[00:00:04]
[Item 1 - Call to Order]
WE'LL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.IT HAS BEEN DULY POSTED AS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW.
WE HAVE A FULL FORM OF THE COMMISSION AS EVERYONE IS PRESENT AT THIS TIME.
I'LL ASK FOR EVERYBODY TO PLEASE RISE AS COMMISSIONER MICHAEL MEER LEADS US IN OUR INVOCATION.
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.
DEAR GOD, PLEASE HAVE MERCY ON THE PEOPLE HERE.
PLEASE HAVE MERCY ON THE SICK AND THE SUFFERING.
SEE YOUR AIR, THE SICK, THE SUFFERING, THE PRESIDENT, THE ARMED FORCES, AND ALL CIVIL AUTHORITIES IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT ON PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, ALL THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
[Item 2 - Conflict of Interest]
STATE LAW, A CONFLICT OF INTEREST EXISTS IF 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 OR VOTE ON THE, ON THE AGENDA ITEM.
ARE THERE ANY KNOWN CONFLICTS OF INTEREST TO DISCLOSE AT THIS TIME? NONE.
I DO HAVE ONE FOR ITEM J WITH H-C-I-S-D.
ITEM J OR IN OTHER WORDS, I'M NOT GONNA PARTICIPATE IN THAT ONE.
[Item 3a - Mayor's Announcements]
DO HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS.UM, JUST A QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT.
I THINK ACTUALLY IT'S A, IT'S A GREAT ANNOUNCEMENT.
UM, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW, I ALSO SIT ON THE R-G-B-M-P-O, WHICH IS ANOTHER BOARD WHERE ALL CITIES HAVE REPRESENTATION, OR AT LEAST THE MAJOR CITIES.
UM, AND WE WERE ABLE TO VOTE TODAY TO ADOPT THE 10 YEAR PLAN.
AND SUPER EXCITED TO SAY THAT, UM, THE COMMERCE STREET PROJECT, UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT $25 MILLION FOR THE FIRST PHASE.
SO THIS IS, UH, A, THE FIRST STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
SO I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY COMMISSIONER, UM, LO LOPEZ HAS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR, FOR COMMERCE STREET FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
AND STAFF DID A GREAT JOB IN SECURING FUNDING FOR THE DESIGN.
AND WE GOT A $5 MILLION GRANT FOR THAT.
AND SO, BECAUSE HARLINGEN HAD A SHOVEL READY PROJECT, AND I KNOW MR. MARTINEZ HERE IS SHAKING HIS HEAD 'CAUSE HE KNOWS HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS.
UH, WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE, UH, HOPEFULLY SECURE THAT FUNDING.
THERE'S STILL, UH, SOME THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO AS A GOVERNING BODY AND, AND ALSO A COMMENT PERIOD AND SOME OTHER THINGS THAT, THAT WE NEED TO GET, NEED TO GET THROUGH.
BUT LOOKS VERY PROMISING AND SUPER EXCITED, NOT JUST FOR DISTRICT TWO, BUT REALLY FOR THE GREATER CITY OF HARLINGEN SINCE IT'S A, YOU KNOW, A THOROUGHFARE.
UM, AND WE HEAR YOU WHEN YOU SAY THAT YOU WANT COMMERCE STREET, UH, REDONE.
AND SO THIS IS A GREAT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
[Item 3c - City Commission Member Announcements]
AND I'LL PASS IT ON TO COMMISSIONER ES.I ACTUALLY HAVE, I SPENT A REALLY GOOD DAY TODAY WITH, UM, WITH, UH, HPD, WHERE I SPENT SOME, UH, ABOUT A GOOD, A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME WITH THE CANINE OFFICERS AND SOME CANINES.
AND I WAS ELATED TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH, UM, OFFICERS, UH, OFFICER TRIGG, OFFICER DE LARA, OFFICER IS AGUIRE AND OFFICER BENITEZ AND THE CANINES.
THE OFFICER CANINES THAT I SPENT TIME WITH WAS OFFICER CRUELLA MADRE RANGER AND ALAN.
THEY ARE, UM, SPECIALIZED IN EXPLOSIVE AND NARCOTICS AND, UM, THE HIGHLIGHT OF ALL, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE, THEY ARE JUST, I JUST, I I ALWAYS LITERALLY SAID I WAS SPEECHLESS BECAUSE THEY ARE SO WELL TRAINED.
UM, BUT I GOT TO MEET, UM, OFFICER KAUS.
OFFICER KANE WAS WITH HPD FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
UM, AND I GOT TO MEET OFFICER KANES, WHICH, UM, I ACTUALLY GOT A, A PICTURE OF HER BEFORE SHE, I MEAN, WHEN SHE, AFTER SHE WAS RETIRED.
AND, UH, PEOPLE WOULD COME INTO MY HOME OFFICE AND THEY ALWAYS ASK ME, WHOSE DOG IS THAT? YOU DON'T HAVE THAT ONE AT HOME? AND I'M LIKE, NO, THAT'S ACTUALLY HPDS, UH, RETIRED O OFFICER, CANINE OFFICER.
AND, UM, I GOT TO ACTUALLY MEET HER TODAY.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL THE OFFICERS, THE CANINE
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OFFICERS THAT DO WHAT THEY DO, THE HANDLERS, AND TO ALL THE CANINE OFFICERS THAT DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO BECAUSE THEY ARE SO ESSENTIAL TO OUR HPD DEPARTMENTS.SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, FOR WHAT THEY DO.
[Item 4a - Harlingen Animal Shelter "Pet of the Week"]
PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS.WE HAVE THE HARLINGEN ANIMAL SHELTER OF THE WEEK.
MAYOR CITY COMMISSION TONIGHT.
UM, SHE IS ABOUT SIX YEARS OLD.
SHE HAS BEEN AT THE SHELTER FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW.
UM, SHE, AND SHE'S PATIENTLY WAITING FOR HER SECOND CHANCE AT A LOVING HOME.
UM, SHE AND ALL THE, THE PETS THERE AT THE HARLING ANIMAL SHELTER WHO ARE WAITING FOR THEIR SECOND CHANCE.
UM, ANYBODY CAN GO BY AND VISIT THEM TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, ONE TO 6:00 PM OR GIVE THEM, GIVE THE ANIMAL SHELTER A CALL AT (956) 216-5250.
AND THEN, JUST LETTING YOU KNOW THIS WEEKEND, THE HARTON ANIMAL SHELTER WILL ALSO BE AT THE PETSMART AND DONNA WITH ANIMALS AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION.
SO THERE'LL BE TWO DIFFERENT SITES WHERE YOU CAN ADOPT ONE OF THE, THE PETS FROM HARLING ANIMAL SHELTER.
DESI
WE INVITE EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY TO GO VISIT OUR AMAZING SHELTER AND ADOPT A PET.
I JUST, UM, I WANNA JUST SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
I SAW Y'ALL OUT AT, UM, UM, DOWNTOWN AT SUNDOWN, AND I SAW, I THINK THERE WAS LIKE FOUR OR FIVE ADOPTIONS AND SEVEN.
UM, THEN THERE MUST MUST'VE BEEN MORE AFTER, AFTER I LEFT, BUT TWO OF THEM GOT ADOPTED TOGETHER, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS REALLY AMAZING.
SO, GREAT JOB, BABY SHARK, WHO HAD BEEN WITH US FOR PROBABLY AT LEAST FOUR MONTHS, ACTUALLY GOT ADOPTED AS WELL.
AND WE'VE GOTTEN SOME UPDATED PICTURES OF HIM SLEEPING ON A COUCH, AND HE'S LIVING HIS BEST LIFE NOW.
EVERYBODY THAT WAS TAKEN TO DOWNTOWN, UM, THIS PAST SATURDAY WAS ADOPTED.
I, I, WE, WE MET WHEN I, UH, RIGHT.
UH, SO SHE WANTED TO LEAVE HER MARK ON MY SUIT, WHICH WAS PERFECTLY FINE.
WE'RE SO EXCITED ABOUT ALL THE ADOPTIONS HAPPENING.
[Item 4b - Mayor's Business of the Month - "Vanity Lash"]
ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON.WE HAVE THE MAYOR'S BUSINESS OF THE MONTH.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSION.
UH, BEFORE WE INVITE OUR BUSINESS OWNER FOR THE MAYOR'S BUSINESS OF THE MONTH UP, WE HAVE A VIDEO TO HIGHLIGHT THE BUSINESS.
HI, I AM MICHELLE BAIN AND I'M THE OWNER OF THE VANITY LASH HERE IN WAX STUDIO, DOWNTOWN JACKSON.
SO THE VANITY LASH IS A STUDIO THAT HAS GROWN AND EVOLVED THROUGH SO MANY YEARS.
WE'RE KNOWN FOR OUR LASHES, BS, WEDDING PARTIES, ET CETERA.
BUT WE OFFER SO MUCH MORE LIKE NAILS, LASH LISTS, WAXING, THREADING, AND OTHER BEAUTY SERVICES.
WHAT I'M MOST PROUD OF IS THE CLIENTELE AND COMMUNITY WE'VE BUILT.
A LOT OF MY CLIENTELE HAVE BEEN WITH ME FOR SO MANY YEARS, AND WE'VE GROWN TOGETHER, BEEN THROUGH SO MANY THINGS TOGETHER.
AT LEAST 35 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS.
I'VE ALWAYS WANTED VANITY TO BE A PLACE WHERE WOMEN FEEL COMFORTABLE TAKEN CARE OF AND BE FEELING LIKE THE BEST VERSION OF THEMSELVES.
NOT ONLY ARE THEY MY CLIENTS, BUT THEY BECOME ALMOST LIKE MY BEST FRIENDS FRIENDS BECAUSE I SEE 'EM ON AN EVERYDAY BASIS.
AND SO FOR ME, IT'S LIKE A PLUS.
I ALWAYS TELL EVERYBODY THE STORY BECAUSE MY AUNT, I MEAN, GOD BLESS HIS SOUL, SHE'S GONE.
MY MOM'S OLDER SISTER, MY DAD USED TO TELL AVON.
AND SO I STARTED PASSING OUT LITTLE BOOKS, AVON BOOKS FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE BACK THEN, AND SHE WOULD PAY ME WITH LITTLE LIPSTICK.
AND THEN I WAS SO INTO BEAUTY, SO I WOULD COLLECT THEM ALL.
AND I HAD THIS FASCINATION WITH 'EM.
SO I FEEL LIKE IT STARTED THEN MY LITTLE HUSTLE.
SO THAT'S HOW SHE WOULD PAY ME.
AND THEN THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, I WOULD DO EVERYBODY'S, UH, EYEBROWS, THEIR CURLS, THEIR UH, MAKEUP, UH, IN BETWEEN CLASSES WE'D BE IN THE BATHROOM AND I'D BE DOING ALL THAT STUFF.
SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE I PICKED UP THE LOVE BREAD.
SO INITIALLY I WANTED TO BE A NURSE, BUT I WANTED TO DO THIS ON THE SIDE AS A SIDE HUSTLE, BUT THEN I JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.
FOR ME, THE FUTURE ISN'T NECESSARILY ABOUT BECOMING BIGGER, IT'S ABOUT BECOMING BETTER, CONTINUING TO EVOLVE, AND TAKING REALLY GOOD CARE OF THE CLIENTS WHO HAVE SUPPORTERS ALL ALONG THE WAY.
[00:10:06]
UH, PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING OUR BUSINESS OWNER, MICHELLE, TO THE FRONT HERE.UM, HONESTLY, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE CITY OF HARINGTON.
I'VE BEEN HERE OPEN HERE LIKE WHAT, 10 YEARS WHEN, AND 11 DELIA KNOWS.
AND, UH, SHE'S BEEN WITH ME FOR YEARS, RIGHT, DALE? AND I'VE KNOWN NORMA FOR YEARS TOO.
SO ANYWAYS, ALL THANK YOU GUYS.
I LOVE MY CITY, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR RECOGNIZING ME AS A BUSINESS OF THE MONTH.
IS THAT IT? AM I GETTING MY OSCAR? WELL, DON'T LEAVE.
YES, WE DO HAVE AN OSCAR FOR YOU.
WE THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR SUCH A LONG TIME 'CAUSE YOU'RE AN AMAZING HUMAN BEING AND YOU BEAUTIFY ALL THE WOMEN IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY.
I THINK YOU'VE GOT TWO LOCATIONS, CAS CASSANDRA AND CASSANDRA
UH, SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.
WE'D LOVE TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU.
[Item 5 - Citizen Communication]
ON.WE HAVE CITIZEN COMMUNICATION AT THIS TIME.
WE WILL CALL YOU TO THE PODIUM.
PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, STATE YOUR NAME AND DISTRICT OR ADDRESS, WHICHEVER YOU'D LIKE.
STARTING OFF WITH MS. DON, DON LEONARD, DON RAY LEONARD, DISTRICT THREE, ARTICLE FOUR, SECTION SEVEN OF OUR CHARTER STATES THAT COMMISSIONERS ARE TO ENACT ALL ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS, ADOPT ALL REGULATIONS, AND CONSTITUTE THE LEGISLATIVE BODY OF THE CITY.
THE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS SHALL HAVE NO ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES.
COMMISSIONER SMAR ONCE STATED THAT HIS PRECIPITATE PARTICIPATION AS A COMMISSIONER BEGINS AND ENDS WITH THE CITY CHARTER.
AND HE TAKES THAT RESPONSIBILITY.
LITERALLY, HE ATTENDS COMMISSION MEETINGS, HOLDS TOWN HALLS AND VOTES NO MORE, NO LESS.
DURING COMMISSIONER MES MAR'S RECENT TOWN HALL, A GROUP OF CONCERNED CITIZENS RAISED AN ALARMING ISSUE.
THE TREASURE HILLS, AKA, HAD BEEN DRAINED BY A CONTRACTOR, APPARENTLY WITH THE CITY'S PERMISSION.
WE'RE STILL CURIOUS AS TO WHO GAVE THAT PERMISSION, BUT NOBODY'S TALKING SHOCKING.
THE STORY HAD BEEN IN THE NEWS FOR OVER A WEEK.
CITIZENS WERE VISIBLY UPSET AND CONCERNED, AND FOR GOOD REASON.
COMMISSIONER SMAR, THE CITY MANAGER AND ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, GARCIA, ALL CLAIM THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT HAD TRANSPIRED.
IT'S THE COMMISSIONER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN HIS DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY A PROBLEM OF THIS MAGNITUDE.
PROPERTIES WERE DAMAGED AND WILDLIFE WAS SEVERELY IMPACTED.
WE WATCHED, AS THE COMMISSIONER ARGUED, DENIED AND DEFLECTED.
HE SUGGESTED THEY FILE A POLICE REPORT.
HE SUGGESTED MAYBE THEY SHOULD FORM AN HOA.
THE COMMISSIONER AND GABE BOTH STATED SEVERAL TIMES THAT THIS PROPERTY, THIS WAS THE PROPERTY OWNER'S PROBLEM, NOT THE CITY'S PROBLEM, AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, BUT THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT.
GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, ONE WOULD EXPECT A MORE PROACTIVE AND EMPATHETIC APPROACH.
BY THE WAY, IT HAD TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE UPLOADING THE TOWN HALL VIDEO FOR RELEASE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
WHERE'S THE VIDEO? LET'S BE TRANSPARENT.
[00:15:01]
WE HAVE WATCHED COMMISSIONER MAMORE REPEATEDLY DISRUPT MEETINGS, STRUGGLE TO FOLLOW DISCUSSIONS, LEAVE MEETINGS EARLY, MISS VOTES, AND IS EVEN CON, EVEN CALLED HIS CONSTITUENT SOCIALISTS.BUT IF HE CANNOT FULFILL THE BARE MINIMUMS REQUIRED FOR THIS OFFICE, PERHAPS IT IS TIME FOR HIM TO STEP DOWN.
WE NEED A COMMISSIONER WHO IS PRESENT AND IN TOUCH WITH THE PEOPLE, KNOWS THE ISSUES, AND DOES THE WORK FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR DISTRICT.
ON A POSITIVE NOTE, THE CITIZENS OF TREASURE HILLS HAVE CREATED THE HARLAN AND SAKA RESTORATION ORGANIZATION FACEBOOK PAGE FOR THE CARE RESTORATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THEIR SAKAS.
THANKFULLY, THE CITIZENS PERSEVERED AND THE SAKAS ARE BEING RESTORED.
NEXT WE HAVE MS. SANDRA GONZALEZ GOMEZ, MAYORS, COMMISSIONERS, AND HARLINGEN RESIDENTS.
MY NAME IS SANDRA GONZALEZ GOMEZ, AND I AM FROM DISTRICT TWO.
I'M FOLLOWING UP ON THE AUDIT AND COMPLAINTS REVIEW REQUESTS.
WE DISCUSSED DURING OUR MEETING ON JULY 15TH AND AUGUST 5TH, 2026.
I'LL BE SHARING INFORMATION WITH OTHERS.
FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACCOUNTABILITY WITHIN OUR CITY GOVERNMENT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, I RAISED THREE COMPLAINTS AGAINST SERGEANT MICHAEL BROOKS WITH EVIDENCE TAMPERING AUDIO VIDEO WAS PROVIDED TO THE DEFENSE COUNSEL IN RAW DATA FORMAT, MEANING IT WAS NOT PROCESSED OR DOWNLOADED INTO SOFTWARE IN THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES SHALL EVERY WORD BE ESTABLISHED? NUMBER ONE, THE DEFENSE TEAM.
AND I SPOKE WITH RECORDS MANAGER MONICA MESA, IN PERSON WHO APPEARED ANXIOUS AND VISIBLY SHAKEN BY THE SITUATION.
THE RECORDS MANAGER INDICATED THAT THE AUDIO SHOULD HAVE BEEN ROUTED TO CCRA CASE PREP, OR, BUT SERGEANT BROOKS TOOK THE CD.
NUMBER TWO, DEFENSE SENT CD TO CHRIS STALET IT SERVICES IN TOGO AREA.
MR. CHRIS STATED THAT THE VIDEO WASN'T RAW DATA FORMAT.
IT WAS GIVEN TO YOU IN THE PROP PRIORITY VIDEO FORMAT.
THE VIDEO RECORDER USES TO RECORD THE VIDEO.
THIS RECORDING WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE VIEWED IN STANDARD, UH, COMPUTER OR TV FORMAT.
NUMBER THREE, COURT TRANSCRIPTS DA GUERRA STATED THAT IT WAS THE SAME WAY WHEN WE WENT TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE GAVE THEM THE VIDEO THEY GAVE US.
THEY TRIED OPENING IT, IT DIDN'T WORK.
I HAVE SPOKEN TO INTERNAL AUDIT SAN JUANITA GARCIA SEVERAL TIMES.
SHE IS NOT ALLOWED TO AUDIT WITHOUT PERMISSION.
WHY DON'T YOU ALLOW HER TO CONDUCT THE AUDIT? YOU HAVE CONTROL OF ALL THE AUDITS.
WHO ARE THE AUDIT COM AND THE AUDIT COMMITTEE? THE BOARD MEMBERS OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE.
WOULD THAT BE YOU, MAYOR AND MR. MESMER? THERE THIS YEAR, HARLINGEN WAS AWARDED THE ALL-AMERICAN CITY AWARD.
CAN YOU GENERALLY DECLARE THAT THE OFFICIALS OF HARLINGEN ARE HONEST, TRANSPARENT, AND HAVE INTEGRITY? I SAY NO.
AS A DAUGHTER OF THE LIVING GOD AND THE AUTHOR BESTED IN ME BY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
I PRAY THAT EVERY LIE BE EXPOSED.
I REBUKE YOU SATAN, IN YOUR MINIONS, IN THE NAME OF JESUS.
GON NEXT WE HAVE LUIS SINO, LUIS SINO, DISTRICT THREE.
GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS AND MAYOR.
BACK IN JANUARY WHEN MY WIFE AND I FIRST SPOKE UP AT ONE OF THESE MEETINGS, WE REALLY THOUGHT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET SOME REAL DIALOGUE GOING ABOUT THE CONCERNS WE HAVE WITH A POTENTIALLY HUMONGOUS DATA CENTER NEXT TO OUR AIRPORT.
WE HAD HOPED TO LEARN THAT OUR COMMISSION WOULD DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ADDRESS CITIZEN CONCERNS.
INSTEAD, WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF STONEWALLING EXCUSES AND PASSING OF THE BUCK.
AND WE HAVE LEARNED THAT MANY CITY LEADERS AND REPRESENTATIVES PREFER TO KEEP CITIZENS IN THE DARK OR DISTRACT US RATHER THAN HAVE MEANINGFUL AND OPEN COMMUNICATION.
SPEAKING OF KEEPING US IN THE DARK, ONCE AGAIN, WE FIND THAT THE CITIZEN DECORUM POLICY WAS LEFT OFF OR OUT OF THE POSTED MEDIA PACKET.
THERE IS A LINK ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE THAT SAYS DECORUM POLICY DRAFT.
BUT THIS, AS OF THIS MORNING, THE LINK WAS NOT TO A DRAFT POLICY.
AND THIS AFTERNOON, ABOUT 3:30 PM OLD DRAFTS WERE LINKED, BUT NOTHING THAT INCLUDES THE UPDATES DISCUSSED AT THE AUGUST FIVE MEETING.
SO I GUESS WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL IT PASSES TO FIND OUT WHAT'S IN IT.
SOUND FAMILIAR? I COULDN'T HELP BUT NOTICE HOW
[00:20:01]
THE CITIZEN DECORUM POLICY PREVIOUSLY DRAFTED TALKS ABOUT THE COMMISSION CHAIR HAVING AUTHORITY TO FAIRLY APPLY THE POLICY TO CITIZENS.HOWEVER, IF ANYONE PAID ATTENTION TO THE LAST CITY COMMISSION MEETING, IT WAS CLEAR THAT EVEN THE DECORUM ON THE DAIS WAS NOT ENFORCED FAIRLY.
TWO COMMISSIONERS WERE ADMONISHED TO BE BRIEF DURING A DISCUSSION ON SPEED HUMPS.
ANOTHER COMMISSION WAS NOT ALLOWED TO ASK, UH, ANY QUESTIONS ON ANOTHER TOPIC, BUT OTHERS SPOKE ENDLESSLY WITHOUT CONSIDERATION OF TIME.
AND TO TOP IT OFF, THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION ALLOWED ON THE TOPIC OF THE DATA CENTER WATER CONTRACT.
BY THE WAY, IT'S BEEN OVER SEVEN MONTHS SINCE THIS COMMISSION VOTED ON A SIX MONTH MORATORIUM ON SMOKE SHOPS.
WE WERE PROMISED TO STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF THESE SHOPS WITH HARLINGEN CHILDREN.
THIS CONCERN HASN'T GONE AWAY.
ANGELA VALINO, DISTRICT THREE.
REGARDING THE EXTENDED MORATORIUM.
IT SAYS YOU HAVE HIRED AMBO TECH, AM AMBO TECH, BIOTECH ENGINEERING FOR A TECHNICAL ANALYSIS.
THEIR WEBSITE DOES NOT TALK ABOUT HAVING ANY EXPERIENCE WITH DATA CENTERS.
IT SAYS THEY ARE A LOCAL COMPANY.
IS THIS A COMPANY THAT KNOWS HOW TO INVESTIGATE PROJECTS OF THIS MAGNITUDE? ON MAY 20TH, I ASKED THE CITY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDIES TO BE DONE REGARDING THE PROPOSED DATA CENTER.
WHO HAVE YOU HIRED FOR THAT? WHERE ARE THOSE FINDINGS AND REPORTS? ON MAY 20TH, I ASKED THE CITY TO LABEL THESE TYPES OF FACILITIES AS HEAVY INDUSTRIAL.
THE FIRST MORATORIUM DID NOT LABEL THEM AS SUCH, BUT NOW THIS EXTENDED MORATORIUM LABELS THE DATA CENTER AS HEAVY, HEAVY INDUSTRY, NOT COMMERCIAL.
IN A RECENT ARTICLE, THE CITY ATTORNEY SAID THE WATERWORKS AGREEMENT WITH R-G-V-P-G WAS A, A COMMERCIAL CONTRACT.
MY QUESTION IS, IS THIS WATERWORKS AGREEMENT A HEAVY INDUSTRIAL CONTRACT OR A COMMERCIAL CONTRACT? BY DEFINITION, THIS CONTRACT IS CONSIDERED HEAVY INDUSTRIAL.
THIS COMMISSION SHOULD NEVER ALLOW, ALLOW THE WATERWORKS DEPARTMENT TO GIVE AWAY AROUND 25% OF PORTABLE WATER TO ANYONE, ANY COMPANY WILLING TO SUE THE CANYON STATE TO BLOCK THE RELEASE OF RECORDS SHOULD NEVER BE CONSIDERED AS A COMPANY THE CITY WOULD WANT TO DO BUSINESS WITH.
IN THE LAST MEETING, THERE WAS A LEGAL TERM USED CALLED ULTRA VIRUS, WHICH BASICALLY MEANS AN ACT DONE WITHOUT THE NECESSARY LEGAL AUTHORITY OR AN ACTION THAT GOES PAST THE LIMITS ALLOWED BY A GOVERNING DOCUMENT, LAW OR CONSTITUTION.
ANY ACTION OR CONTRACT FOUND TO BE ULTRA VIRUS IS TYPICALLY CONSIDERED VOID, ILLEGAL, OR UNENFORCEABLE.
THE CITY ATTORNEY SAID THE COMMISSION COULD NOT NULLIFY THE WATERWORKS CONTRACT AND THEY WOULD BE ACTING ULTRA VIRUS.
FOR THE RECORD, THE HARLINGEN WATERWORKS DEPARTMENT IS THE ONE THAT ACTED ULTRA VIRUS WHEN THEY WROTE AND SIGNED A CONTRACT SELLING PORTABLE WATER AT IN-CITY RATES TO AN INDUSTRY OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COMMISSION.
IN THE LAST MEETING, THIS COMMISSION AGREED THAT CITIZENS COULD SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES ON AGENDA ITEMS AND THREE MINUTES ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS UNDER CITIZEN COMMUNICATION.
I SURE HOPE THE REVISED POLICY STATES THAT IN THIS LAST MEETING, THE COMMISSION AGREED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO, NO LIMIT AS TO THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS FOR ANY SPECIFIC TOPIC.
I SURE HOPE THE REVISED POLICY STATES THAT IN THE LAST MEETING, THIS COMMISSION AGREED THAT CITIZENS CAN SPEAK UP TO FIVE MINUTES UNDER PUBLIC HEARINGS.
