[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:06]
NOW, THIS IS A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF SEC, UH, CITY COMMISSION.I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYBODY.
ITEM NUMBER TWO IS GONNA BE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE US FLAG AND TEXAS FLAG.
AND PLEASE REMAIN STAND FOR THE INVOCATION BY MAYOR POT TIM GOODMAN.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES NUMBER AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC, WHICH, WHICH STANDARD ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL UNDER TEXAS FLAG.
I PLEDGE ALLEG TO TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE INDIVIDUAL, OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.
WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL TO BE GATHERED HERE THIS EVENING.
AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE AS A FREE COUNTRY RE NATION TO WORK WITH AMONGST OURSELVES TO BETTER OURSELVES AND TO IMPROVE THE LIVES.
AND WE PRAY THAT OUR HEARTS AND MINDS WILL BE ALWAYS TOWARDS THOSE THAT ARE IN NEED AND THAT MAY BENEFIT FROM THOSE THINGS WHICH WE DO.
AND, AND ALSO FOR THE, THE, THE BENEFITS OF OUR, OUR NEIGHBORS AND LOVED ONES AS WELL.
WE SEEK THY WISDOM AND GUIDANCE INTO COUNCIL, ALWAYS, THAT WE MIGHT BE ACTING IN, IN RIGHTEOUS MANNERS AND, AND WAYS THAT WILL LEND OUR HEARTS TO THEE.
WE PRAY TO THE CONTINUALLY IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.
[ANNOUNCEMENT(S)]
ONE IS GONNA BE ANNOUNCEMENTS.UM, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND READ OUR ANNOUNCEMENTS AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO THEIR CERTIFICATES, UH, AWARDS TO THEIR CHAMBER MEMBERS.
UH, WE HAVE AWARD CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION TO MEMBERS WHO PREVIOUSLY SERVED ON THE SAN BENITO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
MARKET DAYS ON HISTORIC ROBERTSON STREET FROM 9:00 AM TO 2:00 PM ON FEBRUARY 20TH, 2026.
FRANK ROBERTS ELEMENTARY WALKING SCHOOL BUS.
YOU WILL MEET AT 7:00 AM AT THE PARKING AREA ALONG FREDDIE FENDER LANE, AND WALK TO THE SCHOOL SAFELY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SAN BENITO, CISD, FEBRUARY 26TH THROUGH MARCH 1ST, 2020 SIXTH, THE SODA SOUTH TEXAS CARNIVAL AND CONCERTS AT SAN BENITO FAIRGROUNDS 15 0 1 CAESAR GONZALEZ.
AND THIS IS FOR FOUR DAYS OF FAMILY, FUN, LIVE MUSIC, AND CARNIVAL EXCITEMENT.
AND IT IS A FREE EVENT MARCH 14TH, 2026.
AND COOKOFF TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT EVEN BRIGHT TODAY.
AND GENERAL ADMISSION STARTS AT $10 AT THIS TIME.
UM, HERE, GO AHEAD AND DO THE CERTIFICATES.
AND THE FIRST ONE, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE, I'M GONNA SAY EACH OF Y'ALL INDIVIDUALLY, BUT COME UP AS I SAY YOUR NAME.
WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO, TO RECOGNIZE AND SINCERELY THANK SAM PATEL FOR HIS LEADERSHIP, DEDICATION, AND SERVICE.
AS EXECUTIVE VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE SAN BENITO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AS A RESPECTIVE BUSINESS OWNER AND LEADER IN OUR COMMUNITY, SAM BROUGHT INVALUABLE INSIGHT, EXPERIENCE, AND VISION TO THE CHAMBER.
HIS DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF BUSINESS, STRATEGIC IN MIND, AND THOUGHTFUL GUIDANCE PLAYED AN A PART ROLE IN SUPPORTING GROWTH AND DECISION MAKING WITHIN THE CHAMBER.
THE NEXT PERSON I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE IS, LEMME GO TO IT, MS. LINDA, LINDA DELAROSA.
WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO HONOR AND SINCERELY THANK LINDA DELAROSA.
FOR THE MANY YEARS SHE HAS DEVOTED TO THE SAN BENITO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AS LINDA'S TERM, AS EXECUTIVE SECRETARY COMES TO A CLOSE, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE COUNTLESS WAYS SHE HAS SUPPORTED THE CHAMBER.
OVER THE YEARS, HER DEDICATION, EXPERIENCE, AND GENERAL CARE FOR SAN BENITO HAVE LEFT A LASTING IMPRESSION ON ALL WHO HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING ALONGSIDE HER.
WE WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPRESS OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO TONY CRANE, NOT JUST AS OUR LONG SERVING CHAIRMAN, BUT AS ONE OF THE FOUNDING LEADERS WHO HELPED SHAPE THE SANTO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND TO WHAT IT IS TODAY.
FOR YEARS, TONY HAS POURED HER HEART VISION AND TIRELESS EFFORT INTO THE ORGANIZATION AND THIS COMMUNITY.
AS A FOUNDING BOARD MEMBER AND NEARLY NINE YEAR CHAIR OF THE BOARD, SHE HAS PLAYED AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN GROWING THE CHAMBER AND CREATING TRADITIONS THAT BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
FROM CASINO NIGHT TO THE RASAKA CITY BIKE TOUR AND ELSA BOARD, THE SANTO, THESE EVENTS HAVE BECOME BELOVED COMMUNITY STAPLES BECAUSE OF HER LEADERSHIP, PASSION, AND COMMITMENT.
[00:05:26]
JUST CENTER IT OUT.EVERYBODY READY? WE DO THIS ONE FIRST AND THEN EVERYBODY ELSE CAN TAKE THOSE.
[PUBLIC COMMENTS]
NEXT ONE'S GONNA BE, UH, PUBLIC COMMENTS.RUTH, ANYBODY FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS? YES, WE HAVE, UM, EDDIE LOA.
MR. LO, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
I'M, UH, WRITING ONCE AGAIN TO RAISE CONCERNS REGARDING THE EASEMENT ALONG CHARLES BARBER ROAD, AS WELL AS THE FAIR AND CONSISTENT ENFORCEMENT OF CITY CODES.
MY NEIGHBOR, UH, DOLORES RAMIREZ, THAT'S MY GOOD NEIGHBOR, RECENTLY CONTACTED ME TO SHARE THAT AN ELECTRICAL COMPANY INTENDS TO REPLACE LIGHT POLES LOCATED AT, AT THE BACK OF HER PROPERTY.
HOWEVER, THE COMPANY PROPOSED ASSESSING THE WORK AREA THROUGH THE FRONT OF HER PROPERTY, WHICH WOULD POTENTIALLY DAMAGE HER CONCRETE DRIVEWAY.
MRS. RAMIREZ INFORMED ME THAT SHE DISCUSSED THE ISSUE WITH MR. FRED SANDAL, WHO ALLEGEDLY STATED THAT THE EASEMENT WAS NEVER RECORDED.
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS CONCLUSION COULD BE REACHED AS ALL SEVEN RESIDENTS WHO LIVE ALONG CHARLES BARBER ROAD HAVE THE SAME EASEMENT CLEARLY RECORDED IN OUR DEEDS.
ADDITIONALLY, THIS EASEMENT IS OFFICIALLY DOCUMENTED AND RECORDED WITH THE CAMERON COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE.
IT EXISTS IN BLACK AND WHITE AND IS VALID, SHOULD NOT BE IN QUESTION, I WOULD ASK.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO EXPRESS CONCERN REGARDING FAIRNESS AND EQUAL ENFORCEMENT OF THE CITY CODES.
MY NEIGHBOR, RAMIRO PINA, RAISED HIS FENCE OF APPROXIMATELY TWO FEET AND BROUGHT IT IN SEVERAL TRUCKLOADS OF DIRT INTO HIS PROPERTY, WHICH RESULTED REPEATEDLY FLOODING ISSUES IN MY PROPERTY.
HE WAS EVENTUALLY CITED AFTER MR. EDWARD ENRIQUE ASSUMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT MR. ENRIQUE HAS BEEN FAIR, PROFESSIONAL, AND CONSISTENT IN DOING HIS JOB.
I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM ELIDA MENDOZA, CODE ENFORCEMENT STATING THAT MR. PINA IS STILL PENDING A DRAINAGE CITATION IN THE MUNICIPAL COURT.
HOWEVER, I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE CITATION RELATED TO RAISING HIS FENCE WAS DISMISSED BY THE CITY PROSECUTOR, WHICH THE FENCE DEEMED COMPLAINT COMPLIANT, SORRY, AFTER THE DIRT HAD ALREADY BEEN ADDED TO HIS PROPERTY.
MY CONCERN IS HOW THE PENDING DRAINAGE CITATION WILL BE HANDLED.
I HAVE FOLLOWED UP WITH MR. ENRIQUE, WHO CONFIRMED ME THAT HE HAS DONE HIS DUTY BY ISSUING THIS CITATION, AND THAT THE OUTCOME NOW RESTS WITH THE COURT OR PROSECUTOR BASED ON PRIOR ACTIONS.
I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS CITATION MAY ALSO BE DISMISSED BEFORE IT IS EVER REVIEWED BY A JUDGE.
I'LL HAVE TO LOOK INTO WHO IS THE CITY OF SANTO PROSECUTOR.
I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT THE MAYOR GUERRA SHARED WITH ME AT ONE POINT THAT SOMEBODY IN THE COMMISSION STATED MR. PINA HAD THREATENED LEGAL ACTION.
AS A RESULT, THE CITY WAS ADVISED TO LEAVE HIM ALONE.
I RESPECTFULLY ASKED THE CITY NOT TO INFLUENCE BY THREATS OF LAWSUITS OUR RESIDENTS
[00:10:01]
OF SANTO DESERVED THAT WE RETREATED EQUALLY.MY NAME IS EDITH TAMEZ AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF FURRY FRIENDS RGV.
AND I JUST CAME, UH, TO MAKE A COMMENT, UH, TO THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER.
AND THANK YOU FOR, UH, FOR COORDINATING WITH THE RGV HUMANE SOCIETY AND DOING OVER A HUNDRED SPAY AND NEUT FOR RESIDENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAD BEEN ANTICIPATING AND ASKING FOR FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS TO CONTINUE FOR MANY MONTHS AND MANY YEARS TO COME UNTIL WE CAN GET A GRASP ON THIS PROBLEM.
AND HOPEFULLY IN THE, YOU KNOW, IN THE SOON FUTURE IT WILL NO LONGER BE A PROBLEM.
BUT WE GREATLY APPRECIATE, UM, THIS SERVICE TO OUR CITIZENS AND TO THESE PETS, THESE, UH, CATS AND DOGS.
THEY WILL NO LONGER BE HAVING UNWANTED LITTERS.
AND THERE THEY'LL BE, THE SUFFERING WILL BE LESSENED.
AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
THIS IS A, A GREAT MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
HI, MY NAME IS ESTHER RIVERA HERNANDEZ.
I'M A MOTHER OF FOUR, GRANDMOTHER OF 19 AND GREAT-GRANDMOTHER OF EIGHT.
ALL MY KIDS, GRANDKIDS AND GREAT-GRANDKIDS HAVE BEEN ENJOYING THE BASEBALL SOFTBALL LEAGUE.
AND IT HURTS ME TO SEE THE BASEBALL FIELDS EMPTY SINCE THE CITY TOOK IT OVER.
THERE'S BEEN, I KNOW THEY HAD SOMETHING LAST YEAR, BUT IT WAS NOT ENOUGH.
AND THIS YEAR I'VE BEEN ASKING WHEN ARE WE GONNA HAVE BRING BASEBALL BACK IF I HATE TO HAVE TO GO TO HARLINGEN, WHICH MOST OF THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DOING.
AND I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT ANYMORE.
WE HAVE A FIELD, WE HAVE MORE THAN ONE FIELD.
WE HAVE SEVERAL FIELDS, AND I THINK WE NEED TO PUT 'EM TO USE.
MR. RODRIGUEZ, THANK, THANK YOU.
UH, I JUST WANNA MAKE A FEW COMMENTS HERE.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK THE PERSON THAT TURNED THE AIR CONDITIONING OFF 'CAUSE IT'S SO COLD IN HERE EVERY TIME.
UH, MY SECOND COMMENT IS GONNA BE A RECOGNITION, PUBLIC RECOGNITION.
I WANNA THANK, UH, JB FOR ADDRESSING A PROBLEM THAT A RESIDENT HAD REGARDING, UH, HER WATER METER.
AND WITH THE APPROACHING FREEZE, WE WERE KIND OF SCARED THAT HER PIPES WERE GONNA BE BECAUSE THEY WERE EXPOSED.
WE WERE AFRAID THEY WERE GONNA FREEZE.
SO JB CAME OUT WITH HIS CREW AND THEY TOOK CARE OF IT WITHIN, I WOULD SAY, 24 HOURS.
SO I WANNA THANK JB AND HIM AND HIS CREW.
