Call the meeting to order. City of Laredo regular council meeting. Council Chambers, 11 Houston Street, Laredo, Texas, December the 1st, 2025, 5:35 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance, please. 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. Moment of silence, please. for the National Guard members, one that passed away and the other was that was seriously injured. We pray for their families. Amen. Thank you. May be seated. >> Mr. Secretary, roll call, please. >> Yes, Mayor. Honorable mayor Dr. Victor Dravinho >> present >> honorable council member district 1 Gilbert Gonzalez >> honorable council member district 2 Ricardo Ranel Jr. Present >> honorable council member district three Melissa Sigaroa >> present >> honorable council member district 4 Ricardo Rick Garza >> I'm here >> honorable council member district 5 Ruben Gutierrez Jr. >> present >> honorable council member district 6 Dr. Tyler King, >> honorable mayor promp and council member district 7, Vanessa Perez >> here. >> Honorable council member district 8, Alisa Sigoa, mayor, you have a quorum. >> Thank you, >> Mayor. Motion to excuse the members that are missing from council. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> Motion pass. Mayor, motion for the approval of the minutes of special city council meeting October 20th, 2025, October 27th, 2025, and November 14th, 2025. Supplemental meeting minutes for October 20th, 2025, and November 3rd, 2025. Regular city council meeting minutes, November 17th, 2025. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I post. Motion passes. [clears throat] >> Before we do citizens comments, we'll go for recognitions. We have a significant amount of public here. would like to proceed with recognition. First recognition, recognizing the seventh grade Alias Eras Hawks football team for an undefeated season in winning the UISD 7th grade city championship. Teamwork, perseverance, and dedication led to a perfect season. Additionally, we would like to commend principles Carlos Martinez and coaches Gabriel Gaitan, Eric Werta, Alex Hernandez, Omar Canales, and Guos Santos for their outstanding leadership and guidance throughout the season. Congratulations to the players for making their school and community proud. Congratulations, [applause] [cheering] >> [applause] >> That's >> all right. Let me go if I can. >> All right. We'd also like the coaches to say some words. Who are the coaches? >> Coach. >> Coach, go ahead. >> We just want to thank the city and mayor for all those invite for the invite today. Uh our boys uh this season they uh they work very hard for for this trophy. They work very hard for for the accomplishments they had this year. Um they're not just great athletes, but they're also great students of the class. And we appreciate everything that you do for the city. Thank you. Thank you. [applause] [applause] >> Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Carlos Martinez, a proud proud principal at Elia Middle School. Just would like to thank all the parents, all the supporters, everybody from district 5, everybody that helped put this together for an unbelievable season on behalf of these boys, our coaches, and all the parents. Thank you all so much for the support. Looking forward to coming back out here again next year as eighth graders. Thank you very much. [applause] >> [applause] >> Hold on. Hold on. Cuz we're blocking some kids in the >> No, >> right here, guys. In this camera. >> One, two. right here. >> Okay, guys. Over here in this side. >> Right here in the middle. >> Right over there. Now, >> yeah. [applause] >> [applause] >> Guys, >> gentlemen, uh, principal, I'm sorry, mayor, if I may, there's an exit on the right hand side. You all can exit on the right hand side as well. You stay congratulations. >> Congratulations. Thank you. >> Mr. school. So if you need a picture, we're not going to get Roger. >> When the picture came up. >> Yeah. >> I guess they send me like share with them. Mine aren't coming out. I love the shirt. >> There you go. >> Mr. City Secretary Mr. City SE >> I guess Mario >> Tyler's present just so you Dr. Okay. >> No, when you don't further back your opening from the side, whatever is better. Mom. >> Okay. >> Where is the drone? Roger, you want to take it through this thing? >> Is that okay? You're going to lose your >> be quiet. Sit down. Sit down. Last chance. We're just going to put him in the middle so that >> one more. Strike >> right there. >> We have one more going out there. >> There's one more, >> Andy. I can't I can't see these. >> All right. >> Are we ready? >> Is that better? >> Yeah. >> Let them get up there. >> Yeah, they're going they want coming up. Okay, there's one more with >> Okay, >> ready. >> Next recognition. Recognizing the eighth grade Alias Hawk football team 2 on their football season and being the 2025 district champions Saturday division. The teamwork perseverance and dedication led to a perfect season. Additionally, we would like to commend principal Carlos Martinez and coaches Gabrielle Gaitan, Eric Werta, Alex Hernandez, Omar Canales, Guos Santes for their outstanding leadership and guidance throughout the season. Congratulations to the players for making the school and the community proud. Congratulations [applause and cheering] >> [applause] >> Right over here with Roger, please. >> One, two. >> Now over here, guys. This side. >> Okay. Now towards the middle. And right over there to that side, please. >> Smile, guys. [laughter] >> We're good. [cheering] [applause] >> [cheering] >> Thank you. Thank you. Let me get you. Yeah. >> Yeah, I do. >> This one? >> Yeah. >> I guess whatever. >> Yeah. Yeah. First, the first death. >> Mr. Secretary, >> Andy, your secretary, could you please notice that uh council member Dr. Tyler King is present. Yeah. >> Your name? >> Yes. Uh, good afternoon. My name is Randy Vanova. I'm the veteran peer service coordinator here in Loreno. um from Border Region Behavioral Health Center. Uh good afternoon, distinguished guests, city officials, family members, press, and friends. Thank you for the opportunity to speak at tonight's city council meeting. As a proud veteran, it is both humbling and uplifting to stand here before you in this chamber to recognize those whose commitment empowers our veterans and strengthens the Laredo community. Today we come together to honor the spirit of service and unity that shapes Laredo. We are grateful for the chance to acknowledge individuals and departments whose advocacy and dedication enrich enrich the lives of our veterans and Laredo. Before we begin the presentations, I would like to recognize the awareness warriors for their unwavering support and amplifying our veterans mission voices. My heartfelt thanks also goes to Erica Ailio from ECI Project Ninos uh to Maria Sanchez, director of Border Region Behavioral Health Center and Dr. Julie Bassan, director of AHECK for their tireless focus on mental health in our veteran and Laredo community. [clears throat] [applause] The first recognition plaque we are privileged to present goes to Mayor Dr. Victor Trevinho, whose vision and support have driven our progress. >> Mayor, your unwringing commitment to our veterans and our city exemplifies your leadership. Please accept this small token of appreciation and we have it right now. Next, I am honored to present a plaque to Mayor Promp Vanessa Pettis. Councilwoman Bettis, your leadership and compassion have greatly contri contributed to our mission. Thank you so much for your support. I'm also pleased to recognize Councilman Ruben Gutierrez with a plaque. Councilman Gutierrez, your advocacy for our veterans and dedication to our community does not go unnoticed. Thank you so much. In celebrating teamwork, I have the privilege of presenting a trophy to the city of Laredo Parks and Recreation and Public Works Department's director JJ Gomez and John Orila. Your dedication to the Loredo Mud Fiesta Down and Dirty for Health and the Trello 5K remembering 17 supporting the many events brought our ideas. He's here somewhere. There you go. Brought our ideas to life. So, thank you so much. [applause] >> I also would like to to recognize two individuals whose leadership was instrumental to these successes. Tomas Coach Ramirez, the third, assistant director of the parks and recreation department attended. There you go. Attended every [applause] Adante Ado, he's not here. He's the construction superintendent for the uh from the Laredo Parks and Works Public Works. He's also very instrumental and uh supported our crazy ideas. [laughter] So, thank you so much. Finally, I want to thank the city employees whose behind thescenes work ensured the success of these events. Your dedication anchors our success. Thank you so much for everything you've done behind the scenes. You deserve the recognition. So, thank you so much. >> [applause] [applause] >> In closing, I am deeply grateful for the ongoing support shown by this community. On behalf of Border Region Behavioral Health Center, ECI Project Nño, thank you so much for everything you have done for the veteran and the Loroto community. Thank you so much. [applause] picture. >> Yes. Yes. I >> have intestines. >> That was a sprain surgery. >> I'm just falling apart. >> Hello. Hello. How you doing? >> Hello. >> Hello, sir. >> Hello. Good to see you. >> How you doing, sir? Hey. Good to see you. Hello. No, these are If you can just move scoot in a little just like Can you Can you be behind Yeah. Can you move? Yes. All right. One, two. >> All right. Thank you. [applause] [applause] >> One more. John. >> [laughter] >> Thank you. Thank you for coach. >> [laughter] >> That's what I need to hit the ball. >> For chips and chips [laughter] for chips. That's what I do. >> Yes. I guess it's just [laughter] the team over here. Can you help me get the team back? just makes it over there. I think we're going to have to get somewhere and take a picture if you need to. Can you can they go? Can you guys move up back? Can Can some get behind [laughter] >> somebody like it's it's right here, dude. Like I can't I don't know how to put them more together. Yes. Okay. >> All right. We're ready. Recognizing the eighth grade Troutman Middle School short horns on an outstanding football season. Their hard work, determination, and teamwork shown through every step of the season. Having highest scoring offense and best defense in the district earned them backto back UISD eighth grade football championship titles. Congratulations [cheering] [applause] >> in the middle. >> One, two. >> Right over here in this side. >> Ready? One, two, three. Okay. Back in the middle. >> Yeah. And now that side over there. [applause] That way. Are you okay? See if there's any tiny time agent chief. I hope that work. Hello Yeah, >> we're doing We just got What? You want The city of Laredo mayor recognizes the Laredo Police Department officers for their outstanding service and contributions toward helping make the city of Laredo the safest city in Texas. Congratulations. [applause and cheering] >> [applause] >> Chief right here with Roger, please. >> All right. One, two. >> All right. Thank you. >> Yeah. [applause] >> Chief, mayor, mayor. Mayor, [applause] >> mayor. Mayor, may Ior mayor. >> Mayor, >> before we continue, mayor. >> May I? >> May I? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all personally. Um, I know the RA Police Department has worked so hard not only to do the best jobs that you can, but that the chief has arranged for coordination with all of the law enforcement agencies here in this town, but it's the locals that lead. And we are so appreciative for the way that you take care of our community and our families. That is why we are ranked the safest city in Texas. It is all due to your hard work. Thank you so much. >> [applause] >> Mayor, thank you. Um, gentlemen, ladies, of the police departments, I I'm elated to have been a part of this department for such a long time, for over 24 years that I was there. And it's extremely rewarding being up here looking at you all and what you all have accomplished. Making us the safest city in Texas is absolutely amazing. Not once but twice. You all have made us an extremely safe city. Even though it's a border town, you all keep us as safe as possible. And believe me, it goes without saying, we see what you're doing out there. The reason why we get to sleep at night is because you all are out there enforcing laws, keeping criminals off the streets, and we appreciate it. And you don't you don't go unnoticed. So, I will always be behind you. This council will be behind you. I'm sure the mayor's behind you. The city's behind you 100%. We thank you for absolutely everything you do. Don't ever forget that you have an entire community behind you. These people support you every single day, day in day out. Keep doing your job as representing us like you do because wearing that badge makes you extremely special. And I thank you all for everything. Thank you, [applause] [cheering] >> officers. Thank you so much on behalf of South and Southeast residents of South Laredo. Uh we we are so appreciative of your efforts. We've seen how you've turned this around and identifying all these hot spots with, you know, shots fired and all that in South DO. We see so much less of that. So on behalf of South and Southeast, thank you so much for what you do to our our communities. Thank you. [applause] >> Thank you. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you. >> Thank you. Appreciate you. Appreciate y'all. Thank you. >> Have y'all found out about the calling the door? Nope. >> All right. Next recognition, Adrian Chief Casares [applause] [applause] Adrian. The city of Laredo proudly recognizes Adrian Chief Caseres, a 12-year-old Trotman Middle School student with Down syndrome whose dedication and enthusiasm shine through his involvement in numerous activities including taekwond do blue belt, swimming, track and field, championship league baseball, football, beginner piano, beginner goat showing, and occasional modeling. Congratulations >> [cheering] [applause] [applause] >> Go. >> Yeah. Yeah, of course. Right over here, please. >> Ready? >> One, two. >> Great. Let me get one more right here. Ready? One, two, three. >> Perfect. >> Right over here. I think we're good. We're good. [applause] He's right there. >> Jesse, you want me to try it? Let me get one more piece. One two three. [applause] Next recognition. Recognition of the John B. Alexander High School OPED DC marching ensemble. Recognizing the John B. Alexander High School OPED DEC marching ensemble proudly represents Laredo and South Texas earning top honors as bands of American South Texas Regional Championship. UISD marching festival champion grand champions UIL sweepstakes division one recipient UIL area 6 area G champion and UIL's state marching band contest part participant. Congratulations. [applause] >> First off, thank you so much. So, I do want to acknowledge our uh board of trustees member for UISD, Miss Martinez, for being here present. I also want to thank uh our our council, our city, and our community. My name is Joshua Martinez. I happen to proudly serve as director of bands for John B Alexander High School. And I think it's important as a music educator that I share with not only our council, but our community who's watching and for the people who are present. Laredo is the focal point and the shining beacon for the fine arts. And the reason why we are the focal point in the shining beacon for the fine arts is because of the community support. Our support at the district level, there is such a strongly rooted passion when it comes to fine arts because of things that started back in the 80s. For those of you who were around in the 80s, the band started then and it has continued to grow. And it's only because of that in our community and what happens and the amazing amazing talents that exist within our community through these amazing students that allow our programs to do what they do. And it is not common place for a program to be state marching band participants as consistently as Alexander has been. That is something that all of South Texas looks to and it's because of the incred incredible support that we continue to get from our community and city. So, thank you'all so much for everything. Thank you'all. [applause] >> Can I get a little closer? >> All right. Ready? One two. >> Thank you. Right here. >> Right over here. >> We're good. Oh [applause] you're watching No, I think >> you want to you want you can begin. >> Let's get all the people big people in here. There you are. Go ahead. >> Next recognition. >> Tiny Tantrums athlete. Serial radio proudly recognizes the Tiny Tantrums T-ball Pamper Division Team ages 1 year, 9 months to 3 years with the weekend baseball softball league LLC. Congratulations. [applause] a couple of words. >> I just want to thank you for recognizing us. Um, these kiddos have grown a lot. I know they are little and they're are pamper league. Um, my youngest is 1 year and 8 months and my oldest is three and it just takes a lot of patience, but we we got it and I just want to thank the parents and the recognition that you guys gave us. Thank you so much and thank you to Mr. >> [applause] >> Take a picture. Take a picture. [laughter] >> Right here. >> Go. Go. Baby. >> I'm right here. >> I'm right here. Hey, Adrian. I'm right here. Go. [laughter] >> Parents, can we get Can we get the parents? Parents, if you all want to take and we'll take the pictures for you, you want to come out. We'll take if y'all want to come out, just leave your phones here and we'll take it for you so you can come out with your kids. We'll take it for you. >> Oh, with your second one. >> I'll take one picture. The coach will share it with you. If y'all want to give them the picture, please. >> Parents, Gabby, the parents are going to come out. Is that yours? >> Can you all move back, please? Okay. Right here in the middle. >> In the middle. Ready. One, two, three. One more. >> Perfect. Right over here on Roger. Is that everybody right here? You want to hold the phone? Did you all get pictures? Yes. Yeah. Right over here. >> One more. One more. >> There. >> We're good. [applause] Your mom has [applause] [cheering] Oh my god. Yes. >> Who has a Next recognition, >> Gustavo Flores. The city of Laredo mayor recognizes Gustavo Flores for his outstanding achievements as a distinguished professional who career spans software engineering, music, entrepreneurship, and cultural promotion. Come on down. [applause] Fore nominados. Fore compos. Compositor. album Grammy Awards. Wow. [applause] Cultural commercial tourist. All >> [applause] >> right, if we could just move a little. >> All right. >> All right. Ready everybody? >> All right. One, two, Thank you. >> One more. Go ahead. >> One more right here. Ready? One, two, three. >> Thank you. [applause] >> The last one. this. All right. Next recognition is for Web County Veterans Veterans Office in recognition of your contributions to our valuable veteran community by providing education assistance and obtaining state and federal benefits. Come on down, please. [applause] As I call your name, please come by me. Olga Ramirez. [applause] Now we'll do a group picture. >> All right. David Garca, [applause] >> Victor Sanchez, [applause] Roberto Samaron. [applause] There you go. Herardo Gonzalez. No. Okay. Roxella Silva. [applause] Congratulations. And Sophia Martinez. [applause] Congratulations. >> Few words. Anybody go ahead. Thank you, mayor, for for recognizing us and our office and our hard hard work we do to help our local veterans and actually veterans from the surrounding area. We my my staff, they really go above and beyond. Anybody who's been at the office, they can they can vouch for that. So, thank you for the recognition, mayor. We do appreciate you and appreciate everything you do for our local veterans. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Let's get a picture back. >> Mayor, may I >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Thank you, David. Thank you. And thank you and your staff for everything that you do for our local veterans. I know that uh I spoke to you a couple of times. My wife and I went to your office with reference to her and my father who served in the 50s. So, and and and you guys were so uh accepting and every time a veteran that I saw your veteran that would walked in there, you guys did an excellent job. So, I just want people to understand how difficult it is to get that veteran to get up and go to your office. It's pretty much like they're they have a ton of weight on their shoulders to get over there and but what you guys do is make them feel comfortable and make him um you know with the knowledge and everything that you have that works around especially the DD214 forms and all that. Um it's very difficult to navigate through the system. So, thank you all for all the good work you do. >> Thank you. >> Appreciate you. Appreciate you. >> [applause] >> I just want to thank also David for his service on the veteran affairs committee honor me there and it's an honor to be able to >> appreciate you. >> All right. Can we get a picture here center? All right. Ready? >> All right. One, two. >> Thank you. >> With this one. With this one. >> Okay. One, two, three. One, two. >> Got it. >> Last one. Ready? One, two, three. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Thank you everybody. I would like to recognize Mayor Prom Vanessa Perez for her service and the two terms she was with us because she has shown herself to be up to the challenge. While I try not to miss any event of the meetings or times I was not able to attend, mayor prom was available and was up to the challenge. She has shown she has shown the initiative in completing the CPM program offered by Tamu and because this was nominated by myself and completed several leadership classes at the Kennedy School of Business at Harvard as part of the Bloomberg Harvard Mayoral Leadership Program. With that being said, I would like to recognize Mayor Pro Tempis with this plaque. [applause] Mayor, mayor, mayor, if I may. [applause] Mayor, if I may, this is a plaque that uh myself and the rest of the council got for Mayor Promp Vanessa Pettis as well. This says, "With our greatest appreciation, we honor Vanessa Pettis, council member for district 7. Thank you for your dedicated service of two completed terms as mayor proemp January 18th 2023 through November 20th 2023 December 2nd 2024 through December 1st 2025 we honor your distinguished achievement as the first female council member to hold this title for two terms presented to you by the honorable mayor and your honorable counsel. Congratulations. [applause] >> Oh, I just want to thank the council for your for your confidence and your support for for this. I know the mayor has a very busy schedule. He's very busy and uh when he can't be somewhere, you know, it's an honor to be able to fill his shoes and support the mission that that he has and the vision he has for the city and the vision of the city council. So, um it's been an honor and I appreciate [applause] >> with Roger. All right, everybody ready? All right, one more. Ready? One, two, three. Perfect. >> Good job. [applause] I'd like to move on to item number 58. >> Oh, sorry. Yeah, that's going to be the one. We're going to do 15. >> On this one. >> Yeah. >> I'm going to bring out item number 58. >> 59. Mayor >> and 59. >> Second. >> Motion. Second. >> Mayor, can we add number 40, the women's city club also their presentation, please, to that one? and number 48. >> Yes, please. Thank you. