department complies with city policy and controls are in place. >> All right. Thank you. >> Motion to approve. >> Motion motion second. Motion to approve. >> Okay. >> Motion for approve. >> Thank you. >> Number 62. >> 62. Laredo rising initiative. >> I think we can finish. >> Second. >> Okay. Motion second. All in favor? >> I post. Motion passes. >> 63. >> This is 63. Mr. Neb, >> I'm sorry. 63. Laredo rising. >> Laredo rising. 62. >> Yes, sir. Perfect. Thank you. Okay. >> 62 >> or 62. >> 62. >> Yes. I'm going to I'm going to handle this one, Mayor, and I'll I'll go as quickly as I can for this. But, um, good evening, Mayor Tino and Laredo City Council. I'm excited to introduce you to Laredo Rising, our city's new initiative designed to revitalize neighborhoods, improve clarity safety, and enhance community well-being. Laredo rising is a comprehensive initiative aimed at revitalizing our neighborhoods, strengthening public safety, and enhancing community well-being. Portions of this program have been tried in Laredo in the past, and it follows the concepts of the broken window theory, which was actually explained in 1982 and remains relevant today. The broken windows theory states that visible signs of disorder and misbehavior in an environment encourage further disorder and misbehavior leading to serious crimes. The principles developed to explain the decay of neighborhoods. Laredo rising initiative focuses on strategic investment, code enforcement and community engagement to create sustainable change in struggling areas. Essentially, Larredo Rising will combine city resources, inter interdep departmental collaboration and community engagement to reclaim and bu rebuild areas in need. The Radal Rising is not just a beautifification effort. It is a citywide strategy for reclaiming and restoring neighborhoods. By leveraging multiple city resources, we aim to eliminate crime hotspots, improve infrastructure, and increase resident participation in keeping our city safe and thriving. This initiative works by identifying neighborhoods in distress based upon specific triggers. Crime rates, infrastructure decline, and e economic challenges. Once a target area is selected, we deploy a cross department task force to address key issues through enforcement, repairs, and community engagement. Our approach ensures a long-term in impact, not just temporary fixes. Laredo Rising is about taking action in areas that need it the most. By combining public safety measures, code enforcement, revitalization a efforts, we intend to transform struggling neighborhoods back into thriving communities. Again, this is not just about fixing roads or cleaning up trash. It is about creating a sustainable, livable environment for our residents. The initiative is structured in four key phases. Assessment and data collection, strategic deployment, resident involvement and monitoring and evaluation. Our city departments will be leading the charge. The rate of rising is is a team effort and it's going to require the coordination across multiple departments. We are utilizing some of the key roles are code enforcement and building, public works and infrastructure, solid waste and environmental services, police and fire departments, community development and health services. Laredo also needs your help as elected officials. The city council support is critical to the success of Laredo Rising. will need your assistance in community engagement, policy and resource allocation, stakeholder partnerships. The city has chosen the 1700 block of Lincoln Street as our first neighborhood for the Laredo Rising based upon multiple factors. Recent police activity resulted in over 11 arrests related to narcotics and criminal activity in this area. The area faces significant infrastructure challenges with deteriorating roads, inadequate lighting, and neglected properties. This is a perfect case, test case for Laredo Rising. It has clear needs, but also strong potential for transformation. The police department's recent a afteraction report highlighted the urgent need for intervention. Some of the key issues were the crime and safety risks, infrastructure neglect, community struggles. With Laredo rising, we will address these problems holistically, combining enforcement with revitalization. Let me start by extending my deepest sympathy, gratitude to the U. Texas Anti-gang Center and to our Laredo Police Department for their dedicated efforts in keeping our streets safe. Their hard work has led to the apprehension of over 11 individuals who were preying on our community and bringing harm to our neighborhoods. This area has been a hot spot for crime, but through strong enforcement, strategic revitalization, and community engagement, we are taking it back. This is exactly why 1700 Lincoln Lincoln Street was chosen as the pilot neighborhood for the Laredo Rising Initiative because we refuse to let crime, blight, and neglect define our city. Together, we are reclaiming Laredo one neighborhood at a time. I'll go through a few of these. These are some of the pictures of the properties within the area that we are uh intending to identify. Um the Laredo Police Department compliance response team conducted a postnarcotics investigation which resulted in those multiple arrests and drug seizures. They identified key problem properties that require immediate intervention. The recommendations include increased lighting and sidewalk repairs to improve safety, strict code enforcement to address property neglect, heavy trash cleanups to remove the debris and deter further crime. As you can tell, we we have uh some serious properties here that that need a lot of lot of attention. This is what happened uh in one of the properties where they uh they did their work. >> Program a program program actions in 1700 Lincoln Street neighborhood. The crime reduction and safety measures. We are intending to go in. We're going to do the evaluation incre enhance street