[Item 1 - Call to Order]
[00:01:07]
[Item 2 - Conflict of Interest]
CONFLICT OF INTEREST, PLEASE.UNDER STATE LAW, A CONFLICT OF INTEREST EXISTS OF A COMMISSION MEMBER OR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THAT PERSON'S FAMILY HAS A QUALIFYING FINANCIAL INTEREST IN AN AGENDA ITEM.
MEMBERS WITH A CONFLICT OF INTEREST CANNOT PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION NOR VOTE ON THE AGENDA ITEM.
ARE THERE ANY KNOWN CONFLICTS OF INTEREST TO DISCLOSE AT THIS TIME? NONE.
I JUST HAVE ONE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[Item 3 - Announcements ]
ITEM NUMBER THREE, ANNOUNCEMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS.WITH RESPECT TO THE ITEMS NOT LISTED ELSEWHERE ON THIS AGENDA, THE CITY COMMISSION MAY REPORT ON ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST, INCLUDING ANNOUNCING COMMUNITY EVENTS, ANNOUNCING EMPLOYEES OF COMMUNITY RECOGNITION.
ITEM THREE, A MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS, MAYOR? YES, I DO HAVE A FEW.
UM, WE HAD THE OPENING OF OUR HARLINGEN ANIMAL SHELTER ON MONDAY.
UH, IF YOU CAN FOLLOW THEM ON THEIR, ON THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS.
YOU CAN STILL VOLUNTEER, FILL OUT AN APPLICATION, AND YOU CAN FIND ANY LOST PETS, UH, ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE.
SO ASKING EVERYBODY TO GO SHOW THEM SUPPORT AND SHARE THEIR PAGE LIKE IT AND FOLLOW IT SO THAT WAY YOU'RE INFORMED ON ANY LOST PETS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, ALSO YESTERDAY WE HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE HARLINGEN AIRPORT AT FI, UH, VALLEY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
WE HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE WITH THE CITY OF HARLINGEN, H-C-I-S-D, AND VALLEY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
THEY UNVEILED A, UH, AVIATION PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS AT H-C-I-S-D.
THESE KIDS ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET CERTIFIED TO FLY DRONES AND ALSO BE ABLE TO GET THEIR, UH, PILOT'S LICENSE, UH, UPON GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
UM, SPEAKING OF THE AIRPORT, WE ALSO RECEIVED A $4.5 MILLION GRANT FROM THE FAA FOR THE NEW AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER OVER AT THE AIRPORT.
WE ALSO HAD A PROCLAMATION, NOT HERE AT THE CITY COMMISSION, BUT TWO OF THEM PRESENTED ONE TO THE JUNIOR CATHOLICS DAUGHTERS OF AMERICA FOR THE CITY OF HARLEEN, AND THEY CELEBRATED THEIR 10 YEAR, UM, ANNIVERSARY.
AND THESE YOUNG LADIES, OR JUST PRIDE THEMSELVES ON SERVICING THE COMMUNITY AND THEIR CHURCH AS WELL.
WE ALSO HAD BLACK HISTORY MONTH AT THE CONVENTION CENTER RIGHT HERE, AND JETTE AND HIS STAFF DID AN AMAZING JOB WITH THAT EVENT.
MS. MARY BENTON THAT WORKS AT THE HOUSTON, UH, MAYOR'S OFFICE WAS THE SPEAKER, AND IT WAS A WONDERFUL EVENT.
WE ALSO, UM, SOME OF THE COMMISSIONERS AND MYSELF, CITY MANAGEMENT AND THE EDC WENT TO MATAMOROS, UH, SPOKE WITH THE MAYOR IN MATAMOROS, AND BUSINESS LEADERS ALSO INDEX MEXICO, INDEX OSA, LAREDO, AND OTHERS JUST TO STRENGTHEN THOSE TIES.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE ARE HERE AT THE HARLINGEN CONVENTION CENTER.
I WANNA INVITE ALL OF YOU BACK ON SATURDAY.
THEY ARE GOING TO BE HOSTING A BOXING EVENT RIGHT HERE, AND DOORS OPEN AT 6:00 PM YOU CAN GO TO THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE AND, UM, SIGN UP TO, TO GET TICKETS.
UH, THE, THE LAST EVENT WAS A STANDING ROOM ONLY.
IT WAS TICKETS SOLD REALLY FAST, SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT.
ITEM B, CITY MANAGERS ANNOUNCEMENTS.
[00:05:01]
ANNOUNCE THAT THE NEW TRASH RODS THAT WE'VE COVERED EXTENSIVELY WILL COMMENCE ON MARCH 4TH.UM, THE ONLY PEOPLE IMPACTED ARE THE ONES THAT RECEIVED THEIR, UH, GARBAGE PICKUP ON, UH, WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.
ALSO, THE JALAPENO 100 WILL BE THIS WEEKEND.
UM, AND ALSO COMMISSIONER MORALE MORALES, ARE YOU GOING TO MENTION YOUR WALK THIS WEEKEND AND INVITE EVERYONE? YES.
YOU CAN MENTION THAT AND I, I'LL MENTION IT AS WELL.
MORALE MORALE WILL BE THIS SATURDAY AT ROYAL PARK AT NINE O'CLOCK.
IT'S THE ROYAL PARK OFF OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
ITEM C, CITY COMMISSION MEMBERS ANNOUNCEMENTS.
UH, THE ONLY THING I'D LIKE TO MENTION IS EARLY VOTING IS GOING ON, SO, UH, MAKE SURE YOU GET OUT AND EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT AS A CITIZEN OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY TO HAVE A SAY IN.
WHO'S GONNA BE LEADING US, ELLIOT? I HAVE NOTHING.
I'LL JUST ECHO WHAT WAS SAID EARLIER AND I HEAR AN ECHO.
5K WAT IT'LL BE AT NINE O'CLOCK ON SATURDAY AT THE, UH, ROYAL PARK.
SO, ANYWAY, EVERYBODY'S WELCOME.
IF YOU COULD GO, I'LL SEE YOU THERE.
AND I, I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE, UM, SOMETHING, UM, THIS PAST SATURDAY FROM MY UNDERSTANDING WAS OUR CITY MANAGER'S BIRTHDAY, GABRIEL GONZALEZ.
AND I JUST WANTED TO TELL HIM HAPPY BIRTH, HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COMMISSION, AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING HE DOES FOR THE CITY.
I'M NOT GONNA TELL EVERYBODY MY AGE.
[Item 4 - Presentation of Awards]
NUMBER FOUR, PRESENTATION OF AWARDS.A MAYOR'S BUSINESS OF THE MONTH AWARD, BLOOMERS, BOUTIQUE AND FLORAL DESIGNS.
