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AND NOW FROM MCALLEN CITY HALL, A MEETING OF THE MCALLEN CITY COMMISSION.
GOOD MORNING. GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME TO THE MCALLEN CITY COMMISSION MEETING FOR APRIL 12TH 2021, IF YOU PLEASE STAND WITH ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, FOLLOWED BY THE INVOCATION BY MAYOR PRO TEM VERONICA WHITACRE.
I PLEDGE OF 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.
FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY IN YOUR OMNIPOTENT PRESENCE TO ASK THAT YOU GRANT US STRENGTH AS WE MAKE DECISIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WE WANT YOU TO GIVE US THE STRENGTH TO POWER THROUGH ALL OF THE TASKS TODAY, WHETHER LITTLE OR BIG. IT IS BY YOUR WILL THAT WE WILL MAKE DECISIONS FOR ALL AS STRONG LEADERS OF MCALLEN. WE THANK YOU, GOD, FOR THE POWER TO BE RIGHT BY OUR CONSTITUENTS AND ALSO THAT THIS COMMISSION WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE STATEWIDE BECAUSE YOU GAVE US THE WILL TO GIVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY.
OK, SO WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PROCLAMATIONS TODAY, AN THE FIRST ONE IS THE MAYOR'S MONARCH PLEDGE FOR THE BUTTERFLIES.
COLLEEN DO YOU HAVE YOUR PEOPLE UP HERE AND THERE'S TWO OF THEM . OH GOOD WE HAVE THE BUTTERFLIES.
AND THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TODAY TO RECOGNIZE THIS WITH THE PHRASE, I LOST MY BUTTERFLY GARDEN AND SO I DON'T KNOW WE'RE TRYING TO REPLANT IT NOW, BUT ANYWAYS, SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE PROTECT THOSE.
IF YOU COULD PLEASE LET ME READ YOUR PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR AND ICONIC SPECIES IN NORTH AMERICA WHOSE INCREDIBLE MULTIGENERATIONAL MIGRATION HAS CAPTURED THE IMAGINATION OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS.
I KNOW IT HAS IT IN HERE, BUT HOW DO YOU THINK THEY FLY FROM CANADA TO MEXICO? WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY GOT TO BE REALLY FAST RIGHT.
[LAUGHTER]. YOU KNOW THEY GET UP IN THE JET STREAM.
THEY LITERALLY DO. THEY GET UP IN THE JET STREAM AND THE JET STREAM BLOWS THEM DOWN HERE AND THEY COME DOWN TO EAT IN MY BACKYARD AND OTHER PLACES AND DO THAT.
BUT THAT'S REALLY FASCINATING HOW THEY ACTUALLY TRAVEL THOUSANDS OF MILES.
WHEREAS THE NORTH AMERICAN MONARCH WAS ADOPTED AS THE OFFICIAL STATE INSECT BY THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE IN 1995, WHEREAS 20 YEARS AGO MORE THAN ONE BILLION MONARCH BUTTERFLIES MIGRATED TO MEXICO.
BUT THAT POPULATION HAS DWINDLED BY MORE THAN 80 PERCENT IN THE PAST TWO DECADES.
AND WHEREAS MONARCH SCIENTISTS ATTRIBUTE THE DECLINE TO DEGRADATION AND LOSS OF SUMMER BREEDING HABITAT IN THE UNITED STATES AND LOSS OF WINTER HABITAT IN MEXICO AND WHEREAS WE, THE CITIZENS OF MCALLEN ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY POPULATION AND CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY SIMPLE CHANGES IN LANDSCAPING AND EDUCATING CITIZENS ABOUT HOW AND WHERE TO GROW NATIVE MILKWEED AND OTHER NATIVE HABITAT THAT CAN BENEFIT ALL POLLINATORS.
WHEREAS ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF MCALLEN, WHO HAVE ALREADY JOINED ME IN CREATING HEALTHY HABITAT FOR THOSE MAGNIFICENT BUTTERFLIES, I'M HONORED TO BE THE FIRST MAYOR IN THE LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY OF TEXAS TO PLEDGE TO ACHIEVE LEADERSHIP CIRCLE STATUS AND LEAD THE WAY BY SIGNING THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION MAYORS MONARCH PLEDGE.
AND I ENCOURAGE OTHER CITY OFFICIALS ACROSS OUR GREAT REGION TO TAKE A STAND WITH ME SO THAT THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY WILL ONCE AGAIN FLOURISH ACROSS OUR CONTINENT.
AND NOW, THEREFORE, I, JIM DARLING MAYOR OF THE CITY OF MCALLEN, BY THE VIRTUE AUTHORITY OF ME, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 12TH, 2021 AS MAYORS MONARCH PLEDGE DAY.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] I'M NOT GOOD AT READING THROUGH A MASK HERE, BUT THANK YOU, MAYOR DARLING, FOR LEADING THE WAY LIKE HE'S ALREADY SAID, AT THE LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY MAKING AN IMPACT FOR
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CONSERVATION OR THE ICONIC MONARCH BUTTERFLY.TODAY, ALONG WITH MCALLEN PARKS AND RECREATION, THE MCALLEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION, QUINTA MAZATLAN, AND THE CENTER FOR URBAN ECOLOGY LOOK FORWARD TO CREATING THE HABITATS THAT THE MAYOR SPOKE ABOUT FOR RAISING AWARENESS OF THE PLIGHT OF MONARCH BUTTERFLY.
AND WE ARE ALREADY WORKING TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, THAT THE ACTIONS NEEDED TO BE THE FIRST LEADERSHIP CIRCLE CITY OF THE MONARCHS MAYOR PLEDGE IN THE VALLEY BY WORKING TO CREATE BUTTERFLY GARDENS WITH MISD ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WE'RE CREATING ROADSIDE MONARCH HABITATS AND PLANT THE NATIVE HOST AND NECTAR PLANTS THESE BUTTERFLIES NEED TO CONTINUE THEIR MAGNIFICENT MIGRATION FOR THE GENERATIONS OF THE PEOPLE AND BUTTERFLIES TO COME.
SO WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO ALL GET OUT AND PLANT A MONARCH BUTTERFLY HABITAT AND ENCOURAGE THESE BUTTERFLIES TO KEEP MAKING THIS MIGRATION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] THE NEXT ONE.
