Calling the meeting to orders. City of Laredo Special City Council meeting, Council Chambers, 11:10 Houston Street, February 11, 2026, 12:02 p.m. All stand for Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Texas pledge flaggis. Moment of silence, please. Thank you. May be seated. >> Right, Mr. Secretary. Roll call, please. >> Yes, mayor. >> Honorable mayor, Dr. Victor D. Travinho >> present. >> Honorable mayor Protemp and Council Member District 1, Gilbert Gonzalez. >> Honorable Council Member District 2, Ricardo Richie Ranel Jr. >> President, >> honorable council member district three, Melissa Sigaroa, >> honorable council member, district 4, Ricardo Rick Gara, >> here. >> Honorable council member district 5, Ruben Gutier Jr. present. >> Honorable council member Dr. Honorable Council Member District 6, Dr. Tyler King. Honorable Council Member District 7, Vanessa Perez. Honorable Council Member District 8, Alisa Cigaroa. >> Mayor, you have a quorum. >> Mayor, motion to excuse the members that are missing. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I oppose. Motion passes. We'll proceed with the minutes. Previous minutes. >> There's nothing false. >> Nothing. Okay. >> All right. We have one citizen's comment. We'll proceed with that one first. Just to remind everyone, citizen comments are required to fill out witness card and submit to the city secretary no later than 12:15 p.m. Identify themselves at the microphone. Comments are limited to three minutes unless prolonged. Speakers may not pass their minister under the speaker. All comments should be relevant to city build business and delivered in a professional manner. No derogatory remarks will be permitted. We have Julian. >> Okay. You want to wait till the item? >> I'll wait. >> Okay. All right. All right. We'll proceed with communications presentation by mayor providing general comments on same manner upcoming initiatives and other relevant updates for the city council and the public. I want to thank Chief Rodriguez, Anita Stanley, and Crimestoppers Colleen Rodriguez for the presentation this morning in coordination with the city uh breakfast with the mayor at the Chamber of Commerce. The these efforts are to present initiatives and resources to address some of the youth violence, especially as it relates to gun violence. The first town hall meeting will be held in District 3 at the Hannes Recreation Center on February the 18th at 6 PM so that we can engage the community head on. I look forward to having Councilwoman join me if she's available. Some of some of these initiatives are already in action with the reactivation of the juvenile unit at the police department. Additional initiatives that will be brought forward will be mentorship programs with local business leaders and reinforcing uh after school programs so our youth have options for help on their homework or just somewhere to go after school instead of going to an empty house or an environment that may not be ideal. The key behind these initiatives is to make sure that our youth are given option becau before they get approached by the wrong elements or wrong people. More updates will be given the next city council. further meetings. We'll proceed with staff reports, discussion with possible action on the central Laredo Management District CLMD and any other matters incident there too. >> All right. Any presentations? >> Uh, mayor, just to acknowledge that uh Councilman Gonzalez and Councilman Pettis are here. >> All right. and Council King. Sorry. >> Okay. So forth be acknowledged. Thank you, >> Mayor. If I may. >> Yes. >> Uh as far as this item goes, just some background, Central Municipal District, the downtown business improvement district is a 501c3. It was uh created uh by legislation back in 2012 uh with the initial appointments. Uh and since then, I believe uh it was June of 2025 was the last time we we had uh board member recommendations and council approved. So uh uh there there's there are no uh debts outstanding uh for the the district and uh you operating based off of the state statute. Uh any bylaws can be created and crafted uh as uh they deem fit. So just to give you some background. All right. >> Thank you, Mayor. I have a question. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Who can I direct questions to about this in particular? Anybody here that's speaking for >> mayor and city council? And and we will bring up the central management district in order to get there. I think the one thing that we wanted to do at least on the staff side was make sure you understand the the different of the nature of what the what this group is. It was established by state legislature. It's not a it's it's separate from the city. We do have the appointment responsibilities for their members of who's on the board, but at that point in time, they are an independent body in order to work in the district that they are in. So, I would like to turn it over to the central management district in order to cover any of the that information because I think they're the most appropriate ones to provide that information. We're happy to help close out any any understanding from the legal side as to how this operates, but they are an independent body uh that works very similar to the housing authority and very similar to uh uh like the u uh the metropolitan planning organization as well. We have relationships with go ahead. >> So management is it just to introduce it or is it just to uh it's just just a schedule of possible action central management. What are we trying to do? Are we trying to do something changes? What is it we're going to try to do? >> This this was placed on there at the last council meeting and it was moved to the workshop uh based upon it was the mayor's item and I think there was a couple sponsors on that item as well too. The the the way the mayor laid out the conversation at the council meeting is that he was getting phone calls from some of the uh property owners in the downtown about the assessment that was placed up on top of the district. uh they placed a 20 cents per 100 uh of assessed value for that district in order to do the mission or the goal of their their plan within that district. And so the idea is that it got laid on on the on the council because of the phone calls that happened to the mayor and so we moved it to a workshop special session for other conversation to to give it its own proper due. >> Right. Mayor. >> Yes. Continue. Um, can somebody from the management district get up to the podium, please? Mr. Rosnowski. >> Julian Ratnowski for the record. >> Great. Thank you. Thank you for being here. I appreciate it. Uh, just a couple of questions and concerns that I've had from the public as well, especially after last meeting because I knew we're having this workshop. So they're asking exactly or questions that I've been asked is how much money will be the will the revenue be for this district to be to be happening >> or what will you be collecting? >> So um right now the estimated >> of course estimate right >> estimated to be collected is $310,000 >> per year. >> Per year. Yes sir. And then I'm assuming the district itself, the management um of it will decide where those $310,000 are spent and for betterment of the downtown area, I'm assuming. >> Yes, sir. So, so to fully answer that question, the the way the whole process works is we can't so we spend dollars according to a service plan. That service plan is adopted at a board meeting which it has been and that service plan can be amended changed accordingly dependent on our feedback from the community moving forward. So right now we currently have a service plan. I wasn't really asked to do this but I figured the more information I can bring the better. I did create a small presentation regarding our service plan basic outlines. We still haven't gone out to bid or anything. This is just our kind of guiding principles of how the funds will be spent. So, we have to be within these boundaries. >> I think that would help us plenty to know where or what the plans are or for the future with these funds because people are asking, you know, we're going to be spending so much money or paying so much in an assessment fee where they're actually going to be funding. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> If I may, >> do you have like a priority of something where you're going to spend like I know you're going to present. Is there a list that you're gonna have like this is the first priority, second priority, third priority like or is it just an overall plan that that that's like over overall vision that you have >> or that that you came up with and that's that's what you want to dedicate it to. >> So So the so the service plan the way it's laid out it doesn't say you know funds it it just kind of gives the guiding principle of these are the things we're going to try to tackle. It doesn't necessarily give an order of how they're going to be tackled, but the the the big thing that um that has been discussed amongst board members is clean and safe streets. Um we did a survey out there. A lot of the feedback had to do with the cleanliness of the downtown, the sidewalks, the concerns with um you know, the homeless population, what's going on with that. Um, so right now it's $310,000 and I'm sure as council members you've all quickly learned that when it really comes to providing services that is not a lot of money. >> So our service plan is very ambitious and all the things it describes. I, you know, I think once we go out to bid for those designated services, I don't think we're going to have enough money to cover them all. what has been discussed among board members as being a priority just to start is just cleaning up the streets, doing our best that we can to, you know, get rid of the smells. Um, just make it optically look a lot better. Another priority that has been discussed is lighting. Um, and we've gotten this both from constituents and also from speaking with the police department that, you know, there's two major things that that for crime. It's first of all people which we're trying to get back to the downtown. You know that's the least expensive way to thor and the other thing is lighting. So our focus is >> So let me ask you the quick question. I know you're going to go go through the presentation and that's why we did this workshop but my question is about how about utilities are when let's say we have a breakage of of a water vow in that area. Is that money going to go back and help us with the utilities split it between the city and uh and the the the body? >> No. So So typically municipal management districts are structured to provide additional services, not take over services from the city. So like for example, something that has been provided by the city um time on certain occasions is powerwashing the streets. that is not a service that the city does throughout >> um the entire the city of Laredo, something that they do in the downtown. That's what you'd call like an additional an amenity type service. >> Those are the things that we would be doing. Nothing um necessarily to say that we'd go and start repairing um infrastructure. Um but on >> but I'm saying not not building infrastructure, but I'm saying repairing infrastructure. That's not how that's not how they're typically structured. We're not there to to to subsidize the city in providing the basic services to include repairs. So like >> um pipes and things of that nature. >> Mayor, me. >> Yeah. Go ahead. >> Um Mr. Rohoski, um just a question as far as street sweeping and you you mentioned specifically keeping the streets clean. So we have street sweepers in there every day from what I'm told. um more than any other district. They're they're every day. I don't get a sweeper in my district. Maybe once a month, if that. Um but this is to augment that type of of a service, I'm assuming. >> So, and of course the sidewalks, which are extremely important as well. >> Yes. So I would say if anything magnify and in certain cases I have it in the presentation um very early on before um like when the bid reassembled conversations were started with the economic development department regarding some seed funding where like for example you know the city's currently spending some funds on sweeping the streets in the downtown we can take over the that whole service and what was being discussed is you know instead the city spending those monies. Can that be something that's seated to the business improvement district because we would be more efficient and so it would be more service based versus us or contract based versus us hiring someone having to pay you know a salary benefits all those other things. It'll just be contract based. So we can really >> if in partnering with the city we can also stretch some dollars that are currently being invested by the city when it comes to services like that. >> Okay. And then question number two, um you mentioned specifically the homeless population. Yes. >> And we have concentrated on that tremendously as far as the city is concerned. We've given millions of dollars to the Bethany House to increase its size and it and its facility and service. Um what do you plan to do with it to help the homeless population down there? So, I can't speak from experience on how municipal management districts directly um support in in in helping directly the the homeless populations what I've seen and in other cities and how they operate like Aason everywhere like coping with the homeless population affecting businesses because because as as as a district as a business improvement district Our focus is helping the businesses downtown do better. And like I I think I mentioned this at the last council meeting, a thing that was brought to our concern was that there are and I don't know if it's the homeless populations or just general vagrants or if it's people just taking advantage with these um parking lots from the city, including some private parking lots where they're pretending to be attendants and basically taking people's money from people coming to park downtown and then slashing their tires if they don't pay. >> Right. So like an example that I gave at the last meeting that I'll regive today is what we immediately started discussing these inner plan is dealing with parking is there's kind of this double benefit if we can figure out how to do like a P3 project with the city and their open parking lots the private sector with their open parking lots figuring out how to then activate those you know generate money for the private sector that has those lots but at the same time providing security. What was discussed is a lot of these parking lots have become more digital where, you know, there's the little QR code. I'm sure you've seen them in San Antonio. You scan them. Those operate with a with a vehicle with a scanner that drives around and essentially finds out, okay, that license plate in that parking lot, did they pay? They didn't. Then there's an automatic ticket sent, right? But the benefit of doing something like that also provides security because now that that individual that is driving around, you know, for all those parking lots, if they see something, you know, someone slashing a tire, some someone um charging, you know, illegally for those things, they are now, you know, they're not a police officer, but now it's eyes. It's a person, you know, it's it's a person that's driving around the downtown, you know, later on at night because a lot of these complaints come in past 9:00 all the way to 2 in the morning when the bars are open. >> Sure. >> And the bars are complaining to you now. Their patrons don't want to come downtown. So So our focus always is going to target how to help the businesses. That's our priority. That's that's that's how these are built, the municipal management districts in the state of Texas. Are you all wanting to bring something like that here locally as well to be able to run a QR code and be able to park? >> Oh, definitely. >> Okay. >> Because I think