UM, AUDIENCE FOR JOINING US HERE TODAY AT THE HARLINGEN CONVENTION CENTER.
UM, EVERY MONTH, THE CITY RECOGNIZES A MAYOR'S BUSINESS OF THE MONTH, AND THIS IS AN EFFORT TO SHOWCASE LOCAL BUSINESSES IN HARLINGEN.
AND THIS MONTH THEY HAVE SELECTED BLOOMERS, AND I'M SURE MANY OF US HAVE GONE THERE.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE, A BEAUTIFUL BOUTIQUE, UM, LOCATED, UM, ED CAREY.
AND SO THE COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA DEPARTMENT DID PUT TOGETHER A VIDEO TO HIGHLIGHT BLOOMERS, AND I'D LIKE TO PLAY THAT BEFORE WE INVITE THEM UP FOR THEIR AWARD.
SO I STARTED WORKING FOR BLOOMERS WHEN I WAS 16 YEARS OLD.
UM, AND I WORKED HERE UNDER THE PREVIOUS OWNER, UH, FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS.
AND THEN I BOUGHT IT JANUARY OF 2021.
SO WE CARRY, CONSUELA IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST LINES.
UH, WE CARRY LOTS OF, UM, GIFTS, UH, JEWELRY.
WE TRY TO FIND LOTS OF TEXAS LINES.
WE TRY TO FIND, UM, LITTLE THINGS THAT YOU CAN'T JUST FIND IN BIG BOX STORES.
WE LOOK FOR HIGH QUALITY ITEMS. UH, WE ALSO DO FLORALS FOR EVERY DAY.
WE DO FLORALS FOR WEDDING AND EVENTS AND FUNERALS, UM, ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
SO WE OFFER A WIDE VARIETY OF SERVICES AND PRODUCTS.
AND, UM, WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE.
WE OFFER COMPLIMENTARY GIFT WRAPPING WITH EVERY PURCHASE.
WE OFFER DELIVERY FOR ALL OF OUR GIFT PRODUCTS AND FLOWERS AS WELL.
BECAUSE OF OUR LOYAL CUSTOMERS, WE'RE ABLE TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE TRY TO DONATE, UM, ITEMS OR, OR WHATEVER WE CAN TO LOCAL EVENTS, UM, AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
AND THE ONLY REASON WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT IS BECAUSE PEOPLE CHOOSE TO SHOP LOCAL WITH US.
UM, AND SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR US BECAUSE WE HAVE A PASSION FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR GROWING HARLINGEN.
AND SO WITHOUT OUR LOCAL CUSTOMERS AND THE NEW CUSTOMERS THAT WE HAVE, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND GIVE BACK.
SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE STAFF THAT LOVES TO BE HERE AND IS HAPPY AND LOVES THEIR JOBS.
UH, SO WE ARE PROUD TO OFFER ALL OF OUR FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS ONLINE.
UH, IT'S BLOOMERS HARLINGEN.COM.
[00:10:01]
ORDER FOR LOCAL DELIVERY OR PICKUP.UM, ALSO WE DO A LOT OF SOCIAL MEDIA.
SO, UH, ON INSTAGRAM, IT'S, UH, BLOOMERS HARLINGEN, AND THE SAME FOR FACEBOOK BLOOMER HARLINGEN AS WELL.
IF YOU FOLLOW US LIKE US, WE ARE ALWAYS POST WHEN WE HAVE SALES OR EVENTS, UM, NEW PRODUCTS.
WE GET NEW PRODUCTS IN WEEKLY.
UM, AND SO THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO FOLLOW US AND KEEP UP WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WAYS TO, TO SHOP LOCAL AND SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES IN A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR BLOOMERS.
SO, I'D LIKE TO INVITE THE OWNER, LISA HUON, AS WELL AS KATIE HODGE, WHO IS THE MANAGER UP, AND THEY'D LIKE TO SHARE A FEW WORDS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JUST RECOGNIZING US.
WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE CITY, FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
NOT ONLY JUST FOR US, BUT FOR ALL THE SMALL BUSINESSES IN TOWN.
WE, ESPECIALLY US, WE ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT GIVING BACK.
AND SO WE LOVE TO GIVE BACK TO LOCAL CHARITIES AND EVENTS, AND WE DO AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
AND SO WITHOUT Y'ALL SUPPORT AND THE SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE RECOGNITION.
WELL, I LEARNED A LOT, UM, FROM YOUR SHORT VIDEO.
I DIDN'T KNOW THE HISTORY THAT YOU WORKED THERE AS A YOUNG GIRL AND THEN PURCHASED IT.
THAT IS DEFINITELY THE AMERICAN DREAM.
AND IT'S EXCITING TO, TO HEAR THESE STORIES EVERY TIME.
I, I LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES EVERY TIME WE'RE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT THEM.
AND SO IT JUST GETS ME MORE EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT, TO SUPPORT YOU AND THE STUFF.
I KNOW THAT YOU ARE CONSTANTLY WHEN WE GO TO THESE LIVE AUCTION, LIKE THE AUCTIONS, THAT THERE'LL BE SOMETHING FROM, FROM BLOOMERS THERE, AND WE KNOW THAT YOU GIVE BACK.
WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU, AND WE'RE JUST EXCITED FOR THE FUTURE OF, OF BLOOMERS.
WILL THE, UH, COMMISSION JOIN ME SO WE CAN TAKE A PHOTO AND PROVIDE HER WITH HER AWARD? THANK YOU.
EVERYONE TAKE TWO BIG STEPS AWAY FROM THE TABLE.
SO WE LOVE HAVING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS JOIN US FOR OUR COMMISSION MEETING.
AND THEY ARE HERE BECAUSE THE HARLINGEN HIGH SCHOOL SOUTH GIRLS WATER POLO TEAM ACTUALLY WON THE BI DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP.
SO AFTER DISTRICT, THEY WENT ON TO BI DISTRICT AND SECURED THAT WIN.
AND SO I'D LIKE TO INVITE THEIR COACH UP, UH, TO SHARE A FEW WORDS.
UH, YEAH, I JUST WANT TO SAY, UH, THANK Y'ALL FOR, UH, HAVING US AND, UH, RECOGNIZING MY, MY GIRLS.
UM, THEY WORKED, UH, REALLY HARD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, UH, FOR MANY YEARS.
UH, SOME OF 'EM ARE STILL VERY YOUNG, SO WE'LL BE GIVING A FEW BACK, BUT I'M REALLY, REALLY PROUD OF THEM.
UM, I'VE BEEN AT THIS FOR 11 YEARS AND, UH, LAST YEAR WAS OUR FIRST YEAR OFFICIALLY BEING A UIO SPORT AND, UH, HARTON SOUTH.
