[00:00:02]
MR. NOTICE OF THE REGULAR MEETING
[CALL TO ORDER]
OF CITY CITY COMMISSION, AUGUST, UH, 19, 20, 25.ITEM NUMBER ONE IS A ROLL CALL.
SO, ITEM NUMBER TWO, UH, ITEM NUMBER ONE.
NUMBER TWO IS, UH, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO US, FLAG AND TEXAS FLAG.
AND PLEASE REMAIN STAND FOR THE, UH, PRO, UH, INVOCATION BY MAYOR GOODMAN.
I PLEDGE TO ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WOULD'VE JUST FOR ALL UNDER A TEXAS FLAG, APPLIED ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD WON AN INDIVIDUAL, OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.
WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO BE GATHERED HERE IN THIS, IN THIS CAPACITY AS A COMMUNITY STRIVING TO IMPROVE OURSELVES AS A COMMUNITY AND DO BETTER.
WE PRAY FOR THY SPIRIT TO BE WITH US, THAT OUR MINDS AND HEARTS WILL BE ABLE TO SPEAK THOSE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE SPOKEN, THAT WE MIGHT COMMUNICATE WELL WITH EACH OTHER, AND THAT WE MIGHT COME TO CONCLUSIONS THAT WILL BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO PARTICULARLY PRAY FOR THOSE THAT ARE, THAT ARE SICK IN NEED OF HELP, NEED OF THY HELP AND STRENGTH, SUCH AS, SUCH AS, UH, COMMISSIONER'S, DAUGHTER, GRANDDAUGHTER.
PRAY THAT THY BLESSING BE UPON HER AND ON OTHERS THAT NEED THY HELP, AS WELL.
SEE US THROUGH THESE, THESE TIMES.
WE PRAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.
[ANNOUNCEMENTS]
COMMISSIONERS.ANYBODY? UH, MAYOR, I BELIEVE THERE IS A GROUNDBREAKING TOMORROW THAT WILL BE HAPPENING FOR A SUBDIVISION LE BLOCK SUBDIVISION.
I'M NOT SURE IF IT, THE RAIN MAY DAMPEN THAT, BUT WE'LL SEE.
THAT'S, SAW IT, IT'S ON MAYFIELD.
THIS WILL BE A RIBBON CUTTING GRAND OPENING LEBLANC SUBDIVISION ON 3 0 1 MAYFIELD ROAD, SANTO, TEXAS 7 8 5 8 6.
THIS WILL BE FROM 1130 IN THE MORNING TO 1:00 PM ANOTHER SUBDIVISION COMING TO SANTO.
UM, THE SUMMER CONCERTS, UH, ARE OVER NOW.
WE'RE GONNA GET A LITTLE BIT OF BREAK THEN.
YEAH, WE, WE GOTTA HAVE A BREAK SO WE CAN, UH, LOOK AT EVERYTHING.
BUT, UM, UH, STAY TUNED WITH, UH, WE SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR MORE, MORE ITEMS, AND LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
THE PEOPLE SHOWING 'EM, UH, A LOT OF, UH, GOOD COMMENTS THAT I, THAT, THAT I GOT, UM, STARTED OFF A LITTLE BIT SHAKY, BUT, UH, A LOT OF, UH, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF HITS BAD, BUT THEN THROUGHOUT THE, THE, THE WEEKS, UH, EVERYTHING STARTED OFF GOOD.
UH, HOPE WE CAN KEEP IT GOING.
OUR RESTAURANTS ARE BUSINESS DID GREAT.
AND, UH, THEY'RE TAKING THE KEEP, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN STOP TALKING ABOUT IT.
SO, UM, FRED, EVERYBODY THAT, UM, GOT ALL THIS GOING, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
EDC, UH, EVERYBODY INVOLVED TRYING TO GET THE PEOPLE.
ROY, UM, UH, PUBLIC WORKS, EVERYBODY THAT, UH, PUT IN THE WORK ALSO OUT THERE.
UH, JUST THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING WITH DONE.
UH, LET'S GET SOMEBODY TO GOING AND GET IT UP THERE.
SO ANY MORE ANNOUNCE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
YOU WANNA DO IT, COMMISSIONER? YEAH.
UM, WE ALSO ARE FIRE DEPARTMENT CITIZEN ACADEMY.
NEXT CLASS IS, IS THURSDAY, AUGUST 21ST AT 6:00 PM AT THE FIRE STATION.
NUMBER ONE LOCATED AT 12 0 1 SOUTH SAM HOUSTON BOULEVARD.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIGN UP AHEAD OF TIME, JUST SHOW UP TO THE STATION.
AND I'VE SEEN THIS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND IT'S A GREAT HIT, UM, PEOPLE ATTENDING IT.
AND IT'S A GREAT EXPERIENCE TO GO.
I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO STOP BY AND, AND, AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
UM, WE ALSO GOT A FUN STORY TIME COMING UP AT 10:30 AM ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22ND, 2025 AT OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY, LOCATED AT 1 0 1 WEST
[00:05:01]
ROSE STREET.UH, BEGINNING THURSDAY, AUGUST 21ST, 2025.
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY WILL HOLD THE ARTS AND CRAFTS CLASS EVERY THIRD THURSDAY OF THE MONTH AT 5:30 PM I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO START GETTING INVOLVED WITH THESE EVENTS.
YOU SEE 'EM ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND, UM, IT'S JUST THINGS TO DO.
STORY TIME TOMORROW IS THE 20TH, NOT 22ND CORRECT.
[PROCLAMATION(S)]
UH, PROCLAMATION FOR MS. WANDA JANE KELLOGG.UM, ON OCCASION OF THE YEAR, HER 95TH BIRTHDAY.
UM, COMMISSIONER YOU WANNA START? YEAH.
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION AND RECOGNITION OF MS. WANDA JANE KELLOGG, 95TH BIRTHDAY, A TESTAMENT OF LIFETIME SERVICES, CITY OF SAN BENITO, TEXAS.
WHEREAS WANDA JANE KELLOGG WAS BORN ON AUGUST 17TH, 1930 IN WESTLAW, TEXAS, TO CHARLES AND MABEL FULCHER, AND LATER MOVED TO SAN BENITO AFTER MARRYING BOB KELLOGG ON OCTOBER 1ST, 1949.
AND WHEREAS WANDA JANE KELLOGG WAS A DEVOTED MOTHER TO DR.
ROBERT KELLOGG, BORN ON FEBRUARY 16TH, 1954, AND A LIFELONG MEMBER OF ALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL CHURCH, WHERE SHE WAS CONFIRMED ON DECEMBER 4TH, 1955 AND FAITHFULLY SERVED IN THE CHURCH CHOIR.
AND WHEREAS WANDA JANE KELLOGG MADE SAN BENITO HER PERMANENT HOME, BEGINNING ON SEPTEMBER 3RD, 1957, ENRICHING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH HER WORK, FAITH, AND SERVICE.
AND WHEREAS WANDA JANE KELLOGG DE DEDICATED 27 YEARS TO THE SANTO CONSOLIDATED INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, INCLUDING 14 YEARS IN THE SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE, AND WAS HONORED IN 2006 WITH THE MOST HONORED WOMEN AWARD BY THE COMMISSION ON WOMEN'S MINISTRIES.
AND WHEREAS WANDA JANE KELLOGG GAVE 16 CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF SERVICE AS PRESIDENT OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
WOMEN SERVED SIX YEARS ON THE VESTRY AND HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE EVANGELISM AND OUTREACH PROGRAM, AND REPRESENT AND REPRESENTATIVE TO THE SAN BENITO FOOD PANTRY COMMITTEE SINCE 1991.
AND WHEREAS WANDA JANE KELLOGG WAS UNITED AND UPLIFTED THE COMMUNITY THROUGH HER ROLE AS CHAIRPERSON OF THE ALLAIN CHURCH OURSELVES SINCE 1987, AN EVENT THAT HAS SERVED AS A BEACON OF COMMUNITY SPIRIT FOR 38 YEARS.
AND WHEREAS WANDA JANE KELLOGG STANDS AS A LIVING TESTAMENT OF UNWAVERING AND FAITH, TIRELESS DEDICATION AND LIFETIME OF SERVICE THAT HAS DEEPLY BLESSED BOTH HER CHURCH AND HER COMMUNITY.
NOW THEREFORE, BE, UH, PROCLAIM RICCA, G**O CITY, SANTO CHEMICAL, TEXAS, TO HEREBY DECLARE AUGUST 17TH, 2025 AS WANDA JANE KELLOGG DAY IN THE CITY OF SANTO.
IT IS OUR PRIVILEGE TO RECOGNIZE MS. WANDA JANE KELLOGG.
AND, UH, WE ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN IN RECOGNITION, IN HONORING HER OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION, LIFELONG SERVICE, AND THE PROFOUND LEGACY SHE CONTINUES TO BUILD WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND WITNESS THEREOF.
I HAVE, UH, HERE SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF SANTO TO BE AFFIXED ON THE 17TH DAY OF AUGUST IN THE YEAR OF LORD 2025.
THIS PROCLAMATION, YES, THIS PROCLAMATION WAS, UH, UH, WAS DELIVERED TO HER AND PRESENTED TO HER AT CHURCH.
SHE DID NOT KNOW NOTHING WAS GOING ON.
SO IT, UH, REALLY MADE HER DAY.
UM, I TOLD HER, I ASKED HER, I SAID, UH, SO YOU ARE BORN 1930.
I GO, SO YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF SANTO.
THEY GO, I'VE SEEN THE GOOD, I'M GONNA SAY THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY.
AND, UM, SHE'S STILL OUT THERE.
SHE'S STILL SERVING OUT THERE.
AND SHE'S FAR LITTLE CRACKER, BUT, UH, SHE'S GOOD.
UM, I WISH I COULD BE SOMETHING LIKE HER, BUT I CAN'T.
BUT ANYWAY, UM, IT WAS PRESENTED TO HER AND SHE WAS VERY, VERY HELP, UH, APPRECIATIVE.
[PUBLIC COMMENTS]
RUTH, PUBLIC COMMENTS.DO WE HAVE ANY WAY? YES, MR. EDDIE LOA.
UH, MR. LOA? GOOD EVENING, SIR.
UH, EDDIE LOA, 2 48 CHARLES BARBER ROAD, SAN BENITO, TEXAS.
LET ME START BY SAYING THAT ON A PREVIOUS MEETING, MR. MIKE RAVI STATED HIS NAME AND ADDRESS AND THAT I, I DID NOT HEAR COMMISSIONER SAY, WHERE SHE TELLS HIM, IT IS NOT NE NECESSARY TO SAY NAME AND ADDRESS, LIKE SHE TOLD ME I HAVE TO DO IS DO THE RIGHT THING AND TREAT EVERYBODY THE SAME.
MR. LOA, YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO PROVIDE YOUR ADDRESS THIS TIME.
I UNDERSTAND, BUT IT'S NOT REQUIRED.
[00:10:01]
UH, ELECTIONS ARE COMING UP AND I SAW WHERE PRO MAYOR SLASH COMMISSIONER ON SOCIAL MEDIA SAYING THAT HE HAD PART IN FIXING THE ALAMO STREET, SAYING HOW HE HAD PART IN FIXING IT.LEMME REMIND YOU THAT I HAD, I HAD TO COME HERE IN OPEN COMMENTS AND TOLD THE COMMISSION THAT WE HAD TO PICK UP ALL THE SIGNATURES FOR THE RECALL THAT WAS GOING ON TO REMOVE THE COMMISSION.
DO YOU REMEMBER THAT? A LITTLE AFTER THAT, THEY DECIDED TO FIX ALAMO STREET.
MR. LO, I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO REFRAIN FROM DIRECTING.
THEY HAD BEEN WAITING FOR YEARS TO FIX IT.
YOU'RE ALLOWED TO SAY LIES AND SAY WHATEVER YOU LIKE, BUT LIES DON'T, DON'T DIRECT IT.
DON'T DIRECT, YOU DON'T, TO ME, STATING THE FACTS.
A RESIDENT OF SAN BE WANTED ME TO, UH, TO MENTION THAT HE HAS BEEN TRYING TO REACH PRO MAYOR SLASH COMMISSIONER.
UH, CHECK YOUR EMAILS THAT KEEP BEING IGNORED.
RESIDENTS OF SAN BENITO MAKE THE RIGHT TO THE CHOICE.
UNFILLED PROMISES ABOUT FIXING THE CITY STREETS, BUT YET HAVING SOLD OUT CONCERTS, A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE GRATEFUL FOR THE FREE TICKET BECAUSE THEY TURNED AROUND AND SOLD THEM ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
ARE YOU AWARE OF THAT? LET'S REFRAIN FROM POLITICS AS WELL.
I'M NOT THE COMMISSION, JUST, I'M NOT ON THE COMMISSION.
I'M JUST DUPLICATING FOR SOME RESIDENTS, SANTO, THAT ARE AFRAID OF RETALIATION.
I COME UP HERE WITH FACTS AND SITUATIONS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE COMMISSION.
I HAD TWO EX CITY EMPLOYEES, ONE LEFT TO THE CITY OF HARLINGEN, AND THE OTHER, THE OTHER LEFT TO THE CITY OF BRONZEVILLE.
ONE WAS OFFERED MORE MONEY, AND THE OTHER STATED WORKING CONDITIONS THAT HE WAS GOING THROUGH, THESE ARE HARDWORKING CITY EMPLOYEES THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
THE ONES WORKING OUT IN THE HOT SUN WHILE OTHERS ARE WORKING INDOORS IN THE AC.
HAS ANYONE NOTICED HOW MANY JOB VACANCIES WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY OF SANTO? HAVE YOU CHECKED INTO IT? YOU PROBABLY KNOW THAT.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT IT? THE CITY NEEDS TO COMPETE WITH OTHER NEIGHBORING CITIES ON THE PAY SCALE AND TAKE CARE OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES.
EX CITY EMPLOYEES STATED THAT THERE IS NO ONE TO OPERATE THE STREET SWEEPER.
NOW THEY HAVE 'EM CLEANING THE STREETS WITH A SHOVEL.
HEY, LOOK, LOOK INTO THE, THE CITY WORKER.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND, AND HELP HIM OUT.
MR. TRAVIS, I'M SURE HE'S NOT.
1695 RUSSELL LANE, SAN BENITO, TEXAS.
AND I'M THOROUGHLY CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT JUST HAPPENED HERE, BUT, UH, I JUST WANNA WRAP UP A LITTLE BIT ON THE 2020 PLAN THAT I SPOKE ABOUT PREVIOUSLY, UH, CONCOCTED IN THE LATE 1990S, AROUND 1998.
I RECALL, UH, IT BOGGLES MY MIND THAT SOMEBODY EVEN PROPOSED THIS.
AND IT EVEN BOGGLES MY MIND MORE BECAUSE WHEN THEY HAD PUBLIC HEARING MEETINGS, THEY HAD ENGINEERING PEOPLE FROM HOUSTON WHO WERE PRESENTING AND I'M SURE SPENDING BIG BUCKS.
BUT ANYWAY, I WENT FROM ED CAREY TO FM FIVE 10.
AS I STATED BEFORE, EVERY, NOBODY I TALKED TO, UH, ANY OF THOSE HOUSES, IT WAS LITERALLY NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE HOUSES AND BUSINESSES KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON UNTIL I SPOKE WITH THEM.
SO IT WENT ON AND IT FINALLY DIED OF DEATH.
AND I THINK IT REINCARNATED AS A SAN JOSE RANCH ROAD EXTENSION MAYOR PRO TEM.
YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT AND STUFF, WHICH IS WHERE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FROM THE, THE BEGINNING.
BUT I JUST KEEP HARPING ON THIS BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE PLAN SOMETHING AND WE THINK, OH YEAH, THIS IS A GREAT IDEA WHEN IT'S ON PAPER.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO FRUITION AND ACTUALLY COMING THROUGH, IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE SUCH A GREAT IDEA.
I DO WANNA SAY, UH, THE OTHER DAY I NOTICED, UH, THAT, UH, MY LAWN, MY TRACTOR MOWEN GUY OGLE MARTINEZ WITH PARKS AND RECREATION, HAD A NEW TRACTOR.
AND I AM TOTALLY ENTHUSED OVER THE TOP THAT THE CITY OF SAN BENITO AUTHORIZED TO BUY HIM A NEW TRACTOR BECAUSE THE OTHER ONE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE KILLER BEES, THEY'RE A THING.
[00:15:01]
IT'S NOT JUST A SONG OR A GROUP OR WHATEVER.I HAD MY OWN KILLER BEE ATTACK AT THE HOUSE, UH, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
I WON'T GO INTO THE DETAILS THERE, BUT YES, IT IS A THING.
SO I WAS VERY HAPPY TO SEE MY TAX DOLLARS GOING TO PURCHASE A NEW TRACTOR AND A NEW, UH, ROTARY CUTTER BRUSH, HOG SHREDDER, UH, FOR MY MAN OGLE.
'CAUSE HE, HE DOES A VERY GOOD JOB IN KEEPING US, UH, NEAT AND TIDY AND CLEANED UP ON RUSSELL LANE AND WHEREVER ELSE HE GOES.
UH, TO MO UH, THE FITNESS COURT, I SPOKE ABOUT IT BEFORE.
UH, I DON'T GET THERE EVERY DAY, BUT A COUPLE TIMES A WEEK.
SO THAT'S WHAT MOTIVATES ME TO GO OVER THERE.
UM, THE FAIRGROUNDS, I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE, UH, MORE USE OUT OF THE FAIRGROUNDS, UH, THAT WE'RE DOING MORE THINGS.
AND, UH, JUST A LITTLE SIDE NOTE, YEARS AGO, THE LATE EIGHTIES WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE, THERE'S A PLACE OVER THERE ON, UH, GOING OUTTA TOWN, TOWARDS BROWNSVILLE.
UH, IT USED TO BE CALLED THE ROADHOUSE.
UH, I SAW KANSAS THERE IN THE LATE EIGHTIES, 89, I THINK IT WAS.
[1. Second Public Hearing on the City of San Benito proposed Ad Valorem Property Tax Rate for the Fiscal Year 2025-2026.]
PUBLIC HEARING AND IT'S A SECOND PUBLIC HEARING ON THE CITY OF SANTO.PROPOSED ADMIN, LAUREN, PROPERTY TAX RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 25, 26.
SO MARY, WANNA OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? YES.
UH, TIME IS, UH, 5 49 AND WE'RE OPENING UP PUBLIC HEARING.
MAYOR WASN'T ABLE TO ATTEND THE LAST BUDGET WORKSHOP.
IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE TAX THING.
FOR A QUESTION REGARDING THE TAXES OR, OH, YEAH.
STEPHANIE SARAIA, FINANCE DIRECTOR FOR THE RECORD.
UM, THE INTEREST IN SINKING FUND, WHAT WAS IT LAST YEAR? I BELIEVE IT WAS ABOUT 40 CENTS.
UM, WELL, 0.0 40 SOME CENTS THIS YEAR.
AND, UM, WAS IT NOT ONE, ABOUT SEVEN OR 8 CENTS AT ONE POINT WHEN WE, WHEN I STARTED.
WHAT YEAR WOULD THAT BE, OR SIX? ABOUT ABOUT A SIX.
SO THE DEBT'S GONE DOWN, CORRECT.
WE DID REDUCE OUR TAX RATE 2 CENTS AS WELL.
AND WE'VE REDUCED OUR TAX RATE BY 2 CENTS.
IF SOME OF THE EXPENSES GO DOWN, YOUR DEBT GOES DOWN AND YOU HAVE THAT EXTRA DOLLARS ON THE TABLE, SHOULD IT BE GIVEN TO THE CITIZENS OR THE EMPLOYEE? NOW, ONE INDIVIDUAL JUST SAID, WE HAD TWO INDIVIDUALS TALK TODAY.
ONE INDIVIDUAL SAID IT SHOULD GO TO THE EMPLOYEES.
SECOND INDIVIDUAL SAID IT SHOULD GO TO MAINTENANCE, MAYBE, UH, SU UH, EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS EQUIPMENT.
UH, BUT SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE IT SHOULD GO BACK TO THE TAXPAYER.
DO WE STILL NEED THE PENNY OR TWO? IF WE ARE PAYING DOWN THE DEBT? THAT, THAT'S WHY WE PUT THIS, UH, PUBLIC HEARINGS OUT FOR DISCUSSION.
SO, SO IT WAS MAINLY, SORRY, IT WAS A RHETORICAL QUESTION.
MAINLY FOR THE COMMISSION TO SEE THAT IN A BIGGER SCALE.
SO YOUR DEBT WENT DOWN A FEW CENTS.
AND I, EVERY YEAR I ASK FOR ONE OR 2 CENTS BACK TO THE TAXPAYER.
WHY? BECAUSE WE JUST OPENED, WE'RE HAVING ANOTHER GRAND OPENING FOR ANOTHER SUBDIVISION.
SO I WON'T GO INTO DETAIL ON HOW MANY HOMES ARE COMING OUT 'CAUSE IT'S NOT PART OF THE TAX RATE.
BUT THAT HELPS PUT IN A BIGGER PICTURE OF HOW MUCH FUTURE REVENUE WE CAN HAVE, UM, THAT WE'RE NOT CALCULATING FOR.
THAT'S THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE.
AND THAT IS AT WHAT? 16 9 1 5 5 5 60.
BUT THAT'S WITHOUT THE, THAT'S WITHOUT ALL THE REST.
WITHOUT WHAT THE INTEREST IN SINGING.
THAT'LL BE IF WE CALCULATE WHATEVER
[00:20:01]
WE ARE FROM LAST YEAR AT A 91% RATE.SO NO NEW REVENUE DOESN'T INC INCLUDE INS.
SO THEN IF YOU INCLUDE INS, IT WOULD GO UP TO 68.
HOWEVER, SO YOU'RE COVERING OPERATIONS, YOU'RE COVERING DEBT, NOT INCLUDING ANY ADDITIONAL REVENUE FROM THE 700 HOMES THAT ARE PROBABLY, UH, PROBABLY EXAGGERATING, 200 PLUS THAT ARE COMING IN ALREADY.
IT'LL TAKE ABOUT A YEAR FOR THOSE HOMES TO START GENERATING THAT REVENUE FOR THOSE PROPERTY TAXES.
SO IN THIS UPCOMING YEAR, WE WOULDN'T SEE IT UNTIL THE FOLLOWING OCTOBER.
WE ARE GONNA SEE FROM THE ONES THAT TOOK PLACE LAST YEAR, BUT WE'RE SEEING THIS NEW TOP DIVISION COMING IN THIS YEAR.
SO WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA SEE IT TILL THE FOLLOWING OCTOBER WHEN THOSE HOUSES ARE ACTUALLY PAYING THE PROPERTY TAXES.
I KNOW YOU MISSED THE LAST, UM, BUDGET WORKSHOP, BUT IT WAS IMPLEMENTED AND MENTIONED THERE THAT YES, THERE'S A POSSIBILITY JUST THAT THIS YEAR WE'RE NOT COLLECTING THE, THE, THE GAINS OF THOSE NEW HOMES JUST YET.
SO THE TOTAL PROPERTY TAXES BUDGETED FOR LAST YEAR WAS 7.5, AND THIS YEAR IT'S 8.6.
SO IT'S AN EXTRA MILLION 1.1 OF REVENUE FROM PROPERTY TAXES.
BUT I FEEL LIKE WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING INTO BUDGET THERE, BUT YES, BECAUSE WE TOOK A DIFFERENT APPROACH OR MORE GENEROUS APPROACH WITH A 96 POINT 70% VERSUS A 91 THAT WE TOOK THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
AND WE DID THAT TO OFFSET THE EXPENSES THAT THE CITY IS HAVING BECAUSE WE'RE GROWING.
SO FOR THE TAX RATE, I, I'M JUST, I WOULD LIKE THE COMMISSION AND STAFF TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN SAVE THE TAXPAYER INCREMENTALLY.
BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, WE'RE GONNA SPEND IT.
IF YOU SPEND IT, IF YOU GIVE IT BACK BEFORE YOU HAVE IT, YOU DON'T HAVE A CHANCE TO SPEND IT JUST LIKE YOU PUT MONEY IN YOUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT FIRST BEFORE YOU BUY THAT BMW.
'CAUSE IF NOT, THEN YOU'RE GONNA GO THE WRONG WAY.
AND, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO SAY, BUT THE THING IS, IS RIGHT NOW WE'RE STILL, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF EQUIPMENT.
THERE STILL NEEDS TO BE PURCHASED.
REMEMBER 20, 30 YEARS THAT THE, THIS CITY HAS BEEN IN, YOU KNOW, IN, IN DILAPIDATION THAT WILL STILL NEED A LOT OF STUFF.
IF YOU SAW WHEN YOU WERE HERE THAT SOME OF THE TRUCKS THAT THE, THIS, THE, THE, THE WORKERS WERE HAVING THE SEATS, THEY HAD TO HAVE BRING THEIR OWN PILLS FROM HOME BECAUSE THEY HAD THE, THE SPRINGS ON, ON THE, ON THE SEATS.
SOME OF 'EM DIDN'T HAVE, UH, BRAKE LIGHTS.
SOME OF THEM DIDN'T HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, BRAKES ON IT.
SO I HEAR YOU, MAYOR, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE ALL OF THOSE VALID EXPENSES AND STILL HAVE A SURPLUS.
IS THIS A DISCUSSION OR, OR WHERE WELL, THAT'S WHAT I'M, IT RELATES TO THE TAX RATE BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING, WE'RE MIXING BUDGET WITH, WITH THIS.
SO THE QUESTION IS, WHERE WOULD WE LIKE TO SEE THE TAX RATE? AND I PERSONALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT CUT BY ONE TO 2 CENTS.
AND THIS COMMISSION, I MISSED THE LAST MEETING.
SO THE, THE QUESTION CAN'T BE ANSWERED NOW, RIGHT? 'CAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO PASS AN ORDINANCE HAS TO BE DONE BY, WE'RE A PUBLIC HEARING RIGHT NOW WAS PUBLIC HEARING COMMISSIONER.
BUT REALLY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE TAX RATE.
YOU ALSO GOTTA BE CAREFUL WITH THE LEGISLATION RIGHT NOW IN, IN SPECIAL SESSION IS LOOKING TO CAP.
I UNDERSTAND THAT A GAP AND THE CITY NEEDS SOMETHING.
IT'S FOR CITIES LARGER THAN 70,000, WE ONLY HAVE 20.
YOU GOTTA, BUT THE MENTALITY I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL LOWERING SOMETIMES BECAUSE RAISING IS HARD AND IF YOU NEED IT IS HARD.
AND I, IT'S, I KNOW IT'S A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, ONE CITIZEN WANTED EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, ONE WANTED MACHINERY, AND THEN SOME, LIKE MYSELF WANTED SAVE SOMEONE FROM TAXING SOMEONE OUT OF THEIR HOME, ESPECIALLY ELDERLY FOLKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND THEIR LEGISLATION'S, DOING THINGS LIKE THAT TO PROTECT.
BUT THEY'RE ALSO TRYING TO PUT LEGISLATION TO CAP GOVERNMENT FROM OVERSPENDING.
AND IT'S, BUT THAT THE BUDGET.
SO, BUT JUST, I JUST WANT YOU GUYS TO LOOK AT THAT NUMBER AND UNDERSTAND IF WE DON'T HAVE, WE DON'T HAVE AS MUCH DEBT.
IT'S GONE DOWN, MAYOR, UNDER YOURS, I LEADERSHIP SINCE WE'VE BEEN HERE, AND THEN THE NEW COMMISSION AND THE ADMINISTRATION, IT'S GONE DOWN BY HALF.
YOU'VE CUT YOUR BUD, YOU'VE CUT YOUR EX YOUR, YOUR DEBT BY HALF.
AND YOU STILL MET EMPLOYEE RAISES, EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, MACHINERY EVENTS.
DON'T OVER ASK BECAUSE THEN IT WILL SPIN LIKE CRAZY.
BECAUSE WHEN I LOOK AT THE BUDGET AND I SEE DEPARTMENTS GOING UP BY 50% AND OTHERS
[00:25:01]
ONLY GOING UP BY 5%, IT'S NOT FAIR TO SOME DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE ONE DEPARTMENT SAYS, GIMME, GIMME, GIMME.AND THE OTHER ONE SAY, I'M GOOD WITH WHAT I HAVE.
AND I, I THINK WHAT COMMISSIONER GALVAN IS TRYING TO SAY IS THAT WE COULD FIND A BALANCE MAN TO MEET ALL THEM NEEDS IS WHAT WE, WE, HE WOULD LIKE TO DO.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO DO AS WELL.
ONE FOR THE CITIZEN, ONE FOR US DOESN'T HURT.
RIGHT? WELL, I, OKAY, WELL, THE EXCUSE ME.
YEAH, THE, I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH BEING VERY CAREFUL WITH OUR FUNDS AND MAKING SURE THAT IF WE CAN, WE DO HOWEVER WE ARE IN A GROWTH PERIOD, WE'VE GOT MORE HOUSES, MORE ROOFTOPS GOING UP, WHICH MEANS FIRE AND POLICE ARE GONNA COST MORE, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO TO, TO TAKE CARE OF THAT GROWTH.
AND YES, WE CAN LOOK AT IT LATER, BUT WE, WE'VE GOTTA BE COGNIZANT OF WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT WE'RE DOING AND, AND HOW WE'RE DOING IT.
WE ACTUALLY INCREASED THE COST TO INSTALL FIRE HYDRANT AND PUT SOME OF THAT COST MORE ON THE DEVELOPER.
SO THE CITY WOULD EAT LESS OF THOSE COSTS.
BECAUSE WE WERE, WELL THAT'S, THAT'S A DIFFERENT TOPIC, BUT YES, WE ARE LOSING ON THOSE.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE THOSE FIRE HYDRANTS.
BUT ONE THING, MARY, UP FRONT, THOSE FIRE HYDRANTS, I'D LIKE TO, I'D LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING TO THIS.
UM, YOU KNOW, TO MAYOR PRO TEM GOODMAN'S POINT, WE ARE IN GROWTH MODE.
UM, JUST MET WITH ANOTHER DEVELOPER THIS AFTERNOON.
HE'S ALREADY LOOKING AT PHASE THREE AND FOUR FOR HIS SUBDIVISION.
UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT PROBABLY ANOTHER 120 LOTS.
THOSE HAVE NOT BEEN BROUGHT BACK TO US.
UM, WE JUST HAD A GROUNDBREAKING LAST FRIDAY, A WEEK AGO.
WE'VE GOT ANOTHER GROUNDBREAKING OR RIBBON CUTTING TOMORROW.
I MEAN, WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA BE SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF ABOUT 600, 300 TO 600 LOTS BY THIS TIME NEXT YEAR.
UM, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT KIND OF GOES ALONG WITH GROWTH AND, AND IT'S PART OF THE INTEREST IN SINKING FUND, THE INTEREST PIECE IS RIGHT, AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, COMMISSIONER, BUT THE SINKING FUND, I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE CLARITY OF THE SINKING FUND.