I SURE HOPE THE REVISED POLICY STATES THAT IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY TO SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC ALL FINAL VERSIONS OF ANY ORDINANCES BEFORE IT IS ADOPTED INTO THE CITY CHARTER.
RAYMOND REYES, 7 0 6 NANTEC DRIVE.
I'M USUALLY NOT DRESSED, BUT I WAS IN COURT TODAY DEALING WITH SOME THINGS THAT SOME PEOPLE WEREN'T TOO HAPPY WHEN THEY LEFT THE COURTHOUSE, BUT THEY'LL BE OKAY.
SO, UM, APPARENTLY THERE'S STILL A LOT OF DISCONTENT, MISTRUST, UH, NOT THINGS LINING UP THE WAY WE'D LIKE 'EM TO LINE UP AS CITIZENS.
UH, AND I KNOW IT'S OBVIOUS WHEN I HAVE CITIZENS OF THE CITY
[00:25:01]
AS AN ELECTED BODY, UH, AT LEAST IN MY OPINION, YOU GUYS SHOULD BE ON TOP OF THINGS, SHOULD BE IN THE LOOP.I MEAN, IT'S NOT MY JOB, BUT TRUST ME, IT WOULDN'T BE THE FIRST TIME THAT I'VE HAD TO STEP UP AND, UH, CORRECT THINGS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED.
THAT'S NOT MY FORTE, BUT I'M VERY GOOD AT IT.
SO I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE TAKE THINGS SERIOUSLY.
AS I'VE STATED MANY TIMES, WE'RE ADULTS, WE'RE AROUND THE SAME AGE.
WE KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG.
UM, YOU KNOW, THINGS WILL CATCH UP.
PEOPLE TELL ME THAT I HAVE IT LIKE THAT, BUT EVEN I KNOW I DON'T HAVE IT LIKE THAT.
SO WE NEED TO DO, MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN WITH WHAT WE GOT.
IT'S NOT ABOUT LIVING A LIFESTYLE OR BEING GLORIFIED BECAUSE YOU'RE IN A CERTAIN POSITION AND YOU THINK YOU GOT POWER AND YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT.
BECAUSE TRUST ME, TO BE ENTRUSTED WITH POWER, YOU'RE GONNA FIND OUT THE TRUE CHARACTER OF WHAT A PERSON'S REALLY MADE OF.
AND I KNOW THAT I WOULD SEE IT WITH THE MANY INDIVIDUALS THAT MY FATHER DEALT WITH.
AND IT WAS ASSOCIATED WITH ONE THING DURING THE DAY AND ANOTHER THING AT NIGHT WHEN THE SUN WOULD GO DOWN.
UH, WELL IN SOME INSTANCES AND THE TYPE OF BUSINESS MY FATHER WAS, UH, OPERATING, UH, AMONGST THE OTHER BUSINESSES.
SO WE NEED TO BE TRUE TO OUR FORM.
IF NOT, THE TRUTH IS GONNA COME OUT.
YOUR TRUE CHARACTER IS ALWAYS GONNA SHOW.
YOU'RE GONNA BE REMEMBERED FOR THAT.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GONNA SAY SOMETHING WHEN YOU'RE SAYING YOU'RE GONNA DO THE RIGHT THINGS FOR THE RIGHT REASONS FOR THE CITIZENS, CITIZENS OF CARNAGEN FOLLOW THROUGH.
WHAT DO YOU GET FROM HIDING STUFF? I'VE NEVER UNDERSTOOD THAT.
I'M VERY TRANSPARENT MYSELF WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
AND I DO BUSINESS ALL OVER THE PLACE.
I'M DOING A LOT OF STUFF IN, IN A LOT OF CITIES IN, UH, NORTH TEXAS THAT I THINK WE SHOULD BE DOING H HERE BECAUSE THEY'RE SMALLER COMMUNITIES AND THEY'RE GETTING IT DONE INSTEAD OF WITH ALL THE RICK AND MARU.
SO WE NEED TO JUST BE STRAIGHT AND HONEST WITH THE CITIZENS.
UH, 1806 HARFORD, HARLINGEN, TEXAS.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON, ON THE, UH, CONSISTENT ITEMS THAT YOU HAVE.
'CAUSE I'M NOT HERE TO COMPLAIN.
AS A FORMER, YOU KNOW, MEMBER OF THE SOME COMMITTEES IN TOWN, UH, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU UNDERSTAND HOW FLOOD CONTROL AND DRAINAGE IS IMPORTANT.
AND, AND YOU ALL HAVE STATED, AND I KNOW YOU'RE DOING THE BEST AND YOU'VE GIVEN IT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING FORWARD WITH, UH, PONDING, ET CETERA.
BUT ZONING, THE REZONING STUFF THAT HAPPENS, IT'S ALL OVER THERE.
UH, AND I READ THROUGH IS THAT IT'S LACKING TWO ELEMENTS.
THE TWO ELEMENTS LACKED ON REZONING.
WHAT IS DONE BY THE, UH, BY THE STAFF IS ON FLOOD CONTROL.
AND REZONING OF ALSO INCLUDES TRAFFIC CONGESTION STUFF.
I'VE GOT DATA AND I'LL SEND IT TO YOU AND, YOU KNOW, BUT, AND I KNOW THAT PART OF THE ZONE, THE FLOOD CONTROL HAS BEEN NOW GOING TO CREATE PERMITS ON THE PRIVATE INDUSTRY, CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, A FLOOD CONTROL INDUSTRY, UH, PERMIT.
IT'S GONNA COST A LOT OF MONEY.
AND IN TERMS OF AFFORDABILITY, AFFORDABILITY ON THE MARKET, ON THE ECONOMY, YOU'RE JUST ADDING MORE GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT.
I THOUGHT THAT UNDER THE ORDINANCE OF FLOOD CONTROL ADMINISTRATOR, THE ENGINEER, THEY WOULD PROVIDE FLOOD EL FLOOR FLOOD ELEVATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
FROM THE THREE STORMS THAT WE'VE HAD, THEY'VE TAKEN THREE SINCE 2018.
NOW YOU'RE PUTTING THIS BURDEN ON THE COMMUNITY, ON DEVELOPMENT AND MAKING IT MORE COSTLY FOR US AND THE COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP NEW JOBS AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
WE'RE AN AFFORDABLE COMMUNITY TO DO BUSINESS.
WE NEED TO CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE AND PROCESS WHERE FIRST STEP IS FACT FINDING FROM THE ENGINEER'S OFFICE, AND THE SECOND WAS PERMITTING, BUT NOT TO A LEVEL THEY, THAT THEY'RE PUTTING IT, THEY'RE PUTTING ALL THE BURDEN ON THE PRIVATE MARKET.
EVEN IF YOU WANNA ADD A ROOM, A ROOM OR ADDITION TO YOUR HOME, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO A FLOOD PRONE PERMIT.
[00:30:01]
ARE WE DOING TO A MORE GOVERNMENT RATHER THAN EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT? YOU'VE HAD SINCE 18, 19 25 FLOODS AND TONS OF STUDIES, INCLUDING $6 MILLION STUDY FOR THIS AREA BY OCHOA THEIR GROUP.AND HERE WE GO AGAIN, ADDING MORE TO OUR COST.
I THINK YOU NEED TO REASSESS WHERE YOU'RE GOING.
ROBERT LEWI, UH, DISTRICT THREE.
I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE COUPLE OF THINGS ON THE AGENDA.
ONE, THE, UH, MORATORIUM, UH, THE EXTENSION OF THAT, OBVIOUSLY IT WAS A KIND OF A RUSE, KIND OF A, YOU KNOW, JUST A WORD PLAY TO MAKE EVERYBODY FEEL GOOD THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING SOMETHING.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, IS THAT WE ALL KNOW THAT IT'S THE WATERWORKS AGREEMENT.
THAT'S THE, THAT'S WHERE THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD.
AND YOU GUYS ARE STONEWALLING ON THAT.
Y'ALL ARE COMING UP WITH LEGAL, UH, OPINIONS THAT PROBABLY WOULDN'T HOLD UP IN COURT.
BUT LET'S LOOK AT THE CITY CHARTER.
THIS, THIS CHARTER, UH, WAS, HAS BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR A HUNDRED YEARS, AND THEY SPECIFICALLY SAY THAT THE ADOPTION OF, OF RETAIL RATES AND WHOLESALE CONTRACTS, SUCH AS FOR THE CITY WATERWORKS, HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE HAR HARINGTON CITY COMMISSION.
AND WHY? WELL, BECAUSE THEY SHOULD BE.
LET'S LOOK AT SOME OF THE WHOLESALE WATER AGREEMENTS THAT, THAT ARE APPROVED, RIGHT? WE'VE GOT A WATER SALES TO COMBES VER EAST RIO HONDO, UH, PALM VALLEY MILITARY HIGHWAY, SAN BENITO.
YOU KNOW, THEY TOTAL GALLONS PER DAY, 1.3 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY, AND Y'ALL APPROVE THEM.
NOW WE'VE GOT, NOW WE'RE HEARING THAT WE'VE GOT A 4.6 MILLION GALLON CONTRACT THAT Y'ALL CAN'T APPROVE.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT? THAT'S, THAT'S BAD FAITH.
IN TERMS OF EN ENFORCING THE WILL OF THE CHARTER, YOU'VE GOT SIX WHOLESALE WATER AGREEMENTS.
THAT'S ONE THIRD, THE QUANTITY OF THIS WATER AGREEMENT FOR THE, FOR THE DATA CENTER.
LET'S TALK ABOUT WATER RIGHTS.
THE CITY HAS 20 SOMETHING THOUSAND FEET ACRE FEET OF WATER RIGHTS, WHICH EQUATES TO ABOUT 17, 18 MILLION GALLONS OF DAILY, UH, WATER ACCESS TO THE RIO GRANDE RIVER.
WELL, 4.6 MILLION GALLONS OF NET WATER REQUIRES ABOUT SIX OR 7 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER RIGHTS.
AND WHAT DOES THE CONTRACT SAY THAT, UH, THAT'S SIGNED WITHOUT CITY COMMISSION APPROVAL? IT SAYS THAT THE HARING AND WATERWORKS HAS TO MAINTAIN WATER RIGHTS FOR THEM TO THE EQUIVALENT TO THE 5 MILLION GALLONS.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, IS THAT IN THE BUDGET, YOU HAVE $150,000 TOWARDS, IN THE NEW BUDGET, TOWARDS ADDITIONAL WATER RIGHTS.
SO THE CITIZENS AND THE RATE PAYERS OF HARLINGEN ARE WASTING MONEY FOR A DATA CENTER THAT'S GONNA CONSUME AND OBLIGATE 25 TO 30% OF OUR NET WATER RIGHTS.
AND YOU GUYS NEED TO PUSH FORWARD.
YOU ALREADY, YOU'RE ALREADY SHOWING YOUR HANDS BY NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
THANK YOU, AS STATED, RON LOZANO, DISTRICT THREE.
LAST TIME I'D HOPED FOR AVOIDING A RUSH TO JUDGMENT CONTEXT, BUT FOR SOME REASON, EVEN THOUGH MOST HAVE GRASPED THE IMPORT OF FREE SPEECH, BUT AFTER A SPIRITED UPRISING, HERE WE ARE WITH A REVISED DOCUMENT THAT DOESN'T MEET TOMA TIME TIMELINESS.
PROBABLY YESTERDAY WAS THE LAST TIME IT WAS REVISED.
THE JULY 1ST VERSION BEARS LITTLE SEMBLANCE TO THE REINCARNATION.
AND THE COPIED VERSION FROM SOME ILL SUITED BORROWING OF OUR UNPREPARED NEIGHBORS WAS PATHETIC.
THE VALLEY IS MIRED IN DISREPUTE DUE TO UNPREPAREDNESS.
WHILE THE LATEST VERSION IS BETTER, 24 HOURS OR LESS.
ATTEMPTING TO DIGEST HOW OUR MOST PRIZED AMENDMENT WILL BE IMPACTED IS UNFAIR.
THERE'S NOTHING TO HURRY THAT THIS SERVE AS A FIRST READING.
IF ONLY GRAMMATICAL ISSUES MAY SOON PRESENT, THEN GIVE US A CHANCE TO REALLY DO INPUT INSTEAD OF JUST TRYING TO GIVE LITTLE SPURTS HERE.
GIVE US ABOUT 30 DAYS TO REVIEW IT.
MAYBE WE CAN SUGGEST SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO MARK AND YOURSELVES IF, IF YOU'RE
[00:35:01]
PART OF THE EQUATION.HWWS 11 MONTHS AGO AGREED TO LET A FOREIGN COMPANY DETERMINE IF OUR WATER DISCHARGE MET THEIR CRITERIA.
AND IF IT DOESN'T MEET THAT OUR FAMILY'S POTABLE WATER HAS TO GO TO THAT 4.5 OR 6 MILLION DAILY AT A DISCOUNTED PRICE, OUR MAYOR IMMEDIATELY FIRED OFF A LETTER TO A EP SAYING A DATA CENTER WAS COMING TO HARLINGEN.
SHE'S ADMITTED, SHE AIRED, AND THE FACILITY WILL BE ACROSS THE STREET OR A FEW FREAK FROM, FROM OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT EITHER WAY, IT'S INTERPRETED, IT'S A BAD CONTRACT FOR HARLINGEN AND WE SHOULD CHALLENGE IT.
UH, BASED ON SOME DISCUSSIONS I'VE HAD THIS MORATORIUM THAT THE GOVERNOR'S IMPOSED TILL NEXT YEAR SHOULD GIVE US A CHANCE TO ABATE ANY LIABILITY CONCERNS SOME OF Y'ALL MAY HAVE, AND MAYBE WE DO HAVE TO WAIT TILL THAT PERIOD.
BUT THE RIO GRANDE IS OUR ONLY SOURCE OF GROUNDWATER, AND WE'RE AT THE END OF THAT VITAL TRIBUTARY.
WATER IS OUR PRIME CONCERN FOR KIDS.
PLEASE DON'T GIVE THE MOST PRICELESS COMMODITY TO GREEDY POLITICIANS ARE THEIR VENDOR FACTORS.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO GIVE YOUR KIDS ROCKS, AS THE BIBLE SAYS, BUT I'D RATHER GIVE MY CHILD WATER ETHICS COUNT EVEN TO THOSE THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN EXPOSED TO THEM.
[Item 6 - Approval of Minutes]
WE HAVE ITEM SIX, APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.ARE THERE ANY AMENDMENTS TO THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED? UH, YEAH, THERE'S, THERE'S A FEW.
WE AGREED LAST TIME TO SOMETHING CORRECT, BUT THESE ARE MORE SUBSTANTIVE.
CAN WE GO THROUGH THEM? YES, MA'AM.
THERE'S A COUPLE, JUST LIKE MINOR ONES.
CAN YOU GIVE US A PAGE OR IF YOU GO TO PAGE THREE, LINE 1717 THROUGH 21, IF COMMISSIONER BE IS ABSTAINED IN THAT ONE.
BUT IN THE MINUTES IT SAYS HE VOTED THAT HE MADE THE SECOND MOTION.
AND THEN IF YOU GO TO, ARE YOU FOLLOWING MYRA? YES.
OH, AND I'LL SEND 'EM TO YOU, MY, OKAY.
UM, AND THEN IF YOU GO TO TOP OF PAGE SEVEN, IT SAYS, MOTION WAS MADE BY MAYOR PRO TEM LOPEZ AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PEREZ TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE ON FIRST READING, AMENDING THE CITY OF HARGENS BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026, SUBJECT TO THE AMENDMENT AND THE ADDITION OF THE ROAD PAVER.
UH, I JUST WOULD LIKE THAT AMENDMENT SPELLED OUT THAT WHAT WE DID IS WE SAID THAT THE 97,000 FOR ROOSEVELT PARK WAS GONNA BE PUSHED TO THE FOUR B.
I JUST MAKE SURE THAT'S CLEAR.
AND THEN THAT WAS, THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO SUBSTANTIVE ONES.
IS THERE ANY OTHER GRAMMATICAL ERRORS? YOU'LL FORWARD THOSE OVER.
UM, CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE, SO I MOVE AS AMENDED, ASD ALL AND A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAY AYE.
OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
[Item 7 - Consent Agenda]
THE CONSENT AGENDA.UM, IS THERE ANY ITEMS THAT COMMISSION WISHES TO REMOVE FROM CONSENT? POSSIBLE? OKAY.
THROUGHOUT IS, WHERE WAS THE STREETS? IS THAT THE G THAT'S BEEN REMOVED ALREADY? OKAY.
CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT ITEMS? A THROUGH F MOTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAY AYE.
I SAID OPPOSED? I IT STILL CARRIES.
IS THERE SOMETHING IN PARTICULAR YOU'RE OPPOSED TO? UM, FOR THE RECORD, FOR THE RECORD, I, I LIKE, I LIKE DESI'S, UH, MR. MARTINEZ, UH, COMMENT AS FAR AS REASSESSING, BUT YOU HAVE NOTHING TO ADD.
NOTHING TO ADD, OTHER THAN THAT.
UM, G CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE THE TESTING AND POTENTIAL INSTALLATION OF SPEED HUMPS IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS.
[00:40:01]
LANE BETWEEN TEAK AND STARFIRE.TIMBERLINE DRIVE BETWEEN NAUGHTY PINE AND GREEN BLUFF AND CLEARVIEW DRIVE BETWEEN HEMP BLOCK AND CREST WAY.
IS THERE ANYTHING TO ADD? MORALES, UH, THE 200 300 BLOCK OF, UH, EAST OF ROYAL DRIVE.
DAVIS STREET BETWEEN FIRST AND HIGHWAY.
ANY, ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE COMMISSION? NO.
UM, I DO ASK THAT THESE ITEMS BE SENT TO THE CHIEF AND TO STACK, UH, FOR THEIR INPUT ON THESE SPEED HUMPS.
AND IF YOU CAN CIRCLE THAT BACK AND, AND JUST PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO THE COMMISSION? YES.
CAN I GET A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE? SECOND.
MOTION TO APPROVE BY PEREZ, SECOND BY GOMEZ.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAY AYE.
OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES A UNANIMOUSLY.
[Item 8c - Quarterly report by South Texas Emergency Care (STEC)]
TO STAFF REPORTS.UH, MR. RAMIREZ, DR. RAMIREZ, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT? OKAY.
WE DID HAVE, UH, STAFF REPORT.
WE'RE GONNA PASS ON THIS, MR. HERNANDEZ NEEDS MORE TIME.
UM, NEXT WE HAVE OUR QUARTERLY REPORT BY SOUTH TEXAS EMERGENCY CARE.
UH, I'M GONNA KIND OF GIVE A QUICK REPORT OF THE, UH, THE HAPPENINGS THAT ARE GOING ON AT STACK RIGHT NOW.
SO, UH, JUST KIND OF, I TRY TO NOT TAKE TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME.
SO, STARTING OFF WITH A COMMUNITY PARAMEDICINE PROGRAM, WE'VE BEEN PRETTY BUSY, OF COURSE.
UH, OUR, OUR STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE IS ALL WE'VE BEEN ABOUT, YOU KNOW, TAKING CARE OF THESE PATIENTS THAT ARE SICK AT HOME, TRYING TO KEEP THESE PATIENTS AT HOME, REDUCING THAT READMISSION.
UH, AND SO WE CONTINUE WITH THAT PROGRAM.
UH, IT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.
UH, A COUPLE OF THINGS TO KIND OF LOOK AT SOME OF OUR KEY PERFORMANCE PRO PROGRAM, UH, METRICS.
UH, THE TOTAL VISITS THAT WE'VE SEEN, UH, SINCE WE, THE INCEPTION OF THE PROGRAM IS 3000 182 PATIENTS LOOKING AT MORE OF THE READMISSIONS AND SOME OF THE HIGH ER AND EMS UTILIZERS.
WE DO HAVE SOME INDIVIDUALS THAT LIKE TO CALL 9 1 1 FREQUENTLY.
AND SO, CHP DOES A GREAT JOB OF VISITING WITH 'EM AND SEEING IF WE CAN HELP 'EM OUT.
UH, THEY MAY NEED, UH, MEDICAL CARE, BUT IT MAY NOT, NOT NEED AN AMBULANCE.
SO THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THAT.
OUR MOLINA ER REDUCTIONS, WE'RE DEFINITELY SEEING IMPROVEMENTS, UH, WORKING WITH MOLINA ON, AND WE'RE SEEING THE 38% DEGREES IN ER UTILIZATIONS BY THOSE PATIENTS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THAT PROGRAM.
WE'RE WORKING REALLY EFFECTIVE, EXCUSE ME.
UM, THE, UM, EMS UTILIZATION REDUCTIONS BASICALLY ABOUT, UH, 50, ALMOST 54%.
AND THOSE ARE SOME OF THE PATIENTS THAT, THAT ARE, ARE REGULAR PATIENTS.
THAT CALL, AGAIN, WE UTILIZE, UH, THE CHP PROGRAM TO VISIT WITH THESE FOLKS AND MAKING SURE THAT, UH, THERE'S A MEDICAL NECESSITY THAT THEY NEED, WHICH WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY, UH, CERTAIN THINGS, AND THAT HELPS.
UH, INSTEAD OF HAVING TO SEND AN AMBULANCE, WE, WE CAN SEND A, UH, ONE OF THE PARAMEDICS TO GO AND ASSESS THOSE PATIENTS.
OUR, OUR CAR PASSENGER SAFETY CAR SEATS HAS REALLY BEEN REALLY, UM, SUCCESSFUL, UH, SO FAR.
DISAGREED, 176, UH, CAR SEATS WORKING REALLY CLOSE WITH DRISCOLL CHILDREN'S RIGHT NOW.
SO, YOU KNOW THAT, THAT, UH, COLLABORATION IS, IS GREAT.
WE'RE GETTING REFERRED, UH, FROM THE HOSPITALS AND FROM, UH, DIFFERENT ENTITIES AND DIFFERENT, UH, UH, ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE CITY OF HARLANS, AND THEY TAKE CARE OF KIDS AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
AND SO WE'RE GETTING THOSE REFERRALS FROM THEM.
AND AGAIN, THE CAR SEATS ARE FREE.
UM, THEY JUST KIND OF, WE'RE, WE'RE JUST GONNA SHOW 'EM ONE, HOW TO INSTALL A CAR SEAT, HOW TO USE IT EFFECTIVELY, AND THEN INSPECT THE CAR SEATS THAT THEY HAVE THEN.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT IF YOU'RE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, THOSE CAR SEATS ARE NO LONGER VALID, RIGHT? SO, UH, AND SO WE IDENTIFIED SOME OF THESE, AND THEN WE WILL, WE WILL HAND THEM, UH, A NEW CAR SEAT FOR THE VEHICLES FOR THEIR SAFETY OF THEIR CHILDREN.
OUR EDUCATION SITE HAS BEEN REALLY BUSY.
UM, I KNOW MYSELF, PETE AND CARLOS HAVE BEEN ON THE BUSIER SIDE WITH, UH, THE TRAINING OF SOME OF THE MEDICAL RESIDENTS.
UH, WE WERE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE 60 RESIDENTS FROM THE U-T-R-G-V PROGRAM IN ADVANCED AIRWAY, AND SHOWING 'EM HOW TO INTUBATE, WHAT HAVE YOU.
UH, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT, UH, WE, UH, HAVE, UM, THAT TRAINING WITH THESE PHYSICIANS AS, OR YEAH, AS, AS THEY'RE WORKING THROUGH THE TRAIN.
WE'VE BEEN ALSO WORKING WITH THE ADVANCED TRAUMA LIFE SUPPORT COURSES, UH, WITH NOT ONLY HERE IN THE VALLEY, BUT UH, THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS.
SO, UH, SO FAR WE'VE TRAINED 335 RESIDENTS IN, IN HOW TO MANAGE TRAUMA, UH, FROM DALLAS FORT WORTH AREA, HOUSTON, AS WELL AS THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY.
SO THAT PROGRAM HAS BEEN, UH, VERY, VERY, UH, EFFECTIVE.
AND ACTUALLY, I'M, I'M MEETING WITH AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS TOMORROW REGARDING SOME MORE OF THE TRAINING THAT THEY'RE ASKING US TO DO.
UM, NOT ONLY HERE LOCALLY, BUT ALSO THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
[00:45:01]
UH, OUR MEDIC TRAINING STILL, YOU KNOW, OUR DIFFERENT, UH, ATHS, DIFFERENT LETTERS THAT WE HAVE, THEY'RE ALL MEAN.THAT IS JUST CERTIFICATIONS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT, THAT PUT US AT A DIFFERENT LEVEL.
YOU KNOW, A CLS IS A, CARDIAC PALS IS FOR, UH, FOR PEDIATRICS.
P-H-C-L-S IS A TRAUMA COURSE FOR MEDICS.
AND OF COURSE, EMS SAFETY IS JUST BASICALLY HOW DO WE HANDLE CALLS AND BEING SAFE.
MOST IS A DRIVING, WHICH I THINK ARE REALLY IMPORTANT, UH, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, UH, SOMETIMES WE HAVE KIDS THAT GET OUT OF SCHOOL AND HAVE NEVER DRIVEN AN AMBULANCE, SO THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THESE TYPE OF SCHOOLS.
WE'RE VERY, UH, AS THE SCHOOL, UH, START, STARTS TO RAMP UP AGAIN, UH, THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE DEFINITELY HAVE BEEN ASKING US FOR ASSISTANCE.
SO, SO FAR, UH, WE'VE TRAINED 300 FOLKS IN STOP THE BLEED COURSES, WHICH IS THE TOURNIQUET TRAINING AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
AND THEN, UH, ANOTHER 200 PLUS, UH, INDIVIDUALS.
AND ON THE CPR STUFF, SEE WHERE AM I GOING HERE? AND ALSO JUST, UH, EVERY THIRD WEEK, UH, WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH, WE'RE OFFERING CPR CLASSES TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO IF ANYBODY'S, IF YOU KNOW OF ANYBODY THAT'S LOOKING FOR CPR CLASSES, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, UH, IS SO IMPORTANT AND THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN SOMEBODY GOES INTO CARDIAC ARREST, WHETHER IT'S A HOUSE OR RESIDENCE, UH, OR A, A RESIDENCE OR A BUSINESS, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A, THERE'S A GAP THERE BEFORE YOUR FIRST RESPONDERS ARRIVE ON SCENE.
AND REALLY, THAT GAP IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.
AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT AT, AT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, IF WE IDENTIFY THIS, UH, INDIVIDUAL THAT IS IN CARDIAC ARREST, IF WE GET THEM TO START TPR, THE CHANCES OF US RESUSCITATING THIS INDIVIDUAL IS GONNA BE GREATER.
RIGHT? AND SO IT REALLY REQUIRES, YOU KNOW, UH, THE COMMUNITY TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS.
I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR, UH, THE MAJORITY OF MY CAREER, AND, AND JUST MAKING SURE PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO, HOW TO ADMINISTER CPR AND, AND GO FROM THERE.
SO, BUT WE DO OFFER THESE, AND THEY'RE ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO, YES, SIR.
YEAH, I HAD A QUESTION ON THAT ONE.
SO IS IT LIKE, 'CAUSE THERE'S A CERTIFICATION YOU GET FOR CPR, RIGHT? OR NO? YES.
SO DOES THAT GIVE IT THAT TRAINING? DOES THAT, DO THEY GET CERTIFIED AFTER THAT TRAINING? YEAH, IT DEPENDS ON THE TYPE OF TRAINING.
SO THERE'S THE TWO DIFFERENT TYPES.
YOU HAVE THE, UM, THE ONES FOR MORE THE HEALTHCARE INDIVIDUALS, AND THEN YOU ALSO HAVE THE LAY PUBLIC, THE HEART SAVER TYPE OF THING.
SO WE, WE, WE WILL PROVIDE THOSE COURSES AND, UH, THE HEART SAVERS IS A FEE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
SO, UM, UH, WE'LL, YOU KNOW, WE'LL PROVIDE THE TRAINING AT NO COST.
THEY JUST GOTTA PAY THE FEE FOR THE CERTIFICATION AND THE CARDS AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
BUT, UH, IT'S, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY HAVE IT.
SO, UH, I KNOW THE MAYOR HAD TALKED TO MR. ASIN ABOUT, UH, THE SPEED HUMPS AND THAT, UH, WE JUST KIND OF, KIND OF THROW IN OUR 2 CENTS TO EVERYBODY SO THEY CAN KIND OF SEE THAT FIRST AND FOREMOST ONE, I, I MEAN, WE UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSES OF SPEED HUMPS, AND I THINK, UH, THE PURPOSE IS TO SLOW TRAFFIC DOWN.
AND I THINK, UH, IN, IN OUR CITY, UH, WE DO HAVE SOME, UH, AREAS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY DRIVE A LITTLE FASTER.
AND, AND THOSE, WE DEFINITELY SEE THE ACCIDENTS, THE AUTO PEDESTRIANS, THAT TYPE OF THING.
SO WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT SAYING THEY'RE NOT GOOD, BUT, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT WE LOOK AT THOUGH IS, IS REALLY OUR RESPONSE TIMES.
WE DO SLOW DOWN, HAVE TO SLOW DOWN, AND THEN WITH TRAFFIC.
SO IF YOU HAVE A SPEED PUMP AND THEN TRAFFIC SLOWS DOWN AND WE'RE A COUPLE OF CARS BEHIND, IT'S GONNA CAUSE DELAYS IN GETTING THERE.
WE'LL JUST HAVE TO FIND DIFFERENT ROUTES IF WE HAVE TO.
AND THAT MAY TAKE A LITTLE LONGER, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, UM, THAT THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'RE ALSO ASSOCIATED.
THE OTHER THING THAT, THAT REALLY, UH, THE, THE MORE THAN ANYTHING IS JUST IN, IN THE BACK OF THAT AMBULANCE, ANY KIND OF MOTION, IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN, UNFORTUNATELY, IN THE BACK OF AN AMBULANCE, THE MOVEMENT IS AMPLIFIED TIMES 10.
SO AS WE GO OVER, UH, THE BUMPS AND STUFF, IT, IT DOESN'T AMPLIFY IT.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE STARTING IVS OR DOING ANY KIND OF CRITICAL, UH, UM, UM, UH, TREATMENTS IN THE BACK OF THAT AMBULANCE, UH, IT DOES AFFECT HOW WE TAKE CARE OF THESE PATIENTS.
SO, UH, AND THEN OF COURSE, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT PATIENTS THAT HAVE CERVICAL SPINE INJURIES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, THESE, THESE BUMPS AND STUFF CAN, CAN CAUSE FURTHER DAMAGE.
AND SO WE HAVE TO APPROACH THOSE A LITTLE, UH, MORE CAUTIOUSLY AND, AND EFFECTIVELY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE COMMISSION AND EVERYBODY IS PROBABLY AWARE OF THAT IN, IN THE CITY OF HARLAND, AND WE DO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH FOLKS NOT REALLY KNOWING WHAT TO DO WHEN THEY SEE AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE, WHETHER IT'S POLICE, FIRE OR EMS. A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, UH, AND, AND JUST, YOU KNOW, THEY JUST STOP TRAFFIC.
THAT DOESN'T HELP US ANY, RIGHT? AND SO REALLY WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON THE, YOU KNOW, PULL OVER TO THE, TO THE RIGHT STOP, LET THE VEHICLE GO THROUGH, AND THEN YOU CAN PROCEED WITH WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.
BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DEFINITELY, UM, HAVE ISSUES WITH.
AND, AND WATCHING PD THE OTHER DAY RESPOND TO A CALL, IT WAS JUST EVERYBODY WAS JUST GETTING IN THEIR WAY AND WHEN THEY WERE RESPONDING.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT DEFINITELY, IT, IT DOES SLOW DOWN OUR RESPONSE WHEN THERE'S AN EMERGENCY, AND OF COURSE, THE WEAR AND TEAR ON THE VEHICLES AND UNDERCARRIAGE ALL THE CLEARANCE AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
[00:50:01]
SOMETHING REAL QUICK, JUST TO KIND OF THROW IN THERE, OUR HOSPITAL STATUS, JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU UPDATE, WE'VE BEEN REALLY, UH, WELL DOING WELL WITH THE HOSPITALS WAIT TIMES, THE WALL TIMES WHAT WE CALL 'EM, UM, AVERAGING ABOUT TWENTY FOUR, TWENTY SIX MINUTES.THE HOSPITAL'S BEEN REALLY GOOD ABOUT HELPING US GET THROUGH THOSE PENDING CALLS OR, OR IF, IF WE HAVE AMBULANCES STUCK AT THE HOSPITALS, THEY'VE BEEN REALLY GOOD ABOUT GETTING US OUT.
SO, UH, WE DEFINITELY SEE A LONGER WALL TIME OR A WAIT TIME DURING THE WEEKENDS.
UH, THAT'S USUALLY A STAFFING ISSUE AT THE HOSPITALS THAT CAUSES THOSE DELAYS, BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE STILL THERE.
BUT DEFINITELY GETTING BETTER AS WE MOVE INTO THE WINTER.
I'M SURE THOSE WILL, UH, GET, UH, A LITTLE LONGER AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
SO ACROSS THE BOARD WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, UH, AGAIN, ABOUT 26 MINUTES OR SO.
UM, AND AGAIN, TURNAROUND TIMES ARE, ARE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US.
OUR FLEET STATUS, UH, WE DO HAVE ONE AMBULANCE THAT JUST, UH, GOT BACK IN ONE OF THE NEW, ONE OF THE NEW AMBULANCES, A NEW REMOUNT TO IT ADDED.
UM, AND THAT, AND THAT'S GOOD.
WE, WE NEED TO HAVE THOSE AMBULANCE WE ALMOST SENT OUT FOR A REMOUNT.
SO BASICALLY THE CHASSIS COMES OFF AND THEY PUT A BRAND NEW CHASSIS IN THE FRONT.
SO, UH, THE, THE, THAT IS IMPORTANT, OF COURSE, IN KEEPING THE FLEET GOING.
AND, AND WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER AMBULANCE COMING IN, UH, NEXT MONTH.
SO THAT'S KIND OF ADDING TO THE FLEET.
WE'RE STILL WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR, UH, FIRST RESPONDERS.
UH, DEFINITELY AS WE GET CLOSER TO FEST, AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH, UH, FIRE AND POLICE AND HOW, HOW ARE WE GONNA MANAGE THAT WITH AS MANY PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE THERE.
UM, AND AGAIN, WE'RE STILL ANTICIPATING, UH, TEMPERATURES TO BE ON THE WARMER SIDE, SO DEFINITELY HAVE A, UM, UH, HEAT RELATED TYPE OF, UH, EVENT THAT COULD HAPPEN WITH AS MANY PEOPLE THAT, THAT ARE, UH, SUPPOSED TO BE THERE, RIGHT? SO FOR OUR, FOR OUR SAKE, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE PLENTY OF, UH, HELP.
UM, WE'RE CONTINUE WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS AND CONTINUE TO MEET WITH THEM.
AND WE'RE ALSO PLANNING TO SAVE ANOTHER SAVE A LIFE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WORKING WITH, AGAIN, POLICE AND FIRE, AND TRAINING THE FOLKS HOW TO SAVE LIVES OUT THERE THROUGH CPR, THROUGH, UM, UH, TOURNIQUETS AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
AND I GUESS JUST A QUICK NOTE HERE, SO OUR ANNUAL MILES OF 486,000 MILES OF THESE ARE, ARE OUR AMBULANCE, THE MILES THAT WE PUT IN WITH ALL OUR AMBULANCES, AND JUST KIND OF GIVE YOU A, A, YOU KNOW, WE CAN GO TO THE MOON AND BACK, UH, WITH, WITH THAT KIND OF MILES, UH, WE CAN GO AROUND THE EARTH, UH, ABOUT 19 TIMES.
SO DEFINITELY, UH, WE PUT A LOT OF MILES, WE DO A LOT OF DRIVING, AND IT DOES TAKE A TOLL ON OUR, OUR VEHICLES AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
BUT DEFINITELY WE ARE BUSY, AND AGAIN, WE, WE DO PUT A LOT OF MILEAGE, UH, IN OUR TRUCKS AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
BUT, UH, JUST THOUGHT WE'D THROW THAT UP THERE.
SO YOU COULD SEE THAT JUST BASICALLY THE, UH, NUMBER OF MILES AND THAT, THAT THE VEHICLE'S PUT IN AT, AT THE FOUNDATION.
ANYBODY HAS ANYTHING, BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS ANYTHING? YES, MA'AM.
UM, I'VE SEEN, UH, MORE THAN I'D LIKE TO.
HOW MANY OF THE EMS UM, AMBULANCES HAVE THE, UM, THE MONITORS WHERE YOU DON'T DO THE MANUAL, CPR, ALL THE AMBULANCES ARE EQUIPPED, THAT'S PART OF OUR FLEET THAT, UH, THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE HAVE IS, IS WHAT WE CALL THE LUCAS DEVICES THAT DO SEE, THAT DO THE CPR.
SO ALL, ALL OUR AMBULANCE, ALL THE 9 1 1 AMBULANCES HAVE, UH, LUCAS DEVICES AT 'EM.
THEY ALSO HAVE A VENTILATOR, AN IV PUMP.
AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS TO MINIMIZE THE MEDIC FROM HAVING TO ACTUALLY STAND UP.
WHEN WE HAVE A MACHINE THAT'S DOING CPRA VENTILATOR, THE VENTILATING AND THE IV PUMP PUSHING THE MEDS, THE MEDIC JUST BASICALLY IS SECURED IN THE BACK OF THE AMBULANCE, JUST PUSHING MEDICATIONS AND STUFF.
AND AGAIN, THE GOAL IS JUST TO KEEP THE MEDIC AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.
DOES THAT HELP SOME IN, WHEN IT COMES TO SPEED HUMPS? YOU KNOW, A, ANYTIME WE GO, AND AGAIN, I, I'VE BEEN PROBABLY OVER EVERY SINGLE RAILROAD CROSSING AND IN HARLANS AND AT GREAT SPEEDS WITH ME IN THE BACK WITH A PATIENT, AND THOSE AREN'T FUN, RIGHT? IT'S REALLY, I'M ON THE TALL SIDE, SO AMBULANCES AREN'T THAT TALL.
SO DEFINITELY HAVE HAD MY INTRODUCTION IN MY HEAD ON THE, ON TOP OF THE AMBULANCES AND STUFF.
UM, IT DOES, IT DOES AMPLIFY, AMPLIFY, UM, THE, THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE.
WE HAVE TO READJUST EQUIPMENT WHENEVER WE COME OVER THESE HUMPS BECAUSE IT DOES SHIFT THE BODY, UH, WHEN YOU'RE MOVING THROUGH, THROUGH, UH, THAT TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT.
SO MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT YOU USUALLY STABILIZE BEFORE YOU LEAVE, IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH.
WE'LL, WE'LL TRY TO STABILIZE AS BEST AS WE CAN, BUT IF YOU HAVE A, YOU KNOW, IF, IF THE AMBULANCE IS MOVING OR THE PATIENT'S BODY'S MOVING THIS WAY OR THAT WAY, IT, WE, WE MAY HAVE TO READJUST EQUIPMENT AS WE GO, SO, OKAY.
IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSIONER OR COMMENTS? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE'RE, UM, VERY PROUD TO HAVE YOU HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND I KEEP HEARING A LOT OF GREAT THINGS.
I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT, UH, TIMES ARE GETTING BETTER AT THE HOSPITAL AND, AND EVERYBODY WORKING, UM, COLLABORATIVELY.
I KNOW WE GOT A NEW ER, SO I THINK THAT'S A,
[00:55:01]
THAT'S A GOOD THING TOO.AND SO, UM, JOSH, IF YOU COULD WORK WITH, UH, MR. GONZALEZ, I HAD TALKED TO HIM ABOUT PUTTING TOGETHER A COMMITTEE BETWEEN REPRESENT REPRESENTATIVE OF FIRE, POLICE AND STACK TO REVIEW IN, IN THE PROCESS OF THE SPEED HUMPS.
ALRIGHT, AND MOVING ON TO ACTION ITEMS 10, A CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE AND HUMP, SORRY, PUBLIC HEARINGS.
GOING BACK TO ITEM NINE, PUBLIC HEARINGS
[Item 9 - Public Hearings]
NINE, A PUBLIC HEARING FOR A REZONING REQUEST FROM NOT DESIGNATED DISTRICT TO RESIDENTIAL MULTIFAMILY DISTRICT FOR 1.12, ONE ACRES OF LAND OUT OF BLOCK 24 FC BISHOP SUBDIVISION OF RICE AND TAYLOR LANDS LOCATED SOUTH OF NEW HAMPSHIRE STREET, APPROXIMATELY 1,410 FEET NORTH OF SOUTH EXPRESSWAY 83.AT THIS TIME, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM, HAVING NO ONE HERE, UH, SIGNED UP TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THE ITEM WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ITEM NINE B PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF INITIAL ZONING AS GENERAL RETAIL DISTRICT UPON ANNEXATION FOUR 3.597 ACRE TRACK OF LAND, MORE OR LESS OUT OF CALL, 36.6 ACRE TRACK OF LAND AND A CALLED 2.19 ACRE TRACK, SITUATED IN BLOCK TWO, HARLINGEN LAND AND WATER COMPANY SUBDIVISION, LOCATED ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF WILSON ROAD AND CHESTER PARK.
THIS TIME WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, HAVING NO ONE HERE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THE ITEM.
WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ITEM NINE C, PUBLIC HEARING ON AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING WATER AND SEWER RATE ADJUSTMENTS NECESSARY TO FUND FORECASTED OPERATING EXPENSES, CAPITAL ASSET COST, AND HARLING AND WATER WORK SYSTEM CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS SUPPORTED BY TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD FUNDING.
THIS TIME WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WE DO HAVE TWO RESIDENTS SIGNED UP.
AND WE WILL START WITH MS. UH, SANDRA GONZALEZ GOMEZ.
SANDRA GONZALEZ GOMEZ, DISTRICT TWO.
UM, THE CITY COMMISSION WILL DISCUSS AND VOTE ON CHANGING LOCAL WATER AND SEWAGE UTILITY RATES.
CONCERNS REGARDING THE EFFECTS OF LARGE SCALE DATA CENTERS HAVE BEEN RAISED BY HARING AND RESIDENTS BY AT CITY MEETINGS.
THESE DISCUSSIONS HAVE PROMPT CONSIDERATION OF ENHANCED MUNICIPAL OVERSIGHT OF SUBSTANTIAL WATER SUPPLY REQUEST.
THE HARLINGEN WATER WORK SYSTEM FUNCTIONS AS, AS A SEMI-AUTONOMOUS BOARD.
I REQUEST COMMISSIONERS TO VOTE AND FORMALLY RECORD THEIR POSITION ON RE ON RESOURCE UTILIZATION.
PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY IS DESIRED.
OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE URGED TO, UH, BRING ATTENTION TO SIGNIFICANT WATER COMMITMENTS AND OR PLEDGE SEPARATELY, RATHER THAN INCORPORATING THEM IN WITHIN THE GENERAL UTILITY AGREEMENTS.
THERE IS A CALL FOR, THERE IS A CALL TO SAFEGUARD LOCAL RESOURCES, ENSURING THAT LIMITED LOCAL WATER SUPPLIES AND PROJECTED RATES STRUCTURES ARE NOT OVERBURDENED OR PROVIDED AT A DISCOUNT TO EXTERNAL COMMERCIAL ENTITIES WITHOUT STRAIGHTFORWARD PUBLIC AGREEMENT.
MAYOR PULIA, THE PEOPLE OF HARLINGEN DO NOT WANT TO SEE ANY MORE WITHDRAWN LETTERS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE EXCUSE IS GIVEN THAT THEY ARE, IS ISSUED AN I IGNORANCE IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED DATA CENTER.
ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS OF HARLINGEN, WE WANT MORE ACCOUNTABILITY, CLARITY, INFORMED DECISION MAKING FROM OUR CITY LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU, MS. GONZALEZ GOMEZ.
NEXT WE HAVE, UH, MR. JESSE MARTINEZ.
UH, SAME SUBJECT, DIFFERENT, UH, APPROACH THE, UH, UH, POINT OF ORDER.
MAYOR, I THINK WE HAVE FIVE MINUTES.
CAN YOU RESTART THAT FIVE MINUTES? I THINK IT'S FIVE MINUTES.
I WAS TOLD I HAD FIVE MINUTES.
IF YOU HAVE, IF YOU SIGNED UP FOR TWO AGENDA ITEMS, TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS, YOU GET FIVE MINUTES.
IF YOU SIGNED UP FOR ONE, I COULD HAVE SIGNED UP FOR TWO.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT, BUT YOU CAN YOU PLEASE RESTART IT THEN AT THREE? YES.
UH, THIS IS, AGAIN, AS A, WE HAVE AN AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THAT YOU, YOU'RE CONSTITUENTS, ESPECIALLY IN THOSE DISTRICTS THAT HAVE LOW AND MODERN INCOME, FAMILIES ARE HURTING THE POPULATION OF, ACCORDING TO THE CAMERON COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT, NUMBER OF ROOFS, RESIDENTIAL OVER 17,000, NUMBER OF BUSINESSES, OVER 2000, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
AND 930 OF THEM ARE VETERANS THAT GET,
[01:00:01]
YOU KNOW, UH, EXEMPTIONS THAT ARE DISABLED.IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
UH, WISH, UH, THE CITY MANAGER HERE, BUT GET, GIVE HIM THIS ADVICE.
THE, IN THE, IN THE CHARTER, THE FOREFATHERS GAVE US US CITIZENS AND YOU INDIVIDUALLY TO SUBMIT APPEALS.
IT ALSO IS IN THE CONSTITUTION OF OUR CITY THAT WELL READ IT.
UH, YOU DON'T NEED TO NOD YOUR HEAD.
IT ALSO SAYS IN THE CONSTITUTION, THEIR CHARTER, THAT THE CITY MANAGER HAVE COORDINATION WITH THE DEPARTMENTS AND CONFLICTS.
PART OF THE CONFLICTS THROUGHOUT THESE, SINCE THE COVID HAS BEEN THAT THE WATER DEPARTMENT HAD, UH, AND THE SEWER DEPARTMENT OF MANAGERS HAD OTHER WAYS OF PUTTING THINGS, YOU KNOW, CORRECTING.
WE WANNA GIVE, I WANT TO ASK YOU TO EXTEND OR AMEND THIS RESOLUTION AND TO ROY TO EXTEND IT ANOTHER THREE MONTHS, SIX MONTHS.
SO WE CAN'T WORK WITH OUR SEWER AND WATER AND PLANT MANAGERS TO SEE WHAT KIND OF CONSERVATIVE METHODS TO SAVE SOME MONEY FOR OUR, OUR FOLKS.
YOU'RE PUTTING A 280, $80 MILLION BILL ON US WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SEVEN YEARS OLD PLAN AND ALL BUSINESS PLANS EVERY YEAR IN THE BUSINESS MARKET.
YOU HAVEN'T DONE NO REEVALUATION.
PLEASE AMEND IT OR SUBMIT A REQUEST TO ROY TO EXTEND IT BEFORE HE LEAVES SO WE CAN TALK WITH A NEW DIRECTOR THAT'S COMING IN.
THE FOURTH DIRECTOR, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WATERWORKS.
THEY GOT $35 MILLION GRANT FROM THE TEXAS WATER QUALITY BOARD AND TAKING THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE SUBMITTED TO THEM THAT TIM NEVER DID AND YET LEFT US A $280 MILLION HIT WITH A SECOND INCREASE.
WE NEED TO REASSESS THAT TOO, PLEASE.
WE ARE IN A AFFORDABILITY CRISIS AND YOU NEED TO ACT FOR THE PEOPLE.
THIS TIME WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NINE C, HAVING NO ONE ELSE HERE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST.
[Item 10a - Consideration and possible action to approve an ordinance on first reading for a rezoning request from Not Designated ("N") District to Residential, Multi-Family ("M2") District for 1.121 acres of land out of Block 24, F.Z. Bishop Subdivision of the Rice and Taylor Lands, located south of New Hampshire Street, approximately 1,410 feet north of South Expressway 83. Applicant: S2 Engineering, PLLC c/o Raffa Construction.]
ON TO ITEM, UM, ACTION ITEMS. ACTION 10.A CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE ON FIRST READING FOR A REZONING REQUEST FROM NOT DESIGNATED DISTRICT TO RESIDENTIAL MULTI-FAMILY DISTRICT FOR 1.12, ONE ACRES OF LAND OUT OF BLOCK 24 FC BISHOP SUBDIVISION OF THE RICE AND TAYLOR LANDS LOCATED SOUTH OF NEW HAMPSHIRE STREET, APPROXIMATELY 1,410 FEET NORTH OF SOUTHWEST EXPRESSWAY.
83 MARK IN ORDINANCE IN MANY, THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF HARLINGEN.
REZONING FROM NOT DESIGNATED DISTRICT TO RESIDENTIAL MULTIFAMILY M TWO DISTRICT FOR LOT 1.12, ONE ACRES OF LAND OUT OF BLOCK 24 FZ BISHOP SUBDIVISION OF THE RICE AND TAYLOR LANDS LOCATED SOUTH OF NEW HAMPSHIRE STREET, APPROXIMATELY 1,410 FEET NORTH OF SOUTH EXPRESSWAY 83.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANNA? SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR PACKET IN FRONT OF YOU? HEARING NINE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
MOTION TO APPROVE SECOND MOTION BYTES.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY ZANE.
OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
[Item 10b - Consideration and possible action to approve an ordinance on first reading for the voluntary annexation and establishment of initial zoning as General Retail ("GR") District upon annexation for 3.597 acre tract of land, more or less, out of a called 36.66 acre tract of land, and a called 2.198 acre tract situated in Block 2, Harlingen Land and Water Company Subdivision "C", located on the Southwest corner of Wilson Road and Chester Park Road. Applicant: Wilson Chester Retail Partners, Ltd]
B, CONSIDERATION, POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE ON FIRST READING FOR THE VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF INITIAL ZONING AS GENERAL RETAIL DISTRICT UPON ANNEXATION FOR 3.597 ACRE TRACK OF LAND, MORE OR LESS, OUT OF A CALLED 36.66 ACRE TRACK OF LAND AND A CALLED 2.198 ACRE TRACK, SITUATED IN BLOCK TWO, HARLINGEN LAND AND WATER COMPANY SUBDIVISION, LOCATED ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF WILSON ROAD AND CHESTER PARK ROAD.MARK IN ORDINANCE TO EXTENDING THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF HARLINGEN BY ANNEXING FOR FULL PURPOSE.
3.597 ACRE TRACT OF LAND, MORE OR LESS OUT OF A CALLED 35.66 ACRE TRACT OF LAND, AND A CALLED 2.198 ACRE TRACT OF LAND SITUATED ON BLOCK TWO, HARLINGEN LAND IN WATER COMPANY SUBDIVISION C LOCATED ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF WILSON ROAD IN CHESTER PARK ROAD.
AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INITIAL ZONING OF GENERAL RETAIL DISTRICT UPON ANNEXATION, BINDING THE LAND TO ALL OF THE ACTS, ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND REGULATIONS OF THE CITY PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
QUESTIONS FOR MS. ANNA? I HAVE ONE ANNA.
SO IT'S GONNA BE A GAS STATION, PROBABLY A CONVENIENCE STORE.
UH, I DO WANNA MAKE ONE NOTATION.
UH, IT'S ACTUALLY A CORRECTION ON THE ANNEXATION SERVICES AGREEMENT.
SO WE HAD INDICATED THAT THAT WATER AND WASTEWATER WAS GONNA BE PROVIDED BY HARINGTON WATERWORKS.
HOWEVER, THE WATER IS GONNA BE SUPPLIED BY THE ISRAEL HONDA WATER SUPPLY CORPORATION.
[01:05:05]
OKAY.ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BETTER? NOPE.
CAN I GET A MOTION, MOTION TO APPROVE WITH THE AMENDMENT? YES.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[Item 10c - Consideration and possible action to approve an ordinance on second and final reading of the City Commission of the City of Harlingen, Texas, amending Chapter 105, "Flood Damage Prevention", of the Code of Ordinances; amending definitions; updating flood hazard data and floodplain management standards; clarifying the authority, duties, and administration of floodplain regulations; revising floodplain development permit, review, and variance procedures; establishing compensatory storage requirements and no- adverse-impact floodplain management standards; revising flood hazard reduction requirements for residential, nonresidential, critical facility, manufactured home, recreational vehicle, and subdivision development; establishing additional elevation, foundation, flood proofing, and floodplain encroachment standards, establishing additional regulations for development within flood hazard areas; providing for severability; providing for codification; providing for conflicts; and providing an effective date. Applicant: City of Harlingen.]
C CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE ON SECOND AND FINAL READING FOR THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF HARLINGEN, TEXAS, AMENDING CHAPTER 1 0 5, FLOOD DAMAGE PREVENTION OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, AMENDING DEFINITIONS, UPDATING FLOOD HAZARD DATA AND FLOOD PLAIN MANAGEMENT STANDARDS, CLARIFYING THE AUTHORITY DUTIES AND ADMINISTRATION OF FLOODPLAIN REGULATIONS, REVISING FLOODPLAIN DEVELOPMENT PERMIT REVIEW AND VARIANCE PROCEDURES, ESTABLISHING COMPENSATORY STORAGE REQUIREMENTS AND NO ADVERSE IMPACT.FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT STANDARDS, REVISING FLOOD HAZARD REDUCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR RESIDENTIAL NON-RESIDENTIAL CRITICAL FACILITY MANUFACTURED HOME RECREATIONAL VEHICLE AND SUBDIVISION DEVELOPMENT, ESTABLISHING ADDITIONAL ELEVATION, FOUNDATION FLOOD PROOFING AND FLOODPLAIN ENCROACHMENT STANDARDS, ESTABLISHING ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT WITHIN FLOOD HAZARD AREAS, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION, PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
OKAY, IN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF HARLINGEN, TEXAS, AMENDING CHAPTER 1 0 5, FLOOD DAMAGE PREVENTION.
THE CODE OF THE ORDINANCES AMENDING THE DEFINITIONS, UPDATING FLOOD HAZARD DATA AND FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT STANDARDS, CLARIFYING THE AUTHORITY DUTIES AND ADMINISTRATION OF FLOODPLAIN REGULATIONS, REVISING FLOODPLAIN DEVELOPMENT PERMIT REVIEW AND VARIANCE PROCEDURES, ESTABLISHING COMPENSATORY STORAGE REQUIREMENTS IN A NO ADVERSE IMPACT FLOOD FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT STANDARDS, REVISING FLOOD HAZARD REDUCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE RESIDENTIAL NON-RESIDENTIAL CRITICAL FACILITY, MANUFACTURED HOME RECREATION VEHICLE AND SUBDIVISION DEVELOPMENT, ESTABLISHING ADDITIONAL ELEVATION, FOUNDATION FLOOD PROOFING AND FLOODPLAINS ENCROACHMENT STANDARDS, ESTABLISHING ADDITIONAL REG REGULATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT WITHIN FLOOD HAZARD AREAS, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION, PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
HEARING NONE ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
OPPOSED? OPPOSED? DID YOU VOTE? AYE.
[Item 10d - Consideration and possible action to approve an ordinance on first reading adopting the water and sewer rate adjustments necessary to fund forecasted operating expenses, capital assets costs, and Harlingen Waterworks System capital improvements supported by Texas Water Development Board funding.]
ITEM D CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO PROVE AN ORDINANCE ON FIRST READING, ADOPTING THE WATER AND SEWER RATE ADJUSTMENTS NECESSARY TO FUND FORECASTED OPERATING EXPENSES, CAPITAL ASSETS, COST, AND HARLINGEN WATER WORK SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT SUPPORTED BY THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD FUNDING.MARK IN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HARLINGEN, TEXAS AMENDING CHAPTER 18 AND CHAPTER 48, SECTIONS 48 DASH 97 AND 48 DASH 180 5 OF THE HARLINGEN CITY CODE IS AMENDED TO AMEND RATES FOR WATER AND SEWER SERVICE, ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION AND ORDAINING.
OTHER MATTERS RELATED TO THE FOREGOING, IS THERE QUESTIONS FOR HARING AND WATERWORKS? YEAH, I DO.
CHAIR, I RECOGNIZE THIS COMMISSIONER MESMER, IT'S, IT'S BEEN MAYBE TWO YEARS.
SI AND I DON'T REMEMBER THE, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT WE'RE, WE ARE REPLACING WATER PIPES AND WE ARE REPLACING SEWAGE PIPES, CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT, SIR.
AND AS THE CITY GROWS, WE HAVE TO EXPAND OUR WATER AND SEWAGE PIPES, CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT, SIR.
AND THAT ALL TAKES MONEY, DOESN'T IT? YES, SIR, IT DOES.
SO YOU GUYS DON'T WANT TO RAISE RATES JUST 'CAUSE YOU'RE HAVING A PARTY? NO, SIR.
PRIMARILY THE RAISE, THE RAISE IN RATES IS DUE TO THE INCREASED FUNDING FROM THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD.
WE'RE FORECASTING AN ADDITIONAL 11 MILLION THAT'LL CLOSE HERE SOON, AND ANOTHER 70 MILLION A YEAR WITHIN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
THAT'LL RAISE A TOTAL TO 135 MILLION IN TOTAL FUNDING FROM THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES, I HAVE A QUESTION.
HAD THIS BEEN PUT ON HOLD BEFORE? YES, MA'AM.
ACCORDING TO THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS APPROVED IN, UH, 2024, UH, JANUARY OF 27, WE SHOULD HAVE, UH, ALREADY BEEN ON STEP FOUR OF THE RATE INCREASES.
THIS IS STEP TWO TO WHY DID WE NOT PUT THAT IN PLACE IN THOSE IN YEARS? LIKE EVERY YEAR WE CHOSE TO REEVALUATE THE CIP, UH, THE, THE, UH, ACTUAL
[01:10:01]
CONSTRUCTION TIMES AND WHEN WE WOULD ACTUALLY NEED THE FUNDING IN ORDER TO HELP RELIEVE SOME OF THE PRESSURE ON THE COMMUNITY.SO HOW MUCH PRESSURE IS IT GOING TO ADD? I MEAN, I SEE THE RATES HERE, BUT TALK TO ME AS THE PEOPLE ARE LISTENING AT HOME SO THAT THEY MAY UNDERSTAND IT.
SO THE RATE INCREASE IS, UH, ON THE BASE SERVICE.
SO THE SIZE OF THE METER, THE BASE FEE, WHICH IS THE FIXED RATE MM-HMM
AND FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS THAT ARE USING LESS THAN 3000 GALLONS, THE CONSUMPTION RATE WILL STAY THE SAME.
SO THOSE USING MORE THAN 3000 GALLONS, THAT WILL INCREASE.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, POTENTIALLY 20 TO 18 TO 20% ON THOSE, ESPECIALLY THOSE USING MORE THAN 3000 GALLONS PER MONTH.
IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER MORA? THANK YOU.
UH, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO, WHAT IS NEEDED, BUT I'M ALSO, LAST NIGHT, SOMETIME THIS MORNING, I WAS LOOKING AT AND CONSIDERING THE TERM THAT WAS USED EARLIER, AFFORDABILITY, UM, ON THE, UM, CHAPTER 18, THE FEES, THE RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL INSIGHTS, CITY LIMITS.
UM, AFTER THE ONE INCH, UH, SIZE OF METER, IT STARTS TO REALLY GO UP A LITTLE HIGH, TOO HIGH FOR ME.
AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE END USERS UNDER THE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS.
UM, THAT'S ALSO GONNA TAKE A NICE, GOOD, GOOD HIT.
OBVIOUSLY, WHAT WILL HAPPEN EVENTUALLY, AND I BELIEVE, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, PREMED IS, IS GONNA GET SWITCH OVER FROM HARINGTON WATERWORKS TO SOMEBODY ELSE, AREN'T THEY? I HAVE NO INFORMATION ON THAT, SIR.
THEN THAT'S, THEN I'LL, THEN WE GO BACK TO, UH, WE GO TO THE RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL INSIDE CITY LIMITS.
ONCE AGAIN, AFTER THE ONE INCH, UH, METER SIZE, IT'S, IT'S INCREASING TWO BY $3, SIX 90, UH, 6 86 68, $8 16, $148, $86, $137.
AND IT'S, TO ME, I SEE THAT IT'S SUBSTANTIAL.
UM, THEN ON THE LI UH, LIFELINE, UH, WATER DISCOUNT FOR HARING AND HOUSING AUTHORITY CUSTOMERS, IT'S GONNA GO FROM TWO 50 TO FIVE.
AND, AND IT'S GONNA BE 2 50, 2 52 50 TILL WE GET TO, UH, PHASE FIVE THAT I DON'T KNOW IF THEY CAN REALLY AFFORD BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'VE BEEN STRUGGLING.
THE PROBLEM IS ACROSS THE BOARD, WE DOWN HERE AND EVERY, THE WHOLE NATION IS, IS REALLY STRUGGLING.
ONCE AGAIN, IT'S AFFORDABILITY.
THAT'S, THAT'S MY NUMBER ONE CONCERN.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU, SIR.
IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR YES, MAYOR, UH, COMMISSIONER GOMEZ, UM, SINCE WE WAITED TWO YEARS, RON TO NOW BE AT PHASE TWO, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
ARE WE PLANNING TO GO TO PHASE THREE NEXT YEAR OR PHASE FOUR, OR ARE WE GONNA WAIT TWO MORE YEARS TO GO INTO PHASE THREE? WE WILL NEED TO REEVALUATE THE CIP SPENDING.
WE HAVE THESE PROJECTS THAT ARE SUPPORTED BY THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD FUNDING AS THEY, UH, ARE UNDERWAY, AND WE START SPENDING THAT MONEY, THEN WE'LL REEVALUATE.
SO EVERY YEAR WHEN WE COME FOR BUDGET, WE WILL BE REEVALUATING THE NECESSITY FOR THE RATE INCREASE.
OUR HOPE IS THAT WE DO NOT, AND WE CAN WAIT AND WE CAN STALL A YEAR AND MAKE THIS FIVE YEAR PLAN INTO A 10 YEAR PLAN, BUT IT HAS TO BE EVALUATED AND WE WILL BE REEVALUATING IT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
WHEN WE DID THIS LAST YEAR, UM, WAS THERE ANY EDUCATION TO THE PUBLIC THAT WE WERE GONNA PUT THIS OFF AND THAT IT WOULD BE COMING THIS YEAR? WE DID, UH, WE DID STALL.
UH, THAT WAS DURING THE BUDGET PRESENTATIONS.
WE DID PRESENT THAT OTHER THAN, UH, THAT THERE WAS NO MASS COMMUNICATION STATING THAT WE WOULD DO THAT.
WE JUST LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT WE WOULD NOT PROCEED WITH THE RATE INCREASE.
SO JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS JUST TO KIND OF RE REITERATE.
UM, ONE, THE LIFELINE IS, I THINK THIS COMMISSION, UH,
[01:15:01]
WHEN THEY PROVE THE LIFELINE, IT WAS NOT MEANT TO BE A PERMANENT SITUATION, IS GONNA BE F PHASED OUT WITHIN FIVE YEARS.SO THE IDEA IS TO HELP THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN HOUSING, BUT WE WANT THEM TO ALSO BECOME, UM, HOMEOWNERS OR, OR KIND OF GET OUTTA THAT SYSTEM.
WE HAVE DOCUMENTATION FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO GET APPROVED FOR THAT.
AND THIS COMMISSION, UM, HAD ALREADY APPROVED THE RATES PRIOR.
UH, AND WE, I THINK IT'D BE ABOUT 18, BEEN ABOUT 18 MONTHS WITHOUT A RAISE IN THE RATES.
BUT THE COMMISSION HAD ALREADY APPROVED MULTIPLE.
HAD YOUR TEAM NOT REEVALUATED AND FOUND A WAY TO EASE THE BURDEN ON THE, ON THE FEE PAYER OR THE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A MUTUAL, UH, CONSTITUENT, RIGHT? THE FEE PAYERS ARE, ARE RESIDENTS.
UM, AND SO THIS COMMISSION WITH WITH WITH THE EXCEPTION OF, UH, COMMISSIONER GOMEZ WASN'T, WASN'T HERE YET, BUT THE COMMISSION HAD ALREADY APPROVED ALL OF THE RATES AND NOW YOU ARE COMING BACK BEFORE US AND KIND OF STARTING FRESH INSTEAD OF BEING AT, I THINK THIS WOULD'VE BEEN, WE WOULD'VE BEEN HERE AT THE FOURTH RATE HIKE, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
THE FOURTH RATE HIKE WAS SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY OF 2027.
SO, UM, WOULD YOU AGREE THAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN TO EXTEND IT AS FAR AS POSSIBLE? ABSOLUTELY.
AND, AND AS I SAID, WE REEVALUATE THIS EVERY YEAR DURING BUDGET.
WE CHECK OUR CIP SPENDING, WE CHECK WHERE WE ARE ON THE PROGRESS OF THESE PROJECTS, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
AND YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THAT YOU'VE GOTTA PAY THE MORTGAGE WHEN, AND, AND THAT WAS KIND OF WHAT YOU MENTIONED, A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.
SO WITHOUT THIS INCREASE, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO, TO DO THAT FOR A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME? YES.
AND WHAT WOULD THAT SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BE? UH, PROBABLY BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
SO, OR I'M SORRY, THE MIDDLE OF THE FOLLOWING FISCAL YEAR.
SO YOU'RE PROJECTING TRYING TO DO THIS IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY? YES.
AND THE ENTIRE PURPOSE IS THAT WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN A MINIMUM OF 150 TO 190 DAYS OF WORKING CAPITAL IN ORDER TO ENSURE OUR BOND RATINGS.
WHEN WE SIGNED UP FOR THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD BONDS, WE'VE GOT THESE BONDS AT 25 TO A HUNDRED BASIS POINTS UNDER MARKET.
SO WE'RE SAVING THE COMMUNITY MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN INTEREST.
AND I BELIEVE WHEN I CAME ON, ON BOARD, WHICH KIND OF ALL OF US EXCEPT FOR, UH, MESMER THAT'S BEEN HERE A LITTLE BIT LONGER, UM, WHEN I SAY 2022 OR 2023 WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE HARLINGEN WATERWORKS, UH, WAS A RECIPIENT OF TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT, UM, BOARD MONEY.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
SO IF WE WANNA CONTINUE TO BE, UH, RECIPIENTS AND BENEFICIARIES OF GRANT MONEY AS WELL, UM, NOT JUST THE LOW COST LOANS, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PAY BACK THAT MONEY, IS THAT CORRECT? ABSOLUTELY.
WE HAVE TO PROVE TO THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD THAT OUR RATES WILL SUPPORT THAT FUNDING.
IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? JUST A COUPLE.
OVER THE LAST, OVER THE WEEKEND, I SAW SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THESE WATER RATE INCREASES.
UH, HOW MUCH, IF ANY OF THEM, HOW MUCH OF ANY OF IT HAS TO DO WITH, UH, PROPOSED DATA CENTERS? ZERO.
WHAT ABOUT CAR WASHES THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU ALWAYS GET THOSE COMMENTS.
HOW MANY, HOW MUCH OF THIS, UH, INCREASE HAS TO DO WITH CAR WASHES OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE? ZERO.
THE MAJORITY OF CAR WASHES, THEY REUSE THEIR WATER.
SO, AND SO TO COMMISSIONER MES MAR'S POINT, THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO UPGRADE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
UH, THAT'S GONNA IMPROVE, UH, THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT, EXPAND THAT ON THE EAST SIDE? ABSOLUTELY.
UH, THAT'S GONNA IMPROVE THE TRUNK LINE THAT PRETTY MUCH THE WHOLE CITY TIES INTO YES.
THAT'S GONNA IMPROVE AND OR REPLACE AND OR UPGRADE, UH, LIFT STATIONS? ABSOLUTELY.
AND IT'S THOSE LIFT STATIONS THAT EVENTUALLY SOMETIMES GO OUT WHERE RESIDENTS START GETTING FLOODED IN THEIR HOMES BECAUSE OF WATER BACKING UP.
UH, WATER BACKS UP AND IT DISCHARGES AND THERE'S NOWHERE ELSE TO GO BUT BACKWARDS.
AND SO BY US UPGRADING, UPDATING OR REPLACING, IT'S GONNA HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON OUR RESIDENTS, A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR RESIDENTS.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU SEE OR HAVE HEARD THAT YOU FEEL MAY HAVE BEEN MISCONSTRUED IN THE PUBLIC THAT YOU THINK YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY HERE TO CLARIFY ON? ARLINGTON WILL STILL HAVE SOME OF THE MOST COMPETITIVE RATES IN THE VALLEY.
[01:20:01]
WE INCREASE OUR RATES, OTHER CITIES WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE THEIR RATES.SO IT WILL BE A, A DOMINO EFFECT, AND YOU WILL SEE SOON THAT OTHER CITIES WILL INCREASE THEIR RATES.
SO WE ARE STILL, UM, COMPETITIVE WITH OUR RATES AS FAR AS OTHER CITIES IN THE VALLEY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE.
UM, I'LL ENTERTAIN ONE MORE, COMMISSIONER.
UM, COULD IT BE POSSIBLE, THIS IS A STRETCH.
IT'S EITHER THESE RATES ARE, THESE RATES ARE, ARE, ARE ARE FIXED THERE, THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT TRYING TO REDUCE SOME OF THESE RATES AT THIS POINT, CORRECT? AT THIS POINT, NO, SIR.
THESE RATES WERE ORIGINALLY CALCULATED BY OUR CONSULTANT TEAM FROM WILL DAN, AND THEY DID AN EXTENSIVE STUDY RATE STUDY AND WE HAD SEVERAL TOWN HALLS AND WE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS THAT, UH, THE MAJORITY OF, OF EVERYONE HERE DID GET TO LISTEN TO.
SO THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE DEVISED ON OUR OWN.
ON THAT NOTE, RON, UM, GIVEN THE MEETINGS THAT YOU HAVE AND, AND ALL THE WORK THAT WENT INTO THIS, UM, EVERYONE HERE ON THE CITY COMMISSION IS AN EXOFFICIO BOARD MEMBER OF HARLINGEN WATERWORKS.
SO AT ANY POINT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN INPUT FROM ANYONE ON THE COMMISSION? ABSOLUTELY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? DID YOU HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? NO, MA'AM.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[Item 10e - Consideration and possible action to approve an ordinance on first reading extending the temporary moratorium on High-Intensity Data Processing facilities established by Ordinance No. 26-26.]
TO ITEM E CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE ON FIRST READING, EXTENDING THE TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON HIGH INTENSITY DATA PROCESSING FACILITIES ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE NUMBER 26 DASH 26.UM, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? UH, DR. RAMIREZ? I BELIEVE MARK HAS, I KNOW THAT WE NEED TO EXTEND IT BECAUSE WE'VE GOT, UM, RIGHT.
WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA EXTEND IT OUT TO A 180 DAYS, UH, FROM THE DATE IT WAS INITIATED.
AND WE CAN LEGALLY DO THIS YES.
BUT, BUT NOT PAST THE 180 DAYS.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHY WE HAD THE 180 DAYS.
AND, UM, WE DO HAVE THE, UH, AMIO TECH TESTING CURRENTLY UNDERWAY.
AND WE'LL GET THOSE RESULTS, UM, WITH ENOUGH TIME FOR US TO HAVE STAFF EVALUATE THAT AND PRESENT THE ZONING.
CAN I GET A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
[Item 10f - Consideration and possible action to approve an ordinance on second and final reading to adopt regulations that ensure that meetings of the City Commission are conducted in a way that allows the business of the City to be undertaken effectively and efficiently; providing savings, repealing severability clauses and providing an effective date.]
F CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE ON SECOND AND FINAL READING TO ADOPT REGULATIONS THAT ENSURE THE MEETINGS OF THE CITY COMMISSION ARE CONDUCTED IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY TO UNDERTAKE AN EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY PROVIDING SAVINGS, REPEALING SEVERABILITY CLAUSES AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE THIS SECOND.
WHAT'S THE PURPOSE? I, WHEN I SENT MY NOTES TO MARK, I WASN'T AS CLEAR AS I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE CHANGES THAT WE HAD PROPOSED AT OUR LAST MEETING.
UH, SPECIFICALLY ON THE RULE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY, AS HE, UH, ESSENTIALLY ADVISES THE COMMISSION ON WHEN SOMETHING MAY BE OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THE CITY JURISDICTION, AS WELL AS A FEW OTHER ISSUES.
AND THEN I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION ON ANOTHER ISSUE COMPLETELY AS IT RELATES TO OUR CITY CHARTERS, UH, PROHIBITION ON ABSTENTION AS A, UH, REGARDING WHEN YOU HAVE A CONFLICT, WHEN CAN YOU ABSTAIN? WHEN CAN YOU NOT ABSTAIN? IF YOU SEE IN THE, IN THIS ORDINANCE, THERE'S A LINE IN THERE THAT DISCUSSES THE ABILITY TO ABSTAIN FROM MEETINGS IN WHICH YOU WERE NOT PRESENT AS IT RELATES TO THE MINUTES REGARDING THE MINUTES.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S TECHNICALLY A SOUND.
AND SO I WANNA HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH MARK AND YOU CAN'T MAKE THOSE AMENDMENTS.
'CAUSE I KNOW AT THE LAST MEETING I ASKED Y'ALL TO PRESENT THAT THE REASON WHY IT TOOK HIM A LONG TIME IS BECAUSE HE GOT Y'ALL'S CHANGES.
UH, LATEST CHANGES WERE ON FRIDAY.
SO THERE'S NO, YOU CAN'T GO THROUGH THEM TO GIVE HIM WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WANNA AMEND.
I I JUST THINK IT'D BE MORE EFFICIENT INSTEAD OF BRINGING IT BACK A THIRD TIME.
WELL, I LIKE THE SECOND BECAUSE, UM, WHEN WAS THIS POSTED? THIS LAST DRAFT? THIS WAS YESTERDAY.
YESTERDAY WHEN I EMAILED IT TO YOU, TO EVERYBODY
[01:25:01]
WHEN YOU EMAILED IT YESTERDAY.I LIKE THE PUBLIC TO BE ABLE TO SEE IT AND THEY BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON IT.
I THINK YOUR COMMENTS WERE ALSO LATE AS WELL AS
WELL, WE DIDN'T HAVE A DEADLINE.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THAT FRIDAY.
BUT WE CAN'T CAUSE THE PROBLEM AND THEN ASK FOR EXTENSIONS.
WELL, I LIKE THE PUBLIC TO HAVE THE TRANSPARENCY.
I LIKE THE PUBLIC TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON THEM.
AND I, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, WHICH IS WHY WE NEEDED TO GIVE MARK ENOUGH TIME TO BE ABLE TO WORK ON IT SO IT COULD BE POSTED.
AND AGAIN, IF, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DELAYING IT AND NOT FOLLOWING THROUGH AND THEN FURTHER DELAYING IT, THAT IS DO THAT IT, IT WASN'T POSTED BECAUSE THOSE, THAT INFORMATION WAS RECEIVED LATE.
IT WASN'T IN A, YOU KNOW, FOR A WAY TO CIRCUMVENT AND, AND, AND TOMA REQUIRES US TO POST THE AGENDA THAT'S BEEN DONE.
AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE, UH, ATTACHMENT.
HOWEVER, TRANSPARENCY IN OUR, IN OUR FAITHFULNESS TO OUR TRANSPARENCY, TO OUR CONSTITUENT, I WANT, I WOULD LIKE THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS BE ABLE TO READ IT AND BE ABLE TO COME UP HERE AND VOICE WHAT THEY, WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE SAID, UM, UP HERE AT THE PODIUM.
AND THAT'S WHY, AND SINCE DANIEL ALREADY ASKED FOR A SET TO BE TABLED, I, I WOULD LIKE IT.
DO YOU WANNA CONTINUE WITH YOUR MOTION? I WITHDRAW MY, MY MOTION TO TABLE.
WE CAN GO THROUGH THIS QUICKLY.
AGAIN, IT'S WHAT WE DISCUSSED LAST TIME ANYWAYS.
WE'RE GONNA GO TO PAGE FIVE, PARAGRAPH C, FOURTH LINE FROM THE BOTTOM MARK.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE IT SAYS THE SENTENCE STARTS.
GIMME THE, GIMME THE PARAGRAPH AND NUMBER.
AND PARAGRAPH C AT THE VERY TOP.
IT STARTS WITH IF ENDS WITH MEMBERS IN THE SECOND, THE LINE BENEATH IT, IT SAYS, IF AN AGENDA ITEM RELATES TO ACCURACY OF MINUTES OF A MEETING, WHICH ONE OR MORE CITY COMMISSIONER MEMBERS DID NOT ATTEND? AND ABSTENTION WILL BE RECORDED FOR THOSE MEMBERS.
I BELIEVE THAT IN THE CITY CHARTER, IT'S VERY CLEAR ON WHEN WE CAN ABSTAIN.
AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT LINE IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CITY CHARTER.
THEN I, IF WE GO TO PAGE NINE, PARAGRAPH FIVE.
THAT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PAGE, NOT FIVE AT THE BOTTOM.
SO IT'S, IT STARTS WITH IF THE MAYOR, OKAY.
UH, MARK, I'M WONDERING IF PARAGRAPH FOUR AND FIVE ARE REDUNDANT, WHICH ONE AND WHICH ONE ARE REDUNDANT? THE PARAGRAPH RIGHT ABOVE IT, IF THE MAYOR DOES NOT ACT PROMPTLY.
AND THEN PARAGRAPH FIVE SAYS IF THE MAYOR DOES NOT ACT PROMPTLY, SO STRIKE FIVE, JUST, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT IT AND THEN THE OTHER PART SAYS, YEAH, I THINK FOUR.
I THINK FOUR IS, UH, MORE APPROPRIATE.
SO WE'LL STRIKE PARAGRAPH FIVE.
AND THEN WE TALKED ABOUT LAST TIME, MARK, AND ABOUT JUST BIG PICTURE ABOUT BEING A LITTLE MORE CONSISTENT ON WHETHER IT'S GONNA SAY MAYOR OR PRESIDING CHAIR, WHOMEVER YOU LIKE.
AND THEN WE SAID PRESIDING CHAIR, UM, MARK, BECAUSE IF MYSELF OR DANIEL OR THESE POSITIONS ARE NOT HERE AND SOMEONE ELSE TAKES THE POSITION, SO CORRECT.
AND THEN PARAGRAPH 10, PAGE WHAT PAGE? SO I APOLOGIZE.
SO IT'S ON PAGE 10 AND 11 GOES TO PARAGRAPHS ONE THROUGH SIX.
IF WE CAN MAKE SURE, AGAIN, I JUST WANT, AND AS YOU READ THROUGH THIS ONE MORE TIME, MARK, I NEED THE, THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PLAY A MORE ACTIVE ROLE ON ANY TIME A CONSTITUENT, UH, MAY OR MAY NOT BE, UH, STAYING ON TOPIC.
MY CONCERN IS I WANT CONSISTENCY.
