[Item 10a - Consideration and possible action to approve an ordinance on second and final reading requesting release from the City of Harlingen Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ET J), consisting of the South 5.00 acres comprised of two tracts, Tract 1 being 3.51 acre tract of land out of the South 5.00 acres out of Block 8, S.A. Thompson Subdivision; and Tract 2 being 1.49 acre tract of land out of the South 5.00 acres out of Block 8, S.A. Thompson Subdivision, located on the west side of Thompson Road approximately 2,408 feet north of Ryan Road. Applicants: Todd Waller and Amanda Lopez.]

YOU KNOW, THE BENEFIT TO THE CITY, OF COURSE, IS TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER FEATURE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S VERY VISIBLE AND USABLE BY THE RESIDENTS. AND IT ALSO BRING IN REVENUE. THE, THE NIGHTTIME GOLFING IS, IS QUITE POPULAR AND BASED ON SOME REVENUE

[Item 10g - Consideration and possible action to approve a resolution to accept the Valley International Airport's Fiscal Year 2027 proposed operating and capital budget.]

CALCULATIONS, WE'RE ESTIMATING SOMETHING ON THE ORDER OF ABOUT $250,000 A YEAR IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE FOR THE CITY. THIS SLIDE HERE, WE'VE GOT A GOOD SUMMARY ROLL UP OF ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT SCOPES OF WORK AND THE DIFFERENT PROJECTS FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING, THE BUILDING AUTOMATION, THE LIGHTING, THE BUILDING ENVELOPE, THE SPORTS FIELD LIGHTING, AND OF COURSE, THE GOLF COURSE LIGHTING. AND THESE PROJECTS BRING IN OVER $180,000 A YEAR IN SAVINGS. AND THEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE PROJECTED REVENUE INCREASE, ABOUT $250,000 FOR THE GOLF COURSE. AND THEN OVER THE COURSE OF 20 YEARS, WITH ABOUT 4.5% ESCALATION, WE'RE TALKING

[Item 10j - Consideration and possible action to authorize the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation (HEDC) to grant $128,000 to Texas State Technical College in Harlingen for FY 2026 and 27, to fund three (3) grant programs including the Goal Line Assistance Program, CTE Signing Day Scholarships, and a new Nursing Tech Training Program]

ABOUT 13.5, $13 MILLION. SO PRETTY SIGNIFICANT BENEFIT TO THE CITY. WE WANTED TO SHOW A PIE CHART THAT KIND OF BREAKS OUT HOW THESE DIFFERENT SCOPE ITEMS BREAK OUT AS A PERCENTAGE.

SO YOU CAN SEE THAT VERY EASILY HERE. YOU SEE THE LARGEST PARTS OF THE PROJECT ARE THE AIR CONDITIONING WORK THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN, THE GOLF COURSE LIGHTING, AND THEN THE SPORTS FIELD LIGHTING. AND THEN WE HAVE A PAGE HERE. WE WANTED TO SHOW WHAT THE PROJECT WOULD LOOK LIKE WITH THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS. SO WE HAVE AN OPTION ONE THAT INCLUDES JUST THE AIR CONDITIONING, BUILDING AUTOMATION AND THE CORRESPONDING SAVINGS. OPTION

[Item 10k - Consideration and possible action to authorize the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation (HEDC) to grant $50,000 to Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA) for FY 2027 to benefit Harlingen residents.]

TWO BRINGS IN THE THE BUILDING LIGHTING, WHICH HAS SIGNIFICANT ENERGY SAVINGS. OPTION THREE BRINGS IN THE BUILDING ENVELOPE FOR THE SPORTS FIELD LIGHTING, WHICH ALSO HAS VERY SIGNIFICANT ENERGY SAVINGS. AND THEN OPTION FIVE IS THE COMPLETE PROJECT. THIS PAGE SURE. WE KIND OF KEEP

[Item 10l - Consideration and possible action to authorize the City Manager to enter or to renew a contract between the City of Harlingen and the South Texas Emergency Care for the ambulance services.]

TRACK OF THE PROJECT PROGRESS, AND WE'RE HERE ON THE 90% HERE IN SEPTEMBER. SO KIND OF TRACKING OUR PROGRESS FROM THE PRIOR MEETINGS AND THOSE DATES AND TARGETING MOVING FORWARD AND GETTING IT UNDERWAY IN CONSTRUCTION HERE TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR. THERE'S A FOCUS ON THAT AIR CONDITIONING WORK BEING READY FOR NEXT SUMMER. WE'VE HAD A PRETTY TOUGH SUMMER THIS YEAR AND JUST LIKE EVERY YEAR, BUT NEXT SUMMER, WE REALLY WOULD LIKE TO BE AHEAD OF THAT AIR CONDITIONING WORK IN THOSE BUILDINGS. YEAH, I'D LIKE TO

[Item 10b - Consideration and possible action to approve an ordinance on second and final 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 south-west corner of Wilson Road and Chester Park Road. Applicant: Wilson Chester Retail Partners, Ltd.]

ADD TO THIS. SO AS, AS THIS SCHEDULE MILESTONE TAKES PLACE, THE NEXT STEPS THAT WOULD THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING TO THE CITY IS TO, TO CONSIDER MOVING INTO THE CONTRACT AND FUNDING AND, AND JUST MAKING A DECISION ON ONE OF THE OPTIONS THAT WE HAD, WE SHOWED YOU EARLIER. WHAT WE WOULD DO IS WE NEED TO MEET WITH YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, BEGIN DISCUSSIONS ON WHICHEVER OPTION YOU THINK IS THE BEST OPTION THAT THE CITY WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, SO WE CAN BE. SO THAT WAY THE NEXT MEETING, WE CAN COME BACK WITH THOSE SCENARIOS ON. ON WHAT THAT WHAT THE TOTAL COST IN OVER A PERIOD OF OF WHETHER YOU FINANCE IT FIVE YEARS, TEN YEARS, 20 YEARS, THE, THE FINANCIAL ADVISOR WILL HELP US DETERMINE THOSE, THOSE SCENARIOS. I THINK LAST TIME WE WERE HERE, MISTER MESSMER HAD RECOMMENDED LIKE SOME BRINGING IN SOME FUNDS FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND THEN TO BORROW THE REST ON A FIVE YEAR NOTE. SO THOSE ARE SOME IDEAS THAT HE HAD POPPED UP. BUT WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO IS GET INTO A SERIOUS DISCUSSION ON WHICH OPTION DO YOU WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SO WE CAN BEGIN THE PLANNING STAGES FOR THE FINANCING SIDE OF IT? CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE TONY BUTLER