that that knocks >> that brings up a good question because we have a lot of people coming in from Larredo in Mexico in general. How will that system work when we have a person with a Mexican plate that is parking in one of our facilities or your facilities? So, it all comes down to policy, but but the way I've seen them operate in other cities, when I see the plates, the Pearl has them in San Antonio, so very familiar how they operate there. It's it's a digital system, meaning you go in there, there's typically a parking limit where you tell the space that you're in, you say how many hours you're going to be in there, and it's capped. That license plate is like forever capped. So, I do know for the downtown property owners, a thing of frustration is people, and I think this is what you're alluding to, a park on this side, take up active parking and then walk across. And now you have a a parking spot that's now removed that is not allowing a patron that wants to come shop downtown. And now that patron doesn't come downtown. >> Well, not only that, but you you you spoke specifically about citations. So, how would we get citations to people that have Mexican tags? That's a problem that we're going to have. True. >> Or is there some way to that? >> I think we're >> or address that. >> We're we're brainstorming on the fly right now. I I me thinking freely, but obviously this is something that has to be decided in policy and by the board and everything. I can imagine eventually moving towards if you have this continuous issue where there's this license plate, then you partner with a tow truck company that goes, "Hey, this person has three citations. you know, they're they're obviously not following the procedures of parking this lot. Therefore, boot it or tow it. >> That's great. Thank you. I appreciate it. >> All right. >> Go ahead. >> Uh Mr. You mentioned that you were not asked to have a presentation. I mean, I understand that you do have one and and I'm I'm eager to hear it, but there was nobody who reached out to you to ask you to explain this even though it was on the agenda for us. >> Uh, all I know is a previous we had a a board member that resigned because he he left Laredo. Um he mentioned to me that he was notified that this was going to be on the agenda, but there was no specific ask from staff for us to give a presentation. But I just kind of figured it's a great opportunity for the public to learn more. Might as well take advantage of that. That's why >> very grateful for you to be here. I I wish we had a better procedure to notify you because I do think that the public wants to understand and it will help us understand here as well. So, thank you for being here. >> Did you have a question? >> Uh okay. So, uh and and I understand downtown is part of a of a citywide uh like everywhere else. and my colleagues have always understood and helped like for example in in our side of the city they helped with the with the new fire station and stuff. So here downtown uh Mr. is is would there be any way also because uh he mentions priority priority there um district priority funding uh would you be able to would we be able to give maybe district 8 more and us even if it means us less just to you know just to you know keep downtown going and revitalizing he mentioned lighting and that is very important u so that that's just my question for this upcoming budget as well >> yeah and mayor city council and and yes so within the within the structure of these uh districts and how they actually operate uh within the statutory responsibilities it is a complimentary system to the city's services and that's why when Mr. Rnowski talks about not trying to take over those the services that the city does provide. It's complimentary within that structure. There is the ability to enter into interlocal agreements with the entity in order to provide focused uh services on everything which which allows for city funds, district funds, any of those types of funds in order to be contributed within that model. Uh they're able to partner with the uh the tax increment redevelopment zone as well too. the tears in the downtown, they can partner with them as well, too. In fact, there's a lot of good examples of where that relationship between those two entities help overcome what the challenges are within those districts. And so, yes, there there is the ability to develop out any of these types of relationships in order to accomplish the goals that are set out there. >> Mayor, >> yeah, go ahead. So has said CD does CDBG money also go into downtown in that area? >> The CDBG funds do go into the downtown, but it it follows the low to moderate income of our population. It it it can't go just directly to the district just because it's a district. It has to go to that specific class of of uh what that purpose is for the CDBG funds. >> Well, that is for the whole for the whole district. >> Yeah. I guess in the most recent case and then it was brought up about the Bethany House. The Bethany House serves that population a lot. That's why we were able to put CDBG funds into the Bethany House use because it served that population. Uh the district serves a bigger population of that. So there could be we could carve out different pieces that would help for the low income area, but it has to it that those funds have to be committed to that source. And there's a very very big criteria about crossing te's dot and eyes for that. >> Mayor, if I may. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Mr. Ne, CDBG funds are are moving over there from different districts. All the districts are being funded. You're going to downtown. CDBG funds are for this year, last year and this year if I'm mistaken. For how many years is that going to continue? >> That when I got here, there was a the council had approved a five-year agreement within the Bethany House to do that the expansion of their thing. And so we are uh what we're in we're in three years. >> We're in our third year >> for that. And I I think that that agreement was approved right before I got here. So I think we have probably two more years to to complete that uh that and and again Bethany House has been doing everything they've been asked to do in order to bring that along. So I I expect that within that end of that five years. >> You're correct. But I just want the public to know that every district that receives CDBG funds, we've all decided here on this council to give it to downtown because the need is there. >> So I just want to want to make that very clear. >> Yes. And that and that's a very good point for that that process. >> Council one, go ahead. Could I just make a testing point that I think that those funds are going towards homelessness and Bethany House happens to be in downtown but I think that we would dedicate that funding for that cause regardless of where it's sat. I just wanted to separate the two. >> Yes. >> No. No. Absolutely. And I agree with that 100%. It was a decision I I voted on it. I just want to people to know where they live are not getting CDBG funds because of the fact they're going to downtown to supplement with the homeless population and the problem down there. Um, but that's why your districts are not receiving CDBG funds because we decided as a council to put it downtown or it's needed. Absolutely. I agree 100%. Like I said, I voted for it, but uh I just want to be sure that that the public knows that this this this council is behind downtown. We want to see it continue to grow. how much money goes to downtown besides the other project we're talking about. >> You know, we we we support a lot of different things in the downtown area, but I then going back to the council members uh comment as well too. Some of it is just because the services are related in that district. But we we do put a lot of funding into the area. Uh the Hamilton Hotel is a good example that we have to we have to help with that one as well too. Uh but you also have uh the different entity center of the arts, the a lot of different because all of our facilities are are in this general area as well too. And so I I don't have a specific number. I I I think that'll be the hard part for me right now is that I I don't have that as as part of that criteria. I do know that uh because we talk about the downtown a lot about trying to revitalize it and trying to bring it back. I don't know if we've uh this is just another tool with the central management district as to trying to get there. I think the tears was a tool to try to get that this system to change. Uh I do know that we have 8 to 12 different entities in the downtown area including the main street Laredo uh the all these different agencies the historic preservation groups and everything and we still haven't found the way to get over where we wanted to be. So yeah. Okay. Maybe we can get an amount. >> Yes. I I I think I think these conversations about the downtown are always are always good to figure out how to >> having this workshop. So, right now, just my question that I'm talking about CDBG money, how many how much CDBG money has been invested in downtown? >> Well, for the the best I can do you for for the Bethany on the Bethany house is because that's the only project that I would I would I would state that has the CDBG funds into it. We committed $5 million over the five-year window in order to allow them to expand out the men's and the women's shelter areas and they've been they've been following through with that. I think they got the one done and they're they're completing the other one now. So So that was the that was the work. There was a $5 million adjustment for that and then uh >> how many districts get the the CDBG money? Um all of them all of them have the potential based upon the based upon that the difficulty for the yeah the difficulty is up in district mayor I'll give you the answer >> go ahead council >> the answer is seven okay for seven districts mind's the only one that doesn't get but anyway um >> it might get a minimum amount also >> no that's fine that's fine that's I mean I do think we should look at downtown mayor if I may um I do think we should look at downtown is districts one through eight I think downtown is for all of us. It's um it's nobody's district. I firmly believe downtown is all of ours, part of all of our districts in that sense. I think we've all agreed to take ownership of what happens to downtown because one council member cannot revitalize downtown by themselves. But um I just have a few rapid fire questions before you get started, Mr. Um so $300,000 per year, that's just from, you know, assessments. Can and and and I'm imagining you would want to focus primarily on services. Um can a bid uh business improvement district also go out for um for bonds uh in the sense of borrowing money to build capital projects with the city or is it primarily just for services and um >> so >> enhancing city services? >> So legally we can um right now we don't have that in our plan. Our other funding sources um that we we are attempting to go for is from our most recent creation of a nonprofit within the bid because other um business improvement districts also have that arm where they can essentially receive donations or have members because as what was brought up right now is our downtown is very much connected to a lot of people. So, we're hoping that we'll have just outside supporters willing to, you know, become a member and provide like a monthly fee or a yearly fee. Um, that's how San Antonio's, well, San Antonio has a public improvement district which is very much similar and just a little slightly different. They like they themselves even have a lot of residents that contribute >> um as members in order. So, do you plan to do private private fundraising because it's a nonprofit? So, >> we're trying to throw the kitchen. >> The point is investors are people that like, you know, donating to nonprofits for tax reasons like you could seek contributions as well because you're the bid is a nonprofit. >> Yes. >> That's okay. And then um how are board members elected? So the the the business improvement district essentially gets nominations. We then vote to then send them to you all and then you all vote to either confirm or decline them. >> But the first round of um the first round of uh appointees >> were appointed by the city, right? And then just directly >> I wasn't if I may the first round was uh appointed through the legislation and then the original. Okay. Okay. Got it. And then >> the recommendation. >> Okay. Those are just my three. I think now >> and we have to be reappointed every four years. And recently we worked with legal about I think a year ago. Right now they all renewed at the same time, but we when you guys last did appointments, I think we staggered them. >> So some weren't even appointed for four, they were appointed for two. So we can keep it staggered. >> Okay. >> All right. Go ahead. No, go ahead. >> Go ahead. >> The appointees have to um own properties down downtown. >> Yes. So, so in order to qualify to be a board member, you either have to own property, own shares in a company that owns property, or be appointed as an agent for a property owner. So it could be an it can be a property that has a attorney, you know, that that's typically normal. It doesn't have to be an attorney. They can literally appoint anyone to represent them, but as long as it's directly related to a a assessed property. So if it's a residential property, it won't qualify. If it's zone commercial, but it's and this actually happens there there's a homestead over it, then it wouldn't qualify because it basically essentially the board has to be people that are paying into this assessment or representing someone that does. >> I just have I just have a couple of questions on that. Uh so let me put it in a nutshell here. Um, basically we are asking you're asking us to um accept or or the way you're presenting this is is great. I mean it answered a lot of questions for me but this is a supplemental type program. This is not to take over city responsibilities to take care of the streets to take care of what we need to do as a city. This is all supplemental for right now. uh including security, um street sweeping, cleaning, uh and then basically being our eyes and ears down there so that we can come back to us. You're going to have a board that that does that. Um this is the only the other the question that I have is on the liability aspect of it. Uh well, let me go this other way. Will you be providing a breakdown of to the scope of work on the on the bid process >> on on >> on whoever is going to be >> when you say bid or refer to it from the district or to >> bid for the 310,000. >> Yeah. So we have to we have to follow the same rules you all follow. Um we have to put it out to the public receive you know the bids vote on them. It's same transparency as you all operate. >> Okay. >> It's the exact same point. So, I I might make a suggestion here that uh I think there's a lot of moving parts to this. Uh rightfully so. I think it's a it's a great idea, but I don't know if you can you all can break it down. Obviously, you're going to show us a presentation right now, but a written uh breakdown of everything that we're we're we're expecting to see from you all. Um that uh staff can review, bring back to us, and when it's everybody's clear on as to what we're going to do, especially uh I was just thinking about this before I came over here. Uh, I know there's some concern about the foreclosure part, you know, and and if we can put those guard rails in in in written form so that we can all be comfortable with this and and staff reviews it, our zone if he's going to review that, then we can all go ahead and vote on it and we can everybody can go on their way and and move forward with it. >> And if I may say something on the foreclosure, I really do appreciate uh council member Pettis bringing that up. I actually did a lot of research over the past week and be because I I truly meant when I said it that