SO WHOMEVER THE MAYOR IS, I DON'T WANT THEM TO SAY, I LIKE YOUR POSITION, BUT I DON'T LIKE YOUR POSITION.
SO THE CITY ATTORNEY NEEDS TO STEP IN AND SAY, COMMISSIONER, WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE GOOSE IS, OR MAYOR, IN OTHER WORDS, IT IS CONTENT NEUTRAL, JUST KEEPING THE PEOPLE ON TARGET, CORRECT? THEY'RE, YES.
AND SO BEING THE CITY ATTORNEY, YOU ARE THAT NEUTRAL PARTY THAT CAN REIGN IN ANY MAYOR OR PRO TEMP
[01:30:01]
MOVING FORWARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RULES ARE ACT EQUALLY, EQUALLY, EQUALLY OF AN UMPIRE.SO IF THE LANGUAGE CAN MIRROR WHAT YOUR REQUEST, WHICH IS IN, UM, FOR IF THE MAYOR DOES NOT ACT PROMPTLY TO RULE THE SPEAKER OUT OF ORDER, THE CITY ATTORNEY MAY ADVISE THE SPEAKER AND THE COMMISSION.
SO IT SHOULD HAVE THAT LANGUAGE, THE CITY ATTORNEY.
SO IF WE COULD JUST BE CONSISTENT WITH THE LANGUAGE, IS THAT RIGHT? THROUGHOUT, THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE SECTION HERE TO ENSURE I UNDERSTAND.
'CAUSE I THINK THE PRIOR ONE SAID CITY COMMISSION AND WE ASK THAT TO BE STRIKE STRUCK AND FOR IT TO INCLUDE CITY ATTORNEY INSTEAD, RIGHT? CORRECT.
IF A COMMISSION STARTS GETTING A LITTLE HOT BLOODED, I DON'T WANT THEM PUTTING THE CITY AT RISK FOR ANY ISSUES.
WHAT, WHERE, WHERE ARE YOU AT NEXT? THAT'S IT.
UM, THEN I BELIEVE YOU INCORPORATED COMMISSIONER GOMEZ'S, UH, REQUEST IN YOUR, IN YOUR AMENDMENTS.
AND NO ONE ELSE SUBMITTED ANY AMENDMENTS AS FAR AS I UNDERSTAND.
I KNOW I DIDN'T SUBMIT ANY AND LEFT IT AS, AS IS, UM, WITH THAT I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
CAN, MAY I ASK A QUESTION? YES, SIR.
SO THE AMENDMENTS THAT HE'S SUGGESTING, CAN I MAKE SUGGESTIONS ON THIS? ARE YOU TABLING THAT TO WHERE IT'S WHATEVER YOU SAID A WEEK AGO OR TWO WEEKS AGO? I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I'M SQUARED.
'CAUSE I DO HAVE SUGGESTIONS FOR THIS.
MY, MY QUESTION IS THAT WE SHOULD COME PREPARED TO THESE MEETINGS.
YOU HAVE YOUR PACKETS, YOU SHOULD REVIEW THEM, AND YOUR QUESTIONS SHOULD BE POINTED.
AND THEN YOU WERE GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS.
WE WENT OVER IT LINE BY LINE AND SPENT A QUITE A BIT OF TIME, UM, ON IT LAST TIME.
I KNOW YOU WEREN'T PRESENT IN PERSON, BUT YOU WERE PRESENT AT THE MEETING AND COMMISSIONER GOMEZ DID HER PART.
COMMISSIONER LOPEZ DID HIS PART AND SENT THOSE OVER TO MARK.
UM, BETIS DIDN'T, I'M ASSUMING HE HAD NONE.
MIKE DIDN'T, I'M ASSUMING HE HAD NONE.
NOW YOU HAD THE SAME OPPORTUNITY, BUT YOU FAILED TO SUBMIT THEM AT, EVEN IF THEY WEREN'T TIMELY, YOU DIDN'T SUBMIT THEM AT ALL.
NOW YOU WANNA COME HERE TO THE MEETING AND, AND, AND UTILIZE THIS TIME TO ADD TO IT.
IT JUST SEEMS THAT YOU ARE NOT BEING EFFICIENT WITH THE COMMUNITY'S TIME, WITH THE COMMISSION'S TIME, AND YOU HAD AMPLE OPPORTUNITY.
BUT IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING SPECIFIC TO ADD, WE THIS IS THE TIME TO DO IT.
WHERE CAN YOU GUIDE US ON YOUR DIRECTION? PAGE SIX, SECTION E, PARAGRAPH TWO, PAGE SIX.
THE QUESTION IS, SAY PAGE SIX, PARAGRAPH TWO.
I DON'T SEE EI DON'T SEE ANY, YOU KNOW, PAGE SEVEN, BECAUSE HE'S ON SEVEN.
WHY DO CITIZENS HAVE TO PRESENT COPIES BEFORE THE MEETING? WHY CAN'T CITIZENS GIVE COPIES TO THE CITY SECRETARY WHEN THEY GO UP TO SPEAK? THAT'S QUESTION NUMBER ONE.
THEN ON SECTION E, PARAGRAPH THREE, WHICH IS PAGE SEVEN, LET'S GO TO PAGE SEVEN.
LET'S TAKE IT ONE AT A, LET'S TAKE IT ONE AT A TIME SO THAT WAY WE CAN SEE IF YOU'RE SATISFIED OR HOW YOU WANT TO, HOW YOU WANNA DO IT.
UM, BUT BEFORE ON THIS ONE HERE, THE EIGHT COPIES, IF YOU WERE LISTENING AT THE LAST MEETING, THE REASON FOR THIS WAS SO THAT WAY WE COULD PUSH THE TIME FOR PEOPLE TO SIGN UP PAST 12 O'CLOCK.
'CAUSE IT'S BEEN KIND OF A BURDEN FOR, FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO SIGN UP BY NOON.
AND IF THEY PROVIDE THE COPIES TO CITY SECRETARY BEFORE THE MEETING, THEN THEY DON'T HAVE TO MAKE COPIES AND WE CAN EXTEND IT BACK TO THREE 3:00 PM THAT WAS THE PURPOSE.
IF YOU WANT CITY SECRETARIES TO CONTINUE TO DO THE PRINTING OF ALL OF THE DOCUMENTS, THEN WE WOULD PUSH IT BACK TO WHAT THEY SUGGESTED, UM, THE NOON.
I ASSUMED WE HAD A CONSENSUS 'CAUSE WE DISCUSSED THIS IN, IN GREAT DETAIL.
ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THAT? YES.
UM, I'M AM GONNA SKIP TO THE REAL MCCOY HERE.
[01:35:03]
PAGE 11.WHERE ARE YOU AT? UH, PAGE 11 AT THE TOP.
NUMBER FOUR, SPEAKERS SHALL DIRECT ALL COMMENTS TO THE CITY COMMISSION AS A WHOLE, NOT THE CITY MANAGER OR MEMBERS OF THE CITY STAFF AS PROVIDED IN SUB SUBSECTION AND KEEPS ON GOING.
THE QUESTION IS, WHY SHOULD THE COMMISSION TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACTIONS OF A LONE WOLF? THAT GOES OFFRAY, THAT GOES ASTRAY.
IF I GO OFF KEY AND PEOPLE WANT TO CRITICIZE ME BECAUSE I SAID SOMETHING, LET THEM GO AHEAD AND SPEAK UP AND TELL ME STRAIGHT UP WHY SHOULD THEY ADDRESS THE COMMISSION AS A WHOLE.
I THINK THAT THAT WAS ALREADY ADDRESSED.
UM, I THINK THIS WAS TO, IF I CORRECT, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, AND YOU ALL CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT WE WANTED THEM TO NOT ADDRESS CITY STAFF.
MAYOR, MAYOR, I CAN, UH, COMMENT ON THAT.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS ISN'T TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM CRITICIZING CITY STAFF OR THE ACTIONS OF CITY OFFICIALS.
IT'S TO, IT'S TO REQUIRE THE PEOPLE TO DIRECT THEIR COMMENTS TO THE COMMISSION.
THEY CAN ADDRESS, THEY, THEY CAN DISCUSS ANY CITY OFFICIAL CITY EMPLOYEE, UH, CITY COMMISSION THAT THEY, THAT, THAT THEY WANT TO, THAT, THAT'S REMAINED TO THE TOPIC.
BUT THE POINT IS, IF THIS IS A LIMITED PURPOSE PUBLIC FORUM, THE PURPOSE OF THE FORUM IS FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE COMMISSION AND TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT MATTER VOICE THEIR, UH, OPINIONS ABOUT MATTERS OF PUBLIC CONCERN.
SO THAT'S WHY THE PURPOSE OF THE PUBLIC FORUM IS TO ADDRESS THE CITY COMMISSION.
YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING YOU WANT AND THAT'S WHY THE FOLLOW UP TO THIS, IT SAYS, THIS RULE GOVERN, GOVERNS ONLY TO WHOM THE REMARKS ARE ADDRESSED.
IT DOES NOT LIMIT THE CONTENT OF SPEAKER'S MARK, INCLUDING CRITICISM PROTECTED BY SECTION 5 5 1 0 0 7 E OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.
SO IT'S WHO I'M SPEAKING TO, NOT WHAT I'M SPEAKING ABOUT WAS THE INTENTION.
NEXT, I'M GONNA CONDENSE THIS TO THE BOTTOM OF PAGE FIVE.
THIS IS GONNA BE A DUAL QUESTION HERE.
A TWO PART QUESTION ON SECTION C.
UH, IT SAYS THE FORM IS NOT OPEN FOR MATTERS THAT ARE EITHER POSTED ON POSTED AGENDA, POSTED ON THE AGENDA OR WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION, INCLUDING MATTERS CONCERNING PROPERTY.
CAN YOU GO, I'M SORRY, I'M NOT FOLLOWING YOU.
H FIVE UHHUH
THE FORUM IS, IS NOT OPEN FOR MATTERS THAT ARE NEITHER ON THE POSTED AGENDA, NOR WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION, INCLUDING MATTERS CONCERNING PROPERTY ACTIVITIES OR GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES PROVIDED BY DIFFERENT GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY WHICH MAY BE LOCATED OR PROVIDED WHOLLY ON THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY MATTERS COMMITTED EXCLUSIVELY TO THE FEDERAL OR STATE GOVERNMENT UPON WHICH THE CITY COMMISSION HAS NO AUTHORITY TO ACT OR DELIBERATE.
I MIGHT BE MISINTERPRETING THAT, BUT HERE'S MY DUAL QUESTION.
CAN WE TAKE THIS FIRST AND THEN WE'LL GET INTO YOUR SECOND QUESTION? YES, MA'AM.
AND I'LL, AND I'LL CLEAN UP THE DOUBLE NEGATIVE.
I THINK THE, THE CLEAR PURPOSE OF THE POLICY IS TO ENABLE PEOPLE TO ADDRESS MATTERS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA AND WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE COMMISSION.
SO I'LL, I'LL CLEAN UP THE, THAT'S LIKE IF SOMEBODY CAME HERE AND THEY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, UM, I DON'T KNOW.
THEY'RE OPENING UP A, A COSTCO IN MCALLEN AND THEY DON'T WANT 'EM TO OPEN AND THEY'RE COMING HERE.
WELL, WE DON'T HAVE ANY AUTHORITY OVER, OVER THAT.
OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DECIDES, UM, SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY OVER OR THE STATE MAKES, UH, A LAW THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY OVER TO MAKE ANY CHANGES.
IT'S ANYTHING THAT THE CITY WITHIN ITS AUTHORITY AND ITS JURISDICTION.
AND I, AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE ALSO WENT OVER AT THE LAST MEETING.
HERE'S MY QUESTION, IF I MAY, IF THE PUBLIC CAN'T SPEAK ON ITEMS OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS JURISDICTION, INCLUDING MATTERS THAT, THAT ARE, THAT THE, UH, COUNTY, STATE, AND OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE, UH, IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY.
WHY WAS A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM YOUR OFFICE WITH THE CITY COMMISSIONER'S APPROVAL PROVIDED BECAUSE THAT WAS OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS,
[01:40:02]
THE SO-CALLED DATA CENTER.IT SOUNDS LIKE THE CITY LIMITS, AND YET YOU ARE TAKING THE LIBERTY TO, TO DO A SUPPORT LETTER.
10 MONTHS, OR WHAT IS IT? NINE, EIGHT TO 10 MONTHS LATER? WE'RE COMING ACROSS IT BECAUSE THE PUBLIC BROUGHT IT UP TO OUR ATTENTION.
NOW WE'RE CONTRADICTING OURSELVES SAYING, NO, YOU CANNOT DO IT.
AND DO WE HAVE NDAS THAT ARE, WERE ALSO SIGNED THAT WE'RE NOT AWARE OF? IS THAT, ARE WE GONNA BE HIT WITH THAT LATER ON? SO IT SOUNDS LIKE TO, TO ME, UM, COMMISSIONER, THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE A POINT AND TRYING TO PUT IT SOMEHOW FOR IT TO FIT IN THIS ITEM.
AND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING HAS, UH, NO BEARING ON WHAT'S BEFORE US.
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS SOMETHING THAT I DID IN AN INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY.
THIS HAS TO DO WITH COMMISSION MEETINGS.
IF YOU WANT TO ASK ME QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU TO DISCUSS.
UH, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT'S ON HERE.
AND I SEE YOU'RE TRYING TO BE VERY CLEVER AND, AND, AND, AND GET IN WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'RE WANTING TO SAY.
BUT THE WHOLE POINT HERE IS TO SAY WHAT IS TO ENSURE THAT WHAT IS BEFORE US IS WHAT IS UNDER OUR JURISDICTION.
AND JUST LIKE YOUR COMMENTS ARE NOT WITHIN THE SCOPE HERE, UH, WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE COMING INTO THE MEETINGS AND FEELING THAT THERE IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO WHEN THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE CAN DO FOR THINGS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF OUR JURISDICTION.
YOU MIGHT HAVE PASSIONATE FEELINGS REGARDING THINGS AT, FOR EXAMPLE, SPACEX.
BUT HARLINGEN DOES NOT CONTROL WHAT SPACEX DOES.
SO, AND YOU MISSPOKE EARLIER WHEN YOU SAID THAT I HAD, UH, GOTTEN COMMISSION APPROVAL FOR SOME LETTER.
AND SO PUTTING THAT, I DON'T THINK I SAID THAT, THAT IS WHAT YOU SAID.
AND THAT IS MISLEADING AND THAT IS NOT ACCURATE.
AND AGAIN, OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE, THIS SPECIFIC ITEM HERE IS TALKING ABOUT THE FORUM NOT BEING OPEN TO MATTERS THAT ARE NOT POSTED ON THE AGENDA, NUMBER ONE.
AND NUMBER TWO, NOT WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION.
IT'S NOT THAT DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE JURISDICTION, YOU DON'T, JUST BECAUSE YOU WANT TO DOESN'T MEAN YOU DO.
AND JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE STRONG FEELINGS DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOUR FEELINGS HAVE ANY PLACE ON THIS COMMISSION.
MAYOR, IF I COULD ADD SOMETHING ELSE VERY BRIEFLY.
UH, JUST AS IT BEARS TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THE IMPACT OF, OF THIS RULE.
THE CITY COMMISSION HAS NEVER LIMITED ANYBODY'S TALKING OR CRITICIZING A DATA CENTER.
UH, AND WE, WE'VE REPEATEDLY HEARD THIS, RIGHT? AND, AND SO, AND THIS POLICY DOESN'T DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT.
I MEAN, I MEAN, CLEARLY, UH, WATER SOLD BY THE CITY IS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION AND AUTHORITY OF THE CITY.
UH, CLEARLY THE PUBLIC HAS HAD THE ABILITY, UH, TO, UH, VOICE THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
SO WE'RE, I THINK WE'RE CONFLATING TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND, AND, AND, AND THAT IS, I MEAN, WE HAVE A MORATORIUM THAT WE JUST EXTENDED, WE, THAT IS WITHIN OUR JURISDICTION.
AND THERE ARE, UM, ZONING THAT, YOU KNOW, STAFF IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON THAT'S NOT GOING TO LIMIT THAT INFORMATION.
IT IS IN REGARDS TO THINGS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF OUR, UH, JURISDICTION.
JUST TO REMIND EVERYBODY, THIS IS A CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF HARLING IN TEXAS.
AND WE ARE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
AND IF ANYBODY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE FLOODING IN INDIANA THIS WEEKEND, ONE PERSON DIED.
IF SOMEONE WANTS US TO VOTE ON SOMETHING HAPPENING IN BURN TEXAS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH US.
WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON THE BUSINESS OF HARLAN IN TEXAS.
YOU HAD ANOTHER, UH, SECTION COMMISSIONER? I HAVE THREE MORE IF YOU, IF YOU'RE PREPARED, SIR.
I'M THE ONE THAT'S PREPARED HERE.
PARAGRAPH THREE, CITIZENS PARTICIPATION, WHICH IS NUMBER FOUR.
NUMBER THREE, OR NUMBER FOUR? NUMBER FOUR.
WHERE IT SAYS, FOR MANNERS THAT ARE NOT, IT SAYS NO SPEAKER.
BUT THE STATEMENT THAT, THAT I FEEL SHOULD BE REMOVED IS FOR MATTERS THAT ARE NOT ON THE POSTED AGENDA, THE TOTAL, THE TOTAL PUBLIC COMMENT SHALL BE LIMITED TO FIVE SPEAKERS THAT SHOULD BE REMOVED.
IF THERE'S MORE THAN FIVE SPEAKERS, WE SHOULD NOT BE LIMITING THAT TO JUST
[01:45:01]
FIVE SPEAKERS.WELL, THIS WAS ON THE AGENDA LAST TIME AND THERE WAS NO, UH, CONCERNS REGARDING THAT.
AND YOU'RE BRINGING IT UP FOR THE, ON THE SECOND READING.
IS THERE A REASON WHY YOU DIDN'T BRING IT UP THE FIRST TIME? THERE WAS A LOT OF MATERIAL BACK THEN AND I WAS NOT DOING WELL.
BUT WE'RE GONNA STICK TO WHAT YOU WANT FOR NOW.
THAT'S, THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M ASKING YOU, COMMISSIONER.
I'M ASKING YOU IF YOUR MIND IF YOU CHANGED YOUR MIND SINCE THE LAST TIME YOU, THIS WAS BEFORE YOU.
IT DOES APPEAR THAT I DID CHANGE MY MIND.
WELL THIS WAS, THIS WAS ON HERE BEFORE.
UM, THIS IS, WAS A, A COMPROMISE IN THAT WE DID NOT CHANGE THE TIME.
I THINK THERE WAS A, UM, I THINK THERE WAS A, A CONSIDERATION THAT IF WE HAD 30 PEOPLE SIGNED UP, THAT WE WOULD LIMIT THE TIME OF HOW LONG PEOPLE WOULD SPEAK AND WE'RE NO LONGER GOING TO DO THAT.
SO FOR AGENDA ITEMS, IF THERE IS A SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM THAT IS OF GREAT INTEREST TO THE COMMUNITY, UH, AND THEY WANT TO SPEAK ON THAT.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, CONSIDER THE, THE MORATORIUM.
UM, IF THERE, THAT'S AN ITEM THAT'S ON THE AGENDA.
IF THERE WAS 40 PEOPLE SIGNED UP, WE WOULD'VE HEARD 40 PEOPLE SIGN UP AT THREE MINUTES EACH AND EVERYONE WOULD'VE BEEN EXPECTED TO STAY HERE.
NON AGENDA ITEMS. THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT TO ALLOW FOR NON AGENDA ITEMS. UM, ARE ALL OF THE CITIES IN THE VALLEY HAVE A SIMILAR, I THINK THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT THE LAST MEETING AND, UM, THEY'RE LIMITED IN BROWNSVILLE AND IN SAN BENITO TO FIVE, UH, SPEAKERS.
AND THEN, AND SO FOR THOSE PURPOSES, WE HAVE IT ON HERE TOO.
I DON'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT.
WE TYPICALLY DON'T HAVE MORE THAN FIVE PEOPLE THAT SPEAK ON NON-AG AGENDA ITEMS ANYHOW.
SO INDIVIDUALS THAT TYPICALLY COME TO OUR COMMUNITY, UH, CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS, THEY WILL STILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN MORE THAN FIVE.
GENERALLY AGENDA ITEMS, UM, YOU KNOW, ARE OPEN AND I EXPECT EVERYBODY TO, TO REMAIN HERE TO, TO HEAR ALL 40 IF THEY WANT TO NOT LIMIT IT.
UM, IN TERMS OF, UH, BEING ABLE TO, TO WORK WITH OUR AGENDA.
SO THAT COULD POTENTIALLY HAPPEN.
UM, WE'VE HAD MEETINGS HERE TILL AFTER MIDNIGHT AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE PURPOSE BEHIND THAT.
DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION? NO.
SINCE HE BROUGHT UP ONE QUESTION, I HAVE A QUESTION, UM, JUST BECAUSE I RAN INTO IT WITH WHAT YOU JUST SAID.
UNDER NUMBER THREE, CITIZENS PARTICIPATION, PUBLIC COMMENT.
ANY PERSON WHO WISHES TO ADDRESS THE CITY COMMISSION MUST REGISTER WITH THE CITY SECRETARY BEFORE THE START OF THE SCHEDULED CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
EACH SPEAKER MUST IDENTIFY WHICH CITY COMMISSION, COMMISSION AGENDA, ITEM, OR WHICH MATTER WITHIN THE CITY COMMISSION COMMISSION'S JURISDICTION, NOT ON THE AGENDA HE OR SHE INTENDS TO SPEAK ABOUT.
THAT CAN BE ANYTHING THEY WANNA SPEAK ABOUT WITHIN THE CITY.
IS THAT ON ANOTHER AREA? I SPOKE, I SAW, IS THAT WHERE THEY ONLY HAVE TWO MINUTES OR DID I MISREAD SOMEWHERE? I'M NOT SURE.
BUT WHAT THIS IS, IS WHAT, AND I THINK IT'S ALREADY ON THERE.
UM, WHEN THEY SIGN UP ONLINE, YES.
CITIZEN COMMUNICATION, ASK FOR THE TOPIC.
THERE'S A SPOT THAT SAYS FOR THEM TO SPEAK, UH, WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO SPEAK ON MM-HMM
AND THEY ARE GOING TO NEED TO FILL THAT OUT AND CONTINUE TO FILL THAT OUT.
BUT THEY CAN COME AND SPEAK ABOUT WHATEVER THEY WANT WITHIN THE CITY, WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY? CORRECT.
ONE LAST THING, JUST A PRACTICAL NOTE, UH, MAYOR, IF I MAY.
SO IF WE CAN ONLY HAVE FIVE PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA SPEAK ON THINGS THAT ARE OUTSIDE, THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA, AND LET'S SAY I'M NUMBER SIX.
AM I GONNA BE TOLD I'M NUMBER SIX AND THEREFORE I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO, I WOULD BE THE ONE TO CALL THEM AFTER I GET THE, THE SIXTH ONE.
'CAUSE WE RECEIVE THEM, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE DAYS MM-HMM
AND THE IDEA IS THAT SHE WOULD SAY, UM, WE ARE AT NUMBER SIX AND MAYBE WE CAN RESERVE YOU TO BE NUMBER ONE ON THE NEXT AGENDA AND THE NEXT CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
[01:50:01]
THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MISSING THE SIGNUP AND THEY'RE ALREADY LISTED FOR THE NEXT MEETING.AND IF WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE IT'S LIKE SIX AND SEVEN, WAS THAT, WOULD THEY BE HERE? COULD THEY BE HERE AND BE ON STANDBY IN CASE NUMBER ONE OR NUMBER THREE? I DON'T SEE WHY NOT.
KIND OF LIKE THE I THINK THEY WOULD, WOULD LIKE TO, YES.
UM, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? NO.
UM, WELL, UH, HEARING NONE, I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE POLICY, UM, WITH THE AMENDMENTS, UH, SPELLED OUT BY COMMISSIONER, UH, MAYOR PROM, LOPEZ, SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[Item 10g - Consideration and possible action to approve a resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit a grant application to the National Park Service's Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership grant program.]
G, CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE OUTDOOR RECREATION LEGACY PARTNERSHIP GRANT PROGRAM.THERE QUESTIONS FOR ANA? NONE.
I DON'T, CAN I GET A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE? UH, I, I UNDERSTAND ANDERSON, THAT WE HAD A MOTION TO APPROVE, BUT IS THERE, ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH, UH, WITH US APPLYING FOR THE SAME AMOUNT THAT WE APPLIED LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS ROUGHLY AROUND 7 MILLION? YEAH, BUT THERE'S A QUESTION FROM MORALES.
I THINK YOU JUST ANSWERED, YOU SAID 7 MILLION.
AND HOW MUCH IS THE, UH, THE MATCHING? 50%.
AND THIS IS GONNA GO INTO WHAT PARKS? YES, IT WILL BE FOR THE HARINGTON SOCCER COMPLEX.
I'M, I'M THINKING IF WE'RE GONNA SPEND HALF OF, UH, THREE QUARTER, UH, 3.5 IN A MATCHING IT WERE TO GET THAT, THAT OUGHT TO BE INVESTED IN DRAINAGE.
SO WE HAVE SUBMITTED SEVERAL APPLICATIONS FOR DRAINAGE PROJECTS AS WELL.
AND SO TYPICALLY THE REASON WHY WE BRING, UH, PARK PROJECTS, OR YOU HEAR THE, UH, THE GRANTS THAT WE'RE APPLYING FOR PARKS IS BECAUSE WE HAVE A POLICY THAT WE HAVE DIRECTION, UH, FROM MANAGEMENT AND FROM THE CITY COMMISSION TO BRING EVERY SINGLE, UH, PART PROJECT.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'RE NOT WORKING ON DRAINAGE.
UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR ANNA? NONE.
WELL THEN I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
UH, MOTION TO APPROVE BY BETA.
SECOND BY GO MS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[Item 10h - Consideration and possible action to approve a resolution of the City of Harlingen approving a budget amendment BA2526-02 adopted by the HWWS Board of Trustees for fiscal year 2025-2026. ]
H, CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF HARLAN AND APPROVING A BUDGET AMENDMENT BA 2 5 2 6 DASH ZERO TWO ADOPTED BY THE HARLAN AND WATERWORKS, UH, BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR FISCAL YEAR 25.ARE THERE QUESTIONS FOR RON? HEARING NONE.
MOTION APPROVED BY MAYOR PRO TEM LOPEZ.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
[Item 10i - Consideration and possible action to approve a resolution accepting Waterworks System's budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.]