YOU HAVE IT OUR NEXT PROCLAMATION IS FAIR HOUSING MONTH, WITH MS. ELVA CERDA AND THE PROCLAMATION WILL BE READ BY OMAR QUINTANILLA.
HOW ARE YOU YEAH, YEAH. HE'S ALREADY HERE.
IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO GIVE THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS FAIR HOUSING ACT PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, HANDICAP, FAMILIAL STATUS AND NATIONAL ORIGIN.
WHEREAS THE STATE OF TEXAS ADDITIONALLY PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION, MARITAL STATUS, ANCESTRY, SOURCE OF INCOME, DISABILITY, MEDICAL CONDITION AND AGE. AND WHEREAS ADEQUATE HOUSING IS A BASIC NEED AND RIGHT OF ALL PEOPLE.
WHEREAS THE CITY ENCOURAGES AND SUPPORTS FAIR HOUSING PRACTICES AND HEIGHTENED PUBLIC AWARENESS. THE CITY OF MCALLEN PLEDGES ITS COMMITMENT TO IMPROVE HOUSING OPTIONS AND CELEBRATES THE VALUE OF HARMONIOUS AND DIVERSE COMMUNITIES BY PROMOTING FAIR HOUSING LAW.
OMAR QUINTANILLA CITY COMMISSIONER OF THE CITY OF MCALLEN, TEXAS.
BY THE VIRTUE AND AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME AND ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF APRIL AS FAIR HOUSING MONTH.
[APPLAUSE] I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL, THANK THE COMMISSION FOR ALL THEIR SUPPORT.
MY NAME IS ELVA CERDA, AND I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF BOTH BOARDS.
WE HAVE OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BOBBY CALVILLO, WITH THE AFFORDABLE HOMES OF SOUTH TEXAS AND RUDY RAMIREZ WITH THE MCALLEN HOUSING AUTHORITY AND LUCKILY SEVERAL OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS [INAUDIBLE] AND SOME OF OUR STAFF.
AT THIS TIME, THOUGH, WE ALSO WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO HAVE MAYOR JIM DARLING JOIN US DOWN HERE FOR A VERY, VERY SHORT PRESENTATION.
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ME SHORT? [LAUGHTER].
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU ALL KNOW, BUT MAYOR DARLING HAS BEEN A HUGE ADVOCATE FOR THE MISSION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR CITY.
ALWAYS. I WORKED WITH HIM ON AFFORDABLE HOMES FOR AT LEAST 20 YEARS.
AND HE DID A LOT OF OUR WORK FOR US AT THAT TIME, LEGAL WORK UNTIL HE GOT TOO BUSY.
AND THEN LATER ON, I WAS LUCKY TO BE APPOINTED TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AS HE ALSO APPOINTED LORENA, WHO SERVED ON BOTH BOARDS AND AGAIN, HAS BEEN A VERY, VERY, VERY IMPORTANT SUPPORTER OF WHAT WE DO IN MCALLEN TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY WITH AFFORDABLE, QUALITY HOMES. SO WE'RE GOING TO GIVE HIM TWO GIFTS.
ONE OF THEM IS A BAT SIGNED BY BOTH BOARDS AND SOME STAFF MEMBERS.
AND IT READS, THANK YOU, MAYOR JIM DARLING, FOR BEING A HOMERUN HITTER FOR AFFORDABLE
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HOUSING ON BEHALF OF AFFORDABLE HOMES OF SOUTH TEXAS AND THE MCALLEN HOUSING AUTHORITY.AND HOPEFULLY YOU WON'T HIT US WITH IT.
[APPLAUSE] [LAUGHTER] AND RONNIE HAS PROBABLY SOMETHING ELSE FOR YOU THAT YOU CAN ENJOY.
THIS IS ALSO AN APPRECIATION FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR THE MCALLEN HOUSING AUTHORITY.
WE NEED EVERYTHING THE CITY ALWAYS SUPPORTED EITHER YOU ALL'S ATTORNEYS AND JIM HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR US. SO WE JUST WANTED A LITTLE GIFT FROM THE MCALLEN HOUSING AUTHORITY AND FROM WE THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] CAN YOU SAY SOMETHING [INAUDIBLE].
WELL, THANK YOU, AND IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU GUYS. AND SO WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT VOLUNTEERS.
AND SO WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HAVE DONE THROUGH YEARS FOR OUR PEOPLE, PUT PEOPLE IN HOUSES THAT NEVER WOULD AFFORD A HOME AND NOW COULD AFFORD IT.
AND WATCHING THOSE KIDS GROW UP IN THEIR OWN HOUSE IS JUST SO SPECIAL.
SO THANKS FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE.
APPRECIATE IT. YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE, THOUGH, THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE CALLING YOU. OK, I'LL STILL BE AROUND.
THANK YOU. HEY GOOD TO SEE YOU. I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HELP OVER THE YEARS.
[LAUGHTER] HOW ARE YOU? YOU WANT ME TO GO ON OR NO.
KEEP MCALLEN BEAUTIFUL, BUT WHO'S DOING THE READING.
ARE YOU DOING THE READING OF THERE'S NOTHING THERE EITHER. THERE'S ONE ON YOUR DESK. THERE'S ONE RIGHT THERE SPEAKERS], IT'S NOT MY TURN.
OH, WELL, HE HAS IT IN HE'S HAND.
NO, BECAUSE HE'S GOT IT IN HIS HAND.
SORRY ABOUT THAT, AND I WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK OMAR QUINTANILL, WE'VE BEEN ON THE AMIGOS DEL VALLE BOARD FOR HOW MANY YEARS NOW.
TOOK MY PLACE AS MY ALTERNATE AND HAS BEEN TO EVERY MEETING FOR THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS. BUT REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND HOUSING OMAR, YOU DO A GREAT JOB.
OK, OUR NEXT ONE IS A PROCLAMATION.
I THOUGHT I WAS ON A ZOOM CALL THE OTHER DAY.
I HATE ZOOM THINGS AND AND WE HAD THE GREAT AMERICAN CLEAN UP AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS.
AND CHRIS LASH AND HER BOARD AT THE KEEP MCALLEN BEAUTIFUL.
I REALIZED HOW MANY HOURS THEY PUT IN AS A BOARD.
I MEAN, I'VE BEEN ON A LOT OF BOARDS, BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN AS ACTIVE, I THINK, AND ANY ONE BOARD IS THE KEEP MCALLEN BEAUTIFUL BOARD IS AND THERE'S.
