[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:04]
NOTICE OF THE REGULAR MEETING ON THE CITY OF SANTO CITY COMMISSION, OCTOBER 1ST, 2024.
UH, RUTH, CAN WE HAVE ROLL CALL, PLEASE? YES, SIR.
UH, MAYOR PRESENT, MAYOR GUERRA PRESENT.
COMMISSIONER GOODMAN PRESENT, COMMISSIONER DEBRA MORALES, PRESENT.
COMMISSIONER JOE NAVARRO PRESENT.
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYBODY.
AND AGAIN, THE TIME IS, UH, 5 31, ITEM NUMBER TWO AND THREE.
ITEM NUMBER TWO IS A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE US FLAG AND THE TEXAS FLAG.
AND PLEASE REMAIN SILENT FOR THE INVOCATION, UH, BY COMMISSIONER GOODMAN, A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH SCIENCE ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL UNDER A TEXAS FLAG, APPLY ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD.
ONE INVISIBLE COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU.
WE ARE GRATEFUL TO BE GATHERED HERE TODAY AS CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY TO BE ABLE TO EXERCISE OUR PRIVILEGE OF, TO DIRECT OURSELVES AND OUR COMMUNITY IN SUCH A WAY THAT WILL BENEFIT ALL.
WE PRAY FOR THE WISDOM TO DO SO AND FOR THE, THE LEADERSHIP AND FOR THE ELEMENTS THAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO MOVE OUR COMMUNITY FORWARD.
AND WE PARTICULARLY PRAY THIS DAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING ON THE EAST COAST WITH THIS TERRIBLE HURRICANE THAT HAS DONE SO MUCH, LEFT SO MUCH DESTRUCTION.
WE ALSO PRAY, PRAY ON THIS FIRST DAY OF BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO SUFFER WITH THIS TERRIBLE DISEASE.
OUR HEARTS AND MINDS GO TO ALL OF THESE.
WE PRAY THAT THAT WILL BE WITH THEM AND STRENGTHEN 'EM AND BLESS THEM.
[PROCLAMATION(S)]
OKAY.SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UH, THE, UH, PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION.
WE RECOGNIZ THE MONTH OF OCTOBER IS A NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS.
AND, UH, WE HAVE, UH, MR. TONY PINERO, PINERO PINERO FROM VAL BAPTIST TO ACCEPT TO ACCEPT THIS.
UH, COMMISSIONERS COMMISSIONER MORALE.
WHEREAS DURING NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, WE HONOR THE INCREDIBLE FORTITUDE OF BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS AND OFFER OUR HEARTFELT SUPPORT AND PRAYERS TO THOSE CURRENTLY BATTLING THE DISEASE.
AND WHEREAS NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH IS A CHANCE TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY DETECTION OF BREAST CANCER BEING IS THE SECOND MOST COMMON KIND OF CANCER.
APPROXIMATELY ONE IN EVERY EIGHT WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES WILL BE DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER ON AVERAGE.
EVERY TWO MINUTES, A WOMAN IN THE US IS DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER.
AND WHEREAS THIS YEAR, AN ESTIMATED 310,720 WOMEN AND 2,800 MEN WILL BE DIAGNOSED WITH INVASIVE BREAST CANCER AND AN ESTIMATED 42,250 WOMEN AND 530 MEN WILL DIE FROM THIS TERRIBLE DISEASE THROUGH EARLY DETECTION AND IMPROVED TREATMENTS.
TODAY, THERE IS A 90% FIVE YEAR SURVIVAL RATE FOR WOMEN DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER.
WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO MEET WITH THEIR PHYSICIANS AND DISCUSS THEIR INDIVIDUAL RISK OF BREAST CANCER.
AND WHEREAS THIS OCTOBER, THE CITY OF SAN BENITO IS PROUD TO PARTNER WITH VALLEY BAPTIST HEALTH SYSTEM TO OBSERVE NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, WE ARE ENCOURAGING OUR EMPLOYEES AND CITIZENS TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT MAMMOGRAM SCREENINGS AND EARLY DETECTION.
AND WHEREAS EARLY DETECTION IS KEY TO BEING TREATED AND BETTER CHANCE OF BREAST CANCER BEING CURED, INCREASE AWARENESS, ESPECIALLY OF FAMILY HISTORY AND OTHER COMMON RISKS FACTORS, PREVENT OF CARE AND REGULAR SCREENINGS, INCLUDING MAMMOGRAMS, CAN HELP SAVE LIVES THROUGH EARLY DIAGNOSE AND PROMPT TREATMENT.
AND WHEREAS WE COMMEND THE INCREDIBLE RESILIENCE OF BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS AND REMEMBER THAT THOSE LAWS TO THIS DISEASE, WE ALSO PRAY FOR COMFORT AND STRAIN.
AND FOR THOSE CURRENTLY BATTLING BREAST CANCER, NOW THEREFORE BE PROCLAIMED.
I RICARDO GU ROMERO CITY, SANTO CAMERON COUNTY, TEXAS DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 21ST AS NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.
AND I CALL UPON THIS OBSERVANCE TO THE ATTENTION OF ALL OUR CITIZENS IN THE CITY OF SANTO, TEXAS AND WITNESS THEREOF.
I HAVE, UH, HERE ON TO SET MY HAND ON THIS FIRST DAY OF OCTOBER IN THE YEAR, LORD 2024.
[00:05:17]
MOVE THIS WAY.OUR OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN, UH, HIT BY THIS DISEASE AND WE KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE.
[ANNOUNCEMENTS]
UH, WE ALSO HAVE ANNOUNCEMENT.FRED, DO YOU WANT TO TAKE SURE.
SO WE DO HAVE, UH, OUR FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT IS THE PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES, OF APPRECIATION OF MEMBERS OF THE LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITY CLUB OR LEO CLUB FOR OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER EFFORTS TO, UH, CLEAN UP THE AKA TRAIL.
AND THEY DID A CLEANUP FOR US HERE.
SO I WANNA RECOGNIZE THOSE STUDENTS AT THIS TIME.
WANT ME TO CALL HIM OUT? COME ON UP HERE.
ONE MORE THANK YOU FOR OH, WE, LET'S FRED, OH, SORRY.
TAKE A PICTURE AND THEN WE'LL GIVE IT TO HIM.
HOW ABOUT ARIANA GONZALEZ? YES.
OKAY, WELL YOU WANNA TAKE IT FOR YOUR BRO? THERE YOU GO.
FOLLOWING IN DADDY'S FOOTSTEPS.
CLAUDIA MACIAS AND STACY GONZALEZ.
ALL, EVERYBODY SHOW YOUR CERTIFICATES.
ARE WE GOOD? YEAH, WE'RE GOOD.
DO Y'ALL WANNA TAKE THESE? THANK YOU.
ALRIGHT MR. AND THEN OUR SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT TONIGHT, WE GOT A LOT OF FOLLOW THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UH, SAY SOMETHING QUICKLY TO THE STUDENTS.