lighting and increase law enforcement visibility. We're going to look at neighborhood watch programs to to help encourage residentled safety efforts. We need our people to help us. Uh infrastructure and property compliance will be a big part of this. Code enforcement will be inspecting all properties within the fourb block radius of this 1700 Lincoln Street and they're going to enforce compliance. Unsafe buildings will be tagged for removal or repair. Community services and engagement. The city will host two outreach events to educate our residents on available resources, job training, housing assistance, social services will all be provided. This initiative is modeled after successful revitalization efforts in cities across the country. Some of the key success factors that we've seen in in other cities, datadriven neighborhood selection, multi- agency collaboration and efficiency, strong in Community engagement for sustainability. This is a proven strategy. By investing in Laredo Rising, we create a template for future success within the city. It comes at a cost, but I think it's well worth it. The estimated budget for this pilot project is 320,000. This is covering infrastructure repairs of over over $70,000 which will include road patching, lighting improvements, minimal enhancements such as sidewalk replacement and re and and actually additional sidewalks where we can place them. A lot of the funding will begin to code enforcement and compliance the inspections, compliance efforts, and selective demolitions within the area. Trash removal and cleanup. One major cleanup is is planned and graffiti removal throughout the area. public safety and community engagement, which includes police support, outreach programs, and event funding. We're going to add in some project administration contingency just in case just to ensure the smooth e execution and covering unforeseen cost. Funding will come from a mix of city budget allocations, current budget allocations. Right now, we're also going to try to see if we have any state or federal grants that we have that we can lean upon and potential private partnerships. >> Mayor, me. >> Yes. Go ahead, >> Mr. Nev. You're talking about $320,000 here. We were just discussing a municipal court judge salary of $140,000. It's approximately what they make. Where do you see these monies coming from? This wasn't budgeted for this year, was it? No, the these are going to be monies that we are going to try to find within our current budget structure. I want to give you the idea because we're out there fixing streets all the time. We're out there fixing different things. Uh what I expect is that if we have to go in and utilize code enforcement on the buildings, I'm assuming that we can put a lean onto the property and get that money back as well too within within some some form or fashion of this. This is all money that would be coming out of the departments themselves. It's just a focused attack on this neighborhood >> to rehab it and then sell it. >> Uh essentially that would be the intent and and put it back into use. So what what I think we're what what I think we will find as we go through the uh the inventory of who owns the buildings. We I think we have absentee landlords. I mean you can see the condition of some of these properties. Uh more than likely absentee landlords mean that they are not local landlords. So we can't get our hands on them as well too. Our our challenge is that if we leave it sit there, that is where the I was going to say the rats run. And the idea is to eliminate the ability for the rats to have any location where they can they can set up camp. And uh so the idea is that we will go in there and we will selectively um essentially utilize our property maintenance procedures that we currently have in place for us. and we will go out and enforce to make them safe buildings. If we can get compliance, we always want to do the compliance. If we don't get compliance, then the city will initiate a lean system where we retire down that structure ourselves. We have the ability to do that and we will remove it out of there. Laredo has done it but on a very limited scale because it's a very expensive proposition. But I cannot find another way that we are going to make the difference in some of these neighborhoods that need the help without our commitment into making this happen. And so the um I'm I'm I'm kind of cautioning you on the $320,000 right now. I think this is something that we're going to be able to handle on our own within our current budget system. But if it looks like it's going to um be more costly or we're going to need to come back, I wanted to make sure I did this report with you so that you understand what what we're going out to try to make happen. And then u as we as we learn and we explore what we can get done and what we can manage and everything else, then we'll adjust accordingly as well too. and the cost that we encumber on this and the owners of the property if they're still alive and able to be located and they'll reimburse the city for what we invested. >> The intent is that there there's two different things. What what we hope to do is create a collaboration where they will help us get through this. Um I've worked with a different program very similar. We called it clean and safe at that point in time. and we would go in there and we would assist the property owner with either our solid waste fees for disposable of all this crap that's out there uh different ways of getting that done. If we do not get compliance, then we will go out there and we will do our action as a city. We will place a lean on the pro we will tear it down. We will place a lean on the property to recollect at any point in time. Essentially, we will lock that property down. but tear it down even though it's been rehabbed. >> Oh, if it's been rehabbed, we're all good. >> Okay. >> If it if it complies and it is brought up to the standard back to