AYE.CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE HARLING AND WATER WORK SYSTEMS BUDGET FOR YEAR 2026 TO 2027.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS SPECIFIC FOR RON? HEARING NONE.
MOTION APPROVE AMER TERM PROAM LOPEZ.
A SECOND BY, I WILL MAKE A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
CONSIDERATION, UM, CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE OF RES WELL, SORRY.
[Item 10j - Consideration and possible action to authorize the City Manager to enter into of Understanding (MOU) with the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District of the 2026-2027 HCISD Firefighter Academy.]
UM, ITEM J LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT COMMISSIONER PEREZ IS ABSTAINING FROM THIS ITEM.POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE HARLAN AND CONSOLIDATED INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE 2026.
2027 H-C-I-S-D FIREFIGHTER ACADEMY ON RETAIN.
SECOND BY GO MS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY WITH AN ABSTENTION WITH BETIS.
[Item 10k - Consideration and possible action to approve a resolution authorizing an agreement between the City of Harlingen and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for the reimbursement of the maintenance of designated traffic signals located on within the City of Harlingen, Contract No. 6497-14-001, and authorizing the execute the agreement.]
K.CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HARLINGEN AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT OF THE MAINTENANCE OF DESIGNATED TRAFFIC SIGNALS LOCATED ON STATE HIGHWAY WITHIN THE CITY OF HARLINGEN.
AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT.
UM, AND IT'S FOR WHOM? IS THAT? FOR BRUCE.
[01:55:01]
ON THESE, UM, TRAFFIC SIGNALS, WILL THERE HAVE ANY, UH, FLOCK, UH, SOFTWARE OR CAMERAS, ET CETERA FOR SURVEILLANCE? NOT THAT I'M AWARE, COMMISSIONER ON THIS ONE.THIS IS JUST FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS.
UM, BUT I HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD OF ANY FLOCK, UH, CAMERAS THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE INSTALLED IN.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE, ONLY ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
MOTION TO APPROVE I BET IS SECOND BY GO MS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[Item 10l - Consideration and possible action to approve the allocation of $50,000 for the renovation of the Pro Shop Pickleball Courts.]
CONSIDERATION, POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE THE ALLOCATION OF 50,000 FOR THE RENOVATION OF THE PRO SHOP PICKLEBALL COURTS.ANY QUESTIONS FOR YEAH, I, YES, SIR.
HOW OLD ARE THESE PICKLEBALL COURTS? UM, WE JUST FINISHED THEM, UM, LATE LAST YEAR.
UM, WHAT HAPPENED WAS WE HAD $50,000 THAT WERE LEFT FROM THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT FOR THE PICKLEBALL COURTS.
UM, WE ENDED UP RESURFACING IT IN HOUSE WHERE WE ENDED UP SAVING SOME MONEY THERE.
UM, SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING THE COMMISSION IS THAT $50,000 THAT WE SAVED JUST REALLOCATED IT TO THE PICKLEBALL PRO SHOP.
SO IT'S NOT FALLING APART AFTER 10 MONTHS? NO.
HOW'S IT, HOW'S IT GONNA WORK? I'M SORRY, MAN.
HOW'S IT GONNA WORK? LIKE, I'M JUST CURIOUS, LIKE, ARE WE GONNA HAVE SOMEONE THERE FULL, LIKE ONCE WE RENOVATE, ARE WE GONNA HAVE LIKE A PARK EMPLOYEE THERE, OR HOW'S IT GONNA WORK? IDEALLY, IF WE GET THE RECREATION ASSISTANT POSITION THAT THEY, THEY WOULD BE THERE.
UM, WE WOULD WORK ON THAT SCHEDULE.
I DID SPEAK WITH THE RAM WITH TENNIS COURTS, JUST HOW THEY ARE ABLE TO TRACK REVENUES AND HOW THEY KIND OF MAN THE COURT USAGE.
UM, SO I GOT WITH HIM ON THAT.
SO WE'RE GONNA MIMIC BASICALLY WHAT HE'S DOING THERE AT THE PRO SHOP FOR THE PICKLEBALL COURTS.
SO IDEALLY, HOPEFULLY WE GET THE RECREATION ASSISTANT TO STAFF THERE.
UM, IF NOT, UH, WE CAN USE SASHA THERE, OUR WELLNESS COORDINATOR, OR WE CAN KIND OF FIGURE OUT HOW TO FLEX AND OUR TEAM.
AND WHAT ARE WE GONNA BE SELLING? I'M ASSUMING LIKE PICKLE PADDLE, I MEAN PICKLEBALL PADDLES AND, OR LIKE CONCESSIONS OR WHATEVER.
SNACKS, DRINKS, MERCHANDISE, PADDLE EQUIPMENT, UM, DEPENDING ON THE FUTURE, MAYBE EVEN LESSONS AND SO FORTH WITH PROGRAMMING.
UM,
UM, IF BOWIE PARK NEXT DOOR, WE DEVELOP INTO A STAGE OR POTENTIAL BEER GARDEN, THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE COULD LOOK AT THAT IN THE FUTURE.
COMMISSIONER MEMER SAYS YOU BETTER SELL PICKLES.
DID YOU HAVE SOME COMMENTS? OKAY.
THE FUNDS ARE ALREADY THERE AND THERE, AND YOU'RE ASKING TO IMPROVE THE BUILDING, THE EXISTING BUILDING THAT'S THERE.
THE, THE FUNDINGS ARE IN OUR 80 21 ACCOUNT.
CAN I GET A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE? I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE, UH, THE REALLOCATION OF THE $50,000 TO THE PRO SHOP PICKLEBALL COURTS FOR OPTION ONE.
AND IS THERE SECOND? BY SECOND? THAT IS ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGN SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
[Item 10m - Consideration and possible action to approve a purchase of a 2026 Chevrolet 4-wheel drive Crew Cab Pickup Truck in the amount of $50,000.00 for the Harlingen Police Department.]
M, CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE A PURCHASE OF A 2026 CHEVROLET FOUR WHEEL DRIVE CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCK IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,000 FOR THE HARLAN GEN PD.WHY WOULD THEY WANT TO REIMBURSE US? THAT'S PART OF THE, THE, UH, GRANT, THE AUTO THEFT TASK FORCE GRANT THAT, UH, BROWNSVILLE MANAGES.
SO WE'RE PART OF THE AUTO, THE, THE BROWN, THE BROWNSVILLE AUTO THEFT TASK FORCE.
SO WE CAN GET REIMBURSED FOR THIS FROM THEM? YES, SIR.
AND THAT'S WHAT'S IN THE PACKET, CORRECT? YES, CORRECT.
THERE'S A LETTER THAT SAYS THAT THEY'RE GONNA REIMBURSE US.
JUST A REMINDER TO THE COMMISSION THAT WE NEED TO BE READING OUR PACKET SO IT CAN BE EFFICIENT.
IS THERE, THERE WAS A MOTION TO APPROVE BY GOMEZ, A SECOND BY SOMEBODY OVER THERE.
WAS THAT RIGHT? OR THAT WAS YOU? UH, MESMER.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
[Item 10n - Consideration and possible action to approve the installation of a mid-block pedestrian crosswalk 300 feet east of 28th Street and Grimes Rd intersections.]
CONSIDERATION, POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE THE INSTALLATION OF A MIDBLOCK PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK.300 FEET EAST OF 28TH STREET IN GRIMES ROAD.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR ROBERTO? YES.
I GET WELL, ROBERT'S NOT HERE TODAY.
[02:00:01]
CALLING YOUBUT ROBERT, BUT IT IS ME, RIGHT? YES.
I COULDN'T DISTINGUISH WHAT THE CROSSWALK WAS IT CONNECTING BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE A PARKING LOT TO A BUILDING.
FOR THE, IT IS CONNECTING ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF, OF, UM, GRIME.
THERE'S AN EXISTING PARKING LOT.
AND ON THE NORTH SIDE, ESSENTIALLY WE WOULD CONNECT IT UP TO THE SIDEWALK.
AND THEN WHENEVER, UH, THE DEVELOPMENT ON THE NORTH SIDE, THE CHURCH WOULD BE DOING THE IMPROVEMENTS FROM THE RIGHT OF WAY TO THE, UM, PARKING LOT.
THAT'S, SO IT'S A LIFELINE CHURCH.
YOU'RE CONNECTING LIFELINE CHURCH TO THE PARKING LOT.
CAN I GET A MOTION, MOTION MOTION APPROVED BY COMMISSIONER GOMEZ? SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[Item 10o - Consideration and possible action to accept a donation of $28,000 from the Rotary Club of Harlingen to the City of Harlingen's Vestal Park for the construction of a dog park.]
O, UH, CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO ACCEPT A DONATION OF 28,000 FROM THE ROTARY CLUB OF HARLEEN TO THE CITY OF HARLINGEN VESTAL PARK FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A DOG PARK.THIS WAS PUT ON BY, UH, COMM, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM DANIEL LOPEZ AND COMMISSIONER FRANK MORALES.
I PUT TOGETHER AN OVERVIEW OF THE AGREEMENT.
UH, IT'S FOR CONSTRUCTION IN FEBRUARY OF 2027.
AND HOW, WHAT WAS GONNA BE THE TOTAL COST? TOTAL COST DEPENDS ON LAWYER.
THAT'S DEFINITELY A LAWYER RESPONSE.
SO AS YOU SEE IN THE AGREEMENT, IT SAYS THAT BOTH SIDES ARE GONNA SEEK OUT, UH, DONATIONS IN BOTH SIDES.
THAT THE FINAL PRODUCT IS GONNA BE DEPENDENT ON TOTAL DONATIONS PRE, UH, CAPTURED.
SO IF YOU DO NOT GET DONATIONS FOR A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE COST, YOU'RE NOT GONNA MOVE FORWARD.
UH, WELL, WE'RE STUCK AT, WE'RE GONNA PRODUCE OR CREATE A DOG PARK FOR $28,000 AND IF WE CAN, UH, CAPTURE MORE MONEY, THEN WE CAN EXPAND THE VISION OF IT.
SO THE DOG PARK, 'CAUSE IS GONNA COST $28,000.
IT WON'T BE MORE THAN $20,000.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT IT CAN COST MORE THAN 28,000.
WELL, THERE'S A VISION, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAW THE, THE ATTACHMENT TO IT.
SO THERE'S ATTACHMENT TO THIS ITEM.
AND THAT IT WOULD BE MORE THAN 28,000.
AND THAT'S WHY THE LANGUAGE THAT I DRAFTED IS, HEY, THIS IS AN IDYLLIC, THIS IS AN IDYLLIC DOG PARK.
THIS IS WHAT IT, I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN PULL IT UP ON THE SCREEN.
IT'S GONNA COST MORE THAN THAT.
HOWEVER, AT $28,000 WE CAN PRODUCE A DOG PARK.
AND SO AS WE WORK TOGETHER WITH ROTARY TO CAPTURE MORE AND MORE MONEY, WE CAN GET IT CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THIS PICTURE.
AND SO, UH, IF YOU, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY CAN PULL IT UP, BUT, UH, AS YOU CAN TELL, IT'S, IT'S A LARGE, LARGE DOG PARK.
IT'S GONNA BE BOTH SIDED OR TWO SIDED.
ONE FOR SMALL ANIMALS, ONE FOR LARGE ANIMALS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, THAT'S HOW WE'RE GONNA BE SOURCING SOME OF THE MATERIALS, UH, THROUGH THE REFORESTATION PROGRAM IF IT'S APPROVED.
UH, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA BE DOING AS MUCH OF THIS IN-HOUSE AND VOLUNTEERS AS WELL.
I MET WITH, UM, I I, I'M BLANKING OUT ON HER.
I'M HAVING A COMPLETE, UM, BRAIN FOG, BUT SHE'S THE ONE THAT'S IN CHARGE OF THE UNITED WAY.
YOU SPOKE TO JENNIFER? JENNIFER, JENNIFER ALLEN.
AND SO, UH, COMMISSIONER PER, I WAS TELLING HER ABOUT YOUR, UM, TRASH PICKUPS AND I SAID, THIS IS A FANTASTIC IDEA AND THAT WHAT HAPPENS, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THIS, BUT, SO EACH ROTARY CLUB, THERE'S FOUR IN THE AREA.
EACH ROTARY CLUB HAS WHAT'S CALLED AN INTERACT CLUB, WHICH IS A GROUP OF STUDENTS.
AND SO WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO IS FIGURE OUT PROJECTS FOR THESE STUDENTS.
AND I FIGURED ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT THEY CAN DO MONTHLY PROJECTS TO GET 'EM ALL TOGETHER, WOULD TO BE, WOULD BE TO INSTALL THE PLANTS AND DO WORK HERE.
ANOTHER ONE COULD BE TO HELP US AT THE, UH, ADMIRAL SHELTER.
ANOTHER ONE CAN BE TO HELP YOU AT YOUR, UH, OR THE KEY AND BEAUTIFUL TRASH PICKUPS.
IN FACT, THEY HAVE, IT'S IN MY, MY VEHICLE.
BUT THEY ACTUALLY EACH MONTH HAS ITS OWN, UH, LIKE THEME THAT I'M GONNA BE TYING THEM UP SO THAT WE CAN GET MORE VOLUNTEERS FOR CITYWIDE PROJECTS.
'CAUSE I'VE BEEN RE ACTUALLY REACHING OUT TO THE ROTARY FOR OVER A YEAR.
I KNOW THE FIRST TIME I REACHED OUT WITH, REMEMBER I, BEFORE YOU WERE ON THE COMMISSION, I REACHED OUT TO DELIA FOR INFORMATION ON WHO THE PRESIDENT OF THE ROTARY WAS BECAUSE I WAS INVITING THEM TO COME OUT TO THE COMMUNITY CLEANUP.
I REACHED OUT TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND I REACHED OUT TO SEVERAL, BUT WE'VE NEVER ACTUALLY GOT ANY PARTICIPATION FROM THE ROTARY FOR THE COMMUNITY CLEANUPS.
UM, BUT THE ONE THING I WAS WONDERING ABOUT, BECAUSE I NOTICED ON NUMBER EIGHT YOU PUT, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S A GREAT THING THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO DONATE THE $20,000.
[02:05:01]
I MEAN, THAT'S AWESOME.UM, THE ONLY THING IS I'M WORRIED ABOUT IS WHERE IT SAYS ON NUMBER EIGHT WHERE IT SAYS, CITY AGREES TO STRIVE TO COMPLETE THE PARK IN FEBRUARY OF 2027.
BECAUSE WE HAD DISCUSSED THIS BEFORE WHEN WE HAD THE PARK COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND WE HAD AGREED THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE ON THE MIDTERM, UM, PROJECTS, AND THAT WOULD BE TWO TO THREE YEARS.
SO WHAT I'M AFRAID OF IS THAT WE PUT THIS EMPHASIS ON THE PARK, WHICH I THINK IS A GREAT IDEA.
YOU'VE DONE WONDER, I ASKED FOR SOME RESEARCH ON VEST PARK AND I MEAN, SINCE YOU'VE BEEN THERE, YOU TURNED A PARK THAT BASICALLY HAD NOTHING AND YOU'VE BEEN INVESTED OVER $400,000 IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS AT VEST PARK.
I MEAN, IT'S AMAZING WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
I I GIVE YOU MAJOR, I COULD HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT Y'ALL'S SUPPORT, SO OH, I KNOW THAT.
BUT YOU'VE DONE AN AMAZING JOB.
BUT MY MAIN THING IS, IS I JUST DON'T WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, 'CAUSE IF WE AGREED THAT WE'RE GONNA STRIVE TO COMPLETE BY FEBRUARY, 2027, I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE DELAYS IT'S GONNA CAUSE IN OTHER PARKS.
'CAUSE I KNOW LIKE, UM, MY PARK STEWART PLACE IS ON TIER ONE.
I KNOW WE'RE DOING SOME ON FRANKS TWO FOR RAINVILLE ROAD.
SO MY THING IS, I KNOW THE WAY YOU ARE
AND THAT'S GREAT FOR YOUR DISTRICT, THAT'S AWESOME FOR YOUR DISTRICT 'CAUSE YOU'VE DONE A LOT FOR IT.
BUT I'M JUST WORRIED THAT IF WE COMMIT TO THIS, IT'S GONNA PUSH THE TIMELINE AND ALL OF OUR OTHER PROJECTS A LOT, UH, FARTHER BACK.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT.
AND THEN I WAS ALSO DOING SOME MORE RESEARCH AND I SAW THAT THE, THE WAY YOU HAVE, IT'S GONNA COST ABOUT $107,000.
SO IF THEY'RE ONLY DONATING $28,000, I'M JUST WORRIED WHERE WE'RE GONNA GET THE REST OF THE MONEY IN ORDER TO COMPLETE YOUR VISION.
AND SO THAT IS THE REASON I WANTED TO PUT IN THAT LANGUAGE ABOUT EVERYTHING BEING CONTINGENT ON FUNDING.
SO THIS, AND I PUT IN THE LANGUAGE ABOUT THIS BEING IDYLLIC.
AND SO IT PUTS, IT PUTS THE PRESSURE ON BOTH ENTITIES THAT IF WE WANT THIS VISION HERE, WE NEED TO GO OUT AND SEEK THE FUNDING FOR IT.
AND WOULD YOU ALSO BE OPEN TO MAKE IT CONTINGENT TO ALIGN WITH OUR ALREADY APPROVED, UM, UM, PARK COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AS WELL? UH, NO, BECAUSE IF WE RECALL AT OUR LAST MEETING, OUR MEETING, WHEN WE DISCUSSED THE TIERS, WE DISCUSSED THAT IT WOULD COME AS IT RELATES TO FUNDING.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, TIER ONE IN MY, ONE OF MY PROJECTS IN TIER ONE IS WINDSOR.
BUT WE'RE STILL NOT EVEN IN THE POLLING STAGE OF WINDSOR.
AND SO THAT ONE MAY SLIP OUT OF TIER ONE AND SLIP INTO TIER TWO.
AND THIS ONE SLIPS FROM TIER TWO INTO TIER ONE.
AND SO IT'S CONTINGENT ON FUNDING.
I'M SORRY, MIKE, YOU CAN RIGHT NOW.
NO, IT'S JUST, MY THING IS ALSO, HAVE YOU REACHED OUT FOR COMMUNITY INPUT? 'CAUSE I KNOW I'VE REACHED, I'VE RECEIVED SOME FEEDBACK FROM SOME OF THE CONSTITUENTS IN YOUR AREA AND I DON'T WANT YOU TO GO THROUGH WHAT I THREW, 'CAUSE I KNOW YOU GAVE ME THAT IDEA FOR THE POCKET PARKS.
AND I ENDED UP DOING THE ONE ON STEWART PLACE AND I GOT ALL THIS COMMUNITY FEEDBACK WHERE THESE PEOPLE WERE LIKE, NO, WE DON'T WANT IT.
AND IT ENDED UP BEING A HUGE THING.
AND I DIDN'T WANT THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO YOU.
SO HAVE YOU ACTUALLY GOT COMMUNITY FEEDBACK? 'CAUSE I KNOW I RECEIVED SOME FROM PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THAT AREA, PEOPLE THAT WE BOTH KNOW.
AND I'M JUST WORRIED THAT, YOU KNOW, DO THEY REALLY WANT THIS PARK OR DON'T THEY WANT THIS PARK? GREAT.
SO THIS FEEDBACK COMES FROM THE PARK MASTER PLAN, THE PROT, WHICH IN FACT DOG PARKS WERE MENTIONED 16 TIMES THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PRO, THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PLAN.
AND IT WAS RECOGNIZED AS A NUMBER, TOP SIX PRIORITY THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
MOREOVER, WHEN WE DRAFTED EVERYTHING, SO WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT IMPROVING THE WALKING TRAIL OR IMPROVING, PUTTING IN BASKETBALL COURTS, WE DID A SURVEY ABOUT TWO TO THREE YEARS AGO.
AND SO EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH NOT ONLY THE PARK VISION, BUT ALSO THE MASTER PLAN, BUT ALSO IN THE MASTER PLAN.
I REMEMBER IF THEY WERE DOING DOG PARKS OR ANYTHING, THEY WERE RECOMMENDING PUTTING IN MAJOR THROWAWAYS OR MA OR MA OR MAYBE IN REGIONAL PARKS, WHICH VESTO PARK IS NOT.
IT'S A SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.
SO I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO A SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD PARK LIKE VESTO, WHICH IS KIND OF SECLUDED, IT'S LIKE ITS OWN LITTLE CORNER.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO GET THE ACTUAL COMMUNITY FEEDBACK FROM THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA BE DEALING WITH IT EVERY DAY.
SO HAVE YOU DONE THAT? CORRECT.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO.
BUT YOU'RE, YOU'RE DOING IT NOW.
SO HAVE YOU REACHED OUT TO THESE PEOPLE RECENTLY? 'CAUSE THESE PEOPLE HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME RECENTLY.
SO I'M SAYING, HAVE YOU DONE THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK? 'CAUSE I DON'T WANT WHAT HAPPENED TO ME SUCKED.
AND I DON'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN TO YOU.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU'VE GOTTEN THE COMMUNITY INPUT THAT THE PEOPLE ACTUALLY WANT IT.
I DON'T WANT US TO BE, YOU KNOW, COMMITTING OURSELVES TO OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THIS DOG PARK WHEN WE'RE NOT SURE IF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ACTUALLY GONNA BE AFFECTED ACTUALLY LIVE THERE.
TO BE RECENT, AS IN, WITHIN THE LAST SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR? NO, BECAUSE I'M FOLLOWING THE PLAN THAT WE PUT TOGETHER THREE YEARS AGO.
SO WOULD YOU BE OPEN TO, UM, TABLE IT SO THAT WAY WE CAN GET SOME PUBLIC FEEDBACK, COMMUNITY FEEDBACK FROM THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THAT AREA? NO.
WHY? BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE FEEDBACK, BUT THAT WAS, SO I'M NOT GONNA RE-LITIGATE THE SAME ISSUE OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
SO YOU GOT FEEDBACK FROM THREE YEARS AGO AND YOU DON'T WANNA GET COMMUNITY FEEDBACK FROM THE PEOPLE THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE AFFECTING ON A DAILY BASIS BASED ON THE DOG PARK.
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN LITERALLY SAYS, SHOULD BE ON MAJOR THROWAWAYS AND REGIONAL PARKS, WHICH VESSEL PARK IS NEITHER.
WELL, THE, THE, THE MASTER PLAN ACTUALLY SAYS AND CALLS FOR A DOG PARK AT
[02:10:01]
VESSEL AND IDENTIFIES IT.UM, JUAN, GENERALLY JUAN, UM, WHEN WE, WHEN COMMUNITIES BUILD DOG PARKS, WHERE DO THEY USUALLY BUILD THEM?
UM, ONE IS HEAVILY ON FEEDBACK FROM YOUR COM COMMUNITY AND THE LOCATION.
UH, IDEALLY IT'S MAJOR THROWAWAYS, EXPRESSWAYS EASY ACCESS POINTS FOR ALL CITIES AND ALL DISTRICTS.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, VICTOR PARK RIGHT OFF THE EXPRESSWAY, IT'S EASY ACCESSIBLE TO GUESTS AND OTHERS FROM DISTRICTS.
SO, UM, IT'S JUST VARIOUS COMPONENTS ON DETERMINING BECAUSE, BUT YES, MAJORITY IS OFF EXPRESSIVE.
'CAUSE MY MAJOR CONCERN IS THAT ONE OF, PART OF THE CHARM OF VEST PARK, WHICH IS AN INCREDIBLE PARK, IS THAT IT HAS THAT LITTLE NEIGHBORHOOD VIBE.
THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, IF YOU ADD THIS, UH, THIS IMPRESSIVE PARK THAT YOU HAVE, UM, YOU'VE DISPLAYED FOR US IS IT LOOKS BEAUTIFUL AND IF YOU PUT IT THERE, THIS IS GOING TO BE ATTRACTING A LOT OF MORE PEOPLE TO THAT PARK, POSSIBLY LEADING A LOT MORE PEOPLE TO THE PARK, A LOT MORE TRAFFIC AND A LOT MORE MAYBE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT, THAT, THOSE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN AROUND THAT NEIGHBORHOOD WON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE AROUND.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING LIKE, I REALLY THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO GET COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AND NOT TO RELY ON INFORMATION THAT'S THREE YEARS OLD WHEN YOU CAN JUST GET SOME INFORMATION, YOU KNOW, WE CAN PUT IT ON THE NEXT MEETING, GET THAT INFORMATION, SEE WHAT THEY WANT, AND YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? IF IT'S YES, IT'S YES, GO FOR IT.
OR MAYBE, I MEAN, IT'S UP TO YOU, BUT I WOULD REALLY, REALLY STRONG.
'CAUSE I KNOW YOU'RE A BIG PROPONENT OF GETTING COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AND REACHING OUT TO THE CONSTITUENTS AND ALL THAT, SO I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU DO THAT.
BUT AGAIN, I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT THAT FOR YOU.
'CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO HAPPEN TO ME.
BUT IT GOES BACK TO THE COST AS WELL.
I'M JUST WORRIED IS THAT I WANT YOUR WORD THAT THIS IS NOT GONNA PUSH ANY OF OUR STUFF BEHIND.
'CAUSE I KNOW THIS IS GOING TO TAKE UP, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DURING THE, DURING THE, UH, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT AND I MENTIONED TOO AND YOU WAS THAT THIS WAS, WE ALREADY LIMITED IN RESOURCES AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE TRYING TO GET PARKS MORE HELP, WHICH I'M HOPING WE DO.
BUT IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO GIVE PARKS AS MUCH HELP AS WE WANT, THEN WE'RE GOING TO BE ALL LIKE, FIGHTING FOR THE SAME RESOURCES WHEN WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE ALREADY, UM, BASICALLY STARTED AND THEN YOU'RE JUST GONNA PUSH US BACK.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? SO I IF YOU WANNA DO THIS PART, I I JUST DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE ALSO WITH THAT TIMELINE.
I DON'T THINK IT, I THINK IT'S TOO SOON.
DO YOU HAVE ANY SAVED ANY COMMENTS ON THAT? I THANK YOU FOR THAT FEEDBACK.
SO ARE YOU GONNA GET COMMUNITY FEEDBACK OR NO, I'M, I'VE ALREADY MADE GIVEN YOU MY ANSWER.
SO ARE YOU GONNA GET CURRENT COMMUNITY FEEDBACK? I SAID NO EARLIER.
UM, ARE YOU, ARE YOU I'M DONE.