I WAS IN Y'ALL'S SHOES AND WHEN YOU GET INTO YOUR, UH, COLLEGE CAREER AND YOUR PROFESSIONAL CAREER, WHATEVER YOU DECIDE TO GO, YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW YOU'RE GONNA GIVE BACK IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIVES.
AND THAT WAS SOMETHING I STRUGGLED WITH WHEN I STARTED, UH, PHARMAC AS A PHARMACIST.
HOW WAS I GONNA GIVE BACK? SO I JOINED THE ROT, LOCAL ROTARY CLUB.
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WE HAD A LOCAL ROTARY CLUB UNTIL YOU GO OUT AND SEARCH WHAT'S WITHIN YOUR COMMUNITY.
[00:10:01]
I BECAME A COMMISSIONER.SO CONTINUE TO SERVE ALL THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE AND IT'LL BE REWARDING.
THANK Y'ALL FOR WHAT Y'ALL DO.
I KNOW Y'ALL ARE VERY BUSY, SO APPRECIATE IT.
OKAY, WE'LL DO, UH, OUR NEXT ITEM AND IT'S ANOTHER, UH, CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION TO MR. NOA MEEZ FOR HIS INVALUABLE SERVICES AND CON CON SERVICES AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF SAN BENITO ANIMAL SHELTER.
YEAH, YOU WANNA COME UP? SHARE THE SPOTLIGHT WITH YOURSELF.
ALRIGHT, WE GOOD? MR. LOPEZ? COME ON UP.
YOU WANNA GET IN THE MIDDLE? YEAH, CAN GET IN THE MIDDLE.
I I JUST MIGHT COMMENT QUICKLY AS WELL ON, ON THIS ISSUE.
ANIMALS AND THE DEALING WITH ANIMALS IS SOMETHING WE, WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THERE'S MORE EFFORTS AND MORE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO BE DOING.
WE HAVE GREATLY APPRECIATE THE INDIVIDUAL EFFORTS OF GENTLEMEN LIKE MR. MORALES THERE AND THE WORK THAT HE'S DOING.
UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, FOLLOW UP MR. GOODMAN AND COMMISSIONER GOODMAN SAYING, UM, NOAH LES AND HIS AND HIS MOTHER, DR.
LES REACHED OUT ABOUT A PROJECT THAT NOAH HAD IN MIND ABOUT TRYING TO HELP SOME OF OUR ANIMALS AT OUR, AT OUR LOCAL SHELTER HERE.
AND, AND THEY WORKED TOGETHER WITH SOME OF CITY STAFF SUCH AS ANA, OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, AND FRED VO CITY MANAGER, TO ORGANIZE THIS EVENT WHERE SOME OF THE STUDENTS FROM IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS WERE ABLE TO COME OUT.
AND WE HAD ANOTHER GROUP THAT, UM, I CAN'T REMEMBER THEIR NAME THAT, THAT WERE HELPING WITH THE K NINE CONSULT CANINE CONSULTANTS.
THEY PROVIDED FREE SERVICES TO THE CHILDREN.
THEY WERE, UH, ABLE TO TEACH THEM HOW TO WALK THE DOG WITH THE LEASH, PROVIDED BOWLS, LEASHES, AND BASICALLY WERE ABLE TO ADOPT THE, ADOPT THESE DOGS AT NO COST, UH, TO THE, UH, TO THE CHILDREN OR TO THE CITIZENS.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THEM WITH FLEAING TICK MEDICATION AND THEIR FIRST ROUND OF SHOTS.
SO INSTEAD OF PUTTING THESE DOGS DOWN OR PUTTING A, A TAX BURDEN ON THE COMMUNITY, SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS COURAGEOUS AS WHAT NOAH DID AND ORGANIZED THIS SMALL EVENT TOGETHER, WE WERE ABLE TO GET ABOUT 50% OF THE DOGS OUT OF THE SHELTER.
SO THAT'S PRETTY AWESOME WHAT WE CAN DO AS A COMMUNITY.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE TRYING TO DO THIS, UH, SIMILAR, SIMILAR THINGS FOR THESE ANIMALS.
IF I MAY SAY SOMETHING AS WELL, MAYOR.
UM, UPON HAVING A MEETING WITH THE PRINCIPAL, MR. LOPEZ, FOR SAFETY OF IDEA, I CAME ACROSS, UH, NOAH
AND I ASKED HIM, HOW CAN WE GET THESE KIDS RECOGNIZED? I WOULD LIKE TO GET EVERYBODY, ALL YOUNG YOUTH RECOGNIZED IN THIS CITY BECAUSE IT JUST SHOWS A PROACTIVE APPROACH THAT THEY HAVE.
AND WE WELCOME IT, WE WANT IT, WE THANK YOU FOR DOING IT, WE THANK IDEA, WE THANK SAN BENITO, CID AS WELL, OF HAVING THAT APPROACH TO GIVE THE ENLIGHT OF THAT YOU CAN DO SOMETHING, YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, AND YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
ALRIGHT, NEXT ONE IS, UM, ACTUALLY NOW WE'RE GONNA POP OUR OWN COLLAR HERE.
UH, SO IT'S A RECOGNITION OF THE BUILDING CODE EFFECTIVENESS GRADING CLASSIFICATION HERE, UH, RECENTLY GRANTED TO THE CITY OF SAN BENITO.
AND I THINK, UH, JOANNA'S GONNA TAKE FULL CREDIT FOR THIS, EVEN THOUGH SHE DID IT ALL BY HERSELF.
UH, MAYOR COMMISSIONERS, I HAVE THE STAFF.
THE STAFF DID A LOT BEFORE OUR INSPECTION.
UM, WE, I REACHED OUT TO OTHER CITIES ASKING HOW THEIR INSPECTIONS WENT AND THINGS THAT TO LOOK
[00:15:01]
FOR AND THAT THEY WERE GONNA BE CHECKING US ON.AND WE MADE A LOT OF ADJUSTMENTS, UH, FIXED A LOT OF THINGS AND IT PAID OFF.
UM, ALSO, JUST SO YOU'RE AWARE, UM, ADOPTING THE BUILDING CODES WHEN WE DID REALLY HELPED US.
OTHER PEOPLE GOT, OTHER CITIES GOT SIX AND SEVEN RATING AS OPPOSED TO WHAT WE GOT AS FOUR AND FOUR, WHICH IS A BETTER SCORE, UM, JUST BECAUSE OF THAT ALONE.
SO YOU MEAN THE LOWER THE NUMBER, THE BETTER IT IS? YES.
THE LOWER THE NUMBER, THE BETTER THE SCORE, THE STATE AVERAGE.
SO JUST SO YOU'RE AWARE, UM, THE STATE AVERAGE IS A SIX FOR RESIDENTIAL AND A SIX FOR COMMERCIAL.
