[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:05]
NOTICE OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF SAN BENITO CITY COMMISSION. THE TIME IS 535.
I LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER, AND WE HAVE A QUORUM.
MISS RUTH, CAN YOU TAKE MISS MCGUINNESS? COULD YOU TAKE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? YES, SIR.
MAYOR PEDRO GALVAN. PRESENT. MAYOR PRO TEM JOE NAVARRO.
PRESENT. COMMISSIONER. RICARDO. PEREZ. COMMISSIONER.
DANIEL. CORTEZ. COMMISSIONER. VICTOR GONZALEZ.
PRESENT. ATTORNEY. ERIC FLORES. PRESENT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MISS MCGUINNESS. ALL. PLEASE STAND. WE'LL PROCEED WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE OF THE US FLAG AND TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.
PLEASE REMAIN STANDING. IS THERE CHRIS ROJAS FROM BAPTIST TEMPLE? YES. OKAY, WELL, LEAD US IN OUR INVOCATION. GO AHEAD.
YES. THANK YOU. LET US BOW OUR HEADS AND LET US PRAY.
HEAVENLY FATHER, GOD OF ABRAHAM, GOD OF ISAAC, GOD OF JACOB.
FATHER, YOU ARE HOLY. YOU ARE WORTHY TO BE LOVED.
YOU ARE WORTHY TO BE PRAISED. YOU'RE WORTHY TO BE WORSHIPED.
FATHER, WE LIFT UP THIS GOVERNMENT BODY. FATHER, WE LIFT UP OUR MAYOR AND OUR CITY COMMISSIONER AND.
AND THIS ADMINISTRATIVE BODY. FATHER. FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS THEM.
FATHER. WE ASK FATHER THAT YOU ENCOURAGE THEM.
FATHER, TO SEEK YOUR COUNSEL AND SEEK YOUR KINGDOM.
FATHER. FATHER. EVERY DECISION, EVERY DECISION THAT'S MADE TODAY.
FATHER, WE ASK THAT IT BRINGS YOU HONOR AND GLORY.
WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS THEM AND YOU BLESS THIS ADMINISTRATION AND THIS GATHERING HERE THIS EVENING.
FATHER, THIS LORD, WE ASK AND WE PRAY IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.
OKAY. WE HAVE OUR PROCLAMATION. PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION TO OMAR FIGUEROA JUNIOR, AKA
[PROCLAMATION(S) ]
PANTERITA IN RECOGNITION OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.TWO OFF THE TOP. TAKE. TWO OFF THE TOP AND LEFT TO RIGHT.
WHEREAS OMAR FIGUEROA JUNIOR, IS AN AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL BOXER FROM THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY WHO HAS PROUDLY REPRESENTED THE REGION THROUGHOUT HIS DISTINGUISHED, DISTINGUISHED BOXING CAREER AND SERVES AS A MENTOR AND POSITIVE ROLE MODEL FOR MANY YOUNG PEOPLE AND CHILDREN IN SAN BENITO, TEXAS. AND WHEREAS OMAR FIGUEROA JUNIOR COMPETED AS A PROFESSIONAL BOXER FROM 2008 THROUGH 2022, ESTABLISHING HIMSELF AS ONE OF THE MOST ACCOMPLISHED PROFESSIONAL BOXERS TO COME FROM THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY.
AND WHEREAS OMAR FIGUEROA JUNIOR BEGAN HIS BOXING JOURNEY AS AN AMATEUR COMPLIANT AND IMPRESSIVE AMATEUR CAREER OF 40 BOUTS, GAINING THE EXPERIENCE, DISCIPLINE, DETERMINATION AND PERSEVERANCE THAT WOULD DEFINE HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER.
AND WHEREAS OMAR JUNIOR WENT ON TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL PROFESSIONAL CAREER CONSISTING OF 32 TOTAL FIGHTS WITH 28 VICTORIES, THREE LOSSES, 19 VICTORIES BY KNOCKOUT, DEMONSTRATING HIS EXCEPTIONAL SKILL, DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO THE SPORT OF BOXING.
AND WHEREAS OMAR FIGUEROA ACHIEVED ONE OF THE HIGHEST HONORS IN PROFESSIONAL BOXING WHEN HE CAPTURED THE WBC LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2014, BRINGING RECOGNITION AND PRIDE TO THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY AND THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND WHEREAS BEYOND HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS INSIDE THE BOXING RING, OMAR FIGUEROA JUNIOR HAS DEMONSTRATED A COMMITMENT TO GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND ENCOURAGING YOUNG PEOPLE TO PURSUE THEIR GOALS, REMAIN DISCIPLINED, OVERCOME CHALLENGES AND BELIEVE IN THEIR POTENTIAL.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN BENITO, TEXAS, IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE OMAR FIGUEROA JUNIOR FOR HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS A PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE, HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE BOXING COMMUNITY, AND HIS CONTINUED INFLUENCE AS A MENTOR AND ROLE MODEL TO THE YOUTH OF SAN BENITO AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.
[00:05:01]
SERVES AS AN INSPIRATION TO THE CITIZENS OF SAN BENITO, REMINDING US THAT WITH HARD WORK, PERSEVERANCE, DISCIPLINE AND DETERMINATION, GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS CAN BE ACHIEVED.AND NOW THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED. I. PEDRO GALVAN, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN BENITO, TEXAS, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE AND HONOR OMAR FIGUEROA JUNIOR FOR HIS OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS IN PROFESSIONAL BOXING, HIS PERSEVERANCE AND REPRESENTATION OF THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, AND HIS DEDICATION TO INSPIRING AND MENTORING THE YOUTH OF OUR COMMUNITY.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I HEREUNTO SET MY HAND THIS 18TH DAY OF AUGUST, IN THE YEAR OF THE LORD 2026. COME ON UP.
I MOVE ON TO THE ANNOUNCEMENTS. MISS STEPHANIE, ARE YOU GIVING ANNOUNCEMENTS?
[ANNOUNCEMENT(S) ]
OKAY, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND START. I WAS LIKE, YOU GO FOR IT.THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF AUGUST, OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT IS ACCEPTING REGISTRATION FOR YOUTH RECREATION, BASEBALL, SOCCER AND SOFTBALL. FAMILIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO REGISTER THIS MONTH, WITH THE SEASON SET TO BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER.
AGES FROM THREE YEARS OLD TO 14 YEARS OLD. AUGUST 20TH 20TH, 2026 AT 8 A.M..
WALMART WILL BE HAVING A GRAND RE-OPENING LOCATED AT 1126 US BUSINESS 77.
AUGUST 20TH, 2026 AT 5:30 P.M., THE SAN BERNARDINO FIRE DEPARTMENT CITIZENS ACADEMY WILL HAVE ITS FINAL CLASS AT 1201 SOUTH SAM HOUSTON ON AUGUST 21ST, 2026 FROM 9 A.M. TO 11 A.M. FREE PRODUCE FOR THE PROVIDED BY THE RGV FOOD BANK DRIVE WILL BE PROVIDED AT THE DRIVE THRU AT SAN BENITO FAIRGROUNDS AT 1501 CESAR GONZALEZ PARKWAY. AND FINALLY, SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2026, OUR MARKET DAYS VIVA SAN BENITO FROM 6 P.M.
TO 10 P.M. AT HISTORIC ROBERTSON STREET. WE'LL MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[PUBLIC COMMENTS]
MIKE TRAVIS, PLEASE.GOOD AFTERNOON, ONE AND ALL. MIKE TRAVIS, RUSSELL LANE, SAN BENITO, TEXAS.
AGAIN, AS I SAID PREVIOUSLY, TWO MEETINGS AGO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE IN MY STEAD BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE GUMPTION WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW IN LIFE TO DO IT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING US HERE IN SAN BENITO.
NEXT ON MY MR. CARLOS GERENA. OKAY. I TOLD YOU I DON'T THINK I TOLD YOU PRIVATELY, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY WELCOME, WELCOME, HEARTFELT WELCOME FROM ME PERSONALLY.
AND I WANT TO GO ON THE RECORD THAT THIS IS ON THE RECORD, NOT PRIVATE CONVERSATION ON THERE.
AND I CONGRATULATE YOU ON BECOMING THE ONE THAT RECEIVED THE THE VOTES.
AND I JUST PRAY THAT YOU WILL WORK TOGETHER WITH THE MAYOR AND THE COMMISSIONERS TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE CITIZENS OF SAN BENITO. YES. AND I KNOW I READ IN THE PAPER IT SAID, EVERYBODY HAS THEIR ASK OF YOU.
[00:10:06]
SO I HAVE THAT'S A GENERAL ASK. I HAVE WORK TOGETHER IN HARMONY AND UNISON, AND I UNDERSTAND NOT EVERYBODY AGREES ON EVERYTHING, BUT THERE WE CAN HAVE A DECORUM AND CONDUCT OURSELVES IN A CIVILIZED FASHION WITHOUT GETTING UNRULY, AND THINGS ABOUT.I'M JUST SORT OF FLYING OFF THE CUFF HERE. BUT I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY, OH, I REMEMBER, PLEASE, PLEASE ADVISE US TO STEER AWAY FROM ANY KIND OF DEALS.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE. I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT IS RIGHT NOW. I KNOW, I KNOW, BUT NO ONE OF YOU IS ALLOWED TO RESPOND TO ME RIGHT NOW, BUT I AM KIND OF CURIOUS ABOUT WHERE THAT IS.
PREVIOUSLY, I ADVOCATED TO FIGHT THAT VERY VIGOROUSLY LEGALLY, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THAT WAS A DEAL OF TWO ADMINISTRATIONS PRIOR AND THE ONES THAT YOU ALL REPLACED. THIS WAS EVEN BEFORE THEM ALSO AND THE PREVIOUS CITY MANAGER.
SO I DON'T WANT TO GET OFF ON THAT TOPIC RIGHT THERE.
AND YES, JUST STEER US CLEAR FROM THOSE KIND OF THINGS.
AND ALSO, I GOT A FEW SECONDS HERE. I DON'T THINK I'M A FAN OF CITY MANAGER BEING A EDC SIMULTANEOUSLY. I THINK THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE TWO FULL TIME JOBS, AND I DON'T SEE HOW ONE PERSON CAN DO TWO FULL TIME JOBS.