AND MOST OF THESE GIRLS CAN SAY THEY'RE THE FIRST, UH, DISTRICT CHAMPIONS, UH, IN OUR DISTRICT, UH, FROM HARTON SOUTH.
SO I'M REALLY, UH, PROUD OF THEM FOR THAT.
AND WE'RE ABLE TO REPEAT IT AGAIN THIS YEAR.
AND, UH, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND HAVE MY, UH, ONE OF MY CAPTAINS COME UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS.
[00:15:08]
OKAY.UH, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING US.
UM, IT, WE'VE BECOME, WELL SINCE THIS IS OUR SECOND YEAR, UM, WE HAD A LOT OF THE SAME TEAM, BUT THIS YEAR, UH, A LOT OF OUR SENIORS ARE GRADUATING, BUT WELL, INCLUDING ME,
BUT OUR, WE WORKED REALLY HARD, SO THANK YOU.
I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR OUR COACHES, HECTOR AND JERRY
SO YEAH, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING US.
CAN WE GET THE, UM, THE TEAM TO COME UP AND TAKE A PHOTO WITH US, COACH? ABSOLUTELY.
SO I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH THESE YOUNG LADIES PLAY IN THEIR BIRD BOWL, UH, UP AGAINST HAR AND HIGH.
THEY WENT INTO DOUBLE OVERTIME, MAYBE TRIPLE OVERTIME.
IT, I HAD NEVER SEEN A WATER POLO MATCH IN MY LIFE.
AND THESE LADIES MADE ME WATER POLO TRIPLE OVERTIME FANS.
IT WAS THE MOST EXCITING GAME I'D EVER SEEN.
DO WE HAVE, UH, YES, I THINK THEY, AMANDA? YES.
DO YOU HAVE THE PROCLAMATIONS RIGHT THERE? UH, CHRISTINA HAS THEM.
IS THIS THE ENTIRE TEAM? UH, I'M STILL MISSING A FEW.
HAD SOME OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT OKAY.
I JUST WANNA SAY THAT SOME LADIES, I HAVE HAD THE CLASS 1, 2, 3, 3, AND I PROBABLY HAVE SOME MORE LATER, SOME MORE OF YOU GUYS.
HOW MANY OF YOU GUYS ARE SOPHOMORES? NO, SOPHOMORES.
SO I MIGHT HAVE YOU, I MIGHT BE YOUR TEACHER EVENTUALLY, BUT THE REST OF THEM, I HAVE SOME OF 'EM I'VE HAD, AND I KNOW THE ONES THAT I HAVE HAD ONE I CURRENTLY, TWO I CURRENTLY HAVE RIGHT NOW.
THEY TRY REALLY HARD, AND DESPITE ME GIVING 'EM TONS AND TONS AND TONS OF HOMEWORK, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY STILL HAVE GOOD GRADES AND THEY STILL ARE ABLE TO PERFORM AT A HIGH LEVEL.
SO I JUST WANNA CONGRATULATE YOU ALL, ALL YOU LADIES.
SO ON THE CITY OF HAREN, CONGRATULATES, AND PROBABLY PRESENTS THIS AWARD TO THE HARINGTON, SOUTH HAWKS WATER POLO GIRLS TEAM 2023.
2024, WITH ELLIE, UH, WAYNE, SCOTT OLLI, SAVANNAH RISBY, MIA GONZALEZ, BELLA HINOJOSA, EVA RUIZ, UH, JACQUELINE MECADO, ISABELLE PERRA, GRACE GARCIA, BRIANNA ROBINSON, MIA OSA, SOPHIA GONZALEZ, GABRIELA MOLINA, ISABELLE ELECTRIC, DANIELA GONZALEZ, MIRANDA PEREZ, JC WHITE, AND SOPHIA WILLIAMS. AND OF COURSE, THEIR HEAD COACH.
HECTOR CASTANEDA JUNIOR FOR THEIR BEING DISTRICT CHAMPS AND BY DISTRICT CHAMPS AND EXCELLENT IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR EXCELLENT ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE AND SPORTSMANSHIP AND WATER POLO COMPETITION PRESENTED BY THE MAYOR ON THIS 21ST DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2024.
AND THE CITY IS VERY, VERY PROUD OF EACH AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU.
OKAY,
SO EVERYONE HERE THAT'S PRESENT RIGHT NOW IS ALSO PART OF THE,
[00:20:01]
UM, GIRLS SWIM AND DIVE TEAM.SO NOT ONLY WERE THEY BY DISTRICT CHAMPIONS IN A WATER POLO, UM, THEY'RE, UM, PHENOMENAL ATHLETIC PERFORMERS.
SO THEY ALSO SECURED THE DISTRICT CHAMPION SHIP IN GIRLS SWIM AND DIVE AS WELL.
SO I THOUGHT THERE WAS A WHOLE NOTHER TEAM, BUT IT'S THE SAME TEAM THAT'S HERE TODAY.
SO WE DO HAVE ANOTHER AWARD FOR YOU, UM, IF YOU'D LIKE TO PRESENT THE AWARD, MAYOR, I WILL, I WILL GRAB IT REALLY QUICK.
I THINK I'LL LET, UM, WE'LL SEE IF COMMISSIONER PETS CAN GET THE NAMES RIGHT THIS TIME.
ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF HAREN, THE CITY OF HAREN, CONGRATULATES, AND PROBABLY PRESENTS THIS AWARD TO THE HUNDRED SOUTH HAWKS GIRLS SWIM TEAM.
LET'S SEE IF I GET THIS RIGHT THIS TIME.
ELLIE, WAYNE, SCOTT, DANIELLA GONZALEZ, MIA OSA, GABRIELA MOLINA, ANGELINA LOWERY, SAVANNAH RISBY, ISABELLA PERRA, MIA GONZALEZ, SOPHIA GONZALEZ, MIRANDA PEREZ, JC WHITE, JACQUELINE MERCADO, ISABELLE LURE, BRIANNA ROBINSON, SOPHIA WILLIAMS, LAYLA DURAN, EVA RUIZ, AND SOPHIA REYES.
AND OF COURSE, COACH CASTANEDA.
YOU GUYS WERE CROWNED DISTRICT CHAMPIONS ON JANUARY 26TH, 2024, AND WESCO, TEXAS, AND THEY RECOGNITION OF THEIR EXCELLENT ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE.
SPORTSMANSHIP SWIMMING COMPETITIONS PRESENTED ON THIS 21ST DAY OF FEBRUARY BY THE MAYOR, UH, NORMA VERA.
UH, REALLY QUICKLY, I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT, UH, LAST YEAR MY GIRLS, AGAIN WERE DISTRICT CHAMPIONS IN SWIMMING AND DIVING, AND THAT WAS THE LAST YEAR WAS THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2003 THAT HARLINGEN SOUTH WAS, UH, DISTRICT CHAMP.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM IN WORK, THANK LADIES.