THE SINKING FUND IS ACTUALLY HAS A COUPLE OF, A COUPLE OF COMPONENTS TO IT.
AND YES, IT IS TO, UM, TO SUB TO SUB I GUESS TO SUPPLEMENT, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR PAYMENTS.
BUT IT'S ALSO TO, TO, UM, SUPPLANT OUR DEPRECIATION ON OUR, ON OUR EQUIPMENT, ON OUR, ON OUR BUILDINGS, ON OUR WATER PLANT, OUR WASTEWATER PLANT, UH, VEHICLES, THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, UM, PART OF THE, PART OF THE ART OF GOING FORWARD WHEN YOU'RE GROWING AS A CITY IS, YES, WE HAVE A BALANCE.
AND I THINK WE DO THAT EVERY BUDGET YEAR, AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND TOO, THAT THAT GROWTH COMES IN SPURTS.
AND WE'RE IN A, WE'RE IN A PRETTY STEEP GROWTH PHASE.
UH, JUST, I MEAN, THE NUMBERS AREN'T LYING, SO WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT.
UH, WHEN THINGS FLATTEN OUT A LITTLE BIT, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT SITUATION.
BUT THAT, THAT SINKING FUND IS, IS ALSO, AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, TO SUPPLANT A LOT OF OUR DEPRECIABLE, UH, EX UH, ITEMS AND CAPITAL, UH, CAPITAL, UH, ITEMS THAT WE HAVE.
NOT ONLY BUILDINGS, BUT ALSO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE USE FOR OUR DAILY MAINTENANCE AND, AND WHAT WE'RE GONNA USE TO SUPPORT THAT GROWTH.
SO THE WATER SIDE, THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, THAT PACE FOR ITSELF, AT LEAST IN THEORY.
UM, BUT IT'S ALL PUT TOGETHER IN ONE, IN ONE BIG DOCUMENT.
SO WE WANT, WE NEED TO BE REAL COGNIZANT OF THAT.
I, I DO APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO LOWER TAXES.
I THINK WE'RE ALL REALLY, REALLY, UH, PUSHING FOR THAT.
I THINK, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE, THE CITIZENS DESERVE THAT, BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE GROWTH WITHOUT TAXATION.
AND WE NEED TO BE, WE, IT'S OUR JOB TO BALANCE IT ALL.
SO I SEE HARLINGEN LOWERING TAXES.
I ALWAYS COMPARE OURSELVES TO THE TWO NEIGHBORING CITIES.
WHY? BECAUSE NUMBER 1, 2, 3, BROWNSVILLE, ONE, TWO, HARLINGEN.
AND WE'RE THREE THE THIRD LARGEST IN CAMERON COUNTY.
AND I LIKE TO LOOK AT THE TAX RATE COMPARED TO ALL OF THE CITIES IN CAMERON COUNTY TO SEE WHERE WE'RE AT.
UM, SCHOOL DISTRICTS NOTORIOUSLY FOR BEING THE HIGHEST, UM, DRAINAGE DISTRICT NUMBER THREE IN OUR AREA BEING THE HIGHEST.
AND THEN THE CITY OF SAN MANO ONE OF THE HIGHEST AS WELL.
HARLINGEN LOWERING BROWNSVILLE IS HAVING TO GO THROUGH A VOTER APPROVAL PROCESS TO GET A NEW RATE BECAUSE THEY WANT MORE MONEY.
AND I THINK IT'S JUST, THEY'RE NOT, TO ME IT'S LIKE, YOU NEED TO FIND THE MONEY, RIGHT? SO YOU CAN EITHER TWO THINGS WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT DEBT, RIGHT? SO YOU CAN EITHER MAKE MON MORE MONEY OR YOU CAN CUT SOME OF YOUR EXPENSES.
IF, AM I GONNA GET A SECOND JOB OR AM I GONNA HAVE TO TURN OFF THE NETFLIX FOR A FEW MONTHS OR CUT ONE CHILD FROM DAYCARE? UH, DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.
[00:30:01]
I'D LIKE TO HEAR, BECAUSE IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING, I'D LIKE TO HEAR THE CITIZENS, IF ANY OF CITIZENS HERE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS ON TAX RATE? MR. TRAVIS? MR. TRAVIS.UM, LAST WEEK, WE, UH, NOT LAST WEEK, BUT THE LAST MEETING, DIDN'T WE? OKAY, YOU'RE NOT TO, BUT, UH, THIS CAME UP AND I WAS LOOKING AT IT AND I WAS THINKING LIKE, WELL, THIS IS ALL ANCIENT GREEK AND EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHICS TO ME.
AND SO JUST AT THE OUTSET, I WOULD SAY, UH, AS A TAXPAYER, I'M ALWAYS ENTHUSED ABOUT LOWER TAXES, ALWAYS ENTHUSED ABOUT THAT.
I AM NOT SO ENTHUSED ABOUT INCREASED TAXES, AND I REALLY DIDN'T STUDY THIS MATTER TO SEE IS THIS WHAT'S ON THE TABLE NOW AND INCREASED, OR WHERE IT STANDS ON THERE.
BUT I KIND OF PICKED UP A LITTLE BIT HERE ON LISTENING TO WHAT, UH, TRANSPIRED, UH, MOMENTS BEFORE.
SO I GUESS ALL I'M GONNA SAY IS, UH, WELL, I KIND OF SAID IT BEFORE, IS, UH, ANY TAX SAVINGS THAT WE CAN DO, I'M ALL FOR THAT, BUT NOT TO THE DETRIMENT OF ANY DEPARTMENT, ANY PART OF OUR, WHAT WE DO HERE IN SAN BENITO AS A CITY.
UH, AND ANY, UH, INCREASE IN TAXES, UH, KEEP IT AS MINIMAL AS POSSIBLE.
AND, UH, I'LL JUST CLOSE HERE AND SAY, UH, I'M JUST GONNA PRAY AND ASK Y'ALL TO BE VERY PRAYERFUL ABOUT THIS.
TO FIND THAT BALANCE THAT WAS IN A DISCUSSION THERE.
UH, BECAUSE REMEMBER, IT WAS TAXATION THAT PUSHED THE COLONIES AGAINST ENGLAND.
WELL, UM, COMMISSIONER, UM, GALVAN, THERE'S NOTHING, I MEAN, I WOULD RATHER HAVE, YOU KNOW, LOWER ANYTHING.
YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, I DON'T, I DON'T, THAT'S NOT MY DEAL, YOU KNOW, TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT THE, UH, THE PEOPLE DON'T DESERVE IT.
THE PEOPLE DESERVE A LOT MORE THAN WHAT THEY HAVE.
LIKE FRED SAID, THIS IS A GROWTH TIME.
WE HAVE TO, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, EQUIPMENT, THINGS, SALARIES, THERE'S STILL SALARIES THAT NEED TO BE ADJUSTED.
WE STILL NEED TO LOOK AT THE WATER.
WHERE'S THE WATER COME FROM? WHAT DO WE WANNA DO WITH THE WATER THAT A SECOND NEEDS TO BE DREDGED? WHO'S GONNA DREDGE IT? THE IRRIGATION SAID NO.
WHO'S GONNA DREDGE IT? WE NEED WATER CAPACITY.
SO THAT'S, THOSE ARE FUNDS THAT THE, WHAT, WHAT'S GONNA DO, UM, SHORING.
THE SECOND HAS TO BE SHORT BECAUSE WE'RE LOSING, WE LOST FROM 1968, I THINK, UH, WHAT THE, SOME GENTLEMAN TOLD ME WE LOST OVER ABOUT A HUNDRED FEET OR, OR 150 FEET MAYBE THROUGH BOTH SIDES.
SO ALL THERE NEEDS TO BE, THERE'S COST TO KEPT, YOU KNOW, TO KEEP SOMEBODY TO GOING.
TO ME, LIKE I SAID, WE STILL DON'T HAVE THE GROWTH.
WE, IT'S COMING, BUT WE STILL DON'T HAVE THE GROWTH TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT ARE NEVER IN CITIES, 90 MILLION, THAT'S A BUDGET.
HOW CAN WE COMPARE ANYTHING LIKE THAT? I'M NOT GONNA MENTION MACALLANS BECAUSE, UH, BUT THE GROWTH THAT THEY HAVE, THAT'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT THEY HAVE AND WHAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE STRIVING FOR TO GET, AND WE STILL NEED TO, YOU KNOW, WE STILL NEED THE GROWTH AND HOPEFULLY WE'RE PREPARING FOR THAT GROWTH THAT WHEN IT DOES, YOU KNOW, CO ONE, ONE, I DON'T, S**T, WE CAN BRING IT, BRING IT DOWN TO, YOU KNOW, 2 CENTS, 3 CENTS.
BUT NOW IT'S NOT THE TIME FOR THAT.
THERE'S STILL A LOT OF GROWTH THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO.
THAT'S, LIKE I SAID, THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I WANNA SAY ABOUT THIS.
I MEAN, WE CAN ARGUE EVERY SINGLE, UH, ABOUT IT.
AND, UM, BUT, UM, I THINK WE, WE NEED TO WAIT.
I'LL GIVE YOU A WHOLE YEAR, MAYOR.
AND, UH, SUSTAIN THE SAME TAX RATE IS BETTER THAN GOING UP.
THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WE SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'RE SCREWED UP AND LET'S GO BACK UP BACK TO 72 IS WHAT WE, SO I KNOW THE INVESTMENT WE'RE MAKING IN MACHINERY AND EMPLOYEE PAY AND BENEFITS, UM, IT HAS TO BE STRATEGIC, UM, AND NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE TAXPAYER.
SO IF REV, IF THE REVENUE LINE GOES UP, WE NEED TO EVENTUALLY LOOK AT GIVING SOME OF THAT BACK.
ANYBODY ELSE? THAT'S ALL I ASK.
ANYBODY ELSE? WELL, ONCE, TWICE.
[CONSENT AGENDA ITEM(S)]
[00:35:01]
ON TO CONSENT.WE'VE GOT ITEMS ONE THROUGH ONE THROUGH SIX.
UH, WE CAN ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THOSE AT THIS TIME WHERE WE CAN TAKE ANY OUT THAT Y'ALL WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS, UM, AS WELL.
I THINK NUMBER SIX IS GONNA BE, I MEAN, NOBODY KNOWS WHAT'S OKAY.
SO WE GOTTA TAKE THAT ONE OUT.
IF WE COULD PUT THREE AND SIX.
ANYBODY ELSE? THREE AND SIX? MM-HMM
ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS? NONE.
SO COMMISSIONER MORALE MORALES, MAKE A MO.
IS THAT A MOTION TO, UH, TAKE OUT THREE AND SIX OUTTA CONSENT? SO, DO I HAVE A SECOND? YOU HAVE MOTION TO APPROVE ONE AND FOUR? YEAH.
AGENDA ITEMS. 1, 2, 4, AND FIVE.
OKAY, SO I GOT THE TO, UH, APPROVE.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MORALES.
[3. Consideration and possible action to approve the Second and Final Reading of Ordinance 2418-A, an ordinance amending Ordinance Number 2418 to revise and update appointments to the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee.]
THREE, CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE ACTION APPROVE.ORDINANCE NUMBER 2 4 1 8 DASH A.
ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2, 4 8 TO REVISE AND UPDATE APPOINTMENTS TO THE ANIMAL SHELTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
UH, SO THE CHANGES THAT WAS MADE TO THE, UH, THAT ORDINANCE WAS TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL MEMBER TO THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
SO IT'S ONE ADDITIONAL MEMBER AS REQUIRED, UH, BY THE HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE.
AND THAT'S JUST TO ADD A CITIZEN, UH, THAT'S NOT A MEMBER OF THE ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATION.
JUST TO MAKE THAT GROUP A LITTLE MORE DIVERSE.
AND, UH, SO WE CAN HAVE DIFFERENT, UH, VIEWS ON HOW WE SHOULD PROCEED, YOU KNOW, SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEY HAVE.
SO I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS, COMMS, ANY QUESTIONS? MOTION TO APPROVE, MAYOR.
I GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MORALES, SECOND BY MAYOR POT.
[6. Consideration and possible action to award RFP Number 2025-08-001 Amended Employee Benefits Insurance Broker and Consulting Services proposal representing the best interest of the City of San Benito.]
CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE ACTION AWARD.RFP NUMBER 2 0 2 5 DASH EIGHT DASH 0 0 1.
AMENDED EMPLOYEE BENEFITS INSURANCE BROKER AND CONSULTING SERVICES PROPOSAL REPRESENTING BESTER, CITY OF SAN BENITO.
UH, AGAIN, UM, I ADDED TO YOUR, UH, SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATIONS THIS TABULATION SHEET FOR YOUR REFERENCE AS WELL AS THIS CALCULATION SHEET.
UH, WE DID OPEN SOLID SOLICITATIONS ON MONDAY, SO THAT GIVE US DAYS TO CALL REFERENCES AND MAKE A TABULATION.
AND I TRY TO BE AS AT AS MUCH AS INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE IN THIS TABULATION.
SO WE DID HAVE SEVEN PEOPLE THAT SUBMITTED FOR, UM, FOR HEALTH INSURANCE.
WELL, BROKER OR AGENT OF RECORD FOR THE HEALTH INSURANCE.
WE HAVE ORONE VALLEY, RISK, SALAZAR, LONE STAR, UM, HIGGIN, BONHAM, PUBLIC SECTOR, GALLAGHER, AND ANCHOR BENEFITS, RIGHT OUT OF THOSE SEVEN.
UM, THEY COME WITH YEARS OF EXPERIENCES LISTED THERE.
I'VE ALSO, UM, ADDED THEIR PROVIDED REFERENCES, UM, THEIR COST ADDED.
AND THEN ON THE COMMENT LINE, WE TRY TO CONTACT AS MANY REFERENCES AS POSSIBLE.
SOME OF THE PEOPLE WERE NOT AVAILABLE, SOME OF THEM WE LEFT VOICEMAILS, BUT THE ONES THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET AHOLD OF AND WHO THEY RECOMMENDED OR WHO, UM, THEY SAID, YES, WE'VE DONE BUSINESS WITH THEM OR WHATNOT.
SO THAT, THAT'LL BE THIS SHEET RIGHT HERE.
AND THEN WE ALSO ATTACHED, UM, ASSUMPTION CALCULATION FORM BASED ON THE CURRENT RATES THAT WE HAVE AND THE PEOPLE THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, WHICH IS LONE STAR, WHICH IS THIS RIGHT HERE.
I'LL TRY TO EXPLAIN IT TO YOU A LITTLE BIT.
SO ON THE TOP BOARD, THE INSURANCES, WOULD WE PAY FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL, VISION, AND THE COMMISSION THAT OUR CURRENT, UH, AGENT OF RECORDS TAKING FROM IT AND THE EMPLOYEE FEE, THE BIWEEKLY PAY, UH, WE BASE IT OFF OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF EMPLOYEES WE'RE INCLUDING IN OUR BUDGET, UM, HOPING WE ARE FULLY STAFFED, AND THAT'S HOW MUCH IT'LL BE.
UM, SO, AND THAT GAVE US, UM, YEARLY CHARGE FOR THAT AGENT OF RECORD.
UM, AND WHEN YOU SEE, UH, NUMBERS SERVICES, BECAUSE THEY PROVIDED A FEE ASSOCIATED WITH THEM.
UH, WE HAVE SOME OTHER 1, 2, 3, 4 OTHER PEOPLE THAT APPLIED.