[01:25:01]

SAVINGS SLIDE? YOU JUST PASSED IT. GO BACK TO. THAT ONE $250,000 IN PROJECTED GOLF COURSE SAVINGS. THAT'S REVENUE. THAT'S OKAY. IT'S REVENUE. REVENUE. OKAY. WE'RE PROJECTING THAT REVENUE THROUGH THROUGH THE NIGHTTIME REVENUE THAT SHOULD BE MAKING IT THROUGH. SO

[Item 10c - Consideration and possible action to approve on first reading an ordinance levying the Tax Year 2026 ad valorem tax rate for Maintenance and Operations (M&O) and Interest and Sinking (l&S) purposes for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, by record vote.]

THAT'S PEOPLE USING JUST THE BACK NINE. CORRECT? OKAY. I COULDN'T TELL WHAT THAT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS BEING COVERED BY THE SCREEN. AND SO YOU HAD SOME DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR US. YES.

OKAY. SO THESE OPTIONS WE PUT AS KIND OF LIKE A PRIORITY LIST OPTION WITH YOUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM, AND WE BROKE THEM OUT LIKE THIS. SO YOU CAN EITHER DECIDE ON, ON 1 OR 2 OR OPTION ONE, TWO, THREE, 4 OR 5. WHAT WE, WE JUST NEED SOME DIRECTION. SO THAT WAY WE CAN GET TO THE NEXT STEP, WHICH IS TO START ADDRESSING THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT. I THINK AT THE AUDITORIUM YOU'RE ON, ON LIFE SUPPORT THERE. YOU'RE DOWN TO ONE CHILLER RIGHT NOW. IF THAT CHILLER GOES DOWN, YOU'RE IT'S, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY AIR CONDITIONING AT ALL. SO YOU'RE SPENDING QUITE A BIT OF MONEY ON THE TOWARDS REFRIGERANT THAT'S BEING REPLACED. THAT'S I BELIEVE IT'S LEAKING. IS THAT WHAT WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE? THE REFRIGERANT. YEAH. THOSE MACHINES HAVE THE OLD STYLE REFRIGERANT THE R 22 REFRIGERANT. SO THOSE ARE PARTICULARLY EXPENSIVE WHEN THERE'S AN ISSUE. SO I THINK THE COMMISSION AT THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION ALL AGREED THAT THAT WAS THOSE WERE PRIORITIES. AND THAT IS LISTED ON EACH OF THE OPTIONS IS YOU KNOW IT'S A THOUSAND DEGREES OUTSIDE MOST DAYS. AND SO THAT'S A PRIORITY. BUT MR. GONZALEZ, DO YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FROM IN TERMS OF THESE OPTIONS, WOULD YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH. MAYOR, WE WE NEED TO HAVE ANOTHER MEETING JUST WITH THE COMMISSION, BECAUSE THIS IS JUST A PRESENTATION. THERE'S NO ACTION TONIGHT. I THINK THEY NEED THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOME GUIDANCE, THOUGH, AND I THINK I THINK THAT STAFF WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL OF THESE, ALONG WITH THE ITEMIZED LIST THAT YOU GAVE US LAST TIME. AND THEN TOGETHER LOOK AT SOME OF THE THE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED, LIKE FIRE STATION NUMBER ONE BEING REPLACED, THE MATCH FOR COMMERCE STREET, WHICH IS 5 MILLION. HOW TO ADDRESS ALL THOSE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED, AND COMPARE THAT TO SOME OF THESE COSTS AND SEE WHAT OUR CAPACITY IS FOR FOR DEBT. BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT TONIGHT. WE CAN DO THAT. STAFF CAN START THE PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING WHAT THE NEEDS ARE, AND WE CAN MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO TO THE COUNCIL. OKAY. I THINK JUST SO WE STAY ON SCHEDULE, I KNOW WE WERE A LITTLE BIT BEHIND ALREADY. IF WE CAN MAKE SURE TO PRIORITIZE THAT SO WE CAN BRING THAT BACK TO THE COMMISSION. YEAH. AND THIS IS PART OF THE SCHEDULE THAT WE HAD TALKED WITH THE STAFF ON, ON TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THIS CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE HERE. SO THE AIR CONDITIONING CAN WE'D BE ABLE TO GET THAT STARTED IN Q1 OF 27, BEGIN THE INSTALLATION THERE.

IT WOULD GO ON THROUGH Q4. SOME OF THE BUILDING AUTOMATION. WELL, THE BUILDING AUTOMATION WOULD BEGIN IN Q2 OF 27. THE LIGHTING IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD GET STARTED QUICKLY, AND YOU'LL BEGIN TO SEE SAVINGS QUITE A IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE LIGHTING GETS INSTALLED, BECAUSE THAT'S A GOOD LOW HANGING FRUIT THAT BRINGS SAVINGS RIGHT AWAY. THEN THE SPORTS FIELD LIGHTING WOULD BE A GOOD PROJECT THAT YOU'D BE BE ABLE TO SEE BEGIN IN Q1. AND THEN THE GOLF COURSE. IF YOU ALL DECIDED YOU WANTED TO ADD, THAT COULD BEGIN IN Q2. SO IF WE KEEP IN LINE WITH THESE MILESTONES, THOSE THAT'S A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT THAT SCHEDULE WOULD LOOK LIKE. IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION? I WOULD JUST ASK AARON, CAN YOU GO BACK TO THAT SLIDE YOU HAD A WHILE AGO? CAN YOU PREPARE A COST ESTIMATE THAT HAS THE HVAC, THE SPORTS FIELD LIGHTING AND JUST THOSE TWO TOGETHER? BECAUSE I THINK THE BIGGEST SAVINGS MAY BE FROM THE SPORTS FIELD LIGHTING. IF THEY'RE NOT LEDS, CONVERTING THEM TO THAT.