the owner rehab >> and it's given back to the owner rehab. >> If if the owner rehabs it. >> No, no, because for what you're showing here is that we're going to rehab the properties. >> No, we will not rehab the property. Uh generally what happens what happens with us I think I believe we can in Texas, we could go in and actually salvage some of these properties. We still would put a lean on the property if we rehabbed it. >> Okay. >> Uh but the problem is I would I would argue some of these it'll cost more to rehab than ever to bulldoze. >> That was my next point. >> Yeah. Thank you very much. >> And so so the intent is to we will look at those code enforcement when they go out there and they they do the full investigation of that. We will determine the value of that. And I believe with our property maintenance code that we do have, we have the ability to go in there and and actually renovate if we wish to do that. I just know that a lot of the a lot of these pictures really kind of show you there's probably limited ways of salvaging. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> So, is this like a way for us to kind of tackle our vacant buildings? Yes. >> In a roundabout kind of way and then I would I would assume uh which could be probably correct or incorrect that the reason why their property looks like that is that they can't afford to fix it. So if that's the case and we put a lean, are we going to be pursuing foreclosure on these properties if they don't pay? I mean, because I know the city doesn't really foreclose on like taxes, so we we kind of have a nonforeclosure Are we >> Yeah. >> Are we um basically looking at properties that are vacant and dilapitated, fixing it up or finding them, putting a lean and then trying to take their property away? Is that kind of what we're trying to do? >> Mayor Prom mayor, if I may, we want to do this in the most collaborative way possible. The problem is is that when you look at these pictures and everything, um I I guess I don't know if they're just sitting on this property because they can't afford it or in some cases they may not even know they own it anymore. In some cases, there's a lot of different things. All I know is is that because we when we picked this area, 11 people were housing themselves in these properties to sell drugs to our neighborhoods. And so the idea is that the broken window theory says if if you have if you have this stuff there, it breeds more more stuff. That's the whole mentality. >> Mayor, if I can Mr. And I'm just um I mean I understand the broken window theory, but if we want to tackle abandoned buildings, I'm all for that, but we have an ordinance in place for that. >> You we have a process for that. >> Are why don't we follow or is that what we're following the ordinance? >> Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. We we are f what I'm what I'm saying is that I think we have some tools that we have not used well and I believe that those tools can be utilized for that. Um, in in my in my mind, I think that at times some of this gets a little heavyhanded, but this is this is what happens if we don't follow through with saying enough's enough for what that is. And I would rather have the police department not work that hard for for a lot of this stuff as well too. And so I think that we can we'll be able to show you the value of that. But I am I am saying exactly what you have said before as well too is that let's use our ordinances to our advantage, >> for our community's advantage. I feel bad for anybody that lives in this neighborhood that felt uncomfortable with what they were living around, >> right? >> And I think that we can we can take this on and do it better. And u and and I I I'm very optimistic about this. I and and I would like to have you trust me on this because it has worked well in other locations. It is not inexpensive to do, but I I think that you start to see neighborhoods revitalize themselves if we just kind of provide that catalyst. >> Well, and and so the goal is to start with basically downtown area >> and then well, are we moving into um because I know that we have >> building where they do look for these abandoned structures for dem demolition. Are we focusing all of our efforts in this location? >> No. And Mayor Pro Tim, thank you for that because I I'll let me go back over that as well too. Within the Laredo Rising, what we are utilizing as our trigger and our catalyst are, and you've seen the map from Chief Rodriguez, the hot spots, the crime hotspots. We're not we're not just using um the poverty rates. We're not just using these different things. What I'm what what I'm what we're doing here and what we're working with with the PD is that these are crime hotspots where there are people praying with on our neighborhoods. And so we're going to utilize these crime hotspots. We're going to step in. We're going to rude them out of that. Have them go live in San Antonio. I don't care. But but get them out of here and let our people have a good neighborhood again. And and now that's the idea. And I'm and I some of this kind of it took me a while to kind of build this this this whole model with talking with all of our departments and everything. Our departments are excited to have this happen. And this is something I think you have all been asking for because you said we've got we've got so many good laws and so many good pieces out there. Let us put it to work. Let us go out there and and make that difference. And so I think that's what we're hoping to do. >> Mayor, if I can. >> Yes. So, I mean, I just think that if we're going to do this and we're going to do the lean thing that we shouldn't not foreclose because right now we have like a nonforeclosure policy where we put leans when we don't foreclose because we're just going to put a lean and we're not going to foreclose or pursue it. Ultimately, people are going to end up losing their properties over this. But, if