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> Oppos? Motion pass. >> Number 58. Discussion with possible action on the selection of the mayor prompt by the city council. >> 59. >> 59. >> That's 58. >> 59. >> Okay, we'll go in number 59. 59. The last one number 59. Discussion with possible action on the selection of mayor promp by the city council. Any any matters related there too. Some comments that I would like to make regarding the selection of mayor prom. We already recognized Mayor Pro Tim Vanessa Pettis for her tenure where she honorably served at the first female mayor and had served for two terms as mayor. Even though I was elected city-wise by securing a majority of the voting population, my role legally and ethically has always been to serve and represent the interest of the entire community. Not just for those who voted for me but the principle she had extend to the mayor prom which mayor prom has done this without fail and historically this had been a symbol symbolic appointment however the mayor's role has become more demanding having an average of 4 to six events and meetings a day and traveling to Mexico no frequently especially in these engaging states federal and international situations and with the partners on challenges that we have that impact our local community. So the growth of the mayor's work load and the role of mayor prom has grown in great importance. The mayor prom plays a vital role in maintaining stability in helping unite the council to address day-to-day policy items when the mayor is not available. By the nature of the my administration, this appointment for me is not symbolic. It is one of trust, responsibility, and the ability to reinforce the mayor's duties and obligations when a mayor is unavailable. A mayor promp as mayor prompetted can attest the schedule is extremely demanding because it requires addressing citywide and international issues rather than those on a single district. My current belief is that councilman Gilbert Gonzalez is someone who can fulfill these duties effectively and for that reason I motion for him to serve as the ne next mayor. Rotel second. Motion second. All in favor? >> I >> oppose. Motion passes. Thank you very much. Congratulations. [applause] >> A few words, please. >> Yes. Uh thank you, mayor, directors, management, and colleagues. I appreciate your your uh vote of trust commitment. Um I know these are the I've got big shoes to fill to fill. It's so important you know uh when we go and and you know at the state level at the federal level when we go and present there also so and with Laredo South Laredo Southeast Laredo growing so fast it's you know this this we appreciate so much mayor you know the the the support u and I am humbled and blessed to have this opportunity and I and I appreciate every colleague for the vote of trust and again management directors and the public. Thank you so much. >> Thank you very much. [applause] [applause] >> Mayor, >> yes. I still have >> Yes, sir. Just after number 40 with the women's city club, but we can bring up number 24 as well. You have people here. >> Go ahead. >> Just add that to the >> All right. >> to the equation. >> Yes. Perhaps we should go to citizen comments because I do believe some of these people are here for that. >> We got three ones. One actual citizen comment. Everything is the other two are on items. >> Okay. All right. Which one? >> All right. We'll proceed with communications. to move the agenda because we have the women's commission next. >> All right. Uh do we have a presentation? >> Yes, we do. >> What item is that? >> That's number 40. >> 40. >> Okay. >> Yeah, we had already motioned for that. Is that next? Was that next? >> Okay, that's next for the number 40. >> All right. Number 40. We're going to go ahead. >> Mayor, if I may, >> go ahead. >> Uh, number 40 is a presentation by the Laredo Commission for Women for the 2025 2026 action plan with possible action and any other matters incident there too. >> Ladies, >> yes. Uh, good evening, Mayor, Councilman, and Councilwoman. [cough] >> Yes. I'm Guadal Lupe Ramirez. I'm the chair for Laredo Commission for Women of 2025 2026. Uh with me is Leticia Wardo Martinez. She is the vice chair. I have Al Sandra Kavaso Sella, Rosa Maria Seario Deano, and Danna Rodriguez. And we're here for your approval of our action plan so we can get to work. >> Great. All right. >> Uh did you >> Oh, yes, please. I thought you all had it. >> [laughter] >> Okay. our our purpose and what we want to want to do this year is the we want to voter participation and we want to help and get most of them registered so that they can go out and vote. uh we want to be involved in the work uh cancer awareness whatever we can do to participate with the city or other organizations in that in the uh breast cancer awareness uh the international women's day celebration we do that also with um in conjunction with the Mexican consulate in March and we also have the women's hall of fame in 2026 and that's our biggest event that we have to prepare for that. We have the health month uh promotion we do together with uh the city of Laredo the health department and we focus on educating women in health uh education and resources available out there that are for women so they can participate. Um with the city of Laredo we have Freda um I forgot her last name. Figoa that she is working on the on the web page in conjunction with the city and and the briefings of the presentation that focuses on women's issues. If you have any questions, >> Mayor Man, >> go ahead. Thank you so much for promoting women, for promoting equity and equality and and for promoting community involvement. I know this is these are women who are very very busy, very successful in other sectors and they take time out of their schedules to come together and promote community issues and reach out for community needs. So, it is greatly appreciated the work that you do. Thank you so much. You know what? That's it. That's it. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Thank you ladies for everything that you do. Um you guys put in a lot of hours, a lot of dedication, a lot of work. So I'm more than happy to support the work that you all are doing. So thank you for your >> Thank you. We appreciate that. >> Yes. Go ahead. First, I just want to acknowledge our colleague Alyssa for the record. And also, um, ladies, thank you so much for what you do in this commission for our community. Uh, Miss Ramirez, I I'm honored to have you as my district 1's appointee. And now you do this uh citywide for the commission. So, we appreciate everything. Thank you so much. >> I'm honored. Thank you. And I very grateful represent the south of Laredo. >> Yes. Thank you. >> All right. Any action? Um, I'd like to make a motion to approve their presentation. >> Motion second. All in favor? I >> oppose. Motion pass. >> Congratulations. [applause] >> We're number 24. Mayor. >> Number 24. Item number 24. Number 24 resolution. >> This one. >> Yes, sir. >> Number 24. Resolution of the city of Laredo, Texas, formalizing the continued establishments of Laredo Youth Council, presending the previously adopted bylaws and adopting the Laredo Youth Council Program Handbook. >> Hi, good evening, Mayor and Council. >> I'm Karen Govar Rubius from city manager's office. I'm here with uh students from the Laredo Youth Council. And so, the Laredo Youth Council was created uh by council motion in February 2020. And um that first initial group of students brought to you bylaws in um 2021 and then they kicked off from there. But um as the program has kind of grown, they've noticed that um the bylaws one kind of restricted them a lot. And two, as we looked into cities into the cities like committees and um how we form committees, they actually can't fall under a city committee because they're under the age of 18. And so, uh, we're bringing this back to you, not necessarily to approve their bylaws, but moving them away from like an official city commission because they can't really fall into there, but more into a program, um, that one now allows them to kind of represent, um, more of the city. So, including, uh, students from each council district should be represented and including schools that we weren't necessarily considering. One of the biggest changes is they were from 17 uh group of 17 representing only like some of the schools, but every year new new schools are popping up and you have students that are uh not necessarily enrolled in a school district or a private school. So just allowing uh more of that and having them get engaged uh with you all with our departments and uh they just really want to learn about the city. So, I'll let them introduce themselves. Um, and they went through revisions for the past uh two and a half months. And so, they'll walk you through some some of those um so that they can get uh fully started under their new uh handbook. >> Hi, my name is Raonin and I represent John B. Alexander High School and this is my second year in the council. >> My name is Felipe Ria and this is my first year in the council and I also represent Alexander High School. Go Bulldogs. >> Hi, my name is Shayla Charad and I'm from United South High School and this is my second year representing the Laredo Youth Council. >> Hello, my name is Angelana. Um, I'm from Harmony School of Excellence and this is my first year in the Lo Youth Council. >> Hi, I'm Andrea Hime. I go to St. Augustine High School and this is my first year representing the Larita Youth Council. >> Hello, my name is Rebecca Lopez and I represent St. Augustine High School and it's this is my first year in the Laro Youth Council. >> Hi, my name is Stephanie Fernandez and this is my first year in the Laro Youth Council. I'm coming from New Harvest Christian Academy. >> Hi, I'm Eileen Cortez. I come from Julieta and Frank Stags Academy and uh this is my second year here in the Larita Youth Council. >> Wow, very nice. >> Hi everyone, my name is Ivana Guzman and I'm representing Hector J. Garcia Early College High School and this is my second year. >> Hi, my name is Alison Sanchez and I'm representing Lynon B. Johnson High School and this is my second year of the Loro Youth Council. >> Hi, my name is Alejandra Gonzalez. I'm also representing LBJ um high school and it's my first year representing Larredo Youth Council. >> Mayor, may go ahead. Sorry, but I'm sorry. Just before you all continue, I want to say thank you all for joining us and thank you for being a part of the Laredo Youth Council. It really really means a lot to us to be there because you get to know what we actually do behind the scenes, right? A lot of the public doesn't even know what we get to do behind here. Uh a lot of difficult decisions as you all well know. I I do ask you all to go out to the other schools that are missing, right? I I I didn't hear a lot of schools that we have here in Laredo. So, go out there. That way, everybody is involved. I think it's a wonderful thing. If you allow me to, please, let me make the motion to resend the previous adopted bylaw and adopt the youth council program handbook. I can uh let me make that motion please. >> I'll second that. >> Motion second, >> mayor, if I may. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Um I'd also thank you for all your hard work as well. And um one thing I heard was that our our rules say that you have you have to be at least 18. So one thing about rules, you can always change them, right? And so we can also go through the process of showing them how to change an ordinance, change the handbook so we can, you know, make an exception for this committee so that if you guys chose to stay a full-fledged committee, then we can modify the rules for for for this so we can kind of walk through that exercise on how to change an ordinance. >> Great. Anything else you'd like to say before we continue with the vote? >> They put together a pretty short presentation. >> Sure. >> Yeah. >> Super quick that way we explain. >> Um, so why we updated the bylaws? Um, like Karen stated, uh, we are, you know, high school kids. And for us, our mission is very important to not only show ourselves, but our high schools on grassroot movements. Again, um like you Councilman Gutier stated, a lot of people don't know that the biggest decisions that affect their lives are from the council, are from Web County, are from these local officials. Um and all of us here have really tried to make that movement. That's why we wanted to change the bylaws to make it easier for us to do actual change and to show the future generation, hey, as much as federal elections are really big, your local elections matter more because they affect you more. It's what you can change. It's what you can move. And that that was basically our bias or how we went off this. Uh for a quick super quick on how we updated for articles one and four, we just recleared our name and purpose and responsibilities. Um, we wanted to make this again since we weren't 18, we just thought it would be easier um all of us here just to make it not not as formal. That way we can actually make change. That way we can actually do more stuff and show you know the youth, hey, you know, city council is really important. You know, you should go to the meetings. We should do more community service that outreaches the youth. And then for article four, the meetings, um, it states that OC meetings are held monthly. So, we just wanted to clarify that process. That way, we are all on the same page. We're all the uh same commitment to present at the meetings, at the councils, at our own meetings, at your meetings, and truly see what city government is about. Um we truly try to outreach and just put the emphasis on city government. Um because everyone here knows knows how important it is, but our youth doesn't. Uh so, that's what we want to emphasize. And then, do you all want to take the next one real quick? Okay. So for the article two the composition and eligibility. The major change we made was increase the member gap for the letter of youth council to from 17 members to 25 members because we noticed that 17 members was a very small group. many of the high schools that were little couldn't participate fully or many of the students couldn't um apply um because there were the bigger high schools like United and Alexander um many people more people applied so right now a problem we are encountering is that multiple [clears throat] of people from so for example oh my god so the the limit from for high school students to join is two members per high school. And one problem we encountered is that there are some high schools that have more than two uh people. So in order to change that um that problem, we decided to increase the gap from 17 to 25. And another change we made as well is that to include all all of the Laro high schools, not only just like a certain amount. And we also included um homeschooled students um because they also need uh they also have the opportunity well they need the opportunity to join and learn about what is happening in Lero. And another change we made is now that now documents um the students uh while applying in the process of applying to a youth council they need to add additional documents um so such as the transcripts um disciplinary forms resumeumés um so the they can review them and to see if they can join the console. >> Yeah. >> Yes. Go ahead. Actually guys, congratulations on your, you know, everything you guys are doing. Uh, ladies, um, I see this. I don't see that you're changing the rules. I see that you're making it fair for the whole city, for all the youth to participate. So, for that, I commend you. Congratulations. It's something awesome. I'm seeing here that you have from 17 to 25. I know we have more students than every and you're making it two for every student. You know, wish my alumni would be here. Sierra High School, right? But you know, eventually they're going to get into jump into the program. But encourage you encouraging them, showing them how cool it is to be part of this because it, you know, making changes is something that you're always going to have in your mind. Did I do the right thing? Did I do it, you know, did I say it the right way? You know, public speaking is always not always not fun. You know, it's always used to think you're saying something wrong and you know, but you're you're making you're helping a lot of people to get out there. a lot of, you know, leaders. You're you're the leaders. You're the future leaders. So to that, congratulations. And I don't see that you're making changes for the for for whatever like to just because you want to. You're making changes to make it fair across the board. You're you're adding home schools. You're adding people from from different schools, different ages. You know what? 18 is too much. Let's drop it down to 17 so a lot of schools can participate. And to that, congratulations. It's awesome. I I see I'm reading it and I'm you know seeing the allegibilities and and you know you're making it more to be disciplined. You know the main the main thing is being disciplined. You know you want to put a part of this you got to have good be disciplined. You got to be go to school have good grades just like football baseball. You're making actually making this something very interesting for for the community at the same time fun. So congratulations on that. >> Thank you very much. Yes. Go ahead. Thank you for for joining this and and this is a great opportunity for you all uh because most of you all weren't born in an era where where civic courses were being taught at school. This is this is what it is. You all are privileged to understand the processes of what's kind going on at the city level at the state level and at the county level and at the federal level. This is things that was a normal class that we used to take when I was in school. Right now, the educational system is under assault by the state of Texas and the federal government. They're trying to remove as much as they can to keep you as uneducated as you can. So, I'm very happy that y'all are here. This is a huge task and I'm very very serious about this. It's a huge task for you all to make sure that you learn enough about this and and and whatever I need to do as a council person to try and get you to spread the word in every campus the city of Laredo is is going to be not only uh an obligation for you all to do, but it's going to be something that's going to take your generation to the next level. you're going to be a small part of it. That's going to have a huge impact on teaching everybody that's your age the processes and procedures and everything that goes on at the civic level at the city, counties, federal, and state because right now, as I said, federal government and the state of Texas are assaulting our educational system and not letting you understand how all these process work processes work. And it's extremely important that your generation be active in understanding how these things work because at the end of the day, we're not going to be here for too much longer, right? It's going to be your generation that puts us back in in a straight line. that education matters, that you understand your history, where you came from, that none of that gets whitewashed into the whole mess that's going on right now, and that you allow this particular group uh this particular uh um organization to go out there and be the voice of your generation. So, I commend you for doing that. I I I hope that you all take it as seriously as you can uh and really bring in the rest of the high schools so that there's not there's uh there's uh your voice is what's going to matter. So the more people your generation come in, the more you're going to be heard. So thank you all very much for doing what you're doing. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> I have no doubt that one of you, if not more of you, will be an elected official here in Lared Webb County one day. Um seem very impressive. Um, one concern I'm having and I'm thinking about this. I have two daughters, so I'm all focused on I mean I see my daughter as a future CEO, future boss, all those things. Um, but I see nine females here and I see two men. And I know that now for the first time, you know, there's 57% of college students that are now female as opposed to 43. That it's flipped. And I worry about our young men and what they're doing, especially between the ages of 17 to 24. I would encourage you as as the females and the males on here to try to engage the boys because they often times think they're too cool for that, right? Um, but try to reach out to them and to make this and maybe this is not fully representative of your entire program. maybe all just the ones that are willing to show up, which is but nonetheless, I you know, hopefully it's somewhat um something that you're thinking about in the back of your head that you can be um not letting our our young men uh get lost in in the weeds. Um because a four-year college degree is not for everyone. We focus too hard on that where we forgot about the other ways people can make a living and make a life and you know, so that's a whole another issue. But just foods for thought. Maybe it's 50/50 and this is just who showed up tonight, but um just came to my mind. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. >> Yeah, this is just >> again just uh thank you for your for joining and your participation in this great organization council. It I know I know it seems I have great representation from United South and LBJ here with with Ali Lawita. Thank you for for uh representing our schools and our district and district one. And uh Karen, I also want to thank you. I know I called you several times about the organization about and and you were on it. So I appreciate you uh taking initiative on this uh club. Thank you so much everyone. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Um I just want to bring up a point just uh kind of appreciate everything that Dr. King said, but I did kind of want to go back a little bit on on the history of, you know, Laredo and and a being a a woman in politics and government. Um, before 2020 elections, there had never been more than one woman on the city council at a time. And so when council member Saro and I came in, that was the first time you had more than one. And now you see today we have three. So, it's really only been recently that you've seen women kind of showing up more on this body as far as even just in Laredo. Um, I can tell you that um there had never been a woman representing my district before. Um, you know, there's I think women are still kind of kind of getting like they're they're kind of coming into this um predominantly male um environment. And so I do agree that on on here today um we'd like to kind of see the numbers a little more even, but I do want to point out that we we are seeing a lot more women coming out. And so for that, I do give you guys kudos that you all are stepping up to get into this um predominantly male environment and kind of evening the playing field a little bit more. you know, we bring the voice of just that that that woman, that motherhood um touch that that that female perspective. So, um >> you can say the voice of reason. [laughter] >> You know, he said it. I I second it. Okay. Just want to, you know, echo that. just for your own like history here in Larredo, we have this is the first time you have three women on council at a time, but for the longest historical period, it was only ever one. So, >> yeah, and and mayor, if I completely agree, for thousands of years, there were men have dominated and it's been completely unfair and all the injustices. Uh, so I completely agree. Um, just I've been reading a lot lately about the the things that are happening to our boys in that 18 to 24 bracket and it's it's a little concerning. That's the only reason I brought it up. >> Yes. And one more thing uh well, first of all, congratulations for for participating in this uh in this group, but uh you are the future city council elected officials and nobody mentioned mayor also. So, it could be that. So, congratulations for that and keep up the good work. keep on teaching your fellow students of what the city work, how the city works and what the laws were and so they can be informed. So, thank you very much and congratulations. Got a motion in a second. >> We got a motion and a second. All in favor? I >> oppos. Motion passes. Congratulations. [applause] >> There it is. Great job. >> Great job, Keep it going. >> Great job representing. I thank you guys. Thank you so much. Congratulations. Whatever you guys do. >> Thank you for being here. Appreciate it. Thank you. >> Thank you for representing always guys. Thank you. >> Thank you for representing. Appreciate it. How are you? Thank you so much for representing. Thank you for being here. Thank you so much. >> Anything you want to eat, let us know. Please move behind you guys. Okay. Leo, congratulations. Thank you. >> Really good. I play ball with your dad. All right. Yeah. So, I'm happy to see that you're here. Good job. Exactly. >> Here. Just scoot over there. >> You want to get in the middle, >> guys? Let's have the the mirror in the middle. >> No. No. Right here. Can you scoot over? >> Scoot over right there. Right here, guys. Ready? >> One, two, three. One right here. >> Right over here. We go. Three, two. >> Thank you. Thank you guys. [applause] >> That was it. That was >> which one? >> Number 36. >> Okay, mayor. Motion to move a number 36. Motion. >> Second. >> Second. All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion passes. >> Mayor, for this item, we need a uh a roll call vote on this one. All right, let's get number 36. >> Uh, Mr. Secretary, would you read number 36 please? >> Consideration to authorize the city manager to approve the agreement between the city of Laredo Public Health Department and Fernando Sanchez, MD for professional services as as the city of Laredo Public Health Authority and medical director under section 121.021-121- 021-121-025 of the Texas Health and Safety Code for a 2-year term period starting December 19, 2025 in the amount of 20,45 per month for an annual amount of $244,860 and not to exceed a total of 489,720 for the term of the agreement. funding is available in the public health department fund. >> All right, Dr. Chamberlain, you want to give us an insight on that? >> Good evening, mayor and members of the council. Dr. Richard Chamberlain, your Loro public health director. I wanted to um first and foremost say thank you very much for your continuous support of our public health department. And this specific item is the medical director and health authority. Currently, we do have Dr. Sanchez as our medical director, but he's serving in the capacity of of health authority designate and now he'll move up into the health authority role and with your approval as a counsel, we'll make that happen. He's here for any questions should you have it. >> All right. Thank you. Do we have any questions for Dr. Sanchez? >> Just a roll call. >> Okay, Mr. >> Here we go. >> We need a roll call, man. >> Roll call. Roll call. Motion, please. >> We have the motion. >> Motion to approve. >> Motion. >> Motion. >> Secondary. >> It's in second. >> All in favor? >> It's a roll call. >> It's a roll call. Let's go ahead and roll call >> four >> four. >> All right. Motion passes. >> Motion passes. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Uh I've got uh >> mayor may we >> first hold on. >> We didn't finish communications. Let me continue with the communications presentation by mayor providing general comments on city manners upcoming initiatives and other relevant updates for the city council and the public. First of all, I want to thank everyone for being here today and those watching online. There's some updates to the public. The state of the city has been set for January 29, 2026. This is pursuant to 2.15 powers and duties of the mayor under section 4. Today I recognized Dr. Henry Karansa at his home and presented him with the keys to the city of Laredo for his lifetime of community service and with the love organization helping the elderly and disadvantaged. He was not able to make it to the city hall today because of health limitations. But I want the public to know that he is a hu a true humanitarian. As we have seen here today, it is an incredible feeling to recognize our own. And as mayor, I can tell you that I will always support the recognition of our own talent we have here in our community. Now, with regards to some of the medical professional shortages within the city of Laredo, this continues to be a struggle for our community. For that reason, we will be petitioning the White House to reconsider including nursing as the new classification for pre professional degree programs. While nursing is still recognized as a professional career in almost every university, this new exclusion is an administrative classification that will will impact financial and aid and eligibility for advanced degrees. Now, as we know, nursing has all has been excluded from the US Department of Education new classification of professional degree programs. This change, part of the one big beautiful bill act, restricts access to higher federal student loaning limits for graduate nursing students, potentially hindering future workforce and development at a time where communities like Laredo already face a medical professional shortage. All right, with that in mind, we'll proceed with comments. >> Do you have any set of comments? We have one mayor. >> Okay, >> two comments. Two on two items. >> First one would be >> Wendy SA. The other ones are online. Yeah. Good afternoon. Um, thank you. Great seeing so many athletes being recognized. Um, and it actually I came to the perfect meeting because I am here to talk to you all about sports. So, good afternoon. My name is Wendy Sosa. I am here as an advocate for the safety of the youth sports, not just as a sports mom, but as a community member. And a lot of the kids that we recognize today, they're part of UIL and they are in a safe environment where we have law enforcement, when we have both our exits, where everything is being followed and uh processed correctly. But what's happening in the city of Laredo is that we are doing a great job. Even me, I am an educator and I'm all about recognizing the youth with banquetss, but we're missing a little detail that we have a lot of space for improvement. And I see a lot of recognized faces that uh I have a 20-year-old son that I've been in sports for 15 years. And in those um local events, in those softball games, in those baseball games, the games are getting very heated, not just baseball, basketball, flag football, soccer, and it's the young ones, not the high schoolers, because the high schools follow AUIL guidelines. It is the little ones, the five-year-olds. So, parents are getting upset. They're fighting with coaches and refs and nothing is protecting them. I've been a volunteer where they're cussing me out. So, I am asking the city to make a policy where it requires for this event. Those those are big gatherings over 200 kids in there. We just had one at a local at a private uh business and no law enforcement, no security, little kids in a big fight like that. It's unsafe. It's unsafe to have the youth there. Especially those warehouses that we have here in Laredo that they're warehouses. They're not recreational centers like the wreck or the Boys and Girls Club. I saw I got here at 5:15 and I noticed that we do a great job. We have both our exit doors. We have the sprinklers. We had officers escorting in and out. I feel like if I was in in the campus when we're doing lunch duty, everything following process. But what's happening to those businesses that they're running without following the guidelines, without having a law enforcement? And then imagine in those warehouses, they only have one door. where are those kids going to get out? So, we are doing a great job and I thank you. I personally I've been here as a parent recognizing as a coach also with the deport the city is doing a fantastic job but I do ask that and I think that we have space for improvement. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> All right. Thank you. All right. No more his citizen comments on the other ones on our on items. >> We can do the items also. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Uh yeah, really quick. Uh Miss Sosa, thank you for bringing the issue up. I know the city uh had implemented because we were also seeing uh stuff like that and in and city events, right? I know that they were implementing uh security for such tournaments and stuff. So, uh maybe me and you can get together and we can I can set up an item to see and and direct management to see where where we can work that uh thing out uh if it's uh necessary and as safe to the public also. So, >> yes. Thank you so much. And and I'm here to bring up ideas. This is just so that next generation is able to play in a competitive way that it's safe that parents aren't fighting that we don't have enough reps. >> We don't have enough reps. our 17-year-old kids because they don't want to rest. They don't want to be part of this environment. >> Yes, thank you. And we hear you. Uh there's just no item today, but uh maybe we can get together and get get a language for that. Thank you for for for wait. >> All right. Thank you. >> All right. I'd like to proceed with uh number 64, 65, and 66. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? I opposed. Motion passes. Number 64, discussion on status of current funding and city of Laredo initiating proposed pilot framework to work citywide with Boys and Girls Club of Laredo. Now, the reason this was brought up is to discuss the current status. I understand that management is currently in negotiations, but I wanted to see where we are currently, where we stand. And with that being said, can we bring up uh Mr. Neb as well and also include item 76 >> board? Yes. >> Uh are we going to have a you know presentation? Can we watch the presentation at least or >> No, I I think if we can hear from the Boys and Girls Club first, >> that's what that's what I'm asking about the presentation. >> I I would appreciate the >> Good evening, mayor. Thank you for for calling this item. We have some of our athletes here, the young ladies from Blessed Sacrament. Um, you want to say your name? >> Your name? >> Yes. >> Your name? your first name and last name and we'll grade you're in. >> All right. Very good. Thank you. Welcome. >> So, the reason we asked to bring this to before the council was because we wanted to provide an update. And previously, we had come before council to ask regarding a services contract. And we had discussed that the city manager's office had offered and had limitations for 150,000 per year. And I understand that um this council had issued a directive to the city manager's office that they could negotiate above and beyond that. And unfortunately, we've been trying to negotiate, but we what we the reason we're here is because we've further expanded our discussions regarding the possibility of a services contract with regard to individual city centers. And so what we want to clarify and what we're asking for council is because what we're running into is we do have a budget deadline as well. Just like the city has to set their budget, our budget is coming up in December 15th or this coming next week. And so our question is we'd ask the council and all of you to direct city managers so we could get this done. I think this is the type of agreement whether it be the services and or the separate funding that could be resolved relatively quickly if we take it seriously and move expeditiously. The other issue we've had is the item regarding the services regarding the facilities and I understand that many council people as well as any other elected officials sometimes seem to think that these community centers belong to them and not the city. They belong to the city and the taxpayers. And so what we're asking for is if we can have some sort of consensus because we've approached individual council people. For example, Mr. Councilman Gonzalez who was extremely and Councilman Ranel that pointed us to Elen Community Center. Councilwoman Sigar Roa who pointed us to I guess the Aranda Faria's community center. And the whole point of trying to do that is working a pilot program that we can begin January 1 and show you all that we can improve the numbers that the city already provides and beat the numbers and do so and provide the services for a community. And like Councilman Gasa says, we do more than sports and the educational system is under attack. We provide music. We provide STEM. We provide advanced STEM with the astronauts program. We'd like to expand the sports to soccer. And we provide a safe haven for these [clears throat] kids. Every boy that played football that came up before you played for our leagues. And rather than take staff's m recommendation that we cut our teams down so that we only have one team per school, one team playing flag football is never going to fully staff the Troutton Middle School football team. It's never going to fully staff Elia, much less Sanin High School. And so what we do is these ladies will be coming before you probably in about six years when they do well in their high school program or in something other than sports. And so we're asking you all to please help us out and give some sort of guidance to the city managers what facilities we can work around with and work with in an expeditious manner. >> All right. Thank you, >> mayor. Thank you for allowing us to be here in front of you. I'm Cy Benvidz. I'm the current executive director of the Boys and Girls Club. And I don't have to sell this to you guys. You guys know what it means. You saw these kids. you talk, you know, we have parents that care about what's happening, but more than anything else, we know that we can do a job that for some reason was changed 20 odd years ago in the development of rec centers versus boys clubs like you see in other parts of the state. And so the initiative by Boys and Girls Club of America is for us to change the way do we do business. They want us to be self-sufficient. They want us to build an endowment fund that will independently cover the expenses of our future. And I've initiated that eight weeks ago. And I'd be happy to say that we've raised $3.5 million with support of our president. I've had significant meetings with the county and with several significant land owners here in Web County. And I think our goals are realistic. And with that, it allows us to change and evolve what is the future of what should be the the cornerstone of what we're doing affecting our kids. A recent study done by Boys and Girls Club School of America in Texas shows that we're only affecting one out of six kids. So that means we're not doing our job. And I guess it's my fault because I've been on this board for 44 years. We thought, hey, Mr. Noella is doing it all right. And not to knock Hector, but we missed an opportunity somewhere along the line. And places like Mission are just getting a $9.5 million facility starting next month. I mean, if Mission can do it, I don't understand why we can't do it. I mean, we have needs in the north, in the center part of Texas, in the center part of Laredo. And obviously, our needs and Gilbert, Richie, and all you guys that are trying to help us, Alisa, we appreciate it. But literally, we can do more than two or three facilities and do it right. And it's something that you could respect and be proud of and participate. Vanessa, I know that it seems strange the way I present it, but it's something that's functional. And more than anything else, the people that we're going to affect are these kids. Another initiative by Boys and Girls Club of America is that we are start addressing teens. So, currently we only do pre-teen, 13 and under, right? But now they're saying we we're losing our kids. We cannot lose our kids from 14 to 19. We want you all to do something about it. And I'm prepared to do that. I'm not willing to leave this position, till I see that endowment, till I see this evolution. And working with you guys, we can make a difference like you've never seen before. We have some of our staff here. They have done so much in the last eight weeks. I'd be happy to tell you that we are happier and and doing the job that we can do because we know how to do it. We've been around it a long time and we got such a great board that is invigorated to make a commitment to this community and working with Joe and everybody and his staff. Mayor, I appreciate you give us this opportunity. I guarantee you if you give me a chance, I will impress you. I will show you things from the heart and how we can work together for our future. And all we're asking is you give us a chance. Give us an 18-month window. Let us try to put this out in front of you guys and see if it can't be something that really makes sense for this community. Thank you guys. >> Thank you. Mr. Ne, you want to chime in, please? >> Mr. mayor and city council and and um I've been trying to u determine exactly how to say and what to say in order to hold the uh uh the trust and the confidence and the integrity of our systems [clears throat] together. Uh as we as we talked at the the previous meeting with the Boys and Girls Club in the city, uh we talked about uh entering into an agreement for funding and that happened at that point in time. We met one time uh in order to discuss that funding. Um the offer the offer remained very similar to what it was with the increase of what the city council asked us to offer in that conversation. During that first negotiation meeting, we set up Mr. Valdez as our city lead and Mr. Tez was actually the organization's lead of that conversation. And so when with those conversations now I understand that uh the model has shifted a little bit because the alter uh they added it the additional possibility of operating some of our facilities. So the negotiation shifted a little bit within that structure and so that that doesn't uh that doesn't have any problem with with me for what we're trying to negotiate with with the Boys and Girls Club and trying to figure out how to set this up. But be aware of of those adjustments have have create these dynamics within these conversations. And um and so I do know that uh members of the group have reached out individually to the council members. I just want to make sure that I caution everybody that um that under our charter that the proper authority once once that directive is given it needs to come through the city manager for the administrative operations and the negotiations on behalf of that keeps us in in in within the local government code within our open meetings rules and everything else. So that negotiation has to come back to us. Um, and so I do want to thank every one of you of the elected officials that brought them back to us because as we were walking through this, the challenge we have at the moment right now is I have three different versions of an agreement from the Boys and Girls Club that we are walking through each one of them, we provided our version on October 12th to the to the organization so that they could look through that and we said make any adjustments that you believe you need to in order to come through that conversation. So, and as of today, we received two additional copies today within within that structure. So, we are walking through that. I am happy to work with the Boys and Girls Club uh on a on a on a daily basis if necessary to come to terms with this thing. I think that uh we we do need to walk through the operation of our facilities to a certain level because uh there are resources, there's allocations of budget and everything that we we have to walk through that. And so we have been we have been discussing that with within the city manager's office in order to determine how do we walk through this thing. And uh but I I I want to leave it at that because again uh I do not believe in a public forum is the right place to negotiate any kind of agreement or anything. We support the Boys and Girls Club and I've I said that in in in the last meeting as well too. I believe that there are ways to make it improve. Uh and actually our our offer to them was to improve within that relationship just like what these gentlemen are talking about as well too. But uh that's the end of my presentation for that. Um I am I'm happy to I'm I'm happy to answer any other questions as long as it doesn't uh conflict with the uh the responsibilities within this negotiation. Mayor, >> if I may go first. Go ahead. Um, thank you for your presentation and just for the record, we do support the Boys and Girls Club. We've always supported with third party funding. Um, we did talk about the funding agreement and having that those conversations that have been ongoing with management. This is the first time that our facilities kind of have been asked for in this kind of way that that they be taken over or have this program. So in all fairness that that piece of the conversation did enter and I think the key word here is agreement right um you have have requests and we also have concerns u Mr. Benz, we did speak today and um it's not that I uh believe that the rec center is mine. It is because um my specific concerns were what's going to happen to the seniors, what's going to happen to the adults that use the rec centers because our rec centers are more are open to the general public. You know, we my fasten rec center is open from 8 to 10:00 p.m. 5 days a week. We have adults that go there in the Mines's Road. We don't have any gyms. We don't have a lot of Mines Road has always been very underserved. This is a community center that a lot of people use. We have about 50 seniors that attend there every day from 8 to now we've expanded it past noon. So, and I'm and I asked that question is what we would what would happen to them and and the the response was that we would have to move them somewhere else. And I don't see that as a possibility. So, it's not that I don't support the Boys and Girls Club is that these facilities are for the public to use. They are there for them to enjoy from all ages up from, you know, little kids all the way up to seniors and and everything in between. So if we are going to move forward with some of these centers that are utilized by this vast wide range of population um it would have to be an agreement that's um probably not