AND WE, WE ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE THEIR DIVING COACH, WHO'S HERE TODAY, YVONNE MORRAN.
SO FEEL FREE TO COME JOIN US AS WELL FOR A PICTURE.
[Item 5 - Citizen Communication]
ITEM NUMBER FIVE, CITIZENS COMMUNICATION.AT THIS TIME, THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO ADDRESS THE CITY COMMISSION AND SPEAK ON ANY MATTER NOT SPECIFICALLY LISTED FOR PUBLIC HEARING ELSEWHERE IN THE AGENDA.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CITY COMMISSION MEMBERS MAY NOT RESPOND TO COMMENTS OR DELIBERATE ON TOPICS ADDRESSED.
MAYOR, WE HAVE THREE, UH, PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP FOR, UH, CITIZENS COMMUNICATION.
HOWEVER, MR. LIO ANAYA IS NOT PRESENT, SO THEREFORE, WE, UM, PROVIDED COPIES TO THE CITY COMMISSION TO, UM, TO BE INFORMED OF HIS, UM, REQUEST.
UM, THE SECOND ONE IS, UH, RAYMOND REYES.
IS HE HERE? I DON'T SEE HIM PRESENT.
UM, AND THE THIRD ONE, MAYOR IS DOMINGO RAMIREZ.
IF YOU JUST, UH, APPROACH THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME, SIR, YOU CAN PICK UP THAT IF IT HELPS START.
WHAT BRINGS SEVERAL OF MY NEIGHBORS AND I HERE TODAY IS OUR CONCERNS WITH HOW THE CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT OFFICERS HAVE BEEN CHOOSING TO SELECTIVELY ENFORCE SOME OF THE CITY'S CODES ON A CERTAIN DEMOGRAPHIC OF THE CITY AND NOT ON OTHERS.
MULTIPLE FAMILIES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WERE RECENTLY SENT LETTERS INSTRUCTING US TO MOVE OUR BASKETBALL COURTS FROM THE GRASS AREAS NEAR THE CURB TO FURTHER BACK ONTO OUR PROPERTIES.
WE HAD ALL PREVIOUSLY BEEN SENT LETTERS TO MOVE THEM FROM THE STREET ONTO THE GRASS, BUT NOW THAT SEEMS TO
[00:25:01]
BE AN ISSUE AS WELL.OUR CONCERN AND QUESTION TO YOU ALL TONIGHT IS WHY YOUR OFFICERS DON'T SEEM TO WANT TO APPLY THIS RULE AND OTHERS TOWARDS THE MORE AFFLUENT NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY.
AFTER WE RECEIVED OUR LETTERS, AND I HAD A HUNCH THAT THIS ORDINANCE WAS ONLY BEING ENFORCED IN THE POOR OR PREDOMINANTLY HISPANIC NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND SO I DECIDED TO HOP ON GOOGLE MAPS AND TAKE A DRIVE AROUND THE OLDER, WEALTHIER PARTS OF TOWN AND SEE IF MY SUSPICIONS WERE CORRECT.
I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU THAT I WAS SURPRISED BY WHAT I FOUND, BUT AS WE ALL KNOW, IT'S ALL ABOUT WHO YOU KNOW OR WHO YOU ARE OR WHAT YOU DO.
I FIRST WENT BY THE LAKE DRIVE IN WOODLAND DRIVE AREAS OUT BY THE CITY LAKE, AND WELL, THERE'S A BASKETBALL COURT RIGHT BY THE STREET, JUST LIKE ALL OF OURS ARE.
THEN I THOUGHT, WELL, MAYBE THEY ONLY ALLOW IT OUT THERE BECAUSE OF CURRENT DEAN OF U-T-R-G-V OR A FORMER CITY COMMISSIONER LIVE DOWN THAT STREET.
LET'S SEE IF THE GOOD FOLKS OVER IN TREASURE HILLS HAVE TO FOLLOW THE RULES LIKE THE REST OF US DO.
AND WELL, THERE IS A BASKETBALL COURT, IT'S BEEN ON THAT STREET SINCE JUNE OF 2022, AND THE SECOND ONE AND THE THIRD ONE ON THAT SAME STREET AGAIN, BEEN THERE SINCE AT LEAST THE EARLY PART OF LAST YEAR, AND PROBABLY LONGER.
ALL THREE OF 'EM ARE OUT, STILL OUT THERE.
BY THE WAY, JUST IN CASE ANYONE'S WONDERING, I STOPPED LOOKING AFTER THAT BECAUSE FRANKLY I'D SEEN ALL I NEEDED TO SEE.
NOW, YOUR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS MIGHT JUST WANT US TO BELIEVE THAT WELL, THEY CAN'T POSSIBLY FIND EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE YET.
ONE PERSON WAS ABLE TO FIND JUST THIS IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES WITHOUT EVEN HAVING TO GET IN MY VEHICLE.
YOU DON'T FIND ANYTHING WHERE YOU DON'T LOOK, Y'ALL WERE VOTED INTO OFFICE BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE TIRED OF THE AFFLUENT, WELL CONNECTED CITIZENS IN THIS TOWN, BEING ABLE TO LIVE BY A DIFFERENT SET OF WORLD THAN THE REST OF US.
AND YET HERE WE ARE, DIFFERENT PEOPLE, SAME OLD THING, WHICH IS
AND SO I SAY ALL OF THAT TO SAY THIS.
I'M NOT GOING TO MOVE MY BASKETBALL COURT FROM WHERE I HAVE IT.
I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO PLAY OUTSIDE AND MAKE MEMORIES WITH MY KIDS THAT ARE GONNA LAST THEM A LIFETIME JUST LIKE MINE HAVE SINCE I WAS THEIR AGE.
AND IF YOUR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT, THEN I LOOK FORWARD TO THEM ANSWERING IN COURT WHY THEY'VE CHOSEN TO SELECTIVELY ENFORCE THESE CODES UPON A CERTAIN SOCIOECONOMIC GROUP OF PEOPLE AND NOT OTHERS.
UM, AS THE CITY SECRETARY SAID, WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO ENGAGE AND, AND RESPOND, AND SO I DON'T WANT YOU TO FEEL THAT WE DON'T WANT TO RESPOND, BUT DEFINITELY TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN DISCUSSING, AND WE HAVE YOUR INFORMATION AND YOUR PHONE NUMBER AND, UM, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, JOSHUA RAMIREZ, WILL BE REACHING OUT SO THAT WAY YOU CAN MEET WITH HIM AND HE'S IN CHARGE OF, OF CODE AND, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO DISCUSSING WITH YOU FURTHER.