UM, COMMERCIAL IS A 55.28 AND RESIDENTIAL IS A 52 POINT 10.
UM, WE WENT FROM A FIVE RESIDENTIAL AND A FOUR COMMERCIAL AT A 60.35 AND A 66 POINT 84 TO A FOUR RESIDENTIAL AND A FOUR COMMERCIAL TO A 71.46 AND A 72.9.
WE'RE GETTING CLOSER TO THAT THREE.
AND THIS, THIS DOES HELP THE RESIDENTS.
THE, THE BETTER OUR SCORE, THE BETTER THEIR INSURANCE RATES.
AND I HOPE, I HOPE THE, THE, THE, UH, THE CITIZENS UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE BUILDING CODES THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE MANDATE BY THE STATE AND WE'RE TRYING TO UPGRADE MOSTLY ONE, UH, YOU KNOW, MOSTLY WHAT WE HAVE.
SO IT'S NOT THAT SANTOS BEING SO, SO STRICT, IT'S THAT IT'S BY STATE, OKAY? AND OUR INSPECTORS AND OUR OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENTS, THEY HAVE TO ABIDE BY, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE STATE IS REQUIRING.
SO THIS SHOWS US THAT, UH, THEY'RE DOING OUR BEST TO MAKE, UH, THE CITIZENS HERE IN METO AND LIVABLE.
I KNOW IT'S, IT'S HARDER, UM, AS FAR AS, UH, THE BUILDING CODES, BUT THEY, THEY'RE THERE FOR A REASON.
WE'RE IN THE COASTLINE, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE HAVEN'T BEEN HIT BY HURRICANES, BUT, UH, WE ARE COASTAL, MEANING THAT, UH, WE HAVE STRONGER WINDS.
AND THAT'S, UH, THAT'S, UH, ONE OF OUR, YOU KNOW, UH, THE, THE, THE WIND STORM THAT HAS TO BE, YOU KNOW, UPDATED SO MUCH.
SO PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE HERE TO HELP AND GROW SANTO AS BEST WE CAN.
AND THIS PROVES IT THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO UPGRADE OUR, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR CODES.
SO JOANNA AND ALL THE STAFF AND EVERYBODY ELSE, THANK YOU SO MUCH, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, UH, PLEASE HELP US OUT.
OKAY? UH, WE'VE ALWAYS TOLD THEM, PLEASE HELP THE PEOPLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND UPGRADE THEIR HOMES ON THIS.
SO THAT IN MIND, UM, PUBLIC COMMENTS.
RUTH, DO WE HAVE ANY DIFFERENT, WELL, MAYOR, BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENTS, MAY I JUST SAY SOMETHING, REITERATE JUST WHAT YOU JUST SAID.
I KNOW I READ THIS LAST TIME ON OUR LAST MEETING, BUT WE HAVE A FULL HOUSE AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE CITIZENS UNDERSTAND WHAT WE DO UP HERE.
WE'LL BE TAKEN OFF DURING OUR NEXT CONFERENCE THIS MONTH, UM, TO TML CONFERENCE WHERE WE LEARN THE IN INS AND OUTS OF WHAT WE DO HERE, WHAT OUR PROS AND CONS ARE, WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO.
WHEN SERVING AS A LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS, ONE OF THE MOST DEMANDING AND OFTEN THANKLESS TASKS A CITIZEN CAN PERFORM, MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS CAN BE CALLED UPON DAY AND NIGHT.
THE MAYOR KNOWS THEY ARE SUBJECT TO CONSTANT CRITICISM, AND ALMOST EVERYTHING THEY DO WILL BE WRONG IN SOMEONE'S OPINION.
MANY SPEND THEIR OWN MONEY TO CAMPAIGN FOR ELECTION.
MOST RECEIVE LITTLE, IF ANY, PAY FOR THE JOB, BUT SERVING IN A LOCAL OFFICE CAN ALSO BE REWARDING AND PRODUCTIVE.
FOR MANY, FOR MANY, IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN BEING IN CONGRESS OR THE STATE LEGISLATOR BECAUSE THIS CITY IS THE REAL WORLD WHERE MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS CAN MAKE GOOD THINGS HAPPEN FOR THEIR FELLOW CITY RESIDENTS.
MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THE RIGHT DECISIONS FOR THIS COMMUNITY, NOT FOR ONESELF.
SO I JUST WANT YOU TO GET, WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE, IT TAKES A TEAM TO MAKE THIS CITY GO FORWARD, AND IT STARTS HERE.
[PUBLIC COMMENTS]
RUTH, UH, MS. ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ.MR. RODRIGUEZ, UM, MAYOR RA, MR. UH, SANDOVAL COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE TODAY.
I, I PROMISE NOT TO TAKE TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME.
UH, MY NAME'S ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ AND I, I'M A RESIDENT AT, UH, 2 31 ROBERT DRIVE HERE IN SANITA.
[00:20:02]
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN A THORN AT THE CITYSIDE FOR A LONG TIME.I THINK, UH, PUBLIC, I'M SORRY, PRIVATE ROAD REPAIR,
UH, FOR SOME OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW WHERE ROBERT DRIVE IS, IT'S A CALICHE ROAD THAT RUNS PARALLEL TO THE SAKA RIGHT ACROSS FROM SAKA SHORES.
AND, UH, IT'S, THE CITY REFERS TO IT AS, AS A PRI PRIVATE ROAD.
OKAY? UH, I REALLY DON'T THINK IT'S THAT PRIVATE.
UH, EVERYBODY USES THE ROAD, THE CITY, CITY VEHICLES USE IT.
GARBAGE TRUCKS, THE US MAIL, UNITED PARCEL, FEDERAL EXPRESS, AMAZON PRIME, EVERYBODY USES IT.
SO IT'S REALLY NOT WHAT I WOULD CALL A PRI PRIVATE ROAD, BUT I THINK THE REASON THEY REFER TO IT AS A PRIVATE ROAD IS BECAUSE THE CITY DOESN'T OWN IT.
IT'S OWNED BY A DIFFERENT ENTITY.
SO FOR THAT REASON, THEY CALL IT A PRIVATE ROAD, AND THEY USE THAT AS A REASON FOR NOT MAINTAINING THE ROAD.
AND I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S RIGHT.
UH, THE CITY IS ACTUALLY, I MEAN, THE ROBERTS DRIVE IS ACTUALLY OWNED BY, BY, UH, THE CAMERON COUNTY IRRIGATION DISTRICT NUMBER THREE.
AND, UH, SO I, I WENT AND HAD A MEETING WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE IRRIGATION DISTRICT YEARS BACK, AND THEY CONFIRMED THE FACT THAT THEY DO OWN THEIR PROPERTY, BUT THEY ALSO SAID THEY DON'T MAINTAIN IT AND THEY WON'T MAINTAIN IT.
BUT IF ANYBODY'S WILLING TO MAINTAIN IT, THEY'RE WELCOME TO DO SO.