UM, THEY ADDED NO FEE ASSOCIATED WITH THE CITY.
UM, THERE'S A COMMENT RIGHT THERE, WHICH IS ADDITIONAL COMMISSION FOR VOLUNTARY SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE, INSURANCE PRODUCTS.
THAT'S REALLY LIKE IF YOU WERE TO
[00:40:01]
ADD YOUR SHORT-TERM OR YOUR LONG-TERM INSURANCE, ASIDE FROM WHAT THE CITY COVERS FOR YOU, WHICH IS DENTAL, VISION, AND, AND HEALTH.UM, LET'S SAY AS AN EMPLOYEE, YOU WANNA ADD YOUR SHORT TERM OR YOUR LONG TERM, THEN THERE'S A FEE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
OR CURRENT PROVIDER CHARGES 25% ON TOP OF WHATEVER THAT INSURANCE IS.
AND THEN OTHER PEOPLE LISTED AT 15, AND THE OTHER ONES LISTED AS LIKE A COMPETITIVE, UM, LET ME SEE, WHAT'S THE WORD THEY USED? UM, S STRICTER ACCORDING TO THE STANDARD RATES.
SO THIS FEE IS PASSED TO THE CARRIER, NOT TO THE CITY NOR THE EMPLOYEE ACCORDING TO THEIR BIDS.
RIGHT? I DID PUT IN GREEN, UH, VALLEY RISK CONSULTING AS A CITY RECOMMENDATION JUST BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO GET AHOLD OF CITIES AROUND THE AREA THAT HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THE PEOPLE.
WE DO HAVE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ALSO RECOMMENDED THEM, BUT THESE ARE THE, THE MORE THAT WE COULD GET AHOLD OF, LIKE WE CALL BASED ON THE REFERENCES.
SO SOME PEOPLE ANSWER, SOME PEOPLE DIDN'T.
AND THESE ARE THE ONES WHERE WE GOT A LOT OF MORE FEEDBACK.
SO I THINK THEY'RE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY THEY ARE, YES, HE'S RIGHT HERE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS, HE CAN QUESTIONS FOR HIM OR QUESTIONS FOR ME? UM, HE'S, HE'S RIGHT HERE TO, TO ANSWER THEM IN CASE YOU, YOU DON'T NEED MORE TO YOU, YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT.
UM, UH, WHERE YOU FROM, SIR? MAYOR? I'D LIKE TO HEAR MORE.
YOU GONNA GO? OH, YOU OKAY? YES.
UH, CITY COMMISSION AND, UH, ADMINISTRATION.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY.
UH, DON'T LET, DON'T LET THE LAST NAME FOOL YOU.
I AM FROM THE VALLEY, BORN AND RAISED IN MCALLEN.
UM, WE ARE, I, OUR OFFICE IS IN SOUTH MCALLEN.
WE'RE ABOUT 35 MINUTE DRIVE FROM HERE.
UM, WE CURRENTLY HAVE, YOU KNOW, UH, PUBLIC ENTITIES ALL ACROSS, YOU KNOW, CAMERON COUNTY, HIAL COUNTY, STAR COUNTY.
UM, WE, IN THIS AREA WE ARE WITH, UM, WE ACTUALLY JUST, WERE, WERE AWARDED, UH, CAMERON COUNTY AS ONE OF OUR CLIENTS.
WE DO HAVE BROWNSVILLE, ISD, UM, POINT ISABEL, ISD, THE PORT OF BROWNSVILLE POINT, ISABEL, ISD, UH, CITY OF, UH, PORT ISABEL TOWN, LAGUNA VISTA, PORT ISABEL, HOUSING AUTHORITY, UM, AND THEN GOING TO HIDALGO COUNTY.
WE DO HAVE, UH, SOUTH TEXAS, ISD MCALLEN, ISD SHERI LAND, ISD HIDALGO, ISD, CITY OF WEGO, CITY OF SAN JUAN, UH, CITY OF PALM VIEW, CITY OF, UH, RIO GRANDE CITY, STAR COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
AND WE HAVE A FEW MORE AS WELL.
BUT WE ARE ALL, ALL ACROSS THE VALLEY.
WE DO HAVE, YOU KNOW, OTHER, UH, THE OTHER CLIENTS, PRIVATE CLIENTS ACROSS THE WHOLE, THE WHOLE COUNTRY AND NOT JUST TEXAS.
UM, BUT WE DO HAVE CURRENTLY OVER 35,000 EMPLOYEES THAT WE EITHER CONSULT OR BROKER ON IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY.
SO OUR, UM, OUR FOUNDER, MR. ROGER GARZA, HE STARTED THIS COMPANY OVER 25 YEARS AGO.
UM, HE WAS, HE, HE COMES FROM THE BACKGROUND OF THE, UH, THE TASB, TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS.
SO HE ACTUALLY SERVICE ALMOST EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN REGIONAL ONE IN HIS, IN HIS TIMEFRAME WITH TAS B.
AND AS A CONSULTANT, HE DECIDED TO BREAK OFF AND START A CONSULTING FIRM FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR TO GIVE THE NEEDS TO GIVE BACK TO THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY.
UM, AND THAT'S OUR, AND OUR EXPERTISE IS ON THE EMPLOYEE BENEFIT SIDE, SELF-FUNDING, MEDICAL, UH, LEVEL FUNDED MEDICAL AND FULLY INSURED MEDICAL.
UM, BUT IN THIS CASE, I KNOW THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO IS, UH, SELF-FUNDED AND WE HAVE OVER 20 SOME THOUSAND AND IN, UH, IN OUR, UM, UM, IN OUR PORTFOLIO FOR THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY.
AND THEN I, I'M, UH, I'VE BEEN WITH THE VALLEY RISK FOR ABOUT 11 YEARS NOW.
UM, I ACTUALLY, I HEARD MENTIONED WHERE I, THE FIRM I'VE STARTED WITH, YOU MENTIONED THEY ACTUALLY BID HERE.
I STARTED THERE OVER 11 YEARS AGO AND I MOVED OVER TO VALLEY RISK.
UM, AND I RUN THE BROKERAGE SIDE OF THE FIRM.
ANY OTHER, UH, ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE FOR US? DO YOU HAVE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HERE? NO, SIR.
UH, WHAT DOES IT MEAN? NO COST TO THE CITY? SO WE DON'T, WE DON'T CHARGE.
WE'RE GONNA BE ACTING IN THE CAPACITY OF AN AGENT SLASH BROKER.
UM, WE CAN SAY EITHER ONE AGENT OR RECORD BROKER RECORD.
WE'RE, WE'RE, UH, IN CERTAIN INSTANCES WHERE WE ACT AS A CONSULTANT OF RECORD, WHERE THAT'S WHERE WE ACTUALLY CHARGE THE ENTITY A FIXED AMOUNT.
UM, BUT IN THIS CASE, WE'LL BE ACTING IN THE CAPACITY OF AN AGENT, AGENT, AGENT OF RECORD.
SO WE'LL BE CHARGING THE CARRIER INSTEAD OF THE CITY COMMISSIONERS.
ARE WE ABLE TO KNOW THAT FEE OR IS THAT PROPRIETARY INFORMATION? UM, IT NORMALLY IS PROPRIETARY, BUT WE ACTUALLY WILL DISCLOSE IT WITH YOUR ADMINISTRATION BEFORE IN THE 5,500 FORM.
SO YOU'LL SEE IT, I MEAN, IT'S TYPICAL STANDARD COMMISSION IS, UH, THAT WE CHARGE IS ABOUT 5%, FOUR
[00:45:01]
TO 5% OF MEDICAL, UH, PREMIUM OR JUST DEPENDS 'CAUSE YOU'RE SELF-FUNDED.IT MIGHT JUST BE A TPA ADMIN FEE WITH AMINO PERCENTAGE OF STOP LOSS.
UM, VOLUNTARY PRODUCTS ARE TYPICALLY A STANDARD 10%.
'CAUSE SOME OF THESE BROKERS PUT THEIR FEE UP FRONT, BUT YOU'RE JUST CHARGING IT TO THE CARRIER.
IT'S JUST THE WAY YOU WANT TO REPRESENT IT, CORRECT? MM-HMM
NO, WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME TO DO THE, THE OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR THE EMPLOYEES HAVE TO DO THAT IN SEPTEMBER THE LATEST.
SO THEY'RE GONNA SHOP FOR INSURANCE FOR US.
EVERYBODY ON THE LIST CLAIMS TO LOWER OUR INSURANCE.
SO I EXPECT THAT FROM WHOEVER Y'ALL SELECT.
STEPHANIE, WE, WHY ARE WE GETTING THIS? IF WE'RE YOU, YOU WANT A DECISION TODAY, WHY ARE WE GETTING IT TODAY? BECAUSE WE NEEDED, WE NEEDED, UM, TWO WEEKS TO ADVERTISE.
UH, WE'VE TRIED TO ADVERTISE, BUT WE WEREN'T GETTING A LOT OF FEEDBACK.
SO THE FIRST ADVERTISE WE WENT, WE JUST HAD ONE.
SO THERE WAS NOT REALLY SOMETHING TO COMPARE IT TO.
WAS WAS, WAS HE THE ONE? NO, IT WAS, I BELIEVE GALLAGHER.
AND THEN ON THE SECOND ONE I THINK WE GOT THREE.
AND, UH, SOME OF THE PEOPLE WERE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THOSE SUBMISSIONS.
SO THEY'RE NOT MEANING DO WE HAVE TO GO OUT AGAIN? RIGHT.
SO, UM, AND THIS ONE, IT'S THE ONLY ONE WHERE WE GOT MORE THAN THREE.
SO THAT REALLY OPENED OUR EYES.
AND THEN WE WERE ABLE TO COMPARE COST.
AT LEAST SOME PEOPLE PUT THEIR COSTS SO WE CAN COMPARE TO WHAT WE'RE PAYING RIGHT NOW VERSUS, UM, WHAT OTHER PEOPLE IS CHARGING.
IF YOU SEE IN THAT SECOND SHEET THAT I PROVIDED YOU, UH, WE HAVE OUR CURRENT ONE, IT'S 25% FOR VOLUNTARY.
AND THEN THE OTHER ONE THAT'S LISTED THERE, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, IT'S 50 AND I HAVE THE PAPER OVER THERE.
UM, SO EVEN THOUGH THE COSTS ARE NOT, UM, LISTED THERE, UM, EVERY, EVERY FIRM AFFIRMS THEY'RE GONNA LOWER OUR MEDICAL COST.
SO, UM, ON THE BUDGET, AND I MEAN I KNOW THAT THIS GOES ASIDE FROM IT ON THE BUDGET, IT'S ASSUMED AT A HIGHER LEVEL JUST TO BE SURE WE'RE ABLE TO LOWER, WE'RE PAYING RIGHT NOW.
'CAUSE EVERYBODY SAYS IT'S GONNA GO LOWER.
STEPHANIE, ARE YOU COMFORTABLE THEN THAT WE HAVE DONE ENOUGH DUE DILIGENCE TO GET, UH, WHERE WE NEED TO BE WITH THIS? IT'S, IT'S REALLY, IT'S A REALLY, UM, COMPOUND QUESTION BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS OUT THERE FOR US FOR THE INSURANCES.
HOWEVER, BASED ON THE REFERENCES, UM, EVERYBODY SPEAK HIGHLY AND, AND I HAVE THE PROCUREMENT AGENT THAT CALL, WELL I CALL, I MAKE SOME CALLS, BUT SHE CALL HERSELF AS WELL.
SO EVERYBODY SPOKE HIGHLY OF THIS COMPANY AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT I CAN BASED OFF, I KNOW WE CALL, UH, PORT ISABELLE HAD GOOD, UH, COMMENTS.
UM, AND THEN THE ONES THAT HE WOULDN'T BE A BROKER FOR JUST CONSULTING, THEY WOULD ALSO SPEAK HIGHLY ABOUT THEM.
SO WE, UM, I CANNOT SEE NUMBERS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT DOING THE INSURANCE JUST YET.
UH, WE HAVE TO SELECT SOMEBODY SO THEY CAN SHOP AROUND.
UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE WOULDN'T TAKE ANYTHING LESS THAN WHAT WE'RE ANYTHING MORE THAN WHAT WE'RE PAYING RIGHT NOW.
JUST STEPHANIE, ARE WE ALLOWED TO REACH OUT TO FIRMS TO ASK THEM TO, TO PUT IN, UM, BIDS A BID? HOW COME WE DIDN'T REACH OUT TO TML? OR DID WE? THAT'S THAT'S NOT REALLY, I THINK WE DO HAVE TML BEFORE OR YEAH.
UM, THEY WEREN'T THE BROKERS TL OKAY.
SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE INSURANCE ITSELF.
WE'RE DOING WHOEVER WHO'S GONNA GO SHOP FOR THE INSURANCE.
WE'RE, WE'RE GRANTING SOMEBODY TO GO SHOP FOR US, BASICALLY.
RIGHT? BUT DO WE NEED A BROKER? MM-HMM
WELL, SOMEBODY THAT SPECIALIZED ON THE FIELD, THEY CAN TELL US WHAT'S, WHAT'S A BETTER OPTION FOR US, RIGHT? SO THE, THE INDUSTRY NORM COMMISSIONS TO HAVE SOME SORT OF AGENT OF RECORD SO THEY CAN GO OUT.
WHO IS THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT IN REGARD TO ACTUALLY ENGAGING SOME OF THESE, THESE COMPANIES? UNLESS YOU HAVE THE EXPERTISE.
AND THAT'S, THAT'LL BE LIKE A REESE MANAGEMENT TEAM WITH SOME SORT CERTIFICATIONS, UH, ASSIGNED TO IT.
'CAUSE I KNOW SOME ISD DISTRICTS, WHICH, I MEAN I, I READ MY RESEARCH WHEN I WAS DOING THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO, UM, THE DISTRICTS THAT DO HAVE THAT RISK MANAGEMENT TEAM, THEY USE, NOT A BROKER BUT A CONSULTING SERVICES FROM AN EXPERTISE.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? SO THEY JUST PAY ONE TIME FEE.
AND THEN, UM, MS. MR. JONATHAN HERE, UM, IT WAS FOR THE MOST PART, CONSULTING SERVICES FOR THOSE ISE THAT HAVE A RISK MANAGEMENT TEAM.
AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT MOTION TO APPROVE.
WELL DO ANY OF THESE, UM, DO SO ALL OF THESE CAN WORK WITH BLUE CROSS UNITED HEALTH?
[00:50:01]
THEY CAN WORK, IT'S A MATTER OF THE FEES.THAT'S, THAT'S THE NEXT STEP COMMISH THAT YOU'LL SEE.
ONCE WE HAVE THE AGENT OF RECORD, HE'LL GO BACK AND THEN BRING A FULL PRESENTATION, WHETHER IT BE USC PLUS, WHETHER IT BE CONCORDIA, BLUE CROSS, BLUE SHIELD, UML.
AND THEN I THINK THERE'S A NEW COMPANY OUT THERE PROVIDING SERVICES.
SO HE WE'RE JUST A, WE'RE MOTION ON WHOEVER'S GONNA BE OUR AGENT, BASICALLY WHOEVER'S GONNA BE SHOPPING FOR US.
CORRECT? UH, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO MAKE MR. GALLAGHER BENEFITS OUR, SO WE DO HAVE A MOTION STANDING ON THE FLOOR CURRENTLY.
COMMISS, I DON'T KNOW IF THE MAYOR'S GONNA FORMALLY RECOGNIZE THAT THAT WAS IT.