[Item 6 - Approval of Minutes]
ITEM NUMBER SIX, APPROVAL MINUTES, A JOINT MEETING WITH THE HARLINGEN CITY COMMISSION AND HARLINGEN WATER WORK SYSTEM BOARD OF TRUSTEES DECEMBER THE 18TH, 2023.UM, ITEM B JOINT, UH, SPECIAL MEETING OF THE HARLINGEN CITY COMMISSION AND HARLINGEN WATER WORK SYSTEM BOARD OF TRUSTEES JANUARY 8TH, 2024.
MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES LISTED IN SIX A AND SIX B SECOND.
[Item 7 - Consent Agenda]
SEVEN, CONSENT AGENDA.NO DISCUSSION IS ANTICIPATED ON ANY OF THE ITEMS IN THIS SECTION BECAUSE THEY ARE ROUTINE BUSINESS.
WERE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET ADOPTION PROCESS OR HAS BEEN HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED AS A STAFF REPORT OR DISCUSSION ITEM.
THIS ITEM WILL BE CONSIDERED COLLECTIVELY BY A SINGLE VOTE UNLESS A COMMISSIONER, A COMMISSION MEMBER REQUESTS AN ITEM BEMO BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
IS THERE A MOTION, UM, TO APPROVE ALL ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ASIDE FROM ITEM G? NO.
UH, IF WE CAN PULL H AND I, G, H AND I, IS THERE A MOTION ON THE OTHERS? MAKE A MOTION.
UM, ITEM NUMBER, UM, LET ME SEE, MAYOR, ONE MINUTE.
LEMME G ITEM G, UH, CONSIDERATION OF POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE A REQUEST FROM THE HARLINGEN CONSOLIDATED INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, H-C-I-S-D FOR STREET CLOSURES FOR THE HCIS D'S, UH, GRADUATION CEREMONIES, UH, HELD FRIDAY, MAY 24TH, 2024, AND SATURDAY MAY 25TH, 2024 FROM 5:30 PM TO 10:30 PM OR UNTIL THE CEREMONIES HAVE ENDED.
UH, HARRISON AVENUE, 13TH STREET, JEFFERSON AVENUE, 13TH STREET, MONROE AVENUE,
[00:30:01]
12TH STREET, VAN BUREN AVENUE, 12TH STREET.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? MOTION? SECOND.
AND FOR THE RECORD, COMMISSIONER PETTI HAS ABSTAINED FROM ITEM SEVEN G, ITEM H, CONSIDERATION, AND POSSIBLE ELECTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE TEXAS OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 BORDER ZONE FIRE DEPARTMENTS, SPECIAL PROJECTS DEPARTMENT.
UH, GABE, JUST QUICK QUESTION.
IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR BRIEF SUMMARY, PARAGRAPH TWO TALKS ABOUT, UH, A POSSIBLE MATCH IF APPLICABLE.
CAN YOU JUST WALK ME THROUGH THAT PART? EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE MORE? UM, GENERALLY, COMMISSIONER, IF THERE ARE ANY MATCHES THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR CAPITAL, UH, EQUIPMENT, WE NORMALLY RECOMMEND THAT WE'D TAKE IT OUT OF ANY, UH, FUND BALANCE OR, UH, EXCESS REVENUE OVER EXPENDITURES.
WHEN WILL WE KNOW IF THERE'S A MATCH NECESSARY? UM, ONCE WHEN THE LOAN IS APPROVED, ONCE WE GET APPROVAL FROM, AND THEN DON'T TELL US THE PERCENTAGE OR WHATNOT.
UM, I DON'T, UH, I DON'T KNOW OFFHAND WHAT THAT MIGHT BE.
SHE WOULD HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON THAT.
IT COULD BE MORE, BUT, UH, AGAIN, IT'S A $250,000, UH, GRANT.
SO, UH, ANY, ANY, ANY MATCH WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FUND, FUND THAT THROUGH OUR REVENUES OVER EXPENDITURES.
MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM H.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ELECTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT A MULTIPLE GRANT APPLICATIONS TO THE TEXAS OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR OF FISCAL YEAR 2025.
STATE AND LOCAL CYBERSECURITY GRANT PROGRAM.
UH, ON THIS ONE IT SAYS THE MATCH REQUIREMENT IS 10% YES.
OF THEIR OVERALL PROJECT COST.
DO WE HAVE A ESTIMATION OF HOW MUCH THAT'S GONNA BE? UM, I KNOW IT SEEMS, I KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS ARE GONNA DO IS FOR MITIGATION AND FOR GOVERNANCE AND PLANNING, RIGHT? RIGHT.
UH, BUT DO WE KNOW OR NOT YET? NO, NOT, NOT YET.
UM, SO AS WE FIND OUT, AND WE'LL GET MORE INFORMATION, WE'LL LET YOU KNOW.
[Item 8 - Staff Reports and Other Items]
NUMBER EIGHT, STEP REPORTS AND OTHER DISCUSSION ITEMS, ITEMS IN THIS SECTION ARE NOT EXPECTED TO REQUIRE ACTION BY THE CITY COMMISSION AND ARE GENERALLY FOR INFORMATION ONLY.HOWEVER, ANY ITEM LISTED IN THIS SECTION MAY BECOME AN ACTION ITEM WITH THE REQUEST OF THE MAYOR OR AFTER THE REQUEST OF ANY TWO COMMISSIONER MEMBERS OR THE CITY MANAGER.
UM, MR. GONZALEZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY REPORTS? NO, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
THE REPORT ON, UM, STAFF ITEM B, STAFF REPORT, FINANCE DEPARTMENT INVESTMENT REPORT REVIEW.
SORRY, IF WE CAN GO BACK TO A, I KNOW THAT AT ONE POINT, UH, GABE, WE TALKED ABOUT SETTING UP A SPORT FIELD WORKSHOP, UH, SETTING UP WHAT, I'M SORRY, A SPORT FIELD WORKSHOP.
REMEMBER WE HAD THE CONTRACTS COME FOR US FOR THE SOCCER FIELDS YES.
UM, I THINK JAVIER'S WORKING ON GETTING EVERYBODY TOGETHER.
UH, I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE IS ON THAT.
I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT FIRST WEEK OF MARCH.
EXCUSE ME, CAN YOU SPEAK? I, I I'M DEAF.
IF YOU GUYS RECALL BACK IN LIKE DECEMBER OR NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR, WE DISCUSSED THE SPORT FIELD CONTRACTS.
UH, THE MAYOR HAD AN EXCELLENT IDEA TO HAVE A WORKSHOP ON THOSE.
I JUST WANTED TO SEE WHERE WE STOOD ON THAT.