SO I FELT TO SEE THE PROBLEM WHY THE CITY WON'T PITCH IN AND HELP THE RESIDENTS AND HELP MAINTAIN THE, THE ROAD.
UM, IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING THAT IT, IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO EVERYBODY, THE, THE, THE RESIDENTS AND THE CITY ITSELF, BECAUSE IF THE CITY WOULD AT LEAST, WELL, IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A, A PAVED ROAD THERE.
OKAY? AND THAT WOULD BE A WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR BOTH THE CITY AND THE RESIDENTS.
UH, THE CITY, THE, THE PROPERTY VALUES WOULD, WOULD INCREASE.
SO THAT WOULD INCREASE THE TAX DOLLARS FOR THE CITY AND THE RESIDENTS WOULD BE HAPPY.
OKAY? UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I, I JUST FELT, I JUST CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE CITY DOESN'T, UH, UH, HELP THE RESIDENTS WITH, WITH THE MAINTENANCE OF THE ROAD, UH, YEARS BACK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR GOT, SIR.
MR. LOA, EDDIE LOA, 2 48 CHARLES BARBARA ROAD, SANTO, TEXAS.
I'M HERE AGAIN ON, ON THE BLOCK EASTMAN ISSUE THAT HAS NOT BEEN OPENED.
I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY EMAILS OR PHONE CALLS REGARDING THIS MATTER.
I ALSO WANTED TO ADDRESS COMMISSIONER PEDRO ALVAN THAT ON THE LAST MEETING YOU WERE NOT PRESENT.
I HAD BROUGHT YOU PRINTED COPIES OF ALL THE EMAILS CONCERNING THE EASEMENT BEING BLOCKED BY NANSAN.
YOU STATED YOU WERE NOT AWARE ABOUT THE SITUATION.
MR. LOA, I HATE TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT WHEN YOU'RE ADDRESSING, THE COMMISSION HAS TO BE EVERY COMMISSION, NOT THIS TARGET.
I GOT THREE MINUTES, RIGHT? OKAY.
HOWEVER, THE OTHER DAY YOU CHOSE TO RESPOND IN SOCIAL MEDIA, FACEBOOK, BUT YOU DON'T RESPOND TO EMAILS OR PHONE CALLS.
I GUESS NEXT TIME I WILL CONTACT YOU THROUGH FACEBOOK BECAUSE IT SEEMS YOU RESPOND MUCH FASTER.
I FIGURE YOU MIGHT, YOU MIGHT PRINT, UH, PAINT YOURSELF A GOOD PICTURE IN THE PUBLIC EYE.
THEY SAY YOU ARE WANTING TO RUN FOR MAYOR.
I WANT, I WILL START MAKING CONTACT WITH RESIDENTS OF SAN BENITO AND ANSWER EMAILS.
YOU SAID THAT I WAS IN A CIVIL LAWSUIT WITH MY NEIGHBORS.
FOR THE RECORD, IT'S THE, IT'S ONLY ONE NEIGHBOR.
THAT'S THE ONE NEIGHBOR THAT YOUR TEAM HELPED TO GET WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
HE'S THE SAME NEIGHBOR WHO GAVE ME THE PLOTTED BLOCKED EASEMENT AND THE THREE BUSINESS ON THE SAME STREET, OPERATE, OPERATE ON A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY.
ALL THESE DOCUMENTS HE GAVE 'EM TO ME.
DON'T ASK ME PROOF OF THOSE DOCUMENTS BECAUSE I PERSONALLY GAVE THEM IN PERSON AND EMAILED COMMISSIONER MORALES.
[00:25:03]
THANK YOU, SIR.[PRESENTATION(S)]
OKAY.WE GET THE PRESENTATIONS, UH, FINANCIALS.
STEPHANIE SANANDO, FINANCE DIRECTOR FOR THE RECORD, SORRY, THIS AFTERNOON I'M PRESENTING TO YOU THE FINANCIAL REPORTS FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST, STARTING WITH OUR BALANCE SHEET OR BALANCE SHEET FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST, UH, 2024 COMPARED TO AUGUST, 2023.
TOTAL AMOUNT OF ASSETS FOR THIS MONTH, 18,486,339, COMPARE AS OF LAST YEAR DURING THE SAME MONTH OF 17,678,000 WITH 40, FOLLOWED BY THAT.
ON THE SECOND PAGE, YOU WILL FIND LIABILITIES, LIABILITIES FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST, 2024 OF 2,235,393 OF LAST YEAR OF 1,000,800 98,893.
THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE, TOTAL LIABILITIES AND FUND BALANCE TOGETHER, 18,486,339 COMPARED TO LAST YEAR DURING THE SAME MONTH OF 17,678,000 WITH 40, FOLLOWED BY THAT WE HAVE OUR REVENUE AND EXPENSE REPORT FOR THE MANGAS MONTH TODAY, ACTUAL FOR, UH, AUGUST, 2024.
HAVE TOTAL AMOUNT OF REVENUES AT 1.1 MILLION 971,000 WITH 23
YEAR TO DATE, ACTUAL TOTAL REVENUES COLLECTED, 15,836,560.
ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE, YOU'LL FIND OR EXPENSES COLLECTED FOR THE MONTH OF, UM, MADE FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST.
TOTAL AMOUNT OF EXPENSES, MONTH TO DATE FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST, WE HAVE 1,000,900 AND 5,949 YEAR TO THE ACTUAL TOTAL OF 14,727,470.
REVENUES OVER EXPENSES FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST OF 65,000 WITH 74, UH, YEAR TO DATE ACTUAL REVENUES OVER EXPENSES OF UM, MILLION 109 WITH 90.
ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE, YOU WILL SEE, UH, THE SALES TAX COLLECTED FOR THE MONTH OF JULY.
'CAUSE AGAIN, WE'RE BEHIND THE THREE MONTHS, UH, TOTAL AMOUNT COLLECTED.
WE COLLECTED 587,230 WITH 86 CENTS, 4.09% MORE THAN WHAT WE COLLECTED THE PREVIOUS MONTH.
TOTAL AMOUNT OF SALES TAX COLLECTED, UH, FOR THE YEAR.
IT'S TWO POINT 61% MORE THAN WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR.
AND THEN ON THE BOTTOM, YOU'LL SEE YOUR CHART IN RED.
AND THE LAST PAGE, YOU WERE ABLE TO SEE THE ALLOCATION, HISTORICAL SUMMARY RATE FROM THE CONTROLLERS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, LET ME KNOW.
UM, I WAS NOTICING HERE, THE FUND BALANCE SITS ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS MORE IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
AND RIGHT NOW, HOW ARE WE RUNNING, UH, TO BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR? UH, PERCENTAGE? THE TOTAL PERCENTAGE THAT, THAT AMOUNT, IT'S ON THE COMPLETED PACKAGE, I THINK 90%, UH, OR SO UHHUH.