they're not taking care of them, >> you know, I understand the need for it. I just want to make sure that we don't just stop it. >> I mean, we're either going to do it or we're not going to do it. So, you know, Mayor Pro Tim, and just so you know, and I will look into that, but it is my understanding that the any if there is a policy for no foreclosure, it is not in writing. It is it is not I think it was some uh a motion at some point in time that says let's not do this. And I would argue that during a COVID situation, you would not want to do that to anybody because of of what the nature of it is. We're through that. We're now in a in a new world. And I I believe that I I think that I really want to try to meet you guys's expectations on on bringing these neighborhoods back. And the only reason we're here is because of what the work that the the task force and the police department did in order to find out where this is at. We have the hotspots in different areas. They already have two other areas that they're looking at. I'm not sure exactly where they're at. We won't tell you yet unless their work is done. All right. um because we don't want to we don't want to let our rats know that we're we're coming after them as well too. But but I I hopefully you appreciate the program. I I really believe that um based upon my last slide here, I think we can start to make that change. I I would really like us uh rather than the uh just a really broad these crime hotspots that we are identifying are really nice to focus in on and try to reset something. We just picked this area because we had 11 near wells that are that were irritating the heck out of our community and uh but we have other crime hotspots that we will continue to to address on. But I I really appreciate exactly what the police department's doing. Our code enforcement's ready to go, our community development, our health departments, everybody, public works, we're all ready to take uh take >> Mr. Davies, excuse me one second. Mayor, has the meeting been extended? >> It has extended. Thank you. Okay, >> so I this is the end of my report on the Laredo Rising. It's there's really no action at this point in time because I'm not asking, but I wanted to make sure I took an opportunity to share this with you. Uh as be because we've been talking about this, we we were preparing it toward the end of 2024. We're now ready to go. We have our area selected. Uh just so you know that the fourb block area is the area that we will do the most extensive stuff, but the entire neighborhood we're going to do the heavy trash. We're going to do it. We're going to take in all of that area as much as we can. We're going to try to do that area in a broader sense for the entire neighborhood's sake uh for that. But I'll answer any other questions you have. And uh I got my uh backup here if we need this. So >> Mayor May, >> yes. Go ahead. I just I just want to commend you for taking this positive step forward. I think this is a great model and thank you so much to the Larita Police Department from for joining in heartedly and and identifying data driven um identification of these neighborhoods. I think that is the best way that it is really the where the highest need is and this is how you transform communities. So, thank you so much for taking this under and and thank you for so much for participating. I think it's going to be a great effort. >> All right, Ricardo Gonzalez, assistant chief uh department for the record. Uh following up on Mr. Nep's presentation, uh this particular area, uh this whole program there's a vetting process. Uh we back it up with statistics, uh plan of action, and then we follow up afterwards. Uh not only do we want people to feel safe, we want to we want to make sure that they are feeling safe and that that the statistics show it. Uh this particular area just so everybody knows we've been dealing with it for years. Uh so Mr. Neb's uh plan is that sustain sustainability component to it that you bring uh that force multiplier. As I said earlier, we're more successful when we don't act alone. uh bringing these resources and get enhancing the the best of the city and the services what it can do and we'll see that benefit to these problematic areas in the city. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Mayor. >> Yes. >> Um if I could ask council if we could bring up 66B1 because there is someone from the county Heritage Foundation that has been waiting. I don't believe it'll take a long time. >> Motion second. All in favor? I as well. Motion passes. >> Thank you. Discussion uh discussion with possible action to coordinate city u public information office and the uh convention of visitors bureau offices with the web county heritage foundation to amplify efforts to celebrate the city of Laredo's 270th birthday this spring and any matters incident there too. Um I just wanted I was hoping that if the council would vote to allow for this coordination. I think it was already happening, but perhaps if it's a directive from council, it gives it a little bit more weight and opens up per perhaps some resources. I'm so excited about the 270th birthday. I think it's so important. It's a great excuse to celebrate once again the the unique and historic nature of our city and uh thank you for your efforts. Thank you. Good evening. Uh my name is Andrea Ordonz. I'm the director of operations of the White County Heritage Foundation. Uh thank you for having us, mayor, city council members, and staff. Uh we're very excited to celebrate Loro's 270th birthday. Uh we were we're working with the CVB and other organizations to to make this happen and of course and we can get any extra support from the city and from the city would be really great. Uh we want to expand our celebration this year a little bit more. We want to include our plazas. We want to we want people to feel more welcome in the downtown areas but also where we can celebrate in