MY SECOND RECOGNITION IS FOR, UH, AS YOU ALL KNOW, FOR SOME OF YOU PROBABLY KNOW, I'M THE RESIDENT WHO TAKES CARE OF ALL THE LIGHTS THAT GO OFF AT THE PARK.
I GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT.
SO I TOOK IT UPON MYSELF TO NOTIFY THE CITY.
UH, I WANNA RECOGNIZE, UH, NORMA BEEZ.
SHE'S THE ONE THAT, UH, WHENEVER I SEND HER AN EMAIL OR SHE TAKES CARE OF IT RIGHT AWAY.
SO SOMETIMES A EP GETS BUSY AND THEY JUST NEED A REMINDER THAT, HEY, WE'RE HERE TOO.
SO SHE MAKES SURE THAT THEY COME OUT.
SO I WANNA THANK THOSE PEOPLE AND THANK YOU.
[PRESENTATION(S)]
PRESENTATION OF, UH, CITY MANAGERS.UH, COMMISSIONERS, A FEW REPORTS FOR YOU TODAY.
[00:15:01]
UH, LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS WE HAD THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES HERE, THE COMPUTE, THE CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION.THEY WERE, UH, INSPECTING OUR WATER PLANT, OUR WASTEWATER PLANT.
LIKE TO SAY THAT, UH, THE STAFF DID A REALLY GOOD JOB.
NO DEFICIENCIES WERE NOTED AND WE PASSED WITH FLYING COLORS.
SO, UM, IT'S ONE OF THE FIRST ONES WE'VE GOTTEN.
SO I THINK IT'S A NEW STATE INITIATIVE.
BUT, UM, I WANNA THANK THE STAFF WASTEWATER PLANT, WATER PLANT STAFF.
UH, THE OTHER THING, UH, THAT CAME, THAT CAME ACROSS MY DESK LAST WEEK, LATE LAST WEEK, WAS, UH, THE OFFICE OF, OF CONGRESSMAN VICENTE GONZALEZ, UH, INFORMED US THAT, UH, OUR CONGRESSIONAL EARMARKED, THE SECOND PART OF IT HAD COME IN.
SO, UH, IF Y'ALL RECALL, WE HAD, WE HAD PUT IN, PRIOR TO ME BEING HERE, I THINK A CONGRESSIONAL EARMARK BACK IN, I GUESS LATE 23 OR EARLY, I GUESS IT WAS 23, UH, FOR A GROUND STORAGE TANK AND A SCADA SYSTEM.
SO THE SCADA SYSTEM GOT AWARDED, IT KIND OF BROKE IT UP INTO TWO PIECES, TWO DIFFERENT FUNDING, UH, MECHANISMS THERE.
UH, ONE IS THROUGH EPA AND THEIR, AND THEIR WATER, THEIR WATER, UH, THEIR WATER FUNDS.
AND THEN THE OTHER ONE'S THROUGH DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR.
WE DID GET THE SECOND HALF OF THAT.
THAT'S THE WATER PLANT ROUND STORAGE TANK AT WATER PLANT NUMBER TWO.
UH, AND THAT'S FROM, UH, YOU KNOW, FROM HIS EFFORTS.
SO I WANT TO THANK THE CONGRESSMAN.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING AND WITH WHAT'S GOING ON THESE DAYS, FOR HIM TO GET US ALMOST $2 MILLION FOR THESE PROJECTS IS PRETTY, PRETTY ASTOUNDING.
SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE RECOGNIZE THAT.
AND WE'LL HAVE A, AN OFFICIAL CEREMONY ON THAT HERE IN THE NEXT COMING WEEKS, AND WE'LL BE IN TOUCH WITH Y'ALL ON IT.
UM, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, UH, OUR GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS AWARD, UH, OUR SAN BENITO, OUR OWN SAN BENITO FINANCE DEPARTMENT, UH, GOT THEIR CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE AND FINANCIAL REPORTING.
SO STEPHANIE ZULEMA, ALL THE STAFF.
I MEAN, THIS IS FIFTH YEAR IN A ROW, THEY GET THIS RECOGNITION.
I HAVE THIS IN MY OFFICE, BUT I'M MISSING, I'M, I ONLY HAVE 2022, SO YOU OWE ME 23, 24, 25.
BUT THAT'S, THAT'S ONE PROBLEM TO HAVE.
THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THERE'S 10 MORE LEFT, SO NO PRESSURE.
RIGHT? BUT I WANNA RECOGNIZE STEPHANIE AND, AND ZULEMA, AS Y'ALL REMEMBER, AS Y'ALL RECALL, STEPHANIE'S BEEN OUT, SHE WAS, UH, ON MATERNITY LEAVE.
UH, SHE'S BACK IN FULL FORCE LAST WEEK.
SO I WANT TO WEL, I WANT TO THANK HER, HER STAFF ZULEMA WHILE, WHILE SHE WAS GONE.
EVERYBODY THAT PUT ALL THE EFFORT IN TO MAKE THIS THING HAPPEN.
UH, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL.
WE WANT TO WANT TO RECOGNIZE Y'ALL AT THIS POINT.
SO, UH, WE'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION.
I WANT TO, WELL, I WANT HEAR YOUR SIDE OF IT.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO STAY UP HERE BECAUSE I GOT THAT.
WE ACTUALLY
THAT WAY THEY CAN ALL HOLD THIS.
BREAK UP THE TEAM RIGHT THERE.
WE NEED 3 3, 3 ROWS EACH OTHER.
FIVE, TWO AND UNDER IN THE FRONT.
SEE THIS ON THE SCREEN BACK THERE? THAT'S GOOD.
I SEE JERRY CAN'T MAKE FINGERS.
[00:20:01]
IN THERE.WE CAN HAVE WHAT I HAVE TO WAIT FOR.
YEAH, WE GOT ONE FOR YOU AND ONE FOR CERTIFICATE.
LADIES KNOW WHAT TWO PLUS TWO IS, RIGHT? THAT'S FINE.
I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE SOMEONE THAT'S IN THE AUDIENCE.
UM, AND SHE'S PROBABLY GONNA KILL ME FOR THIS, BUT, BUT SHE'S OKAY.
UH, IF Y'ALL EARLIER IN PUBLIC COMMENTS, THEY MENTIONED OUR, UH, SPAY AND NEUTER CLINIC THAT WE BUDGETED FOR THIS SUMMER AND ACTUALLY PUT INTO EFFECT HERE LAST FEW MONTHS, UH, AND REALLY GOT IT ALL DONE.
BUT I WANNA RECOGNIZE SOMEBODY THAT REALLY WAS THE, REALLY, THE ONE SPEARHEADING THE WHOLE THING.
YOU KNOW, WALKED AROUND, TALKED TO FOLKS, KNOCKED ON DOORS, YOU KNOW, REALLY DID A LOT OF OUTREACH FOR THIS.
AND, AND SHE WAS AN INVALUABLE ASSET AND A RESOURCE FOR ALL OF THIS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING TO RIGHT NOW.
SO, I WANNA RECOGNIZE MS. LILY AND KIM, AND IF SHE COULD COME UP REAL QUICK SO WE COULD JUST, YOU COULD GIVE US A LITTLE RECAP OF WHAT YOU DID FOR US.
SO LET ME PUT MY GLASSES ON FOR A SECOND.
HONORABLE MAYOR DEGA GTA COMMISSIONERS AND CITY MANAGER FRED ALVA.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
MY NAME IS DIAN KIM, AND I AM A BOARD MEMBER WITH THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY.
I WANNA BEGIN WITH THE MEMORY THAT HAS STAYED WITH ME FOR MANY YEARS, FOR 40 YEARS.
UM, IN 1983 IN WOODFORD STREET, I WITNESSED A FAMILY BREEDING PIT BULLS TO FIGHT.
I WAS YOUNG, BUT I WILL NEVER FORGET THE CRUELTY AND THE SUFFERING I SAW.
IT TAUGHT ME THAT IF WE WANT A DIFFERENT FUTURE, WE CANNOT LOOK AWAY.
WE MUST BUILD BETTER SYSTEMS, BETTER ACCESS, AND BETTER SOLUTIONS.
AND NOW LET ME TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED ON THE SAME STREET IN 2026, WE MICRO CHIPPED A MALE PIT BULL, THE SAME BREED I SAW ABUSED DECADES AGO.
WE PICKED HIM UP EARLY FOR SURGERY AND BROUGHT HIM HOME THAT EVENING, AND WE PULLED UP HIS ENTIRE FAMILY CAME OUTSIDE TO GREET HIM.
THEY WERE SMILING, RELIEVED, EXCITED, AND PROUD OF THEIR PIT BULL PITBULL BOY FOR GETTING NEUTERED AND COMING HOME SAFE.
THEIR LOVE FOR THAT DOG WAS UNDENIABLE.
ONE DAY, SAME STREET, SAME BREED, A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STORY.
I'M NOT SAYING NEGLECT DOESN'T EXIST, BUT WHAT I CAN SAY, BECAUSE I KNOCKED ON MORE THAN A HUNDRED DOORS WITH MY TEAM, IS THIS.
WHEN WE OFFERED FREE SERVICES, WHEN WE OFFERED FREE MICROCHIPS, WHEN WE OFFERED FREE TRANSPORTATION, WHEN WE REMOVED EVERY BARRIER, PEOPLE SAID, YES, PEOPLE WELCOMED US, PEOPLE CARED.
THERE ARE FAR MORE CARING PEOPLE THAN UNCARING ONES.
THIS PROGRAM WAS UNLIKE ANYTHING DONE BEFORE IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY.
OUR TEAM WENT DOOR TO DOOR WITH THE HELP OF YOUR LOCAL ADVOCATES FOR YOUR FRIENDS, WEEKDAYS AND WEEKENDS.
NO ONLINE FORMS, NO INCOME VERIFICATION, NO VOUCHERS TO PICK UP.
WE MET FAMILIES WHERE THEY WERE, WE RECEIVED ONLY ONE NO OVER A HUNDRED HOMES.
AND THAT NOTE CAME FROM A GENTLEMAN WHOSE PET WAS HEALTHY, WELL, KE KELP FOR, AND CLEARLY LOVED AND BEHIND A, UH, SAFE FENCE.
THEY NEEDED RESOURCES, THEY NEEDED AFFORDABILITY, THEY NEEDED ACCESS.
AND MANY SIMPLY NEEDED AN APPOINTMENT, SOMETHING NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IN OUR REGION.
PEOPLE WANNA DO THE RIGHT THING.
THEY JUST NEED A SYSTEM THAT LETS THEM BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP.
SANTO, WE SPAY NEUTERED 105, 104 ANIMALS IN JANUARY.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM CHARGE $0 ON YOUR BEHALF.
YOU PAID FOR THAT FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS, PROVIDED TRANSPORTATION ACHIEVED A 99% YES.
GENERATIONAL 80 DOGS, SPAYED AND NEUTER PREVENTED 960 DOGS FROM BEING BORN THIS YEAR ALONE.
24 CATS, SPAY AND NEUTER PREVENTED 432 CATS FROM BEING BORN THIS YEAR ALONE.
MULTIPLY THAT BY THE YEARS TO COME, AND THE LITTERS THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN.
AND SEE HOW A CITY CHANGES ITS FUTURE.
SANTO COMMITTED TO 250 SURGERIES AND WILL COMPLETE THE REMAINING SURGERIES IN MARCH.
THIS IS WHAT REAL INVESTMENT IN COMMUNITY WELLBEING
[00:25:01]
LOOKS LIKE.SANTO, YOU ARE THE EXAMPLE FOR THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY ON BEHALF OF THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY.
THANK YOU MAYOR RICARDO GURA, THE CITY COMMISSIONERS, CITY MANAGER, FRED ALVA, CHIEF OF POLICE, PERE, SUPERVISOR OF ANIMAL CONTROL.
ABRAHAM AND FERRY FRIENDS, ADVOCATES.
YOUR LEADERSHIP HAS SET NEW STANDARDS FOR THE RIO GRAND VALLEY.
WHEN THE CITY TRULY COMMITS TO CHANGE, CHANGE HAPPENS.
I JUST WANNA MAKE A QUICK COMMENT.
I, I APPRECIATE, UM, COMMISSIONERS HERE, UH, GALVAN AND MORALES WHO HELPED MOVE, MOVE THAT PROGRAM FORWARD.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO YOU GUYS FOR HOPEFULLY WE CAN KEEP IT GOING SOMEHOW, YOU KNOW, WE'LL DO OUR BEST.
[CONSENT AGENDA ITEM(S)]
AGENDA.READY, CONSENT, AGENDA, MAYOR, WE'VE GOT, UH, CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS ONE THROUGH FIVE.
UM, THOSE ITEMS CAN BE TAKEN ALL WITH ONE MOTION OR WE CAN TAKE 'EM OUT IF YOU'D LIKE INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION, BUT THEY'RE JUST, UH, SECOND READINGS FOR MOST OF 'EM AND THE MINUTES APPROVAL, SO, OKAY.