AND WE STILL HAVE, WE'RE WE'LL HAVE, UH, TWO MONTHS LEFT.
THIS IS AUGUST, SO IT'S JUST SEPTEMBER.
SO WE SHOULD LOOK AT ABOUT A SURPLUS OF ABOUT 900,000 TO A MILLION DOLLARS.
THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT IT'S LOOKING LIKE.
AND WE HOPEFULLY COMING IN UNDER BUDGET WHILE STILL MAINTAINING ALL THE SERVICES, PROVIDING CORRECT.
TAKING CARE OF MORE STREETS AND HANDLING MORE INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND THIS IS, UM, WE ARE WORKING ON PROVIDING VERY GOOD OVERALL KPIS FOR THE END OF THE YEAR.
WHENEVER I, I AM PRESENTING SEPTEMBER, WE'RE GONNA BRING THAT UP SO YOU KNOW WHAT BUDGET IT TOOK AND WHAT WE DID.
SO THAT'S COMING UP NEXT, NEXT MEETING.
AND, AND YOU ARE ABLE TO SEE EXACTLY HOW MUCH WE SPEND FOR THE WHOLE YEAR AND EVERYTHING THAT GOT ACCOMPLISHED WITH THOSE FUNDS SPENT SO ROUTINELY, I'VE SEEN FOR THE PAST SIX FISCAL YEARS, A SURPLUS OF ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS.
SO I, TO ME THAT'S GOOD THAT WE'RE COMING IN UNDER BUDGET.
UM, NOW I WOULD START THINKING ABOUT FOR THE COMMISSION, SOME PROJECTS THAT WE CAN START THINKING ABOUT SPECIAL PROJECTS, MAYBE SPAY, NEUTER, FRED, IT'S OR SOME OTHER PROJECTS.
WE'RE, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S GOOD.
WE'RE, WE'RE NOT FRED ANIMALS.
IT'S FOR ANIMALS, BUT I, I, I, I, I LIKE THAT.
WHICH WE'RE ACCOMPLISHING THINGS AND WE'RE
[00:30:01]
STAYING UNDER BUDGET AND THAT'S GOOD.OKAY, COMM, JUDGE, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NONE.
OKAY, LET'S MOVE FORWARD THEN.
MS. STEPHANIE, WE GOT THE CONSENT AGENDAS MAYOR, I FORGOT TO MAKE, CAN I GET I, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL MEET WITH YOU.
PARDON? I'LL MEET WITH YOU, SIR.
YEAH, BECAUSE YEAH, WE NEED TO THE AGENDA MOST IMPORTANT POINT,
I'LL PASS IT ALONG TO YOU ALL, I PROMISE YOU THAT.
UM, YEAH, WE, WE HAVE ANOTHER MEETING RIGHT NOW AT THE, THAT WE HAVE TO GO TO,
[CONSENT AGENDA ITEM(S)]
UM, THE CONSENT AGENDA.WE HAVE A CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A COUPLE THAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO TAKE OUT, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
THE NOMINATION OF, UH, REGION 12 DIRECTOR AND, UH, CAMERON COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
THAT'S NUMBER TWO AND NUMBER THREE.
SO I WOULD RECOMMEND WE TAKE THOSE OUT OF CONSENT.
UH, ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT WOULD THE, THE GOVERNING BODY LIKE TO TAKE OUT OF CONSENT? OKAY.
UM, SUGGEST NUMBER, DID WE SAY NINE? NO, NO.
SO DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT ALL THE OTHER ONES? MOTION TO THE MIKE? YEAH.
UH, MOTION TO, UH, APPROVE CONSENT ITEMS. 1, 4 6 6 7 8, 7, 8, 11 AND 12.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MORALES.
[2. Consideration and possible action to nominate and cast a vote for the Texas Municipal League Region 12 Director Election.]
OKAY, SO LET'S TAKE THE NUMBER TWO.SO THAT'S CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO NOMINATE AND CAST A VOTE FOR THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE REGION 12 DIRECTOR ELECTION.
I KNOW THERE'S TWO CANDIDATES.
I THINK IT'S, UH, SE YEAH, COMMISSIONER SE FROM, UH, MCCALLAN.
AND I THINK THERE IS A COMMISSIONER FROM BROWNSVILLE.
I WOULD LIKE TO DO THE COMMISSIONER MC BROWNSVILLE, UH, MAYOR PROTE.
IS HE MAYOR PROTE? UH, BRIAN MARTINEZ FROM BROWNSVILLE.
I, I MIGHT, I WOULD, IS THAT MOTION OR YOU WANT TO HAVE DISCUSSION? SO YOU HAVES AS THE ENCAMPMENT FROM MACALLAN AND BRIAN FROM BROWNSVILLE.
SO THIS IS A, A BALLOT FOR REGION 12? YES.
TML BREAKS UP REGIONAL ALL OF TEXAS INTO REGIONS OR REGION 12.
ARE WE THERE IN DISCUSSION NOW? YEAH.
MY ONLY CONCERN WITH, UH, BRIAN, I MEAN, HE'S A YOUNG GUY.
UH, BUT I DIDN'T SEE ANY WORK EXPERIENCE.
ALL I SAW WAS POLITICAL EXPERIENCE AND, AND THAT, THAT'S MY CONCERN, IS I I DON'T SEE ANY PRACTICAL WORK EXPERIENCE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I, I HAD A, I HAD A BRIEF DISCUSSION WITH HIM AND HE BROUGHT UP A GOOD, YOU KNOW, A GOOD POINT SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINES ABOUT WHERE HE'S FROM AND HE'S FROM SOUTH.
MOST, HAVE YOU EVER BEEN BY SOUTHMOST? OH, YEAH.
SO THAT, TO ME, THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT HIS CHARACTER AND WHAT, WHAT, WHAT IT MEANS TO HIM TO BE IN THE POSITION THAT HE'S IN.
AND WELL, HAVING EXPERIENCE IN THIS GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, I WOULD SAY NOT POLITICAL AFFAIRS, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AND BEING IN, HE LIKES TO BE REALLY INVOLVED IN A LOT OF NON-PROFITS.
I THINK THAT'S THE EXPERIENCE THAT ALLOWS HIM TO KIND OF SPEAK FOR OUR REGION.
AND HE'S FROM CAMERON COUNTY, AGAIN, WHERE IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF THE MONEY IN DOLLARS, FEDERAL DOLLARS GO TO ALGO.
SO THAT'S WHY I WAS LOOKING TOWARDS THE BRIAN.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS LOOKING AT.
I, I LIKE THOSE ISSUES AS WELL.
BUT AGAIN, MY CONCERN IS THAT, ARE WE LOOKING AT TRYING TO MAKE A, CREATE A CAREER POLITICIAN HERE WITH, WITH NO OTHER REAL WORK EXPERIENCE? THAT BECOMES MY ONLY CONCERN.
WELL THEN WHAT ARE WE DOING SITTING UP HERE?
