Dec 20, 2023 City Commission Regular Meeting

[00:00:05]

I WAS LIKE, THIS IS SO NICE.

WELL, MAYBE HE WANTS TO REFILL IT.

WE SUPPOSED TO .

WE SAID, HERE IT IS.

I TOOK IT AND HERE IT IS.

.

I GUESS I'LL KEEP IT NOW.

NO, NO, YOU SAID YOU ASKED FOR A BACK.

OKAY, SO WHO IS THIS? OH, SO, UM, YOU WANNA DO THE INVOCATION? MIKE'S NOT HERE, OR, UH, I THINK THE DEACON'S BETTER SUITED FOR IT.

YEAH, I THINK SO TOO.

OKAY.

IT'S MY HERO.

ALL RIGHT.

GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE,

[Call Meeting to Order invocation - Commissioner Michael Mezmar]

THE TIME IS NOW FIVE 30.

WE'LL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.

IT HAS BEEN POSTED AS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW.

WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.

UM, COMMISSIONER MESMER IS, UH, WAS UNABLE TO BE WITH US TODAY.

HOWEVER, THE REMAINING, UH, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION ARE HERE, AND WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.

I'LL ASK YOU ALL TO STAND AND HAVE, UM, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER JOSH RAMIREZ IN INVOCATION.

HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THE BLESSINGS YOU BESTOW ABOUT THE GREAT CITY OF HARLINGEN.

WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE TRAVELING TO COMING TO VISIT THEIR LOVED ONES, AND THOSE ARE TRAVELING HOME TO SPEND TIME WITH THEIR LOVED FAMILIES AND THEIR LOVED ONES THAT THEY HAVEN'T SEEN FOR A WHILE.

UH, WE THANK YOU AS WE PREPARE TO RECEIVE YOU CHRIST AND THIS CHRISTMAS EVE THAT IS COMING UPON US.

AND WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE BLESSING ALL OF US AND ALL OUR CITIZENS AS WE PREPARE FOR THE NEW YEAR IN CHRIST.

YOUR NAME, AMEN.

AMEN.

AMEN.

NOW, THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

I PLEDGE

[Pledge of Allegiance/Welcome]

UM, AND MARK, IF YOU WOULD READ THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST, PLEASE.

YES, MAAM.

UNDER

[Conflict of Interest]

MEMBERS WITH A CONFLICT OF INTEREST CANNOT PARTICIPATE IN THE DIS IN THE DISCUSSION, NOR VOTE ON THE AGENDA ITEM.

ARE THERE ANY KNOWN CONFLICTS OF INTEREST TO DISCLOSE AT THIS TIME? I HAVE NONE.

UH, THREE C, NONE.

EXCUSE ME.

NONE AND NONE.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

WE WILL MOVE ON TO PRESENTATION OF AWARDS.

CALISTA.

[1) Presentation of Awards:]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

WE HAVE TWO AWARD PRESENTATIONS, SO WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.

EVERY MONTH WE'VE BEEN RECOGNIZING LOCAL BUSINESSES AS THE MAYOR'S BUSINESS OF THE MONTH.

SO BEFORE I INVITE THE OWNER UP FOR A PHOTO AND

[a) Mayor's Business of the Month Award - Island Vibes Smoothies and More]

HI, MY NAME'S AMY MELCHER, AND I'M THE OWNER OF ISLAND VIBE SMOOTHIES AND MORE.

SO BASICALLY IT'S A PLANT-BASED SMOOTHIE STORE.

WE OFFER LEMONADES, ICE TEAS, MEAL PREPS, AND MANY MORE OTHER OPTIONS.

UH, WHAT INSPIRED ME TO OPEN MY OWN BUSINESS IS THAT I JUST ALWAYS HAD A PASSION FOR HEALTH.

BASICALLY WHAT SEPARATES US FROM THE OTHER GUYS IS WE ARE PLANT-BASED STORE.

WE FOCUS ON NUTRITION.

WE ALSO WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT WE DO USE WHOLE VEGETABLES AND FRUIT.

WE DON'T ADD ANY ARTIFICIAL FLAVORINGS OR PRESERVATIVES.

WE USE ALL NATURAL INGREDIENTS.

MY PLANS FOR THE FUTURE ARE TO OFFER, UM, EASIER, MORE CONVENIENT WAYS FOR, UH, CUSTOMERS TO PURCHASE THEIR MEALS AND, UH, PUT IN THEIR ORDERS.

UH, I DO WANT TO OPEN A SECOND LOCATION.

I JUST HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT WHERE TO YET.

, WE HOPE YOU GUYS COME BY AND CHECK IT OUT.

YOU MIGHT BECOME A NEW REGULAR.

OUR LOCATION IS 7 1 2 NORTH 77 SUNSHINE STRIP, SUITE 22.

SO, AS YOU SAW IN THE VIDEO, THIS MONTH'S, UH, MAYOR'S BUSINESS OF THE MONTH IS ISLAND VIBES SMOOTHIES AND MORE.

AND OWNER AMY MILOUR IS HERE TONIGHT.

SO AMY, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME SAY A FEW WORDS.

HELLO EVERYONE.

UM, THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING ME.

UH, THIS IS DEFINITELY A BLESSING AND AN EARLY CHRISTMAS GIFT.

UM, IT'S, IT'S AN HONOR.

UH, I'M REALLY NEW TO THE COMMUNITY AND THIS IS MY FIRST STORE.

I DO HAVE OTHER PLANS TO OPEN OTHER, UH, PROPERTIES THAT ARE SIMILAR TO ISLAND VIBES.

[00:05:01]

UH, I DO WANNA OFFER UNIQUE PLACES THAT, UM, OTHER BIGGER CITIES DO HAVE.

SO HOPEFULLY THAT'LL ATTRACT MORE CUSTOMERS AND MORE CLIENTELE.

SO, THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY, AND THANK YOU AGAIN, UH, FOR CHOOSING ME.

IT'S DEFINITELY A BLESSING.

NO PROBLEM.

WELL, AMY, I WANNA CONGRATULATE YOU ON THIS, UM, AWARD.

AND FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, UM, OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT ACTUALLY PUT OUT A REQUEST FOR, UH, NOMINATIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO OVERWHELMINGLY, YOU WERE CHOSEN BY THE COMMUNITY FOR THIS AWARD.

SO THIS MAKES IT EVEN SWEETER KNOWING THAT YOU ARE NEW TO THIS SPACE AND THAT YOU ARE ALREADY MAKING A NAME FOR YOURSELF.

AND THE COMMUNITY HAS EMBRACED THIS, UH, HEALTHY WAY OF LIVING.

AND I THINK IT'S FANTASTIC.

I KNOW I WENT AND I VISITED YOUR STORE AND I HAD, WHAT WAS IT? THE, THE SIGNATURE DRINK IS THE CHOP.

SAY IT.

THE CHOP, UH, ISLAND VIBE.

ISLAND VIBE, YES.