NOT ONLY IN GOVERNANCE BUT OUT THERE AND ACTUALLY WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD AND PARTICIPATING IN ALL THE FUNCTIONS.
AND SO I THOUGHT IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO RECOGNIZE THE BOARD FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK THEY DO IN KEEPING OUR CITY BEAUTIFUL.
SO IF YOU WILL, I PUT MY GLASSES ON HERE.
THE STATE OF TEXAS AND COUNTY OF HIDALGO AND CITY OF MCALLEN.
WHEREAS KEEP MCALLEN BEAUTIFUL HAS BEEN A CITY OF MCALLEN BEAUTIFICATION ADVISORY BOARD SINCE 1976.
AND THERE'S AN AFFILIATE OF KEEP TEXAS BEAUTIFUL AND KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL.
AND WHERE IS THE KEEP MCALLEN BEAUTIFUL ADVISORY BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS COMPRISED OF DEDICATED COMMUNITY PROFESSIONALS AND RETIREES WHO SERVE SELFLESSLY DONATED OVER 3000 HOURS OF TIME WITHIN THE PAST FIVE YEARS ALONE TO HELP MAKE MCALLEN A STRONGER, MORE VIBRANT COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS OUR EFFORTS HAVE SPAWNED PROJECTS SUCH AS THE GREAT
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AMERICAN CLEANUP, PROJECT CLEAN NEIGHBORHOODS LITTER AND BULKY WASTE CLEANUPS.THE ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION TREE PLANTINGS PAINT MCALLEN BEAUTIFUL.
YOU KNOW ALL THOSE STANDPIPES YOU SEE, IS BECAUSE KEEP MCALLEN BEAUTIFUL.
IT'S REALLY BEEN A TREMENDOUS ATTRIBUTE TO THE CITY.
IRRIGATION PIPE PROJECT AND VARIOUS OTHER EDUCATIONAL EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES.
AND WHEREAS KEEP MCALLEN BEAUTIFUL IS A TWO TIME RECIPIENT OF THE KEEP TEXAS BEAUTIFUL GOVERNORS COMMUNITY ACHIEVEMENT AWARD AND NUMEROUS OTHER ACCOLADES.
[INAUDIBLE] KEEP MCALLEN BEAUTIFUL BOARD OF DIRECTORS WORKS WITH BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS COLLABORATING TO MAKE A BEAUTIFUL DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS THROUGH THE KEEP MCALLEN BEAUTIFUL BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMMITMENT THEIR PROJECTS AND EFFORTS HAVE HELPED ENHANCED AND BEAUTIFY THE COMMUNITY WHERE WE LIVE, WORK AND PLAY NOW.
THEREFORE, I JIM DARLING, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF MCALLEN, TEXAS BY THE VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME AND BEHALF OF THE MCALLEN CITY COMMISSIONERS DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 12TH TO 2021 AS KEEP MCALLEN BEAUTIFUL BOARD OF DIRECTORS DAY.
CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU CHRIS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, YOU CAN'T SEE THE SMILE BEHIND MY MASK, SO WE'RE SMILING FROM EAR TO EAR. THIS REALLY MEANS A LOT TO US.
AND ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WE HAVE SEVERAL OF OUR MEMBERS HERE FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND ALL YOUR HARDWORKING EFFORTS THAT YOU YOURSELF GAVE TO KEEP MCALLEN BEAUTIFUL THROUGH THE GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP AND OTHER PROJECTS.
AND WE ALSO APPRECIATE ALL THE HELP FROM ALL THE VOLUNTEERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS NOTHING BUT STRONG AND SUPPORTIVE OF OUR ORGANIZATION.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO MOVE IT FORWARD.
AND SO I REALLY THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND THE BOARD FOR THIS RECOGNITION.
YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER JUST TWO YEARS AGO WHEN WE HAD THE GREAT AMERICAN CLEAN UP AND THE STATE WAS DOWN THERE.
AND I FORGET HOW MANY VOLUNTEERS THERE.
WAS IT 1200? YEAH IT WAS LIKE 15 OR 1800.
FIFTEEN OR 1800 IN THE STATE. PEOPLE SAID IN SAN ANTONIO, WE'RE LUCKY IF WE GET 200.
I MEAN, THAT REALLY SAYS A LOT.
AND SO THEY DO A FANTASTIC JOB AND GO OUT AND DO IT.
IT'S A LOT OF FUN. I LEARNED ONE LESSON, TOO.
I USED TO ASK THE KIDS, WHAT'S THE MOST INTERESTING THING YOU PICKED UP TODAY? AND I QUIT ASKING THAT QUESTION.
[LAUGHTER] DON'T WANT TO DO THAT ANYMORE.
I APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO AND YOUR BOARD, AND YOUR FANTASTIC JOB.
AND YOU'RE REALLY THE THE HIDDEN HEROES, RIGHT? BECAUSE THE CITY GETS A LOT OF THE ACCOLADES, BUT IT'S REALLY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT CARRY IT OUT AND MAKE IT POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE] NOW WE'VE GOT ONE MORE, WE GOT ONE MORE JD.
MAYOR, IF YOU WOULD, STAY DOWN THERE.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE THE ENTIRE CITY COMMISSION DOWN HERE FOR MY FIRST EVER PROCLAMATION.
[LAUGHTER] I WOULD LIKE THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS TO COME UP.
SO THIS IS THE FIRST EVER PROCLAMATION THAT I'VE EVER READ, I BELIEVE.
AND SO I'M GOING TO READ IT'S A LITTLE LENGTHY BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT THE CITY COMMISSIONERS.
SO THERE'S A LOT TO TALK ABOUT, OBVIOUSLY.
AND SO I'M GOING TO PREFACE IT BY SAYING THAT ALL OF THESE CITY MANAGERS, MANY OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS OF THE CITY OF MCALLEN AS WELL AS MYSELF, ARE MEMBERS OF THE TEXAS CITY MANAGERS ASSOCIATION.
I'VE BEEN A MEMBER FOR 21 YEARS.
IT'S A GREAT ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES AMAZING TRAINING AND IT ALSO PROVIDES RECOGNITION TO WHAT I BELIEVE ARE SUCH IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF EVERYTHING THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT DOES.
AND SO ON FRIDAY, THEY OFFICIALLY THE TEXAS CITY MANAGER ASSOCIATION BOARD VOTED AND SELECTED THE MCALLEN CITY COMMISSION AS THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE YEAR FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS. [APPLAUSE] AND SO THIS IS A BIG DEAL, FOLKS, THIS IS A REALLY, REALLY BIG DEAL.