REALLY, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.
DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR ONE THROUGH FIVE FOR IN THE CONSENT AGENDAS? MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS ONE THROUGH FIVE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I GOT A MOTION BY MAYOR TIM GOODMAN.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MORALES.
ANY NAYS? MOTION PASSES ONE THROUGH FIVE.
AND WE'RE OFF ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL,
[1. First Reading of Ordinance Number 2593-C-02-2026, an ordinance amending Ordinance Number 2583-B-09-2022 and all ordinances in conflict therewith, and providing for a change in the number of budgeted and authorized positions at the rank of patrol officer for the San Benito Police Department, and providing for an effective date.]
UH, CONSIDERATION.UH, FIRST READING, ORDINANCE NUMBER 2 5 9 3 DASH C DASH ZERO TWO DASH 2026.
ORDINANCE AMENDING, ORDINANCE NUMBER 25 83 B OH 9 20 22.
AND ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT THEREWITH AND PROVIDING A FOR A CHANGE IN THE NUMBER OF BUDGETED AND AUTHORIZED POSITIONS AT THE RANK OF PATROL OFFICER FOR THE SAN BETO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND PROVIDE HIM FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MAYOR COMMISSION, UH, CHIEF'S HERE TO EXPLAIN IT, CHIEF, BUT IT IS IN FULFILLMENT OF A GRANT, I THINK THAT HE GOT.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COMMISSION FOR THE RECORD.
SO THESE TWO ADDITIONAL POSITIONS ARE GONNA BE FUNDED THROUGH THE COPS HIRING GRANT, WHICH WE WERE AWARDED IN, UH, JANUARY, I BELIEVE.
SO 75% OF THEIR SALARY REVEAL WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH THAT GRANT.
I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
CHIEF, THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO FIND THE MONEY.
CHIEF, WHEN IT SAYS PATROL, IT SAYS PATROL OFFICER, RIGHT? MM-HMM
THAT IS, DOES THAT MEAN THAT THOSE ARE ALL ON THE FIELD? THAT MEANS THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO INCREASE THE, THE PATROL STAFF, THE PATROL SECTION, BUT ALSO, UH, INCREASE OUR TRAFFIC DIVISION AS WELL AS OUR NARCOTICS.
AND THEN, UH, WE NEED TO, UH, MOVE SOME PEOPLE INTO OUR CID DIVISION ALSO.
AND DETECTIVE, RIGHT? YES, SIR.
SO THAT PATROL OFFICERS IS JUST A LABEL? YES, SIR.
BUT IT, IT INCLUDES ALL OF THESE, CORRECT, SIR? YEAH.
UM, ALSO, CHIEF, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR, UM, I KNOW THERE WAS AN INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED AT ONE OF OUR BUSINESSES THAT THREE PEOPLE GOT ARRESTED ON, AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FORWARD IN OUR FUTURE GROWTH, THAT OUR CITY'S GONNA NEED MORE OFFICERS ON PATROL, MORE DETECTIVES AS WE, AS WE GROW.
SO THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AHEAD.
OKAY, COMMISSIONER, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO.
I GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MR. OH, IT'S THE FIRST READING.
[2. First Reading of Ordinance Number 2636 Creating the Rio Grande Valley Public Utility Agency; Approving Bylaws; Providing for Purposes, Powers, and Governance; Appointing Initial Directors; Establishing an Effective Date; and Addressing Related Matters.]
FIRST READING ON NUMBER TWO.THAT'S, UH, FIRST READING OF ORDERS NUMBER 26 36, CREATING THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY PUBLIC UTILITY AGENCY.
AGENCY AUTHORITY APPROVING BYLAWS, PROVIDING FOR PURPOSE, POWERS AND GOVERNANCE, APPOINTING INITIAL DIRECTORS ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND ADDRESSING RELATED MATTERS.
UM, WE, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS AS KIND OF A UNIFIED FRONT THAT WE'RE GONNA BE SHOWN WITH, UH, SEVERAL OTHER VALLEY CITIES.
THIS IS THE FIRST READING OF IT.
UM, STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
I KNOW THE MAYOR AND THE MAYOR PRO TEM ATTENDED ONE OF OUR, THE MOST RECENT MEETING, UH, OF ALL THE OTHER MAYORS THAT ARE INVOLVED.
THIS IS, UH, TRULY A REGIONAL EFFORT.
UH, WE'RE AT THE GROUND FLOOR OF THIS AND IT LOOKS LIKE, UH, IT COULD, IT COULD BEAR FRUIT IN THE FUTURE TO PROVIDE, UH, NOT ONLY US, BUT UH, OTHER CITIES IN SOUTH TEXAS.
UH, ALTERNATE SOURCES OF WATER AND SOURCES OF WATER.
BUT ALONG WITH THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT TYPE OF
[00:30:01]
PROSPERITY.SO STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND GOING FORWARD WITH IT.
AND AGAIN, IT'S THE FIRST READING.
DO YOU WANNA HEAR FROM HIM? UH, I DON'T KNOW.
MAYOR COMMISSIONERS, PLEASURE TO BE HERE THIS EVENING.
AS YOU KNOW, UM, THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE GROUND FLOOR FOR THE PUBLIC UTILITY AGENCY FOR THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY.
THERE'S BEEN SOME HISTORIC DEVELOPMENTS IN THE LAST YEAR IN THE LEGISLATURE IN TERMS OF WATER AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
NUMBER ONE WAS A, A LOT MORE FUNDING.
ONE OF 'EM WAS TWO AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS THAT'S BEEN ALLOCATED FOR THIS YEAR, PLUS $1 BILLION ADDITIONALLY FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
AT THE SAME TIME WAS THE CREATION OF THE PUBLIC UTILITY AGENCY.
AND WHAT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE PUA GIVES YOU REGIONAL COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITIES.
UH, BUT IT ALSO GIVES YOU OPPORTUNITY TO BE RANKED HIGHER IN TERMS OF CAPTURING THAT FUNDING THAT BECOMES AVAILABLE, WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT TWO AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS PLUS A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.
THERE'S ALSO AN ADD BANK MONEY THAT'S GETTING FOLDED INTO IT.
THERE'S BUREAU OF RECLAMATION.
THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF FUNDING THAT'S COMING BY.
AND SO CREATING THIS REGIONAL COLLABORATION NOT ONLY CREATES MORE EFFICIENCY BECAUSE OF ECONOMIES OF SCALE, IT'S A LOT CHEAPER TO BUILD ONE AND OPERATE ONE 30 MILLION GALLON PER DAY FACILITY THAN THREE SEPARATE ONES.
RIGHT? UH, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF THIS IS THAT THE DEBT STAYS WITHIN THE PUA.
SO CITIES WITHIN THE PUA CAN THEN GO OUT AND GET FUNDING FOR A PARTICULAR PROJECT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT.
AND THE DEBT STAYS THERE AS OPPOSED TO WHEN THE CITY DOES IT BY ITSELF, THAT DEBT GOES TO THE CITY AND ALL THE RISK GOES TO THE CITY.
THE PROJECT DELIVERY, THE, THE OPERATIONS, THE DEPLOYMENT OF CAPITAL, WHICH TYPICALLY FROM THE PUBLIC SECTOR, IS NOT AS EFFICIENT.
AND THAT'S THE OTHER MAGICAL ELEMENT OF THE PUA.
AND THAT'S THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IN A P THREE.
A P THREE IS A PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP.
AND WHAT THAT DOES IT, THERE'S NOT NEVER ENOUGH MONEY, PUBLIC MONEY TO FILL ALL THE GAPS.
SO PRIVATE MONEY CAN COME IN AND FILL THE GAPS.
AND THERE'S ADDITIONAL ADVANTAGES IN TERMS OF BEING MORE EFFICIENT IN TERMS OF BUSINESS PRACTICES, DEPLOYMENT OF CAPITAL, ET CETERA.
ALL THAT IS MORE EFFICIENCY, LESS RISK TO THE CITIES.
AND AS FRED MENTIONED, THE END RESULT IS BEING ABLE TO ATTRACT MORE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
AND THE VALLEY IS POSITIONED AND PRIMED FOR ATTRACTING INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT.
AND WHAT THAT DOES, IT TRANSFORMS OUR USUAL LOW PER CAPITA, LOW INVESTMENT CAPITAL, UH, LOW INVESTMENT POTENTIAL.
IT EXISTS RIGHT NOW AND BRING MORE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT THAT PUTS MONEY IN PEOPLE'S POCKETS, BRINGS MORE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, MORE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT'S, JUST OVERALL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THE, DOES THIS, UH, AGREEMENT GIVE LEAVE OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHER CITIES TO JOIN? YES, IT DOES.
THIS IS THE INITIAL, I WANNA CALL IT THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE FOUR INITIAL CITIES, BUT THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR BRINGING IN MORE.
AND OBVIOUSLY THERE'S MORE ADVANTAGES TO BRINGING MORE CITIES BECAUSE IT INCREASES THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT GET BENEFITED.
AND IT, IT ALSO BRINGS BIGGER, UM, UH, A TERRORIST STRUCTURE AND SUPPORT FOR LARGER PROJECTS.
UM, HAVE OTHER CITIES IN THE RGV FORMED A SIMILAR COALITION? NOT THAT I KNOW OF, ALTHOUGH I'M SURE SOME OTHER PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT IT, BUT WE PROBABLY ONE OF THE FIRST ONE.
EXCEPT SOME OF THE, THE CITIES THAT ARE INCLUDED.
FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW, RAYMONDVILLE, SANTO, MERCEDES AND WESCO.
SO IN MY PICK, IN MY MY EYES, IT'S A LITTLE BIT SCATTERED.
I WOULD THINK MAYBE SANTO WOULD WANNA WORK WITH LOS INDIOS OR RIO HONDO, SOME OF THE NEIGHBORING CITIES.
'CAUSE THE INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS ARE GONNA GO OUT, UH, GO UP AS THE FURTHER OUT WE TRY TO CONNECT.
UM, THE PORT IS ALSO INVOLVED, AND NOT AT THIS POINT INFORMALLY, BUT THAT'S ULTIMATELY THE MAIN SOURCE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT WE FORESEE IN THE FUTURE.
YOU ALREADY, IF YOU DRIVE TO THE ISLAND, YOU SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE.
AND THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING.
SO THE SIMILAR P THREE FRAMEWORK, UH, IS GOING TO REALLY EXPLODE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PORT.
AND ALL THESE CITIES AND ALL THE MID VALLEY CITIES ARE IN A POSITION TO REALLY CAPTURE THAT.
THANK YOU FOR, UM, THIS EFFORT.
UM, IT WAS, UM, AND, AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE OTHER LEADERS OF THE OTHER COMMUNITIES, THEY WERE VERY COOPERATIVE AND I THINK THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE, THE VALUE AND THE POWER BEHIND THIS AS WELL.
SO TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS, I THINK IS, IS WONDERFUL.
OKAY, WELL, MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, IF I COULD, CARLOS, DON'T, DON'T GO TOO FAR.
UM, I KNOW HE'S GOT ANOTHER MEETING TO GO TO.
SO I'D LIKE TO DEVIATE FROM THE AGENDA IF WE COULD.
[14. Consideration and possible action to Select a Financial Advisor for the REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS AND STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS RFP #2025-1104- 002 FINANCIAL ADVISOR SERVICES for the Texas Water Development Board DRINKING WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND PROGRAM. (Part 1 of 2)]
14, 15, 16, AND[00:35:01]
17.THESE ARE ALL RELATED TO ALL THE TWDB STUFF.
SO CARLOS IS HERE TO EXPLAIN ALL THAT IF WE, IF NEED BE.
BUT ITEM 14 IS CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE ACTION.
SELECT A FINANCIAL ADVISOR FOR THE RFP AND STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS NUMBER 20 25 11 0 4 0 0 2.
FINANCIAL ADVISOR SERVICES FOR THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD DRINKING WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND PROGRAM.
SO YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN THAT TO HIM REAL QUICK? UH, THIS IS A WATER DEVELOPMENT AWARD GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED.
IT'S APPROXIMATELY $10 MILLION AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THAT PROJECT IMPLEMENTED.
AND SO PART OF THAT REQUIRES SOLICITATION OF BOND COUNCIL, FINANCIAL SERVICES, ENGINEERS, AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES.
AND THOSE HAVE TO BE SOLICITED IN A CERTAIN WAY IN ORDER TO BE QUALIFIED FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT.
SO THAT'S WHAT THESE FOUR ELEMENTS ARE, ARE ABOUT.
IT'S A $10 MILLION PROJECT TO REPLACE A LARGE, UH, CONCRETE LINE WITH CONVENTIONAL PBC TO 10 MILLION.
SO BASICALLY WE'RE GETTING, WE'RE AT, WE'RE FOLLOWING THE, THE PROCUREMENT TO CORRECT.