day to me doesn't make common sense to foreclose on businesses when you're trying to bring back a district of businesses, >> right? >> So, I actually did some research and I couldn't really find a municipal management district or business improvement district that actually activates foreclosure powers. Mhm. >> So, I've already, you know, there has to be a vote of board members, but but the the board I've spoken to other board members and we're in complete support of implementing the policy that does not do foreclosures. That's so at the end of the day, like I said, I think it'd be better for all of us so that everybody can be on the same page uh literally and and understand the inner workings, the intricacies behind all of this and and every we can all be rest assured at night that we we've already did our due diligence for the whole process and we can uh let you all you know move forward with this. >> But I'm certainly for it. uh the the liability like I said those are mounting two questions on if we can provide us with a liability aspect as to what belongs to them what belongs to us on this and this partnership. >> Yeah. And and mayor and city council let me let me let me walk back a little bit as well too and make sure everybody understands they are an independent board. >> They operate independently of the city. They have to follow the same rules and criteria that we have with everything that they do. we have the responsibility to ratify or appoint their their board members and then that's where our responsibilities stop when this question came up about putting the assessment on top of the the district and again I mean it's been in this this entity has been in an inception since 2013 we finally made it to this point and and this is where they're at with that and so they did everything that was required by law to notify the district, notify the public of all of this information. I want to make sure everybody understands that they have a plan on on out there on site and it is available for everybody. Um the only time that the city will get involved from this point forward is is reappoint of members or if they seek or we seek a uh interlocal governmental agreement where we work together on some form of that business. They're an enhancement body of the downtown. They don't they don't take over our services or anything, but we can get you all that information. I I I don't I don't mean to downgrade any of that. We just want to be careful about that because they are an independent body and so our our responsibilities are are within the appointment authority and if we have an interlocal agreement then we have the conditions of whatever those agreements look like. Okay, that satisf. >> Yes, go ahead. >> My quick question. That's just another thing, you know, quick question. We got a lot of questions, right? Um, you're talking about lighting security that's, you know, for security, right? Security purposes. Is there a way or is there any plans and and that scope of of project you're trying to create for the rest of the, you know, for this implementation? Are you are you thinking about hiring securities to drive around in golf carts? Making sure that the their you know license plates tags >> um you know, that would help us as well, you know, with our code enforcement because we can utilize them for other other purposes and not so focused in downtown area. So I don't know you have that if that in is is that in your in your scope in your plans because that's what I'm reading. In some parts of San Antonio, they just have to have the uniform, you know, ready to go and but they represent and they they represent the the the capacity of of the agency. So, I'm just >> So, so to answer your question, our service plan um is best described at this point until we go out to bid as a wish list because our limitation is not our ambition. It it's how much money we have. So, our plan is to put together, you know, what we're going to be putting up to bid. Security is one of those things. Figuring out what that and we're going to figure out what everything's going to cost. And at least a goal on my part is not to just immediately start awarding everything left and right, but really get some community feedback on okay, this is what these things are truly costing. This is this is what it's coming out to. We have 310,000. Is this truly our priority? Let's get this moving. Okay, is this one? Let's get this moving. And our limitation isn't going to is is is not our ambition. It's going to be the cost of it all. So to answer your question, if the money's there, then yes, we the the the big um point of feedback that I keep getting right now is that um breakins um well maybe not just breakins, but vandalism is become a problem. >> Is one of the main, you know, I think security is one of the main objectives. making sure before you even start building, you want to make sure that everything's down downtown is safe to go out, you know, to go out, have a coffee, walk around downtown. So, if they have we have security and proper lighting, I think it's something I'm just, you know, I'm not telling you what to do, but I just imagine that that would be one of your main priorities, making sure that people feel safe downtown before we even, you know, start, you know, start they start investing or whatever they want to start doing. >> Our slogan is going to be clean and safe streets. That's that's really what we are pushing for because ultimately no one's going to go into an area if they if it's not clean and if they don't feel safe. >> So, um I promise I'm going to try to keep this two more questions. Max, um what was the consensus of the people that are going to be affected by this? Were they was there push back? >> There were there more more questions, concerns? Because I'm assuming there nobody wants to pay more taxes. Nobody wants to do that obviously, right? But it's going to benefit the businesses and I'm sure they'd be in favor of it. But what was the consensus of of those people affected? Uh so the the problem if I can go historical first back because I I came back to Laredo and got more involved in Laredo around the time this was brought up and I saw why it never launched and the statement back then of of a lot that I saw the I wasn't a board member it was it was in the audience so listening back then the people liked the idea but it is the it it's just not time to do this right now. It's hard, >> right? >> And I'm happy that I was there then because that's what was said then and we're here now and I've seen not just personally with the properties that we own where we've lost 80% of the remaining tenants back from 2013. I think we have two left. Um, but it's kind of the same. It's it's this kind of we're in this failure launch where we're we're scared. Things are really they're not things are not good right now. The pandemic made it a lot harder. Um, but where we're at is we we we need it to be clean. We need it to be safe. So, a lot of the consensus and at this point we've had such a discussion I'm going to probably jump around in my PowerPoint because I think I've answered some things in there. But what we heard a lot is the cleanliness, the lighting. Those are their concerns. And the general concern is, is the money going to go there? Is it going to like like you're raising this money? Is it going to go to these things? So that's going to be on our that's that's our major duty in all this is we we have a line item for administrative. Our goal though is to try to like I don't know I don't know if I mentioned at the previous council meeting but to save every dollar I created our website instead of hiring someone. We're trying to target what is called direct services. So the dollars we generate going into things they can see cleaning the street security replacing light bulbs. That is our overarching goal. That a lot of the complaints just essentially come from that. There's a lot of complaints that saying that the city's not cleaning the streets anymore, which once again, that was a a very thankful thing you guys were doing, not a requirement under charter, >> right? >> Um, so we need to come in and and and start plugging those holes in order to to prevent this continued, you know, downward projection. And not just values, but when values are going down because we're losing tenants. We're losing tenants because they're losing revenue. You know, it's all >> like down effect. >> We need to do something to change the trajectory right now. >> This is to staff. Um gentlemen, have have we done anything as far as lighting is concerned downtown, taking a study of how many because obviously it's one of the oldest parts in town, but having a study done as how many lights are actually there, how many are functioning, how many are not functioning. Did we do the LED trans uh uh conversion downtown and were there as many lights there especially in the downtown area versus versus any other district? >> Uh mayor uh I am aware that uh we did uh do a study downtown in which we asked for grant funding to be able to switch out the light fixtures to LEDs. Uh we can get an update on how far that went. Uh do do you have it home? >> Um uh honorable mayor uh we have information as related of assessments that we've done in the past. So uh that information is available. I know we've done some at at some of our plazas and there's been grants that have been awarded. Uh but we can definitely get all that assessment that we have for all the downtown area. and mayor if I may continue um and ju just to kind of see where lighting needs to be added not not necessarily just just replacing with LED bulbs but if we need to add more fixtures out there then we can have that study done for downtown specifically >> go ahead working extensively with the the chairs the management district and and our management as well and I think it's like with every with a lot of a lot of initiatives that get started. There's just the it's the the followup and the follow through because we have we've met multiple times with Mr. Chavez and Mr. Varles and we've done a walk walkthroughs when it comes to downtown lighting and this grant funding which is stalled which is just unfortunate and um but the but it is that f that focus that we we do need to commit to when it comes to seeing some of these things through. Um, and I just just to step back and maybe some of this will get mentioned in the presentation, but when it comes to downtown, it we have to recognize that there are different elements that make up a successful revitalization effort. And so the TUR is a is is an is a an avenue for major infrastructure projects and capital improvement projects. and then but they are they're not a mechanism to for maintenance. So just as an example um quite a few years ago I believe the tourists funded misters downtown and they were hundreds of thousands of dollars and then but because there was they're not able to maintain there's no there was there wasn't a mechanism at the city either. Yes. No, that wasn't the tours. It was the city. It was many years ago the city um to a lot of the downtowners like very happy they they did the improvements on it which included misters and there was no service plan and I think it was like over $400,000 of improvements to include those misters with no service plan within the year they were all dead. >> Well, thank you Katie for the correct. So it wasn't from the turds but still from the city and without that dedicated service plan or dedicated focus from the city. Well, they they were they do not exist anymore. >> Mr. N. >> Yeah, if I could and I don't this is just some additional information at this point as well too just so everybody understands a little bit of the dynamics through this thing as well too. >> The city's the city's standard for lighting on the streets is intersection related. This is about transporta the the vehicular transportation more than it is about the street type traffic. So there is a there is a mindset that has to change with that. Let me let me let me utilize the uh the maintenance of the sidewalks as a great example of how we have to shift within the structure as well too because by state law by city law the sidewalks are the responsibility of the contiguous property owner. It is not a city function to maintain those side. We assist with replacement. We assist with different health and safety nature, but the law stands that it is the contiguous property owner in Texas. So I I want to make sure you understand that because the additional work that we are doing down there is to try to help out within those areas. What you have is in the downtown area is that you have zero lot setbacks. That means the building can go all the way up to the sidewalk and and so there is no there's no parkways, you know, and unless we put them in there and everything, but those those dynamics actually is what helps convolute or confuse what are we supposed to be doing and how are we supposed to be doing that. And I and I actually believe that the municipal management district will help serve that that bridge across the processes of that because if you if we follow one letter of the law or if we're going to provide additional service, let's have that conversation as to why. I think I think council member you had mentioned about well my my sidewalks don't get washed, right? But the idea of that downtown is it's a it's about critical mass of population on top of it. And so that's why it's so much tighter for that area and that's why we try to provide additional services and I think but because it doesn't fit the standards or the uh the law of what it is, we've never had it fit within our structure the way it should. That's all I'm saying. And so we have to have a different conversation within this within within exactly how are we going to try to accomplish this. >> All right. >> Go back. And so the business improvement district is that mechanism for maintenance. And so like like the city of San Antonio, there's central San Antonio, that's a that's their public improvement district. And so they take care of maintenance and marketing and um service like these service plans for supplemental security. They don't override and take over the main function of the city which is public safety. Um but they they do um have these supplemental services like side uh powerashing and um supplemental security and um have people in uniforms giving out information and pointing people in the right direction and making it a welcoming safer environment. >> All right, >> mayor. >> Okay, Councilwoman, go ahead. >> Thank you. Uh, so I just kind of want to point out, I mean, we're we're having this workshop to kind of dissect this issue a little bit further, but I am disappointed that we don't have the numbers. I mean, I know that we're we're asking questions about how much money is going into downtown or how much we're putting into this. We need to be able to see, you know, these numbers so that we can kind of factor that into our decision making. Um it seems like there are good faith efforts to revitalize downtown going on with this initiative and with the the tours and you know people are are active and the council woman is is working on on doing you know what she can do for for the area. So um it's very much appreciated that all of these things are taking place. I know that a lot of people um would would really like to see our downtown flourish. Um, it seems like with these initiative, with this initiative and with some of the other things, there's going to be room for confusion because it seems like there may be some stepping on the toes going on. For example, if you guys want to put more lighting, uh, who who's going who's going to be the owner of that light pole? And then is that light pole going to be paid for the electricity going to be paid for by the city? And then is that a decision that you guys are making on your own and then we just have to kind of pick up the the tab for the m for the the the maintenance and operation long-term cost? Do you see where I'm going with