AND SO I'D LIKE TO SEE, I DON'T THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE OPTIONS THAT YOU SHOWED. WE HAVEN'T BROKEN OUT HERE THOUGH ON THIS SUMMER. OKAY. ON THE SUMMARY PAGE, YOU CAN OKAY. YOU

[01:30:01]

CAN EXTRACT THAT FROM THERE. OKAY, WE CAN DO THAT. AND YOU HAVE A LIST OF THE, THE VARIOUS SPORTS FIELD LIGHTING LOCATIONS IN THAT ITEMIZED LIST THAT YOU CREATED. OKAY. YEAH, GREAT.

THANK YOU. I HAVE A QUESTION. WHAT, WHAT AIR CONDITIONER? WHICH BUILDING SET YOU STILL ARE RUNNING ON? R22S. RIGHT. SO THE, THE LARGEST LOCATION THERE IS THE AUDITORIUM AND THE CASA DE AMISTAD. THEY HAVE A THEY SHARE AN AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM AND IT'S STILL RUNNING ON R22S. THAT'S CORRECT. THEY HAVE TWO LARGE AIR CONDITIONING. AND YOU HAVE ONE ONE UNIT RUNNING ON THAT. SO ONE OF THE TWO IS IS FAILED. CURRENTLY THERE'S TWO 200 TON CHILLERS.

THEY EACH HAVE ABOUT 250 POUNDS OF R 22 IN THEM. OKAY. THANK YOU. THIS, THIS RENDERING HERE SHOWS THE THE AUDITORIUM IN CASA AMISTAD. ALL THE MECHANICAL WORK, ELECTRICAL WORK THAT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE. AND WE CAN EXPLAIN THAT BETTER. I JUST WANTED TO INCLUDE A FEW SLIDES TO SHOW SOME OF THE SIGNIFICANT WORK THAT HAS TO HAPPEN THERE. THAT SYSTEM THAT'S THERE NOW IS QUITE OLD. THE EQUIPMENT IS IS OLD, BUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS MUCH OLDER THAN THAT. CHILLERS ARE 20 YEARS OLD, BUT THE PIPING AND THE ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IS MUCH OLDER THAN THAT. SO WE'RE PROPOSING TO MOVE COMPLETELY AWAY FROM THE SYSTEM THAT'S THERE NOW AND GO TO DX EQUIPMENT SO THAT THOSE SPACES CAN RUN INDEPENDENTLY. RIGHT NOW, BOTH OF THOSE BUILDINGS ARE COMPLETELY DEPENDENT ON THOSE CHILLERS, AND THERE'S ACTUALLY A SINGLE PUMP THAT RUNS CHILLED WATER RIGHT NOW. AND SO THAT'S A REALLY, YOU KNOW, A SINGLE WEAK LINK POTENTIAL WITH THE NEW PROPOSED DESIGN, THERE'S 60 UNITS. AND SO THEY'RE ALL INDEPENDENT. YOU CAN RUN THE CASA DE AMISTAD SIDE BY ITSELF.

YOU CAN RUN AN AUDITORIUM BY ITSELF. YOU CAN RUN IT ALL TOGETHER. SO A VERY SIGNIFICANT UPGRADE THERE. IT ALSO, OF COURSE WOULD BE MUCH MORE EFFICIENT EXPLAIN ABOUT THE DOSE. AND SO IF WE GO JUST A FEW MORE SLIDES. WE'VE GOT A PICTURE HERE TO SHOW SOME OF THE WE CALL IT A DOSE. THIS IS A DEDICATED OUTSIDE AIR TREATING EQUIPMENT. AND SO THESE ARE VERY LARGE SPACES. THEY HOLD A LOT OF PEOPLE. AUDITORIUM ON THE ORDER OF ABOUT 1800 PEOPLE AND THE COST OF ABOUT 1000. SO BECAUSE OF THE CLIMATE HERE AND THEN ALSO THE NATURE OF THE LARGE OCCUPANCY, HUMIDITY IS A PRIME CONCERN. AND SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO ADDITIONAL DEDICATED OUTSIDE AIR UNITS TO ■MAKE SURE THAT THAT AIR IS TREATED PROPERLY. AND THEN WE'VE GOT A QUICK SLIDE HERE TO SHOW THERE'S VERY SIGNIFICANT ELECTRICAL WORK THAT HAS TO HAPPEN HERE. YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW ALL OF THE COOLING FOR THOSE SPACES HAPPENS IN THE BACK OF THE BUILDING WHERE THE CHILLERS ARE. AND WE'RE CHANGING THAT WHOLE DESIGN SO THAT THE COOLING WILL BE DISTRIBUTED INTO THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE BUILDING. AND SO THAT REQUIRES A FAIR AMOUNT OF ELECTRICAL WORK. I JUST WANTED TO INCLUDE A SLIDE TO KIND OF EMPHASIZE THAT. AND THEN IF WE GO ONE MORE SLIDE, I THINK IT'LL SHOW THE ONE MORE THAT SHOW THE THE POLICE BUILDING. THIS IS THE SECOND MOST SIGNIFICANT BUILDING. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AIR CONDITIONING WORK. THERE ARE 12 VERY LARGE ROOFTOP UNITS HERE. THEY RANGE IN SIZE, BUT SOME OF THESE UNITS ARE 30 TONS. AND SO THIS IS A VERY COMPLICATED BUILDING. WE GOT A LOT OF AIR CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT. AND THE DESIGN IS FAIRLY COMPLICATED AS WELL. SO THESE ROOFTOPS, THEY ACTUALLY GO INTO THE BUILDING AND THEY SERVE VAV BOXES. SO IT'S A IT'S A SOPHISTICATED BUILDING. AND THIS EQUIPMENT IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT IT'S 20 YEARS OLD NOW. AND SO IT'S TIME TO BE REPLACED.