TO ADVERTISE AND PROCURE THE SERVICES ACCORDING TO THEIR GUIDELINES.
IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THE FUNDING.
JUST WANTED THAT FOR THE RECORD.
AND THIS IS FOR THE PROJECT DOWN.
IT'S A REPLACEMENT OF THE WATER LINE FOUR HOUSE.
SO BASICALLY WE'RE JUST GIVING PERMISSION TO DO THESE RFPS, RIGHT? I MEAN, TO ADVERTISE THEM MM-HMM
SO STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 14.
THE WHAT? DIDN'T WE ALREADY APPROVE AMTECH TO DO THE WORK WE DID, BUT WE, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW A CERTAIN PROCEDURE FOR TWDB AND WE HAVE TO START FROM SCRATCH.
IN ORDER TO QUALIFY, BECAUSE THIS IS NEW MONEY AND A NEW AWARD, IT'S BELT AND SUSPENDERS, BASICALLY.
WHAT'S THAT? BELT AND SUSPENDERS.
ISN'T THAT OUR CURRENT FINANCIAL ADVISOR? THAT'S CORRECT.
UM, WE'RE, I'LL DISCUSS IT WITH Y'ALL, BUT A LOT OF THESE WILL, LIKE, I, LIKE YOU SAID, WE'VE ALREADY GOT 'EM.
WE JUST NEED TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THE ADVERTISEMENTS.
SO WE COM WE COMPLY WITH THE, UH, PROCUREMENT REQUIREMENTS FROM TWB.
SO THESE ARE BASICALLY ADMINISTRATIVE AT THIS, AT, AT THIS POINT.
AND THE REIMBURSEMENTS WILL COME FROM THE FUNDS AND THE GRANTS, CORRECT? MM-HMM
CAN WE TAKE ALL THE ITEMS? I MEAN, WHAT THE, THERE'S FOUR OF THEM HERE.
CAN WE DO THAT? UH, COUNCIL? SURE.
UH, MY MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS. 14, 15, 16, AND 17.
I GOT A MOTION BY MAYOR
DO I HAVE A SECOND? WAIT, SO WE JUST REVIEWED 14, WHAT'S 15, 16, 17, THE SAME THING.
THEY'RE PART AND PARCEL TO THIS.
THEY'RE DIFFERENT SOLICITATIONS.
UM, BUT AGAIN, THEY'RE JUST TO COMPLY WITH TWDB.
WHAT I'LL DO IS I CAN READ 'EM FOR THE RECORD.
AND THEN Y'ALL CAN APPROVE THEM.
UH, RFP, UH, PERMISSION FOR RP CONSIDERING POSSIBLE ACTION.
SELECT A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER FOR REQUEST FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
AND THESE ARE IN, UH, SEQUENTIAL ORDER.
AND THIS IS PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD DRINKING WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND PROGRAM.
RFP, UH, AUTHORIZATION CONSIDERATION, POSSIBLE ACTION.
SELECT BOND COUNSEL FOR REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS AND STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS FOR RFP.
NUMBER 20 25 11 0 4 DASH 0 0 4.
BOND COUNCIL SERVICES FOR THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOP BOARD DRINKING WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND PROGRAM.
ITEM 17, CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE ACTION.
SELECT ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.
RFP NUMBER 20 25 11 0 4 0 0 5.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD DRINKING WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND PROGRAM.
SO THOSE ARE ITEMS 14, 15, AND 16.
MUDIN STATED, THESE ARE FOR THE $9 MILLION GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED.
UM, AND THIS IS JUST, UH, GIVING US AUTHORIZATION TO COMPLETE THE SOLICITATION AND, AND, AND ADVERTISE THE RFPS SO THAT WE COMPLY AND WE ARE IN, WE CAN MOVE FORWARD TO THE NEXT STEP.
WE'RE NOT TAKE WE'RE NOT OPENING A BOND, ARE WE? NO, THE FUNDING ALREADY WAS GRANTED.
THE, UH, THE, THE, THE, THE FUNDING HASN'T BEEN GRANTED.
[00:40:01]
AND THERE'S A MATCH THAT WOULD COME FROM THE, UH, GENERAL FUND AND THAT'S BEEN ALLOCATED.BUT THESE SERVICES ARE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO PERFORM THE WORK.
WHAT'S THE TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT? LOOKING LIKE, LIKE $10 MILLION.
I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS IN FRONT OF ME, BUT IT'S ABOUT $10 MILLION TOTAL.
AND THAT WAS FOR, WE HAD DISCUSSED WAS IT ON BOTH SIDES OR JUST ONE SIDE OF 77? I THINK IT'S ON BOTH SIDES.
I THINK I REMEMBER US SAYING THAT TOO.
SO THE MOTION STILL STANDS AS, UM, UH, APPROVAL FOR 14 15, 14, 15, 16.
I THINK ONE OF 'EM, ONE OF 'EM REQUIRES TO SELECT, THERE'S LIKE THREE BIDS THERE.
IS IT BOUND? THE BOND COUNCIL SERVICES BID WAS ONE SELECTED? WE HAVE BOND COUNCIL.
WE HAVE, WE HAVE FAS WE DO NOT, WE DO NOT HAVE BOND COUNCIL YET, BUT WE WILL RELY ON OUR FAS TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION FOR BOND COUNCIL.
WHOEVER THEY WORK WITH, IT'S USUALLY, THEY USUALLY WORK REALLY CLOSE WITH EACH OTHER.
BUT THE BOND COUNCIL SERVICES BID IS HERE.
MAYORS, IF YOU, IF I MAY, WE ALREADY ADVERTISED, THIS IS JUST, UM, I KNOW THE TABULATION SHEETS ARE HERE.
WE HAVE, WE'VE ALREADY COMPLETED THAT PROCESS.
SO WHO ARE WE GOING WITH ON 16, RIGHT? WE HAVE TO SELECT MM-HMM
FROST, BROWN, TODD, NORTON, ROSE AND WINSTED.
SO WE HAVE TO SELECT, THAT'S WHY I THINK WE SHOULD DO 'EM ONE BY ONE.
SO ARE WE GOOD WITH NUMBER 14 THEN? WELL, 14.
SO FINANCIAL, FINANCIAL NUMBER 14 WAS JUST ONE FINANCIAL ADVISOR.
ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS BEFORE BACK? SORRY.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE CAN GO BACK TO REGARDING LEGALIES.
SO I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT, HMM.
WE CAN, WE CAN DISCUSS, UH, THE LEGAL BOND COUNSEL IN THE BACK.
THE LEGALITY IS NOT THE PICKING.
SO JUST BOND COUNSEL, THESE GUYS, THIS IS THE ONLY ONE WE HAVE TO, YES.
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
QUESTIONS, WE CAN RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SECTION.WELL, AND IF I COULD, MAYOR YEAH, GO AHEAD.
THE, THE OTHER THREE ONLY HAD ONE SUBMISSION EACH.
SO THOSE ARE, WELL JUST REGARDING THE STIPULATION HONOR.
WELL THEN WE CAN JUST REFER BACK TO, LET, LET'S, LET'S TAKE THAT UP IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO IT'S GONNA BE FOR 14, 15, 16, 17 TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THE TIME IS, UH, SIX 16 AND WE'RE GOING TO THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR ITEMS NUMBER 14, 15, 16, 17.
AGAIN, TIME IS UH, SIX, UH, 16.
AND WE'RE BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.
LET ME GET THESE IN ORDER MA'AM.
SO LET'S TAKE THESE INDIVIDUALLY.
[14. Consideration and possible action to Select a Financial Advisor for the REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS AND STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS RFP #2025-1104- 002 FINANCIAL ADVISOR SERVICES for the Texas Water Development Board DRINKING WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND PROGRAM. (Part 2 of 2)]
14, RFP NUMBER 20 25 11 0 4 0 0 2.UH, WE DID ADVERTISE THE RFP AND STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND HILLTOP SECURITIES INVESTMENT BANKING SOLUTIONS.
AND IT JUST SO HAPPENS THEY ARE OUR CURRENT FA SO STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND THAT.
I GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND, SECOND.
[15. Consideration and possible action to Select a Professional Engineer for the REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS RFQ #2025-1104-003 PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES for the Texas Water Development Board DRINKING WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND PROGRAM.]
NUMBER 15, THE SAME THING.SELECT PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER RFQ NUMBER 20 25 11 0 4 DASH ZERO THREE.
AND UM, WE DID ADVERTISE THE ONLY SUBMITTAL IS FROM AMBU TECH CIVIL ENGINEERING GROUP.
SO I GUESS WE HAVE TO GO WITH THEM.
UH, AND STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
YOU GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER? UH, DEL DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
[16. Consideration and possible action to Select a Bond Counsel for the REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS AND STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS RFP #2025-1104-004 BOND COUNSEL SERVICES for the Texas Water Development Board DRINKING WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND PROGRAM.]
16.UM, SELECTION OF BOND COUNSEL NUMBER 16.
[00:45:01]
DASH 0 0 4 BOND COUNSEL.ONE WAS, UH, STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND, UM, WINSTED PC PLEASE.
MOTION TO APPROVE WINSTON WINSTED.
UH, I GOT A MOTION BY THE MAYOR, TIM, UH, GOODMAN.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? SE SECOND.
[17. Consideration and possible action to Select Administrative and Professional Services for the REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS RFP #2025-1104-005 ADMINISTRATIVE and PROFESSIONAL SERVICES for the Texas Water Development Board DRINKING WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND PROGRAM.]
ITEM 17.RFP NUMBER 20 25 11 0 4 DASH ZERO FIVE.
THIS IS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
THIS IS THE SUPPORT ROLES FOR ALL OF THIS PROCESS.
UH, WE HAD ONE SUBMITTAL AND THAT'S WATER FINANCE EXCHANGE INC.
THEY ARE A NON-FOR-PROFIT AND THEY DO THIS.
SO STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND, UH, WFX.
DO I HAVE MOTION? MOTION? YOU GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MORALES? DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
OKAY, WE'LL GO BACK TO ITEM NUMBER
[3. First Reading of Ordinance Number 2637 establishing the Keep San Benito Beautiful Advisory Board.]
THREE.FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 26 37.
ESTABLISHING THE KEEP SAN BENITO BEAUTIFUL ADVISORY BOARD.
AGAIN, THIS IS THE FIRST READING.
I DON'T KNOW IF, UH, MS. SAMANTHA, DO YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR US? UM, NOT REALLY, BUT I JUST, I'M UP HERE IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR WANNA KNOW MORE ABOUT IT OR WHAT WE'RE GONNA START WITH.
IT, WELL, IT'S GONNA KEEP SAN BENITO BEAUTIFUL.
IT, I THINK IT'S KIND OF SELF-EXPLANATORY.
AND THANK YOU FOR PUTTING IT TOGETHER.
APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK AND UH, WE'LL BE LOOKING TO PUT SOME ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS ON.
IS THIS GOING TO, I SEE THAT IT'S GONNA REQUIRE DIRECTOR.
THE DIRECTOR WILL BE WHO? MYSELF.
NEXT THING THERE'S GONNA BE DUES THAT WE APPLY MEMBER DUES OF A HUNDRED DOLLARS.
THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT WE EACH CHOOSE, ARE THEY GONNA HAVE TO PUT IN A HUNDRED DOLLARS AS WELL? THEY WILL HAVE TO BE, UM, A MEMBER OF IT.
SO ONCE Y'ALL CHOOSE IT, THEN WE CAN GO ABOUT THAT.
BUT I WAS TALKING WITH MR. FLORES THE LAST TIME, SO WE MIGHT TWEAK THAT PART MM-HMM
AND LET WHOEVER Y'ALL CHOOSE NOT PAY THE MEMBERSHIP SINCE THEY'RE GOING TO BE PART OF THE BOARD.
BUT ANYBODY ELSE WHO DOES JOIN, YES, WE DO WANT THEM TO PAY A MEMBERSHIP FEE.
AND THESE MEMBERSHIP FEES WILL HELP US SINCE WE DO HAVE TO ANNUALLY RENEW FOR THE KEEP TEXAS.
THAT WAY WE CAN ALLOCATE OUT OF THERE TO REPAY FOR THE, UM, YEARLY DUES.
NOW I GUESS THIS NEXT QUESTION WILL BE TO FRED IN OUR BUDGET WE HAVE IN OUR BUDGET FOR THIS POSITION.
ARE WE GONNA BE MAKING THIS POSITION AVAILABLE? I MEAN, WELL, WE WE'RE COMING UP ON BUDGET AMENDMENT TIME DURING YEAH, FEBRUARY THIS MONTH.
SO WHAT WE WERE HOPING TO DO IS GET THIS ROLLING, UM, AND GET, GET, UH, GET ALL OF IT KIND OF LINED UP AND THEN IF NEED BE, COME BACK AND MAKE A BUDGET AMENDMENT.