that? I mean, we as a council are not deciding to put those polls. You guys are, but then we're going to be absorbing that overall long-term expense. And so there is going to be a lot of um I believe um interaction between us and you all. But it does seem like there has to be a lot of details hashed out when you talk about changing a light bulb. You know who's going to be paying for that light bulb, right? Like is it going to be this the business improvement district or is it the city's responsibility? Um it's kind of fuzzy, right? It's going to be fuzzy. I appreciate what Mr. Nep said as far as like the sidewalk maintenance goes to the business owners. Um but the concern I had with as far as um with that relationship is that we do get to appoint the board but you guys my understanding is that you all have to approve who we appoint. Is that not true? >> No. I'm sorry. I'm not sure if I said said it incorrectly earlier, but so we give nominations to the council. The council then is who approves them or don't >> doesn't approve them. >> But if you all don't give the nomination, then we can't appoint just somebody else, right? >> The recommendation comes from the board. Yes. >> Okay. I think that's going to be an issue because like you're basically giving us a menu and you're asking us to pick something from that menu, but what if we don't want anything on that menu? What if we want something else? I think that there's some fuzziness there in those types of logistics where we shouldn't have to only be limited to the recommendations. I think there needs to be some flexibility there because um we we we again if you all put in a light pole and the council and the taxpayers are now res supplementing that in terms of paying the electricity or whatever that is um then we would need to be able to have strong oversight. I understand that you all are an independent board, but there is some um need for that oversight. And then I appreciate that you brought up the foreclosure point, but um it's not just the foreclosure, it's also the fact that of placing a lean on a property that also does cause problems. And I'm not against putting leans, but I do think we need to hash out at what point and then a a good payment repayment plan for people who fall behind. Um because once you put a lean on a property, at some point that person may need to refinance to kind of pull money out of their equity to take care of some debt that they may have to kind of be able to start paying or maybe to pay their debt. But once you put a lean, they won't be able to foreclose. I mean, they won't be able to refinance. So, it locks them in their ability to kind of manage their own debt. And so, I think that that also is something that needs to be done kind of after a long series of events that involves a very detailed payment reschedule. For example, let's say you're you get behind and you know, you have to be behind for a certain period of time. You also have to be fair in the late fees that you assess and the attorney fees that are assessed because sometimes people get foreclosed or get leans placed not because of the principal amount but because of all the additional fees. The principal amount could be 1/4th of the total amount of the lean. The other 75% is interest attorney fees and late fees. So we do want to be careful with that type of structure. Um, and so I think we we do need and I thought this that's what this workshop was about, right? Hashing out these types of details. Um, if somebody doesn't want to pay or somebody opts out, I mean, is there an option for people to opt out or for them not to participate? >> No, >> they have to. >> Yes. >> Okay. So the concern I have there is that the assessment that's being placed on these businesses is 20 cents per hundred dollars, right? Valuation. >> Yes. >> Right. So when we went through the whole bond workshop and we figured out how much we needed for the Hamilton improvements for uh the streets for a police station that we need desperately need and some other um you know maintenance items. the price tag that we put on that bond was going to help us be able to make a lot of improvements and people rejected it and were against it and that assessment was only going to increase by 10 cents per 100. So you're talking an overwhelming rejection of that bond at 10 cents per 100 versus here this one is being assessed 20 cents per 100. And I understand it's more specialized, but in your conver in your statement earlier, you mentioned that um you yourself as a business owner uh landlord are struggling to keep certain tenants and that you've lost tenants and correct you you did say that. >> Yes. >> So I'm pretty sure that there's a lot of other business owners downtown that are also struggling in either equal or similar ways. And so to now assess them that uh an amount double to uh to an amount that they rejected on referendum not about a year ago. Um and now basically obligate them to double that assessment amount on their property because either way the referendum the bond would have placed a 10-cent increase on their business. Now they're facing a 20 cent increase per 100 on their business. They have no option to opt out. they have no referendum to vote no to. Now, this entity can take their business or place a lean on their business and they may also be struggling in the similar fashion. So, that's where I find it a little concerning that we would go down that path. And then I do know that we have over oversight and ability as far as, you know, we can freeze the board or whatever. And it's not that the board is is not doing their job. And it's not that this entity is not appropriate or not a good idea. It's just all tied back to this bigger situation, bigger picture thing that's been happening where people rejected the idea of an additional tax and now are still having to take not only that additional tax, but double the amount that they had said no to. And so, um, that's where I'm struggling. I do would like to see some numbers from management. I mean, you all knew we were having this workshop. You've had this data. I'm sure you have it. Um because it is important to as far as the CDBGs uh monies that is important because we were all getting monies for our lowincome needs in our districts and all that money got funneled to help with the homeless um issue downtown. We do do regular sweepings. We are putting a lot of money. I think it's unfair for it to be out there that this whole council doesn't care about the downtown or like we don't we are not making it a priority because in the time that I've been here, we have always made downtown a priority. We we we have had strategic plannings where we do that. We're not I'm not against the idea of initiatives that are going to help the downtown, but we are getting a lot of negative responses to this particular tax essentially that people are facing and that is the concern. business. It's the money that these businesses are facing that they may not have the customer base or the revenue or the profit ability to be able to afford to maintain or sustain themselves and keep themselves afloat and now have to pay this additional amount. And so, um, I would like to see maybe some kind of, you know, feasib feasibility study in terms of look, if you, if we put this in, for sure it's going to work or it's more than likely going to work or this is these are the ways that they're going to benefit because I can understand a cleaner downtown, but I don't think that that's necessarily going to just automatically revive and bring customers to their door. It's going to be a long series of things that have to happen. And that might be nice and good, but there might not be at the point where putting this investment right now is going to bring that return in a way that's going to benefit them and and and make them profitable. That's what I'm concerned about. >> Um, >> go ahead. I >> I know we're we keep preventing um Mr. from doing his presentation. Um, I was just going to say and I I I think we all been very reflective uh post bond last year, right? Um, and the I guess the one difference and uh is that property values in Web County have essentially doubled since 2013 overall, but in downtown they've actually decreased by 56%. Um, so it but you know it's so it's kind of a it's is it just going to you being this downward spiral in downtown or um that so but that's something just to um just to ponder but maybe we should let Mr. do his presentation. >> All right. Any other questions? >> Um yeah, >> go ahead. Continue. >> Oh, okay. >> How do I start this up? Well, while we're while we're figuring out the presentation, I just I would like to I thank you for your comments and some important information that we do need. It's important for everybody to have. I do I find it interesting when we hear that there's a lot of people comments which I definitely want I think we should all be aware of. I for one as a representative of the area have not received these concerns. We've been addressing any concerns that have come forward over the past two and a half years. And so if there are those that are that that want questions answered there are monthly meetings that get held. We had a summit two years ago. Um the business improvement district has been more than willing to talk to to and sit down with anybody. And so it's just it's really meaning bringing everybody to the table and having these conversations because a lot of times those that are complaining are are about some of some of the these concerns are actually in turn wanting the city to take care of the things that that they're complaining about which we simply do not have the capacity to care for. there's no focus at the city when it comes to issues for downtown. And I was at a tourist meeting just yesterday where that this conversation came up of of the maintenance and and some of the the plans following the infrastructure improvements that the tours are are caring for, which is where the the the business improvement district comes in and cares for those that those maintenance um projects. But I just want to invite everybody to the table and to have an open conversation. Um, and any I'll let you continue with >> a quick question just go ahead. >> This increment in taxes will it affect the whole city or is just that area? >> Just that area. >> I'm sorry. >> The increment, you know, that's I'm just carrying out for for the public. >> Is that the increment of taxes? because this this tax increment that we're going to they're going to do is it going to affect the whole area or just the downtown area or the whole district 8 area? >> So So it is only within the central Laredo Municipal Management District boundary and it's only for commercial properties. >> That's it's I don't have it on me but I do have it on downtown ledo bid.org. You can see the >> There it is. I think they have it there. >> I don't know if it's >> We want to see the boundaries. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Since we've been talking about this, uh I have been exploring the the website. They have downtown Laredo bid.org. Uh and then there's a link to the service plan. Um and then you can go into the more detailed service plan. The map is at the very end on page 14, but uh but it's right there, too. Uh, so I'm not sure if I finished my thought. So it's only commercial properties. Um, and then it's not if it's a commercial property, but it's like a 501 I think C3, those are also excluded. Um, so it's only commercial properties, not residential. Um, single family all the way. So, so R1, I forgot how it's classified, but up to four units is considered residential. Anything over that is considered multif family commercial. Those are also assessed. But anything below that, so if it's a single family residence, a duplex, a triplex, a quadlex, exempt, >> if I may. So um so this is introducing a dedicated entity committed to the revitalization, economic development and enhancement of downtown Laredo. This presentation is going to outline the service plan. So um we have a transformative vision. We're dealing with a really old downtown that's actually technically split in two between Laredo and Laredo. And if you ever look at a map and really look at it, you can really see how we're not this half downtown, but this larger one. Um, but we're struggling with what's going on in Larredo. Our economic challenges, our retail flight, like I've mentioned personally and heard from countless other either property owners or business owners, there's a retail flight that's due to just downtown Laredo. And on top of that, nationally, especially when it comes to retail goods, so non-service based like clothing, all those other things, all that's moving online. So, it's making it a lot harder. Like, as I mentioned, our border challenges with what's happening in um Mexico. And then we're still dealing with pandemic impacts. There was a presentation done by um the Chamber of Commerce that highlighted how pretty much car traffic um and truck traffic has rebounded post pandemic, but pedestrian traffic, which is typically the people that would walk over and shop in downtown Laredo still hasn't rebounded. Uh recent momentum, you all the city, uh you guys have been very supportive of the tur that's been brought up right now. Um there's a lot of improvements that the TUR is doing and I'd like to highlight are the improvement districts targeted. So the light pole goes up um done by the turds but if the light goes out there's no service plan right now that's in our service plan is to make sure that light bulb gets changed. Um but yeah the turs is investing millions. The county has now participated with the tur which is amazing. I'm very grateful for the county when it comes to the downtown. They're they're lifting too. The missing piece is the activated bid to coordinate and sustain the progress. Make sure that for example the tours, all the improvements that are going in that the city is supporting that it doesn't turn into the infamous mister story where the funds weren't there to maintain it because all those improvements are to the benefit of of the downtown property owners. So we did do a survey. We had 230 respondents. The perception of the downtown, there's a 69% negative perception. There was a 10 only a 10% positive perception. Within that survey, we did uh segment actual either business owners or property owners in the downtown. The top priorities listed by the majority of those people was, you know, was brought up earlier. Security was number one, parking two, cleaning services with three, better lighting and economic development. Those were the top things that were requested uh as services. These came out of I think it was in mid 2024 when we did the downtown summit. >> 230 >> 230. How many responses were downtown property owners? responsive versus how many actual owners >> I don't have that >> right now. I can get that answer to you all. I'll make mental note of that. >> Our so our service plan is class clean and safe streets. We're trying to target trying to target 90% direct services. what you'll see. So, the things that we've been discussing to as a priority is regular power washing the street, graffiti removal, you know, within 28 24 to 48 hours, supplemental security patrols, and enhanced lighting in key locations. Uh and and if I can just tag that because uh uh Councilwoman Bettis brought this up when it comes to us adding lighting. Right now there's no plan on us building the light posts. Our plan is to make sure that the improvements being put in by the TURS are maintained into the future. Um but I will highlight this. As much as we're an independent board, if we are going to be doing any major improvements, this is going to be with working with the city. This is not going to be in with us in a silo, this is going to take coordination and making sure when those things get put in, there is a service agreement where the city understands, okay, these are your responsibilities. If you're putting these in, you know, that's very important. So, >> mayor, if I if I could, I want to expand on that as well too because I want to make sure everybody understands that. So the the and talking about the tiers as well too, the the trirz is the ones installing the light fixtures. >> That plan is adopted by the city. The trirz is that plan is adopted by the city. So we we have stated that that plan is a legitimate plan for the downtown. So when we talk about this, I I appreciate what the municipal management district is saying. Look, we'll help with the maintenance of those lights, but that would be an obligation of the city because we adopted the plan that the tears is doing that work. I want to make sure everybody understands that distinction between the two. If they if if the MMD chooses to do an improvement in the downtown, that takes an interlocal with the city or with the tiers. But if the tiers does it, then of course it still takes the council to approve that plan. I just want to make sure that's a great distinction for that. If I >> go ahead. >> Oh, quick question. Do you do you have constant communication with the tears and yourselves like the board? >> So >> So we So you guys won't have to overlap on the same objective or the same proposals you're trying to bring to to downtown. I'm saying they're looking for security and you're looking for security. So if you're going to work together then you don't have just 300 300,000 you have a little bit more. So that's a great point because when you look at at economic development strategies on revital revitalizing downtowns it's a sandwich. You see turses and business improvement districts or municipal management districts they always work in hand in hand to your point because you don't want duplicated services. You want to make sure the major improvements being done by turs once again t the best way to put it on the light pole example is the tur builds the light pole. Typically in cities the way they use their business improvement districts is those are the ones that replace the light bulbs moving into the future. >> So yes and what we used to have um now right now we coordinate a lot through the council woman. Um one of our board members sat on both the tours and the bid. So it was a constant communication. Now we just need to do a little more effort. But yes, the key is to constantly working with the tours and especially working with the city on anything we're working on. >> Yes. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> So that that kind of goes back to my my original concern that I brought up was okay. So, for example, let's say I we had a Mind's Road improvement district group and they said, "You know what? We need we need lighting here. We need this. We need that." It's like an arm now of our of our government in a way because since we're the ones that's set the budget and decide what's going to get funded and what's not going to get funded. Now you have an outside entity that's basically saying um we're going to put these lights in. We're going to do these improvements. So you're already like spending a portion of our budget on these items in a way because by giving an agreement on this and so of course we're not going to want to say no to downtown improvements. So it's it's already like pre-obligating what's going to be budgeted for. And when it comes to the light pole and the light bulb, that's still not including the electricity, right? So, we're still paying that electricity bill. So, now our electricity bill for downtown because of these light poles went up, let's say 15%. Well, now we have to budget that. Like, we have to take now our budget is reduced by that amount that we're able to spend. So, let's say the Mines Road improvement district does the same thing and says we're going to put in, you know, all this whole street is dark. Let's put in a bunch of light poles. Now we guarantee that the city has to have lighting here. So instead of the council or management like directing the how the funding is distributed and what's getting funded and the priorities of projects now all of a sudden it's like this this these projects are t are all of a sudden now jumping to the top of our funding list and this board is deciding what those projects for our spending is. And so I can appreciate putting money into downtown, but I would like to see, you know, h it's like we can keep putting more and more and more and more and more money, but then that means that at some point, you know, we're going to have to decide like is when is when is enough enough? And it's hard because we don't have numbers. >> And so and and I mean it's not really something for you to defend or respond to. It's more just like an observation. And as far as um the boards go, you you mentioned that there's the same person on two different boards. I find that concerning because you have one board making a decision with and that same person sits on this other board and it's just you would like I would I think it would be better to have independent people that can you know have to kind of work together and collaborate and come to a consensus versus the same people on two boards and then you all come to us and say well both of these boards agree with this or both of these boards want this project which is really just the same people on two boards and so that's a little concerning for me on that. >> Mayor, >> yes. Go ahead. >> Um, >> can I just clarify something? >> Yes, absolutely. >> We don't we don't decide where tur or light poles or turses. We are service based. I just want I don't want there to be confusion that we are um going out there and deciding where the city puts things. That's that is not in our purview. We can't vote on that. What I was highlighting on how they are sandwiched is going back to the mister story, the the misters were a decision by the city, but there was no plan to make sure that they were >> the maintenance >> the maintenance was there. That's where we come in. So, if anything, I I would just highlight we're we're there to support especially when the city makes major investments into the downtown and make sure that they're sustained into their future. We don't decide. >> Mayor, just to clarify my point real quick. >> I get what you're saying is we you're talking about the business improvement district, right? Okay. But the TUR is the one that decided where the lighting was going to go, right? Okay. And then you have people on the TUR that decide where the lighting is going to go, the poles, and then you have people on the bid, same people saying, "Oh, we're going to service these poles." So even though you we as far as well we don't decide that somebody on your board might be deciding it on another board. That's my point. >> Mayor May >> I don't think Yeah. Go ahead. >> Oh thank you. Um well I I I think there is and thank you for trying to clarify it a little bit of confusion. Right. So as our city manager mentioned, if um there is a dark street, the city's decision is to service that street because that is part of the mission of the city to you know we are we're responsible for that basic infrastructure and if it is going to go in because a tourist exists there and the tourist wants to prioritize it then council once again is making that decision because council is over the tours. And then as you stated, if you if we need to change the light bulb because the city hasn't noticed it, the business improvement district or this uh this central management district is able to do that. That is where the supplemental services, the enhancement of services because this is all an effort to make sure that the environment is safe for people to live, work or play there. And so I I just think as you're trying to clarify council ultimately and the city is responsible for the infrastructure and yet like in case of the um mis malfunctioning water misters if you do not have a maintenance plan that infrastructure will fail. you know, the streets will remain dirty if we can't get a street sweeper in there or power washing. And the city isn't as flexible nor nimble to be able to do that all the time. And because the business improvement district has this pot of money and is able to create these service contracts so that these daily occurrences can be looked at and taken care of so that people can come and operate in the downtown safely. that is what you're offering and providing with this money and in return the businesses that are paying into the pot receive that benefit that that the business improvement district is not just saying you know for or I should say the independent business owner there in downtown can look across and say gosh the whole street is dirty who's going to come to my business but I don't have the money to go and pay for the street sweeper or I did it last week and I can't keep this up, but he's able to to use a small amount of the tax increment because as council member King already explained, the property values in downtown have decreased so much. It it it is a smaller amount contributed to a pot and it benefits not just his store but the entire street and the entire area. And the more attractive businesses that you have downtown, the more likely people are going to go and and patronize his business. So there it it is a um a service enhancement as you're explaining. And it is absolutely necessary to have that kind of dedication if we're going to take revitalization of the downtown seriously because as council member Sigaro Alysa was saying the city isn't flexible and we just don't have those resources to be that attentive to this one area. It it takes it takes a village. It takes help. And so I I think the service plan that you're promoting makes complete sense and I'm I'm grateful that the business owners have come together. It was established a long time ago and maybe some of the business owners now weren't around when it was established. So there's a little disconnect there, but it's been established. It's gone through the legislative hoops that it needed to go through. And now piecing together a plan that will benefit all of downtown. It's exciting. And so I'm, you know, working with the tours. It is leveraging all of the resources that we can so that we can give this beautiful area of ours the attention it deserves >> and it complements what the city does and I want to thank you for that. >> Go ahead, council. >> Um, yes, mayor. Just to clarify a few things like what I believe council member Sigaro is saying I mean yeah she's talking about taxing people and then having that money available to spend on the greater good and the benefit of everyone. That's what we do as government. And the same thing is that we put out a referendum for a bond to do exactly that to make citywide improvements at 10 cents per hundred dollars. And people said no. And here you have an entity that's char charging 20 cents per hundred dollars and they have no option to say no. And as much as we would like to have our sidewalks clean, it doesn't matter if your sidewalks clean if there's nobody shopping coming to shop at your store, you know, and if you overt tax the business, then they're not going to be able to afford to stay keep their doors open. So that's the issue here is the o is the taxation at what point does it become overt taxation? At what point does this business that's already struggling have I mean $4,000 to a struggling business is a lot of money. Um $2,000 to a struggling business is a lot of money on top of all the other taxes that they pay because again Laro College tax, city tax, school district tax. I don't know if businesses pay school district tax. I'm not sure. But um they do, right? Okay. And now municipal management district 20 cents. I think the county, if you look at the different tax rates, the city taxes what? 50 cents per dollar. The school district taxes 50ome. Uh I I I'm not exactly sure what our tax rates are um for all the different entities. we can get that right now, but 20 cents is right is it's a good amount compared to the rest of the percentages. And I'll pull that up in a minute. So that's the concern is this money that we're pulling from everybody then to be used to put to clean the streets. And again, if that's going to help bring customers downtown and revitalize downtown, and if that's the magic formula and everybody's just going to start booming and and having customers and making money, then by all means, let's do it. But if that's not going to help in that initiative and people are going to end up closing their doors because they can't afford to stay open, then again, that might not be that's not going to that's going to be counterproductive to the purpose of the of the entity. That's my concern. >> All right. Any other comments, >> mayor, just for Mr. Ruffnoski to have his three minutes on your public comment because you haven't had that yet, I don't think. >> It's okay. >> All right. >> Um, would you like me to finish? Okay. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> So, so um I I will say I I don't believe the the bid is the magic bullet for the downtown. It's the bid. It's the turds, it's the city, it's the county, it's it's so many things. We need to throw the kitchen sink at it in order to really turn this around. Um, one of our goals is also economic development, business retention and expansion programs as as boards. I do research constantly, you know, on my own time trying to figure out other programs we can bring in. Um, we have a major coordinate marketing and promotion. We have a major promotion problem in the downtown. When you look at San Antonio, they have a website that lists all the restaurants in the downtown, the events that are happening. I know the TUS is working on putting up a real cool sign that's marking the Weirdness Street that's going to help with, you know, the perception, make it more iconic, photos, all those things. Those are all things that us as board members have worked closely on in supporting. uh another thing we're trying to work on and right now we don't have a hired leaison but in a way as you see right now as I discuss with you all and and discuss individually with different council members being a leaison with the city the police department just gave us one so we're working directly with the police department to coordinate like rapid solutions to problems in the downtown that's something this board's working on uh the facade improvement support that's not us putting money ourselves up for facade improvement but supporting those programs. Um, previously our economic development director put together a program that we worked with her on. And then advocacy for downtown friendly policies. I'm sure you're all familiar with us board members coming up um and talking about the vacant building ordinance that was going to um to with with a good goal, you know, filling up the vacant buildings, but we wanted to make sure that that policy was put together so it didn't create more damage. So, that's another example of stuff as a board and as an organization that we work on. I not going to go deeply in the parking solutions. I think I' we've already kind of discussed that, but figuring out how to do P3s and activate parking because the city of Laredo paid for a parking study that actually came back and said, "We have the parking. You don't have the organization on how you're activating it and and it actually recommended doing P3s." Uh district identity and promotion, like I said, is one of the biggest problem. Um, we want I don't know if we're gonna have the funds to we want to do marketing campaigns to energize people not just from other other cities which there's already um private businesses that spent a lot of money for example outlets try to spend a lot of money in marketing to get people from other cities to Laredo. I think what we need to really help with is activating citizens. I am old enough to grow around when the downtown was still somewhat active. I have memories of it. You go 10 years, you know, younger than me and most of them never been to the downtown. So, we do have a local problem of getting them