COMMISSIONER MEME, THE EXISTING DOG PARK THAT WAS PAID FOR BY THE FRIDAY, HARLAN AND ROTARY CLUB.
I DON'T HAVE A DOG, BUT I'VE GONE THERE QUITE A FEW TIMES AND WATCHED THE DOGS PLAYING AND WATCH THE OWNERS SMILING AND ENJOYING IT ALL.
AND THE DOG PARK IS AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE CITY FOR DOG OWNERS.
WHAT ABOUT MY PARKS? IT'LL SLOW DOWN MONEY AND, AND WORK ON MY PARKS.
ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE ELECTED FROM A DISTRICT, WE'RE NOT THE KINGS AND QUEEN OF A DISTRICT.
WE REPRESENT ALL THE PARKS AND WE REPRESENT THE WHOLE CITY.
SO, UM, I HAVE A QUESTION ON, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
I, I KNOW I GOT A COUPLE OF EMAILS AND I THINK STAFF TOOK CARE OF IT.
UM, BUT THERE WAS SOME CONCERN THAT THE EXISTING DOG PARK AT VICTOR PARK WASN'T BEING KEPT UP.
AND THEN THERE WAS SOME COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SIGN.
UM, DID THE ROTARY PAY FOR THE SIGN TO BE REPLACED? THE SIGN HAS BEEN REPLACED ALREADY.
AND SOME OF THE CONCERNS WITH THE LOWER FENCING, WE FIXED IT.
UM, WE ADDED, UH, DECOMPOSED GRANITE AROUND THE WATER FOUNTAINS.
UM, WE'VE ADDED, UM, NEW PICNIC TABLES AROUND THAT AREA.
SO I KNOW OUR STAFF HAS, UM, SPOKE WITH SOME OF THE ADVOCATES OR THE DOG, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE THAT USUALLY GO THERE EVERY MORNING.
AND WE, AND WE'VE, WE'VE DONE IMPROVEMENTS THERE.
SO I GUESS MY QUESTION WAS IN TERMS OF THE, UM, THE INVESTMENT FROM THE ROTARY, IS THAT JUST A, A ONE TIME DONATION AND THEN IT BELONGS TO THE CITY AND
[02:15:01]
THE CITY NEEDS TO DO THE UPKEEP JUST LIKE VICTOR PARK? YES.SO WHAT WAS THE COST OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS THAT YOU DID IN, UH, VICTOR PARK RECENTLY? I DON'T KNOW IF, I MEAN, I WOULD IMAGINE COMMISSIONER MORALE HAS RECEIVED THOSE COM UH, COMPLAINTS.
UM, BUT I FORWARD THEM OVER TO STAFF AND Y'ALL WERE REALLY GOOD ABOUT TAKING CARE OF IT.
UH, WAS IT MINIMAL? LIKE IT DIDN'T, IT WAS MINIMAL.
I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT FIGURES, BUT A LOT OF IT WAS THE LOWER FENCING JUST CURLING UP, SO WE ANCHORED THEM DOWN.
UM, THE DEPOSE GRANITE WE'VE ALREADY HAD IN STOCK.
UM, SOME OF THE PAINTING WE, WE'VE HAD, WE'VE IN STOCK ALREADY AS WELL.
UM, PICNIC TABLE THAT WE REPLACED, WE, WE BROUGHT IT FROM A, A PAVILION AREA INTO THAT AREA.
UM, SOME TREE TRIMMING, UM, BUT VERY MINIMAL.
AND THEN IT, IT'S ON OUR ROUTE TOO, SO WHEN WE MAINTAIN IT AND WE, AND WE MOW IT'S PART OF THE ROUTE ALREADY.
SO I'VE BEEN OUT THERE AND THIS LOOKS BEAUTIFUL.
UM, THIS, THIS RENDERING, NOT SURE THE VICTOR PARK IS, UM, LOOKS LIKE THIS AT ALL.
UM, IS, IS THERE ANY CONSIDERATION OF THE CITY TRYING TO IMPROVE THE DOG, THE DOG PARK IN VICTOR PARK? HAS THERE BEEN, UM, A SIDE HAS THOSE IMPROVEMENTS THAT YOU'VE MADE THAT KIND OF, THAT THE COMMUNITY THAT UTILIZES THE PARK, THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE, LIKE THAT'S SUFFICIENT FOR THEM? YEAH, AND SOME OF, SOME OF THE, THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE THERE, THEY, THEY SHARE WITH US CERTAIN IDEAS AND, UM, WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THEIR INFORMATION AND EXECUTE IT.
UM, WE DO HAVE ABOUT EIGHT SHADE STRUCTURES AT THE PARK SHOP.
I KNOW WE'RE GONNA INSTALL ONE OF THEM THERE.
BUT, UM, PRETTY MUCH THEIR CONCERNS, WE TAKE CARE OF THE OTHER, THE OTHER AREA THAT WE ARE TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD IS ADDING A SOLAR LIGHTER TO THERE.
BUT, AND HOW MANY, UM, WE WERE AT A WORKSHOP JUST THE OTHER DAY.
HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DO YOU NEED IN YOUR, UH, GROUNDS? WE DEPARTMENT, SO THE GROUNDS DEPARTMENT, UM, I THINK WE'VE CUT IT DOWN TO THREE GROUNDSKEEPERS AND ONE, HOW MANY DID YOU ASK FOR? WE ASKED FOR SIX GROUND KEEPERS AND, UM, TWO MAINTENANCE TECHS.
SO IT'S FROM THE OPERATION SIDE AND GROUNDSKEEPERS UP TO, UH, UM, GROUNDSKEEPERS ARE THE ONES THAT YOU UTILIZE TODAY TO, TO KEEP UP WITH ALL OF THE PARKS, INCLUDING THE DOG PARK AT VICTOR PARK? EXACTLY.
ALSO THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS, THE CANAL BANKS, THE MEDIANS, THE PARKS, DOG PARKS.
UM, SO THE GROUNDSKEEPERS CUT MUCH MORE.
AND YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH RIGHT NOW FOR WHAT YOU HAVE CURRENTLY, IS THAT CORRECT? WE ARE SHORT STAFFED.
UM, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER TO STAFF, WE HIRE, NOT RECENTLY, WE HIRED SIX INDIVIDUALS AND WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK, FIVE RESIGNED.
AND THEN WE WENT THROUGH INTERVIEWS LATE LAST WEEK AND THIS WEEK.
SO WE'RE HOPING THAT THOSE NEW HIRES STAY WITH US LONGER.
SO WE ALREADY KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT GETTING EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE ASKED FOR.
UM, SO YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DIVERT STAFF.
THIS IS GONNA BE ADDITIONAL TO WHAT YOU CURRENTLY HAVE.
AND THAT'S GOING THAT, WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FOR THE EXISTING PARKS RIGHT NOW, STAFF WISE, OUR STAFF IS STILL, IT, IT'S STILL DOING OUR BEST.
UM, FOR THE MOST PART, OUR PARKS, THIS IS NO CRITICISM OF YOU.
YEAH, I'M, I'M, I'M, WHAT I'M TRYING TO TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT WE HAD A, UM, A CONSENSUS I THOUGHT ON THE COMMISSION THAT WE WERE NOT GOING TO CREATE ANYMORE UNTIL WE COULD ENSURE THAT WHAT WE HAD WAS BEING TAKEN CARE OF AND THAT THAT'S WHAT THE COMMUNITY WAS ASKING FOR.
NOW THIS IS GONNA BE ADDED ON, IT'S GONNA BE ADDITIONAL WORK.
IS THERE ROOM COMMISSIONER TO ACCEPT THE, THE FUNDING AND PUT IT OFF AS COMMISSIONER BETAS ASKED TO THE THREE TO FIVE YEAR MARK, UM, OR TWO TO FIVE OR WHATEVER THAT MIDPOINT IS TO ENSURE THAT THEY GET CAUGHT UP WITH WHAT IT IS THAT THEY'RE DOING AND KEEPING THE PARKS, UM, UP, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE EVERY SINGLE PARK IN THE COMMUNITY IS THEY HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO GET TO BEFORE THEY'RE HAVING TO GO TO ANOTHER.
UM, I THINK THAT'S A HAPPY COMPROMISE.
UM, IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, NOT THE WAY THAT YOU MENTIONED NOT TURNING AWAY FREE MONEY, BUT IT'S NOT JUST 27,000 OR $28,000.
IT'S THE COST OF THE MAINTENANCE, THE CONSISTENT MAINTENANCE.
WE'VE BEEN GETTING ALL THIS FEEDBACK OF VICTOR PARK AND, UM, I GOT A, A WHOLE EMAIL TODAY OF VICTOR PARK AND I DON'T KNOW WHO THAT WAS, BUT RESPONDED AND, AND, AND I, I APPRECIATE STAFF TAKING THE TIME OUT OF THEIR DAY TO RESPOND TO THAT LIST OF, OF, OF CONCERNS AND SAYING, HEY, WE ARE ON TOP OF IT.
[02:20:01]
BUT ONE OF IT, ONE OF THEM WAS IRRIGATION, RIGHT.AND SO WHILE THIS IS BEAUTIFUL, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, READY TO TAKE THAT, THAT STEP.
I THINK I, I REMEMBER COMMISSIONER GOMEZ KIND OF TOOK A STEP BACK ON A PARK, UH, RECENTLY BECAUSE OF THE SAME REASON.
UM, I THINK, UH, I JUST HEARD COMMISSIONER MORALE EARLIER SAYING, NO MORE PARKS TO, TO MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND SAYING NO, BECAUSE WE NEED TO WORK ON DRAINAGE.
AND THEN I SEE HIM HERE, UM, REQUESTING, UH, PARKS, RIGHT? SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT CONTR.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE WHERE THE MESSAGE THAT WE'RE SENDING TO THE COMMUNITY IS A LITTLE CONTRADICTORY.
AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THE REST OF THE MONEY IS GONNA COME, BUT I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO RAISE IT.
UM, AND I THINK IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
UM, I'VE GOT DOGS OF MY OWN, SO I, I APPRECIATE WANTING TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
UM, AND IF, AND IF YOU'RE WILLING TO KIND OF PUSH IT OUT A LITTLE BIT AND, AND PRIORITIZE AND GIVE STAFF ENOUGH TIME, MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED JUST NOT IMMEDIATELY WITHIN THIS NEXT, UM, FISCAL YEAR.
AND THEN IT PRO GIVES THE STAFF A LITTLE BIT OF, OF BREATHING ROOM BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA WANT TO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA DO A LOT IN-HOUSE.
THAT'S OTHER STAFF THAT'S ALREADY BURDENED AS WELL IN TERMS OF WE'VE, WE, WE SAW IT, YOU KNOW, $16.7 MILLION OF ASK AND A LOT OF IT REOCCURRING COSTS AND A LOT OF IT PAID FOR PAYROLL.
UM, AND SO IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'S A GREAT PROJECT, A GREAT INITIATIVE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY AND WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFF TODAY.
BUT I FEEL GOOD THAT WE WILL, AND AT THE, YOU KNOW, SO THAT WAY YOU SECURE IT, YOU YOU'VE GOT THAT COMMITMENT FROM THE ROTARY AND IT DOESN'T GO AWAY.
IT'S JUST NOT, UM, SOMETHING THAT WE TAKE ACTION ON.
AND, AND IF THAT'S, UM, IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY INPUT, I WILL SAY, UM, I THINK IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHAT THE COMMUNITY AROUND THE AREA FEELS, UH, IN TERMS OF, OF, OF THIS.
UH, I, YOU KNOW, I I DO REMEMBER GOING TO HIS MEETING AND, AND, AND GOING IN THERE SUPER EXCITED THINKING THAT THEY WERE GOING TO EMBRACE THE IDEA AND, AND THEY SAID NO.
AND ULTIMATELY THE COMMUNITY, UM, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A, I STILL THINK IT WAS A GOOD IDEA, UH, THE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY SAID NO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY WOULD SAY IN, IN REGARDS TO, TO THIS.
MAYBE THEY'LL, MAYBE THEY'LL LOVE IT, YOU KNOW, BUT WHAT IF THEY DON'T? YOU KNOW, THAT GIVES YOU A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO, UM, EXPLAIN WHY IT WOULD BE A GREAT ADDITION.
AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, WE'D ALREADY DONE THE COMMANDING THE INPUT ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO.
THE OTHER THING, SO, YOU KNOW, EVERY PRESIDENT GETS A PROJECT.
SO WHEN YOU'RE THE PRESIDENT OF ROTARY, WHEN I WAS PRESIDENT MY YEAR, I FORGOT WHAT, WHAT MY PROJECT WAS.
AND SO THIS IS THE CURRENT PRESIDENT, UH, PRESIDENT'S PROJECT.
IF YOU RECALL, THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS WE GOT FOR THE HAR AND SOCCER COMPLEX, THREE PRESIDENTS COMBINED AND SAID, HEY, LET'S GIVE A LARGER PAYOUT.
AND THAT'S WHY IF YOU LOOK AT THE LANGUAGE HERE ON ONE OF THE ITEMS, THEY WANNA BE THE ONE THAT CUTS ALL THE CHECKS BECAUSE THERE'S STILL BEEN DELAYS ON THAT ONE.
AND SO IT, FROM THE CONVER MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS I HAD, THIS IS A, WE GOTTA DO, WE GOTTA MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE IT'S THE PRESIDENT'S HERE, THEY WANT TO KNOCK IT OUT THEIR YEAR.
AND I CAN APPRECIATE THAT, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THE CITY, UM, LIKE THAT DOESN'T CHANGE THE BURDEN ON STAFF.
UM, AND THE LIMITED RESOURCES THAT WE, THAT WE HAVE, IS THERE A PROJECT THAT DOESN'T ENTAIL, UM, STAFF HAVING TO UTILIZE THEIR TIME OR MAINTAINING SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO BECAUSE WE'RE NOT KEEPING UP WITH WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY? LIKE, IS THERE ANOTHER PROJECT THAT WE COULD LIKE, OR MAYBE ADDITIONAL? I I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW THAT SHE, UH, MORE TO THE SOCCER COMPLEX.
YOU KNOW, I, I UNDER, I, I UNDERSTAND THE, THE WANTING TO DO THAT, BUT WHEN I LOOK AT THE SOCCER COMPLEX, IT WENT THROUGH MULTIPLE, UM, PRESIDENTS.
SO MAYBE THEY CAN GET TOGETHER AND SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT? I WANNA DO THIS, BUT THE INCOMING, I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE WHOEVER'S WHO'S NEXT IN LINE, THAT PERSON TO SAY, WE WANNA COME INTO AN AGREEMENT AND, AND MY PROJECT AND YOUR PROJECT, WE'RE GONNA WORK ON IT WITH, UM, LOPEZ AND IT'S SLATED FOR 2028 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IS THAT NOT AN OPTION? AND SORRY TO GO BACK ALSO, WE HAD A MEETING WITH STAFF OUT ON SITE AND STAFF SAYS THAT THEY WEREN'T GONNA HAVE ISSUES KNOCKING THIS PROJECT OUT.
HE JUST SAID THAT WASN'T TRUE.
RIGHT NOW THEY JUST, THEY THEY STAFF, HE WASN'T AT THAT MEETING 'CAUSE HE LEFT THAT MEETING.
SO STAFF WANTS TO, STAFF IN CHARGE WANTS TO DO WHAT THE COMMISSION WANTS, BUT THE REALITY IS THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE.
WE'RE WE'RE, WE'RE ON THE RECEIVING END OF PARKS NOT BEING KEPT UP WITH IN EVERY SINGLE DISTRICT.
THEY DON'T, AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANNA DO IT.
THERE'S JUST A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF HOURS IN THE DAY
[02:25:01]
AND THERE'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF EMPLOYEES.UM, SO THE, I I MEAN, I'D LIKE TO TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT, BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A BURDEN.
AND IF IT CAN'T BE PUT OUT, THEN I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN.
UM, I I, I HEAR THE COMMUNITY TELLING US THAT THEY'RE JUST WANTING US TO KEEP, LIKE, STOP SPENDING ON OTHER THINGS.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A DONATION, BUT FIX WHAT YOU GOT BEFORE YOU ADD ON MORE.
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE COMING UP IN 2027.
WE'VE GOT THE REC CENTER OPENING UP IN OR BREAKING GROUND IN CONSTRUCTION IN 2027.
YOU GOT DIXIE DIXIELAND OVER HERE.
YOU'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, ALL THE, THE MONEY THAT'S FINALLY COMING THROUGH FOR, UH, VICTOR PARK.
LIKE, WE'VE GOT A LOT GOING ON.
UM, AND IT'S, AND AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ALL THIS NEW CONSTRUCTION TOO STAYS BEAUTIFUL AND DOESN'T END UP LIKE SOME OF THE PLACES THAT ARE, UM, IN OUR, IN OUR COMMUNITY ALREADY.
I KNOW THAT, UM, DELIA'S BEEN TRYING TO WORK ON THAT PARK OVER BY THE LA AREA THAT NEEDS A LOT OF, A LOT OF WORK TOO.
IS THAT YOURS? OR THAT'S, OR YOU ARE.
SO WINDSOR WOULD GO DOWN TO TIER TWO, VEST WOULD COME UP TO TIER THREE, AND THEN CHRIS YES, SIR.
YOU WERE AT THAT MEETING AT VEST PARK, CORRECT? YES, SIR.
WE CAN KNOCK THIS OUT, THIS PROJECT OUT.
I CAN KNOCK OUT ANYTHING Y'ALL ASKED ME TO DO.
I, AND THAT'S WHY, SO IT WAS ON THE REPRESENTATION OF CHRIS WHO WAS AT THAT MEETING.
WE HAD TWO OTHER MEMBERS OF, OR THREE OTHER MEMBERS OF STAFF THAT ARE AT THAT MEETING THAT WE CAN DO IT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT WE, WE CAN DO ALL THINGS RIGHT, BUT WE'RE NOT DOING THEM RIGHT.
IT, IT, IT, THEY'RE GONNA SAY YES BECAUSE THEY WANT THAT.
THAT'S THEIR, THAT'S THEIR JOB IS TO MEET THE EXPECTATION.
BUT HOW DO YOU DO IT, CHRIS, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE STAFF, HOW DO YOU, HOW DO YOU TELL THE CITIZENS OF HARLINGEN WE'RE GONNA ADD ON ANOTHER PARK.
BUT WHEN YOU GO TO VICTOR PARK, THE, IT, YOU KNOW, THE FIELDS ARE BROWN, HOW DO YOU, HOW DO YOU, HOW DO YOU RECONCILE THAT? SO THE CONSTRUCTION, AS LONG AS THERE'S A FUNDING, WE CAN GET THAT DONE.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I TOLD, UH, COMMISSIONER LOPEZ, AS FAR AS THE MAINTENANCE SIDE, IT, IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARD, RIGHT? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT, UM, I, I GOT THAT EMAIL AS WELL MM-HMM
UM, AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S, IT'S HARD, UM, WHEN THERE'S NOT ENOUGH, UH, MAINTENANCE STAFF TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THAT.
RIGHT? BUT I THINK THAT SOME OF THAT'S, SOME OF THE MAINTENANCE, UH, CAN BE LOOKED AT A LITTLE BIT MORE, UH, CURRENT SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE SOME OF THOSE ISSUES WITH THOSE PARKS.
AGAIN, IF, IF Y'ALL TELL ME TO BUILD A DUCK PARK, I WILL BUILD IT.
UM, BUT IT, THE THE MAINTENANCE SIDE, IT, IT, IT IS A LITTLE BIT HARDER.
RIGHT? BUT THAT, THAT'S Y'ALL'S DECISION FOR SURE.
SO WHAT I'M HEARING IS YOU CAN BUILD IT, BUT THEN YOU'RE NOT GONNA KEEP UP WITH IT.
THE SUSTAINABILITY PART IS THE CONCERN.
AT THIS, AT THIS JUNCTURE, UNLESS WE FIND, WE SOMEHOW GIVE YOU MORE STAFF.
RIGHT? WELL, A COUPLE THINGS TOO.
UM, WE ALREADY HAVE VESSEL PARK IN OUR ROUTE, RIGHT? SO THE DOG PARK, AS FAR AS MOWING IS CONCERNED, WE'RE ALREADY MOWING THOSE SECTIONS.
UM, HERE WE WOULD JUST MANEUVER AROUND WHETHER THE EQUIPMENT OR NOT.
SO WE ARE ALREADY THERE MOWING.
UM, THE THING I DO WANT TO ADD IS OUR STAFF HAS PUT SOME PACKETS TOGETHER TO LOOK FOR SPONSORS TO GET THESE, UM, BUSINESSES OR ENTITIES TO DONATE, YOU KNOW, THE BENCHES, THE PERGOLAS AND WHERE WE CAN PUT THEIR LITTLE PLAQUE ON THERE.
SO WE ARE ACTIVELY TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO REDUCE COSTS THROUGH THAT.
AND, UM, OUR RECREATION STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING ON THAT PACKET.
SO I'M JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR AVENUES TO REDUCE THE, THE COST ON THAT.
AND THIS ITEM WAS ALREADY ON THE FOUR B AGENDA.
IT WAS TABLED BECAUSE OF CIRCUMSTANCES OUTSIDE OF Y'ALL'S CONTROL.
BUT WE'RE ALREADY GONNA THE FOUR B AS WELL FOR FUNDING ON THIS PROJECT.
WHAT, I HAD A QUESTION, WHAT WAS RECORD? UH, OUR TWO PRESENTERS HAD TO, UH, STEP AWAY FROM THAT MEETING BEFORE THAT ITEM CAME UP.
I MEAN, 'CAUSE I KNOW I ASKED MIKE 'CAUSE 'CAUSE I WAS IMPRESSED WITH MIKE SAID EARLIER HE SAID THAT THE, THE ROTARY FUNDED A HUNDRED PERCENT OF, OF VICTOR PARK.
SO WHY DOESN'T DORY DO THAT HERE? BECAUSE THE WHOLE COST IS 170, $107,000, $107,000.
THEY'RE ONLY, THEY'RE DONATING $28,000.
AND ACCORDING TO YOUR AGREEMENT, UM, THAT YOU'RE, OR THAT YOU PUT RIGHT HERE, THEY WILL SEEK DONATIONS, BUT THEY'RE NOT SAYING THEY'RE GONNA PAY FOR IT.
SO MY CONCERN AGAIN IS I WANT YOU TO HAVE THIS, I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND, I WANT YOU TO HAVE THIS DOG PARK, DANIEL.
YOU COME WITH A GREAT, I THINK IT'S A GREAT, BUT THE ONLY THING IS, I'M CONCERNED
[02:30:01]
ABOUT THE COST.WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY RIGHT NOW TO PAY A HUNDRED.
WHAT'S THE MATH? I SUCK IN MATH.
UM, WHAT'S THE 1 0 7 MINUS 20 CONTINGENCY? IT'S 107,000.
'CAUSE I SECOND MATH, THEY'RE CONTRIBUTING A QUARTER.
WE'RE ALREADY SEEKING THOSE EXTRA DONATIONS FOR EVERYTHING ELSE, RIGHT? SO I THINK YOU'LL GET IT.
I, AND, AND SPEAKING WITH THEIR LEADERSHIP, THEY FELT THAT THEY COULD GET MORE, WHETHER IT'S DONATION OF THE PLANTS, DONATIONS OF THINGS LIKE THAT, RIGHT? SO EVEN THE TREES AND THE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DIAGRAM, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TREES, YOU LOOK AT THE STONES, YOU LOOK AT ALL THAT STUFF, WE'RE LOOKING AT GETTING ALL THAT DONATED AND BRING DOING THAT IN HOUSE.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT GETTING ABOUT 80.
WE'RE GONNA BE SHORT ABOUT $80,000 FOR THE FUNDING FOR THE PARK.
SO WHY DON'T WE, BECAUSE LIKE I TOLD YOU, I WANT YOU TO GET THE PARKING.
THE ONLY THING THAT BOTHERS ME IS THAT YOU'RE PUTTING A, THE TIMEFRAME OF FEBRUARY.
SO WHY DON'T YOU SAY, YOU SAID IT'S CONTINGENT ON FUNDING.
SO CONTINGENT ON FULL FUNDING FOR THE PARK, WHICH IS WHAT, UH, THE HUNDRED, ONCE WE GET THE $107,000, BOOM, KNOCK IT OUT.
YOU GUYS CAN, YOU'RE GOOD TO GO.
BUT RIGHT NOW YOU'RE TAKING, YOU'RE TAKING OUR MANPOWER THAT WE DON'T ALREADY HAVE.
AND THEN YOU'RE ALSO TAKING THE LIMITED RESOURCES THAT HE HAS IN ORDER TO DO THE PARKS THAT ARE EITHER MY DISTRICT OR IN FRANK'S DISTRICT OR IN DELIA'S DISTRICT.
I DON'T KNOW IF MIKE'S DOING ANYTHING IN HIS DISTRICT, BUT I MEAN, WELL THE STRATEGY HAD BEEN TO USE PUBLIC WORKS, SO NOT PARKS.
SO PARKS CAN CONTINUE WORKING ON Y'ALL'S PROJECTS.
PUBLIC WORKS WAS GONNA BE THE ONE THAT INSTALLED THIS.
AND BECAUSE IT'S A SMALLER PROJECT THAT'S NOT PUTTING UP A PERGOLA OVER A BASKETBALL COURT.
IT'S NOT BUILDING A BRAND NEW PARK.
THE TIME INVOLVED IS A LOT LESS.
BUT RIGHT NOW, AND ONE, AND THEN TWO IS REMEMBER EVEN THE AGREEMENT ITSELF SAYS IT'S CONTINGENT ON FUNDING, RIGHT? SO THIS IS, IF WE WERE TO GET THE FULL AMOUNT AND IF WE WERE TO USE, AND THE 170 YOU'RE RELYING ON IS INCLUDING THE 15%.
UM, I WANNA CALL IT RETAINAGE, BUT IT'S NOT RETAINAGE, IT'S, SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT 89,500, UM, AND THEN WE HAVE A 20% CONTINGENCY, WHICH BRINGS US TO 1 0 7.
SO IF WE LOOK FOR, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO STAY UNDER BUDGET, UM, LET'S JUST SAY WE DON'T NEED THE CONTINGENCY.
YOU KNOW, SO, UM, I'M JUST THROWING THE CONTINGENT OUT OUT THERE JUST IN CASE.
BY THE TIME WE GET TO CONSTRUCTION, IF PRICES CHANGING INFLATION, I MEAN WE'RE, WE'RE JUST KIND OF PROTECTED.