the whole city as well. So we've been working with the CVB and we have some plans to to have part of the celebration in the plaza, the outlet shops, maybe involve Loro Heat and you know the Decos and other other organizations. So we're we're looking um for for the record. So, um we had a conversation u also with with PIO with parks uh on the idea as Andrea mentioned is to um involve the whole city because this is the annivers anniversary for the whole community and so obviously trying to bring more people to downtown but also involve the whole community. And so we um obviously CBB is uh putting resources to promote the event um but we're calculating that if we want to make it a little bit bigger uh we're talking about maybe three to $5,000 in addition to what CVB and PIO are already um going to provide. So that's that's yes go ahead >> um Mr. N or or Mr. Win or would we be able to would we be able to put some of our promotional funds towards this as and I don't know if other council members would would like to do that but to be able to support these efforts to and and thank you so much for quantifying it that you know that you've been discussing this and you already have an idea of how to leverage that cooperation and have a few more dollars to create a much bigger impact. Um I'm happy to participate in that. I I don't know if that needs to be in a motion form, but um certainly motion to to um approve of this collaboration and um have Well, I guess we I'll stop with that is a motion to approve this collaboration. >> Second that. >> And then I would hope that um individual council members could be approached and and contribute some of the promotional funds to be able to get you to that amount. I know you can count on my support. A motion and second. >> All in favor? >> I >> oppose. Motion passes. >> Congratulations. Thank you. >> Thank you all so much for your time and we'll hope to see you there at the celebration. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Mayor, I'd like to motion to resize the Laredo City Council and convene as a Laredo Mass Transit Board. >> Motion. >> Motion. Motion. Second. All in favor? >> I motion pass. Motion to approve number 65. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> Approves 63. There is a 63, but if you want to move through your other. >> Yeah, I'm moving through this. We have a first and a second. We need the approval of it. >> Okay. >> We have a motion and a second. Yeah. >> Motion. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion pass. >> Motion to adjurnn as the Lord Mass Transit Board and reconvene as a rail city council. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion pass. >> Motion to bring up number 63. >> Motion. >> Second that. >> Second. All in favor? I >> oppose. Motion pass. 63. All right, mayor and city council. This is uh presentation number two for tonight. And um again, thank you um mayor, city council, thank you for your trust. Thank you for everything. Um we hope that uh you're I think as I cautioned you all, uh this is we're going into my third year with the city. Um, please try to keep up. No, I'll I'll try to keep up with you still. Anyway, but um just be um just thank you for allowing me to share the the year-end city manager report. And I've done this every year I've been here that after after we've gotten done with the conversation, I want to share with the the public as as well what all the information that you've had. This report reflects our progress over the last year and the vision guiding us into 2025 as we the enter the third year of our strategic implementation plan. Our focus is on execution, turning well-developed strategies into measurable results that benefit our residents or businesses and our community as a whole. Tonight, I will outline the core management vision shaping our approach structured around five key priorities. Operational excellence. Ensuring city departments function efficiently to deliver high quality services. Fiscal responsibility. Managing resources wisely to sustain long-term investments. Infrastructure development. Strengthening roads, utilities, and essential services to support economic growth. Datadriven decision making. Leveraging analytics to enhance service delivery and policy effectiveness. Community engagement. strengthening transparency and collaboration with our residents and stakeholders to track our project and ensure accountability. We have structured our work into nine core management categories covering governance, public safety, infrastructure, economic development, environmental sustainability, and community services. These categories will trans uh will help translate our priorities into clear actionable initiatives that drive meaningful change for Laredo. Tonight, I'm hoping to discuss these priorities and categories very quickly for you for your time sake and align our achievements with in 2024. Set the foundation for continued success in 25 through reasonable planning, innovation, and collaboration. We are building a resilient, well-managed city that meets the needs of our people today and in the future. And I want to start with thanking you for your time and dedication to uh the city of Laredo. And if I can get this to change. There we go. Laredo is committed to delivering high quality services, strengthening infrastructure, and fostering economic sustainability. As we enter the third year of our strategic implementation plan, our focus is on execution, efficiency, and excellence. Today, we are dis we will discuss the guiding principles shaping the management strategy and how they align with our city's progress. Operational efficiency is the foundation of a strong city management. In 2024, we introduced a standardized classification compensation system to improve hiring, promotions, and leadership development. We've also developed standard operating procedures across all of our departments to enhance service consistency and responsiveness. Moving