completely in line with the requests that you have and so it would require some agreement right um and so we would have to have those conversations and I don't know if we can have an answer by your deadline that you have coming up we we don't know, but uh again, we do support the Boys and Girls Club, the centers, the rec centers. again the the concerns that I had expressed to you all. But we do I do thank you for the work that you're doing and for for trying to to to come up with other ideas and >> everything you're talking about is totally understandable and we agree >> and all we're saying is there's got to be some kind of evolution to see how we can manifest these changes >> so that it can be something functional. So that Boy Club would be removed from being a nonprofit uh participant and actually be the agent for Parks and Recre. Well, not not necessarily. Well, I guess to interject a little bit of legal stuff. Number one, us communicating to council, we wouldn't be an agent. It would just be a collaboration and a collaborative agreement. And we wrote that in the proposal. I wrote the contract that we've submitted to Mr. Nev as well as Mr. Vz. And so there's some terms that I guess Mr. Wyn and and Mr. Rodriguez and I could deal with because of the legal part. And I do want to clarify something. Us reaching out to you all as councilmen and council women individually does not violate the open meetings act at all. I can as a citizen I can approach each and every one of you individually as long as I don't speak to you as a group or in a group text without me hitting a magic number and we also have numerous other board members like Emmanuel Wardo who's here David Dodier who's here Priscilla Garcia who's here they are members of our board and they will reach out to you because for too long the members of our board have not taken the political action and put pressure on you all, not just you all individually, you all as council, that we do have a voice. And we've reached out, just like I've reached out to almost all of you individually, I reached out to Chief Rodriguez and he agrees with us that we should expand to 18 and include teens because that helps cut crime. >> He can answer those questions very directly. I agree with you as far as there's ways to work it out and [snorts] that's something we can negotiate and deal with with parks and rec who have the specific expertise and know how the these services are actually done like for example in your precinct you have two sites you have the senior site as you have the regular fast site and there's stuff that we can work around and so there are budget areas and what the reason I'm trying to bring up the specific sites is your precinct specifically is extremely underserved It really is. And and and that would be the idea of more bang for the buck. And so that's why >> can I I just want to correct you just for the record. It's one site. >> It's only one site. The senior center is connected. It's one facility. The seniors utilize they have their piece of that facility. So >> Okay. It's I'm just going off of the budget and so that that's >> it's just it's one location and and so um and then when I had asked about staffing the the concern was that some of the staff members would have to be displaced which I was not happy about because I feel that the fasten staff has done an amazing job over the years interacting with the with the people. They know the people there. They've they've put a lot of work into programs every event that we hold there that they hold there. They've done a great job. So when you all are talking about the need and stuff like that, I don't really see this center as being under underutilized and I do agree with the age expansion and I do believe that keeping our youth off the street is extremely beneficial. However, like I said, the age range those those kids, they can come in and play basketball at the wreck now. They can come in and work out in our facilities now. Like that facility is open to them. If you have expertise in your programming and you can incorporate that and help us do a better job in those areas, I think we can agree that maybe we we would benefit from that. But when it comes to giving the keys over and letting you all run the facility, I have concerns with doing that, especially just because of the things that I mentioned earlier. >> Mr. White, you had a comment. >> Yes, if I may. Uh, this is an appropriate uh form. However, our ethics code does prohibit individual contacts during contract negotiations. That's what we prohibit with uh the unions during CBA negotiations. Same with this. Uh so we would not allow you to uh contact individual council members while we're in the middle of negotiations. But this is appropriate form when you're speaking to all of them in the public forum. But but that would be a violation of our ethics code. Just a clarification. >> All right. >> Mayor Mayor, >> go ahead. Um, so I uh I I have not been contacted about this item and so I feel at a disadvantage for the information, but I also am extremely uncomfortable discussing this contract issue. Although I suppose Mr. is saying that this would be the appropriate venue, but it just seems as if discussing these contract negotiations here in this very public forum when we have directed our city management to negotiate. And you know, I agree with council member Bettis about the difficulty in each site having very specific programming. Um, this is the first that I've heard that the Boys and Girls Club wanted to um, you know, take over. I I'm I'm not sure I understand, but I I think that it is more appropriate for this to be discussed because management has been giving the directive. We all support the Boys and Girls Clubs. They do amazing work, but it isn't what I understand to be an independent nonprofit. It has a a wonderful programming and activity and life. I I remember taking my kids through the sports leagues there and enjoying the facilities and and the excitement of these kids and understanding that some kids use these facilities more um frequently for afterchool care. It's a whole big program. So changes to your model and changes to what the city of Laredo provides in its rec centers I really feel need to go through not us because we don't have the capacity to know how all of the rec centers function in all parts of the city but through management and the with discussions with the parks and recck department because that is where the expertise that you are looking for lies. So there's a reason be reason we Joey and I felt like we needed to communicate with you all is you all represent the community. Staff represents your you guys staff represents the structure of how things work. And so sometimes like in the original I a question for funding, you know, if we just sat back and let staff come up with that, but we would get $150,000 when the reality is we need over a million dollars. And communities smaller than ours are doing this to boys and girls clubs around the state, around the nation for that matter. And we're totally underserved as a boys club for the size of our community. In a perfect world, we should have six to eight boys and girls clubs and a budget of probably about 15 or$20 million a year. But the reality is not that case because this community decided to go the rec center route. And I understand what Miss Bettis is saying and I appreciate where she's coming from on how how the position is with with where it comes to the seniors and other people that may be displaced. But the key in success to Boys and Girls Clubs is because we service an environment where it's only the pre-teens by themselves. No teen interaction. So there is not that influence that change. and where you guys are and what what you guys, you know, I'm not going to say fail, but what what what doesn't work is that you open an environment where you could have teens, pre-teens, and adults in the same venue, and that has been proven to be not safe, not functional. Well, I I appreciate those concerns, but I do think the the people to approach our management and the parks and reccks department because they're they are the ones that have those interactions every single day, they can address your safety concerns. They can talk to you about what they've put in place for safeguards and how they care for the programs that they run >> here. They do a great job, ma'am. >> I I think so, too. They do a great job, but but there has been educated documented. Go >> ahead. Your your proposals seem that you want changes at the rec centers and I think you should advocate to the best of your ability, but to the people who run those departments and then they will make recommendations to us about where they think things should change and then we can move forward. As I said before, and I don't mean to sound like a broken record, but we have asked management to work with you because we believe in the mission of the Boys and Girls Club. >> No. Correct. And we're making and roads to that and Mr. Valdez has been helping us. But at the end of the day to you know to push further what we can and cannot do has to come with a directive counsel and that's why we're talking to you guys here because I agree with the council that our limitations under this negotiation should not be communicating with you all but communicating with staff but this is an opportunity that we had to be able to tell you that this is something that's important. It's big and it can be something functional. All we're asking is for you all to consider what we're proposing and that we work together for our kids. That's we're all >> I I think we completely agree and I think the next steps were for those proposals to be packaged by management and through our parks and recck and then they will come back up and we will see what you're proposing the alternatives that align with the goals of the city and the city rec centers and then we can act. Yes, ma'am. >> I I I just don't know what you're looking for today. was >> Yeah, it was first. >> Sorry, I just have the the the mic. Thank you, Mayor. Um, so I had I had a similar item that that that you also motioned to to bring up which was to include the the facil like the facilities in in consideration with some of the ne with the some of the negotiations whether it's something that's done together or separately. um again is is can be part of the discussion. I do think that the there's frustration in the sense that we're not getting anywhere. And this goes for all of these contracts that have with organizations that have um requested additional funding or long long-term investments by the city and these service agreements. and we're going to by the and for my um my opinion and just wanting to voice my some some frustrations with management is that we're going to be at our next budget cycle by the time we make any of these agreements and I I certainly don't want to see that. I think that there are nonprofits and like like the Boys and Girls Club that have to plan that cannot just sit around and wait on um on the you know these for these discussions to to just go back and forth and not really get anywhere. I'm fully supportive of the Boys and Girls Club and I would love and I think that as a city we're duplicating services and in an area that is not our expertise and you have the Boys and Girls Club that they're this is solely their purpose and why would we not want to at least try a pilot program and um with with some of these facilities and and I like I would request that of council to please consider um and also just to expedite the process because it does again we're almost several months past budget workshops past passing the budget and we're already in December. We're not our next council meeting is not until mid January. How long is this going to take? >> Mayor, thanks Council. >> Oh, go ahead. Go ahead. Go ahead. >> Uh, mayor, just regarding the the budget, um, in all fairness, I appreciate your budget date of December. However, our budget, we passed our budget, and we had no conversations about this in our budget. We had conversations about the third party funding, which is something that we we do budget for the Boys and Girls Club, and there were requests of additional, and there were some adjustments made for that. However, again, this is a new request now, and it's a completely new model. It's going to involve discussions with the public on if they would be okay because the rec center down the street in their neighborhood will no longer be open to them anymore. There are a lot of people that are used to using our rec centers, especially certain ones that are that are very highly utilized. So, it's going to take a lot of steps before we can just close the doors to the public. I mean, if there's a way that we can um work something out because uh that involves not getting rid of our employees, that involves keeping the general public access to the facility, that involves incorporating some of these leagues or some of these games. I understand the school district, you use their facilities and they charge you guys a lot of money to use their facilities. That that's also um unfortunate because they have the facilities. there's a way that they could work with you all on on using and holding games in their facilities without charging you $1,500 to $5,000 a game. Um, and so, um, we're trying to work with you all, but I I do think there's other governmental entities that can also be a little more flexible possibly in in the way that they interact with you guys and we can approach this together holistically so that at the end of the day, we end up serving those kids that that are at risk and that we, you know, need need programs and and and we want to do this. But again, there was no discussion about this in the c in the last budget cycle a couple months ago. So, um I think having management move forward with the third party funding should probably be a separate conversation from this component and we can come up with a funding structure probably sooner because that those negotiations have been ongoing and we can start the discussion on this and see how we can work it out. But there are going to be a lot of kinks that need to be worked out in order to incorporate this. Um especially if it involves shutting the doors to the public. um a and um moving staff around or having staff potentially lose their job because we don't have another place for them. So, those are bigger conversations, but again, we do support the Boys and Girls Club and and I and I do appreciate all the hard work that you all do. So >> yeah, before before we go on, I think um the ideas are are created what you brought forth, >> but we need more information from our city manager to put everything together so we can see it and what makes sense and what are the [snorts] challenges, what not. So this is uh a little bit preliminary for us to make a decision, but we would rely on what report the city manager gives to us and the the information you you can provide to him. >> Go ahead. So, you know, we do support the Boys and Girls Club. It's something that I know South Florida utilizes a lot. A lot of children in the south, you know, go play my my my my granddaughters, my daughters, they participate in the Boys and Girls Club. But what I want to, you know, let me address management. I would just want to know where do we have something ready for today? Are they ready for presents? Even if we go, I know it's a negotiation. We got to go back to the executive session. You know, just want to know, do you have something ready for us or is it been there for a while? How long has it been? You know, because I know they're there they have a budget. I understand that we have our budget. We closed our budget, but at the same time, we also want to make sure that we want to come in and help them as much as we can >> because it's all in the youth. Now, closing down um facilities, you know, it's it's it is it I don't agree with closing down facilities. I think we can coexist with with the with the community, with with the elderly, with the seniors, with the with the with the uh with the youth, but we got to find a way. But if we're going to prolong like Councilwoman uh Chro said that we're ready and we haven't had this opportunity, you know, our youth has been sitting on the table and we haven't been, you know, because I understand we have a lot of projects. There's a lot of projects. We have calls. We give you calls all the time, but management needs to start getting the ball rolling and saying, "Hey, we're ready for the presentation. We're ready to finish with this negotiations because it's we're standing behind." And it looks like right now it doesn't feel like we're ready to go. We don't know what the budget is and it's just for me it's just a little frustrating. I, you know, I agree with council. It's just I want efficiency a little bit faster, you know, more. I've always said and said this that I like I'm I'm the type of person that if I set I start something I want to finish it as soon as possible. I don't want to be holding up for months, two months, three months. I think we have enough staff. I think we have the professionalism and they know what they're doing to get the job done or to make negotiations. That's all I have to say. >> Valdes, did you have a comment? >> Yes, mayor. Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity. Um I'm going to ease myself because I know Mr. this mentioned right now that um it was even recommended to do one team per school. I was just saying when I was young it was one team per school. Now I think it's three or four per grade level which is fine. Um you know more kids are active. That's all great. Management I can tell you um from Mr. Neb's perspective from Steve and and Ramon and myself we support the boys club. I was never a member but I did play in their leagues and their basketball leagues when I was young uh through our school. Um having said that um in the meeting where council member Silo was she they brought up the issue of maybe taking over one of the rec centers and she said you know what maybe we can work with Faras and we said okay we'll look at it. So we have been talking of that but that was separate and apart from the budget and on his own Mr. Neb when when the budget was coming around before we even spoke or they came to council and asked for more money he proposed I think they were getting 50,000 a year Mr. came up and said, "You know what? Let's make sure we can help them a little bit more, which it's not everything that they need, but it's more than they've been getting for the last 10, 20 years, whatever it was." And so he offered 150. They wanted, I think, 350 at the time. And so I think council settled on negotiate 100,000, which is what we've been trying to do. They've received a proposal from the city, everything ready to go if they agree. Just talking about the funding. um over a month and a half ago. And so they came back with a counter recently and and we've been looking at it. It's not everything that that uh they want. Well, I mean, it's their counter is what they want and I don't want to go into all the details, but so we're at at that that point right now. We've talked about the rec center. I think there's an opportunity maybe to look at one, see how we can do programming and helping them and they can help us. Um, so we're looking at all that, but I would say that as far as the funding to get going, we've provided a proposal to them. It's a matter of them saying yes. The other thing I wanted to mention, you mentioned that other organizations that we're trying to do this with, uh, we provided with a side topic, boys, uh, um, border Olympics. I just got a call last, yes, last week saying they're ready to sign the the the contract that we offered them, uh, the service contract, and we gave that to them about a month and a half ago also. And so now they're they reviewed it. They're all in agreement, and we're moving forward on that one for right now. But I think the funding would be easier. We just separate the two. We provided some information on the rec center. They asked about our salaries. Now, you know, in conversation, I'm not going to go into details, but I have and management has concerns with our staff and [snorts] where they would be in all of this. So, it's not just, you know, just take over the rec center. No, there's they have a way of that they want to do things and we don't agree with that and so that's why we're negotiating. >> So, it's not that we're trying to put it off. >> Okay. >> Believe me, we're not. >> Yeah. Gentlemen, um just to set one thing straight, I think you all have heard that this council is completely supportive of you all. We're completely supportive of the Boys and Girls Club. We certainly want to help you out as much as we possibly can, but you need to look at our dilemma. Mr. Benz, you just mentioned a few minutes ago how we're here to represent our people, the people that elected us. They're the ones paying one second. They're the ones paying for these recreation centers. Mine in particular, the one in my district, Blascata, is one of the most utilized, if not the most utilized, one in the city of Laredo. [snorts] How am I going to tell our people that are paying taxes, by the way, that are keeping that facility open that we're going to only segregate it to children, which I'm all for children, helping them out as much as possible, but we have a huge variety of age that goes there from six years old all the way to 80 years old. And they go there to work out, do taichi, do karate, do any type of lesson they might want to do, right? I my personal opinion is if a recreation center is not being utilized to its full potential then absolutely I I think it's a good idea to get you all involved and see what you all can do to these facilities. That's a great thing. For instance, there are some that you mentioned to me earlier when we spoke earlier, right? We spoke about FDA, I think it was, and then we spoke about I if I'm not mistaken, I I don't check into these wrecks except for mine the one in my district, right? But if I'm not mistaken, FA is not being used to its full potential. And if it's not being used to its full potential, then guys, my recommendation to staff of course would be absolutely work something out with the Boys and Girls Club because we need to get something going. Now, one one other thing that I don't agree with at all is getting rid of our employees. I don't like that at all. People apply to work for the city of Laredo for a reason because a job you're going to be able to hold for 20, 30, 40 years. And it's something people rely on. And I don't think it's fair for these people to apply for jobs being being there for such a certain amount of time. 10, 20, 30 years, some people even 40 and oh guys, we don't need you anymore, so move on out. That's something I just can't agree with. Mind you, I know you all say you can make it function at a cheaper price and you can make it work cheaper for us, but at the end of the day, these are our employees. These are our people. And I just don't like that particular part of it. And that's what was told to me. Whether that's in the contract or not, that's a different story. But we haven't been privy to the entire information. That's why it makes it so difficult to make a decision right now. >> I I would just ask a couple comments. Number one, $50,000 was for one year and one year