FOR THE LEAGUES, YOU'RE STILL LOOKING AT THE FIRST WEEK OF MARCH, HAVE YOU SURE.
ARE AVAILABLE? WELL, I, I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE OTHER, THAT THE LEASE CAN SEND A REPRESENTATIVE DURING THAT TIME AND THEN IT'S GOTTA BE AFTER FIVE 30, SO, YEAH.
SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE AWARE OF IT.
THEY JUST ARE WAITING ON THE ON DATE.
WELL, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE GET A DATE FROM EVERYBODY THAT WILL WORK.
AND I JUST WANTED TO GET AN UPDATE.
IF YOU GIVE US AN UPDATE REAL QUICK ON THE KEY PARS AND BEAUTIFUL BOARD.
ARE WE GONNA BE SETTING UP THAT MEETING? UH, YES, WE ARE.
UH, THAT BOARD DOES HAVE SOME, UH, FUNDS AVAILABLE THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY USE FOR BEAUTIFICATION.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THEM TOGETHER.
SO WE WE DO HAVE A DATE FOR THAT, OR WE DON'T HAVE A DATE FOR THAT? FOR THE, UH, KEY PARING AND BEAUTIFUL, UH, NO, NOT YET.
WHAT'S WHAT'S THE WHOLE, IS IT STILL THE, THE CHAIR OR WHAT'S GOING ON? NO, I THINK STAFF IS JUST REACHING OUT TO THE BOARD MEMBERS, UH, TO MAKE SURE WE GET A, WE CAN GET A QUORUM.
IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD JUST HAVE A MEETING MAYBE BEFORE OUR NEXT, UM, COMMISSIONER MEETING.
WE CAN TRY TO SCHEDULE THAT FOR THEM.
STAFF REPORTS, FINANCE, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
[00:35:01]
UH, GETTING OVER A POLL, BUT THIS, UH, INVESTMENT REPORT IS FOR THE, UH, QUARTER BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2023, AND ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2023.UH, ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, YOU'LL SEE THE, UH, PORTFOLIO SUMMARY, UH, WHERE WE HAVE OUR BOOK VALUE AT 86 MILLION 713 534, UH, IN CASH AND INVESTMENTS.
ON THE MIDDLE, ON THE MIDDLE, UH, SECTION, YOU'LL SEE THE INCOME SUMMARY FOR THE, FOR THE FIRST QUARTER, UH, WHICH TOTALS 1 MILLION, UH, 39 64.
UH, OF THAT IS, UH, 99,559 IN ACCRETION BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SOME TREASURIES THAT, UH, HAVE INCREASED IN VALUE.
AND THE REMAINING 9 39 5 0 4 IS FROM INTEREST INCOME FROM OUR TAX POOL AND, UH, AND OUR, UH, BANK INTEREST EARNINGS.
UH, ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, YOU'LL SEE THE PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS ARE OUR YIELD TO MATURITY.
OUR, OUR CURRENT, UM, YIELD TO MATURITY IS 5.1879 1.87%.
UH, IS, IS WHAT WE'RE EARNING.
UH, ON THE BOTTOM YOU'LL SEE THE ASSET ALLOCATION.
WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 2.7 IN BANK DEPOSITS, UH, 80.48 IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT POOLS, WHICH IS TAX POOL AND 16.79 IN US GOVERNMENT, TRE TREASURIES, WHICH, UH, AMOUNTS TO ABOUT 15 MILLION.
UH, SO OUR, OUR, UM, OUR INVESTMENTS ARE, ARE RANKED AT AAA.
UH, SO THAT, THAT SHOWS YOU, UH, THE RATINGS DISTRIBUTION BY THE TYPE OF DEPOSIT THAT WE HAVE.
SO WE HAVE, UH, DEMAND DEPOSITS AT TOP, UH, OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT POOL, UH, AND OUR, UH, TREASURIES.
SO AS YOU SEE, OUR, OUR INVE OUR INTEREST RATES HAVE, HAVE CLIMBED, UH, TO DECEMBER.
WE HAVE 5.9, WHEREAS IN JANUARY OF 2022, WE HAD A LOW OF, UM, 0.06.
SO THE INTEREST RATES HAVE CLIMBED AND WE'RE AT FIVE POINT 19.
SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE GENERATING, UH, A LOT MORE INCOME THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY A GOOD THING.
THAT'S A, THAT'S A QUICK SUMMARY OF THE INVESTMENTS.
IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, DO ANY DISCUSSION? NONE.
I WANT ALL THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO TAKE, UH, ROBERT'S LEAD IN THESE REPORTS.
AND THAT'S ON THE GENERAL, UH, THE REVENUE GENERATING SIDE, RIGHT? BOTH
[Item 9 - Public Hearings]
PUBLIC HEARINGS.AT THIS TIME, THE MAYOR WILL INVITE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO HAVE FILED, FILED, FILLED OUT THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THE CITIZEN'S COMMUNICATION FORM TO ADDRESS EACH ITEM LISTED IN THIS SECTION.
AMANDA, WE DON'T HAVE ANY PUBLIC HEARINGS, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO READ THAT SECTION.
I WAS GONNA SAY THAT AT THE VERY END, BUT, OKAY, THAT'S EVEN BETTER.
[Item 10a - Consideration and possible action to approve an ordinance on first reading amending the City of Harlingen's Budget for Fiscal Year 2024. Attachment (Finance Dept)]
NUMBER 10, ACTION ITEMS CITY COMMISSION WILL DISCUSS, CONSIDER, AND TAKE ANY ACTION DEEMED NECESSARY ON ITEMS LISTED IN THIS SECTION, INCLUDING THE ADOPTION OF A MINUTE ORDER, A RESOLUTION, OR AN ORDINANCE, A CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE OF FIRST READING.AMENDING THE CITY OF HARLINGEN BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024, FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
GOOD EVENING, UH, MAYOR AND, AND COMMISSIONERS.
UM, SEPARATE, I PREPARED A, A, A BRIEF, UH, OVERVIEW OF, OF THE BUDGET, BEGINNING WITH THE GENERAL FUND, ALL THE WAY THROUGH ALL OF THE SPECIAL REVENUES, ENTERPRISE FUNDS AND INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS.
SO IF YOU SEE OUR, OUR, OUR ESTIMATED FUND BALANCE ON THE GENERAL FUND IS 37 4 74, AND OUR NEW PROJECTED REVENUES ARE 57 8 56 9 45.
AND OUR REQUESTED EXPENDITURES ARE 61 2 51, 5 0 5.
SO, UM, THAT BRINGS OUR ESTIMATED FUND BALANCE TO 34 0 79.