BUT THE DIRECTOR POSITION, UM, I THINK IS A TITLE.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET THAT FINALIZED FROM THE STATE TO MAKE SURE EXACTLY THE DEPTH AND BREADTH OF WHAT WE NEED IN THAT ACTUAL COMMITTEE.
WHO'S GONNA LEAD IT? AND, UH, WE'LL COME BACK TO Y'ALL WITH A, A BUDGET AMENDMENT IF NECESSARY.
I'VE SEEN, UH, SOME CITIES, UH, TIE THEIR PARKS AND REC WITH, KEEP THEIR CITY BEAUTIFUL.
WHATEVER THE LO THE FILL THAT IN, KEEP WHATEVER CITY.
AND I THINK THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL 'CAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH PARTICIPATION.
SO I HAVE ACTUALLY, UM, BEEN MEETING WITH PARKS AND REC.
SO A LOT OF THE PROJECTS THAT I AM GONNA WORK ON ARE GOING TO INCLUDE THEM, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT INCLUDES BEAUTIFICATION.
AND SINCE PARKS AND REC IS THE ONE WHO IS KIND OF IN CHARGE OF IT, WE'RE GONNA GO WORK HAND IN HAND IN THIS FROM NOW ON.
SH SHOULD WE, WHAT I'M SAYING IS MINIMIZE HOW MANY COMMITTEES THE CITY HAS.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A PARKS AND REC ADVISORY BOARD.
AND NOW WE'RE MAKING A KI SAN BENITO BONITO, UH, TEAM.
THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE THE NAME TO BE.
BUT ANYWAYS, IF WE CAN MERGE IT INTO ONE GROUP, UM, I IS THAT POSSIBLE? IS THIS, THIS IS A REQUIREMENT BY THE STATE OF TEX KEEP TEXAS BEAUTIFUL CAMPAIGN.
CORRECT? THEY NEED TO HAVE THEIR OWN BOARD.
AND THE REASON, ANOTHER REASON WHY WE WANT TO BECOME AFFILIATES OF KEEP TEXAS BEAUTIFUL IS BECAUSE IT OPENS UP THE DOORS TO, UH, A LOT OF GRANTS.
UM, ONE PARTICULAR THAT I'M, I'M LOOKING AT IS TO START LIKE A RECYCLING PROGRAM IN THE HOPEFULLY NEAR FUTURE.
AND, UH, THIS WOULD HELP US OPEN THOSE DOORS.
SO IT'S JUST A, A STIPULATION OF, UH, THE AFFILIATION FOR NOW.
COULD WE USE SPANISH? THE NAME
[00:50:01]
MEAN, YOU CAN, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO CALL IT WHATEVER YOU WANT, BUT FOR, FOR THE MOST PART.WE NEED TO LET 'EM KNOW THAT THERA IS STILL DOWN HERE IN 9, 5, 6
UM, I'M MORE THAN SURE THEY OH, THEY KNOW.
BUT, UM, YEAH, SO I MEAN WE CAN SEE, BUT AS FAR AS, UM, FROM KEEP TEXAS, BEAUTIFUL.
SO WE DO HAVE LIKE OUR AFFILIATE CHECKLIST AND ONE OF THEM IS TO DETERMINE AN ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND BOARD MEMBERSHIP.
SO THAT IS WHY THEY ASK FOR US TO HAVE A BOARD.
BUT IN THEIR, IN THE HANDBOOK, IT DOESN'T EXACTLY SAY THAT WE CAN'T SOMEHOW USE THOSE SAME BOARD MEMBERS ALREADY FROM THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT, I MEAN FROM THE PARKS AND REC BOARD.
SO, I MEAN, WE CAN LOOK INTO IT AND SEE IF POSSIBLY THAT COULD BE ONE.
UM, OR TO SEE IF WE NEED TO PHYSICALLY HAVE OUR OWN.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I WAS FIRST READING MAYOR COMMISSIONERS.
[4. Discussion and possible action to amend Ordinance 2573-B-10-2024 concerning fees and use of San Benito Community Building.]
FOUR IS DISCUSSION.POSSIBLE ACTION AMEND ORDINANCE 25.
ITEM OR ORDINANCE NUMBER 25 73 B DASH 10 DASH 2024.
CONCERNING FEES AND USE OF SAN BENITO COMMUNITY BUILDING, UH, PRESS COMMISSIONER DEBORAH MORALES AND COMMISSIONER P LAVAN REQUESTED THIS ITEM.
I DIDN'T SEE THE FEE FOR THE COMMUNITY BUILDING IN THE FEE STRUCTURE.
DID YOU SEE IT? COMMISSIONER MOROZ? I BELIEVE IT'S, I BELIEVE IT'S THREE 50 FOR THE COMMUNITY BUILDING.
SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING THIS TO THE COMMISSION TO MAKE SURE THAT ONCE UPON A TIME WHEN THE EVENT CENTER SAGA STARTED HAPPENING AND PEOPLE STARTED OPENING UP A THOUSAND EVENT CENTERS, THE COMMUNITY BUILDING KIND OF PHASED OUT WHERE IT WASN'T BEING RENTED AS MUCH OR WE KIND OF STOPPED.
THE CITY MANAGER AT THAT TIME MADE A DECISION NOT TO BE RUNNING IT AND NOT TO LEAVE IT ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.
WE'RE JUST USING IT FOR PRIVATE EVENTS LIKE, UM, ENTA AND, AND PUBLIC PRI PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING TRAININGS THERE.
SO I WANT TO GO BACK TO TRY TO RENT IT TO THE COMMUNITY LIKE THEY DO IN OTHER CITIES.
'CAUSE NOT EVERYBODY CAN AFFORD A FIVE, $10,000 BODEGA.
WHAT, WHAT DO, WHAT DO YOU CALL 'EM? SO I JUST WANTED TO RE-LOOK AT THIS FEE.
WHAT DOES THAT STRUCTURE LOOK LIKE? UM, OF COURSE THEY HAVE, THEY'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE SECURITY PERSONNEL, WHICH IS USUALLY TWO OF OUR OFFICERS.
UM, AND WE DON'T ALLOW ALCOHOL.
THEY HAVE ALCOHOL, THE SECURITY.
WE HAD FAMILY REUNIONS IN THERE BACK IN THE DAY.
AND YOU NEED, UH, YOU WOULD NEED AN OFFICER, ESPECIALLY YOU NEED OFFICERS, UM, TRASH PICKUP AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO RESTRUCTURE THIS PRICING STRUCTURE AND JUST MAKE SURE THAT IT'S CLEAR THAT WE DO WANT TO CONTINUE RUNNING IT OR THE COMMISSION FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT LEAVING IT CLOSED AND NOT, NOT WELL, MR. FRED, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR OPINION IS ON THIS.
WELL, IF, IF I MIGHT CHIME ON THAT.
AND, AND THE REASON I I, I BROUGHT THIS UP TOO, IS BECAUSE RECENTLY WE HAD A, A FAMILY THAT WANTED TO RENT OUT THIS COMMUNITY BUILDING.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH HOOPS.
IT'S ALREADY IN OUR POLICIES AND WHATNOT OF THAT IT TO BE USED FOR THE COMMUNITY.
BUT YET, WHEN IT COMES TIME TO USE, UTILIZE IT, IT SEEMS LIKE THEY HAVE TO GO JUMP THROUGH HOOPS AND, AND I DON'T WANT OUR CITIZENS, OUR COMMUNITY TO HAVE TO DO THAT.
UM, IT STATES COMMUNITY BUILDING AND THAT'S WHAT IT SHOULD BE USED FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, SO I, I'M IN AGREEANCE WITH COMMISSIONER GALVAN THAT LET'S LOOK AT THIS, THE PRICING.
'CAUSE WE'RE RIGHT, NOT EVERYBODY CAN AFFORD THE PRICES TO RENT OUT THESE PLACES.
AND, AND WE SHOULDN'T MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO DO.
I SEE IT AS A, AS A PROACTIVE APPROACH IN WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, HAVING OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS STAY HERE AND PUT THEIR MONEY BACK HERE VERSUS GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE.
SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY IT WAS BROUGHT UP.
ANY THE, UH, THE FEE STRUCTURE.
THE FEE STRUCTURE SAYS, UH, FIRST FOUR HOURS MINIMUM IF CLEANED BY A CONTRACT PARTY, $50 WILL BE REFUNDED.
SO 350 BEYOND TO 300 IF THEY CLEAN UP AFTER THEMSELVES, EACH ADDITIONAL HOURS IS $75.
THAT SOUNDS PRETTY REASONABLE TO ME.
I THINK JUST MAKE IT, UH, IN LINE WITH THE FACILITIES IN OUR NEIGHBORING CITIES.
AND WHAT ARE, WHAT'S THE PRICE? WELL, MAYOR, IF I COULD LET US PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER FOR Y'ALL BECAUSE AGAIN, UH, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS ITEM WAS WHEN
[00:55:01]
IT WAS PUT ON BY THE COMMISSIONERS.SO I WOULD PREFER IF Y'ALL WOULD INDULGE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK, BRING THE FEES, TALK TO THE STAFF.
'CAUSE THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER.
NUMBER ONE, THE BUILDING IS A LITTLE BIT IN DISREPAIR, SO WE PUT SOME PAINT ON IT.
WE'VE GOT SOME, SOME OTHER THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THERE.
SO I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER MORALES THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A, THIS IS OP, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT COULD BE USED BY THE COMMUNITY, BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PUTTING OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD.
AND I DON'T THINK, UH, THAT'S THE CASE AT THIS POINT IN TIME, BUT I'D LIKE TO BRING BACK A FEE STRUCTURE SO WE CAN TALK TO Y'ALL ABOUT IT.
I DON'T THINK THAT WE MAKE IT THAT DIFFICULT.
I THINK THAT THERE'S A PROCESS, BUT SINCE THERE'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, I THINK COVID WAS THE TIME THAT MY PREDECESSOR JUST STOPPED RENTING IT.
SO WE WERE NOT NECESSARILY OPENING IT TO THE PUBLIC.
SO A LOT OF THE STAFF WAS NOT, WAS NOT USED TO DOING THAT.
SO WHEN WE DO HAVE THESE REQUESTS, WE'VE BEEN LIMITING IT TO ONLY EITHER NONPROFITS OR OTHER, YOU KNOW, GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES.
LIKE, UH, THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, YOU KNOW, FURRY FRIENDS, DIFFERENT PEOPLE LIKE THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GONNA USE IT FOR EITHER A, A BENEVOLENT CAUSE OR, OR FUNDRAISING.
I KNOW THAT, UH, THE MEXICAN CONSULATE HAS USED IT SEVERAL TIMES.
UH, BUT YEAH, LET US PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER FOR Y'ALL IF Y'ALL WOULD INDULGE ME AND WE CAN BRING IT BACK.
SO I WOULD JUST LIKE, UM, FOR CASAD IT'S $800 AND THEN ON WEEKENDS IT'S $900.
SO I THINK JUST RE-LOOKING AT SOME OF OUR FEE STRUCTURES FOR OUR PUBLIC SPACES.
UH, I, WHEN I GOT THIS FEE STRUCTURE LIST, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT BASEBALL PARK AND FIELDS.
IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER ONE THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT FOR FUTURE.
UM, SO IT JUST NEEDS TO BE, UH, CLEANED UP.
SO I WOULD DIRECT STAFF TO BRING BACK A PROPOSAL WITH A NEW FEE STRUCTURE THAT IS IN LINE WITH NEIGHBORING CITIES AND INCORPORATE ALSO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO DO, UM, FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL FOR SECURITY WORK.
AND, UH, JUST TO CLARIFY, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT NEIGHBORING CITIES THAT HAVE PUBLIC BUILDINGS FOR RENT, CORRECT? RIGHT.
I I WOULDN'T GO OUTSIDE OF CAMERON COUNTY.
UH, FRED WOULD WE NEED TO INCLUDE IN THAT TOO? WHAT, WHAT THE CONTRACT LOOKS LIKE FOR THE, FOR THE PARTY USING THE FACILITY? FOR SURE.
'CAUSE THEN THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS AT CAAD.
YOU HAVE THE ROTARY CLUB WILL RENT IT FOR THEIR CRAWFISH, THEIR SHRIMP FESTIVAL.
THEN YOU START HAVING THOSE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT WANNA RENT IT OUT.
IT GENERATES A REVENUE STREAM.
IT ALSO GENERATES PEOPLE COMING THROUGH THE, THAT DISTRICT.
UM, SOME PEOPLE HAVE STILL BEEN TELLING ME HOW NICE THEY HAVE THE CULTURAL ARTS BUILDING.
BUT SINCE ELA HAS BEEN HAVING EVENTS THERE AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VISITING IT SAID, I DIDN'T KNOW WE HAD THIS.
AND IT'S BEEN THERE FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
MOTION TO DIRECT STAFF TO PRESENT SOMETHING AS DISCUSSED.
WE GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER.
HAS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.
WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO VOTE ON.
WE HAVEN'T BROUGHT IT TO Y'ALL YET.
SO WE'LL JUST TAKE NO ACTION ON THAT.
[5. Consideration and possible action to approve Resolution Number 2026-0203-001(R), a resolution authorizing the submittal of a grant application for the Fiscal Year 2027 Operation Lone Star Grant Program (OLS) to the Office of the Governor, and authorizing the mayor as the authorized representative.]
FIVE, CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE ACTION APPROVED.RESOLUTION NUMBER 2 0 2 6 0 2 0 3 0 0 1 R.
UH, RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SUBMITTAL OF A GRANT APPLICATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027.
OPERATION LONE STAR GRANT PROGRAM.
LES TO THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AS AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE MARSHALL.
THIS GRANTS TO ENHANCE OPERATIONS WITH OTHER AGENCIES THAT ARE IN SUPPORT OF A OPERATION LONE STAR AS A $20,000 MINIMUM AND A $5 MILLION MAX.
STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
DO THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? UH, MOTION.
UH, I GOT A MOTION BY, UH, MAYOR POT GOODMAN.
[6. Consideration and possible action to approve Resolution Number 2026-0203-002(R), a resolution authorizing the mayor or his designee to approve the application and acceptance of the Border Zone Fire Department Grant Fiscal Year 2027.]
CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE.RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 26 0 2 3 0 2 0 3.
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING MAYOR IS DESIGNEE TO APPROVE APPLICATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE BORDER ZONE FIRE DEPARTMENT GRANT FISCAL YEAR 2027.
OKAY, THIS GRANTS TO PURCHASE SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, SPECIAL EQUIPMENT.
OR YOU'RE APPLYING FOR IT? WE'RE APPLYING FOR IT.
[01:00:01]
CURRENTLY HAVE ONE.UH, WE'RE APPLYING FOR NEXT YEAR.
SO YOUR LEGACY, WE'RE GONNA GET IT FOR SURE, RIGHT? HOPEFULLY ONE FOR ALL MAXIMUM OF THAT ONE'S 250,000.
250 STAFF FOR RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
I GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER NAVARRO.
[7. Consideration and possible action to approve Resolution Number 2026-0203-003(R) adopting a resolution regarding Civil Rights.]
SEVEN.UH, CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE ACTION ON APPROVE.
0 0 3 R ADOPTING A RESOLUTION REGARDING CIVIL RIGHTS.
THIS IS JUST A FORMALITY JUST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE AND SO WE'RE ABLE TO GET OUR REIMBURSEMENT FOR OUR, UH, THE WORK BEING DONE FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT'S REQUIRED FOR MUNICIPALITIES TO HAVE AND WE DON'T, WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE IT.
SO THIS IS, AGAIN, JUST A FORMALITY.
DID TRUMP NOT GET RID OF THIS REQUIREMENT? NO, SIR.
OH, I JUST THOUGHT, THOUGHT, I MEAN, IT'S THROUGH HUD.
I GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER NOVARRO.
ALL IN FAVOR? ANY NAMES? MOTION PASSES.
YOU CAN PROBABLY TAKE TOGETHER MAYOR, EXCUSE ME.
YOU CAN PROBABLY TAKE TOGETHER.
[Items 8 & 9]
ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE ACTION APPROVED GENERAL CONTRACT FOR ELECTION SERVICE WITH CAMERON COUNTY FOR MAY 2ND, 2026.AND ITEM NUMBER NINE IS CONSIDERATION.
CALLING CITY OF SAN BENITO GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON MAY, 2020.
2026 FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING MAYOR, COMMISSIONER, PLACE ONE.
DO YOU HAVE A MOTION? DO WE RENT THE FACILITY TO CAMERON COUNTY? NO, WE DO NOT.
I WOULD, WE ACTUALLY PAY THEM? I WOULD USE THAT SAME ARGUMENT, BUT THEY CHARGE US YES.
SO YOU SEE HOW THAT ARGUMENT DOESN'T WORK? AND TRANSPARENCY.
THEY DON'T, THE MONIES HAVE BEEN BUDGETED TOO.
WERE WERE WE RUNNING OURSELVES? NO.
OKAY, SO I GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MORALE MORALE FOR ITEMS EIGHT AND NINE.
[10. Consideration and possible action to ratify the Professional Services Agreement with Carpe Nox Industries, LLC.]
10, CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE ACTION.RATIFIED PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH OCK INDUSTRIES.
THIS WAS TAKEN TO THE EDC BOARD AT THEIR LAST MEETING.
THAT'S WHY IT'S BEING CALLED A RATIFICATION.
AND IT'S BEING BROUGHT TO YOU ALL FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
AND STAFFORD RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
ANY QUESTIONS? UM, YEAH, I, I KNOW I SIT ON THAT BOARD, UM, AND I KNOW IT WAS APPROVED, THIS CONTRACT, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT WE WOULD, MY UNDERSTANDING, I'M GOING BY MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WERE JUST GONNA DO THIS TILL MARCH, BUT COME TO FIND OUT IT'S A YEAR CONTRACT, BUT WITH THE EVALUATION QUARTERLY BUDGET IN MARCH.
UM, BUT I THINK ON THE ED SIDE, WE MAY HAVE DONE THIS PREMATURELY BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION IN FRONT OF US, LIKE THE FINANCIALS AND EVERYTHING THAT COSTS THIS SUMMER SERIES CONCERT OR HOG GUDO.
UM, SO I WOULD LIKE TO
UM, SO THIS JUST SOMETHING I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO RETHINK AND MAYBE JUST MAYBE HOLD OFF AND JUST DO AN EXTENSION TO MARCH ON HIS CONTRACT VERSUS GOING WITH THE WHOLE CONTRACT AND DO AN EVALUATION ON MARCH.
OR MAYBE HE NEEDS TO REVIEW IT BEFORE HE MAKES A DECISION.
WELL, ANY CONTRACTS THAT COME GO THROUGH EDC COME THROUGH THIS CAT CITY COUNCIL.
THE WAY Y'ALL DO IT, UH, YOU ALL APPROVE EACH, EVERY CONTRACT.
IT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN MOST PEOPLE OR MOST ENTITIES DO IT.
SO Y'ALL CAN EITHER APPROVE IT OR NOT TAKE IT BACK MARCH.
WELL, THIS CONTRACT IS ESSENTIALLY A 30, THERE'S A 30 DAY OUT ON THE CONTRACT IF WE DON'T LIKE WHAT'S GOING ON.
BUT WE NEED WHERE'S THAT AT? I THINK, I DON'T THINK IT'S A 30 DAY OUT.
I DON'T SEE THAT IN THE A 90 DAY.
IT JUST, I WAS LOOKING FOR, IT'S A YEAR LONG CONTRACT WITH QUARTERLY EVALUATIONS.
ONE COMING UP IN MARCH, WHICH IS NEXT MONTH.
I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE GO WITH THE WISHES OF THE EDC BOARD AS IT WAS APPROVED.
WE MOVE ON AND WE CAN EVALUATE THIS IN MARCH.
AND EITHER WAY WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD 'CAUSE WE DO HAVE HOG WATER COMING THAT COMING
[01:05:01]
UP.I GOT A MOTION BY, UH, MAYOR
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT.
CAN I MAKE A SUGGESTION NUMBER? CAN I MAKE A MOTION ON IT OR IS THAT IT? IT'S JUST THE CONTRACT.
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING? I WANTED TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE EDC TO LOOK AT.
OH YEAH, BUT THAT'S NOT A MOTION.
WELL I'LL LET THE EDC HAVE AT IT.
[11. Consideration and possible action to approve a Contract Agreement for consultant services with TDA Consulting, Inc., for the Development of a Regional 5-Year Consolidated Plan and Strategic Plan (2026–2030).]
11, RICK SIR.UH, CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE ACTION.
APPROVE A CONTRACT AGREEMENT FOR CONSULTANT SERVICES WITH TDA CONSULTING INC.
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A REGIONAL FIVE YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN AND STRATEGIC PLAN 2026 THROUGH 2030.
UM, THIS IS JUST A CONTINUATION OF OUR, UM, CONSOLIDATED PLAN WITH, UM, HARLINGEN AND BROWNSVILLE, IF Y'ALL RECALL.
AND, UM, THIS IS JUST, UM, A CONTINUATION OF THAT.
AND, UM, THIS IS THE, IN THE COMPANY THAT WAS SELECTED WHEN THEY WENT OUT FOR RFPS, SO TO BEING IN OUR CONSOLIDATED PLAN TO SUBMIT TO HUD IN AUGUST.
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER? NONE.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION? MAYOR? I GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER, UH, ALVAN.
[12. Consideration and possible action to approve a Business Electricity Authorization Agreement with Gexa Energy to become its REP and to perform the necessary tasks to establish electricity service with Gexa Energy, LP., starting December 2030.]
12, CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE ACTUALLY IMPROVE A BUSINESS ELECTRICITY AUTHORIZATION AGREEMENT WITH JSA ENERGY TO BECOME ITS REP AND TO PERFORM THE NECESSARY TASKS TO ESTABLISH ELECTRICITY SERVICE WITH GEXA ENERGY LP STARTING DECEMBER, 2030.MAYOR COMMISSIONERS, WE HAD BROUGHT THIS TO YOU ALL IN A PREVIOUS FORM AT THE LAST MEETING.
UM, MR. UH, MR. RUDY WAS HERE WITH VALIANT ENERGY AND I THINK THERE WAS, UH, THE MAYOR WANTED THIS BROUGHT BACK BECAUSE WAS A LITTLE BIT UNCLEAR WHO WE WERE ACTUALLY SIGNING AN AGREEMENT WITH.
AND WE HAVE, UH, REPRESENTATIVES FROM VALIANT HERE.
WANTED TO BRING IT BACK TO Y'ALL SO YOU COULD GET A BETTER PICTURE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING AND, AND WHAT VALIANT DOES FOR THE CITY, UH, AS PART OF, UH, BEING OUR CONSULTANT FOR ENERGY SERVICES.
AND AGAIN, I KNOW THIS SEEMS LIKE A LITTLE BIT FAR GONE AT 20, AT DECEMBER, 2030, BUT, UM, I'LL LET HIM ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT ON THE ENERGY PRICING, WHERE IT'S GOING AND HOW THIS IS A HEDGE AGAINST, YOU KNOW, FUTURE COSTS THAT MAYBE HIGHER.
MY NAME IS RITA RAMIREZ WITH VALLEY ENERGY SOURCES.
WE ADOPTED THE RESOLUTION WITH MO CASEY TO, UH, JOIN THE COOPERATIVE, THE MOCA, UH, COOPERATIVE.
AND UH, WHAT WE DID IS WE WENT AND DID A REVERSE RFP.
WHAT VALLEN DOES IS WE'RE A FULL ENERGY CONSULTING FIRM WHERE WE ASSIST WITH ANY STREET LIGHTING, THE PROCUREMENT OF ENERGY, WHERE, AND, UM, BASICALLY COVERING ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH ELECTRICITY FOR THE CITY OR FOR ANY ENTITY THAT WE DO BUSINESS WITH.
SO WE, WE DID A REVERSE RFP, WE GOT PRICING AND THESE, THESE WERE THE LOWEST PRICING, UM, AVAILABLE ASIDE FROM WHAT WE'RE OFFERING AS AN ADDED SERVICE.
WE DO HAVE A STREETLIGHT PROGRAM THAT WE ASSIST THE CITY WITH.
ANY STREET LIGHTS THAT ARE OUT, ANY CONCERNS FROM THE CITIES OR ANY CONCERNS FROM THE RESIDENTS THAT YOU KNOW, THAT NEED, UH, LIGHTING.
IF LIGHTS ARE OUT, WE GO OUT THERE AND WE REPORT TO A EP AND WE GET THE LIGHTS, YOU KNOW, PROCESSED FASTER.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE CITY HAS ANY COMMENTS OR ANY CONCERNS AS FAR AS, UH, OUR CONSULTING SERVICES OR WHAT WE DO FOR, WHAT DO YOU SEE THE FUTURE OF RATES AS THE FUTURE RATES HERE? YOU KNOW, SEVENS, HIGH EIGHTS, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ABLE TO CAPTURE AN EIGHT FOUR AT A THREE YEAR TERM WHEN THE CURRENT CONTRACT ENDS IN 2030.
UM, THE CITY LOCKED IN A RATE AT HISTORICAL LOWS WHEN THEY SIGNED THE CURRENT AGREEMENT.
AND, UM, IN ORDER TO DEFLECT FROM PRICE SHOCK COMING 2030, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ABLE TO CAPTURE SOMETHING, A RATE THAT'S VERY FAVORABLE AND TO WHAT'S GONNA BE PROJECTED IN 20 30, 20 33, 20 34 ENERGY DEVELOPMENT'S.
UM, A HIGH PRIORITY IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.