only. Okay? So, let's quit with this myth that we've always received $50,000 from the city of Ledo. It's always been a hundred or more. It was only last year. Number two, we we specifically when and although we're hearing parts, it's the parts that's convenient to the people that are saying that. Number two, when we asked about specific community centers, we proposed to management. Give us your most underperforming specific community centers. Give us three, but give us and the reason we wanted Elen was because number one, our wheelhouse, the biggest bang for our buck is providing services to kids in South Laredo because year after year our numbers are higher at LBV than anywhere else. And it is the biggest that provides all sorts of services. And the idea that we're going to shut the doors, the koi is coming to get you, that was that's a lie. It was always we can work around it. We can partition portions. The only thing was we cannot mix teens with pre-teens and with adults, which is what you guys do, right? Okay. We cannot. They have to be separate. So any insinuation that we're going to close doors is a bold-faced lie. There are ways when we spoke to staff, they specifically said they can redistribute employees because the sheer number of employees wasn't sufficient enough that people would automatically get fired. So the idea that we were going to fire people is another complete false assertion. So I don't mind having a debate, but let's talk about the facts, >> right? And let's I mean I'm all for being [clears throat] we can disagree without being disagreeable. >> Sure. >> And so I have zero problems talking with stuff but when certain things are misperuated and mischaracterized like at some point it's just asking you all you all can issue a directive like and I agree with Mr. about this the issue with the service funding the 150 to 350 that should have been resolved before and when we came to the came to you all it should have just been done within a week it could have been done within a week it hasn't been done and so now we bring this other stuff and the possibility of utilizing the facilities to bring them up to their potential because without question even staff agrees we provide services to minors to kids below the age of 18 better than the city does. Undisputed. >> Right. And the reason we beat that is because we have two facilities within 200 feet of each other and we destroy you all in numbers dollar for dollar or apples to apples, oranges to oranges. And where we give better and by the way that facility that you have is way better than the one we have. And if we're able to get a good facility and we never talked about Hillside because >> that is the one of the most utilized one. We never even talked. We joked about, hey, give us Hannes, but Hannes, that's where all your seniors really go to. The the advantage of the seniors, though, is they're mobile. Adults are mobile. They have vehicles. They can drive. Our biggest holdback is kids and pre-teens and teens are limited to what's their walking distance. And so that's why so the reality is we offered give us your worst ones. Give us your lowest. >> Gentlemen, just two more questions for you all. one expanding into soccer. >> Yes. >> Would I hear that correctly? >> Yes, we're expanding the soccer. >> And I don't mean to be rude by any means at all. How are you all wanting to expand when you don't have the monies to even keep the facility going now? >> Well, actually, that's going to be completely funded through third part like through our benefactors that are going to pay for it in a partnership with the Laredo Heat. Any and all services that we are expanding into. Okay. The funding that we have for the team night program is funded by yours truly. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you. >> The soccer program is going to be a a collaboration with the Laredo Heat. >> So, all services we've done, that's we've found independent adequate funding for it and we've worked tirelessly to do so. But the thing is what we're showing is what we want to show you is we want to expand to teens because that is the undisputed most underserved uh pro youth age group in this community. They're the ones that are more prone once whether it be us or the school districts, the city or the county, once they go to middle middle school, we lose them. >> We really lose them for about two to three years. And the tough ones, the ones that have good support structure, good influences at the schools, they're the ones that make it. How many people that you went to middle school with never made it out? Good kids, good family. >> Absolutely. >> That's what we're trying to say. And for this this fiscal year, your all's year that you start December 15th, I think it was the date >> gave us meeting for our budget. We need >> you're needing how much money to make. >> Well, we're asking >> because are you down a million dollars? Are you down $2 million? >> I don't know. Actually, what we're asking for is just direct. I'm not trying to negotiate numbers with the staff. Like I mean we had asked we had asked council to approve or give permission to city coun or to management [cough] to go up to $350,000 and when they were offering 150. The thing is when you negotiate with somebody in good faith and come to you all you guys say go above. >> May I step in? Go ahead. All right. Thank you. Um let me let me bring this all the way around as well too. The directive from the council was 150 plus [cough] another $100,000. That was the number we were using the $250,000. So if we talk about the truth and honesty and everything else, that was the number that was in the agreement as well too. So we were working on 250,000. The request came back across with 350. Let let me let me put this kind of into it. So when we approved our balanced budget, adjustments were made to the third party funding. We had to make everything fit within our balanced budget structure of that. We had the conversation on the Boys and Girls Club. Just so you know, we left the $50,000 in the third party funding just in case something like this happens within the structure. And so we ended up we we ended up starting to negotiate. In fact, I had m Mr. Teas and I had conversations prior to the budget passing where I said we want to provide $150,000 and and let's do that. They brought up the idea of running some of the rec centers at that point in time. And I said, can we keep those two things separate because that's a larger issue to walk through that. And that was my recommendation to the Boys and Girls Club is let's let's establish the funding source and then let's go that way. Then of course we went into the budget conversation. Then of course we had a lot of different conversation between a lot of different individuals and and then keep changing the conversations within the negotiation and the agreements and everything else. it makes it very difficult to keep track of who's who I'm supposed to follow as well within that structure for that. So, we have the ability now with regards to the contracts and these there's like six contracts out there of individuals that were impacted by the third party funding adjustments. They all all these six people that we are talking with, they are asking for additional funding from the city. What I have told at least some of you was is that those funds would not be available till after October 1st because it's going to be the surplus savings from salaries and areas that within our budget in order to help fund these. Once we have these agreements set up, we can perpetuate them into the future. But until I get the agreements set up, there is no real funding to provide into this. And this is the challenge we have with some of these these these uh discussions within the agreements. We have limited funds in order to dedicate to all of the great needs in the city. And I I want to get there, but mayor, I think with this item, what I and I going to what the Boys and Girls Club is asking as well too is that again, we have been given the directive to negotiate in the $250,000. That's what we were working on. I offered a couple suggestions in there. They were going to go back and look at that. I have not had that response back until just recently here for the the other $100,000. The other part of this request is is that can we look at leasing out any of our facilities to the Boys and Girls Club so they can expand. I am happy to walk through that as well too. I I have no problem walking through that to figure out if is there a way to make this all work and I don't want to put Boys and Girls Club on the spot or anything else with that. I am happy to walk through those conversations. I think the challenge we have now is that we are in the month of December and if we would have had all the conversations in November that we thought we were going to have, it would have been a lot lot better. But when everybody else comes into the kitchen to cook, it makes it very very difficult to have the right conversations. I apologize for all of that, but I would ask for the directive from the council. Uh, in my mind, I think the funding should remain at the 250,000 and and we work out exactly how to do that. But allow me to negotiate with them on whether or not we have a facility or or two or whatever that number looks like within that strategy. >> Councilman, go ahead. >> Thank you. I think I got skipped at least three times, but anyway. Okay. It's a very exciting topic. Uh, but um, so >> the the meeting you're referring to, Mr. uh council Guutieres said 250 then we made an amendment to that motion saying we're not going to put a cap on it that we're going to leave you that flexibility to go up even higher than the 250. So I think that's where um you know a higher number like 350 is coming from. So, that's one of those things where I know sometimes things get going fast and it'd be nice if if that if the change of a motion gets changed that it gets reflected in the minutes or in, you know, in memory, but just just that was the actual amendment that we had there at that last meeting. Um, and you know, I' I've always gotten mixed stories. I've gotten our our rec centers never get used. That's why we shouldn't, you know, we know that I've been advocating for a rec center in my district um my entire time and you know it always gets said, "Oh, it's the higher soio economic status." Well, guess what? Like, if you put the people that live in my district in any other major city, they're not considered high soio economic status. They're still working uh and living paycheck to paycheck. So, um let's not try to fragment the city north and south. And we all have needs. Um, you know, that's my sidebar on that. But, um, I get told the reason why, one of the reasons why I can't have, we cannot have a rec center in district six is because the rec centers don't get used. Okay. Then I'm hearing that I know council Gutierrez gets used. I'm hearing Mayor Pro Tims. Are we still do we do we challenge? Okay. >> No, no, I'm not. Okay. [laughter] >> Immediate. >> Immediate pass. Mayor U. You know, uh, hers gets used. Um, but I would we have an indoor recreation feasibility study that has been funded by our capital improvement plan that has not gotten out the door yet. That needs to get done as soon as possible so that we can actually see and you know we don't need that for you guys just to show us a slide that shows the utilization um so that we can say okay which ones actually are getting used because it'd be nice to see the numbers and not and not just um kind of getting hearing these both sides. So, I do think we can walk and shoot gun at the same time. We can negotiate on the final number. Shouldn't have taken this long to get to that final number, but we can we can have two negotiations going at the same time. We can we can have the negotiation on the number and we can also the thing is we didn't give you that directive last time to to be fair to management like the man the the directive was regarding um financial commitment. Um so there's and I appreciate mayor's um agenda item today where he's proposing you know this pilot framework. Key word there is pilot. Okay pilot meaning just one or two or three you know uh options. So um so my um and I I appreciate um the request from city manager. I think we should move forward with that. Uh I um but I also would make a motion that um we my motion is that we either you know however management feels comfortable either expanding the the the the >> scope of the current negotiation or start a separate negotiation for looking at the possibility of utilizing some of our underused rec centers because I know as we are not getting the most bang for our buck for for for our infrastructure that we have in place. Um maybe a couple rec centers are getting used properly, but we know um a lot of them are not. Um so my motion is that we go with the mayor's uh the language of his item that we add negotiations directive to management to start discussing this uh pilot framework for the least utilized rec centers in the city. >> Second discussion. >> Motion second for discussion. >> Mayor, if I may. >> Oh, we have a second. >> Well, I I'm next. just second. >> Yeah, second for discussion. >> I won't be um so uh while while I agree with uh Dr. King's direction for the negotiations to continue and perhaps opening up this different scope, I um I was under the impression that all of the discussions were taking place. It seems as if Mr. Neb was saying that the funding was one issue and then this new service model might be another. So, I hope we can take this opportunity to, you know, open up the discussions. It will require uh negotiation with our parks and reccks department. I think several on council have um had concern about preserving what the successful programs that we do provide, allowing those to continue while finding a way also to help the Boys and Girls Club in their programming. I think one of my um questions that I hope will be answered during these negotiations is the financial structure of the Boys and Girls Club and how if if that is going to be preserved or if the city is looking to absorb this programming because nationally on on on the national scale Boys and Girls Club is its own nonprofit. >> That's correct. >> And and they run their own programming. So >> everything that's been happening is my fault because I've been here now this is going on nine weeks but the directive of Boys and Girls of America is that we cannot be without a head CEO for any amount of time. >> Well then I would suggest [snorts] Mr. Venovas that this nonprofit take care of what you need to do in order to enter into these negotiations with the city in good faith. So I I think everybody here is agreeing that we do want to come to some agreement. >> Yeah. And we are needs to make we're not looking to change your budget >> to preserve what the city's functions are currently and how we can best support the programming that services many of our residents here. >> So that I will lend my support. >> Council woman, go ahead. >> A motion. So, I just want to kind of bring up the like that's that's kind of the issue that we have when we when we have these public discussions on contract negotiations and we start setting amounts because once you put a number up there and you say up to this amount, the assumption is that's how much we're going to get. And that's the struggle we've had. We had it when we were talking about the Plaza Theater. How much money do we want to dedicate? And then we said, "Well, then everybody's going to bid that amount." So, those are things and that's part of the reason why council has discussions in executive session and that's part of the reason why we don't really like to put numbers on things because it always goes into a negotiation as well, they said this amount. That's why the amount was okay up to 250 and then see if there's an additional need and then somehow the number got to 350. So, um, that doesn't mean that it it has to be that that amount. So, that's why I think there's a little bit of, um, it's not that we don't want to support that amount. It's just there's all these other factors that go into it. Our CDBG funding, we cut it. We, you know, we've we've been having to cut back as well. Um, and so, um, the other thing is if we are going to have discussions, I would recommend that the Boys and Girls Club have one representative because I can tell you, Mr. Theis, I can sense a little bit of frustration from you today in terms of things that maybe you you're saying that we are interpreting incorrectly in terms of not shutting down or closing doors to certain people. However, I would like to say that I had asked specific questions and and and the answers that were given to me today were not in line with what you just said today. So, there is some confusion in terms of, you know, I asked what's going to happen to the seniors and the answer I got was, well, they're going to have to go somewhere else. And that for me, I understand they're mobile, but I live in the Mines's Road, there's only one facility. and for them to drive on the Mines's road all the way to Hannes or somewhere else. I mean, they're they're low on gas, they're on fixed incomes, it's hard for them sometimes to drive that distance. So, when we talk about the different sectors in the city, when I'm talking about Mines's Road, it I do advocate because that we we're so far out, we deal with all the industrial traffic. It's hard to drive. Some of them are scared to drive around all those 18-wheelers. So, um, you talked about certain centers that are highly utilized, but you also have to look at the demographics, and that's where we come in. It's not that we think we own those centers, it's that we're advocating for the people that use them, right? And so, um, I I just think it would be good to have one point of contact for the Boys and Girls Club or maybe two, but on the same page because some of the there's a disconnect between some of the things that are being said from you, Mr. and some of the things that I heard earlier. So, with all due respect, I could understand where maybe the messaging is getting um conflated, right? It depends on who's calling and then if you have another board member uh calling or if you have someone else calling um it starts to get really really muddy. So my suggestion is you know two people from the city, two people from the Boys and Girls Club, you guys work it out and then document all the discussions and all the terms so that we have the whole picture and it's not, you know, there's no confusion on what exactly it is and then we can decide as a council on what we're comfortable with. um as far as uh but again it is going to take some discussions with the community if we are going to modify their access in any way. So just >> I just wanted to comment that I totally understand and respect what you guys are trying to do and the amounts of 350 and and with all due respect 350 doesn't doesn't even cut it doesn't even come close. Every single border town in in this state of Texas generates at least a million dollars from the city council to a boy club in every border city in this state of Texas. And and you guys don't help us with that. And and I'm not coming to you here with my hat in my hand just by myself. I'm telling you that I'm actively looking to make us self-sufficient to be an evolution so we can do something better for our community. It it and I'm not just coming to you guys. I've asked $6 million from Web County that I expect action on by the first of the year. I've asked Cliff Kllum for $30 million. I asked [clears throat] William Harrison to help us. So, I'm not just coming to you guys and beating up on you. I'm telling you that we have real needs. Things that should have been done 10, 20 years ago, never done. And now, as that representative and working with Mr. Theas, we want more. Our community, our kids community needs more. And you all have the resource and the project. You have the money. See, we're not looking to change budgets. You got the money and you got the locations. And you know, we do a good job. And we want to not only take care of our pre-teens, but we want to pick up our teens. It's as simple as that. And I guarantee you, we'll make you proud in what we'll do. >> All right. I'm just going to close it out with that. >> Sorry. >> Everybody know everybody already got their their two cents worth. Well, the only thing I can come up with is that I am in agreement with everybody up here, but I think everybody [cough] can see that this is an unfinished product. Uh, this is a good moment to advocate, as I've been doing since I've gotten here, that we need to have separate meetings for this type of thing. Why? Because we can add we can get all the information that we need to put all in one shot, close it out, and we can move forward. Um, but I will say that the word here is due diligence. And I think uh in in my conversations with staff, I've always told them that I that I expect you because at the end of the day, I'm always going to be looking to them to give us what his staff recommend. And then it's my job. You're right. I do represent the citizens of the city, especially the kids of the city, and I have to make a decision whether their due diligence and their staff recommendation coincides with my obligation to the citizenry. And right now there's a there's a lot of questions that are that are left undone. Uh there's a lot of negotiating to do. Uh there's a lot of uh you know communication between both the both parties here to to do it. But let me just be very clear. I want this I really do want this to work. But I wanted to work with everybody at the table saying yeah we we we've come to an agreement. It's going to happen. That's how we do public service. That is by reason that we are up here is because when we can get things done in that manner where everybody gets properly served, then we've done our job. But if there's loose ends here and there, I I just don't believe in that. That's just not how I work. I used to say and I still believe in that. I work slowly, methodically, and smart. And that's what I think this process needs to be done and and and held to account to. So gentlemen, I am I am with you on on on uh on on this journey of yours. I want you to succeed. No doubt. I've been I was a uh the Boys Club. I I lived at Russell Terrace and I used to walk the Southwest Boys Club uh Northwest Boys Club and to to the one over here uh the main boys club. Every day it was either one or the other. I stopped going to the Northwest Boys Club because I got introduced to boxing one day and I said no more, you know. So that was it. Uh so but the swimming and and everything that I did through that walking to those places was a an an awesome experience and I just want to continue that. I want you all to continue that journey and have all that ability for every kid in this city to to go through what I went through. So I commend you with your efforts and I'm I'm hoping that we can come to an agreement. >> Thank you. >> All right. >> Go ahead. >> Just really quick. Uh you know this organization I commend you all. I I I think the end goal of all of us here in this room is to bring uh to expand the youth. Uh I I I believe there was a change in the boys club. Maybe uh now there's a different vision. That's why we're here right now. Uh but yes, uh I know LBB is in district one. Uh and Elen is in district one. U so and I see the work that I'm very involved with LBB. Uh and I see the work and the leagues and everything. Uh but if we can coexist uh also hopefully we we come together and and work this out with the with what's >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Mayor May. >> Okay. >> I just I'd like to make an amendment to the to the motion just um in discussions one that we move forward with the service contract and then and then another with the pilot program so that way one doesn't slow down the other. >> Okay. If I may go ahead uh There's no action available for this item. It's only posted for discussion on status. >> No, but the mayor brought up my item as well. >> Your item 76. Y 76 does allow for action. >> Well, mayor, >> go ahead. >> I think um probably the more appropriate thing would be to make a motion to bring up council member's item. >> Oh, okay. So, >> it's on the table. It's on the table. >> It does have possible action on the item. So, >> okay. We do have a motion and a second has been voted. >> I accept the amendment. >> Y You accept the amendment. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> A vote. >> You you vote on the amendment first >> on the amendment >> and that is to have two uh negotiate two agreements. One for the service agreement and then the other one for the pilot program. >> Uh I thought that mayor point of order. I thought that was already implied with his original motion >> because did his motion clarify that that does it need an additional motion? expending the >> I think the amendment is to allow it to be separated and do two agreements, not just one put together. >> Okay. >> Is that right? Yeah. Then my understanding my motion made it I left it up to them, but we're clarifying it's two. Okay. >> All right. Motion second. >> All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion pass. >> That's for the amendment. >> That's for the amendment. >> And now we need one. >> Now you vote on >> on the amended one. >> On the motion as amended. Correct. >> All right. Motion as amended. >> Second. >> Second. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion pass. >> All right. >> Okay. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> Thank you guys for going over a merry Christmas. >> We will reach out and try to meet even as early as before the end of this week. >> Thank you, sir. >> Appreciate it. Thank you. >> Thank you guys. Appreciate it, sir. >> All right. Thank you. >> We'll proceed 65 >> with number 65. discussion with possible action on memorializing Techo's baseball team by national history and trajectory at the UN unit trade stadium and any matters related there too and we continue to share a unique position with our sister city of Naredo. I wanted to memorialize the history of the techos in our community and have it on our display at the unit trade stadium. So my motion would be for maners to discuss this item with the techos and come back with a recommendation. This can be in the form of a plaque or display but I'll leave it up to management to work out the details and come back to us with regards to with regards to the payment. There are some interested private donors that would be willing to cooperate with this payment. >> Second that motion is a motion. Yes sir. >> Second for discussion. Mayor, I the the concern that that um well, I appreciate the item, mayor. I just think that at the in the end, the council should probably be the one making the the decision um just for it to get presented to us and then we can make that final decision on what exactly it should be. >> Is that your mo amendment to the motion? >> Uh well, does it does it need it? You think >> if you want to change it because his motion is just to to direct staff to come up with something to bring back >> but then to bring back to us. >> That's right. Right. >> All right. Okay. So that is the motion. >> Motion second. >> Second. All in favor? >> I oppose. Motion passes. >> Mayor. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> If I may, can I make a motion to bring up my item? I think uh there's some staff here from Matu that wants to to speak and we're going to go into executive session. So >> yeah, let me just bring up 66 and we'll have to proceed. >> 66 discussion with possible action with the purchase of urgently needed mamogram machine for the city of Laredo health department through the use of mayoral priority funds and any matters related there too. This item is very important to me as we're all aware that Laredo has been designated as a medically underserved area which can impact early detection and treatment outcomes. Access to screening programs is crucial as national data suggests higher incident rates do not necessarily equate to higher mortality rates in areas with robust screening. And we have elevated rate rates in specific areas as assessed by Texas Department of State for the period of 2006 to 2019 found a statistically significant increase in all age breast cancers and acute lymphocitic leukemia cases in three specific northern Laredo census tracks and mortality rate. Historically, studies have shown that post-menopausal breast cancer deaths in Laredo have nearly tripled since the 1940s and a more significant increase than a slight rise seen in the US total population during the same period. Now, health and safety ranking in a recent to 2025 wallet hub study on women's health and safety metric, Laredo ranked 166 in the health and safety category of 171 cities nationwide and placing Laredo Laredo in Texas cities included in this report placing Laredo low along the Texas city. Now, for this reason, I would like to motion for management to move forward with the purchase of a mammogram machine for the city of Laredo Health Department through the mayor's priority fund. >> Second motion second. >> Mayor questions. Um, Dr. Chamberlain, I well or mayor may know. I just wanted to know do we have the staff that is do we have a mamogram machine already? Do we have the staff in place for them not only to take the mammograms but then staff to read the mammograms or would we contract some of that out? How exactly would the actual um implementation of this proceed? >> Once again, good evening mayor and members of the council. Dr. Richard Chamberlain, your Lorita public health director, and thank you mayor for this item and thank you council for the support. Specifically regarding the mammogram machine, we currently do have a part-time position which is our x-ray technician who is housed at Lorita Public Health which supports our tuberculosis clinic. That individual isn't always busy as they are part-time and we're looking to in increase that excuse me with a new award that we are getting so we have more time with that X-ray technician. Regarding the readings, we are in contract negotiations right now for our tuberculosis pulmonary clinic as well and also to have somebody who is specialized to read the mammograms as well. So that is all falling into place as we speak. Um and we're very hopeful that we can turn on of course with the council's approval for February of next year. >> So with all the support staff needed and this is a program that already exists. >> This is not a program that exists. This would be integrated of course for all of our under uninsured population that we do serve any self-pay individuals and of course we would be in um accepting insured patients as well. We'll start off with our Lafmelia program at the Laredo Health Department, the primary care component of the health department, but we're not going to shut out anybody else from um accessing the the analysis the machine. this position. You say there's a part-time position, but will you be looking for a tech that has experience in mammograms or training of the current tech who's already working in the >> training of the current tech which is part of the contract the negotiation as well? >> Okay. All right. Is so make sure that they're gentle and that they go to a very good program. >> Absolutely. And that was >> and that was also part of the reasoning why we did select this specific machine because of the comfort that was that the women would experience from the specific machine. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Uh Mr. Chair, thank you so much for for being a champion of you know all the you know the health department and you know everything that goes on in in Laredo. Uh I see you you're always looking for grants. You're always and you know I call give you a call like Mr. Mr. Tibetan where you at? I need I need some advice for for this. where do I send this family and you're always in conferences getting you know looking for grants and I commend you and bringing this to the community bringing to the the you know the the most needed you know bringing this to this to the community to them it's it speaks a lot about you and the hard hard work that you do and and the department that you have under you that the dedication they have for the community so thank you for great being a great leader um I'm still mad because you didn't you know I wasn't sponsored on is, you know, I want to be a sponsor of this, but you know, something that we spoke, but it's awesome. You've done a lot a lot for the community. So, thank you, Mr. Ch. >> Thank you. Yes. >> Great item. Thank you. Um, how how um how much is this machine going to cost or >> 266,000 and change. >> Okay. So, I thought it was >> Yes. Actually, from the quotes from GE. Okay. And if you give me a second >> and and for our cash pay patients, um do we know how much they would be charged yet? >> We are working through those details right now, council member. As soon as we do have those, we'll make sure to share them with council. >> I know the issue is that Gateway Community Health Center also competes for the grant. What's the grant name again? The um for breast cancer screening. >> Um my mind BCBS. >> Yeah. So, because I know in the past um the city health department got part of it and then there was concerns from Gateway about, you know, taking away money from them and blah blah blah. But, um so the the concern I'm just curious about is are we participating in that grant program now? >> We are not participating in that grant program. >> Okay. >> This is something specifically to expand access to the service since we do know that there's only three in Laredo. There's a long wait list for all of those. We just want to continue to maximize the access point. >> I just asked and I'm sure you're going to focus on this. I just ask you make the cash pay as as low as possible because I mean um for for an uninsured population because um it's a critical need under affordable care act of course like if you have insurance no out of pocket costs for any cancer screening you know but for our cash pay you know charging them two three $400 just won't for me it's not going to feel right. So, um, just hopefully you can get it down as low as possible. Yeah. >> Yeah. We we'll make sure to be the the best price in town as we do want to make sure that we're accessible to as many as possible. >> Mayor, if yes, go ahead. >> Uh, Dr. Chamberlain, we have room at the health department for this machine. >> This this machine will be going at our new preventative care clinic which is at at Mc on McFersonson Road at the McFerson Medical Center. >> So, we have space. >> Yes, ma'am. I and mayor, I just want to commend you for for working and and making this a possibility. I know that was something we talked about during the bond and wanting the reason one of the reasons why we were going to expand the health department to incorporate this machine. So when that didn't pass, I was a little disappointed that we weren't going to be able to bring this to the community, but because it is important and there are only so many machines around and most of them are in privately owned facilities and so it's great to see that we have one in our in our in our community and our public u access and so finding a way like Dr. King said to to make it work for everybody. But just kudos to you, mayor, also for um contributing to this citywide initiative. I think it's going to um help a lot of women with that early detection and hopefully save a lot of lives. >> And hopefully we do are able to expand to add more machines in the future into more jurisdictions of the city as we open up at least small satellite clinics. That's the vision. Um, and of course this is tied in with our item number 30, sorry number >> oh, it's a it's a PHI, excuse me. I just wanted to make mention since we're on the topic of cancer, it's item number 10, that we were awarded the secret grant for cancer prevention detection. >> Item 10. >> Item number 10. Um, so we're bringing that forward to to council for approval and that is specific for breast cancer detection and liver cancer detection. So, we're we're stacking all these items to make sure we're making a difference. >> Mayor, point of order. Uh, do we have to approve item 10 before we approve this item or does it not matter? >> Well, the the the item to purchase the the the machine is 38. >> Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to bring up item 38. >> Second. Motion second. All in favor? >> Motion. Yes. 38. And um in line with the motion that's on the floor, I believe it it's appropriate also to approve item 38. >> Second motion >> in combination with this >> motion. >> Uh I it could be a separate motion. I I just want to make sure that we take care of approving the item while we are approving the use of the funds together or either zone. Do we have to combine them or we take one at a time? We have to read 10. >> Yeah, we'll do it separately because we have to read 10. >> Okay. >> Well, 38 I'm talking about 38. >> So 38. 38 we can do together. Be easier. >> So we have a motion on the floor right now. >> Right. >> So we'll vote on the motion and then we'll motion to approve 38. May >> we have a motion and a second? >> Yes, sir. >> All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion passes. >> Mayor, regarding item 38, I'd like to make a motion to approve. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion passes. Also, >> one last comment. This will also support our employee health and wellness program as we're looking to reduce the costs that are associated with our health plan. We will be funneling or requesting of course that our staff they don't have to but we will educate them to make sure that they use our system to reduce those costs as well. >> All right. One more thing just make it gentle. [laughter] >> Yes, sir. >> All right. Thank you. >> All right. Yeah. >> Next item. >> Asking request to bring up item number >> 67 that >> motion second regard transport group metro and credo and the updated information request. Any other matters in there too? Uh I don't know if there's some somebody wants to speak on this before we go to executive section. Yes, there is somebody signed up to speak on this item. Mayor >> 67. Yes, we have one public comment. It is Anna M. Fernandez. >> Good evening, mayor and city council. [snorts] >> My name is Anna Hernandez. I have a total of 32 years of service as a bus driver. >> Thank you for your service. >> Thank you. >> Tonight, I am speaking on behalf of all members that are employed at at Edra and are part of a union. I'm here to clarify why our decision to strike occurred. During our negotiations, we asked for several things, but one of the most important things was to have back our consecutive days off. Three years ago, the company introduced a new software by the name of Remix. When shifts were posted, we noticed many were no longer with consecutive days off. I filed a grievance and was told by AMG of operations and operations manager, that the software now did the runs, which are shifts, and it would stand because of the conversation and and advising the union on on the software. The advisement of the new software was very vaguely explained to us during the initial meeting to let us know of the software implementation. That was something we fought hard with the company to give us back. This does not affect me because my seniority does not affect me because of my seniority, but it does affect many. And I just want to let you all know that we love our jobs, but we also have a family that we go home to. With different days off, it is impossible for us to rest or even plan anything with our families. The negotiations continued and during the time of the strike, we did our research towards that software and we found out that it is possible to cut runs with consecutive days off. And now the company will give us back consecutive days off after the strike. If the operations administration would have taken into consideration our request, we would have avoided going on a strike and affecting daily trips to many residents of Laredo. We had to do what was necessary to fight for what was only fair for us. The maintenance department stayed on working because they were not affected by their shifts and felt comfortable with the negotiated contract. But today, even after they helped the company during the strike, now are being affected by their vacations and seem to be punished instead of the company being thankful of them staying on to working for them staying on to work during the strike. I also want to clarify, we are not unsatisfied with our pay, but we ask for more pay because our pension is not something we can live by if we choose to retire today. That is why we fought for the pay to start saving for our future retirement. Ever since the strike, we feel retaliated against with the firing of employees because we chose to speak up and not stay silent. All [snorts] we ask is to be treated fairly and because we have many employees who have worked here for more than four decades. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for your time. All right, >> mayor. Go ahead. >> Uh, I recommend that we go into executive session on this item uh because there's some attorney client privilege uh communication that uh would benefit the council and and also along with that I ask that you go ahead and take back item 60 for session. Item 61 uh does not need to be raised today. >> All right. Motion to go to session. >> Motion 607. >> Second. >> Second. All in favor? >> Executive session. Back to executive session. No agreements were made. >> Mayor for number 60. I asked for staff to proceed as directed. >> Second. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion. >> Motion. >> Yes. >> And for number 67. No action was taken. >> Okay. Next item. >> Go ahead. >> Okay. Motion to approve appointments to commission, boards, and committees. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion pass. >> Motion to open up public hearings in introductory ordinances 8 9 10 11 and intro ordinance number 12. motion second. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion pass. >> We just need legal. >> I'll read it. You read it. I'll read it. >> Mayor, before before they start reading this motion to move the meeting to 11. >> Second. >> Extend the meeting to 11. Sorry. >> Motion. >> Second. All in favor? >> Post. Motion pass. >> Go ahead. Number eight, an ordinance of the city council of the city of Laredo, Texas, amending section 24-65-0 title supple supplemental provisions of the land development code by adding subsection C, which will regulate the sale of motor vehicles from from private property located in residential zoning districts. Number nine, public hearing and introductory ordinance amending chapter 28 of the city of Laredo Code of Ordinances, article two to prohibit illuminated signage for all properties located along all rightways abing designated historic plazas, providing servability, establishing an effective date, and providing for publication. Number 10, public hearing and introductory ordinance authorizing the city manager to accept an enter into a contract from the cancer prevention and research institute of Texas for the cancer screening and and early detection grant amending the fiscal year 2025-2026 budget by appropriating revenues and expenditures in the amount of 1,158,238 with no match for the city of Laredo public health department and amend the city of Laredo public health department fiscal year 2025-2026 full-time equivalent FTE position listing by creating one program coordinator comma 207 position and two medical office assistance 2 205 position for a two-year term starting on January 1, 2026 to December 31st, 2027. Seven funds will be accounted for in the public radio public health department fund cancer screening and early detection grant. Number 11, public hearing and public hearing providing community residents an opportunity to comment on the 2024-2025 consolidated annual performance and evaluation report caper uh prepared by the department of community development which identifies the activities and and activities undertaken by the city of Laredo and participating nonprofit organizations and agencies in supporting the city's housing and non-housing strategies and the objectives outlined in the 2024 for annual consolidated plan. >> Yeah. Okay. Go with number eight. For or against. Four or against. Four or against. Motion to close and introduce. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> Motion pass. Number nine. For or against. Four or against. Four or against. Motion to close and introduce. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? Close. Motion pass. >> Number 10. Four or against. Four or against. Four against. >> Motion to close and introduce. >> Motion second. All in favor? I >> oppose. Motion pass. Number 11. Four against. Four against. Four against. >> Motion to close and introduce. >> Second. >> Motion second. All. Any opposed? Council to introduce number 12. >> No motion necessary. >> All right. [snorts] Uh motion to approve final reading of ordinances 13- 21. >> Motion. All in favor? >> Mayor Mayor >> uh someone uh there there is a citizen that signed up for uh public uh comments on number 17. >> All right. Is he here? >> Is uh Mr. George Algat. >> Number 17 public comment. George Alg not here. Okay. All right. Continue. >> Motion and a second. >> We have a motion and a second. >> All in favor? >> Motion pass. >> Mayor. Um motion to approve the consent agenda. >> With the acceptable 56 accepted 56 number 36. I'm sorry, we did that one already. number 39 that needs to be read into the record with an amendment. >> Yes. >> Motion and a second. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I post. Motion passes. >> I need to read it. Yes. Then we get to see you have already. >> Oh, you want to do that one first? >> Well, that usually it's in the order. I can do the 56. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Is that correct? >> Yeah. So, number 36, mayor. Number 39. Sorry. 39. >> The city is to read the amendment. >> Number 39, mayor will be amended uh to read authorizing city manager to negotiate and execute contract. Fiscal year 25-100 RFQ- Consulting Services Risk Management with a Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services Incorpor Incorporated for an annual amount not to exceed $50,000 and a contract value not to exceed $250,000 dollars to provide expert guidance and support in evaluating and managing the city's insurance and risk management programs. This contract is for two years with three one-year extensions contingent on budget appropriations. Funding is available through the risk management fund. >> That's for number 39. Mayor >> 39. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> Oppos? Motion pass. >> 56. >> Number 56. >> 56. >> Authorizing the city manager to approve a construction contract to Midas Contractors LLC utilizing the byboard comp comparative purchasing contract number JOC number 783-25 for the construction of the concrete trail at the Lion's Tank. the amount of $90,000. Funding is available in the waterworks fund. Um, and I guess I don't know if this question is better for utilities or for um uh Mr. Gomez, but the the the question is is specifically about the concrete trail. If if we could get some um >> yeah, if we get some information about where this how long this trail will be. And I specifically have concerns about the security of the Lion's water tank. These are brand new water tanks and generally speaking, from my understanding, um, the public isn't really supposed to be so close to this public utility in the interest of water security, >> right? U I can cover on the on the length of the trail. Good evening, mayor, council, council member. uh on the length of the trail is about almost about two blocks length from this going east to west. It is going to be protected and I think T and cover coming on that it is going to be in protected by a fencing. The tanks are going to be protected with a cyclone fence from from the from the walkway of the of the park. So, it's no longer than two blocks that recovers what covers the the the walkway >> and and do you have a a distance amount that that is? >> Uh, not not off the top of my head, council. Uh, but I know we do want to have like a little um like a like a pet with a trail with a little uh little pet stations that they can they can sit down there as well. Uh, when we're working with Councilman GarcA, we could possibly do work do like a little playcape or if not, I'm sorry. uh a dog park and uh if allowed, but it it's all going to be it's all going to be fenced out from the uh from the water tanks, not not close to and again, Mr. T can probably help me on that one as far as the if it's allowed, the distance that could be allowed or not. So >> So is this trail is the trail is um it's it's around these tanks. So that like it'll be the concrete tank, a fence and a trail and that will be the extent of >> So they have a park that is close to the tank. It's not close to the tank itself. The tank is protected. It's just it's a park already be in the design of the of the of that tank, the lion tank. So it's not related basically to the structure. So the 90,000 was part of the utility to support the park to build that trail, but it's not really within that structure itself, but connected to that to the structure, but so they're they're so the structure is safe basically. >> Okay. And and what kind of uh land is this trail occupying? >> What kind of what kind of land? >> The amount of the acreage of land. Um, off the top of my head, C council woman, it it's probably no more than maybe about 300 ft maybe lengthwise around there, two blocks away, maybe by about 10 ft wide that we're going to put that that trail that the proposed trail that we that we that we're talking about. Uh, we have different ideas. It can be asphalt or it can be a crush granite that we can possibly do. Uh, we're working with Ardura, which is the the company that that's doing the the design for the water tank. They had made a design for us so that we can put that. As far as amenities, again, it's going to be just a dog, a small dog park, but uh it's not going to be it's going to be on the opposite side. For example, I don't know if you're familiar with uh the two tanks, we call it two tanks over there by behind Mary help behind Mary Help of Christensen, there's two tanks and right next to it, right adjacent to it, we have two soccer fields. There's a fence there's a cyclone fence of six feet that divides that divides the two tanks the water tanks from the soccer fields and you know we it's kind of separate kind of and that in that kind of con same concept but of course this is smaller in a smaller scale to for >> and so there's not been a security issue at this at these other water tanks. >> No ma'am no ma'am not whatsoever. No ma'am. We have the we have the cyclone bench at six feet and we have yet we have soccer games every day going on there at at the two tanks park which is right just north of Mary help of Christian right behind target. So we don't have any any security problem. Thank god. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Thank you. >> Uh Mr. Gomez, can you just bring us a schematic for next time around? Sure. Or we can put it as a part of our Friday packet. >> Okay. >> Just so we can get an idea of what it looks good. I don't know if there's going to be is there a rendering on it or not? Uh our Dura has does have a rendering of a of a trail the trail that goes around and then a as you know a very small >> just for peace of mind it will help. >> Sure. Sure. We'll send it to you so you can appreciate it. >> Council member if I may. Mayor Mayor Protemp if I may. Yeah. There's actually uh attached to the agenda item online. Uh there's a schematic there that you can see. >> Very good. Perfect. >> Supporting information. >> Yes sir. That that supporting information is included as part of the package online. >> Excellent. Thank you. Very specific. >> [clears throat] >> motion to >> Can I bring up Can I bring up item number 68, please? >> Number 56. >> Oh, number 56. Oh, yeah. So, moved. Yeah. >> Uhhuh. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Sorry about that. >> Motion and a second. >> All in favor. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Motion pass. >> Number 58. Mayor number 58. Uh item number 58 staff report discussion with possible action to accept and approve reports reviews presented by our internal audit. Tina, >> we're move to move to accept. >> Oh, she's going to report. >> M to report to us. >> Um just uh good evening, mayor uh promps uh and city council. For the record, Tina Rodriguez, internal auditor. I'm just here uh to submit for your approval of the Max Mandel golf course compliance review. Uh just to let you know they were in full complian they were in compliance with the management agreement and the unannounced inventory and cash audits uh for um cash controls across the city remain strong with only two minor exceptions that were promptly corrected. And just as previously discussed with council and with city management, uh the inventory um system needs to be updated, but we do recommend for policies uh to be instituted citywide and for a new system to be implemented. But of course, since it is a a large task, uh we just uh recommend the city begin comprehensive planning uh in order to implement such an initiative. Motion to approve. >> Can can I just uh uh I'll second that. Uh can I just ask one question on the Max Mandel, can you can you make sure uh Mr. the recommendations as far as the audit the audit that that she put on paper today? If you if we can try and implement and uh I think we're going to be up for renewal of the contract. I think those are strong recommendations and I I agree with them. >> Motion. Yes. Thank you. We have >> Yes, sure. >> Thank you. Um uh I'm sorry I guess I just wanted to ask a followup about the inventory control. I know that uh fleet has gone through extensive inventory control upgrades and created a new system and it and according to your reports it seems to be working properly. Yes. >> Um, do you foresee that an issue in other departments and and maybe ask management, where do you see this modernization of our inventory system beginning? Because I do agree with Miss Rodriguez that it's it's important to begin to upgrade our inventory control. >> So, we get them. >> You want to go to the >> Yeah. And Mr. Rodriguez met with us on on this item as well too. and and I believe that we are going to implement the inventory control adjustments within that structure and actually citywide. The intent is to bring all the citywide up up to uh that we have a we have a lot of different warehousing that does not have those types of controls in place. And so the idea is to I guess provide a better report as to what it's going to take to get there because some of it is software driven and some of it is the the actual controls of where we're holding the stuff. So >> I just know that with fleet it was um an extensive process and and a lengthy process. So um it's good to hear that it will get started. >> Yeah. and and ch one of the challenges with the fleet as well too was is that we were actually carrying uh >> obsolete material because it still had a value to the city. And so if we if we got rid of all that obsolete material at one time, you would see a big uh explanation on the financial records as well too. And so that that's why we're trying to release it in a little bit more controlled fashion. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. You have no reason to carry it. >> Mayor promot >> motion to approve um the presentation from the from the internal hunter. >> Second. >> Thank you. >> Motion say yes. Those in favor? >> I >> I post oppos. >> Motion passes. May prom motion to recess as a Larredo city council and convene as a Laredo Mass transit board. Is there a second? Second of that approved. >> Motion approved. >> Yes. >> Motion pass point of information. Uh there are some citizens that wanted to speak on item 18. I don't know if you would like to revisit it really quick >> on item >> 18. >> So council 62 and 63 right now where >> oh I'm sorry once you >> we're going to we motion to approve number 62 and 63. >> So we motion second motion in a second. Those in favor? >> Against? >> Motion passes. >> Motion to adjourn Laro Mass Transit Board and reconvene as Laro City Council. >> Second. >> Motion in the second favor. >> I >> I against. >> Motion passes. So, with that being said, uh uh council, if I may bring up uh item number 18. I know it already passed, but there was some uh some >> second motion. >> A motion and a second. Those in favor? >> Second. >> Against? Motion passes. >> Uh item number 18, >> an ordinance of the city of Laredo, Texas, amending the zoning ordinance map of the city of Laredo by reszoning lots 9 and 10 block 2031 Eastern division located at 3214 and 3216 Santa Barbara Street from R3 mixed residential district to B1 limited uh business district. I know this item was approved but we have some comments. >> Go ahead. commercial zoning. So that's 45 years and we're all for in And it means a lot to us. I was born and raised there. may sure be very Yes, sir. Once again, thank you so much. And I'm not afraid to put Mr. Mas. I don't Bobby Mas being the the when we used to hear the radio very much right? question family and on behalf of the mayor and our council. Thank you. >> Moving on. Moving on to item number 68 by council member Melissa Rigo. discussion with >> discussion with possible action to submit a resolution to the TCQ's public comment portal requesting an inclusion of an environmental assessment of the midreach Rio Grande River as part of the Texas Integrated Report of surface water quality which is submitted by annually to the US EPA and any other matter incident there too. And um so the TCQ Texas integrated report evaluates the quality of surface waters in the state and provides resource managers with a tool for making informed decisions. There's an index of water quality impairments that this report must forward to the US Environmental Protection Agency every bianium. And it turns out that this section of the Rio Grande where we sit is in um an area that is considered uh not uh not having enough data information for um one of the designated uses being uh recreation use. And we know that the Rio Grande is one of the most least studied rivers in the entire United States. We also know that the American Rivers Network has listed this part of the Rio Grande um as the fifth most endangered river in 2025 due to extreme heat, prolonged drought, and outdated infrastructure. So the TCQ has the ability um to study surface water areas and they have determined water quality parameter concentrations in their establishment of something called Texas surface water quality standards. And my understanding when I first came across this this Texas integrated report was that it was an opportunity for the city of Laredo to advocate for [cough] more study to occur at the Rio Grande to make sure that we can get our river studied for impacts of pollutants and um perhaps other indicators that give us a good idea of the water quality for this area that provides our only source of drinking water. After studying it further, it turns out that a submission to this integrated report, it's not the appropriate venue to ask the state to begin to pour in more dollars and and look for more data to determine if our stretch of the river is meeting all of these parameters and Texas surface water quality standards. So, what I would hope to do is still forward a resolution, but forward it to the TCQ requesting that they do study the river and find the necessary data to determine what um what the parameters will be for the Rio Grande in Texas service water quality standards because they've identified that this stretch of the river is not studied sufficiently. And so then we need to take the next step and make sure that Texas um Commission of Environmental Environmental Quality treat this stretch of the river like they do all the other bodies of water in the state of Texas and study our river for its particular pollutants, the impacts of drought that has had that has been uh proven on this stretch of the river and also the impacts of lower water flow due to the less production of water in the Beckos River and the Devil's Reach uh river that impacts our water here. So, the resolution that I would like council to forward to to TCQ would be to request the necessary deta data to determine how we are meeting or not meeting the Texas surface water quality standards. um how that um can inform a stateup supported management strategy as is provided to every other body of water that is studied by the TCEQ and get the attention that this river needs so that we can begin to manage it properly for water security in our future. >> I'll second that. >> Thank you. >> There's a motion and a second uh for this item. >> Those in favor? I >> against. >> Motion passes. >> Thank you. >> Item number 69, Council Member Rick, discussion with possible actions related to the Leche organization and the potential development of the Eastern Oral Optimized Optimized Transportation uh plan along with a letter of support from the city and any other matter incident there too. Uh my intention for this agenda item was to make sure that uh both parties have met and all the required u um conversations have been had in order for us to move forward with this item. Uh Mr. City Manager, uh do you feel satisfied that we've done that? >> Yes, sir. Mayor Proim and and city council, council member, uh we can issue a a conceptual letter of support just like MO, uh the county, and the RMA have done. Uh the bigger question we have is they are also asking for a sponsorship >> and that sponsorship I believe needs to take more conversation. >> Go ahead council >> to make a motion to extend the meeting to 11. >> Thank you. >> Thank you council member. >> Excuse me. >> We've extended. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Go ahead Mr. Mayor. >> All right. So the sponsorship we need to make sure of because most of this property along this route uh is outside of the city. So, I'm not sure if the city should be the sponsoring body or not, and we need to we need to confirm that information. We did have the conversation with the nonprofit as far as what we wanted to look at there. Um, and they were going to push some other additional information together. So, the letter of support, we're all on board. Anything can do anything to help our transportation system out. And we want to walk through to make sure because out of all of these different agencies, uh, any one of them can actually serve as a sponsor. and I just want to make sure that we confirm that we can sponsor projects outside of the city limits for these types of activities. >> I'll second that motion for >> sure. >> So, Mr. N, you're saying that we can do this letter of support that has those parameters and you'll investigate it further to see if there's further support. >> That's the intent. Yeah. We we had a we had a conversation about the concerns that the city would have within this structure to make sure because um just like most of our other conversation when we're talking about transportation dollars, we have a lot of needs already in our city. So, we want to make sure that those needs are not jeopardized by future expansions, but we're we're willing to look at anything that's going to help alleviate within within the city as well, too. And so, that's where that's where those conversations were at. So, >> I'm sorry. Go ahead. Well, I just going to say that uh I I think for district 3 and district 4, we we do see this in the future becoming part of the city. I know we can't um spend transportation dollars if we're getting ahead of ourselves, but it does seem very likely that this could be a connector between our two districts. And so that is why we have high interest in this. >> Yes, ma'am. And that was that was another part of the conversation we had with them about the annexation of the property and and the and the management of that property as it as it comes in as as it becomes prepared for the city. >> Thank you. >> Sure. >> What is the status on their annexation request? Have they already submitted their annexation paperwork? >> No. >> Okay. Because we this is outside the the city limits. So um >> the the request with them was is that uh the city's able to support with the annexation on the table. So there are different ways in order to uh provide for that annexation at at a at at a date that's worked for everybody. So >> and and it's also my understanding that the boundaries of the MO are not this is not even inside the boundaries of the MO right now. Um, it's between it's between city limits and where the outer loop will be. I I had assumed that most of it was, but maybe it's not. >> Mayor, if I may, the outer loop's not even in the I mean in the MO boundaries. >> So, we've had this big discussion at the MO in terms of uh MO urbanization dollars versus rural dollars. >> Um, so >> so yeah. And so my my intent on the sponsorship is to have a longer conversation and and meet with the MO, the RMA and everything to make sure uh that we're all being told the same same conversation as well too and and we'll we'll we'll move forward according. I think the letter of support is good just because uh it doesn't overcommit. >> It provides some support for that, but I do know that they are uh they are wanting to move fairly quickly. So those conversations have to happen very soon. >> Mayor, >> sure. >> Uh, so I would just caution us as a council to be spending um monies in in areas that are not in our no that are not annexed within the city limits. Um, but definitely we could always support projects. It's just >> um it's outside of our our our jurisdiction right now. >> And understand she um Councilman Pettis is absolutely right. Uh the reason [snorts] I wanted to bring it forward is so so we can have the transparency that we are headed in the right direction with this project. Uh of course we had discussions with with the stakeholders that at any moment we can that it's not in the best interest of the city or it's not within our our purview and we can go ahead and move on and and detach. But for now uh it is timesensitive. So uh we don't want to be the people that are stopping this project from moving forward. Uh so with that I'll leave the uh Mr. Um, if you had a second it'll call for. >> Thank you, Mr. Nab. Any further discussion? >> There's a motion in a second. Favor >> I >> against. >> Motion passes. Uh, Mr. Maldon, just make sure we get the clarification in that. >> Item number 71 >> 70 >> 71 >> 70 >> 70. >> Discussion with poss uh Ruben. Go ahead, council member. discussion with possible action to create an exception for cigar lounges to the health code concerning the consumption of alcohol in such premises and any other matters incident there too. Um, as you all well know, we had this conversation last meeting and we wanted to make an exception for cigar lounges specifically. So, I'd like to ask for the health director and our legal team to get together to come up with an exception for cigar lounges or cigar bars specifically for them. If they're over the 51% of alcohol sales, then of course they wouldn't be eligible to even apply for this. But, uh, if you all could please get together and come back to us the next meeting, God willing, in January. >> Sorry, if I may, to propose to draft an ordinance. >> Correct. To draft draft an ordinance. Correct. >> I'll motion. There's a motion and a second. Any discussion? >> Those in favor? I. >> Any against? >> Motion carries. >> Item number 71, Council Member King. >> All right. Thank you, sir. Um, this is just an item uh about bringing up the discussion about citywide synchronization for traffic. My understanding is the last time we did this was in 2018. And I know a lot of a lot of us deal with traffic every day. We're we're seeing certain areas that just unproportional. I can think of several that I won't list here, but what what uh I guess it would be this would be a question for Okay, engineering Mr. Um I know I'm always looking at Ramon, but hey, he's he's pass the torch. He's he's pass the torch. >> And I know we have, you know, limited time, you know, we have and I want to be respectful to my colleagues who have other items as well. So, you know, um the brief kind of the brief summary on where we are. I know it's late, but >> Good evening, Mayor Pen Council. uh agents for the records. city engineer. To your correct, councilman, the last uh citywide synchronization project was initiated 2018 2019. That's when it was completed. At that time, it cost $600,000, >> okay, >> to do that project. Uh you will typically in an ideal situation with funding available every 5 to seven years, you will, you know, do those synchronizations as as the city grows. So for us to I guess like any other project to we can RFQ to see if we can get a consultant but the thing that we will need your your own support is the funding. >> Yeah. >> To you Sure. Go ahead. >> Yeah. I think a good way to move forward is to as you mentioned I'll make a motion to go out for RF RFP or Q which >> RFP I'm sorry. Request for proposals. >> RFP. Uh >> I mean sorry request for qualifications. request for qualifications to move forward with the process to hopefully maybe we can consider this in the CIP budget for fiscal year 27. >> Okay. >> Uh just you know obviously subject to council approval but unless the council wants to entertain an amendment in the middle of the year. Um so but I assume that we'll it'll take some time. So just to move forward with this project as something to consider for the council for the CIP in next fiscal year. >> Sorry mayor I have a question. >> Sure. Um, this may be a really stupid question, but why doesn't our utility department take care of this >> utilities? >> I'm sorry. Uh, traffic >> uh traffic, we