AND A LOT HAPPENS IN THIS BUILDING TO MAKE IT RUN AND OPERATE EFFICIENTLY. ARE YOU GOING TO EXCHANGE THE WHOLE SYSTEM LIKE YOU'RE DOING WITH THE AUDITORIUM? OR YOU CAN JUST UPGRADE THIS ONE? WELL, THE GOOD THING ABOUT THIS BUILDING IS THOSE ROOFTOPS, THOSE ARE THE ENTIRE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. SO WHEN YOU REPLACE IT, YOU'RE REPLACING THE WHOLE THING. SO THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF A NICE FEATURE. NOW INSIDE THE BUILDING, OF COURSE, THERE'S STILL THE DUCTWORK AND THE VAV BOXES, BUT THOSE ARE IN FAIRLY GOOD SHAPE. IT'S REALLY JUST THE STUFF ON THE ROOF THAT WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. WE DID LOOK AT SOME OTHER OPTIONS FOR THIS TO TRY TO REDUCE THE COST, BUT THE EQUIPMENT IS PRETTY DEDICATED TO THAT ROOF THAT IT WAS GOING TO. IF WE HAD CHANGED THE DESIGN, THERE WAS GOING TO BE ROOF CHANGES. SO IT ACTUALLY WAS GOING TO ADD MORE COST. SO IT MAKES SENSE JUST TO KEEP THE SAME DESIGN, BUT UPGRADE EVERYTHING THAT'S THERE. SO CORRECT. THAT IS CORRECT. AND I THINK THAT'S THE LAST SLIDE. THESE ARE JUST SOME SLIDES TO SHOW JUST A LITTLE BIT OF THE DETAIL THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE BACKGROUND. BUT HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. SO ON THE GOLF COURSE YOU'RE JUST GOING TO BE ADDING LIGHTING TO THE BACK NINE, RIGHT? YES.

THAT'S CORRECT. YES, SIR. OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. GONZALEZ. I'LL BE IN TOUCH. AND

[01:35:06]

SO THAT WAY WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN AND PROVIDING THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. AND THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE IN ITEM EIGHT. MOVING ON TO ITEM NINE PUBLIC HEARINGS. STAFF HAS ASKED US TO TABLE ITEM NINE A.

IS THAT CORRECT? DONNA, CAN I GET A MOTION TO TABLE MOTION. MOTION BY GOMEZ, SECOND. SECOND BY PEREZ. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, AYE. OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. MOVING ON TO NINE B PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED TAX YEAR 2026 PROPERTY TAX RATE. WE DO HAVE THREE PEOPLE SIGNED UP. FOR ITEM NINE B, WE HAVE SANDRA GOMEZ. SANDRA GONZALEZ GOMEZ, DISTRICT TWO. I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE I OPPOSE RAISING PROPERTY TAXES. YOU HAVE ALREADY INCREASED OUR WATER AND SEWER RATES AT THIS TIME. FAMILIES ARE DEALING WITH HIGHER COSTS FOR FUEL, GROCERIES, INSURANCE AND JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE. LET ME BE CLEAR I'M NOT AGAINST ADDITIONAL MONEY GOING TO OUR POLICE OFFICERS SALARIES. THIS IS NOT ABOUT BEING AGAINST OUR POLICE OFFICERS. MY CONCERN IS THAT I HAVE FILED MANY COMPLAINTS INVOLVING OPEN RECORDS, COMPLIANCE, HPD TRANSPARENCY AND EVEN REQUESTED OPEN RECORDS AUDITS. AND I HAVE BEEN IGNORED. BEFORE ASKING HOMEOWNERS FOR MORE MONEY, THE CITY SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT POLICE SALARIES BEFORE GIVING MANAGER GABRIEL GONZALEZ AND HIS ASSISTANTS. RAISES WHICH HAVE GONE SHOULD HAVE GONE TO OUR POLICE OFFICERS. TAXPAYERS DESERVE ANSWERS. MAYOR SEPULVEDA, YOUR SPENDING ON TRAVEL MEDIA AND PHOTOGRAPHERS, AND SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN COMPENSATION FOR OUR CITY MANAGEMENT IS UNACCEPTABLE.

DON'T KEEP REACHING INTO THE POCKETS OF HARLINGEN HOMEOWNERS WITHOUT FIRST DEMONSTRATING ACCOUNTABILITY. SHOW US THAT YOU CAN USE OUR TAX MONEY CAREFULLY AND AVOID WASTE.

RELEASE THE RECORDS, ADDRESS COMPLAINTS, CONDUCT AUDITS. THEN LET THE TAXPAYERS DECIDE WHETHER WE ARE WILLING TO PAY MORE. UNTIL THIS HAPPENS, I OPPOSE THIS TAX PROPERTY TAX INCREASE. WE ARE NOT JUST NUMBERS IN A TAX BILL. WE ARE THE TAXPAYERS WHO FUND THE CITY AND WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS GOMEZ. NEXT WE HAVE LUIS VALDESPINO. LUIS VALDESPINO, DISTRICT THREE. JUST BEFORE YOU VOTE ON THE PROPERTY TAX TO INCREASE, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE ON THE DAIS IS CLEAR THAT WHILE THE CURRENT RISE IN PROPERTY RATES MAY NOT BE LARGE, IT IS ONE OF THREE RATES RATE RAISES THAT HARLINGEN CITIZENS WILL EXPERIENCE THIS YEAR. WATER WORKS IS RAISING ITS RATES. THE HARLINGEN SCHOOL DISTRICT IS RAISING ITS RATES, AND NOW THE CITY IS RAISING PROPERTY TAX RATES. SO HARLINGEN RESIDENTS WILL EXPERIENCE THE TRIFECTA. SO WHEN YOU VOTE, JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. ESPINO. NEXT WE HAVE ROBERT LEFTWICH. ROBERT LEFKOWITZ, DISTRICT THREE. I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS IN THE CITY OF HARLINGEN THAT WE'VE SEEN TAX INCREASE AFTER TAX INCREASE AFTER TAX INCREASE. WE DON'T HEAR THAT FROM THE STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS. WE HEAR THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING LOWER TAXES. BUT THE CITY'S AUDIT REPORT SAYS OTHERWISE. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT IN 2022, THE LEVY GOING INTO THE 2022 TAX YEAR WAS $23 MILLION. NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT A BUDGET THAT'S TAKING IT CLOSER TO $30 MILLION. AND THAT MEANS THAT THE CITY IS REQUIRING 5 TO $6 MILLION A YEAR IN NEW TAXES TO OPERATE. THE CITY WAS OPERATING ON $23 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAXES JUST FOUR YEARS AGO. NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT 30. LET'S LOOK AT THE THE AUDIT REPORT. WE GET A FINANCIAL AUDIT REPORT. YOU GUYS PAY FOR TAXPAYERS PAY FOR IT. THEY COME BACK AND THEY TELL US HOW WE'RE DOING. I'M GOING TO READ THIS IF I HAVE TIME. IT SAYS THE TOTAL FUND BALANCE FOR THE GENERAL FUND TOTALED $41 MILLION. AT