NOTHING AGAINST YOU. YOU MAY BE HIGHLY QUALIFIED, BUT I THINK WE TRIED THAT AND SAW WHAT HAPPENED.
MY TIME IS UP. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I PRAY THE LORD BLESSES US ONE AND ALL.
LOLA. 248 CHARLES BARBER ROAD. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I'M HERE ADVOCATING FOR A RESIDENT WHO WISHES TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS BECAUSE THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT POSSIBLE RETALIATION. IT'S HAPPENED BEFORE.
I WANT TO START BY ASKING A VERY SIMPLE QUESTION.
WHOSE IDEA WAS IT TO APPOINT FORMER MAYOR RICK GUERRA TO THE EDC BOARD? THE EDC EXISTS TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ATTRACT BUSINESSES, ENCOURAGE INVESTMENT AND CREATE JOBS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I BELIEVE THE CITIZENS HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT QUALIFICATIONS WERE CONSIDERED AND WHO RECOMMENDED MR. GUERRA FOR THIS POSITION. I'M HERE NOT TO ATTACK ONE PERSONALLY.
I ALSO WANT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE INVOLVING THE EASEMENT BEHIND MY PROPERTY.
I BROUGHT THE MATTER TO THE DIRECTOR, EDWARD ENRIQUEZ, CONCERNING A FENCE INSTALLED BY FUN AND SUN THAT BLOCKS ACCESS TO WHAT I UNDERSTAND TO BE A RECORDED AND PLATTED EASEMENT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE FENCE IS GRANDFATHERED AND THE CITY CANNOT REQUIRE IT TO BE REMOVED.
MR. ENRIQUEZ, I WANT TO MAKE SOMETHING CLEAR.
THE CITY BY THE CITY'S POSITION. BUT I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE CITY.
IF THE IS. THE EASEMENT IS SHOWN IN THE RECORDED PROPERTY DOCUMENTED IN THE CAMERON COUNTY COURTHOUSE, THEN WHO IS THE AUTHORITY TO BLOCK ACCESS TO IT, AND WHAT RESPONSIBILITY DOES THE CITY HAVE TO ENFORCE THE LAW? RIGHT NOW, I STILL DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE EASEMENT THAT AFFECTS MY ABILITY TO BRING IN DIRT TO MY PROPERTY TO PROTECT IT FROM FLOODING.
I HAVE ATTENDED CITY MEETINGS, AND I HAVE WATCHED SITUATIONS WHERE THE CITY EMPLOYEES APPEAR TO FACE A FACE PRESSURE WHEN THEY BEGIN DOING WHAT BELIEVE THAT IS RIGHT, OR FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION. THAT CONCERNS ME.
IT IS ABOUT EVERY CITY IN SAN BENITO BE TREATED EQUALLY.
WE NEED TO ASK QUESTIONS. WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR RECORDS.
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHO MAKES THESE DECISIONS AND WHY.
SAN BENITO BELONGS TO ITS RESIDENTS, NOT SMALL GROUPS OF PEOPLE WITH INFLUENCE OR CONNECTIONS.
IF SOMETHING IS BEING DONE CORRECTLY, EXPLAIN IT TO THE PUBLIC.
IF SOMETHING IS WRONG, FIX IT. AND IF THESE ARE RULES THAT THE RULES SHOULD APPLY EQUALLY TO EVERYONE, SAN BENITO BELONGS TO ITS RESIDENTS. WE NEED CITIZENS TO PAY ATTENTION, ASK QUESTIONS AND ATTEND MEETINGS,
[00:15:04]
AND HOLD THEIR ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE.THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON TOO LONG. MR. RICARDO MADRIGAL.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS RICARDO MADRIGAL. NOW, BASED ON THE AGENDA, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS MEETING IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TONIGHT TO DELIBERATE THE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE CONDUCT OF ONE OF ITS MEMBERS.
IF THIS IS TRUE, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A FEW OBSERVATIONS.
FIRST, DISCIPLINARY ACTION MUST REST ON MORE THAN THE CONDUCT THE COUNCIL FINDS DISTASTEFUL, OFFENSIVE, INCONVENIENT OR POLITICALLY DISAGREEABLE.
NOR SHOULD THE DISCIPLINARY PROCESS BECOME A VEHICLE FOR SETTLING POLITICAL SCORES, PUNISHING AN OPPONENT, OR SILENCING DISSENT. REMOVING AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IS DIFFERENT THAN DISCIPLINING AN EMPLOYEE OR APPOINTED OFFICIAL.
REMOVAL DOES NOT AFFECT ONLY THE INDIVIDUAL. IT AFFECTS EVERY VOTER WHO CAST A BALLOT.
TO PUT THAT PERSON IN OFFICE, THEIR CHOICE SHOULD BE RESPECTED.
UNLESS THERE IS A CLEAR AND LAWFUL BASIS FOR THE FORFEITURE OF THAT OFFICE.
NOW, THERE IS ALSO A BROADER CONCERN ABOUT HOW POLITICS SOMETIMES OPERATES IN THE CITY.
ELECTED OFFICIALS MAY SHARE POLITICAL VIEWS AND WORK TOGETHER, BUT GOVERNMENT SUFFERS WHEN A GROUP SLATES TOGETHER AND BECOMES MORE IMPORTANT THAN INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT. WHEN MEMBERS CONSISTENTLY VOTE TOGETHER, MEANINGFUL DEBATE DISAPPEARS AND DISCUSSION DECISIONS SEEM PREDETERMINED. CITIZENS WILL ASK WHETHER THE COUNCIL IS TRULY DELIBERATING OR MERELY RATIFYING DECISIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE.
NOW, A HEALTHY GOVERNING BODY SHOULD WELCOME DISAGREEMENT.
INDEPENDENT THINKING IS NOT A PROBLEM SIMPLY BECAUSE ONE REFUSES TO TOE THE LINE.
SO THE QUESTION TONIGHT IS, HAS THIS ELECTED OFFICIAL COMMITTED A SPECIFIC VIOLATION THAT LEGALLY AUTHORIZES THE COUNCIL TO TAKE THE PROPOSED ACTION? ACTION TAKEN OUTSIDE THE CITY'S LEGAL AUTHORITY COULD EXPOSE THE CITY TO ANOTHER LAWSUIT AND ANOTHER ROUND OF LEGAL EXPENSES THAT TAXPAYERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BEAR.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT COULD UNDERMINE THE PUBLIC'S CONFIDENCE IN YOUR INTEGRITY.
FINALLY, I URGE THE ELECTED OFFICIAL IN QUESTION TO INVOKE HIS RIGHT TO REQUEST A PUBLIC HEARING RATHER THAN ALLOW THIS MATTER TO BE DELIBERATED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. IF THE COUNCIL BELIEVES DISCIPLINARY ACTION IS JUSTIFIED, IT SHOULD BE PREPARED TO DEFEND THAT DECISION OPENLY AND ON THE RECORD, BECAUSE THE CITIZENS OF SAN BENITO DESERVE NOTHING LESS.
THANK YOU. I MISS ESTHER RIVERA. HERNANDEZ.
MAYOR GALVAN, COMMISSIONERS PEREZ, CORTEZ GONZALEZ AND MAYOR PRO TEM NAVARRO.
I AM ESTHER RIVERA HERNANDEZ, A LIFETIME CITIZEN OF SAN BENITO.
HOWEVER, AT THE MOMENT, I AM ASHAMED TO CLAIM SAN BENITO AS MY HOME.
INSTEAD, WE GET A GROUP OF GROWN MEN ACTING LIKE LITTLE KIDS.
I FEEL LIKE I SEE A MAYOR AND A WANNABE MAYOR FIGHTING AGAINST EACH OTHER.
IT'S APPARENT THAT WHATEVER THE MAYOR WANTS, THE REST OF YOU ARE GOING TO SHOOT IT DOWN.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT EVERYTHING THAT THE MAYOR SAYS OR WANTS IS RIGHT, AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT THE REST OF YOU ARE WRONG, BUT DON'T BEHAVE IN THE MANNER THAT YOU ARE BEHAVING.
WORK TOGETHER. ACT CIVILIZED. IF YOUR KIDS WERE ACTING THE WAY YOU ARE ACTING, WOULD YOU BE PROUD?
[00:20:06]
OR WOULD YOU ALSO BE ASHAMED? THAT'S ALL. MAYOR.THANK YOU, MISS MCGUINNESS. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
OH. I'M SORRY. PRESENTATIONS. MISS STEPHANIE SARRIONANDIA.
[PRESENTATION(S)]
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER PRESENTING THIS ITEM. HELLO.GOOD AFTERNOON STEPHANIE. FOR THE RECORD FINANCE DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY.
WE'RE NOW PRESENTING TO YOU THIS AFTERNOON. IT'S THE THIRD QUARTER OF FINANCIALS FROM APRIL TO JUNE.
SO ON OUR FIRST SHEET WE HAVE OUR BALANCE SHEET.
SO FOR A TOTAL ASSETS OF FOR THE MONTH OF FOR THE THIRD QUARTER UP TO JUNE 2026, WE HAVE 20,931,835 COMPARED TO JUNE OF LAST YEAR, OF 19,631,911, FOLLOWED BY THAT, WE HAVE OUR TOTAL LIABILITIES OF 2,000,854 272 COMPARED TO LAST YEAR OF 2,000,407 605 FOR A TOTAL LIABILITIES AND FUND BALANCE OF 20,931,835 COMPARED TO LAST YEAR OF 19,631,911.
ON YOUR FOLLOWING SLIDE YOU WOULD SEE OUR TOTAL REVENUES.
SO FOR THE QUARTER, ACTUAL TOTAL REVENUES OF 3,140,417.
OUT OF THAT, 416,681 WAS PROPERTY TAXES, NOT PROPERTY TAXES INCLUDE SALES TAX 1,986,708 YEAR TO DATE. ACTUAL FOR PROPERTY TAXES 7,917,148. SALES TAX OF 05,608,573. FOR A TOTAL COLLECTED REVENUES FOR THE YEAR TO DATE.
ACTUAL FOR THIS THIRD QUARTER OF 15,467,764. FOLLOWED BY THAT, WE HAVE OUR REVENUES SPLIT BY DEPARTMENT. SO FOR THE QUARTER ACTUAL, WE'RE LOOKING AT 4,182,320 COMPARED TO LAST YEAR DURING THE SAME PERIOD OF TIME.