I MET HIM ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS.
I, I LIKED HIS ENERGY IS, IS WHAT I LIKE.
BUT LIKE MAYOR PRO TEM STATED, UM, HE'S BROWNSVILLE'S CAMERON COUNTY, AND WE NEED TO START HAVING PEOPLE ADVOCATE FOR CAMERON COUNTY, WHICH WE LIE IN.
[00:35:01]
UTILIZE HIM.SO EVERYBODY DESERVES AN OPPORTUNITY IS WHAT THEY DO WITH THAT OPPORTUNITY.
SO I, WE GOING, I NEED A MOTION, A MOTION TO SUBMIT THE, UH, VOTE FOR BRIAN L. MARTINEZ.
COMMISSIONER MAYOR PROTE FROM BROWNSVILLE.
SO I'VE GOT A MOTION BY MAYOR POTE.
UH, I GOT JUAN FOR MR. BRIAN MARTINEZ.
I GOT A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MORALES.
YEAH, I, I THINK ALSO, UM, I'LL, I'LL MAKE AN A ON THIS ONE TOO.
SO WE GOT THREE A'S AND TWO NAYS, COMMISSIONER, UH, GOODMAN AND MYSELF FOR, UH, MARTINEZ.
SO MOTION PASSES FOR BRIAN MARTINEZ.
[3. Discussion and possible action on matters pertaining to the Cameron Appraisal District: a) Nominate one candidate for each of the five open positions b) Approval of Resolution Number 2024-1001-001(R) (Part 1 of 2)]
UH, THANK YOU MAYOR.ITEM NUMBER THREE, DISCUSSION POSSIBLE ACTION ON MATTERS PERTAINING TO THE CAMERON APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
SO THAT'S, UH, ITEM A WOULD BE NOMINATE ONE CANDIDATE FOR EACH OF THE FIVE OPEN POSITIONS.
AND THEN B IS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION, UH, NUMBER 20 24 1 0 0 1 DASH 0 0 1 R IN FULFILLMENT OF THOSE NOMINATIONS.
SO WE CAN, OKAY, SO EACH ONE OF US GONNA BE NOMINATING SOMEBODY.
OKAY? UM, I, I SEE A DEADLINE ON THIS, UNFORTUNATELY.
AND, UH, SO I I I, I APOLOGIZE YOU DID NOT SEE THIS SOONER IN ORDER TO COME UP WITH A NAME, WHAT, IS THERE A TIME ELEMENT THAT WE HAVE THAT TIME ELEMENT THAT'S GONNA BE A HARD, FAST RULE THERE.
I THINK THIS ONE, UH, IS FOR OCTOBER 12TH.
UH, WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER MEETING FOR NOPE.
SO HONESTLY, WE NEED TO MAKE SOMEBODY, ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO BE IN THE YEARS CLASS.
MAYOR, WE'VE ONLY NOMINATED ONE.
AND THAT'S, UH, UNA, ALAN, ALAN OONA.
BUT NOW THEY BROUGHT IT UP THE, THE, THEY'RE OPENING IT UP TO MORE PEOPLE, SO THEY'RE LACKING FIVE PEOPLE.
RIGHT NOW, IF, IF IF'S AN OPTION TO, THERE'S AN OPTION TO TABLE.
SO WE CAN HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS, BUT WE WON'T, WE NEED TO MAKE A SPECIAL MEETING BECAUSE, UH, I WILL BE AWARE WE OUT NEXT MEETING, CAN WE SUBMIT OUR INDIVIDUAL NAMES AND THEN RATIFY THE MEETING? NO.
UM, ANYBODY IN THE BOARD? DOES ANYBODY ON THE BOARD WANT TO BE IN HERE? GOOD QUESTION.
UH, THEY MEET, THEY MEET, MEET EVERY ONCE A ONCE A MONTH.
THIRD MONDAY OF THE MONTH? YES.
IT'S THE CAMERON COUNTY APPRAISAL REVIEW BOARD.
THEY'RE NOT VERY BUSY FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE YEAR.
THEN, UH, I NOMINATE, UH, COMMISSIONER MORALES IN MY NOMINATION.
SO DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND FOR COMMISSIONER? SECOND.
CAREFUL, WHICH YOU WISH, COMMISSIONER.
OKAY, SO, UH, I GET THE, UH, MYSELF AND THEN, UH, UH, COMMISSIONER GOODMAN.
SECONDS FOR COMMISSIONER MORALES.
SO, AND IT'S GOTTA BE UNANIMOUS.
SO NOBODY NAYS YOU, SO Y'ALL, YEAH.
SO NOW ANYBODY ELSE, IF NOT, NO.
IS THAT'S GONNA BE THE FIRST ONE.
OH, DOES ANYBODY HAVE INFORMATION ON MR. OZUNA? AND HOW IS HE DOING? AND DOES HE LIKE THE DUTIES THAT COME WITH HEARING PROTESTS? I MEAN, I, HE'S A CITY PROSECUTOR, SO HE'S AN ATTORNEY.
BEEN WITH DEFINITELY NOVARO FOR A WHILE, AND THEN HE CAME OUT.
I MEAN, I'VE KNOWN HIM A LONG TIME, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS OUR APPOINTEE.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S EASY FOR YOU.
THAT'S WHY I SAID, NOW IT'S UP TO YOU ALL.
WELL, AND THIS, AND THIS IS ONLY TO GET ON A BALLOT.
THIS IS NOT, DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE ACTUALLY APPOINTED, CORRECT? CORRECT.
UM, ANYBODY IN THE, IN THE PUBLIC, I SAY WE, UH, MOVE THIS AGENDA ITEM TO THE END.
MAYOR, IS THAT OKAY WITH YOU? I'M OKAY.
[00:40:01]
LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO THINK.WE GOT ABOUT AN HOUR MORE TO GO.
I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS IF THIS IS HURTING ME, BECAUSE I'M THE ONLY BROKER HERE, BUT I DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO DO ANYMORE.
SO TEMPORARILY, UM, TEMPORARILY SKIP, UH, ITEM NUMBER THREE.
[5. Consideration and possible action to approve Resolution Number 2024-1001-003(R) approving proposed projects of the San Benito Economic Development Corporation, Inc. (Part 1 of 2)]
THEN WE CAN GO, UH, MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE.AND THAT'S, UH, CONSIDERATION, POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 2 0 2 4 0 0 1 DASH 0 0 3 DASH R APPROVING PROPOSED PROJECTS OF SAN BERNARDINO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, INC.
UM, MAYOR COMMISSIONERS, THESE ITEMS WERE PRESENTED TO THE EDC BOARD.
UH, SEVERAL OF YOU SIT ON THAT BOARD, SO YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH IT.
OBVIOUSLY, UH, COUPLE COMMISSIONERS ARE NOT.
UM, THESE ARE, THESE ARE PENDING PROJECTS.