AND IT WAS DELICIOUS.

AND FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, IT HAS, I THINK SPINACH, BANANAS, STRAWBERRIES, COCONUT CREAM.

COCONUT CREAM, AND ORANGE JUICE.

AND, UH, I ADDED A LITTLE PROTEIN AND IT WAS, IT WAS DELICIOUS.

AND IT, IT WAS A MEAL IN AND OF ITSELF.

SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO, TO GO GIVE THEM A TRY.

UM, AND NOW IF THE COMMISSION WILL JOIN ME FOR A PHOTO WITH AMY, THAT'D BE GREAT.

READY? 1, 2, 3, 1, 2.

AND HEARING ABOUT YOU .

OKAY.

MOVING ON.

ALRIGHT, SO

[e) Recognition Award – Harlingen Housing Authority]

WE WANNA RECOGNIZE THEM FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND JOINING US HERE TODAY.

AND IF YOU'LL PLEASE STAND WELL TO BE RECOGNIZED IF I CALL YOUR NAME CEO HILDA VID CHAIR CARLOS CHARLIE PERES, VICE CHAIR, IMA SANCHEZ PENA, COMMISSIONER BETINA ELLIOT, AND STAFF MARY TRO AND DIANA PERES, IF WE COULD HAVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

THE HARLINGEN HOUSING AUTHOR'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PROMOTE SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND REVITALIZE THE NEIGHBORHOODS, AS WELL AS SERVE OTHERS WITH THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM, INTEGRITY, HONESTY, FAIRNESS, AND EQUALITY.

SINCE 2019, THE HARLINGEN HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS CONSISTENTLY RECEIVED THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT OFFICIALS AGENCY MERIT AWARDS.

THE A-N-A-H-R-O AGENCY AWARDS PROGRAM GIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION TO THE ACHIEVEMENT AND INNOVATION OF AGENCY MEMBERS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THE BEST HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND TO CREATE A RESOURCE BANK OF INFORMATION ON SIGNIFICANT INNOVATIVE ACTIVITIES PERFORMED BY THE HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES.

THIS YEAR, THEY TOOK HOME THE MERIT AWARD FOR THEIR COVID-19 VACCINE CLINIC AND BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT AT MARKET DAYS HERE IN HARLINGEN.

SO, CONGRATULATIONS, AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME AND SAY A FEW WORDS.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE RECOGNITION.

IT IS GREATLY APPRECI APPRECIATED.

WE ARE GRATEFUL TO BE IN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL CITY AND TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE FAMILIES THAT ARE IN NEED OF HOUSING.

WE ALSO PROVIDE A LOT OF SOCIAL SERVICE, UM, ACTIVITIES FOR OUR YOUTH AND FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE RECOGNITION, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, UH, IT WAS AN HONOR WHEN WE WERE AT THE NATIONAL CONVENTION, IT'S HELD EVERY YEAR, UH, SEVERAL YEARS.

WHEN I JOINED THE BOARD, UH, I WAS AT ONE OF THE MEETINGS AND I SAW EVERYBODY GETTING AN AWARD, AND I SAY, HOW COME WE'RE NOT GETTING ANY? AND THAT'S WHEN IT ALL STARTED.

SO I

[00:10:01]

AND EVER SINCE WE'VE BEEN WINNING EVERY YEAR, AND WHEN THEY RECOGNIZE YOU THROUGHOUT THE NATION, BECAUSE IT'S ALL, IT'S A NATIONAL CONFERENCE.

AND, UH, PEOPLE ASK, WHERE'S HARLINGEN? AND THEY WOULD COME AND ASK US AND WE'D TELL 'EM.

AND THEY HEARD, UH, VERY FEW TOWNS FROM THE VALLEY GET THESE AWARDS.

UH, AND IT WAS AN HONOR TO, TO BE UPSTAGE AND GET THIS AWARD AND BE RECOGNIZED, UH, BE WE ALL YOUR PEERS THERE AT PRESENT, AND THEN THE RECOGNITION YOU GET AFTERWARDS BECAUSE OH, YEAH, BECAUSE THEY GIVE US A LITTLE TAG THAT SAYS AWARD WINNER.

SO THEY COME, WE HAVE THAT TAG, AND THEY COME TO US, OH, YOU'RE AN AWARD WINNER.

WHAT DID YOU GUYS DO? ? AND THEY'RE TRYING TO GET IDEAS.

YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW I WANNA, UH, RECOGNIZE MS. MARY PTO BECAUSE SHE, SHE'S THE, THE ONE THAT DOES ALL THE WORK.

, SHE DOES THE PAPERWORK BECAUSE SHE DID, SHE HAS TO DO, UH, I WOULD TELL THEM WE DO SO MUCH THAT WE DON'T GET RECOGNIZED WITH.

ALL IT TAKES IS WRITING.

AND, AND I HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE FROM THE JCS WHEN WE WERE IN THE BACK IN THE SEVENTIES.

AND IT, ALL IT TAKES IS JUST WRITING A REPORT.

BECAUSE WHO KNOWS, MAYBE NOBODY'S GONNA TURN IN ONE AND YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE.

SO THAT'S HOW YOU WIN IN KNIGHT OF COLUMBUS.

WE DO THE SAME THING.

SO I, I HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE AND I BROUGHT THAT EXPERIENCE TO THAT BOARD, AND THAT'S HOW WE WERE RECOGNIZED.

AND AGAIN, I WANNA THANK THE COMMISSION MAYOR FOR THE RECOGNITION YOU'RE GIVING US.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND I JUST, I, YOU KNOW, CHARLIE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR MANY YEARS OF SERVICE AND THE, THE REST OF THE COMMISSION AND OF COURSE, HILDA AND YOUR STAFF.

YOU ARE INCREDIBLE.

UM, I DO WANNA SHARE A LITTLE BIT WITH YOU WHILE I HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY.

JUST, UM, YESTERDAY I WAS OVER AT LE MOINE GARDENS AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THE INCREDIBLE EVENT THAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY AT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.

AND SO WHEN I WAS GETTING READY TO, TO LEAVE, A LADY STOPPED ME AND SHE SAID, CAN I, CAN I TALK TO YOU FOR A SECOND? AND I SAID, SURE, OF COURSE, RIGHT.

I SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S, WHAT'S GOING ON? AND SHE SAID, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND, AND KIND OF TOLD ME WHAT I, WHAT I HEAR FROM RESIDENTS.

UM, BUT THEN SHE SAID, I WANT TO JUST THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A HOUSE FOR MY FAMILY.

I RECENTLY FOUND MYSELF HOMELESS.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE I WAS GOING TO, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE WERE GOING TO LIVE.

I APPLIED AT THE COUNTY, I APPLIED WITH THE CITY OF HARLINGEN AND, AND HAD ADDITIONAL PLACES WHERE SHE HAD TRIED TO, TO SEEK REFUGE.