[01:40:03]

SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025. THE UNASSIGNED BALANCE IS 37, AN INCREASE OF $485,000 OVER THE LAST YEAR. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT OUR FUND BALANCE EVEN CONTINUES TO GROW. EVEN THOUGH WE GET TOLD THAT WE'VE GOT TO SPEND, WE'VE GOT TO SPEND, WE'VE GOT TO SPEND, THEN THE THEN THE THE AUDITOR GOES ON AND SAYS THE LEVEL OF FUND BALANCE IS ABOVE THE CITY'S GOAL OF 90 DAYS OF OPERATING EXPENDITURES. WITH THE COMBINING OF THE FUND BALANCE AND THE GENERAL FUND AND CATASTROPHIC EMERGENCY FUND, WHICH IS ANOTHER $800,000. THE CITY HAS APPROXIMATELY 217 DAYS OF EXPENDITURES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. 217 DAYS IS WHAT WE'VE GOT WHEN THE CITY SAYS WE ONLY. OUR GOAL IS 90 DAYS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. LEFTWICH. WE HAVE. MR. MCPHERSON. THAT'S YOU. AFTER I SAY MY NAME. DESI MARTINEZ, 1806 HEREFORD. HERE'S WHAT I LEFT YOU ON YOUR DESK AND I'LL SPREAD OUT TO THE PEOPLE. WHERE DID THIS MONEY COME FROM? FIRST OF ALL, A BIG CHUNK OF IT. ABOUT HALF OF IT. A GOOD CHUNK. IT COMES FROM THE CAMERON COUNTY APPRAISALS. AND YOU CAN SEE THERE. LET ME GIVE YOU THE BAD NEWS. THE BAD NEWS IS THAT WE, EVEN THOUGH WE INCREASED COMMERCIAL PERSONAL PROPERTY BY 307 UNITS, WE LOST 116 MILLION IN APPRAISALS. THE BAD NEWS IS THAT THE INCREASE. THIS IS THE REPORTS FROM 2006 2026, JUNE OF 2026, COMPARING TO 2025. NEXT BAD NEWS IS AN INDUSTRIAL AND MANUFACTURING ONLY INCREASED ONE. AND WE HAVE A CDC SPENT $8 MILLION A YEAR, SEVEN WHATEVER DEBT SERVICE AND A LOT OF STUFF. THE GOOD THING IS HELPING THE SMALL BUSINESSES. THERE'S A QUESTION UNDER BOSWELL WHEN WE'RE HERE AND NEVER DID IT. YOU'RE DOING IT. CONGRATULATIONS. GOOD HELP.

COMMERCIAL PERSONAL PROPERTY AT 300. IT'S ABOUT $13 MILLION. AND INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURING, LIKE I SAID, ONE WE NEED THERE ARE FUNDS AVAILABLE AND THEY COME AND YOU HAVE THEM HERE IN THIS CITY HALL. WE HAVE A 2% THAT WE GET FROM SALES TAX, $0.50 OF THAT OR $0.50 OF THAT, OR IT GOES TO EDC FOR A AND FOR B, IF THEY'RE NOT PERFORMING, THEN YOU NEED TO RECAPTURE SOME OF THAT MONEY, AT LEAST 25% TO COME INTO THE CITY. SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO RAISE TAXES.

THAT'S ONE TWO, YOU'RE GETTING MORE MORE PERMITS. AND LIKE THE ONE FOR FLOOD NOW THAT'S GOING TO GET CHARGED US $1,500 FOR ENGINEERING TO DO A HOME BECAUSE WE NEED TO DO ALL THIS STUFF THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO, YOUR CITY ENGINEER. AND THERE'S OTHER SOURCES AS WELL.

YOU HAVE A BUNCH OF SURPLUSES FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT YOU JUST NEED TO READ THE STATUTE AND SEE HOW YOU CAN WORK IT AROUND OR CHANGE IT UP. IN AUSTIN, YOU'RE PAYING LOBBYISTS TO DO NOTHING. AND SHE'S CORRECTED, LADY, BETWEEN YOU AND THE EDC ARE PAYING A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS TO DO NOTHING. WE NEED TO FIX OUR WAYS AND FIND THOSE RESOURCES NOT TO RAISE TAXES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MARTINEZ. ALL RIGHT. AND THAT WAS ITEM B, CONSIDERATION OF POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE ON THE SECOND AND FINAL READING.

OH, SORRY. MY APOLOGIES. WE STILL NEED I'M IN THE WRONG THAT WAS ITEM. NOW I'M GOING ON TO NINE C THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED CITY OF HARLINGEN ANNUAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 TO 2027. THIS TIME, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM. AND I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL SIGNED UP, AND THAT IS YOU, MR. MARTINEZ. NO. YES. MR. OH, I DID IT SAYS NINE, 930. IT'S ACTUALLY I DID READ YOUR BUDGET. IT GAVE A SET UP AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT AND I ASKED MY GARBAGE COLLECTOR, HAVE YOU GOTTEN A RAISE? ARE YOU GOING TO GET A RAISE? WE DON'T KNOW. I HAVE SOME FOLKS. THE WORKERS YOU GOT, YOU TOOK CARE OF THE POLICE. YOU TOOK

[01:45:03]

CARE OF THE FIRE. THEY GOT A MULTIYEAR GIG. I UNDERSTAND IT, POLICE. WE DO NEED POLICE. WE NEED THE FIRE CHIEF TO GO TO THE AID STATIONS. WE HAVE. AND AT NIGHT. AND THEN TOOK IT.