forward, our priority is implementing these foundational systems while ensuring our workforce is well trained and equipped to meet the community's evolving needs. Sustainable financial management is key to Laredo's long-term success. In 2024, we finalized the classification compensation framework. We restructured financial oversight processes and we secured grants to maximize funding opportunities. Our approach prioritizes cost-effective investments in infrastructure and services while avoiding delays that lead to increased cost in the future. As we enter 2025, we remain committed to strategic financial planning that ensures stability and adaptability amid economic shifts. These concepts and discussions will be recognizable in our budget meetings and bond referendum discussions as we move forward. As a major trade hub, Larredo must maintain efficient infrastructure and public services. Our utility department is being restructured. That restructuring will improve water and wastewater management and storm with while storm water responsibilities are transitioning to the utility department for enhanced oversight. Additionally, we will be expanding environmental sustainability efforts including the Laredo water resource goals which focus on long long-term water supply reliability. These initiatives ensure that we will remain resilient in both economic and environmental challenges. Data and best practice guide our decisions. In 2024, we began introducing performance tracking dashboards to enhance our project oversight and uh departmental efficiency surveys to assess the strengths and areas of improvement. We are also modernizing our zoning and development codes through the recode Laredo initiative, ensuring that our land use policies align with contemporary urban planning principles. We are creating a more responsive and efficient city government by leveraging technology and the analytics. Effective governance requires collaboration at all levels. The city increased its efforts with town hall meetings and outreach from all of our departments. In 2025, we are expanding the town hall meetings farther to include hybrid participation, multiling lingular content and live polling. There are two major surveys going out this year to our our citizens. The one is the budget survey which will be going out here in in the month of March. uh that which will help us with our budgeting process and the departmental survey service survey which will be implemented as well too and that'll be going out very s sure soon to know which departments that our our citizens appreciate and which ones we need to do better at. We will continue to focus on transparency, inclusivity, ensuring all residents, businesses, and stakeholders are engaged in shaping Laredo's future. Our commitment to Laredo remains strong and we provide highquality services, support economic vitality, and invest in infrastructure for long-term stability. As we move into 2025, we focus on executing strategic plans, improving efficiency, and maintaining accountability. Through reasonable planning and strong leadership, we will continue making measurable improvements that enhance the quality of life for all of our residents. This vision reflects the priorities outlined in our in our year-end city manager report 2024 and provides a clear roadmap for sustainable government. It works because it is neutral and nonpartisan. It's grounded and focused on strong operations designed to encourage workforce development, sustainability, and economic uh resilience. It is flexible enough to accommodate the evolving city needs while maintaining continuity and governance. It's focused on community engagement, transparency, and innovation to strengthen the public trust. By embracing these principles, Laredo is well positioned for long-term success and continued prosperity. Attracting and retaining top talent is essential for strong city operations. In 2024, we launched a director salary study to align our pay structures with industry standards and finalized a comprehensive training matrix requiring all of our employees to complete 60 hours of training annually. All of them 2,700 employees all the way through there. We believe that they are required to have 60 60 hours of training every year. We believe that's what's going to create our leaders of tomorrow. We're also prioritizing recruitment efforts for key leadership positions, including the utility director, solid waste director, and the assistant building director to ensure strong leadership in these critical departments. The year-end city manager report has outlined the progress we've made in the guiding principles shaping our approach, operational excellence, fiscal responsibilility, infrastructure investment, datadriven decision making, and community engagement. A critical part of this vision is ensuring that Laredo's infrastructure and services keep pace with the growth, the economic shifts and the evolving needs of our community. While we focus on operational improvements and strategic planning, some long-term investments require dedicated funding mechanisms. Cities often consider various funding approaches, including state and federal grants, public private partnerships, general fund allocations, and in some cases bond referendums. A bond referendum is one option that the some cities use to finance major infrastructure projects, allowing them to fund improvements over time without relying solely on annual budget allocations. However, economic conditions, trade policies, and inflationary pressures all factor into how and when cities invest in largecale uh public projects. In the final portion of this presentation, we will objectively review the key economic considerations that impact long-term infrastructure and service decisions. The city manager's vision prioritizes responsible planning, fiscal sustainability, and strategic investment, all of which will play a role in how infrastructure funding