BUT IF WE DON'T USE IT, WE DON'T EVEN SO IS THIS PREMATURE? 'CAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU, SO WE DO HAVE THE BUDGET, BUT IT'S 89,000 FOR THE PROJECT.
WE ADD A CONTINGENCY THERE JUST IN CASE SOMETHING MAY COME UP.
UM, CHANGE IN PRICING OF CONCRETE, UH, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.
BUT, UH, IF WE SHOOT FOR 89,500 AND TRY TO STAY UNDER BUDGET, WE WE'RE FINE.
BUT WE, WE GO TO 1 0 7 WITH CONTINGENCY TO PROTECT US TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT AS A WHOLE.
SO THEN COMMISSIONER ARE ARE YOU, OH, I'M SORRY.
OH, NO, I WAS GONNA SAY, SO WOULD YOU BE OPEN TO THE, BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, LIKE MIKE SAID, FREE MONEY, LET'S TAKE IT.
I'LL NEVER SAY NO TO FREE MONEY, BUT WOULD YOU BE OPEN TO THE IDEA OF, YOU KNOW, WE APPROVING IT CONTINGENT ON THE, UM, ALLOCATION OF FULL FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT.
I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ROTARY TO SAY, HEY, YOU GUYS ARE GONNA PAY FOR THIS WHOLE THING.
AND NOR DO I THINK IT'S FAIR TO HAVE THEM PAY FOR IT WHEN WE DON'T EVEN PAY FOR THINGS THROUGH TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE.
SO THE 7 MILLION WE'RE GETTING FROM TEXAS PARKS, WE'RE PAYING DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR.
WHAT WE GOT FOR VICTOR PARK, WE'RE PAYING DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR.
AND SO I THINK THAT THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S LIKE THE SOUTHWEST QUESTION ALL OVER AGAIN.
RIGHT? AND SO LIKE, I THINK WE HAVE TO WORK WITH WHAT WE HAVE AND EVERYONE'S ALREADY IN AGREEMENT ON WHAT THIS IS LOOKING LIKE.
BUT IS IT FAIR ALSO TO THE CITY, BECAUSE YOU'RE BASICALLY SAYING LIKE DORMANT MENTIONED EARLIER THAT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? UM, WE'RE ON THIS TIMELINE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE ROTARY WANTS.
SO BASICALLY THE NEED, THE WANT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE ROTARY IS KIND OF DICTATING WHAT THE CITY'S GOING TO DO.
SO IS THAT FAIR TO THE CITY AND TO THE RESIDENTS THAT MIGHT MISS OUT ON GETTING THEIR, UM, YOU KNOW, THEIR THINGS THAT THEY WANT FOR THE CITY DONE BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT THE ROTARY WANTS.
SO WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT THEY'RE GONNA MISS OUT ON ANYTHING BECAUSE WE'RE USING TWO DIFFERENT WORKERS.
BUT AS, AS I'VE, AS IT'S BEEN HAPPENING RECENTLY AND YOU'RE AWARE OF THIS PARKS HAS BEEN BARRING, UM, SOME, UM, UM, SOME PEOPLE FROM PUBLIC WORKS TO DO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT YOU NEED TO DO.
CURRENT PROJECTS, WE WILL REACH OUT TO THEM TO HELP FOR ASSISTANCE.
SO YOU ARE GOING TO BE TAKING EVEN NO MATTER WHAT, IT'S A LIMITED BUCKET.
SO YOU'RE GONNA BE TAKING THE RESOURCES AWAY FROM ALL THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
YOU'RE GONNA BE TAKING AWAY FROM, UM, UH, FROM FROM RETO PARK, YOU'RE GONNA BE TAKING AWAY FROM HUNTER PARK.
YOU'RE GONNA BE TAKING AWAY FROM RANGER PARK.
I MEAN, YOU'RE TAKING AWAY, AND THESE PROJECTS HAVE NOT EVEN BEEN DONE YET.
LIKE I SAID, I WANT THE PARK, BUT I JUST DON'T THINK THAT, LIKE YOU, YOU'RE PUTTING THE, WHAT IS IT, THE HORSE BEFORE THE CARRIAGE OR THE CARRIAGE BEFORE THE HORSE OR WHATEVER IT IS, WHEREVER THE, THE THE SAYING GOES BECAUSE YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE THE MONEY YET, BUT YOU'RE ALREADY COMMITTING TO A SPECIFIC DATE.
OH, WE'RE GONNA START DOING IT BY FEBRUARY WHEN YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE ALL THE FUNDING YET.
[02:35:01]
YES.UH, COMMISSIONER MEMER EARLIER IT WAS 10 G WE VOTED TO TAKE MONEY FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.
WHY NOT VOTE YES ON THIS MATCHING GRANT? AND YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND ROTARY.
WE ARE PHILANTHROPISTS AND WE DO SMALL THINGS WITHIN THE CITY IN WHICH WE RESIDE.
WE DO IT WITHIN OUR DISTRICT AND WE DO IT INTERNATIONALLY.
THE THING IS, IT'S NOT A MATCHING GRANT.
WE ARE, WE DO OUR BEST TO MAKE OUR LITTLE CORNER OF THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE IN WHICH TO LIVE.
SO THEN, SINCE YOU SAID NO TO THE OTHER ONE, FRANK, YOU'RE GONNA SAY YES TO THIS ONE? ALL RIGHT.
LET'S NOT HAVE THESE SIDEBAR CONVERSATIONS.
UM, LISTEN, UM, I APPRECIATE THE ROTARY WANTING TO PARTICIPATE.
AND THE ROTARY ARE GREAT PARTNERS.
THEY HELPED A LOT AT THE SOCCER COMPLEX.
THEY FULLY FUNDED THE VICTOR PARK DOG PARK.
SO I THINK IT IS POSSIBLE, BUT YOU KNOW, AS YOU MENTIONED, EVERY PERSON HAS, UM, A DIFFERENT VISION AND, AND AND, AND WHAT THAT VISION LOOKS LIKE.
HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT, YOU KNOW, I'VE JUST, I'M THE, THE ISSUE IS NOT, YOU KNOW, THE ISSUE ISN'T THAT THE PROJECT IS NOT A GOOD PROJECT OR THAT IT DOESN'T BELONG IN THE, AT VESTAL PARK.
YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE, THE PARK'S PLAN AND I THINK YOU'VE MENTIONED WHERE IT'S BEEN IDENTIFIED AND THERE'S BEEN COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF.
IT'S ABOUT THE, THE REALITY OF WHAT, WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE NEED TO KEEP OUR, OUR FOCUS.
UM, WE'RE SHORT ON PUBLIC WORKS, WE'RE SHORT ON PARKS AND WE'RE NOT DOING WHAT WE, WE'RE NOT WHERE WE, OR WE WOULD LIKE TO BE CURRENTLY WITH THE PARKS THAT ARE ON SYSTEM AT, AT THIS POINT.
SO THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE THE REASONS THAT I'M, I'M STILL STRUGGLING WITH IT.
UM, YOU KNOW, HAVING IT SLATED FOR A LATER TIME WHEN THERE'S MORE STAFF SEEMS IDEAL.
BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCACY AND, AND AND WANTING TO, TO PUSH IT, TO PUSH IT FORWARD.
UM, MORALES, YOU'RE AWFULLY QUIET OVER THERE.
THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 1.5 MILLION MATCHING AND ACCEPTING 28,000, BUT THE REAL COST IS A HUNDRED.
BUT WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE CONSTITUENT IN YOUR DISTRICT THAT JUST TODAY SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB IN VICTOR PARK AND THAT IT NEEDS A LOT OF WORK AND THEN STAFF IS UNDERSTAFFED AND THEY CAN'T GET TO IT.
AND THEY GAVE A VERY, YOU KNOW, UM, HONEST RESPONSE SAYING THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING.
WE UNDERSTAND IT AND WE'RE SCHEDULED TO DO IT, BUT WE CAN ONLY DO THINGS WHAT, YOU KNOW, AS MUCH, WE ONLY HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME IN THE DAY.
SO HOW DO YOU, HOW DO YOU, HOW DO YOU MANAGE THAT? HOW DO YOU SAY, OKAY, WELL, UM, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT KEEPING UP HERE, BUT LET'S JUST ADD MORE.
LIKE I SAID, THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 1.5 AND 28 MILLION.
ALSO, KEEP IN MIND HE JUST STATED THAT THEY'RE ALREADY WORKING ON VISTA PARK, JUST LIKE THEY ARE IN VICTOR PARK.
AND YES, IT IS VERY DRY THERE AS AS IT IS IN OTHER PARKS MM-HMM
AND WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB IN IRRIGATE IN, IN THE IRRIGATION.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO, AND I'LL MAKE A SUGGESTION TO MR. MENDOLA HERE, IS MAKE SURE THAT YOU IRRIGATE CLOSER TO FIVE O'CLOCK INSTEAD OF AT AT NOON.
'CAUSE I'VE HAD THAT COMPLAINT.
WHEN IT'S TOO HOT, THAT'S WHEN YOU'RE IRRIGATING.
WE NEED TO IRRIGATE AND MAYBE DO SOME OF THE IRRIGATION AFTER FIVE AND SWITCH SOME OF THOSE EMPLOYEES TO DO THE IRRIGATION AFTER FIVE OR SIX WHEN IT'S COOLER, WE WANT ALL THE PARKS TO BE GREEN.
SO IF I'M GOING TO GO OUTTA MY WAY AND EXPLAIN TO YOU HOW TO DO YOUR JOB, I'M REALLY STEPPING ON YOUR TOES.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING I AM A POLICYMAKER, NOT AN ADMINISTRATOR.
AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE WANT ME TO BE AN ADMINISTRATOR BECAUSE THEY NEED TO BE, MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
NOW I CAN SIT WITH YOU AND LET YOU KNOW HOW TO MANAGE IF THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED.
AND WE'VE BEEN SHORT STAFFED FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME AND IT WILL NOT BE THE LAST
[02:40:01]
MAY MAKE A MOTION.SO I WILL JUST SAY THIS, I DON'T WANT STAFF TO, TO, TO COME OUT OF THIS FEELING THAT THEY ARE NOT DOING THE BEST THAT THEY CAN.
I FULLY BELIEVE THAT STAFF IS DOING ALL THAT THEY CAN AND WORKING HARD EVERY DAY.
I SEE IT, I SEE THEM OUTSIDE, I SEE THE SWEAT COMING DOWN THEIR, YOU KNOW, THEIR HEADS.
AND I ALSO GET THE EMAILS FROM PEOPLE ASKING WHY ARE THEY DRINKING WATER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD? WHICH IS PRETTY SHOCKING, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED, THEY'RE UPSET AND THEY THINK, WHY ARE THEY TAKING A BREAK WHEN THERE'S STILL MORE WORK TO BE DONE? BUT YOU'RE ONLY HUMAN AND YOU CAN ONLY DO WHAT YOU CAN DO.
AND STAFF CAN ONLY DO WHAT THEY CAN WITH THE RESOURCES AND THE TIME THAT THEY HAVE.
SO, UM, THIS HAS BEEN, UH, PR YOU KNOW, PRODUCTIVE.
BUT I DON'T WANT STAFF TO FEEL LIKE IT IS, IT IS Y'ALL'S FAULT, UM, YOU KNOW, LEADERSHIP IN TERMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
'CAUSE I DON'T THINK ANYONE HERE, UM, FEELS, FEELS THAT WAY.
I, JUAN I THINK YOU'VE BEEN DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB.
JUST, I, YOU KNOW, I I I TALK TO YOU ALL THE TIME ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND, AND JUST TO DEFEND MY TEAM, I'M, I'M A I'M, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT TRYING TO STEP OUTTA LINE HERE.
UM, SO OUR, OUR IRRIGATION THERE AT VICTOR PARK, WE'VE EXPERIENCED, UM, THREE MAJOR LEAKS FROM THE CONTRACTOR.
WE FIXED 'EM, WE HAD FIVE OTHER LITTLE ONES TODAY.
THE OTHER CONTRACTOR DOING THE EXTRA PARK, UM, DAMAGED THE MAIN WATER LINE AGAIN TODAY.
UM, SO WHEN THEY WERE ON DURING THE DAY, THEY'RE ACTUALLY, UM, TESTING THE SPRINKLER HEADS FOR THE FANNING.
SO ONE OF THE ISSUES WAS, IS IT WAS SHOOTING TOO STRAIGHT.
WAS IT ON AT NOON? ABSOLUTELY.
BUT THEY'RE FIXING THE FANNING ISSUE AND THEY WERE JUST TRYING TO GET THE, THE WATER CORRECT TO WATER, UH, PROPORTIONATELY.
UM, BUT OUR TIMERS ARE NOT, UH, AT NOON, IT'S, IT'S GONNA BE, UH, RIGHT BETWEEN, UM, SUNDOWN AND THEN AGAIN AT FOUR IN THE MORNING THAT THOSE ARE OUR TIMES THAT THAT HAPPENED.
BUT OUR TEAM DOES A, A MARVELOUS JOB WORKING HARD AND, UM, THEY'RE, THEY'RE BUSTING THE TAILS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE IRRIGATION'S WORKING PROPERLY, FANNING CORRECTLY AND TAKING CARE OF ALL THOSE NEEDS.
OKAY, WELL, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FUNDING OF THE $28,000 FROM THE, UM, ROTARY CLUB CONTINGENT ON GATHERING FULL FUNDING FOR THE PARK.
YOU DON'T WANNA PAY FOR IT BEFORE WE ACTUALLY SAY YES.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
I GOT A LITTLE CONFUSED THERE.
WHAT WAS YOUR MOTION? NETTE? MY MOTION WAS TO APPROVE THE $20,000 FROM THE ROTARY CONTINGENT FOR THE FUNDING FOR THE PARK.
FOR THE FULL FUNDING OF THE PARK CONTINGENT ON THE FUNDING FOR THE PARK? YEAH.
LIKE IN OTHER WORDS, I WANNA ACCEPT IT, BUT WE DON'T GET STARTED ON IT UNTIL WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE FULL FUNDING OF THE PARK.
I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS, UH, STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING AND AUTHORIZE STAFF TO ENTER INTO AN MOU SECOND.
MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, APPROVE THE STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING MM-HMM
AND AUTHORIZE STAFF TO ENTER INTO AN MOU.
AND, AND THAT'S BASED ON WHAT YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, CONDITIONED UPON 'CAUSE ISN'T ISN'T WHAT HE SAID, WHAT YOU SAID.
NO, HE DOESN'T WANNA WAIT FOR THE FUNDING OR THE STATUS.
YOU'RE GONNA, YOU'RE GONNA GO BY.
SO THIS MOU WILL STATE THAT YOU'RE ONLY GONNA DO WHAT YOU HAVE IN TERMS OF MONEY.
UH, AS, AS WE COLLECT MONEY, WE CAN DO THE IMPROVEMENTS AND WE HAVE BETWEEN NOW AND JANUARY TO COLLECT MORE MONEY TO IMPROVE IT TO GET TO THE 4 87.
HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT? SO YOU'RE GONNA COLLECT THE FUNDS, YOU'RE GONNA USE A 27,000, YOU'RE GONNA USE THAT AND ONLY THAT, AND THEN IF YOU GET MORE DONATIONS OR MORE FUNDS, YOU'RE GONNA ADD TO IT.
THE, WELL, THE ONLY DIFFERENCE THE CITY WILL PAY FOR THE REST.
ARE YOU SAYING THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO, TO PAY FOR THE REST? THEY WILL SEEK FUNDING FOR IT, WHICH THEY'RE GONNA SEEK FUNDING FOR IT.
AND WILL THAT COME BACK TO THE COMMISSION TO SEEK THE FUNDING? NO, BECAUSE WE'RE ALREADY APPROVING THE, UH, AGREEMENT AND WE'RE APPROVING AUTHORIZING STAFF TO ENTER INTO THE MOU.
SO WHAT HAPPENS TO THE MONEY IF THEY DON'T COLLECT IT? LIKE WHERE DOES IT COME FROM? LIKE, ARE WE GONNA BE, I'M JUST HAVING A LEGITIMATE QUESTION.
IF YOU DON'T RAISE THE AMOUNT, THE TOTAL AMOUNT, WHO'S GONNA PAY FOR IT? ARE WE GONNA PAY FOR IT? CITY, THE CITY'S GONNA COME OUT OF OUR FUNDS.
THE CITY FUNDS? NO, AS THE AGREEMENT SAYS IT'S CONTINGENT ON THE FUNDING.
RIGHT? SO OBVIOUSLY WE'RE CREATING THIS IDYLLIC VERSION AND THE GOAL IS TO
[02:45:01]
FUNDRAISE TO THAT FULL, UH, TO GET TO THIS IDYLLIC VERSION.BUT IF WE DON'T, THEN OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE TO SCALE BACK.
SO WE'RE ONLY GONNA PAY FOR WHAT YOU RAISED.
CAN YOU ADD THAT INTO THE MOU WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? IT'S ALREADY IN THE AGREEMENT, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
SO LOOK, IF YOU READ, IF YOU READ THIS, I DID, BUT THE CLUB WILL APPROVE THE PARK SITE PLAN, WHICH IS CONTINGENT ON FINANCIAL SUPPORT.
THE CLUB WILL DESIGN AND DONATE SIGNAGE.
THE CLUB AGREES THAT SEPARATE AND APART FROM $28,000, $28,000 DONATION, IT'LL SEEK DONATIONS OF ADDITIONAL BUILDING MATERIALS.
THE, AND THEN YOU GO TO BULLET 0.3, THE CITY AGREES TO CREATE A PROPOSED IDEAL SITE PLAN FOR THE PARK THAT WILL BE CONTINGENT ON DONATIONS FROM THE CLUB AND ITS PARTNERS.
AND WE ARE ONE OF THOSE PARTNERS.
YOU KNOW, WE MAY CONTACT COMBS OR PRIMEA, SEE IF THEY WANTED DOG PARK SINCE HARLINGEN DOESN'T.
WE JUST WANNA BE ABLE TO PAY FOR IT.
MIKE, LIKE THE ONE THAT VICTOR, THE ROTARY PAID FOR ALL OF IT, WHICH YOU JUST MENTIONED EARLIER.
THIS ONE, THEY'RE ONLY PAYING 28,000, NOT THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT'S GONNA COST.
AND WE'RE SEEKING ADDITIONAL MONEY FROM THE FOUR B BOARD AND WE'RE SEEKING ADDITIONAL DONATIONS.
SO YEAH, THAT'S, SO THAT'S WHAT WE KIND OF WANT THE SAME THING, NOT FOUR B, I APOLOGIZE.
WELL, WE CAN GO TO THE FOUR B, BUT IT'S THE KB KEEP OUR OWN AND BEAUTIFUL.
AND THAT, AND LIKE I SAID, I'M, I'M WITH YOU.
UH, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT, AGAIN, IT GOES BACK TO THE FEBRUARY, BUT WE ARE THEY BUT YOU HAVE YOUR MOTION.
WE'VE ALREADY, UM, THERE'S, UH, THERE WAS ALREADY A VOTE.
THERE WAS A VOTE ON THE OTHER ONE.
OKAY, SO YOU HAVE YOUR MOTION AND YOU SECOND SECOND, IS THAT RIGHT? OKAY.
SO MOTION FROM, UM, COMMISSIONER LOPEZ, SECOND BY GOMEZ.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[Item 10p - Consideration and possible action to approve a resolution establishing the Harlingen Urban Forestry and Natural Infrastructure Program.]
UM, P CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE HARLINGEN URBAN FORESTRY AND NATURAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM.UM, THIS DOES INDICATE THAT I PUT THIS ON, BUT THIS IS AN INITIATIVE BY AM MAYOR PROAM LOPEZ.
SO STAFF HAS BEEN DOING A FANTASTIC JOB BETWEEN THE CAPE PONDS AND BEAUTIFUL BOARD, THE, UH, SPECIAL GRANTS DEPARTMENT ON SPECIAL PROJECTS DEPARTMENT.
UH, AND SO WHAT WE WANNA DO IS WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED, OR WE'RE ON TRACK TO RECEIVE ABOUT 700 TREES.
AND WHAT WE WANT DO IS CREATE A, A FOREST, UH, AN URBAN FOREST REFORESTATION PROGRAM.
AS YOU GUYS KNOW, WE HAVE A 15% CANOPY IN, IN HARLINGEN.
UH, I THINK THIS IS FANTASTIC.
THIS IS HOW WE GROW OUR TRAILS.
THIS IS HOW WE MAKE THINGS COOLER.
IN FACT, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DOG PARK PICTURE RIGHT IN FRONT OF Y'ALL, IF YOU LOOK AT THE CANOPIES, THE REASON THE CANOPIES ARE DRAFTED, THE WAY THEY'RE DRAFTED IS BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE TREES AND OR NATURAL PLANT LIFE, UH, GIVING SHADE, THEY ALSO COOL DOWN TEMPERATURES BECAUSE OF THE WATER, UH, LIKE PERSPIRATION THAT THEY GIVE OFF AS WELL.
AND SO I THINK THIS IS A FANTASTIC PROJECT AS WELL AS THERE'S A LOT OF FUNDING FOR IT.
ON TOP OF THAT, IT'S REALLY GOOD FOR FLOOD MITIGATION AND BEAUTIFICATION.
COMMISSIONER MESMAN, IF I MAY BE SARCASTIC, I WOULD RATHER NOT.
THIS WILL TAKE PARK PEOPLE, THIS'LL TAKE EXTRA PARK PEOPLE TO DIG HOLES AND PLANT TREES AND WATER 'EM.
SO I THINK WE SHOULD BE AGAINST THIS.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
SECOND BY GO MS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
UM, NOW BOARD APPOINTMENTS, WE'LL
[Item 11 - Board Appointments]
START WITH YOU.COMMISSIONER GOMEZ? NONE, UH, UH, LOPEZ? NONE.
I AM GOING TO APPOINT DEANNA ZA.
DEANNA ANO ZA TO THE, DID YOU CHANGE THE NAME OF THE SENIOR CITIZEN BOARD? LET'S SEE, SENIOR CITIZEN.
SENIOR CITIZEN ADVISORY BOARD.
SHE CURRENTLY SITS ON THE PARKS, UM, BOARD.
SO YOU'VE GOT HER APPLICATION ON, ON FILE.
UM, UH, SOUND STILL GOOD? IT, IT'S STILL, YES, I ASKED.
AND IT IS, UH, THEY ARE, UH, NEEDING TO MEET QUORUM, RIGHT? CORRECT.
I THOUGHT I DID, I, THAT'S WHY I HAVEN'T APPOINT ANYBODY.
'CAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS ONE OF THE ONES WE'RE GONNA CLOSE, BUT STILL I THOUGHT SO TOO, BUT THEN I, I ASKED AND I KNOW, I THINK YOU'VE
[02:50:01]
MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND, AND SO HAS LOPEZ, SO YEAH.AND, UH, MESMER, YOU HAVE ANY APPOINTMENTS? NOPE.
CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE? YEAH.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
MYRA, WHILE WE, BEFORE WE MOVE ON, UH, THE BOARD FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, HAVE WE STARTED PUTTING PEOPLE ON THAT BOARD? WE ONLY HAVE ONE WHO, WHO APPOINTED THAT ONE? UM, YOU DID.
SO I HAD DONE, UH, PHILLIPS, SO, SO DALE, DIDN'T I ALREADY DO THAT LIKE A LONG TIME AGO? I DON'T HAVE ANYBODY ON THAT ONE, MAYOR, BUT I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH, WITH MELINDA.
AND IF NOT, THEN I'LL DO THAT AT THE NEXT, UH, AT THE NEXT MEETING AND THEN I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY ELSE TO DO THE SAME.
[Item 12 - Executive Session]
SESSION ITEM 12, UH, 12 A PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 51 0.071 ATTORNEY CONSULTATION AND CONTEMPLATING LITIGATION SECTION 5 51 0.072 DELIBERATION REGARDING REAL ESTATE AND SECTION 5 51 0.087 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REGARDING RELATING TO THE FOLLOWING PROJECT, UH, PROJECT PEA TWO PROJECT, IT'S TIME, UH, ITEM B PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 51 0.087.ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS TO RENEW THE PILOT AGREEMENT ON THE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT.
ITEM C DELIBERATION REGARDING THE POTENTIAL PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 50 0 7 2D.
CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 51 0.071 REGARDING AN UPDATE ON THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH THE HARLINGEN POLICE OFFICERS.
ITEM E CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 51 0.071 TO RECEIVE PRIVILEGE LEGAL COMMUNICATION REGARDING POWER AND AUTHORITY OF THE CITY COMMISSION UNDER THE CITY OF HARLINGEN CHARTER GENERALLY RELATING TO OR ARISING UNDER ARTICLE 10, PUBLIC UTILITY SECTION SEVEN A THROUGH K AND ARTICLE 11 CONS, ITEM F, CONSULTATION WITH CITY ATTORNEY PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 5 5 1 0.071 TO RECEIVE PRIVILEGED LEGAL COMMUNICATION REGARDING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY COMMISSION UNDER THE CITY OF HARLINGEN CITY CHARTER GENERALLY RELATING TO ARISING UNDER ARTICLE 10, PUBLIC UTILITY SECTION SEVEN A THROUGH XN.
AND ARTICLE 11 AS OUR MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION MOTION.
MOTION BY FED SECOND BY LOPEZ.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY ST.
THE TIME IS NOW 8:22 PM AND WE'LL RETIRE TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
ALL RIGHT, THE TIME IS NOW 10:25 PM AND WE ARE BACK, UM, IN OPEN SESSION.
[Item 13 - Action on Executive Session Items]
13 A CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ITEMS 12 A ONE THROUGH TWO AS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS DISCUSSED.
CAN DO WE HAVE A FOUR? YES, WE HAVE FOUR.
AND I'M INCLUDING, I DIDN'T INCLUDE MYSELF,
UM, ITEM B, CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE ACTION ON 12 B AS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, I MAKE A MOTION TO PROCEED AS DISCUSSED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY WITH SAY AYE.
OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
C, CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE POTENTIAL PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY AS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
MAKE MOTION PROCEED AS DISCUSSED.
ITEM D, CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE ACTION ITEM 12 D IS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
MAKE MOTION TO PROCEED AS DISCUSSED.
CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE ACTION ON ITEM 12 F AS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
MAKE MOTION PROCEED AS DISCUSSED.
ITEM F, CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE ACTION ON ITEM 12, GG AS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY WITH SAY AYE.
OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
UM, COMMISSIONER MIKE MEMER AND MORALE ARE UM, NOT HERE AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.