WHO WAS FIRST? UH, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE FROM ANOTHER COMPANY? I, I BELIEVE TALK.
YOU THERE? YOU WANT TO MM-HMM
ANCHOR BENEFITS? MR. MARTIN, WHERE'S THAT ONE AT? BENEFITS ON THE LAST ONE ON THIS? GOOD EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN AND VISIT EVERYBODY.
I UNDERSTAND THERE'S SOME QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING THAT I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER 'EM FOR YOU RIGHT NOW.
WHAT WAS YOUR NAME AGAIN, SIR? I'M SORRY.
I SEE YOUR FEE STRUCTURE'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
WOULD YOU KIND OF ENLIGHTEN US ON HOW THAT IS? YES.
OUR, OUR FEE STRUCTURE IS A TINY BIT DIFFERENT THAN, UH, WHAT YOU SEE SIMILARLY WITH OTHER BROKERS.
WE TRY TO WORK WITH THE, UH, THE EXISTING PRODUCTS AND TAKE OVER WHAT IS THERE VERSUS STATE IN OUR OWN COMMISSION FEE.
WE DON'T WANT TO BURDEN THE CITY MORE WITH THAT.
AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, IF THERE'S ANY FEES FOR CONSULTING OR FOR THE, UH, SERVICING OF THE MEDICAL PLAN, IF IT'S A SELF-FUNDED, WE PUT THAT OUT UP FRONT AND WE ALSO TRY TO DISCOUNT IT.
WE UNDERSTAND WHILE HOW BUDGETS WORK THESE DAYS.
AND SO THAT WAY IT GIVES YOU OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, OKAY, WELL WE DID A LITTLE BIT MORE CONSULTING VERSUS SERVICING OR VICE VERSA.
AND THAT GIVES US SOME FLEXIBILITY TO FINE TUNE THAT AND REDUCE IT IF NECESSARY.
I THINK WHAT I'M NOT ABLE TO SEE HERE, MAYOR, UM, THANK YOU MR. MARTINEZ.
UM, BUT MAYOR, WHAT I'M NOT ABLE TO SEE HERE IS THE CLEAR COMMISSION FROM EACH BROKER.
AND WE HAVE ON THE TABULATION A FEE PROPOSAL AND SOME PUT NO COST TO CITY, BUT THAT, THAT'S MISLEADING BECAUSE THE COST IS ON THE OTHER END.
IT'S STILL A COST IS ON THE OTHER SIDE.
SO MAYBE THIS TABLE NEEDS TO BE CHANGED FEE TO, BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE WHAT THAT PERCENTAGE IS.
SOMEONE'S GONNA, THE BROKERS DON'T WORK FOR FEE FOR FREE.
EITHER WE PAID OR THE, AND WE DID REQUEST IT FOR THEM TO PUT THEIR FEES AND SOME DIDN'T UP FRONT.
AND THEN, UM, THIS IS WHAT WE GOT BACK.
UM, WE DID PROVIDE MS. RUTH THE ACTUAL COPIES OF EACH PEOPLE THAT SUBMITTED IT, BUT IT'S REALLY HARD TO PUT IT IN THE AGENDA 'CAUSE THEY'RE BOOKS.
UM, BUT THEY'RE AVAILABLE THERE IF YOU WANNA LOOK THEM IN DEEP.
A LITTLE BIT LIKE MAYBE ONE EACH.
UM, IT'S LIKE, AGAIN, IT'S SEVEN OF THEM AND I UM, I DO SEE IT.
THERE'S PEOPLE THAT DID LISTED THE PERCENTAGE THAT THEY'RE CHARGING AND STUFF, BUT HE'S HERE.
THE PERCENTAGE WILL BE RECORDED.
SO IT'S A MATTER OF AWARDING SOMEBODY SO THEY CAN START SHOPPING AND THEN THEY WILL BRING BACK THE INSURANCE AND THEN THEY'LL DECIDE THERE IS SOME, I GUESS THERE'S SOME BROWNIE POINTS FOR THE FOLKS THAT ACTUALLY SHOWED UP.
SO MPT YOU HAD A MOTION? YES SIR.
WELL HE DIDN'T FULLY SAY HIS MOTION.
DOES HE HAVE A MOTION STILL? YEAH, HE DOES.
DID YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING ELSE? SO JUST, JUST SO THAT IT CAN'T BE CONCISE.
COMMISSIONER GOODMAN, WHAT IS THE, YOUR MOTION? IS IT MOTION.
MOTION WOULD BE TO ACCEPT VALE RISK CONSULTING AS OUR AGENCY OF RECORD.
ALRIGHT, DID YOU HAVE A MOTION? I MEAN, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR IT? NO.
IS THERE A SECOND? APPLIES FOR LACK OF SECOND.
[00:55:01]
STEPHANIE? CAN I MAKE MY MOTION NOW? YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION NOW COMMISSION.I'D LIKE TO MAKE SOME MOTION TO, UH, RFP.
WELL, MAYOR COMMISSIONERS, I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD.
I'D LIKE TO MOTION MO MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THE EMPLOYEE NSURANCE BROKER TO GALLAGHER BENEFITS.
IS THERE A SECOND? BUT IT'S NOT COMPLETE.
SO ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS HERE, UM, AND I DID PUT IT ON THE YELLOW AT THE BOTTOM.
UM, THERE, THERE WERE THREE PEOPLE THAT DID NOT SUBMIT THEIR CONFLICT OF INTEREST, UH, QUESTIONNAIRE FORM.
SO I DID PUT IT IN IN YELLOW RIGHT HERE.
AND ONE OF THEM IS WHAT, WHAT HE MENTIONED.
SO I DID PUT IT SO THEY COULD SEE THE COMPARISON, BUT IT'S, IT, IT WAS INCOMPLETE 'CAUSE IT WAS MISSING THAT CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND WE DID REQUEST IT IT A BIT.
STEPHANIE? SO IN THE REQUIREMENT THAT WENT OUT, UH, AND ALL THE NOTICES, WAS IT A REQUIREMENT FOR THEM TO HAVE THOSE FORMS? YES.
ON THE LAST ONE THAT IT WAS AMENDED? YES.
SO I THINK IT WAS A LACK OF ATTACHING IT TO THE ACTUAL BIT THAT WAS ADDED TO THE WEBSITE.
SO WHEN WE WENT THE SECOND ROUTE, WE, WHEN WE AMENDED IT, WE ADDED THAT THERE.
AND THIS IS THE ONE THAT WE'RE GOING FOR, THE ONE THAT IT'S AMENDED 20 25 0 8 0 0 1 AMENDED.
SO EVERY TIME YOU PUT OUT THE BID, DID THEY HAVE TO RESUBMIT? CORRECT? YES.
SO WERE THEY TOLD THAT THEY WERE MISSING SOMETHING, WE CANNOT OPEN THEM UNTIL THE DAY OF IT WASN'T OPEN, SO WE DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS MISSING YET UNTIL THROUGHOUT THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS, YOU TYPICALLY DON'T HAVE THAT TYPE OF COMMUNICATION WITH WITH WITH THE BIDDERS.
YOU GIVE THEM A CHECKLIST THOUGH.
OH, IT'S ON THE, IT'S ON THE RP.
WELL, AND THEN WE, IN THE RFP, WE DID ADVISE THEM WHOEVER BIDDED, LIKE THE FIRST TIME, LET'S SAY WE ADVISED THEM, HEY WE'RE, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'RE BIDDING AGAIN.
AND THEN WHEN WE DIDN'T GET A LOT OF PEOPLE, THEN WE ADVISE THEM AGAIN, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'RE BIDDING AGAIN.
WE FOLLOW UP WITH A PHONE CALL AND AN EMAIL TO EVERYBODY THAT HAD BIDDED PRIOR SO THEY KNOW IT'S GOING OUT AGAIN AND THEY DON'T LOSE THAT BENEFIT OF NOT KNOWING.
STEPHANIE, IS THERE ONE IN PARTICULAR HERE, YOU ALREADY YOU HAD ONE GREEN HIGHLIGHTED, BUT IS THERE ANOTHER, ANOTHER QUESTION I WANT TO ASK IS, IS THERE ONE THAT WAS MORE LOCAL OR THAT YOU SAW THAT WORKED WITH MORE PEOPLE IN THIS REGION MORE CLOSELY? OTHER THAN THEM? UM, I KNOW ORTHO INSURANCE, UH, THE SAN Z RECOMMENDED THEM AND SAID THAT THEY WORKED WITH THEM IN THE PAST.
UM, BUT OTHER, I JUST SAW THEIR RATES, THEIR RATES WENT UP AT THIS.
SO, WELL THAT, THAT, THAT'S NOT THE ONE THAT THEY CURRENTLY HAVE.
BUT THEY WORK WITH THEM IN THE PAST.
BUT I DID CALL, UH, NEIGHBOR CITIES AND THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT INSURANCES THAT DIDN'T BID OUT FOR US.
SO, UH, BRONZEVILLE MENTIONED ESCA THOUSAND AND LIKE THEY MENTIONED DIFFERENT NAMES THAT THEY DIDN'T BID FOR US.
SO I DID TRY TO SEE IF ANY OF THESE OR NEIGHBORING CITIES HAVE.
UM, HOWEVER, THE MOST CLOSEST LOCAL WAS VALLEY RISK WITH THE PORT VILLE LAGUNA VISTA.
AND, AND THAT'S REALLY, 'CAUSE LIKE I SAID, WE DON'T HAVE THE, WE DON'T HAVE THE RATES, SO WE HAVE TO GO OF WHAT WE, WHAT WE CAN SEE AND, AND, AND, AND LOOK.
AND THAT'S JUST BASICALLY THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE ROUTING CITIES.
IT'S, IT'S DIFFERENT 'CAUSE I LIKE THE BITS THAT ARE JUST NUMBERS AND I CAN JUST SAY, OKAY, THIS ONE IS HIGHER, THIS ONE IS SLOWER.
IN THIS CASE IT'S NOT APPLES TO APPLES.
SO IT'S REALLY UP, UP TO Y'ALL.
SO DO YOU KNOW WHO'S UH, UH, DO INSURANCE FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT? UM, GEFF, JEFF SOMETHING CONSULTING.
THEY ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO WITH, UM, THE STATE.
JEFF EVERETT, THE STATE INSURANCE.
THEY GET, THEY GET, I THINK THEY, NO, THAT'S, BUT I DID CALL AND, AND ASK, LIKE THAT'S USUALLY THE STANDARD FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO GO WITH THE STATE.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY HAVE THE, NOT, NOT, NOT SURE
IS THAT GENTLEMAN WITH YOU WITH A VALLEY RISK NOT ASSOCIATED WITH HIM? WELL, WE CAN ALWAYS, UH, WE JUST NEED SOMEONE TO COME AND BROKER THIS DEAL AND WE'LL LOOK AT THE INTEREST RATES AND, UM, IT'S A YEARLY THING AND WE CAN LOOK AT FULLY FUNDED, SELF-FUNDED, ALL SORTS OF FUNDED, HIGH DEDUCTIBLE, LOW DEDUCTIBLE PLANS.
THEY'LL HAVE TO PUT A PRESENTATION FOR THAT AND TRY TO SET IT FOR YOU.
THE INSURANCE, UM, WHO IS, IS VERY INTERESTING.
I WILL SAY THAT THERE ARE VERY FEW, AND OF COURSE MAYOR VELO
[01:00:01]
CAN SPEAK TO THIS AS WELL.THE SELF-FUNDED ROUTE IS, IS VERY, UM, PARTICULAR AND PE APPEAL.
USUALLY ONLY LARGER ENTITIES WILL HAVE A SELF-FUNDED PLAN, USUALLY MORE THAN A THOUSAND EMPLOYEES.
I ONLY KNOW OF ONE OTHER SMALLER ENTITY.
UM, AND THEY'RE THE PROBABLY THE ONLY ONES THAT DO IT IN THIS AREA, WHICH IS A CERTAIN SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT WON'T NAME THEM.
UM, JUST FOR CONFIDENTIALITY PURPOSES.
UM, BUT IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION IN, IN REGARD TO THIS TYPE OF STUFF, UM, WE WOULD, BOTH OF US WOULD RECOMMEND A, A WORKSHOP SO THAT YOU ALL CAN ANSWER ALL THOSE QUESTIONS.
UH, IN REGARD TO THAT, I, THIS IS A DIFFICULT, UM, AND IT DOES REQUIRE EXPERTISE.
LIKE EVEN AT OUR LARGER SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHO HAVE RISK MANAGEMENT TEAMS, THEY STILL HAVE CONSULTANTS, CORRECT.
WHO ARE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS? I DON'T WANT TO HESITATE ON THIS.
I KIND OF WANT TO PICK SOMEBODY.
THE, THE THING IS THAT MS. MS. CHRISTINE WILL NEED THAT FOR THE OPEN ENROLLMENT, UH, HR OCTOBER 1ST.
UM, NO, BEFORE THAT, MS. CHRISTINE, BY WHEN DO YOU NEED IT? YESTERDAY? YESTERDAY.
BUT THE INSURANCE CAN BE PAID MONTH TO MONTH.
THAT'S WHAT WE COULD, WE COULD DO, WE DON'T HAVE TO, WE CAN CHANGE IT ANY TIME.
THEY ALWAYS TRY TO LOCK YOU IN.
SO YOU'RE NOT PICKING INSURANCE RIGHT NOW.
BUT THEY'LL TRY TO, THEY'LL SAY THAT WE GOTTA STAY WITH WHOEVER WE'RE WITH FOR THE WHOLE YEAR AND WAIT A WHOLE YEAR, WHICH I DON'T BELIEVE IS TRUE.
SO IT DEPENDS IF YOU'RE SELF FUNDED OR IF YOU YEAH, SURE.
IF YOU'RE SELF FUNDED, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT'S ON THE ACTUAL CONTRACT.
AND YOU TO LOOK AT THE IN THERE AND SAY, DO, YOU'RE GONNA BE NOT HONORING THE CONTRACT, SO WON'T COVER ANY RUN.
BUT IF YOU DO CHANGE TO A FULLY INSURED PLAN BY THEN, YOU CAN BE ON MONTHLY.
DO WE KNOW THAT ANSWER, STEPH? ARE WE, WE KNOW WE'RE SELF-FUNDED, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CONTRACT IS.
I THINK WE WERE IN A YEARLY, THAT'S WHY WE HAD TO DO IT BY, WITH LONE STAR.
IF I MAY ALSO, UM, OUR CURRENT INSURANCE PROVIDER, UM, HAS BEEN TERRIBLE.
WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF NEGATIVE FEEDBACK FROM EMPLOYEES.
UM, URGENT CARES DON'T EVEN TAKE OUR INSURANCE KIND OF THING.
AND, UM, SO WE, WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME TO HAVE A BROKER LOOK FOR INSURANCE OPTIONS FOR US.
AND AS FAR AS EMPLOYEES ARE CONCERNED, UM, REALLY WOULDN'T WANT TO STAY WITH OUR CURRENT BROKER OR OUR CURRENT NSURANCE.
SO CURRENTLY WE HAVE LONE STAR SERVICES WITH ASSURED BENEFITS.
AND WE ARE SELF-FUNDED PLAN, WHICH MEANS WHATEVER WE PUT INTO THE PIGGY BANK, THEY EMPLOYEES, WHEN THEY GO SEE A DOCTOR, PULL FROM THAT PIGGY BANK AND THAT PIGGY BANK CAN RUN OUT REALLY QUICKLY.
AND YOU'VE SEEN WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH UNITED HEALTHCARE AND SOME OF THESE BIG, UH, UH, INSURANCE COMPANIES.