UH, WE, IF WE ARE GONNA DISCUSS 'EM, WE NEED TO DISCUSS 'EM IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND, UM, I, I MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR ITEM FIVE.
UM, I GUESS MOVE IT, CAN WE MOVE IT TO THE END AS WELL? OF COURSE, YEAH, WE CAN MOVE ON.
UH, WE CAN TEMPORARILY DISPENSE WITH THAT ONE.
[9. Consideration and possible action to approve Bid Number 2024-08-002 for a year supply of road materials for Fiscal Year 2024-2025.]
MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER NINE NINE, AND THAT IS CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE ACTION APPROVED BID NUMBER 2 0 2 4 DASH EIGHT DASH 0 0 2 FOR A YEARS SUPPLY OF ROAD MATERIALS FOR FISCAL YEAR 20 24, 20 25.MR. ELOY AVILA, FRONT AND CENTER.
NO PROBLEM, MAYOR, COMMISSIONER SANEL, UM, THESE ARE THE BIDS THAT CAME IN FROM RETA UP, BATTERING CENTRAL READY MIX.
UM, I DUNNO IF YOU HAVE THIS IN FRONT OF Y'ALL.
EVERYTHING GREEN WAS THE, THE LOWER BID, WHICH, UH, THERE WAS A RECOMMENDATION EXCEPT FOR THE CENTRAL READY MIX WAS BROUGHT UP TO ME THAT THESE ARE LOCAL.
THEY'RE LIKE A DOLLAR OFF AND THE OTHER ONE'S LIKE $5 OFF, WHICH IS REALLY NOT A BIG DEAL.
THE THING IS, IS THAT WE WE'RE WITHIN THE BUDGET.
NOW THE THING IS WITH THESE DOWN HERE IS THAT OUR MEN CAN GO OUT THERE WITH A FRONT END LOADER AND IT'S LOCAL.
THEY CAN PICK UP A YARD WHERE NOWHERE ELSE THEY CAN DO THAT.
SO MY RECOMMENDATION IS WE CAN APPROVE THAT.
ANY QUESTIONS ERS JUST, JUST CLARIFICATION, LLOYD.
SO CAN YOU GO THROUGH YES, SIR.
THE ITEMS AND WHO YOU'RE RECOMMENDING THE APPROVAL FOR, SIR? SO WE CAN HAVE THAT FOR THE RECORD.
UPPER VALLEY IS GONNA BE FOR THE HOT MIX, IT'S GONNA BE AT 90.5 A TON, AND THEN IT'S GONNA GO TO FRONTERA FOR THE LIMESTONE THAT CAME IN AT 47.99 A TON.
AND THEN IT'S GONNA GO BACK TO UPPER VALLEY, IT'S GONNA BE AT A $113 A TON.
CALICHE IS GONNA GO TO FRONTERA MATERIALS, WHICH IS GONNA BE 25 POINT 17 FOR THE CALICHE.
AND THEN IT'S GONNA GO BACK DOWN TO CENTRAL READY MIX, WHICH IS LOCAL.
AND THEN THE CONCRETE FOR 4,000 PSIS IS GONNA BE AT A 140 A TON.
GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GOODMAN.
[11. Consideration and possible action to approve a proposal from the Offices of Marc A. Rodriguez for the 89th Texas Legislative Session consulting and lobbying services for the City of San Benito.]
NUMBER, UH, 11 IS CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE A PROPOSAL FROM THE OFFICES OF MAR RODRIGUEZ FOR THE 89TH TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION CONSULTING AND LOBBYING SERVICES FOR THE CITY OF SAN BETO.I PUT THIS ON BECAUSE, UH, TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY WHEN WE WENT TO THE MEDIATION IN AUSTIN, UH, TO MEET WITH MR. RODRIGUEZ.
IT'S BEEN AN ONGOING, UM, DIALOGUE WITH HIM.
UH, THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS RAMPING UP.
IT'S ALREADY RAMPED UP LAST MONTH.
FOLKS ARE FILING BILLS AS WE SPEAK.
SO I SHARED WITH YOU ALL, UH, THE, THE REQUEST FROM OUR SENATOR LAMONT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, SHORT NOTICE, COME UP WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE REQUEST.
SO FORWARDED THOSE TO YOU ALL VIA TEXT SO YOU COULD SEE WHAT WE PUT TOGETHER.
UM, IT WAS A REALLY SHORT TRIGGER ON THAT AND WE HAD TO GET IT OUT.
BUT THE POINT IS, IS THAT WE'RE, WE'RE ASKING FOR A LOT OF MONEY AND THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THIS, THIS SESSION, THE 89TH IS GONNA BE VERY, VERY, UH, IT'S GONNA BE CHALLENGING.
OKAY? UH, WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY REPRESENTING US.
UH, IT'S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT IF NOBODY'S ADVOCATING FOR US OUT THERE, UH, WE'RE NOT GONNA GET ANYTHING.
SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF ASKS, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF NEEDS, AND WE NEED SOMEBODY TO BE ADVOCATING FOR US ON A DAILY BASIS.
MR. RODRIGUEZ HAS OVER 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE.
I'VE INCLUDED HIS, UH, HIS CLIENT LIST.
[00:45:01]
UH, WE'VE GOT HIM, UM, NOT ONLY AS A, UH, AS AN ADVOCATE, BUT HIS SPECIALTY IS WATER AND WASTEWATER, TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD, TEXAS PUC, UM, AND OTHER FUNDING AGENCIES LIKE THAT.UH, HE IS, UH, VERY EXPERIENCED AND HE WILL REPRESENT US WELL.
AND, AND THE BIGGEST ITEMS THIS SESSION ARE GOING TO BE, UM, THE WATER AND WASTEWATER ISSUES WE NEED TO GET AHEAD OF THIS.
AND, UH, WE WE'RE GETTING HIM AT A, AT A VERY, VERY LOW MONTHLY RATE.
HE NORMALLY IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 15 AND 25,000 A MONTH.
UH, I GOT HIM DOWN TO 7,500, UH, ONLY BECAUSE HE REALIZES WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE AND, UH, BEEN ABLE TO PLEAD OUR CASE.
BUT NOT ONLY THAT, HE BELIEVES IN THE VALLEY.
UH, I'VE WORKED WITH HIM BEFORE AND HE'S EFFECTIVE.
UM, AND I WOULD RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS? FRED, THANK YOU FOR BEING PROACTIVE ON THIS.
UH, I BELIEVE IT'S, UH, IT'S CERTAINLY NEEDED.
I'VE SEEN THE USE OF LOBBYISTS BEFORE IN COMMUNITIES AND WHERE THE LOBBYISTS ACTUALLY HAVE JUST, WE'VE BEEN PAYING 'EM MONEY AND NEVER GOT REALLY, UH, THEY NEVER GOT CLEAR DIRECTION FROM US.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT VERY CLEAR DIRECTION HERE RIGHT NOW, MORE SO THAN WE'VE EVER LOOKED AT.