THEY STOLE THE CAR AND THEY BE STEALING CARS ALL OVER BECAUSE WE'RE WIDE OPEN. AND THE RATS FROM MEXICO WERE DRUG USERS OR WHATEVER ARE HITTING OUR PEOPLE. THEY NEED TO PUT A POLICE OFFICER OUT THERE AND A SIGN THAT SAYS POLICE SUBSTATION NUMBER ONE, NUMBER ALL THE WAY, NUMBER EIGHT, SO THAT THE RATS KNOW THAT AT NIGHT AND THAT YOU PEOPLE THAT HAVE AREAS AND ALMOST RURAL AREAS CAN SEE HAVE A NIGHT PERSON IN THOSE ZONES, THINK, USE YOUR FACILITIES AND YOUR RESOURCES PROPER. THE PEOPLE OF CAMERON COUNTY GOT 5% INCREASE THE WORKERS. SO THE

[Item 10e - Consideration and possible action to approve a request from Remi Garza, Cameron County Elections Department, to use the Harlingen Cultural Arts Center, located at 575 "76" Dr , as a voting site for the Early Voting and Election Day General Elections: Monday, October 19th through Friday, October 23rd from 9:00 am. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday, October 24th through Sunday, October 25th from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday, October 26th through Friday, October 30th from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., for Early Voting and Tuesday, November 03, 2026, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Election Day]

ELECTED OFFICIALS YOU CAN HAVE 5% INCREASE. MAYOR ABOUT 200 BUCKS A MONTH. THEY'LL GIVE YOU TEN BUCKS FOR WHATEVER 5% IS 200. BUT AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT SERVICE. BUT YOU NEED GABRIEL NEEDS TO STOP ASKING FOR MONEY AND ASKING FOR THEM TO BE MORE RESOURCEFUL. WE HAVE IN HOUSE AND OUT OF HOUSE THAT CAN BE TWEAKED SO OUR PEOPLE CAN HAVE A LITTLE RELIEF. WE'RE IN. WE ARE RECOVERING FROM THE PANDEMIC AND THIS INFLATION AND EVERYTHING. SO PLEASE ACT MORE MATH, ARITHMETIC AND USE YOUR NUMBERS, RIGHT AND HELP OUR WORKERS, OUR GARBAGE COLLECTOR, AND ALL THOSE OUT THERE IN THE SUN GET THEIR 5%. YOU HAVE IT. LOOK FOR IT. THANK YOU, MR. MARTINEZ. AND WE HAVE ROBERT LEFTWICH. THREE MINUTES, THREE MINUTES ON THIS ITEM. ROBERT LEFKOWITZ, DISTRICT THREE. I JUST WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF PICK UP WHERE I LEFT OFF.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT THE EXTERNAL AUDITOR IS TELLING THE CITY, THE CITY COMMISSION, THE MAYOR AND THE CITIZENS THAT THE CITY, IT TARGETS 90 DAYS OF FUND BALANCE. WE HAVE 217 DAYS.

[Item 10f - Consideration and possible action to authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Bissell Pet Foundation and to waive the vaccine fee of $5.00 for the Duffield Pet Wellness Days Program]

I'M NOT SAYING DON'T TO GO AND SPEND THE RAINY DAY FUND, BUT YOU DON'T NEED TO ADD ANOTHER HALF $1 MILLION TO IT. IT SAYS IN 2025, FROM 2024, YOU ADDED $485,000 TO IT. QUIT ADDING TO THE RAINY DAY FUND IF YOU'RE ALREADY THREE TIMES OR TWO AND A HALF TIMES WHAT YOUR GOAL IS, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT'S FOR THAT'S FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS. LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR INTEREST IN SINKING, SAYS THE DEBT ADMINISTRATION. THE CITY HAD AN INFORMAL GOAL OF ATTAINING, WHICH I THINK YOU'RE ON NINE C, THE BUDGET. THAT'S A MAYOR. PLEASE DON'T INTERRUPT ME. PLEASE ADD THAT TIME BACK ON THERE AGAIN. YOU'RE VIOLATING MY CIVIL RIGHTS. THIS IS ABOUT THE BUDGET. THE BUDGET HAS THE TAX RATE. IT HAS THE IT HAS THE LEVY IN THERE. THE FACT OF THE MATTER. IT TALKS ABOUT DEBT. IT TALKS ABOUT OTHER THINGS. YOU'VE JUST YOU'VE JUST TAKEN ANOTHER MINUTE FROM ME. THE FACT OF THE MATTER. THE INFORMAL WAS EVALUATED DURING THE FISCAL YEAR AND DETERMINED TO BE IN EXCESS OF THE CITY'S NEED. THAT MEANS YOUR INTEREST IN SINKING TAX RATE THAT YOU'RE ADOPTING UNDER THE BUDGET OR UNDER THE TAX RATE, IS IN EXCESS OF WHAT YOU NEED. YOU HAVE $614,000 IN A FUND FOR YOUR DEBT TO PAY YOUR INTEREST, YOUR INTEREST AND DEBT OBLIGATIONS. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE STAFFING. YOU'VE GOT FOUR CITY MANAGERS. YOU GOT A CITY MANAGER MAKING 285. YOU GOT A DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, YOU GOT TWO ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS. WELL, GUESS WHAT? THE CITY OF MCALLEN ONLY HAS FIVE. AND ONE

[Item 10h - Consideration and possible action to authorize the Harlingen Police Department to purchase (4) Nissan Rogue Sport Utility Vehicles, in lieu of (4) Chevrolet Colorado's due to extended build times utilizing budgeted funds from this fiscal year.]

OF THEM, ONE OF THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER'S NOT EVEN THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, THE THE AVIATION DIRECTOR FOR THE MCALLEN AIRPORT REPORTS TO HIM. DO WE HAVE AN ASSISTANT CITY

[Item 10i - Consideration and possible action to approve a resolution accepting the Development Corporation of Harlingen's Proposed FY 2027 Budget.]