WHICH THAT'S A PLUS. WE ARE 1,268,000 WITH 66.
SO THIS YEAR WE SPEND A LITTLE BIT UP TO. FOR THIS QUARTER, WE SPENT A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN WE DID LAST YEAR FOR A YEAR TO THE ACTUAL OF 13,314,842 TOTAL EXPENSES FOR THE THE YEAR, THE THREE QUARTERS THAT WE HAVE.
SO FOR THIS QUARTER, REVENUE UNDER EXPENSES OF 1,041,902 FOR THE YEAR END 2 MILLION.
REVENUES OVER EXPENSES OF 2,152,922. FOLLOWED BY THAT, WE HAVE OUR SALES TAX RECONCILIATION ANALYSIS. THIS IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN COLLECTING PER MONTH.
SO YOU CAN COMPARE NUMBERS SIX, 77, 655 VERSUS 677, 655 OVER HERE.
AND THEN THIS IS MORE OF A YEARLY ANALYSIS. IT'S ALREADY ADDED INTO THE CITY WEBSITE.
IF ANYBODY WANTS SOME MORE INFORMATION ON THAT, THAT'S THE TWO YEAR COMPARISON.
FOLLOWED BY THAT, WE HAVE OUR BALANCE SHEET, BUT FOR OUR HOTEL MOTEL FUND.
SO OR TOTAL LIABILITIES AND FUND BALANCE AT 661,556 COMPARED TO LAST YEAR OF 731,565. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON FINANCIALS.
IT'S ADDED INTO THE AGENDA FOR THE PUBLIC AND FOR YOU ALL TO SEE.
AND ALSO INCLUDED IN THE CITY WEBSITE UNDER FINANCIAL REPORTS.
COMMISSIONERS. ANY QUESTIONS? THERE'S NO ACTION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS STEPHANIE. AND THE NEXT ITEM IS PRESENTATION OF THE CITY SAN BENITO INVESTMENT REPORT FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF FISCAL YEAR 2025 2026 BY MISS STEPHANIE SARRIONANDIA. THANK YOU. SO THIS IS ANOTHER QUARTERLY REPORT.
SO ROLLING TREATMENT TREASURY AVERAGE YIELD OF CURRENT QUARTER.
IT'S 3.09%. SO RUNNING THREE MONTHS IT'S 3.72% ROLLING SIX MONTHS, 3.78 AND 3.67.
QUARTERLY INTEREST INCOME 293,334 YEAR TO DATE INTEREST INCOME OF 813,800.
[00:25:03]
ON YOUR FOLLOWING SLIDE, YOU WOULD SEE THE SEPARATION AND WHAT INTEREST RATE WE'RE GETTING, WHERE AND HOW WE'RE SPLITTING THOSE MONIES. THIS IS A PIE CHART.AND THEN THIS IS A BOUTTE BOUTTE BOOK AND MARKET COMPARISON VALUE.
SO YOU COULD SEE THE CHANGE IN MARKET IN VALUE AND THE MATURITY DATE FOR EACH.
AND THEN THE REST OF THEM, THEY'RE IN A MONTHLY MONTH TO MONTH BASIS.
THAT'S WHAT THEY MATURE ON JULY. AND THEN THIS IS THE EVEN BIGGER PICTURE.
ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS STEPHANIE.
GO ON TO THE PRESENTATION OF THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT BY THE CITY MANAGER, CARLOS HERRERA, PRESENTING THIS ITEM. YES, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
JUST I WANTED TO UPDATE THE COMMISSION AND ADVISE THAT MOODY HAS UPGRADED OUR CREDIT RATING FROM A1 TO AN A A THREE. AND THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL NEWS FOR FOR OUR CITY.
IT'S NOT THE CITY MAKING THIS DETERMINATION. IT'S MOODY.
IT'S AN INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY CREDIT AGENCY.
IT REALLY REFLECTS THE CITY'S FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, THE STRONG FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE, THE FINANCIAL RESILIENCE, THE BUDGETARY FLEXIBILITY AND THE RESPONSIBLE DEBT MANAGEMENT WE'VE HAD AND OUR ABILITY TO MAINTAIN FINANCIAL STABILITY WHILE ADDRESSING THE CITY NEEDS.
I THINK THIS IS THIS THERE, THERE'S A SILVER SILVER LINING TO THIS.
SO LOWER, LOWER BORROWING COSTS MEANS MORE OF THE CITY'S RESOURCES CAN GO TOWARD ACTUAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAPITAL PROJECTS RATHER THAN INTEREST EXPENSES, SAVING OUR TAXPAYERS MONEY. SO AGAIN ACKNOWLEDGE THE, THE WORK OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT ZULEMA AND STEPHANIE AND OTHER, THEIR STAFF FOR HELPING US OBTAIN THIS, THIS, THIS RATING.
[PUBLIC HEARING(S) ]
WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON A REQUEST FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO OPERATE A BAR AND GRILL, A PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1820 WEST BUSINESS 77, ZONED Z, C TWO COMMERCIAL GENERAL RETAIL, AND THEN A PUBLIC HEARING ON A REQUEST TO REZONE A PROPERTY LOCATED ON SOUTH HELEN MOORE ROAD, BEARING A LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF A TRACT OF LAND CONTAINING 65 ACRES.THE APPLICANT IS SOUTH TEXAS ISD. THE FIRST APPLICANT, I'M SORRY, WAS MARIA NORMA RAMOS.
PROPOSED AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAX RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 26, 2027.
THAT'S RIGHT. WELL, TIME IS 603 FOR OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYBODY LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THE ITEMS? CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A BAR AND GRILL. I'VE NEVER BEEN IN ONE OF THESE MEETINGS, SO I REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW IT WORKS.
SO YOU JUST HAVE TO WALK UP TO THE PODIUM HERE.
I BELIEVE YOU HAVE TO STATE YOUR NAME AND THEN WHAT ITEM YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT.
I FIGURED MY VOICE IS LOUD ENOUGH SO I WON'T HAVE TO MOVE. I UNDERSTAND.
[00:30:12]
HOW HOW IS IT GOING TO AFFECT THE SUNNYSIDE SUBDIVISION, ON THE DRAINAGE, ON THE TRAFFIC, OR WHAT STREETS ARE THEY GOING TO OPEN UP? BECAUSE THE ELDON STREET THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE EVENINGS THAT WALK THE FAMILIES, THEY WALK THEIR THERE AND THEY ALSO WALK THEIR DOGS AND ALL THAT IN THE MORNING ALSO.SO I'M JUST WONDERING IF THEY'RE GOING TO OPEN UP THE ELDON STREET AND THE TRAFFIC WOULD FOLLOW TO WAYLON'S ROAD BECAUSE THE WAYLON'S ROAD IS VERY NARROW AND THERE'S A DITCH ON THE SIDES.
SO I'M JUST WONDERING, WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO GO AND PICK UP THE STUDENTS, WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO EXIT THROUGH? ARE THEY GOING TO EXIT ON THE ON THE SHOULDER OR THROUGH THE HILL AND MORE OR IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, IF I CAN ADDRESS IT.
THIS IS JUST A REZONING. THAT THAT'S ALL THAT IS BEFORE THE THE MAYOR AND THE COMMISSION.
THEY'RE NOT WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE PLAT OF WHAT'S GOING TO TRANSPIRE IN THAT PROPERTY.
SO THIS IS JUST A REZONING OF THE, OF THE PROPERTY.
SO NO, NO FORMAL PLANS OR PERMITS HAVE BEEN PULLED FOR THE SITE.
OKAY. THEY ARE JUST CHANGING WHAT THE LAND USE ENTAILS.
OKAY. AND WHY IS IT INCLUDED? LIKE OUR PART OF MY STREET, LIKE IT'S ZONED OR SOMETHING.
WHY IS THAT? SO THEY'RE REQUIRED TO SEND A LETTER WITHIN SO MANY FEET OF THE REZONE APPLICANT.
SO I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY THE AMOUNT OF FEET IT CHANGES.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THAT? SO HOW IS IT GOING TO AFFECT US.
IT AS FAR AS EFFECT, WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY.
THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANY TRAFFIC STUDIES. THEY HAVEN'T TURNED IN ANY PLATS.
OKAY. SO ARE THEY GOING TO SEND US A LETTER CONCERNING THAT SITUATION SO WE CAN VOICE OUR OPINION AND OPPOSE IT OR I APPROVE IT, OR IT'S A ONCE IT'S REZONED, IT, THE LANDOWNER DOESN'T HAVE TO REALLY TELL YOU WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD.
THE THE PERMITTING DEPARTMENT WILL BE THE ONES THAT WILL SAVE.
IT'S SOMETHING THEY CAN OR CANNOT BUILD IN THAT AREA.
AND THAT DOESN'T COME TO US. OKAY. SO I HOPE THAT WHAT I SAID WILL KIND OF, YOU KNOW, DEAL WITH THE TRAFFIC FLOW. BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN IN ONE OF THESE MEETINGS AND IT'S, IT'S KIND OF AFFECTING. SUNNYSIDE SUBDIVISION, ESPECIALLY WHEN I, WHERE I LIVE IN PINTAIL STREET.
UNFORTUNATELY THEY'RE NOT. THEY WON'T SEND YOU A LETTER? NO, MA'AM. WHATEVER THEY DECIDE, THEY'RE GOING TO DECIDE IT. YEAH, BUT THE MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING TEAM ARE HERE SO THEY CAN TAKE YOUR INFORMATION AND ON YOUR CONCERNS AND DEFINITELY LOOK AT IT WHEN THEY'RE PUTTING IN THE.
AND IS THIS GENTLEMAN'S RIGHT HERE. THIS IS THE CITY MANAGER AND THEN THE CITY ATTORNEY.
OKAY. THE GUY YOU WANT TO TALK TO IS THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WAY BACK THERE.
AND THEN MISS MONICA. I'D LOVE TO SIT WITH YOU.
YES, ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. MR. FLORES. YES, MA'AM.
MA'AM. AND TO YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT TRAFFIC CONTROL.
AND LET'S JUST SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, FLOODING THAT WILL ALL COME BACK IN THE PLAT REVIEW.
