Just call the meeting to order. City of Laredo Regular Council meeting 11 Tank Houston Street, Laredo, Texas, November 18, 2024, 5:30 p.m. All stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Moment of silence, please. Thank you. May be seated. We have only one citizen's comment. >> Roll call. >> A roll call. Sorry. Roll call. Go ahead. >> Honorable mayor, Dr. Victor D. Trevinho, >> present. Council member District 1, Gilbert Gonzalez. Council member District 2, Ricardo Ranel Jr. >> Council member District 3, Melissa Cigaroa, >> present. >> Council member District 4, Albert Torres Jr. >> here. >> Mayor Protemp Ruben Gutierrez Jr. >> Present. >> Council member district 6, Dr. Tyler King >> here. Council member District 7, Vanessa Perez. >> Council member District 8, Alisa Sigeroa. >> Mayor, you have a quorum. >> Thank you. >> Mr. M, I'll make a motion to approve the minutes of November the 4th, 2024 as presented by the city secretary. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Second. All in favor? I opposed. Motion pass. We'd like to start with communications. Number one, Mayor Dr. Victor Travinho to present the keys to the city of Laredo to Texas Representative Tracy King for his public service to the community of Laredo which is part of District 80 since 1984. Before I bring up the representative, I want to say the presentation of the keys to the city was the highest honor bestowed by the mayor to representative King as a welldeserved recognition for a life of public service to the community of Laredo. Representative King is an example of someone who has placed his community before any political party affiliation and have worked with everyone. His leadership will be sorryly missed but not forgotten. >> Clair, before we continue, just some housekeeping rules. I'll make a motion to move up communications from the supplemental agenda Roman number two item number one which was just read into the record by >> second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion passes. >> Lora will be in place on that. Are your comments please? >> Public comments. >> No, for the key to >> we're in the key. >> Good afternoon, honorable mayor, esteemed members of the city council, and distinguished guest. For the record, my name is Isabel Sosa Castaneda, public information specialist for the city of Laredo. It is my privilege to introduce Texas Representative Tracy Boing, an exceptional leader and dedicated public servant. Representative King has proudly served the people of Texas House District 80 since first being elected in 1994. His district encompasses the counties of Dimit, Frio, Maverick, Oval, and Saval, Texas, and his unwavering commitment to these communities is a hallmark of his service. Throughout his tenure, Representative King has championed issues critical to the well-being and prosperity of our region. He has been a strong advocate for agriculture, water resource management, public education, a rural health care priorities reflecting his deep understanding and his constituents unique challenges and opportunities. As a legislator, Representative King has built a reputation for his collaborative approach and ability to forge bipartisan partnerships to deliver meaningful results. Among his notable accomplishments are efforts to safeguard water resources in South Texas, investments in infrastructure, and initiatives to expand economic development opportunities across rural Texas. Beyond his work in Austin, Representative King is a devoted family man and a respected member of his community where he exemplifies the values of service and stewardship that define great leaders. His leadership continues to inspire and his dedication to fostering progress and opportunity is a source of pride for all Texans. We are honored to have Representative Tracy O. King with us today. [applause] [applause] CONGRATULATIONS [applause] KING. The key of the city of Laredo presented to Tracy O. King State Representative District 80 for his lifelong public service and contribution to the community of Laredo, Texas since 1994. Presented by Mayor Dr. Victor Drevino. November 18th, 2024. [applause] MAYOR, can we get a group picture with Lupita and Cheryl? >> Is there anybody else from the staff or it's just I'm going to take one more picture. One second. One, two, three. One more. >> Thank you. [applause] [applause] >> Yeah, he picks me up here. That's good. Well, thank you. Uh this is indeed an honor and a privilege. Uh mayor, city council, thank all of you so much. Um I think of all the campaigns that we run. Cheryl I want to recognize Cheryl King. She's my wife. She's here with me TODAY [applause] [applause] who's the finest district administrator in the state of Texas. She's with me today. Thank you. [applause] I uh I'm reminded when we we ran our first campaign, I always tell the story. We were waiting on the election results and I told Cheryl, I said, "Honey," I said, "Uh, what do you think?" She said, I said, "I've given a hundred speeches all over the district. What do you think?" And she said, "Well, you actually have given one speech a hundred times that I can [laughter] listen to it every time and we're going to be fine." And we were. And uh I appreciate the wonderful introduction that you read. It's it's I just wish that all the voters had known all those nice things about me over the years. [laughter] And uh but it's such an honor and a privilege to be here with all of you. It's good to see some old old friends here. Uh Laredo has always been so good to me each and every time that we ran for reelection and uh we represented Laredo for the first 10 years in the legislature and then we have redistricting and they moved us into the Eagle Pass area and we represented them for 10 years. Made a lot of good friends and then they moved us back to Larredo for the last 10 years and so I've had the honor of representing Larredo. But you know it was interesting I never quit getting the calls from the constituents here in Laredo. even when I had Eagle Pass, they call and they said, "We know you're not the state rep right now, but we know you can help us." And so, I appreciate it so much. It um it's been a good ride and we were able to do a lot of good things, particularly on water and infrastructure issues. I was fortunate enough to serve 14 sessions in the legislature and I was a chairman for seven of those sessions of different committees that the speaker at the time, whoever it was, was kind enough to appoint me to. And um I uh always wanted to serve in the legislature. I went to American Legion Boy State when I was a junior in high school. And between your junior and senior year, they send you and um and at boy state you set up a mock government, state government, all the way from city hall all the way up to the governor's office. And I actually ran for a seat in the Texas House of Representatives and won a seat and the Texas House of Representatives in during Boy State when I was in between my junior and senior year in high school. And so it was a dream of mine that I was able to do when I was 32 years old when I got elected. So, and um I'm older than that now. [laughter] But anyway, God bless each and every one of you and thank you so much for having me here today. [applause] >> [applause] >> Oh, Mayor know if I say one quick thing. >> Yes, go ahead. >> Okay. Representative King, just Representative King, I just wanted to say uh um pleasure meeting you and knowing you over the last couple years. I'll say I ran for election after only two years of living in Laredo. And I think maybe the only reason I won is because they thought they were voting for you. >> [laughter] >> So >> we only had about 500 signs. [laughter] >> Appreciate that. >> Anybody else? >> Oh, yes. >> Uh, Representative King, I just want to thank you for your wisdom and your kindness and always being willing to share your perspective. I think especially for the ones who are new to council, it was um it was really wonderful to hear you speak and I just wanted to thank you for that. I I will always treasure that and appreciate that. >> Representative King, thank you mayor. Met you 10 years ago or so. I was still a police officer. You met me at the Laredo National Airport and I had never heard you speak before until that day. And uh your voice reminded me tons of Randy Travis, the country music singer. and asked you to sing us a song. You haven't sung it for us yet. I'm still waiting for that. [laughter] So, um, want to say thank you for everything you've done for the city of Larredo. You have done so many things here. The list is endless. Literally, thank you from the bottom of our hearts from the city of Laredo, from the staff here, because what you've done for us will always, always be known, and I thank you for that. Thank you, Mr. K. Thank you. Come here. Go ahead. >> Uh, King, we want to I just want to congratulate you. Thank you so much. Uh, I don't know when you took the oath, but uh, thank you so much for abiding by it and being the example to all of us uh, and staying, you know, leading by example to, uh, to so many of us, being transparent, staying uh, anti-corruption and all that. You're just an example in so many ways to me. Thank you so much, >> Representative King. I think everything has been said, but having visited several times with the city uh during our legislative sessions, I can say that um Representative King was one of the many people we visited, but one of the very few that always delivered. And we're very very proud of that because um you represented like you mentioned Laredo and Web County on and off but just like Eagle Pass I hear from uh other council members, commissioners and county leaders that you never forgot about Laredo and you usually see a lot of people that represent different counties have a primary focus in their hometown or their um home county. And Tracy King was always on top of every county and I can say that he always did it for Web County very very well. and at your um event at your farewell event, you know, I mentioned you are an honorary Laredoan because you fought for Laredo as if you lived in Laredo and you did your job extraordinary well for all the counties you represented and we're very proud of the relationship that we established with you as as leaders, but most importantly the friendship that you brought to many many of us um at a personal level and a professional level because Tracy King was always a phone call away when we needed him whether it was to have a a friend to vent to um for something political or even most importantly for any city issue we have. So, thank you very much for always contributing those virtuals to all of us. >> Anybody else? >> Let's get one more round of applause. [applause] [applause] [applause] I appreciate all the kind words and I just want to add that that I always tried to represent all of the counties that were in the district. There was about 11 or 12 of them by the time it was all over with over the years with redistricting. I always tried to represent them in a nonpartisan manner. Uh people said, "Well, you work very bipartisan." I said, "No, I was nonpartisan." And u I thought it was the best way to do it. And I just want to emphasize again how much help Lupita was to me. And I couldn't have gotten here without the help of Cheryl, my wife, all these years. There's no telling how many campaign signs she's put up and how many miles she's walked and how many newspapers she's clipped helping us out over the years. So, thank you, CHERYL. [applause] >> All right. We'll proceed with number six, communications. >> So moved. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Second. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion pass. >> Update on discussions with Mexican counterparts in preparation for a possible migrant caravan heading to the southern Texas border. I had an opportunity to meet with Alcalesa Carmelia Rosas and her staff on the progression of a migrant caravan through Mexico and heading to a southern border so that they can reactivate their migrant uh campsites as they approach our border. But a little background, the new migrant caravan crossed the Mexican border with Venezuela at Tapachula Chapas on about November the 5th and they will take about 40 or 50 days to around December the 15th to the 25th to arrive. Several of the migrants are anticipating a change in immigration policy, so they're trying to make it across the border before President elect Trump takes office. Out of the 3,000 migrants that include families, we are anticipating that a very small portion of these individuals will actually make it to the border. Most of them will stay in Mexico. The long-term solution has to be collaborative with Mexico on detaining them at their borders. There are about 40 to 50,000 displaced migrants within Mexico. This is the end of my update and I will keep the council and the EOC informed as more information is shared on our weekly meetings and uh to talk about the emergency man director. >> Mayor, >> yes. Sorry. Go ahead. Thank you. Um we skipped over citizen comments and I I do know there there's at least one. >> Yes, we'll get to them after with you this m before you move to the next communication. Can I make a comment on >> go ahead >> communication one. So I don't know the if this is relevant or not but I know that President Trump made an announcement today about um once he takes office one of his primary focuses will be to use the military to start um I'm assuming de massive deportations um of illegal immigrants in the United States. And I think that there's going to be an impact of some sort to border communities, especially Laredo, if those massive import um deportations um start. He's made that comment or that announcement today. Um and I just want to make sure that as a border community and as the number one port that we're ready for whatever that impact will bring to our city. And I don't know if that's something that would tie in um with um I know that and if I understood your communication mayor correctly, you spoke about a caravan coming in to the United States. Is that correct? A potential caravan trying to get in, I'm assuming before President-elect Trump takes office. >> Um I'm now addressing potentially something that you can discuss with our emergency management coordinator. If that is the case, um, based on what President-elect Trump announced today of using the military to start sending, uh, migrants back to Mexico or wherever it is that we start preparing for whatever uh, implications that may bring for um, border communities and maybe something that you can also bring up with the border may coalition as we prepare for the Trump um, administration coming in. uh January next year. >> Yes. All right. Thank you. You know, before we proceed, I'd like to move up item number 25 and we'll get to move. >> Motion second. >> Second. >> Yes or second? >> All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion carries. Item 25, resolution convincing the returns and declaring the election results of the general election and special election of the city of Laredo held on November 5th, 2024 for the purpose of electing city officials for city council districts four, five, 7, and 8. and for the proposed charter amendment position propositions. >> Mayor, go ahead. >> I provided uh the return sheets from the uh web county elections office uh to all the uh council members. And if I can go over the uh the uh the names. >> Go ahead. And for C council member district four, Tanya Benavides received 1,667 votes 29%. Ovaldo Valdi Guzman Jr. 719 votes 12.51%. Rick Garca 1,922 33.4 43%. Manfredo M. Salas 156 votes 2.71%. Ismael losano 586 10.19%. Writeins 699 12.16% and of those 699 uh 685 were for Priscilla Gordila Trevinho and 14 of those votes were not certified. Uh there will be a runoff uh with between Tanya Benavides and Rick Gara. And we do have a a council item uh number 25 for to to call for a runoff election. Uh for the next item for district uh five, Jose Ovando 1,394, 15.66% Jesse A. Perez 2338 26.7 27% Ruben Gutierrez Jr. 5,169 58.07 uh council um Ruben Gutierrez Jr. is the winner for district 5. M Michelle Molina [clears throat] 380 40 412 23% for district uh 7. Vanessa Perez 3,838 51.37%. Felipe Flipper Ramirez 553 7.40%. and Vanessa Perez uh winning the uh with 51% wins uh district 7. Orasio G uh Palasios 391 votes for district 8.07%. Alisa Cigaroa 3,621 74.77%. Sergio Dorantes 165 3.41%. Luxandra Vera 666 13.75%. Miss Alisa Saroa uh is the winner in district 8 for the 11 propositions. Proposition one 49,643 in favor. That's 87.33% uh against 7,205 12.67. Proposition two in favor for 40 40,893 72.55% against 15,469 27.45%. Proposition 32,797 58.12% against 23,636 41.88%. Proposition four in favor 48,671 that's 85.25% against 8,423 14.75%. Proposition five in favor 35,792 64.23% against 19,936 35.77%. Proposition six in favor 36,375 at 65.11% against 19,490 34.89%. Proposition 7 in favor 41,024 74.43% against 14,93 257%. Proposition 8 in favor 33,999 60.57% against 22,137 39.43%. Proposition 9 in favor 46,4 83.08% against 9,449 16.92%. Proposition 10 in favor 37,16168.08% against 17,422 31.92%. Proposition 11 in favor 40,232 73.48% against 14,522 26.52%. >> Mr. May I would like to make a motion to accept the resolution uh the returns and declaring the election results of the general election and special election of the city of Laredo held on November the 5th, 2024 for the purpose of electing the city council officials for city council districts 457 8 and the proposed charter amendment propositions as read into the record by the city secretary. [snorts] Second, >> mayor, if just uh specifically, I ask that that motion declare that the charter amendments are adopted. That's that's what's required by that. >> I will amend my motion to reflect whether city attorney has recommended that the propositions uh become effective immediately. >> Yes, I will accept the amendment as well. >> Okay. Motion [snorts] second as amended. >> All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion pass. Okay. We will go into Mayor, uh, just, uh, a question if I may. >> Yes, go ahead. Um, Mr. Gwen, so all the propositions take immediate effect. Um, does that mean that the mayor starts voting on everything today? >> Yes. >> So, it could be the fifth contributing vote or the Well, the type whatever it is, >> doesn't matter. >> So, now the mayor, for the record, will vote on anything for, against, or upstate? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> All right. Thank you, >> mayor. Go ahead. I was going to ask if we can do if we're in the U if we can do the resolution also for the runoff calling the runoff election. >> I'll make a motion to bring up item number 26 as for the request of the city secretary. >> Motion second. >> All in favor? >> I oppose. May >> motion pass. Yes. um as as presented uh in your on the contract and attachment uh the early voting uh the early voting uh locations originally in the contract were Billy Hall Junior Administrative Building, the Laredo Medical Center, Margarito Rec Center, UISD service center, and the Joe Aera Library. Um on the December 4 14 the uh election day uh locations were Larredo Medical Center, Margarito Venavidas Recreation Center, UISD service center and the Joe Aera uh public library with the contract amount of $50,4967. Uh today uh this uh late this afternoon, I did receive a u um a call from the uh web county elections office that we needed to uh change the uh location two locations for the early elections and election day also and the contract amount. The locations that now be are being recommended. uh the Billy Hall for the early uh voting. Uh Billy Hall Junior Administrative Building, the Laredo Specialty Hospital instead of Loredo Medical Center, uh Margarito and Navididas Recreation Center, uh the Web County Appraisal District instead of the UISD service center and the Joe Gera Public Library. For December 14, we will use Margarito Benavides Recreation Center, Web County uh appraisal district, Joe Agera Public Library and Loredo Specialty Hospital. And the contract amount has changed to from 50,496.67 to 100,241 thou 241.12. >> Is there a reason May? Go ahead. Is there a reason why the amount changed? Mr. from now >> the the amount the amount changed from the uh discussions that I had with the with the county originally uh the calculations that that they had made uh were incorrect in the past they we the runoff election was shared so this time we're assuming 100% >> of the cost >> of the cost because we're the only ones host having a runoff election >> so um the 50,000 reflected a I'm assuming according to the numbers a 50% >> yes sir >> shared cost if anybody else had a runoff off in Rio Bravo in Sano or the county or anything to that effect. So we assume now the whole cost of the whole cost. Yes. >> I have a question on Mr. Maldonado. The Billy Hall is out of district 4. Is there a specific reason why the Billy Hall is being recommended? Uh the uh re the reason that they they told me that they have to have a main uh location and that is the location that the county uh is recommending to have their their main building >> like a central voting station. >> Central voting. Yes. >> Statue. >> Mr. All right. Make a motion to approve the um recommendation of the elections office and the city secretary as presented, declaring the Billy Hall building as the central location for the runoff election for district 4 and accepting Lorto Specialty Hospital, the Margarito Venidas Recreation Center, the web county appraisal district office and the Joea um public library for an amount not to exceed $100,2412. >> Second. >> Motion second. >> Question. Go ahead. >> Did they explain why they changed some of the locations for example the Laredo Medical Center to specialty? Just worried people have harder time finding that location and like did they give rationale for these changes? Did the hospital request it? I mean >> one of some of the reasons that they gave me were basically UISD they were not able to negotiate with UISD to get the uh location on on Saunders. Originally they did and they told me that they USD had uh had opted out. Uh that was one of the main main reasons and then uh Laredo Medical Center apparently that the county had been been getting a lot of complaints about the the parking and the long distance of walking towards from the parking over to the building inside. Okay. >> And the specialty hospital was more uh closer within with the parking also. >> Okay. And >> go ahead. >> Um would it be possible if we could also include >> there's a motion >> for both of you. Um that we appropriate just a few more funds so that we can get signage on Saunders so that we can announce that the specialty hospital will be the voting place. there for that week of early voting, a banner, you know, one of the 4 by8 signs that indicate on on two sides that the specialty hospital is where the voting will be and maybe smaller signs at Laredo Medical Center and at the UISD service center if that's where voting occurred before people will tend to to gravitate to where they previously voted. That way they know to go to other places and we can direct them and guide them to the proper uh voting polls. May I'll make an amendment to include the request of council member Melissa Sigaroa contingent to the locations agreeing um to have those signs at the locations. I know the elections office provides the vote here and arrows and stuff but whatever we can do to ensure that the public uh has accessibility to the polling sites I think does not hurt the electorate. So, >> mayor, and just to clarify, um, in discussing with the with the county, they they give us, uh, the contract amount and they indicate that it could vary a little bit. At the end, they they tally all their costs and it it could vary. Mayor, therefore, with that, I amend my motion um to um approve the estimate provided and read into the record, but to authorize um the city secretary, the city manager, and legal to proceed with the release of payment as to whatever the amount will be in accordance to the election invoice. >> Motion as amended. as a matter >> for the site change for LMC. Did was there an attempt to ask LMC if they would reserve parking? That's what that's um what we did in advocating for the site at TAMU. One of the issues was also related to parking and they were um they they sectioned off um spots so that way voters had priority. Was that an attempt at all? Well, the the negotiations were or the discussions occurred with uh Web County since they were uh doing the election with Lorettto Medical Center. Uh they did have uh several negoti uh discussions and they basically indicated that the location next to it was more convenient for the voters, but they did have they started discussion since last week. >> Okay. All right. Call for the question. All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion passes. Before we go on, I do want to congratulate all the council returning and we saw the will of the people being exercised and seen. I also want to thank the public for allowing the mayor to vote. After 42 years of the mayor not voting, this was brought back and I do want to thank the public for that. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, mayor. >> Thank you. Right. >> We'll continue with citizen commerce. >> Rocky Godz, >> thank you for having me over. My name is Rodinez, mayor. Council, members, I'm going to start out real quick. Mayor, first you say that we don't get involved with suggestions. The thing is we do get involved but nobody listens to us. That's the experience. I've I've gotten involved with a lot of things and nothing has been done. And the last one we had, we came here to vote against rezoning Clark between Seymour and Hilo and you brought it back in the table. Even Dr. Gayo came with his with his lawyer. We talked about not passing it and you still brought it back in. It's one of the things. and not wasted. Stop wasting our money. All of you think about it. Y'all work together and say, "Do we need this or we don't need it?" We had fake cactuses on Clark. They're gone now. Thank God. It was a waste. We had fake col the colonial polls. Forget about it. Hide signs. Who wants to know where you're at? The it we gotten so cous. The traffic is horrible nowadays. Get rid of the medium in McFersonson from Saunders all the way up. There's nothing in the middle and the traffic flows better for everybody. A lot safer. You put 100 oak trees in Clark. Wasted money. 20 have already died. So you going 120 oak trees. What What do they cost? An estimate? Nobody knows cuz I've gotten different ones. But we we're way over tens [snorts] of thousands of dollars spent there wasted. Not only the trees, the work force that they go out there, they have to water every day. When it's coming down, they're still watering right now the plants. They started at 5:00 in the morning. I've seen them as late as 9:30 at night watering those at 100. Oak crease people. I know the people behind me know what an oak crease looks like. They're huge and they're small right now. This is a waste of money and it's going to be worse. I'll be gone by the time they grow so big because they grow really big and just to maintain them. Cost a lot of money. Whose money? Taxpayers [snorts] money. Y'all work together and say, you know what? Let's not waste our money. Let's prioritize ties it to the water that we all need. Don't waste it. Work together. your ideas can work together better than this is my idea. What do you think about it? Work together. If you go down medium on McFerson again, there's no uh weeds in the middle. Why? Cuz there's there's no medium. Go up Clark. Even when you had all those poles out there, all those fake cactuses, palm trees, you got trash in the middle, you got weeds growing. Who maintain it? We are. You might you might have allocated hundreds of thousands of dollars to put those plants out there, but it's going to cost more in the future to maintain and they're going to be more hazardous to everybody in the family. So, please listen to us because we have we have talked about it out there and everybody in my neighborhood says, "I've gone up to y'all with suggestions and what happens? We get ignored." The last time my wife called for the city uh street, the man screamed at her and told me and told her to be quiet, not to talk that way. And he doesn't have to answer to anybody but himself. He wouldn't even come down to our area to talk about. Give me 30 seconds more. >> All right. >> Like one of your council person says, "Stop spending money on things that we don't need." I know. I heard him. >> Go ahead. Wrap that up. >> Stop spending money and things that we don't need that we don't need. make it worth our while for everybody for the safety of everybody including all of our families and the people that come and see us. Make Laro beautiful again. >> All right. >> And and don't fight against each other. Work together, please guys. Love you all. Take care. >> Thank you. God bless you. >> Manur. Sorry. YEAH. CONGRATULATIONS. >> [applause] >> CAN I GET YOU? NEED SOME EXTRA. OKAY. READY? GOOD. >> HERE, PLEASE. ONE, TWO, THREE. SMILE, PLEASE. And the other one like that. Great. Thank you. See forward. Thank you. Okay, let's try it again. One two three. Thank you so much. I don't know. Good afternoon, mayor. Afternoon members. I'm here to talk about my experience as a member in the Laredo Animal Care Services Committee. My name is LSE Infante and I'm a retired state employee, but I've continued working as a licensed real estate agent in Texas. I've been involved in animal rescue for approximately 10 years. During this years, I've established good relationships with shelters and rescues in Texas and out of state. Last year, council member Melissa Sigaroa invited me to represent her district on the animal care service advisory committee. I always kept Miss Sigaroa up to date on the topics discussed in the meetings, especially after the new subdirector, Miss Bluestone, started implementing policies that I knew had been implemented in other cities and had failed by making the straight problem bigger. It was disappointing to see how Lax never presented these policies to the committee for recommendations. These are two policies that are making our stray population worse. Surreners, unwanted pets are only accepted by appointment and the waiting time can be over 30 days. This also applies to good Samaritans who finds friendly lost dogs, cats, or even abandoned kittens on the street. Lax is a taxpayerf funded shelter. It should be open door policy to serve the constituents. Effective August 20124, blacks stop picking up straight cuts, leaving the public with a TNR program as the only option. This is a big responsibility that is being passed on to the community. And what about those who do not want to participate? Animal control needs to prioritize their efforts when picking up stray dogs. The longer they stay on the streets, the more they multiply and contract diseases such as tick fever. [clears throat] It is animal cruelty to leave these animals to fend for themselves and suffer a slow death. To survive, dogs form packs which can be dangerous for our community. I try to forewarn council members Melissa Sigaroa, Alisa Sigaroa since their districts will be the first ones to feel the impact of more strays left on the street. Still, they seemed unable to do anything about it. I also contacted Chamberlain, Dr. Chamberlain and Mr. Landin with my concerns regarding the community safety. I soon realized that I could only continue to look after our community by voice voicing my concerns during the committee meetings. On October 29, I contacted LA because they omitted to items that I had submitted for our meeting agenda. On the same day, council member Melissa Sigaroa talked to me and asked me to support Miss Bluestone and her policies. Otherwise, she will have to ask me to step down. As you can imagine, I felt she was censoring me. I resigned since I was asked not to speak up and only agree with whatever LAX was implementing even though it would negatively impact the community especially the lower income neighborhood. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Lauren V. >> Um, this is not like student council at all. Um, [laughter] good evening ladies and gentlemen. My name is Lauren Vows and I'm a proud member of the Boy Scouts of America. As part of my journey to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout, I've chosen a project that addresses a issue close to my heart. Laredo's lack of accessible resources for individuals with disabilities. As technology advances, more children are drawn to screens rather than outdoor play. This is especially true for children with disabilities who often feel that the outside uh world offers little for them. To young children with special needs, this perception, if unressed, could lead to consequences that last a lifetime. While Laro is a vibrant and growing community, its recreational facilities do not meet the national standards of inclusivity seen in civ cities of similar size and development. For my Eagle Scout project, I propose adding ADA compliant playground equipment to the existing facilities at Cheyenne Park. I'd like to bring to the council's attention that no alterations will be made to existing park equipment and this initiative is a cost-effective way to pave the path for shared play, fostering priceless memories and supporting the vital developmental milestones of both typical and differently aabled individuals. To make this vision a reality, I humbly request a contribution from this the council to fund the purchase of this inclusive equipment. In addition to this request, I will be working with private donors, sponsors, and community members to gather additional funds and secure the apparatuses necessary to complete the project. Once the funds are secured, we can finalize the equipment list and begin installation. As an individual on the autism spectrum, I've personally experienced the transformative impact of ADA compliant equipment in cities such as Allen, Corpus Christie, and San Antonio, and the benefits just one trip to an inclusive playground can have. I assure the council that the investment can be accomplished in the short term and will be fruitful in the long term. This initiative ensures that community members with special needs are not mere spectators but active participants in play. Accessible recreational spaces are a cornerstone of any strong and inclusive community. These opportunities should never be limited by financial constraints or the abilities of our citizens. Thank you for your time, consideration, and your support in creating a more inclusive Loredo. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Mr. Mayor, would someone from staff get with uh Mr. Baltz, please? >> Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to bring up items 63 D2 and 63F3. >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion pass. 63D2 is council member Gutierrez but I write up because it is the Marines that are in the back of the room or Gonzalez I'm sorry Gonzalez we could bring up actually my two items there's two presentations uh from UISD and and the Marines go ahead >> per tot 63 D1 D2 >> D2 >> and communications number two >> okay motion Second. >> I have a second. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. >> Thank you. >> Motion passes. Thank you. Go ahead. >> So uh 63D presentation with possible action to support the Special Olympics 2025 and any other uh matters incident there too. Is there somebody from uh from USD here? >> We have public comments. Public comments. We have a Yeah, this is uh >> No, that's the D2. >> Okay, go ahead, >> Mayor. I brought this item because um this is for the for the Special Olympics ceremony that they have. Um >> All right, mayor. So, just point of order. I'll make a motion to bring also item 63D1 which other >> yeah the motion said both items >> 63D1 >> okay motion second all in favor I >> opposed motion pass go ahead >> yeah so I brought forward this item u where I used to work we've always uh gone to this ceremonies for the special Olympics and and you know the weather has always been a concern to us so if you want to explain to council what what your intentions here are. >> Thank you. Thank you for the opportunity. Eduardo Mandola and uh I work with United Independent School District as an adaptive PE uh specialist and I'm here today uh not representing United ISD but rather our city and as a whole and even our sister cities that participate in the Special Olympics uh annual opening ceremonies and and events for track and field. And as as council um um Gonzalez said, uh we do have in previous years we've held this event, our opening ceremonies at the um I'm sorry, it's not it's not project. Oh, there it is. Uh we've had it we've had it at at the student activity complex and we've had you know heat related uh emergencies that have come up [snorts] not just with our participants but spectators in general as well. And so we were in hopes that we're here seeking financial assistance and possibly hosting it at our our sames energy arena uh for this particular day. This is our Super Bowl of our children's uh our athletes and partners in participating in Special Olympics and uh it brings great great joy seeing them every year participate and showing demonstrating their talents. But we definitely want to see if we'd be able to host it at the arena. This is their like I mentioned their Super Bowl of events that we have a year and um these are as you see here these are the um the different educational entities that participate in it. So it's not just our our public schools here locally but also Sapata joins in and Harmony and our adult centers and our shares center our adults in in special education. Uh but uh we do we do have uh every year we do have about 1,200 athletes that participate or this year is even it's going to we project it's going to be bigger and this is all those athletes participating um in in these events and we do have 1,200 that will be participating in track and field as well and again this is with all those entities that I that I mentioned sometimes weather those uh when it sometimes it's cold or sometimes it's raining and at times we've even had to cancel for those reasons but in reference to the opening ceremonies that take takes the first day. Uh they're running in the torch run uh with law enforcement agencies alongside them. This is a layout of how we've had um previously over at the student activity complex that we United hosts and um additionally for we have also our young athletes program that participates in it. So it is rather large in our community. We've seen major growth in recent years and we'd like to see, you know, continuing seeing those smiles and being able to host it in in this um at the arena larger venue and not experience those heat related emergencies that we've had in the past and we are seeking financial assistance and uh being able to host it uh there and uh so um we're here for your your consideration as such and um thank you very much. Yes, go ahead. >> Legal, this question for you. I brought up an item months ago about 501c3 specifically when it came to children participating uh and using our facility unit stadium and SS Auto Arena as well. Do you have anything for us as u of that item? >> I'm sorry. because to help them out financially, you know, we would need to find obviously monies and I'm sure we can do so, but if this was taken care of months ago like I requested, then we would have something for them automatically, >> right? I mean, we uh that's a criteria that that the city has uh requested the 513 C3 status uh to confirm uh their nonprofit and and their affiliations. However, as far as the arena uh and unit trading station, we have ASM and there will be a lease uh payment that would be required whether it's from the the entity or the city wishes to defay that. >> That's correct. But did we work on something out with ASM Global specifically for children's needs and for 501c3s because we know what they charge for the facility. Although being a school district of course and for special needs children, I'd hope there's some type of a special price for them specifically. >> Yep. As far as special price, it's contractual and there is a price. Mayor, uh, usually after any of the events, even the city sponsored events, there's a fee that comes with it because the entities or either one of the facilities has to staff it. So ultimately, those are the invoices that come to our office. So, uh, an invoice like this would probably be in the area of about $25,000 per event, more or less. Some of them, >> even though it's a city sponsored event. >> That's correct. because they have to staff it for us and and of course it's all the other things that come with not only them staffing it, it's the electric, you know, it's the charge of the venue. So there's really no whenever you all sponsor as a city council uh for different events like even the pit kings and stuff like that, the venue has to staff it. And so by sponsoring it, what happens is that they don't pay for it, but the taxpayer ends up paying for it through the city because we'll see the bill. >> If I may add real quick, they did give us a a a nonprofit quote and that quote is in the amount of 14,812. >> Yes, go ahead. >> So, I know that the um SMG agreement um Mr. Manager does have um a section that allows for some sort of um exclusions from the contract, right? and and I think that it has to be for nonprofit purposes um or an event, right? So, could we fit in depending on the motion that is made use that exclusion from the contract for this organization? >> Yeah, mayor and city council, I can I can look into the exclusion thing. Um there there are some certain costs and as as you just heard as well too, there is a different price for a nonprofit than there is for a full profit. Uh so that we do have that out there as well too. Uh, I will have to look at those exclusions to see if we're able to grant that from from the city's viewpoint to another entity as as well. Let me let me look through that one there. But I I know that that as long as the arena is available, that'll be the first thing because I don't know. Have we had a conversation with the arena? >> Yes, we have. We have a >> All right. So, the date is the date's kind of secured at least temporarily. Okay. All right. So, that we're all good for that. We'll we'll work it out from this point. I think the idea is that if the council so chooses to help support this, >> please let me know and then we'll work through that. >> Mayor, that was going to be my motion if I may. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Motion to have the city of Laredo sponsor this event um on that date. >> I'll second. >> I'll second. >> Motion second. >> All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion passes. >> Thank you very much. >> All right. Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity being here. Thank you on behalf of the children and our city. Thank you so much. Thank you. >> 63 D2 or C2. >> So this is a this uh presentation by the Marine Corpse League Detachment 895 Commandat and local Toys for Tots coordinator Einho uh Jean Reyes Jr. along with partner Radio Independent School District Trustee Rodulfo Rudy Morales to invite city council, city departments, and the public to partake in [clears throat] this year toy drive donating by placing the donation boxes in city buildings, departments, and any other uh ma uh matters incident there too. >> Thank you, council member. For the record, my name is Rod Fu Rudy Morales. Um, good evening, honorable mayor and city council members. I'm here on behalf of the Marine Corps. um preserves Toys for Tots. Uh joining us here this evening is Wadal Lupe Alvarez and also Jean Reyes who are the ambassadors um for Toys for Tots. Mr. Alvarez was the coordinator for last year and Mr. Heinho is now the new face. They're joining forces to raise um gifts for our children in our Larredo community. Um last year under the leadership of Mr. over 18,000 um gifts were distributed citywide and the mission is to surpass that this year and that's why we're here um this evening um to gain your partnership and support in raising and bringing smiles to the children of our community. Um they did want me to express that everyone on council and including the mayor are invited. We will have distributions across our community which you can join us and we'll make sure you get those dates. to make to make sure that we put a phase that we're out there supporting our community. Um, thank you very much. Uh, for this evening, we will be asking to place some of the boxes around city hall and other uh, city facilities to make sure that we meet the needs for our children. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Yes, mayor. That'd be my motion to allow the partnership and and uh, place those boxes where hightraic areas uh, like city hall and the city annex are so we can the public can can see that and and participate in the toys. >> Motion second. Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion passes. >> Thank you everyone and thank you Councilman. >> Thank you for sponsoring. Thank you, >> Mayor. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> There there's a communication item number three that is about this weekend. And um Mr. Uh, Alvarez, I don't know if you want to um clarify what's if if this is starting off this weekend or if you'd like to give us the kickoff date for the Toys for Tots drive at places that will already be participating. >> It started Saturday >> past kickoff started already. >> Perfect. We'll continue going till December the 6th and then that's when we're going to inventory all the toys and start sorting the toys out and start uh setting some distribution sites and every everybody here is probably been walking to >> and and can you direct us to where those boxes have already been placed? >> Uh yes. Um some have been placed at AT&T locations here locally. Um Char Charles Clark Hyundai by Jackman. Um the Vet Center on um Pearson and I I can give you the the website where we have that at is uh on Facebook is Toys for Tots Laredo chapter and also if you want to go to Toys for Tots Laredo on the website on Google and you'll be able to find the where you're able to donate monetarily or a toy donation with the drop sites. >> Anything else? >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anything is welcome. Of course, >> anything any little thing, any big thing And we do welcome all. We just want to mention that anybody can be Santa Claus by donating. We thank you the children. Thank you >> and uh merry Christmas. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. [applause] If I may. Yes. >> The next item is discussion with possible action to dedicate the lion, water tanks, community wellness area, which includes a park, dog park, and walking trail in memory of Lupita Cortez and any other matters incident there too. The villain Dolphin Mayor um Gual Lupe Cortez, it's actually known as Lupita Cortez um was a lifelong dedicated individual to education, community, and service. She served the Laredo Independent School District for over 36 years in different positions starting as a teacher, a master teacher, assistant principal, language arts coordinator, um principal as well. She worked at six different schools around the area of this um proposed uh dedication including Nixon, Ggo Memorial um and then also uh at Dvalina Elementary School and Christristen Middle School. Um her excellence in education did not go unnoticed. She received uh several awards including the Golden Apple Award nominee and earned the prestigious LISD secondary teacher of the year award. She was described by her colleagues as an excellent, knowledgeable and caring educator and an extremely energetic, persistent and organized individual who always strived for the excellence in education. One of her principles once said, "She is very much involved in school activities and truly embodies what it means to be a dedicated educator." Mrs. Cortez's passion for her work was boundless. She embraced technology, engaging her students in different endeavors and championed her success in every area, including academics, sports, cheerleading, and fine arts events. She loved her job so deeply that she hated missing a single day of work. She then started battling cancer and she remained uh determined to return to work that she adored and she did return to work embodies the very definition of strength and perseverance uh perseverance. Beyond her professional achievements, Mrs. Cortez was a devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister, and community leader. Mrs. Cortez passed away in September 2016, but her legacy continues to shine. and she believed that if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life. And she lived it every day. She generally cared about her students, colleagues, and community, always going above and beyond to help others succeed. Till the last day that she battle cancer, she served as principal of Don Jose Ggo Elementary School. She was featured on the front page of Laredo Morning Times with then former uh council uh member Dr. Dr. Cecilia May Moreno who was serving as a trustee at LISD at that time because of her impressive dedication even while battling cancer. She continued to go back to um serve the children and the community that she cared for and she was featured on the front page of the Loro Morning Times on December 2015 as they welcomed her back. Um naming this area in memory of Mrs. Cortez will honor everything that she did for this community, the thousands of students she touched and impacted, and the many educators that she also led through her journey. Um, she was married to Austria Cortez, a retired registered nurse for over 30 years, and they raised four very, very successful children, which I'm lucky to call friends, if not even family. Um, Christine, who is a federal prosecutor, Dr. James Cortez, who is um a doctor locally and head of radiology. Um Les Leanne, who is also a federal prosecutor, and Oscar Jr., who followed in his mother's footsteps and went into the education field and serves as an assistant principal at Alamo Heights High School, who's watching right now virtually. Um we are very excited and um humbled in general by this long overdue recognition that I believe Mrs. Cortez deserves. I'm proposing that the area which encompasses all these wellness um green spaces be dedicated in her memory. And I'm making a motion that the facility be dedicated and named as the Lupita Cortez Memorial Community Wellness and Recreation Complex. And she did have a deer pet that served as her um uh comfort animal through her cancer battle. And we're proposing as well that um her Chihuahua who lived six years after she passed PJ also serve um as the namesake for the dog park in that area. That is my motion. Mayor >> second. >> Motion second. >> I'll include as part of my motion mayor that this um naming bypass the facility namings committee as well. >> All right. Motion ask. >> All right. Second. Motion second. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion pass. Thank you. >> Thank you, mayor and council members. We do have their family here if you all would like to approach the the podium. Dr. Cortez serves on the ethics commission, if I'm not mistaken, appointed by Dr. King. And Leslie uh serves as the traffic advisory representative for for the mayor. Um and they continue to uh to help in the community as their mother taught them well. But doctor the the red line the red light on the center. >> We we would like to uh first off um good evening mayoral city council member. Um we would we we want to say that we are incredibly [snorts] honored and gracious um for this um opportunity given to our late mother. She embodied the ultimate hard worker. She would wake up every day at 6:00 am in the morning. She would be the first one at her school every day. Even before everybody got there, she would unlock the school. She was often the last time there. Um, she really believed in education and professionalism. She lived every aspect of her life to the fullest and she gave to her community in the best way that she could. the memory of her leadership, the memory of her education lives on through her children who served the community very um with the best of our abilities and just driving every day through that area. To know that that area, the namesake of that area will be dedicated to our mother, it will bring immense feelings of joy and everlasting gratitude. So to the city council, to our mayor, um thank you very much for your support. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, >> mayor. I'll just add that um the project um is in the works of it being completed. I want to say it's about 80% completed, missing the green spaces. Um my hope is that um we hopefully get it done by the 31st of of this year. And if not, whoever my um uh successor uh will be that they honor this motion, this request, and that they move forward with the much um merited dedication that this council has taken. Um we will start with um since the motion's been approved, we'll start moving with the lettering and everything. And I hope that we're able to start uh building the trail and the uh equipment that we already have for the park and the dog park so that we can advance this uh as quickly and uh as we can so that we can move forward with the dedication ceremony. >> Well, thank Mr. Cortez. This is my kids. I'm so proud of them. Uh thank you all for this glorious present to our family and to all her the supporters that that care for my wife. Thank you so much. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> All right. CONGRATULATIONS. [applause] [applause] >> We have communication >> communications number six. Uh item two, emergency management director update on progress report from 24-2192 management regarding the mayor's five measures that included status of illegal connections, status of amnesty, rebates, assistance to businesses, staffing, and uh secondary water source. Good evening, mayor, city council. Uh this will be fairly brief on on these points. We are working on every one of them. Uh the status of the illegal connections. We continue to uh search for any illegal connections. We did send everybody home uh at the at the end of la last week, I believe. So uh so we are on our own again and so we will continue out with uh finding any of the illegal connections that may be out there. Uh at the next meeting in December, we will bring a forth a resolution to establish the amnesty program as as presented at the last meeting. Uh so that amnesy program will be for those individuals um that are either the residences, the businesses that have had work done here recently will come out and do the inspection for free to make sure that there they've been connected properly to the system. And so that amnesty means that there is no fines or fees that are associated with that. uh the uh the rebates to the community. I believe we are on track for the rebates and we should be you'll start to see that in December on everybody's bill. Uh it'll have the rebate that was listed on there based upon that the criteria that we granted at the last council meeting. Um and the status of the assistance to the local businesses, the grant program is out there. uh it is all in place and so I have not heard of how many have actually res responded to to that but I know economic development is working on that right now and then uh the status of the proper staffing and the public engagement with this community. We did hold our first town hall meeting. We had 10 residents in attendance. Um, so we will evaluate whether or not we're going to continue on with any more town halls on the boil water notice or if it's going to be more reflective of of our work in the utility department. And so we're working on that right now. Uh, but then the proper staffing is I know that we are we're hiring as quickly as we can for that. I believe that we had announced somewhere around 60 positions at the town hall meeting. I believe we we believe that we have about 22 positions still needing to be filled to some level. But uh I know that our interim uh executive director for utilities has been re-evaluating the entire department and determining if we can move people from one area to another in order to help compensate for that. Uh so we are working on that. uh and uh we we are in need of uh some engineers and so the system that we have out there and you saw the at the town hall meeting we had HR out there so I would I would say that anybody in attendance that wishes the work for the utility department we're we're hiring um but other than that mayor I can answer any questions with any >> yeah the other ones was uh uh how about the status on the secondary water source >> secondary water source uh we we have been working on that uh you know Mr. Garcia um I think it was two months ago we gave kind of an update. It was right when we went to the stage three of of the the water conservation. So we are working through that process. Um we had if you even go back farther we gave three presentations. Uh we were looking at three entities. Legacy water was one. There was one from Valverde County. Uh and then there was one I think that was a little farther out. Uh so we are walking through those secondary water sources. Uh tonight you have the relationship with Legacy Water on the agenda, a resolution that says that we'll negotiate an agreement with the Legacy Water Corporation. Um and that that'll help us that'll actually start to shift us from 100% in the in the river to it'll start to split. I think the one thing that we do need to decide and we never got done with this conversation with Mr. Garcia was um how much of our of our distribution do we want to get to? I mean, we're 100% of the river. If you look at somebody like El Paso, uh they're I think 32% now river and then they have the sources of the groundwater sources to help compensate for that. So, we're working through that process uh in order to get there. We are we are looking at our elevated storage as well as our uh storage within the facility within the system as well with 80,000 customers within the the Laredo area. Uh we are supposed to have 8 million gallons of water in our elevated storage and 16 million in our entire system to back us up. And I believe we we we hit those marks for those amount those amounts. I haven't been able to check with utilities on that as as well when I was put some of this information together, but we continue to look through that uh that process for that. I think the uh the question is is that you know any water that's closest to us for a secondary water source is is less expensive than trying to get from farther farther away. And so that's been our plan is to put together that information and bring it forward. So, >> may or may >> Yes. Do still have thatou with uh the secondary water source >> for >> legacy. The legacy. Yes. >> Yeah. With legacy and everything or which? >> The one with legacy. That's >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That that the resolution on tonight's agenda