to identify. That's going to take promotion and identity um downtown websites as an information hub. I've already started putting it together only one person. I'm not an expert. So, we do need help on that. Um mayor and then >> over me. >> Yeah, go ahead. So, I see you trying to do all this and I, you know, it's I'm hoping that this comes to life. That's what we want to see. But my question to you, is there a tax that we're going to It's just questions. That's what I'm asking. It might be crazy, but is there going to be are we going to have a special tax or do like the vendors that are here like right there, are you going to have vendors, are they going to have to pay another tax? and another uh permit fee because of the because of the area where they at or the downtown area. >> No, I I I think I understand the question. >> Again, I'm thinking maybe I'm not explaining myself. Let's say you have vendors, we have event going on downtown. Are the vendors going to have to buy our permits and then have to buy y'all's permits? >> No, we are not. That's all in the city's domain. And then another question is the properties that we have downtown. Maybe this is a question that out of the out of left field, but it's just the the properties that we have downtown. I see the map. I've been seeing the map and there's a lot of property that we do have downtown. There's areas that that do cover. Do we play the text to you guys as well? >> No, but I'm going to get to something on that. But no, just plain no. Counties, cities, there there's there's a lot of >> Yeah, because I'm just nonprofits are excluded or >> you're excluded. >> All right. Because it's you said that there's no nobody can get out of this out of the map area. >> If if you're Yeah. If you are zoned commercial um or if you are multifamily over four units, so five units above. Well, let's say a property because we haven't recoded and we haven't changed the code. If there's people that live in an area that's let's say a B1 for because back then, you know, they haven't changed the area, are they going to get, you know, charged for that? >> So, they live in the property. >> Yeah, they live in the in the area. >> They may get a notice because so the letters go out according to the code just as much as it works with the city and the county. They they send the letters out. If they if that is their homestead, all they need to do is file that information back with them and they'll be >> But are they going to have to be do they have to go back and change their do they have to go and change their their zoning? >> No, the zoning doesn't matter because if it's their homestead, then you just file the homestead exemption which just waves you out of this. >> Okay. >> Yes. Because there are Yeah. You don't have to go and get a zoning change if you're living in a building that's zoned commercial. As long as you then file for homestead because it's your homestead, it exempts you. >> Yeah. But there's areas that they have their zoning and it's like a B a B1 or B3 because it's it was it was own like that, but they back in the day they they made a home like there and people want to move out or they just have that home. Are they going to be charged that that tax? >> You're asking if they based on you're going based on the zoning, right? >> But it looks like a residential home. >> But you're still but you're going off of what? basing based on the zoning. Are you going to go based on the zoning or you going to based on the if there's the facade of a property or the business? >> It's not it's it's not a matter of what it looks like. The the first So, if it's a two-part check, >> if it's if it's zoned commercial, it may look like residential, but if it's zoned commercial and no one lives in it, then it's a commercial property. If it's zoned commercial, but someone lives there, they just file their homestead as proof and then they're removed. So the zoning is just how it all gets piled together. If it's a to go a little wider, if it's a five, it can be commercial, but a 501c3 owns the property. It's exact. If it's commercial and someone lives there, they just file that it's their homestead and it's exact. No, >> just I'm just saying because there's a lot of properties I'm seeing the map and it extends to all the way to Sante Sab and there's areas that their homes that that might be, you know, commercialized. They have the area the zoning of commercial but their homes and people live there >> if if they live there they just need to file their homestead exemption and then they're >> so one question I do have my understanding it's it's already working right this entity is already working >> yes we are meeting yes sir >> so um if this functions well or does not function is it reversible can city council take action >> uh if I may uh city council may dissolve uh the bid by ordinance with a uh uh two/3s vote. So it requires six votes and uh the requirement would be that uh the bid would not have any outstanding debts. So that's what we may and excuse me the uh entity is already collecting as of now. Correct. >> Yes, sir. Thank you. >> Mayor, if I may. >> Yes. Go ahead. So zone um if we did dissolve it and they had money based on taxes that they had collected what would happen in that scenario >> in that scenario it it just needs to be uh uh the funds needs to be dissolved there would not be a a refund it just be uh redistributed I believe I can get further clarification but the the key point is it can't have any outstanding debts but yes whatever is in their account I would go back. >> But who's who set the key point? >> Who determined the key point? >> It's only if they have outstanding bonds and debts. The bid has >> So if they take on a debt, they we can't dissolve them. >> Not until >> you have to satisfy the debt. >> Yeah. Either city council can pay the debt or or or you can have >> and if they have money in the bank, let's say they have a million dollars from assessments, >> what happens to that money? It would belong to the city ultimately because you know if you dissolve it through ordinance then and it still be a public fun >> and who and what is the ordinance says two3 or that's a is that a state requirement or >> state requirement is the state requirement says that council may dissolve through an ordinance with two/3 vote or six votes for you. >> Okay. And I just I did get the tax rates and I just want to read them for the record. The city of Laredo tax is 50 51 cents per $100. Web County is 38 cents per $100. UISD 72 cents per $100. LISD is $116 per $100 and Laredo College is 23 cents per $100. And then the municipal management district is 20 cents per $100. But that only applies for that >> that map area and only for the businesses, not so that's the additional tax on there. >> All right, >> mayor. If I could just uh just one little piece to add to this as well too because I think this this is a great ongoing conversation exactly for for what the downtown needs with that. back in back in the last budget cycle on March 30th, I did provide the city council with that. And and I think the challenge we have anytime we're doing these items is making sure that we put the right information together. And so I'd ask for everybody's help to make sure that staff knows exactly what information you'd like to talk about with each one of these entities. But back in March, in this last uh budget cycle, we created a downtown reinvestment policy. In that policy statement that we did as we were walking through the budget processes, we were able to declare that $2.6 million annually comes from the general fund for the downtown area based upon what that is. Now, we're talking about different downtown areas because depending on the entity is the the the borders change essentially, but for the city sake is that when you talk about police, fire, parks, wreck, all the all the uh the tax revenue, it generates about 2.6 6 million into the general fund uh within that annually is what we did on that. At that point in time, we tried to establish a more strategic approach to our our bonding as well too. And this is where the council approved that as well too because we dedicated out of our bond, our CIP bond, a million dollars for the for Mines Road area because of the impact on that one and a million dollars for the downtown. What the what we said in the downtown reinvestment policy is that over the next three years, we would try to commit $4.5 million of our of our bond type money into the downtown for exactly the conversations that we're all having about trying to figure out how to revitalize the downtown. Uh within this document as well too, it did talk about uh the property owner incentives because we talked about the facades, the chapter 380s, we talked about the permit navigation for downtown uh early action, the public private partnerships. And so everything we've done for the last year has been to develop out this better structure as to how we how we define success for the downtown and all of that. But I wanted to make sure I shared that as well too because uh we will get together the data for the uh the CDBG funds. We'll get together the all the other data. We had started that process this last year within the budget process. And I would like to make sure that we kind of bring it back because I think the idea is that I've always felt that the downtown we have a lot of brain power working on trying to revitalize downtown. I think the thing is that we have so many needs to try to get there. We're all trying to take care of a piece of that and I think we just have to stay closer in in in check with each other as to what we're doing. So, I appreciate all everybody's efforts on that. >> Mayor, if I just have a clarific clarification, you said 2.6 million is what we generate. >> 2.6 million annually is what we support our core services in the general fund for this downtown area. >> Okay. 2.6 million. Does that include the money for Bethany House? >> No. Does that include the the money we gave? >> It does not include the Bethany House. It does not include any of the Hamilton, the Southern Hotel, the um all all those the tears. Yeah. It does not include any of that. This is the this is the >> Does that include sweeping daily? >> This is part of our cost of police regular police service down there. The services that we provide the entire city. when you take and you divide up the city uh by assessed value that is the amount of money that we are taking from the general fund to devote to the downtown to make it through the date >> but does that include the daily street sweeping >> does that include it being cleanliness but I I would say that the daily street sweeping is is it's covered in these numbers because it is covered in public works but uh so yes it would be included in that for that number I'm I'll answer that just yes >> and just to clarify these The business owners downtown are receiving those services with their with their tax monies that they're currently paying just in their city taxes. >> Correct. Yes. >> That's coming out of their city tax. >> That is coming out of their regular tax city. We are providing that down there because of the critical mass of the area. >> Yes. >> What >> could we get that break? >> That's in requesting information in the past. We haven't been able to >> I gave this to the council back in March of last year but the 2.6 million of >> and exactly which funds are funding what I mean which fund um like whether it's federal funds in terms of projects that are >> certainly >> and that's where yes I I will get you the breakdown for this is this is essentially the general fund broken down by assessed value. So this this doesn't take into account actually federal funds or anything. This is our property tax, sales tax, and uh essentially the bridge revenue that comes over. >> Correct. And then and then if we could just get that breakdown. >> Yes. Yeah. Not a problem. >> Where exactly those problems that be but I think I think we we recognized this last year is what I'm trying to say with this as well too. And we we have said let's do a more focused approach on on for the downtown and actually the Mines Road area as well too because at at at a time earlier in in your careers it was put forward to the council that both of those areas are determined to be an important area for the city and we this we never brought that to what does that mean other than designating those an important we did that last year. Go >> ahead. Um u Mr. Thank you. But just to clarify, it was on our time on council that >> that we dis that we were part of the decision that made those two areas priorities in our strategic Yes. >> planning. So, just want to point that out because um I don't know if the council had made that a priority before, but when we came in 2020 and we started having our strategic planning meetings, we we said and the whole council at the time agreed that those would be um priorities. But um I know Mr. Mrnowski, we'd like to finish hearing your presentation, but Mr. Neb, can we get Mr. Ofila um to come after Mr. Ruffnoski because I'd like to ask him a question about the the the daily street sweeping and versus the comparison to the other areas. >> We'll get you, man. Yeah. >> So, just to clarify, this budget breakdown was based off an estimate we did in 2025. So, this is what's on the service plan. I know you heard me say right now what we're hearing from our collector it's 310,000. So it is lower. A lot of those reasons being um to the point being discussed earlier where when we did our budgeting estimate there was a lot of commercial properties that are listed there. There was a lot of 501c3s we didn't know about. There was a lot of homesteads that you know until you really dial deep into it we didn't really know about and that's why it shrunk it down. So right now our budget is is um class which is clean and safe streets parking aison we were shooting for in our original budget 75% we're trying real hard to pump punch above that uh for management and administration that's auditing um bookkeeping all those different little things that go into managing um a municipal management district. Uh that's 20% and then 5% into district identity and projects. So that's coming out to our total estimated budget. We're going to have to revisit all that because what it's looking like right now is it's going to be 310,000. Uh going on to the assessment. >> Mayor, I have a question. Yes, go ahead. Can >> we go back to that previous slide? >> Management and administration. Does that mean that you guys are staffing people? >> That's where it can go to. That is not our priority right now. our priority. Like I said, this this is for this um budget, this this plan was in initially to in the creation of everything. It can evolve. >> The the overall um feedback that we got from a lot of constituents is for us to try as our best to put as much as we can into direct services, street cleaning, not putting it into hiring a director for example. We could do that. That is not our plan right now because it's this money is so little. We're we're going to do our best to just put it all into direct services. >> No, but I understand that. But you're presenting this to us as far as your projected budget breakdown for 2025 and you included salaries and fees for paying staff. My understanding was that this board was going to work together as a board to make decisions for the how these funds were going to be spent. Now, if you're paying staff, then you know that's kind of like not that I have a problem with staff, it's just that I don't see why this entity would need staff. >> So staff was never the direct discussion point of this. So for example, for auditing, we were given estimates up to $10,000 to audit all of everything that's going on. So that 75, which is already going to even be lower, is going to jump down. We need a bookkeeper. But you need an audit for what if you have you barely How many assessments have you collected? >> So the moment uh I think we're over two I don't have that exact number like I'm sorry >> two months. >> Two months. No the amount. >> No no I'm saying how many times have you like charged people once. >> So why would you need an audit? >> Because once you go over $200,000 you're required by the state of Texas to do an audit the moment you start collecting over a certain amount. So, we're just required to by the state. >> So, now you're gonna So, now you're gonna have So, these business owners are paying 20 cents per hundred dollars into this entity. This entity is paying staff potentially paying for audits >> and like it's kind of a it's a it's a nonprofit, right? Are you guys going to be eligible for grants and additional funding and stuff? >> So, I'm glad you bring that up. So, we did create the nonprofit for that specific reason. This is just what's our our but we're assuming the worst, meaning we're only going to collect on the assessment. We're hoping for the best. We created the nonprofit to hopefully gain membership and on top of that go after grants. So, and in grants, there's fees that go out. That's why the administration that's that all kind of gets budgeted into that. We're expecting to have to pay some of those out if we get those grants. Did >> did you bring a copy of your bylaws and your governing documents with you today? No, I wasn't asked to do so, but it's on our website. >> It's on there. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Um, so moving on to the assessment impact. I just kind of wanted to show what this truly comes out to. You know, a property valued at a 100,000, it comes to an additional impact to that property owner business or that property owner to 200 a year, 17 bucks a month. So I also did um with the wonders of AI dumped in all of the different properties and what they were being assessed and we found out the median. So meaning the vast majority of the properties that are being assessed is actually it comes out to about 20 the comes out to 222,000 in property value which is about 445 $445 a year which is $37 a month. Those $37 are buying those what we're trying to do is those immediate impacts of cleaning. I think we all know you can't hire someone for $37 a month to clean in front of your business. That's an immediate, you know, really strong economic impact. I wanted to show the actual impact to these businesses. This is what we're talking. Not to say that this is a a little, not to say it's a lot. I just wanted to show that transparency of what this is really looking like when it comes to the property owners. Uh so city services, >> the transition opportunity, um current city services in downtown from what we've been able to get from the economic development department. There's tree trimming throughout the downtown area, periodic power washing of sidewalks, power washing on public buildings. You guys actually own a lot of property in the downtown. So, there's a lot of that that you guys are already maintaining around the sidewalks. Ad hoc uh cleaning as resources allow the squeaky wheel. You know, there's property owners that complain about this this the the power washing in front of their business, which once again is not a requirement for the city, but the city, you know, tries to help when they can. So, they deploy those resources when they can. These are all this is all the feedback we got from speaking to staff. So right now the we we crunch the numbers. The city has about $75 million in properties in the downtown that are not assessed will not be assessed. That's not a that's not a part of so I want to make that very clear. But that is a lot of money that is lost um from the business improvement district when it comes to a lot of properties that aren't contributing. Um, so if the city uh provides a a full rate, in other words, if you just kind of decided, you know what, we're not required to, but we'd like to contribute to this in exchange for some services, it's anywhere between 75,000 and 125,000. if it was a 50% contribution 37 to 62 or it can just be you know if we can get into an agreement an annual service contract where you decide hey if you guys can you know power you're already doing the power washing power wash around the city buildings we'll stop doing that you can take it over we can just enter into an annual contract >> so city the importance of a city partnership >> mayor mayor mayor thank you and I'm sorry to interrupt Oh. Uh, so maybe uh Mr. Landine, >> could we think about if we're we're dedicating a million dollars to downtown and I don't know where the planning is for that expenditure, but it seems to me carving out a small piece to enter into the ser the service agreement and it is fee for service, right? Power washing definitely is fee for service >> to see about tapping into this downtown fund to be able to contribute a little bit as as uh Mr. Rottenowski is suggesting. I just want that to to put a marker on that. >> Okay. Uh, mayor proep >> mayor proep um to respond to uh the council member's question that money co money that was put into district 7 and the downtown the million and the million. So it's it's it's mainly for bricks and mortar type projects. It's not it's not for maintenance like power washing that you're indicating for related to that. Now, parks does do the power washing at the Places >> downtown uh there. So, out of their budget, there's an expenditure for that constant service downtown as well. So, what we're seeing within this adopted budget, there are pockets of funding that go to the different services in different areas. as the city manager alluded to that the public safety with police fire, we have public works with the street sweeping and then now we have parks also with a power washing and so uh in addition to those other expenses. So there there's pockets of of money throughout uh with different functions tied to them. Well, it's good to hear that you're looking at that because I do think this would be a way to again leverage dollars and that way we're not repeating services. We're not duplicating services and if it contributes to the ability of the bid to acquire these service contracts in a more in a more robust way. I I I hope I'm I hope the city's looking at it >> and we have to follow the same bidding process as the city. So, these would be open bids just like you'd all do it. Uh, finish this. >> I'm sorry. Um, so immediate impact, like I said, $310,000. We're hoping for the best, but we feel like we're probably going to have to narrow our scope once those bid proposals come in. But our goal is if we can get some additional revenues, daily power washing, cleaning crews, supplemental security patrols, that that is, like I said, clean and safe streets. That's still a priority priority of ours. Rapid graffiti response. That's something we can target to professional marketing. Um on the infrastructure side, working on the city for new and upgraded lighting fixtures, wayfinding signage installation and the maintenance of those because I know the TUR is actually doing a lot of that right now. So making sure those remain clean. Um the maintenance of the TUR improvements, that's the other part. Uh so we can be a little more efficient when it comes to services that possibly the city is providing that we just take under our wing under a service agreement. We do the competitive bidding specialized contractors. No overhead for equipment or storage maintenance. These will all be contracted out performance-based contracts and focused service area not citywide. Right now the city gets pulled in every direction. Our goal is to to really well it obviously is to focus on the downtown but but to be very involved with those property owners so that we can rapidly respond when there are issues. Um so why the city partnership could matter. It signals confidence in the private private investors enables faster more comprehensive improvements. shows unified vision between public and private sectors. Uh enhanced services around city hall, municipal facilities like I mentioned, a lot of business is done for the city in the downtown and owned by the city. Uh improve image for city employees and vi visitors support the city's own economic development goals. Uh alignment with the Viva Laredo comprehensive plan. And this was the data where we kind of punched it in to see what the the median really was. And it's the for the the median paid is $445. You see the little green line. >> And that's it. >> Mayor if Oh, >> sure. >> Um Mr. Roaskki, thank you for that. Um, I'm cons I'm just curious to know why did you spend like four slides talking about partnering with the city if the city is not obligated to be part of it and it's like a pitch for us to be part of it which I don't I I I'm not comfortable with that. But I do have a question for you your your answer to my previous question as far as where I can find the bylaws, the governing documents and the bylaws. Can you show me on your website where they are because I I'm looking at your website. I can't >> I'm not sure if what's been adopted or not in this moment if bylaws have been adopted. I'm only familiar with the service plan and the statutes which we've been functioning on. >> But I asked you earlier where they were and you said they were online. >> I said everything that we have is on our website, >> but you should have bylaws, right? Or governing documents because you already collect >> the governing documents are the the statute. We can adopt bylaws on top of all those other things. That is correct. >> Um, is that is that true, Zone? They they're going completely 100% by statute or they're supposed to as an entity also have their own that they created >> as far as specific. We researched this prior to the meeting. I do not believe that they have bylaws enacted yet. So, it's something that we we can do. >> Okay. Because well, I was you I was looking on your website because I wanted to read them. I I think it's concerning that they don't have bylaws and because there are things beyond the statute that uh we should hash out as far as the things that I brought up at the council meeting last week. And then um the whole taking on the debt is is concerning to me because once you guys go and take on debt then it's going to be a lot harder for us to you know do something. If for example there there are things that that that are that are just let's say the there's a problem we we can't address it as an oversight if we can't do anything because there's debt already taken out. Um so I do think we need to have some oversight as far as approvals go for the taking out of the debt and um to restrict that borrowing in the bylaws. Um, I think we, well, my intent with coming here today, you know, for this workshop was to hash out some of this governing document bylaw stuff because you have an entity that doesn't have them and it's a nonprofit without them. Um, I understand the statute, but there should be bylaws and there should be governing documents for for the entity if if it's going to to work. And then I just think that the the pitch for the city partnership was a little bit premature. >> The so just to be clear, the only reason that was in there is that was actually being discussed with staff previously. And I didn't really know what to bring to all this, but the highlight there is not we're not begging for those funds. It's the fact that we can possibly be more efficient. Those discussions were happening with city staff for the past year. That's the only reason that's in there. It's not going to make or break us. It's just another way we can partner with the city and possibly stretch those dollars even further what the city's already investing. And so that whole part of the presentation is mainly focusing on, hey, the city's already spending these dollars. Can we make them more impactful and and you know, be possibly a better steward in bringing better, you know, services? That's the main goal in that. >> Okay. >> Any other questions? >> That's it. >> It's already in place. >> That's in place. >> I was just in person. >> Mayor, if I may, >> go ahead. >> Request to go to executive session pursuant to Texas government code section 551.074 074 to discuss city manager's annual review pursuant to the terms of the city manager's employment agreement and any of the matters there too to include city staff uh attorneys and any other person for the city that is deemed necessary >> motion. Thank you Mr. >> Second for discussion >> second for discussion >> question also do we have a cut off time for today >> a cut off time do we don't >> the priorities procedures it's 10:30 p.m. >> 10:30 p.m. All right. >> Well, Mayor, I did want to before we go into executive session, as far as >> this workshop goes, um I think there was a lot of things that haven't really been hashed out. And my understanding is that we were going to get to the bottom of some of these things. So, what are we doing now? We're just going to have another workshop or we're just going to like this bid is just going to continue to operate. Mayor Mayor, my my my recommendation to the council is that we do have a a list of activity that we still have to address in special workshops or special meetings. >> I we will be polling for another special session or a workshop at the last week of February because the week after that we're in DC so we will not have our council meeting on the regular time. So I expect that we'll have special sessions on either side of that. I would love to bring back the rest remainder of that information and uh and some additional detail based upon what we started last year within the budget structure and so we can continue the conversation. >> Mayor, if I may. >> Yes. Go ahead. Uh, I think I think it would be important for us to on that meeting have a draft at least a draft copy of the bylaws, a draft copy of the governing documents and and and something in there that outlines some of this uh >> these terms for foreclosure, for payment, repayment, and for all that stuff. So, I think it's important for us before we go into executive >> mayor. mayor and we we can put together legal can put together that uh there and as best as we all know right now there are no bylaws such as like any kind of a nonprofit or any any entity like that. All of their authority and their powers are laid out in that chapter 375 of the state statute and we'll we'll make sure that that's all there and we'll make sure that legal can kind of explain exactly why it's why it's positioned that but we'll get that information. >> All right. If I may, just a clarifying question. Um, you know, legal, I guess next time you'll let us know if that's something that is typical of other business improvement districts across Texas. It's a very unique u economic financial tool in Texas. So, you know, we my my my my opinion would be that we shouldn't reinvent the wheel if the bylaws are the state law like you know um so I just if you could compare what other bits do just just to see if that's you know redundant or necessary if it's protective of the city by all means I mean I'm just that's just my my two cents. >> Mayor May. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Um just in fairness I mean there's state statute that guides Texas government code but we still have a charter We still have our policy and procedures manual. We still have all of our procedures and our documents that we come up with. HOAs are governed by statute. You know, the the property code, but they still have to have their own individual as far as how they function on a daily basis, what the requirements for the board members are, all of those things. How do I mean it's kind of unusual that they don't have any as an entity that's collecting 20 cents per $100 tax which is right up there with the college. If you look at the college I'm sure they have a whole bunch of governing documents for the same tax rate. >> Okay, we have a motion and a second. >> Go ahead. >> So just just to I'm sure there are many examples out there about you know governance and everything. Houston has district. Denver has a business improvement district. Philadelphia has a central city district. Um, New York City obviously has a time square alliance. Um, Los Angeles has a business improvement district. There are models all over the city. So, I don't think that we'll have difficulty in in finding a comparable model to to look at because these are very very common and they are focused on the downtown area to the benefit of the businesses that operate there. >> Thank you, Mayor. >> We have a motion on the second. >> Well, I just want to I just want to >> be brief. Go ahead. >> Yes. Thank you. I just I I just want to reiterate that the the International Downtown Association, which we the city through city funding brought paid to bring down to executive directors from other management districts across Texas, came to Laredo two years ago to to discuss the the the benefits of these management districts. And we can't with time and coordination and collaboration between the if I mean again the city none of this is going to work without collaborating and or communicating and so if there when there when this comes back I hope that management will be talking with the business improvement district to coordinate the the the like the presentation that will come back and even reach out to some of these members that visited Laredo for that they were they were here for at least 4 days and created the assessment and that I I know Mr. Neb has and will send out as part of those documents. But there are resources that we can reach out to and that we have and we just have it I mean I think I would um request that that we reach back out to hear from experts that are doing this in other cities as well. We don't have to reinvent the wheel and we just I think again communication and collaboration go a very long way when when it's active. >> All right. Okay. Thank you very much. Motion second. All in favor? >> Post. Motion passes. Go to executive session. >> Pursue the directive. All right, good. Last item. Mayor, if I may, u I'd like to make a motion for the executive session item number four to continue the contract, renew the contract with Mr. Neb for one more year, for another year on the terms of the of the of the agreement itself. Okay. Motion >> second. >> Second. >> May I offer an amendment? >> Amendment. >> You accept >> to include the 4%. >> Yes. Because it's in the contract. It's already there. Sorry. Motion and second. All in favor? >> I >> oppose. Motion pass. >> Thank you. >> All right. Next item. >> Congratulations, Mr. N. One more year with us. VERY GOOD. >> What else do we have? >> We have uh number number three maybe. >> Number three, >> discussion of possible action. >> Discussion of a possible action on the Plaza Theater project and any other matters incident there too. Presentation. Yes. >> Good afternoon, Mayor. Uh, city engineer for the record. >> If I may pass this. Uh, yes. Go ahead. Those butterfly. Thank you. Thank you. Mayor, if I may, uh, >> go ahead. >> I would like to just recap from from our previous council meeting. >> Name for the record. >> Uh, Ed Santo, city engineer for the record. >> Thank you. >> So, previously in council, uh, we presented uh, the current stage of the Plaza Theater project. Uh, right now we're on phase phase one and phase two are ongoing projects. Uh phase one is a roof replacement and then phase two uh was recently uh approved by this council to award the contract in the amount of $1.7 million. This is for the uh envelope and emphasis that we have. We had hut funding on one side which is $750,000 and then capital improvement funds which is uh 10 million. So currently on our balance we have uh $8.7 million which is on the screen on the right side. So on pier council uh we were directed to go back to to with we met with the consultant and see what can be done with the uh available funding because uh I was I was advised you that the plan of the multi-purpose was in excess of about 17 18 million. So council directed me to go back with with the consultant and come up with a plan to see what can be done with the with the money that that we had. So that's what what's you have in your hands right now. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to approve. >> Mayor, give me um a second for discussion. >> Discussion. Go ahead. >> So 8 million. What is it? 8 million. 8.5. >> 8.5. >> Yeah. What what would that give us? >> So that would basically restore the the the plaza theater to the to the original way it was. Uh just clean it up, operational, functionable. That's what it did >> to get it to get us to the the original way that we that you planned it back in what was it? >> Last year it will be 17 17 million and that is including the phase one and phase two which is the 400 which is the 400,000 for the roof and the and the 1.7. So the additional money that we need to complete it 17 million and we only have 8.7. So where I'm going with this is maybe I mean we can have this conversation I don't know with my colleagues as well. I know that there was some money move moved around from Slaughter Park going into um u they were trying to put it in the Buenav Vista but for some reason we couldn't put them on. But I'm just wondering can we use that money for the plaza theater saying that it was already allocated for district eight. I'm sorry that's that's seven district 8 >> using that that that funds going back to district 8 since it's was already going to district 8 for slaughter we you know we we moved in we decided to go somewhere else can we use that mo that funds so we can finish out a project and if we do give that what what would be the time frame if we start this project what will be the time from the beginning and finishing >> so if we start the project with the $8.5 million restoring the to the original theater. We're estimating about 18 months. Taking into account there's some if we go with this phase, there's some design changes that we have to do because the plans were already at 100% to the for the ultimate. So, we're talking about 18 months. That's construction and design. >> Yeah. But Okay. >> So, no. >> Yes. Go ahead, >> Mr. Santos. So, with the $8.5 million, we could restore it to its original >> theater what it was back in 1947 when it was initially built. Correct. >> Correct. >> I'd like to amend my motion to accept that to get this done. This project's been waiting for year after year after year. Uh, I'd like to make a motion to accept that to happen. Please >> make me a second. What what happened >> for it to become to to get restored as its original what it was originally restored for. We're talking about historic area downtown that we've been looking for for years and years and to make it back to its beauty what it was when it was first first made for first >> built was the 8.5 >> we'd have enough >> rights. Now you have 8.5 as the estimate and our funding is 8.7 right there. >> Mr. Ne, this is a restoration only. >> Yes, sir. Mayor and city council, what what what is being asked to do is rather than to u improve it as well, salvage it as the historic value of what it is. I think we we talked a little bit about it being an iconic building and because we what we found was is that there we were still missing some variables within that if we were to do the design. Think of it kind of like the sports complex as well too. We got done with phase one. We're already starting on the phase two. That doesn't mean that we own the properties around the plaza theater. Now we have the opportunity to evolve as we move forward. The the conversation and the recommendation from city management is is that we restore the historic value of the building first. >> That's what's on >> and we and we and we put the we we commit the dollars that we have to that. >> All right. All right. >> Can I ask a question? May >> we have a a motion a second? Okay. Be brief. Go ahead. >> Yes. Um, my only question is really just the operational function of the the space. Like I I don't feel like a lot of thought has gone in into into it and it's and especially just sort of going back and forth like at spending this amount of money and not knowing the operations and how it will how to make it feasible when it's when we've invested the money. Um, just concerns me. Well mayor >> if I >> to play off that same >> um so is have we done a feasibility study on this and and have we done a feasibility study on this project? >> We did a we did a site use study back in 2024 on this >> point and what did it what was that report? I mean what what is the feasibility of this? Because I mean council member Seawa is correct that we are going to be putting a lot of money into this project and we don't even know if it's going to be worth it or usable or make money because I think we've already kind of gone down the route as far as restoring it back to a theater and we've all seen what happens to theaters lately. They they go out of business, right? >> Um hold on, I'm I'm still talking. Um, and then going back to the question about the plaza theater, I mean the the using the money for rec um convention center. Does this restoration is that are those funds eligible to be used for a simple restoration because they were supposed to be for a convention center. >> They were for for a a civic center, convention center. the the the actual verbiage within the the definition of what these funds had to be used for was a gathering place. That's that's the that's the legal term for what it is. It's not really that it's a convention center, civic center because that can mean a lot of different things for different people. It is that because the money came from us selling a civic center, it was a gathering place. We have to utilize it in a similar manner. That was that's the antipity. So then, mayor, just to follow up. So then, why is it that the children's museum was not an eligible project as a gathering center if children are going to gather there? >> I I wasn't I I don't think our attorney was here at that time as well too. How that legal interpretation was here because it was also >> Yeah. But but it was also the legal interpretation at that time was because my understanding was it couldn't be used for a the library system either. Uh because we at one point in time when when the first conversation happened with the money, we were going to invest part of it into the Plaza Theater and part of it into Briny Plaza to expand out the library services there because it did not fit that. We ended up focusing it all up on the plaza theater on the minutes. >> That's not true, Mr. N. There was a whole design schematic for the entire Brunie Plaza block to completely convert to convert that into a children's museum with a second story and have all this like functionality that was supposed to be included. And then Rosario Caveo was here and I know there was all your ACMs were here back then. Um and she said that that money was not be was not be we could not use that money for that purpose. But that's a gathering place just like any other gathering. I mean, now we're saying that the plaza restoration is a gathering place. So that doesn't really make any sense. >> The the legal the legal attorney that we had here at that time was Christy Hail. She was the one that made the determination on the legal side that it could not be utilized for certain of these purposes. So it wasn't an operational decision where uh Rosario actually made that decision. It was based upon the legal criteria that was being provided at that time. Uh we >> and a museum may be a different definition than a gathering place. >> And so but the the intent is is that the the theater in its own right is eligible as a gathering place. That's the determination. That's why the that's why the renovation of the theater even in its new model, whichever model we've chose, was still an allowable use for that. The conversation we had with the uh the planning and everything. And in those conversations, because I know I got interviewed as well too, the challenge we had is that if the if the intent was the council was to make the plaza theater self- sustaining, I don't know if that's even viable with the restoration of what it is. >> The if the intent is that we salvage the historic value of the of the facility and we save it for the historic value, then what we can do is we can complement it with some offices in there. we can complement it with some other types of uses >> because the predominant area still remains a gathering place as a theater. It still gets utilized as a theater for that purpose. It still has a stage in there. It still can actually have small activities in there. It just can't have it to the level and and you know and and I guess you know I I will lean on legal every day of the week saying give me the definition of what we're going to follow now because that that's what in my mind that's the difference between what is a gathering place and what is not because a library can be considered a gathering place until it's not and that that's the hard part because of the types of uses that it has in there and that's not a good answer for you guys as well too. >> Yeah. Go ahead. >> Thank you. And last time this was brought up a week or two ago, my understanding was that it would be um restored historically just from a exterior wise, but this is actually this is actually covering um for it to become a theater once again and be used as a theater as it originally was. Correct. >> With some potential so because the way it sounded last week was it was just going to be a historic facade and like it was just going to look that way. So this is actually to restore it to its original. >> I'm sorry. I'm sorry if the confusion was there. Yeah, because the intent of this because the the request to to to uh bring it into where it has a uh retractable floor and have and then it needed another $5 million on the site in order to store tables and chairs for bakeup facilities and everything. And so it kept evolving, right? And and so the intent was my recommendation, staff's recommendation is that we put it we restore it back as a historic value, allow it to be used as a theater because again the idea was to still try to provide these activities. >> What the motion is what you're >> Yeah. So that that's the reason I'm just I'm just I just don't think downtown can be revitalized if the Plaza Theater looks the way it currently looks. And I think we do have a duty to finish this project. >> Mr. Pin is here from as one of the architects. I don't know if he wanted to. >> All right. We already have a motion and a second. >> Mayor, I have a question. I have a question. >> We already had enough discussion. I think >> it's about the change of use. Do can I ask it? >> Did we explain the change of use? >> All right. She the change of use is a gathering place. Can it be used for a gathering place? >> It even if it's restored can be sold to civic center. >> Those dollars have to be allocated to a similar use. And so that that was the whole conversation. Again, we weren't here at the time when when when that council was was walking through that thing. I think I think the members of this council actually tried to help trigger it to happen because there was all this conversation about that. So, the gathering place was the determination when when we tried to spend the money in more than one location. That's where the gathering place conversation happened in the minutes of the meetings and it was said, "No, you need to focus on these types of uses." And I think it was council member Cigaroa said, "Well, I would like to see the the PA theater and the children's museum." And then that's where the conversation went. No, this this children's museum doesn't meet the conditions of that gathering place based upon the the definition or the scope at that time. That's how it happened. >> All right. >> Okay. >> According to the minutes, >> hold on. We have a motion and a second. >> I have a question. >> Call for the question. All in favor? I >> opposed. One opposed. Motion passes. Thank you. Motion to adjourn. >> Motion. Second. All in favor? >> I meeting a journ.