I MEAN, WINNING IT ANY YEAR, IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE'S 1200 CITIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, WINNING AT ANY YEAR IS A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR ANY CITY COUNCIL.
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BUT WINNING FOR WHAT THEY DID IN 2020 IS TRULY AMAZING.AND I CONGRATULATE ALL OF YOU.
SO WHEREAS THE CITY OF MCALLEN FACED UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES IN 2020 WITH THE COVID PANDEMIC, THE KILLING OF TWO POLICE OFFICERS IN ONE AFTERNOON, WHICH DEVASTATED THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND A DIRECT HIT FROM A SLOW MOVING HURRICANE, HANNA, WHICH CAUSED FLOODING IN MUCH OF THE CITY.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY REACTED QUICKLY TO THE UNPRECEDENTED NEEDS BROUGHT ABOUT DUE TO A SHUT DOWN IN TEXAS AND THE NATION WITH A MULTIPRONGED PLAN BY PROMOTING ONLINE ORDERING AND SOCIALLY DISTANCED PICKUP TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES WHICH WERE SUDDENLY STRUGGLING, FUNDED DIRECT GRANTS TO SMALL BUSINESSES MOST IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC, PROVIDED NINE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY NINE WI-FI ACCESS POINTS TO SUPPLY INTERNET TO 43 PERCENT OF THE CITY . AND USED WATER TOWERS AS TRANSMITTERS URGENTLY NEEDED TO HELP STUDENTS WHO WERE SUDDENLY THRUST INTO LEARNING WITH SCHOOLS CLOSED AND WORK WITH LOCAL PARTNERS TO ORGANIZE, GRAB AND GO MEALS FOR STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS IN NEED, AS WELL AS SENIOR CITIZENS, WHICH RESULTED IN PROVIDING OVER TWO MILLION MEALS TO THOSE IN NEED AND AVOIDED LAYOFFS AND FURLOUGHS TO ANY CITY EMPLOYEES, AND CREATED SOCIALLY DISTANCE EVENTS SUCH AS THE HUGELY POPULAR DRIVE THRU HOLIDAY EVENT AT THE CONVENTION CENTER.
AND WORK TIRELESSLY TO INCREASE WEAK PANDEMIC AFFECTED CENSUS PARTICIPATION BY HOSTING CENSUS EVENTS AND EVEN PERSONALLY OPERATED.
LOST MY PLACE BECAUSE I GOT EXCITED, A CENSUS PARTICIPATION PHONE BANK AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF MCALLEN HAS PRIORITIZED POLICY MAKING USING CITIZEN INPUT AS THE FOUNDATION OF A CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT PROCESS AND I.C.M.A BEST PRACTICE, BY THE WAY, WHICH IS USED TO SET LONG TERM GOALS, STRATEGIES AND OBJECTIVES AND ANNUAL BUDGET PRIORITIZATION.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF MCALLEN HAS FOR YEARS ADDED A DRAINAGE COMPONENT INTO THEIR FORMAL CITIZENS SURVEY, WHICH LED TO THE CITY'S FIRST COMPREHENSIVE DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN WITH A FUNDING SOURCE IDENTIFIED FOR EACH PROJECT AND LED TO OVERWHELMING SUPPORT OF A BOND ELECTION TO FUND DRAINAGE PROJECTS.
AND WHEREAS EVEN DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC, THE MCALLEN CITY COMMISSION ACCELERATED LARGE PROJECTS IN ORDER TO ASSIST THE LOCAL ECONOMY, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ENSURING FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND EFFECTIVE BUDGETING, MAINTAINING A MINIMUM OF ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY DAYS OF OPERATIONS IN UNRESTRICTED FUNDS AS REQUIRED BY ORDINANCE.
AND WHEREAS MCALLEN HAS BENEFITED FROM A HARMONIOUS CITY COMMISSION AND STRONG, STABLE CITY MANAGEMENT WITH THE MOST RECENT CITIZEN SURVEY RATING, MCALLEN OFFICIALS 49 PERCENT HIGHER THAN THE TEXAS AVERAGE.
AND WHEREAS YOUR CITY MANAGEMENT TEAM, AS MEMBERS OF TCMA, NOMINATED YOU THE MCALLEN CITY COMMISSION FOR THE TCMA 2021 CITY COUNCIL OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP IN 2020.
AND WHEREAS THE TEXAS CITY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION HAS AWARDED THE MCALLEN CITY COMMISSION THE 2021 CITY COUNCIL OF THE YEAR FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS, WE JOINED THE COMMUNITY IN CONGRATULATING THE COMMISSION ON WINNING THIS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD.
THEREFORE, I ROY RODRIGUEZ CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY OF MCALLEN, TEXAS BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME AND ON BEHALF OF THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MCALLEN CITY COMMISSION AS THE TEXAS CITY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION'S 2020 CITY COUNCIL OF THE YEAR.
[APPLAUSE] IT'S A BIG DEAL, WE GOT BIGGER THAN WE'VE EVER GOTTEN BEFORE.
I'LL JUST SAY A FEW WORDS FOR US.
YEAH, LET ME SAY, YOU KNOW, 2020 WAS A TERRIBLE YEAR IN A LOT OF WAYS, AND SO THIS JUST MAKES IT A LITTLE BETTER. IT REALLY DOES.
AND THANK YOU, ROY AND ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS FOR NOMINATING US.
AND THERE WON'T BE A RACE FOR THIS, YOU KNOW, [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER].
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT TO WORK WITH A GREAT TEAM AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE.
WE HAVE GREAT CITY COMMISSIONERS.
WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE, BUT WE ALWAYS LISTEN TO EACH OTHER.
AND THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT PART AND COME OUT WITH DECISIONS THAT WE THINK ARE BEST FOR OUR CITIZENS. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE PART OF YOUR TEAM.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'M SAD I'M LEAVING IT.
NOW I WANT TO STAY ANOTHER YEAR, BUT IT'S TOO LATE.
BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR OUR CITIZENS AND IF YOU
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AND AS OUR MOTTO IS YOU JUST REMINDED ME, WORK HARD AND HAVE FUN, THAT'S OUR MOTTO.AND THE WORK SHOWED THE WORK SHOWED THIS TIME IT WASN'T A LOT OF FUN, BUT THE WORK SHOWED IT SO. BUT WE HAD FUN WHEN WE COULD.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO ON BEHALF OF ALL THE CITIZENS.