decisions are evaluated. While this discussion will provide objective fact-based context, decision on how to move forward ultimately re rests with our voters of Laredo. Now for the bond referendum. The next section is intended to be provide a neutral informative framework for understanding the relationship between economic conditions, infrastructure planning and public funding mechanisms. It does not advocate for or against any specific action, but rather ensures that all considerations are thoughtfully examined. As city manager, I ensure that Laredo's infrastructure and public services remain strong, resilient, and capable of supporting long-term growth. This requires a strategic forward-thinking approach that balances the economic conditions, the fiscal responsibility, and the community needs. Cities must take a proactive approach to infrastructure planning. Growth, demographic shifts, and evolving service demands require us to continuously assess where and how we invest in roads, utilities, public facilities, and emergency services to ensure long-term stability. While economic cycles and trade policies may shift, the need for strong public safety, the reliable infrastructure and essential city services remains constant. Despite external economic influences, cities must maintain their core functions to support the residences and the businesses. Strategic infrastructure investments are more than just expenditures. They catalyze or they yeah, they catalyze job creation and economic stability. While well-maintained roads, water systems, and public facilities not only enhance the quality of life, but they also attract businesses and support long-term economic growth. As Laredo grows, we must carefully weigh the economic conditions, the infrastructure needs, and the fiscal responsibility and follow datadriven decision making to make keep us sustainable and make sure that those beneficial investments are there for future generations. Economic cycles may rise and fall, but the need for strong infrastructure and and essential city services remains constant regardless of external factors. City must ensure that roads, the utilities, the in emergency services continue to support residences and businesses effectively. Because inf infrastructure investments take years to plan, fund, and complete, cities often take a long-term view, making decisions that will serve their communities beyond shortterm economic fluctuations. Investing in infrastructure and maintaining reliable city services strengthens the city's ability to adapt to economic shifts. A strong foundation in transportation, utilities, and public services ensures that Laredo remains competitive and resilient regardless of the changing economic conditions. Inflation affects the cost of construction materials, equipment, and labor, significantly impacting the total cost of infrastructure projects. As costs rise over time, cities must consider these variables when planning long-term investments. Deferring infrastructure projects may seem like a shortterm cost-saving measure, but in many cases, waiting can result in significantly higher expenses due to inflation, supplying change disruptions, or increased demand for materials and labor. Citiz Cities often assess whether acting sooner can prevent cost escalation. A multi-year financial outlook allows the cities to uh anticipate cost trends, explore different funding strategies, and align those investments with economic conditions. This approach ensures helps ensure that infrastructure projects remain financially sustainable and responsive to the community needs over time. Really quickly is one of the busiest land ports in the United States. Laredo is a central hub for international trade. Crossber con commerce has consistently been a key driver for economic activity supporting local businesses, jobs and revenue generation. The trade policies and tariffs will influence the supply chains but businesses adapt by adjusting the logistics, sourcing strategies and production locations. Cities like Laredo support this adaptability by maintaining efficient trade infrastructure and customs processes. Investments in roads, bridges, and public services strengthens the city ability to manage growing trade volumes and economic activity. Well-maintained infrastructure ensures businesses can move goods efficiently, making cities more competitive globally. While economic while external economic conditions and policies can create uncertainty, cities must still plan for infrastructure and services that support long-term community needs. Strategic planning allows the cities to adapt while maintaining essential services. The cities prioritize infrastructure projects based upon factors such as population growth, service demands, and financial sustainability. Careful evaluation ensures that investments provide long-term value while aligning with project constraints. By maintaining efficient operations and planning ahead, cities can better withstand the economic uncertainties. Proactive investment strategies allow for continued growth and service delivery even during these uh challenging financial periods. >> Mayor, if I may, go ahead. Um, I just want to I have an item and I see the officers here. I don't know if they were going to comment on my item. >> I will I'll I'll >> and I didn't get to um go over it uh last >> like I'll I'll wrap it up and be done and that way we can get to those other things. My my point with what I'm trying to share within this this presentation is is that I wanted to show how the bond referendum ties in the all the conversation about the bond referendum ties into our vision that if we take care of our house first, if we take care of our services, we take care of all of that. That is what is going to help our catalyst serve with the with the public as well too. If we're not doing that work right, then then we're going to we're going to struggle with that. So, I just wanted to leave you