AND THAT'S SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE WITH OUR ORDINANCES, AS WELL AS WITH OUR PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT IF THEY ARE GOING TO BUILD SOMETHING, AND THIS IS JUST A HYPOTHETICAL, A SUBDIVISION, THAT THERE'S APPROPRIATE ONE, YOU KNOW, INGRESS AND EGRESS FOR THE RESIDENTS AROUND.
SO THOSE ARE JUST REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE ALREADY BUILT IN TO THE CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE.
ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO COMMENT FOR OR AGAINST THESE ITEMS? GO AHEAD. MR.. TRAVIS. MIKE. TRAVIS SAMUEL, TEXAS.
THIS IS THE SCHOOL, THE SOUTH TEXAS PROJECT. AND I UNDERSTAND I HEARD EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS ABOUT WHERE IT IS AND WHAT STAGE AND ET CETERA. ET CETERA. BUT I DO ALSO ECHO IF IT'S GOING TO GO THE ROUTE OF A SCHOOL THAT SERIOUSLY, PLEASE MAKE SURE WHOEVER NEEDS TO DO THAT REALLY WORKS ON THE TRAFFIC SITUATION AROUND EVERY SCHOOL, EVERY SCHOOL, INCLUDING THE IDEA SCHOOL BY WHERE I LIVE TWICE A DAY.
[00:35:02]
I'LL TAKE A BREATH. IT'S IMPASSABLE. IF I FORGET, LIKE TODAY, I HAD TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO SAN JOSE RANCH ROAD AND COME BACK AROUND BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC WAS AT A STANDSTILL.330 IN THE AFTERNOON IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN THERE.
BUT IT'S THE SAME WITH EVERY SCHOOL. SO A SCHOOL ON A MAIN DRAG THAT I DON'T GET THE STUFF, BUT I UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY'RE TRYING TO GO. AND FOLLOW THE REGULATIONS AND MAKE THE APPLICATIONS AND DECISIONS WILL COME HENCEFORTH.
ET CETERA. BUT IF IT DOES END UP BEING A SCHOOL THING, PLEASE, PLEASE DEAL WITH THE TRAFFIC.
PLEASE. THANK YOU. ANYONE FOR OR AGAINST THESE ITEMS? ANY MORE COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. OUR TIME IS 611.
PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[CONSENT AGENDA ITEM(S)]
JUST ONE CONSIDERATION. POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE JUNE 23RD, 2026 CITY SAMANIEGO SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES.DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER PEREZ. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM NAVARRO. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAY NAY. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
[1. Consideration and possible action to approve a request for a Conditional Use Permit to operate a Bar and Grill at a property located at 1820 West Business 77 zoned C-2 “Commercial General Retail Business”, bearing a Legal Description of: Being 0.695 acres of land comprising of 0.468 acres of land out of Lot One (1), Block One Hundred and Twenty-Eight (128) and 0.0227 acres of land out of Lot Four (4), Block One Hundred and Twenty-Seven (127), San Benito Land and Water Company Subdivision, Concepcion de Carricitos Grant, Cameron County, Texas. Applicant: Maria Norma Ramos. ]
THE FIRST ITEM UP IS MONICA RODRIGUEZ, PLANNING MANAGER, PRESENTING THIS ITEM. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE A REQUEST FOR CONDITIONAL USE. PERMIT TO OPERATE A BAR AND GRILL AT A PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1820 WEST BUSINESS 77, ZONE C TO COMMERCIAL GENERAL RETAIL BUSINESS.THE PROPOSED CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN BY SUPPORTING GOAL NUMBER THREE, BY ENHANCING QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH THE PROVISION OF COMMERCIAL SERVICES, WHILE ENSURING COMPATIBILITY WITH SURROUNDING PROPERTIES THROUGH THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT REVIEW PROCESS. COMMISSIONERS. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE A MOTION. THIS IS THE SAME LOCATION WHERE THE BAR WAS CORRECT.
YUP. MOTION TO APPROVE. A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CORTEZ.
WAS THERE ANOTHER COMMENT? NO, I WAS JUST GOING TO MOTION TO APPROVE.
OKAY. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PEREZ.
ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAY NAY.
MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. ITEM NUMBER TWO. MONICA RODRIGUEZ, PLANNING MANAGER.
[2. Consideration and possible action to approve the amended Final Plat of Stenger Subdivision, bearing a Legal Description of: Lot One (1), Block One (1), Stenger Subdivision. Applicant: Michael Rios.]
PRESENTING THIS ITEM. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE THE AMENDED FINAL PLAT OF SUBDIVISION BEARING A LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF LOT ONE, BLOCK ONE SUBDIVISION APPLICANT MICHAEL RIOS.THIS SUBDIVISION AMENDMENT UPDATES A 15 FOOT FRONT SETBACK, WHERE A 25 FOOT FRONT SETBACK IS REQUIRED TO COMBINE THE EXISTING TEN FOOT DRAINAGE EASEMENT AND 15 FOOT UTILITY EASEMENT INTO 110 FOOT DRAINAGE AND UTILITY EASEMENT ON EACH SIDE OF THE PROPERTY, AND TO ALLOW A TEN FOOT REAR UTILITY EASEMENT WHERE A 15 FOOT UTILITY EASEMENT IS REQUIRED.
THE ASSOCIATED VARIANCE REQUESTS WERE APPROVED BY THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS ON MARCH 26TH, 2026 AND COMPLY WITH ALL APPLICABLE CITY ORDINANCES AND STATE STATUTES.
THE PROPOSED SUBDIVISION AMENDMENT ADVANCES. GOAL THREE OF THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN BY FACILITATING ORDERLY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT SUPPORTED BY ADEQUATE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING WATER, WASTEWATER AND DRAINAGE.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM AS WELL. MONICA.
I SEE THAT IT WAS LETTERS WERE SENT TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN A 200 FOOT RADIUS FOR THIS ONE.
NO, IT'S A PLAT. IT'S AN AMENDMENT OF A FINAL PLAT.
OH, AM I LOOKING AT THE RIGHT ONE? THEY WERE JUST CORRECTING SETBACKS ON IT.
OKAY. YEAH. SORRY ABOUT THAT. YOU'RE RIGHT. IT WAS.
YEAH IT WAS IT WAS PREVIOUSLY PLATTED. WE WERE JUST FIXING WHATEVER THE VARIANCE WAS APPROVED.
OKAY. SO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS DID THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT IS HERE PLANNING AND ZONING.
BUT WAS IT BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS KNOW ITS PLANNING AND ZONING SINCE IT'S A SUBDIVISION. OKAY,
[00:40:01]
SO PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL. COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR DO I HAVE A MOTION.MOTION BY CAN YOU USE YOUR MIC? MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM NAVARRO.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CORTEZ.
ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAY NAY.
[3. First Reading of Ordinance Number 2252-BM-090126, a request to rezone a property located on South Helen Moore Rd bearing a Legal Description of: A tract of land containing 65.52 acres of land, situated in Cameron County, Texas, being part or portion of Block 149 out of San Benito Land and Water Company Subdivision, Cameron County, Texas, map reference: Volume 1, Page 6, Map Records, Cameron County, Texas from PDD “Planned Development District” to C-2 “Commercial General Retail Business”. Applicants: South Texas ISD. ]
FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 22, 52BM090126.A REQUEST TO REZONE A PROPERTY LOCATED ON SOUTH HELEN MOOR ROAD, BEARING A LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF IT WAS SUBMITTED AS A 65 ACRE TRACT, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY 4214. WE'RE WE DID A TYPO ON THAT.
THIS IS THE APPLICANT, SOUTH TEXAS ISD, WHICH IS THE SAME ITEM WE DID.
THE PROPOSED REZONING IS CONSISTENT WITH GOAL NUMBER THREE OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THE REQUEST ALSO ADVANCES GOAL TWO BY ENSURING FUTURE DEVELOPMENT COMPLIES WITH APPLICABLE STANDARDS FOR DRAINAGE, UTILITIES, TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY. THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM AS WELL.
THIS. I'M SORRY. NO ACTION. FIRST READING. I GOT A I GOT A QUICK QUESTION.
I JUST HOW MUCH WAS THE HOW MUCH WAS THE LAND? IT'S 42.4 ACRES. OKAY. THANK YOU. WE'LL HAVE IT CORRECTED BY THE TIME IT COMES BACK FOR SECOND READING.
OKAY. THAT'S THE 42.4 IS WHAT'S BEING REZONED.
THE TOTAL PROPERTY IS 65. AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DEVELOPING FOR SOUTH TEXAS.
ISD. AND IT WAS JUST A TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR. COMMISSIONERS.
OKAY. THANK YOU. ITEM. THANK YOU, MR. RODRIGUEZ.
ITEM NUMBER FOUR. MISS STEPHANIE NAGDCA CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, PRESENTING THIS ITEM.
[4. First Reading of Ordinance 2640-09-2026 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, and the Hotel Motel Occupancy Tax for the Ensuing Fiscal Year October 1, 2026, and ending September 30, 2027, in accordance with the Charter of the City of San Benito, Texas and repealing all ordinance or part of ordinance in conflict herewith. ]
GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN, STEPHANIE HERNANDEZ, FINANCE DIRECTOR. SO THIS IS THE FIRST READING FOR THE FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 2640-092026 AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE BUDGET.THIS IS THE FIRST READING FOR THE OVERALL BUDGET ORDINANCE.
I DID PROVIDE IT TO YOU. MOST UPDATED SUMMARIES AFTER THE LAST BUDGET WORKSHOP AMENDMENT.
I'M SORRY, BUDGET WORKSHOP. AND SO WE AMENDED THE, THE BUDGET.
SO I PROVIDED TO YOU THE CITY'S BUDGET AND THE EDC BUDGET.
WE DID HAVE OUR FIRST OR PUBLIC HEARING LAST MEETING.
SO THIS WILL BE THE FIRST READING OF THE ORDINANCE.
THIS INCLUDED THE EDC BUDGET THAT WAS JUST APPROVED LAST WEEK.
HOWEVER, I DID ATTACH A COPY OF WHATEVER THEY ARE PROPOSING.
OKAY. RIGHT NEXT TO YOU, WE STILL STILL NOT FINAL BECAUSE WE IT CAN IT NEEDS TO COME BACK FOR A SECOND READING, THE EDC BUDGET OR THE ENTIRE THING. THE THE WHOLE THING.
YEAH. THE WHOLE THING NEEDS A SECOND READING AND AN ADOPTION.