MANAGER THAT IS QUALIFIED ENOUGH THAT AN AVIATION REPORTSU MIGHT AS WELL ADD OUR $250,000 A YEAR VIA DIRECTOR ON TO YOUR LIST OF ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS. WELL, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS BETWEEN MCALLEN'S BUDGET AND THE CITY OF HARLINGEN BUDGET. YOU'RE LOOKING AT ADOPTING A $71 MILLION BUDGET IN THE CITY OF HARLINGEN WITH FOUR AND THEN AVIATION DIRECTORS AT THE SAME COST OF A CITY MANAGER. THE CITY OF MCALLEN HAS A $650 MILLION BUDGET. WE PAY BASICALLY THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THE TOP BRASS IN THIS CITY AS THEY DO IN THE CITY OF MCALLEN, WITH A CITY BUDGET TEN TIMES OR 15 TIMES, WHATEVER IT IS MORE THAN WHAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF HARLINGEN. Y'ALL NEED TO CUT FROM THE TOP AND

[01:50:01]

QUIT ADDING A BUNCH OF JOBS WE DON'T NEED. THANK YOU, MR. LEFTWICH. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NINE C, HAVING NO ONE ELSE HERE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM, AND I AM GOING TO MOVE AROUND A LITTLE BECAUSE WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN WAITING TO BE HEARD. ITEM TEN A WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TABLE THIS ITEM. THIS IS THE ACCOMPANYING OF THE PUBLIC HEARING. CAN I GET A MOTION TO TABLE MOTION? MOTION BY MORALES. A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY PEREZ? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, AYE. OPPOSED.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. GO AHEAD AND GO OVER TO ITEM TEN G. WE CAN GET OUR VALLEY INTERNATIONAL PEOPLE OUT THE DOOR IF THEY'D LIKE. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT THE VALLEY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT'S FISCAL YEAR 2027 PROPOSED OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET. IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR VIA? MOTION TO APPROVE? OKAY, CAN I GET A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY MORALES? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, AYE. OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU GENTLEMEN. NOW WE'LL GO TO ITEM J. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE HARLINGEN EDC TO GRANT 128,000 TO TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE IN HARLINGEN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 AND 27 TO FUND THREE GRANT PROGRAMS, INCLUDING INCLUDING THE GOAL LINE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, CTE SIGNING DAY SCHOLARSHIPS, AND A NEW NURSING TECH TRAINING PROGRAM. I DO SEE FOLKS FROM TSTC AND EDC BACK THERE. CAN WE GET A MOTION TO APPROVE, OR IS THERE QUESTIONS? MOTION TO APPROVE. MOTION BY PEREZ. SECOND. SECOND BY GOMEZ. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. I OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ITEM K CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE HARLINGEN EDC TO GRANT 5000 TO VIVA VALLEY INITIATIVE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND ADVANCEMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027 TO BENEFIT HARLINGEN RESIDENTS. CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE MOTION MOTION BY MORALES. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND BY PEREZ. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING I. I OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. WE HAVE L CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER OR TO RENEW A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HARLINGEN AND SOUTH TEXAS EMERGENCY CARE FOR THE AMBULANCE SERVICES. CAN I GET A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE MOTION BY PEREZ. SECOND. SECOND BY GOMEZ. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING I. I OPPOSED, OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN AND LADIES, FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. OKAY, NOW WE'LL GO BACK TO OUR REGULAR ITEMS. ON TO TEN BE CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE ON SECOND AND FINAL READING FOR THE VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF INITIAL ZONING AS GENERAL RETAIL 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 2.19 ACRE TRACT SITUATED IN BLOCK TWO, HARLINGEN LAND AND WATER COMPANY SUBDIVISION C, LOCATED ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF WILSON ROAD AND CHESTER PARK ROAD. NEED A MOTION TO TAKE THIS OFF THE TABLE MOTION.

SECOND MOTION BY PEREZ, SECOND BY GOMEZ. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING I. I OPPOSED MOTION IS OFF THE TABLE. ANNA. DO YOU. IS THERE DID YOU GET ANY INFORMATION FROM ON THIS DID NOT. OKAY. SO IS IT YOUR RECOMMENDATION FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS? OKAY. IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION CAPTAIN? I KNOW, BUT IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION? NO, NO. OKAY. MARK. CONSIDER THIS TONIGHT. RIGHT. TEN B WE TABLED A WE'RE GOING TO BE BUT THIS WAS THERE WAS A AN ISSUE. I HAD STAFF LOOK INTO CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE ON SECOND AND FINAL READING FOR A REQUEST FOR THE VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF INITIAL ZONING AS GENERAL RETAIL G R 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 CALL OF 2.198 ACRE TRACT SITUATED IN BLOCK TWO, HARLINGEN LAND AND WATER COMPANY SUBDIVISION C, LOCATED ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF WILSON ROAD AND CHESTER PARK ROAD. A MOTION MOTION MOTION BY PEREZ, SECOND, SECOND BY GOMEZ. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING I I. I OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. ANNA. OKAY. ITEM C CONSIDER CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE YOU WANT TO JUMP TO E? I CAN IS THERE SOMEBODY HERE FROM THE

[01:55:02]

COUNTY? NO, THERE'S NOBODY HERE. I THOUGHT REMY WAS HERE. NO, SIR. IS SOMEBODY FROM THE COUNTY? NO. HE WAS GOING TO BE HERE, BUT HE COULDN'T MAKE IT AT THE LAST MINUTE, SO. ALL RIGHT. DID YOU STILL WANT TO MOVE IT? YEAH. OKAY. ITEM C CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE ON FIRST READING. AN ORDINANCE LEVYING IN THE TAX YEAR 2026 AD VALOREM TAX RATE FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION AND INTEREST AND SINKING INS PURPOSES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 BY RECORD VOTE. OKAY, ROBERT. YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. THE CITY COMMISSION IS BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER APPROVAL ON FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE LEVYING THE TAX YEAR 2026 AD VALOREM TAX RATE OF 0.531060 PER $100 VALUATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 2027. THE RATE IS PROJECTED TO BE 4.468135 PER $100 VALUATION, AND THE INTEREST IN SINKING IS 0.062925 PER $100 VALUATION, AND THIS IS REQUIRED TO HAVE A RECORD VOTE. OKAY. AND SO FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, YOU'VE GIVEN US THE MOTIONS THAT MUST BE READ IN THIS FORM. AND WE WILL VOTE ON NUMBER ONE, AND THEN WE WILL VOTE ON NUMBER TWO, AND THEN WE WILL VOTE ON NUMBER THREE. IS THAT CORRECT? YES. OKAY. SO I NEED A MOTION FOR NUMBER ONE. I MOVE THAT THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS TAX RATE BE FIXED AT 0.468135 PER $100 VALUATION. CAN I GET A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY MIKE. OKAY. AND SO THIS IS A RECORD VOTE. WE'LL START WITH DISTRICT ONE. I HAVE A QUESTION BEFORE WE VOTE ON THAT. IS THIS WHAT WE VOTED ON PREVIOUSLY? YES, MA'AM. PREVIOUSLY, LIKE LAST THE LAST MEETING WE HAD THE LAST BUDGET WORKSHOP. LAST MEETING. THIS IS A AN INCREASE OF HALF A HALF CENT. RIGHT. OKAY. YES, MA'AM. MAY I ASK A QUESTION? YES. HEARING THE THE THE OUR CONSTITUENTS AND REALIZING WE HAVE. WHICH I'M THE ONE WHO PUSHED FOR THIS. THE QUESTION IS, CAN WE DO WITHOUT THAT HALF CENT? BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THE SCHOOL THAT'S GOING TO INCREASE THEIR TAX RATE. WE HAVE THE WATER RATES THAT'S GOING TO GO UP. SO GABE, THIS IS ON YOU. NOT TOO MUCH. A PENNY IS ABOUT HALF A MILLION 568,000. THAT'S A HALF A CENT WOULD BE OKAY. ABOUT 200. AND WHAT WAS THE REVENUE. OVER 561,989. HALF A CENT IS 280,995. WHAT WAS THE EXCESS REVENUE OVER EXPENDITURES? I BELIEVE IT