APPRECIATE THAT. [APPLAUSE] AND THEN, OF COURSE, IF ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO SPEAK, BUT LASTLY, THE BOARD WILL BE PRESENTING YOU THE AWARD, THIS IS FROM OUR CITY IN JUNE.
HOPEFULLY THE PANDEMIC WILL BE, YOU KNOW, IN A LOT BETTER SITUATION.
YOU WILL BE INVITED TO THE TEXAS CITY MANAGER ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE FOR THIS AWARD.
WOW, WE HAVEN'T HAD ONE LIKE THAT IN A WHILE, RIGHT? YEAH. THAT'S REALLY AMAZING.
OK, WE ALL SETTLED IN NOW WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND CALL A PUBLIC HEARING TOGETHER FOR THE PURPOSES OF HEARING RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE MCALLEN PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.
SO TODAY THERE IS ONE REZONING UNDER ROUTINE.
AS ALWAYS, IT COMES WITH A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION FOR P&Z.
BUT IF YOU GUYS WANT TO DISCUSS IT, THEN WE CAN DISCUSS IT SEPARATELY.
AND THAT'S AT A-O TO R3A MULTIFAMILY IS THAT CORRECT.
IN NORTH JACKSON ROAD AND THAT'S IT.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY COMMENTS IF NOT THEN I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE.
SO MOVED. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES.
YES, SIR. SO THIS IS THE INITIAL REZONING TO R1.
THIS PROPERTY IS A 10 ACRE TRACT LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF NORTH 29TH, JUST SOUTH OF RUSSELL ROAD. IT HAS BEEN PART OF MCALLEN'S ETJ SINCE 1985.
THEY ARE REQUESTING R-1 FOR A 42 LOT SINGLE FAMILY SUBDIVISION THAT HAS RECEIVED FINAL APPROVAL FROM P&Z LAST TUESDAY.
ADJACENT ZONING IS A-O TO THE NORTH R-1 TO THE EAST, SOUTH AND WEST.
AND THEN LAND USES ARE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AS WELL AS THE SCHOOL TO THE NORTH AS WELL.
THE INITIAL REZONING WAS HEARD AT APRIL 6TH, P&Z.
THERE WAS NO OPPOSITION AND IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED APPROVAL.
I'M JUST GOING TO ASK A DUMB QUESTION.
ALL OF THIS HAVE WATER SEWER FIRE HYDRANT EVERYTHING.
YES, MA'AM. SO THEY ARE SURROUNDED BY THE CITY.
PART OF THIS SUBDIVISION ANYBODY TO I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. YES MA'AM.
SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED SAME SIGN MOTION CARRIES.
AN ITEM C IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE ANNEXATION OF THE SAME TRACT. BEFORE WE START, I WOULD LIKE TO MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER THAT WE DIDN'T MAKE ANY OF THE OFFERS OF INCENTIVES THAT WE APPROVE FROM A CITY COMMISSION STANDPOINT. AND I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO OFFER THOSE INCENTIVES BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO NOT HAVE THEM DO IT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW.
AND THE NEXT ONE COMES IN, GETS THE INCENTIVE.
I THINK IT'S A FAIR THING TO DO ON ANYBODY WHO WANTS THE ANNEX.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE ORDINANCE TO ANNEX, RIGHT? YES, SIR. IN THAT IF YOU COULD MAKE SURE THE AMENDMENT THAT INCENTIVES THAT COULD NORMALLY BE OFFERED ARE OFFERED.
OK, MAYOR THIS PICTURE THIS IS NOT THE ONE GETTING A LITTLE BIT, THIS IS NOT THE ONE
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WHERE THEY AGREED TO ANNEX WITH THE PARTICIPATION WELL EVIDENTLY NOT.SO MOVED WITH THE CONDITIONS AS STATED BY MAYOR DARLING.
SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND, ANYBODY ANYTHING ELSE THE APPLICANT'S HERE NO THEY'RE WHAT.
WELCOME TO THE CITY OF MCALLEN, WHERE WE GET FIRE PROTECTION [LAUGHTER] STREET LIGHTS, ALL THE MANY THE COUNTY. SEWER AYE. OPPOSE SAME SIGN.
THE NEXT ITEM IS D AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE THE CITY OF MCALLEN FOR ITEMS A ONE AND B ONE. [INAUDIBLE] SECOND. OK, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIED. THAT'S THE END OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANY ITEMS TO BE TAKEN OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
LOT OF GRANT APPLICATIONS, ACTUALLY.
THAT'S GOOD. YEAH, I MOVE TO APPROVE.
SECOND. A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE ITEMS 2A THROUGH H.
ITEM 3, BIDS AND CONTRACTS MR. CITY MANAGER.
YES, SIR. WE'VE GOT AN AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR THE ANZALDUAS INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE NORTHBOUND LANE EXPANSION.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, CITY COMMISSIONERS, CITY MANAGER.
THIS ITEM IS TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL NORTHBOUND LANE ON ANZALDUAS.
THE PROJECT CONSISTS OF CONSTRUCTING A LANE.
SIX HUNDRED AND FIVE LINEAR FEET LONG OF REINFORCED CONCRETE.
THIS PROJECT WILL ALLOW US TO BEGIN A NEW [INAUDIBLE] PROJECT FOR A SEVENTH ADDITIONAL LANE AT THE PORT OF ENTRY.
AND THE LOWEST BIDDER WAS J PEÑA CONSTRUCTION AT A COST OF ONE HUNDRED FIFTY NINE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED FOUR.
THIS PROJECT WILL BE PAID FOR ONE HUNDRED PERCENT BY CIP FUNDS.
STAFF RECOMMENDS AWARDING THE CONTRACT TO THE LOWEST BIDDER.
SO MOVED. JUST HAD ONE QUESTION.
YES SIR. THE BIDS SEEM TO BE PRETTY FAR APART.
IS THERE A REASON WHY 159? WHICH IS GREAT, BUT ALL THE WAY TO 463? ARE WE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS INCLUDED IN THERE? IT'S JUST CONCRETE.
I'M NOT SURE WHY THE CONSTRUCTION CAME IN AT OVER FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
THAT'S JUST REALLY JUST A SIX HUNDRED SEVEN LINEAR FEET OF CONCRETE.