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS. THIS IS PART OF THE PROCESS TO GET THE BUDGET.
PASS THROUGH. OKAY. I GUESS WE'LL MOVE ON TO.
YEAH. FIRST READING CAN ALWAYS. I THINK THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT POSSIBLY CHANGING THE TAX RATE.
IS THIS INCLUDING A TWO CENT TAX RATE OR INCLUDES A $0.01, A $0.01? THIS BUDGET THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU INCLUDES A $0.01, THE FOLLOWING ITEM. IT'S THE FIRST READING OF THE ORDINANCE.
WE HAD THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING JUST RIGHT NOW.
SO THIS WILL BE THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE AD VALOREM TAX RATE.
THAT'S THE FOLLOWING ITEM. AND IT'S STILL UP FOR, FOR CHANGE.
THERE'S ALWAYS THAT OPTION OF NOT GOING DOWN OR GOING EVEN TO THE $0.02.
THIS BUDGET IT'S SUGGESTED TO DO EITHER ONE OR THE OTHER.
I WAS I WAS TAKING A LOOK AT THOSE, THOSE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS THAT GOT ME A LITTLE BIT WORRIED, THE NEW LAWS THAT ARE COMING INTO PLAY. AND I SEE THAT LEGISLATION IS POTENTIALLY PUSHING TO INCREASE THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION OR LOWER THE THRESHOLD FROM 65 TO 55 FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, WHICH IS A GOOD THING. AND MOST CITIZENS WILL NOT VOTE THAT DOWN, BUT WE DON'T, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE WHAT, WHAT THE IMPACT IT CAN HAVE ON A CITY'S BUDGET BECAUSE HALF OF OUR BUDGET COMES FROM PROPERTY TAXES,
[00:45:02]
THE OTHER HALF MAINLY FROM SALES TAX AND THEN OTHER MISCELLANEOUS REVENUES.I WONDER WHO HELPS US WITH THAT. IF THE COUNTY HAS THOSE.
I'M SURE THEY HAVE THOSE AGE BRACKETS AND THEY ARE THAT I THINK THAT'S STILL IN THE WORKS.
THE 65 TO 55 DID NOT PASS, BUT I'M SURE THERE'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER PUSH FOR IT.
BUT I THINK THEY WERE GOING TO INCLUDE FIRST RESPONDERS AND THERE'S SOME OTHER WORDING THERE.
I CAN CERTAINLY LOOK IT UP. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
SO WE DON'T BUDGET AT 100% RATE OF COLLECTION.
SO I'M, I'M, I'M HOPING IF THAT'S THE CASE, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ABSORB ANY TYPE OF EXEMPTION THAT COMES OUR WAY WITHIN OUR MEANS WITH THIS BUDGET, BUT TOTALLY AGREE, WE WOULD NEED TO LOOK AT THAT AND SEE WHAT PASSES AND HOW WOULD THAT AFFECT US.
MAYOR AND COMMISSION. THE OPTIONS ON THE TABLE ARE NO TAX INCREASE, A $0.01 TAX INCREASE OR A TWO CENT TAX INCREASE, AND OUR OUR BUDGET CAN ABSORB EITHER ONE OF THOSE THREE OPTIONS.
RIGHT NOW IT'S NO OPTION FOR THE BUDGET. AND THEN THE FOLLOWING ITEM. IT'S WHAT MR. JUST MENTIONED. THESE ARE BOTH FIRST READINGS.
SO THAT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THEM. AND THEN FIRST RESPONDERS.
ARE WE FIRST RESPONDERS? ALL RIGHT. NO ACTION.
JUST FIRST READING. WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER SIX.
THIS IS THE FIRST READING. I'M SORRY, NUMBER FIVE.
[5. First Reading of Ordinance Number 2641-08-2026, an ordinance levying the Ad Valorem Property Tax Rate for the City of San Benito, Texas, for the year 2026 and repealing all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith.]
THIS IS THE FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER. YEAH. WE HAVE TO SAY FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 2641-08-2026.AN ORDINANCE LIMITING THE THE AD VALOREM TAX PROPERTY TAX RATE.
SO THIS IS WHAT WE DECIDE IF WE WANT TO DO THE THE THREE OPTIONS.
LEAVE IT AS IS THE ONE SEND THE $0.02. SO SO NEXT NEXT READING.
I CAN MAKE ANY CHANGES. THIS IS THE NO ACTION ITEM.
THIS IS JUST A FIRST READING. BUT WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL.
THIS BUDGET HAS THE $0.01. SO IF ANYTHING WAS TO CHANGE, THEN WE WOULD NEED TO KNOW.
KNOW. OKAY. THANK YOU, MISS STEPHANIE. ITEM NUMBER SIX.
[6. Consideration and possible action to approve Resolution Number 2026-0818-001(R) authorizing the Mayor to sign a Texas Department of Transportation Agreement for the temporary closure of Sam Houston Boulevard, a State Right-of-Way, for the San Benito Consolidated Independent School District Annual Homecoming Parade to be held on September 17, 2026, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. ]
AUDIO. POLICE CHIEF MARIO PEREIRA. MARIO. MARIO PEREIRA PRESENTING THIS ITEM.GOOD EVENING. MAYOR. MAYOR PRO TEM COMMISSION FOR THE RECORD, POLICE CHIEF PEREIRA. THIS ITEM IS A ROAD CLOSURE REQUEST BY THE SAMUEL C ISD FOR THEIR HOMECOMING PARADE. RESOLUTION, ALONG WITH THE TEXTILE AGREEMENT IS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO CLOSE THE STATE RIGHT AWAY.
RECOMMEND WE APPROVE IT. IT'S A YEARLY FUNCTION.
WE ASSIST THEM, AND THEY ASSIST US IN TURN DURING THE CHRISTMAS PARADE.
THANK YOU. CHIEF. I HAVE A MOTION. A MOTION TO APPROVE.
MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM NAVARRO. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PEREZ. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAY NAY. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN. POLICE CHIEF MARIO PEREIRA PRESENTING THIS ITEM.
[7. Consideration and possible action to authorize the Mayor to sign a one-year agreement with Flock Safety for the San Benito Police Department's Drone as a First Responder (DFR) Program in the amount of $100,000.00, with $83,333.00 funded through the Fiscal Year 2027 Catalytic Converter Theft Prevention Grant awarded by the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority.]
SO EARLIER THIS YEAR WE WERE LOOKING FOR GRANT OPPORTUNITIES.WE APPLIED FOR IT WITH OUR LEXIPOL GRANT WRITING TEAM.
WORKED WITH THEM. I BROUGHT DETECTIVE SANTOS WITH ME BECAUSE HE AND HIM WORKED HAND IN HAND.
THIS IN JUNE 20TH 20 TO 2024 HIM AND ANOTHER SERGEANT HAD TO GO UP TO WACO TO THE MVP CONFERENCE.
THEY HAD TO GENERATE A POWERPOINT AND THEN PRESENT IT TO THE MVMVCPA BOARD AND WHEN THEY DID THAT, THEY RECEIVED NO QUESTIONS. AND IT WAS APPROVED FOR $83,333 TO PURCHASE TWO DRONES FROM FLOCK SAFETY.
THESE DRONES ARE WE'RE LOOKING AT SITES TO PLACE THESE DRONES AT ONCE WE'RE THINKING THE LIBRARY, THE OTHER ONE ON FIRE STATION ON SOUTH SAM HOUSTON.
SO IF WE HAVE, SAY, AN ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATION.
GOD FORBID THEY HAVE ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATION OR, YOU KNOW, AN ACTIVE PURSUIT IN OUR CITY, THE DRONE WILL AUTOMATICALLY DEPLOY ON ITS OWN, GO TO THAT AREA AND PROVIDE AERIAL COVERAGE TO OUR DISPATCHERS, OUR OFFICERS WHO ARE LOGGED IN. AND IT JUST GIVES THEM REAL TIME ALERTS.
[00:50:04]
YOU KNOW, A HOAX CALL. SO I RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM.I THINK IT'S A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR DEPARTMENT. IT'S A FORCE MULTIPLIER. AND I WANTED TO BRING DETECTIVE SANTOS WITH ME JUST TO RECOGNIZE HIS HARD WORK. LIKE I SAID, HE HAD A TOUGH JOB OF GOING UP THERE AND SELLING THIS THIS PLAN TO THEM, AND IT GOT APPROVED.
CORRECT. WHO? WHO? WHO COLLECTS THE MONEY FOR THAT GRANT? WE DO, AS FAR AS WELL, THE STATE DOES AS FAR AS THEY GET THE FUNDS FOR IT.
AND THEN WE EVERYBODY HAS TO APPLY FOR THE GRANTS FOR IT.
OKAY. AND SO JUST BECAUSE I'VE BEEN GETTING QUESTIONS FROM COMMUNITY INDIVIDUALS THAT MONEY IS NOT USED FOR REPLACING CATALYTIC STOLEN CATALYTIC CONVERTERS THAT PEOPLE REPORT.
NO, AS PART OF THE PROGRAM AND GETTING THE GRANT, WE HAVE TO DO COMMUNITY OUTREACH, WHICH WE'LL START WE'LL DO ETCHING TO PEOPLE WANT TO COME IN AND BRING IN, WE'LL ETCH MARKINGS ON THEIR CADILLAC CONVERTERS.
BUT A LOT OF IT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'VE SHOWN IS WE DIDN'T HAVE TOO MANY CADILLAC CONVERTER THEFTS. WE DID HAVE A FEW, BUT WE DID HAVE A RISE IN MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS.
SO THAT WAS KIND OF DROVE US TO APPLY FOR THIS GRANT.
AND THAT WAS PRESENTED. THAT DATA WAS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD. OKAY.
WE HAVE. WE CAN DO A PRESENTATION IF WHENEVER THE COMMISSION WANTS IT.
WE CAN DO A AS YOU CAN SEE EXACTLY WHAT THE FLOCK DOES.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF TALK OUT THERE THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S TRACKING PEOPLE.
IT SHOWS LICENSE PLATES. YOU KNOW, WE USE IT FOR, FOR INVESTIGATIONS.
WELL, THERE'S TONS OF THEM IN THE CITY WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT.