AND, UM, I PREPARED A DETAILED, UH, DESCRIPTION OF EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE REQUESTING, BUT THE MAJORITY OF OF THAT IS ENCUMBRANCE ROLLOVERS, WHICH ARE, ARE, UM, PURCHASE ORDERS THAT WERE, UH, GENERATED IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR THAT NEVER CAME IN.
AND SO THAT MONEY WAS ENCUMBERED IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
SO WE'RE ROLLING THOSE OVER, INCLUDING THE BUDGET, UH, TO THIS CURRENT YEAR.
SO, SO AS YOU SEE, THE, THE FUND BALANCE WAS HIGH AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR BECAUSE OF THOSE ROLLOVERS, THAT MONEY WASN'T SPENT AT THAT TIME.
SO, SO NOW WE'RE ROLLING THOSE FUNDS OVER INTO THIS YEAR.
SO IN THE GENERAL FUND, UM, WE'RE REQUESTING, UH, ADDITIONAL REVENUES OF 17,000 AND EXPENDITURES OF 4 3, 1 6, 9 7.
AND WE ARE, I HAVE LISTED OUT ON THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, ALL OF THE ITEMS THAT ARE, UH, WERE REQUESTED.
AND IF THEY WENT THROUGH A CITY COMMISSION MEETING, I ALSO PUT
[00:40:01]
THE CITY COMMISSION DATE THAT THEY WERE REQUESTED.AND IF THEY DON'T HAVE ONE, THEN THEY'RE USUALLY, UH, A NEW REQUEST.
SO, UM, ENCUMBRANCE, ROLLOVERS, UH, ACCOUNTED FOR 2 MILLION 15, 2 75, AND NEW DEPARTMENT REQUESTS ARE 2 MILLION 16 422.
AND THAT'S IN THE GENERAL FUND.
THE OTHER LARGE, UH, FUND THAT HAD CHANGES, UH, WERE, OR, OR OR REQUESTS, WAS THE GRANT AWARDS.
AND THOSE SIMPLY COME FROM, UH, UM, GRANTS THAT WE GET DURING THE YEAR.
AND, AND WE, WE ROLL OVER, LIKE THE MONEY THAT WASN'T SPENT IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR, ROLL IT OVER TO THIS YEAR OR IF WE HAVE NEW GRANT AWARDS.
SO THE LARGEST PART, ROBERT, YOU, YOU MADE A CHANGE TO THAT IN THE, SO ON ON, FROM WHAT I ORIGINALLY SENT OUT, I ADDED THE, UH, REVENUES FOR THE ARPA FUNDS.
SO THAT WAS A LARGE REVENUE THAT I ADDED SINCE, UH, WE INITIALLY SENT OUT THE PACKET, AND THAT WAS, UH, 7 MILLION 9 17, 7 94.
SO THAT COULD OFFSET THE EXPENDITURES OF 11 MILLION THAT WE HAVE, UM, IN ARPA FUNDS.
SO, SO THESE ARE THE ENDING, UH, FUND BALANCES, AND THESE ARE THE NEW, UH, REVENUE REQUESTS, 1 15 3 83 2 0 1 COMPARED TO YOUR EXPENDITURES OF 1 23 27 180.
AND AGAIN, THIS INCLUDES ALL, ALL FUNDS OF THE CITY.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I CAN GO THROUGH THOSE.
UNDER THE, UH, HR SLASH RISK, WE HAD AN INCREASE OF $162,835.
UM, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S AN INCREASE FOR PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE, RIGHT? CAN YOU BREAK DOWN THE CASUALTY INSURANCE? WHAT, WHAT WAS WORKMAN'S COMP AND WHAT WAS EVERYTHING ELSE? UM, I COULD, I COULD GET, I COULD GET WITH RISK MANAGEMENT AND, AND GET THAT BREAKDOWN.
AND, AND, AND, AND THEN THE NEXT QUESTION IS, UM, WHAT COST SUCH A HIGH INCREASE? I, I COULD GET THAT ANSWER.
I, I'M NOT, SORRY, WHAT WAS THE QUESTION, COMMISSIONER? I COULDN'T, I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT, WHAT COST THE INCREASE OF 162,000 AND CHANGE.
THOSE WERE JUST INCREASES IN THE POLICIES THEMSELVES.
UM, I THINK ONE OF THE ONES THAT WENT UP SIGNIFICANTLY WAS THE, UH, THE, UH, INSURANCE FOR OUR BUILDINGS.
WHAT WAS THAT? THE INSURANCE FOR OUR BUILDINGS.
UM, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THERE WAS, UH, AN INCREASE.
UH, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS ALL OF IT, BUT I'LL GET WITH THE RISK TO FIND OUT.
THE THING IS LIKE WHEN WE, WHEN WE PREPARE THESE BUDGETS, UM, AT THE TIME WHEN WE'RE PREPARING 'EM, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE ESTIMATED BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW LIKE THE ACTUAL INCREASES THAT ARE GONNA OCCUR LIKE DURING THE YEAR.
SO, UM, SO THOSE INCREASES MAY BE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN WHAT WE, UH, HAD EXPECTED THEM TO BE.
BUT I CAN, I CAN DEFINITELY GET THAT, IF I CAN ANSWER HIS QUESTION.
INFLATION IS HIGH INFLATION FOR CAR REPAIRS.
VEHICLE REPAIRS IS BEATING THE PRICE OF INFLATION TO REBUILD THE BUILDING ENTIRELY OR TO REDO IT.
THE COST OF THE MATERIALS ARE THROUGH THE ROOF, RIGHT? AND SO IT'S JUST NOT US, BUT OUR PRICE INCREASES REFLECTED INDUSTRY WIDE.
AND IF ANY OF YOU HAVE GOTTEN YOUR HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE OR YOUR CAR INSURANCE, DON'T BE SURPRISED TO SEE A 15, 20, 30% INCREASE.
I'VE SEEN IT ALREADY, YOU KNOW, NUMBERS DIFFER IN DIFFERENT STATES AND DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, BUT, UM, I WOULD SAY THIS IS JUST A NORMAL REFLECTION OF THE COST OF RUNNING A BUSINESS GOING UP.
WELL, LET ME ASK YOU, SIR, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE, WE CAN DO TO MINIMIZE THIS? LIKE, UH, FOR INSTANCE, UH, HAVING A RISK CONSULTANT OR A, A SAFETY CONSULTANT THAT'S CERTIFIED TO MINIMIZE, UH, CAR ACCIDENTS AND ON DOWN THE LINE? NO, THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO.
I MEAN, WE HAVE CAMERAS, WE HAVE TRANSPONDER IN OUR VEHICLES.
UH, IT'S JUST THE COST OF REPAIRING A VEHICLE IS THROUGH THE ROOF.