IT'S REAL SIMPLE. WE USUALLY SEE IT BID UP A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OTHER WORKERS HAVE TO BE SORT OF HAVE SECURITY CLEARANCES, IF YOU WILL.
AND SO SOME COMPANIES CAN'T DO THAT.
SO WE SEE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER BID, BUT NOT NOWHERE NEAR WHAT THAT DIFFERENCE IS ON THIS ONE. OK. YEAH.
WHO WAS THE CONTRACTOR J PEÑA IS THAT JAVIER PEÑA OR JUAN PEÑA.
THE NEXT ONE WAS MOR-WIL L.L.C..
THEN CELSO GONZALEZ CONSTRUCTION.
AND LUCANIA CONSTRUCTION CAME AFTERWARDS.
I THINK A MOTION WAS MADE I'LL SECOND, OK.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND RIGHT I HEARD A MOTION AND SECOND.
B IS AWARD OF CONTRACT, FOR THE PURCHASE OF ONE CURRENT SIDE TRACTOR WITH HEAVY DUTY FLAIL MOWER.
GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR, CITY COMMISSION.
MY NAME IS MARTINO TREVIÑO I'M THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.
PUBLIC WORKS IS REQUESTING APPROVAL TO AWARD A PURCHASE CONTRACT DEERE & COMPANY [INAUDIBLE] NORTH CAROLINA WITH TELLUS EQUIPMENT SOLUTION AS A DELIVERING WESLACO, TEXAS, FOR A JOHN DEERE 5090 SIDE TRACTOR MOWER WITH A HEAVY DUTY FLAIL MOWER FOR THE DRAINAGE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
PURCHASE CONTRACT WILL UTILIZE THE BUYBOARD PURCHASING COOPERATIVE WITH A TOTAL UNIT COST OF SEVENTY THREE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY NINE DOLLARS AND TWO CENTS.
SECOND. YES. THIS IS ONE OF THE ONES THAT WE HAVE IN THE BUYBOARD USUALLY WE PUT THEM SEPARATE. WE PROBABLY JUST FORGOT THIS TIME.
RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL.
HEARING NONE ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE.
C IS AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR THE PURCHASE OF ONE CURRENT MODEL GRADALL EXCAVATOR.
HONORABLE MAYOR CITY COMMISSION.
ONCE AGAIN, PUBLIC WORKS IS REQUESTING APPROVAL TO AWARD A PURCHASE CONTRACT TO GRADALL INDUSTRIES WITH WAUKESHA-PEARCE INDUSTRIES AS THE DELIVERING DELIVERED WITH EDINBURG, TEXAS, FOR A GRADALL HYDRAULIC EXCAVATOR XL4100 FOR THE DRAINAGE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. PURCHASE CONTRACT WILL UTILIZE THE SOURCEWELL PURCHASING COOPERATIVE WITH TOTAL UNIT COST OF FOUR HUNDRED AND NINETY FIVE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY NINE DOLLARS AND 12 CENTS. SO MOVED.
SECOND. OKAY MOTION AND A SECOND, ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.
[00:35:02]
HEARING NONE ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.FOUR A I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO THE REPORT, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, AND WE'RE STILL AWAITING THE STIMULUS FUNDING.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT, AT FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. SO UNLESS THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE.
REVIEW OF QUARTERLY INVESTMENT REPORT IS ITEM B FOR QUARTER ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2020.
THE ITEM FOR YOU IS THE QUARTERLY INVESTMENT REPORT.
THE REPORT IS PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PUBLIC FUNDS INVESTMENT ACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH CITY POLICY AS WELL.
THE REPORT WAS PRESENTED TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE ON MARCH 18TH, 2021.
PAGE ONE OF THE INVESTMENT REPORT SUMMARIZES THE CITY PORTFOLIO.
AS OF DECEMBER 31ST, THE TOTAL BOOK VALUE OF THE PORTFOLIO WAS 298 MILLION, WITH AN AVERAGE YIELD OF 70 BASIS POINTS.
THE LAST PAGE OF THE PACKET WILL ALSO GIVE YOU A BREAKDOWN PER FUND AND PER SPENDING CATEGORY. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL AND I CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS AS WELL.
SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND TO ACCEPT THE REPORT AS PRESENTED.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION.
THIS ITEM IS FOR ADVISORY BOARD APPOINTMENTS, I HAVE RECEIVED NOMINATIONS FROM MAYOR DARLING, FROM COMMISSIONER ZAMORA AND COMMISSIONER WHITACRE.
YOU'LL SEE THOSE NOMINATIONS ON YOUR REPORT.
AND AT THIS TIME, I'LL TAKE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS THAT YOU HAVE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE VACANCIES.
ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? HOW MANY OPENINGS? I'LL CHECK IT.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE.
YEAH D IS CONSIDERATION, APPROVAL OF AN ORDER FOR SIGNATURE VERIFICATION COMMITTEE FOR THE MAY 1, 2021 GENERAL ELECTION AND SPECIAL ELECTION.
CORRECT. MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION THIS ITEM IS FOR SVC COMMITTEE AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE RECEIVED A TOTAL OF THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN APPLICATIONS FOR BALLOT BY MAIL AND WE ARE RECOMMENDING THIS ITEM AS PER TEXAS ELECTION CODE 87.027.
WE CAN APPOINT THE SIGNATURE VERIFICATION COMMITTEE OF NO LESS THAN FIVE MEMBERS.
AND I'VE ALSO ATTACHED THAT INFORMATION ON YOUR PACKET AND NAMED THE FIVE MEMBERS THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING FOR THE SVC AND WE'RE RECOMMENDING APPOINTMENT APPROVAL OF THAT APPOINTMENT FOR THAT COMMITTEE.
OK, YOU HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. MOTION TO APPROVE.
SECOND. HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE IS WE ANTICIPATE HAVING THE COMPENSATION STUDY, FINAL DRAFT READY FOR NEXT MEETING. WE'VE BEEN MEETING ALMOST WEEKLY.
WE STILL THINK WE CAN GET THERE AND WE'RE HOPING NOT TO HAVE TO PUSH IT TO THE FIRST MEETING IN MAY. AND THEN THE OTHER IS THAT WE NEED TO START PLANNING A PROBABLY A WORKSHOP TO DISCUSS THE STIMULUS FUNDS.
I DON'T WANT TO BURN MONEY WE DON'T HAVE YET, BUT THAT DISCUSSION NEEDS TO START HAPPENING BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF ACTIVITY THAT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DISCUSS.