BUT WE'RE ABLE TO INPUT THAT INFORMATION AND IT'LL GIVE US, YOU KNOW, WORK CAMERA CAPTURE, BLACK FORD EXPLORER. I KNOW ONE OF THE CONCERNS WAS IT GIVES US FALSE READINGS.
WELL, IT DOES DO THAT SOMETIMES BECAUSE THE LICENSE PLATE MIGHT BE OBSCURED, BUT IT GIVES YOU AN ALERT ON THAT READING THAT SAYS, HEY VERIFY BEFORE TAKING ANY ACTION. BECAUSE OF THAT, IT'S NOT SURE EITHER.
SO IT DOESN'T TAKE THE HUMAN ASPECT OUT OF IT.
I'M THINKING OF KEEPING THAT 30 DAYS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THESE INVESTIGATIONS TAKE A LITTLE BIT LONGER. I DON'T WANT THE OFFICER NOT TO PULL THAT INFORMATION OR SAVE IT FOR EVIDENTIARY VALUE, BUT IT HAS AN AUDIT TRACKING TOOL.
SO WE'RE ABLE TO LOOK, HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON AND SEE WHAT PLACE WE'RE BEING RUN.
SO THERE IS, THERE IS ACCOUNTABILITY. WE'RE TRACKING IT.
THANK YOU CHIEF, FOR BRINGING ANOTHER GRANT TO THE CITY OF SAN BENITO STRETCHING OUR DOLLARS OUT.
YEAH. COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS OR A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CORTEZ.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PEREZ.
ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAY NAY.
MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
[8. Consideration and possible action to approve a Sanitary Sewer Lift Station Easement Agreement between the City of San Benito and Matt’s Cash & Carry Building Materials, Inc. for the acquisition of a 0.033-acre Easement for the construction, operation, and maintenance of a Municipal Sanitary Sewer Lift Station. ]
THANK YOU CHIEF. CARLOS HERRERA PRESENTING THIS.CITY MANAGER PRESENTING THIS ITEM. MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
OUR OUR ATTORNEY HAS REVIEWED THE, THE, THE AGREEMENT AND WE ARE PRESENTING IT BEFORE YOU SO THAT YOU AUTHORIZE US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS EASEMENT AGREEMENT. COMMISSIONERS.
ANY QUESTIONS? BETTER LATE THAN NEVER. ALRIGHT.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? A MOTION TO PASS MOTION BY COMMISSIONER PEREZ.
HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. MAYOR. SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM NAVARRO.
ALL IN FAVOR? SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAY NAY. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER NINE.
[9. Consideration and possible action to approve the Fiscal Year 2026 Employee Dental and Vision Insurance Packages. ]
VALLEY VIEW CONSULTING PRESENTING THIS ITEM. COMMISSIONERS.YOU GOT A PACKET? I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COMMISSION.
[00:55:05]
MY NAME IS LAURA GALVAN. FOR THE RECORD. NOT RELATED.WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS. MY SISTER'S NAME IS LAURA GALVAN.
THIS IS NOT MY SISTER. YEAH. GOOD EVENING. AS PART OF THE RENEWAL PACKET THAT OUR BROKER, JONATHAN ALINSKY, PRESENTED AT THE LAST CITY MEETING, THIS IS JUST THE TWO ADDITIONAL BENEFITS THAT WERE MISSING FROM THE LAST PREVIOUS PRESENTATION.
AND IT IS IN COMPARISON TO WHAT YOUR CURRENT DENTAL PLAN IS CURRENTLY OFFERING.
WE WERE LOOKING TO SEE WHAT OTHER CARRIERS WE COULD GET QUOTES WITH.
MUTUAL OF OMAHA DID NOT HAVE CLAIM EXPERIENCE AND STILL QUOTED OUT OTHER COMPANIES BECAUSE OF THE CLAIM EXPERIENCE THAT WAS NOT PRESENTED FROM AFLAC WAS HARD TO OBTAIN. ADDITIONAL QUOTES WE DID, ALTHOUGH HAVE, LIKE I MENTIONED, MUTUAL OF OMAHA COMING IN WITH A SIMILAR OR OF NOT IDENTICAL PLAN, BUT THE RATES FOR THE CITY WOULD BE 4% LOWER THAN WHAT YOU'RE CURRENTLY PAYING FOR CURRENTLY, AS WELL AS EXPANDING THE NETWORK FROM TWO NETWORKS THAT AFLAC HAS TO SEVEN.
SO YOU SEE THE CURRENT RENEWAL AMOUNTS AND THEN THE PROPOSED MONTHLY RATES FOR MUTUAL OF OMAHA.
THE NEXT SLIDE WILL BE WITH THE VISION SAME FUNCTION HERE.
WE DID GET A RICHER PLAN ALSO WITH MUTUAL OF OMAHA RENEWING FROM AFLAC.
YOU DO HAVE $10 CO-PAYS CURRENTLY AFLAC OR MUTUAL OF OMAHA THAT IS IS PRESENTING TWO OPTIONS.
THE EMPLOYER PAID IS YOUR FIRST COLUMN OPTION ONE AND A BUY UP OPTION.
THE EMPLOYEES CAN SELECT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE AFLAC AND THE TWO.
PROPOSES THAT YOU DON'T HAVE CO-PAYS FOR YOUR EYE EXAMS AND OR FOR YOUR MATERIALS, AND YOU DO HAVE TWO OPTIONS FOR YOUR ALLOWANCE IN THE SENSE OF FRAMES AND YOU STILL REMAIN WITHIN THE 12, 12, 12 FREQUENCY, MEANING YOU CAN GET YOUR EYE EXAMS EVERY 12 MONTHS, YOUR LENSES CAN BE REPLACED EVERY 12 MONTHS AND YOUR FRAMES CAN BE REPLACED EVERY 12 MONTHS.
SOMETIMES THEY CAN'T INCREASE BULK, BUT THEY DID STAY WITH THE SAME.
AND THE PREMIUM FOR OPTION ONE, IT REMAINS THE SAME.
SO THERE'S NO CHANGE THERE. OF COURSE, IF EMPLOYEES WOULD WANT THE ADDITIONAL $50 FOR THE ALLOWANCE ON THEIR FRAMES, YOU WOULD HAVE A BACK UP OPTION FOR $2.40 BECAUSE THE CITY IS CONTRIBUTING THE $7.60 FOR THEIR BASE PLAN.
SO THAT IS A RECOMMENDED. AND THEN OVER ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, THERE IS ALSO A NETWORK OVERSIGHT.
SO YOU DO SEE THAT THE MUTUAL OF OMAHA NETWORK AS WELL IS A LARGER ON A LARGER AVAILABILITY.
SO THEREFORE IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT VISION OPTION ONE AND TWO ARE OFFERED AS WELL.
ANY QUESTIONS? I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. I GUESS MAYBE OUR HR DEPARTMENT WOULD KNOW THIS ANSWER. THERE'S 222 EMPLOYEES THAT WERE TAKEN CARE OF HERE.
IS THERE WHAT PERCENTAGE OF EMPLOYEES ARE USING THE DENTAL AND VISION? AS FAR AS USAGE GOES THAT'S PART OF THE CLAIMS HISTORY THAT OF COURSE WE WERE NOT PRIVILEGED TO FOR THE DENTAL FOR VISION.
I DON'T HAVE THAT WITH ME, BUT I KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF DO WE KNOW? I WOULD LIKE TO MAYBE GET A SURVEY FROM THE WE'RE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS, RIGHT.
WE, WE PROVIDE A PRETTY RICH MEDICAL PLAN ALREADY.
100% IS PAID BY THE EMPLOYER BEING THE CITY OF SAN BENITO TAXPAYERS.
AND MEDICAL, ALTHOUGH IT'S GREAT TO PROVIDE 100% COVERAGE FOR INSURANCE AND GIVE PEOPLE AFFORDABLE INSURANCE, I THINK WE DID THAT WITH THE MEDICAL. AND WHAT I FIND IS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T USE THEIR MEDICAL AND VISION PLANTS BECAUSE IT'S JUST CHEAPER TO GO TO MEXICO.
MY BROTHER, FOR EXAMPLE, RECENTLY GOT A TOOTH EXTRACTED OVER THERE AND HE WORKS FOR THE STATE, AND WE'RE STILL GOING TO CHARGE HIM $4,000. AND HE WENT OVER THERE AND CHARGE THEM 200, 300 BUCKS.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT BECOMES A THING IF THEY'RE NOT USING IT, WHY ARE WE PAYING FOR IT? AND COULD WE POTENTIALLY SAVE THIS CITY? SOME MONEY CLAIMS HISTORY WILL BE AVAILABLE AND IT'S EASILY ACCESSIBLE THROUGH MUTUAL OF OMAHA, WHICH WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD RELATIONSHIP, HENCE WHY WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT DENTAL QUOTE BECAUSE OF LEVERAGE THAT WE HAVE WITH OTHER,
[01:00:06]
YOU KNOW, CITIES AND AS WELL AS SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH MUTUAL OF OMAHA.AND IF THAT IS A CONSIDERATION YOU'RE WILLING TO TAKE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE WON'T CONTRIBUTE SINCE IT'S NOT BEING UTILIZED, WE'RE JUST PAYING PREMIUM FOR SOMETHING THAT'S NOT BEING UTILIZED.
THAT WOULD BE ACCESSIBLE WITH MUTUAL OF OMAHA FOR THE NEXT RENEWAL.
IT'S LIKE MY GYM MEMBERSHIP. YOU HARDLY GO IN THERE.
GET RID OF IT. OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, THE BENEFITS ARE VERY RICH.
SO THE EMPLOYEES HERE AT CITY OF SAN BENITO ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SUCH GREAT BENEFITS.
FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, OTHER CITIES DON'T DO THIS.
SO KUDOS TO THE COMMISSION FOR OFFERING THAT TO THE EMPLOYEES.
SO IT'S ABOUT 75000 TOTAL BUDGETARY IMPACT INCLUDE MEDICAL, DENTAL.
THAT IS CORRECT. AND THEN THE, THE VISION, THE RECOMMENDATION IS BASE PLAN ONE.
AND IF THE EMPLOYEE CHOOSES TO, THEY COULD DO A BUYOUT.
THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY, SO WE'RE ONLY PAYING FOR OPTION ONE, CORRECT.
IF THEY DO GO WITH OPTION TWO, THE CONTRIBUTION FOR THE 760 CAN ALSO BE AS PROPOSED.