WE'RE, WE'RE NOT GONNA SEE NICE PREMIUMS, BUT THERE'S STRATEGIC WAYS OF PRESENTING IT TO GET NICE RATES.
UH, BUT WE NEED A, WHEN THEY, THOSE COMPANIES REPORT THEIR NUMBERS AND WHEN THEY REPORT THEIR NUMBERS, THEY CAN SHOW YOU THAT THEIR COSTS ARE OUTWEIGHING THEIR, THEIR PREMIUMS, WHICH MEANS THAT THE ONLY WAY THAT THOSE COMPANIES CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE MONEY IS TO RAISE THEIR PREMIUMS. AND WITH THE COST OF HEALTHCARE GOING UP, IT DOESN'T BEHOOVE US TO STAY IN A SELF-FUNDED PLAN, WHICH I'VE MENTIONED, AND I'VE ASKED FOR WHAT OUR BALANCE FUND AND THE SELF-FUNDED PLAN IS.
DO WE HAVE IT? NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT YET.
BUT I'LL, I'LL TELL YOU THAT, UM, WHAT YOU'RE TELLING, IT'S TOTALLY TRUE.
IT, IT IS RUNNING LOW JUST BECAUSE OUR INSURANCE HAS GONE UP.
SO WE ARE SEEING, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE IN THE NEED TO CHANGE THIS.
AND I KNOW, UH, THE FIRST YEAR MR. SANDWELL STARTED HERE, WE ASKED FOR OPTIONS FROM LONE STAR AND WE WERE NOT GIVEN THOSE OPTIONS.
SO THEY, IT, IT GOT EXTENDED SO MUCH THAT WE HAD TO STAY WITH LONE STAR FOR ANOTHER YEAR.
UM, SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE REALLY PUSHING FOR, LIKE A CHANGE.
UM, IT'S TOTALLY UP TO YOU ALL, BUT A CHANGE IS NEEDED JUST BECAUSE, JUST BY LOOKING AT THE OTHER PEOPLE AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING, LOAN STARTS MAKING 25% OUT OF VOLUNTARILY AND NOBODY ELSE IS GOING THAT HIGH.
AND I KNOW, UH, HERE MR. MARTINEZ MENTIONED THAT THEY'RE OKAY WITH GOING WITH THE SAME, UH, RATES THAT WE'RE CHARGING RIGHT NOW.
THEY, THEY WOULDN'T GO HIGHER, BUT THAT'S A LITTLE BIT EXCESSIVE COMING TO THE OTHER ONES THAT ARE DOING 15.
SO, SO FOR THE COMMISSION, I'VE NARROWED IT DOWN TO THREE.
UM, VALLEY RISK HAGEN BOUGHT THEM AN ANCHOR BASED ON WHO'S HERE, WHAT THE INFORMATION WE'VE BEEN PRESENTED, WHO DIDN'T FULLY COMPLETE THE BID TABULATIONS,
[01:05:01]
UM, VALLEY RISK DIDN'T HAVE COSTS, BUT THEY MENTIONED SOME OF THE COSTS AND SOME OF THOSE COSTS WERE CHEAPER THAN WHAT SOME OF THE OTHERS WERE ALREADY STATING.UM, SO I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND PICK ONE BECAUSE I GOT A LOT OF QUESTIONS FOR THE BUDGET.
SO I'M GONNA MOTION TO, THERE WAS A MOTION THOUGH BY TOMORROW.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND GO WITH, UH, BASED ON THE LOCAL AND THE COMMENT SECTION WITH VALLEY, I'M GONNA MOTION TO APPROVE VALLEY RISK CONSULTING AS THE, UH, INSURANCE BROKER CONSULTING SERVICES.
GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER, UM, GALVAN.
QUESTIONS SECOND BY, UH, MAYOR, UH, GOODMAN.
[1. First Reading of Ordinance Number 2376-003, an ordinance amending ordinance number 2376-001 & 2376-002 to establish regulations for new car wash facilities by establishing a distance requirement, ensuring no new car wash business to be established within a (1) one mile radius of an existing car wash; and to promote the conservation of water by requiring the installation of a water relamation and recycling system.]
INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 2 3 7 6 DASH ZERO THREE ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2 2 3 7 6 DASH 0 0 1 AND 2 3 7 6 0 0 2.
AND THIS IS TO ESTABLISH REGULATIONS FOR NEW CAR WASH FACILITIES BY ESTABLISHING A DISTANCE REQUIREMENT, ENSURING NO CAR, NEW CAR WASH BUSINESSES TO BE ESTABLISHED WITHIN A ONE MILE RADIUS OF AN EXISTING CAR WASH.
AND TO PROMOTE THE CONSERVATION WATER BY REQUIRING THE INSTALLATION OF A, A WATER RECLAMATION.
THERE'S A TYPO THERE, I APOLOGIZE.
RECLAMATION AND RECYCLING SYSTEM.
AND THIS IS A FIRST READING FOLKS, SO, UM, WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE ANY ACTION ON IT, BUT THIS IS JUST TO GET AHEAD OF THE PROLIFERATION OF AUTOMATIC CAR WASHES TO THAT HAVE KIND OF ENGULFED OUR NEIGHBORS HERE.
SO AGAIN, LITTLE PROACTIVE APPROACH FROM STAFF.
WE DO HAVE ONE MORE COMING INTO THE CITY.
UM, SO THAT KIND OF PROMPTED THIS, AND THANK YOU FOR THE HEADS UP.
COMMISSIONER GALVAN, WHERE, WHERE'S IT COMING IN? YEAH.
UM, RIGHT HERE WHERE THE, UM, RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE, YEAH, RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE LAX, THE OLD LAX BUILDING.
THEY MAY BE TAKING DOWN SOME TREES, SO LOOK INTO THAT.
WE DON'T WANT, WE DON'T WANT 'EM TO KILL ANY TREES.
MAYBE THEY CAN WORK AROUND THEM OR SOMETHING.
FRED, WE ARE GONNA BE LIMITING HOW MANY CAR WASHES COME INTO OUR CITY.
CORRECT? THAT'S WHAT THIS, OKAY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ONE MILE.
[2. First Reading of Ordinance Number 2633-08-2025, an ordinance levying the Ad Valorem Property Tax Rate for the City of San Benito, Texas, for the year 2025 and repealing all ordinances or parts of the ordinance in conflict herewith]
READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 2 6 3 3 0 8 25.AND THAT'S AN ORDINANCE LEVYING THE LEVERAGING THE VALOR PROPERTY TAX RATE FOR THE CITY OF SAN TEXAS FOR THE YEAR 2025.
AND REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HERE WITH, UH, THIS IS ACTUALLY, UH, IN FULFILLMENT OF OUR PUBLIC HEARING.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS JUST A FIRST READING.
[3. First Reading of Ordinance Number 2634-08-2025 an ordinance adopting a Budget for the General Fund, Debt Service Fund, Community Development Block Grant, Economic Development Fund, Waterworks Enterprise Fund, Wastewater Enterprise Fund, Solid Waste Enterprise Fund, The UT Health Science Center at Houston and the Hotel Motel Occupancy Tax for the Ensuing Fiscal Year October 1, 2025 and ending September 30, 2026, in accordance with the Charter of the City of San Benito, Texas and repealing all ordinance or part of ordinance in conflict herwith]
THREE.READING 2 6 3 4 DASH OH EIGHT DASH 2 25.
AND THAT'S ORDINANCE ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE GENERAL FUND DEBT SERVICE FUND, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND, WATERWORKS ENTERPRISE FUND, WASTEWATER ENTERPRISE FUND, SOLID WASTE ENTERPRISE FUND, THE UT HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT HOUSTON AND HOTEL MOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.
AND FOR THE ENSUING FISCAL YEAR, OCTOBER 1ST, 2025, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CHARTER, THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO, TEXAS.
AND REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES OR PART OF ORDINANCE IN CONFLICT HERE WITH, AGAIN, THIS IS JUST THE FIRST READING.
UM, GO ON TO BOARD APPOINTMENTS.
UH, I'M SORRY, I JUST WANNA TELL STEPHANIE THAT I DON'T WANT HER CARRYING HAVE ANY ITEMS LIKE THAT PLEASE.
THAT, THAT'S, UH, WE WILL, WE WILL MAKE SURE SHE HAS AN ASSISTANT FOR THAT.
YOU CAN CARRY, UH, BOARD APPOINTMENTS
[1. Consideration and possible action to appoint members to the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee for the place and term starting and expiring as shown: a. Licensed Veterinarian - Term August 1, 2025, through July 31, 2028 b. County or Municipal Official - Term August 1, 2025, through July 31, 2028 c. A person whose duties include the daily operations of the animal shelter - Term August 1, 2025, through July 31, 2028 d. Representative from an animal welfare organization - Term August 1, 2025, through July 31, 2028 e. A citizen of the City of San Benito not currently affiliated with an animal welfare organization - Term August 1, 2025, through July 31, 2028.]
CONSIDERATION.POSSIBLE ACTION APPOINT MEMBERS TO THE ANIMAL SHELTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE PLACE AND TERM STARTING AND EXPIRING AS SHOWN.
UH, THERE'S A, WHICH IS A LICENSED VETERINARIAN.
THE TERM IS AUGUST 1ST, 25 THROUGH JULY 31ST, 28.
COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL OFFICIAL TERM, SAME TERM.
A PERSON WHOSE DUTIES INCLUDE THE DAILY OPERATIONS OF THE ANIMAL SHELTER, SAME TERM, REPRESENTED FROM ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATION, SAME TERM.
AND A CITIZEN OF SAN BENITO, CITIZEN OF THE CITY OF SAN BENITO, NOT CURRENTLY AFFILIATED WITH AN ANIMAL WELFARE WELFARE ORGANIZATION.
AUGUST 1ST, 2025 THROUGH JULY 31ST, 2028.
CHIEF, SORRY, BEFORE YOU START THE, UH, BUDGET WAS JUST THE FIRST READING, BUT CAN I ASK QUESTIONS ON IT? NOT ON
[01:10:01]
THIS, HUH? NOT ON THIS ITEM.NO, BUT WE'RE STILL, WHICH ONE ARE WE AT? WELL, THE ONE BEFORE THIS IS BOARD APPOINTMENTS.
THE ONE BEFORE I, I THOUGHT WE WERE IN APPOINTMENTS ALREADY.
YEAH, I MEAN THAT'S, THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH, BUT COULD HIGH HAVE ASKED QUESTIONS ON THE PREVIOUS ONE.
MAYOR, CAN WE GO BACK TO NUMBER THREE? I'D LIKE TO ASK SOME BUDGETARY QUESTIONS.
CAN WE GET THE BOARD, THE, GET THE BOARD OF APPOINTMENTS? HECK YEAH, WE CAN, WE CAN GET BACK TO THREE.
CHIEF, AFTER FOR THE RECORD, UH, THIS IS, UH, PRETTY MUCH WHAT IT SAYS.
UH, WE HAVE TO START APPOINTING, UH, PEOPLE TO START THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
SO RIGHT NOW I'LL OPEN IT UP AND SEE IF, UH, ANY RECOMMENDATIONS.
CHIEF, I, I WANNA FIRST TELL YOU THANK YOU FOR THE TIME THAT YOU HAVE PUT INTO THIS, THE COMMUNITY.
UM, AT THIS TIME, UM, I DO HAVE, UH, DR. ALLISON MERRITT, WHICH IS A VETERINARIAN FOR A SAN BENITO CLINIC.
I DID HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH HER TODAY AND SHE'S WILLING TO TAKE THE POSITION.
UM, I KNOW I SPOKE TO YOU EARLIER ABOUT IT AND SHE WOULD HOPE THAT THE MEETINGS WILL BE ON WEDNESDAY, 'CAUSE THOSE ARE HER DAYS OFF.
SO AT THIS POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, NOMINATE, UM, DR. ALLISON MERRITT FOR THE LICENSED VETERINARIAN FOR THE TERM FROM AUGUST 1ST, 2025 THROUGH JULY 31ST, 2028.
OKAY, SO WE GOT THE FIRST AND SECOND ON, UH, MS. ELLISON.
DOES IT SAY WHO HAS WHAT POSITION? IT DOESN'T, THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT I SAW ON THIS, ON, UH, ON THE HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE.
IT DOESN'T REALLY SAY WHO, WHO HAS WHAT POSITION.
THAT THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS.
IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT LIKE THE OTHER BOARDS THAT YOU EACH PICK ONE REPRESENTATIVE.
THIS IS, THEY'RE SPECIFICALLY, UH, DETAILED.
SO ANY ONE OF THEM CAN MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.
DO WE VOTE ON THAT ONE? AUSTIN MERRI? YEAH, THERE'S MOTION WAS A SECOND.
MS. ED, UH, ELLISON MERRI MEREDITH, ONE MORE TO GO.
THE SECOND ONE IS GONNA BE A COUNTY OR A MUNICIPAL OFFICIAL.
YOU WANNA DO IT? I GOT ENOUGH TO DO.
HOW ABOUT YOU? I'LL DO IT FOR MY WIFE.
WELL, I, I MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, PUT APPOINT COMMISSIONER GALVAN.
THANK YOU FOR THE COUNTY MUNICIPAL OFFICIAL.
SO FOR COMMISSIONER GALVAN ON THE, UH, COUNTY OFFICIAL MUNICIPAL OFFICIAL, DO IT ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
NEXT ONE IS AN A CO OFFICER, WHICH, UH, RIGHT NOW IS, UH, JDO, UH, OR, UH, ABRAHAM SOTO.
AND, UH, IF THE BUDGET PASSES, WILL HAVE A SUPERVISOR FOR THAT POSITION.
SO RIGHT NOW WE CAN NOMINATE SOMEONE, OR IT'S UP TO YOU.
WHICH ONE? OKAY, WHICH ONE? WHICH ACOS BEEN THERE THE LONGEST? IT'S BEEN JAVIER CORONA.
NOW SHOULD I HAVE ASKED WHO HAS THE MOST PASSION FIRST? THAT'S A GOOD, YEAH.
WELL, EVEN AS I MOTION FOR MR. JAVIT.
THIS IS GONNA BE ANIMAL WELFARE REPRESENTATIVE.
OKAY, WELL, FURRY FRIENDS, DO WE HAVE AN ADVOCATE HERE FOR FURRY FRIENDS? DO? YES MA'AM.
I'M PRESIDENT OF BR GV, AND WE ARE A NON-PROFIT BASED HERE AT SANTO, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE ANIMAL SHELTER FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS.
NOT SO WE, UH, WE KNOW THE INS.
SO WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO SERVE ON THIS COMMITTEE, MA'AM? YES, I WOULD.
I NOMINATE EDITH THEN FOR THAT POSITION.
I GOT A FIRST AND A SECOND FOR MS. CAN, CAN WE HAVE THE EDITH COME AND SHOULD SPEAK,
[01:15:01]
GET THE MIC AND JUST ANNOUNCE HERSELF FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE? YEAH.GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS, MAYOR.
I AM THE PRESIDENT OF FURRY FRIENDS RGV BASED OUT OF SAN BENITO, TEXAS.
SO THERE HAVE BEEN A PERSON IN SECOND ALREADY.
ANY NAYS? SECOND MOTION PRESS.
THE LAST ONE IS GONNA BE A CITIZEN OF SAN VITO, NOT AFFILIATED WITH A ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATION.
I HAD A DISCUSSION WITH MY WIFE ABOUT THIS ITEM.
AND, UH, WANNA NOMINATE MS. LINDA BRIANS, SHE'S AN AN ANIMAL RESCUE ADVOCATE, BUT WITH NO, NO AFFILIATION TO A SPECIFIC NONPROFIT.