wouldn't have the staff and the resources to do do a citywide uh traffic synchronization. Typically, even the state hires consultants to >> I I I understand that they can't do it all at one time. But if we can save us, it's probably cost over a million dollars. Now, >> probably >> to have two or three staff members doing 10 a day for three months, we'd be able to get the entire city done and save a million dollars. Mind you, these people are already getting paid from the city, so it wouldn't cost us anything more than we're already spending now. >> It would >> I'm just a question. I just >> it would take more than that because that means that any step that we have, we have to remove them from tasks that are doing already like, you know, traffic studies, speed studies, uh when there's requests for for speed helms, you know, they have to traffic counts. So, in order for us to do what what you're suggesting is that we're going to have to remove resources from other uh items that we have already on our on our list of queuing. So, if we do that, then that will create more of I guess I guess backlog of projects that we already committed based on on >> Yeah, we don't want to do that. They're already back up as I take their sweet time for everything. Thank you. Appreciate it. >> Yes. >> So, it feels weird to ask you, Mayor Bolton, right? I miss you over here, Gilbert. I miss you over here, Mr. Gonzalez. Um, but just for me, and I don't know, maybe this is another I'm not saying it's a stupid question for me, but it's it's it is a stupid question. What's the city traffic synchronization? Can you explain it to me? I've never heard it, you know. I just >> Well, so I guess I'll use my break down my person as an example. You kind of synchronize depending on the traffic traffic traffic bottoms that you have right through through that corridor. You synchronize the lights. So where you know uh point A the light there starts turns green you know traffic starts moving. You anticipate depending on the traffic with the study that's what the study will tell us right how much traffic and volumes we have the the adjacent light will turn green so traffic continues moving you know slowly in a in a consistent way throughout the whole corridor. So my my question and and this is something is there's is there any way that we're getting we're doing a lot of new streets we're constructing a lot of new streets and we're doing all this is there any way we can implement it while they're doing that while they're constructing the new streets or the new roads can when they're you know the it's under construction can you do it can they do it and add it to to what they're doing at at the moment or is it that we have to go out for RSQues. >> Yeah. Are you referring to new streets like subdivisions and that kind of development >> which which they already they're already there. they they don't >> you know instead of you know letting them finish then go back and and and you know synchronizing by just not >> it takes a you know a certain I guess profession and you know expertise to you know analyze and it's not only about traffic counts right traffic counts is is the major collection of all the data but then someone has to analyze and troubleshoot see what works and then just fixing one corridor you know all the all the all the roads that connect to let's say Mcperson are going going to get affected. So it's not not just fixing my person you know Shilo International all the streets are going to affect so you need to have someone to release this sit down look at it troubleshoot uh run through the through the software so it is a little more complicated than >> okay yes >> are there any new I get a question from some constituents about the use of AI in synchronization is there any new technologies that are out there that weren't available back then >> they there are yeah but like any any new new stuff you need new AI our unfortunately our traffic uh signals are some of them are older some are newer so if you want to implement something like that then that means that you have to update every single >> uh traffic signal they have to go and evaluate each individual traffic signal see what type of equipment it has so we can update it to the latest so it can be compatible and communicate through each with each other >> well the motion just for to get a request for qualification >> well I have a question actually >> go ahead council member >> um Mr. Santos, I I appreciate your um comments on the matter. However, I'm questioning your $600,000 figure. Where did you get that number? >> That was from uh back in 2019. >> And what exactly did that entail? >> That project was a synchronization for 80 intersections. It went it was mine road mines road US83 Bob Bulak l 20 mperson road state 359 business interstate 35 and interstate highway 35 uh frontage roads >> the entire corridor because the reason I'm asking is because we're doing a text is doing a synchronization study just on mines road alone and it's millions of dollars >> well this is back 2019 so I'm obviously prices are >> yeah but you're said $600 000 for citywide. >> That's that's what that's what it cost back then. >> Well, yeah, but I mean 2019 wasn't that far away. I don't know if inflation is 100% since then. >> But uh >> No, I get it. But I'm just saying that I think 600,000 [clears throat] is probably going to be more. >> It's way low in my opinion. I'd probably double or triple or even more if we were >> I'm just set trying to set realistic expectations because if we're all thinking 600,000 is going to get us a citywide synchronization study, I >> highly doubt it. Right. You're correct. >> So, I think it would probably be better to bite this thing off in pieces and maybe identify corridors that are completely out of sync. Like for example, Saunders is very stop and go. Um, mine's road is is still out of sync, but text dot's already studying that one. So, we probably need to identify which roadways are being identified >> with tech with text and identify the corridors that are that are really out of out of whack. And then maybe we can >> somehow incorporate that into our maybe our district funding if that becomes a priority for that sector. and we can say, "Look, from this stretch, I want this synchronized or whatever because I'm not sure a citywide is really going to be costefficient." And I I'd like to see more as far as what we got for that because as far as I can remember, >> the mines's road has always been out of whack. And then the other question I have is I don't know why we're discussing this under engineering when I do want to kind of go back to council member Gutier's question as far as why is this not under traffic? Like who's in charge of traffic and what happened to the traffic department? >> Traffic is is a division under engineering and the previous director u retired >> but I thought that traffic was its own department. >> No. Uh [clears throat] we made two changes almost a year ago with uh traffic going into a division with engineering and animal control becoming a part of health department. >> I understand that. But who's we like council made the change or management made? >> Council made the change. >> Okay. >> It was an it was an ordinance revision of taking those two departments out. We made them assistant uh directors underneath the directorships of of the appropriate departments. So do you is there anybody in the department now that has the experience of traffic >> that could remember what was studied back then and implemented and all that cuz I think that would be important for us. >> There is staff that's been that's been with with the traffic when it was a department division that's been there for quite a few years. So there's that's some some of the information that I got is actually from from the staff that was part of the is still part of the traffic division and then but I can I can speak with him >> because I mean I came in in 2020 and I don't remember ever talking about a citywide synchronization study and if it was our paid for in 2019 it would have been ongoing throughout our first term. So I don't remember >> mayor for example if I may. Yeah. If you can just allow us uh to uh put the scope together and we'll visit with with you individually as well because some of those uh intersections that were studied back then uh they be they maybe need to be revisited and so let us look at that. We'll put the scope together and then if we need to phase it out we can do that as well before putting out any RFQ. >> I understand that. I'm just saying from 2019, >> right? >> I don't remember ever talking about this being a project, >> right? And there was a report because I remember a presentation. So, we can put all that information out and and send it to you so we can look at it. >> Well, so what I'm saying is that what he's talking about might not be what he's talking about. If he's talking about synchronizing the lights and what you have is some cost for intersection adjustments, it might not be the same thing. because I can tell you that a study for the synchronization citywide just based off of what I've dealt with on Mines's Road, it doesn't sound like we're talking about the same thing here. >> Sure. >> And we we can look at that scope and we can put it together as well. >> I'll amend the motion just to have staff come up with recommendations for how to move forward when and if to do another synchronization study on which >> I'll second to the amendment. >> Mayor. >> Okay. I think we should clarify what exactly we want in what we want them to accomplish as an outcome, right? Uh I mean, just as a suggestion, Dr. King, I don't want it to just be >> uh like they gave us an estimate, but that's not necessarily what you were looking for. I mean, if I think it would be something that we need to to consider the the >> Okay, I want McFersonson southbound from Shiloh to Delmare. Okay. No, but just kidding. But the idea is to get back staff to get back to us with general recommendations. I know we have 16 minutes left in the meeting. A lot of people have items left, but um but I'm if everyone's good with that, that's my motion. >> So, you accept the amendment? >> Yes. Yeah. I think staff understands. >> All right. So, there's a >> motion and a second with the amendment. All in favor? >> I. >> Any oppose? >> Motion passes. >> Uh item 72, Dr. Yes. And this can be, you know, quick. I just wanted to bring this up to kind of for our council attention, management attention to understand what options we could do. You know, every city in Texas doesn't do sales tax the same way. You know, if you compare uh so we all know sales tax in Texas, it's 6.25% goes to the state, then up to 2% uh the municipality have some control over. In Laredo, it's 1% uh going to the city of Laredo, 0.5% to the county, 0 25% to uh transit, and then 0 255% to the sports venue. That's our 2%. You look at other cities, McAllen, for example, they just keep the whole 2%. They don't nothing to the county, nothing to transit, nothing. They just keep the 2%. Uh then you got San Antonio, a little more complicated. 1% to the city just like us, 0.5% to uh transit authority, 25% to transportation district, and then they divide it up into 0.125% to ready to work program and then.125% for prek for San Antonio. The idea is that I don't think this has been discussed in a very long time. Uh and and I can't even get someone to tell me or figure out how we even got our current makeup of the sales tax. Um, I noticed in the other two cities I mentioned that we often get compared to, uh, their respective counties, Vexar County and Hidalgo County, um, are not getting any of the sales tax. So, um, not that I'm trying to take away from the county, it's just trying to understand how we got to where we are and maybe in the future the voters might be interested in going to a vote to maybe change this up. So, I don't know if anyone from staff has ahead. >> I think Mr. I would explain to us a little bit you know >> I'll do mine short. >> So the short answer is we missed that window. So back back in 1968 I believe Francisco Ma director of finance. >> So yes we have for the area 2% allocated for this area. Um and the web county took it to the voters uh to uh do a tax um um levy so that they can help with property taxes if you will. So they they have the right based on on state statute to take 050 and so we're left with the 1% 1.25 at that point plus 15 and we've been um reducing our uh proportion or portion of the tax rate for the sports venue and and transit as well. So we've unless we take it to the voters the county takes it to the voters that they want to um reduce their their tax from 0.5 to maybe to 0.25 25 they have to take it to the borders. >> So at this point if there was going to be any change >> uh on the 0.5% from the county only the county could >> altogether it's 2%. They already have five and we have the rest. >> So we we control 1.5 one of 1% goes to the city but we control where that other point five goes to >> right. So it's how you want to move that needle basically. And what year did the county take it to the voters and what what were they doing before that with >> based on that on data that I have that I searched for the Texas controllers back in 1968 is when they when they petitioned to the state. So >> okay so this.5 has been since 1968 to correct but at this point it would take um action from the county. They can't just hand it over to us. They have to take it to the voter ask them permission to do that and then we have to petition for that percentage. So it's it's state driven. >> Can I go ahead? >> Do you know if it'll take some legislative action to increase it to 1% more or 5% more? >> Legis definitely. Yeah. Because it's 2% throughout Texas. in and in in in the spirit of trying to find other revenue streams as as it gets more expensive to run a city. Uh we have to be a little bit more creative in how we uh um I would say burden the taxpayer because it's also considered a obviously a tax, but there's got to be other ways for us to really uh think about how do we uh overcome that >> and we we really need to figure out ways to open up the doors to board a little bit more. um out of out of the box thinking and and try to create more revenue streams for the city with with particular reference to how we're going to fund the upkeep of all these roadways, these uh that are being damaged by these 18 wheelers and all of it that the city's taking a big hit on on the damaged streets and uh we need to figure out a way how to get more creative on on on raising those revenues. >> Well, hopefully we can contribute to that dialogue during the bridge study that I believe has emailed you. So we'll >> I knew I could count on you. >> All right. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Mas. So Dr. King, no action needed. >> No action needed this time. >> Okay. So >> number 73. Go ahead, doctor. >> Yeah. So 73. This is a bringing back a table item from last meeting as it relates to an amendment to uh water uh public art plan. So first of all, I brought an item in September. I'm sure I make this brief, but to and I I made a motion to just take it to the public arts uh advisory committee to just consider this uh water tower in McFersonson next to North Central Park. Then all of a sudden uh in October they the committee met but without a they didn't have a quorum and they didn't make any final decision and then in November it came back to council with this amendment. Um, so you know, so here we are in Mr. Lendine and city management sent out a pretty long email explaining the city's current position. I do have concerns about uh that water tower being down for 90 days and water pressure going down. Uh, I have concerns about it being rushed um and not being a good final product and being an isore. So, I'm currently, you know, in in a in a place where I would rather have, you know, the arts committee uh consider it again whenever they can and then bring it back. But I know there's been a lot of people from staff waiting uh if they have anything they want to say. I was hoping to get the So, in October, guys, we we actually approved the fiscal year 26 art plan that was in the agenda but was not presented to us. And if it can't be done today due to time, it'd be nice at the next meeting if we could just get that presentation give delivered to us by the arts manager. Um but long story short, this was kind of a convoluted um mess. And um I if utilities or arts manager would like to I know a lot of attention got to this the last couple weeks offline but um from my perspective for district 6 I I the water tower is not in the contract as the apparently the Mines Road one is. And so for me I don't want to risk low water pressure and a bad art project in my district right now at this time. Um, so, uh, that's that's where I am on this, but, um, anybody else have any comments? No one's rushing to this to the to the podium to talk. So, um, uh, no you're >> Yeah, I don't know. >> I mean, Dr. King's expressing a concern that he has and and a project he'd like to see in his district. >> I think it would be fitting to have somebody who can give him give him the plan. And I mean, is there a way to do this without taking that water tower out of service? I mean, I mean, can we hear from the utilities director on this one? That way, I understand the master plan for arts and everything, but we do have 2% for the arts. Every department has to allocate 2% of their CIP budget for art. Um, so if there's an art for utilities designated amount and he wants to get this project done, how can he do it without putting that water tower out of service? >> So I have four slides. I promise I'll be fast, but I think this will demystify the whole issue of the towers. The one at F FM road and the other one at McFersonen. So just >> I don't we're not talking about the one on Mines's Road anymore because we already established that that one's covered. We're just talking about his right now. >> If you allow me because there is um an extra uh twist to that one. >> Go ahead sir. >> Okay. So here's the situation right now. Uh we have 13 towers basically. Five of them already under the old maintenance contract that include the FM [clears throat] tower or what we call the mines road. Uh the other one is the highland elevated tank which is at McFersonson road. It's not part of those five that we're supposed to be in maintenance. So short story is the one at my road already due to maintenance this December January and that means that we need to put it we want to take it out of service because it's a three month work they have to empty the tank paint it and all of that. The twist here is if it's the existing logo that exists there which faded with time that would be part of the maintenance as a courtesy of the contractor. But if you want to do something new, a new logo, different logo, that's an extra cost that is not part of the existing maintenance contract because on their they do is paint and prime and all of that. So that's just to consider if we want to do a different logo. That will be another between 30 and $40,000 that is not budgeted from the utility. I don't I'm not here to discuss where that money is coming from. But if that money comes from the utility or art, if it's from utility, we have to remove money from another pressing issue or maintenance that has to do to do artwork on that one. But if it's the existing logo, then we don't have to. >> I have a question. Do you have that in writing on the contract? >> Yes, the contract. >> I'd like to see that because that's not what I was told. >> Correct. >> This whole time, >> I think. >> So, I just like to see that language. I have been confused as much because I've been digging for a needle in haste stack and all of that. The contract is for maintenance and not artwork in any tanks but that was done in the past. I just don't know how that happened. If it's existing one, we can still do it. It's in a kind of a courtesy but a new one will be uh extra cost. We just called the contractor today. >> When you say courtesy, you mean >> the contractor when we did this way back many many years ago. >> Okay. for the for the labota tank. So short short story is that that one right now is due in Janu December. We will do the maintenance regardless. We will do the work on that one. Uh if an extra logo is needed, there will be a 30 to $40,000 cost uh that is not budgeted from the utility. It's artwork depending on the council decision. if they wanted to come from the utility department that $40,000 will have to be away from another maintenance or pipeline or whatever. The second one is the Highland elevated tank which is I think Dr. King is the area there and that one is not part of the five. So that tank right now does not need any maintenance whatsoever. It's in good shape. We just did the inspection in January. If there is an artwork needed there, doctor [snorts] will not this will not happen this December because we only do this things at the end of the year when the weather is cold, low demand. So that has to come probably December of 26. But because there is no planned maintenance whatsoever, the only reason we'll put some work there is going to be artwork. And again, based on the conversation we had today with the contractor, that would be another 30 to $40,000 uh extra artwork, not part of any maintenance or utility work on that tank. >> May I? >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Can you uh can you bring back for us at because we're running out of time, right? We have three minutes. So, we're probably going to have to just continue this discussion at the next meeting. But um in combination if we did want if council member or or any of us wanted to move forward, can we uh get what that would look like in terms of an ordinance change or a change to a plan or whatever so we can know what language or where exactly we would need a change. That way we can have that discussion um at that time of whether or not we want to make any changes and move forward in whatever way. >> Mayor Prom, I I can answer that question really quickly. The plan [clears throat] was adopted by council and I put it in my report to you. Um, if you want to change the plan, just like any other plan that you've changed and any council has changed in the past, you can make a motion. >> No, I understand that. But the plan with the recommended language to change, if we wanted to that we know what we would have to do. We only have two minutes left. >> We have 30 seconds. Council member has a question. >> Real quick question. So, if a project was to proceed without needing the regular maintenance of the tank, will you also include an estimate of what it would cost the utilities department to drain a tank off a maintenance schedule and all of the other um issues that would result from that unscheduled >> and that's the 30 to $40,000. If we do the whole maintenance, it's $100,000. So, it's already there. >> So, Dr. King, are we going to bring back this item or are you just Yeah, we can do. Sorry, this has been such a long thing. We can table it. Uh motion to table. Second. >> There's a motion and a second to table. Those in favor? Against? >> Motion. Motion passes. >> Mayor, motion to table the rest of the items. >> District 7 and district 8 table. >> Uh there's a motion to adjurnn. Motion. >> Second. Those in favor? >> Motion passes. Get your items.