ESPECIALLY WHY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, WHY SHOULD WE EXPECT THE RATES TO BE HIGHER
[01:10:01]
THEN THE RATE SHOULD BE HIGHER DATA CENTERS, YOU KNOW, THE LOW TAX BREAKS THAT TEXAS GIVES, YOU KNOW, THE FAST INFANT STRUCTURE THAT YOU CAN DO IN TEXAS AS, UH, YOU KNOW, MAYOR VILLALOBOS KNOWS.AND IN HILO COUNTY THERE'S A LOT OF GROWTH GOING IN, YOU KNOW, DATA CENTERS, COLD STORAGES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO BEING THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS IS THE SECOND LARGEST IN DATA CENTERS BEING 432 DATA CENTERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY ACTIVE RIGHT NOW IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, UM, AND THAT'S JUST GONNA CONTINUE TO GROW BECAUSE OF THE TAX BREAKS.
AIRCRAFT MARKET IS IN A GOOD POINT RATHER THAN 2021.
BUT THE DEMAND IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S THROUGH THE ROOF.
SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE'RE BEING, UM, PRO PROACTIVE HERE.
AND, AND, AND WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO STOP THE BLEEDING AS MUCH AS WE CAN, YOU KNOW, AND IF, AND, AND IF WE COULD HAVE SIGNED A TENURED CONTRACT BACK WHEN, WHEN THIS CURRENT CONTRACT WAS SIGNED, THAT, YOU KNOW, I WOULD'VE, I WOULD'VE PREFERRED THAT.
IT WOULD'VE BEEN A GREAT OPTION TO DO.
WELL, ONE OF THE, RIGHT NOW, THOSE 3 CENT RATES, THOSE 4 CENT RATES, THOSE 5 CENT RATES, THEY'RE UNHEARD OF.
AND WE PROBABLY WON'T SEE THEM PROBABLY TILL 2038, IF ANY, IF, UM, BUT RIGHT NOW, THE WAY THE MARKET LOOKS, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, UH, WE NEED A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE GROWTH.
THEY'RE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT, UM, PRIVATE, UM, THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND PRIVATE COMPANIES MAKING THEIR OWN GRID AND ESTABLISHING THEIR OWN GRIDS SO THEY CAN MOVE THESE PROJECTS A LOT FASTER BECAUSE THESE INVESTORS FROM THE OTHER SIDE AND OTHER COUNTRIES ARE WANTING TO COME AND BUILD HERE AND THEY WANT TO DO IT FAST.
AND NOW ERCOT ISS STARTING TO PUT LIKE A GRIDLOCK ON THEM AND SAYING, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA PICK AND CHOOSE WHO WE WANT TO
SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE NEED TO BE PROACTIVE IN PURCHASING ENERGY AND, AND, AND LOCKING THIS IN FOR THE CITY AS FAR AS THE ENTITY THAT DOES HAVE A, UH, A BUDGET HERE AND HERE OUT.
SO WE WANT TO BE BUDGET CERTAINTY FOR, FOR ONCE.
AND WE JUST WANT TO BE PROACTIVE IN NOT HAVING THIS PRICE SHOP COME 20 29, 20 28.
UM, MAYOR COMMISSIONERS, IF I COULD ALSO, RUDY, COULD YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT? 'CAUSE I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE CONCERNS TALKING TO THE MAYOR AT LEAST, AND, AND I DON'T BLAME HIM.
I MEAN, HE'S LOOKING OUT FOR THE CITY, WAS US LOCKING INTO A RATE, AND, AND AGAIN, I'M NOT QUESTIONING YOUR, YOUR, YOUR VISION OR WHAT Y'ALL DO FOR A LIVING, BUT I THINK THERE, THE MAYOR'S CONCERN WAS, WHAT IF WE LEAVE MONEY ON THE TABLE? WHAT IF THE RATES GO DOWN? I THINK WE NEED TO SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT TOO, BECAUSE I THINK WHAT WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT WE'RE, WE'RE HEDGING OUR FUTURE ENERGY, RIGHT? WE'RE BUYING, WE'RE BUYING IT, WE'RE LOCKING IN AT A RATE WITH YOU, WITH JSA.
BUT IF THE RATES GO DOWN, THEN WE HAVE, WE, WE DO HAVE A CEILING, BUT WE CAN ACTUALLY PAY LESS, CORRECT? YES.
THERE, THERE IS A CLAUSE ON THE CONTRACT THAT IS A BLEND AND EXTEND CLAUSE, MEANING THAT OUR BENCHMARK TYPICALLY IS 25 TO 30%.
IF WE DO SEE THE PRICE DROP 25 TO 30%, WE WILL LOWER THE RATE AND EXTEND IT A MINIMUM OF SIX MONTHS.
THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO, UH, LIMIT ON HOW MUCH YOU CAN DO A BILLING AND EXTEND ON THE ACTUAL CONTRACT.
SO IF THE RATE EVER DOES DECREASE, WE CAN ALWAYS LOWER THE RATE AND EXTEND IT A MINIMUM OF SIX MONTHS.
ALL THE COMPONENTS ARE FIXED, ASIDE FROM JUST THE ELECTRICITY RATE.
VAL ENERGY ADDED SERVICE IS THE STREETLIGHT PROGRAM.
SO ANY, ANY LIGHTS THAT ARE OUT IN THE CITY, ANY LIGHTS THAT ARE OUT ON THE EXPRESS RIGHT NOW THAT THE CITY IS IN CHARGE OF THOSE, WE WOULD, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THEY'RE POWERED ON.
MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY IS LIT UP IN THE CORRECT WAY.
IF THERE'S ADDED ELECTRICITY OR LIGHTS THAT NEED TO BE, UM, YOU KNOW, INSTALLED, WE WILL GET THAT ALL FOR THE CITY AS, AND WE DON'T CHARGE THE CITY ANYTHING.
A EP WILL BILL THE CITY, BUT WE WILL COORDINATE ALL THAT WITH A EPI, I HAVE A CONCERN HERE IN DOING ANY KIND OF BUSINESS SO FAR IN ADVANCE BECAUSE JUST LIKE MY INSURANCE, MY LIKE COMPANY PROVIDER, UM, I LOOK EVERY SIX MONTHS, YOU KNOW, A MINIMUM OF SIX MONTHS.
I DON'T FORESEE GOING ABOVE THAT BECAUSE YOU, THERE'S JUST SO MANY DIFFERENT VARIABLES THAT CAN HAPPEN.
UM, THIS CONTRACT WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE I KNOW OURS WITH TXU, IT'S NOVEMBER 30TH, 2030.
UM, WHY NOT WAIT ON THIS UNTIL THE TIME COMES? UM, BECAUSE THINGS CAN CHANGE.
AND YOU'RE SAYING THAT THIS WON'T GO UP 'CAUSE IT'S A FIXED RATE, BUT THINGS HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COULD BE LOWER.
AND THEN I DON'T WANT IT TO COME BACK TO US TO BITE US LATER ON THAT, OH, WELL WE SIGNED THIS CONTRACT WITH YOU AND THERE'S NOTHING REALLY WE CAN DO.
I, I, I PREFER WAITING ON THIS EVEN AS IS AND, AND NOT GOING FORWARD WITH THIS JUST YET.
UNTIL WE'RE CLOSER TO THAT DATE, I, I JUST DON'T SEE US DOING SOMETHING PREMATURELY AGAIN.
BEING THAT A RESIDENTIAL CONTRACT IS PROTECTED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS IN A WHOLE DIFFERENT MATTER THAN THE WAY A LARGE 50 KW CUSTOMER IS BEING THAT THE CITY DOES USE 10 MILLION KWHA YEAR, IT'S VERY DIFFERENT THAN PURCHASING A RESIDENTIAL, UH, CONTRACT OR TERM.
[01:15:01]
SAYING A COMMON PRACTICE THOUGH WOULD BE NOT TO GO SO FAR AHEAD AND LOOKING AT THIS, BECAUSE AGAIN, THERE'S SO MANY VARIABLES THAT COULD BE AT STAKE HERE THAT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY AND, AND, AND PROBABLY NOT BEST FOR ONESELF SOMETIMES.UM, SO OUR JOB HERE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT AND I, I JUST DON'T FEEL THAT US JUMPING SO FAR AHEAD IS THE BEST INTEREST RIGHT NOW.
AND AS FAR AS THE VARIABLES ARE, THE DATA SHOWS THAT IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST TO PURCHASE AHEAD.
AND BASED ON WHAT I JUST EXPLAINED, AND THIS IS, YOU KNOW, WE SEE IT ON THE NEWS EVERY DAY, THE ENERGY IS NOT GOING DOWN.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S, I, YOU KNOW WHAT, UH, EXCUSE ME.
AND I UNDERSTAND, I UNDERSTAND THAT ONE.
YOU KNOW, WITH THE, WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO TELL US, THE REASON I BROUGHT IT BACK IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO REALIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, COUNSEL, WE HAVE A, WE HAD A PROCUREMENT, YOU KNOW, NOBODY ELSE HAS BEEN FOR THIS, AND WE'RE DOING A CONTRACT ALREADY ON IT, YOU KNOW, FOUR, FOUR YEARS FROM NOW, FIVE YEARS FROM NOW.
AND THAT WAS ONE OF MY, MY CONCERNS.
I SAID, LOOK, UM, NOBODY THAT TAKES U IS NOT GONNA BID.
WE'RE JUST GIVING A CONTRACT TO YOU GUYS FIVE YEARS FROM NOW AND TAKES U UH, ALL THE OTHER ONES, A EP, NOBODY KNOWS.
UH, YOU KNOW, THAT, UH, WE ALREADY SIGNED A CONTRACT.
WE, YOU GUYS ALREADY, THAT WAS MY MAIN CONCERN.
SO I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, UH, NO, THEY NEED, THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO SEE IT.
THE PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE REASON WHY IS THAT, THAT RIGHT NOW IT'S AT, AT, UH, WHAT THE 3.9% AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, THIS IS GOOD.
THIS, UH, PRICE IS GOOD TO NOVEMBER 30, NO, 20 30, 20 33.
SO, WHICH IS FOUR YEARS NOW WE'RE, WE'RE ALREADY SENDING THE CONTRACT FIVE YEARS FROM NOW.
I SAID, NO, I MEAN, HOW CAN WE DO THAT? BECAUSE AGAIN, OUR PROCUREMENT, IF THAT, YOU KNOW, IF TXU COMES IN AND SAY, WELL, YOU DIDN'T GIMME A CHANCE, YOU KNOW, HOW ABOUT THE AP? THEY GOES, YOU KNOW, WELL, YOU DIDN'T GIMME A CHANCE.
SO, SO THAT WAS THE WHOLE DEAL BEHIND THIS THAT I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, IT'S COME BACK AND THE COUNCIL NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
MY NAME IS ERIC RAMEZ AND I'M A PARTNER WITH VALLEY AND ENERGY SOURCES.
AND, UH, JUST KIND OF TO, TO, TO ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT MORE AS FAR AS MARKET GOES.
AND TO, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, MS. MORALES, THE REASON BEING, I MEAN, BACK IN 2021 OR PRIOR TO THAT, WHEN YOU SIGNED INITIALLY THE CONTRACT YOU'RE CURRENTLY PAYING, UH, YOU WERE A THREE NINE, RIGHT? OBVIOUSLY WE DIDN'T SIGN THAT LONG OF A CONTRACT.
IF WE WERE TO HAVE SIGNED THAT, WE'D BEEN A DIFFERENT PLACE NOW THEN WE KNOW IT BE PROTECTED MUCH LONGER.
RIGHT? UNFORTUNATELY THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
AND AS OF 2021, THE MARKET HAS NOT BEEN FAVORABLE.
IT HAS ONLY FORECASTED TO GO HIGHER AND HIGHER AND HIGHER, WHICH IS THE REASON THAT WE'RE BRINGING THIS TO THE TABLE TO LOOK OUT FOR YOUR BEST INTEREST.
NOW, IF FOR ANY REASON THE MARKET DOES HAPPEN TO GO DOWN, LIKE RUDY MENTIONED, THERE IS AN, AN EXACT CLAUSE CLAUSES INCLUDED INTO YOUR CONTRACT THAT YOUR PREVIOUS CONTRACT MIGHT NOT HAVE HAD HAD, WHICH IS CALLED THE BLEND AND EXTENT.
OUR, OUR MAIN OBJECTIVE HERE IS TO LOOK OUT FOR THE BEST INTEREST, LIKE YOU SAID, FOR THE COMMUNITY.
ALRIGHT? APART FROM US LOOKING OUT FOR YOUR BEST INTEREST HERE, WE HAD AN ADDED, ADDED ADDED SERVICE, WHICH IS THE LIGHT, THE LIGHTING PROGRAM, WHICH IS CURRENTLY ACTIVE IN, I BELIEVE 70% OF THE, OF THE CITIES IN, IN THE RGV.
WE HAVE, WE HAVE A, A, A PROVEN RECORD THAT IT'S AT HAS HELPED OUT.