AND SHE LIVES IN SANTO LINDA
SO THAT, UH, YOU MADE A MOTION.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MORALES.
ANY, SHE'S SPOKEN AT THESE MEETINGS BEFORE FOR THE ANIMALS.
SO CHIEF, I THINK WE'RE DOING A PROACTIVE APPROACH ON THIS.
UM, THANK YOU EDITH FOR COMING AND, AND BEHALF OF THE FURRY FRIENDS TO SPEAK TO THE COMMUNITY AND DOING WHAT YOU DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
MAYOR, CAN WE GO BACK? SO COUNSEL, WE CAN GO BACK, UH, TO, OKAY, LET'S GO BACK TO ITEM NUMBER THREE.
ITEM NUMBER THREE OF THE FIRST RING.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA SEE OUT TO DINNER COM.
COMMISSION
I'LL TAKE YOU UP ON THAT THOUGH.
WHY IS THE FIRST TAB GENERAL FUND PAGE 1414 ON AFTER GENERAL FUND TAB.
SO THE ADDITIONAL SIGN FINANCING SOURCES, WHERE IS THAT COMING FROM? IT'S PART OF OUR UNASSIGNED FUNDS, WHICH, SO WE'RE PULLING FROM OUR PIGGY BANK TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET.
WE'RE PULLING $1.8 MILLION TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.
WE NORMALLY DON'T TAP INTO IT, COME WITH THE SURPLUS.
SO, BUT WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, BUT WE, WE DON'T TAP IT.
SO WE DON'T, WE COLLECT MORE REVENUE THAN EXPENSES FROM PAST YEARS.
TO THESE TO, UH, BALANCE IT UP.
AND IT WAS, IT WAS NAMED DIFFERENTLY.
UM, SO WE, WE ADDED ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL SOURCES SO IT COULD BE MORE TRANSPARENT ON WHERE IS THAT BODY COMING FROM? WELL, JUST AS ADDITIONAL FINANCING SOURCES.
IT DOESN'T SAY, WELL, IT WAS, IT WAS, UH, LABELED DIFFERENT TO LIKE, IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS A REVENUE SOURCE.
LIKE IT, LIKE IT WAS COMING FROM SOMEWHERE.
SO, UH, WHEN I STARTED HERE, WE CHANGED IT TO ADDITIONAL FINANCING SOURCES.
BEST KNOWN AS THEIR FUND BALANCE UNASSIGNED FUNDS.
MAYBE WE SHOULD PUT FINANCING SOURCES, DASH UNASSIGNED FUNDS.
BECAUSE OTHERWISE PEOPLE WOULDN'T KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT.
'CAUSE I'VE BEEN HERE A WHILE.
UM, I SEE PROPERTY TAXES ARE UP, SO THAT'S GOOD.
MAINLY THAT'S COMING FROM PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.
BUT WE HAVE AN INFLATED EXPENSE THERE OF 1.8, RIGHT, BECAUSE, OR REVENUE LINE.
BECAUSE YOU'RE ADDING FROM THE UNASSIGNED.
YOU CAN ALWAYS MAKE THAT BUDGET AMENDMENT.
SO THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING, LIKE YOU LEAVING ALL THAT EXTRA MONEY IN MY, IN MY BANK ACCOUNT, I'M GONNA SPEND IT.
[01:20:01]
THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE.WELL, YOU CAN ALWAYS MOVE FROM THE UNSIGNED AT ANY TIME DURING THE BUDGET CYCLE, RIGHT? MM-HMM
WE CAN BRING IT UP TO YOU ALL AND THEN YOU, RIGHT? MM-HMM
THAT WOULD BE WITH THE, THE APPROPRIATE AMENDMENT.
NOT JUST BECAUSE WITHOUT NOTICE.
WE NEED TO BRING IT TO YOU ALL.
THAT'S WHY I LIKE TO, WITH, IN THIS WAY IT CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT US KNOWING BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY THERE AND WE CAN MOVE IT AROUND INTO DEPARTMENTS, THEN YOUR BUDGET WILL LOOK LIKE IT'S NOT BALANCED.
AND WE HAVE TO PROVIDE YOU A, A BALANCED BUDGET.
SO YOU DO NEED THOSE RESOURCES.
WE'RE HOPING NOT TO TOP END THEM, BUT WE DO NEED 'EM.
OR, OR WE CUT EXPENSES, UH, 200 AND, UM, THAT'S LIKE SIX MINUTE DOLLARS TO 160 DAYS.
SO WE'RE WELL ROUND BASED ON OUR LAST AUDIT.
OH, HE, JUST TO CLARIFY HOW MUCH CASH ON THE RAIN DAYS.
SO MAYOR V WAS ASKED HOW MANY, HOW MUCH MONEY THEY HAVE TO COVER US.
WORKING CAPITAL DAYS IS AS THE MAYOR PUT IT.
AND, UM, WE'RE WAY ABOVE THE STATUTORY LIMIT.
THE PIGGY BANK IS DOUBLY FULL.
AND I JUST ASKED FOR A 2 CENT REDUCTION FOR THE TAXPAYERS.
YOU SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE, ERIC? LET ME CONTINUE, CONTINUE.
I DO SEE, AND JUST OFF THE FRONT PAGE, AN 11, SOME DEPARTMENTS HAVE A 50% INCREASE IN EXPENSES.
WHAT PAGE YOU THE, SINCE ON PAGE 11.
AND I, I DID, UM, THE ONE, THE MEETING, YOU WEREN'T HERE.
I DID DO, UH, THE PERCENTAGE I GUESS REVENUE INCREASE AND DECREASE.
AND I EXPLAINED TO EVERYBODY THE REASONING WHY THEY WERE GOING UP.
UM, I KNOW, UM, I DID POINT OUT A LOT OF PD AND MR. MR. NAVARRO POINTED OUT ON ME, BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE ONES THAT IT'S BEEN INCREASING DRASTICALLY.
BUT WE DO HAVE AN, AN AGREEMENT AND WE WERE BEHIND.
BUT THE GOOD THING IS IT'S IN PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO THERE'S ONLY TWO THE TRUTHS FROM, BUT YOU CAN SEE WHICH DEPARTMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY IS SOMETIMES GETTING THE SHORT END OF THE STICK.
THE THING IS THAT WHEN WE COMPARE IT TO BROWN CITIES, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU RECALL, UH, THE PROCESS WE TOOK, THE KIND OF WORKSHOP WE DID TO, UM, FULFILL THE NEEDS OR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT.
WE WERE WAY BEHIND AND WE WERE LOSING OUR PEOPLE TO NEIGHBORING CITIES.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT THAT'S ALWAYS GIVE EXAMPLE IN THE CITY OF MC.
I KNOW THAT, BUT THEY HAVE A CIVIL SERVICE AND THEY CAN ALWAYS ASK FOR MORE.
AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS DON'T HAVE THAT LUXURY.
SO THEY NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT.
THIS MONEY IS FOR EVERYBODY'S PAY, NOT JUST ONE DEPARTMENT.
EVERY SINGLE COLLECT PROPERTY TAXES GIVE THEM FOUR A DAY.
THAT'S WHY PUBLIC SAFETY IS NUMBER ONE.
ON PAGE NUMBER SEVEN, WE DO HAVE A GRAPH FOR YOU TO SEE LIKE A PIE CHART OF WHERE ITER MONEY'S COMING FROM.
WHAT PAGE ON PAGE NUMBER SEVEN.
IN THE, UM, BEFORE THE GENERAL FUND TAB, WAS THERE A DRAINAGE, UH, TEAM ADDED TO THE BUDGET? I ASKED.
WE ADDED, UM, WHERE ARE THEY LOCATED ON THE WATER SITE? SO, UH, WE LEFT THE STORM INSPECTOR THE TASK FORCE ON THEIR GENERAL FUND.
HOWEVER, WE DID DO ACCRUE OF TWO PEOPLE.
UH, WE ADDED ANOTHER LABOR AND A CDO CERTIFIED DRIVER TO, UM, LET ME GO BACK.
LET ME, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT, UM, SO THERE'S NO DEDICATED DRAINAGE TEAM? WELL, IT'LL BE OR DEPARTMENT.
AND HOW MANY EMPLOYEES? THREE.
SO LABOR, IS THAT A TAB OR IS THAT UNDER A TAB? NO, IT'S, IT'S, LIKE I SAID, IT'S SPLITTED IN THE GENERAL FUND.
THE STORM, WHICH IS THE TAX FORCE.
AND I ALSO EXPLAINED THIS DURING OUR, OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP.
SO OUR INSPECTORS STAYING, UH, TO MEET COMPLIANCE WITH TCQ RULES ON THE GENERAL FUND.
BUT WE ARE ASSIGNING THAT TRUCK THAT WE FIXED, UH, FOR THE STORM DRAINAGE, ADDING ONE MORE PEOPLE TO THE WATER SECTOR.
ONE MORE CDO DRIVER AND OR HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR AND A LABOR PERSON TO JUST GO AND DO THE DRAINAGE.
AND THAT WAY WE SPLIT THE COST OF THAT NEW TEAM THAT WE WANTED TO DO VERSUS GIVING IT EVERYTHING TO THE GENERAL FUND.
BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY,
[01:25:01]
CLEANING THOSE HELPS TO THE WATER DEPARTMENT AND THE DRAIN DEPARTMENT.A PLANNING MANAGER AND A STORM WATER OFFICER.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
A PLANNING MANAGER AND A STORMWATER OFFICER FOR THE STORMWATER TASK FORCE.
THE, IT'S JUST A, THE STORMWATER OFFICER.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT'S THE PERSON THAT'S GONNA DRIVE THE TRUCK? NO, THAT'S THE PERSON THAT'S DOING THE TCQ STANDARDS.
THE ONE THAT SITS ON STORMWATER.
WHERE'S THE ONE THAT'S DRIVING THE TRUCK? I'M LOOKING FOR IT ON THE WATER SITE.
YOU WOULDN'T SEE LIKE THE NAME OF IT.
IT'S JUST ONE LABOR AND ONE CDO DRIVER.
IT'S NOT, YOU DON'T, YOU DIDN'T PUT STORM.
WE JUST ADDED TWO MORE HEADS TO OUR WATER DEPARTMENT.
SO WHAT I WANTED WAS A SPECIFIC DRAINAGE TEAM.
'CAUSE I ALWAYS ASKING ABOUT THEIR LAS ASSISTANCE.
ALWAYS ASKING WHO'S MAINTAINING THE CULVERTS, WHO'S MAINTAINING THE DRAINAGE STITCHES, WHO'S MAINTAINING THE, UH, WHAT ARE THOSE LITTLE DRAINS CALLED? THE LITTLE TINY ONES.
MR. FRED, THE BIGGER CANALS AND THEN THE, UH, THE SMALLER ONES, RE RETENTION PONDS, THOSE, BUT ARE MAINLY MAINTAINED BY THE SUBDIVISIONS.
I'M ASKING ABOUT THE, UM, REGULAR, THE SMALLER ONES ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THAT, SO THERE'S A DEDICATED TEAM FOR THAT COMMISSION.
BUT WHAT I THINK MS. STEPHANIE'S TRYING TO YEAH.
TO ALLUDE TO IS THAT WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGETARY, THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY LISTED, UM, VERBATIM, UH, IN THAT BUDGET.
SO I WANTED THAT SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE IT'S A YEAR ROUND ISSUE.
NO, I MEAN, AND MR NO, LET ME, LET ME, LET ME SPEAK TO THAT.
UH, MAYOR PRO, I MEAN COMM I'M SORRY MAYOR, I'M SORRY.
NO, THAT, THAT, THAT'S A MANAGERIAL THING.
IT'S NOT, IT'S WE, WE, WE CHOSE NOT TO MAKE IT A DEPARTMENT.
'CAUSE WE'VE GOT TWO DIFFERENT BUDGETS.
UH, WE ARE GONNA BE RUNNING THAT MACHINE.
WE HAVE A DEDICATED TEAM FOR THAT.
WE ALSO HAVE THE COMPLIANCE SIDE, WHICH IS THE, WHICH IS A STORM WATER TECHNICIAN THAT'S GONNA KEEP US, UH, IN, IN LINE WITH TCQ, ALL THE, ALL THE REGULATORY AGENCIES THAT WE HAVE TO COMPLY WITH.
UH, SOME CITIES EVEN HAVE TO COMPLY WITH EPA RULES.
SO THERE'S A, THERE'S A BIGGER PIECE TO THIS.
UM, WE DO HAVE THE TEAM THAT WILL BE, THAT WILL BE DEDICATED TO THAT.
WE HAVE THE, THE, THE VACUUM TRUCK FOR IT AND, AND THE THREE PEOPLE.
SO, AND THAT WILL BE THEIR, THEIR PRIMARY FUNCTION.
I I THINK BY KEEPING IT THAT WAY, YOU'RE AVOIDING ANY EXCESS, UH, SUPERVISORY CAPACITY AND SALARIES AS WELL.
I THINK THAT WE DON'T TACKLE THE ISSUE THAT THE, THE INTENTION WAS FOR THAT DEPARTMENT.
SO WE, WE ADDED TWO HEADS TO OUR WATER DEPARTMENT.
PLUS THE, PLUS THE, UH, INSPECTOR WE CURRENTLY HAVE THAT MAKES A TEAM OF THREE ASSIGNED TO DO THE CLAIM OF THE DITCHES.
SO THEY WENT, I BELIEVE FROM UM, 14 TO 16 PEOPLE NOW ON THE WATER SIDE.
AND THEN WE WERE, WE WERE HAVING A STORM WATER PERSON.
AND THEN FROM THOSE TWO, ONE, IT'S DEDICATED TO BE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND THE OTHER ONE TO HELP THE OPERATION.
SO THAT'S, WE'LL SEE HOW IT WORKS OUT.
UM, WERE THERE ANY NEW DEPARTMENTS ADDED TO THE BUDGET? NOT NEW DEPARTMENTS? IT OR IT IT WAS AN EXISTING DEPARTMENT.
IT'S JUST THAT NOW IT'S GONNA HAVE EMPLOYEES.
WE USED TO HAVE ONLY PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR IT.
SO I CONTRACTED OUT IT DEPARTMENT.
WHAT CHANGED? IT'S NOW WE'RE DOING AN EMPLOYEE IT, INTERNAL EMPLOYEE.
HOW MANY? TWO, ACTUALLY HOW MANY EMPLOYEES ARE WE BUDGETING FOR? TWO.
SO ON THAT PAGE, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PAGE ONE 10.
FRED, YOUR DEPARTMENT DOUBLED.
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, I SKIPPED THAT ONE.
SO THAT GOES TO WHY WE NEED BEFORE WE START ON 1 0 7 A, WE DID, WE HAVE, DID WE NOT APPROVE A PAYROLL COMPENSATION PLAN? UM, NOT TOO LONG AGO WITH MR. MAYOR? SO YES.
THAT WORKS TWO YEARS, A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.
SO CAN I HAVE A A, A SCALE, A PAY SCALE TO EMPLOYEES AND DIRECTORS CORRECT.
[01:30:02]
TO HELP GUIDE US WITH CERTIFICATIONS? THEY WOULD GET STARTED AT A DIFFERENT PAY.ARE WE STILL USING THAT COMPENSATION PLAN AND DO WE HAVE TO WELL IT WAS, IT WAS AGREEING FOR THAT YEAR, FOR THAT BUDGET, THAT PAY SCALE.
SO THERE'S NO CURRENT PAY SCALE FOR THIS YEAR.