THERE. YOU CAN CHOOSE TO HAVE THE EMPLOYEE ABSORB THE $10 IN ITSELF, OR YOU WOULD INCLUDE THE CONTRIBUTION THAT YOU'RE DOING FOR BASE PLAN ONE, LEAVING THEM WITH A $2.40 CONTRIBUTION FOR EMPLOYEE ONLY.
WHAT'S EASIER FOR ACCOUNTING? I DEFER TO FINANCE.
EITHER ONE IS OKAY. OUR BUDGET ALREADY INCLUDES THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTION.
WELL, AS FAR AS LIKE THE IF THEY IF THE EMPLOYEE CHOOSES A BUY UP OPTION, YOU KNOW, DO WE STILL ABSORB THE FULL $10 OR 767, 60? YES. IT WOULD BE JUST THE $7.60 THAT'S YOU.
WOULD YOU BUY IT? AND THEN THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE DIFFERENCE BY THE EMPLOYEE. THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY.
I'M OKAY WITH THAT RECOMMENDATION. ON. WELL, DENTAL IS THE MUTUAL OF OMAHA.
SO THERE'S. THAT'S RIGHT. MORE CLINICS AND NETWORK ON THE DENTAL PLANS.
I KNOW THERE'S SOME DENTAL PLANS THAT EVEN IF YOU GO TO MEXICO TO GET A TOOTH EXTRACTED OR WHATEVER, AS LONG AS THE RECEIPTS IN ENGLISH, THE INSURANCE WILL.
SO THERE IS A PROCESS IN FILING THAT THROUGH MUTUAL OF OMAHA, THROUGH THE CLAIMS DEPARTMENT, THAT YOU COULD POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, GET A REIMBURSEMENT BACK.
OKAY. COMMISSIONERS. THERE IS A.
I GUESS THE TOPIC BECOMES OPTION 1 OR 2 FOR A VISION.
YOU WOULD DO OPTION TWO AND LET YOU TAKE OPTION 1 OR 2 AND THAT'S IT.
ARE THESE THINGS PREVENTATIVE? THEY'LL COVER TWO BASIC CLEANINGS.
AND THEN IF THE EMPLOYEE CHOOSES TO BUY UP, THEY BUY UP AT THEIR EXPENSE.
I WOULD IMAGINE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME CUTS SOMEWHERE. I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'LL FIND IT.
YOU DECIDE HOW YOU GUYS DECIDE HOW YOU WANT TO SET UP.
AND THEN THIS PUTS US AHEAD OF OTHER EMPLOYERS.
MAKES MAKES US A DESTINATION TO PLACE TO WORK.
COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
[01:05:08]
OPTION ONE. OPTION ONE IS EMPLOYER PAID AND OPTION TWO EMPLOYEE PAID WITH NO CONTRIBUTION.SO THE OPTION TWO IS IT'S JUST A BUY UP PLAN.
IT DOESN'T IT DOESN'T HURT. IT DOESN'T CHANGE OUR BUDGETARY IMPACT.
IT JUST ALLOWS THE EMPLOYEE TO BUY UP. CORRECT.
THEY WOULD JUST BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DIFFERENCE OF THE $2.40 RATHER THAN THE FULL $10.
OKAY, SO A MOTION FOR DENTAL PROPOSAL OPTION ONE MUTUAL OF OMAHA AND VISION MUTUAL OF OMAHA.
OPTION TWO THE BUY UP PLAN. DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CORTEZ. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAY NAY. THANK YOU, MRS. GALVAN.
PRESENTATION. HAVE A GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU. WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER TEN.
[10. Discussion and creation of a Charter Review Committee and amendments in preparation for the May 2027 Election. ]
DISCUSSION. CREATION OF A CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE. AMENDMENTS IN PREPARATION FOR THE MAY 2027 ELECTION.I'LL PUT THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA. COMMISSIONERS JUST CAME BACK FROM A VISIT WITH HARLINGEN, THE TWO TIME ALL-AMERICA CITY AND A PLEASURE DISCUSSING CHARTER AMENDMENTS, MODEL CHARTERS, WHAT IT MEANS TO BECOME AN ALL AMERICAN CITY, AND THE PROCESS.
AND I WANTED TO PROPOSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN TEN YEARS SINCE THE CHARTER HAVE BEEN REVIEWED, WHICH IS BASICALLY THE CONSTITUTION OR BYLAWS OF THE CITY. AND THERE'S SOME AMBIGUITY IN THERE.
THERE'S SOME OPTIONS YOU CAN LOOK AT, AND THE RECOMMENDATION IS THAT A CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE DO THIS, A THIRD PARTY, TAKE FULL CONTROL OF THIS MAKE SURE WE HAVE AS MUCH PUBLIC INPUT AS POSSIBLE, AND THEN TAKE THIS TO THE MAY 2027 ELECTION, IF IF APPLICABLE.
I THINK THE BEST WAY, IF THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY CHARTER CHANGES THAT COME FROM A COMMITTEE, WE SHOULD REVIEW IT. AND SAME WAY WE DO EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT.
TAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THAT WAY THE PUBLIC HAVE THEIR INPUT AS WELL.
SO IT'S OKAY IF WITH THE COMMISSION, I WANT TO DISCUSS THOSE OPPORTUNITIES WITH THIS ORGANIZATION AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION SO THAT THEY CAN PRESENT AND WALK US THROUGH WHAT THAT PROCESS WOULD LOOK LIKE. IS THAT OKAY? SO THIS THIS DOESN'T REALLY NEED AN ACTION. I THINK I CAN JUST BRING THE OTHER ITEM UP AND HAVE THEM PRESENT TO THE COMMISSION, AND THEN WE CAN TAKE ACTION ON THAT DAY. NUMBER TEN IS A DISCUSSION AND CREATION OF A CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE AND AMENDMENTS IN PREPARATION FOR THE MAY 2027 ELECTION. IS IT OKAY IF WE TAKE NO ACTION HERE, AND THEN JUST BRING AN ORGANIZATION IN TO DISCUSS THOSE POSSIBILITIES WITH US? IT'S NOT A PROBLEM HERE. OKAY. SO I'LL JUST DO NO ACTION HERE TO NOT HOLD ANYBODY TO ANYTHING.
IS THAT OKAY? IS THIS A CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE? WHO'S WHO'S GOING TO CREATE IT? I, I WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO EXPLAIN IT, BUT I THINK IT'S TYPICALLY THEY, THEY ACTUALLY DO HAVE PEOPLE APPLY AND THEY REVIEW THE APPLICATIONS TO SEE IF THEY'RE, IF THEY HAVE THE CREDENTIALS TO SIT ON A CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE.
THIS IS A THIRD PARTY. IT WOULD BE A THIRD PARTY.
I WOULD IMAGINE I'M NOT I'M NOT 100%. BUT I THINK THAT'S THE BEST PROCESS JUST FROM MY DISCUSSIONS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A COST ASSOCIATED. I, I THINK I WOULD BET THERE WOULD BE, BUT I THINK IT'S THE MOST TRANSPARENT PROCESS AND LET A THIRD PARTY HANDLE THE PROCESS. AND THEN THE OTHER THING WE CAN LOOK AT TOO IS, DO WE WANT TO CONTINUE PRECINCT AT LARGE CITY SEATS OR PRECINCTS? THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS WE CAN DISCUSS THERE. AND IT JUST IT'S BEEN TEN YEARS, YOU KNOW THE OTHER ISSUE? I'M SORRY. THE LAST TIME THEY HAD A CHARTER REVIEW WAS WHEN JOE HERNANDEZ ABOUT.
THEY DID A OH, YES, THEY THEY SELECTED THEIR OWN COMMITTEE.
I DON'T REMEMBER HOW THE PROCESS WENT, BUT THERE WAS, I THINK GAVINO SOTELO, THE LATE GAVINO SOTELO SAT ON THERE A FEW OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY. SO I'M NOT OPPOSED TO LISTENING TO A GROUP COME IN.
AND THEN DECIDE I'LL JUST PUT IT ON THE ONE OF THE NEXT AGENDA ITEMS MEETINGS AND THEN WE'LL, WE'LL MOVE FROM THERE. YOU GUYS CAN MAKE A DECISION. SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 11.
[11. Consideration and possible action on the San Benito Boys and Girls Club Annual Roots and Boots Gala Sponsorship.]
LAST BUT NOT LEAST CONSIDERATION, POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE SAN BENITO BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB ANNUAL ROOTS AND BOOTS GALA SPONSORSHIP.[01:10:05]
I'LL PUT THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA. DO WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE ORGANIZATION? YES, MISS CHAVEZ. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSIONERS.LIZ CHAVEZ, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND PRESIDENT FOR BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF SAN BENITO.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF OUR MEMBERS AND OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND WE ARE COMING INTO OUR SECOND ANNUAL ROOTS AND BOOTS GALA, WHICH BENEFITS OUR YOUTH IN OUR CITY. WE ARE ALSO COMMEMORATING OUR 50 YEARS IN THIS COMMUNITY OF SAN BENITO.
AS YOU CAN SEE, IF YOU HAVE THE PACKETS THIS YEAR'S HONOREE, WHICH WAS CHOSEN LAST YEAR, IS OUR VERY OWN MAYOR, PETE GALVAN. HE HAS DEDICATED ANNUALLY SINCE I'VE BEEN A PART OF BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS.
HE HAS SWEPT, HE HAS MOPPED, HE HAS DONE EVERYTHING THERE IN ADDITION TO MONETARY.
SO THE BOARD DID CHOOSE HIM LAST YEAR AS THIS YEAR'S HONOREE.
I ALSO WANT TO ADD BEFORE WE REQUEST SUPPORT FROM THE CITY, THAT LAST YEAR'S GALA, WHICH WAS OUR FIRST YEAR GALA, WE SHOWCASED A MEMBERS TALENT AND I'VE SEEN SEVERAL COMMISSIONERS TAKE PHOTOS WITH HER PROFUSELY THIS YEAR, WHICH IS EMERY GARZA. SHE PERFORMED AND SHE HAS TAKEN OFF SINCE THAT GALA.
AND YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S HEART TOUCHING BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE THERE FOR TO SHOWCASE OUR KIDS.
THE CITY WAS THERE, THE SCHOOL WAS THERE AND THEY HAVE USED HER.
AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER TALENT THERE THIS YEAR AS WELL.
SO WE ARE ASKING FOR THE CITY TO CONSIDER SPONSORING THIS YEAR'S EVENT.
AS WE, LIKE I SAID, CELEBRATE OUR YOUTH AGAIN AND OUR 50 YEARS IN SAN BENITO.
FOR YOUR DISCRETION. AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
SO. MISS? MISS NORMA HAS DONE A LOT FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
I FEEL LIKE I'M JUST SCRATCHING THE SURFACE. DEFINITELY SHE HAS.
YES. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATION ON THE TITLE SPONSORSHIP? I KNOW THAT WE SPONSORED THIS EVENT LAST YEAR, AND I THINK RECENTLY THE EDC DID MAKE A CONTRIBUTION.
THEY DID. WHAT WAS THEIR SUGGESTION? THERE'S BASED ON.
THEY GAVE LIKE A ROLL CALL OF WHO WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND.
AND I BELIEVE THEY GOT THE THOUSAND BECAUSE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAD OTHER COMMITMENTS THAT DAY.
BUT YES, THEY DID APPROVE THEIRS. OKAY. THEY DID A SPONSOR FOR A THOUSAND.
WHAT DID WHAT DID THE CITY PARTICIPATE? WHAT WAS THEIR PARTICIPATION LAST YEAR? LAST YEAR THE CITY WAS THE TITLE SPONSOR TO THE EVENT.
YEAH, I THINK WE DEFINITELY SHOULD BE. WHAT IS OUR CURRENT CONTRIBUTION TO THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB. SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE A PROGRAMING CONTRACT FOR THE AMOUNT OF $10,000 ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
AND OUR CURRENT BUDGET IS HALF $1 MILLION. ALL RIGHT.
MOTION TO APPROVE. TITLE SPONSOR OF $8,000. OR 16 GUESTS TOTAL.
COMMISSIONERS. BRING YOUR WIFE AND CHILDREN YOUR.
OH, LET ME LET ME CHANGE THAT. BRING YOUR PARTNERS AND CHILDREN.
SECOND. SECOND. THE MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION BY MYSELF.
SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM NOVATO. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
FOR A TITLE SPONSOR OF $8,000, I. MOTION CARRIES.
UNANIMOUSLY. ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU.
WE CAN'T WAIT TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU ALL THAT NIGHT. THANK YOU.
LOOK FORWARD TO IT. MOVE ON TO BOARD APPOINTMENTS.
[BOARD APPOINTMENT(S)]
CONSIDERATION. POSSIBLE ACTION TO REMOVE A POINT OR REAPPOINT MEMBERS TO THE TRAFFIC AND SAFETY ADVISORY BOARD FOR PLACES AND TERMS STARTING EXPIRING AS SHOWN, WHICH IS PLACE ONE. COMMISSIONER PETTUS, DO YOU HAVE A NOMINATION? YES. YES. I NOMINATE JOSE ANGEL MENDEZ.THE MOTION. I SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER PEREZ.
I HAVE A SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM NAVARRO. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAY NAY. MOTION CARRIES. UNANIMOUSLY.
STARTING AND EXPIRING AS SHOWN. PLACE TWO. PLACE TO IS THAT WOULD BE A
[01:15:08]
LEO CORTEZ. I NOMINATE LEO FOR THE POST. I'M SORRY, I NOMINATE LEO.OH, LEO. LEO. IZAGUIRRE. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND, SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM NAVARRO. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE, AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAY NAY. ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES. UNANIMOUSLY.
CONSIDERATION. ITEM NUMBER OH. THAT'S THREE. ITEM NUMBER THREE.
I PUT THIS ITEM BACK ON THE AGENDA. IT KIND OF FELL OFF.
WE DID ALL THE APPOINTMENTS OF ALL THE OTHER BOARDS. SO I BROUGHT THIS BACK.
COMMISSIONERS HOTEL ADVISORY BOARD HAS $650,000 AROUND THERE, MISS STEPHANIE.
RIGHT. WE JUST SAW THAT IN THE PRESENT. NICE PRESENTATION.
YOU HAD THE MONEY SPECIFICALLY USED TO PUT HEADS IN BEDS AND PROMOTE THE ARTS TOURISM FOR THE CITY.
I'VE FOR THE CITY MANAGER'S MISTER CARLOS. SO I'M JUST GOING TO DO THESE ALL AT ONCE.
ONE MAYOR OR CITY COMMISSIONER? WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO SIT ON THIS BOARD? TYPICALLY, I THINK I SAW AND GOMEZ MAYOR COMMISSIONER VILLAFRANCO AND COMMISSIONER TOM GOODMAN I'VE SAT ON THE BOARD BEFORE ALSO THERE IS THERE A REMOVE? I DIDN'T SEE THAT THERE WAS A REMOVAL PROCESS FOR THIS BOARD.
THEY COULD HOLD OVER. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT I DON'T, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S GOING TO KICK AND SCREAM IF WE CHANGE SOMEONE OFF THIS, BUT I JUST WANT TO BE OKAY.
THE COMMISSION IS MORE THAN WELCOME TO REMOVE REAPPOINT.
THE LISTED TERMS ARE NOT LISTED ON HERE, MAYOR, SO I'M NOT TOO SURE IF WE'RE OVER THEIR TERMS. BUT THE COMMISSION IS MORE THAN WELCOME TO APPOINT, REAPPOINT OR REMOVE SOMEBODY FROM THIS BOARD AT THIS TIME.
YES, MISS ALIDA, SORRY, I SEE YOU. DO YOU WANT TO JUST BRIEF THE COMMISSION? YEAH. SO IN THE I, I ADDED IN THE RATIONALE. SO IT IS.
OH, BY THE WAY, IT'S ALIDA GARCIA, CULTURAL ARTS DIRECTOR FOR THE RECORD.
AND IT IS A TWO YEAR TERM AND WE ARE PROPOSING TO TO START IT SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2026 THROUGH 2028. SO IT'S GOING TO BE FRESH THEN, RIGHT? OKAY.
I DON'T MIND BEING ON THERE. UNLESS SOMEBODY ELSE WANTS TO, BUT I DON'T MIND.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPOINT COMMISSIONER PEREZ TO THE HOTEL MOTEL BOARD? OR DOES ANYBODY. SORRY. DOES ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO SIT ON THE BOARD.
NO I, I MOTION OR DO SECOND FOR HIM. I GUESS I GUESS I'LL MOTION FOR MYSELF TO APPOINT MYSELF TO THE HOTEL. MOTEL ADVISORY BOARD. SORRY. THANK YOU.
OKAY. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR COMMISSIONER PEREZ? DO I HAVE BY COMMISSIONER SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CORTEZ, AND THEN MR. IRINA. LET'S DO THOSE TWO. IS THAT OKAY? WE DO THOSE TWO TOGETHER. YOU WANT TO AMEND YOUR MOTION, COMMISSIONER PEREZ? NO. YOU WANT TO AMEND IT TO INCLUDE CARLOS HERRERA FOR CITY.
CITY MANAGER SLOT? YEAH. OKAY. YOU HAVE TO. YES.
I'M SORRY. THE MOTION. I MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND TO HER TO INCLUDE CITY MANAGER.
CITY MANAGER AND YOURSELF AS ONE. AS ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS? YES. AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP BOTH THE TWO GENTLEMEN THAT ARE CURRENTLY ON THE ON THE BOARD.
OKAY. THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ACTIVELY THERE.
YES. YES. PATEL AND BHAKTA. YES. SAM PATEL AND HENRY BHAKTA.
YES. YES. WE CAN I MISS LAYLA? ARE ARE THEY STILL ACTIVE? ARE THE REPRESENTATIVES STILL ACTIVE? I GAVE I ALSO INCLUDED IN THE PACKET THE THE LATEST LIST OF MEMBERS.
AND SO THEY ARE BOTH CURRENTLY ACTIVE. OKAY. SO WE'LL KEEP THEM.
[01:20:09]
JUST AS DECADES OF EXPERIENCE IN THE HOTEL SPACE.SO I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ALL THESE TOGETHER. COMMISSIONERS. SO LET'S DO THE FIRST THREE, THEN THE ONE CITY MANAGER, MAYOR, CITY COMMISSIONER, DO YOU WANT ME TO DO IT ALL TOGETHER? ALRIGHT. CITY MANAGER CARLOS SERNA COMMISSIONER.
OH, COMMISSIONER PEREZ, YOU GOTTA PULL BACK YOUR MOTION.
SORRY. YOU CAN AMEND THE MOTION. JUST TO ADD EVERYBODY THAT WAS DISCUSSED.
MAYOR, YOU WANT TO JUST. YEAH, YOU ALREADY HAVE IT.
INSTEAD OF PULLING IT BACK, JUST MAKE THE MOTION. SO TO INCLUDE THE CITY MANAGER CARLOS PENA, THE CITY. COMMISSIONER PEREZ, THE TWO HOTEL REPRESENTATIVE MOTEL REPRESENTATIVES, PATEL AND BHAKTA, AND ONE CITIZEN REPRESENTATIVE BEING MARICELA AGUILAR FOR TWO YEAR TERMS. AND I HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER PEREZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CORTEZ.
CORRECT. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAY NAY. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, MISS LITA. ALL RIGHT. NEXT ITEM IS EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE,
[EXECUTIVE SESSION ]
SECTION 551.071 AND SECTION 55107 FOR DISCUSSION.POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE CITY CHARTER. ARTICLE THREE, SECTIONS 3.06 AND 3.07 CONCERNING VACANCIES FOR CHAIR OFFICE, QUALIFICATIONS OF ELECTED OFFICERS OR PROCEDURES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT, INCLUDING STANDARDS OF CONDUCT AND ATTENDANCE.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION? MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM NAVARRO. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PEREZ. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE AYE. ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THE TIME IS 657.
WE'LL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. THE TIME IS 8:51 P.M..
I'LL DO IT AGAIN. THE TIME IS 851. WE'RE BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THERE'LL BE NO ACTION. A FINAL ITEM IS GOING TO BE ADJOURNMENT.
[POSSIBLE ACTION ON ANY ITEM(S) AS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION ]
DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION TO ADJOURN. I HAVE A SECOND.MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM NAVARRO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PEREZ.
ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SAY NAY.
THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THE TIME IS 852.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.