SO I, I, I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE AN, A VERY EFFECTIVE SPEND OF MONEY.
I WANTED TO PUT THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE.
UH, LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THERE WAS OVER 11,000, CLOSE TO 12,000 BILLS, UH, FILED, AND ONLY 4,500 GOT PASSED.
I, I, I'M NOT A, I DON'T LIKE TO PAY LOBBYISTS BECAUSE THAT'S MONEY I COULD, WE COULD PUT SOMEWHERE ELSE.
BUT WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT WHAT COMMUNITY, OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVING TWO OR THREE LOBBYISTS, IT BENEFITS US TO HAVE ONE AND TO PAY THE $80,000 A YEAR AND GET A RETURN OF SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.
SO IF WE CAN ACHIEVE THAT RETURN, AND LIKE COMMISSIONER GOODMAN SAY, SAID, THIS TIME AROUND, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A CLEAR PLAN OF WHAT WE WANT OUR LOBBYISTS TO TARGET INSTEAD OF HAVING THEM WORK ON AN OFF LEGISLATIVE YEAR.
BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE'S, THEY ARE ALREADY ALREADY HITTING THE, THE BOOKS.
THE, THE BILL STARTED GETTING FILED, YOU KNOW, LATE AUGUST, EARLY SEPTEMBER.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MOTION TO APPROVE? YES, I GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GOODMAN.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER NAVARRO.
SO WE CAN GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
OH WAIT, I MEAN, DO YOU WANNA FINISH UP THE REST OF IT AND THEN GO, OR DO YOU WANNA COME BACK? YEAH, NO, NO, NO.
UH, THE, THE ITEMS. SO LET ME GO ON TO
[1. First Reading of Ordinance 2573-B-10-2024, an ordinance amending Ordinance 2573- A-08-2024, providing a Comprehensive Schedule of Fees and related policies and procedures for Building Permit Fees, a stipulated.]
ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATIONS.THAT IS ITEM NUMBER ONE IS FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 25 73 DASH B DASH 10 DASH 2024.
AN ORDINANCE OF MENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 25 73 DASH A DASH OH EIGHT DASH 2024, PROVIDING A COMPREHENSIVE SCHEDULE OF FEES AND RELATED POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR BUILDING PERMIT FEES AND, AND STIPULATED.
THIS IS JUST THE FIRST READING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
WE'RE JUST, UH, JUST TRYING TO GET THESE THINGS, UH, A LITTLE BIT MORE IN TUNE IN LINE WITH WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE CHARGING AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT, UH, THAT WE'RE NOT OUT OF, YOU KNOW, OUT OF BOUNDS WITH WHAT WE, WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING.
MAKE SURE WE DON'T, UH, WE CAN, YOU KNOW, HAM NOT HAMPER, UH, CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS AND WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WITH THE FEES A MONTH AGO? WE HAD A, A WHOLE SCHEDULE OF FEES THAT THIS IS MOST, THIS IS JUST RELATED TO BUILDING AND PERMIT.
THE OTHER ONES WERE MORE COMPREHENSIVE.
[2. First Reading of Ordinance Number 2625-10-2024 approving 380 Agreement transferring City properties to the San Benito Economic Development Corporation, Inc.]
WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM TWO, WHICH IS THE FIRST READINGS, READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 26 25 DASH 10 DASH 2024, PROVING THREE 80 AGREEMENT TRANSFERRING CITY PROPERTIES TO THE CITY OF SAN BONITA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, INC.AGAIN, THIS IS JUST A FIRST READING AND, UH, IT'S IN FULFILLMENT OF, UH, ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE'LL DISCUSS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[3. First Reading of Ordinance Number 2186-A-10-2024 that repeals and replaces Ordinance 2186 on standards of conduct.]
NUMBER THREE IS FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 2 1 8 6 DASH 10 DASH 2024.THAT REPEALS AND REPLACES ORDINANCE NUMBER 2186 ON STANDARDS OF CONDUCT.
AGAIN, WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS AND WE HAD A, UH, HAD A PRETTY, PRETTY EXTENSIVE WORKSHOP WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY.
UM, THIS ORDINANCE GIST, UM, MEMORIALIZES A LOT OF THAT, A LOT OF THAT, UH, DISCUSSION AND THAT WORKSHOP AND PUTS IT IN PLACE.
SO IT'S THE FIRST READING AND WE HAVE A CHANCE TO AMEND IT IF WE NEED NEED BE, UH,
[1. Consideration and possible action to appoint a member to the Planning and Zoning Commission to the place and term starting and expiring as shown: a) Place 2 - Current Term June 1, 2024 to May 31, 2026 ]
BOARD APPOINTMENTS, IT'S NUMBER ONE THAT'S CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE ACTION APPOINT MEMBERS TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION TO PLACE IN TERMS STARTING EXPIRING AS SHOWN.[00:50:01]
PLACE TWO, CURRENT TERM, JUNE 1ST, 2024 TO MAY 31ST, 2026.AND THAT'S PLACED TO MAYOR COMMISSION.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, NOMINATE MS. MELISSA CORTEZ TO THIS VACANT, UH, SEAT FOR PLANNING AND ZONING.
SHE'S A RESIDENT HERE, A BUSINESS OWNER HERE, AND ALSO HAS EXPERIENCE IN THE PERMITS WHEN I, WHEN SHE WORKED IN THE HARINGTON AREA FOR YEARS.
SO MY NOMINATION IS MELISSA CORTEZ.
MAYOR A SECOND BY MAYOR TIM GALVAN.
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
TIME IS, UH, 6 21 AND WE'RE GOING TO EXHIBIT SESSION.WE'LL BE BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
[3. Discussion and possible action on matters pertaining to the Cameron Appraisal District: a) Nominate one candidate for each of the five open positions b) Approval of Resolution Number 2024-1001-001(R) (Part 2 of 2)]
THREE, DISCUSSION POSSIBLE ACTION ON MATTERS PERTAINING, UH, TO CAMERON COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT ITEMS A AND B.UM, STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND, UH, NO, NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME.
UH, WE CAN MOVE ON TO, ON THE REMAINING NOMINATIONS AT THIS TIME.
[5. Consideration and possible action to approve Resolution Number 2024-1001-003(R) approving proposed projects of the San Benito Economic Development Corporation, Inc. (Part 2 of 2)]
NUMBER FIVE IS CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 2 0 2 4 DASH 1 0 0 1 DASH 0 0 3 R.APPROVING PROPOSED PROJECTS THE SAN BENITO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, INC.
AS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
OKAY, I HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GOODMAN.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MORALES.
ANY OTHER COMMERS ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YEAH, UH, WE DO HAVE THE NATIONAL ADD OUT, UH, GOING RIGHT NOW AT THE, UH, HAVEN PARK.
UH, SO NOW NO OTHER, NO OTHER COMMENTS.