AND SHE SAID THAT YOUR OFFICE AND THE STAFF WERE INCREDIBLY FRIENDLY, HELPFUL, ACCESSIBLE, AND BASICALLY HELD HER HAND THE WHOLE WAY.

AND SHE JUST WANTED TO, TO SAY THANK.

AND I SAID, WELL, I'LL TELL THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT DO ALL THE GREAT WORK.

BUT I'M REALLY GLAD THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A NICE CHRISTMAS AND YOU'RE GONNA BE WITH YOUR FAMILY.

AND SO YOUR WORK AND THE IMPACT THAT YOU DO IT IS INCREDIBLE.

AND YOU SHOULD ALL BE THANKING YOURSELF BECAUSE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TAKE PART IN THAT.

AND SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.

IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO COME BACK UP.

SO WE CAN TAKE A PHOTO.

YES.

MY FOOT.

I HAVE YOU GUYS MOVE.

ALRIGHT, READY? 1, 2, 3.

ONE, TWO.

AND THANK YOU.

SIT UP A LITTLE.

STAND UP ALL NEXT.

NOW I'M GETTING STRAIGHT.

THAT'S ALL THE AWARDS.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU CALISTA FOR STEPPING IN.

WE APPRECIATE YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

MOVING ON TO CITIZEN COMMUNICATION.

DO WE HAVE ANYONE

[Citizen Communication/lnput]

WE HAVE THREE.

OKAY.

UH, THE, THE FIRST ONE IS RON LOZANO, 24 10 RIVERSIDE.

OKAY.

GOOD

[00:15:01]

UH, ENTITLED THIS, UH, MORAL HYPOCRISY DUE TO AN INFLUX OF JAVELINAS GORING MAY OCCUR NEAR HUGH RAMSEY PARK AND BYRONS, THAT'S INITIALLY DREW ME HERE A LOSS.

NOW MORE ASTOUNDING IS A TOTALITARIAN PROPAGANDA CONCEPT OF WHICH MIKE SMAR AND I ALLEGEDLY COMPREHEND SOME PROCLAIMED MEDIA COMPANY, WHICH GARNERED $429,000 FROM OUR HEALTHY HARLING AND COMMITTEE GENEROSITY ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT $350,000 THAT THE MAYOR SOUGHT FOR A CITY PR DEPARTMENT.

THIS LATTER GROUP HAS A PERSON WITH TV EXPERIENCE WHO ALLEGEDLY, AS A WORLD TRAVELING CONNOISSEUR OF STREETS, DECLARES OUR STREETS AS BEST.

THAT SAME TACK IS PRESENT ON TODAY'S HOMEPAGE OF OUR WEBSITE, WHERE IT EDITORIALLY ASSERTS FINANCIAL SUBMISSION BY R-G-V-H-S IS COMPLETE.

NOW WE KNOW WHY OUR TAXES ARE EASILY SQUANDERED BASED ON THE GALL OF ALLEGED PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO ARE SUBSERVIENT TO THE WHIMS OF ONE OR TWO 'CAUSE THEY ARE HANDSOMELY PAID TO HIDE BEHIND THE VENEER OF THE HARLING AND SICKLE LOGO.

AND CAROL LITERALLY DESTROY THE GOOD NAME OF RESPECTED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY VIA GIULIANI STYLE.

OUR TACK DOLLARS UTILIZED TO HARM OUR OWN CITIZENS.

BUT THAT'S THE NATURE OF INACCURATE INFORMATION.

ONE I KNOW TOO WELL THERE ARE, WOULD BE BETTER SERVED BY INSPECTING A FAULTY CITY SWIMMING PROGRAM.

SO THIS IS CHRISTMAS.

I WOULD'VE LIKED 24 TO ROLL IN BEFORE MAKING THESE TRUTHFUL PRONOUNCEMENTS, YET WITH 10 FULL DAYS OF THIS 23 HARLAN AND OR WILLIAM REGIME LEFT TIME TO SAY AVA.

THANK YOU, MR. LOZANO.

WELCOME.

NEXT ONE IS, UM, RAYMOND REYES AND 7 0 6 NON TUCKER DRIVE, UH, CITY PROGRESS COMMISSION, MAYOR RAYMOND REYES, 7 0 6 NANTEC DRIVE.

SO THERE'S BEEN A, A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON AND STUFF, UM, IN THE CITY.

UM, IT ALL GOES BACK TO WHAT I STATED A COUPLE OF MONTHS BACK, COME AND DO MY LITTLE THING STATED ON THE RECORD THAT WAY CAN NEVER BE'S HEAD.

IT WAS NEVER SAID, OR NOBODY EVER SAID ANYTHING.

UH, I THINK A KEY INGREDIENT TO ANYTHING IN LIFE IS ACCOUNTABILITY AND TO ALWAYS BE INFORMED IN Y'ALL'S POSITION.

UH, A KEY ASPECT IS OVERSIGHT.

UM, YOU KNOW, TO, TO BE IN THERE.

WE'RE ALL VERY BUSY.

WE ALL DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

I'M SURE YOU GUYS HAVE YOUR JOBS AND FAMILY AND STUFF.

I I DO THE SAME THING.

UM, DRAGS ME ALL OVER THE PLACE.

I MEAN, I WAS IN WESTCO THIS MORNING, THEN IN ALAMO, THEN BACK IN CARNAGEN, AND NOW I'M HERE.

AND THEN I GOT TWO MORE MEETINGS GOING ON.

BUT, UH, SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER, UH, ALL KINDS OF INFORMATION MAKES IT MY WAY AND STUFF, UH, THAT I'VE MADE AWARE TO CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS AND STUFF BECAUSE I, I'M NOT, I'M TRYING TO STAY AWAY FROM, YOU KNOW, JUST BLASTING PEOPLE AND STUFF, BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF POSITIVE ASPECTS THAT, THAT ARE GOING ON.

BUT THEN WE ALSO GOTTA LOOK AT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN WHEN THERE'S OTHER THINGS GOING ON THAT IF WE JUST PAID A LITTLE BIT MORE ATTENTION TO DETAIL, AS THEY SAY IN THE MILITARY, UH, WE'D HAVE A BETTER GRASP AND CAN PREVENT CERTAIN THINGS FROM HAPPENING AND STUFF.

UH, MY SON CAME DOWN FROM DALLAS, VISITED.

HE'S LOOKING TO DO SOME THINGS.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAD A CONVERSATION THIS MORNING.

WE MET WITH OUR ATTORNEYS YESTERDAY, UH, IN HOUSTON ABOUT OUR FINANCIAL THINGS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE DOING.

UH, I, I HONESTLY FEEL THAT WITH HIM AND MYSELF AND ANOTHER VETERAN, UH, WE'RE GONNA START TO HOPEFULLY SEE A PIVOT IN CERTAIN ASPECTS OF CONTROL OF, OF PROPERTY HERE IN HARLINGEN.