will actually address that uh because that'll that'll set us into the relationship of the Legacy Water Supply Corporation. So we'll we become a member uh once we negotiate that contract. The resolution says we get to negotiate. Once we negotiate the contract, we'll come back to you. It'll establish our minimum and our maximum uh amount of water and then it'll establish a dollar amount that that we're going to adjust with that. So that'll that will take u a lot of that weight off. It it starts that process with what we were planning with secondary water from almost a year ago. All right, >> mayor. Any >> questions? Go ahead. >> Um, yes. Well, um, I since we're talking about secondary water, I do have an item 63E that's directly related to this. Can we bring it up? >> Motion. >> I'd like to bring it up. >> Motion second. >> All in favor? >> I opposed. >> Motion passed. The item is discussion 63E1, discussion with possible action to direct the city manager to create a position in the utilities department for a dedicated staff member to investigate multiple secondary water sources and return to council in six months with recommendations for a plan of action and any other matters incident there too. So um the item was intended to address Mr. of what you're discussing this need to find secondary water sources and you mentioned El Paso and how El Paso has identified other water sources in their area so that they don't 100% depend on one one source. I think in El Paso's case they don't have the river flowing the whole time in order to depend on on the Rio Grand. It's a little bit different than our situation. Um when I asked uh Mr. Pishkar about this item and how feasible it was to find a dedicated staff member to investigate and and proceed as as this is written. Um he actually suggested that perhaps right now with the focus on the procedures and what we need to do for the maintenance and operations of our infrastructure that he doesn't he isn't convinced that there's somebody that could be pulled off of that and perhaps that this item needs to be more of a consultant type of um item that the direction is that we allow a consultant to help us. We have the second we have the water master plan from 2022 and it does begin to identify sources. But while it opens up the the possibilities for up to I think five different sources, [clears throat] it ended with suggestions and really basic um research. And now we find ourselves at the point when we're entering with legacy. That's one leg of a stool of a I don't know fivelegged stool maybe. Um but our needs are going to become apparent in 17 years and that clock seems to be ticking down if we look at climate change and what we've learned about um the rivers that feed the Amistad reservoir. So the Amistad Reservoir is our our holding tank for our two-year supply of water. And according to um the international boundary and water commissioner Maria Hined, the rivers that feed the Amistan on the US side are not as productive as they once were. So that is um the reservoir is fed by both Mexico and the United States. And we talk a lot about Mexico and their reluctance to fulfill a water debt that cycles every five years. And a lot is said that if Mexico would only give all the water in its debt per treaty, then somehow this would meet all of our needs. But the reality is that if a Mexico were to fulfill it the entirety of its water debt to the United States right now, that would be only 30% of what that reservoir needs to supply all of the people that it feeds. So the primary sources that feed that reservoir are on the US side, the Devil's River and the Beos River. And those rivers are not as productive as they once were. So when we do our calculations for when we need secondary water, the whole point, sorry to take a little bit of time to circle around to it, we may not be looking at 17 years. that clock may tick a little bit faster if the Legacy Water Supply Corporation um has some projections and I hope you could share that with us when they'll be 100% ready because we know that in their initial proposal Legacy Water was looking at drilling 42 wells. They have four. So, it is also something that is a future um a future allocation and we don't look at it to fulfill all of our needs. I think it was council member Ranel who um pointed out that there are cities with up to 10 sources of water and we we do that because water security is the number one issue not only for Laredo but for many other cities in our region and in the west in the western um half of the country. So I think this idea that we begin with the 2022 water plan, it's out there. We know that there were some identified sources. We know that Mr. Garcia, the former utilities director, had started some exploration about underwater ground storage. Um, and perhaps those feasibility studies need to be carried out. But we will lose time if we don't put this as as important as our aging infrastructure is. The search for secondary water is equally as important because fixing our aging infrastructure will not get us to the water security that we need in 17 or less years. So my motion is to continue this secondary water source search through a consultant to look at the problem. They can dedicate the time that they need and then come back in six months and begin to suggest a plan of action how we can move that part of our water security um obligations forward while at the same time here at the city we're focusing on addressing our aging infrastructure. >> I'll second for discussion. Mayor go ahead. Second. Um, you want to say something? >> Yeah. Yeah. Just very quickly, uh, mayor and city council, and and I appreciate the the the help and and the direction and everything. What I would ask for is to don't don't hamstring us into just one way of how to handle this. I think that was the concern with when you when you talked with Mr. Pisker on that saying we're going to have one dedicated individual saying we're going to have one consulting company. I I would like a little bit more room. I think the directive of six months returning with this would be good as well too. But I'd appreciate just a little latitude within how to how to structure this because uh this conversation is very important for that. We we do have three legs. It's not like we we've not started anything but it's all going to be in the storage of our facility, our secondary water, spreading out the diversity of of where our water comes from and then water conservancy. So th those are the three legs that we have to have within our utilities. And so but if you if you could uh in your conversations look at that is to keep it a little bit broader uh so that we're able to uh because we'll we'll give you exactly what you ask for and I would rather keep it a little bit broader so that we can we can bring you what you need. >> I'm happy to >> modify I'll I'll modify the motion. [cough and clears throat] >> Okay. Um, I then I'll I'll just move that in six months if management will come back with a plan of action that focuses on secondary water sources and what we need to do as council to move this city forward to secure secondary water source for our city. >> Second and mayor and I would say that if if we're able to bring something back sooner so that we we know exactly our direction, we'll do that as well too. >> Okay. Motion second. our discussion. So, um I wanted to point out and I'm happy councilor use the word consultant because when I read this item on creating a position felt there was a bit of an overreach on uh our charter because past budget we have no authority of creating any position. The budget is now at the city manager's hands. But since she's clarified that it is a consultant, it's something I'd consider. My only concern with that was jumping into a consultant without having um any sort of feedback from management was my concern. Giving you up to six months to put something together for this council to consider is something I'm willing to support. Um the other thing I did want to throw out there and council does did mention I don't know if you said the 2022 water master plan. Um, if my memory recalls uh correctly, there's been several secondary water source um consultants or plans that we've um gone through that I know that with former mayor Pete Science had been conducted. We spoke about bringing water with tankers and how expensive that was and which correlates to the storage of water that council member Sigaroa um addressed. But I think that um aside from addressing water infrastructure that um I don't mean to be disrespectful by calling you Buzzer, but uh Pisker I think is is your last name. Um that he can also focus some of his time on the secondary source if possible. Um and I know he wants to address uh the council mayor. He's he's waving if Mr. Neb permits. Um but I think that he could we could use his wisdom and knowledge um in this secondary source and maybe um once he's done evaluating um the infrastructure that in the um last portion of his contract that maybe he focuses on secondary water since we're already um in a contract with him. Um or that if now that he's starting to understand the water infrastructure of our city that maybe he be kept on as our consultant moving forward now focusing on secondary water once he's um done with his task of um finding a solution to our current infrastructure. And if that's something you feel comfortable with, I think it's something the city manager and him could work um into. I don't know if he wants to stay on radio another six months above what he already committed to. Uh but that's just a suggestion of recommendation. Why bring someone new that's going to have to learn about our city when Mr. Pritchker is already um on his way doing exactly that? And if he is successful, which I'm sure he will be in addressing our infrastructure, then he too can focus on the secondary water source um situation we find ourselves into. >> Mayor, Council, uh Buzz Pisker, Mayor, City Manager, uh director of water utilities. Um let me Let me this is kind of an interesting discussion because one of the things that the city manager had identified when I first uh was approached about coming here was this very topic. So that was something I was actually contemplating dealing with. But I thought I'd take a second here if I may. And God bless the two council person who sat through our uh little conference. By the way, we hosted a a forecasting conference for water supply here at our wonderful water museum and it's a beautiful place by the way and we want more people there to be honest. That's kind of a sidebar but two of our council folk uh actually sat through that entire conference and I told them you get the star uh because some of it was a little bit dry and we had NASA doing stuff but a couple things came out of that and I thought I would share a couple things with you. first of all that we hosted it and I think that was great. But uh we have a water master plan which I uh plan on spending some time looking through just to get a sense of what everybody's thoughts are. We have an AR ASR study going on and that should be coming to a closure here. That's aquafer storage and recovery. It's kind of like you take water, treat it, go shove it in the ground and then get it when you need it type of thing because most of the time all the rivers have enough flow. The problem is it doesn't come spread out during the year. So unless you can capture some of it in the reservoir, it's a problem, right? Uh the other thing I thought was interesting from that meeting uh was that uh and actually we have a meeting with the legacy folks this Thursday that's scheduled and um I'm going to be bringing to you in short order a water purchase a water rights purchase agreement. Uh, but as I pointed out to everybody, having water rights is only valuable if there's water, right? It's like having oil rights, but you buy property and there's no oil oil under it, right? So, there's a there's a balance to that. But, we're going to work on all of these things because I think we can walk, chew gum, and run a little bit, too. Uh, last thing I'll say is, uh, as you've heard me say with my little seessaw, I think the utility department has a has a play in here and optimizing our operations. And as we move out of our uh, water quality crisis and into the next phase, we're going to be working on a lot of those things. So, uh, my hope is that you'll see this all come together and I think as a city manager said, we can bring back to you a plan that I think will make some sense to you and we'll have outside resources because we certainly don't have the skill set internally to do some of these things. But quite frankly, I I think it's important we manage those people that we may hire. Uh, and uh, so anyways, that's those are my thoughts. I want to share that with you. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. Any other questions? >> Mayor, the I believe the the motion on the table is is intended to do that to give you the flexibility that you need so that in six months we do have a plan of action, but it does allow for the management of those resources and to determine where to find them so that we can we can get the the outcome. >> Second motion. >> Right. Motion. Second. >> All in favor? >> I have a question. Oh, go ahead. >> I I just my concern, [clears throat] Mr. Neb, also is I mean, we've been talking about secondary water for a few years now. We've been dealing with issues for a few years now. Um I don't want us to get into a a point where we're starting to micromanage now, especially with Mr. Pishner here. I'd like for you all to work um you know yes we're we're requesting this you know report in six months but at the same time you know just continue working on I guess what what you all are already working on and and also working on the secondary water because we've had these conversations before [clears throat] >> because I don't want for us to distract him and now he's focused on secondary water or he's working on something else and like he said even if we hire consultants, we still have to manage them, >> right? >> And we still have to, you know, instruct them, have meetings with them. So, if we already if that's part of the plan and it's feasible, but I don't want us to make a decision that's going to impact operations negative, >> mayor and city council, no, we're we're comfortable with that. I think going back to what council member Torres said, we have studied this for years. We have we have brought it all the way up there. We've just never made a decision on how to move forward there. There outside of the 2022 master plan, you go back to there's a hydraology model out there. You go back another another three or four years, there's another document that shows we need to find a solution to this thing. I think we've got a lot of the information out there. It's really getting the information put together and saying this is the path we're going to take. I think that's what we're going to see. And so I we'll keep everything going. Uh I know that utilities is working on right now where to go and and start replacing the distribution line. So we'll be we're going to have those projects coming forward as well too. But the secondary water the the broader level stuff we will continue with as well. So >> okay motion second. All in favor >> I >> opposed. Motion pass. >> Mayor May address something briefly item. Mayor, I'd like to um also make a motion that we offer, for lack of a better word, um encourage the city manager to offer a first refusal to Mr. Persker on this secondary water and if we can retain them rather than bringing someone new that we do so for the purpose of secondary water once his duties have finalized with the infrastructure. >> I'll second for discussion. >> All right, second motion. Second for discussion. Um I I I um I hope it's it's not misunderstood the the original motion. Um the flexibility was to give Mr. Fishisker and Mr. Neb the ability to search out who they needed to search out, lean on who they needed to lean on, whether it's city resources or outside sources. And I I don't believe um I guess I don't believe further direction is needed. I think Mr. Pisker is going to be involved in this process and so he'll be willing to add his expertise as as he sees fit. >> The purpose of my motion, Mayor, if I may redirect, go ahead. >> Um, was if we are going to involve Mr. Piskar as a utilities water expert with this process that instead of searching for another person since he already knows our infrastructure and our city that he be considered and be given the first order of refusal if we are going to hire a consultant based on the six-month evaluation. um that he be the one that continues if he feels willing and fit to do this secondary water um uh surge, that he be the one to lead it just because he's obviously identifying the needs and the um uh not only the needs but also what uh needs to be done to reach that. and if he's going to be involved in the process and probably bring someone in that will probably take time understanding what he's already learning with his um state here. >> All right. >> Okay. Motion second. >> We have a second. >> Second. Okay. Motion second. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion pass. >> One opposed. Motion pass. Mayor, uh, before we proceed, just wanted to acknowledge that Council Member Perez and Ranel are are here for the record. >> All right. >> For the record. [laughter] >> For the record. >> All right. Next item. >> Um, would it make sense to bring up the the legacy item since we've been talking about >> motion to bring up 58? >> 68. Motion second. >> All in favor? >> I oppose. Motion pass. Item 68. Mayor, it's a resolution of the city council to approve uh authorizing the city manager to execute and submit an application for membership with the legacy water supply. appointing the city manager to serve as the city's authorized representative uh for interacting with uh LWSC and to serve in any positions with LWSC to promote the interests of the city and execute all necessary documents relating there too. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Motion second. >> Go ahead. >> Um so Mr. London the way It is written and I just I I know we spoke a little bit before but maybe you can clarify. Right. So to execute and submit an application for membership with the legacy water uh supply corporation and that membership agreement actually asks for definitive uh numbers and those numbers are to determine an amount for the whole wholesale potable water supply that the city would be acquiring paying for. um to talk about the potable utility in interconnect and it talks about size, material and location to see if we would participate in a wholesale wall raw water supply and interconnect and wholesale wastewater treatment and wholesale drainage service. So there are definite items in there that are included in the application for membership. And the one that pertains to the city of Laredo I believe is the wholesale potable water supply that has an initial initial quantity request and a maximum quantity request. and and that is I think a sensitive issue when you see that um this potable water supply will be about 30 to 40 times more than what we currently pay for our raw water. And um I think we should just make clear that this item doesn't tie us to any numbers yet. that this is a negotiation of that contract, but we haven't made any determinations yet as to how much water we would be taking and um how much water we would permit the city to pay for in the future. >> Mr. Mayor, that that that's correct. It what it does is it puts a city manager on the board and uh Mr. Fisker and I will be meeting with Legacy this Thursday to start talking about those specifics that council member Siwa brings up. But we want direction from the city manager as to what those parameters will be. But preliminarily in prior discussions with Mr. Garcia when he was here, he did want them to commit to uh [clears throat] to a set minimum quantity. uh and that was still being debated back and forth. And so we're going to lean on Buzz uh to help us uh on on that with uh Mr. Neb's been also in some other discussions with with them as well. But this opens the door for all of that >> and then you'll come back to the council >> with the contracters and uh because we also have not heard a final price yet or a suggested price, let's say. Those are those discussions and then we'll bring a contract for you to review when we're ready at that point once the city manager is ready to bring that to you. >> Thank you, sir. >> Yes. >> All right. >> I have a question there. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Is the membership binding or is it subject to review? >> For how long is it binding or what are the terms of ending the relationship? We haven't entered into that contract yet. >> Excuse me. >> We have not entered into that contract yet. >> That's not the application >> application. >> Yeah. But are we are we going you know is it going to be a relationship that's binding for like a decades uh minimum >> agreement or or is this you know >> it it puts the city manager on the board and then the um I believe that in the last meeting that we were at the the amount of the how could I best say it the amount of our interest is going to be determined on the amount that we will be requesting from them as we build out what we're looking to the future to give us that diversity of the water through this secondary potentially secondary water source for our community. >> Right. >> So this just gets us really on as a member gets him as a member of Mr. City Manager. You want to >> Well, I have a question mayor the legal relationship. What is that legal relationship between >> the city and the >> right now as my involvement uh if I can give some some to that is what we're creating this uh this group this cohort and there's different board members to try to to move forward but there has not been that finalized contractual arrangement yet. So it's it's a loose arrangement and there's no commitment as far as like finding anyone yet. So, so us mayor. So, if we approve having, you know, city manager on the board, >> that doesn't commit us to any terms and agreements other than him being part of a board >> and the decision-m right now, but he can step down or his council can have step down. >> Okay. and and mayor and city council just just so you're aware if we are not taking any water from the legacy water corporation then that membership is null and void as well too as long as as long as we are we're as long as we're a member and we're utilizing the service then we remain on the board if we if we if we no longer utilize that service we are no longer on the board as well too >> yeah that was my question because it says an application for membership with legacy So if we're not using their supply of water, we're not binded by them. You being a member of this board. >> That would be my understanding as well. >> Is that how you understand it, Mr. Win? >> Yes. I mean, there's no uh penalties for removal and that's what we'll, you know, >> sitting on the board doesn't bind the city of Laredo to do business with Legacy. Is that correct? >> No, it just gets you to the table so you can have more access to >> Thank you. >> Go ahead. You know, I I think it's important that we move forward with this. This council approved the original resolution. Um, you have our state representatives and our state senator along with the county judge asking us to move forward with this. We just approved an item regarding secondary water and here's an option and we're debating over um should we move forward or not. Right? So, we've heard how the valley, San Antonio, and all the other cities have 9, 10, 11, 12 sources, and we have a source in front of us. We're debating over putting our city manager on the board or not. It's ridiculous. We need to move forward with this. We've already approved the res the original resolution, and whatever the cost may be for us to get water, it's a source that we can tap into whether we choose to do so or not, as we need it. But we have a secondary source in front of us that's being offered to us encouraged by the state for us to take it and we're debating over putting the city manager on the board or not. We need to move forward with this. It's important in order to help find additional sources of water. >> Mayor, go ahead. Yeah, I councilors, I completely agree that when you have a seven billion dollar investment happening 20 miles away from you in a community that for decades has been searching for a secondary water source, it would obviously be foolish uh to not have a seat at the table. Um um so yeah, I I I I agree. I think it's also fair for us to be just understanding what we're, you know, um exactly what we're committing to this very day. Okay. And what I would ask is when uh management brings back a contract after so many weeks and months of negotiating with them that you not just give it to us four days before and expect us to vote on a contract with four days notice. I want time to really understand what we're committing to and make sure that we agree that, you know, I'm sure you're all going to do a good job, but just please give us time to prepare to understand what you're asking us to commit this $1 billion city to, you know, that we are as a as a as an organization. Just I just would really appreciate um time to digest um the contract that you're going to be proposing to us, >> Mayor. Um, so I I think it's important for people to understand that it is not a usable secondary water source yet. The what was presented to us that it will be a 42 well um project and currently there are four wells drilled. It will require pipes and connection to the city and currently the pipes and connections are planned to go to the county but those projects have not broken ground yet. So this is a long-term project. The other reason for us to be there on the board is that this county has to create a permission structure for the state of Texas to let the county take out of the ground the water that is needed to supply the new tiss um colonas and then also the city of Laredo and that's a legislative process and that also will take time to develop. So, this is a project that um we're getting in on the ground stage and it will just take a very long time to develop and to receive the the eventual um objective of of secondary water provided to our city. >> Mayor, go ahead. >> Just one last comment. This is in no way saying I don't want to do business or the city to do business with legacy water. This is just clarification of what a seat at that board means to us as a city. That's what my question was. I'm a huge advocate for legacy water. That secondary source needs to be done. We need that source. Whether we use it or not, different story, but at least we have that available to us and that needs to be known. So, it was clarification. Not that I'm against this whatsoever. Just want to make that perfectly clear that we need to make that secondary source available to us at every single moment that if we should need it, we're able to tap into it. And that's what we needed to clarify. Thank you. >> All right. Okay. >> [clears throat] >> We don't have a motion or anything. >> Yeah, I made a motion by motion and I second it. Okay, I second it. >> All right, motion and second. >> All in favor? >> Post. Motion pass. >> Next item. >> I think we go back there to the regular agenda. >> We got appointments. >> Is there public comments? >> Mr. Martins. Uh, >> Mr. Martins. 63. >> Mr. Martin's on 631 >> and 58. 