SHOULDN'T THAT BE MORE OF, LIKE A [INAUDIBLE]? YEAH. I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT.
IT WILL BE AT LEAST PROBABLY A COUPLE HOURS TO HAVE OPEN DISCUSSION.
SO, YEAH, THAT WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO DO IT.
WE CAN PROBABLY DO WHAT WE DID LAST TIME [INAUDIBLE] TO THE MORNING.
SO IF Y'ALL ARE OK, WE'LL START PLANNING A DATE HERE SOON.
ABSOLUTELY. ANY OTHER FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS BESIDES THAT PRETTY BUSY SCHEDULE.
ONE THING ON THE WIFI RESIDENTIAL UPDATE BEFORE WE HAVE THAT MEETING, IF WE COULD HAVE A REPORT ON WHERE WE ARE, AND IN WHAT NEIGHBORHOODS AND ALL THAT SO WE CAN HAVE THAT AND DETERMINE WHETHER THEY HAVE TO HAVE A MEETING.
FOR WHICH NEIGHBORHOODS? FOR WHAT? YEAH. ROBERT.
OK, NOT NOW, BUT FOR YOU KNOW, MAYBE I'LL PASS IT OUT BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSIONER, SO WE KNOW WHERE WE ARE.
ANY OTHER FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? CAN I ASK SOMETHING ABOUT THAT TOO WIFI JUST REAL QUICK.
TO ROBERT, OR WE HAVE THE WAIT UNTIL THE MEETING.
[00:40:02]
YEAH. I DIDN'T HEAR.MAYOR ON FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS, I'D LIKE FOR US TO DISCUSS CARPORTS.
I'VE GONE THROUGH A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS THAT HAVE BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THERE'S THAT THE CITY IS BEING STRICT ON SOME AND NOT ON OTHERS.
AND THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE PROCESS IS AND WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE.
AND SO I REALLY LIKE THAT TO BE A WORKSHOP ITEM WHERE WE FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND IF WE CAN MAKE IT MORE UNDERSTANDING FOR THE PUBLIC.
UH, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT.
OK, PUT THAT MR. CITY MANAGER. OK, ANY OTHER ITEMS. HEARING NONE AND WE MOVE TO THE MAYOR'S REPORT.
THE FIRST ONE IS COVID MATTERS.
FIRST THING IS, YOU KNOW, OUR NUMBERS ARE DOWN.
STILL ANY DEATH IS TOO MANY RIGHT.
WE STILL HAVE SOME SOME DEATHS BUT THE HOSPITAL AND ICU NUMBERS HAVE DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY IN RELATIONSHIP TO THAT AND THE STATE NUMBERS, WE HAD NOTICE FROM THE STATE THAT THEY ASKED NOT PERMISSION BUT AGREEMENT TO TAKE THE HOSPITAL FACILITY OUT OF THE CONVENTION CENTER. AND WE AGREED TO THAT.
AND THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THAT THIS WEEK, I THINK.
IS THAT RIGHT, ROY? YES. IN FACT, JEFF WAS COORDINATING THAT RIGHT THIS MORNING, I THINK OR THIS AFTERNOON.
AND THEY'RE A LITTLE BEHIND ON GETTING STARTED ON THE MOVE OUT.
SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET A BETTER IDEA IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO.
OK, AND THEN THE SUBJECT OF VACCINATIONS.
NO, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I'M HAVING TROUBLE FINDING PEOPLE THAT NEED TO BE VACCINATED OR WANT TO BE VACCINATED.
AND SO I WAS AT DHR THIS AFTERNOON, THEY'RE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM OVER THERE, AND SO THEY WERE JUST ANNOUNCING IT.
I THINK SOME HAD TO DO WITH SCHEDULING WHERE PEOPLE JUST GOT TIRED OF TRYING TO GET, YOU KNOW, GET REGISTERED AND SCHEDULING AND IN GETTING OUT THAT NEWS TO THEM IS DIFFICULT.
SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO ANNOUNCE THAT AND GET MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED AND WE HAVE NOW THE PFIZER ONE. RIGHT. THAT'S ONE SHOT, THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON.
SORRY JOHNSON & JOHNSON ONE SHOT.
AND SO WHEN THAT COMES OUT, PEOPLE NEED TO BE AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GET.
NONE OF THE ENTITIES KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET UNTIL LIKE THE WEEK THAT THEY GET IT.
SO JUST CONTINUE TO CALL AND GET VACCINATED.
I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING.
AND WE DON'T WANT TO SEND ANY BACK.
DO ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN VACCINATED ALREADY ROY OR DO WE YES, EVERY EMPLOYEE THAT WANTED A VACCINE HAS BEEN VACCINATED.
THERE'S A LOT OF CREDIT TO DESERVED BY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND ALL OF THE TEAM THAT PUT THAT TOGETHER. BUT, YES.
I THINK WE EVEN PROVIDED VACCINATIONS TO THE BORDER PATROL AND CBP AND OUR CBP FOR SURE.
SO FIRE AND POLICE HAVE PRETTY MUCH BEEN.
AND SO THE ONLY THING I'LL ADD TO THAT, MAYOR, IS THAT I REALLY DO HAVE TO APPLAUD THE STAFF BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING TO SEND OUT MEDIA ADVISORIES WHEN WE REALIZE THAT A LOT OF FOLKS ARE NOT SHOWING UP.
AND SO IT'S KIND OF A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE.
AND THEY'VE DONE REALLY WELL TO WHERE ALL OF THE VACCINES ARE ADMINISTERED.
30 PERCENT AREN'T SHOWING UP YEAH, EXACTLY.
NEVER. I KNOW ON THE COUNCIL OF GOVERNANCE, WE HAD AN EFFORT TO GET ALL THE HOMEBOUND PEOPLE THROUGH [INAUDIBLE].
AND I'M NOT SURE OF THAT I THINK WE 100 PERCENT, AT LEAST EVERYBODY THAT WE KNEW OF, THAT WE TRIED TO CONTACT GOT VACCINATED.
SO THAT'S GREAT PROGRESS ON THAT.
AND I MIGHT MENTION THEN THE NEXT ONE IS KIND OF RELATED TO THAT.
AND THE LAST ONE IS NONESSENTIAL TRAVEL.
YOU KNOW, WE OUR DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS ARE STILL SUFFERING BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE NONESSENTIAL TRAVEL.