UM, UH, SAN ANTONIO'S MY HOME, BUT MY GRANDKIDS ARE HERE AND NOW THERE'S GONNA BE A NEW ADDITION.

SO I, I JUST WANNA SEE GOOD THINGS HAPPEN.

I DON'T WANT, YOU KNOW, TO START, UH, DOING MORE THAN I THINK I SHOULD AS A CITIZEN.

I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE Y'ALL AWARE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THE CITIZENS WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF THE JOB IS DONE AS BEST POSSIBLE WITH THE CITIZENS.

ALWAYS KEPT, UH, IN MIND THAT THIS IS WHY YOU GUYS WERE ELECTED.

THIS IS WHY Y'ALL ARE IN THE POSITIONS THAT Y'ALL ARE IN AND STUFF, YOU KNOW,

[00:20:01]

SO, UH, I JUST, YOU KNOW, WISH THE BEST AND, AND YOU GUYS KEEP DOING WHAT YOU DO AND HOPEFULLY WITH THE, THE RIGHT STATE OF MIND AND FOR THE RIGHT REASONS AND STUFF, UH, AND I THINK WE'LL BE OKAY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA RUN INTO BUMPS IN THE ROAD.

BUT AS LONG AS WE GET PAST THEM AND DO THE CORRECTIONS OF THE COURSE AS THEY SAY IN THE NAVY, THEN WE'LL BE OKAY.

WE CAN GET THROUGH THE MINEFIELD.

IT SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM.

UM, THAT'S ALL I GOT RIGHT ON THE BELL.

SO, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD EVENING AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, BUT I HAVE TO GO.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. REYES.

THE NEXT ONE IS ROBERT LEFTWICH, 9 0 9 EAST PARKWOOD ABUSIVE OFFICE.

ROBERT LEFTWICH, 9 0 9 EAST PARK.

BUT I GUESS I'M GONNA HAVE TO DO A TWO MINUTE DRILL ON THIS ONE.

'CAUSE I NOTICED THAT WE'VE REGRESSED AND NOW WE, INSTEAD OF GETTING THREE MINUTES FOR CITIZENS COMMUNICATION, WE'RE DOWN TO TWO MINUTES, AND THEN WE HAVE TO WAIT, UH, FOR THE CROWD TO CLEAR OUT ON THE AWARDS.

SO ANYWAY, I'LL JUST, I'LL JUST START OFF.

I JUST WANTED, WELL, THAT, WELL, THAT'S NOT CORRECT.

THERE ARE THREE MINUTES.

THREE MINUTES.

YOU'VE GOT THREE MINUTES.

WELL, WEBSITE SAYS TWO, SO IF YOU WANT TO GIMME THREE, I'LL TAKE IT.

OR LET'S JUST START OFF.

UH, RECENTLY, YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T BEEN BEEN HERE THAT MUCH, BUT I'VE BEEN WATCHING SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES AROUND THE, THE, UH, RIO GRANDE VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY.

AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, I HAVE NEVER SEEN THE TOXICITY FROM CITY HALL LIKE I HAVE UNDER YOU, NORMA.

IT'S, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE HOW YOU ATTACK PEOPLE WITH MISINFORMATION.

IT IS THE MOST UNDERHANDED THAT I'VE EVER SEEN, AND I DID NOT SUPPORT THE LAST MAYOR.

AND I SUGGEST THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE AND LEARN HOW TO BE A PUBLIC SERVANT INSTEAD OF ATTACKING EVERYBODY.

YOU APPROACHED, YOU CALLED ME OVER IN A RESTAURANT THE OTHER DAY AND YOU SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, ROBERT, I'M LOOKING AT YOUR TAXES.

I'M LOOKING AT YOUR VOTE FROM PREVIOUS COMMISSIONS.

WELL, I HOPE YOU DO.

I HOPE YOU LEARN SOMETHING BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT, I'VE LOOKED AT SOME OF YOUR STUFF TOO.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, SINCE YOU'VE BEEN IN OFFICE COMPARED TO BROWNSVILLE AND, AND MCALLEN MAYORS, YOU HAVE A LARGEST TRAVEL EXPENSE IN THE VALLEY.

YOU'VE TRAVELED AND SPENT MORE TAXPAYER MONEY THAN ANYBODY IN THE VALLEY.

AND THE THINGS THAT YOU DRAG OUR CITY MANAGER TO GO DO, TO GO OVER TO MISSION, TO GO OVER THERE AND, AND UNDERMINE A, A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, YOU SHOULD LOOK INSIDE.

IF YOU WANNA SAVE MONEY, YOU'VE GOT THREE PEOPLE.

I MADE, I MADE SOME SUGGESTIONS ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO THAT YOU PUT ALL OF Y'ALL'S TRAVEL EXPENSES ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE THAT Y'ALL PUT THE TOP FIVE SALARIES OF THE CITY ON THE WEBSITE.

YOU TALK ABOUT TRANSPARENCY.

NOBODY BESIDES THIS COMMISSION GOES INTO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION MORE THAN Y'ALL DO.

Y'ALL COME OUT, WE DON'T HEAR ANYTHING THAT'S, WE DON'T HEAR ANY DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT Y'ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT ANYBODY THINKS OTHER THAN WHAT YOU VOTE.

BECAUSE Y'ALL GO IN THERE, YOU TAKE YOUR, YOUR LUNCH, YOUR DINNER, AND YOU COME OUT.

THEN YOU SAY, OKAY, WELL WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA MAKE A MOTION AND THEN WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THIS.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, Y'ALL DON'T HAVE ANY TRANSPARENCY.

Y'ALL ARE OUTTA CONTROL.

YOU'RE SPENDING'S OUTTA CONTROL.

WE JUST HEARD ABOUT THE MEDIA DEPARTMENT.

WE NEVER HAD A $400,000 BUDGET FOR A MEDIA DEPARTMENT BEFORE.

WHAT IS THAT? THAT'S A STATE SPONSORED MEDIA.

NOW WE SEE THAT YOU'RE ABUSING IT.

THAT'S ABUSIVE OFFICE.

YOU CAN'T GO AND, AND DE DISPARAGE AN ORGANIZATION LIKE THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY AND SAY, OH, WELL THEY GOT A MILLION DOLLAR, UH, PAYROLL BUDGET.

AND THEN YOU DON'T WANNA EXPLAIN IT.

YOU TAKE IT OUTTA CONTEXT, THEN Y'ALL LINK SOMETHING TO IT THAT ALL IT SAYS IS THOUGH NOT PROVIDED.

WELL, LET'S SEE THE REST OF THAT FINANCIAL REPORT THAT THE REST OF THAT FINANCIAL INFORMATION THAT'S, THAT THEY PROVIDED TO YOU GUYS, DID Y'ALL NOT UNDERSTAND THAT THAT WAS FOR TWO CITIES OR Y'ALL JUST WANTED TO MISLEAD THE PUBLIC? BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY FROM WHAT YOU, WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM THE TAXING THAT Y'ALL DO WHEN YOU COME OUT AND YOU SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT THE RATE, OH, BUT WE LOWERED THE RATE MINUTES.

BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S THE LEVY, NOT THE RATE.

AND IF THE STATE SAYS THAT YOU INCREASED YOUR LEVY $1, YOU HAVE TO DECLARE THAT AS A TAX INCREASE.

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO BE DOING ON SOCIAL MEDIA INSTEAD OF TRYING TO TELL HER THANK YOU MR. LUCK THAT YOU LOWERED THE RATE.

OKAY.

ANYTHING ELSE, AMANDA? UH, NO MA'AM.

ALL RIGHT.

OKAY.

MOVING ON TO ITEM TWO, APPROVAL OF MINUTES.

ITEM

[2) Approval of Minu]

ARE THERE ANY AMENDMENTS OR CHANGES? IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION NOT APPROVE? SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM THREE, CONSENT AGENDA.

WE ARE GOING TO BE,

[3) Consent Agenda]

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REST OF THE CONSENT AGENDA? MOTION AND D I'M SORRY.

PULLING D AND C MOTION.

SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

HOST.

MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM, UH, THREE C CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE A REQUEST FROM REMY GARZA, ELECTION ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTRATOR FOR CAMERON COUNTY TO USE THE CITY, TOWN HALL ROOM AND THE HARLAN AND CULTURAL CENTER AS AN EARLY VOTING SITE FOR THE

[00:25:01]

I HAVE A QUESTION.

YES.

ARE WE GONNA BE PROVIDING THE STAFF FOR THIS OR ARE THEY GONNA PROVIDE THEIR OWN? I IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY PROVIDE THEIR OWN STAFF.

OKAY.

THEY JUST NEED THE ACCOMMODATIONS.

AND FOR THE RECORD, UM, COMMISSIONER LOPEZ HAS ABSTAINED FROM THIS VOTE.

AND IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO, THAT'S IT.

OKAY.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

AND ITEM D, CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE THE INSTALLATION OF SPEED HUMPS IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS.

UH, DILWORTH ROAD BETWEEN GARRETT ROAD AND COUNTY, COUNTY LANE.

UM, 200 AND 300 BLOCK OF OREGON STREET, AND 200 AND 300 BLOCK OF OKLA OF OKLAHOMA STREET.

UM, AND DANIEL, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

I'M GONNA ADD VINCENT AVENUE TO THAT LIST.

SECOND.

AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADD YES, SIR.

UH, RIO HONDA ROAD, UH, DOWN NEAR THE TRANSITION ACADEMY, THAT SCHOOL ZONE AREA WE NEED DOWN THERE.

AND ON 25TH STREET BETWEEN MONROE AND JACKSON.

ANY OTHERS? I, I GOT ONE MORE THEN.

OKAY.

UM, I WAS LOOKING FOR A CITY BLOCK, BUT, UH, PLEASE ADD, UH, JUST I WANNA SAY NORTH OF THE, UH, ARROYO PARK OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, PLEASE.

AND THEN I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE SUBJECT TO THE SUPPLEMENTATION BY COMMISSIONER, UH, MORALES, COMMISSIONER HINSLEY, AND MYSELF.

SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

AND JUST FOR THE PUBLIC AND THE COMMUNITY THAT IT MAY BE WATCHING, THIS IS FOR OSCAR TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT AND THEN GO AND DO THE STUDIES TO ENSURE THAT IT IS NEEDED IN THIS AREA.

RIGHT.

WONDERFUL.

MEETS THOSE REQUIREMENTS.

OKAY.

MOVING ON TO NEW BUSINESS.

LET ME SEE.

WE'RE GONNA

[NEW BUSINESS]

TWO, FIVE FIRST, THAT'S WHERE WORDED.

THANK YOU.

YEAH, FINE.

UH, OKAY.

UM, JUST 'CAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE MANY IN, UH, VETERANS IN THE, IN THE, IN THE ROOM TODAY.

AND I DON'T WANNA MAKE YOU WAIT ANY MORE THAN I HAVE TO, UM, ESPECIALLY 'CAUSE YOU'VE DONE SO MUCH FOR US.

IT IS THE LEAST THAT WE CAN DO.

SO I WANNA GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO ITEM FIVE, AND THEN WE WILL CIRCLE BACK TO ITEM FOUR.

UM, CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION

[5) Consideration and possible action to accept or deny the donation from the Vietnam Veterans of]

HAVE YET, YES.

MAYOR C COMMISSION FOR THE RECORD.

UM, MY NAME IS JAVI MENDEZ, THE PARKS AND REC DIRECTOR.

AND SO THE, UM, THE ORGANIZATION APPROACHED THE, UH, PARKS ADVISORY BOARD, UM, AND THEY REQUESTED, UM, SEE IF WE COULD, UH, ACCEPT THE DONATION OF THIS MONUMENT.

AND SO THE, UM, THE MONUMENT, OR THE LOCATION THAT THEY'RE REQUESTING IS TO BE PLACED NEXT TO THE, UM, THE LARGE MONUMENT AT THE, UH, VETERAN'S MEMORIAL.

AND SO THE, UM, THE MONUMENT'S GONNA BE MADE OUT OF, UH, UH, BLACK GRANITE.

UH, IT'LL HAVE ALL THE NAMES THAT ARE LISTED THERE.

UM, AND, UM, THE PARK ADVISORY BOARD DID VOTE AND THEY, UM, THEY DID A VOTE TO ACCEPT THE LOCATION.

UM, IT'LL BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE, UM, THE VIETNAM VET, UH, MONUMENT.

UH, THE, THE MONUMENT'S GONNA MEASURE SIX AND A HALF FEET TALL, FIVE FEET WIDE.

UM, AND AGAIN, IT'S GONNA BE, UM, POLISHED BLACK GRANITE.

UM, THERE ARE MEMBERS, UM, THAT ARE HERE, I KNOW THAT PROBABLY WANNA SPEAK ABOUT IT.

UM, BUT AGAIN, THEY, WE TOOK, WE DID TAKE IT TO THE PARK ADVISORY BOARD ON NOVEMBER 21ST.

UM, AND THEY DID VOTE TO, UH, APPROVE THE, THE, UH, MONUMENT AND THE LOCATION.

WONDERFUL.

UM, IS THERE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK? PLEASE APPROACH THE, THE PODIUM.

I, I'M VICTOR SABAL.

I LIVE IN BROWNSVILLE, BUT I'M A PART OF THIS GROUP THAT'S OUT OF HARLANS IN THE CHAPTER, LOCAL CHAPTER 8 56.

I THINK IT'S TIME THAT THIS, THIS GET DONE.

IT'S BEEN 53 YEARS SINCE IT WARRANTED.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE, THE LOCATION OF THE MONUMENT THAT, UH, WOULD DETRACT FROM THE PARK.

I DON'T KNOW WHY IT WOULD DETRACT FROM THE PARK.