with that. U I wanted to make sure you had that presentation, but I understand for the time and everything, but thank you for your time. Look forward to further conversations. We are scheduling our town hall meetings for the bond referendum as well, too. But I wanted to make sure I shared my viewpoints because I have not done that yet, and I wanted to share my viewpoints on where we're headed. So, >> thank you. >> I know we're rushed on time. I just want to say I hope that thank you for the presentation and I hope you share that with all the other people in the community that probably need to see it that aren't seeing it at 10:53 p.m. Yeah. >> Yeah. I I will tell you that we are we are working on our our our outreach campaign. I'm not going to call it a marketing campaign. It's an outreach campaign to explain what we are asking about and why we're doing the bond referendum and everything that is coming forward and we are going to share pieces of this throughout the entire process. So, just wanted to make sure you knew that I do have a position. >> Thank you, Mr. N. >> There it is. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Mayor. If I could make a motion to bring up item 66D1. >> Second motion second >> and C1. You want to amend that? >> Uh, and C1 after after >> I'll accept the amendment. >> Okay. Amendment. All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion passes. Um, my item is discussion with possible action regarding improvements to Riverbank Drive, including status on improved sidewalks, signage, and street parking with modifications to relevant fine schedules and any other matters incident there, too. Um, so we're not going to probably get to explore this item in depth, but um, I think one of the main issues, and I think the reason why PD's here is that, um, and it's not just Riverbank. I know it affects other industrial areas as well. Um, you have 18 wheelers um, sleeping parked on the side of the road all night waiting to get into their, you know, drop off or whatever in the morning. Um, it's causing enforcement issues for us. Um, uh, I think we need to modify our enforcement or I don't know what they need from us. Mayor, if I can give, um, >> yes, the floor. >> Go ahead. >> Thank you. >> Mayor, mayor, distinguished members of council, this is the chief for the record. Uh, so yes, uh, obviously living in Laredo with a high amount of large commercial vehicles, uh, creates a problem. A lot of these are visitors that come to our city. um they might come in early and they're idling uh throughout the city, especially these areas of town. So, it does create a problem. Um usually when they they're they're encroaching into residential areas such as what you have on Riverbank. That's what uh where we get the those complaints and so forth. And obviously there's other problems in the area. So, yes, one of the the enforcement uh efforts is to the punishment, right? Uh but um we were out there continuously. Obviously that little stretch of road creates a lot of problems throughout the day uh for various reasons and I'm here uh to provide any information that you might need on that uh particular area. >> Mayor, I think uh the main thing is I I believe the fine for parking overnight is like $20, I believe. No, and I don't have the number with me, but uh that it's a little bit higher for vehicles, but I can get that information for you. Apologize for that. >> But if they're not like it's hard for us to like they'll just take the ticket and they won't pay it or we, you know, they'll just it's it's it's an enforcement issue. Um it becomes a a concern with officers having to knock on their vehicle and ask them to move. Um they block the the street a lot, especially Monday mornings. And so we do have some planned um improvements to that area. I think the thing I'd like for council to support to tonight is to give management uh the ability with um PD to come up with a proper fine schedule, enforcement schedule so that we can um add a little bit more teeth to our um enforcement and hopefully um deter some of this. Uh also I the part of my item talks about crosswalks and signage. Um, I'd like to bring that on the next agenda for an update on those as well cuz there's two middle schools around there and we need crosswalks and all these improvements. >> Yes. So, there's a conversation about that uh council member uh that we can talk or speak very gener in and general terms right now or have ready for the next discussion. But yes, uh um a long-term solution that is going to take some uh some involvement from management engineering. I'd like to put it on the next meeting um to have an update and bring it up so we can discuss it and then um if council will entertain a motion to um give management and PD the ability to come up with the beefed up enforcement policy. >> So that's what I'm looking for tonight. >> Great motion. I'm sorry. Motion second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> Anyone opposed? Motion passes. And if I may, um, it's a $200,000 fee. >> Okay. Thank you. Item 66 C1. >> Yes. Thank you, Mayor Tim. Um, so this is just, uh, a directive to management to move forward with, uh, talks with Divine Mercy um, in the in the Dascese of Laredo regarding overflow parking that will be potentially made available to the public. We're also adding 55 50 parking spaces on ourselves, but just the directive is to move forward with discussions to either add a newou or amend the current for more parking for public use. >> Motion. Is there a second? >> Um, just make sure that they bring it to us before it's finalized. >> Yes. To bring back. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> Anyone opposed? >> Motion carries. >> Motion to hold on before just make sure all the unpending items make it onto the next agenda. We have a motion to >> adjourn.66. >> No, we don't have time. >> Motion to adjurnn. Do I have a second? >> Okay. All in favor? Motion adjourned. Thank you.