AND I, I MEAN, AFTER SITTING HERE AND LISTENING TO SOME OF YOUR RESIDENTS, I BELIEVE THAT'S ONE OF YOUR, YOUR BIGGEST ISSUES, LIGHTING THROUGHOUT THIS CITY.
NOT ONLY IS LOOKING OUT FOR THE BEST INTEREST WITH WHAT THE, WHAT YOU, Y'ALL ARE GONNA BE PAYING FOR YOUR ELECTRICITY, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY TAXPAYERS PLAY THAT, RIGHT? SO US AS PROFESSIONALS LOOK OUT FOR YOUR BEST INTEREST IN THAT FACT.
BUT APART FROM THAT, WE'RE ALSO GONNA BE LOOKING OUT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE LIGHT UP THE CITY AND, AND THE PLACES THAT NEED TO BE, THAT NEED TO BE LIT UP.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, FOR THE KIDS VANDALISM, WE HAVE A LOT OF, A LOT OF RESIDENTS IN, IN OUR COMMUNITIES, OR, AND NOT ONLY IN SAN BENITO, BUT THE ENTIRE RGV THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF ELDERLY AND WE'VE SEEN IT WHERE THERE HAS BEEN ACCIDENTS.
WE WANNA PREVENT THAT KIND OF THING.
AND THE REASON THAT WE'RE HERE IS, IS TO PROMOTE AND OBVIOUSLY GIVE YOU THE BEST, THE BEST, UH, THAT WE CAN OFFER AND THE SERVICES THAT WE OFFER.
AND TO, AND TO, TO THAT MS. MORALES, THE MARKET, AND, AND WE WE'RE THE PROFESSIONALS HERE, AND I'M SORRY TO SAY THIS, BUT THIS IS WHAT WE DO EACH AND EVERY DAY.
LOOKOUT FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF EVERY COMMUNITY, THE MARKET IS NOT GONNA BE AS FAVORABLE AS, AS ONE WOULD SAY IF WE, IF WE, IF YOU TAKE THE RISK.
NOW, YES, YOU COULD TAKE THE RISK AND GAMBLE, BUT A LOT OF COMMUNITIES HAVE ALREADY TOOKEN THAT RISK AND THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO, TO CAPITALIZE ON THOSE KIND OF RISKS.
I, I I GET THAT, BUT I'M NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM OTHER COMMUNITIES.
AND I UNDERSTAND NOT GIVING TXU THE OPPORTUNITY AS WELL, BECAUSE YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU COULD FIX THIS AND THIS AND THAT,
[01:20:01]
A, B AND C WITH THE LIGHTS THAT'S YEARS FROM NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY HERE AND NOW THAT WE GOT TXU, WHICH WE ARE ADDRESSING SOME OF OUR LIGHT FIXTURES THAT WE NEED TO BE FIXED, ESPECIALLY LIKE AT AKA.SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IN THE FUTURE, SEE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED DONE AND WE NEED DONE.
NOW THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'M SAYING.
SO I'M SAYING GIVEN WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO GIVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO EVERYBODY, NOT JUST TO ONE GROUP COMING IN, SIGNING A CONTRACT.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION TO DENY THIS, UM, BECAUSE I, LIKE I SAID, I THINK WE'RE JUST MOVING PREMATURELY.
THIS IS SOMETHING YEARS DOWN THE LINE AND SOMETHING THAT WE COULD LOOK TO WHEN THAT TIME COMES.
SO MY MOTION IS TO, CAN I, CAN I JUST ASK, DOES THIS PRICE INCLUDE THE DELIVERY CHARGES? YES.
IT DOES ACTUALLY, THE DELIVERY CHARGE CHARGE.
IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE DELIVERY CHARGES.
OH, SO IT'S MORE LIKE 12 CENTS.
WELL ACTUALLY IT'D BE, IT'D BE DIFFERENT THAN 12 CENTS.
I CAN'T GIVE YOU THE EXACT AMOUNT BECAUSE IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE DEMAND THAT Y'ALL USE.
AND GOING BACK TO PRICING WITH TXU, WE HAVE, WE WERE ABLE TO, UH, WE ARE ABLE TO PRICE WITH TXU FOR YOU.
THERE'S NOTHING DIFFERENT THAN THAT.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT, THAT YOU'RE JUST GETTING PRICING FROM, FROM A PROVIDER AND GOING BACK TO THE LIGHTING PROGRAM, THAT WOULD BE TAKE, UH, TAKEN EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
THAT WOULDN'T BE 10 YEARS OR FOUR OR FIVE YEARS FROM NOW.
SO ASSISTING AND HELPING OUT WITH THE LIGHTING WOULD TAKE EFFECTIVE AS SOON AS YOU, YOU, UH, YOU MAKE AN APPROVAL.
THIS, THIS PRACTICE THAT THESE GENTLEMEN ARE, ARE PROPOSING IS A COMMON PRACTICE IN BUSINESS.
I MEAN, AS A BUSINESS OWNER AND A BUILDING, AND, AND THAT WITH A, A USER, I MEAN, IT'S COMMON.
I HAVE, I'VE ALREADY GOT A CONTRACT THREE YEARS FROM DOWN THE LINE AND, AND MY RATE'S NOT AS GOOD AS THIS.
AND SO I, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO SEE THIS KIND OF THING HAPPEN AT ALL.
AND IT'S JUST, IT'S STANDARD PRACTICING BUSINESS.
SO YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT YOU DON'T LOOK OUT AND SEE SOMEBODY ELSE GET PRICES FROM SOMEBODY ELSE? YOU JUST GO WITH THAT FIRST PERSON? NO, I MEAN, I, I, RIGHT.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SAYING HERE.
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR COMPETITIVE BIDS.
UH, COUNSEL DEBORAH HAD A MOTION.
I KNOW THERE'S, THERE'S A, UH, UH, THERE'S STILL QUESTIONS.
UM, ARE WE ALLOWED TO GO, YOU KNOW, UH, OUT FOR THIS WITHOUT, UH, GOING THROUGH BIDS? WELL, IT DEPENDS WHAT YOU DID, BECAUSE I'M NOT FAMILIAR WHAT, WHAT, WHAT THE PROCUREMENT WAS.
WE ACTUALLY APPROVED TO BE A PART OF MO CASEY, UH, THE COOPERATIVE PURCHASING JUST KIND OF LIKE FIVE YEARS FROM NOW.
SO THEY'RE, WELL, THEY'RE, THEY'RE PART OF MO CASEY.
SO WHAT WE DID WAS AN R UH, REVERSE RFP PROCESS.
SO WE WENT OUT TO BID FOR Y'ALL, AND WE, WE EVALUATED AND THIS WAS THE BEST OPTION FOR Y'ALL.
IF YOU, UH, IF YOU OPEN UP THE PACKET THERE, WE HAVE THE TOP FOUR COMPANIES THAT WERE PRICED, AND THOSE ARE THE PRICING FROM THE TOP FOUR COMPANIES RIGHT HERE ON THE FRONT.
WHEN YOU OPTED INTO THE, UH, THE COOPERATIVE, THEY GAVE YOU OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR SERVICES, WHICH IS INDEED GOING OUT TO BID AND FINDING THE BEST OPTION FOR Y'ALL.
SO, SO AT, AT THAT POINT YOU'LL BE, YOU'LL BE YEAH.
YOU'LL BE BIDDING FOR US YEAH.
UH, THE ONLY THING HERE IS, IS THAT WE'RE GIVING YOU OUR BEST RECOMMENDATION ON WHAT'S BEST OUT THERE FOR THE MARKET AND FIXING OUR STREET LIGHTS IN THE MEANTIME.
SIR? YEAH, IT'S, I UNDERSTAND.
MR. JOE RODRIGUEZ DOES THAT FOR FREE.
HE REPORTS IT RIDE MY BIKE AT REPORTS MOTION STILL STANDS, MAYOR.
UH, FURTHER OTHER QUESTIONS? NO, I GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MORALES TO DENY ON THE, THIS, UH, ITEM NUMBER, WHAT WAS IT? 12 ITEM NUMBER 12.
SO DO I HAVE A SECOND FOR SECOND? SECOND BY COMMISSIONER NAVARRO.
SO THAT ONE NAY AND FOUR YEARS.
SO IT'S, THANK YOU FOR HAVING, HAVE A GOOD EVENING ITEM.
I DO CARE ABOUT CITY WHAT YOU WANT.
[13. Consideration and possible action to award RFP-2026-0010 for the Amended Exclusive Municipal Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Services.]
ITEM NUMBER 13, CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE ACTION AWARD.RFP NUMBER 20 26 0 1 0 FOR A, FOR THE AMENDED EXCLUSIVE MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL SERVICES.
I HAVE A, A, A LEGAL ISSUE THAT I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS WITH, WITH COUNSEL.
I'D LIKE TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION REGARDING LEGAL ISSUES, NOT REGARDING SELECTION.
SO WE'RE GOING TO, THE TIME IS, UH, 7 0 7.
WE'RE GOING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[01:25:05]
THE TIME IS, UH, 8 0 7.WE'RE BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM NUMBER 13, UH, CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE ACTION AWARD.
RFP NUMBER 20 26 0 0 10 FOR THE AMENDED EXCLUSIVE MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL SERVICES.
MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, UH, RECOMMEND AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE A SOLID WASTE CONTRACT WITH REPUBLIC SERVICES, UH, AS, UH, AS DISCUSSED.
I'M SORRY, DO I HAVE, UH, ANY QUESTIONS? DO I HAVE MOTION? MOTION, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MORALE? SECOND, SECOND.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER NAVARRO.
[18. Consideration and possible action to approve Change Order Number 1, submitted by KLM Engineering, Inc., in addition to the original contract for the Freddy Fender Tower Rehabilitation Project, for an additional cost of $11,600.00.]
ITEM NUMBER 18, CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE ACTION PROVE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE, SUBMITTED BY KLM ENGINEERING INC.IN ADDITION TO YOUR ADDITIONAL CONTRACT FOR THE FREDDIE FENDER TOWER REHABILITATION PROJECT FOR AN ADDITIONAL COST OF $11,600, UH, MAYOR COMMISSION IS BEING RECOMMENDED BY THE, UH, PROJECT MANAGER AND THE PROJECT MANAGER ENGINEERS.
UH, THIS IS A DOLLAR PLATE REPLACEMENT IN THE VERY TOP OF THE PLANT OF THE TOWER.
THAT WAS NOT, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO, THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO GET TO IT IN THE INSPECTION.
IT'S SEVERELY RUSTED AND THEY CUT.
THEY NEED TO CUT IT OUT AND REPLACE IT.
UM, IF Y'ALL RECALL, THIS PLANT, THIS TOWER'S GOT ABOUT 25, 26 YEARS IN OF, OF SERVICE AND IT'S NEVER BEEN REHABBED.
SO, UH, IT'S A REALLY GOOD TIME TO DO IT.
UH, STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
COMMISSIONER, ANY QUESTIONS? NO.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE YOUR GOT A MOTION BY AMER PRO, TIM GOODMAN.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER NAVARRO.
[19. Consider a possible action to approve a weather insurance application with Vortex Insurance Agency, LLC, for Rain Insurance Coverage for the 2026 Hog Waddle Event in the amount of $25,193.00.]
19, CONSIDER POSS CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE WEATHER INSURANCE APPLICATION WITH VORTEX INSURANCE AGENCY LLC FOR RAIN INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR THE 2026 HOG WATER EVENT AND THE AMOUNT OF $25,193.ANY QUESTIONS? DO I HAVE MOTION? MOTION? YOU GOT MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MORE MORALE SECOND BY COMMISSIONER NAVARRO.
[20. Consideration and possible action to ratify payment to OMT Utilities for emergency repairs to a collapsed manhole at the intersection of Lovett Road and Business Highway 77 in the amount of $56,000.00]
ITEM 20, CONSIDERATION, POSSIBLE ACTION TO RATIFY PAYMENT TO OMT UTILITIES FOR EMERGENCY REPAIRS.COLLAPSED MANHOLE AT INTERSECTION OF LOVETT ROAD AND BUSINESS HIGHWAY 77 IN THE AMOUNT OF $56,000.
WE'VE HAD OMT ON SITE PROBABLY SINCE BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS.
WE'VE BEEN, UH, GOING ON DIFFERENT EMERGENCIES.
I MEAN, THESE THINGS ARE COLLAPSED.
MANHOLES, UM, YOU KNOW, JB AND HIS STAFF HAVE BEEN OUT THERE.
THESE ARE TOO DEEP FOR US TO DO.
UM, AND WE'VE HAD TO, WE'VE HAD TO REPAIR THIS TO, TO KEEP THIS THING FLOWING.
SO STAFFORD, RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE.
MAYOR, I GOT A MOTION BY, UH, COMMISSIONER GALVAN.
UH, ON EXECUTIVE SESSIONS, UH, ONE AND TWO.
AND THE TIME IS, UH, EIGHT 10.