I THINK IT WOULD MAKE IT IMPROVE THE PARK.

ALSO, UH, CONCERNS ABOUT THE, UM, THE FOUNDATION, WHETHER IT'S STRONG ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE MONUMENT

[00:30:01]

AND I THINK THE CITY PEOPLE HERE WOULD KNOW WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO PUT THE GRANITE, UM, THERE FOR THE CITIZENS TO SEE.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT'S LONG, LONG OVERDUE.

LONG OVERDUE, YOU KNOW.

AND THERE FOR A WHILE, I THOUGHT THAT THIS MAYBE, MAYBE IT'S A RACIST THING BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE ON THIS LIST ARE HISPANIC.

IS THAT RIGHT? IT'S HISPANIC.

AND THE OTHER THING THAT I WANT, UH, ESPECIALLY COMMISSIONER MORALES TO UNDERSTAND WHERE'S THE VETERANS PARK AND HAREN PARK? SO AS FAR AS THE LOCATION, I THINK, UH, EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THE VETERANS PARK IS AT PENDLETON PARK.

AND THAT'S WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.

UM, WE ASK THAT YOU THAT, DID YOU GO WITH THIS? UH, WE'RE GONNA PAY FOR THIS.

WE'VE GOT THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THIS.

ALL WE NEED IS FOR YOU GUYS TO SAY, LET'S DO IT.

'CAUSE MOST OF US ARE IN OUR SEVENTIES, LATE SEVENTIES, PERCHING EIGHTIES.

WE CAN'T WAIT TWO MONTHS, THREE MONTHS, SIX MONTHS.

'CAUSE WHO KNOWS HOW LONG WE'RE GONNA BE HERE.

AND WE WANNA SEE THIS DONE BEFORE WE DIE.

'CAUSE VETERANS NEVER LEAVE ANOTHER VETERAN BEHIND.

AND THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN, BEEN FORGOTTEN FOR TOO LONG.

THANK YOU, SIR.

JUST REAL QUICK, UHHUH QUICK QUESTION.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE MY, MY ONLY CONCERN ABOUT THIS IS, ARE WE SURE THAT THAT'S A COMPLETE LIST? YES.

ALRIGHT.

YOU'RE PRETTY SURE ABOUT THAT? YEAH, WE'RE PRETTY SURE ABOUT THAT.

YES.

HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO COMPILE THE LIST OF NAMES? UH, RESEARCH, UH, VIETNAM VETERANS, UH, INDEXES.

UM, EVERYBODY PRETTY MUCH KNOWS WHO THEY ARE.

OKAY.

BUT THE PUBLIC DOESN'T.

AND Y'ALL ARE CONFIDENT THAT THAT'S A COMPLETE LIST? YES.

YES, SIR.

GOOD.

MY NAME'S BERT CASTRO, BORN AND RAISED HERE IN ARLINGTON.

I GUESS ABOUT 80% OF THE GUYS THAT ARE UP THERE, MOST OF THESE GUYS HERE, WE WENT TO SCHOOL WITH THEM.

WE KNOW 'EM PERSONALLY.

GREW UP IN THE HOOD WITH THEM.

AND I JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT AN ORGANIZATION, VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA, HAVE TAKEN THIS INITIATIVE.

AND THE CHAIRPERSON IS FROM BROWNSVILLE.

AND HE SAW THE NEED AS WELL, THAT WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THESE INDIVIDUALS.

AS FAR AS THE, THE LISTING, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY.

WHEN YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTION, UH, AND I BELIEVE THE CHAIRPERSON OF THIS COMMITTEE, HE SAID HE WOULD ALSO INCLUDE ANOTHER NAME, AND THAT'S AHA.

AND HE WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN HARLINGEN.

HE WENT TO SCHOOL IN HARLINGEN, BUT UNFORTUNATELY HE MOVED THE FAMILY, MOVED TO PALM SPRINGS BACK IN, UH, I THINK HE WAS A SOPHOMORE.

MM-HMM.

.

SO ANYWAY, HE IS MY UNDERSTANDING WILL BE ALSO ON THAT LIST.

AND, UH, HE'S RECOGNIZED ON THE NATIONAL LIST THAT YOU CAN, AND ANYBODY CAN RESEARCH.

AND IT SHOWS THE VIETNAM VETS KILLED IN ACTION FROM CITY LOCATION.

OH.

AND HE'S LISTED UNDER PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA.

BUT HE WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE.

AND I PERSONALLY KNOW OF HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW AND HIS SISTER THAT LIVE IN CHINO HILLS, CALIFORNIA.

BUT I WOULD HOPE THAT THAT INDIVIDUAL IS ALSO INCLUDED THE LIST.

BUT AGAIN, THAT LIST IS OFFICIAL AND IT'S ON THE WEBSITE AND FOR HARINGTON, THAT'S THE LIST THAT'S THERE.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

YEAH.

WE STAY READY TO MAKE, UH, MAKE CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE.

HOW LONG DO YOU THINK IT TAKE TO CREATE THAT? NOT LONG.

UH, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, FROM PUTTING THE ORDER, WE'VE ALREADY PUT, UH, WE'VE ALREADY TALKED TO THE VENDOR AND THE VENDOR'S READY TO, UH, TO GO FOR IT.

WE, UH, WE CAN RAISE MONEY.

WE'VE GOT THE MONEY TO GET IT DONE.

VENDOR IS LOCATED WHAT? HERE IN HARIN? IN HAR.

OKAY.

LOCAL VENDORS.

SO WE'RE PUTTING MONEY RIGHT BACK IN HERE.

OKAY.

THE ONLY THING WE'RE ASK OF THE CITY, OF COURSE, IS THE BASE AND SOME LIGHTING, AND THAT'S IT.

ABSOLUTELY.

WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THE REST.

AND WE ARE PART OF A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION, AS IS THE, UH, LULAC AND THE AMERICAN GI FORUM THAT'S CONCERNED ABOUT VETERANS ISSUES.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THE ISSUES, FORGETTING OUR OWN MM-HMM.

THAT IS VERY, VERY SERIOUS.

VERY HARD FOR US TO TAKE.

I LOST MY BEST FRIEND IN VIETNAM ON DECEMBER THE 15TH.

OUR COMMANDER LOST HIS BEST FRIEND IN VIETNAM ON DECEMBER THE SEVENTH.

SO FOR US, THIS IS A VERY TOUGH PART OF THE YEAR.

AND WE'D LIKE TO SEE THIS DONE ASAP.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU DON RAY LEONARD, VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD, MR. SAMUEL CARDENAS AND MEMBERS OF THE VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA, CHAPTER 8 56 ATTENDED OUR VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD MEETINGS IN DECEMBER, NOVEMBER, AND DECEMBER TO GIVE A PRESENTATION ON THE VIETNAM VETERANS KILLED IN ACTION

[00:35:01]

PROPOSED TO BE CONSTRUCTED AND INSTALLED AT PENDLETON PARK.