OUR HOTELS AND SOME OTHER BUSINESSES ARE THE MALL FOR SURE.
AND SO THE RATIONALE FOR NONESSENTIAL TRAVEL HAS BEEN COVID IN NUMBER ONE.
AND SO NUMBER TWO IS WE'RE SEEING OUR NUMBERS DOWN.
I DON'T THINK IT'S JUSTIFIES THAT SIGNIFICANTLY THERE.
AND NUMBER THREE. WE ASKED THE COUNTY OCCASIONALLY.
I ASKED LAST WEEK, WAS THERE ANY BECAUSE THEY DO TRACK AND TRACING RIGHT AND THERE IS NO NOTICEABLE COVID RELATED ILLNESSES FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE ESSENTIAL TRAVEL.
ABOUT 50 PERCENT OF OUR BRIDGE TRAFFIC IS ESSENTIAL TRAVEL, WHICH HAVE BEEN AUTHORIZED TO COME ACROSS A BRIDGE NOW.
AND WE DON'T SEE ANY COVID RELATED ACTIVITY FROM TRAVELING TO OR FROM MEXICO WITH THESE ESSENTIAL TRAVELERS.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO THE GOVERNMENT EVERY MONTH, ABOUT FIVE DAYS BEFORE THE 21ST.
THEY DECIDE WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO EXTEND THAT.
IF IT'S DONE FOR HEALTH PURPOSES, WE DON'T THINK IT'S JUSTIFIED AND WE NEED TO OPEN IT, OPEN THE BORDER AND HELP OUR BUSINESSES WHO'VE BEEN SEVERELY AFFECTED ANYWAYS.
[00:45:04]
SO HOPEFULLY WE [INAUDIBLE] AGREE WITH THAT.AND THE LAST THING IS ON BORDER ISSUES, AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
I WON'T TALK ABOUT THE RESPITE CENTER BECAUSE WE GOT ENOUGH NEWS, BUT STILL TRYING TO TELL OUR MESSAGE THAT IT'S SAFE DOWN HERE, YOU KNOW, AND THAT YOU WOULDN'T KNOW IT UNLESS YOU STOOD AT THE BUS STATION WHEN PEOPLE WERE BEING DROPPED OFF.
WE'VE HAD CONGRESSMEN AND SENATORS AND EVERYBODY FIRST SEEMS I'M SURPRISED AT IS HOW RELATIVELY LITTLE THEY KNOW ABOUT IT UNTIL THEY ACTUALLY GET DOWN HERE AND SEE IT.
AND IT'S JUST THE NEWS MEDIA IS JUST NOT DEPICTING IT AS IT REALLY IS.
BUT THE SECOND ISSUE I THINK IS IMPORTANT IS WHEN THEY STOP BUILDING THE WALL, THE LEVEE SYSTEM, THEY STOPPED BUILDING THEM AND A LOT OF THE WALLS ARE BUILT ON LEVEE SYSTEMS. AND SO THEY JUST STOPPED.
AND SO WE HAVE FOUNDATIONS THAT ARE HALF DUG INTO THE LEVEE SYSTEM THAT AREN'T BEING FINISHED. THE GOVERNMENT DID ASK THE CONTRACTORS TO DO ASSESSMENTS IN NEW BUDGETS, IF YOU WILL, TO FINISH THE LEVEE SYSTEMS MAKE SURE THEY ARE REDONE TO BACK THAT ORIGINAL CONDITION, EVEN IF THE WALL IS NOT GOING TO BE BUILT.
AND THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A MONTH NOW.
IT'S NOT BEEN DONE. WE'RE HEADING INTO HURRICANE SEASON.
AND I CHECKED TODAY AND MANY OF THE CONTRACTORS HAVE LOST THEIR WORKERS BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T HAD ANY WORK FOR THREE MONTHS.
AND SO THEY DON'T HAVE EVEN IF THEY SAID GO AHEAD, THEY'D HAVE TO SCRAMBLE TO GET WORKERS. SO I'VE BEEN SAYING IT AND I THINK ROY'S BEEN SAYING IT AND WE ALL NEED TO SAY IT. WE NEED TO HAVE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
IF YOU WANT TO STOP THE WALL, THAT'S ONE THING WE'RE NOT INVOLVED IN THAT WE'RE NOT INVOLVED IN BORDER ISSUES ON POLITICS AND WE'RE NOT INVOLVED IN THE WALL ON POLITICS, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY HAVE TO GO IN AND REPAIR THE LEVEES WHERE THEY'VE DAMAGED THEM FOR WALL CONSTRUCTION IN HALTED WALL CONSTRUCTION.
OTHERWISE, WE NEED TO PRAY THAT WE DON'T HAVE A HURRICANE.
ANYBODY GOT ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS GO RIGHT AHEAD.
NO. OK, THEN, MR. CITY ATTORNEY ON EXECUTIVE SESSIONS.
MAYOR, WITH RESPECT TO ITEM SEVEN A.
OH, I'M SORRY, WE HAD ONE ITEM THAT WAS TABLED, 5A I BELIEVE IT WAS WITHDRAWN MAYOR.
YEAH, THAT WAS WITHDRAWN. SO WE NEED TO TAKE IT OFF THE TABLE AND TAKE IT OFF THE AGENDA . MOTION TO APPROVE.
SECOND. OKAY MOTION TO TAKE ITEM 5A OFF THE TABLE AND OFF THE AGENDA.
AYE. OPPOSE SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES.
MAYOR WITH RESPECT TO THE FIRST TRACT, I WOULD RECOMMEND THE COMMISSION ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY TO EXTEND THE LEASE OFFER AS DESCRIBED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SECOND. OKAY MOTION AND SECOND ANY DISCUSSION HEARING NONE.
AND THEN ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIED.
MAYOR, WITH RESPECT TO THE SECOND TRACT, I RECOMMEND THE CITY COMMISSION ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE CITY ATTORNEY, CITY MANAGER TO OBTAIN AN APPRAISAL FOR THE PROPERTY AND EXPLORE SALE AND DEVELOPMENT TERMS FOR THE PROPERTY.
SO MOVED AS SET FORTH BY CITY ATTORNEY.
SECOND. OKAY MOTION AND SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSE SAME SIGN MOTION CARRIED.
THIS IS WHAT CITY COMMISSION OF THE YEAR DOES.
[LAUGHTER] OFFICIALLY WE ARE NOW ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.