631 and 58. >> Yeah, this is going to be about secondary water and we're going to go back a little bit in time and I know I'm crushed in here for a few minutes, but I'm going to go back before your what paperwork you have. Um, it was a trend in the 90s for French, European, British, and US water companies to make the rounds around the United States of America. And they came through Laredo because of our droughty area and along with the rock problems with the Rio Grandandy River. But kind of one point I heard the real Grandandy River is supplied by the mountains in Colorado. So yes, there is a water problem though. So I'm going to just mention that. That's where the real Grandandy River starts. It's up in Colorado and it's not good. So, we're here we are today. Um, we I I really want to appreciate Melissa bringing this up because when we lost our our utilities director, he and I were in conversations also about secondary water. There's more sources of water out there. When this came in through in the 90s, I forget all the names of the companies, but we're talking about worldwide professionals, and they pretty much swarmed us hard. And what we did at that point in time was we went with the Pico Water Plant. It was quicker, cheaper, and it was a better way to go to help try to get a little water up on the Mines Road area. That's the reason that was chosen. plus plus the geological structure. Um, but we put together about 45,000 acres that a joins the city limits of Laredo with different land owners. Now, this is a different water formation and we one one particular group came up with a 5 million gallon a day ability. Now, what we're using here is as we're talking about a water formation that supplies the cemetery on Highway 59, we're talking about a water well that drives the fountain at Mercy Regional Hospital. We're talking about three water wells that supply the Laredo Country Club with water. So, we have water here. Now, one point that I always tried to drive in was we have the airport property which sits right on top of this structure. You've got about 1,800 acres there that you own the we we own the water underneath it. Now, if we keep delaying these projects, which that's why I came today was to keep pushing for this. I have no personal financial [clears throat] gain here. I have a lot of knowledge on secondary water that a few of us are still around that we can share. Now, no one that I know wants to be the consultant, but they're easy to find. You can identify them, but you know, there are people, citizens here in Larredo that will easily contribute to their existing knowledge from our past in the 80s and the 90s. Now, I would suggest that the city manager definitely gets a table at with the with the legacy group. That's not the only group. So, don't let the tail wag the dog. Um, the walkers are good people and we are lucky that they have that many acres on top of the structure that their geological formation is in. That is really a gift. Now, with the utilities director that left, we were talking about doing 2 and a half million gallons a day here locally around the loop, which remember we're at the city limits with fresh water with more than one family. So, it's there. Um, personally, I recompleted 15 wells. There were gas wells there and turned them into water wells and drilled over a dozen of them, including the ones I mentioned. So, I'm familiar with with where the sweet spots are, where the thicknesses are, but I definitely think it's worth our time to let the city manager learn because this is not going to happen in a day or two. We need we we terminated people that that knew about this with the last administration. So, we need to let Mr. Neb get get up to date here. and working with the Walkers in Legacy. He's going to learn about drilling, exploration, and completion of water wells. They've only got four. They're nowhere near being able to supply portable water to the city of Laredo. So the one thing I want to try to re reinstate in your minds, we tried so hard to do water that we almost not personally, [cough and clears throat] but I look back on it and we were trying to squeeze the wit out of water. We were we were trying too hard. We spent money on some sort of a device. You flip a switch and it turns the clouds in and it makes it rain. I don't know if any of y'all remember that one or not. We were seeding clouds. I mean, we went in the wrong directions. And this time, I see us heading in the right direction. I see a city council here that's actually asking the right questions and giving the right instructions. And I I'm concerned about the prices. You're going to be in a transportation business when you start building 20, 30 miles of pipeline. So, back to your point, Melissa, closer is cheaper and there is a way to do this and there is existing water wells, not four. Right around town here, there's at least 30. Okay. So, there is opportunity here for us to get to the secondary water source. I am personally optimistic with what we did today. I think we're actually going to do this and we're not going to be chasing some switch out on the Hindana road to make it rain. I mean, that that was embarrassing. Um, and I don't see that anymore here in this crowd. So, I'm personally encouraged. Let's remember that the Rio Grandandy is no longer what it was. Climate is changing. We do get some snow melt out of Colorado, but it's not what it used to be. Mexico has its issues. So, that pushes me in to being here today to try to follow up and make sure we do secondary water the right way. I like I like everyone's comments. I like the fact that we're drawing the line and saying, "Hey, we we still ought to be at the table." That's exactly right. And if they think we're ready to sign a contract, you tell them we're not. You tell them they're not even ready to deliver. So, you know, let's be let's be proud of of them at Legacy and proud of ourselves because we're not the rookies we were, including them 30 years ago. We've all learned a little bit. And I think everybody understands that secondary water is the future. And I'll end with this. Take a 55gallon drum, try to fill it up with a with the water bottles we buy at the store, and tell me how much a barrel of water costs. And that includes your transportation and your bottling. So that's that's that's the barometer I use so we can kind of judge how important this really is at today's prices. Who knows about the future. So, you know, good luck. And I and I truly, you know, I believe the last utility director wanted to do two and a half million gallons of private water and two and a half million gallons of, [clears throat] I believe, refu or um some sort of a product that they make at these plants around town. Those when when we first got into this, a fellow in California, a city manager, I think in Los Angeles, drank it and died. But from what I understand from our our recent director that whole issue has been cleaned up and there is a way in fact to take water waste water and clean it. So look at look what that 30 years has done for California. They went from a man really believing in it to drink it and died into making it a reality so that you can take waste water and you can clean it. Now, I don't know about all those numbers and all those things, but about drilling and expiration and telling you about water that we have in our area, there's a lot of us here in Laredo that'd be be more than happy to share the information free. And thank you. >> Thank you, M. >> Next item, >> communication number two. >> Communication number two. Let's see. Where are we? We did that one. We did that. >> Yeah, we did. Yeah, we did. >> Motion to approve appointments to commissions, boards, and committees. >> Second as listed on the um regular agenda. >> Second. >> Motion second. >> All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion pass. >> Motion to open public hearings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 and 14. >> Second. Motion second. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Those passes. >> Mr. Rodriguez. >> Number one, public in the ordinance authorizing city managers to negotiate and execute all document necessary to complete the sale of the service only of close section of urban avenue at the praise fair market 21,000 to Adrian Bante. Junior described in a 0.18 track section of urban avenue right ofway between Santa Clara Street and Pon Street said 0.8 18 acre track of land between block 209 and 208 is situated in district 2 district county reserves any and all visible and apparent easements recorded are not recorded approving the providing for an effective date number two public introductory ordinance amendments only map city approximately 30 348.2 2 acres as further described by meets and bounds and attach exhibit A located south of public parkways and west of interstate 35 from AG agriculture to M1 light manufacturing to the plan zoning commission recommend approval of the road zone change and staff supports the application number three public ordinance authoring city manager to negotiate and execute all documents necessary to complete the sale of a surface only of closed section of urban avenue at the prair market item 21000 to Dwayne Rise Landram described by 0.18 section of urban avenue rightway between southern cla street and concret set 0.18 acre track between block 29208 is situated in the district two eastern division state web county the city of rad reserved any all apparent ements recorded or not recorded approving and provided for me number four public ordinance amending the zoning orders map city by res approximately 12.1 acres as further described by means and bounded attached exhibit A located under the port FM 472 of east of man United street from AG agriculture district B4 highway commercial district from to M1 light manufacturing edition planning zoning commission recommend approval of the proposed zone changes to support the application number five Philip introductory ordinance amendment zoning mort approximately 56 acres Describe by means attach exhibit A located 2088 8881 FM472 from agricultural district into M1 light manufacturing district. The planon commission recommend approval proposal on Jane staff supports the application number six in the ordinance amendments on a map particular radio by reason approximately 0.87 acres is further described by meets and bounds and attached exhibit A located at 20889 FN 472 from agriculture district to M1 light manufacturing district. The plan zoning commission recommend approval of proposing staff supports the application number seven public issue three ordinance of main zoning mort by authorizing the issuance of a special use permit for a restaurant or alcohol on building 1G falcon center out of lot 1 delmar north filing number one located at 7718 mcre 106 2348 ft the plan zoning commission recommend approval of the proposed jos the application number eight commission ordinance amending the z map of city radio by reason approximately 4.4 Four acres as further described by meets and bounds and attach exhibit A located north of Montano Street and west of Quroento Road from R1 single family resident district to R2 multif family residential district plan zoning commission recommend approval of the pro zone J supports the application number nine public ordinance amend the zoning map today rad by reszoning park 11.9 acres of further described by meets and bound exhibit A located at Mont Hill Street West from R1 single family residential district R1B single family high density residential district planning zoning commission recommend approval of the pro zone changes that supports the application number 10 ordinance amending zoning city of the radio by resoning lot 5 block one TJ Alexander phase 15 Alexander crossing plaza lot 5 block one and lot 5 block 2 located at 755 Raymond Chandler Drive from B3 community business district to B1 limited business district to R1B single family high density district plan zoning commission recommend approval prop zone to disassoconing lot 15 block one true subdivision unit one located at 1220 LA from R1 single family residential district to RS residential suburban district the plan zoning commission recommends Approval of the proposal changes that support the application. Number 12, public hearing ordinance amendments to map city radio by res lot 4 and the east third of lot 3 block 426 eastern division by further describing meets and bounds and attach exhibit A located at 119 East Saunders street [laughter] community business district to B4 highway commercial district bon commission recommended denial of the proposed j zone change and staff supports and staff does not support the application number 13 public ordinance amending zoning orders 8.7 acres further described by meets and found attached to exhibit 8 located south facility felicity drive and West OK road from R1 single family residential to R1B single family high district the bank zoning commission recommends approval of proposed zone changes the application number 14 public hear ordinance of the city of Larredo Texas amending chapter 31 utilities article 3 water division 3 rates and charges section 31-141 water availability section F providing for publication in effective date >> all right number one for or against or against or against Second motion second. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion pass. Number two, four or against. Four or against. Four or against. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I. >> Opposed. >> Motion passes. Number three, four or against. Four or against. Four or against. >> Motion to close introduce. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion passes. >> Number five, four orain. Number four. Four against. Four or against. Four against. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I post. Motion pass. >> Number four. >> Five. >> Number five. Four against. Four against. Four against. >> Second. Motion second. All in favor? I >> oppose. Motion passes. Number six. Four against. Four against. Four against. Motion to close and introduce. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? I >> opposed. Motion pass. Number seven. Four against. Four or against. Four are against. >> Motion to close and introduce. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> Opposed. Motion pass. Number eight. Four against. Four against. Four against. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion pass. Number nine. Four or against. Four or against. Four against. >> Motion to Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion pass. Number 11. Number 10. 10. >> Number 10. Four against. Four against. Four against. >> Motion to close. Reduce. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion pass. [clears throat] Number 11. Four or against. Four against. Four or against. >> Motion to close. >> Second. Motion second. All in favor. >> Opposed. Motion set. Motion pass. Number 12. For or against. Four or against. Four or against. >> There's public comments. >> Public comment number 12. Danna. >> Dernandez. >> Thank you. >> No. >> What's your name? >> Hello. Uh, good evening, uh, council members and honorable um, mayor. My name is Claves. Um I'm in representation of Miss Anakar Alanise owner. >> Yes, >> Miss Anakaren is the owner of the address of 119 East Saunders. Uh we are here tonight um to ask for your approval in changing uh the zoning for for this property from B3 to B4. We are in the plans of demolishing the old building. office over uh 20 years of of age and we're trying to make a better uh building to accommodate a clinic or a veterinary office. Um I'm hoping that you guys can uh help me out with this. This is um I believe already the third time that we're in um this council chambers. Uh we are trying to create more jobs and also create a a very uh beautiful building for the neighborhood that's surrounding the main um the main street there which is Saunders. Um and yes, that's all. Thank you. >> All right. What district is it? >> Four. >> Fourth. >> Four. Any comments? Well, >> mayor, do you have another photo? >> All right. All right. Thank you, Diana Elnandez. Yes. >> Hello. Good evening, Dr. and city council members. >> Good evening. >> What did I say? >> Okay. >> Mayor point of order. I just like to request that the previous um if you can just sit down so she can >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. [clears throat] Okay. My name is Diana Hernandez and I uh as a me as a neighbor to the property of 119 East Saunders, I am concerned and do not agree with the proposed zone change. As it stands, the property is zone B3. The proposed use for the commercial was initially and what was sent into uh planning and zoning was a shopping center and now I hear that a clinic or a veterinarian. That's not what was on the initial one. As they have been advised, oops, I touched something there. Uh, as they have been advised, uh, for the shopping center that they had proposed, uh, the zoning does not need to change from a B3 to a B4 as it is allowable, not for a veterinary, but that's not what was in there initially. um a B4 change is not in line with the city's comprehensive plan and as a result may introduce businesses that are not in [snorts] accordance with the city's plan for this area. Yes, there's many businesses on Saunders and in this area. However, there are still homes on both sides of this property. Um uh B4 is for major arterial streets and freeways. Saunders is a modified street according to the city. Additionally, a B4 zone requires 100 feet property width and they fall a little short of that. I welcome the propos what they have proposed the shopping center. However, I am concerned with the type of businesses as I've learned today that would open if the zone change uh with the zone change affecting the surrounding neighborhoods and the neighbors which includes me. this uh insistence of the property zone. Now I know why because it's not going to be a shopping center. It's going to be a veterinary clinic or something like that. Um there's another reason for the there I just worry about the insistence of having the properties don't change from a B4 to a B4. It's very concerning as I strongly feel that we've been through this with the their neighbors, their backdoor neighbors. They uh built a huge warehouse in a residential three R3 and they wanted to change that and you know that Mr. Torres they changed that they wanted to change it to a B4. So I'm just feeling that they know each other and help each other out. So I'm just worried that once this is change turned into a before then the people behind them are going to say well how can I not be a before we share a property line. I live in this area and I care about my neighborhood and the quality of life of my neighbors and myself. I am not in accordance with the proposed zone change. Furthermore, by allowing the zone changer setting a precedence for future businesses and property owners attempting to do the same. Um, this is something that it might upset a few a few of you, but you know that it's it's interesting. Some time back um Mr. Navaro, the former planning director, was dismissed because he hadn't passed his certification. And I get it. I am all for, you know, jobs have requirements and they need to adhere to to that. But I ask, you know, do you have the qualifications to just say, "Ah, no, it's okay. Go ahead and build it." Um, last time we were here, we Mr. Torres, you also were talking about the uh liquor store that was down the street. There's a liquor store. There's a liquor store down the street. You kept saying the liquor store has been in existence since the 70s. I went and I asked uh yes, there are uh there's another B4 not far from there, like a block down. Um but if you could only see what happens if you know uh the property is not supporting a B4. These people uh it's a collision center and every morning at 8 o'clock they take out all the cars and all the cars are blocking the sidewalk and the street. They're they're all along the sidewalk and all along the street on Montter for the whole block. Uh you know in in approving this one to become a before it's just like saying there two wrongs do not do not make a right. you know this that's uh I'm just adhering that you know that is not it it's I'm something else that might upset some people but that's why we end up with a way out of place building as we're w driving into Delmare it's a beautiful building but it does not belong there um again I am not in accordance with the zone change I thank you for your time and for listening I pray that you do the correct thing and God bless Thank you. >> Yeah, go ahead. >> Okay. Um, I just wanted to answer her question regarding the plaza. We are still building a plaza. One of the tenants, this this uh property is currently under a realy uh agency that has suggested a few a few of our tenants that might be, you know, future tenants for us. And so we have gotten calls from veterinary clinics and uh a trauma center that might not fit the area, but we are trying to move forward with that and establish um f future tenants. That way the loan that we're trying to get for this is secured knowing that we have more options for more uh type of businesses that might want to get in the area. And we've already created a plan. I believe we've brought it before um your chamber not that long ago. And um I to be honest um I [clears throat] am sincerely hoping for y'all's help with this. Um you know we we don't have any issues with with anybody of the neighborhood. Um the neighbor with us today um has constantly told us you know that we we cannot do this and I'm hoping that maybe we can change her mind today and see if there's something that we can move forward with. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you mayor. Um I'm assum don't go yet. I was I wanted to ask you a question. Um so you mentioned um just to be clear um a potential business was a veterary clinic and um >> there was a trauma center that also >> When you say trauma center, what do you mean by trauma center? >> Um it's a small clinic. >> So you mean like a night clinic, not a trauma center would be like a standalone ER. You mean more of a >> more of a clinic for Yes. after >> like after hours type of clinic for minor emergencies. [clears throat] >> Um, thank you for that. Um, Miss Ka, okay, so I see that planning and zoning recommended denial. I want to know why staff recommended denial. Um the I can if you look at your uh staff report uh it's not in conformance with the comprehensive plans designation which is neighborhood mixuse which allows all zones except the B4 M1 M2. Um it's going to create somewhat of an isolated zoning district. If you look at the zoning map you'll see that all along that corridor for the most part it is all There are some scattered before, however, those took place very um the one that's kind of up north happened in 1995. You'll see some of the autocare uses, some may be legal non-conforming, but some do have conditional use permits. Uh, and we um we identified that the proposed use may introduce uses that are incompatible with the existing uses in the neighborhood. >> Um, important to note that what I'm seeing here on the file is that just as we had no one respond that they were in favor, we had no one respond that they were against other than >> these I do I do have an update. We do have one opposed. Is that Miss Hernandez or another individual? >> I don't have it with me. I just have the one the the number. >> Our computer is taking forever to load and I want to ask you a question on something else, but it's still loading. So, give me a second. >> To be clear with regard to this is the first that we hear about veterinary clinic or trauma center for veterinarian. Indoor animal confinement would be allowed under the current zone. If they were proposing a veterinarian with outdoor animal confinement, then they would need the V4. Is that why you all are requesting the B4 because of the animal um the outdoor animal confinement? >> Can you approach please so we could hear? >> Yes. >> So initially when we had come in um to request this change um we had thought about something in the similar areas. Now that we have actually spoken or the our realtor has spoken to someone who is um wanting to do something like that there then yes it would end up having kennels and and outside outside area for that. >> Okay. Um Miss Gara, I'm looking at the staff report and on page one >> it says um that the comprehensive plan does recognize that this area is for mixed use. Yes, it's a neighborhood mixed use which the comprehensive plan identifies the the zones that would be allowed in the neighborhood mixeduse as all zones with the exception of before M1 M2. >> Do you have um any architectural uh plans as to what your project would look like with >> Yes. Um we do have one. Unfortunately, I did not bring it today, but we have displayed it for your chamber um in the previous meetings that we've come. Um it initially was a four suite plaza and if this uh veterary clinic turns out to actually want to um become a tenant we would probably have to extend them into two suites instead of and then >> they take over half of the building is what you're saying or whatever amount of sweets they need. >> I mean I'm looking at the map and you've got one two blocks to the east. You've got a plaza that was built right at the corner with a 13,000 square foot lot. Then one block south, you're looking at another plaza that was built in an 11,67 one square foot lot. I know that Miss um Ernnandez is mentioning that a lot of these businesses were I guess authorized back in the in the 90s. >> Yes. the E4 that is northwest uh to the northwest of the intersection of Saunders and uh Montter that was approved in uh 1990. And then there's another um sort of a an auto sales. It was approved with a CUP. It was uh in 2007 and staff did not support that either. Uh the auto body place that is to the northeast again that is um with a cup >> and the the one across the street >> the m shop >> is that a4 >> uh the tire and auto body we don't have any any uh indication that there was an overlay issued for that so it may be legal non-conforming or just illegal. Um, how about the um the plaza at the corner of uh >> Springfield and Saunders? Is that a B3 or B4 designation? >> Springfield and Saunders >> across the street. >> It has several suites. I think three or four. You see, I'm I'm torn because obviously we want to invest in in in our community. Um, and we want to make sure that we beautify, right, the the different areas and obviously demolishing this building that's been in existence for a long time and putting together a new plaza like at the corner of Springfield and and Saunders or >> it's all it's all B3 at that location. >> And how about the ones one block south? >> I I guess if they can put the map up, you can see the all the zones. you start seeing all these corners start changing at what we're seeing in these older neighborhoods. >> They can zoom out. You'll see everything along Saunders uh three month three blocks either side. We just see those two B4s. Everything else is pretty much only B3. And you you're telling us uh Miss Gera that if the veterary clinic would use outdoor kennels that is why the B4 >> it would require >> elevation is needed. >> Why is that? >> The zoning requires a B4 at a minimum for outdoor animal confinement which in that case since it's all B3 we would definitely recommend a pursuit of a conditional use permit. >> And you're requesting the V4 because of the financial institution. >> Um that's correct. We want to go ahead and make sure that we have enough um supporting businesses that might be able to >> is the So you have a restaurant right now with a drive-thru. >> Yes. Correct. >> Right. Um if I recall correctly and then there's a reception. >> Reception hall as well. Yes. >> In front and those are actual tenants right now. Other words, the reception hall gets leased and >> Yes. >> And the uh restaurant is operational. >> Yes, it is operational >> both. Um uh members of council just a little bit of background also emergency and urgent care clinics outpatient also would be allowed under the current zone. So a trauma center would require before trauma centers we looked it up. This is I didn't bring the definition with me because it's first we hear of it but it is surgical inpatient overnight stays. >> It's like a standalone emergency clinic. >> I don't want to say without having the definition in front of me but it's It certainly sounds like that. >> If it's an overnight say, it sounds more like a standalone inpatient hospital like specialty hospital where you can actually have a bed >> standalone there >> like a hospital. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Question. >> Um, Saunders is classified as a highway. Is that correct? >> Uh, yeah. >> It's an onsystem roadway. That's correct. >> A highway. >> Yes. >> So, and B4s are supposed to be located along highways, right? That is one of the requirements that beef forests be located along uh highway systems. Correct. >> Right. And so Saunders wasn't always a highway. >> I'm not sure. So at some point Saunders evolved and became a highway and now it has the volume of a highway. It's classified and it's actually going to be one of our four interstate highways in the future. I'm looking at the map further along Saunders and I see that the Laredo Medical Center is a big B4 that extends all the way down to Bamante. Um I do see other patches of B4s. I see the airport with some M1 on Saunders a little further out. Um, so I can see that as our city's growing, the demands are growing as well. And we've typically use Saunders as a thoroughfare, which is what you see from highways. And so I understand that some people are not comfortable or they think that because they grant a B4 along the frontage of Saunders, now the whole area is going to become B4. But that's not how B4 works. B4 is only along highways. And so for that fact alone would make this lot eligible for that designation. If it was a block away or behind in the residential area then it wouldn't fit the qualification for a V4. >> That is one of the qualifications that's >> that it be along a highway. Yes. >> Right. So for that I understand that planning and zoning is hesitant to you know create isolated zonings or initiate or approve something that doesn't fit with the area. But um for me when you're looking at a highway or a roadway that has evolved into like for example Mines's road right it's a farmtomarket road but we have all these zone changes for M1s and as much as you know we don't want everything to become an M1 unfortunately that's kind of what the area is and so I see Saunders evolving in a similar way as well. So, um, just wanted to clarif that that was, you know, where our position lies. >> And and the thing about trends is that they have to start somewhere. >> That's correct. >> Right. Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilwoman Melissa. >> Yes. Thank you. Um would um a B3 designation with a conditional use permit prevent um the applicant I'm sorry the applicants >> would a conditional use permit in addition to the B3 allow the applicant to proceed with the veterary clinic? Yeah, they would have to go through the process of, you know, securing the overlay um and it would go through the regular C process, but yes, it it would allow the the use that would be applied for >> and other uses could also um if there needed to be extended and and have some [cough] special designation, a conditional use permit could be used to accommodate some of these businesses that want to enter into this new shopping center. >> Uh yes, absolutely. because I noticed that the um commission both not only the department but the planning and zoning commission denied this request at least two times in the past. >> That's correct. >> So the members that we appointed denied >> they recommended denial. >> They re recommended denial and I I can see why well in my opinion you have the backside of this with several homes and understanding so Saunders itself won't be I69. It won't be that major highway. I69 will um start closer to the loop and according to the Texas Department of Transportation, I69 might actually not even come into town through Saunders. It may be routed through Loop 20 so that it does remain kind of on that highway system. And Saunders, it seems to me, is this mixeduse area where you have residents that are having to deal with a lot of the development occurring right at the edge of their neighborhood. And [snorts] um the shopping center isn't prevented from doing any of the things that you've suggested just because of the the B4. And it it seems to me that when we look at the zoning, it's it's difficult because B4 allows for the the auto body paint repair shop and the muffler shop that's across that may be illegally in operation. Um you know, the auto impound yard, the scrap waste recycling collection. I think that's when residents who live in the area come and they see that you want to change from a B3 to a B4. They're not necessarily saying, well, I believe your business will be there for 5, 10, 15, 20 years. They're saying if your business doesn't work out, then the conversion could occur to all of these other much heavier use, much heavier uses that could create extra pollution or extra noise. things that when they think of their home make them uncomfortable to be a neighbor too. So I I think it is incumbent upon us to realize that we look at neighborhoods and we want to make sure that what we um approve is congruent to the neighborhood in which it exists. And I do think your shopping center could be very successful even if you needed to go through the conditional use process to get that special designation from a B3 to a B4. >> Okay. And I understand your motion. Um I to be honest I had thought about this as well and um I do know that there's also residences before uh behind the B4s that are currently on Saunders. So, you know, as of now, those have been running smoothly and they haven't been removed from that location. So, I I do think >> so that I think that's the key part that you just mentioned. Once the B4 designation is given, it cannot be removed. So, the people that live behind that that uh >> we do not plan to leave the location. >> I know. And I hope it's successful. But that automotive repair shop that's been there, that was a legacy issue, the neighborhood is still having to deal with it because there is no way for them to shut it down. Once that higher designation is given, residents don't have any more voices. They don't get to change any of their lived experience. So, these residents live in front of a welltraedicked u highway as uh Miss Pis mentioned and so they I believe are already accustomed to the highway um traffic that's going on there. Um it's been like this for years. my this location that I am representing is not going to make the change for the rest of that uh intersection or that whole block that is from loop 20 all the way to highway 30. >> I think as the concerned resident mentioned the fact that you begin to change one small block it triggers now the next block can change much more easily. Now the next block can change more easily and these homes have been here for decades and that's their concern that they just want to make sure that their neighborhood is compatible that the neighbors are compatible so that they can rest comfortably in their home and a B3 [clears throat] business is still a business that allows you to have many different kinds of tenants. >> Yes. Yeah. And I'm I'm aware of that. >> Council, >> thank you. Um I just want to clarify for the record that um Saunders is is going to be I2 not I69. I69 is the loop that goes to World Trade Bridge. So just wanted to clarify that statement. And then also um just uh a point to still know is that we still have our um our land development code that restricts what kind of businesses can be located within so many feet of a residential area. So there are still guidelines in place that we have and we can always amend those as well that would protect the residential neighborhoods uh the residents um residential zoning area. So u mayor with that I'd like to make a motion to close and introduce. >> Thank you. >> Motion second. Any second? Second. >> Second. [clears throat] >> You want to repeat the motion? >> Motion to close and introduce. >> Second by question. No second. >> He has a question. questions. Go ahead. >> Okay. Oh, you just seconded. >> All right. No question. >> All right. >> All right. Motion second. >> Okay. >> Question. >> Mayor, to clarify, are you moving to deny or to >> introduce? >> Motion to introduce the um >> to allow it. >> Allow. >> Yeah. >> Oh, yeah. And for >> Okay. For point of order. Um uh or just a question. Um so the reason why you asked that zone just so I'm clear for the future is because both staff and plan zoning recommended denial. So if the motion was to close introduce that would actually deny it, right? >> Well, >> I'm just just for the future. >> Just to be clear what we wanted to approve or deny, but but remember there's no difference in the number of >> and then I have >> typically on this council we um you know when we have these controversial uh things override, you know, vote to override. Generally speaking, um it's not it's not a rule. It's not set in stone, but generally we uh you know, go with, you know, where the council member for that district is at. And I don't think council member Thores has given his final leave because we have council member for district 7 motioning to to introduce. So, can we hear from the council member from the district? >> You want to respond to >> Sure. I think I already mentioned that I think the area does need to be uh there needs to be investment on Saunders. It's very similar to Arkansas Meadow Clark. Um and I think that the demolition of that deteriorated building and the restaurant that's there would bring the same um commodities that the plazas east and south of that um building would bring. So um we are lacking veterary clinics also in our city. So, I think that if I'm hoping that they come through with their tenants and, uh, I'm in agreement with this. >> All right. >> Mayor, go ahead. Um, I do think, you know, for those the business owners along Saunders watching, you know, uh, this, you know, will likely create a snowball effect that our current council member for district 4 won't have to deal with, uh, because he [snorts] won't he won't be here when that snowball comes in. So, uh, the next council member uh, who takes place in January will probably be receiving a lot of requests if this passes today. uh and I feel for that person uh because you know we it's it's a slippery slope is is is is my only concern but uh generally I go with uh you know where the council of that district is. I think that what's important to note is that no um council member unilaterally makes these decisions and we'll find out as a council as a whole is ultimately what ends up uh making the the decisions and um we'll we'll see once the project is completed and uh take it from there. >> All right. May I? [clears throat] >> Yeah. >> Um, because we keep mentioning that this is a a highway district and it's a highway. What is the speed limit on Saunders at that area? >> Oh my lord. Traffic here. I'm not sure. >> I I can >> I'm not I'm not sure. >> I can suggest it's 35, but to be honest, I don't know if it's 35 or 40. And my only >> 35 so I think 35 miles per hour >> puts it firmly not as a highway district puts it firmly as a residential area >> or mixed at the bare minimum a mixed use and and I understand that there are other issues and other designations but when we think about the highway district we really are thinking about a highway with 55 miles per hour minimum, no stop lightss or very few stop lightss. Saunders at this area has stoplights every three to four blocks because it's a residential, it serves a residential neighborhood. I just wanted to point that out. Thank you, >> Mayor May redirect. You know, Saunders is no different uh to council member Saroa's point. Um the I high 35 may have a 65 55 70 m an hour but you take into consideration Saro Santa Ursula where there's traffic lights and you have B4s along Santa Ursula Santario um even San Bernardo with B4s right when San Bernardo used to be designated a highway just as very similar as Saunders right so I think u the relevance of this speed limit and the highway is is you know does not relate to the item because it's treated the same way Sanado used to be treated when it used to be the old 35. >> Go ahead. >> Just um thank you, mayor. Um I just would like to say for the record um I for one will be voting against this because it it does sound that the that the use that has been proposed h can fall under E3 with perhaps a conditional use permit. Um I do find it interesting that this has come you know this was brought up I believe in February or March and because of the supermajority it did didn't pass and then the supermajority ordinance or rule um in the land development um was rescended and that here yet it here it is again and um that will obviously fail since we don't have the um the ability to Um um well since the the ordinance previously was um rescended. So I again I just putting that on the record because and but thank you for your initiative to um beautify the area. I again [clears throat] I don't I I don't see why a B4 is needed. >> All right. Mayor M. >> Go ahead. >> So, Miss Alise, can you come back to to the podium? >> By any chance, are you going to have some green spaces in the area? Are you going to add trees and all that to the area? >> Yes, that's part of our plan. It it will include um trees and greeneries. >> Okay. >> All right. There's there's a motion and a second call for the question. So, [clears throat] all in favor? I I >> opposed. Motion pass. Thank you. >> 13. Four or against. Four or against. Four or against. >> Second. Motion. Second. All in favor. >> Motion pass. 14. Four or against. Four or against. Four or against. Motion to close and introduce. Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion pass. >> Mayor council to introduce introductory ordinances number 15, >> 16, and 17. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I have a question about item 16. >> I'll amend my motion to Well, there's really no motion needed for council to introduce any items. So, we don't have to vote on it. and council member can make her question number 16. >> Question on number six. Go ahead. >> Um the ordinance to authorize the city manager to amend the FY2425 water availability funds budget by approving a draw down from fund balance and appropriating expenses in the amount of $3,137,164 to cover the Goodwill rebate and small business assistance program related to the October 2024 water boil notice incident. Um in speaking with uh some constituents and and getting a couple of messages. Uh once people are made aware that the rebate to the residential accounts will be $10, it doesn't see I have not found much excitement or enthusiasm for actually receiving the rebate. And I understand that it's a little bit more substantial for businesses as they use more water and and perhaps had a greater impact. But um you know it's $700,000 that will be given to residences through this goodwill rebate at $10 per resident. And I think that money would be better spent on putting it back in our infrastructure program. We've been talking a lot. There was a lot of discussion about uh projects and looking for non-essential projects and trying to figure out a definition for that. Well, this is $700,000 that could be applied directly to improving our aging infrastructure instead of returning $10 to residents just to kind of acknowledge the boilwater notice that that we had the city was forced to um apply. And so I don't know if there is any room for discussion on this zone. We we already did discuss and agree to it, but I think I just want to make that comment that I think the money would be better spent if we would apply it to the aging infrastructure instead of the rebate program. >> Any other comments? >> Mayor, [snorts] I'd like to make a motion to approve final reading of ordinances number 18, 19, and 20. 21 as well. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I >> oppose. Motion passes. Motion to approve consent agenda item 22, 23, and 24. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I oppose. Motion pass. >> Motion to approve cons uh consent agenda items 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 32 >> 32. >> I'll make my motion to include up to 31. >> Second. [snorts] >> Motion second. All in favor? I >> motion pass. 32 and two >> 32 and 33. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Um so both of these items um are related to the Fasin project and there's also another item on here for the auditor's report item 60. So I'd like to make a motion to bring up all three items at the same time. >> Second. >> Motion. Second. All in favor? I opposed. Motion pass. So, I'd like to mayor if I may um there was an email sent by the um Miss Tina for audit and there's some reports in there. I don't know if everyone had a chance to read through it, but [clears throat] if you read through the report, it talks about um so on page two of the report, it talked about the timeline and there's an issue with the project. As everybody knows, this project is four years overdue and final final report from Slay Architecture says that it's a finished product, but the auditor had we had requested through council that a riskmanagement inspection go out. Okay. A riskmanagement inspection um be conducted. So on 10:25 24, which was like 3 weeks ago, there's a whole safety inspection report that is a repeat of another safety inspection report that was conducted on 8:22 in August. So you've got a two-month gap between the first safety and the second safety, and nothing changed between the first safety and the second safety. If you look at the report, it talks about um general hazards and the project fails on almost every point. So um there's a discrepancy in the amounts in the auditor's report. There's a discrepancy on who's going to be installing the safety netting. Um there's a discrepancy on whether or not the project is completed because you have the architect who's asking for final payment here with a statement that this project is finished and you have a compliance report from the city saying that this project is not safe. So I'd like to kind of point out a couple of things. Um, number one on page two of the timeline, and I don't know if you all can put the paperwork up there for everyone else to to look at, but we've got the email today. the treehouse review from the auditor, the auditor report page two. Uh, I'd like to point out that on April 15, council, April 15, 2019, which was before we were here, most of us um council approved sleigh architecture, the design of a public purpose, which included an outdoor swimming pool, kids treehouse, natural water feature, vehicle parking, lighting, camera, and other amenities. And those were things that the people of District 7 had asked for in a community meeting. On October 7th, council amends the contract to incorporate Cortez Studio, but the auditor report does not talk about when all these other features were dropped from the contract. So, I'd like to see that be included in the timeline is so we can get a comprehensive report that the project that was originally approved on April 15 is not the project that we ultimately received. And it doesn't mention here in this report when we dropped all these important features. Um, you look at December 5th on that same report a little further down fiscal year 2022. December 5th, it [clears throat] says the city of Laredo will assist Cortez studio providing inind services estimated amount of $20,000. So the estimate for the city of Laredo's inind donation which was because it was during co the um the artist needed help figuring out um with his residency coming down to Larredo to to work on this project and then he needed assistance with us supplying the equipment and doing a whole bunch of the labor which Mr. Gomez had testified or stated about a year ago to us that the cost estimate for their labor was over a h 100,000. So I'd like to point out that there's a discrepancy there between the estimated amount that we were going to contribute as a city to assist this artist to finish and the actual amount which the auditor report does not mention the final amount. In fact, on page five, there's a [clears throat] statement at the top five, page five of your report, um, Tina. It says, "The total amount of $640,934 paid to vendors does not include the various quote construction duties at the beginning of the project performed by parks and recreation and utilities personnel. Personnel costs were not attributed to the Fascin Treehouse project and both departments paid for the labor from their department budgets. That was not part of the deal. That was not supposed to be part of the arrangement. We were not supposed to be footing the bill for any of this project. We were going to help, but we were not supposed to be absorbing any costs. And the auditor herself mentions that there is not an accurate number for that which I believe we should include in the report. The final report should have that final number that we as a city paid because you went from an estimate of 20,000 to an unknown final amount. And I understand that it's difficult because our personnel were working and but their job did not include finishing this art project. their job was to do other things which they were then putting the city on a bind and a shortage in their regular duties to stop what they have to do to come and work over here. And if you see we pulled people from utilities which is a very vital department especially right now with all that we're going through with the water. So, we had to pull our utilities personnel, which we needed them to be working on our water, and we had to pull parks and recck employees so we can come and finish this contract for this architecture firm who hired an artist that didn't do what he was supposed to do. And if you look at the contract, nowhere in here does it talk about why he was even part of this arrangement. because council approved this project on April 15 that included again swimming pool, natural water feature parking lighting cameras treehouse, and we and then the and then the project was changed and I understand that the amendment was changed monetary reasons, but it didn't really clarify why we were dropping the pool and other things. And so you're taking money that was supposed to be for a pool and all these other things and the exact same amount and more was used for just the treehouse and this water feature. So this whole project has just been a disaster in my opinion. The way it was created, the way it was handled, the way it was modified, the way it was having to chase after this artist to come in here, us having to foot the bill for for their shortcomings on their contract. And if you look at the report, it continues to be a headache because on page three, [clears throat] your te the artist on July 22nd on the third on the second bullet on actually under August 2nd on that bullet point it says the artist's final recommendations to the city were two and the last recommendation is install a stainless steel railing mesh. So he's telling the city that we need to install the railing mesh. But if you go through the report on August 30th, city of Laredo Engineering received cons confirmation that Cortez studio Cortez would be coming back to complete the project by installing stainless steel cable wiring netting as per the original sketch. So his original sketches included this netting that is needed to protect kids from falling. Yet his recommendation to us is I'm done. You guys install it and now and we're still trying to figure out when it became our responsibility and this whole thing is a mess. >> Yes. Well, um Tina Rodriguez, internal auditor in that uh for the uh wire netting. Yes, there was a back and forth. The first preliminary sketch did have a the netting and uh it is on page Seven. >> Seven. >> But when Slay Architecture um they at first said yes, they were going to be providing the netting or the the um artist was going to provide the netting, but then Slay Architecture with Cortez Studios came together and said, "No, this preliminary sketch was not the final one." So when the final one was submitted, it was submitted without the netting. And did we approve that final one? >> I don't believe we ever did. >> Good evening, mayor and members of city council. Roman Chavez, city engineer. Um, as it was mentioned, the drawing that you saw on the screen right now, that was part of the preliminary schematic design. When the final drawings were bidded out, it did not include that uh uh that mesh uh that metal mesh. >> So that was so the plans were approved without the uh metal uh netting. So who so the city of Laredo failed to put it out there with the requirement of the netting? >> It was uh the way the plans were approved, it was without it. Yes. >> Okay. So, that's a failure on our end, I believe, because we bid out for a project that was going to require a safety netting and then it became and I know that parks put up a metal safety netting and the artist came back and said that it needed to be modified because of the aesthetics or something at one point. So, you know, there we go back to the drawing board. Uh on page four, it has the vendor, the payment, the total. If you look under vendor, you've got uh Texas Envirro Solutions, Texas First Rentals, Terracon Consultants, Ingram Readymix. Those are all fees that we absorbed to this project that were not supposed to be things that we were supposed to the city was supposed to have been paying for. Correct. Those were all fees uh associated with uh the Cortez studio coming and uh performing their >> this was our doing what they were supposed to be doing and we paid the bill even though they had an active contract. >> We put the bill >> that we're now that they're now asking us to pay more money for today. Um, so [clears throat] if you go down, you know, through the project, uh, you know, I I think this report needs to be a little more comprehensive in the in the fact that we need to figure out, you know, how we got to this mess in the first place. Like, how did a request for a pool and a treehouse then become just a sole treehouse with a water feature when that was not the original scope? And then the price didn't go down. It stayed the same and increased. Um, and then now they're asking, you know, there's a discrepancy between if you go to page [sighs] risk management, safety, and loss control safety inspection report, it should be I don't know if that's in your auditor report or not, but it's towards the very end. I'd like for for us to take a look at um what's in there because if you go to this executive summary, it has a lot of findings. The findings transition is less than 0.5. The treehouse foundation is not leveled with the surface grade. Okay. So, this whole thing was built not leveled. So, like you're talking from the very beginning, not built to level. It still remains a safety hazard to this day that this is not leveled. Um, sharp points, corners, or edges on the equipment. There are overhead sharp edges under the stairway and on the second level of the treehouse. Mind you, this report was conducted like three weeks ago. Um, there are missing damage protective caps or plugs. There are um protrusions and projections, potential clothing entanglement hazards on the second floor. Um treehouse foundation is greater than, you know, half an inch from grading. So that creates a trip hazard. Um broken equipment, no barrier on the second level. um you know their GFCI plug like nobody knows if it's working or not which risk management [snorts] uh went twice uh the first time was in August uh 22nd which was right after the directive that was given uh to perform this and then they went back on october 25th yeah three weeks ago. So if if you look on on the report there's all these pictures. So the public can see and so my colleagues can see that there's all these pictures of the deficiencies in this report for this project that we're going to be expected to pay out and finalize and accept as finished. Um that's just one page. Can we sip through the other pages because there's like five or six or seven pages of deficiencies. Uh all pointing out specific areas where children can get hurt. Um and there's also a clarification over here that this project is considered a playground. So, I don't know if you can just flip through some of those um pictures that stand today. Um on the executive summary, it says the safety inspection format used to conduct the inspection is specific for playground as the treehouse is considered a playground structure. So, I think this is what gets us to the problem is that you have an artist who's creating art and you have a contract that's expecting a playground structure. This art is supposed to be for children and you don't have any of the safety protocols starting from a leveled foundation, which who do you blame for that? Did we not ask for a leveled foundation in the the committee or is that something that is excusable because well we didn't ask for a leveled foundation. Who's supposed to be responsible for leveling the foundation? And is it okay in art playground structures not to have a leveled foundation? >> Well, again, uh I don't know if it's the level foundation, but I know there were some grading issues and so we graded uh everything so that it uh matches the the foundation. >> Who did that? of parks. >> We parks did. Yes. Is that is that cost included in here? Because as of three weeks ago, it was not leveled. >> So when did you all do it? Because they were here >> asking for final payment our last council meeting on the 4th on the on November 4th. And this report was done on the 25th. that that was done after after the second visit from risk which was after the October 25th which is the second then we how can we vote today to pay out this contract on item 32 which asks us to to to release the contractor and pay them 44,000 and then pay also uh studio Cortez 33,000 when they they owe us money they owe us money because we put in our our staff time. The departments put in their budget time and their money. And you can see where we hired uh you know we bought conc concrete and we paid for um you know uh equipment and we paid for rental fees. And there's a project here for children that's failing on our riskmanagement safety report. And we don't have an updated one to reflect that all of these deficiencies have been cleared. We have two reports that say the same deficiencies existed for at least two months. And then you have the contractor, the architecture firm telling us, oh, everything's finished. And then, you know, they they even mentioned in their report that including the cactus on top, like when did the cactus come up? When did we in when did the cactus get discussed that there was going to throw a cactus on top of of this thing? Like I didn't see any pictures about any cactus or anything. And now you have a cactus up there that I thought was just like some random growing cactus out of the concrete, but apparently it's part of this thing. Um, I don't think that little bonus justifies the incomplete project and an unsafe playground structure for children. So, I don't understand how come we're being asked, which I'm completely against. And I actually think we need to pursue the monies that we as a city paid for this thing. And we also need policies and procedures so that something like this never happens again. because here we are buying art, you know, an art project that's supposed to be a playground structure that's completely unsafe and we have all the and and now it's considered, you know, an art piece, but it's I mean it's I I just I think for item 32 33 and the auditor report, I mean, I'd like to request that they bring back conduct a new report, make a motion to conduct a new safety report that clarifies the deficiencies that um addresses all these um terms and statements that were not included as far as final cost, how we transition to this project and um that we bring this these items back together for consideration at the next council meeting. That's my motion Mayor. >> All right, motion. Any second? >> I'll second. >> Second. Any discussion? No. All in favor? >> I >> oppos >> discussion. >> I I believe we we >> I just I just don't understand what the end like what end result we're looking for here. >> Right. Yeah. And and mayor, I I believe that within the contract we kept $65,000. Did we not? Uh we did keep uh those 65,000. >> No, we kept 9,800 for the days over which we only build them for like 30 days when it's four years overdue. >> No, we we there is a item 32 is a change order to decrease the amount. So those are the 65,000 that you're referring to. So that in essence is a credit. That in essence it's a credit. Uh then the ratification for the final payment to Selzo Gonzalez who's a general contractor. Then item 33 is the uh contract that we we separated from the general contractor to award to student Cortez. >> So you know this this project and going to what council member Perez is talking about as well too. this con this contract was not if it would have been more specified, we wouldn't be here today having this conversation. And that that's been the challenge with this uh this this piece here. Um we've had a we've had a hard time trying to um trying to balance all of this out there because we treated it in a lot of different ways as we walk through this thing. I I guess the the request from and this is why the items keep showing up on there. Um, I don't think we'll be able to recollect our money from whatever we've invested in there of our own dollars. I think this is something that we learn from from that project. We've actually affected two other projects where we don't we have to account for our time within any of these projects and it and it gets gets costed the same way. This project was was probably the uh the one that we utilized exactly with what you're talking about is that it wasn't costed properly. uh in in my mind there was a lot of city involvement the whether it be through the parks whether it be for the u the state of the artists the all this stuff was happening within this project I I think where where staff is at right now is that um unless unless we're going to I I'm not sure exactly what we'll get back out of this thing as we keep pushing it I think that's what we had with the legal conversation >> and if I may >> yes you It seems to me from a legal perspective, you want to be made whole. You want this project to be completed in the vision that the city wants. Now, who's going to pay for it? How do we get there? Yes, you can go after those who who uh have fallen short. However, are we going to get that money? We collect that money. So, that's that's the cost benefit analysis. How do we get to a a result that that you're happy with or content with? And then what's the the cost mitigation or how much can you get back? >> Mayor, if I may. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> With all due respect, Zone, this is not just about money. This is [snorts] not about money. This is about safety. You know, if you look at the safety report, you've got all these pages of unsafe conditions. Who's going to pay for that? Who's going to fix that? By all means, I'm just saying if if you want this end result to be safe, beautiful, artistic, whatever it may be, that's going to have a cost. And and I believe it sounds like what we've been working towards uh with management is is a lot of it's going to be born on the city and thereafter if you turn to me and say go collect what you can, I I'll go get a judgment, but I'm not sure how much you're going to collect. >> I understand that, mayor, if I may. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> I understand that. I'm not arguing. >> I understand. I'm not arguing either. But what I'm saying is is that you're asking us to pay out more money to these firms, more [clears throat] money. Then we still have to fix all these problems. Then we have to go back and ask them to pay for these problems. Or do we tell them we're not going to pay you until you fix all these problems? because I understand from an art perspective, this might be, you know, a beautiful piece of art to somebody, but from a childhood playground perspective, this is an unsafe structure. So, that's my concern is that we hired these people to do a project that was supposed to be at the request of a child that she wanted a treehouse and we gave her a structure that's not safe and we're paying money to say, "Oh, we're done with you all. you all and we're submitting and we're accepting the architect's final report that it's all finished and it's and I don't agree that it's finished. I don't agree that this project is finished and I don't think that the city should pay them and then go figure it out on our own because we've been figuring it out. And if you look through the report, $600,000, we've already paid more than we should have paid. monies to the uh readym mix company, monies to the uh rental company, uh you know, all these monies that we've paid to help this project get finalized, and on top of that, these contractors want their payment for like to be able to say we're done and you deal with it. I don't think we should accept it. That's my point. So, that's why I made the motion that I made. We're not going to accept these reports. We're going to ask them to bring them back. And then I would like to see cuz Mr. Chavez just said that he fixed the grading issue. I'd like to see what that cost us. How much did it cost us to fix the the grading? How much is it going to cost us to fix all these deficiencies? And we should get these firms to pay for that. That's my point. So that's why I made the motion I made. >> So those uh things on the report, mayor, uh have been uh addressed by parks department. I don't know if uh uh Mr. Gomez has any associated cause with it, but I know that those uh have been uh addressed some of those uh safety issues that have been called out by risk department. >> Mayor, with all due respect, the last report was done on the 25th. We're here on November 18th and you're telling us that there's all these changes when for two months, the same report with the same deficiencies. Why do we not have an updated report? Good evening, Mayor Linda Thenand, the human resources director and also a risk manager uh for the city. Uh tomorrow we will do a follow-up meeting and we'll do an inspection just to see if those deficiencies have been addressed and we'll put a final report together for you all. The last time that risk management was out there was on October the 25th. We have not gone back since the 25th. So we'll go back and we'll verify the information. >> Mayor May. >> Yes. Go ahead. I just find it very disrespectful and I my apologize to my colleagues for having to hear me, you know, go on and on, but I find it very disrespectful to the people of the children of District 7 that asked for something that they did not get something safe and I find it disrespectful for an architect firm to tell us that it's complete when our risk management department is saying it's not complete. So I I'm very upset that of how this transpired and not because I like this project or I don't like this project or whatever is because the kids can't use it safely. That's my concern. That's my problem. Mayor, I'd like to I'd like to reiterate my motion if so the rest of council can hear what I had motioned and then I don't know if anybody has >> Mr. city council and and I I'm not sure if the motion has any impact on that, but what what I would ask for is is a potential tableabling of this until the next meeting so that legal can prepare a litigation report so that we can go behind closed doors and actually have a full conversation about what these next steps would look like and what we could expect. >> Motion favor >> second. Motion table. [clears throat] >> I'm sorry. >> All right. All in favor? >> I May I >> did you want us to report some >> table? Thank you. >> Motion pass. >> Next item is what? Say >> all right, mayor. So I'll make a motion to approve item 34 from the consent agenda. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I oppose. Motion passes. >> Motion to approve items 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, and 40. >> Second. >> I have a question. >> Number 40. >> Minus 40. Up to 39. >> Up to 39. Motion as amended. as amended. Any second? >> I second. >> Second. All in favor? >> I [clears throat] oppose. Motion passes. >> I for purpose of the record on item 35, 38, and 39. >> All right. >> Second. >> Second. >> No, I abstain. Just >> you abstain. Does it pass? Anyway, >> yes. >> Mr. Win, are Mr. Maldonado, are you collecting the abstensions, the form that we all agreed to? Mr. Win, are you enforcing the abstensions that we passed? >> Yes, we severments ago. >> Thank you. >> Item number 40, consideration to award 2-year supply contract FY24118 for the purchase of automotive parts for the fleet department to the following vendors. Gonzalez Auto Parts 700,000, O'Reilly Auto Parts 300,000, to Toro Automotive 300,000. Advanced Auto Parts 300,000. The contract establishes annual purchase prices and a percentage discount on parts utilized during city vehicle repairs. All parts will be purchased on an as needed basis. The term of this contract shall be for a period of two years beginning as of the date of its execution and it's contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds. This contract can be renewed for three additional one-year extension periods upon the mutual agreement of the parties. Funding is available in the fleet management fund. Hello, Mr. Miller. Um I know we spoke um briefly I think last meeting about the inventory controls and um you had said that in inventory controls had been much improved and I did want to ask is because it is on an as needed basis. Do these items come to the shop or are they do they stay in these businesses and then as needed they come into like you're not are you holding items? Are you holding parts or is it less um more fluid than that? >> City council. >> All these parts are purchased. They do not stay at the vendor. When we purchase them they're brought to our facility. If they're inventory items they're stuck into inventory. If they're for individual vehicles that we needed to get the parts that are that we did not have inventory goes on the vehicle. Nothing ever stays at the vendor. Whatever we order is brought to us. We're invoiced and we receive it. Nobody else it's not it's not on consignment or anything. It is it belongs to the city and we have control of it. >> Okay. So you do when you're refilling inventory then that is put into your system. >> Yes ma'am. >> And that is controlled control. goes into our into our system, the AS4 our RTA system, and then AS400 also receives it to and as it's charged out out of our inventory, AS400 takes care of it also to pull it out, too. >> Okay? >> Because that in that item that we got go into our inventory, we're not charged till we use it, >> but we paid for it. Other words, part of our system, our inventory. >> So then if when it's used, you charge it to the different departments. In other words, each vehicle that is whatever department their vehicle, each item is charged to that vehicle which belongs to the department. And that's where if you look at my reports that I put out, it breaks down the parts, the labor, everything that's given to that unit from our inventory and from our outside vendors too. >> Okay. Thank you for clarifying that. Appreciate it. >> All right. Thank you. >> I'll move to close and introduce. >> Second. >> Okay. Motion. Second. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion passes. I abstain from 40. >> All right. >> And just uh as a point of order, it's not to close introduce. I think I'll need to vote to approve a item. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I'll vote to approve. I mean, I move to approve item number four. >> Second. >> Second. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion pass. >> I abstain. Mr. Malone. >> Abstain as noted. >> Mayor, motion to bring back item 31. It's my understanding. I thought we voted on it, but city we didn't. So motion to bring up item 31. >> Motion second. >> Second. All in favor? >> I. >> Opposed. Motion pass. >> Motion to approve item 31. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I. >> Opposed. Motion pass. Motion to approve items 41, 42, uh 43, and 44, 45, 46, uh 47, 48 49 50 51 52. >> Questions on 512? >> I'll stop at 50. M. >> All right. Motion. >> Just one clarification. Um item number 42 uh in the middle of the agenda item it says tips contract. It should be Omnia contract >> where >> 42 >> on item number 42 where it says tips contract. It should be om n i a. Omnia. >> O n i a. >> O n as in nancy. I a >> instead of tips. >> Instead of tips. All right, mayor. So, for purposes of clarification, my motion is to approve items 41, 42 as amended to reflect what what was requested into the record by the city secretary. 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, and 50. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I motion pass. Um, so number 51 is consideration to approve a cooperative contract for the rental of seven automated trucks from big truck rental in Florida. The total amount of $1,211,200 utilizing the Omnia partners national cooperative contract number for the solid waste services department. Trucks will be rented for daily garbage and recycle pickup for a period of one year. Funding is available in the solid waste fund. Hello, Mr. And then the 52 item, if we can look at them together, then we're purchasing um uh purchasing trucks. And so I I guess Mr. Porter, the uh decision to rent some trucks versus purchasing. Why does that make sense? >> Sure. Uh John Porter, environmental and solid waste department. Uh so remember there's a big lead time on uh purchasing of these trucks and we also have old trucks in our fleet that are constantly uh needing maintenance and so we're doing the rental as a stop gap between um >> okay >> so so that when so you get buys us time to >> receive the the new the $4 million expenditure. >> Right. Right. >> Okay. I I appreciate that clarification, >> Mayor. Matt. >> Yes. >> Is it possible? Can we question Can we ask questions? >> Absolutely. >> Uh where are we at with those trucks? The ones that are broke that broke down. Are we How many do we have broken down as as we speak? Because right now, >> uh I don't have I don't have today. I know we had uh some out that on Friday. I think we had seven or nine routes that were delayed. Uh and that that's the whole idea with this. We've already got three rental trucks and with this uh we want we'll have um a total of seven and that's going to again help with the the pickup. >> So we don't have no any the trucks haven't been fixed or >> they're they're being fixed but they're you know I mean they're >> taking a while. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. are being repaired. >> Just like he was mentioning, the rental trucks that have been brought in and then the last six trucks have brand new trucks have helped us to take those trucks that need to be repaired. Okay. >> That we've been having we got so many trucks older trucks that we have 17 older trucks that are are going down regularly. So, we doing everything in our power to get them back up and going as soon as possible. >> Mr. Mitter, Mr. Porter, do you think we're going to bring uh we're going to bring that that that amount of seven trucks, the renting trucks? Are we going to bring them down in a couple of months or what have to we fix or we always >> No. And and actually I mean I don't know if they want to hear this but I mean they're they're new trucks and I I would rather put all the heavy lifting on those trucks because we know that they're new uh and we're going to have less problems and then again we can alleviate uh some of the heavier >> and once you cycle in all the newer trucks that we're going to be getting, >> you'll start seeing that go down. But we've got to get rid of those 17 trucks, >> okay, >> as quick as possible. And the only way we're going to do it once we get all these trucks in. >> All right. >> And then we'll start working on other issues that come about as we go forward here. >> All right. Thank you. >> Appreciate it. Thank you, >> mayor. Motion to approve item number 51, 52 53 54, 55, 56, 57, and 58. >> Second motion. Second >> 58 was already up to 57. >> Up to 57 motion. Second >> second. >> Any second? Yes. >> All in favor? >> I oppose. Motion pass. Staff report number 59. Good evening, mayor and council. I'm Ramos and passing the >> Thank you. >> a sample of our collaboration is Andrea. >> Thank you. I like >> walk. And this is an item that um came about from uh an item uh placed by council member Melissa Sigro. >> So um we were asked to come back and uh report on what we have done. So Andrea and I and her team and my team we all met um at at different times in the last few months and um basically we u met to um assess the needs uh to explore potential collaboration opportunities. uh we identified different ones but we wanted to begin with very specific ones and so three key areas for initial partnership were uh brochures campaign andro um which I believe it it's the one that closest u is the closest one to what I think was in the >> so one of the first things that we could move on very quickly was the production of these brochures um these walking tours offer an opportunity for visitors to take tours any time of the day, any day. So we with this partnership, we started with the San Augustine ghostwalk just because of the time of the year. We were able to produce uh with the with the convention of visitors bureau, the service that we just handed you just in time for the spooky season and they are one of the most popular things that we have year round. So these are now available for people to take and again they've been very popular and we are also working on a heritage walking tour that covers more than the area that's the Sanin walking tour. It covers uh the Sanin historic district, St. Peters, the old Marcado district. And these are going to be available for people not only in Laredo but also they're going to be available for people out of town at different hotels for conventions. And so we are able to expand our reach so that people can learn the history of Laredo in in a in a way that it's short, concise, and maybe in this way they can come to the areas and explore them themselves. So this is the fastest way that we could we could start this partnership and we're already working on it. Fantastic. >> The next slide that you're going to see is a sneak peek of what hopefully all of you uh will get to see tomorrow at the launch of our US campaign. Um so in the campaign, uh visit ready says to launch our new US marketing campaign tomorrow with a key focus on promoting historic downtown. Um the city's rich history presents a unique opportunity to attract visitors and highlight the cultural treasures that make Lorettto a distinctive destination. So the first picture that you see there is part of the video that we are going to unveil tomorrow at CineArk and um the the one at the bottom is a mockup of a of a billboard. So we have a whole suite of um ads dedicated to history. Um Web County Heritage was very gracious. They allowed us to film and take pictures inside the museums and so we're very grateful for that. and that made for really good content for the campaign. And then we are trying well we're working on the teano de la this was conceived years ago when the Texas Historical Commission came to Laredo and they started the project of Camarte but due to funding constraints we weren't able to fully develop it just because of availability of actors and again funding it wasn't feasible at the time but now that we we have a potential to continue this project We are trying to engage the public in a more um just engaging manner. So, we're we're planning on on hiring actors to be in different sites at the plaza during Kamin so that people are coming downtown and they're exploring the different galleries and museums, but they're also getting some living history where people can actually talk to them about the different people, the different important um figures in the history of Laredo so they can engage in a more fun way that it's not just static information or just a lot of text. So, this we wanted to have it relatively soon, but again, it's it's it's taking some time, but we're hoping to have it sometime next year, hopefully early in the year so that this is an addition to Kamin that continues to grow in the downtown. So, hopefully we'll have more news on this starting next year. >> Will this be a continuous thing or >> Yes. Yes, it would be a continuous thing. So hope it would be every month the first Friday of the month that we would have those during the time of Kamin people could come to the plaza and get and get these different stories of the different important figures in the right >> and the actors are volunteers or >> uh volunteers hopefully we could pay them. [laughter] >> We're trying to figure that out. >> We're trying to figure that out. Yes. >> Because that was the issue we had last time >> and people are giving their time. So, we want to make sure we >> we compensate for them. >> We compensate them for >> this. Mayor may >> we're planning on working with the local theater um groups. >> Yes. >> Go ahead. >> Um thank you. So, uh I think this is a great start. Sounds I This is amazing. I'm going to go do this now. Um and and I really appreciate that your enthusiasm to join forces, get together, and just come up with so many creative ideas to really put Laredo on the map in in a way that appeals to that historic tourist. Um, I do want to ask, and I know it's a longer term project, but the uh the places that we know and love and and understand they're part of history like the the Civil War battle site and the the Waches versus the Bas versus Waches and things like that. Um, I think when I originally proposed the idea, it was also to include some type of monument, some type of structure, some type of something that conveys that sense of of where it happened because as descriptive as we can be, um, it's a little bit more tangible or it's easier to for people to imagine if there's some flavor of it in in a tangible item, tactile item. And so if yes so if you have >> so the first part of that project is already underway. Uh CVB provided monies to the tur to the downtown tur and we sat down with them um because the monies that as you know hotel occupancy tax is very specific. And so we sat down with the tur and determined which locations um the monuments the the wayfinding signers the monuments uh had to point to. So to to include and not necessarily events, historical events, but historic uh um locations and historical um buildings and so we we we have already um provided those monies to the tur. And so that is the first phase of that uh of that project. Thank you so much for collaborating with even more partners because I think it is a it's going to take a lot of effort from a lot of different actors to to get this all moving in the same direction and I appreciate your efforts and look forward to see what continues to develop. >> Yes. And we also uh were collaborating on the coffee tour. Um we realize that a lot of people are not available to go exchange their um prices uh during the week at the times that we're open, but the museum is open uh at different times. So we're collaborating with them too. >> Yeah. So the museum is open on Saturdays when the convention and visitors uh office is not open. So now if if people complete their coffee tour and they want to go on a Saturday, they can go claim their prize at the Republic of the Ri Museum. That's a great project and congratulations. It's long overdue, but we have to start somewhere. >> Very good. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you all. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Mayor. Motion to go into executive session for item number 61 pursuant to Texas government code section 551.072. deliberations regarding real property uh to deliberate on subsidies and lease agreement between the city of Laredo ASM Global and 2L4L for the use of the Uni Trade Stadium and any other matters incident there too to include the city manager, the city attorney and anybody else deemed necessary and appropriate by the city manager. >> Second >> or city attorney? >> Motion second. All in favor? I post pass executive session. back to regular session. No action was taken. No votes were done. >> Mr. Mayor, for item number 61, I'd like to make a motion to authorize the city manager to proceed um accordingly in the best interest of the city of Laredo. >> Second. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion passes. Motion to recess as the Laredo City Council is convened mass transit board. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I. >> Motion pass. >> Motion to approve item 62. >> Second. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Second. All in favor? >> I. >> Post. Motion pass. >> Motion to adjourn as the Loro Mass Transit Board and reconvenes as the Loro City Council. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I. >> Post. Motion passes. >> Mayor motion to bring up item 63 F2. >> All right. We have 63A also. >> Oh, you want to proceed with We just have someone for a brief presentation. >> Go ahead and start with that first. >> So, there's a motion, a second. >> 63F. Motion second. All in favor? >> I >> oppose. Motion passes. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um the item at the table is discussion with possible action on becoming an inst an institutional sponsor with Comson Orest to support the city's promotion of foreign trade, logistics and security within the supply chain for companies based in Oolon, Quawila Tamolipas Durango Chihuahua and Laredo, Texas and any other matters incident there too. Mr. Mayor, this item came uh to us and I think that for years Comson Orest has tried to have the city of Laredo participate as one of their institutional sponsors. We are I was surprised to learn that we are one of if not the only city um that is not part of this coalition that works with these companies based out of the states that we do a lot of business uh with as being the number one port. Um, I placed this on the agenda and I spoke briefly to our city manager and I know that economic development was already looking at something like this. However, their budget does not permit for them to pay for the uh $10,000 that um, Consest gets from other border cities like uh, Eagle Pass if I'm not mistaken, El Paso and uh, Macallen. I found it shocking that uh Laredo being the number one port is not part of this um coalition and conversations with the city manager. Um I believe this is something that was already in the works but we I placed it on the agenda to um formalize it and I don't know if uh Mr. Neb would like to add anything uh to this. Mr. >> Mr. Go ahead. >> No. Yeah. mayor and city council. Um, no, we we believe that this sponsorship will be a good thing for the city as well with our all of our effort with the supply chains and and everything that's going on. Um, we we fully support uh entering into this uh membership with coms >> mayor. So, I'd like to make a motion that we approve becoming an institutional sponsor with come and authorizing the city manager to designate the funding needed through the economic development department. Second motion second for >> discussion. Um was it members? >> Oh, welcome sir. Thank you so much for uh for staying here. Um my my question is um there was an agreement several years back a memorandum of understanding between the city of Laredo and Ken Oreste I think when Oreste began. Can do you have any history of that or any um indication of whether that memorandum of understanding is still in operation? >> Uh I I'll check into it. I I don't have the the history right now. Uh but uh as uh um Albert Torres mentioned uh yes uh El Paso, yes uh Macallen, yes Eagle Pass are our sponsors and members of Comstee and uh we know of of the increasing trade that has been going on and is going to be uh going on in the next years. And uh we we have worked together also with with Mayor Trevinho in some of our committees of logistics and customs. We look forward to to solve uh issues such as peak hours in exports, peak hours in in imports and uh promote uh an efficient and secure uh foreign trade in order the supply chain. Um I don't know if with that I'm answering your question. I I will look into it but >> well I so I guess I would just wondered what the initial relationship was between the city of Laredo and Ken Orest because there was anou and I I you know I could read it in the news article but it doesn't indicate what exactly it was and what that relationship what that memor memorandum of understanding set out is their relationship. I know there was an event that uh mayor Trevinho uh gave the keys to com nationals president uh Dalentin Moro was I think a couple of years ago. Uh however I I'm not sure about the MOU but I I I'll look into it. >> I appreciate that. And then there's also Laredo Cold Storage that is a member. Um and and maybe this is I don't know if this is directed to management or not, but is Laredo Cold Storage are Larredo Cold Storage? So does Laredo Cold Storage pay the $10,000 membership fee? >> I'm not sure what their what their membership level is for for uh Laredo Cold Storage, but it would be our Cold Storage. it would be um uh Geros and but I don't know what their membership is for >> just because they're they're listed on um on the website as one of the members of the organization and it doesn't indicate also what that level is. Thisou you were speaking about as well too was done in November 9th, 2015 and Representative Quayar, city of Laredo Comsy sign a memorandum of understanding at that point in time. Um, but it doesn't it doesn't tell me exactly what it is other than to work together. So this membership, this partnership is is another way to advance advance our our efforts and but I think looking at theou will be a good thing as well too. >> Okay. And and the the membership fee include what what is included in in membership? >> Well, it it includes uh 24 events that uh we uh or organize and make uh through the year. uh medium uh large events. We have our business forum in May. We have our assembly in June. We have uh 11 uh board meetings uh throughout the the months. And we have uh our affiliates uh committees also uh every month. So uh issues uh could be discussed either with board members with affiliates. Uh Laredo City brand uh could be displayed in several of uh these uh all of the events. Uh I don't know if if I'm not sure your your question uh with the benefits of of >> being just just um understanding what the what the fee entails, what what membership actually grants to the entities that are participating. >> Yes. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. >> And [clears throat] um I don't know I don't mean for you to come back to council. Perhaps you could share that information of theou with our city manager and he could disseminate that information to us here at council. >> Definitely. >> That's true. >> Thank you, sir. >> All right. Any other questions? >> A motion and a second. >> We have a motion and a second. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion passes. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. See you. Now we are in uh item number 16, general counsel to discussions. Item 63A, request by mayor, discussion with possible action and in line with the recent passage of proposition 10 to send items to poll to the public and any matters related there to items include but not limited to does the public want a convention center or similar venue for the city? Number two, does the public want the city council members to be part-time or full-time? Number three, does the public believe the city council members should receive pensions? Now, the reason I placed all these items to see if we could survey the public, especially on the issue of what expectation of a public truly is instead of the opinion of limited differing opinions. So my motion would be to place these questions before the people. Now I would like to open the discussion to city council if we have any. >> Go ahead. >> Thank you. >> And yeah obviously that um as of today this is now something we can do based off the votes uh on November 5th. Um you know I know we we have the bond referendum election uh um sorry committee that's meeting right now. Um, the subcommittee on public enhancements is looking at uh the possibility of considering a convention center to the people in May of 2025. would your item uh that that would be basically polling uh the people in a I'm guessing you would want to pursue the non-binding way in this and would you want to do this in conjunction with the bond referendum committee in May 25 or would you want to do this at a another time? What would be more practical during the bond referendum? >> Well, it it would be expensive to to hold an election. So it would be we share cost if we wait till May and then that's my only question is did you want to be binding or non-binding? So that be specific to your motion. >> Excuse me. >> All right. Basically this is a poll I don't think is binding. >> Nonbinding. >> Sounds like it would have be uh the proposition that passed >> the proposition that passed it gave us the option to do either binding or non-binding, right? Like we could we could the proposition in the past gave us the option to do either. >> Yes. And if I'm in it may be a little confusing. It's not a polling that we're going to go do surveys. It's it's the election at the referendum that you pull that the public. Do do you want this or not? And you can make it non-binding. That way it's advisory to you or you can propose an ordinance like we are going to do this if the U citizens say yes. That would be a binding >> based on the poll basically >> based on the election. The election is the poll. >> It would be okay. Same thing. >> Mayor Mac, >> go ahead. >> So, I I think we um we need to be careful when we talk about taking things to the public if there is no plan of action for all of the possibilities. So, for example, the convention center, we are a city of almost 300,000. Um it is incumbent in my opinion for us to have some type of convention center, civic center, whatever that might be because of our size. If we go to the public and usually off um off November elections have a very low turnout, you could get the result that the public will say we don't want a convention center and then where does that leave us on council? I agree that there are certain issues perhaps that we do want the public input, but we have to plan carefully what we're going to ask the public because if they respond to us in a way that does not conform with our strategic vision for the city, then we might be prevented from following through on items that we know for our economic development and our strategic plans we must move forward on. So, I just want us to take that into consideration when we're determining items to place on this election. Go ahead. >> Yeah, mayor and city council. Uh, just for timing because we've been working on this one, the bond referendum as well too. You have until the middle of February to determine what items you want to put onto this election. So you have a little bit of time here, I think from December and January if you if you wanted to take time to figure out what you wanted to ask the public within the proposition. So we would always recommend that you keep it tied to an election that we have already happening because that's going to share the cost of uh where it's at. And you just saw what doing a runoff election is going to run us the full cost of it. So that but I would recommend that that you go into that. Now though, I will say the one item on the the public wanting a convention center or similar venue, the first time around that we were going to do this, it was going to use hotel occupancy fees. It was going to be the outsiders paying for it. So when you establish this question in there, do you want to use property tax money in order to cover it or do you want to cover it in a different manner? So you have those abilities to walk through those things. But just wanted to make sure you understood the timeline that you have. we have until essentially February 14th, Valentine's Day, to determine what we're going to put on for the election for May. And so that conversation for the bond referendum will be coming forward before before February 14th. >> Thank you. So I think that um the idea that less people would vote in the May election to a certain extent may be you know irrelevant. At the end of the day you're giving the people the opportunity to go vote and make their voice heard. Right? So it is the voters's decision where they go or not. And sometimes a no vote is a vote in and of itself. I've always said people decide to undervote and that is a vote. under voting this counts it right. Um and I don't have a specific uh preference whether you all want to do any of this in May or wait till November for the next um uh general election or if the governor ends up calling some sort of proposition election on an off year which is possible uh with the session coming up in 2025. Um, I think that you can ask the public whatever it is we want to ask the public on a non-binding way. And if the um, using council's example, if you put this out on whether the public wants a convention center or not, I mean, the argument is going to go both ways. If the public says no, then this governing body can turn around and say the public says they don't want it. However, we feel it's needed and it is our fiduciary duty and responsibility to move forward with doing this and you take into advisement whatever that result is. Right? Very similar to how an advisory committee works. They make recommendations and this uh governing body decides to either accept the recommendation or go a different route. Um what I do um encourage is that I think um Mr. one couldn't be much more um specific in saying it's going to be important for this council to make very very clear when you do something that's binding or non-binding right so I'd be very concerned if you go out to the public and say do we need do we want a convention center or not to council's um point and you make it a binding um uh election if they say no then that's it right it's it's done this council has to abide by that result until you go back again and it's going to be very hard to overturn it because I would assume that would hold until there's a new election that says otherwise. Um and uh if you do it non-binding then you take it under adisement right if we are going to start do doing these non-binding elections then I think that any project that's going to cost in excess of X million of dollars should be something the the uh the voters should vote on and I'll use an example the B national park right if that's something that you all do plan on including I'm not going to be here as a city council member by then But I think you all we all, you know, as as a community, the city, but the governing body that decides what makes it to the ballot or not, um should consider maybe um anything over 50 million, right? And if uh convention center is under 50 million, then don't take it to the voters. But if it's something that's going to cost in excess of so many dollars, then if you're going to put one project out of them, put them all, right? Let's not cherrypick what we want to take to the voters, whether it's binding or non-binding. Now, I do have a question, Mr. Gwen. Um, when we've had propositions make it to the ballot for charter amendments, it could either be council initiated or through signatures, right? Um, the people can ask, I want this on the ballot, right? Um, kind of like when U. Moving Loro Forward put out propositions that the council had to call an election for for charter amendments, right? Can the public ask for a non-binding election through signatures the same way you do it for propositions. >> Okay, if I may, this is new. We pretty much created it this time around. So, uh in black is what was originally there and before the only thing that people can petition for is to overturn an ordinance, but then just from uh observing uh there was mention of taking things to the public. So, uh, we drafted this and and so this is the new powers and and it's a start to be honest. All it is is if if you want a binding election, you're proposing an ordinance and and you think that you want the public to to give the final say. So, if they say approve it, it's just an ordinance. You don't have to have another referendum to overturn it. It's just an ordinance. just that you put that that uh uh not abdicate but you you want to have the public give the final say right non-binding is is this last section here and that just asking the public for their guidance but but if I may add you can also just go do a survey which is a poll but it's not at the at the uh election time and costly it's maybe another uh vehicle that you can use so you have the ability to survey. You can do a non-binding uh election in a poll or you can do a binding election to ratify in essence uh your ordinance. >> Yes. Go ahead. I I really like that we have this, you know, option now, but I also want to point out anything over, you know, $50 million in our current capital improvement plan is basically going to be something that would have to go to the voters to be voted on anyway as a co bond because I mean our I mean our entire budget for last year for all the projects combined in the CIP was 32 million plus the 12 million from So I mean like anything this big is going to already have to go to the voters anyway if we to do a you know a bond to do a bond to pay for this. So I mean but I I like having this um non-binding election to get more general uh feelings about what people are thinking uh and and kind of give us guidance on a direction to go. not necessarily like these ex specific detailed yes or no questions, but more of open-ended like um ways of getting an idea of where they want our emphasis to be going. That's another way to use it. But anyway, >> mayor motion to extend the meeting till 11. >> Second. >> Motion to extend the meeting. Second. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion passes. Mayor. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Um so looking at um item number three, does the public believe that city council members should receive pensions? And once again, this is an item that um we've discussed here on council and there is not a satisfactory answer for it. So taking the pulse I would just um I guess caution us that if we're going to take the pulse of the public the pension u put the salary issue up there if it comes if the public expresses a disapproval let's say with the pensions and it comes back to council we heard from the Texas municipal retirement system that in order for us to not receive pensions the entire city of Laredo employees employees have to not receive pensions. If you're going to suggest something that doesn't have a clear resolution, it seems to me that you are provoking voters without a clear path forward. And so that can be something that we hear determine at council. We don't have to use exactly this phrasing. I just think we need to keep that in mind when we're proposing issues to go before a non-binding resolution that we at or referendum that we we think about what the consequences will be because there will be consequences from asking voters to give an opinion and then if we don't have something to show for it for it, it just will lead to a lot of frustration. That's why it's mainly tied to ordinance that you're already proposing. That way they're they're rejecting or accepting as opposed to something open-ended that forces you to take some action. If I may, Mr. Rodriguez got further guidance from uh TMRS regarding the potential. >> Yes. Good evening, honorable council. Mr. So, we refined our questions to the Texas uh m municipal retirement system and it [clears throat] was based on the information for the what this council asked us to to to look at whether or not it was legally permissible for this body to be removed from the pension. And there is one mechanism as I spoke to Miss Christine Sweeney who is the chief uh legal officer for TMRS. She did inform me that if this body were to vote that to descertify themselves as a department, meaning to say that we no longer are expected to work a thousand hours, then once that vote took place, then any members here right now that are putting into their pension would can no longer put any more money into that pension. Okay? and this body would no longer be considered a department that is expected to work at least a thousand hours. However, whatever money that would be in there um would would stay in there unless TMRS would tell you to take it out, but it would just be the contributions that you've been putting in so far. >> What was the opinion on the future council members? It it it would it would it would it would it would exclude all future council members and it would prohibit this body from continuing to make contributions to TMRS. But the money would remain in there unless it is not a sufficient amount. Then it could be it would be given back to you. what's yours will remain yours. Just that you can stop further participation among yourselves and uh prevent the future council members from participating if you either are no longer a department or you certify that you work less than $1,000. >> Correct. >> All right. Now, the next question, would that be an individual uh initiative from each council member or has to be a group? No, >> just as a as a as a class mayor a group. Go ahead. >> Just to clarify, um, with that new information, um, it would not say that you're saying we do work less than a thousand hours a year. It's just there would not be a requirement to work a,000 hours a year. >> That is correct. >> We'd be certifying that as a class you all do not work, thousand hours a year, right? But but but my point is just because I was paying attention to what he said. Um he said it would be it would not be required to work a thousand that you could still we could still work over a thousand hours like most of us do I think. Um, >> would you be lying? >> No, no, I'm a requirement because that what what what Hen said was we could certify that we're not required to work over a thousand hours. Not stopping us from working over a,000 hours. Just want to clarify that. You I don't know if you said it not the way you wanted to, but the way you said it was it just wouldn't require us to work a thousand hours. >> That is what I said and that's after my conversations with the chief legal officer. the chief legal officer the way she said as long as there is a decision that this department is not required or the people within the department are not required to work a thousand hours then they that then that that that can be a descertification but it would ultimately be the decision of this body and the way in which that they make that decision and the requisite amount of votes >> may go ahead >> so we'd be basically allowing ourselves to work less than a thousand hours instead of committing to a minimum of a thousand hours. So we'd be working less than the thousand hours because it's all tied to the thousand hours. >> That that is that is correct m that is also correct. You would be saying yeah you you essentially you can say this department is not required to work more than a,000 hours. So then if we So then we we we'd be lying if we we would have to lie and say we don't work at least 1,000 hours a year because part-time employees are not eligible because they don't hit that thousand hour mark. But so we'd be saying we don't work the thousand hours even though we do just so we don't have to contribute into the system. I'm gonna call Vanessa here. Go back to my my philosophy days. Uh it's a conjunction. So in order to qualify for the potention for the pension, you have to be a a department and you have to certify that you all work over 1,000 hours. So the flip side, if you negate that, you just negate one or the other, right? You're either not a department or you don't work a thousand hours. >> Mayor, mayor, mayor zone, you're giving the previous answer that you gave in the past. is entering new information into the record. You're using the same language that you used months ago and January of 2023. Is sitting here giving us brand new information. So that is not what he just said. He said we could descertify it by saying we're not required to work a thousand hours a year. Okay, that's what he's saying. He's not saying we don't work a thousand hours a year. He's saying we can descertify it based on the conversation he had with Austin saying that we're not required to work thousand hours a year. That's what he's saying. Not that we don't. There's no line saying we're not required to. And that's what we could based on what he just said. New information has been entered into the record. We could suggest or we could decide, I don't think today because it's not a technically an item, but in a future agenda item, we could say we're going to descertify ourselves from the pension plan henceforth and say that we're not requiring ourselves to work a thousand hours. No one's checking our time sheets making sure we're working a thousand hours a year. Okay, there that's already not a thing. So my point is we could descertify it moving forward. We wouldn't have to um contribute and we wouldn't be required to work a thousand hours a year even if we all do. And then you know we it would be it this is information that we're getting that we can indeed do it. >> So go ahead. I was going to mention that um council member King mentioned that there's no item and I think council member Sigaro's item does have that. So I'll make a motion to bring up item uh 63 C2 just for purposes of discussion since it's already on the agenda and the council can already hear and fully discuss that. Um hopefully by the time parking gets back. No, I think we can have a discussion. >> Discussion possible action to reset the classification of elected officials as designated department of the city and remove them from employment as city employees in recognition of their status as simply elected officials who [clears throat] are not entitled entitled to regular bene employee benefits and any other matters in there too. And so this does go into the um this the discussion that we were just having. >> Vanessa is yes if you negate one of those two then you can descertify or prevent yourselves from participating in the pension >> of course. >> I mean did get any information to make sure that what he's saying or did he step up for another reason? >> He he's getting the letter. Uh but uh to be honest uh council members there there's that word required is not in any statute. So it's not going to be something you can turn on. >> However, you can get the same effect by just saying we're not a department or we don't work,000 hours whether you you're required to or not. You can just say we don't work,000 hours. >> So that's why we want the public to give us their their feeling. non-binding of course because if we act on our own we're dam we do dam we don't so the public will be very helpful to make our decision may I redirect >> yes go ahead >> so what happens to the certification the city manager made not Mr. Nev but you know when it was done >> it' be a change circumstance >> yes go ahead >> so what happens to uh council members that have been vested or are vested currently. What happens to to them? >> What's yours is still yours. You're not going to have to reimburse it because it's reducing tax consequences. So what's yours is yours just you wouldn't participate going into the future just like any new council member would not participate either. >> So may I read that? >> Yes. So, you have council members that have left this council that would continue to get their pension benefits, their match, and their investment return as per state statute. You have city council members that will potentially get vested, right? Um, after the reelection, right? But in other words, what's done is done and you're going to just affect everything moving forward and the newly elected. >> But those that already got what they got, >> there's there's nothing there, which in my opinion, I think >> um is in a way unfair, right, for the city council members and those moving forward if you can't remove anything from the ones that have already received their benefit. Is that accurate? >> Yes. You can't It's only going forward, >> Mayor May. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> How many council members would that be if the pension was passed in 2019? >> I'm not sure. Council member, >> the only difference, if I may answer that question briefly. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> It was 2019, but years of service went retro according to state law. Right, >> mayor? Uh to date there's only been one person that has received the benefit uh the pension benefit after they left office. >> Who's that? >> Uh Mayor Pete Science. >> So so in order for you to receive a full pension from the city, there's three elements. You have to one years of service with the city of Laredo at any age, five years of service, age 60, or a disability retirement through the through the TMR system. Those are the three ways. >> And you're bested after five. So >> yes sir, >> if you have five years of service and you're the and you your money stays there till you're 60, >> correct? >> You will pull a pension >> with five years of service in the age of 60. That's a qualifying factor. >> Yes, sir. So to answer council member Sigaroa's question, um that would probably in my estimation be the former council member for district 1, the two former council members for district two, not the former council for district three, myself, former mayor SCS, the um former council member for district 7 [snorts] and the former council member for district 8 for all of us year. So, it's a handful. >> And what happens also, council mayor and council members, um every J December 31st, those accounts that are active and that the accounts are still active at that point, they pick up interest and earnings every year until they're eligible to retire. That's what's going to happen to those accounts. >> That's state law. >> Yes, sir. >> Mayor, we had a motion on the table. >> What was it? >> It was about sending the mayor's item or Do we have a motion? >> Mayor have something to say or >> Yeah, this is it right here. Uh this is the the guidance that was received and it says no longer regularly require Again, it's a way for you to descertify and say we don't work a thousand hours. We're not required to work a thousand hours. No one's keeping track of their time. Come on. You're you're the council members. You you control. So you have that ability. That that's what we're saying. So, if you want to vote and and five of you say or more say we're we're going to either not be a department or we're not going to certify that we work a thousand hours whether we're required to or not as a group, you can you can do that. And if you want to say this is what we propose or we want to send it to the people to vote, you can do that as well. Now, I think the the the item was to see what the poll is and non-binding, of course, because we're going to be stuck to our decision. >> Sorry, Mayor. >> Yeah, we brought up my item, which was to um resend the classification. >> And I know we're um getting caught up in the weeds here. We do obvious Well, We are part-time officials. We are a salary that's some would say more than than that. Just because an ordinance was placed directing the city manager in 2019 to say that we work a thousand hours, which again most of us work over that doesn't and if we're asking and again there's no accountability here as to how many hours we do work or we don't work and I for one would like to move that we move forward with this mo with with with this item. >> Okay. >> Secondary session. >> Okay. We have we have a motion on the table. Has it been second already? >> Okay. Go ahead. >> And I I just wanted to make sure that um this motion uh would not affect my colleagues health insurance. You know, um I don't have the city's health insurance, but I know some of my colleagues do. And I if we lived in a country where uh you know health insurance was available for everybody and it was easy to access it wasn't binded to your employer you know it wouldn't be as big of a deal but I know uh you know some of my colleagues and their families depend on that the health insurance. So I just wanted to make sure that any action today related to this would not affect um health insurance for my colleagues. >> It would. >> Okay. If I may and again uh just to orient ourselves, you all are are elected officials. You have been classified as an employee for pension purposes. You've been classified as an employee for health benefits as well. If you want to say you're not employees at all, yes, that could affect your your health benefits. Or you can just say you're trying to opt out of the pension. So it's it's what you wish. We can affect it if you all vote for that. But if the the motion is to say you're n employees across the board, it could affect your your health benefits. And as far as your health benefits go, you can opt in and out individually. You're not required to to stay in as a class, unlike the pension where you have to be all in or all out. >> Mayor, >> yeah. If if if council member Alysa Cigaro would accept an amendment to her, >> but there's a motion first. offer. >> I'm asking for an amendment to her motion about um you know descertifying and to make it strictly to uh descertifying uh from the uh use of the pension uh from henceforth. >> All right. Right now there's a motion and a second >> and they they just amended it. >> You amended. May >> I have a question? >> Go ahead. If we go the undesated department with what happens to the council assistants and all the the work we do with the with our offices here and stuff. >> Those uh mayor th those employees are under the city manager's office. [clears throat] >> We wouldn't able to they wouldn't be able to assist. >> I don't think that would have any impact. They're still going to have to service you all and service the city. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Um So we would no longer receive W2s then we would be 1099 contractors and we would have no like commitment level to the city to you know it we would be basically letting ourselves off the hook of having to work at least a thousand hours when I think the public expects more from us every year demands and expects us to be more visible more available do more things and here we're going backwards to say We're not We're not going to be responsible for at least a thousand hours. We're not going to be responsible for any minimum. >> And is that is that is that accurate? >> It can be done different ways. >> But 1099, are we going to be 1099s or W2s? Because if we're W2s for tax purposes, we're employees. >> Well, then we're employees for tax purposes. Mayor, >> it depends on the conversation. If we're talking about taxes, then it's under the IRS. You all as elected officials are considered employee. Under our benefits plan, we have our elected officials as an employee. On the TMRS pension, there's qualifiers that you must be. So, it depends what the conversation is. For uh for employee purposes of the IRS, this is why you get the W2 and not the 1099. It depends. >> Any other questions? >> Mayor, I I have one question. If we have a um if we have a city council member that was an employee of the city, they had their pension up to the point where they take office. They have a pension now within the structure. I'm assuming that if we do this, then that that city council member no longer has the pension or it stops. the contribution stops but then later on as we did in the other proposition he returns back as a city employee he that continues >> so there would be a break in service so >> yes yes >> okay all right and then the the other the other comment I have is that the pension and the regular employee benefits statement is in an ordinance so any action if you if you vote to take this action an ordinance will have to come back can be corrected. Just so you're aware of of the process. So this it's not done with this one. You there'll be an ordinance that says this is the council's action or the council's wish and it'll be a first reading and a second reading of that. So you're going to have to walk through that that ordinance adjustment. >> All right. What we're doing right now just asking the public nonbinding. It's just a poll of the public. question. >> So, as mayor, if I may, for point of clarification, um we're voting on the item that council member Sigaroa move well that I moved up that's under her sponsorship, not the propositions. So her her motion, if I'm correct, is to descertify that council works the thousand hours so that the pension moving forward after the um um ordinance is brought back for it to be descertified, which would probably throw us into January. >> Mayor Mayor, >> could I check with Mr. Maldonado? Did the mayor put a motion on the table for the 63A1 >> or There was not a motion and no second on that the original motion. >> Okay. Thank you. All right. So, we have only one motion on the floor. >> All right. >> Okay. Call for the question. >> Sorry. What's the motion, sir? Can you repeat the point of order? What's >> Go ahead and repeat it. >> You want to repeat your >> to clarify what Mr. Just said. This would be asking management to work on an ordinance that would come back to us as an introductory ordinance or >> it would be it would be an introductory and then a second reading, right? >> Or could it could it at least come back as a as a perhaps a staff report? Well, I don't >> I think it's better to bring it back as an introductory ordinance and then that way you can have your full discussion and everything at that point as well too. So >> which can we at least entertain? >> Well, that's your motion over there. >> Yes, this is my motion. Yeah, >> there's a motion of second amendment. >> Okay, second. >> All right, you have a question. All right, >> we have a motion and a second. All in favor? Opposed? Does it pass? >> Motion fails. >> I'll make a motion to approve 63A um as you put it on the table. Um I would hope that maybe and since your item mayor says um and any other matters incident there too that just like we have a um charter review commission that we maybe have a binding and non-binding um proposition election commission. Um that way if there's something that we want to propose that they review it. if there's anything else they feel that should go to the voters that maybe it's also reviewed. I don't know if that's something the the council would entertain. The only reason I'm bringing it up is because we have time between now and um February unless it's something that the bond committee also wants to recommend. This governing body doesn't have to do any of that. But um I'll make a motion to approve 63A um as written to also include the by national park and um that the um that it be brought back I'm assuming um with maybe some sort of proper verbiage for the council to review and for there to in other words the question is going to the public right um but what I'm trying to say is that this would go under like commit not committee report but staff report right to where it's taken in as something for the um bond committee maybe to consider I mean I don't know I'm it's like we're trying to >> put a procedure here together for something that doesn't exist that's why I'm a bit conflicted as to how we treat it rather than today's vote just Meaning these four questions or three questions go directly to the voters. >> Is that your motion? Did you somebody second? >> Mayor second. >> Yeah, go ahead. >> So, um, with all due respect, I I I think it's a mistake. I think the the better path forward is to create some type of structure, some type of committee, some type of procedure to get a a process formalized. And I think that we really are playing with with fire if if we don't understand that this bond collection the election coming up in May should be the only focus that we're asking our voters. It is a big financial commitment. We want to make sure they understand all of it. And throwing in halfformed questions that do not have right now solutions or proposals behind them, it just seems as if we're putting um the really critical bond election, a very serious p proposal in front of our voters. we put that at risk when we add in these whims of trying to find out what public sentiment is. I I think that this procedure could be established and we could get some very good information from the public if it is well thought out and there are procedures in place to see it move forward with intelligible language and that the result will mean something for our voters. And so I would respectfully ask that we pull back a little bit with with the asking voter sentiment so we can focus on the May bond election with very serious issues. Get those procedures in place and then it can move forward a part next November. >> Mayor. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Um so just to kind of go back to the questions mayor that you wanted to ask the public. I think asking the public if they want part-time or full-time is important for us to figure out because if they're telling us that they want full-time, then us descertifying our positions wouldn't make sense. So, uh I think one and two would be good and then council member Torres said he wanted to take the B national park. Um asking the public if they want us to spend half a billion dollars on that project or not would be a good question to ask. as the number three question. If may if council member, if you'd be willing to modify your u amend your motion for number three question to include that one and maybe wait on this number three question because if it comes back that the public wants us working part-time or less than part-time, then of course we would descertify or we would but if they expect us to work full-time, then descertifying our positions would be incompetent. >> Mayor, >> is that an amendment? That's what I was suggest >> asking for an amendment. >> I'll accept the amendment. Um but again, um mayor, just for purpose of discussion, yes, council member Melissa Cigaroa has a very good point. We need to establish the mechanism um for how we're going to move forward with these questions, right? So that was part of my motion that, you know, we we move forward with this item, I guess, as the quote unquote guinea pig, right? As to what mechanism will be created. Now if legal comes back and says we don't have enough time or management to create a mechanism between now and February then so be it right we have this still available for us to put it in the November election if the governor calls for some sort of special amendments in November of 25 or it's taken in May of 20 uh 26 or or November 26 right so there's different options again we're literally reinventing something here, right? Other than the way we handle propositions, um I find it kind of conflicting how we're giving this bond election so much importance yet in the same there's an argument about these non-binding questions where voter participation might not be sufficient. Then if that's the case, why are we taking anything to the voters in May for the bond? Let's do it in an election cycle. But we can't be cynical and say, "Oh, let's do the bond election in May, but let's not do this because I don't agree with this part, but let's do the bond election." And if people go out and vote, great. And if they don't, they don't. Both would be as significant and valuable. So, we can't [clears throat] argue something for one election and then use that the contrary to argue not putting something on the ballot. I will tell you that um and and council member King usually says council member Torres is the political science major on the council. Um >> if you two are Yeah. Okay. So you you're going to agree with me on this that maybe putting something like this on the ballot in May will distract the voters from the bond election is my opinion. and any negative um I mean we just saw it the voters voted all the propositions in favor. So you'll see it it's seldom when you see voters vote some things up and some things down. They're either going to vote everything up or they're going to vote everything down. And that is why I'm saying let's take these into adisement. let's establish that mechanism and um let's let's review them and maybe we can task the charter review commission um to to review them if we choose to do so. I mean there's already a committee there and now rename that committee and put charter review slash you know binding non-binding election committee or something. Um but there's a lot of pros and cons and I agree with the mayor. I like these binding uh non-binding I'm sorry polls for lack of a better word but their elections because um if we put other things like for example a water park I can guarantee you the people will speak volumes and asking for that amenity that they've waited for for the last 30 years right but for whatever reason we we we do different things but think it's good that you put this on mayor my motion is still that we move forward with it under adisement let's have legal digested. It's a good start, right? Doesn't mean we're already sending this to the ballot, but it's a good start to start setting uh putting out there whatever it is that legal and management will come back to us with. And again, it's a non-binding motion, right? I mean, it's not going to the ballot yet. It's just let's task management and legal to review this and let them come back in December, I don't know, maybe even January, right? once you have your newly fully elected council um here to move forward with it. It still gives you six to eight weeks before that deadline to do something >> right and the idea of this is uh we should not be afraid of the will of the people if we give them the right information. I mean that's that's valid. So we can go ahead and do that. >> All right. So >> all right >> there's a motion a second. >> There's a motion and a second >> that point of order. have what the motion is at the end of the day. >> It's direct to move forward with the items and for management to come back with a recommendation to to council >> with a mechanism >> with a mechanism. Yes, sir. >> And it includes the mayor's items um listed >> in the national park. >> Yes, sir. >> I'm sorry. Oh, and as amended by council member Vanessa Pettis. >> Right. remove the third because it conflicts with number two or something specific. >> What is what is if you're why are we so I just don't understand why we're so insistent on on paying into the pension. Those that are that are um that chose the unaccountable route for the allowances are paying higher higher amount into the pension as a part-time employee, you're paying taxes on those allowances. So, yes, you are. Um, and the regardless if if if we are full-time or part-time, why again, why be insistent on on being a part of the pension plan? And so, I I can't vote for this. >> All right. I I have one more clarification, mayor, because because this the by national park kind of got thrown into the bucket, but uh Mr. Chavez, do you mind sharing with us a little bit about the B National Park because this has been um an issue since the beginning? The the $500 million price tag isn't a real thing. And so it's going to need to be clarified and worked on which I I think is fair. I mean I think that's you know a a a great thing to do. I think it will be time consuming, but um the way that the B national park is listed in the CIP is with the overland projections for you know a 20 30-year project that at the end of the day would end up being $500 million. But if you were to look at the specification for the amounts that are being that are intended to be spent for this to come to fruition, not all of them are city expenditures. Right? So there is a $42 million expenditure for security on the border on the on the Vega, excuse me. And that expenditure if you look at what the um custom and border patrol road project is that pretty much is that $42 million. So those are federal dollars being spent on behalf of the development of the Vega which is not a price tag that ends up being to the city. So I I suppose um so I I think that's the the big um misunderstanding or it it seems to set off a lot of alarms when this number is thrown out because of how it's phrased in the CIP, but the CIP never really fully accurately described what the costs to the city would be for that project. It's also a project that doesn't have a master plan. So right now it's an idea and I suppose the pulse could be taken of whether we want this idea to be out there. But um >> also can you ask for the question? We have a motion. >> Yes. The the question is but but you're you're you want to put on this by national park as a an a to figure out if the public wants it or not. But it's not a a fully formed project that would entail an up and down vote. I guess that's that's where I'm going with it. It seems as if it was put in our CIP plan as this fully formed thing. It doesn't have a master plan. The next step, and I've had discussions with Mr. Neb about this, the next step for this is to master plan it so that people will understand what it actually is. right now it's a cartel park or some other idea and um >> what is your question? >> My question is why is the B national park if it's not fully formed being included in in this proposal? It's going to require in order for it to get included. It's going to require um more development and more attention that it is seen, which is not a bad thing, but it's going to require engineering to do things that that a master plan would be better suited to do because you're you're we're going to ask our engineering department to come up with some of these real projections about what this will look like. And and these are just ideas. This is not um a fully formed private. >> If I could just answer that real quick. Uh those chav city and record those numbers were based on a presentation that was given to the ambassador uh when when he came down to look at that right from overland. And so that was a group of of projects based on on what they were presenting them their vision for this by national park. And that's all it was. It's it's a very preliminary number. there's a set of of uh groups of ideas and projects that we would have to break down. Again, the number uh that we included on the on the CIP is for that same reason. If this is going to be funded, then that's the number that we were looking at based on that presentation, >> right? [clears throat] But it made the assumption that the city would be on the hook for all that money and that isn't the case. >> Well, yeah, it will depend how this is going to be phased out and how it's going to be master plan. So, it'll it'll depend on all those components. >> May I step in as well too? Yeah, go ahead. >> In your item, you have the three items listed. Um the the I know it's all topic of the conversation, but the three items on there, I would say it's closer to what the agenda item was for that conversation. >> There is a motion and a second. Call for the question. >> All in favor? >> I opposed. >> Two oppos. >> Three oppos. >> All right. Next item. >> Next item. 6382. >> I was going to make a quick if if you don't mind mo motion to just bring back um item number 26 about our election locations. I I've got some new information. U mayor if we could get a vote on motion and second. All in favor? I >> Okay, I promise. >> Thank >> Go ahead. >> Thank you. It's very quick. Uh just, you know, we're talking about Laredo Medical Center and that site for uh the runoff election for District 4 um uh getting moved to Laredo uh Specialty Hospital, which uh I've learned has a even smaller parking lot. and Laredo Medical Center was the second most commonly used um election site uh during the presidential election. Uh and it went really well uh overall according to um hospital administration and parking was not an issue of over a thousand parking spaces. This is going to be a district 4 runoff election which is going to have much less voters than a November general presidential election. So, I would ask that we consider um adding Laredo Medical Center back um into because that's where people are used to voting against the second most commonly used location in the city. I worry that it could depress the vote in an already depressed [snorts] general runoff election. And so, my motion would be to uh keep Laredo Medical Center uh as a voting site and and instead of Laredo Specialty Hospital. >> All right. Can we come back to that item or >> Yes. Yes, >> this a new item. >> Okay, just bringing it back up. >> Okay, motion and second. All in favor? >> Opposed? [clears throat] >> It doesn't pass. >> The motion doesn't pass. >> Maybe council Gonzalez would like to vote on it. Um, [clears throat] >> we already voted. No but >> point [cough and clears throat] of order. Mayor, >> point of order. Yes, >> the motion does pass because uh the motion does not pass >> because the ones that voted against were Torres, the mayor, >> so the motion does not majority against it. >> All right, we move on. >> All right, next item. >> Mayor, um I'd like to make a motion to I think staff is waiting for supplemental number three. >> Yes. >> Um to be approved. a motion to bring up supplemental agenda item number three >> and number two. >> Number two is just an update to make >> number three I think is the one you need approved right? >> Yeah, we need the it approved >> and it's ready to go. We just need >> motion to approve supplemental item number three. >> Motion. Any second? >> Second. All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion passes. >> Motion passes. Next item is >> your item, discussion with possible action on the voting system. >> Okay, that would be uh 63 to 82. Discussion with possible action and information to the public and status of property formerly known as Mercy Hospital property and any matters related there too. Yeah, I place this item how it to the owners and I reach out we have reached out to the owners asking it uh for a tableabling of this item because they have a conflict with their schedule. Mayor, before you table, um I wanted to see if there was a possibility um and unless you want to table it, I'll respect that. Um if there's going to be any discussion that it'd be done in executive session, but um due to pending litigation to get something behind closed doors, the owners couldn't be with us anyways behind closed doors, right? >> So, do you have any information to share with us in executive session? We do not have enough management. >> I mayor, I I would say that if we were going to have a conversation on this, we it should happen in a close session first because of our our our pending litigation with the within the building session. >> So your call. >> All right. So I'd like to motion to table it. >> Second. >> Second. >> Motion passes. All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion passes. Number three. Number three, discussion with possible acts on status with city council electronic management training and voting system for council members and any matters related there too. Now this is pretty straightforward. A lot of money was paid for the system in front and would like to like to start getting the training if possible or the implementation of the system. >> Mayor you heard? >> Go ahead. So, I actually was a council member that proposed this, right? And I thought we were going to have something very, very simple, very similar to what you see at the Senate and the House, right? All we needed was a chart up there and on this other side or behind us um with maybe three buttons, four, against, abstain, right? Green light, four, red light against, yellow light neutral, meaning, you know, uh, we abstain. We went out and sometimes the more sophisticated technology is not the best, right? We sometimes need the simplest thing. And I figured we'd have either like a little switch or a button that we would press. That did not end up resulting with what we got. We got a system that required mouse operation, the mayor recognizing it, and kind of a bit complicated for us to expedite the meeting um and move forward. Right. So, I'd like to make a motion. Mayor to instruct uh management uh to go out and look for a simple um mechanism that allows us to vote for against or neutral that the boards be put up that maybe we have a scroller or something on the screen for people watching at home to see how each council member votes. We don't have to have our names up there. Maybe just district 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and mayor. um so that the public sees how the vote is happening. Um but something simple, right, is what we should have gotten two years ago. That's my motion. >> Mayor, >> sorry. >> Second >> discussion. Go ahead. How much did the system cost? >> And it really isn't that complicated to >> maneuver. And we can't see the whole >> but they can >> show up even. >> Um so this system and I'm here uh kind of speaking for PIO at this point. This system was not uh brought in through it. Uh but I would what I would recommend if you all you all's uh request is to have us look into a simpler system or maybe even improving what we've got today that what I would recommend is that you allow me to work with PIO look at the options with the current system see if we can improve what what it does and if it's if it can't and if it can't we can't make it simpler for you all then we would look for something else that might fit the bill better. Uh I can't answer the question about how much it cost. Uh, that's [clears throat] not something I h I have any information on at this moment. >> Mayor, I' I'd be happy to bring something back with this. One of the challenges we have is that when we adjust the agenda, that's what causes some of the the strife within the system. We can't move the items fast enough to keep up with the agenda adjustments. So I think going back to council member Torres's I thought process of getting something very simple it might be a better way to do that because this agenda the problem with the agenda is that if if we keep moving things around on the agenda we can't we we can't set up the entire structure. I think that's what Mr. Maldonado would tell tell you as well too >> but items are moved up >> and so so if I would rather put together a the answer on the the dollar amounts and just so you have a full picture. Well, it it it may be a good practice in actually following the agenda. >> Direct the chair, please. >> Well, I still have the mic, but yes, I I'm just making a comment that it would actually be a great practice in following the agenda that we receive. >> So, we we can bring back a a more detail on this one for you since you've got it on the agenda if that's acceptable. >> Okay. Okay. >> I hear. >> Go ahead. So, um I agree with council member Lisa Searoa that um if if we could follow the agenda and and mayor, you know, I I think carrying your items at the the front of the agenda makes perfect sense and those usually come up and so we could list those first and then go through city business and then deal with our items at the end. Um, but I I just I cannot believe we're talking about throwing out a tens of thousands of dollars, if not more, system because we will not sit down to take the training to learn how to use it. It does everything that it needs to do. It records our votes. It shows it to the public. Um, we can slow down the transition so that if in the rare case there's hopefully in the rare case there's a time to bring up an agenda item that will give you time to input it. We can just account for that time. But this idea that we would toss a several thousand system because we won't sit with it and figure out. It's like any new technology. You have to sit with it and practice it in order for it to become second nature. And the whole point of of installing it was so that the public could see us, see the vote more clearly. We would have a Q system so that the mayor could see who was waiting in line to speak. It would be more orderly. All of that it this system is capable of doing. And and so I would just urge my colleagues that that instead of tossing out the system, we work with it to make sure that it cannot serve our needs. And then of course you would follow a different path. But we we need to treat with greater respect taxpayer dollars. >> Thank you. there. So, what I'll do is I'll withdraw my motion and I'll make a new motion to have um staff put together a report so that at the beginning uh effective the January um the meeting in January that of 2025 that the system if y'all deem it is what we need then between now and then figure something out to make it work because I'll be watching at home starting January. So, I want to see how everybody's voting. the rare times that I won't be here at public college. Okay. >> All right. Next item. >> Next item. >> So, you're next. >> Yeah. >> Oh, 623P. >> Yes. So, uh we actually got to it. It's the third meeting. Okay. Four minutes ago. Um, so basically this is just um a request to consider I I recently, you know, there was a request to change some zones around and there was concern that a gas station could be built next to a school and I said, "Oh, don't worry. I mean, gas stations can't be built within 500 feet of a school." And then it turned out that was not true uh in Laredo. Uh there are other cities that do that which is what EPA recommends to not have gas stations new gas stations be built within 500 feet of of of schools and I've seen some consider residences and hospitals childcare facilities as well to protect the public uh and children especially from benzene and other harmful admissions. So um so my my motion is to uh forward this to the planning and zoning commission to consider along with legal looking u at option and you know weighing the pros and cons and have them um potentially if they deem it appropriate uh bring it back to us in the form of >> motion second. All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion pass. >> Two minutes. >> Two minutes. >> Okay. And then this is a quick one. Uh basically, you know, we there's all these complaints about how we can't pay for things online, you know, whether it's the library, whether it's the metro, whether it's whether it's parking, whether it's um my wife got a bill about the our alarm system, you know, and we she only one way to pay it was like going was it down there in person. I don't know. Couldn't do it online, you know. It's like why can't we just And people want to give us money like sponsors want to donate money. We don't have a way to get let them give us their money. uh in so many different departments. So I just want us to have a I know you don't have a lot of time so my motion >> I do have an answer for two minutes. So mayor council for the record um uh councilman we actually it's funny you bring this up because we are actually in the process of testing two things that will be of interest. Uh we are looking at starting uh making uh utilities payments through a mobile app. We're hoping to take that live here in February. Um, and we are also building a an online portal that will centralize all city services that will allow us to take payments over that online portal. We are planning on starting that with our pilot right now is to take garage sale uh permits as a as a pilot. But going forward, we we intend to add additional services to that portal. And hopefully at one point here within the next uh four to 6 months, we hope to have something where anyone in the community could go online and pay any of our services that we provide to the community through this portal. >> There's something miraculous about putting items on the agenda. Things just automatically get done. Yeah. Uh yeah. No, I'm kidding. The timing is just coincidence, but okay. Uh thank you very much. I'll take all the credit for this. Thank you. Have a good one. >> Mayor, if I can. >> Yes. Go ahead. Does this also address the issues that we've brought up with uh like the business process and them paying for different >> working it will event >> that's part of it that's the reason that >> one minute >> we've been pushing that >> it yes and we are going to leverage right now building is already taking some payments through click to gov we are leveraging that same system and we intend to actually hopefully get that tested this week we talked about that today uh with the intent to take that live here within the next week or so. >> Okay. >> No, but before you do that, >> mayor, I'd like to make a motion that we include all the non-disussed items in the >> too late. >> No, it's the time here, not on your phone. >> Um, it's the time that the public is sealing. >> Mayor, point of order. I have the floor. >> So, motion to include all the items that were not discussed in the next meeting. >> Second. >> Motion second. All in favor? >> I. >> Motion passes. >> You can now make a motion to >> motion to adjurnn. >> All in favor? >> I. Motion passes. Meeting adjourned.