VETERANS MEMORIAL SITE MEMBERS OF THE VAB DID OUR DUE DILIGENCE BY VISITING PENDLETON PARK TO GET A VISUAL OF THE PROPOSED SITE, I CONTACTED JAVIER MENDEZ AT PARKS AND REC FOR HISTORICAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE VETERANS MEMORIAL IN RELATION TO ANY POTENTIAL RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED ON THE PROJECT DURING THE APPROVAL PROCESS, OR PHYSICAL ISSUES SUCH AS WATERLINES AND RUNOFF POINTS THAT WOULD NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

WE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSED PLACEMENT OF THE SITE, OF THE PROJECT.

FIRST, WHILE WALKING THE GROUNDS OF THE PARK, WE OBSERVED MUDDY CONDITIONS IN THE GRASS AND WATER POOLING AT THE PROPOSED SITE OF THE VETERAN'S KIA MONUMENT.

COULD IT BE POSSIBLE RUNOFF POINT FOR THE WATER OR TOO MUCH IRRIGATION? IF SO, IT WOULD NOT BE PRUDENT TO PLACE A MEMORIAL AT THIS PROPOSED LOCATION.

IT WAS SUGGESTED TO US THAT THERE MAY ALSO BE IRRIGATION OR WATER LINES UNDERNEATH THE SITE THAT WOULD NEED TO BE MOVED.

WE HAVE IDENTIFIED OTHER SITES WITHIN PENDLETON PARK THAT WOULD BE BETTER SUITED FOR THE MEMORIAL.

ONE POPULAR SUGGESTION WOULD BE BY THE POND.

TWO OTHER SITES WERE IDENTIFIED ALONG THE PARKWAY THAT RUNS ADJACENT TO THE VETERAN'S MEMORIAL.

IF THE MONUMENT WAS PLACED INSIDE THE BOUNDARIES, IF THE MONUMENT WAS PLACED INSIDE THE BOUNDARIES OF THE VETERANS' MEMORIAL, IT WOULD APPEAR TO LACK UNIFORMITY AND WOULD NOT AESTHETICALLY FIT THE FLOW OF THE VETERAN'S MEMORIAL.

WE BELIEVE THE VETERAN'S MEMORIAL SHOULD BE A STANDALONE MONUMENT.

ADDITIONALLY, IF WE OPEN THE DOOR FOR THIS MONUMENT PIECE TO BE CONSTRUCTED WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE VETERAN'S MEMORIAL, WE WILL THEN BE COMPELLED TO ENTERTAIN PROPOSALS FOR MONUMENTS REPRESENTING ANY AND ALL GROUPS TO DO THE SAME.

RUNNING THE RISK OF OVERCROWDING THE VETERANS MEMORIAL.

WE APPRECIATE THE INTENT AND SPIRIT OF THIS PROJECT.

A RECOMMENDATION IS TWOFOLD.

THE VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD ENTHUSIASTICALLY ENDORSES THIS WORTHWHILE ENDEAVOR.

THE MONUMENT IS A PROPER TRIBUTE TO THESE LOCAL HEROES WHO LOST THEIR LIVES WHILE SERVING OUR COUNTRY.

AS ONE GENTLEMAN SAID, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING AND WE AGREE WITH REGARD TO LOCATION.

WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THE INITIAL PROPOSED SITE FOR PLACEMENT AND PRAY THE COMMISSION OPS FOR A MORE VIABLE LOCATION WITHIN THE PARK.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MS. LEONARD.

UM, JAVIER, I, YOU KNOW, I, AND I, I APPRECIATE MS. MS. LEONARD'S UM, POINTS AND THEIR, AND THEY'RE VALID AND I UNDERSTAND THEM.

BUT THE, FOR ME, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE REST OF THE COMMISSION WANTS TO DO, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO DO WHAT IT IS THEY WANT AND WHERE THEY WANT IT.

AND I, AND I SAY THIS BECAUSE THESE GENTLEMEN, UM, THEY'RE VERY PROUD, UH, OF, OF, OF THEIR SERVICE AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR SACRIFICE.

I KNOW MY FATHER-IN-LAW, HE FOUGHT IN VIETNAM AND HE, YOU KNOW, WASN'T KILLED IN ACTION.

BUT BEFORE HE PASSED, HE PROUDLY WORE THE VIETNAM HAT.

I MEAN, WE, EVERYBODY KNEW THAT HE WAS A VETERAN.

AND THIS IS, IT'S, WE ARE COMING TO A POINT THAT IN 10, 20, 30 YEARS, THERE'S NO LONGER GOING TO BE FOLKS LIKE THESE GENTLEMEN BEFORE US ASKING FOR SOMETHING FOR THEIR FRIENDS.

AND SO, BECAUSE THEY'RE SO INTIMATELY CONNECTED TO THIS CAUSE I'D REALLY LIKE TO HONOR THEM IN A WAY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO FEEL HAPPY ABOUT IT.

AND SO IF THAT MEANS THAT YOU NEED TO, TO COMMUNICATE MAYBE A LITTLE BETTER AND FIND A LOCATION, IF IT ISN'T THIS LOCATION, IT'S A LOCATION THAT THEY CHOOSE, UM, OBVIOUSLY WE WANNA BE RESPONSIBLE AND I DON'T WANT THERE TO BE ANY ISSUES.

AND OBVIOUSLY WITH THE INTEGRITY OF THE MONUMENT AND THE LIFESPAN.

AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT MS. LEONARD IS, IS TRYING TO CONVEY BECAUSE I KNOW SHE'S VERY, SHE'S A BIG ADVOCATE FOR, FOR VETERANS.

AND IT HAS, DON'T WANT IT TO FEEL LIKE THAT SHE'S NOT IN SUPPORT OR THAT THE VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD IS NOT IN SUPPORT.

I THINK THAT THAT IS NOT WHAT'S AT PLAY HERE, IS JUST MAKING SURE THAT IT'S GOING TO, AND WHAT IS WHAT Y'ALL WANT.

YOU WANT IT TO LAST FOR FOREVER FOR YOU, FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO, AND SO MAYBE WE CAN COME UP WITH A SOLUTION THAT, THAT APPEASES OR, OR, OR IS WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WANT.

UM, UNLESS YOU TELL ME THAT IT'S FINE EXACTLY WHERE IT'S AT AND THERE ARE NO ISSUES.

AND OUR CITY ENGINEER AND, AND EVERYONE SIGNS OFF ON IT, BUT IF NOT, UM, I REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT IS IN A LOCATION WHERE THEY CAN BE PROUD AND THEY'RE NOT BEING SET ASIDE AND THEY FEEL THAT THEY'RE NOT BEING RESPECTED OR VALUED.

WELL, I MEAN, IT, TO ME,

[00:40:01]

MONUMENT.

RIGHT.