I THINK, LIKE GABE SAID, ALSO, THE POLICIES THEMSELVES HAVE HAVE INCREASED.
AND I THINK WE'VE LOOKED AT THE WORKMAN'S COMP AND, AND, AND IT ACTUALLY, UH, REDUCED.
UH, AND I DON'T KNOW IF ERIC'S HERE, BUT, UM, I KNOW THAT THERE WAS NO, SHE'S NOT, BUT I, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU, COMMISSIONER, UM, TO MAYBE TALK TO GABE ABOUT THAT IF YOU HAVE SOME CONCERNS.
BUT, AND, AND OUR PROPERTY CASUALTY INSURANCE COMES UP ONCE A YEAR AND WE LOOK FOR THE BEST PRICES FOR THE BEST COVERAGE.
WE, WE ARE DOING SOME THINGS WITH, UH, SOME OF THE ACCIDENTS WE'VE HAD, UH, IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND WE'RE GOING TO ENACT THE SAFETY PROGRAM, UH, FOR THOSE OFFICERS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS.
UH, THAT WON'T NECESSARILY LOWER THE PREMIUM INITIALLY,
[00:45:01]
BUT I THINK OVER TIME, UH, IT, IT'LL HELP BRING IT DOWN OR AT LEAST KEEP IT STEADY SO IT DOESN'T INCREASE ANYMORE.AND I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO BRING ON CONSULTANTS JUST TO BRING ON CONSULTANTS.
UM, WOULDN'T BE WISE USE OF THE, OF TAXPAYER MONEY.
IS THERE ANY OTHER YEAH, ROBERT, IF YOU LOOK AT, UH, THE EXECUTIVE AGENDA ITEM MM-HMM.
IS THAT ON TOP OF THE FOUR OF THE 400,000 THAT WAS ALREADY, UH, ALLOCATED FOR THAT? OR IS THAT A REALLOCATION OF THE 400,000 PLUS AN ADDITIONAL INCREASE? THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL WE, WE HAVE, UH, SO IT'S ON TOP OF THE ORIGINAL FOUR? UH, I BELIEVE SO.
WELL, SOME OF THAT WAS ALREADY USED IN THE CORRECT, IN THE, IN THE ALLOTMENT THAT WE ORIGINALLY GAVE THEM.
AND SO THAT, I THINK WE HAVE LIKE 200 SOMETHING LEFT PLUS THIS 5 0 4 THAT WAS FOR, IS THAT FOR, UH, REPAIRS AND ALL THAT? OH, THAT WAS, IT IS FOR ANYTHING RELATED TO THE ANIMAL SHELTER.
IS THERE ANY OTHER, UH, QUESTIONS FOR ROBERT? NO.
ITEM 10 B, CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.
I MARK, IF YOU CAN READ THE CAPTION, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
WE NEED THE CAPTION READ FIRST.
10 A, 10 B IN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF HARLE IN TEXAS FOR FISCAL YEAR OCTOBER 1ST, 2023 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024, PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION OF THE CAPTION OF THIS ORDINANCE AND ORDAINING OTHER MATTERS RELATED TO THE FOREGOING.
IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE? SECOND.
[Item 10b - Consideration and possible action to approve an ordinance on first reading amending Chapter 18, Master Fee Schedule of the Harlingen Code of Ordinances, establishing fees for certain Licenses, Permits, and other services provided by the City of Harlingen as they relate to Chapter 36, Article V, Division 2 (Tony Butler Golf Course) and providing for publication and ordaining other matters pertaining to the foregoing. Attachment (Golf) ]
B, CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE OF FIRST READING AMENDING CHAPTER 18, MASTER FEE SCHEDULE.SO THE HARLINGEN CODE OF ORDINANCES, ESTABLISHING FEES FOR CERTAIN LICENSES, PERMIT PERMITS, AND OTHER SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF HARLINGEN AS THEY RELATE TO THE CHAPTER 36, ARTICLE FIVE, DIVISION TWO, TONY BUTLER GOLF COURSE AND PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION AND ORDAINING OTHER MATTERS PERTAINING TO THE FOREGOING CALL.
HEY, MARK, CAN YOU JUST READ THE CAPTION ON THIS ONE? YEAH.
IT'S IN MY BOOK IN ORDINANCE OF THE P UH, CITY OF HARLEEN, TEXAS, AMENDING CHAPTER 18, MASTER FEE SCHEDULE OF THE HARLEEN CODE OF ORDINANCES BY ESTABLISHING FEES FOR CERTAIN LICENSES, PERMITS, AND OTHER SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF ARLINGTON AS THEY RELATE TO CHAPTER 36.
ARTICLE FIVE, DIVISION TWO, TONY BUTLER GOLF COURSE PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION AND ORDAINING.
OTHER MATTERS PERTAINING TO THE FOREGOING.
CARRIE, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH, JEFF, FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'RE DOING OUT THERE.
[Item 11 - Board Appointments]
I, NUMBER 11, BOARD APPOINTMENTS.UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, I, I DON'T HAVE AN APPOINTMENT.
I JUST HAVE A QUESTION SEEKING CLARIFICATION.
WE SHOW FIVE VACANCIES FOR SOMETHING CALLED THE HARLINGEN FINANCE CORPORATION.
UH, IF YOU GO ON THE WEBSITE AND CLICK ON THE CLOSEST YOU CAN FIND TO IT IS A HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
AND IF YOU GO TO THAT, IT SHOWS A LIST OF PEOPLE WHOSE TERMS HAVE ALL EXPIRED.
THAT'S SO WE, WE NEED TO KIND OF CLARIFY IT NEEDS THAT ONE A BIT, RIGHT? WE DID, UM, LAST YEAR, UH, I DID MEET WITH ALL OF THE CHAIRS OF THE BOARDS, AND THIS IS ONE THAT I THINK WE IDENTIFIED RIGHT JOSH, TOO.
I'M NOT SURE IF THIS HAD, UH, IT WAS A CORPORATION OF SOME SORT, SO THAT MAYBE GET WITH MARK SO IT CAN GET OFF OUR, OUR LIST.
UM, UNDER PLANNING AND ZONING FOR, UM, JESSE EZ, I'M PUTTING IN, UH, RAUL FLORES IF
[00:50:01]
POSSIBLE.THE POLICE OFFICER? NO, THE, I THINK SO.
AND SO ARE YOU REMOVING SOMEONE? YES.
IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION SECOND.
[Item 12 - Executive Session]
[Item 13 - Action on Executive Session Items]
NUMBER 12, EXECUTIVE SESSION.WE, WE HAVE NO EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS, SO YOU DON'T NEED TO READ 12.
[Item 14 - Adjournment]
WAS A NICE SHORT AND SWEET MEETING.