WE HAVE TO APPROVE ONE EVERY YEAR.
YOU WOULD HAVE TO, WELL, DEPENDS.
ONE BASED ON CERTIFICATIONS AND THEN THE DIRECTORS, HOW MUCH THE DIRECTOR CAN PAY BASED ON THE LEVEL OF EDUCATION.
AND THEN THAT'S THE ONE THAT GOT APPROVED FOR WITH THE DIRECTORS THAT WE HAD AT THAT TIME.
AND THEN WE DID ONE WHERE IT WAS LIKE A YEARLY WHEN INSTEAD OF INCREASING THE 3%, WE WERE DOING INCREMENTS OF LIKE, IT'LL RUN SIDEWAYS.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU RECALL IT WAS, IT WAS A LONG PIECE OF HOW ARE WE ABLE TO GET TO A COMPENSATION PLAN THAT PROVIDES SOME TYPE OF GUARDRAILS TO WHAT A POSITION CAN GET PAID.
THAT'S REALLY AN, UM, MORE OF A NATURE QUESTION ON HOW THAT CAN HR.
HR, HOW CAN THEY, IF Y'ALL DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE, THIS BECAUSE WE'RE OUTSIDE OF THIS IS WE'RE LOOKING AT, WE'RE OBVIOUSLY THAT EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN DONE, EVERYTHING IS CORRECT.
IF YOU ALMOST FEEL COMFORTABLE WHEN YOU CALLED FOR A WORKSHOP, WE HAD TWO WORKSHOPS MM-HMM
AND THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING GENERALLY WHEN YOU'RE AT THIS STAGE, YOU AT DONE IT.
HAVE, WHEN DOES THE BUDGET HAVE TO BE APPROVED? BY SEPTEMBER 5TH.
THAT'S OUR TENTATIVE DATE THAT WE HAD SET IT UP FOR BY STATE LAW REQUIREMENT.
WE HAD ONE MORE WORK SHOT, DIDN'T WE? YES.
WE, THE THIRD ONE WE, NO, WE HAD A TENTATIVE DATE IF Y'ALL WANTED TO PULL IT, BUT IT, IT WASN'T SET.
IT'S LIKE, IF, IF ANY COMES OUT AND WE WERE MAINLY DOING IT BECAUSE OF THE INSURANCE, WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT THE INSURANCE WAS GONNA BE.
SO IF THAT WAS THE CASE, I NEED TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE BUDGET.
BUT THIS ONE ITSELF SHOULD BE IT BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE TWO BUDGET WORKSHOP, WHICH IS WHAT WE NORMALLY HAVE.
I'M SORRY, I MISSED THE LAST ONE.
AND, AND I THINK I ASKED YOU GUYS IN THE LAST TIME HOW MANY WORKSHOPS WE'RE GONNA HAVE.
WE GOT, WELL WE GOT A THIRD ONE.
WELL, HERE WE ARE TO Y SO WE NEED THE WORKSHOP.
I DON'T, I BELIEVE SO THAT'S WAS THE EDC ONE PRESENT EDC BUDGET PRESENTED AT LAST WORKSHOP? NO.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME BEING PRESENTED.
BUT THERE'S ALSO, WHAT IF WE DON'T WANT TO APPROVE THE FIRST READING? THAT'S WHY I SAID THAT AFTER THE, WELL, THE FIRST READING YOU CAN ANYWAY, BUT IF YOU WANT ONE TIME, ALTHOUGH YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE, THIS IS THE FIRST READING.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO APPROVE IT HERE.
MAYOR THIRD, YOU DON'T HAVE ANOTHER WORKSHOP WHERE WE CAN ASK YES.
CAN YOU CAN ADD ANOTHER WORKSHOP.
BUT THIS FIRST READING GOES AS A FIRST READING.
YOU MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AND THEN IT GETS FIXED BY THE SECOND READING AND THAT'S WHEN YOU ADOPT.
SO THIS, IT'LL STILL COUNT IF WE MAKE A CHANGES.
AND I'LL UPDATE THE ORDINANCE AND THE BUDGET WILL GET UPDATED.
SO A BEFORE THE SECOND AND ADOPTION.
IT'S ALREADY CHANGED OF WHATEVER.
SO WE CAN HAVE THIS POWWOW AT THE WORKSHOP.
IF WE HAVE ANOTHER WORKSHOP YES.
UM, PAGE 1 0 7, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.
COMMUNICATIONS 300, 340 8,000.
AND THEN NOW WE'RE BUDGETING FOR ONLY ONE 40.
WHAT IS COMMUNICATIONS? WE EVERYTHING INTERNET, CELL PHONES.
UH, WE, IS IT BECAUSE WE SWITCHED THOSE? WELL WE SWITCHED TO T-MOBILE AND THEN WE ALSO MOVED FROM, OR A INTERNET PROVIDER.
WE DID A LOT OF CHANGES THERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU RECALL THAT COMPARISON.
AND THIS IS WHY WE ALWAYS SHOP THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.
LIKE I BECAME THE FINANCE DIRECTOR IN 2023.
THANK YOU FOR THE CUTTING OF 150,000 BUCKS.
ANOTHER CENT TO THE TAXPAYER
MAYOR, I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
UM, SORRY I MISSED THE LAST MEETING.
WHAT I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE FROM ALL THE DIRECTORS IS REALLY GET A HOLD OF YOUR BUDGET.
YOU GUYS HAVE, EACH DIRECTOR HAS, I DON'T KNOW, 20 PAGES.
AND I HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL THE DEPARTMENTS AND IF YOU'RE MISSING SOMETHING THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT NEEDS, THE MAYOR JUST SAID THAT WE WANT TO INVEST IN THE EMPLOYEES AND EVERYTHING AND WE DIDN'T CUT THE TAX RATE.
[01:35:03]
THEN YOU GUYS NEED TO ASK BECAUSE SOME DEPARTMENTS ARE ASKING FOR THINGS WHILE YOUR DEPARTMENT IS SHORT.SO, AND UH, I DID SEE CITY MANAGEMENT BEFORE WE LEAVE.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THAT WENT UP? THERE'S SOME ALSO SOME DEPARTMENTS.
LET ME GET THAT QUESTION FIRST.
OR MAYBE THE DIRECTOR SHOULD LET US KNOW WHY FREDDY CAR ALLOWANCE IS THE SAME.
SO BUT IT'S YOUR, THAT'S A STEPHANIE QUESTION.
SO YOURS STAYED THE SAME RIGHT BY CONTRACT? THAT'S CORRECT.
CAN'T CHANGE, BUT THERE'S 3, 4, 5 AND A HALF IN YOUR DEPARTMENT.
WHAT'S THE CAR ALLOWANCE? THEY CAN'T USE THE CITY VEHICLE.
THAT'S THE CAR ALLOWANCE ASSIGNED TO SOME OF THE CITY ADMINISTRATION EMPLOYEES.
A $32,000 INCREASE IN CAR ALLOWANCE? CORRECT.
AND WHY WASN'T IT REFLECTED IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET? BECAUSE IT WASN'T, IT WASN'T BUDGETED FOR BEFORE.
OH, IT, IT WAS ADDED AT THE TIME OF CHANGES IN.
SO NOW WE HAVE TO ACCOUNT IT FOR ANOTHER PENNY FOR THE TAXPAYER.
UM, SO WHEN THEY TELL ME THAT THERE'S NO MONEY, I CAN FIND A LOT OF MONEY REAL FAST HERE, BUT SOME, SOME AREAS I SEE FICA IN SOME DEPARTMENTS GOING DOWN.
WOULDN'T FICA GO UP BASED ON THEIR, OR ARE THEY LOSING EMPLOYEES? IT'S NO, IT'S CALCULATED ON THEIR, ON THEIR PAY.
SO SOME DEPARTMENTS ARE LOSING PAY OR LOSING EMPLOYEES? NO, IT SHOULDN'T IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT.
IT'S, IT'S LESS OR LOSING EMPLOYEES.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THERE WE'RE NOT LIKE A, LET'S SEE, WAS IT CODE ENFORCEMENT? CODE ENFORCEMENT HAD A LOT OF TRANSFERRING OF EMPLOYEES.
SO FROM CODE ENFORCEMENT TO PLANNING TO PLANNING CODE ENFORCEMENT.
SO IT MIGHT BE THAT THE EMPLOYEES WENT, IT WAS LESS EMPLOYEES NOW AND NOT MOVED TO PLANNING BECAUSE EVERYTHING WAS UNDER ONE UMBRELLA.
SO IT WAS MOVED AND TRANSFERRED.
AND THAT'S PROBABLY WHY YOU'RE SEEING THAT.
'CAUSE IT'S PER EMPLOYEE GETS CALCULATED ITSELF.
SO I DON'T, I DON'T MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE FCA.
STEPHANIE, ON ON THE IT SIDE, YOU ADDED A SALARY.
FOR AN IT THAT'S TO HAVE PERMANENT IT IN HOUSE, RIGHT? THAT'S TO HAVE A DIRECTOR OF IT AND AN ADMIN OF IT OR LIKE A CLERK.
IT SITUATION YOU HAD LAST YEAR THAT YOU BUDGETED FOR.
WE DIDN'T BUDGET FOR ANY IN-HOUSE.
WE BUDGET FOR A CONTRACTED OUT.
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU SPEND ON THAT OUTSOURCE? YOU OUTSOURCE HOW MUCH? UM, OR, OR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES? I BELIEVE IT W THERE WERE 88 THERE.
I THINK, UH, IF WE SET UP ANOTHER, UH, ANOTHER WORKSHOP AND WE'RE GONNA DO THAT, THEN I NEED, I NEED SOMEBODY.
SO IF WE DO THAT ONE MORE TIME, I EXPECT EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY TO BE HERE.
Y'ALL GET THE SAME BOOK? I DO.
I CAN'T ASK ALL THE QUESTIONS.
WELL, YOU'RE THE ONE ASKING, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S, WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE.
SO, BUT THEN, THEN WELL I THINK IT, IT WAS A LENGTHY, UH, BUDGET WORKSHOP AND LAST TIME I GOT THIS ONE TODAY.
BUT IT'S OUR OBLIGATION THOUGH TO ASK QUESTIONS BECAUSE, UM, MR. ERIC FLORES, YOUR PARTNER, CAME AND DID A WORKSHOP WITH US AND TOLD US THAT WE ULTIMATELY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS BUDGET.
IT'S NOT FRED, IT'S WHEN THE TAXPAYERS COME, IT'S US.
SO I WELCOME QUESTIONS AND I'M PRETTY SURE SODA IS OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WE NEED TO ASK QUESTIONS AND LET'S GET A WORKSHOP.
WHAT'S THE DATE? WE HAVE IT SET ALREADY? WE, WE HAVE IT SET A DATE? UM, I'M NOT SURE.
NO, THE, THE, THE WORKSHOP THAT WE SET UP WAS A STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHOP.
WE'VE GOT SOME LATITUDE THERE.
I THINK WE CAN TALK ABOUT, MAYBE TALK ABOUT BUDGET.
I'D HAVE TO GET WITH LEGAL ON THAT.
YEAH, YOU CAN, WE CAN CHANGE THAT.
WE CAN HOLD THAT ONE OFF AND HAVE ONE.
WE CAN, UM, I MEAN IF, WELL WE CAN STILL MORE MAYOR IF I MAY.
WE'RE STILL WITHIN THE ALLOTTED, UH, TIME.
YOU CAN DO IT BEFORE AND YOU COULD DO IT BEFORE AND HAVE IT JUST A SEPARATE MEETING.
WE HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING ON THE 25TH.
[01:40:05]
WE, WELL, IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE A WORKSHOP FOR THIS, THEN WE DON'T NE WELL WE DO NEED THAT MEETING.UM, AND YOU COULD ALWAYS DO THE MEETING AND THE WORKSHOP OR WORKSHOP THE MEETING, THE MEETINGS.
TWO ITEMS. ONE OF THEM IS TO COMPLY WITH THE T-D-T-W-D-B DEADLINE FOR SOME DEBT.
SO FOR SOME, FOR SOME, UH, PROJECTS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET FUNDED AND WE, WE GOT, WE GOT PUSHED UP AGAINST, UH, THE 26TH.
SO WE HAVE TO GET THAT ONE APPROVED.
UH, THE OTHER ONE WAS JUST TO APPROVE THE EDC BUDGET THAT I'M TAKING TO THE EDC ON THURSDAY.
SO WE COULD DO IT IN BETWEEN THERE OR YOU COULD DO IT AT THAT SAME MEETING? POSSIBLY.
BUT WE'VE ALREADY POSTED THOUGH, RIGHT? RUTH? FOR THE 25TH.
AND THAT ONE I DON'T THINK WE CAN MEET.
WE COULD STILL, YOU CAN JUST CALL ANOTHER SPECIAL MEETING FOR THE, BEFORE YOU COULD STILL AMENDING THE 25TH.
WE, NOVEMBER, SEPTEMBER THE FIRST, THE NOTICE DEADLINES CHANGE.
UM, WITH THE POSTING MARYA, WAS THIS CORRECT? WITH THAT? IT'LL BE 72 BUSINESS DAYS.
SO THE CALCULATION DOES CHANGE.
WE HAD SET IT FOR THE AUGUST 13 IF NEEDED.
SO IT WOULD'VE HAD TO BEEN, UM, THIS PAST WEEK THAT THE THIRD ONE, THE TENTATIVE DAY IF NEEDED.
HE NEEDED TO HAVE HAPPEN LAST WEEK BASED ON MY CALENDAR.
BUT AGAIN, YOU, YOU COULD STILL HAVE IT, BUT AS THAT WAS JUST THE DAY THAT I HAD PROPOSED FOR A THIRD ONE WHEN THAT WAY IT'LL GIMME TIME TO PRINT OUT THIS.
UM, HOWEVER, IF YOU ALL ACCEPT A DIGITAL COPY, IT WOULD MAKE MY LIFE EASIER WITHOUT THIS BOOKLETS.
I AM ALWAYS GOOD WITH THE PDF MAKES YOUR LIFE EASIER.
WE'RE OKAY FOR WHAT DATE DO WE HAVE TO SET A DATE? ACTUALLY I WOULD LIKE TO, CAN'T WE DO THAT FOR WHAT? MAKE SURE SET UP A BUDGET WORKSHOP NOW IT BE THE 25TH.
THAT'S THE 25TH, RIGHT? NO, YEAH.
ALL YOU NEED IS STILL 72 HOURS.
I COULD DO, I'M OKAY FOR MONDAY RIGHT AFTER THAT MEETING.
WE ONLY HAVE TWO ITEMS ON THAT.
SHOULDN'T TAKE MORE THAN 30 MINUTES UNLESS A COMMISSIONER HAS A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS.
WE FIND MONDAY AT SIX WAS A WORKSHOP MONDAY AT SIX.
JUST AMEND THE CURRENT MEETING THAT WE HAVE.
WE STILL HAVE TIME TO AMEND THE, WE STILL, WE STILL HAVE TIME TO AMEND THE AGENDA FOR THAT MEETING.
SO JUST, WELL, WE, WE WOULDN'T NECESSARILY AMEND FOR THAT MEETING, UH, BECAUSE IT'S NOT THAT'S A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING THE AMENDMENT WAS ONLY FOR THAT OTHER WORKSHOP THAT MR. AL WAS TALKING ABOUT ON THE 28TH.
SO THIS, THIS WILL JUST BE AN ADDITIONAL POSTING, MARY.
SO WE GOT THE, THE 25TH, WE GOT TWO MEETINGS.
TIME IS, UH, SEVEN 16 ADJOURN.