AND SO THERE, THERE HAS BEEN THE OTHER GROUP, UM, FROM THE COMMITTEE, FROM THE, UH, PENDLETON, UM, UM, UM, VETERAN, THE, UH, THE, UM, MEMORIAL PARK MEMORIAL, RIGHT? THEY SUGGESTED TO HAVE IT HERE ON ALONG THE TRAIL.

UH, THERE'S A KIOSK HERE WITH, WITH, UH, THEY PROVIDE INFORMATION.

AND SO THIS TRAIL, WE DID NAME IT AS THE HAREN HOMETOWN, UH, HEROES TRAIL BECAUSE IT, IT TIED INTO THE VETERAN'S MEMORIAL.

UM, THIS IS THE LOCATION THAT THE, UM, THE VIETNAM VET, UH, ORGANIZATION WOULD LIKE IT.

AND THEN THIS WAS ANOTHER LOCATION THAT, UM, THE COMMITTEE HAD RECOMMENDED.

AND I'LL SHOW YOU, UM, JUST KIND OF SEE WHAT I DID.

I SUPERIMPOSED A PINK MONUMENT, RIGHT? SO IT KIND OF FITS IN SOMEWHAT.

UM, AND THEN THIS IS THE BLACK ONE.

UM, SO I, I SUPERIMPOSE A BLACK MONUMENT, BLACK GRANITE MONUMENT.

UM, LET ME GO BACK.

AND THAT IS WHERE IT, THAT'S WHERE THE, THE, THE VIETNAM, UH, VETERANS ORGANIZATION WOULD LIKE IT.

OKAY.

AND IS THERE ANY REASON WHY WE CAN'T HAVE IT THERE? NO.

AND SO THERE IS, THERE IS IRRIGATION.

AND SO, UM, AS MS. LEONARD WAS TALKING ABOUT, THERE IS PONDING, BUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING IS THAT THE TIMER ON THE IRRIGATION, WE HAD IT TOO LONG.

MM-HMM.

.

AND SO I WENT OUT THERE, WHEN I DID GO OUT THERE AND TAKE PICTURES, I DID BRING IT TO THEIR ATTENTION.

SO THEY, THEY PULLED BACK ON THE, ON THE, UM, THE TIMING.

MM-HMM.

OF THE IRRIGATION.

SO RIGHT NOW IT'S DRY.

UM, BUT I WAS GONNA SHOW YOU THE, UM, SO THIS IS A, UM, A, A VIEW OF THE, THE HARINGTON HOMETOWN HEROES TRAIL.

MM-HMM.

, UH, WHERE THEY'RE REFERRING.

RIGHT.

AND SO THIS IS THAT KIOSK WITH THE INFORMATION.

AND THEN THIS IS WHERE THEY WERE SUGGESTING TO PUT THE, UM, THE MONUMENTS.

WHO IS THEY? UM, WELL IT WAS ONE INDIVIDUAL, WHICH WAS, UM, SAL, UH, CARANO WITH THE, UM, AND THAT'S WHY I WANNA MAKE A COMMITMENT.

THE VETERANS PD, UH, MEMORIAL COMMITTEE OR WHATEVER THEY CALL THEMSELVES, ISN'T THEIR MAIN JOB TO SELL PAVERS.

THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CITY AS I UNDERSTAND IT.

AND THE ADVISORY BOARD IS JUST AN ADVISORY BOARD, AS I SEE ON THEIR VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD WAS CREATED TO ADVISE THE CITY COMMISSION ON NEEDS OF LOCAL VETERANS, THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO LOCAL VETERANS AND PROGRAMS THAT COULD BENEFIT THE NEEDS OF LOCAL VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

IT DOESN'T SAY NOTHING ABOUT PASSING A VOTE ON, UH, WHERE WE'RE GONNA PUT A MEMORIAL OR NOT.

YEAH.

YES, SIR.

UM, JUST, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY DO VALUE SERGEANT GARONA.

I KNOW HE DOES A LOT FOR VETERANS.

YOU'RE, I MEAN, I TALKED TO HIM VERY CLOSELY AND, AND HE'S, HE'S IN SUPPORT OF ALL VETERANS AND HE IS A VETERAN.

AND I, I UNDERSTAND.

DON'T WANNA DISPARAGE HIM IN ANY WAY.

UM, AND THE VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD, THEY ARE TO ADVISE THE COMMISSION.

YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

AND, AND WE WANNA DO WHAT THE, I, I WANT FOR IT TO BE YOUR, YOUR DECISION AND, AND YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU WANT IT TO BE.

WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT'S BEING RE WE'RE RESPONSIBLE AND DOING IT.

AND IF, RIGHT.

UM, DOES NO BE PASSED OUT ON THE OCTOBER 20TH WHEN YOU GUYS MET AND APPROVED THAT THE PARKS? YEAH.

I, I THINK WHERE YOU WANNA PUT IT, IT'S FANTASTIC.

I, I LOVE THE COLOR OF IT.

I THINK IT'S GONNA, UH, WITH THE BLACK AND ALL THAT LOOK FANTASTIC.

SURE.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO THE COMMISSION IS IF IT'S, IF WE'RE GONNA PUT IT UP THERE, I WANT IT TO LOOK VERY NICE.

AND SO I'D ASK THAT THE COMMISSION ALSO NOT ONLY APPROVE THE ACCEPTING OF THIS, BUT APPROVE ADDITIONAL MONEY TO PUT IN A NICER, LIKE, OH, A, A CONCRETE WALKWAY TO IT WITH THE LIGHTS AND ALL THAT.

BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GONNA WANNA GO AND TAKE PHOTOS NEXT TO IT WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND ALL THAT.

AND SO TO WHATEVER, HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST OSCAR? YEAH.

OKAY.

THEN SEE IF WE WANT MAKE HOLLER HARLINGEN PREP.

CORRECT.

SO LET ME INTERJECT.

I'M ASHAMED.

WELL, YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE MY UNWAVERING SUPPORT.

CORRECT.

I'VE ALL, I'VE, I'VE EXPRESSED THAT ON MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.

AND I THINK THE ENTIRE COMMISSION AND THEN THE CITY OF HARLINGEN, THE ADVISORY BOARD, EVERYONE WANTS, YOU KNOW, WANTS TO BE ABLE TO HONOR, HONOR YOU AND, AND, AND JUST, LIKE I SAID, WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S, IT'S DONE, IT'S DONE.

RIGHT.

BUT, UM, I THINK THAT'S A, A FANTASTIC IDEA.

ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, THE COMMISSION WILL, WILL VOTE, WILL VOTE ON THAT, BUT, UM, THAT'S WHY WE HEARD.

I THINK IT'S, I THINK IT'S A, IT LOOKS SHARP THE WAY THAT YOU, I MEAN, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING, I DON'T THINK IT TAKES AWAY, IF ANYTHING, IT, IT, IT'S AN EXTRA ATTRACTION.

AND HOPEFULLY MORE VISITORS WILL, WILL, WILL HEAD TO THAT, TO THAT AREA.

CORRECT.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.