[Item 10d - Consideration and possible action to approve, by record vote, an ordinance on first reading adopting the City of Harlingen's budget for Fiscal Year 2027. ]

WAS CHECK. WE HAD. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 252, 82552, AND WE'VE ALREADY IDENTIFIED A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND THE MONEY ON. SO, COMMISSIONER MORALES, I THINK AT THE LAST MEETING YOU MOVED FOR THIS TO BE INCREASED. AND SO STAFF DID ALL OF THE WORK TO UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS BASED ON YOUR REPRESENTATIONS THAT, IN FACT, I EMBRACE THAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I ASKED FOR IN THE PAST. WE'VE ALWAYS GONE WITH $0.01 OR ONE AND A HALF CENT, AND I'VE ALWAYS ASKED FOR HALF. NOW I'M GETTING IT. NOW THE QUESTION NOW IS, CAN WE DO WITHOUT IT? WE CAN'T. I'M MOVING FORWARD WITH WITH WHAT I STUCK WITH. WITH WHAT I SAID TWO WEEKS AGO, THE BUDGET THAT WAS PRESENTED IS THE BUDGET PRESENTED TONIGHT IS BASED ON THE DIRECTION TO STAFF ON THE INCREASE THAT YOU SUGGESTED TO. AND THEN WE WENT THROUGH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT. I UNDERSTAND. SO THAT'S THAT'S WHERE WE STAND. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR ROBERT? NO. OKAY. SO THEN WE'VE GOT A MOTION AND WE'VE GOT A SECOND AND THIS IS A RECORD VOTE. SO AGAIN, WE'LL START WITH DISTRICT ONE NAY DISTRICT. HE'S NOT HERE. DISTRICT THREE.

WHERE IS HE AT MIKE. WE LOST HIM. WE LOST HIM. DISTRICT FOUR. YAY! DISTRICT 5II. WE'LL JUST

[02:00:03]

WAIT TILL HE GETS BACK.

DO YOU SEE THE LINK ANYWHERE? HE'S TRYING TO GET BACK TO US. I'M BACK IN. OKAY. DO WE HAVE TO SEE HIM FOR HIM TO VOTE? YES. IT'S TIME TO TRY IT AGAIN.

WHILE WE WAIT. CAN I ASK A QUESTION TO ROBERT? CAN WE HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF YOU HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION? YES. GO AHEAD. ROBERT, HOW MUCH DID YOU SAY THE DIFFERENCE WAS? FOR HALF A CENT IT'S 280,000. 995. THANK YOU. YES. THERE HE IS. OKAY, WE'RE ON THE BUDGET AND WE'RE TAKING A VOTE ALREADY THAT HE HAS TO HAVE HIS CAMERA. AND THERE YOU GO. YEAH. YEAH.

OKAY. I'M BACK. THE THERE WAS ALREADY A MOTION AND A SECOND. THE MOTION IS TO MOVE THAT THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS TAX RATE BE FIXED AT 0.4868135 PER $100 VALUATION COMMISSIONER.

MESSMER. YES, SIR. YEAH, I VOTE AFFIRMATIVE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AND SO. WELL THAT AND THAT LEAVES ME. SO I'M JUST WHEN GABE PRESENTED THE BUDGET, HE PRESENTED A STATUS QUO BUDGET.

AND I THINK I URGE THE COMMISSION TO ACCEPT THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED. AND SO FOR THOSE REASONS, I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THIS. WE HAD A STATUS QUO BUDGET, AND THAT IS WHAT MR. GONZALEZ ASKED US TO TO ADOPT. AND I THINK THAT. SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REDUCE THE TAX RATE EACH YEAR. AND I KNOW THAT. IN YEARS PAST, IT'S BEEN EASIER TO DO THAT, AT LEAST IN THE FIRST YEAR IT WAS. AND SO I DO THINK THAT WE SHOULD KEEP IT AS A STATUS QUO BUDGET. AND SO FOR THOSE REASONS, I'LL VOTE AGAINST. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN

[Item 12 - Executive Session]

FOR YOU. SO THIS REQUIRES 60% OF THE VOTE. SO I BELIEVE THAT THREE OUT OF THE FIVE WOULD STILL GET US 60% FOR FOUR WOULD BE FOUR. SO THEN IT WOULD ARE I THINK IT'S THERE'S THERE'S ONLY FIVE. YEAH, THERE'S ONLY FIVE. HE DIDN'T DANIEL'S NOT HERE. LOPEZ. HE'S NOT HERE. OH THAT WOULD BE THREE. OKAY. SO THREE BECAUSE HE'S NOT HERE. YEAH. SO 60% IS THREE. SO WE HAVE. RIGHT.

BECAUSE I FORGOT THE COMMISSIONER. SO IT WOULD STILL PASS BECAUSE IT'S 60%. YES. ARE YOU SURE? YES. OKAY. SO MOTION PASSES. ITEM TWO. CAN I GET A MOTION. MOTION PLEASE. READ THE